Edge Davao 7 Issue 164

VOL. 7 ISSUE 164 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 1, 2014

www.edgedavao.net

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

The rows of colorful candy-like graves are cleaned and repainted by the visiting relatives in Madapo Hills, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

PPP FOR CEMETERY

City looking for private partner for Maa cemetery rehab

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City government is considering a partnership with a private company to rehabilitate the Maa Public Cemetery.

In a report from DXAB 1296 Radyo Patrol, City Economic Enterprise City Public Cemeteries Preparations Division head Gary Castillo said a private entity submitted an intention to rehabilitate and improve the Maa Public Cemetery.

Castillo said if the proposal is approved, it could help the city government improve the cemetery.

He said the city really needs private partners under Public Private Partnership (PPP)to augment the expenses of the projects.

The city has already spent around P23 million for the rehabilitation of the 1.1 hectare Wireless Public Cemetery.

The city might spend a lot for the rehabilitation of other public cemeteries with a total

of almost three hectares.

Castillo said the important thing about the partnership with the local government is to ensure fairness on their proposals.

It said that the city government will also include in PPP projects and the proposed construction of crematorium and columbarium inside the Wireless Public Cemetery.

Earlier, City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) officer-in-charge Marcelino Escalada said the city government will intensify its network and linkages from other private groups to support the city’s development.

Escalada said the network with other groups will help the city’s development by encouraging more PPP projects.

He said that it is the only way the can introduce serious developments because there is no enough funds from the government.

PEOPLE WATCHING. A young boy sits comfortably on the edge of an elevated tombstone while watching the people clean their departed relatives’

graves at the Roman Catholic cemetery in Madapo Hills, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

2 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 164 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 1, 2014

Personnel of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) measure the size of the trees lined up along Dacudao Avenue in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Dabawenyo wins IRR for rainwater P7.5-M Lotto prize

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

A

crc@edgedavao.net

28-year-old delivery van driver in Davao City won the P7,559,576 prize in the Lotto 6/42 last October 9 and claimed his prize last Friday, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) announced on Wednesday.

In an earlier report, acting PCSO chair Jose Ferdinand Rojas II said the new multi-millionaire bachelor had been betting for six months on the six digit winning combination 1-6-7-11-17-26 using the birthdates of his family members.

The Dabawenyo won on October 9 but was only able to check his ticket last week because of his busy schedule.

When asked what his plan was, the bachelor said he plans to buy a brand-new

house and a shuttle van for passengers and put the rest of the money in the bank as savings.

News of the Dabawenyo winning the Lotto earned publicity in the social network Facebook with 639 likes and 11 shares as of this writing.

Among the netizens who expressed not just joy but also concern was Ferdinando Castro, who said the winner should spend his money wisely.

Raul Marquez said the winner should invest his money in business.

There were also netizens who said the winner should give some of his money to charity and donation boxes as an act of giving back and thanking God for his blessing.

CRC

ordinance approved

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. abf@edgedavao.net

D

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte has already approved the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of City Ordinance No. 0298-09, series of 2009 or the Davao City Rainwater Ordinance of 2009.

Duterte signed Executive Order (EO) No. 45 series of 2014 or the IRR of Ordinance No. 0298-09 on October 17, and it was released on October 22.

In yesterday’s I-Speak Media Forum, councilor Leonardo R. Avila III, who is also a member of the Watershed Management Council

(WMC), said although the ordinance was passed in 2009, the WMC -- which is the implementing body that will enforce the ordinance -- was established only last year.

With the approval of the IRR, all private and public buildings and structures are required to have proper harvesting, storage, and utilization of rainwater to reduce the effects of storm water and surface runoff and siltation.

It is seen to contribute to the reduction or mitigation of flooding, soil erosion, deposit of silt loads on local roads and rivers, non-point source

pollution in urban areas, and improve the quality of surface water.

It also aims to pursue the context of a balanced ecology through the proper use of natural resources, giving due consideration to the protection and conservation of the environment and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Among the measures is the adoption and development of appropriate technologies related to rainwater utilization by medium to large size commercial, institutional, agricultural, and industrial establishments,

including medium to highend residential subdivisions, which are now required to install Rainwater Catchment Systems (RCS).

RCS is composed of five basic components: collection system (catchment surface), conveyance system, storage system, treatment and disinfection system, and drainage/ sewerage system.

All construction of new commercial and industrial buildings, including major renovations and expansions of existing public and private buildings, must include an

dare, given that Villegas, although in custody, has not been charged, and while eight intelligence operatives of Police Station 8 had been relieved following this case, they have just been simple reassigned.” she added.

In its reply, the SITG cited all the actions taken by the group.

“On September 15 (two days after Corral was shot dead) the SITG Corral was created, Villegas was relieved from Toril Police Station and was reassigned at Regional Personnel Hold-

ing and Accounting Unit (RPHAU),” the SITG said in its letter to Roxas.

“On the same day Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 conducted a surprise drug test at Toril Police Station, while the seven intelligence operatives were re-assigned at Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and all firearms were turned over for ballistic and cross matching test,” it added.

The SITG also said Villegas has been charged with grave misconduct at the Re-

FIRR, 10

Task Force still probing Corral slay

911 ready for Undas D S

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

AVAO City Central 911 has prepared its medical response team for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day this weekend.

Central 911 head Emmanuel Jaldon told reporters in yesterday’s I-Speak Media Forum that they already finished their deployment plan for their medical response in different cemeteries in the city.

He said their ambulances are ready to respond to emergency calls during the holidays.

Jaldon, however, said no assistance and information

desks will be installed and no ambulances will be on standby in the cemeteries.

He said the response team will be staying at their base and will be deployed only upon call.

Jaldon said this is to ensure that the ambulances and medical teams will be able to respond to emergencies wherever they occur, not just in the cemeteries.

Augmentation forces such as some medical response volunteer groups might deployed in the cemeteries, he said.ABF

PECIAL Investigation Task Group (SITG) Corral is not giving up on its investigation and the immediate resolution of the murder case of Manuel “Willy” Corral VII. On October 22, SITG Corral sent a letter to Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas updating him on the case of the tricycle driver who was murdered in Toril on September 13, 2014.

This after Corral’s niece Charmaine Deogracias sent

a letter to Roxas dated October 7 questioning the investigation of the Task Group.

“One glaring fact is (Police Officer 1 Jeffer) Villegas mauled Corral and threatened to kill him. Corral reported him to the police (and) it landed in the news, and the next day, Corral (was) dead,” Deogracias said in her letter.

“Contact tracking of calls and text messages exchanged had been done.

But to this day no one has been charged, no witness has come out. Who will

FTASK FORCE, 10

VOL. 7 ISSUE 164 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 1, 2014

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4

NEWS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 164 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 1, 2014

2 rebels killed in clash with soldiers T ORDINANCE IRR. Councilor Leo Avila discusses the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Ordinance No. 0298-09 known as the Davao City Rain-

water Ordinance which was recently approved by the City Council. Avila was a guest of I-Speak media forum at City Hall yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

WO unidentified members of New People’s Army (NPA) were killed and four assorted high powered firearms were recovered in an encounter in Sitio Kimataan II, Barangay Gupitan, Kapalong, Davao del Norte at around 3 p.m. last Wednesday.

Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) public affairs officer Captain Alberto Caber said there were no casualties on the government side during the 50-minute firefight.

The seized high-powered firearms were an AK47, two M16 rifles, one M14 rifle, one unexploded improvised explosive device (IED), and one set of binoculars.

Local officials reported that other wounded NPA

members were dragged away by their companions during their escape.

Caber said the soldiers were on hot pursuit operations against the NPA members after a clash on October 26 in the same barangay.

Two rebels were killed in that encounter.

EastMinCom Commander Lieutenant General Aurelio B. Baladad earlier directed all military unit commanders to intensify their operations against the NPA conducting extortion activities in the region.

Baladad also encouraged the wounded NPA members who were able to escape to return to the folds of the law immediately for their safety, treatment, and return to the community. CRC

HE National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) in Region 12 is fast tracking the processing of 19 more Certificates of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT) for various applied ancestral lands in the region.

Joey Bogay, acting NCIP Region 12 director, said Thursday the survey of the applied ancestral lands or areas are currently ongoing and they’re targeting to complete them in the coming months.

He said their personnel have so far surveyed a total of 148,265.78 hectares of the applied ancestral domains in various parts of the region.

Also known as Soccsksargen, Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.

Bogay said six of the CADT applications, which are classified as either ongoing or pending, are for ancestral lands in South Cotabato, five each in North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat and three in Sarangani.

NCIP-12 is also processing one application in Maguindanao province, which is part of its area of coverage.

As of Thursday, Bogay

LTO hit by driver’s NCIP-12 fast tracks CADT applications license shortage T

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

F

crc@edgedavao.net

IRST it was license plates; now even the material for driver’s license cards is running short in the Land Transportation Office (LTO), an official confirmed yesterday.

Marilou P. Narca, officer-in-charge of the Administration Division of LTO 11, told Edge Davao in a phone interview yesterday that there has been a shortage in the supply of cards for the past several months.

“We ran out of cardtype driver’s licenses because Amalgamated Philippines (the supplier) could

not supply the materials,” she said.

She said the contract with the supplier was not renewed, causing a disruption in the supply of the necessary materials for the issuance of driver’s licenses.

Narca said the problem is not just in the regional level but in the central office which is having a problem with the proponent.

“The problem is a nationwide issue that should be addressed,” she said.

Narca said the bidding is now ongoing and is being

CHO urges men to undergo no-scalpel vasectomy

supervised by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), not by LTO She said the regional office of LTO in Davao received card types a month ago. However, her office is prioritizing the licenses of those who applied earlier.

She said those who will not get their license cards are issued temporary licenses and two copies of the official receipts that can be used until February 11, 2015.

However, those at SM City Davao are out of luck

because the printer used to print temporary licenses broke last October 17.

Those who renew their licenses there are only given a receipt.

“We have no buffer unit so we could not process them, but the printer was already fixed as of Wednesday night,” she said.

Narca said with almost 200 applicants every day, the LTO branch at SM City has to deliver almost 2,600 temporary cards a day.

Temporary cards will be valid up to next year, she said. CRC

FNCIP, 10

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City Health Office (CHO) has urged all men in the city who have many children to avail themselves the No-Scalpel Vasectomy (NSV) program of the city as part of responsible parenthood.

Speaking at I-Speak Media Forum yesterday, CHO assistant head Dr. Sam Cruz said the openness of men in participating in sexual and reproductive issues is a great factor in the improvement of the situation of women’s reproductive health such as sexuality, safe motherhood, fertility regulation, avoidance of

sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy and childbirth, and children’s health.

Cruz said with the NSV technology, the procedure will be now easier on men who will undergo the operation.

Cruz explained that unlike the traditional vasectomy in which abdomen of the patient will be dissected to cut the vas deferens, in NSV the procedure is just to puncture the scrotum to cut the vas deferens.

“The procedure is simpler compared to the traditional vasectomy,” Cruz said.

FCHO, 10

VASECTOMY TALK. City Health Office (CHO) assistant city health officer Dr. Sam G. Cruz believes wrong notions about vasectomy have overshadowed its purpose, which is why it has a very low acceptance among Dabawenyos.

Cruz is joined by CHO population program officer Jeff V. Fuentes in yesterday’s I-Speak media forum at City Hall to promote the upcoming World Vasectomy Day on November 7 during . Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 164 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 1, 2014

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6 THE ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 164 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 1, 2014

Gov’t sets economic growth target of 7.5-8.5% in 2016

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CONOMIC Planning Secretary and NEDA director general Arsenio Balisacan on Wednesday said government is aiming to sustain the country’s growth momentum and lift more Filipinos out of poverty by targeting to achieve economic growth of 6.5 to 7.5 percent in 2014, 7.0 to 8.0 percent in 2015, and 7.5 to 8.5 percent in 2016.

In his message during the Manila Times Business Forum in Makati City on October 29, Balisacan said the industry sector is projected to grow the fastest, while the services sector is expected to remain robust during the three-year period.

Balisacan said from 2010-2013, the economy grew on average by 6.3 percent in real terms, making it one of the best performers among Asian economies.

“It is notable that despite the series of natural disasters that hit in the latter part of 2013, the Philippine economy managed to meet and even exceed the target growth of 6.0 to 7.0 percent.

This expansion reflects the stronger manufacturing sector on the supply side and the resurgence of investments on the demand side,” he said.

Balisacan said the country is also seeing marked improvements in translating its remarkable economic performance to employment generation and poverty reduction.

“It is worth noting that in the latest Labor Force Survey, the country’s employment level increased by around 1.1 million, bringing

down the unemployment rate to 6.7 percent in July 2014 from 7.3 percent in July 2013. The underemployment rate declined to 18.3 percent from 19.2 percent in the same period a year ago. However, the quality of employment remains a concern,” he said.

Meanwhile, the estimated poverty incidence among Filipinos declined by 3.0 percentage points (ppts) to 24.9 percent from 27.9 percent, while individuals in extreme poverty also declined by 2.7 ppts to 10.7 percent from 13.4 percent last year.

“While these numbers imply that our inclusive growth strategies are gaining traction, we still need to sustain our growth momentum in order to lift even more Filipinos out of poverty,” he said.

Balisacan said aside from the target economic growth, government is also targeting to reduce the unemployment rate from 7.0 percent in 2012 to 6.6 percent in 2016.

“Of equal importance is to improve the quality of employment, measured in terms of reduction of underemployment rate from the current 20.0 percent to about 17.0 percent in 2016,” he added.

Balisacan said government will also improve the well-being of Filipinos by reducing income poverty to 19.0 percent by 2016.

“By monitoring these indicators, we demonstrate our commitment to ensuring that economic growth will benefit all and redound to better quality of life, especially of the poor,” he said.[JJ]

Malaysian traders laud GPH-MILF peace gains

By JEFRY M. TUPAS

M

ALAYSIA is pleased that the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) are hitting solid ground in their pursuit of peace.

For Malaysia, the peace efforts between the Moro rebels and the government have made the region conducive for business.

“We have to be realistic.

Peace is important,” said Har Man Ahmad, senior manager of Malaysia Trade Office (Matrade) at the sidelines of the 2nd BIMP-Eaga and IMT-GT Trade Fair and Business Leaders’ Conference in Davao City last week.

He said Malaysian investors seriously take the peace situation of an area into consideration in their endeavors.

Another Malaysian official said investors are upbeat about Mindanao these days,

saying Mindanao is “very close to our hearts.”

“Mindanao is a new area for Malaysia,” said Trade Commissioner Nyaee Ayup, stressing that Malaysia “would like to establish new opportunities in Mindanao which is a new area for us.”

One of the focus areas of Malaysia in Mindanao is construction, with the Malaysian government giving assistance to exporters to create trade opportunities in the region.

“More and more Malaysians are developing their footprints in the Philippines,” Ayup said. “We help Malaysian timber exporters who want to expand outside their market. We see a construction boom anywhere, especially in Mindanao and so the need for quality Malaysian timber products.”

Malaysian Timber Coun-

FMALAYSIA, 10

FLOWERS FOR THE DEAD. Flowers of various kinds and colors flood the sidewalks of Lt. Guillermo Street near the Cogon public market in Cagayan de Oro City just days before the “Kalag-kalag” celebration in the weekend.

Vendors expect brisk sales as Filipinos troop to the cemeteries to pay respects for their dead relatives. MindaNews photo by Froilan Gallardo

Despite sea dispute, Phl relations with China deepening: Balisacan

By JON JOAQUIN

E

CONOMIC Planning Secretary and NEDA director general Arsenio Balisacan urged Philippine businesses to take full advantage of deeper trade relations with China as the latter lowers trade barriers and gives greater market access.

Speaking during last Wednesday’s Manila Times Business Forum in Makati City, Balisacan said there have been increased economic and socio-cultural cooperation, frequent high-level exchange of visits, and conclusion of various bilateral agreements between the Philippines and China.

This notwithstanding the often tense dispute between the two countries over the

West Philippine Sea/South China Sea. “As a result of such initiatives, bilateral trade with China has risen tremendously in the past four years. The Philippines and China’s total bilateral trade for the first seven months of 2014 increased by 19.0 percent to $10.3 billion from the $8.6 billion in the same period in 2013. This made China the Philippines’ second largest trading partner after Japan,” he said.

Balisacan said tariffs on 100 percent of total tariff lines (7,388 lines) in the Normal Tracks of ASEAN-6 and China have been eliminated since January 1, 2012.

“The applied most favored nation (MFN) tariffs

on lines placed under the Sensitive Tracks of the ASEAN-6 and China have also been reduced to 20.0 percent by January 1, 2012.

These rates shall be subsequently reduced to 0 to 5.0 percent not later than January 1, 2018,” he said.

“Thus, I urge all of you to take full advantage of deeper trade relations supported by lower trade barriers and greater market access,” Balisacan told the forum participants.

“Firms should maximize gains from trade and specialization by continually innovating and exploring possible export niches on the basis of growth and changes in the bilateral trade structure,” he said.

Balisacan also said current data suggest a shift of Philippine exports to China from resource-based products to industrial products.

Balisacan said China remains the top source of Philippine imports in 2014.

“As of July this year, the Philippines imported $5.5 billion worth of goods from China, up by 20.0 percent from $4.6 billion in the same period last year,” he said.

He said the bulk of the Philippines’ exports to China is comprised of semiconductors, which holds 25 percent of total exports. This was followed by electronic data processing services, other mineral products, other manufactures, machinery

airlines had difficulty agreeing on.

“Finally, both parties are able to see a win-win solution to these issues.

This is a dream come true for everyone,” Honrado said.

The integration of the terminal fee will be implemented simultaneously by all airlines worldwide and will also cover passengers transiting Manila to any destination point.

It will first go through a transition period until it is expected to be fully implemented by October

2015, when all tickets purchased/issued prior to November 1 this year will have been flown.

Under the scheme, the services of the air carriers will be engaged in the collection of the terminal fee through its inclusion in the airline ticket.

Despite this development, Honrado did not discount the concerns being raised by groups opposing the integration.

“Everyone has the right to be heard. Their plan to bring their issues to court is a right they are

exercising. Same right to be heard was also our basis why we worked so hard on this effort. This integration has been the clamor over the years from passengers using NAIA,” he said.

Honrado also allayed fears of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) that they have to line up for refunds, clarifying that exemptions will be honored at the point of sale provided the OFWs and others exempted can show proof of entitlement or exemption.

(PNA)

FDESPITE, 10

Terminal fee integration into tickets to proceed next month

T

HE Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Wednesday announced that all systems are go for the integration of the terminal fee into the cost of airline tickets next month.

MIAA general manager Jose Angel Honrado said the integration of the terminal fee into the cost of airline ticket will begin November 1.

Honrado said the first effort to integrate dates back to 20 years ago.

However, there were issues that MIAA and the

7 PROPERTY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 164 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 1, 2014

Nothing beats prime condo living at Northpoint

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ITH its central location at the pulse of north Davao’s growth area, Northpoint offers the best home location for those wanting to live, work, and play at the center of an exciting urban locale.

Northpoint is a masterplanned development of Vista Residences, the vertical marketing arm of Vista Land, the largest homebuilder in the country. It is by far the condo community in the city that offers the best in location, amenities, safety and privacy, maintenance, cost and resale value.

Location. Northpoint is nestled within the heart of all the action north of the city.

Built on elevated land at the junction of two major thoroughfares, Buhangin Road and JP Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Northpoint is a premier address desired by those who prefer a vibrant city life.

It is located within Davao’s business district and

commercial center, making it an attractive place to live for businesspeople, young professionals, and other urban workers. A few kilometers away from Northpoint are malls, boutiques, and high-end retail shops, making shopping a pleasant and relaxing experience for those who call it home.

Dining options are also vast and varied, with international chain restaurants, fine dining, bistros, and home grown food joints offering international, local, and fusion cuisines. On top of all these, public transportation is accessible just outside the condo property, reducing commute time and cost.

Amenities. Northpoint’s world-class facilities and amenities are showcased by its majestic clubhouse called Wakefield Manor, situated in the middle of the condo property and surrounded by the condo buildings and hundreds of imported Caribbean

pine trees.

Wakefield Manor has a multi-purpose hall with wide windows that allow breeze to flow through, giving also an expansive vista of the greenery outside. A short flight of stairs leads to a good-sized adult swimming pool and a kiddie splash pool with salinated water. A fitness gym offers equipment for exercise, and cabanas and grill pits are available at the pool area. There are pocket gardens, jogging track, nature park, and a playground.

Soon a commercial center will be built atop the hill beside Northpoint’s main entryway, offering a new lifestyle destination that will become the city’s shopping and dining

hotspot and the place to be and be seen. The White House Asian Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge, a fine dining restaurant, is currently housed at the iconic white mansion on the same hill, offering a taste of what’s to come when the lifestyle center is built.

Safety and Privacy.

Northpoint has round-theclock security and the main entry gates are manned and hooked up with CCTV that monitors the entry and exit of people and vehicles. This ensures the safety of homeowners and assures their privacy are protected as they go about enjoying the facilities or simply chilling out in their condo homes.

Should they decide to just

lock up and leave—either for a short business trip or a longer vacation—Northpoint homeowners can have peace of mind knowing the security system, as well as the presence of their neighbors within the building, gives them the assurance that their condo homes will be safe and sound.

Competitive Rates. Northpoint has one of the most competitive rates in the condo market in the city, and it is arguably more affordable than a single family home of the same level of prestige. Its price range is within reach of first-time buyers, young professionals, even single-income families.

There may be other condominiums priced comparably, but these are found in less desirable locations in the city. With Northpoint’s prime location and amenities, its resale value is higher than most, giving investors guaranteed returns, making it truly a prime investment.

Maintenance. One of the perks of living in Northpoint is having the exterior maintenance taken off the hands of its homeowners. Cleaning the pool, repainting the building, mowing the lawn, watering and trimming the plants, cleaning the gutters, and other taxing and expensive maintenance work are done for the homeowners by the property management team that also oversees the condo community’s social activities.

All these features make Northpoint the benchmark for prime condo living, making it the ideal home for those seeking a modern, convenient, and exciting lifestyle.Nothing says convenience like the heart of north Davao.

More information on Northpoint is available at the Camella offices at Delgar Building (fronting Northpoint), JP Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City, telephone numbers 2263100

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EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

I

VOL. 7 ISSUE 164 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 1, 2014

The cost of dying

T’S that time again when we remember our dear departed loved ones.

At this time, most of us are on our way to cemeteries to visit the dead. Many too are on their way the provinces to commemorate All Soul’s Day and spend a break to be reunited with family and relatives.

While we commemorate those who have gone ahead of us, it also gives us the opportunity to ponder about own passing and assess if we are actually prepared for it or not. Depending on one’s religion, there are different ways to prepare. But another aspect we can also look into is the cost of dying in our country.

Simply put, how much does it cost to die nowadays?

It’s not really our culture to talk about dying but we also do not want to sound insensitive in considering death an expense. However, morbid it may sound, we need to prepare for this kind of expense. It’s the reality. The cost of dying can range from several thousand pesos up to a million depending on one’s financial status, and yes, spending mood despite mourning. Because this topic isn’t usually discussed, most Filipinos find themselves financially unprepared when faced with the inevitable.

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By conservative estimates, a coffin and five-day wake in a low budget funeral parlor will cost P8,000 to P10,000. If you opt for an upscale funeral, the same funeral will cost P15,000 to P30,000.

For cremation, the regular rate is P15,000, powder fine cremation is at P150,000 and five-day viewing plus cremation is P140,000 to P150,000.

Burial at columbariums is at P20,000 to P29,000. Burial lot these days cost P500,000 to P1 Million if bought on the same day of funeral. Rental fees on public cemeteries could fetch from P300 year in the provinces and P1,000 in cities.

Funeral costs vary depending on your preference—whether we want to be buried in a cemetery or be cremated. The thing is, make sure that your family will be ready for this kind of recurring expense.

Losing a loved one can be very difficult. Having a memorial plan when this happens will help provide security and peace of mind for your grieving family. Uncomfortable as it may seem, one can start preparing for this today and ensure a peaceful exit for the benefit of the family members who will be left behind.

That’s just fair enough. Even in death, we should not be a burden.

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:

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EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 164 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 1, 2014

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A party has got to be more than just a sailboat to Malacañang!

A

political party is serious business. It deals with matters of State and the people’s destiny. It defines what society needs in order to make citizens prosper, secure, happy. And it provides worthy leaders to carry the agenda forward.

A party is also a team, not just an ambitious person posturing as a Messiah. Nor is it some oligarch or political entrepreneur with a cabal of investors eager to cash in on elections. It’s an institution, not just a vehicle to power or fame.

A party’s task, first of all, is to define the state of the nation and what measures are needed to mitigate its problems and advance the people’s welfare—all of the people, not just the family’s. It’s a task that requires knowledge and discernment and the party’s best analysis of causes and effects.

It’s imperative therefore that the party consists of the best and brightest it can attract to its fold. And to be successful, it must have a platform, program, and leaders with multi-sectoral appeal. ***** Is there a party today that offers good analyses of the state of our society, with sensible prescriptions for improving its conditions? Of those who aspire to national leadership, who inspires confidence and nobility of purpose?

Are there potential statesmen among them? Our people deserve better than grandstanding traditional politicians, trapos, who spend our money and their working time electioneering and positioning for the next elections.

We have been very foolish in allowing

“I

THE WORM’S EYEVIEW

BY MANNY VALDEHUESA our elections to be dominated by the power-greedy and the self-serving. They aggravate our society’s problems with their unseemly agendas.

And we have been very lax in allowing the party system to be bastardized by any grandstanding Juan, Pedro, or Jojo out to build an economic empire and a dynasty. ***** For example, the Binay camp has announced that it has formed a new party for the purpose of contesting the 2016 elections.

Actually, it’s just a warmed-over version of the so-called “United Nationalist Alliance,” which capitalized on its alphabetical/ chronological advantage to snare voter support and nothing else.

In the logic of its ringleaders—Jejomar Binay, Joseph Estrada, and Juan Ponce Enrile—“UNA” means first; thus irresistible to naïve, superstitious, gambling-addicted, and similarly-disposed voters that want to be first.

True enough, it catapulted Makati’s quintessential trapo to within a breath away from the presidency. But does anyone have any idea of what his “new” party stands for? ***** What’s obvious is how this so-called party is driven by the politics of personality and patronage. “Vote for Binay and his team

and get free movies year-round, plus a cake for seniors on their birthday!”

Counting heavily on the ignorance and naiveté of the masses, it’s a party founded on cynicism. Why else would it choose Manny Pacquiao as its first choice to be senator, a position requiring uncommon education, knowledge, and wisdom in a leader?

It’s the height of cynicism to substitute mental acuity with fisticuffs and brute strength. Does it make sense to have a boxer for a statesman or senator of the realm, just because he has billions in campaign funds?

Yet no one so much as makes a “Boo!” at this naked bid to ride on the perverted values of our voters. The sad part of this cruel hoax is, it may serve the ends of vanity and shameless ambition! ***** Knowing how campaigns have been waged by this Makati-tested gang of conspirators, can vote-buying, patronage, voter-manipulation, and assorted dirty tricks be discounted?

This is a team that thrives on the reality of endemic poverty: how it twists the values of poor but otherwise honorable folks, and how it makes mendicants of the poor and desperate.

Underemployment today afflicts one-half or so of the nation’s labor force, of whom 15 percent are totally unemployed. It’s a demographic fact that’s made-to-order for a party of trapos, one with an unbeatable record of patronage in Makati.

And no one bothers to ask the important questions, like what’s UNA’s platform or reform program? Does it believe in equal op-

portunity for all, how it relates to the issue of political dynasties? ***** How about foreign policy; will it be expounded by the Pambansang Kamao to guide its Senate lineup in vetting international treaties, which is an essential role of the Upper Chamber? There are myriad issues in our republic that a party must address.

The top 15 percent of Filipino families control over 40 percent of our nation’s wealth, and the bottom 15 percent fight over just a fifth of it like hungry dogs over a piece of meat. We’re a very troubled society requiring extraordinary vision and leadership.

The least to expect of a group claiming to be a party is a platform of government.

How will UNA empower people, grow the economy, conduct foreign affairs? What about industry, agriculture, land ownership, climate change, other issues!

In other words, how will it reduce poverty, lessen inequality, foster harmony, and promote peace—and thereby raise the National Gross Happiness?

A party has got to be more than just a sailboat to Malacañang!

(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 Govt’s Peace Panel; awardee, PPI-UNICEF outstanding columnist. He is president/national convenor, Gising Barangay Movement Inc. valdehuesa@gmail.com)

nounced to all the world: Here stands on this small point of Planet Earth a person who dared to dream the impossible dream, a person who confirms for all of us our human divineness.

Here stands Mary Groda Lewis, M.D.” Life is a continuous struggle. Every single day, we have to face ups and downs. It may be shining today but you can never tell if it rains tomorrow. “Thorns and roses grow on the same tree,” a Turkish proverb reminds.

Like marriage, life is not “a bed of roses,” to quote the words of Robert Louis Stevenson. “If your life is not a bed of roses, then take heart,” suggests Dr. Farina. “Find success and satisfaction in the midst of stress and struggle!”

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going,” someone once said. That’s the basic root of failure – the inability to “tough it out.” You should consider tough times as a way to prove yourself that you can make it no matter how.

Although Henri Matisse was nearly 28 years younger than Auguste Renoir, the two great French artists were dear friends and frequent companions. When Renoir was confined to his home during the last decade of his life, Matisse visited him frequently. Renoir, almost paralyzed by arthritis, continued to paint in spite of his infirmities.

One day, as Matisse watched his friend working in his studio, fighting tortuous pain with each brush stroke, he suggested, “Auguste, why do you continue to paint when you are in such agony?”

Renoir replied simply: “The beauty remains; the pain passes.” And so, almost to his dying day, Renoir put paint to canvas. One of

his most famous paintings, The Bathers, was completed just two years before his passing, 14 years after he was stricken by the disabling disease.

“But there is suffering in life, and there are defeats,” said Paulo Coelho. No one can avoid them. But it’s better to lose some of the battles in the struggles for your dreams than to be defeated without ever knowing what you’re fighting for.”

In 1962, four young American women wanted to start a professional singing career. They started performing in their church and doing small concerts. Then came their time to cut a record. It was a flop. Later, another record was recorded. The sales were a fiasco. The third, fourth, fifth and on through their ninth recordings were all failures.

Early in 1964, they were booked for The Dick Clark Show. He barely paid enough to meet expenses and no great contracts resulted from their national exposure. Later that summer, they recorded “Where Did Our Love Go?” This song raced to the top of the charts, and Diana Ross and the Supremes gained national recognition and prominence as a musical sensation.

No matter what, don’t stop trying. Winners never quit; quitters never win. If you fail, try and try again. Until you will get there.

“It is a mistake to suppose that men succeed through success; they much oftener succeed through failures,” Samuel Smiles pointed out.

“Precept, study, advice, and example could never have taught them so well as failure has done.”

Life is not a bed of roses

F we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change,” Buddha once said.

Oftentimes, life is compared to a rose. It has two compelling attributes: beautiful petals and unwanted thorns. “A thorn defends the rose, harming only those who would steal the blossom,” says a Chinese proverb.

“The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious to the rose,” poet Kahlil Gibran wrote.

Tom Wilson, in a Ziggy comic strip, observed, “You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses.”

“But he that dares not grasp the thorn,” Anne Bronte advices, “should never crave the rose.” A Persian proverb said it in a different manner: “He who wants a rose must respect the thorn.”

“The sharp thorn often produces delicate roses,” Ovid reminded. If you don’t believe, ask any gardener. “He or she understands that the strongest and most productive plants aren’t grown in the hothouse but amid the harsh extremes of real life,” explained the late Dr. Samuel Farina. “People are a lot like plants. We bloom best when under stress. We rise to a challenge and grow stronger through adversity.”

As a child, Mary Groda did not learn to read and write. American experts labeled her retarded. As an adolescent, she “earned” an additional label, “incorrigible,” and was sentenced to two years in a reformatory. It was here, ironically, in this closed-in place, that Mary – bending to the challenge to learn – worked at her

task for as long THINK ON THESE! as 16 hours a day.

Her hard work paid off. She was awarded her high school diploma.

But more misfortune came her way. After leaving the reformatory, she got pregnant and was left alone to Henrylito D. Tacio take care of the baby. Then, two henrytacio@gmail.com years later, a second pregnancy resulted in a stroke, erasing her hard-earned powers of reading and writing.

Wit the help and support of her father, Mary battled back, regaining what she had lost.

In dire financial straits, Mary went on welfare. Finally, to make ends meet, she took in seven foster children. It was during this period that she started taking courses at a community college. Upon completion of her course work, she applied to and was accepted by the Albany Medical School to study medicine.

This was what happened, according to a news dispatch released by the Associated Press: “In the spring of 1984 in Oregon, Mary Groda Lewis – she’s married now – paraded in full academic regalia across the graduation stage. No one can know what private thoughts went through Mary’s mind as she reached out to grasp this eloquent testimony to her self-belief and perseverance, her diploma that an-

10

NEWS

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EDGEDAVAO

DSWD 11 pays social pension to over 1,000 senior citizens

RCS. It must be integrated in existing government buildings, specially public schools and public markets. Owners of other existing buildings are encouraged to install RCS. The installation of RCS is a mandatory requirement in the issuance of a new building permit. The proper harvesting, storage and utilization of rainwater shall be integrated with the proper design, construction, and maintenance of drainage systems that will imitate the natural hydrology of the developed site.

Harvested rainwater

stored in tanks and cisterns should be used as additional water for non-health purposes such toilet flushing, general cleaning, gardening, laundry, car washing, fire-fighting, and construction.

The city government will also prepare guidelines for the grant of subsidies and tax rebates to owners of existing agricultural, residential, industrial, institutional and commercial buildings or plantations upon installation of an RCS in compliance with the provisions of the ordinance.

He said the services will be offered to men who want to undergo the procedure for free.

CHO Population Program Officer Jeff Y. Fuentes said the NSV was launched in 2008 but was introduced in the city last year because of its participation in the World Vasectomy Day. Fuentes said while Davao had the highest number of men undergoing NSV, the procedure still had a low acceptance rate based on their Information system. This prompted the city to participate in the world event to intensify their information cam-

paign on men’s responsibility in reproductive health.

As of this month, the CHO has recorded a total of 398 NSV clients who availed themselves of the operation since the launching in 2008.

On November 5 to 7, there will be a free NSV procedure at Thomas Claudio Health Center in Quirino Avenue.

On November 6, a forum on men’s responsibility in reproductive health will be conducted among barangay captains at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao.

Fuentes said the NSV is also available every last Friday of the month.

said their office has already facilitated the approval of 20 CADTs across the region.

Eight of these are in North Cotabato, six in South Cotabato and three each in Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani, he said.

The official said the approved CADTs comprise a total of 233,530 hectares within the four provinces.

Sarangani topped the list with 166,849 hect-

ares, followed by South Cotabato with 159,984 hectares, North Cotabato with 42,694 hectares and Sultan Kudarat with 30,852 hectares.

“The approval of these CADTs were made by the Commission en banc and these were issued to tribes and communities and not to individuals,” Bogay said in a statement.

CADTs are awarded to a tribe while the Certificates of Ancestral Land

Title are issued to claimant families or clans.

Lawyer Adolf Ryan Lantion, hearing officer of NCIP-12, said the declared ancestral domains may not be “sold, disposed or destroyed.”

“That is absolute,” he said, citing the provisions of Republic Act 8371 or the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA).

Meantime, around 200 tribal leaders from various parts of the re-

and transport equipment, and copper meal.

Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n equipment and electrical machineries comprised the largest share of Philippine imports from China, at 15.5 percent. This was followed by other mineral fuels and lubricants, power generating and specialized machines, miscellaneous manufactures, iron and steel, and non-metallic mineral manufactures.

But Balisacan said in bilateral investment, the Philippine foreign direct investment or FDI in China is relatively small compared to other Asian countries.

“In 2012, the value of Philippine FDI in China was $132.2 million, accounting for only 0.15 percent of Asia’s total value of FDI in China. However, this is 18.2 percent more than what was recorded in 2011, according to China’s National Bureau of

Statistics,” he said.

Balisacan said China’s overall investment in the Philippines also remains comparatively small.

“In 2013, China’s net FDI amounted to $6 million. Furthermore, the approved investments from China in the Philippines declined in 2013 by 37.6 percent to P1.24 billion from P1.99 billion in the previous year,” he said.

“However, it is encouraging that in the first semester of 2014, approved investments from China increased to P9.62 billion from P245.6 million in the same period last year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. Manufacturing, administrative and support services, and information and communication activities were the main recipients of approved investments from China,” he added.

Balisacan said the latest figures from the Depart-

ment of Tourism show that Mainland China is the fourth largest tourist market in the country, accounting for 9.4 percent of total arrivals. In 2013, arrivals from Mainland China posted a 69.9 percent growth compared to the 2012 tally.

In terms of overseas employment, China accounted for 0.3 percent share of the total overseas Filipino deployment stock estimate in 2012. These include temporary, permanent, and irregular workers. China has been a major destination for teachers in the last five years, he said.

“Keeping in mind the aforementioned indicators, I believe that economic opportunities and growth potentials are promising for our country. I encourage you to keep up your confidence in the Philippine economy as we are now on a higher growth path,” Balisacan said.

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 164 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 1, 2014

S

ome 1,878 senior citizens from different districts of this city received their social pension following a special validation conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Davao Region.

DSWD 11 Regional Director Priscilla N. Razon said the payout for the social pension covers the period January to

September this year with each recipient receiving Php500 per month.

She said that the payout was put on-hold during the first quarter of this year to make way for the special validation and cross matching process for the senior citizens who are not in the DSWD Listahanan data.

Listahanan is an information management system that the govern-

ment uses in identifying who and where the poor are. It aims to reduce poverty through a scientific and target-focused strategy.

Identification of social pensioners was based on the Listahanan database and the listing submitted by the City/ Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices (C/MSWDOs).

The Social Pension

Program for Indigent Senior Citizens is one of the provisions under Section 5 of Republic Act 9994 otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010.

The Social Pension is the additional government assistance of Php500 monthly stipend to augment the daily subsistence and other medical needs of needy senior citizens. (PNA)

STILL TEXTING. A pedestrian texts while crossing the street even at the height of a heavy downpour that submerged some streets in downtown Davao City on Wednesday night. Lean Daval Jr. gion joined a simple ceremony hosted by NCIP-12 on Wednesday at the city hall grounds of Koronadal City in celebration of the 17th anniversary of the signing of the IPRA law by President Fidel Ramos.

Dubbed “IPRA Hour,” the celebration included tribal rituals and a brief program that was highlighted by the sharing of messages of support from various sectors.(PNA)

Task Force... FFROM 2 gional Internal Affairs Services (RIAS) 11.

“Members of SITG Corral are not discounting the possible involvement of other personalities who might have taken advantage of the issue and those who had ill feelings against Mr. Corral which caused the blame on PO1 Villegas,” the SITG said.

“As far as the intel operatives of PS8 (Toril PNP) are concerned, there are no concrete evidence to prove their possible involvement on the said case.” it added.

The SITG said it still continues to conduct follow-up investigations for the resolution of the case.

Earlier, acting DCPO chief Superintendent Pepino said they have not found any evidence that will establish the connection of the seven police officers to the death of Corral VII. Authorities also said they are having a hard time looking for witnesses in the killing for Corral.

Corral was found dead with five gunshot wounds at around 3:30 a.m. on September 13 in Juan dela Cruz Street in Toril, Davao City.

His body was found days after he was mauled before dawn on September 10 allegedly by PO1 Villegas.

the Philippines’ 10th leading trade partner, with bilateral trade that year amounting to $4.47 billion. The Philippines was ranked Malaysia’s 18th largest trading partner for 2013.

Within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippines was Malaysia’s fifth largest export destination, fiftth largest import sources, and the fifth largest trading partner in 2013.

“In the end it is all about making sure that it is going to be a successful for Malaysia, Mindanao, and the people of Mindanao,” Ahmad said.

Ayup said Malaysia also gives premium on trade

relationships and how Mindanao and Malaysia can enhance those that are in place already.

“We would like to enhance bilateral relationships in export, import, and investment,” she said.

“We would like to make an awareness of the opportunities for investment…then we can spur interests, and then concrete bilateral opportunities for agreements.”

BIMP-EAGA and IMTGT refer to Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area and Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle. It is an economic subregional conference of the ASEAN.

Malaysia...FFROM 6 cil (MTC) Trade Promotion and Marketing executive Loh Pau Seen said the Philippines holds great potential for export of Malaysia’s timber and timber products, particularly in sawn timber such as red meranti and mixed light hardwood (MLH).

“The Filipino timber market is familiar with Malaysian timber species,” said Seen. “Filipino importers and end-users recognized Malaysia’s strong capacity to supply timber products sufficiently.”

Matrade’s Ahmad also said Malaysia is looking at the possibility of investing in oil palm plantations.

In 2013, Malaysia was

HEALTH 11

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 164 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 1, 2014

Who says aids doesn’t matter?

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“I

T is bad enough that people are dying of AIDS, but no one should die of ignorance.”

– Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor They have one thing in common: they are young, handsome, and have a body to die for. But they are engaged in the world’s oldest profession.

There’s Mark, a 22-yearold former call center agent. He quit his job because he could not endure the edginess of night shift. So, he is back now to what he used to do when he joined the bikini open contests when he was still a teenager. In one of the competitions, he met a businessman who offered him a huge sum to go to bed with him. At first, he was reluctant, but being tipsy and needing money, he went with the older man.

It was the beginning. When he found out that the gay community, particularly the young professionals, are running after those with macho bodies, he underwent a body transformation by going to the gym. After two months of hard work, he finally got the body he used to imagine. He became popular among his customers.

That was what his cousin, Jake, observed, too. When he arrived from Manila last year, he noticed that Mark talked to different people, mostly members of the third sex. Usually, Mark would tell him that that he had to go out for a while -- mostly an hour or so. When Mark returned, he saw his cousin having some cash already.

At one time, Jake confronted Mark about it. When he found about it, he told Mark that he wanted to do it also. To make the long story short, he also became involved in the human flesh industry.

“I would quit doing this when I graduate from college,” says Jake, now 20 and studying in one of the big universities in Davao City. “I am doing this because my parents sometimes could not send me money during examinations.”

There’s Daniel, an 18-year-old half-Chinese. He looks like the very popular actor with the same name. Once he was with his friends attending a party. While his friends were dancing, an American came to him. They talked for a few moments, and then the American told him that he was staying in a hotel. “If you have time, you can come to my hotel room,” the foreigner said before leaving.

Daniel was surprised by what the American said. But he had already an idea since he heard some stories from

friends who had the same experience before. He was not only curious but he also wanted to buy a new cellular phone.

He went to the hotel, knocked on the door, and there he saw the American. “Come in,” the foreigner said. The door locked and indeed it was what he thought. At the middle of the tryst, the American wanted to perform anal sex but Daniel objected. And so, the American made him an offer: to perform oral sex on him and he would pay the teenager P15,000.

Although he couldn’t imagine doing it at first, he did eventually. “I really needed the money,” he said, adding that he had gone out with 27 people already. “But I do it only when I badly need some cash,” he said.

When Mark, Jake, and Daniel were asked if they were not afraid of contracting the dreaded Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), they said they select their customers. “I don’t go out with just anyone,” said Daniel. “When I do anal penetration, I usually use a condom,” Jake said. “Doing anal sex is a big no for me,” Mark declared.

Most of the HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) cases in Davao City come from males having sex with males (MSMs), according to Alma Mondragon, the Mindanao executive director of Alliance Against Aids in Mindanao.

The National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health had recorded a total of 1,109 HIV/AIDS cases in Davao Region. About 921 of those cases were from Davao City. That means Davao City contributed about 82 percent of the cases, Mondragon said.

But the good news is: Davao Region decreased its HIV/AIDS cases in a matter of four years. Ranked No. 2 in the country in 2010, it dropped to No. 5 this year.

But the region should not be complacent. Those reported cases were only those documented by the health department. “Perhaps there may be more cases since there are still many who have not been tested and have not been diagnosed yet in the final report,” Mondragon was quoted as saying during the I-Speak Media Forum at the Davao City Hall.

In order for people, particularly those engaged in high risk behaviors, to know if they are positive for the virus, the city government is offering free HIV/ AIDS testing.

“You don’t have to worry since the City Health Of-

fice Reproductive Health and Wellness Center assures that the testing is confidential and free,” said Mondragon.

“HIV testing is different among all the health services because the patients don’t just come in prepared,” Dr. Jordana P. Ramiterre, RHWC chief, was quoted as saying by a local daily. “With HIV/AIDS, you have to really sell it that it is being done in all confidentiality and all the information being gathered are in actual privacy so it’s really one-onone for every individual.”

HIV is a stage where there are no physical symptoms visible.

In AIDS, the disease is manifested with malignancies and infections.

“Between HIV and AIDS, there is a window period of as much as five years,” said Dr. Ramiterre.

AIDS is caused by a deficiency in the body’s immune system. “It is a syndrome because there are a range of different symptoms which are not always found in each case,” explains Dr. John Hubley, author of The AIDS Handbook.

“It is acquired because AIDS is an infectious disease caused by a virus which is spread from person to person through a variety of routes. This makes it different from immune deficiency from other causes such as treatment with anticancer drugs or immune system suppressing drugs given to persons receiving transplant operations.”

The origin of HIV and AIDS is still a mystery until now. There have been many theories but none so far have been proven. During the early stages of the AIDS epidemic, the flimsiest evidence was used to blame AIDS on certain groups, countries, or animals. Kenneth Kaunda, former president of Zambia, urged: “It is not important to know where it came from but rather where it is going!”

HIV is present in all body fluids of an infected person but is concentrated in blood, semen and vaginal fluids. Virtually, it is present in all body tissues and organs including the brain and spinal cord. It can be found in tears, saliva and breast milk although these last three are not considered significant routes of infection.

In fact, you don’t get HIV from kissing. To be infected, you need to imbibe 32 liters of an infected person’s saliva, according to Health Action Information Network (HAIN).

“That would be enough saliva to fill up the gasoline tank of six-by-six truck. And the

transfer should happen in one kissing session!” HAIN said.

“A single sexual encounter can be sufficient to transmit HIV,” Dr. Hubley wrote. “Although the risk from an individual sexual act may be low, the more times a person has sex, the greater the likelihood that transmission will take place. Women appear to be more at risk than men from heterosexual sex. The transmission of HIV from man to woman is believed to take place more easily than from woman to man.”

“The great majority of reason how it is acquired however is really through unprotected sex and drug use,” Dr. Ramiterre pointed

out. “We again say that it is not who you are but what you do which poses you the risk of having AIDS.” People who are positive of HIV should not lose hope.

CHO’s Dr. Josephine Villafuerte said HIV must not be associated with death since there are now medicines which can prolong their lives. “There are free medicines we can provide for them,” he assured.

A “lifelong treatment” is how Dr. Gerard Belimac, program manager of the DOH National AIDS/STI Prevention and Control, describes of treatment for people living with HIV. Dr. Belimac said that outpatients or those receiving therapy in their own

homes would have to get the anti-retroviral drugs from one of the 26 treatment hubs in the country. He urged them to consistently see their doctors.

Like most diseases, HIV can be prevented – as easy as ABC: abstain from sex, be faithful to your partner, use condoms, especially if you have multiple partners, don’t share needles, and be educated on HIV, a health expert reiterated.

“HIV is highly preventable,” said Dr. Belimac. “The government can only provide you information, diagnosis, and treatment. But the most effective way of preventing HIV is still heavily depends on the practices of informed individuals.”

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UP AND ABOUT

RETALIATE: Double Tap

By ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 164 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 1, 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

GMA Network launches light fantasy drama series ‘More Than Words’ GMA Network will have the viewers swooning and smiling at the same time as the newest light-hearted drama series More Than Words begins this November. The show makes a case for the power of writing one’s own life to find love.

SAVE the date for Retaliate as the Comeback Crew celebrates its 2nd anniversary at the Felis Resort Complex on November 8, 2014.

The Comeback Crew is a member of the Groove Unlimited Dance Community which was known as one of the best talents in hip hop dancing in the city.

Retaliate 2014 is a fundraising event that will showcase elite local talents battle it out with visiting entries from other parts of the country in Krump, Locking and Freestyle.

Battles for Krump and Locking will be a separate category to help the growing community in Davao not to mention the confirmation of “The Funky” James Wong of Move Manila and Phil Pamintuan aka “Mudra” as guest judges of the event. Both of which are certified Hip Hop International judges.

Not only will it be a just a plain dance battle, it’ll be a party as well as the crew celebrates its 2nd year.

There will always be a dance party and drinks for everyone who will watch and join the event.

Flashback to last year’s Retaliate, the Philippine All Stars Dance Crew joined the event where Pax Sorrosa of Bandila Fusion won the freestyle battle. This year would be as good as last year as they cover Top 16 genre in freestyle: Bboying, Popping, Locking, House, Krump, New School/Urban, Femme (Waacking and Vogue) or Old School.

Retaliate: Double Tap is now open for registration.

Registration for Battlers is 275 pesos and 175 pesos for the audience who will watch the battles and join the party. Registration will start at 2 in the afternoon and the battles will start at 3. Party will start right after the competition up until midnight.

To register just send your name, contact number and chosen genre to thecomebackdancecrew@gmail. com. For KRUMP and Locking just send your name and contact number to the same email account or contact 09433399835.

Double tap now and retaliate!

Sun Postpaid supports Miss World PH bets THE official text voting for the Miss World Philippines 2014 Coronation Night powered by Sun Cellular was a success, with Sun subscribers showing full support for their favorite Ms. World Philippines candidates via their Sun phones.

A first in the renowned beauty pageant’s fouryear history, Miss World Philippines offered text polling exclusively to Sun Cellular prepaid and postpaid subscribers, allowing them to vote for their favorite candidates with just a few clicks on the Sun-powered cellphones.

More Than Words stars Janine Gutierrez and Elmo Magalona, the widely embraced Kapuso love team that will once again captivate the audience, following the hit remake of Villa Quintana.

Putting Janine Gutierrez in a new light is her portrayal of Ikay, a girl taunted as a weirdo at school because of her unique looks and constant daydreaming and spacing out most of the time. She finds solace in writing fiction online, creating the character of Katy Perez in her work entitled Diary of a Queen Bee. Unlike Ikay, Katy is a cool, popular girl adored at St. Martin’s University. In her story, she creates her dream boy, Hiro.

The next morning, Ikay is surprised when she sees a boy washed ashore. It turns out he is exactly the guy she pictured in her blog entry.

Breathing life to the character of Hiro is Elmo Magalona.

Hiro finds himself in an unfamiliar place after figuring in an accident the night he rebelled against his widowed mom. He loses his memory, starts a new life, and eventually falls for Ikay. Without any memory of his past, he builds a new life with the help of Ikay and eventually falls for her.

Set to make More Than Words all the more exciting is the ensemble cast led by Ms. Jaclyn Jose as Precy, the quirky and eccentric mother of Ikay; Gardo Versoza as Victor, the ambitious stepfather of Hiro; Yayo

Aguila as Marissa, the widowed mother of Hiro; Enzo Pineda as Nate, campus heartthrob and star player of the varsity soccer team; Stephanie Sol as Belle, the queen bee of Southville Academy, girlfriend of Nate and Ikay’s biggest bully; Mikoy Morales as Chester, the son of Victor and stepbrother of Hiro; Mayton Eugenio as Chelsea and Coleen Perez as Molly, the classy conspirators of Belle against Ikay.

Giving shelter to Hiro are Emil

and Rose, respectively portrayed by the widely-popular 80s love team of Rey PJ Abellana and Leni Santos.

Emil and Rose’s relationship turned sour after their only child died many years ago. With the arrival of Hiro, they will find their way back to each other. Taking care of Hiro, the son they wished they had, will serve to mend their rocky relationship.

Under the helm of esteemed director Andoy Ranay, More Than Words is created by the GMA Drama group headed by Lilybeth G. Rasonable, Senior Vice President for Entertainment TV; Redgie A. Magno, Vice President for Drama; Cheryl Ching-Sy, Assistant Vice President for Drama; Catherine O. Perez, Senior Program Manager; and Arlene Pilapil, Executive Producer.

The creative team is composed of Creative Director, Jun Lana; Creative Block Head, Jake Tordesillas; Creative Unit Head, Aloy Adlawan; Headwriter, Marlon Novicio; Writers, Gilbeys Sardea, and Glaiza Ramirez; Brainstormers, Michelle Amog, Patrick Louie Ilagan and Homer Novicio; and Concept by Homer Novicio.

Don’t miss the romance blossom.

Write your life and find your love in More Than Words this November on GMA.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 164 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 1, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

Cinema One Originals turns ‘Intense’ CINEMA ONE ORIGINALS, the annual cinema event of the Philippines’ number one cable channel Cinema One, celebrates its tenth year with the theme “Intense.”

Alongside the full-length digital movies made by today’s most creative Filipino directors, the film festival also features innovative short films, restored Pinoy classics, and new works by globally renowned masters.

The entire run is from November 9 to 18 in four venues: Fairview Terraces, Glorietta, Trinoma, and Greenhills Dolby Atmos theaters.

“Cinema One Originals is definitely bigger, bolder and better. That’s

why we are describing this year’s festival as ‘intense,’” says Cinema One Channel Head Ronald Arguelles.

The centerpiece highlights are the ten new films chosen from countless script submissions. These are: “Di Sila Tatanda” by Malay Javier, “Seoul Mates” by Nash Ang, “Red” by Jay Abello, “Violator” by Eduardo Dayao, “Soap Opera” by Remton Slega Zuasola, “Lorna” by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, “Bitukang Manok” by Alec Figuracion, “Abel/Cain (Esprit de Corps)” by Kanakan Balintagos, “That Thing Called Tadhana” by Antoinette Jadaone, and “The Babysitters” by Paolo

their new short films in the C1 Originals short film program.

Mike de Leon’s “Hindi Nahahati ang Langit,” a melodrama based on Nerissa Cabral’s komiks starring Christopher de Leon and Lorna Tolentino, heads the list of C1 Originals’ lineup of restored classics.

With over 20 films to be screened, this 10th edition is the biggest since C1 Originals started in 2005. Arguelles says, “We aim to constantly

O’Hara. Today’s biggest stars have willingly shared their time and talent to star in these Cinema One Originals films; among them are Jericho Rosales, Angelica Panganiban, JM de Guzman, Angel Aquino, Lovi Poe and Rocco Nacino.

C1 Originals’ Best of Asian Asian Cinema is proud to showcase the dramatic masterpiece of Turkish director Nuri Bilge Ceylan entitled “Winter Sleep,” winner of the 2014 Cannes Film

rejuvenate the Filipino movie industry by supporting works of independent filmmakers and by offering the audience world-class films. We, the organizers, took special care in creating the program and we are excited to present them to our viewers.”

For more information and updates on the Cinema One Originals Festival, visit Cinema One’s official Facebook page (www. facebook.com/Cinema1channel).

Festival Palme D’Or. Also in this section are famous films from China— Diao Zinan’s Yinan’s mystery film “Black Coal, Thin Ice,” winner of 2014 Berlin International Film Festival Golden Bear Award; and Zhang Yimou’s historical drama love story “Coming Home” that premiered in this year’s Cannes.

The Philippines’ most notable independent filmmakers such as Joel Ruiz, Adolf Alix, Jr., Pam Miras, Keith Sicat and Eliza Esquivel will unveil

‘Forevermore’ is now Phl’s most-watched teleserye ABS-CBN’s newest primetime romantic drama series, “Forevermore,” starring Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano is now the Philippines’ number one teleserye as proven by its national TV rating of 27.1% when it premiered on Monday (October 27).

Based on data from Kantar Media, the pilot episode of “Forevermore” ranked second to “TV Patrol” in the overall list of most-watched programs nationwide. Its national TV rating was more than double the ratings of its rival series on GMA, “Hiram na Alaala,” which only garnered 12.8%.

The premiere of the Cathy Garcia-Molina and Ted Boborol-directed series also became the hottest topic online when it captured six out of Twitter’s 10 worldwide trending topics. Topping the list was the shows’s of-

ficial hashtag #ForevermoreBegins followed by ‘Enrique Gil,’ ‘Liza Soberano,’ ‘Enrique,’ ‘Liza,’ and ‘Quen.’ Direk Cathy and the line ‘Si Yves,’ mean-

while, trended on Twitter Philippines.

“Forevemore” is a unique tale about first love that blossomed between two different

people — the rebellious and irresponsible unico hijo of a hotel magnate, Xander(Enrique), and the feisty and hardworking Strawberry Jam Queen of La Trinidad, Benguet, Agnes (Liza).

The newest Kapamilya primetime series is produced by Star Creatives, the same group that brought viewers the hit romantic drama series “Princess and I” and “Got To Believe.”

Feel the thrill of falling in love for the first time in “Forevermore” weeknights after “Hawak-Kamay” on ABS-CBN Primetime Bida.

For more updates about “Forevermore,” visit Forevermore.abs-cbn.com and follow the show’s official social media accounts at Facebook.com/StarCreativesTV, Twitter.com/StarCreativesTV and Instagram. com/ StarCreativesTV.

OUIJA Olivia Cooke, Daren Kagasoff R 13

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

BLOOD RANSOM Anne Curtis, Alexander Dreymon R 16

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

BEAUTY IN A BOTTLE Angeline Quinto, Assunta De Rossi, Angelica Panganiban PG 13

R-16

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

JOHN WICK Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen R 16

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

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 7 ISSUE 164 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 1, 2014

FEATURE

Olan Emboscado

How do you celebrate Halloween?

I

N CASE you have been living under a rock or is just too much of a spoil sport, tonight is Halloween, the ‘holiday’ where kids dress up in scary costumes and go door to door looking for sweet treats. Here are some ways some Dabawenyo urbanites celebrate Halloween.

Kat Dalisay Events organizer, Manic Nightnings I dress up and go to parties, haha its the only time of the year you can dress up ng kahit na ano na gusto mo, and get away with it. LOL Monette Torres-Cutler Entrepreneur We gather at one of our relatives’ homes in Nova Tierra dressed in ‘positively-themed’ costumes (nothing scary), then go trick or treating at relatives’ homes. There are about 50 of us from the Santos Clan every year.

Then, we have a few games and dinner afterwards.

Kat Dalisay

Jolen Crame Marketing officer Having chocolates for Halloween is a must! My family also celebrates by serving pumpkin soup and pie at home.

EJ Pasia

Jolen Crame Wacky Masbad

Wacky Masbad ADDU Technical Assistant to the President for Communications I make it a point to go home to my hometown and spend time with my family. We reminisce the lives of those who have gone ahead of us - the memories we shared, the fun times we had. Of course, a good spread of home-cooked food is a requirement since it’s not always that we, especially me, get to enjoy my mom’s and sister’s cooking.

Erickson Lumakin In-patient Unit, Maxicare Healthcare Corp.

Since I am in a rescue volunteer. (Knighthawk foundation). We usually have our first aid booth in the entrance gate of San Pedro Memorial Park every Nov.1 to assist and give first aid to those who needs immediate medical

attention.

Silvia GomezGempesaw Homemaker Halloween in Davao for me is Insular and now Woodridge. My kids are big na so they go walking from house to house.

They later choose some candies (they are not so much into sweets though) and give the rest to our house help and driver for their kids. We ALL go in costumes which we buy and recycle. The kids sometimes plan their costumes months before only to change their minds as Halloween approaches.

Xioti Chiu Fashion designer I usually attend the annual couture halloween party at the Fashion Institute of the Philippines. Last year I dressed up as Ongina from RuPauls Drag Race.

I am going to miss this year’s party to focus on my collection for the Look of Style Award Competition.

Miko Lu Fornillos Entrepreneur, Fares Travel & Tours Inc My Halloween tradition would be just spending it in parties around the city such as the annual Hiphouse Star Warts Halloween Costume Party in full costume because you only get to dress up once in a year.

Leah Duran Businesswoman I usually just go out with friends for Halloween. Although Halloween is kind of boring in Davao because Dabawenyos don’t really dress up in costumes!

Ish Tan Travel Agent I usually spend it with friends grab dinner then go for drinks afterwards.

Halloween celebration here in Davao has greatly improved, resto and bars is coming up with more fun ways to celebrate it. It is the one day of the year where it is legal to dress up

Monette Torres-Cutler and her daughter Keri Leah Duran

and be crazy!

Day.

Olan Emboscado The Travel Teller We don’t have a halloween tradition in my family but what I remember instead of Halloween parties is the lighting candles outside our homes and putting out the favourite food and drinksof our dead loved ones in time for All Saints

EJ Pasia Architect On halloween, I just remember trick or treating (but not consistent), and walking along with silly outfits on my sister’s village. Nothing fancy, usually with my nieces and nephews, its all about them.

Miko Lu Fornillos

Erickson Lumakin

Silvia and her family.

Xioti Chiu

Ish Tan

VOL. 7 ISSUE 164 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 1, 2014

ZION

EDGEDAVAO

CLASSIFIED 13

EDGE

ACCUPRINT PUBLISHING, INC.

Serving a seamless society

DAVAO

WANTS YOU!

Is in need of:

MACHINE OPERATOR (Printing Press)

Qualifications:

- At least high school graduate, not more than 30 years old - Physically and mentally fit - Can handle minor repairs of the machine - Has the ability to be cool under pressure of deadlines and complex projects - Experience of at least one year

Send application letter & resume to: HR Supervisor ZION Accuprint Publishing, Inc. Door 14 Alcrej Building, Quirino Ave., 8000 Davao City, Philippines E-mail: marketing@edgedavao.net zion_publishing@yahoo.com Telefax: (082) 2213601 Website: www.edgedavao.net

ANNOUNCEMENT To serve you better Edge Davao and Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. have added a new telephone line: (082) 224-1413

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Layout Artists (2)

Male / Female, not more than 30 years old Willing to work under pressure, flexible, persuasive A team player Must have an extensive knowledge (Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign and Corel Draw)

Responsibilities: - Design and layout magazine pages, ads, brochures, flyers and marketing collateral for multiple clients - Design logos and brand identification For interested applicants, you may send your resume to: HR Department EDGEDavao

Doors 13 & 14 Alcrej B;dg., Quirino Ave., Davao City Tel. No. (082) 221-3601 Email: edgedavao@gmail.com

14

SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 164 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 1, 2014

NLEXstopsGinebrarun N

THE VETERAN. Asi Taulava of the NLEX Road Warriors drives against Greg Slaughter of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel during the PBA Philippine Cup at Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Wednesday night.

Nuki Sabio

LEX used a simple yet effective formula to cut erstwhile undefeated Barangay Ginebra down to size: zone defense.

The Road Warriors neutralized the Gin Kings’ dominant frontline and forced them to take outside shots in the payoff canto, enabling them to pull off a stunning 97-81 victory on Wednesday night to get their PBA Philippine Cup campaign back on track at the Araneta Coliseum.

After a battling backand-forth in the first three quarters, NLEX employed an airtight zone defense that threw Ginebra’s prized twin towers of Japeth Aguilar and Greg Slaughter off-balanced then found its offensive groove just in time in the payoff period to complete one of the tournament’s early stunners.

Guard Mac Cardona led all scorers with 25 points but it was the likes of Jonas Villanueva, Aldrech Ramos, KG Canaleta, Asi Taulava and rookie Jeckster Apinan who teamed up in a decisive attack in the pivotal canto where the Road Warriors outscored the Gin Kings 35-15, highlighted by a back-breaking 19-6 run.

Aside from recovering big time from an 83-101 drubbing dealt by sister team Talk ‘N Text last Friday, NLEX also improved its mark to 2-1, pulling abreast of Ginebra as its latest victim saw its twogame winning streak come to a screeching halt. Rain or Shine also totes a 2-1 card.

Ginebra’s high-flying wingman Chris Ellis tallied 12 of his 19 points in the third canto but could not get his game going, along with the 6-foot-9 Aguilar (17 markers) and the 6-foot-11 Slaughter (13 points and 17 rebounds), in the crunch when the Road Warriors took their defensive tenacity a notch higher.

Tied at the break at 34-all following a defensive battle in the first half, both teams started to heat up in the third canto, with Cardona taking the cudgels for the Road Warriors and Ellis doing the same for the Gin Kings.

But Ginebra, which took a 66-62 lead into the fourth, suddenly turned cold when NLEX locked down defensively behind a zone defense, forcing the Gin Kings to throw bricks one after another while translating every defensive stop into easy buckets.

Canaleta, a former Gin King, drained back-to-back triples, the last sparking a telling 14-1 run in a four-minute stretch, turning a fourpoint deficit into an 81-72 lead with 6:16 left to play.

A baseline jumper by center Billy Mamaril snapped Ginebra’s scoring drought but NLEX unloaded another 9-2 surge, capped by Ramos’ triple for a whopping 90-76 cushion going to the last 1:46 of play.

Mac Cardona came up ready anew against Ginebra as he finished with a gamehigh of 25 points, 10 of them coming in the third period.

Palais Omnisports to keep his challenge for the year-end No. 1 ranking well on track.

Federer could have sealed a quicker win but Chardy, who beat him on clay

at the Rome Masters earlier this season, saved two match points at 5-4 in the second set before forcing a decider with a stunning crosscourt forehand winner.

Gilas Pilipinas program Federer, Murray advance in Paris Masters set for second reboot R

I

T appears Gilas Pilipinas will be starting from scratch once again.

Manny V. Pangilinan, president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, proposed that there be a “participative and consultative approach” involving the PBA and other stakeholders in the selection of players who will represent the Philippines in international basketball tournaments in the near future.

Pangilinan pin-pointed nine international tournaments for 2015 that would be key for the Philippine team, the most important of which is the 28th FIBA Asia Championship which will be held in China next year.

The FIBA Asia Championship this coming August will serve as the regional qualifier to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.

During a meeting, the SBP Board approved the

formation of a screening-selection committee composed of SBP board members representing the UAAP, NCAA, CESAFI, NAASCU, and the SBP through executive director Sonny Barrios for national teams not involving PBA players, which would see action in the Southeast Asian Games The PBA, PBA D-League, and the SBP will get to decide the formation of the team that would compete in tournaments such as the FIBA Asia Qualifying, World Cup, and Asian Games as these would involve PBA players.

The committees will “short list” candidates for submission to the SBP Executive Committee made up of the SBP chairman, president, vice chairman, vice president and executive director “for ultimate final approval of the SBP Board of Trustees.”

OGER Federer was made to fight all the way by local favorite Jeremy Chardy before reaching the third round of the Paris Masters on Wednesday,

while Andy Murray moved one match away from qualifying for the ATP Finals.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion completed a 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 6-4 victory at the

SPIKE. Rachel Ann Daquis had 18 points to spearhead Philippine Army past PLDT Home Telpad in five sets for the Lady Troopers’ sixth straight win in the Shakey’s V-League Season 11 Foreign Reinforced Conference at the Filoil Flying V Arena. (Joaqui Flores)

VOL. 7 ISSUE 164 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 1, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS 15

NO ‘BRON NO PROB

Miami opens new Heat era

N

O LeBron James, no problem.

Miami’s new era got off to the best possible start.

Chris Bosh had 26 points and 15 rebounds, Norris Cole scored a career-high 23 points after winning Miami’s starting point-guard job, and the Heat pulled away late to beat the Washington Wizards 107-95 on Wednesday night — the first time in five years they played an opener without James.

“Heat Nation was waiting for this game,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We were waiting for this game.”

Dwyane Wade added 21 points for Miami, 12 of those down the stretch after he briefly departed with a calf injury. Luol Deng added 12 for Miami, which finished with a 44-36 rebounding edge.

“I’m just happy to be playing basketball again in front of this great crowd and this great city,” said Bosh, who matched his season average from a year ago midway through the second quarter. “We have so much going for ourselves right

now. I like to win. It doesn’t matter how we do it. We can get better.”

Marcin Gortat and Drew Gooden led the Wizards with 18 points apiece. Paul Pierce added 17 in his Washington debut, and John Wall finished with 16 points and 11 assists.

“We have to do a better job of establishing our identity,” Pierce said. “That team is not known for their rebounding. No way they should outrebound us.”

The Heat led by nine with about 9 minutes left, helped in part by a spectacular three-point play by rookie James Ennis — who took off from about midway down the paint, elevated over Rasual Butler and threw down a dunk while getting fouled.

A layup by fellow rookie Shabazz Napier made it 8475, before the Wizards came right back.

Washington peeled off eight straight points, with Otto Porter making a pair of jumpers that helped get the Wizards within one. But 3-pointers from Cole and Mario Chalmers helped Miami pull away for good.

MARKED MAN. John Wall of the Washington Wizards is tighly guarded by Miami Heat players Chris Bosh and Mario Chalmers.

END OF THE SEASON. Lakers forward Julius Randle winces in pain as the Lakers trainer checks his injury in the fourth period Tuesday Oct. 28, 2014. Top left, Randle drives against Dwight Howard of the Rockets. (AP Photo/The Orange County Register, Paul Rodriguez)

Season ends for Randle L

OS Angeles Lakers rookie forward Julius Randle is expected to miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his broken right leg.

The seventh overall pick out of Kentucky broke his leg in the fourth quarter of his NBA debut in Los Angeles’ season-opening loss to the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night. Randle was strapped to a wheeled stretcher and taken off the Staples Center court after colliding with two Rockets and landing awkwardly with 6:46 to play.

Before Wednesday’s game at Phoenix, the Lakers announced that Randle’s injury was just as serious as it appeared.

Randle’s surgery was performed by Dr. Donald Wiss at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He is expected to make a full recovery, but the Lakers anticipate he won’t play this season.

“I think we’re all a little shocked by it, disappointed, hurt, all those things are probably going through all our minds,” Lakers coach Byron Scott said before the tipoff against the Suns. “I know

I didn’t get a lot of sleep just thinking about the young fella.”

The 19-year-old power forward was the SEC’s top freshman while helping Kentucky to reach the NCAA championship game last season. He was thrilled to be drafted by his favorite childhood team to play alongside Kobe Bryant, one of his idols.

Scott said that after the game he spent time with Randle, “just basically holding him and listening to him cry and trying to console him as much as possible,” Bryant consoled Randle on the court and after the game in the Lakers’ locker room. Bryant made his own return Tuesday after missing the 2013 playoffs and all but six games last season with two major injuries.

“Even for myself, being a veteran, seeing someone going through something like this is tough,” Bryant said.

“But that’s what we’re here for. We’re here to be his teammates and help him through it, take it day by day. ... He was progressing just fine. He was improving leaps and bounds.”

Scott said there was noth-

ing violent about the play that resulted in Randle’s injury.

“He got bumped in midair but it wasn’t like he collided with anybody,” Scott said. “It just kind of looked like his left foot kind of kicked his right leg and he comes down and he just grabbed his leg. I don’t know if it was a freak accident or what but it was something that just didn’t look that bad to end up being as bad as it is.”

After Randle recovered from a broken right foot late in his high-school career in the Dallas area, he appeared to be a budding star while averaging 15.0 points and 10.4 rebounds per game as a freshman at Kentucky. He had 24 games with at least 10 points and 10 rebounds, the most in the nation and the second-most by a freshman in Division I history.

Randle also won fans in Los Angeles for his humble approach to his NBA career and his devotion to his mother, Carolyn Kyles. He chose No. 30 for his uniform because his mother wore it for her college team.

“Everybody on the team loves Julius,” Scott said. “He’s a great kid, worked his butt off.

We expected a lot from him this year so the guys are going to miss him.”

Randle and Steve Nash already have been ruled out for the season by the Lakers, who led the NBA with 319 mangames lost to injury last year during their worst season in a half-century.

Three other Lakers — Wayne Ellington, Ryan Kelly and Nick Young — also missed their opener with injuries. That means the Lakers already are guaranteed to miss 166 games due to injury this season before they play their second game Wednesday night at Phoenix.

Young is expected to be out until December after surgery on a torn thumb ligament, but Ellington and Kelly could be healthy soon.

Randle played one more game in what was supposed to be his rookie season than Blake Griffin, another high-profile power forward chosen with a high draft pick by a Los Angeles team. Griffin missed the entire 2009-10 season with the Clippers after breaking his left kneecap in their final preseason game while landing after a dunk.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 7 ISSUE 164 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 1, 2014

DAVNOR MERMAID. Bernice Arabelle Elesterio of Davao del Norte won four golds in the recent 2014 MiloLittle Olympics National Finals. Contributed photo

DavNor mermaid surprises ‘em all in Milo Little Olympics Nationals

THE BIGGER SPLASH

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

I

T was a splash that’s both methodical and magical.

Bernice Arabelle Elesterio snatched the limelight from her more illustrious rivals, taking away by surprise one gold medal after another like a gatecrasher from nowhere. At the end of the party, Davao del Norte’s young swimming sensation had four gold medals hanging on her neck like a floral lei worn by mermaids.

Add to that collection one more bronze medal for a near perfect splash in the recent 2014 Milo Little Olympics National Finals in Marikina City.

The 12-year old phenom from Maryknoll High School of Panabo City launched her campaign on a high note for Team Mindanao by winning the gold medal in the 150-meter breaststroke event. She followed it up with another individual gold medal in the 100-meter breaststroke before leading her team in the 4x50-meter freestyle relay and 4x50-meter medley relay to the gold medal.

She wrapped up her stint with a bronze medal in the 50-meter freestyle event.

Elesterio’s feat proved

to be the bigger splash among Dabawenyo athletes who took part in the annual multi-discipline event organized by Milo. Another Davao del Norte squad, Tagum City National High School, also won the gold medal in girls volleyball.

Elesterio was not really given much of a Chinaman’s chance to win the gold medal in her events but she overcame the odds by giving it a yeoman effort.

Despite the feat of Elesterio, her Mindanao squad finished third in the event.

Mindanao garnered 436 points for third place behind Visayas with 563 and eventual champion NCR with 647.5 points. Luzon finished last with 393.5 The Cebuano-led Visayas team set out to stop the National Capital Region from claiming a third straight overall title and the Perpetual Trophy in the Milo Little Olympics, but the team fell short.

Visayas won the elementary crown with 315 points, with NCR second at 298.5, but that lead was wiped out with NCR’s every showing in the secondary division, winning the crown by 101 points over Visayas.

Elesterio on her way to a bronze medal in the 150-meter breaststroke.