Edge Davao 6 Issue 37

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VOL. 6 ISSUE 37 • TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2013

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

GENTLEMAN JAMES. Former Presidential brother-in-law James Yap (second from right) dances to the tune of “Gentleman” with fellow PBA stars JV Casio, Cyrus Baguio, and Calvin Abueva during the 2013 PBA All Star Game in Digos City on Sunday night.

Ang pildi di motoo...

ATENEO POLL SURVEY II OUT

Karlo, Mylene ahead

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

District 1 Name

District 2 n=544

Name

n=480

BONGUYAN, Luis

23.3

BIAN, Joji

22.7

NOGRALES, Karlo Alexie

48.7

GARCIA, Mylene

54.6

PAMATONG, Elly

.04

LOPEZ, Uly NAGAYO, Jennell

0.0 0.2

Undecided

.06

Undecided

0.6

16.9 10.1

Refused to answer (Intends to leave this blank)

16.3 506

Refused to Answer (Intends to leave this blank)

• Blue Vote sampling done April 8-25

I

F elections were held today, Representatives Karlo B. Nograles and Mylene Garcia are as good as re-elected in Davao City’s first and second legislative districts.

This is indicated in the statistical findings of the latest political survey conducted by the Ateneo de Davao University among 1,024 voter respondents in the first and second district (544 in the first, and 480 in the second). The survey was conducted off-campus, faceto-face, with voters’ right in their communities during the period from April 8-25.

The survey was done by volunteer enumerators composed of 27 teachers and young professionals screened and trained to do the job properly by the Ate-

neo de Davao University (ADDU) University Research Council (URC).

In a press conference at the ADDU auditorium yesterday, Lourdesita Sobrevega-Chan, chairperson of the Ateneo URC, bared the results of the poll survey, including the one conducted in the third district with a total of 434 respondents.

First district In the first district congressional fight, Nograles, who is vying for a second term in the House of Representatives, got the nod of 48.7 percent of those interviewed, while challenger , former vice mayor :uis C. Bonguyan garnered 23.3 percent. A total of 16.9 percent refused to respond to the interview, while 10.1 percent said they intend to leave the position blank. Only 0.6 percent of respondents are undecided.

FKARLO, MYLENE AHEAD, 10

2 THE BIG NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 37 • TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Off-campus survey close to reality: Ateneo

T EXPLAINING THE VOTE. Ateneo de Davao University-University Research Council (URC) chair Lourdesita Sobrevega-Chan presents the Blue Vote 2013 off-campus poll survey yesterday at the ADDU Finster Auditorium in Roxas Avenue, Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

Comelec: All systems go

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

O

NE more week to go before the 2013 Election Day on May 13 and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) Region 11 is all set, according to Comelec regional director, lawyer Wilfredo Jay Balisado.

Balisado said in an interview, “As far as our office (Comelec 11) is concerned, we are ready, since we are at the receiving end when it comes to elections.”

Comelec 11 has received all the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines and distributed them to their respective pre-

cincts as yesterday marked the start of their final testing and sealing (FTS) until May 10, Balisado said.

Personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be guarding the PCOS machines at their respective precincts 24/7.

Two PCOS machines in the first district of Davao City were discovered to be defective with nothing coming out of the monitor.

“This is just a minor problem, since Comelec 11 has one

he National Democratic Front Southern (NDF) Mindanao is set to release policeman Maula Tato Ali of Arakan police station who was captured by the NPA last April 19 in Brgy. Batobato, President Roxas town, North Cotabato.

In a statement sent to Edge Davao, the NDF said they will release the Ali on condition that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will cease its operations in the towns of Arakan, Magpet, Antipas and President Roxas in North Cotabato, and entry areas in Baguio and Marilog districts in Davao City.

The said areas are within the scope of the 84th Infantry Battalion (IB) and 57th IB of the 10th Infantry Division

and AFP units which the NDF claims to have intensified abusive military operations against the NPA’s Mt. Apo Sub-regional command, the custodial force of Ali. Edge Davao tried to get a reaction last night from Task Force Davao information officer Jill Mamoog but she refused to comment.

The NDF said it accepted the recommendation of release after subsequent investigation on Ali for it is proven that he did not commit significant offenses against the masses and the revolutionary forces.

The NDF said they have also proven Ali’s innocence in the case of Fr. Fausto “Pops” Tentorio who was martyred last October 2011. CMP

NDF to release NortCot POW T

HE off-campus poll survey by the University Research Council (URC) of the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) is “close to reality,” according to University Community Engagement and Advocacy Council (UCEAC) chair, lawyer Romeo Cabarde.

Cabarde said during the announcement of the results Monday that the survey is reflective of what the people have to say since the respondents are citizens of Davao City, not just the AdDU community.

“These are the people who will be affected

and who will suffer the consequences of legislations and actions of their elected leaders,” he said.

The survey included what issues and concerns the citizens of Davao want their leaders to address, and it showed that what they want are basic needs.

The top issues and concerns that the respondents want to be addressed by their chosen leaders are peace and order from the mayor and the vice mayor; unemployment and lack of job opportunities from the coun-

FOFF-CAMPUS, 10

Marañon laments banana shortage

By Che Palicte

spare PCOS machine and there is still time to contact the Comelec national office to address this issue,” said Balisado.

“Having a damaged PCOS machine will not derail the election because we have the official ballots and we can simply use another machine from another precinct to tally the ballots,” he said.

According to Balisado, 100 percent of the official ballots are already delivered and will be distributed on the 12th or 13th of May. One of the major problems that Comelec

11 anticipates is the attitude of the voters since most of them want to vote first.

Balisado appeals to voters to be disciplined on the day of the elections. “Voters should have the list of their chosen candidates ahead of time, so that voting will be faster.”

Another problem in Region 11 are areas infested with rebel groups.

He also made an appeal to the rebels to keep Election Day peaceful and to respect the exercise of democracy.

A

local exporter of microwavable bananas lamented the shortage of banana supply in the region resulting to losses amounting to 30 percent of total export revenues.

Sagrex Foods Inc. earned USD$3 million for exporting microwavable bananas in the past three years.

Ferdinand Marañon, president of Phil-Export Davao, bared yesterday during the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw in SM Annex Atrium that the shortage of the cardaba banana variety has caused export backlogs which needed at least the replanting of additional 1,000 hectares of cardaba.

Marañon, who pionered in exporting microwavable semi-processed bananas through Sagrex Corporation admitted that they need to enter into growership agreements with independent banana farmers to plant cardaba variety in a 1,000 hectare farm area in Mahayag, Tibungco, Davao City in order to normalize export capacity.

“After 3 years of exporting, we are now facing a problem which causes a big backlog of orders of bananas which we cannot fill up,” he said.

He said that their biggest market is in United States of America and followed by the following

FMARAÑON, 10

CLEANUP. Some residents of Quezon Blvd. in Davao City watch while the city’s canals undergo rehabilitation in the latest round of waterways de-clogging.

Lean Daval Jr.

SUBURBIA

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 37 •TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2013

3

5th eARThfest participants plant 300 trees in Tagum A

S part of the culminating activities of the 5th eARThfest in Tagum City, about 300 seedlings were planted in the accretion area in Barangay Magdum by an approximately 63 participating children and their parents last May 5, 2013.

Lucio Jamero, focal person of the City of Tagum Tourism Council which spearheaded the month-long summer workshop for kids along with the City Government of Tagum, said this activity is a continuation of the tradition of the workshop were children are taught on the importance for

caring for the environment.

The eARThfest, which is now on its fifth year, gathers children for summer workshops in visual arts, theater, music and dance—all anchored in the vision of making the children as stewards of nature.

The festival follows the theme of this year’s Earth Day celebrations around the world: “The Face of Climate Change.”

In the afternoon, the highly-anticipated recital of the 54 participants for the music and movement and theater held at the Gaisano Grand Mall Atrium.Louie Lapat of CIO Tagum

Participants of the 5th eARThfest along with their parents plant 300 trees in the Accretion Area of Barangay Magdum in Tagum City as part of the culminating activities lined up last May 5, 2013. [Leo Timogan/CIO Tagum]

exhorts Mindanao coops 500 Typhoon Pablo-stricken families MinDA to invest in renewable energy resettle at mineral processing zone I

A

BOUT 500 families are now occupying the mineral processing zone (MPZ) in Sitio Mabatas in Barangay Mabatas, Monkayo, Compostela Valley.

Government representatives to the Program Monitoring and Coordination Center of the National Task Force Diwalwal (PMCC NTFD) recently found this out in an actual site assessment/evaluation at the MPZ in sitio Mabatas.

Led by Atty. Wilfredo Moncano, assistant regional director of Mines and Geo-science Bureau (MGB) XI some of those who went with the site inspection included the PMCC coordinator Marcia Isip of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) XI and PMCC Secretariat head Nora Alicante.

Others were focal persons of the Departments of Interior and Local Government (DILG) XI, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) Compostela Valley Provincial Office, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Environment Research Development Services (ERDS) of DENR XI, the Philippine Information Agency XI, the Philippine Mining Development Corp. (PMDC) and the 25th Infantry Battalion, 10th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army.

In a meeting with settlers and with barangay officials of barangays Upper Ulip and nearby Mt. Diwata, Upper Ulip Brgy.

Captain Fernando Latiban revealed that the 500 settlers of Mabatas MPZ are Typhoon Pablo-affected families from hardly-hit areas in his barangay.

He appealed that they will be allowed to stay at the MPZ which he said had not been developed since 10 years ago when it was declared as an MPZ to accommodate processing plants of small-scale miners of the nearby Barangay Mt. Diwata declared by the national government as a small-scale mining area.

“Hangyo mi nga dili na lang unta sila ma-dislocate ug magpabilin sila dinhi. (We are asking that they would not be dislocated and that they stay here.),” he said.

Settlers who attended the meeting with PMCC NTFD representatives raised the same appeal and requested the government to look for a new site of the mineral processing zone for smallscale miners of Mt. Diwata.

Atty. Moncano made it clear to the Mabatas MPZ

settlers that nothing was final of whatever were taken up during the meeting, but he assured them that their requests will be forwarded to the national government especially to concerned offices.

Same with other PMCC NTFD representatives during the meeting, Atty.

Moncano assured the settlers that they would not be placed in a situation that would further aggravate their plight after suffering from the wrath of Typhoon Pablo, saying that the “government will always look for a win-win solution to a problem.”

Atty. Moncano however, explained them that the government land use plan upholds the policy of separation of residential areas from industrial or mineral processing zone. [PIA 11/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan]

LIVING IN PARADISE. Balut Island in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat remains sparsely inhabited. White sand beaches dot the island surrounded by scuba diving and snorkeling sites. [MindaNews/Bong S. Sarmiento]

N its bid to create new capacities to meet Mindanao’s surging power needs, the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) challenged the region’s cooperatives to explore potential investments in renewable energy to help address the island-region’s lingering power deficit.

“We are challenging MASS-SPECC to look at the viability of investments in power generation, specifically small hydro and biomass generation,” said Romeo Montenegro, MinDA’s Director for Investment Promotion and Public Affairs Office (IPPAO).

“Mindanao is facing power issues, but if you look at it in a different perspective, there are also opportunities. You can take advantage of the increasing demand for power by exploring investments in renewable energy,” Montenegro told the 500-strong delegation of the 44th Mindanao Coop Leaders Forum.

The forum dovetailed with the 39th General Assembly of the Mindanao Alliance Self-Help Society – Southern Philippines Educational Cooperative Center (MASS-SPECC) held recently in Cagayan de Oro City.

MASS-SPECC is a secondary cooperative federation with a membership of 300 primary cooperatives across Mindanao, some of which are considered billionaire coops that have the capacity to invest in power generation projects.

“While our services are traditionally savings and credit, a few of our cooperatives have initiated addressing power

shortage in their locality by bringing in micro-solar power to off-grid areas in Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga del Sur,” said Gadwin E. Handumon, MASS-SPECC Chairman.

“These may seem like preliminary steps, but we are considering to develop this opportunity into a separate sector with the support of MASS-SPECC’s network of more than 300 cooperatives and almost a million individual members,” he added.

MinDA is challenging MASS-SPECC to go beyond micro-solar and explore small hydro and biomass to help augment the power supply in Mindanao and expand the share of renewable energy in the island-region’s power mix.

Mindanao exports eight of the top 10 agricultural export products of the country and the wastes of these agricultural products, such as corn cobs, corn husks, bagasse, to name a few, are substantial feedstock for biomass generation.

With Mindanao’s biomass potential, MinDA is working towards identifying areas suitable for small hydro and biomass projects that can generate 10 to 12 megawatts of power that can be tapped by electric cooperatives.

A one-stop-shop processing and facilitation center for Mindanao’s renewable energy power projects is also being developed by MinDA in order to fast track the approval of renewable energy power projects in the region.

The move is designed to attract more renewable energy investments in Mindanao.

4

A

LUMNI and current members of the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) organized a rummage sale in Yale St. in Cubao, Quezon City to support former CEGP National President Teddy Casiño’s senatorial bid. Guilders donated used, branded and some new clothing, shoes, books, and other articles to be sold. The proceeds will serve as the Guild’s contribution to Casiño’s campaign.

“The Guild first did this rummage sale in Quezon Memorial Circle last March 17 to express the Guild’s support for our alumnus Teddy Casiño,” said Marc Lino Abila, National Deputy Secretary General of the oldest and broadest alliance of tertiary student publications in the Philippines and Asia-Pacific region.

“We also held a benefit dinner for Teddy Casiño last March 6 in Quezon City,” Abila added. “We volunteered for house-tohouse campaigns, mobile propaganda teams, flyering and, t-shirt printing

VOL. 6 ISSUE 37 • TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2013

Campus journalists show support for Teddy Casiño nationwide. We also have alumni Guilders outside the Philippines who support and campaign for Teddy overseas.”

“Both alumni and current members of CEGP have expressed their support for Teddy and this is one of the efforts to show our support to the only Makabayan senatorial candidate,” Abila said.

“We solicited items from Guilders which can still be used and sold.”

“So far, we have been successful raising funds for Teddy’s campaign,” Abila said.

“We support Teddy not only because he’s an alumnus CEGP but also a staunch defender of campus press freedom, press freedom, education, and human rights,” Abila explained.

Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño, along with Kabataan Partylist Rep. Mong Palatino, filed Campus Press Freedom Act in the House of Representatives which will genuinely protect the rights of campus journalists in the Philippines and aims to repeal

Campus Journalism Act of 1991 which lacks penalty clause for those who violate the law.

Casiño also pushes for

genuine agrarian reform, higher wages and better working conditions, regulate the prices of oil and basic goods, higher state

Fitch Ratings, which gave the country a BBBfrom BB+ with a stable outlook on March 27, 2013) but by this second investment grade rating, we see that the effects of the institutional reforms that the administration has implemented are now truly being felt,” Cayetano said.

“Now that direct investors are regaining confidence in the economy, let’s do everything we can to make our industries grow,” Cayetano proposed, encouraging

top-level support for industries nationwide, especially through the encouragement of small and medium enterprises.

“In almost every province that I have visited, I urged the local businessmen to pursue their SMEs because more SMEs will translate to more jobs; and competitiveness will result in lower prices and effectively greater income for Filipino families,” Cayetano said.

Various chambers of commerce nationwide

expressed their support for Cayetano’s proposal to increase the number of SMEs nationwide. “My vision is to develop the strongest industries in the country to be able to compete internationally,” Cayetano said. “I want Quezon and Bicol to be coco coir hubs, for Cebu to be the furniture hub of Asia, and for Marikina to see a renaissance of the Marikina shoe industry. Industries start with small businesses that grow as demands increase.”

Stations poll in the same month.

Casino added that his campaign is on track, adding that he is set to clinch agreements with allies who have vowed to support him.

The congressman has been on out-of-town rallies in the past three months and plans to go back to vote-rich areas such as Manila, Iloilo, Cebu and Davao.

“We’re also gonna have several miting de avance in difference places at once on May 7,” Casino said, adding that supporters will organize some of the events.

Hagedorn also thinks

he still has a very good fighting chance to land a seat in the Senate, even if results from the two major pollsters place him at 19th to 21st.

The award-winning Puerto Princesa mayor is banking on his popularity in the higher-income classes A and B. He is meanwhile hoping that his recall among class C, D and E voters will improve following former President Joseph Estrada’s endorsement.

“I was endorsed by President Estrada in his home and we really needed that because of his pull on the masses. Mababa kami dun so yan ang magdadala

sa amin,” Hagedorn said.

He is also wooing local leaders who have strong command over vote-rich areas and enjoys support from the League of City Mayors and the League of Municipalities.

The only local executive who joined the Senate race said the endorsement of local groups contributed to Vice President Jejomar Binay’s victory in the 2010 polls.

Villanueva, who almost shared spots with Hagedorn in recent surveys being ranked 19th-22nd by Pulse Asia and 23 by SWS, also strongly believes he is going to win. [Yahoo!]

Cayetano says:

LONGEST. North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou “Lala” Taliño-Mendoza takes some time off from campaigning to experience riding the 1.3 kilometers zipline during yesterday’s opening of the 1 kilometer and 1.3 kilometers

Investment grade stepping stone to PTK

S

ENATOR Alan Cayetano today lauded the Administration for achieving New York-based Standard & Poor’s (S&P) second investment-grade rating, raising the Philippines’ grade to BBB- with a stable outlook from BB+ with a positive outlook on May 2, 2013.

“This is solid proof that the president was not just lucky in achieving the Philippines first-ever investment-grade status (from global credit watcher

Independent Senate bets keep hopes high

I

NDEPENDENT Senate candidates are in high spirits barely two weeks before the midterm polls, even as they tail bets from the two major coalitions in recent surveys.

Despite various pollsters placing them outside the so-called “Magic 12”, Bayan Muna Party-list Rep. Teodoro “Teddy” Casino, Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn and Jesus is Lord Movement leader Eddie Villanueva are pushing on.

“It’s looks like we’re winning,” said Casino, who was ranked 23rd-24th in Pulse Asia’s April survey and 24th in Social Weather

EDGEDAVAO

ziplines at the proposed New Israel Eco-Park in Makilala, North Cotabato.

The newly-build zipline is considered as the longest in Asia and will eventually help boost the tourism industry of the municipality. Lean Daval Jr. subsidy on education and other social services, among others.

“We want Teddy to win a seat in the Senate to up-

hold not only the rights of campus journalists but of the youth and the Filipino people in general,” Abila ended.

Villar gets more endorsement after surge in survey

F

EW days after entering the top three of the recent Social Weather Station survey, Team PNoy senatorial bet Cynthia Villar got another boost in her senatorial bid following an endorsement of the Catholic Conscience Vote Phils., an equipment of pro-life, pro-family charismatic communities and organizations.

CCVP Secretary-General Antonio Ag. Medina said they decided to back the candidacy of Villar due to her strong stance in the preservation of human life and protection of family.

As former congresswoman of Las Pinas for nine years, Villar supported the passage of significant measures to protect the interest and welfare of the family.

The CCVP cited also the ‘no vote’ of her husband, Sen. Manny Villar, against the passage of the Reproductive Health bill in the Senate.

The group has 600 allied Catholic communities and organizations including the Couple’s For Christ wherein the

Villar couple are active members.

Aside from Villar, CCVP also endorsed the candidacy of reelectionist Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III and Antonio Trillanes IV. Recently, Villar as well as Pimentel and Trillanes received endorsement from the White Vote Movement led by El Shaddai.

Villar thanked the endorsement of CCVP even as she promised to work harder despite entering the top three of the SWS survey for the first time since she announced her senatorial bid midway last year. ”I’m happy that our countrymen are beginning to appreciate my advocacies. Perhaps they understand my model of livelihood projects,” Villar said.

Villar said there are a lot of things that are expected to happen in more than two remaining weeks of the campaign period. ”That’s why I should not be complacent. The real survey is the actual election day,” Villar said.

[PNA]

5 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 37 • TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2013

BPI sustains growth, P8.4B income in Q1

SEARCH. Alvin Pinpin of Sycip Gorres Velayo and Company formally announces the search for the Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines during yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. This

B

ank of the Philippine Islands continued to deliver sustainable growth as it reported a net income of P8.4 billion for the first quarter of 2013.

This was 43% higher than last year’s P5.8 billion.

At the end of first quarter, BPI’s total resources were P940 billion, 16% higher yearon-year as deposits grew by the same rate to P748 billion. In addition, the Bank was able to increase its assets under management to P758 billion or

year’s theme is “Breaking Barriers” which encapsulates the entrepreneurial spirit that compels men and women to believe and pursue their dreams. Lean Daval Jr.

6% more than same period last year.

Net loans hit P514 billion, 19% better year-onyear. Lending to top corporates was up by 25%, while the middle market and SME segments went up by 17% and 14% respectively.

Consumer loans also grew by 15%.

Gross 30 days NPL ratio was down to 2.1% from last year’s 2.5%. Reserve cover was 129%.

The improvement in net income for the period was driven by the 21%

growth in total revenues as the Bank took advantage of the favorable market condition to register securities trading gains.

Net interest income was slightly up, as average asset base expanded by 15%. Net yields though, contracted as interest rates continued to decline.

Other non-interest income lines likewise improved, particularly service charges and commissions, trust fees, and corporate finance fees.

DCWD adds new water tanker

D

AVAO City Water District adds an 8,000-liter capacity water tanker to its existing 14,000 liter tanker to aid in water distribution during cases of prolonged water supply problems in the city. These water tankers are also used to deliver water to communities where water connection is still not available through the Peri-urban Water Delivery Services (WDS).

Official turn-over of the vehicle was done last April 29 at the DCWD Matina motorpool area in the presence of DCWD acting general manager Edwin V. Regalado and Southern Motors of Davao Inc. / ISUZU Davao vice president for operations Frank C. Liu III and sales executive Ruth Elaine D. Niog.

“DCWD always makes sure that its scheduled water interruptions finish on time as not to burden affected customers. However, emergency water cuts caused by unforeseen mainline leaks, bugged down facilities or loss of power supply in production wells and pumping stations are sometimes unavoidable.

In case water supply does not resume immediately during these emergency cases, DCWD delivers water to the affected customers. However, for massive water supply loss, one tanker can only serve a limited area. With an additional water tanker, we can ferry water to more areas at a much faster rate,” Regalado said.

It can be recalled that during the water supply

problem caused by the collapse of DCWD’s pipes at Bankerohan Bridge many areas in the city experienced intermittent water supply for some days. To address the issue, DCWD strategically deployed its 14,000 liter tanker and some of its L300 vehicles and sought the help of fire volunteers to augment water supply in waterless areas. (Jovana T. Duhaylungsod) “Also, while DCWD is still in the process of developing more facilities, it utilizes the Peri-urban WDS to extend its services to communities with no existing water connections by setting up water tanks in selected barangays from where the residents could get water at an affordable price,” Regalado continued. Communities served by this service are situated in the areas of Lasang, Panacan,

Mandug, Cabantian, Toril and Bago Oshiro.

“DCWD always makes sure that the water needs of the people are met even during emergency cases or when there are still no available water connections because DCWD understands that water is a necessity we all cannot live without,” Regalado continued.

The new water tanker is just one of the many projects that DCWD has to better respond to emergencies and avoid delays in its operations.

Furthermore, it has also planned different infrastructure development projects to improve water supply availability in its service area and to expand its service coverage. To date, only 60% of the total population of Davao City are reached by DCWD’s services. (Jovana T. Duhaylungsod)

DCWD adds new water tanker to improve operations. DCWD management headed by acting general manager Edwin V. Regalado (2nd from R) receives the key of the new 8,000 liters capacity water tanker from Southern Motors of Davao Inc. / ISUZU Davao vice president for operations Frank C. Liu III and sales executive Ruth Elaine D. Niog (3rd and 4th from R) during the official turn-over last April 29 at the DCWD Matina office.

6 THE ECONOMY Stat Watch

1. Gross National Income Growth Rate (At Constant 2000 Prices)

5.4 4th Qtr 2012

2. Gross Domestic Product Growth Rate (At Constant 2000 Prices)

6.8 4th Qtr 2012

3. Exports 1/ 4. Imports 1/ 5. Trade Balance 6. Balance of Payments 2/ 7. Broad Money Liabilities

USD 3,969.51 million Dec 2012 USD 5,135.46 million Nov 2012 USD -1,585 million Nov 2012 USD -209 million Mar 2012 P 5,171,689 million Dec 2012

8. Interest Rates 4/

3.6 % Jan 2013 P155,308 million Nov 2012 P 5,381 billion Nov 2012

9. National Government Revenues 10. National government outstanding debt 11. Peso per US $ 5/

P 40.67 Feb 2013

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

6,242.7 Jan 2013

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

132.4 Feb 2013

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.4 Feb 2013

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.8 Feb 2013

16. Visitor Arrivals

352,438 Nov 2012

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

20.9% Jan 2013

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

7.1% Jan 2013

MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE (January 2012-February 2013) Month Average December November October September August July June May April March February January

2013

2012

2011

40.67 40.73

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

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

VOL. 6 ISSUE 37 • TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Government, private sectors commit to improve PHL competitiveness V

ARIOUS government and private sector agencies have signed commitments to participate in the “Gameplan” to raise Philippines competitiveness on ease of doing business in the world ranking during the National Competitiveness Council’s (NCC) Ease of Doing Business Summit held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza on Friday.

Philippines is 138th out of 185 economies and placed 8th out of 9 economies in ASEAN in the World Bank – International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Ease of Doing Business (EODB) ranking.

The Philippines’ poor ranking was said to be due to difficulty in doing business in the country because of the numerous steps to go through and the long time of processing transactions.

The NCC had identified ten indicators, or areas of concern, in its Gameplan for Competitiveness which need improvements.

The Gameplan, contains specific targets to shorten procedures in 10 specific indicators, or areas of concern, as follow: 1)starting a business; 2) dealing with construction permits; 3) getting electricity: 4)registering property; 5) getting credit; 6) protecting investors; 7} paying taxes; 8}trading across borders;

9) enforcing contracts; 10) resolving insolvency.

The Gameplan targets are: - the current situation of starting a business has 16 steps and the transaction for these phases takes 36 days, now with NCC’s committed target for this year it will only have 10 steps to be processed in 10 days; construction permit from 29 steps with 84 days of transaction down to this year’s committed target with 12 steps in 71 days; - getting electricity from 5 steps in 50 days down to 4 steps in 36 days; - registering property from 8 steps in 39 days to 6 steps in 21 days.

- in the current status of getting credit information, the depth of credit information has an index of 3 (from scores zero to six, being six as the highest) and strength of legal rights with an index of 4 (from scores 0-10, being ten as the highest) is expected to have an index of 5 and 9, respectively; - with protecting investors indicator having scores from 0 to 10 and 10 as the highest, its extent of disclosure has an index of 2, extent of director liability of 3 and ease of stakeholder suits of 8, it now aims this year

Davao by the nuMbers

Davao Region has

20,244 sq. km total land area

25.6 percent of which belong to Davao City.

Source: NSo

for indexes of 7, 9 and 10, respectively; - a business also has 47 payments of taxes and is usually transacted in 193 hours, with the NCC’s 2013 target it is now down to 14 payments for the same hour of transaction; - for trading across borders, from 7 export documents it will now be only 5 documents and 15 days of time to export down

to 7 days. Same goes with import transactions with 8 documents to 6 and 14 days to import down to 7 days; - in enforcing contracts, currently it has 37 steps transacted in 842 days and now will be down to 30 steps in326 days; - lastly, it takes 5.7 years in resolving insolvency but with the NCC’s target this 2013 it will only takes 2.7 years. [PNA]

Q1 tourist arrivals reach 1.27M F

IRST quarter visitor arrivals reached 1.27 million, a 10.76 percent growth from last year’s 1.15 million for the same period. This marks the second time that foreign tourist arrivals breached the one-million mark in the first quarter, setting the pace for the Department of Tourism to reach its 5.5 million arrival target for 2013.

The first quarter performance accounts for 23 percent of the target arrivals for the year.

Korea remains the leading visitor market, which captured 25.83 percent of the total inbound traffic with 328,454 arrivals, followed by the United States with 186,065 or 14.63 percent of the overall visitor volume. The Japanese market contributed the third biggest arrivals with 114,269 or 8.99 percent. Rounding up the top five visitor markets for the first quarter are China with 98,242 and Taiwan with 53,867 visitors. The Korean market rose by 23.93 percent, the highest among the top five major markets.

Other key markets contributing significant volume

EXPORTERS CONGRESS. Ferdinand Marañon, president of Philippine Export Davao, right, promotes the upcoming Mindanao Exporters Congress slated on July 2013 which aims to solve the of arrivals include Australia with 53,679; Singapore with 41,524; Canada with 38,486; Hong Kong with 36,005; United Kingdom with 32,475; Malaysia with 27,212; and Germany with

sector’s unique problems in yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. With him is PhilExport consultant Richard Torres. Lean Daval Jr.

22,491.

Double-digit gains were recorded by the Russian Federation (26.9 percent), Hong Kong (25.04 percent), Korea (23.93 percent), India (22.1 percent),

Singapore (15.42 percent), Australia (12.65 percent), and Malaysia (11.86 percent). The ASEAN source markets grew 14.82 percent while East Asia increased by 14.15 percent. [PNA]

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

Cebu Pacific

Tue/Wed//Sat

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

5J965 / 5J968

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

13:35

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

Manila-Davao-Manila

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

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Silk Air Mon/Sat Silk Air Wed/Sun Silk Air Thurs Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri Philippine Airlines August Zest Air Daily Cebu Pacific

Daily

MI588 / MI588 13:35 MI566 / MI566 15:20 MI551 / MI551 12:05 5J507 / 5J598 15:00 15:55 Mani2Mani 16:50 Z2524 / Z2525 16:05 5J967 / 5J600

16:35

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

18:55 18:55 15:45 15:30

Cebu-Davao-Cebu

16:45

Manila-Davao-Cebu

17:05

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 37 •TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2013

SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT 7

Tracking map reveals tuna movements in Coral Triangle • • •

Fast FaCts

The Coral Triangle—the nursery of the seas—is the world’s center of marine life, encompassing around 6 million sq km of ocean across six countries in Asia-Pacific – Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste.

It is home to 76% of the world’s known coral species, 37% of the world’s coral reef fish species, and commercially-valuable species such as tuna, whales, dolphins, rays, sharks, including 6 of the world’s 7 known species of marine turtles.

The Coral Triangle directly sustains the lives of more than 120 million people and contains key spawning and nursery grounds for tuna. Its reef and coastal systems also underpin a growing tourism sector.

D

ATA from pop-up satellite tags attached to adult yellowfin tuna show movements of this commercially-valuable species around Coral Triangle waters.

The movements of four mighty swimmers named Amihan, Badjao, Hagibis, and Buhawi, can now be followed via a species tracking map, that shows in color-coded coordinates, how far the fish have swam since being tagged off the western seaboard of Mindoro Occidental in the Philippines.

“The data we have gathered so far reveal that tuna movements cover an impressive amount of nautical miles a day, travelling back and forth in a general north-south direction from where they were caught and released,” says Dr. Jose Ingles, Tuna Strategy Leader of the WWF Coral Trian-

gle Programme.

“While still preliminary, the results signify that to properly manage this yellowfin tuna stock, we need to consider similar or complimentary conservation measures along the geographic area of its movements.”

WWF, in collaboration with the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), is conducting a tuna tagging project in Philippine waters to gather more data on the movements of yellowfin tuna.

“Through this activity, we hope to identify key spawning, feeding, and nursery grounds of this much sought-after species and make a case for governments to protect these sites,” adds Dr. Ingles.

The Coral Triangle, which encompasses the seas of Indonesia, Malay-

sia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor Leste, is a known tuna nursery and migratory path, producing about 30 per cent of the total global tuna catch.

The tuna industry is an economic driver in this part of the world, feeding millions of people and providing jobs and livelihood to thousands of fishers and their families who directly depend on ocean resources.

Increasing global demand for tuna, however, has driven the over extraction and illegal fishing of the species, causing an alarming decline in tuna stocks.

Yellowfin tuna are now classified as fully overexploited.

“By tagging tuna, we hope to gather critical information that can help protect the species in spe-

Through science-based research initiatives, WWF aims to Tuna traders in Mindanao. [WWF-Philippines/ Gregg transform the global tuna market to ensure that benefits Yan] trickle down to all players - including these Yellowfin cific sites during its most ployed on large adult yel- perature, depth, and light vulnerable life stages. Data lowfin tunas (weighing intensity, and are procollected will help inform more than 70 kg) through- grammed to automatically management plans for a out the duration of this detach from the fish after more sustainable tuna in- activity. three to six months when dustry in this part of the Pop-up satellite tags, it floats to the surface and world,” adds Dr. Ingles. which are attached at the sends out information via A total of 16 pop-up back of the tunas, collect satellite transmission and satellite tags will be de- vital data such as tem- into a server.

ing heat the public has experienced in the past few weeks is expected to end later this month as the wet season begins.

He said that the country is now in a transition period from the dry to rainy season.

Loiz said the easterlies or warm winds from the east contribute to the easy formation of thun-

derstorm clouds or the cumulonimbus clouds.

Since the easterlies are “warm,” the convective activity brought about by its intense heat triggers the formation of cumulonimbus clouds.

He added that its “rich in moisture” quality also contribute in the formation of thunderstorm clouds.

Loiz said the whole country except Davao region will have cloudy skies until Tuesday with light to moderate rainshowers. Rest of the country including Metro Manila will have sunny to partly cloudy skies with possible isolated rains in the afternoon and evening due to evaporation or localized thunderstorms. [PNA]

gelique Songco, the head of the marine park said in a statement after experts assessed the affected area.

Some of the coral destroyed by the Chinese vessel was 500 years old, Songco said, adding that the damage was much larger than the area destroyed when a US Navy minesweeper, the USS Guardian, got stranded on Tubbataha in January.

The 48-metre (157foot) vessel, carrying 12 suspected Chinese fishermen, plowed into the Tubbataha Reef near the

western island of Palawan on April 8.

Authorities later found hundreds of dead pangolins, an internationally-protected species, hidden inside the vessel.

Tubbataha marine park information officer Glenda Simon told AFP the 12 Chinese would likely be fined about 95 million pesos ($2.32 million) just for trespassing into the marine park and destroying the coral.

The government has already charged them with poaching and they could

face an additional 12 to 20 years in jail for possession of the pangolins in violation of wildlife law.

Pangolins are widely hunted in parts of Asia for their meat, skin and scales and in China they are considered a delicacy and to have medicinal qualities.

The Philippine office of the World Wide Fund for Nature condemned the poaching of the pangolins after the men were caught, saying that growing demand in China was wiping the animal out in Southeast Asia. [AFP]

Scorching heat expected to end soon

T

HE whole country will continue to experience mixture of sunny and rainy weather due to localized thunderstorms, according to the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Sunday.

Weather forecaster Jori Loiz said the scorch-

Chinese boat damaged Tubbataha marine park

A

Chinese fishing vessel that crashed into one of the Philippines’ most famous reefs damaged almost 4,000 square metres of centuries-old coral.

Some 3,902 square metres (42,000 square feet) of coral was destroyed after the boat became stranded in the Tubbataha marine park -- a UNESCO World Heritage-listed coral reef -- the park management said.

“The damage the Chinese vessel caused to the reef is heart-breaking,” An-

WWF: Climate Change milestone demands shift to renewable energy

T

HE need to shift to sustainable and clean energy sources will be reinforced when the levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere reached 400 parts per million (ppm) for the first time in human history in the next few days.

Scientists from the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, are set to announce that levels of atmospheric CO2 are reaching 400ppm now, marking a critical point on the pathway to dangerous levels of global warming The imperative to drive down these emissions has never been stronger, says Samantha Smith, WWF leader of the Global Climate & Energy Initiative.

“The laws of physics tell us that the more CO2 we have in the atmosphere, the warmer the world will get. The last time the Earth’s atmosphere had as much CO2 as it has today, the world was 3-4 degrees Celsius warmer. And the

last time the world was that warm, sea levels were five to 40 meters higher than they are now,” she says.

According to scientists, there’s no doubt that human beings are responsible for rising levels of CO2 in the atmosphere, with most of global climate pollution coming from the energy sector, especially burning fossil fuels. If CO2 levels continue to rise, we can expect to see record high temperatures become the new summer average; record droughts become the norm; and record storms and floods become frequent events, says Smith.

“Globally, communities and governments already struggle to respond to droughts, crop failures and extreme weather events, even in rich countries such as the US. If CO2 levels keep rising, efforts to adapt to a changing climate are very unlikely to do the job.”

But this trajectory can change if the right choices are made.

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 37 • TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Let there be no more political dynasties!

WORM’S EYEVIEW Manny ValdehueSa

O EDITORIAL

Dollars from tourism

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HE PHILIPPINES is well on the way to achieving an economy that would generate a lot of dollars with the current surge in tourist arrivals.

Yes, the country’s aspiration to achieve five million tourist arrivals this year is on track. The ambitious target is achievable and no longer an impossible dream, unlike some years back.

Such an ideal situation could be the result of a pleasant convergence of several factors, especially including peace and order. On top of these, we need to offer the visitors destinations that are provided with facilities and services that are comparable to the best in the world.

Singapore’s tourism industry became one of the top 5 dollar-earners of that country because both the private sector and government, especially government, are gung-ho in developing barren and seemingly useless areas into resorts that easily become bestsellers among tourists who are awash with cash.

Our Department of Tourism (DOT) has reported that the number of foreign tourist arrivals reached 1.3 million during the first quarter of 2013, showing a 10.76

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percent increase over the same period last year. One can imagine how much tourism money was generated from this number of arrivals.

Local government units (LGUs) can actually have a piece of the action if their leaders have the proper mindset and know what to do. One great source of LGU revenue is the imposition of “environment users fee” which can be levied on tourists and just plain visitors entering their area of jurisdiction. An example is the imposition of P15 EUF on every person who enters the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS). Tagum and a lot of other cities in Mindanao have adopted this practice and set aside their collections for improving their tourist destinations and for projects designed to protect the environment. The caveat here as usual is against abuse. There should be ample safeguards against the use or abuse of EUF collections to line the pockets of petty grafters.

Let us make EUF the starting point of the people’s consciousness on the importance of tourism in the country’s effort to achieve economic development.

ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Associate Editor

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Columnists: MA. TERESA TERESA L.L.UNGSON UNGSON• •EDCER EDCERC.C. ESCUDERO ESCUDERO • AURELIO • AURELIO A. PEñA A. PEñA • ZHAUN • ZHAUN ORTEGA ORTEGA • BERNADETTE • MARY ANN “ADDIE” “ADI” C. B. QUISIDO BORBON • MARY LEANDRO ANNB.“ADI” DAVAL C. QUISIDO SR., • NIKKI • LEANDRO GOTIANSE-TAN B. DAVAL • NICASIO SR., • NIKKI ANGELO GOTIANSE-TAN AGUSTIN • •Economic NICASIO Analysts: ANGELOENRICO AGUSTIN “GICO” • EMILY G. DAYANGIRANG ZEN CHUA • CARLOS • JONALLIER MUNDAM. Economic PEREZ Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ

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(1st of two parts)

urs is supposed to be a Democracy. It means we should have equal rights and equal access to opportunities; that we are adhere to the Rule of Law; that we strive to be law-abiding; that we honor the Constitution; and that we respect the popular will.

Ours is also supposed to be a Republic. It means that Filipinos are supreme; their sovereignty sacrosanct; their authority inviolate, the popular will respected.

Most of us profess to be Christian, a religion founded on love, built on sacrifice. Others of different faiths also value life and all that it implies in terms of justice, fairness, and equal opportunity. So we can take pride in being Godfearing and compassionate while striving to live by the truth, which makes us free.

It is good that through our sense of hospitality we are appreciated as caring, thoughtful, and charitable in our relationships. Good that as we journey through life we share the companionship and the blessings of other great religions, notably Islam, which professes to be a religion of peace.

Population-wise, we are a society of about 100 million citizens, a polity reputed for being talented and well educated. This makes our nation a logical model for a modern democracy—with governance and politics grounded on the Law, backed by a large human pool consisting of 20 million or so families from which to draw for leadership, vision, and sense of mission.

But it is a curious phenomenon that with such a large human pool, we allow ourselves to be governed and controlled by a narrow class of patriarchs, matriarchs, and scions of only 250 families or less in 73 out of 80 provinces.

Political dynasties! Most of them are in power by violating norms of engagement in a democracy— notably the Constitutional provision prohibiting political dynasties (Art II, Sec 26).

We need to clear our democracy Needless to say, the existence of these dynasties is inconsistent with our democratic ideals. It negates our hopes for a society of equal opportunity. It disenfranchises millions of God-given talent that are left to languish and waste away on the margins of the community. They are deprived of the opportunity to serve by dynasties that arrogate to themselves the choice places at the center. In their arrogance and presumptuousness, these dynasties monopolize the powers and perks of office. They don’t/ won’t yield to others (whom they view as inferior and undeserving).

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 37 •TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2013

N

VANTAGE POINTS

negative TV, radio and newspaper ads in battleground territories. It’s not just rapid response, its rapid response 24/7 from both sides – scathing and bitter-side comments. Not only are the group’s top honchos, candidates, campaign managers and planners playing a vigorous game, but the cautious voters are likewise watching intently from the sidelines as well. As both camps are pounding at each other, pollsters were following the senate race more closely now than in the previous weeks.

The campaign lurches into fast-forward in the remaining few days and the administration party for sure is mapping out a last-trench strategy, sorting out its internal mechanics and more importantly press the advantage of being the ruling party. The power of the office and the media coverage its holder is guaranteed for just doing its job generally fine give the dominant party candidates the luxury of staying above the fray. Close allies of the opposite camp, however, see the last week of the campaign as the window of opportunity in which to inflict damage on the dominant party senate bets before the Filipino voters get to know much about the adverse characters of their candidates.

Nobody will take a breather from a hectic campaign the next few critical days

and should always be on their toes to avoid being caught by last-day surprises with their pants down. The war rooms of the two campaigns are expectedly organizing to quickly seize any opportunity for “attack” – unleashing even the mildest broadside. There is a necessary push-pull between the opposing camps that can happen between now and E-Day. We always have to bear in mind that politics Philippine-style are full of stunning surprises. Both campaigns will give voters an inside glimpse of the heat of the senate race while the prevailing basic social problems have given the opposition groups with lot of concerns to use in their campaign.

Meanwhile the administration party which is led by the LP also has good reason to be confident because being under the graces of the powers-that-be it is almost certain it will grab majority of the senate seats. Nonetheless, much will revolve around the decisions made in the polling booths by the voting population on May 13 midterm elections. We hope the electorate have already learned a lesson or two from a bitter past and elect candidates who are not conventional power-hungry, greedy and conniving politicians. Regardless of the winners, the midterm polls hopefully would be an eye opener that could elevate the voters’ level of political discourse while the victors should acknowledge that socio-economic progress is achievable – that the impoverishment of millions of Filipinos is not interminable, irreversible fact but something that should be the priority of any government. The test will be if the campaign pledges and promises last beyond the polling day, if not, it “implies a big dilemma.”

May their tribe increase

Editor’s Note: This commentary is written by a beneficiary cooperative of the Villar Foundation in Davao City and emailed to Edge Davao. We encourage commentaries from our readers on issues that matter. You may email your commentaries at edgedavao_editorial@yahoo. com.

S EDGE DAVAO reported, or rather commented, in this corner last week on the Davao region’s share in Senator Chiz Escudero’s PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund), there is a euphemism for the much maligned “pork barrel”. Not that we approve of pork barrel as a substitute for legislative work as the primary function of congressmen and senators. What we’re saying is that since no amount of editorializing can make the system, copied from the United States and abused, disappear overnight, we may as well opt for the next best thing –advocate for equal allocation of the funds, especially in favor of depressed and perennially underserved provinces.

A senator is allocated an annual P200 million, and the gentleman from Bicol ought to be appreciated for his gesture. Sorry, we cannot say the same of some senators who are running for reelection or pushing their relatives to become senators, too. Some of them

A

Wonder no more

Political fist-pounding

O MORE TIME TO TAKE A BREATHER – Political analysts, campaign strategists and keen observers recognized that the last remaining week is crucial for either the Liberal Party’s (LP) Team Pinoy and United Nationalist Alliance’s (UNA) Tatak Binay to gain ground. Candidates, senate pretenders in particular, talk hopefully of retreating to a more civilized pace once the campaign shifts to full throttle, but has there been a campaign that started out nasty and intense only to turn nice and mellow?

One thing is for sure: top leaders of the opposition group to which so much of their time has been focused on the senate race will again train their sights during the last few days on issues that they know are detrimental to the candidacy of the candidates of the dominant party – unemployment, crushing poverty and overhyped economic growth. For them, the “shortcomings” of Team PNoy in the last ditch of the campaign period will revolve around these basic social problems.

While the opposite political quarter wanted to make it appear that alleged government neglect would ignite a disaffection and resentment in both the urban and rural poor population, the effect so far is very minimal. The dissatisfaction of the poor which they tried to magnify in their campaign sorties didn’t trigger an expected negative chain reaction contrary to what they believe could help boost the chances of their candidates in the senatorial race.

At a point in the political cycle when candidates would normally give little-noticed blitzkrieg policy speeches before nodding partisans, the campaigns of the contending parties instead are running

COMMENTARY COnTRIBuTed are more known for being confessed humanizers, drunkards, suspected plunderers and power trippers, who relish the rather bootlicking description that each of them is an independent republic unto himself.

We thank the heavens that there are a few exceptions, the rara aves known for walking their talk. One such candidate is Cynthia A. Villar, veteran lawmaker, who’s running for senator under the coalition Team Pinoy.

Ms Cynthia is the other half of the couple behind Camella Homes, the housing giant whose projects in Davao and elsewhere have made it a big employment generator, indeed one of the country’s undisputed economic drivers.

Unbeknownst to many Dabawenyos, Ms Villar’s presence has been long felt here even before Camella established its first housing project. Through the Villar Foundation, Ms Cynthia has been teaching women in rural areas and depressed Davao communities various forms of livelihood skills, chiefly a replication of her award-winning water lily-weaving training, started in Las

Pinas a decade ago. The beneficiaries, mostly idle wives and jobless women, were also trained in coconet-weaving in centers which are provided with decomposter facilities.

In Davao City alone, Villar has been behind the continuous skills training in barangays Wilfredo Aquino, Marapangi, Matina Crossing, Mintal, Bangkas Heights, Baracatan,Tugbok, CrossingBayabas, Lubogan, Lizada, Binugao and Daliao.

For Region 12, Villar Foundation has projects in Midsayap, North Cotabato, Koronadal City, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, Sarangani Province and Cotabato City. In Caraga, she has established training centers in Butuan City, Dinagat Island and the Agusan Marsh. Earlier on, similar training centers were established in Cagayan de Oro City, Tudela, Misamis Occidental and Iligan City.

These projects along the time-honored principle of not giving a hungry man fish but rather teaching him how to fish are impressive. Take note that these are not bankrolled with PDAP funds. With pork barrel, and judicious spending, the possibilities are limitless.

We think that putting Ms Villar and her kind in the hallowed halls of the Senate is a sound investment in the country’s great battle against poverty.

9

R

EGARDLESS of the final results of the congressional race in Davao City’s three districts, the return of former mayor, incumbent Vice Mayor Rody Duterte, to city hall is only a matter of formality awaiting official confirmation and proclamation by the Commission on Elections at the appropriate time.

Rody and son Paolo are running as unopposed candidates for city mayor and vice mayor, respectively, in this year’s elections.

In the case of the elder Duterte, his running unopposed is a defining moment in his colorful political career and a testament to the lasting legacy he will eventually leave behind when he finally retires from public service.

He will be remembered best for his uncompromising stand against criminality, especially the heinous and organized type like trade in illegal drugs, kidnapping-for-ransom, guns-forhire, rape with murder. He is also outspoken against certain aspects of the juvenile justice law that tend to encourage the proliferation of children in conflict with the law.

Under his watch, Davao City has become the premiere metropolis of Mindanao, bar none, known for its concern for the rights of women and children (police precincts have Women’s and Childen’s desks, which is self-explanatory); its Anti-Smoking Ordinance supports the World Health Organization (WHO) campaign against the hazards of tobacco use; the city’s Central 9-11 office responds to calls for immediate assistance in times of emergency--like fires, flash-floods, other natural calamities, etc.

The establishment and maintenance of peace and order in Davao City has always been Rody Duterte’s magnificent obsession, That is one of the things that proverbial investors, local and foreign, are concerned about, for obvious reasons. Prospective investors liked what they saw, stayed and have had no regrets eversince. And that is what Davao City is all about under Rody Duterte’s watch in the last two decades since he first assumed as city mayor.

Is it any wonder then why he is running for mayor unopposed? Dabawenyos don’t wonder anymore.

10 THE BIGGER PICTURE

VOL. 6 ISSUE 37 • TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

NPAs seize rice from politicians

By Che Palicte

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HE New Peoples Army (NPA) has admitted it has confiscated a total of 98 sacks of rice from political operators of local candidates who have usurped revolutionary territories in the villages of Magpet, Makilala and Arakan towns in North Cotabato.

In a statement sent to Edge Davao, Ka Isabela Fermiza Spokesperson of Mt. Apo Sub-regional Command-NPA bared that NPA have stepped up its drive against coercive vote-buying and fascist Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) operations to protect the people and defend revolutionary base areas.

The sacks of rice were seized in the following barangays: 43 sacks of rice in Brgy. Balite; seven (7) sacks in Brgy. Amabel in Magpet town; six (6) sacks in Brgy. Kisante, six (6) sacks in Brgy. Biangan; six (6) sacks in Brgy. Batasan all in Makilala town; 10 sacks of rice in Brgy. Noa, Magpet town; 10 sacks in Brgy. Cabalantian; and 10 sacks in Brgy.Binuongan, all in Arakan town.

The NPA statement said they have “turned over the confiscated rice to the pertinent local organs of political power for proper accounting and disposal.”

Fermiza added that local counterparts hoarded rice and opened it only when it is time to pursue votes during elections.

She added that these acts add injury espe-

BY ALL MEANS POSSIBLE. With all seats taken, this young basketball fan found a convenient seat with a better view behind the railings of the lower box section of the Davao del Sur Coliseum to watch Sunday night’s 2013 PBA All-Star Game. Lean Daval Jr. cially to the masses of North Cotabato who are still reeling from extreme hunger and poverty.

In the statement NPA pointed out that “despite having not made any dent at all in improving the lives of the poor, politicians and their minions have shamelessly descended upon hugely exploited and oppressed villages to coerce the masses so that they can continue to perpetuate in power.”

Karlo, Mylene ahead...

Search for outstanding entrepreneur launched

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HE search for the Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2013 has been launched in Davao City.

The nationwide search also covers the city’s business community as announced by the competition’s proponents yesterday during the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw in SM Annex Atrium.

Alvin Pinpin, Sycip Gorres Velayo Davao partner in-charge, who was

FFROM 1

second district In the second district, 54.6 percent of the 480 people interviewed said they would vote for Garcia, while only 22.7 percent opted to favor businesswoman Joji Ilagan-Bian.

Interestingly, 16.3 percent of those interviewed refused to answer, almost the same percentage as that of the first district.

Also, 0.6 percent of respondents are undecided. third district In the third district, where Rep. Isidro T. Ungab is running for a third term unopposed, 82.9 percent of the 434 voters polled said they were voting Ungab, only 8.3 percent refused to respond, while 0.7 percent are undecided.

1st council race In the city council derby, where each of the three district is allotted eight seats, old names

(comebacking former councilors) appeared to be favored by the voters.

In the first district, those polled favored Mabel Accosta, Leah Librado, Edgar IbuyanSr. , Leo Avila, Joanne Bonguyan-Quilos, Bonifacio Militar, Melchor Quitain and Nilo Abellera Jr. in that order (from first to the eighth).

No. 9 is Emmanuel Galicia Jr., while Jessie Mar Culaste is No. 10, Lyndon Banzon, No.11 and Jackson Reyes, No. 12.

In District 2, the top 12 is composed of (1) Louie John Bonguyan, (2) Danny Dayanghirang, (3) Arnold Apostol, (4) Al Ryan Alejandre, (5) Malyn Cabling, (6) April Dayap, (7) Diosdado Mahipus, (8) Gerald Anthony Bangoy, (9) Tomasing Monteverde, (10) Jimmy Dureza, (11) Marissa Salvador Abella and (12) Angelo Aportadera.

3rd district

In third district, the top 12 is composed of Bernie Al-ag, Kaloy Bello, Myrna Dalodo-Ortiz, Rachel Zozobrado, Joselle Villafuerte, Jopet Baluran, Rene Elias Lopez, Bong Advincula, Petite Principe, Vic Advincula Sr., Allan Dolor and Gerry Braganza in that order. senate race In the senate race, the voters’ preference is as follows (from No. 1 to No. 16): Chiz Escudero 54.2 percent, Loren Legarda 47.8, JV Ejercito-Estrada 46.1, Alan Peter Cayetano 43.9, Grace Poe 43.3, Edgardo Angara Jr. 41.9, Migz Zubiri 41.3, Bam Aquino 39.2, Koko Pimentel 38.2, Nancy Binay 37.8, Juan Ponce Enrile Jr. 36.8, Antonio Trillanes 33.5, Cynthia Villar 32.8, Gringo Honasan 31.1, Ramon Magsaysay Jr. 30.4, and Risa Honteveros 30.0, in that order. (with AMA)

with Small Business Entrepreneur of 2012 winner Jonathan Say and 2010 finalists Rene Dalayon and Remegio Salanatin and 2011 finalist Ferdinand Marañon, said that this year’s program carries the theme ‘Breaking Barriers’ which he described as “the entrepreneurial spirit that compels men and women to believe and pursue their dreams.”

He added that despite such barriers, real en-

trepreneurs embolden themselves to toughen their will, generate ideas and gather the resources needed to transform into opportunities.

The prestigious award was first introduced in the country in 2003. It was established in the United States way back in 1986 by the professional services firm Ernst & Young. The first-ever entrepreneur award in the Philippines was won by Tony Tan Cak-

Off-campus...

cilors; healthcare from local legislation, and educational reform from the national legislation.

According to Cabarde, one can see that it is basic needs that the leaders have not yet provided for the citizens since those are what the people of Davao ask from their

Marañon...

countries: Australia; Canada; Rome; United Kingdom; Middle East; Japan; and Korea.

“We have big clients, it‘s hard if they will look for another supplier, it will become a big loss on us,” he added.

Maranon cited that countries like Vietnam and Thailand are beginning to produce micro-

tiong, CEO of Jolibee Foods Corporation.

“The organizers of the event said the search is open to all Filipino entrepreneurs, business owners or founders who are primarily responsible for the growth of his her company” Pinpin added.

He also explained that the nominee must still be active in business which must have been in operation for at least two years.

CMP

FFROM 2

leaders.

What made the respondents choose their candidates was not included in the survey since these are too personal while this was just a quantitative survey, according to Cabarde.

“Just like soup, even if you just use a teaspoon to taste it,

you can get an idea of what the entire soup tastes like,” said Social Research director Mildred Megarbio-Estanda to explain how reliable their survey is.

A total of P1.8 million was used for the in-campus and off-campus survey, all of which was AdDU’s budget. EJF

FFROM 2 waveable banana exports although he remained confident Davao-grown bananas are of superior quality compared to the same variety produced in those two countries.

“It may be a threat but these countries dont have ‘golden saba’ that has superior quality like in our country,” he explained.

To address the shortage, Phil-Export Davao will be enforcing a industrial reforms like providing crates to farmers to ensure good quality.

“From time to time we will have a quality check on the farm and encourage farmers to plant more bananas,” he said.

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 37 •TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2013

NATION/WORLD 11

Gov’t aims for massacre convictions by 2016 T

HE Philippine government is aiming to speed up convictions in the country’s worst political massacre to ensure justice amid fears the trial could drag on for years, the country’s top justice official said.

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the government wants judgments against the Ampatuan Muslim clan, accused of being behind the murder of 58 people in 2009.

“The marching orders of the president is that during his term up to 2016, there’s got to be convictions,” de Lima told AFP in an interview.

She concedes it may be impossible to convict all the suspects but hopes they can at least get the “principal accused”.

More funds were being allocated to protect witnesses as the case moves through a special trial court.

The prosecution has so far completed presenting evidence and the testimonies of 130 witnesses to pin down clan patriarch Andal Ampatuan Snr and other family members for the massacre.

She said the government viewed the Ampatuan massacre “as the single most important case” that needed to be resolved to show the public it was serious in ending a culture of impunity afflicting the country.

“It is a litmus test for the government. If we fail to get convictions (by 2016), the public will be very disappointed because that will mean that wheels of justice in this country really grind so slowly.”

“There will be a gen-

eral feeling of helplessness,” she warned.

The Ampatuans allegedly ordered the massacre to stop a political rival, Esmael Mangudadatu, from running against one of its members for governor of Maguindanao, a poor farming province in southern Mindanao island.

Andal Ampatuan Jnr, allegedly led his clan’s private army in waylaying a convoy carrying his rival’s wife, relatives, lawyers and 32 journalists, and then gunning them down on a grassy hill.

Witnesses said Ampatuan Jnr personally took part in the killings after the clan patriarch gave his consent during a family meeting days earlier.

The Ampatuans had ruled Maguindanao for about a decade under the patronage of then-president Gloria Arroyo, who had used the clan’s militia as a buffer against Muslim separatist rebels.

The province and other parts of Mindanao are the bastions of the Philippines’ Muslim minority and some Muslim groups have waged a separatist rebellion for decades.

Other clans like the Mangudadatus and Ampatuans have entered politics, jostling for regional power.

Deadly rivalries among these clans are common in the south, although the 2009 massacre was the worst of its kind.

When President Aquino assumed office in 2010, he vowed justice.

But of the 196 accused, 93 still remain at large

and pose a threat to witnesses.

The Ampatuan patriarch, two sons and several family members are among those in detention while being tried in the emotionally-charged case, de Lima said.

But even in jail, the Ampatuans remained influential, with their wealth enabling them to retain a battery of high-

ly-paid lawyers who try to block each and every move by the prosecution, she added.

Some 72 clan members not accused in the case are also running as candidates in this month’s local elections, including so-called “good Ampatuans” under the political party of Aquino.

While it contests only local positions, the clan

could use its remaining political clout to consolidate power and continue intimidating opponents, rights groups say.

“Because of their resources and money, they still have minions in Maguindanao, and we cannot totally rule them out (as a political force),” de Lima stressed.

“We cannot completely say that Maguindanao

no longer has a culture of fear.”

She said at least 12 witnesses in the case are guarded round the clock in secret safe-houses.

At least three witnesses have been killed since 2010, including a former Ampatuan family employee whose dismembered remains were found stuffed into a sack in 2012. [AFP]

YRIAN rebels have used the deadly nerve agent sarin in their fight against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime, according to testimony from victims, UN human rights investigator

Carla del Ponte said.

“According to the testimonies we have gathered, the rebels have used chemical weapons, making use of sarin gas,” del Ponte, a former war crimes prosecutor, said in

an interview with Swiss radio late on Sunday.

She said there was “still not irrefutable proof, (but) very strong suspicions, concrete suspicions that sarin gas has been used. Assistance to

victims shows this.”

Her comments follow Israeli air strikes on military sites near Damascus on Sunday and come amid suspicions that Assad’s regime has used chemical weapons in the 26-month

conflict.

Del Ponte said the UN commission of inquiry on Syria, which she is a member of, was far from finishing its probe.

“We still have to deepen our investigation, verify and confirm (the findings) through new witness testimony, but according to what we have established so far, it is at the moment opponents of the regime who are using sarin gas,” she said.

Del Ponte also said the commission might still find proof that the Syrian regime was also using this type of chemical weapon.

US President Barack Obama has said that the use of chemical weapons in the Syria conflict was a “red line” for his administration but has said he does not foresee US troops on the ground in Syria.

Set up two years ago at the behest of the UN Human Rights Council, the commission has so far been unable to gain access to Syria as Damascus has ignored repeated requests for entry.

Instead, it has inter-

viewed over 1,500 refugees and exiles as a basis for its reports and its charges that both the government forces and their allies and opposition forces of carrying out war crimes in Syria, where more than 70,000 people have been killed since the violence exploded in March 2011.

Sarin is a powerful neurotoxin developed

by Nazi scientists in the 1930s.

Originally developed as a pesticide, sarin was used to deadly effect in the 1988 raid on the Kurdish village of Halabja in northern Iraq. A Japanese cult also used sarin in two attacks in the 1990s.

The gas works by being inhaled or absorbed through the skin and kills by crippling the nervous system.

Symptoms include nausea and violent headaches, blurred or tunnel vision, drooling, muscular convulsions, respiratory arrest, loss of consciousness and then death, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. [AFP]

People march in Manila on on November 23, 2012 to commemorate the third anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre. The Ampatuans allegedly ordered the massacre to stop a political rival, Esmael Mangudadatu, from running against one of its members for governor of Maguindanao. [AFP]

UN rights investigator: Syrian rebels used sarin S

Syrian rebels from the Al-Ezz bin Abdul Salam Brigade take part in a training session near Jabal Turkmen in Syria’s northern Latakia province on April 24, 2013.

[AFP]

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VOL. 6 ISSUE 37 • TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2013

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14 SPORTS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 37 • TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2013

MAYWEATHER GETS ANOTHER EASY WIN

EDGEDAVAO

Wake us up when he fights someone elite L

EASY TARGET. Floyd Mayweather Jr. lands a left jab against Robert Guerrero in the fifth round during a WBC welterweight title fight, Saturday (Sunday PHL time), May 4, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

AS VEGAS – Floyd Mayweather showed yet again why he is, conclusively, the greatest fighter of his generation.

He brilliantly outboxed Robert Guerrero on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden, cruising to a wide unanimous decision in their WBC welterweight title fight that probably would have been a stoppage had he not injured his right hand in the middle of the fight.

Mayweather is far beyond being judged against his peers, but the lack of depth and quality among them keeps him from seriously being regarded as one of the 10 best fighters ever.

Sugar Ray Robinson is, without question, the greatest fighter who ever lived. He was 128-1-2 before he suffered his second defeat, and he beat enough Hall of Famers to fill a football team.

The thing that Robinson, and more recent superstars such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Marvelous Marvin Hagler, had over Mayweather was elite opposition.

“Let me tell you this right here about the boxing game,” Mayweather’s father, Floyd Sr., said.

“There were much better fighters when Sugar Ray Robinson was coming along. There were much better fighters when Joe

Louis was coming along.

But that’s not my son’s fault. My son beat who’s here today, and if they can’t protect themselves, oh well.”

Mayweather fought most, though not all, of the best of his era. He missed Kostya Tszyu when he was at 140 pounds and to this point, he hasn’t fought Manny Pacquiao.

But he’s reeled off 44 in a row and, in truth, none of them were close.

He routed Guerrero on Saturday, connecting on an incredible 60 percent of his power punches while holding Guerrero to just 19 percent overall.

Guerrero had some success in the first two rounds in trying to pin Mayweather along the ropes, where he could maul him. All three judges gave Guerrero the first round for that. But that was it.

Love him or hate him – there is usually no inbetween – Mayweather always figures it out. He’s a boxing savant and has been since the first time he pulled on gloves as a child in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Mayweather, who was extraordinarily classy and respectful at the post-fight news conference, took the high road when he was asked where he’d rank himself.

Prior to the fight, he declared himself the best who ever lived. He backed off that on Saturday.

Almost unanimous

T

HE NBA made it official Sunday, announcing Miami Heat superstar LeBron James was a near-unanimous choice as Most Valuable Player, earning the award for a second straight year and fourth time overall.

James’s victory in the voting had been widely reported since Friday, although when asked about it the player himself had urged reporters not to “jinx” him by jumping the gun.

He needn’t have worried.

James garnered 120 first-place votes from a possible 121 which included a 120-member media panel and a fan poll conducted on NBA.com that counted for one vote.

James received a total of 1,207 points in the balloting, with Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant a distant second with 765 points and the New York Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony third with 475 points and one firstplace vote.

No player has ever been a unanimous winner. James matched Shaquille O’Neal -- as a Los Angeles Laker in 2001 -- in receiving all but

one first-place vote.

“He deserves it,” teammate Ray Allen said. “What he’s done for this team, we’ve come to expect so many things. He set the bar so high, but what he does is miraculous.”

James joins legends Michael Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell as MVP award winners at least four times in their careers.

James’s four MVP trophies have come in the span of five seasons, a feat only previously accomplished by Russell, who won in 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1965.

James also won in 2009, 2010 and 2012, with Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose interrupted his streak in 2011.

“King James” averaged 26.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.0 blocked shots a game in 76 appearances this season, his 10th in the NBA. He shot career bests of 56.5 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from 3-point range and finished second in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting to Spanish big man Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies.

INdulge!

VOL. 6 ISSUE 37 • TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

TRAVEL

Cooling down in style

Escaping from summer heat at Davao’s fabulous urban pools

Summer is still here with the temperature hitting as high as 33 degrees Centigrade in the afternoons. A quick trip to the mall may be an easy fix but a weekend staycation plus a dip into one of these fabulous pools has got to be a more fabulous and stylish way to beat the heat in Durianburg.

Quiet and composed The Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao’s Pool Aquarius is the grand dame of the lot but it is the deepest pool and the only one to be located in a lush garden environment. The pool has a poolside bar serving refreshments and food as well as gazebos for relaxing while enjoying a view of Davao Gulf and Samal Island.

Sign up for Club Ilustadro membership and you can have access to the pool even without checking in.

Urban chic The pool at Seda Abreeza may be small but the layout of the area and the accompanying gym area make for a nice and cozy place to relax and unwind. even when the hotel is located just a short walk from Ayala’s biggest mall in mindanao, the hotel and pool feels quiet and private

The Marco Polo’s salt-water pool at The Deck is every sun-worshiper’s dream.

yet with a unique urban vibe.

Cozy in the city Located right at the heart of downtown Davao, the royal mandaya Hotel’s pool is located at the third level of the hotel. Surrounded by lush landscaping and the hotel’s Pasag Grill, the lounging pool is a virtual portal that transports guests to the island beaches without leaving the city.

An invigorating dip reflecting the colours

and the slogan of the hotel of “Adding colours to life.”. The Park Inn’s gem of a pool, located at the second level, evokes visions of the mediterranean with lounges that dip into the pool and their colourful and vibrantly coloured pool bar which serves fabulous wines, drinks and cocktails. I could imagine holding summer parties here soon.

It also helps that staycations here also allow you to shop at one of mindanao’s largest malls, Sm Lanang Premier, that is accessible from the hotel via a footbridge.

Cool at heart The Apo View Hotel may the the second-oldest operating hotel in the Philippines but its vibe is young and vibrant, and a refreshing dip in it’s pool on the second level is a relaxing break from the summer heat.

A sun worshiper’s paradise Oriented towards the setting sun, the marco Polo’s Deck is every sun worshiper’s dream. The 25-meter lap pool is the centre of the area and is THe place to when the sun goes down. I love the fact that

Park Inn Davao’s modern and colorful pool and bar.

Poolside at the Apo View Hotel.

Waterfront Insular Hotel’s Pool Aquarius gives you a garden view with coconut trees swaying in the breeze. the marco Polo adds some salt to the pool that makes it feel like you are actually swimming in the sea yet just enough as not to sting your eyes.

The Deck also has a restaurant, a gym, a poolside bar and grill plus the twostorey Lazuli spa for some after-sun pampering.

So there you go, some of the most stylish places to cool down and unwind in Durianburg, be it for a staycation or just for a quick dip.

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

Seda Abreeza’s urban yet cozy pool area.

The Royal Mandaya Hotel’s lounging pool.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL. 6 ISSUE 37 • TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2013

UP AND ABOUT

Mom’s Seda bliss GiVE Mom the break she deserves. Check in at Seda Abreeza’s brand new rooms and dine at Misto for the ultimate R & R. Avail of Seda Abreeza’s special Mother’s Day Promo for only Php 4,500.00 nett and enjoy overnight accommodations in a Deluxe room inclusive of Buffet Breakfast and complimentary Lunch or Dinner Buffet for two persons with one round of Misto drinks free, unlimited WiFi, complimentary use of the pool and the gym and a special surprise token for Mom. Mom’s Seda Bliss room promo is valid from May 11 to 12, 2013.

You may also walk – in and have lunch or dinner buffet at Misto restaurant located at the lobby level and experience a one-of-a-kind gastronomical feast in a themed Asian Food Street Market setting for only Php 750.00 nett per person with 1 round of Misto special drinks. Bring Mom with four (4) other diners and Mom gets to eat for free!

For inquiries and reservations please call 322-8888 or 2443000. Seda Hotel is conveniently located at J.P. Laurel Avenue, Davao City and is right beside Abreeza Ayala Mall. Visit Seda’s website at www.sedahotels.com or email at reservations. dvo@sedahotels.com

Applicants join SM City GenSan Labor Day Job Fair More than 2000 applicants gathered in SM City General Santos on May 1, 2013 to join the SM Supermalls Nationwide Job Fair in celebration of the Labor Day. DOLE 12’s Regional Director Ofelia B. Domingo graced the opening of the Job Fair at the Mall Trade Hall. Department of Labor in Region 12 thanked the SM management for being a partner of the endeavor in giving a chance of employment to the community.

Alexie G. De Los Santos, the mall human resources manager, said in his welcome remarks that the Job Fair is only one of the many ways in which SM Supermalls can do its share for the community which is participated by both public and private sectors to build a nation by providing employment to the people.

De Los Santos also said the job fair aims to salute the new graduates and the Pinoy Working Force, and assist as many qualified individuals as possible in finding employment. Employers were brought together to lessen the inconveniences of job seekers and provide opportunities for gainful employment to Filipino workers.

Over 100 companies including SM affiliates and mall tenants joined the job fair in SM City General Santos and 544 applicants were hired on the spot. This Job Fair is envisioned to attract the labor force to find their right career that will fit their capabilities and skills.

THE SM SToRE HoLDS LADIES ACCESSoRIES JEWELRy SALE. Get up to 50% off on selected items this entire month of May and receive a free gift with a minimum purchase of P500.

Graceful Barbie in The Pink Shoes.

A summer toonfest at SM Supermalls

Sesame Street characters Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie brought joy to kids and kids at heart.

THe Sm Supermalls gathers together forty well-loved cartoon characters as it celebrates summer with an Sm Toonfest at 44 malls nationwide.

Ongoing until may 31, the Toonfest features exciting activities, cartoon-related toys and interesting finds for the whole family and the cartoon-lover to enjoy.

Kids and kids at heart will also be delighted to meet and Greet some of their favorite characters in Sm Toonfest. These are cartoon friends generations of children have grown up with: from classic characters like Bugs Bunny, Tom & Jerry, and DC Comic Heroes to modern hits like Angry Birds and Despicable me minions. There are also characters from well-loved television series like Sesame Street’s elmo, Cookie monster, Bert, and ernie; Spongebob and Patrick, Dora and Boots, the Teenage mutant Ninja Turtles, Ben10, and Garfield.

Girls will love meeting monster High, Barbie Ballerina, Polly Pocket, and Hello Kitty; while boys will have fun with friends from Alex the Lion, Lorax, Hop, and robby rabbit.

The Sm Toonfest was re-

The high flying Angry Birds make a stop at the SM City Fairview Attrium to show the crowd their amazing stunts.

DC Comics characters Batman, Green Arrow and Aquaman step out of the comic books into the SM Malls.

Adorable Hello Kitty character makes a Tom and Jerry take a break from cat and mouse comeback this summer to entertain SM games to share exciting SM summer activities with Supermalls shoppers.

Kids. cently launched at Sm City Fairview, with 25 of the 40 participating cartoon characters in attendance. Thousands of shoppers joined in the fun, including kids from the Autism Society of the Philippines Lagro

Chapter and Kids Act Philippines performers.

Catch your favorite cartoon characters at the Sm mall near you. Like Sm City Davao, Sm Lanang Premier and Sm City General Santos of Facebook for

event and promo updates.

The Sm’s Toonfest is supported by Bates/Nickelodeon, richprime, Pacific Licensing, Honeybarn, Solar entertainment, Click Licensing and Astroplus/ magnavision.

Garfield has been endearing fans since 1978 and now ready Dora loves to explore the world to visit 44 SM Malls around the and now she’s ready discover Kids from Autism Society of the Philippines Lagro Chapter with its country.

President Ms. Marietta Tan. fun at the SM Supermalls.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 37 • TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAiNMENT

Did Keira Knightley wear a recycled wedding dress?

FASHiON faux pas or just being resourceful?

Keira Knightley’s wedding to musician James Righton seemed very simple— 10-minute ceremony, only close friends and family— and it looks like the actress may have also dodged the usual treacherous hunt for the perfect dress.

The UK’s Look magazine first noted that Knightley’s wedding gown is extremely similar (if not the exact same dress) to one she wore a few years back.

The magazine’s Senior Fashion and Beauty Editor, Erica Davies says, “Keira’s wedding dress looks like the Rodarte that she wore to a pre-BAFTA party in 2008. She made it look quite different for her wedding, with a white Chanel tweed jacket, bare legs and ballet

pumps, but it certainly looks like the same dress.”

The actress’ rep was not immediately available for comment.

We had previously heard that Knightley was going to walk down the aisle in a custom Karl Lagerfeld gown, the creative director of Chanel being the likely

choice since the star has been the face of Coco Mademoiselle and she recently played Coco Chanel in Lagerfeld’s short film Once Upon a Time, and ultimately, she did, walking down the aisle wearing a Chanel strapless, tulle dress and jacket (that was maybe inspired by her Rodarte outfit?).

Reese Witherspoon sports Atlanta police baseball cap post-bust THiS brings a new meaning to fashion statement.

Reese Witherspoon landed at LAX with her husband Jim Toth and 8-month-old son Tennessee Saturday wearing a “City of Atlanta Police” baseball cap, just two weeks after her arrest in Atlanta.

Following her revealing Good Morning America interview, it looks like Witherspoon is continuing to make the best of the couple’s embarrassing bust, even after new dashboard footage of the 37-year-old Mud star arguing with Atlanta police was released just days ago.

This has been quite the eventful couple of weeks for the duo to say the least.

After their April 19 arrest, the actress’ husband pleaded guilty to DUi in a plea bargain. He was placed on 12 months’ probation, sentenced to perform 40 hours of community service and attend an alcohol education program, a Mothers Against Drunk Driving class and pay a fine, as a result.

Meanwhile, Witherspoon pleaded no contest to a charge of obstruction of a person after disobeying a police officer’s command to stay in her car, and paid a fine of $313.

Aerosmith, NKoTB set to perform in honor of Boston Marathon bomb victims ARTiSTS continue to show their support for victims of the Boston marathon bombing, this time in the form of a concert.

New Kids on the Block, Aerosmith, James Taylor, Dane Cook and more are set to perform for Boston Strong: An Evening of Support and Celebration on May 30 at TD Garden, a show to honor those affected by the April 15 tragedy.

Also along for the ride are the J. Geils Band, Godsmack, Extreme, Steven Wright, Jason Aldean, Jimmy Buffett, and Carole King,

with ticket proceeds benefitting the One Fund Boston.

Boston proud NKOTB member Donnie Wahlberg revealed to MTV, “Like so many other proud Bostonians who have been extremely generous, we are honored to step up and do

our part to help the victims and their families. Hopefully this event will not only raise money, but spirits as well.”

Joey Mcintyre, a fellow NKOTB member, was running the marathon and fortunately was not hurt by the bombing. The singer tweeted after the tragedy: “There was an explosion by the finish line about 5 minutes after i finished—i’m ok but i’m sure there are many hurt.”

The event will no doubt raise spirits and cash as even more artists are set to join the lineup as the event nears.

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IRON MAN 3 -3D Robert Downey, Jr. , Gwyneth Paltrow GP

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IRON MAN 3 Robert Downey, Jr. , Gwyneth Paltrow GP

01:40 | 4:10 | 6:40 | 09:10 LFS

R-16 IRON MAN 3 Robert Downey, Jr. , Gwyneth Paltrow GP

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

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

EVENTS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 37 • TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2013

Columbia-backed team finishes 2nd in Mt. Apo Int’l Boulderface Challenge LeSS than ten minutes shy of the first placer, Columbia/ DOTA team conquered the 24-hour mt. Apo Boulderface Challenge with a record time of 12 hours 32 minutes 21 seconds on April 29 in Sta. Cruz bagging the 100-thousand Peso cash prize.

Composed of Dexter Nonato, April John maniyog and Weng rocha (logistics), the team led the pack of contenders in the first part of the race-mountain biking which is their forte. When asked what broke their momentum, Nonato said their tires deflated along the route to Kapatagan. This was the opportunity Team People’s Park runners, ronald Dagaang and mario ecalner took to overtake the Columbia/DOTA duo.

This race, considered as one of the most extreme in Asia, employed 4 disciplines, namely, biking, mountain trekking, water tubing and road running.

Among which, the water tubing was where Columbia/DOTA team decelerated further as this was an unfamiliar territory while it was the expertise of first placers Dagaang and ecalner who brought home 150 thousand in cash for championing the event.

Columbia Sportswear Company representative, mae Sanchez saw potential in Nonato and maniyog when they championed in Columbia Trailmasters last November 2012. Sanchez said, “It is but right that Columbia supports them because we believe from the start that they are

a strong tandem and they have the determination to win.” merwin “Weng” rocha, team logistics and part-owner/manager at Davao Outdoor Tours & Adventures (DOTA) has fully supported Nonato and maniyog’s two-month training to build their agility and stamina. With the team’s victory, rocha has this to say---“I have never doubted that they’ll finish at the top three.” True indeed, the Columbia/ DOTA duo lived up to rocha’s expectations.

Placing third are equally strong athletes of Franklin & Baker Company of the Philippines’ Dioscoro Ge-

nunsalao, Jr. and romeo mascardo Jr with a recorded time of 12 hours 46 minutes and 51 seconds.

The fact that the top 3 teams----People Park runners, Columbia/DOTA and Franklin Baker---cut-down the normal climbing up and down the mountain by a third, is proof on how extreme the race is and as well as the racers. The 113 kilometer route up and down mt. Apo via the boulders normally travelled in 48 to 72 hours.

This year, 24 out of 34 teams finished the entire course. “This percentage of finishers is definitely higher than last year’s,” said

race director, engr. Albert Gabriel. “This is mainly attributed to the modification of the route, specifically to stretch the mountain biking distance,” adds engr. Gabriel.

The 3rd International mt. Apo Boulderface Challenge is an initiative of the LGu of Sta. Cruz, supported by the Department of Tourism region (DOT) XI. Special thanks to DOT reg XI and French Godlex Andico for the photos. Highly-technologized apparels, Columbia and mountain Hardwear are the official outfitters of the race. Visit Columbia in Abreeza and mountain Hardwear in Sm Lanang.

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 37 •TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2013

SPORTS 15

Team Casio wins shooting contest

J SLAM. Arwind Santos of the PBA All Star Selection throws it down in the third quarter of the 2013 PBA All Stars in Digos City on Sunday night. Lean Daval Jr.

V Casio of Alaska led his team to the title in the PBA All Stars Shooting Stars contest which served as a prelude to the annual PBA classic at the Davao del Sur Coliseum in Digos City.

Team Casio, also composed of Paolo Anota of Radyo 5 Davao and Malalag Mayor Rouel Paras, completed their 5-spot routine in one minute and 5 seconds to beat the team of Arwind Santos of Petron who timed 1 minute and 36 seconds.

The Shooting Stars competition served as the appetizer to the 2013 All Stars showdown between the PBA

All Star selection and the Smart Gilas Pilipinas which ended in a 124-all deadlock late Sunday night.

Another team led

by Beau Belga of Rain or Shine with actor Wendell Ramos and a team led by KG Canaleta took part in the contest.

PBA Commissioner Chito Salud thanked the tremendous support of the Davao del Sur province in a message before the start of the Sunday’s All Stars.

Davao del Sur Governor Douglas Cagas also thanked the PBA for choosing the province as the host of the annual PBA showcase. (Neil Bravo)

a lot of things to work out on and we only had two days of scrimmage and we met only every Monday of each week.”

But Reyes said he admired the team’s resoluteness in games when they are falling behind. “You saw the Jones Cup and that’s the way we play. We never back down. These guys keep fighting back and that’s their character.”

The Gilas flew yesterday to Manila in time for their game against Shanghai Sharks, a team owned

by NBA legend Yao Ming.

Eight Gilas scored double figures for the Nationals who were led by Fonacier with 18 while David backed him up with 17. Ranidel De Oc-

ampo had 14, Thoss and Castro had 11, and Gabe Norwood, Marc Pingris and LA Tenorio scored 10 apiece.

The All Stars were led

by Santos with 27. Canaleta had 20 while Belga and Cabagnot scored 15 each.

GILAS PILIPINAS (124) – Fonacier 18, David 17, De Ocampo 14, Thoss 11, Castro 11, Norwood 10, Pingris 10, Tenorio 10, Fajardo 9, Chan 9, Aguilar 5.

PBA ALL-STARS (124) – Santos 27, Canaleta 20, Belga 15, Cabagnot 15, Abueva 9, Baguio 9, Ellis 9, Casio 9, Lassiter 6, Caguioa 3, Yap 2.

Quarterscores: 33-31, 66-65, 89-95, 124-124

Chan...

FFROM 15

Pacers beat Knicks in Game 1 N

BEAT UP. A bullied Carmelo Anthony (middle) of the New York Knicks fired 27 in a long cause to Indiana who had a big game from Paul George (left) and Roy Hibbert (right)

EW YORK (AP) -- Bigger, badder, and so far better.

Physical beat finesse Sunday, as the Indiana Pacers outworked and outmuscled the New York Knicks in a 102-95 victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.

David West scored 20 points and Paul George added 19 for the Pacers, who outrebounded the Knicks 44-30, showing the smaller team that in the rugged East, size does matter. ‘’I thought guys did a good job just putting them on their heels,’’ West said. ‘’We were attacking, we were aggressive.’’

D.J. Augustin had 16 points for the Pacers,

who built a 16-point lead while Carmelo Anthony was on the bench in foul trouble in the third quarter, and easily held on to spoil the Knicks’ first second-round game since 2000.

Anthony finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds, but was frustrated by the Pacers’ tough defense and by the referees. He shot 10 of 28 from the field and was perhaps thrown out of sync having to defend West, a natural power forward, inside. ‘’Right now they’re just being really physical with him, they’re trying to bang him, they’re trying to frustrate him,’’ Knicks point guard Raymond Felton said. ‘’But we’re going to be fine, he’s going to be fine.’’

16

VOL. 6 ISSUE 37 • TUESDAY, MAY 07, 2013

EDGEDAVAO Sports

THE EQUALIZER. Smart Gilas’ Jeff Chan (7) fires over the outstretched arms of Alex Cabagnot of the PBA All Stars in the dying seconds of the 2013 PBA All Star Game. Chan’s triple forced a 124-all deadlock. Below, Gilas forward Japeth Aguilar hangs on to the rim after a vicious dunk. Lean Daval Jr.

Chan saves the day

By Neil Bravo

J

EFF Chan buried a three-point shot less than a second left to save the day for the short-handed Smart Gilas Pilipinas national team which took its first public appearance like a baby’s first steps.

The Gilas, playing together for the first time since being formed last February 22,

looked like the ‘B’ Team facing a veteran-laden PBA All Stars who came out all out to win the 2013 edition of the annual PBA All Stars showdown forcing the Nationals to a 124-124 deadlock.

The All-Stars, with its two top stars James Yap and Mark Caguioa playing just six minutes together, relied on a blistering pace and a bruising game inside to take control of the game for most part of the match before a packed crowd at the Davao del Sur Coliseum in Digos City.

With Arwind Santos of Petron and KG Canaleta of Air 21 connecting from the perimeter and burly Beau Belga muscling his way inside despite the presence of a towering Gilas frontline of Junmar Fajardo, Sonny Thoss and Japeth Aguilar, the All Stars selection punctured the porous Gilas’ defense to take leads of as much as 11, the last one at 103-92 midway in the final period.

But the Gilas, playing without pool members Jimmy Alapag (calf injury), Kelly Williams (illness), Ryan Reyes (hamstring), Jarred

Dillinger (out due to vehicular accident injuries), Greg Slaughter (schooling), and Marcus Doubthit (coach’s decision), showed its resiliency despite falling behind by a margin as marksmen Gary David, Larry Fonacier and Jason Castro fighting back for the Nationals to come to within just three 119-122.

After JV Casio and Jason Castro swapped free throws for a 124121 All Stars lead, Castro grabbed the leather from a jumpball at center and quickly sued for time, to set up the Nationals’ final play with 7.6 seconds left.

It took another timeout before the Nationals could execute Chot Reyes’ last play that saw Chan fake off Petron’s Alex Cabagnot, took a step dribble to left before uncorking a fadeaway jumper from the top right corner of the arc. The ball swished in leaving a mere 0.6 ticks on the game clock.

A wayward inbound sealed the annual classic at 124-all, the first ever in All Stars history. Chan and Santos were named co-MVPs. “A lot of players from the All Stars can make our team and they came out to play tonight,” Reyes told reporters at the dugout after the match.

“We were tested and it showed our weakness in defense. We still have

FCHAN, 15