Edge Davao 9 Issue 126

VOL. 9 ISSUE 126 • SATURDAY - SUNDAY, AUGUST 20 - 21, 2016

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

LUMAD CHARMERS. Lumad teenagers are all smiles as they gather to witness this year’s “Panagtagbo” (tribal convergence) in Tionko Field, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

SARA PREGNANT WITH TRIPLETS!

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

D

adlopez0920@gmail.com

AVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio is now pregnant and is expecting triplets.

In a statement released to the media on Friday, Mayor Sara said she was one with the people of Davao in celebrating the 31st Kadayawan Festival, but unfortunately cannot join the various activities due to her current condition.

“I hope our thanksgiving this year will be happy. And on this happy note, I would also like to share with you the news that I am pregnant and cannot join you in the merrymaking activities,” the mayor said.

Mayor Sara added: “We are expecting triplets and they are

doing well on their 7th week.

The human body is made to carry just one baby and I am experiencing threefold all the pregnancy symptoms that a woman goes through.”

The mayor said she’s having a hard time coping with the symptoms, as well as the complications of a multi-fetal pregnancy.

“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who helped put up the celebration for Kadayawan 2016.

Indeed, God has been generous on his blessings for our city and we must thank him with this celebration,” Mayor Sara added.

Despite her condition, the

mayor said she will continue to work until she is allowed by her doctors, although she was already advised to avoid crowded places to lessen her chances of acquiring infections.

“I may be physically weak, but rest assured that I am on top of the situation here in our city,” she added.

Meanwhile, Malacañang said President Duterte was pleased upon hearing the news that her daughter is seven weeks pregnant and is in fact expecting triplets.

“The President is delighted with the news of his daughter’s pregnancy. He is also hopeful that she will able to see through

the pregnancy smoothly and well,” Sec. Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) said in a statement.

The Malacañang statement added that Mayor Sara’s pregnancy serves as a source of inspiration for the President to roll up his sleeves and work double time in his fight against crimes and drugs.

“He hopes to leave a legacy of a Philippines safe and secure from crimes and drugs to future generation of Filipinos.

We offer our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the Mayor and husband, lawyer Manases Carpio,” the statement said.

EDGEDAVAO Sports LAST MAN STANDING P16 Phoenix takes Game 1 84-76 P15

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 126 • SATURDAY - SUNDAY, AUGUST 20 - 21, 2016

TOURISM CHAMPION. Kadayawan sa Davao 2016 co-chair Art Boncato welcomes the delegates of the 11 tribes of Davao City led by their deputy mayors and domestic and foreign guests in his opening speech during “Panagtagbo” (tribal convergence) in Tionko Field, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

City to give out assistance to Mini Forest fire victims

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HE Davao City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) said cash assistance will be given to more or less 36 families left homeless by a fire in which gutted houses in Purok 4A, Brgy. 23-C, Mini Forest, Thursday morning.

CSSDO chief Marilyn Agonia said owners of the burned down houses will receive P10,000 each, while those whose houses have been partially damaged will be given P5,000 each.

Agonia said that renters will alsol receive P5,000 cash assistance, while sharers and boarders will be given P3,000.

“The CSSDO immediately provided hot meals like lugaw

to the affected families,” said Agonia adding that their office is still doing an assessment to gather details on the affected house owners, renters and boarders.

The fire victims will also be given psycho-social assistance.

Initial investigation showed the fire of still undetermined cause started at the house of a certain Labi Langap at around 2:30 am.

The blaze immediately spread to nearby houses which were all made of light materials.

It can be recalled that in 2014, a huge fire razed houses in the same area affecting hundreds of families.

Duterte to UN: Probe mass killings in other countries

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ISGUSTED with those who continue to meddle with the national government’s efforts to improve the lives of its people, President Duterte has urged the United Nations not to dip its fingers in investigations concerning the deaths allegedly committed by policemen in line with the administration’s heightened war against the illegal drug trade.

President Duterte said “United Nations (UN) does not have any business investigating human rights violations of the police. You don’t come here investigate the deaths of criminals and those suspected na sabi nila pinatay ng mga pulis (suspected to have been killed

by the police) when after all we have also lost a sizable amount of our security forces in govt.”

There is no such thing as genocide happening in the country, he said as he pointed out the definition of genocide as the deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group, race or nation.

He said there are mass killings in other countries and mentioned of Middle East where men, women and children are killed and hospitals being bombed.

The president added that thousands are being killed in Thailand due to drugs, yet not even the President of the UN

F DUTERTE, 9

NDFP orders release of 2 Dav Oriental cops

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

T

adlopez0920@gmail.com

HE National Democratic Front in Southern Mindanao Region (NDFP-SMR) announced they had given the release order on Friday, August 19, for the two policemen they had taken into custody in Davao Oriental.

According to the NDFP-SMR, the release order is a sign of goodwill in light of the formal resumption of peace negotiations between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the NDFP that will start on August 22.

“The National Democratic Front of the Philippines in Southern Mindanao Region today ordered the release of the two Prisoners of War currently in separate custody of

the units under the NPA ComVal Davao Gulf Sub-Regional Command as goodwill measure for the formal resumption of the peace negotiations on August 22,” said Rubi del Mundo, spokesperson of NDFP-SMR, in a statement dated August 19.

Last May 29, fully-armed members of the New People’s Army (NPA) attacked the police station of Governor Generoso town in Davao Oriental and abducted its chief of police, C/Insp. Arnold Ongachen.

On June 19, the NPAs abducted PO1 Michael Grande in Lupon, Davao Oriental. Grande is a member of Banaybanay PNP unit.

Del Mundo said that its

custodial units reported that Ongachen and Grande are in good health and are treated well despite the continued attacks being carried out by army troopers in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.

“They have likewise assured that an orderly and safe turn-over of the prisoners of war may be conducted pending a GPH undertaking of suspension of military and police offensives,” she added.

Del Mundo said the NDFP-SMR acknowledges President Duterte’s efforts which resulted in the release of 22 high-ranking NDFP peace consultants.

“This is definitely a positive development in the long-

sought justice for these political prisoners and a welcome deviation from the previous reactionary regimes’ militarist approach and despicable contravention of the Comprehensive Agreement for Respect of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) and the Joint Agreement for Security and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG),” she said in the statement.

The NDFP-SMR added in its statement that the group is also expecting the immediate release of the remaining 540 political prisoners in compliance with the Duterte government’s compliance with the CARHRIHL and JASIG.

ly to Camp Siongco Hospital where he met and talked to wounded soldiers, all belonging to 6th Infantry Division Reconnaissance Unit.

He lauded the soldiers for their bravery and gallantry and vowed to provide them the necessary assistance, especially financial aid, for the families of slain soldiers and wounded personnel.

Duterte, stressing he is from Mindanao and has Muslim blood, also reiterated his desire to attain lasting peace in

the island.

“We must stop killing each other,” he told soldiers and civilian employees of the Army division after visiting the wounded infantrymen.

He also assured the soldiers that as long as he is the President “you have nothing to worry.”

“You will have life saving equipment...for all military hospitals to treat wounded soldiers,” he said as the government forces applauded.

“The presidential jet will

be yours, even president Fokker planes to be used for military emergency operations,” he said, and again, the soldiers applauded.

Aside from the relentless campaign against illegal drugs, Duterte assured the soldiers his campaign against corruption in government is as relentless.

“I really hate corruption,” he said.

After his visit here, Duterte flew to Davao City for another speaking engagement. (PNA)

Rody honors wounded soldiers in Mindanao

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RESIDENT Duterte on Thursday honored eight soldiers injured during a clash with Moro bandits while implementing anti-drug operations in North Cotabato on August 14.

In his second visit to this camp, the President assured officers, women and men of the 6th Infantry Division that he will continue with his aggressive campaign against the illegal drug trade.

From Awang airport, the President proceeded direct-

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EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

City Hall workers say goodbye to Pokemon Go

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HE Davao City Hall may be a free Wi-Fi hotspot, but employees can only access websites that will not distract or affect their productivity.

City Administrator Lawyer Zuleika T. Lopez has prohibited city hall employees from playing the highly-popular role-playing game (RPG) Pokemon Go, as well as Dota other mobile games.

Lopez issued the order through memorandum after

the whole City Hall building was made into a free wi-fi zone under the Juan Konek project of the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT).

The memorandum was addressed to all local government employees, ordering them to refrain from using social networking and online shopping sites during official working hours.

Among the restricted sites are Facebook, Twitter, Insta-

gram, and Lazada.

“Moreso, playing games such as Pokemon Go, Candy Crush, DOTA as well as blogging, downloading and watching videos (are prohibited),” the memo read.

The free Wi-Fi connectivity at the city hall including Peoples, Osmena and Rizal parks is a joint project of the City Government and DICT. With the free Wi-Fi, people can enjoy 100MB of data for free. (CIO)

ing group which he created last month.

Among the transactions that have been streamlined are tourist visa extension and updating of stay; issuance of BI clearance and certificate of not the same person and travel records; dual citizenship petitions; visa downgrading; and amendment, transfer and correction of admission.

The TWG was tasked to evaluate, review, revise and improve existing procedures and requirements for the various transactions at the bureau.

The BI Chief also said that they will come out very soon with new proposals to simplify the procedures and cutting the timelines for other frontline services that have not been includ-

ed in the initial list.

“The second phase is underway. The technical working group is evaluating other transactions which will also be streamlined. We do not anticipate any decrease in revenue; in fact we hope that the simpler the process, the more encouraged our clientele will be,” he said.

Morento expects that his agency’s efforts will encourage more foreigners to visit and do business in the country.

“In turn, our economy will improve and usher in more job and livelihood opportunities for our people,” Morente said.

For the second phase, the targets for simplification are immigrant and non-immigrant visas being processed by the legal division. (PNA)

BI cuts‘red tape’for services T

HE Bureau of Immigration (BI) is now focusing its efforts on simplifying the requirements and shortening the processing time for its frontline services.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said that this move is in compliance with President Duterte’s directive to drastically cut red tape in all government agencies.

“The bureau has already come up with a revised list of requirements and timelines for 16 frontline services which are now being implemented at the main office and all the other BI extension, satellite and field offices nationwide,” Morente said.

He added that the new rules were recommended by the members of a technical work-

EDGEDAVAO

4 ECONOMY

GAINING SUPPORT. Acting RDC XI Chairperson, Director Maria Lourdes D. Lim of NEDA XI (center), along with Director Gary Martel of DBM XI and Acting RDC XI Secretary, OIC-ARD Priscilla R. Sonido of NEDA XI, orient local chiefs of Davao Region on the RDC processes. (Right photo) Among the Governors and Congressional Representatives who attended the activity were Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy of Compostela Valley, Congresspersons Maria Carmen S. Zamora

VOL. 9 ISSUE 126 • SATURDAY - SUNDAY, AUGUST 20 - 21, 2016

and Ruwell Peter S. Gonzaga of ComVal, representative of Congressman Antonio R. Floirendo, Mr. Roy Catalan, and Governor Antonio Rafael G. del Rosario of Davao del Norte. (Not in photo) Governor Douglas RA. Cagas of Davao del Sur was also present during the activity while the rest of the LCEs and Congresspersons were represented.

RDC XI Orients Davao LGUs, House representatives T

Hedcor helps trains 30 IPs as first aid responders

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HE Regional Development Council (RDC) XI recently conducted an orientation among newly-elected local chief executives (LCEs) and congressional representatives on the development planning process and status of implementation of the Davao Regional Development Plan (RDP) during the recent Consultation Meeting on RDC XI Mandates and Processes.

According to National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) XI) regional director and acting RDC XI chairperson Maria Lourdes D. Lim, the orientation aimed to ensure the new set of officials of the RDC XI Full Council and Advisory Committee are well informed on the mandates, processes, thrusts and priorities of the development body.

Lim said the activity is part of the RDC’s initiatives to sustain its strong partnership with the LGUs of Davao region, as well as obtain their support on the priority programs, activities and projects (PAPs) of the region for FY 2017.

She stressed the support of congressional represen-

tatives was crucial, as their inputs would be integrated into the region’s priority PAPs, deliberations for the FY 2017 National Expenditure Program and General Appropriations Act, and in the crafting of the legislative agenda for inclusion in the Davao Regional Development Plan.

The RDC XI Full Council shall be formally reorganized on August 26, 2016, while the rest of its committees shall follow after the Council’s reorganization. Congressional representatives sit as members in RDC XI Advisory Committee.

Among the governors and congressional representatives who attended the orientation were Gov. Antonio Rafael G. Del Rosario of Davao del Norte, Gov. Jayvee Tyron Uy of Compostela Valley, Gov. Douglas RA. Cagas of Davao del Sur, and Representatives Maria Carmen Zamora and Ruwell Peter Gonzaga of ComVal. The Council shall meet again on Aug. 26 after the reorganizational meeting to discuss the priority projects of Davao Region under the 2017 AIP, as well the Fiscal Year 2017 RDC XI-endorsed budget proposal of selected NGAs,

SUCs and selected Government-owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs).

The AIP is the RDC XI’s main reference for reviewing the list of priority PAPs, and is annually endorsed by the RDC for inclusion in the budget proposals of national line agencies.

The AIP is a list of public sector PAPs of the different regional line agencies, SUCs, and other national government instrumentalities in the region, which are necessary to attain the development goals and objectives as provided in the RDP. It constitutes the annual priority PAPs which are focused on expenditure priorities, such as the completion of critical programs/projects, as well as ongoing and proposed interventions in the pursuit of social, economic, infrastructure, and governance and institutions development The RDC is the highest policy-making body in the region and serves as the counterpart of the NEDA Board at the regional level.

As provided for in Executive Order No. 325 (Section 4.d), the RDC is the primary

institution that coordinates and sets the direction of all economic and social development efforts in the region.

It also serves as the forum where local efforts can be reviwed and integrated in line with national development programs to ensure sustainable, participatory and equitable development within its areas of coveres.

The Council’s primary task is to coordinate development planning and policy making in the region to ensure that the multi-year priority development plan and investment programs of the regions are funded by way of their inclusion in the National Government budget.

The same Executive Order provides for the creation of an Advisory Committee to the RDC composed of the members of the House of Representatives representing the provinces and districts of the Region, aimed at further strengthening the coordinating and consultative mechanisms in the Region and to advise, assist and support the Council in carrying out its functions. (Mia Glenda G. Aracid, DRD-NEDA XI)

shop.

According to Atienza, these principles include everyone’s right to education, culture and a peaceful life, and that development should “rights-based’ and “should prioritize women, Indigenous peoples, Moro people and people with disabilities (PWDs).”

She noted that there should also be “inclusiveness,” wherein people promote a culture of “peace, self-reliance, and love of country” consistent with the vision of President Duterte.

“Government should recognize the effort and cultivate and support people’s collaboration within and among peace stakeholders especially

NGO’s, people’s organizations, and all others in enriching education, peace and culture” Atienza stressed.

Responding to Atienza’s presentation, education secretary Leonor Briones said that the programs and strategies of the Duterte Administration are all geared towards upholding human rights.

She also noted that the department of justice and the military establishment should also be included in the summit, as they could provide invaluable inputs to the discussions.

The education secretary likewise stressed the importance of preserving the nation’s culture, particularly the

Social Dev’t Summit: Development should be rights-based

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

C

IVIL society organizations (CSO) from different parts of the country actively took part in the twoday Social Development Initiatives Summit organized by the office of cabinet secretary Leoncio B. Evasco Jr. The summit, which was held at the SM Lanang Premiere, Davao City, last Aug. 17 -18, was a convergence of education, culture and peace groups whose goal was to establish synergy among themselves and help push forward the Duterte Administration’s development agenda.

During the Summit, the delegates formed groups called Karunungan, Kalinangan, Kapayapaan (KKK), as

they presented the various issues confronting their respective sectors, as well as specific recommendations on how to address these concerns.

These suggestions will be forwarded to concerned national government line agencies such as the Department of Education (DepEd), Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) and National Commission for the Culture and the Arts (NCCA) for appropriate action.

Dr. Theresita Atienza, former Dean of the College of Science in Polytechnic University of the Philippines, who served as the KKK’s leader, explained the principles which guided the participants of the work-

F SOCIAL DEV’T, 9

HIRTY community leaders of Bagobo-Tagabawa, an Indigenous People’s (IP) tribe which lives at the foothills of Mt Apo in Davao del Sur, learned how to effectively respond to medical emergencies after undergoing a two-day intensive first aid training organized by Hedcor.

Hedcor vice president for Mindanao operations, Rolando Pacquiao said they sought the assistance of volunteers from Philippine Red Cross to help them upgrade the first aid skills of the Lumad tribe.

“We feel the need to train our IP partners from the community with first aid procedures due to their distance from the city’s hospitals and authorities,” said Pacquiao.

Aside from the IP leaders, other members of the tribe

were also trained on basic first aid techniques such as knot-tying, bandaging, and lifting.

They were taught how to assess an emergency situation.

“This training gives us the confidence to provide with first aid care to our colleagues. We would no longer be hesitant to help because we are now wellequipped with basic first aid procedures,” said IP chairman Datu Rogelio Manapol.

Aside from the training, Hedcor provided the participants with first aid kits, while the adopted barangays received medicines, first aid supplies and storage cabinets.

On the last day of training, the participants took an assessment examination which earned them a certification as bona fide first aid responders.

TSI U1 to undergo maintenance check A

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ adlopez0920@gmail.com

BOITIZ POWER (AP) on Friday announced that the 150-MW Unit 1 of the 300-MW Davao baseload power plant of Therma South Inc. (TSI) will undergo a maintenance outage as part of its preventive maintenance activities.

The preventive maintenance will commence on Aug. 22, Monday, and is expected to last until September 7, the AP said in a statement to the media.

TSI, a subsidiary of AP is already coordinating with its customers, particularly the electric cooperatives and distribution utilities in Mindanao, for them to implement measures to mitigate the impact of the maintenance activity.

“This maintenance activi-

ty is necessary to review Unit 1 and to implement some corrective measures as needed which should be similar in nature to the coverage of work done in the recently planned outage of Unit 2 from June 18 to July 13,” Sebastian R. Lacson, TSI President and COO said in the statement.

He added the maintenance was originally scheduled to start last Aug. 6 but was moved to Aug. 22 as a measure to better adjust to the grid situation.

“We are confident that after this outage, TSI should be better equipped to reliably meet the needs of our customers. As always, we will try our best to keep the duration of this interruption to a minimum,” Lacson added.

Photo by Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 126 • SATURDAY - SUNDAY, AUGUST 20 - 21, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMY 5

DavOr creates center to tap external funds

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

T

adlopez0920@gmail.com

HE provincial government of Davao Oriental has established a new center that will primarily focus on generating external resources that could be utilized to boost the LGU’s programs and services.

Davao Oriental Gov. Nelson L. Dayanghirang signed Executive Order No. 12 establishing the Project Development and Management and Resource Generation Center that will explore opportunities for various development projects in the province.

In a statement to the media on Friday, the information office of Davao Oriental said the new center will strengthen the province’s capacity in project development and managing resource generation initiatives.

“The center will serve as Davao Oriental’s link in tapping readily-available resources from external funding agencies, particularly international funding institutions such as the JICA, KOICA, USAID and AUSAID,” said Freddie C. Bendulo, the Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator in the area.

Bendilo added the center could also look into possible funding sources coming from foreign embassies and other international institutions.

He these funding institutions can aid the province in putting up development projects that would help steer investments and boost the area’s economy.

“Development projects provide the impetus to economic progress,” Gov. Dayanghirang said.

The governor is also eyeing the development of a fishport complex in Davao Oriental to further develop the potential of its fishery sector.

“Davao Oriental has biggest aquaculture area in Davao region, consisting of 31% and the longest coastline of in the area with 513.2 kilometers,” Dayanghirang added.

He said the province has the strategic advantage as it is

located along the Tuna Highway, which substantiates his proposal to establish a fishport complex in the area.

Gov. Dayanghirang added the funds sourced by the newly-created center would help accelerate the development of Mati City.

Meanwhile, the governor likewise noted that the Mati Airport, which has been left idle for many years, should be maximized to create greater connectivity between the province and major cities in the country, and help enhance tourism industry in Davao Oriental.

“Our province has already seen a steady growth and we are on our way to seeing more rapid growth,” Governor Dayanghirang said.

He pointed out that development projects will help increase private sector investments and establish a more conducive investment climate in the area.

“The new center must be mobilized,” Dayanghirang stressed.

As stipulated in EO No. 12, the center is mandated to fast track the preparations of project documents that are aligned to the present administration’s policy direction for the next three years.

Aside from resource generation from foreign-funded agencies, Dayanghirang said the center will also streamline the operations in the implementation of projects funded by the national government agencies to include the Kalsada Program and Sanlintubig Program of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); the infrastructure and enterprise development programs of the Philippine Prural Development Program (PRDP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA); and the projects under the Department of Tourism (DOT).

The center will also conduct feasibility studies on the viability and sustainability of proposed projects and programs for Davao Oriental.

SEC starts crackdown on non-compliant stockbrokers

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HE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has started penalizing stockbrokers who have failed to comply with the requirements imposed under the 2015 implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Securities Regulation Code.

So far, six brokerage firms have been sanctioned by the SEC, which include Equitiworld Securities Inc., First Orient Securities Inc., IGC Securities Inc., Regina Capital Development Corp., SJ Roxas & Company Inc., and The First Resources Management and Securities Corp.

All six are trading participants in the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) whose presidents and compliance officers have been issued notices by the SEC’s Markets and Securities Regulation De-

partment.

Citation letters stated that the brokers failed to submit new requirements prescribed under the IRR, which took effect last Nov. 15.

Violations include non-submission of risk management and internal control procedures; business continuity and disaster recovery plan; comprehensive information technology plan; updated written supervision and control procedures; and copies of proposed contract of outsourced activities or services.

Penalties imposed on the erring brokers ranged from PHP30,000 to PHP60,000, with a stern warning that heavier sanctions may be imposed on them if they continue to violate the regulatory requirements. (PNA)

INSPIRING TALK. Suntrust Properties, Inc. president lawyer Harrison Paltongan delivers an inspirational message before the company’s brokers and agents during the second quarter awarding and general assembly dubbed “Let’s party without limit!” held in Davao city yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO

6 VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 126 • SATURDAY - SUNDAY, AUGUST 20 - 21, 2016

Game over

T’S game over for online gambling.

In a last ditch effort to save his online gaming firm PhilWeb, Roberto V. Ongpin had offered to divest himself of his shares via public auction and when that did not work out, he offered to donate a substantial amount of his shares to PAGCOR and to a foundation of Ateneo de Manila University.

Still, there was no stopping the order of the President to stop online gaming. PhilWeb has to go.

PAGCOR Chairperson Andrea Domingo said in a news report that PhilWeb’s case is just the start of her office’s crackdown on gaming firms that bring harmful social conditions.

It’s a pity that the campaign to correct or to stop previous gaming policies that bring about pernicious social conditions had to start with PhilWeb for the reason that its license had

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KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO Reporter MEGHANN STA. INES NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN FUNNY PEARL GAJUNERA Lifestyle LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. CHA MONFORTE ARLENE D. PASAJE Photography Correspondents Cartoons Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. Columnists: • HENRYLITO D. TACIO • EDCER C.B. ESCUDERO • ATTY. EMILY ZEN CHUA • GREGORIO G. DELIGERO JOHN CARLO TRIA • BORBONCARLOS • MARYMUNDA ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR., • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN • NICASIO ANGELO•AGUSTIN • EMILY VIDA S. VALVERDE C. LUMBA • HENRY J. SCHUMACHER • VANESSA KATE MADRAZO• JONALLIER Economic Analysts: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG ZENMIA CHUA • CARLOS• FRED MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG M. PEREZ

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OLIVIA D. VELASCO D.D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONA OLIVIA D. VELASCO JOCELYN S. PANES SOLANI SOLANI MARATAS General Manager Finance Advertising Specialist General Manager Director of Sales Finance RICHARD C. EBONA Marketing Supervisor

expired. Plain and simple.

PAGCOR decided not to renew PhilWeb’s license, which expired on August 10.

The listed gaming company has about 1,500 stockholders, 286 e-Games outlets, and about 5,000 employees. All of its staff have been out of work since PhilWeb’s license expired.

But there is no bigger impact brought about by the crackdown than on Ongpin himself. Since the crackdown, Ongpin had lost up to P20 billion of net worth.

The government’s opposition to online and onsite gaming is rooted on the social ills and decay they cause on impoverished communities as online and onsite gaming cater to the more economically vulnerable portion of our population.

That, not the oligarch Ongpin, is the bigger picture.

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

GENERAL SANTOS CITY OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING MARKETING OFFICE

LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager EDMUND D. RENDON Unit 6, SouthbankMarketing Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts. Specialist General Santos City Cagayan de Oro City Mobile: (Smart) 0948-823-3685 Tel: (088) 852-4894

MANILA MARKETING OFFICE

ANGELICA R. GARCIA | Marketing Manager 97-1 Bayanbayanan Ave., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 654-3509

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7

A lot of questions for Senator Leila

TS just funny that after running with the ruling party that for all intents and purposes pilloried Duterte during the campaign Senator Leila De Lima now asks for fairness and pleads with Duterte to stop attacking her.

Seemingly humming a new tune, De Lima now starts recognizing the rights of the victims of the drugs while placing them at the same level as the right of the accused. She committed to legislation that will prosecute drugs yet do so while upholding human rights.

While laudable in some respects, her response nonetheless called more attention to herself and arouses more questions on her character and principles.

Doubltess, people will now take an inter-

A

VANTAGE POINTS

GRICULTURE, whether in the Philippines or other parts of the world, finds itself engrossed in a heated debate over genetically modified (GM) crops. The debate is going on in research laboratories, corporate boardrooms, legislative chambers, newspaper editorial offices, religious institutions, universities and colleges, supermarkets, coffee shops, and even in private rooms.

There is so much ado about GM. The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) defines transgenic crop -- as GM is also known -- as “a plant that has a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology.”

Biotechnology -- defined as “any technique that makes use of organisms (or parts thereof) to make or modify products, to improve plants or animals, or to develop microorganisms for specific purposes” -- has existed since ancient times. Spirulina, one of the oldest forms of life on earth, is believed to be what the ancient Israelites of the Old Testament called “manna from heaven.”

Those who equate biotechnology with modern science, the French geneticist Alex Kahn has this to counter: “In 6,000 B.C. in Egypt, man fermented microorganisms and obtained an alcoholic beverage called beer.

In 5,000 B.C., he created a vegetal monster, wheat, by crossbreeding three genomes of different sub-species.”

Modern biotechnology, per se, is an “application of in vitro nucleic acid techniques, including recombinant DNA and direct injection of nucleic acid into cells or organelles or fusion of cells beyond the taxonomic family.”

DNA, which stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, is a molecule found in cells of organisms where genetic information is stored. The biological unit that determines an organism’s inherited characteristics is called gene. A

est in getting to MY TWO CENTS’ know who her driver is, and whether drug money actually flowed into her campaign, given the feeble quality of her response to the outlandish lifestyles of the John Tria druglords that ecisouth@gmail.com she seemed unable to control while incarcerated at the national Bilibid prisons.

A lot of questions now will be asked by

many about her role as Human Rights Chair in the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo administration amid the many media killings, how she found her way as PNOY’s Justice Secretary in spite of her GMA loyalties, and who her moneyed clients were when she practiced as an election lawyer, and what her family’s role has been in the politics of the Camarines Sur’s Rinconada district.

In the past, politicians were scared of rocking the boat due to the damage it may cause friends and their reputations often ended in a détente, foregoing principle in favor of accommodation fearful of exposing each other sins.

With President Duterte, however, they face someone unafraid of upending the same boat, who cares little about his personal rep-

utation and has declared his willingness to die in exchange for what he vows to do. While his enemies need to protect everything, he, in contrast, has nothing to lose. Who is more dangerous and effective?

This will be her crucible. She may have won her Senate seat by holding up then Mayor Duterte as a scarecrow, but now has to earn the moral right to keep it. Can she fruitfully craft legislation that will prevent the shameful growth of the drug trade? Is she willing to grill people like Mar Roxas for their possible role in the spread of this evil?

Most importantly, can she withstand the deeper scrutiny that she will have to face?

She came to court with hands that were less than clean, and will have to wipe her face with them. Good luck Leila.

transgene is a gene THINK ON THESE! that has been artificially inserted into an organism.

An example of GM crop is the Bt corn. Bt stands for Bacillus thuringiensis, a common soil Henrylito D. Tacio bacterium. It pro- henrytacio@gmail.com duces a protein that paralyzes the larvae of some harmful insects, including corn borer.

Scientists have taken the Bt gene responsible for the production of the insecticidal protein from the bacterium and incorporated it into the genome of corn. As a result, Bt corn has a built-in mechanism of protection against corn borer.

“The protein produced by the plants does not get washed away, nor is it destroyed by sunlight,” ISAAA explains. “The plant is thus protected from the corn borer round the clock regardless of the situation.”

According to ISAAA, all crops have been “genetically modified” from their original wild state by domestication, selection, and controlled breeding over long periods of time.

Modern biotechnology just makes it faster.

Traditionally, a plant breeder tries to exchange genes between two plants to produce offspring that have desired traits. This is done by transferring the male (pollen) of one plant to the female organ of another.

The disadvantage of cross breeding, as the process is called: limited only “to exchanges between the same or very closely related species.” Another disadvantage: “takes a long time to achieve desired results and frequently, characteristics of interest do not exist in any related species.”

As such, GM scheme is much better. “GM technology enables plant breeders to bring

together in one plant useful genes from a wide range of living sources, not just from within the crop species or from closely related plants,” a briefing paper from ISAAA explains.

“This powerful took allows plant breeders to do faster what they have been doing for years -- generate superior plant varieties -- although it expands the possibilities beyond the limits imposed by conventional plant breeding.”

Here’s a more direct explanation from the American Dietetic Association Biotechnology Resource Kit: “Traditional cross (plant) breeding requires the mixing of thousands of genes between two plants in the hope of getting the desired trait,. With modern biotechnology, you can choose the specific characteristic you want and add that single feature to a seed.

“The difference between these two techniques is dramatic,” it adds. “Imagine trying to add one word of Spanish to an English dictionary. With traditional plant breeding, you’d have to mix both dictionaries together and hope that the world you wanted ended up in the English version. Of course, lots of other words you weren’t interested in would have been added at the same time. Plant biotechnology, allows you to choose and move the single characteristic you want -- it’s streamlined, efficient, and produces superior results.”

Today, GM crops have gone a long, long way. From 1.7 million hectares planted to biotech crops in 1996, it went up to 179.7 million hectares in 2015, said the report entitled 20th Anniversary of the Global Commercialization of Biotech Crops (1996-2015) and Biotech Crop Highlights in 2015.

“This 100-fold increase in just 20 years makes biotechnology the fastest adopted crop technology in recent times, reflecting farmer satisfaction with biotech crops,” the report pointed out.

Farmers in 28 countries who adopted the technology have reaped more than US$150 billion in benefits from biotech crops since 1996. “This has helped alleviate poverty for up to 16.5 million small farmers and their families annually totaling about 65 million people, who are some of the poorest people in the world,” it said.

“More farmers are planting biotech crops in developing countries precisely because biotech crops are a rigorously-tested option for improving crop yields,” said Dr. Clive James, founder and emeritus chair of ISAAA, who has authored the ISAAA report for the past two decades.

Aside from corn, other crops which are available also in GM forms are potato, rice, tomato, soybean, cotton, and tobacco. In Asia, GM crops are currently planted in the Philippines, India, China, and Pakistan.

In the developed world, there is clear evidence that the use of GM crops has resulted in significant benefits. These include: higher crop yields, reduced farm costs, increased farm profit, and improvement in health and the environment.

But are GM crops safe to eat? “For human health, to date, there is no evidence currently commercialized GM crop varieties or foods made from them, are toxic, allergenic or nutritionally deleterious,” noted the GM Science Review Panel of United Kingdom. “On balance, we conclude that the risks to human health are very low for GM crops currently on the market.”

Here’s an assurance from the UN World Health Organization: “The potential direct health effects of GM foods are generally comparable to the known risks associated with conventional foods, and include, for example, the potential for allergenicity and toxicity of components present, and the nutritional quality and microbiological safety of the food.”

Much ado about GMOs

8 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

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Brokenshire Hospital partners with BMC

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

B

ROKENSHIRE Integrated Health Ministries (BIHM) signed a partnership agreement with Brilliant Metal Craft Machine (BMC) and Design Hospital Systems, a move that is expected to revolutionize health management in the city through the introduction of the Oxygen Gas Generator.

Dr. Michael Jamiana, medical director of BIHM, said that being equipped with an oxygen generator would help the hospital provide cheaper oxygen services to patients.

“It is 62% cheaper compared to the typical oxygen tank,” he added.

On the other hand, BMC proprietor Dr. Edward Dampor, Sr. said the Oxygen Gas Generator is safe to use because the oxygen is filtered seven (7) times and undergoes a sterilization process.

Dampor also explained the risk of using traditional oxygen tanks, saying the patients could inhale the components of metal rust, which could eventually lead to more complications.

“It will also improve the security of the hospital,” he mentioned since the typical oxygen

cylinders has the tendency to leak and explode.

Dr. Abdullah Dumama Jr., assistant secretary of health for Mindanao and Department of Health (DOH) regional director said the partnership between both medical entities would bring significant benefits to patients.

“We are honored that Brokenshire Hospital has invested in BMC Hospital Systems’ technology to assist its patients in providing more quality health care services,” Dumama stated.

He also noted that the hospital would be able to save on power costs since the oxygen produced by the facility will also be used to power the suction machine.

After BMC earned its FDA BETTER HEALTH SERVICES. Brokenshire Hospital and BMC Hospital Services recently signed an agreement, which is expected to revolutionize and ISO approval, the company health management in the city through the introduction of the Oxygen Gas Generator. The event was attended by officials and personnel of both is now considered a organizations. market leader in the centralized medical gas pipeline system industry in Visayas and Mindanao.

The company is now open to establishing partnerships with other private and government hospitals nationwide.

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NEWS 9

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Duterte... FROM 2 spoke and has raised concern over these deaths.

Duterte however said that he has ordered an investigation on all drug-related killings, which was the result of “a bloody encounter.”

The investigation, he said, will not be done by the investigation section of the same office where the policeman is connected with, but the probe will be done by the Internal Affairs office and or the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) Reiterating his earlier order for the law enforcers to perform their functions legally, the President also cautioned them to cover their tracks and make sure that they are safe while performing their duties.

Members of the police, he said, should not go on patrol individually, but should go in groups and when they have to operate, their actions should be aboveboard.

“Pagkalumaban, kaysa maunahan kayo, mauna na kayo,” he said The President also shed light on the killings, saying “those who are killed by rivals. Ang nangyari kasi sa kanila to save themselves, tinuturo nila ang iba, they feed the government with the wrong information, tinururo nila iba para sila maka

eskapo or their protectors who are policemen also.”

He denied that the police were responsible for tying the hands of victims and wrapping their bodies in plastic, explaining that such acts are not the workings of police officers and are a waste of time for those who have been given the primordial task of keeping the public safe from criminal elements.

President Duterte’s reaction came in the light Senator Leila De Lima’s statement this the week saying that President Duterte may be charged with crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for the spate of drug-related deaths.

Duterte said, “we are fighting criminals here (who are) destroying the lives of people. When my country is a stake, do not fuck with me.”

He also slammed De Lima, whom he earlier just referred to as “the lady”, who projects to be the conscience of the country, but is allegedly involved in illegal activities and having an affair with her driver who is married.

“You keep on slandering me. I kept quiet because you are a lady, sumobra ka na,” he said.

indigenous peoples (IPs) and the Bangsamoro.

In light of the ASEAN Integration, Briones underscored the need to focus on improving the competitiveness of Filipino students by promoting national industrialization; strengthening of Alternative Learning System; incorporating Human Rights Education as well as Gender and Development studies; the establishment

of Lumad schools; the improvement of Madrasa education; and the revival of the IP education office.

With regards to the demand of increasing the education department budget equivalent to six percent of GDP, she said that the agency’s budget of two percent as against the GDP was already sufficient to address the nation’s education needs.

Social Dev’t... FROM 4

TRIBAL DANCE. An ethnic dance troupe performs a tribal dance number to kick off this year’s “Panagtagbo” (tribal convergence) in Tionko Field, Davao City yesterday. “Panagtagbo” is one of the most important events of Kadayawan sa Davao as it symbolizes unity and togetherness among the 11 tribes of city. Lean Daval Jr.

2 solons criticize attacks of President vs. de Lima

T

WO senators on Thursday criticized President Rodrigo Duterte’s personal attacks against fellow Senator Leila de Lima, asking him to watch his words as they are causing tension between the two branches of government.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said the President’s remark has unnecessarily set the Executive and the Senate on a “collision course”.

“His statements depart from the government’s commitment to transparency since one of the best ways to pursue truth is through healthy deliberation driven by facts,” Hontiveros said.

“As a woman, I take deep offense at President Rodri-

go Duterte’s latest remarks against fellow Senator Leila de Lima. They are misogynistic,” she added.

She also said the President’s latest statements establish a consistent and disturbing pattern that is prejudicial to women.

Moreover, she chided the President for giving premium to personal attacks over real arguments and appealed to prejudice rather than discourse.

“While he is known for his colorful language, it is not an excuse to insult and threaten women or target, without basis, a person’s reputation,” she added.

Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan meanwhile said he

was “saddened” by the news, noting that the accusations against de Lima are “unfair”.

He said that while he understood that the President is determined to deliver on his campaign promise, he ought to show a “greater degree of civility in the face of disagreements between and amongst both branches of government”.

“We should be able to perform our different roles as servants of the people and accord each other due respect,” Pangilinan said.

He also reminded the President that it was only last week that he publicly stated that de Lima was just doing her job.

“He even said that if he were in her position, he’d do

Cebu Pacific celebrates first baby born inflight

C

BEST OF MINDANAO. A shopper checks out the native slippers made from water lily on display at the booth of one of the exhibitors of Mindanao Trade Expo at the atrium of Abreeza Mall. Lean Daval Jr.

the same thing and investigate the upsurge in drug-related killings,” Pangilinan said.

Duterte, in his speech during the 115th service anniversary of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Camp Crame on Wednesday, mentioned how a certain senator had a “lover” who accepted drug money from the Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa.

Duterte made these remarks after de Lima last week called for a probe on the extra-judicial killings under the administration’s intensified anti-drug campaign.

The former justice secretary had cried foul over the remarks directed at her, describing them as a form of “character assassination”. (PNA)

EBU Pacific celebrated the birth of a baby girl while the aircraft was halfway from Dubai to Manila.

This was the first time a baby was delivered onboard a CEB aircraft.

Baby girl ‘Haven’ was born approximately four hours after the departure of flight 5J015 from the Dubai International Airport last Sunday, Aug. 14.

CEB cabin crew, along with two registered nurses who were also passengers on the flight, assisted in the delivery.

The flight diverted to Hyderabad, India, to ensure the mother and baby received medical assistance. Both mother and the baby who was born premature at 32 weeks, are being assisted by CEB’s Customer Care team.

“We are happy that both mother and daughter are doing well, and would like to commend our flight and cabin crew for handling the situation with utmost professionalism and efficiency,” said Lance Gokongwei, CEB President and CEO. “We also express our sincerest gratitude to the two volunteer nurses who helped ensure the baby’s safe delivery,” Gokongwei added.

“To celebrate this momentous occasion in the life of one of our passengers, CEB awards Baby Haven one million GetGo points, which she can use to fly with us for free,” he announced.

GetGo is CEB’s lifestyle rewards program. The baby’s points have no expiry, and may be used by her family.

10 NEWS

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Representatives laud Rody’s #50FirstDays L

AWMAKERS at the House of Representatives on Thursday lauded President Duterte’s first 50-day milestone, which was highlighted by his resolute campaign against illegal drugs and crime.

In a press conference, Davao City Rep. and appropriations committee chair Karlo Nograles said President Duterte started his presidency at an “all-time high” based on the overwhelming response of the Filipinos, based on the high performance ratings he has received.

The latest Pulse Asia Survey showed that Duterte set a record high rating of 91 percent at the start of his stint as the country’s 16th President.

“They responded very well to the President’s anti-drug, anti-crime campaign.

People on the ground are seeing the positive effects of that campaign,” Nograles said, noting that a staggering number of drug pushers and users have voluntarily surrendered.

“The first 50 days of the President has been a very productive and [had] an excellent beginning,” he added.

Meanwhile, Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat briefly described the Presi-

dent’s first 50 days as “shock and awe,” thereby signifying that “change is really here.”

Lobregat said Duterte was serious on his relentless war against drugs and its effects reflected the “shocking” enormity of the drug problem.

In fact, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar revealed that some 600,000 drug users and dealers have already turned themselves in to police authorities.

Meanwhile, reports showed that over 3,000 individuals were arrested and almost 500 were killed as the national government carries out its relentless anti-drug campaign.

PBA Partylist Rep. Mark Sambar noted that the Chief Executive has already delivered on his promise of change in a span of just 50 days.

“A lot of campaign promises that he made during the campaign period one by one he is starting to deliver,” said Sambar, particularly alluding to Duterte’s most famous campaign promise to suppress crime, drugs, and corruption in government in 3 to 6 months.

Sambar expressed confidence that the President’s

dream of making the Philippines “corrupt-free and crime-free” will be possible, especially with the support of the Congress and his constituents.

For his part, Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas said that Duterte’s peace and order campaign is being felt in his district.

“In my district alone, more than 1,009 (drug pushers and users) have surrendered voluntarily. Before, the police really had a hard time arresting them,” said Vargas.

Andanar earlier said the administration’s anti-drug campaign had netted positive result after the country’s crime rate declined by almost 40 percent.

Vargas, who is a member of the House appropriations committee, assured that the proposed budget for 2017 would help propel the programs and legislative agenda of this administration.

President Duterte marked his 50th day as the country’s 16th President through an activity entitled “#50FirstDays” to showcase the accomplishments of the Duterte administration through a video screening held at the Ateneo de Davao University on Thursday. (PNA)

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EVENT

Seeing the light with good music THEY SAY BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER, making the sense of sight the judge and juror to things that are “beautiful” or is it?

I was recently invited to the concert of the One Light Music Orchestra held at the Grand Ballroom of the Apo View Hotel by the very active civic leader, George Walter Misa. A collaboration between the Davao School for the Blind and the Samahan ng mga Musikero sa Davao, Inc. The self-titled concert was a celebration of living life to the fullest and of great music with audience fully engaged right on the get-go.

The One Light Music Orchestra, which is composed of visually impaired students of the Davao School for the Blind, belted out their renditions of songs like “You Raise Me Up”, as well as the themes from “Mission Impossible” and “The Pink Panther” all in stride. The ballroom was set on fire with the Latin Medley that followed.

One of my favorite parts of the concert was the Original Pinoy Music suite where the band performed together with Pinoy crooner, Chad Borja, singing “Anak”, “Yakap Sa Dilim” and Ryan Cayabyab’s “Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika” which had everyone tapping clapping to the upbeat tune.

Davao School for the Blind’s principal Lolita Innocentes later explained that the students of the school are all visually impaired and come from the different provinces of Mindanao.

“The students are indigent orphans coming from the dif-

ferent provinces of Mindanao.

They are housed by the school with free board and lodging and are trained like normal children using the special curriculum by the Department of Education.” said Lolita “The Davao School for the Blind is the only school for the blind in Mindanao and is only one of two in the Philippines.”

“Teaching the visually impaired is not easy but we embrace everything to train and teach our children. Not only in learning but in sports and music with more inclination to music as it touches the mind and soul.” added Lolita “We inspire them to do their best in school because we want them to become assets to the school and society.”

The band’s training for the concert also came courtesy of the Alba Music Family, with mentoring through the Dawn’s Donald Gundaya who also jammed with band for the closing set.

Congratulations to the Davao School for the Blind and the Samahan ng mga Musikero sa Davao, Inc. on a job well done in molding these bright, beautiful individuals into creative, passionate artists who see the light through the magic of music.

For more stories in, around, and beyond Durianburg, follow me on Twitter or on Instagram at @kennethkingong.

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PEOPLE

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

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Off road & off the road a

“EVEN AT A YOUNG AGE JIGGY HAS ALWAYS SHOWN INTEREST WITH MACHINES, tires and mechanical stuff, so he helps out with that aspect of the family business” said 53-year old Gene Philip “Toto” Derequito of his son.

From that point, father and grandfather constantly engage the young man with anything to do with tire and engine works. These were Gene Patrick “Jiggy” Derequito’s small steps to working his way into the family business. Last year, the 26-year old officially became part of the company.

On his own, Toto is into the construction business. Part of his job is to oversee sand and gravel deliveries, equipment rentals, and checking of the construction site of the family’s housing project. He owns a small farm.

Work is what gets Toto and Jiggy together. “That’s bonding time for us,” said the dad.

But there’s another activity that binds father and son—off road vehicles and racing.

“Off road racing is a common interest. I cannot remember exactly when it started but I have been actively

competing since the late 90’s,” shared Toto, “Jiggy was always exposed to off road vehicles and he would accompany me to the races. These may have sparked his interest in the sport,” he added.

Racing is a pastime they do together since Jiggy got into it. “We have competed in several competitions. In fact we are taking part in the Eagle Off Roaders Davao’s Kadayawan off road challenge this August 27 and 28.”

Toto is one of the founders of the Eagle Off Roaders Davao in 2000, where he served as president for several years in the past, and the club is host to the annual Kadayawan off road challenge, which started on its founding year.

Off the dirt track and the mechanical shop, there was another “training” for Jiggy that Toto started with Jiggy when his son was 13—men’s grooming.

In 2003, Toto and Jiggy stepped in at Rocky’s Barbershop at SM City Davao and stepped out as loyal clients.

They have been patronizing the brand every since.

It’s an advantage that the branch is near their home, but barbershop’s service is what gets the men coming back.

“The staff is friendly and their performance is professional, the place is always clean. I don’t have a regular barber but I always like the result after I get off the chair,” said Toto.

Toto remembers the first time he brought Jiggy to Rocky’s. Their first haircut together was one of my most memorable moments.

“Jiggy was thrilled to be with adult men. It made him feel grown up. That idea and his haircut were happy moments for him.”

Like Toto, Jiggy pretty much sports the same hairstyle and requires the same haircut whenever he visits Rocky’s. Both father and son don’t really mind who cuts their hair because they trust the barbers to do a good job.

Thirteen years after their first visit, their favorite barbershop is celebrating its 20th year in the men’s grooming business and they are proud to be a part of the Rocky’s family.

“I’m sure Jiggy will agree with me when I say that what’s very impressive with Rocky’s is how they value their clients,” declared Toto.

“Through the years, I have seen the different upgrades that the management has

done to ensur their custome we regularly s family, the sho tained, the en music, TV, rea are good. Ther coffee, too. Th their way to comfortable an “I have alwa relationship w and barbers. ways friendly respectful of This is what I to change” As for Jig “For Rocky’s to continue to be ing barbershop in the next 2 more.”

Rocky’s Bar first barbersho mall in Davao All its six b are convenien malls- Victoria za Mall, GMa SM Lanang Pr City, and Cent in Cagayan de marks Rocky’s the men’s groo Toto and J are the featur Son personaliti the 2016 Trad of Rocky’s.

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re comfort for ers. The staff see treats us as op is well mainntertainment— ading materials, re’s free brewed They go out of make you feel nd “at home”.” ays enjoyed my with the staff They are alwhile being your space.

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rbershop is the op to open in a o City in 1996. branches today ntly located in a Plaza, Abreeall, SM City & remier in Davao trio Ayala Mall e Oro City. 2016 ’s 20th year in oming business.

Jiggy Derequito red Father and ies for August in ditions calendar

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 126 • SATURDAY - SUNDAY, AUGUST 20 - 21, 2016

PLDT HOME Celebrates Kadayawan 2016

By Bai Fauziah Fatima Sinsuat Ambolodto PLDT HOME, THE COUNTRY’S LEADING DIGITAL AND MULTIMEDIA SERVICES PROVIDER, kicked off the 31st Kadayawan Festival with the biggest broadband sale and a powerful concert with Asia’s Songbird, Ms. Regine VelasquezAlcasid last August 6, 2016.

PLDT VP and Home Marketing Director Gary Dujali said, “This is our way of showing gratitude and honouring Davaoeῆos for making us number 1 in their homes.”

The month-long celebration is a thanksgiving in itself. The country’s best broadband and multimedia services provider is not only about their products and services – they are the leader in making everyone satisfied and every home a best place to be any time of any day. With their array of

products and deals, you are sure to find one that best suits your every needs.

All over the ‘Crown Jewel of Mindanao’, PLDT HOME DSL booths were set-up to the delight of every one. With the best broadband deals, that includes Wi-Fi modems and free installation of devices, subscribers can now enjoy the strongest connections without interruptions – even outside their own homes.

Newest plan under their repertoire is the Home and Away Bundle – featuring up to 10mbps of DSL speeds at home plus a free 4G Smart Bro Pocket WiFi. All of this for only P1, 599.00 a month.

SMART HOME devices were also introduced to

the delighted Davaoeῆos.

The likes of an at home monitoring system Fam Cam, powerful PC in a stick Tvolution (that comes with a free keyboard and mouse) and the kid-friendliest SMART WATCH that makes everything easy on the touch. All of which are best used with their HOME TELPAD. And powered by the country’s most powerful broadband connection, PLDT HOME Fibr.

Not only that, Davaoeῆos were also treated to an afternoon of songs with the country’s best, Asia’s Songbird Ms. Regine VelasquezAlcasid, at the SM CITY DAVAO Annex. As a way of saying “Thank You”, PLDT HOME brought the widely successful Regine Concert Series in Davao

that made everyone smile from ear to ear.

Subscribers, special guests, friends from the media and mallgoers were treated to an afternoon of powerful performance from Ms. Regine and some other special guests that made the event extra special. Hits after another made everyone up and singing along the Songbird.

Together with them was Raul Mitra, her Musical Director and their band.

“As the Philippines’ leader in digital innovations and multimedia content offerings, we want to make user that our services and products are available to all Filipinos around the country.”, PLDT VP and Home Marketing Director Gary Dujali added.

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NOT

O

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US belles advance to finals

PPONENTS typically need to play their best game to challenge the United States’ senior women’s basketball. As this Olympic tournament nears its end, though, it looks increasingly clear that those impressive efforts are not nearly enough to dethrone the best national team in the world.

France largely succeeded in its efforts during Thursday’s semifinal in Rio de Janeiro. The 2012 silver medalists managed to muck up the game, forcing Team USA into 18 turnovers, 4-of-15 shooting from beyond the arc, a tournament-low 16 free-throw attempts and just its second sub-100 scoring output of the tournament. France trailed by only four points after the first quarter, held to that

U

INVINCIBLE US cagers wake up in time for semis vs. Spain O MUCH is expected of them, mainly because there is s o

WAKING UP. Kevin Durant and Team USA woke up big time against Argentina after two close wins against Serbia and France.

AP

much talent.

For a while during these Olympics, though, it seemed like the U.S. men’s basketball team was stuck in some kind of Olympic time warp, complete with a maritime theme.

Maybe there’s something about staying on boats that brings out the worst in U.S. basketball.

Or maybe this team just needed a good kick in the rear to finally get going.

Two wins from the gold medal most everyone assumed was a lock going into the games, there is still work to be done. Spain awaits on Friday (Saturday, Manila time), and there’s a possible rematch with Australia for the gold medal final.

But there’s now a bit of swagger back in the step,

same deficit at halftime and even managed to outscore the United States by two points in the fourth.

None of it mattered. Playing without starting point guard Sue Bird as she nursed a sprained knee, the Americans overcame a slow start to dominate the third quarter 25-8.

France made a strong push to stay in the game late, but it was not enough to keep the United States from holding on for an 86-67 win. Geno Auriemma’s team will now face Spain on Saturday afternoon with the chance to claim a sixth straight Olympic gold medal.

Bird was clearly missed, especially early. Star shooting guard Diana Taurasi started as the nominal point guard to avoid disrupting the team’s

rotation, and the differences in tempo control and general offensive execution were evident. The United States missed all six of its 3-point attempts and depended heavily on oneon-one scoring and offensive rebounds. The French took advantage, relying on the talents of center Isabelle Yacoubou (14 points on 5-of-6 FG) and reserve scorer Marine Johannes (13 points on 5-of-11 FG) to stay close.

The course of the game changed dramatically in the third quarter. Superior ball movement opened up the offense, allowing Taurasi to make the team’s first 3-pointer after a little more than two minutes of play. While the outside shooting never became truly excellent over the rest of the game,

the mere fact that it became a threat indicated the Americans’ improvement from the first half. The United States picked up 11 assists after the break and began to tighten its defense against France at the other end.

Leading 65-44 after three quarters, their spot in the gold-medal game looked certain.

Nevertheless, France’s ability to stay close in the final period showed that Saturday’s gold-medal matchup with Spain (which will win its first-ever women’s basketball medal regardless of the outcome) won’t be a cakewalk. Spain has a legitimate superstar in Alba Torrens and capable players at all other positions, so the United States will have to defend as a team and execute like it did in the second half Thursday.

Bolt, in his favoured lane six, had Lashawn Merritt, the American 400m specialist and sole US hope of a medal after Justin Gatlin failed to make the eight-man final, just inside him.

Immediately out of the blocks, the Jamaican was quickly up on Lemaitre, racing in seven.

With temperature around 27 degrees Celsius (84F) and the track shining after a light shower of rain, Bolt delivered electrifying control around the bend, hitting the back stretch in full tilt.

As the crowd roared, Bolt responded by moving into his famed “drive phase”, head coming slowly up as part of the process that unleashes the full power from his long legs.

Eyes glued on the stadium’s big screen at the end of the 100m track, Bolt blasted through the line with a glance leftwards at the giant stopwatch.

There had been no easing

up, but Bolt looked to be left disappointed with his time, ripping the numbers off his shorts and throwing them to the floor.

That was quickly forgotten as Guns N’Roses was switched

for Bob Marley’s “One Love”, and Bolt, draped in Brazilian and Jamaican flags, did a lap of honour to chants of “Usain Bolt, Usain Bolt!” after another amazing victory and eighth Olympic gold.

Bolt wins third 200m title

SAIN Bolt won a third successive Olympic 200m gold on Thursday to keep his hopes of an unprecedented “triple triple” alive and deliver a perfect tonic to the doping-tainted world of track and field.

The victory in his favoured event was Bolt’s 13th individual world or Olympic sprint title from a possible 14 since he took athletics by storm at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The 29-year Jamaican timed 19.78 seconds for gold, Canadian Andre de Grasse taking silver with 20.02sec and France’s Christophe Lemaitre winning bronze (20.12).

As Guns N’Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle” blasted out, huge cheers greeted Bolt, wearing black lycra shorts and a singlet in the green, gold and black colours of Jamaica.

The sell-out Olympic Stadium crowd, which has been criticised for its jeering of some athletes, were raucous in their welcome of the Jamaican star.

SPORTS 11

EDGEDAVAO

GOLD NO. 8. Jamaica’s Usain Bolt wins his third 20-meter Olympic sprints gold.

a few more smiles on the faces of players. Some even seemed a bit giddy after the team found a groove of sorts in a blowout win Wednesday over Argentina in the quarterfinals.

Turns out playing hard isn’t that hard after all.

“For us it’s about effort,” Paul George said.

“We’ve got talent. We have to match it with effort.”

Without it, these guys could lose — Friday, or Sunday.

And though they say they realize that, for reasons no one seems quite able to explain, that effort was lacking in three previous games, all of which the U.S. barely won. Some went so far as to suggest that the laid back approach of this team mirrored the lifestyle aboard the luxu-

ry cruise ship the players are staying on, much like the team in the disastrous 2004 games in Athens that lost three games and went home with the bronze.

It might just be, though, that this team was badly missing some leaders.

Still is, since Kobe Bryant is retired and LeBron James is resting comfortably back in the states.

Gold medals in Beijing and London testify to the fact no one dared not to play hard with those two in charge.

Bryant had once been plotting to be here, before finally deciding that his retirement should be permanent. James decided to sit this one out, understandable after leading Cleveland to an emotionally draining NBA title.

Phoenix takes Game 1 84-76

M

AC BELO took over in the homestretch as Phoenix held off Tanduay, 84-76, in Game One of the 2016 PBA D-League Foundation Cup finals on Thursday here.

Belo led all scorers with 30 points, including nine inside the final five minutes along with the game-sealing free throws.

“He refused to give up,” said Phoenix coach Eric Gonzales of Belo, who dropped 27 points in the second half alone.

Roger Pogoy also caught fire in the opening quarter and finished with 22 markers in the process, while Mike Tolomia added 12.

After trailing for the most part, the Accelerators gained steam and sparked a 10-to-nothing run highlighted by a Belo two-handed throwdown to take a 76-67 lead late

in the fourth quarter.

The Rhum Masters failed to recover from there, with Ed Daquioag making an undergoal stab that allowed Phoenix to pull away for good, 82-76, with 30.6 to go.

Reden Celda led five Tanduay players in double digit scoring with 15 points, while Rudy Lingganay had 13.

Kevin Ferrer, Jaymo Eguilos, and Jovet Mendiza had 10 markers apiece.

The Scores: PHOENIX 84 - Belo 30, Pogoy 22, Tolomia 12, Daquioag 7, Mendoza 7, Andrada 2, Colina 2, Escoto 2, Batino 0, Inigo 0, Jamito 0, Tamsi 0.

TANDUAY 76 - Celda 15, Lingganay 14, Eguilos 10, Ferrer 10, Mendoza 10, Alolino 6, Santos 4, Belencion 3, Tagarda 3, Acuna 2, Javillonar 0.

Quarterscores: 21-22, 4040, 58-57, 84-76.

BA commissioner Chito Narvasa paid tribute to legendary coach Baby Dalupan whom he called the “Father of Philippine basketball coaches.”

Dalupan passed away on Wednesday evening at the age of 92. He won a total of 52 basketball championships, 15 of which he captured in the PBA while coaching for Crispa, Great Taste/Presto and Purefoods.

Here’s Narvasa’s full statement: “I mourn and grieve over the passing of a great Philippine basketball hero, my coach and mentor, Virgilio “Baby” A. Dalupan.

Many words have already been used to describe the greatness of the man, brilliant, courageous, innovative, magical, determined, etc., until eventually he was aptly described as “an imaginative mentor, an artist with delicate brush strokes molding ob-

scure fellows into methodical, conspiring cage killers.” His presence did not diminish his players’ talents but instead nurtured these and made them better.

All throughout his career, he conducted himself with integrity, dignity, class, decency and respect for others. Yet in spite of all his achievements and recognitions, the man remained incredibly humble. He raised the prestige of a basketball coach so high that he inspired many others to follow in his footsteps.

To Tita Nenang and family of Coach Baby, on behalf of the PBA community, please accept our sincerest sympathies on his passing. He will forever be engraved in our hearts as the Father of Philippine basketball coaches.

To Coach Baby, thank you for all your contributions and for sharing your life with us.

May you forever rest in perpetual happiness.”

PBA pays tribute to late coach Dalupan

P

12 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 9 ISSUE 126 • SATURDAY - SUNDAY, AUGUST 20 - 21, 2016

LAST MAN STANDING

T

HE PHILIPPINES’ only remaining bet in the 2016 Rio Olympics will see action today in taekwondo.

Kirstie Elaine Alora is the only one left to carry the fight for the country. Her fellow Filipino athletes are finished with their competition schedules.

Alora, who arrived here on July 23, will see action in the women’s +67 kg on August 20. She faces 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medalist Maria Espinoza on Saturday, August 20 at 10:30 in the morning (9:30 pm in Manila on Saturday).

The 26-year-old Alora, bronze medalist in the 2014 Asian Games, is unfazed with Espinoza’s credentials, and is confident that he can pull it off against an opponent who doesn’t enjoy any height advantage over her.

Alora will need 3 wins to get to the finals, and that’s if gets past the number one seed in her division. Of 16 entries in the +67 kg class, the Filipina is ranked 16th.

Still, she said she’s happy with the draw.

“The taller opponents are in the lower bracket,” said Alora, referring to jins from China (number 2), Serbia (number 6) and France (number 7), who all stand above 6 feet.

At 5-foot-8, Alora is the same height as Espinoza. They’ve met once before, just after the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and the Mexican won a close fight, 2-1.

“Kaya ko yan (I can handle her),” said Alora even weeks before.

Alora has a couple chances to

Pinay jin sees action today

win a medal here and give the Philippines its best finish in the Olympics. Either she wins three straight bouts and gets to the finals or if she drops her opening match she falls into the repechages, as long as Espinoza reaches the finals.

In the repechages, Alora can land in the battle for the bronze medal. Two bronze medals are awarded in each division in taekwondo.

“The only problem is that if I land in the repechages, I will move to the lower bracket and most likely end up fighting the taller entries.

That’s why I think it’s more difficult to win the bronze here than get to the finals,” she said.

“Mas maganda dito for me is to win three straight matches and get to the finals straight. I can’t lose my first match or in the semis only to face the taller ones in the repechages. I would rather go straight to the finals,” added Alora.

“If I’m not successful against Espinoza, I will only get a possible shot at the bronze medal if she goes straight to the finals,” she said.

Alora reviewed the draw sheet with his coach, Kitoy Cruz, the former finweight king in the Southeast Asian Games and veteran of the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

“Kaya ni Elaine yan,” said Cruz of Alora’s chances against Espinoza.

If Alora wins a medal of any color here, the Philippines will surpass its best finish in the Olympics of three bronze medals in 1932 in Los Angeles.

Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz is the only one with a medal to show for Team Philippines here in Rio, a silver in the women’s 53 kg class that came 11 days ago.

Eleven other athletes have bowed out of competition, all failing to advance to the next round of their respective events Ian Lariba of table tennis dropped her opening match to an opponent from Congo while weightlifter Nestor Colonia did not get close to the podium in the men’s 56 kg class. Swimmers Jessie Khing Lacuna and Jasmine Alkhaldi failed to get past the heats in men’s 400m freestyle and women’s 100m freestyle.

Light-flyweight Rogen Ladon lost his first match to a boxer from Colombia while lightweight Charly Suarez, another medal hope in boxing, took a narrow first-round loss to his opponent from Great Britain.

Fil-Japanese judoka Kodo Nakano was overpowered by his rival from Italy in his opening match.

Golfer Miguel Tabuena struggled for three days with a hurting shoulder and broke par only in the final round, and finished 56th among 60 entries. Marathoner

Mary Joy Tabal wound up 124th among 157 entries.

The other night, long jumper Marestella Torres-Sunang and Fil-American Eric Cray bowed out at the Nilton Stadium, far from their personal personal best.

Except for Diaz and Sunang, who were in their third straight Olympics, and Lacuna and Alkhaldi, who were in their second, all the rest are firsttime Olympians.

Kirstie Elaine Alora of taekwondo is the only one left to carry the fight for the country.

She will see action in the women’s +67 kg on August 20. She faces 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medalist Maria Espinoza on Saturday, August 20 at 10:30 in the morning.