Edge Davao 6 Issue 231

VOL. 8 ISSUE 231 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14 - 15, 2016

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

Valentine’s Day Special

Love just ain’t enough

Jun Ralota and Vida Valverde joyously thriving in a modern marriage

2 COVER STORY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 231 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14 - 15, 2016

Valentine’s Day Special

Love just ain’t enough

By VIDA MIA VALVERDE

O

URS is a relatively young marriage but a storied relationship that practically spans half our lives. Jun and I have had our fair share of crippling disappointments, destructive infidelities, and very disparate goals. When we finally made the ultimate leap of faith in marriage four years ago, our lives fell into place.

Yes, we have love, trust, and commitment as the essentials for a good marriage.

Aside from that, we are cognizant of certain factors that keep love in our marriage burning. Frank Sinatra may have crooned that love is a many splendored thing but Patty Smyth also sang that sometimes love just ain’t enough.

Here are eight factors that make our modern marriage thrive joyously: 1. We like each other. Though it is essentially because of deep love that we are together, our marriage is made happier because we like each other. We like how the other looks and dresses. We like the other’s idea of fun. We like how the other thinks even

if we do not agree with each other. A colleague of mine once remarked that he admires our marriage because he could really see that my husband and I relate to each other as equals and friends.

2. We are each passionate about our work. Whatever we engage in, we put our whole selves into it.

It is never just about the money we earn but about creating a positive impact, having advocacy, and coming alive because we are great at what we do. When Jun and I come together at the end of the day, we may be tired but we are fulfilled individuals eager to share our day with each other.

3. We do not have children.

When I asked Jun what makes our marriage happy, he replied, “walang baby.” Then we started laughing. It seems like a harsh and selfish thing to say especially when society expects us to have children when we get married and we see countless Facebook posts of family and friends declaring how incredibly cute, wonderful and life-affirming their

children are. Our time to be parents may or may not come, but either way, Jun and I still live full and happy lives pursuing whatever it is that tickles our fancy.

4. We are quick to laugh and find humor in situations.

Our coming together has raised eyebrows especially since Jun is the bad boy who comes from less reputable schools (my apologies to these schools). But he is very quick-witted and funny. One time a priest asked him, “Are you also from Ateneo or La Salle?”

Jun just coolly answered, “I’m from Davao.”

5. We make the effort for romantic gestures even if it is the last thing we feel like doing. Between the two of us, we juggle businesses, PhD studies, writing, community work, teaching, speaking engagements, and what-have-yous, so we make the extra effort to show that one is still a lover and not just an efficiently functioning partner. This may be a note, a playful bite, or an unexpected lunch. When Jun dropped me off at work this morning, he comment-

ed, “Kuyawa ng asawa ko uy, hot professor man.”

6. We have community involvement and try to give talent, time, and treasure for God’s work. We are currently with the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) and serve as head of the weekly breakfast fellowships. We recognize and appreciate that our marriage grows and strengthens in the presence of others who share their lives for God’s greater glory.

7. We live fit and healthy lives.

As the advertisement for a supplement goes, “more energy, mas happy.” Jun and I eat and live healthy.

Healthy individuals make a happy and enjoyable marriage. If we so desire, we can climb Mt. Apo, do bungee jumping, or run a 10k tomorrow. When friends are already popping pills for high blood pressure, heart ailments, diabetes, and other lifestyle diseases, we strive to prevent this from happening that we may enjoy each other longer and better.

8. We put up Happy Farmer.

Happy Farmer is an artsy shop that provides healthy produce and other related goods. This has become a venue for our advocacy on health, art, and living the good life. This endeavor of ours has made our marriage more meaningful and textured as we meet interesting people and extend ourselves for a greater good.

It has been two decades since I first met the man I married. It took us a very long time to find ourselves in each other. It has indeed been a roller-coaster ride of tumultuous and clashing desires, but we are finally cruising at streamlined speed and direction. It has been said that love and the self are one. If we find one, we find the other.

My husband and I found ourselves when we found each other but we also had to truly find ourselves first before we finally and ultimately found each other. We have long since graduated from giving each other huggable hotdog pillows on Valentine’s Day, but we will never graduate from being passionate for life and for each other.

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4 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 231 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14 - 15, 2016

RONDA SERYE. Vice presidential candidate Senator Alan Peter Cayetano conducts a dialogue with members of Trading Bucana Operators and Drivers Association (TRABUCODA), fisherfolk, and women’s groups from Barangay 76-A Bucana in Davao City during his and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte’s ‘Ronda Serye’ launching at the barangay’s covered court yesterday. ‘Ronda Serye’ is a listening tour to present their electoral message at the grassroots level. Lean Daval Jr.

Duterte-Cayetano ‘Ronda Serye’starts T HREE days following their official campaign launch in Tondo, the tandem of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano kicked off their “Ronda Serye” tour to present their electoral message at the grassroots level.

On Saturday, Cayetano went around Barangay 76 A, Bucana in Davao City with his running mate’s son, Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, to personally listen to the concerns of transport groups and fisher folk there. He also took the chance to present their tandem’s bold

solutions to address the sectors’ daily woes.

“Sawa na ang tao sa arawaraw na pahirap at gulo. Ang kailangan ng mga kababayan nating Dabawenyo ay matapang na solusyon at mabilis na aksyon mula sa isang gobyernong may tapang at malasakit,” Cayetano said in a statement.

The senator further explained his and Duterte’s platform of government, which includes achieving inclusive economic growth through regional and local industry development.

FDUTERTE, 13

Cop shoots wife dead

A

POLICEMAN assigned in Davao del Sur allegedly shot dead his wife outside an internet cafe along Sta. Ana Avenue, Davao City at around 1:50 a.m. on Friday.

The victim, who was identified as Lorna Abacan Adug, 35, a massage therapist and resident of Barangay 74-A in Matina, this city was shot allegedly by husband Police Officer (PO)3 Arvin Putong Adug, 38.

Cliff Aguio Dorado, a witness and a relative of the suspect’s, said the couple had a heated altercation outside Net Express Cafe when the suspect allegedly drew his handgun from his waist and shot the victim.

She was hit on left side of her body, back, lower right leg.

She was rushed by the witness to San Pedro Hospital but she died upon arrival.

After the shooting, the suspect escaped towards Guerrero Street.

Responding policemen recovered from the crime scene two fired cartridges believed to be from a .9 mm caliber pistol, which was then subjected to ballistic examination.

The remains of the victim were kept at the hospital.

Relatives of the victim said the couple had already separated.

Police are now conducting a manhunt operation against the suspect. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

Rody says Mar protecting ‘corrupt’ mining operator

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

P

abf@edgedavao.net

RESIDENTIAL aspirant and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte criticized fellow candidate Mar Roxas for allegedly accepting financial support from a “corrupt” and “unscrupulous” businessman.

In an interview on Friday night upon his arrival at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport, Duterte said Roxas is being supported by Eric Guitierrez, owner of SR Metals, Inc. He said Roxas uses Guiterrez’s private airplanes wherever he goes.

“He (Roxas) has been using his (Gutierrez) planes,” said

Duterte.”I have personally seen Roxas use that plane in Davao.

If that is not corruption, then what do you call that?”

Duterte said Roxas has been protecting the business interests of Gutierrez and that it is because of this protection that the mining operations continue.

Duterte’s camp said SR Metals and its sister companies, San R Mining and Galeo Equipment and Mining Corp.

— which list themselves as small-scale mining companies — were ordered to pay P7 million in penalty for over-extraction in 2007 after having shipped 1.8 million metric tons

(MT) of nickel from August 2006 to September 2007.

“It earned the company P28 billion. As small-scale mining companies, they were only allowed to extract an accumulated annual production of 150,000 MT or 50,000 MT each per year,” Duterte’s camp said in a statement.

Duterte said Gutierrez operates his mining firm along with Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice, who is the chair of the House committee on small scale mining.

“He (Gutierrez) was assessed to have something like P700 billion or more, but he only paid P7 billion,” the may-

or said. Duterte said Gutierrez’s tax case of reached the Supreme Court (SC) and the higher court decided that the businessman should pay all his taxes.

“Hanggang ngayon hindi nila mahinto-hinto (Until now they can’t stop this). Why? Because of Roxas, who uses his private planes,” he said.

Duterte said he never takes advantage of anyone for his own purposes, adding that he pays for everything when he travels.

“May discount ako kasi kaibigan pero I pay (I get a discount because the owner is my friend, but I pay),” he said.

International Airport. He was asked for his reaction on the claim of environment groups that the amendment of a provision of the City Land Use Plan (CLUP) removing the 10 percent green space to the low-cost subdivisions did not follow regulation.

“Here in Davao I always

ask what the law is. If that is the law, follow it. What is the procedure? Follow it. What is the regulation? Then do it,” he said.

Earlier, Ecoteneo director Mylai Santos there was a procedural lapses in amending the article 9 of the CLUP 2013-2022.

Santos said the Council

did not follow the provision that before any change is made, the Local Zoning Review Committee (LZRC) should be convened first.

Duterte said if that is a requirement by law, “it must be followed.”

“If there is such a regulation, it should not be ignored

Mayor to city councilors: Follow rules when amending ordinances D

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte reminded the city’s councilors that they should follow regulations and procedures before amending or approving ordinances.

Duterte made the statement in an interview on Friday night upon his arrival at the Francisco Bangoy

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6 NEWS

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Dayanghirang bares projects in 9 years

313 schools, 34 bridges, 55 kms. of roads, others worth P5 billion

R

EP. Nelson “Boy” Dayanghirang had identified and worked hard for the funding and implementation of hundreds of projects in Davao Oriental worth a total of P5 billion as congressman of the province’s First District from 2007 up to the present.

Dayanghirang told reporters of his achievements during the last three terms as he prepares to campaign for provincial governor on March 26, the start of the campaign period for candidates for governor and other local positions.

The lawmaker from the First District is supported by incumbent Davao Oriental Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon and all of the province’s 11 mayors.

Dayanghirang enumerated projects worth at least P5 billion that benefited his constituents in the first congressional district of Davao Oriental.

From 2007 to 2015, he funded the construction and concreting of at least 55 kilometers of national roads worth P913.3 million in the towns of Tarragona, Manay, Caraga, Baganga, Cateel and Boston which comprises the first congressional district of Davao Oriental.

He also funded the construction of 313 school buildings worth P879 million; 34 bridges worth P334.1 million; 171 multi-purpose buildings worth P194 million; 55-kilometer farm-to-market roads worth P176.8 million; 19 flood control projects worth P179.4 million; 60-kilometer local roads worth P142.8 million; 12 seawall projects worth P137 million; 16 river control projects worth P129.2 million; 61 water system projects worth P88.6 million; 28 revetment proj-

ects worth P79.7 million; 12 footbridges worth P69.9 million; 30 drainage projects worth P61.5 million; 12 slope protection projects worth P55.7 million; 12 public buildings worth P44.2 million; and among many others.

He said that for 2016, he will be funding the construction of two road opening projects worth P70 million, including the concreting and widening of two other national road projects worth P69 million.

Asked why he did not like to put his pictures and names on government-funded programs and projects, Dayanghirang said he is “very undramatic.” He said that self-promoting practices of “epal” among politicians only sow “much division” among the people.

Dayanghirang said he will always “work very hard” to prove himself worthy of the position by institutionalizing good governance especially the legacy projects of Governor Malanyaon.

“Davao Oriental never saw a more hard-working governor that is why Governor Malanyaon, my strong ally, has become an outstanding and unbeatable governor. I strongly believe that effective management of the provincial government is compatible with yielding power to the people by actively involving my constituents with the affairs of the local government.

For her part, Governor Malanyaon described Dayanghirang as a “listening, genuinely consultative leader.”

“He is competent, humble, honest, quiet and a decent man who let his many achievements speak for themselves,” the governor added. Ferdinand Zuasola

FLASH MOB. Students, mothers, and women’s groups from the first district of Davao City participate in a flash mob contest for the One Billion Rising Revolution 2016 held at Rizal Park on Friday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

Army defuses bomb at capitol grounds A

RMY soldiers defused Friday a powerful improvised bomb planted in the provincial capitol grounds in this town in the midst of a festival, the military said.

Colonel Ricky Bunayog, 33rd Infantry Battalion commander, said the bomb fashioned from an 81mm mortar with an alarm clock as trigger mechanism was placed inside a black backpack and

left in front of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office in Poblacion, Buluan.

A bystander found the explosive at about 8 a.m. Friday.

Bunayog said the attempt was meant to disrupt the 5th Sagayan Festival in celebration of Maguindanao’s foundation anniversary.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for the bombing

attempt.

Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu condemned the aborted bombing and called on everyone to stay vigilant.

“Sagayan Festival is promoting peace. We want people to embrace this culture in our hearts and minds whatever your religious or cultural affiliation, but this one really saddens us,” he said.

“Enough of this atrocities,

people had suffered enough from this violence,” said provincial board member Datu Russman Sinsuat Jr. who witnessed the celebration.

Sinsuat is a survivor of car bombing in Tacurong City in 2011 which targeted their convoy.

He lost his father who was then a board member and one of his legs was maimed in the explosion. (Ferdinandh Cabrera/MindaNews)

GOVERNMENT trooper seriously wounded in action when government forces and Moro rebels clashed by accident in Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao on Wednesday died while being treated at a military hospital here last Thursday.

Captain Joann Petinglay, speaking for the 6th Infantry

Division, said members of the 1st Mechanized Brigade were pursuing outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in Sitio Badak, Barangay Madia, Datu Saudi Ampatuan when they clashed with members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s (MILF) 105th Base Command.

“Actually, our troops did

not know they were fighting the MILF forces because all our action against the BIFF were coordinated with the MILF as provided for in the ceasefire mechanism,” Petinglay said.

She identified the slain soldier as Sergeant Ronilo Quimba of the 601st Reconnaissance Company.

Von Al Haq, MILF chair for military affairs, said the unexpected encounter occurred between 10 and 11 a.m. but the joint ceasefire panel and the international monitors quickly intervened.

“The intervention prevented the skirmishes from turning into a full blown Ar-

aligned with the vice president’s political camp.

“The May election is just a flitting moment, compared to my long-time friendship with Digong,” Bello told local reporters in an interview last Friday.

He said he and the city mayor were scheduled to talk about his decision last night.

Bello, who had been Justice secretary twice and chairman of the government peace panel negotiating with the National Democratic Front,

among many other ranking government positions, recalled that he and Mayor Duterte had been friends since their college days.

He said they were staying in the YMCA dormitory in Manila, while the mayor was studying law in San Beda College, and he in the Ateneo de Manila law school.

He recalled that during the mayoral tussle between the late OIC Mayor Zafiro L. Respicio and Duterte in 1988,

he was the only local ally of the late President Cory Aquino who supported Duterte who was then in the opposition.

For this, President Cory even called his attention why he was supporting her candidate, Respicio.

“In fairness to Vice President Binay, without me bringing up the subject with him, he said I was free to switch support to Mayor Rody, as he (Binay) knew the strong

Soldier, rebel killed in‘accidental’encounter A

Bebot Bello willing to withdraw candidacy for Rody Duterte

FSOLDIER, 13

By ANTONIO M. AJERO

I Rep. Nelson “Boy” Dayanghirang

F necessary, Rep. Silvestre “Bebot” H. Bello III of 1BAP Partylist will withdraw his candidacy as No. 1 nominee of his party-list if such a move will help Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte in his presidential campaign.

Bello earlier withdrew support from Vice President Jejomar Binay, one of the rivals of Mayor Duterte for President.

Binay is a brother of Bello in the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity, and his 1BAP Partylist is

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EDGEDAVAO

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 231 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14 - 15, 2016

Philippines eyes 8-9% export growth this year

T

HE government has set an export growth target of 8.0 to 9.0 percent this year amounting to US$100-billion in revenue under the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2015-2017.

President Benigno Aquino recently signed the PEDP 2015-2017 which contains targets and strategies for the development and expansion of the export industry.

Under the three-year export plan, export revenue will expand by providing comprehensive packages to support selected emerging and key export sectors, streamlining regulations in movement of goods and delivery of services, raising the productivity and competitiveness of local enterprises, upgrading the quality and standard of export, and improving exporters’ access to finance.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. told reporters on Friday that President Aquino instructed that the PEDP 2015-2017 shall be a forward-looking blueprint, incorporating innovation and moving up the value chain of Philippine exports.

Cristobal added that Mr. Aquino also eyes the PEDP to

create a healthy environment for start-ups to drive innovation in the export industry.

PEDP is a significant part of the International Trade Strategy of the Philippine Development Plan, a comprehensive economic and social development program to achieve inclusive growth and alleviate poverty.

Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. President Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. welcomed the approval of the PEDP 2015-2017, noting that this signals government facilitation in growing the exports sector.

Meanwhile, data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) show that exports revenue in January to September 2015 declined by 6.8 percent to U$52.49 billion from U$56.34 billion in the same period in 2014.

This is after merchandise exports, which account for 61 percent of the total exports receipt, dipped by 15.6 percent to US$31.93 billion in January-September 2015 from US$37.83 billion a year ago.

On the other hand, exports revenue of services increased by 11.1 percent to US$20.56 billion last year from US$18.51 billion in 2014. (PNA)

V-DAY. A florist arranges a bouquet of roses at her makeshift stall along Bolton Street in Davao City yesterday. Prices of roses and other cut-flower products increased as the demand went high during the Valentine’s Day celebration. Lean Daval Jr.

Banana growers lash back at group on aerial spraying

T Oil prices surge amid possible production cut

O

IL prices spiked Friday, boosted by the possibility that major production countries may cooperate to curb production.

Oil prices jumped as media reported that the energy minister of the United Arab Emirates said the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries was ready to cooperate on production cuts with other exporters.

Persistent oversupply, bloated inventories and a slew of negative economic news dragged crude prices to 12year lows Thursday.

US energy firms cut oil

rigs for the eighth straight week, according to the data from oil service company Baker Hughes released Friday.

Analysts expected major US shale oil companies to slash spending after crude prices plunged.

The West Texas Intermediate for March delivery moved up USD USD 3.23 to settle at USD 29.44 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for April delivery increased USD 3.3 to close at USD 33.36 a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange. (PNA/Xinhua)

HE Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) hit an environment group for “recycling” issues against the use of aerial spraying in banana plantations without “scientific basis.”

Reacting to reports on Friday, PBGEA executive director Stephen Antig said the issues hurled against the banana industry were not new, as the groups opposing it have been recycling issues to attack the industry.

Last Monday, Mamamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spraying (MAAS) president Dagohoy Magaway appealed to the Supreme Court to decide on the seven year-old case involving an ordinance banning aerial spraying in Davao City.

Magaway issued the appeal after receiving reports

that large banana companies in the city were using planes to spray fungicides on their plantations.

“We appeal to the Supreme Court to treat this as urgent,” he said.

He claimed the chemicals have also affected the health of the residents living near these banana plantations in Calinan, Brgy. Dacudao, and Callawa in Buhangin.

He said there are banana companies that have discarded aerial spraying like in Toril, Baguio, and Marilog.

“If these companies are able to do away with aerial spraying, why can’t others do it?,” he said.

In 2007, the city council passed Ordinance 0309-07, a measure known as “An ordinance Banning Aerial Spraying Practice in all Agriculture

Entities in Davao City.”

In 2009, the Court of Appeals ruled in favor of a petition filed by banana growers to declare the ordinance unlawful.

Magaway said some farmers noted a 60-percent reduction in their yields on some crops allegedly due to the chemicals used by the banana companies.

In their farm in Calinan, he said some of the banana plantations have gone to elevated areas, and the chemicals they use would go down and and affect their crops such as cacao and coconut.

‘Let SC decide’ Asked to comment, Antig said: “We cannot talk about that… It’s already there. Let the Supreme Court decide.”

“Dili na nato samukon.

FBANANA, 13

PAL gears for non-stop Cebu-Los Angeles flights

F

NOW OPEN. Nomads Davao fashion designers Ian Manglicmot (left), Jun Artajo (center), and Mandy Velasco promote their newly-opened concept store at SM Lanang Premier during this week’s FAST Fridays. Nomads Davao is a lifestyle retail store that is first of its kind in the city. Lean Daval Jr.

Magpa-abot na lang ta og decision (Let’s not disturb the proceeding. Let’s just wait for the decision,” he said.

But the PBGEA official refuted claims that aerial spraying has caused health problems and reduced the productivity of the farmers near the plantations.

He said the Global Positioning System device installed on the aircraft makes the spraying more targeted, removing the risk that the chemicals may drift towards the direction of the nearby communities.

“Our planes are equipped with GPS, a mechanism that will open and shut off when near the buffer zones,” he said.

He added they don’t want to waste investment on agricultural chemicals, saying that

LAG carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) will fly direct from Cebu and Los Angeles (LA) starting March 15.

PAL Philippines sales head Harry D. Inoferio assured that passengers from Visayas, particularly those from Iloilo, Bacolod and Tacloban, as well as from Mindanao will be able to enjoy faster flights.

Inoferio said the company aims to tap the strength of the Cebu hub and boost its growth by operating more flights to and from Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA).

Flights from Cebu to LA and vice versa will be thrice a week every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The airline has also three flights weekly between Cebu and Bacolod, four flights weekly between Cebu and Butuan and seven flights weekly each between Cebu and Cagayan, Davao, Iloilo, and Tacloban.

PAL Cebu hub is currently operating international flights going to Tokyo, Seoul, Nagoya and Osaka.

During the travel expo conducted last week, PAL started to offer low prices for roundtrip ticket from Cebu-LA and vice versa worth 575 US dollars.

By April, Inoferio said that roundtrip ticket prices will be around 650 US dollars.

From the Iloilo Interna-

FPAL, 13

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Learning

9 BIGGER PICTURE

by exposure Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

Y

OU learn more by going out than by being confined in the four corners of a classroom.

Dr. Maria Gemima C. Valderrama, a journalism professor at the Ateneo de Davao University (ADDU), thinks so, too. “I want the students to develop their love for the craft by exposing to real people, places and events,” she admits.

That’s why she brings her current third year students -- more than 80 of them -- to Bansalan, the last town of Davao del Sur. First, they visited the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC), a non-government organization known for its upland farming technolo-

Lao in barangay Eman. There, the students learned how the former immigration official was able to raise his income -and those who work with him -- through the production of coconut sugar.

“This is our ninth year,” Valderrama says. Among the previous places visited were Island Garden City of Samal, Mati City, Tagum City, Banaybanay, Digos City (particularly Kapatagan), General Santos City, Lake Sebu, and one of the towns of Compostela Valley.

“The main goal too is to make them appreciate and value the beauty of Mindanao,” Valderrama explains, adding each group of the students will come up with a magazine.

Ian Ogatis explains the forms of plant propagation. gies including Sloping Agricultural Land Technology (SALT) and Food Always In The Home (FAITH) gardening, in barangay Kinuskusan.

Right after touring the 19-hectare farm, a press conference was held. Roy C. Alimoane, the center’s director, and Ian C. Ogatis, the training coordinator, answered the questions ranging from how the technologies were developed to farm’s income.

After the press conference, a dialogue with three journalists was done. Ed R. Fernandez, a former journalism professor; Jojie Alcantara, an award-winning photojournalist whose photos were featured in several local, national and international magazines; and this author, shared some tips on how to come up with a good magazine.

It was past one in the afternoon when the group went to the organic farm of Benjamin

Press conference at MBRLC.

Mejos told later on.

She learned journalism the hard way. “It was not an easy feat, going to General Santos not only once, but twice and thrice because we wanted to produce the best we could,” she recalled. “We didn’t settle for mediocrity. I learned that the mass communication stereotype (maarte,puro make-up...) is only a surface of what we are and what we do. Behind every glamorous shot is hours of hard work and sometimes we risk our health for that.

“And although writing is often a solitary experience, any production just like a magazine requires a team,” she continued. “In each team is a group of team players, and teams who work well together despite differences is the teams that produce the best outputs. But above all, I learned that one should never lose heart in failing to get the awards. We are all winners in our own ways.

We don’t exactly lose, we just learn. Lastly, win or lose, in that GenSan tour, we learned to keep ourselves humble.”

Vanessa Kate F. Madrazo, who now writes a regular column for EDGE Davao, echoed the same sentiment.

“The field tour as all the other types of exposure we had through journalism taught me about the complexity of people--that they are more than what their jobs are, or more than what their labels are,” she said. “A fisherman is also a husband and a dad to

“Thought the students’ output, we help promote Mindanao,” Valderrama points out.

I had the pleasure of joining the group last year when they visited General Santos City. Andrea Isabelle Mejos, who now writes forPhilippine Daily Inquirer, was one of those who went with us.

“I learned that journalism is learned best in practice, hence our frequent trips outside the classroom. I also learned that regardless of the errors in organizing or in the difficulty of the working environment (that is, pressure, temperature, time constraints), work should always go on. Stories never die no matter where we are or who we are with,” Professor Gemima Valderrama.

someone else, and is someone who has his own dreams.”

Angelo V. Caballero, who recently won in a television contest for broadcast journalism, admitted that producing the magazine from the General Santos trip was very fulfilling.

“We had eaten stress just to make it come to life from an ambitious layout,” he said.

“And I will never forget what we have been through especially the precious learning we acquire from it. We’ve been taught under the university’s roof the basics and extremes of writing, photography, videography and production, among others but being exposed to the reality is much more exciting and challenging.

“The exposure imparted me how to develop rapport with the beautiful people you just met,” he further stated. “In writing, I believe it is very important because the people are the source of your stories; and you can’t extract from them the best story if

Encounter with male goat.

Mr. Organic Farmer Benjamin Lao. you won’t practice camaraderie between.

“There’s this notion that you have to make yourselves comfortable with each other for you to delve in that person until you get the most perfect peg. The beauty of the places, the wonder of history and the hymn of Gensan’s pride wouldn’t be much more realistic and engaging without the stories of the people who are part of the growing story of GenSan.

“I was born to be so passive and unaware of the world’s everything until I came to learn that I have to care, and being with those stories one should be conscious of is to make an alliance and relationship with the people, the best subject one writer could ever have. That GenSan experience was truly a revelation of the journalistic heart in me,” he concluded.

As for Dr. Valderrama, Mejos has this to say: “She wanted us to learn to look into ourselves and see our own potentials and do things we never thought that we could, much less be good at. She taught us to love our classmates despite all our differences. She taught us hard work. The GenSan tour for our magazine pre-production did not just teach us to get good grades, but it taught us a lot about life.”

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 231 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14 - 15, 2016

EDITORIAL Comelec must fix the bugs ASAP

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ITH the clock ticking as the national campaign has begun and the elections just around the corner, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is still besieged with bugs as they test the digital poll machines.

An assortment of problems were encountered by the Comelec including some machines not working true to form.

And then came this simulation where the Comelec also encountered glitches with the Vote Counting Machines and even with the marking pens. There were those who took part in the simulation who noticed that the pens tend to smudge beyond the circle of a particular choice and spreading across another circle and by the time the ballot was inserted into the VCM, the ballot was not read because of the scattered ink.

At this point of the preparations for the 2016 national elections, the Comelec is fighting against time which

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means that more glitches could mean the derailment of the computerized elections.

Too bad, we are spending a lot for these machines only to end up crossing our fingers that they don’t conk out during actual polling time. It’s a very dangerous situation where we are putting out faith and trust on these machines to produce credible and honest results.

Add to that the fact that there are still some quarters who continue to lodge motion for reconsideration of dismissed disqualification cases which add up to the voluminous work for the Commission.

In the end, there is no turning back. The Comelec will have to do its best effort to ensure that the machines are in tip top condition for the May 9 polls and that the sanctity and integrity of our right to suffrage will not be clouded by mere digital bugs or by some lousy marking pens.

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Why are we not angry for Jessiven?

HIS country prides itself with high functional literacy rates (88.7% for women and 84.2% for men, per the Philippine Statistics Authority). Functional literacy simply means the capability to read, count, and write. This is necessary for participating in the workforce and obtaining gainful employment. It is neither a reflection of leadership skills nor of entrepreneurial drive. It simply means being able to work.

But news from last week was particularly distressing.

Jessiven Lagatic was a fourth year student at Central Bicol State University of Agriculture who committed suicide on Thursday, February 11, reportedly due to a loss of his scholarship, which forced him and his family to fork out P7,000 to the school in

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VANTAGE POINTS

place of the lost MY TWO CENTS’ scholarship — something that may have been too much for the family to bear as a cost. To many netizens on Facebook and John Tria twitter, agonizecisouth@gmail.com ing over P7,000 may sound irrelevant as a family Sunday buffet lunch in Manila’s posh hotel restaurants, but to those like him and his family in the rural areas it means a debt that may have to be paid over a long period of time.

How this government allowed such a mindset of despair to take root in the brain of a talented youngster speaks of plain arrogance, as it has allowed schools through the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to continually raise fees for students. Five years of Daang Matuwid has failed to arrest the high cost of education and failed to inspire Jessiven out of his despair. Are we going to have more of this? Have we been so desensitized into our own cubbyholes that we fail to be indignant that such outcomes still happen?

In his proclamation rally speech, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte famously exclaimed that he cusses and curses because he is angry for us. Why call a presidential candidate a clown simply for being angry at

things that we rightfully need to be angry at? Even Jesus Christ expressed his righteous anger at the vendors who were turning the temple into a marketplace. It is justifiable anger because the system and sanctuary of faith had been desecrated by the selfish desire, just as our education system has been relegated to a lucrative proposition for many of our business conglomerates. While the other presidential candidates promise scholarships and other benefits for the deserving, only Duterte has so far called for the lasting and thorough and frank solution – not to rely on available scholarships alone, but to remove the unjust and oppressive high price of education by lowering its cost through state subsidies or programs to lower costs.

Jessiven’s fate is worth cussing for.

ments seek EUROPE BIZ to improve standards and widen the scope of care available. There are wide variations in the Region. SevHenry J. Schumacher eral ASEAN members have passed laws to establish national health insurance systems and mandated universal coverage, including the Philippines. An integrated ASEAN market in healthcare consisting of harmonized standards, registration and evaluation, mutual recognition of qualifications and cross border cooperation greatly expand regional healthcare facilities, stimulating growth of a vital sector. International research-based companies, active in the healthcare sector, are ready to be part of the solution to bring healthcare to Filipino patients fast and effectively.

world) and in various creative sectors, from animation to game development to digital content and digital designs). Mindanao is part of this focus and has to create the environment to make the growth possible.

convenient and packaged well, especially juices and premium beverage alcohols.

Through ASEAN’s Economic Community blueprint, the seven priority areas for food, agriculture and forestry include: • Strengthening food security • Facilitating trade in agriculture and forestry products • Generating and transferring technology to increase productivity and develop agri-business • Developing rural communities and human resources • Involving and investing in the private sector • Managing and conserving natural resources for sustainable development • Strengthening ASEAN cooperation in addressing regional and international issues.

ASEAN economic integration – winners and losers

E finally reached the target line for the economic integration: 1 January 2016. Now the question arises whether countries and sectors, governments and business, large corporations and SMEs, are ready to benefit from and to face the challenges of economic integration.

The name of the game is competitiveness.

Philippine companies like all firms operating in ASEAN must find the means of enlarging their economic position, alone or in partnership with other regional or international firms. European companies in the Philippines and in Europe are in stand-by to become partners in this important process.

Let’s look at some sectors of importance for Davao/Mindanao: ICT

Sustained investment in information and communication technology is proving to be one of the most potent drivers of development for emerging economies. The strong focus on ICT development is having a significant impact on the ASEAN region. There is a master plan to deliver ICT as an engine of growth for all member states and to establish the Region as a global communications hub. The Philippine telecoms and IT market is estimated to contribute more than 10% to the country’s GDP, boosted by the exponential development of mobile telephony. The Philippines is a leader in business process management and will have to improve its telecoms infrastructure / broadband if it wishes to maintain that position. Cebu will have to look more seriously at managing the deteriorating traffic situation.

A private / public taskforce may have to be formed to find solutions – short-term, midterm and long-term. Without solutions, the economic growth of Davao and other parts of Mindanao will be limited.

Healthcare Health spending in Southeast Asia is expected to double in real terms over the next decade, outstripping GDP growth, as govern-

Services Within ASEAN, the services sector accounts for 40 – 70% of each economy’s GDP. Education, the upgrading of local skills, infusion of foreign skills (which will lead to mutual technology/knowledge transfer), and overall productivity increases are the cornerstone of a competitive economy.

Unemployment starts to be a problem where there is no vibrant services sector (without underestimating the employment potential in manufacturing and especially in agriculture/food processing). Further, it is the services sector which can tap new areas of growth and development – especially in creative industries, moving from raw creativity to real innovation.

The Philippines has a great chance to take dominant positions in business process management (we are already No.1 in voice in the

Agriculture In 2013, the agricultural sector contributed 14.3% of Indonesia’s GDP, 38% of Myanmar, 48% of Vietnam, 34% of Cambodia, 24.8% in Laos and 11.2% in Malaysia and the Philippines respectively. The share for the Philippines should be much higher if inclusive growth is going to happen; more efforts must be undertaken to empower the farming community and correct the shortcomings of the Agrarian Land Reform.

The sector’s output derives almost entirely from small holdings which dominate the Region’s agricultural landscape. Many farms occupy less than two hectares and have low access to technology, information, finance and crucially to markets. The problem is that poor techniques and low grade inputs, including seeds, lowers productivity while farmers struggling to survive are driven to over culture their lands and deplete scarce water resources as a result.

The consequences are that while millions have been lifted out of poverty, a third of the Region’s population still lives on little more than US$2 a day, which represents a massive economic and social challenge for governments in the Region.

The integration of the agri sector will be challenging with winners and losers. The Philippines will not be among the winners in the short-term. But within the Philippines, Mindanao can be a major player provided peace in Mindanao will be achieved.

Food & Beverage Almost all countries in ASEAN are experiencing high economic growth accompanied by rapid changes in the consumption pattern.

A growing middle class is developing preferences for food and beverages that are more

The Philippines must take the agri-food supply-chain much more seriously and develop strategies to increase farm productivity through mechanization, consolidation of farm land and the application of new technologies.

Tourism The travel sector is helped by growing connectivity in the Region which supports to stimulate tourism. As a result, the travel and tourism industry is seen as crucially important for development; tourism in vital for the socio-economic benefits as it promotes people to people connectivity, one of the key strategies towards achieving the ASEAN Community, starting 2016.

ASEAN attracted 90 million visitors in 2013, an increase of 12% from 2012. This is a precursor to what lies ahead for the Region, a robust tourism economy. It is human capital that is at the core of this sustainable success.

In conclusion, there are definitely more winners than losers. And where challenges exist, governments and the private sector should get together to find solutions without delay jointly. AEC is a big adventure.

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 231 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14 - 15, 2016

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

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Love through the distance

Gracielle and boyfriend Mike

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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recent survey conducted by the Social Weather System ( SWS) revealed that 67 percent of adult Filipinos believe in long distance relationship (LDR), while 73 percent believe in “forever.” While the perception of “forever” is common among married Filipino couples, partners in LDR also believe in forever, the survey revealed.

EDGE Davao asked 24year-old Gracielle Deanne Tubera to share her experience being involved in a long-distance relationship. Gracielle works for Davao Doctors Hospital and is a member of Young Davao Writers.

1. How long have you been in a long distance relationship and how did you two meet?

My boyfriend and I have been together for over a year. He lives in Duma-

guete, and I’m in Davao. We met two years ago during a month-long writers workshop that was notorious for its summer romances.

We talked about art all day, and were surrounded by the sea, or the silence of the mountains, at night.

The romantics in us didn’t stand a chance.

2. Is this the first time you have been in an LDR? What are the factors you considered before deciding to enter a long distance relationship?

This is my first relationship! :-) We didn’t think much about the factors when it started. We wanted the relationship, so none of the factors really mattered.

3. What are your common problems? Are they recurring? How do you resolve your problems with your boyfriend?

We fight whenever he

doesn’t pick up his phone during a night out and I end up thinking that he’s dead in a ditch somewhere. Just kidding! The end of every visit is always difficult because it’s then that I realize exactly how much I’m missing. It’s hard to get through the last day of a visit when all you can think about is how you’ll have to wait for another five months before you can hold each other’s hands again. The feeling subsides over time, though.

My boyfriend and I have a rule when we get into arguments: Solve the problem before hanging up. It’s not a rule that we imposed on each other, it’s just how we’ve dealt with our problems. We have to talk to each other until we both have explained and understood each other’s sides.

Hanging up on the other doesn’t solve anything, and it only makes problems worse.

4. What are the pros and cons of LDR based on your experience?

Pros: The communication is so open and transparent in a long-distance relationship (at least in mine). My boyfriend and I make up for the distance by constantly communicating with each other. I don’t think I’ve ever been this open to another person. :) Also, I get to live out a life that’s completely independent of my boyfriend. I love being independent. :) Cons: We can’t see each other whenever we want to. LDRs, with all its back and forths, can also get pretty expensive.

5. Do you believe in forever? (Please include your future plans that involve your boyfriend.)

No LDR can work if a couple doesn’t have plans to finally be together in the same place, so that’s where we’re going. :-)

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Food for the heart Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

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AKE good of your heart, doctors tell us. And one of the best ways to take good care of our heart is feeding it with what is best for the hollow muscular organ. Let me enumerate some of them:

Fresh fish

Apples

Avocado: It considered the world’s most nutritious fruit! “In this single delectable fruit,” wrote noted food writer Gaylord Hauser, “are combined the protein meat, the fat of butter (but much more wholesome!), the vitamins and minerals of green vegetables, the flavor of nuts, a six course dinner.”

Alexandra Duron listed avocado as one of the best foods for the heart. “As if you needed another reason to love Avocados avocados, the creamy green superfood is also good for the heart,” she wrote. “They’re jam-packed with monounsaturated fatty acids, which help lower cholesterol levels and may help prevent blood clotting. They also contain magnesium, which has been associated with a lower risk of heart disease in men. Adding some avocado to your meal can also help to increase satiety and satisfaction, which may help with weight management—another way to keep your heart healthy in the long run.”

Avocado, if you care to know, has 60% more potassium than banana. Potassium is a mineral that helps regulate blood pressure. As such, adequate intake of potassium can help guard against circulatory diseases, like high blood pressure, heart disease, or stroke. In addition, avocado also provides calories for energy and beneficial phyto-

chemicals such as glutathione.

Asparagus: Asparagus has also been used from very early times as a medicine, owing to its delicate flavor and diuretic properties. Originally, asparagus was used by ancient Greeks and Romans to relieve toothaches and prevent bee stings.

Reader’s Digest claims: “Asparagus contains heart-healthy anti-inflammatory nutrients like folate and vitamins C and D.” Duron adds, “The superfood contains vitamin K, which can help with blood clotting, and potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure. It also boasts two nutrients that help lower blood cholesterol: soluble fiber and saponins (nutrients that stop the digestive tract from absorbing cholesterol as easily).”

Beans: A report carried by CNN cited some studies which showed that those who consume legumes on a daily basis have a 22% lower risk of developing heart disease than those who rarely do. The reason: “Beans are packed with cholesterol- and blood pressure-lowering soluble fiber, and contain heart-smart nutrients such as folate, a vitamin that helps reduce blood homocysteine (a biomarker for heart disease).”

Reader’s Digest has this additional information: “These versatile legumes contain more protein than any other plant food — just one cup provides a quarter of what we need each day. They also provide heart-healthy and stress-busting B vitamins, iron, and all-important calcium. Plus, they are considered ‘nature’s scrub brush’ because one serving’s 15 grams of fiber goes through the intestines and sops cholesterol and takes it away (you know where).”

Coconut oil: Coconut oil has recently surged in popularity, touted by some for its ability to help prevent heart disease, reports livescience. com And although there are indeed

some favorable aspects to coconut oil — it shouldn’t be thought of as “unhealthy,” per se — more research is still needed to determine whether it can really be considered a hearthealthy food ingredient, said Jo Ann Carson, the director of the department of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

“The benefits of coconut oil may come from molecules called medium-chain fatty acids, which are a type of saturated fat. Although coconut oil’s fatty acids raise the levels of bad cholesterol, they appear to raise the levels of good cholesterol even more, potentially balancing out the negative effects,” Carson said, adding that more studies are still needed.

Dark chocolate: According to Duron, chocolates contain flavanoids—antioxidants that can help suppress LDL, or “bad” cholesterol.

“Nibbling on the sweet stuff can also keep your heart strong by keeping arteries flexible and preventing white blood cells from adhering to the walls of blood vessels,” she wrote. “Both of these benefits help prevent atherosclerosis, the hardening of arteries that can lead to heart attack or stroke.”

Just remember to stick to dark chocolate. Reader’s Digest gives this fact: “One study, conducted by researchers at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, showed that eating 6 ounces of dark chocolate a day lowered bad cholesterol. And that’s not all. Another researcher found that cocoa contains phenols — antiseptic, anti-inflammatory compounds that reduce your risk of heart disease by keeping fat-like substances from oxidizing in the blood and clogging your arteries.”

Fatty Fish: Duron wrote: “While a recent study casts some doubt on whether eating fatty acids has hearthealthy benefits, a lot of research suggests foods containing this nutrient

have a long history of risk of cardiovascular d in point: Recent researc ty fish-rich diet with a coronary artery calcific can lead to heart disease study suggests the pol fatty acids found in fat blood pressure and resti and may also improve v tion and lower inflamma American Heart Associa gests adding fish—part fish, like salmon and alb to your plate two times p Nuts: It can be almo or other varieties of n facts.net says: “Nuts are for heart health due to sive mineral content, in levels of magnesium, as great balance of mon fats as compared to sa This can help lower over ol levels. However, man salted, which is definitel healthy choice, so opt for varieties whenever poss Red Wine: Dr much wine is not good fo But moderate drinking all. Comparing diets am countries, researchers ered that although the F eat higher levels of anim ingly the incidence of h remains low in France. T enon has been termed paradox, and is thought protective benefits of r suming red wine.

In addition, a sig ume of research indica consumption – such a of red wine a day for wo for men – may confer he Emerging evidence is th phenols like resverat physiological benefit wh itself may have protecti the cardiovascular syste

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reducing the disease. Case ch links a fatlower risk of cation, which e. Yet another lyunsaturated tty fish lower ing heart rate, vascular funcation. And the ation still sugticularly fatty bacore tuna— per week.” onds, walnuts, nuts. Organice all beneficial their impresncluding high s well as their nounsaturated aturated fats. rall cholesterny nuts come ly not a heartr the unsalted sible.” rinking too or your health. is not bad at mong Western have discovFrench tend to mal fat, surprisheart disease This phenomd the French to occur from regularly con-

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EDGEDAVAO

The evolution of the family

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By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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N THE LAST STRONGHOLD of Catholic conservatism in the world, a paradigm shift is happening in the society’s definition of the family.

Hadji Balajadia, a social psychology professor at the Ateneo de Davao University, said gone are the days when the Filipino family was limited to the mother-father-child description. The continuous evolution of Filipino society and exposure to foreign culture, he said, has allowed the formulation of a description of a family that moves from being traditionalist to a more adaptive setup.

As the definition of family remains under negotiation, its typologies expanded from the traditional to a family that is not defined by role but by the member’s presence in the family unit. Balajadia said single parents raising their child

alone as well as those who are away from each other still consider themselves family. Parents with adopted child or same-sex couples raising a child are still considered to be family.

Balajadia,who is also the external director for Center of Psychology Extension and Research services, said the shift in the traditional paradigm of the Filipino family shaped by culture and religion was brought by globalization.

Though gay marriage is still not legal in the country, with Pope Francis reaffirming the Church’s opposition to gay marriage in October last year, such partnerships exist and society is starting to see it as part of reality, Balajadia said. In Davao City, the local civil registrar already recorded the intention of some same-sex couples to have their union legalized through mar-

riage.

On the rise Juliet Gasatan, a representative of the City Civil Registrar’s Office, said there has been an increase in the total number of issued Certificate of No Marriage (Cenomar) by 10 percent.“Certificates issued increased from 7,800 in 2014 to 7,913 last year,” she said.

But as the number of marrying couples increases every year, the number of relationships seeking legal separation through separation has also increased over the past years.

The Office of the Solicitor General revealed in a report in 2011 that there was a 40 percent surge in the number of annulment cases filed before the court in 2010, while the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) said one in every five Filipino couples is annulled in 2012.

“In the absence of divorce law in the Philippines, married couples are really pushed to opt for legal resolution of marital issue and the only option we have now is separation of a legal contract and annulment and this signals that there is a revolving appreciation of marital relationship and of the value of marriage as an institution,” Balajadia said.

He said the increasing trend in annulment cases is a clear signal that “Filipinos now are reorienting their values towards a more temporal or lose appreciation of the value of the marriage.”

“This impacts the institution (the family) which is the basic unit of society, and this also calls for rethinking and reexamining our traditional values as Filipinos whether or not we will allow an alternative measure responding marital con-

flict apart from annulment,” he added.

A collective reflection for stakeholders, he said, is necessary “because the traditional sources of legitimacy of this institution family and marriage is being challenged.”

“It is important for Philippine society to rethink the viability of divorce in order to either allow deep challenges and changes to reshape and redefine families and of course marital relationship or to retain and to intensify our traditional value system of the family which refer to the sanctity of the family,” he added.

Balajadia said the phenomenon requires the services of more professionals and experts like psychologists, guidance counselors, and even pastors who will need assistance in coping with the changing trend.

Conquest in the name of love

By ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA

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EBRUARY is considered “love month.” Whether in literature, cinema or history, romantics talk about battles that have been waged in the name of LOVE. In Homer’s historical novel, Iliad, Helen of Troy, the most beautiful Greek woman, married Menelaus, king of Sparta. But the wedded bliss was short-lived. Paris, son of King Priam of Troy, fell in love with Helen.

She was abducted and brought back to Troy. To retrieve her, the Greeks assembled a large army under Agamemnon, Menelaus’ brother. As a result of the siege, Troy was ruined and Helen was returned safely to Sparta to reunite with her spouse, Menelaus.

The love story of Antony and Cleopatra is also immortalized in literature. They fell in love at first sight and would place Egypt in a dominant position. But the love affair enraged the Romans. Amid threats, the two still got married. It was while fighting the Romans that he got hold of the bogus news of his wife’s death; devastated, he fell on his sword. When Cleopatra learned of her husband’s death, she also took her own life.

‘Gone with the Wind’ The most moving portrayal of love in a movie was immortalized in Margaret Mitchells’ Gone with the Wind, a story of love and hatred between Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler, who entered into a stormy marriage. Scarlett, who was teasing, loose, and alluring, had another suitor, Ashley Wilkes. When she finally decided to wed Rhett, her promiscuity forced her spouse to move away just as the American Civil war was raging. Rhett left town while Scarlett longed for the day when they would be reunited.

Close to home, the Siege of Baler, a historical war drama, tells of a forbidden love between a Spanish mestizo soldier and a Filipina, at the turn

of 19th century. The young couple fought with great effort to keep their illicit love alive despite family opposition and political tensions that culminated in 11-month-long cordon. The event took place while the Filipino revolutionaries laid siege to a fortified church manned by colonial Spanish troops in Baler, Quezon Province.

Conversely, Davao’s history, which is about the conquest of Datu Bago by Basque colonizer Don Jose Oyanguren, was launched in the name of love.

Family tradition According to the Suazo family tradition, Maria Luisa Azaola and her brother Antonio, both Spanish orphans, were living in Sigaboy when she met Oyanguren. Antonio, a trader, was then opening new trade links with the fiefdoms around the gulf but she opposed her brother’s plan to go to Davao for fear he would meet the pirates. With the pledge to bring back brassworks, pearls, and gold dust they would sell in Spain, and the assurance his trip would be safe, he eventually prevailed.

(The Suazo patriarch was recruited in Tandag by Oyanguren.)

The Bislig (now a city in Surigao del Sur) governor arrived in town just days after Antonio and an interpreter left for Davao. His arrival, expectedly, drew public attention.

Brash and arrogant, he had been a frequent visitor to the place. The people knew he was not coming to town simply to visit the settlement as part of his control.

Everybody also understood he was courting Maria who, until then, was more focused in helping her brother. That night, she was listless knowing her brother was travelling to uncharted territories. Fortunately, she did not have to worry about meeting the governor because the following day the politician left.

Sea tragedy

Antonio’s trip to Datu Bago’s kingdom, fortuitously, was a success.

He was diplomatically welcomed by the chieftain and his lieutenant, Datu Nakoda, although there were times when the datus had to wrestle with the idea of harming him because he was a Spaniard. The Muslims never disappointed Antonio.

Bronze ornaments from the best foundries, pearls and other commodities were bartered. Both sides exchanged pleasantries. At one point, Datu Bago encouraged the Spaniard to bring Spanish muskets during his return, but Antonio was quick to retort that such act was against colonial laws. Feigning satisfaction, the two datus simply smiled and bade the trader adieu, assuring him he was still welcome in his next visit.

The second stopover at Datu Bago’s turf, true to Maria’s fear, ended in tragedy. Antonio was allowed to trade peacefully but on his way home to Sigaboy he was intercepted in the open sea, arrested, and accused of betraying the Muslims.

The charge was an offshoot of the tragic incident that happened while Antonio was in Datu Bago’s territory.

A Muslim fleet that left a few nights after the Spaniard’s arrival was badly decimated by a superior force, which the Muslims thought was the handiwork of a Spanish navy, with the knowledge of Antonio, to spy on the Muslims.

In exchange for Antonio’s freedom, Datu Bago wanted 10,000 pesetas. To make his intention known, he allowed Pantayani, the Spaniard’s trusted interpreter, to sail on a small boat to Sigaboy. The Muslim ruler wanted the ransom delivered in two weeks, inclusive of the length of travel Pantayani had to make in bringing the demand to Maria’s attention.

But the amount asked was only partially complied with. The trusted ally had to hurry back to Davao to offer what was collected in the hope of saving Antonio from im-

minent death. The effort was not worth it because by then Antonio had already been killed. Pantayani still managed to escape from his captors despite being injured, and reached home to convey the sad news.

The historical accounts, though, differ slightly from folklore.

Forced leave Towards the end of the first

Datu Bago pic by Sultan Maulana Bago

Narciso Claveria y Zaldua and Don Jose Oyanguren half of the 19th century, unrest was brewing in Madrid, and Oyanguren, a hidalgo (knight), was forced to leave Spain after his maverick political stance did not sit well with authorities.

The Constitution passed by the Cortes, the Spanish legislature, embraced the liberal idea the Charter was not exclusive to Spaniards in their homeland but also to Spanish subjects the world over.

Oyanguren, a Basque born in 1800, resented the liberalism of the law, which was contrary to the position of the Basques, who were mainly Carlists. He and other Carlists were rounded up for execution, but the Spanish authorities thought it was prudent to banish them to Marianas, far from the motherland, to undergo hard labor.

When Oyanguren arrived in Manila in 1825, Spanish rule in the country was on the decline. Muslim raids in many parts of the archipelago were sapping the government’s

resources. There were ongoing revolts in various areas of the country, mainly against colonial abuses.

While Europe was on the brink of industrial revolution, the condition in the islands was deteriorating, in part due to the excesses committed by the colonizers. Still, these unsettling developments did not dampen Oyanguren’s interest to explore possibilities in the islands.

Claveria treated Oyanguren well during his exile in the islands. He issued him three ships, which the latter used for trading with the Provincias de Moras (Moro Province) in the 1830’s. It was in one of his sorties in Tandag that he met Luisa, the daughter of a capitan general by a local resident. The two agreed to live together as partners because Oyanguren, a Catholic, could not marry her because he had a wife in Spain.

She later bore a son by a man surnamed Monteroso whom she married years after the Basque colonizer had died.

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 231 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14 - 15, 2016

Not just about Valentine’s Day

By ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA

N

ext to issues on tax and death, another sure thing comes to mind every time Valentine’s Day, which falls on February 14, comes around: The motels are jampacked!

Call it a vulgar joke, but February 14’s significance goes beyond locked rooms, red under-wear creatively shaped into rose flowers, chocolates, ice cream, love greetings in a hundred languages, or simply frolicking with a beau or partner in some romantic setting.

Historically, February 14 has a thousand and one events attached to it, incidents that go beyond the usual ‘kiss and make up’ stories but also about war, inventions, law, and many more.

Valentine’s, as matter of fact, was first associated with romantic love in 1382 by English poet Geoffrey Chaucer in his Parlement of Foules, which goes: “For this was on seynt Volantynys day.Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make (For this was on St. Valentine’s Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate).”

Literary writers claim the poem was written in honor of English King Richard II’s first anniversary engagement to Anne of Bohemia, the eldest daughter of Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia, and Elizabeth of Pomerania.

Celebrities Other than being the ‘day of hearts,’ famous celebrities, from politics to sports, mark February 14 as their birth date. On this day, Senator Juan Ponce Enrile Sr. (1924), presidential sister Kristina Bernadette Cojuangco Aquino (1971), and former boxing champion Rolando Navarette (1957) were born.

So are actors Love Marie Ongpauco, also known as Heart Evangelista (1985), Roxanne Guinoo (1986), John Prats (1984), and singer Donna Cruz (1977).

The date is also the birthday of Aaron Russo, US filmmaker (1943); Alan Parker, English film director (1944); Andrew Prine, US actor (1936); Andwele Gardner, US

soul singer (1978); Carl Bernstein, US news journalist and reporter (1944); Christopher Sholes, inventor of the typewriter (1819); and George Ferris, inventor of the Ferris Wheel ( 1859).

Pat O’Brien, US radio host and sportscaster (1948); Masaki Kobayashi, Japanese film director (1916); Quentin Mosimann, Swiss singer (1988); Scott Owen, Australian musician (1975); Rhydian Roberts, Welsh singer (1983); and Wally Tax, Dutch singer and composer (1948), were also born on February 14.

Some ‘firsts’ February 14 is best remembered also for so many ‘firsts’, among them the first U.S. textile machinery patent was granted (1794), the launching of Galena, the first U.S. ironclad warship for service at sea (1862), the authorization of the first state bird refuge in California, USA (1872), the commissioning of Groton, the first US submarine with diesel engines (1912), the patenting of the first ‘micro on a chip’( 1978), and the first US labor union to be legislated (1883).

In science, the US performed a nuclear test in Nevada (1976), Venus was named morning and evening star (1894), the world’s first Skyphone opened (1989), penicillin was discovered (1929), Lawrencium, known as element 103, was first synthesized in Berkeley,

California (1961), and space prober Voyager 1 took a photograph of the entire Solar System (1990).

In politics, US President Richard Nixon installed secret taping system in the White House (1971), Arizona was admitted to the Union as 48th state (1912), U.S. Congress began using voting machines (1899), James K. Polk became first US President photographed in office (1848), and John Ehrlichman, presidential adviser during the Nixon watch, died in Atlanta, age 73 (1999).

War reminders On February 14, 1942 US Lieutenant Commander (later rear admiral) Chester C. Smith’s USS Swordfish (SS-176) torpedoed the Japanese warship Amagisan Maru off Davao Gulf.

A year after, German Gen. Erwin Rommel and his Afrika Korps launched an offensive against an Allied defensive line in Tunisia, North Africa, at the Kasserine Pass, where the US tasted its first major defeat in World War II. In the Philippines three events are worth remembering.

On February 14, 1946, Philippine Airlines resumed commercial operations at Nielson Air-port, Makati; on February 14, 1994, President Fidel V. Ramos signed into law Republic Act 7875, “The National Health Insurance Act of 1995,” the basis of Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth); and on February 14, 2005 seven people were killed and 151 wounded in bombings made by Al-Qaeda-linked militants that hit Makati, Davao City, and Gen. Santos City.

In 1989, US actress Robin Givens was granted a divorce from Mike Tyson in Dominican Republic, British sing-

er Elton John married Renate Blauel in Sydney, Australia (1984), Wilt Chamberlain broke NBA career scoring record at 20,884 points (1966), Dolly, the sheep, was euthanized (2003), Alexander Graham Bell applied for a patent of his telephone invention (1876), and the first apple parer was patented (1803).

Moreover, American Airlines and US Airways merged to form the world’s largest air carrier (2013), love letters of poets Elizabeth Bar-

Celebrities Kris Aquino, Heart EvangelistaEscudero, and John Prats as well as Senator Juan Ponce Enrile all celebrate their birthdays on Valentine’s Day.

rett and Robert Browning were published online (2012), a spacecraft became the first vehicle to land on an asteroid (2001), Arab Federation of Iraq and Jordan formed (1958), and U.S.S.R. and China signed a peace treaty (1950).

On the same day in 1962, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy took TV viewers on a tour of the White House

and the US launched communication satellite Syncom 1 was launched.

Additionally, the United Parcel Service (UPS) was founded in 1919, the League of Women Voters was formed in Chicago the following year, and seven gangsters were killed in the most cold-blooded gang massacre in history to as Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1929.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 231 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14 - 15, 2016

Duterte... FROM 4 For one, the tandem proposes to allot P1 billion per region for a capital-lending program for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), to help them start or sustain their own businesses.

For the fishing industry, Cayetano said they will push for strategic reforms to crackdown illegal fishing and ensure safe working conditions and fixed wages for hand-line fishermen.

“Under a Duterte-Cayetano government, our fishermen and tricycle drivers, who provide our daily basic needs, will be given the opportuni-

ties they deserve. We’ll make sure that in this period of growth, they will not be left behind,” Cayetano said.

The Duterte-Cayetano tandem plans to conduct similar street tours in other areas to explain their electoral message to create real changes and restore order in the country.

Duterte could not join the tour in Bucana as he was advised by his doctor to take a rest due to his migraine. However, the mayor resumed campaigning in Tagum City during the tandem’s grand rally on the same day.

friendship between me and Digong,” Bello said.

Bello also expressed fear that it is possible that the election will not push through if the Commission on Elections

will not be able to fix its problems on time.

“All Filipinos should be ready for the need for us to switch back manual election in May,” he said.

Soldier... FROM 6

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communication LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City

Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a PUJ DUAL Ordinary Regular Service

Case No. 2001-XI-01892 ELISA G. PELOMERAS, Petitioner

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ-DUAL Ordinary Regular service on the route: CALINAN and for cargoes as dual service from said place to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on November 7, 2016. In the petition filed on January 27, 2016, petitioner request authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on MARCH 1, 2016 at 9:00 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

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

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 28th day of January 2016 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑAYÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communication LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City

Petition for Approval of Sale and Transfer of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a PUJ-Dual Ordinary Regular Service

Case No. 2016-XI-00133 (2003-XI-01615) LIEZEL C. MARZADO, Petitioner-Vendor

NELSON C. BATULAN, Petitioner-Vendee

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioners request authority for the Approval of Sale and Transfer executed by LIEZEL C. MARZADO in favor of NELSON C. BATULAN of a Certificate of Public Convenience with Equipment issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ –DUAL Ordinary Regular service on the route: PANACAN VIA JP LAUREL AVENUE and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate is still valid and subsisting up to September 30, 2018.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on MARCH 1, 2016 at 09:20 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao

EDGEDAVAO

PART OF SPORTS COMPLEX. The construction of the Human Kinetics Building, part of the proposed P8-billion, 20-hectare Davao City Sports Complex is now underway. The P95.9-million multi-purpose building implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways 11 regional office began construction in August 18, 2015 and is expected to be completed on August 16, 2016. As of January 31st, the project is already 27.26% complete.

Funded under the Calendar Year 2015 Local Infrastructure Program Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communication LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao City

Petition for RENEWAL of a Certificate of Public Convenience with DROPPING and SUBSTITUTION OF UNIT to operate a PUJ DUAL ORDINARY REGULAR Service

Case No. 2001-XI-02734 VISMINDA B. CANQUE, Petitioner

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - --x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ DUAL ORDINARY REGULAR service on the route: BO. OBRERO and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of TWO (2) units, which Certificate will expire on November 8, 2016. In the petition filed on January 27, 2016, petitioner request authority to extend the validity of said Certificate. In the same petition, petitioner likewise requests to DROP One (1) of the authorized units particularly the unit bearing Plate No. LAE 672 and to SUBSTITUTE the same with another bearing Chassis LTO-XI944-003-99-C to operate along the same route.

NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on MARCH 1, 2016 at 9:10 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 28th day of January 2016 at Davao City.

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 28th day of January 2016 at Davao City.

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

TERESITA DELA PEÑAYÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

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

TERESITA DELA PEÑAYÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

Mayor... FROM 4

NEWS 13

(RLIP), the project is under contract with the Osmeña Palanggalanowned FFJJ Construction.

According to DPWH 11 Regional Director Mariano R. Alquiza, this is a big development considering the obstructions experienced during the project’s initial stage. “This is the first time that a major sports facility of this magnitude will be realized in Davao City and we at DPWH 11 are proud to be a part of the realization of a long-time Dabawenyo dream,” Alquiza added.

because the city follow regulations,” he added.

Duterte said the 10 percent green space requirement was included in the ordinance because the national law does not allot space for it. The 30 percent open space requirement is only intended for parks, playgrounds, and

even road networks.

“I have to study it very carefully. I have to hear arguments. I have to look on the topography, if they are surrounded by trees. But if there are no trees at all that is something else,” he said.

Duterte also said the city should have a standard es-

pecially in providing space intended only for trees.

The mayor agreed with the claim of the environmentalists that trees can mitigate climate change.

He said he is willing to talk with the groups to hear their side on the matter. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

my-MILF war,” he pointed out.

Al Haq said the military unintentionally stepped into the area of the MILF under 105th Base Command head known as Hawn.

“Our troops expanded the security radius of the dredging project in Datu Salibo and it

reached Barangay Madia,” Petinglay said.

She stressed there was no intention to attack the MILF in Barangay Madia.

Petinglay said the GPHMILF ceasefire mechanism has been strengthened following the incident.

Al Haq said the ceasefire committee has been reactivated in the area to prevent similar unfortunate incidents in the future.

Al Haq admitted that one MILF fighter was killed and two others were wounded.

FERDINANDH B. CABRERA

tional Airport in Cabatuan, Iloilo, passengers bound for LA need not pay the fare from Iloilo to Cebu until March this

year as part of its anniversary promo.

With the new offer, Inoferio said that they are

hoping to not only increase their sales but also boost the tourist arrivals in the Visayas.

(PNA)

it will cost the company about P100,000 per hectare a year.

“How can you afford to waste such money?” he said.

Antig added the allegations of some farmers that the use of banana oil to make the chemicals more adherent to bananas reduces the productivity of the nearby crops.

He said the oil would melt away when exposed to the ex-

treme heat of the sun.

He also said that the suggestion of Department of Agriculture to use drones instead of agricultural aircraft will incur more costs on the part of the big companies and will take more time.

An agricultural aircraft would cover 200 hectares per hour while a drone would cover only 2.2 has per hour, he

said.

PBGEA has 27 company members, covering 40,000 has. of the 83,000 has. planted to bananas in Mindanao.

Banana exporters produced 85,324,491 boxes from January to September 2015, or 5.35-percent lower compared to 90,147,480 boxes for the same period in 2014. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

internet access, and even a smaller percentage shares this with teachers and students.

Indahag and Fr. Masterson were chosen as the first beneficiaries of the expanded program upon recommendation of Ayala Foundation, Inc. (AFI) which now serves as the lead implementing arm of Globe for the teacher training component. The two schools are among the 11 schools in the pipeline with AFI for the establishment of the Teacher Training Institute.

For AFI partner schools, the foundation will also be responsible for driving partnerships with the local government units for infrastructure components of the program such as the computer lab and collaborative working space to help optimize student learning.

All schools under the GFS program are intended to become teacher training hubs and training partners of the Department of Education Division Offices in conducting

teaching workshops for neighboring schools of each division.

Each GFS will house a mobile laboratory which consists of netbooks/tablets, mobile projectors, printers, and sound systems. Enhanced by internet connectivity, the GFS program will homeroom teachers access to limitless teaching and learning engagements available on the internet that will help to further improve their craft and make learning fun and interesting for the students.

Soldier... FROM 6

PAL... FROM 8

Banana... FROM 8

Globe... FROM 14

14 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 231 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14 - 15, 2016

AirAsia joins VDFS 2016 A

IRASIA has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Davao tourism represented by Visit Davao Fun Sales (VDFS) Vice Chair Fides Bernabe and Department of Tourism (DOT) Region XI Director Roberto Alabado III. The partnership aims to establish Davao as a premiere tourist destination in the Philippines with abundant resources for eco-tourism and available facilities for sports and outdoor competitions.

As airline partner, AirAsia is offering low fares for its Manila-Davao flights to encourage more and more tourist to visit and enjoy Davao’s latest attractions.

Among the major activities that will happen this year are Visit Davao Fun Sale, Let’s Meet in Davao: MICE Davao program, and the 9th Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge, which were launched at the recently held travel and expo tour in Manila.

Scheduled from March 25 to May 31, the Visit Davao Fun Sale is a city-wide sale and events extravaganza that

offers affordable tour packages and big discounts to over 250 participating stores and restaurants.

MICE, which stands for meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions, is also a key tourism project in Davao with affordable hotel rates and incentives to be offered for groups with 1,000 or more participants.

Meanwhile, fans of extreme sports should visit Davao on April 23 for the official start of the 9th Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge which features a 24-hour race to the Philippines’ highest peak.

AirAsia services the Manila-Davao route with three flights daily departing from Manila’s NAIA Terminal 4 at 6:20 a.m., 3:35 p.m., and 8:10 p.m.

The airline also offers multiple flights daily from/to Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, Kalibo (Boracay), and Tacloban. International AirAsia flights include direct services to various points in Malaysia, China, and Korea from Manila, Cebu, and Kalibo.

FUN TIMES AHEAD. From left, Philippines AirAsia Commercial Head Gerard Peñaflor, Visit Davao Fun Sales (VDFS) Vice Chair Fides Bernabe, and Department of Tourism (DOT) Region XI Director Roberto Alabado III at the signing ceremony held recently at the Mall of Asia SMX Convention Center, Pasay City. (Photo by Ben Briones)

Globe brings 21st century education to public schools

G

LOBE Telecom kicks off its nationwide campaign to provide 21st century education in public learning institutions, with two elementary schools in Cagayan de Oro City as initial beneficiaries.

Indahag Elementary School and Father William F. Masterson, SJ Elementary School will each receive a mobile laboratory, internet connectivity, and teacher training under the Global Filipino School (GFS) program, a longterm educational initiative of Globe that seeks to transform select public schools into centers of excellence in information and communications technology and innovative teaching methods.

“Globe is confident that

through shared connectivity and innovative teaching methods which integrates information and communications technology, we can be instrumental in increasing the quality of learning in the public sector,” said Fernando Esguerra, Director for Globe Corporate Social Responsibility.

GFS was first introduced in Bilar, Bohol three years ago. With its success, Globe is now moving to implement the program nationwide to help improve the Philippines’ poor global ranking in education which is currently at 96th place out of 148 countries. In addition, based on a recent report of the Department of Education on national connectivity, less than 25 % of schools have

F GLOBE, 13

GAWAG KALINGA BAYANIHAN PAINTING DAY. Davao Light and Power Co. EVP and COO Arturo M. Milan (rightmost) leads the Bayanihan Painting Day on February 6, 2016 at the newest Sweet Home Alabama- Gawad Kalinga Village located at the Relocation Area, Los Amigos, Tugbok, Davao City. Also in photo are (from left) Community Relations Manager Fermin Edillon, Panabo Branch’s Dennis Rupenta, Revenue Protection (RP) Field

Inspector Mark David Lacuna, Contractors Services Management (CSM) Quality Assurance Specialist Alvin Itorralba (seated), CSM Quality Assurance Specialist Erik Misoles, RP Field Inspector Alberto Dabalos Jr., RP Supervisor Engr. Juanito Laguitao, RP Operations Supervisor Leonardo Apalisoc, and Facilities Supervisor Engr. Herbert Lariego.

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 231 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14 - 15, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

QUESTIONS. Davao City administrator Melchor Quitain receives metacards where questions intended for Presidential candidate and Davao City mayor Rodrigo Duterte were written by Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, lead convener of the Friends of Peace, on February 12, 2016 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel. MindaNews photo by Toto Lozano

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NEWS 15

Quevedo sends questions to Rody on peace agenda M INDANAO’S lone Cardinal Orlando Quevedo, lead convener of the Friends of Peace, sent Mayor Rodrigo Duterte on Friday two questions he wants the PDP-Laban Presidential candidate to answer as he goes around the country to campaign.

Duterte was supposed to present his peace agenda during the “Conversations with Presidential Candidates on the Bangsamoro Peace Process” scheduled at 3 p.m.

Friday at the Waterfront Insular Hotel but could not make it because he was still “recuperating from a severe attack of migraine headache and acute bronchitis” and was “advised by his doctor to take a rest lest his health deteriorate further,” city administrator Jaime Quitain said.

Quitain arrived at 2:04 p.m. at the Kalaw Room of Waterfront Insular Hotel to personally express the mayor’s apologies and to hand over to Cardinal Quevedo a letter explaining Duterte’s absence in the “Conversations” attended by representatives of peace groups from around Mindanao.

“He sends his sincere apologies with the plea for your kind understanding,” Quitain said. “At the same time, he wishes to thank you for having considered as a participant in the Conversations where he

could express his thoughts on a matter that he is very concerned with – Peace in Mindanao.”

Duterte, the lone Mindanawon Presidential candidate and lone candidate espousing a change of system from Presidential to federal form of government, was supposed to be the first to present his peace agenda during the “Conversations with Presidential Candidates on the Bangsamoro Peace Process” this Friday, February 12, at 3 pm.. at the Waterfront Insular Hotel here.

“Conversations” is a series of dialogues with Presidential candidates on the Bangsamoro peace process, convened by the Friends of Peace led by Quevedo.

Two questions Quevedo requested Quitain to hand over to Duterte two questions from the peace groups that he wrote on pink meta cards.

Question number 1: “Federalism has been reported as your solution to the peace problem. Since this will presumably take a long time, the peace problem will fester . Your comments on this please.”

Question number 2: “If you become President, will you take up the BBL (Bangsamoro Basic Law) again and what kind of BBL will you advocate?

“Can you pass these on to him?” Quevedo asked. He also asked Quitain to relay to Duterte that “we are praying for his health.”

Just before Quitain left the room, Quevedo asked him if, indeed, Duterte will abolish Congress as the implication, the Cardinal said in jest, is “federalism will be easy to pass.”

Shifting to a federal form of government will require amending the 1987 Constitution.

During his proclamation as PDP-Laban standard bearer on November 30, Duterte said that if the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) was passed, it will be a “watered down version” of what was intended under the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government (GPH).

He said he has no problem with the BBL, the law that would pave the way for the creation of the Bangsamoro, the new autonomous political entity that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). “You can shorten it or make it longer but let us avoid war.”

He said there is a need to shift to a federal form of government because “the destiny of Mindanao is not controlled by us” but by the national government in Manila. (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)

Miriam-Bongbong team bares senatorial lineup S

ARANGGANI Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao and Manila Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno are among the senatorial lineup of the tandem of presidential candidates Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago and vice-presidential aspirant Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. for the May 2016 elections.

Completing the 10 senatorial slate are former Ener-

gy Secretary Jericho Petilla; Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) advocate Susan Ople; former Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino, former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva.

Also included in the list are former Armed Forces Chief of Staff and Director General of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agen-

cy (PDEA) Dionisio Santiago, actor and television host Edu Manzano; Senator Ralph Recto, and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez.

The senatorial bets are set to be introduced during the Youth for Miriam launch on Sunday, February 14, at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Santiago and Marcos are expected to attend and address the group at 6:30 p.m.

(PNA)

“We had an end-to-end demonstration yesterday at the Sta. Rosa (Laguna) warehouse and I was informed that it was successful… As far as the source codes are concerned, I think we are already okay,” he said.

Earlier this week, service provider Smartmatic International and international certifier SLI Global Solutions had to redo the trusted build of the EMS, CCS, and VCMs after “glitches” were found in their respective source codes.

After rebuilding the source codes, the poll body was already able to escrow

the corrected EMS as well as those of the CCS and VCMs at the BSP vault.

“What we are doing right now is to comply with the law so we did deposit the three source codes,” Bautista explained.

Section 9 of the Election Automation Law provides that the source code of the AES must be kept in escrow with the Bangkok Sentral ng Pilipinas.

The source code is defined as the human readable instructions that define what the computer equipment will do. (PNA)

Comelec deposits corrected source codes with BSP T

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Friday it has deposited with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in Manila the “corrected” source codes of the machines to be used for the automated election system.

Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista reported the source codes were deposited after fixing the “issues” that were earlier found in the source codes of the Election Management System (EMS), Consolidation and Canvassing System (CCS), and the Vote Counting Machines (VCMs).

16 CLASSIFIEDS

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 231 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14 - 15, 2016

PHOENIX EVENTS. Phoenix Petroleum Phils. vice president for external affairs, business development and security lawyer Raymond T. Zorrilla (second from right), together with manager for corporate affairs Ben Sur (rightmost), 8th Phoenix Open golf tournament organizer Liloh Evangelista and Cyclomax Motocross race organizer Norben Mata,

EDGEDAVAO Sports 19

promotes the upcoming Araw ng Davao 2016 Phoenix events during the media launch at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf on Friday. Lean Daval Jr.

Phoenix Fuelmasters eye QFinals

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

P

njb@edgedavao.net

HOENIX, Petroleum, PBA’s newest kid on the block, is eyeing at least a quarterfinals stint in its very first conference after acquiring the franchise of the defunct Barako Bull.

The Fuelmasters will make its debut in the PBA on February 17 but have since

picked up a win against a loss in the pre-conference.

“We are looking forward to making an instant impact in the league and we are eyeing at least a quarterfinals stint,” said Atty.

Raymond Zorilla, Phoenix Petroleum Vice President for External Affairs during

Friday’s Media Launch of the company’s events for the forthcoming Araw ng Davao held at the CBTL in SM Lanang Premier.

Zorilla said his assessment is based on the strong finish of the Barako Bull whose line-up remains intact at least for this confer-

ence.

Led by the prolific RR Garcia and backed up by former Ginebra mainstays Willy Wilson, Mac Baracael, JC Intal, Josh Urbiztondo, Mick Pennisi and Eman Monfort, Barako Bull streaked to a 6-1 record in the eliminations only to fal-

the Philippines and Taiwan, thanked fans from Japan and even asked a reporter how to say a phrase in Mandarin.

It all made perfect sense.

The basketball world belongs to Bryant, at least for

one more weekend.

About 750 million people around the globe are expected to follow the NBA All-Star Game in one form or another, and it’s a safe guess most will do so to keep a keen eye on Bryant’s final appearance in the league’s midseason showcase. His farewell season now officially starting to wind down, the Los Angeles Lakers’ star was the center of attraction at media day on Friday (Saturday, Manila time) — and seemed most appreciative.

“I just feel very blessed to be able to play so many years, man,” Bryant said. “Twenty years is a long time, so I feel very good about it.”

Bryant was the leading

vote-getter in the fan balloting that chose the starting lineup for Sunday’s game, a lifetime achievement award more than anything related to his play this season. At 37 years old, he’s obviously not the same player he was when he was helping the Lakers win five championships, though during the season he’s shown flashes of what made him one of the game’s all-time elite.

Bryant said he’d be fine playing 10 minutes Sunday.

Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant isn’t buying that one.

“We definitely want to send him off on a good note,” Durant said. “We know he’s going to be super competitive.”

It is a festive sendoff, for certain.

All-Star festivities turning into a sendoff for Kobe Bryant

K

OBE Bryant answered questions in Spanish and Italian, raved about Canadian hospitality, showed off knowledge of both Greek basketball and English soccer.

He announced plans to go to

ter after Garcia went down on an injury. The team reached the quarters.

Zorilla also bared that for the Commissioner’s Cup, the Fuelmasters have signed up Nigerian 6-9 import Andrew Kehinde “Kenny” Adeleke.

The Fuelmasters will

Cyclomax Motocross set March 13

T

HE 2016 Phoenix Cyclomax Motorsoss will be staged on March 13 at the new Moto X racetrack in Barangay Langub, Davao City.

Organizer Bok Mata of Moto X Racing Davao said this year’s edition will be using a new race track which has better view for the audience and a terrain that is natural.

“It’s a very challenging course because the terrain

ACQ beat Duterte-Cayetano T

It is a gathering of stars in one weekend, but everybody knows the spotlight is on Kobe Bryant.

hold a meet and greet in Davao City on March 18 at a still to be announced venue.

They will play the following day in Panabo City against crowd darling Ginebra San Miguel.

“We ask everyone to come out and support your Fuelmasters,” said Zorilla.

is natural and the crowd can see the entire action,” said Mata during the Phoenix Media Launch of the 2016 Araw ng Davao events at the CBTL in SM Lanang Premier.

Mata said the race will have several divisions based on age and rider experience.

The race is also supported by moto manufacturers like Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki.

(NJB)

EAM ACQ defeated Team Duterte-Cayetano, 103 – 94, in their basketball friendly game on Friday night at the Davao City Recreation Center Almendras Gym. Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy came through with 27 points for the Team ACQ which broke away and set

the pace in the final half to pull away with the win.

Jon Gubay and Brian Mago, members of the Jose Maria College senior’s varsity team, provided Quiboloy the needed support making 20 and 18 points respectively.

Team DC hotshot Christopher “Bong” Go went to

scoring splurge finishing the game with 37 points in a sparkling all-around performance.

Go, the trusted-aide of presidential contender Rodrigo Duterte, nailed seven triples on top of efficient quarterbacking plays that help DC kept pace with the highly-favored ACQ squad.

But his effort felt short to tow DC to victory as he got inadequate backing.

It was Senator Alan Peter Cayetano only gave solid support for Go as the vice presidential hopeful scored 13 points. JR De Guzman had 11.

Levi Dela Cruz also suited up for Team ACQ and contributed 14 baskets.

HE 8th Phoenix Open golf tournament tees off on March 19 at the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club.

Some 300 golfers are expected to crowd the hunt for the top prize in the threetiered event for Team, Partners and Individual divisions.

“It’s the eighth edition of

the tournament and rest assured it will be a lot bigger this time,” said organizer Liloh Evangelista during the Media Launch of the Phoenix events for the 2016 Araw ng Davao.

The tournament is open to male and female amateur golfers aged 21 years old and above.

The Team division is a

5-to-play-4-to-count format while the Partner division of for a team of two players whose scores will count. The premier Individual division is for Classes A,B,C and D. “All winners will receive Selangor pewter plates and Phoenix Petroleum fuel cards.

Champions will receive special edition Phoenix signature golf

bags,” said Evangelista.

The biggest surprise, however, should be the hole-inone prize which will include a brand new Harley Davidson motorcycle. All par 3s are designated hole-in-one holes.

Awarding, Bar Chow and Raffles will be held in the evening at the Rancho Palos Verdes Clubhouse. (NJB)

8th Phoenix Open Golf set March 19 T

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 231 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14 - 15, 2016