Edge Davao 6 Issue 166

VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

ROAD SHARING Pedal-pushing a city public transport project

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

2 ON THE COVER EDGEDAVAO

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IkE a video footage set on time lapse, everything moves in terabyte speeds in this fast-rising concrete metropolitan jungle. You wonder where the old Davao City had gone.

Well, gone is the word.

Gone because this is no more the Davao City of old—snail-paced and laid back. This is Davao City of the current times where things are moving in racetrack speeds.

It could go far worse then we imagined. The traffic, the bottlenecks, flooded roads, and polluted air from fumes and smokes emitted by vehicles.

There is a glimmer of hope though and a bunch of men and women who roam the streets in twowheeled non-motorized creatures called bicycles are pedaling on to that hope. A few tweaks of an existing ordinance and a place in the future Public Transport Plan will pave the way for freeing some space and cleaning some air in the process to make way for bicycles on the streets.

For Cycle of Life (CFL),

an advocacy group for clean air and healthy lifestyle, bicycle is the way to go as alternative means of public transport. However, to make that happen, it will take more than just pedal pushing.

In fact, it will take a lot of pencil pushing.

It starts with Cycle for Life doing collaborative efforts with a team from Asia Halcrow Inc. which has been commissioned by the Asian Development Bank to do a comprehensive study on public transport in Davao City.

Last August 23, the AHI and stakeholders like CFL and the office of Coucilor Leo Avila who heads the Sangguniang Panlungsod’s committee on transportation met to push forward the bikers’ advocacy.

Monica Ayala, convenor for CFL, hopes that the initial progress of the talks will eventually lead to the implementation of the public transport project that will consider cyclists sharing the road with motorists.

CYCLE FOR LIFE Ayala said that the CFL aims to popularize the use

VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

ADVOCACY. Cycle for Life convenor Monica Ayala campaigns for bike lanes in Davao City. (CFL Facebook Photo) of the bicycle (all kinds) as an earth-saving aid to healthy lifestyle change, as a mode of independent mobility for physical fitness, environmental health and wellness.

CFL aims to do linkages with Govern-

ment-Business-Private Sectors (individuals and groups) in developing realistic and lasting support systems (bike lanes and bike racks) and initiatives that will popularize encourage use, protect and sustain cycling and other

BIKING IN THE CITY. A lady takes her bike to express her wish for bicycles to be given a share of the road with motorists. Top photo, Councilor Leo Avila with stakeholders during the recent meeting of the Davao Sustainable Transport Project. (CFL Photo)

activities and initiatives that engage people in sustainable healthy lifestyle habits, thus improving the quality of life.

BIkERS’ CONCERNS Among the concerns are: First, the project should look into the mindset and attitude of public transport providers. Second, the buses that would be used in the main corridors of the city should be able to accommodate mobility equipment like wheelchairs and foldable bicycles. Third, fixed PUV stops will also enable the establishment of bike lanes in the future.

Fourth, it is important to have a mechanism like a Transportation Forum to sustain engagement among transport regulators, providers and users.

Fifth, the local government needs to be involved more in franchising process instead of this being the main responsibility of national agencies. For instance, the LGU can handle the measurement of the RMC and determine the need to establish new routes or amend existing ones. And sixth, the local Government should make sure there will be consistency of enforcement of traffic laws by our implementers.

There is also a need to update the Bicycle Ordinance of Davao with emphasis on the drafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations.

As of present, the Committee on Transportation under Councilor Leo Avila has appealed to the Committee on Rules for the Transport Committee to take the lead in seeing through the drafting of the IRR. It is also awaiting for the Executive Order from the Executive

Committee headed by City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. kEEP THE AIR CLEAN Making the streets of Davao accessible for bicycles also meant enforcement of the anti-smoke belching law as carbon emissions from vehicles gravely affect the health of city cyclists. This should be strictly enforced with the assistance of the LTO upon annual renewal of vehicle registration.

For its part, AHI expressed interest in having future conversations with cyclists about public transport strategy in Davao in the near future and in sharing relevant information on Non-Motorized Transport (NMT).

AHI likewise recommend for a Transportation Forum to the Executive Committee-City Council.

It may yet be an uphill push for the bicycle community to get their proposition on legitimate implementing zone but the proponents of the project are beaming with hope that they will get their laudable advocacy in the end.

“Although there were just a few of us present, we decided to continue to meet and pursue discussion of the agenda that was earlier presented through the e-group,” said Ayala.

“These are now being posted for purposes of discussion and considered as a continuing discussion due to the availability of such technologies, we are now able to conduct discussions through this method.”

The biking community hopes that despite time constraints as well as physical limitations to meet face to face, they will be able to eventually come up with solutions to biker-related problems.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

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EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

15-minute switching power interruptions on Nov. 5, 10

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USTOMERS in the southern part of Davao Light and Power Co. franchise will experience two 15-minute switching power interruptions on Nov. 5 and 10, from 7:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. and from 6:00 a.m. to 6:15 a.m., respectively.

Communication Officer Ross Luga said that the scheduled outages are necessary to facilitate the AboitizPower’s connection of its Tudaya 2 Hydro power plant to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines’ 69 kV line affecting Davao Light’s Davao line.

This will affect cus-

tomers situated from Flying V Gas Station in Bago Aplaya and from Casas Store in Bago Gallera up to the entire Toril area.

Also affected are some Davao City Water District’s pumping stations located in the above mentioned areas.

Davao Light apologizes for the inconvenience of these scheduled power interruptions. But, it will exert all efforts to restore electric service as scheduled or earlier. However, there may be instances where restoration may extend beyond the schedule due to unavoidable circumstances.

Kin pay respects at marker for typhoon Pablo victims

SECURITY MEASURE. A police operative checks a rider’s motorcycle compartment at the entrance of the Davao Memorial Park in Matina, Davao City during the All Souls’ Day celebration on Saturday. Lean Daval Jr.

Francisco Gaisano, G-Malls pillar, dies

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RANCISCO “FRANCIS” GAISANO, a pillar of DG & Sons, Inc., owners of Gaisano Malls (G-Malls) in Davao City and neighboring provinces, died of natural causes in Manila.

A relative confirmed Gaisano’s death and said

burial was scheduled November 3, Sunday. He was in his late 60s.

Francis, considered an egghead by those who know him, was an outstanding graduate of the University of the Philippines-Diliman, a topnotcher in the chemical

Mixture of sunny, rainy weather

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xcept in Mindanao, most parts of the country will have mixture of sunny and rainy weather due to localized thunderstorms, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Saturday.

In its advisory, PAGASA said an intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is affecting Mindanao while easterlies have an effect on the eastern sections of Luzon and Visayas.

The weather agency said that easterlies or warm winds from the east, were thunderstorm clouds or the cumulonimbus clouds are easily formed, will affect

the rest of the country including Metro Manila which will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly over the eastern sections.

Because of the ITCZ, which is the breeding ground for low pressure areas (LPAs) or potential cyclones, the Davao Region and Caraga will have cloudy skies with light to moderate rain showers and thunderstorms.

It added that moderate to strong winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail over Luzon and Visayas and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough.

[PNA]

engineering board examination, and holder of a doctorate degree.

Dr. Gaisano is listed as the CEO of the Dona Modesta S. Gaisano Foundation, named after the Gaisano matriarch. The only sister of the late President Sergio Osmena, Dona

Modesta was famous for her contributions to socio-economic development of Cebu during her time.

Aside from managing Gaisano Malls with siblings Paul and James, Dr. Francis was also treasurer of SunStar Davao group of publications.

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HILE most Filipinos trooped to the cemeteries to remember their beloved departed on Friday, All Saints’ Day, some residents of this town who lost their families and relatives to rampaging flashfloods 11 months ago gathered at a marker standing at the center of Barangay Andap, New Bataan, Compostela Valley.

The marker bears the names of the 436 people who perished and at least 400 others who have remained missing after heavy rains brought by typhoon Pablo spawned flashfloods that almost wiped out the entire village.

While most of those who remembered their loved ones in Andap offered candles and flowers in the marker on Friday,

the Cantila family set up an orange tent where they would spend the night, weather permitting, to welcome All Souls’ Day today, November 2.

The family puts up the tent in the middle of rocks and rubbles where they believed their house used to stand.

Lilibeth Cantila-Aquino, who lives in Davao City, told MindaNews that seven family members, including her mother, remained missing until now.

Her father, Inocencio Cantila, 70, was spared from the disaster, saying he was confined in a hospital in Tagum City when Pablo hit the town. The couple has seven children and 20 grandchildren.

Vigil on the rocks Aquino said they brought cooking utensils, food, water, extra cloth-

FKIN PAY, 11

WAITING FOR OCCUPANTS. People pass by the empty and open niches at the Roman Catholic Cemetery during the observance of All Souls’ Day on Saturday.

Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

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EDGEDAVAO

MOTORING

VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

KTM launches 390 Duke in Davao

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

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S they say, not even rains can spoil a good day. Not even a good ride.

Despite heavy afternoon downpour and trickles on Wednesday evening, the official launch of KTM’s new naked bike 390 Duke pushed through at the Damosa parking lot with a heap of giveaways, good food, drinks, test rides, and entertainment to boot.

Davao’s bike community trooped to the Damosa parking lot not minding getting wet and ending up drooling over KTM’s new sleek beast on display. The 390 Duke is a little roadster with a big performance. Some say it’s the meanest little beast you can buy for a reasonable price of P299,000 (SRP).

No less than the bigwigs of KTM in Davao— CEO-President Toti Alberto and CEO Jondi Lacson-led the toasting for the brand’s new bike that’s expected to conquer Philippine roads in the next few months.

According to Lacson, the 390 Duke will go on a Mindanao road tour from November 6-10 beginning and ending in Davao City. Bike enthusiasts are invited to join the Mindanao-wide ride.

According to bike reviews, KTM’s engineers have shoehorned a 390cc, 44-horsepower Single into the compact but strong frame of the 125/200 Duke to produce a roadster with incredible potential for the price.

Don’t be fooled though.

The “390-cc” tag could easily wear down some 400-cc brands down the road on any day—torquewise and speed-wise.

With its claimed dry weight of just 307 pounds, the 390 Duke looks to have a power-to-weight ratio that should deliver terrific acceleration and throttle response. The dohc Single is highly oversquare, with an 89.0mm bore and 60mm stroke.

The compression ratio is a substantial 12.6:1, and the engine breathes through a 46mm EFI throttle body. Both injection and ignition are managed by a Bosch integrated digital system. The 390 (which actually displaces 373cc) delivers those 44 peak horses at 9500 rpm, and its 26 foot-pounds of peak torque comes in at 7250.

Not only does the 390 share the same 53.8-in. wheelbase, 25-degree

TOAST. KTM Philippines CEO Jondi Lacson (center) proposes a toast to bike enthusiasts as CEO-President Toti Alberto (left) and wife Joy Alberto (second from left) and Jimmy Gomez join him on stage.

Lean Daval Jr. steering rake and 100mm front-wheel trail with its smaller brothers, they all use the same 43mm WP fork and shock, as well as the braking system. A single 300mm rotor and four-piston Brembo caliper do the work up front, with a 230mm rotor and a single-piston floating Brembo caliper at the rear.

Based on its specifications, the 390 Duke should deliver outstanding agility, terrific acceleration and easy handling.

Here’s the fast facts on the KTM 390 Duke KTM 390 DUKE ABS 2013 Design: Single-cylinder, 4-stroke, spark-ignition engine, liquid-cooled Displacement: 373.2 cm³ Performance: 32 kW (44 hp) Weight without fuel approx. 139 kg The 390 Duke breathes life into values that have made motorcycling so amazing for decades. It combines maximum riding pleasure with optimum user value and is superior everywhere where really nimble handling counts.

Light as a feather, powerful and packed with state-ofthe-art technology, it guarantees undreamed of dynamic fun, whether you’re in the urban jungle or a forest of bends. 390 Duke– nowhere will you find more motorcycle per euro.

LITTLE BEAST. The KTM 390 Duke (top) during its formal launch in Davao last October 30. Lower photo, GMA Davao’s Tek Ocampo samples the Duke while another 390 Duke bike was on display for everyone to check out. Lean Daval Jr.

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VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

Ground Image rules Mati drag racing

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

FIRST EVER. Mati City Mayor Carlo P. Rabat (top photo) speaks before the start of the first ever Sambuokan Drag and Drift Racing in Mati. Below, Class A winner Batoy Pang of Team Ground Image with runners up Elben Pang and Miguel Araneta.

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EAM Ground Image, as expected, ruled the first ever Sambuokan Festival Drag and Drift Racing in Mati City’s airport runway on October 26-27.

The vaunted GI racing team strapped local boy Edmund Ralph “Batoy” Pang to the driver’s seat in Class A and surprisingly got the win over veteran and multi-titled Elben Jay Pang in an all-GI Finale.

Batoy laced his championship under the color of the Pang-owned ER Supermall of Mati City.

Miguel Araneta of Team Auto Plus-K Racing-Premium BMW-Motoren wound up third in Class A. In Class B, Jomel Manansala of Team K Racing took the top of the podium with teammate Vincent Cabo in second and Bong Ceballo of Team Ten C Tech in third. Jen Zamora of Team Mashado toped Class C besting Dong Magkidong of Team Ken Builders and teammate Miguel Abalon of Team Mashado.

The full quartermile drag racing, presented by Phoenix Petroleum and supported by the city gov-

ernment of Mati under Mayor Carlo P. Rabat, is the first ever staged in Mati City fanning prospects of

making the Davao Oriental capital as next racing hub in the region.

Spicing up the competi-

RECORD HOLDER. The Team Ground Image car which recorded the fastest quartermile run of 10.8 seconds.

tion is the motorcycle drag racing where close to 100 racers took part.

THE RESULTS: CLASS C : CHAMPION: JEN ZAMORA (TEAM MASHADO) 1ST RUNNER UP : DONG MAGKIDONG(TEAM KEN BUILDERS) 2ND RUNNER UP : MIGUEL ABALON(TEAM MASHADO) CLASS B CHAMPION: JOMEL MANANASALA (TEAM K RACING) 1ST RUNNER UP : VINCENT CABO (TEAM K RACING) 2ND RUNNER UP : BONG CEBALLO( TEAM TEN C TECH) CLASS A CAMPION: EDMUND RALPH PANG (TEAM E.R / GROUND IMAGE) 1ST RUNNER UP : ELBEN JAY PANG (TEAM E.R / GROUND IMAGE) 2ND RUNNER UP : MIGUEL ARANETA (TEAM AUTO PLUS/ K RACING/ PREMIUM BMW / MOTOREN)

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

EDItORIAL

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VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

Citizen Ding

AYS before the onset of the long holidays, a man quietly passed into the night hardly noticed by many Dabawenyos, including close friends. He was Antonio “Ding” Gamir Diaz, a community institution in his own right. He died of natural causes at the age of 82.

Those who have observed Ding up close, especially fellow Dabawenyos who fought many fights and espoused meaningful advocacies with the man -- in the Rotary, Ambassadors Club, Boys Town, Balay Pasilungan, the anti-Marcos Yellow Friday marches and Konsumo Dabaw, among many others, the life of Ding is a study in good citizenship.

He had well-formed opinions about governance or the lack of it. He had only contempt for lethargy and red tape, a very sharp tongue for the inept and the corrupt. He called stupid stupid. Ding did not hesitate to hail wrongdoers in government to court.

In the glory days of Konsumo Dabaw, he was the most passionate advocate, staking his own fortunes, literally spending millions and earning a multi-million libel suit in the great consumer battle against the community’s electricity provider.

Unbeknownst to many who had misunderstood him for his sometimes maverick ways, Ding Diaz was a deeply religious and very charitable man.

The best known of his charities, but also a vignette of

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his unorthodoxy, was demonstrated when he took pity on a medical student who could not graduate from the local medical school due to a P100,000-back account.

As told by lawyer Ony Partoza, a family friend, when the medical school rejected Ding’s promissory note, he wrote a check for P100,000. When the school rejected it again, demanding for cash, Ding went to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to encash his check. He went back to the medical school with a wheelbarrow-full of coins worth P100,000.

It took the staff of the cashier’s office hours to count the loose change. When a staffer said that the money lacked some amount, he calmly suggested they go to Bangko Sentral and count the metal money again to prove that it did not reach P100,000. Horrified, the staff said, it was okay, they would cover the little difference.

To the end, Ding was still fighting some of his legal battles, an act of faith in the country’s prevailing justice system.

Too, to the end, Ding was still dreaming of big dreams.

One of them was to build a 16-story cross on tiny Odet Island just beside the elegant Malipano Island in the Island Garden City of Samal. Intended to be a shrine and tourist spot, the giant cross would serve as lighthouse that can be seen by incoming ships and airplanes miles away.

What a colorful life citizen Ding lived!

ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

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Columnists: CARLOS MUNDA • MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEñA • MARY ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NICASIO AGUSTIN • VIDA A. MIA VALVERDE • Economic ENRICO“ADDIE” “GICO” G. Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER ANGELO C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO PEñA • ZHAUN ORTEGA Analysts: • BERNADETTE B. DAYANGIRANG M.QUISIDO PEREZ • Lifestyle Columnists: BAISR., FAUZIAH SINSUAT •AMBOLODTO • MEGHANN STA. INES BORBON • MARY• JONALLIER ANN “ADI” C. • LEANDRO B. DAVAL • NIKKIFATIMA GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY •ZEN NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ

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VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

Sinister plot

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TEALTH MOVES TO MUDDLE THE ISSUE – For the past months we have witnessed deep geopolitical shifts that threatened to change the country’s political landscape. In the present political enmeshment, the Aquino administration despite the fact that its high trust and performance ratings are slightly slowing down, still command wide popular support. There are increasing pressures employed by some thick-faced politicians embroiled in the multi-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam and their high-profile spin masters aimed at trying to divert public attention by raising the issue of the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

Early in the week, President Benigno Aquino III reaches out to the exploited people through primetime TV delivering a message of clarification and justification, his subtle but hawkish approach in dealing with the mounting criticism surrounding the DAP issue. But President PNoy’s diplomatic overtures, which stand in stark contrast to the belligerent statements so commonly heard from his predecessors’ are proving to be quite a challenge to his harsh critics and political detractors.

I’m not sure if the President’s message to the nation is the best he can do at this time because immediately right after making rationalization on DAP, critics of all colors and stripes and politicians of different inclinations scrambled to denounce the unexpected speech on nationwide television. Faced with mounting criticism over corruption, the President has to parry all the blows coming from all directions, with anti-pork barrel and self-professed advocates of good governance calling the speech as “scornful and full of inconsistencies.”

The events brought into the open a deep-rooted culture of corruption involving some cash-starved members of Congress in the incomparable pork

barrel fund scandal. But this time, public anger was inflamed not only by the sheer excesses enmeshing PDAF, but by another alleged financial anomaly – the DAP. What the protesters failed to see is the real motives behind the sprouting of the DAP issue. There’s actually a behind-thescenes sinister moves designed primarily to muddle the highly controversial pork barrel fund scam issue. Yes fellas, the Aquino leadership has been bombarded with a barrage of black propaganda in an effort to link the PDAF scam to the DAP, hoping to cover up for the trial by publicity. The sinister plot seemed to picture a scenario wherein the public will see President PNoy as totally different from his predecessors. They’re right, but the President at the same time failed miserably and hasn’t come up with a concrete proposal on how to ultimately resolve the brewing issue about rampant corruption.

If one is curious enough by trying to dig deeper into the issue, he would readily notice and feel there’s some groups that have been working behind the scenes – performing “demolition job” aimed at diverting public perception from PDAF to DAP. These highly-paid spin masters hired by unscrupulous people embroiled in corruption scandals are trying to make sure everyone is keenly aware that President PNoy’s charm public approach is just mere tactics, but it doesn’t mean there’s real change in the system of governance. As part of efforts to besmirch the image of the Aquino administration, the disparaging campaign includes big names in media and reputa-

ble opinion-makers.

Even so, doubt remains over whether DAP is similar to PDAF, although some political experts have already made their opinion stating that the question on DAP is its constitutionality. The DAP, though a lump sum funds impounded from various sources or government savings, is now rapidly played out as more illegal than PDAF, which in truth, the President as the accountable person for the funds, is not yet proven to have corrupted billions of pesos. However, there are stealth maneuvers trying to implicate some of the President’s political allies and close associates to the DAP, but not President PNoy – directly or indirectly.

As it is, a noted political analyst says that what the President did was sort of a gamble – either won or lost. Public dissatisfaction has risen with the perception that the government has been unable to tackle, in particular, widespread corruption. The criticism has even eaten into the personal popularity of the President who during the previous months was overwhelmingly enjoying high trust and satisfaction ratings. Although it skidded down by few notches, President PNoy still enjoys wide popular public support. The string of financial scandals admittedly put pressures on the government to proceed quickly with its proposed reforms, part of which is to totally abolish the shameful PDAF. The controversial reforms to abolish the pork barrel funds are gaining ground, but in the time being, because the legal processes on PDAF are long and cumbersome, the wary public had to abide with the decisions of the courts. Critics remain doubtful whether drastic reforms really are on the way and uncertain there is guarantee of change. On the other hand, the government may have taken “low body blows” but may effectively be edging a weakened “demolition forces” in the long run that eventually would make reforms even easier to achieve.

A journalistic revolution

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LENN Greenwald, the journalist who revealed National Security Agency surveillance leaks from former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, dueled this week with former New York Times executive editor Bill Keller over objectivity in journalism. Keller argued that impartiality forces a journalist to test all assumptions. Greenwald, however, countered that impartiality didn’t test assumptions as much as confer authority to each of them.

He explained that his new reporting venture, a website funded by eBay co-founder Pierre Omidyar, would treat official pronouncements with skepticism.

But while this argument has been taking up a lot of the journalistic oxygen, Paul Thornton, head of the Los Angeles Times letters to the editor section, weighed in recently with a potentially more significant position. Thornton held brief for neither impartiality nor skepticism, but rather for a belief that facts matter — that they can lead to conclusions whether you happen to like those conclusions or not.

Thornton admitted that in his section, he does not run letters claiming there is no human source to global climate warming. Why don’t they run? Because, according to Thornton, “Saying ‘There’s no sign humans have caused climate change’ is not stating an opinion, it’s asserting a factual inaccuracy.”

It should have been the journalistic shot

COMMENTARy

By Neal GaBler

Part 1 of 2

heard ‘round the world, except not many people seem to have heard it. Get this: An editor at a major American newspaper had the temerity to say that on some issues there is such a thing as scientifically verifiable truth. In doing so, he challenged what may be the dominant force in American journalism over the past 30 years — not bias, but that standby of certain university English departments, deconstructionism, which insists there is no such thing as an immutable fact.

An editor championing truth over opinions shouldn’t be an earthquake. But it is. Journalistic extremes have long disregarded fact for ideology. However the bulwarks of American journalism — our mainstream newspapers, websites, magazines, and network news broadcasts — have opted for another principle: Every opinion, no matter how uninformed, deserves equal weight — and journalists dare not come down on one side or the other. It makes balance the new objectivity.

This careful balancing act is now so com-

monplace that we hardly recognize it. Most anyone watching the evening network news during the government shutdown, for example, saw man-on-the-street interviews of first one person blaming the Republicans for the fiasco (for which they did bear the greatest responsibility), followed by another person blaming the Democrats, followed by a third blaming everyone in government. That has become standard journalistic practice in mainstream media outlets.

A large reason for the “on-the-one-hand,” “on-the-other” reporting has been the success of conservatives in creating the shibboleth of a “liberal” media and then working the refs in that media to bend over backward to prove it isn’t true. No one, not least of all liberal editors, wants to be considered one-sided.

But the roots for this go back more than a century, when the journalistic extremists of the yellow press era, William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer, controlled American newspapers. Progressives decided to fight back against these press lords’ sensationalistic, propagandistic papers that traded in scandal and used their pages to promote pet causes — most famously, Hearst’s desire to provoke a Spanish-American war. The Progressives called for a new, professionalized journalism, in which reporters wouldn’t be advocates who took sides so much as observers who collected facts.

VANTAGE POINTS

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The elections: Ugly, grievous and unbecoming WORM’S-EyE VIEW

By MaNNy ValdehueSa

(Conclusion)

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ow about our venerable institutions (schools, churches, businesses, corporate citizens)? Could it be said in the course of these elections that they were civic-minded, earnest about corporate social responsibility, and an influential force for responsible citizenship?

Far from it. Even churchmen are hard to imagine as truly engaged in rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s. Pulpit admonitions or advocacy can hardly qualify as engagement in the work and the ethos of the community.

Many families—so-called basic units of community and society—instead of serve as bastions of righteousness and moral conduct, became purveyors, perpetrators, and financiers of ugly electoral practices fielding cheats, deploying vote-buyers, harboring partisan campaigners in defiance of Section 38 of the Omnibus Election Code. Others that did not actively participate or exploit the electoral system simply stood passive and apathetic, oblivious to the tide of corruption that inundated many of their neighborhood compounds.

These collective failures caused the full play of atavism and amoral politics, letting what probably has been the most corrupt elections ever in the history of our grassroots democracy.

Have we lost our sense of delicadeza or propriety? How could we ignore the distinction between right or wrong? How could unfettered vote-buying, vote-selling, and myriad other violations take place without challenge or question?

To contemplate all these and let matters be is to accept that Philippine society is amoral and without ethical standards to live up to. It is to be resigned to the proposition our Republic stands on dubious moorings, rotten and corrupt.

It is to deny that it takes responsible citizens to establish a responsible government, that dishonesty in contending candidates can be a valid basis for an honest community government. A community that tolerates dishonest elections can only be one that subscribes to dishonest governance.

Tolerating or suborning illegitimate voters can only establish illegitimate government.

Let’s face it: Wherever vote-buying triumphed, there will you find a government born of corruption, tainted by illegitimacy. Of the 42,028 barangay governments of our republic, how many are legitimate, created by honest votes?

No matter how small a fraction they may represent of the total, the nation’s integrity is already compromised. It is a blot on our nation’s honor.

(MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. Manny Valdehuesa writes from Cagayan de Oro and is the president and national convenor of Gising Barangay Movement Inc. He can be reached at valdehuesa@gmail. com.)

10

EDGEDAVAO

BIGGER PICTURE Setting the universal health care right for the informal sector T

HE challenge toward achieving universal health care coverage in the Philippines is how to extend health care coverage to the informal sector.

Under the National Health Insurance Program, the formal sector is mandatorily enrolled in the social health insurance program, while those in the informal sector, mostly self-employed and the near poor, have to enroll voluntarily.

Coverage of the informal sector is still slow, according to a research of the UPecon Foundation – Health Equity and Financial Protection in Asia Project (UPecon-HEFPA).

University of the Philippines School of Economics (UPSE) Associate Professor Joseph Capuno said insurance subsidies in the form of premium vouchers, information kits, and assistance to complete and submit enrollment forms can increase insurance uptake by the informal sector. Capuno stressed this in a symposium on “Towards Universal SHI Coverage in the Philippines: Setting the Subsidies Right for the Informal Sector”, held at the UPSE. The forum was co-

VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

sponsored by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) in observance of the 11th Development Policy Research Month.

Through the PhilHealth Prepaid Premium (3P) study of the UPecon-HEFPA team, it was found that premium subsidies bundled with information drives (information kit and SMS messages) could help increase the enrollment in social health insurance (SHI). However, financial burdens placed on families by the enrollment process must be addressed.

The identified Individually Paying Program (IPP) members of the 3P study were given 3P certificates worth six hundred pesos each, which they can use to enroll in PhilHealth. They were all also given information packets about the IP program, its requirements and procedures. Very few 3P certificate recipients enrolled, however, and it was found out that this was due to the lack of funds to cover the transaction costs of their enrollment (like transportation fares).

“Premium subsidies may be less effective than measures

that reduce the burden placed on families by the enrollment process,” said Capuno.

Moreover, the PhilHealth benefit delivery rate (BDR) for inpatient care for the informal sector in 2010 was only 10.51 percent, according to UPSE Associate Professor Stella Luz Quimbo. The BDR is a summary measure of social health insurance performance that reflects the en-

rollment of the target population (coverage rate), its accessibility to beneficiaries (claim rate), and the magnitude of social health insurance benefits relative to medical expenditures (reimbursement rate).

“To improve the BDR of the informal sector, efforts should be directed toward expanding the coverage rate (50%) and the reimbursement rate

(currently at 37.34%),” Quimbo said.

Highlighting the importance of health insurance to the poor and vulnerable groups, in particular to the informal sector, UPSE Associate Professor Aleli Kraft said improving financial protection through health insurance will help poor households avoid cutting down their basic food and nonfood expenditures,

especially those for medical care and education.

PhilHealth coverage as of 2011 is 82 percent of the population or about 74 million. Nevertheless, huge challenges remain on how to effectively and rationally utilize insurance benefits for beneficiaries and how to keep beneficiaries enrolled, particularly those in the informal sector.

the Sin Tax Law on cigarettes and alcohol, which can provide an estimated incremental revenue of PHP 84.3 billion in 2013, rising to PHP139 billion in 2016. However, Picazo pointed out that the absorption of these additional resources will be a major challenge.

“The sin taxes have already been committed, and the question then is how could we absorb or

spend this money equitably so that the poor will benefit from health services,” Picazo said.

During the media briefing last September 4 to launch the 11th Development Policy Research Month (DPRM) at the PIDS in Makati City, Picazo disclosed that the government only allots 3 to 3.5 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) for the health sector, much smaller than the World Health

Organization’s recommendation of 5 percent of GDP for health. PIDS Vice President Rafaelita Aldaba noted that other emerging economies usually spend seven to eight percent of their GDP for education training and health.

In the program, Picazo also mentioned various challenges and opportunities for making health more inclusive in the Philippines, which emphasized the need for a higher GDP

allotment for the health sector.

“The Aquino administration’s Universal Health Care program or Kalusugan Pangkalahatan is deliberately designed to focus on the poorest two quintiles of the population, but expansion of benefits has not reduced the outof-pocket spending on medical care that has remained very high,” Picazo said.

Dr. Irma Asuncion, Director of the Nation-

al Center for Disease Prevention and Control of the Department of Health, revealed there are 1,819 hospitals in the country, which has a total bed capacity of 101,914. This is equivalent, she said, to a population-to-bed ratio of 1 bed per 960 population. “Our population is growing at 1.8 million a year, but our hospitals clearly cannot accommodate this burgeoning population,” Picazo noted.

Higher GDP allotment for health sector, says PIDS Health Economist T

HE growth of the Philippine economy is favorable to address the non-inclusivity of the economy in the aspect of health, said senior health consultant Oscar Picazo of state think tank Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) Economic growth makes it possible for the health budget to increase, especially the recent passage of

NEWS 11

VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

UN report puts pirate ransoms at over $ 339M in seven years Pirates off the coast of Somalia and the Horn of Africa have made between US$ 339 million and US$ 413 million in ransom profits, fueling a wide range of criminal activities on a global scale, a UNbacked report said Friday.

“Pirate Trails,” the report produced by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the World Bank and INTERPOL, uses data and evidence from interviews with former pirates, government officials, bankers and others involved in countering piracy, to investigate the flow of ransom money paid out to Somali pirates operating in the Indian Ocean.

“The vast amounts of money collected by pirates, and the fact that they have faced virtually no constraint in moving and using their assets has allowed them not only to thrive, but also to develop their capacities on land,” said Tofik Murshudlu, chief of the Implementation Support Section in the Organized Crime and Illicit Trafficking Branch at UNODC. “These criminal groups and their assets will continue to pose a threat to the stability and security of the Horn of Africa unless longterm structural solutions are implemented to impede their current freedom of movement,” said the re-

port, which was released Friday.

Piracy costs the global economy about US$ 18 billion a year in increased trade costs. As the outbreak of piracy has reduced maritime activity around the Horn of Africa, East African countries have suffered a significant decline in tourist arrivals and fishing yields since 2006.

“Unchallenged piracy is not only a menace to stability and security, but it also has the power to corrupt the regional and international economy,” said Stuart Yikona, a World Bank senior financial sector specialist and the report’s co-author. [PNA/Xinhua]

ings and a folding bed for their plan to stay overnight amid the rocks for a vigil.

They brought with them a folding bed and laminated pictures of their missing family members, which were edited from family pictures taken a month before the disaster.

“If it won’t rain, we’ll sleep here. But if it does, the house of my brother is just nearby,” Aquino said, pointing to the chapel.

The house of the Cantila family used to stand in front of the Andap Elementary School. The family donated a hectare for the school site.

The flashflood washed away the elementary school buildings and left only one of the 15 classrooms standing.

The debris flow from the resort village of Andap stretched some 10 kilometers downstream to Barangay Cogonon, according to the Mines and

Geosciences Bureau Region 11.

It buried under rocks and boulders the village center of Andap, houses, farmlands and a portion of the cemetery.

Flowers, candles, food At the marker, which was inaugurated 40 days after the typhoon hit the town, families and relatives of the victims offered candles, food, flower and even soda.

Some relatives were

Kin pay...FFROM 4

The scorching heat seems to suck the energy out of this young vendor who fell asleep while selling straw hats to revelers during the observance of All Souls’ Day on Saturday at the Davao Memorial Park in Matina, Davao City.

Lean Daval Jr.

also seen erasing the names of some persons still alive but mistakenly listed as among those who perished in the flashflood.

Parish priest Fr. Edgar Tuling told MindaNews that only a few attended the mass on All Saints’ Day. “Others maybe attending the mass on All Souls’ Day,” he added.

At the public cemetery, which was not spared by the flash-

flood, some residents were seen repairing destroyed tombs.

Some other tombs have been totally swept away by raging floodwater.

At least 324 bodies were buried in the mass grave in the public cemetery. Only two of the dead were identified.

Fr. Tuling said that results of the DNA samplings conducted by forensic experts of the National Bureau of In-

vestigation have yet to be made available.

They have yet to come back to this town to report the result of their DNA samplings, he noted.

The DNA samplings were taken last January.

The mass grave is marked with the initials “PNB.” Some relatives also offered candles and flowers at the cross near the mass grave. [Keith Bacongco/MindaNews]

12 CLASSIFIEDS There’s a better way to get attention.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

EDGEDavao Gensan Partners

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VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

General Santos Drive, Koronadal City, South Cotabato 9506 General Santos Koronadal City, South Cotabato 9506 Tel. No.Drive, 083-228-2511 ; Fax No. 083-228-2654 Tel. No. 083-228-2511 ; Fax No. 083-228-2654

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EDGEDAVAO

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Requirements: Requirements: 1. Driver’s License with Official Receipt 2. 21.x 2Driver’s I.D. picture pcs.)

License(2 with Official Receipt 3. Certificate of Employment 2. 2 x 2 I.D. picture (2 pcs.)or clearance from 3. Certificate of Employment or clearance from

previous employment May apply in person at Human Resource Department, YBLI Office, General Santos Drive, May apply in person at Human Resource Koronadal City.

Department, YBLI Office, General Santos Drive, Koronadal City.

BUSINESS FOR ASSUME

Lodging House with 40 rooms at the heart of Davao City is for assume for 1.8 M (negotiable) Call 09228066984.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND OR PAG-IBIG FUND,

Mortgagee -versus-EJF-REM CASE NO. 14,403-13 EMMA B. ESCAMIS married to Jose P. Escamis, Mortgagor/s. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the mortgagee Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-ibig Fund against the mortgagor/s Emma B. Escamis married to Jose Escamis with postal address at LOT 13 & 14 , BLK. 42, DECA HOMES RESORT RESIDENCE TUGBOK MINTAL , Davao City to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of July 29, 2013 amounts to ( P 584,682.21) Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest, penalty charges, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to TEN ( 10%) of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public auction on June 28 , 2013 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland,Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate of Title No. T- 444300 “ A parcel of land (Lot 31, Blk. 15, . Pcs-11002129 xxx) situated in the Barangay of Cabantian, C Davao City, Island of Mindanao.xxx Containing an area of EIGHTY ONE(81) SQUARE METERS, more or less” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date,it shall be held on July 26, 2013 without further notice.

Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the titles herein described real property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

Davao City, Philippines, May 8, 2013 FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF: (SGD.) ROBERT M. MEDIALDEA Sheriff IV Noted by: (SGD) ATTY. EDIPOLO P. SARABIA, JR. Clerk of Court VI & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff (edge 5/20,27,6.3)

14 SPORTS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Rios warns Pacquiao: I’m coming for the kill

A

boastful Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios warned boxing trainer Freddie Roach to prepare his prized fighter Manny Pacquiao for a world of hurt that’s coming his way.

The Mexican-American told the media during his open training at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Oxnard that he won’t be playing around when he squares off with the Filipino superstar on November 24.

“Let Freddie Roach know I am a man, I come for the win, the kill. Tell Freddie that -- I want him to know,” said Rios.

The Mexican brawler

is expected to use his size and strength to try and wear down the smaller Pacquiao.

The threat, however, seemed to be directed at Roach instead of his opponent.

It’s no secret that Roach and Rios are not the best of friends.

Back in 2010, when Pacquiao was preparing for the Antonio Margarito fight, Margarito and his friend Rios came up with a video making fun of Roach’s Parkinson’s disease.

Rios later apologized for his behavior, saying that his actions were a product of immaturity.

“It was a video. It happened back in the days. I was immature. I took full [responsibility] for that.

It was my fault. I already apologized, so I don’t need to keep repeating myself every time I see him and [expletive] bow down and say, sorry, sorry, sorry,” he said in a separate interview with NY Daily News.

However, Rios seemed to underestimate Pacquiao because of his age.

The 27-year-old said that unlike him, the 8-division former world champion is already at the twilight of his professional career.

“I am in the prime of my career, not like Pacquiao,” said Rios.

free throw line to stave off the comebacking Filipinas.

With the loss, Perlas dropped down to 3-2 and into a tie with Indonesia for third place in Level II. Only the top two teams get a chance take on the bottom two of Level I for a chance for promotion to the top level.

Malaysia has already clinched a place in the qualification round with a 4-1 record while second place Thailand (3-1) can clinch

their spot with a victory against winless Hong Kong in their last game.

Perlas trailed by eight points, 41-33, at the halftime break and Indonesia opened the third with a huge 8-0 blast that made it 49-33 in the third.

But Perlas’ Melissa Jacob ended the drought with back-to-back baskets and the team fired back with eight unanswered points of their own to get back into the game.

PHL cagebelles bow to Indons

T

HE Philippine national women’s basketball team took a blow to their FIBA Asia Women’s Championship campaign when they fell to Indonesia, 60-54, in their last assignment in the preliminary round Thursday in Bangkok, Thailand.

Discovery Perlas Pilipinas fought back from a 16-point deficit to get to as close as three points inside the final minute but Indonesia proved steady from the

Manny Pacquiao takes part in a training session in General Santos City. (Getty Images/Jeoffrey Maitem)

INdulge!

VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

EDGEDAVAO FOOD

Going local at RBG Common sense dictates that whatever is freshest tastes best and with fresh produce harvested mere hours away and with the sea literally at the city’s doorstep, it is no wonder why Davao City is fast becoming a foodie’s dream destination.

Taking advantage of Durianburg’s bounty, Park Inn Davao’s new executive chef, Jayme natividad came up with a new and more exciting menu for RBG, Park Inn’s signature all-day dining restaurant, to highlight local produce.

“I’d like to think that every chef takes inspiration from the simple things around him.” says Jayme “From someone like me who grew up in manila and worked abroad, I find Davao the most dynamic in terms of local produce.

This region has to much to offer --- from fresh ocean bounty, fruits, and vegetables. so, when I was given this task to modify the menu of RBG, I never

RBG’s new executive chef, Jayme Natividad.

My favorite dish was this delicious and well-balanced Tuna Ceviche.

thought twice about creating more dishes that are infused with local flavours.”

And I do say that Chef Jayme did a beautiful job!

From the delicious Tuna Ceviche that uses locally sourced tuna, green mango and pomelo, to the Ricotta meat Balls that use olive Puentespina’s malagos ricotta cheese. each dish was well balanced and highlighted Davao’s rich flavours. I especially love his interpretation of the classic Chicken Adobo which can be ordered solo or to share.

And what is a great meal without dessert?

Using the world-renowned chocolate from Davao, Jayme created a decadent Lava Cake topped with sweet and salty queso de bola ice

Lechon bits make its way onto a delicious pasta.

RBG’s Lava Cake uses Malagos Dark Chocolate and is served with a scoop of salty sweet queso de bola ice cream. cream. The richness of the chocolate cake is enhanced by the unique flavour of the cheese ice cream. It was so good I gobbled up the entire cake and I suggest dessert lovers to go and give it a try too.

RBG at the Park Inn by Radisson Davao is open daily from 6:30 in the morning to 10:30 in the evening.

For reservations and inquiries, call +6382.2727608.

Follow me on Twitter or on Instagram @kennethkingong for more foodie finds, travel tips and happenings in, around and be- The rustic Ricotta Meat Balls yond Durianburg. using Malagos ricotta cheese.

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

PAL launches chartered flights between Manila and Russia In response to growing tourist arrivals from Russia, flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) said it is set to begin chartered flights between Manila and the Russian city of Vladivostok, starting October 27, 2013.

The chartered flights will be carried out in partnership with Primorsky Agency of Aviation Companies TM Biletur, the biggest tour company in Far East Russia.

According to the Tourism Department, 21,736 Russians visited the Philippines during the first 8 months of the current year. This number represents a 32.53% increase from the number of Russian tourist arrivals covering the same period last year (2012).

PAL hopes to help the Department of Tourism (DOT) develop this growing market through the launch of chartered flights.

“We recognize the growing demand from Russian tourists for a direct air link to the Philippines. Through this service, we hope to be able to serve this market and more importantly, help our government’s efforts to boost tourism,” said PAL President Ramon S. Ang. The first flight from Vladivostok departs the Russian City at 8AM local time, arriving Manila at 9:30AM October 27. Its return flight leaves Manila at 11PM on November 7, arriving Vladivostok 6:30AM. Chartered flights to and from the two cities will be scheduled throughout the year.

From Manila, Russian visitors will be able to fly out to PAL’s domestic destinations including Caticlan (Boracay), Cebu, Tagbilaran (Bohol), Puerto Princesa, and Legaspi. They can also connect to the carrier’s regional and international hubs.

SM City General Santos holds Brillante Mendoza Film Festival

STUDENTS got the chance to meet and greet one of the living national treasures of the Philippine alternative cinema, Director Brillante Ma Mendoza, during the first ever Brillante Mendoza Film Festival held at SM City General Santos on October 29-30, 2013.

Director Brillante Mendoza is the first Asian to win the prestigious Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his film “Kinatay” in 2009 and is regarded by the world’s film critics as an Ultra-neo-realist.

Early this April, Director Brillante Mendoza was honored in the Czech Republic’s biggest film festival, the Prague International Film Festival or FebioFest.

More recently, Thy Womb won the Best Actress Award at the Sakahalin Film Festival, while his latest movie “Sapi”, which will be showing at SM Cinema on November 6, had its world premiere at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival. His films depict social realities and the lives of ordinary people in extraordinary situations. He uses these social realities as the backdrop of characters on issues that plague the country.

The film festival started with a launching program on October 29 at the Event Center of SM City General Santos. The event was attended by Deans and Faculty members of the different Universities and Colleges of General Santos City, SOX Bloggers, SalaMindanaw Film Society and film enthusiasts.

On October 30, Faculty members and students were also honored with the rare opportunity not only to see Director Mendoza’s critically acclaimed films, but to have his presence too. Four of Director Mendoza’s films – Lola, Manoro, Kaleldo, and Foster Child – were shown simultaneously and followed by a question and answer session with the Director himself.

Brillante Mendoza Film Festival, indeed, brought inspiration to many film enthusiasts and future filmmakers. Teatro Ambahanon entertained the audience with their extraordinaire contemporary dance and the event was also sponsored by SM Cinema and Sarangani Highlands.

For more event updates, check out SM City General Santos (Official) on Facebook or call Marketing Department at (083) 878-0667.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

ENTERTAINMENT

Bacoleños get teary-eyed over Marian Rivera’s visit

BRImmInG with her down-to-earth personality, Kapuso Primetime Queen marian Rivera greeted thousands of Bacoleños with a warm smile during a Kapuso Fans’ Day held on october 18 at the north Transport Hub of sm City Bacolod, as part of the annual celebration of the masskara Festival.

“Hindi ko alam kung paano ako tatanggapin ng mga tao sa mall show ko,” was her sentiment hours before the program. But as she ascended the stage, she was astounded to see the happy faces of her supporters who were screaming and cheering, with some even bursting into tears at the sight of her— signs that she was more than welcome to be there and that her visit has long been waited for by the Bacoleños. marian admitted she had second thoughts on whether she would push through with the mall show or not after a massive earthquake hit some parts of Visayas on october 15.

“Pagkatapos kong mabalitaan ‘yung naging effect ng lindol, nag-text kaagad ako kay Kuya oli (oliver Amoroso, Asst.

Vice President of GmA Regional TV) kung tutuloy pa ba kami dahil baka kailangang maka-recover muna ng mga tao or may ayusin sa lugar nila, baka pwede naming i-delay or i-postpone. Ang sabi naman nila, ‘hinihintay ka ng mga tao dun, kailangan ka nila, at least kahit papaano maging masaya naman sila,’” she shared.

It was marian’s first time to witness and celebrate masskara. “masasabi ko na first time ko lahat dito sa Bacolod except I remember nag-radio tour ako be-

fore for marimar pero that was super quick lang. Ito talaga ‘yung pinakamatagal na nakilala at nakantahan ko sila on stage,” she said.

Deeply overwhelmed, marian assured her supporters that she’ll come back saying, “nakakatuwa talaga dito sa Bacolod, ang sasaya ng mga tao. Parang ayaw ko na nga umalis, kung pwede dito na lang ako. Promise, babalik ako.”

In the said Kapuso Fans’ Day, marian was joined by stand-up comedian Boobay, who amusingly added delight to the audience.

next event was the Kapuso electric Dansskara Finals and Charter Day Countdown held at the Bacolod City Government Center at 8pm of the same day featuring mark Herras, Rochelle Pangilinan, and Andrea Torres as celebrity guests. The following day, october 19, the Bacoleños had the chance to meet more Kapuso stars via the Charter Day Parade and a back-to-back Kapuso mall show.

First group who endeared the fans were the cast of Genesis—Rhian Ramos, TJ Trinidad, and Betong sumaya. At 1pm,

they participated in the parade that cruised along the main streets of the city down to the Bacolod Public Plaza, then at 4pm, they performed in a mall show held at the Robinson’s Bacolod fountain area together with one of the hottest love teams in show business, Alden Richards and Louise delos Reyes.

It was followed by another exciting show held at the mall’s City Walk at 7pm that featured the cast of Pyra Babaeng Apoy— Thea Tolentino, Jeric Gonzales, Polo Ravales, and Angelu de Leon—plus the country’s Pop Diva Kuh Ledesma. on october 20, GmA Bacolod’s news and Public Affairs offered a special live coverage of the masskara street Dancing that took place at the Bacolod Public Plaza. said live coverage aired via GmA TV Bacolod on the same day.

Highlights of GmA network’s participation in the masskara Festival can be seen in Let’s Fiesta TV special airing on november 10 in all nine regional stations in Cebu, Davao, CDo, Iloilo, Bacolod, Bicol, Ilocos, Dagupan, and Gensan.

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

‘Honesto’ tops nationwide primetime TV ratings ABS-CBN’s newest primetime drama series “Honesto” charmed millions of Filipinos with its story about the importance of honesty as its pilot episode won in the nationwide TV ratings last Monday (October 28).

Based on the data from Kantar Media, “Honesto” garnered 30.5% national TV ratings compared to its rival program in GMA “Genesis” which only scored 10.5%.

Because of its timely theme that revolves around the virtue of honesty and kindness, “Honesto” also conquered social networking sites such as Twitter where one of its cast members Paulo Avelino and the hashtag #HonestoPromisePilot became nationwide trending topics.

Netizens flooded the Twitter timeline with positive tweets such as “@LhieDeJesus: #HonestoPromisePilot It is nice to think that we now have a show like this to watch. It shows the importance of honesty;” “@ mybunny88: Excellent storyline, fast-paced and meritorious acting performance.

Definitely a hit! Congrats!!! :) #HonestoPromisePilot @ mepauloavelino;” and “@ JCMWalkersBC: The cast of Honesto is outstanding. It is like comedy filled with many lessons. #HonestoPromisePilot It feels good to

tell the truth.”

Meanwhile, primetime TV viewers will surely be glued to the small screens every night now that Felipe (Spanky Manikan) and Fina (Maricar Reyes) have already discovered the true colors of Diego (Paulo), Cleto (Nonie Buencamino), and Hugo (Joel Torre).

Can Diego still make up for the mistakes that he has done to prove his love for Fina or will the greediness

of his family still prevail in breaking him and the only woman he has ever loved apart?

Don’t miss the continuation of the inspiring and honest story of “Honesto,” weeknights after “TV Patrol” on ABS-CBN Primetime Bida. For exclusive updates, pictures, and videos, log on to “Honesto’s” official social media accounts Facebook. com/Honesto.TV and Twitter.com/Honesto_TV.

‘It’s Showtime’ continues ratings winning streak with magpasikat week ABS-CBN’s noontime show “It’s Showtime” continued to soar high in national TV ratings with many Filipinos tuning in to its Magpasikat Week, the talent competition among its hosts that marked its fourth anniversary.

The week-long celebration and talent battle consistently beat its rival program, GMA’s “Eat Bulaga” with a national TV rating of 14.3% vs 13.2% (Oct 21); 15.9% vs 13.2% (Oct 22); 16% vs 13% (Oct 23); 18.5% vs 12.8% (Oct 24); and 18.2% vs 13.3% (Oct 25).

“It’s Showtime” even pulled away in the ratings game on Saturday (Oct 26) when the team of Karylle, Jugs Jugueta, and Teddy Corpuz was declared the Magpasikat champion. That day, “It’s Showtime” registered a national TV rating of 19.6% against “Eat Bulaga,” which only got 12.1%.

The trio won P200,000 for their chosen charity for their much talked-about and

SHE'S THE ONE 2D Bea Alonzo, Dingdong Dantes, Enrique Gil PG 13

12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

THOR: THE DARK WORLD 3D

impressive performance in which they sang the “It’s Showtime” theme song in reverse.

Coming in second place was the team of Vice Ganda and Kuya Kim Atienza, who

bagged P150,000, and in third place the team of Billy Crawford, Vhong Navarro, and Coleen Garcia, who received P100,000 for their chosen charity.

The Anne Curtis-Jhong Hilario and Ryan Bang-Eruption Tai tandems, meanwhile, received consolation prizes.

Join in the fun of “It’s Showtime,” 12:30PM from Mondays to Fridays, and 12NN on Saturdays on ABSCBN. For updates on the program, follow @ItsShowtimena on Twitter and @itsshowtimeofficial_ig on Instagram or like www.facebook. com/itsShowtimena.

Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman PG 13

12:00 | 2:30 | 5:00 | 7:30 | 10:00 LFS

CAPTAIN PHILLIPS 2D Tom Hanks PG 13

12:00 | 2:30 | 5:00 | 7:30 | 10:00 LFS

R-16 THOR: THE DARK WORLD 2D Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman PG 13

12:40 | 3:00 | 5:20 | 7:40 | 10:00 LFS

A4 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

UP AND ABOUT EDGEDavao Davao Partners

ABS-CBN launches O Shopping Channel FILIPINOS won’t have to leave their homes to shop for highly reliable, reasonably priced, and world-class household products by tuning in to ABS-CBN’s newly launched television shopping programs that give them a rich and informative retail experience.

Shopping Channel has started broadcasting 24/7 shopping programs via SkyCable and Global Destiny on Channel 11, as well as programs through ABS-CBN’s Channel 2 and Studio 23 last October 15.

Viewers have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of products trusted by customers worldwide, from kitchenware to home, exercise, and beauty products at reasonable prices.

“The nature of our products is designed for working women and moms at home. We will have products for men, the household in general, and at some point, even products that cater to children. As we roll out more products, we will cater to the entire family,” said Paolo Pineda, head of ABS-CBN Business Development.

Shopping’s innovative and entertaining TV shopping programs also empower consumers by providing comprehensive information about the products, which include a home power laundry rack, a stovetop oven, a double pan, a 3D rolling hair styler, a roller slide, a handblender, among others.

Teleshoppers can pay cash on delivery or on mobile POS debit card and credit card (MasterCard and Visa).

Pineda said that O Shopping will also eventually offer cosmetic products, and other merchandise that will be demanded by its customers.

“Eventually we will serve what the market will demand.

We will find a way to get feedback and comments from people who buy our products, as long as there is interest and a sizeable market,” he said.

Shopping will also serve as an additional distribution platform for the licensed products under ABS-CBN brands, he added.

“We have a complete line of ‘Juan Dela Cruz’ merchandise available, Kris Aquino-branded products, and UAAP merchandise. This is just to complement the existing retail channels that are working with us today,” said Pineda.

Shopping is a joint venture between ABSCBN and CJ O Shopping Corporation, one of the largest home shopping companies in the world that also has presence in Shanghai, Tianjin, and Guangzhou in China, as well as in India, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, and Turkey.

Shopping has signed CJ Korea Express, the CJ Group’s logistics arm, to deliver products in Metro Manila, and shipping and logistics company 2Go for deliveries outside Metro Manila.

Hosted by Victor Anastacio, Charlotte Barredo, Cara Eriguel, Hiyasmin Neri, Lara Sayo, and Virginia Pozon, O Shopping’s programs air around the clock daily on SkyCable and Destiny Channel 11, and airs programs on Studio 23, at 1-2AM and 5-6AM from Mondays to Fridays and at 1-2AM on Saturdays and Sundays, and on ABS-CBN Channel 2 after “Banana Nite” from Mondays to Fridays, after “Sports Unlimited” on Saturdays, and after “Sunday’s Best” on Sundays.

For information on the products, just visit oshopping.com. ph or like www.facebook.com/oshopping1004.

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS 15

VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

17th City Council 1st Special Session Series of 2013 Republika ng Pilipinas SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD Lungsod ng Dabaw PRESENT: Councilor Bernard E. Al-ag Temporary Presiding Officer Councilor Nilo M. Abellera Jr. Councilor Al Ryan S. Alejandre Councilor Leonardo R. Avila III Councilor Joanne M. Bonguyan Councilor Louie John J. Bonguyan Councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang Councilor Jimmy G. Dureza Councilor Edgar P. Ibuyan Jr. Councilor Edgar R. Ibuyan Sr. Councilor Leah A. Librado-Yap Councilor Rene Elias C. Lopez Councilor Diosdado Angelo A. Mahipus Sr. Councilor Berino L. Mambo-o Sr. Councilor Bonifacio E. Militar Councilor Tomas J. Monteverde IV Councilor Myrna G. L’Dalodo-Ortiz Councilor Antoinette G. Principe Councilor J. Melchor V. Quitain Councilor Marissa P. Salvador-Abella Councilor Mary Joselle D. Villafuerte ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS: Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte Councilor Ma. Belen S. Acosta Councilor Victorio U. Advincula Jr. ABSENT: Councilor Karlo S. Bello Councilor April Marie C. Dayap On Domestic Emergency Leave Councilor Jashera L. Gonzales Councilor Rachel P. Zozobrado

ORDINANCE NO. 004-13 Series of 2013 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 1627, SERIES OF 1994, “AN ORDINANCE REGULATING THE OPERATION OF BUSINESS ESTABLISHMENTS SELLING LIQUORS, COCONUT WINE AND OTHER NATURE WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN THE CITY OF DAVAO” Be it Ordained by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Davao City in Session assembled that: SECTION 1. All persons below legal age are hereby prohibited to order, drink or consume liquors, alcoholic beverages, coconut wine (tuba) and other nature wine in hotels, beer houses, disco houses, fun houses, motels, family ktv bars, restaurants, food houses, stores, and the like, whether tourist accredited establishments or not; Provided, that said minors in conflict with this section shall be subjected to in accordance with the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act; SECTION 2. All persons selling or serving liquors, alcoholic beverages, coconut wine and other nature wines, and the like that cause intoxication are hereby prohibited to sell or serve the same beginning 1:00 o’clock in the morning (1:00 a.m.) until 8:00 o’clock

in the morning (8:00 a.m.).

The drinking and consumption of liquors, alcoholic beverages, coconut wine and other nature wines and the like that causes intoxication within the establishments or in other public places such as, but not limited to, streets, plazas, parks, parking areas and other uninhabited places within the same period, that is beginning 1:00 o’clock in the morning (1:00 a.m.) to 8:00 o’clock in the morning (8:00 a.m.) are likewise prohibited.

All business establishments shall stop selling or serving liquors, alcoholic beverages, coconut wine and other nature wines within the same period; SECTION 3. Any violation to the provisions of the preceding sections of this Ordinance shall be punished as follows: • 1st Offense - Administrative fine of Three Thousand Pesos (P3,000.00); • 2nd Offense - Administrative fine of Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) or Imprisonment of Three (3) Months or both upon the discretion of the Court; and • 3rd Offense - Administrative fine of Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00) and Imprisonment of One (1) year including Revocation of Business Permit If the violation is committed by a corporation, partnership or association, the President and/or Manager thereof, shall also be personally liable.

If the violation is committed by a single proprietorship, the owner and/or manager of the said entity shall also be liable therefor; SECTION 4. Any provisions of any existing Ordinance inconsistent with any provisions of this Ordinance are hereby modified and/or amended accordingly; SECTION 5. This Ordinance shall take effect upon approval and after due posting and publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality for three (3) consecutive times; ENACTED, July 24, 2013, by a majority vote of all the Members of the Sanggunian present.

CERTIFIED CORRECT:

CHARITO N. SANTOS Secretary to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Government Department Head II) ATTESTED:

BERNARD E. AL-AG President Pro Tempore Temporary Presiding Officer

APPROVED: August 17, 2013 (Sgd) RODRIGO R. DUTERTE City Mayor ATTESTED:

(Sgd) ATTY. JHOPEE S. AVANCEÑA-AGUSTIN Acting City Administrator

Minnesota Timberwolves’ Nikola Pekovic, right, blocks a shot attempt

by Oklahoma City Thunders’ Nick Collison in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game on Friday in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Wolves roll Thunder

M

INNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Kevin Love had 24 points and 12 rebounds and Ricky Rubio added 14 points, 10 assists and five steals to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 100-81 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night.

Nikola Pekovic had 15 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota, which played surprisingly good defense against Kevin Durant and the Thunder. Derrick Williams had 10 points and seven rebounds for Minnesota after not playing in the opener.

Durant scored 13 points on 4-for-11 shooting and had trouble finding clean look against a Timberwolves team that was supposed to be porous on defense. But the Thunder shot 35 percent and turned the ball over 21 times to get run out of the building.

After scoring 42 in the season opener against Utah, Durant scored his fewest points since Dec. 31, 2011 when he had 12 against Phoenix. Jeremy Lamb was the only other Thunder player in double figures with 16, and it has become abundantly clear very early in the season how much they miss Russell Westbrook.

Westbrook is out indefinitely with a knee injury, and the Thunder offense has lacked its usual zip and explosiveness with the fiery guard on the bench.

Westbrook or no Westbrook, it was a bit of a statement for the Wolves, who enter this season with hopes of getting to the playoffs for the first time since 2004. They led by as many as 34 points in the game, allowing coach Rick Adelman to rest his starting five for the entire fourth quarter.

Nets outlast Heat 101-100

N

EW YORK (AP) -- Paul Pierce and Joe Johnson scored 19 points each, and the Brooklyn Nets ended years of futility against the Miami Heat and sent the NBA champions to their first losing streak in 10 months with a 101100 victory Friday night.

Pierce and Johnson both hit two free throws in the final seconds as the Heat were trying to pull off a comeback. Instead, they fell to 1-2 and have dropped consecutive games for the first time since Jan. 8 and 10.

The Heat got Dwyane Wade back after he missed Wednesday’s loss in Philadelphia, and he scored 21 points. LeBron James led Miami with 26.

The Nets ended a 13-game skid against the Heat with their first victory since March 20,

2009, before Miami’s Big Three got together and when the Nets were still playing in East Rutherford, N.J. - two homes ago.

Brooklyn, bigger and deeper, opened an 11-point lead after three quarters and kept the lead right around there until the final 2 minutes. Then Miami ran off 10 straight, cutting it to 96-94 with 18 seconds left after consecutive 3-pointers by Wade and Mario Chalmers.

James later nailed a 3-pointer from the corner to cut it to 99-98 with 4.7 seconds remaining before Johnson hit two free throws. Chris Bosh was fouled and after making the first appeared to try and miss the second, but it went in and the Heat couldn’t commit another foul in time.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 6 ISSUE 166 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3-4, 2013

Monfort goes to Ginebra, Toroman gets Barako boot

A

day after parting ways with coaching consultant Rajko Toroman, Barako Bull made another curious move trading promising guard Emman Monfort to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel third-stringer Rob Labagala.

The PBA approved the trade on Thursday.

Monfort, an incoming second-year guard, had a string of good games for Barako Bull in the Governors’ Cup, including a career-high 25 points against Ginebra last August.

The smallest player in the league will join a team that is also expected to include Greg Slaughter, his former teammate at Ateneo who will become the tallest player in the league after Sunday’s draft.

Monfort will be the second backup point guard acquired by Ginebra from Barako Bull after the Gin Kings traded for Josh Urbiztondo in the Commissioner’s Cup last season. The team features LA Tenorio, an-

other Ateneo alumnus and Monfort’s idol growing up, as its starter at the spot.

On Wednesday, the PBA coaching carousel is back in full spin after the shocking exit coaching consultant Rajko Toroman from Barako Bull.

Two names being bandied about in the rumor mill include Petron assistant coaches Leo Austria and Koy Banal.

But while Austria said he had been hearing whispers, no one has talked to him officially about the matter.

“Semis pa lang ng Governors’ Cup naririnig ko na yan,” Austria said in a telephone interview.

“Pero ayaw kong maniwala hanggat walang kumakausap sa akin.”

Austria, who previously coached Shell and Rain or Shine in the PBA, is a hot coaching commodity after leading the San Miguel Beermen to the ASEAN Basketball League title earlier this year.

EDGEDavao Davao Partners

Agro-Industrial Foundation College of the Philippines (AIFCP) Sailors’ Kenneth Bendijo (center) shoots over Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU) Blue Knights’ Jess Evangelio (right) and Miguel Competente (left) during the first half of the Davao Champions League at the Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC) Gym on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr.

JMC heads Phoenix DCL Final Four cast T

HE Jose Maria College Kings led the march to the Final Four in the inaugural staging of the Phoenix Petroleum Davao Champions League (DCL). The much-awaited semis battle is set on Monday (November 4) at the Davao

City Recreation Center.

The JMC Kings disposed Holy Cross Crusaders 76-58 in the quarterfinals to take the first slot in the semis. Also making it were the University of Mindanao Wildcats, Agro-Industrial Foundation College Sailors, and

the DMMA College of Southern Philippines Mariners.

The Sailors earned the berth by booting out Ateneo de Davao University 63-46 in another quarterfinals match.

JMC thus topped the quarterfinals with four

wins against a loss, the Sailors and the Mariners are 3-1, the Wildcats are 3-2 while the Blue Knights and the Crusaders brought up the rear with winless slates in four outings.

The championship is set November 5 also at the DCRC. [NJB]

will have few veterans left to lead their title-retention bid in the qualifying event of the national finals,” Bernan said during the special Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at NCCC Mall B3 Center lanes yesterday.

He, however, said DCNHS will face stiff competition with the presence of current Batang Pinoy Mindanao champion Tagum City National High School,

Milo Little Olympics champion Iligan City National High School and Batang Pinoy Mindanao runner-up Koronadal National Comprehensive High School.

Also entered are the Ateneo de Davao University and Maa National High School of Davao City, Corpus Cristy High School and St. Mary’s School of Cagayan de Oro City, Cor Jesu College High School of Digos and Notre Dame of Kidap-

awan College High School.

He also said each team may be reinforced by two guest players born 1996 and below.

The champion of the round-robin elimination format event will win an all-expense paid trip to the Tournament of Champions in Manila inclusive of airfare, hotel accommodation and meals.

Admission is free to the public. (DSA)

DDC hosts Shakey’s Girls V-League D

AVAO Doctors College plays host to the Mindanao Leg of the 11th Season of the Shakey’s Girls Volleyball League on Nov. 12 to 15.

Leg organizer Ali Bernan said they are happy that DDC committed to be a partner of the prestigious tournament for secondary girls teams.

“It’s all systems go for the Mindanao leg. Davao City National High School