Edge Davao 6 Issue 63

VOL. 6 ISSUE 63 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

PROUD. Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio receives a kiss from proud husband, lawyer Mans Carpio, after delivering her State of the City Address (Soca) at the Session Hall of the Sangguniang Panlungsod in Davao City yesterday.

Lean Daval Jr.

Bye, bye Madam!

CITES ACHIEVEMENTS, FAILURES

Sara’s farewell SOCA

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

O

UTGOING Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte delivered her televised final State of the City Address (Soca) yesterday at the jampacked Sanguniang Panglungsod session hall, in which she focused on her BAROG commitment since the beginning of her three-year term.

BAROG stands: Empowerment of the Barangays, strengthening Academics, maximizing Resources, sustaining peace and Order, and to uphold responsive Governance.

But the outgoing mayor started her state of the city address (SOCA) by enumerating the projects her administration has failed to implement.

“This is our journey for the past three years. And by tradition, we start with the notso-good news,” Duterte-Carpio said.

FSARA’S FAREWELL SOCA, 10

INDEPENDENCE DAY. A Philippine National flag is prominently displayed beside the statue of Dr. Jose P. Rizal at the Rizal Park on San Pedro Street in Davao City yesterday as Dabawenyos prepare to celebrate the country’s 155th Independence Day today, June 12. Lean Daval Jr.

INSIDE: Sara’s major legacy: Most Child Friendly City Award

Exports decline in April 2013

Woods a heavy favorite at Merion

2 6 15

2 THE BIG NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 63 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

ACHIEVEMENTS. Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio delivers her State of the City Address (SOCA) beside the trophies and plaques which the city received during her leadership, at the Session Hall of Sangguniang Panlungsod in Davao City yesterday.

Lean Daval Jr.

Wet season officially started - - PAGASA

Sara’s major legacy: Most Child Friendly City Award T

By EJ DOMINIC FERNANDEZ

M

ayor Sara Z. Duterte wants the Presidential Award for Most Child Friendly City won

by Davao as the main legacy that Dabawenyos would remember her by as she steps down as mayor by the end of the month.

Duterte told this

message to members of the media in a press forum before delivering her State of the City Address (SOCA) 2013 at the Sanguniang Panglusngsod yesterday.

In the mayor’s SOCA, only her message on Davao being recognized as Most Child Friendly City was

applauded by the delegates in the session hall, besides Davao City representing the Philippines in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) International Literacy Prize, and on the opening and closing parts of her speech.

“This recognition (Most Child Friendly City) is one that every Dabawenyo should be proud of because this gives priority to the heirs of our city,” the mayor said in her SOCA. “It was a bittersweet triumph as we waited 13 years to once again claim this

FSARA’S MAJOR LEGACY, 10

HE Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has officially declared the start of the rainy season in the country.

Weather Forecaster Samuel Duran said all the criteria in declaring the onset of the rainy season have been met.

Duran said the presence of southwest winds and the amount of rainfall in at least five weather bureau stations across the country had reached 25 millimeters in volume in five straight days.

“The prevailing synoptic conditions over the country are now characterized by southwesterly to westerly windflow, high humidity, presence of rain clouds and the

daily occurrence of rainshowers and thunderstorms,” PAGASA said in press statement.

“With this development, enhanced rainfall is expected over the country particularly over the western section which signifies the onset of the rainy season. However, breaks in rainfall maybe expected lasting for a few days or weeks,” PAGASA added.

According to PAGASA, the country’s climate has two major “seasons,” -- the rainy season from June to November, and the dry season from December to May. PAGASA then divides the dry season into two: a cool dry season (December to February), and a hot dry season (March to May). [PNA]

Voluntourism, next big thing for Davao tourism

V DABAWENYOS. Hundreds of Dabawenyos gather at the lobby of the Sangguniang Panlungsod to listen and watch on a wide screen Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio as she delivered yesterday her State of the City Address

(SOCA) from the session hall of the Sangguniang Panlungsod in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

ISITING big universities in the cities of Ansan and Ansa, South Korea, DOT Regional Director Art Boncato explained to University President and key international studies deans , professors and teachers the program of the Philippine Department of Tourism on voluntourism.

Last April, a group from the Iway Global Partner came to Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur

with celebrity Soy, who is a Korean Actress and Singer. The group helped build classroom on stilts for the Badjao community of 600 residents who also received food packs and towels from the group.

School directors from Sunmoon University, Sooncheonhyang University and Ansan University were part of the program that came to visit to personally check on the areas of

FVOLUNTOURISM, 10

3 DavNor elderly get updates on rights, privileges E SUBURBIA

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 63 •WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013

LDERLY people still have a pivotal role to play in the progress of our country and they do not surrender their rights and privileges when they reached retirement age.

Such is the theme of the forum on Senior Citizen’s Rights and Concerns being held as integral part of the Friday outreach missions of the Convergence for Peace and Development program in the far-flung and depressed areas of the province.

Former DOE Asec.

Leonilo Lariosa, consultant of the Council of the Elderly, known as the A.C.H.I.E.V.E.R.S., said older people all the same have much to offer provided that they are given the opportunity to live longer and healthier.

“We are telling our fellow citizens in isolated and disadvantaged communities that life does not end at 60 and that they still have much to offer,” he said.

After the senior citizens have availed of the

generous health, medical, social, and other services at the convergence, Lariosa’s group gives them orientation on the provisions of Republic Act 9994 or the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 that grants additional benefits and special privileges to order persons.

He said that since the law is relatively new, it is important that the elderly, especially those in the remote barangays, become familiar with the provisions of the law, particularly the benefits that are entitled to them.

These benefits include the grant of 20 percent discount and exemption from the value-added tax on the sale of goods and services, such as medicines and medical supplies, use of medical facilities, professional services, public transportation, restaurants, hotels, and the likes.

Lariosa even provides lecture on healthy lifestyle that is essential to keep their mind sharp

and their bodies active so that they will not easily fall victims to the afflictions of aging.

In support to Governor Rodolfo del Rosario’s P.E.O.P.L.E. agenda, the Office of Senior Citizens

Affairs organized the A.C.H.I.E.V.E.R.S. (Active, Caring, Happy, Inspired,Energetic, Volunteers for the Elderlies’ Welfare, Rights and PrivilegeS), which now gives advises to the governor

HE former senator and chairman & CEO of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) visited the province on June 8-9, 2013 to attend the PRC ComVal Sportsfest as part of their psycho-social activity.

With him were PRC Secretary General Gwendolyn Pang, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E) Ambassador to the Philippines Moosa Abdulwahid Alkajah, and U.A.E. Red Cres-

cent Societies Dir. Mohammed Alhaj.

Gordon acknowledged the great contribution of the Operation Pablo volunteers who continue to help the typhoon victims until now.

He said maybe their coming to ComVal to join the activity could inspire them the more of helping the needy.

He also shared that even if he is no longer one of the country’s

Senator but he will continue to serve as a Red Cross volunteer and as the Chairman and CEO of PRC, he will strengthen their organizations in the barangays particularly to disaster prone places.

The “Staff and Volunteers Sportsfest” was held at Nabunturan Central Elementary School (NCES) Compound. It was started with a Unity Dance before the Opening Ceremonies.

The

Welcome Message was given by Mr. Joel Reterba-BOD while Project Officer Leo Haniff Ko declared the Opening of the Sportsfest 2013. The Oath of Sportsmanship was led by Mr. Jemael Horcasitas, Shelter and Recovery Officer.

Hosting the event was the PRC-ComVal headed by chapter administrator Joseph Randy Loy. [Grace Almedilla/Gilbert M. Cabahug, IDS-Comva]

HE time-consuming manual security inspection at the General Santos City international airport continues as the acquisition for the replacement x-ray machines for the airport’s damaged units has remained pending before the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) central office.

Dante Fernandez, administrative officer of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said the delay is due to the problems with the earlier bidding.

He said they received an advisory from the DOTC central office and the Office for Transportation Security (OTS) that another bidding process

has been set for the new passenger and baggage screening equipment of the airport here.

“The previous bidding conducted by the DOTC central office was declared a failure due to some problems,” he said in an interview over TV Patrol Soccsksargen.

The DOTC opened the bidding in May last year for the “supply, installation, testing and commissioning” of passenger and baggage screening equipment for the city airport, OTS central office and 31 other airports in the country. The agency said it is “further improving air travel safety and security by procuring a properly layered passenger, baggage and cargo screening

system for various airports” in the country.

The approved budget for the acquisition of the new equipment, which comprises 401 units, is around P297 million. For the city airport, which is classified by CAAP as an alternate international airport, the proposed equipment includes a unit of final security checkpoint x-ray, a walk through metal detector, two hand held metal detectors and a cargo security checkpoint x-ray.

Fernandez said the airport’s security personnel were forced to shift the inspection of passengers and baggage to manual mode after their x-ray machines broke down two months ago. He said the

manual inspection has been causing long queues at the airport’s entrance and delayed the airline check-in of some passengers.

The problem became more apparent when the Francisco Bangoy or Davao International Airport was shut down for two days last week due to a runway accident and forced airline companies to divert or re-route some of their flights to this city.

CAAP records showed that around 6,900 passengers and a total of 37 flights of Cebu Pacific and the Philippine Airlines to and from the Davao airport were diverted to the airport here last June 3 and 4. [Allen V. Estabillo/ MindaNews]

ELDERLY RIGHTS. Tribal senior citizens are all eyes and ears to former DOE Asec. Leonilo Lariosa as he stresses the rights and privileges that are entitled

to them during the convergence outreach in Dagohoy, Talaingod, Davao del Norte. [Noel Baguio] on matters concerning the promotion of the well-being, rights and privileges of older persons in the province.

“The mission of our group is to give our fellow elderly the oppor-

tunity to live longer, happier, as well as, ever ALIVE,” he concluded, spelling out their battlecry for an Active, Lively, Inspired and Vibrant Elderly sector. [Noel Baguio and Nice Tolibas]

shares school supplies Dick Gordon visits ComVal NGCP to Davao del Sur students T T

Acquisition of X-ray machines for GenSan airport still pending T

HE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has recently launched its “Balik Eskwela” Program in Davao del Sur province to benefit elementary students from three recipient-towns and Digos City.

NGCP’s Corporate Social Responsibility team started the program at Patulangon Elementary School in Barangay Zone 1, Sta. Cruz town where 507 bags of school supplies were distributed to grade one to grade six pupils on June 5, 2013.

Each eco bag contained notebooks and pencils, bared Albert Te Eng Fo, NGCP’s corporate affairs field officer for Davao.

Fo explained that the beneficiaries of “Balik Eskwela” Program are those elementary schools close to communities hosting NGCP’s transmission lines and facilities.

Sta. Cruz Mayor Atty.

Joel Ray Lopez conveyed gratitude to NGCP for giving importance to the education of the children in his town through the company’s school supply assistance.

Lopez also expressed hope that NGCP would continue to pour in support for the students of Patulangon Elementary

School, whom the mayor described as “deserving and bright” because “they always emerged as topnotcher in the entire Davao del Sur province in DepEd aptitude exams.”

He said the student-beneficiaries were also deserving of the assistance because they came from the low-income sector.

He added that the NGCP support also came in “very timely” to augment the current undertaking of Sta. Cruz local school board in providing schools supplies to students in all schools in the municipality.

Meanwhile, Patulangon Elementary School principal Merla Catacutan thanked the power grid firm for considering the school as recipient, saying “We hope that NGCP continue to share their blessings to the needy.”

NGCP has brought today the “Balik Eskwela” Program featuring the school supplies distribution to Jose Timbol Sr. Central Elementary School in Sta. Maria town and Aplaya Elementary School in Digos City.

Fo said they are also set to go to the municipality of Matanao for the school supply assistance.

[PIA 11/Carina L. Cayon]

4 NATION/WORLD

VOL. 6 ISSUE 63 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Roxas urges gov’t officials to aim for ‘zero casualty’ this rainy season Z

ERO casualty.

This is the target the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has imposed on all government agencies in charge of disaster preparedness.

“Hindi natin ang pagsapit ng bagyo. Ang maiiwasan natin ay ang kapabayaan, ang kahinaan ng paghahanda at pagwawalang bahala,” Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar”Roxas said.

“Kailangan nating magbayanihan upang tulungan ang ating mga kababayan sa panahon ng tag-ulan,” he added.

Roxas bared the aim as the state weather bureau officially declared the official onset of the rainy season.

In separate statement, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) announced summer has officially come to an end.

“The prevailing synoptic conditions over the country are now characterized by southwesterly to westerly windflow, high humidity, presence of rain clouds and the daily occurrence of rain-

showers and thunderstorms,” Pagasa said.

“With this development, enhanced rainfall is expected over the country particularly over the western section which signifies the onset of the rainy season,” the bureau added.

Pagasa, however, advised that breaks in rainfall is expected.

More or less 20 storms visit the country every year, most of them coming during June to October.

For his part, Roxas announced several flood drills have been scheduled in several high-risk barangays, or those near the six major waterways within Metro Manila.

Citing reports from various government agencies, Roxas said at least 60,000 families are living dangerously as illegal settlers.

He reported illegal settlers are now being subjected to a three-year relocation program with about 15,000 of them having the need for onsite, near-site, or in-city relocation immediately.

Roxas said he already called on the concerned agencies to ease the ef-

RAINY SEASON. Highschool students leave school after classes were suspended in Manila, on 22 February 2013, as state weather officials widens the

coverage of its ‘yellow’ rainfall warning and raises the possibility of possible flooding in Metro Manila. [Czeasar Dancel/NPPA Images]

fect of relocation before the rains set in.

“This conference marks a significant step to put on firm footing community-based disaster risk reduction and management planning using the help of science,” Roxas said.

He asked agency officials and non-government organizations and people’s organizations to relive and strengthen the Bayanihan spirit in achieving the goal of “zero casualty”.

The Bayanihan is an old Filipino tradition of

communal unity which means helping one another in times of need.

Last Thursday night, a low pressure area (LPA) entered Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) and was named “Dante” when it developed into tropical de-

pression on Friday.

The fourth weather disturbance to visit the country this year strengthened to become a tropical storm over the weekend while hovering over the Philippine Sea near Basco, Batanes Monday. [Yahoo!]

in 2005 and 2009 that are kept in a government vault, said Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau head Theresa Mundita Lim. “This action is meant

to send a message that the Philippines is against the illegal trade of ivory and the merciless massacre of elephants,” Lim told AFP. She said the haul will

be crushed using a road roller and burned in front of anti-ivory trade advocates next week as the country works to shed its image as a major transport hub for illegal ivories.

The rest of the seized ivory will remain under lock and key and will be used as evidence against illegal traders or as educational materials.

The Philippines is a signatory to the Geneva-based Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES), which bans the trade of ivory in a bid to combat drastic declines in the numbers of elephant populations in Africa.

It cited the Philippines as among nine countries considered as “priority concerns” because they were used as a smuggling hub for illegal ivories, Lim said.

The maximum penalty for possessing illegal ivory in the Philippines is four years in jail.

Authorities last year launched an investigation into religious icons made from ivory that were owned by the influential Catholic church.

The inquiry was sparked by a National Geographic magazine report that quoted a prominent priest who gave a list of known ivory carvers in Manila and offered tips on how to smuggle the icons abroad.

The church had denied it condoned the massacre of elephants, saying many ivory statues it owned were decades old and made even before the ban on ivory trade came into force.

But Lim said the investigation continues, even as she declined to give further details citing the inquiry’s sensitive nature.

The church remains highly influential in the mainly Catholic country of 100 million. [AFP]

PHL to destroy tons of ivory tusks T

HE Philippine government said Tuesday it would destroy five tonnes of confiscated elephant tusks as part of a global campaign to raise

awareness against the illegal trade of so-called “blood ivories.”

The seized tusks represent a portion of the 13.1 tonnes of Tanzanian elephant tusks seized

ILLEGAL: Trading in ivory is illegal since 1989.

5 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 63 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013

NEDA urges strategies in agriculture, education to improve employment

G

REATER diversification of production and processing of by-products in agriculture, and closer coordination between academe and industry should be pursued

to generate more decent, productive, and sustainable jobs for Filipinos, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

This following the re-

ETHICS CULTURE. Dr. Antonette Palma-Angeles, vice president of Ateneo de Manila University Professional Schools, talks about building a corporate

port of the National Statistics Office that total Philippine employment declined to 37.82 million in April 2013 from 37.84 million employed in April 2012.

The industry and ser-

vices sectors generated 224,000 and 380,000 additional jobs, respectively, in April 2013. But employment in agriculture and agriculture-related activities registered a loss

ethics culture in a culture of corruption during the 1st Mindanao Integrity Forum at Garden Oases in Davao City Friday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

of 624,000 workers in the same period.

“One of the main challenges of the country is the seasonality of agricultural employment. Therefore, greater diversification of agricultural production and further processing of by-products should be encouraged,” said NEDA Officer-in-Charge (OIC) and Deputy Director-General Emmanuel F. Esguerra.

The Bureau of Agriculture Statistics (BAS) reported that farmers were hesitant to plant amid the impending El Nino phenomenon, while others were still recovering from the losses incurred from typhoons Pablo and Quinta during the fourth quarter of 2012.

“Employment is bound to be adversely affected in times of natural disaster.

Thus, it is also imperative for government to design a more effective disaster response system,” the NEDA official said.

The BAS said that inadequate water supply and intense heat, aside

from changes in cropping patterns, are expected to result in lower agriculture output for April to June 2013 The country’s unemployment rate went up by 0.6 percentage points to 7.5 percent in April 2013 due to a lower level of employment amid a slightly higher labor force level.

But the underemployment rate slightly improved in April 2013 to 19.2 percent, lower by 0.1 ppt compared to 19.3 percent in the same period last year.

Majority of the unemployed were high school graduates (31.7%), college graduates (21.3%) and college undergraduates (14.6%).

“There is a need to improve the employability of worker applicants, particularly those with secondary and tertiary education. A more effective partnership among firms or establishments, academe and the government will provide useful inputs to the curriculum design,” the NEDA official said. [Neda]

6 THE ECONOMY Stat Watch

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

7.1 1st Qtr 2013

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

7.8 1st Qtr 2013

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

USD 3,741 million Feb 2013 USD 4,708 million Feb 2013 USD -967 million Feb 2013 USD -640 million Dec 2012 P 4,964,560 million Feb 2013

8. Interest Rates 4/

2.4 % Mar 2013 P113,609 million Mar 2013 P 5,281 billion Mar 2013

9. National Government Revenues 10. National government outstanding debt

P 41.14 Apr 2013

11. Peso per US $ 5/ 12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

6,847.5 Mar 2013

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

132.8 Apr 2013

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

2.6 Apr 2013

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.1 Apr 2013

16. Visitor Arrivals

418,108 Feb 2013

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

20.9% Jan 2013

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

7.1% Jan 2013

VOL. 6 ISSUE 63 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013

Exports decline in April 2013 M

ERCHANDISE exports contracted by 12.8 percent in April 2013 to $4 billion in total receipts from $4.6 billion a year ago, according to the National Economic and Development Authority.

However, strong performances of semiconductors and automotive electronics along with higher exports value of mineral and forest products partially moderated the decline in exports in April 2013.

“Recovery of semiconductors (10.6%) and automotive electronics (2,323.1%), following three consecutive months of contraction since January 2013, tempered the overall decline in exports,” said NEDA officer-in-charge (OIC) and Deputy Director-General Emmanuel F. Esguerra.

Higher value of mineral (33.9%) and forest products (61.4%) combined with increases in outward shipments of wood manufactures (107.2%), processed food and beverages (48.0%), bananas (36.1%), iron and steel (76.7%) and copra

meal/cake (146.9%) also softened the contraction.

On the other hand, the drop in total agro-based products (5.1%) and petroleum (27.1%), which drove the exports growth the previous month, pulled down merchandise exports in April 2013.

Also, total electronics exports fell to $1.63 billion in April 2013 from $1.64 billion a year ago. This was due to lower receipts from electronic data processing (-55.9%), telecommunication, among others.

For the first four months of 2013, merchandise exports amounted to $16.1 billion, down by 7.9 percent from $17.5 billion in in the same period last year.

“Slower global economic activities in the second quarter following weak international business and consumer sentiment caused the drop in April exports,” said Esguerra.

Japan remained to be the country’s top export market in April, accounting for 23.3 percent of the total export receipts. USA was

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

BY THE NUMBERS Foreign direct investments (FDI) went down by

8.5% in the first quarter of 2013 with $1.3 billion, slightly lower than the

$1.4 billion in the same period last year.

SOURCE: BSP

the second largest export destination with a 15-percent share, followed by the People’s Republic of China (11.3%), Singapore (7.5%), and the Republic of Korea (7%).

Esguerra, who is Deputy

MASSAGER. A sales agent shows off the slimming massager she’s peddling to different establishments around E. Quirino Avenue in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Director-General for Planning and Policy, is OIC of NEDA from June 10 to 16, 2013, while Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director-General Arsenio M. Balisacan is on official business abroad.

PHL economic freedom seals its growth thrust

A

MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE (January 2012-April 2013) Month

EDGEDAVAO

Washington-based thinktank believes that the Philippine economy has gotten its growth momentum due in part to the advancement of economic freedom.

“For the next five years we’ll see much more dynamic development,” Heritage Foundation Senior Analyst Anthony Kim said.

Heritage Foundation places the country at the 97th place out of the 185 economies it assesses based on limited government, individual liberty and free enterprise.

The country got a score of 58.2 percent for this year, higher by 1.1 percent over its score in the previous year.

The foundation, on its profile for the country posted on its website, traced the rise of the country’s ranking to the “notable improvements in investment freedom and freedom from corruption outweighing a decline in business freedom.”

“The Philippines ranks 17th out of 41 countries in the Asia– Pacific region, and its overall

score is slightly below the world average,” it said.

The five countries that topped this year’s list, based on assessment in 2012, are Hongkong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland.

Kim cited that for one “people trust the government” given the results of the recent elections wherein most of administration candidates both in the Senate and Congress got majority seats.

“He (President Benigno Aquino III) still has the reform agenda mandate with him. He has a strong case to push forward the reform agenda,” he said.

The analyst explained that the Philippines has a “resilient and dynamic economic story” since 2008 because of the ability to create more jobs, the firmer capacity to build the economy and the implementation of necessary policies to push growth.

“It is much easier to attract foreign and domestic investors here unlike in the 1980s and 1990s as the economy is now more vibrant and dynamic,” he said. [PNA]

3.08

6

11

Significant job losses in the agriculture sector due to extreme weather conditions pushed the country’s unemployment rate to 7.5%, equivalent to 3.08 million Filipinos, the National Statistics Office (NSO) reported Tuesday.

Exports of electronics products are expected to recover in the coming months and will enable the local industry to meet its projected 6% export growth for 2013, the Semiconductor and Electronics Industries in the Philippines (Seipi) said.

Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has given the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) the P11-billion payment for the construction of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Expressway Phase 2 project, according to Malacañang.

ICT HUB 7

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 62 •TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2013

Samsung Galaxy Mega officially available in PHL I

T came about a week early.

The Samsung Galaxy Mega, which was earlier reported to be launched June 15, was officially introduced to the local market the day Samsung Philippines opened its first Experience Store (think Apple Store) at the second floor of SM Aura Premier in Taguig City.

And Samsung wasn’t kidding when they named it Mega. Its 6.3inch variant is the biggest smartphone/phablet that we’ve come across thus far; people with small hands would have a hard time wrapping their fingers around it.

It could turn off some people because it is hard to type on the device using one hand.

However, those who al-

ways use their phones to play games and watch TV shows and movies may appreciate the Samsung Galaxy Mega’s huge screen.

Think of it as a lower-end but bigger Samsung Galaxy S4, complete with the latter’s software tricks.

At P23,990, the 6.3inch Samsung Galaxy Mega costs the same as the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0. The Mega is LTE-enabled, though, and should work fine on the LTE networks of Smart Communications and Globe Telecom. We checked its benchmark score using AnTuTu and got a respectable score of 13,247.

The smaller of the two Megas is priced at P18,990. It is not LTE-capable, but it does have two SIM slots.

page, touch the ‘Translate’ button,” software engineer Miguel Garcia said in a blog post.

The new Chrome beta also features a “+” in the toolbar on phones to make creating tabs even easier.

Garcia also said Google is adding full-screen support for tablets, after doing the same thing on phones.

“As you scroll, the top toolbar disappears so you can immerse yourself in the web page content,” he said.

Meanwhile, Garcia said the new Chrome has a graph for those trying out

Google’s experimental data compression feature. The graph shows estimated bandwidth savings.

A separate article on CNET said Chrome 28 Beta landed in the Google Play Store on Thursday.

“Google Translate works through statistical machine translation. We have 71 languages now, and while there will always be varying levels of accuracy, if you have a good translation, it’s better than no translation,” it quoted Google spokeswoman Roya Soleimani as saying.

in June was the source of the leak of previously unseen images of the Nokia EOS handset, comes on top of previous Instagram /WP8 rumors.

Back in early March tech sites including The Verge reported on a promotional video Nokia ran for the Lumia 920 which appeared to show an app icon for Instagram on the WP8 device, though there was some debate of whether it was in fact an Instagram icon or an icon of popular video streaming site Vimeo. The Verge later updated the report claiming that Instagram was coming to WP8, then again claimed that Insta-

gram was not “investing its own resources into the development of a potential Instagram app,” citing “sources familiar with the situation.”

However it has also been suggested that Nokia itself has been hinting at the arrival of Instagram on its WP8 devices: March Nokia seemed to confirm that the app was under development in a Twitter reply to a customer in Swedish from @NokiaSverige then in April, again from Nokia’s Swedish account, but this time on Facebook when a customer asked if Instagram was coming to the Lumia 928. [AFP]

Google integrates translation bar into Chrome for Android

U

SERS of Android mobile devices can now have an easier time translating web pages, after Google integrated its translation bar into its latest Chrome browser for the platform.

The latest Chrome Beta for Android now features the built-in translation bar similar to the one on Chrome for desktop and laptop computers.

“When you come across a page written in a language that isn’t in the same language as your phone or tablet, look for the translation bar. To translate the

Instagram coming to Windows phone

A

rumor is circulating that the photo-editing and sharing application Instagram, which currently exists across Android and iOS, is coming to Windows mobile OS on June 26.

Chinese tech blog WPDang claimed on June 6 that Instagram will arrive on WP8 on June 26, but will only be available on Nokia phones such as the Lumia 928, however, the report also suggests that the popular app could even have a photo filter exclusive to Microsoft’s Windows OS. This latest leak from WPDang, which is considered reputable and earlier

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 63 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

EDITORIAL

The President’s veto

I

MAGINE these: A law that would reward Filipino centenarians for longevity? A law that would allocate a hefty budget to ensure better life for the poor Filipinos by providing them housing, food, jobs and education? A law establishing the career executive system? A law that would grant Filipino athletes who win world championship titles retirement, health care and death benefits?

Would those not be the kind of laws that make a President look good?

They most certainly would.

But, alas! He didn’t sign them into law.

Those three pieces of legislation were among 70 bills President Aquino thumbed down in the 15th Congress.

If you thought President PNoy would have taken a bite of these for some brownie points, you had think coming. “No way, Juan!” the President may have said when he vetoed the bills last March. That P3.044 trillion budget would have meant a lot to the poorest of the poor in the country and gave them a better life, somehow. But without a budget to back it up, the poor remain where they are.

Should we reward former world champions like Rolando Navarrete, Luisito Espinosa, Dodie Boy Penalosa, and yes, Manny Pacquiao the after-career benefits as a reward for their achieveements in the prime of their ca-

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reers when they carried the flag to world prominence and pride? Sounds good, but again, don’t talk to PNoy about your sports heroes. Not even former world champions in his favorite sport if shooting, like Jethro Dionisio, would get that reward, thanks to PNoy’s overworked thumb.

It’s not easy getting into President’s mind. A total of 70 bills vetoed, 55 of which included conversion of local roads to national roads. That is understandable as it would only shift the maintenance burden to the national government instead of to the local government units.

The other vetoed bills are either ridiculous or violate the equal protection clause. From the sublime to the ridiculous, say a bill decreasing the height requirement for police, fire and jail officers? Good veto. How about imposing a maximum girth and weight measures as requirements?

The President also vetoed this: An act recognizing the early years from 0 to 6 as the first crucial stage of development. Good veto, perhaps, for a bachelor.

For the record, vetoed bills can only be resurrected if Congress overrides the Presidential veto. In this democracy, however, we hear very little about veto override where the House is filled with butt-licking politicians who will not mess with the President and risk losing their pork.

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 63 •WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013

R

VANTAGE POINTS

Historically inaccurate

EMEMBERING AND HONORING THE HEROIC FATHERS OF PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE – Today, June 12, the Filipino people will celebrate the country’s 115th Independence Day. For over a century, Filipinos sustained struggles and sacrifices – often risked their lives and limbs and fought for the right of freedom and sovereignty. Without strives and restraint of our forefathers the dignity of human life and the right to self-determination would be largely chimerical.

Retracing historical footsteps: on June 12, 1898, the Filipinos proclaimed their independence. The proclamation was not made alone in Kawit, Cavite by General Emilio Aguinaldo who later became president but in conjunction with over 90 representatives of the Filipino people. Based on historical details, it was Jose Rianzares, as a matter of fact, who read the Act of Proclamation in the Spanish Language entitled, “Acta de la Proclamacion de la Independencia del Pueblo Filipino” (Act of Proclamation of Independence of the Filipino People).

However, more than a decade ago the Office of Foreign Information and Cultural Affairs of the Philippine Embassy based in Brussels, Belgium noted that the notion that Philippine “independence” from America was on July 4, 1946 is “historically inaccurate.” What actually happened at that time was when President Harry S, Truman, on behalf of the government of the United States of America officially recognized and acknowledged Philippine independence.

History books revealed that the fol-

lowing were the words of President Truman in his declaration on July 4, 1946, “On behalf of the USA, I do hereby recognize the independence of the Philippines as a separate and self-governing nation and acknowledge the authority and control over the same by the Government instituted by the people thereof under the Constitution now in force.”

There will be official ceremonies during the celebration of Independence Day all over the country today. It was therefore right to pay respect and reminisce the country’s independence and we would like to congratulate government organizers and concerned agencies for remembering and honoring the heroic fathers of Philippine Independence. Mabuhay!

SINISTER MOTIVE BEHIND EVERY MOVE – Though media coverage has highlighted the country’s remarkable economic growth rate – stable currency, enduring GDP and bullish stock market, it is important to note that opinion on the current economic situation was near-even split between the pros and cons sympathetic either to the churchled self-professed pro-poor advocates or the business interests.

Customarily, President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III will deliver his 4th State-of-the-Nation-Address (SONA)

probably on the third week next month.

This early over-bearing church leaders will almost certainly try to institute an extensive anti-government campaign aimed at disputing the country’s significant economic growth rate as the president’s SONA draws near.

Initially, hard-nosed church officials bluntly described the Philippine’s economic benefits a total failure, a mere lip service because they alleged that the so-called “gains have not trickled down to the people, poor sector in particular.”

They immediately announced anti-government initiatives, mostly reflecting the problems of the marginal sector.

Early signs suggest that President PNoy failed dismally in their self-procured performance ratings chart – 3 out of 10. Conceited church leaders, as their wont, seek radical and contentious change – just when improving the economy is becoming increasingly important to the country’s success and people’s well-being.

Nonetheless, the present administration and those liberal politicians who see sinister motives behind every move the church officials make will be tempted to raise a question whether it would be in the interest of the faithful or the church people to fix at such a sensitive time something that isn’t “shattered.”

Still and all, church leaders should better refrain from dipping their fingers in the affairs of government. People will appreciate their acts by attending to the confused flock and administer spiritual and moral regeneration instead of behaving like shrewd politicians. Am I right, men of the cloth?

WORM’S EYEVIEW

That unprecedented alignment of forces showed what happens in attempts to override the system and short-circuit its power source—the people. Like any system, unless a political system is properly “plugged” into its source of power, so it cannot operate properly, provoking disruption.

At the outset, instead of listen and obey the popular will, they sought to superimpose their own, arrogating the people’s power. And with appalling impertinence their leaders even boasted that they would do so without seeking the Senate’s concurrence—as required by law.

Consequently, as they tried to shunt the people aside, they provoked a menacing surge of People Power as the outraged citizenry made known that they would shut down the system altogether and put a stop to the proceedings, forcibly if necessary! The Commission on Elections should view that episode as an object lesson and a warning against defying the sovereign citizens. [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.]

Did the elections renew or heal our community, nation?

O

VERRIDING the System, Defying the People A case in point is the insensitivity of the Comelec leadership in not heeding the clamor for adequate safeguards and verifiable results in the elections. To this day, no one can corroborate the Comelec’s basis for proclaiming the winners. The gathering storm on this issue could lead to their impeachment.

In 2005, the House of Representatives attempted to railroad a bill calling for its members to convene—unilaterally!—as a Constituent Assembly. There was general outcry against it but in a gross display of arrogance, they tried to defy it.

To compound matters, they did so as a national emergency caused by successive killer typhoons was in progress. In other societies, such emergency would have precluded debate on political issues and drive politicos to rush to the scenes of tragedy and destruction. But no, the congressmen betrayed their insensitivity by holding marathon sessions, arguing over technicalities all night, in hopes of hastening the vote.

Done in full view of TV audiences, the self-serving sessions caused in-

BY MANNY VALDEHUESA

(Conclusion) creasing public agitation. Television watchers were aghast at the sight of thousands of storm-tossed constituents in Bicol without a pillow to lie on or a house to sleep in while their congressmen indulged in verbal skirmishes about a non-issue.

Fortunately, the ringleaders sensed an impending political storm. To forestall upheaval in the streets and around them, and to save their skin, they backed out just days before what would have been the mightiest surge of people power ever. For never before had the entire ideological spectrum—from farthest left to farthest right, including church groups—been arrayed on the same side against a willful congress.

Had they persisted, it is very likely that the luck of the 13th Congress would have run out and it would have been the first legislature ever to be toppled

by People Power-Filipino Style.

Object Lesson

9

A global investor now eyeing Davao

G

E T TING c o n tacted by a global investor trying to find out why the Philippines caught the attention of the world’s top credit ratings and why this country has overtaken China’s growth rate--- was the best sign I ever got that confirmed what we’ve been reading in the papers and seen on TV that things are finally rolling in this country known many years back as the “Sick Man of Asia”.

Now we’re finally back as the new “Tiger of Asia” with a roaring stock market (that’s falling back to earth after hitting the top) and many investors knocking on our country’s door, hoping to get a piece of the action.

This brings us back to a global investor who’s not only interested in getting a piece of the action in the Philippine, but specifically in the fast-growing city of Davao in the Philippine south. Several weeks back, he was asking me for more information about the real estate boom that’s exploding in this southern city--- the hectic construction of so many condominiums being built by the Ayalas, SM Investments, Robinsons, etc.

Of all places, he found me on Facebook at my site called “Pinoy Stock Trader” but Gary thinks that’s the best place to find somebody who knows his way around the stock market where his heart belongs, being a global stock investor. Gary Ferraro is the executive officer of Guardian Trust Company (Asia) Ltd and Villa Partners Int’l, Asia’s first luxury lifestyle and private destination club for the very wealthy which he founded in Hong Kong a few years back.

I’m still hazy on how much weight he could throw around, but having spent more than 25 years in global investing, wealth management, asset management, mutual funds formation, and written several books on global investing and recognized as international authority in global investments, he must know what he’s talking about. Gary was personally responsible for managing over $4-Billion investments during his tenure as CEO of three global investment firms.

“It’s now the Philippines’ turn” Gary told me in an email when he read the news of the two credit ratings upgrading the country’s credit and the new growth rate of 7.8% that overtook China’s 7.6% for the first time.

At this point in his life, he wants to share his fortune with lesser mortals in Asia still struggling to reach their “dreamlife”--whatever that means to the average Pinoy.

Gary is now doing it thru philanthrophy, donations, and sharing his “wealth-building secrets” to Pinoys who are determined to succeed and reach their dreams. He’s planning to bring his “Wired-For-Wealth” seminars to the Philippines, starting with Davao where he’ll open up his “secrets” to build wealth thru savings and investments.

And while he’s doing this, he’ll be feeling his way around Davao to see where his next investments will find their new home….

(Comments? Email > tradingpost_ davao@yahoo.com)

10 NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 63 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

PHL flag: Symbol of struggle for sovereignty, love, freedom

T PHOTOGRAPHS. A foreign mall-goer and companion check out the photographs on display in the War of our Fathers (World War II) exhibit at the Annex of SM City

Davao yesterday. The exhibit, mounted thru the courtesy of the Philippine Veterans Bank, ends today. Lean Daval Jr.

Sara’s farewell SOCA.. FFROM 1 While recognizing that movement of goods and people is of primordial importance in commerce and industry, she said the city government was “unable to start a mass transit plan which would address the future problems of transportation in the city.”

“We did not construct a tenement housing unit because the computed total cost of P64 M is too expensive for a socialized housing,” she said, adding that there is a need to come up with a structural design that can be financed under the socialized housing program of the government.

Duterte-Carpio also said that they cannot put up the waste-to-energy facility “for lack of material time.”

“However, we already started with the 16th City Council approving our initial agreements with two private corporations.

This project will maximize our investment in the sanitary landfill and extend its period of use,” she said.

After acknowledging these shortcomings, the mayor spent 1 hour and 10 minute of her speech on her administration’s accomplishments, beginning with the city’s achievements in the area of “Literacy, Children and Youth, Education and Health” with special emphasis on the Presidential Award won by the city for being the Most Child Friendly City.

Next is on “Solid

Waste Management, Environment and Natural Resources” with the One-Million Peso barangay Ecological Solid Waste Management Challenge, Anti-Smoke Belching Ordinance, and the Waste Management Council among the major achievements.

Another point is the “Housing, Traffic Management, Drainage and Road Network” where the mayor highlighted the P175 million won by the city from the Department of Interior and Local Government along with the Seal of Good Housekeeping in recognition of the city’s flood control and drainage, disaster risk reduction and management, and the maternal health needs of the city.

“Safety and Security” follows, highlighting the 52 percent decrease in the city’s crime rate to 7,955 in 2012 from 16,599 in 2010.

“Tourism, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and Agriculture” highlighted as the mayor’s priority industry sectors in her first Soca resulted in the adoption of the slogan “Life is Here” in the campaign to the successfully host the Meetings, Incentive travel, Conventions and Exhibitions Conference (MICECON); Davao being home to 90 Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies; and how the government has prioritized programs that provide resources for upland farmers and dwellers

as a means to augment their farm income.

For the “Investments , Resource Generation, Economy, Labor and Employment” point, the mayor highlighted the increase in business applications, business renewals and the increase in full time employment in the city to 16,000 in 2012 from 6,480 in 2009.

The “Economic Enterprise and Cooperative” point highlighted the government’s Private-Public Partnership endeavors which improved slaughterhouses of the city, the Davao City Overland Transport terminal (DCOTT), the Wireless Public Cemetery and the City Cooperative Development Office.

For the “Governance” point, the mayor highlighted the continuous Government Service Caravan Project, the start of the Knowledge Management System, the City Information and Technology Center, the faster issuance of Senior Citizen IDs, inclusion of Indigenous People in the city council, restoration of government infrastructure, institutionalizing the Public Employment Service Office, strengthening the Real Property Task Force, securing the trademark for the “Life is Here” logo, the Bureau of Local Governance and Finance recognized for implementing the Revenue Generation Program, and the random drug test for government employees.

HREE stars and a sun: the Philippine flag, in all its entirety, has been a symbol of both struggle for sovereignty and love for freedom.

This will be underlined with much passion and intense feeling once more when this Southeast Asian nation of nearly 100 million marks the 115th anniversary of its Independence on June 12.

The birth of the Philippine flag was marked by a revolution against Spanish colonial rule in the late 1800s when then Pres.

Emilio Aguinaldo came up with the idea of producing a flag that would unite and signify the new nation.

Since it was first waved at the declaration of Philippine independence in 1898, the flag fluttered as a witness to the continued struggles of Filipinos for freedom.

While the first wav-

ing of the flag symbolized independence from 377 years of oppression from the Spaniards, foreign rule did not end.

For 50 more than years after the end of the Spanish colonial rule, Filipinos carried out war against the Americans and resisted in bloody combat and guerrilla warfare tactics the Japanese occupation during World War II. The flag is a legacy to the younger generation of Filipinos from their elders who shed blood and life to attain independence, a recognition of Philippine sovereignty, unity and aspirations as a nation.

The flag will be proudly waved nationwide once more, as the country celebrates, in fitting ceremonies, its 115th anniversary of independence.

But in these times of peace, the nation faces yet another ‘battle’ of

defending its territories from neighbors the country considers as long-time friends.

The country’s celebration of independence this year comes at a time when the nation grapples with territorial disputes.

Similar to what the early Filipinos did from the time of Lapu-Lapu’s defense of Mactan to the Filipino soldiers who fought during World War II, political analysts say Philippine authorities won’t back down either from defending what authorities say is rightfully the country’s.

Sans the bolos, the guns and the military power, authorities are fighting the battle in fair and diplomatic ways -gestures that show the Filipinos’ love for peace and bravery in war -- the very essence of the colors blue and red in the Philippine flag. [PNA]

prestigious honor.”

One can say that the highlight of the mayor’s term is the Most Child Friendly Award; another is how she punched Sheriff Abe Andres four times for insisting on demolishing houses in Barangay Soliman, Agdao July 2011.

In the forum before

the SOCA, she said that the fights she had for the past three years were among the things she loved the most and that she is still facing the debarment case filed against her.

However, she said that what happened with her and the sheriff was one of the things that she regretted as

mayor since it was an embarrassment to all Dabawenyos.

Another event she regretted was the 2011 flash floods in Pangi and Bankal that killed 30 people, because it was a sign that there was a lack of preparation and there were no pre-emptive actions for that disaster.

interest for community work for their respective schools.

Universities in Korea send their students on international missions for two weeks to do community work, learn the culture and reward them with visits to tourist destinations at the end of the two-week voluntourism program.

On June 10, 2013, team Davao visited Ansan University and was received by its University President Ju Sung Kim and his international affairs team. Discussions on sending an initial fifty voluntourist students are planned for 2014 that shall stay for two weeks in Samal.

The university intends to sign an MOU with universities in Davao for learning exchange and continuously send their students for community work. This time at least a hundred or more students for a two –week voluntourism.

On the other hand, President Sunjo Hwang of Sun Moon University in Asan City , South Korea will visit Davao and Samal on June 30-July 5, 2013 to personally oversee some thirty students from their school who will do community work in Samal from June 23July 5, 2013. He will be joined by his Chief Secretary Mr. Sungmin Jung and Chief of Social Service Center Mrs. Chunmi Kim. During the visit of DOT Davao in Sun Moon University on June 10, Mr. Sang-Keun Nho, Head of Office of International Affair, shared that the university has formal educational exchange programs with 80 countries including the Philippines. They already have existing MOUs with universities in Manila and Cebu is looking forward to formal partnerships with universities in Davao.

The exchange programs focus on learning English language amongst their students and professors and community work exposure for their students. DOT shall help organize affairs.

The Voluntourism program is another market niche amongst the Koreans that the Department of Tourism is developing for Davao. The university visits are part of the two-week Korean mission of the Davao delegation headed by Dir. Art Boncato. Last May 30-June 2, Davao was the featured destination of the 26th Korea World Travel Fair.

For the whole month of June, Davao is the highlight of the Philippine Food Festival at the Millennium Hilton Hotel, Seoul with daily performances of the Kalumon Performing Ensemble during lunch and dinner from June 1-15, 2013.

Sara’s major legacy.. FFROM 2

Voluntourism.. FFROM 2

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 63 •WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013

COMPETITIVE EDGE 11

Davao Light: Keep your home safe from fire P

REVENTION is better than cure.

Like electrical safety, we can practice ways to prevent accidents before possible safety problems occur. And with a number of fire incidents reported lately, it is important to consider checking our homes first from electrical hazards.

Here is a useful checklist that Davao Light and Power Co. gathers to assess potential fire hazards.

Electrical outlets – Replace missing or broken wall plates so wiring and components are not exposed.

If an outlet is not working, have an electrician check it out. It may be an indicator of unsafe wiring.

Plugs – Never force them into outlets. Avoid overloading outlets with adapters and too many appliance plugs.

Cords – Make sure they are not frayed or cracked, placed un-

der carpets or rugs, or tightly wrapped around any object. Do not nail or staple them to walls, floors, or other objects.

Extension cords – They are not intended as permanent household wiring, so use them on a temporary basis only. Make sure they have safety closures to protect young children from shocks and burns.

Appliances/Electronics – If an appliance repeatedly blows a fuse, trips a circuit breaker, or has given you an electrical shock, immediately unplug it and have it repaired or replaced. Look for cracks or damage in wiring and connectors.

Electrical wiring Check for loose wall receptacles, loose wires, or loose lighting fixtures. Listen for popping or sizzling sounds behind walls. Immediately shut off, then professionally replace light switches that are hot to the touch and lights that spark and flicker.

Hire a Davao Light accredited electrician to check on loose wall receptacles, loose wires or loose lighting fixtures. For a list of accredited electricians associations, call Davao Light at 229-DLPC (3572).

Circuit breakers/ fuses – Check that circuit breakers are working properly. Fuses should be properly rated for the circuit they are protecting.

Service capacity – As you continue to up-

grade your home with more lighting, appliances, and electronics, your home’s electrical service capacity may become overburdened.

If fuses blow or trip frequently, you may need to increase the capac-

ity of your electrical service. A qualified, licensed electrician can determine the appropriate service requirements for your home.

Regularly checking your electric connections at home should

this year’s Search for The Outstanding Workers of the Republic (TOWER).

The winners for the Manufacturing Category are Jaime C. Hufalar, Jr.,

Mechanical Technician from Holcim Philippines (La Union); Lorence M. Gatan, Noodle Maker from G & B Buko Products (Nueva Vizcaya); and Anacleto A. Bordarays, Machinist from MOOG Controls Corporation (Baguio City).

On the other hand, the winners for the Services category are: Victor Y. Acotin, Baker from Baguio Country Club (Baguio City) and Belinda M. Polintan, Program Support Assistant for CQI of De Vera’s Medical Center (Isabela).

“This year’s awardees are models in their specific industries - models of innovation, perseverance, and of having a vision for themselves and their companies, “says MBFI President Aniceto M. Sobrepena. “It is our hope that these models continue to multiply within their companies and later on,with our society so that a culture of excellence shall spread among the country’s workforce,” he adds.

From almost 60 nominations received this year, the awardees have gone through a screening process which involved documents review and a panel interview by the final board of judges.

HE Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) Regional Center for Mindanao has announced three job vacancies to be assigned in its offices in Davao City, Butuan City and Zamboanga City.

POEA is inviting interested applicants for the positions of Senior Labor and Employment Officer (SRLEO) which has two vacancies, and Attorney II (one vacancy only).

One SRLEO will be assigned at the POEA Regional Center for Mindanao in Davao City, and the other will be detailed at POEA Satellite Office-Caraga in Butuan City.

The qualifications of the SRLEO include a Bachelor’s Degree, two years of relevant experience, eight hours of relevant training and Career Service Professional Eligibility.

The said position is offering a monthly salary of P33,859 plus allowance, the POEA announcement bared.

The Attorney II position, meanwhile, has an area of assignment at POEA Regional Extension Unit in Zamboanga City.

Applicants for this position which offers a monthly salary of

Five outstanding workers named

T

HE Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI), Rotary Club of Manila (RCM), People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP), together

with the Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has announced the five (5) winners of

PHILIPPINE EAGLE WEEK. Davao City celebrates the Philippine Eagle Week this month of June to raise awareness for the protection of the critically endangered species. In photo is “Phoenix” Eagle, a 15-year-old male eagle adopted by Phoenix Petro-

leum Philippines last year through the Philippine Eagle Foundation. “Phoenix” is currently being prepared for the breeding season with another eagle named Zamboanga.

be a top of mind. These tips will not take a year to put into practice but when neglected will only take a few minutes to take away your home or worse one’s life.

Job vacancies at POEA Mindanao offices bared

T

P31,351 plus allowance, must have passed the Bar exams (Republic Act 1080), however, no experience and training are required.

POEA emphasized that all applicants for the vacant positions must be proficient in computer operations.

The following are the required documents for the applicants to submit: latest Personal Data Sheet/Resume with passport size ID picture; Performance Evaluation Rating for the last two semesters (for existing government employees only); certified true copy of Transcript of Records; and certified true copy of Diploma.

The other pertinent papers are: certified true copy of TOR-Masteral Degree (if graduated); certified true copy of Civil Service Eligibility or Bar Ratings for lawyer applicants; Certificate of Employment; Certificate of Training/ Seminars attended; NBI, CSC, Sandiganbayan and Ombudsman Clearances; and other supporting documents.

POEA advised all interested qualified applicants to signify in writing to Human Resource Development Division OIC-Chief Ms. Julie Ann J. Aguila on or before June 20, 2013. [RGA /PIA 11]

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Serving a seamless society

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- Willing to work under pressure, flexible, persuasive, can speak fluently and computer literate - A team player - With Basic Salary, Transportation, Communication, allowance + Commission For interested applicants, you may send your resume to: HR Department EDGEDavao Doors 13 & 14 Alcrej B;dg., Quirino Ave., Davao City Tel. No. (082) 221-3601 Email: edgedavao@gmail.com

CLASSIFIEDS ADS 13

14 SPORTS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 63 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Nadal eyes rankings pinnacle P

Rafael Nadal of Spain kisses the trophy after defeating compatriot David Ferrer in their men’s singles final match to win the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on Sunday.

ARIS (Reuters) - Rafa Nadal believes he can finish the year as world number one after dropping to fifth in the rankings on Monday, changing places with David Ferrer, the man he beat to win the French Open for a record-extending eighth time.

Due to the ATP’s 12-month rolling ranking system that awards no points for defending a title, Nadal had nothing to gain for reclaiming the Roland Garros crown he won last year.

The 12-times grand slam champion, however, now has almost nothing to lose until the end of the season after a knee injury sidelined him for the last

five months of 2012.

“There are still six months ahead of us,” Nadal told reporters.

“I could be number one again if I continue at that level and if I’m not injured.

But this is not 100 percent sure.”

After last year’s French Open, Nadal reached the quarter-final in Halle and the second round at Wimbledon before injury ended his 2012 campaign.

This means he has just 90 points to defend until the end of the season.

“To be number one in this era, you need to play during the whole season,” he said.

“You have to play during the whole season and do well, because the other players are very competitive. They’re going to be there.

“I need to keep winning a lot of points if I want to have any chance to be number one at the end of the season.”

Nadal heads to Wimbledon in search of a third title, but having decided to skip this year’s Halle tournament, his preparation for the grasscourt grand slam will be far from ideal.

“I will check all my body and I hope to be ready for

Wimbledon,” said Nadal.

“I don’t play a tournament before Wimbledon so that’s not the ideal situation before a grand slam like Wimbledon, which is on grass and with conditions that are very different.

“But if you can make it a few rounds, then the situation changes.”

His uncle and coach Toni Nadal told reporters: “He can win Wimbledon but others can, too, like (Novak) Djokovic, (Roger) Federer or (Andy) Murray.

At Wimbledon, many can beat him because the ball goes faster and is harder to control.”

DEADLY COMBINATION Nadal came to Roland Garros with doubts hanging over his knee and his ability to win yet another title, but came through the grueling fortnight unscathed.

“Today I was able to compete with 100 percent, so that’s fantastic,” he said after beating Ferrer on Sunday.

“It’s true that in Barcelona my feeling was very negative about my knee.

So I am still going week by week, day by day. I will take a look after here.

Asian fighters cash in on rise of mixed martial arts

I

n a caged ring at a newly built sports arena in the Philippine capital, 20 martial artists from around the world try to choke out, knock down or submit each other for thousands of paying fans.

Scantily clad ring girls saunter on stage in between rounds to loud rock music and cheers, part of the razzle and dazzle of professional mixed martial arts, or MMA, that is hugely popular in the United States and is growing in Asia.

For home town hero Eduard Folayang, MMA has been a ticket out of a career as a lowly paid school teacher and a chance to expand on his skills as one of the world’s top practitioners of wushu, an ancient Chinese martial art.

“I wanted a different, higher level of martial arts, and that was my motivation in turning pro,” Folayang, who won a wushu silver medal at the 2006 Asian Games, told AFP.

The Philippines’ Eduard Folayang (R) fights with Iran’s Kamal Shalo-

rus during their lightweight One FC fight in Manila on May 31, 2013.

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VOL. 6 ISSUE 63 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

STYLE

Fashionable nationalism LAST June 5, SM Lanang Premier launched Davao’s first exhibit on the Barong Tagalog to raise awareness on the beauty and cultural preservation of our traditional heritage in the midst of modernization and globalization. Dubbed as “Passionalism,” the exhibit at the mall’s atrium featured Architect Michael Dakudao’s collection which is, as he would put it, an artistic collaboration amongst the piña and sinamay weavers of Iloilo and the fashion designers, tailors, and visual artists from Davao.

I have always identified Michael Dakudao with a flamboyant and ornate Barong Tagalog. I always see him in socials adorned in wearable Filipino art, be it for weddings, corporate functions, or events. In formal gatherings where coat / suit and tie are a common denominator among men, Mr. Dakudao always stands out in an intricately designed Barong Tagalog.

His involvement and passion in Filipino culture stem from his lineage and background in the arts. One of his cousins is no less than the very talented and multiawarded choreographer, Agnes Locsin. Mr. Dakudao found deeper connection with the national costume while taking up a Doctorate Degree in Architecture at the Tokyo University, where the Filipino fashion art and craftsmanship was wonderfully received by one of the professors. Such approbation fortified Mr. Dakudao’s esteem for the Barong Tagalog and it reminded him to wear the national attire with dignity and pride.

Mr. Dakudao has been featured in many publications for his insatiable passion for collecting Barong Tagalog, particularly those made from sinamay and piña, adorned

with handmade embroidery and beading.

Mr. Dakudao expounded more on this national heritage and the story of his collection. “Filipinos are the only lineage who’s known distinctly around the world for having pineapple fibers as the national attire. Since my return from Tokyo, I would travel all the way to Iloilo just to get good quality and artisticallymade piña and sinamay fabrics in various colors from the highly respected Cecilia Gison-Villanueva of Arevalo town’s century-old House of Sinamay. For me, every piece of woven piña and sinamay is a labor of love as the process of making it painstakingly tedious.”

“This exhibit should give attention and appreciation back to our own fashion designers namely Garimon Roferos, Otoy Mercado, Jao Tarepe, Alfonso Guino-o, and Rene Salud. This is also one opportunity to take notice of the execeptional works of tailor Jamie Laran, the ingenious embellishers Mae and Carmaela Braceros-Alcantara, jewelry designer Ann Tiukinhoy-Pamintuan, and visual artist Anoy Catague.”

“Garimon’s obsession in producing one of a kind design to update the Barong Tagalog is evident in his creation

of the luxuriously beaded and feathered peacock barong which he made in Dubai where he now resides.”

“Veteran designer, Rene Salud, creatively spruced up my vintage 1930’s black piña cloth embroidered with multi-colored sunburst patterns in silk into a classic Barong Tagalog.”

“Another notable piece in my collection is Otoy Mercdo’s classic burgundy-colored

piña barong which features eye-catching Japanese Art Deco brass buttons.”

“Then there’s one here by multi-awarded designer Joao Tarepe. For this piece, he enhanced the otherwise classic embroidery pattern with tiny bugle beads to create a subtle glitter.”

“To showcase the beauty of Mindanao’s indigenous tribes’ cultural expression in distinctive tribal fashion, Mae and

Carmaela Braceros Alcantara created unique pieces by utilizing coco beads, mother of pearl disks, and natural black and white pearls. The stylish Alcantara barongs are multi-dimensional as they are multi-cultural in lavish execution of the motherdaughter team.

“Visual artist Anoy Catague hand painted a Bagoba maiden on a Barong Tagalog from Kultura. This colorful rendition of nature on linen helped define Barong Tagalog as truly Filipino in nature.”

“Jaime Laran’s technique in creating beautifully structured barongs speaks of precise patterns, sharp silhouettes, and a passionate and great familiarity with the creation of the national attire.”

In her own speech, Mall Manager Therese Lapeña – Manalo concluded, “This bar-

ong exhibit is a platform for promoting our national identity and appreciation not only for our national costume. We hope that this will also translate to a higher regard for our history, culture, art, music, literature and all things Filipino.

Living in a country that has been very much influenced

by Western culture, we need to hold on to something that is truly ours, a symbol of nationalism that will stand the test of time. This exhibit will allow us to take pride in that and be a catalyst for preserving this interesting facet of Philippine culture and art. I sincerely hope that through this exhibit, we can learn a lot about Philippine fabric and embroidery, and gain a deeper admiration and respect for the quality of garments made in the Philippines, especially those made in Davao.”

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

Father’s Day at Park Inn by Radisson Davao EVERY dad deserves a special treat on Father’s Day. Take Dad to Park Inn By Radisson Davao for a feast of all his meaty favorites. The lunch and dinner spread at RBG includes a selection of salads, soup, hot dishes, desserts, and other bestsellers. Dad will definitely enjoy the meat in the carving station and on the grill. It’s a buffet fit for a king!

Here’s the best part: It’s free for the man of the house in every family of four!

Lunch buffet is priced at P595net per person and dinner buffet is at P795net. Kids ages 6-12 get 50% discount.

RBG (Restaurant, Bar, & Grill) is located at the ground level of Park Inn by Radisson Davao.

For reservations, please call 272 7608.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 63 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013

HEALTH

Why men should be concerned about belly fat

BELLY fat doesn’t look pretty, but that’s not the only problem with it. Men who have excess belly fat are at higher risk for health problems.

However, not all tummy fat is created equal. There’s subcutaneous fat, the jiggly kind you can pinch and squeeze between your fingers. Then there’s visceral fat.

Visceral fat lies deeper within your pelvic cavity, where it wraps around organs. It’s visceral belly fat that’s directly linked to health problems.

Higher levels of visceral fat in men are associated with a host of medical issues including heart CELEBRATE Dad’s special day on June 16 at Marco disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types Polo Davao’s restaurants.

Delight on our specials – Roast Prime Rib, Roast Pig, Roast of cancer.

A day with Dad at the Marco Polo Davao

Turkey with Cranberry Sauce at Café Marco. If Dad is craving for a chunk of meat, Polo Bistro serves a hearty feast of Steak with their special set menu.

For savoury Cantonese dishes, head off to Lotus Court with their delectable buffet spread of Crabs, Lapu-Lapu, Peking Duck, Salad Station and Roast Pig. All Dads get a gift for this wonderful occasion.

For reservations and inquiries, please call (82) 221-0888 locals 7222 (Café Marco), 7233 (Lotus Court) and 7955 for (Polo Bistro).

THE MAN OF STEEL ON IMAX TODAY. Catch Man of Steel on high definition IMAX 3D today at the SM IMAX Theater and at all SM Cinemas nationwide.

Why is belly fat in men such a problem?

We think of belly fat as being a storage depot for energy that can be accessed during times of low food supply, but researchers are learning that fat is much more than that. Fat also produces hormone-like compounds called cytokines that increase inflammation. This is especially true of visceral fat. These inflammatory compounds can trigger the type of lowgrade inflammation that plays a role in heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. Plus, visceral fat is a risk factor for all-cause mortality in men. Pretty scary, huh?

How much is too much?

If you’re a male, how do you know if you have too much? You don’t have to be overweight to have too much visceral fat. In fact, relatively thin men can have problems with visceral abdominal fat and not know it, since visceral fat lies deep in your pelvic cavity.

The best indication? A waistline greater than 40 inches in circumference.

Combine that with elevated lipid levels (triglycerides or LDL cholesterol) and high blood pressure and you almost surely have a problem with visceral fat.

A 40-inch waistline is an arbitrary cutoff point for a

higher risk for health problems, but it’s important to take an expanding waistline seriously. A 38-inch waist can very quickly turn into a 40-inch one unless you make the appropriate lifestyle changes.

Since visceral fat produces cytokines that are pro-inflammatory, it can quietly do harm, like cause blood vessel inflammation that leads to heart disease and high blood pressure, increase insulin resistance, and promote the growth of tumor cells. There’s another problem too. Some of the excess fat can deposit around the liver, leading to a common condition called fatty liver. In some people, fatty liver progresses to liver inflammation and then cirrhosis. That’s another reason to keep belly fat under control.

What can you do about it?

Fortunately, if you’re a male with excess visceral abdominal fat, you can reduce your risk by making appropriate lifestyle changes. Here are some

things you can do to tame belly fat:

natural compounds that help reduce inflammation.

• Cut back on saturated • Lose weight if you’re fats in animal foods and overweight. full-fat dairy products.

• Do vigorous exercise Instead, choose healthier several times a week. All forms of fat like monounexercise helps to reduce saturated fats in nuts, olive, visceral fat but high-inten- and avocados, and omesity exercise appears to be ga-3 fats in fatty fish. Subbest. Start out walking but stitute plant-based protein as you build up your fit- and fish for a portion of the ness level, alternate walk- meat you eat. ing with short periods of • Cut back on alcohol. running, gradually increas- Drinking three or more ing the intensity over time. drinks a day can increase Don’t forget about the visceral fat. Stick to one importance of resistance glass of red wine daily. Red training to help improve wine has natural antioxibody composition. dants that may lower your • Choose the right risk for heart disease. kinds of carbs. Avoid processed carbs that are rap- The Bottom Line idly absorbed and choose If you’re a man, you may more whole foods that have too much visceral belare naturally high in fiber, ly fat and not know it. Mealike fruits, vegetables, and sure your waistline every whole grains. Cut back few months and make sure on sugar, soft drinks, and it’s not expanding. If you’re “white” foods like white approaching 40 inches, it’s rice, potatoes, and bread time to make some lifestyle made with white flour. changes. The good news?

Avoid foods with high A combination of diet and fructose corn syrup or exercise will go far toward trans-fats, present in many decreasing belly fat. So take packaged foods. Fill up on a closer look at your diet -vegetables! Veggies contain and get moving!

VOL. 6 ISSUE 63 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

Mike Enriquez receives Broadcast Journalist for TV award from Manila Rotary GMA News pillar and 24 Oras co-anchor Mike C. Enriquez was awarded the Broadcast Journalist for TV award by The Rotary Club of Manila (RCM) during its annual Journalism Awards held last Thursday, June 6, at the Manila Polo Club.

“Itong mga ganitong awards, the Journalism Awards of the Rotary Club of Manila, ang isa sa mga nagbibigay sa atin ng inspirasyon upang maging parating alerto beinte kwatro oras at upang lalo pang pagbutihin ang ating trabaho,” shares Enriquez.

Enriquez is also GMA Network’s Consultant to the Chairman and CEO for Radio Operations and President of RGMA Network, Inc., which manages GMA’s provincial radio network. He currently co-anchors GMA Network’s

JUNE 5, 2013

NOW

11:10 1:30 3:50 6:10 8:30

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(GP)

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primetime newscast 24 Oras with fellow GMA News pillar Mel Tiangco; banners the hard-hitting public affairs program Imbestigador; and hosts radio program Saksi Sa Dobol B on the network’s flagship radio station, DZBB. Launched in 1966, the RCM Journalism Awards honors journalists who have made outstanding contributions to various forms of media, including television, radio, and print. It is

SHOWING

STAND-UP GUYS (R-13)

JUANA C.THE MOVIE

(R16)

EPIC (GP)

12:00 3:00 9:00 HANG OVER PART 3 (R-13)

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS 3D (GP)

SIDE EFFECTS (R-13)

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6:20 9:00 AFTER EARTH (GP)

NOW YOU SEE ME (PG-13)

FAST & FURIOUS 6

(PG-13)

JURASSIC PARK 3D (GP)

regarded as one of the most anticipated and prestigious accolades to be awarded to media practitioners in the Philippines.

Recipients of the awards are thoroughly selected by the Rotary’s Journalism Awards Committee, with concurrence of members in a general assembly. Nominees of each category are submitted by various Rotary chapters located all over the country.

Selena Gomez dances, parties with pals at L.A. Gay Pride Festival SELENA Gomez enjoyed a Sunday night out with her girlfriends last night.

The “Come & Get It” singer hit the 2013 L.A. Gay Pride Festival in West Hollywood with a group of pals, including Secret Life of the American Teenager actress Francia Raisa, to hang out and watch her friend Kat Deluna perform on the main stage.

Dressed in a sleeveless denim top, tight black leggings, thick-rimmed glasses and red lipstick, the brunette beauty and her entourage of girlfriends sat backstage and nibbled on appetizers while watching Deluna get ready for her

performance.

During Deluna’s performance, Gomez, 20, watched from the side of the stage and danced with her friends.

At one point, Deluna even tried to get Gomez to come dance on stage with

her but the former Disney starlet opted to stay with her squad on the sidelines.

Other singers who performed at the LGBT-friendly festival over the weekend included Ciara, the Pointer Sisters and many more.

Queen Elizabeth visits Prince Philip in hospital on his 92nd birthday

MAN OF STEEL 2D Henry Cavill, Amy Adams PG 13

QUEEN Elizabeth was ment. “He is comfortable The 87-year-old queen, busy attending to her and in good spirits.” who celebrated her DiaNo. 1 subject this eve“He will remain in hospital mond Jubilee last summer, ning. for up to two weeks,” the pal- arrived at the London Clinic The royal matriarch visited husband Prince Philip in a London hospital Monday, his 92nd birthday, as he recovers from surgery—a recovery that’s on schedule but expected to take some time.

“His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh is progressing according to plans at this early stage,” Buckingham Palace said in a state-

ace added, “and it is expected he will then be taking a period of convalescence of approximately two months.”

As of now, he is planning to resume his public obligations in the fall.

Philip was admitted last week to undergo an exploratory procedure following, according to his spokesperson, “abdominal investigations.”

at aroud 7 p.m., holding an envelope made out to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and stayed for about half an hour. Their son Prince Edward also reportedly visited this afternoon.

“Wishing the Duke of Edinburgh a very happy 92nd birthday as he recovers in hospital today,” British Prime Minister David Cameron wrote on Twitter.

1:45 | 4:30 | 7:15 | 10:00 LFS

MAN OF STEEL 3D Henry Cavill, Amy Adams PG 13

1:00 | 4:00 | 7:00 | 10:00 LFS

AFTER EARTH 2D Will Smith , Jada Pinkett Smith GP

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

R-16 MAN OF STEEL 2D Henry Cavill, Amy Adams PG 13

12:30 | 3:15 | 6:00 | | 8:45 LFS

EDGEDAVAO

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STYLE

VOL. 6 ISSUE 63 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013

Davao welcomes new M&S store in SM Lanang BRITISH retail giant Marks & Spencer unveils its newest store in the country as it finds a new home in Lanang, Davao City.

SM Lanang Premiere opens its doors to the second Marks & Spencer store in Davao City, on June 14th with a special preview of the brand’s latest collection. The opening will feature a Fashion Show, with live mannequins donning the hottest pieces from its Summer Collection. Live Music will fill the air as guests enjoy their cocktails during the event.

Catering to the hip and trendy Davaoeños, Marks & Spencer’s newest collection features the latest pieces from Womenswear, Menswear, and Lingerie, as well as the basics from Toiletries and Food. It is never too late to pile up on summer essentials, with Davao’s year long tropical fashion. Temperature rises in the sultry city of Mindanao as M&S celebrates with its latest pieces from its summer collection.

Womenswear from Marks & Spencer brands M&S Woman, Autograph, Classic, Per una and Indigo are this season’s staples as they bring stylish clothes in great value.

M&S Woman embodies the season in timeless hues of brown, white, and black with a pop of red, bright blue, and greens. This collection also features tropical and tribal prints for its swim pieces. Embodying the understated, interna-

tional style, the chic and sophisticated Autograph collection builds on classic staples such as blouses and jeans, in colors inspired by top summer destinations such as Panama and Indochine. Meanwhile, ladies coordinate their spring and summer wardrobe in stand-out prints and seasonal colors of blue, greens, gray, and black from the Classic. Flattering dresses in floral, staple tops in white and fuschia, in contrast with dark romantics such as violets, gray, and black make up this season’s Per una collection, while Casual wear in wearable fabrics inspired by denim and ethnic inspired prints covers the Indigo collection, perfect for women who want to live the easy style on the go.

Men can definitely wear color with confidence this Summer by stocking up on this season’s essentials from Blue Harbour, North Coast, and Autograph.

With an update on the traditional red, blue and white, Blue Harbour is the go-to brand for pieces that embody that sporty and classic British look. On the other hand, for that casual and laidback feel, embodying the relaxed spirit of California Beach and classic America, North Coast pieces are the your surest bet to achieving the easygoing, beach lifestyle.

Guys get tailored designs and slim silhouettes in signature summer feel, as Autograph delivers the luxury and fresh sophistication with the season’s must-have outfits.

Stylish, comfortable, and easy to wear Marks & Spencer jeans will also be making headlines in the opening. Whether you prefer a skinny leg or a straight cut, curved hip or high-rise, Marks & Spencer has the right jeans to suit you. Gals get

to choose from M&S Body Shape Denim, a new range of innovative jeans, designed with different female body types in mind.

Hourglass ladies take the Marilyn. Girls with a fuller waist and slimmer hips get the Lana, as women with a small waist and curvy hips don the Eva. Guys can choose from Marks & Spencer Outstanding Value Jeans, which offers stylish pairs without breaking the budget. Made of high-quality denim, these comfortable and stylish, regular-fit jeans are definitely a musthave. Chinos are also all the rave this season so be sure to grab your own from the Marks & Spencer brands Blue Harbour and North Coast.

Ready to get your fashion fix? Then head on over to SM Lanang Premiere on June 14th to get dibs on the latest M&S pieces!

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 63 •WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013

Woods a heavy favorite at Merion TIGER WOODS

M

ERION Golf Club has been linked with some of the most iconic moments in championship golf and Tiger Woods will aim to add a chapter of his own when he competes there in this week’s U.S. Open as the overwhelming favorite.

A host of other inform players can lay claim to being genuine contenders for the year’s second major, which begins on Thursday, but Woods is widely viewed as the likeliest winner based on his outstanding record and

the often dominant form he has shown this season.

Though Woods did not fare well in his most recent start, languishing joint 65th in a field of 73 at the Memorial Tournament eight days ago, he has triumphed four times on the 2013 PGA Tour and is clearly the player to beat at Merion.

With much of his golf this year, the American world number one has revived memories of his glory days in the late 1990s and early 2000s, and he will be eager to end a ma-

jor title drought dating back to his playoff victory at the 2008 U.S. Open.

“I feel comfortable with the motion I’m making,” three-times U.S. Open champion Woods said of the progress he has made in consultation with coach Sean Foley following the fourth swing change of his career.

“All the stretches where I’ve played well for a few years, a few tournaments ... I just felt good about what I was able to do ... being able to fix it (the swing) on the fly.

“That took a little bit of time, and I finally have turned the corner. What you’re seeing this year is that I’ve gotten more precise and I’ve been able to work on other parts of my game and made them strengths.”

Woods was bitterly disappointed with his overall game at the Memorial Tournament, especially his putting, and was swift to outline what needed improving for Merion when asked by reporters.

“Everything,” the

14-times major champion replied. “You want everything clicking on all cylinders, especially at the U.S. Open because everything is tested in the U.S. Open.”

Merion’s iconic East Course will be hosting its fifth U.S. Open this week, but its first in 32 years after long being regarded as too short to host a major.

PRECISE SHOT-MAKING The par-70 layout located in the Philadelphia suburb of Ardmore has been stretched to 6,996 yards since Australian

David Graham triumphed by three strokes in the 1981 edition, and Woods appreciates that precise shot-making is required for success.

This is a course, after all, where Bobby Jones completed his “grand slam” by winning the 1930 U.S. amateur, where Ben Hogan claimed the 1950 U.S. Open just 16 months after being involved in a near-fatal motor vehicle accident and where Lee Trevino beat Jack Nicklaus in a playoff to win the 1971 U.S. Open.

Rain causing problems at Merion

A

RDMORE, Pa. (AP) -- The most popular equipment Merion was not a golf club but a squeegee.

More heavy rain at the U.S. Open flooded a bunker by the 11th green and filled fairways with large puddles and tiny stream. The course was closed for four hours during the first full day of practice, and then shut down for good later in the afternoon.

Brandt Jobe played three holes when he heard a horn to stop play. Jim Herman managed to play one hole. Practice rounds are important because only a dozen or so players have ever seen this 100-year-old course, which has not hosted a U.S. Open in 32 years.

Workers were busy running squeegees across the greens and fairways during the afternoon before another downpour arrived. ‘’After the rain this morning, it’s going to be very sloppy now,’’ Ernie

Els said. ‘’You’re not going to see a firm U.S. Open this year, I’m sorry. I don’t care if they get helicopters flying over the fairways, it’s not going to dry up. We’re going to have a soft golf course this week - all week.’’

The forecast was for mostly dry conditions Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by a 40 percent chance of rain on Thursday for the opening round.

Merion received more than 3 inches of rain on Friday, and Monday’s downpours - three of them - didn’t help. The low point on the East course is the 11th hole, and a bunker was filled with water from an overflowing stream.

Course superintendent Matt Shaffer said the base sand was left alone. Workers removed the silt and put about three tons of new sand in the bunker, tamped it down and ‘’we were ready to go.’’

For now, officials were hopeful.

Grounds crew members clear water around the bunker on the 16th hole during the practice round of the 113th U.S. Open golf tournament at Merion Golf Club.

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EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 6 ISSUE 63 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013

Spurs bring NBA Finals home

S

AN ANTONIO (AP) -On a day of rest at the NBA Finals, Tim Duncan had work to do.

Not only was he admittedly awful in Game 2, he had never been so bad on this stage. He shot 3 for 13 from the field for nine points, posting finals career lows in scoring, field goal percentage and field goals made, according to STATS. The three-time finals MVP made only 11 of 32 shots in Miami and knows he must be better if the San Antonio Spurs are going to win their fifth title in five finals appearances. ‘’Obviously, they’re contested shots, but they’re the shots I feel I can make,’’ Duncan said after the Heat’s 103-84 victory S u n day. ‘’So whether it be them or me or whatever it may be, I’m going to get back in the gym tomorrow and hopefully come out with a better stroke,’’ he said. ‘’But I’m getting the shots I want. I just have to knock them down.’’

The teams took Monday off, with the series resuming Tuesday night.

The Spurs also will host Game 4 on Thursday and Game 5 on Sunday.

The finals were once as much a part of June as the heat in this city deep in the heart of Texas. San Antonio won four titles in a nine-year span starting in 1999, but hasn’t hosted a game in the NBA’s championship round since the Spurs took a 2-0 lead over LeBron James and Cleveland in 2007.

Here comes James again, needing to win one here - which hasn’t been easy for Miami - and not concerned that the finals’ 2-3-2 format now gives the advantage to the Spurs.

‘ ’ I t doesn’t matter,’’ he said. ‘’Two best teams in the NBA at this point.

Both teams have won and can win on each other’s floor. So it’s not a biggie.’’

The Heat are just 3-22 in San Antonio, though they did win this year even while James, Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers sat out the late-season meeting.

James had no

cause for concern after Game 2, which validated his belief that he can depend on his teammates until he gets rolling, as he did late in the third quarter and well into the fourth.

But a little doubt seemed to creep into the Spurs’ Big Three, unusual for a group that has been there, done that.

The Spurs took home-court advantage away from Miami, but no

regained that,’’ Duncan said. ‘’Obviously we were glad to win a game here in Game 1. Our goal was to get two. But they got the one tonight. We get to go back home. We got a game here. We have three at home, so we’re excited about that. But if we play like we did tonight, that’s not going to matter.’’

Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have teamed for 99 postseason victories

together, second-most in NBA history, and the trio is well aware of how quickly things can change in the playoffs.

They changed really quickly in this series, about the time it took James to t u r n Tiago

m o ment u m after the reigning champions took them apart Tuesday. ‘’Not after tonight. I think they

San Antonio Spurs power forward Tim Duncan (21) shoots as Miami Heat power forward Udonis Haslem (40) defends during the first half of Game 2 of the NBA Finals basketball game on Sunday in Miami.

Pistons hire Cheeks as new coach

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ETROIT (AP) -- Maurice Cheeks is getting a third shot to be an NBA head coach.

The Detroit Pistons are desperately hoping he makes the most of the opportunity he was given Monday, when they announced the hiring and did not disclose the length of his deal.

Cheeks was 284-286 in the regular season and 5-11 during three postseasons while leading the Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers, a team he helped win an NBA title as a point guard. ‘’After spending some time with Maurice, I was very impressed not only with his basketball knowledge but his communication and leadership skills,’’ Pistons owner Tom Gores said in a statement. ‘’We are very excited to have someone of his experience and talent help take this franchise into the future.’’

Hall of Fame coach Phil Jackson helped his friend, Gores, during the search as a consultant. ‘’The leadership and player development qualities he brings as a former player and coach blends nicely with the roster we are building for the future,’’ Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said in a statement.

CHEEKS ‘’He’s won an NBA championship, coached in two NBA Finals as an assistant coach and mentored some of the top young players in the NBA.’’ Detroit has been looking for a new coach since it fired Lawrence Frank in April, a day after finishing 29-53.

Frank was 54-94 in two seasons with the Pistons.

Cheeks becomes the franchise’s fourth coach in six seasons - following Frank, John Kuester and Michael Curry - and ninth since the 1999-2000 season.

The once-proud Pistons are hoping Cheeks can help them snap a four-season postseason drought.

Since Detroit won an NBA title in 2004, it has slipped in the standings and with bodies in seats.

The Pistons made their sixth straight Eastern Conference finals appearance in 2008, had a first-round exit the following year against the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers and have lost an average of 50-plus games the last four years.

After Flip Saunders was fired in 2008, Michael Curry lasted only one season as coach and John Kuester made it through two years, as did Frank.

Gores has stressed the importance of this offseason, which has the potential to push the Pistons in a positive direction.

Detroit is building around Andre Drummond, Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight. It plans to build around that nucleus of young talent with the No. 8 pick overall in the NBA draft this month and space under the salary cap that was created by trading away Ben Gordon last offseason and Tayshaun Prince during the regular season.

The Pistons are counting on Cheeks to provide stability after he was fired by two franchises following threeplus seasons.

Splitter’s

dunk attempt into a blocked shot and an instant finals highlight. ‘’Of course if you look at the result, being 1-1, it’s not bad. But you don’t want to play like this in an NBA Finals,’’ Ginobili said. ‘’You don’t want to give them that much confidence, and you feeling bad about yourself.’’

Parker managed only five baskets in 14 attempts while making five turnovers, and Ginobili had three of the Spurs’ 17 turnovers that led to 19 points Sunday, after the team tied a finals low with four turnovers in a Game 1 victory.

The Spurs, like every other team in the NBA, know there’s no way to beat the Heat with that kind of ball handling.

VMO skipper Christopher “Bong” Go drives lays the ball up past JYC player in their match in the Phoenix Above 36 basketball tournament at the DCRC Gym. The Vice Mayor’s men demolished JYC, 108-86.

Lean Daval Jr.