Edge Davao 6 Issue 57

VOL. 6 ISSUE 57 • TUESDAY, JUNE 04, 2013

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

Heads should roll STUCK. Cebu Pacific flight 5J 971 bound from Manila overshoots the runway and got stymied into a muddy ground portion of Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City on Sunday evening. None of the 165 passengers were hurt in the incident. Lean Daval Jr.

Sara hits CAAP, Cebu Pacific for hiding 20 patients, lying about real score

By ANTONIO M. AJERO

A

N INCENSED Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio yesterday accused executives of the Davao International Airport (DIA), the Cebu Pacific Airlines (CebPac) and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap) for mishandling the Sunday night accident involving and incoming CebPac plane, while landing at the DIA. The landing gear skidded to the right causing the plane to overshoot the concrete part of the runway and its nose to get mired in the mud.

FUMING. Disgruntled passengers of cancelled flights leave the airport terminal yesterday. Some 2,500 passengers were reportedly affected. Lean Daval Jr.

The ill-fated aircraft which has not be removed from the runway up to this writing last night created bedlam in the international airport – 40 in-bound flights and as many outbound flights, thousands of passengers stranded in the airport, and traffic jams outside the facility.

In a statement to the media, Mayor Sara charged that the airport authorities violated safety protocol by virtually shooing off personnel of the city police, the Davao City Public Safety Command Center and the much-vaunted Central 9-11 who went to the airport to

FHEADS SHOULD ROLL, 10

Airport obstruction damage:

P1M, 80 flights, 2,500 passengers in one day

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

T

hErE is more to the Davao International Airport mess than just one aircraft stuck in mud.

Consider these: more than P1 million financial loss, 80 flights disrupted and 2,500 passengers stranded after a Cebu Pacific aircraft remained stuck in a

muddy portion of the runway of the Davao International Airport Sunday night.

Davao City Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), airport manager, Frederick San Felix said CAAP alone earns P400 million a year

FAIRPORT OBSTRUCTION, 10

INSIDE:

New anti-smoking law nets 60 more Quake destroys 30 houses in N. Cotabato

Game 7: War!

2

3 15

2 THE BIG NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 57 • TUESDAY, JUNE 04, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

THE YOUNG AND THE OLD. Impatient children (left) and an old woman (right) await advisory of their cancelled flights yesterday at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

Plane mishap bares deficiencies of DIA T

New anti-smoking law nets 60 more

By Che Palicte

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

O

Nly one fire truck was on standby at the Davao International Airport (DIA) when a Cebu Pacific Air plane skidded off the runway nose first onto an un-cemented portion Sunday night, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), airport manager, Frederick G. San Felix. last March 2012, the regional Development Council (rDC) 11 questioned the safety of the DIA on account of certain deficiencies, such as the lack of x-ray machines, leaking roofs, and lack of fire trucks.

This prompted rDC 11, during a meeting headed by rDC vice chairman Vicente T. lao, to withhold endorse-

ment of the 2013 budget proposed by DIA, until such time San Felix could explain satisfactorily why the deficiencies had not been remedied.

Instead of endorsing the budget, rDC formed a technical working group co-chaired by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and the Department of Tourism (DOT) to look into the airport’s condition.

The DIA needed three fire trucks so that bigger aircrafts would be able to use the DIA, however, Edge found out in March 2012 that two fire trucks had been out of order for more than a year.

During a press conference organized by

Preparations for MinBizCon hosting now in full swing

P

r E PA r AT I O N S for this year’s 22nd edition of the Mindanao Business Conference (MinBizCon) are in full swing, according to Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) president, Daniel lim.

Speaking before members of media at the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw in SM Annex, lim said they have expect about 1,000 participants in the event on August 8-10 at the SMX Convention Center, SM lanang Premier.

“We will bring up issues on Mindanao, one of which is the looming power shortage which

is among the seven issues that we will be taking up in the plenary portion,” he said, adding that all issues to be tackled in the conference will focus on problems that affect the business sector in Mindanao.

The conference will be attended by members of the DCCCII, policy makers, investors and foreign partners. lim also bared the recent signing of the “integrity pledge” by DCCCII and Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Mindanao, a unilateral declaration not to commit corruption in a business environment

FPREPARATIONS, 10

CAAP yesterday morning, San Felix said there was only one fire truck on stand-by during the incident Sunday night, and that their Crash Fire and rescue Team is always on alert basis.

CAAP Davao drafted two investigators from Aircraft Accident Investigation team of CAAP Manila to determine the main reason why Cebu Pacific’s aircraft veered 1150 meters off the runway to the un-cemented part.

According to San Felix, a crane is needed to lift the airbus off the ground ro avoid dmage to its body. he said that only when the investigation is finished and the airbus is finally removed

from the runway can flights resume.

The investigators arrived at almost 12 noon yesterday while the crane arrived at 4 pm.

Edge called up San Felix’s office at 4:30 pm and a clerk said the investigating team would still have to bring the results to Manila.

Edge also called San Felix who said that a crane had arrived at the area at 4bpm, “I don’t know where it came from but, Cebu Pacific provided it,” he said.

A lot of passengers complained that it took too long before help arrived. SPO1 Frelyn Delfin, a passenger, said that it took 30 minutes to remove all 165 passengers from the plane.

hE third day of implementation of the New Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance in Davao City saw the apprehension of 60 violators.

Anti-Smoking Task Force (ASTF) head Dr. Domilyn Villareiz told media yesterday at the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw, SM Annex that Talomo police station arrested the most number of violators—47.

Sasa police station nabbed three, Mobile Patrol Group scored with eight, Buhangin police station caught two.

Those arrested were issued citation tickets and ordered to pay P500 as fine to the city treasure’s office and undergo smoking cessation counseling in the health clinic Davao Adventist hospital which is the accredited hospital for smoking cessation

counseling.

“The citation tickets issued by deputized officers must be returned three to five days to the police station to avoid criminal charges,” she explained.

Villareiz said that the emphasis on imposing the new ordinance is to help Dabawenyos kick the smoking vice which causes lung cancer, emphysema, laryngeal cancer, mouth cancer, Buerger’s disease (decrease in blood supply) and difficulty in breathing.

Villareiz said a single cigarette contains 7,000 bad chemicals, which 70 cause cancer.

Meanwhile, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) chief ronald dela rosa ordered is personnel to to enforce the new ordinance 24/7, and themselves to refrain from smoking while on duty. “Don’t be violators!”

CAN YOU HEAR ME, CLASS? A Grade 1 teacher uses a microphone to get the attention of her students during the first day of classes at Francisco Bangoy National High School on Sasa, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

SUBURBIA 3

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 57 •TUESDAY, JUNE 04, 2013

Quake destroys 30 houses in N. Cotabato A

T least 30 houses made of semi-concrete materials and a bridge in Barangay Kimadzil, Carmen, North Cotabato were damaged due to the 5.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the province on Saturday night.

Six persons were injured due to falling debris in their houses. They victims were identified as roslyn labrador (13), roel labrador (15), rika labrador (9), yunisito labrador (50), Jori Galopar (28), and Gabriel Ampalia (5).

All of the victims were brought to Kabacan Medical Specialist for treatment but they were also discharged since they only sustained minor

wounds.

Meanwhile, part of the Mutian Bridge, located in Barangay Kimadzil connecting the town of Carmen and Bukidnon, collapsed by three to four inches.

North Cotabato Governor lala Mendoza told ABS-CBN News that the town experienced 15 aftershocks.

Mendoza said a team from the Department of Public Works and highways is already in the area to assess the damages.

The total cost of damage has yet to be determined as of posting.

Mendoza said she will give financial assistance to families of the victims and owners of damaged houses.

Minor landslide hits Pantukan

A

minor landslide hit a small-scale mining area in Pantukan, Compostela Valley last week. No one was reported hurt though as residents there took precautionary measures before the incident happened.

The landslide struck around three in the afternoon of May 30 in Purok Pag-asa Uno, Sitio Panganason. It was raining hard at that time when a small portion of the mountain gave in and covered the house of Oliver Jaspe.

According to Purok chair Danny luzon, three days before the landslide happened, they already noticed a

crack in the area. Thus they cautioned residents there to move to a safer ground even before the landslide happened.

Because of the landslide, the residents are now planning to plant trees in the area where the erosion took place to prevent recurrence. last January 2012, more than 20 people miners died, including minors, when a major landslide struck the area. The incident prompted authorities to implement a no-habitation policy in the small-scale mining area.

But few months after, miners again start-

MEETING FOR COMVAL. A National TF Pablo Collaborative Consultation Meeting in Davao City was held on May 30 with Comval Gov. Arturo Uy and his department heads. Present were Natl TF Pablo Sec. Jose Rene Almen-

ed residing in the danger zones.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau said that as early as 2006, the Municipality of Pantukan has already been mapped for geohazard susceptibility with certain barangays identified as high risk to landslide.

Barangays that are highly susceptible to landslide,for years now, have been regularly monitored especially those identified as gold rush areas.

Once an area undergoes geohazard mapping and is rated highly susceptible to landslide, flooding or other geohazard, local gov-

ernment officials are immediately advised to relocate residents to safer areas.

Pantukan is hub to small-scale mining operations where miners gather and indiscriminately dig tunnels without so much a thought on securing the required permits.

Brgy. Napnapan alone, has several gold rush areas such as Diat Uno, Diat Dos, Diat Tres, Diat Palo, Boringot, Biasong, Sitio lit-Ag and others, where illegal small-scale miners arbitrarily digout holes without regard to the environment and to the safety of other people living in the area.

dras-Chairperson; DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman; Secretary Teresita Quintos-Deles, OPAPP and other key heads. (r. renoblas/ids comval)

Classes in NorCot town suspended after quake

C

ArMEN, North Cotabato -- Due to damaged or destroyed classrooms as a result of last Saturday’s earthquake, Education officials here suspended the opening of classes in the entire town to ensure the safety of pupils.

Education and public works officials are still conducting an assessment of school buildings following a Magnitude 5.7 earthquake Saturday night.

According to Cynthia Ortega, North Cotabato provincial disaster risk reduction management council chairperson, education officials have recommended the suspension of class opening today to ensure the safety of children as there were 32 classrooms destroyed or damaged by the earthquake.

“Our assessment is continuing, some school buildings have collapsed, others have huge cracks on concrete walls,” Dionisio Costes, Carmen schools district supervisor, said.

“This was an act of nature and beyond our control, we need to be careful to avoid loss of lives,” he explained in recommending the suspension of classes.

Ortega said about 141 houses made of light materials and semi-concrete structures were destroyed or damaged.

“The number of damaged houses may increase as the assessment was still going on,” Costes said, adding that the suspension of classes was approved

by DepEd regional Director Maria rosa Gutierrez.

“We want to ensure our schools are safe, we

want to ensure the safety of school children, we would like to secure the school buildings,” he added.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology in Cotabato reported about 97 aftershocks have occurred, the latest of which was at 4:10 a.m. Monday.

North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Talinio Mendoza said provincial engineers are still assessing the status of several bridges, especially Mutian bridge in Barnagay Kimadzil which had cracks and sagged by about six inches.

Soldiers and policemen were still manning the approaches of the affected bridge to ensure heavy trucks and buses would not pass through as it may endanger the bridge further.

Dioniso Galapor, a residente and one of the eight persons wounded in the earthquake, recalled that the earthquake was so strong that his cabinets at home fell.

The walls of semi-concrete house of Albert labrador has collapsed and rendered the entire house dangerous for occupancy. huge rocks and soil covered portions of the highway in Barangay Kimadzil and Malapag, both in Carmen due to landslides.

Education officials may recommend the opening of classes Tuesday after thorough evaluation and assessment of school buildings.

Phivolcs officials said aftershocks are expected and reminded the public not to stay in concrete buildings or mountains and hills to avoid accident. (PNA)

4 NATION/WORLD

VOL. 6 ISSUE 57 • TUESDAY, JUNE 04, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Schools welcome 20.8M students as classes open P

UBlIC schools nationwide welcomed an estimated 20.8 million students as classes for school year 2013-2014 -- the second year of the implementation of the K

to 12 basic education program – formally opened yesterday.

The Department of Education is also set to implement the new curriculum for Grades 2 and 8 under

SCHOOL OPENING. Students of Ramon Magsaysay High School in Espana, Manila look for their classroom assignment at the bulletin board during the

PH lists 3 new security trends in Asia-Pacific

M

ANIlA (PNA) -– Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin on Sunday listed three new security trends that are affecting the regional security environment in the Asia-Pacific region.

“The Philippines is of the view that there are currently three new security trends for us to consider: one, the re-emergence of previously dormant traditional security concerns; two, new aspects of recognized non-traditional security issues; and three, emerging security risks,” Gazmin said in a speech during the plenary session at the 12th IISS Asia Security Summit in Singapore.

“The regional security environment continues to evolve,” Gazmin said, adding that “more issues are becoming security concerns as they negatively affect our quality of life and limit our policy options.”

The forum which is also dubbed as the Shangri-la Dialogue 2013 brings together defense ministers, armed forces’ commanders, and the most senior defense officials, together with distinguished non-gov-

ernmental experts from universities, think-tanks, the media and the private sector from all states with significant stakes in the security of the Asia-Pacific region. he said the traditional security concerns include territorial disputes, the Korean Peninsula, military modernization, arms race, and proliferation of weapons which remain high in the regional security agenda.

“Sensitive issues placed in the backburner in the past have reemerged to take center stage,” the defense chief said.

According to Gazmin, “this dispels notions that these issues have become irrelevant in the 21st century with the emergence of non-traditional security challenges,” saying that given this, while sensitive issues will not be resolved overnight, it would be timely for states to cooperate in finding means to achieve long-lasting regional stability through mechanisms provided by international law, with the hope of settling these issues with a sense of finality.” (PNA)

the K to 12. high schools are required to offer Grade 8.

The Deped said they are expecting 1.78 million pupils in kindergarten, 13.3 million in elementary

and 5.7 million high school students.

Deped Secretary Armin luistro said he expects a smooth opening of classes as he urged teachers to start the first day of class

opening of classes for school year 2013-2014 on Monday (June 3, 2013).

(PNA photo by Luisito L. Iglesias)

with discussions to “maximize contact time with students.” “let’s hit the ground running on June 3. Ideally, teachers should start Day 1 with lesson 1 so that we maximize contact time with students,” luistro said.

“Months before the opening of classes, the department has already taken steps to prepare all public elementary and high schools across the country.

With this, we are optimistic that all our preparations are in place and are looking forward to a smooth opening of classes,” he added.

Saying that education is a “community affair,” luistro also urged parents and local leaders to participate in the first flag raising ceremony of schools in their areas.

“The first flag ceremony can include stakeholders such as parents and the local government to send the message, especially to our pupils, that education is a community affair. It takes an entire village to educate a child, therefore we must involve everyone on the first day of school,” he said.

The department has also organized its Oplan Balik Eskwela (OBE) campaign which established a working tie-up with various school security forces to ensure the safety of students returning to schools. luistro has urged all stakeholders -- including parents and local government units -- to coordinate with the OBE Information and Action Center Task Force to ensure the smooth opening of classes.

The OBE task force has been set up to address common problems encountered during school opening. It will be open until June 7.

Meanwhile, in preparation for today’s school opening, Maynilad -- one of the partners of Deped for the Brigada Eskwela program -- has set up 226 drink-wash areas in selected public schools.

According to Maynilad’s rosmon Tuazon, Maynilad actively participated in the Brigada Eskwela by refurbishing six schools and repaired pipe leaks. he said they will also put up signs to ensure the safety of motorists and children alike. (PNA)

a member of the “Matikas” Class of 1983. lucero, who assumed command in April, is the 43rd Commander of the 1st Infantry Division. he has extensive experience in the Army’s Civil Military Operations,

shown his great interest in giving primacy to the welfare of the people by advocating the Internal Peace Security Plan (IPSP) “Bayanihan” to win peace especially in this part of Mindanao.

(PNA)

Diving gear malfunction leads to Army commander’s death P

AGADIAN CITy, Zamboanga del Sur (PNA) -- Brig. Gen. Daniel lucero, commander of the Army’s 1st Infantry “Tabak” Division, died on Sunday after his diving gear malfunctioned off the coast of Tukuran municipality, this province, his grieving wife Maria Consuelo said on Monday. lucero was a decorated Philippine Army officer and a combat veteran here in Mindanao. lucero “suddenly collapsed” around 1:55 p.m.

Sunday “while nearing the water surface from a depth of less than 40 feet,” according to Army’s 1st Infantry Division spokesman Capt. Jefferson Somera.

Scuba divers who were with lucero immediately applied first aid and rushed him to the Mendero hospital in this city for medical treatment, Somera said. however, Somera said the attending physician declared lucero dead at 3:15 p.m. for cardiac pulmonary arrest. lucero’s wife, who wants an autopsy to be conducted, said his hus-

band died after his diving gear malfunctioned.

The incident happened while the command was having a reception and Commander’s time for the 21 Second lieutenants who were newly assigned to the First Infantry “Tabak” Division at “Tabak Beach” in the municipality of Tukuran.

In line with the activity, lucero invited officers of the “Tabak” Division who were certified scuba divers as well as civilian friends and this city’s members of life Time Dive Center (lTDC), who assisted them during the event. lucero’s wife and daughter, Paula Divina, also joined them during the occasion.

“Brig. Gen. lucero’s death is a great loss in the Philippine Army and in the Armed Forces of the Philippines in general,” Brig. Gen. Felicito Virgilio Trinidad, 1st Infantry Division General Officer-in-Command said. lucero, 54, earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the Philippine Military Academy and is

COMMANDER. Brig. Gen. Daniel Lucero, commanding general of the Army 1st Tabak Division. MindaNews file photo by Froilan Gallardo

5 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 57 • TUESDAY, JUNE 04, 2013

Ayala stocks dip after Serendra blast M

ANIlA- Share prices of Ayala companies dipped during the first hours of trading following the blast in the Serendra residential project of the conglomerate on Friday evening, May 31.

As of 10:04 am on Monday, June 3, Ayala land Inc. (AlI) declined by 5.48%, making it the second top loser in the Philippine Stock Exchange main index.

Shares of parent firm Ayala Corp. also declined by 2.38% during the morning trade.

On Friday, May 31, Ayala land’s stock rose by 3%, the highest in the past 4 weeks, following the announcement of the government that the country grew by a whopping 7.8%, with private construction activities, including those by Ayala land and other real estate developers, contributing to the country’s

healthy economic performance.

Ayala land’s Friday stock price also increased despite the announcement of rival SM Prime that an upcoming merger will dislodge Ayala land as the country’s biggest listed real estate firm.

Serendra is one of the pioneer projects of the Ayala group in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. The former military base is one of the fastest growing central business districts in the capital.

The May 31 blast, which ripped apart 10 units in Serendra, killed 3 people.

No surprise The Monday morning decline in the stock prices of the listed Ayala companies is not surprising, explained COl Financial research head April lee-Tan. “(The decline) is expected…The decline was an immediate reaction to the incident…But I think if

you’re a long term investor, there shouldn’t be any worry,” she explained to rappler.

“In the long term, I think it (the blast) will not completely affect [Ayalas’] stocks. you cannot just attribute

the decline to that.

There are a lot of factors like market prices that you have to factor in. It’s hard to attribute it solely to [the] Serendra [incident],” she added. however, investors

are also looking out for the result of the ongoing investigation on the blast, especially for the impact on real estate industry.

“If it is confirmed [that] it’s a gas leak, it will decline some

more because it tells you the kind of quality of workmanship the developer has. [If it is a bomb incident], everyone is at risk, [but shows that] it’s not the fault of the developer,” she said.

BROWSING THE STACK. A young boy and his sister examine the toys on display at S & R Membership Shopping on Mc Arthur Highway in Matina, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

6 THE ECONOMY Stat Watch

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

5.4 4th Qtr 2012

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

6.8 4th Qtr 2012

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

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

8. Interest Rates 4/

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

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

P 40.67 Feb 2013

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

6,242.7 Jan 2013

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

132.4 Feb 2013

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.4 Feb 2013

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.8 Feb 2013

16. Visitor Arrivals

352,438 Nov 2012

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

20.9% Jan 2013

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

7.1% Jan 2013

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

2013

2012

2011

40.67 40.73

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

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

It figures

47 SM group has 47 malls in the Philippines and 5 more malls in China.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 57 • TUESDAY, JUNE 04, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

PAL opens more flights to Australia M

ANIlA, Philippines - Philippine Airlines is mounting flights to three new destinations in Australia this month.

PAl, a joint venture between tycoon lucio Tan and San Miguel Corp. (SMC), is set to fly to Darwin, Perth, and Brisbane. This is in addition to the airline’s flights to Sydney and Melbourne.

“The new connections are envisioned to increase passenger traffic between the Philippines and Australia and strengthen bilateral ties between both countries. return flights from these cities make Manila an ideal gateway to popular Asian destinations like hong Kong, China, Japan and Korea and a jump off point to the country`s top travel spots,” PAl president and chief operating officer

ramon S. Ang said.

PAl’s Manila-Perth-Manila service (via Darwin) is four times weekly while the Manila-Brisbane-Manila service (via Darwin) is thrice weekly.

This is the first time PAl is flying to Darwin and Perth, while it is its third time to mount flights to Brisbane. PAl operated the Manila-Brisbane route from 1982 to 1998, and reopened briefly from 2009 to 2010.

PAl had its inaugural flight to Sydney on October 6, 1965; while its service to Melbourne started on September 9, 1971.

The increased flights between Manila and Australia is expected to give a boost to tourism. In 2012, 191,150 Australian nationals visited the country, making Austra-

ArMErS and fisherfolk from an isolated area nearly two hours away from this city are set to secure their future retirement, after the Social Security System (SSS) introduced to them the AlkanSSSya program, an innovative scheme that makes saving daily for SSS benefits possible for informal sector workers.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Emilio de Quiros, Jr. said almost a hundred farmers and fisherfolk from Brgy.

San remegio in Kaputian from the Island Garden City of Samal have already started their AlkanSSSya savings during the program’s launch on May 29.

De Quiros said many farmers and fisherfolk from Brgy.

San remegio expressed their willingness to become covered SSS members, but they are often hindered by the lack of accessible banks and payment facilities. “having few cemented roads in their area also makes it hard for them to go to our offices. But now, with the AlkanSSSya, the SSS will instead go to them once a month to count and collect their accumulated savings for SSS contributions,”

he added.

The new AlkanSSSya participants are members of the San remegio Agrarian reform Beneficiaries Multi-Purpose Cooperative (SArBEMCO) and the San remegio Fisherfolks Cooperative (SArFIShCO), which account for a combined total of 322 regular members and associates. Out of the total 200 members of SArBEMCO, 55 are now AlkanSSSya participants, while SArFIShCO has already enrolled 43 out of its 122 members and associates.

“AlkanSSSya members remit monthly premiums at least of P312, which has a corresponding monthly salary credit of P3,000. Just by saving about P10 to P12 each day, farmers and fisherfolks can already look forward to a secure future as active SSS members,” de Quiros noted.

SSS Assistant Vice President for Southern Mindanao Division Emmanuel Palma, SSS Davao City Branch head Jove Colasito, SArBEMCO President Joel Mamac and SArFISCO Chairman ronie Aque signed the AlkanSSSya memorandum of agreement on May 29 to formalize the new partnership.

by the numbers

The SME sector comprises about

99.6 percent of all registered firms nationwide, employs

69.9 percent of the labor force and contributes 32 percent to the economy. lia the country’s sixth largest tourism source market.

“With these air links, Australian tourists may enjoy Manila`s attractions

such as its resorts and historical landmarks before connecting to other international and regional destinations,” Ang said.

SSS extends retirement program Strategic positioning F

284.1 P284.1 billion will be the total asset of the merged SM Land and SM Development Corporation

T

to help PHL for AEC

hE Philippines needs to adopt same strategic positioning as other Southeast Asian peers to prepare itself for the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.

Jay yuvallos, member of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, expressed hope that the country’s strategic positioning will be developed after industry roadmaps are reviewed and consolidated.

“The different ASEAN countries in the region have very clear strategic intent. like for example Thailand, they want to be a hub in Asia. Indonesia, they want to attract investments... how about us? We need to be very smart and start creating (our) strategic intent,” he said at a conference of employers. yuvallos said the Philippines also needs to communicate its strategic intent not only to the region but also to the rest of the world.

“The intent of the ASEAN is to integrate the ASEAN economy into the bigger world stage.

48.9 The government’s debtto-GDP eased to 48.9% in the first quarter, reflecting a lower share of the country’s economic output being allocated for debt payments.

While we move forward towards integration in the world market, we also need to think our own backyard,” he noted. yuvallos underscored the importance of industry roadmaps as these address value chain analysis that will create competitive advantage to the small and medium enterprises (SME) and other players.

The SME sector comprises about 99.6 percent of all registered firms nationwide, employs 69.9 percent of the labor force and contributes 32 percent to the economy. yuvallos said roles of each sector should be streamlined “because after all, integration happens meaningfully in the sectors.”

To get ready for regional integration, yuvallos also urged companies to start creating their direction. “...hopefully we can move forward towards maximizing, optimizing the opportunities that will come about ASEAN 2015,” he added. (PNA)

44.1 The government has successfully reduced the foreign component of the general government debt, declining to 44.1% in 2012 from 50.2% in 2011.

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 57 •TUESDAY, JUNE 04, 2013

SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT 7

Rainforest deforestation leads to seed shrinkage T

hE destruction of tropical rainforests is having an even greater impact on the environment than was previously thought, a study suggests.

Scientists have found that deforestation in Brazil is causing trees to produce smaller, weaker seeds that are less likely to regenerate.

They believe this has been triggered by the loss of large birds from the forests, which have beaks big enough to feed on and disperse the seeds.

The study is published in Science.

Pedro Jordano, from the Donana Biological Station in Seville, Spain, said: “One of our major surpris-

UN high level panel releases report on world’s next development agenda

E

MINENT persons from around the world call for a new global partnership to eradicate poverty and transform economies through sustainable development. last May 31, the high level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda released “A New Global Partnership: Eradicate Poverty and Transform Economies through Sustainable Development,” a report which sets out a universal agenda to eradicate extreme poverty from the face of the earth by 2030, and deliver on the promise of sustainable development. The report calls upon the world to rally around a new Global Partnership that offers hope and a role to every person in the world.

The Panel was established by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and co-chaired

by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang yudhoyono, liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron.

The President of Indonesia said: “Besides capturing inputs from as many sources as possible, the most remarkable fact of this report is that

we, the panelists and coChairs alike, were able to rise above national interest and address the Global Partnership and Sustainable Development issues with a true universal perspective”.

The President of liberia said: “This high level Panel report is the product of an intense nine month global consultation, equipped with the views of governments, civil society, academia and the private sector.

Together and in consultation with a broad range of actors we have considered the challenges of the 21st century, challenges like unsustainable economic growth, conflict and climate change, but we have also identified opportunities, such as modern technologies and innovative coalitions. This report sets out a new vision for a world equipped to tackle the hurdles to human development and to capitalise on new opportunities. We hope that it will prove a valuable input into the global conversation on the post-2015 development agenda and that the principles and shifts we identify will help to frame the ongoing dialogue.” [UNEP]

es was how rapidly deforestation could not only be influencing the disappearance of the fauna, but to observe how deforestation could influence the evolution of the plant traits so rapidly - within a few generations.”

Tiny beaks Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest was once home to a

vibrant array of plants and animals.

But with the arrival of sugar and coffee plantations in the early part of the 19th Century, it was rapidly destroyed.

Today, just 12% of the original forest remains.

To assess the impact, researchers looked at more than 9,000 seeds collected

from palm trees throughout the rainforest.

Those taken from areas that had suffered heavy destruction were much smaller than seeds collected in undisturbed patches of forest.

The researchers considered a wide array of factors that might have led to the shrinkage, such as the climate, soil fertility and forest cover.

“But we found no evidence for any of those effects,” explained Prof Jordano, who carried out the research with Sao Paulo State University, in Brazil.

“The main factor was the disappearance of the large frugivore (fruit-eating) species.”

Usually, species such as the toucan and cotinga use their large beaks to eat the fruit, eventually spreading the seeds throughout the forest.

But as the rainforest was flattened, these birds vanished, leaving smaller birds behind such as the thrush.

By evolving to produce smaller fruits, which birds with tinier beaks could handle, they were more

likely to be dispersed. however the researchers found these seeds were weaker.

“Unfortunately the smaller seed size also means a lower probability for successful recruitment in the forest,” said Prof Jordano.

“Smaller seeds are less likely to germinate, they are prone to losses by desiccation and they are more quickly attacked by fungi.” he added that projected climate change could render rainforests drier and hotter, making the survival of the seeds even less likely.

The researchers said their findings were probably not limited to the Atlantic rainforest.

Prof Jordano said: “really the story we are documenting can also be happening for many other tree species.

“Unfortunately it will also be common in other tropical areas around the world, where the large toucans, the tapirs, monkeys and other big mammals and birds are disappearing very quickly from the forest.” [BBC]

place before and after this date. Over half a million people have already been registered on www.unep. org/wed and it is not too late to get involved. register your activity on the website and sign up to take part in a WED Thunderclap, which will send a resounding message to the world on June 5, at http://www.unep.org/ wed/thunderclap.

As part of the celebrations, UNEP and partners including the World resources Institute and the International Fund for Agricultural Development will launch two reports: one presenting a menu of solutions to reduce food

waste and loss, and one highlighting how smallholder farmers have the potential to lift one billion people out of poverty given the right support and enabling conditions.

Mongolia is one of the fastest-growing countries in the world, and is aiming to ensure this growth goes hand in hand with a green economy and civilization. While Mongolia does not waste significant food, the traditional nomadic lifestyle of some of its people-who developed ways to preserve food for long periods-offers some ancient answers to the modern-day challenge of food waste. [UNEP]

Countries across the globe take part in World Environment Day

h

UNDrEDS of thousands of people are gearing up across the globe to take part in World Environment Day on June 5, the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action.

This year the main event is hosted by the government and people of Mongolia, and focuses on the new UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) campaign Think.Eat.Save. reduce your Foodprint, which is aimed at slashing food waste.

Each year, an estimated one third of all food produced ends up spoiling in the bins of consumers, retailers, farmers and transporters. This 1.3 billion tonnes, worth around US$1 trillion, is enough to feed the 870 million people who go hungry each day several times over.

This unconsumed food, much of which can be cut out through simple measures, wastes both the energy put into growing it and the fuel spent

on transporting produce across vast distances.

Additionally, significant amounts of the powerful greenhouse gas methane emanate from food decomposing on landfills, while livestock and forests cleared for food production contribute to global warming.

The new campaign has already made inroads into spreading the message that every individual and organization can make a difference, and World Environment Day aims to further reinforce this idea.

The main celebrations take place on June 5 each year, although events take

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 57 • TUESDAY, JUNE 04, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

Know your rights as a passenger

I

T’S not everyday that a commercial plane skids on a runway and causes cancellation of flights like this one unfortunate incident in Davao City Sunday night which inconvenienced 2,500 passengers on Monday alone.

But on any ordinary day, one gets to encounter that irritating situation where you get stuck in a situation where your flight is either delayed or cancelled. Worse, you could be in a situation where there’s an important meeting or schedule waiting for you at your destination which cannot be moved, or there’s a connecting flight you need to catch.

One thing leads to another and just like that, you are in a hellish dilemma. Most often, you end up arguing with the staff manning the counter or the ground supervisor who most likely is only a third party provider of the airline company. Meaning, no matter how high you raise your voice or throw invectives, you still end up helpless.

So, what are your rights as a passenger in a contract of carriage?

The “Airline Passengers’ Bill of rights” which took effect on December 21, 2012, also known as Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 1 by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Transportation and Communication, is the answer.

This bill of rights gives air travelers well-defined rights and avenues to air their grievances against abusive airline companies with proper redress. here is a summary of the salient provisions of the Airline Passengers’ Bill of rights for air travelers: 1. rIGhT TO COMPENSATION AND AMENITIES IN CASE OF FlIGhT DElAyS a. In case of Terminal Delay (defined as “a flight delay that occurs while passengers are still inside the terminal waiting to board”) of at least three (3) hours after the expected time of departure (ETD) regardless of reason for delay, a passenger shall have right to: be provided with refreshments or meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks, as the case may be); be provided with free phone calls, texts, or emails, and first aid, if necessary; and rebook or refund ticket subject to conditions outlined in the Bill of rights b. In case of Terminal Delay extending for at least six (6) hours after the ETD for causes attributable to the carrier, the flight is deemed “cancelled” for the purpose of making available to the passenger rights and amenities required to be provided in case of actual cancellation.

2. rIGhT TO COMPENSATION AND AMENITIES IN CASE OF CANCEllED FlIGhTS a. In case of flight cancellation attributable to the airline, the passenger is entitled to: be notified beforehand via public announcement or published notice; be provided with the following, if he/she is already at the airport at the time of the announcement of the flight cancellation: sufficient refreshments or meals (e.g. snacks consisting of at least a bottle of water and a sandwich, or breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or a voucher for the same, as the case may be); hotel accommodation (conveniently accessible from the airport); transportation from the airport to the hotel and vice-ver-

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sa; free phone calls, text or emails, and first aid, if necessary; reimbursement of the value of the fare, including taxes and surcharges, of the flight cancelled, or both in case the passenger decides not to fly; be endorsed to another air carrier without paying any fare difference, at the option of the passenger, and provided that space permit such re-accommodation; or rebook the ticket, without additional charge, to the next flight with available space, or, within 30 days, to a future trip within the period of validity of the ticket. however, for rebooking made over 30 days, fees and fare difference will apply. b. In case the airline decides to cancel a flight at least 24 hours before departure, it will not be liable for any amenities except to notify the passenger, and to rebook or reimburse the passenger.

3. rIGhT TO ClEAr AND NON-MISlEADING PrOMOS AND ADVErTISEMENTS a. All fare advertisements must disclose the following: Conditions and restrictions attached to the fare type; refund and rebooking policies, if any; Baggage allowance policies; Government taxes and fuel surcharges; Other mandatory fees and charges; Contact details of the carrier (i.e. phone number, website, e-mail, etc.); and Other information necessary to apprise the passenger of the conditions and the full/total price of the ticket purchased b. For promo fares such as “Piso fares” or other “cheap flight promos,” the following information must also be announced: Number of seats offered on a per sector basis; Duration of the promo; and The CAB Approval No. of Fares c. These disclosures must occupy at least one-third (1/3) of the advertising material and must also be printed or attached to the ticket.

4. rIGhT TO COMPENSATION FOr lOST, DElAyED, Or DAMAGED BAGGAGE a. In case a checked-in baggage has been off-loaded for operational, safety or security reasons, the passenger must be informed at the soonest practicable time.

The baggage must be carried in the next flight with available space and must be delivered to the passenger personally or at his/her residence. b. The passenger must be paid P2,000 for every 24 hours their baggage is missing. After 7 days, the baggage would be deemed lost. c. For lost or damaged baggage, the compensation will be in the following manner: For international flights, the relevant conventions shall apply; For domestic flights, upon proof, a maximum amount in Peso equivalent to half of the amount in the relevant convention (for international flights).

5. rIGhT TO IMMEDIATE PAyMENT OF COMPENSATION Compensation to affected passengers shall be made at the airline counters at the airport on the date when the occasion occurred entitling the passenger to compensation. Alternatively, it may be done at the airline’s main office or any of their branches, at the discretion of the passenger.

The next time you get into this fix, and we pray not, it’s best to know your rights.

ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Associate Editor

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. • JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA Photography

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

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 57 •TUESDAY, JUNE 04, 2013

h

Things to worry about smoking

OW EFFECTIVE IS ThE CITy’S NEW COMPrEhENSIVE ANTI-SMOKING OrDINANCE rEMAINS TO BE SEEN – Cigarette smokers, say what you will but anybody worth his grain of salt surely knows that smoking habit is bad to the health. That mere observation, however, offers little or no comfort at all to the country’s smoking population including Davao City’s nicotine fanatics. Aside from that cigarette manufacturers are not going to tell the consuming public what are the hazards brought about by excessive cigarette smoking. The logic of their common interest suggests that no matter how exorbitant are the prices of cigarettes, smokers still will find ways to buy their favorite stuff.

By comparison, the Americans and Europeans are, indeed, chain smokers. The acquired habit prompted their governments to impose stringent measures requiring tobacco companies to make cigarette packages with new more glaring warning labels. The images as provided in their regulations include a shrunken cancer patient and close-up of oral cancer. Unlike in the Philippines cigarette manufacturers in those countries adhered to strict government smoking rules and guidelines to avoid getting the ire of the regulators.

But Filipino smokers, Dabawenyos in particular, seem unperturbed of the consequences of such a campaign. Not quite incidentally, the strict warning and scary labels if implemented in the country probably won’t dissuade them

I

VANTAGE POINTS

from buying their favorite smokes.

All things considered, Filipino smokers don’t care a hoot about health concerns and popping packs of cigarettes a day doesn’t seem nearly as perilous to their health. health authorities did what they should always do such as the case of the Davao City government. The city’s new comprehensive anti-smoking ordinance would be a test case for the local government and health officials and law enforcement units. Performance and strong political will on this aspect actually is obligatory if they are to succeed in the campaign against smoking. City health authorities previously instituted a similar anti-smoking rules and regulation where the objective is to minimize if not totally ban smoking in both public and private places – enclosed areas such as offices, restaurants, hotels, terminals, transportation including public parks and recreation areas. That’s pretty ambitious, but it lacks the “tooth and claws”, hence the passage and approval lately of the new comprehensive anti-smoking law.

City health officials and health advocates previously declared a war against smoking but no too effectively and col-

lectively. The only way to they can wage it successfully is with the unwavering support of all sectors in society. We do not know whether the new anti-smoking law although considered more stringent with corresponding stiffer penalties is in fact the right or ultimate solution to the city’s growing smoking population. The new directive according to health officials has the effect to force monitoring teams and law enforcers to do their job perhaps immediately right after the implementation of the anti-smoking guidelines. Smokers on the other hand need to start looking for a “safer” place where they have to do their favorite pastime to avoid being apprehended and meted stiffer fines and penalties, or maybe even jail term.

For our part, we don’t discourage smokers from doing their learned habit but we encourage them to refrain from it because there is some health risks associated with excessive smoking. We don’t care about whether the excise tax on cigarette and other tobacco products will increase by 6% to 1000% leading to higher prices. Our concern actually is the rising cases of respiratory disease and other chronic ailment caused by too much smoking among Filipinos especially the younger generation who now comprise a bigger percentage of the country’s growing smoking population. But to those who haven’t change their minds yet, and decided to continue smoking, we’re not going to stop them.

Our simple advice - life is short, don’t make it shorter.

TRADING POST

literature, it was thrown to the dogs by the producers, screenplay writer and director with all those oozing f---ing scenes by a known “bomba” actress who took the role of Amada. It was a big “For Adults Only” movie with lots of sex everywhere---in the garage, beside the balete tree, during the dance, etc, I don’t even remember reading about them in Nick Joaquin’s story.

Acting by the main actors and actresses who I’d rather not name, was the worst I’d ever seen in Philippine movies. I don’t know who was bored and unmotivated by this literature piece---the actors, actresses or the director himself, whose talent I admired, not greatly, but enough to put him on a level above the rest. I wondered if Nick Joaquin actually saw this movie, because if he did, he’d probably puke all over the theater seats, not from his gobbling up one case of San Miguel beer, but from the mess and ruins of what remained of his great classic story about the Obando ritual dance.

I remember asking him about this in a seafood restaurant long Camus St here in Davao some years ago when we were having dinner and drinks with novelists N.V.M. Gonzales, Aida rivera Ford and Antonio Enriquez. This great Filipino writer glared at me and blurted out: “ Impertinent !!!!”, spilling some of his beer on my face.

(Comments? Email me > tradingpost_davao@yahoo.com)

Chopping up Nick Joaquin’s short story

F yOU’rE familiar with Nick Joaquin’s short story “Summer Solstice”, you’d wish that someday, some hot-shot movie director would make a movie out of this great classic Philippine literature that highlights the festival of St John the Baptist and that particularly queer tradition in Obando, Bulacan, of praying to this saint by barren women desperate to have a baby.

Well, several years ago, a new movie director who calls himself Tikoy Aguiluz actually made a movie version of this short story, titled “Tatarin”. But the movie never made it to the regular movie theaters here in Davao, but instead dumped with other X-rated, pornographic movies and shown with a “double-with” in a run-down, smelly, sleazy movie house here at C.M. recto street that shows nothing else but X-rated Tagalog porno movies. This took place during those early years when there wasn’t a censor body yet in Manila to run after this type of movies and ban their showing in cinema theaters nationwide.

The other week, I took the chance of watching this Tikoy Aguiluz movie version of “Summer Solstice” at the Cinematique Davao along Palma Gil St (former DepEd office). This is a movie theatre run by the government under the Office of the President to promote film development and help in the growth of the film industry by showing

By Patricio P. diaz film classics from all over the world.

Admission is FrEE to the public.

I was a bit curious because the director and producer preferred to use the name “Tatarin” instead of the word “Tadtarin” with a “d” which is the correct spelling in Nick Joaquin’s story. I wanted so much to see this movie because I wrote a three-act stage play titled “Tadtarin” sometime in mid1980’s and anxious to see how faithful the movie director was to the author’s storyline and the obvious message of the story---which was the power and dominance of women over men during that ritual.

I watched every scene very closely to find out the transformation of the woman lupe as she watched her driver’s wife Amada being possessed by the spirits of the “Tatarin” festival under a big balete tree. I saw how lupe was seduced by the balikbayan Guido and watched helplessly by Don Pepe (?) who couldn’t stop lupe from joining the provocative ritual dance of the wriggling, twisting women moaning and groaning for orgasm--- which was probably the point being driven by the director.

For such a classic Philippine literature written by a National Artist for

9

Martial Law took the fun out of citizenship THE WORM’S-EYE VIEW

By Manny ValdehueSa

(Conclusion)

W

INNING by deception So the culture of corruption and suppressed spontaneity lingered. And when Erap sought the presidency a decade after EDSA, he had but to slink away behind the shadows of public discourse, avoid debates, and act out the deception of his screen persona. And doing so, he won the presidency! Then this year, just as we all thought we had recovered from Erap’s antics, he ran for mayor of Manila…and won! It’s amazing how Manila voted for two people known mainly for the fakery projected by their screen aliases to be their top leaders.

Then, too, what is it in plunderers and philanderers that drive Pinoy voters to elect them? And what is it in mutineers and coup plotters that wins Senatorial votes? Sure, Gloria Arroyo—that model of unmentionable governance pardoned Erap, but the fellow was, is, a convicted felon!

Not to be outdone, Jojo Binay’s daughter, Nancy, supposedly convent-bred and university-educated, made no bones about emulating Erap, deftly avoiding a proffered debate with another woman candidate… and won a Senate seat!

Who was it who said that you can’t lose by underestimating the electorate’s intelligence?

Debates fuel intelligent discussion, widen exchange of ideas, broaden perspectives, and promote democracy.

Before Marcos and Enrile padlocked our rights and freedoms in 1972, we had a vibrant, albeit freewheeling, Democracy. you could see, hear, and feel it in action and couldn’t help but be involved!

Clinging to power But now, already more than a quarter of a century since we discarded dictatorship, thinking (wrongly!) that we had banished the ogres of Martial law, we have managed to let Enrile— the Marcos enabler and legalizer— back into the democratic playing field that he and his cohorts bastardized not so long ago.

We even let our other so-called public servants—the senators!—ensconce him firmly on the Senate’s throne! All this without even having him apologize or show remorse for his depredations during the Martial law years. Old as he already is, does he show any sign that he will ever vacate power? Perhaps he derives confidence in the assurance of protection and undying loyalty from his erstwhile aidede-camp, now fellow senator, Gregorio honasan, a confirmed coup plotter!

We are being very cavalier about freedom and justice in our democracy. Where and how can the excitement and joy of elections return to our society with such brooding vultures sitting atop our political system as they feed on Pork and the perks of high office?

Can it be right that Juan Ponce Enrile and his ilk are empowered to allocate the billions in Pork Barrel funds and other entitlements that decide who shall be our leaders? [MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews.

Manny Valdehuesa is the president and national convenor of Gising Barangay Movement Inc. he can be reached at valdehuesa@gmail.com.]

10 NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 57 • TUESDAY, JUNE 04, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Heads should roll.. FFROM 1 extend help. They were told there was no problem and that they (CebPac and airport authorities) could handle the situation.

Mayor Duterte said that after several hours after, CebPac personnel contacted Central 911 chief Emmanuel Jaldon that they had 20 passengers with all sorts of complaints who needed medical attention.

Addressing her statement to the Caap, Mayor Duterte suggested that agency head General William hotchkiss III should investigate the mishandling of the accident. “heads should roll,” the lady mayor said, adding that the airline and airport executives did not act according to protocol.

ShE WANTS ThEM FIrED In a television Interview, the mayor said she wants officials of the DIA management fired after they allegedly rejected the offer of help by Davao City’s Central 911.

According to the mayor, Davao Central 911 reported to her that CAAP had not asked for assistance from them, and that it was a concerned security guard who called up 911 for help.

When 911 personnel arrived at the vicinity of the mishap, DIA personnel rejected

their offer of help because they had everything under control.

It was only after a couple of hours that Cebu Pacific called 911 for assistance, it was only then where 911 personnel found out that there are 20 patients hidden in a secluded area in the airport that were experiencing chest pain, abdominal pain, and hypertension.

CONFlICTING STATEMENT This is contrary to the statement made by CAAP, airport manager, Frederick G. San Felix, during a press conference CAAP organized yesterday, that there were no casualties reported.

San Felix also said, there were no brownouts when the plane landed irregularly since the airport has backup generators which will turn run way lights on immediately in just 2 to 3 seconds should brownouts occur.

PITCh BlACK “Pitch black,” was the description of the mayor, who experienced the brownout as she accommodated her brother in law to the airport even before the airplane incident happened.

This prompted the city government to file charges against the DIA; the mayor has ordered Jaldin to create

a report, because the mayor wants the complaints to be recorded.

Mayor Duterte said DIA should ask for the help from the city government since it is for the benefit of the people.

Investigation started afternoon after two investigators from Aircraft Accident Investigation team of CAAP Manila arrived 12 noon yesterday.

“The investigation should have been done in the morning, and not wait for a long period of time before they take actions,” said the mayor.

According to her, “if I had the equipment, I would already remove that plane.”

“They should remove that plane immediately and not wait for my temper to explode,” Mayor Sara said.

In a late breaking update, second district rep. Mylene Garcia said she already called Gen. hotchkiss whom she said told her that the priority is the accident investigation.

“Management investigation will follow, he told me,” said rep.

Garcia.

Garcia likewise said she has talked to DOTC Secretary Joseph Emilio A. Abaya but did not divulge the details of their conversation.

which translates to financial loss of more than a million as of yesterday when flights were cancelled due to the incident.

According to San Felix, Davao International Airport receives 40 outboundinbound flights a day. A total of 80 flights were cancelled yesterday.

“Marami (a lot),” San Felix said regarding the number of passengers that were stranded that day, since the airport accommodates more than 2,500 to 3,000 passengers a day.

San Felix said there is also an anticipated huge amount of economic loss to the city with the cancellation of flights.

Cebu Pacific Airbus rPC 3266, flight number 5J 971 from Manila landed on runway 23 at about 7:05pm Sunday with

Pilot, Captain Antonio Oropeza, then veered 1150 meters to the right of the runway, with its nose slightly buried to the ground.

There were 161 adult passengers, four infant, two pilots and four cabin crews on board the plane when it landed, with no casualties reported.

Because of this incident, Cebu Pacific cancelled 20 roundtrip flights to and from Davao City yesterday.

According to a press release from Cebu Pacific, it has “arranged for 10 extra roundtrip flights between Manila and General Santos, four extra flights between Cebu and General Santos, one extra flight between Iloilo and General Santos and one extra flight between Zamboanga and General Santos to re-

accommodate affected passengers.”

The airline also provided transfers between General Santos and Davao via shuttle bus and vans, as well as meals and hotel accommodations, as necessary.

San Felix and Cebu Pacific Corporate Communications manager, Michelle Pestano-Fojas, still can’t give any exact reason why the plane landed that way.

Two investigators of the Aircraft Accident Investigation team from CAAP Manila came at around 12 noon yesterday to determine the main reason for the irregular landing of the Cebu Pacific plane.

According to San Felix, flights will resume after investigations are finished which should be around 8 pm last night.

with a report from eJ DomiNiC ferNaNDeZ

Airport obstruction.. FFROM 1

Young boys assemble different structures using Lego parts during yesterday’s grand launch and unveiling of

It’s More Fun in the Philippines with Lego Exhibit at the atrium of SM Lanang Premier. Lean Daval Jr.

Saving for their future

AlkanSSSya benefits 131 prison inmates

By Che Palicte

A

total of 131 prison inmates of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) regional Office 11 in Maa, Davao City have joined the Social Security System’s (SSS) innovative micro savings program called “AlkanSSSya.” In the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw, SM Annex, BJMP regional director Senior Supt. Amelia Talento said that the program allows inmates to know the importance of saving and it will give them a chance to have a good future not only for themselves but also for their loved ones after the inmates’ shall have served their prison term and are released from behind bars.

She added that the

BJMP enlisted 58 female inmates and 96 male inmates in Davao to participate in the AlkanSSSya program, with hundreds of other jail residents expected to join in the coming weeks.

The AlkanSSSya program, which was launched last year, offers self-employed and informal sector workers an easy and affordable means to regularly set aside part of their income for monthly SSS contributions using a communal, cabinet-like piggy bank with secure individual slots.

“This will continue to bring social protection to the prison inmates in the city,” she added.

Talento said the inmates are given training

on livelihood projects, such as: baking, cooking, plumbing, carpentry and creating handicrafts such as straw bags and accessories.

“These will enable them to earn steady income and to save for SSS contributions despite their imprisonment,” she added.

Talento said the BJMP management strongly supports the AlkanSSSya program as an effective means to help inmates become productive and self-sufficient.

“They are saving P10.00 to P12.00 per day and staff from SSS will come to BJMP office to collect their savings every month,” she explained.

rESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday confirmed that he has offered posts for Senators Panfilo “Ping” lacson and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, whose terms will end on June 30.

The President, however, refused to give details about his offer until everything is finalized.

“Alam mo sabi nga nila ‘yung details dapat ay hinog na hinog…May kasunduan kami, in general, pero wala pa doon sa specifics,” Aquino said at a press briefing after an event in Malacanang. he admitted that he has offered both lawmakers positions in the Cabinet.

“I offered that to both

gentlemen and, siyempre, until hindi kayo nagkasundo sa lahat ng detalye, wala pang tapos,” he added.

President Aquino, earlier said that Pangilinan had expressed willingness to help in the agriculture department while lacson’s role in the administration would be “more general”. [PNA]

that is free from corruption.

“One of the reasons for the pledge is that our country’s growth was held back because of corruption,” he said.

“With the pledge we can somehow find ways to solve these problems,” he said. he added that upon

signing the pledge is a commitment to ethical business practices and good corporate governance.

“One of the commitments that I want to highlight is, we want to assist and contribute ideas to develop a unified business code of conduct acceptable

to all participating entities,” he said. he said that the seven areas in the business code that should be assisted are: top management, human resources, sales and marketing, finance and accounting, procurement logistics, implementation and monitoring. CMP

Aquino confirms posts for Lacson, Pangilinan

P

Preparations..FFROM 2

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 57 •TUESDAY, JUNE 04, 2013

HEALTH 11

Anxiety level increases about ‘dengue-ros’ life T

Aboitiz inks partnership for treated bulk water

D

AVAO City’s need for treated bulk water supply gained ground with the partnership of Aboitiz Equity Ventures and JV Angeles Construction Corp.

In a press statement released Wednesday, Aboitiz said the partnership will include “construction of both a hydro electric-powered bulk water treatment facility and the conveyance system needed to deliver treated bulk water” to customers of the Davao City Water District.

Imelda T. Magsuci, water district spokesperson, said it was the other company that submitted the proposal to the water district. “We are still evaluating it,” Ms. Magsuci said.

The proposal, it added, will allow the partnership to supply 300 million liters of potable water to the city per day.

If it pushes through, the

project will tap hedcor Inc., one of the power subsidiaries of Aboitiz, as the latter will provide “technical and operational expertise for the hydroelectric components of the project.”

The power company, which operates a 42.5-megawatt hydroelectric complex in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur, is also planning to set up another hydroelectric plant in Tamugan after the water district agreed to co-exist with the company.

“The final structure of the joint venture company is currently being determined and studied by the parties involved,” the company said, although it did not specify where the water will be coming from.

Erramon I. Aboitiz, Aboitiz Equity Ventures president and chief executive officer, said the company is ready to provide water to the city.

hErE is understandable anxiety rising in provinces north and south of this capital city, with people affected by dengue which de-energizes, emotionally and financially, their nearest kin.

Dengue, one of the fastest emerging infections worldwide, causes fever, a flu-like illness spread by mosquitoes.

Very often, dengue fever rises when the insects can breed in large numbers in areas exposed to stagnant waters liker containers, improperly managed garbage, building sites and flower pots.

In 2010, the Department of health (DOh) reported nearly 99,000 dengue cases with 644 deaths from Jan. 1 to Sept. 25 -- a major jump from 57,819 from the entire year of 2009.

From Jan 1 to Aug 4 in 2011, nearly 54,700 cases have been reported, with 429 deaths mourned by their kin.

The dengue cases have been reported from, and are being monitored in, Western and Eastern Visayas, Calabarzon, Metro Manila, Soccsksargen, Benguet, Cordilleras, Mountain Province, Bicol, Cagayan, Isabela, Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.

According to the World health Organization, among the estimated 2.5 billion people at risk globally, more than 70 per cent reside in the Asia Pacific.

Particularly harshly affected are the Philippines, laos, Malaysia and

Vietnam. health monitors say if the WhO statement is taken, the increase in dengue cases can be attributed to factors that include higher temperatures, rainfall, growing population densities, and greater international travel.

While there was no evidence that the increase in dengue cases in recent years had been tied to global warming, public health experts say that for the first half of 2011, global warming may have contributed to 43 per cent of the cases reported.

Experts are also suggesting that climatic change has a rather disturbing role in the spatial and temporal distribution of dengue.

What is upsetting, which causes the anxiety level to shoot up particularly in areas now suffering from the ‘dengue’ros’ situation, is that there is no treatment nor vaccine for dengue.

But many Filipinos take the comfort zone that early recognition and quick supportive treatment can considerably lower the risk of developing the deadly disease.

One health monitor said aptly: “We should not, under any and all circumstances, ignore the principal symptoms of dengue fever.

“These are high fever, severe headache, severe pain behind the eyes, joint pain, muscle and bone pain, rash, mild bleeding of the nose or the gums.”

Dr, Eric Tayag, head of the Epidemiology Center of the Dept. of health, said the first episode of infection causes the body to develop antibodies to a particular type of strain..

But if infection occurs again, the antibodies may not be able to neutralize the new strain, which may cause the immune system to over-react, resulting in more severe and more virulent dengue infection like dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.

The circulation of four dengue strains has made things worse for public health experts.

In the meantime, health Secretary Enrique Ona has ordered all government hospitals to activate their dengue express lanes to facilitate patient admission for severe dengue cases.

The DOh also announced the new D.E.N.G.U.E. strategy to educate the public on home treatment of mild dengue cases.

The strategy: D -- Daily monitoring of patient’s status; E -- Encourage intake of oral fluids like oresol, water, juices, and the like; N -- Note any dengue warning signs like persistent vomiting and bleeding; G -- Give paracetamol for fever and not aspirin because aspirin induces bleeding; U -- Use mosquito nets; and E -- Early consultation is advised for any warning signs.

The strategy should effectively parry off a ‘dengue-ros’ life, one health monitor said.

(PNA)

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14 SPORTS

WINNERS ALL. (Left to rightKizia Marie Delos Reyes (1st runner-u) of Smoker Fight MMA Davao, Dorina Ararao (champion) of Escape Route, and Natasha Carpina (2nd runner-up) of University of San Carlos-Cebu. The

VOL. 6 ISSUE 57 • TUESDAY, JUNE 04, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Kuchar wins Memorial D top three ladies are the top three winners in the Novice Women’s Singles of the just-concluded 3rd Columbia-Samal Summer Kayakfest held May 18 at Sunset Beach Park in Babak, Samal Island.

UBlIN, Ohio (AP) -- Most of the perks from winning the Memorial were evident to Matt Kuchar soon after his 20-foot birdie putt tumbled into the final hole Sunday. he looked just beyond the 18th green to where 3-year-old son Carson was giving a high-five to tournament host Jack Nicklaus. he had the first multiple-win season of his PGA Tour career. Kuchar went to a career-best No. 4 in the world ranking. he is all but assured of returning to Muir-

field Village in October as part of the Presidents Cup team. ‘’To walk off the green and to greet Mr. Nicklaus and have him congratulate me, that’s something I’ll

that final group, finishing off a tournament, winning a tournament is a huge amount of confidence. heading into Merion, I’ll have a lot of confidence. ‘’I’m looking forward to

KOOCH WINS. Matt Kuchar raises the trophy after winning the Memorial golf tournament in Dublin, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete) certainly never forget,’’ he said.

Perhaps the greatest benefit was one only Kuchar could feel - confidence.

And that’s a big deal with the U.S. Open approaching.

Kuchar missed only one fairway and held off a hardcharging Kevin Chappell over the last three holes to close with a 4-under 68 for a two-shot victory. The win came one week after he was runner-up by one shot at the Colonial. ‘’Great golf breeds more great golf,’’ Kuchar said. ‘’Winning tournaments breeds winning more tournaments. Anytime you can get comfortable playing in

my chances there at Merion.’’ he sure played the kind of golf that goes a long way at the U.S. Open, which starts June 13 at Merion Golf Club outside Philadelphia.

Muirfield Village was such a demanding test that Tiger Woods had two triple bogeys in the same tournament for the first time since 1997 and wound up with the second-highest tournament score in his career at 8-over 296. ‘’It happens. It happens to us all,’’ Woods said. ‘’Go home next week and practice.’’

Not having Woods around didn’t make the task any easier for Kuchar.

NOT TIGER’S DAY. Tiger Woods reacts to hitting a bad shot on the 11th hole during the final round of the Memorial golf tournament. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

INdulge!

VOL. 6 ISSUE 57 • TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

TRAVEL

High fives are thrown after every passing of the rapids.

The raft ride down the Davao River was exhilarating!

A ‘rapid’ reunion on the Davao river

This is the part where I drank the Davao River.

ReunIons are always joyful events where friends who have not seen each other for years finally meet and catch-up and last week, me and my high school batchmates finally get to have a small reunion thanks to sherleen who just flew in from California.

To make our reunion extra different, Dr. Rowena decided to organise everyone on a rafting adventure and booked us with the Davao Wild Water Adventure.

We met up at the Davao Crocodile Park around eight in the morning and after some catching up, picking up the gear and a quick orientation, we were finally on the way to the drop off point at Tamugan. The one-hour ride was uneventful except for the times the clunky truck struggled to go uphill and the few seconds the truck passed by our alma mater which brought more ammo to the already lively conversations within the group.

At the Tamugan put-in area, we were briefed some more on the basics of river rafting and the dos and

Lunch was served on the riverside.

don’ts of rafting.

The river run was a cool 13 kilometres of rapids and parts of calm water. It was hard to imagine that the river we see lazily bisecting our city actually has a more dynamic source with dramatic canyons, forests and beaches throughout the run. of course the rapids that we needed to pass were the exciting parts with creative names like the “washing machine” and the “drop and suck” which added to the playful

banter and bonding.

We arrived at the takeout area by around 2:30 in the afternoon. It was hard to imagine that we spent three hours on the river because time flew so fast while we were navigating the river’s twists, bends and rapids. And by 4pm we were back at the Davao Crocodile Park to change, which unfortunately was difficult given the limited facilities to shower up and change especially when you have park guests ogling and googling at you.

But on the whole, the experience was fun and was definitely one of the most exciting reunions I ever had and I won’t mind doing it again.

Follow me on Twitter or on Instagram @kennethkingong for happenings in, around and beyond Durianburg.

At the Davao Crocodile Park assembly point.

Floating downstream in the calmer section of the river.

An exhausted bunch after the 13km river run.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

VOL. 6 ISSUE 57 • TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

EVENTS

Sun Postpaid treats parents with peace of mind this school year IT is never easy to be away from your loved ones, especially for parents who have to send their children away for college this coming school year. Living the urban life for children can be fearsome and of course, what parents want is to make sure their children is safe and secured. Luckily, Sun Postpaid has developed an economical and affordable offering that lets parents be regularly in touch with their children wherever they may be, providing them with the much-needed peace of mind.

Sun Postpaid’s Group Plan 999 enables parents to get multiple phones under one plan, so they can use these to keep in touch with their children. Parents can choose from the many special offers now under Sun Group Plan 999 that best fits their need or lifestyle.

Parents can avail of a free Android smartphone Alcatel One Touch Idol which is something their college child would love as a send-away gift. This comes with two free Samsung Eton E2202 phones for only P999 a month with unlimited Sun calls and texts plus 750 texts to other networks. They can also avail of three free smartphones plus a Samsung Eton E2202; or six free Samsung Eton E2202 phones, all for only P999 a month with unlimited Sun calls and texts plus 750 texts to other networks also.

With these deals from Sun Postpaid and the network’s reliable connection and wide coverage, parents will never have to worry about their children. Because the thing that gives them peace of mind is always – the good choice.

After Earth: 5 things you need to know

AfTeR earth the movie is set in the far off future when the planet is no longer mankind’s home.

The new colonies are protected by the rangers. Kitai Raige (Jaden smith) ain’t a ranger yet, but his ON May 31, 2013, SM Lanang Premier was dad is. Military honnamed the “Best Smoke-Free Mall” by Davao cho, Cypher (Will City’s Anti-Smoking Task Force in commemo- smith) is the best “ghost” out there. ration of Smoke-Free Davao’s 11th year.

The flick’s big huge, The recognition was gray skinned monconferred to SM Lanang sters—ursas—are Premier by Councilor blind, but they can Bernard Al-ag of the 3rd smell fear. Ghosting District of Davao and Dr. is the ability to conDomilyn Villarreiz, Cotrol your fear so that Chairperson of the Anno baddies can track ti-Smoking Task Force, you. Are these the during the 11th Annithings that scared versary of the Smokeus off the third rock Free Davao Campaign from the sun? held at Rizal Park.

SM Lanang Premier recognized as “Best SmokeFree Mall” in Davao City

SM Lanang Premier representatives headed by Assistant Mall Manager Jerome Yeo received the recognition.

The Anti-Smoking Task Force acknowledged different settings, which are 100% smoke-free during the event. It also gave citations to various LGUs and members of the private sector that have supported the anti-smoking program of Davao City over the years.

Another establishment, SM Lanang Premier’s partner hotel, Park Inn by Raddison, was cited the “Best Smoke-Free Hotel.”

The New Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance of Davao City, City Ordinance 0367-12, was officially launched and reiterated at the Anniversary celebration. Dr. Villareiz encouraged the public to support the newly implemented law as it is wider in scope and has stricter policies. The new ordinance prohibits people from smoking in public conveyances, government-owned vehicles, accommodation and entertainment establishments, workplaces, enclosed or partially enclosed public places, public buildings and public outdoor spaces. Violators will also have to undergo smoking cessation counseling in any government health centers or designated hospital.

Davao City Police Office led by Sr. Supt. Ronald dela Rosa, barangay captains and medical practitioners pledged their continual support for the anti-smoking ban during the event.

SM Lanang Premier has earlier expressed its support for the newly implemented law. In fact, on May 28, the mall has partnered with Davao City’s Anti-Smoking Task Force to provide an awareness seminar for employees and tenants on the provisions of City Ordinance 0367-12.

After their ship crashes lands on an unknown planet, Cypher and Kitai are the sole survivors.

The story, written by Will smith, centers on a son who can’t avoid hearing his father in his head, even when pops is holed up in a crashed spacecraft. It’s up to Kitai to save both of them by retrieving an emergency beacon from the tail end of the ship that broke off in the crash. If not, they’ll be marooned on a planet with beasties, animated plant life and maybe, a giant ursa.

Got all that? one more thing, this film is definitely Jaden’s. Will is in it, but pretty much only as tech support for his son. Here are five things you need to know before setting down on the earth of the future: Will Smith Is Best GPS Voice Ever: Critically injured with two broken

1

legs, Cypher (Will) guides his son to the tail wreckage electronically. Anyone who’s ever been lost and needed directions will recognize the somber, strong tone that says, “five meters, ahead then make a left,” or “Report: status update” or “Run now, there’s a giant usra coming for you.” Can siri do that? In the future this comes standard with spacesuits.

Able-Bodied Smart Suits: The costumes by Amy Westcott (Black swan) avoid the shabby, post-apocalyptic couture that reeks of movies with long-winded voice-over that begins “After the fall…” Cypher and Kitai’s clothes are remarkably formfitting, filled with holographic screens, flying squirrel wings and the ability to camouflage into variety of earth tones.

Reach the Ship’s Tail With Only Two Oxygen Pellets: Gamers know the value of resource management, so although the narrative is pretty tight with action and suspense that only serves the plot, the huge forest landscape and snowy volcano climax

2 3

would make for an awesome next gen game on the Xbox one.

Not a Twist in Sight: While there are really only three films for which M. night shyamalan supplied big surprise endings: sixth sense, unbreakable and The Village, moviegoers have come to think of him as the director whose flicks always have a twist. signs? Debatable. After earth offers a much more straightforward plot: Kitai walks,

4

runs, swims and flies on his quest. shyamalan’s direction is confident. His use of colors particularly, the green and brown terrains, evokes a planet that forgot man ever resided there.

Jaden Has Arrived: Though his acting has been inconsistent in previous efforts (The Karate Kid remake), the 14-yearold delivers his best performance yet with plenty of (tolerable) angst on display.

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EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

Angelina Jolie makes first red carpet appearance since double mastectomy

MAY 29, 2013

NOW

1:00 3:40 6:20 9:00

12:20 2:30 4:40 6:50 9:00

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ANGELINA Jolie is looking better than ever.

On her first red carpet since announcing she had undergone a double mastectomy in February, the Salt star looked gorgeous at the premiere of Brad Pitt’s World War Z in London Sunday, walking with her man in a black sleeveless Saint Laurent dress.

The 37-year-old Oscarwinning actress revealed in an op-ed for the New York Times that she underwent the surgery after doctors told her she carried the BRCA1 gene and had about an 87 percent risk of contracting breast cancer.

“I am fortunate to have a partner, Brad Pitt, who is so loving and supportive,” Jolie wrote in the article. “So to anyone who has a wife or girlfriend going through this, know that you are a very important part of

EPIC (GP)

FAST & FURIOUS 6

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HANG OVER PART 3 (R-13)

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the transition. Brad was at the Pink Lotus Breast Center, where I was treated, for every minute of the surgeries. We managed to find

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moments to laugh together.

We knew this was the right thing to do for our family and that it would bring us closer. And it has.”

Amanda Bynes tweets “My dad is as ugly as RuPaul,” Drag Race host gets the last laugh RUPAUL couldn’t sashay away from this one.

Amanda Bynes slammed the RuPaul’s Drag Race host—and her own father— today on Twitter, when she wrote, “My dad is as ugly as RuPaul! So thankful I look nothing like you both! I had nose surgery after my mug shots so my nose and I are gorgeous!”

(Wait, what mug shot, you ask? This one.)

RuPaul, in an attempt to remain classy and teach followers a little bit about

psychology, responded with, “Derogatory slurs are ALWAYS an outward projection of a person’s own poisonous self-loathing @ AmandaBynes.”

RuPal then topped it off with a joke that’s an oldie but a goodie (and kinda perfect in this situation), “I’m a man, duh!”

Classic.

EPIC 2D

Bruno Mars’ mother passes away

Amanda Seyfried , Colin Farrell GP

BRUNO Mars’ mother has passed away from a brain aneurysm.

Bernadette Hernandez, 55, died Saturday in Hawaii at Queens Medical Center in Honolulu, E! News has confirmed.

Hernandez was a former hula dancer and singer who immigrated to Hawaii from the Philippines, and nurtured her son’s music career, according to Rolling Stone.

Back in 2011 when Mars was nominated for seven Grammys, Hernandez said

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in an interview, “Bruno I am so so proud of you. I knew this was going to happen but not this extent,” she said.

“I still think of him as my baby and keep forgetting

he is a grown man.”

“We’re a very close family…I think that’s what I want my kids to develop and carry on for the next generation.

12:00 | 2:00 | 04:00 | 06:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

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EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

TRAVEL

VOL. 6 ISSUE 57 • TUESDAY, JUNE 4, 2013

A visit to the shrine of the Divine Mercy

By Wilven Pinili AT three o’clock in the afternoon, every Catholic in the world pauses for a silent prayer for the divine mercy. It is at this moment of agony that Christ said to be immersed in His mercy that flowed wide to every weary soul. In the diary of sister faustina, God appeared to her in a vision of Jesus in a white garment with rays that denote blood and water which flowed out from his heart.

This image of His tender mercy is venerated and celebrated in various shrines around the world.

The biggest shrine of the Divine Mercy in Asia can be found in el salvador City. It is on top of the Divine Mercy Hills at about 500 feet above sea level, overlooking the nearby towns of Misamis oriental and Macajalar Bay. The statue stands 50-feet tall created by re-

nowkned scuptor, nick Reyes. The halo is made of stained glass while its rays that symbolize both blood and water are done in tiles and stained glass. on its base are the reconciliation rooms and on its heart is the chamber with a tabernacle of adoration with the image of sister faustina.

The Divine Mercy foundation manages this interdiocesan shrine, with the Marians of the Immaculate Conception in the Philippines and the Archdiocese of Cagayan

de oro. It occupies about 12-hectares of land where the shrine, beautifully manicured gardens, chapel and the under construction church are located.

The creation of the shrine started with a vision in 2000 and took three years to be realized. With the efforts of its members, donations from all over the world and the Divine intervention, they were able to raise the 25 million needed to complete the plan. Its goals include the provision of a complete

With the efforts of its members, donations from all over the world and the Divine intervention, they were able to raise the 25 million needed to complete the plan. retreat and seminar facilities with outmost prayerful atmosphere.

The faithful come not only to marvel at the grandeur of its structure but most importantly to fulfill its devotion to the Divine Mercy. It holds daily masses, confessions, healings and counselling. The shrine aims to serve as the center of dialogue and healing for all the people, especially in Mindanao. It hopes to reach out to everyone in need and to renew its faith by devotion.

Visit the City of Mercy and receive the beacons of hope and a fountain of respite. Be enlightened.

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 57 •TUESDAY, JUNE 04, 2013

GAME 7: WAR! BATTLE ROYALE. Heat star Lebron James amd Pacers’ reliable Paul George will be in the center of today’s battle.

M

IAMI (AP) -- As the final horn in a Game 6 loss to the Indiana Pacers was sounding, leBron James walked toward several of his Miami heat teammates to shake some hands and share a couple of quick words. his message was clear: Get ready for Game 7. here comes the ultimate game. To the winner, a trip to the NBA Finals. To the loser, an offseason loaded with regret. It’s that simple now for the champion heat and the confident

Pacers, who meet in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals Monday night in Miami - a perk the heat earned by finishing with the league’s best record this season. ‘’Each and every year there are 30 teams that would love to be a part of this, to have one game to advance to the NBA F i n a l s ,’ ’ James said.

‘’And there’s two teams that’s in this position. And it’s something that you can’t substitute, this feeling. you can’t substitute the atmosphere that we’re going to be in on Monday night for both teams. We should all cherish this moment.’’

When it’s over Monday, only one club will be cherishing the outcome.

For the heat, it’s a chance to move into the finals for the third straight year and keep hope

HANGING UP. Grant Hill, 40, has called it quits after 19 seasons in the NBA.

alive of winning a second straight title. For the Pacers, it’s a chance to cap what would surely go into the books as one of the biggest upsets in NBA playoff history, considering that they finished 16 1/2 games behind the heat in the regular season.

None of that matters much now. The Pacers have beaten Miami five of nine times this season.

They need a sixth, or else it was all for naught. ‘’It is a closeout game and an elimination game,’’ Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. ‘’Our approach right now is not if we lose we’re

out - our approach is if we win, we get to the finals.

And that’s what we’re going for. We’re going to give our best shot and try to win the Eastern Conference championship.’’

Monday’s winner will open the NBA Finals on Thursday against San Antonio. history suggests that the odds are long for the Pacers. Since the NBA went to its current playoff format in 1984, home teams are 16-2 in Game 7’s played in the conference finals or NBA Finals.

Then again, the Pacers were colossal under-

dogs heading into this series, and if it wasn’t for a last-second collapse at the end of Game 1, they probably would already be East champs. ‘’It’s going to be tough in their arena,’’ Pacers guard lance Stephenson said. ‘’We’ve just got to bring it. If we play aggressive like we do at home, we can get the ‘W.’’’ Indiana headed to Miami with enough luggage for an eight-day trip. If the Pacers win Game 7, they’re headed to San Antonio, with no time to make a return swing through Indianapolis along the way.

Grant Hill retires after 19 seasons

l

OS ANGElES (AP) -- Seven-time AllStar Grant hill retired from the NBA on Saturday after 19 seasons, ending a career interrupted by injuries that included an Olympic gold medal.

The los Angeles Clippers announced the news, which came as no surprise since hill had been mulling his future after the team was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. he had one season left on his contract. ‘’I’ve been hinting at it for the last few years and you get to a point where you just don’t want to do it anymore. But I’ve enjoyed

it, I’ve loved it,’’ hill said while appearing on TNT’s pregame show before Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals. hill appeared in just 29 games last season, his first with the Clippers, but he lent a valuable veteran presence.

Gary Sacks, the team’s vice president of basketball operations, called hill ‘’the embodiment of class, a true professional.’’

The 40-year-old forward averaged 16.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.2 steals during a career that included stints with the Clippers, Detroit, Orlando and Phoenix.

‘’I’m certainly proud of what I’ve been able to do,’’ he said after the Clippers lost to Memphis last month. hill struggled with injuries, particularly his troublesome left ankle.

After leaving Detroit prior to the 2000-01 season, he spent seven seasons with the Orlando Magic in which he was limited to just 200 games due to injuries to the ankle.

Before joining the Clippers, hill spent five seasons with Phoenix. In 2010-11, he became the seventh player in NBA history to average 13 or more points at the age of 38 or older.

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EDGEDAVAO