Edge Davao 8 Issue 179

VOL. 8 ISSUE 179 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4 - 5, 2015

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REPAINT. The roof of the old Davao International Airport is undergoing repainting job as part of the renovation of the structure which will soon house the offices of Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and Department of Tourism (DOT) 11. Lean Daval Jr.

BISHOP DIGS IN ON RODY Mayor Duterte challenged to file case vs alleged molester

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

BISHOP from Manila challenged Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte to file a complaint against the priest who allegedly molested him when he was young.

The dare of Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo was reported by cbcpnews. com. In the report dated December 3, Pabillo told Duterte “to stop drama” and instead elaborate his allegations that he was sexually abused by a

priest.

“If there’s a mistake committed against him, he must reveal it immediately,” Pabillo was quoted in the report as saying.

Pabillo went on to add that even Pope Francis is calling on clergy sex abuse victims to come out in the open so that cases will be addressed properly.

“It will also help clean our ranks,” Pabillo said.

“Nobody’s perfect. We all

commit mistakes. He should also call our attention and we will fix our shortcomings,” he added.

Duterte claimed on Wednesday that he was sexually molested by priest during his high school years at Ateneo de Davao.

The mayor made the allegation in the wake of the criticisms that came his way over the statements he uttered during his proclamation assailing government for its

failure to address traffic in Manila when the Pope visited the Philippines in January.

The tough-talking Duterte was accused of cursing the Pope, but received negative and positive reactions from the people especially from the bishops.

Duterte eventually apologized for the act, but insisted he was cursing at the Pope but rather government for its incompetence in traffic manage-

FBISHOP, 10

EDGEDAVAO Sports Serenamania hits Manila P15

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 179 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4 - 5, 2015

Village chief shot dead

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

HE barangay captain of Lamanan, Calinan in Davao City was shot dead by two gunmen early morning yesterday, police said.

The victim identified as Antonio R Albaran, 56, and a resident of Barangay Lamanan. He was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in Sitio Quibaton, Baranngay Dominga at around 5:00 a.m.

Albaran was reportedly fetched from his house in Barangay Dominga in Calinan by two suspects identified only as Ben Jack and Jinggoy. The suspects sped off bringing along Albaran onboard their motorcycle.

The victim was reportedly shot in the head and other parts of his body.

The Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) recovered

RODY STREAMER. A streamer of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who are running for president and vice president, respectively, is placed prominently at San Pedro Square where the Pasko Fiesta opening will be held tonight. Lean Daval Jr.

Public told to treat lumads fairly T

HE Davao City Social Service and Development Office (CSSDO) appealed to the public to treat the Indigenous People (IP) fairly s they flock to the city starting today to celebrate Christmas.

“Kung naa kay mahatag, ok. Kung wala ayuhon lang sila pag balibad (If you have something to give, it’s just ok.

If none, just refuse properly),” CSSDO assistant head Liwayway Caligdong on Thursday said.

Caligdong said they expect more than 11,000 IPs not

just from the Davao City, but also from other parts in Mindanao who will be housed in seven shelter areas in the city.

Of the eight shelters last year, there are two shelters under renovations particularly Calinan Gym and Toril Gym. “Sa pagka karon unom ang atong pinaka-main nga shelter areas tapos naay nakita atong City Engineer’s Office sa Calinan Riverside (As of now, we have six main shelter areas and the City Engineer’s Office see the gym in Calinan),” she said.

The main shelters are in

Kidapawan urban poor seeking decent shelters

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OME 1,000 members of various Urban Poor Associations (UPAs) here converged at the city plaza Wednesday for their annual solidarity celebration, pressing this time the local government to secure for them decent and safe havens.

Kidapawan City Councilor Judith Navara, concurrent chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod committee on urban poor, said the activity aims to strengthen and unify 45 UPAs in the city to create a common goal in attaining secured homes.

The urban poor here comprise over 6,000 households currently residing along the city’s road-rightof-way, riverbanks, and in

private-owned properties.

Navara said the gathering also serves as venue for discussion to address predicaments besetting the city’s poor sector.

“This year, two associations have successfully started their land development for their housing projects, using their own funds and resources,” she said.

Navara noted that the two groups have good leaders who managed their financing wisely: from the collection of regular contributions to expenditures.

The city government has committed to support the associations in initiating capability enhancement training, fiscal management and regular monitoring to

FKIDAPAWAN, 10

Buhangin, Bunawan, Bankerohan, MatinaAplaya, Mintal and Tugbok.

She, however, said the Mintal Gym will be only available on December 9 because its fiesta in area is still ongoing.

Caligdong said as of last week, around 500 IPs who were already in the city and some of them were in Buhangin area, Adgao Flyover and in Toril.

She also requested the public not to give the IPs in risky areas such as streets and near traffic lights because

these are accident prone places.

“Kung pwede lang, sa mga balay-balay lang or sa mga safe na lugar para malikayan lang nato angdisgrasya (If ever, give only in houses or any safe place to avoid any accident),” Caligdong said.

The IPs, she added, will be also given orientation on the do’s and don’ts inside the shelter area and even outside.

The city government and the Davao City Police Office will provide security in the shelter areas. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

several empty shells of calibers .45 pistol, M14 and M16 rifles.

Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Chief Inspector Milgrace C. Driz told EDGE Davao that operative from the Calinan Police Station are now investigating the case.

This early, the police are focusing on the angle of personal grudge as the motive behind the crime, according to Driz.

“We cannot speculate on other motives but we are just focusing on personal grudge,” Driz said.

The DCPO spokesperson said some people may not have agreed with the victim’s policies as barangay captain in his area.

“O di kaya, basin kalaban niya sapolitika? (Or, maybe this could be the handiwork of his political rivals?)” Driz said.

Poe’s husband urged to quit US citizenship

T

EODORO Llamanzares should push through with his plan to renounce his US citizenship, regardless of the fate of the presidential aspiration of his wife, Sen. Grace Poe, a senior House member said Wednesday.

“Whether or not Senator Poe is ultimately able to run for president, many Filipinos are counting on the husband to relinquish his US citizenship anyway,” said House Deputy Minority Leader and LPG-MA Rep. Arnel Ty. “It would not look good if they suddenly change their minds with respect to the husband’s intention to give

up his US citizenship,” Ty said.

Ty was reacting to the decision of a Commission on Elections (Comelec) division to disqualify Poe as presidential contender in the 2016 elections.

Voting 3-0, the Comelec Second Division revoked Poe’s certificate of candidacy, saying she is not a natural-born Filipino, and she failed to meet the 10-year Philippine residency requirement of presidential candidates.

Poe can still appeal the ruling before the seven-member Comelec en banc.

FPOE’S, 10

STUDENTS FORUM. Multi-awarded Edge Davao columnist Henrilito Tacio (extreme right) shares his thoughts on journalism during the Globe Students Forum at the Ateneo de Davao University.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 179 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4 - 5, 2015

Aquino signs measure amending Probation Law P RESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III has signed into law an Act amending Presidential Decree No. 968, known as the Probation Law of 1976.

Signed by the President last November 26, Republic Act No. 10707 provides that “when a judgment of conviction imposing a non-probationable penalty is appealed or reviewed, and such judgment is modified through the imposition of a probationable penalty, the defendant shall be allowed to apply for probation based on modified decision

before such decision becomes final”.

The new law also states that the application for probation based on the modified decision shall be filed in the trial court where the judgment of conviction imposing a non-probationable penalty was rendered, or in the trial court where such case has since been re-raffled.

“In a case involving several defendants where some have taken further appeal, the other defendants may apply for probation by submitting a written application and attaching

thereto a certified true copy of the judgment of conviction,” it adds.

The trial court shall, upon receipt of the application filed, suspend the execution of the sentence imposed in the judgment.

“This notwithstanding, the accused shall lose the benefit of probation should he seek a review of the modified decision which already imposes a probationable penalty,” the new law states.

“Probation may be granted whether the sentence im-

OSTON Davao Oriental- The municipality of Boston has come a long way because it never surrendered to mounting challenges especially to disasters like Typhoon Pablo.

“We lost everything we had including our home, our crops. I almost lost my child with disability too,” said 49 year-old Vicmela Paguyan.

Vicmela is a Pantawid parent leader with five children. Her husband Rolly is a farmer. They are now living in a comfortable and descent home constructed under the Modified Shelter Assistance Program (MSAP) of the De-

partment of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Our lives now have really changed. After that tragic experience, we have become united in the family. Now I have learned to really pour out my love and attention to my special child Jhon,” Vicmela said.

Jhon has mental disorder and almost drowned when the water soared and penetrated their house.

“It was when I almost lost him that I realized I have not been that good a mother to him. Now my family is enjoying a lot of opportunities from DSWD and we strive harder to be worthy of the blessings,”

Vicmela said.

FAQUINO, 10

‘Pablo’mothers moving on B

Empowered Vicmela is also a grantee of Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) as individual fish vendor earning a P 600 profit a day.

The couple is also one of the 85o beneficiaries of the abaca production project under SLP which will be implemented this year.

“We are very blessed and happy for all the opportunities we are enjoying right now. There are times when we thank ‘Pablo’ for coming into our lives because we got all of

FPABLO, 10

NEWS 3

Catalunan Pequeño ES, DCSS and Ford Academy win DCWD art contest

“Ang batang Dabawenyo, tubig at kalikasan, kanyang pinahahalagahan.” The artworks of Kristine Joy P. Cadiente of Catalunan Pequeño Elementary School, Alyza Mae T. Balansag of Ford Academy of the Arts and Belle Angeline M. Aurelio of Davao City Special School are chosen as the best three among the 80 entries to the 21st Citywide On-the-Spot Poster Making Contest for elementary students on November 27 at SM City Davao Annex.

K

RISTINE Joy P. Cadiente of Catalunan Pequeño Elementary School, Belle Angeline M. Aurelio of Davao City Special School and Alyza Mae T. Balansag of Ford Academy of the Arts emerged as the best three winners of Davao City Water District’s 21st Citywide On-the-Spot Poster Making Contest participated in by 80 elementary schools. The contest was held November 27, 2015 at SM City Davao Annex.

The winners each received PhP3,000, plaque, customized backpack, notebook and bookmark.

Six other contestants were chosen as top six winners who each received consolation prize of PhP500.00 and the same set of DCWD customized IEC materials. They were: Nemia C. Paclibar (Armed Forces of the Philippines Logistics Command ES), Nicole Ashley S. Gorgonio (Davao Wisdom Academy, Inc.), Karl G. Tagud (Felipe Calderon ES), Andrea Chezca C. Sanchez (Holy Child of Davao–Cabantian Campus), Allyn-

na Lhalhaine T. Tan (St. Ignatius School of Davao) and Alrasir B. Baguinda (Vedasto F. Corcuera ES).

Contestants were given two hours to interpret the theme “Ang batang Dabawenyo, tubig at kalikasan, kanyang pinahahalagahan” using watercolor. Their artworks were judged based on the criteria of concept or relevance to the theme, artistry and originality by artists Vicente P. Aviles, Gilbert A. Miraflor and Atty. Ritzel R. Polinar, all Davao Watercolour Society members.

All contestants and their coaches received certificates and IEC materials from the water utility.

This art contest among elementary pupils is among the highlights of the annual celebration of November as Water Consciousness Month in Davao City with DCWD as the lead agency. It gives a venue to budding young artists to express their ideas about water conservation and environmental protection. (Jamae G. Dela Cruz)

EDGEDAVAO

4 NEWS ECONOMY

VOL. 8 ISSUE 179 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4 - 5, 2015

New industries emerge in DavOr

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

EW industries have emerged in Davao Oriental three years after Typhoon Pablo wrought havoc on the province and damaged most of its agriculture area.

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Davao Oriental provincial office officer-in-charge Jose L. Calub said among the emerging industries in the province were tourism, hot chili processing banana chips processing, bamboo and abaca processing, and palm oil and cacao production.

Calub said there was also a re-emergence of abaca and bamboo sectors whose products are processed into furniture and novelty items.

The creation of tourism loops in the heavily-affected municipalities of Baganga, Cateel and Boston also boosted the tourism industry in the area and resulted to the creation of jobs from food processing and pasalubong making.

But, despite the revival of existing industries, some farmers in the province have already gone to crop shifting,

DOT 11 promotes Davao in Singapore

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ORE Singaporean tourists are expected to come to Davao as the Department of Tourism (DOT) 11 positioned the region as an eco-adventure destination.

“We have tourist destinations that Singapore doesn’t have like diving site,” DOT 11 regional director Roberto Albado III told reporters at the sidelines of the recent Asia CEO Forum at the Marco Polo Davao.

Alabado said the regional office of DOT here as well as 13 other representatives from the private sector went to Singapore last week to promote Davao as a tourism destination.

“Most of the questions arise during the presentation to the business tourism indus-

try were the presence of bike and mountain trails as well as availability of fresh food and agriculture areas,” Alabado said.

The availability of Halal tourism-related establishments was also discussed during the presentation.

“Singapore is an international hub. Some of the tourists there were from the Middle East,” he said.

Alabado said the opening of the Davao-Singapore route to be launched by a major budget airline here is an opportunity to Davao’s tourism industry.

He also said some tour operators are considering of creating a tour package that will involve a three-day stay in Singapore and a two-day stay in Davao. CHENEEN R. CAPON

Mindanao lures European firms M INDANAO is attracting “tremendous interest” from European companies, European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) President Guenter Taus said in a briefing on Wednesday.

Taus said that there was huge potential in Mindanao in sectors of agriculture, particularly palm oil and coco water production and the whole coconut industry, mining, tourism, and infrastructure development in which European firms can invest.

Business process outsourcing (BPO) companies likewise are eyeing expansion in the southern Philippines, he added.

The ECCP chief, however, noted that the region has yet to exploit its full potential given the security situation

in Mindanao.

Guenter said the Bangsamoro Basic Law will pave way for peace in Mindanao and will facilitate investments not only for European firms but from other economies as well.

Moreover, ECCP Vice President for Membership and Business Services Florian Gottein said ECCP recently established its branch in Davao City with 18 member companies.

Gottein added that ECCP targets to expand further in other areas in Mindanao, particularly in Cagayan de Oro, Zamaboanga, and Butuan.

Since its establishment in 1978, ECCP has 750 members. It is also the oldest European Chamber globally.

(PNA)

according to Calub.

“Some coconut farmers have already replaced their coconut plantations with oil palm,” Calub said, adding there already investors in the area who are developing oil palm plantations.

The local government units of Davao Oriental as well as some government agencies are now studying of introducing oil palm industry to the province to diversify production, according to him.

DTI 11 regional director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi said diversification of production

in Davao Oriental will open new opportunities for farmers and business in the province.

However, she said these sectors are still studying which areas are suitable for oil palm plantation and coconut plantation.

“Some still resort to replanting coconut because they saw the big potential of coconut. Compared to oil palm, coconut can produce other by-products like coco sugar, coco coir, and virgin coconut oil (VCO),” Ambi said.

The government, she added, is promoting intercropping

while implementing various replanting programs.

Ambi also said that farmers are encouraged to intercrop coffee and cacao with their existing products to maximize their production area and to increase their income.

Meanwhile, the DTI 11 said majority of the industries that fuel the province’s economy and the region’s export like coconut production have already fully recovered through the assistance extended to farmers and businesses by both the public and private sector.

The province of Davao Oriental is the coconut capital of the country and the region’s primary source of coconut and its by-products exported overseas.

Ranked as region’s second topmost export commodity for the first eight months of the year, the coconut industry in Davao Oriental was temporarily down in the past years due to the damage to coconut plantations brought by the typhoon.

The trading sector of Davao Oriental already recovered in the past two years.

GRAND LAUNCH TODAY. Workers install the signage of Phinma Properties’ Arezzo Place Davao along Doña Pilar Avenue in Km. 9 Sasa Thursday in preparation for the grand launch today of the condominium project. The company will be offering exclusive promotion for condominium unit reservations during the event. Lean Daval Jr.

Poverty incidence remains high in some Davao Region towns

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OVERTY incidence remains high in some municipalities of the Davao Region, latest statistics revealed.

Result of the 2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates for the Small Area Poverty Estimation (SAE) Project of the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) showeed that poverty incidence in the municipality of Talaingod in Davao del Norte has even increased from 62.6 percent to 68.8 percent in 2012.

Aside from Davao del Norte, four other municipalities in Davao del Sur also landed in Level 4 with poverty incidence ranging from 60.1 percent to 80 percent.

These are Jose Abad Santos with poverty incidence increasing from 72.3 percent to 75.5 percent in 2012; Don Marcelino with 73.8 percent from 66.5 percent poverty incidence in 2012; Malita with 60.8 percent in 2012 from

63.8 percent in 2009; and Sarangani with 65.9 percent poverty incidence from 72.1 percent in 2009.

Three municipalities in the province of Davao Oriental also landed in the Level 3 whose poverty incidence ranged from 40.1 percent to 60 percent.

These were the municipalities of Caraga, Manay and Tarragona whose poverty incidence are below 60 percent.

Philippines Statistical Research and Training Institute executive director Dr. Zita V J. Albacea said there were significant changes in the prevalence of poverty in Davao Oriental.

The poverty incidence in these three municipalities declined in 2012 from 2009.

The poverty incidence in the municipality of Caraga decreased from 58 percent in 2009 to 51.6 percent in 2012, while residents of Manay and Tarragona who said they were

poor declined from 58.7 percent to 58.1 percent and from 62.3 percent to 56.9 percent in 2012, respectively.

The 2012 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates revealed that 36 percent of families in the region are earning less than P100,000 per year; 37 percent have an annual income ranging from P100,000 to P200,000; 14 percent were earning income of P200,000 to P300,000; 6 percent earns annually in 2012 ranging from P300,000 to P400,000; four percent earnsP400,000 to P500,000; and only six percent earns annually more than P500,000.

The PSA used various determinants of poverty including the education level obtained by each family members, light wall materials of the house, presence of son or daughter of household as head of the family, presence of street pattern in barangay, agriculture indicator, number of com-

mercial establishments with at least 100 employees in the barangay and use of electricity for lighting in household.

Albacea also said during the event poverty statistics were necessary in planning poverty programs and making policies.

“SAEs could be used to target the municipalities and cities were most of the poor are found,” she said. “The smaller the area, the better is the targeting.”

A total of 2,260 with average family size of 4.6 with an average annual income of P194,000 were surveyed for the research study.

Albacea revealed that majority of the sampled households of 40 percent have businesses in agriculture, forestry and fishing; 38 percent are laborers and unskilled workers; and 15 percent households with household heads working as government and executive official. CHENEEN R. CAPON

VOL. 8 ISSUE 179 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4 - 5, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

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EDGEDAVAO

6 VANTAGE

VOL. 8 ISSUE 179 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4 - 5, 2015

EDITORIAL Silence of the lambs

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HEN a man admits he has been molested by someone from similar gender, he must have taken a lot of courage to speak up. It is never easy. It must sit on the same breath as a rape victim admitting to the public her ordeal at the hands of the perpetrator.

The case of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s revelation that he was once molested by a Jesuit priest back in his school days is no different.

Despite his noted toughness, it must have taken gallons of courage for Mayor Duterte to reveal that sad experience in his youth.

The suggestion of one priest for Duterte to file a complaint and revealing the details is, by now, moot and academic. The alleged perpetrator must have been either dead given that the Mayor is now 70 or just too old to go to jail.

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There is no point complaining, but the case should not be taken as a simple election issue. How many have, in fact, been victims of sexual abuse by members of the clergy at one time in their lives?

If it happened to Mayor Duterte, it could also happen to anybody.

It is simply that the alleged perpetrator belongs to an institution that has separated itself from the rest—an institution so revered and respected that it is even regarded too righteous and yes, celibate, to commit such abuse.

Should it take a man in Mayor Duterte to speak up for the many others who have opted to stay silent, given the built-in mismatch between the words of a lay man as against a man of the cloth?

Let the rest speak up in honesty and let the Church cleanse it ranks without the cloak of self-righteousness.

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

GENERAL SANTOS CITY OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING MARKETING OFFICE

LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager EDMUND D. RENDON Unit 6, SouthbankMarketing Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts. Specialist General Santos City Cagayan de Oro City Mobile: (Smart) 0909-424-7990 Tel: (088) 852-4894

MANILA MARKETING OFFICE

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

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 179 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4 - 5, 2015

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Give love this Christmas “Want to keep Christ in Christmas? Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies, and do unto others as you would have done unto you.” ― Steve Maraboli, author of Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience *** HRISTMAS is just around the corner. A few more days and the world will celebrate the day Jesus was born.

“Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts,” wrote Joan Winmill Brown. “No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given-- when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes.”

A few years ago, I received an e-mail from a friend. He forwarded to me a story that gives some insights on the true essence of Christmas. The season is about giving and bringing some smiles to others.

The story, I surmised, happened in the United States. I know some of you haven’t seen snow or experienced how cold winter is. But allow me to share this story -- whose author I really don’t know -- in order to put us into right perspective what Christmas is all about: Bobby was getting cold sitting out in his back yard in the snow. Bobby didn’t wear boots; he didn’t like them and anyway he didn’t own any. The thin sneakers he wore had a few holes in them and they did a poor job of keeping out the cold. Bobby had been in his backyard for about an hour already. And, try as he might, he could not come up with an idea for his moth-

C

A

er’s Christmas THINK ON THESE! gift. He shook his head as he thought, “This is useless, even if I do come up with an idea, I don’t have any money to spend.”

Ever since his father had passed away 3 Henrylito D. Tacio years ago, the henrytacio@gmail.com family of 5 had struggled. It wasn’t because his mother didn’t care, or try; there just never seemed to be enough. She worked nights at the hospital, but the small wage that she was earning could only be stretched so far.

What the family lacked in money and material things, they more than made up for in love and family unity. Bobby had two older and one younger sisters, who ran the household in their mother’s absence. All three of his sisters had already made beautiful gifts for their mother. Somehow it just wasn’t fair. Here it was Christmas Eve already, and he had nothing.

Wiping a tear from his eye, Bobby kicked the snow and started to walk down to the street where the shops and stores were. It wasn’t easy being 6 without a father, especially when he needed a man to talk to. Bobby walked from shop to shop, looking into each decorated window. Everything seemed so beautiful and so out of reach.

It was starting to get dark and Bobby reluctantly turned to walk home when suddenly his eyes caught the glimmer of the setting sun’s rays reflecting off of something along the

curb. He reached down and discovered a shiny dime. Never before has anyone felt so wealthy as Bobby felt at that moment.

As he held his new found treasure, a warmth thing spread throughout his entire body and he walked into the first store he saw.

His excitement quickly turned cold when the salesperson told him that he couldn’t buy anything with only a dime.

He saw a flower shop and went inside to wait in line. When the shop owner asked if he could help him, Bobby presented the dime and asked if he could buy one flower for his mother’s Christmas gift.

The shop owner looked at Bobby and his 10 cent offering. Then he put his hand on Bobby’s shoulder and said to him, “You just wait here and I’ll see what I can do for you.” As Bobby waited he looked at the beautiful flowers and even though he was a boy, he could see why mothers and girls liked flowers.

The sound of the door closing as the last customer left, jolted Bobby back to reality. All alone in the shop, Bobby began to feel alone and afraid. Suddenly the shop owner came out and moved to the counter. There, before Bobby’s eyes, lay 12 long-stemmed red roses, with leaves of green and tiny white flowers all tied together with a big silver bow. Bobby’s heart sank as the owner picked them up and placed them gently into a long white box.

“That will be 10 cents young man,” the shop owner said reaching out his hand for the dime. Slowly, Bobby moved his hand to give the man his dime. Could this be true? No one else would give him a thing for his dime!

Sensing the boy’s reluctance, the shop owner added, “I just happened to have some roses on sale for 10 cents a dozen. Would you

like them?”

This time Bobby did not hesitate, and when the man placed the long box into his hands, he knew it was true. Walking out the door that the owner was holding for Bobby, he heard the shop keeper say, “Merry Christmas, son.”

As he returned inside, the shop keeper’s wife walked out. “Who were you talking to back there and where are the roses you were fixing?”

Staring out the window, and blinking the tears from his own eyes, he replied, “A strange thing happened to me this morning. While I was setting up things to open the shop, I thought I heard a voice telling me to set aside a dozen of my best roses for a special gift. I wasn’t sure at the time whether I had lost my mind or what, but I set them aside anyway.

Then just a few minutes ago, a little boy came into the shop and wanted to buy a flower for his mother with one small dime.

“When I looked at him, I saw myself, many years ago. I too, was a poor boy with nothing to buy my mother a Christmas gift. A bearded man, whom I never knew, stopped me on the street and told me that he wanted to give me 10 dollars. When I saw that little boy tonight, I knew who that voice was, and I put together a dozen of my very best roses.”

The shop owner and his wife hugged each other tightly, and as they stepped out into the bitter cold air, they somehow didn’t feel cold at all.

Allow me to end this piece with a statement from famed Norman Vincent Peale: “I truly believe that if we keep telling the Christmas story, singing the Christmas songs, and living the Christmas spirit, we can bring joy and happiness and peace to this world.”

nately played its MY TWO CENTS’ part in spreading the trade in youngster sex.

According to the Department of Health, in 2009, 15-24 year olds make 29% of all new infecJohn Tria tions; in 2009, ecisouth@gmail.com the number of new infections among 20-24 equals the number of new infections among 25-29. Many of the oyoungsters engage in risky sexual behaviors that result in the infections.

Secondly, the main mode of transmission is a whopping 80% due to homosexual and bisexual sexual activities. Belimac explains that statistics show that Most of the cases (586 out of 646) were infected through sexual contact.

About 84% of the 586 cases are males who have sex with males (MSM).These hard statistics need to be explained by those pushing the acceptance of homosexual and choice based lifestyles. If indeed homosexuals are born as such, does this include the risky sexual behavior? Again, these are the hard and difficult ques-

tions meant for the tough minded and strong spirited. Political correctness and wordplay become cheap talk to those in suffering, especially those who can ill afford to get sick, who have the function as breadwinners for their families. The numbers prick the pimples of the vainglorious lot who pander such behavior as liberating. Where is the cautious responsibility?

I’m sure there still is, in the residual morality of those who refuse the risky behavior. If you were Mayor Duterte, wouldn’t you spew the same invectives at these trends? Will not your blood boil and your vitriol come alive? It is illogical to think that all homosexuals have HIV, in the same way that not all people prone to criminal behaviors actually kill people. But every new infection means that we failed to prevent it from happening, only because more people decided to insert their sex organs into infected people.

In this case, ignorance is not bliss.

The economic impact of HIV is that the government allocated 500 million pesos in 2015 for HIV, 60% of this budget went to treating the infected. How much of this is spent on preventing the disease from infecting? With the coming implementation of reproductive health measures such as the Reproductive Health Bill, funds for more contraceptives are expected, and more reproductive health programs will

be initiated. Will more readily available contraceptives change the sexual behavior? However, as the numbers of infected increase and make their way to full blown AIDS, so will this cost to the taxpayer. Beyond this, it would be insensitive not to think of the lost unproductive years spent in a hospital, and the unproductive years of family members spent taking care of the sick.

The impact is more profound than we think.

One thing, nonetheless, is alarmingly clear, the numbers reveal that most HIV infections are about behavior. These are the result of decisions made, many careless and ill-informed, some probably deliberate and ill-willed. Among the adolescents, it is the lack of parenting that is the cause of the youngsters exposure to the virus at those tender ages. As the statistics show, the behavioral instance when most new infections take place is after a night of irresponsible, sometimes illicit sexual activity. Don’t we think its about time we face the fact that we need to change our behaviors and attitudes toward sexual activity and review our own personal moralities? Are these attitudes helping curb the increase in these infections or are they strengthening behaviors to exacerbate these infections?

These are hard questions that we all have to ask ourselves, answers for which we will find difficult to explain to the new infected young.

The hard and economic truth about HIV

S we celebrate world AIDS day on December 10, we note with alarm two things about AIDS in the Philippines. WE also hear the sad story of those currently suffering, not only from full blown AIDS, but from the depression and anxiety we so conveniently forget can spread like a flood across their families.

Speaking to online publication Rappler, Dr Jose Gerard Belimac, program manager of DOH’s National HIV/STI Prevention Program, said that we are now hitting about 21 new infections every day. That’s up from about one per day a decade ago. While the HIV prevalence rate noted by the World Bank is still low at 1% nationwide, there are pockets of high prevalence that account for this. Thus, the Philippines has an increasing rate compared with other Asian countries.

Given the rise in infections, two major features leap into our consciousness.

One, the infected are getting younger. Today, even minors are included, with 27% of all infections since 1984 within the 15-24 age bracket.

Many of these youngsters are infected as a result for transactional sex or sex for hire. They are the victims of pedophiles, and more recently, internet sex arrangements. It is sad to note that some of these kids are reportedly pimped by their own parents. Social media has unfortu-

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9

10 NEWS BISHOP... FROM 1 ment traffic during the papal visit in Manila.

The local chief executive said he is willing to withdraw from the presidential race if the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) asks him to do so.

Duterte, however, said he will expose the Church’s “sordid” past and the misdeeds of many clergymen.

Earlier, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano defended Duterte from detractors over the mayor’s statement that the mayor

cursed the traffic not the Pope.

Cayetano said it is unfortunate that the Mayor’s statements were grossly taken out of context since Duterte deeply respects religious beliefs and the Filipino’s spirituality.

He said he understands CBCP President Archbishop Soc Villegas’ statement on Duterte’s alleged remarks against the Pope.

Cayetano reminded the public that the national debate should focus on how to change the country for the better.

poses a term of imprisonment or a fine only. The filing of application shall be deemed a waiver of the right to appeal,” it adds.

The new law amends the benefit of probation by disqualifying only those who have previously been convicted by final judgment of an offense punished by imprisonment of more than six months and one day.

It also states that the final discharge of the probationer “shall operate to restore to him all civil rights lost or suspended as a result of his conviction and to totally extinguish his criminal liability as to the offense for which probation was granted”.

The new law also consid-

ers Regional, Provincial, and City Probation Officers as persons in authority to administer oaths and acknowledgements and to take depositions in connection with their duties and functions under this Decree.

Further, it allows the appointment of Volunteer Probation Assistants (VPAs) to assist the Chief Probation and Parole Officers; and provides that the VPAs will hold office for a two-year term, which may be renewed or recalled anytime for a just cause.

The new law is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 2280 and House Bill No. 4147 that was passed by the senators and lawmakers last September 15 and September 14, respectively. (PNA)

these,” Vicmela beamed.

Project Development Officer Reynaldo Magadan said that the abaca production project will really help Pantawid beneficiaries sustain their improving condition.

Like Vicmela, a Pantawid mother Glenda Ambili is grateful to DSWD for always being there.

Glenda has three children; two of them are also with special needs (mental disorder).

“It was really a devastating experience yet it tested my mettle as a mother. It was really hard to escape death that

time, but my children prompted me to fight and save them),” Glenda recalled.

“As a parent, gazing at my children settling in a nice home we can truly call our own gives me a lot of happiness. I can now focus on paying back all that I received through persistence, resilience and being the best mother to my children,” Vicmela said.

For the two mothers Vicmela and Glenda, the best value to hold on to is to grow and take to heart the lessons that typhoon Pablo brought to their lives.

added.

According to her, the school management originally wanted to have a covered gym for their school activities. However, after further assessment, they decided to prioritize the wall construction.

“Government and private offices have expressed their intention to finance the construction of the walls, but only Damosa Land acted on their promise,” Seras said.

Employees showed enthusiasm in volunteering for the activity. Janesse Dalisay, Sales Assistant of DLI, said, “The things we did were outside of our field, our comfort zone, but we were still happy since we know that the students will benefit from it.”

“Especially now that it’s almost Christmas, we’re grateful that we have shared our blessings and helped

them in every way we can,” she added.

The outreach activity was initiated by Damosa Land,Inc. in partnership with AOFF, Anflocor’s corporate social responsibilty arm.

“These students deserve to feel safe and secure in the institution they call their second home. These walls will add comfort to their school setting. They can now focus on their lessons and can roam around the campus premises without worrying if there is something dangerous lurking beyond those walls,” said Russell Barrizo, Executive Director of AOFF. Damosa Land is the real estate and property development company of the Anflo Group of Companies – the company that is responsible for developing business and lifestyle-oriented commercial center, Damosa District

Aquino... FROM 3

Pablo... FROM 3

Damosa... FROM 13

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ANOTHER HIKE. A consumer buys an 11-liter liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at a convenience store along E. Quirino Avenue in Davao City yesterday. Retailers have increased the prices of cooking gas and auto LPG for the third straight month in December citing the climb in global prices. Lean Daval Jr.

Former Moro rebels get P7.5-M farm assistance A

FORMER Moro rebel who turned into farming following the signing of the 1996 peace agreement between the government and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) could hardly utter a word and fought hard to find exact word to express how grateful he was after receiving farming assistance from the government.

Speaking in the vernacular, Marani Samiana, a father of two and the representative of Sitio Basak MNLF Multi-Purpose Cooperative, could only say “Salam” (Thank you, Allah).

When asked how he would make use of the government farming equipment handed over to him Wednes-

day, Samiana mentioned only few words but made government agriculture officials smile.“I will ensure and prove to the government it did not fail in choosing me as beneficiary of this project for I will make use of it where it is intended,” Samiana said in broken Pilipino.

He said since the creation of the cooperative in 2002, it was the first time they received such form of assistance from the government.

Samiana’s cooperative was among the farmers’ cooperatives in Maguindanao that received over Php7.5 million worth of projects, including equipment and livestock for livelihood through the Department of Agriculture and

Fisheries of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DAF-ARMM).

Lawyer Laisa Alamia, ARMM executive secretary and concurrently DAF-ARMM regional secretary, said the animal dispersal and other livelihood assistance were part of the initiatives under Payapa at Masaganang Pamayaman (PAMANA) program of the agency. The MNLF communities are the program’s direct beneficiaries.

Alamia led the distribution of 16 farm equipment and 400 heads of livestock on at the ARMM compound in this city.

She said the farm equipment – composed of mobile rice mill, rice thresher, and corn sheller – were estimat-

ed to be worth over Php3.7 million while the livestock – comprising of cows, carabaos, and goats – were estimated at Php3.8 million.

The cooperative-beneficiaries of the farm equipment were Malangit MNLF Farmers Marketing Cooperative, Sitio Basak MNLF Multi-Purpose Cooperative, MNLF Striking Force Farmers Producers Cooperative, Sandigan Agri Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Stronghold Agricultural Producers Cooperative, Frontline National Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Pagawayan Urban Poor Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Salipongan Hidaya Producers Cooperative, and RNUC Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

(PNA)

Poe previously said that her husband has been in the process of renouncing his US citizenship.

However, it remains unclear whether or not Llaman-

zares will still forsake his US citizenship despite the new Comelec ruling.

By her own account, Poe spent much of her adult life in the United States, and de-

cided to be an American citizen in 2001. She returned to the Philippines and started residing here only in July 2006, when she applied for dual citizenship.

Although she has since renounced her US citizenship, Poe’s husband remains an American citizen, and their three children are all natural-born Americans.

new clean energy technologies. Its investment field would cover power generation and power storage, transport, industry, agriculture, as well the improvement of energy systems efficiency.

In an interview with Xinhua at the opening of COP21, the international climate conference that began Monday, Gates said the Chinese government was one of the most active countries worldwide in investment in clean energy technologies.

China had showed a strong and significant desire to reduce local pollution in the past five years, he said, from reducing local pollution

and carbon emissions to developing new clean energy technologies.

He emphasized it was “good news” for global climate change that China was paying attention to the development of clean energy technologies.

“Without the participant of the United States, China and India, it’s impossible to achieve the ambitious goals in terms of reducing global warming,” Gates said.

Gates also said it was impressive that currently, the Chinese government and all of society attached importance to environmental protection. (PNA/Xinhua)

assure sustainability.

Navara described the procedure as a collegial effort where informal settlers bond themselves to formulate solution to their problem, with the government

doing the monitoring task.

“The government could not afford to build free houses for informal settlers that is why we are molding them to be part of the solution”, Navara said. (PNA)

Poe’s... FROM 2

Bill Gates... FROM 13

Kidapawan... FROM 2

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. That CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 60908 under LOYOLA PLAN Contract No.(s) 8007241-0 issued to SALUD SANCHEZ CRUZ was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

11/27/12/4,11

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EDGEDAVAO ART AND CULTURE

A Flower in the Storm

Nikolo Salazar’s eyes on climate change

By Kenneth Irving Ong THE Paris Climate Change Forum last December 2 gathered world leaders and leading businessmen to discuss climate change and how it affects the lives of people around the globe.

While much talk and fanfare has been given to resolutions, talks, and meetings, one Filipino artist is silently making his statement on climate change heard at the sidelines through his exhibit ‘A Flower in the Storm’ which was exhibited last October at the Annex of SM City Davao.

The 24 year-old Tacloban native was a witness to one of the most devastating storms in the world, Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) and the struggle to survive. “Everything was gone, we had to search for food, money didn’t matter,” said Nikolo. It was this traumatic experience that made him turn to making

art more meaningful to people around him. He also partnered up with other artists and individuals to create Art Road Inc., a social enterprise which supports the college education of children who lost their parents due to disasters.

Nikolo also took it upon himself to conduct art workshops for children suffering trauma.

Through different media, “I taught them how to express their traumas,” he says. “This helps them cope with their loss and emotional suffering.”

The A Flower in the Storm exhibit features haunting portraits in various media of children weathering a storm with eyes wide open. Each piece tells the story of the children he met while conducting his workshops.

“I always paint my portraits with big wide eyes because I believe that eyes are the windows to one’s soul,” says Nikolo “and the portraits of the exhibit

are supposed to be that, to give viewers a look into the soul of the children who are affected because of climate change.”

Nikolo hopes that his exhibit will help open the eyes and minds of the people attending the Paris Climate Change Forum to take that step towards fixing the world’s climate for the sake of the people affected by it.

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UP AND ABOUT

Gigingka Red Velvet by Saging Repablik is perfect for the joyful mood of the season.

Sample Sea Green’s healthy products and baked creations at SM Lanang Premier’s Festive Food Holiday Market.

The Crazy Cook’s flavorful Tinapa Tapenade will be available at the DGC Festive Food Holiday Market.

Holiday food finds at SM Lanang Premier

DAVAO’S premier shopping and lifestyle destination has delish eats in store for shoppers this Christmas!

On December 4-6, SM Lanang Premier will be bringing together the season’s best food finds in the Atrium for The Davao Gourmet Collective (DGC) Festive Food Holiday Market.

Mall-goers can feast on a flavorful variety of holi-

day selections from Sugarcane Bar by Vera Murcha, Kai’s Artisan Chocolates

by Karla Mae Royo Caguiat, Osvaldo’s Cakes by Joel Rodriguez, Sea Green Café by Camille Porras, Saging Repablik by Gatchi Gatchalian, The Crazy Cook by Carmina Mapa-

del Rosario, Stellina’s Lemonade by Oliver Lee, La Bodeguita by Yvonne Soriano, Casa Ensaimada

by Kat Laurel Tuason, JR Pastry by Jonathan Ramirez, Baby Cakes by Maite Gempesaw, Dizon Cured Meat and Café El Gato by Kath Marfori.

Like the previous DGC events in SM Lanang Premier, the Festive Food Holiday Market will be participated in by the city’s most innovative and passionate gourmands. It also promotes the unique and memorable food finds and experiences in this part of the country.

The public is invited to explore and get a taste

Gratify your sweet cravings with Kai Artisan Chocolates. of the wide range of food options and must-haves this Christmas at the said event. Market hours are from 11am to 8pm.

The Festive Food Holiday Market is a spin-off of The Davao Gourmet

Collective, a highly anticipated food event that successfully debuted during the 2013 Kadayawan Festival and later evolved to feature holiday, street food and grill fest editions every year since its launch.

Satisfy your cravings at the Festive Food Holiday Market! For inquiries, call 285-0943. You may also visit SM Lanang Premier on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for event updates.

SilkAir introduces affordable holiday fares Celebrate the holidays with this Old Time Black Forest Gateau from Osvaldo’s Cakes.

Espresso Meringue Kisses and Vanilla Bean Cream Puffs from JR Pastry.

SILKAIR, the regional airline of Singapore Airlines, partners with the Bank of the Philippine Islands to bring its all-inclusive holiday fares. BPI Express Credit and BPI Family Bank Credit cardholders may avail of these exclusive fares from November 21 to December 6 for travel direct

from Cebu, Davao, and Kalibo to Singapore and other destinations around the world.

Economy Class round-trip tickets to Singapore start from US$165 with tickets to Australia starting at

US$600, New Zealand at US$800, and Europe starting at US$800 for a minimum of two passengers travelling together. Exceptional Economy Class fares to Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, and India are also available.

Tickets are available at the SilkAir Davao Ticket Office or online through silk air.com using promo code 198144240. Travel period is from Nov. 21 to June 30, 2016.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Mindanao Film Festival presents films from the provinces SHORT FILMS shot and produced in the provinces in Region-XI will take the spotlight during the 11th Mindanao Film Festival.

Among these films from the provinces include a selection coming from the Nabunturan Independent Film Exchange (Nabifilmex ), a film festival held in Nabunturan, the capital town of Compostela Valley Province.

Among these films from Nabifilmex include Supot, Tamiaw, Pangagho and Pantok, these films were created by Comvalenyo filmmakers deriving from local stories.

Tami-aw a short docunarrative film about a conditional cash transfer (CCT) beneficiary won special citation on documentary and the NCCCA Sulyap Kultura Award in the recent Nabifilmex while Supot was awarded as Best DepEd Comval film.

Another Comval shot short film titled “Pakot” will also be screened in the festival it tells

and municipalities can also nurture regional filmmakers.” says Rudolph Alama, festival director of the Mindanao Film Festival.

The Mindanao Film Festival now on its 11th year is the country’s longest running regional film festival, it is organized by the

the story of a young volunteer teacher serving a hinterland indigenous community in Comval.

Pagsalig a short film about the last faith healer in Talikud Island was created by a production team composed of personnel coming from the Davao del Norte Provincial Information Office, the film was shot in the scenic Talikud Island in Davao del Norte.

Another short from Davao del Norte is the

student film “Usahay sa Tulay” created by Panabo City National High School students under the auspices of the Population Commission (PopCom).

“Usahay sa Tulay” is the regional representative to Popcom’s Adolescent Health and Youth Development Film Festival in Manila.

These films from the provinces are among the nearly 27 films to be screened in the film festival which will be held on December 9-15

Mindanao Film and Television Development Foundation together with the National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) and the Davao Autism Intervention Center Foundation Inc (DACFI).

at Gaisano Mall Cinema 6. Aside from films from Davao Region, various shorts produced across the different parts of Mindanao will also be shown. Films from Iligan City, Surigao del Sur and South Cotabato will also be shown.

“This goes to show a very vibrant filmmaking movement in the provinces, that filmmaking is no longer the monopoly of urban centers but also as in the case of Nabunturan, these quaint towns

‘Walang Iwanan’ final week rewards the kids for all their hardships

“ W A L A N G IWANAN” is on its final week as the kids find rewards for all the hardships they have been put through since waking up to find their parents gone from their home.

To everybody’s surprise, Anita (Roxanne Guinoo), who has been missing, has been found to be in a coma. Jose (Louise Abuel) and his siblings Boy (Micko Laurente), Criscencio (Jon Michael), Maribel (Karla Cruz), and Michael (Raikko Mateo) have no idea that their mother is alive and have reunited with their father, Kamlon (Jhong Hilario), as they prepare for their survival in the coming typhoon.

Meanwhile, Dado (John Estrada) and Sarge

(Nicco Manolo) continue their search for the kids’ father who has been involved with Tisoy’s (Monching Gutierrez) schemes. Here, Dado realizes how deeply he cares for Jose and his siblings which leads Jane (Beauty Gonzales) to also realize that she is still in love with Dado, who she now sees in a different light.

As the show nears its end, several questions

are still left to be answered. Will Boy and Jose ever get along?

What will Dado do with the kids if and when he rescues them? Will Kamlon man up and testify against Tisoy? Will Jose ever have the family that he dreamed of?

The family of “Walang Iwanan” also have something to be proud of as child star Micko Laurente was recently hailed as the Best Actor

in the Asian Panorama section of the 19th International Children’s Film Festival in India.

Micko who plays Boy in “Walang Iwanan,” was the lead star of Zig Dulay’s “Bambanti,” Sinag Maynila’s film entry to two international film festivals this year.

All of that and more in the final week of “Walang Iwanan” as it airs on ABSCBN every afternoon after “All Of Me.”

December 4-8, 2015

THE LITTLE PRINCE/ * KRAMPUS Rachel McAdams, Mackenzie Foy/ *Allison Tolman, Toni Collette G/*R13

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

A SECOND CHANCE Bea Alonzo, John Lloyd Cruz PG

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

IN THE HEART OF THE SEA Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy PG

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

POINT BREAK Teresa Palmer, Luke Bracey PG

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

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EVENT

Join Arezzo Place Davao’s Grand Launch Brace for the coming of a Grand Italian Lifestyle!

Arezzo Place Davao, PHINMA Properties’ flagship mediumrise condominium in Davao City, is set to celebrate its Grand Launch Party on Friday, December 4, 2015 at Doña Pilar Ave., Brgy. Pampanga, Sasa, Davao City. The sprawling Italian-inspired development will open its doors to offer convenient and affordable homes near the Lanang-Sasa district where residents can enjoy a modern city lifestyle. Expect a grand spectacle in one of the the biggest milestone events in Affordable Condos this year, with plentiful servings of good food, exciting activities and exclusive promos.

Envisioned as a holistic condominium community with architecture and amenities inspired

by Italian design, Arezzo Place Davao features affordable yet quality-assured homes fit for young professionals, starting families, students and Overseas Filipinos alike.

Its convenient location gives it very easy access to Davao’s most prominent commercial establishments and transport hubs, such as SM Lanang and the Davao International Airport, to name a few. The project’s masterplanned concept has garnered praise from industry professionals, most notably by the 2015 Philippine Property Awards when it was recognized as the Highly Commended

Best Condo Development in Davao for 2015.

With a focus on providing a comfortable, family-oriented home, Arezzo Place Davao puts a premium on open spaces, having as much as 60% open spaces for the entire development. This creates a serene environment with tree-lined paths and wide walkways—an atmosphere that promotes a relaxing living experience while still near the comforts of a city-bound residence.

The development’s amenities offer easier opportunities to spend time with your family and friends, with adult and children’s swimming pools, playgrounds, and an exclusive clubhouse, among others, helping to

enrich your new condominium home.

As an industry-recognized condo developer and the only triple-ISO certified developer in the Philippines, PHINMA Properties brings its 29 years of success and experience with Arezzo Place Davao’s introduction in Davao City. Known for offering condominiums at much more affordable rates while featuring exceptional quality, PHINMA Properties endeavours to make ideal homes more reachable for more Filipino families. Every condo built by PHINMA Properties is ensured to be of outstanding quality, in keeping with its commitment to building dream homes with utmost integrity.

COMMUNITY SENSE 11

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 179 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4 - 5, 2015

The world, fast backwards, and other thoughts

By Perla Pichon Kwan DCHS BATCH ‘65

A

LLOW me to take you on a time machine back to some 50 years ago when my batch graduated from Davao City High School.

1965 was a glorious and inglorious time. Ferdinand Edralin Marcos was elected President, the Sound of Music premiered, “Help” and “Yesterday” by the Beatles dominated the airwaves and a Soviet cosmonaut did the first moonwalk while the Vietnam War broke and Malcom X was assassinated.

Here at home, life was delightfully simple. Commodities

deme and gave us foundation for our future roles. We also give thanks to our parents who have passed on to us, their good genes and chromosomes, to our teachers who gave us wisdom and guidance through our zany years, and above all, to the Almighty One who orchestrated all these.

DCHS is a public school where students, especially the economically disadvantaged ones, can get good high school education and where poverty is never considered a stumbling block nor a hin-

Newly elected President Ferdinand and first lady Imelda Marcos were relatively very affordable, a bottle of coke was only 10 centavos and a sack of rice cost only P100 and despite or because of the meager salaries of our parents, we found ourselves going to Davao City High School, the biggest public high school of the undivided Davao Province at the time, to learn, meet new friends and get ready for life. Life was indeed remarkable then and worth living. (DCHS, which meant “Dala Camo Hait Sanggot” (bring sharp scythe with you) to some hecklers who studied in more affluent secondary schools, was to be the alma mater of great and near great graduates. Hundreds of future mayors, congressmen, CEOs, scientists, top academicians, and successful entrepreneurs walk out of the DCHS portal every graduation year.-Editor) Time has a way of zooming by. A lot of my batch mates, including myself, went on to college, many pursued other occupations or started businesses of their own. Our lives followed many varied paths, most of us established lives, families and careers here while some of us, by luck or circumstance, are now living and working abroad. Many of us here or abroad hold high responsibility roles (and good paying jobs to boot), and we can thank our dear Alma Mater, Davao City High School (DCHS – now DCNHS) which honed our secondary education to effectively prepare us for the higher rung of the aca-

drance to success in life. If you want examples of these, just listen to the chatter of alumni at reunion time and you will hear success stories from City High’ans who achieved success in no time at all! Like what I always tell my 89 faculty and 2000+ learners at Precious International School of Davao, anything they do, if done with a positive attitude, it has more likelihood of getting a positive result. Indeed, poverty may slow one down but positivity and resilience will push one beyond what they think could be possible, positivity and optimism will always win the

day.

We are now in the 21st century and the world has significantly shrunk thanks to the Internet. While most of us are thousands of miles apart,

social media bonds us together! While I write my curriculum in Davao, I can carry on an online conversation with Nicanor Cabatuan and Rolando Olofernes in New York or Helen L. Tuosson in Egypt or Alma J. Azarcon in Oakland, and Ma. Corazon P. Holland in Spain in real time - as if we were seated right next to each other. In this interconnectedness, our similarities and differences are magnified as our lives and experiences are now more deeply intertwined – we are no longer just in our own city, country – we are in a new world of globalization – where our group or society’s services and ideas are integrated into diverse cultures. It happens everyday in our lives. We buy or sell online and the vendor/ buyer could be from Germany or Fiji or mostly like from China. We take on-line classes from a professor in a faraway land. The internet gives us real time information on what’s happening in the other side of the world and thus we are part of the bigger world.

The last several months of FB connections and posts clearly shows the amazing diversity of DCHS batch 65.

Diverse in so many ways – culture, ethnicity, economic/ financial, education/ abilities, religion/spirituality, political, age, language and a whole host of other attributes that make each of us unique from each other. Some of us are still in business, some are into farming, some into cooking, singing and travelling, while most are enjoying the bliss of a retiree’s life and the warmth

them cling on tightly to each other. Just as dark and light, or big and small, hot or cold – these are different state of being and one is essential to the existence of the other. Or the different colors in the palette that is necessary to create a masterpiece. Indeed, we are a lot different from one another, thank goodness – or our world will be so boring!

of grandchildren and home.

Differences are a necessity of life. Consider a marriage or a relationship, like the hook and the eye, or a Velcro –the differences of both units make

absorbing differences, its about embracing each others uniqueness, while agreement is preferred, it is not the goal – tolerance and respect of other points of view are.

Unity in diversity “Unity in diversity ” is a popular motto within and among nations, states, political and social movements, and I hasten to add that unity in diversity plays out within any human society, group or family. Diversity literally means “differences” – so the concept of unity in diversity may be construed by some as paradoxical or impossible. Unity in diversity does not mean we have to look, walk, talk, and think exactly alike. Sameness or uniformity is not the goal – inclusion is, unity is not about The Beatles

“UNITY IN DIVERSITY” is an expression that speaks about a balance between wholeness and difference between integrity and variety. It is valuing, respecting and supporting that others have as much right to their different opinion as we have to ours.

These differences don’t make us weak. They are the source of our strength even now that we are ripe with years filled with bittersweet memories of our teenage days. Even in our diversity, we are all equal.

Unity in diversity is not a smoothie where all the ingredients are blended together with no way to distinguish the individual ingredients. Diversity and inclusion is a beautiful bowl of fruit salad of yellow mangoes, green and purple grapes, white soft macapuno, sweet red strawberries, juicy pineapple, sweetened by brown sugar, topped with shredded coconut, and perhaps a scoop of purple ube ice cream. Each ingredient distinguishable and necessary to create a foodie’s treat.

Diversity is the mix, inclusion is what makes it all work.

And as we discover and celebrate our differences, we must not ignore the critical state of the earth. I am afraid by year 2025, the Philippines and other countries of the globe will just be out of the map due to the ill effects of global warming. World Bank recently stated that rising temperatures could put 100 million people in extreme poverty. Earlier this year, the Pope said “the earth is an immense pile of filth.”

Guardian Sustainable Business: “By 2025, our seas may be filled with one ton of plastic for every three tons of fish”. We are our own enemy – a classic example of man’s inhumanity to man.

We stand in awe at the wisdom of our Creator who has fashioned this world and gave life, color, mutual support and fruitfulness in our land. We have to do something and move fast in unison with the other countries of the world. Let us in mutually supportive and concerted efforts find a solution, BE part of the solution. Sustainability is about preserving our world

and its people.

All of us depend on just one planet. So we all need to work together as good stewards of God’s creation, we have to care for mother earth and its habitat to protect and preserve its fruitfulness. The wellbeing of individuals, communities and the planet are inextricably linked. We ought to think that we are of the leaves of a tree, and the tree is all humanity whose survival relies on healthy roots nurtured by mother earth. Hence, despite psychological and location barriers, let us come together to forge oneness, for this move on our part becomes even more imperative and necessary. “We may have different religions, different languages, different skin colors, but we all belong to one human race (Kofi Annan). “ Diversity, unity and sustainability – issues that affect the well-being of our communities and of the world. I would like to invite each of you batchmates, other DCHS alumni and the community at large, to join a local or global conversation on diversity, unity and sustainability and share your thoughts. I urge everyone to keep the dialogue going for it is only through continued conversations and commitment to change that change and progress happens.

Big. Small.

Everyone has a voice. Let your voice be heard. “We are harmonious in the reality that we are held to this earth by the same gravity” (C. Joybell).

Batch of 1965 – congratulations. We have come together this year as one: SENIORS but with the heart of JUNIORS. In the last 50 years, we have travelled many different roads and have witnessed that the real beauty of this world is equal for everyone to see. Each of us helped to create this beautiful mosaic - of experiences and emotions, of people and places, all glued and connected by one unifying experience- our high school days at DCHS. And as we approach the twilight of our years, let us still sing our love songs, share our silly jokes and most of all, let our diverse voices be heard as individuals in unity with our destiny. This is unity and diversity in action!

WE ARE - DCHS Batch 1965 Alumni and WE ROCK !

(The author who operates the Precious International School in Matina, Davao City, is the president of DCHS Batch’65. –Editor

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EDGEDAVAO COMPETITIVE EDGE 13

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 179 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4 - 5, 2015

Damosa Land, Floirendo Foundation build Facebook CEO pledges to give away 99% of shares to charity walls for E. Ramos National High School

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ESPITE the scorching heat of the sun, Damosa Land (DLI), Anflocor, and Antonio O. Floirendo Foundation (AOFF) employees marched out of their offices and went to E. Ramos National High School, prepared and armed with shovels, hollow blocks, and sacks of sand and cement. They gathered at the school grounds located a few meters away from DLI’s residential community, Damosa Fairlane, in Brgy. Angliongto, Lanang with one goal in mind: build its walls for its students’ security.

There were neither walls nor fences that surround the back area of the campus.

For several years, this has remained a perennial problem since thieves were able to trespass at night and steal desktop computers from the classrooms.

The school takes pride in their 300 sqm. award-winning garden, which they started cultivating in 2012.

For three years, it has bagged awards in the Citywide Gulayan sa Paaralan competition, beating other public schools all over Davao. With no walls to protect their back area from bad elements, the teachers feared that trespassers may ransack their garden and destroy their prized fruits and crops.

“Aside from the computers, which were stored in a locked classroom, the thieves also stole fruits and fish from our garden,” Helen Seras, Grade 10 adviser, said.

“One morning, someone went out to feed the fish. We were stunned to find out that not a single tilapia and catfish were left in the pond,” she

FDAMOSA, 10

F

ACEBOOK Inc. co-founder and chief executive officer Mark Zuckerberg said on Tuesday he and his wife would give 99 percent of their Facebook shares to charitable purposes.

Proceeds of the holdings by the couple, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, of the public listed US social network currently worth USD 45 billion and will be managed by a new organization known as the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

On his Facebook page, Zuckerberg posted “A letter to our daughter,” who was born last week.

The couple promised that they would give away their

Cary Lagdameo (center), Vice President of Damosa Land, leads executives and employees of DLI, AOFF, and Anflocor who joined hands to construct the walls of E. Ramos National High School.

money “during our lives” through wealth charitable donations, private investment and promotion of government-policy reform.

About the new organization, formed as a limited liability company to be controlled by the couple, the 31-year-old Silicon Valley entrepreneur wrote that “our initial areas of focus will be personalized learning, curing disease, connecting people and building strong communities.”

Meanwhile, Facebook said in a securities filing Zuckerberg has planned to give away “no more than USD 1 billion of Facebook stock each year for the next three years.” (PNA/ Xinhua)

Bill Gates sets up ‘Breakthrough Energy Coalition’

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HE famous American businessman Bill Gates announced here that he had set up a foundation named “Breakthrough Energy Coalition” which included 27 billionaires or investors and the University of California, and specialized in investing in clean energy technologies.

According to Gates, the “Breakthrough Energy Coalition” members included Facebook founder Mark Zuck-

erberg, Aliko Dangote, the socalled richest man in Africa, Amazon founder Jeff Bezosy and four Chinese businessmen: Alibaba Group founder Ma Yun (Jack Ma), Sequoia Capital China Fund founder and executive partner Shen Nanpeng and the SOHO China couple founders Pan Shiyi and Zhang Xin. Gates said the coalition would focus on angel investment to provide impetus for

FBILL GATES, 10

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It’s TIME to CHANGE THE GAME.

Your ads come to life with vivid, clear, crisp colors.

Get the value for your money and don’t settle for an aweful copy on a badly printed space.

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

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EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 8 ISSUE 179 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4 - 5, 2015

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DAZZLING DAVNOR Team Davao del Norte wins 6 golds in Batang Pinoy Mindanao F

START’EM YOUNG. Members of the Davao del Norte delegation marches on.

Serena-mania

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OR the second straight year, Serena Williams is heading a cast of tennis superstars descending on Manila for the International Premier Tennis League.

She is the world No. 1, has been there for the past two years, everyone probably knows that.

But here are more fun facts for the sports fan gearing up for the IPTL’s Manila Leg from December 6 to 8 at the Mall of Asia Arena presented by PLDT HOME Fibr, the country’s most powerful broadband.

Serena Williams is also known as Meka, which is short for her given name Serena Jameka Williams. Another nickname Serena goes by — Momma Smash.

A l though her bid for a Calendar Slam was foiled in the US Open, she has actually held the four Grand Slam titles at the same time, a feat fans have called

“Serena Slam.”

Wilholds 3 4

l i a m s

Grand Slam titles, putting her seventh on the record books.

She is the third player in the history of the Women’s Tennis Association with the most number of weeks at No. 1 — 261, to be exact, and counting. She follows retired greats Steffi Graf (377 weeks) and

Martina Navratilova (332 weeks).

Williams has the third fastest peak serve speed in history, with a record 128.6 mph. That puts her behind Sabine Lisicki (131 mph) and her sister Venus Williams (129 mph).

But of course, seeing her in action is much better than written descriptions.

Witness her play live in next week’s IPTL with PLDT HOME Fibr’s treat to its customers!

Subscribers are entitled to a 20 percent discount to the three-

day event. Not only that, they also have the chance to win VIP tickets — complete with red carpet treatment, plus two-way rides via luxury car service Uber Black.

Williams is headlining the revamped Philippine Mavericks this year. Joining her in the team are Mixed Doubles Grand Slam titleholder Richard Gasquet, Wimbledon Championships WTA titleholder Sabine Lisicki, 2013 Australian Open Mixed Doubles titleholder Jarmila Gajdosova, teenage phenomenon Borna Coric, Filipino-American Association of Tennis Professionals titleholder Treat Huey, and former World No. 8 Mark Philippoussis — who will also serve as the Mavericks team captain.

The Mavericks battle teams from India, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore, while Japan is the most recent addition to the field.

The tennis extravaganza is made possible by PLDT HOME Fibr, which delivers Internet speeds of up to 1 Gbps. For more information on the country’s most powerful broadband, visit pldthome.com/fibr or follow @ PLDTHOME on both Twitter and Instagram.

MUCH AWAITED RETURN. Serena Williams has the third fastest peak serve speed in history, with a record 128.6 mph. That puts her behind Sabine Lisicki (131 mph) and her sister Venus Williams (129 mph).Williams has the third fastest peak serve speed in history, with a record 128.6 mph. That puts her behind Sabine Lisicki (131 mph) and her sister Venus Williams (129 mph).

RIENDLY hostilities in the 2015 Batang Pinoy National Finals, here, have provided a stage for the athletes of the Province of Davao del Norte to put on another dazzling performance.

DavNor’s 34-man team snatched 21 medals, particularly six golds, five silvers and ten bronzes, after slugging it out against the best teams all over the country, in the 15-under national sporting event.

Baston-wielding arnisadores led the team’s medal haul with Mary Gweneth Lim, Harrison Cerillo and Noah Gonzales whipping the gold in the labanan pinweight, welterweight and lightweight, respectively.

Cerillo suffered a painful sprain in his right forearm early into the elimination rounds. He said his thirst for honor and pride, and lots of prayers kept him going.

With true grit, he beat three other strong contenders to crush the competition despite his hurting arm.

“I wanted to offer my success to our Lord Almighty,” he said.

George Neri Jr. won silver in the labanan flyweight, while Jay Mabanag cornered the bronze in the bantamweight.

Kate Diane Faelogo swept the bronze both in the anyo solo baston and the labanan

flyweight.

The wushu squad added two more golds, with Latrell Andre Dennis Pantastico and Roni Marielle Santiago thrashing the gold in the wushu sanda under 48 kg. boys and under 48 kg. girls, respectively.

Ron Japeth Mena and Philip Jacob Taganas also both grabbed the bronze in the under 48 boys .

Kyla Cielo Bernaldez further chipped in another gold in the table tennis singles girls, while teaming with Vince Carl Seismundo to win silver in the mixed doubles.

Taekwondo jin Louis Jude Andrae Dumdum kicked the silver in the bantamweight, while Christian Rhyan Chung, Giery Mei Amodia, Ileana Vanessa Edna Fuentes and Lei Anne Frances Naval grabbed the bronze in the heavyweight boys, lightweight girls, welterweight girls and flyweight girls divisions.

Karatekas Kenneth Telin and Marjore Ledesma likewise punched a silver in kata novice boys and bronze in kata girls, respectively. While, thrower Jhon Rafael Lamatan delivered the silver in the shotput event.

Provincial Sports Coordinator Giovanni Gulanes said his lean team really delivered.

“Working to meet what was expected of us guaranteed our success,” he said. Noel Baguio

ZUMBA. Participants of the early morning Laro’t Saya sa Parke Zumba workouts at the People’s Park.

Laro’t Saya sa Parke packs weekend crowd

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AVAO City has drawn the unofficial highest number of participants to the Laro’t Saya sa Parke program held every weekends at the People’s Park.

Last November 29, the program recorded the biggest crowd ever in the two-month staging of the sports and wellness program of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the City Government of Davao with a total participation of 1,709. The record represented 35 senior citizens, 1,400 Zumba enthusiasts, 43 for Rugby, 27 for Futsal, 46 for Badmintion, 34 for Sepak Takraw, 31 for Arnis, 38 for Taekwondo and 55 for Volleyball.

On November 21, a total of 1,457 took part in the weekly workouts with 70 senior

citizens, 1,120 for Zumba, 30 for Rugby, 22 for Futsal, 51 for Badminton, 34 for Sepak Takraw, 41 for Arnis, 27 for Taekwondo, and 62 for volleyball.

On November 22, a total of 1,309 took part in the weekly workouts with 31 senior citizens, 1,000 for Zumba, 42 for Rugby, 19 for Futsal, 52 for Badminton, 35 for Sepak Takraw, 37 for Arnis, 35 for Taekwondo, and 58 for volleyball.

On November 28, a total of 1,412 took part in the weekly workouts with 38 senior citizens, 1,108 for Zumba, 32 for Rugby, 36 for Futsal, 47 for Badminton, 33 for Sepak Takraw, 25for Arnis, 25 for Taekwondo, and 68 for volleyball.

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