Edge Davao 7 Issue 69

VOL. 7 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 20-21, 2014

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

HEARTY SMILE.A young girl peddling hand-made brooms gives a hearty smile to travellers making a stopover to check on cheap farm produce on display along the highway in Rawari, Bukidnon. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

MORE KIDS IN CRIMES Report: Index crimes on the rise, solution efficiency down

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

M

crc@edgedavao.net

AYOR Rodrigo Duterte has ordered all law enforcement units in Davao City to intensify the rescue of children in conflict with the law (CLICs) until next week in the light of the increase of youthful offenders involved in crimes.

In yesterday’s joint meeting of the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC), People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) and City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) at the Grand Men Seng Hotel, Duterte asked

law enforcement agencies to go after the CICLs even as he repeated his proposal to amend R.A. 9344 or the Juvenile Delinquency Act which exempts children aged below 15 years at the

FMORE, 10

JOINT MEETING. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte gives Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Vicente Danao Jr. important insights during the joint meeting of the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC), People’s Law Enforcement Board (PLEB) and City Anti-drug Abuse Council (CADAC) at Grand Men Seng Hotel yesterday. Danao is currently in hot water after berating three newspaper reporters who gave updates on the killing of Richard L. King based on the police journal, but without Danao’s authority. Lean Daval Jr.

INSIDE:

Rice could go as high as P50 /kilo Watershed summit set ADI0S, ESPAñA

2 4 16

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EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 20-21, 2014

Proposal to add CCTV cameras in Panacan-Lasang Highway eyed

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

T

HE Davao City Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) is set to install additional 100 close circuit television (CCTV) cameras in places considered as ‘blind spots.’

PSSCC technical support unit head Engr. Jennifer Jay F. Ellano told reporters in yesterday’s ‘I-Speak media forum’ at the conference room of City Hall that the PSSCC technical working group is set to put-up the cameras from Panacan to Lasang areas since this stretch of highway is considered as ‘blind spots’ in the current road monitoring system.

Ellano said that these areas are identified by PSSCC as ‘blind spots’ where there is a significantly high incidence of road mishaps.

“Pero, wala pa gyud na

siya. Naa pa lang siya sa technical working group, wala pa namo siya na-finalize,” She said that they are yet to propose the project to Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte as soon as they finalize the identification of these ‘blind spots.’

Ellano said that the identification camera location is still under study.

PSSCC will also identify the cost of the said project hinting that the cameras to be installed have estimated cost of P200,00 each.

She said, if the proposal will be finalized, they are going to install bullet type cctv units on every corner in the identified areas and pan-tilt-zoom cameras which have 360-degree movement capability.

Ellano said that the PSSCC has a total of 190

Cabbie to provide proof of alibi

T

HE taxi driver who is accused of robbing a pastor is set to file his counterveilling evidence in the City Prosecution Office.

Lawyer Rogelio Largo, counsel of Santos Diez told Edge Davao in an interview yesterday that his client is set to provide the court evidence to prove that the latter was queuing up in the taxi lane of the arrival area of the Francisco Bangoy International Airport at about the same time the complainant accused him of robbery based on the affidavit-complaint.

Largo said that they are preparing the counter

affidavit of his client to be submitted in the prosecution office either today or Monday.

Largo said that among the pieces of evidence they are gathering are the logbook from the airport exit guardhouse and the close circuit television (CCTV ) camera footage from Public Safety and Command Center (PSSCC).

“Basig maka request ta?

(PSSCC) kay maghulat pa man pud ata ana kay di pa man pud ta ka access ana so we will make a request,” Largo said.

Largo said that the

FCABBIE, 10

ALSONS DONATION. Hizon barangay captain Ralph Abella signs the acceptance of Alsons’ donation of a floating guardhouse ( lower left) . Also in the photo are Alsons vice president Myrna Gallego (seated) and Ruben Tung-

cctv cameras which are installed in the major road sections in the city.

Of the 190, 17 cameras are under the control of the Traffic Operations Center (TOC) and 173 are under the Intelligence Operation Center (TOC).

Ellano said they are now studying on the plan to add more memory storage on the CCTV footages. Ellano cited an example in the 17 cameras of TOC which were able to store only for three months. Likewise, IOC cameras only have onemonth storage capacity.

Ellano said that after the lapse of the maximum storage time, the footage will automatically be deleted from its memory.

Earlier, Mayor Duterte said that the CCTV cameras really help the city in terms of crime solution and prevention.

NATION’S PRIDE.A foreign tourist takes a photograph of the statue of national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal at Rizal Park along San Pedro Street in Davao City yesterday.

The whole nation honored Rizal on his 153rd birthday yesterday by offering wreaths on his statues around the country. Lean Daval Jr.

Rice could go as highasP50/kilo

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

T

crc@edgedavao.net

HE price of the commercial rice can go up as high as P50 if the supply in Davao city will not normalize until August.

Johnny N. Loyola, former

chairman of Rice Traders of Davao Association told Edge Davao yesterday that the supply of rice is not enough, prompting rice traders in the city to increase their dis-

palan (standing at left) from the Power Group of Alsons and the councilors of barangay V. Hizon Sr. Contributed

tribution price.

“We normally receive 1,000 bags of commercial rice daily, but recently it went down to 500 because it’s already lean month,”

Loyola said. His supply of commercial rice is coming from rice producing provinces like South Cotabato and Davao del Sur.

FRICE, 10

Alsons provides floating guardhouse for marine protected area in Hizon

I

N simple ceremonies held last Tuesday, June 17, 2014, at the former log pond area, the pioneer company of the Alcantara Group (AG), C. Alcantara and Sons Inc.’s employees led by Mrs. Myrna Gallego, VP of Alsons, and Ruben Tungpalan, turned over a 36-square meter floating guardhouse to Barangay Vicente Hizon Sr. Chairman Ralph Abella and his councilors.

The facility will be anchored within the Marine Protected Area (MPA) in Davao Gulf fronting the area of Barangay Hizon.

The floating guardhouse,

the first of its kind for marine protected areas in the gulf, will serve as a monitoring post of barangay law enforcers not only for the MPA but for the surrounding areas from Waterfront Hotel to portions of Barangay Lapu Lapu.

The donation by the former plywood manufacturing company is part of the AG’s program and attests to the continuing commitment of the Alcantara Group to support the various projects to protect and enhance the environment, in all the areas where their companies are

FALSONS, 10

VOL. 7 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 20-21, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

3

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

AEON TOWERS

Moving right on schedule

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

C

njb@edgedavao.net

ONSTRUCTION of the much-anticipated “King of Davao skies” Aeon Towers is moving according to schedule with 99 percent of Contract Package 1 reported as of end of May. Contract Package 1 consists of Bored Pile and Diaphragm Wall works.

Overall, the current project accomplishment is circa 17.5% of the total project cost, according to Campbell and Associates which handles the portion of the project.

Aeon Towers is an ambitious mixed use development project by homegrown developer FTC Group of Companies. When completed, the 33-level property will become Mindanao’s tallest building.

The 99 percent completion of Contract Package 1 culminates the initial stage of the project. Last April, the completion rate was reported at 95 percent.

Last week, the chipping of Diaphragm Wall panels was reported at 100 percent complete. Chipping of Diaphragm Wall panels commenced in the last two

days of the previous month and is currently at 44.41% (124.8 Lm) of the total perimeter.

Cast Capping Beams on the Diaphragm Wall meantime is 76.94% (216.94 Lm) as of the last week of May while installation and concreting of Planted Columns incorporated within the capping beams is likewise reported at 100 percent complete in the middle of the third week.

The FTC reported that operation on site remains at 24 hours to ensure that the project is way within its schedule. Continued coordination with LGU, DPWH, Davao Light and other private companies is also being implemented. Regular design coordination meeting with all Manila consultants is also being held.

The project is seen to be completed by 2016.

4 NEWS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 20-21, 2014

City council still waiting for supplemental budget

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BAHAYPAGASA. [From left] Regional Director Priscilla N. Razon of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in region 11, BinibiningPilipinas Universe LJ Lastimosa and Mayor Carlo Rabat of Mati City during Wednesday’s blessing and inauguration of BahayPagasa at Sitio Guang-

guang, Brgy. Dahican in Mati. BahayPagasa is a half-way home for children in conflict with the law (CICL) and built throughout the country in areas where CICL incidence is relatively high. DSWD allocates P2.5 million for construction of every BahayPagasa . (DSWD/Carmela Cadigal-Duron)

Watershed summit set

By VANNAH S. ANG

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N celebration of the World Environment Month, the Watershed Management Council (WMC) will host the Watershed Stakeholders’ Summit on June 24 from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm at Finster 213 of the Ateneo de Davao University to unify watershed stakeholders’ participation towards addressing the challenges of climate change.

The WMC has been ensuring the implementation of the Watershed Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations since its reconstitution in 2011. Some of their accomplishments include the formulation of the Watershed Framework and the Talomo-Lipadas and Panigan-Tamugan Watersheds Action Plan, Interstate Environmental Commission (IEC) activities on Watershed Code, and ground delineation in

forty-three (43) barangays, and the installation of watersheds three dimensional (3D) map at the People’s Park.

The WMC also started to delineate critical areas by establishing boundary marks along riverbanks in the third district. The ground delineation and demarcation pulled resources from various stakeholders such as the Department of Environmental Resources XI (DENR XI) the Davao City Water District (DCWD) and Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (IDIs).

Their contributions were added to the budget appropriated by the Local Government Unit (LGU) in 2011.

Promotion of awareness on water resource protection and encouragement of participation of Dabawenyos in the protection and management of

Consumer Forum on June 28

T

HE Consumer Action for Sustainable and Healthy Lifestyle (CASH-L) Network is spearheading the conduct of Consumer Forum 2014 on June 28 at Lispher Inn, Matina, Davao City.

The one-day free forum will banner the theme “Strategizing Responses to Global Challenges” as CASH-L, the lone consumer organization accredited by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the city, aims to educate consumers on their rights as well as their roles towards addressing global hurdles

that concern them.

DTI-Davao City Field Office (DTI-DCFO) officer-in-charge Robert W. Barlis said that the forum specifically aims to increase level of awareness of consumers on the challenges affecting food, energy, water, and waste, especially in Davao City.

“Nowadays, environmental and social issues have posed increasing threats to consumers, thus the call for more proactive, vigilant, well-informed, and responsible consumers,” he said.

FCONSUMER, 10

Davao’s watersheds by the WMC were made possible

by IEC activities and two major events, the Environment Day Celebration and the Watershed Summit.

On June 2011, the Environment Day Celebration held by the WMC launched ground delineation and the 1 Million Challenge on Ecological Solid Waste Management. They presented inputs of Watershed code and other related topics and gathered around two hundred (200) participants representing Barangay LGUs, national and local government agencies, and various sectors.

In March 2013, the Watershed Summit was conducted by the WMC, in partnership with DENR XI, DCWC, IDIs, Davao City LGU and other partners.

The Summit was able to gather around one hundred fifty participants including

the newly deputized Bantay Bukid volunteers who vowed to protect Mt. Tipolog, the head water of Panigan-Tamugan watersheds.

The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) are currently leading the Watershed Multipartite Monitoring Team (WMMT) in monitoring these volunteers.

Concurrently, Rodrigo Duterte, Davao City Mayor, and the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board approved the Davao City Local Climate Change Action Plan, Davao City Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP), and Zoning Ordinance where the provisions of the Watershed Code and its Implementing Rules and Regulations take part in.

“The biggest challenge of today is how to ensure and sustain its implementation” the briefer said.

FWATER, 10

Age will not stop 35 out of school youth (OSY’s) in Maco, Compostela Valley in finishing their primary school. Backed by the partnership of AboitizPower subsidiary Therma Marine, Department of Education (DepEd) Alternative

HE City Council is still waiting for the budget from the city’s executive branch for its first supplemental budget for the year, according to the chair of the committee on finance.

Speaking at Monday’s Kapehan sa SM, councilor Danilo Dayanghirang said they are still waiting for the City Mayor’s Office to submit to the city council the proposed supplemental budget 1 (SB1), with a certification from the City Treasurer’s Office that there are available funds.

“As a practice, we are supposed to have supplemental budgets every quarter,” Dayanghirang said.

“But we are still waiting for the City Treasurer’s Office.”

The councilor attributed the delay in the calculation of surplus and available savings from the previous year.

“Before we can enact the ordinances approving the amount, there should be a certification from the CTO,” he said.

The sources of funding include income from business permits, aside from the savings from the previous budget and the city’s other income-generating collection agencies such as the public markets.

“We cannot reduce the amount, the city council is only there to deliberate and approve,” Dayanghirang said, adding that it is up to City Hall to itemize the supplemental budget.

The city council last year approved a total of P639 million in three supplemental budgets.

SB1, approved in May 2013, amounted to P159.98 million. SB2, meanwhile, amounted to P235 million and SB3 amounted to P245

FCITY, 10

DPWH 11’s Alquiza denies P16.9-B bogus transactions

R

egional Director Mariano Alquiza of the Department of Public Works and Highways- 11 said on Wednesday that there is “no record” that the 12 contractors identified by Commission on Audit Chair Ma. Gracia Pulido as having fraudulently cornered P16.9-billion worth of projects had transacted with the regional office.

The projects cornered by the 12 contractors were implemented during the years 2009 and 2010 in various provinces and regions in the country with Davao Region mentioned as having the biggest amount of disallowance with projects totaling P121.18 million.

Alquiza said in a press conference at the DPWH-XI regional office said that he only knew in newspaper last Monday the report on the disallowance of the projects transacted by the

12 contractors tagged by COA as fraudulent.

“After which,” he added, “I instructed my accountant to validate the report if they transacted” with the regional office.

He said “wala dito sa (level) ng regional office, although I have asked (my) district engineers to validate the report.”

He added that he understood that Secretary Rogelio Singson would be sending a special audit team considering the gravity of the works in looking into the records that had transpired since 2009 and up to 2013.

Alquiza assumed to his current post only in 2012.

COA Chair Pulido last week bared that her agency had issued notices of disallowance for projects worth P184.66 million following earlier findings on irregularities involving the proj-

FDPWH, 10

Learning System Division, DepEd Anislagan Elem. School and office of Brgy.

Anislagan, the students will aim to earn their diploma and provide a better future for themselves and their families. Contributed

5 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 20-21, 2014

Micro-entrepreneurs to be feted S

MALL entrepreneurs were previously considered by banks as a risky sector to extend loans to.

Among the reasons for this is their ability to repay loans and the sustainability of their businesses.

This even as the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector accounts for 99.6 percent of businesses in the country and employs around 3.9 million as of 2011.

Despite the vast clout of the sector on businesses in the country, its contribution to domestic growth is only about 35.7 percent.

However, things have changed in terms of access by the sector on financing because of programs of both the government and the private sector to help the sector.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data show that as of end-September 2013, there are 183 banks that provide about P8.1 billion micro-finance loans to about 1.02 million borrowers.

“This translates to an average bank loan of P8,000 per borrower,” BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said in his speech during the launch of the 12th Citi Micro-entrepreneurship Awards (CMA) at the BSP

office in Manila Wednesday.

The central bank chief said loans to micro-enterprises jumped by 102 percent since December 2006 when loans to the sector only totaled to P4 billion, which were extended to about 650,000 borrowing or an an average of P6,150 per borrower.

Also, bank savings of the sector amounts to about P8.8 billion as of end-September 2013, 525 percent higher than the P1.4 billion in end-2006.

Tetangco said this increased the average deposit of micro-entrepreneurs to about P8,650 as of last year from about P2,000 in 2006. ”As a regulator, it is a joy to see tangible proof that our microfinance policies and regulations have such a powerful impact on families and communities,” he said.

This is the reason why Citi Philippines continue to implement CMA to award outstanding microentrepreneurs all over the country.

For 2014, seven winners will be awarded after a six-month nomination and screening process.

Tetantco pointed out that implementation of CMA serves as a venue to further help the MSME sec-

NEW PLAYER. Blue Cross Insurance (BCI)Visayas and Mindanao head Solon Luminarias (left) and Intermediary Relations specialist Maria Regina Soledad P. Lucero promote BCI, a specialist provider of medical and travel insurance, during this week’s edition of Club 888 media forum at The Marco Polo Davao.

Lean Daval Jr. tor.

”We can help them help themselves by showing them the opportunities microfinance can provide. As we launch this year’s search for new CMA awardees, we hope we can gain the interest of more Filipinos to join the microf-

inance sector,” he added.

Relatively, Citi Philippines CEO Batara Sianturi said the MSME sector serves “an improvement role in the development of any economy and society.” ”At Citi, we are honored to have the opportunity to work with the BSP and the

MCPI (Microfinance Council of the Philippines, Inc.) to comb the countryside each year for outstanding individuals that deserve recognition. Through the CMA, we wish to put the spotlight on the men and women who have found sustainable solutions to

escape poverty, not only for themselves but even for their families and community members,” he added.

The CMA started in 2002 when Citi celebrated its centennial year of operations in the Philippines. It was funded by Citi Foundation. [PNA]

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EDGEDAVAO

PROPERTY

VOL. 7 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 20-21, 2014

Why Northpoint condos are a best buy W

HEN it comes to investing in a condo property, Northpoint leads the short list of options among vertical developments in Davao.

Northpoint is so attractive to investors and homebuyers that it is already on its fourth tower, Liverpool, to be built towards the end of the year.

Northpoint is a landmark development of Vista Residences, the vertical marketing arm of the country’s largest homebuilder, Vista Land. But what exactly sets this British colonial themed community apart that makes buying its condo units a smart buy?

Assured investor ROI. Renting out a Northpoint condo unit gives investors a good rate of return. Northpoint has

a premier address, being located at the junction of Buhangin Road and JP Laurel in Bajada, two of the city’s major thoroughfares.

It is right in the middle of north Davao’s progressive growth area, offering the most attractive living proposition of convenience, comfort, and style—making it a most desirable place to live.

Rental options are tight in this part of the city, especially for well-appointed condo homes such as Northpoint. Hence, a two-bedroom and three-bedroom unit here can easily fetch P30,000 and P50,000, respectively—a handsome rental income that is more than enough to cover amortization, leaving some extra for the investor.

Increasing proper-

ty value. Northpoint’s property value has been appreciating since it was first launched five years ago. It has so much going for it—from deluxe facilities and amenities, to its strategic location, to its lush environment filled with imported Caribbean pine trees—that its property value has consistently been on an upward trajectory, giving its investors substantial growth in their investment in the years to come.

Its living proposition alone is unmatchable: a modern home within the heart of the city’s business and commercial area, yet ensconced within a verdant environment of tall and majestic olden trees, a green carpet of grass, and a refreshing pine-scented

ambiance.

Its own lifestyle center. Northpoint will have its own lifestyle center at the hill beside its main entryway, about five minutes away from the condo towers. It will have retails shops, restaurants, a top brand coffee shop, boutique hotel, and other lifestyle options, turning this commercial development into another lifestyle destination in the city.

At present the preserved White House perched on top of the hill hosts a fine dining restaurant offering Asian fusion cuisine, fast becoming a favourite among locals and tourists. All these further boost Northpoint’s appeal and reputation, adding to its commercial value.

Situated within a progressive environment. Northpoint is located within the ongoing urban development in Davao where commercial areas,

high-rise buildings, and business hubs are rising.

The progressive environment contributes to Northpoint’s desirability, lending a positive influence on its overall value.

Managed by professionals.

Northpoint’s property is being taken care of by a team of property management professionals who knows exactly what they are doing—from the careful upkeep of its buildings, facilities and amenities, to the cleanliness and beauty of its natural surroundings, to the soundness of its security system and other services.

With a property management team to take care of the condo maintenance, Northpoint investors and homeowners are spared from the hassle of maintenance duties such as keeping the lawns trimmed, or sweeping the vast expanse of the grounds, or keeping the condo buildings looking fresh.

Built by experts. As a development of Vista Residences, Northpoint banks on the homebuilding expertise of Vista Land which, for almost four decades, has built over 250,000 homes across the country. Vista Residences itself has carved a solid reputation as a creator of thriving condominium communities, with 27 high-rise developments in the greater Manila area.

Apart from Northpoint, its other project in Mindanao will be the two-tower, 25-storey condominium development in Cagayan de Oro City slated to be built soon.

Investors and homebuyers can get more information on how to make the best buy on any of Northpoint’s units by getting in touch with Camella Davao at 2/F Delgar Building, J.P. Laurel Ave., Davao City, or 2953973, vismin@camella. com.ph (email) and www. camella.com.ph.

7 ENVIRONMENT

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 20-21, 2014

Bombs in the food chain

By GERRY T. ESTRERA

“P

ESTICIDES are like bombs being dropped in the food web creating enormous destruction,” said Dr. K. L. Heong, an entomologist who once worked with the Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute.

The Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that up to 35 percent of the losses in annual crop production worldwide are due to pests – insects, weeds, plant diseases, rodents, and birds. Of the estimated one million insects in the world, between 150 to 200 species frequently cause serious damage to crops.

When losses due to pests are combined together with post-harvest losses, worldwide food losses would amount to 45 percent. “This is almost one half of the world’s potential food supply,” the United Nations food agency surmised.

To annihilate pests, most farmers use pesticides. The Fertilizer and Pesticides Authority defines pesticide as “any substance or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any insects, rodents, nematodes, fungi or weeds, or any other form of life declared to be pest.” It also refers to “any substance or mixture of substances intended for use as a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant.”

Pesticides are classified according to their degree of danger. The pesticide’s label should give a warning notice in the shape of a symbol.

Skull and crossbones on the label means that the pesticide is extremely or highly toxic. A highly toxic pesticide may be lethal when an adult

ingests less than a teaspoon.

The first records of pesticides come from the ancient Greeks. Pliny the Elder compiled a list of common compounds like arsenic, sulfur, caustic soda, and olive oil used to protect crops. The Chinese later recorded using similar substances to combat insects and fungi. In the 19th century, European farmers started using heavy metal salts like copper sulphate and iron sulphate to fight weeds.

“With the invention of DDT in 1939, the war against pests escalated sharply,” notes Peter Weber, of the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute (WWI). “This new synthetic made earlier pesticides appear crude and dangerous.”

DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane) was effective, relatively, and apparently safe for people – a miracle chemical. Swiss Paul Muller, who discovered DDT, got a Nobel Prize for it.

Under the stream of new pesticides, scientists reported unprecedented crop yields. Farmers began using pesticides intensively in industrial countries and, when money allowed, everywhere else. The notion that pesticides are essential to modern, high-production agriculture was born.

For a long time, no one seemed to question the safety of pesticides. Not until 1962, when marine biologists and writer Rachel Carson wrote the now classic Silent Spring.

In her book, she described how pesticides cause longterm hazards to birds, fish, other wildlife, and humans, but provides only short-term gains to controlling the pests.

Unknowingly, pesticides are killing more than just the

pests. “Some pesticides harm the living organisms other than the targeted pests,” noted the Davao-based Technical Assistance Center for the Development of Rural and Urban Poor. “Some travel to the food chain to bioaccumulate in higher organisms.”

In their book, Pesticides and You, Gretta Goldenman and Sarojini Rengam explain that pesticides concentrated even to toxic levels via the food chain. Thus, an increase feeding on plants sprayed with pesticides might be eaten by another insect which might be eaten by a bird. “Traces of pesticides too small to kill the targeted pest can accumulate to levels high enough to harm species further on up the food chain,” the authors warn.

Health experts claim pesticides can enter the human body through the lungs, digestive system, or skin. Depending on the kind of pesticide, health effects can be immediate (acute) or they can occur after years of low-level exposure.

Generally, acute poisoning occurs after an accident such as pilling a bottle of pesticide on the skin or drinking from a bottle containing pesticides. The symptoms of acute poisoning occur within 24 hours: vomiting, headache, respiratory problems, and heart failure, among others.

Long-term effects of pesticides include skin disorders, damage to internal organs (particularly liver, kidneys, and lungs), increased sensitivity to pesticides and effects on the progeny.

“Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are killed due to accidental poisoning by agricultural chem-

icals,” said Roy C. Alimoane, director of the Davao-based Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center Foundation, Inc. The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) reports that three people are poisoned by pesticides every minute around the world. All in all, about 10,000 die annually to pesticides.

Dr. Susan Cooper, an ecologist with the National Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides, contends that scientists still hardly understand the effects of exposure to one chemical, and they have little idea what happens when people are exposed to many. “The risks could be worse than we think,” she said.

Dr. Romeo F. Quijano, a professor at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine reports that “certain pesticides can disrupt the human endocrine system, which includes the glands that control the release of hormones in our bodies.” He adds that there are also pesticides that can actually “mimic” hormones found in the human body.

One of the more serious long term effects of pesticides on people’s health is cancer.

“Several pesticides are already known to cause cancer in humans,” Dr. Quijano states. “Others may not have direct evidence of causation but have shown to be associated with increased cancer incidence. Many others have been shown to cause cancer in animals but evidence of causation in humans is non-conclusive or lacking.”

But people are not the only beings affected. Even the friendly bugs are annihilated. Take the case of bees, those flying insects closely

related to wasps and ants.

They are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. A 2011 United Nations report estimates that bees and other pollinators do work worth US$203 billion a year to the human economy.

Despite their importance, they are now disappearing in various parts of the world, according to some European scientists. In two studies published in the journal Science, British and French researchers fear that pesticides are destroying bee populations.

“In North America, several bumblebee species which used to be common have more or less disappeared from the entire continent,” said Dave Goulson of Stirling University in Scotland. In Britain, three species have become extinct.

Despite all these ill effects they brought, use of pesticides continues unabated.

“The health hazards associated with pesticide use have been known for years and the extent of harm they cause has increased, yet, chemical companies keep on pouring millions of tons of pesticides annually into the world’s biosphere,” deplores Quijano.

Many Filipino farmers believe that if they should not use pesticides, their harvests would plummet and more people would go hungry. It is widely assumed that for big harvests, pesticides are essential. After all, it is noted, farmers in industrialized countries apply more pesticides, lose less to pests, and reap higher yields than farmers in developing countries.

A closer look at the data, however, indicates that pesticides are not as essential as

many people think, according to the Laguna-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

An IRRI study on the effects of pesticides on rice productivity and health shows that farmers’ earnings from chemically-treated crops are often greatly reduced by the cost of treating pesticide-related health problems.

“The value of the crops lost to pests is invariably lower than the expense of treating pesticide-caused ailments,” IRRI said in a statement. “When health costs are factored, the use of correct rice varieties and reliance on natural control by predators and parasites is the least expensive pest control strategy.”

Here’s a bad news. Some pesticides are losing their effectiveness against crop-destroying pests as a result of so-called “genetic selection,” according to the WWI. At least 520 insects and mites, 150 plant diseases, and 113 weeds have developed resistance to one or more pesticides meant to control them. In addition, at least 17 insect species are resistant to all major classes of insecticides, and several plant diseases are immune to most fungicides used against them.

“Resistance to pesticides is as natural as evolution,” reminds Weber. “In fact, it is natural selection, in fast-forward, that provoked the very chemicals meant to control the pest. Resistant strains develop particularly quickly when farmers overuse pesticides and try to eliminate pests rather than control them. Kill 99.9 percent of the insects in a field, and the survivors are a superstrain.”

8

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

VOL. 7 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 20-21, 2014

Rain, rain…

O

NE pleasing development in Davao City these days is the effort to get the populace follow the newly-approved ordinance requiring owners of new buildings to provide themselves rainwater catchment systems. The purpose of the requirement is multifarious. One is to provide an alternative, if not additional, source of water for bathing, sprinkling gardens, flushing toilets, washing clothes and cars and other sundry uses other than drinking.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know how much a household can save from the monthly bills of the Davao City Water District, if that household or commercial building has a rainwater catchment system.

There is one other important use of the catchment required by the Rainwater Harvesting Ordinance of Davao City. It enables the household and the commercial building to prevent the accumula-

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tion of too much rainwater in their neighborhood, thereby lessening the opportunity for flooding.

Actually the many benefits of collecting rainwater are all too familiar to old timers in Davao City.

Yes, Dabawenyos subsisted on rainwater from the beginning of time until the advent of the DCWD water system in the mid-seventies. Except for a few moneyed residents, who could afford to buy the sweet Dumoy water, majority of residents relied on rainwater for all purposes, especially drinking. In fact, there was even a time in history when a study found dental carries to be rampant in the city due to the practice of the people in drinking contaminated rainwater collected in household tanks.

One could say that this was an unpleasant episode in the community life of Dabawenyos. Not this time around, when rainwater will serve many good uses for them.

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 20-21, 2014

Pathetic government effort

ELPLESSNESS OF CONCERNED AGENCIES TO CURB HOARDING AND PROFITEERING– I’m sure many will agree that the Philippines has more than enough laws. What it needs is strict enforcement and it is the executive branch that has to implement, not the legislative body. There are far too many regulations that deal with hoarding of basic goods and profiteering. So why should government not carry out these regulations to the fullest?

Right now the absurd is well known: High profile officials of concerned government agencies declared that prices of basic commodities notably rice, flour, sugar, canned goods, pork, beef, vegetables, poultry and sea produce, and other essential food items have increased at accelerating pace. With the unabated price trend, unscrupulous traders, greedy wholesalers and retailers probably are now making a heyday and conduct their business with impunity.

The desperate and disgusted consumers’ movement and pro-poor advocates could only heave a collective sigh of frustration upon learning of the bad news conveyed by concerned agencies particularly the DTI, DA and its line agency NFA. On nationwide TV, newspapers and radio, consumers recurrently learned that there’s a government directive urging officials of concerned departments to conduct a thorough investigation and find out if powerful cartels were behind the constant increases of the prices of basic commodities.

Consumers notably the ordinary end-users let out a sigh of exasperation because trade and agriculture officials are looking for the right patsy upon whom to pin the blame rather than look for potential solutions to solve the prevailing problem posthaste. Again, the sad lament is: “why should government people engaged in rhetoric assuring consumers those prices of basic necessities, commercial rice in particular, with prices rising as high as P4 per kilo from the previous prices ranging from

I

P40 to P52 per kilo return to normal by September which is the harvest season?”

Will the unscrupulous traders lower the prices of their goods when supply returns to normal? But as far as we could remember, poor consumers as always were shockingly the likely victims of thick-faced rice and garlic cartel who took advantage of the situation – bad or fair weather. Well, it is not a breach to be repetitive therefore we would like to remind the millions of manipulated poor consumers and end-users that unless government arrests some of the noted cheats and profiteers and execute them in public parks in full view of the irate and aghast people to get rid of the vicious price scheming, the most likelihood is they will not.

That’s precisely the reason why many abusive businessmen conduct their trade with impunity and even right under the noses of concerned government agencies.

Government price monitoring teams notably from the DA/NFA and the DTI want the infuriated consuming public to believe that laws can be imposed against cheats and profiteers that they can even boastfully rattle some names and certain arrests. But we are talking about millions of exploited consumers and enforcement setting that is pockmarked with inefficiency and ineptitude. All the time the hapless consumers are always at the losing end.

Concerned government agencies and its high-profile bureaucrats should start admitting the helplessness of government amid its puny effort to curb if not totally eradicate hoarding and profiteering. The government administrators’ way of perking up the exasperated consumers, as their wont, is to impress and assure them that

concerned agencies intensify it’s no nonsense campaign against cheating and overpricing and to conduct periodic inspection, strictly monitor price movements of basic goods in all establishments. That’s baloney!

They even urged consumers to immediately call their hotlines if some business firms are found violating government directives. With the evasive tactics employed by some cheating and profiteering establishments despite scrawny threat by concerned agencies and law enforcement units to run after violators, there is a very little chance that the prices of rice and basic commodities, and other items vital to the lives and survival of the poor majority can be return to their original levels before the announcement about an alleged “artificial shortage” of supply was made.

As we’ve been saying all along, no price hike of basic goods and other essential items, which were direct offshoot of the so-called scarcity of supply returns back to the previous levels. And it is rather unfortunate that consumer advocates suspect some government people who are in cahoots with the cartels floated the idea of a “shortage scheme” in order to justify the continuation of massive rice importation.

Officials of concerned agencies should better refrain from making a runaround aimed at concealing their incompetence in dealing with the problem because it does more harm than good.

But one thing sure is that government price monitoring teams are detailed in public markets, grocery stores, supermarkets and other business outlets, but were probably busy eating and collecting goodies from the establishments they are supposed to monitor. Some were probably looking at the opposite direction for obvious reasons. We surmised their philosophy is: if other government agents can engage in “monetary tribute” scheme, why can’t we join the fray? Well, each to his own gambit, isn’t it? The end result – the drive against hoarding and profiteering ended up in total failure.

What we deprive our society by tolerating fake parties

n pre-Martial Law days we had real political parties, mainly the Liberals and the Nacionalistas. They were organized as such, with dues-paying members, local chapters, and committees organizing local activities.

In those days, to be a candidate of a party one had to qualify according to its policies, rules, and formalities. There were exceptions but the rules applied everywhere, from Batanes to Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

But today it’s open season everywhere. An aspirant simply seeks the approval of the owner of the party—yes, owner. How else would you call the one who organizes, finances, appoints its candidates, then manipulates it at will? Just get his blessing and you’re the man! Even the Liberals and Nacionalists of today are a faint shadow of their glory days.

What we have today are really more of a syndicate than a party—like the Mafia or Yakusa, Big Boss, money, and all.

The Mafia or the Yakusa don’t have platforms, don’t hold public caucuses, and don’t bother with nominating conventions, just like our parties.

Before Marcos bastardized the system, an aspirant desiring to run under

BY MANNY VALDEHUESA

Part 1 of 2

a particular party, had to know the party’s platform at heart and promote it, speaking out on major issues. Otherwise he could get expelled or prevented from running again.

In other words, there was party discipline, and loyalty was important. As political systems go, although it was by no means perfect, it was a workable setup. And they provided non-disruptive means of influencing policy, questioning or blocking undesirable action, or expressing popular sentiment.

In other words, parties provided citizens a chance to be involved in the political process without having to run for office themselves. They not only provided their members, supporters, and sympathizers an orderly, peaceful, and focused exercise of their sovereignty, they made it possible for a disgruntled citizen who shared their beliefs a sense of belonging.

Because the parties consisted of law-abiding, tax-paying citizens who

sought to be associated with other sectors, not at all elitist, they had credibility and thus could exert a decisive influence on government at local or higher levels.

And they could count on the party to represent or fight for them.

Unlike today, even the poor could join and play a useful role in advancing the cause of free, open, and democratic political competition. In turn, their membership gave some assurance against betrayal and disloyalty, for the party meant more than just a label. It meant they shared a set of values that was their bond, keeping them close to each other and relatively free of betrayal or disloyalty.

But today party membership is like disposable items; you buy it, leave it, or trash it without consequences. If an unhappy citizen wants to express himself in an organized way, there’s no real party to join or join forces with. He can of course march on the street, mount a protest in the plaza, join a Luneta demonstration like the Million People March—or walk all the way to Malacañang hoping to see the President like the agrarian victims of Bukidnon are doing even now. But no sympathetic party to keep him company.

VANTAGE POINTS

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Every political party should pay attention to Mindanao WORM’S EYEVIEW

BY MANNY VALDEHUESA

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(Conclusion)

VEN in the task of coping with the challenges of peace and development in their own backyard, Mindanaons are inadequately consulted, even marginalized.

A thorough hearing of their best ideas and thoughts on how to approach or resolve issues and problems ought to be accorded them and given the widest latitude.

Mindanaons are Filipinos. Their patriotism has been amply tested—against colonial intruders, against the World War II invaders, even against the well-meaning Americans.

Throughout the post-war decades, their faith in democracy has been affirmed in periodic elections—though flawed in their execution, and due to circumstances not of their making.

Political parties should take a break from their power games at the top and yield some of their privilege and advantage to Mindanaons.

Mindanao’s representation in the three branches of government, especially at upper echelons, is seriously skewed and disproportionate. It is an imbalance that has been crying out for redress in the name of equity and justice. Fairness demands that one third or so of national offices ought to be allotted for Mindanaons.

Too much concentration of power in Luzon marginalizes Mindanaons. It deprives a large constituency of its due and causes everyone too much trouble and trauma. Lack of attention to Mindanao stultifies the policy of autonomy, of subsidiarity, of consent of the governed and places Mindanaons at a serious disadvantage.

When a large and important constituency is disempowered or under-represented, no one should be surprised if members of said constituency throw a tantrum such as a secessionist struggle or a movement for independence.

It is wrong to take Mindanaons for granted and treat them like junior partners in our democracy.

Let past oversight and imbalance be redressed now. Let us round out the integrity, the wholeness, and the oneness of the Philippine Republic by according what are due to Mindanao!

[Manny is former UNESCO regional director for Asia-Pacific; secretary-general, Southeast Asian Publishers Association; director, Development Academy of the Philippines; member, Permanent Mission to the United Nations; vice chair, Local Government Academy; member, Cory Govt’s Peace Panel; and winner, PPI-UNICEF award for outstanding columnist. You may reach him at valdehuesa@gmail.com]

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 20-21, 2014

More...FFROM 1

HIGH-TECH CCTVS.Public Safety Command Center (PSCC) assistant head retired chief supt. Anselmo Simeon P. Pinili (left) reveals during this week’s edition of I-Speak media forum at City Hall that PSCC is planning to acquire the latest closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras which are capable of pro-

ducing high definition videos. At right is MindaNOW Empowerment Summit convenor Cesar B. Ledesma who announced the forthcoming summit slated on June 26-27 at Grand Men Seng Hotel. Lean Daval Jr.

Rice...FFROM 2 “We have a rice shortage in the city and this is the same among other regions in the country because of low yield,” he said, adding that the months of May, June and July are lean months.

“Our suppliers in South Cotabato are worried because there will be lack of supply of palay by next month,” he said, adding that this will surely contribute to the price increase.

Current price of commercial rice ranged from P36 to P45, depending on the rice variety.

On the other hand, National Food Authority (NFA) 11 provincial manager Virgilio B. Alerta said that the government agency cannot control the price hike in commercial rice.

“The pricing of rice traders always depends on the availability of rice,” Alerta

said. “We cannot set a price ceiling for them,” he added.

However, he said that the agency is ready for any increase in NFA consumption because of the commercial rice shortage and price hike.

“We don’t have shortage for NFA rice because we have sufficient supply,” he said, adding that based on their rice supply inventory, the city still has 150,000

bags of rice.

“Our price for NFA rice is still the same,” he said. The price of NFA rice is P27 and P32.

Every month, NFA disposes 40,000 of rice for the city. For the month of June, NFA has already disposed 30,000 bags, only 10,000 bags are left.

He said that 225,000 bags of NFA rice are expected to arrive this Friday.

The activity will likewise be a venue for crafting policies and exploring programs that will help make Davao City a better and more liveable place for Davaoeños.

Barlis lauded the CASH-L for having been actively promoting and advocating sustainable consumption. It has also

been conducting Consumer Advocacy Seminars to consumer groups such as senior citizens, women’s groups, and student organizations.

He noted that as consumers, “we don’t only enjoy our rights because we also have a number of responsibilities to carry on”.

The eight basic rights

are: right to basic needs; right to safety; right to information; right to choose; right to representation; right to redress; right to consumer education; and right to a healthy environment.

Meanwhile, the five major responsibilities of consumers are: critical awareness (Ask questions

on the quality, use, and prices of goods and services); action (know your consumer rights); social concern (care for senior citizens and persons with disabilities); environment awareness (help and maintain a clean environment); and solidarity (join consumer organizations and be heard as a consumer).

ects which public works Secretary Singson had earlier asked for special audit.

The report said that of the total, only P17.8 million had been refunded.

Moreover, DPWH-XI information office Dennis Flores also said that as verified also by the monitoring engineer “we have no project with the contractors in the list although we’re not discounting the findings of

COA.” Tan vowed to finish the special fraud audit by the end of the year and forward the findings to the Office of the Ombudsman.

Among the COA’s general findings were excessive contract costs; excessive material costs and quantities of materials procured, some of which were not used; implementation of projects without a funding

order; and improper procurement and bidding processes, such as the release of bidding documents even before the contractors had paid for these.

Another projects have no genuine and meticulous post-qualification assessment, notices of award before the receipt of the special allotment release order (SARO), otherwise they have bidding deficiencies,

unauthorized signatories, no bids and awards committee (BAC) resolution declaring the lowest calculated bid, among others.

Morever, a fraudulent project was found to have defects that included cracks on the concrete sidewalk, curb and gutter; collapsed sidewalks; presence of potholes and poke marks on the concrete pavement; and settlement of the gutter and

million.

The largest allocations for the past three supplemental budgets went to the City Mayor’s Office, with its Lingap Programs and Peace and Order funding being among the highest-funded

items in the budget.

Davao City’s budget could reach as high as P6 billion next year if funds are properly collected by the collecting agencies, according to Dayanghirang.

“At the minimum, it’s

possible that our budget could reach P5.4 billion,” he said.

He said there was “usually an annual increase of budget.”

The budget for the calendar year 2014 was P5.1

billion, after months of intense committee hearings.

He said the increased budget would be very possible, adding that the City Treasurer’s Office has intensified collections. [MindaNews]

Watershed management provides inclusive strategies which will address risks and challenges brought by the changing climate as it views the

various ecosystems, living and non-living forms from highlands to lowlands.

This is provided in the Watershed Code and other relevant local policies and

plans.

There are already various projects and activities simultaneously contributing to the protection, conservation, and manage-

ment of the City’s watersheds, but WMC would like to address the challenge of gathering of the implementers and consolidating these projects.

Consumer...FFROM 4

DPWH...FFROM 4

City...FFROM 4

Water... FFROM 4

time of the commission of the crime.

The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) reported that 30 percent of the crime index in Davao City is committed by children. Most of these crimes are robbery and theft. DCPO city director Sr. Supt. Vicente Danao Jr. said most of the youth offenders are habitual offenders.

These offenders are as young as 10 years old, according to Danao.

Danao made a presentation which showed that index crimes in Davao City went up from 1,182 cases in April-May 2013 to 1,332 cases this year in the same period or an increase of 11 percent, while the non-index crime decreased from 1,584 last year to 1,550 this year or an average of 2 percent decrease.

Crime volume for the same period went up from 2,766 cases last year to 2,882 cases this year or an increase of four percent.

Crime solution efficiency is also down from 2,766 solved cases to 1,018 or a decrease of 36.80 percent decrease. The reason for this, according to the DCPO, is the slow processing of cases in the level of the City Prosecutors Office.

The Prosecutors Office reasoned that their office is undermanned with only five lawyers. Mayor Duterte promised to increase the number to 10 in order to address the problem.

According to RA 9344, Sec. 6, a child fifteen (15) years of age or under at the time of the commission of the offense shall be exempt from criminal liability.

However, the child shall be subjected to an intervention program pursuant.

A child above fifteen (15) years but below eighteen (18) years of age shall likewise be exempt from criminal liability and be subjected to an intervention program, unless he/ she has acted with discernment, in which case, such child shall be subjected to the appropriate proceedings in accordance with this Act. According to the law, the exemption from criminal liability does not include exemption from civil liability, which shall be enforced in accordance with existing laws.

Duterte has long waged for the amendment of the controversial law which he believes will only encourage children to commit crimes.

employer of Diez likewise gathered some statements of some cabbies who were with him waiting for the arrival of the airplane at around 9:30 p.m. of June 9.

Meanwhile, Largo did not confirm if there are moves for an amicable settlement from either side.

Sketchy reports have it that the wife of complainant Jesus Famacion Dizon II, a lay pastor of Victory Christian Fellowship based in Cagayan de Oro, reportedly sent feelers that they are ready to drop the charges against Diez if he will seek settlement of the case.

Largo said that Diez did not tell him about the settlement since he was attending a court hearing in General Santos City the past two days.

Last June 13, Diez was released temporarily from detention after posted P100,000 bail to court. Regional Trial Court Branch 16 Judge Emmanuel Carpio granted his petition for bail.

The case stemmed from the complaint of Dizon that after he arrived at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport at 8 p.m. last June 7

from Manila, he boarded a Krizia taxi with plate number LXE-374 and was held up somewhere in Hillcrest Subdivision, Maa Diversion Road. He positively identified Diez as the driver of the taxi.

Dizon stated in his affidavit that he fell asleep while on board the taxi and when he woke up, he was surprised to find himself lying in a muddy and grassy portion of the road. He said his eyesight was already blurred and swollen.

Then, he noticed that his personal belongings such as his white gold wedding ring worth P7,500; messenger bag worth P1,500; brown Rusty Lopez shoes worth P2,000; brown belt worth P800; eyeglass worth P7,000; one polo shirt, gray t-shirt and brief, all worth P2,000; and Samsung phone worth P10,000 were already missing.

Diez denied the allegation saying that he did not steal anything from the complainant. The driver averred that he dropped Dizon in a lotto counter near San Nicholas in Buhangin.

[ABF]

Cabbie...FFROM 2

Alsons... FFROM 2 located.

In his acceptance remarks, Chairman Abella reiterated their commitment to help protect the environment through these types of projects

both on land and in Davao Gulf. Chairman Abella and the other barangay officials expressed their gratitude to the Alcantara Group for the donated facility.

EDGEDAVAO

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ICT HUB Web-based app wins Hack the Climate: Manila VOL. 7 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 20-21, 2014

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HACK FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. Princeton students Jacob Scheer (left) and Michael Lachanski organized the Hack the Climate: Manila with funds from a grant they received from Davis Projects for Peace through the Pace

Center for Civic Engagement to crowd-source mobile and web applications that can be used to help address the global problem on climate change.

Team Instigator wins hackathon. A team of young developers who created a web-based application called Tanaw that helps track reforestation sites and boosts economic activity in local communities through tourism. The team,

comprised of Dominic Tuazon, Mic Gutierrez and Louis Michael Concepcion, is flanked by the judges and the organizers, including Princeton students, Jacob Scheer, Michael Lachanski and SmartDevNet’s Paul Pajo and Marica Uchida.

Facebook users most likely targets of account theft

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ACEBOOK remains the preferred target for cybercriminals who specialize in stealing social network accounts .

According to Kaspersky Lab’s statistics in Q1 2014, fake sites imitating Facebook accounted for 10.85% of all instances when the heuristic Anti-phishing component was triggered.

Only fake Yahoo pages sparked more phishing alerts, leaving Facebook the prime target among social networking sites.

Today’s Facebook fakery is a global business, with cyber criminals attacking the site in a variety of languages like English, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Turkish, Arabic and others.

Unauthorized access to accounts in Facebook or any other social network can be used to spread phishing links or malware.

Cyber criminals also use stolen accounts to send spam to the victims’ contact lists and publish spam on their friends’ walls where it can be seen by other users, or to spread messages asking their friends to send urgent financial assistance.

Hijacked accounts can

also be used to collect information on individuals for use in future targeted attacks.

Smartphone or tablet owners who visit social networks from their mobile devices are also at risk of having their personal data stolen.

To make matters worse, some mobile browsers hide the address bar while opening the page, which makes it much more difficult for users to spot fake resources.

“Cybercriminals have developed a number of ways to entice their victims to pages with phishing content. They send links to phishing web pages via email or within social networks or in banners placed on third-party resources,” said Nadezhda Demidova, Web Content Analyst, Kaspersky Lab. “Fraudsters often lure their victims by promising them ‘interesting content’. When users follow the link provided, they land on a fake login page that contains a standard message asking them to log in before viewing the page. If users don’t become suspicious and enter their credentials, their data will immediately be

WEB-BASED application that promotes awareness, tracks reforestation sites, and helps sustain local communities through eco-tourism bested 41 other entries at the first-ever Hack the Climate: Manila held from June 6 to 8.

The 56-hour hackathon, or coding marathon, was the longest hackathon ever mounted globally.

It was organized by two Princeton University students, Jacob Scheer and Michael Lachanski with a grant from Davis Projects for Peace through the Pace Center for Civic Engagement. It was supported by Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), through the Smart Developer Network, and the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.

dispatched to cybercriminals,” added Demidova.

Expert advice If you receive an email notification from Facebook or a message that your account may be blocked, never enter your credentials in a form attached to that message.

Facebook never asks users to enter their password in an email or to send a password via email.

Place the cursor on the link and check if it leads to the official Facebook page.

Moreover, you should manually type the Facebook URL into the address bar – cybercriminals are capable of concealing the addresses to which they are leading you.

When you have manually entered the URL in the address bar, check it again after the page has loaded to make sure it has not been spoofed.

Remember that Facebook uses the HTTPS protocol to transmit data. The absence of a secure connection probably means that you are visiting a fraudulent site even if the URL address seems to be correct.

More information can be found at securelist. com.

Team Instigators won the grand prize for its app, Tanaw, a web-based application which has geo-locator features and heightens environmental awareness by tracking reforestation sites. At the same time, it hopes to bolster economic activity in local communities via tourism by promoting various destinations in the country.

The team is composed of young developers Dominic Tuazon, Mic Gutierrez and Louis Michael Concepcion.

Runner-up was Team Superuser with Agila, a Cloud-based cross-platform solution that helps track the user’s energy usage and carbon footprint and how much one is contributing to climate change. The app links up communities that have the same advocacies for the environment.

Comprising the team are developers Ivan Dominic Baguio, Joniel Ibasco and Kix Panganiban.

“Many of the applications developed during the hackathon showed promise for commercial deployment. The output also showed the relatively high level of awareness of the young developers on climate change, and how they have creatively integrated this into the apps that they have developed.

It is apptivism, or use of

apps development for social good, at its best,” said Ramon R. Isberto, head of Public Affairs at Smart.

Through the hackathon, web and mobile applications were developed to help address the pressing global problem on climate change. Majority of the participants are students from the College of Saint Benilde. Other universities also fielded their representatives.

There were also special awards, including the People’s Choice Award, which went to Team SPROUT for ‘Sprout‘ (a game application for kids that show how their simple daily acts can help save the planet), and runner-up Team Vito Crews for ‘Way to Go’ (a web-based waste management application that allows the community to segregate trash better in exchange for profits).

The NGO’s Choice Award went to Team Public Energy No. 1 for ‘Public Energy No. 1’ (a platform that empowers ordinary people to monitor carbon footprint in exchange for cash, and promotes the use of alternative fuels).

Runners-up were Team 4 Leaf Clover for ‘Agents of C.H.A.N.G.E.’ and Team Be Aware for ‘Awareness’.

Both teams presented apps that promote awareness on the impact of climate change.

fashionable products within reach for more people. CommunicAsia is held in Singapore from 17 June to 20 June 2014.

Third from left Lim Chee Siong, CMO of Huawei South Pacific region, Zhou Bin, CEO of Huawei Singapore, and Low Han Thong, Head of Device Singapore Third from left Lim Chee Siong, CMO of Huawei South Pacific region, Zhou Bin, CEO of Huawei Singapore, and Low Han Thong, Head of Device Singapore “With the rising penetration of internet-enabled

devices, people are increasingly consuming internet for personal life, work, travelling and entertainment. We envision that LTE will experience major growth in the coming three years as the volume of high speed networks increases, leading to a surge in mobile data traffic. With our 4G LTE-enabled devices and expertise as the leading LTE network provider, Huawei is committed and well-placed to deliver a life without boundaries for more people in the 4G LTE era,” said Low Han Thong, Head of Huawei Device Singapore.

Huawei Debuts HUAWEI Ascend P7 in Singapore at CommunicAsia 2014 H UAWEI, a leading global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, launched the highly anticipated HUAWEI Ascend P7 for the first time in Singapore at CommunicAsia 2014. In addition, Huawei showcased a wide range of mobile devices and accessories, including the world’s slimmest 7-inch phablet HUAWEI MediaPad X1, and ‘talk and track’ companion HUAWEI TalkBand B1 to demonstrate the company’s commitment in bringing quality, innovative, and

Lim Chee Siong, (third from left) CMO of Huawei South Pacific region, Zhou Bin, CEO of Huawei Singapore, and Low Han Thong, Head of Device Singapore.

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A tale of passion and dedication Henry Abrillo through time

By Bai Fauziah Fatima Sinsuat Ambolodto Photos by: Lean Daval, Jr.

A real man loves his wife, and places his family as the most important thing in life. Nothing has brought me more peace and content in life than simply being a good husband and father.

-Frank Abagnale IN TRUTH, by the time the media pays attention to fathers, it tends to focus on the stay-at-home variety. Yes, a variety as everything and everyone tends to fall in a particular category – whether we like it or not. Well, in essence, this notion makes sense. But the fact that most fathers work outside the home makes this notion comparatively unquantifiable. After all, both kinds of fathers focus primarily on achieving BALANCE – time and energy to be a loving father and husband in one.

In today’s modern world, everyone perceives success as something achieved outside of the home. To be successful, you must have a name, a brand, and some sort of following by people outside your kinship. Again, this is true. However, before one can achieve success and be successful, it must first begin with passion and dedication to live a life worth living for.

For Henry Abrillo, his wife and children, suc-

cess is knowing that you are making others happy.

In this lucrative furniture industry that they revolve in, it is the satisfaction of another that makes you a formidable player in the game – not your name, your background or anything else. To some extent, you need your name but at the end of the day, what matters most is your passion and dedication to help others realize their dream.

FA TALE, A4

HENRY A. ABRILLO

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

Park Inn by Radisson Davao supports benefit run for ‘Yolanda’ survivors IN LINE with their Responsible Business campaign in taking action on socio-civic and sustainability issues, the management and staff of Park Inn by Radisson Davao extended support and participated in the recent ‘SM to SM Color Fun Run,’ a fund-raising event for the survivors of typhoon Yolanda.

SM City Davao and SM Lanang Premier, in partnership with the hotel and other SM affiliates, staged the city’s first and most vibrant fun run which started and ended in SM City Davao Parking C, with the 21k turnaround point in SM Lanang Premier.

All proceeds of the event were donated to the SM Cares Yolanda Housing Project, which is part of SM Foundation Inc. and SM Cares’ recovery and rehabilitation program for the victims of the typhoon.

Filipinos enjoy free access to Spotify with a Globe GoSURF data plan subscription Proving that music streaming is gaining traction globally, Spotify recently announced that its user base has reached over 40 million across 56 markets worldwide.

The world’s most popular music streaming service also recorded 10 million paying subscribers, and since its launch in 2008, users have created over 1.5 billion playlists, collectively creating or updating over 5 million playlists each day.

Spotify offers the best free music experience in the history of the smartphone, giving users access to over 30 million of songs with amazing audio quality of up to 320kbps and other features such as playlist creation, music discovery, organization tools, and offline mode.

In the Philippines, music-loving Filipinos can enjoy free access to Spotify, which also offers the most extensive OPM songs, by subscribing to GoSURF, Globe Telecom’s mobile internet plan that offers megabytes (MB) of data consumable per kilobyte. The MBs in every GoSURF data plan are used to browse the Internet to surf, send and receive emails, update social networks, download games and apps, and more.

“With our exclusive partnership with Spotify, we strengthen our vision to provide an enriched online experience and access to free online content for our digitally-attuned customers, says Peter Bithos, Chief Operating Advisor at Globe. “With its extensive music catalogue and innovative features, Spotify gives us a new and exceptional way of listening to music. Coupled with our GoSURF data plan, our customers get to enjoy the best of both worlds; consumable mobile internet to do the things they love plus 30 million songs to listen to and share, all for free. Make your world sound wonderful with GoSURF and Spotify for a mobile experience like no other.”

Customers on GoSURF can enjoy free access to Spotify without worries as usage of the app will not consume allocated MBs for every GoSURF data plan.

Prepaid subscribers can register to GoSURF10 for as low as P10 for 10MB of data plus access to Spotify for an entire day. Postpaid customers can subscribe to GoSURF299 for as low as P299 for 700MB of data plus access to Spotify Premium for 30 days. Tattoo Prepaid customers can avail of GoSURF50 for as low as P50 for 250MB of data plus access to Spotify for 3 days.

Register by texting GoSURF to 8888 or dial *143# and choose GoSURF. To know more about GoSurf and Spotify, visit www.globe.com.ph/surf/plan/gosurf.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 20-21, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

EVENT

Ayala Business Club Davao launches lifestyle fair THE Ayala Business Club Davao (ABCD), an organization of 11 member companies that all fall under the Ayala Group of Companies, launched a weekend-long exhibit that showcased the wide range of lifestyle offerings under the Ayala umbrella.

The group, which counts among its members Abreeza Mall, Ayala Land, Avida Land, Alveo Land, Bank of the Philippine Islands, BPI Family Savings Bank, BPI MS Insurance, BPI-Philam Life Assurance, Corp., Globe Telecom, Makati Development Corporation, and Seda Abreeza Hotel, held the Ayala Business Club Davao Lifestyle Fair from June 13 to 15, 2014 at the Ground Floor Hallway of Abreeza Mall, Davao City.

Carrying the theme “One Lifestyle, One Community, One Ayala,” the exhibit highlighted the impressive array of products and services that the Ayala companies offer Davao consumers, from retail, leisure, and telecommunications to real property, insurance, and financial services. The launch of the fair on June 13 was graced

by ABCD officers, all top officers of the member companies.

“In the Ayala Business Club Davao, our thrust is to align the activities of all the member companies to achieve synergy and therefore assist each other in achieving respec-

tive goals,” Abreeza Mall Operations Manager and ABCD President Luigi Escano says. “Secondly, a major objective of the group is a shared corporate social responsibility.”

Since its inception, the ABCD has been involved in several corporate social responsibility initiatives, among them fundraising activities for Children’s Hour, a non-profit organization founded by Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala that funds projects relating to children’s education, health and nutrition,

and protection. Other recent projects of the ABCD promote environmental preservation, such as the Earth Day Recyclable Fair, an event inviting people to

properly dispose of their electronic waste and other recyclables, and the Davao Gulf SOS, a massive cleanup activity that took place at the Davao coastline.

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

VOL. 7 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 20-21, 2014

ENTERTAINMENT

Zoren and Jairus star in father- Celebrity style and-son drama in “MMK” Zoren Legaspi and Jairus Aquino will topbill the father-and-son family drama episode of ABS-CBN’s “Maalaala Mo Kaya” this Saturday (June 21).

Zoren will play the character of Bibi, the protective father of Dandoy (Jairus). Bibi yearns for his son to finish his studies. But their relationship is soon put to test when Dandoy stops schooling to concentrate on his hobby, longboarding. How can a son prove to his father that he made the right decision?

Also part of the upcoming

“MMK” episode are Yves Flores, JB Agustin, Assunta da Rosi, Joe Vargas, Marc Solis, and Lance Lucido,

who will play as the young Dandoy. It is directed by Raz de la Torre, written by Mark Duane Angos and Arah Jell

Badayos, and researched by Akeem Jordan Del Rosario.

“MMK” is led by business unit head Malou Santos, production manager Roda dela Cerna, and executive producers Lindsay Anne Dizon and Fe Catherine San Pablo.

Don’t miss Asia’s longestrunning drama anthology, “MMK,” every Saturday, 8pm, after “Home Sweetie Home” on ABS-CBN. For more updates, log on to MMK. abs-cbn.com, follow @MMKOfficial on Twitter, and like ang Facebook.com/ MMKOfficial.

City (June 22); SM Iloilo (June 27); SM Bacoor (June 27); SM Cebu (June 28); Magic Mall Urdaneta (June 29); and GMA Network Studio 6 (June 29). Applicants should bring an authenticated NSO copy and a photocopy of their birth certificate, photocopy of two valid IDs, one whole body picture (3R), and one close-up picture (3R).

This upcoming afternoon

prime drama series brings together the admired and respectable Kapuso actors Yasmien Kurdi, James Blanco, LJ Reyes, Kevin Santos, Renz Fernandez, and Wowie de Guzman.

Joining the cast are Raquel Villavicencio, Rich Asuncion, Joana Marie Tan, Maricris Garcia, Chariz Solomon, Buboy Villar, Gene Padilla, and Frank Magalona.

Under the helm of the acclaimed director Ms. Gina Alajar, together with Jun Lana as Creative Director, Roy Iglesias as Creative Head, Denoy Navarro-Punio as Unit Head, and Ken De Leon as Headwriter, Yagit will certainly be a well-loved afternoon drama series of Filipino viewers from all ages.

Catch the remake of the 1980s phenomenal drama series, Yagit, soon on GMA Afternoon Prime.

G O T ’ S GWENDOLINE CHRISTIE SHOW OFF HER LEGGY FASHION. With her Game of Thrones armour hung up for the season, Gwendoline Christie brought glam — and feathery fun! — to the red carpet Monday with a very leggy dress.

Attending the 2014 Fragrance Foundation Awards in Manhattan, the 6-foot-3 blonde British actress wore a white, floorlength spaghetti strap gown was covered with flamingo prints.

GMA 7’s well-loved drama series YAGIT returns to Philippine TV

AFTER its successful airing on TV and cinemas in the 1980s, GMA Network is set to bring back on Philippine TV the hit drama series, Yagit, with an all-new interpretation on the Afternoon Prime block.

The Filipino viewers of today’s generation are expected to get hooked on the remake of this phenomenal series as GMA Network gives a unique touch on its traditional dramatic storyline by Eddie Ilarde and Jose Miranda Cruz, featuring the Filipinos’ unwavering spirit of positivity amidst various challenges and difficulties being faced.

Aside from injecting the value of optimism, Yagit will also showcase the sentimental importance of being blessed with childhood friends in the personas of Elisa, the hardworking yagit; Josie Macabuhay, the

‘ate’ of the group; Tomtom Macabuhay, the chubby yagit; and Ding Reyes, the orphan yagit. GMA is set to hold a nationwide search this month for the potential child actors who will give life to these characters.

The auditions will be held on the following dates and venues: SM Baliwag (June 20); SM Novaliches (June 21); KCC Mall General Santos

Ruru Madrid explores Marikina with GMA 7’s Tropang Potchi this Saturday Kapuso viewers will have an informative weekend morning this Saturday (June 21) as Kuya Ruru (Ruru Madrid) joins the extraordinary Marikina adventure of GMA Network’s Tropang Potchi.

Making this week’s episode exciting is when Lenlen (Lenlen Frial) and Kyle (Kyle Ocampo), together with Kuya Ruru, tour Marikina’s famous landmarks and attractions using only their bicycles. Being the Shoe Capital of the Philippines, Marikina houses the historical Shoe Museum where Kuya Ruru, Lenlen, and Kyle will see the shoes of the

Philippine presidents and celebrities, and even the traditional shoes from other

countries.

Meanwhile, at the Tropang Potchi’s tambayan,

Lenlen, Kyle, and their other friends are busy doing their assignments except for Miggy (Miggy Jimenez).

His friends already observe that he does not want to do his homework because his mindset is still on a vacation mode.

Will Miggy’s younger friends be able to convince him to focus on his school work again?

Watch the tropa’s fun Marikina exploration and get to learn new values this Saturday in the awardwinning children’s program Tropang Potchi, 9:10 AM only on GMA 7.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2 2D Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler GP

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

22 JUMP STREET 2D Jonah Hil, Channing Tatum R13

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

THIRD PERSON 2D Liam Neeson, Mila Kunis R 16

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

R-16 MY ILLEGAL WIFE 2D / * NOAH 2D PG 13 / * R 13

Pokwang, Zanjoe Marudo / *Russell Crowe 12:25 | 2:35 LFS / * 4:50 | 7:25 | 10:00 LFS

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 7 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 20-21, 2014

HOME

A tale...FFROM A1 After more than a decade of business endeavors, failure has become Henry’s ally in appreciating life’s many crossroads. For him, one need not focus on ‘what has been’ but rather seek the inevitable “what is”. It is a risk, a gamble even, but if you stay slumped in the past, you will never learn to appreciate the present and live the future.

From the looks of it, Henry and his furniture have come a long way.

Working alongside his beautiful and talented wife, the two has been to places and met people that play a significant role in their success. Of the many things and lessons they have encountered, he says that “paying it forward” has been their greatest mantra. True enough, they make it their mission to help those who share the same passion as theirs.

Through this, he believes that success becomes more valuable.

From that one center table, they are now producing furniture masterpieces that are simply elegant and majestic. At their showroom, one could not help but be in

awe of their products – clean, smooth and simply perfect for any home.

Their furniture is of wood but the designs are something you won’t expect from a wood. They speak forth of simplicity – highclass simplicity that could turn any home into a palace of dreams.

Being a family man, he too had his share of absenteeism while his children were growing up.

For him, it was unavoidable but as he see how his children has become, he knows that he has done something right to deserve the love and respect they shower him. When not attending to their business, Henry spends time with his family – making up for lost time.

Abrillo furnitures, though not of Davao origin, has slowly made its way into the homes of Davaoeños. Their designs are polished and thus making it eye catching and hard to miss.

Hence, the next time you see any of their designs or visit their showroom, remember what passion, dedication and love for your craft can do for you, your family and your life in general.

Their furniture is of wood but the designs are something you won’t expect from a wood. They speak forth of simplicity – high-class simplicity that could turn any home into a palace of dreams.

SPORTS 13

VOL. 7 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 20-21, 2014

LEGAL NOTICE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late HERMINIA GUERRERO-MARIO,SOLOMON GUERRERO,ALEXANDER GUERRERO, CESAR GUERRERO has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT with Waiver of Rights executed among their heirs per Doc. No.175; Page No. 35; Book No. 265; Series of 2013, of the NOTARY PUBLIC CIRILO FLORES. 6/20,27,7/4 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. Male, 28 – 40 years old

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

1. Driver’s License with Official Receipt Requirements: 2. 2 x 2 License I.D. picture (2Official pcs.) Receipt 1. Driver’s with 3. Certificate of Employment or clearance from 2. 2 x previous 2 I.D. picture (2 pcs.) employment 3. Certificate of Employment or clearance from May apply in person at Human Resource Department, YBLI Office, General Santos Drive, May applyCity. in person at Human Resource Koronadal

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

Alaska sends Ginebra packing

T

AKING cue from its fellow higher-seeded teams, Alaska took the shorter route to the semifinals at the expense of Barangay Ginebra.

Displaying their vaunted poise under duress, the Aces foiled the Gin Kings’ fightback, hacking out a 92-81 win Wednesday night to advance to the Final Four of the PLDT Home Telpad PBA Governors Cup at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

In an intensely fought match marked by several heated altercations and near scuffle among the protagonists, the Aces dug deep in their vast reservoir of playoff experience as they uncorked a telling 11-4 finishing kick in almost the final three minutes where the Gin Kings failed to respond big-time.

Foremost among those who stepped up to the plate during the critical stretch was steady guard JVee Casio, who laced his team-high 15-point output with a back-breaking, shot-clock beating corner triple that spared Alaska’s blushes after Ginebra closed in on at 77-81.

Then after Gin Kiings forward missed his jumper in the ensuing play, the Aces made them pay big time, with veteran gunslinger Dondon Hontiveros knocking down an equally booming trey that stretched their lead back to 10 at 77-87 with 2:27 left to play.

SANDWICHED. Ginebra forward Japeth Aguilar is sandwiched by Alaska’s Calvn Abueva and Dondon Hontiveros. PBA/ Nuki Sabio

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

VOL. 7 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 20-21, 2014

Biking and ‘gender bender’ at FAST Fridays

B

IKE enthusiasts and girl athletes will find this week’s edition of FAST Fridays interesting.

The newest weekly media forum--FAST Fridays— which stands for Fun, Adventure, Sports and Travel, held every Friday at Barrio Fiesta located at the second level of the Fountain Court of SM Lanang Premier, will have as guests Monica

J

Ayala, convenor of Cycle For Life and Davao City’s high-achieving girl athletes Ella Grace Moulic and Joyce Semacio.

Ayala will be discussing the proposed National Bike Day as well as Bicycle Road Safety. Moulic will talk about her recent conquest in Macau where she won 4 gold medals in the 2014 ASEAN Age Group Chess

Championships while Semacio will also share her experience as a member of the Philippines Under-14 Girls football team and her accomplishment in the 2014 Asian Football Conference Under-14 Girls Championships where she was named most valuable player.

Also invited to the forum is Edrin Dapudong, reigning

IBO superflyweight boxing champion, who will make his mandatory defense in South Africa.

FAST Fridays is a unique weekly media forum organized by SM Lanang Premier and attended by media personalities from print, broadcast and electronic media organizations.

It runs from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.

Ledesma with a 78. Kuresh Samanodi pocketed the Class A net title with a 69 followed by runner-up Jerico Bajo (71).

Wendell Adlao shot an 81 and also won by a countback over Japanese Horiuchi Shigenubo for the Class B gross crown. Architect Patrick Tan carded a 70 and beat runner-up Victor Co also by a countback for the net title.

Gemma Bokawachi

(85) and Mimi Siason (67) pocketed the gross and net titles, respectively in the Ladies’ division. The runners-up were Beth Crisologo (88) and Stella Barnes (75).

The other winners: (MEMBER’S DIVISION) Class C – gross champion – Jiggs Calixto (83), runner-up – Jake Ortega (88), net champion – Dexter So (68), runner-up – Ed Guevara (69).

Class D – gross champion – Vic Rosario (97), runner-up – Marven del Rosario (100), net champion – Bong Guerzon (73), runner-up – Don Crisologo (74).

Jungolf – (11 yrs. Below) – champion – Sean Friss (100), runner-up Timothy Clark Co (111).

(12-17 yrs. Old) – champion – Jelo Nacario

(103); runner-up Alric Jethro Pobre (117) (GUEST’S DIVISION) Division 1 champion – Jocson Gan (83), Net champion – Nick Banzuela (117) Division 2 – gross champion – Usamo Ikeda (87), runner-up – Nubuo Ito (94) Net champion – Bouharri Dumama (69), runner-up – Graham Dumama (76).

SENIOR’S DIVISION – gross champion Diemy Monedero (75), runner-up Joe Daigdigan (84), Net champion – Boy Tan (71), runner-up Nonoy Llamas (72).

SUPER SENIORS DIVISION – gross champion Bill Donohoe (95), runner-up Tony Gumapac (96) Net champion – Toshi Sugiyama (81), runner-up Yunozo Keiino (87).

Marfori, Abdullah top RPV monthly medal

OSE Marie “Joe” Marfori and Kirby Abdullah emerged over-all gross and net champions in the 9th Monthly Medal Golf tournament of the Rancho Palos Verdes Golf and Country Club over the weekend.

Marfori shot an even par 72 while Abdullah carded a net 64. Marfori beat by a countback Marc Lopez, who settled for the Class A gross title. Gross runner-up was Ludwig

SPORTS 15

VOL. 7 ISSUE 69 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JUNE 20-21, 2014

WORLD CUP 2014 AT A GLANCE

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IO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Defending champion Spain, the dominant global football power for the past six years, was eliminated from World Cup contention Wednesday with a 2-0 loss to Chile.

Spain’s famed passing game failed against a high-tempo, tenacious Chile team, its era ending in the storied Maracana Stadium filled mostly with noisy Chilean supporters.

Eduardo Vargas tricked goalkeeper Iker Casillas into diving the wrong way, then shot into an unguarded goal in the 20th minute. Charles Aranguiz scored in the 43rd when the ball landed at his feet after Casillas punched out a free kick.

“I only ask fans for forgiveness, we did everything we could,” said Casillas, who lifted the World Cup trophy four years ago.

Spain’s second loss, after a 5-1 rout by the Netherlands, ended any hope of advancing. Chile and the Netherlands. ___ NETHERLANDS 3 AUSTRALIA 2 PORTO ALEGRE, Brazil (AP) — Memphis Depay scored a late clincher as Netherlands withstood Australia’s unsettling challenge in a comeback win to move to the verge of qualifying for the knockout rounds of the

World Cup. Netherlands followed up its 5-1 rout of defending champion Spain with a closer-than-expected win against Australia, which is almost surely out of contention after two straight defeats.

Arjen Robben and Robin Van Persie, who each scored twice against Spain, added to their tallies before and after Australia’s goals. Substitute Depay scored in the winner in the 68th. ___ CROATIA 4 CAMEROON 0 MANAUS, Brazil (AP) — Mario Mandzukic scored two goals to keep Croatia in the mix at the World Cup with a win over 10-man Cameroon, which will be going home after the group stage.

Mandzukic, who returned to the team at the Arena da Amazonia after sitting out the opening loss to Brazil through suspension, headed in a corner from Danijel Pranjic in the 61st minute and then knocked in a rebound in the 73rd of the Group A game.

Ivan Perisic also scored one goal and made another for Ivica Olic.

Cameroon was reduced to 10 men after midfielder Alex Song was given a red card for elbowing Mandzukic in the back in an off-the-ball incident in the 40th minute.

BLOWING A KISS. A Spain fan enjoys the atmosphere prior to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group B match between Spain and Chile at Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images)

SAVE. Chile’s goalkeeper Claudio Bravo makes a save against Spain’s Sergio Ramos during the group B World Cup soccer match between Spain and Chile at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Thursday (PHL Time). (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

Croatia dumps Cameroon 4-0 M

ANAUS Brazil (Reuters) - A far cry from the talented side that reached the 1998 World Cup semi-finals, Croatia showed they still meant business in Brazil with a 4-0 rout of toothless Cameroon on Wednesday to stay in contention for the knockout stages.

To earn their first berth in the last 16 since stunning the world in their first World Cup campaign as an independent nation 16 years ago, the Croatians will in all probability need to beat Mexico in their final Group A clash in Recife on Monday.

Coach Niko Kovac said

S

his side would have to improve on their ocassionally casual defending and slack finishing against Cameroon to have any chance of progressing.

“We let (Cameroon) have too many chances and we still have much potential left,” he told reporters.

“It will be important for the team to get a good rest before the Mexico game because they are an aggressive and strength-sapping team.

“But we will be buoyed by our performance against Cameroon and I must congratulate my players for an excellent performance in difficult weather.”

The result left the Croatians third in Group A on three points from two games, one behind Brazil and Mexico.

Evergreen 34-year old striker Ivica Olic rolled back the years to put Croatia ahead after 11 minutes, becoming his country’s oldest scorer in the World Cup when he swept home a sharp low drive by Perisic.

Cameroon, who cannot now qualify from Group A after losing their first two games, were reduced to 10 men five minutes before halftime when Alex Song was shown a straight red for needlessly hitting Mario

Mandzukic.

The robust striker, helped by a mature performance from playmaker Luka Modrc who shrugged off a painful foot injury, then stole the show after Ivan Perisic seized on a poor clearance by Cameroon keeper Charles Itandje to make it 2-0.

MEMORABLE DEBUT Back after suspension ruled him out of the tournament’s opening 3-1 defeat

by Brazil, Mandzukic headed the third on his World Cup debut just after an hour and tapped in his second as Croatia strolled to a comfortable victory.

Fanatics.com compared U.S. sales completed during the four days leading into the Cup with sales completed during the first four days of the tournament.

The analysts attributed the 200 percent spike to fans jumping on the Neymar bandwagon after he scored the first goal of the tournament.

Brazil’s Neymar celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the group A World Cup soccer match between Brazil and Croatia, the opening game of the tournament, in the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, June 12, 2014. (AP Photo/ Felipe Dana) Of course, the numbers

are comparing only the four days prior with the four days after kickoff. It’s completely possible a lot of fans who wanted jerseys bought them well in advance, while procrastinators forgot to buy them in time for kickoff, and logged on to order one before Brazil’s second match, against Mexico.

Brazil jerseys are hottest sellers

ALES of Neymar jerseys jumped 200 percent in the first four days of the World Cup, according to the web’s largest licensed sports apparel retailier, making it the hottest-selling soccer jersey in the United States. The young phenom wears jersey No. 10 for Brazil.

Prompted by Forbes,

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. VOL.77ISSUE ISSUE69 69• FRIDAY-SATURDAY, • FRIDAY-SATURDAY,JUNE JUNE20-21, 20-21,2014 2014

FRUSTRATION. Spain’s midfielder Sergio Busquets reacts to a missed chance during a Group B football match between Spain and Chile in the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (LUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images) GOAL. Chile’s Eduardo Vargas celebrates after scoring the opening goal. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

ADI0S, ESPAÑA R

BICYCLE. Spain’s midfielder Xavi plays the ball during a Group B football match between Spain and Chile. (CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP/Getty Images)

Chile puts end to Spain’s World Cup defense

IO DE JANEIRO (AP) — After watching Spain miss one chance after another and suffer a second straight humiliating loss at the World Cup, Victor Serra and other Spanish supporters walked out of Rio’s Maracana stadium to hordes of Chilean fans yelling “It’s over! It’s over!”

It was, for both Spain’s World Cup campaign and

its era of dominance that lasted six years but ended with a 2-0 loss to Chile on Wednesday.

Serra shrugged off the jeers but other Spanish fans left the stadium in tears as huge crowds of Chileans danced in the street. Many Spaniards said they believed coach Vicente del Bosque erred badly by stacking his team with seasoned and overconfident veterans in-

stead of choosing younger, more hungry players.

It was Spain’s second loss in Brazil after a 5-1 rout by the Netherlands.

And the result ended any hope the team has of advancing, a bitter end for a football dynasty that has been ranked No. 1 in the world for years and won the European Championship in 2008 and 2012 plus the 2010 World Cup. “The problem is that

Spain has already won everything and now there just wasn’t the passion to make history again,” said Serra, from the southern city of Valencia.

Using an expression in Spanish to describe how dead bulls are hauled out of the ring after being killed by matadors, he said Del Bosque “should have used younger players, the old guard needs to be dragged away.”

Spain’s squad of 23 players featured 16 who were part of its World Cup success in South Africa.

Casillas, Alonso and Xavi Hernandez had been the engine behind the team’s triumphs on the world stage, but were left exposed in Brazil.

“We didn’t know how to maintain our hunger or that conviction needed to win a tournament. The joy and success we’ve experienced is over,” Alonso said from the Maracana stadium. “We lost our knowhow, which has helped us win so many of these important

games. It doesn’t feel like our other tournaments.”

Spain’s players agreed that they did not read their opponents well, or know when to clamp down and control the games through keeping possession as it has been known to do.

“The commitment wasn’t there,” said Casillas, who owned up to perhaps his two worst performances in 156 appearances for Spain. “From the very first moment everything went awry.”

Alonso, who along with Casillas and Xavi may have seen their international ca-

reers come to an end, said Spain was not mentally prepared for Brazil, while the team’s physical state was not at its peak either.

“Normally cycles come to an end after a defeat.

Maybe it would be best to think about making changes,” Alonso said.

Torres did not want to jump that far ahead, as the Spain striker put a positive spin on the collapse, even suggesting he would not have changed a thing.

“We went down playing our style. It’s what got us here and we’re going to maintain it,” Torres said.

DETHRONED SPAIN EXITS WORLD CUP

R

‘Just not good enough’

IO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Spain’s players had different explanations for the team’s early World Cup exit.

Captain Iker Casillas said there was lack of commitment, midfielder Xabi Alonso thought there wasn’t enough hunger. According to Fernando Torres, Spain was “just not good enough.”

Chile’s 2-0 victory on Wednesday meant the 2010 World Cup champion is the first title holder to exit after just two games following the opening 5-1 loss to the Netherlands.