Edge Davao 8 Issue 78

VOL. 8 ISSUE 78 • TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

DOXOLOGY. Teenagers with Down Syndrome perform an interpretative dance during the doxology of this year’s National Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation (NDPR) Sayawitan Plus 2015 at the Annex of SM City Davao yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

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Tight security for Kadayawan P2 Durian candymaker: Food poisoning alarming P5

Duterte tells LTFRB 11 chief

‘IT’S TIME TO GO’

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

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AVA O C i t y Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte advised Land Transportation and Franchising Board (LTFRB) 11 regional director Benjamin Go to resign if he cannot perform his duties.

“Ug di ka katrabaho tinarong ngari hawa diri aron dili ta magka-engkwentro (If you cannot do your work, just

leave your post so we will have no conflict),” Duterte said in an interview last Saturday night at Grand Men Seng Hotel.

Duterte said he had received reports that Go is no longer reporting to his office.

“I need to find out where he is first,” he said, adding he wants to tell Go not to make people suffer.

Duterte said he does not like how the LTFRB treats clients who are applying to get a franchise for their public utility vehicles.

“If you are always absent, the people cannot see you and they wait forever

for you. You are not supposed to do that,” he said.

“You are just a government a government worker. Do not call yourself a government official,” he added.

Duterte told Go not to wait for him to take action that could result in his expulsion from his post.

Go had been previously implicated in the murder of transport leader Emilio de Jesus Rivera in Davao City in 2013.

He denied any involvement in the killing and his name was subsequently cleared by police authorities.

INdulge!

A toast to Page A1 Matina Enclaves’ VIPs

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 78 • TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

CENSUS COMING. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 11 regional statistician Maria Leah C. Magracia announces the upcoming mid-decade census of population in the city next month. Magracia urged the people to cooperate with the enumerators for them to get accurate data. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

DOH targets to deworm 800K students in region

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

HE Department of Health (DOH) 11 will be deworming 800,000 kindergarten and elementary school students in Region 11 on July 29 in an activity that will be done simultaneously all over the country.

“These students will be coming from 1,644 public kinder and elementary schools in the region,” DOH Integrated Helminth Control Program head Dr. Grace Berguia said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex yesterday.

Berguia said DOH will be partnering with the Depart-

ment of Education (DepEd) for the identification of pre-school and elementary students.

“The teachers will be incharge in giving the dosage to each students,” she added.

Based on the records of DepEd, Davao City has the most number of students totaling 214,214, followed by Davao del Norte with 141,000, and Compostela Valley Province with 123,072.

DOH is targeting to give pre-school and elementary students 400 milligrams (mg) ofAlbendazole, an anthelmint-

F DOH, 10

PSA to Dabawenyos: Participate in census

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HE Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 11 urged the people of Davao City to participate in the mid-decade census of population next month.

In yesterday’s flag raising ceremony at City Hall grounds, PSA 11 regional statistician Maria Leah C. Magracia announced that the census in the city will start on August 10.

“Dapat kita magparticipate, magpa-census, magpabilang, magpa-interview para makuha namo ang accurate data na kinahanglan sa City Planning and Development Office (We should participate

in the census for us to get the accurate data needed by the CPDO),”she said.

Magracia said the CPDO frequently asks the PSA for the exact population for future projects.

“Ang among mga enumerators manuktok sa inyong kabalayan unta dawaton niyo sila (Our enumerators will go to your houses and we hope you will welcome them),” she said.

Magracia said the enumerators have identification cards to ensure the people they are legitimate enumerators of PSA. She said three methods

FPSA, 10

Tight security for Kadayawan

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

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HE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) will intensify its security measures next month for the celebration of 30th Kadayawan Festival.

In an interview yesterday, DCPO spokesperson Senior Inspector Milgrace C. Driz said the tight security will start in the first week of August.

“Prior to the week-long

celebration we will impose tight security,” she said.

Driz said all police stations will conduct random checkpoints within their area of responsibility, especially in the areas of San Pedro, Sta. Ana, and Talomo Police Stations which will secure the inner portion of the city.

She said the City Public Safety Company and Mobile Patrol Company of DCPO will

also tighten their security measures.

Driz said the DCPO is now ready to implement the security plan to secure the people and visitors.

She said on August 17, the first day of the week-long event, around 2,500 police personnel will be deployed in the different area of activities.

She said 1,400 will be from DCPO while the rest will

come from the augmentation forces from the Regional Public Safety Battalion and PNP Scout Rangers.

She said the deployment will be done in shifts to ensure round-the-clock security.

Driz said the DCPO will still implement prohibition of backpacks and covered tumblers for security purposes.

gay officials.

“Suko jud kayo ko anang human trafficking. Kana sila iapil ta nag ihaw (I am really angry at human trafficking. I want them (human traffickers) included among those who will be butchered),” he said.

The mayor said he will call all barangay captains to inform them of their role in the early detection of possible trafficking from their area.

He said the police station commanders should also use

the Barangay Peace and Order Unit (BPOU) against human trafficking.

He said every police station should also assign two female police officers who will assist human trafficking victims in the barangays.

“Ang pinaka-urgent nato karon is human trafficking (The most urgent matter we have now is human trafficking),” the mayor said.

“Ayaw ko na ang mga Pilipino naipagbibili sa labas and gawing slave for the rest of their lives. Masakit paking-

gan (I do not want to hear Filipinos being sold abroad and becoming slaves for the rest of their live),” he said.

Duterte said he received two reports of human trafficking in the city.

Davao City-based anti-human trafficking group Global Impact had earlier said the level of knowledge on human trafficking of the Filipino public “is still minimal at this stage.”

The group’s founder, Amy Muranko-Gahan, said the

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Duterte trains sights on human trafficking

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AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte is set to form a task group to strengthen the enforcement of the law against human trafficking.

“Although we have strict policies, I want more proactive action coming from government,” Duterte told reporters in an interview on Saturday night at the Grand Men Seng Hotel.

The mayor said there will be coordination between the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and the city’s baran-

F DUTERTE, 10

VOL. 8 ISSUE 78 • TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

FNRI pushes fortified-rice

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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BIOMETRICS REGISTRATION. SM City Davao public relations manager Precious Ann Legario announces the upcoming voters biometrics registration dubbed “No Bio, No Boto” set on July 25 and August 2 at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

Deles urges prosecutor to drop treason charge

By JON JOAQUIN jon@edgedavao.net

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FFICIALS of the government’s peace process office have urged the Manila City Prosecutor’s Office to dismiss the case of treason and inciting to sedition filed against them by two party-list congressmen because it is “appallingly bereft of factual and legal basis.”

Lawyer and former Senator Rene Saguisag, who is representing Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary Teresita Quintos Deles, Government of the Philippines (GPH) Chief Peace Negotiator Professor Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, and other members of the government peace panel,

said the complaint “at best is the product of willful ignorance of the basic tenets of criminal law, democracy, and the legislative process, and must be dismissed for utter lack of merit.”

“At worst, it is the complainants’ malevolent attempt to use the Honorable Office for their political ends,” he added.

Saguisag said as government officials, Deles, Coronel,and the others hold themselves to the highest standards‎ with regard to adhering to the laws of the Republic of the Philippines.

He also pointed that even though the case is “appalling-

Comelec studies voting in malls T

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) has created a technical working group (TWG) that will study a proposal that allows voting in shopping malls.

In a weekly forum in Manila, Comelec Chairman Jose Andres Bautista said the technical working group would be composed of poll body directors.

“Pinagaaralan natin ngayon ‘yan. In fact kami ay bumuong isang TWG among directors ng Comelec para pag-aralan ‘yan at sabihin sa Comelec en banc kung maganda ba itong panukalang ito,” he said.

Bautista noted that commission en banc had initiated its own study on the proposal.

“We have initiated a soft assessment. Ito ‘yong strength, weaknesses, opportunities and threat. Sa aming preliminary assessment mas marami ang strength kaysa weaknesses, mas maraming oppotunity kaysa threat,” he said.

The poll body chief added that they would also consult stake holders to know their opinion regarding the plan.

“Sabi ko nga bago namin ito gawin kami ay makikipagconsulta dahil gusto namin malaman sa ating mga botante kung sila ba ay pabor sa panukalang ito,” he said.

Bautista is convinced that the people maybe in favor of allowing them to vote in shopping malls based on those who

ly bereft of factual and legal basis,” his clientspersonally submitted their counter-affidavits “in deference to the established legal processes of this country.”

The treason and inciting to sedition case was filed last May 28 by Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza, ABAKADA Party-list Rep. Jonathan dela Cruz, and University of Asia and the Pacific law professor Jeremy Gatdula.

In their counter-affidavit filed on July 16,2015, a copy of which was furnished to EDGE Davao, Deles and the others argued that the BBL is “clearly a document in-

citing peace, justice, order, unity, and goodwill among all peoples. Quite contrary to the baseless asseverations of the complainants, the text of the BBL itself reveals that it espouses an enduring peace.”

“To charge us with treason and inciting to sedition is to misunderstand not only basic concepts of criminal law and constitutional law, but the very idea of a nation, democracy, the Philippine people, and the history of the Republic of the Philippines,” the counter-affidavit added.

They said the complaint failed to prove the existence of all the elements of treason such as a state of war.

crc@edgedavao.net

HE Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is urging local government units in Davao Region to pass ordinances that will mandate rice millers to produce iron-fortified rice.

DOST 11 assistant regional director Elsy Mae Solidum said only the province of Compostela Valley has such an ordinance.

“The iron-fortified rice is now being sold in different public market in Compostela Valley,” Solidum said during yesterday’s KapehansaDabaw at SM City Davao Annex.

She said DOST-FNRI piloted the technology in Compostela Valley because it was stricken by Typhoon Pablo in December 2012.

Solidum said consumption of fortified rice helps in meeting the body requirement for iron, thus increasing the ability of a child to understand and prolong his or her attention during classes.

“Our study conducted at Maco Heights Elementary School bared that students who were fed with fortified rice became more attentive and active in the class,” she said.

FNRI assistant scientist Dr. Imelda Angeles-Agdeppa said the Philippines has a national iron-deficiency prevalence rate of 11 percent based on the recently conducted National Nutrition Survey last April.

Agdeppa said the success of the program will depend on the participation and commitment of the local government unit to end iron deficiency among children.

She said each LGU should pass an ordinance to oblige rice millers to produce iron-fortified rice.

Agdeppa said this is the only way fortified rice can reach every table of each household in the region.

“Rice millers have to have the technology we developed

FFNRI, 10

Ampatuan civil, criminal raps extinguished with his death

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EPARTMENT of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila M. De Lima on Monday said that the civil and criminal cases of Andal Ampatuan Sr. are extinguished with his death.

De Lima cited the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) in the case of “People of the Philippines versus Soria” only last year, which states that the death of an accused before his conviction of final judgment extinguishes his criminal case even the civil aspect of the case.

However, De Lima said, if an accused is convicted with finality before he dies, the civil

case will remain and the civil claims can be sought by the private prosecutor from his estate.

In the case of Andal Sr., De Lima said, he died without conviction of final judgment, hence, both the criminal and civil cases filed against him in connection with the alleged massacre of 58 civilians, including 32 media practitioners, are already both extinguished.

Andal Sr. was one of the principal accused in the Maguindanao massacre that allegedly took place in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao on Nov. 23, 2009. (PNA)

OUTSTANDING PWDS. Department of Science and Technology (DOST) 11 assistant regional director Elsy Mae Solidum checks out the exhibit of the nominees

FCOMELEC, 10 of the recently-concluded Most Outstanding Person with Disability (PWD) Award at the Annex of SM City Davao yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO

4 SUBURBIA

VOL. 8 ISSUE 78 • TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Kapalong LGU all set for 67th anniversary

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SUMILAO BROOMS. On both sides of the national highway in Sumilao, Bukidnon are stalls selling what are referred to as “Baguio brooms.” Choose plain or those with handles marked “Sumilao, Bukidnon” in red, green, yellow and blue. These made-in-Sumilao brooms are sold at 40, 50 and 60 pesos each.

MindaNews photo by Carolyn O. Arguillas

SouthCot festivities ‘generally peaceful’

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OLICE authorities in South Cotabato declared as generally peaceful the 10-day festivities in the province in connection with its 49th foundation anniversary celebration and 16th T’nalak Festival.

Senior Superintendent Jose Arnaldo Briones Jr., South Cotabato police director, said Monday they have not recorded any major untoward incident that was related to the conduct of the festivities, which ended last Saturday.

He said a motorcycle was stolen, a robbery-holdup and several minor incidents were

reported at the festival venue but they were properly addressed by their operatives.

“Overall, the conduct of the entire festival was peaceful, smooth and orderly,” he said during their regular flag-raising ceremony.

He attributed the peaceful conduct of the festivities to their intensified intelligence and security operations.

The official credited the efforts of local police units and augmentation personnel from the Police Regional Office 12’s Public Safety Battalion.

He cited the assistance given by the provincial civil

Waste management strengthened during SoCot’s 2015 T’nalak Festival

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HE Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) further strengthened its Solid Waste Management (SWM) program during the 2015 T’nalak Festival celebrated on July 9-18 with the establishment of Collection Points (CPs) for waste disposal and collection in strategic areas in the streets of Koronadal Ciy. Environment Management Specialist II Elbe Balucanag, Officer-in-Charge of PEMO’s Environment Management Division, met with City Environment and Natural Resources Office (City ENRO) personnel a few days before the celebration to mapped out plans on the strict enforcement of proper waste segregation, disposal and collection of garbage during the 10-day festivities.

The joint PEMO-City ENRO team designated 8 CPs located at Jaycee Avenue-Rizal Street, Girl Scouts of the Philippines, Trisha’s Burger House-Alunan

Avenue, DepED Provincial Schools Division-Alunan Avenue, NDMU-Sucayan Street, City Health Office – Alunan Avenue, Mabini Street (Provincial Capitol) and Judge Alba Street (PROTECH Center).

Wastes disposed on garbage bins were collected between 6 o’clock to 7 o’clock in the morning by dump trucks of the City ENRO in the duration of the T’nalak Festivities.

The joint also strict enforced proper segregation of wastes such as the “Nabubulok” and “Di-Nabubulok during the 10-day long festivities.

The City ENRO also said reminded the public of its ordinance prohibiting smoking in food establishment, in which violators will be fined P100.00.

Aside from establishment of CPs and scheduling collection of garbage daily, the joint team also mobilized enforcers and other personnel to assist in their SWM program. (Fruto C. Sumagaysay Jr., PIO-South Cotabato)

security unit, barangay police teams and elements from the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion.

Briones also lauded the

support extended by the provincial government, especially

by South Cotabato Governor Daisy Avance-Fuentes.

FSOUTHCOT, 10

APALONG will mark another milestone as it celebrates its 67th founding anniversary as a distinct town on August 1, 2015.

Then-President Elpidio R. Quirino signed on August 1, 1948 Executive Order No. 151 declaring Kapalong as a distinct municipality.

To make the festivity more exciting and fun filled, the celebration’s steering committee headed by Mayor Edgardo L. Timbol has lined up two-weeklong activities.

On July 20 is the Inter-barangay basketball tournament for men and volleyball for women as a kickoff event, while other game tournaments such as football invitational games, Inter barangay volleyball for PRO-GLAD, billiard, dart taekwondo, sepak takraw for elementary and high school and veterans, trisikad padyak race, inter-basketball for elementary, drum and lyre competition will have different schedules.

The Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (MDRRMC) will have its Life Boat Making Contest out of recyclable materials open to all elementary and high schools in the municipality starting January 25.

The Public Employment Service Office (PESO) will have its PESLA and career guidance

for graduating students on July 27 while the Municipal Health Office will have its Blood Letting Activity on the 28th. The Health Office will also celebrate its health day and blood donors’ day to give recognition to individuals and families who contributed much in the blood sufficiency program of the local government.

A day with the farmers will also be initiated recognizing their effort for the town’s booming agriculture industry which will be underscored with the inauguration of the LGU’s livestock center.

A tribal ritual will also be performed by the Kapalong Tribal Council at the town square’s mini theater as part of the LGU’s effort of preserving the municipality’s cultural heritage apart from staging the Hugyaw sa Kagabhion cultural night presentation among sectors in town and the Search for Miss Teen Kapalong.

On August 1, which is the anniversary day, a grand parade will be participated in by different sectors in town which will be highlighted with a program with Congressman Anthony Rafael G. del Rosario as the Guest Speaker. The most awaited fireworks display and rave party is expected to be showcased as the celebration’s concluding activity in the evening. (cj-MIOKapalong)

sure that those in the community achieve a certain healthy physical well-being so they can be more productive. If the community is healthy and progressive then we achieve a certain degree of success as well. The local government unit cannot do this alone and they need all the partners they can get, and we are privileged to have been a major development partner of the local government and Mayor Calida,” Geronimo said.

PBGEA executive director Stephen Antig said the success and survival of the industry “rests on the health and well-being of the growers, the workers, the families, and the communities that surround the farmlands that protecting their health and well being is of utmost importance and central to our operations with

the belief that quality of life is an important measure of business performance.”

Datu Ramil Morillo, Sitio Camocaan’s Tribal Chieftain, acknowledged the shared effort of the company and the government.

“Nakatulong gyud. Unta magpadayon pa ang partnership sa company ug sa gobyerno sa paghatag ug ing-ani nga serbisyo sa publiko (This truly helped and we hope that the partnership between the company and the government continues to bring services like this to the public.)

Each year, the banana industry shells out millions of pesos for Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects/ activities that endeavors to uplift and empower the local community.

Banana firms conduct medical outreach for IPs

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HE La Panday Foods Corporation (LFC) and the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) in partnership with the local government unit of Hagonoy Davao del Sur conducted another free medical clinic for the indigent community of Sitio Camocaan on July 15, 2014 at the community court of the Sitio in Guihing, Hagonoy, Davao del Sur. More than 700 people were given free medical assistance and services, which included consultation, tooth extraction, and medicines. A supplemental feeding program was also conducted.

Demetria Manggaga of Sitio Camocaan, together with her husband and grandchildren, were among those who benefited from the clinic.

“Maayo gyud ilang gibuhat dri sa amua, labaw na sa paghatag ug mga tambal.

Akong mga apo ky nangasakit labaw na akong bana, lisud magkuha ug tambal sa hospital ky puno kaayo, naa higayon paulion nalang ka ug wala gyud kay madala na tambal (This medical mission is really appreciated here in the community, especially the free medicines. My grandchildren are sick and so is my husband and it’s difficult to get medical assistance from the hospital because they are already full.

There were even instances where they just sent us home

without any medicine),” Manggaga said.

Hagonoy Municpality Mayor Franco M. Calida expressed his gratitude to La Panday and PBGEA for being the government’s partner in helping out the community.

“This has been a regular effort and the Indigenous People (IP) in the area really need this. Aside from the regular medical clinics, the banana industry has also put up a Day Care Center in the area.)

Hernani Geronimo, Head of the Strategic Human Resources Department of LFC, said, they have been operating in the community for a long time “and this is our home too.”

“We want the community to have their basic health and medical requirements checked. It’s good to make

FBANANA, 10

MEDICAL MISSION. The banana industry in partnership with the local government unit of Hagonoy Davao del Sur conducted another free medical clinic for the indigent community of Sitio Camocaan on July 15, 2014.

5 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 78 • TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Candy maker: Food poisoning alarming

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

A

crc@edgedavao.net

TOP durian candy manufacturer in Davao City admitted that the food poisoning incident in Caraga has affected their business that customers are refusing even their free tasting.

“We have clients who already have apprehensions on our products,” Imee Añabesa, operations supervisor of Apo Ni Lola, said in yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex.

“We were alarmed,” she added.

Añabesa said what happened in Caraga more than a week ago where some 2,000 school children suffered nausea and vomiting after eating a durian candy has created a stigma to both foreign and local tourists.

She said some of their customers had already refused taking even their free taste of durian candies because of the fear they might be poisoned as well. The tourists also generalized negatively to the products of other durian processors.

The Davao-based creamy durian delicacies producer, however, said it was not totally hit by the incident as it has other products like pie and

pastries.

Añabesa assured ustomers Apo Ni Lola has mechanisms to ensure the quality and safety of their durian products.

“We have quality assurance officer that regularly check our products,” she said.

The company, Añabesa added, was able to maintain its quality by assuring that their products are only distributed at their five other branches located at hotels and a mall.

Apo ni Lola marketing officer Roldan Maghari said their branches are located at the Royal Mandaya Hotel, Pinnacle Hotel, Apo View Hotel, Waterfront Insular Hotel and at the ABreeza-Ayala Mall.

“You will not see our products in the sidewalks,” he said.

The company sees a positive outlook for the durian candy industry this Kadayawan when there will be a lot of visiting tourist.

“We were hardly affected by the incident because June and July are lean months,” Añabesa said, adding that it will be hard to estimate whether the poisoning incident has significant on their sales.

TOP-OF-THE-LINE. Happy Mobile marketing and product manager Francesca de Guzman and trade marketing manager Joeremie F. Fresnido show off the company’s top-of-the-line smartphones during the opening of the firm’s concept store at Gaisano Mall of Davao on Saturday afternoon. Happy Mobile is the newest mobile phone brand in the country with interesting but very affordable devices. Lean Daval Jr.

6 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 78 • TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Livestock abattoir in Davao pushed

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

OUNCILOR Marissa Salvador-Abella on Monday said she will be proposing to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte for the establishment of a livestock slaughterhouse to cater the export market.

“There’s a huge demand for export quality livestock meat in Muslim countries in the Middle East like Dubai

as well as nearby countries, which are part of the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines- East Asean Growth Area),” Abelle said in yesterday’s regular media forum Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex.

Abella, chair of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) committee on agricul-

ture and food, said there is a huge demand of high quality pork meat for instance in Middle East because of the increasing number of non-Muslims and expats.

The establishment of a slaughterhouse facility, she saId, will support the livestock industry of the city as well as the livelihood of livestock raisers who will be

contracted by whoever who will operate the abattoir.

“This will help the agri-farming industry but also the livestock industry,” Abella said, adding that the abattoir will also have a state-of-the-art laboratory which will be necessary for testing the quality of the processed meat products.

The establishment of

the laboratory and a modern slaughterhouse is necessary for the local livestock industry players to seize the opportunity in the export market, according to her.

“We need a triple A quality grade to be able to export to other countries.

At present, we only have a double A quality grade,” Abella said.

De Ocampo: ‘DaangMatino’ as vital as ‘DaangMatuwid’

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FORTIFIED. Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI)senior Science research specialist Marcela C. Saises holds a sample of iron fortified rice being promoted by various government agencies, particularly the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and FNRI, to lessen the increasing cases of anemia in the country. Lean Daval Jr.

Apo ni Lola to launch durian coffee H

OMEGROWN Apo ni Lola will launch its durian coffee next month in time for the celebration of the Kadayawan Festival.

Roldan Maghari, Apo ni Lola marketing officer, said they will be the first processor which will introduce durian coffee, giving the new shape of the local durian processing industry Durian coffee is also being served in home-based Blugre coffee shop.

“We will be using processed durian meat as an addon to our very own coffee,” Maghari said.

Maghari said the durian coffee will be soon served at their main branch in Matina, where tourist can also taste their soft and creamy durian delicacies like tart and durian pies.

“Apo ni Lola offers delicacies which will complete the whole Davao experience,” he said, adding that Apo ni Lola

has truly grown from a small processor.

“We do not settle, we innovate,” Maghari said.

“Our sales for the first six months of the year have increased to 70 percent, higher than our sales on the same period last year,” he added.

Maghari said their factory is already processing three tons of durian meat per month.

He sees Apo ni Lola to be in different parts of the country five years from now.

“We’re planning to open Apo ni Lola for franchising one or two years from now,” Maghari said.

The company is planning to open its durian house soon where local and foreign tourist can enjoy a cup of their durian coffee and buy their other delicacies.

At present, among their products are durian delights, durian yema, durian pies, durian sandwich spread and durian candy. Cheneen R. Capon

issues of exporters in Mindanao, to make export procedures seamless,” Marañon later told reporters.

He said their export cost have increased because of “under the table transactions.”

Meanwhile, Marañon said they are expecting 200 to 250 participants during the Con-

gress.

PhlExport, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Agriculrure, city government of Davao and Bureau of Customs are supported the event.

The opening ceremony will start at 10am and followed by the congress proper.

Lina to grace Exporters Congress

By JESSAMARIESTELA P. PUTONG and CHENEEN R. CAPON

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HE Philippine Exporters Confederation (Philexport) Davao confirmed the attendance of Customs Commissioner Bert Lina during the Mindanao Exporters Congress 2015 slated from July 23 to 25 at the SMX Convention Center.

Speaking at the Kapehan

sa Dabaw media forum at SM City Annex Monday, Philexport president Ferdinand Maranon said they will raise the concerns of exporters over procedures in the three-day activity which has theme “Integrating the Mindanao SMEs in the Global Value Chain.”

“We want to address the

The foreign certifier will be from Switzerland.

The local lawmaker from the second district said the proposal is still being crafted by concerned offices and agencies.

There is now a discussion on the matter among industry players, Department of Agriculture and City Veterinary Office.

HILIPPINE Veterans Bank (PVB) chair Roberto de Ocampo emphasized the concept of ‘DaangMatino,’ (sensible path) should go hand in hand with the current administration’s ‘DaangMatuwid’ (straight path) “if we want the Philippine economy to continually progress.”

While De Ocampo is quick to praise the economic improvements in the country, he stressed that there is still more work left to do as he went on to tackle the current economic and business overview of the country during his speech.

“The Philippines continues to be one of the fastest growing emerging economies in Southeast Asia. GDP growth rates of 7.2% in 2013, an all-time high, and 6.3% the following year garnered positive 2015 forecasts of 6.7% and 6.4% from IMF and ADB respectively,” De Ocampo said in a speech he delivered at the Filipino-American Youth Leadership Program (FYLPro) economic and business

briefing at Ayala Tower One. He added that the Philippines is also regarded as an investment-attractive economy, as net foreign direct inflows surged in 2014. International tourist revenues also show steadily increasing rise.

According to De Ocampo, this particular period is critical if the Philippines wants to move forward.

“While Philippine trajectory is going up, we’re hoping that it’s not a step forward then two steps back,” de Ocampo said.

“The Philippines should aim not only for ‘DaangMatuwid’ (straight path) but ‘DaangMatino’ (sensible path), as the country needs leaders who are not only clean and incorruptible, but also competent and decisive,” he added.

De Ocampo also urged the young leaders present in the event to inspire and engage future generations to promote equal opportunity for all, and develop business solutions addressing current

FDE OCAMPO, 10

More Negosyo centers

T

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) will surpass its target of establishing 100 Negosyo Centers nationwide by end of 2015.

DTI said on Monday that it will open a total of 146 Negosyo Centers this year.

Of the number, 54 Go Negosyo Centers were launched since the start of 2015.

For the remaining days of July, the DTI will further launch 26 more Go Negosyo Centres.

In 2014, five Negosyo Centers have been operational. To date, the government has established 59 Negosyo Centers: 31 are located in Luzon, 12 in Visayas, and 16 in Mindanao which are based in local government units (LGUs) and DTI regional and provincial offices.

Negosyo Centers are part of the Republic Act No. 10644 or the Go Negosyo Act signed into law by President Benigno S. Aquino III in July 2014 to facilitate faster registration of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in order to encourage more Filipinos to establish businesses.

The functions of these centers involve business registration assistance, business advisory services, business information and advocacy and monitoring and evaluation of business processes for MSMEs. This aims to increase local job creation, production and trade in the country.

The law has mandated DTI to facilitate the establishment of Negosyo Centers in the country.

“Based on the numbers, we are on track in our goal of making sure that Negosyo Centers are set up in the areas where they matter the most, where they are felt the most.

This is DTI’s commitment for the continued growth of our MSMEs,” DTI Regional Operations Group Undersecretary Zenaida C. Maglaya said.

Earlier, DTI Secretary Gregory L. Domingo said the department has earmarked Php92.7 million for the establishment of Negosyo Centers.

The government eyes some 1,200 Negosyo Centers in a span of five to seven years.

(PNA)

INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 78 • TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

EDGEDAVAO EVENT

A royal toast to

Matina Enclaves’ VIPs

(Top) Host Giselle Sanchez was a lovely sight. (Right photo) Esdevco president Glenn Y. Escandor (second from right) unveils a huge replica of the Matina Enclaves VIP card along with The Royal Mandaya Hotel GM Benjie Banzon and TME project head Gerald Garces.

By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO Photos by LEAN DAVAL JR.

The Matina Enclaves VIPs

ESCANDOR Development Corporation (Esdevco), the homegrown developer of Matina Enclaves, hosted a royal dinner to its clients in glitzy and glam fashion on Saturday.

Esdevco president and CEO Glenn Y. Escandor delivers his speech

Project head Gerald Garces welcomes the guests

The Escandors

Buyers and prospects of Esdevco’s signature project walked in on red carpet into the elegant ballroom of the Royal Mandaya Hotel like it was Oscar Night in local setting.

Project director Gerald Garces welcomed the growing community of Matina Enclaves to the affair dubbed as “Wine Night.” Host extraordinaire Giselle Sanchez regaled the crowd with her comic antics and witty oneliners.

Sanchez even called Esdevco as the “David among real estate Goliaths.”

Esdevco president and CEO Glenn Y. Escandor gave his message emphasizing on the project which he said was a product of intense study and research to bring only the best for the future residents of Matina Enclaves.

“We are fully committed to this project and deliver to you the best that we can offer,” Escandor said. He also thanked the buyers of the property for the trust reposed upon the local real estate firm.

The highlight of the affair was the unveiling of the Matina Enclaves VIP Card which

Retired Judge Jesus Quitain and wife

The toast to the new Matina Enclaves VIP card gives buyers of the property a bevy of perks and privileges as well as discounts from partner establishments like The Royal Mandaya Hotel, Brothers Burger, Mesa, and Globe.

Also in attendance for the Escandor family are matriarch Violeta, vice president Gerome, and scions Francis Gabriel and Irina Glenne.

Best dressed guests of the night

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 78 • TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

EVENT

The Sun City Music Fest:

NEON RAIN 2015

THE very first of its kind in SOX, Neon Rain is a neon-paint-rave-party-for-a-cause, for the benefit of the Save the Children foundation, a celebration following the 5th anniversary of Sun City Suites.

The gates at Robinson’s Gravel Grounds were opend by 4pm, booths were opened up as well, among them were, Canto’s beer pong booth and Mr.Bigshots booth where you could try your luck on archery.

Sick beats, energy and good vibes of the night were courtesy of MxDamnP, Kat DJ, DJ Torch, Wacky Masbad, Ram Mia,DJ Law, DJ Klawn, DJ Hardfunk, DJ Young Jenz.

I brought with me my bro, my cousin, my fiancée and his sister. Along with fellow blogger Gem, we danced ecstatically to the techno beats, splashed paint at each other. We were mesmerized by the visuals from the led screens, plus the fire-

works, accompanied by the rain of neon paint and powder coming from all directions. It was trully an epic night. Special thanks to Sun City Suites and Team1000 to making this awesome event happen.

Follow me on Twitter or Instagram, @kyriekoutre for more adventures in and around my wonderland that is Gensan, Tuna Capital of the Philippines.

We were mesmerized by the visuals from the led screens, plus the fireworks, accompanied by the rain of neon paint and powder coming from all directions.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 78 • TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

Baguio City commends ‘Forevermore’ for boost in tourism

THE CITY OF BAGUIO recently adopted a resolution commending ABSCBN’s hit romantic drama series “Forevermore” starring Enrique Gil and Liza Soberano for the show’s contribution in the promotion of the tourism in the city.

According to Resolution Numbered 92, the City of Baguio acknowledges ABS-CBN and the whole production of “Forevermore” for helping boost the tourism industry of the summer capital of the Philippines.

“Due to the popularity of the said teleserye, tourists and visitors have been flocking to the City of Baguio to

ber 2014, “Forevermore” conquered the national TV ratings game and social media sites because of the gripping love story of the Xander and Agnes. The finale episode the Enrique and Liza-starrer even scored the series its all-time high national TV rating of 39.3%.

Adding to the suc-

visit and get a glimpse of ‘La Presa’ which has become an instant tourist attraction for the City of Baguio and Tuba, Benguet,” the resolution stated, referring to the

show’s fictional town where its characters Xander (Enrique) and Agnes (Liza) fell in love with each other.

“Forevermore” revolved around the love

cess of the series, “Forevermore” has become one of the latest Filipino series aired internationally, most recently in Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Vietnam, and other parts of Africa.

From the production of Star Creatives, “Forevermore” is under the direction of Cathy Garcia Molina.

story of two different people—the rebellious and rich kid Xander and the Strawberry Jam Queen of Benguet Agnes.

After it aired in Octo-

Megastar Sharon Cuneta honored with OPM Achievement Award ABS-CBN FM radio station MOR 101.9 once again celebrated original Pinoy music and recognized some of the best music artists in the industry today in the recently concluded MOR Pinoy Music Awards held at the Araneta Coliseum, with Daniel Padilla and Yeng Constatino winning top plums as Male and Female Artists of the Year.

On its second year, the MOR Pinoy Music Awards committee gave its prestigious OPM Lifetime Achievement Award to the one and only megastar Sharon Cuneta who personally accepted the award and even performed one of her hits alongside Carla Estrada, Christian Bautista, Morissette, Klarisse De Guzm a n , Liezel Garcia, Nyoy Volante, and Jolina MagdangalEscueta in a special tribute number.

KZ Tandingan’s “Mahal Mo o Mahal

Ako” was named Song of the Year while the Himig Handog P-Pop Love Songs 2014 album won Album of the Year.

Actor-turned-singer Enchong Dee, meanwhile, accepted his first music award after his hit “Chinito Problems” won the Dance Hit of the Year award.

Vice Ganda, who graced the night by debuting his newest single “Huwag Kang Pabebe,” also took home an MOR Pinoy Music Award as his smash hit “Boom Panes” won LSS Hit of the Year while “The Voice of the Philippines” finalist now dubbed as the next big diva, Morissette, bagged the Best New Artist of the Year Award.

JaDine fans,

on the o t h e r h a n d , were ecstatic after James Reid and Nadine Lustre’s song “No Erase” won Best Collaboration.

A si d e from main-

stream performers, MOR Pinoy Music Awards also recognized regional artists and awarded the Regional Song of the Year Award to Cebuano Von Saw for his single “Sa Akong Heart.”

The advertising world was also recognized with the Kantamercial of the Year Award going to Tuseran Forte’s “Habit Song.”

Hosted by the MOR 101.9 DJs, the MOR Pinoy Music Awards were also graced by guest presenters or performers such as Alex Gonzaga, Janella Salvador, Marlo Mortel, Lyca Gairanod, E d w a r d Benosa, Jovit Baldivino, Harana boys, Bugoy Drilon, JC Padilla, and Kaye Cal. Winners this year were determined based on total votes from texters, MOR Pinoy Music Awards committee, and select panel of judges from the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM) that include VP for Special Projects Christian Bautista, board member Jose Mari Chan, and president Ogie Alcasid.

Always tune in to ABS-CBN’s FM radio station in Mega and Metro Manila, My Only Radio (MOR) 101.9 For Life! and online via MOR TV at www. MOR1019.com. For more updates about “M.O.R. 101.9 For Life!” visit www.facebook.com/ mor1019 and follow @MOR1019 on Twitter.

July 15 – 21, 2015

ANT-MAN Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly PG

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

MAGIC MIKE XXL Channing Tatum, Elizabeth Banks, Amber Heard R16

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

THE BREAKUP PLAYLIST/ * TERMINATOR GENISYS Sarah Geronimo, Piolo Pascual/ *J.K. Simmons, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney PG / * PG

R-16

12:15 | 2:30 LFS / * 4:50 | 7:25 | 10:00 LFS

MINIONS Chris Renaud, Pierre Coffin, Sandra Bullock PG

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

A4 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 78 • TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

TRAVEL

Morning prayers at Cotabato City’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque to mark the start of Eid’l Fit’r.

Cotabato City

and its festival of

PEACE

Photo by Ian Garcia

TO BE HONEST, I was initially apprehensive when I got the invitation to experience Eid’l Fit’r from DOT-XII regional director Nelly Dillera as it entailed a drive to Cotabato City.

Given the usually violent image of Cotabato City in the national dailies, one does tend to be anxious and worry, but the desire to push back preconceived perceptions prodded me to say yes and I was glad I did.

Together with fellow travel writers, we took a four-and-ahalf hour van ride to get from Durianburg to Cotabato City on the eve of Eid’l Fitr. The ride was quick and comfortable thanks to the well-maintained highways that span the two cities. It also helped that the route through Kidapawan was scenic, with Mt. Apo occasionally showing its summit.

I was pleasantly surprised when we finally got to the Cotabato City centre. Far from the war-torn image portrayed on the news channels, the streets were lined bustling commercial centres, huge mosques, and even a McDonald’s and Jollibee outlet.

After checking in to our hotel, we met with director Nelly together with Cotabato City’s tourism officer Gurlie Frondoza who were more than ready to share what Cotabato City has to offer to the traveller from the city’s imposing mosque, its colourful culture, and of course its unique cuisine.

To start off our tour, we visited Cotabato City Hall or mor popularly called the People’s Palace. A totally new building designed with Moro motifs, the People’s Palace is so called because it was built with only the local taxes of the people of Cotabato City and without any help from the national government or private sector. This is where I also got to experience iftar or the breaking of the Ramadan fast. Dates were served after sunset prayers together with fruits and water. This was also were I had my first taste of Beef Sinina, a spicy beef stew cooked with lots of ginger, turmeric, and chilli, its flavour profile more similar to that of Malay cuisine and best paired with lots of white rice.

After the meal, we made our

way to the Tribal Village Various Iranun sweets are located at the ARMM served before the Dulang feast was uncovered. capitol grounds. A prerogative of the ARMM Tourism Office led by its secretary Marites Maguindra and assistant secretary Shalimar Amerkhan, the Tribal Village is a beehive of activities and highlights the culture as well as food of the different tribes who populate the different provinces

Iranun women prepare a meal at the Iranun Village at the Tribal Village located at the ARMM Capitol grounds. of the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao.

I was amazed at the colourful cultural displays as well as of the huge crowd that was gathered at the village. The festivities grew even more as the sighting of the new moon was announced which officially marked the end of Ramadan fasting.

We turned up early the following day to catch the first morning prayer at Cotabato City’s most famous landmark, the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque or more popularly called the Golden Mosque. A gift to the people of Cotabato from the Sultan of Brunei, the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque was a sight to behold and is the biggest mosque in the Philippines.

It was amazing to see people

from all walks of life gather together to pray. More then a solemn occasion, the celebration of Eid’l Fit’r was a joyous one, much like Christmas is for Christians. We also got to experience local hospitality as well-off locals throw an open house, inviting guests and strangers alike to join in the feasting and merriment.

Cotabato City was truly an experience I would not forget and to visit one of Mindanao’s oldest cities during the Eid’l Fit’r opened my eyes to the real meaning of the festival, a celebration of peace, of sharing, and goodwill.

Follow me on Intagram or on Twitter at @kennethkingong for more travel stories, foodie finds, and happenings in, around, and beyond Durianburg.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 78 • TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

7 CULTURE & ARTS

Extreme food

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“

FOOD is more than simple nutrition for Filipinos; they love to eat, whether it’s a sit-down meal with family or friends or a quick snack.

Sharing food is one of the great social pleasures for all classes, and not having food for your guests is considered a source of ‘hiya,’ so mountains of it are served at parties and fiestas.”

That is what Lindsay Bennett wrote in globetrotter island guide, “Philippines.”

Bennett considered Filipino food “a melting pot” as it has “many differing cultural antecedents, with dishes and methods from Malaysia and Indonesia mixing with later Spanish, Chinese and American touches.”

Recently, Cable News Network (CNN) came up with a list of 50 Filipino food that define the Philippines. “Filipino food may not be as famous as that of its Thai and Vietnamese neighbors. But with more than 7,000 islands and a colorful history, this archipelago has some delicious dishes of its own,” wrote authors Maida Pineda and Candice Lopez-Quimpo.

The Philippines is renowned for its “adobo,” “sinigang,” “kare-kare,” “bulalo,” “sisig,” and “halo-halo.” But some of the food that made it to the list are what others called as extreme food. Ingredients may be distasteful to some but are delicious to people who eat them.

In Pampanga, for instance, people cook mole crickets into a delicious appetizer called “kamaro.” The two CNN authors wrote: “If catching these bugs is tough, so is cooking them. Legs and wings must be removed, and then the body is boiled in vinegar and garlic. It’s then sautéed in oil, onion and chopped tomatoes until chocolate brown.

These bite-size appetizers are crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside.”

Ever heard of “betute tugak”? The two authors shared this information: “The French may have turned frogs’ legs into a delicacy, but Filipinos take it to the next level. They

Balut (Photo by Henrylito D. Tacio) get a frog, stuff it with minced pork and deep-fry it.”

“Kapampangans are actually proud that their ‘betute’ is very unique to them,” wrote Alexander Villafania in an article that appeared in the website of Food and Beverage. “This can be attributed to the fact that the frogs they use as main ingredient for this delicacy are rice field frogs, which eat small insects.

These are actually larger than the normal frogs that are sold for food in most wet markets.

However, smaller sized frogs are still good enough to make ‘betute.’”

To Westerners, “dinuguan at puto” may not look appetizing. But this black dish of pork and pig innards stewed in fresh pig blood seasoned with garlic, onion and oregano and eaten with a white “puto” (rice cake) or steamed rice is a comforting dish for many Filipinos.

“Balut” has been the “shocking” topic of some television shows because of its taboo nature in some Western cultures. In two episodes of Survivor: Palau and two episodes of Survivor: China, separate challenges featured attempts to eat the boiled 17-day-old duck embryo. Similarly, Fear Factor frequently uses “balut” as a means of disgusting contestants. “Balut” is best eaten with rock salt or spicy vinegar; oftentimes, it is consumed with beer.

Named after the Filipino term which means “wrapped,” balut (a fertilized egg with a nearly-developed embryo inside that is boiled and eaten in the shell) has been touted as an aphrodisiac as it boosts libido. Studies have shown balut contains 12.6 grams of protein, 181 calories and good sources of Vitamin B1 and B2, minerals, niacin, beta carotene and other supplements.

Balut is common in street drinking sessions and just chatting with friends on late nights. Generally, balut is sold mostly when the street lights are on by vendors in basket covered with thick foams and cloths to keep them warm.

If you find balut a little bit

gross, why not try “ginataang daga”? No, it is not prepared from rats living in homes or in the cities. These are rats “harvested” from rice fields in the provinces.

“I actually had an experience catching these rats and I find in more enjoying than actually eating it,” one blogger wrote. “The best time to catch them is during rainy season because the rat holes are filled with water. Once they get out of their holes, we strike them with a bat or a stick. Cooking it is just like cooking a “ginataang manok.” However, it takes a longer time to cook it as you need to remove the skin, cut the heads and boil them several times to remove the smell. The taste is similar to chicken.”

Then, there’s the “tamilok,” which has become one of the tourism identities of places like Agusan del Norte, Bohol and most especially Palawan. If you’re still at loss what a “tamilok” is, it’s actually a wood worm which tastes like your familiar oyster. Although it looks like a worm, bigger than a twelve-inch ruler, it is actually a mollusk found inside rotting mangroves.

In her blog, Faith Salazar wrote: “Finding these wood worms among throngs of mangrove trees is not an easy feat. First, those scouting for ‘tamilok’ need to locate a dead mangrove. When they find one, they need to be careful when trudging muddy parts of the mangrove – it can get very sticky and slippery so their steps have to be calculated. Plus, they have to evade sharp shells and tree branches. When they get to the prized rotting mangrove, they hack it open. They are lucky if they find a ‘tamilok’ inside.”

Jodelen O. Ortiz, who has eaten “tamilok” when he visited Palawan, reports “They are served raw after their insides are removed and cleaned. You may choose between vinegar or calamansi juice for perfect dips. If I were you, however, I will ask for native coconut vinegar (the one from ‘tuba’) as ‘tamilok’ tastes better than the commercial vinegars.”

Tamilok (taken from the net)

Durian (Photo by Henrylito D. Tacio) Those who have eaten “tamilok” said that it tastes better than oyster (“talaba”) and any other pulutan while some even answer that it could taste like cheese when served fresh. But one this is sure: drinking becomes more engaging with tamilok as “pulutan.”

One food that may not be considered weird among most Filipinos but foreigners find it shocking to eat is Soup No. 5, which is made up of bull’s testes or penis. It is believed to have aphrodisiac properties.

This brings me to the story shared by Ruben V. Napales, the Filipino reporter who is a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. He was at the Four Seasons in Los Angeles talking with Rachel Weisz, who came to the Philippines doing “The Bourne Legacy.”

Napales asked the Oscar-winning actress if she had

her fill of Filipino food while she was shooting the movie. “I had a lot of lumpia and adobo (in Manila),” Rachel answered.

“I also had…what’s that dish which has balls?”

When Napales heard the word “balls,” he stammered.

“You know what I mean,” the London native said. He reluctantly blurted out the name of the only Filipino dish he knew that is made from bull testes.

However, the University of Cambridge-educated actress said it before he did: “Soup No. 5, which is a euphemism for…?” Instead of answering her question, Napales said, “It’s served mostly in motels…”

“Motels?” Rachel asked, adding whether the dish is an aphrodisiac. Napales replied affirmatively. “I didn’t know that,” she said, and again she blurted, “Soup No. 5 from the Philippines.”

And then, there’s durian, which has been described as

something that “smells like hell but tastes like heaven.” A century and a half ago, traveler and naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace praised the durian as “a new sensation worth a voyage to the East to experience.” “(I)ts consistence and flavour are indescribable,” he wrote in his 1869 book “The Malay Archipelago.” “A rich custard highly flavoured with almonds gives the best general idea of it, but there are occasional wafts of flavour that call to mind cream-cheese, onion-sauce, sherry-wine, and other incongruous dishes.

Then there is a rich glutinous smoothness in the pulp which nothing else possesses, but which adds to its delicacy … it is in itself perfect … and the more you eat of it the less you feel inclined to stop.”

You definitely heard of Andrew Zimmern, an American television personality, chef, food writer, and teacher.

He is the co-creator, host, and consulting producer of the Travel Channel series “Bizarre food with Andrew Zimmern” and “Andrew Zimmern’s Bizarre World.”

At one time, he came to the Philippines and tried eating coconut grubs or those larvae and pupae develop in rotten coconut logs. “In the Philippines, I had them, and they were just gross,” Zimmern wrote. “And I couldn’t understand: inside was this yucky fluid and stomach sac and I was like, ‘Wow, that just was not good.’”

Let’s cap this food trip with a drink – the civet coffee, which actually comes from the droppings of the nocturnal, cat-like animal called the palm civet. These carnivorous mammals do eat the red coffee cherries that contain the beans. The consumed coffee cherries pass through the civet whole after fermenting in the stomach and that’s what gives the coffee its exquisite taste and aroma.

Mouthwatering for some, stomach-churning for others, the Philippines indeed serves up some of the world’s interesting and adventurous traditional cuisine.

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

VOL. 8 ISSUE 78 • TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

EDITORIAL Understanding human trafficking

E

VERY year an estimated 35.8 million people are trafficked all over the world, translating to a nefarious industry that is worth upwards of $31.6 billion. Not surprisingly, the Philippines has been identified as one of the hotspots of human trafficking and has been pegged at Tier 2 of the Global Trafficking in Persons (GTIP) Report for about five years now (Tier Two countries are those that do not fully comply with the minimum standards of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act [TVPA] but are making significant efforts to do so). Poverty, obviously, has a way of pushing people to take desperate measures.

Human trafficking is defined as the illegal movement of people typically for the purpose of forced labor or commercial sexual exploitation. But while forced labor and sexual exploitation are indeed huge problems, human trafficking can take so many forms that even victims don’t realize they’re already being trafficked. Enticing and taking women and children from the rural areas to work in the cities as domestic helpers can be a form of trafficking, but most of us see this as natural part of Philippine

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life. It does not take one to be brought out of the country to be exploited and even jailed for it to be a violation of their human rights. The harsh reality is that human trafficking is happening right under our very noses, and we are not aware of it.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte has recently trained his sights on human trafficking, and this is laudable. Indeed, as he has said, this is a very urgent matter that needs to be addressed right now; no Filipino should be allowed to be virtually sold to employers in other countries. But the mayor should also expand his definition of trafficking to include domestic violations, as in the aforementioned cases of women and children working right in our midst after being lured here with promises of more glamorous work.

Indeed, many end up literally on the streets, forced to sell their bodies because there are no other means to keep body and soul together.

Much still has to be done in the fight against human trafficking, but it can be won if we all work against it. And the first step is understanding what it is.

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VANTAGE POINTS

9

Sherwin Gatchalian – Winning isn’t everything

OO often, campaigns in the Philippines focus on the candidates and not enough on the issues that they stand for. This oversight, perhaps more than anything else, is one of the leading reasons we have been saddled with government officials who time and again have failed to live up to the needs of the office to which they were elected. It was therefore a pleasant surprise when, during his brief stop in Davao City last week, Congressman Sherwin Gatchalian of Valenzuela took time to talk to the media more about the issues that were near and dear to him and his decision to make a run for the Senate in 2016.

In more ways than one, Sherwin Gatchalian represents the new political thinking now popular among the younger candidates, one that pays less attention to the trappings of the political power, preferring instead to focus on genuinely serving their constituents. His campaign, which is built on improving the country’s education system as a way to alleviate the crushing poverty that afflicts a majority of the country’s youth, is a case in point. From the way he talks about it, it is clear that he has put a lot of thought into his vision of a better future for the country. It isn’t like the political campaigns of the past where candidates can literally sing and dance their way to public office.

According to Gatchalian, while there are many programs for out-of-school-youths currently being implemented by different govern-

“

VOL. 8 ISSUE 78 • TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

IF the misery of the poor be caused not by the laws of nature, but by our institutions, great is our sin.” – Charles Darwin Nobody talks about tuberculosis (TB) anymore. But in the past, it was the most notorious disease. Nobody dared to go near to a person with TB as it is contagious. It is said that former president Manuel L. Quezon died of the disease at Saranac Lake, New York.

Although there are already medicines against TB, it still took its toll on Rene Requiestas. At the age of 36, the film comedian died on July 24, 1993.

TB was once touted as a romantic 19th century disease. After all, its famous victims included fiction writer Edward Bellamy, poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, novelist Franz Kafka, composer Frederic Chopin, inventor Alexander Graham Bell, entertainer W.C. Fields, and nurse Florence Nightingale.

Brazilian poet Manuel Brandeira contracted TB in 1904 and expressed the effects of the disease in his life in many of his poems. American author Dashiell Hammet got the disease during World War II. American country composer Jimmie Rodgers sang about the woes of TB and ultimately died of the disease days after a New York City recording session.

Aside from Quezon, other world leaders who were not spared from TB include Charles IX of France, Edward VI of England, American presidents Ulysses S. Grant and Andrew Jackson, Louis XII of France, Napoleon II of France,

ment agencies, one of his priorities in the Senate would be to pass a law that would “unify all these programs to benefit the more than four million out-ofschool-youths, representing about twenty-percent of the youth sector in the country.” By pooling the efforts of government in a systematic manner, the resources being used can be brought to bear more effectively towards the singular goal of eradicating poverty through educational reforms.

He adds that the bill that he hopes to pass in the Senate will also “provide younger generations of Filipinos with more employment opportunities and protect them from the abuse that are a direct result of their poverty.” According to official government data, the out-of-schoolyouth sector is among the most fertile nesting grounds for the growth of criminality in the country.

This, says Gatchalian, is a truly unfortunate situation that can often be traced directly to the poor state of education in the country. “Lack of education deprives many young Filipinos the opportunity of improving their lives. It can pre-

vent them from finding the right employment and, in many tragic cases, may lead to temptation, exploitation, and abuse by people who would take advantage of their situation. My proposed law is therefore not just about improving the educational system, it is also about giving Filipinos better opportunities in life.”

Casting his eyes over the Mindanao, Gatchalian shows that – unlike other Metro Manila-based politicos – he has clear grasp of the situation outside of the capital. “The basic problem in the educational system in Muslim Mindanao is human displacement. When kids cannot go to school because people are bombing their communities, it creates ripples in their lives. It is disruptive.” Citing the recent case of Mamasapano and other similar encounters between the military and the insurgents, he says that “these kinds of violence naturally leads to higher dropout rates in the schools within the affected area.

We should have peace and stability to have a sustainable future.”

As one of the solutions, he wants government to push for more education reforms that would focus on promoting a culture of peace and understanding among the affected communities. “(How to solve the conflict) is a really a difficult situation to answer. It is like asking which came first, the chicken or the egg, should we have peace before progress or progress before peace? But regardless of the difficulties, we should still continue to work towards a just

solution. Habang andyan yung problema na yan, mahirap talaga, but we should never give up.”

Listening to him talk so passionately about his causes, it seems such an injustice that he is currently languishing at the bottom half of the surveys while other candidates with less substance (and a surplus of popularity) are lording it over the top of the list. While this situation has more to do with the voters’ lack of discernment rather than Gatchalian’s qualifications, Sherwin is still hopeful that he will be able to overcome the hurdles ahead in his bid to serve the country.

As part of his effort to “win the hearts and minds” of the voters, he has been actively going around the different parts of the Philippines, talking to any number of civic groups and people’s organizations, and sharing his plans after 2016. By building connections on the ground with the people whose lives will be directly affected by his decisions once in office, Sherwin Gatchalian is at least on the right track towards building the future that he envisions for the Filipino youth. “Right now I am openly telling people that I will be running for the Senate in 2016. But winnability is not the only criteria in running. It is also very important that your principles are in the right place so that government programs will run smoothly for the benefit of the people.”

---For more of my ramblings, please visit my websites www.mindanation.com and www.infinitemonkees.com

and Pedro I of THINK ON THESE! Brazil.

Today, TB is considered as a disease of poverty. In her column, Dr. Malaya Pimentel-Santos wrote: “Unless there a successful program for Henrylito D. Tacio poverty eradi- henrytacio@gmail.com cation, the battle against poverty-fueled diseases like tuberculosis will continue to be a losing one.”

Based on 2010 data, TB ranked as the 8th leading cause of sickness in the country. It is the 6th leading cause of death, based on the 2009 Philippine Health Statistics. Currently, our country is ranked 8th among the 22 TB high-burdened countries in the world in terms of TB cases.

The Department of Health (DOH) says sixty percent of those who die of TB occur among the productive age group of 15-64 years old.

Some P8 billion is lost annually from sickness and deaths due to TB. Currently, an estimated 200,000 to 600,000 Filipinos have active TB. “This is alarming since each person with active TB can spread the disease to 10 other Filipinos each year,” wrote Dr. Willie T. Ong in his column, ‘Mind Your Body.’

Multiply the number of Filipinos with

active TB by 10, and you get the idea. “Just imagine how much TB is being spread yearly,” Dr. Ong points out. “Hence, if someone in the household has been diagnosed with TB, all the other members of the household should get tested for TB, too.”

An estimated 80 percent of Filipinos have latent TB, according to Dr. Ong. “In this condition, we already have the TB infection in our bodies, but the TB is still in the inactive state,” he explains. “Hence, we feel no symptoms and we are not contagious to other people.”

“Tuberculosis rose slowly, silently, seeping into the homes of millions, like an ageless miasma,” writes Dr. Frank Ryan, author of Tuberculosis: The Greatest Story Never Told. “Once arrived, TB stayed – a stealthy predator.”

TB is a disease that is transmitted almost entirely by the aerial route. “When infected individual coughs, sneezes, or spits, infectious particles are released into the air,” wrote Dr. Santos. “Anyone who inhales these particles is at risk of contracting TB. Transmission is enhanced in overcrowded and poorly ventilated places.”

This is the reason why TB is more prevalent among those living in squatter communities and correctional institutions. Based on a recent study of seven detention facilities in the Philippines, the prevalence of this disease inside jails and prisons is up to five times higher than among the general population.

But there’s good news. According to a press

statement released by the health department, the Philippines is one of the seven countries among the 22 TB high-burdened countries to have achieved its 2015 Millennium Development Goal in its fight against TB. As early as 2012, the country has already achieved the goal.

Health Secretary Janette P. Loreto-Garin reported that there has been a marked decline in TB burden since DOH launched the DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course) strategy in 1996. As of 2013, cases and deaths due to TB was reduced by more than 50% from the 1990 baseline.

“Vigilance and eradication of stigma will help us in winning the battle against TB,” Dr. Garin said, adding that the country has already developed a 2010-2016 Philippine Plan of Action to Control TB. Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), the microorganism that causes TB, divides every 16 to 20 hours, an extremely slow rate compared with other bacteria, which usually divide in less than an hour.

“Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a wily foe,” deplored Dr. Ann Ginsberg, acting medical chief officer of Aeras, a non-profit product development organization dedicated to the development of effective tuberculosis vaccine.

Unknowingly, the MTB can live only in human beings. “It cannot be carried by animals, insects, soil, or other non-living objects,” says the Merck Manual of Medical Information.

The battle against tuberculosis

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 78 • TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Tight... FROM 2 “We really discourage the people to bring back packs and tumblers especially inside the activity areas,” she said, adding the measure has

proven effective.

Aside from tumblers and backpacks, people are also discouraged from carrying sharp objects.

ic drug.

She said Albendazole will help in preventing and eliminating intestinal worms that rob essential nutrients that the body needs to absorb.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), soil-transmitted helminths like roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms impair the nutritional status of the individuals they infect in multiple ways.

The WHO also said some soil-transmitted helminths cause loss of appetite, while some cause diarrhea and dys-

entery. These helminths are transmitted by eggs excreted in human feces, which contaminate the soil in areas that lack adequate sanitation.

“People are infected through ingestion of infective eggs or larvae that contaminate food, hands, or utensils, or by penetration of the skin by infective larvae that utensils that contaminate the soil,” WHO said.

Berguia said the region has a regular program on eliminating these parasites. For this year, DOH 11 has a total budget of P3 million.

problem with human trafficking in the Philippines is very serious despite the fact that laws have been crafted and implemented like the Republic Act 10364 or the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in

Persons Act of 2012.

Gahan said the latest statistics revealed that almost 35 million in the world are experiencing different kinds of slavery. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

will be employed for the census: personal interview, accomplishing the self-administered questioner, and the online questionnaire.

“If you do not like to be interviewed by the enumerators you can ask to fill up the self-administered question-

naire and the enumerator will just pick it up later,” she said.

Magracia said the PSA is already training about 113,000 enumerators nationwide.

Magracia said the census will last for 25 days and will end on September 6. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

The industry’s community development interventions are focused on the improvement of the quality of lives of all banana stakeholders and the general public through the following programs: health-related activities, medical/dental interventions including supplemental feeding programs and provision of potable water supply systems; environmental interventions; scholarship grants for dependents of workers;

skills training and livelihood opportunities to augment household incomes; disaster prevention, relief and rehabilitation support service and assistance in times of calamities; and various infrastructure projects.

More than three million individuals are dependent on the banana export industry for their basic needs and self-esteem. The industry also helps mould the future of two million children in Mindanao.

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Banana... FROM 4

DAVAO HELEN’S PAWNSHOP CORP. De Guzman St., Davao City Telefax (082)225-4473 NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE

All unredeemed items pawned during the month of March 2015,if not redeemed/renewed on July 31, 2015 will be put on Auction Sale August 1, 2015 at 9:00 A. M. to 5:00 P.M. Pahibalo nga ang tanang wala malukat nga prenda sa bulan Marso 2015,kung dili malukat sa Hulyo 31, 2015 isubasta sa bulan sa Agosto 1, 2015 sa alas 9:00 sa buntag hangtud sa alas 5:00 sa hapon.

DAVAO HELEN’S PAWNSHOP CORPORATION Davao City: 252 San Pedro St., 167 San Pedro St., CVA Bldg., C. M. Recto St., G/F Victoria Plaza Bajada 120-B Lapu-lapu St., Agdao 75C R. Magsaysay Ave., 2nd Level Gaisano Mall Bajada, G/F NCCC Bldg., R. Magsaysay Ave., Centerpoint Plaza Matina Fronting San Pedro College Guerrero St., Carlson Bldg., Lapu-lapu St., Agdao NCCC Mall Matina Saavedra St., Toril Gaisano South Citimall, Ilustre

St., Km. 11 Sasa Km. 13 Panacan Boulevard Buhangin Cabantian Bankerohan Calinan Davao del Norte Gaisano Mall, Panabo Davao del Norte Gaisano Grand Mall of Tagum, Tagum City Gaisano Mall of Tagum, Tagum City Purok Marilag 11, Quezon St., Tagum City Davao del Sur Gaisano Grand Mall of Digos, Quezon St., Digos City

ERADICATING HUNGER. Gawad Kalinga area coordinator for Region 11 Rene Rieta (center) shares his group’s advocacy of eradicating hunger. Rieta, together with Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm’s Patrick Doromal (left) and City Council committee on food and agriculture chair Councilor Marissa Salvador-Abella graced yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

IGACOS officials visit Bohol to learn disaster response and management T HE City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council here headed by City Mayor Aniano P. Antalan visited Bohol Province on July 7 to July 9 to gain knowledge on disaster response, rehabilitation, and recovery.

“Samal Island is the same with Bohol because you are an island and also have lots of caves. You just don’t know you are sitting on a sinkhole, so you should always be ready,”

Maribojoc Municipal Mayor LeoncioBadillaEvasco told the participants.

Evasco emphasized the importance of legislative support in declaring a state of calamity in calamity situations so that help could readily be given to the people.

The IGACOS Council also visited Cebu Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and met with Office of Civil Defence Region 7

went to the malls to have their biometrics taken and registrations validated. “…Although kapag tinitingnan naming ‘yong naging karanasan sa no bio no boto campaign sa mga malls mukha talagang dinudumog.

Dinadagsa ng mga botante,” he said.

Bautista added, “Last Saturday I was in Trinoma at talagang pila pila…Maganda pangitain ito sa aming palagay na talagang gusto ng taong bayan na pumunta sa mga malls.”

With this, he revealed that majority of those who went to

the malls in the last three mallbased registrations were new voters.

“Akala namin ang ‘no bio no boto’ campaign ay para sa mga botanteng dapat magpavalidate ng biometric. Pero tiningnan namin ‘yung percentage 80 percent mga bagong botante ang pumupunta sa malls. 20 percent lang ang nagpapabiometrics,” the poll body chief added.

Earlier, Robinsons and SM malls have expressed willingness to have their malls as voting venues for the 2016 national and local polls. (PNA)

“They provided everything that we needed to enable us to make sure that the celebrations will be safe, secured and successful,” he said.

“We are one in this success,” Briones added.

Meanwhile, the police official declared the shooting incident that ensued in Koronadal City and a bomb explosion that rocked a passenger bus in Sto. Nino town last Saturday as isolated and not related to the festivities.

The Koronadal City shooting, which left a person dead and three others wounded, was triggered by a rido or family-related conflict.

A person identified only as alias Samen and a resident of Marawi City was killed in a shootout with vendor Junaid

Abdul Amir at past 8 a.m. in front of the St. Anthony parish cathedral.

Amir sustained a gunshot wound on his left ear while two bystanders were hit by stray bullets.

In Sto. Nino, an improvised bomb exploded inside a bus unit of the Yellow Bus Line Inc. in a stopover at the town’s public transport terminal at around 10 a.m.

No casualties were reported as the bus crew and passenger were able to disembark before the bomb exploded.

Briones said they are eyeing extortion as behind the incident and their operatives are now tracking down a suspect who was believed to have planted the explosive. (PNA)

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DRRM regional director Olivia Luces.

The group also visited the Cebu City DRRM Operation Center which gave them a quick presentation of its disaster risk reduction facilities and equipment and its management strategies down to the barangays.

The local government of IGACOS annually conducts benchmarking to cities and municipalities with best prac-

tices worth emulating.

The interactions and sharing with the leaders who personally experienced and were also victims of the calamity earnestly and honestly shared all their actual and difficult learning. The gained knowledge and understanding could be basis for a better and realistic disaster planning of programs, projects and activities and for policy recommendations. (CIO Samal)

to be able to produce iron-fortified rice,” she said, adding that it took 14 years for the research institute to perfect the technology.

The millers can use broken rice turned to rice flour and mix it with a premixed rice containing Ferric Pyrophosphate and produce the iron-fortified rice through the process called extrusion.

The National Center for

Biotechnology Information said ferric pyrophosphate is “a water-insoluble iron (Fe) compound used to fortify infant cereals and chocolate drink powders.”

At present, only the Loronix Rice Mill owned by Gaspar Lorono in Compostela Valley supplies iron-fortified rice in the region. It has a capacity to produce 50 bags of fortified rice per hour.

market needs.

“These young leaders need to look at the Philippines as an investment destination,” he said, adding that the Philippines and its countless opportunities remain expectant on the young leaders who can lead the world by example through diving into the picture of the Philippine economy.

De Ocampo also expressed the need to address various issues and competitiveness barriers that affect the Philippine economy.

These include the modernization of public infrastructure and transport system, the need for a more competitive power industry, and the development of better IT structure and support-related industries. De Ocampo also stressed inclusive growth— one that ensures access to

needed human, natural, physical, social, and financial capital to enable Filipinos for opportunities to uplift their lives.

The Filipino-American Youth Leadership Program (FYLPro), launched by Ambassador Jose Cuisia in 2012, aims to tap outstanding FilAm leaders who possess a sincere desire to engage in their respective communities and to promote the Philippines’ further development.

Ten delegates selected for their impressive leadership skills and involvement in the Filipino-American community undertake a week-long program in the Philippines, where theyhave the opportunity of meeting the country’s highest officials, industry leaders, cultural experts, entrepreneurs, and innovators in various fields.

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11 COMPETITIVE EDGE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 78 • TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

Kindergarten learning gets digital boost with Smart TechnoCart H

USIN Ludsuman Abduhalim, Principal I of Maluso Central Elementary School, couldn’t wait to show the mobile digital laboratory to his kindergarten pupils when he gets back to Basilan.

Teacher Sin, as he is called by students and co-teachers, thinks that this latest initiative from undisputed leader in mobile Smart Communications,

Inc. (Smart) will help make learning more engaging for the young learners in his school.

“Our kinder kids, who are mostly five-year-olds, are excited about using the gadgets.

I’m pretty sure they will be motivated to learn with the help of technology,” he assured.

Teacher Sin said even the students’ parents were amazed when they learned

that their children will get to use tablets in kindergarten school. More often than not, only students in higher grade levels or in high school get to use gadgets.

Just like Teacher Sin’s students, kindergarten learners from 14 other public schools across the country will soon experience digital learning through the Smart TechnoCart,

an innovative mobile digital laboratory designed to facilitate formative learning among young pupils with the use of mobile devices and applications.

Each Smart TechnoCart contains 20 tablets for the use of students; a tablet, laptop and projector for the use of the teacher; Smart Bro pocket WiFi with load for connectiv-

BATIBOT. Kindergarten pupils of the T. Paez Elementary School in Balut, Tondo, Manila try out the content of the Batibot mobile app with the help of a Readto-be-Smart volunteer at the sidelines of the launch of the Smart TechnoCart.

Mendoza lauds Kabacan, Midsayap leadership for competitive ranking

N

ORTH Cotabato Governor Emmylou Ta l i ñ o - M e n d o z a lauded the respective leadership of Kabacan and Midsayap for the two towns’ inclusion in the 2015 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).

“We commend the leadership of the mayors of the two towns – Midsayap Mayor Romeo Araña and Kabacan Mayor Herlo Guzman – for putting the value of public service and our brand of ‘Serbisyong Totoo’ at the forefront of governance,” Mendoza said in a statement.

The NCC index showed Kabacan ranking fourth in the country’s most competitive municipalities while Midsayap ranked eighth. The top slot was taken by General Trias in Cavite.

Mendoza said the inclusion of Kabacan and Midsayap was a recognition of the province’s col-

lective efforts to deliver sustainable development and progress to the people.

“This also underscores our commitment to partnerships in the pursuit of good and effective governance and genuine public service,” she added.

Serbisyong Totoo aims to find equitable solutions and deliver on the development expectations of the people and provide sound environment and opportunities for business to thrive.

“The recognition is a proof that we on the right way; that we are all doing it the right way,” Mendoza said, adding the provincial government will continue to support local government units for their own growth and competitiveness amid complex challenges.

The 2015 competitive index also showed the City of Manila dislodging Makati City as the country’s most competitive city.

Davao City ranked fourth.

ity; and the Smart One Campus, a learning management system to help administrators and teachers track and measure their students’ academic performance. Its compact and portable design makes it easy for the teacher to transfer the laboratory from one classroom to another. To help schools optimize the use of the Smart TechnoCart, teachers are also given training on tablet basics.

They are also provided training on child and curriculum development by the Community of Learners Foundation (COLF).

The Smart TechnoCart tablets are pre-loaded with the Batibot mobile app, the first localized mobile app aligned with the Kindergarten curriculum based on the hugely popular children’s television show.

Developed with COLF and startup partner OrangeFix, the mobile app makes available educational content from the TV show into the mobile device for mobility and accessibility. Just like the TV show, the Batibot app is also in Filipino.

“The Smart TechnoCart is a mobile laboratory designed to address the need of young students for interactive and engaging learning tools to help them better grasp basic concepts. It does make for smarter learning,” said Ramon R. Isberto, head of Public Affairs at Smart.

The other public kindergarten schools identified by the Department of Education School Divisions as initial beneficiaries are: Batu-Batu Central Elementary School, Datu Halun Laboratory Elementary School, and Yusop Dais Elementary School from Tawi-Tawi; Calasiao Central School, and Mangatarem Central School in Pangasinan; Bacacay East Central School, and Polangui South Central School in Albay; Tipo-Tipo Central Elementary School of Basilan; Antonio L. Jayme Elementary School, Education and Training Center School II, and Rodolfo A. Medel Sr. Elementary School of Bacolod; Banilad Elementary School, and Regino Mercado Elementary School of Cebu; and Parañaque Central Elementary School for Metro Manila.

“The Smart TechnoCart is perfect for millennials. That’s how kids consume their content now—they learn using their tablets and smart phones.

I have a nephew who, when he was two years old, can already navigate the tablet, and he couldn’t even talk yet! Children who saw a tablet for the first time were able to open it within 5 seconds without help.

It comes naturally to them,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, senior manager and head of education programs at Smart Public Affairs.

be given away to lucky voters. Grand winner will be announced in September 11.

AirAsia Philippines chair Maan Hontiveros led the launching of the exciting contest with Strategic Partnership Head Jenny Au and Senior Marketing Manager Caroline Wong of AirAsia BIG. ThinkDharma Inc., meanwhile, is represented

by Abrigo Merin, Chief Executive Officer of OPAL, and Paolo Salazar, Head of Business Unit.

Four multi-awarded photographers and respected leaders in the industry will be part of the AirAsia Travel Photographer contest as mentors

of the four contestants. Nikon Pros George Tapan, Raymond Cruz, Parc Cruz and AirAsia’s resident photojournalist Adam Lee will be traveling around exotic places in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand to help contestants capture their best entries across a range of categories that include landscape, food, portrait, architecture and travel.

Keep updated with AirAsia Travel Photography contest by using #IamAirAsiaTravelPhotographer and get the latest updates via Twiiter (twitter.com/ AirAsiaPh) or Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsiaPhilippines).

AirAsia and Nikon launch travel photographer contest

T

WO office workers, a car salesman, and a barista are stepping out of their comfort zones and into the challenges of becoming the first AirAsia Travel Photographer for 2015.

The #IamAirAsiaTravelPhotographer contest is jointly organized by AirAsia and ThinkDharma Inc. (exclusive distributor of Nikon Digital Cameras) in partnership with AirAsia’s global loyalty programme, BIG which will award winners with over 200,000 BIG Points or its equivalent free flights to any of AirAsia Group’s 100 destinations.

Assisted by multi-awarded photographers from the Philippines and Malaysia as their personal coach, four pre-selected contestants, namely Velvet Lagman-Macasaet, an executive assistant and marathon runner; Sarah Garcia, hotel front desk officer; TJ Nepomuceno III, car salesman; and Paul Delfin, an indie music fan and barista, will be traveling across Asia for one week starting July 21.

Online voting viawww. airasiatravelphotographer. com will be opened to the public in August 20 with Nikon cameras and BIG Points to

LAUNCHED. AirAsia Photojournalist Adam Lee, contender Velvet Lagman-Macasaet, contender Sarah Garcia, Nikon pro and master photographer George Tapan, Business Unit head of ThinkDharma Paolo Salazar, AirAsia Philippines Chairperson Maan Hontiveros, Startegic Partnership Head of AirAsia BIG Jenny Au, Senior Marketing Manager of AirAsia BIG Caroline Wong, Nikon pro and photographer Raymond Cruz, contenders TJ Nepomuceno III and Paul Delfin with AirAsia cabin crew at the recent launching of #IamAirAsiaTravelerPhotographer contest in Taguig, Manila.

12 CLASSIFIED

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• All text • Telephone Number (bigger point size) • Bold Header Price: 100.00

GO COLOUR • Background • Text Price: 175.00

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 78 • TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

VOL. 8 ISSUE 78 • TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 13

SC upholds Ombudsman’s junking complaint vs Arroyos T

HE Supreme Court (SC) has upheld the dismissal by the Office of the Ombudsman (Ombudsman)

of Sandra Cam’s complaint against the late Negros Occidental Rep. Ignacio “Iggy” Arroyo, Juan Miguel “Mikey” Ar-

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 9003 under Loyola Contract No (s). 746251-8 issued to LUZVISMINDA S. VELOS 0825 under Loyola Contract No (s). 366667-4 issued to MAGDALENA T. DELEÑA 2113498-1 under Loyola Contract No (s).

10360627-8 issued to ROLANDO Y. JUMALON were lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

7/14,21,28

royo and Restituto Mosqueda for lack of sufficient evidence.

Cam accused the respondents of allegedly coddling jueteng operations in violation of Section 2(k) of Republic Act No. 9287, or “An Act Increasing the Penalties for Illegal Numbers Games Amending Certain Provisions of P.D. 1602 and for Other Purposes”.

The SC’s First Division promulgated on June 29, 2015 a decision in the case of “Sandra M. Cam v. Orlando C. Casimiro, et al.” dismissing the petition for certiorari under Rule 65.

The SC affirmed the reso-

lution dated Oct. 9, 2006 and order dated Feb. 13, 2008 issued by Ombudsman, which in turn dismissed Cam’s complaint for insufficiency of evidence to establish probable cause and denying her motion for reconsideration (MR).

In the 12-page decision written by Chief Justice Maria Lourdes P. Aranal Sereno, the SC ruled that there was no grave abuse of discretion on the Ombudsman’s part in ruling that the evidence presented by Cam was insufficient to establish probable cause.

The SC said that while petitioner accused the respondents of receiving benefits in the form of cash and vehicles

in jueteng operations, Cam only presented her testimony and four official receipts (ORs) covering the purchase of a Toyota Revo in the name of Marlyn Mosqueda, wife of respondent Mosqueda, which cannot be appreciated to prove that the funds used to pay for the vehicle came from jueteng operations.

The SC also ruled that there was no grave abuse of discretion on the Ombudsman’s part in not filing an information on the basis of Cam’s uncorroborated testimony.

It said that Cam was “[given] many opportunities to substantiate her bare allegations.

Public respondents Mothalib

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late VIRGINIA DONEZA PASAJE has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT SALE executed among her heirs per Doc. No.291; Page No.59; Book No. XLVII; Series of 2015, of the NOTARY PUBLIC ALEXIS M. LUMBATAN

7/21,28,8/4

Onos, Lourdes Padre-Juan and Rosano Oliva of the Ombudsman, even alerted her of the need for more evidence.”

The SC added that Cam could have easily reproduced or obtained relevant documents, like bank statements or affidavits, and attached these to her MR or subsequent pleadings, which she did not do.

The SC also said that Cam misquoted the resolution twice.

First, the SC clarified that nowhere in the resolution does it state that the complaint was dismissed because Cam failed to prove the guilt of respondents.

Instead, the SC said, the complaint was not given due course because of the “failure to present sufficient proofs to support the accusation.”

Second, the SC also clarified that “the Resolution impressed that public respondents had been unable to determine the existence of probable cause because Cam presented only uncorroborated allegations, which were met with contrary declarations of the alleged involved personalities in the contested transactions”.

The SC said that nowhere in the resolution was it mentioned that Cam’s uncorroborated allegations cannot be given credence, as Cam claimed.

It added that the “Ombudsman’s finding of probable cause, or lack of it, is entitled to great respect absent a showing of grave abuse of discretion.”

(PNA)

EDGEDAVAO

14 MOTORING

VOL. 8 ISSUE 78 • TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015

2016 Toyota Fortuner: This is it T

OYOTA Motor Corporation held simultaneous launches of its much-awaited, all-new 2016 Fortuner in both Thailand and Australia just a couple of hours ago. Sales in those markets start as early as October of this year with the Philippines slated for a February 2016 launch (as indicated by Toyota sources).

The Fortuner has continued to be a very strong seller for Toyota even it traces its roots way back in 2006.

However, the Japanese brand isn’t taking any chances and has put a whole new set of engines under the Fortuner’s hood. This is led by a new 1GD 2.8-liter diesel engine with 177 horsepower at 3,400 rpm and 450 Nm of torque at 1,600 to 2,400 rpm. This torque figure goes down to 420 Nm at 1,400 to 2,600 rpm when paired with the manual gearbox. This engine is joined by a smaller diesel engine, a 2.4-liter 2GD with 150 horsepower and 343 Nm of torque. The 2.7-liter VVT-i engine will still be offered and will carry on unchanged has been updated with a Dual VVT-i system.

All engines come with a choice of either a 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic gearbox, although the 4WD model only comes with an automatic gearbox. The 6-speed automatic even comes with a

paddle shift.

Designed all new from the ground up, the 2016 Fortuner features a heavily revised chassis with a Double Wishbone / Four-Link coil spring suspension (Update: apparently, Australian models have a Five-Link coil spring suspension) that promises a much plusher ride without compromising on loading and payload performance. In fact, Toyota says it can still tow some 3,000 kilograms (2,800 for the automatic). It also receives the added security of four-wheel disc brakes as well (at least for Australia, Thailand models continue with rear drum brakes). Ride height varies per market with Australia actually receiving a 225-mm ground clearance.

For the 4WD variant, the Fortuner removes the fulltime 4WD in favor of a parttime unit. It now has a mechanical rear differential lock along with Toyota’s A-TRAC or Active Traction Control System that allows the driver of either taking electronic assistance or engaging the diff lock himself.

Outside, the all-new Fortuner features a sleeker appearance that’s pretty removed from the Hilux on which it’s based on. In terms of dimensions, it measures up at 4,795x1,855x1,835 (LxWxH, in millimeters). Some models receive such spiffy exterior details like LED daytime running lights, bi-LED headlights and tail lights, a powered tailgate, and a shark’s fin antenna. All Fortuner models ride on standard 17-inch alloy wheels with higher variants going up to 18-inches (Thailand has all models running on 18-inch wheels).

Inside, the Fortuner is now more luxurious than ever before with a long list of comfort and safety features. Like its exterior, the interior is also far removed from the Hilux and features leather stitching on the dashboard, available brown leather seats, and matte wood paneling. It now gets a proximity key entry sys-

tem with push button engine start/stop, up to 7 airbags, a climate control with rear air conditioning, a multi-information display nestled in the gauge cluster, a new touchscreen infotainment system, anti-lock brakes with EBD and brake assist, traction control and stability control, hill start assist, and a reverse camera system. All

in all, Toyota believes the allnew Fortuner will achieve top safety ratings (Five-Star ASEAN NCAP).

Coinciding with the launch, Toyota has announced that it’s starting to develop a wide range of genuine accessories for the Fortuner including bullbars that are compatible with the car’s safety systems.

Mahindra to display line-up at Bus and Truck Show 2015 A

SIANBRANDS Motors Corporation, the exclusive distributor of Mahindra in the Philippines, will showcase the complete lineup of Mahindra vehicles at

the 2015 Philippine Truck and Bus show at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on Friday, July 17 to Sunday, July 19, 2015. As the ideal brand for the modern Filipino en-

trepreneur who values utility, durability, and ruggedness, the Philippine Truck and Bus Show is the perfect venue for Mahindra.

Fresh from its official

launching in the Philippines, Asianbrands Motors Corporation is poised to hold its first public display, which will feature the Mahindra Enforcer Single Cab and Double Cab, as well as the Xylo AUV. Leading the opening ceremony and ribbon cutting on Friday, July 17, 2015 will be Mr. Eric R. Arpilleda, Vice President for Government Sales, Special Utility Vehicles and Tractor Sales Division, Asianbrands Motors Corporation, together with Mr. Anis Sayyad, Deputy General Manager, International Operations, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. Faithful to its thrust of providing Filipinos affordable

yet dependable vehicles, Mahindra will put on display the recently launched the Enforcer Single and Double Cab pick-up models, ideally built for transporting any cargo on any terrain, and the Xylo AUV – a people carrier designed for utmost comfort and versatility.

“We are looking forward to this year’s Philippine Bus and Truck Show as this will be our first public display. We are confident that the market will see Mahindra as their perfect partner in their businesses, which comes with a friendly price tag, yet does not compromise quality and dependability,” said Mr. Felix Mabilog, Jr., President, Asianbrands Motors Corpora-

tion.

Co-located with PhilAuto’15, the 2015 Philippine Bus and Truck Show is the biggest trade show exhibition which provides a business-to-business platform for bus, trucks and commercial vehicle operators, leasing and logistic companies, banking & insurance, parts and service & repair workshops to see and get updated on the latest range of bus, truck and commercial vehicles, auto parts, accessories and garage equipment. It will showcase over 250 exhibitors from 16 countries including Pavilions from China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and Thailand.

FIL-AUSSIE LEADS J

ORDAN Spieth surged through a gridlocked British Open leaderboard as a third straight major title loomed large but he had to share the spotlight with Irish amateur Paul Dunne at St Andrews after a remarkable day’s action on Sunday.

The 21-year-old American, bidding to become the first man to win the year’s first three majors since Ben Hogan in 1953, began the delayed third round in the chasing pack and lost ground early on but he stormed home with a seven-birdie, six-under 66 for an 11-under total, one off the lead.

Dunne, a year older but inhabiting a different golfing planet to Masters and U.S. Open champion Spieth, ended a crazy

day of low scoring in a three-way tie at the top on 12-under par 204 with Australian Jason Day and 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen.

Clearly on course for the amateur’s silver medal after a nerveless 66, Dunne remains in serious contention to become the first amateur to win the British Open since Bobby Jones 85 years ago.

At this most unusual of Opens, anything seems possible, With flags hanging limp like damp tea towels -a huge contrast to Saturday’s

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gales that wiped out the third round and forced a first Monday finish since 1988 -- an eclectic mix of major winners, amateurs and nearly-men tucked into the Old Course birdie banquet with relish.

There were 37 sub70 rounds, although the one notable exception was Spieth’s fellow American Dustin Johnson, the overnight leader, who collapsed to the day’s second=worst round, a miserable three-over 75.

SPIETH CLINICAL Spieth struggled to make much headway early on and was clearly getting frustrated when he dropped a shot at the ninth.

But the Texan regained his already legendary composure to respond with three consecutive birdies at the 10th, 11th and 12th and sunk another at the 15th before pocketing pars at the final three holes -- smiling and joking his way round with Sergio Garcia who is nine under after a 68.

“I kind of just wanted to stay patient today, let them come to me, and once I figured out my putting, it did,” world number two Spieth, still on for an unprecedented calendar year grand slam, told a news conference.

Asked about the magnitude of what he is chasing, he added: “It hasn’t come up in my head while I’ve been playing yet.

“I can’t speak for

Jason Day shares lead but Jordan Spieth within striking distance tomorrow given it’s the last round, and if I have a chance coming down the stretch, if it creeps in, I’ll embrace it. I’ll embrace the opportunity.”

Dunne’s bogey-free six-under 66 means he smashed the previous

lowest 54-hole total for an amateur at the Open.

Incredibly, however, he was not the only player yet to join the paid ranks remaining in the hunt for the Claret Jug as American Jordan Niebrugge’s 67

took him to nine-under.

“I saw that I was tied for first on the 10th green and I said to my caddie how cool is it to leave the Open on Sunday, even if it’s a different type of Sunday,” Dunne said.

FIL-AUSSIE Jason Day (left) studies his line of putt. Jordan Spieth (right) roars after sinking his own putt.

CMO rallies past Cops in OT TEAM STANDINGS W L JMC 2 0 10TH ID 2 0 Aegis 2 0 Bangoy 2 0 Team Tin 24 3 2 CMO 3 3 LTO 1 2 Goldstar 0 2 DENR 0 2 Viva 0 2 Cops 0 2 City Mayors Office snapped its three game losing skid with a thrilling 95 – 92 overtime win against the Cops in the ongoing Apollo C.

Quiboloy Cup Commercial B League on Sunday at the Davao City Recreation Center Almendras Gym. The City Hall dribblers regrouped after a last second defensive fallout in regulation and held on in the final stretch of the extension to formally pull away with the win.

Christopher “Bong” Go laid it out in the floor finishing with game-best 29 points, including five triples, for the CMO which improved to 3–3.

Go, the sweet-shooting executive assistant of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, was effective

in a lot of ways – not only in scoring but also getting into the paint and making plays for others.

Michael Walingan and Weng Farochillen provided the necessary support that was lacking in the CMO’s three game losing stretch.

Walingan scored 17 while Farochillen made 13 for the City Hall dribblers who won their first two outings but lost the next three at the hands of the Army, Team Tin 24 and Aegis.

The Cops played a more balance offense with five

players made double digits in scoring led by Kim Josol who dished out 16 points.

Balong Cameros had 15, including a three pointer that sent the game into overtime, for the Cops who got 14 points each from Milvar, Driz and Lamparas.

CMO pushed hard in the final period with baskets from all cylinders and solid stops that kept the Cops in trouble.

The City Hall dribblers couldn’t close it out in regulation, however, as Cameros hit a three pointer for the extension.

(Rico Biliran)

per-fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. which he lost by unanimous decision.

“Well, Pacquiao was supposed to come in to see the doctor, and for some reason, he decided to cancel it and come later,” said the 83-yearold Arum in an interview by ABS-CBN sports reporter Dyan Castillejo in Dubai where Top Rank promoted a special boxing card Saturday night that features Filipino Nonito Donaire Jr. “You know, he’s not acting very professionally, in my opin-

ion,” Arum added. The 36-yearold Pacquiao is currently in General Santos with his entire family. He appeared not yet informed about Arum’s outburst, but a member of the boxing icon’s inner circle said the Top Rank official could have just talked to him in private.

“He can say it personally.

Why say it through media interview?” said the Team Pacquiao member, who spoke on condition of anonymity pending an official statement from the boxing champion.

According to Arum, Pac-

quiao was scheduled to depart for the US early this month to undergo rehabilitation program with famed Los Angeles orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed surgery on the eight-time world division champion last May 6.

Instead, Pacquiao moved his US trip to a later date. “You got an operation like that, you got to do rehab, you got to get the doctor to look at it and guide you on the kind of rehab that you can do,” stressed Arum.

Arum takes jab at Pacquiao T

OP Rank promoter Bob Arum is obviously not satisfied with the way Manny Pacquiao has been treating his rehabilitation for his recently-operated injured right shoulder.

The veteran boxing official blasted the Filipino boxing icon after he was remiss in his supposed check-up in Los Angeles early this month after undergoing surgery last May to repair a torn rotator cuff on the injured shoulder. acquiao aggravated the injury during his May 2 su-

2 more Fil-Ams in NBA Summer League

W

HILE all eyes were on Ray Parks and Jordan Clarkson as they saw action in the NBA Summer League, there are actually two more Filipino-American players who have also showed their wares in the tournament, hoping to land a spot in an NBA roster next season.

Both Stephen Holt of the Atlanta Hawks and Aaron Craft of the Golden State Warriors have both played major minutes for their respective clubs in the tournament.

The 6’4″ Holt, a product of Saint Mary Gaels and once eyed to be a member of the Gilas Pilipinas national team, has helped the Hawks enter the Summer League semifinals. He started all of his team’s five games, averaging 21.4 minutes of play.

The 23-year-old guard has also put up 8.4 points, 1.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.6 assists per outing. His best game was

against the Denver Nuggets when he scored 17 markers alongside two assists and three steals in an 82-73 win last Thursday.

He was able to play against Parks and the Dallas Mavericks during the quarterfinals, finishing with five points, three assists and two rebounds in a 91-83 win.

Holt, who earlier signed a deal to play in for Melbourne United in Australia’s National Basketball League, also played for the Hawks’ Summer League team last year and was able sign with the Cleveland Cavaliers, only to be cut right before the season.

Meanwhile, Craft, a 6’2″ guard out of Ohio State, was also named as a starter for all of the Warriors’ games in the tournament. He averaged 4.8 points, 4.5 assists, 3.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 25.8 minutes per game.

One of his teammates is former PBA import Dominique Sutton.

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SLASHING THE LANE

Francis Gabriel Escandor of Ateneo drives against a Precious International School cager in this bit of action during the Matina Enclaves Inter-School Basketball Tournment at the Genesis Gym. Ateneo won this one by a mile 88-23. Contributed photo

FITTING CLIMAX

THE

BOBBYJOURNEY RAY PARKS Parks ends NBA Summer League with 4 against Hawks

B

BIG GAME BOBBY Bobby Ray Parks Jr. capped his NBA Summer League stint with 4 points against Atlanta as theDallas Mavericks bowed out of the tournament.

OBBY Ray Parks ended his campaign in the 2015 NBA Summer League by finishing with four points, three rebounds, and one block in the Dallas Mavericks’ 83-91 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday (Sunday Manila time) at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

Parks, 22, played for 14 minutes and four seconds in his final game for the Mavericks in the Summer League, which he had hoped would be a stepping stone in his bid to make it to the NBA. Parks had a lengthy but scoreless shift during the first half before finally scoring his first field goal at the 2:51-mark of the

third quarter.

He scored again moments later with 1:57 left in the period off a pass by Dwight Powell.

Parks was coming off an impressive second-round game against the NBA D-League Select where he finished with 10 points, five rebounds, four steals, and one assist in 21 minutes and six seconds of play.

The game also saw the stint of another Fil-Am cager in Stephen Holt, who finished with five points, two rebounds, and three steals in 28 minutes of action for the Hawks.

Justin Anderson had 23 points, six rebounds, two assists, and three

steals, while Jordan Crawford and Dwight Powell each had 17 points for the Mavericks, who reached the quarterfinals despite going 0-3 in the preliminaries.

Glenn Robinson III had 20 points for the Hawks, who will face the San Antonio Spurs in the semifinal round.

Parks, looking to become the first homegrown Filipino to make it to the big league, now hopes he has made an impression to earn a call-up for training camp of the Mavericks or any other NBA team. In a teleconference with reporters last week, the son of former PBA import Bobby Parks Sr. said he has no plans beyond the summer league.