Edge Davao 6 Issue 4

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

VOL.6 ISSUE 4 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

www.edgedavao.net

Serving a seamless society

WARMER DAYS ARE HERE. A man and his daughter ride a bicycle along San Pedro Ext. in Davao City yesterday amid the mid-day sun armed with an umbrella on one hand and holding the bike handlebar on the other. Lean Daval Jr.

Indulge

Page A1

Di man diay sunog gibantayan

Lady firefighter busted for drugs

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

Summer swimwear Sports

Page 15

Boom-Boom in Davao

“A

firefighter’s job is a profession considered easier compared to that of a police officer’s, but this time her fate is worse than a cop’s.”

This in essence was Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Ronald dela Rosa’s text message to Edge Davao following the arrest of a lady firefighter caught pushing illegal drugs.

The firefighter, Ednilyn Solis Lumungsod, 27, and her boyfriend from Cotabato City, Monsour Usman Kalipa, 32, were arrested by authorities in a buy-bust operation at 12 noon yesterday in a house with a green gate on the corner of Torres and Padre Faura streets.

The suspects were presented to Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte during the “Ato ni Bay” television program

FLADY FIREFIGHTER, 11

SC ISSUES 120-DAY STATUS QUO ORDER

Capalla hails RH stoppage F

ORMER Davao Archbishop Fernando Capalla hailed the stoppage order laid down by the Supreme Court on the controversial Reproductive Health Law. In a text message to Edge Davao, Bishop Capalla said, “the Bishops will be happy and grateful,”referring to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) which is the staunch oppositor to the RH Law. Capalla was the former president of the CBCP (2004-2006) and now an active member of the Commission on Inter-Religious Dialogue.

FCAPALLA, 11

CAPALLA. “The bishops will be happy.”

2 THE BIG NEWS

Dominguez bags Robredo award

O

UTgOIng Sarangani gov. Miguel Rene Dominguez bagged the first ever Jesse Robredo Leadership Award (JRLA) given by the galing Pook Foundation.

Dominguez, who decided to retire from politics after the end of his third and final term on June 30, received the plum during awarding rites at the Diosdado Macapagal Hall of the Landbank Plaza in Manila on Monday.

DILg Secretary Mar Roxas and Dr. Penny Robredo Bundoc, sister of

the late former DILg secretary, graced the awarding ceremonies.

The leadership award, named in honor of the late DILg secretary, is conferred on incumbent mayors or governors who have shown effective, transparent, accountable, participatory, innovative and ethical leadership. galing Pook Foundation Executive Director Eddie Dorotan said, “governor Dominguez is only 36 years old, yet he has clearly demonstrated how good governance should be practiced and

FDOMINGUEZ, 11

VOL.6 ISSUE 4 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

BOOK LAUNCH. “Out of Shadows: Violent Conflicts and the Real Economy of Mindanao” was formally launched in Davao City yesterday at the Grand Men Seng Hotel. The men and women behind the book hold their copies during the launch: (from right) Judy T. Gulane of BusinessWorld, Rufa Cagoco-Guiam

EDGEDAVAO

of MSU-General Santos City, Francisco J. Lara, Jr. of International Alert, Ed L. Quitoriano of RiskAsia Consulting, Steven Schoofs International Alert AFRIM’s Starjoan D. Villanueva, Wilfredo F. Rodriguez and Nikki de la Rosa. Lean Daval Jr.

DOLE implements Kasambahay Law

UP Min drapes Oblation in black cloth for Tejada R

By Che Palicte

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

T

HE University of the Philippines (UP) Mindanao held a UPsystem-wide action

of symbolically draping its Oblation statue with black cloth at 1pm yesterday on itsMindanao

campus in Mintal, Davao City to protest the death of Kristel Tejada.

League of Filipino

Students (LFS) spokesperson, Rendell Cagula, claims that the death of Tejada was not suicide but ‘murder’.

The College Editors guild of the Philippines (CEgP) points a finger at the government for abandoning its responsibility to provide education to the people.

In a press release, CEgP national demanded justice for the death of Kristel, the freshman Behavioral Science student of the University of the Philippines Manila (UP Manila) who committed suicide for failing to pay her tuition.

In the press release, CEgP expressed its condolence to the family of Kristel and stated that

FUP, 11

EPUBLIC Act no.10361 known as the “Domestic Workers Act” or “Batas Kasambahay” which institutes policies for the protection and welfare of domestic workers was signed into law by President Benigno Aquino III last January 18.

Lawyer Joeffrey Suyao, regional director of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) 11, yesterday said at the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw SM Annex that they are still crafting the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the law.

“After 19 years of struggle for implementation, it was finally approved as a law,” the lawyer said, adding that IRR will take 90 days to be crafted and will be finished in May of this year.

Suyao said that a kasambahay may be

identified as the following: nurse maid or yaya; cook; gardener; laundry person; and any person who regularly performs domestic work in one household on an occupational basis.

“This law is solely for national and local kasambahay because we have a separate law for the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW),” Suyao explained.

coliseums in the concert scene, gather with Rock and Roll/Alternative Music legends Wolfgang, True Faith and Yano together with other current Mainstream Contemporary Artists and Music Icons for three nights of music, inspiration and unity.

Homegrown talents from Davao City are also joining this musical feast all in the name of brotherhood and volunteerism as all artists will be performing for free. Concert-goers of all ages are expected to

have a good time as the event presents a variation of musical genres and features music from different generations with performing artists emerging from the 80’s, 90’s and up to the present.

The event is made possible through the gathering of the different government and non-government agencies, including volunteer organizations, to form an inter-agency coalition called “PAnAgDAIT Davao: Ipadayon ang Pagtabang” who ini-

AT ABREEZA MALL

Talking about benefits, Suyao added that the minimum wage shall not be less than the following; two thousand five hundred pesos (P2,500.00) a month for those employed in the national Capital Region (nCR); two thousand pesos (P2,000.00) a month for those employed in chartered cities and first class municipalities; and one thousand five hundred pesos (P1,500.00) a month for

FDOLE, 11

Three-night concert for ‘Pablo’ victims T LIVELIHOOD. A participant of Uswag-Bubai’s Water Lily Weaving Skills Training program sponsored by the Villar Foundation shows off some of her finished products--slippers and wine holder--in Lubogan, Toril, Davao

City yesterday. Villar Foundation donated spot welding and flattener equipment and some raw materials for the livelihood project. Lean Daval Jr.

op-notch entertainment bands and musicians from the past to the present from all over the country are all set to fly in and line up to take center stage and perform live for Danawenyos in the first ever three-night “live aid” style concert for a cause at the Abreeza Mall Parking Area on March 21-23, 2013, 5-11PM. A-list bands and performers with the likes of Side A Band, South Border, and Freestyle who are known to fill up major

FABREEZA, 11

SUBURBIA

EDGEDAVAO VOL.6 ISSUE 4 •WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

3

Outstanding women councils recognized D

IFFEREnT councils of women in the City of Tagum were recognized for outstanding implementation in different aspects of development, as part of the celebration of Women’s Month this March which banners the theme “Kababaihan: gabay sa Pagtahak sa Tuwid na Daan.”

Barangay Apokon was declared as the Most Outstanding Barangay Council of Women for 2012, followed by Barangay Magugpo South as 2nd placer while Barangay Visayan Village finished as third placer.

The said awards, handed out by the Tagum City Council of Women, Inc. (TCCWI) headed by its president Alma L. Uy, assessed the different women councils in the 23 barangays of the city in different fields of implementation: health, socio-economic, education and training, environment and sanitation, crusade against violence against women, and membership.

Mrs. Uy said this is one

way of acknowledging the significant contribution of women in the all-inclusive development of the city.

Mrs. Helen J. Arellano of Barangay Magugpo South was also adjudged as the Most Outstanding Barangay Council of Women President for 2012, while her barangay also won major prizes for best program implementation in the areas of health, education and training, and environment and sanitation.

Barangay Apokon also snatched supremacy in the aspects of socio-economic and membership.

Interestingly, Barangay Liboganon was recognized for its best implementation of the violence against women.

Meanwhile, this year’s ginang Milyonara is Mrs. Susana Borja of Barangay Magugpo South. Mrs. Wilyn A. genovia of Visayan Village took the 1st runner up prize thus named ginang ng Pag-ibig while Mrs. Jeverly P. Lauron of Magugpo East got

the 2nd runner up prize, claiming the title ginang ng Pag-asa. Magugpo West’s Veronica Z. Salmon was named ginang ng

Pagkakaisa for winning the 3rd Runner Up and Mrs. Teresita L. Lausa of TOTIT got the 4th runner up and was named ginang

and save lives.

Jocson’s appeal came after a fatal highway mishap in Parang, Maguindanao on Sunday that claimed the lives of at least 10 persons, including the van driver and a minor, after the Pagadian City-bound Toyota Hi-Lux figured in a head-on collision with a hauler truck. Sixteen others were wounded, three are in critical condition.

He said the police will remind drivers of the stan-

dard speed limit which is less than 100 kilometers per hour to avoid unnecessary accident and loss of lives.

He also appealed to commuters to remind van drivers if they are over-speeding.

Four of the van passengers, including the driver, were killed on the spot while others expired while being operated on at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center.

Last Sunday’s accident was the second in a month in Maguindanao and nearby north Cotabato involving passenger vans.

On March 8, 10 persons were also wounded, including nursing students who were on their way to a hospital for their internship, when the van they were riding collided with a passenger jeep in Barangay nalapaan, Pikit, north Cotabato.[PnA]

GETTING FIT. Women-delegates from different barangays in Tagum City perform a physical fitness routine during the culmination program of the Women’s Month Celebration last Sunday (March 17, 2013). [Leo Timogan/CIO Tagum]

Police to van drivers: Observe speed limit to avoid accident

M

ORE police have been deployed along the national highway not only to carry out the election gun ban but to remind drivers of passenger vans to comply with the standard speed limit.

Sr. Supt. Rodelio Jocson, Maguindanao police provincial director, also appealed to van drivers and operators to take precautionary measures to avoid highway accidents

ng Kapayapaan. ginang Milyonarya is an annual event organized by the TCCW that aims to raise funds

that would be used for different programs and projects of the organization. [Louie Lapat of CIO Tagum]

Maguindanao massacre suspect killed in encounter with arresting team

A

resisting massacre suspect was killed on Monday as he and his armed followers engaged in a four-hour gun battle with government operatives carrying a warrant for his arrest in Sitio Puloy, Barangay Lapok, Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao.

Col. Edgar gonzales, Army’s 1st Mechanized Brigade commander, said five cops and an Army man were injured in the 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. clash, which prompted the evacuation of civilians in Lapok village.

The firefight came about after Daenga Ampatuan, a suspect in the infamous

2009 Maguindanao massacre resisted arrest and opted to shoot it out with the arresting officers together with his armed group.

Ampatuan died during the encounter as his armed followers retreated to a forested section of the village carting away wounded comrades.

Military operations are still ongoing in the area, gonzales said.

He said the arresting team is composed of operatives from the military, police and the national Bureau of Investigation.

Tension remains high in the area following the incident. [PnA]

DavNor police readies election measures

P

AWARDS. Tagum City Council of Women, Inc. president Alma L. Uy with Melinda Iraola of Barangay Apokon (left) after receiving the award as the Most Outstanding Barangay Council of Women and Helen J. Arellano (right)

who was adjudged as the Most Outstanding BCW President. [Leo Timogan/ CIO Tagum]

OLICE security measures for the upcoming May 2013 elections are now ready, said Supt. Alan A. Ladra, chief of operations of Davao del norte Provincial Police Office (DnPPO). gracing the Monday convocation at the Davao del norte’s Bulwagan ng Lalawigan on behalf of police director Sr. Supt.

Eduardo Wycoco, Ladra discussed the setting up of police election monitoring centers from the provincial to the municipal levels.

The DnPPO has also come up with deployment plans to keep a close watch on the 273 polling places in Davao del norte.

Ladra explained that securing the polling areas is a joint undertaking between the police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

He admitted, however, that DnPPO lacks 64 police

personnel to augment its total of 479 total strength of police forces in the entire province but he said the Provincial Public Safety Company can deploy its elements to where additional police officers would be needed.

Aside from election security and monitoring measures, DnPPO has also come up with a protocol on the conduct of police operations during the election and in manning police checkpoints.

On the other hand, Ladra revealed that DnPPO has so far addressed eight incidents of police-related election violations from January 2013 to date.

It also placed the barangays of Sto. nino, Palma gil, and Dagohoy of the municipality of Talaingod under Election watchlist (EWas) under category 2 due to presence of armed rebels. [PnA]

4

VOL.6 ISSUE 4 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Legarda pushes for forum on Kasambahay Law, IRR S

EnATOR Loren Legarda, co-author and co-sponsor of Republic Act no. 10361 or the Kasambahay Law, today urged representatives of domestic workers and employers to participate in the public consultation on the law’s implementing rules and regulations (IRR) to ensure that their views are heard and taken into consideration.

“Dapat may inputs pa rin ang ating mga kasambahay sa ginagawang IRR ng batas para lubusang mapangalagaan ang kanilang kapakanan,” Legarda said.

Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz said the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is already done with the draft IRR, which was posted in the DOLE website last Friday, and that it will start with its face-

to-face consultations in April.

Legarda said the country’s domestic workers have long been waiting for this law as it would guarantee them decent working conditions, fair compensation and sufficient benefits.

She believes that kasambahays should be treated as workers, not servants.

The law sets the minimum wage for domestic workers at P2,500 a month for those employed in the national Capital Region (nCR); P2,000 a month for those employed in chartered cities and first class municipalities; and P1,500 a month for those employed in other municipalities.

They are also entitled to receive Social Security System (SSS), PhilHealth and Pag-ibig benefits.

The law states that if a household worker earns less than P5,000 a month, it is the employer who must shoulder the entire premium and contributions of the worker.

Legarda, who has shepherded the law’s approval in the Senate, said it is also important that the views of employers are heard to balance the two parties’ interests.

It was Legarda, as Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, who spearheaded in August 2012 the Senate concurrence in the ratification of ILO Convention 189, known as the Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers. The Philippines, as the second country to ratify the Convention, paved the way for the entry into force of the Treaty.

Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and two Citizens Armed Forces geographical Unit members.

The PnP said it has confiscated 1,710 firearms, 73 airguns and firearm replicas, 484 bladed weapons, 81 grenades, 297 other explosives, and 15,392 rounds of ammunition.

The Commission on Elections gun ban,

which seeks to minimize poll-related violence, started last Jan. 13 and will last until June 12.

While in effect, permits to carry firearms outside residences are usually suspended, with only law enforcers in uniform and on duty allowed to carry firearms.

PnP chief Director general Alan Purisima said the police will re-

main active in enforcement and security operations while reiterating his instructions to PnP units to intensify checkpoint and gun check operations to ensure Secure and Fair Elections (SAFE 2013).

Purisima is the vice chairman of the national Task Force SAFE, which is in charge of the security preparations for the 2013 polls.

(PnA)

is relevant to determine whether the tarpaulins are “political advertisements” or “election propaganda” considering that petitioner (Diocese of Bacolod) is not a political candidate; -- Whether or not the tarpaulins are a form of expression (protected speech), or election propaganda/ political advertisement; -- Whether or not the Comelec order violated the Constitutional principle of separation of Church and State; and -- Whether or not

the action of the petitioners in posting its tarpaulins violates the Constitutional principle of separation of Church and State.

The SC stopped early this month the Comelec from implementing its order to remove the “Team Buhay and Team Patay” tarpaulins placed in front of the San Sebastian Cathedral in Bacolod City.

The urgent petition was filed seeking to declare as unconstitutional the Comelec’s order maintaining it infringes on their right

to freedom of expression and violated the principle of separation of Church and State.

The case arose when the Comelec issued a notice asking the petitioners to remove the tarpaulins for violating the Comelec regulation on campaign materials in private properties.

After the church refused to comply, Comelec legal department director Esmeralda Amora-Ladra issued a warning if the tarpaulins will not be removed, they will be charged with an election offense. [PnA]

ELECTION SECURITY. Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario of Davao del Norte expresses confidence in the heightened security measures put up by the Commission on Elections

(Comelec) to make the May 2013 automated elections clean, orderly and honest. nobags

Nabbed gun ban violators now 1,693 - PNP TUCP proposes cure for ‘jobless growth’

T

HE number of violations of the election gun ban as of Tuesday has breached almost to 1,700 mark, figures from the Philippine national Police’s tally indicated.

The PnP tallied a total 1,693 violators: 1,540 are civilians, 20 government officials, 95 security guards, 22 from the PnP, 12 from the Armed Forces, one each from the Bureau of

T

SC to hear oral arguments on ‘Team Patay’ tarpaulins

HE Supreme Court will hear Tuesday the arguments of both the Commission on Elections and the Diocese of Bacolod City regarding the posting of “Team Patay, Team Buhay” tarpaulins.

In a three-page advisory, the SC has given the following points to be discussed by both parties: -- Whether or not the Feb. 22, 2013 notice/the Feb. 27, 2013 Order by the Comelec Law Dept. can be reviewed by the SC; -- Whether or not it

T

HE Trade Union Congress Party (TUCP) batted for capital flow controls to ensure that investments generate real jobs. “The Philippine economy is now experiencing what economists call “jobless growth, ruthless growth”.

Too much “hot”money is flowing into and out of our stock market for purely speculative purposes. We need capital that is actually translated into an actual physical enterprise or factory.

That is the only way this economic upturn will generate real jobs. Our finance managers must now seriously look into capital flow restrictions where foreign capital and its earnings cannot be repatriated out of the country for at least one year,” said TUCP Rep. Raymond Mendoza.

TUCP points out that the national Statistics Office (nSO) finding of unemployment at 7.1 percent and underemployment rising to 20.9 percent from 18.8 percent is alarming. “It indicates that all the money being made in the stock market is purely speculative. As stock markets boom, so do they also go bust. Capital flow controls are critical so that these finances are utilized to generate real enterprises which in turn translate into decent jobs,” he added.

TUCP called for greater sophistication on the

part of our economic managers in handling capital flows in and out of the country. “What we need is nuanced oppenness of our economy.

The President has made incredible strides in fighting corruption and lessening red tape. This must be complemented by hard-headed policies by the finance managers to ensure that foreign capital is “parked” for at least one year, to ensure a rational industrialization and jobs program,” added Rep. Mendoza.

TUCP called on the President to establish a multi-sectoral task force on job generation and also for a Presidential task force to bring down the price of electricity.

Labor believes that lowering on power rates will draw in more investors and this will complement the program for job creation.

“The government cannot adopt a one-size-fitsall strategy in addressing capital flows. There is nothing patently wrong with repatriation controls. That is part of the price of doing business in an economy which registered the largest gDP growth rate of 6.6% last year in the ASEAn region, surpassing Vietnam and Singapore. nothing is wrong in people making lots of money as long as there are real jobs for the majority of Filipinos,” he said.

EDGEDAVAO

THE ECONOMY

VOL.6 ISSUE 4 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

5

When it’s summer, it’s time to go to a spa DTI sees booming business for spa and wellness centers

By Greg G. Deligero

T

HERE’S more to summer than just the traditional business boom for tourist spots and attractions.

This summer season translates to a boon to spa and wellness centers offering skin care services and body services such as fitness, personal training and nutrition consulting.

“Personal care from spa and wellness centers will be in demand this season,” said Teolulo T. Pasawa, chief of the Department of Trade and Industry-Davao City Field Office, explaining that families, particularly the working class, will find extra money with the end of school year.

“With no more tuition fees to worry, the parents will now find

time and money to pamper their selves,” he said.

There are more than a dozen spa and wellness centers operating in Davao City offering a variety of services aimed at improving health, beauty and relaxation through personal care treatments such as massages and facials.

Pasawa said the intensity of business activities is also expected to increase among repair and maintenance shops as players in the service industry usually renovate or refurbish their buildings and facilities during summer.

“It’s the time that they will find extra budget for that,” he said.

For Pasawa, however, the biggest winners during summer are still

the resorts and travel business which peak during the season because of the expected influx of tourists both foreign and local.

These include the accommodation facilities and tourist destinations and amenities like mountain resorts, beaches, theme parks and night spots.

Davao City has nearly a hundred identified tourist spots including natural, historical, cultural, religious, recreational, man-made spots and other special interest attractions.

Complementing the tourist spots are the 1,217 tourism-oriented establishments including restaurants, entertainment centers, shopping centers handicrafts and delicacy stores.

SUMMER BOOM. This massage spa in downtown Davao is expected to experience a boon in business come summer as the Department of Trade and Industry predicts spa and wellness centers to pick up sales in this warm season. (Lean Daval, Jr.)

6 THE ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO Stat Watch Davao fish port sees increased traffic VOL.6 ISSUE 4 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

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

T

HE Davao Fish Port Complex saw an increasing trend of the volume of fish unloading and vessel arrivals by both foreign and local vessels in the first two months of the year.

Port manager Mario Malinao said Monday that volume of fish unloaded by foreign vessels reached 511 metric tons, posing a 125-percent increase from 227 metric tons (mt) of the same period last year.

Volume of fish unloaded by local vessels increased by 10.62 percent or 29 mt from January to February this year compared to 27 mt in the same period last year.

A total of 48 foreign vessels and 457 local vessels arrived at the fish port in the first two months this year, while only 35 foreign vessels and 384 local vessels that arrived in the same period last year.

The arrival of foreign and local vessels increased by 37.14 percent and 19.02 percent respectively from January to February this year, he said.

He pointed out that the increasing trend was brought about by the absence of major weather disturbances such as typhoon or low pressure area in those periods.

“I hope this trend will continue until the end of the year,” Malinao said in a phone interview.

He cited that “habagat” or southwest monsoon usually

comes in May, when fishing is usually dangerous even for local fishermen.

He said he wanted to emphasize that as long as there is always good weather, fishing will continue as it means business, adding that there is a high demand of fish in the city.

Malinao said despite an increase in the number of port calls both by foreign and local vessels from 2011 to 2012, volume of fish unloading decreased in the last two years.

In his data, from 2011 to 2012, the annual volume of fish unloading by foreign and local vessels decreased from 2,687 mt to 2,529 mt, and from 568 mt to 557 mt, respectively.

The data show that from 2011 to 2012, the annual port calls by foreign vessels increased from 316 to 327, and local vessels from 2,136 to 4,143.

Malinao said the decrease of the volume of fish unloading by foreign vessels was due to the decrease of tuna catching in the Pacific Ocean.

He noted that tuna catching in the Pacific was no longer attractive among foreign vessels as it was 10 years ago.

For local vessels, the decrease of volume of fish unloading was due to weather disturbances and the reduced catch of moonfish, locally known as “bilong-bilong”, he said.

He mentioned that many local fishermen and boat owners were “traumatized” by the impacts of typhoon Pablo that

made landfall last December 4, adding that most of them would not sail with bad weather. [Lorie Ann A. Cascaro / Mindanews]

Davao by the numbers There are

14 public markets in Davao City.

9 are operated by associations and cooperatives.

Economic growth, increased liquidity seen to keep stock market bullish

R

OBUST economic growth and increased liquidity will keep the local bourse bullish and enable it raise the projected P200-billion capital this year even amid a week’s market correction, the Philippine Stock

Exchange (PSE) chief said.

“I think correction happens all the time upward or downward. So I would say that timing is the most important thing for them (companies) especially since the economy is showing

GOOD BUSINESS. Garlands and bouquets make for good business during graduation season for enterprising vendors in several schools around Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

IT Figures

0.97 percent

The negligible increase in debt payments of the government in 2012 with P729.77 billion from P722.75 billion in 2011. The slight increase is due to higher interest payments the government incurred in 2012.

P4.06 billion the net profit of Gotianun-led conglomerate Filinvest Development Corp. last year from real estate, banking, hotel and sugar operations. Including non-controlling interest, FDc’s net profit last year amounted to about P5.8 billion compared to P4.9 billion in the previous year.

great growth,” PSE President and Chief Executive Officer Hans Sicat told reporters in a briefing.

Sicat identified the good economy and confidence on the economy and the increased liquidity as positive drivers that will keep the stock market moving higher.

“So if you are a corporation thinking of expanding your business profile, it is probably one of the best time to actually raise money through the stock exchange,” he noted.

Sicat said that most listed companies are expected to post double-digit growth in their revenues and incomes this year on the back of strong economy.

The PSE chief said the local market seems to be still driven by local investors, now comprising 51 percent as against 49 percent by the foreign investors.

“Despite the fact that net foreign money was about over 100 percent of what it was previously, this tells that locals, Filipinos are coming into the market in a

P2 million

The total damages that the a housemaid in Quezon City as asked from couple Reynold and Anna Liza Marzan, whose alleged maltreatment by her former employers caused her blindness. The housemaid said she has lost all chances of being hired as a housemaid because of her condition.

strong way themselves,” he said.

Sicat said the local bourse will facilitate capital raising through initial public offerings (IPOs), listing by way of introduction and follow-on offering transactions of already listed companies. The PSE expects seven to 10 companies to go public this year.

“I think the pattern of volume for this year will continue to be driven by follow-on offerings in addition to IPOs as major drivers. The rationale for that is, we see valuations are quite good on the equity side even as interest rates are at all-time lows. I think most corporations are taking advantage of the good valuations,” he said.

In line with this, Sicat bared that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the final rules for exchange-traded funds (ETF). ETF is a security that tracks an index, a commodity or a basket of assets like an index fund, but trades like a stock on an exchange. [PnA]

P500 billion The total amount needed to implement the laws recently enacted but remain dormant due to lack of government funding, according to Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero.

EDGEDAVAO

AGRITRENDS

VOL.6 ISSUE 4 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

2 Davao Region provinces lead list of national rice achievers n

UMBERS don’t lie!

This was stressed by Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala during the 2nd Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers’s Awards held recently at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City.

Alcala said in 2010 when he first assumed as Secretary of Agriculture, total rice yield was recorded at 15.77 million metric tons; in 2011, the yield reached 16.68 million metric tons, and last year, total rice yield reached an unprecedented 18.03 million metric tons.

“In our ‘Food Staples Sufficiency Program’ (FSSP) roadmap, we have targeted to produce 20 million metric tons of rice to be able to feed our country’s total population,” Alcala added.

Alcala further bared that in 2010, total imported rice that entered our country (courtesy of the previous administration) was recorded at 2.45 million metric tons. This figure was reduced to 860,000 metric tons in 2011; in 2012 it further went down to 500,000 metric tons, and at the present year, this figure will be further reduced by 50 percent, just enough to serve as buffer stock during lean months, brought about by climate change.

On the same occasion, Agriculture Assistant Secretary and national Rice Program Coordinator Dante Delima, reacting to remarks by detractors

that the Department of Agriculture is allocating excessive investment on the rice alone, emphatically said that “Kulang na kulang pa ang pundong inilaan para sa pagpapalago sa industriya ng palay.”

This statement was seconded by national Administrator Antonio S. nangel of the national Irrigation Administration who said that “Of the country’s 3.126 million hectares total irrigable rice areas, only 1.730 million hectares or 55 percent is fully irrigated.”

As incentive for the good performance of the rice sector, the 2ndAgri-Pinoy Achievers’ Award was conducted to give due recognition to the local government units, and other institutions, associations and individuals who had contributed much in terms of increasing rice yields in their areas ( even surpassing their palay output targets); attaining a higher average yield per hectare; encouraging more rice farmers to use quality seeds and employ modern technologies; and allotting more budget for rice-related projects.

Of the 10 provinces that made it to the list of winners in this prestigious awards, two came from the Davao Region – Compostela Valley and Davao del Sur. Aside from a plaque of recognition, the winning province each received a cash prize of P4 million for additional rice-related projects in their respective areas.

Other winners from

the Davao Region include, among others: Top Municipality – Matano, Davao del Sur; Irrigators’ Associations in Balisong, Sto. Tomas, Davao del norte and Upper Sinayawan, Hagonoy, Davao del Sur; Communal Irrigation Systems in San Agustin, Digos City; Katipunan Semong in Kapalong, Davao del norte; and Awao in Monkayo, Compostela Valley; and Small Water Impounding System Association in Libasan, nabunturan, Compostela Valley.

A total of 13 Agricultural Extension Workers from Davao Region also made it to the list of national winners, led by Provincial Agriculturists Ernesto Miro and Dr. Rolando Simene of Davao del Sur and Compostela Valley, respectively, and Matanao Municipal Agricultural Officer Flordeliza Baldoza, who despite her handicap (she lost one of her legs due to diabetes complication), still manages to effectively lead her eight rice technical staff in assisting the rice farmers thus resulting to a high recorded average rice yield of seven tons per hectare for the municipality of Matanao, Davao del Sur. The winning municipality and Irrigators’ Associations also each received a plaque of recognition and a cash prize of P1 million, while the Agricultural Extension Workers each received a P20,000 cash prize aside from the plaque of recognition.

On the same occasion, Agriculture Assistant Sec-

forget in a long time. Typhoon Pablo (international name: “Bopha”) swept across eastern Mindanao on Dec. 4 with monster winds gusting up to 200 kilometers per hour. The

typhoon caused deadly flash floods and landslides, and flattened communities and farms which prompted Philippine President Benigno Aquino to declare a state of national

CommunITy

W

HILE the rest of the world celebrated the last Christmas season, Filipinos in Mindanao were coping with a tragedy that many of them would not

SUBLIME “PARALYTIC!” Matanao Municipal Agricultural Officer Flordeliza Baldoza of Davao del Sur (seated on the wheelchair) one of the national winners of the Agri-Pinoy Rice Achievers’ Awards) receives a congratulatory handshake, words of appreciation and a P20,000 cash prize from Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (2nd from left) during the awarding rites held recently at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City. Baldoza lost one of her legs due to diabetes compli-

7

cation but, still manages to effectively lead her eight rice technical staff in assisting the rice farmers thus resulting to a high recorded average rice yield of seven tons per hectare for the municipality of Matanao. Looking on are Undersecretary Joel S. Rudinas (extreme left), Assistant Secretary and National Rice Program Coordinator Dante Delima, and DA-Regional Field Unit XI OIC-Regional Executive Director Remelyn R. Recoter.

retary and national Rice Program Coordinator Dante Delima, reacting to remarks by detractors that the Department of Agriculture is allocating excessive investment on the rice sector, emphatically said that

“Kulang na kulang pa ang pundong inilaan para sa pagpapalago sa industriya ng palay.”

This statement was seconded by national Administrator Antonio S. nangel of the national Irrigation

Administration who said that “Of the country’s 3.126 million hectares total irrigable rice areas, only 1.730 million hectares or 55 percent is fully irrigated.”[Aggie Media Service]

calamity.

The typhoon left more than a thousand dead and scores missing. Also included in the fatalities were seven soldiers who were killed and four oth-

ers who remained missing after they were hit by flash floods while doing relief work.

The Mindanaoans did not expect a typhoon of this intensity because the last time that they experienced such a strong storm was in 1912. The national Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (nDRRMC) initially estimated damage to crops and public infrastructure at P7.16 billion and rehabilitation of the affected areas continue up to this time.

Monsanto stepped up to the help affected residents in Mindanao. On March 11, Philippine Red Cross Chairman (PRC) and CEO Richard J. gordon received a check from Monsanto worth US $40,000, or Php 1, 641, 364 .00 during a PRC Fund Raising kick-off activity in Makati City. Monsanto was repre-

sented by Mr. Sandro Rissi, Country Lead of Monsanto Philippines. gordon acknowledged Monsanto as a reliable partner in helping Filipinos in need of urgent assistance. The slogan of the Philippine Red Cross is Always first, always ready, always there and Chairman gordon said Monsanto, “helps us do our jobs even better.”

Witnessing the turnover of the donation were PRC Secretary general gwendolyn Pang, Monsanto Philippines Customer Operations Lead Vidal Villena and Human Resources Lead, Marissa De Villa.

Out of the total amount donated, Monsanto Philippines donated US $10,000 which was matched by Monsanto PAnSEA. The total amount was further matched by the Monsanto Fund, bringing the total donation to US $ 40,000.

Monsanto donates P1.6 M to Red Cross for typhoon Pablo victims in Mindanao

PRC CEO and Chair Richard Gordon (2nd from left) receives a check from Monsanto Country Lead Sandro Rissi (extreme right). Also in the picture are (L-R)

PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang, Monsanto Philippines Customer Operations Lead Vidal Villena and Human Resources Lead Marissa de Villa

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.6 ISSUE 4 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Abrazos para Papa Francisco (2nd of three parts)

A SOJOURNER’S VIEW

By Karl M. GaSpar CSSr Argentina during its tragic “Dirty Wars” period (1976-1983).

P EDITORIAL

It ain’t over ‘til it’s over

T

HE fight to stop the implementation of the controversial Reproductive Health Law is not over.

Yesterday, anti-RH Law proponents scored a minor victory when the Supreme Court ordered a 120-day status quo ante order. A status quo ante order brings the status of the case back to the situation it was before. Simply put, it brings us all back to the time when it was not yet passed as a law.

The High Court decided on the petition challenging the constitutionality of the RH Law, and the magistrates voted 10-5 in favor of the issuance of the 120-day SQAO against its implementation.

The voting went this way—the yeahs votes were from Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco, Jr., Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Martin Villarama, Jr., Lucas Bersamin, Bienvenido Reyes, Arturo Brion, Jose Perez, Jose Mendoza, Diosdado Peralta and Roberto Abad.

The nays meantime came from Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Aranal Sereno, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and Associate Justices Mariano del Castillo, Estela Perlas-Bernabe and Marvic Leonen. now, it’s back to the oral arguments again.

The proponents of the RH Law will have to contend with the never-say-die anti-RH advocates led by the influential Catholic church.

The reprieve came at a time when the Catholic church had just welcomed a new

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Pope—one known for his conservative stance, especially on matters relating to family and sexuality. For Catholics, the election of a new pontiff brings new energy and fresh hopes to the church.

This is the latest twist to the long drawn out battle which began in the halls of Congress, discussed from the pulpit and in several public fora, and eventually brought to the chambers of the High Court. It could be a different battle now.

The elections are forthcoming and the church has brought the issue of RH Law to the conscience of the electorate. Evidence of which is the spinoff to the RH debate that led to the public display of the much talked-about ‘Team Buhay vs. Team Patay’ tarpaulins in Bacolod City. Even that is another legal tussle before the Supreme Court.

The 120-day stoppage will happen during the election period. The oral arguments are set in June after the smoke of the election battle has cleared.

Will the pro-RH-ers still be able to strengthen their stand after the elections, or will the church triumph in pushing the conscience vote at the polls and eventually deliver the death blow to this controversial law?

That’s the proverbial 64-dollar question.

Until then, we won’t know what fate awaits the RH law.. As they say, it ain’t over ‘til the fat lady sings.

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OPE Francis was that Archbishop; earlier he was the Jesuit Provincial. news stories (printed in prestigious papers such as The new York Times or issued by the AP) as well as blog postings (e.g.

The Lede Blog: Updates, Analysis and Reaction to Choice of a Pope dated 13 March 2013) reported how Fr. and later Bishop Jorge Maria Bergoglio “has been accused of knowing about abuses and failing to do enough to stop them, during a period when as many as 30,000 people were abducted, tortured or killed by the dictatorship”.

However, a news story also claimed that “in a long interview published by an Argentine newspaper in 2010, he defended his behavior during the dictatorship… (saying) that he had helped hide people being sought for arrest or disappearance by the military because of their political views, had helped others leave Argentina and had lobbied the country’s military rulers directly for the release and protection of others”.

There are always two sides to a story. My hunch is that the human rights circles across the world – and they are quite influential – would not let go of this story until they are assured of the truth of the allegations based on hard facts.

If I may ask the reader’s indulgence, I would like to factor myself into this essay. Along with Fr. Angel Calvo, CMF, I travelled across Central and Latin America in the winter of 1980 on an exposure program to know more about Latin American Church theology and pastoral praxis.

We were in Chile and Argentina after visiting Central America which at that time was seething with the impact of repressive regimes especially in guatemala and El Salvador, although it was a different story in nicaragua because of the Sandinistas’ victory over Somoza’s dictatorship.

Our impression was that the Jesuits’ praxis in dealing with the military dictatorships in Central America was very different from their confreres in Argentina. In Central America, especially in El Salvador, a few Jesuits were assassinated because of their militant stance. We met with lay human rights activists in Buenos Aires – clandestinely, of course as there were risks involved – and they complained that there was little support from the Church. At that time, Fr. Bergoglio must have certainly been very influential not just with the Jesuits but the institutional church of Argentina.

There were a number of significant convergences in terms of the landscape of Argentina and the Philippines in those tumultuous times as the Dirty War years (’76-’83) of the former were as brutal as the repressions under the latter’s Marcos’ authoritarian regime. Tens of thousands disappeared, were tortured and killed. As the grandmothers of the Plaza de Mayo courageously stood in stoic silence at the public square demanding to claim the bodies of their loved ones, religious women and mothers of the salvaged and tortured held placards in city plazas across our country with the same demands even as they denounced martial rule.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.6 ISSUE 4 •WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

D

Renewed interest on our city

EFInITELY A gOOD WAY TO REMInISCE THE CITY’S HISTORY - Certain things are constant in life and never more so in tradition and culture-loving Davao. As in most tradition, there are patterns at work here. At the beginning of the season, the Dabawenyos celebrated with grandiosity and enthusiasm the 76th“Araw ng Dabaw” annual festivity.

The beauty of this celebration, as of any events, is of course that it mystifies all expectations and offer not only fun and merriment, but likewise lessons in history.

Keen observers easily spotted tourists and frequent visitors on one of the city’s routes during the “Araw ng Dabaw” civic parade. While the locals were the ones shouting and screaming, with their faces focused on those movie and entertainment personalities, foreign tourists and visitors from other places meanwhile are chattering, snooping and photographing away – an entertaining way to learn more about the city and its people.

Strategic points of the parade included the commercial centers in the downtown districts and the purpose of that is to give the excited and thrilled spectators ample view of their preferred floats, participating groups, dance contingents and a glimpse of their favorite movie and TV stars. There is so much excitement out there, so the key is to make the commemoration of next year’s affair and the year after far better than today.

The city government, private and business sectors should invest in things that will always provide yield – revenues de-

T

VANTAGE POINTS

rived from trade exhibits, agro fairs, bazaars, entertainment and tourism endeavors. next year’s concept perhaps will be the same, though some deals and other approaches might even be larger because that is how we lure tourists and visitors.

We must always be creative, innovative, nice and entertaining.

There is really no difference whatsoever - founding anniversaries and festivals are the same throughout the country and all over the world. We just love being part of it – definitely and in a good way.

For us, it’s great because in all our boasting about Davao City’s urban diversity, we never seem to forget the founding culture, history and tradition of our city. Ironically, the cultural and traditional influence of the indigenous tribes has waned dramatically in the past thirty years or so due to the massive influx of immigrants.

It’s actually nobody’s fault. Reality includes some incredible difficulties – sadness and pain. But it’s commendable that we’re the kind of people who don’t just vaguely want to see our tribal brothers and sisters confined in isolation, but rather goes out and reach out to them

and lure them to join the memorable affair. Dabawenyos from all walks of life celebrated the 76th founding anniversary of the city with pomp and pageantry making it remarkably successful. Many of us will at least get to remember that the city’s founding fathers started the celebration many years ago – definitely a good way to remember the city’s rich culture and history.

The past few years have seen the people’s renewed interest on our city and in this type of fare – witness the revival of a culture and tradition where history is at center stage. More importantly, the 76th “Araw ng Dabaw” celebration is, by and large, successful and excellent – a sumptuous slice of Davao’s history rendered in a detailed memorable period. For festival aficionados and eager tourists and visitors, seeing and watching this celebration is like opening the treasured book of history – looking great, colorful and glorious revealing all the splendors that the festival’s set designers and costumes creators could contrive by mixing it with a modern twist.

And that’s precisely the point. The significance of the Araw celebration becomes more evident as we see it whole through the float of this year’s Mutya ng Dabaw beauties, civic parade, ethnic dances, craft, trade exhibits and agro fairs, among others. So we look forward to the next Araw festivity – with more innovations, more twists, and cultural, traditional and historical facts waiting to be discovered by the new generation.

COMMENTARY

By John C aBell

power and the compact we have with the most important business relationships in our lives. Trying to “reform” google and Facebook isn’t the point. But how nice would it have been if google had decided not to kill its Reader RSS service and ask us to pay something for it instead? What would the reaction be if Facebook offered a “premium” service that made it easier not to be seen, but to still see just as well?

Big changes can come from small initiatives. Culture can be changed just because we want it to change.

So here’s a call for startups, and for the rest of us.

For entrepreneurs: Avoid doing a deal with the devil. Consider the possibility of — horrors — charging for your service.

Try to work with angels and VCs who share your vision and won’t push you to make the big, quick score. Follow the thinking behind 37Signals’ David Heinemeier Hansson, who counsels to find peace and contentment in a life that nets you a few hundred thousand bucks a year.

For the rest of us: Lobby for paid versions, or premium accounts. Know what you’re getting into, and say “no thanks” every now and then. For years companies like Flickr, Simplenote and XMarks have been suppressing ads or offering premium services for small payments.

We need to reset our relationship with Internet companies, and it won’t happen overnight. But common sense now will avoid — or at least mitigate — the privacy train wreck I’m sure is in our future otherwise.

Paying the piper for privacy

HREE privacy stories caught my attention in the past week: 1. google is paying a token $7 million fine for sniffing out private information as its roving google Maps cars gathered images for Street View.

2. A new study has found that seemingly innocent disclosures on Facebook can be used to formhighly accurate predictions about whether you are a genius, drug user or gay.

3. If you use certain porta-potties at the Austin, Texas, tech confab South By Southwest, passersby know if you are … standing or sitting inside, and for how long.

Is all of that what we signed up for?

Privacy is a huge issue — too huge for a single, brief column. But I’m going to make a prediction. I don’t know when or how it will happen, but before too long there will be a jarring, transformational event that will cause us to question our online behavior.

Some horrendous breach of privacy, well within the parameters of some service’s Terms of Service, will spark mainstream outrage and cause companies to scramble with damage control.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

We’ve had plenty of warning. Facebook’s business model is entirely based on members expressing preferences on just about everything – it was in part the volume of information that allowed the researchers to find the correlations I mentioned earlier. google’s business model isarguably less invasive but is also based on the relinquishment of online privacy to one degree or another.

So far, most people are content with the deal they have struck with nearly every Internet service – or just blithely unaware of it.

Even the ubiquitous Web-browser cookies provide sites with information about where you’ve been — and, marketers hope, may want to go. Ever see an ad for something you looked at on one site on another? You haven’t opted out of a google tracking option. google makes it easier than (say) Facebook to trim your online exposure — every google account has a dashboard that clearly shows all the data associated with it, and simple ways to control it. But the Internet still imposes a growing burden on each of us to do just that. We have been conditioned to expect “free” services, but everything has a cost. It’s become a truism: If you aren’t paying for it, you are the product.

Here’s an idea. Let’s stop with the “free” service nonsense.

When Instagram alienated users last December, The Atlantic‘s Alexis Madrigal made an important point about making money. In a piece headlined “Why You Should Want to Pay for Software, Instagram Edition,” he noted that the company would gross $100 million a year if only 1/5 of its users agreed to pay $5 a month — not a bad revenue stream for a company that sold itself to Facebook for about $700 million — and still needs to make money.

I’m aspiring to change the balance of

9

Do we care?

(2nd of three parts)

THE WORM’S-EYE VIEW

Manny ValdehueSa

P

ASSIVE PEOPLE POWER no one sees how this dependency on directives from above weakens our ideal of self-governance and autonomy. It conditions us—the grassroots, the base of our democracy, the wellspring of sovereignty and government authority—to be passive, to take no initiative in managing our affairs except as instructed. It deadens initiative, stifles People Power, and weakens our sovereignty.

On March 30, unless we show up, the Assembly will take place as before—attended mainly by people beholden to trapos and who support candidates of questionable competence or morality. Our absence will ensure that more Lito Lapids, Bong Revillas, coup plotters, leftist free-loaders, scions of political dynasties, and other predators of our society will get seats in Congress. It’s what happens when sovereign citizens yield the commons to the misguided or easily corrupted: voters who think elections are a game of popularity and name-recall or who see in it a chance to get favors and free meals from moneyed candidates.

With only sycophants and impressionable people in attendance, the Assembly will be nothing more than a campaign rally or miting de avance for the ruling bunch: speeches, pompous reports, the Chairman’s long-winded summary (usually its high point), followed by Other Matters, a token Open Forum, and Free Snacks. It’ll be long on grandstanding, short on deliberation, zero debate, and no formal motions or resolutions... hardly the proceedings of a legislative governing body composed of the citizens themselves; it’s their Assembly, after all, not the officials’. The one opportunity where citizens and stockholders of the barangay (as a public corporation) get to consider their community’s wellbeing, development plans and budgets, will again be lost, defaulted to the usual oligarchs.

Meanwhile, politics—corrupt, wrongful politics—will continue to bastardize our society. All because we at the base of the Republic are remiss. And it won’t get better unless some of us take the trouble to learn and explain to others the nature of governance in the barangay, the role of its “parliament,” and our role as the people in whom our republic’s sovereignty resides and from whom all government authority emanates.

But just this once, let it be made clear to all: this Assembly is the occasional in-gathering of the constituency. It is literally a Constituent Assembly, and more so than the “constituent assembly” that Congress becomes if both houses convene jointly in order to amend the Constitution. After all, senators and congressmen are merely proxies and representatives of constituents while we in the Barangay Assembly are the actual constituents.

10 NATION/WORLD

VOL.6 ISSUE 4 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

China replaces Britain in world’s top five arms exporters – report

C

HInA has become the world’s fifth-largest arms exporter, a respected Sweden-based think-tank said on Monday, its highest ranking since the Cold War, with Pakistan the main recipient.

China’s volume of weapons exports between 2008 and 2012 rose 162 percent compared with the previous five-year period, with its share of the global arms trade rising from 2 percent to 5 percent, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said.

China replaces Britain in the top five arms-dealing countries between 2008 and 2012, a group dominated by the United States and Russia, which accounted for 30 percent and 26 percent of weapons exports, SIPRI said.

“China is establishing itself as a significant arms supplier to a growing number of important recipient states,” Paul Holtom, director of the SIPRI Arms Transfers Programme, said in a statement. graphic: http://link. reuters.com/nuw66t The shift, outlined in SIPRI’s Trends in International Arms Transfers report, marks China’s first time as a top-five arms exporter since the thinktank’s 1986-1990 data period.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei, asked about the report, said China was a responsible arms exporter which strictly adhered to international law.

“On arms exports, China sticks to three principles. First, that it is conducive to the recipient country’s justifiable self-defence needs. Second, it does not damage regional and global peace, securi-

A man pretends to shoot during a live action role-playing game based on a computer game “Stalker”, at a guerrilla warfare experiential park, one of two theme parks, on the outskirts of Wuxiang county, north China’s Shanxi province. [Reuters] ty and stability. Third, it does not interfere in other countries’ internal affairs,” he told reporters. now the world’s second-largest economy, China’s rise has come with a new sense of military assertiveness with a growing budget to develop modern equipment including aircraft carriers and drones.

At the Zhuhai air show in southern China in november, Chinese attack helicopters, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles and air defences were on public show for the first time.

Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh SIPRI maintains a global arms transfers database base that tracks arms exports back to the 1950s.

It averages data over five-year periods because arms sales vary by year.

“Pakistan - which accounted for 55 percent of Chinese arms exports - is likely to remain the largest recipient of Chinese arms in the coming years due to large outstanding and planned orders for combat aircraft, submarines and frigates,” SIPRI said.

Myanmar, which has

been undergoing fragile reforms that the United States thinks could help counter Beijing’s influence in the region, received 8 percent of China’s weapons exports.

Bangladesh received 7 percent of the arms while Algeria, Venezuela and Morocco have bought Chinese-made frigates, aircraft or armoured vehicles in the past several years.

China does not release figures for its arms sales. germany and France ranked third and fourth on the arms exporter list.

China followed only India

Aquino wants ‘Mindanao Garden of Peace’ in Corregidor Island a historical landmark

I

n recognition of the tragic Jabidah massacre that happened 45 years ago, President Benigno Aquino III has directed the national Historical Commission of the Philippines to designate the “Mindanao garden of Peace” on Corregidor Island as a historical landmark.

“It is also my hope that my visit here today will mark our government’s further recognition of the suffering that our Moro brothers went through,” the President said in his speech Monday during the commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the infamous Jabidah Massacre.

It was the first time

that a Philippine president commemorated the Jabidah massacre, which has for its theme, “Learning from History, Uniting for People,” although Muslim groups have traditionally marked the tragedy where young Muslim recruits being trained for a covert operation to occupy Sabah were killed by government forces in Corregidor.

“Though we cannot undo the wrongdoing of the past, today, we have the responsibility of ensuring that this does not happen again. May this remind us that we could have all avoided the deaths of our countrymen; god willing, in remember-

ing these events and the lessons they can impart, the deaths of our countrymen will gain meaning,” the President said.

The Mindanao garden of Peace is a strong reminder not only for the Filipinos but also to the whole world that both Muslims and Christians, desire true, genuine and lasting peace.

The Jabidah massacre, also known as the Corregidor massacre, refers to the massacre of a number of young Moro recruits from Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, with estimates ranging from 28 to more than 200, by their military handlers on the island of Corregidor.

The recruits were un-

dergoing training for a government-sponsored covert military operation dubbed “Operation Merdeka” with the objective of invading Sabah, which until now is being claimed by the Sultanate of Sulu but was unilaterally annexed by Malaysia after it formed its federation.

Records showed that Colonel Eduardo “Abdullatif” Martelino started the commando-type of training that involved jungle warfare at Camp Sophia, which was named after his wife from Simunul, Tawi-Tawi where the training camp was set up. The trainees were later shipped to Corregidor by naval boat.

[PnA]

in the acquisition of arms, though its reliance on imports is decreasing as it ramps up domestic production.

After decades of steep increases in military spending and cash injections into domestic contractors, experts say some Chinese-made equipment is now comparable to Russian or Western counterparts, though accurate information about the performance of Chinese weapons is scarce.

China faces bans on Western military imports, dating back to an-

ger over its crushing of pro-democracy protests in and around Tiananmen Square in 1989. That makes its domestic arms industry crucial in assembling a modern military that can enforce claims over Taiwan and disputed maritime territories.

China has faced off recently with its Southeast Asian neighbours and Japan over rival claims to strings of islets in the South China Sea and East China Sea, even as the United States executes a so-called pivot towards the Pacific. [Reuters]

Salvage works for USS Guardian proceeding at a good rate - PCG

W

ITH the rate salvage works are ongoing, the Philippine Coast guard Tuesday expressed hope the salvors can meet the March 23 target date for the retrieval of the USS guardian (MCM-5) which still lies grounded off Tubbataha Reef, Sulu Sea. PCg Palawan District head Comm. Enrico Efren Evangelista clarified there is no deadline imposed on the removal of the American minesweeper.

“March 23 is the target date based on the salvage plan considering a continuous favorable weather condition. However, during the salvage operation, unfavorable weather conditions were experienced due to strong northeast monsoon (Amihan) and Tropical De-

pression ‘Crising’ causing some setbacks,” the Coast guard official said.

Evangelista also added removal operations are still ongoing and being done safely and carefully so as not to create further damage.

The PCg official stated that the removal of the hull is the most critical part of this operation.

To date weather conditions off Tubbataha Reef continue to support salvage operations as the seas are only producing one to two feet of waves and wind speed at only 10 to 13 knots.

Vessels still in the area are the USS Safeguard, USS Wally Schirra, M/V Jascon 25, Barge S-700 (Seabridge), Tug Archon Tide, Tug Intrepid and Malayan Towage vessel M/T Trabajador-1. [PnA]

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.6 ISSUE 4 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

Lady firefighter...

FFROM 1

at the councilors lounge of the Sanguniang Panlungsod yesterday.

Recovered from the suspects were P50,000 in buy-bust money and 120 grams of shabu (methamphetamine) packed in 24 sachets, of five grams each valued at about P1 million.

Lumungsod is a fire officer III from the Kapalong, Davao del

Capalla...

norte fire station while Kalipa claims to be a van driver.

PDEA Davao Director Emerson Rosales said the illegal drugs came from Cotabato.

Both suspects are residents of 135 Eden Street, Saint Michael Village, Ma-a, Davao City.

D u t e r t e congratulated Rosales

for a job well done.

The suspects will be facing charges for violation of Republic Act 9165 known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Firefighters, according to Davao City central fire station commander Arthur Urquiza, earn P22,000 a month starting salary.

Dissenting were Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Aranal Sereno, Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, and Associate Justices Mariano del Castillo, Estela Perlas-Bernabe and Marvic Leonen.

The SC en banc also set the oral arguments on Tuesday, June 18, 2013 at 2 p.m.

Several petitions against the implementation of the RH Law are now pending before the SC. Among the petitioners are former Senator Francisco “Kit” Tatad, his wife, Fenny, and Atty.

Alan Paguia.

Tatad is the author of several books and an international humanitarian worker for the family and human life, while his wife is a humanitarian volunteer worker for human life and the family here and abroad.

Their petition was directed at the Office of President Benigno S. Aquino III, who signed RA 10354 into law on Dec. 21, 2012.

The RH Law was to

have taken effect 15 days after publication in two newspapers of general circulation.

The petitioners argued “the State cannot, as a general principle, routinely invade the privacy of married couples in the exercise of their most intimate rights and duties to their respective spouses.”

“The law is contrary to public morals and destructive of the harmony and peace of society,” the petition said.

“The individual has the right to live his or her intimate family life with utmost dignity without any undue interference from the State,” it added.

The petitioners further argued, a married couple’s decision to practice birth control, regardless of the means or method to be used, “belongs to [them] alone, or in some exceptional cases perhaps to the woman alone, but under no circumstance is it to be imposed by any external entity or agent.” [with a report from PnA]

FFROM 1 Capalla said the Supreme Court justices saw the divisive nature of the RH Law “which would not promote the common good.”

The Supreme Court en banc on Tuesday issued a 120-day status quo ante order against the implementation of Republic Act no. 10354 or The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 better known as RH Law. SC Public Information Office Chief Atty. Theodore Te, in a text message, said the SC en banc issued a 120-day SQAO in the consolidated cases involving the RH Law. The vote was 10-5 in favor of the issuance of the 120-day SQAO against the implementation of the RH Law. Voting in favor of the 120-day SQAO were Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco, Jr., Teresita Leonardo-De Castro, Martin Villarama, Jr., Lucas Bersamin, Bienvenido Reyes, Arturo Brion, Jose Perez, Jose Mendoza, Diosdado Peralta and Roberto Abad.

Dominguez...

FFROM 2 pursued.

Undoubtedly, this is precisely what has endeared him to his constituents and how he has gained the tremendous respect of his peers.”

Dominguez’ decision to join politics was not planned.

In 2004, he was made the last-minute substitute for his father, Paul g.

Dominguez, whose residency status as gubernatorial candidate of Sarangani was questioned by his opponent before the local office of the Commission on Elections.

Right after finishing his Economics degree from Boston University in 1998, the younger Dominguez went home straight home to Sarangani to run the family-owned Alsons Aquaculture Corporation.

Before joining politics, he was credited for making the family’s aquacul-

11 IP reps in 5-day stint on capability building

By Che Palicte

A

BOUT 34 tribal leaders from different local government units (LgUs) in Region 11 underwent a fiveday training stint on strengthening their capabilities as the indigenous peoples mandatory representatives (IPMRs) to local legislative bodies in the region last March 11 to 15.

Alan Cajes, managing director of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP)-Mindanao said the training aimed to strengthen the advocacy of the indigenous people in the government and train the IP-

UP...

MRs on skill enhancement on legislative measures.

He said the training was successfully conducted at the Mergrande Ocean resort which were participated by different tribes in Mindanao comprising of Ata, Mandaya, Mansaka, Dibabawon, Ata-Manobo, B’laan, B a g o b o -Ta g a b a w a , Manobo, Tagakaolo and Sama tribes.

Meanwhile, Regina Fernandez, DAP-Mindanao office manager said the training gave a venue for IP groups in Region 11 to be represented and participate fully in governance and decision-making

processes.

An IPMR participant, Eleuterio Manaytay, from the town of Boston in Davao Oriental thanked the organizers for the conduct of the training.

“I learned not only legislation, but also to manage the entire domain together with our tribal chieftains and members,” he said, adding that the training had provided alternative tools to fulfill the dreams and aspirations of the tribes in establishing a self-sustaining, economically-stable, highly-literate and culturally-vibrant community.

“Add to that, a memorandum coming from the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs of UP Manila dated 23 October 2012 that late payments will not be allowed and students who fail to comply will not be allowed entry to their classes,” it said.

CEgP, the oldest and broadest alliance of

student publications in the country and AsiaPacific region, said these policies, especially the STFAP, should be scrapped and holds the UP administration and President Benigno S. Aquino III responsible for the death of “one of our future psychologists who would have served the country.”

cordance with the pertinent provisions provided by law. .

The domestic workers are also entitled to eight hours rest everyday and an uninterrupted 24 hours rest week.

Suyao added that a domestic worker should also comply with the following requirements: medical certificate or a health certificate issued by a local government health officer; barangay and police clearance; national Bureau of Investigation (nBI) clearance;

and duly authenticated birth certificate or if not available, any other document showing the age of the Kasambahay such as voter’s identification card, baptismal record or passport.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall develop a model employment contract for domestic workers which shall, at all times, be made available free of charge to domestic workers, employers, representative organizations and the general public.

Valley and Davao Oriental which were gravely affected by the havoc brought about by Super

Typhoon Pablo and to sustain the rehabilitation work in the region.

FFROM 2 it is “one with the UP community and the youth in demanding for justice.”

CEgP said, “The Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP), for almost two decades, has been proven to be an antistudent policy preventing those who are qualified from entering the premier state university of the country.”

DOLE...

FFROM 2 ture business a multi-billion industry--the biggest business venture in Sarangani--in just a span of five years.

Its main product--the Sarangani Prime Bangus--is exported to China, Canada, the US and some parts of Europe.

During his watch, Migs Dominguez transformed Sarangani from a 4th class graft-ridden and conflict-torn province into a first-class, peaceful and multi-awarded locality.

Sarangani had been the recipient of gawad galing Pook awards for its high-impact social programs, like its Justice on Wheels, Kalinaw-Sarangani, and Quality Education for Sarangani Today (Quest).

The province under his term was also awarded the Seal of good

Housekeeping in recognition of its exemplary performance in governance, transparency and accountability.

The recognition is given to local government units (LgUs) which excel in the areas of planning, budgeting, revenue mobilization, financial management and budget execution, procurement, and resource mobilization.

Instead of running against incumbent Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao in the coming May election, Dominguez decided to quit politics, saying “I don’t want to be dragged into money politics.”

He said he has done his part in making Sarangani what it is today. “It’s up to the future leaders of the province to continue my legacy.” [Aquiles Z. Zonio]

those employed in other municipalities.

“If in case the employer had given more than the said amount, they are not allowed to decrease the domestic workers compensation just to comply with the law,” the lawyer explained.

Additional benefits are: 13th month pay; five days incentive leave with pay for a domestic worker who has rendered at least one year of service; Philhealth; Pag-Ibig; Social Security System (SSS); and all the benefits in ac-

Abreeza...

FFROM 2

tiated the event for the purpose of acquiring funds to help communities in Compostela

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VOL.6 ISSUE 4 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

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EDGEDAVAO

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SPORTS 13

Tiger in love I

F there is one thing Tiger Woods is great at, it’s golf. If there is one other thing, it’s keeping his private life extremely private.

So this announcement on Tiger’s Facebook page was pretty surprising. On Monday, Woods posted four pictures of himself and Lindsey Vonn, with the following message.

This season has been great so far and I’m happy with my wins at Torrey and Doral. Something nice that’s happened off the course was meeting Lindsey Vonn. Lindsey and I have been friends for some time, but over the last few months we have become very close and are now dating. We thank you for your support and for respecting our privacy.

We want to continue our relationship, privately, as an ordinary couple and continue to compete as athletes.

Vonn, who won a gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics, has been rumored to be hanging with Tiger over the past few months (even borrowing his jet at one point), but this is first official announcement that the two

LOVERS. Tiger Woods and his new girlfriend champion skier Lindsay Vonn. are actually an item.

Here’s Vonn’s statement on the relationship: “I guess it wasn’t a wellkept secret but yes, I am dating Tiger Woods. Our relationship evolved from a friendship into something more over these past few

months and it has made me very happy. I don’t plan on addressing this further as I would like to keep that part of my life between us, my family and close friends. Thank you for understanding and your continued support! xo LV.”

14 SPORTS

VOL.6 ISSUE 4 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

What makes Sharapova shriek?

L

OS AngELES (Reuters) - Maria Sharapova rose to number two in the rankings on Monday after her impressive title run at the BnP Paribas Open but says she is motivated much more by grand slam glory than the prospect of regaining the top spot. “number one is a great number,” the elegant Russian laughed after demolishing eighth-seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki 6-2 6-2 in Sunday’s final of the elite WTA event at Indian Wells to land her 28th title on the circuit.

“The more consistent you are and the better results that you have and the more wins that you’re able to get, the better chances you have of getting that spot.

“Is it something that all of us want? Absolutely.

It’s a ‘no-brainer’ question.

But I think at this point in my career, titles and grand slams are just a bigger priority.”

Four-times grand slam Sharapova is well accustomed to the allure of being viewed as the game’s best player, having become the fifth youngest woman to reach the top of the world rankings, at the age of 18 in 2005.

For her to regain that top spot, however, she will have to overhaul American Serena Williams who, when fully fit and on her game, is virtually unbeatable in women’s tennis.

“Serena was very dominant last year,” Sharapova said of Williams, who won Wimbledon, Olympic

gold and the U.S. Open as she piled up seven titles in a dazzling 2012

campaign. “She played tremendous, confident tennis.

“She’s also very strong and very athletic, so you need to be consistent with her. She’s also a great frontrunner. You’re down a little bit and she goes with it. She’s a confidence player.”

When it comes to headto-heads between Sharapova and Williams, it is virtually no-contest. The Russian has won only twice in

their 13 career meetings with her most recent victory dating back nine years to the Tour Championship in Los Angeles.

Sharapova has been beaten in straight sets by Williams in their last six matches.

MUSICAL CHAIRS In the eyes of many, the

dangerous and she is the favorite at this point when she goes into tournaments because she has the most weapons,” former world number one Tracy Austin told Reuters.

battle for top spot in the women’s game could come down to a seemingly never-ending game of musical chairs between Williams, Sharapova and third-ranked Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, the reigning Australian Open champion.

“Serena is the most

MOVING UP. Maria Sharapova has moved up to no.

2 in the women’s world rankings after winning the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

The Heat goes on: 23 and counting

B

OSTOn (AP) -- LeBron James made the go-ahead jumper with 10.5 seconds left to lead Miami to its 23rd consecutive victory, 105-103 over the Boston Celtics on Monday night.

It’s the second-longest winning streak in nBA history, surpassing the 22 straight that Houston won in 2007-08 and trailing only the 33 in a row won by the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers.

James scored 37 with 12 assists as the Heat won in Boston in the regular season for the first time in 11 tries despite a career-high 43 points from Jeff green. The Celtics were without Kevin garnett, who has the flu and a left thigh strain.

Paul Pierce had 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Celtics.

But he missed a 3-pointer with 3 seconds left that could have given Boston the win.

In Atlanta, Dallas coach Rick Carlisle called it a ‘’defensive pillow fight.’’

If so, Atlanta coach Larry Drew felt like his team didn’t bring enough pillows.

Darren Collison scored 24 points and the hot-shooting Mavericks set season highs for points in a half and a game in a 127-113 victory over the Hawks on Monday night.

Carlisle said the Mavericks would ‘’take the win and run’’ after scoring at least 29 points in each quarter.

INdulge!

VOL.6 ISSUE 4 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

STYLE

Celine & Belle Swimwear

Fashion under the sun

SOmeWhere between the ages of 13 to 40, some women fall into a tendency of changing body types, making them worry about exposing some skin at the beach. To some, they face the age old dilemma on what swimwear they can pull off with their body type. Different styles look good on different body shapes. A lot of effort and thinking go into the process of choosing the right piece for you. We rely on trusty mirrors to decide what looks good on us, like any stylist would.

“The fit might look right in front of the mirror. But there are certain things mirrors can’t tell such as the quality and durability of each swimsuit,” explains Clarabelle Luz roque, beach lover and co-owner of the newest swimwear brand Celine & Belle.

Celine Uy, the other half of the brand, adds, “Appearance, design, and cut are, of course, the most compelling factors in selecting swimsuits. Functionality is another one. however, shoppers must also pay attention to swimwear fabric. There are pieces which you can only wear once after losing them to chlorine degradation or tattered stitches. Some of them become too loose after one wash. Worse, the colors spatter on the fabric,

ruining the whole pattern and design. Sun worshippers like Belle and myself really go for long-lasting swimsuits.”

“But good quality pieces don’t necessarily have to be expensive,” Belle clarifies. “however, there are only few affordable ones in the market and they are not as easy to spot. This constant dilemma led us to this venture of putting up our own line of swimwear.”

July 2012 saw these two young entrepreneurs teaming up with their manilabased friend, Sebastian, who helped them with sketches and in finding suppliers who sell the right fabric. “he had the talent in drawing and he knew a lot of manufacturers. he understood the look we had in mind for each design. Being women, we knew what cuts right for each body type. There are certain areas which we opt to either conceal or reveal.

Sebastian was quick to act on our ideas.”

Celine recalls the challenge they faced in scouting for fabric and suppliers.

“We really invested a lot in fabric and production.

We didn’t want to sacrifice the quality of our product.

We spent a lot in quick-dry fabric and pads. We’re very meticulous in checking how the stitches are done

and the way the fabric are cut. We’re also very particular when it comes to lining. I noticed some swimsuits in the market don’t have even have lining for the bottom piece. It made me feel naked and uncomfortable to walk around the beach after I got out of the water.”

Celine & Belle Swimwear was launched online in November 2012. Sales boomed fast even just within the first month.

Orders came in bulk from here and around the globe.

To date, they have already sold close to 500 pieces,

and more orders are coming in.

“We never knew it would be such a hit especially with the lack of venue where buyers can check the products for real. I mean, the big difference with our brand is, mainly, the quality and material. Who can tell such by a photo posted online? Clients said the designs made our brand stand out from the rest which are readily available in the malls. This came as a compliment for us since both Celine and myself don’t have any background in fashion design nor did we take art as a major in college. We’re just regular girls who are addicted to fashion.”

Celine is as practical as any modern day woman is.

“We can’t deny that women try not to repeat the same outfit even for different locations and occasions. This goes the same for beach wear. To make our products more wearable, we made sure that these can be used in different ways and some are even reversible.

Our one piece suits can be worn as halter or strapless.

We have reversible and seamless 2-piece bikinis with varied cuts and designs. All these you can mix

and match or wear however you want to. No one would know you’re wearing the same piece from your previous beach getaway. We also don’t produce a lot for each design. No one would want to bump into hundreds of clones roaming around town.”

Belle adds, “We used a bit of magic in how we added details and layering, just to make sure they flatter the waist and the body areas that deserve attention and focus. The one-piece suit is actually one of our best-sellers. The structure cinches the waist and hides unwanted bulges. This is perfect even for the slim and slender. The cut is sexy enough even without revealing too much skin --which keeps the look more interesting.”

Check out http://www. facebook.com/CELINEandBELLE.swimwear on Facebook for orders and more product updates.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

UP anD aBoUT

VOL.6 ISSUE 4 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

HEaLTH

Sugar Kids and Tough Kids: Colors of Summer HavE a delicious summer treat with the refreshing line-up of summer shoes from Sugar Kids and Tough Kids.

Inspired by the bright flavours and colours of summer faves such as ice cream and popsicles, these shoes are sure to give you a treat for the feet! Girls can beat the heat with a scoop of delightful styles from sweet flats, cute espadrilles and stylish wedges. Boys can chill out with footwear as cool as ice pops, with comfy loafers and hip rubber shoes.

Get a summer style-high with our Sugar Kids and Tough Kids shoes exclusively available at SM Department Stores nationwide.

Sleep and memory You don’t have to be awake to learn Little Miss Solane opens search for smart and talented kids and teens SoLanE, the country’s leading LPG solutions company, is currently on the lookout for the most beautiful and talented little misses and teens as it opens the first Little Miss Solane pageant this year. This pageant aims to continue the legacy of the former Little Miss Shellane (Solane’s former brand) pageant which started in 1969. This milestone has generated a lot of interest then and has produced a number of past winners who are now established and distinguished women in their own fields. open to young girls (Cuties category: 8-12 years old) and teens (Teenies category: 13-16 years old), the new Little Miss Solane is a rare opportunity where these girls can discover, develop and nurture their talents and potentials at an early age and grow into empowered, responsible and successful women in their own right. on its first year, Little Miss Solane will thoroughly search the country by holding screenings and regional pageant competitions in key cities and provinces. out of all the applicants, pageant officials will choose 12 finalists per category who will represent their region in the national pageant night set on May 25, 2013 at new World Hotel.

During the pageant night, finalists will stand a chance to take home the crown and win exciting prizes. Little Miss Solane 2013 Cuties and Teenies will each bring home P50,000 cash plus P50,000 worth of scholarships and developmental programs, while the 1st and 2nd runner-ups will take home P30,000 and P20,000 cash, respectively. aside from these titles, special awards with corresponding cash prizes will also be given to deserving contenders.

Interested parties may download application forms at Mrs. Philippines-Globe 2013’s website (www. mrsphilippinesglobe.com).

For inquiries call PRWoRKS, our event coordinator through numbers (032) 416-7159; 0932 2931224 or 0915 4293209 and look for Ms. Mafe or Ms. nancy.

LeArNINg can happen while you’re sleeping, according to a study performed by the Weizmann Institute.

Prior attempts at research on this subject had been complicated by the fact that while sleep has been shown to be important for memory consolidation and for learning, it remained to be seen as to just how this sleepenhanced learning takes place.

Prof. Noam Sobel and research student Anat Arzi, along with Sobel’s group in the Institute’s Neurobiology Department, collaborated with researchers from Loewenstein hospital and the Academic College of Tel Aviv -- Jaffa. An Aug. 26, 2012 article on Sciencedaily.com reported on the Weizmann study.

Participants’ sleep was under constant supervision in a special lab. A tone was played, an odor was released. Another tone was sounded, then another odor was released.

If the first odor was pleasant, the second was unpleasant, or vice versa.

As one might expect, the participants inhaled more deeply of the pleasant odors, and breathed in a more shallow manner for the less pleasant smells.

Sometimes the participants just heard tones, without odors. The participants had reactions to the tones in their sleep that

Research indicated that children are even more affected than adults in terms of memory consolidation during sleep.

Memories of children from ages 8-11 and memories of young adults were tested, after a night’s sleep as well as at the end of a day while still awake. were the same as their reactions to the tones and odors.

The different reactions were accompanied by different modes of breathing, deep for pleasant smells, shallow for unpleasant odors. Deep breathing also occurred when the tones that had become associated with pleasant smells were heard without any odor.

After the participants were awake the next day, tones were heard, without any odors. None of the participants had any recollection of the experience through the night, yet their breathing corresponded

with the learned behavior of the night before.

Conditioning of this type involves areas of the brain like the hippocampus which plays a role in formation of memory.

Does the phase of sleep play a role as well? The researchers wanted to find out.

In another experiment by these same researchers, reported in an Aug. 26, 2013 article on Sciencedaily.com, it was found that learning was more thorough during rem sleep. however, the association being passed on to the waking state was linked

only with non-rem sleep. researchers hypothesized that something they called “dream amnesia” might be in play. When you’re in rem sleep, you may be easily affected by stimuli but may not remember it, just as dreams are often not remembered. read more on this research in the Aug. 26, 2012 edition of Nature Neuroscience.

An earlier study on sleep and learning performed

by Dr. Ines Wilhelm of the University of Tübingen’s Institute for medical Psychology and Behavioral Neurobiology had also been published in Nature Neuroscience.

Their research indicated that children are even more affected than adults in terms of memory consolidation during sleep. memories of children from ages 8-11 and memories of young adults were tested, after a night’s sleep as well as at the end of a day while still awake.

Both age groups remembered more after they had a night’s sleep following a session of learning, than those who stayed awake afterward. The group of children did a more thorough job of remembering than the young adults did.

The subject of sleep continues to open up more of the world of the brain, and how it learns. And you thought when you were asleep you weren’t doing anything.

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EDGEDAVAO

EnTERTaInMEnT

One Direction’s 3-D movie gets a title —This Is Us JUSTIn Bieber had Never Say Never, Katy Perry had Part of Me and now, one Direction will have This Is Us.

after releasing the official teaser trailer for their highly anticipated 3-D movie, niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Zayn Malik finally revealed the title of the flick that was formerly called 1D3D.

Horan shared on Twitter, “How exciting is this! #1D3D title is on the way!

Hope you all like it! Lot of thought gone into it.” and Payne added, “guyssss so proud to announce that our upcoming movie is officially titled ‘This Is Us’!

Cant wait for you guys to see itttt!!”

The name was unveiled after fans were sent on a scavenger hunt across the Internet af-

ter being given clues by the movie’s official Twitter account to try and track down the parts of the puzzle that make up film’s title.

The cameras follow the boys’ rise to superstardom and their world tour, giving Directioners a peek at all the perks and downsides of being in a boyband.

This Is It is set to release sometime this year.

Keyshia Cole slams Beyoncé’s “Bow Down/I Been On” for mixed message, gets stung by BeyHive CoUnT Keyshia Cole among those who aren’t digging Beyoncé’s new song.

“Can’t stand when people all self righteous when it’s convenient it makes them look good.

Lmao! But can still talk s--t when convenient 2 FoH,” the Woman to Woman artist tweeted upon the release of Bey’s latest single, “Bow Down/I Been on.” on the track, Blue Ivy’s mom sings, “I know when you were little girls you dreamt of being in my world. Don’t forget it. Respect that.

Bow down, bitches.” and, though immediately faced with a swarm of offended denizens of the “BeyHive,” Cole kept going.

“I done kept it real from the start! #RespectTHaT,” she also wrote. Then: “First “Women need to Stick together” now bitches better Bow. Smh. But it’s all G! Chicks stay shooting the shit. But when I speak my mind its a prob. #Well #StayMad.” Comments from the

pro-Beyoncé peanut gallery ranged from”U need a hit record aSaP!! @KeyshiaCole u bored and angry...” to @KeyshiaCole When Beyoncé sings she’s Sasha Fierce though, so get ya life” and “@KeyshiaCole what’s

God Bless RT @_BEYHive: @KeyshiaCole fuck yo unity,” Cole fired back.

Cole also tweeted: “How am i hating? no Mamm or sir. whatever u may be. no H8 RT @ GothamsKnight_: damn @KeyshiaCole hating on

ironic is that you’ve been talking all that family 1st/ God shit for a minute, but then pull the same shit... lol.”

“Bitch you ain’t gon need no more perm kits. The #BeyHive bouta snatch you BaLD !!! @ KeyshiaCole,” tweeted another concerned fan. “never said there was any. IM not in denial...

everybody.”

The “Trust and Believe” singer also drew the ire of Destiny’s Child fans when she slammed Michelle Williams for “f--king the groove up” during their Super Bowl performance.

“I don’t care what anybody else says,” Williams later told Bilboard. “I don’t let it get me down.

It was a beautiful thing.”

INdulge! A3

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL.6 ISSUE 4 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

HoME

The Whites at SM Homeworld The first step towards a comfortable sleep is to have a great bed, comfortable linens, and quiet space.

Sleep, after all, is a luxury, and while we are all familiar with basic bed linen, there are also what we call The Whites – duvets, comforters, bedspreads, quilts, and pillows.

Sm homeworld goes the wonderful white way with its collection of White beddings. here’s a look at these, and how they can do wonders for your sleep. · Duvets! A duvet is a type of blanket for a bed.

It’s made like a large bag, usually of good quality high thread count cotton, filled with feathers, down, silk, or wool, or polyfill. A duvet takes the place of a sheet or blanket, all in one piece. A bed dressed in a fluffy duvet almost guarantees a good night sleep. · Comforters! A comforter is a bed cover stuffed with fibers or other materials and then sewed together at all four sides.

This stuffing is added to create additional warmth and comfort on cold nights. A comforter is normally used as a major decorative element in the bedroom. · Pillows! Bed pillows are very personal items.

Some like them firm, some like them squishy. Pillows are so personal that lots of people wouldn’t dream of sleeping away from their home without their favorite pillow. modern technology has brought about a new generation of pillows – anti-bacterial, memory pillows, therapeutic pillows. Whatever pillow you like, it’s best to take care of it, and it will give you years of relaxing pleasure. · mattress mates! mattresses matter, and accessories like mattress toppers, which give gentle

moulding to the shape of your body; and mattress protectors, which keep them safe, in tip to condition, and stain free. · Bedspreads and Cov-

erlets! Bedspreads and coverlets are decorative bed coverings, the former reaching until the floor, and the latter just covering the bed.

The Whites Collection is available at the Linen Section of the homeworld Department located at Sm Stores. Styles may vary per branch.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.6 ISSUE 4 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

PINOY PRIDE XIX

SPORTS 15

Boom Boom to announce fight today By neil Bravo

W

ORLD boxing international featherweight champion Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista will be in town today for the official launch of Pinoy Pride XIX set April 20 in Davao City.

ALA Promotions is top-billing Bautista in the fight card dubbed as “The Mexican Invasion” to be staged at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) gym.

With Bautista in today’s official launch is ALA Promotions president and renowned boxing promoter Michael Aldeguer. The fight card will be held in collaboration with ABS-CBn Sports.

Details of the official launch are still under wraps as of presstime pending final arrangements but ALA Promotions Events head Claire Lukban said the entourage will be arriving tomorrow morning in time for a luncheon press conference to announce the biggest fight card

in Davao since the Manny Pacquiao fight in 2003.

“Boom Boom will be here to kick off the series of promotional sorties,” Lukban told Edge Davao. She did not divulge details of the fight card although judging on the fight card’s promotional pitch, Mexican fighters will be pitted against world-ranked Filipino fighters led by Bautista.

Rumors had it as early as last year that Bautista has been aching to fight Mexican champion Juan Manuel “JuanMa” Lopez. It is not known whether Lopez would be Bautista’s foe in Davao.

Last October 20, Bautista won against Daniel Ruiz for the vacant WBO International featherweight title via split decision. The fight took place at the Mall of Asia Arena and was headlined by Bautista’s ALA team mate AJ Banal who unfortunately lost in that card.

Fight reports said that

Bautista suffered three cuts due to head butts before the fight was stopped at 0:56 of the seventh round.

The report said that just like in their first fight, Bautista was cut by a clash of heads in the third at the corner of his right eyebrow. Bautista continued to charge forward which resulted in heated exchanges. In the fifth, Ruiz’ survival skills showed as he landed a low blow and effectively clinched. Another headbutt opened a cut on Bautista’s scalp. Referee Danrex Tapdasan had a hard time controlling the extra-curricular activities.

Bautista was surging and landed the cleaner and harder blows in the 5th and 6th rounds. Ruiz was fading but another clash of heads opened a cut on Bautista’s right eyebrow. The ring physician, Dr. Jose Unabia, recommended the fight stoppage. The scores read – Judge Bruce McTavish 69-65, Judge

Muhamad Rois 68-65 and Judge Rey Danseco 68-65 all for Bautista.

Bautista won the IBF International featherweight title but a section of the crowd voiced their displeasure. The sportswriters at ringside also had an animated discussion about the outcome.

BOOM-BOOM BAUTISTA. Will it be Juan Manuel Lopes as his foe on April 20?

LPGA FOUNDERS CUP

Miyazato funk leads to Lewis’ win

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POWER DRIVE. Ai Miyazato shows length off the tee in the final round of the LPGA Founders Cup in Phoenix. Miyazato squandered the lead and lost to Stacey Lewis.

H O E n I X- -S t a c y Lewis won the LPgA Founders Cup on Sunday to jump to no. 1 in the world, taking advantage of Ai Miyazato’s collapse on the 16th hole.

A day after Lewis was penalized two strokes for her caddie’s blunder on the short par 4, the American took a two-stroke lead with a birdie on the hole after Miyazato made a double bogey following an errant approach shot that left her with an unplayable lie in a desert bush.

Coming off a victory two weeks ago in Singapore, the 28-yearold Lewis won for the seventh time in her LPgA Tour career to end Yani Tseng’s 109week run at no. 1.

“It’s crazy,” Lewis said.

“That was my goal kind of since the middle of last year and I really didn’t think it would be possible this quick. ... I’m going to have fun, I know that. I watched Yani struggle with it for too long and I’m going to go have fun.”

Lewis closed with an 8-under 64 in perfect conditions at Desert Ridge to finish with a tournament-record 23-under 265 total on the cactus-lined Wildfire layout. She won the 2011 Kraft nabisco for her first tour title and has won six times in her last 23 events.

KISSING THE CANVAS. WBO Welterweight Champion Timothy Bradley (R) is tripped in the first round by contender Ruslan Provodnikov as referee Pat Russell (C) looks on during their WBO Welterweight Championship boxing match at The Home Depot Center on Sunday (Phl time) in Carson, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Bradley: Russian hits harder than Pacquiao S TRETCHED to his limit by feisty challenger Ruslan Provodnikov Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) in his first defense of the World Boxing Organization welterweight title, American Timothy Bradley Jr. was thoroughly impressed by the Russian’s punching power.

In fact, Bradley claimed, Provodnikov punched much harder than Manny Pacquiao.

Putting his WBO title on the line for the first time since seizing it over Pacquiao via a controversial split decision last June, Bradley had to survive two knockdowns (although one was ruled a slip) and

an audacious stand by Provodnikov before settling for a close unanimous decision victory at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

Judges Jerry Cantu Marty Denkin scored the tightly-fought contest 114-113 for Bradley while Raul Caiz Sr. also favored the American 115-112.

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