Edge Davao 6 Issue 228

VOL. 6 ISSUE 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

‘I WILL GLADLY KILL HIM’

GLUED. City Mayor’s Office (CMO) employees are all eyes on the televised Senate agriculture committee hearing held at the Senate yesterday where Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte appeared as a resource person to tackle the rampant rice smuggling in the country. Duterte warned during the proceedings alleged smuggler Davidson Bangayan that if he will be caught in the commission of a crime in Davao City, the mayor will gladly kill him. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

Mayor Rody drops bombs, rants in Senate

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

W

abf@edgedavao.net

ITHOUT batting an eyelash, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte swore before a Senate hearing yesterday that he will “gladly” kill suspected rice smuggling mastermind David Tan if he commits a crime in Davao City.

Mayor Duterte was invited to the probe on rice smuggling by the Senate Committee on Agriculture headed by Senator Cynthia A. Villar.

During the hearing, Duterte was asked by Senator Jinggoy Estrada if it is still safe for suspected rice smuggler Davidson Bangayan or David Tan, to go to Davao City.

“I will gladly kill him if he will be caught in Davao

unloading smuggled rice,” Duterte said eliciting some chuckle from some Senators including Estrada.

Duterte also reiterated that killing for the poor Filipino farmers is worth it and that he does not mind going to jail for them.

Estrada asked whether the statement was a “stern warning” and Duterte said shooting Bangayan will be the best thing to do if he will put up a fight with the authorities.

Duterte faced the Senate probe with his usual tough talk, muttering some invectives directed at rice smugglers rem-

F’I WILL, 10

EAGER. A young boy who is eager to watch the mall tour of popular actors Piolo Pascual and Toni Gonzaga peeks behind the barrier at the activity center of Abreeza Mall Sunday evening. Lean Daval Jr.

2

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

Landslide forces family of 7 to flee T

ELEMENTS. The country’s hottest disc jockey, DJ Ace Ramos, makes the party-goers dance with his epic club and techno mixes during “Elements: Sonic Escalation Party” held at the fountain court grounds of SM Lanang Premier over the weekend. Lean Daval Jr.

SENATOR VILLAR SAYS

HE Davao City Disasters Risk Reduction and Management office (DRRMO) has reported that a family was forced to evacuate when a landslide took place at the Pansoy compound, Guadalupe Village, Matina Crossing Friday evening.

Dante C. Donayre, operations chief of the DRRMO, said that the family of seven is temporarily housed with their neighbor.

The area is a steep slope that got saturated during typhoon Agaton causing the landslide.

“We will conduct a final validation tomorrow as we just received the report (Monday),”he said.

After conducting the validation, he would coordinate with the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) on how to avoid incidents that might endanger the residents staying in the area, Donayre said.

Meanwhile, he also said barangay officials should report immediately to their office any disaster so that can be acted upon and to pre-empt any damage.

[EPC]

Raps filed against 4 carnap suspects

David Bangayan’s company behind Davao rice shipment D

By EMILORD P. CASTROMAYOR

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

abf@edgedavao.net

HE Senate Committee on Agriculture has found that David Tan Bangayan has something to do with the controversial importation of P12-million worth of rice now the subject of a legal battle in a Davao court.

Starcraft International Trading, importer of the rice shipment in question, is one of the companies Bangayan allegedly owns.

This was learned from Senator Cynthia Villar, chairman of committee

on agriculture, during the Senate inquiry on rice smuggling yesterday.

Villar bared that Joseph Mangupag Ngo who petitioned the Regional Trial Court for an injunction order against the Bureau of Customs is a brother of Bangayan’s nominee director in Starcraft and some other companies that he (Bangayan) owns.

Villar said that Joseph Mangupag Ngo who filed a petition for injunction before Regional Trial Court Branch 16 Judge Emman-

WEATHER FORECAST

uel Carpio to release the seized rice shipment is the brother of Julius Mangupag who is a stock holder of several companies of Bangayan.

When Villar asked Bangayan if he knew Mangupag he said Mangupag is “nominee director” of his company.

Justice Secretary Leila De Lima said when she was asked by Villar that any person must have a legal personality to file a case.

“So kung hindi ka naman talaga yung tunay

na sinasabi na importer ng mga goods na yan pwede pong masabi na you lack the legal personality,” De Lima said.

Earlier, Ngo filed the urgent motion after the NFA filed a motion to dissolve the order of the court of the issued writ of preliminary injunction dated last December 12 directing the BOC to release the rice shipment. Ngo has no legal right to the imported rice as he merely has an agreement with the consignee,

FDAVID, 10

epc@edgedavao.net

AVAO City police authorities filed charges of carnapping and illegal possession of firearms against four persons who were arrested on Friday evening along the National Highway, Barangay Sirawan in Toril District.

P/Sr. Supt. Joel Fernito, regional director of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 11, identified the suspects as Joel Manulat, leader of the “Suwang group”, Jimmy Cuico, Nappy Bontilao and Charlie Nail. The four are being accused of violating provisions of R.A 10591 or known as (Comprehensive Law on Firearms and Ammunition), and of R.A

6539 (Anti-Carnapping Law) before the city prosecution office.

“The Suwang group is responsible for the series of carnapping incidents in Davao del Sur and neighboring provinces,” Pernito said in a press release.

Pernito said police recorded 200 cases of carnapping in Davao del Sur alone.

“The CIDG has intensified their flagship campaign dubbed Oplan “CLEANSWEEP, (Campaign against carnapping groups/gangs and individuals),” he said.

Police confiscated from the suspects four motorcycles and two pistols containing live bullets.

MESMERIZING. Popular television personalities and movie actors Piolo Pascual and Toni Gonzaga mesmerize hundreds of adoring fans during the duo’s mall tour for their upcoming movie at the activity center of Abreeza Mall last Sunday evening. Lean Daval Jr.

3 Comelec to evaluate use of PCOS in 2016 NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

T SURPRISE INSPECTION. Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Vicente Danao Jr. conducts a surprise inspection of 42 motorcycle owned by police officers at Camp Domingo E. Leonor yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to evaluate if they would use or not the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) in the 2016 presidential polls.

Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said they are not closing their door on the possibility of looking at another system aside from the PCOS machines, which were utilized in the 2010 and 2013 elections.

“What we are saying is, right now, we will still evaluate the PCOS machines… maybe, since 2010, there are new technologies available already,” he said.

Jimenez added that they would also check on condition of the machines’ hardware.

“What we are trying to do now is see if the machines are still in good condition. It is only realistic for them to suffer from wear and tear, which might necessitate the replacement of parts or, in some cases, replacement of entire units…

Will the hardware be good enough for 2016? That is the question,” he said.

Originally, the more than 80,000 machines were leased from Smartmatic International for an amount

MID days of fighting between government troops and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, Malacañang on Sunday reiterated the Aquino administration’s commitment to peace in Southern Philippines.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said that while many are suffering because of the fighting, the government ultimately wants to attain peace in Mindanao.

“Pagdating diyan, ang hinahangad ng pamaha-

laan ay magkaroon ng kapayapaan sa Mindanao.

May lugar diyan na nagsa-suffer dahil sa ganitong nagiging insidente.

Gusto natin lahat magkaroon ng kapayapaan at tahimik (The government wants peace in Mindanao.

We are aware there are people there suffering because of the fighting. We want to attain peace),” she said.

The BIFF has been linked to recent attacks in Mindanao. It is a splinter

Amid fighting with BIFF, gov’t. reiterates commitment to peace

Davao business A climate surges on

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

T

crc@edgedavao.net

HE business climate in Davao City continues to improve as reflected by the increase in capitalization over the past years, an official of the City Business Bureau said.

Business Bureau chief Lawrence D. Bantiding, guesting in yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex, said that the bureau recorded a total capitalization of P193 billion in

2012 and this increased in 2013 by P199 billion.

“There is an increase in capitalization growth rate because of the construction of new malls in the city,” he said. It can be recalled that

city.

“Nakita nato na kinahanglan nila ng suporta.

Kinahanglan nato atimanon ang mga upland farmers kay sila ang affected sa kalamidad,”Councilor Marisa S. Abella, vice chair of the

committee said.

According to her, each center will have a demo farm, nursery, a post harvest facility, and equipment that will make agricultural products value added. She

Councilor eyeing agri center in each district T

HE City Government of Davao, through the city c ouncil committee on agriculture. is eyeing an agriculture center in each district for the improvisation and development of upland farming in the

FCOUNCILOR, 10

AGRICULTURAL CENTERS. Councilor Marissa Salvador-Abella, chair of the committee on agriculture of the Davao City Council, says during this week’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao yesterday that the city government of Davao through her committee plans to create agricultural centers in the three districts of the city for the improvisation and development of upland farming. Lean Daval Jr.

Abreeza-Ayala Mall started its operation in 2011 while SM Lanang Premier in 2012 and Gaisano Grand-Toril opened last year.

He said that they expect

FDAVAO, 10

FCOMELEC, 10

FAMID, 10

4

EDGEDAVAO

BIGGER PICTURE

Why rice

VOL. 6 ISSUE 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

smuggling is rampant

By GERRY T. ESTRERA Contributor

“O

BTAINING greater profit” – that’s the reason why rice smuggling is a booming business in the Philippines, according to a position paper published by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice).

“The opportunity to rake-in higher profit from rice smuggling arises due to the large discrepancy between the domestic and world price of rice,” said the paper, entitled “Curing the cause rather than the symptom: The case of rice smuggling.”

In 2000, domestic price of rice had been higher than the world price by 75%.

In 2012, it was higher by 30%. The paper cited two reasons for the huge price difference: rice trade policies of the government and higher cost of producing rice in the Philippines relative to exporting countries.

According to PhilRice, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, the Philippines has adhered to quantitative restriction (QR) on rice as its international trade policy since 1995.

“QR involves a Minimum Access Volume (MAV), which is the amount of rice that may be imported at 40% import duty (in-quota tariff),” PhilRice explained.

“Procuring beyond the MAV poses a greater barrier as importer pays a higher duty of 50% (out-quota tariff) and undergoes a more stringent process of obtaining import permit.”

QR, it is said, limits the entry of supply-augmenting rice that consequently sets the domestic price higher than when under free trade (that is, unlimited entry of imports).

“QR is intended to protect both farmers and marketing players,” the paper pointed out. “It avoids influx of cheap imported rice in the market and it brings better profit for them.”

One study done in 2008

showed that traders, millers, wholesalers, and retailers receive 30% of the unit price of rice as profit. Farmers, on the other hand, get 40-53% of the unit price of paddy rice as their profit.

“Assuming that production cost is maintained at ₱11.00 per kilogram of paddy rice, a raise in the domestic price of rice would mean higher earnings for both farmers and marketing players, but at a cost to consumers,” the paper noted.

Smuggling, however, tends to be more rampant

in markets with high import duties and quantitative or qualitative restrictions, the paper said.

“Smugglers avoid tax payments on imported rice, minimizing their costs, and giving them price advantage over sellers who source rice locally. Therefore, smuggling undermines trade restrictions, such as QR that is supposed to protect producers and marketing players from competition with cheap rice imports,” the paper pointed out.

Another reason why

the price of rice is higher when grown in the country is because of the relatively higher cost of producing rice. Although the Philippines produces almost the same paddy rice yield as those in some neighboring Asian countries, it spends more in producing it.

For instance, in 2012, the Philippines’ farm-level price (US$484.50/hectare) is relatively higher than its neighboring countries like Thailand (US$192/ha), Vietnam (US$198/ha), and Indonesia (US$430.50/ ha).

To think of, the yield of the Philippines (3.84 mt/ ha) in 2012 is close to the yield of India (3.59 mt/ha) and Thailand (3.00 mt/ha), which are exporters of rice.

The PhilRice researchers, who conducted a study based on key informant interviews, found out that Philippines’ farm-level price is still higher in these countries. Indonesia and Vietnam produced higher yield but their farm-level price is still relatively lower than the Philippines.

“This relatively high farm-level price is partly

attributed to high production cost in the Philippines because of higher labor cost and lower government support provided to farmers than in neighboring countries,” the paper pointed out.

The labor cost for land preparation, crop establishment, harvesting, and threshing in the Philippines totaled to an average of US$484.50 per ha. This is twice as much as the cost of the same activities in India (US$ 268/ha), Thailand (US$192/ha), and Vietnam (US$198/ha).

“In these countries, most farmers practice direct seeding and use combine harvester-thresher, thereby, minimizing their labor cost,” the paper said.

According to the paper, Filipino farmers receive relatively low government support compared with farmers in other countries.

In China, large-scale farmers were provided free seeds, while those in India and Indonesia were provide partial seed subsidy.

The paper noted that in the Philippines, there were subsidies for inbred and hybrid seeds before but these were removed in 2010.

In the Philippines, rice is the leading staple food.

As the late food epicure Doreen Fernandez wrote: “If we did not have rice, our deepest comfort food, we would probably feel less Filipino.”

According to the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, Filipinos spend more on rice than any other food. A survey conducted by the line agency of the agriculture department showed that Filipinos, especially those from low-income households, are depending solely on rice more than ever for their daily dietary energy supply and dietary protein because it remains the most affordable food in the country.

5 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

P600-M real estate project in Gensan

By AQUILES Z. ZONIO

A

Correspondent

Manila-based real estate developer is investing around P600 million in General Santos City not only to expand his business but also to help correct misimpression and misconception about Mindanao.

Rey F. Santos, president of Churchill Construction & Realty Development, Inc., told reporters “This is not just about business. We are doing this to help change the image of Mindanao. The project would try to showcase that not the entire Mindanao is in conflict.”

On Sunday morning, Gensan Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera led the groundbreaking ceremony of a multi-million subdivision project nestling on top of a plateau in Tambler village overlooking Sarangani Bay. The project named “The Palm Spring Estates Subdivision” was described

by Santos as first of its kind in this southern seaport city.

The project develop-

ment plan would be submitted to the city council for approval on Tuesday.

Rivera assured the project proponents of the local government’s full support.

The project, comprised of 669 housing units with 600-square meter lot area and a 300 square meter floor area each, will soon rise in a 38-hectare site in Tambler, just about a 30-minute ride from the downtown area.

“Palm Spring Estates would be a fully-gated community with first class amenities. For those who want serenity, beautiful scenery and simple life after retirement, this is it,” Santos said.

Santos bared that the P600 million amount is just intended for the development of the site like construction of peripheral fence, wide and well-paved roads, lighting facilities, clubhouse, church, hotel, school and a commercial center.

“The concept is something quite similar to Ayala-Alabang. This would

READY FOR INSPECTION. Davao City Business Bureau officer in charge lawyer Lawrence Bantiding reiterates during yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao that they will be going around Davao City this month to check if all business establishments have renewed their business permits. Lean Daval Jr. be the first exclusive village located in Gensan,” Santos said.

The land is owned by Churchill Construction & Realty Development, Inc. while the developer is CHMI Land, Inc. CHMI has various housing

development projects in different parts of the country like Tacloban City, Batangas and Metro Manila.

When asked why he chose Gensan as site for its multi-million real estate project, Santos

said “First and foremost, we would like to contribute something for the development of Mindanao. This is a very peaceful and beautiful place. It’s typhoon-free.

Second, we would like to spread the econom-

ic activities to other areas, not just focusing on Luzon.”

Santos believed it’s now high time to invest in this part of Mindanao especially after the signing of the Bangsamoro Framework Agreement.

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

15.

Core Inflation Rate 2006=100 2006=100

Apr 2013

2.9 Oct3.12013

Rate

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 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

Mindanao insurgencies bar the way to progress

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

M

crc@edgedavao.net

INDANAO will be left behind in the 2015 Asean Integration if insurgencies from all sectors will not be resolved. This was the observation of Davao City Mayor City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte which was affirmed later by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice chairman Donal G. Dee. “After listening to the mayor, that is the truth. I have to be really honest, unless the problems that the mayor brought out can be resolved,” Dee said.

Duterte, keynote speaker of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII’s) 46th Annual Installation of Officers and Trustees at The Marco Polo Davao said that the business environment in Davao City will still be affected by rebellion.

“Whether you like it or not, Davao City is a part of Mindanao,” Duterte said to the local business community.

He said that the Philippine government should have crafted also peace agreements with the New People’s Army (NPA) and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

“I don’t know if peace is coming completely [in Mindanao],”Duterte said, adding that Nur Missouri, MNLF founder is feeling neglected throughout the whole peace process.

Recently, the signing

GOOD WEATHER. Fisher folk steer their motorized banca along Samal Strait between Samal Island and Davao City. [MindaNews Photo by Keith Bacongco] of four annexes on transitional arrangements and modalities, wealth sharing, power sharing, and normalization was finished. He said that this will lead to bigger problems because it was crafted by people who are not from here and it is only done with the MILF. According to him, only Mindanaoans can resolve the disputes and insurgencies in in their own island and not by anyone else.

“People who do not

live here should not decide for us who live here.

We must decide where such decision affects our life and livelihood,” DCCCII chair John Y. Gaisano Jr. said, adding that Mindanaoans who are knowledgeable and free from any political affiliation should be brought into a group for consultation, negotiation and decision.

He said that the government should not disregard the peace agreement between the MNLF and GPH entered during

the time of president Ferdinand Marcos.

The business environment in Mindanao is threatened by the ongoing dispute and rebellion, adding that aside from criminality kidnapping is rampant in the western side of Mindanao, specifically in Zamboanga, Basilan and Sulu.

Aside from kidnapping, he said, revolutionary taxation imposed by rebel groups is also a big problem.

Duterte said that he is

aware that alleged members of the NPA asked businessmen to pay them for operating in their claimed areas.

He cited an incident of arson wherein an alleged member of the NPA was sued before the City Prosecution Office on Thursday for burning a harvester truck in Cadalian, Baguio District.

Dee said that they will be supporting the DCCCII in its endeavor of addressing the decades-old rebellion in the island.

said the source of growth is clearly the 15 percent growth in domestic tourism as foreign arrivals softened, and the usual other savior -- OFW remittances which boosted domestic trade. The surprising contribution of domestic tourism to local manufacturing which accelerated is a window that should be exploited by policymakers and domestic business groups.

On the whole, Salceda

noted, the economy posted a 7.2 percent growth last year, making the Philippines one of the best performing economies in Asia, second only to China which grew by 7.7 percent, based on government reports.

Salceda, a known economist, noted that “with this fourth quarter performance, 2014 should see growth upgrades by credit agencies, stock analysts, the World Economic Fo-

rum, and the Asian Development Bank for the Philippines as reconstruction boost domestic expansion and higher growth boost investment flows.”

The 2013 remarkable turnout exceeded the government target of 6 percent to 7 percent despite the previous year’s challenges, a telltale sign of a stronger economy.

The Philippines with a 7.8 percent GDP growth in the first quarter of 2013, even

surpassed China which posted 7.7 percent, and Indonesia with 6 percent.

“The overall story is impressive as GDP grew by 6.5 percent in the 4th quarter of 2013 despite Yolanda, also showing the economy’s run-off momentum and its surprising built-in cyclical strengths. Most remarkable, given the global softness and China’s import competition, is the accelerated performance of Manufacturing,” he observed. [PNA]

Domestic tourism saves 2013 Q4 performance from Yolanda’s claws

T

HE country’s economic performance in 2013, particularly during the fourth quarter with a 6.5 percent GDP growth despite the P355 billion damage inflicted by Yolanda and P100 billion curtailment of DAP/PDAF, could still usher in brighter prospects for 2014 as reconstruction boosts expansion and higher growth expectations boost investment flows.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda

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 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

On the verge of water crisis

By GERRY T. ESTRERA

E

Contributor

ARLY this month, a consumer complained of not having water in their barangay for a couple of hours. He complained that water district didn’t inform them ahead of time. He posted his grumble in the wall of his facebook account.

A friend of the said consumer posted a comment that in her area, the drip was so miniscule that she had to wait for a pail to be filled up with water. She called the water district if there was repair being made and the other end answered there was none.

Perhaps, it happened since there were too many people using water at that hour at the same time. And since location area of the managing editor was situated in an upper portion, there was a tendency that water could not go up.

Meanwhile, some 75 kilometers away from Davao City, in the town of Bansalan, Davao del Sur, residents of barangay Poblacion Dos were having hard times since for three days already there was no water. It means no water to drink, to cook foods, to be used for bathing and washing clothes. A few considered the situation as a nightmare.

Most residents of the barangay had to go beg for some water in some areas in town where water was available. “We can’t go on like for this several days,” whined Annie, a mother of three children. “We need water now.”

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, our planet is facing a serious water crisis. All the signs suggest that it is getting worse and will continue to do so, unless corrective action is taken.

“Today, we withdraw water far faster than it can be recharged – unsustainably mining what was once

a renewable resource,” deplores Janet Abramovitz, a researcher/writer of the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute.

A recent report from the United Nations and the Stockholm Environment Institute said that by the year 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population would be affected by water shortages.

“World demand for water doubles every 21 years, but the volume available is the same as it was in the Roman times,” observes Sir Crispin Tickell, former British ambassador to the United Nations and one of the organizers of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. “Something has got

to give.”

“A water crisis is likely to hit around the year 2050.” This was the unanimous warning from participants at the first World Water Forum held in Marrakech, Morocco in 1997.

The message, however, is nothing new. For years, the problem has been showing us some signs and symptoms. Around the globe, water tables are falling, underground aquifers are being depleted, lakes are shrinking and wetlands crucial to the survival or plants and wildlife are drying up.

But despite all these, the international community ignored the signs. It

was not until when “some 80 countries, comprising 40 percent of the world’s population, are already suffering from serious water shortages” that the UN General Assembly in New York decided to give priority to the global water crisis.

Clean drinking water and adequate sanitation are necessary to protect human health and the environment. Some 1.2 billion people – roughly onesixth of the world’s population – lack access to safe water, and 2.4 billion or 40 per cent of the world’s people lack access to adequate sanitation services.

Governments have agreed to halve by 2015 the

proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation, at the Millennium Summit and Johannesburg Summit respectively.

“We live in a water-challenged world, one that is becoming more so each year as 80 million additional people stake their claims to the Earth’s water resources,” decries Lester Brown, former Worldwatch Institute president.

Next to air, water is the element most necessary for survival. You may not know it, but water makes up more than 60 percent of our body weight. Proteins make up only 18% while fats encompass 15%, minerals 4%, carbohydrates 2% and vitamins less than one percent.

Science tells us that our brain contains 74% water, blood contains 83% water, lean muscle has 75% water and bone has 22% water. A lack of water affects everything from our digestive tract to our immune system. It also helps regulate our body temperature.

A household of five needs at least 120 liters per day to meet basic needs – for drinking, food preparation, cooking and cleaning up, washing and personal hygiene, laundry, house cleaning, according to the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute, a global environmental group.

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EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 6 ISSUE 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

EDITORIAL

Learning from Rody

I

T WAS the same old Mayor Rodrigo Duterte whom Dabawenyos know too well who was speaking before the Senate Committee on Agriculture yesterday. Vintage form and gait.

He was straightforward, and sans any hoopla, quickly ended his short visit in the Senate floor pointing to alleged rice smuggling syndicate mastermind David Tan as the same person he earlier named and showed picture of.

He ranted with his trademark swearing which elicited some chuckle from some Senators and the gallery, and he also dropped a few good lines for everyone in the government service.

“The trouble with us in government is that we talk too much, act too slow, and do too little.”

“I heard it said once that what this country needs, given the prevailing conditions, is not more laws but more good men in public service.”

Those two lines were like bombs dropped before the few men and women in the Senate halls, and watched

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by millions around the country on television.

Unlike many who have spoken over this issue on rice smuggling, Duterte did not lay blame on others alone. He included himself when he asked “don’t we?”

What officials of the national government avoided doing, Mayor Rody did.

He used “us” instead of “you.” “We” instead of “they.”

It is not everyday that the country gets to listen to Mayor Rody and yesterday was an opportune time for him to get the stage. The tough talk and trademark swearing were all in display that television stations had to blip the sound bytes everytime he spoke unprintables.

The bottomline of Duterte’s statements is trite and simple—for government to talk less, act swiftly, and do more. It’s been sometime and David Tan has been walking around freely. Until yesterday, when finally Justice Secretary Leila De Lima ordered his arrest.

That De Lima act was the clincher, a grandstand act as spectacular as the Super Bowl.

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

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VOL. 6 ISSUE 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

Off the mark positive prospect

HADOW OF HOSTILITIES BREAKING OUT - For now, the Aquino administration’s much-vaunted initial rumblings of socio-economic and political activities are clearly not gaining ground in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). One had to travel many towns across the self-directed region to see whether life has improved for the ordinary citizens. Admissibly enough, in a place where the peace and order situation is volatile and unstable, progress likewise is elusive.

It’s been almost two decades since the signing of the so-called “Final Peace Agreement’ (FPA) between the Ramos administration and the Nur Misuari-led Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) yet ARMM has fallen into a prolonged state of anarchy. The signs of political stability, socio-economic progress and peace and security are often interrupted by the drumbeats of insurgents’ attacks. Once in a while, life in the war-ravaged region on the surface seems normal, but there is a general sense of uneasiness.

Restive residents routinely veer from optimism to apprehension. The precarious peace and order condition makes it difficult for business speculators and locators to gauge the extent of change, indeed, if there is one. If there is no real peace and security, economic stagnation logically is the end result. Government spending and investment portfolios have not increased to fuel commerce that would eventually create jobs and give people in the autonomous region a feeling of prosperity they had never known so far.

Officials in the autonomous region come and go, but they similarly struggled to keep up with the prevailing socio-economic and political crisis caused by an unpredictable environment. There were large numbers of unemployed young men and women in most areas due to lack of job opportunities. Unexpected unrest threatens to swamp all the efforts of government to restore back the normal economic

T

activities and surprise rebel attacks targeting police and military patrols and government establishments had stoked fears resulting to the shuddering of the foundation of the regional autonomous government.

With the influential clans and political warlords gone, people expect business activities would resuscitate and drive an economic boom with their newfound peaceful atmosphere. However, many years on, the reality remains vastly complicated. In some ways, business is potentially huge, but even the normally upbeat entrepreneurs admit that the prediction of the local and national governments about brighter economic prospect was off the mark.

But amidst the unpredictable peace and order condition are hard-nosed business smarts, say those who are already there. The not-so-good situation has not dented their optimism. Of course, there is always a shadow of hostilities breaking out, but intrepid entrepreneurs on the ground say that earning money has been a strong draw and for them, it seemed a small price for survival. It is no surprise people inevitably demand an end to hostilities and government must ensure a peaceful environment conducive for business and socio-political activities.

They’re scoping out opportunities anticipating that someday the fickle peace and security situation is going to simmer down. But for how long, it might be asked? In fairness, though, the peace and order condition in the region is not as bad as what has been described in the international press. Yet you could see outward signs of business at work only to prove that it is still a good place to do business –

although the harder way. In other people view, it’s really an unpredictable place to live and to engage in business, but homegrown traders make their future here. It takes just lots of courage and willpower, and a market strategy – essential tools of the trade.

Muslim Mindanao’s search for a new identity will be a long and difficult journey despite the signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro entity between the GRP and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace negotiating panels. Already, the region’s ethnic and political divisions are beginning to assert themselves sometimes in threatening ways. Political and constitutional experts noted the haggling that revealed splits in the formation of a new autonomous political entity could still haunts the region’s political, socio-economic and cultural practices despite insistence of the GRPMILF panels that the FBA marks an impressive accomplishment for both parties and, particularly the Bangsamoro people.

Can the expected transition proceedings in the coming months or maybe even years to be precise, as the government hands over the power to the leaders of a new autonomous region find ways for warring groups to co-exist peacefully?

This will determine whether a new autonomous political entity can become, at one extreme a model for harmony and unity or, at the other an unstable haven for prospective investors. Believers in the FBA might as well say that the new peace accord enshrines the rights Bangsamoro people never dreamed of before: equality, freedom of speech and political identity.

However, many legal luminaries and political analysts are diffident about FBA’s future, “Isn’t it premature to talk about the realization of the FBA,” they ask. With the final formation of the FBA before President Benigno Aquino III’s term expires in 2016, it’s not too soon to contemplate Bangsamoro people’s new leaders.

Carabao, the beast of burden, getting smaller world

HE town of Mangaldan in Pangasinan, a next-door neighbor of Dagupan to the east, produces a delicacy “tapa” (dried meat) that is considered today as the best-tasting not only in the Philippines but the world over.

Now the “One Town, One Product” of Mangaldan and the object of worship by thousands of street dancers in the annual “Tapa Festival”, the delicious “tapa” easily put the town in the map of the country if not the world across the years.

A delicacy that can be served in every meal in Filipino homes, the “tapa” from Mangaldan is a most welcome at breakfast. This gave rise to “tapsilog”, a cheap breakfast order in restaurants for budget-conscious Filipinos.

“Tapsilog” is a common man’s breakfast as it comes in a combination of “tapa” (dried meat) “sinangag” (fried rice) and “itlog” (egg) with coffee on the side.

But sadly, the “tapa” industry of

SPECIAL FEATURE

BY LEONARDO V. MICUA

Part 1 of 2 Mangaldan--believed to have been started more than a century ago-owes its success to the country’s beast of burden, the carabao which is now being constantly slaughtered for its meat.

Despite the existing national ban on the slaughtering of carabaos for their meat, the beast of burden is being unceasingly bludgeoned to death at the town’s double A abattoir for their meat.

With the Ilocanos in the north having developed natural cravings for “pinapaitan” where the carabao is slaughtered for their meat and for the small intestinal sac that tastes bitter, the world of the carabaos became smaller.

In the rural areas of the north, the people are accustomed to

slaughtering carabaos to be served in wedding parties and for other special occasions.

This is the reason why carabao population even in farming communities is now thinning like hair in man’s balding scalp.

It is no wonder therefore that the beast of burden is now on the verge of extinction not only in the province of Pangasinan but in the country as a whole as confirmed by the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC).

Statistics from the PCC based in Rosario, La Union showed that from a population of 317,073 in the entire Region 1 in January 2010, the number of carabaos was down to only 290,180 in 2013 or after three years.

The number is expected to go down further in the coming years unless there is greater consciousness and awareness for the protection of the carabaos, said Dr. Gloria de la Cruz, chief of the PCC. .

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Hail but bewail!

WORM’S EYEVIEW

BY MANNY VALDEHUESA

L

Part 1 of 2

ET’S give a big hand to the Sandigang Bayan for the verdict days ago on two incumbent officials of Sarangani Province.

They were found guilty of mulcting their bosses 11 years ago.

Their bosses of course are the people of Sarangani. Amount pilfered: P 475,000 in year 2002.

Although their names are unimportant for our immediate purposes, the officials were identified by MindaNews as Eugenio Alzate and Cornelio Martinez, both provincial board members of Sarangani. Their sentence: indemnification of the amount to the government plus life in prison.

And for jailing them straight away, let’s throw in an extra loud cheer—hooray!—for their prompt dispatch to Bilibid prison in Muntinlupa where they can’t do any more harm, at least for the time being as they appeal the verdict.

Eight other people, mostly former officials, were also pronounced guilty—but they are viewed as lesser mortals now for betraying the public trust. So just forget them.

Don’t even mention their names!

It’ll only give them free publicity and name-recognition that will get them elected if they manage to get a pardon.

Why so Long?

But even as we hail the anti-graft court for this action, let us bewail how terribly long it took to decide it. Eleven years! And the amount was less than half a million pesos!

How many decades will it take to adjudicate the billions supposedly filched by Tanda, Pogi, and Sexy? How about the P10 billion by Janet?

Seriously now, why does it take so long to decide the guilt or innocence of an accused? Will someone please explain this?

And why do we find it impossible to recover our nation’s plundered wealth from the Marcoses? It is already more than a quarter of a century since EDSA 1986!

But we even let them live princely lives and reward them high offices!

Why are we subsidizing our society’s predators?

The amount in the case at hand is minuscule, only a fraction of what’s required to be considered a member of the exclusive Plunderer’s Club. What was it in this case that took so long?

Justice Delayed If it’s lack of investigators, prosecutors, or judges, why not recruit more? So many lawyers and wannabes are just waiting for the proverbial knock of opportunity at the bar.

If it’s the budget, come on, there are bathtubs full of money around; just ask Janet Lim Napoles—or Butch Abad! If not from PDAF, there’s always DAP. Or what about the sneak amounts just recently inserted into the General Appropriations Act?—ask Jinggoy or Jarius for details.

10 ‘I will...

NEWS FFROM 1

iniscent of his earlier statements which caught the attention of the Commission on Human Rights.

The CHR said it will conduct a probe on Duterte’s threats. Salvador Panelo, Duterte’s legal counsel, told the mayor to ignore the CHR. Duterte did not waste time pointing to David Tan as the central figure of rice smuggling operation in the country.

He confirmed that Davidson Bangayan is the real identity of David Tan which he had been using for years based on intelligence report the mayor gathered.

“Everybody knows him… kung sino yung gusto mag import they go to David Tan. Siya yung may linya sa customs (Bureau of Customs) siya yung may linya sa lahat,” Duterte.

He said that the picture that provided by the intelligence community to him is the same person inside the Senate.

“Pero dito sa Manila alam ng lahat na siya (Bangayan), kaya ang gusto na mag import pupunta sa kanya kasi siya kasi ang naka-establish ng linya sa lahat ng ports. It could be Davao, it could be Cebu, Cagayan Manila sometimes Batangas,” he said.

Duterte positively identified Bangayan as David Tan when asked by Senate minority leader Juan Ponce Enrile. He also confirmed that Bangayan has a scrap metal and fertilizer business in Davao City and he only comes to the city once a year.

The mayor took note of the libel case against Jesus Lim Arranza, president of Federation of Philippine of Industries, where Bangayan reportedly admitted on his affidavit that he is David Tan. Contempt With the confirmation of Duterte, Senator JV Ejercito seconded the motion of Enrile to cite Bangayan for contempt for lying to the committee.

Bangayan was then cited for contempt as the committee felt that Bangayan was lying. However, he was not detained in the Senate since he attended the hearings. Yet, Villar directed the Senate legal team to file perjury charges against Bangayan before Friday.

Villar also directed the Bureau of Immigration (BI) and Department of Justice to place him in a watch list and the Department to Foreign Affairs to cancel his passport.

It was learned that the National Bureau of Investigation arrested Bangayan after the hearing yesterday not for rice smuggling, but for an earlier charge of power pil-

ferage.

Bangayan has a standing arrest warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court of Caloocan City Branch 126 in October 2010 for violation of Republic Act 7832 (Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines/ Material Pilferage Act of 1994).

Suggestion Meanwhile, Duterte suggested that the authority to import rice should be given back solely to National Food Authority (NFA). He said that the importation permit that has been issued by the NFA to a farmer’s cooperatives was sold to the big time traders since the cooperative has no fund to import rice.

Earlier, Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares asked for Duterte’s help in addressing the problem of rice smuggling ‘which she said bedevils the port operations in Davao City.

Opening statement Duterte’s appearance in the Senate was highly anticipated, including his expected encounter with Justice Secretary De Lima whom he earlier asked to resign over the rice smuggling mess. Although there was no confrontation with De Lima, Duterte had a fiery opening statement.

“You and I know the terrible effects that rice smuggling bears. It robs the government of precious income and impoverishes the Filipino farmer. It is economic sabotage at its worst. More than that, rice smuggling erodes the people’s trust and faith in government, particularly in its capacity to enforce the laws – an erosion that cuts deeply into the very foundation upon which government authority rests. Loss of trust and faith is an ailment which our government cannot afford-not at this time, not ever,” said Duterte in his opening statement.

Duterte said that he felt the sense of frustration of Henares and immediately met with former Customs District Collector of Davao Samson Pacasum to get the specifics of rice smuggling in Davao City.

“Subsequently, upon my call and invitation, I met with officials of the Philippine Port Authority, Philippine Coast Guard, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Internal Revenue, National Bureau of Investigation, CIDG, Philippine Navy and other agencies, in a brainstorming conference to ferret out the “whos”, “whys”, “hows” and “whens” of rice smuggling in the city” said Duterte.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

1st Mindanao Book Festival opens Feb. 4 in Davao City W

years?

Come to the Davao City leg of the 1st Mindanao Book Festival on February 4 and 5 at the Ateneo de Davao University and see the collection of old and new Mindanao books, meet authors and listen to lectures and poetry-reading.

Last year, at least 37 Mindanao books were

published, bringing the total number of books on Mindanao or written by Mindanawons from 2000 to 2013 at 346. Majority of last year’ harvest is still on history and peacebuilding in the Bangsamoro, the dominant themes since 2000. But the 2013 harvest has three photobooks – two photographic guides to amphibians, reptiles and bats of Mindanao, and a photobook on the other

faces and facets of Sulu.

The Mindanao Book Festival is the first ever attempt to exhibit books on Mindanao issues written by Mindanawon and non-Mindanawon authors, and other books written

by Mindanawon writers.

Aside from Davao City, it will also be held in the cities of Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro and Cotabato, Cebu and Manila, within the first quarter this year.

The Mindanao News and Information Center Service Cooperative (MindaNews Co-op) envisions the bookfest to be an annual exhibit and gathering of Mindanawon authors. This year’s theme is “Writing Mindanao, Righting Mindanao.”

The Davao City leg is in partnership with AusAID and the Ateneo de Davao University’s Department of Literature. [MindaNews]

Starcraft International Trading Corp, the NFA petition said.

The plaintiff argued that NFA only filed the urgent motion without

attaching the copy of the pleading-in-intervention attached to the motion

which is a violation of Section 2 rule 19 of the 1997 Revised Rules of Court.

added that the centers will showcase livestock.

She will propose the construction of centers in Paquibato and Marilog.

There is a 7-hectare city government owned land in Marilog where a five hectare facility can be established.

Aside from developmental trainings, the committee is also planning to make the centers trading areas of the farmers.

“This will lessen trans-

portation costs of the farmers.”

Speaking during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex yesterday, the councilor said that the centers will be managed by the Upland Management Board.

Abella said that her is drafting a proposal that will create the board and will be proposed to the council before the end of this year’s first quarter.

The board will be head-

ed by the city mayor himself while the members will be officers from the city agriculture office (CAO) and city environment and natural resources office (Cenro).

The board will be in charge of developing upland farming and focus on improving the status of high-value crops produced by the city, cacao and coconut, adding that these have high demand in the local and international market.

On cacao alone, she said

that farmers in the city have a high chance of improving their lives. Of the 40,000 tons (MT) demand in the local market only 10 percent or 4,000 tons is supplied.

“There is a deficiency of 36,000MT in the local market,” Abella said. CRC The councilor, meanwhile said that her committee is now finishing the city’s Agricultural Development Plan that will be used in the next three years.

[CRC]

capitalization will grow by 5 to 10 percent by the end of this year because of new investments. A steel smelting company that will be established in Bunawan district recorded the biggest investment among new business

applications with a capitalization of about P975 million.

Other establishments with high capitalization were banks.

The capitalization will continue to grow as business permit renewal and

application continue.

He said the taxpayer’s lounge at the Sangguniang Panlungsod is still crowded because of more business applicants.

This year’s business renewal period recorded a total of 30,080 renewed

business permits. This is higher compared to the same period last year with 29,837. He said that most renewals were in the retail industry, while application for new permits decreased from 850 (January 2-31, 2013) to 549 this year.

group of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which is involved in peace efforts with the government.

Last Jan. 25, the government and the MILF signed

an annex that would pave the way for a comprehensive peace agreement.

Meanwhile, Valte reiterated the government’s appeal to critics to give the

peace efforts, including the annexes and the upcoming comprehensive peace agreement, a chance to succeed.

“Let’s look at the annex-

es. Let’s look at how beneficial (the peace agreement) will be to our brothers and sisters in Mindanao,” she said. [PCOO News Release]

of P7.2 billion including other technology- and election-related services for the 2010 presidential polls.

The poll body had acquired the PCOS after exercising its “option to purchase” in the amount of P1.8 billion. The machines were used in the 2013 mid-term polls.

However, he noted that purchasing the PCOS machines was not put into waste even if they decide not to use in the coming polls.

The poll body official explained that the Comelec’s decision was the best option at the time factoring in the budget allocation given

by Congress. “(In 2010), Smartmatic lowered the price to P7.2 billion. It was very aggressive in bidding for the project and they delivered everything we asked from them… (In 2013), they offered P1.8 billion. That is cheap compared to others… if it is good we can buy it. So we bought it,” Jimenez added.

On the other hand, he noted that technology-wise, he believes that the Optical Mark Reader (OMR) feature of the PCOS machines was a good choice for the Comelec.

“With regards to the

software, the concept of having paper ballots being read digitally with the digital results the ones being consolidated in order to come up with the voting results, we have no problem with that.

It was a good decision (by the Comelec),” said Jimenez.

Meanwhile, he said they will just be waiting for the evaluation of the Comelec Advisory Council (CAC) on whether the PCOS machines will still be used in the next polls.

“Any fine-tuning of the system, it has to be discussed by the CAC since it covers a wide range of

discussions. That is why we are not rushing on this… the CAC has the responsibility to come-up with the review of 2013 and to recommend for 2016. So we are waiting on that,” said Jimenez.

Under the Poll Automation Law, the CAC is mandated to recommend “the most appropriate, secure, applicable and cost-effective technology” to be used by the Comelec during elections.

Jimenez added that the CAC has already met several times and may come out with their recommendations by the end of the month. [PNA]

ANT to have a preview of Mindanao through the

David...FFROM 2

Councilor...FFROM 3

Davao... FFROM 3

Amid...FFROM 3

Comelec...FFROM 3

EDGEDAVAO

ICT HUB

VOL. 6 ISSUE 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

CHILL JILL T

ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO

AP, flap and go beyond your highest score.

That’s the goal of those who play the insanely addictive game called Flappy Bird (the game plays both on android and Apple OS).

Look here, a little caution with these game freaks.

You better stop asking them what is their game’s high score if you don’t want their phone thrown straight to your face.

Just how hard this game is? All you need to do is tap and help the 8-bit bird fly to pass through the tunnels. That’s what first timers think but if you ask the flap addicts they will definitely tell you to never play waste your time with this game.

Unfortunately, even if they tell you not to download it, curiosity will lead you to it.

This could be the strategy of the brilliant and independent developer of Flappy Bird from Hanoi, Vietnam. He’s name is Dong Nguyen.

Flappy Bird has became a virtual storm surge since it was discovered last year where it reached millions of

F

downloads both from iOS and Google Play and because of that people lost their track of time as their face is stuck to their smartphones.

Some say this game is a test of a person’s patience and that is why many of the dominant reviews kept on saying the game is very annoying.

Yeah. You got to invest on a lot of patience with this game.

“It’s a game that really needs perseverance and patience,” Sheena Fariolen, a self-confessed Flappy Bird gamer, said.

True enough, some gamers just can’t even reach the first tunnel or the next. The game has simple instructions that can never be easy for everyone.

Listen up. You need a shipload of determination and tons of techniques to pass through hundreds of tunnels just like how a friend of mine did—reaching over 154 tunnels (could be the highest score for the game this part of the world).

“The game is really fun. You just need to pass

11

What’s your Flappy Bird high score?

through the “tunnels”, that’s how they call it.

There’s no exact instruction for the game so it depends on how you play it,” my friend Angel Chua confessed.

This could be an inspiration for everyone.

If Angel was able to pass through a hundred tun-

nels why can’t the rest of you do it too?

Again, guys, this is a test of patience. So stop getting irritated if they ask you this question: What is your high score?

Crash. !z*x!? There goes another phone.

And there goes another game review.

9 reasons why Flappy Bird has become latest viral gaming hit

LAPPY Bird has taken over the No. 1 spot for free games on the iOS and Google Play app stores in the past week. It’s a simple game in terms of graphics, but it has very difficult gameplay. And that has made people play it over and over again (including my own kids) and helped it spread broadly.

Some observers think such a rocket ride as Flappy Bird has seen can only be possible with massive promotion and bots (or promotion through paid, fake user tweets and reviews). But game designer Dong Nguyen of dotGears, a one-man shop in Hanoi, Vietnam, has said the growth has all been organic.

In Flappy Bird, you tap the screen to make the bird fly. Since there are no instructions, the first time you do this your bird will flap its wings once and then nosedive into the ground. Then your game is over within a second. The next time, you’ll

figure out that you have to keep hitting the screen to make the wings flap. And then you have to maneuver your bird through Mario-like pipes. That’s the hard part.

After a hundred or so tries, my record is seven. My kids are doing better at 11 and 13.

If you play the game, you’ll see it has some rudimentary advertising integrated into it. So Nguyen is starting to cash in on his creation, which actually hit the App Store way back in May 2013 but only recently took off. The game has no in-app purchases, which are the usual way for free games to make money these days on mobile.

Sarah Young of mobile advertising firm NativeX has her own theory on why Flappy Bird has been so hot.

One of the reasons is that the skill-based gameplay cycle is so short that you can try it over and over, and then you’ll want to share that ex-

perience.

“It’s extremely addicting,” Young said. Beyond that, the game is competitive and challenging, requires skill, has fast sessions, is unwinnable, makes players feel nostalgic with 8-bit graphics, and is viral.

Here’s her nine observa-

tions about what emotions you experience during 10 minutes of gameplay: Curiosity, of the mysterious app that appeared at the top of the charts.

Endearment: The little 8-bit duck is pretty darn cute.

Nostalgia, from the

Mario theme and the coin chime. Everyone has a warm fuzzy feeling when they are reminded of playing Mario.

Vindictiveness: Hey they just ripped off the Mario theme! Bogus.

Confusion: WTF. I got Game Over in 5 seconds?

Panic: OMG, you’re about

to get your new best score… don’t blow it…!!”

Rage: Insert your choice profanity here.

Frustration: “Ugh I suck at this game!”

Denial: “This game is impossible,” or “It’s TOO hard.

They need to make it easier,” or “This game sucks.”

There’s a better way to get attention.

Advertise with EDGE Davao

12 CLASSIFIEDS Realty

VOL. 6 ISSUE 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

EDGEDavao Gensan Partners

FOR SALE:

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.

Tel No. (083) 553-2211 / (083) 877-0019 / (083) 878-0308

EDGEDavao Davao Partners

13 COMPETITIVE EDGE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

DA-MRDP’s geotagging innovation tops international science award G

EOTAGGING, an innovative strategy designed to promote transparency in development projects in Mindanao, bested five other citations in the Science of Delivery Awardees in the global Procurement for Complex Situation Challenge.

The Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) launched geotagging of its projects in 2011.

The tool aids in project supervision by applying global positioning system (GPS) technology to map out subprojects implemented by the program enabling

the local government, from the barangay to provincial units, to monitor the progress and implementation.

“The application of geotagging tool is particularly helpful in conflict-affected areas and remote sites because we are able to show visual progress of the project implementation without actually going on field for validation,” said MRDP Deputy Program Director Arnel De Mesa.

De Mesa added that the tool help combat fraudulent actions by detecting fabricated project designs and plans that do not con-

General Santos Drive, Koronadal City, South Cotabato 9506

Tel. No. 083-228-2511 ; Fax No. 083-228-2654

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

WANTED FOR IMMEDIATE HIRING!

WANTED FOR IMMEDIATE HIRING!

BUS DRIVER

BUS DRIVER

Qualifications: Qualifications:

1.

2.

3.

Male, 28 – 40 years old 1. least Male, high 28 – school 40 years old At graduate 2. At least high school graduate With 5 years driving experience (bus, trucks) 3. With 5 years driving experience (bus, trucks)

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

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

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

form to actual field conditions resulting in inconsistencies in information and reports.

In the MRDP application, the geotaggeddata are embedded in Google Earth.

These data are usually photographs, consisting of geographicalcoordinates, accurate dates, elevation, terrain, estimated land area and distance covered of a subproject, among others.

MRDP has geotagged 1,980subprojects under the community fund for agricultural development (CFAD), 475 rural infrastructure subprojects and 30 sites covered by the natural resource management (NRM) component.

Applying geotagging improved the procurement and bidding processes of the project because there is accessible information on specific subprojects and also promoted competitive bidding, according to the case story submitted by World Bank Senior Procurement Specialist Noel Sta. Ines.

GEO-TAGGED. Deputy Program Director Arnel De Mesa of the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) captures photos of a project site in a Maguindanao town to test the geotagging tool initiated by the Program to aid in project supervision. (Second photo:A group of trained project personnel tries out the geotagging approach in monitoring their projects.) Geotagging is an innovative approach that promotes transparency and accountability of rural infrastructure projects and allow for convenient monitoring of projects. The geotagging experience of MRDP has been awarded a Science of Delivery Award in a global search for procurement innovations in development projects.

The report said that the use of the tool can be replicated and adopted by other government agencies because it uses open sources and affordable hardware, making it cost-effective and sustainable.

“It serves as a potent anti-corruption tool and aids in the proper use of public funds,” Sta. Ines said.

The experience of using geotagging showed that “with the use of ICT (information communica-

tions technology) for better project management, project approval and execution in conflict areas or those on island locations can be made more robust and effective.” [Jay Rosas/ DA-MRDP]

EDGEDAVAO WANTS YOU! Serving a seamless society

-

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 Magpantay, Nolasco repeat as Mabuhay Miles golf champs

T

AGAYTAY CITY – Lino Magpantay and Monchu Nolasco, a pair of old hands in local golf, showed why they’re in a class of their own when they ruled the Mabuhay Miles Elite Invitational with plenty to spare at the Tagaytay Midlands and Highlands courses.

Magpantay, veteran campaigner in the PAL Interclub with the Luisita senior team, and Nolasco, general manager of Shulman Air Freight, engaged in a tight duel at the Midlands’ tough East course on a cool, overcast day that made for ideal golfing conditions. It was the first time the Invitational was played in a high-altitude setting.

After 18 holes, both finished in a dead heat with a gross 74. But Magpantay’s lower handicap – five to his rival’s six – proved crucial as it enabled him to edge Nolasco by a stroke and capture the low-gross title, his third triumph after winning the low-net in 2010 and 2011.

Nolasco, the defending low-net champion, settled for his second straight title with a 68 in a superb round spiked by a tournament-high four birdies.

The two bested a field of 192 players – all Elite, Premier Elite and Million Miler members of Philippine Airlines’ Mabuhay Miles program – in the event sponsored by MasterCard, Petron Corp. and Philippine National Bank.

But while the top two

titles were snared by veteran former champions, the divisional honors all went to new faces.

Eduvigis “Joey” Solis, president of Enerkons Inc., banked on his familiarity with the course as a member of the home club to nose out Luis Tabuena, president of Production Village Corp., for the Class A crown.

Solis, who plays for Tagaytay Highlands in the PAL Interclub, won on the strength of superior pars, ten to seven, as he and Tabuena both finished tied with net 70s. Mark Monk fired the only eagle of the day at the 16th to grab third with a 71.

The tournament had as corporate sponsors Boeing, GE Aviation, Metrobank Card Corp., People Asia and Panasonic Avionics Systems Corp.

Also at Midlands, former San Miguel Beer shooting guard R.J. Rizada, now operations manager of Forgems Plus Technologies, showed a deft touch for a big man by firing two birdies and five pars en route to a net 70 to bag Class B in a tie-break over Goldenas Jewelry owner Antonio Atienza, Jr. Banker Wilfredo Maldia was a stroke back in third place.

No one won the Toyota Camry 2.5 V A/T staked by Toyota Motor Philippines for a hole-in-one. Century Park Hotel and Diamond Hotel Philippines were the official hotels of the tournament.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

DESERT VIEW. Tiger Woods of the U.S. watches his shot on the 13th fairway during the second round of the 2014 Omega Dubai Desert Classic in Dubai January 31, 2014. REUTERS/Caren Firouz (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES)

EVEN IF HE’S REPLACED

Douthit backing Gilas M

ost Filipino fans received the news on the naturalization of NBA players JaVale McGee and Andray Blatche positively. They are both well known players who could help out Gilas Pilipinas in their upcoming campaign in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain.

Largely an afterthought was Marcus Douthit, a vital cog in the past two campaigns of the Philippines in the FIBA Asia Championship. Because countries are only allowed to have one naturalized player in their lineup, Douthit will have to

give way to either McGee or Blatche if their naturalizations pan out.

Earlier today, Douthit finally spoke about the situation through Twitter. Although he had every right to feel bad, the naturalized Filipino spoke of nothing else but support.

“I support whatever choice coach chot goes with at tge [sic] end of the day whatever is best for the country,” Douthit posted on his Twitter account.

Douthit first suited up for the Philippines with Smart-Gilas Pilipinas. He debuted during the 2010

GANGED UP. Greg Slaughter of Ginebra San Miguel attracts the defense of San Mig Coffee.

Nuki Sabio

MVP Invitational Championship, a competition won by the Philippines by defeating Jordan in the finals.

In June 2010, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and Douthit agreed to a one year contract which included the American undergoing Filipino naturalization.

Alongside amateur standouts such as Chris Tiu, Mark Barroca, JVee Casio, and Japeth Aguilar and supported by professional players Jimmy Alapag, Kelly Williams, and Ranidel De Ocampo, Douthit marched into the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship wanting

a spot at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He led the competitions in scoring and rebounding but they fell short. The Philippines lost to Jordan in the semis and lost to Korea for a slot in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

He then returned for another tour of service in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship in Manila and although he was absent for the championship game against Iran, Douthit’s exploits helped the Philippines defeat South Korea and qualify for the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

Slaughter has the numbers but not ‘W’ B

ARANGAY Ginebra San Miguel may have lost Game Three of the PLDT Home DSL Philippine Cup semifinals, but Gin Kings center Greg Slaughter proved true the old adage that height is might.

The 7-foot rookie dominated for 29 points and 13 rebounds, carrying the fight for Ginebra for most of the game.

His performance left his counterparts from the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers in awe.

“Ang hirap talagang bantayan si Slaughter,” San Mig Coffee defensive ace Marc Pingris told InterAksyon. com “Ang laki, ang bigat, magaling na bata.”

Pingris was instrumental in slowing down Slaughter in the final quarter, limiting the behemoth to just four points. But the fiery forward admitted it was no mean feat.

“Kay Greg ako pinakahirap kasi sa height,” sadi Pingris. “Sa laki tsaka sa bigat, lamang siya, pero sa

bilis mas lamang ako. Pero ang hirap talaga, ang hirap itulak.”

Joe Devance, another San Mig Coffee frontliner, echoed Pingris’ thoughts.

“Greg, for him being a rookie, he’s just so big and his game is getting better and better each game,” said Joe Devance.

“We’re just trying to keep him off getting the rebounds, but he’s just so big, him and Japeth (Aguilar).”

Mixers rookie Ian Sangalang, a teammate of Slaughter’s in the PBA D-League and the second overall pick behind the former Ateneo center, took the assignment as a giant challenge.

“Nung first half, puro sila Slaughter, kaya nung pinasok ako ang focus ko is depensahan siya. Nacha-challenge ako dahil gusto ko talagang depensahan siya,” said Sangalang, who had a crucial getaway move at the post against Slaughter in the endgame. [InterAKTV]

INdulge!

VOL. 6 ISSUE 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

FOOD

Satisfying cravings at GenSan’s Red Trellis

WHENEVER I have the need to indulge in some seafood, I head over to the new, spacious, relaxed and homey, Red Trellis Seafood Garden located at Valley High Street.

This is the branch Red Tellis, the original branch of which is located at Tiongson Extension, in Lagao.

From what started out as a hobby by owner George Sandoval, who enjoys cooking for his friends and family. After sampling his scrumptious dishes, was encouraged by the same group of people to open up a restaurant.

Then soon after, he did.

Red Trellis, Valley High branch opened March 15 2013. They present a good variety on their menu, but specialists more on fresh flavorful seafood dishes at an attractive price point.

Red Trellis serves them as fresh as they could ever be. Dinning here would really be a haven for seafood lovers. Treat yourself to the likes of delightful crabs, lobster and pompano sourced mostly from Surigao and Sarangani, will undoubtedly fulfill anyone’s seafood cravings.

When you’d have visitors from other cities or even countries, you might want to bring them over to Red Trellis, the food is indeed a good break from

the generic restaurants that almost have the same menu. Each meal that Red Trellis serves has been well thought off, from countless experimentation of the owner, and from various food trips in and out of the country.

Their bestsellers are their special mouthwatering Crab and Coco Milk, Jumbo Prawns and Eight Treasures Soup, which is made out of eight kinds of seafood and a century egg. I’ve never tasted century egg before, as I have always been repelled by its smell but when I tasted it in the soup,I immediately fell in love with the taste.

Red Trellis also serves the

best conch meat in town. The latest addition to their menu which is the Spring Chicken, it’s a deep fried two-week old organic chicken which is crispy on the outside and yet very tender and flavorful on the inside.

After a satisfying belly busting fresh meal you might want to try their sub-zero chilled beer.

This elegant oriental garden themed restaurant is also available for private dinner parties. After your meal you also might want to try their sub-zero chilled beer.

Both Red Trellis branches will have a Valentine buffet on February 14. You seafood lovers out there wouldn’t want to miss that.

For inquiries and reservations contact Tel. Nos. :302-2722/ 554-0256 / 301-6798, Cell No. 0922-2886999 or e-mail them at redtrellis@yahoo.com Follow me on Twitter or Instagram, @kyriekoutre for more adventures in and around my wonderland that is Gensan, Tuna Capital of the Philippines.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

Get the BlackBerry Q10 or BlackBerry Z10 free at Plan 999 from Globe WELCOME the Year of the Horse with a brand-new BlackBerry handset from Globe Telecom, as the postpaid leader offers the BlackBerry Q10 or the BlackBerry Z10 free at Plan 999, making the latest BlackBerry devices more accessible to users who have grown to love the smartphone brand.

The BlackBerry Q10 or BlackBerry Z10 is exclusively available to new subscribers and new line applications at Plan 999 with no additional cashout, now the most affordable postpaid plan offer available for the BlackBerry 10 devices in the market today.

The plan bundle comes with Long Term Evolution (LTE) surfing of up to 42 Mbps and a monthly consumable amount for calls and texts.

The postpaid plan bundle also comes with a free one-month subscription to Globe Gadget Care, the most comprehensive mobile phone protection against robbery, theft, and accidental damage, as well as 24/7 access to Globe customer service channels available on the mobile phone and landline, email, online chat, Twitter, and Facebook.

“The demand for BlackBerry in the country remains robust on the back of the devices’ userfriendly features and powerful smartphone experience,” said Raul Macatangay, Head of Postpaid Business and Devices at Globe. “With this, we are poised to give more Filipinos access to the newest BlackBerry handsets by offering them at a price within their reach. For as low as P999 monthly, get the BlackBerry Q10 or BlackBerry Z10 and enjoy the wonderful world of postpaid from Globe.”

In 2013, Globe became the first Philippine telco to launch the BlackBerry Q10 as well as the exclusive carrier of the BlackBerry Z10 LTE, on the back of its strong and longtime partnership with BlackBerry.

Built with precision and offering premium performance in a signature design, the BlackBerry Q10 smartphone combines BlackBerry’s best physical keyboard and a touch screen with the power of the BlackBerry 10 platform to help users communicate and collaborate faster and more efficiently. The BlackBerry Z10 is the first BlackBerry smartphone to launch with the re-designed, re-engineered and reinvented BlackBerry 10 platform, giving customers a unique new mobile computing experience.

Visit www.globe.com.ph/bb-at-2-plans-lower or the Globe Store nearest you to know more about the exclusive BlackBerry offers of Globe.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

TRAVEL

Silent prayers on the hills of Phuket THE continuing conflict in the Thai capital is already all over the news making travellers think twice when it comes to visiting the beautiful country of Thailand. Luckily, traveling in Thailand does not mean merely visiting Bangkok and its immediate environs.

Far from all the craziness of the Thai capital, life in Phuket is more tranquil and peaceful and one of Phuket’s more calming attractions is the Big Buddha statue located on the Nakkred Hills between Chalong and Kata. One of Phuket island’s most revered landmarks. The 45 meter high Big Budhha is made of beautiful white Burmese marble that literally glitters in the sun.

Although still a work in progress, the area around the Big Buddha is filled with a solemn energy with only the sounds of chimes

in the wind.

Personally the place feels surreal but with a sense of community as you can see the people and Buddhist monks in the area, working together to

build the massive landmark with funds that they raise on their own.

One can also see the many areas where people can pray or make offerings in the form of marble slabs

and coins. The labs of marble will eventually be used for the construction of the Big Buddha’s humongous temple base. Looking more closely at the marble

FSILENT, A4

Dunkin’ Donuts celebrates ‘The World’s Love of Chocolate’ with chocolate lover’s heart donuts and dark mocha latte Dunkin’ Donuts, one of the world’s leading baked goods and coffee chains, is celebrating the world’s love of chocolate this February with a lineup of deliciously indulgent donuts and beverages. All month long at participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants across Southeast Asia, Dunkin’ Donuts will be offering its guests Chocolate Lover’s Heart Donuts and Dark Chocolate Mocha Lattes.

The Chocolate Lover’s Heart Donut is a heartshaped donut filled with rich, indulgent chocolate filling, topped with

chocolate icing and white sprinkles. Dunkin’ Donuts’ Dark Chocolate Mocha Latte, available hot or iced, features espresso derived from high-quality coffee beans, steamed milk and rich dark chocolate flavor, topped with a mocha drizzle. These new menu items are the perfect way to celebrate one of the world’s favorite flavors, chocolate.

“With chocolate being such a popular flavor around the globe, we’re excited to share our Chocolate Lover’s Heart Donut and Dark Chocolate Mocha lattes with

our guests this February,” said Stan Frankenthaler, Executive Chef and Vice President of Product Innovation at Dunkin’ Brands. “Our Chocolate Lover’s Heart Donut is an indulgent treat that’s delicious to enjoy individually or to share with friends and family in a dozen or half dozen. We think our guests will also fall in love with our Dark Chocolate Mocha Lattes, which are sweet and chocolaty pick-me-ups at any time of the day.”

Chocolate Lover’s Heart Donuts and Dark Chocolate Mocha Lattes are

available at participating Dunkin’ Donuts locations across Southeast Asia this month, including restaurants in Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore. In addition to these seasonal menu items, guests can also enjoy Dunkin’ Donuts’ wide range of high-quality hot and iced beverages, donuts, muffins and sandwiches, all served fast and in a friendly environment.

Dunkin’ Donuts currently has nearly 11,000 restaurants in 33 countries around the world, including 1,400 across Southeast Asia.

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

VOL. 6 ISSUE 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

Kathryn, Daniel, Enrique, and Julia remain as Kapamilya

PHILIPPINE TELEVISION’S most popular teen stars Daniel Padilla, Kathryn Bernardo, Enrique Gil, and Julia Montes remain as Kapamilya after renewing their respective contracts with ABS-CBN this Thursday (Jan 30).

Dubbed as Teen King and Queen, Daniel and Kathryn confirmed that they are set to star in the film adaptation of bestselling pop fiction book “She’s Dating the Gangster.” The loveteam

was personally chosen by the author Bianca Bernardino to portray the main roles.

Meanwhile, Enrique and Julia will temporarily go on separate ways after their hit TV series “Muling Buksan Ang Puso” to headline in two different upcoming TV series in the network.

Enrique will be partnered with another Julia, rising star Julia Barretto, as he joins the cast of “Mirabella.”

Julia, on the other hand,

will be reunited with her “Walang Hanggan” onscreen partner Coco Martin in an epic drama series “Ikaw Lamang,” along with Kim Chiu and Jake Cuenca.

Present during the contract signing were ABS-CBN president and CEO Charo Santos-Concio, broadcast head Cory Vidanes, TV production head Laurenti Dyogi and talent management and development center managing director Mariole Alberto.

Epey Herher named first-ever that’s My Tomboy grand winner TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR OLD April Mariz “Epey” Herher was crowned the first-ever grand winner of the phenomenal “That’s My Tomboy” beauty pageant after beating 38 other lesbian grand finalists in “It’s Showtime” last Saturday.

Epey, an English teacher and aspiring singer, won the P300,000 cash prize. She sailed through the questionand-answer round after giving a strong, confident answer when asked what success means to her.

“The meaning of success is making other people happy, especially the ones who are most important to you. Other people’s dreams for you are fulfilled, not only for yourself. Just like what Blessed Arnold Janssen said, ‘To God, the glory. To my neighbors, the benefit.

To myself, the burden,’” she quipped.

Epey tearfully dedicated her victory to the people in her hometown Lubang, Occidental Mindoro and thanked “It’s Showtime” for showcasing lesbians in a beauty pageant, a first of its kind on Philippine television.

“I thank ‘It’s Showtime’ for showing people that we

deserve to be accepted by society,” said Epey, who also received the Best in T-Boom Style for being selected as the most fashionable among the finalists.

Kim Orencio was declared the first runner-up and won P200,000. Kim was also declared the Best in T-Boom Talent for showing off her suave moves in an electrifying dance number.

Sky Teotico, meanwhile, placed second runner-up and took home P100,000.

Completing the Top 5 winners were Kim Andaya and Phao Faraon, both named runners-up and won P50,000. Kim and Phao bagged the Best in T-Boom Smile and Talumpating TBoom Award, respectively.

The Trending T-Boom

award was given to Nicky Escalderon for generating the most buzz online and having the most number of followers and likes on social media sites, while Yhael Basila received the Friendship Award.

The much-anticipated grand finals of “That’s My Tomboy” was heavily talked about online, with the hashtag #ThatsMyTomboyGrandFinals and Congrats Epey Herher landing on Twitter’s worldwide trending topics.

“That’s My Tomboy” became a instant hit after it was launched in October 2013 and became one of the show’s most talked-about segments along with “Kalokalike,” “Stars on 45,” and “I Am PoGay.”

SA NGALAN NG AMA, INA AT MGA ANAK 2D Robin Padilla, Daniel Padilla R 13

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

BRIDE FOR RENT 2D Kim Chiu, Xian Lim PG 13

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

THAT AWKWARD MOMENT 2D Zac Efron, Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan R 13

R-16

12:25 | 2:20 | 4:15 | 6:10 | 8:05 | 10:00 LFS

PARANORMAL ACTIVITY: THE MARKED ONE 2D / * I, FRANKENSTEIN 2D Andrew Jacobs / *Aaron Eckhart R 13/ *PG 13 12:00 | 1:35 | 3:10 LFS / * 4:45 | 6:30 | 8:15 | 10:00 LFS

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 6 ISSUE 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

TRAVEL

EDGEDavao Davao Partners

A silent moment at the temporary tample.

A silent moment at the temporary tample.

Silent...FFROM A2

slabs I saw dedications and prayers written in many languages.

Hopefully my prayers for world peace will be added onto the landmark and would eventually be answered.

The Philippines’ leading low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific (CEB) flies direct from Manila to Phuket every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, for as low as P999. It operates the most extensive network in the Philippines for convenient and easy flight connections in Manila. For flight Various trinkets on sale.

Coin offerings.

Prayers and dedications written on marble slabs in many languages.

schedules and bookings, visit www.cebupacificair. com or call (02)7020-888 or (032)230-8888. The latest seat sales can also be found on Cebu Pacific Air’s official Facebook Fan Page or @cebupacificair on Twitter.

When planning itineraries to Phuket, visit the Tourism Authority of Thailand website at http://www. tourismthailand.org/.

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

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

SPORTS 15

FILIPINO PRIDE

T

‘Player with PHL flag’close out Super Bowl scoring

HE Denver Broncos may have found their record-setting offense, but the Seattle Seahawks are still looking sharp, and hold a dominating lead. Seattle increased that lead on the ensuing possession, when Russell Wilson hit wide receiver Doug Baldwin on a 1st-and-goal, giving Seattle a 43-8 lead after the extra point.

Seattle easily made its way downfield, and facing a 3rd and 2, Russell Wilson once again was able to convert. He eventually found wide receiver Jermaine Kearse wide open and hit him down the middle, setting the Seahawks up with a 1st and goal. That’s when Wilson found Baldwin for the easy score.

Denver scored its first points of the game on the previous drive. Peyton Manning led the Broncos 80 yards in six plays, taking 2:58 off the clock after capping the drive with a 14-yard touchdowns to wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. A Wes Welker reception out of the backfield led to a successful two-point conversion.

GOT YA. Fil-Am Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (right) is tackled by Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey after a catch during the first quarter in the NFL Super Bowl XLVIII football game in East Rutherford, New Jersey, February 2, 2014. REUTERS/ Tim Farrell

Seahawks win first ever Super Bowl Pacers beef up

with Bynum I

NDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Eastern Conference’s top team just got more imposing.

On Saturday, the Pacers added size and scoring punch to their roster by signing mercurial free agent center Andrew Bynum for the rest of the season. Team officials did not release additional details about the contract and said Bynum was expected to join the team sometime next week. ‘’We are obviously happy to have him join our team,’’ Larry Bird said in a statement issued by the team less than 12 hours before Indiana hosted Brooklyn on Saturday night. ‘’He gives us added size, he is a skilled big man and he has championship experience. With the minutes he gets, he should be a valuable addition.’’

Adding a guy with Bynum’s mercurial reputation to a locker room as selfless as the Pacers is definitely a gamble, though likely a low-risk one since Bird, the Pacers president of basketball operations, has made it

clear the Pacers would not pay the NBA’s luxury tax and Indiana had an open spot on its roster.

But if Bynum performs as he did in helping the Lakers win back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010, it could create even more lineup mismatches against twotime defending champion Miami in the East.

Pacers coach Frank Vogel said the organization isn’t concerned about Bynum’s reputation. ‘’We like to judge people for ourselves, and we know what he can be as a basketball player,’’ Vogel said before Saturday night’s game. ‘’We’re going to see if he can regain that form, and if he can, you have one of the best centers in the NBA. And now you add him to the mix we already have, and you have two of the best centers in the NBA. The goal here is to insure ourselves against injury in terms of adding depth at the center position, which we needed to do. And there’s potential to add an All-Star caliber player.’’

E

AST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – On the Super Bowl’s first snap, Peyton Manning approached the Denver Broncos’ line of scrimmage to set blocking assignments only to watch an unexpectedly snapped ball sail past his head. It wound up in the end zone for a Seattle Seahawks safety, the quickest score in Super Bowl history.

Things only got better for Seattle and worse for Denver.

The result was a Seahawk rout, 43-8, giving

the franchise its first NFL championship.

The scope of Seattle’s dominance was overwhelming, a thorough trashing of favored Denver in every facet of the game.

The Seahawks’ defensive legion lowered the boom on Manning and his vaunted offense, forcing two picks and carrying a shutout into the third quarter.

Meanwhile Seattle scored in almost every imaginable way, a pick-six, a brilliant kickoff return by Percy Harvin, a Marshawn

Lynch powerhouse run, a Russell Wilson to Jermaine Kerse catch and run, a couple field goals and the aforementioned safety.

To recap, those are scores via run, pass, kick return, interception, safety and field goal. There aren’t many more ways to earn points.

It was 22-zip at the half, 29-0 after Harvin took the opening kick of the second half to the house and 36-0 before Denver got on the scoreboard. It was over long before then.

This was one of the most lopsided Super Bowls in history (San Francisco’s 55-10 defeat of Denver in Super Bowl XXIV remains the record).

Seattle managed to score 12 seconds into both halves.

The game was decided by Seattle’s No. 1 rated defense, which throttled and eventually humiliated Denver, which entered the game as the league’s topranked unit that scored the most points in a regular season in NFL history.

SUPERBOWL CHAMPS. Seattle Seahawks outside linebacker Malcolm Smith (53) MVP of Super Bowl XLVIII hoists the Lombardi Trophy in victory of Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 6 ISSUE 228 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2014

Davao’s Moulic wins BPinoy chess gold H

OLY Cross of Davao College standout Ella Grace Moulic blew away the field in girls chess of the Batang Pinoy National Games in Bacolod City.

Moulic, a third year high school student of HCDC, romped away with 5 points to pocket the gold medal in the national sports conclave for athletes aged 15 and below. The medal will count for Davao City although the city’s sports office did not send any delegation to the meet.

Playing for her school which bankrolled her

participation, Moulic beat Samantha Glo Revita of Pangasinan who took the silver medal with four points and Shannie Mae Mendoza of Sta. Rosa, Laguna and Marie Antoinette San Diego of Dasmarinas, Cavite who both tied for the bronze medal.

Moulic’s medal was awarded by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner Jolly Gomez. 17 others competed in the girls chess event.

Moulic’s teammate Tahseen Saludsong barely missed the bronze in the boys side after fin-

ishing with 3.5 points for a tie for 4th to 7th. He missed the medal by half a point.

Bryle Gever Vinluan of Baguio City took the gold, Cebu’s Christian Klent Pondoyo took the silver and hometown boy Valerio Mangubat took the bronze of the 19-man field.

Other than Moulic and Tahseen, the only other participants from Davao City are two cyclists sponsored by Vita Tan and coached by Jun Paholio. Moulic’s father Alfred acted as the team’s coach.

GOLD MEDALIST. Ella Grace Moulic (third from left) goes on top of the podium with PSC Commissioner Jolly Gomez (extreme right) awarding her gold medal in the Batang Pinoy National Games.

Half-Pinoy Baldwin leads Seahawks’Pedestrians’in over-the-top rant E

AST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – This time, it was Doug Baldwin who had the Richard Sherman moment.

It wasn’t televised. But it was in plain view of all the Seattle Seahawks. And it was loud. With only moments left before the start of Super Bowl XLVIII, the wide receiver let loose with a tirade so emotional that it started in the locker room and spilled onto the sideline as the national anthem drew near. Fellow receiver Percy Harvin said Baldwin was “almost in tears” and

“yelling, spitting, crying.”

“Imagine one of those WWE speeches,” Tarvaris Jackson said, “with the guy spitting and water flying everywhere. It was like that.”

Many of the Seahawks didn’t understand what Baldwin was saying. Fellow receiver Ricardo Lockette translated it thusly: “Expletive, expletive, expletive, win the game, expletive, expletive, expletive, you’re the best in the world!”

“He’s angry, man,” Lockette said.

Angry, because Seattle

was not supposed to be the offensive powerhouse in this championship game. It was supposed to be Peyton Manning against the Legion of Boom. Instead, the Seahawks dropped 43 points – including a safety, a pick-six and a kickoff return – and Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse both had catches longer than anything the Denver receivers had. The two of them, each with touchdowns, outscored the Broncos by themselves.

There will be a lot of “nobody saw this coming” talk in

the coming days, but Baldwin did. He told teammates before the game that “it doesn’t have to be close.”

It wasn’t. The 43-8 rout was one of the most lopsided in Super Bowl history. The tone was set on the Seahawks’ opening drive, when they unveiled a jet sweep handoff to Harvin that went for 30 yards.

“We were saving that for a special moment. It hadn’t been on the field all year.” It was Manning, not Russell Wilson, who was forced to figure out a response for that. He couldn’t.