Edge Davao 6 Issue 210

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 210 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

Serving a seamless society

ABUNDANCE. A fruit buyer scans pineapples hanging in a fruit stall at the Agdao Public Market in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

RODY: NO ‘DAVID BANGAYAN’ Mayor says alleged smuggler is from Cebu, not Davao MYSTERY MAN OR FICTITIOUS NAME?

By ARMANDO FENEQUITO and EMILORD CASTROMAYOR

T

WHO IS THIS MAN? A curious check on social network site Facebook has this profile on the mysterious rice smuggling suspect Davidson Tan Bangayan.

HIS was the pronouncement of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte yesterday in the midst of a clueless hunt on the mysterious suspect in the P7-billion rice smuggling activities.

“Dalawa yang Tan eh. It’s David Lim and David Tan. Taga Cebu yan. Sometimes they are legitimate. Hindi yan taga Davao,” Duterte said in a media briefing late yesterday afternoon at the Waterfront Insular Hotel.

Mayor Duterte also clarified that there is no Bangayan involved in the rice importation mess. He maintained that the name David Tan Bangayan is fictitious.

The Bangayans are a family of well-known businessmen in Davao City but they are not involved in rice importation business.

“Ang style kasi kuno ng mg ‘to irecycle nila. They get

a permit from NFA to import rice using other ports in the country then they will recycle the permit,” Duterte stressed.

CIDG 11 STILL CLUELESS ON ALIAS ‘DAVID TAN’ In a related development, Regional director Sr. Supt. Joel Pernito of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Region 11 has formed a task force to investigate alleged rice smuggling into the country by certain Filipino-Chinese who resides in Davao City.

He told his men to investigate the mysterious Davidson Tan Bangayan, alias “David Tan” after the chair of the Federation of Philippine Industries (FPI) said that Tan is behind illegal activities that have cost the government P7 billion in lost revenue every year.

FRODY, 10

2

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 210 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

WEATHER FORECAST

KMU stages rare ‘lightning’ rallies Therma South calls for RECOVERED. San Pedro Police station commander Joel Consulta presents to members of local media yesterday stolen items they recovered from alleged notorious robber Mark Peralta who was killed by police operatives allegedly in a shootout early morning of Monday. Lean Daval Jr.

AFTER ACCIDENT

safety measures review D

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. abf@edgedavao.net

T

HE management of Therma South Inc. a coal-fired power plant owned by Aboitiz Power, is review safety measures in the facility after a Chinese engineer was killed in an accident last Monday.

“We will be thoroughly reviewing with our contractors and subcontractors our safety mea-

sures to ensure that this does not happen again.

Therma South regrets very much this unfortunate incident,” the company said in a statement.

The management conducted an investigation as to the cause of the accident and will issue a more detailed statement as soon as it has established the facts.

Police arrest 3 for theft

“We have also notified pertinent government agencies and will cooperate with the proper government authorities who are expected to conduct an inquiry on the incident,” the statement added.

In the afternoon of January 6, 2014, the 38-year-old Chinese national died when he was

accidentally struck by a three-ton pulley winch while supervising at the construction site in barangay Binugao, Toril, Davao City and barangay Inawayan, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. The victim was rushed to the nearest hospital but was declared dead on arrival by the attending physician.

crc@edgedavao.net

OZENS of people from the militant organization Kilusang Mayo Uno staged a rare demonstration yesterday in front of the offices of the Social Services System (SSS) in Bajada, and Philhealth on Bolton Extension, respectively to protest the implementation of increases in membership premiums by SSS and Philihealth.

The group threw rotten tomatoes at images of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino and SSS/Philhealth executives to manifest their outrage at the “injustice of

the increases”.

KMU Southern Mindanao secretary general Romualdo Basilio said in an interview with Edge Davao that the increases would add to the burden of the workers who are earning just enough for their daily needs.

They said that beginning this month, “due to the 0.6 percent increase in SSS premium, workers will have to shell out additional P25 more for their SSS contribution. Likewise, Philihealth is increasing its annual

FKMU, 10

By EMILORD P. CASTROMAYOR

T

epc@edgedavao.net

HREE alleged thieves were arrested by Davao City police last Tuesday and Wednesday in separate operations.

Arrested was Jennval Caburnay of Tirol St., Barangay Tugbok, who allegedly stole a laptop, a cellphone, and an estimated P30, 000 worth of items belonging to Ruel Del Rosario Dublico, 26, bank employee and resident of Deca Homes Resorts and Residences in Barangay Tugbok last Wednesday.

The police are preparing to file charges against Caburnay for theft before the city prosecution office.

Meanwhile, Melendrez Delima, 18, a student at the Ateneo de Davao University

and native of Polomolok, South Cotabato who is a boarder at the Beds and Book Dormitory in Barangay 29-C, was arrested by the police when his classmate Marlette Villarosa, 21, told the police that he took her I-phone 4 worth P50,000.

Police recovered the item from the possession of the suspect.

Also arrested last Tuesday was one Gilbert Santes, 23, of Purok 1, Mahayag, Bunawan, from whose possession was recovered a motorcycle owned by Jerwin Paras.

Buhangin police apprehended Santes at Vincent Heights, Lanang at around 6:45 p.m.

MASS WEDDING. Pag-IBIG marketing specialist Julie Ann L. Deocariza says during Club 888 media forum at the Marco Polo Davao yesterday that 200 couples are expected to participate in the third “I do, I do, Araw ng Pag-IBIG,” a mass wedding ceremony sponsored by Pag-IBIG Fund in partnership with the city government of Davao and the Department of Tourism in region 11 on “Valentine’s Day” at the People’s Park.

NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 210 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

3

Children Film Festival here next month eyed T FICTITIOUS. Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte clarifies in a press briefing yesterday held at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao that there is no Bangayan involved in the rice importation mess and maintained that the name David Tan Bangayan is fictitious. Lean Daval Jr.

CTO PROBE

O CREATE a culture of filming movies in Davao City, an official of the Film Development of the Philippines in Davao City is mulling launching the first Bantay Bata- Brillante Mendoza Children Film Festival here next month.

Peter Lat, city coordinator of the FDP, said that the film festival aims to encourage young film-makers and directors in the region to explore their skills and talents in film making. He said that they plan it to be region-wide and to tap high school, college and university students to make films about children.

He said during the monthly Art Talk at the Park Inn Hotel yesterday that everything about children can be an idea for a story. The festival, he said, will be the venue where students can

showcase their short films.

Lat said that this is their way to develop the filming industry in the region, adding that people are getting tired of watching mainstream movies where the plot or story is taken for granted, adding that most movies now are profit-oriented.

He said that art film, formerly known as “indie-film” is becoming the trend. Artists are now shifting from mainstream to art film because it can bring them to international events like the Cannes Film Festival.

He noted that most entries of the country in this prestigious award came from the genre of art film.

Meanwhile, Lat said that they are still finalizing the film festival, but it is planned to be staged in May after a month of preparation. [CRC]

Documents sent Pag-IBIG to sponsor to Ombudsman mass wedding at Park

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

abf@edgedavao.net

HE DAVAO City government has already submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman documents on the initial investigation of five erring city treasurer’s office employees allegedly involved in the misappropriation of tax collections.

City administrator J. Melchor V. Quitain told reporters that the Ombudsman sent a letter to his office requesting to be furnished copies of the investigation.

“Ngayon, paglabas ng

decision magpapadala na naman kami ng copy ng decision and will be accompanied by supporting evidence,” Quitain said.

Quitain said that the Ombudsman showed interest to file criminal charges against five CTO employees who are on trial before the administrative tribunal of the city government.

On the other hand, Quitain said that the tribunal cannot hand down its decision this week because he wants the tribunal to have

AYAN Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate today hit the Department of Health (DOH) for the "very disappointing response" in the wake of the measles outbreak in several areas of Metro Manila “With an even increased budget now of the DOH, it is really disappointing and very sad that this is the kind of response we got from the DOH. It is even doubly disappointing considering that it is the children who are primarily suffering and affected by this disease,” said the progressive solon.

As of Saturday, the DOH has recorded 744 confirmed cases of measles in Metro Manila alone between January 1 to December 14, 2013. A total of 1,724 measles cases, meanwhile, have been reported

across the country, 21 of which led to death.

The cities where outbreaks have been declared are in Caloocan, Las Piñas, Manila, Muntinlupa and Parañaque.

“The DOH should also not blame the parents for this outbreak because it is their job to prevent such an event and should have gone on an early house to house immunization drive when they monitored that the measles cases begin to spike,” said Rep. Zarate.

“As of now the DOH has an P80.8 billion budget for 2014 -this is almost P30 billion more from what it got last year. They even have a quick reaction fund of P304 million. We hope that this can be judiciously used to prevent other outbreak," ended Rep. Zarate.

Bayan Muna hits DOH for measles outbreak B

a firm verdict based on the evidence presented.

Earlier, the CTO discovered the misappropriation by the five after an audit last in August of 2013 when they conducted a fact finding investigation.

Lawyer Enrique Junior A. Bonocan, lead prosecutor of the tribunal, said they are waiting for the tribunal to direct them to submit their respective memoranda.

On Dec. 27 last year, four of the five CTO employees filed their formal

offer of evidence to the tribunal.

He said earlier that their concentration is on the administrative aspect of the case in which affects their employment.

Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte sued the five unnamed employees for serious dishonesty, grave misconduct, falsification of public documents, serious neglect of duty, inefficiency and incompetence in performance of duty and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of public service.

M

crc@edgedavao.net

ORE than 200 couples of Davao City are expected to participate in the third “I do, I do, Araw ng PagIBIG,” a mass wedding ceremony sponsored by PagIBIG Fund in partnership with the City Government of Davao and the Department of Tourism in region 11 on “Valentine’s Day”, February 14 at the People’s Park.

Pag-IBIG marketing specialist Julie Ann L. Deocariza said during the media briefing at the Club 888

of The Marco Polo Davao that this year’s mass wedding will be officiated by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte.

She said that this year’s attendees will say their vows at the iconic park.

This is would be the first time that the mass wedding will be in partnership with the LGU and DOT. The event aims to promote marriage and its importance in making the foundation of the family strong enough to with-

FPAG-IBIG, 10

ADIDAS. A chicken dealer at Agdao Public Market in Davao City yesterday sorts out chicken feet locally known as “adidas” which will be sold to the different food outlets in the city. Lean Daval Jr.

4 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 210 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

GENERAL SANTOS CITY

LGU cleans up city of ‘colorum’ tricycles T

HE GENERAL Santos City local government has approved the release of 943 additional tricycle franchises as it moves to clean up the city’s streets of “colorum” or unregistered tricycles.

Geraldine Zamora, city permits and licensing division chief, said the release of the new tricycle franchises was based on the approval by City Mayor Ronnel Rivera of a recommendation made by the city’s Motorized Transport Franchising and Regulatory Board (MTFRB).

She said the additional tricycle franchises are part of the 3,000 earlier endorsed by the agency and the city council’s committee on transportation to address the proliferation of “colorum” tricycles within the city.

Zamora said these will be issued to owners of tricycles with green license plates or registered for private use that have applied for franchises or permits to operate for public conveyance.

She said priority will be given to applicants who

have complied with the MTFRB’s requirements and already paid the franchise fee.

“The new franchises will only be issued to legitimate residents of the city,” said Zamora, who also heads the MTFRB. She said among the requirements are the painting of the tricycle unit or side car to powder blue, which is the approved official color for MTFRB-registered tricycles in the city.

She said the units should have standard sizes or measurements and their operators and drivers should be holders of community tax certificates issued in the city.

The tricycle units must have properly installed seats, back rests and accessories like signal and brake lights, she said.

“We’re making sure that our tricycles are nice, presentable and comfortable to ride with since they are the main mode of transportation in the city,” Zamora said.

Meantime, as to the 2,000 other proposed ad-

HE MUNICIPAL Government of Kapalong launched its Executive-Legislative Agenda highlighted with a covenant signing among its stakeholders on December 27, 2013 at the SB Session Hall.

Stakeholders representing the different sectors in the municipality who have been instrumental during the formulation process were

all present along with the department and section heads, barangay officials and municipal officials headed by Mayor Edgardo L. Timbol.

Vice Mayor Ma. Theresa R. Timbol in her message stressed that the Executive-Legislative Agenda (ELA) resembles a powerful tool for effective local governance.

Vice Mayor Timbol further stressed that she

was happy that finally the executive and legislative departments came up with a 3-year development thrust and priorities in line with their common vision, mission and goals for the municipality.

Moreover, the vice mayor also mentioned that the ELA serves as their performance management device which would encourage them to aim for greater results

particularly in crafting ordinances in support to the executive department’s program of government.

The ELA was inspired with its working philosophy, The ELT THRUST : “Economic and Leadership Transformation Driven with Transparent, Honest, Responsive and Unwavering Services Committed to the Trust of the People”. [CJ-MIO Kapalong]

suspects as Danny Maidu, 38, and Mark Sumajit, 22, both residents of Purok Maunawain in Barangay San Jose.

He said the two were nabbed in one of the two houses at the compound owned by Maidu, who reportedly operates a drug den in the area.

“He’s (Maidu) con-

sidered a big fish and one of the top priorities in our drug watch list,” the official told reporters.

Armed with a search warrant issued by the Koronadal City Regional Trial Court, the raiding team swooped down on the compound early Wednesday morning.

The team was composed of elements from the Koronadal City police station, Police Regional Office 12’s intelligence division and public safety company, Department of Justice, City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 12. [PNA]

KAPALONG, DAVAO DEL NORTE

SUNSET BY THE BAY. A young family enjoys the sunset in Dapitan City. [MindaNews photo by Bobby Timonera] ditional tricycle franchises, the official said the board has not yet made any decision on the matter and they will meet again after the 943 fran-

chises are given out.

The city government earlier launched a crackdown against “colorum” tricycles after it came out that a significant number

of tricycle units plying various routes in the area have originated from nearby towns in South Cotabato and Sarangani provinces.

TAGUM CITY

City officials earlier estimated that around 8,000 tricycles have been operating on a daily basis in various routes in the area. [MindaNews]

Executive-Legislative Agenda launched P4 M allotted for medical assistance T KORONADAL CITY

Big time drug dealer, cohort fall in raid P

OLICE and anti-drug operatives arrested an alleged big time drug dealer and his cohort in a raid on a residential compound in an outskirt village in nearby Koronadal City on Wednesday morning.

Supt. Nestor Salcedo, acting Koronadal City police chief, identified the

T

HE CITY Government of Tagum increased its 2014 allocation for health care services for its indigent residents to the tune of four million pesos which shifted the local government’s pursuit for a revitalized health care services under Mayor Allan L. Rellon’s EAGLE WINGS Program.

This is two million pesos higher compared to last year after the local chief executive saw the immediate need to increase the local government’s fund for health services following the surge of indigent patients availing of the free medical assistance given by the local government.

The four million peso allocation represents the direct services delivery under the LGU’s Kaagapay Pang-Medikal Program which is implemented in partnership

with Davao Regional Hospital.

The city government and the state-operated DRH made this pact official by signing the memorandum of agreement last January 6, 2013 in Tagum City’s Freedom Park Stage, with Mayor Rellon and DRH’s Supervising Administrative Officer Carlito Pillerin as signatories.

Witnesses during the MOA signing are some members of the 6th City Council of Tagum and City Administrator Giovanni L. Rellon.

Medical coverage under the Kaagapay Pang-Medikal Program includes free acquisition of medicines, laboratory tests, ECG, x-ray and other essential medical and laboratory procedures. [Louie Lapat of CIO Tagum]

5 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 210 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

China wants large volume of seaweeds from Davao C

HINA is still buying huge volumes of dried seaweeds, but the output from Davao is still so small and cannot meet the volume required

by Chinese buyers.

This was revealed by seaweed industry cluster chair Domingo Ang to consultants of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) during a recent monitoring meeting early this year here.

“China is still buying seaweeds. But we can’t supply their big volume demand for dried seaweeds at this time,” said Ang, who also heads the Davao chapter of PhilExport as chairman.

Traditional seaweed producing areas of the Philippines are Bohol, Palawan, Zamboanga, Tawi-tawi, Basilan and Sulu.

Foreign buyers of dried seaweeds processed them into refined and semi-refined carrageenan, a white powdery substance used for hundreds of consumer

and industrial applications, according to Ang. Most buyers of locally-grown, dried seaweeds are carrageenan plants in Cebu, Zamboanga and Davao which process them into carrageenan powder for export to buyers in US, China and Europe. Due to the low output, some of these plants are importing seaweeds from Indonesia.

Current prices for dried seaweeds bought by local plants range from P36 to P40 a kilo, as quoted by traders and export consolidators, according to Jeffrey Sevilla, regional seaweed coordinator for the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources or BFAR. Sevilla said wet seaweeds would fetch a very low price, usually at P4 to P5 a kilo, for seaweed species commonly used as a side table dish, eaten raw together with grilled tuna or pork meat.

To strengthen the support of local officials in Samal for seaweed farmers,

GRAND OPENING. EMCOR’s president and chief operating officer Celso P. Villegas (ext. left), assistant to the chairman George Vicente Del Rosario (ext. right) and senior vice president and chief finance officer Josefina C. Manaois (2nd from right) together with Councilor Jimmy Dureza lead the ceremonial ribbon cutting to mark the grand opening of EMCOR-Agdao Store and Service Hub along J.P. Cabaguio Avenue in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr. the industry cluster led by Ang has scheduled a meeting with the mayor and other island officials to present

and discuss the seaweed pilot projects and sign a Memorandum of Understanding together.

“We need the support of these local officials in helping the seaweed farmers of the Island Garden City of

Samal in Davao del Norte succeed in their venture of growing seaweeds for their livelihood,” Ang said. [PNA]

6 THE ECONOMY Stat Watch Indicator

Latest

1. Gross National Income 1. GrossRate National Income Growth Growth Rate2000 Prices) (At Constant

7.1 1st Qtr 2013 6.8

2.2.Gross GrossDomestic DomesticProduct Growth Rate Product (AtGrowth Constant 2000 Prices) Rate

7.8 1st Qtr 2013 7.5

(At Constant 2000 Prices)

(At Constant 2000 Prices)

3. Exports 1/ 3. Exports

4. Imports 1/ 4. Imports

5. Trade Balance Trade Balance 6.5.Balance of Payments 2/

7.6.Broad Money Liabilities Balance of Payments

2nd Qtr 2013

2nd Qtr 2013

USD 3,741 million 5,045 FebUSD 2013 million USD 4,708 Sep 2013 million FebUSD 2013 5,711 USD -967 million million Sep 2013 Feb 2013 USD -665 USD -640 million million Sep 2013 Dec 2012 P 4,964,560 USD 692 million million Feb Jun2013 2013 P2.45,980,938 % million Mar 2013 Aug 2013

8. Interest Rates 4/

7. Broad Money Liabilities

P113,609 2.0 % million Sep2013 2013 Mar P P5,281 127,336 billion million Mar Sep2013 2013

9. National Government 8. Revenues Interest Rate 9. National Government

10.Revenues National government outstanding debt outstanding debt

P 5,609 P 41.14 Aprbillion 2013

11.Stocks Peso per US $ 12.

Composite

Index 6/

6,847.5 P 43.83 Mar Sep2013 2013

12. Stocks Composite

6,191.8 132.8 Sep2013 2013 Apr

13. Consumer Price Index

135.2 Oct2.62013

10.Peso National government 11. per US $ 5/

Sep 2013

13. Consumer Index Price Index 2006=100

2006=100 14.

Headline Inflation Rate 14. 2006=100 Headline Inflation

Apr 2013

2.9 Oct3.12013

Rate 15.

Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

Apr 2013

2006=100

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100 16.

Visitor Arrivals

2.5

418,108 Oct 2013 Feb 2013

382,022 Aug 2013 20.9%

16. Visitor Arrivals

17. Underemployment 7/ 17. Rate Underemploymen

Jan 2013 19.2%

18.

18.Unemployment UnemploymentRate Rate7/

7.1% Jan 2013 7.3%

Rate

Jul 2013 Jul 2013

MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE (January 2011-September 2013) Month Average December November October September August July June May April March February January

2013

2012

2011

43.83 43.86 43.35 42.91 41.30 41.14 40.71 40.67 40.73

42.23 41.01 41.12 41.45 41.75 42.04 41.91 42.78 42.85 42.70 42.86 42.66 43.62

43.31 43.64 43.27 43.45 43.02 42.42 42.81 43.37 43.13 43.24 43.52 43.70 44.17

VOL. 6 ISSUE 210 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

Tiger Air to sell PHL business to Cebu Pacific for $6 million T

IGER Airways Holdings Ltd said on Tuesday it would sell its entire 40 percent stake in its Philippine business with the country’s largest budget carrier Cebu Air Inc. taking over in a further consolidation in domestic airlines.

Cebu Air, operator of Cebu Pacific, said in a statement it would pay $15 million for Tiger Airways’ 40 percent in Tigerair Philippines and 60 percent held by the Singapore-based airline’s local partners.

That would give Tiger $6 million for its stake.

The deal, the second consolidation among carriers in the Philippines in a year following AirAsia Bhd’s buy-in of unlisted Zest Air, should bode well for the country’s airline sector, analysts say.

“The aviation market in the Philippines is overcrowded and largely unprofitable, except for market-leader Cebu Air. The deal will allow Cebu Air to solidify its market position,” Raymond Yap, analyst at SB Equities Inc, said in a research note.

Cebu Air’s takeover of Tiger Philippines will allow it to raise its share

ALTERNATIVE. With unavailability of better jobs, some people are forced to find alternative sources like this street hawker who risks his life in the streets peddling brooms and other merchandise to support his families. Lean Daval Jr. of slots by about 10 percent in Manila’s crowded runways and limited terminal capacity, Yap said. Cebu Pacific is the country’s largest airline, with a market share of about a third compared with Tiger’s estimated 4 percent.

Tiger Airways has struggled to make headway because of its small operations locally and “irrational pricing”

by rivals, Yap said.

Shares of Cebu Air climbed 2.5 percent in early trade on Tuesday while Tiger Airways fell nearly a percent.

Cebu Air’s shares are unlikely to gain much from the deal, with investors concerned higher fuel prices could hurt the airline’s margins and overall profitability, said Gregg Ilag, analyst

at brokerage firm AB Capital Securities in Manila.

Cebu Air said in a joint statement the alliance with Tiger will allow it to fly to high growth markets including Australia and India, with the two airlines to jointly operate and sell common routes between Singapore and the Philippines.

However, the alli-

ance will strengthen the two carriers’ domestic presence more than its regional market share, some say.

“This alliance will be a threat only on the domestic front, particularly to Philippine Airlines. I think the international route is still more favourable for AirAsia given their network,” Ilag said. [Reuters]

get better buying prices,” says coconut cluster coordinator Rosella Villaruel, a project officer of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), in a recent monitoring report early this year to consultants of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Coconut cluster members who are coco farmers themselves, said that the breakeven buying price of copra is P25 a kilo as quoted by copra traders in the four

Davao provinces. This is the price by which they can recover their costs of labor and production, but without any profit.

To make up for lost earnings from copra, coconut farmers are now selling their husks to make coco coir and coco shells to make charcoal.

Copra prices sometimes range from P34 to P37 when supply of copra is tightening up in the world market, but declines to P25 to P28 when supply is

good and volume is up, according to industry sources.

Commodity trading of copra in the world market usually dictates the buying price of copra, according to Villaruel, based on market forces of supply and demand. Copra oil millers in Davao, as a rule, based their buying price on world market prices.

A trading firm set up by farmers’ coops will mean that coconut farmers can by-pass

local copra traders in selling their copra and instead sell to their own trading outfit at higher buying prices. Local traders usually put a margin of 20 to 30 percent on the buying price for their own profit.

“We want to help our coconut farmers earn more from their farms. A trading outfit owned and run by them will benefit them with better prices for their copra,” Villaruel said.

[PNA]

Coco farmers push setting up of trading firm F

ACED by widespread low buying prices of copra in the Davao Region and growing complaints of coconut farmers, the coconut industry cluster here is bent on setting up a trading firm to be owned by coconut farmers’ cooperatives.

“Coconut farmers are still griping about low buying prices of copra, it’s about time they set up their own trading outfit to sell copra directly to oil mills and

as of May 2013 Cebu Pacific Daily Zest Air Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Philippine Airlines Daily Philippine Airlines Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sun Philippine Airlines Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Thu

5J961 / 5J962 Z2390 / Z2390 5J593 / 5J348 PR809 / PR810 PR819 / PR820 5J394 / 5J393 5J599 / 5J594 5J347 / 5J596 5J963 / 5J964 PR811 / PR812 5J595 / 5J966 5J965 / 5J968

5:45 5:45 6:00 6:10 7:50 7:50 8:00 9:10 9:40 11:30 12:00 12:55

Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Cebu-Davao-Iloilo Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Zamboanga-Davao-Zamboanga Cebu-Davao-Cebu Iloilo-Davao-Cebu Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Cebu-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila

6:15 6:25 6:30 7:00 8:50 8:10 8:30 9:40 10:10 12:20 12:30 13:25

Cebu Pacific Tue/Wed//Sat 5J965 / 5J968 13:35 Silk Air Mon/Sat MI588 / MI588 13:35 Silk Air Wed/Sun MI566 / MI566 15:20 Silk Air Thurs MI551 / MI551 12:05 Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 5J507 / 5J598 15:00 Philippine Airlines August 15:55 Mani2Mani 16:50 Zest Air Daily Z2524 / Z2525 16:05

Manila-Davao-Manila Davao-Singapore Davao-Singapore Davao-Singapore Cebu-Davao-Cebu

14:05 18:55 18:55 15:45 15:30

Cebu-Davao-Cebu

16:45

7 ENVIRONMENT

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 210 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

Camiguin’s Mantigue Island now an ‘eco-tourism site’ T

HE DEPARTMENT of Tourism in Northern Mindanao has recently declared Mantigue Island, an islet northeast of the island province of Camiguin, as an “Eco-Tourism Site” because of its natural beauty.

The island was also declared a “Migratory Bird Path” because of the Forest Nature Park right in the middle of the islet’s 6.9-hectare landmass where a variety of century-old trees such as Pandan grow.

A foot-trail leading to the deeper part of the Forest Nature Park is a 383-meter area where huge fruit bats that hang like forbidden fruits in the island paradise abound.

The natural shades of a variety of tree species such as “Itum-itum”, “Ipil-ipil” and mangrove of varied species provide shelter to trekkers who have eyes on the nocturnal bats that sleep at day while hanging and swinging on tree tops.

Since then, the island’s hidden beauty gradually springs back to life, now turning it into one of the favorite destinations of local and foreign tourists in Northern

Mindanao.

Leona Macias, a local tourist from Cagayan de Oro City, said that the school of multi-colored fish of varied sizes and shapes was hypnotic as the creatures glide above the vibrant carpet of corals under the sea.

“Some of the school of fish aimed at you at great speed only to dispersed at a hairline distance,” Macias, who is also a scuba diving enthusiast, told the Philippines News Agency (PNA).

If not for the local tourism department of the municipal town of Mahinog in Camiguin, the Mantigue Island would have become another dying testament of man’s atrocities toward nature.

“It took the local tourism department more than 10 years to successfully declare the island as Eco-Tourism Site because of illegal settlers who have started to plunder the natural resources of the island,” tourism officer Mercy Jalalia of Mahinog said.

According to Jalalia, families from Bohol migrated to the Mantigue island where they established a small community that thrived on seaweed culture and fish-

ing as the major source of livelihood.

However, she said, that illegal and over-fishing had dilapidated the island’s marine resources declared as marine sanctuary five years ago.

She said that the cutting of trees, over fishing, and selling and destruction of corals were rampant in the islet until the local government successfully secured the

islet of Mantigue and declared it an eco-tourism site last year.

The residents in the island were relocated to the municipal town of Mahinog where they were provided free housing and livelihood courtesy of the local government unit.

One of the livelihoods extended to the former residents of Mantigue island was the exclusive transpor-

tation services managed by the community for domestic and foreigners who want to visit the island.

The local government did not allow private operators to operate transportation facilities that would compete and jeopardize the source of livelihood of the relocated community from Mantigue island.

Jalalia said that

the community-based transport boats charge P550 per boat of six persons for a round trip from Mahinog to Mantigue island.

Aside from the fare, a passenger shall also pay an additional P20 as an environmental fee to defray the expenses in the maintenance of the ecology, protection, preservation, and conservation of the island.

[PNA]

what was described as the first public destruction of ivory in China.

According to the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES), elephant poaching in Africa could lead to local extinctions if the pres-

ent killing rates continue.

The situation is particularly acute in Central Africa, where the estimated poaching rates are twice the continental average.

UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Envi-

ronment Programme (UNEP) Achim Steiner said, “We congratulate China and the State Forestry Administration on this milestone event.”

“The largest remaining land mammal on the planet is facing one of the greatest crises to hit the species in decades. The latest CITES data estimates that some 47,000 animals were killed in Africa in 2011 and 2012.”

“Yet, there is reason for optimism. International cooperation is paving the way towards improved law enforcement and increased efforts to reduce demand.

These efforts need to be stepped up and strengthened to produce the desired results.”

“We have also seen the destruction of ivory stockpiles across range, transit and demand states: in the Philippines, the Gabon, the US and China among others. As well as create critical public awareness, such actions send a clear message that wildlife crime will not be tolerated,” he added.

Increased poaching and

loss of habitats are decimating African elephant populations - especially in Central African countries - according to a report entitled Elephants in the Dust: The African Elephant Crisis, released last March.

The UN estimates that over 17,000 elephants were illegally killed in monitored sites in 2011 alone. Overall figures may be much higher.

Secretary-General of CITES John E. Scanlon, speaking at the event, said, “Despite considerable efforts to combat wildlife crime, it continues to be a problem worldwide. Illegal trade in elephant ivory is having a devastating impact on the African elephant, and it also poses a threat to people and their livelihoods - it must stop. China, and the entire international community, are determined to end this illicit trade.”

The Elephants in the Dust report - produced by UNEP, CITES, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Net-

work (TRAFFIC) - says that the illegal ivory trade has tripled since 1998.

Criminal networks are responsible for the illegal trafficking of ivory between Africa and Asia. Large-scale seizures of ivory destined for Asia have more than doubled since 2009 and reached an all-time high in 2011.

The international community is looking at measures to address the crisis, including collaborative action to combat the illegal trade in wildlife and timber, which would include: • Improved law-enforcement across the entire illegal ivory supply chain; • Strengthened national legislative frameworks; • Training of enforcement officers in the use of tracking, intelligence networks and innovative techniques, such as forensic analysis; • Better international collaboration across range states, transit countries and consumer markets; and • Action to fight collusive corruption, identifying syndicates and reducing demand. [UNEP]

UN applauds China efforts to combat illegal ivory trade S

IX tones of confiscated ivory were destroyed earlier this week by the authorities in China in an effort to combat the illegal trade in elephant tusks.

The seized ivory was fed into crushing machines in the southern city of Dongguan, in

The ivory was destroyed in Dongguan City, southern Guangdong province, in China

8

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

V

VOL. 6 ISSUE 210 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

Setting an example

ICE Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte has been showing up some of the more senior members of the Sanguniang Panlungsod on how they should be living up as public servants beginning with the very simple things that are taught when we are in first grade.

The vice mayor went into another sermon this week, reprimanding some councilors for arriving late for the session.

This was not the first time that Pulong checked on councilors’ errant behavior. On the first day he assumed the seat as presiding officer of the city council, Pulong called the attention of some veteran councilors for not paying attention to the privilege speech delivered by a colleague. Then another time, he also twitted on two councilors for texting during the session.

EDGEDAVAO

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It’s basic decorum. As honorable members of the august body, people regard our councilors with the highest respect. Not the type who will be talking and texting during sessions and coming in late. That’s the last thing people expect councilors to do. No excuse for showing bad behavior or apparent disregard for punctuality.

There is no reason for councilors to be late.

Regular sessions of the Sangunian happen only once a week. That means councilors have the rest of the week to wake up late or talk or text. So what is there to be late for?

Speed limit? Traffic? Those are lame excuses.

It’s time our councilors set the example for employees of the city government to emulate. It’s not too much asking for those who have pledged to serve the public 24/7.

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG Creative Solutions

ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Associate Editor

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. • JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA Photography Contributing Photographer

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. EMILORD P. CASTROMAYOR / CHENEEN R. CAPON Reporters

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

GENERAL OFFICE SANTOS CITY CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OLIVIA D. VELASCO OLIVIA D. VELASCO RICHARDRICHARD C. EBONAC. EBONA SOLANI D. MARATAS SOLANI D. MARATAS MARKETING OFFICE | Marketing Manager General Manager General ManagerMarketingAdvertising Supervisor SpecialistFinance FinanceLEIZEL A. DELOSOLEIZEL A. DELOSO | MarketingFLORENCE ManagerS. VILLARIN

JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

AQUILES Z. ZONIO Correspondent

KRISTINE D. BORJA AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Marketing Specialist Circulation

Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts. Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts. Marketing Specialist Cagayan de Oro City c/o PZ Villarin Marketing Cagayan de Oro City Tel: (088) 852-4894

Tel: (088) 852-4894

Salvani St., Oringo Brgy. City Heights Tel: (083) 303-2215

MANILA MARKETING OFFICE

ANGELICA R. GARCIA | Marketing Manager Blk. 1, Lot 10, La Mar Townhomes, Apitong St., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 942-1503

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 210 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

Time to consider a fireworks display?

I

T MIGHT be a good idea next time to consider a spectacular fireworks display in Davao City on New Year’s Eve while strictly enforcing the fire crackers ban which made this southern city a model for other cities----specially Metro Manila--to follow.

It’s totally senseless and stupid for Manila to keep a tally on the hundreds of people injured from exploding firecrackers whether big or small, year after year after year---when all they have to do is simply pass a city ordinance making the use, manufacture and distribution of firecrackers illegal.

In Davao City, people seemed to have gotten so used to the absence of firecrackers and using other kinds of noisemakers like torotot, etc, that they like the fact that the city remains safe and peaceful even when other cities around the country still prefer to turn their cities into war zones and “no man’s land”.

Maybe, just maybe this might be a good time to replicate what other cities all over the world do to greet the New Year--- each city could simply sponsor a spectacular fireworks display to be watched by thousands of people who come out at midnight to join the revelry.

The best place to do this here in Davao City is the Magsaysay Park which faces the

R

east where the new day begins.

This is the best place to greet the New Year on midnight of December 31 every year.

A sponsor like Smart which set up the “Torotot Festival” last week at Roxas Avenue, could easily attract 10,000 people at this seaside park next year and break another World Guiness record.

City Hall or the City Council can get the Venue Party Boat to be used as the staging platform for a spectacular fireworks display like the ones we see on TV in Australia, Dubai, Paris, Tokyo, etc.

Now, for the cost of the big fireworks, city officials can get local sponsors like Abreeza Ayala, Gaisano Mall, NCCC, SM Lanang, Holiday Transport, etc to donate funds for this yearly fireworks display.

Commercial firms would gladly sponsor this type of event because of the strong media publicity it attracts on New Year’s Evc. This idea here is that we don’t deprived the people of Davao City the joy and

excitement of greeting the New Year by watching and cheering a glorious display of multicolored explosions in the sky over Davao Gulf.

Yes, the best place to do this safely, is on board the Venue Party Boat (of Holiday Transport) parked or afloat on the sea waters of the Gulf over looking the Magsaysay Park.

A big fireworks display is risky and dangerous if done on an open field in the middle of the city--- there are still some houses exposed to falling sticks and glowing debris of burnt fireworks. It’s much better to do this on the sea, near enough to be seen clearly but far enough to be safe for people and residential areas.

One of the nicest things we heard about the firecracker ban in Davao City lately is that Malacanang is seriously studying the possibility of adopting the same firecracker ban for Metro Manila by next year.

We don’t know if they can have the strong political will of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to make this possible in that capital city where cops are still struggling to earn the kind of respect they badly need from ordinary people on the streets.

(Comments? Email me at> tradingpost_davao@yahoo.com)

muting public.

Such existing policy does not intend to discriminate a certain sector but rather to equalize the right in the utilization of the city’s sidewalks.

The most affected sector expressed hope that the compromised agreement between city officials and sidewalk peddlers will be accomplish sooner as expected. They likewise appealed to the city government to give the directive more teeth and penalize those who will continue to violate it. But whether we like it or not sidewalk vending will be here to stay for many reasons.

What should be done is for authorities to closely monitor the vendors’ operations and regulate their day-to-day business activities. Sidewalk vending in the country is usually associated with the obligatory manner to survive. The reason why another set of meeting between Mayor Rody and Jimlani and the different vendors’ groups in the city will be conducted next week to iron out the prevailing spat and look for appropriate solution to the problem. Another problem surfaced with the revelation of Jimlani that some affluent businessmen are behind the proliferation of vendors in the city. To prove his point, Jimlani noted that a number of rich business smarts on board expensive SUVs that are providing goods to vendors is already a very usual sight anywhere in the city.

We have seen the phenomenal rise of sidewalk vendors in Davao City and elsewhere in the country. Even a no-nonsense

official like Mayor Duterte admits that it is not that easy to monitor and regulate the sidewalk vending trade. First, government has to look at the economic situation.

Well, there might be a radical shift in our economic development, but probably not enough to improve the lot of our people.

And take note that there is a very deep infirmity in a society where illegal sidewalk business is more desirable than going back to the province to start a new, progressive life.

Sidewalk vendors are mostly concentrated in the big cities and other bustling urban centers. For so many years vendors of all colors and stripes sustained their struggles and sacrifices often risked life and limb to protect their menial businesses. The street business smarts who become more knowledgeable of their trade have somehow weathered the “cat and mouse” operations. Vendors are wary that they are into illegal trade but they and their families also have to survive. Meanwhile the government most of the time adopts a maximum flexibility in dealing with the mounting problems created by arrogant and abusive sidewalk vendors. This includes giving orders to law enforcers to exert maximum tolerance especially during clearing-up operations for ‘humanitarian sympathies.’

Sad to say, though, there are times because of government’s worn-out consideration and tolerance many vendors are prodded to become more offensive and haughty even to the extent of defying lawful orders. To drive my point, government should have at least a flexible mechanism patterned after other countries where the streets are vendors-free instead of providing violators unlimited considerations. Impossible task, yes, but it can be done.

Vendors continue to defy lawful orders

ICH BUSINESS SMARTS BEHIND PROLIFERATION OF VENDORS? – The Christmas season is finally over but the situation on sidewalk vending in the city remains in status quo. Barely a month before the Christmas period Mayor Rodrigo Duterte together with Lt. Yusof Jimlani (Ret.), head of the City Demolition and Drainage Clearing Unit initiated a meeting with different groups of sidewalk vendors in the city and to prod the latter to recognize the existing one-third/two-third policy in the utilization of the walkways.

For humanitarian considerations city officials allowed vendors to conduct their trade freely in the observation of Christmas, but with the assurance that they have to respect the agreement after that period.

However, to the dismay of Jimlani sidewalk vendors persisted to stay in their beats particularly in the busy commercial areas two weeks after the holidays. I presumed the stubborn sidewalk merchants only wanted to exhaust the Christmas “grace period” granted by Mayor Duterte to clear the two-third space because beyond that would simply mean violators are certain to be meted with corresponding penalties. But despite the patience and tolerance of city officials abusive vendors seem determined to stay where they are right now.

But why dissipate the benevolence before vendors follow the directive? Simple logic dictates that the favor given to the vendors by city officials would culminate after the Christmas season, but the adamant sidewalk vendors are still taking advantage of the post-holiday period. Supposedly after that there are no more reasons for the persistent and haughty sidewalk traders not to follow what is mandated by law and for them to conform to the guidelines and regulations that would benefit the most affected sector – the pedestrians and com-

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Will there be democracy in the Bangsamoro entity?

WORM’S EYEVIEW

BY MANNY VALDEHUESA

V

Part 1 of 2

ERY soon, we’re made to believe, the formal adoption of the proposed framework agreement on the Bangsamoro entity will take place. It will be signed by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the group that successfully leveraged armed struggle and violence to gain recognition.

If the signing pushes through, it will be quite an achievement, rightfully claimed by the MILF although it was not the original proponent of the idea.

The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) was the original but it was sidelined when the government unceremoniously decided to disregard its earlier agreement with it and pronounced the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) a failed experiment.

Meanwhile, MNLF chairman Nur Misuari has become a fugitive hunted for his role in the assault on Zamboanga last September 2013.

It was Nur’s group that coined the term Bangsamoro during the latter part of the 1960s, or just after the bizarre incident instigated

by President Marcos during which a contingent of Muslim volunteers were mowed down by gunfire on Corregidor Island to prevent them from escaping.

The “Jabidah Massacre” of 1968 triggered the MNLF’s secessionist movement, which used the term “Bangsamoro” to refer to the mainly Muslim peoples found in central and western Mindanao.

The introduction of “Bangsamoro” into our vocabulary is an achievement, but one that still needs elaboration to avoid its loose and reckless usage by various groups.

Let’s face it: we are a nation of mostly nominal Christians and nominal Muslims. So it is understandable that we also have a nominal democracy, democracy in name only but not in reality.

In reality, the pollsters tell us that our society is ruled by just about 100 families that have established political dynasties.

Consider our behavior. We celebrate independence but belittle our sovereignty, which we do not assert except under extreme conditions. Remember how we went along with Martial Law for 14 years before we got fed up and shrugged off the dictator in 1986 at Edsa?

We advocate autonomy but fail to manage our local economy or govern our own barangay, allowing it to be headed by ambitious but incompetent wannabes.

We make noises about federalism but fail to exercise even the most elementary tasks of self-governance, letting our municipalities, cities, or provinces be controlled by autocrats and dynasty-builders.

10

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 210 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

Public urged to set time devices to PH standard time

D ROBBER. The San Pedro Police operatives present suspected robber Dexter Bustamante who was arrested on January 2, 2014 in Rolling Hills Subd., Bacaca, Davao City during yesterday’s press briefing at San Pedro Police station. Lean Daval Jr.

LOOSE FIREARMS

Man charged with gun raps

By EMILORD P. CASTROMAYOR

P

epc@edgedavao.net

OLICE filed charges before the city prosecution office yesterday against a 42-yearold man allegedly responsible for selling loose firearms in Davao City and other cities in the region.

P/Sr. Supt. Joel C. Pernito, regional director of

CIDG 11, said that Willie “Tisoy” Francisco, a gunsmith, will be facing separate charges of illegal possession and selling of firearms under Republic Act 10591 or known as comprehensive law on firearms and ammunition act.

Francisco was nabbed in a buy-bust operation by agents of the CIDG-11 in a buy-bust operation last Monday in San Antonio Village, Matina at about 2:00 p.m.

Police intelligence said that handguns used in a series of shooting in-

cidents in the city allegedly came from the suspect.

Francisco was arrested after he was trapped in an operation that resulted in the confiscation of several loose firearms, ammunitions, .45 caliber pistols and gun parts from his possession.

Pernito said he was directed by Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte to track down the real person behind that name.

“So far we don’t have any idea who David Tan is, but we will do our best,”

Pernito said.Nationally-circulated newspapers reported that FPI chair Jesus Arranza had described Davidson Tan Bangayan as a “former scrap metal trader from Davao City before [going into] rice smuggling.”

Arranza also said that Tan heads several companies, including Advanced Scrap Specialist Corp., Amphibian Metal Trading Co., Advanced Transystem Corp. and Advanced Scrap Metal Corp., among other

businesses.

DCPO ALSO CLUELESS Meanwhile, Sr. Supt.

Vicente Danao, Davao City police director, said they don’t have any information as to who is the real person behind the name.

premium to P2,400 for individually-paying members earning P25,000 and below per month and P3, 600 for those earning P25,000 and above per month. Self-employed individually-paying members will pay nearly 33 percent more from 150 to 200. Employed individually-paying members will pay 14 percent more from P175

to P200, shared equally with employers.”

According to the group, the hikes are addition to the increasing miseries of the workers.

“Patuloy ang pagtaas ng bilihin at langis,” Basilio said , adding that the administration of PNoy is doing nothing against these prevailing issues.

He contradicted the Palace’s statement that the hike will prevent SSS funds from drying up and will increase benefits for the workers and said that only the corrupt bureaucrats and big capitalists will benefit from the hikes.

He said that the President should focus on the approval of the P125 across

the board wage hike. Basilio said that workers in the banana industry still receive low wages worth P291 daily.

On the same event, the group is backing a temporary restraining order (TRO) filed yesterday with the Supreme Court to stop the implementation of the SSS and premium hikes.

stand all of life’s challenges.

In addition, the newly-wedded couples will automatically become mem-

bers of Pag-IBIG which is providing the venue, first meal of the newly-weds and free gifts from the Fund and chance to win raffle prizes.

Meanwhile, the marketing specialist said that all interested unmarried couples can visit their office in PagIBIG Fund (Central) at the

Pryce Tower Condominium or at Pag- IBIG Fund South, Quimpo Boulevard, Ecoland, Davao City for inquiries.

Rody...FFROM 1

KMU... FFROM 2

Pag-IBIG...FFROM 3

AVAO CITY, Jan. 8 (PIA) – As the year 2014 starts, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has once again urged the public to ensure that time devices at home and in offices must be set to the Philippine Standard Time (PhST).

The call is part of DOST’s PhST campaign known as Juan Time “Pinoy Ako On Time Ako” aiming at synchronizing all timepieces and devices in the country and promoting the new definition of “Filipino Time” which is on time.

DOST said the highlight of the PhST campaign was the New Year countdown using PhST, which was adopted by major television networks and telecommunication giants.

Republic Act No. 10535, otherwise known as "The Philippine Standard Time Act of 2013" mandated all national and local government

offices to display the PhST on their official time devices to include bundy clocks.

Using its network time protocol, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) provides the official time as the country’s official timekeeper.

The PhST is viewed at pagasa.gov.ph and dost.gov.ph websites.

The PhST Act which was signed into law by President Benigno Simeon Aquino III on May 15, 2013, also declared the observance of the National Time Consciousness Week which was celebrated for the first time in the country from January 1 to 7 this year.

The law further directed PAGASA’s Time Service Unit to monitor, maintain and disseminate the PhST throughout the country, in coordination with DOST. [PIA-11/ Carina L. Cayon]

PNP starts security preps for next year’s APEC Summit

T

HIS early, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is already preparing for security measures to be implemented in next year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) scheduled in the country.

PNP director general Alan Purisima noted there are several international activities scheduled in the country in 2015 that needs early security preparations from the 150,000-strong police organization. ”We are actually preparing for activities in 2015 like the APEC when world leaders convene in our country,” said Purisima.

Top world leaders are expected to attend the APEC Summit, scheduled next year.

The Philippines last hosted the APEC Summit in 1996 during the time of former President Fidel Ramos.

Purisima also noted that the PNP will also layout security preparations for this year’s 34th ASEANAPOL Conference, an annual meeting of top police officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The PNP last hosted the ASEANAPOL Conference during its 23rd edition in September 2003.

The country is a founding-member of the ASEANAPOL which held its first ever conference in Manila in 1981. ”We have many international events to secure,” said Purisima. (PNA) PNP starts security preps for next year’s

APEC Summit MANILA, Jan. 8 (PNA) -– This early, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is already preparing for security measures to be implemented in next year’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) scheduled in the country.

PNP director general Alan Purisima noted there are several international activities scheduled in the country in 2015 that needs early security preparations from the 150,000-strong police organization. ”We are actually preparing for activities in 2015 like the APEC when world leaders convene in our country,” said Purisima.

Top world leaders are expected to attend the APEC Summit, scheduled next year.

The Philippines last hosted the APEC Summit in 1996 during the time of former President Fidel Ramos.

Purisima also noted that the PNP will also layout security preparations for this year’s 34th ASEANAPOL Conference, an annual meeting of top police officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The PNP last hosted the ASEANAPOL Conference during its 23rd edition in September 2003.

The country is a founding-member of the ASEANAPOL which held its first ever conference in Manila in 1981. ”We have many international events to secure,” said Purisima. [PNA]

EDGEDAVAO

ICT HUB

VOL. 6 ISSUE 210 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

11

ASUS announces ZenFone 4,5,6 A

SUS today (January 7, Las Vegas Time) announced ZenFone, a brand-new high-value smartphone series that offers a choice of screen sizes from 4 to 6 inches and is available in an array of striking colors — meaning there’s a ZenFone for everyone.

ZenFone also introduces ZenUI, a sublime new user interface that’s exclusive to ASUS smart devices. With simplified icons and menus, a selection of themes beautifully designed to match the device colors and a clever What’s Next feature that helps users keep track of their lives, ZenUI is the irresistible front end of these irresistible new devices — and proof that fantastic functionality can have a friendly face.

ZenFone 4 — thin, light and powerful for energetic lifestyles ZenFone 4 has a gorgeous 4-inch display and a powerful 1.2GHz Intel® Atom™ Z2520 processor with Quad-Thread Hyper-Threading Technology — making this a smartphone that never leaves the user waiting for a response.

With two built-in cameras — including a 5-megapixel main camera — for capturing great everyday photos and fun selfies, a slimline design with a low weight of just 115g and available in five vibrant colors — Charcoal Black, Pearl White, Cherry Red, Sky Blue, Solar Yellow — ZenFone 4 is the great-value handset for young people who demand the perfect companion for their mobile lifestyles.

ZenFone 5 — combines a spacious HD display with a highly portable design ZenFone 5 has a spacious 5-inch IPS panel that delivers superb

A

SUS chairman Jonney Shih today (January 7, Las Vegas Time) celebrated the company’s In Search of Incredible brand spirit in his CES 2014 keynote address to show how ASUS weaves technology into the fabric of our everyday lives. The first of these ground-breaking innovations is ZenFone, a range of 4 to 6-inch smartphones that embodies the ASUS commitment to creating incredible experiences that transform expecta-

high-definition (HD) 1280 x 720-pixel resolution — and in a stunning design that tapers to just 5.5mm at its thinnest edge.

Exclusive ASUS PenTouch and GloveTouch technologies increase ZenFone 5’s display sensitivity, making it possible to use the device with any stylus or even a gloved hand — so frustrations about how and when users can interact become a thing of the past.

ZenFone 5 has a fast, energy-efficient Intel Atom Z2580 processor running at 2GHz and also benefits from a brilliant 8-megapixel PixelMaster main camera with image stabilization. This couples a backside-illumination (BSI) sensor and wide-aperture f/2.0 lens with exclusive ASUS PixelMaster technology to capture digital photographs that more than match those snapped by many dedicated digital cameras. Its 2-megapixel front camera takes sharp selfies.

PixelMaster’s LowLight Mode measures the available light and intelligently adjusts the pixel size to increase light sensitivity by up to 400% — meaning ZenFone 5 snaps great low-lights shots and videos even without the built-in flash.

ZenFone 5 is available in four statement colors — Charcoal Black, Pearl White, Cherry Red, and Champagne Gold.

ZenFone 6 — perfectly blends productivity and entertainment on a beautiful 6-inch HD screen ZenFone 6 also offers an HD display that measures a fantastic six inches across the diagonal — allowing users to see much more of what they want.

Like ZenFone 5, the brilliant ZenFone 6 display features GloveTouch and PenTouch technologies —

and high-resolution video calls that look just

s o

great.

ZenFone 6 is available in the same four state-

users can operate the device with gloved hands or any stylus. It also has a powerful Intel Atom Z2580 processor running at 2GHz. ZenFone 6’s large screen is complemented

by ASUS SonicMaster audio technology with virtual surround sound via headphones for a truly immersive entertainment experience when watching movies or playing games.

ZenFone 6 also includes a 13-megapixel main camera that similarly benefits from exclusive ASUS PixelMaster technology, and a 2-megapixel front camera for selfies

ment colors — Charcoal Black, Pearl White, Cherry Red, and Champagne Gold.

ZenUI, open messaging and enhanced ASUS apps for Android ZenFone 4, 5 and 6 all feature the magnificent new user interface from ASUS — ZenUI. Exclusive to ASUS smart devices, ZenUI has been meticulously designed to help users make the most of the fantastic functionality that’s packed in to every ZenFone. ZenUI delivers a holistic user experience with better functionality and great simplicity — meaning ZenFone knows what users need, helps

to express their thoughts and feelings and keeps them connected wherever they go.

ZenUI even includes free open messaging, powered by Omlet Chat on the Omlet Open Messaging Platform. This brilliant messaging tool lets users share almost any kind of content easily with anyone, on any phone — and all without racking up charges associated with sending traditional text (SMS) and picture (MMS) messages.

ASUS has also added enhanced Android apps

stunning premium gaming monitor that carries the Republic of Gamers (ROG) brand DNA. Restating the ASUS brand promise, Mr Shih said: “ASUS is passionate about technology and driven by innovation. We dream, we dare and we strive to create an effortless and joyful digital life for everyone. We’re always in search of incredible ideas and experiences — and we aspire to deliver the incredible in everything we do.”

Invited to take the stage by Mr. Shih, Intel President Renee James said: “We are thrilled to help Asus unveil its newest array of Intel-powered 2-in-1 with dual OS and mobile device designs.

Our collaboration dates back to motherboards and has evolved to span PCs, 2-in-1 devices, tablets, phablets and more. The new Transformer Book Duet, PadFone mini and the ZenFone series further extend our history of bringing exciting comput-

ing experiences to market.”

ZenFone and PadFone mini — incredible experience through incredible connectivity ZenFone is the new flagship smartphone brand from ASUS. With screen sizes that range from 4 to 6-inch and available in an array of striking colors, ZenFone is the incredible smartphone for everyone.

ZenFone 4 has a gorgeous 4-inch display and a powerful dual-core 1.2GHz

to every ZenFone devices, making life even simpler for users. The ASUS-enhanced email app, for example, allows messages to be read by thread — making it much easier to keep track of conversations.

In the web browser, Smart Reader Mode automatically adjusts the background tone to reduce eye-strain, while the Gallery app has an enhanced online synchronization.

New flagship smartphone unveiled

tions.

Mr. Shih revealed other innovative products, including Transformer Book Duet (TD 300), the world’s first quad-mode dual-operating-system (OS) laptop and tablet in one, and PadFone mini, a 4-inch smartphone that transforms effortlessly into a 7-inch tablet. ZenUI, an ASUS-exclusive user interface, also makes its debut in the PadFone mini and ZenFone.

Other new offerings include ROG Swift PG278Q, a

Intel® Atom™ Z2520 processor with Intel Hyper-Threading Technology that delivers two threads per core — making this a smartphone that never leaves the user waiting for a response. With two builtin cameras, a weight of just 115g and available in five vibrant colors — Charcoal Black, Pearl White, Cherry Red, Sky Blue, Solar Yellow — ZenFone 4 is the great-value handset for young people who want the perfect companion for their mobile lifestyles.

12 CLASSIFIEDS

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VOL. 6 ISSUE 210 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

EDGEDavao Gensan Partners

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1) 1-hectare commercial lot at P10,000/sq m, along National Highway, facing east, beside NCCC Panacan, Davao City. 2) 17,940sq m commercial lot at P2,500/sq m, along Matina Diversion Road. 3) 3,831 sq m lot along Matina Diversion Road. 4) 41,408 sq m commercial/ industrial lot at P800/sq m along the National Highway, Bunawan. 5) 7,056 sq m at P1,200/sq m commercial/residential lot along Indangan Road, Buhangin District. 6) 27,411 sq m commercial/ industrial lot along the National Highway in Bincungan, Tagum City. 7) 116.15 to 245.92 sq meters , at P5.5M to P12.3M commercial/ office condo units in Bajada, Davao City. 8) 699 to 1,117 sq m at P4,100/sq m commercial lots at Josefina Town Center, along the National Highway, Dumoy, Toril. 9) Ready-for-Occupancy Residential Properties: 4BR/3T&B in a 240 sq m lot with 177.31sqm floor area (2-storey) at P4.8M in an exclusive beachfront community in Dumoy, Toril.; 3BR 2-storey in a 71.25 sq m 2-storey in a 143sq m lot in an exclusive flower village in Maa, Davao City; 180 sq m lots with 71.25sqm to 126.42 sq m floor areas, priced at P3.751M to P5.773M in an exclusive mountain resort community along Matina, Diversion Road. 10) 1BR/2BR residential condo units located in Bolton, Maa, Obrero, Davao City. 11) FOR ASSUME (RUSH): 1BR res’l condo unit in Palmetto, Maa. P600K negotiable. Note: Items 1-9 can be paid in cash, in-house or bank financing. If interested, please call Jay (PRC REB Lic. 8237) at 0922-851-5337 (Sun), 0908-883-8832 (Smart) or send email to propertiesindavao@yahoo.com.

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VOL. 6 ISSUE 210 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

CLASSIFIEDS 13

EDGEDAVAO WANTS YOU! Serving a seamless society

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Account Executives (3)

Male / Female, not more than 30 years old Candidate must posses a Bachelor/ College Degree in any Business field.

Willing to work under pressure, flexible, persuasive, can speak fluently and computer literate A team player With Basic Salary, Transportation, Communication, allowance + Commission

For interested applicants, you may send your resume to: HR Department EDGEDavao

Doors 13 & 14 Alcrej B;dg., Quirino Ave., Davao City Tel. No. (082) 221-3601 Email: edgedavao@gmail.com

14 SPORTS Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao city

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 210 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

BETWEEN THE LEGS. Defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska’s title defense lasted just 92 minutes when she was dumped out 7-5 6-2

by American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands (right) who showed she can hit exciting shots.

Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a FILCAB Ordinary Regular Service ROWENA F. APALE, Petitioner Case No.2001-XI-01176 x- - - - - - - - -- - - -----x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a FILCAB Ordinary Regular service on the route: SASA VIA R. CASTILLO ROUTE with the use of ONE (1) unit, which certificate will expire on December 31, 2013. In the petition filed on December 2, 2013, petitioner request authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on JANUARY 22, 2014 at 09:00 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 2nd day of December 2013 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transport Development Officer

Wozniacki also falls in Sydney S

YDNEY (Reuters) The Sydney International continued to be a graveyard for some of the top names in women’s tennis with former world number one Caroline Wozniacki champion and top seed Agnieszka Radwanska and both losing in the second round on Tuesday.

Men’s champion Bernard Tomic, however, followed up the exploits of fellow Australian Marko Matosevic, who earlier beat Florian Mayer 6-2 4-6 6-3, to demolish eighth seed Marcel Granollers 6-3 6-0 in just under an hour.

Radwanska and Wozniacki followed grand slam champions Svetlana Kuznetsova and Francesca Schiavone and former world number one Jelena Jankvoic as early evictees

from the tournament.

Radwanska’s title defense lasted just 92 minutes when she was dumped out 7-5 6-2 by American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands, while Wozniacki, who struggled in her first round match on Monday, was beaten 6-4 7-6 (9-7) by Czech Lucie Safarova.

World number five Radwanska had won the Sydney title last year as part of a 13-match unbeaten streak that ended in the Australian Open quarter-finals said she was not overly concerned with her early loss.

“I really had a lot of good matches last week,” the 24-year-old Pole added in reference to winning all three matches at the Hopman Cup in Perth last week.

“It’s not like I’m playing

bad. I’m not worried about that. I just think not my day (and)... sometimes you have to lose.

“I think every week is different story. You start over and over again.

“Every tournament isn’t the same thing. You’re not winning every week every match. Normally you just to have to start again, not really think what was happening in the last week.”

Mattek-Sands will now face fellow American Madison Keys in the quarter-finals.

Former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova will play Safarova in the quarter-finals after the second seed smashed American qualifier Christina McHale 6-1 6-0 in a little over an hour.

With Deng trade, Cavs finally give up on Lebron

W

HEN the Cleveland Cavaliers acquired Luol Deng from the Chicago Bulls late on Monday, they took three very important steps in their future development. First, they unloaded Andrew Bynum’s contract, which was inevitable and necessary. Second, they made a significant short-term upgrade at the small-forward position that strengthens their chances at a playoff run.

Most importantly, they’ve finally admitted to themselves what everyone else has known all along.

LeBron James is not walking back through that door this summer.

There is absolutely no reason for the four-time MVP and two-time reigning Finals MVP to leave the Miami Heat when he becomes a free agent this summer. He’s in too good a situation with Erik Spoelstra as head coach and Pat Riley making the personnel moves. Returning to Cleveland would have been a terrific feelgood story, but it wouldn’t have been the best career decision for LeBron.

The Cavs did the right thing here: they used Bynum’s cap-friendly contract and a few of the draft picks they’ve been stockpiling to land an impact

player, a two-time All-Star who plays at a high level at both ends of the floor and fills their biggest position of need. And in doing so, they gave themselves a Plan B once James inevitably re-signs in Miami.

Keeping Deng isn’t going to be cheap. He asked for between $15 and $16 million per season from the Bulls before the trade, and the baseline for what he can expect to command on the open market is Andre Iguodala’s fouryear, $48 million contract with the Golden State Warriors. There’s no guarantee that he’ll stick around. But it’s a lot likelier than luring LeBron back.

If Deng walks, the Cavs will have given up a few given up a few middling picks for a short-term upgrade without screwing up long-term flexibility. If they re-sign him, they have a reliable veteran centerpiece to pair with Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson. There’s no losing here.

And either one of those options is a lot better than putting all of their hopes on a LeBron James return that was never going to happen.

INdulge!

VOL. 6 ISSUE 210 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

FOOD

Teatime at TWG

I

have always been a tea drinker, ever since the first time I had a sip of my grandmother’s jasmine tea which she keeps in a kettle inside a warmer basket, I was hooked.

Fast forward to the present and I still prefer a sip with the leaf than a chug from the bean, but given that coffee places already populate every nook and cranny of Durianburg, it is hard to find a casual tea house where one can sit and enjoy good quality tea. Of course the coffee joints

do serve tea too but oftentimes their tea offerings tend to be limited.

So imagine the happiness I had during my last romp in Singapore with the BPS gang when we decided to have tea at TWG at the Marina Bay Sands.

Known for their quality teas, the TWG Tea Company (TWG meaning The Wellness Group) is THE tea brand in Singapore offering over 800 single estate fine harvest teas and exclusive blends, as well as tea patisseries and other tea infused delicacies.

We initially wanted to have high tea but when

FTEATIME, A4

Tea is served in dainty ceramic pots.

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

Grey is 2013 Global Agency of the Year

ADWEEK recently named Grey the 2013 Global Agency of the Year for what the reputable publication says is the best of advertising achievement for the year ending.

In ADWEEK’s cover story for its December 9 issue, Grey was acknowledged for winning the global accounts of Gillette—a coveted billion-dollar brand, HSBC, Volvo and Montblanc, and several more major accounts for Grey Group’s regional units.

Grey Group also had its best showing ever at the 2013 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, the largest gathering of professionals in creative communications, advertising, and related fields, where the agency won 36 Lions.

It was also a banner year for Grey Group China, which was awarded the “Agency of the Year” title by Campaign Asia, Gold for China Creative Agency of the Year, Silver for Hong Kong Creative Agency of the Year, and The Greater China Creative Agency of the Year Award. In the Asia-Pacific region overall, Grey’s revenue doubled in the past five years.

Grey Group’s Philippine office, Campaigns & Grey, also capped 2013 with its public relations division CaPRi winning the Philippine Quill Agency of the Year Award given by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).

The Quill Awards celebrate work of exceptional quality and innovation in the communication industry. Notably, Campaigns & Grey is the only multinational advertising agency in the Philippines with provincial divisions, namely Campaigns & Grey Cebu and Campaigns & Grey Davao, working on communications better suited to cultural nuances in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.

Announcing the recognition from ADWEEK, Grey Group Chairman and CEO Jim Heekin said, “A few years ago, we said that we strived to make Grey the global gold standard for agencies in our industry. Well, today we did.”

Grey Group continues to expand its services, particularly adding digital hubs in New York, London and other key offices worldwide. In 2013 alone, the agency won digital accounts from P&G, 3M, Hasbro, Coca-Cola, Darden, Marriott, Lilly and GSK. With the tagline “Famously effective since 1917”, Grey Group is a global advertising agency headquartered in New York and operating in 96 countries. For local brand management and optimization using Grey-standard communication tools, please call Campaigns & Grey Davao at (082) 224 2085 or visit www.grey.com/philippines.

Globe Telecom joins Philippine Standard Time initiative GLOBE Telecom joins the rest of the country in supporting the promulgation of Republic Act (RA) 10535 or the Philippine Standard Time (PhST) Act of 2013, which urges Filipinos to observe a common time under the “Juan Time, On Time” campaign.

The telco was tapped by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration-Dept. of Science and Technology (PAGASA-DOST) through the National Telecommunications Commission to bolster information dissemination to its subscribers during the National Standard Time (NST) Consciousness Week currently being observed until January 7, 2014, which according to law will then be celebrated every first week of January from hereon.

One of the stipulations under RA 10535 is the observance of the NST as essential in “developing a culture of punctuality and practicing wise time management.” Toward this end, Filipinos are urged to value time consciousness, as PAGASADOST trumpets this movement in the entire archipelago.

Globe Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications Yoly Crisanto said that, “we actively support the implementation of the PhST as well as observance of the NST Consciousness Week with various initiatives using our modernized network and social media to reach out to our over 36 million subscribers, enjoining them to observe a common reckoning of time across the country. We are one with our countrymen in starting 2014 on time and observing thereafter Filipino Time as being Juan Time, On Time.”

Globe has mobilized efforts to encourage its customers as well as all Filipinos to synchronize their mobile phones, gadgets, and timepieces according to the official time across the Philippines, as reflected in the PAGASA-DOST PhST URL, http://kidlat.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/ourtime.shtml. Likewise, the company has been actively promoting the initiative through social media, particularly through its Facebook page: facebook.com/globeph, as well as Twitter account: @ enjoyglobe, both leading to the PhST website for more information about the initiative.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 210 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

FOOD

Leftover stopover part 2:

Food to go

LAST week was an OIL-full escapade.

It was about flavors coming together and creating something new. This week, its all about the little pieces of tasty sweet nothings left on your fridge. No, not necessarily fruits, cakes or brownies. These are even vegetables often ignored by many of us.

These new and exciting food ideas will certainly help you in the coming days. Parties will be easy on the budget and especially for you and your time in the kitchen. Nevertheless, these are not low on the taste. These are but bursting with gastronomical goodness that will have your guests – even yourself—up for seconds!

Toasted Basil Pesto Toasted Pesto? Yeah, pesto is another versatile concoction of flavors that engrosses the mouth and palate to eat more. The aroma is enticing and the flavor is a combination of fresh goodness like no other.

Grab a day old whole wheat bread or a slice of French bread, drizzle some garlic infused oil and spread generously.

Take a clove and rub pro-

of the intensity of flavor of the former. Toast for 5 minutes and eat while hot!

Best paired with tea.

fusely over the bread. This will give more body to the buildup of flavors. Spread a liberal amount of readymade pesto (you can also make your own: recipe from my past features) and top with grated sharp queso de bola. I opt for the queso de bola over regular cheddar cheese because Frozen Grape Kebab.

Ball-o-rama.

starch to make the consistency thicker and richer to the palate. Serve while hot.

Spiced Broccoli in Oil, oyster Sauce and Garlic.

Frozen Grape Kebab Wondering what to do with your grape bundles?

Well, aside from being a salad ornament and a shake fixture, you can actually have them skewed and frozen as sweet kebabs. Yes, these balls of juicy goodness are also best eaten frozen.

Drizzle a little bit of lemon juice and roll over white sugar (NOT caster sugar) before skewing and freezing – this will give your grapes that sour-tape taste.

Balls-O-Rama Squid balls, vegetable balls, chicken balls and even fish balls are but inevitable fixtures during festivities.

More often than not, such are deep-fried and dipped in sweet sour/ sweet chilly sauce. Now, let’s do something new and appetizingly delicious.

In a saucepan, sauté onion and garlic over low heat until slightly brown.

Use your herbed or chilly infused oil to add more flavor. Once done, grab your balls and cook. For better-toasted flavor, score over balls. Add your favorite dip and stir. At this stage, you can add other herbs and mix and match dipping sauces for a more flavorful dish. More so, you can opt to add corn-

Spiced Broccoli in Oil, oyster Sauce and Garlic Not many people appreciate a tasty and crunchy broccoli. Usually topped and mixed in noodle dishes and pastas, do a unique dish that will highlight the versatility of this vegetable.

In a saucepan, shock broccoli flowers in hot water and then in a cold bath.

Set aside. In a pan, sauté onion and garlic with herbed oil over low heat. Be careful not to burn them.

Add a knob of unsalted butter and continue stirring. Add broccoli flowers and oyster sauce. One tip is to add the sauce at the side of the pan to ensure that when it touches the vegetables in the middle, it will be hot thus creating a crust over the vegetables (or even meat!). Continue stirring. Remember, do not overdo your sauce.

Turn off heat after 3 minutes and top with garlic chips. Could be used as pasta sidings or pasta sauce.

Hangover Omelet Not sure if the name justifies this dish. In a bowl, beat 3 eggs and season with a dash of salt and pepper. Set aside. In a pan, heat lemon and lime infused oil and sauté some garlic and onion until wilted but not burned.

Once done, fry some longganisa (broken down by a fork) or leftover spaghetti sauce until it caramelizes.

Pour egg and season to taste. Make into an omelet or scrambled egg. Eat with bread and coffee.

Happy birthday to my TauMu batchmate and sis, Atty. Kristine Jane Pague! I love yah and see you soon – real soon (weekend soon!)!

Be a part of Davao’s Thursday habit! Send me your recipes, questions, suggestions and comments and be featured. Email me at leebay457@yahoo.com (subject: Royal Chef) or tag me on instagram (herroyalheiress) for your delicious pics!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 210 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

EVENTS

Loboc Youth Ambassadors Band wins the hearts of Dabawenyos THE world-renowned Loboc Youth Ambassadors Band (LYAB) brought holiday joy to children and their families with a special 30-minute flash mob at SM Lanang Premier Atrium, just infront of Davao City’s tallest indoor Christmas tree on December 30, 2013.

The musical group whose members hail from Loboc, considered as the center of musical talent in the province of Bohol, regaled Dabawenyos and tourists with its outstanding repertoire of band music under the baton of Maestro Rene Biliran Balbin.

With their expertise in brass instruments and synchronized choreography, the band played and danced to a selection of musical themes from Star Wars, medleys of popular musical themes and holiday tunes.

A vision in yellow in their bright shirts, the band’s live performance captivated and moved the audiences that a drop box was placed to accommodate the pouring of on-the-spot donations for LYAB’s Scholarship and Development Fund.

Shoppers generously contributed more than P16,000 in funds during the halfhour presentation.

On December 28, the band earlier headlined a benefit concert at the SMX Davao Convention Center at the 3rd Level of SM Lanang Premier for typhoon Yolanda survivors.

The Loboc Youth Ambas-

sador Band has enthralled audiences in provinces across the country and overseas since 2008. It is a poverty alleviation project of the Loboc Youth Education Association, Inc. that aims to support kids in availing free college education by training them to gain memberships in school bands. Beneficiaries are youths from grades 3 to 4th year high school and residents of Loboc, who receive free training in instrumentation and notes reading.

Experience world-class musical performances at SM

Lanang Premier. Visit SM Lanang Premier on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for event updates.

ENTERTAINMENT

Maricar Reyes marries a married man in ‘Maala-ala Mo Kaya’ AWARD-WINNING actress Maricar Reyes will play the role of a devoted wife and mother in the upcoming family drama of “Maalaala Mo Kaya.” In the episode directed by Garry Fernando, feel Elena’s (Maricar) pain when she discovers that her “ideal husband” Leo (Ariel Rivera) turned out to be married to someone else. Can Elena give up her dream family and let go of her greatest love or will she give in to her husband’s plea to save their relationship?

Together with Maricar and Ariel in “MMK” this Saturday (January 11) are Encar Benedicto, Jennifer

Mendoza, Jenny Miller, Eunice Lagusad, Gem Ramos, Katya Santos, and Miguel Vergara. The episode is written by Mary Rose Colindres and Arah Jell Badayos and researched by Michelle Joy Guerrero. “MMK” is led by business unit head Malou Santos, production man-

ager Roda Dela Cerna, and executive producer Fe Catherine San Pablo.

Don’t miss “MMK” this Saturday, after “Wansapanataym” on ABS-CBN. For more updates, log on to MMK.abscbn.com, follow @MMKOfficial on Twitter, and “like” Facebook.com/MMKOfficial.

INdulge! A3

A4 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 210 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

FOOD

EDGEDavao Davao Partners

Scones served with clotted cream and tea jelly.

Teatime...FFROM A1 we saw scones and tea muffins on the menu, we decided to have those instead. I guess it was also because he already had our fill of exotic flavoured macaroons courtesy of Davao’s pastry queen Booboo that we decided to skip the cute pastries and go for the not too regular stuff.

Choosing the right teas to pair with what we are having was a definite world-wide adventure given TWG’s wide array of teas. When an ordinary coffee place would offer at most eight different teas, TWG has an entire book of teas complete with the tea’s origins and tasting

notes.

And as our teas promptly arrived together with our scones (served with creamy clotted cream and TWG’s decadent tea jelly) I can taste why so much of the world loves tea thanks to its lightness on the tongue and its varied subtle flavours. I just wish there would be more places like this in Durianburg where one can unwind with a piping pot of tea while taking in the sights and conversations.

Follow me on Instagram or on Twitter at @kennethkingong for more travel and foodie finds as well as happenings in, around and beyond Durianburg.

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS 15

VOL. 6 ISSUE 210 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2014

FROM SWOOSH TO 3 STRIPES

Adidas signs Jeremy Lin A

DIDAS today announced a partnership with NBA point guard Jeremy Lin of the Houston Rockets.

“I’m really excited to join the adidas family,” said Lin. “They’ve changed the game with new technology and style and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Lin joins the adidas basketball roster which includes teammate and seven-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard and a lineup of elite pointguards highlighted by Derrick Rose of the Chi-

cago Bulls, John Wall of the Washington Wizards and Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers.

“Jeremy’s relentless drive, passion for the game and background of leading winning teams throughout his career makes him a perfect fit for the adidas brand,” said Chris Grancio, adidas head of global basketball sports marketing.

Unheralded as a high school player, undrafted from Harvard University and cut twice from NBA rosters, Lin made global

headlines when he led the New York Knicks to an improbable seven game winning streak in February 2012. Dubbed “Linsanity,” his rise to stardom was fueled by elite playmaking ability and clutch shooting as he became the only NBA player in modern history to tally 20 points and seven assists in his first five starts.

The first Asian-American player in the NBA, Lin joined the Houston Rockets in 2012 and has helped them become one of the Western Confer-

turned into a 59-26 run by the two-time defending champions. ‘’We’re an old team, man,’’ Wade said. ‘’It takes us a while sometimes to get the juices flowing.

Playing against a lot of young teams, they come in loose, ready. We’ve got to get our body going a little bit.’’

Chris Andersen was 7 for 7 from the field and scored 15 points, and Chris Bosh added 12 points and nine rebounds for the Heat (27-8). Wade added eight rebounds for Miami, which got 11 points from Ray Allen. ‘’We were able to turn the game around pretty

fast,’’ James said.

Anthony Davis led the Pelicans with 22 points and 12 rebounds, most of his numbers coming in the first half. Eric Gordon scored 15 and Tyreke Evans added 13 for New Orleans (15-18). ‘’Give them credit.

They came out in the third quarter and stepped up the pressure,’’ Pelicans coach Monty Williams said. ‘’They made a lot of tough shots but our guys, as a whole, we’ve got to grow up and understand that when you have a (good) half against a team, they’re going to come out and attack and put pressure.’’

ence’s top teams while averaging over 14 points, four assists and two rebounds per game this season.

Lin will be featured in a variety of upcoming adidas marketing initiatives and will play a role in the development of basketball footwear and apparel.

Other adidas athletes include WNBA MVP Candace Parker, FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi FC Barcelona and six-time tennis Grand Slam singles champion Novak Djokovic.

FROM SWOOSH TO THREE STRIPES. Jeremy Lin, photographed here by EDGE Davao during the NBA Global Games in Manila, has signed a sneaker deal with adidas.

James lead Heat over Pelicans City’s M

IAMI (AP) -- Dwyane Wade saw LeBron James was on the move and unguarded, so he lobbed the ball toward the rim and waited for the predictable outcome.

The alley-oop looked easy - just like everything else after halftime for the Miami Heat.

James scored 32 points, Wade added 22 points and eight assists, and the Heat trailed by 11 early in the second half before running away to a 107-88 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday night.

That alley-oop was one of the first salvos in what

sports at DSA Forum D

AVAO City’s comprehensive sports development program in 2014 is the main dish when the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum opens its first edition in the New Year at 10:30 a.m. today at the NCCC Mall Bowling, Billiards and Bar (B3) Center lanes today.

Sports Development Division of the City Mayor’s Office (SDD-CMO) officer-in-charge William “Butch” Ramirez is guest along with Davao Football Association’s general secretary Erwin Protacio.

Dabawenyo chess arbiter, player in ASEAN Para Games A

Miami Heat’s LeBron James (6) goes to the basket against New Orleans Pelicans’ Tyreke Evans.

N INTERNATIONAL chess arbiter and a player from Davao will be joining the 7th ASEAN Para Games slated on January 14-20 in Myanmar.

FIDE and International Arbiter James Infiesto of Davao City and candidate master Henry Lopez of Panabo City will be in the biennial meet as officiating official and player, respectively.

Infiesto had previously officiated in the 2013 World Youth Chess Championships (WYCC) held Dec. 17-29 in Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.

“It’s been an exciting experience because I was assigned in the top 18 boards of the U18 Open

category which had the world’s top youth grandmasters and international masters,” said Infiesto said.

Infiesto also officiated in the Asian Youth Para

INFIESTO

Games held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last October 24-30 and in the 4th Asian Indoor & Martial Arts Games held on June 27 to July 7 at Incheon, South Korea.

Infiesto, a magician by profession based in Davao City, also performed magic tricks during the cultural night of the WYCC last December 24.

“I performed fun, family and bubble magic tricks,” said Infiesto, also regional director of the National Chess Federation of the Phils. (NCFP) and vice-chairman of Davao City Sports Consumer Cooperative (DCSCC).

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. VOL.66ISSUE ISSUE210 210• THURSDAY, • THURSDAY,JANUARY JANUARY9,9,2014 2014

SPORTS OASIS. The sprawling Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Center in Mankilam, Tagum City is now the sporting capital of the Davao Region. DavNor PIO

WHEN LEADERS WALK THEIR TALK DavNor sports complex now earning revenues

T

HE DAVAO del Norte provincial government started enforcing fees and charges for the use of the facilities of the Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex to offset costs and improve its services.

The levy was greeted with mixed reactions during the New Year by patrons, who were allowed to use the new state-of-the-art sports center for more than a year.

The scheduled rates for the use of the complex was passed by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan last September 2013.

Yet, Governor Rodolfo del Rosario postponed its implementation until January 1, 2014 in order to extend the mass dissemination of the new policy.

The governor maintained the charges are needed to recoup the huge investment and ensure the upkeep of the over P300-million sports complex.

“We need to impose the fees and charges in order to ensure the upkeep and to protect the services of the facility,” he said.

The governor assured the fees are fair and may even exceed the value of the benefits that the patrons or health buffs obtain from using the facility.

Access to the main entrance of the complex now costs P10.00 during the day and P15.00 at night for regular users, while students are charged P5.00 and P10.00, r e -

GOV. RODOLFO DEL ROSARIO. spectively.

Visionary leader.

However, the entrance fee is being waived for athletes and health enthusiasts, who use the specific facilities of the center, such as the oval tracks, swimming pools, centerfield/ football fields, and outside volleyball, basketball and lawn tennis courts, among other amenities.

The respective facilities apply individual rates at reasonable prices, including charges for the exclusive use of modern RDR Gymnasium and Swimming pool Clubhouse.

The exclusive use of the entire sports complex costs P100,000.00 a day, from 8:00 am until midnight.

Children six years old and below are free of

charge, including persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, presidents of provincial sports associations, retirees of the provincial government, athletes who have won awards in regional and national meets, as well as, members of the Team DavNor. Those who are entitled to a 50 percent discount include the employees of the Provincial

Capitol and their espouses, Special Program for Sports (SPS) students and varsity players.

Users may also apply for a monthly membership fee of P350.00 for the use of the oval, plus the cost of their IDs. Or they may opt for a monthly fee of P900.00 for the use of the swimming pools, with additional cost for their IDs. [Noel Baguio]