Edge Davao 7 Issue 119

VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

STRONGER BUSINESS CLIMATE. Davao’s economic growth is marked by local players competing in highly-driven industries like real estate development. One such example is the emerging Matina Enclaves mixed use project by homegrown developer Escandor Development Corporation (Esdevco) located in Tulip Drive, Matina. The project’s main gate (in photo) has recently been completed. Lean Daval Jr.

THEY’RE HEAD ON OVER RAMON Rody, Pulong clash over reconciliation issue

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

I

abf@edgedavao.net

T’S personal.

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte reminded his son Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte that his reconciliation with comedian Ramon Bautista last Tuesday night is a personal declaration and does not bind the declaration of the city council.

In a statement, Duterte re-

minded the city council that its persona non grata declaration of Bautista is only a resolution and not an ordinance.

“Let me remind the honorable vice mayor and the majority that their decision to declare Ramon Bautista persona non grata is a city council resolution and not an ordinance.

It does not bind me and every-

one else who disagree with it.

The essence of a democracy is the right to dissent,” he said.

The elder Duterte even used a philosophical maxim to describe his sentiments, “as Voltaire would put it, “I may disagree by what you say, but I will defend your right to say it’. For your education.”

FTHEY’RE, 10

DAVAO RANKS NO. 5 IN HIV-AIDS CASES

INSIDE EDGE

THE BIG NEWS Page2

US OPEN: THE HEAT IS ON SPORTS page 15

2 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014

CHECKED. Participants from South Cotabato of the three-day Regional Association of Local Budget Officers seminar watch as a bomb-sniffing dog check their bags at the lobby of The Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City Wednesday morning. The seminar ends today. Lean Daval Jr.

Marques: Remove accreditation fees T

HE Davao City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) wants the Kadayawan Foundation to lift the accreditation fee for activities mounted by private sectors in next year’s Kadyawan Festival.

CTOO head Lisette Marques told reporters yesterday in an interview said that she would tell the executive committee next year to recommend that there would be no accreditation fee on the

activities.

Marques said asking fees for accreditation is not a way to earn income.

Marques said that it is not just earning but way of promoting the city’s festival.

“Sana they would understand how tourism works. The 1.4 million tourist arrivals that we get, if we multiply that with their numbers of stay here… that is P14.7 billion,” She said.

FMARQUES, 10

Phoenix president, CEO now PCGA commodore

P

HOENIX Petroleum Philippines president and CEO Dennis Uy has been promoted to the honorary rank of Commodore of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary, from the rank of Captain, in a donning ceremony held on August 27.

The promotion is a one-star general rank.

The ceremony was held during the 29th activation anniversary celebration of the Philippine Coast Guard at the Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao Headquarters in Sasa, Davao City.

Leading the ceremony were PCG District Commander South Eastern Mindanao COMMO George

Ursabia Jr., PCG Commandant VADM Rodolfo Isorena, Uy, and PCGA District Director South Eastern Mindanao COMMO Efren Elbanbuena.

Phoenix Petroleum also received a plaque of appreciation from the Philippine Coast Guard “for the unwavering support and assistance extended to Coast Guard District Southeastern Mindanao in the fields of marine environmental protection, disaster relief operation, community relations, and capability development.”

Davao-based Phoenix Petroleum is the leading independent oil company in the Philippines.

Davao ranks No. 5 in HIV-AIDS cases

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

T

HE Davao Region now ranks fifth in the number of cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus –Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV- AIDS) nationwide, latest statistics showed.

This is an improvement of the 2010 statistics, wherein the Davao Region ranked No. 2 in the whole country.

According to the National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health (NEC-DOH), as

of July 2014, the region contributed 6 percent of the total 585 confirmed cases of HIV/ AIDS in the country. It is equivalent to 35 new recorded cases.

The total new confirmed cases in the country is 30 percent higher compared to the same period last year where there were only 449 cases.

The top five regions with new cases are National Capital Region with 41 percent (240

new cases) followed by Region 4-A composed of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas , Rizal and Quezon with 17 percent or 99 new cases; Region 7 with 11 percent or 64 cases; and Region III with 8 percent or 47 cases of HIV/ AIDS. Statistics showed that 96 percent of the new cases were detected to male. Most number of confirmed cases were detected to be males, ages 20 to 29 years old.

Reported modes of transmission were sexu-

al contact with 551 total cases and needle sharing among injecting drug users with 34 cases.

Male having sex with other males (MSM) was the predominant type of sexual transmission with 82 percent or 538 of the total cases.

It also showed that 92 percent or 536 cases were asymptomatic .

From January to July, the NEC- DOH was able to record 3, 399 cases of HIV/AIDS nationwide.

CRC

armed civilians will be part of the quick response team of each barangay.

“It is essential for the local government unit to complement the efforts of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) to achieve lasting peace,” Bautista said who was also among the government officials awarded and recognized yesterday because of his contribution in AFP’s peace and development

program.

He said that the civilian forces were trained by the personnel of the 73rd Infantry Battalion based in his province.

“Each team will be designated to secure their assigned area. Kung naay mahitabo sa ilahang barangay , sila ang unang magreport sa atong kapulisan (They will the first one to report to the police if there are incidents),” Baustista said.

He said that the volunteers where given communication paraphernalia and uniforms. Each was enrolled to various livelihood program of the government.

Bautista said that the province took this initiative to compensate the scarcity of police cops and military personnel in different areas, especially where there is insurgency problem.

9,000 DavSur barangay cops trained D

AVAO del Sur governor Claude Bautista said that a total of 9,000 civilian volunteers from the municipality of Malita have been initially trained to be part of the barangay civilian auxiliary force.

Bautista, who graced the 8th Founding Anniversary of Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) as guest speaker yesterday, said that the recruited un-

F9,000, 10

VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014

Therma to refund Mindanao consumers

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS

3

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

abf@edgedavao.net

HE Therma Marine, Inc. (TMI) the power barge owned by Aboitiz Power Corporation, announced a P12.6 million refund to Mindanao consumers through the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) as compliance to Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ruling.

In a statement, The June 16, 2014 ERC refund order covers the difference between the provisional rate approved by the ERC and the final but lower ancillary charge, also approved by the ERC. TMI and NGCP entered into an Ancillary Service Purchase Agreement (ASPA) between 2010 to 2011.

The ERC further ordered that the refund be effected in 12 months or P1.057 million per month starting the next billing cycle. ERC estimated that the impact to Mindanao consumers will be around P0.0015/ kwh reduction.

“We will abide by the ruling of the honorable commission and we will coordinate with the NGCP in order to effect the refund as soon as possible,” TMI president and Chief Operating Officer Jose Venancio P. Ba-

tiquin said in their statement.

Although the ERC ordered TMI to refund NGCP to the amount of P392.577 million, TMI manifested that the grid operator NGCP has pending uncollected payables of some P379.881 million. This leaves the net refund amount of P12.695 million.

The ASPA between NGCP and Therma Marine ended in 2011. Ancillary power maintains the integrity of the grid and is critical to the grid for voltage regulation, mergency backup power and peaking power.

Therma Marine operates two oil-fired barges in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte and Maco, Compostela Valley province.

The two barges combine for 200 MW. It serves more than 20 electric cooperatives and distribution utilities in Mindanao, helping them cushion the effects of the power shortage in Mindanao.

“90% of TMI’s cost of power is for fuel, which is a pass-through charge.

The remaining 10-percent is for the salaries of our employees, spare parts, insurance, maintenance costs and capital recovery,” Batiquin explained.

Deny manipulation of Kadayawan budget

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA Correspondent

C

OUNCILOR Al Ryan Alejandre denied the allegation that there was a manipulation in the budget of the Indak-Indak Committee headed by councilor Edgar Ibuyan Sr. Alejandre said on an interview that the audit report by the commission on audit was not yet released, but based on the report in their committee hearing Wednesday afternoon; Kadayawan Foundation shows that there was a shortage of about P3 million.

“As per Kadayawan foundation tapado pa gani sila ug P3 million... Sariling kwarta nila ilang gigasto,”He said.

“Naa tay process sa pag gawas og kwarta... naay gobeyrno nga naga tan-aw kung tama o mali ba ang pag padagan sa kwarta,” Alejandre added.

In a previous interview with the councilor, he said

that the Execom already released P38, 600 from the P58, 600 budget of the Indak-Indak committee to Ibuyan last August 20.

The issue came out after Ibuyan aired his sentiments to the media saying that he has no knowledge of the cash advances made by the other members of the Execom and the Kadayawan foundation, which up until now has not been liquidated.

“Wala man mi-agi sa ato, like example honorarium sa mga showdown judges, wala nako kabalo ana, kanang air fare nila, accommodation wala nako kabalo,” he said.

Ibuyan also stressed that he do not want the same thing to happen again.

“Dili ko gusto nga puro nalang ingon ani, dugay na ni nga sistema, mao gusto nako for a change na pud ba,” Ibuyan said.

REMINDER FROM RODY. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte issues a statement reminding his son, Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte, that his reconciliation with comedian Ramon Bautista last Tuesday night does not bind the persona non grata declaration of the city council. Lean Daval Jr.

4 THE ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014

PHL economic growth sped up to 6.4% in 2Q

By JON JOAQUIN

T

HE country’s economic growth accelerated to 6.4 percent in the second quarter of 2014, Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said yesterday.

Speaking during a press conference yesterday in Makati City, Balisacan said the higher growth rate, coming from a high base a year ago, shows that the economy is back on the higher trajectory of growth registered in 2012 and 2013 and bodes well for economic growth for the rest of 2014.

“We remain as one of the bright spots in the region, the second fastest growing economy among major Asian countries for the period, tied with Malaysia’s performance and topping other major ASEAN countries such as Indonesia, which has 5.1 percent, and Thailand with 0.3 percent,” he said.

Balisacan reported that on the demand-side, net exports contributed 4.2 percentage points and household consumption contributed 3.6 percentage points.

“This profile is in line with a more positive global economy, favorable business sentiment, and robust inflows of overseas Filipinos remittances,” he said.

On the supply-side of the economy, most sectors demonstrated strong growth except for the construction sector.

Agriculture grew by 3.6 percent, a rebound from 0.2 percent contraction in the second quarter last year. This was due to the big turnaround in major crop harvests.

Industry grew by 7.8

D

percent, partly moderated by the weak performance of the construction industry. “Although private construction increased by 12.7 percent during the second quarter compared to last year, public construction reversed last year’s strong growth and recorded a significant reduction in the second quarter,” Balisacan said.

“Still, it is notable that the gross value added in manufacturing accelerated to 10.8 percent in this period, buoyed by strong external demand and household final consumption,” he added.

Meanwhile, the services sector expanded by 6 percent, mainly due to trade, real estate, renting and business activities, and transport, storage and communication. “This was in response to the increased demand for business process management and the expansion of economic activities,” Balisacan said.

On the demand-side, the strong household spending in the second quarter of 2014 reflects the still upbeat consumer sentiment in the country.

However, the slowdown in disbursements in Personal Services and Maintenance and Other Operating Expenditures or MOOE led to the nil growth in government consumption, Balisacan said.

“According to the Department of Budget and Management, the slower spending was partly due to administrative bottlenecks. Some government agencies also needed to revise their work programs to increase service deliv-

WATER PROBLEM. A Dulangan Manobo man and his daughter wash themselves of forest trail mud in Sitio Tudog, Barangay Bugso in Sen. Ninoy Aquino, Sultan Kudarat. One of Tudog’s biggest problems is the difficult access to water. While local springs such as this exist, the water flow is weak ery in the Yolanda-affected areas. For instance, the Department of Health had to prioritize deployment of its personnel to render primary health care in the Yolanda-affected areas.

The availability of donated supply reduced the need for MOOE even as the service was being delivered,” he said.

Balisacan said the decline in public construction was the result of lower spending in infrastructure and other capital outlays particularly in the months of April and May 2014 as major government agencies posted lower-than-programmed

disbursements.

“Overall, we see that the country still has a strong likelihood of achieving the full-year growth target of 6.5 to 7.5 percent. Expectations survey show that businesses maintain their positive outlook on the economy. However, we are aware that market players are still looking for more positive signals, in particular the public sector’s key role in infrastructure spending and consumption of nondurables,” he said.

On the supply-side, the agriculture, fishery and forestry sector is seen to maintain its momentum.

Davao’s thriving economy attracting more businesses

AVAO City will host this year’s Manufacturing Technology Davao and PrintPackPlas Davao, which will be held on September 4 to 6 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premier.

The two events will coincide with the Davao International Expo and Philconstruct Mindanao.

“Davao’s dynamic economy, government efficiency, and booming infrastructure are several indicators that Davao proves to be a place for

business growth. That’s why we continue to bring some of the biggest trade shows in the country here for a regional show,” GLMP CEO Patrick Lawrence Tan said.

“Our aim is to provide the venue for companies to do business direct with their target market, especially now that the manufacturing sector is the driving force of the city’s economy,” he added.

Tan said the idea of this trade show revolves around three diverse industries.

“Manufacturing Technology Davao focuses on industrial machinery, factory automation, hardware products, power tools material handling and welding technology and accessories,” he said.

“PrintPackPlas Davao will feature plastics and packaging, printing, food and beverage, and office automation as its focal point. This event has brought together a wide variety of industries all with the similar need of highlighting their products and services and be

the ultimate source for perfect business solutions,” he added.

Tan said the comprehensive trade show will gather over 200 companies occupying a total of 2,932 square meters of exhibition space showcasing the latest advancements in manufacturing technology, and a wide-array of products and solutions which is a catalyst for business development not just in Davao but in the whole Philippines as well.

FDAVAO’S, 10

and the potability is suspect. A rich water source is available in the sitio’s outer edge but the cost of a water system to bridge the distance is so far an insurmountable obstacle. MindaNews photo by BJ Patiño “In particular, livestock and poultry will likely grow due to increasing consumer demand as the holiday season approaches. The industry sector is expected to accelerate in the second half of the year, led by manufacturing and the public construction subsectors.

The manufacturing sector also remains upbeat as indicated by its double-digit growth. The sector is expected to gain from the positive outlook for exports and the increasing interest of foreign firms to set up operations in the country,” he said.

Balisacan also gave assurance that while gov-

ernment underspending in this quarter is a cause for concern, “government is aware of this and is taking the right steps to address bottlenecks in the implementation of critical programs and projects, particularly key infrastructure projects.”

“And we are doing this with a sense of urgency. Proof of this will be demonstrated in the second half when government spending contributes to the economy’s growth while committing to improve our overall competitiveness and the delivery of the needed public goods and services,” he said.

BIR penalizes 180 unregistered businesses in Zamboanga City

T

HE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has penalized 180 unregistered business establishments here as the agency continues its tax mapping operation in this city.

Cresencio Agad, head of the Revenue District No. 93A, said the 180 unregistered business establishments penalized were among the 300 local firms the BIR subjected to tax mapping operation.

Agad said the ongoing tax mapping operation started in March this year and so far they have collected P200,000 in fines and penalties.

He said they checked

the following in the conduct of tax mapping: who owns the business establishment, how many workers it has, receipts, and business books.

Under BIR regulations, the businessmen must have the complete requirements 10 days before the actual opening of their business establishment, he said.

Agad, however, said the agency does not allow just any BIR employee to conduct tax mapping.

He advised businessmen to ask for the mission order and identification card (ID) if someone inspects their business establishment. (MindaNews)

THE ECONOMY

VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014

Davao del Norte governor inaugurates GSO building

5

By Cha Monforte

G

OV. Rodolfo del Rosario inaugurated last August 18 the Provincial General Services Office (PGSO) building, described as modern and cozy by people who have seen it.

The last-termer governor, who will turn 80 years old by Monday, had early on completed infrastructure projects like the provincial sports complex, gym, separate buildings for provincial health and disaster risk reduction offices, pasalubong center, Bulwagan ng Kapitolyo and the Tahanan ng Gobernador.

Del Rosario has been close to four decades serving in elective post in various capacities starting as assemblyman in 1978.

“It’s a dream come true. It’s an office with home ambiance,” PGSO department head Sammy Sanchez enthused.

The two-storey building, worth about P7 million, stands southwest of the Capitol compound in Mankilam, Tagum City.

PGSO personnel transferred to the building on the same day it was inaugurated.

The building is equipped with CCTV system, intercom and internet connectivity. It is an

online office, for the being the provincial government’s arm engaged in procurement.

“If one gets there now, he gets unmistakable cozy feeling and good vibes ooze everywhere inside just as PGSO employees get a high motivation to work and exceed their performance targets,” a Capitol official commented.

“There’s a welcoming small garden at the left when you set foot on the first level, below the flight of stairs made of narra.

Upstairs, a small waiting lobby with the office’s bulletin standing on natured wood carving, and a minimalist yet striking wall decor beside the glass door can impress clients and visitors over the impact of the combined ambiance.

The half-cubicle partitions give ease for employees to coordinate each other as clerical and staff works can be seen by standing. It has fresh rest and washing rooms for male and female akin to those in posh hotels.

There’s small altar there.

Foremost, its conference room with cushion seats and speakers is superb, where a small conference can be held. It serves for multiple func-

AVAO del Norte Vice Governor Victorio “Baby” Suaybaguio, Jr. celebrated his 73rd birthday last Tuesday at the Clubhouse in the Provincial Sports Complex with well-wishers warmly greeting and wishing him for more birthdays to come.

Well-wishers included the man whom he has been with in steering excellent provincial governance for four terms already- Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, who will turn 80 by Monday with another big bash and thanksgiving party at the Capitol, Mankilam, Tagum City.

Other Baby’s well wishers were successful Tagum-homegrown businessman Larry Y. Rubinos or LYR, provincial police director PSSupt.

Samuel Gadingan, his colleagues in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan,

a hundred of provincial department officials and employees, ordinary citizens, his friends, some Tagum pioneer residents, kins and relatives.

On his his natal day, the vice governor was greeted with mananita from various groups at dawn, and attended the early morning mass to thank the Almighty for a good life reached and for all the blessings from the Lord showered unto to him through the years.

After the mass, the vice governor invited mass attendees and religious leaders for a breakfast salo-salo at the upper sacristy, back of the Cathedral.

Even if it was his birthday, the vice governor did not skip presiding the regular session of the SP. It was business as usual for the SP as a superb legislative mill,

A vendor of religious items displays her merchandise at her makeshift store outside San Pedro Cathedral in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr. tions, not just for the biddings. The dining room on the ground level is spacious for those bringing baons for their lunch and snacks.

The building houses all the PGSO’s divisions including the civil security unit, and importantly, it is attached to its warehouse.

Eleven years ago, Sanchez dreamed to have a separate PGSO office to be attached to PGSO warehouse.

“It’s in the warehouse

where I have great responsibility,” he said in an interview last Tuesday.

The warehouse is where the provincial government’s supplies and other valuable properties already purchased are stockpiled.

For 11 years, the PGSO had then been holding office at the second level, near the center-right wing of the main Capitol building.

The funding which realized the new building

was included in the 2014 General Fund Annual Budget as authorized under the Provincial Appropriation Ordinance No. 2013-005.

It took only five months and 28 days for the building to be completed since Day 1 of the construction period.

And just how the PGSO’s new home gets to motivate now its usual busy-body workers? They come early, eager to work.

Among those having no

dates and kids at home, often they work beyond 5 P.M. “It’s nice place, and everybody is welcome to visit us.

We thank so much the Governor for this,” adds Sanchez, who conceptualized and designed the building, that’s certainly comes up now to be an additional pride of the whole Provincial Government of Davao del Norte.Cha Monforte, Correspondent

General Council decided to approve the extension of special treatment for rice of the Philippines, noting the commitment of the country under the Extension Agreement.

In order to get the WTO’s nod in extending the QR on rice, the Philippine government dealt to cut import duty and increase the minimum access volume (MAV) on rice.

Under the new deal with WTO, the Philippines has agreed to cut initial tariff rate on rice from 40 percent to 35 percent which started July 1.

The new MAV on rice, which now enjoys a 35 percent tariff rate, increased to 805,200 metric tons (MT) from the previous 350,000 MT. Shipments outside MAV will still be subjected to 50 percent tariff rate.

The Philippines, in its justification of its request to extend QR on rice, stated

“(the country’s) WTO simple average bound tariff is 35 percent in agriculture, which is just over half of the average bound tariff for all WTO developing member nations of 60 percent.”

The country noted that it “has virtually no trade-distorting domestic support or export subsidies” and “can be considered as one of the most open agricultural trading regimes in the WTO.” The WTO General Council, likewise, noted in the waiver that the Philippines since 2001 has “encouraged private sector importation of rice to complement the National Food Authority’s (NFA) role” and the country “has pledged to continue encouraging private sector importations so as to ensure food security and stimulate competition in the domestic rice production and market;” thus deciding for the extension of the QR on rice. (PNA)

RDR, Baby celebrate birthdays DA commits proper quota administration of rice imports D where sometimes members exchanged fires over issues worth to be discussed with VG Baby moderating and presiding it well.

Also notable among the guests in the Clubhouse as of 7:00 P.M. were Board Members Shirley Belen Aala, Dr. Fred De Veyra, Alan Dujali, Erning Evangelista, Hernani Duco and Tete So, outstanding coop leader Norma Pereyras, Sto. Tomas Mayor Benigno Andamon, BE Dujali Vice Mayor Samuel Pacres, OIC provincial administrator Norma Lumain, other businessmen and elected officials.

Guests still came in after 7:00 P.M. while the Tagum City band, deployed by Mayor Allan Rellon, entertained the guests and well-wishers.- Cha Monforte, Correspondent At Large

T

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) gave assurance of proper administration on the importation quota of rice with the approval by the World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council of the request of the Philippines to extend the quantitative restriction (QR) on rice.

DA Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, Research and Development and Regulations Segfredo R. Serrano in an interview said this would include determining the correct volume of rice needed by the market, proper inventory, and timing of imports, among others, in order to keep prices stable in the market.

“This gives us flexibility to manage (rice) imports,” he said.

In a waiver decision dated July 24, 2014 shared by a Geneva-based WTO official, it said the WTO

6

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014

VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

7

8

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

T

VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014

Kadayawan blues

HE management of the latest Kadayawan Festival, particularly the people behind the Kadawayan Foundation, is at the receiving end of nagging criticisms nowadays, especially on the matter of its failure to settle financial obligations to “volunteers” immediately.

The Kadayawan guys should remain undaunted by whatever the detractors say, including the usual heckling from the broadcasters, even by social media, because

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

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

criticisms of this big annual public event, is part of territory, so to speak.

Instead of being angered or discouraged, the festival managers should consider the criticisms as bases to improve on the way they’ll manage the event next time.

They ought to take comfort in the fact that, despite everything –lack of time, and ridiculously low budget, among other handicaps-- this year’s Kadayawan Festival could still be rated one of the best in years.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

AGAPITO JOAQUIN JR. Associate Editor

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. CHENEEN R. CAPON BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO Reporters MEGHANN STA. INES AQUILES Z. ZONIO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. FUNNY PEARL GAJUNERA Lifestyle Photography CHA MONFORTE JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA Correspondents ARLENE D. PASAJE Contributing Photographer Cartoons MUNDA • HENRYLITO TACIO • MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO AURELIO A. PEÑA • MARY Columnists: CARLOS MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. ANN “ADI”• C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • VIDA MIA VALVERDE • Economic Analysts:• ENRICO BORBON MARY ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN • NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN EMILY “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER PEREZENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA EconomicM. Analyst:

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

the national association of newspapers

GENERAL OFFICE SANTOS CITY CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OLIVIA D. VELASCO JOCELYNRICHARD S. PANES C. EBONA SOLANI D. MARATAS OLIVIA D. VELASCO SOLANI D. MARATAS MARKETING OFFICE | Marketing Manager General Manager of Sales SpecialistFinance General Manager DirectorAdvertising FinanceLEIZEL A. DELOSOLEIZEL A. DELOSO | MarketingFLORENCE ManagerS. VILLARIN

RICHARD C. EBONA AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation Marketing Supervisor

Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts. Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts. Marketing Specialist Cagayan de Oro City c/o PZ Villarin Marketing Cagayan de Oro City Tel: (088) 852-4894

Tel: (088) 852-4894

Salvani St., Oringo Brgy. City Heights Tel: (083) 303-2215

MANILA MARKETING OFFICE

ANGELICA R. GARCIA | Marketing Manager Blk. 1, Lot 10, La Mar Townhomes, Apitong St., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 942-1503

EDGEDAVAO

H

Terrorism through the ages

OW do you solve a problem like terrorism?

Erase the terrorist from the face of the earth. Of course, it’s easier said than done.

But that’s exactly what the Americans did to Al Qaeda mystic leader Osama bin Laden shortly after Barack Obama became president of the USA in 2008.

The death of bin Laden, however, did not cause the death, as many thought, of the terrorist organization which, to this day, continues to sow fear and terror all over the face of the earth. oOo Terrorism at a glance Terrorism is not an exclusive phenomenon of modern times. Various types of terrorism have sprung from all corners of the globe since the beginning of civilization, and each employed different methods of terror.

There were the pirates who attacked and robbed ships at sea. The earliest pirates surfaced in ancient Mediterranean Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Sicilians, and Greeks.

Pirates ruled the high seas, and terrorized travelers in Europe and Asia from the 6th to the 19th centuries. The Viking Scandinavians seafarers terrorized Northern and Western Europe for 200 hundred years (8th-10th century).

In 75 BC, pirates captured Julius Caesar, then 25 years old, while he was on his way to Rhodes province, and demanded

P

VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014

ransom money. That was probably the first kidnap-for-ransom case in the world.

In the 11th century A.D. the Mongols from Mongolia terrorized most of Europe and part of Asia. They ravaged nations and enslaved people. From them came the term barbarian.

The Romans emperors and soldiers were the terrorists of the ancient civilization until the Christian era. They had absolutely no respect for human lives. Killings were just a game as they threw slaves to the lions for entertainment. They executed criminals by hanging them on wooden crosses. Jesus was one such victim.

In the first two decades of the 20th century, it was the turn of hijackers to spread terrorism. They seized transport vehicles on land, in the air, and at sea.

Today, in this Third Millennium, the terrorists are the suicide bombers who spread terror to gain eternal reward in the afterlife. The most feared terrorist groups today are al Qaeda based in the Middle East and the Jemaah Islamiyah based in

Indonesia.

In the Philippines, there is the Abu Sayaff operating in Western Mindanao.

They specialize in kidnap-for-ransom sorties, a criminal activity they did not invent, but have transformed it into a high-end cottage industry, minus a business permit.

Osama bin Laden was not the most evil of terrorists. There were others before him who were more brutal, more depraved and debasing. They committed monstrous carnage and inflicted unimaginable psychological devastation on their fellow humans.

In the 13th Century, Mongol ruler Genghis Khan butchered Asia and Europe.

He used death as a form of discipline and looting as a reward.

The next century, a man from Samarkand, Uzbekistan named Tamerlane, slaughtered 70,000 people, and piled their heads in the form of pyramid.

Six centuries later came Adolf Hitler, who killed people “not for what they did, but for who they were.” Bin Laden killed in god’s name; Hitler thought he was God, and killed in the name of his housemate, Eva Braun. He killed millions of Jews because they belonged to an inferior race, and therefore, had no right to live.

Terrorists are inhuman humans. They do not value human life and therefore do not care about human rights. They have no conscience, no mercy, no pity, no remorse, and utterly insensitive to human sufferings.

What’s better than the pork barrel?

ORK barrel of course was the muchabused fund that fed the vanity of unscrupulous lawmakers who felt insecure unless they could upstage executive officials and grab credit for projects and programs they had no business claiming as their own.

They insisted on personally assigning and dispensing funds and projects, justifying it by claiming that no one knew the needs of the community better and that it was best to have them decide where funds should go or how to spend it.

Actually they were just a bunch of hypocrites and they were wrong. For their monumental wrong-headedness, we are stuck with plunderers afflicted with the Janet Lim-Napoles syndrome.

What’s strange is that no one disputed their claim of being knowledgeable about the community’s needs. No one pointed out that the community itself is best positioned to define, identify, and prioritize programs or projects that are needed in its neighborhoods. ***** And inexplicably, no one, not even the department of the interior and local government (DILG), bothered to explain that in fact there’s a mechanism that enables every community to cope with its needs effectively without external intervention: its local development council (LDC).

Neither did the DILG explain that the membership of this LDC at every level or jurisdiction includes the congressman or his proxy—a membership that congressmen (to their eternal discredit) belittle, ignore, and boycott.

Perhaps they feared having their fakery exposed in front of the community, or maybe they didn’t want to risk being upstaged by knowledgeable members of the community, or what if they were prevented from claiming personal credit for the LDC’s projects. Shameful, especially if it’s all of the above!

In any case, they got away with it.

They escaped embarrassment because no one questioned their habitual absence and failure to attend LDC meetings. And no one dared to denounce them for sab-

THE WORM’S EYEVIEW

BY MANNY VALDEHUESA otaging the LDC, or for making it inutile. ***** But in a very real sense, it’s those pork-addicted lawmakers who bastardized the local development process of every community—by dictating their preferences on what projects are to be done, by which contractor, and where these are to be located.

As everyone knows, location is essential for maximum exposure, impact, and revenues. This is as true for advertising and marketing a commodity as for promoting a candidate.

It’s why an overpass, bus or jeepney terminal, waiting shed, or multi-purpose pavement is a popular trapo project; they’re highly-visible and are within visual reach of all voters.

In any case, since decisions on pork-funded projects are made by pork-bearing congressmen and senators, the local development council became redundant as the community and conniving officials left everything to their discretion. And that’s how development programs got bastardized and politicized. ***** You see, lawmakers are not geared for project planning or implementation.

They just want a project done so they can get credit for it—preferably with a photo opportunity and a certificate of appreciation during a publicized turnover ceremony. Virtually irrelevant to them are technical standards, esthetic design, or quality of work.

That’s why it’s better to do away with pork or funds whose release is contingent upon the discretion of one person. To retain it is to accept that political self-interest or vanity matters more than social responsibility or genuine development So what’s better than pork?Answer:Entrust the funds to the community—through its duly-constituted local development council, which is its official

planning and implementing body.

This can be done readily by distributingpro ratathe P70 million previously allocated for every congressman and the P200 million for every senator to the LDCs. The formula used for computing the internal revenue allotment (IRA) of every jurisdiction will serve the purpose. ***** Too long have Malacañang and members of Congress stymied this official planning and implementing body of the community by allowing vanity-seeking members of Congress to substitute it with their whimsies, preferences, and abuses.

To ensure transparency and tighter accountability, the department of the interior and local government (DILG) and the Local Government Finance bureau should see that this LDC is properly organized and operational as per R.A. 7160 (Sec. 106-115) or Article 182 of its Implementing Rules and regulations.

This places the funds effectively under the management and care of the community—awakening its autonomy, activating its neglected role of overseeing local development, and fulfilling the state policy of autonomy in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity.

Now, isn’t this better than giving away pork, deploying funds that are arbitrarily used, misused, and abused by venal representatives of the people?

Let the people perform their role in local development so that no unscrupulous senator or congressman can co-opt their role or grab credit for the good things in their community!

[Manny is former UNESCO regional director for Asia-Pacific; secretary-general, Southeast Asia Publishers Association; director, Development Academy of Philippines; member, Philippine Mission to the UN; vice chair, Local Government Academy; member, Cory Government’s Peace Panel; awardee, PPI-UNICEF outstanding columnist. He is president/national convenor, Gising Barangay Movement Inc. valdehuesa@gmail.com]

VANTAGE POINTS

9

E-cigarettes aren’t safe E

L E C - THINK ON THESE! TRONIC cigarettes (e-cigarettes), increasingly popular among young Filipinos, are touted to be “odorless, cancer-free, and healthy way to smoke.” But they are not Henrylito D. Tacio harmless after all according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has issued an advisory identifying the “volatile” substances in the device and its emitted smoke.

“Electronic cigarettes are not emission-free,” the FDA said in an advisory posted in its website. “E-cigarettes contain volatile organic substances, including propylene glycol, flavors and nicotine, and are emitted as mist or aerosol into indoor air.”

FDA said if several people are using e-cigarettes in a room at the same time, “considerable indoor air pollution will accumulate and may result in harmful second-hand exposure.”

Citing some studies done abroad, FDA said these “ultrafine liquid particles” – measuring less than 2.5 micrometer in diameter – may penetrate deeply into the lungs. As such, they are hazardous to health.

The products were invented in 2004 by a Hong Kong-based firm. Tagged as “revolutionary” and “pioneering” products, these battery-operated plastic devices look like and are used like real cigarettes. By producing an inhaled mist, it supposedly simulates the act of tobacco smoking.

Contrary to what most people think or believe, e-cigarettes are as addictive as the real thing because the liquid used to produce vapor contains nicotine, said Maricar Limpin, executive director of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines.

“E-cigarettes are being flavored to cover the (taste of nicotine). So you would think that there’s no nicotine in it until you develop addiction,” she said.

Maciej Goniewicz, a cancer researcher in the Department of Health Behavior at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York, has confirmed this.

“E-cigarettes contain variable amounts of nicotine and some traces of toxicants.

But very little is known to what extent non-users can be exposed to nicotine and other chemicals in situations when they are present in the same room with users of e-cigarettes,” he told Reuters Health.

Meanwhile, Limpin has expressed concern over the proliferation of e-cigarettes in the country. E-cigarettes have been banned by Israel, Australia, Canada, and Mexico over safety issues; in the United States, e-cigarette shipments are strictly monitored at its borders.

Because some Filipinos think e-cigarettes are not harmful compared to the real thing, e-cigarettes have been marketed as something that would help a person quit smoking. These give people a false sense of security. “There is no evidence to prove that,” Limpin said.

Anthony Leachon, Department of Health (DOH) consultant for non-communicable diseases, agreed. “Electronic cigarettes are not advisable since you don’t kick the habit. You can easily go back to smoking,” he pointed out.

While in industrialized people are quitting smoking, such is not the case in the Philippines, thanks to tobacco advertisements. A recent survey of Filipino adult smokers found 99.8 percent cited tobacco ads as one factor for initiating smoking.

The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) has nothing against tobacco ads as long as these direct toward adults. “What makes all this unacceptable and treacherous is that this dangerous and addictive product is sold to youth and adolescents as an assertion of their freedom to choose,” said Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, former WHO director-general.

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014

They’re... FFROM 1 After learning of the news that Mayor Duterte had talked to Bautista on the phone before leaving for Manila on Tuesday night, the Vice Mayor yesterday asked his father to respect the City Council resolution.

Mayor Duterte had told Bautista he is welcome to come to the city since he has already apologized for his hipon joke.

Duterte followed this up on Wednesday night: “When a man humbles himself and apologizes for uttering a slur, that itself erases the wrong.

To nurture residual hate against the guy is a human frailty.”

But in a statement released yesterday morning, the vice mayor reminded the mayor that he should “respect

the decision of the City Council because the body represents the people of Davao City who voted for him for decades.”

“The mayor of Davao City can always welcome anybody he wants on a personal level. But as far as Davao City is concerned, Mr. Ramon Bautista is unwelcome here in our city because of the persona non grata resolution,” the vice mayor said.

Bautista had angered the City Council when he said Davao City was full of hipon (shrimp – a reference to people who have attractive bodies but unattractive faces) during a Kadayawan party to which he had been invited.

Bautista apologized immediately onstage after reportedly being con-

fronted by the younger Dutertes. A video of the apology showed the vice mayor standing on the side of the stage as Bautista said sorry to the crowd.

Bautista also posted an apology on Twitter.

Despite these, the City Council declared him persona non grata.

In their phone conversation on Tuesday night, the mayor advised the comedian not to mind the persona non grata resolution.

Duterte also told Bautista that if he sets foot in Davao City, all he has to say is that he has the approval of the mayor.

The mayor told Bautista that the comedian’s public apology is enough and that he knows how difficult it is to apologize.

She said that this P14.7 billion estimated revenue will be generated through the tourism sectors such as hotels, transportation, restaurants and souvenir shops.

“That is actually how the city should earn, not through directly in accreditation fees,” he said.

The CTOOO head said that during the executive committee meeting, it was presented that the

accreditation fee they got was only P40,000.

Marques hopes that the foundation will remove the fees on accreditation to generate more activities and make the festival bigger.

“For example, I benchmark natin yung sa Sinulog (let us make Sinulog as our benchmark).

Ang Sinulog, December pa lang andami ng mga events (In Sinulog, they

already have many events even it is still December).

And they highlight side events - they call it as side-highlights because there is Cebu Pop and Ms. Cebu, mga ganun.

So, all those, aside from the main Sinulog events such as procession, fluvial… aside from all those are being promoted to make it bigger, make it better,” Marques said.

ABF

However, Bautista denied that there is still a commanding presence of New People’s Army (NPA) in his area.

In fact, the first district of Davao del Sur composed of Digos City, and municipalities of Bansalan, Hagonoy, Kiblawan, Magsaysay, Malalag, Matanao, Padada, Sta Cruz and Sulop are already free from NPA. Bautista is positive that the insurgency problem in some areas of his province will be eliminated two years from now, as projected by EastMincom commander Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz III. “Dili na kayo kusog ang pwersa sa NPA. Naa na lang gamay na nagpabilin dira dapit sa may Jose Abad Santos na nanggikan sa South Cotabato na nagaagi lang sa Don Marcelino (The NPA force is not actually strong any-

more. There are only a few left in the municipality of Jose Abad Santos who are originally from South Cotabato and just crossed through Don Marcelino),” the governor added.

He said that to address the insurgency, local government units should have strong ties to the national government so that government project and services can reach communities, even those that are already in the hinterlands.

Bautista also encouraged businessmen to refuse from paying revolutionary tax.

“Ginaingnan nako sila [businessmen] na dili sila magbayad para dili magdugay ang NPA sa ilang lugar kay kung nay magbayad na isa mapugos ang uban na magbayad na pud ng tax sa NPA (I asked businessmen not

to pay taxes as it will just encourage NPA to stay longer and their place at the same time it will also force other businessmen to pay revolutionary tax),” he added.

Bautista, meanwhile, said that they are targeting to recruit more volunteers to be part of the civilian auxiliary force. He said that mayors of each municipality and city will be invited to a mass graduation of the recruits probably next month. CRC

Marques...FFROM 2

9,000...FFROM 2

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. ThatCERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 21013407 under LOYOLA PLAN Contract No.(s)183159-3 issued to JORGE E. LEBOSADA was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

8/15/22/29

Drug suspect killed

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA Correspondent

A

N armed suspected drug pusher was killed in a buy-bust operation conducted by the Talomo Police Station, Wednesday night at Twin H Inn along Matina Aplaya.

The fatality was identified as Michael Bitin Cabrera, alyas “Igit”, legal age and resident of San Miguel, Matina.

Initial investigation said that an informant told police that Cabrera was looking for “customers.” The police acted on the informant’s report by using a poseur buyer.

When the poser handed the money to the suspect in exchange for the illegal drug known as shabu, the suspect sensed that the buyer was an operative.

The suspect then out pulled a .38 revolver and shot the operative. For-

tunately, the gun failed to fire, giving police team led by SPO1 Rizaldy Suaga to return fire.

The suspect was hit in the body and died.

The suspect reportedly had a standing warrant of arrest for robbery with violence and intimidation of person together with a certain Juhn Zymon Purto Engreso issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 16 Judge Emmanuel C. Carpio.

Engresso was already arrested last July 19 for violation of RA 9165 known as the comprehensive dangerous drug act of 2002.

It was revealed that the suspect was involved in a series of robbery incidents in the area of responsibility of Talomo Precinct and neighboring areas.

Talomo Police Precinct commander Chief Inspector Alfredo Santillana said that the incident which resulted to the death of a suspect was the first time to happen in his administration.

“Sa among operation lang sa month of August napulo na ang operation namo, mga close to 1 million among market value nga nakuha… pero 1st time ni nga namatay ang suspek”, Santillana said.

“Human niini mas pahugtan pa namo ang peace and order,” He added.

Recovered from the possession of the suspect were P500 marked money, three sachets of suspected shabu, 1 improvised tooter, 2pcs.

Lighter and .38 revolver with 4 live ammunitions.

SGV & Co. will hold a seminar on the “Recent Changes and Developments in Taxation.” This seminar will provide comprehensive updates about the latest BIR issuances and rulings to avoid complications in businesses.

“Aside from the tax updates seminars, the visitors should be on the lookout for others seminars conducted by industry experts on printing technology, construction safety, plumbing and sanitation,” Tan said.

The event is supported by the Davao Association of Tour Operators (DATO), Davao Bakers’ Club Inc. (DBCI), Davao

Travel Agencies Association (DTAA), Packaging Institute of the Philippines (PIP), Philippine Center for Print Excellence Foundation (PCPEF) Philippine Plastics Industry Association (PPIA), Philippines Society of Plumbing Engineers (PSPE), Printing Industry Association of Davao, Inc. (PIADI), and the Small Hotels Association of Davao (SHAD).

Peter Quintana, immediate past president of Philippine Plastics Industry Association (PPIA), one of the industry partners and supporters of the abovementioned event, expressed his enthusiasm in holding this

exciting event.

“Imagine putting together three different industries in one event.

I am sure that this is the most comprehensive trade event that has ever set foot in Davao. The companies participating this year are very much ready in showcasing their latest product offerings and looks like they are all globally competitive,” he said.

“I can guarantee to all the visitors of the exhibit, and to those who will be attending the technical seminars prepared in this event, is a great avenue for learning experience,” he added. Jon Joaquin

Davao’s...FFROM 4

11 ENVIRONMENT

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014

WHERE HAS ALL OUR BIODIVERSITY GONE? Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO “There is sufficiency for man’s need, but not for man’s greed” – Mahatma Mohandas Gandhi HE worst thing that can happen – will happen – is not energy depletion, economic collapse, limited nuclear war, or conquest by a totalitarian government,” pointed out American biologist Edward O. Wilson in an article he wrote for Harvard Magazine. “As terrible as these catastrophes would be for us, they can repaired within a few generations. The one process that will take millions of years to correct is the loss of genetic and species diversity. This is the folly our descendants are least likely to forgive us.”

Biodiversity – coined from biological diversity – is most often thought of as the variety of organisms on earth. Yet it also includes two other factors: ecological diversity (the variety of ecosystems and ecological communities) and genetic diversity (the range of genetic differences found within and between species).

“All three aspects are crucial for the success and development of life on earth,” explained People and the Planet, a group raising environmental concerns based in London.

“Since environmental conditions at every level are constantly changing, only diversity can ensure that some individuals and species will be able to adapt to the changes.”

Species declines and extinctions have always been a natural part of that process, but there is something disturbingly different about the current extinction patterns. “Like the dinosaurs 65 million years ago, humanity now finds itself in the midst of a mass extinction: a global evolutionary convul-

“T

sion with few parallels in the entire history of life,” wrote John Tuxill and Chris Bright, authors of Losing Strand in the Web of Life.

“But unlike the dinosaurs, we are not simply the contemporaries of a mass extinction – we are the reason of it.”

The Philippines is the world’s second largest archipelago country after Indonesia. It is composed of more than 7,100 islands covering 297,179 square kilometers in the westernmost Pacific Ocean. The country has 400 out of 500 coral species known in the world.

“Every time we go in the water, someone discovers something that’s never been seen before,” said Dr. Terrence Gosliner, dean of science and research collections at the California Academy of Sciences who headed the 2011 Philippine Biodiversity Expedition.

Dr. Gosliner believed that the biodiversity in the Philippines remains relatively unknown. He’s not alone; many scientists think that many new species remain to be discovered in the country.

Just recently, Secretary Ramon Paje of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported that 270 wildlife species that have been discovered in the country within the last 25 years.

“These endemic species are our living jewels. They are irreplaceable and unique components of our awesome environmental heritage,” he pointed out.

The Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB), a line agency of DENR, has included in its list of new discoveries 29 new species of rodents found across the country; three species of bats from Mindoro and Abra; four bird species from Cagayan,

Cebu and Camiguin; and 44 reptile and 29 amphibian species from Luzon, Negros-Panay, Greater Mindanao, and Sulu.

More than 160 plant species have also been discovered, including varieties of the world’s largest flower, Rafflesia. The Philippines ranks fifth in the world in terms of number of plant species and hosts about five per cent of the world’s flora.

“The Philippines, owing to its rich islands and water formations, has been home to some of the rarest and beautiful creatures for generations,” said the Land Bank of the Philippines in its 2013 Calendar. “Over the years, a treasure trove of endemic animals and plants has been discovered by local and foreign scientists, clearly signifying our natural landscape as one of the world’s most formidable hotspots for biodiversity.”

The Convention for International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), of which the Philippines is a signatory, has listed several wildlife species in the country that are rare, threatened, or endangered.

Among these are the Philippine eagle (the country’s bird icon), tamaraw, Calamian deer, Palawan bearcat, Mindanao gymure, Philippine tarsier, Panay flying fox, Cebu black shama, Philippine cockatoo, “bungang ipot,” “tagbak,” and Sander’s glocacia.

“A few decades ago, the wildlife of the Philippines was notable for its abundance; now, it is notable for its variety; if present trend of destruction continues, Philippine wildlife will be notable for its absence,” deplored Dr. Lee Talbot, a well-known ecologist and geographer.

“The Philippines is one of the most threatened in the world. The rate of ex-

tinction of species is 1,000 times the natural rate because of manmade activities,” DENR Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio said.

“It is a crisis. We are the hottest of the hot spots.”

Dr. Angel C. Alcala, former DENR secretary and current Director of the Silliman University Angelo King Center for Research and Management, has estimated the number of endangered Philippine bird species alone number around 56.

Dr. Seymour Sohmer from the Bishop Museum in Honolulu, Hawaii concluded in a study that the country has already lost 40 percent of its endemic flora. And that may soon include the endangered “waling-waling” orchid.

The threats to the country’s once lush and diverse wildlife are many.

But the primary culprit is the loss of natural habitat, particularly the tropical rainforests. “In the Philippines, forests are disappearing fast,” reported Sanda Volpp in an article which appeared in Handbook Philippines.

“An alarming comparison reveals that while 95 percent of the Philippines was covered by forests a hundred years ago, in 1982, it was down to about 40 percent and in 2006, not even 20 percent is left. Of the remaining forest lands, only 800,000 hectares are still primary forests (3 percent of the total land area),” Volpp noted.

Studies show that a pair of Philippine eagles needs at least 7,000 to 13,000 hectares of forests as a nesting territory.

“Without the forest, the species cannot survive over the long term,” said Dennis Salvador, the executive director of the Philippine Eagle Foundation, Inc. “Without the forest,

not only the Philippine eagle will go extinct, but so will the dreams and aspirations of millions of marginal income families who rely on the forest to survive.”

“Protection of biodiversity should be one of the top priorities of any meaningful strategy to safeguard the world’s biological heritage,” suggested John C. Ryan, author of Life Support: Conserving Biological Diversity.

As Dr. James Kirchner, an American professor of earth and planetary science at University of California, put it: “The planet would be biologically depleted for millions of years, with consequences extending not only beyond the lives of our children’s children, but beyond the likely lifespan of the entire human species.”

But there is still a glimmer of hope. “Humans, after all, are not dinosaurs,” Tuxill and Bright declared.

“We can change. Even in the midst of the mass extinction, we still largely control our destiny, but only if we act now. The fate of untold numbers of species depends on it. And so does the fate of our children, in ways we can barely begin to conceive.”

In the Philippines, several environmental laws that protect these natural heritages have been passed.

Unfortunately, these laws are not enforced due to internal conflicts over policy direction and jurisdiction as well as a general lack of technical knowledge and political will, surmised Atty. Jose A. Canivel, Executive Director of the Philippine Tropical Forest Conservation Foundation.

“Lawmakers, decision makers, policy makers have shown little interest in biodiversity conservation because there is lit-

tle knowledge, and with little knowledge there is very little value attached,” Canivel said.

But “of all the global problems that confront us, (loss of biodiversity) is the one that is moving the most rapidly and the one that will have the most serious consequences,” deplored Dr. Peter Raven, director of Missouri Botanical Gardens in the United States.

Saving biodiversity, however, is very expensive: an estimated $300 billion a year for the next eight years. That’s according to Brazilian Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, the new chief of the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity.

It’s worth it, though.

“Biodiversity is the basis of everything we do in agriculture, everything we do in health,” Dias told Reuters. “So the development of new vaccines, the development of new cultured varieties of plants is based on biodiversity, genetic resources. If we lose biodiversity, we lose the options for future development in these areas.”

The Philippines should heed that warning. “Our country is remarkably rich in biodiversity, from coral reefs to forests, rivers and lakes. Conservation of these resources is most critical to species survival, stable ecosystems and economic development on the Philippines and the world as well,” said Dr. Perry Ong, director of the University of the Philippines Institute of Biology.

But “saving a species is more than a simple matter of putting it in a cage or pot,” reminded Paje. “It requires us to protect or rebuild its habitat, as well as the balance it keeps in relation to other species lower and higher in the food chain or web of life.”

12 SCITECH EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014

NOW, THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT TOBACCO

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO Photos by Mauricio Victa

T

WO of the most frightening words a doctor could say to a patient are “hemorrhagic fever.” The virus that causes it, called Ebola virus, has historically killed as many as 90 percent of those who contract it. The current outbreak in West Africa has claimed the lives of about 60 percent of its victims.

The deadly virus may have found its match in tobacco.

Two stricken American health workers received an experimental treatment containing the antibodies derived from tobacco. Since receiving doses of the drug, both patients’ conditions have improved.

“Tobacco plant-derived medicines… are part of a handful of cutting-edge plant-based treatments that are in the works for everything from pandemic flu to rabies using plants — such as lettuce, carrots and even duckweed,” Bloomberg News reported.

Although the technique has existed for years, it’s only in recent years that the treatments have started to reach the marketplace. “For centuries, gardeners have used home-made mixtures of tobacco and water as a natural pesticide to kill insect pests,” the Science Daily reported.

“Producing antibodies in plants is faster and less expensive than traditional manufacturing,” said Mary Kate Hart, an immunology researcher who did pioneering research on Ebola antibodies for the US Army.

“Tobacco has always had negative press,” said 66-year-old Danny Ebelhar, a tobacco farmer from Owensboro who grows tobacco for Kentucky BioProcessing Llc. to use for starch and research other than for pharma-

ceuticals. “But now it may come back to be a benefit to mankind.”

In the Philippines, some farmers are finding tobacco as an ally against pests. Take the case of 35-year-old Serapion Mariano, who has been growing corn for almost a decade now in his farm lot in Bansalan, Davao del Sur. Like other crops he used to plant before, corn is susceptible to attacks of insects and diseases.

One of the problems he encountered lately is the common stalk borer. Corn plants from 2 to 24 inches tall may be attacked.

Damage to corn caused by the pest is characterized by wilting and/or dying of the upper leaves or by ragged irregular holes chewed in the newly unrolled leaves.

The common stalk borer, experts say, is caused by the insect boring into the stalk at the soil level and tunneling upward. The insect may also climb up the plant and tunnel downward into the whorl, creating the ragged holes.

A considerable amount of sawdust-like borer feces can be seen in the whorl or coming out of the borer’s entry hole in the stalk.

In the past, Mariano used chemical pesticides to destroy the insects that attacked his crops. But after attending a two-day training on organic agriculture at the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) in Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur, he found out that there’s a better way of getting rid of the insects.

“One of the best ways to eradicate the insects is by using tobacco spray,” Mariano said. Here’s what he did. He boiled 250 grams of dried tobacco leaves and stems in four liters of water for 20 minutes. He allowed the water to cool and then filtered it

through layered cotton cloth. He added four more liters of water to the solution and 50 grams of bar soap. He then poured the solution into corn funnels to kill the stalk borer.

According to MBRLC technicians, the tobacco solution can also be applied as a soil drench around plants to kill cutworms. It can be used to spray beans to prevent rust disease and also to control aphids, beetles, cabbage worms, caterpillars, grain weevils, leaf miners, mites, stem borers, and thrips.

The tobacco solution, MBRLC technicians claimed, is especially effective against biting or sucking insects. When applied weekly with a brush, it is effective against ticks and fleas in cattle.

The Florida-based Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization (ECHO) has developed another kind of tobacco spray.

One kilogram of crushed or bruised tobacco stalks and leaves are soaked in 15 liters of water for 24 hours. The solution is then filtered and three to five tablespoon of liquid soap is added. It is sprayed immediately to plants.

“Use tobacco sprays in the evening to allow them to work in the night,” the ECHO reminds. “And in general, do not spray potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, eggplant or any plant in the Solanaceae family in order to prevent the spread of viruses.”

Another warning: “Do not let people or animals drink the solution, and when spraying, wear protective clothing – especially a mask, or apply solutions with a watering can only.

Do not eat vegetables within four days of application and wash them carefully when you do.”

A “green” pesticide industry based on tobacco could provide income

for tobacco farmers as well as a new eco-friendly pest-control agent, scientists say. They describe a promising way to convert tobacco leaves into pesticides with pyrolysis. That process involves heating tobacco leaves to about 900 degrees Fahrenheit in a vacuum to produce an unrefined substance called bio-oil.

The scientists tested tobacco bio-oil against a wide variety of insect pests, including 11 different fungi, four bacteria, and the Colorado potato beetle. The oil killed all of the beetles and blocked the growth of two types of bacteria and one fungus.

“Even after removal of the nicotine, the oil remained a very effective pesticide,” the scientists who conducted the study claimed.

“Tobacco is good – as a pesticide,” the Science Daily declared. Just how good is tobacco? Here’s another timely tip from ECHO: “Mulch around plants with tobacco leaves to kill or repel aphids, flea beetles, slugs, snails, and thrips.”

In the Philippines, the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) has found that tobacco dust can help lessen the population of nuisance snails that inhabit fishponds and fish cages.

The efficacy of tobacco dust has been proven by studies conducted by a team from the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center in Tigbauan, Iloilo. Field testing in fishponds in Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Pangasinan, and Ilocos Sur confirmed the validity of the scientific studies.

The studies showed that by following recommended production technologies demonstrated in the farm, there was a marked decrease in the mortality rate of fingerlings from 20 percent to

only 5 percent, resulting in about P20,000 savings on production cost per hectare per grow-out cycle.

“Tobacco dust is organic, readily degradable, and environment-friendly,” the NTA said in a statement.

“The absence of pesticide residues contributes to the marketability and exportability of local fish and ensures consumer safety, aside from being free from chemical residues,” it added.

Fish exports, particularly milkfish(bangus) and tilapia which used to be among the country’s dollar earners, had been banned in the United States and Europe after they were found to contain chemical pesticide residues due to the extensive use of chemical pesticides.

Tobacco, when smoked, is considered one of man’s greatest killers.

But in some ways, it can also help fight some diseases. “Tobacco, divine, rare super excellent tobacco, which goes far beyond all panaceas, potable gold and philosopher’s stones, a sovereign remedy to all diseases,” Robert Burton once said.

Tobacco leaves and the smoke generated when they are burned contain over four thousand chemicals. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, those who suffer from mental disorders such attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, and the like may experience positive effects from smoking.

Apparently, doses of nicotine have a short term normalization effect on the EEG (electrical activity in the brain).

“Nicotine has long been a useful tool for researchers interested in probing the nervous system,” said Dr. Ovid Pomerleau, director of the Behavioral Medicine Program of

the University of Michigan.

Nicotine is one of the most studied of all drugs.

At the beginning of the century, the earliest research into neurotransmitters involved the effects of nicotine. The first neurotransmitter receptor identified was the nicotine receptor. Nicotine mimics the actions of acetylcholine and has been shown to modulate many neurotransmitters.

Some considerable researches have been made as to the role of nicotine receptors in the central nervous system in human cognitive functioning. Initial investigations of the effect of nicotinic agents in both normal and diseased individuals have confirmed the importance of the integrity of these systems for normal cognitive functioning, Dr. Pomerleau said.

There is now some intriguing new data suggesting that very low doses of nicotine can have dramatic effects in controlling the symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome, a rare neurologic disorder characterized by physical tics and uncontrollable vocalizations which are often filled with obscenities.

“Most patients with Tourette’s syndrome are treated with a neuroleptic (anti-seizure) agent of some sort, and generally respond well to this approach. But there are a certain number of patients that are not as responsive to neuroleptics and need some further help. Our studies suggest that these patients may be helped by nicotine therapy,” said Dr. Paul Sanberg of University of South Florida.

“Good food, good sex, good digestion, and good sleep: To these basic animal pleasures, man has added nothing but the good cigarette,” Mignon McLaughlin once said.

INdulge!

VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

EVENT

The Ciudades Kadayawan fun ride and MTB race

By Bai Fauziah Fatima Sinsuat Ambolodto

FUN. . . Sun . . . Nature – three inevitable factors to best enjoy the many mysteries of life.

Yes, the month of August may be coming to an end but the Kadayawan festivities is once again making a roar to invite nature lovers and bike enthusiasts to participate and join in the Kadayawan Fun Ride and MTB Race on August 31, 2014 at the vast landscape of

Ciudades over at Tigatto Road, Buhangin, Davao City.

Ciudades is situated in a vibrant 200-hectare stretch of luscious land with an extensive masterplan comprehensively envisioned to uphold a self-contained community that aims to make everyone’s

Call: 224-0733 • Tionko St., Davao City

life a fulfillment of their dreams.

Ciudades, of the Lapanday Properties, aims to build and fulfill their tagline, “new communities, endless possibilities” for all to experience. With greens as far as

the eyes can see, it also will feature a grandeur of amenities that will fully satisfy both the personal and professional cravings to live the life that we have always wanted.

The Kadayawan Fun Ride and MTB Race is open for all

ages and can utilize any kind of bike to join. Meet up point is at Victoria Plaza where riders would then traverse along JP Laurel, up at Buhangin and all the way to Mandug. On the other hand, the Elite MTB Challenge will be held at the

El Centro Bike Park.

If nature’s glorious escape is not enough, then Popong Landero “Kaliweteng Gitarista’ himself will serenade you with his captivating voice.

Hefty cash prize will be awarded to the winners plus a chance to win a GoPro Hero 3 White Edition and other cool and exciting prizes during the raffle such as Wako Outdoor apparels, bike statement headkerchiefs, gift certificates from Outback Grill and entry passes to Zoofari.

Registration fee is P350 inclusive of jersey, meal, raffle ticket and 1 day Bike Park Pass. Online registration still going on. Visit their official facebook fan page -- Ciudades Kadayawan Fun Ride for more details or at drop by any participating bike shops near you.

For exciting news on Ciudades, visit their website at www.Ciudades.com.ph

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

Metro Society trains the spotlight on global Pinoys this August FOR Metro Society’s August release, the magazine features those who have gained recognition in an international playing field—distinct individuals who are successful not only in their own right, but those who have also put the Philippines on the map.

Power couple Raul and Joanna Francisco grace the coveted cover. Beautiful, successful, cultured, and well-traveled are just a few ways to describe this partnership. Their brand Homme et Femme bring only the most exquisite of pieces from all over the world to their elite clientele.

The issue also features other Filipinos who are making waves worldwide, beginning with bag designer Amina Aranaz Alunan. Her line has been a staple for Filipinos for years. The beautiful embellished totes and clutches are lugged around by the most chic. The last several months have been great for the label, having been featured in various international glossies.

Another international marvel is the Philippine Azkal’s Simeon Rota whose beautiful story of success will surely make readers believe in miracles. Young and vibrant, this athlete is going places here and abroad.

Meanwhile, Barcelona-based designer Katerina Gray is the magazine’s top pick for fashion. Her aesthetic is sophisticated and displays maturity for this young artist.

Interior and furniture designer Maybelline Te has done many stories for Metro Society in the past. Her eye for style and elegance has made this Cebuana a force to behold in the home and design scene.

Dominic Cu Unjueng Dekard is a filmmaker. His internationally acclaimed short film ‘Adrift’ has been showcased in different film festivals and was recently played in several local theatres to share with a Filipino audience.

Cecilia Pagkalinawan is a Filipino based in the U.S. and CEO and founder of the company ‘Appload,’ an app which is about the be launched. This is her third successful startup.

American author and Pulitzer Prize winner Alex Tizon lives in Oregon. Metro Society gets to tknow him better in an one-on-one interview.

Last but not least, Metro Society features Cherry Anderson, who is bright as they come.

As always, this issue would not be complete without the individuals who made the cut: New Beauty Trixie Syjuco gives readers a peek into her life and personal style, while versus girls and champion swimmers Christine JacobSandejas and Roselle Papa-Allado face off, with all the pretty items in their closets.

Also, be sure to check out all the Socials pages for an invite to all the metro’s hottest events, including a special on the Lopez 50th anniversary dinner.

All these and more are in Metro Society’s August release, out in bookstores and magazine stands nationwide.

SUNSET BBQ BY THE POOL. Swing by for a weekend barbecue at Seda Abreeza, Davao. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, enjoy delectable a la carte items fresh off-the-grill from 4:00 to 8:00 pm.

Poolside venue makes it doubly fun! For reservations, please call (6382) 3228888/2443000 or email dvo@sedahotels.com.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014

PEOPLE

Chan Lim Family of Artists to hold exhibit at SM Lanang Premier THE METRO’S premier shopping and lifestyle destination – SM Lanang Premier – celebrates the Chinese MidAutumn Festival by bringing back another breakthrough exhibition of traditional Chinese arts to Davao City.

From August 30 to September 14, ‘An Exhibit of Chinese and Western Paintings’ by Chan Lim Family of Artists and Students will showcase over 200 artworks done in Chinese paintings, oil, porcelain plates, a teapot set and scrolls by 36 artists at the Atrium, SM Lanang Premier.

This is the third year that Chan Lim will stage an exhibit in partnership with SM Lanang Premier since 2012. What makes this upcoming exhibit unique is the display of Chinese paintings on porcelain plates, which measure 10 inches in diameter and are meticulously created for a year – from conceptualization, painting, glazing to baking the artwork. Another visual attraction is the delicate set of teapot with six tea cups to be featured at the exhibit.

The Chan Lim family is one of the few remaining notable Chinese brush

painting artists in the country today and has been conducting numerous painting exhibits and seminars, art workshops and on-the-spot painting demonstrations for more than four decades.

On Saturday, August 30, at 2:30 pm, the Chan Lim exhibit will be launched at the Atrium, SM Lanang Premier with performances from students of Davao Chinese schools.

A free Chinese Painting Workshop will also be held on August 30 starting 3 pm. Limited slots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. To register and inquire about the workshop, please contact the organizers, Davao Filipino-Chinese Cultural Foundation/Dynamic Youth, Inc. at 226-3571 or 221-6004.

The public is invited to visit the 16-day art exhibit in celebration of the Mid-

Autumn Festival at SM Lanang Premier.

The exhibit is copresented by Dynamic Youth, Inc., the Davao Filipino-Chinese Cultural Foundation, Park Inn by Radisson and Air 21.

Stay up to date on the events happening at SM Lanang Premier. Visit SM Lanang Premier on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Watch the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014 live and in HD on Skycable pay-per-view EXCITING courtside action, heart-stopping buzzer beaters, and world-class athletes… catch all these and more at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup happening in Spain. From August 30 to September 15, this action-packed basketball tournament will be aired live and in high definition on SKYcable PAY-PER-VIEW. The 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup is a world tournament for men’s national teams held every four years.

The winner will automatically qualify for the 2016

Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Check out our very own Gilas Pilipinas as they play their hearts out to bring home basketball glory. Get full coverage of 41 matches including all games of Gilas Pilipinas, USA and Spain teams.

Enjoy all the games live and in high definition right in your own living rooms.

Witness the breath-taking action from jump shots to three-pointers, high-flying dunks to momentum-stopping defense all come alive as if watching real-time bas-

ketball action. Catch all the games 24/7 in 2 HD channels, allowing you to watch all games back-to-back.

Subscribe now to the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup on SKYcable PAY-PERVIEW for only Php999. Never again miss out on any of your favorite live sporting events with the access that SKYcable PAY-PER-VIEW gives you.

SKYcable, the country’s leading cable TV provider, continues to enhance your viewing habit with top of the line innovations. Plus,

discover more ways of enjoying your digital cable TV with SKYcable’s widest choice of over 190 channels, flexible subscription options via SELECT, iRECORD feature that records, pauses and rewinds live TV, and real-time coverage of live concerts and sporting events via FREE VIEW and PAY-PER-VIEW. For more information on SKYcable, simply call the Customer Service hotlines at (082) 305-5456 for Davao or log on to www.mysky.com. ph.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

VACC honors GMA Network with awards GMA Network won major citations and special honors at the VACC (Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption) Awards held last August 20 at the National Bureau of Investigation in Manila.

The Kapuso Network, which was inducted to VACC’s Hall of Fame last year for winning the Outstanding Television Station award for five years, was given the Special

Award for Community Service for Year 20132014.

GMA News’ news producer Emil Sumangil, meanwhile, was recognized as Outstanding TV News Reporter; while hard-hitting journalist Malou Mangahas was given a special award in the Anti-Corruption Campaign Category as host of GMA News TV’s Investigative Documentaries.

The Network’s flagship AM radio station, DZBB, also a VACC Hall of Fame

awardee, in turn, received a special award as Outstanding Radio Station for year 2014. DZBB’s Dobol A sa Dobol B and anchors Arnold Clavio and Ali Sotto also won the Outstanding Radio Program and Outstanding Radio Anchors special awards, respectively.

Reporter Carlo Mateo, on the other hand, received the Outstanding Radio Reporter award.

The VACC Awards was held as part of the organization’s 16th Founding Anniversary celebration.

Nash, Alexa, and Gimme 5 star in newest ‘Wansapanataym’ special ABS-CBN’s longest-running and award-winning fantasy-drama anthology “Wansapanataym” will air its newest monthlong special beginning this Saturday and Sunday (August 30 and 31).

The “Wansapanataym” special titled “Perfecto” will be topbilled by Kapamilya teen stars Nash Aguas, Alexa Ilacad, and the rising “ASAP 19” boy group Gimme 5.

In “Wansapanataym Presents Perfecto,” Nash will portray the character of Perry, a young man who wanted to be perfect to please his mother and his crush Kylie (Alexa). Because of his insecurities, Perry is deter-

mined to do everything to achieve his dreams.

What will Perry have

to sacrifice to get the perfect life he wanted?

What experiences does

he have to go through to realize that the purity of his heart is far more important than living a very ideal life?

Also featured in “Perfecto” are Matet de Leon, Vandolph Quizon, Candy Pangilinan, and Gimme 5 members John Bermundo, Joaquin Reyes, Brace Arquiza, and Grae Fernandez. It is written

by Joel Mercado and directed by Onat Diaz.

From the production of Dreamscape Entertainment Television, the original storybook for Filipino kids “Wansapanataym” is ABS-CBN’s longest-running and most-awarded fantasy-drama anthology.

Nova Villa, Jessa Zaragoza play ‘unwanted guests’ in Pepito Manaloto this Saturday THIS Saturday (August 30), the hilarious mother-daughter tandem of Nova Villa and Jessa Zaragoza will strike again as they play Mimi and Deedee, respectively, bringing fun riot to Pepito Manaloto’s (Michael V.) mansion.

In this week’s episode, Mimi and Deedee will ask Pepito and his wife Elsa (Manilyn Reynes) to help them look for a new place to stay after experiencing trauma due to the faulty electrical wiring in their house.

A series of humorous events will start to happen when Elsa offers them to stay in their mansion although Pepito disagrees with his wife’s decision. Elsa will eventually realize that Pepito is right because Mimi and Deedee will bring nothing but stress to their family.

The hit Kapuso sitcom Pepito Manaloto: Ang Tunay na Kuwento airs every Saturday right after 24 Oras Weekend on GMA 7.

TALK BACK AND YOU'RE DEAD / *TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES PG 13/ *PG13

James Reid, Nadine Lustre/ *Megan Fox, Johnny Knoxville 12:40 | 3:00 LFS / * 5:20 | 7:40 | 10:00 LFS

THE GIVER Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep PG 13

12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

THE PURGE ANARCHY Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo

R-16

R 18

12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

RUROUNI KENSHIN 2 Takeru Satoh R 13

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

A4 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014

STYLE

Mindanao’s fashion passion

By Kenneth Irving Ong Photos by Kenneth Hao

WITH its many diverse cultures, Mindanao has always been a source of fashion inspiration. From T’nalak, to brass accessories, to carabao horn, and exotic plant fibres, Mindanao’s designers have a rich spectrum of materials and ideas to use for their designs.

This year’s Moda Mindanao held at the Event Center of SM City Davao looked to be bigger than before with twelve entries each in the categories of Cocktail Dress, Men’s Formal Wear, and Long Gown. In partnership with the Province of Maguindanao. The competition featured Cotabato’s Inaul fabric and the designers incorporated the textile heritage to their creations leading to eclectic creations on the runway that are as diverse as the materials are colourful.

Moda Mindanao also featured Manny Deiparine as the event’s featured artist. Deiparine who hails from Maguindanao has made quite a reputation locally and overseas and has already incorporated Inaul as an

integral part of his design.

For the cocktail competition, Carlo Macailing won third place while Chard Pulatche won second. The grand prize for the cocktail competition went to an exquisitely detailed creation by Joey Hambala. The men’s formal wear competition was won by a red ensemble acceded by gold details by Niko Martinez while the grand prize for the Women’s Long Gown competition went to Jared Sevaño.

The Grand prize winner for each category went home with Php 20,000 while the 2nd and 3rd placers will took home Php 15,000 and Php 10,000, respectively.

The event is also made possible by Cebu Pacific and Huawei.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

CLASSIFIED 13

14 CLASSIFIED

(

)

Billiard Supplies

Cell Nos.

Phone Nos.

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014

VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014

EDGEDAVAO Sports

SBP answers query on Blatche

BLATCHE

T

Hunat Dabaw 2 Fun Run on Sunday A

huge field of over 1,000 runners is expected to answer the starting gun for this Sunday’s The Royal Mandaya Hotel Hunat Dabaw 2 Fun Run in celebration of its 16th year anniversary.

TRMH general manager Benjie Banzon said everything is set for Sunday’s footrace.

Participants will be treated to buffet breakfast after they cross the finish. The

race begins and ends at Palma Gil Street in front of TRMH. “It’s all set and right now, the number of registered participants has surpassed 1,000.

There could be more come race day,” said Banzon.

As of Thursday, 1,450 have registered for the race. “We are still open for registration until race day,” he said.

No less than Escandor Group of Companies

president Glenn Y. Escandor and vice president Gerome will lead the race along with the Escandor matriarch Violeta who will fire off the participants.

Hunat Dabaw 2 has a registration fee of P300 for the 3K and, P400 for both 5K and 10K, which entitles participants to buffet breakfast, race singlet, certificate, race bib and chance to win in the exciting raffles.

Last year’s inaugural race attracted 1,200 runners.

A total of P100,000 worth of prizes will be given away.

This year’s theme is “Dagan Para sa Kalambuan” with proceeds to be given to community outreach program of TRMH. “This year our beneficiary is the ObuManuvu in Marahan,” Banzon said.

plus Brazil, Lithuania and Greece are likely to feature among the dark horses at the tournament, which runs from Aug. 30 to Sept.

14.

Although the U.S. will be missing virtually the entire top echelon of household NBA names including Kevin Durant, LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony - they should still stroll into the final from their half of the draw.

The Americans completed their build-up with Tuesday’s 101-71 rout of Slovenia, one of the teams they could meet en route to the final, after emphatic wins against Brazil, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

A balanced United States outfit looks rock-solid in all departments, with Anthony Davis, Kenneth Faried and DeMarcus Cousins dom-

inating the boards, while Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving and fit-again Derrick Rose provide long-range firepower.

Coached by the iconic Mike Krzyzewski, who has guided his Duke University to four NCAA titles since 1980 and the national team to 2008 and 2012 Olympic gold medals as well as the 2010 World Cup, the U.S. are likely to take nothing for granted.

US, Spain on collision course A

much-weakened United States should still be strong enough at least to reach the final of the 2014 basketball World Cup, which begins in Spain on Saturday.

The holders, together with the hosts, will be strong favorites to reach the final of the marathon 24-nation event, while European champions France, a rejuvenated Croatia

SHARAPOVA

15

HE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has issued a statement regarding a query by the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee on the eligibility of Gilas Pilipinas national team players Andray Blatche, Gabe Norwood and Jared Dillinger even as head coach Chot Reyes told veteran sports journalist Ronnie Nathanielsz “we will fight this to the end.”

Here are the contentions of the SBP: In light of clarifications sought by the Incheon Asian Games Organizing Committee on the eligibility of Gilas Pilipinas players Gabe Norwood, Jared Dillinger and Andray Blatche, the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas has forwarded to the Philippine Olympic Committee pertinent documents providing irrefutable proof as to the qualifications of the three.

In a letter to POC president Jose Cojuangco Jr., to whom the IAGOC letter dated Aug. 26 from Mr. Jo Youngha of the Director General of Sports Headquarters was coursed, SBP executive director Renauld Barrios explains: “Briefly, we say that the Articles 49 and 50 of the OCA do not operate to render our three mentioned players ineligible to play in the 2014 Asian Games.

“Assuming, without conceding, that the three (3) years residency rule in Articles 49 and 50 is applicable to Mr. Norwood and Dillinger, these two are likewise eligible to play in the 2014 Asian Games considering that they have resided in the Philippines for more than three (3) years prior to the 2014 Asian Games. Their old passports are hereunto attached to show that Mr. Norwood and Mr. Dillinger have resided in the Philippines more than three (3) years prior to the 2014 Asian Games.”

Mr. Norwood’s old Philippine passport showed it was issued on July 23, 2007 with expiration on July 23, 2012, while Mr. Dillinger’s previous Philippine passport was issued on April 30, 2009 with expiration on April 29, 2014.

PBA operations director

THE HEAT IS ON

Ricardo Santos also issued two certifications dated Aug. 27, the first attesting that “Mr. Gabriel Norwood was drafted by the Rain or Shine Elast Painters in the 2008 PBA Rookie Draft and has been playing with the said team up to the present,” and the second confirming that “Mr. Jared Dillinger was drafted by the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters in the 2008 PBA Rookie Draft, playing from 2008 to June 13, and was then “trade to the Meralco Bolts on June 10, 2013 and continues to play for the same team up to the present.”

The SBP also submit that the 3 year residency rule of Article 49 and 50 of the OCA Constitution does not apply to Andray Blatche for the following reasons: • We take note of the specific mention of “... Rules of the IOC/ OCA as per Olympic Charter.”, which means it is of supreme importance that IOC and OCA rules should be consistent with the Olympic Charter.

• We submit that for a basketball player to be eligible to play in the Olympic Games in keeping with the Olympic Charter, a player must necessarily comply with FIBA eligibility rules since these are the basketball player eligibility rules applied for the Olympic Games.

• FIBA player eligibility rules covering “naturalized” players dictate that a “naturalized” player can only play for one (1) country and can NEVER play for any other country forever.

There is no “residency” requirement under FIBA eligibility rules.

The SBP also cited that Blatche qualifies under Olympic Charter, By-Law to Article 40 Par 1, Article 41 and Bye-Law to Article 41 Par 1 and 2; and the OCA Rules on three (3) years residence requirement.

The SBP also contended that FIBA has qualified Blatche to be eligible to play for the Philippines as its “naturalized” player for the upcoming 2014 FIBA World Cup and effectively in all FIBA sanctioned international tournaments, including the Olympic Games (if Philippines qualifies) and Asian Games.

Radwanska out, Sharapova barely survives T

HE U.S. Open heated up on Wednesday with China’s Peng Shuai upsetting fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska and fifth seed Maria Sharapova averting an early exit on a sweltering day in Flushing Meadows.

French Open champion Sharapova lost the

first set to 95th-ranked Alexandra Dulgheru of Romania, but the fivetimes grand slam winner bounced back to reach the third round with a 4-6 6-3 6-2 victory in warm breezes at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Radwanska was not so fortunate as she fell 6-3 6-4 to world number one

doubles player Peng, who supplied a shock start to second-round play in Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Men’s first-round play was completed with sixth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych dismissing 2001 champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia 6-3 6-4 6-3 and seventh seed

Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov a 6-2 7-6 6-2 victor over local wild card Ryan Harrison.

Other men’s seeds reaching the second round included Ernests Gulbis of Latvia (11), Marin Cilic of Croatia (14), South African Kevin Anderson (18) and Feliciano Lopez of Spain (19).

16

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 119 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 29-30, 2014