Edge Davao 7 Issue 249

VOL. 7 ISSUE 249 • THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

INSIDE EDGE MEALS TO GET THAT SUMMERREADY BODY

Indulge A2

NATIONAL BREAKFAST DAY. Edge Davao and Zion Accuprint Publishing, Inc. joins McDonald’s-Damosa in celebrating McDonald’s National Breakfast Day yesterday by treating newspaper distributors and dealers around the city with free sandwiches and Edge Davao shirts. Foreground photo shows a McDonald’s store manager happily handing over a sandwich to a newsboy. Lean Daval Jr.

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

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HE four main law enforcement agencies in Davao Region will now focus on breaking the big drug groups in the region following the arrest of Khalid Palawan, the alleged leader of the Bathala Drug Group, and other members of the group in Davao City over the weekend.

In yesterday’s AFPPNP Press Corps briefing at the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Conference Room, Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 deputy regional director for operations Senior Superintendent Aaron Aquino said PRO 11, the

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 11, the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 11, and Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) 11 will act as one team to fight illegal drugs.

“We have come up with a one-PNP approach. In short we are already one team... We are consolidating our effort... to fight the

problem of illegal drugs,” Aquino said.

He said the coordinated efforts are being carried out through the Regional Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (RAIDSOTF) 11, which is composed of the DCPO, CIDG 11, PDEA 11, RIU11, and divisions under the PRO 11 such as Regional Public Safety Battalion (RPSB) 11, Regional Investigation and Detection Management Division (RIDMD) 11, Maritime Police 11, Highway Patrol Group (HPG) 11, and the four Police Provincial Offices in the region.

Aquino said the RAIDSOTF 11, which he chairs, was tasked

to submit to the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame its lists of wanted persons and those targeted for arrest.

The task force was also told to submit its watch list of people involved in illegal drug activities in the region.

Aquino said he called the task force members on Tuesday to validate and update the lists to identify the big groups operating in the region.

He said Khalid Palawan, who goes by the alias King, is not even the most wanted drug dealer in the region.

CATCH BIG FISH Law enforcers ordered to break bigtime drug ring FCATCH, 14

2 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 249 • THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

HOT COPIES AND WARM BREAKFAST. A newspaper dealer puts on a new Edge Davao shirt given by the management and staff of Edge Davao and Zion Accuprint Publishing, Inc., together with McDonald’s-Damosa which distributed free hamburgers during yesterday’s National Breakfast Day kick-off activity. Inset, Edge Davao and Zion Accuprint staff join McDonald’s employees with the popular ‘McDo’ hand over head gesture. Lean Daval Jr.

DCPO still on red alert

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

ESPITE there being no security threats on the city, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) is still on red alert due to the continuing all-out offensive of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) against the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF) in Maguindanao.

In an interview yesterday, DCPO director Vicente D. Danao Jr. told reporters that the police cannot be complacent with because the threat of terrorism can happen anytime.

“We cannot discount the threat of terrorism and crim-

inality regardless if there are wars happening in Mindanao,” he said.

Danao said all security forces in the city will convene to formulate security plans to ensure the safety of the people.

“We will be calling the AFP, BFP (Bureau of Fire Protection) as well as the LGU (local government unit) and non-government organizations,” he said.

Danao had earlier said there will be a random checkpoints in some parts of the city to ensure the safety of

the people and visitors for the 78th Araw ng Davao Celebration.

He said the strict security will be concentrated on the places of activity, especially the streets on which the parade will traverse.

Danao also said carrying backpacks and tumblers are still discouraged, but people, especially tourists who do not know the said prohibition, can submit them to the police for tagging.

He explained that backpacks have many compartments that make it easy to

hide prohibited materials.

Danao said he will request around 100 personnel from the Regional Public Safety Battalion 11 to assist the DCPO in securing the activities.

He requested the public to cooperate with the tight security measures that will be implemented.

He also encourage the public to report suspicious looking people who leave unattended baggage. The people can report such sightings to the ISUMBONG kay CDDCPO hotline 0925-8233-276.

‘Pinas!”, said a professional boxing bout in the US is taxed a total of 35 percent by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

He said this is a bit higher than the approximately 30 percent imposed by the BIR in bouts that Manny will do in the Philippines.

He said the amount of tax that Manny pays in the US is creditable in the Philippines.

Aspe said the US tax credits will be more than enough

to wipe out whatever amount Pacquaio is assessed here in the Philippines.

However, Pacquaio is still required by law to file tax information about the taxes that he has paid in the US. “It is different matter if the fight is done in Macau or in countries that do not impose income tax on boxing bouts and similar events,” according to Aspe, saying that in that case, Pacquaio will be

compelled to pay taxes for his income in Macau and similarly situated countries.

Aspe, however, clarified he is not against a proposal in Congress to exempt Pacquiao in his bout in the US and other future fights, saying matters of legislation are within the jurisdiction of lawmakers and the BIR’s job is just to implement tax laws approved by Congress and signed into law by the President. AMA

If fight is held in America, no need to exempt Manny from tax: BIR

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HERE is no need to exempt Manny Pacquiao from income tax and related impositions in boxing bouts he will do in the United States, a ranking official of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said in Davao City yesterday.

BIR Deputy Commissioner for Operations Group Nelson M. Aspe, who led the BIR Davao regional kickoff of the 2015 tax campaign “Angat Pa

PRO 11 seeks LGU funds against drugs

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

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HE Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 is seeking the help of the local government units (LGU) in financing the campaign to eradicate illegal drugs activities.

PRO 11 deputy director for operation Senior Superintendent Aaron Aquino said the LGUs’ help will fund operations like test buys in order to identify drug dealers.

He said some of the operatives actually use their own

money during test buys because PRO 11 does not have funds for such operations.

He explained that a police officer needs to positively buy illegal drugs from a suspected pusher before proceeding with an operation.

Aquino said he has already asked the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters for a budget but has not received an answer.

“If we look at it, the bud-

FPRO 11, 14

Military now chasing new Muslim armed group

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URSUIT operations are now being conducted against members and leaders of the so-called “Justice For Islamic Movement (JFIM),” reportedly a splinter group of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

This was disclosed by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Restituto Padilla Wednesday.

The group is being headed

by a certain Mohammad Ali Tambako, a former BIFF commander, who was earlier pinpointed as one of the protectors of Filipino bomb-maker Basit Usman and his five foreign cohorts, four of which are Indonesian and the other one, an Arab-looking individual.

Padilla said that efforts are underway to neutralize this new group as they constitute

FMILITARY, 14

VOL. 7 ISSUE 249 • THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

DOJ probe targets justice for all victims of Mamasapano clash

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EPARTMENT of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila M. De Lima on Wednesday said that the DOJ is pursuing a fair and comprehensive investigation into the encounter that happened in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25.

According to De Lima, aside from seeking for justice for all the slain members of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF), they were also taking into consideration the slain members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), as well as the civilians.

De Lima said that the investigation is not only cen-

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tered on the “SAF 44” because the DOJ Chief believed that all the victims in the incident should be given justice.

Likewise, De Lima also said that the DOJ would again send a letter to the leadership of the MILF to ask for their cooperation in the investigation.

When asked whether the DOJ is ready to cooperate with the fact-finding mission being pursued by non-government organizations (NGOs) as they have in their possession a report about the testimonies of the MILF members and civilians, De Lima said, they prefer to directly coordinate with the MILF. (PNA)

Health experts warn vs new HIV strain

OLLOWING the Department of Health’s public advisory on Thursday about the newly-discovered stronger strain of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), local health experts expressed their concern towards the key population in the region who remains vulnerable.

Dr. Jordana Ramiterre, head of the Reproductive Health and Wellness Center (RHWC) of the Davao City Health Office, said there is no better time for people to have themselves tested than now.

Ramiterre said that people who feel that they might have been exposed to HIV are strongly encouraged to have themselves tested in the soonest time possible. Voluntary counseling and testing services for HIV are free in RHWC located along Jacinto Street in Davao City.

She said that while there

is still no cure to HIV, treatments to keep a person’s viral load (the amount of HIV in the blood) at undetectable levels are readily available.

“Don’t wait for signs and symptoms to catch up,” she said, referring to the opportunistic infections that may enter the body when it’s weakened by HIV. Even if a person is tested HIV negative, he/she can still avail of the counseling services that can cover behavior change and discourage risky sexual behavior.

Ramiterre echoed DOH’s advisory: while CRF19 is not something that the Philippines should worry about for now, she said the country is not totally immune from the new strain.

Speaking in a 24 Oras report, Dr. Gerard Belimac, HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) program

FHEALTH, 14

Davao City Mayor posing for a selfie photo with LPU students after delivering his speech at the school’s 63rd anniversary Foundation anniversary.

DCPO to revive ‘Tokhang’

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

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AVAO City Police Office (DCPO) director Senior Superintendent Vicente Danao Jr. is planning to revive his predecessor’s “Oplan Tokhang” in an effort to intensify the operations against illegal drug activities in the city.

“Tokhang” stands for toktok (knock) and hangyo (plead). Under the operation, police go directly to the homes of suspected drug pushers and ask them to stop their activities.

The program was

done under the term of DCPO director Senior Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa.

“We are planning to bring back the Tokhang in the coming days after we have raided all we can raid so that there will be awareness among the citizens,” Danao said.

He said it is everyone’s duty to watch over their community and report people who are involved in illegal drug activities.

“Through the information that the people

will give, we can easily develop and easily monitor persons behind the illegal drug trade,” he said.

Danao said the DCPO also plans to put “No to drugs” stickers on the houses of those subjected to “tokhang.” The final text, however, is still being finalized.

“Pag yung bahay mo, tinokhang kita ngayon, iiwanan kita niyan (sticker) so from drug pusher magiging anti-drug advocate kana (If you become subject to tokhang,

Mindanao as major production base for export halal products

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TAX TALK. Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) deputy commissioner for operations Nelson M. Aspe (right) talks about the proposed tax exemption for boxing champ Manny Pacquiao while BIR 11 director lawyer Glen A.

Geraldino listens during yesterday’s 2015 Tax Campaign Kickoff press briefing at the BIR regional office along Bolton extension in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

we will put a sticker on your house so that from being a drug pusher you will become an anti-drug advocate), “ Danao said.

Lawyer Ben Joseph Tesiorna said putting advocacy stickers on different households and areas in the city will be legal.

“It will be legal (putting stickers) because it just signify that you are against drugs. But if the text of the stickers says you are involved in illegal drugs, that’s not allowed,” he said.

INDANAO could become a major production base for export-quality halal products once the proposed “Philippine Halal Act of 2015” is eventually passed.

Senator Cynthia Villar raised such scenario as she rallied for support from stakeholders of Region 12 for Senate Bill (SB) No. 312, which mainly sets the institutionalization of regulatory policies and accreditation standards for halal products in the country.

She is scheduled to formally endorse or sponsor the bill’s passage next week before the Senate’s plenary.

“Once passed, (this proposed law) will enable Mindanao to produce halal-certified products and eventually become the production center of halal products for exports,” she

said in a gathering of farmers and local government leaders in Tupi, Suth Cotabato on Tuesday.

Villar, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, said the passage of the measure will pave the way for establishment of a credible national halal certification or accreditation board.

Halal is Arabic for “permitted” and refers to a food or non-food preparation method under Islamic law.

Industry stakeholders earlier lamented that the country’s halal industry had failed to take off due to the absence of such body.

“To make our halal products more competitive in the export market, we need to establish and institutionalize a certifying board that is reliable

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4 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 249 • THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

DavNor sets up park and night market for Palaro A

CAPITOL Park and a Night Market will rise up complete and functional in Davao del Norte Capitol area before the weeklong Palarong Pambansa 2015 begins on May 3, bared Governor Rodolfo del Rosario in an interview.

He also expressed confidence he can well beat to complete also the additional sports facilities inside the 11-hectare provincial sports complex before the Palaro that the province will host for the first time.

The additional facilities currently under construction inside the sprawling sports complex are two more tennis courts, another football field, and the five-bay extension of the grandstand for the swimming pool.

He said “there is still enough time” to complete these including the Capitol Park and the embellishments for the Night Market at Boiser Avenue, the road leading to the direction straight to the Capitol’s old administration building before the four-lane Capitol Road.

The Capitol Park is presently under construction and the governor said that once finished it would be well lighted, landscaped with palm

trees and would have a dancing water fountain, lawns, greens and other features of a grand park “for people to go around and enjoy the fresh area of the Capitol.”

It would be an open park lighted at night that would proximately cater to the people living in the western section of the city such as those from Barangays Mankilam, San Miguel, Pagsabangan and neighboring areas, the governor said.

The central portion of the perimeter fence of the Capitol’s compound and the old main gate was demolished to give way for entrance of the park, and a new fence is being set up closer to the main Capitol building to still enclose the Capitol compound.

Due to the park’s construction the gates in north and southeast of the Capitol compound have been opened.

“During the Palaro the Boiser Avenue would be closed to give way for the night, but hopefully the Capitol night market would become permanent and a nightly affair beyond the Palaro as we are concreting the road behind (and the south of) the perimeter fence of the sports complex,” he added. - Cha Monforte, Correspondent

GenSan’s Kalilangan a success

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HE 26th Kalilangan Festival of General Santos City was a success as the Generals and visitors alike enjoyed the myriad of activities prepared by the City Government in partnership with the Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Colleges.

The Kalilangan Festival coincided with the 76th Founding Anniversary of the city with the focus of the celebration being the rich culture and history of the city. Kalilangan is derived from the rootword “Kalilang” which typically means celebration or commemoration in the Maguindanaon dialect.

The festival honors the city’s history, culture, and the people, particularly the indigenous people Blaan, the Moro groups, and the first Christian settlers.

With that, most of the events centered on the colors of the culture of the first groups of people in General Santos, a city now known as the Home of the Champions – apparently in reference to boxing champ Manny Pacquiao, Miss Philippines-Universe Shamcey Supsup and all other Generals who made the city proud of their hometown.

Among the major events of the Kalilangan Festival which started from February 23-27 were Tagisan sa Kalilangan, Kalingawan sa Kalilangan, Lakbay Kultura, Indigenous Peoples Day, Parada ng Lahi, among others.

Incidentally, Kalilangan Festival has been elevated to the roster of grand slam winners of the Department of Tourism’s Pearl Award for “best festival in culture and and arts category”

for the past three years from 2012-2014.

Mayor Ronnel Rivera said that there is so much to celebrate and be thankful for especially with the peace and development that they are enjoying right now which he attributed to the peace-loving people of General Santos City.

History in Gensan, unlike any other city in the Philippines, has been formed through the courage of its pioneers. Kalilangan 2015, with its theme “Kalilangan: Ano Ang K Mo?”, reached back to the origins of the city through the help of the scions of Gensan’s pioneers.

These pioneers were headed by General Paulino Santos who arrived in these shores on February 27, 1939 through the boat M.V. Basilan. The National Land Settlement Administration was the mandate that made these pioneers from the northern region of the archipelago to settle in Mindanao.

These forerunners are long gone by now. However, their descendants are still alive and are very active in every activity the city has—especially those who are akin to culture and history.

Collectively known as the “Sons and Daughters of General Santos Pioneers”, they are the remnants—mostly grandchildren—of the first to settle here in Gensan.

This Kalilangan 2015, Mayor Rivera put them into the spotlight as well as they let them organize a couple of activities that would help weave and piece back the past and its connection to the present.

LIGHT MOMENTS. Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Effie Ben Matityau, right, share light moments with Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario, left, during the former’s visit in Davao del Norte yesterday, where he promoted Israel’s

agriculture technology transfer program, student exchange program, trade relations, development cooperation and official development assistance to the Philippines. noel baguio/davnor pio

Israeli envoy sees Philippine agriculture as major engine of economic development

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HE Israeli ambassador to the Philippines is bullish on Philippine agriculture as the major engine of economic development of the country, given the right capacity building to understand the process of value and supply chain and for farmers to become commercial or export farmers.

Ambassador Effie Ben Matityau, who visited the city on Tuesday to speak in the oneday seminar on trends and innovations in Israel horticulture, dairy and livestock and aqua culture, said the country’s conditions are incredible for having successful commercial farmers because everything is here like climate, water, land, among others.

He, however, hinted on lack of right capacity building of farmers on farming technology. Under current situation, he said agriculture is one of the biggest liabilities of the

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Philippine economy because it holds the largest number of people with 60 to 70 percent workforce.

He said this is a large contrast to agriculture’s contribution to the country’s overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) with only 10 to 15 percent. According to Matityau, the country always looks at agriculture as a subsistent issue when it can become an engine for growth.

“Farming can turn into successful businesses,” he said, emphasizing that farmers must be given the chance to maximize their potentials through appropriate training to understand value and supply chain to see the market and not just crop change.

He pointed out that farmers must understand what a commercial farmer is and what really is sustainable farming as a contributing part of the economy.

“No matter what we do and how we do if we don’t change numbers we cannot bring down the number of workforce (agricultural) and increase the GDP contribution then we continue to look at agriculture as a subsistent or poverty issue,” he said.

“We just have to be on the right road to value chain.

The most promising markets - some of them are here,” he said.

Matityau said this is one of the reasons the Isareli government continue sto be a traditional partner of the Philippines in the agricultural sector, offering years of exchanges in development programs to support food security and poverty reduction in rural communities.

“Israel has positioned itself as one of the leaders in the sector being a major innovation hub and world leader of agricultural technologies. The Phil-

ippines is a traditional partner, being our complementary economy,” he said.

One of these partnerships is through providing learning and training to Filipino agritech students most of whom are from Mindanao.

Matityau said there are now 543 Filipino students from 26 state colleges and universities that are participating in an 11-month agro-studies program in Israel. For the last 10 years, 3,000 Filipino professionals were trained on various courses and workshops under fields of study, mostly in agriculture.

“They present a very promising components as leaders of change because having young generation coming from the agro-community they go to agricultural colleges and they get relatively good element academic know how and learning experiences theory,” he said. (PNA)

old both from Magugpo South and La Filipina, respectively.

During the subsequent raid, police recovered from Vera Cruz’s possession five elongated heat sealed plastic sachets of suspected shabu, one big heat sealed plastic sachets of suspected shabu, six empty sachets with residues of Shabu, two packs of dried marijuana fruiting tops, five pieces of aluminum strips, three pieces of aluminum tooter, one piece improvised pipe

one alcohol lamp, one digital weighing scale with one casing and six pieces disposable lighters.

The operation was also coordinated with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). PInsp. Anjanette Tirador, Chief Investigation of Tagum Police said that a concerned citizen informed them that Vera Cruz is engaged in illegal drug activities in Barangay South. He was under surveillance for a week and

was served with the search warrant signed by Judge Virginia Tejano Ang dated March 2, 2015.

The recovered contraband will be turned over to Provincial Crime Laboratory Office. Vera Cruz and Martir are currently detained at the lock-up cell of Tagum City Police Station and will be charged for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Gleiza Delgado of CIO Tagum

Tagum Police nabs 2 drug pushers

WO drug pushers were busted in a successful buy-bust operation conducted by the operatives of the Special Task Group Tagum’s Finest last March 2, 2015 in Purok Luzvimin, Barangay Magugpo South where approximately 20,000 pesos worth of shabu was seized in their posession.

The police identified the two suspects as Richard Edjec Vera Cruz, 57 years old and Recardo Labra Martir, 45 years

5 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 249 • THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

DOT 11 targets 2.6M tourists in ‘15

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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FULL SUPPORT. Department of Tourism 11 director Roberto P. Alabado III cites the full support of the private sector for the coming Visit Davao Fun Sale (VDFS) during the regular Club 888 forum Wednesday at the Marco Polo Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

crc@edgedavao.net

HE Department of Tourism (DOT) 11 is expecting tourist arrival in Davao Region to increase from around 2.2 million in 2014 to 2.6 million this year.

“We’re always targeting it with the 10 million tourist arrival target of the national government and we have to contribute to that,” DOT 11 director Roberto P. Alabado III told reporters on the sidelines of the Club 888 media forum at Marco Polo Davao yesterday.

Alabado is positive that the target will be attained through the “concerted effort” of different local government units, DOT 11 and the private sector.

“The DOT 11 will be going around the region and helping our provincial and city tourism officers to package their own destinations in a better manner so that it can be more attractive to our visitors,” Alabado said.

He also said that the six week-2015 Visit Davao Fun Sale (VDFS) from April 3 to May 17 will surely draw tourist as well as promotion of tourist destinations in the region like the Mt Hamiguitan in Davao Oriental and the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS).

The 2015 VDFS, a shopping sale program, is an off-

shoot of the 2014 Big Davao Fun Sale (BDFS) which drew a hundred thousands of local and foreign tourists.

This year’s fun sale is bigger as other tourism sector players including hotels and resorts, travel and tour agencies, dining and restaurants, spa and wellness establishments, and shopping malls and stores will also join.

Alabado reported that nine malls and stores and 106 restaurants will be giving special discounts and promotions during the duration.

These nine malls include Abreeza Ayala Malls, Gaisano Mall of Davao, Bajada and Toril, NCCC Mall, S&R, Robinsons Abreeza, SM City Davao, SM Lanang Premierm and Victoria Plaza Mall.

Among the restaurants and dining clusters in Davao City that will offer up to 20 percent discount during the duration are Matina Town Square, Damosa Gateway, Phoenix Mega Station in Lanang, The Peak in GMall of Davao, Lanang Business Park, Bricklane in Obrero, Victoria Plaza Carpark, Eden Nature Park area and Malagos Mountain Resort and Philippine Eagle Center and restaurants in the streets of Rizal, Torres, and Roxas.

6 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

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Filinvest to put up second One Oasis project in Davao

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

ROPERTY developer Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) is planning to put up another One Oasis project in Davao City following the success of the first One Oasis Davao which is already near completion.

FLI first vice president for Visayas and Mindanao Tristan Las Marias said the construction of the second project in a two-hectare property on Bolton Streetwill start by the third quarter of

the year.

“We haven’t decided the name of the project that it will be under the One Oasis brand but this project will have the same investment as the first one,” Las Marias said.

Talking to reporters at the sidelines of FLI’s Recognition of Top Sellers event at the Waterfront Insular Davao last Tuesday, Las Marias said the new medium rise resort type residential project will have seven buildingswith

BIR 11 goal is P16.1B

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HE Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) in Region 11 is targeting to hit P16.1 billion in revenue collection this year, higher by 30 percent than last year’s total collection.

“Last year’s collection reached P12.4 billion. We’re going to collect 30 percent more,” BIR 11 regional director lawyer Glen A. Geraldino said in a press conference for the 2015 Tax Campaign Kickoff at the BIR 11 regional office yesterday.

Geraldino said BIR 11 will be able to hit its target by implementing stricter enforcement of the law to more than 300,000 tax payers in the region.

It will also implement its programs like Oplan Kandado which padlocks tax-evading establishments.

Last year BIR 11 was able to padlock a total of 21 establishments, including the branches of Zoofari Kid’s Adventure and Leo Revita Salon in the cities of Tagum and Davao.

“We were able to collect an estimated P5.4 million worth of dues, fines, and penalties from these establishments,” Geraldino said.

He said the collection from padlocked established contributed to the increase of BIR11’s 2014 revenue collection.

BIR 11 is targeting to padlock 30 establishments, mostly in the retail and wholesale sector, this year.

Geraldino said the Davao City Revenue District Office (RDO)-East, headed by RDO Ricardo B. Espiritu, made the highest collection in the region, reaching almost of P6 billion last year. This was followed by RDO-West in Davao City.

Espiritu said for RDO Davao, “we intensified the tax information campaign. Our information dissemination reached even the barangay level. We also concentrated on tax management program.”

Espiritu said his office’s collection increased by almost 20 percent last year. CHENEEN R. CAPON

NAIA Terminal 1 repairs about 80 % complete

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WO Malacañang officials on Tuesday visited the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 (NAIA T1) to check on ongoing repairs being done at the airport.

Present were presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, who were accompanied by NAIA T1 manager Dante Basanta.

Via Twitter, Valte said according to Basanta, 80 percent of repairs have already been done and that by March 31, repair in passenger movement areas would be completed.

Valte also tweeted photos of the airport’s new facilities, including flight information display boards, check-in counters, weighing and feed-

er conveyors, and four new chillers.

She also said there were also new check-in counters, better lighting, and renovated lavatories.

Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya last December said the rehabilitation of Terminal 1 would be finalized before May 2015, or a few months later.

It was initially set to be finalized by January 2015. Abaya said the slight delay was acceptable given that the airport is 30 years old.

He also admitted that technical problems caused some delays.

The airport rehab project was estimated to cost about P1.3 billion. (PNA)

150 units each varying from one to two-bedroom units.

The first One Oasis project in Ecoland has six buildings.

“The price will range from P2 to P2.5 million per unit,” Las Marias said. “The property will be smaller but it will be more prime considering it is beside City Hall and other offices of government agencies.”

Las Marias said these new projectswill attract

non-Dabawenyos travelling here for business or for education purposes.

“There a lot of people travelling to Davao City who could actually utilize this as their weekend Davao residence,” he said.

Las Marias said many Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) seea huge opportunity in this new project because of its potential as a rental business.

“Davao City is a regional

hub. Almost all the government offices for Southern Mindanao are here and all the major business establishments are here as well as major regional offices, so I’m sure the rental business opportunity is great and that might be an attraction for OFWs to invest,” he said.

Las Marias said the second One Oasis project will have almost the same amenities as the first one depending on the availability of space. It

will have a clubhouse, swimming pool, basketball court, gazebos, and children’s play area.

Meanwhile, Las Marias said five buildings of the first One Oasis Davao project is ready for occupancy. The pool, clubhouse, and other amenities are already finished and are being used by homeowners and renters.

The sixth building is now under construction, he added.

BULAWAN FESTIVAL. Compostela Valley Gov. delivers his message during the opening of the 8th Bulawan Festival, which runs up to March 8 at the Provincial Capitol in Cabidianan, Nabunturan. (a. dayao/ids comval)

Phl agri products showcased in Madrid Fusión

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HE Department of Agriculture (DA) is presently in the thick of preparations for Spain’s most important gastronomy congress—the Madrid Fusión—to be held at the Mall of Asia’ SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on April 24−26, 2015.

Organized annually since 2003, Madrid Fusión brings together the most prestigious and innovative chefs from all over the world, bridging cultures through good food and enabling the world “to see the future of food.”

DA Undersecretary for Special Concerns Bernadette Ro-

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mulo-Puyat said the agency is preparing to showcase top Philippine agriculture products and dishes for the event.

“DA will put up a booth where the country’s top agricultural exports will be exhibited.

Among these products are coconut and its by-products such as coco sugar and coconut oil, heirloom rice, coffee, cacao, mango, pineapple, banana, dalandan, kalamansi, chocolates, cheeses, wines, nuts, preserves, and tuna,” Puyat said.

She said the DA will also showcase products that are only found in the Philippines such as

batuan, sua, kamias, and adlai, among others.

Madrid Fusión Manila, through the DA, will also feature regional lunches that will focus on local dishes such as lechon, kinilaw, and other local staples cooked with each island region’s finest fish, meat, vegetable, and spice products.

“For the regional lunches, we will be showcasing all the top dishes from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao using our top export products,” the agriculture official said.

Meanwhile, DA Secretary Proceso Alcala said they are

looking forward to the event as it will serve as another opportunity to further mainstream top-quality agricultural products of the country in the international gastronomic arena.

“This could link producers of high-quality agricultural products - especially artisanal and organic - to potential markets within and outside the country,” Alcala said.

Artisanal products pertains to high-quality or distinctive products that are made in small quantities, usually by hand or using traditional methods.

(PNA)

growth, more savings, more investments for all the countries in the region,” Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran said.

“The main objective of all these things is to increase trade, investment, employment generation and of course raise incomes,” Beltran said.

He explained that the goal of the meetings is to share information and knowledge on financial inclusion as stakeholders try to set up programs that would encourage poor people to participate more actively in

the financial system.

“Get them to save, borrow, invest and of course use the money to make their lives better so that they could actively participate in the growth of the economy,” he said.

The exchange of views, he said, will cover such areas as policies, strategies, and practices that lead to financial inclusion.

Many of these will involve regulators, service providers, policymakers and private non-governmental organiza-

tions (NGOs) that lend to the poor, Beltran noted.

Exchanging ideas would mean giving ordinary people more options on what the system can do to encourage more financial sector development, he said.

The meetings, which will run until Wednesday, March 4, will try to find ways to develop more products, additional financial outlets so that these products are made available to all, he added. (PCOO News Release)

APEC conference targets the poor

SIA-PACIFIC Economic Cooperation (APEC) delegates and stakeholders who gathered in Tagaytay City on Tuesday to discuss financial inclusion want to target the poor to encourage them to participate in the financial system, in the hope of spurring economic growth and eventually lifting them out of poverty.

“The target of financial inclusion is the poor because right now, they have very limited access and encouraging them to gain access would lead to more

7 HEALTH

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 249 • THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

Brew to the rescue 3 to 5 cups of coffee a day may lower risk of heart attacks G

OOD news for people who drink coffee every day: Consuming a moderate amount of coffee could lower the risk of clogged arteries that can lead to a heart attack, a new study finds.

The study of healthy young adults in Korea found that, compared with people who didn’t drink coffee, those who drank three to five cups of java per day had a lower risk of having calcium deposits in their coronary arteries, which is an indicator of heart disease.

(The coronary arteries are the vessels that bring oxygenated blood to the heart muscle itself.)

The study participants who drank three to four cups had the lowest risk of developing clogged arteries seen in the study, said Dr. Eliseo Guallar, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Maryland, and

co-author of the study published today (March 2) in the journal Heart.

“But the risk went down with just one cup per day,” compared with the risk of people who drank no coffee, Guallar added.

Still, the researchers stopped short of recommending that people drink coffee to prevent heart disease.

Coffee and heart disease It was once thought that drinking coffee could make you more prone to heart attacks, but a growing body of evidence suggests the habit has a neutral or beneficial effect on cardiovascular health.

A previous analysis of 36 studies found that moderate coffee consumption was associated with a lower risk of heart disease, and other studies have found a link between drinking coffee and a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes. However, the caffeinated beverage

has also been linked to increased LDL cholesterol (the so-called “bad” cholesterol) and increased blood pressure (but this effect diminishes as people build up a tolerance).

In the new research, Guallar and colleagues at the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital in Seoul, South Korea, studied more than 25,000 men and women who underwent routine examinations. The participants had no signs of heart disease, and their average age was 41 at the study’s start.

The participants completed questionnaires about their eating and drinking habits (including coffee consumption), and underwent a computed tomography (CT) scan to determine their levels of coronary artery calcium (CAC).

CAC is a sign of coronary artery disease, or atherosclerosis, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, especially heart at-

tacks, Guallar said. “You can have the disease for many years without symptoms,” he told Live Science, adding, “Now with this technique, we can know if people have the disease way before they have symptoms.”

The researchers compared people’s CAC levels with their amount of coffee consumption, classified as one cup a day, one to three cups a day, three to five cups a day and at least five cups a day. They also took into account factors such as physical activity, smoking, BMI and how much fruit, vegetables and red meat people ate.

3 to 5 cups a day keep the doc away The average coffee consumption of those in the study was 1.8 cups per day, and 13.4 percent of all the participants had detectable levels of CAC. The people who drank three to five cups of coffee daily had about 40 percent

less calcium in their arteries than those who drank no coffee, according to the study. Those who drank one to three cups daily had 35 percent less calcium than those who didn’t drink coffee, and those who drank one cup a day had 23 percent less calcium.

The people in the study who drank five or more cups a day had 19 percent less calcium, compared with those who drank no coffee.

Guallar stressed that the findings show a correlation between coffee consumption and heart disease risk, but do not prove that a cause-and-effect relationship exists between drinking coffee and having less calcium in the arteries.

While scientists don’t have a clear idea how coffee may lower the risk of arterial disease, it may be due to the beverage’s many antioxidants, the researchers said.

“This is probably the largest study to date looking at the association of coffee consumption with a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis,” said Jared Reis, an epidemiologist at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, who was not involved in the study.

The findings are consistent with those of other recent studies, Reis told Live Science. And although the study involved only Korean participants, he said he didn’t “see any reason why the results wouldn’t be generalizable to other populations.”

The study didn’t distinguish between drinking caffeinated or decaf coffee.

But decaf isn’t very popular yet in Korea, Guallar said.

In any event, caffeine is just one of many substances in coffee, and probably isn’t the one that causes the heart disease benefits, he said.

8

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 249 • THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

EDITORIAL Breaking the drug problem

W

ITH last Saturday’s major raid on a drug-infested area in Davao City, it has come to light that the drug problem here has come back with a vengeance.

The police have also revealed that the major personalities arrested during the raid are not even the most wanted drug lords; indeed, they are minor compared with those who are still at large. Dealing with this growing problem certainly requires much police force and perhaps even the use of force, but there are more subtle ways of accomplishing this.

The coined word “tokhang” may sound funny, but it was an effective program implemented by then-Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Senior Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa in an attempt to stave off the rising tide of illegal drugs in the city. “Tokhang” is a combination of two Visayan words, toktok (knock) and hangyo (plead). Under the operation plan, the police knock on the homes of suspected drug pushers and

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plead with them to stop their activities. At the time of implementation, it managed to dissuade a number of drug pushers from continuing with their activities, and it also reportedly drove away those who felt they were no longer safe in the city.

The current city police director, Senior Superintendent Vicente Danao Jr., is planning to revive Oplan Tokhang, but he has also emphasized an aspect of it that should not be ignored

by Dabawenyos. Danao has pointed out that identifying the drug dealers who should be talked to is also the responsibility of the people, those who are the pushers’ neighbors and friends and perhaps even families. Without such vital information it would be impossible to create a dent on the drug problem; the police, after all, can only do so much covert surveillance before they are found out. It is therefore important for the people to cooperate so that the drug menace can finally be broken.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

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CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY Consultant

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. KENNETH IRVING K. ONG 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 ARLENE D. PASAJE Correspondents 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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GENERAL OFFICE SANTOS CITY CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OLIVIA D. VELASCO JOCELYNRICHARD S. PANES C. EBONA SOLANI D. MARATAS OLIVIA D. VELASCO SOLANI D. MARATAS MARKETING OFFICE | Marketing Manager General Manager of Sales SpecialistFinance General Manager DirectorAdvertising FinanceLEIZEL A. DELOSOLEIZEL A. DELOSO | MarketingEDMUND Manager P. RENDON

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EDGEDAVAO

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9

Angels still in business

D

O you believe in angels? Henry Ward Beecher admits, “We not only live among men, but there are airy hosts, blessed spectators, sympathetic lookers-on, that see and know and appreciate our thoughts and feelings and acts.”

“The angels,” notes John Calvin, “are the dispensers and administrators of the Divine beneficence toward us; they regard our safety, undertake our defense, direct our ways and exercise a constant solicitude that no evil befall us.”

Saint Francis de Sales urges us, “Make yourself familiar with the angels, and behold them frequently in spirit; for without being seen, they are present with you.” And Saint Thomas Aquinas believes, “An angel can illuminate the thought and mind of man by strengthening the power of vision.”

Here’s what famous American preacher Billy Graham has to say about angels: “I am convinced that these heavenly beings exist and that they provide unseen aid on our behalf. I do not believe in angels because someone has told me about a dramatic visitation from an angel, impressive as such testimonies may be. I do not believe in angels because unidentified flying objects are astonishingly angel-like in some of their reported appearances. I do not believe in angels because some extra-sensory power experts are making the realm of the spirit world seem even more plausible. I do not believe in angels because of the sudden worldwide emphasis on the reality of Satan and demons. I do not believe in angels because I have ever seen one - because I haven’t. I believe in angels because the Bible says there are angels; and I believe the Bible to be the true Word of God.” There is no definite number of angels recorded in the Holy Bible. Eileen Elias Freeman, in The Angels’ Little Instruction Book, pointed out: “Angels are all around us, all the

P

VANTAGE POINTS

time, in the very THINK ON THESE! air we breathe.”

George Bernard Shaw commented, “In heaven, an angel is nobody in particular.”

Perhaps the number of angels might be Henrylito D. Tacio compared with henrytacio@gmail.com the number of stars in the universe, which means the number would run into the billions. The apostle John saw in a vision “ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” -- that equals 100 million and untold thousands besides.

The book of Daniel (7:10) recorded: “A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.” And Revelation 5:11 stated: “Then I looked, and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.”

Interestingly, of all of the angels, Michael and Gabriel are given places of importance among angels in the ministry of God. Both Michael and Gabriel are mentioned in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Michael, whose name means “who is like God,” has the rank of archangel and is the defender of Israel, God’s chosen people. Gabriel, whose name means “mighty one of God,” is a special messenger of God. Satan, a fallen evil angel, is also mentioned by name.

Ee can all be angels to one another. Joan Wester Anderson explains: “We can choose to obey the still small stirring within, the little

whisper that says go: ‘ask, and reach out.’ Be an answer to someone’s plea. You have a part to play. Have faith. We can decide to risk that He is indeed there, watching, caring, cherishing us as we love and accept love. The world will be a better place for it. And wherever they are, the angels will dance.”

As a friend, you can be an angel, too. According to one poem, friends brighten our days “in all kind of wonderful, magical ways.”

Their thoughtfulness comes, “as a gift from above” and we feel we’re surrounded, “by warm, caring love.” Friends fill our lonesome moments “with their laughter and fun.” They are considered angels “without any wings” for they bring blessing to our lives “with the most precious things.”

James Russell Lowell once penned, “All God’s angels come to us disguised.” I am reminded of this quote after reading a story circulated in the internet. It goes this way: Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion’s guest room. Instead, the angels were given a small space in the cold basement.

As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied, “Things aren’t always what they seem.”

The next night the two angels came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night’s rest. When the sun came up the next morning, the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears.

Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how he could have let it happen.

“The first man had everything, yet you helped him,” she accused. “The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die.”

“Things aren’t always what they seem,” the older angel replied. “When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn’t find it.”

The older angel continued, “Then, last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead. Things aren’t always what they seem.”

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don’t turn out the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You just might not know it until sometime later. After all, things aren’t always what they seem.

Have you ever seen an angel? One night, the king of Syria sent his army under cover of darkness with lots of chariots and horses and horsemen to surround the city and cut off all escape routes. When the prophet and his servant got up early the next morning and checked around outside, they discovered troops, horses, and chariots everywhere! The servant, obviously frightened, asked, “Now, what are we going to do?”

The prophet Elisha answered in so many words, “Don’t be afraid because our army is larger than theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “Lord, open his eyes and let him see.” And when the Lord had opened the young man’s eyes he saw horses of fire and chariots of fire everywhere on the mountains surrounding the army which had surrounded them!

Have you ever seen an angel? Maybe you just need your eyes to be opened!

“Why exBRAVEHEART empt from taxes somebody who already has a lot of money?” he asked last night.

It’s not about money, I told him. It’s Manny Piñol about a national gesture to say thank you to a poor boy who has made the Filipinos proud and who has set a model for other kids who are now struggling in the squalor of poverty.

Pacquiao represents the Filipino nation’s struggle to gain recognition and respect.

Who among us Filipinos of today, or even of yesterday, has brought the nation to a level

of international awareness where even CNN features Pacquiao on a daily basis?

How many millions of dollars does our government pay the international cable news network just so the Philippines could be featured in 15-second commercials?

Here, Pacquiao gives the Philippines unquantifiable media mileage for two months before the fight, more so if he wins the fight against Mayweather.

Granting a tax exemption to Manny Pacquiao is our way of thanking him for making us all proud.

Win or lose, Pacquiao’s fight against the undefeated Mayweather has already inscribed the word Filipino in the history books of sports and I believe no other Filipino in this generation or even the next could equal that.

Class legislation?

How poor could these people’s memory be.

Remember the Congressional actions granting financial rewards to outstanding Filipino athletes?

Following the “class legislation” argument, are they saying that the financial incentive given to Onyok Velasco for winning an Olympic silver medal should also be granted to another amateur boxer who has lost all his fights?

Manny Pacquiao is a source of pride for this miserable nation plagued by corruption and criminality and an inspiration to all of us struggling to survive everyday.

Granting him tax exemption in his fight against Mayweather is not giving alms to a poor boxer but a recognition of the honor he has brought this country.

Pacquiao is not asking for it but this nation should give it to him.

Failing to do that is ungratefulness in its worst form.

It’s not about money but honoring a hero

EOPLE opposing the proposal of Senator Koko Pimentel to exempt Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao from paying taxes for his multi-million dollar earnings in the historic fight against American Floyd Mayweather are so obsessed with the color of money they fail to appreciate the symbolism.

And those who claim that the passage of a Senate measure granting such tax exemption is pure and simple class legislation seem to forget that we have honored other outstanding Filipinos like Dr. Jose Rizal by declaring their birthdays as national holidays.

But first let us discuss the question of money.

My friend and compadre, lawyer Eliseo Braganza of Davao City, last night said Pacquiao should not be exempted from paying taxes on his earnings in the Mayweather fight because he is already rich.

10 ICT HUB EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 249 • THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

2015 winning app enables farmers to sell products online P

EOPLE today can order almost anything online: food, clothes, shoes, bags, books, music, movies, and other novelty items.

Soon, people from anywhere in the Philippines or abroad can order via the Internet sacks of rice or fresh vegetables from farmers in Nueva Ecija. This will be made possible through a mobile application developed by a group of Electronics and Communications Engineering (ECE) students of Wesleyan University in Cabanatuan City awarded top honors in the 11th SWEEP Innovation and Excellence Awards of wireless leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart).

S-MART, short for Smart Market Assistance and Product Trading, is a mobile app that allows farmers to sell their agricultural products online. Buyers can also compare prices from the sellers and calculate fuel costs based on the location of the supplier.

As the 2015 SWEEP grand champion, Team S-MART received a trophy and P500,000 in cash. An equivalent amount in grant was also given to Wesleyan University.

Ramon Isberto, head of Public Affairs at Smart, said the judges were unanimous in choosing S-MART as the winning entry.

“There are several components in the judging. One is the technical side while the other side is business feasibility,” Isberto explained, adding that S-MART was both a good innovation and a smart busi-

WINNING TEAM. Wesleyan University’s Team S-MART takes a photo with its prototype just before the final judging for the 11th SWEEP Awards. ness idea.

He also pointed out that S-MART was socially-valuable as it targeted a marginalized sector, the farmers. Initially, the app will benefit farmers in Nueva Ecija, known as the Philippines’ rice granary, but the developers of the app said they will aim to reach out to other farmers later on.

“Technology is not the difficult part but getting technology to fit social realities and social needs,” added Isberto.

The SWEEP Awards is the Philippines’ biggest and

longest-running technology competition. This is held annually since 2005 as part of the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP), an industry-academe linkage with a network of 52 colleges and universities all over the country that aims to uplift engineering and IT education in the Philippines and help partner-schools produce industry-ready graduates.

Aside from Wesleyan University, the other big winners in the 2015 SWEEP Awards

are the Smart IMAGE (Instant Multiple-option Assessor for General Examinations) of Bulacan State University, first runner-up; and the #Bayanihan entry of Batangas State University, second runner-up.

They received cash prizes of P200,000 and P100,000, respectively, with their schools also getting the same amount in grant.

Smart IMAGE is a mobile app for the fast checking of examination papers, specifically designed for a multiple choice type of test. Teachers just

able LINE to advance their business globally in a scalable and secure manner.

Since the launch of LINE in 2011, the service has grown globally across 230 countries and regions. As LINE Corporation’s core business platform, the app helped the company obtain an international presence by consistently rolling out and expanding innovative and convenient services, integrating various social elements in its app features -- including LINE stickers, LINE family apps, LINE GAME and LINE camera. The mobile messaging service app has 181 million monthly active users as of January 2015[1].

“With global smartphone penetration per capita expected to increase more than three times by 2017 from that in 2011[2], we recognize that there is great opportunity for growth in the mobile industry,” said Takeshi Idezawa, Chief

Operating Officer of LINE Corporation. “We are constantly looking to work with partners with an established worldwide presence and vast experience so that we can provide quality service to today’s digitally-savvy consumers. With our entry into the mobile payments market, we are now able to empower our customers with more choices and flexibility in online payments. On top of that, we are also able to protect their interests with CyberSource’s payment security expertise. We strongly believe this will be pivotal in helping us accelerate our global growth.”

In addition to global payment services, LINE will also have access to secure payment acceptance and comprehensive fraud management services via the CyberSource payment management platform.

This means LINE will be able to provide payment security, with users’ sensitive payment

data residing in CyberSource’s secure data centers, as well as process a wider spectrum of payment methods. LINE Corporation will also be able to leverage CyberSource Decision Manager , the fraud management tool which features the World’s Largest Fraud Detection Radar, to pinpoint fraud faster, more accurately and with less manual intervention.

“We are pleased to work with LINE Corporation to safeguard customers’ interest by building a scalable and safe online payment environment, while improving end-to-end customer experience,” said Poon Khye Wei, Regional Director, Greater China and Korea, CyberSource. “We look forward to helping LINE achieve not only its business objective of global expansion, but also to enable the company to streamline and optimize its payments operations via a consolidated single platform.”

have to take a photo of the test paper and the app will determine the score of the student.

Meanwhile #Bayanihan is a cloud-based application for local government units (LGUs). It allows people to get business permits and other government documents via the Internet.

The theme of this year’s SWEEP Awards is “Building Cloud-based Technologies.”

Cloud computing is a term for storing and accessing data through the Internet instead of a computer’s hard drive.

“SWEEP changes in the way the industry and technology changes. We accommodate more and more of what’s happening around us,” Isberto said, noting “the growing importance of cloud-based technologies.”

Moving forward, Isberto said they hope to see more programs or technologies related to big data especially as “data analytics is becoming more and more important.”

He also hopes that developers of new technologies will recognize the importance of having a good business model.

“We’re really encouraging technopreneurship. From the outset, we encourage them to come up with a viable commercial product or service.

Your technology can be great but if you can’t marry it with good business, it won’t be sustainable,” he added.

Also making it to the finals of this year’s SWEEP Awards are Smart I-PRINT of De La Salle Lipa; Smart A.S.S. (Aerial Surveillance System) of Bulacan State University; SENTINEL (Smart Emergency Necklace Triggering Internet-Enabled Locator) of Bulacan State University; Smart RESERVE of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila; AIDPH (a web and mobile-based app for Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Information System) of University of Cebu Main Campus; Constello of Ateneo de Manila University, and ALMS (Automated Landslide Monitoring System) of University of Southeastern Philippines.

LINE partners CyberSource to enhance global payment services

C

YBERSOURCE, a Visa Inc. company (NYSE: V), and one of the world’s largest providers of eCommerce payment management services, today announced a strategic partnership with LINE Corporation, a Japan -based Internet services and mobile applications (app) company. This agreement will allow LINE, a mobile messenger service app, to enhance the convenience of its mobile payment service -LINE Pay. Through this partnership, LINE will leverage CyberSource’s payment management platform to enable its full suite of payment and fraud management services for its mobile payment service LINE Pay. Via CyberSource’s global payment gateway, LINE will be able to process online payments from multiple card brands and issuers, as well as certain alternative payment methods. These solutions en-

11 COMMUNITY SENSE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 249 • THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

USeP Hosts APEC Information roadshow A

DMINISTRATORS, faculty and students from the academic institutions in Davao City and representatives from some government agencies gathered at the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) on March 3 to participate in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 101. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has selected USeP to host theAPEC 101: Awareness and Information Roadshow.

The Roadshowaims to reach out to students across the country and share with them what is in store during the APEC 2015 Philippine Host Year, and what this means to the Filipino people.

Dr. Perfecto A. Alibin, USeP President, welcomed the participants and challenged the students to take their future into their own hands by helping raise the standards of living as what the APEC had envisioned. He also urged them to start it today by taking the APEC 101 Roadshow seriously and voicing out their ideas and plans as the future leaders.

The welcome remarks was followed by the presentation of Hon. Laura Q. del Rosario, Undersecretary for International Economic Relations, DFA, who talked about raising the awareness of the Philippines’ APEC hosting, the APEC 101 Campaign, which is designed to elevate the public’s understanding of APEC as an organization, and the Philippines’ role in APEC.She also pointed out the benefits from the Philippines’ APEC membership, particularly in terms of economic growth and development. APEC’s three pillars focus on trade and investment liberalization, business facilitation, and economic and technical cooperation.

Hon. Del Rosario further stressed about the mismatch of skills of the graduates to the cur-

APEC ROADSHOW. Dr. Perfecto A. Alibin (right), USeP President, welcomed the participants during the APEC Information Roadshow recently. rent job opportunities. She noted that in order to address such issues, the students should be trained for jobs that do not exist yet.

During the open forum, students and faculty from different

Davao’s water district to put up gensets in satellite stations

T

HE Davao City Water District is planning to put up generating sets in its satellite stations in Tugbok, Toril, Lubogan, Cabantian, Panacan, Riverside Calinan, and Calinan.

This was the reaction of the water utility to the statement of Councilor Diosdado Mahipus who suggested that it put up the equipment in all of its wells, especially now with the rotational brownouts affecting the city.

DCWD spokesperson Bernardo Delima told MindaNews Tuesday that putting up one generator set for each of the production wells will cost the utility a total of P500 million.

Delima added that 36 of the 54 wells were already connected to a special line from the Davao Light and Power Company, “meaning it will not be affected by rotational brownouts. In other areas, one to two-hour brownouts will not cause water stoppage.”

Mahipus, at a speech delivered during the privilege hour at the Sangguniang Panlungsod, said the DCWD needed to continuously provide water to all parts of the city.

The councilor said he

found out from a “reliable source” that the rotating brownouts announced by Davao Light starting February 19 would affect the water supply.

“I cannot take the reason that simply because there is power shortage or there is a cutting of power in the city, we will also miss drinking the cleanest and the best water in the world, next to Netherlands,” Mahipus said.

Mahipus added that it was inexcusable for the utility to not supply water in March, which is prone to fires and has been identified as Fire Prevention month.

In a report last week, Davao Light corporate communications head Rossano Luga told reporters they were working hard not to include the pumping stations of the DCWD in the rotational brownouts, as well as hospitals and other health care facilities.

Meanwhile, Delima said the DCWD would not need generating sets granted the Tamugan water supply facility begins operating in 2019.

The facility, he said, would be run by gravity to supply water to the city. (MindaNews)

I

universities and colleges were able to raise their questions and concerns regarding APEC and what it can do to help the Philippines. The healthy discussion was concluded by Dr. Marcelo M. Angelia, USeP Vice President for

Academic Affairs.

The APEC 101 campaign is being done in the key cities of the country. Among the participating schools are Brokenshire College, University of Immaculate Conception, Rizal Memorial College,

Davao Doctor’s College, Assumption College of Davao, The Philippine Woman’s College of Davao, and San Pedro College. The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) also participated on the campaign.

Philhealth bares benefit for MERS-CoV

N response to the imminent danger in public health posed by recent confirmed Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) cases in the country and worldwide, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) bared its package for confirmed cases of MERS-CoV, a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, with no known vaccine to date.

A circular issued by Philhealth states that the benefit covers confirmed cases with confirmatory tests done in the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and may be availed in accredited facilities with capacity to manage the disease.

According to Johanna Blason, Public Relations Officer III for Philhealth XI, the availment of said benefit for Davao region may be done

at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) with benefit package amounting to Php 50,000 for non-health workers and Php 100,000 for health workers.

Health workers refer to those employees in health care institutions here or abroad who had close contact with a MERS-CoV patient and may have acquired the illness while performing one’s duty.

Blason also stated that

all availments are subject to the corporation’s No Balance Billing Policy (NBB) and that all claims will undergo medical and post audit evaluation as part of Philhealth’s monitoring and assessment of the health care provider’s performance.

She further added that the benefit package covers all admissions starting January of this year./PHIC, Kleah Dublin

Paid, all types of cancer (2,153), pneumonia (1,801), fetal death (1,028), diabetes (959), renal failure/disease (950), accident (794), pulmonary disease (658), septicemia (647) and tuberculosis (613) were among the next leading causes of CARD clients and dependents’ mortality in 2014.

CARD MRI through CARD MBA has been monitoring its death statistics and aptly acts on it through several measures to lower death cases among its membership and encourage them to have a healthier lifestyle.

“Considering the numbers, which we hope to not rise drastically this year, we will continue to reinforce our interventions until the num-

ber of cases decrease significantly,” shared Dr. Jaime Aristotle Alip, founder and managing director of CARD MRI. One intervention is through CARD MRI’s Microfinance and Health Protection (MaHP) program. A series of health forum on specific illnesses, community health days, and home visits of CARD MRI nurses to its pregnant and old members are being conducted. Field operations staff of CARD MRI’s member financial institutions also conduct weekly Credit with Education (CwE) giving focus on proper heart care. Also, clients can avail free medical consultation in CARD MRI clinics, discounted laboratory services through its own laboratory and dis-

counted medicines through BotiCARD Pharmacy, which is another member institution of CARD MRI. Furthermore, through the partner health providers, CARD clients can avail discounts on medical consultation, laboratory services, medicines and other services.

“We assure you that through the interventions and continuous product innovations, we will be with you as we combat health problems because health is one of CARD’s priorities,” Dr. Alip concluded.

CARD MBA, which has insured 10,693,645 individuals by the end of 2014, paid P695-M in insurance claims for all of its insurance products.

CARD MRI: Heart-related deaths top list in 2014

C

ARD Mutual Benefit Association, Inc., the insurance arm of CARD Mutually Reinforcing Institutions (CARD MRI) registered 24,078 cases of death among CARD clients and dependents by 2014.

Heart-related diseases, which registered 8,400 cases, topped the list of deaths for four consecutive years. This is consistent with the Department of Health’s record in 2009.

Of the 8,400 cases of heart-related disease, 4,963 were males (insured spouse/ father/son of members) while the remaining 3,437 were females.

In the summary record of CARD MBA’s Life Insurance Causes of Death Claims

12

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DAVAO CITY MAIN OFFICE

GENERAL SANTOS CITY MARKETING OFFICE

Director of Sales

Marketing Specialist

JOCELYN S. PANES

Door 14 ALCREJ Bldg., Quirino Ave., Davao City Tel: (082) 224-1413 Telefax: (082) 221-3601

EDMUND P. RENDON

General Santos City

Mobile: (Sun) 0925-357-3460 (Smart) 0907-202-3844

MANILA MARKETING OFFICE

ANGELICA R. GARCIA Marketing Manager 97-1 Bayanbayanan Ave., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 654-3509

INdulge!

VOL. 7 ISSUE 249 • THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

FOOD

Shrimp Scampi.

A sumptuous Valentines Day Thrill of the Grill at

RBG

THEIR menu was spot on delicious. The buffet was a picture of delicious meals that made everyone smile from ear to ear. However, the star of the show was their thrill of the grill – grilling station – that had every bit of meat and seafood goodness for you to feast on.

Their grilling station boasted of tuna belly, local beef tenderloin, pork belly, sausages, chicken, assorted seafood and kebabs. A variety of sauces were made available to suit any one’s craving – salsa, native sauce, mixed vinegars and smoked bbq sauce. All you had to do was choose and they’ll make your valentines meal right before your eyes.

Starters included a crunchy Salad Bar with 4 kinds of dressings, Watermelon Basil Salad and Tuna Sashimi that kept us wanting for more. Since it was a bit cold that night, their selection of hearty soup – tomato, cream of beets, clear soup of chicken – added warmth to night. The tomato and the beets were a surprise on the palate.

Of the entrée served, I fell in love with how crunchy their garlic buttered vegetables were.

Their shrimp scampi and chicken & tomato 4 cheese melt also became

a favorite that night. Also, I cannot help myself to have a bite (or two) of their seafood paella.

To make it more special, their dessert station was oozing with sweetness. A selection of dessert favorites filled the table. From cups of classic tiramisu, éclairs topped with red & white chocolate with crème anglaise filling, key lime pie, cupcakes of colors and designs and slices of fresh fruits, it was a tasty treat for all.

To make it even more memorable, they had their famous mangosteen cheesecake squares and a valentine crepe corner

Morcon. that included strawberry filling, chocolate sauce, pink whipped cream, nuts, mallows and fresh mangoes and kiwis.

Truly, the night was filled with love, hearts and red all around. Couples, friends and families filled RBG and made the night an affair to remember. As bottles of wines and live music kept the night warm and cozy, RBG surely knows how to make every occasion better than before!

For the latest news, events and updates, visit Park Inn by Radisson at Asian Highway, 26 JP Laurel Ave., Davao City.

You can call them at 082.

2727600.

Make #TheRoyalChef your Thursday habit! Follow and tag me on instagram (herroyalheiress) for your delicious pics and food finds!

Mangosteen Cheesecake Squares

Seafood Paella.

EDGEDAVAO

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FOOD

VOL. 7 ISSUE 249 • THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

Meals to get that

SUMMERREADY BOD THE summer season is right around the corner and we all know it means beach outings and pool parties where the midsection can make one a bit shy to bare it. Luckily DFitnessChef by fitness enthusiast Al Rocamora has come to the rescue to help your food cravings a bit healthier.

A l though Al admits to being a selftrained chef, his passion for fitness and bodybu i ld i ng is what inspired him to come up with DFitnessChef.

Located at the MetroLifestyle Davao compound, DFitnessChef offers a variety of lighter meal alternatives for those who want to shed a few pounds or just maintain a healthier lifestyle.

Some of his offerings include Tuna Steak, Chicken Steak and Lean Pork Steak, all served with a light salad sides.

DFitnessChef also offers Healthy Wraps that are served with pasta sides. Al also served a Seafood Italian Pasta and a Spanish Sardine Carbonara which I liked.

DFitnessChef also offers planned meals for those individuals who want to go all out on their diet program. For more information, DFitnessChef can also be contacted on

Facebo Foll at @ke stories in, aro

UP AND ABOUT

SM Lanang Premier to host 1st Holi Fest in D Every now and then, a unique, euphoric event comes around Davao City that shouldn’t be missed.

One such event is the ‘Holi: Festival of Colors,’ which takes place for the very first time in the city at SM Lanang Premier Fountain Court grounds on March 7, from 2 p.m. to 12 midnight.

Inspired by the original Indian spring fête, which is also known as the festival of colors or the festival of love, the Holi Festival will be held in the spirit of unity and camaraderie among Dabawenyos, the Indian community, foreign nationals, and local tourists in a joyous celebration of color.

SM Lanang Premier will play host to this colorful festival, expected to draw thousands of revelers from all walks of life to come together in unity and share music, great food, and cul-

ture.

Festival goers will delight in the atmosphere of happiness and excitement of the Holi Festival.

Dressed in white shirts, they will throw Gulal Holi Powder in unison and sprinkle one another with vibrant colors during the event. The Gulal powders are imported from India and are completely nontoxic, allergen-free, water soluble, and environmentally friendly.

Additionally, festival goers are in for an intercultural treat as they can enjoy Indian dances and songs and grab a taste of authentic Indian delicacies like Samosa, Paratha, and Biryani at a number of food booths to be mounted at the event. They can also dance all night long to live DJ mixes from 8 p.m. till 12 midnight.

The said festival is not

religious in nature and is Vivek Chandra, with the supopen to all participants port of SM Lanang Premier. aged 14 years old and Stay updated with the most above. For kids under 14 years old, they will only be allowed to enter if they are in the company of their parents.

To join the Holi festival, interested parties may buy tickets at these venues: Pankaj House of Indian Fashions, Kirti Accessories, Indian Grocery in Matina, Food for You (near DMSF), ADDU, DMSF, Brokenshire, Davao Doctors and San Pedro College. Tickets are priced at P200 (with free Bacardi drink and color pack) or P300 per person (with free Bacardi drink, color pack and souvenir shirt).

The event is organized by the proprietors of Pankaj: House of Indian Fashions – Juvy Sta. Maria-Palo and Pankak Panchal, Doctors Krunal Chauhan and

colorful events at the metro’s premier shopping and lifestyle destination. Check out SM La-

nang Twitter details

VOL. 7 ISSUE 249 • THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

DY

ook. low me on Instagram or Twitter ennethkingong for more travel s, foodie finds, and happenings ound, and beyond Durianburg.

Davao

Premier on Facebook, r and Instagram for more s.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Marian Rivera takes on a challenging role in The Rich Man’s Daughter THIS May, Kapuso primetime queen Marian Rivera returns to TV via GMA’s upcoming drama series entitled The Rich Man’s Daughter. She will play the role of Jade Tanchingco, an heiress from a very wealthy Filipino-Chinese family who has holdings in various industries such as real estate, retail and airline.

The youngest and only daughter, she is consid-

ered to be the real jewel in the family. In the story, Jade’s father announces that he is looking for a suitor for her and is willing to pay millions to any man who can make her fall in love with him.

For Marian, playing the role of Jade is her most challenging role to date and admits that she will have a hard time portraying the character. “Kaya nga sabi ko mahihirapan ako at pag-aaralan ko talaga siya,” she shared.

She will be joined by

Glaiza de Castro, Luis Alandy, Katrina Halili. The Rich Man’s Daughter also stars Al Tantay, Glydel Mercado, Tony Mabesa, and Ms. Gloria Romero, together with Paolo Contis, Pauleen Luna, TJ Trinidad, Mike Tan, Sheena Halili, Charee Pineda.

Under the helm of the highly acclaimed director of Temptation of Wife and My Husband’s Lover, Dominic Zapata, find out how the story of The Rich Man’s Daughter unfolds this coming May.

Alex Gonzaga brings Inday Bote to life on ABS-CBN’s Primetime Bida ABS-CBN is set to give primetime viewers a magical and inspirational viewing experience as it breathes new life into the masterpiece of veteran komiks novelist Pablo Gomez, “Inday Bote,” starring Kapamilya TV host-actress Alex Gonzaga.

“Inday Bote” will revolve around the story of Inday (to be portrayed by Alex), a free-spirited young woman who is ready to do everything for her family.

Because of her kind heart, Inday is given a magic bottle that, unknown to her, is inhabited by dwarves with magical powers.

How will the dwarves and magic bottle change Inday’s life? Will they bring her luck or misfortune?

Meanwhile, “Inday Bote” will also introduce newest Kapamilya child actor Alonzo Muhlach. He will play the character of Entoy, one of the dwarves who will become Inday’s friend.

Under the direction of Malu Sevilla and Jon Villarin, “Inday Bote” will also star Matteo Guidicelli, Kean Cipriano, Alora Sasam, Smokey Manaloto, Nikki Valdez, Malou Crisologo, and Izzy Canillo.

“Inday Bote” is under the production of Dreamscape Entertainment Television, the group that created top-rating

TV masterpieces such as “Walang Hanggan,” “Ina Kapatid Anak,” “Juan dela Cruz,” “Ikaw Lamang,” and “Bagito,” which will soon air its finale.

Don’t miss the beginning of the inspiring and magical story of “Inday Bote” soon on ABS-CBN Primetime Bida. For more information about the program, visit the official social networking site of Dreamscape Entertainment Television at Facebook.com/ DreamscapePH, Twitter. com/DreamscapePH, and Instagram.com/DreamscapePH.

March 2-3, 2015

KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE Colin Firth, Samuel L. Jackson R16

11:40 | 2:15 | 4:50 | 7:25 | 10:00 LFS

CRAZY BEAUTIFUL YOU Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla PG

12:40 | 3:00 | 5:20 | 7:40 | 10:00 LFS

FOCUS Will Smith, Margot Robbie R13

R-16

12:40 | 3:00 | 5:20 | 7:40 | 10:00 LFS

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY / * PREDESTINATION Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan / * Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook R18 / * R16

12:40 | 3:15 LFS / * 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

EDGEDAVAO

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EVENT

URAYA LAND

holds quarterly sales recognition program A

working environment where employees, of rank and designation, feel motivated, inspired and appreciated for their passion and dedication enhances one’s ability to achieve one’s goals and objectives. The promotion of such an environment is what makes Uraya Land Development Inc. (ULD) distinctively unique above the rest.

For Uraya Land, celebrating excellence means honoring employees who have made a significant career commitment to the company through upholding hard work and delivery of excellent quality customer service. The appreciation is prevalent – thus, the recognition of outstanding employees

for the continued success during the last quarter of 2014.

The night begun with an Invocation from Ms. Merci Duduaco, VDM – Marketing and Admin Manager of Uraya Land, followed by a resounding Opening Remarks from Ms. Cecille Anne s. Ilagan, Director of Sales. The

Officers and Staff of VDM with Ivory Agency. awarding ceremony was member. elaborate – with three (3) The night’s host, Ms. sections, each covering Melanie Sam, kept everyan intensive scope, every- one intrigued and guessone was excited and at the ing. More so, it was not edge of their seat, as one just a night of plaques by one, the top perform- and recognition; it too ers were called. was about testimonials Alongside the excite- from members. Sharing ment, an elaborate feast inspiring thoughts and was prepared that made experiences were Unit the celebration even more Manager Roderick D. majestic. Music and an Valenzuela and Agency enticing intermission Manager Cherry Grace number was presented Valenzuela.

by Ms. Anna Cortez and The celebration ended Company that made it a with a closing remarks memorable night to re- from Ms. Mariedeth A.

Uraya, VP for Sales and Marketing. It was hopeful and wishful – a remarks that promised more of what they already have. A remarks that made everyone excited for the coming days.

The Quarterly Sales Recognition Program was not only aimed at congratulating members but more so, build staff morale, camaraderie and pride to sustain a workplace that provides opportunity to communicate initiative across the company.

Gil Antonio Chua, Manager of Orange Agency receives his Opulence Showcase and cash award worth P150,000, awarded

by Ms.Mariedeth A. Uraya, VDM VP Marketing and Sales.

Grace Valenzuela awarded as the Top Agency Manager receives the Roderick Valenzuela of Ivory Agency receives his award for being the Grand Showcase award plus a cash worth P475,000. Awarded by Unit Manager of the Year plus a cash award of P100,00 and a trip for Ms.Mariedeth A. Uraya, VDM VP Marketing assisted by Ms. Maria two in Dubai, awarded by Ms. Cecile Ann Ilagan, VDM Sales Director. Victoria Pescador and Ms. Norma C. Pinili.

Elton Jamil receives his cash award worth P50,000 for being the Property Consultant of the Year.

Mart Francis Escano of Lilac Agency receives his gadget and a cash prize award worth P10,000, awarded by Ms. Merci G. Duduaco, VDM Marketing & Admin Manager.

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EDGEDAVAO

NEWS13

50,000 farmers to benefit from TESDA’s P500M scholarship A

ROUND 50,000 farmers and their dependents from various parts of the country are set to benefit from a P500-million scholarship program for agricultural trainings that will be opened this year by the Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA).

Senator Cynthia Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, said her office is currently working with TESDA and other concerned agencies for the nationwide rollout of the scholarship program, which will mainly focus on agriculture-related technical-vocational courses and skills trainings.

She said the scholarship slots will be offered to farmers and laborers, their children or dependents and other interested individuals.

Villar said her office has been coordinating with the country’s 454 state colleges and universities for the offering of various agricultural courses and trainings.

The initial courses and skills trainings lined up are the handling, repair and maintenance of agricultural machineries as well as financial literacy, she said.

“We will educate our farmers how to operate agricultural machineries and at the same time on how to repair and maintain them,” said Villar, who graced a gathering of farmers and local government leaders of Region 12 in Tupi, South Cotabato on Tuesday.

She said it is important for farmers to obtain such skills so they could maximize the benefits of the national government’s continuing farm mechanization program.

She cited a case in Pampanga wherein a group of farmers were able to avail of a number of farm machineries from the Department of Agriculture but were not able to maintain them due to the lack of proper skills.

In terms of financial literacy, she said farmers and fisherfolk should have basic knowledge on accounting so they could properly manage their ventures.

“They should be trained also on how to apply for loans from banks and micro-financing institutions so they would no longer depend on the loan sharks,” she said.

She cited that a lot of farmers have been forced to avail of loans with prohibitive interest

DANGEROUS REPAIR. Two workers of a billboard advertising company repair a portion of one of the firm’s metal structures along McArthur Highway in Matina, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr. rates from loan sharks as they don’t even know how to fill up bank loan application forms.

Villar said she personally pushed for the opening of the scholarship program during a hearing at the Senate last year for TESDA’s 2015 budget.

The senator said she initially questioned then the

agency’s officials as to why they allotted a significant budget for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)-related trainings.

She argued that while BPO is considered a “sunshine industry” in the country, it only employs around one million workers that is way lower

when compared to the estimated 11.8 million working in the agriculture sector.

She said TESDA eventually allotted under its 2015 budget some P500 million to fund the opening of 50,000 scholarship slots for agricultural trainings.

“We’re now working double time to find these 50,000

scholars because once we fail, TESDA will remove the item in its budget for next year,” she said.

Villar added that the 50,000 scholarship slots will be divided among the country’s 81 provinces and with each getting around 600 slots.

MindaNews

14 NEWS Catch... FFROM 1 “In fact, Palawan who is the leader of Bathala Group, is number four of the top 10 most wanted in the regional level. In the DCPO he is number three, ” he said.

“In short, there is still number one, two and three na babanggain namin (that we are going to break),” he added.

Aquino said he asked all provincial police directors in the region to submit their lists of those who have standing warrants of arrests for drug related cases.

He said the police directors confirmed that they catch at least one drug personality every week. “We will do that until we break

them,” he said.

Aquino said in his partial count based on the consolidated lists, he has identified three drug groups in Davao del Norte and four in Davao del Sur. “We observed that the other drug groups are concentrating here in Davao City,” he said.

Aquino said the groups in the target list submitted by the police directors will be the subject of the next operation.

“I consolidated all the lists submitted to me and we will consider which ones are more notorious,” he said.

Aquino said next week he will call another meeting for the final consolidation of lists.

get is integrated in the local government units. They have funding for intelligence, disaster, and for anti-drug operations. They can really help in our campaign,” he said.

Aquino said most heinous

crimes are caused by drug addiction.

He also assured the public that the police will continue to hunt down drug groups in the entire region to completely eradicate them.

manager of DOH, said the new strain was discovered in Cuba.

Dubbed CRF19, the virus could easily reach the Philippines so the migration and movement of people living with HIV (PLHIV) should always be taken into serious consideration.

One of the most notable characteristics of HIV is being dynamic: It always changes form that is why developing vaccines is very difficult.

According to a news story published in Independent. co.uk, this new HIV strain causes a person to progress to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) twice as fast as the average strain of the disease.

This means that those who are infected by the stronger strain are left with a shorter window to seek treatment.

“The [HIV] strain can progress to AIDS within three years if left untreated,” said the report.

According to DOH, a regular HIV strain progresses to AIDS in seven years.

The CRF19 strain was discovered by researchers from Cuba and a professor in Leuven University in Belgium.

Ramiterre emphasized the need for the public to be more cautious of their sexual practices and to always use protection during intercourse.

RHWC peer educator and counselor Francis Curtis (not his real name), who is a PLHIV, reminded the public of the ABC approach to keep HIV at bay: Abstinence (from sex), Be faithful (to your partner), Use a Condom (for protection).

More importantly, he said educating oneself about HIV/ AIDS is very important.

An October 2014 AFP report, which quoted scientists about the origin of AIDS (which traced it to the 1920s

in the city of Kinshasa, in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo), pointed out that one of the main factors that caused the spread of the virus were transportation, population growth and unprotected sex.

According to DOH, there were at least 6,000 reported cases of HIV in the country in 2014, but the number of unreported may reach as high as 12,000.

As of December 2014, the latest figures in the Philippine HIV and AIDS Registry from the National Epidemiology Center show that there are a total of 1,095 HIV cases in Davao City.

In 2014, Region 11 was among the top five regions in the country where there is a high reported number of HIV cases.

HIV is transmitted by having unprotected sex (anal, vaginal) with someone who has the virus and by sharing needles/syringes used to prepare injection drugs. According to Aids.gov, Certain body fluids from an HIV-infected person can transmit HIV. These body fluids are blood, semen (cum), pre-seminal fluid (pre-cum), rectal fluids, vaginal fluids, breast milk.

“These body fluids must come into contact with a mucous membrane or damaged tissue or be directly injected into your bloodstream (by a needle or syringe) for transmission to possibly occur,” an article in the website said.

HIV is not transmitted by air or water, insects (mosquitoes), saliva, sweat, tears, casual physical contact (hugging, shaking hands, sharing eating utensils), and toilet seats, although these common misconceptions still exist, leading to the stigma.

MindaNews

PRO 11... FFROM 2

Health... FFROM 3

EDGEDAVAO

SCIENCE NATION. Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 11 director Dr. Anthony C. Sales promotes the scheduled activities of the upcoming regional leg of Science Nation Tour, a national roadshow of

VOL. 7 ISSUE 249 • THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015

the agency to promote its programs, projects, and services, during yesterday’s Club 888 media forum at The Marco Polo, Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

Military... FFROM 2 a threat to the peace and security in Maguindanao and other nearby provinces.

He said the JFIM was formed last November 2013 after Tambako and the BIFF leadership had some ideaological differences.

He added that Tambako’s

group had an estimated 70 armed fighters at its roster.

JFIM is now allegedly operating in Mamasapano and Shariff Aguak towns in Maguindanao and Pikit, North Cotabato.

Padilla said it is also possible that Usman could have

and credible,” Villar said.

She noted that the global market for halal products has been steadily growing and its value is now estimated at around US$2.3 trillion.

Around US$700 billion of the halal market are food products that could be produced in Mindanao, she said.

“This will later bring tremendous benefits to all provinces in Mindanao,” the senator said.

Under SB 312, the national government will be establishing a centralized Philippine Halal Accreditation and Regulatory Board.

The board will be responsible for the “formulation, drafting, management and implementation of programs relevant to manufacturing, production, distribution, preparation, handling, storage and verification of halal approved food, non-food merchandise and services” in the country.

Villar said Mindanao has the potentials of becoming a

top halal production base due to the availability of raw materials and its significant Muslim population, which is estimated at around four million.

“Mindanao is strategically located and can very well become the Halal hub of the country and even the rest of the world. The region is already positioned as the halal production center of the country and gateway to neighboring countries Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei,” she said.

The Department of Science and Technology in Region 12 currently operates a halal laboratory in Cotabato City.

It is also building a larger state-of-the-art laboratory facility in Koronadal City that will be called the Philippine National Halal Laboratory and Science Center.

The center was conceptualized to become the clearinghouse of halal products coming in and out of the country.

MindaNews

Mindanao... FFROM 3

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 21029453 under Loyola Contract No(s).

186447-9/NNN 400483674 issued to JOCELYN S. CASTILLO under Loyola Contract No(s). 519675-3 issued to GLOBASA, JOAQUIN were lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

2/19/26/3/5

taught some members of the JFIM in the art of bomb-making and handling as Tambako’s group was the one operating the improvised explosive device factory which was cap-

tured and destroyed by the military last March 1.

He is also not discounting the possibility that the JFIM is also providing bombs to BIFF. (PNA)

SPORTS 15

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Barangay Una pugs rule DAVRAA T

HE Barangay Una Boxing Team of Panabo City continues to wreak havoc in the region’s amateur boxing scene as they extended their mastery of the sport in the recently concluded 2015 Davao Regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) event held in the scenic Mati City, Davao Oriental.

The Tonyboy Floirendo-founded boxing team captured a total of 3 golds 1 silver and 1 bronze out of the 5 disputable weight categories available.

Leading the charge was Batang Pinoy and Palaro veterans Jiple Jay Cabrera and John Benedict Cadavido who both dominated their respective class in their way to a gold medal.

The Light Flyweight (49

kgs.) Cabrera trounced Marklin Itim of Davao del Sur in the finals. He earlier defeated Davao City’s Cornelio Yurong Jr. in the semis.

Cadavido on the other hand, pummeled Davao del sur’s John Endoel Prevendido in the semis before giving a similar beating to Davao City’s Junmilardo Ogayre to capture gold in the Pinweight (46 kgs.)

Division.

Panabo City’s 3rd gold came from Christian Betonio in the Light Mosquito weight after he defeated Elmar Catesio of Comval and Davao City’s Adrian Kieth Fernandez.

Neophytes Michael James Bacalso (42 kgs.) and Maynard Rosales (40 kgs.) were not as lucky as they were dominated by their more experienced rivals but getting the valuable

experience they need. Comval’s Iave Laurence Arguelles and Davao del Norte’s John Michael Diocares got the gold in the said categories.

All gold-medalists qualified to represent the region in the forthcoming Palaro National Games slated later this May in Tagum City.

Indeed, this was another fine showing for the Barangay Una Boxing Team, a multi-titled grassroots sports development program that is also backstopped by Davao del Norte 2nd District Congressman Anton F. Lagdameo, Jr. The team was headed by Brgy. Una Executive Director Edwin B. Pardillo together with Gym Manager Edgar Encabo, Head Coach Jonas Jerusalem and Asst. Coach Lelios Siodina. (edwin lagumbay)

Creamer aims for repeat after victory rehearsal

P

PAULA CREAMER. Will it be a repeat of 2014?

T

HE DAVRAA issue which we wrote here last Tuesday has reached the City Council and by next session, the controversy will be heard.

Let me bring you back to that fiasco. After the 2015 DAVRAA meet in Mati City where Davao City won the football titles in elementary and secondary to earn the ticket to this year’s Palarong Pambansa, a meeting was held by the Department of Education regional office to deliberate the selection of players for the Palaro.

In the said meeting, a DepEd official reportedly insisted on tabbing a number of players from the runner-up team and replacing some of the players from the champion

AULA Creamer ended a four-year title drought when she drained a monster 75-foot eagle putt on the second playoff hole at the 2014 HSBC Women’s Champions event and the American was keen to recreate a little bit of history on her return to Singapore.

Back at the scene of one of her finest professional triumphs, Creamer was playing a practice round on the lush Serapong Course and could not resist dropping a few balls down on the 18th green to see if she still possessed the Midas touch.

“I played the back nine yesterday and I went and putted it a couple times to see,” Creamer told reporters on Tuesday, recalling the moment she claimed her first title since the 2010 U.S. Open when she edged Spain’s Azahara Munoz in that playoff.

“The golf course is in different shape than it was last year. The greens were a little bit faster and the fairways weren’t quite as wet as they are right now,” the 28-year-old added.

“I putted to about three, four feet and I’m thinking, I remember this last year, trying to hope that it would just stay on the green.

“It was neat to see the plaque on the 18th fairway, and go up there and kind of look at the green and just remembering the moment of that going in.

WINNERS. Barangay Una boxers with their DAVRAA medals.

Lebron bounces back to lead Cavs’win L

EBRON James bounced back from a sub-par NBA effort and Kyrie Irving returned after a two-game absence as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Boston Celtics 11079.

James scored 27 points on 12-of-23 shooting Tuesday while Australian-born guard Irving added 18 to lead seven double-figure Cavalier scorers in Cleveland’s 12th home triumph in a row.

Two days earlier, James criticized himself after missing two pivotal free throws in the final seconds of over-time in a twopoint loss to Houston, one in which he missed 20 shots from the field and went 3-for-11 from the free throw line.

The Cavaliers improved to 38-24, trailing Chicago by only percentage points in the fight for the Central division lead, while Boston slid to 23-35, one game behind Brooklyn and Charlotte

for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Kevin Love and J.R. Smith each scored 12 points for the Cavaliers, who made all 14 of their free throws attempts.

The Celtics, led by 15 points from Brandon Bass, fell behind 61-36 at half-time.

James capped an 11-0 Cleveland run early in the third quarter with a layup to give the Cavaliers a 76-42 edge and seal Boston’s fate.

ALLYING from a 15-point deficit in the final 10 minutes, the Atlanta Hawks beat Houston 104-96, retaining the NBA’s best record with their fifth victory in a row.

Taking advantage of a Rockets’ squad playing without suspended NBA scoring leader James Harden, the Hawks had 25 points from Jeff Teague, 18 points from Al Horford and 16 points and 14 rebounds from Paul Millsap.

The Rockets outplayed Atlanta for most of the first three quarters, leading by as many as 18 points despite lacking Harden’s scoring touch as he served a one-game ban for

kicking Cleveland superstar LeBron James in the groin in a Houston victory on Sunday.

But in the pivotal final minutes, the Rockets misfired all-too often, shooting only 3-of-17 (17.6 percent) from the floor over the last 10 minutes.

The Hawks improved the NBA’s best record to 48-12, two wins ahead of the Golden State Warriors, while Houston slipped to 41-19, third-best in the Western Conference.

Jason Terry led Houston with 21 points while Terrence Jones added 18 points and eight rebounds in a losing cause.

Houston led 87-72 after

Josh Smith and Pablo Prigioni opened the fourth quarter with 3-pointers, but the Rockets managed only one field goal over the next seven minutes.

The Hawks took advantage for a 21-3 run, grabbing their first lead since midway into the opening quarter, and Horford broke a 96-96 deadlock with a baseline jumper then blocked a shot from Jones to help secure Atlanta’s edge.

Dennis Schroeder, who scored 16 points off the Atlanta bench, joined Millsap and Teague in hitting two free throws down the stretch to secure the comeback triumph.

wait for days before the Palaro when school is over and start training. It is not only costly. It is ineffective.

Let me ask you. Who is more prepared and cohesive then? An intact team that continues to train after winning the DAVRAA or a ragtag team of a commixture of players who cannot be in one place to train because they live in different localities?

The problem here is that even if the system is flawed, DepEd still insists on following it because according to them that is the practice. It’s like saying the system is rigid and cannot be changed even if it is wrong from any way you look at it. No coach in his right mind will build a team from

different pieces of puzzles.

Look, benchwarmers are not players of less talent.

Whoever said benchwarmers are the lesser ones must have a twisted belief or is plain ignorant about sports.

Benchwarmers or relievers are not throwaway players just because they do not belong to the starting unit. It does not mean they are less skilled. They have roles to play that only a coach can understand.

Come on. Let’s not insist on something that does not work. That’s the reason we have not won for a long time. In 1994 in Cebu, Southern Mindanao (now Davao Region) won the Palaro gold in football with a team

Hawks ground Harden-less Rockets R

That flawed selection system

team. It’s nothing new. It has been the practice of DepEd to make some configurations in the selection or there could be a consensus among coaches.

Let’s call that “ragtag” formula which means getting all the best players from teams that figured in the medal battle.

The consequence of this ragtag system is that you deprive some players from the champion team to play in the Palaro.

But if you ask DepEd, it will insist on the ragtag formula no matter how flawed it is.

Imagine this. You have a champion team that will lose seven or eight or more players and take in some players from other delegations. Now once

LET’S GET IT ON

Neil Bravo you have that, how do you expect them to train together.

I mean here is a team from Davao City mixed with players from Davao Oriental. Where would they train and when?

That is the problem because you uproot players from one province and bring them to another city. If not, you just

built around players from one Davao City school. They trained, ate, slept, studied together like a family and that’s the reason they knew each other so well.

Again, I insist. It’s the coaches who know the players and understand the sport.

Officials who ram their old school rules on coaches are like dictators who insist on a flawed system.

For once, junk that old rule and embrace what is right, practical and just.

Notes: Listen to “Let’s Get It On with Neil Bravo” on 105.9 Balita FM every Saturday 8-10 a.m. You may send comments and letters to this writer at bravoneil@rocketmail.com.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

JOURNEY BEGINS Manny starts training in cold LA

VOL. VOL.77ISSUE ISSUE249 249• THURSDAY, • THURSDAY,MARCH MARCH5,5,2015 2015

WORKING IT OUT. Pacman doing an ab exercise with his training aide Flash Fernandez(right-partly hidden) after a two-mile run from his residence to Pan Pacific Park in downtown Los Angeles on Monday morning./ photo by Aquiles Z. Zonio

By AQUILES ZONIO

W

ORLD eight-division boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao has started his serious training early Monday morning by running a two-mile stretch from his home to Pan Pacific Park here.

Pacquiao was accompanied during the roadwork by his younger Bobby Pacquiao and some former Filipino boxers who are already based here.

After the jogging Pacquiao spent two rounds shadow boxing then capped his early morning training performing the excruciating abdominal exercises.

Conditioning coach Justin Fortune, assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez and another training aide Flash Fernandez were present during the whole duration of Pacquiao’s early morning grind.

Fortune said the first two weeks will be spent for conditioning then sparring sessions will start after that.

“Coach Freddie Roach hired a slick sparring mate – a black guy and a former Olympian who is a Mayweather lookalike when it comes to fighting style,” Fortune bared.

Roach is scheduled to return here after the fight of Chinese boxer Zhou Shimming in Macau on March 7.

The Pinoy ring superstar has amazed even members of his team with his speed during the early morning run.

“Did he start his training early in General Santos. His speed and stamina is already evident,” Clem Asencio, one of the pioneering members of Team Pacquiao asked.

After the jogging, the boxer-lawmaker went home to take his breakfast composed of steamed rice, scrambled egg, fish and chicken broth.

He went to sleep afterward then wake up noontime to take his lunch then headed to the Wild Card Gym around 2:00p.m. for his scheduled af-

ternoon training session.

Pacquiao arrived here early Saturday morning. Journalists were already waiting at the VIP exit of Los Angeles International Airport hoping to get a video footage or the chance to interview him.

However, it was learned that an immigration officer in LA airport whisked Pacquiao and his entourage to the backdoor to avoid being swarmed by a horde of fans.

“The head of the immigration in LA led us to the backdoor. So I was not aware that many journalists were already waiting for us outside.

My heartfelt apology to all of them,” Pacquiao said.

On Sunday, Pacquiao attended a Bible service, then go home afterward to rest.

Pacquiao vowed to prepare hard for his May 2 encounter with undefeated American boxer Floyd Mayweather,Jr. “I will prepare hard for this fight to give the boxing fans the

kind of entertainment they want. This is what I consider the real fight of my life,” Pacquiao said.

Wild Card Gym is off-limits to spectators and the media during P a c quiao’s training sessions.

DavNor puts premium on Lumads

U KEEPING IT CLOSE. Trainer Freddie Roach with Manny Pacquiao during his fight with Timothy Bradley in April 2014, a unanimous decision for Pacquiao. Getty Images

P

Analysis: What Manny’s camp is afraid of

UT this on the long list of tactics that underdog Manny Pacquiao must be wary of when he faces undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr.: trash-talking.

“Manny has not been in with a lot of trash-talkers,” said Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer. “Mayweather is like Ali in the sense that he will talk to you a lot in the fight. He will rest on the ropes, chatter in your ear and try to get you out of your game.

“I’m really not sure how Manny is going to react to that.

He can’t let himself get distracted.”

This is so paramount to Roach that he is preparing Pacquiao for it. The Hall of Fame trainer said he plans on bringing in sparring partners

who chatter like Mayweather. A representative from the Mayweather camp said the boxer can’t be reached for comment.

The ramp-up for the May 2 megabout in Las Vegas is now under way. Pacquiao arrived in Los Angeles on Saturday to begin training. The boxers are set to hold a news conference there on March 11.

Roach isn’t divulging many details of the battle plan that he has been crafting for years, but he did give his take on his fighter’s opponent.

“Mayweather fights in spurts these days,” he said. “He likes to lay up on the ropes. He takes a lot of rests in the ring.

“One of the keys to victory for Manny is to recognize when Floyd is taking a break

and to stay on the offensive and keep scoring points. But the big thing is that Manny himself has to recognize when Mayweather is catching a breather. It doesn’t help for me to see it from the corner.”

To that end, Roach said he wants Pacquiao to change how he prepares for this fight.

Pacquiao isn’t big on studying tape of his opponents, Roach said, ”but this time I want him to study the films with me. He has to be able to see and recognize Mayweather’s moves himself.”

Among them is Mayweather’s left jab to the body. Roach said he has spoken with at least 20 of Mayweather’s sparring partners and opponents, who concur that while this punch might look like a tap, it is one of

his most potent blows and also helps to set up his right.

Mayweather is also famous for another trick, one perfected

by Bernard Hopkins. He lands a left jab and a head-snapping right, but before his rival can counter, Mayweather brings his back foot up and grabs his man. The referee breaks them and then Mayweather is in the center of the ring, where no one is better.

“In this fight a lot is going to depend upon the referee,” said Mark Breland, the trainer of WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder. “If Pacquiao is going to have a serious chance, he has to have a ref that will let them fight on the inside. Not one who is going to break them as soon as they get in close.”

P in the hinterlands of Davao del Norte lies Talaingod, a second class municipality of the indigenous Ata-Manobo tribe. Population: 25,566 as of the 2010 census.

Means of livelihood: Farming.

Sport of young Ata-Manobos: Running.

Come May 3 to 9 when Davao del Norte hosts the 2015 Palarong Pambansa primarily in the capital of Tagum, young runners from Talaingod—known as the Talaingod DavNor Runners—will share centerstage with student-athletes from all of the country’s regions.

The young runners will showcase Davao del Norte’s premium on sports, particularly running, as Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario aims to brand the province as the Kenya of the Philippines—the center of running in the country.

“It started with a vision to maximize the inherent physical prowess of lumad children who had been traversing the high altitude terrain to and from school,” Del Rosario said.

“Training to run is the lumad children’s daily way of life.”

The Talaingod DavNor Runners, a unique sports development program, was launched on April 28, 2014, just when the province’s intention to host the Palaro reached fever pitch. Talaingod Mayor Basilio Libayao has been fully behind the program ever since it was implemented.

“The Palaro is a great opportunity for LGUs to showcase whatever strength they have in terms of sports,” Del Rosario said. “DavNor has the Talaingod runners who are fitting examples that, being given this attention and importance, means so much to them.”

The program is composed of six girls and four boys who were selected from 200 Ata-Manobo children. They undergo a special daily training program prepared by Professor Renato Unso, head coach of the national running team.

The girls are Rochell Anggol, 13; Rica Andil, 11; Jeanneth Mansumilay, 15; Jesme Baucon, 11; Relyn Calooy, 14; and Shiela Mae Bantao, 14; while the boys are Ruben Enggo Jr., 15; Junior Lito Mabanag, 12; Ronald Dauban, 13; and Joshue Tiwog, 15.

Already, the young runners have started to reap success.

They have hauled five gold, six silver and two bronze medals from the Davao Regional Athletic Association to qualify for the Palarong Pambansa.

Last year, the team managed a bronze medal from the Batang Pinoy.

“I hope I can finish high school or even college and end the cycle of poverty in my family,” said Baucon, who is from an impoverished family but made a statement by being part of the gold medal-winning 4x100 meters relay team in the recent DAVRAA.