Edge Davao 7 Issue 49

VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

EMERGING INDUSTRY. Flower pots crafted from clay by skilled artisans are neatly arranged at a pottery outlet along Carlos P. Garcia Highway in Davao City.

Lean Daval Jr.

INVESTMENT OVERLOAD Duterte seeks ‘temporary halt’to additional new investments

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

F

abf@edgedavao.net

REsh investments are always a welcome development to any local government but the extraordinary fast-paced growth and the corresponding huge increase in population in Davao City may have compromised its carrying capacity.

With this, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte plans to halt new inbound investments to the city due to lack of infrastructures to support or complement the expected impact to the economy.

He cited the fact that the streets in the city are now overloaded, handling about 65,000 motor vehicles a day.

“We are not expanding. We are not getting any bigger in terms of infrastructures,” he told reporters last Wednesday afternoon at SMX Convention Center.

Duterte expressed apprehension that the city might become overcrowded due to the economic development brought by the influx of invest-

ments.

Data obtained from the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed that in ten year’s time until 2010, the latest census year, Davao City’s population increased by 21.25 percent, eighty percent of whom are residing in the city’s urban areas.

Davao City has also the largest population in the Southern Mindanao Region cornering 32.43 per cent of the 4.46 million people in 2010. It also shared 5.71 per cent of the total population of 25.375 million in Mindanao.

Duterte put emphasis on the worsening traffic situation in the city citing the fact that car drivers are constrained to

FINVESTMENT, 10

NEW DESIGN AND SPECIAL FEATURES. Land Transportation Office (LTO) 11 assistant regional director Macario “ Bong” Gonzaga shows off during this week’s edition of I-Speak media forum at City Hall yesterday the new design and special features of LTO’s new license plate which will be issued starting February next year. Lean Daval Jr.

INSIDE:

DepEd approves 2 tuition hike...

NorCot gov 3 condemns NPA...

Evangelist Quiboloy 16 ventures into sports

2

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014 FINANCIAL HELP. Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte is greeted by children by kissing his hand during his visit at Brgy. Duterte covered court in Agdao, Davao City Wednesday evening where he extended financial assistance to the vicitims of last Monday’s fire. Lean Daval Jr.

DepEd approves tuition hike Davao-Bitung sea trade transport excludes China of elementary, high schools

By ChENEEN R. CApON

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

abf@edgedavao.net

He Department of education (Deped) 11 has approved the tuition fee increase applied by 58 schools

in Davao City for school year 2014-2015.

According to Deped 11 spokesperson Genelito Atil-

WEATHER FORECAST

lo, the 58 schools are among the 107 elementary and high schools in the region which complied with the government’s requirements for imposing tuition fee increase.

“These are the only ones

that convinced us nga kinahanglan silang tagaan,” Atillo said referring to the schools’ request to increase.

Speaking before ‘I-Speak Media Forum’ at the confer-

OR the first time, 30 women who contributed in the development of Mindanao will be hailed on May 23, Friday at The Peak, Gaisano Mall.

Candy M. Hernandez, major accounts for South Mindanao- Unilever Philippines, said the recognition is part of the 30th anniversary of CreamSilk.

Speaking before the Club 888 media forum at The Marco Polo Davao yesterday, she said that said the 30 women of different ages have made significant to contribution to the development of the Mindanao, succeed in their own different fields of interest or profession and possess good character.

“All of them are from Mindanao or working in Mindanao,” Hernandez told reporters.

Among the recipients of

award and recognition are Agnes Locsin, a contemporary dancer; Anne Pamintuan, a Muslim metal artist who is globally known for her artworks; Marry Anne Montemayor, a tourism advocate in Mindanao; Citti Hataman, a women rights advocate and a member of the Anak Mindanao Party list; Mag Cue, owner of the Mags clothing shop which is not only operating in Mindanao but has also branches nationwide; and Jojie Ilagan, a business leader.

Davao City former mayor Sara- Duterte Carpio will also receive an award while Melai Cantiveros- Francisco will be also recognized.

Hernandez said the awardees will be featured in M Magazine which circulates nationwide. [CRC]

FDEPED, 10

Unilever honors 30 women in Mindanao F

D

crc@edgedavao.net

AvAO Region products can no longer be showcased in China which is now being excluded in the forthcoming operations of the Davao- GenSanTahuna-Bitung trade route because of port restrictions imposed by Indonesia.

Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) investments promotion and public affairs director Romeo M. Montenegro told reporters that Indonesia banned some products coming from China which are considered not fit to be qualified as “first class”.

These commodities include toys, garments, electronics products, medicines.

Montenegro said that not unless the Indonesian government lifts the restrictions for China products, then the route cannot expand to that country.

The Philippines will be trading with Indonesia various goods like food and beverage items (e.g., meat, high value crops, fruits), raw materials (e.g., abaca, coffee beans, fishing supplies), and construction materials (e.g., lumber, cement), a statement said.

“Our private sector is ready to commence the shipping,” he said, adding that pri-

vate sector had played a vital role for the implementation of the ambitious project between two nations.

Montenegro said that PT Kanak, an Indonesian shipper will provide the conventional cargo-type vessels that will serve the identified trade route.

“This will serve as an initial operation in this identified ASeAN RORO route until RORO shall have become more viable, particularly in terms of cost,” he said.

The Mv Beverly, Pt Kanaka’s vessel to be used for the route is expected to arrive in Sasa port in Davao City on June 16, two days after its scheduled arrival in General Santos. The vessel is scheduled to depart from Bitung on June 13.

The vessel capacity is 120 TeU and cost is U$ 550/tonnage much cheaper than the RORO vessel at U$ 700/tonnage, he added.

“The private sector also considers the shipping service as a less expensive alternative at present,” Montenegro said.

Montenegro said that Sagrex Corporation president Ferdinand Marañon is considering the route to

zon.

country will continue to be storm free in the next three days as no weather disturbance is seen near the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

For Wednesday forecast, Loiz said that Metro Manila and the rest of the country

FDAVAO-BITUNG, 10

Light rains over Mindanao, Palawan due to ITCZ

e

XPeCT light rains over Mindanao due to the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) affecting Southern Mindanao, the State weather bureau said on Wednesday.

PAGASA weather forecaster Jori Loiz said that Mindanao and Palawan will be

spared from warm weather as these areas will experience cloudy skies with light to moderate rainshowers and thunderstorms.

Loiz said that fair weather will continue in most parts of the country because of the Ridge of High Pressure Area (HPA) extending across Lu-

He explained that Luzon was experiencing a heat surge because of the ridge of a high pressure area which brings dry and warm winds.

Loiz said that easterlies or warm winds from the east are also affecting the visayas.

He also said that the

FLIGHT, 10

VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

3

4 NEWS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014

REBEL RETURNEES. A total of 97 NPA returnees availed themselves of the “Pagbabalik Loob III” and were welcomed by the Army’s 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division at the Provincial Capitol, Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur. The returnees surrendered with their firearms to AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Emmanuel T. Bautista, Eastern Mindanao Command Commander Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz III and 4th ID Chief Maj. Gen. Ricardo R. Visaya. (PR)

NorCot gov condemns NPA Army welcomes attack on town police station 97 rebel returnees N

ORTH Cotabato Governor emmylou Mendoza on Thursday condemned the assault staged by suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) at a police station in the town of President Roxas, Cotabato province on May

20.

“As your Governor, and together with most peace loving Cotabatenos, I condemn in the strongest sense the reported assault by these suspected NPA members for their atrocious and terrorist acts,” she said in a statement.

“The gallant stand of Philipine National Police officers and men of President Roxas prevented the success of the evil deed and restored normalcy when the NPA members retreated towards Barangay Tuael,” Mendoza said.

The attack, perpetra-

ted by alleged NPA members on board an Isuzu Forward truck bearing license plate RLY 731, resulted to a 40-minute firefight that left three rebels killed and injured a policeman who was immediately brought to the

of the Ombudsman and all legislators and government officials. It’s like saying that without immunity, more important persons in executive, Legislature and possibly the Judiciary would be named,” Cavite Rep. elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga Jr. said.

While Napoles’ lawyer Bruce Rivera has said before that his client is ready to face the consequences of her testimony even if she is not accepted as a sta-

te witness, a position that President Benigno Aquino III thinks does not befit Napoles, now Atty. Rivera is singing a different tune stating that Napoles won't accept anything less than immunity.

“Can Napoles really blackmail or hold the entire country hostage to her telenovela? The best course for the government is to let the law takes its natural course, speed up its inve-

stigation, file additional charges against those involved regardless of political allegiances and hearing be made at the Sandiganbayan.

This is the scenario which our people want to see,” Barzaga said.

Barzaga, a lawyer and stalwart of the National Unity Party (NUP), said that considering the billions of pesos involved and the len-

FNORCOT, 10

Napoles blackmailing gov’t by demanding immunity

J

ANeT Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind in the multi-billion pork barrel scam is practically blackmailing the government by demanding immunity from any criminal liability after naming lawmakers and other personalities allegedly involved in the scheme, Cavite Rep. elpidio “Pidi” Barzaga Jr. said on Thursday.

“She’s practically blackmailing the DoJ, the Office

DCWD call center services down for tech maintenance

D

AvAO City Water District advises customers that some services of its call center will not be available on May 24 from 8:00 AM to 12:00 NN due to a technical maintenance to be conducted by the water utility’s Information and Communications Technology Department (ICTD).

These services are all bill-related queries and follow-ups on new service connections, reconnections and high consumption investigations.

However, other services such as leak reports, inquiry on water interruption schedules and other general information about the water utility’s services are still accessible.

The ICTD needs to tem-

porarily cut-off and disconnect the water utility’s data center for the installation of a Transient voltage Surge Suppressor (TvSS) appliance. Said installation is needed for preventive maintenance purposes.

The DCWD management assures that normal call center operation will resume once the installation is finished.

DCWD customers may contact DCWD’s 24/7 call center through the hotline 297-DCWD (3293) and mobile numbers 09277988966 (Globe), 09255113293 (Sun) and 09084410653 (Smart) for updates, complaints, queries and matters pertaining to DCWD services. [Jovana T. Duhaylungsod]

FNAPOLES, 10

T

He Army’s 4th Infantry (Diamond) Division formally welcomed the 97 NPA returnees dubbed as “Pagbabalik Loob III” at the Provincial Capitol, Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur on Wednesday.

AFP Chief of Staff Gen. emmanuel T. Bautista was personally on hand to receive the returnees along with eastern Mindanao Command Commander Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz III and 4th ID Chief Maj. Gen. Ricardo R. visaya.

Thirty-three of them (including 2 women) are regular members of the NPA while sixty four are members of the underground Barrio Revolutionary Committees or Militia ng Bayan. 3 of whom are from Surigao del Sur while 94 are from Agusan del Sur. 70 of them are Indigenous

People (lumad) mostly of Manobo tribe. 12 were recruited when they were still minors. The returnees will receive a total of Php 881,750.00 from the AFP’s Guns for Peace Program as remunerations for the 93 assorted high powered firearms they brought along with them.

For the record, the 4ID’s Pagbabalik Loob I, II and III helped 204 NPA with 201 assorted firearms return to the folds of the law safely.

A total of 4.2 million pesos was released by the eastern Mindanao Command taken from the AFP’s Guns for Peace Program fund. NPA returnees are also entitled to receive another cash and livelihood assistance from the OPAPP. 401st Infantry (Unity) Brigade Commander Colonel Gregory M. Cayetano

FARMY, 10

TUITION FEE HIKE. Department of Education (DepEd) 11 spokesperson Genelito “Dodong” Atillo bared during yesterday’s I-Speak media forum at City Hall that the agency has approved the tuition fee increase of 58 schools in Davao City for school year 2014-2015. Lean Daval Jr.

5 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014

PHL, Vietnam agree on enhancing two-way trade T

AboitizPower subsidiary Therma South, Inc. team members join community leaders, teachers and pupils of Inawayan Elem. School and Binugao Central Elem. School at the start of the annual Brigada Eskwela. The employees cleaned classrooms, repainted walls and cleaned the school grounds in anticipation of the more than 2,500 pupils expected to enroll in the two schools this June.

He Philippines and vietnam agreed to enhance their trade cooperation in the coming years, vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said on Wednesday.

In a joint press statement after holding a bilateral meeting with President Benigno S. Aquino III, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said they agreed to continue strengthening cooperation to achieve the target of billion in two-way trade by 2016.

Also agreed were the facilitation of businesses for both sides and the exploration of business and investment opportunities, increase connectivity between the two economies, and ensure food security.

The vietnamese leader said both countries wished to cooperate in finance banking and services, and at the same time, encourage cooperation in culture, education, healthcare, science and technology, and tourism.

The two countries also agreed to further advance and deepen relations, and elevate comprehensive growth, bilateral relations to a higher level.

Both countries agreed to

establish a working commission headed by the two foreign ministries to establish a roadmap towards strategic partnership between vietnam and the Philippines. This thrust is aimed at enhancing regional peace, stability, cooperation, and development, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said.

“The roadmap for bilateral strategic partnership will be submitted to the high-level leaders of the two countries for adoption,” he said.

In addition to bilateral cooperation, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung also said he discussed with President Aquino regional and international issues.

Both sides agreed to coordinate closely with each other, as well as with other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASeAN) countries, to successively build a united and strong ASeAN community by 2015, he said.

The two countries will also continue collaboration and mutual support on regional and international forums, he said.

[PNA]

6 THE ECONOMY

VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014

WEF calls on East Asia to strengthen food security e

AST Asian countries must strengthen its cooperation for food security in the coming years, World economic Forum (WeF) on east Asia Co-chair and World Wide Fund (WWF) International President Yolanda Kakabadse said during the first day of the WeF east Asia meeting in Manila.

On the closing plenary of Grow Asia Agriculture Forum Wednesday, Kakabadse said food security is now an urgent issue not only in east Asia but globally as well.

“Given the unprecedented growth of human population and stress on our one and only planet, we must find a way to produce more food in the next forty years than we have produced for the last thousand years,” she explained.

In order to achieve food security, Kakabadse mentioned three areas in which the region should focus.

First, east Asian countries must give attention to wasted food.

She cited an international study that 43 percent of packed foods in the world goes to waste.

“Too much of the food we produced is wasted and

we need to manage it,” she stressed.

“The second is distribution. Better production system will not solve the problem we face unless they are supported by better distribution system,” Kakabadse said citing the second area that east Asia must look into.

Third, east Asian countries should manage inputs.

“There is immense competition for key resources like land and water. Without the efficient use underpinned with good planning and equitable governance of these resources, we will be solving one problem while creating more aggravating problems,” she noted.

“We are working together across the sectors and linking consumption and production more holistically by, for example: creating regulatory enabling conditions, market base instruments and open dialogue,” she added.

Kakabadse stressed that east Asian countries must have an effective collaboration and promote governance and inclusiveness among economic sector, government, and civil society in food security issue.

“Food production is one

A lady examines pork bellies on display at the meat section of Agdao Public Market in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr. of the key economic sectors dependent on the ecosystem… Managing natural capital sustainability is key for sustaining food supply agricultural and fisheries livelihood, and resilience and hu-

man well-being more broadly,” she noted.

“This means that ensuring national, sectoral development strategies take full acct of this state of natural assets. In planning investments,

Int’l community to demand China to comply with international laws T

He Philippines and vietnam have called on the international community to demand China to end its sea violations and fully comply with international law. vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung arrived in the Philippines for a working visit and also attend the ongoing three-day World economic Forum on east Asia here.

“The two sides are determined to oppose China’s violations and called on countries and the international community to continue strongly condemning China and demanding China to immediately end its violations

and fully, strictly observe the international law,” said Dung in a statement following the expanded bilateral meeting with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III. The vietnamese Prime Minister cited the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

He said China also needs to make efforts for the early achievement of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

“In particular, China’s illegal placement of the oil rig and deployment of vessels

to protect the rig deep into vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone, have seriously threatened peace, stability, maritime security and safety, and freedom of navigation in the east Sea,” Dung said.

President Aquino said the two countries agreed to continue cooperation to enable them to better protect their maritime resources, and pursue strategies that will boost growth of their people and the region.

“We face common challenges as maritime nations and as brothers in ASeAN,” he said.

To strengthen their mar-

itime cooperation, President Aquino said the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the vietnam Coast Guard (vCG) will undertake more collaborative activities.

The Chief executive identified areas such as oil spill preparedness and response, mechanisms for search and rescue cooperation and mechanisms for information exchange, such as the Hotline Communication Mechanisms between the PCG and the vCG, aimed at protecting their marine resources and suppressing illegal activities in the adjacent sea area between the two countries.

[PNA]

missioned by ICAeW, the report provides its 142,000 members with a current snapshot of the region’s economic performance.

We focus on the economies of the Association of South east Asian Nations (ASeAN), namely Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and vietnam.

Against the backdrop of a recent emerging markets sell-off,potentially rising interest rates luring investors back to the developed world, and a slowdown in China, ASeAN is looking at a challenging year ahead.

While the least developed ASeAN economies still struggle with commodity dependence, countries just beyond that stage,such as the Philippines and Indonesia are striving to make the transition to an advanced-economy mix of exports.

Two things must happen to allow this progress from a dependence on commodity exports to high-value manufacturing: government-led investment in education and skills, and private-sector-led large-scale investment in production.

Mark Billington, ICAeW Regional Director for South east

Asia, said: “Investment in education and skills is key to building a knowledge economy. While the Philippines and Indonesia have done well in providing basic education at the primary-to-secondarylevel, governments need to look at increasing education investments at the tertiary level, particularly in developing engineering and science skills in order to move up to the higher tiers of production.”

Once the foundation of a highly educated workforce is set in place, the extent to which the high-value sectors will

in infrastructure, land use allocation, setting standards for environmental management and production, including allocation of resources like water,” she added.

Moreover, during the first

day of the WeF on east Asia stakeholders in the region discussed issues and identified common challenges in agriculture and come up with solutions to be undertaken by each east Asian nation. [PNA]

Loren: Growth must be inclusive

S

eNATOR Loren Legarda today stressed on the need to promote inclusive, equitable and sustainable growth, noting that this year’s World economic Forum (WeF) on east Asia delves on issues that greatly affect the economy, including climate change.

Legarda said that the Philippines, as host of the 2014 WeF, has the opportunity to tell the region that the country is back in business and ready to face the challenges that come with its growing economy.

“The Philippines’ growth has been surprising economists. Our economy has grown by more than 6% over the past 8 quarters and last year, it grew by 7.2%. But the greater challenge is translating the impressive numbers into more job opportunities, stable employment, equitable access to quality education, health services and other so-

cial services, and safe and disaster-resilient communities for Filipinos,” she said.

Legarda, a panelist for the interactive workshop, Designing Solutions for Climate and Resource Risks, warned that one of the greatest threats to the country’s growing economy is climate change, which has been causing extreme weather events.

She noted that Haiyan, the world’s strongest typhoon to hit land, caused damages and losses estimated at US$12.9 billion or about 5% of the country’s GDP. “Natural hazards have become stronger in recent years. But there are underlying drivers that increase risks.

These include poverty, badly planned and managed urban and regional development, informal settlements on unsafe lands, vulnerable rural and urban livelihoods, and ecosystem decline,” said Legarda.

Report: PH should focus on education and investment G

ROWTH projection for the Philippines has been revised downwards from 6.8% to 6.5% as unemployment continues to drag on demand causing lukewarm investor sentiment, according to ICAeW’s latest economic Insight report. Greater investment in education and foreign direct investment are needed over the long term for the country to transition to a high-value manufacturing economy.

The ICAeW report economic Insight: South east Asia is produced by Cebr, ICAeW’s partner and economic forecaster. Com-

thrive will depend partly on the amount of inflow of foreign direct investment.

Charles Davis, ICAeW economic Adviser and Cebr Director said: “Investment is not just about building plants and creating new capacity that way. It is just as necessary that foreign firms setting up new sectors in less-developed economies transfer knowledge and up skill workers so they can produce higher value added goods and services.”

“In the long term, as these economies grow wealthier,

foreign direct investments will increasingly be driven by consumption rather than production, as the large populations of South east Asia should provide increasing numbers of affluent consumers.”

At present, domestic instability in the Philippines remains a key risk to growth. While reconstruction work from the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan and the nation’s trading links with the US are expected to provide a boost to the Philippines’ growth, unemployment continues to drag on domestic demand and investor confidence.

7 ENVIRONMENT

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014

Controlling water in growing rice

reduces methane emissions

By GERRy T. EsTRERA

R

ICe farmers can help reduce methane emissions into the atmosphere by adopting controlled irrigation or alternate wetting and drying (AWD) technology.

Developed by the Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), AWD is a technology which allowed rice fields to dry for a certain period before applying irrigation water.

Also called controlled irrigation or intermittent irrigation, AWD technology can actually save farmers almost one-third of irrigation water without sacrificing yields. It also saves farm inputs like oil, fuel, and labor being utilized on the operation of water pumps.

On an 8-season field experiment conducted at IRRI, it was found that AWD “has real potential to reduce the global warming impact of paddy fields to one-third of the conventional continuously-flooded field water management.”

In a paper presented during the international workshop on “Water Management and Technology for Crop Production under Climate Change” in Suwon, Korea, the authors claimed AWD “can reduce methane emissions by over 40%.”

Rice fields using this technology are alternately flooded and dried.

The number of days of non-flooded soil can vary from one day to more than 10 days, according to IRRI. It uses an “observation well” that is made of bamboo, plastic pipes, or any hollow indigenous material. Perforations are made in the lower half of the tube.

The AWD technology can be started a few days after transplanting (or with a 10-centimeter tall crop in direct seeding). When many weeds are present, AWD can be postponed

for 2-3 weeks until weeds have been suppressed by the ponded water. Local fertilizer recommendations as for flooded rice can be used. Nitrogen fertilizer maybe applied preferably on the dry soil just before irrigation.

“A practical way to implement AWD technology is by monitoring the depth of the water table in the field using a simple perforated field water tube,” IRRI explains. “When the water level is 15 centimeters below the surface of the soil, it is time to flood the soil to a depth of around 5 centimeters at the time of flowering, from one week before to one week after the maximum flowering.”

The water in the rice field is kept at 5 centimeters depth to avoid any water stress that would result in severe loss in rice grain yield. The threshold of water level at 15centimeters is called “safe AWD,” as this will not cause any yield decline because the roots of the rice plants are still be able to take up water from the saturated soil and move it to root zone.

“The field water tube used in this technology will help to measure the water level in the field so that incipient water stress in the rice plants can be anticipated,” the IRRI points out.

As such, the AWD technology does not only save water but can greatly reduce emissions of methane.

Dr. Drew Shindell, a climatologist at NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Columbia University in New York, once said: “If we control methane, which is viable, then we are likely to soften global warming more than one would have thought, so that’s a very positive outcome.”

After carbon dioxide,

Alternate wetting and drying (Photo courtesy of IRRI) methane is the second most important greenhouse gas, which is responsible for trapping the heat from the sun at it radiates back into space. Methane is created naturally as a waste product of anaerobic bacteria (living with little or no oxygen). These bacteria produce methane gas in waterlogged soil and wetland, but also in human-produced environment such as rice paddies.

Scientists explain that long-term flooding of the fields cuts the soil off from atmospheric oxygen and causes anaerobic fermentation of organic matter in the soil. During the wet season, rice cannot hold the carbon in anaerobic conditions. The microbes in the soil convert the carbon into methane which is then released through the respiration of the rice plant or through diffusion

of water.

It wasn’t until in 2001, when the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) submitted its report that methane was given much attention. “One of the most potent greenhouse gases on earth,” the report said.

“Methane absorbs heat 21 times more than carbon dioxide and it has 9-15 year life time in the atmosphere over a 100year period,” says Dr. Constancio Asis, Jr. supervising science research specialist at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in Muñoz, Nueva ecija.

A new study, which appeared in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, said that methane’s effect on warming the world’s climate may be double what is currently thought.

The new interpretations reveal methane emissions

may account for a whopping third of the climate warming “from well-mixed greenhouse gases” between the 1750s and today.

Rice fields are one of the major contributors of methane in the atmosphere. “An estimated 19 percent of world’s methane production comes from rice paddies,” admits Dr. Alan Teramura, a botany professor at the University of Maryland. “As populations increase in rice-growing areas, more rice – and more methane – are produced.”

According to Dr. Asis, rice crops emit methane starting from the transplanting to harvesting stage, peaking at two weeks after transplanting up to the tillering stage.

The AWD technology is one of the farming systems that can help minimize methane emissions.

But there’s more: “AWD technology can reduce the number of irrigations significantly compared to farmer’s practice, thereby lowering irrigation water consumption by 25 per cent, reducing diesel fuel consumption for pumping water by 30 liters per hectare, and producing 500 kilograms more rice grain yield per hectare,” the IRRI says in a statement.

However, the AWD technology has its shares of disadvantages.

For one, rice productivity is reduced using AWD technology if moisture stress condition is induced. But studies have shown that the reduction of yield was less compared to the yield reduction due to the direct moisture stress effect.

Another disadvantage: emissions of nitrous oxide, also a greenhouse gas, are increased.

8

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014

EDITORIAL

Next economic tiger

A

CCORDING to a think tank, the Philippines could become Asia’s next economic tiger with its gross domestic product (GDP) growing faster than all its neighbors in the region.

The GDP growth being referred to is 6.3 percent from 2009 to 2013, compared to the 6-percent growth for the rest of Southeast Asia for the same period. Indeed, a good performance that impressed Deloitte Global, the think tank.

It’s all about the country’s competitiveness –attraction—to investors. Deloitte attributes its positive assessment to such factors as the high expectations for peace in Mindanao, high trust ratings for the government’s anti-corruption campaign, an improvement in the business climate, and international rec-

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

the national association of newspapers

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

ognition for the country’s efforts to increase its competitiveness. This perception will only turn negative if the above factors are reversed, especially if a lasting just peace will not be achieved in Mindanao, and if massive corruption in the government recently exposed will not result in the conviction and jailing of the guilty.

All these amount to a once in a lifetime opportunity for the Filipino people to achieve change and meaning reforms in the government. If we slide back and allow the corrupt to lord it over the nation again, by say, electing to power their “trapo” friends who’ll gladly bail them-- the thieves-- out of jail. Indeed, we will rot in the hellhole in utter hopelessness, instead of becoming the next tiger.

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG Creative Solutions

ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Associate Editor

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA Photography Contributing Photographer

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR./ CHENEEN R. CAPON Reporters

Columnists: CARLOS MUNDA • MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEñA • MARY ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NICASIO AGUSTIN • VIDA A. MIA VALVERDE • Economic ENRICO“ADDIE” “GICO” G. Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER ANGELO C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO PEñA • ZHAUN ORTEGA Analysts: • BERNADETTE B. DAYANGIRANG M.QUISIDO PEREZ • Lifestyle Columnists: BAISR., FAUZIAH SINSUAT •AMBOLODTO • MEGHANN STA. INES BORBON • MARY• JONALLIER ANN “ADI” C. • LEANDRO B. DAVAL • NIKKIFATIMA GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY •ZEN NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ

GENERAL OFFICE SANTOS CITY CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OLIVIA D. VELASCO OLIVIA D. VELASCO RICHARDRICHARD C. EBONAC. EBONA SOLANI D. MARATAS SOLANI D. MARATAS MARKETING OFFICE | Marketing Manager General Manager General ManagerMarketingAdvertising Supervisor SpecialistFinance FinanceLEIZEL A. DELOSOLEIZEL A. DELOSO | MarketingFLOREnCE ManagerS. ViLLARin

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014

Flair for self-promotion

D

eeP-SeATeD CULTURe OF SLUGGISHNeSS AND PUBLICITY STUNT – Have some members of the Davao City Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) gone too far in the performance of their sworn duties? Immediately right after assuming office city lawmakers announced ambitious initiatives, mostly reflecting the desires of their constituencies.

Political promises must be kept, of course, and there is no shortage of issues to be examined. City councilors should remember they have one duty that precedes all others: to craft and formulate socio-economic measures that are valuable for the city and the citizenry. That means less political point-scoring and more practical policymaking.

Local lawmakers need to seriously involve themselves in the affairs of the city legislative body, especially socio-economic management instead of attending to other activities, which are not related to their functions. Again, let me say it very clearly that some members of the city legislature still need a lot of political education. The vagueness, from men and women who should know instantly and exactly their crucial roles during legislative sessions, characterizes a deep-rooted culture of sluggishness.

Sometime in January SP presiding officer vice Mayor Paolo “Pulong” Duterte was fuming when some council members came in late during the chamber’s first regular session for the incoming year. Being the presiding officer, it was time to act; but as usual, on the right course.

He was enraged over the absence of some councilors for the 10:00 a.m. schedule of session.

The vice mayor have to always keep a check on every SP member and remind all those who have the habit of listlessness to shape up. It’s just the most appropriate thing to do by calling the attention of the councilors especially those who have the penchant of coming in late during regular sessions. Keen observers and local political pundits echoed the vice mayor’s sentiment

T

because some councilors who are perceived to be naïve and conceited neither care to be too concern about the importance of legislative sessions or think about their sworn duties as public servants.

In attempting to explain their sides during that time, some of the late councilors reasoned out that traffic snarls and the speed limit regulation prevented them to arrive on time. Session supposedly would start at 10:00 in the morning every Tuesday. Goodness gracious! Not all agree, vice Mayor “Pulong” in particular. even so, the vice mayor says traffic congestion and speed limitation are not the main reason for the tardiness of some councilors. “If that’s really the causes of the delay, I would have also been late considering that I lived even farther than most of the council members,” the infuriated vice mayor then said.

I presumed the vice mayor wasn’t being inconsiderate. He was simply trying to draw attention to the dismal working pattern of some SP members even in the early phase of their terms.

Furthermore, he was so concerned that he has urged the aldermen to be pro-active in their role especially in the enactment of laws and ordinances in gorgeous foundations. The habitual tardiness among councilors has been expected anyway. even long before vice Mayor Duterte assumed the role as presiding officer, many councilors were already inflicted with the “tardiness syndrome.” I should know because I’ve been covering legislative sessions as part of my beat in the past when the chamber is widely known for its glow and luster.

But what happened during the week’s regular session is more upsetting. The city legislative chamber failed to conduct a session due to lack of quorum. The august chamber is required to have at least 14 members to constitute a quorum. Where have the councilors gone? Those who failed to show up reasoned out that they were joining the “Brigada eskwela” while the others may be somewhere else attending to other “publicity-generating” activities. Worse, most of the “absentee” councilors were also late in three previous sessions.

In the face of such test, the vice mayor has to demonstrate his mettle. He should crack the whip sternly if need be if only to show that he really means business. Members of the city council may be able to do no more than just put a smiling face on their trivial performances. They should not be carried away by the praises heaped on them after winning a seat in the SP, and have become complacent or, worse, big-headed. They should not stimulate their flair for self-promotion because it would only further shake voters’ confidence Maintaining a good image does not mean attending to other less important concerns that generate more public exposure and disregarding the council’s urgent unfinished business. Moreover, they have to continue formulating policies in view of the urgency of tackling the socio-economic problems confronting their constituents.

They have always to bear in mind that public dissatisfaction will rise with the perception that the city council has been unable to confront, particularly the delivery of basic social services.

They have yet to display true leadership and prove something that can do much to reassure, let alone inspire, the public who will judge them according to their actions and provide a performance approval ratings later. Gentlemen and ladies, as I’ve mentioned above maintaining a good image doesn’t mean coming late or absent during sessions, isn’t it?

Ghost hangs over Silicon Valley

He number of entrepreneurs in Silicon valley familiar with the work of Harold Geneen would hardly fill a 140-character tweet. After all, Geneen wasn’t a technologist, the inventor of a new computing language or the founder of a seminal startup. He was the original M&A machine – the man whose deal-making 50 years ago turned ITT into a multibillion-dollar conglomerate.

As tech giants like Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Alibaba, Rakuten and Google mature and canvass the globe for businesses they can buy that are a few steps removed from their core activities, Geneen’s story is becoming more relevant. These titans of the internet age are embarking on diversification strategies not entirely dissimilar from those of Geneen’s ITT and its many followers, including LTv, Transamerica and Gulf+Western.

Just tick through some of the recent techland shopping excursions. Front of mind, there’s Apple’s potential $3.2 billion pickup of Beats electronics. It makes headphones not telephones and tablets, from which the company founded by the late Steve Jobs derived three-quarters of its revenue in its most recent quarter. Still, the company can make some sort of industrial case for Beats, given its streaming music service.

That’s less the case with Google’s purchase of Titan Aerospace, a maker of high-altitude drones.

The search giant run by Larry Page argues that both companies “share a profound optimism about the potential for technology to improve the world.”

According to Google: “It’s still early days, but atmospheric satellites could help bring internet access to millions of people, and help solve other problems, including disaster relief and environmental damage like deforestation.”

If that sounds far away from Google’s core business of making money from advertising on the internet, shareholders can comfort themselves knowing the Titan team, which will operate independently, will collaborate with Google’s so-called “Project

COMMENTARY By roB cox Loon” – you know, the division that is working on delivering internet access from balloons.

A further head-scratcher is that Google actually had to fight off Facebook for Titan. The social network instead must comfort itself with the purchase of Oculus vR, a startup that makes virtual reality headgear for hardcore video game nerds. Mark Zuckerberg’s company paid $2 billion for the honor of owning a business that it would take Houdini-like contortions to even remotely link to Facebook’s core product.

Google and Facebook have ample company when it comes to sprawling strategy. Jeff Bezos’ annual letter to Amazon shareholders is exhibit A for a future Harvard Business School case study in either corporate mission creep or extraordinary ambition.

Jack Ma’s Alibaba isn’t far off. To call Ma an e-commerce boss would be an extreme understatement.

He also has a leading electronic payments business and even an asset management firm in his sphere.

Pushing out in multiple directions is one way to reduce a company’s vulnerability to disruption in the fast-moving world of technology.

Geneen, too, was a serial shopper in the late 1960s, acquiring nearly 50 companies, and transforming a telecoms firm into a sprawling group that included Avis rental cars, homebuilder William Levitt & Sons, Continental Baking (eventual father of the Twinkie) and Pennsylvania Glass Sand. As Cary Reich recounted in “Financier,” his biography of legendary banker Andre Meyer, “By 1971, ITT was the ninth-largest industrial corporation in the United States, with $8.8 billion in revenues – and 75 percent of that total came from acquired companies.”

And like today’s tech megastars, Geneen inspired followers. LTv went on a spree that took

sales from $7 million to $2.8 billion in the decade to 1968, including 27 acquisitions. Charles Bludhorn’s Gulf+Western entered the 1960s as a small-time manufacturer of car bumpers. eighty acquisitions later, Bludhorn’s empire included Hollywood studio Paramount Pictures, Madison Square Garden, Simon & Schuster and even New Jersey Zinc.

True, today’s internet conglomerates aren’t yet as rambling as ITT and its spawn. They still derive the bulk of their revenue from core businesses, from advertising at Google or Facebook to ecommerce at Amazon and Alibaba. But they are fully engaged in expansionary M&A that is, at best, tangentially related.

Yet the man who perhaps knew Geneen best, Felix Rohatyn, can help explain why his example is still instructive. As a young banker working for Meyer at Lazard, Rohatyn worked on most of Geneen’s deals, including his first, in 1961, for a small California electronics firm called Jennings Radio. Rohatyn still comes in to Lazard’s Rockefeller Center headquarters, where he advises Chief executive Ken Jacobs.

“Most people never really fully understood why Harold Geneen was so intent on building up ITT through acquisitions. It was simple – the company feared that many of its best assets would be nationalized overseas,” Rohatyn says. Indeed, many of them were, whether amidst creeping socialism abroad in Cuba, Chile and elsewhere, or as the result of ITT’s well-documented meddling alongside the Central Intelligence Agency in the affairs of foreign governments – or both.

Shareholders were “generally supportive” of ITT’s acquisitions, remembers Rohatyn, in part because Geneen was buying companies that looked cheaper than ITT on the relevant valuation metrics.

“Of course, frothy markets enabled these conglomerates to take hold. When that ended, not all of these companies came out the other end intact.” That’s a lesson for the internet-age followers of ITT as they, too, seek to diversify their businesses.

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Heroin’s fictional comeback ANAlYSIS

By Jack Shafer

F

OR a drug that has never ever gone away, heroin sure has a talent for coming back every couple of years. On Tuesday, the New York Times advanced the belief that a “flood of heroin” is flowing into New York City in a Page One story titled “New York Is a Hub in a Surging Heroin Trade.”

One difference between a conventional flood and a heroin flood is that a conventional is easier to measure: Plant a tall pole next to the body of water you’re observing, mark the pole with hash-marks in feet or meters, and record the rising water levels. But no such simple technology exists to accurately measure the flow of heroin into or out of a city. To use rising seizure statistics to estimate a surge in the heroin trade is like drawing a bath, stepping into it, and declaring that a flood has ravaged your tub.

The government statistics the Times cites sound impressive. “The amount of heroin seized in investigations involving the city’s special narcotics prosecutor has already surpassed last year’s totals, and is higher than any year going back to 1991,” the paper declares. In the first four months of 2014, we’re told, the city’s special narcotics prosecutor has recorded the seizure of 288 pounds of heroin, which does not include everyday seizures on the streets.

While 288 pounds of heroin over four months sounds like a staggering stash, how big is it really? In 1997, authorities seized 1,200 pounds of heroin in a Hayward, Calif., warehouse. In 1993, the Times reported the single seizure of 424 pounds of heroin (packed into five suitcases) in a Manhattan apartment tower. In 1989, federal agents and New York police confiscated 820 pounds of heroin in Flushing, Queens, in just one raid. The year before, Bangkok customs officials discovered 2,822 pounds of heroin on a New York-bound freighter, just before it sailed.

But according to a Nexis search, none of these substantial seizures elicited heroin-flood warnings from the Times.

Again, how staggered should we be by a 288-pound seizure? Based on a rule-of-thumb formula published by the Times in 1993, 288 pounds might have sated the city’s heroin appetite for about three weeks. Of course, this is just an estimate as heroin users neither submit to a census nor share consumption details with authorities. The real number could be twice or half that amount. Nobody knows. As likely as not, the average heroin importer’s business plan factors in the occasional seizure and makes distributional adjustments when police make what they consider to be a “big” bust.

A rise in drug seizures can’t be taken as a reliable marker of an increased supply of drugs for several reasons. Record seizures might indicate good luck on the part of police, and low seizures might indicate bad luck. A change in figures might indicate an increase or decrease in drug enforcement man-hours or know-how, or a change in smuggler tactics. In 1997, federal agencies were befuddled when seizures of cocaine and heroin dropped 12 percent and 16 percent respectively, despite an increase in interdiction efforts. The Chicago Tribune let unnamed government sources speculate that the cause might be smugglers taking new routes to evade detection. In other words, a decline in seizures was assumed to indicate an increase (or no change) in the amount smuggled.

If you step outside the micro of the New York City heroin market and into the macro of the world market, the 288 pounds seized in New York shrinks into insignificance. In 2008, a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime report estimated world heroin consumption in 2008 at 340 metric tons of heroin (750,000 pounds) and seizures at 90 to 110 metric tons (200,000 to 242,000 pounds). The U.N. also pegged U.S. and Canada annual consumption of heroin at about 22 metric tons. If you put any faith in these official numbers, the 288 pounds stored in New York evidence lockers look more like a heroin trickle than a flood.

What’s driving the Times coverage, of course, is the national rise in drug-related deaths over the past two decades, about which I intend to write more. But for now, leave your galoshes in the closet. Reports of a New York heroin flood are greatly exaggerated.

10 NEWS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014

Investment...FFROM 1 limit speed due to large number of vehicles plying the city’s major thoroughfares “Takot nga ako. Mabuti pa na wala na muna yang investments dahil hindi natin kaya,” he said.

“Ang problema ko nga lang, ang infrastructure natin has not kept up with… yung infrastructure natin is not in parity with the fast-paced of investments,” stressed Duterte.

Duterte said on top of his priorities is the expansion and improvement of the city’s drainage system but he is now facing financial constraints to pursue.

“I cannot expand because I do not have money to expropriate every building here,” he said.

Duterte said the present drainage system is no longer viable as the outlets in the Davao Gulf are not functioning effectively with the rise of sea level.

“The problem is yung sea level nagtabla na. Yung level ng around Davao pagnag high tide, tabla. So, yung tubig hindi talaga maglabas,” he said.

Once the problem in the present drainage system left unattended, the city may end up like the situation besetting Malabon City where the local government uses a pumping system to remove the water from the streets.

“But, that would require a huge outlet,” Duterte said.

will be partly cloudy to cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.

Metro Manila temperature will be range to 25-36 degrees Celsius for Wednesday.

In its advisory, PAGASA said that light to moderate winds blowing from the east to southeast will prevail throughout the archipelago and the coastal waters will be slight to moderate. [PNA]

bring his imported fertilizer products from Indonesia.

He described the new sea transport as shorter, faster and direct route.

“There is no need for goods to go to Manila before Davao”.

The route provides strategic market for some products from Mindanao to Indonesian market. It is part of the holistic initiatives to enhance the connectivity between Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippineseast Asean Growth Associa-

tion (BIMP-eAGA) in terms of trade, investment, development and tourism.

“We are planning to make the route available to passengers if we see that there is traffic in the future,” he added.

“We are also planning to revive all the activities that will encourage tourists to come in,” Montenegro said, adding that there are proposals to revive the technical vocational students exchange program between Indonesia and Philippines.

Light...FFROM 2

Davao-Bitung...FFROM 2

NOTICE OF LOss

5/23/30/6/6

NOTICE OF LOss

Notice is hereby given by LOyOLA pLANs CONsOLIDATED INC. That CERTIFICATE OF FULL pAyMENT No.(s) 058774 under LOyOLA pLAN Contract No.(s) 71025049-6 issued to TABERNERO DEDICAsION G. was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

5/23/30/6/6

General Santos Drive, Koronadal City, South Cotabato 9506

Tel. No. 083-228-2511 ; Fax No. 083-228-2654

General Santos Drive, Koronadal City, South Cotabato 9506 Tel. No. 083-228-2511 ; Fax No. 083-228-2654

WANTeD FOR IMMeDIATe HIRING!

WANTED FOR IMMEDIATE HIRING!

BUS DRIveR

BUS DRIVER

Qualifications: Qualifications:

1.

2.

3.

Male, 28 – 40 years old 1. least Male, high 28 – school 40 years old At graduate 2. At least high school graduate With 5 years driving experience (bus, trucks) 3. With 5 years driving experience (bus, trucks)

Requirements: Requirements: 1. Driver’s License with Official Receipt 1.x Driver’s License (2 with Official Receipt 2. 2 2 I.D. picture pcs.)

2. 2 x 2 I.D. (2 pcs.) or clearance from 3. Certificate of picture employment 3. Certificate of Employment or clearance from

May previous apply in employment person at Human Resource Department, YBLI in Office, General Santos Resource Drive, May apply person at Human Koronadal City.

Department, YBLI Office, General Santos Drive, Koronadal City.

SCHOLARSHIP GRANT. Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) 11 Regional Director Eduardo Bellido leads the signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for OWWA scholarships grant to 12 deserving children of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) from Davao region at the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) office yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

DepEd...FFROM 2

ence room of City Hall yesterday, Atillo said that among the requirements include the minutes of consultation with parents indicating consent to the proposed increase including the exact amount. “via the minutes makita man didto kung ni approve ba ang katawhan or unsay dagan sa discussion. Kung pananglitan approve sila the next document we would like to see is the list of parents name with fresh signature and we do not want to receive a document na photocopy… kay with the technology pwedeng magicon, ” he said.

Atillo said that 70 percent of the increase will go to the additional salary and benefits of teachers and non-teaching personnel while 20 percent is

allotted for the improvement of school facilities. The remaining the 10 percent belongs to return of investment of the schools.

Among the schools with approved application to impose tuition fee hike are Amigo School of Calinan, Anthony and Mark Cavanis elementary School, Ateneo de Davao University, Brainworks School, Bright Angels of Tomorrow Academy, Brokenshire College of Toril, Colegio de San Ignacio, Davao Central College, Davao Central High School, Davao Christian High School, Davao Wisdom Academy Doňa Pliar Learning Center Foundation Dr. P. Ocampo College of Davao, Fatima de Davao School of Maa, Ford Academy of the Arts, Fr. Justin Russolillo School of

Davao, General Baptist Bible College, Holy Child College of Davao in Buhangin, Jacinto and Mintal, Holy Cross College of Calinan, Holy Cross of Davao College, Holy Cross of Mintal, Little Sunbeam Pre-School of Torila and Maranatha PreSchool.

The other schools are Mats College of Technology, Mindanao Christian Foundation College and Seminary, Our Lady of Fatima Academy of Davao, Progressive Learning and Development Center, Philippine Academy of Sakya, Philippine Nikkie Jin Kai International School elementary, Philippine Women’s College of Davao, Rizal Memorial Colleges, Rizal Special education Learning Center, St. Therese College of Science of Tech-

nology, San Pedro College, Shepherd My Lambs Christian College, Southern Philippines Baptist Theological Seminary Inc., South Point School, St. Anne Learning Center, St. Patrick Math and Science School, St. Paul College Pasig – Davao Campus, St. Peter’s College of Toril, Tecarro College Foundation, The Creche Foundation School of Davao City, The Lamb of God Sped Academy, Thompson Christian School, United Methodist School of Davao, University of Mindanao, University of Immaculate Concepcion, Assumption College of Davao, Holy Cross of Agdao, Holy Cross of Bunawan, Holy Cross College of Sasa, Philippine Nikkie Jin Kai International School high school and Stella Maris Academy of Davao.

said “We are very much happy to welcome these former rebels who have finally decided to return to the folds of the law. We are very thankful to them that they gave up their arms and start living a normal life back to their loved ones and families”.

Gen. visaya said, “We

are thankful that these former rebels have left the mountains and returned to the folds of the law. Let us put an end to poverty and stop the war. This is the essence of “Bayanihan,” an advocacy of working handin-hand”.

Lt. Gen. Cruz commended the returnees for

immediately deciding to return to the folds of the law with firearms. “You can now start a new life with your loved ones and be a productive citizen in your respective communities.

Your AFP here in eastern Mindanao is sincere in its mandate in protecting the people. The CPP-NPA-NDF

are now into extortion activities, arson, attack to civilians and civilian properties. In other words, they are called as bandits or anti-development group. As I said before, we are confident of these snowballs of surrender in eastern Mindanao area of responsibility”.

gth of time the pork barrel scam has been ongoing, hundreds, if not thousands of cases might be filed against Napoles and other high officials in the government. In the event that Napoles should become a state witness necessarily she would be excluded in all these criminal cases.

He further said Napoles is still the central figure and “author” of the pork barrel

scam which covered a long period of time starting as early as 2001.

The pork barrel scam, Barzaga said, “would not have flourished were it not for Napoles using her fake NGOs.” “Napoles’ credibility has already been severely damaged. In the Senate investigation, she answered under oath, that she has no knowledge of the pork

barrel scam, has forgotten, does not remember and does not know the involvement of any senator,” Barzaga pointed out.

Barzaga recalled that for five hours last April 21, 2014, Napoles was questioned at her hospital bed

by NBI investigators in the presence of her lawyer Bruce Rivera and Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and her answers were put into

writing in the form of an affidavit.

“However, even Secretary de Lima doubts the truthfulness of her answers since she is still validating her alleged full disclosure up to the present. After the media blitz of her lawyer that the affidavit is a tell-all disclosure, press releases were made that a second affidavit is being prepared

by Napoles,” he said. [PNA]

hospital.

Police investigators recovered two handheld radios, one M-16 rifle, one M-14 rifle, assorted magazines with ammunition, four cellular phones, a medical kit and the truck

used in the attack.

“Hot pursuit operations are being undertaken to bring those responsible for this recent attack in the bar of justice. Further investigations are still on-going,” Men-

doza said.

Meanwhile, the governor said that despite the fragile peace and order situation in the province, she assured that the provincial government will continue its initiatives to

attain peace and stability.

“However, our initiatives and efforts to find a solution for peace could not have positive results if atrocities like these continue to happen,” Mendoza said. [PNA]

Army... FFROM 4

Napoles... FFROM 4

NorCot... FFROM 4

EDGEDAVAO

ICT HUB

VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014

11

Maleficent Free Fall CHIll JIll

Athena Jillian Bravo

W

ALT Disney has something magnificent to share as end-of-summer

treat.

This is the movie that everyone is waiting for this year—”Maleficent”-- which stars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

Maleficent explores the untold story of the most iconic villain from the movie Sleeping Beauty and the elements of her betrayal that ultimately turn her pure heart to stone.

Before you think this is a movie review. Think again. As children or even adults waits for the grand premiere of this movie, the Android market brings you Maleficent Free Fall. This game is inspired from the first matching game they created that is viral for months—Frozen Free Fall.

Brace yourselves because you’ll embark on a spectacular journey with exciting and challenging objectives like you’ve never seen before! Switch and slide the board of enchanted gemstones to create matches of 3 that will trigger and emerge the dark powers of Maleficent.

Begin your first chapter as the young Maleficent, journey through the map to explore the untold story, unlock her raven, Diaval and discover mysterious surprises.

Feel and act like Maleficent by casting out her green dark magic to instantly vanish the same color gemstones and call upon Diaval to swoop down and rearrange the board or cast tendrils of thorns to clear entire row and columns!

This game would absolutely make everyone excited for the movie because of its dark mysteries and Maleficent’s revenge that made her put poor Princess Aurora to deep long sleep. You’ll learn a lot from this game as you unlock more unique power-ups along the way and experience her fierce desire for vengeance.

Maleficent Free Fall is free to play but some in-game items require payment as this game also serves an advertisement for the movie.

It now has more than half a million downloads after it was released last May 14, 2014. This only means people really look forward for this movie. This is the time where everyone will understand the story behind her anger towards the princess and how she became someone who has dark and powerful magic inside her.

This game isn’t just for kids because everyone has been touched by the story of Sleeping Beauty. Adults who were born in 1950s would probably play this game and watch the movie as it opens in all cinemas on May 30, 2014.

Maleficent is perfectly portrayed by Walt Disney’s chosen one--Angelina Jolie. They say there won’t be any other actress who suits the character in perfection but her. Then again, this is not a movie review. We’re talking about the game app.

Still, it’s most possible that those who will watch the movie will play the game and vice versa.

Innovation tilt winners off to Silicon Valley

T

He winning team of the recently concluded 10th SWeeP Innovation and excellence Awards has embarked on a week-long educational tour of Silicon valley to gain first-hand

exposure to various technology start-up communities.

In the SWeeP contingent are Mark Colentava and Laurence Arguelle, alumni of the Bataan Peninsula State University, whose

team created the winning device, CoinSaver, at this year’s annual innovation awards. CoinSaver is a kiosk-like device that allows the user to save for a product or service that he wants or needs a

coin or two at a time. This piggybank is linked to the user’s mobile phone, which will then issue an SMS (short messaging service) voucher once the user has saved the entire amount to pay for the

product or service.

The students are accompanied by their faculty mentor, engr.

Faye Baret and school president, Dr. Delfin Magpantay.

Also with them are IdeaSpace president earl Martin valencia, and from Smart, Stephanie Orlino, senior manager for education programs; Cynthia Capua of people capability development, and Michelle Bayhonan of Public Affairs Group.

The group will be visiting the headquarters of famous start-ups Google, Twitter and HP, among others. They will also be attending the 2014 StartUp Conference,

one of the largest conferences in Silicon valley for starting startups. Part of the itinerary is a guided tour of Stanford University and the University of California, haven for start-up wannabes.

SWeeP or the Smart Wireless engineering education Program is the first-of-its-kind partnership between the telco industry and the academe that aims to enhance engineering education in the country. The annual SWeeP Awards, which aims to promote the culture of innovation among students from partner engineering schools, is one of the key initiatives under SWeeP.

12 ClASSIFIED

VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014

INdulge!

VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

TRAVEL

‘Pure adventure’ at SarBay Fest

By Gregorio G. Deligero Consistent with the province’s tourism campaign pitch “sarangani your adventure,” the sarangani Bay Festival or more popularly known as sarBay Fest lived up to its name as a unique summer experience in a setting so relaxed and unconventional. touted as biggest beach party in Mindanao, sarBay Fest perfectly blends nature with urbane entertainment and exciting water sports events where party-goers and beach enthusiasts were treated with a string of pleasurable activities ranging from fun-filled sand sculpture and physical fitness exercises to more challenging triathlon and across-thebay swimming.

Wit h pre - e ve nt m e d i a hoopla, these activities were actually not unpredictable. our experience was. toget her with a couple of friends from our neig hborhood in Bangkal, Davao City, i made a hasty decision to join the festival a day before the two-day event commenced. no pre-arranged accommodation, no planned itinerary, no elaborate budget. Just plain backpacking adventure.

Using public transport, we reached General santos City exactly at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 16, the festival’s first day, after more than three hours of travel from Davao City. our original plan was to inquire where and how to make a ride going to the festival site.

Luckily, another neighbor who was already in Gensan offered us with free ride but told us to wait for about an hour as he is still waiting for his work colleagues who are set to join a convoy of vehicles going to the site.

We finally made a take-

off past 6 p.m. and arrived in Glan town three hours after. We decided to take dinner at a resort along the road overlooking the sarangani Bay. We were told by the resort’s staff that the festival venue was just nearby. it turned out to be around five kilometers away when we proceeded to the site where i got the first taste of adventure soon as we arrived.

A long stretch of vehicles parked in both sides of the road greeted us, a clear indication of the unavailability of parking space in the festival area. so we decided to leave the vehicles after changing inside our clothes appropriate for a beach setting, not knowing that we will still have to negotiate by foot an uphill road almost a kilometer away.

By the time we reached the festival venue, the

foam party was still ongoing but sans the foam. We were only able to catch the music, dancing and lots of drinking. We settled in a vacant table from a row of booths offering food, drinks and liquors. The options to make orders are limited to products of major sponsors. even the cigarettes, with no brand endorser for the event, only have the “generic brands” albeit still priced high.

Had the travel wellplanned, we could have brought with us volumes of our favorite brandy and preferred brand of cigarettes as we later found out these are not prohibited inside the venue where organizers impose no entrance fee. We forgot we are no longer in Davao City. one may enjoy time for leisure in a luxurious or in

F’PURE, A4

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

Surfs up with Roxy ThE ultimate Roxy lifestyle brand, offering products for every aspect of the active girl’s life, promotes an inimitable spirit-- daring, confident, naturally beautiful, fun and alive.

Roxy bids a taste of the Roxy surf lifestyle to girls everywhere.

From flattering bikinis with in-built chic to it-sunglasses that will give you that “oomph” factor, Roxy has got everything every brave beach babe needs.

Swimsuit Beach bound? Get that perfect sun-kissed tan in style. Check out the wide range of styles of modern swimsuits from Roxy. Make waves with tropical floral prints, nautical stripes or retro-inspired long-line bikinis.

Rash guard Dip into the fun protected.

Rash guards are shirt made of spandex and nylon or polyester which reflects the fact that the shirt protects the wearer against rashes caused by abrasions from sand contact. They prevent wax-based chafing from sliding on and off of the surf board. It helps to prevent irritation caused by rapid impact with surface water and waves.

Board Shorts Get into some water action with comfort. Originally known as “surf trunks”, board shorts were developed for aquatic sports which later became a general summer wear. They are designed to be quick-drying, and are generally made from strong and smooth polyester or nylon. They hold up to wear from contact with a surfboard yet comfortable and light-weight.

Sundress Be dainty and daring. Slip into a casual dress in a lightweight fabric. Sun dresses are intended to be worn when lounging in the beach or partying by the shore at night. It provides a feminine look that may be more comfortable than a skirt and blouse or another dress.

Gear up with Roxy and get ready to raise your surfs up! Visit Roxy at the Ground Floor of the Annex, SM City Davao.

THE PERFECT PLACE FOR THE PERFECT LUNCH. TGI Friday’s Abreeza offers its newest lunch promo with Perfect Lunch meals from only Php295. Take a pic from favourites such as Sizzling Seafood Rice and Grilled Chop in Shiitake Cream Sauce. Get an glass of iced tea for an additional Php50. This offer is good from Monday to Friday from 11am to 2pm. TGI Friday’s Abreeza is located at the ground floor of the Abreeza Mall.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

Royeca recitals:

An evening of dance

By Kai del Corro Photos by Rafael del Corro AptLy dubbed “An evening of Dance”, indeed this ballet recital was all that and more.

The Girlie Royeca school of Ballet held its 9th summer Workshop Recital at the Grand CAp Auditorium last tuesday May 20, 2014 with a showcase of performances from its summer batch of students.

Directed by the renowned ballet instructor and choreographed by experienced teacher Darius Dignos, more than 20 performances were featured including classical and contemporary ballet, hip hop, and dance numbers to songs from the 50s, the show was a wonderful tribute to music through the ages.

Kids from ages three to 13 in the nursery, primary and beginner levels participated in upbeat and lively performances in their colorful tutus and danced to songs such as Colors of the Wind, night Fever and Mambo number Five all providing for the entertainment of the ever-supportive parents that filled the auditorium.

The more advanced students such as Chloie Ulo, 13, graced the stage with a princess Aurora solo piece. With her elegance and grace, specta-

tors reveled in her allure.

Another student, eman Claudette eng, 16, performed an adorable rendition of Harbor Lights with partner, Daime ponce and lightened the mood of the auditorium. pia Romo, on the other hand, performed the Gamzatti Variation remarkably. other performances by teachers Darius Dignos, Alexis peña, Valerie Avisado and Daime ponce all wowed the crowd by their breathtaking lifts, turns, pirouettes and leaps across the stage.

The show ended with a spectacular performance by the students of different levels that brought the energy at the auditorium to yet another high. soon enough the recitalists came on stage for the last time with smiles as wide as if they were just starting the show gave their final bows before the curtains were finally closed. two months of fun and hard work paid off when the curtains were finally closed. Classes at the studio will resume on June 7 and preparations for another show before the end of the year will commence.

EDGEDAVAO

ENTERTAINMENT

Asia’s Nightingale Lani Misalucha lands in Abreeza Mall

MULTI-AWARDED singer Lani Misalucha charmed Davaoeño fans and won over new ones with her wit, warmth, and wonderful vocal performance at the Abreeza Mall Activity Center on May 18, 2014.

The Las Vegas-based singer is in the country to promote her new album, The Nightingale Returns, her first album in five years and her first under Star Records. her Abreeza Mall show is part of a nationwide tour to promote The Nightingale Returns.

Misalucha, who has been hailed “Asia’s Nightingale” and has been called the “New Siren of the Strip” in Las Vegas where she has lived since 2004, proved her vocal prowess on the Abreeza Mall stage. After starting off the show with a cover of Dusty Springfield’s “You Don’t have to Say You Love Me,” she launched into the OPM classics that comprise her new album. Among these is her revival of “Muli,” which is the carrier single from The Nightingale Returns, and “Starting Over Again,” the theme from the Star Cinema romance blockbuster featuring Piolo Pascual and Toni Gonzaga. Another highlight of the show was her haunting rendition of

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014

Freddie Aguilar’s “Anak,” as well as her performance of “Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin,” which got audience members to sing along.

Ever the entertainer, Misalucha tickled younger fans with a mashup of Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” and One Direction’s “That’s What Makes You Beautiful,” and ended the show on a fun note with a medley of ABBA songs that got the crowd on their feet.

Fans who purchased copies of The Nightingale Returns at the show got the chance to have their CDs signed by Misalucha, who also gamely posed for a picture with them.

For inquiries and updates on Abreeza Mall events, please visit the Main Concierge at the ground floor or call (082) 321-9332. Stay

ABS-CBN TO AIR “WANSAPANATAYM” EVERY SUNDAY. Beginning May 25, ABS-CBN’s award-winning fantasy-drama anthology “Wansapanataym” will air on its new schedule every Sunday, 6:45pm. And this Sunday, in the continuation of “Wansapanataym Presents My Guardian Angel,” the relationship of the characters of Andrea Brillantes and Raikko Mateo becomes more complicated after Ylia (Andrea) discovers that Kiko (Raikko) has super powers.

Will Kiko admit to Ylia about his real identity even if it means losing his powers as an angel? Also featured in ‘My Guardian Angel’ are Mylene Dizon, Ejay Falcon, Ketchup Eusebio, Ruby Rubi, Gerard Pizarras, Abby Bautista, Racquel Pareño, Lui Villaruz, Dale Badillo, Jovic Susim, and Vangie Martell. It is written by Joel Mercado and directed by Jon ‘Sponky’ Villarin. Don’t miss “Wansapanataym,” on its new schedule this Sunday, 6:45pm, before “The Voice Kids” in ABS-CBN. For more updates, log on to www.abs-cbn.com or follow @abscbndotcom on Twitter.

updated by liking www. facebook.com/AbreezaMall and following @abreezatweets on Twitter and @iloveabreezamall on Instagram.

GMA 7’s My Love from the Star fever continues with #In15Seconds online gimik IT will be an exciting week for the Filipino viewers as the Kapuso Network features a once-in-a-lifetime chance to make the alien heartthrob Matteo Do (Kim Soo hyun) fall in love via My Love from the Star’s #In15Seconds online gimik until Monday (May 26).

In yesterday’s episode, Matteo was surprised to see the human superstar Steffi Cheon (Jeon Ji hyun) in his home. While they were talking, Steffi boasted that she can make Matteo fall in love with her in just 15 seconds.

With her natural wit and sophisticated personality, she did not fail to attract Matteo that led him to kiss her.

Due to the positive feedback it received from the Filipinos since its pilot episode, GMA Network opens an online gimik to all the Kapuso viewers who are hooked in this highestrating Koreanovela.

The viewers and netizens alike are invited to make a 15-second video on

how they can make Matteo fall in love if they were in Steffi’s place.

The entries must be submitted to the GMA Network website together with their complete registration details, in which only one will emerge as the winner.

With the consistent high ratings it registered, GMA

Network even takes the viewers back to where and how My Love from the Star started through the Kilig Throwback, which airs every Sunday on Kapuso Movie Festival.

The consistent presence of My Love from the Star in trending topics on Twitter is also a reflection of its strong viewership. Last week, the hashtags SuperMatteoDo, YayaSteffi, and AngBaliwNaSiSteffi became trending topics nationwide.

Watch how destiny slowly draws the hearts of the alien heartthrob and the human superstar closer in My Love from the Star before 24 Oras only on GMA 7.

BRICK MANSIONS 2D Paul Walker, David Belle, RZA R 13

12:25 | 2:20 | 4:15 | 6:10 | 8:05 | 10:00 LFS

GODZILLA 3D Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bryan Cranston PG 13

1:30 | 4:00 | 6:30 | 9:00 LFS

GODZILLA 2D Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bryan Cranston PG 13

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

R-16 THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 2D Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone PG 13

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

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

TRAVEL

‘Pure...

FFROM A1

an adventurous way. ours was the latter.

The foam party ended way past midnight but the drinking spree continued with people roaming around the venue like ants in different beach attires— from daring to awkward— and in different levels of insobriety. But all are one in enjoying fun and in exploring adventure.

A friend who is engaged in a cable tV dealership business offered us to stay in his company’s booth where we were joined by another group of young neighbors who went to the festival using their Mio scooters. They set up tents near the booth where we finally took a nap and little rest until early morning when organizers called our attention and told us to fold up our tents as we were occupying a space designated as commercial space allotted only for companies selling their products and services.

We only learned later that there was a designated “tent city” for beach-goers outside the venue with corresponding charges. it was at this time i decided to contact serafin “Jun” Ramos, the provincial information officer who was my former editor, mentor and still a lifetime “big brother.” He treated us with simple yet delicious breakfast and another round of light beers.

There was no way to actually avail of or book for a space from all the resorts surrounding the festival venue. We were told that most of the reservations

lets from nearby cities and provinces. even before the night unfolds, the partying mood resumes with new visitors rushing in and start setting up tents even in areas designated for commercial use.

The partying reached its peak with fireworks that lasted more than ten minutes. organizers dubbed it as “splash in the sky” but for Davao City residents whose local government prohibits fireworks display for more than a decade by virtue of firecracker ban are usually being made a day right after every festival ends especially for rooms equipped with air-cons and exclusive comfort rooms.

EDGEDavao Davao Partners

i then took refuge in a “backpacking” room (in one of the resorts) occupied by a friend who has to man his company’s booth that our group conquered the previous night. i was about to take a bath and do some personal necessities in a comfort room outside only to find out beach-goers forming a long queue in a scene similar to auditions for pinoy Big Brother and other reality tV shows.

With the limited number of private rooms, the situation is expected given the number of visitors who reached around 100,000 according to official estimate. espousing the tenet of “para paraan lang yan,” i gathered some of my friends to find ways in hurdling the difficult situation and agreed to make a side trip to Glan town proper where we found an accommodation establishment which willingly let us take a bath and use its comfort room for personal necessities with a minimal charge of ten pesos each.

We then rejoined the entire group in making stroll the long stretch of white sand coastline where water sports activities and competitions were taking place. All day long, beach-goers and enthusiasts were enjoying various fun-filled activities with all sorts of food offered in stalls owned by both local and established food out-

ordinance, it was an exceptional experience.

Capping the night’s activities but not our adventure was the concert performance of popular band Kamikazee. At exactly 3:00 a.m. our group wrapped up and started our long journey back home, tired yet feeling accomplished what it takes to explore and enjoy a festival in an unconventional and adventurous way.

What happens in sarBay stays in sarBay? nope. our “pure adventure” is worth telling.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014

FOR SALE I. Industrial Lots: Location: Bunawan, Davao City Area: 3,500 to 5,500 sq.m. more or less

ClASSIFIED 13 FOR sALE (Direct Buyer Only)

HIRING!!!

Pryce Corporation, a property holding & real estate development company for upscale residential subdivision and memorial parks is in need of a:

TECHNICAL HEAD

QUALIFICATIONS:      

Not more than 35 years old Civil Engineering graduate (with license is an advantage) Computer literate and must have knowledge in AUTOCAD/ STAAD and Project Management At least 1 year experience in construction and field related works Can work with minimal supervision Willing to travel

Send your Application Letter together with your Resume’ and Transcript of Records (photocopy only) to: The Administration Department Pryce Corporation Suite 057, 5th Flr. Pryce Tower Condo., J.P. Laurel Ave., Bajada, Davao City Contact Details: (082) 224-2686, email add: prycecorp.dvo@gmail.com

eDGe DAvAO is a need of three staffwriters/reporters for its expansion program.

The reporters will be assigned to the business, science/environment and political beats.

II. House and Lot: Location: Blk. 16, Lot 9 Villa Josefina Resort Village Dumoy, Toril, Davao City Lot Area: 284 sq.m.

Flr. Area: 177.31 sq.m.

Type: 2 Storey House and Lot Interested PRYCE CORPORATION Parties contact: 0922-879-0036 (Sonny), 0922-881-4994 (Jenny), 0922-881-44997 (Andy), (082) 224-2686

Edge Davao hiring 3 reporters

Destiny Training Center located at Silway-8, Polomolok, South Cotabato, Philippines Area: 1.5 hectares (clean title) Contact Person: Jayson Mata and Jarry Cortez Mobile Numbers: 09073069070,09266173168 Telephone Number:(083)301-7975 email Ad: april23jayson@yahoo.com / jarrycortez@gmail.com website: http://www.destinytrainingcenterph.com

Applicant must be a graduate of a four- year college course. experience is not needed although preferable.

Interested parties may send their application letter to Mr. Antonio M. Ajero, edge Davao editor, thru email address ajero_antonio@yahoo. com. For inquiries, please call Mr. Ajero thru mobile phone 09052422686 or landline 221-3601.

14 SPORTS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014

CHESSERS AT SCOOP. International arbiter and chess coach James Infiesto joins Ella Grace Moulic and FM Austin Jacob Literatus as they make their appearance in this week’s SCOOP Forum at the Royal Mandaya Hotel. Infiesto and the two chessers are bound for the ASEAN Chess Age Group Championship on June 3-12,2014 in Macau, China.

NEW FITNESS GYM. Fraz Niño Pasquil of Empire Boxing Gym Davao guests at the Scoop Davao Chapter Forum sponsored by The Royal Mandaya Hotel, Genesis 88, Mulatto Outdoor Apparel, Edge Outdoors & Beefit Gym & Aerobics. (JOJ)

6 boxers sign up with Sonshine Azkals not happy with draw Dapudong currently holds the International Boxing Organization (IBO) Super flyweight title after a first round knockout victory over South African Gideon Buthelezi last year in Johannesburg.

He is also the former World Boxing Organization (WBO) silver flyweight champion and former WBO oriental junior flyweight champion.

Lorenzo “Thunderbolt” villanueva, 29 from Midsayap who is the former WBO oriental featherweight champion and he holds the distinction being one of the few boxers who knocked down all of his opponents.

The other was Rolando “Smooth Operator” Magbanua, 29, from the Municipality of Pagcawayan. He is the former WBO Asia Pacific Bantamweight champion.

Also from Pigcawayan is Rommel “Little Assassin” Asenjo, 23, who is the former WBO Oriental Mini flyweight champion.

Next is Roskie “Kapre” Cristobal, 20, of President Roxas., Piňol said that Cristobal is the boxer to watch. He said that at 5’10”, Cristobal is campaigning for the lightweight division.

Piňol said that with proper training and support, Cristobal

could be the next Filipino boxing superstar.

Then, John Michael “Wangbu” Sarguilla, 23, of Midsayap who is the three-time Palarong Pambansa gold medalist and he scored a knockout during his debut fight as professional.

Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy, founder of SSMI, vowed to support not just the Filipino boxers but, also the other sports athletes in the country.

Quiboloy committed his one cable channel that will be used to air the national sports in the country to promote the talents of Filipino athletes.

zonable of Digos, Glenn Lapuz of Bukidnon, Aldyx Pantone of Monkayo, Charlie vince Pascua of Kabacan, Jaspher Banot of Don Marcelino, Michael Bediot and Tonton Fernandez of Midsayap.

The event is part of the Davao City Sports for Peace Festival with categories in the PeeWee 50, PeeWee 65, Super Mini, Pantra, enduro Open, Novice Production

Open, Intermediate Production Open, executive, expert Production Open, KLX150 Beginner and KLX150 Novice.

Organizer Bok Mata of Moto X Davao the top five placers will receive cash prizes and trophies.

The motocross event is sponsored by Kurmat, Kawasaki, Honda, Best Bike, KTM, eTG, Toyota, Red Bull, Nature’s Spring, Lipov-

itan, Mac Cycle Mart, Sign Factor, Phoenix Premium 98, JvF Commercial, JBK Promotions, Sankai Japanese Restaurant, Project One Audio Sales and Phoenix Lubricants.

It is supported by the City Sports Development Division, Maa Barangay Council, SCOOP Davao, 92.3 WT and 95.5 Hit Radio.

HINA’S undefeated twotime Olympic gold medal winner Zou Shiming who has a professional record of 4-0 with 1 knockout is being lined up for a shot at the vacant WBA light flyweight title against No. 1 contender Alberto Rossel of Peru.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum disclosed that “if Zou wins his scheduled ten round fight on July 19 in Macau which will also feature (former WBO/WBA flyweight champion Brian viloria) we are planning for him (Zou Shiming) to fight for the world title” on the November 16 card which is likely to be headlined by “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao.

It would be a sensational

rise for China’s popular twotime Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Amateur Champion.

Zou was the first Chinese Olympic medalist when he won a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens which he followed up by winning the light flyweight gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics but although he repeated the feat in London in 2012 beating Thailand’s Kaeo Pongprayoon 13-10, the decision was booed by the fans.

The Manila Standard has learned that the WBA is almost certain to approve the title fight should Zou win his bout on July 19 in Macau with the understanding that the winner between Zou Shiming

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

S

abf@edgedavao.net

IX professional boxers from North Cotabato have signed their contract to Sonshine Sports Management Incorporated (SSMI) who will handle their boxing careers.

Former North Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Piňol, manager of SSMI introduced the boxers last Wednesday afternoon at the Jose Maria College.

Among the prized fighters who signed the contract were edrin “The Sting” Dapudong, 28, from the town of M’lang. He holds the distinction of being the first world champion from North Cotabato.

Team Phoenix in Cyclomax Motocross T

He Team Phoenix of Mindanao is seeing action in the Phoenix Cyclomax Motocross slated on May 24 at the MotoX Davao race track inside the Davao Crocodile Park in Maa. Team Phoenix is bannered

by Kimboy Pineda of Tagum, Abu Mata and Michael Tapic of Davao, Jeven Lagrada of Agusan, Ambo Yapparcon of Palawan, Jeff Ra-

ZOU SHIMING

P

HILIPPINe national men’s football team coach Thomas Dooley expressed regret about the Azkals’ missed opportunities during their nil-nil draw against Afghanistan in the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup early Wednesday morning at the Hithadhoo Stadium in the Maldives.

“We had a couple more chances than them, but I am sure they are not happy how they played and we are not happy how we played,” Dooley said after the match, as quoted by the AFC’s official website.

The Azkals had a hard time keeping up with Afganistan’s aggressive play in the first half, but the Filipinos got their rhythm in the second half and found more scoring chances.

Stephan Shrock, Jason De Jong, Daisuke Sato and Martin Steuble all managed to get decent shots at the goal. However, they failed to find the back of the net, forcing them to settle for a draw in their first match of th tournament.

“The first match in any tournament is the most important. It wasn’t the most exciting match,” Dooley said.

“We played badly in the first 15 or 20 minutes and we couldn’t connect with each other. I think the players were a bit nervous on the field. But after 15 minutes we connected with each other and in the second half we got into the game and started to play the game we wanted to play.”

Afghanistan interim coach erich Rutemoller is hoping for improvement from his team in their next matches.

“I am very pleased with the attitude, the way of fighting and running and working and tying to play football, but we lacked in finishing. Finishing is our biggest problem not only in this game and we hope we can improve that,” he said.

The result put the Azkals and Afghanistan at second place in Group B with one point apiece behind Turkmenistan, which routed Laos with a 5-1 triumph last Tuesday. The top two squads from the bracket will advance to the knockout stages to face the best squads of Group A, which features Myanmar, host Maldives, Palestine and Kyrygyzstan.

Zou to fight for vacant WBA title C

and Rossel for the vacant title will face the Philippines WBA No. 2 ranked southpaw Randy “Razor” Petalcorin who is co-managed by multi-titled Australian promoter Peter Maniatis and GenSan’s Jim Claude Manangquil.

The 33 year old, undefeated Zou has a record of 4 wins with 1 knockout and is coming off a 7th round TKO of Thailand’s 19 year old Yokthong Kokietgym (15-3, 11 KO’s) last February 22 in Macau.

The 36 year old Rossel has a record of 32-8 with 13 knockouts and has won eight straight fights after losing to WBA super flyweight champion Hugo Cazares on April 14, 2012.

SPORTS 15

VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014

NADAL

Can Nadal win a 9th French Open title?

S

INJURED. Paul George (24) of the Indiana Pacers reacts against the Miami Heat during Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on Wednesday (PHL Time) in Indianapolis, Indiana.

(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

George has concussion

M

IAMI (AP) -- The long break between games in the eastern Conference finals could be welcomed by Indiana, after Pacers guard Paul George was diagnosed Wednesday with a concussion that will force him to complete several NBA-mandated procedures before he can return to the matchup against the Miami Heat.

The series, now tied at a game apiece, doesn’t resume until Saturday night.

And what at first might have been looked at as an awkward break - three full days off until the next game

day - is probably now welcomed by the Pacers. Indiana not only needs to get George cleared but also had starters Lance Stephenson, Roy Hibbert and David West all either limping or ailing in the final minutes of the Game 2 loss on Tuesday night.

George was hurt with 6:52 left in the fourth quarter of Miami’s Game 2 victory. He stole the ball from Heat guard Dwyane Wade, but could not keep control and wound up tumbling face-first to the court. Wade, also going for the ball, struck the back of George’s head with his left knee, then ap-

peared to scrape the same area with his right leg as he also fell to the hardwood.

George remained down for a few moments, but played the remainder of the game. He revealed afterward that he ‘’blacked out’’ on the play, something that the Pacers say was not relayed to their medical staff. ‘’George exhibited no symptoms of a concussion and, in response to questions from the Pacers’ medical staff, he denied dizziness, nausea, and issues with his vision,’’ the Pacers said Wednesday. ‘’He was also active and aware of his sur-

roundings. As a result, the Indiana medical staff did not suspect a concussion.’’

But after the ‘’blacked out’’ comment, the Pacers evaluated George again Wednesday morning. ‘’This case illustrates that concussion evaluation is an ongoing process and manifestations of the injury may not always present immediately,’’ said NBA Concussion Program Director Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, who will discuss George’s return-to-participation process with the Pacers’ team doctor before clearance is given for a return.

AY it quietly but some chinks are appearing in the suit of armour Rafael Nadal usually wears on a claycourt as the Spaniard sets his sights on a ninth French Open title. By his high standards the 28-year-old Spaniard has suffered a mediocre season on europe’s red dust courts so far and one or two players, chiefly Novak Djokovic, will arrive in Paris with genuine title hopes.

World number one Nadal has lost three matches on his beloved clay in the build-up to Roland Garros for the first time in a decade while others he normally sweeps aside on the surface have pushed him mighty close. Fellow Spaniard David Ferrer, the man he beat to become the first man to win a single grand slam eight times last year, surprised him in Monte Carlo, then he lost to compatriot Nicolas Almagro in Barcelona and last weekend he was overwhelmed by Djokovic in the Italian Open final.

Nadal has actually lost matches during the clay court season this time round.

AP even his 44th career title on clay, achieved in Madrid, earlier this month, was not totally convincing as he was outplayed for a set in the final

by Kei Nishikori before the Japanese player retired with back problems.

That said, the alarm bells

will not be ringing yet in the Nadal camp ahead of the grand slam which begins on Sunday.

Roland Garros remains a fortress for Nadal where he has suffered only one defeat since winning the title on his debut in 2005. Swede Robin Soderling is the only man to beat Nadal there and his record is an astonishing 59-1.

Beating him over five-sets on clay has proved almost impossible and once he gets into his stride on Paris’s relative fast and bouncy claycourts he appears unstoppable. physICAL pUNIshMENT Djokovic got to the brink of victory last year in a spellbinding five-set semi-final lasting four and a half hours after which Nadal explained that he “enjoyed suffering” the kind of physical punishment dished out by the Serb.

The scars build up over the years, however, and Nadal now looks more vulnerable to the kind of attacking onslaught the likes of Djokovic, Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka, Andy Murray when he is in the mood and Nishikori can unleash.

Nadal is still the bookmakers’ favourite to prolong his reign in Paris and can be relied upon to raise his level a notch or two over the next fortnight.

He said Sonshine will not only support boxers but other athletes in other fields. He added he wants to develop talents of those who have strong potentials in their own fields.

With Pinol taking the lead in developing sports activities, Quiboloy said he will just provide the backbone of the sports industry.

Quiboloy, who is currently building a P3 billion worldclass coliseum for hosting various international and local

events, is also building a gym where athletes and residents can practice, train or play.

Pinol said the coliseum is touted to be world-class building complete with amenities, including 16 fix cameras.

According to Pinol, the coliseum is not only for exclusive use of the Quiboloy’s ministry.

He said these developments will make Davao City as the center of sports in the country. [PNA]

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16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 7 ISSUE 49 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, MAY 23-24, 2014

Evangelist Quiboloy ventures into sports W

ITH his P3-billion coliseum under construction, the founder of the religious group “Kingdom of Jesus Christ” ventured into sports establishing Sonshine Sports Management to initially support six boxing talents, mostly trained from North Cotabato.

On Wednesday afternoon, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy signed a co-management with promotional rights agreement for professional boxers edrin Dapudong, Lorenzo villanueva, Rolando Magbanua, Rommel Asenjo, Roskie Cristobal, John Michael Sarguilla with former North Cotabato governor

emmanuel Pinol as their manager.

Under the management contract, Pinol will handle the day -to-day affairs of the boxers and their training. Quiboloy as the co-manager and promoter through Sonshine Sports Management, will actively promote professional boxing events

Quiboloy said his interest to establish the Sonshine Sports Management stemmed from his desire to support Filipinos who have shown talents in sports but lack the necessary support in physical conditioning and training to compete nationally and internationally.

FEVAGELIST, 15

BREEZY WIN. Tony Parker (9) of the San Antonio Spurs moves the ball against Russell Westbrook (0) of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second half in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at AT&T Center on Thursday (PHL Time) in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/ Getty Images)

EASY DOES IT

Spurs bombard Thunder anew in Game 2, 112-77

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AN ANTONIO (AP) -The San Antonio Spurs are rolling toward a return to the NBA Finals, and Oklahoma City looks powerless to slow them down without Serge Ibaka.

Tony Parker scored 22 points, Danny Green made seven 3-pointers and added 21, and the Spurs used a dominant third quarter to decimate the Thunder 11277 on Wednesday night and take a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference finals.

Tim Duncan added 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Manu Ginobili and Boris Diaw had 11 points apiece off the bench in San Antonio’s second straight rout. ‘’We just did our job. We won our first two games at home and I’m sure they’re going to go back and say we have to do our job and win two games at home,’’ Parker said, recalling that the Spurs blew a 2-0 lead against the Thunder in the 2012 West finals.

Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook each had 15 points, but the third-quarter barrage made spectators of both - not that they accomplished much when they did play. The star duo combined to shoot 13 for 40, including 4 for 14 in the third quarter.

Game 3 is Sunday at Oklahoma City, and the Spurs are trying to remind themselves it probably won’t remain this

easy. ‘’Manu said it’s a dangerous win but I believe in our group,’’ Green said. ‘’I believe that we have the maturity, the character and the experience to stay focused and not take this win to head.’’

Playing without the injured Ibaka and given two days to adjust to dropping Game 1 by 17 points, the Thunder performed worse.

San Antonio closed the first half on a 25-8 run, then Parker and Green each had eight points in the third quarter as San Antonio outscored Oklahoma City 33-18. ‘’If they had won this game by one point, we’d still be down 0-2,’’ Durant said. ‘’(We) lost by a lot two games in a row. It’s hard for you to stay together, but we have a group of guys that are not front-runners and we’ll figure it out.’’

It was a shocking turn for the Thunder, who started well. ‘’It definitely doesn’t feel good and it shouldn’t,’’ Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. ‘’I hope our locker doesn’t feel good. You shouldn’t feel good.

We got our butts kicked. But we have a good opportunity to come back and win Game 3.’’

Oklahoma City opened more aggressive on both ends, especially defensively.

The physicality disrupted the Spurs early and frustrated them emotionally.