Edge Davao 8 Issue 226

VOL. 8 ISSUE 226 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7-8, 2016

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

Davao has been enriched by the Chinese over the centuries

Chinese-Filipino Mestizo during Spanish era

2 COVER STORY EDGEDAVAO

Long Hua Chinese temple (Photo by Lean Daval Jr.)

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HE first unnamed Chinese to settle in Davao was a carpenter who was part of the early wave of settlers; he was mentioned in Estadistica de Davao, written in 1870. This immigrant was one of the first converts when the old pueblo was organized with the appointment of the first set of cabezas de barangay in 1850.

Jesuit priest Fr. Quirico More, SJ, in a letter dated Nov. 18, 1879 written from Davao, mentioned “four or six Chinese in the pay of the commercial houses in Davao.” While in Sigaboy, Fr. Domingo Bove, SJ, in a letter dated Dec. 30, 1879, narrated that while at Cape San Agustin, a Chinese gave him a chalice acquired for a certain amount of mastic from a Manobo who told him the vessel was made by the Maguindanaoans.

Four years later, writing from Cuabo, in Mati, on July 12, 1883, Father Bove noted that the waves along the coastline where he was temporarily residing destroyed an old tree standing “beside the Chinese trader’s shed.” In September 1884, Father More reported that an unbaptized Chinese named Antoco was murdered in Lawa (Kulaman), in Malita, Davao Occidental.

Impressions In missionary accounts, the Chinese and Chinese mestizos were depicted as opportunists who exploited the illiterate tribes by pricing their goods discriminately, burying tribesmen in huge debts. The liability, at times, was the reason why entire settlements had to move out whenever the Chinese retailers arrived to collect the payments.

A similar remark was made by Fr. Mateo Gisbert, SJ, in a letter from Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, dated Feb. 22, 1888, who reported “the Chinese and the other retailers who have gone to their [natives’] ranches… [were] more immoral and godless than the mountaineers themselves.”

Most likely, these are the same entrepreneurs Fr. Saturnino Urios, SJ, cited in his Apr. 30, 1894 letter, as “obtaining crumbs from Santa Cruz” and

exporting sacks of cacao at fabulous prices.

On the other hand, Fr. Antonio Benaiges, SJ, in crossing the gulf from Malalag, Davao del Sur, wrote in his Jan. 28, 1894 account that he boarded a frail boat, later battered by waves upon reaching Samal waters, owned by a Chinese named Choa.

In the end, the animosity between the natives and the Chinese, according to a letter

by Fr. Gregorio Parache, SJ, dated Dec. 29, 1898, written while in Mati, was resolved, at least in one instance, when both parties united to oppose an unpopular gobernadorcillo appointed by Fr. Salvador Giralt, SJ. Some Chinese traders, however, were better than others. While in Davao, Father Urios mentioned of a Chinese who “donated finished clothes and materials for others to tailor.” There were also Chinese in Santa Cruz and Arapiles who helped the missionaries, “proving their goodwill in their desire to be on our side.”

And there was also this Chinese in Mati who, according to Fr. Manuel Rosello, SJ, in his Oct. 31, 1898 letter from Vera de Moncayo (Veruela, Agusan del Sur), paid P50 for each of the three passengers, including the missionary, for them to be able to board a ship toward Sandakan (Borneo) instead of sailing directly to Zamboanga.

China ties Keen interest in local Chinese residents did not happen until the later part of the first quarter of the 20th century. On June 2, 1923, Chou Kuo Shian, consul general of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Philippines, arrived in Davao for observation tour. The visit led to the opening of a Chinese school for children in the area.

As a result, Te Chiu Im, a local Chinese resident who was into beer distribution, was appointed first honorary consul of Davao (1923-28). He was instrumental in the formation of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Davao and was its first chairman.

Chinese presence in Davao during this period was affected by the leadership struggle

inside the National Party (Koumintang) in China. In 1924, Chiang Kai-shek, the conqueror of Shanghai, had just been appointed head of the Whampoa Military Academy.

The following year, after Sun Yat-sen, founding father of the Republic of China, died, Chiang Kai-shek emerged as leader of the Kuomintang. In 1926 he led the army in an effort to unify China, defeating the communist army and forcing the survivors to march to Shensi.

Chinese schools Chinese legacy in Davao is also noticeable in the fields of Education and Religion.

The city’s oldest Chinese school is Davao Chong Hua High School, formerly Davao Central High School and Davao Chinese High School. It was Chou Kuo Shian, Republic of China’s consul-general, who proposed the idea of a school for Chinese kids be opened in Davao, which led to the founding of the Davao Chinese Educational Association, with Chua Chin San as first Board chairman.

To pursue the undertaking, Te Chiu Im closely coordinated with Chua in generating funds, recruiting teachers, and getting government approval for the school. On June 3, 1924, the institution opened at San Pedro Street, in two rented classrooms that accommodated thirty pupils.

But as the DCEA enrollment improved, the association was forced to find a permanent site for the school. The Board broached the idea to Francisco Villa-Abrille who donated a one-hectare land along Santa Ana Avenue in what is now the home of the school.

After the war, another school was funded with money from donations. Stella Maris Academy was established in 1953. It was Bishop Clovis Thibault, PME, DD, of the Diocese of Davao who launched the Chinese Catholic Apostolate in the city. Fr. Gaudiose Gagnon, PM.E, with the help of the Davao Chinese Catholic Association, made contacts, home visits and meetings with the local Chinese community and propagated the idea of building a school.

Registered as Davao Chinese Catholic Kindergarten School, the academy first opened near Santa Ana Church and remained there until 1957.

It was managed by two Rosarian nuns, Sisters Chao and Yang, from Manchuria, China, who stayed briefly. The Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate (MIC) took over as administrator. In April 1958, the prelature bought a tract of land at Obrero, at Nicasio Torres Street, which is now the permanent

VOL. 8 ISSUE 226 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7-8, 2016

Davao has been enriched by the Chinese over the centuries

By Antonio V. Figueroa campus of the institution.

Established on Jan. 14, 1953, Davao Christian High School, formerly Davao Chinese Gospel Church Kindergarten School, was the brainchild of the Davao Evangelical Church, formerly Davao Chinese Gospel Church, which wanted to provide Christian education to the youth. It first opened its kindergarten classes in a residence along Rizal Street.

In 1988, the school moved to Victorino Mapa Street where it opened a new, three-story building. Two years later, an air-conditioned auditorium with a 1,100-seating capacity was inaugurated. To address the expanding need for more space, another three-story academic and athletic building was added in 2007, housing the high school classrooms, covered basketball court, and science and home economics laboratories.

Two other Chinese-oriented schools that have made a name in the city are the Colegio de San Ignacio and the Philippine Academy of Sakya (Davao), Inc., which is devoted “to sharing in the mission of the Lord Buddha and molding students to be upright citizens of the country.”

Six Chinese houses of worship, meanwhile, can be found in Davao City, namely: the Taoist Bell Church, Philippine Yuan Ming Tao Sanctuary, Mindanao Taoist Temple, Long Hua (Lon Wa) Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Mindanao, Pulian Temple, and the Taoist Santiago Church.

Successful Sinos Resiliency, patience, and diligence are inviolable traits associated with Chinese success in business. In the past one hundred fifty years, their commercial practices have greatly shaped the way trading in the region has been defined.

By 1939, the Chinese population in Davao was 3,595, quite sizeable given that the Japanese living in Davao at the time was already close to twenty thousand. Overall, when war broke out, a fifth of those residing in the region had Chinese blood up to the second-degree of consanguinity.

Up to this day, Chinese descendants up to the fifth generation control most of the big enterprises that dot the city’s business landscape.

Intermarriage and adoption of Filipino-sounding names have make it difficult to iden-

Japanese-sponsored Davao Chinese Association. Alfonso, who was assassinated on April 15, 1946, begot ten children.

Born Ang Hwa Shing, Ang Kiu Kok (1931-2005), who graduated high school at the Davao Chong Hua High School, was the son of Xiamen migrants who made Davao their second home. He took up Art at the University of Santo Tomas under Filipino masters.

His art style, known as ‘figurative expressionism,’ was a fusion of cubism, surrealism and expressionism.

tify them as Chinese, but the attitudes that have made them significant social players of developments are indisputable.

Some of the Chinese stalwarts (and their scions) that have made a named in Davao include the following: Lim Chuan Juna, a native of Tong Sua, Fujian, reached Davao in 1878 at age 32.

Stiff competition in Sulu forced him to look for areas where opportunities were plenty.

He married Tan Sipo, baptized as Maria Loreto, the“daughter of Tan Joson (a Chinese) and his common law wife, a Mora [Muslim woman].” He took Francisco Villa-Abrille as his Christian name.

He set up Ang Kiukok was a graduate of the his first business at Piapi, Davao Chong Hua High School a community with predominantly Tausug population. He In the 1960’s, he attained later transferred his store to prominence as an emerging Claveria Street, near San Pedro artist, gaining decades later Cathedral. In Jan. 4, 1890, the commercial success for his couple converted and mar- ‘ugly’ paintings, so called for ried as Catholics. Known as their violent and at times a philanthropist, Lim donat- gruesome imagery. On April ed the lands where many of 20, 2001, he was conferred the today’s landmarks are built, honor as a National Artist for among them the Philippine Visual Arts by virtue of PresiWomen’s College, Davao Cen- dential Proclamation No. 32, s. tral High School (then known 2001. as Davao Chinese High School), Tony Tan Caktiong, born Davao Mental Hospital, Boys to Chinese immigrant parScout of the Philippines (BSP), ents from Fujian, took up eleand part of Ateneo de Davao mentary at Davao Chong Hua (Matina).

High School while his father Alfonso Angliongto, be- worked as a cook in a famous fore establishing a name in lo- local restaurant. He later purcal shipping, originally settled sued secondary course at Chiin Siasi, Sulu, with elder broth- ang Kai-Shek College in Pasay er Ang Kang (Antonio Ang- City and finished undergradukang), born in 1894 in China. ate studies at the University of Originally known as Ang Liong Santo Tomas in 1975.

To, Alfonso, born in 1896, and Starting with a franchise his brother were encouraged from Magnolia Dairy Ice by their father, Ang Tong Liong, Cream, he later founded the to join a relative in Sabah who iconic Jollibee, the country’s was a trader. But the brothers biggest fastfood chain, and opted instead to settle in Sulu, later acquired close to a dozthen the pearl capital of the en firms, including the Chiislands. nese fast food chain Yonghe Lured by good prospects Dawang and the Chowking in Davao as related by fellow oriental food outlets. In 2014, Chinese traders, Alfonso de- he was awarded the presticided to transfer residence to gious Ernst & Young ‘World the city where he opened a Entrepreneur of the Year’ in shipping business and made a Monaco. fortune from it. Here, he found Ega Uy and wife Tao Sui his spouse and built a family Eng, from the province of Fuwhose brood would become jian, China, married during the prominent social figures. He war in Magugpo (Tagum) and later became president of the FCOVER, 13

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BIFF tries to blow up bridge in Maguindanao

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CATCH OF THE DAY. Residents in communities near Sta. Ana Wharf gather around a vendor selling fresh fish for as low as P30 per kilo. Lean Daval Jr.

MinBC withdraws call to axe NGCP

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

HE Mindanao Business Council (MinBC) has withdrawn its intent to pass a resolution endorsing the immediate cancellation of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP)’s existing contract as grid operator.

This after the NGCP presented its side during last Thursday’s meeting in Davao

City attended by Mindanao’s power stakeholders, including the private sector, Department of Energy (DOE), Energy Regulatory Board (ERB), and Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

“Let’s give NGCP a chance to improve their services.

Some of the problems are also created by Transco (National

Transmission Corporation) so we will have to work together to solve this,” MinBC chair Vicente T. Lao told EDGE Davao in a text message last Saturday.

Lao said among the concerns NGCP presented during the meeting was the right of way (ROW) problem which it said it had inherited from Transco and which remains

unresolved until now.

Lao said the Mindanao power situation is threatened not by a tight power supply but by the ROW problem and the frequent bombing of NGCP towers.

Last year, a total of 19 towers in Mindanao were bombed, of which nine were toppled

FMINBC, 13

UTLAWED Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) on Friday tried but failed to blow up a vital bridge in Maguindanao, the military on Saturday said.

Colonel Felicisimo Badiongan, commander of 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade based in Datu Saudi Ampatuan town, said alert civilians informed the military about the presence of suspected improvised bomb planted over a bridge still undergoing construction in Barangay Butalo,

Datu Salibo town in Maguindanao.

“While our troops were conducting clearing operations and bomb disruption, the BIFF were firing at us,” Badiongon said in a phone interview.

An Army official who Capt. Joan Petinglay, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson did not identify was slightly injured in his head.

“He is safe now, he only sustained minor injuries,”

FIRE at a hotel in Iraq’s Kurdistan region on Friday has killed 17 people, including 14 Filipinos, a Philippine Embassy official said.

“We have just been informed that 14 Filipinos were among the 17 people who died in a fire that struck a hotel in Erbil, capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, this evening,” said Elmer Cato, charge d’affaires of the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad.

“We will be taking the earliest flight tomorrow to allow us to coordinate closely with authorities of the Kurdistan Regional Government in identifying and re-

patriating the remains of our kababayans,” Cato added.

The incident, he said, is now under investigation.

“We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to the families of the victims and will do everything we can to bring them home as soon as possible,” Cato said.

In 2012, the Philippine government lifted the ban on Kurdistan region – an autonomous region in Iraq – amid growing foreign labor demand, but deployment ban is being enforced by Manila in other parts of the country.

Except for Kurdistan, Manila is imposing manda-

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14 Pinoys die in fire A

F14 PINOYS, 13

City Vet pushes for rabies immunization

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City Veterinarian’s Office (CVO) has urged all pet owners to have their dogs and cats vaccinated against rabies.

“We are encouraging the people to be with us in our vaccination drive in the districts.

We hope they will cooperate and bring along their dogs and cats for immunization,” CVO disease prevention and control head Dr. Gay Z. Pallar said in a recent interview.

Pallar said the dogs and cats should be vaccinated to prevent the ] spread of rabies in the city. “Our campaign is to intensify the vaccination,” she said.

She said the CVO received around 150,000 anti-rabies vaccines from the Department of Agriculture (DA)-Bureau

of Animal Industry. The CVO is aiming to make the city rabies-free by 2020.

She said vaccination started on January 20, 2016 in the barangays in Talomo district where her office vaccinated a total of 19,346 dogs and cats.

She said the team will go to the barangays in Toril district on February 9 up to March 1.

Pallar said the Animal Control Unit (ACU) is also intensifying the catching of stray dogs in the streets because these are vulnerable to rabies.

Dogs that are caught in the streets will be brought to the City Dog Pound and will be impounded for three days. If no one claims the dogs, they will be subjected to euthanasia, which is one of the preventive measures against the spread of

rabies.

Pallar said the ACU will also be present during the vaccination drive because dogs will be impounded if their owners refuse to have them vaccinated.

She said there are penalties for owners who refuse to immunize their pets as stipulated in the Anti-Rabies Act of 2007.

Owners will be fined P2,000 for failure to register and immunize their dogs. A fine of P10,000 will be imposed on owners who refuse to place their dogs under observation after they have bitten a person.

There is also a fine of P25,000 for refusal to shoulder the medical expenses of the bitten person.

vitation sent by the DCCDC to the leaders of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. The ordinance “aims to empower the Chinese-Filipino community in Davao City in charting their own development as an essential part and soul of the city”, according to the letter signed by the 10 members of the council.

At 6 p.m., also today, February 7, the center of the festive activities will move to the Rizal Park within the City Hall premises where “a fusion of traditional and modern Filipino-Chinese celebrations will

be held.”

Earlier, City Tourism Officer Lisette Marques said that the holding of the Chinese new celebrations at the Rizal Park, not within the Chinatown in Sta. Ana District is symbolic of the assimilation of the Filipino and Chinese cultures.

The 12 Council members who signed the invitation letter to all interested Dabawenyos are former City Councilor Susan Isabel Reta, James Edwin Go, Johnny Loyola, Lafayette Lim, So-Peng Kee, Edgar Te, Nancy King Ong, Jasper Huang, Benedicto Lim Jr. and Amado So. AMA

Council leads Chinese New Year fete

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HE Davao City Chinatown Development Council ( DCCDC), institutionalized 13 years ago by the city government under Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte through City Ordinance No. 0179-03, will spearhead the celebration of the Chinese New Year welcoming the Year of Fire Monkey with a 9 a.m. mass at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish today, Sunday.

“Since time immemorial, the Chinese –Filipino community has played an important role in the historical. Cultural and economic development of Davao City,” says a letter of in-

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MEAL TIME? This crocodile replica inside People’s Park is an instant hit with young park-goers, especially those who love animals. Lean Daval Jr.

Int’l group urges gov’t to keep funding ARMM

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

LONDON-BASED peace-building group has urged President Benigno Aquino to pour funds into the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) as the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) failed to pass in the 16th Congress.

In a statement, International Alert-Philippines communication specialist Judy T. Gulane said the Aquino government, in its remaining months, must continue to pour in funds that the region needs.

The incoming government, she added, must heed

the region’s growth requirements.

“With or without a new law, livelihoods must be created. This gains urgency in the wake of frustration over the BBL’s non-approval and rising radicalism among Moro youth,” Gulane said.

Gulane said while waiting for the new administration and for the 17th Congress to be constituted, government should give importance to sustaining the development of Muslim Mindanao.

“As they contemplate their next moves, we urge

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SouthCot drug raids result in 21 arrests

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T least 21 persons were arrested by police authorities in separate drug buy-bust operations in South Cotabato Friday, authorities on Saturday said.

Three men were arrested in the act of sniffing methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) during police operations led by Chief Inspector Dennis Madriaga, police chief of Noralla, South Cotabato.

Arrested were Warren Valenzuela, owner of a house where the pot session was conducted, Jericho Echanova and John Paul Castillo.

Madriaga said the sus-

pects also peddled illegal drugs based on the information contained in Valenzuela’s mobile phones. A motorbike, several sachets of shabu and illegal drug paraphernalia were seized from the suspects.

Early Friday, during the implementation of “One Time Big Time Operation” in Purok Looban, Barangay Zone 3, Koronadal City, police arrested 17 persons, including a minor.

The raiding team seized shabu, mobile phones, marijuana joints, a handgun and other shabu paraphernalia.

Superintendent Barney

FSOUTHCOT, 13

Martial law victims start campaign vs Bongbong

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ORMER political prisoners, other victims of the martial law regime and human rights advocates launched on Thursday a campaign to thwart attempts by the Marcoses to recapture Malacanang.

Called CARMMA or Campaign against the Return of the Marcoses to Malacañang, the group “says NO to Bongbong Marcos as vice-president because he is not the guiltless son that he presents himself to be,” Bonifacio Ilagan, vice chairperson of SELDA or the Samahan ng mga Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto, said in a press release Thursday.

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. is running as vice president in this year’s elections.

Ilagan, quoting from CARMMA’s manfesto, warned that if Bongbong Marcos wins as vice-president, “the Marcos

grand scheme to recapture Malacañang is just a stride away, given their billions of pesos in war chest, courtesy of the evil genius of Ferdinand Sr.” The manifesto listed six “sins” of Marcos Jr. as bases for campaigning against his bid for the vice presidency.

It said that “while the sins of the father may not be passed on to the son, the son could very well inherit the ill-gotten wealth of the father. And Bongbong, with the family, did inherit the fruits of the legendary Marcos plunder amounting to hundreds of billions of pesos, much of which has yet to be uncovered, and which Bongbong will never reveal and give back.”

It accused Marcos Jr. of covering up “the unprecedented plunder and economic sabotage that his father committed in 20 years of his misrule, 14 of which were under the re-

pressive martial law.” It noted that the son hailed his father’s dictatorship as “the best form of governance the Philippines has ever had.”

Marcos Jr.’s third “sin”, the manifesto said, is that “Bongbong arrogantly peddles the lie that his father’s wealth was legitimate.”

It said: “Bongbong whitewashes the Marcos dictatorship’s crony capitalism, of which he had been a part. In 1985, when Bongbong was 26 years old, his father appointed him chairman of the board of the Philippine Communications Satellite Corporation (Philcomsat), receiving a monthly salary of anywhere between $9,700 to $97,000.

This, despite that fact that he had no duties in Philcomsat and rarely even went to office.”

It added that Marcos Jr. has continued to deny that his father was a “ruthless dictator”

whose regime was accused of torture, summary killings and other abuses.

“Bongbong even had the gall to dismiss the 9,500 plus members of the human rights Hawaii class suit who won the case against the Marcos estate, as purely motivated by compensation. ‘Pera-para lang ang habol ng mga yan,’” Ilagan said.

CARMMA further said that Marcos Jr. has yet to explain how his P100-million pork barrel allocation was spent.

Victims of martial law filed and won a class suit against the Marcoses in a court in Hawaii after the ouster of the dictatorship. A US aircraft brought the Marcos family to Hawaii as thousands of Filipinos stormed the gates of Malacanang as the four-day Edsa uprising in February 1986 reached its climax.

Thousands were jailed during martial law, mostly

nitude.

Rescuers have saved more than 160 people, with two losing signs of life, local media reported.

By 7:10 a.m., rescuers saved 127 people from a 17-storey collapsed building in Tainan, among which 29 were hospitalized. About 200 people are believed to have been living inside the high-

rise building.

A 10-day baby girl and a 40-year-old man lost signs of life, according to local media report.

The earthquake hit Kaohsiung of Taiwan at a depth of 15 kilometers at 3:57 a.m.

Beijing Time on Saturday, according to China Earthquake Networks Center. The epicenter was monitored at

22.94 degrees north latitude and 120.54 degrees east longitude.

According to the island’s weather and earthquake monitoring agency, the earthquake, measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale and with a depth of 16.7 kilometers, was centered about 27 km northeast of Pingtung county seat.

(PNA/Xinhua)

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Hundreds trapped as strong quake hits Taiwan

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6.4-MAGNITUDE earthquake in southern Taiwan early Saturday morning damaged several buildings, with at least one building collapsed, trapping hundreds of residents, according to local media reports.

The mainland earthquake monitoring center put the scale of the quake at 6.7-mag-

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Pekin duck grower eyes Dubai exhibition

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

HE country’s first-ever Pekin duck producer and exporter Vicente T. Lao is eying to participate in this year’s Gulf Food exhibition at the Dubai World Trade Center on February 21 to 26 in a bid to increase his market as well as promote other Mindanao premium products.

“We’re targeting to book a pavilion for Mindanao in the six-day exhibition,” Lao told reporters in a recent interview.

The annual Gulf Food exhibition is an international event which draws over 90,000 visitors from 160 countries. Apart from exhibitions of food processors, technology, and industry movers, there will be also

a specific exhibition for Halal Food.

According to the Gulf Food website, the 3rd Halal World Food will showcase thousands of halal products, including energy drinks, vegan and vegetarian food, meat and poultry, canned goods, and gourmet and fine food.

The website also said the Halal World Food exhibition “also generates significant inward investment opportunities for major international businesses eyeing regional buyers, suppliers, logistics providers and storage and transport solutions.”

The show will also see halal food policy-shapers and

government organizations coming together to discuss the implementation of far-reaching standardizations and certification frameworks, it said.

Dubai is currently positioned as the forefront in Halal food industry. Lao said Dubai holds a huge potential not only for his Pekin duck which recently garnered its Halal certification from the Dubai Ministry of Water and Environment but also other agricultural products of Mindanao.

“The presence of OFWs in Dubai is just one of the segments where Mindanao can market its premium products,” Lao said.

Products like pineapple,

banana, cacao, and other agricultural commodities have huge potential of penetrating the country, he added.

At present, Lao is already exporting his Pekin duck to Japan under his company Maharlika Agro-Marine Ventures.

His products are also available in local grocery stores and supermarkets.

Lao said he plans to put up a small restaurant in Davao City to allow more people have a taste of his Pekin Duck.

“We’re targeting to reach the C, D, E market,” he said, adding the restaurant will be established later this year in a property he owns along San Pedro Street in Davao City.

Vicente T. Lao

Panabo mayor backs Agro-Industrial Estate P ANABO City Mayor James Gamao pledged to put up infrastructures to boost the Anflo Industrial Estate.

In a recent interview, Gamao said he instructed the city engineering office to pave the Barangay San Vicente roads going to the economic zone to start this year.

“We will tap the road going from San Pedro Quasi Parish to the Diversion-Coastal Road as peripheral for the economic zone,” Gamao said.

The mayor added that in order for the people to know about the zone, the city government will also put up a promotional arc to

welcome guests.

He also said major roads leading to the economic zone will soon be stretching to four lanes.

Gamao saidthe city government will support the economic zone through its policies.

On Monday (February 1), the Anflo Group of Companies launched in a groundbreaking ceremony the 63-hectare AIE, the first agro-industrial economic zone in Davao del Norte.

The economic zone is a self-sustaining area divided into 60 lots with back-up electricity and water plants, opened initially for agro-industrial companies.

(PIA11, Michael Uy)

HE Department of Labor and Employment sees no decrease in the employment of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) especially in the Middle East even with the continuing decline of oil prices.

In a press briefing Friday, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz presented the weekly monitoring report of the Philippine Overseas Labor Offices showing no direct effect on the OFW employment due to oil prices slump.

Baldoz said there are no monitored reports on a drop in job offers in Riyadh and Kuwait. The Labor Office in Dubai reported an 18.78 percent decrease in job orders but not in the oil sector.

There is an observed 1.11 percent decrease in job orders processed in Eastern regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, however, it is not directly attributed to the oil price decline. Rather, it is possibly due to Saudization and fiscal constraints of companies.

The DOLE, however, monitored an 82 percent decline in job orders in Abu Dhabi, UAE, from 85 in the first week to 16 in the fourth week of the month. Oil and gas HR personnel reported less manpower demand because of non-renewal of projects and suppliers contract termination.

Presidential Communication Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Sonny Coloma said the national government has been en-

suring a whole of government approach in looking into the welfare and safety of OFWs. Following the instruction of President Aquino, the DOLE has prepared to ensure employment and livelihood opportunities for returning OFWs who may be affected by political and economic security threats and emergencies.

“Using a scenario of 10 to 20 percent returning OFWs for semiskilled category, there are available local jobs for them in the construction, transport, and logistics sectors in the country if they wish to avail such,“ Baldoz said.

Some 44,000 jobs are also created from the 12 Public-Private Partnership projects that have been awarded and could particularly offer potential employment to semi and low skilled workers especially in the construction sector.

The DOLE also spearheads a Human Resource Development Roadmapping exercise in cooperation with various sectors to complement their respective industry roadmaps.

Semi and low-skilled OFWs may qualify for the HR requirements of mass housing, aerospace, iron and steel, metal casting, copper, and petrochemicals.

The professionals and skilled workers may take available jobs particularly for nurses, engineers, managers and accountants. (PIAROD/FGM)

DOLE monitors effect of oil slump on OFWs T FOOTLOOSE. A customer walks through piles of slippers at a store along Magsaysay Avenue that sells wide array of footwear. Lean Daval Jr.

Barclays to increase in BSP Q2‘17 key rates B ARCLAYS continues to discount any adjustment in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) key rates this year and only sees this in the second quarter of 2017 since inflation remains below-target as of January 2016.

In a research note, the British-headquartered financial firm said the Philippine central bank “appears comfortable with its policy stance.”

Rate of price increases picked up in November-December last year to 1.1 percent and 1.5 percent, respec-

tively, after bottoming to 0.4 percent last September-October.

Last January, it decelerated to 1.3 percent and this was attributed to sustained drop in oil prices, which fell below US$ 30 per barrel recently.

The research note believes that “the BSP is likely to stand pat on policy rates, emphasizing that growth and inflation risks stem largely from poor weather and the uncertain global backdrop.”

“We continue to expect BSP’s next policy move to be a hike, though we see only see a first hike coming in Q2 2017.

We think the central bank is likely to hike when growth has recovered sufficiently and inflation is high enough to justify an increase in interest rates,” it said.

“Although there is external uncertainty in the form of the Fed rate hike cycle, we think the Philippines’ strong external position and low level of short-term debt provide BSP with enough policy space to maintain an accommodative stance even if US rates head higher,” it added.

To date, the central bank’s overnight borrowing or reverse repurchase (RRP) rate is

at four percent and the overnight lending or repurchase (RP) rate is at six percent.

These were last adjusted in September 2014 when it was hiked by 25 basis points.

That year, the key rates were increased by a total of 50 basis points to reign in the surging inflation rate and prevent it from exceeding the upper end of the government’s three to five percent target.

Inflation in 2014 peaked at 4.9 percent in July and August but went down to 4.4 percent in September due in part to the BSP’s policy measures. (PNA)

VOL. 8 ISSUE 226 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7-8, 2016

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EDITORIAL Hope in the Chinese New Year

T

HE 2016 Chinese New Year falls on February 8, Monday.

According to the Chinese Zodiac, it is the Year of the Monkey. The Filipinos, with a rich Chinese influence owing to a huge portion of our population composed of Chinoys or Chinese-Pinoys, consider the Chinese New Year as part of our annual celebration. It has been that for decades and so it is not surprising if it is declared a public holiday this year.

Chinese New Year, also called Spring Festival, has more than 4,000 years of history. It is the grandest and the most important annual event for Chinese people.

Being one of the traditional festivals, it is the time for whole families to reunite together, which is similar to Christmas Day to the westerners.

The festival, China’s longest, lasts for 15 days from the 1st to 15th day of the first lunar month, and in folklore it starts even earlier, from the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month.

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Most employees in China will have seven days off work, while students take one month absence from school.

Tracing back to its beginnings during the Shang Dynasty (17th - 11th century BC), the festival used to be observed to fight against the monster “Nian” who liked to eat children and livestock. The monster was afraid of red color and loud sound.

Therefore, people decorated their houses in red and set off firecrackers to expel it.

It is just ironic that given the rich China influence, China is also our worst enemy in the territorial battle over the Kalayaan Islands in West Philippine Sea. Hopes for a peaceful resolution of the claims over the territory may still be alive. Whether the luck and charms the Chinese New Year influence will have its toll on this issue appears to be of different significance.

We can only wish that the lunar year bring forth a spring of hope for us and the good men at the helm of China. Kung hei fat choi, peace everyone.

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CULTRURE & ARTS 15

Chinese-Dabawenyos

recommend Chinese restos

By Kenneth Irving Ong

W

HENEVER I look for a place to eat when I travel, I always ask for help from the locals on where and what to eat. I decided to take this concept and asked some local Chinese-Filipino friends where they usually go to in Davao to satisfy their Chinese food cravings. Here are some answers:

Debby Go

I am a bit biased, since my cousin Karina owns Little Dynasty which serves all the traditional food that our family eats whenever we get together during special occasions including significant Chinese celebrations such as Chinese New Year. The food

reminds me of home and family.

I usually order their crispy shrimp, pork dumplings, beef noodle soup, mapo tofu, white chicken, and beef with asparagus.

Patrick Co

My family goes to Emer-

Debbie Tan-Hao ald Seafood Palace often not because it is close by but we find the food at Emerald balanced and flavorful not like other Chinese restos here in Davao that tend to have flavours that tend to be sweet.

We usually order the basics like lemon chicken, satemi, beef brisket with raddish, taro cakes with seafood and to finish off the meal, buchi!

Caitlyn Yao

Me and my family usually go to West Empire to satisfy our Chinese food cravings.

We usually get steamed live lapu-lapu, crabs with salted egg, and finish it off with a birthday noodle. We also make sure we order some soup as well as their hot prawn salad.

Alyssa Lim

My family and I love to eat at Grand Men Seng.

Their Chinese food is really good and they have private rooms where we can have our privacy where we can

laugh, talk, eat all we want without being conscious of other people. We usually order their shark fin soup, mini lechon, and the chicken with rice inside, it is sooooo good!

Jazzie Tan-Cruz

Day Uyking

Kerwin Lu

I would go to West Empire for my Chinese food fix.

The owner is a very good friend as well as a partner in business. I usually order xiao long bao and soup to start then some seafood.

Debby Go

Joey Lim

I go to Emerald Seafood Palace for the sweet and sour pork and tofu with abalone sauce. I recommend Ahfat for the steamed pigik!

Jazzie Tan-Cruz

Caitlyn Yao

Patrick Co

Me and my husband actually have two favorite Chinese restaurants and these are Ahfat and the Marco Polo Davao’s Lotus Court.

At Ahfat, we would usually order hot prawn salad,

Alyssa Lim

Mary Lim pacific clam, and steamed pampano. While at the Lotus Court, we would order their lemon chicken, shrimp balls, and shrimp with broccoli.

Their dimsum is also our favorite.

Kerwin Lu

Mary Lim

For me the Marco Polo’s Lotus Court has the best Chinese food here in Davao. I especially love their Peking duck which is perfect for dinner or any special occasion.

Tobi Ang

Joey Lim

Right now it’s West Empire. They have the best salted egg squid and dried scallop fried rice. Their manager Tina is also the best when it comes to service.

Debbie Tan-Hao

Emerald is my go-to Chinese restaurant. I’m big on crabs and the one smothered with salted egg yolk is so finger-licki’n good! After all the meat is exhausted, sucking the egg yolk- coated shell is nirvana! I could forget all my other orders. It’s my ultimate guilt trip.

Day Uyking

To be totally honest, I always choose restaurants that serve western cuisine, but if I had to choose one, I’d choose to eat at Grand Emerald because their dishes are

Tobi Ang more authentic as my mom would put it. And their food is good.

I like ordering hot prawn salad, kailan for our veggies.

If kailan not available, then I would order broccoli with beef or Chinese cabbage.

I would also recommend their steamed fish, spicy pork ribs, and seafood hotpot with sea cucumber. █

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FIRE MONKEY... FROM 14

those mentioned earlier, other famous Fire people are J. K. Rowling (the British novelist, screenwriter and film producer best known as the author of the Harry Potter fantasy series), Sandra Bullock (who was awarded the Academy Award for Best Actress for playing Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side), Paris Hilton (the great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton, the founder of Hilton Hotels) and Alfred Hitchcock (an English film director and producer, often nicknamed “The Master of Suspense”).

But in some instance, there are Fire people who are dramatic and eccentric due to their explosive temperament.

Examples: Adolf Hitler and Kim Jong Un. Forewarned is forearmed,

airplane collided in mid-air over the Grand Canyon in Arizona, killing 128 passengers.

On July 25, an Italian Ocean liner sank after colliding with Swedish ship SS Stockholm in heavy fog, killing 51 people. On December 9, a Trans-Canada airline crashed into a mountain in British Columbia killing 62 passengers.

This year will also bring explosion and fire disasters. It must be recalled that on August 8, 1956, 262 miners died in a fire in a coal mine in Belgium. On May 28, 1896, another coal mine in Pennsylvania exploded killing 58 miners.

By the way, the following people were also born in the Year of Monkey, although not specifically Fire: Federico Fellini, Walter Matthau, Milton Berle, Harry Truman, Eleanor Roosevelt , Mick Jagger, John Milton, Paul Gauguin, Lyndon B. Johnson, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Mary Hemingway, Nelson Rockefeller, Leonardo da Vinci, Charles Dickens, Edward Kennedy, and Andrew Young.

Photo by Lean Daval Jr.

so goes a saying. In the Year of Monkey, there are more people travelling, in particular for people born in year and day of Tiger, Horse, Dog, and also people born in year or day of Pig, Rabbit, and Goat. As so many people have chance to travel, it will also trigger traffic accidents.

“In general Monkey and Tiger are land animals, hence the accidents are often involve car crashes,” Lo wrote. “However, as it is year of fire which is related to airplanes, and the Monkey is also mother of water, we need to beware of air and sea traffic disaster as well in 2016.”

Lo recalled that in 1956, the last fire monkey year, was a year of air and sea disasters.

On June 30, a TWA airplane and an United Airlines DC-7

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Spurs rout Mavs

LaMarcus Aldridge posts a double-double in his first game in his hometown after signing with the Spurs. AP

Canlubang-Luisita rivalry returns at PAL Interclub

T

HE return of old rivals Canlubang and Luisita is expected to raise the level of competition in the 69th Philippine Airlines Interclub golf team championships set March 2 at the Mimosa Golf and Country Club in Clark, Angeles, Pampanga.

Defending champion Manila Southwoods will have its hands full against returning champions Canlubang and Luisita which boast national players and standouts from the junior ranks.

Canlubang, the most successful club in Interclub history with 17 titles, will be led by national champions Rupert Zaragosa and Jobim Carlos while Luisita will field top junior players Gido Mandanas and Dan Cruz.

Manila Southwoods won its third championship last year in Cebu City, edging Or-

chard Golf and Country by two points.

The Carmona-based squad will miss the services of Tonlits Asistio, who turned pro, but still has national player Justin Quilban in its fold.

“It’s gonna be tougher, but we’re quite confident we can still compete,” said Southwoods official Jerome Delariarte.

Among the holdovers from last year’s squad aside from Quilban are Vince Lauron and Junjun Plana. They will be joined by current club champion Yuto Katsuragawa, Aira Alido, Ivan Monsalve, Ryan Monsalve, Brixton Aw and Chepe Dulay.

Aside from Zaragosa and Carlos, Canlubang is fielding Gab Manotoc, Marco Olives, Luis Castro, Carlo Villaroman, Carl Corpuz, Aldrich Chan,

Jose Campos Yulo and veteran Abe Rosal.

Zaragosa, Carlos and Rosal were members of the team that won its last Interclub title in 2010 before its disbandment.

Luisita, winner of eight crowns, the last coming in 1998, is fielding a young, talented crew built around Mandanas and Dan Cruz. The other members include Basti Lorenzo, Santi Lorenzo, Tom Kim, Brian Kim, Luigi Guerrero and Ivan Ferreras.

The lifting of the handicap system in the championship division has prompted the return of two old champions.

Not to be discounted are Orchard, Cebu Country Club and Del Monte, three other teams that have won the Interclub in the last five years.

The 69th PAL Interclub is sponsored by People Asia,

Travelife, Mareco Broadcasting Network (Crossover), Manila Broadcasting Corporation, Airbus, Business Mirror and Philippine National Bank.

Other supporters are Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer.net, Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, Tanduay Distillers, Asia Brewery, Splash Corporation, RFM Corporation, Goldilocks, Eastgate Publishing Corporation, Robinsons Land and Rolls-Royce.

Trophies in four other divisions will be disputed.

The Founders class has been divided into two because of the big number of participating teams. The other divisions are Sportswriters and Friendship.

Both courses of the Mimosa will be used for the four-day event that will be preceded by the seniors’ event on Feb. 25.

Eastern University and Letran, respectively, are the major awardees in amateur basketball. Both players emerged as Finals MVP of the UAAP and NCAA. Eleven other athletes who made their mark in their respective sports are going to be honored with a major award during the Feb. 13 affair at the One Esplanade with the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) as major sponsor and with support from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Sen. Chiz Escudero, SM Prime Holdings, MVP Sports Foundation, Smart, Maynilad, National University, One Esplanade, Rain or Shine, Globalport, Philippine Basketball Association, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

The major awards list include Southeast Asian Games

sprint double gold medalists Eric Shauwn Cray, pool teen sensation Chezka Centeno, cycling champion Santy Barnachea, Cyna Rodriguez and Princess Mary Superal, representing pro and amateur golf, and rider Raniel Resuello.

Not to be missed out are wushu world championship gold medal winners Divine Wally and Arnel Mandal, jockey Jonathan Hernandez, and the tennis pair of Katharina Lehnert and Alberto ‘AJ’ Lim. On top of the honor roll list are the duo of world boxing champions Nonito Donaire Jr. and Donnie Nietes, along with Asian Tour winner Miguel Tabuena, all of whom will be feted with the prestigious Athlete of the Year honor during the formal rite to be hosted by Quinito Henson and Patricia Bermudez-Hizon.

Coach Tab Baldwin and

his Gilas Pilipinas team which clinched a surprise runner-up finish in last year’s FIBA-Asia Men’s Championship in Changsha, China is the PSA’s choice as President’s award, the Wushu Federation of the Philippines gets the nod as the National Sports Association (NSA) of the Year, and sports great Filomeno ‘Boy’ Codinera will be feted with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Talented and highly-popular Alyssa Valdez is again named as Ms. Volleyball, while cage stars Terrence Romeo and Calvin Abueva will share the award for Mr. Basketball.

An award for the Executive of the Year will likewise be handed out.

The gold medalists in both the Southeast Asian Games and the Para Games lead those to be handed out with citations.

Fajardo leads major awardees to be honored in PSA annual rites

B

ASKETBALL superstar June Mar Fajardo towers above a long list of personalities to be cited for major awards by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) in its coming Annual Awards Night presented by San Miguel and MILO. The 6-foot-10 Fajardo, main man of back-to-back PBA Philippine Cup champion San Miguel, will be honored for his excellence in pro basketball after winning a second straight Most Valuable Player (MVP) plum last season.

It will be the second PSA major award for the pride of Pinamungahan, Cebu, who was also the honoree for the same category last year by the 67-year-old media organization, the oldest ever in the country.

Rey Mark Belo and Mark Cruz of champion teams Far

A

SPORTS 19

LARGE San Antonio contingent in the Dallas crowd chanted ‘’go, Spurs, go’’ during a timeout with the Mavericks on their way to the biggest halftime deficit in franchise history.

The home team never gave its fans much of a chance to respond.

Kawhi Leonard scored 16 of his 23 points in the first half and the Spurs cruised through the second half of a 116-90 blowout of the Mavericks on Friday night.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 14 points and 10 rebounds in his first game in his hometown since signing a four-year, $80 million contract with the Spurs. San Antonio (42-8) matched its best 50-game start with its 14th win in 16 games against its Texas rival. ‘’Guys are just locked in,’’ said Aldridge, who was coming off consecutive games of a season high in scoring. ‘’We understand that on the road is hard, so guys are always more locked in on the road.’’

Patty Mills added 10 of his 16 points before halftime, when the Spurs led by 36 at 62-26 to top Dallas’ biggest previous deficit by a point from Dec. 29, 1992, at Sacramento. That 58-point loss to the Kings (139-81) was the worst in Dallas history.

‘’Against a good team like Spurs, we just got from 10, 15, 20 and it’s hard to chase a good team like that,’’ said Dallas center Zaza Pachulia, who was ejected after a second technical in the third quarter. ‘’From the beginning you have to be aggressive and we were not aggressive today.’’

The Spurs had little trouble ending a rare two-game road skid - losses to Golden State and Cleveland - in the first game since Manu Ginobili underwent surgery for a testicular injury that will sideline him at least a month.

Tim Duncan missed his sixth straight game with right knee soreness.

Dirk Nowitzki was the only Dallas starter in double figures with 10 points. All the starters were on the bench by late in the third quarter with both teams traveling for the second game of a back-toback on Saturday night.

Charlie Villanueva and rookie Justin Anderson had 13 points apiece to lead the Mavericks, who easily fell short of their previous season low for a half of 34 points in the second half at Indiana in December.

Dallas dropped to 2-10 against winning teams since beating Golden State without Stephen Curry.

WBO Intercontinental Jr. featherweight champion ‘Prince’ Albert Pagara (right) and IBF Youth featherweight titleholder Mark ‘Magnifico’ Magasayo.

JUN MENDOZA

‘Prince’Pagara, Magsayo headline Pinoy Pride 35

U

NDEFEATED fighters “Prince” Albert Pagara and Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo will be returning to action in Pinoy Pride XXXV which will take place in Cebu late this month.

Pagara expects a tricky fight against Nicaragua’s Yesner Talavera, while Magsayo is seen to have a tough challenge against Eduardo “Fierita” Montoya of Mexico.

The Prince and Magnifico are coming off stellar performances in Carson City, California where they recorded a pair of stoppage wins.

Pagara, the reigning WBO intercontinental junior featherweight king, said Talavera has an amateurish style, which is meant to score points rather than finish off opponents.

Pagara, however, refuses to underestimate the Nicaraguan, who has a professional record of 15 wins and three losses.

“Napanood ko yung laban niya, medyo amateur ang style pero hindi natin pinagkukumpiyansahan,” he said in an interview with reporters in Quezon City. “May power naman siya, may pasok labas.”

Pagara said he wants to show off a dominant perfor-

mance to make a case for a world title fight.

“Pinaghahandaan ko lang para pagkatapos ng laban, kung sakaling isabak ako sa world title fight, handang handa ako,” he said.

For his part, Magsayo also wants to give an impressive performance against Montoya, who has 13 knockout victories under his name.

Magnifico said a dominant win may help him clinch a bout against the US’ Chris Avalos in the undercard of Nonito Donaire Jr.’s super bantamweight title defense against Zsolt Bedak in April. “’Pag nakuha ko yan, mas maganda ang record ko, ipang lalaban ako kay Chris Avalos sa undercard ni Donaire,” said the IBF youth featherweight champion.

Magsayo described his Mexican foe as more of a boxer rather than a brawler. He added that Montoya also tends to play safe.

“Hindi naman siya talaga brawler, parang suntok takbo na naman,” he said. “[Pero] malakas din yung suntok niya, kaya kelangang iimprove ko ang power ko, speed ko at galaw ko para mabilis ko siyang mahabol.”

20 EDGEDAVAO Sports

Donaire reaches deal with Hungarian foe

T

HE stage is set for Nonito Donaire’s title defense against Zsolt Bedak.

The contract has been finally signed for the WBO super bantamweight title fight.

Carl Moretti of Donaire’s promoter Top Rank told ESPN. com that the fight is scheduled to take place on April 23 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

“It’s a great opportunity

for Nonito to defend his world championship in his homeland against a world-ranked and extremely capable opponent,” Moretti said.

Donaire reclaimed the WBO strap by hacking out a decision victory against Mexican toughie Cesar Juarez last December.

The “Filipino Flash,” a four-division world champion, first won the crown

when he outpointed Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. in 2012.

He later vacated the title to campaign in the featherweight class, where he won the WBA featherweight belt.

But after losing via sixthround knockout to Nicholas Walters in 2014, Donaire returned to the super bantamweight class.

He has since won three straight bouts.

Nonito Donaire

VOL. 8 ISSUE 226 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7-8, 2016