Edge Davao 8 Issue 118

VOL. 8 ISSUE 118 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13-14, 2015

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INSIDE EDGE

Duterte: Fear, funds, family sealed decision P4 2 firms eye Davao Region as main source of cacao P6

TELL US HE’S LYING Are the mob of supporters, selfies, and shirts telling us he’s running?

Photo By Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

2 COVER STORY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 118 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13-14, 2015

I’M NOT RUNNING. Media practitioners gather around Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte as he announces that he will not run as president in the 2016 election. Lean Daval Jr.

TELL US HE’S LYING Are the mob of supporters, selfies, and shirts telling us he’s running?

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

A

S the smoke started to clear on the much-talked about “The Decision” episode of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s presidential saga, the question on him eventually running for President has not died down.

In fact, the clamor has gone a notch.

In San Juan where Mayor Duterte met Muslim traders of Greenhills the night after his announcement, there was nary a sign of the Duterte-mania dying down. The tough-talking Davao City mayor was mobbed by a crowd of about 500 traders.

That warm Manila welcome belied the tension over Duterte’s formal declaration at home on Monday afternoon that he is not a candidate in next year’s election.

Like the welcome he received in Navotas and Malabon earlier that day, his Muslim supporters in Greenhills showed they are not giving up in their clamor for Duterte to change his mind and bid for the presidency which has eluded Mindanao ever since.

So why is Mayor Duterte doing all these?

Duterte’s spokesperson former councilor Peter Laviña said the mayor “loves to confuse the enemy” and will not let possible opponents read his political moves.

“He holds his cards close to his heart. He doesn’t want anyone to read them. It’s just a strategy to confuse the enemy,” Laviña said in a separate interview on Thursday. He said Dabawenyos know the mayor’s strategy. They are familiar with it as shown in the past electoral exercises.

For the record, Duterte has never declared his candidacy in any election that he participated in.

Laviña said Duterte wants to send the message that the presidency is not about personalities but about the change that the country needs. “Inaalis niya ang sarili niya sa equation. Kung hindi parin mag bago ang isip ng mga tao nothing will happen to our country. Yun ang ibig nyang sabihin (He is just removing himself from the equation. If the people’s minds to not change, nothing will happen to our country. That’s what he means),” he said.

Duterte received a rousing welcome fit for a presidential candidate in three Metro Manila cities hours after his announcement that he is out of the presidential race.

His drumbeaters said in a statement that Duterte first punched a hole at the Navotas City Hall where city officials and employees led by Mayor John Rey Tiangco gave him a swarming welcome.

“The chopper which carried him from his hotel landed at the helipad on the rooftop of the Navotas City Hall. After alighting from the chopper, Duterte descended down the flight of stairs to the mayor’s office which should have taken only a few minutes. Instead, Duterte ran smack into an ambush interview by TV networks which the mayor obliged as he normally does. As a result, it took him 32 minutes to traverse 11 steps,” the statement narrated.

Duterte was welcomed

by Mayor Tiangco in his office crammed with employees and supporters chanting “Duterte!” The scene was replicated in every floor until the mayor left the building as workers lined up for selfies.

According to the Duterte camp, the mayor’s caravan drew applause and cheers from people who lined up the streets for a glimpse of the mayor on the way to the City of Malabon University (CMU) where animated students welcomed him as “ang nag-iisang idol ng bayan.”

Despite his declaration that he is not a candidate, the warm reception showed that many have not given up on the clamor for his candidacy.

People packed the streets to cheer Duterte as his motorcade took him around Malabon. Perhaps, they did not hear the

news, or perhaps they just refuse to believe. Whatever the reason, it was every bit a welcome for a conquering hero.

According to his camp, “at the rate things are going, it has become a test of wills between the man who said he would not run for president, and the growing mass which insists he should.”

That Monday afternoon he spoke to a throng of media at the Grabd Men Seng Hotel, his trusted assistant Bong Go was still wearing his Duterte shirt.

The following day in Malabon, Go was still dressed in a Duterte kit.

Nothing has changed since the announcement was made on Monday. The maddening crowd, the selfies, and the shirt—they all tell a running story.

However, the air of confidence among Duterte supporters changed on Friday. Go was seen in plain green shirt. The signature “Duterte Ato Ni Bay” shirt is gone. Does it mean he was ordered not to wear it anymore? Is the message clear now that Mayor Duterte is not running?

And then came the loose talks from the grapevine that Mayor Duterte has cancer. Quickly, Duterte camp spokesperson Peter T. Laviña laughed off claims by a Manila columnist that Duterte is fighting the Big C (see separate

story).

“What Big C? Then Philip Jr. Lustre, it is his burden now to show proof about Duterte’s health condition since he is the one who opened it,” Laviña posted on Facebook.

Laviña dismissed the post on social media was just black propaganda.

Also on Friday, Duterte’s camp has announced that he has cancelled his series of Metro Manila events next week, including the meeting with several groups of taxi drivers and operators at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta where staunch supporters have also planned to turn into a huge rally to convince him to run in the 2016 presidential elections (see separate story).

Next week’s caravan is supposed to have Duterte meet traders and vendors of Divisoria and have dinner with the members of the Manila Overseas Press Club on September 14 at the Manila Polo Club.

The following day, September 15, Duterte was to meet the taxi drivers and operators in Luneta and on September 16 was scheduled to meet the urban poor groups in Dagatdagatan in Caloocan City and go on a campus tour at the Jose Rizal University in Mandaluyong.

With this latest turn of events, should the legions of Dutertenatics believe he is not lying? Or is he?

VOL. 8 ISSUE 118 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13-14, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

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4 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 118 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13-14, 2015

Rody says fear, funds, family sealed decision

D

FEAR FACTOR. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte tells members of the Kiwanis International Philippine South District that one of the factors he considered in deciding not to run for President is his fear of being defeated. Duterte spoke to the group on its 40th conference held at the Grand Regal Hotel on Friday night. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

‘Take the cue’

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte admitted that one of the factors he considered in deciding not to seek the presidency is his fear of being defeated.

“Hindi pa ako natalo sa election (I had never been defeated in elections). I do not know or I would never know how to handle that situation,” Duterte said in his speech during the 40th Kiwanis International Philippine South District Conference at Grand Regal Hotel on Friday night.

Duterte said at his age, he would have no time to recover from a defeat because the presidency is the highest position in the land.

“I’m 70 years old. How do you expect me to make a political comeback?” he said.

Aside from his fear of defeat, Duterte also cited his financial difficulty since a campaign would cost billions of pesos.

But Duterte said the ultimate factor that sealed his decision was his family.

He said he followed his family’s wishes for him not to run because they are the ones who will take care of him when he retires.

In an interview, Duterete was asked by reporter what he meant when he said “Masama magsalita nang tapos” during his

FRODY, 12

Mayor cancels Duterte aide stops wearing Manila events

‘Tapang at Malasakit’ shirt

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

A

S if to bring home Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement last Monday that he is not running for President, his executive assistant Christopher Lawrence T. Go has stopped wearing his usual “Tapang at Malasakit” shirt in public.

Davao City reporters saw Go on Friday night and asked him why he was wearing a plain green shirt

instead of the shirt which many had interpreted as a sign that the mayor was secretly eying the presidency.

“Take the cue, take the cue,” Go repeatedly said.

Asked if the mayor had ordered him not to wear the “Tapang at Malasakit” shirt anymore, Go said he took the initiative himself.

“Knowing the mayor, if he tells a statement to the public, most likely its

final,” he said.

He said he had worn the shirt regularly because he was joining the call of other Filipinos for Duterte to run for President.

“I wore the shirts as a Filipino and not as his employee,” he said.

Go said he is still hoping that Duterte would change his mind.

“As a Filipino, I also hope that his mind will

change. But, since he is my boss, I will respect whatever decision he makes,” he said.

For Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) political science professor Ramon Beleno III, nothing is final unit October 16 lapses.

In an interview, Beleno told EDGE Davao that in politics, nothing is certain and everything can change.

MNLF slams ‘watered down’ peace agreement revisitation

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

M

ORO National Liberation Front (MNLF) Central Committee acting vice chair and City State chair Rolando Abdul-Aziz Olamit yesterday expressed dismay at how the Aquino administration “watered down” the revisitation of the final peace agreement with the MNLF during the tripartite meeting last September 7 to 9 in Manila.

In an interview yesterday morning, Olamit said the government railroaded the agenda of the meeting and set it to discuss only the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

The meeting was attended by representatives of the government (GPH), MNLF, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and was intended to set the agenda for next month’s Tripartite Review on the implementation of the 19-year old Final Peace Agreement (FPA).

Olamit questioned the timing of the revisitation of the final peace agreement especially since the Aquino administration “is coming to an end and the BBL is almost impossible to be passed under his term.”

“In my own opinion, this is just for a graceful exit for the Aquino administration,” Olamit said.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles had earlier said the meeting was called to prepare for the Formal Tripartite Meeting, which is proposed to be held in November in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Deles clarified that the technical informal meeting is internal to the Tripartite Review Process (TRP) and the agenda set by the OIC Secretariat is to “chart a road map for a successful conclusion of the Tripartite [Review] Process.”

NOW OPEN. Las Piñas Rep. Mark Villar (center), Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao Inc. chair CharitaPuentespina (third from left), president Rene Dalayon (second from left), executive director Val Turtur (rightmost), and Jennifer Remonquillo (second from right) of the Department

By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

D

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte has cancelled his series of Metro Manila events next week, including the meeting with several groups of taxi drivers and operators at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta where staunch supporters have also planned to turn into a huge rally to convince him to run in the 2016 presidential elections.

William “Butch” Ramirez, one of Duterte’s volunteers, said the mayor’s executive assistant, Christopher “Bong” Go, called him up to inform that the local chief executive decided to cancel the events as he has to rush back home to Davao to attend to some important matters.

Duterte was supposed

to meet traders and vendors of Divisoria and have dinner with the members of the Manila Overseas Press Club on September 14 at the Manila Polo Club.

The following day, September 15, Duterte was to meet the taxi drivers and operators inLuneta and on September 16 was scheduled to meet the urban poor groups in Dagatdagatan in Caloocan City and go on a campus tour at the Jose Rizal University in Mandaluyong.

Among the Manila events, the Quirino Grandstand schedule was supposed to be the biggest as supporters hadplanned to use the activity as venue to express their appeal to the mayor for him to seek the presidency in the May

FMAYOR, 12

of Agriculture (DA) 11 cut the ceremonial ribbon to formally open the twoday KakaoKonek 2015 National Cacao Congress at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City on Friday. Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 118 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13-14, 2015

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 118 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13-14, 2015

Australian faces firearm charges

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

A

ROADSIDE DINNER BREAK. College students from the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU) rush to a barbeque stall to have dinner during their break at the street food section of the city’s night market along Roxas Avenue on Saturday night. Lean Daval Jr.

N Australian is now facing charges after being nabbed for sneaking out a disassembled revolver at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport on Thursday afternoon.

Sasa Police Station identified the suspect as Ian Maxwell Parker, 58. He is facing a charge of violation of Republic Act 10591 of the Comprehensive Firearm and Ammunition Regulation Act. Parker was submitted for inquest procedure before the City Prosecution Office on Friday and is now detained at the police station.

Police reported that Parker was supposed to fly to

Manila but the Initial Security Screening Checkpoint’s X-ray machine showed his luggage contained a disassembled firearm.

The suspect was immediately turned over to the police station after the he failed to show documents for his .38 revolver, which was covered in plastic inside his luggage.

The suspect told the police that he had the gun in his possession because he buys antique firearms for his collection.

Police are now looking for the profile of Parker to see if he is involved in crime incidents in Davao City.

reveals meetings 2 firms eye Davao Region Mayor with business leaders as main source of cacao

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

G

OOD news for cacao farmers and cooperatives.

Two Manila-based food manufacturing firms based have expressed interest in sourcing their roasted cacao beans from Davao Region.

Cacao Industry Development Association in Mindanao (CIDAMI) executive director Valente Turtur said the two firms are Filipinas Oro de Cacao and WL Food, a snack and beverage manufacturer and distributor.

“They are willing to buy at a higher price so long as the farmer can meet the required quality,” Turtur said.

He said the two firms are eyeing to buy roasted cacao beans 30 percent higher than the average local buying price P110 to P125 per kilo.

“The two firms are willing to buy P140 to P150 per kilo-

gram and even as high as P190 if it is really the desired quality and variety,” he said.

Turtur said the each company wants an initial of 500 metric tons (MT) per year and are targeting to increase it to 5,000 MT per year.

This will be a huge opportunity for cacao farmers in the region who can increase their productivity and the quality of their cacao beans, he said.

“WL Food, for instance, has a huge demand for cacao because it has an international market like China. It currently imports its cacao requirement from Malaysia,” Turtur said.

The firms are currently meeting with different farmer associations and cooperatives in Davao Region that will supply them with the cacao beans.

CIDAMI is also meeting with farmers here to ensure that the quality of their prod-

ucts will meet the demand of the two companies.

Turtur said aside from the local market, the region’s cacao industry is also eyeing to increase its presence in the international market.

At present, the Philippines is only exporting 3,000 MT of the total 10,000 MT to 12,000MT production of cacao beans annually. The Philippines’ contribution is less than one percent of the global supply.

The international buying price for fermented cacao beans ranges from P135 to P140 per kilo.

Turtur said cacao farmers here have to increase their production to be able to seize the opportunity of the projected global shortage on cacao by 2018 because of the increasing demand for cacao beans. “There is even now a global shortage of 1 million MT for cacao beans,”

HE Department of Interior and Local Government has hailed the province of Davao Oriental among the best excellent movers of government programs “worthy of emulation and recognition” resulting in its being one of this year’s awardees of DILG’s prestigious 2015 Seal of Good Local Governance.

DILG XI Regional Director Ananias M. Villacorta lauded the provincial government of led by Gov. Corazon N. Malanyaon for meeting all the criteria of the core components of the Seal as follows: Good Financial Housekeeping, Social

Protection and Disaster Preparedness. The Provincial Government has also met the requirements for all of the following Essential Components of the Seal: Business-friendliness and Competitiveness, Environmental Management, and Peace and Order.

DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, in his letter to Governor Malanyaon, said that winning the Seal entitles the LGU to access the Performance Challenge Fund for this year, allows the province to secure the GFH Certification for loan purposes, and provides an opportunity to avail itself of other national

program windows like Bottom-Up Budgeting Program and the SALINTUBIG Program.

During the awarding ceremony last September 7, the Provincial Government received a Performance Challenge Fund check amounting to P 7 million as well as an incentive check amounting to P 6 million for being a Seal of Good Housekeeping Silver Awardee for 2013 and 2014 and for passing the Seal of Good Financial Housekeeping.

Villacorta highlighted Davao Oriental’s transparency and compliance with the

DavOr gets 2 checks for P13M for ‘seal of good governance’ T

he said.

Turtur said the present global demand for cacao is around 4.7 to 4.8 million MT, and only 3.8 million MT is supplied by cacao producing countries like those in West Africa.

Turtur projected that the shortage will increase to 1.2 million MT or higher by 2020 because of the increase in the number of products that use cacao as one of the raw materials.

The Philippines is targeting to produce 100,000 metric tons cacao beans by 2020, a challenge posed by the world’s leading chocolate maker Mars few years ago.

But the increasing global demand for cacao prompted the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) to increase the target to 200,000 metric tons through its “Double Up” program in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture.

D

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte named business leaders who talked to him about his possible run for the presidency.

Speaking to members of the Kiwanis International on Friday night, Duterte said the first to talk to him was ABS-CBN Corporation president and CEO Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III. He said after talking to Lopez, someone arranged a talk between him and MVP Group of Companies chair Manny V. Pangilinan. After that, he talked to tycoon Lucio Tan, followed by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) CEO Enrique Razon, Puregold owner Lucio Co, and former Senator Manny Villar and his wife, Senator Cynthia Villar.

Duterte said in all his talks with the business leaders, he told them he had no intention to run for Presi-

dent.

“Sinabi ko talaga sa kanila na hindi ako tatakbo.

Hindi ko kaya yung maglibot ako maghingi ako ng pera kasi wala akong pera (I told them I will not run. I don’t like going around to ask for money),” he said.

Duterte, however, told the Kiwanis members that his main reason for finally declaring last Monday that he was not running for President was the decision of his family.

Duterte’s executive assistant Christopher Lawrence Go, for his part, said Duterte’s decision was not influenced by any politician.

“Many politicians met with him like Senator Aquilino Pimentel III and Senator Cynthia Villar, but his decision was not based on them.

It’s true what he said, that his decision was because of his family,” Go said.

DILG XI Regional Director Ananias M. Villacorta hands over to Governor Malanyaon the 2015 SGLG Plaque. Also in the

FDAVOR, 12 photo are DILG Provincial Director Yvette T. Sunga and Provincial Treasurer Adelinda Amacna.

INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 118• SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13-14, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

STYLE

Party Perfection I

had a friend once say that the children’s parties thrown here in Davao are of the same caliber as weddings and debuts held in other more urban cities in the country. I couldn’t really argue, having been lucky enough to attend parties that fit this description in the past years. The detail and planning put into these kiddy soirees can render one awestruck. One thing is certain, local event stylists know how to put together a good party and even the industry’s best in Manila take notice.

One thing is certain, local event stylists know how to put together a good party and even the industry’s best in Manila take notice.

One event stylist whose work has been receiving mileage from chic party blogs is Khim Ty-Cruz of Party Deco Philippines.

Though the coverage is really just icing on the cake as Khim is already recognized as a stalwart of style when it comes to children’s celebrations, it never hurts to be recognized by the likes of Baby and Breakfast and Party Doll Manila that curate and feature standout parties. I first heard of Khim a few years ago at a ‘Spajama’ party she put toget her and the t r aj e c t or y of her work since then in terms of size and style quotient seem to just be getting higher and higher.

“I have always been interested in making parties but was afraid to venture into it at first. When my daughter was about to celebrate her first birthday, I took the opportunity and realized that not

o n l y could I do it but all the planning, conceptualizing and executing excited me. It still excites me,” Khim shares.

The hopes of children certainly heartens one to do the best possible work especially when it comes

to bringing to life the characters and stories of their youth. It brings a particular kind of joy to Khim, as a mom and event planner, and she never fails to unearth the possibilities in each theme. “There are many ways to do a chosen theme without having to make it look like a replica of what you have already done. Adding details and surprising elements in

unpredictable ways that excite guests will ensure it is unique. Using imagination, at times thinking like a child and beyond what is conventionally done, the possibilities can be endless.” Subscribing to this way of thinking, she succeeds not only in delighting the wee celebrants but succeeds in intriguing the adult guests as well.

Khim makes attending parties she decorates exciting for parents and this

is by no means an easy feat. Tagging along with kids in their friends’ parties can incite a “you’ve seen them once, you’ve seen them all” kind of attitude especially when the sight of all too familiar balloon arches and ceiling swags come to view.

To attend an event where you spend more time inspecting the cakes and details at the dessert table than your child means

Alternative A1

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 118• SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13-14, 2015

UP AND ABOUT

Smart hosts Southeast Asia’s biggest Hearthstone Abreeza Mall to give grandparents special treats on September 13

LEADING MOBILE services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) and its online gaming portal GameX have teamed up with game publisher Blizzard Entertainment to host the Hearthstone Southeast Asia Finals, the region’s biggest Hearthstone competition set at the Meralco Theater in Ortigas on Sept. 20.

Launched in 2013, Hearthstone pits two online players in an exciting card battle where they cast spells, use weapons, or summon ‘minions’ to compete on their behalf.

The game allows players to select different exciting modes in a fast-paced gameplay, making it the top online collectible card game in the world today.

With the game’s massive popularity in Southeast Asia, Blizzard allowed gamers from all over Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand to determine the host country in an extensive online campaign. In the end, the passionate Filipino gaming fans edged out their Malaysian counterparts to win in the final head-tohead vote.

Gates open at 12:00 noon. Admission is free via pre-registration. Smart will also be releasing special VIP tickets to lucky subscribers.

“We are happy to have the Philippines host the Hearthstone Southeast Asia Finals. The Philippine

players have always been one of the most passionate members of our community, and we are excited to be able to bring this event to them,” said Alan Chou, Director of Publishing, Blizzard Entertainment Southeast Asia.

“Smart is honored to team up with Blizzard for this groundbreaking search for Southeast Asia’s best Hearthstone players,” said Mellissa Limcaoco, Head of Smart’s Innovation and Product Development Group which developed GameX. “This is proof of the Filipinos’ passion for gaming, which is the main reason why Smart leads in supporting eSports events and continues to give our subscribers the widest breadth of games and entertainment so they can experience the Smart Life.”

The event will gather eight top players from across Southeast Asia, along with international casters TJ “Azumo” Sanders, Erik “DoA” Lonnquist and Chris “PapaSmithy” Smith. The games will be

streamed live on www. twitch.tv/playhearthstone starting from 1:00 p.m onward.

The winner will then fly to Taiwan for the Asia-Pacific Regional Championships that includes players from Japan, Taiwan, Korea and Australia, and the top players will advance to the finals at the BlizzCon® 2015 set in California in November for a shot at the US$250,000 prize pool.

Players who attend the event will receive a special “Power Core” card back to their accounts. This can only be redeemed by attendees on site.

On the other hand, firsttime GameX subscribers will a receive a Hearthstone Expert Card Pack for free, and enjoy direct purchases, features and add-ons using the portal.

The Hearthstone Southeast Asia Finals follows a string of big eSports event that Smart and GameX have mounted in celebration of eSports and mobile games, which have become a passion among many Filipinos.

Smart subscribers can enjoy all their favorite mobile games with Big Bytes offers that now come with FREE access to music on Spinnr and videos on Fox and iFlix for a complete entertainment on-the-go experience.

IN CELEBRATION of Grandparents Day, a special occasion established in the U.S. in 1978 and observed all over the world since then, Abreeza Mall will treat lolos and lolas to sweet surprises on September 13.

Families bringing their grandparents to Abreeza Mall on September 13 are invited to pose at the Grandparents Day Photo Wall at the Ground Floor Fashion Hallway near Debenhams. Shoppers get the chance to capture a memorable moment with lolo and lola at the specially designed photo booth when they present a single or accumulated receipt purchase worth at least P300 at the Main

Concierge. The first 50 families to have their snapshots taken get free frames to go with their photos.

Give the gift of longer life to your grandparents with Abreeza Mall’s Noodles for Long Life Promo, where participating restaurants offer buy-one, take-one deals and other great discounts on noodle dishes only on September 13.

Abreeza Mall makes the day even more memorable for elderly members of the local community with Lolo & Lola’s Day Out, where residents of the Co Su Gian Home for the Aged in Buhangin will be treated to lunch and a movie at the mall. Furthermore, Abreeza Mall will present the elderly guests with special gift

packs and offer supplies and appliances to the center.

Also happening on September 13 at the Activity Center is the Kids M.I. Expedition presented by the National Geographic Channel and Progress Pre-School Gold. Here, kids will enjoy fun activities that enhance multiple intelligence and challenge them to be brain-smart, body-smart, and people-smart.

For inquiries and updates on Abreeza Mall news and events, please visit the Main Concierge at the ground floor or call (082) 321-9332. Stay updated by liking www. facebook.com/AbreezaMall and following @ abreezatweets on Twitter and @iloveabreezamall on Instagram.

WE WANT YOU TO EMBRACE YOUR INDIVIDUALITY! #CelebrateMe with SM Accessories and get a chance to join Anne Curtis in the next SM Accessories campaign.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 118• SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13-14, 2015

ENTERTAINMENT

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

Pasion De Amor opens new chapter ABS-CBN’s local adaptation of worldwide telenovela sensation “Pasion De Amor” continues to conquer its timeslot in national TV ratings and remains to be the hottest series on Philippine primetime television today.

Topbilled by today’s sexiest tandems Jake Cuenca and Arci Munoz, Ejay Falcon and Ellen Adarna, and Joseph Marco and Coleen Garcia, “Pasion De Amor” consistently makes it to the top five most watched weekday programs in the country according to Kantar Media, and is also one of the five most viewed programs online via video-on-demand service iWant TV. The teleserye also remained unbeaten despite the premiere of a new rival program last Monday (Sep 7), when it scored a national TV

will play crucial parts in their journey. What roles will Eduvina (Pilar Pilapil), Maryo (Pen Medina), and Elle (Kazel Kinouchi) play?

The explosive revelations and twists don’t end there, because the woman who planted the seeds of anger and revenge in the brothers’ hearts, Gabriela (Teresa Loyzaga), finally returns.

How did she escape death after falling off a cliff? What evil schemes

rating of 23% versus the rival’s 10.3%.

The story heats up further in the coming weeks as the show opens a new

chapter in the lives of the Samonte brothers.

Watch Juan, Oscar, and Franco’s worlds turn upside down as they enjoy

will she plot against the Samontes? How will Norma, Sari, and Jamie react once they find out that she is still alive?

Don’t miss the intense story of primetime series “Pasion De Amor,” weeknights, before “TV Patrol” on ABS-CBN. For updates, like www.facebook.com/pasiondeamor.tv on Facebook, follow @pasiondeamor_TV on Twitter or follow @ pasiondeamor.abscbn on Instagram.

the view from the top with their newfound fortune and power.

New people will also step into their lives and

Buena Familia stars grace GenSan’s Tuna Festival

STARS from GMA’s drama series Buena Familia are on a roll as they take on their third tour in the regions this Friday in celebration of General Santos City’s Tuna Festival.

Immediately following two consecutive events held in Dagupan and in Davao, Kapuso actress and recording artist Kylie Padilla, Gawad Urian Best Supporting Actor Martin del Rosario, and dancer-actor Julian Trono are gracing GenSan’s charter anniversary via a Kapuso Mall Show to be held at the Events and Convention Center of the KCC Mall of GenSan this Friday, September 11.

Beginning at 5PM, Buena Familia fans can expect thrilling performances from Kylie, Martin, and Julian who are all set to give the Generals a good time.

Entertaining activities and exciting games also await the audience.

“The Network joins the people of GenSan on its charter anniversary celebration through this special Kapuso event with the lead stars of GMA Afternoon Prime’s Buena Familia.

The mushrooming of Kapuso fans clubs all

over the country is a testament of the support that the artists and the Network are getting.” said GMA’s Head for Regional Strategy and Business Development Division Head Oliver Amoroso.

To know more about the Network’s regional events, follow GMA on Fa c e -

book at www.facebook.com/gmanetwork and GMA Regional TV at www.facebook.com/GMARegionalTV and on Twitter and Instagram via @GMARegionalTV.

September 9-15, 2015

HENERAL LUNA/ *THE TRANSPORTER REFUELED John Arcilla, Epy Quizon/ Ed Skrein, Ray Stevenson, Gabriella Wright R13/*R13

11:25 | 1:40 | 3:55 LFS/* 6:10 |8:05 | 10:00 LFS

MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS Dylan O'Brien, Nathalie Emmanuel, Thomas Brodie-Sangster R13

11:20 | 2:00 |4:40 | 7:20 | 10:00 LFS

PIXELS/ *SINISTER 2 Adam Sandler, Kevin James/ Shannyn Sossamon

R-16

PG/*R16

11:25 | 1:40 | 3:55 LFS/* 6:10 |8:05 | 10:00 LFS

EX WITH BENEFITS Derek Ramsay, Coleen Garcia, Carmi Martin R13

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

A4 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 118• SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13-14, 2015

STYLE

Alternative A4 you’ve stumbled upon the work of someone who is worthy of your appreciation. Everything is outside of the box in a whimsical way. She makes a client unafraid to explore uncharted territory which in party terms translates to a theme or direction never done before. So whether it is Thor’s Asgaard, Cinderella’s cottage before the ball or Marioland, no theme is too broad or specific for Khim as she expounds in that unique way of hers that makes it seem in the end like she created that particular world herself.

No matter what theme is on the table, it seems that Khim manages to retain a certain sense of dreamy quaintness in her work. Some of her clients share with me that there is a certain restraint they notice in the way she puts all the elements her parties together that makes them feel that all the details are just right. The way she transforms concepts into memorable events feel more storybook than cartoon storyline, keeping things a little more low-key and tasteful. Rather blinding everyone into incoherence with effects and color, she chooses to zero in on details

of key areas such as the dessert table and the children’s tables to create unforgettable spots of interest.

In the end, you feel that these are just the sort of parties Khim would like to attend with her kids and she lends that talented eye and relaxed yet tasteful feel to every event she feels privileged to have put together. Hers is truly inspired work and it makes you feel a little envious of her imagination, the span of which it roams and handpicks elements you can’t find elsewhere. It must be one heck of a party.

Find out more about Khim’s work on www.facebook/partydecoPH and www. instagram/partydecoPH.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 118 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13-14, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

PROPERTY

7

Matina Enclaves Condo 2 sales now 80%

S

ALES of the Condominium II of The Residences, the condominium segment of the Matina Enclaves project, are now placed at 80 percent.

Escandor Development Corporation (Esdevco) project head Gerland Garces said in a recent construction update post that the Condominium II of The Residences is already almost sold out.

“It’s now 80 percent sold despite the very tough competition,” said Garces.

He added that this brisk sales activity only boosted the projection that the South area of the city is just as attractive if not more attractive than the relatively crowded construction activity in the North side.

“We continue to aggressively market the project and at the same time push forward its construction which is curiously ahead of

its schedule,” Garces said.

Esdevco earlier reported the full completion of micropiling works for the first of six condominium buildings of its signature project The Matina Enclaves.

According to Garces, the current construction activities at worksite for Condominium I consists of the preparation of the pilecap for the remaining piles located at the elevator of the building, installation of formworks and rebars for the beams at the upper parking, and concreting of the water tank at the basement level.

The micropiling phase has been 100 percent completed with 211 micro piles constructed.

Garces said that the current activities include preparation of the retaining wall, pile hacking of the remaining piles and preparation

of the remaining pile caps.

Completion of the remaining piles prior to the preparation of the concrete slab

at the basement parking is targeted by end of August.

As the development of the first condominium

building went full swing, the initial phase of the road rehab along the Col. Emilio Escandor Road has been

completed. The road rehab includes road widening in front of the sprawling Matina Enclaves complex.

HE state-of-the-art Aeon Towers project of local developer FTC Group of Companies promises to be not just all height but also “all might.”

The 33-level skyscraper project along J.P. Laurel Avenue boasts of fiber optic capability, wi-fi connectivity in common areas and for some units, the Smart Home technology may be availed of. The technology allows one to control major functionalities of his home fixtures from hundreds of miles away.

The Aeon Towers, according to FTC Group of Companies CEO Ian Cruz, will have four (4) spacious, high speed passenger elevators exclusively for condominium use.

Security and protection will also be a main characteristic feature of the building with advance fire protection alarm and sprinkler system and a 24hour CCTV security camera.

Aeon Towers is also

using Green Building Technology – by using UV protected glass for the entire building wall. It will be fitted also with LED lighting system.

Inside every unit, provision of meticulously-selected pieces of complete facilities is in place. The entire building will be managed by NYC Property Management Corp.

Cruz said unit merging will be allowed with a fee and specified layouts for combined units. If the buyer or buyers avail of this, TCT’s will be consolidated.

Each unit measures a floor to ceiling height of 2.80meters or 9.18 feet.

Aeon Towers is a mixed use real estate project with a land area of 4,574 square meters.

The building’s 33 levels will have 473 units with 300 parking slots at the basement. It will have a commercial space on the ground floor, a Sky Deck on the 33rd floor and a luxury hotel on the 7th to 10th floors.

Aeon Towers: Not just all height T

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

VOL. 8 ISSUE 118 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13-14, 2015

EDITORIAL More than just hashtags

G

iven the right cause and the right tools for expression, the casual activist can easily express his sentiments with the few clicks on his smartphone. This was recently evidenced in the outpouring of support for the hashtag #stoplumadkillings, which has taken social media by storm in recent days after the series of killings of Lumads in Mindanao, most of them attributed to government forces or their paramilitary wings. In his latest dispatch, Human Rights Watch Asia Division researcher Carlos Conde said soldiers “allegedly killed five members of a Lumad family — including children ages 13 and 17 — in Bukidnon on August 18. On September 1, he added, suspected members of a government-backed paramilitary group killed the director of a tribal school in Surigao del Sur, along with two others. “Since May,” Conde asserts, “hundreds of Lumads have taken refuge in an evacuation camp in Davao City after government forces overran their communities as part of an ongoing offensive against the communist New People’s Army insurgency.”

But while these killings have become known not just in the country but in many parts of the globe — thanks in no small part to netizens who have become enraged that such murders can still

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be committed today against our Lumad communities — government seems to be unaware that they are happening. Indeed, President Benigno Aquino, when asked about the killings, famously said: “There is no campaign to kill anybody in this country.” It may have been a predictable answer, but it was still disappointing in that he did not even bother to acknowledge that soldiers are at least being accused of such atrocities. It becomes positively infuriating when one remembers that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is under the direct supervision of the President as its commander-in-chief. #stoplumadkillings therefore needs to continue if we are to press this administration to listen to the people and look into the allegations that its very own security forces are responsible for the killing of indigenous people. But more than posting hashtags, netizens must begin to engage this government in dialogue and even confrontation — both online and off — on the issue, which is literally a matter of life and death. Government must face up to its responsibility to investigate the matter and not brush it aside simply because the victims are marginalized members of society.

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 117 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11-12, 2015

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Opening up the economy for Foreign Direct Investments

T

HE European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines seeks and promotes open international trade and the creation of an investor-friendly environment in the Philippines as a means to achieve inclusive growth, more specifically, to move to a higher level of sustainable growth through higher local and foreign investments, create more and better jobs and make growth inclusive.

A sustained, major increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), mostly through economic liberalization policies, lifting of restrictions on foreign investment with the aim of increasing competition, and measures to make it easier to do business.

In this context, two issues are high on our agenda: 1. A less negative Foreign Investment Negative List (FINL), and 2. Amending the restrictive provisions of the 1978 Philippine Constitution.

Unfortunately, Malacanang issued the new FINL and, after two years of debate with NEDA and the Economic Cluster and making recommendations how and where changes could be introduced, administratively and through legislation, it is disappointing to find

out that the EUROPE BIZ new FINL is basically as restrictive as the previous one.

Speaker Belmonte has been driving House Resolution No. Henry J. Schumacher 1 for a long time and local and foreign business has supported this important move to amend the restrictive provisions of the Constitution and to allow more foreign investment to come into the country, needed to create more competition which is good for Juan dela Cruz who will get better products and services at a better price. However, this initiative is stuck on second reading in the House. Sure is that Speaker Belmonte has given up on the economic Cha-cha.

Foreign direct investment is badly needed to achieve inclusive growth and create jobs. Especially at a time when FDI in the Philippines is falling and growing in competing countries in ASEAN: FDI inflows fell to $1.64 billion from January to May this year, a 42

% decrease from $2.82 billion in the same period in 2014. In comparison, FDI from competing countries in ASEAN expanded in Malaysia by 37.1% in the first quarter to US$ 2.55 billion, in Indonesia by 16.1% in the first half of the year to US$ 12.9 billion, and in Vietnam by 8.8% in the first seven month of 2015 to US$ 7.5 billion.

Business in happy that the President has signed the following legislation: • Philippine Competition Act – legislation that will create a level playing field, that is a requirement for potential Free Trade Agreements with Europe and the Trans-Pacific-Cooperation, pushed by the US, and an expected measure for ASEAN integration; • Amended Cabotage Law – we are happy that the Senate version won in the Bicam; the legislation will allow foreign ships to transport cargo (containers and bulk) directly to ports in the country, including Cebu, and accept cargo destined for foreign countries.

As ECCP, we will continue to fight for a level playing field and a competitive business environment, following the battle cry of PEZA: Red Carpet – no Red Tape!!!

ket – all withMY TWO CENTS’ in a threemonth period – point to an emerging world economy that is anything but stable. Many economists have already John Tria predictecisouth@gmail.com ed a rather bumpy ride for all over the next few years, prompting multilateral institutions to trim the growth forecast for the already impressively performing Philippines.

The recently released McKinsey Report entitled “Shifting tides: Global economic scenarios for 2015–25” notes four possible long term scenarios for the global economy, economic convergence with growth, economic divergence with growth, rolling regional crises (divergence and low growth), and global deceleration low growth and convergence. Each scenario presents a varying picture in terms of growth vs. inclusivity or equality.

Convergence refers to the relative equality of the growth across countries vs. divergence or inequality of the economic growth. Of the four, the convergence and growth scenario present the best case, where the growth is equally shared, employment and economic participation levels high, making for a

robust, sure growth and development.

Two major items in the report leap at me: the growth performance of India and China, and long term demographic trends in the G-20 countries.

In all four scenarios, India and China outpace the growth of the G-20. As such, the health of these two economies will be enough to influence global economics. How well their populations participate in their own economies will determine economic health over the next twenty years. If more of their citizens gain in affluence, there will be good consumers of the goods they produce. For one, they, together, hold practically a fourth of the globe’s population. Hence, this 25% will lead in the best scenario. What’s good for them is good for us as a whole.

Regardless of the outcome of the scenarios, volatility remains present, evidenced by the quick response of the market to the US Federal Reserves quantitative easing that temporarily shocked our local stock markets, and the easy devaluation of the peso following that of the Yuan.

The challenge for the countries with large populations like India, Indonesia and the Philippines is to leverage on its young population as a market for local goods and services and a base of producing the same.

Whether or not your population is big or small what matters is how they can effectively participate in an economy, to eat and produce the food, and ex-

A sustained, major increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), mostly through economic liberalization policies, lifting of restrictions on foreign investment with the aim of increasing competition, and measures to make it easier to do business.

The four scenarios of McKinsey, implications for Davao’s regional economy Convergence refers to the relative equality of the growth across countries vs. divergence or inequality of the economic growth. Of the four, the convergence and growth scenario present the best case, where the growth is equally shared, employment and economic participation levels high, making for a robust, sure growth and development.

T

HE recent economic shocks in Greece, the devaluation of the Chinese Yuan, and the low performance of the country’s stock mar-

port the rest. Strong local demand is what will keep any economy strong regardless of what happens across borders.

The challenge for us in Davao is to keep our local economy resilient and able to provide for the basic needs of our citizens, and continue to export more and higher value products, perhaps to a wider market for our traditional fruit exports apart from the usual Middle East and Japan. The strong demand of food in Singapore, Malaysia and the rest of Southeast Asia and the ease and ability with which we can sell our products over there will spell the difference and kick our growth up a bit. Diversification of products and markets, frequent direct shipping and air links to Malaysia and Singapore, and the entry of value adding manufacturing in the Davao region is key to strengthening any positive growth in Regional GDP over the last year.

To put it simply, when dark clouds hang over the horizon, it is the solid ship that rides the waves- our economic fundamentals ought to be in place so that we can make the most out of the opportunities given any of these scenarios. We therefore need to elect a President that understands the nature of keeping our economic fundamentals strong and robust, as that will have a greater effect on our economy than any external scenario.

10

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 118 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13-14, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

11

12 NEWS

Rody... FROM 4

guesting in TV5’s Happy Hour last Thursday.

Duterte replied that he was just using a Tagalog idiomatic expression, which he said to him means it is bad to finish a sentence without putting a period.

The mayor, however, did not clarify what he meant.

When asked about the analysis of a political science professor that his announcement was part of his political strategy just to be talked about,

he said it “could be.”

“Kung mo ingon kag dili ka modagan, ingnon nila na mo dagan ka. Mo ingon ka na mo dagan ka ingnon ka na di ka mo dagan strategy lang na (If I will say I will not run these people always say that I will run. If I will say I run these people will say I will not run. It is just my strategy),” he said.

As if to put the matter to rest, Duterte said: “I already said categorical. Is that not enough?”

(ABFJ)

DILG’s full-disclosure policy and no adverse findings from the Commission on Audit for passing the Good Financial Housekeeping component.

Governor Malanyaon in her acceptance speech attributed the latest accolade to the hard work, team effort and commitment of all capitol employees, department heads, and all stakeholders who have been effective in the implementation of the government’s development programs and projects. “This award symbolizes our integrity and a testament of our good performance and good track record,” she said.

To date, Davao Oriental also holds the title of Gawad Pamana ng Lahi Regional Champion for its excellent performance in all areas of governance, along with its best practices and innovations which dramatically transformed the lives of its people.

KEYS TO SUCCESS For Gov. Malanyaon, the ingredients needed to craft government programs that respond to the urgent needs of the people are not hard to come by. They only need to be harnessed. The value of competent leadership, she

says, cannot be overemphasized as from this well also springs the ability to galvanize the people into action.

Meaningful participation of the people is a major factor behind the success of her programs. Without their support, even the most compelling vision will not have any hope of turning into a reality, according to her.

By setting the right examples for the ultimate objective of effecting a better provincial government-- a more professionalized, energized, empowered and humanized bureaucracy, a positive working attitude was inculcated especially among employees of the provincial government. Change in culture is seen on the part of the Capitol employees from a culture of well-entrenched political patronage into a service-oriented bureaucracy.

The governor emphasized that if the provincial government could provide fast and honest service to the residents, tourists and investors, the local economy would improve and it would translate to improved living standards for the people. By Ferdinand Zuasola with report from Karen Lou Deloso

no naturalised player, Team Hayabusa continues to compete and put a scare in other teams.

8. Kazakhstan The Kazakhs are still reportedly in basketball hotbed Lithuania, honing their skills and sharpening their shooting away from the prying eyes of their continental opponents. That should serve them well once they get to Changsha, where they are bound to encounter very tough opposition in the tournament’s Group of Death.

9. Qatar Qatar, given their size, talent, and experience, are expected to give Kazakhstan (and many other teams) quite a difficult time in the FIBA Asia Championship.

They have currently been sighted in Manila, playing a couple of PBA clubs in tuneup games before flying out to China for the real thing. Mohammed Yousef, Khalid Suliman Abdi, and Trey Johnson are the ones expected to car-

ry this team in the expected absence of Yaseen Musa and Mansour El Hadary.

10. Lebanon Lebanon were expected to join the Philippines, Chinese Taipei, and a New Zealand club in the four-nation MVP Cup in Manila, but they reportedly backed out in favor of joining the four-nation tourney in China, from which they also backed out.

Additionally, iconic player Fade El Khatib’s release from his CBA club hasn’t reached a resolution yet. In short, the Cedars are in limbo.

11. Palestine Yes, Palestine got plastered by Jordan in a couple of tune-up games, but they can only get better, right?

They fly to China to join the hosts, Jordan, and the UAE in a four-nation competition that should give the Palestinians an opportune time to continue jelling as a team.

This is still a potentially dangerous squad when the FIBA Asia Champinship begins.

DavOr... FROM 6

GILAS... FROM 15

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 118 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13-14, 2015

APEC FMM Cebu advances Asia Regional Funds Passport Scheme S

By CHENEEN R. CAPON IX APEC economies on Friday signed the Statement of Understanding for the Asia Regional Funds Passport (ARFP), a multilateral arrangement that will facilitate the cross-border offering of eligible collective investment schemes in the participating economies.

Recognizing the value of forging stronger and more streamlined connections in the financial markets, Australia, South Korea, New Zealand, Thailand, Japan, and the Philippines signed the legally non-binding document, expressing keen interest to pursue the ARFP. In a statement, Philippines Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima, host of the APEC Finance Ministers’ Process this year, said closer financial integration is “a key pillar of our agenda here in Cebu.”

“We are optimistic that regional cooperation in building better financial linkages can smoothen our path to shared prosperity.With 40 percent of the region’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) underserved, we expect easier cross-border flows of funds to accelerate trade and investment in the region,” Purisima added.

For his part, Australian Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said the Asia Region Funds Passport is a key trade liberalization initiative which helps drive further important financial integration across our region.

“It will not only reduce the amount of red tape faced by fund managers across our region, but will provide investors with greater choice of investment products,” Cormann

said.

“Specifically, the Asia Region Funds Passport aims to give investors access to a larger range of well-regulated funds. This will help to further strengthen the international competitiveness of our financial services sector across Asia in relation to other parts of the world,” he added.

An APEC initiative under the Finance Ministers’ Process, the ARFP aims to establish a regional environment where operators of collective investment schemes, such as mutual funds, based in a member economy will be able to offer their products to investors in other passport member countries.

The ARFP accomplishes this by reducing and streamlining regulatory inconsistencies and overlaps, factors for increased

difficulties in offering products to customers in multiple economies.

According to a study by the APEC Policy Support Unit in 2014, by improving efficiency, the initiative will result in savings of US$20 billion annually in fund management costs. It could also create 170,000 jobs in APEC economies within five years.

The statement signed by the Ministries of Finance or agencies of participating economies reflect their shared goals of enhancing economic growth with sound development in the region by deepening the region’s capital markets to attract finance, as well as strengthening the capacity, expertise, and international competitiveness of financial markets in the region, and the fund management industry. (CRC)

ABUNDANT. An infant stares at a pile of durian while her mother buys some at the Bankerohan Public market where the popular fruit is sold for only P25 per kilo. Lean Daval Jr.

Mayor... FROM 4

elections.

Ramirez had earlier said groups pushing for a Duterte presidency have targeted to gather around one million people in Luneta in a bid to convince Duterte to reconsider his stand of not running for president next year.

For his part, Go said Duterte canceled his plans in Luzon to be consistent with his decision.

He said the last tour in Luzon the mayor made was in Malabon and Navotas because he had committed to visit these areas and could not cancel them.

According to Go, Duterte was supposed to visit Tuguegarao City after Malabon and Navotas but

it was cancelled because the private plane that was to convey his group experienced mechanical trouble.

Duterte also attended the Rotary Club leaders’ gathering in Greenhills.

“Halos dumugon nila si Mayor para padaganon siya (The supporters almost mobbed him to convince him to run),” Go said.

Meanwhile, Duterte camp spokesperson Peter T.Laviña laughed off claims by Manila columnist Philip Lustrethat Duterte is fighting “the Big C” or cancer.

“What Big C? It is his (Lustre’s) burden now to show proof about Duterte’s health condition

since he is the one who opened it,” Laviña posted on Facebook.

“If he is worried about Duterte’s health condition, he might as well tell the public of the health condition of his friend Vice President Jejomar Binay. As far as we are concerned Mayor Duterte has been moving around the country for more than 12 months and that in itself is his state of health,” he added.

Laviña said what Lustre posted on social media was black propaganda.

“Mayor Rody Duterte is sick and tired of our rotten system. That is why he has been advocating for change in our

country. He has been on the road for over a year now, a clear proof of his good state of health. I am sick, too, of character assassins whose only aim is to destroy others,” Laviña said.

“These are the types who believe they can be white by portraying others as black. The Filipino masses would not fall for these dirty tricks. They are sick and tired too and are clamoring for change.

To change our country, we need to change ourselves. Black propaganda is the stuff of people who will be swept into the dustbin of history,” he added.With a report from Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

13 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 118 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13-14, 2015

US firm gives $250K for cacao study

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

U

S-BASED fertilizer company Universal Harvest Inc. will extend a $250,000 funding for a research study on cacao to identify the most suitable fertilizer that could increase cacao production.

Cacao Industry Development Association in Mindanao, Inc. (CIDAMI) executive director Valente Turtur said the assistance will be given to the cacao association which will identify research areas in Mindanao. The fouryear study will be conducted

by the International Plant Nutrition Institute (IPNI).

“We’re eyeing small areas plated with cacao in the Calinan District to be our model farms,” Turtur told reporters at the sidelines of the Kakao Konek 2015 National Cacao Congress at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City.

Five research sites in Calinan will be initially identified on the first year of the implementation and will be increased on the succeeding years.

Agri exports dip E

XPORTS of all commodities, especially banana, coconut products and sugar products, went down so far this year, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said in an update on economic performance.

Lower sales in produce from down in the farm as well as export sales of mineral products lowered merchandise exports by 1.8 percent in July, NEDA said (September 10).

“Although agro-based exports account for only 5 percent of the Philippines’ total exports, its implication to the domestic economy is significant as the agricultural sector hosts a sizeable portion of the country’s work force,” said Dr. Arsenio M. Balisacan, NEDA Director-General. “Measures to mitigate the impact of El Niño remain important in the near-term, which should include crop and/or work substitution programs”.

The decline mid-point in 2015 was eased somewhat by the strong performances of manufactured goods, most notably electronics and petroleum, said Balisacan who is also the Economic Planning Secretary. While exports were lower, for example, sales to China grew

by 24.1 percent.

Locals will have to tighten the slack, he said. “Easing commodity prices worldwide could dampen export revenue prospects in the near term, and the outlook for semiconductor exports remains on the downside.

Exports of semiconductors are expected to slow down in the fourth quarter of the year owing to weak orders from the European Union, China and Japan, he said. “Policies geared towards increasing domestic demand are essential to counter external weaknesses and to ensure that the country’s growth trajectory remains on track.”

Total revenue from exports settled at US$5.3 billion, or US$100 million lower than those recorded in the same period last year, NEDA said, citing figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The value of total agrobased products fell for the sixth consecutive month in July 2015, declining by 24.5 percent to US$322.2 million from US$426.7 million in July 2014. This is traced to lower exports recorded from all commodity segments, particularly fruits and vegetables. SciencePhilippines

“We’re targeting to add another five on the second year,” Turtur said.

The study will focus on the research of cacao production in Mindanao. The island is the biggest source of cacao beans in the country, accounting more than 90 percent of country’s total annual production of around 10,000 to 12,000 metric tons (MT).

Davao Region, meanwhile, has the biggest cacao production area with a total of 23,000 hectares. Davao

City has the biggest area planted with cacao amounting to 6,000 hectares benefitting a total of 16,000 farmers.

“The study aims to identify the best good farming practices for cacao production,” Turtur said, adding that currently each farmer has their own method of raising cacao.

The industry has to standardize farming practices for cacao production, according to him.

Under the study, each

URBAN POOR HOUSING. Barangay Ilang head Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling (2nd from left) leads the signing ceremonies for the P72 million urban poor

site will have at least 25 to 50 cacao trees which will be subjected to application of different kinds of fertilizer like those that are organic, inorganic, mixed, and purely synthetic as variables.

“We would like to know which kind of fertilizer will increase the production of each cacao tree,” Turtur said.

The present average yield per tree of cacao is at 700 grams annually.

The study will be also used to identify present nutrients in the soil of each site.

“Nutrients lacking in the soil will be added through fertilizer,” he said.

The study will pave the way for the identification of the result of fertilizer on each variety of cacaos planted in each site.

Result of the study will be used as the standard method for cacao production. It will be also replicated and adopted by other cacao farmers in the region in a bid that annual production of cacao per tree will be increase to more than a kilogram.CRC

housing project in Barangay Ilang on a P54 million 3-hectare lot donated by Holcim Philippines.

Holcim, Brgy. Ilang in P72M urban poor housing project O

NE HUNDRED TWENTY-NINE families living in a high-risk area in Barangay Ilang in Davao City are moving soon to a P72 million 3-hectare urban poor housing project.

The project is a joint undertaking of Holcim Philippines, Barangay Ilang, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Davao City Social Service Development Office (CSSDO).

Beneficiaries of the project located in Barangay Ilang on the 3-hectare lot worth P54 million donated by Holcimare members of the Pag-asaIlang Homeowners Association, Inc., (PIHOAI), whose houses dotted the flood-prone river bank of Ilang River.

The signing of the Memo-

randum of Agreement (MOA), Deed of Donation and Ground Breaking were jointly held on September 9 attended by the participating government agencies, Holcim officials and PIHOAI members.

“This project is our commitment to help develop communities where we operate as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility,” said Eduardo Sahagun, Holcim chief executive officer.

Holcim, the country’s largest cement producer, operates a plant in Barangay Ilang.

“This a demonstration of the sincerity of the Davao City government and Barangay Ilang to respond to the need for housing of the homeless urban poor,” said Barangay Captain Arnolfo Ricardo Cabling, a former

Davao City Council member who chaired the Committee on Housing and Urban Development and authored the landmark Davao City Shelter Code.

The beneficiaries trained for house-building skills by TESDA would themselves build the houses under a cash-for-work scheme paid out by DSWD and Barangay Ilang.

Under the MOA, Holcimamong others would donate the land in the project that is the biggest CSR undertaking of the cement giant and provide an P8M fund for land development and skills training for the beneficiaries.

For its part, DSWD would provide funding of about P12 million for the construction of the houses and the cashfor work scheme.

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Online car portal expands in Mindanao O

CLASSROOMS FOR YOLANDA-AFFECTED SCHOOLCHILDREN. The Social Security System (SSS) has extended financial assistance of P5.5 million for the reconstruction of classrooms at the town of Tanauan in Leyte province that were destroyed by Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013. Photo shows SSS President and Chief Executive Emilio S. de Quiros, Jr. (2nd from right) and Social Security Commission Chairman Juan B. Santos (right), Education Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro, FSC (2nd from left) and Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary for Partnerships and External Linkages Mario A. Deriquito (left) during ceremonies held at the DepEd complex in Pasig City on August 7.

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NLINE car classified Carmudi are eyeing to expand its business operations in the Philippines by adding another extension office specifically in Davao and Cagayan De Oro area.

The expansion will be part of company’s strategy in saturating its market presence in Mindanao. “The Philippine economy is really a market to watched. We are already spread out in 20 different countries across the globe and we see a lot of potential in doing business in the Philippines”, says Subir Lohani, managing director of Carmudi Philippines.

“Aside from agriculture and tourism, Mindanao has improved its information technology business which are the key drivers in growing the economy. We are looking on the bigger picture as GDP growth rate increase by 6.2-percent in the last 5 years and we see this opportunity to expand the business,” adds Lohani.

The company, which started last January of 2014, has continuously provide users the best shopping online experience that allows you to sell or buy your car, motorcycle or commercial vehicle in the fastest and easiest way. The car portal also offers a unique sophisticated search fil-

ters that enables users to browse his target car based from his lifestyle preference.

“We bridge the gap between sellers and buyers on how they can both be happy on every purchase they will do. Aside from the transparent and trusted list of inventory, they can be 110-percent that all those cars, motorcycle and commercial vehicles they will be view in our site had undergo quality screening check,” said Lohani.

Lohani also explained, “As we do expansion in Mindanao area, we are looking forward to double our sales by end of the year. We allocated $16-million funds in Philippine operations alone in terms of investment, so we expect to grow the business in few more years.”

He added, “We are very excited and also challenge to do business here. This is a very young market to watch with bigger opportunities to look for.”

The online startup has 20,000+ listings with 9,000 used car dealers and 1,000 new car dealers. The company has 5-million visitors in a month with steady growing highly targeted audience. Aside from Mindanao, Carmudi also is targeting cities in Visayas such as Iloilo and Bacolod.

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SUBURBIA 15

EDGEDAVAO

Malaysian plane in GenSan to unload Aboitiz coal plant equip’t

I

T was not an emergency landing nor a foreign plane’s commercial maiden voyage in this thriving port city, the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines.”

A Malaysia Airlines plane landed at the General Santos City international airport on Wednesday to bring in equipment for a new coal-fired power plant in the Davao region, two sources confirmed on Friday.

The Malaysian airplane left the city noontime Thursday after it was emptied of its cargoes, Rudy Boborol, a heavy equipment operator at the city’s airport said on the phone.

The presence of Malaysia Airlines surprised residents and airport passengers since foreign airlines do not have flights to General Santos City so far.

Boborol described the Malaysian airplane as a “big-body 757 type”.

The heavy equipment unloaded from the plane were put on waiting trucks, he said, adding this was the first time he saw a Malaysian plane at the General Santos airport, with someone even branding it the “mysterious Malaysian Airlines plane in GenSan.” It turned out the heavy equipment were bound for

the 300-megawatt (MW) coal plant of Therma South, Inc (TSI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Aboitiz Power Corp, located in Davao City.

Wilfredo Rodolfo III, Aboitiz Power corporate communications manager, confirmed that they hired Malaysia Airlines to bring in the equipment.

“In order to expedite the commissioning of the second unit of Therma South’s 300-MW power plant project, we decided to charter a Boeing 747 of Malaysian Airlines to quickly fly in the necessary part and equipment,” he said in a statement.

Since the unloading equipment of the General Santos City airport is more ready and complete, we decided to bring in the equipment via General Santos than the Davao City airport to fast track the delivery, he added.

Davao and General Santos cities are less than three hours apart by land travel.

Rodolfo said the firm chartered Malaysia Airlines “to bring the equipment to expedite the replacement of parts and get the power plant into service so it can help alleviate the Mindanao power crisis.” (Bong S. Sarmiento/MindaNews)

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC Effective Sept. 30, 2015, DAVAOEÑA PAWNSHOP, Mamay Branch will move to corner Apollo St., Buhangin, Davao City.

Telephone number: (082) 300-3803 Mobile number: 09202138577

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SPORTS 19

EDGEDAVAO

Apo Golf bares PAL Ladies Interclub squad A

TEAM APO. Mimi Siason, Imee Garcia, Lilibeth Crisologo, Mafy Singson, Danica Nagayo, Rose Sara, Tsouky Montillo and Ella Nagayo comprise the Apo Golf and Country Club team.

PO Golf and Country Club will anchor its title retention bid on a solid lineup that will also see the debut of jungolf phenom Alessandra Christine “Ella” Nagayo.

Heading the team will be Mimi Siason who will act as team captain, veteran Imee Garcia, Lilibeth Crisologo, Mafy Singson, Danica Nagayo, Rose Sara, Tsouky Montillo and Nagayo.

The 10th PAL Ladies Interclub Golf Tournament is going to be held on October 7-9, 2015 in

Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, also known as Marapara Golf Club.

Nagayo is fresh from her fourth place finish in the Veritas Junior Golf Championship in Pasadena, California and an 86th finish in the tougher US Kids World Golf World Championship in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

Apo is ranked among the favorites to win the coveted title with challenge from the home squad Negros Occidental. (NJB)

2015 FIBA ASIA CHAMPIONSHIP POWER RANKING

GILAS GOES UP TO NO. 3 G ILAS Pilipinas climbed to third place from fourth in the latest FIBA Asia Power Rankings after its strong second place showing in the 37th Jones Cup. Iran retained the top spot after its title run in the Jones Cup followed by China in second. Chinese Taipei also gained with the fourth spot this week bumping off Korea.

In the lead-up to the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship on September 23, our experts will be ranking the 16 teams bound for Changsha, China, based on their respective player compositions and preparations for the biennial tournament.

Though these rankings are entirely based on out experts’ opinions and have no

mathematical or theoretical grounding, keep in mind that player injuries, eligibility issues, training camp reports, and pre-tournament game results will all have considerable impact.

In this edition of the Power Ranking, many of the teams have already had more than a few tune-up games, with a handful actually playing in the 2015 William Jones Cup. Several teams have also finalised their 12-man rosters for the FIBA Asia Championship, and this should give us a clearer picture of where they stand.

1. Iran Iran just buried the competition in the 2015 William Jones Cup, winning all but one of their games en route to annexing the champion-

ship. Both Hamed Haddadi and pint-sized Mahdi Kamrani were also named to the tournament’s Mythical Five.

This bodes well for the defending champions, who are expected to dominate the proceedings once again in Changsha. Oh, and did we mention that the team’s top forward, Samad Nikkhah Bahrami, didn’t even play?

2. China China have been quiet of late, choosing to hold training camp at home after a series of tune-up games abroad. Yi Jianlian’s tired body is recovering nicely, but promising young playmaker Liu Xiaoyu appears to be sidelined with a stiff back, which is probably why he was left out of the final 12man team. With Yi playing alongside Wang Zhelin, Zhou

Qi, and Li Muhao, coach Gong Luming easily has the biggest team in the competition.

3. Philippines The Filipinos move up one spot owing to their inspired play in the Jones Cup, where they won six of eight games and finished second overall. And they did that WITHOUT Andray Blatche and Jordan Clarkson, who is still seeking a release from his NBA club to join the Philippine national team. Coach Tab Baldwin has proven before that he can bring the best out of any player under his wing, and that is slowly shaping up to be the case in Manila.

4.

Chinese-Taipei Chinese Taipei placed on the podium in the Jones Cup right behind Iran and

the Philippines, and they are set to have one more pocket tournament by the week’s end. It sure looks like coach Chou Jun-San is leaving nothing to chance as his team are in the tournament’s toughest preliminary group and are pressured to build on their top four finish in 2013.

5. Korea The Koreans were very inconsistent in the Jones Cup, eventually winding up in fifth place. Swingman Yoon Ho-Young looks doubtful for the FIBA Asia tourney, and star guard Kim SunHyung has been suspended for suspected involvement in game-fixing issues back home. It hasn’t been the best of weeks for this perennial powerhouse, which is why they slide two spots.

6. Jordan

Jordan are fresh from a two-game bashing of West Asian rivals Palestine, and are set to join a four-nation pocket tournament in China. Stalwarts Zaid Abbas and Sam Daghlas reportedly didn’t even play in their twin wins over the Palestinians, so their addition in China should make coach Rajko Toroman’s squad that much stronger.

7. Japan Japan had a very slow start in the Jones Cup, losing their first five games, but they regained their bearings and wound up winning two of their last three assignments to avoid the cellar.

There is much improvement to be done, sure, but one has to love the fact that despite not having star center Kosuke Takeuchi and having

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