Edge Davao 8 Issue 98

VOL. 8 ISSUE 98 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 16 - 17, 2015

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INSIDE EDGE Rody shrugs off demolition job Page 4 City gov’t workers to get bonus Monday Page 4

IT’S KADAYAWAN!

2 COVER STORY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 98 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 16 - 17, 2015

IT’S KADAYAWAN!

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

I

T’S third week of August, and all roads lead to only one destination: Davao City. Touted to be the country’s largest city (it is seven times bigger than Cebu and three times Metro Manila), Davao is celebrating its 30th Kadayawan sa Dabaw.

It’s the time of the year when streets are filled with royalty fruits -- particularly durian and mangosteen, the king and queen of tropical fruits, respectively -- and pomelo (which are available all year round).

There are several events already lined up for the week’s celebration.

But one of the highlights is the quest for 2015 Hiyas ng Kadayawan. Unlike beauty contests, this is a search for the young woman who understands her culture and traditions, according to council Al Ryan Alejandre, chair of the festival’s executive committee.

All the 11 tribes of the city are well-represented.

Each has its own pambato: Alamaida Casanguan

Agasor (Iranun), Haida Dawn J. Ainin (Sama), Michelle G. Ansal (Bagobo-Klata), Wenalie Ivy A. Atan (Bagobo-Tagabawa), Haifa Rica B. Bansilan (Maguindanon), Myra D. Calihim (Kagan), Rechel B. Dumalag (Matigsalog), Fatma Jaheema Malatus (Maranao), Flormea D. Manyawron (Ata), Sitti Sara Sakkam (Tausug), and Aj Ruth H. Sumandang (Ovu Manubo).

The selection will be done on August 21 at Davao City Sports and Recreation Center (formerly known as the Almendras Gym). It will be held in the evening from 6 to 10 p.m.

On Saturday, August 22, the most anticipated event will take center stage. Yes, it’s Indak-indak sa Kadalanan (street dancing).

Contingents from various parts of Mindanao, although most of them will be from the city itself, will display their award-winning choreography -- with dancing following the rhythm of their music and sounds, moving together with precise manner, and flashing their colorful costumes and at-

tires.

The street dancing will start at Roxas Avenue and end up in San Pedro Street. According to the City Information Office, there are three showdown areas: in front of The Marco Polo, Davao in Claro M. Recto Street, near Apo View Hotel in Legaspi corner Bonifacio Streets, and in front of Rizal Park in San Pedro Street.

“The Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan is wildly popular because of the distinctively Mindanaoan beat and costumes,” one visitor commented. “Tourists come to Davao to watch hundreds of people dancing with vigor in the streets, clad in their native attire and carrying extravagant props that would give Hollywood studios a serious run for their money.”

According to Lisette Marquez, the City Tourism Operations office head, this year’s street dancing competition has only one category: Open category.

This means that Davao City contingents will have to compete with those from other areas beyond

the city.

If the Kadayawan starts with a big celebration, it ends in an even more enthralling manner in the form of the Pamulak Kadayawan. It is scheduled on August 23, Sunday.

It is a sight to behold as it is patterned after the Pasadena Parade of Roses in the United States —where flowers and fruits are set in colorful floats by business establishments, community assemblies and peoples’ organizations as they promenade on the streets symbolizing all the bounty sustainably enjoyed by the city’s residents.

Don’t be surprised if most of the floats carry motifs and structures that the city symbolizes: Philippine eagle (the country’s bird icon), waling-waling orchid (the second national flower after sampaguita), durian (the controversial fruit which “smells like hell but tastes like heaven”), and Mount Apo (the country’s highest peak).

Don’t miss to watch the 2015 Hiyas ng Kadayawan winners as they have a

float for themselves. And of course there are stars from Metro Manila who will grace the floral float parade to make it more exciting and anticipating.

Kadayawan is derived from the Mandaya word “madayaw,” which means “good, valuable, superior, or beautiful.” The festival is structured as “the celebration of life, a thanksgiving for the gifts of nature, the wealth of culture, the bounties of harvest and serenity of living.”

As councilor Leo Avilla III puts it: “I believe Kadayawan, as a festival of thanksgiving, allows us to be grateful for our blessings as a people in a bountiful land. It gave us an opportunity also to appreciate how nature can reward us if we take good care of it.”

Perhaps not many know that the festivity actually started in the 1970s, when then Mayor Elias B. Lopez initiated tribal festivals featuring the lumad (native) and the Muslim tribes of Davao City where they showcase their dances and rituals of thanksgiving. It was then called

“Apo Duwaling,” in honor of the three royalties for which Davao is famous for: Mount Apo, durian and waling-waling.

In 1988 Mayor Rodrigo Duterte renamed “Apo Duwaling” to “Kadayawan sa Dabaw.”

“This is indeed an important milestone for the festival,” replied Marguez about the celebration this year. “Having reached three decades celebrating a festival like Kadayawan is no easy feat. It is a clear reflection of the ethos of a Dabawenyo... that amidst modern society and innovation, we do not forget our roots and we thank our Creator for the bounties that abound here in Davao.

“The unity and solidarity of all cultural communities is displayed in our celebration, through activities, through dance and song, through dedication and devotion of each participant, through each Hiyas candidate, through each Dabawenyo that may offer you durian, a smile and greet you, ‘Madayaw!’”

Madayaw, indeed!

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EDGEDAVAO

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4 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 98 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 16 - 17, 2015

COOPERATION. Indian students from the different medical schools in Davao City participate in a symbolic clean up to show their cooperation with the city’s rules and laws in time for the celebration of the 69th Indian Independence Day at Rizal Park on Saturday. Lean Daval Jr.

Duterte asks Tausugs to help free PCG men

D

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte appealed to the Tausug community in Davao City to help him negotiate with the abductors of two personnel of Philippine Coast Guards (PCG) who are still in Sulu.

“I would like appeal to all Tausug in the city, if you can communicate with them (abductors) since it is just a text away, to plea to them not to hurt the two,” Duterte said.

The PCG personnel, identified as Gringo Villaruz, 28, of Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental and Rod Pagaling, were abducted on May 4 along with Rodolfo Baligao, barangay captain of Aliguay Island in Dapitan City, Zamboanga del

Norte.

Baligao was found decapitated in Maimbong, Sulu on Tuesday night.

Duterte said he is hoping that the two Coast Guard men will follow Baligao’s fate in the hands of suspected Abu Sayyaf members.

“Gidungan unta sila. Naa to’y rason nganong gi una tong kapitan unya wala ning duha (There’s a reason the barangay captain was beheaded and these two were not),” he said.

The mayor said he had earlier asked the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to help secure the release of the two PCG personnel and the barangay captain after the aunt of

FDUTERTE, 10

Mar pays ‘friendly visit’ to Davao Archbishop

D

EPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas visited Archbishop Romulo Valles on Friday afternoon at the Bishop’s Palace along Torres Street in Davao City.

Valles, however, insisted the visit had nothing to do with Roxas’ presidential candidacy, saying it was only a “friendly visit.”

“Si Mar Roxas usa sa mga karaan nako nga mga kaila, Obispo pa ko sa Kidapawan nagkita na mi (Mar Roxas was one of the first politicians I met. I was still a bishop in Kidapawan when we first met),” Valles

said.

“I am very proud that Mar Roxas has passed by.

As a Bishop, I will pray for him that everything will be good for him in the coming days, In him we see hope.

We see hope in Mar Roxas for our country,” Valles said.

Valles also clarified that he is not endorsing Roxas, adding that as a bishop, he says good things about each person he sees.

He also said Roxas did not come seeking his blessings for his candidacy.

The bishop said any presidential candidate can visit him any time. Funny Pearl A. Gajunera

Rody shrugs off ‘demolition job’

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

M

AYOR Rodrigo Duterte shrugged off the alleged “demolition job” against him in the form of a series of killings in Davao City last week, saying these will not ruin his reputation as a no-nonsense mayor.

This after Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 deputy regional director for operation Senior Superintendent Aaron Aquino was quoted saying in a press conference that he had heard that the killings were part of a “demolition job” against Duterte.

Duterte is widely believed to be eying the Presidency

although he has consistently denied it.

“Sige lang. Demolition job? Tan-awon ta lang kabalo ba sila muguba (Go ahead.

Demolition job? Let’s see if they know how to demolish me),” Duterte said.

On August 10, a cab driver was found dead inside a compound in Sapphire Street, Matina Aplaya, Davao City after allegedly being robbed before dawn.

Later the same morning, a former Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) who police said was allegedly involved in illegal drugs was shot dead

by an unidentified gunman in Hillside Subdivision, Bajada, Davao City, On Thursday night, the alleged killer of the taxi driver was shot dead after he was allegedly involved in another taxi robbery incident in Matina.

The day before the killing of the suspect, media quoted Duterte as saying the taxi driver case would be solved before sunrise the following day.

Duterte said the killings cannot shake his reputation.

“Ana jud na, unsa may idemolish nila nako? Bahala mo.

Idemolish ba gud ng ilahang ihawon tanan kriminal, e di ihawa (That’s the way it goes.

What is there in me to demolish? Just go ahead. If killing criminals is a demolition job, then go ahead and kill them),” he said.

Earlier, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Senior Inspector Milgrace Driz said the police will investigate the series of killings in the city.

Driz also assured the public the police will tighten their security during the Kadayawan Festival to avoid untoward incidents.

incentive.

“This is a one-time grant of one month basic salary,” he said.

Alparaque said the PEI of the government employees is in compliance with Executive Order No. 181 issued by President Benigno Aquino for the Fiscal Year 2015.

He said the PEI is the reward to employees of each office who hit the operational and financial performance

targets.

“This will also help motivate other employees for higher productivity,” he said.

Alparaque said employees with unsatisfactory performance in previous years will not receive the PEI. He said employees with pending administrative cases can still receive the incentive but must refund it if an adverse judgment is arrived at.

City gov’t workers to get bonus Monday

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

T

abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City government will start the releasing of Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) on Monday, August 17.

This after the City Council approved the P113.4 million Supplemental Budget No. 3 on third and final reading last Thursday.

In an interview, City Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) head Erwin Alparaque said after the ap-

proval, City Council secretary Charito Santos immediately issued the certification and the HRMO started to process the payrolls.

Alparaque said the distribution of the P54.3 million PEI is timely with the celebration of 30th Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival.

He said a total of 2,702 rank and file employees of the city, including the elected officials, will benefit from the

VOL. 8 ISSUE 98 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 16 - 17, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 5

Tagum Coop to venture in tourism T

OURISM is another industry that has captivated Tagum Cooperative. The cooperative leaders, known for their innovative approaches, have signified intention to venture into tourism taking advantage of the fact that the cooperative has lately become a major destination of coop visits from various parts of the country.

Ms Norma R. Pereyras, Tagum Cooperative chairperson, attended the 1st Coop Tourism Cluster Congress in Vigan City on July 30 - August 01, where she announced the construction of the “Tagum Coop Budgetel.”

Joining her in the congress were the members of the board of directors (BOD) and key personnel, including Tagum City Tourism Council chairperson Marlene R. Alastra, Cooperative Development officer Antonio S. Alastra, and Tagum City Tourism Office OIC Ma. Theresa S. Gerona.

Last year, members of Tagum Coop BOD gave the go-signal to construct such mini-hotel to accommodate the growing number of coop guests and to take a share of the increasing number of visitors to Tagum City.

Pereyras believes that Tagum Cooperative to ably position itself as a “tourist destination” of benchmarking coop visits, considering the number of visitors that the cooperative has been accommodating these past few years as a result of the accolades that Tagum Cooperative has received.

To insure that the Tagum Coop Budgetel is always fully booked, Ms Pereyras has asked the Tagum City Tourism Office to include the Budgetel

in the priority list of accommodations that the city government offers to its visitors.

She has considered such request as a partnership deal which is founded on the fact that Tagum Cooperative is already a promotion medium of the city government “because it carries the name of the city everywhere we go”.

Such concept of partnership in tourism with the city government came through after Tagum Cooperative and the City Tourism Office joined the 1st Coop Tourism Cluster Congress.

Bannering the theme, “Expanding Tourism in the Cooperative Sector,” the activity was organized as part of the Philippine Cooperative Centennial Celebration by the Regional Cooperative Development Council- 1(RDCI-1), the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) and the City Government of Vigan.

The congress provided a venue for cooperatives to be informed about some opportunities in the tourism sector as well as assess the challenges and limitations of cooperatives “with regard to tourism programs and projects”.

Among the topics discussed were The Possible Areas of Coop Engagement in Tourism Industry, Coop Financial Investment and Management, Cooperative Story Telling, and Opportunities and Challenges.

Participants to the congress came up with a “Call to Action” to be submitted to President Benigno Aquino III during the Cooperative Centennial Celebration culminating activity in October this year.

(Tagum Cooperative)

Coast Guard keeping watch on foreign ships

T

HE Philippine Coast Guard is tightening its watch on foreign vessels calling port in Davao as part of its effort to strengthen security.

Guesting during the recent Tagum Biz Talk at Big 8 Hotel, Commodore Joselito Dela Cruz cited the foreign vessels as “possible sources” of outside threats to Davao City’s relatively peaceful situation.

“Davao city is a peaceful city, but of course, the threat could be coming from the outside. As mentioned the foreign vessels coming in, we do not know, could be in the guise of transporting goods,” he said.

Projecting worst case scenario, he said foreign vessels could be carrying “hazardous materials or weapons of mass destruction”. Because containerized, foreign vessels can hardly be detected carrying harmful cargoes, he said.

Dela Cruz cited this situation as a major challenge for PCG in Southeastern Mindanao which covers the Davao Gulf along which local economies are growing, expanding and venturing into exports industry.

“In Davao Region, the economic activities are progress-

ing. We also have to take a look at the security aspect of the progress,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dela Cruz revealed moves of coordinating with agencies of the national government protecting the Philippine waters particularly the Philippine Navy to come up with a maritime security plan for Davao Region.

He looked at the security plan as complementary to the growing economy of the Davao Region which has also become a major trans-shipment point of foreign vessels calling at the Davao Port to pick up bananas, the major export product of the region, and other goods.

The focus on security aspect of the Davao Port also stems from the concern raised by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

Dela Cruz revealed that MinDA had received an advance info sent through email from the United States Coast Guard which conveyed its plan “to blacklist the port of Davao”.

“Pag galing ang vessel dito di ka basta makakadaong sa port sa US; you have to undergo inspection,” he said referring to Port of Davao. (PIA 11/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)

BIG DELEGATION. A big delegation of Tagum Cooperative Officers led by Chairperson Norma R. Pereyras pose for posterity during the 1st Coop Tourism Cluster Congress in Vigan City. With Ms. Pereyras were members of the Tagum

Cooperative board of directors and management staff, plus Marlene R. Alastra, Tagum City Tourism Council chairperson; Cooperative Development Officer Antonio S. Alastra and Tagum City tourism office OIC Ma. Theresa S. Gerona.

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 98 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 16 - 17, 2015

TRO sought vs airport bidding

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

A

crc@edgedavao.net

TAX payer has petitioned to stop the bidding process of the P40.57-billiion development operation and maintenance of the Davao International Airport of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC).

Andre R. Bucuy, a concern citizen from Davao City, filed before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) on August 11, 2015 a petition for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) and writ of preliminary prohibitory injunction on the ongoing bidding process relative to the project.

Named respondents in the petition were the DOTC, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), Pre-Qualification, Bids and Awards Committee (PBAC) chairman and the DOTC undersecretary for legal affairs lawyer Jose Perpetuo M. Lotilla.

Bucuy, in filing the petition, said there’s already urgency for the issuance of a TRO within 72 hours because the DOTC has set on Tuesday, August 17, as deadline for the submission of the qualification documents from six companies.

These six conglomerates include GMR-Megawide, Met-

3,000 hectares more for durian planting

T

HE Durian Council of Davao is eyeing a 3,000-hectare expansion in Davao City for the next years, fearing that the province of Compostela Valley will overtake the city’ durian production.

“We have requested agriculture committee chair councilor Marissa Salvador-Abella to assist the Durian Council to scout an area suitable for expansion,” council chairman Larry Miculob told EDGE Davao in the opening of the 3rd Durian Festival at the Fountain Court Area of the SM Lanang Premier.

Miculob said Davao City has an approximate of 3,000 hectares of durian plantations

located at the districts of Toril, Tugbok, Calinan, and Baguio, while the province of Compostela Valley already has 2,800 hectares.

“We fear that the Davao City, which is known to be the durian capital, will be overtaken by Comval in three year; time,” Council secretary and durian producer Manuel Villanueva said.

Villanueva said Davao will have a total of 6,000 hectares of mostly hybrid durian varieties once the plan is implemented.

“Suitable area for durian planting are those 900 feet above the sea level,” Villanueva said, adding this area include

L

ects up for bidding, he added, are “not ripe for public bidding” as mandated by the law.

The petitioner further claimed the respondents “proceedings violate the Constitutional and Statutory Requirement of transparency and full public disclosure.”

Another ground for the filing of the petition was that the “respondents violated the provisions of the Local Government Code particularly the mandate of prior consultation with the Local Government Unit.”

Aside from a TRO, Bucuy also requested the court to “declare bidding proceed-

UNVEILED. IBEX Global chief executive officer Bob Dechant (third from left),

Ghost Month and the Western hemisphere summer season.

For the Chinese, the “ghost month” is considered an unlucky period to open a new business and start new construction work or renovation repairs.

Complementing the assertion that markets weaken during this period is that it coincides with the summer months in the West, when fund managers take a vacation for about a week or two.

Calaycay also attributed the market’s decline to falling currencies across the Asian region even after China’s yuan checked a three-day slide.

Almost all counters were in the negative territory, except holding firms that advanced slightly.

Volume of transactions reached 1.45 billion shares valued at Php7.17 billion.

Decliners swamped advancers, 103 to 62, while 50 issues were unchanged. (PNA)

ings for the DIA bidding to be conducted in Davao City and actions carried out by respondents” to be “illegal and void”, starting from the publication of Invitation to Pre-qualify and Bid, “including all related acts done and issuance promulgated.”

He also asked the court to command respondents to “cease and desist from any further proceedings, milestones and actions in relation to the project, without limitation, pre-qualification and acceptance of financial offers in Davao City.”

Bucuy also said in the petition for the Court to com-

mand respondents “full and unimpeded public access to all information and documents relating or relevant to the development, operations, maintenance, expansion or construction of the DIA.” Meanwhile, former Davao City councilor Peter T. Laviña said groups in Davao opposing the Davao Sasa port modernization project will also seek legal remedies in pushing their appeal.

“The groups against the Sasa Port PPP will also take this route to seek judicial relief because DOTC is not listening to our voices,” Laviña told Edge Davao.

officer Gilbert Santa Maria (center), city councilor Louie John Bonguyan (rightmost), ICT-Davao president lawyer Samuel Matunog (second from

left), Park Inn by Radisson Davao general manager Pavan Kakar (fourth from right), and IBEX Global Davao officers pose for a photograph after the unveiling of the company’s expansion area at SM Lanang Premier on Friday night. Lean Daval Jr.

ATER hyacinth can be useful, after all.

Once the cause of flooding in the municipality of Carmen, Davao del Norte, water hyacinth is now being used as the main raw material in making sandals, arts and crafts, bags and home decors.

“We saw the potential of water hyacinth as the primary source of raw material because of its abundance in the area,” Mindanao Trade Expo Foundation Inc. (MTEFI) executive director Mariane C. Mahinay said.

Mahinay said Carmen has more than 17 hectares of area with water hyacinth. Some of these water hyacinths are inside the community itself, allowing beneficiaries to harvest 5,000 stalks in two to three days.

Mahinay said the foundation, thru the assistance of the local government of Carmen,

comes sturdy. It is then dyed with different colors like purple, red, and yellow.

Once dried, the stalks are flattened manually using an improvised and handy device made out of bent blue tubes used in construction.

The flattened colored stalks are then manually weaved with each other to create a masterpiece.

“Handbags, vases, slippers, home furnishing and a number of handicrafts are just some of the products that we can actually produce from water hyacinth,” MTEFI president Dr. Rosevic Lucilla del Rosario-Cembrano said.

Products made out of water hyacinth were showcased in the weeklong 2015 Mindanao Trade Expo at the activity area of the Abreeza Ayala Mall. The trade fair opened yesterday that was graced by officials of MTEFI and various

F3K, 10 country general manager Eric Kaufman (fourth from left), chief operating

PHL stocks slip OCAL share prices extended their losing streak on Friday on lower-than-expected corporate earnings and tracking regional jitters over China’s devaluation of the yuan.

The benchmark Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) declined 31.36 points to 7,408.44 from previous day’s 7,439.80 finish.

Jun Calaycay, analyst at Accord Capital Equities Corp., said the market was disappointed with the earnings figures released Friday. ”While growth was sustained, it wasn’t in line with expectations leaving investors with nothing to hinge buying on –particularly with the onset today of the Chinese Ghost Month, traditionally believed to be a period of price weakness and light activity,” he said.

Calaycay sees pessimistic outlook for local stocks with the traditionally weak period that encompasses the Chinese

ro Pacific-JG Summit Consortium, Aboitiz Equity Ventures, San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Skylanders Inc., and Union Equity. The DOTC targets to award the project to the winning bidder by March of 2016.

Bucuy said the respondents “clearly committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack of or excess of jurisdiction in initiating and proceeding with the bidding for the projects.”

He said respondents also failed to comply with the requirement of Law with the publication of the Invitation to Pre-Qualify and Bid. The proj-

Water hyacinth, once cause of flooding, is source of income for Carmen residents W Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Department of Trade and Industry, had trained an initial of 20 makers.

“Some of our trained weavers are plain housewife, market vendor and even tricycle driver,” she said.

The beneficiaries were trained for 12 days.

The water hyacinth, which the community used to consider as pest, also has really become a source of income for weavers.

“I used to hate water hyacinth because it causes clogging in our drainage but now I already love it because it gives me income,” 37 year-old housewife and farmer Jocelyn Dolor Gempesaw said while working on the dried stalks of water hyacinth.

Dried for two to three days, the stalk that used to be soft and easy to break be-

national government agencies.

Mahinay said the products made of water hyacinth have a huge potential in the export market.

“We already received inquiries from Japan,” Mahinay said.

The foundation cites that under the study of United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), entitled “Green Economy and Trade” that “products with environmentally friendly designs and companies that comply with sustainability standards for product and processes have an advantage in international market.”

Meanwhile, participating in the trade fair were 128 exhibitors from different parts of Mindanao. Organizers are targeting a P30-million revenue from sales in the weeklong event. Cheneen Capon

INdulge!

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EDGEDAVAO

EVENT

Open Access BPO launches Davao office OPEN ACCESS BPO, the newest business process outsourcing By Kenneth Irving Ong player in Davao City recently opened their Davao site located at the corner of Jacinto Extension and Quirino Avenue last Tuesday with much fanfare and fun.

Originally founded in 2006 in California by Ben Davidowitz and Henry Chang, and aims to provide multilingual IT solutions to international clients in 25 languages ranging from Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia and Malaysia, French, Cantonese, French, Danish, English, Italian, Filipino, Greek, Japanese, and Polish,

among others. The Davao office is the latest centre for Open Access BPO which has also has operations in San Francisco, Taipei, and Makati and will offer both voice and non-voice services which will initially cater to Open Access BPO’s new US clients.

Before the official opening ceremonies be-

A flashmob kicked-off the opening ceremonies.

Ben Davidowitz.

gan, there was a flash mob which surprised the guests. What was more surprising when when the comapny’s officers also stepped up to join the dancing.

This was immediately followed by a ceremonial ribbon cutting which was also attended by Davao City councillor Al Ryan Alejandre, and Belle Torres, ICT Davao representative and DCCCII trustee.

Belle Torres, ICT Davao Representative and DCCCII Trustee, Hon. AL Ryan Alejandre, Mike Chan, Operations “The Davao office is a Manager of OABPO , Ben Davidowitz, CEO of Open Access BPO, Henry Chang, President of Open Access BPO, work of love and thanks roll oranges for good luck. to the educated workforce as well as good working environment of the city, enables us the opportunity to expand while also maintaining the same standard.” says Open Access chief executive Ben Davidowitz.

Open Access BPO is currently soft hiring agents and will eventually go into commercial operation by September.

From left: Arjay Flaviano, Senior Training Manager, Belle Torres, ICT Davao Representative and DCCCII Trustee, Hon. AL Ryan Alejandre, Ben Davidowitz, CEO of Open Access BPO, Henry Chang, President of Open Access BPO, Mike Chan, Operations Manager of OABPO, May de Guzman, Site Manager OABPO.

The Open Access BPO opening team.

Henry Chang.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 98 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 16 - 17, 2015

FOOD TRAVELING to Metro Manila is a daunting experience – the traffic, the pollution, the crime rates, and just the mere thought of 10 million people. But it’s not all bad in the big city. It is also home to some of the country’s most loved restaurants – particularly Via Mare.

A staple in the restaurants I frequent in Metro Manila, Via Mare’s puto bumbong is something I wouldn’t miss the world for, maybe. Last week, in the middle of August, I was invited for a tête-à-tête with Filipino cuisine connoisseur, Glenda Barretto.

Tita Glenda, as I fondly called her, is the woman behind the many delicious recipes and dishes that comes from the kitchen of Via Mare. And she has been at it for the past 40 years.

During our chat, among the many dishes that were served, I particularly enjoyed the puto bumbong and the bibingka. As I was eating to my heart’s delight, she, ever so slightly, told me that the proper way to eat puto bumbong is not just to have it with desiccated coconut and muscovado sugar on the side, but to dip it in thick, warm chocolate.

“That is the proper way of puto bumbong. That is how they did it in the Spanish time,” Tita Glenda said. And who am I to argue with the chef who served six presidents of the country, Pope John Paul II, and is a personal favorite of the inimitable Imelda Marcos?

The moment the sticky rice of the puto bumbong, with desiccated coconut and muscovado sugar, all wrapped and dripping in warm, thick chocolate hit my mouth, it was as if my taste buds have experienced indulgence like no other. And oh, did I mention how the meal was plated? It was awesome.

Unlike other cuisines’ penchant for presentation, Filipino cuisine is served in a more family-oriented manner–without the pomp and frills. But things changed in September 1975 when Via Mare Seafood Specialty Restaurant opened its doors to the public. After the very first dish was served, Filipino cuisine was never the same again.

The restaurant did not only change the Filipino’s perception of its own cuisine, it also brought global recognition to the sophistication and complex flavors of the Philippines. Via Mare’s chef Glenda Barretto, who has been at the helm of the restaurant since its inception, and her strong belief in the Filipino cuisine’s potential to be world class is what pushed the restaurant to keep outdoing its achievements.

While Tita Glenda’s contemporaries would focus on intercontinental cuisine as their piece de résistance, she opted to highlight and present wellloved Filipino dishes with mod-

milestones in Philippine history, Via Mare was always the top choice.

Via Mare, with Tita Glenda herself leading the kitchen, was also the choice of First Lady Imelda Romualdez Marcos whenever she hosted gala dinners for visiting dignitaries at the Malacañan Palace. The former first lady’s penchant for elegance was apparent even in the food that she served her guests.

In one instance, she requested for a more upscale version of the adobo – a request that Barretto easily managed by marinating the chicken in simmering adobo sauce with red wine. Another anecdote from the halls of presidential residence was how Barretto recreated a Mexican dish of squash, baked and topped with cream and caramel sauce based only on the narrative of Mrs. Marcos. The first lady nearly squealed in delight after the first bite.

Tita Glenda and her

PUTO BUMBONG

By Carlo P. Mallo

ern touches that made it more palatable to foreign guests. If lumpia was known as a roll, the Via Mare version had the filling wrapped in pouches held together by spring onions. The tinola was also given a fresh take by serving the soup in a carved papaya or as a flan, inspired by the Chawanmushi of Japan.

“The past 40 years is not only the story of a restaurant, it is a story of the Filipino people,”

Tita Glenda said. “Via Mare is our pride as we helped a lot of Filipinos enjoy and be proud of the cuisine that we have here, of recipes that we have enjoyed throughout our childhood, and of what Filipino fine cuisine truly tastes like.”

Enduring legacy of taste Since 1975, no other Filipino restaurant has been the top-ofmind when it comes to hosting

dinners for dignitaries, heads of state, international celebrities, and international events.

From beauty queens during the 1995 Miss Universe pageant in Manila, the papal visit of then Pope John Paul II, the 1996 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, the gala of the Philippine-run of West End’s Miss Saigon, the 2007 ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the weddings of illustrious families, and other

Filipino favorites loved for generations True to its Filipino heritage, Via Mare serves Filipino cuisine that matches the eating pattern of Filipinos: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and merienda – a meal that is served in between the main meals of the day. Pan de sal is a breakfast staple among Filipinos and Via Mare serves it fresh every day, grilled with sides of corned beef, Vigan longganisa, Laguna cheese, and queso de bola. Other breakfast favorites, but can be enjoyed any time of the day, like tapa, smoked bangus, tuyo flakes, and tocino are served under the Altanghap section of the menu, an abbreviation for almusal, tanghalian, and hapunan – Filipino terms for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

The lunch and dinner menu of Via Mare is not complete without crispy binagoongan, kare-kare, and pinais na alimasag among its wide selection.

An extensive array of salads with native greens is also on offer, as well as comfort food like arroz caldo and tokwa’t baboy.

Merienda, or light snacks, are as important as main meals for Filipinos. At Via Mare, diners can choose from well-loved Filipino fare such as puto bumbong, palitaw, and guinataang halo-halo.

Ending scrumptious feasts on a sweet note are iced deserts such as halo-halo and guinomis.

“At 40 years, we have shown the world and most especially our fellow Filipinos, what Filipino cuisine is all about – it is about the freshest of ingredients cooked in influences of our ancestors and the rich heritage of the Filipino nation, sprinkled with the love and affection of a Filipino chef,” Tita Glenda said.

Delight in the well-loved Filipino flavors and savor your classic family favorites at Via Mare.

For more information, visit www.viamare.com.ph or like its official Facebook page (@ViamarePH).

VOL. 8 ISSUE 98 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 16 - 17, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

AlDub trends worldwide

FILIPINOS across the globe enjoy and experience intense kilig with Alden Richards and Yaya Dub (Maine Mendoza) in the first ever kalyeserye on the longestrunning noon time show in the Philippines, Eat Bulaga.

Their record-breaking tandem, widely known as “AlDub”, started to gain popularity during an episode last July, when Yaya Dub (Maine Mendoza) got distracted with Alden Richards who was focused on the split screen. It was not long after that AlDub’s story progressed, and became a trending topic on social media, which eventually brought Eat Bulaga to even greater heights in terms of nationwide ratings.

During AlDub’s segment last Saturday, August 8, Yaya Dub

tweeted Yaya Dub and said, “Akala ko eto na yung tamang panahon.

Get well soon.”

AlDub took social media by storm because of this event, and viewers have never been more excited for the love team’s long awaited meeting.

GMA’s regional stations in Ilocos, Bicol, Dagupan, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao, GenSan,

passed out due to over fatigue while she was about to get married to Jose Manalo’s character Frankie Arenolli. Jose, together with Wally and the whole production staff, took hold of the situation and kept the show going, while making sure that Maine’s well taken care of. She was rushed to the hospital while the show went on.

Later during the day, Maine posted on her Instagram account a photo of her with the caption saying that she has not been feeling well since that morning. “We’re too busy preparing for the segment that I forgot to take my meds. That’s probably the reason why I passed out during our cue. None of it was scripted. I was immediately rushed to the hos-

and Cagayan de Oro open doors for AlDub fans all over the country to watch Eat Bulaga and fully experience the fun and excitement of Alden and Yaya Dub’s entertainment.

To know more about the latest updates on the Network’s regional events, follow GMA Regional TV on Twitter and Instagram via @GMARegionalTV.

pital so I can have myself checked. But nothing to worry, they said it’s all because of over fatigue.

Super appreciate all the love and concern from everyone! Rampa na ulit si Yaya Dub!” Meanwhile, Alden was supposed to rush to the wedding to meet Yaya Dub. When he reached the venue of the ceremony and found no Yaya Dub, he

Shaina and Matteo to star in Cinema One’s first breakthrough series

KAPAMILYA stars Shaina Magdayao and Matteo Guidicelli are teaming up for the first time in an original cable TV series that merges engaging comedy and relevant issues for the urban singles living in a complicated, modern world on Cinema One this August 29 at 8PM.

“Single\Single”, Cinema One and The Philippine Star’s first project, is the cable channel’s first TV series that focuses on issues ranging from quarter-life crises to relationship dilemmas in a digital world. More importantly, the series aims to underscore the importance of handling finances, career path planning, and having a work-life balance for the urban millennial.

The series follows the story of Joee (Shaina) and Joey (Matteo), two single strangers who will exchange sparks or non-sparks as an odd couple forced to share an apartment for practical reasons and tries to answer the question, “when strangers have

no choice but to share the rent, will it be a disaster or a happy ever after?”

As a first of its kind project on Philippine cable TV, “Single\Single” combines the power of cable and print media to talk to Filipino millennials about how to cope as a single individual in an entertaining format. Each week after an episode airs on Cinema One, in-depth discussion about wealth management will be provided in the Philippine Star’s Business Lifestyle

section by wealth management expert and inspirational speaker, Francis Kong.

The show’s lead stars also serve as role models to millennials.

Shaina, who grew up in showbiz, is one of the many young celebrities who has managed her finances well. She owns several business ventures, including a salon and a summer camp for kids. Meanwhile, Matteo who hails from Cebu, also has a background in entrepreneurship as his family has estab-

lished businesses in his hometown.

Also joining the cast of “Single\Single” are Cherie Gil who plays Matteo’s single mom in a very offbeat parent role; award-winning Cinema One Originals actress Anna Luna as Shaina’s career-driven buddy; and theater actor Brian Sy as Shaina’s gay friend. Indie favorites Mara Lopez and Matt Daclan will also be completing the cast in guest roles.

“Single\Single” is under the direction of international award-winning independent cinema director Pepe Diokno, who also marks his first venture into cable TV and comedy. Palanca winner Lilit Reyes serves as the series’ writer, while film producer of the highest grossing Pinoy indie movie “That Thing Called Tadhana,” Bianca Balbuena produces the series.

“Single\Single” premieres this August 29 on Cinema One. New episodes will air every Saturday at 8PM with replays on Wednesdays at 830PM and Sundays at 10PM.

August 13 – 16, 2015

FANTASTIC 4 / * ATTACK ON TITAN Part 1 Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan/ *Haruma Miura, Kiko Mizuhara PG/ *R16

11:30 | 1:40 | 3:50 LFS / *6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

THE LOVE AFFAIR Bea Alonzo, Dawn Zulueta, Richard Gomez R13

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

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 5 Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner PG

R-16

11:20 | 2:00 | 4:40 | 7:20 | 10:00 LFS

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E. Alicia Vikander, Henry Cavill, Hugh Grant PG

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

A4 INdulge!

EVENT

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 98 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 16 - 17, 2015

A glittering celebration at

ORO ITALIA

By Kenneth Irving Ong

FOR some people, jewellery can be as alien as the moon.

For Oro Italia however, glittering gold and diamonds should be made more accessible for those who want to catch the jewellery bug, and what better way to do that than to open another store at the second level of the Gaisano Mall of Davao last August 12.

Already making waves for their affordable jewellery, Oro Italia’s designs range from pieces which one can wear daily to the more artsy and modern pieces that are right on the cutting edge of fashion.

Whatever one’s fashion style is, Oro Italia is sure to have the perfect accessory for you.

From white gold to rose gold, and from small accent stones to bigger gems which glitter under the

spotlight, Oro Italia’s pieces also come with their own certificate of authenticity to ensure your purchases are genuine.

Oro Italia’s other stores are located at Zamboanga city as well as at the ground floor of SM City Davao.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 98 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 16 - 17, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

THE ECONOMY 7

Biz opportunities between Phl, Indonesia Bank executive says two countries have same demographics

By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

B

OTH the Philippines and Indonesia provide good business opportunities in the ASEAN integration because of their wide and strong consumer base, a bank executive said.

Wick Veloso, president and chief executive officer of Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Philippines, said these two markets are just waiting to be captured and that they are the only bank which can provide the opportunity.

“We would like to use HSBC’s international connectivity. No local bank, no regional bank will be able to do that,” Veloso told the Davao media during a roundtable teleconference at the Continental Club Board Room of The Marco Polo Hotel Davao Thursday.

“It is only a bank with international footprint like HSBC being in 80 countries and territories around the world which will be able to give you that opportunity,” Veloso added.

Also participating in the teleconference were Veloso’s HSBC counterpart Sumit Dut-

ta and journalists in Jakarta, Indonesia where both officials briefed the media of the present economic situation in the two countries.

The discussion focused on the potential impact of the Asean economic community on the markets and economies of ASEAN, particularly the opportunities it brings to Philippines and Indonesia.

Veloso said with a combined population of 351 million, the Philippines and Indonesia offer big business opportunities specially in the sectors of power, water, housing, telecom, medical care, education and infrastructure.

“They have the same demographics, almost the same kind of consumerism,” Veloso said.

“We can be the go-to bank. You just test these two markets and you will really make it,” he added.

Other than the Asean integration, Philippines and Indonesia have long-standing bilateral relationship within the BIMP corridor which, Veloso described, as the gateway to China, Hong Kong and Korea.

E

Esdevco holds Open House

SCANDOR Development Corporation (Esdevco) recently held another Open House for its signature project Matina Enclaves last August 14 at the Esdevco Office in Ecoland.

A good number of prospective buyers attended the Open House for the

month of August as Esdevco’s sales team pushed forward for improved sales performance towards the middle of the third quarter.

“The Open House has been a regular activity of Esdevco and this is the time where we spend one one one consultations with our clients. So far, we are per-

forming well amidst the heavy competition,” said Gerald Garces, project head of Matina Enclaves.

The Esdevco project is a mixed use development which is the initial venture into real estate of the Escandor conglomerate, known for its stronghold in the security agency market as well

as the hotel industry.

Construction for the first building of the Residences, the condominium segment of Matina Enclaves, is underway. Condominium 1 is already fully sold while Condominium 2 is 70 percent sold.

FESDEVCO, 10

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

VOL. 8 ISSUE 98 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 16 - 17, 2015

EDITORIAL Blackouts’ economic effects

B

LACKOUTS experienced by Davao City recently have alarmed some observers who fear that the power outages would prove disastrous to the city’s otherwise robust economy.

Fortunately for Dabawenyos, their fears are now assuaged with a simple analysis by no less than Ivan Cortez, head of Davao City’s investment promotion center (DCIPC).

Cortez contends that the outages have little or no adverse effects at all in terms of economic losses. He says: “The city’s businesses generate at least P578 million worth of transactions daily. The bulk of these transactions are done between the 12- hour peak period which is assumed to be between 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. With the assumption that 85 percent of the daily transactions are done within the 12-hour peak period, this would give us P40.9 million as the city’s hourly worth of transactions during the peak period.

“We cannot directly assume that Davao is losing P40.9 million right away per hour of power interruption simply because, on average, 70 percent of our daily transactions are related to meeting basic needs (food, clothing, etc). Meaning, regardless of the time of day when the power outage occurred, people will still buy and eat food, and continue to meet basic needs within the 12-hour peak period. Given these assumptions, the highest figure you can have for hourly losses will be at P12 million per hour.

“However, the P12-million hourly estimate for losses during a blackout is based on the assumption that all businesses totally halted operation during the entire hour of power outage. This is really not the case since there are businesses equipped with standby generators and there are businesses that can continue

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operation just by using cheap led flashlights and turning to manual operations (manual business recording over the use of electronic cash register).

“Our local economy is generally consumer driven. What does this mean in relation to blackouts? Whether there is a 1-hour or a 3-hour power outage, generally the daily business transactions will still be consummated even during the outages (since people will transfer and flock to the establishments with generators) or will opt to delay the transaction until after power is restored. At the end of the day, the plan to consume will still be executed since the basics have to be met as set for the day.

“Please also take note that only 5 percent of our total businesses in Davao are in the manufacturing sector. This is the industry that will be most affected by power outages. But then again, generating sets now have become very affordable that these industries have most likely bought their own sets already.

“All these considerations will bring down the hourly losses estimates to between P3 million and P5 million. That figure can go near zero level if we include in the picture the spikes in sales for goods and services that are in demand (halo-halo, cold sweets, rechargeable fan and flashlight, etc) during a blackout since the little inconveniences will drive some people to spend more than their daily budget.”

Cortez’ analysis makes sense. His studied reading of the real situation effectively dismisses the bogey spread by the economic Cassandras who argue that the blackouts will spell doom on the city’s otherwise expanding economy.

Cortez’s optimism augurs well for the Kadayawan Festival which is all about Dabawenyos expression of gratitude to nature and the Almighty for all the blessings that they have been showered with as a hardworking people. Madayaw!

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EDGEDAVAO

T

HE closer we get to January 1, 2016, when the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) will officially commence, more and more industry sectors in the Philippines are asking the same question: are we ready? Let’s look at a few statistics I found on the website of ASEANEXCHANGES.org and added some of my thoughts about the Philippines’ position: Household income going up – ASEAN as a region will be the 3rd largest with household income of US$ 10,000 or more in 2018. This is good for investors in consumer products and real estate.

High smartphone penetration – Singapore has the fourth highest smartphone penetration in the world, with 73% of its population online and is the most mobile payment ready member state, followed by the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand. For the Philippines, new markets via the smartphone are coming up: access to finance and healthcare.

Tourism – a key growth sector in

S

INCE writing for EDGE Davao last year, I have found the paper’s articles and news reports crisp and direct to the point.The photos are also well-conceptualized and vivid.

Two of the news reports that caught my attention last week were those written by our reporter Cheneen R. Capon.

The first discussed about durian production in Davao Region dropping by 25% “towards the end of year as a result of the long drought season or the El Niño phenomenon.”

An El Niño strikes every three to seven years, when trade winds in the tropical parts of the Pacific Ocean weaken or reverse their usual route. The winds then blow surface water warmed by the tropical sun to the eastern Pacific Ocean and the equatorial west coast of South America.

Rain follows the current, and eastern South American may then experience flooding, while Australia, southern Africa and most of Asia may have drought. In the Philippines, a long dry spell is likely to happen.

According to Larry Miculob, chairman of the Davao Durian Industry Council, most durian growers were unprepared for the long drought that ensued during the months of April and May. “We’re expecting a drop of 100 metric tons by the end of this year from the 500 metric tons durian produced in 2014,” Miculob was quoted as saying.

“A lot of durian trees in the region produced flowers, but most of it did not turn into fruit.”

This is bad news indeed for Davao, which is nicknamed the “Durian Repub-

VOL. 8 ISSUE 98 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 16 - 17, 2015

VANTAGE POINTS

9

ASEAN Facts: ASEAN – In EUROPE BIZ 2012, ASEAN was the fastest g r o w i n g destinationregion in the world, followed by South Asia.

The Henry J. Schumacher Philippines has so many options to grow the tourism sector but infrastructure needs to be established urgently (airports, seaports for cruise ships, roads, etc.) and security and connectivity issues need to be addressed.

The ASEAN expansion of international retail brands – Six out of the top ten countries where international retailers intended to open stores in 2014 are in ASEAN. This is also important for tourism development. The Philippines could be much more attractive if the rules for retail operations by foreign companies would be eased. Only H&M has made the

decision to enter the Philippines since 2001 (all others are using franchise arrangements).

Vehicle Sales – The 6th largest single marketplace for vehicles sales in the world is expected to be ASEAN by 2018. The Philippines has quite some catching up to do, getting investments in infrastructure organized, getting the automotive market from manufacturing to spare parts going, and taking the old vehicles off the road.

A boom in the trade of medical devices – ASEAN’s medical device market, which was worth about US$ 4.6 billion in 2013, is expected to double to US$ 9 billion by 2019. The Philippines will fully participate in this boom with more money allocated to healthcare and universal healthcare being one of the legacies of this administration.

Rich reserves of natural resources – ASEAN is ranked third largest producer in the world of oil and natural gas; 90% of all natural rubber and a quarter of the world’s rice production is grown in the Region. The Philippines is one of the

leaders in mineral resources which this Administration wants to keep untouched underground while poverty is suffered aboveground. Responsible mining is obviously misunderstood.

Foreign ownership – ASEAN has registered considerable progress in loosening the restrictions on foreign ownership of companies in various sectors. The Philippines has more to do to welcome and subsequently get foreign direct investments and should revisit the Foreign Direct Investment Negative List and the economic provisions of the Constitution.

Low cost carrier seat capacity growth - Low-cost carriers from ASEAN members accounted for more than half the global low-cost carrier seat capacity growth in the first half of 2013.

The European Chamber of Commerce supports Davao to become a regional hub for ASEAN traveling consumers. 50% of arrivals in ASEAN are from other ASEAN countries.

Are we ready???

lic.”

Among THINK ON THESE! Filipinos, durian is the second most favorite fruit – after mango. In a survey conducted by this columnist, 40% of the respondents singled Henrylito D. Tacio out durian as henrytacio@gmail.com their fruit of all seasons.

“Nothing beats durian,” said Dr. Hilario Lapeña, a Filipino physician who now works in Canada, when asked about his most favorite fruit. “I have tasted lots of exotic fruits, but I still go back to my all-time favorite – the durian.”

On the average, the edible portion or aril is only 26 percent of the fruit by weight. According to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, the fruit is rich in vitamin C, phosphorus, calcium, and iron. It is also contains fair amounts of thiamin, riboflavin, niacin. It is also a good source of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

For those who want to taste durian for the first time, be sure to buy the very best. But how will you know that the durian you are buying is the real thing?

Here’s a tip from the experts: “When picking a durian to buy, look at the stem, if it is dry the durian is probably old. If the stem is cut off, shake the fruit and listen for the seeds knocking around; if you hear something, the pulp has probably lost some moisture and therefore not

as tasty.”

The other article talked about planting cacao as an intercrop of coconuts to hike cacao production in Mindanao.

About 18 million cacao trees will be planted as intercrop of coconuts currently grown in 36,000 hectares.

“Cacao is highly suitable to intercropping and mixed farming systems, and can add more than US$1,500 per hectare of income from 500 mature trees per year,” a cacao expert once said.

Janet Lopoz, the undersecretary and executive director of Mindanao Development Authority, said the chance of attaining the island’s target of doubling the current production of 20,000 metric tons by 2016 is possible if coconut farmers will intercrop their main crop with cacao.

According to Lopoz, “if the planting will start next year, cacao production here could reach to 109,000 metric tons by 2020.” She further said: “Only a portion of 200,000 hectares of coconut plantation is being targeted to be planted with cacao seedlings to attain our target for 2020.”

Cacao was first cultivated by the Mayas around the 7th century A.D. They carried the seed north from the tropical Amazon forests to what is now Mexico.

In the 16th century, the Spanish planted cacao across South America, into Central America, and onto the Caribbean Islands. In the 17th century, the Dutch transported the cacao to other places around the globe like Java, Sumatra, Sri Lanka, New Guinea, and the Philippines.

There are three types of cacao, which are used to make cocoa and chocolate.

There’s the Criollo, which is less bitter and more aromatic than any other bean.

Another is Forastero, whose beans are hardier than Criollo. Trinitario is a hybrid of the two types.

For those who want to plant cacao in their farms, here are some tips from The Philippines Recommends for Cacao, published by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development:

Of durian and cacao

• The use of seeds is the most method of planting cacao. Seeds must be selected carefully and must come from big pods obtained from trees which are highly productive, regular bearers and free from pests. Seeds must be planted immediately since their viability is limited.

• Seedlings to be retained in the nursery for 3-4 months must be raised in polyethylene bags. The seedlings are shaded both above and at the sides for protection against strong winds. Coconut palm fronds can be used for the purpose.

• Transplanting can be done when the shoots become mature and the leaves become hard and dark green. Utmost care is necessary in transporting as the seedlings are very pone to transplanting shock.

• Care should be taken to remove the polyethylene container with minimal disturbance. Seedlings are to be planted at the same depth as they were in the polyethylene bags. Topsoil is poured into the hole a few centimeters at a time and then carefully pressed down.

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 98 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 16 - 17, 2015

Duterte... FROM 4 Villaruz asked for his help.

“Nagpadala kog istorya didto na kung mahimo dili lang patyon ba (I sent a message to them asking them not to kill their captives),” he said.

The mayor also said the kidnappers should accept any amount that the families are able to raise in exchange for their freedom.

He said the government strictly follows a no-ransom policy but the families of kidnap victims can still pay ran-

som if that is what they want.

Duterte hinted that he has “other negotiations” with the kidnappers but did not reveal what these were.

PCG deputy Chief of Staff Commodore Joselito F. dela Cruz last week said the captors initially asked for P300 million in ransom for the freedom of the three victims.

But he said the amount went down to P3 million each for the Coast Guard personnel.

Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

Tamugan in the city’s third district.

Durian Council vice chairman Eduardo Devera said durian trees in the city were affected by the El Niño or the long drought season which started in the first quarter of this year.

“Even two to three years old durian tree died because of stress,” Devera said.

Around 30 percent of durian plantations in the city were affected by El Niño which is expected to end by the third quarter of next year, he added.

Earlier, the Council projected that production of durian in the city will decrease by 25 percent of the 100 tons production in 2013.

Not only areas planted with durian will be increased, but also the durian production.

Davao City has a current durian production of only 67,000 kilos or 67 tons at 4.6

tons yield per hectare.

Large bulk of the city’s durian production is hybrid.

The Council targets to increase production per hectare feom 4.6 tons to 10 to 12 tons in the next few years by capacitating durian farmers with the good farming skills.

Miculob said the increase in production would allow the city to cater international markets like US, Japan, Hongkong and Singapore.

“US is starting to have demand on durian because of the increasing Asian population,” he said.

At present, Miculob said he cannot export a lot durian abroad because of limited supply, durian being a seasonal fruit and with huge international demand.

Miculob also said he earlier sent an initial shipment of 50 packs of frozen durian to Japan. Cheneen R. Capon

The Matina Enclaves now boasts of a Clubhouse which was inaugurated last December. Model units for the Plains are also ready for viewing. Road networks are in place with perimeter fence and Main Entrance. The firm also rehabilitated the drainage around the area.

Esdevco president Glenn

Escandor is making sure every detail of the project is being followed to the letter as planned.

“It’s our initial project and we are putting our name in this one. We wish to give the future residents here the best possible community they can ever enjoy,” said Escandor.

3K... FROM 6

Esdevco... FROM 7

SIDEWALK CHECK. Davao City Demolition Unit head Yusop Jimlani and San Pedro Police Station commander Chief Inspector Ronald Lao inspect the Bankerohan area last Friday to see if sidewalk vendors are still blocking the road. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

LTO changes license card printing company

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

T

HE Land Transportation Office (LTO) 11 is hoping to issue new driver’s license cards by August 17, reducing the 42,000 backlog on licenses in the region.

In an interview, LTO 11 regional director Gomer Dy said a new printing company, Allcard Plastics Philippines, took over last August 15 for the printing of the licenses.

“Nagpuli na ta og mga printers og mga bag-ong cards (We have switched to a new printer and new cards).

By (August) 17 hopefully we can issue the new cards,” he said.

Dy said the new cards feature new a design, with new color-coded classification for student drivers and conductors.

He said the non-professional and professional driver’s license cards will still be colored blue. The conductor’s license card is yellow, while student drivers will be issued orange cards. The fee to acquire a student permit remains at P150.

Dy said other changes include a new security feature, enhanced resolution, and bigger fonts for the name and address of the driver.

The new licenses will

still have security features similar to the old cards, such as a 2D barcode.

An earlier report from abs-cbnnews.com said the new company will be replacing Amalgamated Motors Philippines Incorporated (AMPI), which supplied cards to the LTO for more

than 20 years.

AMPI came under fire when complaints of shortage of PVC license cards surfaced last year.

Instead of the PVC card, those who renewed their licenses were told that they could use their receipts as temporary license.

11 HEALTH

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 98 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 16 - 17, 2015

Lung cancer: Filipino men’s top killer

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

J

OSEPHINE was not her usual cheerful self. When inquired how things were going, tears came to her eyes.

“My father has just been diagnosed with cancer,” she said.

“He’s not a candidate for surgery, but he begins radiation treatments next week, and we’re hoping for the best.”

Each time she reported

for work, she confided to a friend on her father’s condition. Initially, he seemed to do well – the size of his tumor decreased in response to the radiation and he generally felt pretty good.

But his reprieve was short-lived. Soon, he started to experience progressive pain and weakness as the tumor

Lung cancer, incidence, survival and mortality (from Wikipedia)

resumed its growth. Less than seven months from the time of his diagnosis, he died.

More and more Filipinos are now dying of lung cancer.

According to the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology (PSMO), lung cancer leads among the top five cancers leading to death in the country.

Lung cancer also ranks as

the number one cause of cancer among men in the country, the Philippine Cancer Society, Inc. (PCSI) claims. “Lung cancer is killing more Filipino men than ever before,” the society deplores.

One of its recent victims was broadcast journalist Angelo Castro, Jr. The main man of The World Tonight was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2008 and given three months to live.

But with his and his family’s faith in God, determination and the loving support of family and friends, he lived beyond three months. After taking a hiatus for over two years, he returned to work in 2011. A day after Christmas, he said in the air: “Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don’t close the book — just turn the page.”

Other famous men who succumbed to lung cancer include singer Nat King Cole, actor Steve McQueen, Beach Boys member Carl Wilson, New York Yankees Roger Maris, reporter Edward R. Murrow, and King George VI. Women, however, are not spared from lung cancer.

Among those who died of it were modelling pioneer Wilhelmina Cooper and Hollywood actress Betty Grable. In the Philippines, lung cancer is the third leading cause of cancer among women – after breast and cervix. The PMSO says that out of 100,000 Filipino women diagnosed with lung cancer, 2,500 of them die.

Every year, almost two million people around the world are diagnosed with the disease. “Only about 250,000 of them will remain alive five years later,” claimed Dr. Ted Hamilton, medical director of Florida Hospital Central Care in Orlando.

Like most cancers, no one really knows what causes lung cancer. However, there are known factors that are associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. Among these are dietary factors (deficient in vitamins, high in cholesterol), occupational carcinogens such as industrial chemicals (asbestos, arsenic, chromates, nickel, and chloromethyl ethers), ionizing radiation, exposure to radon gas (radioactive gas, found in increased amounts in mines), and genetic factors (inherited predisposition to developing lung cancer).

“Air pollution causes about one percent of lung cancer cases,” notes The Merck Manual of Medical Information. One of the most common forms of air pollutants is the suspended particulate matter (SPM) or those tiny solid particles dispersed from pesticides, asbestos and thousands of other products.

Studies of the American Cancer Society cohort directly link the exposure to SPM with lung cancer. For example, if the concentration of particles in

the air increases by only one percent, the risk of developing a lung cancer increases by 14 percent.

But smoking, particularly of cigarettes, is by far the main contributor to lung cancer.

In fact, lung cancer was uncommon before the advent of cigarette smoking; it was not even recognized as a distinct disease until 1761. In Germany in 1929, physician Fritz Lickint recognized the link between smoking and lung cancer, which led to an aggressive anti-smoking campaign.

The British Doctors Study, published in the 1950s, was the first solid epidemiological evidence of the link between lung cancer and smoking.

“Lung cancer is almost exclusively found in smokers,” the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research points out. “Men who smoke are 22 times more likely to develop lung cancer than men who don’t smoke. Women who smoke are 12 times more likely to develop lung cancer than women who don’t smoke.”

Cigarette and cigar smoke contains more than 40 carcinogens or cancer-causing chemicals. Among these are tar, nicotine, cyanide, formaldehyde, methanol, ammonia, acetone, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxide.

Tar is a dark, sticky substance condensed from the chemical particles in cigarette smoke. A one-pack-a-day smoker collects about one cup of tar in his lungs in a year, according to the PCSI publication, Lung Cancer and Smoking. “The tar from cigarette smoke affects the defenses of the lungs, neutralizing them so that they can’t do their work,” it explains.

The average person who is moderately active during the daytime breathes about 20,000 liters of air every 24 hours. And the lung is man’s breathing machine. It draws in air, filters it, circulates life-giving oxygen for the body’s use and expels what is left over, mostly carbon dioxide.

Nicotine, a colorless oily liquid, has been traced to make cigarette smoking addictive. “Smoking is extremely addictive, and the nicotine is the vehicle that initiates and

Lung cancer (from Wikipedia)

sustains the addiction. When a person quits the habit, he experiences several withdrawal symptoms during abstinence which is only relieved by nicotine administration,” said Dr. Daniel Tan, president of Tobacco-Free Philippines.

The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) reports that cigarette smoking kills around three million people every year. “Unless current trends are reversed, that figure is expected to rise to 10 million deaths per year by the year 2020 or the early 2030, with 70 percent of those deaths occurring in developing countries,” the UN health agency warns.

The latest National Nutrition and Health Survey found that 35 out of 100 Filipinos are smokers. About 56.3 percent of Filipino males are smokers while 12.1 percent of Filipino women smoke.

Aside from lung cancer, cigarette smoking is also associated with cancers of the tongue, mouth, upper respiratory tract, oral cavity, esophagus, pancreas, kidney and urinary bladder.

“Treatment for lung cancer is very expensive,” said Dr. Dennis Tudtud, PSMO president. “More often than not, a patient can’t afford the prohibitive cost.”

The treatment of lung cancer depends upon the type of tumor, the stage of the disease at diagnosis and the general fitness of the patient. If the tumor is small and there is no evidence of spread to local lymph nodes, surgical removal of the tumor is usually performed. Chemotherapy is used in all other stages, and roughly 75 percent of tumors will respond to it. In patients who decline operation, or who are not fit for surgery but still in stages I, II, and IIIA, high dose radiotherapy is the treatment of choice. It involves bombarding the lung tumor with highdose radiation aiming to kill all the cancer cells.

“Lung cancer has a poor prognosis,” the Merck manual reminds. “On average, people with untreated lung cancer survive 8 months. Overall, even with therapy, the 5-year survival rate is only 13 percent.”

12 CLASSIFIED

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 98 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 16 - 17, 2015

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) 0930-669-3018 MANILA MARKETING OFFICE ANGELICA R. GARCIA Marketing Manager 97-1 Bayanbayanan Ave., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 654-3509

COMPETITIVE EDGE 13

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 98 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 16 - 17, 2015

Kadayawan sa Dabaw Live Exclusively on SKY Free View A

LL things joyful and glorious burst in full color in Davao City’s Kadayawan Festival this month.

Celebrating cultural treasures, bountiful harvests, and the serenity of life, the Kadayawan Festival highlights the heritage of Mindanao’s indigenous peoples and its migrant settlers. From the 17th to the 23rd of August 2015, dances and live performances fill Davao’s streets as everyone indulges in the happiest week in one of Mindanao’s grandest cities.

Rooted in the age-old ritual of offering thanksgiving to the ancient Gods, especially “Manama” The Supreme Being, this vibrant feast highlights the plentiful fruits, flowers, vegetables, and grains that are seen as blessings from the divine. This spirit

and practice of giving thanks, known collectively as “pahinungod”, is what breathes life to the Kadayawan Festival to this day.

This year’s celebration can be called the very pinnacle of all festivals in the country. Starting-off with an ecumenical ceremony to give thanks for this year’s bounty, it’s followed by a gauntlet of food fests, dancing, musical performances, parades, and pageants. Avid fans of this festival who can’t make it to Davao can enjoy all the fun straight from their TV screen at home as SKYcable and Destiny Cable digital postpaid and prepaid TV subscribers get exclusive live access to the major Kadayawan Festival events through SKY Free View. On August 21, revelers at home can catch Hiyas sa Ka-

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8/17,24,31

dayawan, a contest to find the Festival Gem of Davao among the ten indigenous tribes of the city, from 6pm to 10pm.

Another great event - the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan, a street dancing competition that spans all of Davao’s major streets and ends in a big showdown in Rizal Park – can be tuned-in to from 8am to 5pm on August 22. And then we have the Pamulak sa Kadayawan, a massive parade of floral-themed floats staged across the city, which airs on August 23, from 8am to 12pm.

The live coverage of these events is available for free on the following channels: Ch. 251 (HD) and Ch. 210 (SD) for those in Metro Manila, CAMANAVA, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan (San Jose Del Monte); and Ch. 703 (HD) and Ch. 23 (SD) for those in Cebu, Baguio, Iloilo, Bacolod, Davao, General Santos, and Dumaguete.

Destiny Cable subscribers can tune-in through Ch. 251 (HD) and Ch. 210 (SD).

To know more about this great SKY Free View live telecast, simply call the 24-hour customer service hotlines at 02 381-0000 for Metro Manila, CAMANAVA, and Rizal; 046-484-4701 for Cavite; 049534-1555 for Calamba and

Binan, Laguna; 02-520-8560 for San Pedro, Laguna and Carmona, Cavite; 044-6935877 for Bulacan; 032-4211818 for Cebu; 082-305-5456 for Davao; 074-442-4841 for Baguio; 034-432-0051 for Bacolod; 033-300-1210 for Iloilo; 035-225-1010 for Dumaguete; and 083 301-3134 for Gen. Santos City.

Only SKYcable provides quality home entertainment with the widest-range of standard and high definition digital channels; with over 190 channels, and other topof-the-line services such as flexible subscription options via SELECT; iRECORD that records, pauses, and rewinds live TV; as well as real-time coverage of live concerts and sporting events via FREE VIEW and PAY-PER-VIEW. Subscribers interested to know more about SKYcable can simply log on to www. mysky.com.ph.

Enjoy over 90 channels in clear digital signal for only P550 per month with Destiny Cable. For inquiries about the services and promos of Destiny Cable call 418-0000.

You may also contact Destiny Cable via their email address, weserve@destinycable.com. ph.

14 CLASSIFIED

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 98 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 16 - 17, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS 15

STILL HOPING

With Pingris gone, Gilas is hoping for June Mar

F

DISHING OFF. Bryan Heruela of The Royal Mandaya Hotel-CMO dishes off an assist to a teammate after banging bodies with Goldstar muscleman Vic Manuel during the two teams’ encounter in the Ladayawan Invitational. TRMH-CMO won 102-87.

Lean Daval Jr.

OR the second straight night, Marc Pingris was unable to drop by the Philippine national men’s basketball team’s practice to formally inform the Gilas coaching staff and management of his withdrawal from the national team’s preparations for the upcoming FIBA Asia Championship.

Pingris said late Friday night, though, that he plans to personally speak with Gilas head coach Tab Baldwin, members of the coaching staff and the players on the squad when the team assembles for training again on Saturday afternoon, Pingris’ agent, Ed Ponceja, said in a telephone interview that the player was supposed to go there Thursday but changed his plans due to the heavy rains. He also planned to visit Friday night, but was again unable to make it.

This weekend could be the last time the Gilas pool practices before leaving for Estonia via Turkish Airlines for a European training camp and pocket tournament. They are expected to make the trip on Monday night.

Ponceja explained why Pingris decided to skip participating in the Gilas program, which is gearing up

for the FIBA Asia, an Olympic qualifying tournament, to be held in China from September 23 to October 3.

“Bago pa lang kasi yung coach ng Star medyo naghahabol pa sila sa gagawin.

Baka nga mag twice-a-day practice pa sila so hindi na kakayanin ni Ping yung oras,” Ponceja said.

Ponceja added that having a possible twice-a-day training with Star under new coach Jason Webb and joining the Gilas training pool altogether might affect Pingris in the long run.

“Alam mo naman ang ensayo sa Gilas mahirap ang training,” Ponceja added. “Si Ping hindi na rin naman kasi siya bata so kung mag-dodoble ensayo siya sa Star tapos mag-e-ensayo pa siya sa Gilas, baka naman bumigay yung katawan niya.”

According to Ponceja, Pingris is currently on the final year of his contract with the Hotshots.

Baldwin said he didn’t want to disclose the conversation he had with any of the players that are not currently training in the pool.

But even as the pool of players has become depleted, Baldwin clarified that he won’t make any more additions to the pool.

“We’ve talked about this as a management and if we don’t get anybody in by the time we came back from Estonia, to me, it’s counterproductive to bring anybody in.

That’s not a definitive decision, but I’m prepared to put out there now and probably defend that position later on,” Baldwin said.

He is still holding out hope, though, for back-toback PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo, who Baldwin envisioned to be an important piece of the program.

Fajardo, unlike the other players who begged off the pool, did so because of injuries and Gilas will be willing to wait a little longer to see if he can get healthy.

“The exception I’ll probably make to that is June Mar. I’ve said from the very beginning he should be the centerpiece of this team. We need him. We understand his injury is one of those nagging things. It doesn’t have a timetable and because it doesn’t have a timetable, I’m not gonna put a timetable on him,” Baldwin said.

“Eventually, we have to say it’s too late, but right now, because it is an injury situation for him and nothing else, I’d say we’ll stay open for him longer than anybody else.”

Madrid last year — so I knew I was close.”

Nishikori was all over Nadal’s serve, breaking twice in the first set and twice more in the second.

“Today, I was almost dominating everything, so I’m very happy,” Nishikori said.

Nishikori will face the second-seeded Murray. The Scot beat 10th-seeded defending champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 6-4, 6-4.

T h e Chardy- I sner

match began nearly 2 hours late and was interrupted more than an hour in the second set by another shower.

Chardy fought off seven match points, five in the second-set tiebreaker.

Isner

MVP rues Gilas snubs Djokovic tops Gulbis

T

HE man at the helm of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) obviously couldn’t hide his disappointment with the decision of several mainstays of Gilas Pilipinas not to play for the national team bound for the Fiba-Asia Men’s Championship in Changsha, China.

Manny V. Pangilinan, the SBP president, took to twitter in expressing his feelings especially about PBA teams which lend players to the national squad as it scrambles to form a team competitive enough for the Sept. 23 to Oct. 3 meet that serves as qualifier to the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics.

“Sad day for Phil basketball. But thank you to the team

which helped the national cause. Laban Pilipinas. Puso,” Pangilinan twitted in his account @iamMVP. While Pangilinan was careful not to mention any entity, the message was obviously meant to mock the San Miguel Corp. group – the company rival of the Pangilinan faction in the pro league – as three of its players in back-to-back MVP June Mar Fajardo, Marc Pingris, and LA Tenorio begged off from playing for Gilas Pilipinas anew.

All three were part of the Gilas team that finished runner-up to Iran in the 2013 edition of the Fiba-Asia meet here in Manila and had been listed by coach Tab Baldwin in the

16-man Gilas training pool.

Of the three, Pingris was the most vocal about his desire to suit up for the national team as both Fajardo and Tenorio already stated they’re not joining the team due to injury and health reasons, respectively.

Pingris initially said he will be available for Gilas only after his trip to France owing to family matters.

But since arriving from Europe Wednesday, the Star Hotshot defensive player hasn’t showed up yet at the Meralco gym for Gilas’ daily practice.

San Miguel management though, said all three players have been given the go signal to see action for the national team.

ERMAN sports giant Adidas on Thursday agreed a sponsorship deal with NBA superstar James Harden which was reported to be worth $200 million in a major blow to heavyweight rivals Nike.

The contract for the 25-year-old Houston Rockets star takes effect from October 1 and is understood to span 13 years.

Adidas said it would

not divulge the value of the long-term deal although American sports network ESPN claimed it was worth $200m (180 million euros).

“From the start of this partnership, Harden is going to play a role in the worldwide promotion of Adidas which will coincide with the start of the new NBA season,” said a spokesman.

“He will also have a key

role in creating and developing a line of sports shoes and clothing.”

Last year, Adidas announced a 10-year linkup with English Premier League giants Manchester United worth a minimum £750 million (940 million euros).

The group is also attempting to re-establish its foothold in North America in the face of competitors, Nike and Under Armour.

Adidas signs James Harden G

T

OP-RANKED Novak Djokovic survived two match points and rallied to beat Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis 5-7, 7-6 (7), 6-1 on Friday night in the Rogers Cup quarterfinals.

Djokoic survived two match points for the first time since 2012 in Shanghai against Andy Murray. The Serb, the tournament champion in 2007, 2011 and 2012, has won 51 of 54 matches this year.

“You have to give credit to (Gulbis) for playing an excellent match,” Djokovic said. “He was always making me play an extra shot, and putting a lot of pressure on my second serve. I had a lot of chances and closed it out in the end, but he had a couple of match points and it would’ve been deserved if he had won this match.”

Djokovic will face France’s Jermey Chardy, a 6-7 (9), 7-6 (13), 7-6 (4) winner over American John Isner in the rain-delayed opening match.

Fourth-ranked Kei Nishikori of Japan beat seventh-seeded Spanish star Rafael Nadal 6-2, 6-4. The tournament winner last week in Washington, Nishikori topped Nadal for the first time in eight attempts.

“It took a long time to beat Rafa,” Nishikori said. “I don’t usually like to play against him, but the last couple of matches — I had chances in Australia and in

missed a volley at the net and then hit wide on a service return on set point.

“If you start to think about match points or breakpoints, you start to be nervous,” Chardy said. “It’s the only way to miss the shot.

In this match a lot of points were really important, with a lot of pressure.”

The 6-foot-10 Isner had won 11 of his previous 12 matches, taking the title two weeks ago in Atlanta and finishing second in Washington.

“It was a crazy match,” Chardy said. “We both had a chance. We did a lot of good points. We were serving both really well.”

Novak Djokovic survived two match points and rallied to beat Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis 5-7, 7-6 (7), 6-1.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 8 ISSUE 98 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, AUGUST 16 - 17, 2015

BACK ON TRACK

TRMH-CMO drubs Goldstar 102-87, Montaña gets second win

T

HE Royal Mandaya Hotel-City Mayor’s Office breathed life into its championship bid after dealing archnemesis and defending champion Goldstar Hardware a 102-87 thrashing on Friday night in the 2015 Kadayawan festival Inter-Commercial Invitational basketball tournament at the Davao City Recreation Center.

With PBA stalwarts Beau Belga, Mark Macapagal, and Bonbon Custodio and ex-pro Jojo Tangkay at the firing end, TRMH-CMO jumped to an early 15-7 lead and were never threatened after that, coasting to their first win in two outings in the four-team tournament where every win and every point matters.

Mark Macapagal shook off his rusty form to drill in 19 points in leading the Hoteliers’ scoring. Tangkay and the burly Belga who 17 and 15 points, respectively.

Goldstar Hardware’s Leo Najorda and Vic Manuel finished with 20 and 18 points, in that order in a losing effort.

Goldstar Hardware came up short for a rally in the fourth. Down as much as 18, 89-71, Goldstar could only manage to cut the lead to just 10, 95-85 with 1:35 remaining.

In the other game, Montana Pawnshop Davao shook off an erratic start before beating MP Pacman, 75-65 for their second win in the elimination round. The win gave the unbeaten Pawnbrokers a 2-0 slate

and at least a tie for one of the finals berths.

Denand Lusdoc led Montana with 27 points while former Jose Maria Colleges guard Kenny Guibay added 11 with 9 coming in the third period leading his squad’s 10-2 run after being down, 38-29, before halftime.

Despite playing infront of team owner Manny Pacquiao, MP Pacman failed to drill crucial baskets down the stretch.

Swa Toyambi and Mark Yee led MP Pacman with 14 points apiece.

MP Pacman plays The Royal Mandaya Hotel while Goldstar Hardware battles Montana Pawnshop Davao as of presstime Saturday night for the final matches in the elimination round.

BATTLE OF MUSCLES. Beau Belga of The Royal Mandaya HotelCMO tries to shake off Goldstar muscleman Vic Manuel during the two teams’ encounter in the Ladayawan Invitational.

TRMH-CMO won 102-87.

Lean Daval Jr.