Edge Davao 8 Issue 92

VOL. 8 ISSUE 92 • SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2015

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Davao City, UP sign sports complex MOU P2

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

‘BIG ONE’ COULD ALSO HIT DAVAO Phivolcs says Surigao-Mati fault could lead to big earthquake

TODAY’S ISSUE COMES WITH A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

SCALE MODEL. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, UP President Alfredo E. Pascual, and third district Rep. Isidro Ungab view the scale model of the proposed P8 billion Davao City-UP Sports Complex. With them is UP Mindanao Campus Junior Architect Mary Catherine A. Diaz who explained the facilities of the sports complex. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

By ANTONIO M. AJERO

A

BIG earthquake as strong as, if not even stronger than, the so-called “Big One” that Metro Manilans are preparing for is a possibility in Davao City in the immediate future.

This was bared by Desider-

io Cabanlit, regional director of the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), during the Kapehan sa NCCC jointly presented by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) and the NCCC-Matina Mall yesterday.

Cabanlit said he was part of the group of the Phivolcs scientists that studied the so-called Surigao-Mati earthquake fault line, referring to the identified quakeprone areas along the stretch from Surigao City to Mati City, Davao

Oriental which has a distance of 320 kilometers.

The research resulted in two significant findings, namely, that there was a 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Compostela Valley

FBIG ONE, 10

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 92 • SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2015

SPORTS COMPLEX MOU. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and University of the Philippines (UP) president Alfredo E. Pascual sign the Memorandum of Understanding on Thursday afternoon for the proposed Davao City-UP Sports Complex which be built in the 20-hectare property of UP Mindanao in Bago Oshiro. The signing was witnessed

7,300 families displaced by floods in North Cota

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T least 7,300 families have been displaced by floods spawned by the southwest monsoon in North Cotabato, officials and residents said.

Most residents, however, preferred to stay in the homes of relatives in communities not affected by floods.

Classes in some schools have been on and off because education officials would suspend classes whenever the water reached school grounds such as in Barangay Rajamuda, one of the six flooded villages here.

The Rio Grande de Mindanao that passes through Pikit’s interior villages had overflowed due to the weeklong light to moderate rainfall upstream.

It had rained for at least a week in Bukidnon, the headwater of Rio Grande and other river systems in Mindanao.

The rains had triggered floods and landslides in Malaybalay and Valencia cities and other areas of the province.

“Classes were suspended many times because of floods.

Every time the water rises we cannot reach our school compound,” Omael Mamasamunda, a 4th year student of Rajamuda National High School said.

Tahira Kalantongan, the town’s disaster management official, said the floods actually affected 16 low-lying villages but water had receded.

A Moro rebel detachment in Barangay Rajamuda was also flooded.

“We have been underwater for the past week,” a member of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front said.

Despite the floods some people could still be seen doing their daily chores. (Ferdinandh Cabrera/MindaNews)

HRW scores Zambo, Davao for ‘whitewashing’IDP issue

By JON JOAQUIN and ARMANDO B. FENQUITO JR.

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EW York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) criticized the local governments of Davao City and Zamboanga City for “putting on a pretty face” for the visit of United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons (IDPs) Chaloka Beyani last month at the expense of the IDPs. In a statement, HRW Asia Division researcher Carlos Conde said the violent incident at the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP)-Haran compound in Davao City on July 23 as well as the removal of evacuees from the Don

Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex in Zamboanga City were “deliberate attempts to whitewash the poor conditions” in those places.

“The Philippine government loves to put on a pretty face for visiting dignitaries. In May 2012, it rounded up and hid street children and others living along a highway in Manila when the Asian Development Bank’s board of governors met. In January, street dwellers were taken off Manila’s roads and brought to a resort, allegedly so Pope Francis wouldn’t see them,” Conde said.

FHRW, 10

by city administrator Jesus Melchor V. Quitain, third district Rep. Isidro Ungab, UP Vice President for Development Elvira A. Zamora, and Nilo B. Opanda of UP Mindanao. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

Davao City, UP sign sports complex MOU

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

D

abf@edgedavao.net

AVAO City has taken the first step in the dream of having a sports complex as the city government and University of the Philippines (UP) inked the initial pact on the proposed facility.

Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and UP president Alfredo E. Pascual signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the proposed Davao CityUP Sports Complex on Thursday afternoon.

The MOU will pave the way for the creation of a Technical Working Group (TWG) composed of representatives from UP and the city for the prelim-

inary plans and programs necessary for the establishment of the 20-hectare sports complex which will be built in UP Mindanao in Bago Oshiro.

The MOU aims to identify the obligations of both parties on the implementation of the project.

A memorandum of agreement will follow after the TWG finishes the plan and identifies the obligations of both parties.

After the signing, the perspective of the 20-hectare sports complex was unveiled

by Duterte and Pascual.

In an interview, Duterte said he was satisfied by the

perspectives and design of the sports complex presented to him.

“If it will materialize, I would be very happy to just even come here and share the joy with everybody,” he said.

Pascual, for his part, said he was happy with the support of the city government for the sports development program of UP. “With the solid partnership with Davao City government I am certain that we can succeed in implementing this project,” he said.

He said the sports complex project is part UP’s strategic

plan in developing sports programs in the whole UP system.

For her part, UP Mindanao Campus Junior Architect Mary Catherine A. Diaz said the sports complex has a total budget of P8 billion in 20 years.

Initially, third district Rep. Isidro Ungab allocated P300 million: P100 million for the training gym, P50 million for the phase one of the stadium, P50 million for the track oval, P50 million for access roads going to Manambulan, and next year another P50 million for the stadium.

Diaz said UP will get the

and Sciences.

In the book, Dr. Pilapil explores the political and philosophical issues underlying contemporary struggles for recognition and the political and philosophical dimension of struggles for recognition waged by various social movements structured around gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, language, among others.

It seeks to uncover the principles and norms as well as the tensions underlying recognition struggles as

struggles for social justice.

The philosophy professor also looks into a broad spectrum of recognition-related topics both conceptual and practical namely cultural rights, autonomy, moral suffering, and social conflict, among others. Pilapil earned his PhD from the KatholiekeUniversiteit Leuven (Belgium).

The book is a significant contribution of a Mindanawon to the discourse on social justice through a systematic theoretical treat-

ment of recognition struggles.

Drawing from his experience of the Moro and the Lumad struggle in Mindanao, Dr. Pilapil argues that the experience of humiliation and disrespect of a people can lead them to engage in political resistance.

According to broadcaster Vina Araneta-Pilapil, wife of the author, questions and clarifications about the book may bedirected to her through numbers 0917-5508191/0918-285-1443.

FDAVAO, 10

Ateneo professor to launch social justice book, Aug. 19 A

BOOK on understanding struggles for social justice will be launched in the afternoon of August 19, 2015 at F213 of the Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU).

The book, titled “Recognition: Examining Identity Struggles” and published by the Ateneo de Manila University Press, is written by Renante D. Pilapil, currently dean of the AdDU’s School of Arts and Sciences and editor-in-chief of Tambara: A Journal on the Humanities

by Noel Baguio VOL. 8 ISSUE 92 • SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2015

Talikud readies quality workforce R

ESIDENTS of Talikud Island started receiving skills and livelihood trainings to develop the human resource in preparation for the increase of tourists and investors brought about by the open beach line project in the island resort.

The provincial government recently conducted the trainers’ training on solar light and street lamp assembly, as the first among eight trainings slated this year.

The next trainings lined up include bamboo fan-making, romblon bag and pouch-making, training on operating and using coco-shell moulding machine, coco beads accessories-making, advanced development on poka shell accessories, culinary arts with table skirting, reflexology and massage therapy (NC II), housekeeping (NC II) and carpentry (NCII).

The trainings are under the workforce development component of the Sustainable Tourism Development and Business Enablement Project

under the Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED).

The sector intends to prep up the residents for the 1,294 jobs that were projected to be created by the end of 2016, as Talikud is being geared up to become the best island destination in the south.

Governor Rodolfo del Rosario stressed a dependable workforce is crucial in laying the foundation for speedy development of the island.

“Developing the human resource of the island is a major factor in attracting investments and transforming the island into a major tourist destination,” he said.

The Canadian government-funded project aims to create an open beach model designed to foster inclusive growth in the Island Garden City of Samal.

It intends to attain this by developing the capacities of the private sector and the LGU, particularly in business

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Mindanao IP Alliance slams gov’t for brutal attacks on IPs

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N observance of the World’s People’s Day, a militant alliance of indigenous peoples in Mindanao has condemned anew the US-Aquino regime for its persistent attacks on the indigenous peoples saying that it has retreated on their rights as indigenous peoples and as human beings.

Dulphing Ogan, KALUMARAN (Kusog sa Katawhang Lumad sa Mindanao) Secretary-General, said that much as they would like to emphasize the important role of indigenous peoples in protecting the environment and building a just and sustainable society, they could not do so under the US-Aquino regime which persistently inflicts brutal treatments on indigenous peoples as a form of ethnocide.

August 9 is the observance

of the United Nations (UN) International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples to promote and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Senate has passed on third and final reading House Bill HB 4420 declaring it as National Indigenous Peoples Day to highlight the important role of indigenous people in nation building.

Ogan said that the US-Aquino regime is only interested in their ancestral lands, forcibly displacing Lumad communities, destroying their livelihoods and their cultures, to satisfy the greed of corporate predators.

Corporate encroachment, he added, has also turned many indigenous peoples into modern slaves in their own lands working as plantation and mine workers. PR

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

COLD SNACK. A member of Task Force Davao eats “dirty ice cream” while on a patrol duty to fight off the afternoon heat along San Pedro Street yesterday.

Lean Daval Jr.

Duterte to provide vehicles to food sanitation inspectors

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

D

abf@edgedavao.net

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte will also provide vehicles to City Health Office’s (CHO) Environment and Sanitation Division for its sanitation inspections in the city.

“I will give them three vehicles and they will go around,” Duterte said in an interview after the signing of the sports complex Memorandum of Understanding at the University of Philippines-Min-

danao.

Duterte said he assign the sanitation inspectors of every health district in the city to inspect the food establishments and stalls in their respective areas.

He said he already ordered city administrator J. Melchor Quitain to hire 20 nurses as sanitation inspectors who will inspect the sanitation of the food stalls.

Duterte said that the pri-

ority of the inspectors are the street food vendors to see if these people are really observing safety food handling.

“Tapos na silang (vendors) nag-seminar, implementation na lang ngayon (The vendors have undergone their seminar, it is now about time for implementation),” he said.

Around 4,000 food vendors who attended the Food Safety Handling seminar last month received their Mayor’s

DavNor holds Rescuelympics

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RESCUELYMPICS. Rescuers participate in the lifesaving contest during the recent DavNorlympics rescue competition, capping the National Disaster Consciousness Month celebration. Raymund Faciol

ID last Wednesday and Thursday.

CHO environmental and sanitation head Robert Oconer earlier said his office will strictly implement food safety handling rules among vendors on the second week of September.

Oconer said vendors who were not able to attend the seminar last month can still join the second round on the last week of August.

OME 190 rescuers participated the First One DavNorlympics ’15 recently at the E-Park, Apoko, Tagum City aimed at heightening the capacity of the responders in the province in times of disasters.

The two-day rescuelympics was conducted by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to cap the celebration of the National Disaster Consciousness Month.

Anchored on the theme “Pamilya at Pamayanang Handa, Katuwang sa Pag-unlad ng Bansa”, the event pitted responders from various LGUs against each other on competitions on the different rescue and life-saving techniques.

Romulo Tagalo, Executive Director of the Climate Change Adaptation-Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CCA-DRRM) said the activity intends to further build the capability of the rescuers since they are the first responders in the communities.

“Gisuportahan ni ni Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario uban sa atong mga mayors tungod kay ang DRRM usa sa mga priorities sa atong provincial government (The governor, together with the mayors supported this activity since DRRM is among the priorities of the province),” Tagalo said.

The responders competed in three disciplines, namely, firefighting, Tyrolean zipline (where they showed safety procedures in crossing the river in case of a flash flood) and lifesaving techniques.

The municipality of Kapalong bagged the over-all championship in the competition.

“Nakipag-indigay sila unsaon pagsalbar sa kinabuhi sa atong mga katawhan sa Davao del Norte (They will show their skills in saving the lives of our people),” said PDRRMC Training officer Mr. Redentor Cardinal.

Tagalo said the province

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4 ECONOMY

VOL. 8 ISSUE 92 • SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2015

Business forum staged in Igacos M

STREET KITCHEN. A street vendor cooks takoyaki at the sidewalk along San Pedro Street in Davao City yesterday. Vendors selling street foods are given until the second week of September to get mayor’s identification cards so they will be allowed to continue with their businesses. Lean Daval Jr.

ORE than sixty landowners and farmers here participated the IGaCoS’ Investment Forum on Priority Industries (Banana and Cacao) conducted by the City Investment and Tourism Office in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry-Davao del Norte Province at Camp Holiday Beach Resort on July 31.

The investment forum aims to promote investment opportunities on banana and cacao to the land owners and farmers to engage in market-driven commodities. The activity also hopes to promote productivity through utilization of idle land and investment generation.

Cardaba Banana and Cacao industries are among the clusters prioritized by the Department of Trade and Industry-Davao del Norte Provincial Office under its Industry Cluster Development Program.

At present, the demand

for cardaba banana is growing that even for Davao del Norte alone, there are five large enterprises engaged in exported Banana chips and numerous micro-enterprises selling banana chips at the local markets.

On the other hand, the global and local demand and supply gap of the cacao industry is also wide, providing more opportunities for farmers to have better income.

DTI-DN Provincial Director Romeo L. Castanaga explained the Comparative Advantage through Industry Cluster Approaches. He emphasized the need to assess and strengthen internal strength of the industry in the island.

With the advent of the ASEAN Integration and being one of the member country, Castanada stressed the comparative advantage and the need for critical mass development in the agriculture industry to be able to meet the

Sun Life to launch DA pursues campaign two dollar funds for mechanized farms

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

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UN Life Asset Management Co., Inc. (SLAMCI) will launch its two dollar funds by the fourth quarter of the year.

“This is in line with our continuing effort to provide clients with more choices that would cater to their different needs and preferences,” SLAMCI president Valerie N. Pama said in a press conference at the Seda Hotel yesterday.

Pama said the two-dollar denomination funds that will be launched by the fourth quarter this year will be the Global Equity

Fund and the Income Paying Denominated Fund.

The two new financial products will be added to the existing Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund and Dollar Abundance Fund.

Pama said the Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund invests in foreigndenominated fixed income instruments and stocks.

It has become the most popular dollar-denominated fund since it utilizes an active asset allocation strategy, which allows Sun Life to target those asset classes that are expected to perform

well in the short term and over time.

The Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund, on the other hand, invests primarily in foreign-denominated fixed income instruments; making them a good choice for more conservative investors, she said.

Meanwhile, Pama also revealed that SLAMCI’s assets under management in their areas in Mindanao have reached P1.3 billion for the first semester of the year.

“The company posted an AUM of over P1 billion, mak-

ing a 3.56 percent growth compared to the same period last year,” she said.

Minanawons from Butuan, Kidapawan, and General Santos were among their clients who invested in mutual funds, according to Pama.

“It is exciting to note the fast growth in our Visayas and Mindanao market,” she said.

Other provincial investment grew like in Cebu, which posted 1.31 percent growth at P865 million AUM and Iloilo, one of the biggest markets, had P736 million AUM.

tives under NEA were given performance assessment for the year 2014, and Dasureco has been rated as a Triple A Electric Cooperative with a 100 percent perfect score in all aspects of operation.

Dasureco general manager Engr. Godofredo Guya said the highest rating of AAA will be given to power coops which are compliant to all four parameters: Financial, Institutional, Technical and Reportorial Requirements.

“This would not be our rating if not because of the perseverance of the staff, employees and Board of Directors of our Cooperative.

And most importantly, this is because of our member-consumers who have been the key to our success,” Guya said.

The awarding ceremony was actually the highlight of the 46th Anniversary of the Rural Electrification Program (REP) of NEA, with the

theme “Converge… Engage…”

The objectives of this year’s conference are to provide rural electrification practitioners with strategies and benchmarks to enable them to address complex issues required in electric power distribution and serve as a forum to converge and share ideas and best practices for a better quality service to the member-consumers.

(CDIO-Magsaysay/Anthony S. Allada)

NEA rates Davao Sur electric coop Triple A performance T

HE Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative (Dasureco), the only power distributor in the 14 municipalities and one city in the province, was recently rated for the third time Triple A performance by the National Electrification Administration (NEA).

During the 22nd NEA-Electric Cooperatives Consultative Conference held at the Manila Hotel on August 5, 2015, all electric coopera-

W

ITH less than one year to go before the current administration steps down, the Department of Agriculture is aggressively pursuing its farm mechanization drive in order to assure that the farming and fishing sectors remain sustainable and competitive in the years to come.

Just recently, the DA awarded a total of PhP 1.52 billion in farm machineries and project grants to farmers/ fishers-beneficiaries from the rural communities of the SOCCSKSARGEN Region comprising South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City.

The awarding was held on July 30 at the regional center in Carpenter Hill, Koronadal City.

Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said the distribution of farm machineries and other projects to the region is all part of the holistic strategy of the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III in delivering services and assistance to rural farmers so as to assure that Philippine agriculture remain sustainable and competitive.

“Farm mechanization is one of the priorities of the government as it is the best way to lower agricultural production cost and improve the competitiveness of our farmers,” Alcala said.

He said that close to 370 units of farm machineries consisting of high-powered fourwheel drive tractors (with and without backhoe) for both rice and corn, hand tractor with implements, combine harvesters, and multi-commodity so-

FBUSINESS, 10

lar dryers, among others, were distributed during the recent event.

Besides the machineries, Alcala said selected farmer groups have also been trained on how to properly use the facilities.

The DA also distributed other farm inputs and livestock animals to farmers/irrigators’ associations and local government units in South Cotabato, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani.

The Agriculture chief added that PhP 152 million worth of machines and implements -- including fishing boats, motors and other equipment and facilities -- were awarded to fisherfolk organizations identified by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in Region 12.

“Aside from assisting farmers and fisherfolk in production, the government wants to make sure that they would be able to deliver their produce to trading areas in the best possible way,” he said.

As such, the DA likewise awarded a total of 19 farm-tomarket road (FMR) networks amounting to almost PhP 460 million to local chief executives in the region.

Alcala said the FMRs would be constructed under the Philippine Rural Development Project.

While in Koronadal, the Agri chief also led the inauguration of the Agri-Pinoy Center which will henceforth serve as the new home of the regional DA. “The Agri-Pinoy Center, which stands on a land owned by the city government, will

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 92 • SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

THE ECONOMY 5

Phl economic growth seen to continue

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

T

crc@edgedavao.net

HE Philippine economy will continue to grow in the next few years even after the term of President Aquino or in the next administration, an economic analyst said.

Michael G. Manuel, Sunlife Philippine Business Development officer, said drivers of

the economy like government spending, inflation rate, interest rate and investment will remain to have a positive outlook in the next few years.

Manuel said government will continue to spend for projects for infrastructure as the election approaches.

“This is a trend for the past

years,” he said, adding the government has a lot of fund that can be used for government spending.

With government spending contributing 10 percent to the country’s economy, Manuel said any increase in investment on infrastructure projects either coming from

the government or the private sector will automatically contribute to increase growth in the economy.

“The government will spend, unless it wants to lose in the coming election,” Manuel said.

He added that the probability of allocating huge lump

KADAYAWAN PROMOS. Park Inn by Radisson Davao marketing and communications manager Patty Basa-Tan (left) and public relations coordinator Izza Cadiente promote the hotel’s upcoming activities and promotions in time for the Kadayawan Festival 2015. The two graced yesterday’s Fast Fridays media forum at Barrio Fiesta at SM Lanang Premier. Lean Daval Jr.

of government funding for infrastructure projects would continue to ensure that it could cope with the achievement of the current administration.

The economic growth of the country will be fuelled even more by the standards set by the current administration, unless it will impose bottleneck that could pull down the performance of the Philippines economy, according to Manuel.

He also emphasized that public-private partnership projects of the current administration is necessary to allow more investment to enter the economy.

Meanwhile, the young consuming population of the country will also contribute in spurring the nation’s economy as a result of the low inflation and interest rate.

Manuel said these two economic drivers allow the huge bulk of the population who are ages zero to 26 years old and below to invest on goods and services.

This is supported that only two out of 10 Filipinos have savings bank account, with a saver having an average of P6,800.

“Majority of the Filipinos spend rather than save,” Manuel said, adding this could fuel

the economic growth being 70 percent of the Philippine economy.

The decrease in interest rate from 24 percent to 12 percent, he said, allowed the consuming public to spend more.

The remittances from OFWs as well as the revenue from BPO industry will also contribute in the robust growth of the country.

Named as the 4th fastest economy in the world by World Bank and the Asian Tiger economy, he said this poses a positive growth to the Philippines stock market.

Manuel also said there should be no worry that the Philippines economy will be dragged down by the slowing economic growth of China and the failing economy of Greece.

The economy of the country has changed since 2010 as result of enabling policies and investment from different sectors.

The country has also become attractive to local and foreign investors because of the positive earning potential.

Manuel said the value of the stocks in the Philippine Stock Index would continue to increase as the Gods Domestic Product of the country moves up.

EDGEDAVAO

6 VANTAGE

VOL. 8 ISSUE 92 • SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2015

EDITORIAL

Battling China

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he Philippines has made an ambitious pitch for the hosting of the 2019 FIBA World Cup and our one and only competitor for that big event is a familiar rival--China.

China has used its superstar in sports in 7-foot-6 retired NBA player Yao Ming to lead its presentation for the 2019 bid. On the other end pitching for the Philippine side is diminutive boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao. The matchup between China and the Philippines is almost reflective of our battle for the right to the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea from the endview of China).

China claims nearly all of the resource-rich area, while overlapping territorial maritime claims involve ASEAN members Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei.

In the battle for the 2019 World Cup, the Philippines admittedly is up against a giant, size-wise although when

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it comes to love for basketball, the Philippines will not be wanting in heart, which is also its main argument in pushing for the event’s hosting. The FIBA World Cup is the biggest global basketball competition although not at par in magnitude and prominence as the football World Cup. How much do we need the World Cup hosting? Perhaps the answer may not be of the same weight as the dispute over the West Philippine Sea. However, it will speak well of our doggedness to defy tremendous odds in combatting a giant like China.

We know how crazy Filipinos are when it comes to the sport of basketball and even if we win over China in this bid, it may not give us any advantage in the sovereignty claims.

Nevertheless, it should spur the competitive juices in all of us to not just give up a fight in the face of adversity as huge as China.

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

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EDGEDAVAO

O

NCE upon a time there was a drunk who was searching for his car keys under a street lamp. A policeman comes over and, after being told of the situation, decides to help the guy look for his keys. They search and they search – and find nothing. Finally, the cop asks the man this is really where he dropped them. The drunk replies, “Nope. It fell over there, but it is so much brighter here.”

The situation sounds absurd when presented as a joke, but the punch line turns tragic when you consider that this is exactly how voters act when they choose the better packaged, and presumably more popular Binay, over the less charismatic, but infinitely more honest , Mar Roxas. What’s worse is that, while we often attribute this voting pattern with the “uneducated” masses, there is a significant number of supposedly enlightened Filipinos who continue to support Binay’s candidacy, not from ignorance, but because they know perfectly well which side of their bread is buttered.

--We live in a world that is noisy with advertising and marketing messages. Everyday the stakes become higher, and the list of failed brands that are unable or unwilling to keep up with their rivals becomes longer. One of the key challenges that companies today have to overcome is the rapid pace of development in communications technology. Where before it might have taken years for a new communications

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HEN I was growing up, I usually read a big billboard that welcomed me whenever I came to Davao City that said: THE LAND OF PROMISE.” -- From an article I wrote some years back *** Urbanization – the demographic transition from rural to urban – is associated with shifts from agriculture-based economy to mass industry, technology, and services. With 1.6 million people moving into the cities globally every week, the 21st century will be known in history as the century of global urbanization.

“This urban expansion will be especially burdensome for developing countries, where 82 percent of the world’s population currently lives,” deplored Grant Potter, who conducted a research on the impact of urbanization for the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute.

The Philippines is one of those developing countries that will bear the brunt of urbanization. Today, about 63 percent of the country’s total population of 96.2 million live in urban areas. That’s according to the world population data sheet released by the Washington-based Population Reference Bureau.

The country is witnessing a rapid proliferation of urban areas with the number of cities increasing. The largest of these cities – Metro Manila, Cebu, and Davao – are the economic engines of the country.

Take the case of Davao City which is home to almost two million people, making it the country’s largest city outside Metro Manila.

A few years back, the City Mayors Foundation ranks Davao City as the 87th fastest growing city in the world, and it has been

VOL. 8 ISSUE 92 • SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2015

VANTAGE POINTS

7

Buddy, have you seen my keys?... platform to gain any significant impact on the market – and so companies had the same amount of time to master it – current media trends change virtually overnight. And with very few exceptions, brands are struggling to keep up.

These new developments in communications, which are largely driven by social media trends, can be likened to the introduction of the tank in World War 2. Looking back on the history of modern warfare, we can see that the first World War was largely a positional conflict waged behind fixed trenches. Very similar to the locked-horns competitive relationship that we find in most industries and markets today. Movements among rivals, like those in the armies fighting in the Western Front in 1914, were measured in increments of a few kilometers at a time.

For brands to break through the stalemate and gain a significant advantage on the marketing battlefield, they have to master these new media platforms in the same way that Field Marshal Heinz Guderian perfected the strategic use of tanks during the German Blitzkrieg. This

is particularly true for smaller, less established brands that are trying to gain a foothold in a crowded marketplace. By leveraging their expertise in the effective use of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Linkedin, Vine, YouTube, and the host of other similar channels, they can easily flank – like the German’s did with the France’s Maginot Line – the static defensive barriers of their less flexible competitors.

--In the news recently was the 9.4% gross regional development product (GRDP), which was the highest among all the regions in the country for 2014. Significantly, the current rate is more than 3% higher than the 6.1% it posted in 2013, highlighting the region’s strong economic performance on the backs of stellar growth in the service and industry sectors.

At the heart of all this of course is Davao City and the leadership of Mayor Rody Duterte. Unlike other areas in the Philippines where the local government units do not have a clear idea of how they can best serve the community, Davao City has hit on the perfect formula of focusing on public security and safety, and letting the rest take care of itself.

By putting much of the city’s resources on reducing criminality and improving public order, Davao City residents are free to pursue their careers, grow their businesses, and increase their investments without fear of being targeted by criminals. This is the Duterte legacy of Davao. And while critics like DOJ Sec. Leila

De Lima continue to harp on his supposed human rights violations, there is strong consensus among Davaoeños that the mayor has done a yeoman’s job of keeping the city on track.

Which is more than we can say for De Lima’s stint at the DOJ. --With the booming economy, Davao City is now starting to experience the problems faced by all growing metropolises. Chief among these is the worsening traffic situation, which is not at all helped by the ludicrous speed limits that we have right now. Having to drive at thirty kilometers per hour wouldn’t be so bad if not for the jeepneys that insist on driving fifteen.

For Davao drivers, angst is having a wide open road and the possibility of a speed gun on the horizon.

--Another consequence of all these positive economic developments is the rush to construct as many building as possible. Where for years we didn’t even have enough high rises to count with the fingers of one hand, all of a sudden they’re popping up like mushrooms. What seems worrisome, though, is that a lot of these new buildings are being built on what used to be old riverbeds and swamplands. And given that much of what we now know as downtown used to be part of the coastal plain and/or the riverside, it would really be interesting to see how these structures would stand up to an earthquake.

listed by the UK- THINK ON THESE! based Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)Magazine as the 10th “Asian City of the Future” together with two other Philippine cities – Quezon City (ranked 7th) and Henrylito D. Tacio Cebu City (8th henrytacio@gmail.com place).

(20%), education (10%), and infrastructure (20%).

The website used the European Intelligence Unit procedure to determine the livability of each city. In addition, it also added the following considerations: financial performance, population density, availability of public and private hospitals, availability and quality of public health service, environment conditions, availability of sports and development programs, calamity-safety index, tourist attractions, cultural and commercial ties, availability of public and private educational sectors including their performances.

With a rating of 84.804, Davao City came out second (after Bacolod City, which has a rating of 85.183). This was what the website wrote in its final analysis: “It is the most important financial and trade center and the richest city in Mindanao, thus the nickname the ‘Crown Jewel of the South.’ It is the fifth best performing city financially, the second best city that caters the tourist with best natural attractions, the fourth producer of young professionals, the ninth city in having the most cultural and commercial ties here and abroad, the first in the calamity safety index and the third in having the best infrastructure among the cities in the country.”

Zipporah Antonio, who works as a content writer of Housing Interactive, Inc., has identified Davao City as one the best places in the country where the oldies can retire.

“Modern meets the old,” Antonio wrote.

“Indeed, this dynamic province is a perfect marriage of traditional culture and cosmopolitan living. It may have the usual hustle and

bustle of city life, but it is able to retain that “small town” feel. Signs of Davao’s progress and success are seen through the rise of developments throughout the area. This is mainly to accommodate the burgeoning number of expat and local communities.”

Antonio further wrote: “Its rich history, picturesque landscapes, breathtaking islands, exciting water-related activities, and remarkable tourist destinations are few of the main reasons that make the province an interesting place for retirement. Likewise, the cost of living is definitely more affordable than Metro Manila and Cebu.”

Perhaps Davao City is one of the contributing factors why the economy of Davao Region managed to have the “fastest growth” among the 17 regions of the country. According to the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB), Davao Region was growing at 9.4% in 2014, surpassing its growth by 6.7% in 2013.

“Davao Region was followed by Central Luzon and Central Visayas which grew by 9.0 percent and 8.8 percent, respectively from 2013 to 2014,” the NSCB said in a press statement.

During the 2014 Report on the Economic Performance of Davao Region, National Economic Development Authority Regional Director Maria Lourdes Lim pointed out: “Indeed, 2014 was a banner year for Davao Region, not only because it has sustained its high growth levels in the past three years, a very crucial prerequisite to inclusive growth, but also because it has surpassed expectation and has already achieved its growth target for 2016 or by the end of the plan period.”

Booming city

Davao City serves as the regional center for the Davao Region. In fact, the spike in the city’s population was mainly due to the influx of people from other parts of the country. As the National Statistics Office explains, “The increase in population was the result of migration, among others, of people from other regions because Davao City offers many opportunities as a hub of government, business, and industries.”

Davao City is on the verge of turning into a bustling metropolis and with the influx of foreign and local business investors, the numbers are on its side. More than 200 of the country’s top companies operate in the city.

Recently, a website (ikwaderno.wordpress. com) made a thorough research, data gathering and analysis on 122 cities of the country. It wanted to know which cities provide the “best living conditions.” Five broad categories were considered for computation: stability (25%), culture and environment (25%), health care

8 CLASSIFIED

EDGEDAVAO

DAVAO CITY MAIN OFFICE JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales Door 14 ALCREJ Bldg., Quirino Ave., Davao City Tel: (082) 224-1413 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 GENERAL SANTOS CITY MARKETING OFFICE EDMUND D. RENDON Marketing Specialist Mobile: (Smart) 0909-424-7990 MANILA MARKETING OFFICE ANGELICA R. GARCIA Marketing Manager 97-1 Bayanbayanan Ave., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 654-3509

VOL. 8 ISSUE 92 • SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2015

9 COMPETITIVE EDGE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 92 • SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2015

Grand Regal hotel celebrates 17th anniversary today T HE celebration of Grand Regal’s anniversary is today August 8, 2015 – exactly 17 years to the day of the hotel’s opening in 1998.

The 217-room hotel was then a multi-million peso property built during the flourishing tourism industry at the approach of the second millennium, and became home of the biggest gaming & entertainment center in Mindanao, the Casino Filipino . From the day it opened to the public, it already has set the standard of luxury accommodation in the Metro Davao.

Grand Regal Hotel forever changed the landscape of the hospitality scene not only in Davao City being one of the first luxury hotels in the region, as it set a precedent for

premiere hospitality services and standards, and continues as one of the moving force in the hospitality industry at present.

Grand Regal Hotel has consistently served to spread the warmth of hospitality eversince its opening. From presidents to senators of the country, celebrities including royalties from around the world to sports superstars have passed through its welcoming doors. But above all these, the hotel takes even greater pride to countless individuals and people whose names may not be of stellar stature, yet stayed and came back to fill the rooms with the warmth of their presence.

On its 17th anniversary,

FGRAND, 10

Congratulations Grand Regal Hotel on your 17th Anniversary!

August 8, 2015

Greetings from:

Congratulations Grand Regal Hotel on your 17th Anniversary!

August 8, 2015 Greetings from:

Congratulations Grand Regal Hotel on your 17th Anniversary!

August 8, 2015 Greetings from:

10 NEWS BIG ONE... FROM 1

EDGEDAVAO

HRW... FROM 2

province in 1893 and another 8.3 magnitude-Intensity 9 earthquake somewhere in Sigaboy, now Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental on April 15, 1924.

The studies on the Surigao-Mati fault line, part of the Philippine fault zone, consisted of digging, carbon-dating, and other related activities.

Cabanlit said there were other strong quakes in Compostela Valley but he could not remember the dates during the interview.

He said when Compostela Valley was hit by an earthquake of Intensity 7.2, the quake’s effect affected Davao City in 30 minutes with an intensity of about 7.

He said this indicates that the shaking of the earth will just be as violent and the destruction caused by it will be just as intense as the one in Compostela.

The same can be expected with a strong quake in Governor Generoso. This means that the people should be just as prepared, he said.

Liza Mazo, regional head of the Office of the Civil Defense, the other guest in the

Kapihan, said the drills in Metro Manila local governments are anticipating an earthquake of only 7.2 magnitude, weaker than the quakes that hit Sigaboy.

Cabanlit said there was also a study of possible fault line in Davao City but he refused to discuss it as he said that it was conducted by another section in the Phivolcs and that he was not part of the research team.

He said it is not advisable to talk about it as there is no official report has been made by the research team yet. The study has not been published, he said.

Cabanlit, however, said the discovery of new fault lines is a possibility as what had happened in Bohol lately.

Mazo also told EDGE Davao that part of the preparation and drills for Dabawenyos is what to do when the Big One occurs in Metro Manila where many of their relatives reside.

She admitted, however, that the guidelines for what Dabawenyos will do in case the Big One happens are still being drafted.

rest of the budget from other government agencies and international organizations.

She said the sports complex will have a training gymnasium, football stadium, coliseum, Olympic-standard aquatic facilities for swimming and diving, archery and shooting ranges, tennis courts, practice fields for football and futsal, and a multipurpose building.

Diaz said the track oval of the football stadium will have a rubberized tartan and the field will initially use natural grass since the budget is not enough for synthetic grass.

“But, eventually as we can get more support, we will convert it to synthetic grass that will make it FIFA (International Federation of Football Federations)-certified,” she said.

Diaz said the stadium can initially cater to an audience of 1,000 since it still in the first phase of the project.

“Eventually, it will be 35,000 if the stadium will be completed,” she said.

Diaz said the coliseum is still on the design phase but the university plans to have 35,000 seating capacity with a facility that can host international basketball games.

“With this, Davao will be-

come more vibrant because it will have not only a sports complex, we will also have venue for concerts and the improvement of the arts,” she said.

She said the archery and shooting ranges are also made for the possible hosting of Palarong Pambansa or any national and international games.

Diaz said the UP will also allot space for extreme sports such as parkour and skating.

She explained that the multipurpose building will have a polyflor flooring intended for indoor games.

Diaz said there will be also a retractable bleachers so that the building can be used for Physical Education classes if there are no games. .

She said the side of the multipurpose building will also have classrooms and commercial spaces for rent.

“This sports complex will definitely not just symbolize the development of Davao City but it will also boost the morale of the local people,” she said.

Diaz said the sports complex will also have space for hotel accommodations to house delegates of the sporting events that will be hosted

by UP Mindanao.

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competitive challenge and demands in the market.

He encouraged the farmers to continue with the initiative with or without the ASEAN Integration but because the project will lead to more and better jobs which is sustainable and offer an inclusive growth.

City Investment and Tourism Officer Jennifer Carriaga appreciated the Investment Forum on Banana and Cacao Industry since the local government highly promote the island as an Agri-Eco-Tourism

area.

She pointed-out agribusiness as one of the priority investment area because other investments in the island require huge power and water resources which meantime the City could not provide.

DTI-XI Industry Development Services Division Engr.

Vedastito C. Galvez presented the Cardava Banana Industry Situationer and Roadmap while SAGREX Consultant Mr. Danilo T. Fanlo shared on Investment and Market Oppor-

tunities in Cardava Banana Value Chain.

For Cacao Industry, Provincial Director, DTI-DCFO/ DTI National Cacao Industry Cluster Coordinator Engr. Edwin O. Banquerigo talked on Cacao Industry Situationer and Roadmap and more challenging idea reinforced by Chocolate de San Isidro Trade Ventures Marketing Director Mr. Dante Muyco, Jr. who shared on Investment and Market Opportunities in Cacao Value Chain. (MTA Samal Info.)

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“It appears the government did it again in advance of the recent visit to Zamboanga City and Davao City of Chaloka Beyani,” he added.

The evacuees in Zamboanga City had been displaced by the September 2013 fighting between rebels and government forces. Conde said government’s response to the needs of the 120,000 internally displaced “has largely been inadequate and slow.”

“Many were relocated to sites where basic services such as water and power are lacking or nonexistent, or far away from their fields or places of work. As a result, hundreds refused relocation and stayed in the grandstand of the city’s Don Joaquin F. Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex. On July 18, 2015, four days before Beyani’s visit, the government began removing all of them from the complex, citing a need to repair the facility,” he added.

Conde said in Davao City, about 700 displaced members of an indigenous group called Ata Manobos had been living in the UCCP-Haran compound since May. “They said the military’s presence in their rural villages had led to fighting with the communist New People’s Army (NPA), forcing them to seek refuge. On July 23, the police and the military tried to remove them – ‘rescue’ was how authorities called it – and return them to their villages, but they were met with resistance and failed,” he added.

Beyani, who Conde said visited Davao City on July 26 or three days after the Haran incident, himself had issued a statement on July 31 at the end of his visit to the Philippines in which he expressed concern about the government’s handling of IDPs. Regarding Davao City, he said he was concerned by the plight of some 700 indigenous peoples currently living in the UCCP-Haran compound, “having been displaced from their ancestral homes for several

months due to long-standing conflict between the government and the New People’s Army (NPA) in their region.”

Beyani said the displaced IPs made it clear to him that it is the presence of the military and that of the paramilitary groups in their communities “that continues to create anxiety amongst the indigenous communities.”

“The community wishes to return to its lands but stressed to me that they will only feel safe to do so if the long-term militarization of their region comes to an end and they can return with guarantees of safety, dignity and protection.

They described to me their concerns including their alleged forced recruitment into paramilitary groups, known as Alamara, under the auspices of the AFP and harassment in the context of the on-going conflict between the AFP and the NPA. For his part, Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) commander Lieutenant General Aurelio Baladad of Eastern Mindanao Command welcomed Beyani’s “constructive” report.

Baladad said he was present when Beyani made his exit briefing at the New World Hotel in Makati City on July 31 at the conclusion of his official visit to the Philippines from July 21 to 31.

“We are taking the report constructively as this will further guide us in carrying out our mandate as protector of the people,” Baladad in a statement.

But he said there was no truth to claims of force recruitment of IPs. “We have a stringent procedure, process, and requirement of recruiting soldiers and CAFGU (Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit),” he said.

He also denied the existence of the Alamara, saying it was “the creation of the NPA (New People’s Army) and their supporters.”

planning, investment promotion, destination marketing, economic recovery, and sustainable project implementation.

The trainings will be conducted by the province in coordination with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Stakeholders implement the trainings based on the assessment on the existing skills and certification levels of the residents.

Other trainings being considered are food and beverage, bartending, frontline servicing, plumbing, house wiring/ electrical, mechanical, tour guiding, security force development, community-based assistance and boat tending.

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is not only focusing on disaster reduction aspect but is also giving equal importance to climate change adaptation in pursuing zero casualty during disasters and shielding the development gains of the province.

He revealed the on-going construction of the Davao del Norte DRRM-CCA Training Center designed to build the capacity of all responders and improve the preparedness and

response at all levels before, during and after the onslaught of calamities.

“Tanan nga gikan sa barangay, sa private sector, nga gusto mo-bansay sa DRRM ug CCA tanan atong dad-on sa center (The center will accommodate everyone who wishes to be trained on DRRM-CCA),” Tagalo said.

The municipality of Kapalong bagged the over-all championship.

serve as a venue in empowering the farming and fishing communities and the private sector so they may be able to produce enough, accessible

and affordable food for every Filipino and adequate income for all, while attaining a Food Staple Sufficient Philippines,” he said. (PNA)

it will launch of a commemorative anniversary CSR event to promote an advocacy of contributing to the protection and preservation of nature and it’s critically endangered species. On the date of the anniversary, the Grand Regal Hotel-CSR committee coordinated with the-Aboitiz owned Cleanergy Park, a biodersity conservation area that served as the sanctuary of sea turles (pawikan), for coastal cleanup and mangrove planting to protect this important ecosystem. They will also take part in releasing the Hawksbill turtle hatchlings into the sea on a separate schedules when the hatchlings are ready for release.

To commemorate the event, the hotel is launching promotional activities to underline the company’s unwavering commitment to consistently enhance its customer experience. This August, the twin-celebrations of the hotel anniversary and Kadayawan Festival has given way for “Two To Tango”, wherein guests get to enjoy 17 percent on food & beverage at the Champagne Bar, Montmarte Café, Kadayawan Restobar and room service. Of course, the room accommodation takes a huge discount plus guests are entitled to vouchers for yet, another room discount for their bookings on Decem-

ber. And the fun didn’t just stop there, all concessionaires at the Regal Business Zone join the festivities by offering rock-bottom price cuts on jewelry and accessories at Rosver Pawnshop and Diamonds & Pearls, including Pressure Points Spa rates reduction on their services.

Renovation program is underway to refurbish all it’s function rooms for a small board meeting of 12 to a grand banquet of 800 guests. All Superior, Deluxe, Premier, Executive Suites including the Bridal & Presidential Suites will be given a fresh look while retaining the classic and timeless ambience it had been kept for years. Though new contemporary and up-to-date elements shall be infused to satisfy the necessity of modern accommodation.

Strategically nestled within the city’s burgeoning mall district along JP Laurel Avenue, Grand Regal has become a home away from home for guests on business trips and leisure travelers from all parts of the globe. For stunning view of the metro’s skyline, and breathtaking vista of Samal island, the timeless comfort of the guest rooms and suites, impeccable service, and extraordinary dining options, this has been the hotel’s premiere pride that’s long been kept like it was 17 years past.

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 92 • SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2015

THE DECISION

SPORTS 11

EDGEDAVAO

Gilas waits for Junmar

P

HILIPPINE national men’s basketball coach Tab Baldwin has heard the news that June Mar Fajardo had decided to forego participation with the Gilas Pilipinas national team as the team prepares to compete in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in China.

The choice to skip Gilas duty, brought about by a need to recover from a bout with plantar fasciitis, was disappointing news not just for the coach but also for many fans who had been awaiting his return to international play.

Baldwin had added reason to be discouraged, though, as Fajardo, a player he had planned on making one of the cornerstones of the team, has yet to reach out to the coach to inform him of the decision.

“I’m just curious as to why he didn’t send the text message to me. I haven’t been officially notified by him or by anybody else,” Baldwin told InterAksyon in an exclusive interview.

“That’s disappointing news, but I’ll wait until I officially hear it and to be officially disappointed.”

Fajardo had earlier made his intention to miss Gilas’ campaign due to injury but was still included in the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ 16-man list of players invited to join the national pool.

Baldwin was understanding, though, asking the team

to support the members of the pool who are recuperating from injuries or are dealing with personal matters.

If Fajardo misses the FIBA Asia Championship, an Olympic qualifying tournament to be held from September 23 to October 3 in China, the veteran coach believes that the young Cebuano center will miss out on a valuable opportunity for more development.

“We only have to look back at June Mar and see the kind of player he was before his international play and the kind of player he was after,” Baldwin said. “That could happen to every single one of these guys.”

Since competing in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship here in Manila, Fajardo has won two consecutive MVP awards in the PBA and has led his San Miguel team to two championships in the past season alone.

“It’s kinda a sad thing for June Mar, too. How much better could he get if he plays more international competitions? Not just for the PBA, but for Gilas in 2019 if we win this bid,” he said.

“Every bit of experience and every bit of opportunity to grow and improve is going to be important for this Gilas team for every single player.

So, by missing out on this opportunity, it’s a big miss for the guys that missed out on this.”

TRIBAL GAMES. Charles Maxey, spokesperson of the City Sports Development Office explains the details of the 2015 Tribal Games during the Fast Fridays media forum at the Archipelago 7107 by Barrio Fiesta. Lean Daval Jr.

Tribal Games 2015 set August 20

By PRINCE SIMON CANDA and JESSA MARIESTELA P. PUTONG

D

AVAO Sports Development Division of the City Mayor’s office staff Charles Raymond Maxey said that the 2015 Tribal Games set on August 20 will once again serve as one of the sports events for the Kadayawan Sportsfest.

One of the main highlights of the Kadayawan Sportsfest, the Tribal Games will continue to give the Indigenous people the chance to showcase their way of life

and culture in consonance with the United Nations Declaration for the protection and preservation of cultural heritage.

There will be five tribes joining in the tribal games.

“The tribes are from Ata, Ovu-Manuvu, Klata, Tagabawa and Matigsalog, what they will be displaying is their way of life” Maxey said during the FAST Fridays media forum at SM Lanang Premier’s Archipelago 7107.

The budget of the Kadayawan Sportsfest 2015 is P1.8 million and tribal games is one with the highest budgetary allocation. It is a one-day event on August 20 that will start at 8 in the morning until 4:30 pm.

“The Sports Development Division- City Mayor’s office has allocated 580 thousand pesos for tribal games,” Maxey said.

Each tribe must have at least 50 athletes or members

BRING ON THE STARS Lebron, Curry among 34 stars for Olympic camp NBA STARS. Lebron James, James Harden and Steph Curry received call ups for the USA Basketball team to the Olympic qualifiers.

L

EBRON James and Steph Curry, opponents in this year’s NBA Finals, were among 34 NBA players named Thursday by USA Basketball as participants in this weekend’s Olympic mini-camp in Las Vegas.

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Curry led the Golden State Warriors to the NBA title over

James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in June’s best-of-seven final.

Last year he helped the US win the Basketball World Cup to clinch a berth in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

USA Basketball national team managing director Jerry Colangelo said that

players who wanted cons i d e ra t i o n for the Rio squad needed to attend the workouts next Tuesday through Thursday, when a public scrimmage will be staged.

“This year’s minicamp is an opportunity to continue and expand the brotherhood and camaraderie that has been built,” said Colangelo, who has overseen the squad since 2005.

“The minicamp is going to be low key with light workouts, no contact and the USA Basketball Showcase will be a fun all-star type game.”

The workout roster includes

eight n e w comers, 11 players from the World Cup champions and eight members of the 2012 London Olympic gold medal squad.

Four-time NBA Most Valuable Player James, New York’s Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers are back after playing on the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London gold medal teams.

Also back from winning London gold are Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City, Cleveland’s Kevin Love, Houston’s James Harden and New Orleans’ Anthony Davis while Houston’s Dwight Howard is back from the Beijing gold medalists.

contending for the 12 tribal games. IPs will be competing in the tug-of-war, pana (bow and arrow), solopot (blowgun), sisibow or bubuntog (spear), siklot (sticks), karang (wood stilts), dagan (running), totarinki (fire making), sosakoro (water race), aakaw (wood sticks), bibinayo (rice) and kokasing.

The Kadayawan Sportsfest will feature 21 different sports and 23 events.

Among the World Cup championship team members in the camp are Sacramento’s Rudy Gay and DeMarcus Cousins, Detroit’s Andre Drummond, Denver’s Kenneth Faried, Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving, Portland’s Mason Plumlee and Golden State’s Klay Thompson.

Other program veterans include Washington’s John Wall and Bradley Beal, the Clippers’ Blake Griffin, Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan, Utah’s Gordon Hayward, Dallas’ Chandler Parsons and San Antonio’s LaMarcus Aldridge and Kawhi Leonard.

Also back is Indiana’s Paul George, who suffered a broken leg at a training camp for last year’s World Cup that wiped out his 2014-15 NBA season.

Newcomers to the camp joining the US program for the first time next week are NBA champion Golden State’s Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green, Chicago’s Jimmy Walker, Memphis’ Mike Conley, Milwaukee’s Michael Carter-Williams, Orlando’s Tobias Harris and Victor Oladipo plus DeAndre Jordan of the Clippers.

“All of them enjoyed outstanding NBA seasons in 2014-15 and have been on our radar for a while,” Colangelo said.

The overall camp lineup includes the NBA’s top 10 scorers, six of its top 12 rebounders and seven of the top 11 players in assists from last season.

Duke University coach Mike Krzyzewski is set to return as coach for a third consecutive Olympics.

12 EDGEDAVAO Sports

NEXT STOP: MALAYSIA Ella to play next in Kids Golf World Championship Malaysia in December

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

F

RESH from her stint in two major junior golf tournaments in the United States, Davao golf phenom Alessandra Christine “Ella” Nagayo is not taking a break from golf but will be gearing up for two more tournaments this year.

Guesting at the FAST Fridays media forum at the Archipelago 7107 by Barrio Fiesta at SM Lanang Premier yesterday after arriving in Davao last Thursday, Nagayo said she has been informed by the Apo Golf and Country Club that she is included in the Ladies team to the 10th Philippine Ladies Interclub set October 7-9 in Marapara, Bacolod City.

The 11-year old standout of Brainworks Learning Center will also see action in the Kids Golf World Championship 2015 in Malaysia on December 14-18.

Nagayo, accompanied by her mother Councilor Rachel Zozobrado-Nagayo and younger brother Daniel (also a jungolf standout), placed a strong fourth in the 2015 Veritas Junior Golf World Championship in Brookside course in Pasadena, California and finished 88th in the tougher US Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst,

North Carolina last week.

“I will continue to train three times a week in preparation for the PAL Interclub and the tournament in Malaysia,” said the younger Nagayo who admitted that she needs to work on her short game in order to fare better in international tournaments.

That flaw in her game was exposed in the Pinehurst event where the fairways are narrow and the greens sleek.

“I need to work on my putting,” she said.

Nagayo, who has Michelle Wie and Jordan Spieth as his golf idols, is aiming to become the next Pinay golfer to ever play in the US LPGA Tour. The last Philippine players to see action in the prestigious tour were Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin.

Before that, however, Nagayo is excited to compete in the Malaysia event where she will be pitted again against the best in the world.

The Kids Golf World Championship in Malaysia is presented by US Kids Golf and managed by Concept Collaboration Sdn Bhd. The championship is also sanctioned by the Malaysian Golf Association and supported

by Malaysia Major Events, a division of Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau, an agency under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

The competition which will be held for the 4th consecutive year in Malaysia is the international version of the prestigious US Kids Golf tournament and provides an excellent opportunity for young people to compete and earn world amateur ranking points.

Held in Asia for the first time after US and Europe, the World Championship is a special opportunity for boys and girls between age 5 years to 18 years old to play in a world competition. Malaysia championed the race among other Asian nation including Japan, Thailand and Australia towards organizing his competition as host to the Kids Golf World Championship.

The world championship in US and Europe has demonstrated tremendous success in term of participation, media attention and enhancing the profile of golfing among kids.

Nagayo thanked her coaches and supporters for rooting and praying for her in her recent stint in the US.

HOME IS THE GOLF PHENOM. Ella Nagayo’s first appearance after her stint in the US is guesting in the Fast Fridays media forum at the Archipelago 7107 by Barrio Fiesta yesterday along with mother Councilor Rachel ZozobradoNagayo. Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 92 • SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2015 TEAM NAGAYO. Golf sensation Ella Nagayo (center) with brother Daniel and mother Councilor Rachel Zozobrado-Nagayo during yesterday’s Fast Fridays media forum at the Archipelago 7107 by Barrio Fiesta. Lean Daval Jr.