Edge Davao 6 Issue 243

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 243 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

Serving a seamless society

COMPETITION. A participant of Ciudades’ Kite-Flying Festival 2014 in Mandug Road, Davao City held over the weekend tries to outdo other competitors in the kite-flying competition. Lean Daval Jr.

NEXT: HIGH GRADE SHABU

By ANTONIO M. AJERO

Rody eyes drugs in smuggled rice

ajero_antonio@yahoo.com

D

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte said the entry of highgrade shabu will now be the priority of the law-enforcers’ efforts in the war against the illicit drug trade.

Mayor Duterte made the statement in the wake of the big drug bust Friday in barangay Ilang which resulted in the killing of seven people and the arrest of 33 suspects, including a South Korean.

A large combined team of some 300 operatives from the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), Philippines Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CDIG), backed by elements of the Maritime Police, entered undetected the community made up mostly by houses on stilts, but when the lawmen started to serve 26 warrants of arrest for certain personalities, they were reportedly met with armed resistance, prompting the enforcers to fire back.

The enforcers were led by no less than DCPO chief Sr. Supt. Vicente Danao, PDEA Regional Director Emerson Rosales and CIDG head Sr. Supt. Joel Pernito.

The troops did not know where they were going until jump-off time.

Danao said it was verboten for participating lawmen to be holding cellular phones during the operation.

He said the successful raid was the result of a long time of work starting during the time of former DCPO chief Sr. Supt. Ronald dela Rosa who conducted a series of Operation TokHang, which were community dialogues to appeal to drug pushers and users to turn a leaf in life and abandon their illegal activity.

Danao said the operation initially included the assignment of undercover operatives to live in the community to gather inside information about the drug trade. He said the big op-

FNEXT, 10

PEOPLE POWER @ 28

Fstory on page 6

2 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 243 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

REAL PROPERTY

Gov’t panel to report on uncollected taxes

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T OPPORTUNITIES. Job-seekers queue at the Philippine Employment Service Office (Peso) job fair held at the City Hall in Davao City last Friday. Lean Daval Jr.

abf@edgedavao.net

HE investigating panel formed by the Davao City local government has to come out with a report on the P1.1 billion uncollected real property tax.

A source who refused to be named for lack of authority told EDGE Davao that lawyer Marlisa Gallo of the city legal office, and head of the panel, will submit a report to city administrator J. Melchor Quitain.

The source said that the panel already sorted out the glitches in the database of assessments as per order of Quitain, but the latter did not give any detail on it.

Earlier, Quitain said that the panel was formed to

cleanse the record on assessments addressing uncollected real property taxes. He said that the panel is given up to March 10 to complete the process.

Quitain said he was prompted to form the panel after a report from a local newspaper that the city treasurer’s office has had a hard time collecting taxes due to glitches in the database.

The city administrator said that there is a need to cleanse the record because there are double entries that have been recorded in the database, citing examples where sometimes there are two tax declarations cover-

amuel Abrenilla, award-winning inventor and former president of Mindanao Inventors Association urges farmers and processors of cacao beans to incorporate technological inputs, like Moxtrak in cacao beans processing.

Abrenilla said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex yesterday that the demand for cacao is growing. The Philippines imports 50,000 metric tons of cacao beans from Ghana, Ivory Coast, Indonesia, Vietnam, and other cacao exporting countries every year while only 10,000 metric tons are produced here and supplied to the local market.

Based on cacao industry reports, the total yield in the city reaches 2 tons but added that there are re-

ports that the city can only produce 500 kilos.

Given the big market for cacao not only in the country but also worldwide, Abrenilla endorsed the usage of Moxtrak, a dehydrating machine that is capable of producing quality dried and fermented cacao beans.

He found out that it is more efficient to use Moxtak compared to solar mechanical driers provided by companies which partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry.

In a test conducted by Abrenilla and the Federation of Cooperatives in Mindanao, compared to traditional drying methods which would take 4 to 5 days, Moxtrak can dry the beans by removing the moisture content in just 8 hours.

Beware of bogus travel agencies S

FREAL, 10

Inventor endorses Moxtrak for faster cacao bean drying

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

F

ORMER president of the Davao Travel Agencies Association (DTAA) Pia Montano is pushing for stricter regulations on the putting up of travel agencies in Davao City.

Montano warned Dabawenyos against bogus travel agencies selling travel packages online.

Montano said that there are only 150 registered and licensed travel agencies in Davao City and over 400 that are not registered.

“Selling online is easier and mas mura, but there’s a risk na maloko ka. So kung pwede nga to advise the public na when you do transactions, especially big transactions on online ticketing, make sure that the agency is licensed,” she said.

Montano, speaking in yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex, said that they have received numerous complaints about fake tour packages which include hotel accommodations,

WEATHER FORECAST

land tours, and plane tickets.

She said that most of these bogus travel agencies exploit the online ticketing system, adding that most of these don’t have a physical office and are just working at home.

“We see a lot of people selling packages online and, because they don’t offices, they meet clients in coffee shops to receive the money,” she said. “We are talking about transactions in the hundreds of thousands here.”

Arnold King, current president of DTAA, said there’s a need for a law that will strictly regulate the process of putting up a travel agency, adding that there is no penalty for this.

“Minsan kasi walang declaration of initial capital and san yung office nila kasi minsan sa bahay lang.”

Montano said that bogus transactions can qualify as estafa cases but they want the law to be more specific as it affects the booming industry of tourism.

FINVENTOR, 10

FLEXIBILITY. A young girl shows off her flexibility while taking photographs of her brother and his peers during a press conference held at a restaurant along J.P. Laurel Avenue in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 243 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

3

4 NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 243 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

Rody issues EO No. 14 on 2nd-hand vehicles

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

D PROTEST. A transport group member flutters a flag at San Pedro Street in Davao City Friday afternoon where different progressive organizations converged to stage a protest rally against the government for failing to stop oil price hikes. Lean Daval Jr.

Yellow Friday rallies remembered

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

F

crc@edgedavao.net

IGHTING for freedom with courage is not an easy thing to do, but with collaborative effort everything is possible.

“When you are fighting for something, you need to appear courageous, so that the people with you will feel the same,” Sylvestre Bello III, partylist representative said.

Bello was at the forefront of the Yellow Friday Movement of Davao and the series of “welgang bayan” which helped fan the February EDSA Revolution that catapulted Cory Aquino to Malacañang and political power.

The movement was instrumental in the ouster of the Marcos dictatorship, restoration of freedom and democracy in the country.

The movement was born out of a need to confront injustices spawned

VM PULONG

by the dictatorship. Its main financer/ supporter was the late industrialist, lawyer Jesus “Chito” V. Ayala (JVA).

Bello, now in his early 70’s, has no regrets about fighting for the restoration of democracy, a hardearned reward for everyone in the movement who enjoyed the privilege of doing his/her bit for the Filipino nation as a whole.

In his younger years, he used to walk the streets of Davao City together with other like-minded Dabawenyos who detested martial law and craved for the return of freedom and justice. The “welgang bayan” usually paralyzed transportation for up to three days, things would be back to normal again. After all drivers and their families had to eat, but they had made a statement that was

‘It’s time to remove, amend all inapplicable ordinances’

not lost to the dictatorship.

The Yellow Friday movement took the form of a march from Magsaysay Park through the main thoroughfares and culminated at Rizal Park. The thousands of marchers in yellow shirts were showered with confetti dropped from high-rise buildings along the way as Marcos’ military minions were spotted watching sullenly and taking photos of the marchers and the crowds that lined the streets.

Among the marchers were prominent people who dared show where their sympathy lay against all odds—among them the venerable Nanay Soling (Soledad Roa Duterte) mother of assistant city prosecutor Rodrigo R. Duterte who, in time would himself be catapulted to where he is today, Mayor

of Davao City and its 1.3 million people. But that’s another story.

Conspicuous among the marchers were members of the Metro Davao Press Club led by Ram Maxey, Jun Gutierrez, Joe JV Velasco, Mariano Mallare, Jun Baring, Jun Gonzales, Manny Cabrera, to name a few, who all longed for the return of freedom of the press and expression.

The Yellow Friday movement was in protest to the assassination of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino in 1983 and came about long before the Edsa Revolution of 1986.

Today there remains hardly any trace of the Yellow Friday movement except in the hearts of those still alive who at the time dared to defy the martial law regime of the dictatorship. Partylist representative Sylvestre “Bebot” Bello among them.

abf@edgedavao.net

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte has issued an order to regulate the selling of second hand or surplus vehicles in the city.

Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) No. 14 of 2014, -- “An Order Directing All Importers, Distributors, Sellers and Agents of Sellers of Second Hand And or Surplus Vehicles within the Territory of Davao City to Strictly Comply with and Adhere to, the Provisions Of RA 6539 (An Act Preventing and Penalizing Carnapping), PD 1612 (Anit-Fencing) and Other Pertinent Laws on the Matter and Imposing Administrative Sanctions Against Violators.”

The EO was issued due to numerous complaints

New phone concept store opens in Davao

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

T

crc@edgedavao.net

HE growing demand for quality yet affordable smart phones in Mindanao led mobile device manufacturer Gionee Communication Equipment Co. Ltd, a China-based company, to open its first-ever concept store in the country in Davao City last Saturday.

The new Gionee Concept Store is located on the third level, Spazio of Gaisano Mall Davao.

The company partnered with Banana Telecoms Inc., a Davao City-

T

abf@edgedavao.net

holder to discuss the old ordinances that need to be amended,” said Monteverde.

He cited as example the ordinance on the PTA grounds board which was passed to manage activities in the facility which is now not applicable because the place was converted into what is now the People’s Park.

Monteverde said that most of the ordinances which passed by past city councils will not need to be amended because they are already superseded

F’IT’S, 10

FRODY, 10

NEWCOMER GIONEE

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. HE Davao City council is still reviewing the proposal of Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte to remove or amend the ordinances which are no longer applicable in the city.

City Councilor Tomas J. Monteverde IV, chairman of the committee on rules, privileges, laws and ordinances, told Edge Davao that his committee has been reviewing about 500 ordinances.

“In due time I will call a committee hearing and invite every stake

reaching the mayor’s office that there has been a proliferation in the sale of stolen vehicles, including those with dubious registration documents, by unscrupulous business establishments in the city.

“This illegal activity should be suppressed, because it undermines the flourishing local trade and economic boom brought about by the sound and effective fiscal incentives and policies of the local government,” stated the EO. The EO further states that all entrepreneurs engaged in importing, buying and selling and displaying for sale in behalf of third parties, second hand motor vehicles, including repair shop owners within the city

FERRY SERVICE. Commuters, composed mostly of students, from the Slum Improvement Resettlement (S.I.R.) area in Matina, Davao City wait for the passenger banca to dock at a boat terminal near Magallanes Street yesterday. Some sectors are proposing for the development of Bankerohan River ferry service as one of the solutions to the traffic problem of the city. Lean Daval Jr.

SARA DUTERTE based telecom firm headed by Wilson Lu. He is also the president and chief executive officer of Wiltelcom, one of the biggest mobile stores in Mindanao.

With former Davao City Mayor Sara “Inday” Duterte as the product ambassadress, the concept store aims to solidify its presence not only in Davao but also in Mindanao by showcasing highend and superior yet affordable smart phones, devices and other accessories.

Offering quality but user-friendly smart phone units, Gionee offers sleek, stylish but very wallet and pocket friendly devices.

This will encourage more Dabawenyos to resort to smart phones and connect to their loved ones either by online or simple call and text 24/7.

Despite the hesitance of many Filipino consum-

FNEWCOMER, 10

THE ECONOMY 5

VOL. 6 ISSUE 243 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

Stat Watch Indicator

Latest

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

7.1 1st Qtr 2013 6.8

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

7.8 1st Qtr 2013 7.5

(At Constant 2000 Prices)

(At Constant 2000 Prices)

3. Exports 1/ 3. Exports

4. Imports 1/ 4. Imports

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

7.6.Broad Money Liabilities Balance of Payments

2nd Qtr 2013

2nd Qtr 2013

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

8. Interest Rates 4/

7. Broad Money Liabilities

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

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

10.Revenues National government outstanding debt outstanding debt

P 5,609 P 41.14 Aprbillion 2013

11.Stocks Peso per US $ 12.

Composite

Index 6/

6,847.5 P 43.83 Mar Sep2013 2013

12. Stocks Composite

6,191.8 132.8 Sep2013 2013 Apr

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

Sep 2013

13. Consumer Index Price Index 2006=100

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100 14.

Headline Inflation Rate

135.2

Oct2.62013 Apr 2013

14. 2006=100 Headline Inflation Rate 15.

Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

2.9 Oct3.12013

Apr 2013

2006=100

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100 16.

Visitor Arrivals

2.5

418,108 Oct 2013 Feb 2013

382,022 Aug 2013 20.9%

16. Visitor Arrivals

17. Underemployment 7/ 17. Rate Underemploymen

Jan 2013 19.2%

18.

18.Unemployment UnemploymentRate Rate7/

7.1% Jan 2013 7.3%

Rate

Jul 2013 Jul 2013

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

2013

2012

2011

43.83 43.86 43.35 42.91 41.30 41.14 40.71 40.67 40.73

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

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

Accounting, engineering sectors most ready for Asean integration

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

T

EN months from now, the Philippines, along with nine other countries will be integrated into one Asean Economic Community.

Along with free trade among member countries, the integration will promote and facilitate the exchanging of skilled and professional laborers.

Lawyer Josephus B. Jimenez, president of the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) said that among the professions that are most ready for the integration are the engineers and accountants.

Accounting and engineering sectors, according to Jimenez, will benefit from the integration of Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, BruneiDarussalam, Myanmar, Singapore, Indonesia, and Cambodia.

He said during the 450th General Membership Meeting of PMAPDavao Chapter at the Apo View Hotel recently that the two professions are the expertise of the Philippines.

Aside from accounting and engineering sectors, the service sector is also considered as one of

INBOUND. Laborers unload bags of cement shipped in from Cebu City at the Sta. Ana Wharf, Davao City. [MindaNews Photo by Keith Bacongco] the areas where opportunities will pour in.

The integration is also expected to facilitate the influx of tourist arrivals among the participating countries.

“Dyan magaling ang mga Pilipino,” he said, adding that the service sector of the Philippines is one of the most competitive in the Asean region.

Jimenez said that next to service sector is the journalism, saying that the integration offers more opportunities to media practitioners, event organizers as there will be more trade expositions, fairs, meetings, conferences and exhibit.

“This is an opportunity for Filipinos because we are highly resilient and passionate,” Jimenez

said.

On the same event, the set of new officials for PMAP-Davao chapter were inducted. The chapter president is Elizabeth P. Uy from Viscaya Plantation Inc.; Reynaldo V. Garote from San Pedro College (vice president); Baby Theress D. Castaños of Davao Medical School Foundation (secretary); Jeralyn P. Alderite from

King Cooperative (auditor); Ruby May B. Panuncialman, Sr. from Work Experts & Allied Services (HRLDC director).

The board of directors are Ricarte L. Mamparo (C-One Trading), Eloisa E. Segarra (Apex Mining Company), Myrna S. Viado (University of Mindanao), and Marites N. Zaballero (NCCC).

censes ending in 0-1 must file their application by February; 2-3 by March; 4-5 by April; 6-7

by May; and 8-9 by June, including new applications approved from January to June this year.

However, despite the designated schedule, it has been observed that most of the licensed contractors don’t follow it.

With this scenario, DTI-Davao Officer-in-Charge Ma. Belenda Q. Ambi said the Board has issued Res-

olution No. 408 series of 2013 “Enjoining all contractors to file their applications for license renewal on schedule filing months and providing for an additional processing fee (APF) for non-compliance therewith starting CFY 20142015.

The said resolution spells out that failure to file renewal within the designated schedule shall be assessed the payment of P5,000 APF and P5,000 additional

license fee (ALF), if renewal application is filed after June 30.

Meanwhile, PCABDavao is encouraging all unlicensed contractors, subcontractors, and specialty contractors to first secure a license from its office before engaging or attempting into any construction activities to avoid sanctions.

Ambi said measures are being envisioned by PCAB and the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines (CIAP)

against unlicensed contractors as well as project owners involved in the services of unlicensed contractors.

For inquiries, Ambi encouraged those concerned to reach the PCAB-Davao staff, Mr. Alex G. Domingo, at (082) 224-0511 local 417. They may also visit its office at 4/F Mintrade Realty Building, Monteverde Avenue corner Sales Street, Davao City. [DTI 11/Jen Mendoza]

PCAB calls on contractors to renew license T

HE Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) here has called on contractors to renew their licenses soonest to avoid rush, delay, and penalties.

At the start of February, PCAB, an attached agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), has already been accepting renewal applications for the fiscal year 2014-2015.

Based on schedule, contractors holding li-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cebu-Davao-Cebu

16:45

6 PEOPLE POWER @ 28 EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 243 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

1986: The last plane out of Davao

By AURELIO A. PENA

T

HOSE WERE the days of living dangerously in Davao and elsewhere in the country. Manila was exploding into what we call now the “EDSA People Power Revolution.”

As a photojournalist working for Sipa Press, one of the world’s biggest news photo agencies based in Paris, I was caught flatfooted in Davao trying to figure out how to go to Manila on February 23, 1986, the day when all flights were banned as anti-Marcos military rebels led by General Fidel Ramos, joined in later

by Defense Minister Juan Ponce Enrile, turned Camp Crame into a rebel fortress surrounded by millions of Filipino people.

Lugging my heavy camera bag with all my Nikons, I was at the Davao airport begging desperately for any available seat on the Philippine Airlines from this southern city at around seven p.m., showing the airport manager my foreign press accreditation card and a pleading face that gave me the only available seat on that “last plane” out of Davao There were talks around the plane’s cabin that rebel planes led by Gringo Honasan were flying that night around Manila’s skies on a lookout for planes carrying Marcos’ family fleeing the nation’s capital, so that added to our worries as the PAL plane flew above the night skies on the way to a met-

ropolitan city with millions of people out in the streets revolting against the President of the country.

The plane’s passengers all sighed in relief when the cabin attendants and stewardesses walked along the aisle of the plane, all smiling, with their hands making the “V” sign of Cory Aquno.

That’s when we noticed the front pages of the Philippine Daily Inquirer pasted all over the doors and cabin walls of this PAL plane , showing the big bold headlines of Ramos-Enrile breaking up with Marcos and the millions massing at EDSA and the front gate of Camp Crame to “protect” the military rebels from impending attacks of Marcos loyal troops.

All the plane’s passengers broke into applause, some cheering and shouting “Cory! Cory!

Cory!” and I felt good, reducing the tension and anxiety in the plane as that last flight was nearing Manila. I spent the rest of the time on the plane, loading up my Nikons with color slide films, checking my flash batteries, and cleaning my wide and telephoto lenses, ignoring my cold sweat and trembling fingers.

Checking in at an Ermita pension house along Padre Faura, I watched a TV broadcast of the military rebels making statement on the air on RPN 9, followed minutes later by Marcos himself on a gov-

ernment TV station warning the Camp Crame rebels that 105 mm Howitzers were aimed at the camp and ordered the rebels to “surrender peacefully or else”.

The taxi that took me to Mendiola, not far from the gates of Malacanang, now a darkened palace at around 10 p.m. that night, was met by gunfire along the way, freaking out the driver who made a sharp U-turn to avoid being hit by bullets coming from nowhere.

I was forced to get off and made my way to Malacanang on foot, crouching from time to time, to the sounds of occasional gun-

fire.

I was met by a group of desperate-looking Marcos loyalists who vowed to defend Marcos at all costs with their lives, their heads tied with red bands and their hands gripping big pieces of wood for weapons.

Having heard over the radio that Marcos had already fled the palace, I asked the loyalists about it. “Hindi pa naming alam, po,” one of the loyalists told me. “Umalis na,po? Hindi totoo yan! Buwis namin

buhay dito sa kanya!”

Walking over to the darkened main gate of Malacanang Palace, I saw a Marine soldier in full combat attire approaching the gate from the inside, coming out from the darkness into the low glare of the sodium lamps, asking me quietly to go back because, according to him, the millions at EDSA were on the way to the palace that night.

I noticed immediately the yellow ribbon on the mouth of his M-16 armalite

and another yellow ribbon tied around his camouflaged helmet. As I left the gate, the Marine broke into a smile and gave me the “V” sign of Cory.

Minutes later, the EDSA crowd came running furiously to the gates of Malacanang Palace, first by the hundreds, then by the thousands, overwhelming the small group of Marcos loyalists trying to “defend” the palace.

One of the loyalists was knifed to death near the gate as the angry mob of EDSA crowd broke open the gates by sheer force, untouched by the Marine soldiers wearing yellow ribbons, giving way to people venting their anger against a dictator after long years of an oppressive regime.

from Malacanang.

It was a historic event that changed the course of the country forever. It caught the whole world by surprise with a handful of military rebels defying Marcos’ ironfist policy.

There was a dramatic turn of event that preceded the EDSA ’86 uprising when an over-confident Marcos declared a presidential snap election in 1986 with the aim of satisfying the Reagan administration at that time which was critical of Marcos government.

The opposition put up Mrs. Corazon “Cory” Aquino, widow of slain opposition Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr., against Marcos. The election was a major upset for Marcos.

As what served as an indictment of the fraudulent election, 30 computer programmers walked out

in protest over the counting and results of the election. At this juncture, the powerful Catholic Church in the country condemned the election.

The US Senate echoed the protest. The stentorian cacophony of dissent reverberated across the land. For the first time in its history, the Philippines was on the brink of anarchy. Marcos witnessed the wrath of a nation deprived of freedom and democracy.

Marcos was proclaimed by the Batasang Pambansa, the Philippine parliament, as the winner in the snap election and vowed to stay in power in spite of the condemnation of the fraudulent election by the Catholic Church, the Reagan administration and other countries, including the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) of which the Philippines is a founding member.

He threatened to meet force with force, leaving no doubt that he would use the Armed Forces to enforce his mandate. The gap between the rhetoric of Marcos and the cruel realities of the civil chaos only aggravated Gen. Ramos’ disillusionment of the government.

This writer was the night editor of the Philippines News Agency (PNA), a state-owned wire service, when the EDSA uprising broke out. I monitored closely the unfolding events on TV. I thought of the consequences anticipating a bloody confrontation.

By this time, the outspoken Cardinal Sin went on air over “Radyo Bandido” and appealed to the people to go to EDSA to protect the Enrile-Ramos forces.

Butz Aquino, brother of slain former Sen. Benigno S. Aquino Jr., responded to the

1986 EDSA People Power averted civil war

By BEN CAL

T

HE Philippines would have been plunged into a civil war had the military-backed EDSA People Power Revolution in February 1986 failed.

The four-day bloodless military-civilian uprising abruptly wrote finis to the one-man rule of then President Ferdinand E. Marcos who stepped down from Malacanang and fled to Clark Air Base in Pampanga before he was flown to Hawaii, together with members of his family and close aides.

But just in case the uprising would be crushed, the military rebels led by then Defense Minister and now Senator Juan Ponce Enrile and Armed Forces vice chief of staff and concurrent Constabulary chief Maj. Gen. Fidel V. Ramos, who later was elected as the 12th President of the Philippines,

would implement Plan “B” by fleeing to Northern Luzon, particularly in Cagayan Valley where they would mount a protracted guerrilla warfare.

But many believed that the triumphed at EDSA ’86 was due to Divine intervention.

With the military rebel forces outnumbered and lacking in guns and bullets to defend themselves, they have practically no match against an onslaught by government forces loyal to Marcos.

But by Divine intervention, outspoken Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin was awakened from his sleep on the night of Feb. 22, 1986 by one of his subordinates and informed that Enrile and Ramos need his help as they have mounted a rebellion against Marcos.

Without hesitation, Car-

dinal Sin went over the radio to call on the people to go to EDSA (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue) to protect the Enrile-Ramos forces from being attacked by Marcos loyalist troops.

People from all walks of life spontaneously heeded the urgent call of Cardinal Sin and went to EDSA en mass to protect the military rebels from being harmed.

Despite the risk of being killed or wounded, it was the only strategy to persuade Marcos forces from attacking the military rebels entrenched in Camp Aguinaldo and later in Camp Crame.

From an initial number of a few thousands in the early evening of Feb. 22, 1986, the crowd ballooned to an estimated two million people during the four-day (Feb. 22-25, 1986) bloodless revolt that eventually forced Marcos and his family to flee

F1986, 10

7 ENVIRONMENT

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 243 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

TO PROTECT FORESTS WORLDWIDE

Online forest monitoring, alert system unveiled T

HE World Resources Institute (WRI), Google, UNEP and a group of more than 40 partners on Thursday launched Global Forest Watch (GFW), a dynamic online forest monitoring and alert system that empowers people everywhere to better manage forests. For the first time, Global Forest Watch unites the latest satellite technology, open data, and crowdsourcing to guarantee access to timely and reliable information about forests.

“Businesses, governments and communities desperately want better information about forests. Now, they have it,” said Dr. Andrew Steer, President and CEO, WRI. “Global Forest Watch is a near-real time monitoring platform that will fundamentally change the way people and businesses manage forests.

From now on, the bad guys cannot hide and the good guys will be recognized for their stewardship.”

According to data from the University of Maryland and Google, the world lost 2.3 million square kilometers (230 million hectares) of tree cover from 2000 to 2012 equivalent to 50 soccer fields of forest lost every minute of every day for 12 years.

The countries with the highest tree cover loss are: Russia, Brazil, Canada, United States, and Indonesia.

“Managing the world’s forest resources is today both a local and global undertaking, and technology has provided Global Forest Watch with an unprecedented opportunity to connect not only information and data but people, whether they be forest managers, businesses and private sector, or consumers across the globe. This is a great example of a community coming together and providing the world with a truly groundbreaking and pioneering product.

Hopefully in a few years’ time we will be able to monitor the impact and

the results in terms of what actually happens on the ground that will be both a litmus test and I think the greatest affirmation that the time for this idea had come,” said Achim Steiner, UN Under Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director.

“We are honored to partner with WRI and power the Global Forest Watch platform with Google cloud technology, massive data and turbo-powered science,” said Rebecca Moore, Engineering Manager, Google Earth Outreach and Earth Engine. “GFW is an ambitious vision, and yet it’s both timely and achievable given WRI’s knowledge of environmental science and policy, strong partnerships, and the high-performance Google cloud technology that we’re donating to this initiative.”

What’s new about Global Forest Watch: • High-resolution: Annual tree cover loss and gain data for the entire globe at a resolution of 30 meters, available for analysis and download.

• Near-real time: Monthly tree cover loss data for the humid tropics at a resolution of 500 meters.

• Speed: Cloud computing, provided by Google, multiplying the speed at which data can be analyzed.

• The crowd: GFW unites high resolution information from satellites with the power of crowdsourcing.

• Free and easy to use: GFW is free to all and no technical expertise is needed.

• Alerts: When forest loss alerts are detected, a network of partners and citizens around the world can mobilize to take action.

• Analytical Tools: Layers showing boundaries of protected areas worldwide; logging, mining, palm oil and other concessions; daily forest fire alerts from NASA; agricultural commodities; and intact forest landscapes and bio-

LOST. It is estimated that the world lost 2.3 million square kilometers (230 million hectares) of tree cover from 2000 to 2012—equivalent to 50 soccer fields of forest lost every minute of every day for 12 years.

diversity hotspots.

Global Forest Watch was launched on Thursday 20 February at the Newseum in Washington, D.C by a group of leaders in government, business, and civil society.

“Partnerships like Global Forest Watch that bring together governments, businesses and civil society and technological innovation are the kinds of solutions we need to reduce forest loss, alleviate poverty and promote sustainable economic growth,” said Administrator Rajiv Shah, U.S. Agency for International Development.

Global Forest Watch will have far-reaching implications across industries. Financial institutions can better evaluate if the companies they invest in adequately assess forest-related risks. Buyers of major commodities such as palm oil, soy, timber, and beef can better monitor compliance with laws, sustainability commitments, and standards.

And suppliers can cred-

ibly demonstrate that their products are “deforestation free” and legally produced.

“Deforestation poses a material risk to businesses that rely on forest-linked crops. Exposure to that risk has the potential to undermine the future of businesses,” said Paul Polman, CEO, Unilever. “That is why Unilever’s Sustainable Living Plan has set targets to source 100 percent of agricultural raw materials sustainably.

As we strive to increase the visibility of where the ingredients for our products come from, the launch of Global Forest Watch a fantastic, innovative tool will provide the information we urgently need to make the right decisions, fostering transparency, enforcing accountability, and facilitating partnerships.”

Global Forest Watch can support other users like indigenous communities, who can upload alerts and photos when encroachment occurs on their lands; and NGOs that can identify deforestation hotspots, mo-

bilize action, and collect evidence to hold governments and companies accountable. At the same time, many governments like Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, welcome Global Forest Watch because it can help them design smarter policies, enforce forest laws, detect illegal forest clearing, manage forests more sustainably, and achieve conservation and climate goals.

“Indonesia is committed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent, or 41 percent with international support, which reflect national and international commitments to combat climate change. How Indonesia meets that commitment is largely defined by how we manage our forests,” said Heru Prasetyo, Head of the REDD+ Agency, Indonesia. “The ability to better monitor our forests and have up-to-date information to make decisions are critical. I commend the Global Forest Watch initiative, will continue to

support it, and expect that it will be an effective tool for the world and each nation as we leave neglect and ignorance in the past.”

Global Forest Watch was created by the World Resources Institute with over 40 partners, including Google, Esri, University of Maryland, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Imazon, Center for Global Development, Observatoire Satellital des Forêts d’Afrique Centrale (OSFAC), Global Forest Watch Canada, ScanEx, Transparent World, the Jane Goodall Institute, and Vizzuality.

Major companies have also provided early input, including Unilever and Nestle, and the wider Tropical Forest Alliance 2020 Partnership.

Core funders include the Norwegian Climate and Forests Initiative, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Global Environment Facility (GEF), U.K. Department for International Development (DFID), and the Tilia Fund. [UNEP]

8

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

VOL. 6 ISSUE 243 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

At 28, what?

T

HE People Power Revolt on EDSA, the bloodless coup that sent strongman President Ferdinand E. Marcos fleeing from the country he had ruled with an iron hand during the martial law regime, turns 28 years old today.

On February 25, 1986, Marcos, with his family and some cronies, fled from Malacañang Palace for Hawaii where he stayed in exile for a few years until his death.

The flight of the strongman ended the so-called ‘conjugal dictatorship’ and restored democracy in the country. This meant the return of free elections and the liberation of the economy from the stranglehold of the crony capitalists around Marcos. This was the perception, or impression, that could be either right, or wrong, or both.

What was the situation then before Marcos was driven out of the country?

Capt. Rex Robles, believed to be the brightest of the soldiers who composed the RAM (Reform the Armed Forces Movement, 1986), the rebel soldiers who played a major role in the EDSA Revolt, had this written in the

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

the national association of newspapers

Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Building, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, Philippines Tel: (082) 301-6235 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 www.edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net marketing@edgedavao.net

Brotherhood of the Flag, a book on RAM distributed by Senator Gregorio Honasan in 2013: “Yet, the Brotherhood’s real enemy was even bigger than Marcos, for tightly woven into the fabric of Philippine politics was centuries’ worth of corruption and wrongdoing that had become ingrained in every sector of society, especially in the Philippine military.”

Now, almost three decades after RAM and the EDSA People Power had driven Marcos out of the Philippines, it may be asked: Has the country really achieved meaningful changes and reforms?

In the light of what is happening in the country as borne out by screaming headlines in the media about all forms of scams in high and low places, in and out of government, our simple question is, can we say we have achieved a lot, achieved little, or none of the above?

Perhaps, each one of us can find the time today to reflect on the true meaning of the EDSA People Power Revolt of 1986. Otherwise, it may yet go down in history as an exercise in futility. And with only ourselves to blame (who else?).

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG Creative Solutions

ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Associate Editor

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

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

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

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

JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

AQUILES Z. ZONIO Correspondent

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

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

Tel: (088) 852-4894

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

MANILA MARKETING OFFICE

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

VOL. 6 ISSUE 243 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014 EDGEDAVAO Dabawenyo finds way to lick fusarium wilt

N

O one believes you these days if you think “out of the box” because you don’t want to conform to the “traditional” or “conventional” way of doing things.

Take for instance, the problem of licking the problem of fusarium wilt, a.k.a. Panama disease, which is wreaking havoc not only in the Philippine banana industry but also in banana plantations in Honduras, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Africa, Australia and other countries into growing Cavendish bananas for export.

Faced by a widespread Panama disease attack against almost all Cavendish banana farms in Mindanao, government, through the Department of Agriculture has set aside hundreds of millions of pesos to fight this plant disease that usually crop up during heavy flooding after heavy rains.

Most of this money goes to the pockets of “consultants” with names followed by “Ph.D’s” , who do a lot of deep research work and experiments and make recommendations, using conventional methods discussed in books they have read about this dreadful disease.

Since they all do it “by the book,” they’ll recommend the intensive use of chemical pesticides, chemical fertilizers and other chemicals to fight this plant disease--- thus a market bonanza for big multi-million dollar foreign chemical companies supplying them to banana companies all over the world.

But the findings of a little-known Davao banana scientist here seem to be working better than other research experiments being done by other groups, most especially the

S

one funded by the DA, using “Cavendish” clones developed by Ta i w a n e s e scientists.

This local scientist, known as “Dr. Castillo” who was formerly a research director of an American banana company in Davao, has found out that the Panama wilt disease is not really a “disease” problem but a “nutritional problem” --- a theory that was rejected by almost all the banana firms in the Davao Region. Behind his back, they were all laughing at him when he kept insisting that this supposed “dreadful disease” is simply a “nutritional problem”.

This is what happens to you when you think “out of the box”, according to Koronado Apuzen, executive director of the Foundation for Agrarian Reform Cooperatives in Mindanao or FARMCOOP, whose farmers’ coop plantation in Panabo volunteered the use of their affected farm areas to test this theory of Dr. Castillo.

Most of the soil underneath Davao banana plantations, according to Dr Castillo, have “lost all their nutrients” after more than 60 years of absorbing all kinds of chemicals--pesticides, fertilizers, etc. Fact is, this is something he had known all along since he was still with the banana export firm he was working for, but he didn’t want to antagonize his bosses and the chemical suppliers with his theory on the possible cause

of Panama wilt disease.

Together with six foreign scientists from the Netherlands, Italy, Africa, USA, Australia and Costa Rica, along with Philippine scientists from UP Mindanao, I saw the farm experiment--- how it’s done and the impressive results on treated banana plants. Dr. Castillo’s theory was clearly working and all the banana scientists were all impressed.

“We’re very, very impressed with what you’ve done so far,” says Dr. Gert Kema, a Dutch scientist from Wageningen University, the Netherlands who saw how the treatments were done on the banana plants.

It was all the more impressive because the treatments made on affected banana plants were done using only organic pesticide and fertilizer.

The organic pesticide was 100% organic from Japan that Apuzen even took a few gulps just to prove it’s really organic, not toxic, and therefore safe to ingest.

Fertilizer used on the affected plants was also pure organic made from chicken manure, coco peat, banana rejects, burnt palay, etc produced by the Organic Producers and Exporters Corporation, the trading arm of FARMCOOP. A scientist from UP Mindanao , visibly impressed after watching the demo by a farmers’ coop on fighting Panama wilt disease, told the visiting foreign scientists that “this can be nominated for a Novel Prize” for discovering a natural treatment for the dreaded plant disease.

Question is : Have we finally found the cure to Panama disease in all the world’s banana plantations ?

sult, thousands of poor farmers and their families in the far-flung farming communities of Maguindanao and North Cotabato flee to safer grounds to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

The hostilities between the BIFF forces and the government soldiers ruined new hopes of peace in the Bangsamoro homeland. The armed conflicts shredded holes in the fragile road map to peace the government (GRP) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are putting forward to bring the two sides to a permanent settlement.

While the government and the MILF are putting their best efforts to finally seal a long-lasting peace in Muslim-dominated areas, the BIFF

and the MNLF-Misuari faction are proving to be spoilers and are feared to be successful in bringing the peace talks to a stalemate. The continued attacks on government troops and innocent civilians seem to have been set in motion juts as euphoria was beginning to intensify over the anticipated success of the GRP and MILF panels in creating a genuine peaceful environment.

The BIFF has spent a long period of planning surprise attacks, stockpiling explosives and improving its capability in jungle warfare. Government, through the various administrations, has spent more than four decades in trying to achieve a lasting and meaningful peace in the Bangsamoro homeland through peaceful negotiations.

Instead of supporting the peace process, the BIFF today is more isolated, armed and dangerous than ever before. Sadly, the government remains a failure in trying to convince them to abandon their hostile activities.

Hanging on the balance

EPARATE SCUFFLE FOR PEACE – Today, the peace process and the finalization of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsaramoro (FAB) seem to be facing glitches.

One reason is that the Moro National Liberation Front (MILF) Nur Misuari faction is hell bent on muddling the talks insisting that the 1976 Tripoli Agreement should be the basis in the creation of a real Bangsaramoro homeland. Another reason is that the MNLF considers the FAB as highly illegal and unconstitutional.

Furthermore, people in some war-ravaged provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and a large part of North Cotabato believe that the breakaway rebel group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) will not want to join the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in their crusade in the quest for lasting peace. This is why there is a flurry of renewed attacks perpetrated by the BIFF combatants against government troops and public infrastructures. As a re-

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Complicating Implications COMMENTARY

BY PATRICIO P. DIAZ

(Conclusion)

I

T has committed to deliver the Bangsamoro as the solution to the Bangsamoro problem. Will the Bangsamoro to be inaugurated as his legacy in June 2016 without the proper transition be that commitment -- the Bangsamoro that will solve the Bangsamoro problem?

It is not. It cannot be without the proper transition. To be that commitment, it must be allowed to go the full length of three years. After that, it will hold its first election under the Bangsamoro electoral system separately from the national elections.

Legacy Will that deprive Aquino III of his legacy? Not! The Bangsamoro is deemed entrenched upon the ratification of the BBL and the setting up of its interim government under the BTA. His legacy is assured.

Let the establishment of the regular government and the stabilization of Bangsamoro be the legacy of other Presidents after him.

Are Aquino III and his government thinking that peace with MILF and the solution of the Moro Problem their work alone? That is egocentrism. Is that why “Government of the Republic of the Philippines” has been changed from “GRP” to “GPH”?

In capsule, the peaceful solution of the Mindanao or Moro Problem is a long process. President Fidel V. Ramos started it; President Joseph Estrada signed the Ceasefire Agreement and opened the first round of formal talks; President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, reviving it after President Estrada had scuttled it with an “all-out war”, initialed the MOA-AD, the ill-fated first framework agreement; President Aquino III, as the FAB and its Annexes show, continued and completed the “renegotiation” or “re-framing” of the MOA-AD according to the advice of the Supreme Court in its October 14, 2008 Decision declaring the MOA-AD unconstitutional.

President Aquino III must be remembered for doing his part of the process. But as the process is far from over, he can enhance his legacy by ensuring the proper transition of the Bangsamoro to make it easier for other presidents after him to help stand on its own feet.

How effectively the Bangsamoro can solve the Mindanao or Moro Problem will depend on the soundness of the values of its leaders and people andon the efficiency of its asymmetrical relation with the Central Government and its ministerial form of government. These are what future presidents are expected to help Bangsamoro attain – easier done if the Bangsamoro is properly transitioned. [“Comment” is Mr. Patricio P. Diaz’ column for MindaViews, the opinion section of MindaNews. Mr. Diaz is the recipient of a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Titus Brandsma for his “commitment to education and public information to Mindanawons as Journalist, Educator and Peace Advocate.”

You may e-mail your comments to patponcediaz@yahoo.com]

10

NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 243 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

Next...FFROM 1 eration had the blessing of Duterte.

In a statement aired by GMA Super Radyo, Mayor Duterte said the law enforcers, and he himself, have noticed the entry of refined shabu in some areas of the city and now hot on the trail of the traffickers responsible for the peddling of the highgrade shabu in the city.

The city mayor also bared that high-grade shabu

materials are also inserted in rice shipments smuggled through the ports of Davao City. Calling it “ride-on,” Duterte said the activity is now being closely watched by authorities.

He said “ride-on” drug insertion is one of the reasons he is very angry at rice smugglers.

Earlier this month, the mayor threatened to kill rice smugglers like David-

son Tan Bangayan if they are caught smuggling rice into the Davao port.

He repeated his threatening words when he testified on rice smuggling before the Senate Committee on Agriculture headed by Senator Cynthia A. Villar.

It may be recalled that rice smuggling has been very rampant in the ports of Davao due to the failure of the Bureau of Customs to

detect the entry of the contraband cargo shipments in to the port during past and present administration. At least one former Customs collector had been fired from his job by the Ombudsman for failure to act properly on the report on smuggled rice in the port during his watch.

Duterte said high-grade shabu is expectedly more expensive.

The equipment uses a low heat system to ensure that color and the texture of the cacao bean is retained.

Abrenilla said the Moxtrak is cost-efficient because it will save labor and time during the processing stage.

“It is very cost efficient, especially in the use of elec-

tricity kasi it will turn-off when it reaches the 60 to 80 degree Celsius heat requirement,” he said, adding that the dehydrator can dry up to 500 to 600 kilos per day.

FEDCO can dry 500 kilos of cacao beans in 4 days.

He said that the production cost in using the tradi-

tional dryer is more than P5 per kilo, while Moxtrak is more or less P3 per kilo.

On the other hand, he said that other issues confronting cacao farmers and growers in Davao City are the high cost of transport, low consciousness for product quality, low technology

and skills.

The issues are said to be a hindrance to the industry’s target. In 2020, the industry is targeting to increase cacao production by 100,000 metric tons. The industry is also eyeing to expand cacao plantations by 10,000 hectares. [CRC]

ing only one parcel of land.

Last Feb. 13, Edge Davao reported that the database glitch hindered CTO from collecting taxes due to errors with the assessments.

Victor Ranada, acting head of CTO’s real property tax division, said that there were duplications on assessments which he cited as the

main reason they could not effectively collect correct taxes.

He added that there are problems in the assessments in which the property, although already sold to a third party, the former owner’s name still appears in the assessment.

Ranada said that because

of deficient data they are having a hard time locating delinquent taxpayers while there are names in the database that must be exempted from paying real property taxes but are still included in the list of taxpayers in the P1.1 billion tax delinquency report.

Ranada cited a road in

Toril which is owned by the city government but was assessed and taxed around P200,000 when in fact it is exempted from it.

The panel will be composed of four personnel from the city treasurer’s office, four from the city assessor’s office and headed by the city legal office.

by national laws.

Vice Mayor Duterte said earlier that it’s about time for the city council to review the code on ordinances as he sees that some of them can be del-

egated or be enacted into barangay ordinances.

Duterte said there is a need to remove some ordinances that many local government units have borrowed from the city’s

code of ordinances.

The vice mayor added the council will also review public safety ordinances pertaining to the Davao International Airport because during the

time of Mayor Sara Duterte an emergency team from Central 911 was prohibited from assisting passengers of a Cebu Pacific plane that overshot the runway last year.

ers to try new names in the telecomm market, Gionee was able to imprint personality, like Inday Sara, who uses an ELife E6.

Duterte said that before endorsing the product, she was able to prove to herself its quality and to maximize the features of the Chinese smart phone.

Katrin Salanga-Gregorio, Gionee Philippines Mobile head, said during a press briefing, that even she herself was hesitant to try the new brand, but after using it she was convinced that it can offer much more superior experience compared to other smart phone brands available in market.

“In Gionee, trust me when I say that quality is experienced in every handset. It offers features that are products of its own well-funded research and development that continues to upgrade, update, and innovate. The strict manufacturing process of every mobile phone unit will definitely bust the myth of the made in China bias,” Gregorio said.

Gionee launched its first flagship smart phone -- the Gionee Elife E6 -- in the country last October. A report from Philippine Star said that “it is now among the top smart phone brands in the world, selling over 23

million handsets per year worldwide.”

With its “golden quality” features, the Elife E6 has a 50 inches display, 13-megapixel back camera and 5-inch megapizel front camera with panoramic capability, a Quad Core Cortex A7 1.5 gigahertz (GHz) Super CPU, a 32 gigabyte internal memory and 2 gigabyte RAM, and run by Android version 4.2 Jellybean OS, and motion sensing technology, among its features.

Other models are the Elife E3, P3, G3 which are the fastest and biggest dual sim phablets and the P2 smartphone unit.

Gregorio said that in

March, Gionee will be launching its first two models of feature phones which run by a Java software. It will launch the L 206 and S96. Aside from text messaging and calling, users can now access social networks like Facebook, Twitter, and websites like Youtube, etc.

She said that that it will be the first time that a feature phone will be capable of downloading like mobile applications.

On the other hand, it will open a store branch in Manila first month of the second quarter this year.

The company is also looking for ten other sites for expansion.

are directed to comply with existing laws.

Section 8 of RA 6539 states that any person engaged in this business should keep a permanent record of his stocks, stating therein their type, make and serial numbers and the names and addresses of persons whom they acquired them from, and to whom they sold them and render an accurate report of transactions to the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Section 3 of the EO states that section 6 of PD 1612 or the Anti-Fencing Law should be strictly complied with which requires all stores, establishments, or entities dealing in the buy and sell of goods, articles, items, objects or anything of value obtained from an unlicensed dealer or supplier thereof, shall, before offering the same for sale to the public, secure the necessary clearance or permit from Highway Patrol Group or the Philippine

National Police (PNP).

It is mandated that the owner of the shop is prohibited from displaying in behalf of third parties or offer to sell or buy a second hand vehicle without checking first with LTO, where the vehicle was registered, validity of the certificate of registration and secure a clearance certificate attesting to the validity of the registration which must be available for inquiry by the buyer and authorities, as stated in section 4 of the

EO. The establishment is also mandated to inform in the PNP Traffic Group of the intention to display before the actual date of displaying for sale.

The EO states that the business bureau is tasked to monitor and enforce strict compliance with the provisions of the order.

The order added that any violation committed in this order will result to the revocation of the business permit or denial of application of the shop owner.

Inventor...FFROM 2

Real... FFROM 2

‘It’s...FFROM 4

Newcomers...FFROM 4

Rody... FFROM 4

EDGEDAVAO

1986...FFROM 6 call of Marcos thought he could persuade the rebel troops to surrender in a few hours. He was wrong.

From an initial crowd of some 50,000 civilian supporters gathered at Gate 1 of Camp Aguinaldo along Boni Serrano Avenue that evening, the crowd ballooned to over two million people during the next three days.

Just before midnight of Feb. 22, Marcos appeared on TV and accused Enrile of plotting a coup. Marcos warned Enrile and Ramos that he could annihilate them, together with the rebel forces and called on them to surrender to end “this stupidity.”

The psychological battle between the rebel forces and Marcos went into high gear that night until the following day, Feb. 23, holding press conferences to air their charges and counter charges.

Enrile told Marcos that he “will not surrender because I did not commit a crime.” He declared that he was ready to die if necessary. Then Enrile unleashed a stinging statement that might have touched many compatriot Filipinos: “If I will be killed, let my blood be a part of the Philippine soil. If he (Marcos) sends troops here, the President will become the butcher of his soldiers. He cannot cow us anymore.”

A defiant Enrile added: “Mr. President, you know that your time is up. I am morally convinced that Mrs. Corazon Aquino is the duly elected President and we will support her.”

Cut off for the first time from Gen. Ramos whom I have covered for many years, I relied on other sources for my news dispatches.

I learned from one such source that the rebel forces of Enrile and Ramos had prepared a contingency plan for any such attack.

They would defend Camp Aguinaldo and Camp Crame for a while after which they would disperse into small groups and fight the Marcos regime in guerrilla warfare that could spark a civil war throughout the country.

The burgeoning crowd that gathered along EDSA stood their ground. Brig. Gen. Alfredo Lim, commander of the Northern Police District, defied an order from Marcos to disperse the crowd.

Instead, he and his men defected to the Enrile-Ramos camps.

A column of armored Landing Tank Vehicles (LTV) and Armored Personnel Carriers (APC) from the Philippine Marines, backed by other military vehicles under Brig. Gen. Artemio Tadiar arrived near the vicinity of Ortigas Avenue along EDSA. The tanks threatened to mow people down under its massive metallic weight unless the crowd cleared the path leading to Camp Crame.

But the huge crowd stood their ground amidst the risk of being crushed. Steadfast in their faith, the people knelt in the middle of EDSA, raised their rosaries, brandished

their crucifixes, and lifted their voices in prayers that drowned the sounds of the LTV and APC motors.

In the hearts of the Filipino people, the withdrawal of government forces was a Divine intervention. Prayers and faith have averted what could have been the biggest bloodbath on a single day not only in the Philippines but the whole world.

Many of the crowd cried with tears of joy thanking God and through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the patron saint of the Philippines, for answering their prayers at the time the country needed most. [PNA]

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

Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a a FILCAB Ordinary Regular Service ARLENE A. AGAPAY, Petitioner Case No.2009-XI-00444 x- - - - - - - - -- - - -----x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a FILCAB Ordinary Regular Service on the route: CAMP CATITIPAN VIA JP LAUREL AVENUE ROUTE with the use of ONE (1) unit, which certificate will expire on February 2, 2015. In the petition filed on February 14, 2014, petitioner requests 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 10, 2014 at 09:50 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 14th day of February 2014 at Davao City.

TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

EDGEDAVAO

PROPERTY

VOL. 6 ISSUE 243 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

11

Perks of condo living for families C

ONDO living at Northpoint offers plenty of advantages for big or small families, even newly married couples preparing to have kids.

The perks allow them more time to spend with each other, strengthening their bond and enhancing their family life.

Hassle-free maintenance. It is easy for a family to get caught up in the maintenance of a single detached home such as mowing the lawn, trimming and watering the plants, or fixing a leaky roof. At Northpoint, they only need to expend their time and energy in their own condo unit, leaving the rest of the maintenance needs to the property management team tasked to take care of the upkeep of the grounds, buildings, facilities, and overall condo property.

Families don’t want to be dealing with outdoor chores and maintenance issues on a weekend, probably their only time to bond. With maintenance off their hands, they can enjoy their weekend together inside their cozy condo home, doing home chores or simply watching TV or chatting with each other.

They can also enjoy the outdoors by biking around the trails and avenues, hang out with family and neighbors at the clubhouse called Wakefield Manor, stroll around the treefilled grounds, or have a picnic at the green open spaces of Northpoint.

Safety. When the kids are home alone or outside enjoying Northpoints amenities,

parents don’t need to fret about their safety knowing their children are safe within the condo premises. The whole condo property is under a tight round-the-clock security, with security personnel manning the guardhouse at the main entryway and the condo gates.

Female family members who will be left alone in their condo home will also feel safe.

They won’t feel alone and insecure knowing there are neighbors next door and at common places such as the elevator, basement parking, and the clubhouse.

There are security cameras and roving security personnel around the property and at the basement parking. Entry to the condo community is restricted to homeowners and their guests, and unexpected visitors are carefully screened.

As long as family members are within Northpoint’s premises, they are safe and secure.

Amenities. What family does not want hotel-like amenities such as a swimming pool, fitness gym, or a jogging track? Having these and other amenities means families don’t have to go out of Northpoint to swim, exercise, and have fun.

It’s a breeze to go swimming when all they need to do is don their bathing suits and trunks, step out of their condo units, and stride over to the clubhouse to dive into the salinated waters of the adult swimming pool and let the young ones splash around the kiddie pool.

They can even have a pool party, taking advantage of the cabanas around the pool area, as well as the grill pits that can be used for a barbecue.

The multi-purpose hall at the clubhouse is also ideal for an intimate gathering or a social event.

Families can have a healthy lifestyle in Northpoint by doing their exercise regimen at the fitness gym, or letting the kids frolic in the playground or run around the open spaces. They can brisk walk or jog along the track that will take them to the

pocket gardens and nature park, giving them the opportunity to commune with Northpoint’s verdant nature.

Green lifestyle. Living at Northpoint allows families to have a healthful and green lifestyle with its nature-filled surroundings and its condo structures built to principles of green architecture. As green buildings, Northpoint’s condos have excellent indoor air quality, making it comfortable to live in it and requiring less air-conditioning, thereby reducing electricity cost, saving energy,

and reducing carbon emission into the environment.

With a central location, Northpoint is proximate to a family’s daily destinations such as schools and universities, malls, cinemas, supermarkets, banks, restaurants, clinics, worship places, airport, and other public utilities for their daily essentials. They don’t have to drive far to get to their desired location and can opt to take public transportation, thereby reducing their carbon footprint.

All these advantages of

living in Northpoint give its homeowners convenience and ease of life that will benefit any family. Top that with living in a masterplanned subdivision with a premier address, and families will find in Northpoint everything they look for in a home and more.

Camella makes acquiring a Northpoint condo unit easier with its special packages available at the Camella offices at Delgar Bldg. (fronting Northpoint) along JP Laurel Avenue in Bajada, Davao City, telephone number 295-3973.

one in Iloilo Business Park.

Around 112,000 square meters of office spaces suited for Information Technology-Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) and corporate offices will be added to the inventory this year upon the completion of the first two towers, Uptown Tower 1 and Uptown Tower 2 – each with 30,000 square meters in the 15.4-hectare Uptown Bonifacio, Megaworld’s P65-billion township in the northern tip of Fort Bonifacio.

On the other hand, around 30,000 square meters of BPO office spaces will be complet-

ed in the 8 Newtown Office Tower and another 7,000 square meters in the six-storey Two World Center, both in the 28.8-hectare The Mactan Newtown by second half of this year.

Another 10,000 square meters of office spaces will likewise be completed in the IBP BPO Building A and 5,000 square meters in the Richmonde Office Tower, both located in the 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park at the site of the old Mandurriao Airport in Iloilo City by middle of this year.

“Megaworld remains committed to be the leading

office space provider in the Philippines. Year after year, we are looking into aggressively expanding our office space inventory to increase our rental income,” says Jericho Go, first vice president, Megaworld.

Currently, an estimated 110,000 employees are working in Megaworld’s townships.

The biggest bulk of which are in Eastwood City, the country’s first IT park; and McKinley Hill, the company’s biggest township project in Metro Manila which is also home to four foreign embassies and four international schools.

The completion of the additional four office towers in Uptown Bonifacio, The Mactan Newtown and Iloilo Business Park will create around 60,000 additional jobs in the next five years.

“As we continue to build more state-of-the-art, environment-friendly office towers, we hope to help grow the country’s BPO sector by encouraging more companies to come and operate in the Philippines. Megaworld’s expertise in building LIVE-WORKPLAY-LEARN township communities is a tried-and-tested success formula that earned us the trust and confidence of many of these companies through the years,” explains Go. A total of 126 companies are leasing from Megaworld’s office spaces offered in various townships in Metro Manila, Cebu and Iloilo. Around 87% of the total leased spaces account for IT-BPO companies.

To date, IT-BPO companies such as Accenture, HP, Wells Fargo, IBM, United Health Group, Thomson Reuters, Dell, WNS and Samsung are operating in various Megaworld townships.

Recently, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has given Uptown Bonifacio an accreditation as a “special economic zone”, making it the first cyberpark in BGC. By 2016, Uptown Bonifacio will have an initial 150,000 square meters of leasable office spaces.

“Following the success of

our first and biggest cyberpark in Fort Bonifacio – the McKinley Hill – we hope to offer our customers with new, state-of-the-art and environment-friendly office towers in Uptown Bonifacio. Here, we expect major multinational corporations, and BPO/IT offices to establish their offices and headquarters as we position Uptown Bonifacio to be BGC’s premier central business district,” says Go. Colliers: Megaworld is top office space provider A study by third party analyst Colliers International Research confirms that Megaworld remains to be the top office space provider in the Philippines.

In a study released by Colliers International Research in January 2014, Megaworld dominates the office space leasing business with a 23 percent market share, making it the leader in both traditional office spaces for corporations multinational companies and office spaces designed specifically for the IT-BPO industry in terms of total leasable floor area.

In terms of the total leasable spaces for IT-BPO companies, Megaworld dominates the market with a 27 percent market share.

Based on existing BPO office space inventory as of 2013, Colliers showed that Megaworld is the leading BPO space provider with 539,384 square meters while its closest competitor has only about 306,094 square meters of BPO office spaces.

Megaworld ramps up office space inventory R

EAL estate giant, Megaworld, is expanding its office space inventory to around 712,000 square meters this year, cementing its leadership as the country’s no. 1 office developer and landlord.

Megaworld has currently 26 corporate office towers in the country – 10 in Eastwood City, 14 in McKinley Hill, 1 in Newport City, and 1 in The Mactan Newtown in LapuLapu City, Cebu. Four more office towers are expected to be completed this year – two in Uptown Bonifacio, which are now LEED-registered; one in The Mactan Newtown; and

THE MACTAN NEWTOWN. The 28.8-hectare The Mactan Newtown is Megaworld’s first and only township with a beachfront in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu.

12 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 243 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

GENERAL SANTOS CITY

Kalilangan 2014 highlights culture, milestone and success of GenSan

K

ALILANGAN 2014 opened with an elaborate musical production number depicting the city’s milestones and colorful fireworks making the event widely considered a success.

The opening program did not only aim to exhibit General Santos City’s transition of culture but it also served as the stage to highlight the changes under the new administration.

In the night of Kalilangan’s opening last Friday, February 21, City Mayor Ronnel Rivera took the opportunity to relay to everyone, especially the foreign dignitaries and business community representatives present, the leap that the city government has made in bringing public service closer to the constituents of the city.

Mayor Rivera opened his speech by imposing that throughout the revelry he wants a “CLEAN GenSan” not only through the surroundings but also in the conduct and celebration of the residents.

Creating a Livable Environment for All Generals towards Nation building or commonly known as “CLEAN GenSan” is the flagship program of Mayor Rivera that advocates the improvements focused in education, health and modified social services.

KORONADAL CITY

According to Rivera, “CLEAN GenSan” started on education, upon welcoming the University of Sto. Tomas in General Santos City.

Then with the help of City Social Welfare and Development Office, the AKLAT (Alay sa Kabataang Generals Lahat ng Alaga at Talino) office and AKLAT-ECCDI (Alay sa Kabataang Generals Lahat ng Alaga at Talino-Early Childhood Care Development Initiative) have been launched to prepare the children to formal education.

On other areas, Rivera gave merits on the success of the City Engineers’ Office together with the Department of Public Works and Highways on the illumination of primary and secondary lines of the city through the implementation of LED based streetlight, which costs around P100 million.

The City Housing and Land Management Office and City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) have also started “land banking”, to which the city government is eyeing available land pieces for resettlements and relocation sites.

In Bawing, a land area waived by the Yalen Clan in favor of the local government of General Santos City is the first crop of the said land banking.

The revision of the city’s Comprehensive Land

MINDANAO’S FIRST. Archbishop Orlando B. Quevedo, OMI, D.D. of the Archdiocese of Cotabato was formally elevated as Mindanao’s first Cardinal at 11:50 a.m. Saturday, 22 February 2014 (6:50 p.m. Philippine time). [MindaNews photo taken from a live broadcast over EWTN [Global Catholic Television Network) by Toto Lozano] Use Plan is also one of the pipeline goals of CPDO this year.

Things that have never been addressed in the past and achievements have earned respect for Rivera’s “troubleshooting” skills.

Mayor Rivera disclosed that General Santos City District Hospital has undergone a systems and financial audit to sort out the real causes of problems that

have stifled the hospital for years.

Through the help of the League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), Rivera said that the overdue problems in the transport sector will slowly be given light.

As a start, the city mayor informed that there are already 690 tricycle franchises distributed to tricycle drivers and operators to lessen the number

of illegal tricycles plying around and within the city.

Rivera did not also forget to address the peace and order issues in GenSan. He ordered General Santos City Police Office (GSCPO) PSSupt. Froilan Quidilla and Joint Task Force GenSan Col. Rolando Bautista to give him “peace and order solutions” and he will help them in achiev-

ing it.

Prior to ending his speech, Rivera said that Kalilangan is a celebration of GenSan’s progress and without the aforementioned improvements, Kalilangan 2014 will not be possible.

A grandiose fireworks display punctuated the night’s presentation. [GenSan Info Office/Ian John M. Lagare]

TAGUM CITY

LGU pushes for transfer of PNP regional HQ Musikahan jumpstarts T

HE Koronadal City local government is s pushing for the full transfer here within the next two years of the main regional base or headquarters of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 12.

City Mayor Peter Miguel said Monday the local government has formally tendered to the Philippine National Police (PNP) central office several idle lands in two exterior villages in the city as possible sites for the new regional headquarters of PRO-12 and its service offices.

He said the potential sites, which are all privately-owned or titled lands, are located in Barangays Morales and Paraiso.

The mayor said the offer was based on an earlier request made by PRO-12 and PNP Director General Alan Purisima to facilitate the transfer of its regional

headquarters in the city, which is the regional center of Region 12.

“It’s now up to the PNP to select the most ideal site, make the acquisition and implement the transfer,” the mayor said.

Purisima initially approved in principle early last year the transfer of the PRO-12 headquarters from Barangay Tambler in General Santos City to this city following a meeting with city officials.

Miguel said Purisima personally pledged to work out the relocation and sought the local government’s assistance to facilitate the move.

The mayor said the local government has made initial negotiations with the owners of the proposed sites for the regional police headquarters.

But he said the PNP should be the one to pur-

sue talks for the purchase and the local government will just facilitate them.

Miguel said the PRO12 is a special case since the local government could not offer to them the established regional center in Barangay Carpenter.

“They require a vast area so each of the proposed sites that we identified stretches around 15 hectares,” he said.

Miguel said they expect the PNP central office to make a decision soon regarding the PRO-12’s site and make the acquisition.

He assured the PNP that the local government will provide all the necessary assistance to ensure the smooth transfer of its regional offices to the area.

The city was designated as Region 12’s regional center by virtue of Executive Order (EO) 304 issued

in March 2004 by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arryo.

EO 304 also sets the immediate transfer of all regional line agencies from Cotabato City, the previous regional center, to Koronadal City.

Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

Some 40 regional lines agencies have so far fully transferred their offices while 11 other offices and bureaus have established satellite offices in the area.

The City Planning and Development Office cited in a report that a total of 36 regional line agencies already acquired lots at the regional center site here. [MindaNews]

LGU’s trio celebration D RUMMING up a simple yet festive mode in its soft opening last February 21, the City Government of Tagum and the Tagum City Tourism Council offered a prelude to its highly-anticipated trio celebration top-billed

by Musikahan Festival, the city’s annual revelry focused on music.

Mayor Allan L. Rellon led Tagumeños during the soft opening held in front of the City Hall, where the city’s homegrown musical talents exhibited their talents during the ceremony attended by Tagumeños from all walks of life.

The local chief executive reiterated that this was just a prelude to something bigger and exciting about the 13th year of the Musikahan Festival, which will have its grand opening on February 28,

2014 at the Freedom Park.

Last Friday and over the weekend, several events were held including musical outreach performances in Tagum Doctors Hospital, Tagum City Jail and Gloria Christi Regis Center for Orphaned Children.

A photo exhibition in Rotary Park’s Beach Volleydrome, which visually narrates the transformation of Tagum from a sleeping municipality to a bustling urban hub, was also opened on Friday in anticipation to provide a venue for Tagumeños to appreciate the city’s journey to development. The said photo exhibition is curated by the City Information Office as the head secretariat of the City Historical and Cultural Commission. [Louie Lapat of

CIO Tagum]

INdulge!

VOL. 6 ISSUE 243 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

TRAVEL

An extraordinary road trip With its rugged coastline and scenic vistas over the Sulu Sea, a road trip along Zamboaga del Norte’s highway between Dipolog and Zamboanga is a unique way to appreciate the rich history, cultural heritage as well as the cuisine of the province.

I was fortunate to experience that on a familiarisation trip together with DOT’s Assistant Secretary Arturo Boncato and DOT’s XI’s regional director Mary June Bugante together with fellow travel and lifestyle writers from Davao City.

Straight from our direct flight from Davao City to Dipolog on Cebu Pacific, the group checked in at the nearby Ariana Hotel and immediately got on the bus for a road trip with our end-point set at the seaside municipality of Sindangan some 87 kilometres away.

We headed South East from Dipolog City towards the municipality of Kati-

The marker at Jose Rizal’s Farm.

punan which was celebrating its hundredth foundation day.

Katipunan is an idyllic town and is known as the location where our national hero, Jose Rizal, once owned a farm which was given to him by a patient he treated while on exile at nearby Dapitan. Jose Rizal’s farm was where he would often take Josephine Braken out on strolls while tending to the fruit trees he planted. The farm is now owned by the grandchildren of one of Jose Rizal’s students who bought the farm from him. I especially loved Katipunan’s city plaza which features a tree house as well as the tallest Rizal monument in the province.

After Katipunan, we arrived at the municipality of Manukan where the famous Zamboanga fighting cocks originated. We definitely knew we were at Manukan as we were greeted

Grilling up some fresh fish at Sea Heights Diner.

Tender and smoky mamsa panga, marlin kinilaw, and spicy squid.

Stunning views from the Dipolog -Oroquieta Highway make the ride scenic and enjoyable.

Meeting the biggest fighting cock at Manukan.

The Rizal monument at Katipunan is said to be the tallest in the province. by the biggest cock we had ever seen standing by the side of the road.

Standing over 30-feet tall and housing the local tourism office as well as a mini-museum inside, the giant of a rooster was a

Me sizing up the freshly caught mamsa.

welcome and funny stopover for the group. It was just too bad that we were not able to go inside as the tourism office had already closed for the day.

The rest of the trip was idyllic but with the highway hugging the Zamboanga del Norte coastline, each twist and turn of the well-paved highway held spectacular views of beaches as well as the Sulu Sea beyond.

The group finally arrived at Sindangan just in time for dinner at the Sea Heights Diner, I guess the almost three-hour road trip made everyone extra hungry and in need of good food, and good food we did have.

Director June revealed that Singangan is a popular stop-over place for people traveling between Zamboanga City and Dipolog. The seafood of the municipality being the major draw as to why people would choose to stop at Sindangan.

Singangan also has a

Katipunan’s charming town plaza.

The media group together with DOT Assistant Secretary Arturo Boncato and DOT XI regional director June Bugante at the Dipolog City Airport. marine sanctuary as well as beautiful beaches which unfortunately we were not able to see or experience since we arrived much later than anticipated but the fresh seafood such as the sweet and juicy grilled mamsa (giant jackfish) panga, the delicious marlin kinilaw and the tender

cooked squid more than made up for the time spent on the road ensuring that there were happy faces and filled tummies on the bus trip back to Dipolog City.

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

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL. 6 ISSUE 243 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

UP AND ABOUT

Style Paradigms promotes fashion with a cause at Abreeza Mall ABREEZA MALL ushered in a fierce new year in Davao fashion with Style Paradigms, a two-part program that parades the looks and trends to expect in 2014, as well as advocates environmental awareness through the fusion of art and style.

On February 14, 2014 at the Activity Center, Abreeza Mall staged Juxta:Pose Fashion Runway Preview, Style Paradigms’ runway component, to give people a glimpse of the latest collections of Abreeza Mall brands and of creations by 10 of Davao’s most renowned fashion and accessory designers.

Besides featuring the freshest picks from Marks & Spencer, Freeway, Plains & Prints, RRJ, BAYO, Original Penguin, Cocoon, Bauhaus, Artwork, Mags, Petrol, and SOUL Lifestyle, the third outing of Abreeza Mall’s yearly fashion event showcased pieces by garment designers Egay Ayag, Aztec Barba, Popoy Barba, Dodjie Batu, Edgar Buyan, and Emi Englis of the Davao Elite Fashion Group, and accessory designers Carmaela Alcantara of Crystal Seas, Shiela Marie Damalerio, Fumiko Kuroda, and Yvette Celi Punzalan of Yvette’s.

What makes the 2014 edition of this annual fashion spectacle even more special is it expands its theme and scope this year to promote a social consciousness that values the environment. Also launched at Style Paradigms was the program’s second component, Juxta(Positions): The Collocation of Art and Design, a fashion photo editorial exhibition that integrates the works of the 10 participating fashion and accessory designers with those of Davao’s art and design icons to push for awareness of the destructive effects of climate change. Some of the art and design icons who lend their talents to Juxta(Positions)—Alfonso “Boy” Guino-o (fashion design), Tita Lacambra Ayala (literary arts), Agnes Locsin (dance), Brenda Zafra Barba (visual arts and art education), Aida Rivera-Ford (literary arts), Ann Tiukinhoy Pamintuan (jewelry and furniture design), Dr. Macario Tiu (literary arts), Chef Eduardo Tuazon (culinary arts), Kublai Millan (visual arts), Arnel Mardoquio (film), and Joey Ayala (music)—were present at Style Paradigms to formally launch the exhibit.

Juxta(Positions) is produced in partnership with Philippine Women’s College of Davao’s Helena Z Benitez School of Fine Arts & Design. The exhibit is on display in three locations at Abreeza Mall’s second floor until March 5.

For updates on events and activities at Abreeza Mall, visit the Main Concierge at the ground floor or call (082) 321-9332. Stay updated by liking www.facebook.com/AbreezaMall and following @abreezatweets on Twitter and @iloveabreezamall on Instagram.

Local ad agency’s campaign for hotel sparks interest for Davao walking tours WHEN celebrated Manila tour guide and cultural activist Carlos Celdran updated his Facebook page with pictures of his Davao City tour, his last post garnered over 1,200 likes and was shared more than 200 times.

These posts were live updates from his twoday walking tour and video shoot for Apo View Hotel. During his tour dubbed as “Carlos Celdran does Davao”, he explored Davao’s vibrant downtown district using the Apo View Hotel Street Map, a customized city guide that features little known or underappreciated attractions near the hotel’s location.

Leveraging Apo View Hotel’s prime location at the heart of the city and its proximity to many of Davao’s historical and cultural sites was the driving idea behind this campaign conceptualized by advertising agency Campaigns

Celdran was impressed by the four-hectare People’s Park and cites it as one of his favorite locations during this two-day walking tour. & Grey Davao. Inspired by the idea, Apo View Hotel President and CEO Chris Pamintuan commissioned the agency to develop a map that hotel guests can

enjoy and use with ease.

The hotel and the agency also worked hand in hand to promote the map as a means for tourists and locals alike to discover or

re-discover the many sides of downtown Davao. To further promote the campaign, Celdran, one of the country’s most famous tours experts, was asked to road test the map.

Through the coverage of several media outfits, as well as Celdran’s own posts on his social media accounts, the campaign sparked massive interest for Davao. As one commenter on Celdran’s page put it, “OK, I’m booking Davao soon. Thanks.”

Even DOT Assistant Secretary Art Boncato saw promise in the project.

On his Facebook page, he Apo View Hotel President and CEO commended the hotel’s Chris Pamintuan describes the hotel’s Carlos Celdran with Kharisse Cubelo and Marga Rey of advantage of being in the heart of the contribution to the city’s tourism growth, calling Campaigns & Grey Davao. city, in the center of old Davao the campaign a “brilliant initiative”.

Campaigns & Grey is the only multinational advertising agency and 4As (Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies – Philippines) member with offices in Davao and Cebu. Under the Grey Group, whose anthem is “Famously Effective since 1917”, Campaigns & Grey uses Grey-standard communication tools for optimal brand building and management.

For more information about Campaigns & Grey Davao, please contact (082) One of the country’s most famous tour experts Carlos Celdran sets off on his Davao adventures from 224-2085.

Apo View Hotel.

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

VOL. 6 ISSUE 243 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

Maria von Trapp, last surviving member of the famous singing family, dies at 99

MARIA VON TRAPP, whose family’s story served as the inspiration for The Sound of Music, has died. She was 99.

Maria, who was the last surviving member of the family of seven brothers and sisters, passed away in her sleep at her home in Vermont, a family friend confirmed to the Austrian Times.

“It was a surprise that she was the one in the family to live the longest because ever since she was a child she suffered from a weak heart,” Marianne Dorfer, who runs

the von Trapp Villa Hotel in Salzburg, told the

newspaper.

Dorfer continued that

Maria’s poor health was the reason her father,

Baron von Trapp, hired a governess to teach her and her brothers and sisters.Maria recounted the memory in a post on her family’s website for their Austrian-inspired lodge in Vermont: “As a result of scarlet fever, I was too sickly to walk the three miles to school every day, and the doctor advised that I stay home. This condition brought Maria Augusta Kutschera to teach me first grade gymnasium, the equivalent of middle school. She came to us as my teacher and after three years became

our second mother.”

Born Maria Franziska, the second eldest daughter and third oldest child, she fled from Austria with her family in 1938 to escape the Nazis.

The famous singing siblings’ tale sparked the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical and the 1965 film, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer. Heather Menzies portrayed Louisa, Maria’s character. The classic movie won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Super Junior’s Siwon and Donghae topbill ABS-CBN’s newest asianovela ‘Skip Beat’ KOREAN superstars Siwon and Donghae of popular Kpop boy band Super Junior and one of Taiwan’s most adored actresses, Ivy Chen, become official Kapamilya as their hit Asianovela “Skip Beat” premieres this Monday (Feb 24) in ABS-CBN’s Kapamilya Gold.

The long wait is finally over as two of the hottest Korean heartthrobs from the 13-member group, dubbed as the “King of Global Korean Wave,” hit Philippine television with a must-see series that originally aired on Taiwan.

Follow the story of Nikki (Chen), a girl who dedicated her life to support her close friend and childhood sweetheart Sam (Donghae) so that he can pursue his dream of becoming a singer.

Reality hits her one day when she overheard Sam talking to another woman and said that he is just using her. From that moment on, she vowed to reclaim her pride and seek revenge.

Her fury further ignited when Sam belittled her and said she won’t be able to avenge herself because they live in two very different worlds. He even quipped that the only way for Nikki to seek revenge is by being famous too just like him. These hurtful words prompted Nikki to also enter the world of show business.

Nikki then works her way up to becoming an actress and strives to become more successful in the biz than the man who broke her heart.

While learning the ropes, Nikki meets Kean, a certified superstar in the industry and Sam’s number one rival.

Kean learns of Nikki’s vendetta against Sam and will help her become a better actress. Nikki, on the other hand, also helps Kean overcome his insecurities.

This newfound friendship will draw them closer together that will lead to something more.

Is Nikki ready for a new love? Or is she still hoping to be with her first love Sam at the end of it all? Will she pick the man she loved in past or the man who loves her in the present?

A week before its pilot telecast, “Skip Beat” already landed on the top Twitter trending topics nationwide not just once, but twice, after Asianovela fans poured and expressed their excitement on the upcoming series via tweets when the show’s teaser aired on TV. Don’t miss the super ‘kulit’ and super ‘kilig’ Asianovela “Skip Beat,” weekdays after “Galema: Anak ni Zuma” on ABS-CBN’s Kapamilya Gold.

For more updates, follow @ Kapamilanovela on Twitter or like the official Kapamilyanovela Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/ ABSCBNKapamilyanovelas.

Miley Cyrus kisses Katy Perry at Bangerz concert

KATY PERRY did sing, once upon a time, how she kissed a girl and liked it. And Miley Cyrus decided to take full advantage.

The 21-year-old pop star locked lips with her good pal during her Bangerz concert in Los Angeles on Saturday night.

Let’s set the scene: Cyrus was performing “Adore You” and in the middle of the song, she bent down to give the “Dark Horse” singer a smooch.

“I just kissed a girl and I really liked it a lot,” Cyrus declared after the duo’s spontaneous moment, which was captured in this fan’s Instagram video.

And the blond beauty also made a perfect reference to Perry’s smash hit from 2008.

After the show, Cyrus added a snapshot of the two ladies kissing to her Twitter account, along with several lip emoji icons.

Perry was clearly excited for the show and tweeted before the concert, “I hope @MileyCyrus sings Breakout or The Climb tonight please bb!”

STARTING OVER AGAIN 2D Piolo Pascual, Toni Gonzaga PG 13

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

POMPEII 2D Kit Harington, Emily Browning PG 13

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

THE BOOK THIEF 2D Sophie Nélisse, Nico Liersch PG 13

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

R-16 ROBOCOP 2D Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton PG 13

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

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 6 ISSUE 243 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

EVENT

Kinang

The grand opening ceremony of the 75th Kalilangan Festival KINANG, the opening ceremony of the 75th Kalilangan Festival was held at General Santos City’s Oval Plaza last Feb. 21, 2014. The program featured fun, colorful and theatrical performances accompanied by sets of video presentations. With emphasis on the moments from the past that made Gensan what it is today, what the city has now, and glances of the future, as aspirations and dreams were shared by a number of Gensans youth.

Glimpses from Gensans past were highlighted from photos and video testimonies of the early settlers, pioneers and descendants of General Paulino Santos. It was an evening of sparkle, presented by the city’s best and brightest performers.

A landscape of awesomeness showcasing a vivid cultural celebration of col-

ors and diversity, perfectly interpreted in song and dance numbers reflecting the city’s rich history and evolution.

In his opening speech Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera thanked every generation of GenSans early settlers and pioneers on how their contributions have helped put GenSan in the local and global community. He also encourage the citizens of Gensan to be the eyes and ears of the government, told the Local Government Unit officials and employees to roll up their sleeves and work on the things that need to be fixed, and also to the peace and order units of

the city to continue providing peace and present more peace and order solutions for the Generals, lastly the business sector, to continue in building a strong and stable economic structure of progress in GenSan. After his speech, 75 torches were lit, representing the years

and decades of the city’s evolution, and a grand fireworks display dropped the crowd’s jaws to the ground.

Follow me on Twitter or Instagram, @kyriekoutre for more adventures in and around my wonderland that is Gensan, Tuna Capital of the Philippines.

EDGEDavao Davao Partners

13 COMPETITIVE EDGE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 243 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

Realty FOR SALE:

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

5TH WORLD ECO TOURISM CONFERENCE

Tagbaobo, IGaCoS hug center stage B

ARANGAY Tagbaobo of Kaputian District, Island Garden City of Samal took the center stage during the recent 5th World Ecotour-

ism Conference held at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu City from February 20-22, 2014.

The international event’s theme was “Marine and Coast-

al Ecotourism: Oceans of Uncertainties, Waves of Opportunities.

The Tagbaobo Community-Based Tourism program was chosen along with four other LGU’s in the country in a presentation before hundreds of ecotourism stakeholders from all over the globe. Other destinations/topics presented during the forum were El Nido Resorts: Why Greener is Tougher, Ridge to Reef Ecotourism Destinations of Central Visayas, Linking Conservation to Ecotourism, and Into the Heart of Cordillera Mountains.

The annual World Eco-

tourism Conference is being held in collaboration with the World Tourism Organization (WTO) and is the world’s most important conference in the ecotourism fraternity.

The World Ecotourism Conference provides a strategic podium for high level ecotourism experts, proponents, practitioners, stakeholders, legislators, educators and consultants to network and share among their peers their knowledge and experiences with coastal communities in developing nations.

Ms. GeneRoseTecson, President of the Tagbaobo Tourism Council, presented an

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late MARIA P. NAVARRA has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT with affidavit of self-adjudication executed by her heir per Doc. No.158; Page No. 31; Book No. XI; Series of 2010 of the NOTARY PUBLIC NEIL B. JAO, M.A. 2/25/3/4,11

audio visual and PowerPoint presentation highlighting the development of various tourism sites in the barangay with the local residents as its prime movers. The AVP was prepared

by MuscleMedia, a leading Audio-Visual firm in Region XI. Tecson is also the newly-elected President of the Igacos Tourism Council and head of the Region XI Tour Guide Association. She also mans the district office of Davao del Norte District 2 Representative Anton F. Lagdameo, Jr. as the latter’s Chief of Staff.

Among Tagbaobo’s sightseeing offerings are the scenic Magongawong & SampaoFalls, Cawa-Cawa Rice Field, Horseback Riding, Samal Tribal House in Sitio Libud, a marine sanctuary and exotic flora & fauna perfect for adventures and selfies. It is ideal for family and group picnics including activities such as camping, hiking, biking, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, boating and fishing.

Tecson acknowledged that there is still a lot to be done for the barangay to fully bloom as a primary tourist destination in the region. She however expressed optimism that with the active participation of various stakeholders, especially her fellow constituents, it would catapult Tagbaobo as one of the next melting pot and frontier for visitors to discover and enjoy.

The Tagbaobo Tourism Council is a DOLE-registered organization supported by the Barangay Council, LGU-Igacos, DOT and the Office of Cong.

Lagdameo. [edlagumbay]

14 CLASSIFIEDS EDGEDavao Davao Partners

VOL. 6 ISSUE 243 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

HEALTH

Best for kids ages 1 to 12 years old High in CGF, Taurine, L-Lysine Contains Fortified with DHA Available at all Drugstore near you

Multivitamins for Teens & young adults ages 13 to22 years old Available at all Drugstore near you

Take 2mg Ener-plus Capsule one hour before your intimate encounter • Improve Blood Circulation • Provide Extra Strength & Sexual Stamina • Increase Libido & Sexdrive

Available at all Drugstore near you

EDGEDavao Gensan Partners

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

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS 15

VOL. 6 ISSUE 243 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2014

BLAST. Davao’s Imee Garcia, Sun Star columnist, plays out from the bunker during the PAL Interclub Media Golf Tournament at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country in Bacolod City. Boy Lim

LUISITA’S RETURN. Members of Luisita receive their championship trophy after a triumphant 2-point cliffhanger showdown with rival Canlubang at the conclusion of the PAL Seniors Interclub at the Marapara golf course in Bacolod City. Photo shows Luisita flanked by PAL officials. They are, from left, Rene Aviles, PAL Bacolod branch head; Eddie Bagtas, Richie Garcia, Joey Romasanta, Pepot Iñigo, Bong Sison, Iggy Clavecilla, Francis Gaston and Dina May Flores, PAL Revenue Management head.

SERIOUS. Business Mirror columnist Al Mendoza (front) reads the green as Edge Davao managing editor Neil Bravo (back) walks to his ball on no. 10 at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country in Bacolod City during the PAL Interclub Media Golf Tournament. Lean Daval Jr.

Down 2-3, Painters out to win series D

own 3-2 in the series, Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao still believes it’s their destiny to win the title.

In their last trip to the Philippine Cup Finals, the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters lost via sweep to the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters. They were gunning for back-to-back championships then and they felt it was their time to take the crown away from Talk ‘N Text. The Elasto Painters believed it was their destiny.

It wasn’t.

Talk ‘N Text was just too good for the young Rain or Shine squad. They were swept in the series, which was more coronation than competition.

Down 3-1 against the San Mig Super Coffee Mixers, the Elasto Painters could have just accepted

J

the same fate: accept defeat, wait for an import to back you up, and try to win the Commissioner’s Cup instead. However, Rain or Shine refused to allow the Mixers to write their happily ever after for their Cinderella run.

“We just grinded out a win and we’re still behind in the series but one thing we can promise the fans is that we will fight it out to the end,” said the defiant Rain or Shine head coach.

“We’re still looking to win the championship. One thing I told the boys before the game is that you can’t lose that sense of destiny.

Even if we’re behind, it’s not over. We have to believe in ourselves.”

Last year, after losing for the third straight time to the Tropang Texters, Guiao simply said they wanted to delay Talk ‘T Text’s party. Now, he added another

phrase that showed how his team is approaching this series.

“We will delay or postpone the celebration of San Mig Coffee,” Guiao started his familiar statement. “If we can delay it enough, maybe it can be our celebration.”

The Elasto Painters fought with a renewed sense of confidence in Game 5 of the series. They didn’t play like a team just wanting to survive. They played like a team that believed they could still win the entire thing.

“Sinabi ko sa kanila, kahit na discouraged sila, kahit na masama yung pakiramdam nila, they need to keep that to themselves.

They cannot show that to their teammates,” Guiao added. “Kung pinakita nilang discouraged sila, tatapusin ko yung career nila dito.”

“So we’ll see each other on Wednesday; also on Friday, hopefully.”

One of the players who displayed this mentality was guard Ryan Arana. He is still nursing in injured right shoulder and he was once again reacquainted with a hard Rafi Reavis screen but he played on to help his team in whatever capacity he can.

“Malaki yung tiwala ko na kaya pa naming manalo basta magtulungan lang kami sa loob, magtiwala lang sa isa’t isa, at magtiis lang kasi mahirap talagang manalo,” Arana said after the game.

Last season, Arana also remembered the feeling that it was their destiny to win the Philippine Cup. But when things got tough, the Elasto Painters failed to respond. Now, Arana says things are much different.

the day before making his appearance for the Nets in a game in Los Angeles against the Lakers.

Collins entered the contest 10:28 left in the second quarter and received a warm reception from the opposing crowd.

“I thought it was great,” Collins told re-

porters, of the greeting.

“Being an L.A. kid, I can’t think of a better situation, playing for the Nets and playing here and getting the win. Just glad Kobe (Bryant) and Shaq (O’Neal) weren’t out there.”

Collins finished with no points, two rebounds, one steal and five fouls

in 11 minutes.

On a night he made history, the Nets (2628) also snapped an 11game losing streak to the Lakers (19-37).

“The most important thing is the team got the win,” Collins said.

“I don’t care about scoring. I care about my team winning.”

Scoreless but happy

ASON Collins did not register a single point on Sunday, but he scored a moment for basketball history as he became the first openly gay player to appear in an NBA game.

Collins, who last April revealed he was gay, signed a 10-day contract with Brooklyn earlier in

Federer reviving greatness

D

UBAI (AFP) Roger Federer’s performance in reaching the semi-final of the Australian Open last month is the first step in a mini-revival of tennis’ great legend. This week could see the second.

That is the scenario Federer intends pursuing when he returns to the ATP Tour and tries to win back the title at his adopted second home at the Dubai Open.

Victories over Andy Murray and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Melbourne will be followed by a chance to challenge Novak Djokovic, the top-seeded titleholder, here.

Although the formidable Serb is seeking a record fifth Dubai title, Federer has a better record against Djokovic than against Rafael Nadal, the man who halted him last month, and he feels encouraged by his performances in the first Grand Slam of the year.

“I think it has been a very good start to the season for me overall, “ Federer said.

“I have played some really good tennis. I still feel my best tennis is ahead of me right now.

“So I’m looking forward to the coming months, and how they’re going to play out, and hopefully by April I feel like I’m going to be a hundred percent again.”

Federer believes his moderate 2013 results were caused partly by fitness problems, triggered by a persistently troublesome back, and that he is in significantly better shape this year.

- ‘New racket’ He also has a new racket, reportedly with a frame of 98 square inches, which means he is no longer experimenting with what is best. On-off equipment changes may also have contributed to some of his 2013 problems.

Most conspicuously he has a new coach.

Some pundits think that his decision to team up with Stefan Edberg, an outstanding volleyer when he was world number one, is a master stroke, especially as this an area of the game which Federer is trying to develop.

“Technically Roger is strong,” says Edberg.

“But I also think it would be good if he would vary his game a bit more than he does at the moment.”

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. VOL.66ISSUE ISSUE243 243••TUESDAY, TUESDAY,FEBRUARY FEBRUARY25, 25,2014 2014

Marapara to decide Men’s Interclub champion

B

MEDIA GOLF. Edge Davao managing Editor Neil Bravo (left) studies his line of putt as Jon Develos (right) takes his shot at hole. No. 9 at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country in Bacolod City during the PAL Interclub Media Golf Tournament. Lean Daval Jr.

ACOLOD – The heavily-wooded Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, otherwise known as Marapara, will again be the venue of the final round of the 67th Philippine Airlines Interclub Men’s championship on Saturday.

Precision off the tees and well-placed approach shots are what will be demanded from the field as Cebu Country Club tries for its first-ever ‘three-peat’ against several formidable squads.

A total of two rounds will be played at the Marapara and another two at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club – also known as Binitin –in Murcia town.

Cebu CC will miss the services of aces Mark Dy and Lloyd Jefferson Go and will pin its hopes on old hands Ramontito Garcia, Carl Almario and many-time club champion Eric Deen.

Dy turned pro just

weeks after the Cebuanos nipped Alabang last year, while Go, who won the national amateur championship in devastating fashion at Wack Wack East last month, is in the United States on a golfing scholarship.

Alabang again takes a stab at a first championship division crown with a team built around Andres Saldana and a host of teenaged members.

Saldana, who is coming off a close second place finish to Rupert Zaragosa in the 19th WExpress-DHL tournament at Canlubang North last week, banners a young Alabang squad that also has Justin Quiban, Basti Lorenzo and Gabriel Manotoc.

Southwoods, the perennial title contender just several years back, will be spearheaded by former pro Antonio Asistio and the veteran Jun Jun Plana.

Orchard also looks good on paper with

veteran internationalist John Kier Abdon and the seasoned King Stehmeier spearheading the squad.

Del Monte, with the products of its grassroots program getting better by the year, is also a solid title threat.

The Bukidnon-based squad also sent its mainstays to Canlubang last week with Magno Arancon impressing the most.

Arancon finished third by nine shots but showed a great allaround game.

This year’s Interclub is being co-sponsored

by CrossOver with Boeing, Philippines Graphic, Stargate Media (People Asia) and Rogue as corporate backers. Also lending support are Airbus, Business Mirror, One Mega Group (Travel Now), Philippine Broadcasting Corporation, Manila Broadcasting Corporation, Petron and Manila Bulletin.