Edge Davao 8 Issue 46

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 46 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 5 - 6, 2015

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INSIDE EDGE

Landfill almost full: CENRO The BIG NEWS P2

NBI arrests 3 illegal recruiters The BIG NEWS P2

Duterte to enforce ban vs smoking nationwide The BIG NEWS P4

BIOMETRICS DONE. Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte visits the Commission on Elections (Comelec) 11 office inside Magsaysay Park yesterday to have his biometrics data taken. Comelec is urging the voting public to submit themselves for biometrics registration on or before October 31 so they can vote in the 2016 national election. Lean Daval Jr.

SARA: NO PLANS YET FOR 2016 ‘I can be a reserve. Find others first before me.’

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

F

ORMER Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio said she has no plans to return to politics in 2016.

In an exclusive interview with GMA’s “24 Oras Southern Mindanao” aired on Wednesday after-

noon, Sara said although she had learned from media reports that her father, Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, wants her to run for mayor next year, she is not planning for a comeback.

“Ang masulti lang nako sa mga tao na re-

serve lang ko. Kumbaga pangita sa mo’g lain na pwede (I can be a reserve.

In other words, look for another candidate who can do the job),” she said.

Sara said there are many people here who can also run the city well.

She said she might support her older brother, Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte, if the latter pursues his mayoralty bid next year.

But she said she could also support a non-mem-

FSARA, 10

Former City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte

Fencers strike for PH in SEA Games Sports P16

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 46 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 5 - 6, 2015

PICKETING KIDS. Lumad children of different ages from the towns of Talaingod and Kapalong in Davao del Norte picketed the regional office of the Department of Education (DepED) along Quirino Avenue in Davao on Thursday. Cheneen R. Capon

Felonia files motion vs transfer to Davao

T

HE legal counsel of Superintendent Leonardo Felonia filed a motion for reconsideration for the transfer of custody of Felonia from Camp Crame to Davao City.

This after the court issued an order to transfer the custody of Felonia from the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame to the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) despite the claims of the camp of Felonia that his security is at risk here in Davao City.

Lawyer Caesar Europa said their petition for the

transfer of venue is still pending at the Supreme Court.

Felonia, the former head of Police Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) 11, is charged with murder by the Davao City Prosecution Office for allegedly being the mastermind in the killing of Cebu-based hotelier Richard Lim King on June 12, 2014.

Felonia, who has denied the accusation, had earlier claimed receiving death threats in Davao City. His claim was reportedly supported by affidavits of people who have knowledge of the threats he

HE Davao City Health Office (CHO) has recorded a decrease in dengue cases in the first five months of 2015.

Speaking in yesterday’s I-Speak Media Forum at City Hall, CHO Tropical Disease Control head Elizabeth B. Banzon told reporters that her office recorded 1,170 cases from January 1 to May 31, 2015.

She said this is lower to the 1,960 cases during the same period in 2014.

Of the total case for this year, 457 were recorded in January, 283 in February, 178 cases in March, 155 in April, and 97 in May.

Banzon attributed the decrease of dengue cases to the massive information education campaign of her office with the help of different media entities.

Banzon, however, warned that even though there are fewer cases this year, the people should not be complacent especially during the rainy season when mosquitoes will breed everywhere.

She said the people should maintain the cleanliness of their environment.

Banzon also urged schools to conduct cleanup drivers since most of the

FFELONIA, 10

Dengue cases fall T

FDENGUE, 10

Landfill almost full: CENRO

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) urged barangay officials to strictly implement waste segregation in their respective communities to reduce garbage being dumped in the sanitary landfill in New Carmen, Tugbok District.

Speaking in yesterday’s I-Speak Media Forum at City Hall, CENRO head engineer Elisa Madrazo told reporters that the landfill is almost full in just a span of five years.

“In our program, the landfill is designed for up to 15 years. But right now the landfill will only last two more years,” she said.

Madrazo said the city

opened the 3.5-hectare sanitary landfill in 2010 and it was supposed to last until 2020 or 2025.

But she said CENRO collects an average of 500 tons of garbage per day, shortening the life span of the site.

Madrazo said because if this, CENRO will penalize barangays that do not segregate their waste.

“Under our ordinance, the residual waste should be the only one collected by CENRO while the recyclables should be collected by the barangay,” she said.

She said she has already fined a barangay captain for open dumping of waste and failure to segregate it. She did

not name the barangay captain, however.

Madrazo said the city government has no plan yet to procure another landfill since there is no available land for such a facility.

She also said aside from waste segregation, CENRO will also procure a shredding machine, pulverizing machine, and chipping machine to convert other waste to useful substances that can in turn be made into hollow block mix and other materials.

Madrazo said her office already allocated P2 million for the three machines which will be placed in the sanitary land fill. She said she will assign personnel who will segregate

the plastics to be placed in the machines.

She said the procurement is now in the hands of General Services Office (GSO) for bidding.

Meanwhile, the city is open for companies that will invest in a “waste-to-energy project” to help reduce the garbage dumped in the landfill.

She said some investors have expressed intention to invest, such as the Japanese company Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal as well as the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Madrazo said her office advised the companies to conduct a feasibility study on the project.

the complaints of around 20 persons.

He said the modus of the three suspects is to pretend they have an office in Manila and outside the country.

They promised their victims work in Japan, South Korea, Italy, Hungary, and Vietnam.

The victims could choose to work as hotel crew members at the Hilton Hotel with a monthly salary of $900,000 or

as dairy farm workers at the Kirin Company with a salary of P73,000 per month.

The NBI said the three would pretend to have direct contact with the said companies and charge P8,000 to P15,000 as processing fee from the victims.

The NBI said it contacted the companies but the latter denied having ties with the suspects.

NBI arrests 3 illegal recruiters

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

T

HREE female illegal recruiters who had allegedly victimized thousands of people in MIndanao were arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Wednesday night inside a mall in Ecoland, Davao City The NBI identified the three suspects as Louisa Paloma, Paz Caalim, and Catherine Alacapa.

All suspects were reportedly living in Davao City and

are college graduates.

NBI 11 spokesperson lawyer Archie Albao said the three, along with three other cohorts, victimized over 10,000 people in different areas of Mindanao for a number of years now.

Albao said the NBI had placed the three under surveillance starting December 2014 after the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) asked for its help in apprehending them based on

FNBI, 10

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EDGEDAVAO

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4 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 46 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 5 - 6, 2015

Hataman: BBL to address imperfections of ARMM

T

HE proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) will address the weaknesses and imperfections of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Governor Mujiv Hataman said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Hataman issued the statement after he appeared before the Senate Committee on Local Government chaired

by Sen. Ferdinand BongBong Marcos Jr. The current regional government’s structure has not been responsive to the needs of the people, he said, noting this has an adverse impact on efforts aimed at uplifting the lives of ARMM residents.

Those imperfections, he added, led to the rising incidence of poverty, and unstable peace and order.

“We are supporting the passage of BBL as we underscore the need for a Bang-

samoro that is stronger than the ARMM, a new government that will bring our people a life of greater opportunities and deliver the promises of a lasting peace,” he said.

Hataman underscored how the government’s gains in recent years including those achieved by the peace negotiations have not been effective in the autonomous region’s governance due to the system’s limitations in addressing Bangsamoro issues.

Hataman, however, noted how peace and order in the ARMM, promoted largely by strides in the southern peace process, yielded positive results in the region’s governance. It should be noted that after the government pursued the peace agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, there was no major breakout of conflict in the region and other parts

OVITRAP. Davao City Health Office’s (CHO) Tropical Disease Control Head Elizabeth B. Banzon demonstrates the use of the ovitrap to reporters present in yesterday’s I-Speak Media Forum. Banzon said the ovitrap could be used to kill mosquitoes and their larvae. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

IF HE BECOMES PRESIDENT

Duterte to enforce ban PDEA, Comval LGU lead “burning”of Marijuana vs smoking nationwide T

HE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-Reg. XI) under Regional Director Emerson Rosales, the provincial government, and other agency representatives led the burning of 21,942.70 grams of Marijuana at the provincial capitol on June 1.

Valued at P767,994.50, the activity is pursuant to the order of destruction signed by PDEA Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr. where the recovered Marijuana fruiting tops is the result of the joint clearing operation by the personnel of the 28th IB, 10th ID of the Philippine Army (PA).

In a short program held for the purpose, Gov. Arturo Uy commends the continued ef-

FHATAMAN, 10

forts of the PDEA, PA, and PNP in pursuing its anti-illegal drug campaign. He also cites the active involvement of the barangay officials and other private citizens who tips him via SMS or text messages.

The burning of Marijuana is also witnessed by PDEA Assistant RD Joel Plaza; Comval Police Director PS/Supt.

Ignatius D. Ferro; Prosecutor Atty. Linalou Veloso; Atty.

Behn Joseph Tesiorna; Board Members Tyron Uy, Randy Opisan, Moran Takasan, and Paul Galicia; RTC representative Ma. Cristina Allanena; PAO Rep. Atty. Janess Manipes, Kabalikat Rep. Gil Indino, Media Rep. Monnie Camay, and other guests. (Fe F. Maestre/IDS Comval)

By JON JOAQUIN jon@edgedavao.net

M

AYOR Rodrigo Duterte will likely strictly enforce a smoking ban throughout the country if he becomes President.

Former councilor Peter Laviña, a volunteer in Duterte’s Federalism Movement, told EDGE Davao that he believes Duterte, under whose leadership the city’s Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance was crafted and implemented in 2002, will enforce the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 (Republic Act No. 9211) nationwide.

Among other provisions, the Tobacco Reg-

ulation Act “bans smoking in public places such as schools and recreational facilities, elevators and stairwells, hospitals, nursing homes, laboratories, public conveyances and public facilities such as airports and ship terminals, train and bus stations, restaurants and conference halls, with the exception of separate smoking rooms.”

Like many laws, however, the Tobacco Regulation Act is not implemented strictly in many parts of the country.

Not many Filipinos also know that June is “National No Smoking Month” in the

Philippines as declared by then-President Fidel V. Ramos on May 30, 1993.

In Davao City, the New Anti-Smoking Ordinance, which amended the original law in 2012, has made smoking more difficult as it bans it “in all accommodation and entertainment establishments, workplaces, enclosed public places, partially enclosed public places, public buildings, public outdoor spaces and all public conveyances, government-owned vehicles and other means of public transport within the territorial jurisdiction of Davao City.”

The designated smoking areas have also been moved outside of establishments and are to have no permanent or temporary roof or walls. Their size is limited to no larger than five square meters.

But while he believes Duterte will enforce a nationwide smoking ban, Laviña said the mayor will also consider the plight of tobacco farmers who will be affected.

“He would also need to provide alternatives for the tobacco-producing areas,” Laviña said.

FDUTERTE, 10

GPH, MILF undertake ‘Brigada-E’

G A DIFFERENT BRIGADA. A “Brigada Escuela” like no other happened in Rajah Muda, Pikit, North Cotabato last Wednesday. It was a joint activity of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) under Deputy Commander Aldulkadir Manebpel and the Armed Forces of the Philippines under Brig.

Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. of the Committee on Cessation of Hostilities. Also present was Brig. Gen.

Noel Clemente of the 602nd Philippine Army Brigade. The collage shows a soldier and an MILF combatant fixing the roof of the school, a boodle fight among participants, teachers and school children, children helping themselves to the boodle table, two lady media workers with MILF combatants and a selfie. EDITH T. ISIDRO/Philippine Information Agency 11

OVERNMENT and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front continue to move forward towards normalization by spearheading the “Brigada-Eskwela,” program in the former war-stricken camps in Central Mindanao.

Brig. General Carlito Galvez, chair of the government’s Committee on Ceasefire and Cessation of Hostilities is joined with his counterpart in the MILF, police and the Department of Education to prepare the public schools for the new school-year, in Camps

FGPH, 10

5 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 46 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 5 - 6, 2015

New tech to make agri sector competitive

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

T

HE agriculture sector will have to come up with new technologies if it wants to become more competitive with the rest of the member-economies of the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

The organizer of the 3rd Davao Agriculture and Livestock Expo (DALE) which opened at the SMX Convention Center of SM Lanang Premier Thursday posed this challenged to industry players, saying new technology is necessary amid tight competition.

“Application of innovations and new technology to farming and livestock-raising will enable farmers and producers to move up the value chain,” CMB Events Management events manager Celia B. Maliwat said during the opening of the three-day exposition which showcased the newest technology in the industry.

She said these new technologies are needed not only by producers and farmers in the Davao Region, but to the rest of Mindanao.

“We have different exhibitors who came from Luzon and Visayas just to showcase the latest trend in agriculture and livestock industry,” Maliwat said. “These technologies will increase their production and make stakeholders more competitive.”

Maliwat said DALE will benefit local farmers and producers.

A total of 60 exhibitors from Luzon and Visayas are participating in ther event, mostly manufacturers and distributors of agri products.

Among the exhibitors for this year’s exposition are San Miguel Corporation, BMeg, Planters Products, Sagrex Corp., Julu Enterprises, Enson Laboratories, Chemvet, Rojun Industrial, Payo Manufacturing, Plastech Corp., Mars Agri Ventures, Manly Plastics, HarbestAgri Products, Honda Philippines, Exceed Enterprises, Inca Plastics; Asuki Weighing Scale, Natures Bio Organic, Bounty Food Corp., Inavet Nutrition, Proline Group of Canada, Tractorco Company Inc., Valco, KSI Rising Yuera, Maharlika Agro Marine Ventures Corp and Farmbook, among

NOW OPEN. Consul General Abdulah Zawawi Tahir (left) of Malaysia and regional technical director for National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) of the Department of Agriculture Dr. Mario Bonifacio Canillas (second from right) lead the cutting of the ribbon to mark the opening of the Davao Agriculture

and Livestock Expo 2015 at the SMX Convention Center yesterday. Witnessing the ceremony are CMB Events Management project manager Celia B. Maliwat (rightmost) and Nature’s Bio Organic president and founder Victor Cabral.

Lean Daval Jr.

others.

Maliwat said products displayed in the expo are feeds, seeds, crops, animal nutrition, fertilizer, pesticides and latest technologies and equipment on farming.

the biggest land area, the agriculture sector as well as the poultry and livestock industry have a very bright future because of its potential market locally and internationally.

Aside from exhibitors, there are also free seminars to be conducted on organic farming, livestock-raising, animal healthcare, swine breeding and piglet management.

Maliwat said that having

“The Davao Region is generally into agriculture.

Compared to Luzon and Visayas, it has more contribution to the supply of agriculture products like fruits and vegetables,”she said.

6 THE ECONOMY

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P1.2-B cacao program in 10 areas

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

T

crc@edgedavao.net

HE Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) is planning to launch the 1.2 billion Cacao Double-Up program in 10 Mindanao areas planted with coconut trees.

“Among the areas were the municipality of Nawaan in Misamis Oriental, Agusan, North Cotabato, Saranggani Province, Sultan Kudarat, Lanao del Norte and Davao Oriental,”MinDA executive director Janet M. Lopoz said.

These are the localities were the local government units (LGUs) initially submitted areas that can be suitable for the implementation of the Cacao Double-Up Program, which will be launched anytime this month.

“These areas were chosen based on the preparedness of the area for planting. The criteria were set by a technical working group (TWG) composed of MinDA, PCA, Department of Agriculture and

Agriculture expo bigger this year M

ORE than 60 companies are participating in this year’s threeday Davao Agriculture and Livestock Expo (DALE) 2015 at SM Lanang Premier’s SMX Convention Center.

“Sixty percent of our exhibitors are mostly from Luzon and Visayas, while the rest are from Mindanao,” events manager Celia B. Maliwat told Edge Davao during yesterday’s opening Organized by the Mandaluyong-based CMB Events Management and already on its third year in Davao City, DALE is bigger this year since the number of participants increases by 20 percent compared to last year’s expo.

Among the exhibitors for this year’s exposition are San Miguel Corporation, BMeg, Planters Products, Sagrex Corp., Julu Enterprises, Enson Laboratories, Chemvet, Rojun Industrial, Payo Manufacturing, Plastech Corp., Mars Agri Ventures, Manly Plastics, HarbestAgri Products, Honda Philippines, Exceed Enterpris-

A

million funding from the Philippine Coconut Authority, while the other half of the total budget for the program will be from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The funding will be utilized for procurement of cacao seedlings and other planting materials like fertilizer.

According to the Facebook page of Minda, “the project aims to help Mindnao scale up its current cacao production capacity that will benefit small

holder farmers and community-based enterprises.”

MinDA secretary Luwalhati Antonino earlier said during the Mindanao Cacao Summit and Inter-Agency Convergence that the program is like a buy-one-take-one system where a farmer can get a free cacao seedling for every seedling he purchase.

The project was also conceptualized to help Mindanao attain its 100,000 metric tons (MT) of cacao production by

2020, which will be used to at least supply the 10 percent global deficiency of 1 million MT. Data from MinDA showed Mindanao is the biggest producer of cacao in the country, supplying almost 90 percent of the country’s total cacao production.

The Davao Region, meanwhile, gets the biggest chunk in Mindanao share with more than 90 percent coming from cacao production areas here.

es;

Inca Plastics, Asuki Weighing Scale, Natures Bio Organic, Bounty Food Corp., Inavet Nutrition, Proline Group of Canada, Tractorco Company Inc., Valco, KSI Rising Yuera, Maharlika Agro Marine Ventures Corp and Farmbook, among others.

Government agencies’ Department of Agriculture and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) have also set up booths in the three-day expo that will last until June 6, Saturday.

“Products to be displayed in the expo are feeds, seeds and crops, animal nutrition, fertilizer and pesticide, and the latest technologies and equipment on farming,” Maliwat said.

She added that organizers are expecting the exhibitors to generate almost P100 million on site sales and post-event sales or orders.

“The increasing number of sales as well as the increasing number of participants

FAGRICULTURE, 10

NEDA cites role of iron and steel sector in dev’t

S a major component of infrastructure development, the growth of the local iron and steel industry is a crucial support to the country’s attainment of its national development goals and initiatives, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

“With an improved and revitalized iron and steel sector, we are confident that we will be at par with neighboring countries and be able to keep up with the rising demands of our fast-growing economy,” said NEDA Deputy Director-General Rolando G. Tungpalan at the opening ceremony of the 2015 Southeast Asian Iron and Steel Institute (SEAISI) Conference and Exhibition

Department of Trade and Industry,” she added.

Lopoz also said these areas have organized farmers associations and cooperators which will be the beneficiary of the program.

However, she said the TWG are continuing the assessment of the application of other LGUs who also submitted proposal to MinDA. Lopoz, meanwhile, said the initial 10 areas will be the beneficiary of the first P600

on May 25, 2015 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Manila.

Thus, the NEDA official said that the Philippines can anticipate a possible rise in the demand for locally-produced steel products as the country’s real estate sector continues to grow, the shipbuilding industry is starting to emerge, and the implementation of government infrastructure projects is continuing to roll-out.

“The ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation of disaster-affected areas and retrofitting works for disaster-resilient infrastructure are also expected to increase the demand for iron and steel in the coming years,” said Tungpalan.

As the Philippine econo-

FNEDA, 10

BONGBONG IN DAVAO. Sen. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (second from right) graces the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry General Membership Meeting at The Royal Mandaya Hotel last week. Marcos was the guest of honor during the event and briefed the Chamber of the latest

development about the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). Also in photo are (from left) DCCCII president Antonitio dela Cruz, chairman of the board John Y. Gaisano and trustee and chair of the committee on corporation communication Antonio M. Ajero.

DA-12 assures no rice shortage despite El Niño

T

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 12 played down fears of a possible rice shortage as a result of the onslaught of the mild El Nino Phenomenon that already left around P944 million in losses to crops and livestock in the area.

Amalia Jayag-Datukan, DA Region 12 executive director, said Tuesday the region has enough palay harvests and standby rice stocks to cater to the requirements of its four provinces and five cities.

She acknowledged that the dry spell has slowed down the area’s palay production in the last three months but noted that the affected farm areas are now starting to recover due to the occasional rains since last month.

“The dry spell delayed the start of our palay planting season but our overall production remains at the surplus level so

we don’t expect any shortage or dramatic increase in rice prices in the coming weeks,” she said in a press conference in Koronadal City.

According to data released by DA-12, the dry spell has affected a total of 44 municipalities and cities in the region.

It specifically ravaged some 233,555 hectares of corn, 157,328 hectares of palay and 1,357.94 hectares of high-value crops production areas as well as 6,564 heads of livestock.

The dry spell directly affected a total of 24,824 corn farmers, 9,530 palay farmers and 1,220 high-value crop farmers.

In terms of value, the agency listed production and opportunity losses of P571.128 million for corn, P259.882 million for rice, P101.55 million for high-val-

ue crops and P11.52 million for livestock.

Hardest hit is North Cotabato with estimated losses of P570.16 million, followed

by South Cotabato with P200.484 million, Sultan Kudarat with P96.55 million and Sarangani with P76.88 million.

Citing data from the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Datukan said the dry spell started to affect the region in early February and eventually intensified last March as shown by the decrease in the area’s rainfall volume to 40 percent below the normal level.

But the area’s rainfall volume improved to the mid or near normal level by April and almost normal level by May, she said.

For this month, the offi-

cial said PAGASA projected the area’s rainfall condition to return to the normal level and even above normal, especially in parts of Sarangani Province.

With the onset of the regular rains last month, Datukan said palay and corn farmers in the region have already started replanting for the year’s second cropping season.

In May, she said some 21,612 hectares of palay production areas in the region were planted and 32,047 hectares for corn.

For this month, she said they expect an additional 48,570 hectares of palay to be planted and 3,890 hectares for corn.

Datukan added these crops could result to potential harvests of 315,819 metric tons (MT) of palay and 107,811 MT of corn. (MindaNews)

INdulge!

EVENT

VOL. 8 ISSUE 46 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 5 - 6, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao’s last summer hurrah THERE is a mantra that says “All work and no play is not good for the soul.”

At Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao, this is firmly believed in and practiced as the management of the property spent the very last day of summer enjoying the sand, sea, and fresh air.

May 31, 2015 was truly made special for the hardworking leaders as it was the time and opportunity for them to relax and unwind, which was their reward for their exceptional service and dedication to the company. Island hopping in style was arranged courtesy of RC Hobbyshop and Aquasports, the provider for water sports activities at the hotel.

Other fun rides and activities were also provided to them, like Banana Boat ride, diving, and snorkeling, to chase away the stress and worries from the office. All the activites can

also be arranged for any interested guest. With all the fun and excitement, a hefty lunch was expected and lavishly prepared when they docked in Paradise Island Garden Resort. The host resort was very gracious and accommodating; it is no wonder they are at the top of every tourist’s list.

Indeed, the pressures of the hospitality industry can be very demanding and challenging, but the benefits and appreciation shown for their hard work and dedication by the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao make it all worthwhile.

For updates on events, promos, and culinary offerings, contact the hotel at (082) 233 2881 to 87 or 300 8881 or visit their website at www.waterfronthotels.com.ph. Like them also on Facebook at www. facebook.com/waterfront. davao and follow them on Instagram and Twitter at WaterfrontDavao.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 46 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 5 - 6, 2015

UP AND ABOUT

ADMU Lady Eagles meet and greet fans at Abreeza THE Ateneo Lady Eagles, the women’s volleyball team of the Ateneo de Manila University and the two-time women’s volleyball champions of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), delighted Davao’s sports fans when they graced Abreeza Mall’s Activity Center on May 29 for a meet-andgreet activity.

A full house met Alyssa Valdez, Denden Lazaro, Jia Morado, Bea de Leon, Amy Ahomiro, and the rest of the Lady Eagles along with Coach Tai Bundit and Assistant Coach Parley Tupaz at Abreeza Mall. The athletes were overwhelmed by the attention showered by their Davao fans, who filled the Activity Center with deafening shouts and cheers.

The Lady Eagles’ Abreeza Mall appearance was for the benefit of The Generous Soles Project, an initiative launched by Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles basketball player Kiefer Ravena and Ateneo de Davao University Athletics Director Noli Ayo with the goal of providing shoes to athletes in schools in the provinces. The first 200 donors to donate a secondhand pair of athletic shoes at the event got the chance to pose for a picture with the volleyball stars.

Later that same day, the Lady Eagles defeated the Lady Agilas, the Davao City college selection volleyball team, in Heart Strong, a charity game held at the University of Southeastern Philippines Gymnasium.

Abreeza Mall gears up to bring Davaoeños more exciting events this June, beginning with the Philippine Independence

Gear up with back-to-sch PCCB, Smart award top Clash of Clans teams in PH from Bratpack at SM City

AFTER battling it out for almost six hours straight, local gaming team Pinoy Playhouse emerged as the champions of the 2015 Clash of Summer, the country’s first organized grand tournament for Clash of Clans, one of the world’s most popular mobile games.

An engaging strategy game, COC requires players to build their own village and army to either defend their territory or wage a battle with other online players. These players may band together to form a clan that competes with other clans in a race for trophies, loot and prestige.

Spearheaded by the Philippine Clash of Clans Battleground (PCCB) in partnership with Smart Communications, Inc (Smart), the Philippine e-Sports Organization (PeSO) and Megaworld Corporation, the 2015 Clash of Summer gathered hundreds of COC players and enthusiasts in one of the biggest e-Sports events of the year.

Close call “It was a very close call,” said Pinoy Playhouse leader Nathan, who insisted he be called only by his first name.

“We have been playing together since our formation in October 2013, but our opponents here were really good. We were on our toes the whole time.”

Pinoy Playhouse trumped nine other COC clans by gathering the most number of trophies at 2,891.

They were followed Filipino Champs with 2,664 trophies and El Filipino with 2,634 trophies. The top three teams took home cash prizes of P20,000, P10,000 and P5,000, respectively.

“We never expected to win to be honest. We joined the tournament because we just wanted to have fun and to test our skills and our teamwork,” Nathan said.

“This definitely helped bring us closer as a team.”

Convenient gaming Aside from the main competition, the jampacked event also offered exciting prizes for winners of the Best Clan Shirt and COC Cosplay. COC enthusiasts also learned how they can level up their games conveniently by buying COC gems using their Smart prepaid load and postpaid account through Smart’s direct carrier billing on Google Play – eliminating the need for debit or credit cards.

PCCB Administrator Gwen Magalona said that the event was organized to provide COC players with a venue where they could express their support for the game.

“While we have been organizing COC tournaments before, those were merely done online. So we thought of putting up a tournament where players can participate as well as interact with each other in person,” said Gwen Magalona, PCCB Administrator. “We thought such an event will help more Filipinos to appreciate the game and respect the high level of discipline and strategy that it requires to be a top COC player.”

At par with the world’s best “Smart has always been a big supporter of eSport tournaments in the country because these provide venues for our gamers to realize that, with the right mindset and discipline, they can also compete with the best of the world,” said Lloyd Manaloto, Head for Strategic Innovations and Value-Added Services at Smart.

“Even if there are lots of different groups or clans, we are united when it comes to our aim of getting Filipino gamers worldwide recognition,” Magalona added.

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 46 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 5 - 6, 2015

t Mall Day celebration in partnership with the Armed Forces of the Philippines Eastern Mindanao Command from June 11 to 14 at the Activity Center. For Abreeza Mall’s rockstar-themed Father’s Day celebration, On Any Sunday Riders Club brings in their awesome big bikes for an exhibit from June 18 to 21; participating restaurants offer buy one, take one rolls through the Rockin’ Rolls Dining Promo from June 19 to 21; and rock ‘n’ roll band The Bloomfields performs dads’ favorite hits at the Activity Center on June 21.

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

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EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

John Lloyd urges viewers to be critical thinkers in digital era

JOHN LLOYD CRUZ reminds viewers the value of critical thinking in today’s digital era as the cast of “Home Sweetie Home” highlight various situations that require people to be cautious about scams and other deceitful acts online for Saturday’s episode (June 6).

“Home Sweetie Home’s” episode covers internet material authenticity, social media privacy, and text scams that the cast will take part of.

This week, Romeo discovers that Gigi’s (Miles Ocampo) crush, Mark (Marco Gumabao) is asking for sexy and daring photos to be sent to their online chat. Furious at Mark, Romeo warns Gigi about how hackers infiltrate social media for bad motives.

At work, Romeo gets shocked at Lino’s outburst after Sir Paeng (Ogie Diaz) reprimanded the whole team. When Sir Paeng demanded for Lino’s apology, Lino an-

fake basketball shot trick.

How will Gigi react towards Romeo’s advice?

Will Lino listen to Romeo? What will happen to Rence’s video?

Find out in this Saturday’s episode of “Home Sweetie Home!”

Catch the Kapamilya comedy shows and

nounces that he will resign because he received a text from his uncle that he will be given a large sum of money, but he needs to deposit P 2,000 first.

Knowing that it is a text scam, Romeo alerts Lino and tells him to take

make weekends complete with “Banana Split: Extra Scoop,” “LUV U,” and “Goin’ Bulilit.” Catch up on full episodes and past episodes of “Home Sweetie Home” through ABS-CBNmobile.

For more information, please go to www.abscbnmobile.com.

back his resignation and apologize to Sir Paeng.

Meanwhile, Rence (Clarence Delgado) attempts to create a viral video with Mang LA (Mitoy Yonting), Eric (Eric Nicolas), and Obet (Jobert Austria) that will feature an incredible yet

Blind auditions of ‘The Voice Kids’ Season 2 kick off this Saturday SUPERSTAR coaches and performers Sarah Geronimo, Bamboo, and Lea Salonga will once again search for kiddie artists with big voices in the second season of the top-rating and Twit ter-trending “The Voice Kids” starting this Saturday (June 6).

This season, the coaches are more aggressive than ever, using new tricks to convince an artist to join their respective teams in the Blind Auditions – the first stage of the competition.

“What we’re really looking for are kids who can sing better than our Season 1’s Top 4. And I think we found them,” said coach Lea. Coach Sarah, who mentored Season 1 grand winner Lyca Gairanod, shared, “It’s hard to find really unique voices. It’s where we come in as coaches to help them

improve as artists.”

As in the first season, each coach must have signed up 18 kiddie artists for their teams by the end of the Blind Auditions.

“Yes, voice is the defining thing. With kids, there’s a whole lot more involved. I have a good feeling this season I’ll find somebody special,” said coach Bamboo.

The pilot episodes features a fashionista, a football heartthrob, an artist who likes to impersonate other singers, a kid who will make coach

Lea teary-eyed, and a boy who will proudly represent his tribe in Bukidnon.

Who will impress the coaches? What are the stories behind the voices of the first three- chair turners of the season?

Don’t miss the premiere of “The Voice Kids” Season 2 this Saturday (June 6) on ABS-CBN. For updates on the program, visit thevoice.abs-cbn. com, like www.facebook. com/thevoiceabscbn, or follow @thevoiceabscbn on Twitter and @abscbnthevoice on Instagram.

June 5 – 9, 2015

LAST KNIGHTS / *SWORD OF VENGEANCE Clive Owen, Morgan Freeman / *Stanley Weber, Edward Akrout R13/ *R16

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INSIDIOUS: CHAPTER 3 Dermot Mulroney, Stefanie Scott PG

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

PITCH PERFECT 2 / *TOMORROWLAND Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson / *George Clooney, Britt Robertson PG/ *PG

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SAN ANDREAS Alexandra Daddario, Dwayne Johnson PG

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EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 46 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 5 - 6, 2015

FOOD

La Maison Rose’s ecclectic interior.

LA MAISON ROSE: Cebu southern eclectic

WHENEVER I visit Cebu, it would normally be for work, and work usually entails hours of meetings as well as spending time away from exploring the city. Just recently, however, I was able to take some time out from the dregs of boredom thanks to a call from The Freeman’s former Lifestyle Editor, Marlinda Angbetic Tan, whose first words were “Would you like to go to Cebu’s famous French restaurant?” I of course said yes and off we went to La Maison Rose.

La Maison Rose is a cozy French restaurant that is situated in an old

Black Pepper Steak.

With Tita Marlina Tan.

house along Gorordo Avenue halfway to uptown Cebu. “The restaurant occupies the lower portion of the house while the Alliance Francaise de Cebu hold office on the upper floor” said Tita Marlinda.

The Alliance Francaise de Cebu regularly holds French language classes as well as French film and music festivals.

As I entered the restaurant, I was struck by the restaurant’s eclectic yet stylish interior which featured various chinoiserie art, parasols, lamps, and furniture. Aside from the house’s pink exterior, the attendants also wore pink uniforms to match the

look of the place.

Ordering was done on iPads which was fun but took a bit of getting used to. And so after fidgeting a bit, we finally made our orders. I decided to have their Smoked Malasugue Salad followed by a Black Pepper Steak while tita Marlinda decided on a Sunny Vegetable Salad and Beef Tenderloin with Blue

Cheese Sauce. The beef was properly medium rare, just the way I like it, although I would have wanted a punchier pepper crust on it.

For dessert, we had a Creme Brûlée and a Mango Tart. Tasting the food in the eclectic surroundings, plus great company over some wine made for an enjoyable meal.

Smoked Malasuge Salad.

Beef Tenderloin with Blue Cheese Sauce.

7 AGRITRENDS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 46 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 5 - 6, 2015

Growing black pepper for profit Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

B

LACK pepper (”Piper nigrum” Linn), known locally as “paminta,” is one of those neglected crops grown in the Philippines. It is used extensively by food manufacturers as a seasoning agent in the preparation of both exquisite and everyday dishes. As a spice, it makes food taste better. It is essential in local dishes like “kilawin,” “lauya,” “mami,” “pansit,” “adobo,” “mechado,” and many other preparations.

Unknown to many Filipino farmers, black pepper -- being a tropical plant -- can be grown profitably in many areas of the country where the soil is welldrained and fertile.

It grows better under partial shade than in an open field, a characteristic that makes the plant good for backyard farming. It can also be grown between coffee and cacao trees. Most black pepper farms are found in Batangas, Laguna, Quezon, Negros Occidental, Zamboanga and Davao.

“There are four varieties of black pepper,” says the Davao-based Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) Foundation,

referring to large-leafed, small-leafed, tall, and short.

“You can plant any of these varieties in your farm or backyard.”

According to the MBRLC, black pepper is a creeping plant. “The plant needs posts to climb on,” the center states. Commonly used support trees - which are planted ahead of time - include “ipil-ipil,” “madre de cacao,” and “dapdap.” The supports must be at least three to four meters high, 2.5 meters between rows.

Here are more tips from the MBRLC on how to grow black pepper: Black pepper can be propagated with cutting or with seeds. The latter is not recommended for commercial purposes. But either way, it’s necessary to have a propagation bed where the cuttings can be rooted or the seeds germinated and nursed to transplanting age. The seedling bed should be of fine, rich soil and should be located in a shaded area. It should be kept constantly moist not too wet and not too dry - at all times until the plants are ready for transplanting.

For seed propagation, harvest only the berries that are orange or red in color. Pick only from vigorous, disease-free plants of the desired variety. It is a common practice to place the seeds in a cloth bag and soak this in water for two to three days before sowing. Sow the seeds in the bed six inches apart in rows and cover with fine soil about two inches thick.

The seedlings are ready for transplanting when these are about one-year old. In transplanting, it is advisable to retain as much of the soil clinging to the roots as possible. A reminder: “Plants raised from seeds grow more slowly and require more care than plants grown from cuttings,”MBRLC reminds.

Cuttings for propagation should be taken from vigorous, heavy-yielding plants which are below the node and 20 inches or more in length with plenty of roots at their joints. “Remove side branches,” MBRLC advices, “because they don’t climb but sprawl.”

Insert the cuttings into the soil of the bed in a slanting position with half their length buried. Cuttings are ready for transplanting when they show vigorous growth and are fully rooted.

In transplanting, the seedlings should be “balled” or provided with plenty of soil clinging to their roots.

Black pepper can also be propagated by means of marcotting. Here are the steps: From the tip of a black pepper branch, look for the node with whitish aerial roots that is less than a centimeter long. Enclose the node in a container. Tie it securely to the support. A tin can, waxed paper cup, or a plastic bag can be used as container.

Fill the container with fine, dry humus or sandy loam soil.

Pour in a little at a time until it reaches the length of the internode just above the node to be marcotted. Water the marcot lightly. Don’t press the soil against the delicate roots.

After a month, cut the young marcot from the mother plant.

Cut the stem very close to the container using sharp pruning shears or a knife. Place the newly cut marcot in a bigger container such as a clay pot or a plastic bag. Do not disturb the delicate roots. Then, harden the marcot by placing it in a partial shade Black pepper plant for three to four months. Don’t water it excessively.

Transplant the rooted seedlings at the start of the rainy season. Plant two or three seedlings a few centimeters away from the base of each support tree. Before placing the plants in the prepared holes, carefully remove the plastic bags holding the plants and soil.

Black pepper should not be allowed to grow tall. As the vines climb the supports, the tops should be pulled down as they Peppercorns (from Wikipedia) reach the desired height of two

to three meters. Every three months, apply manure or compost to each hill to maintain plant growth. In addition, be sure to control pests and diseases attacking the plants. Weeding must be employed, too Black pepper starts to bear fruit as early as the first year after planting. The fruits are green at first, turning yellow and then red and then black when they mature. Generally, the first harvest of blackberries - which varies from onehalf to one kilogram per plant - is on its third year.

Full production comes in the sixth or seventh year (the yield is approximately 1.5 kilograms per plant) and the plant produces continuously for 15 or more years.

The fruits on a bunch do not all mature at the same time. In backyard growing, harvest only the matured ones and leave the green immature berries to be

Black pepper harvested later on. In commercial plantation however, to facilitate harvesting, the operation should be delayed until almost all fruits on a bunch are matured. Then the whole bunch could be gathered in a simple operation instead of picking the individual fruits one by one as they mature.

After harvesting, dry the berries immediately under the sunlight until they become black and wrinkled.

The ideal remaining moisture con-

tent of black pepper is 12 percent.

Properly dried berries can be stored for long periods of time.

Unknowingly, black pepper is sold in the market in two forms -black and white. If the latter is desired, select the best and ripest berries and submerge them in water for one to two weeks to let them soften.

After soaking, allow the berries to ferment before removing the outer hull. After doing so, grind them and presto-you have the white pepper!

8

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 8 ISSUE 46 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 5 - 6, 2015

EDITORIAL Respect begets respect

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HAT does it take one to understand his rights and at the same time respect others?

A group of protesters purportedly representing the lumads of Talaingod and Kapalong are crying for their right to education. The issue stemmed from the closure of a school catering to indigenous people and the impending solution to recommend the deployment of military personnel with degrees in education to serve as para teachers in those areas.

In the midst of the uproar from the lumads of the area, the Department of Education (DepEd) has given assurance that no military para-teachers will be tapped to teach in the communities of Ata-Manobo tribe in Talaingod and Kapalong in Davao del Norte.

However, the two schools cannot operate for the simple reason that they failed to re-apply for a government permit.

The recommendation to deploy military para-teachers in the areas was made by DepEd Davao del Norte Schools Division superintendent Dr. Josephine Fadul to DepEd regional director Alberto Escobarte. The recommendation would have affected the Salugpongan Tatanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center (STTICLC), Inc. in Talaingod and MISFI Academy in Kapalong. The temporary

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closure of the indigenous schools was based on the order of the Talaingod Municipal Council of Tribal Leaders “and the reinvestigation, reinspection, and reevaluation of the said school in terms of performance in providing efficient, quality and relevant educational services consistent with DepEd and National Education policies, plans and standard.”

Yesterday, the protesters marched to the DepEd 11 regional office. They flashed placards and shouted for their rights. However, when photographed by EDGE Davao, one of the protesters told this paper that taking photos is not allowed. Not even for media.

Whaaat?

Here are people crying for their rights, exercising their right to assembly and expression. How in the world can one of them tell us that the media is not allowed to take pictures of them? So what is the protest for if they intend to keep it private anyway?

We find it ridiculous because the group has already appeared in media fora and interviewed by media. If they can cry for their rights, they should also understand and respect the rights of others.

Unless, some of these people in their ranks are not legitimate lumads from these areas.

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

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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) 0930-669-3018 Tel: (088) 852-4894

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EDGEDAVAO

H

‘No smoking month’? Not in Davao City (Part 1)

ERE’S something we Dabawenyos take for granted: June is “National No Smoking Month” in the Philippines, declared so by the cigar-chomping President Fidel V. Ramos on May 30, 1993.

In signing Proclamation No. 183, FVR said there was “a need to focus national attention to the dangers of smoking.” The declaration was made as part of the awareness campaign on the ill effects of cigarette smoking, and it was the Department of Health (DOH)’s way of joining the World Health Organization in the annual celebration of the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) which falls on May 31 each year.

In Davao City, of course, there is no such thing as a “no smoking month” since smoking is banned year round through the Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance enacted in 2002 by Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Interestingly, Duterte had confessed then that he smoked, but said he did so only inside his bedroom and in the bathroom of his house. He would never let himself be seen smoking in public, and he advised government officials to do the same.

I have personally never seen Duterte (either personally or in photos) holding a lit

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 46 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 5 - 6, 2015

LTHOUGH he was known mostly as Health Secretary and senator, Dr. Juan M. Flavier was also an author. In fact, he was one of my favorite Filipino authors.

He used to be with the Silang-based International Institute of Rural Reconstruction. Too bad, when I worked there in the late 1990s, he was no longer around. But he did come when one of the new IIRR buildings was inaugurated.

As an author, he wrote as if he were talking to you. And one of the things he was famous for was his parables. Here’s one of those which I consider my favorite: The farmer had a series of misfortunes in fairly close succession. It started with the loss of his work animal, one of the best carabaos in the village and the envy of many other farmers.

The thieves ruthlessly and recklessly butchered the carabao and only got the thighs. The body was left to decay and was eventually found due to the foul smell.

The loss of his carabao caused the farmer’s yield in his rice farm to dwindle drastically as he had to borrow carabao from other farmers.

Then, a bad drought completely wiped out his already meager crop.

At midyear, his only son was caught in possession of prohibited drugs. The boy was also confirmed to be a drug dependent. His daughter then eloped with the son of his arch-enemy.

“Anyone else except that family,” he moaned to himself. As if to inflict the unkindest cut of all, his wife ran away with the town policeman.

The farmer knelt in quiet desperation and prayed in his small hut. “Lord, I have had it. I cannot take it anymore. This is just too much for me. I can no longer carry the cross,” he pleaded.

A blinding light blazed upon the farmer as a kindly voice boomed: “I understand how you feel, my son. If you cannot bear your cross anymore, then come enter the room of crosses.

Leave your cross and select one whose weigh you feel you can bear.”

Immediately, the farmer saw a door open before him. He entered the brightly lit room and left his cross by the door. He saw before him all sorts of bulky crosses – all much larger and heavier than his.

cigarette, and THIRD WORLD I think many people believe he was never a smoker. He’s apparently kicked the habit, though: former councilor Peter Laviña, who is now a Jon Joaquin volunteer in Duterte’s Federalism Movement, confirmed to me that he doesn’t smoke anymore. “Maybe (he smoked) when he was younger,” he said.

Back to the Davao CIty smoking ban: The already strict guidelines of the original ordinance were made even more stringent in 2012 when the city government, under then-Mayor Sara Duterte, amended it into the New Anti-Smoking Ordinance and made smoking an even more difficult endeavor to undertake. There is now hardly a place in the city where a smoker can light up: smoking is banned “in all accommodation and entertainment establish-

ments, workplaces, enclosed public places, partially enclosed public places, public buildings, public outdoor spaces and all public conveyances, government-owned vehicles and other means of public transport within the territorial jurisdiction of Davao City.”

The only places to smoke in public are the designated smoking areas, but even these have changed. From being defined as enclosed spaces within establishments, they are now open outdoor spaces with no permanent or temporary roof or walls.

They have also been moved from inside the premises to outside (10 meters away from the entrances) and their size limited to no larger than five square meters. If you want to smoke, you’ll have to do it outside.

And of course, the ordinance now prohibits e-cigarettes, shishas, and the like.

There was an initial opposition to this, but recent studies on the ill effects of e-cigs (you can Google this) have apparently silenced them. I’m not sure if this is being enforced, though, because I see e-cigarettes being sold. But then again, selling them is not against the law. (TO BE CONTINUED)

There was THINK ON THESE! even bloodied cross which towered so high he could not discern its top. There were crosses made of narra, yakal, and even solid iron. One after another, he tried but could Henrylito D. Tacio barely lift the henrytacio@gmail.com crosses. Finally, he saw a small cross which appeared manageable. He heaved it upon his shoulders where it rested comfortably.

“Lord, I like this one,” the farmer announced.

The Lord replied, “My son, that is the very same cross you brought in. Take it and go in peace.”

Sometimes, we thought our sufferings are too much to bear. Unknowingly, compared with others, ours may be miniscule. Italian poet, novelist, and translator Cesare Pavese once pointed out: “Suffering is by no means a privilege, a sign of nobility, a reminder of God. Suffering is a fierce, bestial thing, commonplace, uncalled for, natural as air. It is intangible; no one can grasp it or fight against it; it dwells in time -- is the same thing as time; if it comes in fits and starts, that is only so as to leave the sufferer more defenseless during the moments that follow, those long moments when one relives the last bout of torture and waits for the next.”

Remember what Jesus said before? “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:23-34). “No cross, no crown,” William Penn thundered.

Science tells us that a pearl is formed by a grain of sand getting into a mussel shell. It irritates and causes pain. The inner part of the mussel sends tears which congeal around the grain and sand and make a beautiful pearl. So our sufferings and tears and irritations make

pearls.

Barbara Bloom shares this information: “When the Japanese mend broken objects, they aggrandize the damage by filling the cracks with gold. They believe that when something’s suffered damage and has a history it becomes more beautiful.”

“Why did this happen to me?” We have no right to ask this question when sorrow comes, unless we ask the same question for every moment of happiness that comes our way.

How right were the words of John A. Simone, Jr.: “If you’re in a bad situation, don’t worry it’ll change. If you’re in a good situation, don’t worry it’ll change.”

Sufferings are part of our lives. No one can escape from it. “If I had a formula for bypassing trouble, I would not pass it round,” Oliver Wendell Holmes said. “Trouble creates a capacity to handle it. I don’t embrace trouble; that’s as bad as treating it as an enemy. But I do say meet it as a friend, for you’ll see a lot of it and had better be on speaking terms with it.”

Joel Fritz tells this story: “I remember a crippled man in the hospital when I was a chaplain for few years. He was unbelievably disfigured. His body was twisted like a corkscrew and all h e could do was sit in bed, day and night. If someone came to visit him, he could not even turn his head enough to make eye contact.

“Whenever I came around to visit him, my standard greeting would be, ‘Well, how are things today?’ And his answer was always the same: ‘Just fine, thank you.’

“Now, deep down in my own heart, I knew that if I were answering for him, I could truthfully have said each time, ‘Well, things are a lot worse with me than with you,’ and I could have understood. But seeing this man suffering and hearing him answer so lightheartedly, always did something to me: I always left the room both humble and joyful.”

To end this piece, allow me to quote the words of Rose F. Kennedy. “Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn’t people feel as free to delight in whatever remains to them?” she asked.

No pain, no gain

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Who wants K-12?

W

H O wants t h e K-to-12 expanded education program of the Aquino government?

Not the parents, because it means additional expenses for two years.

Not the teachers, because it is an unsound reform program and they have not been thoroughly, adequately, and effectively trained, oriented, and prepared.

Not the students, because they do not know what K-12 is all about.

So, who badly wants the K-12? Only P-Noy and K-12 architect Arwin Luistro -- for the wrong reasons. Both Noynoy and Arwin are products of elitist, ultra expensive schools which, by the way, explains why they have a myopic understanding of our public school system. And so, they want to ram down our throats their twisted logic in support of K-12. It’s pathetic that we have a kakistocratic president.

Okay, I may seem sardonic, but I cannot help interpreting the letter K in K-12 to mean Kennel.

Why? Well, it’s because when this ill-conceived and indecently fast-tracked reform program is fully implemented, our country will unceremoniously go to the dogs.

Here are several valid and compelling reasons: 1) ACT (Alliance of Concerned Teachers) calls K-12 “another disaster in the educational system.” It plans to ask the Supreme Court to totally suspend the program.

2) The Suspend K-12 Alliance has filed a petition urging the Supreme Court to declare Rep. Act 10533 “unconstitutional and invalid.”

3) The Alliance said “Far from advocating national development, the K-12 program will prioritize global competitiveness which is a euphemism for the continuation of the 30-year old labor export policy as proven by senior high school courses aligned with foreign needs such as caregiving, food and beverage services, housekeeping, welding, and slaughtering.”

Speaking during the DepEd “KayangKaya Sama-Sama” affair last May 29 P-Noy boldly declared, “We are ready for K-12”.

That’s what he thinks. But Luistro’s teachers say they are not ready. So, who is telling the truth? Who should we believe?

Who knows the situation better?

------000------THE BEST ARGUMENT AGAINST K-12 Say I’m cynical, but to my mind, the best argument against the K-12 program is collectively Mr. Aquino, Mr. Luistro, the Aquino cabinet, the entire membership of Congress and the Judiciary, and all the professionals in the country – engineers, doctors, lawyers, educators.

Why? Simply because all of them never went through a K-12 program. They all had the decades-old 10-year basic educational system which produced outstanding Filipinos like Jose Abad Santos, Manual Quezon, Manuel Roxas, Claro Recto, Camilo Osias, Raul Manglapus, Ramon Magsaysay, Jovito Salonga, Ferdinand Marcos, Sergio Osmena, Jose Laurel, Carlos Romulo.

------000------GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS K-12 advocates say that the program will enable Filipinos to compete globally.

That’s nonsense. For decades, Filipinos have been competing with foreigners and have been outstanding.

Filipino talents are all over the six continents on earth – engineers, doctors, nurses, physical therapists, educators, skilled workers, technicians.

And this is the crowning glory of Filipinos: The Philippines is the most literate country in the whole of Asia.

And no thanks to K-12!

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 46 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 5 - 6, 2015

SARA... FROM 1

ber of the family.

“It doesn’t necessarily follow that if the mayor is a Duterte then the next mayor should also be a Duterte. Pwede naman pud lain basta siguraduhon lang na katong tawhana to naay kapasidad and there is a heart na moserbisyo sa siyudad (It can be anyone, but just make sure the person has the capacity to lead and has the heart to serve the people of the city),” Sara said.

Mayor Duterte had earlier said he wants Sara to run for her old post, which she held from 2010 to 2013.

Duterte also confirmed

talking with his son Paolo about their political plans but said they did not fix any plans for 2016 yet.

He is widely believed to be eyeing the presidency, while Paolo has already said he would run for mayor if his father runs for President in 2016.

Duterte stressed, however, that the issue is not about his son or daughter but the public trust and interest.

Duterte said he wants his children to continue what he has started by protecting the city and its people. With a report from Funny Pearl A. Gajunera

received.

In an order dated May 29, 2015, Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 16 Judge Emmanuel Carpio took note of Felonia’s claim and ordered that he be detained not at the Davao City Jail but at the DCPO detention center.

Felonia was detained at his mother unit in Camp Crame after he submitted himself to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) last year after his name came out as

the brain behind the killing of King.

He surrendered in March this year after the court issued a warrant of arrest against him.

King was shot dead inside his office in Bo. Obrero, Davao City on June 12, 2014. Self confessed triggerman Paul Dave Molina Labang and his cohorts, brothers Rommel and Rodel dela Cerna, pointed to Felonia as the brain of the killing. Funny Pearl A. Gajunera

Mader and Camp Abubakar in Barira, Maguindanao Thursday.

He said the Brigada Eskwela was initially launched Wednesday in Camp Rajamuda, Buliok Complex, Pikit, North Cotabato and Camp Busra in Lanao del Sur, conflict-affected areas in the war during 2003.

Galvez said the last venue of the activity will be in Camp Bilal in Lanao del Sur. “Government and the MILF have agreed to convert these camps into social entity by transforming them into progressive communities,” he said.

Galvez said the Brigada Eskwela in the MILF camps reaches out three schools per camp.

He said 20 skilled-carpenters from the military and 20-MILF counterparts are participating in conducting repairs of the school-buildings while the respective local government units and representatives from the DepEd conduct medical-dental activities on school-children and the immediate residents in the area.

Galvez explained that with

the eventual decommissioning of the MILF forces, their respective camps will receive social packages for them to improve the quality of life.

He said the Bangsamoro will be provided with livelihood training, individual and community competence building to pursue life anew, equipped with the precise means to pursue life.

Galvez said the government spends P100-Thousand per school, while the MILF provides 20 to 50 additional skilled workers.

“I am glad to be back here.

This area was a war-front in the conflict back in 2000s,” he said.

Abdulkadir Manimbal, deputy commander, national guard brigade of the MILF welcomed the new cooperation between the government and their organization.

He said the activity sends the sign of peace especially for the immediate families who aspire that their children go back to school.

Manibal affirmed that a fire razed the school during the 2000 conflict. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

Data from the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) data show that the tobacco industry “provides direct and primary source of livelihood to 43,960 farmers and about 300,000 other members of their families.”

“In addition, it provides a living for about 1.56 million other industry workers and dependents,” the NTA said.

Duterte is widely believed to be eying the presidency, although he has repeatedly denied it.

Felonia... FROM 2

GPH... FROM 4

Duterte... FROM 4

FERTILIZER. A staff member of Senator Cynthia Villar hands over a sack of organic fertilizer to Consul General Abdulah Zawawi Tahir (left) of Malaysia during the opening of the Davao Agriculture and Livestock Expo 2015 at the

SMX Convention Center yesterday. The organic fertilizer, which was given away to farmers for free, is a product of the Las Piñas Kitchen Composting Project, a joint program of Las Piñas Barangay Councils and Villar Sipag. Lean Daval Jr.

Dengue... FROM 2

NBI... FROM 2

dengue-carrying mosquitoes come from schools.

She said plastic containers filled with water should be emptied because these

are breeding grounds for the Aedes aegypti mosquito which is the carrier of the dengue virus. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

of Mindanao.

“The condition of peace provided the people a respite from the never-ending cycle of violence, giving them the time to start their lives anew, dream, and hope once again, he said.

“It also allowed the regional government to focus its attention on building roads, bridges, classrooms, farm facilities, community health centers, markets, and homes,” Hataman added.

Resources spent for infrastructures and services these past years, he noted, would have been used to buy medicines, food, as well as building makeshift homes for people displaced by the conflict had the peace process not moved forward.

“ARMM extends its sincerest appreciation to President Benigno Aquino III for

his trust and confidence,” Hataman said. The region’s recent achievements, including passing Good Governance Conditions, are proof that reforms are felt by the people and that Moros govern well.

“We are also thankful to the members of both the Senate and House of Representatives for sharing our vision for the region.

In 26 years, for the first time in history, ARMM received its biggest budget of P24.3 billion.”

“The increase in budget meant more projects and projects with greater and wider impacts. As it did in the past three years, the budget is being spent well for projects that truly promote peace and development and responsive to the needs of the people,” the governor said. (PNA)

my continues its high-growth path and the ASEAN integration takes place by the end of 2015, the government expects a surge in developments within and outside Metro Manila, in addition to the many key infrastructure projects that are already on stream and in the pipeline.

“Iron and steel are a major catalyst for national development. The growth of local iron and steel production will

support and further stimulate future infrastructure development initiatives,” he said.

Tungpalan emphasized that infrastructure development is a crucial determinant of the growth and competitiveness of the country because it facilitates connectivity and mobility, strengthens resilience among people and communities, and reduces poverty through creating quality employment.

Hataman... FROM 4

NEDA... FROM 6

The POEA also confirmed that the three do not have a license to recruit people to work outside the country.

“Sa over 10,000 ka mga nabiktima, walay nakagawas sa nasud (Out of the 10,000 they victimized, not one was able to leave the country to work),” Albao said.

Albao also said they received a complaint that there are a hundreds of victims

stranded in Manila with no money to return to their homes.

The three will face cases of Large Scale Illegal Recruitment and Estafa. The NBI is currently working for the apprehension of the three other suspects.

EDGE Davao tried to interview the three suspects but they refused to answer questions.

makes the DALE sustainable,” Maliwat said, adding that almost 10,000 attendees and visitors are expected in this year’s expo.

With the goal of disseminating the latest information and technologies in agriculture, Maliwat said free seminars on organic farming, livestock raising, animal healthcare, swine breeding and piglet management will be available to exhibitors and

visitors of the event.

For next year, Maliwat said a bigger DALE will be organized by CMB. DALE started in 2013.

“We will definitely hold this event next year because we always wanted to recognize the importance of agriculture. We will always do our best to promote and support the best that the industry can offer,” she said. CHENEEN R. CAPON

Agriculture... FROM 6

ERRATUM That in the Edge Davao issues of May 18, 25 and June 1 , 2015 a Notice of Loss for the Certificate of Full Payment No. 1003156 under contract No. 31696-6 issued

by Loyola Plans Consolidated, Inc. the middle name of VICKY P. ASENTISTA was inadvertently misspelled it should be VICKY R. ASENTISTA. Our Apologies. The Editors

11 COMMUNITY SENSE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 46 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, JUNE 5 - 6, 2015

Pisay Davao Teacher Awarded Outstanding Australian Alumnus

D

BASIC JOURNALISM SEMINAR. EDGE Davao managing editor Neilwin Joseph Bravo (6th from left) accepts the plaque of recognition from Brokenshire Integrated Health Ministries Inc. chief executive officer Rev. Ruben dela Cruz (7th from left) and his staff.

EDGE Davao conducts Basic Journalism Seminar-Workshop for Brokenshire staff

A

S part of its corporate social responsibility, EDGE Davao conducted a Basic Journalism Seminar-Workshop for officers and employees of Brokenshire Integrated Health Ministries. Inc. At the Brokenshire Hotel-Resort and Convention Center last Tuesday.

EDGE Davao managing editor Neilwin Joseph Bravo shared his knwledge on Trends in Newspaper and Newsletter Publication, Photography, Newswriting, Feature Writing and Editorial Writing.

Rev. Ruben dela Cruz, Chief Executive Officer of BIHMI, led

EECOP Adopt A School Program in Baracatan

I

N honor of the late patriarch of the EDC Holdings, Col. Emilio Escandor, an outreach program was recently held in Purok 5, Baracatan, Toril in Davao City.

Led by The Royal Mandaya Hotel general manager Benjie Banzon, department heads and staff of TRMH and sister company Davao Allied Security and Investigation Agency (DASIA) along with school and barangay officials embarked on a “Brigada Eskwela” in Baracatan Elementary School in time for the opening of the new school year.

The activity, which is un-

der the Emilio Escanndor Community Outreach Program (EECOP), was held last May 30.

The TRMH and DASIA teams repainted the classrooms, cleaned the campus, conducted feeding program and donated school supplies to the community.

The EECOP Adopt A School Program has Baracatan Elementary School as beneficiary.

“It is our way of sharing the blessings to the community and in keeping with the legacy of generosity of Col. Escandor,” Banzon said. (NJB)

the attendees composed of the publication staff.

“We are glad to have been invited by BIHMI to do a seminar-workshop and we can only hope that at the end of the day, we all grow together in this eternal process of learning,” Bravo said.

Rev. Dela Cruz thanked

EDGE Davao for the seminar-workshop. Ofelia Mosquida, BIHMI project officer, presented Bravo a plaque of appreciation.

EDGE Davao marketing head Jocelyn Panes distributed the certificates to the attendees at the end of the seminar.

R. Annie I. Rodriguez was conferred Outstanding Australian Alumnus Award by the Philippine Australian Alumni Association (PA3i) in a ceremony held last May 30, 2015 at Marco Polo, Ortigas. Dr. Rodriguez has been a teacher at Philippine Science High School Southern Mindanao Campus for 23 years now. Currently, she is also the Chief of the Curriculum and Instruction Services Division of the school. The PA3i presented her this award “for her exemplary achievement in the field of Education thereby making immeasurable positive impact to Filipinos and to the country in general, and for embodying the characteristics of an international ambassador of Australian education.”

Throughout her years in the academe, Dr. Rodriguez has received various recognitions as a teacher and civil servant. In 2013, she received the Gawad Bayaning Mindanaoan from the Asian Institute of Humanitarian Development.

In 2012, she was also awarded Most Oustanding Teacher by the Metrobank Foundation and was named Oustanding Digoseño by the Digos City Council in Davao del Sur for her exemplary work as a public secondary teacher.

In Philippine Science High School SMC, Dr. Rodriguez has consistently been recognized as one of the top performers based on the school’s work performance standards. In her continual efforts of bringing

excellence as an English teacher and in handling supervisory positions, she pursued and finished her PhD in Applied Linguistics at the University of Immaculate Conception in 2010 where she received a Merit Award by the Secretary of Department of Science and Technology. Back in 1999, her dedication towards excellence in government service was recognized by the Civil Service Commission by bestowing her the Ulirang Kawani Award.

Dr. Rodriguez was nominated to the 2015 Outstanding Alumni Awards of the PA3i being an alumna of Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia where she obtained her degree in MA Education and Training in 2002. This year, out of the 10 alumni recognized with a certificate of nomination, Dr. Rodriguez was one the 5 awarded with a plaque. In the words of Mr. Arvin Yana, PA3i National President, “Dr. Rodriguez has persistently blazed her own trail as a dedicated educator, lifelong learner who loves exploring innovative ways of learning and teaching.”

The Philippine Australian Alumni Association (PA3i) is a national network for Australian alumni in the Philippines.

It is the umbrella organization of all graduates of formal and informal training programs offered by Australian universities and training institutions.

The association serves as a platform for the alumni to give back and contribute remarkable impact in varied fields.

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EDGEDAVAO

NEWS13

BSP underscores financial inclusion strategy T HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas underscored the importance of pursuing financial inclusion strategy in the country, as this would provide greater access for all Filipinos to financial services.

BSP deputy governor Diwa Guinigundo said financial inclusion expands access to financial services especially for the unserved and underserved, hence provides “better opportunities for people to save, invest and contribute to greater productive activities across the Philippines.”

Guinigundo recently headed a consultation meeting with stakeholders from the public and private sector in Davao City, to present and discuss the draft National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NSFI) proposed by an inter-agency committee that BSP convened in 2014.

The BSP official said the committee composed of 13 agencies, considered NSFI an “ideal platform where the public and private sector can cooperate and coordinate to make financial inclusion, and eventually, inclusive growth, a reality.”

He further emphasized the need of the country for a financial inclusion strategy, saying this would allow Filipinos “to take advantage to productive

opportunities to reduce vulnerabilities to financial stress, financial risk, debt accumulation and eventually poverty.”

“Many among our people have limited access to financial services,” Guinigundo stated, citing a statistics that 36 percent of the 1,634 cities and municipalities in the country (or 15% of the population) do not have banking offices, as of end of December 2014.

He said only four out of ten Filipino adults put aside money to save, and 68% of those who save money keep their savings at home which he said “is very dangerous.”

Guinigundo added that 38% save in banks, 7.5% in cooperatives and 2.6% in group savings or paluwagan.

For access to credit, BSP stated 47% of Filipino adults are borrowing, most of the loans come from informal sources such as family, relatives and friends (62%) and informal lenders (10%).

BSP’s data further showed that only few obtained credit from formal institutions such as lending/financing companies (12%), cooperatives (10.5%), microfinance NGOs (9.9%), and banks (4.4%).

Guinigundo bared that about 39% of households receiving overseas Filipinos remittances allocate a portion of

remittance to savings.

In terms of insurance, also a financial product that provides financial risk protection for the people, Guinigundo said that only 32.45% of the population has life insurance coverage in 2013.

“These numbers clearly established the imperative of a national strategy for financial inclusion. Financial inclusion even becomes more compelling if we consider the poor and their number, the unserved and underserved,” he said.

Among the objectives set in the NSFI framework is to attain the presence of a wide range of financial products and services that serve different market segments.

Another aim is the assurance of a relevant, responsive and quality of said products and services, and the presence of a wide variety of strong, sound and duly authorized financial institutions utilizing innovative delivery channels.

Guinigundo said BSP expected to complete consultations on the draft NSFI last month to be able to pursue the launching and signing of Memorandum of Agreement in June this year.

He said NSFI is targeted to be finalized and approved by July. (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)

14

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SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO

CEREMONIAL TEE OFF. Imee Garcia of Apo Golf and Country Club hits the ceremonial ball in the 2015 WGAP ladies tournament at the Rancho Palos Verdes last Wednesday. Boy Lim

SEA GAMES ROUNDUP

Nathaniel Perez (in file photo) won a bronze in men’s foil.

Hot Curry spices Warriors bid to end title drought W

ITH Stephen Curry taking NBA Most Valuable Player honors and rookie coach Steve Kerr setting the tone, the Golden State Warriors are on the verge of their first title since 1975.

The Warriors led the league with a 67-15 record, setting a team record for wins, and used deadly 3-point shooting, skilled passing and persistent defense to ignite a moribund team.

Golden State had not won more than one round in the playoffs since taking the title in 1975, and their 40-year gap between trips to the NBA Finals is a league record.

But none of that will matter if the Warriors can conquer the Cleveland Cavaliers, led by fourtime NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James, in the best-ofseven championship series that opens Thursday in Oakland, where Golden State is 46-3 this season, including a 7-1 home mark in the playoffs.

“We’ve got home-court advantage that we need to capitalize on,” Curry said. “It’s going to be a battle and it’s going to be fun. This is what every player dreams about when you come into the league, playing for a championship. You’re four wins away from your goal, and we’re excited about it.”

Kerr, 49, was a shooting guard on three Chicago Bulls NBA championship teams from 1996-1998 then helped the San Antonio Spurs win their first NBA crown in 1999 and another in 2003.

The Warriors had reached the playoffs only once in 17 sea-

sons before prior coach Mark Jackson arrived and when Kerr was hired a year ago, he built upon what Jackson had started.

“We feel like we are building something that will be special for the next decade,” Kerr said.

Curry has averaged 29.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.4 assists in the playoffs, his ability to score in spurts and from 3-point range simply baffling defenders.

Curry, whose father Dell was an NBA star, made 286 3-pointers this season, 14 more than the former NBA record he set two seasons earlier. Golden State’s Klay Thompson was second in the NBA, 47 3-pointers behind.

The Warriors made 883 3-pointers, the third-most in NBA history. And Curry already has made an NBA one-playoff record 73 3-pointers.

So how do you stop him?

“Same way you slow me down,” Cleveland’s James said.

“You can’t.”

Curry averaged 23.8 points during the season, when he raised his game from impressive to elite and lifted the performance of those around him, as Thompson averaged 21.7 points, forward Harrison Barnes averaged 10.1 and Draymond Green averaged 11.7 — all career highs.

In addition, the Warriors led the NBA with 27.4 assists a game.

“That’s the secret to this team, the unselfishness,” Barnes said.

That’s also the key to de-

fending him, says Cleveland guard Kyrie Irving.

“It’s a total team effort,” Irving said. “I will be starting it off. Whatever happens during the game, we’ll see. But it’s a total team effort to limit his touches. He’s a tough player.

He knocks down shots. It will take a total team effort.”

Curry becomes the first NBA first-team All-Star to face the other four members of the select squad in the playoffs, having already dispatched Anthony Davis of New Orleans, Marc Gasol of Memphis and James Harden of Houston with James yet to come.

Golden State has no players with NBA Finals experience. Not since the 1991 Chicago Bulls has such a team won the title.

James alone has played in five NBA Finals, including the last four in a row with Miami, winning two of those.

“He has been here plenty of times before,” Curry said. “We’ve got to bring our ‘A’ game if we’re going to beat a great team and a great player like that four times.

“We’re excited about the challenge.

He had to win his first one at some point, and nobody on our team has experienced that, so we’re going to be fighting like crazy every night.”

H

Two PH fencers assured of medal

ARLENE Raguin won her Women’s Fencing Individual Epée quarterfinal game against another Filipino, Hanniel Abella, at the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.

With the win, Harlene has already assured herself of at least a bronze medal, and will face Singapore’s Rania Rahardja in the semifinal round scheduled later yesterday.

Still in fencing, the Philippines’ Emerson Segui lost to Indonesia’s Dennis Ariadinata Satriana at the Men’s Individual Foil Round of 16.

Indonesia’s Satriana advanced to the quarterfinal round against Philippines’ very own Nathaniel Perez scheduled yesterday.

Perez won his Men’s Fencing Individual Foil quarterfinal game against Indonesia’s Dennis Ariadinata Satriana and has already assured himself of at least a bronze medal.

He now goes to the semifinal round against Vietnam’s Minh Quang Nguyen scheduled late yesterday.

Here are our FOUR MEDAL EVENTS for today: 16:20 : Women’s Fencing Individual Sabre Quarterfinal Round [ Jylyn Nicanor (PHI) VS (THA) Pornsawan Ngyernrungruangroj ] 15:50 : Men’s Table Tennis Singles Semifinal Round [ Richard Gonzales (PHI) VS (SIN) Zhe Yu Clarence Chew ] 17:00 : Men’s Fencing Individual Foil Semifinals [ Nathaniel Perez (PHI) VS (VIE) Minh Quang Nguyen ] 17:40 : 15:55 : Women’s Fencing Individual Epée Semifinal Round [ Harlene Raguin (PHI) VS (SIN) Rania Rahardja ]

NETBALL The Philippine Women’s Netball Team end their campaign on the 28th Sea Games with a lost to Team Brunei (32-56) and with a record of 0-5 after the Group Stage.

The PH Netball squad is composed of Teresa Aquino, Remia Buenacosta, Daniela Castañeda, Ana Thea Cenarosa, Maricar Convencido, Michelle Datuin, Leanne Espina, Loraine Angela Lim, Kristine Marie Teo, and Maryanne Yabut.

TABLE TENNIS Richard Gonzales won his last match in the group stage by defeating Muhamad A.H. Muhamad R. of Malaysia (3-0) in the Men’s Table Tennis Singles Event Group C. After the group stage, Gonzales had a record of 4-0 and now OFFICIALLY advance in medal round. He will face 19-year old and world no. 175 Clarence Chew Zhe Yu of Singapore. lan Lariba also won over Novita Oktariyani of Indonesia (3-0) in the Women’s Singles Event Group C. After the group stage, Lariba with a 1-2 record ranked third in her group and failed to advance in the medal round.

Thai Suthasini Sawettabut advance in the semis after upsetting world no. 4 Feng Tianwei of Singapore.

Ryan Rodney Jacolo lost to Lat Thet Ko Ko of Myanmar (3-2) of the Men’s Table Tennis singles event group A. After the group stage, Jacolo had a 0-3 record and failed to advance in the medal round.

Padasak Tanviriyavechakul of Thailand topped his group and advance in the Semis.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. VOL.88ISSUE ISSUE46 46••FRIDAY FRIDAY--SATURDAY, SATURDAY,JUNE JUNE55--6,6,2015 2015

FENCERS STRIKE

Tinio bags first gold, Perez snatches bronze T HE Philippines barged into the medal tally of the Southeast Asian Games as fencer Justine Gail Tinio bagged silver in the women’s individual foil on Wednesday night.

Tinio bowed to Singa-

pore’s Wenying Wang, 15-7, to settle for second place and give the country its first medal in the 28th SEA Games.

She qualified for the gold medal round after beating Thi Hoai Thu Nguyen in the semifinals, 15-6.

Tinio started her campaign with a 15-13 victory over Myanmar’s May Tinzar Kyaw in the round of 16, and then followed it up with a win against Vietnam’s Thi Anh Do in the quarterfinals, 15-11.

Nathaniel Perez settled

Wang Wenying of Singapore patiently waited and made a parry-riposte against the Philippines’ Tinio Justine Gail for the gold medal. for the bronze medal in the Men’s Fencing Individual Foil quarterfinal game losing to Vietnam’s Minh Quang Nguyen in the semifinals yesterday.

Harlene Raguin also moved to at least a bronze

medal finish on Thursday after winning her Women’s Fencing Individual Epée quarterfinal game against another Filipino, Hanniel Abella. With the win, Harlene has already assured herself of at least a bronze medal, and will

face Singapore’s Rania Rahardja in the semifinal round scheduled later yesterday.

Still in fencing, the Philippines’ Emerson Segui lost to Indonesia’s Dennis Ariadinata Satriana at the Men’s Individual Foil Round of 16.