Edge Davao 6 Issue 245

VOL. 8 ISSUE 245 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

HARD BED. A young boy falls asleep at the side of the road along E. Quirino Avenue corner J.P. Laurel Avenue in Davao City last night, apparently unmindful of the risks involved in being in such a precarious situation. Lean Daval Jr.

SHORTER BLACKOUTS Now only hour-long as TSI’s Unit 2 goes online

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

A

crc@edgedavao.net

BOITIZ-OWNED Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) announced shorter rounds of rotating power interruptions in its franchise area after all units of the 300 MW coal-fired power plant of sister company Therma South, Inc. (TSI) went online yesterday.

“Once Davao Light receives the full power supply

of 50 MW, which is based on contract from the said plant, duration will be decreased to 30 minutes to 1 hour,” DLPC said in a statement.

This will be shorter than the two- to three-hour scheduled blackouts announced last Wednesday to be rolled out in the franchise area of the DLPC, which includes Davao City and portions of the Davao del

Norte.

The DLPC has a contracted supply of a total of 100MW with TSI’s 300 MW coal-fired power plants. The power plant has two 150-MW units, of which Unit 2 tripped twice on Wednesday.

“TSI synced with the grid a little over midnight last night,” Wilfredo Rodolfo III, AboitizPower corporate branding

and communication manager, said in a text message yesterday.

Unit 2 had just completed a 10-day preventive maintenance shutdown that ended on February 28 before tripping three days later.

Although TSI’s two units have fully synced with the grid, the National Grid Corporation

F SHORTER, 10

EDGEDAVAO Sports

WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE Rancho Palos Verdes, Apo stay on course with leaders

P16

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 245 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

SACKED. Davao City councilor Al Ryan Alejandre shows a sack that will be used as campaign paraphernalia of presidential aspirant Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte. Alejandre urged the people of the city to donate used sacks, tarpaulins, and even cartons to support the candidacy of Duterte. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

Cigarettes now required to carry graphic warning

T

HE Davao City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ASTF) has announced the start of the implementation of Republic Act No. 10643 or the Graphic Health Warning (GHW) Law in the Philippines.

In a statement sent to Davao City reporters yesterday, ASTF co-chair Dr. Domilyn Villarreiz said starting March 3, all tobacco products withdrawn from manufacturing facilities or imported for sale in the Philippines are required to carry the new GHWs. Villareiz said the purpose of the GHW law is to have Graphic Health Warnings that

effectively warn of “the devastating effects of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.”

She said the law will also remove misleading or deceptive numbers or descriptors like “low tar,” “light,” or “mild” which convey or tend to convey that a product or variant is healthier, less harmful, or safer.

“Tobacco use kills at least 10 Filipinos every hour and six million people globally each year. It is the number one preventable cause of heart disease, stroke, cancer, lung disease, and many other

FCIGARETTES, 10

WHAT YOSI IS WHAT YOU GET. Graphic Health Warnings (GHWs) like this are now required on all tobacco products. Photo courtesy of the Davao City Anti-Smoking Task Force

National bets not barred from ‘Araw’ celebration

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

A

abf@edgedavao.net

RAW ng Davao festival director city councilor Al Ryan Alejandre yesterday clarified that the city will not stop any national candidate from joining the people of the city in celebrating its 79th anniversary.

Speaking in yesterday’s I-Speak Media forum, Alejandre said anyone is welcome to visit Davao City and celebrate with the Dabawenyos.

“We will welcome them

with open arms to celebrate with us,” he said.

Alejandre, however, said the city will limit the candidates’ exposure especially during the civic parade on March 16. He said the executive committee will not allow the candidates to mount campaign booths.

“We cannot assure them that they can talk on stage,” he said but added that Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte will decide

if he will let any candidate talk during the civic parade.

Earlier, City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) head Lisette Marques said politicians are advised not to use the celebration of 2016 Araw ng Davao for their political campaigns.

Marques said the prohibition aims to remove political color from the celebration.

She said politicians are free to join the celebration and talk on stage “as long as they

have the consent of the mayor ” and they will not talk politics.

Marques said politicians can also be interviewed by reporters, adding the executive will designate areas for such interviews.

She said local and national politicians are also not allowed to display their posters, especially during the Civic Parade, because only the sponsors’ posters and tarpaulins are allowed.

have used sacks that you can donate because we print on them),” Alejandre said in yesterday’s I-Speak Media Forum.

Alejandre said he and the other councilors saw during their visit to the national headquarters of Duterte in Maa diversion road that there are only few campaign paraphernalia there.

He said even his fellow councilors who are support-

ing the candidacy of the mayor also spend their personal money wherever they go to campaign for Duterte.

“We all know na kitang mga taga-Davao kung unsa kalisod ang kampanya sa atong mayor (We all know how challenging our mayor’s campaign is),” he said.

Alejandre said even if the sacks are not appealing to the eyes, they will send a message

to Duterte to urge him to continue his campaign despite insufficiency of funds.

He said aside from used sacks, he and other councilors will also accept used tarpaulins and cartons.

He said interested people can send their donation to the Duterte national headquarters in Maa or to the offices of the city councilors. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

Dabawenyos urged to donate sacks for Duterte campaign

D

AVAO City councilor Al Ryan Alejandre has appealed to the people in the city to donate used sacks that can be printed with campaign material for presidential bet Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte.

“I am urging Dabawenyos that this is one way to help Mayor, basin naa moy used na mga sako na pwede ma-donate kay naa pud mi printing sa mga sako (maybe you

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 245 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

Duterte buoyed by Singson’s hearty reception in Vigan

T

HE influential and powerful Singson family of Ilocos Sur welcomed presidential aspirant Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte with a hearty reception on Thursday.

“The public display of friendliness was a proof of Duterte’s desire and ability to work with any one or any group if only to push for genuine change once he is elected to office,” Duterte’s spokesperson Peter Laviña said.

“The Duterte-Cayetano camp is buoyed up by another warm reception, this time in Vigan, Ilocos Sur — part of the vaunted Solid North,” Laviña said.

Political kingpin former Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson personally received Duterte before the presidential candidate from the South presented his agenda in a rally at the Vigan Convention Center.

Also present during the reception were incumbent Governor Ryan Singson and Vigan Mayor Eva Marie Singson-Medina.

Duterte was accompanied

by Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano who represented her husband, Duterte’s vice presiden-

tial running mate Alan Peter Cayetano.

“We understand the veteran Chavit went out of a self-imposed retirement from politics to meet Duterte and Mayor Lani,” Laviña said. “We are very thankful for the Ilocano hospitality and warm welcome.”

He said the visit was part of Duterte’s efforts to win the approval of the people.

“Notwithstanding political colors and affiliations, Duterte is extending his arms to everyone as he desires to unify the Filipino people and the whole nation,” Laviña said. “What is important for us is to reach everyone and break the wall of the Solid North for Duterte.”

As of 2010, Ilocos Sur has 385,553 registered voters. Vigan, the capital of the province, has 26,362 registered voters.

The province is part of the so-called Solid North, a regional-bloc vote that includes Cagayan Valley and the Cordillera Administrative Region.

The Singsons had earlier publicly expressed their support for the candidates of UNA. Last month, Duterte also visited Laoag, the bailiwick of the Marcoses.

Drilon condemns shooting of Saudi cleric in Zamboanga

S

ENATE President Franklin M. Drilon on Thursday condemned the attempted killing of a prominent Saudi cleric during a speaking engagement in Zamboanga City, saying such an attack is an affront to the country’s adherence to religious tolerance and co-existence.

The Senate leader and Liberal Party re-electionist candidate made the statement following the shooting of Sheikh Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni, a famous Islamic scholar and activist, and Sheikh Turki Assaegh, a religious attaché at the Saudi

Embassy in Manila, by an unknown assailant last March 1 during an Islamic symposium inside the Western Mindanao State University.

Reports claim that the influential al-Qarni, who has 12 million followers on social media site Twitter, is on the hit-list of the terrorist group Islamic State.

“This sort of violence has no place in a democratic and peaceful nation like the Philippines. Such brutal actions ran counter to our nation’s ideals that respect, peace and tolerance must reign even amid

FDRILON, 10

3

TIGHT. Drivers of trailer trucks use a large portion of the old Davao International Airport road as their parking area. The remaining space has become dangerous for motorists who have to squeeze through at the risk of hitting other cars and pedestrians. Lean Daval Jr.

3 Davao jail inmates caught in shabu session

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

P

abf@edgedavao.net

ERSONNEL of the Davao City Jail-Annex nabbed three inmates carrying illegal drugs inside the detention facility yesterday.

The suspects were identified as Mark Anthony Salazar, Paul Ryan Tantamco,

and Ednor Pablo.

The initial report said the jail guard received an intelligence report that some inmates in Cell 4.5 were having a shabu methamphetamine hydrochloride) session.

Upon verification, the

suspects were caught inside the comfort room possessing a small sachet of shabu with three lighters and improvised needle, a straw a small piece of foil, and improvised bamboo stick sealer.

The jail guards immediately called the Talomo

Police Precinct and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 11 for assistance on the disposition of the contraband.

The suspects were brought to PDEA 11 for drug testing while the seized evidences were also sent.

O Filipino was reported injured in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Indonesia’s western region, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Thursday.

In a text message to reporters, Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said: “So far we have not received any report of Filipinos affected by the earthquake in Indonesia.

Tsunami warnings were issued following Wednesday evening’s tremors in Padang, triggering widespread fears and panic.

No deaths and casualties

were reported.

In 2004, an 8.9 magnitude earthquake triggered the world’s deadliest tsunami off Indonesia, killing more than 200,000 people. (PNA)

No Filipino hurt in Sumatra earthquake N

2 Abu Sayyaf men nabbed, IED seized in Sulu patrol

T

BEAUTY AND BRAINS. Mutya ng Davao candidate Thea Maragarette Elipio listens to the answer of her co-candidate Kathleen Beniga during the presentation of the top 15 semi-finalists to the reporters yesterday. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

ROOPS from Joint Task Group Sulu arrested two suspected Abu Sayyaf members and recovered an improvised explosive device (IED) during patrol operations Wednesday afternoon.

The suspects and their IED were discovered around 4:00 p.m. while soldiers from the 32nd Infantry Battalion were conducting route security operations along the Barangay Kanague-Kabontakas roadnet, Joint Task Group Sulu commander Brigadier General Alan Arrojado said.

The operation was done to ensure the safety of the main supply route and movement of 32nd and 44th Infantry Battalion troops who were then headed to 32nd Infantry Battalion headquarters at Barangay Bonbon, Patikul town.

During security opera-

tions, an IED triggering device was discovered buried and camouflaged at Sitio Nangka, Barangay Kanague.

Arrojado said the discovery prompted government soldiers to scour the area, resulting in the discovery of two suspicious looking persons who were immediately arrested.

Further search also led to the discovery of the IED which was immediately disarmed.

Further inspection revealed that the IED consisted of 20-liter blue container filled with ammonnium nitrate, nylon loop switch, two blasting caps, and 10 dry-cell batteries and 12 meters of electrical cord.

Arrojado said the arrested Abu Sayyaf men and the IED were taken to the Sulu Provincial Police Office for custody.

(PNA)

EDGEDAVAO

4 ECONOMY

VOL. 8 ISSUE 245 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

Slovenia eyeing Phl as gateway to ASEAN

S

LOVENIA eyes to strengthen bilateral relations with the Philippines and make the country its gateway to ASEAN market.

Slovenia State Secretary for Ministry of Economic Development and Technology Aleš Cantarutti led a business delegation in Manila on Thursday for government-to-government (G2G) discussions and business-to-business (B2B) matching with the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands (CCPI) to improve economic relations and defense cooperation of the two countries.

Cantarutti said Slovenia is aware of the “excellent economic growth” of the Philippines, hence, a perfect time for Slovenian companies to explore the 100-million market of the country.

“This is the first business mission in the Philippines and the first step to increase our bilateral relation,” he added.

Slovenia is the country’s 82nd trading partner. As an export market, the European country placed 104th and 64th import source.

Top Philippine exports to Slovenia include tuna, in-

tegrated circuit, bicycles, and electronics while top imports are medicine, articles for parlor games, and data processing equipment.

Cantarutti noted that the economic growth, market size, and competitive workforce in the Philippines entice Slovenia to make the country as its window to the markets of other ASEAN nations.

Moreover, he mentioned that the two countries are eyeing to boost ties in the defense sector.

The G2G meeting of the two parties aims to draft a memorandum of understanding and agreement for supplying products for national defense as well as transfer of technology and knowledge in the field of national defense.

“The next step is to write, prepare memorandum of understanding between ministries then organize joint commission for this area for defense industry then will go on how to cooperate on that” said Cantarutti.

“In today’s world, trade is not enough. We want to be reliable and sustainable partners for the long term and this is why we have to cooperate,” the official noted. (PNA)

HIGHER PRICES. A market goer walks past piles of vegetables at the bagsakan area of the Bankerohan Public Market. Prices of vegetables have increased in the city’s public markets as the supply has been decreasing due to the drought brought on by El Niño. Lean Daval Jr.

RDC 11 endorses P106B as budget

BOI positions Phl as retirement haven T T HE Board of Investments (BOI) and retirement industry stakeholders envision the Philippines as a viable retirement destination for foreign and Filipino retirees.

DTI Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo described the Philippines as an “emerging” retirement destination. “With our compassionate and competent pool of healthcare professionals and world class wellness facilities, the Philippines is fast becoming an attractive country for foreign and Filipino retirees from around the world,” he said.

The BOI said the Retirement Industry Roadmap will be finalized within the first half of 2016. The roadmap was crafted by stakeholders in the retirement industry in collaboration with BOI and other government agencies.

The Retirement Industry Roadmap outlines the course of action needed for the industry to be globally-competitive.

The Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA), current chair of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for the Retirement Sector’s Roadmapping Activity, is currently reviewing the draft roadmap.

In the Annual Global Retirement Index 2016, the International Living Magazine ranked the Philippines as 17th out of the 23 best countries to retire in. The Annual Global Retirement Index bases its

rating on a number of composite factors, namely, real estate costs, special benefits for retirees, cost of living, leisure amenities, healthcare services, infrastructure, and climate.

The retirement industry has made considerable contributions to the economy, reflected largely in revenues from visa deposits of Special Resident Retiree’s Visa (SRRV) holders. Introduced by PRA in 1987 to entice foreign nationals and former Filipino citizens to retire in the country, retirees can either apply for multiple entry privileges and rights to stay permanently or indefinitely in the country by way of visa deposits ranging from USD 10,000 to USD 50,000 and USD 1,500 for former diplomatic corps workers.

In 2014, PRA enrolled 4,781 new retirees. Total visa deposits of SRRV holders as of December 31, 2014 amounted to USD 452 million or about P19 billion.

Although not yet comprehensively documented, significant economic contributions are known to also come from local retirees and pensioners from the Government Service Insurance System and Social Security System (of about 1.3 million individuals combined), Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), and the Retirement and Separation Benefits System (AFP-RSBS) for the uniformed services.

FBOI, 10

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

HE Expanded Executive Committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC) 11 endorsed P106.43 billion worth of proposed programs, activities, and projects (PAPs) next year.

The proposed budget came from the PAPs of 36 Agency Regional Offices (AROs), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), and selected Government-owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs) in Davao.

“The proposed amount is ten percent higher compared to what was endorsed by the Council in FY 2016,” the committee said in a statement.

RDC 11 vice-chairand National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA XI) regional director Maria Lourdes

D. Lim said the annual budget preparation and review exercise has been institutionalized by the Council as a continuing effort to strengthen the link across development planning, investment programming, and budgeting processes.

Lim further informed the RDC 11 Executive Committee that pending the formulation of the successor Regional Development Plan, this year’s budgeting exercise will continue to advocate priority PAPs that directly contribute to the attainment of development goals, objectives, and targets under the current Davao Regional Development Plan, 2014-2016 as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.

Of the P106.43 billion proposed budget, P52 billion or

53 percent is for PAPs under the Social Development, P44.5 billion or 42 percent is for Infrastructure Development, and P5.9 billion or 5 percent is for the Economic and Development Administration Sectors.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 11 has the biggest investment with P42 billion, followed by the Department of Education (DepEd) 11 with P40.7 billion.

Aside from the regular programs of AROs/SUCs/GOCCs, PAPs for Gender and Development (GAD), youth development, Senior Citizens, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and Indigenous Peoples (IPs); Climate-change; Payapa and Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) and other peace building-related concerns;

PAPs proposed under the Bottom-up Budgeting and the Davao Region Industry Cluster Roadmaps were integrated into the budget proposals.

During the RDC 11 ExeCom Consultation and Review, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Assistant Secretary Maxine Tanya M. Hamada highlighted the important role of the RDCs in promoting meaningful devolution, emphasizing the role of the RDC in harmonizing national and local initiatives.

Hamada encouraged RDC 11 to add value to the budget proposals by linking the PAPs to the region’s overall development objectives and prioritize PAPs as there is a limit to what the national government can fund.

ment Authority (MinDA) and the DPWH last Monday for the discussion on updating road network masterplan.

“It is essential to widen the Davao-Digos-Cotabato road as the traffic congestion starts to worsen in the area,” MinDA development management officer Maria Vilma Belches said in this week’s edition of Wednesday’s at Habi at Kape sa Abreeza.

The DPWH also expressed

commitment to conducting a separate feasibility study for the widening of the Tawi-Tawi Circumferential road which remains uncompleted until today.

The updating of the road network plan is one of the two component of the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-assisted project called Improving National Roads for Inclusive Growth in Mindanao Project which aims to attain inclusive

growth by improving national road networks all over Mindanao.

Belches said the DPWH announced it will be utilizing the Mindanao Development Corridor (MDC) as part of its criteria in identifying essential projects for connectivity as well as in improving and updating its road network masterplan.

According to MinDA, the MDC “is a spatial development

DPWH to do study on widening of Davao-Digos-Cotabato road

I

N a bid to improve interconnectivity among key strategic hubs in Mindanao, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will be conducting a feasibility study on the widening of the Davao-Digos-Cotabato national road as one of its priority projects.

This came as one of the major recommendations during the recent meeting between the Mindanao Develop-

FDPWH, 10

VOL. 8 ISSUE 245 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

5

6 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 245 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

DBM releases P12B for irri expansion

T

HE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced yesterday the release of P11.8 billion to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) for the expansion of irrigation across the country, as well as the P500 million for the Quick Response Fund.

“This latest release, which is part of NIA’s budget this year, will go towards Irrigation Network Services and Locally-funded Projects,” Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said. “The remaining portion of NIA’s P32.7 billion budget for 2016 will follow once the agency submits the necessary documentary requirements.”

Irrigation Network Services, part of NIA’s mandate, consists of the extension and expansion of existing irrigation systems, repair, operation, and maintenance of pumping systems, repair of groundwater systems, irrigation management support services, rehabilitation of irrigation works damaged

by Typhoon Yolanda, and climate change adaptation works.

The P500 million corresponds to the appropriation for NIA’s Quick Response Fund under their budget.

Abad said this release will cover the requirements of NIA towards addressing the

impacts of El Niño.

Abad added that proposed measures to address the impacts of El Niño may be funded by the regular budgets of agencies as long as these measures fall under programs, activities and projects inherent to the agency’s mandate.

“We know that many communities are severely affected by the El Niño phenomenon. Since we are only in the first quarter of the year, we cannot identify yet the budgetary savings to be used for interventions for El Niño,” he said.

Abad said the DBM has advised NIA, as well as concerned agencies, to maximize their appropriations and to charge their funding requirements for said interventions to existing programs, activities and projects under their budget.

“Agencies may also use the QRF to serve as stand-by fund to normalize the condition of peoples and communities in areas under state of calamity,” he said.

Abad said that if the regular budget and QRF are insufficient to fund El Niño-related interventions, agencies may request for the release of additional funds to be charged against the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Fund (NDRRMF).

POWER PROBLEMS. AboitizPower’s Therma South, Inc. (TSI) coal-fired power plant as seen from Barangay Dumalag 2 in Matina Aplaya, Davao City. The city will still experience hour-long blackouts due to the effects of El Niño and the continued non-repair of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) towers that had been bombed. Lean Daval Jr.

Luxury car importer charged with tax evasion

A

N importer of luxury sports utility vehicles (SUVs) was charged with tax evasion by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) before the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday.

In a press conference, BIR Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares said they charged Jonamie Ronato Publico for willful attempt to evade or defeat tax and deliberate failure to file his income tax returns

(ITRs) for taxable years 2012 and 2013, all in violation of Sections 254 and 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code of 1997.

Publico is the sole proprietor of ADELC Trading with business address on Chino Roces Ave., Makati City.

He is engaged in the business of importation of luxury SUVs from the United Arab Emirates. He is registered in the BIR and the Department

of Trade and Industry (DTI) whose indicated addresses in both offices cannot be located.

Henares said that in the letter sent by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) to the BIR, it said that ADELC Trading made total importations of Php654.32 million in 2012 and Php163.76 million in 2013.

However, BIR Revenue District Office No. 49-North

Makati City certified that Publico has not filed any ITR, quarterly value added tax returns, nor percentage tax returns.

As a result of his acts and omissions, Henares said, Publico was assessed an estimated income tax liability in the sum of Php532.9 million, inclusive of surcharges and interest, such as Php434.67 million in 2012 and Php98.23 million in 2013. (PNA)

and natural calamities (super typhoons, earthquake) experienced by the country in recent years.”

The DOT said international tourist arrivals posted a compounded annual growth rate

(CAGR) of 8.77 percent from 2010 to 2015, higher than the 7.76 percent CAGR achieved in the nine years from 2001 to 2010. International tourist receipts also showed a dramatic increase from P112.55 in 2010

to P227.62B in 2015.

For the year 2015, tourism remained profitable and accounted for an estimated $5.0 billion or P227.62 billion worth of international visitor receipts. This is 5.92% percent greater than the 2014 total earnings of P214.88 billion, with the month of December 2015 yielding the peak of all tourism activities at P23.47 billion and the month of September 2015 registering the highest growth of 24.24%.

Korea continued to be the top spending market with visitor spending amounting to P66.55 billion for the year 2015. U.S.A. ranked second with P42.31 billion expenditure followed by Australia with P12.83 billion, overtaking Japan which provided P12.20 billion to take the fourth spot.

Completing the top five spending markets is China with visitor spending of P10.19 billion.

Moreover, among the top twelve markets of the country, visitors from Canada recorded the highest per capita spending for 2015 with P65,537.00 while visitors from Germany provided the second biggest per capita spending of P58,308.29. USA ranked third with per capita spending of P55,808.05. Other top markets with high per capita spending include United Kingdom with P54,912.69; Australia with

P53,846.21; and Korea with P48,973.54.

For the year 2015, tourists spend an average of P4,888.82.

They also spent heavily last year, with an average per capita expenditure of P48,350.44.

Their average length of stay in the country is registered at around 10 nights.

In terms of visitor arrivals, the industry also marked another milestone as, for the first time in history, total inbound tourists surpassed the five million mark, with the Philippines welcoming 5,360,682 visitors in 2015. It posted a 10.91% growth from the 4,833,368 foreign visitors recorded in 2014.

The strong performance of the industry may be attributed to the aggressive branding and promotional activities launched in key and emerging markets e.g. Visit the Philippines Year (VPY) 2015, destination-based marketing materials, introduction of new and exciting destinations/ products offered, influx of visitors during the Christmas holidays, and hosting of major international events such as the visit of Pope Francis, APEC 2015 meetings,Madrid Fusion Manila, Iron Man challenge, among many others.

“Our VPY 2015 campaign and destination-based mar-

DOT: Uninterrupted, robust tourism growth since 2010 T

HE Department of Tourism (DOT) yesterday boasted of “uninterrupted growth” in the tourism industry since 2010, saying tourism has become “one of the major economic drivers in the

Philippines under the Aquino administration, marked with strong, continued, and uninterrupted growth in both visitor arrivals and receipts. This is amidst various challenges, such as weather disturbances

FDOT, 10

EDGEDAVAO

7 SCIENCE

VOL. 8 ISSUE 245 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

Watch out for

By Henrylito D. Tacio

“The Philippines is one of the most disaster-prone places on Earth.

They’ve got it all. They’ve got earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, tropical cyclones, landslides.”

-- KATHLEEN TIERNEY, DIRECTOR OF THE NATURAL HAZARDS CENTER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO

(First of Two Parts)

It’s not only Metro Manila that is waiting for the “Big One.” Davao City, the country’s largest city, is ripe for another big earthquake, too.

Last year, EDGE Davao Editor-in-Chief Antonio M. Ajero wrote: “A big earthquake as strong as, if not even stronger than, the so-called ‘Big One’ that Metro Manilans are preparing for is a possibility in Davao City in the immediate future.”

With a land area of 244,000 hectares, Davao City is approximately three times the size of the entire Metro Manila.

According to Desiderio Cabanlit, regional director of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), the city is likely to be destroyed by big earthquake that may be triggered by the Surigao-Mati fault.

The new active fault line was discovered by geologists when Phivolcs updated its 10year old fault map. It stretches from Surigao City to Mati City in Davao Oriental and has a distance of 320 kilometers.

Based on the recent Phivolcs study, it was found that a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Compostela Valley in 1893. On April 15, 1924, another earthquake with 8.3 magnitude happened somewhere in Sigaboy, now known as Governor Generoso in Davao Oriental.

Cabanlit explained that should an earthquake with an intensity of 7.2 may happen again in Compostela Valley, Davao will immediately feel a “7.0 to 7.1 magnitude and ground shaking could reach (the city) in less than one minute.”

Aside from those mentioned earlier, there were other major earthquakes that rocked Mindanao, according to data from Phivolcs. On August 16, 1976, an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.0, with epicenter traced to the Celebes Sea, triggered a tsunami in Moro

‘The Big

Gulf. A major aftershock was recorded to have a magnitude of 6.8.

A magnitude of 7.6 earthquake struck Lanao on April 1955 that killed 400 people.

The intensity recorded in Dansalan was 8.0; in Dipolog and Ozamiz, 7.0; and in Cagayan de Oro and Malaybalay, 6.0. A 6.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked Southern and Central Mindanao on March 7, 2002 killed 11 people.

Destructive earthquakes most likely “For the last 35 years, the Philippines had been affected by 10 earthquakes with magnitude greater than 7.0,” said a fact sheet circulated by Phivolcs. “Hence, the likelihood of these destructive earthquakes occurring again in the future is indeed very strong.”

Several studies pointed out the Philippines archipelago lies between two major tectonic plates, the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate. Phivolcs says the Philippine Sea Plate is moving towards the Philippine Archipelago at the rate of about 7 centimeters per year. The Eurasian Plate is being subducted along western side of Luzon and Mindoro at the rate of 3 centimeters per year except on Mindoro and northwest of Zamboanga where collision is taking place.

“At the intersection of these two plates is found the Philippine Fault Zone which decouples the northwestward motion of the Pacific with the southwestward motion of the Eurasian Plate,” Phivolcs explains. “Movements along other active faults are responsible for the present-day high seismicity of the Philippine Archipelago.”

Every day, at least 5 earthquakes occur in the country.

“Based on the distribution of earthquake epicenters, the most seismically active part of the county is its eastern section containing eastern Mindanao, Samar and Leyte with an average of 16 perceptible earthquakes per year.”

6,000 earthquakes annually According to the Grolier Encyclopedia, about 6,000 earthquakes are detected throughout the world each year. Of this, 5,500 are either too small or too far from populated areas to be felt directly.

Another 450 are felt but cause no damage while 35 cause only minor damage. The remaining 15, however, can exact great toll sin death and suffering, besides heavily damaging houses, buildings, and other

One’

(from DOST)

Tsunami (from Wikipedia)

olent trembling of the ground produced by the sudden displacement of rocks or rock materials below the earth’s surface.”

The earth has an outermost shell, about 80-kilometer thick, which is solid and rigid.

This shell is called lithosphere, which is subdivided into small and large pieces with some pieces large enough to contain continents. These pieces of lithosphere are called tectonic plates.

So-called faults are breaks or zones of weaknesses in rocks akong which displacements had occurred or can occur again. They may extend for hundreds of kilometers downward, even down to the base of the lithosphere. Faults showing signs or documented history of recent displacements are called active faults.

When an earthquake devastated Bohol (from Wikipedia)

structures.

An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or

temblor), according to a monograph circulated by the Philvocs, “is feeble shaking to vi-

Earthquake hazards The destructive effects of earthquakes are due mainly to intense ground shaking or

vibration. “Because of severe ground shaking, low and tall buildings, towers and posts may tilt, split, topple or collapse, foundation of roads, railroad tracks and bridges may break, water pipes and other utility installations may get dislocated, dams and similar structures may break and cause flooding, and other forms of mass movement may be generated,” explains RED (Reference for Emergency and Disaster), which is published by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Liquefaction, the process where particles of loosely consolidated and water-saturated deposits of fine sand are rearranged into more compact state, can also occur. Liquefaction prone areas can be found in beach zones, sand spits, sand bars, wide coastal plains, deltaic plains, floodplains, and former or existing marshlands and swamplands.

Many strong earthquakes originate along faults that break the earth’s rigid crust.

Called ground rupture, it is a deformation on the ground that marks the intersection of the fault plane with the earth’s surface.

“The most common manifestation is a long fissure extending from a few kilometers to tens of kilometers,” RED explains. “Ground rupture may also occur as a series of discontinuous cracks, mounds or depressions. Houses and buildings on top of an active fault can be damaged by ground rupture.”

Landslides, the downward movement of slope materials either slowly or quickly, are most likely to happen. Hilly and mountainous areas, escarpments, and steep river banks, sea cliffs and other steep slopes are prone to landslides. “The main effects of landsliding would be erosion and burial,” RED warns.

Earthquakes can also cause tsunamis. “Tsunamis are giant sea waves generated mostly by submarine earthquakes,” RED says. They occur when the earthquake is shallow-seated and strong enough (magnitude 6.5 or greater) to vertically displace parts of the seabed disturb the mass of water over it.

Other causes of tsunamis include submarine or coastal landslides and submarine volcanic eruptions. Tsunamis can flood low lying coastal areas and drown people.

“Not all submarine earthquakes, however, can cause tsunamis to occur,”Phivolcs points out. (To be concluded)

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

I

Undue advantage

T seems that administration bets Mar Roxas and Leni Robredo are getting undue advantage in the 2016 elections, what with the use of government programs and mobilizations, not to mention the use of government services like transportation.

Photos have circulated in social media of government vehicles being used to carry campaign materials of the Liberal Party bets and Roxas’ TV host-wife Korina Sanchez joining a dispersal program of the Department of Agriculture personally handing over agricultural implements to farmers in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato.

Why is Ms. Sanchez afforded that responsibility when it is a government program, not an election campaign rally? Had it been her television program distributing slippers to kids’ people, it would have been understandable, but that was not her show. That was a government program. And the funny thing is DA Secretary Proceso Alcala himself allowed it to

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Building, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, Philippines Tel: (082) 224-1413 301-6235 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 www.edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net marketing@edgedavao.net

happen.

Korina and Secretary Alcala distributed farm tractors, floating tillers, wheelbarrows, and other farm implements.

Korina, dressed in the signature yellow shirt of the LP, led the distribution of rice to farmers who were ferried to the venue.

This could be interpreted as the administration’s way of legalized “vote buying.”

The presence of Korina in the government activity is a clear violation of election laws and an overbearing display of power and arrogance by the administration.

There was also the use of a red-plated mini dump truck and another government pick up truck ferrying Roxas’ campaign materials. Isn’t this technically a violation of election laws?

This only means one thing — that the administration is using government resources in the Roxas-Robredo campaign.

What an irony from people who pride themselves as champions against corruption.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

AGAPITO JOAQUIN JR. Associate Editor

CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY Consultant

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO CHENEEN R. CAPON MEGHANN STA. INES Reporters NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN FUNNY PEARL GAJUNERA Lifestyle LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. CHA MONFORTE ARLENE D. PASAJE Photography Correspondents Cartoons Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. Columnists: • HENRYLITO D. TACIO • EDCER C.B. ESCUDERO • ATTY. EMILY ZEN CHUA • GREGORIO G. DELIGERO JOHN CARLO TRIA • BORBONCARLOS • MARYMUNDA ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR., • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN • NICASIO ANGELO•AGUSTIN • EMILY VIDA S. VALVERDE C. LUMBA • HENRY J. SCHUMACHER • VANESSA KATE MADRAZO• JONALLIER Economic Analysts: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG ZENMIA CHUA • CARLOS• FRED MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG M. PEREZ

the national association of newspapers

OLIVIA D. VELASCO D.D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONA OLIVIA D. VELASCO JOCELYN S. PANES SOLANI SOLANI MARATAS General Manager Finance Advertising Specialist General Manager Director of Sales Finance RICHARD C. EBONA Marketing Supervisor

VOL. 8 ISSUE 245 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

GENERAL SANTOS CITY OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING MARKETING OFFICE

LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager EDMUND D. RENDON Unit 6, SouthbankMarketing Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts. Specialist General Santos City Cagayan de Oro City Mobile: (Smart) 0909-424-7990 Tel: (088) 852-4894

MANILA MARKETING OFFICE

ANGELICA R. GARCIA | Marketing Manager 97-1 Bayanbayanan Ave., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 654-3509

EDGEDAVAO

F

INALLY, screen heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio received the elusive Academy Award. The Revenant was his sixth nomination and many thought he would get it. And he did.

He received his first Oscar nomination for a supporting role as a mentally challenged boy in the drama What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993). In 2004, he was recognized for playing Howard Hughes in The Aviator. In 2007, he got another Best Actor nomination for Blood Diamond. In 2014, he received two nominations: as Best Actor and producer of Wolf of Wall Street.

While DiCaprio took the Oscar statuette, I was reminded of the late Paul Newman (yes, the blue-eyed actor who co-starred with Robert Redford in Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid and The Sting). Newman won his Oscar for his performance in The Color of Money (1986). It was his seventh nomination, having been nominated previously for 1958’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, 1961’s The Hustler, 1963’s Hud, 1967’s Cool Hand Luke, 1981’s Absence of Malice, and 1982’s The Verdict.

Newman received two more nominations after winning the Oscar. In 1994, he got a Best Actor nomination for Nobody’s Fool and a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Road to Perdition (2002). In both nominations, he was defeated by Tom Hanks (Forrest Gump) and Chris Cooper (Adaptation), respectively.

Then, there was Al Pacino. He took home the prestigious award on his eighth nomination: for Scent of a Woman (1993), which most observers think was not his great role ever. He was also nominated that year for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Glengarry Glenn Ross.

Pacino also received nominations for his lead roles in 1974’s Serpico, 1975’s The

F

ebruary 29, 2016 will be remembered not only for coming once every four years but for a wonderful lunch tendered by the Ambassador Club of Davao and the American Chamber of Commerce in Mindanao at The Marco Polo Davao’s Sarangani Room in honor of the visiting Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Mexico Julio Camerna Villasenor to Davao City. Gracing the event were Honorary Mexican consul and former Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Dr. Maria Lourdes G. Monteverde, Japanese Consul Tomoko Dodo, and Malaysian Consul Abdulla Zawawi Tahir, and Honorary Consul of Palau Miguel Iñigo. The lunch included a presentation of the various business initiatives of Mexican companies in the Philippines, such as Coca Cola FEMSA, CEMEX, and the newest, the Kidzania childrens attraction at the

VOL. 8 ISSUE 245 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

VANTAGE POINTS

9

The elusive Oscar Godfather Part II, THINK ON THESE! 1976’s Dog Day Afternoon, and 1980’s … And Justice for All. He also received nominations for his supporting roles in 1973’s The Godfather and 1991’s Dick Henrylito D. Tacio henrytacio@gmail.com Tracy.

At least, DiCaprio, Newman and Pacino won Oscar for their performances. But there were two equally great actors who were nominated several times but never received the Oscar until death caught up with them.

First, there was British actor Richard Burton, the husband of London-born American actress Elizabeth Taylor (who received two Oscar awards).

Burton was nominated six times for an Academy Award for Best Actor and once for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. His first nomination, for My Cousin Rachel (1952), was for Best Supporting Actor.

His subsequent nominations all came in the Best Actor category.

He was nominated as Best Actor for The Robe in 1954, but did not receive another nomination until 1965, for Becket, at which time he was one of the most famous actors in the world, due to his relationship with Elizabeth Taylor.

Considered a favorite in the 1966 and 1967 contests for The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), he lost to Lee Marvin and Paul Scofield, respectively.

His performance in Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) was bested by John Wayne in True Grit and his comeback performance in

Equus (1977) was topped by Richard Dreyfuss in The Goodbye Girl.

Irish actor Peter O’Toole, on the other hand, received eight Oscar nominations.

In 1962, he got his first nomination as T.E. Lawrence in Lawrence of Arabia (he lost to Gregory Peck, who starred as lawyer Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird). Two years later, he got a nomination as King Henry II in Becket (but Rex Harrison got the Oscar for My Fair Lady).

For the same role as King Henry II in The Lion in Winter (1968), O’Toole got another nomination but Cliff Robertson won the award for his touching performance in Charly. The following year, his role as Arthur Chipping in Goodbye, Mr. Chips earned him another nomination.

In 1972, his performance in The Ruling Class was defeated by Marlon Brando, who was great for his lead role as mafia patriarch in The Godfather. Robert De Niro (Raging Bull) defeated his performance in The Stunt Man (1980) and his Alan Swann in My Favorite Year was no match for Ben Kingsley’s Gandhi. His last nomination was for Venus (2006), but it was the year when Forest Whitaker played the brutal Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland.

Perhaps the most nominated actress who never took home the award was Deborah Kerr. She was nominated six times for the Academy Award for Best Actress: Edward, My Son (1949), From Here to Eternity (1953), The King and I (1956), Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957), Separate Tables (1958) and The Sundowners (1960). She received one Academy Honorary Award for her career in 1994.

Katharine Hepburn was the most Oscar awarded performer. She won four for her leading roles in 1993’s Morning Glory,

1967’s Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner?, 1968’s The Lion in Winter (where she shared the honor with Barbra Streisand who was equally great in Funny Girl), and 1981’s On Golden Pond.

Hepburn was also nominated eight times: 1935’s Alice Adams, 1940’s The Philadelphia Story, 1942’s Woman of the Year, 1951’s The African Queen, 1955’s Summertime, 1956’s The Rainmaker, 1959’s Suddenly, Last Summer, and 196’2 Long Day’s Journey Into Night.

But the most nominated performer is Meryl Streep. She received 19 nominations, winning three: as Best Supporting Actress in 1980’s Kramer Vs. Kramer and two Best Actress awards for 1983’s Sophie’s Choice and 2012’s The Iron Lady.

Streep also received a nomination for her supporting roles in 1979’s The Deer Hunter, 2003’s Adaptation, and 2014’s Into the Woods.

The rest of her nominations were for Best Actress: 1982’s The French Lieutenant’s Woman (which was exhibited at the Manila International Film Festival), 1984’s Silkwood, 1986’s Out of Africa, 1988’s Ironweed, 1989’s A Cry in the Dark, 1991’s Postcards from the Edge, 1996’s The Bridges of Madison County, 1999’s One True Thing, 2000’s Music of the Heart, 2007’s The Devil Wears Prada, 2009’s Doubt, 2010’s Julie and Julia, and 2013’s August: Osage County.

With 12 Academy Award nominations, Jack Nicholson is the most nominated male actor. He has won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice, one for the drama One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) and the other for the romantic comedy As Good as It Gets (1997). He also won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the comedy-drama Terms of Endearment (1983).

Bonifacio GlobMY TWO CENTS’ al City in Metro Manila. All of these investments totaled 6 billion dollars over the last ten years, making Mexico one of our 10 top trading John Tria ecisouth@gmail.com partners. The Ambasador revealed that another 2 billion dollar investment is forthcoming.

What was most interesting was the revelation of many things about Mexican culture and history that closely mirror our own. It is a fact, for instance, the our Spanish colonizers administered the Philippine archipel-

ago via Mexico, called Nueva España or New Spain. Thus, many of our Spanish Governors general were once officials in the Spanish colonial government in Mexico. Most notably, Miguel Lopez de Legazpi who finally “conquered” Manila was once the Mayor of Mexico City. Likewise revealing is the fact that many of our cultural and religious practices are not of Spanish origin but rather native Mexican. Our “Kalag-kalag” or “undas” traditions are taken from the “Dias de los Muertos.” Both our cultures observe these as special days in which we visit our departed loved ones on the second of November.

Apart from the Church and beyond the grave, Filipinos owe Mexicans their wet markets, which in ancient Aztec was termed “Palenqui,” with the smaller ones called “Tiangge.” We also share a liking for fruits like the Chico, so named by native Mexicans,

we regularly consume “Tomate” and “Camote,” both ending in the letter E, like the famous Mexican beer “Tecate” and Tequila, taken from a root called “Agave,” which led the event master of ceremonies Alvin Pinpin to ask if “Duterte” is also a Mexican word.

In all, the deep historical ties and common aspirations shared by Filipinos and Mexicans stem from a common experience of centuries under Spanish colonial rule, culminating in a bloody revolution ousting the Spaniards in roughly the same generation. Both countries also look forward to working in common markets with more economically powerful neighbors. We also face the same threat of narcopolitics and a the need to beef up our territorial defenses. Similarities point out a truth we cannot deny, that our common roots are as thick, and about as tasty, as the camote.

Mexican lunch in Davao

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

Relief workers survive Army-BIFF crossfire A

ID workers in Maguindanao have survived many hostilities, even risking lives to serve internally displaced families in Maguindanao during both man-made and natural calamities.

But Wednesday’s encounter was too close for comfort.

The People’s Medical Team (PMT), Maguindanao’s emergency relief assistance unit, was almost caught in the crossfire when government forces and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) traded mortars in Barangay Tee, Datu Salibo, Maguindanao.

Emergency workers were trapped as the protagonists traded mortars but all of them,

numbering about 15, survived unscathed, according to PMT focal person Lynette Estandarte.

Estandarte, also Maguindanao’s budget officer, said the team was preparing to leave the village where the relief operation was conducted when automatic gunfire was heard near them. Not far away were soldiers in combat position firing their guns.

“Bullet sounds were so close to us, we were told to lie down,” she told reporters.

A few minutes later, the soldiers told the relief aid workers to pack up and leave. They did so hurriedly.

Being in the middle of the

battlefield was not new to the aid workers, having risked lives so displaced families can be served.

“We have been to this situation in the past but this one was so scary, hearing the sounds of bullets passing so close to us,” Estandarte said.

The military said the BIFF had grouped into smaller teams apparently to mislead military forces. They even mingled with civilians and most likely received relief aid from government agencies.

Captain Joann Petinglay, speaking for the military, admitted it could be a possibility. “But if they are unarmed, we cannot just pounce on them,” she said

in a radio interview, adding that it was difficult to determine whether those queuing for relief goods are BIFF or ordinary civilians.

Estandarte said despite the scary experience, the PMT will continue its mission of helping the displaced families survive the daily ordeal of living in cramped evacuation sites.

“This is the mandate given us by Governor (Esmael) Mangudadatu. We will continue to discharge this mandate,” she said.

Fighting continued Thursday between elements of the 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade and BIFF in Datu Salibo’s village of Tee. (PNA)

T the height of the hostilities in Lanao del Sur last week, hundreds of VHF amateur radio enthusiasts prevented further escalation of the conflict by going on air spreading information or dispelling rumors.

Ayub Saripada, public information officer of Saksi, the biggest amateur radio group in Lanao del Sur said their 1,000 plus members were monitoring closely the developments of the fighting when they learned that Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) commander Abdurahman Macapaar aka Commander Bravo issued a crucial statement on February 23.

In that interview, first aired

by DXKP, a local TV and radio station, Bravo said he and his forces were not involved in the

fighting in Butig town and the ambush of a military convoy in Balindong town, all in Lanao del Sur. In the videotaped interview, Bravo said the MILF is not involved in the fighting in Lanao del Sur. “Hindi po kasali dyan ang MILF” (The MILF is not involved there), he said.

He also belied reports that he had joined the armed group responsible for the attacks. “Tapat po ako sa MILF dahil ang emir po ng MILF si Al Haj Murad Ebrahim ay ang sinsusunod ay si Allah at ang Prophet Muhammad” (I am loyal to the MILF because our Emir, Al Haj Murad Ebrahim follows Allah and the Prophet Muhammad), Bravo said.

Saripada said their group leaped on the chance to help

and their members quickly made use of the base radios and smaller ICOM sets to relay the message on air.

Ham VHF radios are the chief mode of communications in Marawi City and Lanao del Sur province where mobile phone signals are weak.

“Kahit na uminit ang aming mga radio sets, sige pa rin kami kasi alam naming napaka importante ang statement ni Bravo ,” Saripada told MindaNews.

The relay of information was so timely and was credited by the government and the MILF for averting a possible escalation of the hostilities last week.

“Maganda ang ginawa ni Commander Bravo. Nakatulong talaga” (What Command-

er Bravo did is good. It really helped defuse tension), Von Al Haq, MILF spokesperson and member of the general staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) told MindaNews.

He said the armed group led by the Maute brothers made several attempts to draw the MILF into the hostilities by running to the MILF camps when pursued by government troops.

“Bravo’s statement had a calming effect on a very tense situation. Everyone realized he was not breaking the ceasefire between the MILF and the government,” Army Brig. Gen. Glen Macasero, head of the government’s Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) said. Froilan O. Gallardo / MindaNews)

the strongest of political, social and religious differences,” Drilon said.

Drilon said that he was alarmed about the brazenness of the attempted assassination, and called on the local authorities to work hard in investigating this incident, “to prevent and discourage such acts in the future.”

“Our law enforcement agencies must get to the bottom of this incident, including why and how it happened. It

is important that we know everything that we need to make sure these kind of violent actions do not happen again,” Drilon said.

He said whether the victim was a foreign national or an ordinary Filipino citizen, the police and the military need to step up their intelligence network in order to prevent these acts from happening within the country’s territory, which undermines our image as a peaceful nation. (PNA)

Meanwhile, Retirement & Healthcare Coalition, International, a non-profit, non-stock private organization affiliated with the Joint Foreign Chambers of the Philippines, is doing its share in making the country more viable as a retirement destination. The organization recently conducted a certifi-

cation and training program for a Quality Management System based on DIN EN ISO 9001:2000 to participating nursing homes under the Public Private Partnership Project “Human Touch.” The activities under the program were tailor-made for the institutional framework of the Philippines.

ient<SPACE> (Amount)MB to 808.

If you are an Android user, you can enjoy convenient transactions when you activate Smart’s Google Direct Carrier Billing. Simply go to the Play Store, click ‘My Account’ and enable ‘Smart Communications billing’ under Payment methods. On the other hand, if you are an iOS device user, you can activate Smart’s Pay-With-Mobile service by texting to REG to 4949.

In September last year, Smart staged the Philippine Clash, the country’s biggest and most prestigious nationwide CoC tournament with over P2.3 million in prizes – the largest pool prize ever in a local gaming competition.

strategy that aims to increase the competitiveness of Mindanao industries by providing them with common service facilities.”

The program, according to MinDA, “also aims to achieve physical integration among key economic clusters in Mindanao in its bid to become self-reliant and internally dependable. The program will also prepare the island-region towards greater economic cooperation with the BIMP-EAGA and other ASEAN-member countries in anticipation for the ASEAN Integration by 2015.”

Belches said the MinDA has been working for the promotion of the MDC for a long time before it was adopted by the DPWH. “We are very happy that the national government agencies are considering our

program to attain inclusive growth in Mindanao,” she said.

The adoption of the MDC will allow the interconnectivity between key hubs in Mindanao as well as improve roads leading to seaports and airports which are necessary in improving the logistics sector the island.

Belches also said the adoption of the program will allow projects of each regional office of the DPWH to complement with each other.

She said at present, the lack of complementation among national government agencies cause redundancy and road leading to “nowhere.”

Aside from masterplan updating, the DPWH will be also improving 13 road networks in Northern Mindanao as part of the implementation of the foreign-assisted project. CHENEEN R. CAPON

Amateur radio operators help de-escalate Lanao Sur conflict

A

Drilon... FROM 3

Smart... FROM 11 Best mobile gaming experience Smart takes the lead in making available the widest breadth of digital content, innovative offers, and engaging event to give its subscribers the best mobile gaming experience.

Aside from offering fullpacked data promos perfect for gaming, Smart enables its subscribers to level up their online adventure through an easy mode of purchasing inapp and in-game items using their prepaid load or charged to their postpaid account.

BOI... FROM 4

DPWH... FROM 4

VOL. 8 ISSUE 245 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

SHORTER... FROM 1 of the Philippines (NGCP) recorded a 27-MW deficit yesterday. The NGCP said the power demand yesterday was seen to reach 1,420MW, surpassing the 1,393 system capacity as of 1:00 p.m.

The NGCP said the low capacity of the state-owned hydroelectric power plants Agus-Pulangi Complexes due to El Niño resulted in the pow-

er deficit.

The bombing of towers and transmission lines of the NGCP also causes grid deficit.

Agus 1 and 2 remained isolated from the Mindanao grid because Tower 25 remained unrepaired for more than two months after it was bombed last Christmas Eve because of a conflict with private landowners on which the tower stands.

diseases,” Villareiz said in the statement She said compared to text-only warnings, GHW images are more effective at conveying the truth about the harmful effects of tobacco use, discouraging initiation by young people, and encouraging tobacco cessation among current users.

She said all tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, and other forms of smoked and smokeless tobacco, whether locally produced or imported into the Philippine market, should carry GHWs on their packaging.

“As set out in the GHW Law, the Department of Health has published a set of twelve (12) GHWs that depict some of the many health harms caused by tobacco use, such as mouth and throat cancer, stroke, emphysema, impotence, hand/ foot gangrene, and low birth weight and preterm birth.

Each picture is accompanied by a related text message in Filipino (on the front) and English (on the back),” she said.

Villareiz said the Bureau of

Internal Revenue (BIR) will ensure that excise tax stamps are not affixed on noncompliant packages.

The Department of Education (DepEd) will also use GHW templates to educate children on the ill effects of tobacco and will ensure that these are included in relevant subjects under the K-12 curriculum, she added.

The penalty for the manufacturers and importers will P500,000 for the first offense, P1 million for the second offense, and P2 million for the third offense or imprisonment of not more than five years, or both, and business permits and licenses will be revoked or cancelled.

“For retailers, on the first offense, a fine of not more than P10,000. On the second offense, a fine of not more than P50,000. On the third offense, a fine of not more than P100,000 or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both, and business permits and licenses shall be revoked or cancelled,” she said. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

keting materials helped in increasing awareness and generating a positive performance, while our market development efforts served to ensure that this growth will be sustained year on year. The strategies outlined in the country’s National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2011-2016 have enabled us to stay on focused in improving the sector’s competitiveness and in contributing to the country’s overall goal of inclusive growth. More than accounting for a significant share of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, this rapid growth in the industry is allowing decent jobs and livelihood for many Filipinos. For 2015, tourism employment is

estimated at 4.99 million with a share of 12.7% to national employment, already representing 4.8% growth from 2014,” Tourism Secretary Ramon R. Jimenez, Jr. said.

“The past five years up to the present has been a story of how the DOT, together with its attached agencies, has achieved an enhanced orientation as the country’s primary marketing and selling unit.

Together with the support of both public and private sectors, we were able to transform tourism into a national industry. Indeed, it has been a journey of an entire country working together to make tourism the people’s business,” Jimenez said.

they were government officials or civilians suspected to military assets.

Lawyer Antonio T. Teves, a police general from Davao City, was assassinated for his law enforcement work, while broadcasters Leonardo Palo Jr. of DXRA and Edgar Nagar of DXDC and the Mindanao Daily Mirror were killed for their anti-communist commentaries. Wilfredo “Baby” Aquino, barangay captain of Agdao before it was ger-

rymandered into 11 barangays lost his life with four others when ambushed by suspected communist assassins near his residence along Cabaguio Avenue. Earlier a total of 51 members of the paramilitary CAFGU (Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit) had been killed in separate incidents.

One of those perished was Col. Manuel Garcia, a wellloved police officer, for his campaign against illegal elements.

Cigarettes... FROM 2

DOT... FROM 6

HISTORY... FROM 14

11 COMPETITIVE EDGE Roubini to speak at Phl investment forum in NY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 245 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

I

NTERNATIONALLY renowned economist Nouriel Roubini, who was said to have predicted the last global economic crisis, will speak at the Philippines Business & Investment Forum (PBIF) happening in New York City on March 3.

Roubini will be part of the forum’s first panel discussion titled “The Only Way Forward,” where longterm sustainability of the Philippines’ encouraging economic story from the last six years will be tackled.

Joining Roubini in the first panel discussion of the PBIF will be Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Philippine Competition Commission Chair Arsenio Balisacan, and Century Properties Chairman and CEO Jose E.B. Antonio.

The 57-year-old Turkish-born American economist, who is chair and co-founder of global macroeconomic research firm Roubini Global Economics, is expected to share his thoughts on the Philippines’ chances of maintaining its positive economic performance even after the elections in May. It may be recalled that in January 2013, Roubini said the Philippines, which was still suffering from stubborn speculative credit ratings, deserved investment grade sovereign credit ratings. He pointed out significant improvements in the country’s economic, fiscal, financial, and policy fundamentals.

Soon after that, or in March 2013, Fitch Ratings gave the Philippines its first investment grade from a major international credit rating firm. Since then, the economy has earned a series of credit-rating upgrades from various institutions to now enjoy a secure place well within the investment-grade territory.

The Philippines has re-

W

ITH the theme “CE Expand: Competence in Engineering by the Extension of Parallel and New Dimension,” the Junior Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (JPICE) successfully held the JPICE Congress on February 26-28, 2016 at the NCCC Mall Kadayawan Hall in Davao City.

Highlighted activities included a seminar and workshop sponsored by MIDAS IT (February 26); formal opening ceremony, seminars and search for Mr. & Ms. JPICE 2016 (February 27); and OJT Fair, battle of the bands and modern dance competition and MTS spoof (February 28).

The event was held to broaden the students’ scope of competence with character and excellence. It was able to achieve the objective to pro-

Nouriel Roubini corded an inspiring economic story over the years, transitioning from “the sick man of Asia” to “Asia’s bright spot.”

Besides securing investment grade sovereign credit ratings, which have helped reduce borrowing costs for the government and the average Filipino, the Philippines likewise significantly improved its rankings in various global surveys on competitiveness over the past six years. All this happened despite a challenging global economic environment.

The pending leadership change in the Philippines may have raised the question over the country’s ability to keep its positive momentum after the elections.

Taking a proactive stance in assuring the international investor community that the Philippines is poised to keep moving forward, the country’s top economic officials will share the latest favorable outlook on the economy, as well as various measures implemented to institutionalize reforms and to sustain the economic gains.

Some of the measures geared toward sustainability have been enshrined in laws, such as the Sin Tax Reform, the Tax Incentives Management and Transparency Act, the law fully liberalizing the banking sector, the amendment to the Cabotage law, and the Competition Act, among others. These

laws are seen to play vital roles in helping accelerate the Philippines’ economic gains in the years to come.

Besides Roubini, executives from the US business community will also be joining Philippine government officials and private-sector executives in the PBIF. Other foreign speakers in the event include US Chamber of Commerce Senior Director for Southeast Asia John Goyer, Standard & Poor’s Sovereign Debt Committee Chair John Chambers, Citigroup Vice Chair for Investment Banking Jay Collins, Caterpillar’s Executive Director for Government and Corporate Affairs for Asia-Pacific Jeffrey Hardee, Philip Morris Vice President for US and International Corporate Affairs Jon Huenemann, and US-ASEAN Business Council President and CEO Alexander Feldman, among others.

US Department of Commerce Director Andrew Edlefsen will be among the representatives from the US government to grace the event.

In addition to the discussion on sustainability of economic gains, the PBIF will also feature panel discussions on business opportunities in various sectors of the Philippine economy: banking, capital markets, manufacturing and BPO, and tourism.

The PBIF is initiated by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia, Jr. and international events company Invivalink, with assistance from the Investor Relations Office (IRO).

The Philippine government and US Philippines Society serve as lead partners for the event, while other institutional partners include the Makati Business Club, the US Chamber of Commerce, the US-ASEAN Business Council, AMCHAM Philippines, and the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce.

mote camaraderie between the five different schools, encourage participation, and motivate them to get involved in activities that will help them in their future endeavors.

The activity was organized by the JPICE officers and directors headed by president Dan Loigi Pardillo in cooperation with the presidents of the different Civil Engineering schools, namely University of Mindanao, University of Southeastern Philippines, Ateneo de Davao University, University of Immaculate Conception, and Jose Maria College.

It was fully supported by the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Davao City Chapter headed by Engineer Anacleto V. Calamba, Jr. (Engr. Sharon Angelica Gilla- Bonguyan, MPA)

WINNERS. Newly crowned Mr. JPICE Filnick G. Aguilon (UM, left) & Ms. JPICETresha Roelle Jainar (USEP, 5th from left) are flanked by JPICE president Dan Loigi Pardillo, Mr. & Ms. JPICE 1st runner-up (Kenneth Paul Villacorta & Blanche

Smart brings‘Clash Royale’to Filipinos

F

OLLOWING the massive success of Clash of Clans (CoC) around the world, Helsinki-based mobile game developer Supercell has launched another much anticipated game, ‘Clash Royale,’ in the Philippines, and gamers can now make the most of it with Smart Prepaid’s PasaData, which allows them to share data with friends anytime and anywhere for more online gaming fun.

An exhilarating card and strategy mobile game, ‘Clash Royale’ pits players in a duel with other online players in a race to knock down each other’s castle. To achieve this, players draw from a deck of eight cards containing familiar CoC characters, defenses and spells and unleash all their powers in the arena.

Victories lead to more cards, trophies and glory, which then allow players to upgrade their characters, unlock new arenas, and ultimately build their clan and battle community to share their cards with.

Rave game reviews Prior to its worldwide launch, ‘Clash Royale’ was ini-

tially rolled out in select markets in Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Finland and New Zealand, where it garnered rave reviews for creatively merging the card and arena game formats. You can now download the game on Google Play Store and the App Store for free.

“We are thrilled to finally make ‘Clash Royale’ available to Filipinos, who are very engaged CoC players,” said Erlend Christoffersen, Director for Global Expansion at Supercell. “We can’t wait for them to have as much fun and enjoyment while playing our new game with their family and friends anytime, anywhere.”

“We welcome the launch of ‘Clash Royale’ in the Philippines, and we expect it to follow the success of the massive hit ‘Clash of Clans’ as it introduces another exciting way for friends to bond and interact with each other online,” said Katrina Luna-Abelarde, Head of Wireless Operations at Smart.

“Filipino mobile gamers can definitely make the most of this new game with Smart Prepaid’s PasaData, which

gives you the convenience and flexibility of passing on a chunk of your Big Bytes Barkada offers to your friends – the first service of its kind in the country,” she added.

PasaData with Big Bytes Barkada offers PasaData can be used with both Big Bytes Barkada 99 (which comes with 700MB valid for 7 days) and Big Bytes Barkada 299 (which offers 2GB valid for 30 days).

Both full-packed offers, you can use the Big Bytes Barkada to play ‘Clash Royale’ and other mobile games, stream videos and music on apps like YouTube, iflix, and Spinnr, and stay active on all your other apps, such as Facebook, Viber, and Instagram, among others.

To register to Big Bytes Barkada offers, simply text BBB99 or BBB299 to 9999, respectively, or dial *121# – the all-access portal for all Smart Prepaid promos.

Once registered, you can easily make use of PasaData for your friends anytime and anywhere by simply texting SHARE<SPACE>No. of Recip-

F SMART, 10

JPICE holds successful congress in Davao City

Sullano both from ADDU), MIDAS IT sponsor, and PICE Davao officers headed by president Anacleto V. Calamba, Jr. (fourth from left) during the pageant night on February 27, 2016 at NCCC Mall Kadayawan Hall in Davao City.

12 CLASSIFIEDS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 245 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENT Serving a seamless society

EDGEDAVAO GENSAN PARTNERS Serving a seamless society

Advertise with

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

Tel No. 082.221.3601/224.1413 Email: edgedavao@gmail.com marketing@edgedavao.net

INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 245 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

EDGEDAVAO TRAVEL

WHY I LOVE THE

HIGHLANDS OF KAPATAGAN island. Davao City alone has a number of Kublai’s masterpieces. But when you come to Kapatagan, here you will find the Kublai Art Garden which houses some of the best art installations of the famous artist. I have gone and seen some beautiful art installations in the country and I would consider Kublai’s Art Garden in Kapatagan as one of the finest. Never miss this site when you visit Kapatagan. Oh yeah, it’s Instagram worthy.

By Olan Fernandez Emboscado THE HIGHLANDS OF KAPATAGAN IN DIGOS CITY is among the most visited destinations in the Davao Region. This rustic part of the Davao Del Sur’s capital is popular among mountain climbers as one of the major jump off points to the majestic Mount Apo, the Philippines’ highest point. A great part of Kapatagan is under the protected area of Mt. Apo Natural Park, thus, luxuriant vegetation covers the highlands. Having visited this place a number of times, this has become my personal favorite. And every time I come back, there’s always this immense feeling of thrill that I always have. Certainly, this part of the region never runs out of great surprises and exhilarating adventures for thrillseekers like me.

Here are some interesting reasons I love Kapatagan Highlands. Try these out. Who knows? It can be the same reason you will be coming back to this Edenic Highland of Davao del Sur. THE MAJESTIC VIEW OF MOUNT APO Being the grandfather of Philippine mountains, Mount Apo is undeniably a beautiful sight to behold. Situated at the foot of the Mt. Apo, Kapatagan offers a number of best spots to get the outstanding view of the highest summit of the country.

Mornings at Kapatagan with Mt Apo at the background is something to look forward to everyday.

THE COOL HIGHLAND BREEZE OF KAPATAGAN At 1,160 meters above sea level, Kapatagan’s cool climate makes it among the best destination in Davao Region to chill and relax especially during warmer days. For those who come here often, they call this place Little Baguio as the temperature here is much colder than other places in the region.

There are only two destinations in Davao Region that I love most because of its cool and cold weather – BUDA in the boundaries of Davao and Bukidnon, and KAPATAGAN. THRILING RIDES OF CAMP

SABROS Home to the first zipline rides in Davao Region, Camp Sabros is among the top destinations in Kapatagan. They have three zipline facilities here. One of those is considered the longest in the whole Davao Region.

Aside from ziplines, Camp Sabros also offers accommodation facilities for those who’d like to stay for a night or more. Campers also have space here at this highland camping destination.

Camp Sabros also offers the best spot to catch the perfect view of Mount Apo.

THE AWAKENING AROMA OF MOUNT APO COFFEE Some of the best coffee beans in Davao Region are grown at the foot of Mount Apo. The fertile volcanic soil of the country’s highest peak makes it the ideal place to grow coffee. Must try is the Altura Coffee and the famous Civet Coffee grown by Dizon Farms. Awaken your

senses with the aroma and taste of Kapatagan’s coffee.

THE AWE-INSPIRING ART GARDEN OF ARTIST KUBLAI MILLAN If you are from Mindanao, I guess you are familiar with the works of renowned Mindanaoan artist Kublai Milan scattered in many parts of the

THE HEART-PUMPING JOURNEY TO THE VIRGIN FALLS There’s nothing like trekking down deep into the cool Virgin Falls. Albeit treacherous trail seemed unending, the journey itself is an experience to remember. Thick vegetation covers the trail. Huge ferns are abundant. Cogon grasses taller than humans are all over. Sharp rocks along dangerous cliffs can be heart stopping. It must be one of your hardcore hikes but when you get to the eye-catching beauty of the Virgin Falls hidden deep inside this thick verdant forest, it will definitely

KAPATAGAN A4

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 245 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

FOOD

A FEAST FOR FASTING The Marco Polo Davao offers a seafood bonanza and more

THE CELEBRATION OF DURIANBURG’S founding is just around the corner and along with it are the many parties and dining events that add to the celebration.

But for many devout Catholics, this period is also marked by the observance of Lent where many abstain from vices as well as from eating meat, which is why The Marco Polo Davao’s special seafood dinner buffets are a welcome deal which I was able to preview last week.

Available every Friday and Saturday, diners can enjoy a variety of seafood items such as Yellow-fin tuna, crab, shrimp, oysters, mussels, and different fishes prepared to their preference. Items can be grilled, deep-fried, steamed, baked, or even prepared as soup. A variety of sauces, seaweed (or lukot) salad are also available to further complement the seafood dish.

“Cafe Marco’s buffet spread for the special days will be composed of around 70 to 80 seafood,” said Marco Polo Davao’s every cheerful and dynamic general manager Dottie Würgler-Cronin.

“This is also to highlight the bounty of the seas of Davao as well as for the celebration of Lent.”

Also introduced during the media lunch was Marco Polo Davao’s two new signature dishes.

The Davao Kinilaw is the hotel’s own version of the local favorite, tuna kinilaw. It is prepared similarly to a ceviche with

distinct local ingredients such as cucumber, Philippine lime (dayap) with calamansi (native lemon) and fried dried squid.

Dottie took delight in personally demonstrating the preparation of the signature dish, which will be available at any dining outlet of the hotel. Ms Dottie has a special connection with the Tuna Kinilaw as she prepared this dish for her colleagues during the GM’s Conference of Marco Polo Hotels in Niccolo Chengdu, China last year.

For those individuals who can eat meat, Execu-

tive Sous Chef Alex Destriza also presented the second signature dish of Marco Polo Davao, the Baked BBQ Baby Back Ribs which has also been an all-time favourite of its regular dining guests.

There is also a Sunday Dimsum Buffet at the hotel’s Cantonese restaurant, The Lotus Court. The buffet is a spread of the hotel’s famous savory dimsum such as Pork Shrimp Xiumai, Xiao Long Bao, Hakao, Spring rolls, Pork and Chicken Siopao as well as dessert dimsum including the Lotus Court’s famous Buchi.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 245 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

KapusoprogramsandpersonalitiesreceiveAnakTVseals GMA NETWORK continues to earn the nod of the Filipino audience with a number of Kapuso programs and personalities receiving child-friendly seals from Anak TV.

Recognized as Makabata Stars of 2015 – personalities who are most “credible, wholesome, and worth emulating by the youth” – were Primetime King and Queen Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, the phenomenal love team of Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, GMA News and Public Affairs personalities Vicky Morales, Kara David, and Drew Arellano, and Eat Bulaga host Vic Sotto.

GMA public affairs programs recognized with the Anak TV Seal for 2015 were infotainment show AHA!, the animated series Alamat, travel and wildlife program Born to be Wild, news magazine show

Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho, wellness program Pinoy MD, and wish-granting show Wish Ko Lang.

Various Kapuso entertainment programs were also given the Anak TV seal including cooking shows

Del Monte Kitchenomics and Sarap with Family, wellloved family sitcom Pepito Manaloto, infotainment program I-BiliB, cooking talk show Sarap Diva, youthoriented program Tropang Potchi, locally produced travel

and culture program Let’s Fiesta, and the first ever faithserye Pari’Koy. Anak TV also recognized GMA News TV’s Ang Pinaka, Biyahe ni Drew, Good News, I Juander, Idol sa Kusina, Just 4 Kids, and Pop Talk.

In celebration of its 18th year, Anak TV also recognized GMA as among the pioneer networks who pushed for child-friendly programming and being instrumental in the establishment of Anak TV as an organization.

JanineGutierrezandRoccoNacinostarin WhangOd’slovestory AS PART OF ITS THIRD ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, Wagas will exclusively feature the love story of Kalinga tattoo artist Whang Od this Saturday (March 5) starring Janine Gutierrez and Rocco Nacino.

Amid the deliberation on declaring her as a National Artist, 95-year-old world renowned tattoo artist Whang Od shares her “One Great Love” for the very first time on Philippine television.

Dubbed as the “Last Mambabatok of Kalinga”, Whang Od’s body is covered by tattoos, all except her right arm that she reserved for the only man she ever loved. A batok or tattoo symbolizes Whang Od’s beautiful race. Her intricate tattoos

Ang-Batang—the only man Whang Od loved in her life—was greatly wounded in one of the battles he went to.

Wagas went all the way to Mountain Province to make this

attracted many men—including the handsome warrior AngBatang (Rocco). Whang Od and Ang-Batang would fall in love with each other but they had to conceal their relationship since Whang Od did not come from a family of pure-bloods like Ang-

special presentation under the direction of Rember Gelera. Watch the two-part episode of “Pag-ibig ni Whang Od” in Wagas this March 5 and 12, 7 p.m. on GMA NewsTV.

Batang. Only Whang Od’s best friend, Hogkajon (Stephanie Sol), knew about their romance .

But fate would play a cruel trick on them. Ang-Batang was ordered to marry Hogkajon, shattering Whang Od’s life into pieces. As if this was not enough,

JamieRiverareleasesnewinspirationalsingle THE COUNTRY’S INSPIRATIONAL DIVA Jamie Rivera is again using her voice and her music, this time to urge fellow Filipinos to vote wisely in the upcoming national elections and choose the candidates who they think would serve the people.

With the future of the country in mind, Jamie composed her newest single titled “Pag-isipan Mo Ang Boto Mo,” Star Music’s official theme song for “Halalan 2016.”

“St. Augustine said that singing is praying twice. That is why I turned my prayer into a song, because music is a universal language. It’s my prayer to God to guide Filipinos in choosing the

rightful candidates to lead our country. It’s also a message for us Filipinos to decipher whom we should vote for because the

future of our children is at stake,” she said.

“Pag-isipan mo at magdasal tayo kung sino ang dapat at kung sino ang tapat. ‘Yung hindi niya sasaktan, ating inang bayan, nagmamahal ng wagas sa bayang Pilipinas,” Jamie sings in the track.

“Pag-isipan Mo Ang Boto Mo’ can now be streamed on Spotify and can also be downloaded via online music stores such as ABSCBN Store, iTunes, Amazon.com, OneMusic.ph, and Starmusic.ph.

For more information, visit Starmusic.ph or follow Star Music’s official social media accounts at Facebook.com/ starmusicph, Twitter.com/ starrecordsph and Instagram. com/Starmusicph.

March 3 – 8, 2016

ALWAYS BE MY MAYBE Gerald Anderson, Arci Muňoz

PG

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

LONDON HAS FALLEN Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman R13

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

THE FINEST HOURS Chris Pine, Casey Affleck PG

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

GODS OF EGYPT Gerard Butler, Abbey Lee, Courtney Eaton PG

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

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 245 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

TRAVEL KAPATAGAN A1

take you breath away and will soothe your tired and numbed bodies.

THE QUAINT SCENERY OF LAKE MIRROR Among the places I visited in Kapatagan, Lake Mirror offers the most stunning view of Mount Apo. Owned by Mr. Philip Dizon, the same great mind behind the Davao Crocodile Park and Samal’s Maxima Aqua Fun, Lake Mirror has a number of camp houses and camping grounds available for campers and vacationers. Here guests can go boating, fishing, and paddling over Lake Mirror. On clearer days, the majestic view of Mount Apo is reflected on the tea-colored waters of lotus-filled lake.

THE SOOTHING WATERS OF MARAWER COLD AND HOTSPRING Cold spring and hot spring meet at Marawer.

This is the part of Kapatagan where one can dip into the cold waters from the mountains of Mount Apo but at the same time shift to hot spring contained in a man-made pool. This is favorite among locals as they come here often to

relax and unwind.

the sound of chirping birds will greet you and as you step out from your cabin, you will be clothed by the cold mountain breeze of Kapatagan.

Take a leisurely walk along the shaded lane of tall pine trees lining on the sides. Walk further up to the hilly part of the resort and marvel at the most beautiful view of the grandfather of Philippine Mountains. When done, walk down and head to the resort’s restaurant and sip your freshly brewed Kapatagan Coffee. Ah, such a good life. When in Kapatagan, there is only one place The Travel Teller highly recommends to be your home in this remarkable part of Mount Apo Range, the MT. APO HIGHLAND RESORT.

THE GENTLE AND WARM SMILES OF KAPATAGAN FOLK The people of Kapatagan are known to be friendly and hospitable.

Walk around the area and you will be greeted by the warm smiles of the people.

Most of them are farmers and you will see them selling vegetables in the market and on the sidewalks.

They are the nicest people, and they would even give more than what you buy from them. When touring around and you get lost, worry not, Kapatagan folk will surely help you.

THE FRESH BOUNTIFUL HARVEST OF KAPATAGAN At 1,160 feet, Kapatagan is the best place to grow vegetables and other crops. The cool, fresh mountain air and fertile land make it perfect to produce good and healthy crops. Even flowers grow copiously here. If you’re into vegetables, you can buy various vegetables sold in the market at very low price. Whenever I’m in Kapatagan, I would bring home with me vegetables from here. Aside from being cheap, they’re fresh.

THE REMARKABLE CULTURAL EXPERIENCE AT TIBOLO BAGOBO TRIBAL VILAGE Neighboring Kapatagan Highland is the Tibolo Cultural Village of Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur. This tribal village is home of Bagobo-Tagabawa people of Davao del Sur. When you visit here, you have the chance to commune, dance, and eat

tribal dishes with these indigenous people. Tibolo Cultural Village is very accessible from Kapatagan. Arranged trip to this tribal village can be made while in Kapatagan.

THE RELAXING AMBIENCE OF MT. APO HIGHLAND RESORT One of the best places to stay in Kapatagan is the Mt. Apo Highland Resort. This relaxing hill-

side resort is a preferred destination for Mt. Apo trekkers as well as travelers who just wish to have some respite from the busy life. All hillside cabins here offer the breathtaking view of Mt. Apo and the beautiful landscape dotting the sides.

With its cool climate, a night of sound sleep and relaxing rest awaits its guests there. In the morning when you wake up,

HOW TO GET HERE: From Davao City, it will take you an hour and thirty to reach Digos City.

At Digos Old Terminal, you may look for passenger vans bound for Kapatagan. Base fare is only P100 and the last trip is 4:00 p.m. In case you need a place to stay or an arranged trip to Kapataga, you may contact MT. APO HIGHLAND RESORT at telephone number 275-7955 or 0948890-8051.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 245 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS13

PNP: Help protect towers from bombers

P

OLICE officials in this town have appealed to all residents and local officials to help prevent bombings of transmission tower of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP).

Senior Inspector Jun Napat, Aleosan town police chief, made the appeal following a bombing attempt on NGCP Tower No. 63 on Wednesday morning in Barangay Pagangan, Aleosan, North Cotabato.

“This appeal is for all of us here because all of us will suf-

fer once power is out due to bombings,” Napat told reporters hours after unidentified men set off three improvised bombs at the steel tower in Purok 4, Barangay Pagangan.

The tower was not toppled after two of the three explosives went off at past 12 midnight.

It was the same tower that unidentified men bombed in January 14 by setting off two IEDs at the foot of the steel structure.

Napat also recommended to the NGCP to surround each

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late PELAGIO C. BURLAS has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS executed among his heirs per Doc. No. 255; Page No. 51; Book No. 113; Series of 2016, of the NOTARY PUBLIC FATIMA IRENE T. ADIN 3/4.11.18

DEMOLITION JOB. Workers in downtown Iligan City struggle to demolish a three-story building with rather primitive of tools, which look more appropriate for felling a tree. MindaNews photo by Bobby Timonera

NOTICE OF LOSS Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) under LOYOLA PLAN issued to the following planholders, to wit; PH NAME

1. ENCARNACION ABARQUEZ 2. LUZ JUMAWID

CPF NO.

CONTRACT NO.

76810

591213-4

21047673 NNN 130006793

were lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

steel tower in Aleosan with concrete fence or cyclone wire to prevent lawless elements from entering or coming closer to the structure.

He said his recommendation was not considered and theorized it would cost much to the NGCP. The bomb tower No. 63 is one of the steel structures of NGCP that carry the Kabacan-Sultan Kudarat 138-KV line.

NGCP said it was the the

3rd bombing of NGCP towers this year, and the 2nd bombing incident for the same tower.

Restoration of tower 63 will commence as soon as the area is secured,” NGCP said in a statement.

“The company stresses that the bombings only serve to increase the burden of the public, which must suffer through service interruptions when towers are bombed,” the NGCP said. (PNA)

14 HISTORY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 245 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

Davao City:

Martial Law rebel hotbed and ‘killing fields’ (2nd of 2 parts)

By Antonio V. Figueroa

Teachers’ unionist Born in Davao in 1940, Nicanor R. Gonzales, Jr., was originally identified for his work among teachers in Southern Mindanao.

A product of the public school system before earning an Education degree at the International Harvardian Colleges in Davao City, he was active in defending the teachers’ welfare.

He later joined the Kabataang Makabayan (KM), which he helped organized in the city and worked for the labor sector during the advent of activism. He also organized the employees of the House of Magno, the city’s first department store, to go on a yearlong strike in 1969.

KM and the other groups he was involved in later transformed their family residence into a house for congregation and headquarter. But with the declaration of martial law, he was forced to go underground, left his family as a matter of security, and organized farmers and indigenous people, informing them of their rights and the evils that military rule was sowing.

On Dec. 31, 1975 the Philippine Constabulary (PC) eventually caught up with him at Tagum City. He was detained in military facilities, held incommunicado for over a month, and was interrogated and tortured. Two months later, he was brought to Camp Alagar, in Cagayan de Oro City, where he was detained until Sept. 9, 1976.

The physical abuse inflicted on him while in detention impaired his hearing and affected his skull. Traumatized by his experience in prison, he disallowed the installation of window grills in his residence. Still, through it all, he returned to militancy, with teachers as focus.

With the organization of Kahugpungan sa Magtutudlo ug Kawani sa Edukasyon sa Mindanao (KAMKEM), the local chapter of Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) he was appointed chairman. The group, in behalf of educators, pressed for better benefits, salaries and better arrangements even after the ouster of the dictatorship.

After the fall of Marcos, Gonzales remained active in the fight for justice for victims of the regime, helping document cases for the class action suit filed against the

dictatorship under the Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban saDetensyon at para sa Amnestiya (SELDA) of Southern Mindanao, which he also chaired.

At age 67 and consumed by years of carrying the pain from torture and the energy-sapping engagements with the aggrieved sectors, he

NEVER AGAIN! Activists chant to commemorate the declaration of Martial Law in Davao City on September 21, 2012.

MindaNews file photo by Ruby Thursday More

Educator Nicanor Gonzales Jr. died on May 25, 2007.

Rebel hotbed Outside the hinterlands of Davao, which became refuge of young ideologues and idealists, most of them campus luminaries, Saint Francis Xavier Seminary (SFXS) was literally an anti-Marcos hub even before military rule was proclaimed in broadcast on Sept. 23, 1972.

Situated at the top of an outcrop in Catalunan Grande, Davao City, with a view of the flat lands below, the seminary complex is a sprawling property donated by the Sorianos who were not even spared the activism of seminarians who sided with aggrieved sugar cane planters.

This show of defiance, at a time when military power was palpable, was more pronounced when the Marcos regime used village assemblies in ratifying the 1971 Constitution by asking innocent but threatened residents to vote on issues by acclamation.

In fact, throughout the region, as the military abuses escalated and the persons hunted down as state foes doubled, the religious facilities, from convents to rectories, became the shelter and halfway house of activists in times of escape.

Out of the confines of the semi-monastic atmosphere of a seminary, a couple of personalities stood up and fought with their lives the dictatorship.

Activist priest Ordained in 1978, Fr. Roberto C. Salac, formerly an honor student at the Queen of

Apostles Seminary in Tagum City, was first exposed to social venalities and agrarian problems prevailing at the time in his pastoral work as a seminarian.

Especially in the provinces of Davao where foreign missionaries were hands-on active in dealing with the mayukmok, the grassroots, the issue of social inequality, from despotic landlords to multinational companies, took the padre by storm.

His immersion in the problems felt by the marginalized sectors brought him directly in confrontation with authorities, making him a target of violence.

To keep him from being harmed, Bishop Joseph Regan, D.D., pastoral leader of the prelature (now diocese) of Tagum, offered the priest a study leave in Rome to study Canon Law but chose instead to go underground to continue his work with the poor.

Despite being at the frontline of militancy, Fr. Salac survived martial rule and eventually returned to his parish works. However, on March 19, 1987, during a consultative meeting at Mawab, Compostela Valley Province, together with fellow leaders in the peace process, he was shot on the kneecap and later

Rebel from priest Fr. Roberto C. Salac died hemorrhage on Jr. his way to the hospital.

Lay assistant Formerly a student of SFXS at Catalunan Grande, Davao City, Inocencio T. Ipong was in college when he was first exposed to the fiery orations exposing state shenanigans. Through his fellow seminarians who were vigorous in pro-farmer causes, he was exposed to activism.

After he filed his regency at the seminary, he moved to Cebu where he completed his course and, later, got involved with the Khi-Rho movement.

This would bring him to rural communities where he learned of the struggle of farmers against landowners.

Eventually, he joined the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) and became an organizer.

When martial law was proclaimed, Ipong was encouraged to embrace the ‘collaborationist line’ the FFF leadership was espousing and accepted the job of lay assistant with the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines (RMP), a national organization founded by the Association of Women Religious Superiors of the Philippines (AWRSP) in 1969.

His works at the RMP included helping the RMP nuns craft and shape the association’s vision of a ‘free, just, peaceful and egalitarian society,’ travelling with them around the country and assisting in organizing peasants and lumad communities. All along, as part of an activist organization, Ipong’s name was already in the military radar.

In 1982, while getting off a bus in Davao City, Ipong was abducted and illegally detained at Camp Domingo Leonor and later transferred to Camp Catitipan, both police centers in the city.

His colleagues at the RMP in Butuan were alarmed when he did not show up and could not be found in camps and hospitals. By twist of fate, Ipong’s father saw him through the grills of his detention cell, looking haggard and weak, with bruises and contusions all over his body.

With RMP’s intercession, he was released. Sadly, On Nov. 20, 1983, on board M/V Cassandra sailing from Agusan with a group of 12 religious and lay people bound for Cebu, the vessel was sank by giant waves due to a wayward typhoon. Around 200 died in the sea mishap.

Separate incidents Of course, the struggle to lift martial rule and bring down the dictatorship cannot be complete without mentioning two significant events that marked the height of activism in the city.

In September 1978, Zafiro L. Respicio, future councilor and OIC-mayor, led a campus protest which finally led to physical altercation with authorities, courtesy of some angry students.

The conflict turned vicious, forcing police troops and firemen to intervene. But the arrival of law enforcers angered the protesters who attacked and destroyed a fire truck, and ferociously stoned the police from getting close to the UM campus at Bolton Street.

As a result, many college students, male and female, were brutally rounded up and brought to Camp Domingo Leonor for interrogation, some of them obviously hurt during the skirmish and later tortured in detention.

Six years later, Danilo C.

Dayanghirang, another vociferous UM student leader who would become a politico, led a loud protest against police and military abuses that culminated at a standstill at the main door of San Pedro Church.

Over-eager to quell the demonstration, policemen armed with high-powered guns and firefighters ready to shoot their cannons at the beleaguered protesters, cornered the students. Because the rallyists were inside the church premises, the authorities had to be content with just seeing the students while their leader was loudly enumerating government abuses.

The timely arrival of Col. Rodolfo Biazon, head of the Marines assigned in Davao City who later became senator, peacefully dispersed the rally but not before the military officer had chastised the PC-INP for bringing firearms close to the rally despite the students being unarmed.

Other heroes The list of Davao-born and Davao-based activists who fought (though some have miraculously survived) the Marcos regime, is a long and emotional one.

The roster includes four nuns of the Religious of the Good Shepherd (RGS), namely Sisters Mary Consuelo Chuidian, Mary Concepcion Conti, Mary Virginia Gonzaga and Mary Catherine Loreto, and activist Alexander Orcullo, who was fatally gunned down in front of his wife and children on his birthday.

Local activists, among them Evelia Bontia, editor of Davao Wave of Davao City High School (DCHS) and Atenews and chair of the Ateneo de Davao Student Council; Nicolas Solana Jr., another Ateneo student luminary; and Edgar Ansingco, have earned their rightful place in historical annals, some of them memorialized in Bantayog ng mga Bayani in Quezon City.

On the other hand, Manila student activist Edgar Jopson, one of the Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) awardees in 1970, was killed by military operatives on Sept. 20, 1982 at the Skyline Subdivision, at Bangkal, Davao City.

But there were also those who perished because

FHISTORY, 10

SPORTS15

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 245 • FRIDAY, MARCH 4, 2016

Mindanao mediamen rule Interclub Media tourney

T

HIS one goes down the record books.

Not one golfing Mindanao editor and photographer has ever won the PAL Interclub title in history.

Not this year though.

Mark one for history as three Mindanaoans finished 1-2-3 in this year’s annual Philippine Airlines (PAL) Interclub Media Golf tournament held last Feb. 29 and March 1 in two golf courses around Luzon.

Photographer Noel Alipoyo, a native of Cagayan de Oro City, who represented the Arab News carded a total net score of 171 to emerge as the champion. Finishing second and third were Daavao bets Tommy Iniggo of Mindanao Daily Mirror and Imee Garcia of Sunstar Davao.

The Mindanaoans win came at the heels of last year’s breakthrough win by a Visayas entry in Nimrod Quinones of Cebu in the two-day golf competition for the media covering the prestigious PAL Interclub Seniors and Men’s Regular golf tournaments held at the Mimosa Golf and Country Club in Clark Field, Pampanga.

Alipoyo was only in 5th place with a net 71 in the first day of action held at the Beverly Place Golf Club in San Fernando. It was many-time champion Jun Engracia, news editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, who was leading with a net 64 after the first round.

But the 16-handicapper Engracia lost his composure during the second day and ballooned to a net 80 at the challenging Luisita Golf and Country Club in Tarlac.

Alipoyo, meantime, birdied the par 3 no. 2 and made four pars to add a 70 at Luisita.

He won the title by only just one point over another photographer Inigo of the Davao-based Mindanao Daily Mirror.

Inigo, who sizzled with a 73 on Day 1 had six pars but collapsed and blew his chances with a choking triple bogey in the par 5 hole 16th for a net 69.

“Sayang, maganda sana ang front nine ko, I was already leading with a 43,” said Inigo, who only place fourth last year in Cebu.

Lone female participant Garcia, a golf columnist of Sun. Star Davao, completed the All-Mindanaon sweep by finishing third place with an identical 142 from rounds of 69 and 73.

Inigo won in a tiebreaker with a net 43 in the front nine against Garcia’s 48 according to tournament director

Jake Ayson.

Garcia, last year’s 3rd placer, however, earned a special prize for scoring an eagle at the hole no. 14 at Beverley.

Alipoyo earned a roundtrip ticket to the US aside from the trophy awarded by PAL’s Pinky Mag-iba-Balagtas. Inigo and Garcia also each got a trophy.

A total of 22 players from different international, national and local news outlets had joined this year’s PAL Interclub Media golf tournament.

Defending champion Nimrod Quinones of Cebu failed to defend his title while last year’s second placer Rey Fortaleza of Vancouver, Canada finished 17th with a net 173.

Mindanao Times sports editor Jon Develos and photographer Bing Gonzales completed a sweep for Davao as they each won the two raffled PAL tickets for any regional destination.

The complete final results: 1. Noel Alipoyo (70-71-141) 2. Tommy Inigo (73-69-142) 3. Imee Garcia (67-75-147) 4. Jun Engracia (64-79-143) 5. Al Mendoza (70-74-144) 6. Musong Castillo (70-76-146) 7. Ding Marcelo (72-76-148) 8. Rey Bancod (74-75-149) 9. Rene Baena (72-81-153) 10. Dodo Catacutan (78-75153) 11. Ted Melendres (77-77-154) 12. Dante Navarro (78-83-161) 13. Adrian Flores (79-86-165) 14. Jake Ayson (77-89-166) 15. Lito delos Reyes (91-80171) 16. Lito Tacujan (81-91-172) 17. Rey Fortaleza (78-95-173) 18. Jon Develos (93-90-183) 19. Roland Jumawan (96-89185) 20. Chito Manuel (88-97185)

TOP THREE. Champion Noel Alipoyo (middle) of the Arab News is flanked by2nd placer Tomas Jose S. Iñigo of Mindanao Dailly Mirror (right) and 3rd placer Imee Garcia of Sunstar Davao in this year’s PAL Interclub Media golf tournament held at the Beverly Place and Luisita golf and country clubs. (Photo by BOY LIM)

PAL Men’s Interclub

Southwoods catches Cangolf

C

LARK Field, Pampanga – Ira Alido became the unlikely anchor for Manila Southwoods yesterday, shooting a three-under-par 69 for 39 points that boosted the defending champions into a 36-hole tie with Canlubang halfway through the 69th PAL Interclub Men’s Championship.

The 16-year-old drained five birdies against two bogeys at the composite Lake View and Acacia nines of the Mimosa Complex here and led the Carmona-based squad to 138 for the day and 275 that kept its repeat bid solidly afloat.

“I was surprised with how I played. I couldn’t play this way in the practice round,” the high school student from Dela Salle-Zobel told reporters after Southwoods got 35s from Jets Sajulga abd Brixton Aw and 29 from Ryan Monsalve before throwing away veteran Vince Lauron’s 27 points.

Many-time national titlist Rupert Zaragosa and Carlo Villaroman fired 36s to pace the Sugar Barons, who tallied 137

for the day after Luis Castro contributed 35 and Gab Manotoc 30. Canlubang discarded the 29 of Jakey Yulo.

It was a surprising performance by Southwoods, which obviously fielded a stronger team in the opening round on Wednesday to trail the Sugar Barons by one.

Luisita drew 38 points from Korean Brian Kim and 36 from Luis Miguel Guerrero but still lost ground on the two heavyweights after a 135 left it trailing by 20 from 18 overnght.

Basti Lorenzo fired 31 and senior standout Jingy Tuason contributed 30 for the Luisitans, who are just four up on Del Monte, which fired 126.

Orchard, the 2014 champion, reeled back with a woeful 124 to trail the joint leaders by 26 as Kristopher Arevalo was the closest player to matching par with 33. Niko Santiano and King Stehmeier fired 31s with JP De Claro rounding out scoring for Orchard with 29.

“I was surprised. I thought Southwoods had the stronger

lineup yesterday,” said Canlubang non-playing captain Luigi Yulo. “The results today will keep up the excitement in the Interclub.”

A tight race has also developed in the Founders Division, with Cebu CC wresting a two-point lead Forest Hills and three over Villamor after a second round 118 built around the 36 of Julius Neri and 32 of the veteran Ramontito Garcia.

With Marko Sarmiento shooting 27 and Marc Gonzales accounting for 23, Cebu CC, which until last year was in the Championship Division, has 228 aggregate going into third round action also at the Mountain View layout.

Jude Eustaquio paced Forest Hills for the second straight day with 34 points, and got support from the 29 of Ronald Littaua, Raffy Garcia’s 25 and 24 from Peter Young for their 112.

Villamor, which raced to the opening round lead after a 119 on Wednesday, could only draw 29 points from Jay Jay

Dinglasan and 27s from Jun Arceo and George Rivera, with Bobby Marajucon rounding out its 106 for 225.

Del Monte collected 126 points from Noel Langamin 34, Raul Miñoza 34, Jovencio Lusterio 29 and Yoyong Velez 29 for a two-day total of 250, five points behind Luisita.

Orchard, on the other hand, had another frustrating day with 124 points for 249 while Mimosa totaled 232 following 114 in the second round.

The Interclub is sponsored by People Asia, Travelife, Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover), Manila Broadcasting Corporation, Airbus, Business Mirror and Philippine National Bank.

Other supporters are Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer. net, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, Tanduay Distillers, Asia Brewery, Splash Corporation, RFM Corporation, Goldilocks, Eastgate Publishing Corporation, Robinsons Land, TMC, Mastercard, Hytera and RollsRoyce.

Spurs thump Pistons, Pacquiao would love stay unbeaten at home to fight for PH in Rio

T

HE San Antonio S p u r s continue to set one milestone after another during this record-breaking season but insist they aren’t paying any attention while keeping their collective eyes on the ultimate prize, another NBA title.

Kawhi Leonard poured in 27 points as the San Antonio Spurs shrugged off a ragged first half and ran away from the Detroit Pistons 97-81 on Wednesday, winning their sixth straight game and remaining unbeaten at home this season.

San Antonio (51-9) improved to 29-0 at the AT&T Center this season, extending its record for the best home start by a Western

Conference team. It was the Spurs’ first game at home since Feb. 6 because of their annual Rodeo Road Trip and it took them a while to find their stride.

LaMarcus Aldridge added 23 points and pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds for the Spurs as four of their starters scored in double figures. Tim Duncan hit for 12 points and gathered eight rebounds in 20 minutes of court time and Tony Parker scored 10 points for San Antonio.

The Spurs, up by one point at halftime, turned up their defense in the third quarter as Detroit shot just 22 percent from the floor and trailed by as many as 17 points. Aldridge scored 13 points in the period.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was pleased with his team’s effort on defense after halftime.

“It was very good,” Popovich remarked in his succinct manner. “We allowed 30 points in the second half. It’s pretty special if you can do that. We played a better second half for sure.”

RUNAWAY DUNK. San Antonio Spurs small forward Kawhi Leonard (2) dunks the ball against the Detroit Pistons during the second half at AT&T Center. Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

B

OXING great Manny Pacquiao said Wednesday it would be an honour to fight for the Philippines at this year’s Rio Olympics, where professional fighters could be allowed to compete for the first time.

The eight-time world champion said he had been “personally invited” to the Rio de Janeiro Games by Wu Ching-Kuo, president of the International Boxing Association (AIBA) -- the governing body for amateur boxing.

“It would be my honour to represent the country in the Olympics,” Pacquiao said in a statement to AFP. “If I would be asked to represent boxing, why not? I would do everything for my country.”

The 37-year-old, one of the world’s wealthiest boxers, made the comments while training for what he said would be his last professional fight, an April 9 Las Vegas rematch with

American Timothy Bradley.

Wu told AFP in Switzerland on Monday that AIBA would vote within three months on proposals that would allow all professional fighters to compete in the Olympic Games, including in Rio. Wu said proposed changes to AIBA statutes, set to be put to a vote at a special congress of AIBA confederations at the end of May, could leave Olympic eligibility in the hands of the national boxing federations.

Qualifying for the 2016 Rio summer games that begin on August 5 is already under way, but Wu noted that there were still opportunities for professionals to qualify.

Spokesmen for the Philippine Olympic Committee had no comment on Pacquiao’s statement.

Pacquiao has posted a 576-2 win-loss-draw record in a glittering 21-year pro career that began in January 1995.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL.88ISSUE ISSUE245 245••FRIDAY, FRIDAY,MARCH MARCH4, 4,2016 2016 VOL.

69th PAL Interclub

WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE

Rancho Palos Verdes, Apo stay on course with leaders

DAVAO PARBUSTERS. Andrew Bautista and Alvin Tesado of Davao City Golf Club in action on Day 1 of the 69th PAL Interclub at the Mimosa Lakeside course in Clark, Pampanga. Pool photo

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

C

njb@edgedavao.net

LARK Field, Pampanga – Davao squads Rancho Palos Verdes and Apo Golf and Country Club stayed within striking distance of the early leaders after the first round in the 69th Philippine Airlines Interclub Men’s Regular Division at Mimosa’s Acacia Lakeview course here.

The RPV swingers saw themselves in fourth place on opening day scoring 109 points behind Day One leaders Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club (121), Manila Golf (115) and Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club (112).

Vincent Gumapac led Rancho Palos Verdes’ charge with 32 points on a two-under 70 performance burrying a pair of birdies and sinking 11 pars.

Chris Tan and Ronald Galicia each added 26 points while Leo Franco had 25. Randy Cadiongan’s 20 did not count.

Apo Golf and Country Club is at fifth spot in the 25-team division with 108 points led

by Toffee Tionko’s 34 points backed by Jose Saavedra (27), Benjie Leparto (24) and Ludwig Ledesma (23). Karlos Alba also finished with 23 points but did not count.

Both clubs still playing as of presstime yesterday in their bid to raise their standings on the tournament’s second day as presented by People Asia, Travelife, Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover), Manila Broadcasting Corporation, Airbus, Business Mirror and Philippine National Bank.

Rancho Palos Verdes will pin its hopes on Jose Briones, Ernest Casintahan, Roderick Lo, Marc Lopez and Joseph Ng while Apo parades Patrick Co, Den-den de Castro, Leo Fusillero, Jing Gavino and Jorge Martinez.

Davao City Golf Club stands at 11th with 102 points coming from Richard Bad-Ang (23), Andrew Bautista (28), Edipolo Caturan (21) and Ernest Damaso (20). The rest of the team consist Randy Arevalo, Pitt Jun Batu, Jerson Lebosada, Rodolfo Luna and Reinz Yamyamin.

Lanang Golf, the other Davao City-based squad is at 18th place in the Sportswriters Class recording a 60-point performance from Danny Nagayo (20), Bobby Plana (16), Renato Sanchez (14) and Danny Gotera (10) while team Sarang-

gani paced themselves at second spot on opening day with 91 points on Arthur Ong (29), Herjojo Simbulan (18), Dexter Tan (21) and Raul Torres (23).

Other supporters of the four-day golfing spectacle are Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer.net, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, Tanduay Distillers, Asia Brewery, Splash Corporation, RFM Corporation, Goldilocks, Eastgate Publishing Corporation, Robinsons Land and Rolls-Royce.

The scores: AVIATOR- Negros Occidental Golf & Country Club 121, Manila Golf 115,

Wack Wack Golf and Country Club 112, Rancho Palos Verdes 109, Apo Golf and Country Club 108, Pueblo de Oro 98, Valley Golf and Country Club 108, Zamboanga Golf 107, Alta Vista Golf 99, Lumbia Golf 95, Davao City Golf 92, Eagle Ridge 91, Sherwood Hills Golf 89, Maharlika Golf 88, Riviera 87, Mactan Island Golf 85, Iloilo Golf and Country Club 81, Anvaya Cove Golf 73, Iligan Golf 71, Victorias Golf 58, Fil-Oz Sydney 58, Washington DC Golf 52, Philippine Golf Association 1- Riyadh 46, Green West Golf 45, PGA British Colombia 40