Edge Davao 9 Issue 175

VOL. 9 ISSUE 175 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016 IN MEMORIAM. A man supervises workers as they install a new gravestone on the ossuary of his father at Wireless Public Cemetery in Mahapo Hills, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

EXPANDED TOK-HANG

PNP to implement Oplan Double Barrel Alpha EDGEDAVAO Sports

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

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HE Philippine National Police (PNP) will soon be expanding its anti-illegal drug campaign to cover schools, offices and factories, and will put a stronger focus on arresting high-value targets (HVTs) – including celebrities allegedly involved in the narcotics trade through Oplan Double Barrel Alpha.

“We will now focus on schools, workplaces, factories, and HVTs,” Police Region 11 (PRO 11) Spokesperson Andrea dela Cerna said on Wednesday, adding that the coverage of the Oplan Double Barrel Alpha is now the

expanded version of Oplan Tokhang.

Dela Cerna explained that HVTs are those in the upper echelon of society who are involved in the elicit drug trade such as celebrities, elected officials, policemen, military personnel, and big time drug lords.

“Ang [Oplan] Tokhang operations noon related lang sa mga suspected na bahay ng drug users at drug pushers,” dela Cerna added.

She said that Oplan Double Barrel Alpha will kick off on Oct. 25 but will be fully implemented after the order

reaches all PNP regional directors.

Dela Cerna said the program will put a greater emphasis on arrests rather than neutralisation.

Asked why the new approach is being implemented only now, she explained: “It is related to the EJK issue – we are doing our best to address that because it was a collective decision after an intense discussion of the implications of the issue on extra judicial killings (EJKs).”

“Neutralization” is a euphemism for the killings that have characterised the an-

ti-drugs drive.

Another component of Project Double Barrel Alpha will see police working with community leaders to clear neighborhoods of drugs and set up local rehabilitation programmes.

The operation will be launched within days, dela Cerna said, adding she did not have further details of the new operation.

‘NARCO STATE’ It can be recalled that President Duterte had given police six months to suppress drugs

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AGELESS

Veteran Eyao wins Tri United 3 category race in Subic P15 2 Davao cagers among 55 hopefuls in 2016 PBA Draft P14

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 175 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

JAPAN VISIT. President Duterte and his delegation pose with the Filipino community in Japan at the Palace Hotel in Tokyo on October 25. ALBERT ALCAIN/Presidential Photo

Dad likens NHA-made dwellings to dog houses

By RIA VALDEZ

“L

IKE dog houses.”

This was how City Councilor Rene Elias Lopez described the housing units being constructed by the National Housing Authority (NHA) in Tugbok District, which will be occupied by informal settlers coming from barangays 31 and 33.

In an interview at the City Council, Lopez said he was very disappointed with the poor quality of the houses when he recently visited the relocation project that is being funded by the Davao City government.

The city councilor warned that the city government had the option to revoke the

Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) it signed with the NHA, as the housing units do not seem to be fit for humans.

“We would revoke the MOA of NHA if there is sufficient reason,” Elias said, as he noted that the houses were made of sub-standard materials.

“If we will tolerate [those] unit[s], it would be inhuman,” he added.

Elias explained that the reason the city government chose the NHA to undertake the relocation project was because the housing body offered to build the houses at P139,000 each.

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Ombudsman tells LGUS: Explain illegal dumpsites

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

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FFICIALS from the Environmental Ombudsman Program of the Office of the Ombudsman are set to conduct an in-depth fact-finding investigation into the presence of illegal dumpsites in Mindanao.

Atty. Gerard Mosquera, deputy ombudsman for Luzon, said in a press briefing on Wednesday that local officials from Kidapawan, Koronadal, Valencia and Cagayan de Oro, as well as towns in Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur, were ordered to attend a se-

ries of hearings from Oct. 25 to 28 in Davao City to shed light on the issue.

“The fact-finding investigation is being conducted as part of a national campaign to ensure compliance with Republic Act No. 9003 – also known as Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000,” Mosquera explained, adding the Ombudsman Environmental Team has successfully closed 29 open dumpsites nationwide since last month.

He said the Environmen-

tal Ombudsman team has issued a non-extendible period of 30 days to several local officials to explain and comply with the Safe Closure and Rehabilitation Plan (SCRP), which includes a proposal to immediately shut down open dumpsites across the country.

Mosquera said their team has also ordered the concerned local officials to detail the specific tasks, activities, and legislative action they need to carry out within six months of the SCRP’s implementation.

“The Environmental Team will also monitor post-closure activities of the LGUs concerned and ensure that the provisions of the Republic Act No. 9003 and other environmental laws are implemented,” he said.

Mosquera also revealed their team will investigate complaints filed against any environmental protection official or employee, and recommend the imposition of appropriate penalties and/or filing of criminal indictments against them.

VER 300 representatives from private companies and government agencies converged at the D’Leonor Inland Resort and Adventure Park Davao City yesterday to take part in the 6th Mindanao Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) Summit.

With the theme “Managing work-related stress for a healthier and safer workplace,” the two day summit aims to provide a venue for participants to share and discuss strategies and innovations that will address unsafe practices and conditions

in the workplace.

“Davao City has always been a great advocate of safety and health,” said Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) Executive Director Ma. Teresita Cucueco during in her remarks during the summit’s opening.

Cucueco commended the Occupational Safety and Health Network (OSHN) of Region 11 and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for spearheading the event.

According to the health expert, work-related stress results from a worker’s feel-

ing of inadequacy to meet the demands of his or her job.

She explained that when people are subjected to long periods of stress, their health are eventually affected, resulting to absenteeism and poor performance at work.

Cucueco said she was glad this year’s theme focuses on work-related stress because, as both physical and mental issues confronting workers will be tackled.

“We want to promote a safer and healthier work environment,” she stressed.

In the meantime, the

DOLE, in partnership with the OSHN, is conducting an inspection of establishments that have reportedly not been able to provide OSH services to their employees.

“It is the right of workers to be protected through safety and health,” said DOLE Undersecretary Dominador Say. The two-day summit will also feature discussions on HR strategies to promote OSH practices, emergency response, climate change, and various aspects of OSH in the mining and construction industries. RIA VALDEZ

Filipinos bare life Davao City hosts safety, health gab they want to have O F ILIPINOS, for the life they want to have, would want to be educated in college and employed with a decent job, have a modest house, enough money and a car, and be able to travel with family and friends while owning some kind of a business.

This was the gist of revelations made during 42 focused group discussions conducted throughout the country involving some 10,000 Filipinos aged 15 to 50 years old, according to

the National Economic and Development Authority’s Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Dr. Rosemarie Edillion.

Edillion made the revelation during a recent round-table discussion at the Development Academy of the Philippines, during which the Council of Fellows of the government training and research institution initiated, in partnership with the International Center for Innovation, Transformation

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NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

Group: Respect the cemetery

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WASTE and pollution watch group today appealed to all Filipinos going to the cemeteries not to turn the hallowed resting places of their deceased relatives and friends into garbage dumps.

At a public information and cleanup drive for a litter-free “Undas” at the Manila North Cemetery, the EcoWaste Coalition urged cemetery goers to show genuine respect for the dead by keeping the cemetery grounds clean.

Joining the EcoWaste Coalition were the representatives of the Manila North Cemetery Administration, Manila’s Department of Public Services , Ecology Ministry of the Parish of San Roque de Manila, Metro Manila Development Authority and Tzu Chi Foundation.

“Year in and year out, people visiting the graves of their dearly departed ones leave tons of garbage in both public

and private cemeteries as if this is part of the tradition of remembering those who have passed on,” said Ochie Tolentino, Zero Waste Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.

“Visitors simply throw leftover meals, food wrappers, drinking cups, soiled papers, cigarette butts and other discards anywhere they please,” she noted.

“Littering disrespects the dead as well as the living. This bad habit must stop,” she said.

To drive home the message that littering in cemeteries and elsewhere is unacceptable, members of the group unfurled a white banner at the entrance of Manila North Cemetery that reads: “Kung hindi mo kayang linisin ang kapaligiran,huwag mo na lang dumihan.”

They also held placards that say: “Respect the cemetery. It’s not your trash can.”

To emphasize their an-

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UNDAS PREPARATIONS. An electrician lays down the wires which will be used for street lamps that will be temporarily installed for the upcoming All Souls’ Day at Wireless Public Cemetery in Mahapo Hills, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

DSWD explains policy PNP, TFD: Secure homes on shelter assistance against robbers this Undas I T

By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

HE Philippine National Police (PNP) and Task Force Davao (TFD) on Wednesday has warned Dabawenyos to be vigilant, as criminals are already on the lookout for households they can they break into this coming Undas or All Soul’s Day. Authorities not only antic-

ipate the buildup of massive crowds in cemeteries, but also possible home invasions and robberies.

Task Force Commander Erwin Bernard Neri noted that many people forget to secure their homes as they flock to the cemeteries.

Although security units

will patrol communities to prevent criminal elements from taking advantage of the holidays, Neri stressed that the public must also take extra measures to protect their homes from evil doers.

“As early as now, please be vigilant on those who hang out in your community – they

might be the possible lookouts,” he said.

Meanwhile, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Spokesperson Catherine dela Rey shared some tips on how to avoid being victimized by burglars during Undas.

Dela Rey said homeown-

Based on initial reports, the 55-year-old victim arrived at the Mati City Hall of Justice at around 8:40 AM when he was shot several times by unidentified gunmen onboard a motorcycle.

According to Police Re-

gional Office 11 (PRO 11) Spokesperson Andrea dela Cerna, Acido succumbed to gunshot wounds to the head and body.

“Acido was rushed to St. Camillus Hospital in Mati for treatment but died hours af-

ter,” dela Cerna said.

Police were able to recover five empty shells and one fired slug from a cal. 45 at the scene of crime.

Dela Cerna said the victim was accompanied by a body-

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City prosecutor shot dead in Mati

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HE CITY prosecutor of Mati, Davao Oriental was shot dead Wednesday morning in front of the Mati City Hall of Justice.

The victim was identified as lawyer Rolando Acido, the city’s lone prosecutor.

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BREATHER. Three elderly Lumad women take a rest in front of a tarpaulin printed with “Join us in the fight” while they await for the start of their group’s protest rally in front of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 11 office along R. Magsaysay Avenue in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

N Tuesday’s press conference in Malacanang, cabinet heads of the Duterte administration, including Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo discussed the government’s ongoing relief efforts to reach out to families affected by Super Typhoon ‘Lawin’ in Northern and Central Luzon.

“We continue with our relief programs since there are still isolated areas that need to be reached, particularly in the Kalinga and Apayao area s. Our field office in Central Luzon is also on alert because water is now coming down from Northern Luzon to Central Luzon which is a catch basin,” she said.

Aside from ongoing relief efforts, the Department is conducting intensive an assessment and validation on partially and totally damaged houses so that the emergency shelter assistance (ESA) program can be implemented

immediately.

“Tomorrow, our teams will be coming back from the affected areas to hold a meeting and debriefing to come up with plans for our interventions and assistance, and if necessary, personnel support from other regions,” she added.

Sec. Taguiwalo explained the ESA will prioritize the qualified poorest of the poor families and they will be given initial assistance of P5,000 to buy shelter reconstruction materials. Additional financial assistance will be provided once the DSWD team has finalized the assessment on the damaged houses.

In terms of improving the handling of relief goods, Sec. Taguiwalo assured the public that the DSWD will closely monitor the expiration dates of relief goods.

“Three months before the expiration dates of relief goods, the goods must be

HE Commission on Elections is now gearing up for the continuation of the voters’ registration period on Nov. 7.

Section 8 of The Voter’s Registration Act of 1996 provides for the system of continuing registration of voters.

According to the law, the personal filing of application of registration of voters shall be conducted daily in the office of the Election Officer during regular office hours.

No registration shall, however, be conducted during the period starting one hundred twenty (120) days before a regular election and ninety (90) days before a special election.

Based on Comelec Resolu-

tion No. 10166 promulgated on Oct. 25, 2016, the Comelec will conduct the registration period for the 2017 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections from Nov. 7, 2016 to April 29, 2017 including Saturdays and Holidays except on Dec. 24 and 25, 2016 and April 13 and 14, 2017.

“We will have a longer registration period to ensure wider voters’ participation.

We are expecting more than 55 million voters for next year’s elections, with the inclusion of SK voters aged 15-17 years old,” Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said.

According to the estimate of the Comelec, there will be

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Voters’registration to resume on Nov. 7 T F VOTERS, 10

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 175 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

Consumer month highlights involvement of youth sector

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

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ITH the theme, “Consumer Protection: A Shared Responsibility,” the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) spearheaded the region’s celebration of Consumer Welfare Month by involving the youth sector in promoting consumer empowerment, and ensuring that consumers are well-informed and protected.

In line with the year’s Consumer Month celebrations, DTI conducted a Region-wide Quiz Bowl and Poster Making Contest” at the Robinsons Place, Tagum City last Oct. 19, which was participated in by secondary schools from the Davao Region.

In the quiz bowl competition, Nabunturan National High School of Compostela Valley Province emerged as the champion, followed by the Davao Oriental Regional Science High School, and the Digos City National High School of Davao del Sur, who won second and third place honors, respectively.

For the poster making competition, Melanie Caballes of Tagum National Trade School was declared the champion, followed by Kenneth Angelo I. Questo of

Tagum City National Comprehensive High School, and Charlemagne R. Pleños of San Isidro National High School, San Isidro, Davao.

In a text message, Engr.

Vedastito C. Galvez, DTI-XI regional chief for Consumer Protection and Services Division, emphasized the important role of the youth sector as consumers.

“You see most of the members of the consumer organizations in the region are in their fifties or senior citizens.

Consumer Oganizations realized that there is a need to organize one for the youth since they can better and effectively advocate consumer protection in a wider scope because of their ability to use the online technology,” said Galvez.

Consumer Welfare Month is held every October pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 1098.

The event is led by the National Consumer Assistance Center (NCAC), a government body established under Republic Act 7394 otherwise known as the “Consumer Act of the Philippines,” to improve the management, coordination and effectiveness of the nation’s consumer programs.

Economic team guarantees protection of poor families

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RESIDENT Duterte’s economic managers have formally guaranteed highly targeted, direct and indirect subsidies plus other social protection initiatives to shield the poor and low-income households from the impact of the proposed adjustments in excise fuel taxes under the initial comprehensive tax reform program that the government had submitted to the Congress for its approval.

In a joint statement, Secretaries Carlos Dominguez III of the Department of Finance (DOF), Benjamin Diokno of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and Ernesto Pernia, the director general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), said these “highly targeted transfer programs” would help cushion the impact of the proposed indexing to inflation of the excise taxes on oil products on “the poorest 50 percent of the population.”

Adjusting oil excise taxes on diesel, gasoline and other petroleum products is among the proposals under the first tax reform package submitted by the Duterte administration to Congress last Sept. 26, which also includes the lowering of personal income tax (PIT) rates, broadening the value added tax (VAT) base, and restructuring the excise tax onautomobiles, except for trucks, cargo vans, jeepneys, jeep substitutes, single chassis engines and special purpose vehicles.

“To mitigate the impact of

higher oil prices on low income and vulnerable households, we will use highly targeted transfer programs to ensure that the poorest 50 percent of the population is fully protected from the increase in oil excises, while the next 30 percent, which covers the commuting class, will be protected through indirect subsidies to public utility vehicles,” Dominguez, Diokno and Pernia said in their joint statement.

“Only when tax reform and targeted transfers are pursued together can we ensure that the resulting policy reform will be truly inclusive and equitable,” they said.

Moreover, they pointed out that, “Increasing excise on oil products is highly progressive as the top 2 million households, which comprise 10 percent of the total number of households in the country, consume almost 60 percent of oil products, while the top 200,000 households or 1 percent of total, consume some 20 percent of oil products.”

According to Dominguez, the government’s planned reforms in tax policy and administration, aims “to achieve a more efficient, equitable, and simpler tax system characterized by lower rates and broader base,” that will, in turn, “encourage investment, job creation, and poverty reduction.”

Dominguez said that,“The priority infrastructure, education, and health investments funded through tax reform will enable the country to lift 10

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COLD TREAT. A vendor takes advantage of the huge gathering of farmers in front of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 11 to sell his ice cream yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Rody to decentralize agriculture

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

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adlopez0920@gmail.com

RESIDENT Duterte on Wednesday addressed the Philippine Economic Forum in Japan as part of his three-day state visit to the country.

Speaking before business groups, the President said his administration will decentralize the growth in agriculture development and shift its focus in rural areas.

He emphasized the country’s rural areas highly depend on agriculture, citing the case of Mindanao that produces the Philippines top agricultural exports which include bananas, pineapples, coconuts and tuna.

Among the strategies the President identified that will ensure the development of agriculture is the improvement of infrastructure and connectivity.

“We must likewise improve connectivity through infrastructure development projects,” President Duterte said, as he also recognized Japan’s capacity to be the country’s effective partners in achieving its goals in agriculture developments.

On visit to China President Duterte also assured the government of Japan that his recent visit to China was mainly focused on economics.

“I went to China for a visit and I would like to assure you all we talked to were about economics. We did not talk about arms, stationing of troops and avoided talking about alliances,” he said.

The President also cited some economic agreements that were sealed during his visit to China, which would usher in investments into the

HE Philippines moved up four notches this year to No. 99 out of 190 economies and ranked 7th among 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member-countries in the annual Ease of Doing Business (DB) Report of the World Bank Group.

Its performance improved in four of the 10 DB indicators, slipped in four others, and remained the same in the remaining two criteria, according to this WB flagship report provided to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. The data collection for the Doing Business 2017 report took place from February to May, 2016, and that the analy-

sis cut-off was on May 31.

The Philippines was at No. 103 among 189 economies in the 2016 DB report.

The report bared that the Philippines’ ranking in the DB report was at its highest at No. 95 in 2015 and at its lowest at No. 148 in 2010.

Doing Business 2017 is the 14th in the series of annual reports by the World Bank Group on the regulations that either enhance or constrain business activity in the participating economies.

This annual undertaking “measures aspects of regulations affecting the life cycle of a business in 10 indicators: starting a business, dealing with construction permits,

The move, he added, will close the inequality gap in the country’s development which is noticeable in the levels of urban and rural development.

“With all our fresh effort and renewed commitment these are the challenges that which certainly capable of addressing and collectively surpass with the determination to make meaningful changes in the lives of our people – their communities, families and themselves,” the President said.

country.

“Historically we only have a short window with our dealings with China. With my visit we hope to widen the window with a better light so that we can trade freely,” he said.

President Duterte and members of his delegation inked a total of $24 million business and economic deals during the China visit last week.

Most of the deals were soft loans and business partnerships.

A total of 13 agreements were also signed between the country and China, a majority of which were economic in nature and will provide the framework to carry out intensified cooperation between the two countries.

On independent foreign policy The President also emphasized during his talk with the business sector in Japan that the Philippines will now follow an independent foreign policy.

“Pursuant to constitution we are mandated to adopt an independent foreign policy,”

President Duterte said, clarifying further the Philippines does not pick quarrels with its friends and neigbors.

The President also emphasized the Philippines is no longer under the influence of a particular nation, saying that “I have declared to pursue an independent foreign policy.”

“I want that in the next two years my country is freed of the presence of foreign military troops. I want them out, and if I have to revise or abrogate agreements,” he said.

The President also clarified the recent war games between the Filipino and American soldiers was already a thing of the last.

President Duterte said he was frank with China, as he stressed that the Philippine government does not need arms; its people do not want missiles to be stationed in the country; and the government does not want the nation’s airports to host bombers with hydrogen bombs.

“I just want friendship with everybody. You can go to our country but do not expect too much,” the President said.

PH ranks 99th inWB Doing Business report T getting electricity, registering property, getting credit, protecting minority investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts and resolving insolvency,” according to the 2017 DB report.

In the 2017 report, the Philippines went up 18 notches (to 137 from 155) in protecting minority investors, by 14 (to 85 from 99) in dealing with construction permits, by 11 (to 115 from 126) in paying taxes, and by 4 (to 135 from 140) in enforcing contracts.

It slipped 9 notches (to 118 from 109) in getting credit, by 6 (to 171 from 165) in starting a business, by 3 (to 22 from 19) in getting electricity, and by 3 (to 56 from 53) in

resolving insolvency, the DB report showed.

The Philippines’ ranking remained the same in registering property at No. 112 and in trading across borders at No. 95.

Apart from the Philippines, four other ASEAN members registered higher rankings in this year’s DB report.

Thailand went up to No. 46 from last year’s No. 49, Brunei Darussalam to No. 72 from No. 84, Vietnam to No. 82 from No. 90, and Indonesia to No. 91 from No. 109.

Five other ASEAN economies fell in the 2017 rankings, with Singapore dropping to No.2 from last year’s No. 1,

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 175 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

ECONOMY 5

Rody to OFWs:‘Help fight corruption’

By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

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adlopez0920@gmail.com

RESIDENT Duterte urged Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) working in Japan to help the government fight graft and corruption, which he said, is among the key issues he promised to address during his presidential campaign.

The President had an audience with OFWs in Tokyo on Tuesday evening as part of his his three-day state visit to the

country.

He was warmly welcomed by Filipinos during the event and cheered every time he would pause during his speech.

The President also expressed gratitude to Japan for hosting Filipinos by providing them with work and employment.

To help the government fight corruption, the President

DOLE, group promote wellness of workers T

also asked OFWs, particularly those returning home, to report airport personnel or police who would extort money or ask things from them.

Government station PTV4, he said, will dedicate airtime to report on corruption and other anomalies that are brought to its attention by citizens through text messaging, President Duterte also urged OFWs to report through

text their experiences with corrupt officials in government.

The President told the OFWs to include the names of the corrupt officials.

The current fight against graft and corruption, illegal drugs and criminality are all geared towards giving the Filipino people a comfortable life, President Duterte pointed out in his remarks.

He also reported that a one-stop-shop for returning OFWs and those who would like to work abroad has already been set up in one building in the Philippines, which will make the processing of travel documents more efficient and less time consuming.

The President also assured OFWs that his administration will work hard to improve the economy of the country.

An Improved economy, he added will make Filipinos stay and work in the Philippines.

“We have to improve the economy na hindi ka na babalik ditto (sa Japan),” President said.

He also said that OFWs nowadays are the last of the generation to work abroad, adding that the next generation of Filipinos will be working in the Philippines.

By RIA VALDEZ

HE Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has partnered with a national health organization not only to address cases of illegal recruitment, but also to promote healthier and safer conditions in the workplace.

DOLE Region 11Assistant Regional Director Atty. Jason Balais said the labor department is working closely with the Occupational Safety and Health Network (OSHN) to monitor working conditions in both private and public establishments to ensure that no violations are being committed against workers.

Balais made the announcement during yesterday’s 6th Mindanao Occupational Safety and Health Summit, wherein participants discussed strategies on how to prevent work-related stress and other health concerns that adversely affect employees’ performance.

At the same event, Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) Executive Director Ma. Teresita Cucueco explained that a workplace is not only made ideal by the absence of health problems among employees, but is also gauged by the mental health of workers.

Cucueco revealed that 271 establishments in Region 11 have complied with the DOLE-prescribed recruitment policies.

She said these establishments include banana plantations, small-scale department stores and groceries.

According to Cucueco, these findings are based on the contracts or appointment forms these establishments have submitted to the DOLE. These contracts would prove that establishment have conformed with proper labor standards.

“These establishments would also show an appointment to show that had regularized their workers,” said Balais, referring to the national government efforts to put an end to the practice of Endo.

Balais said the DOLE will make sure workers receive all benefits under the law such as holiday pay, overtime pay, service incentive leave, and others.

He added that DOLE and OSHN would also make sure that companies such as construction firms adhere to proper health and safety practices.

“Our compliance officers are vigilant in inspecting,” stressed Balais.

PH,UK okay grants to improve PPPs

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HE British government awarded a grant worth £90,112.00 to the Philippines through the Public-Private Partnership Center (PPPC) to further support the country’s PPP program and attract the participation of foreign investors in PPP projects.

In a ceremony held in Makati on Oct. 24, British Ambassador to the Philippines Hon. Asif A. Ahmad, National Economic and Development Authority’s Deputy Director General Rolando G. Tungpalan and PPPC Officer-in-Charge Atty. Frances P. Domingo signed the grant contract with s funding period from October 2016 to March 2017.

The grant will finance the development of the Foreign Investment Framework for PPPs Project.

The Foreign Investment Framework for PPPs Project aims to develop a legal and commercial framework that is envisioned to attract more foreign investors in the Philippine PPP market, making it globally competitive, notwithstanding the constitutional limitations on foreign equity ownership.

This project is focused and aligned with two of UK’s priority areas in the Philippines and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region namely, infrastructure and finance. (PPP Center)

FOR THE DEPARTED. A gravestone maker engraves the name of a departed inside his makeshift shop in Madapo Hills, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

EU envoys back PRRD’s 10-point econ agenda

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OURTEEN ambassadors representing the member-countries of the European Union (EU) have expressed their continued support for the Duterte administration’s 10-point socioeconomic agenda and bared plans to invest more in the Philippines, particularly in infrastructure, energy and civil security, among other fields of interest.

In a recent meeting with Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, the ambassadors from the EU countries also emphasized their cooperation with the Philippines in implementing the peace agreement in Mindanao.

Led by Ambassador Franz Jessen, the head of the EU delegation to the Philippines, the 14 ambassadors who met with Dominguez were from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Austria, the Netherlands, Romania, Denmark, Hungary, and Sweden.

They expressed their interest in “working closely” with the Philippines in implementing its 10-point socioeconomic agenda on inclusive growth.

The ambassadors were one in saying that they are looking forward to further strengthening the EU’s bilateral relations with the Philippines, especially in the field of

trade and economic cooperation.

Swedish ambassador to Manila Harald Fries, in particular, said businessmen from Sweden are increasingly optimistic over business prospects in the Philippines and have expressed interest in visiting Manila to explore possible investments in infrastructure, energy, business process outsourcing, military, civil security, among others fields.

Ambassador Fries said a “record number of Swedish business leaders” would be coming to Manila in the next few weeks headed by Sweden’s Minister of Enterprise and Innovation.

The other envoys who met with Dominguez were Ambassadors Asif Ahmad of the United Kingdom; Jan Top Christensen, Denmark; Massimo Roscigno, Italy; Nicolaos Kaimenakis, Greece; Theirry Mathou, France; Jaroslav Olša, jr., Czech Republic; Dr. Josef Muellner, Austria; Marion Derckx, Netherlands; Ronald Van Remoortele, Belgium; and Dr. Gordon Kricke, the ambassador-designate of the Federal Republic of Germany to Manila.

Chargé d’Affaires Mihail Bujor Sion of Romania, David Ambrus of Hungary and Carmela Barcia, the deputy chief of mission of the Spanish Embassy in Manila, also attended the meeting with Dominguez.

In response, Dominguez thanked the ambassadors for their support to the Duterte administration’s 10-point reform agenda as well as their continuing assistance to the Philippines and commitment to invest more in the country.

“If there are any business groups coming in I will be very happy to meet with them,” he said.

Dominguez acknowledged that fund assistance to the Philippines to establish drug rehabilitation facilities here forms part of the EU’s broader program to help the country deal with its war against illegal drugs.

“Building facilities is probably only 25 percent of the solution to the drug addiction issues, and we certainly need a lot of training, a lot of help in that area,” Dominguez said.

Besides the EU member-states, other countries have also expressed their interest in investing in the Philippines and broadening areas of economic cooperation under the Duterte presidency.

Earlier, Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Tanhaei informed the finance chief that Iran is keen on fostering better economic relations with the Philippines and, for starters, plans to import more bananas and explore areas of investment and cooperation in infrastructure and energy.

In a courtesy call on

Dominguez, Tanhaei said Tehran also wants to strengthen connections between his country’s Central Bank and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to pave the way for Iranian investors to start doing business in the Philippines.

The ambassador also informed Dominguez that a Deputy Minister of Iran’s Finance Ministry would be visiting the country this November to discuss with Philippine officials a framework of cooperation between Manila and Tehran.

Tanhaei said he is going to invite the head of Iran’s Central Bank to visit the Philippines to discuss issues on banking cooperation with the BSP. Dominguez, in response, said: “We do want to improve our relationship with Iran and we would be very happy to meet your Central Bank Governor.”

Dominguez likewise assured Tanhaei that he would “be happy to assist him” and “will certainly welcome all of Iran’s officials” to Manila to help reinvigorate bilateral relations between the two countries.

In a recent statement, the World Bank said “the Philippines remains one of fastest growing economies in East Asia and the Pacific despite the weak global economy.”

“The country’s gross domestic product is forecast to

F EU, 10

6 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 175 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

Hijo’s Shared Services Center:

A quantum leap of faith

A

BUNCH of sunshine yellow bananas hung from a bamboo tripod, at the base of which lay bilaos of coconut, rambutan, lanzones, and durian, all delectable picks from the Hijo fruit orchard in Madaum, Tagum City. Two ornate bongo drums retrieved from the Plantation House heirloom collection heightened the “feel” of Mindanao culture as a pulsating rhythm pervaded the air, alternating only with hauntingly beautiful songs of local folk singers echoing love for country and the environment. Anthuriums and Birds of Paradise, set among fresh blooms and foliage abundant in Hijo Forest, and so deftly arranged to adorn table tops and sides of glass swing doors enhanced the garden ambience created by flower arrangements sent in advance by company well-wishers. Clear-glass dividers against off-white, concrete walls punctuated by lattice and trellis in chocolate brown and mahogany were every inch Hijo. Outside were three giant, white tents ready to shield guests from ominous rains, as days prior had been characterized by scattered rainfall.

These were scenes that greeted guests who trooped to the Tropicana Building, one of the newest structures to rise in the heart of Davao City on a drizzly Friday night of July 29, 2016. They were to be part of yet another momentous episode in the colorful saga of Hijo Resources Corporation - the blessing of the corporate offices of Hijo International Trading Singapore - Shared Services Center (HITS-SSC). This is the Hijo Group’s Regional Office Headquarters – a first not only in Davao but in Mindanao.

It took one woman’s quantum leap of faith that a Filipino company in Mindanao can do it. A year after its incorporation, the HITS-SSC office was to be inaugurated with Hijo President/CEO Rosanna Tuason Fores leading the ribbon-cutting following a mass officiated by the company’s resident priest, Fr. Ely Santos.

Gracing the occasion were Hijo

employees, stakeholders and partners, and Mindanao-based business and government luminaries led by Councilor Marissa Abella, representing Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez as guest of honor.

In explaining the rise of shared services as a business model, Ms. Fores emphasized in her welcome message “that the changes in the global economy have made this set-up imperative for business sustainability.” Indeed, intense global competition in the business front has put tremendous pressure on companies to improve profitability, for shareholders, likewise, have become increasingly demanding of value creation from management. In their efforts to reduce costs and improve profitability, companies have widened their focus to tap potential cost savings and efficiency improvements not only in their operations, but even in support or back-office functions.

Small wonder that not too many people are acquainted well enough with the concept of shared services, being a relatively new buzzword in Mindanao. Shared services refer to the consolidation of common functions, systems, processes and personnel across several business units into an internal service unit – the Shared Services Center (SSC) – which is managed as an independent organization. HITS-SSC envisions dynamic and sustainable partnerships toward global competitiveness for the Hijo group of companies. Operating within the context of collaborative leadership, the SSC’s main objective is to create a culture of customer service and operational excellence by aligning people, process, technology and culture across diverse businesses and industries.

Certainly, Hijo has come a long way from pioneering the exports of Cavendish bananas to Japan in 1969. Now, five decades later, and with transactions multiplying and business processes becoming increasingly complex, Hijo has metamorphosed into a business

Hijo Resources Corporation (HRC) CEO and President, Ms. Rosanna Tuason-Fores delivers her welcome message during the Inaugural Blessing of the First Regional Operating Headquarter (ROHQ) in Mindanao of the Hijo International Trading Singapore Pte Ltd Shared Davao del Norte’s District 2 Representative and House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez Services Center (HITS SSC) on July 29, 2016 located at Tropicana Bldg., gives his inaugural message on the said occasion. HIJO Resource Davao JP Laurel Avenue, Km 7, Lanang, Davao City. HIJO Resource Davao conglomerate in agribusiness, leisure and tourism, property development, port and logistics, and power.

What does this mean to Hijo? Now that Hijo has taken this strategic step in locating HITS-SSC in Mindanao, there is great opportunity to best exploit economies of scale.

Driving home the commitment of Hijo to see this project through success, Ms. Fores added that “Not only is Hijo poised to create and sustain global competitiveness within today’s ever-changing and disruptive global economic landscape, but is taking a bolder step in sharpening its global strategies by focusing on how to enrich and transcend its home-based sources of advantage – Mindanao’s natural resources, human capital, and rich culture.”

Ms. Fores, in taking the quantum leap, is inspired by the legacy of her father, Atty.

Jose “Boy” Tuason, Jr., whose belief was for Filipinos to reap the benefits of the country’s resources, the reason why he bought the 2,200-hectare property in Davao del Norte from an American company nearly half a century ago. Emphasizing change, she added, “… we inaugurate and cut the

(From left to right) Davao del Norte Provincial Governor Antonio Rafael G. Del Rosario, HRC Chairman of the Board Vicente O. Reyes, Davao City Councilor Marissa Abella, ITCSI Executive Jose Manuel M. De Jesus, HRC CEO & President Rosanna T. Fores, House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez, Philippine Ambassador to the Holy See Mercedes A. Tuason,

ribbon, as pioneers of change my father’s legacy and dreams for the country and Mindanao.”

The SSC is a clear example of Hijo’s commitment and belief in the talent of Mindanaoans. Going against the recommendation of an SSC expert who believed that potential talents for such kind of business abound in Manila, and after some reflection, Ms. Fores was determined to open the SSC in Davao. She was firm in her belief that the land of promise is teeming with talents cut for SSC. Zero in on this melting pot of tribes and cultures called Davao - not only the soil in which the King Durian thrives, the habitat of the mighty Philippine Eagle, the garden of the Waling-Waling, the cradle of majestic Mt. Apo, but the proud home of the 16th President of the Philippine Republic, Rodrigo Duterte. Davao City, home to 1.6 million Filipinos, is the largest city in the Philippines sprawling a land area of 2,444 square kilometers. With its booming economy and reputation as a safe city, Davao City is emerging as the next business district to reckon with outside of Manila and Cebu.

On a macro scale, beyond the tax incentives, the Philip-

pines makes a very attractive option for multinationals to locate their shared services centers not only because of the distinctly Filipino brand of warmth and hospitality but the enviable communication advantage. An option for Hijo in the future is to offer the services of the SSC to third parties.

And the company seemingly is just in the right place, for in 2014, the Department of Science and Technology – Information and Communication Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) and the Information Technology and Business Processing Association of the Philippines (ITBPAP) together selected Davao City as one of the Philippines’ Next Wave Cities. These are the country’s potential offshoring destinations that are continuously being groomed to be key players in the business process outsourcing industry.

In his message, Speaker Alvarez thanked the Hijo management for continuously uplifting the lives of people in Mindanao. Councilor Marissa Abella, recognizing the half-century existence of Hijo in diverse businesses projected optimism “that Hijo will continue to meet the challenges of the ever changing business environment given the emerging

ASEAN and global integration and be a catalyst of development and promotion of sustainable economic and social growth in Mindanao.”

Ms. Fores punctuated her closing remarks with a reference to the last paragraph of the CEO message to Hijo’s shareholders in the 2015 annual report of the company aptly titled “The Power of Change.”

“For true change to take hold, it must start inside all of us, with the realization that we can create our future, instead of complaining about our past.

The true power of change lies not in yet another corporate restructuring or another new venture. It is in our decision to face change at every step, and turn it into our advantage not just today, but for tomorrow.

Because we are not here for us, but for the generations after us.”

Surely, a no mean leap of faith.

The anticipated heavy rains did not fall. The program went smoothly. The guests relished the food, some prepared the Halal way. As the night deepened, and after seemingly never-ending photo-ops and selfies, the guests started bidding the hosts goodbye. Hijo

F SUBURBIA, 10

HRC CFO Macarena T. Solitaria, DOT XI Regional Director Roberto P. Alabado, Davao del Norte Provincial DTI Director Romeo L. Castanaga during the inaugural blessing of the HITS SSC located at Tropicana Bldg., JP Laurel Avenue, Km 7, Lanang, Davao City. HIJO Resource Davao

7 ENVIRONMENT EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 175 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

Saving the environment through RA 9003

By JERMAINE L. DELA CRUZ

I

N response to the call of alleviating the detrimental effects caused by waste mismanagement, Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 was passed

by Congress on Dec. 20, 2000, and was subsequently approved by the Office of the President on Jan. 26, 2001.

RA 9003 contained seven chapters sub-divided into 66 sections setting the government’s policy direction for an effective solid waste management program in the country.

The law declares the policy of the state in adopting a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program that ensures the protection of public health and the environment, and the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of best environmental practices.

Moreover, it illustrates the potentials and benefits of recycling not only in addressing waste management problems, but also in alleviating poverty.

Under RA 9003, commercial and industrial establishments shall be encouraged, through appropriate incentives other than tax incentives, to initiate, participate and invest in integrated ecological SWM projects; to manufacture environ-

ment-friendly products; to introduce, develop and adopt innovative processes; and to undertake community activities to promote and propagate effective SWM practice.

Penalties

Section 48, RA 9003 prohibits littering, throwing, dumping of waste matters in public places, such as roads, sidewalks, canals, “esteros” or parks, and establishments with fines ranging P300 to P1,000; causing or permitting the collection of non-segregated wastes with fines of P1,000 to P3,000; establishing or operation of dumps fined with P50,000+5-10% of net annual income; transporting and dumping in bulk of collected domestic, industrial, commercial and institutional wastes in areas other than centers or facilities prescribed in the Act with fines of P10,000 to P200,000; manufacture, distribution or use of non-environmentally acceptable packaging materials with fines ranging from P5,000+5-10 percent of net annual income; importation of consumer products packaged in NEA materials fined with P5,000+5-10 percent of net annual income; mixing of source-separated recyclable materials with other solid waste fined P5,000+5+10 percent of net annual income; and lastly, importation of toxic

wastes misrepresented as “recyclable” or “with recyclable content” with fines P10,000 to P200,000.

Prohibition Against the Use of Dumps for Solid Waste

Section 37 of RA 9003 states that no open dumpsites shall be established and operated, nor any practice or disposal of solid waste by any person, including LGUs, which constitute the use of open dumps for solid waste, shall be allowed.

RA 9003 further states that every LGU shall convert its open dumps into controlled dumps, in accordance with the guidelines set in Section 39 and 40 on sanitary landfill in accordance to Section 41 of this Act. In 2013, the Office of the Ombudsman, through its Environmental Om-

budsman, led the launch of the “Solid Waste Management Law Voluntary Compliance Program,” together with the National Solid Waste Management Commission, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Zero Waste Philippines, Mother Earth Foundation and Bangon Kalikasan.

The program recognizes LGUs that have complied with the ESWM Law, as well as urge the voluntary compliance of other LGUs. Phase 1 of the program focused on the conduct of LGUs’ self-assessment based on their compliance with the provisions of RA 9003. Letters were sent to 1,634 LGUs, but only 417 conducted self-assess-

ments.

One hundred thirty five LGUs assessed themselves as satisfactorily compliant and 282 assessed themselves as less satisfactory.

The Environmental Ombudsman is in now implementing Phase 2 of the program, wherein cases are now being filed against non-compliant LGUs. In an earlier press statement, Senator Loren Legarda, principal author and sponsor of RA 9003 and chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, noted that the Ombudsman’s “Solid Waste Management Law Voluntary Compliance Assessment and Promotion Program” will be a big boost in the campaign to compel all local government units (LGUs) to implement the law.

In Sen. Legarda’s keynote speech at the Pub-

lic Forum On Assessing The Compliance of LGUs’ Implementation of RA 9003 last April 18, 2016 at the Leyte Normal University, Tacloban City, she lamented that the Earth “is beginning to look more and more like an immense pile of filth,” quoting Pope Francis in his encyclical, Laudato Si’, which profoundly explains how humans have been destroying the planet earth.

“It has been 15 years since we passed RA 9003, but according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), as of 2015, only 36 percent, or 545 local government units (LGUs), have complied with all aspects of this legislation,” said Legarda.

To address this concern, investigators from the Environmental Ombudsman Program are now conducting a nationwide in-depth fact-finding investigation concerning the presence of illegal dumpsites in the country.

In the Mindanao region, the Environmental Ombudsman Team headed by Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Gerard Mosquera, has ordered several local officials from the cities of Kidapawan, Koronadal, Valencia, Cagayan de Oro, and the towns of General Luna (Surigao del Norte), Marihatag (Surigao del Sur) and Loreto (Agusan del Sur) to attend a series of clarifactory hearings from Oct. 25 to 28, 2016 in Davao City.

8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 175 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

EDITORIAL

I

Overstaying sports officials

T’S not only in politics where we find overstaying officials. They also abound in sports.

For twelve years, Jose “Peping” Cojuangco has been at the helm of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) as President which has a term of four years. He is the uncle of former President Noynoy Aquino and brother of former President Cory.

That span of 12 years has seen three Olympics, three Asian Games and six Southeast Asian Games. The Philippines won one medal (silver) courtesy of Hidilyn Diaz in that span in the Olympics and went from 18th (4 golds, 6 silvers, 9 bronzes) in the Asian Games in 2006, to 19th (3-4-9) in 2010, and 22nd (1-3-11) in 2014.

In the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG), the Philippines went from boom to bust in the six performances under the Cojuangco era.

From overall champion with 113 gold medals in 2005, the country plummeted down to 6th with 29 medals in 2015. The country placed 6th in 2007, 5th in 2009, 6th in 2011, and 7th in 2013, our worst finish ever.

Anywhere you look at it, the country is heading downwards

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under Cojuangco’s leadership and yet, here he is seeking another term of four years.

Ricky Vargas, head of the amateur boxing body, was supposed to challenge Cojuangco in the coming Nov. 25 elections but unfortunately he was declared ineligible because of a very ridiculous rule.

The POC is supposed to be an umbrella organization of all National Sports Associations (NSAs) and by that, representatives are but ex-officio in the whole context of the sports body.

That Vargas was disqualified because he did not attend meetings of the POC over a certain period as required by its rules runs counter to the concept that the POC is composed of NSAs and in reckoning attendance, you consider the presence of the NSA as represented by its official representative.

The POC ruled otherwise giving Cojuangco possibly another unopposed run.

Poor Philippine sports will have to contend with these greedy sports officials who put their own interest above that of the country.

Perhaps sports also needs a Rodrigo Duterte.

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EDGEDAVAO

I

N the hierarchy of nations with links to Davao City, Iran, erstwhile known as Persia, is way down the list. Part of this obscurity is the lack of publicity and the deficient trade and cultural information on the dealings the Philippines has with this Islamic republic on the Persian Gulf.

In the past years, commercial interest and cultural alliance had started to find their space in local publication, primarily as the city expands its foreign connections, particularly in the export of local agricultural products. But not all the news about trade links was good.

In September 2010, Iran, one of the biggest importers of Philippine bananas, banned the import of 40 fresh fruits. Hard hit by the edict were the bananas, mostly sourced from Davao region, fruit concentrate and dairy products. The embargo affected 16,000 hectares of banana plantations and local bananas produced in Southern Mindanao had to be diverted elsewhere.

Over a year ago, amidst the prevailing economic global downturn, Iranian traders linked up with Davao planters to express interest in buying fresh commodities, including pineapples and bananas, from Davao and adjacent regions.

Moslem Isfahani Group of Companies, a big Iranian fruit importer, tendered to buy three million carton boxes of fresh Cavendish bananas for shipment to the port of Bandar Abbas in Iran but the deal went through because independent growers fond the prices too low.

The Isfahani Group, on the other hand, offered to sign a one-year contract with any Davao banana exporter and was willing to deposit an advance payment, but the intent did not materialize because the price being tendered would

A

FTER watching Hollywood actor Cary Grant (Archibald Leach in real life) on a television broadcast, his mother, then in her nineties, reprimanded him for letting his hair get so grey.

“It doesn’t bother me,” the actor replied carelessly. Rebuffed the mother: “Maybe not, but it bothers me. It makes me seem so old.”

The above story came to my mind after reading this anecdote from 1000 Stories You Can Use. The old fellow, let’s call him Jack, was celebrating his 100th birthday. “To what do you attribute your longevity?” inquired a curious friend who is only in his sixties.

Pausing for a moment, Jack said proudly.

“I never smoked, never drank alcohol, never overate, and went to bed by 10 in the evening and was always up by 6 in the morning.”

“That certainly is to be admired,” said the friend, “but my grandfather did the same thing and he died at 60.”

Jack replied without hesitation: “He didn’t keep it up long enough.”

“Age is not a particularly interesting subject,” Hollywood comedian Groucho Marx averred. “Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough.”

“Age to me means nothing,” said film actor George Burns, the oldest actor to receive an Academy Award for his performance in The Sunshine Boys. “I can’t get old; I’m working.

I was old when I was twenty-one and out of work. As long as you’re working, you stay young. When I’m in front of an audience, all that love and vitality sweeps over me and I forget my age.”

Fashion model Linda Evangelista agrees: “I don’t think age is an ugly process. I think age is a beautiful thing. I love wrinkles. I don’t like

VOL. 9 ISSUE 175 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

Persian kebab in Davao

VANTAGE POINTS

9

spell loss to the FAST BACKWARD farmers. This was in contrast to the liberal price offers made by Arab buyers in 2008.

Despite this incongruity, Iran, with good intentions, opened its Cultural Antonio V. Figueroa Corner of Iran at the Davao City Library & Information Center on September 29, 2015 through a tripartite memorandum of understanding. This was an offshoot of the long-running cultural exchange the National Library of the Philippines and the National Library and Archives of Iran, through the Iranian Studies Center, in promoting the Iranian language and culture in the country.

Born in Tehran, Iran, in 1955, Majid Jadali, an accomplished actor in over 70 local and international films, may well be considered as Iran’s food envoy in the city. Married to a dabawenya, he put up Majid’s Persian Kabab, the first authentic Persian food diner in Davao City.

Majid left his native land at a time when the Shah of Iran, a highly pro-Western leader, was the ruler. With the rise of political instability and Islamic extremism, he decided, after finishing the two-year compulsory military training back home, to enroll and study civil engineering at the Far Eastern University, a year before the shah

was dethroned. The turmoil in Iran forced him to stay put in the country, deciding instead to finish his studies, earning a degree in 1983.

His entry into the movie world was by happenstance. A German friend who was an extra in an international flick filmed in Laguna encouraged him to audition for a bit-player role. His first role impressed the director that he was invited in future productions. This new, if irregular, occupation gave him the chances to be part of the local blockbusters and, by extension, met Manila’s most popular and bankable movie icons.

Later, he was recruited to be part of several Hollywood-produced movies, among them the Missing In Action, which enlisted the biggest names in American films. His role was a mishmash of significant roles, counting among them as stuntman, soldier, and sidekick. He became the only foreigner to be employed as extra in locally produced films. His movie engagements nearly came to a stop as a result of the collapse of the Marcos regime.

Worse, on January 8, 1990, he met a driving accident in Angeles city. He sustained a hipbone fracture and had to permanently end his film career. To survive and be able to feed his family, Majid decided to move to Davao, the hometown of his spouse, and opened his food business which, through the years, has become the icon of authentic Persian kebab.

Majid’s venture has already spawned local restos designed in the great Iranian food tradition. The Zabadani Cafe and Restaurant at the Circumferential Road, Sheikh Shack Shawarma Restaurant at Gaisano Mall, Khash Persian Kabab Resto Bar at Gov. Quimpo Boulevard, and Shatter

Persian Kebab at F. Torres Street are some of the new favorite Persian dining experiences that are testaments to the small but slowly growing Iranian influence in the local culinary scene.

Iranian history is also closely tied to Islamic propagation; it is one of three waves of religious migration that brought Mohammedanism to the country, the two others by way of India and Saudi Arabia. Islamic roots in Cotabato and Maguindanao are traced to Arab-Malay preacher Sharif Mohammed Kabungsuran, and Jolo tradition to Jarim ul’ Makhdum, an Arabian trader.

Recent researches, though, point to Persia, Iran’s old name, as the first to spread Islam by way of China. Long before Arabian missionaries penetrated pre-colonial Philippines, nearly all major ports in mainland Chinese were managed

by Iranian customs collectors who were known to send off Chinese converts in trades with neighboring territories, especially Sulu archipelago, whose king, who is buried in China, had forged diplomatic ties with China.

For centuries, Iranian interest in the Philippines was considered nil. If there were Middle Easterners that arrived in the country during American rule, they were far and between. Even in post-war Philippines, very few people of Arab descent were registered in Manila. But this dramatically changed after the fall of the Shah of Iran, which forced westernized Iranians to seek refuge in countries with more liberal policies on expatriates.

An indelible legacy of the Chinese influence in Mindanao is the Sino-inherited surnames in Muslim areas where Islam is the predominant religion.

falling down. If THINK ON THESE! I just wrinkle, I may not touch.

If I fall down, I’ll lift up.”

Old age consists of ages nearing the average life span of human beings, and thus the end of the human life cycle. Henrylito D. Tacio E u p h e m i s m s henrytacio@gmail.com and terms for older people include advanced adult, elderly, and senior citizen and pensioner. Older people have limited regenerative abilities and are more prone to disease, syndromes, and sickness than other adults.

Being old doesn’t mean they are no longer useful. And so it came to pass that the old clockmaker had been put out of business by the new electronic watches. He was out of work and destitute.

One day, walking along a back alley in town, he noticed a pile of old clocks on a dump heap behind a jewelry store. They were clocks of all shapes and sizes and colors, in every degree of despair.

He begged the jeweler to give them to him and let him try to get them going again. So with a couple screwdrivers and some oil, he set to work, and began to pick their insides. Suddenly, one of them began to tick. He polished the case tenderly and set it upon a shelf. One after another, the clocks responded to his seemingly magic touch. They began to tick -- to come

alive. Only a few were hopelessly beyond redemption.

“Old clocks are symbolic of old age itself,” someone commented. “It must have a purpose in life -- and then the old heart will tick again, long after it is supposed to have stopped.”

A lot of older folks have made contribution to their nation and to the world. Winston Churchill was prime minister when he was 81. Clara Barton headed the International Red Cross at 83. Robert Frost wrote famous poems when he turned 80. Oliver Wendell Holmes was a chief justice when he was 90. Architect Frank Lloyd Wright died his best work at 86.

As Chancellor Conrad Adenauer of Germany was approaching the age of 90, he got a bad cold.

Even his personal physician could not help him much and Adenauer was impatient with him.

“I’m not a magician, sir,” protested the doctor. “I cannot make you young again.”

“I haven’t asked you to make me younger,” answered Adenauer. “All I want is to go on getting older.”

Sir Francis Bacon states: “Age appears best in four things: old wood to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read.”

When Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (too bad, we can’t call him Long for short) was in the twilight of life, his head was covered with white, but his cheeks were red as apples. One day, an admirer asked him how he managed to stay so vigorous and to write so beautifully in his old age.

Longfellow pointed to a blossoming apple tree and then declared, “That is a very old tree, but I never saw prettier blossoms upon it than those it now bears. The tree grows a little new wood each year, and I supposed it is out of that

new wood that these blossoms come. Like the apple tree, I try to grow a little new wood each year.”

By 2050, more than two billion people or roughly one out of five people will be elderly (60 years old or over) and one in every 10 person will be aged 80 years old or older. That’s according to World Population Ageing 2013 Report of the United Nations.

To be old is a gift. So, how should you take it when it comes along? A friend once gave a copy of the following prayer to the captain of the majestic Q.E.II. He framed it and often showed it to visitors. It read like this: “Lord, thou knowest that I am growing older. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject on every occasion. Release me from the craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it.

“But, Lord, I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point.

“Seal my lips about my aches and pains. I dare not ask for the grace to enjoy the tales of others’ pains, but help me to endure them with patience.

“I dare not ask for improved memory, but for less cocksureness when my memory is challenged.

“Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken. Keep me reasonably mild tempered. I do not ask to be a saint -- some of them are hard to live with -- but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil.

“Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people.

“And give me, Lord, the grace to tell them so.”

The twilight zone

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

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and crime, warning the country was on the verge of becoming a “narco state” and extended the campaign for another six months – making it a year.

Thousands have surrendered and have been slain in the crackdown, less than four months since President Duterte had taken office.

According to the latest data provided by Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Spokesperson Catherine dela Rey, 277 personalities were caught in the buy bust operations, 401 people were arrested.

“There are 9,396 personalities who surrendered and 39 people neutralized,” dela Rey added.

Davao del Sur Police Spokesperson Daisy Angga, on the other hand, said 114 pushers and 7,720 users from their region have surrendered in Oplan Tokhang, adding authorities have visited 2,962 houses.

“There were 92 personalities arrested and 2 people killed in the buy bust operations,” Angga added.

These police operations have drawn sharp criticism from the international community, human rights and religious group..

“If you know any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful,” Duterte told supporters the day he took office.

Duterte’s comments were condemned by the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary executions Agnes Callamard, saying “It is effectively a license to kill.”

“Who killed them? I don’t know but why are they point-

ing at me, blaming me for those deaths,” the President said earlier this month.

PRO 11, on the other hand, said the police will always do their duty to serve and protect the people.

guard who was following him on a motorcycle when the attack happened.

“Acido’s killing might be work-related,” she said.

Several prosecutors condemned the killing, as the timing and circumstances of the ambush raised serious questions as to whether his death was related to the cases he was handling as prosecutor.

Atty. Janet Grace Fabrero, Davao Region chief prosecutor, views the incident as “anoth-

er tragic episode in the sordid saga of the dangers faced by our prosecutors in the performance of their duties.”

“Despite the hazards of prosecutorial work, the city prosecutors office reiterates its commitment to render justice and uphold the rule of law,” Fabrero said.

She urged investigators to conduct parallel inquiries to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack. TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS

ers should inspect their drainage system, as well as detached galvanized iron sheets in roofs, as these could provide a possible entry point for burglars, adding that they should also “double-lock” doors and gates.

“You should start conducting security surveys in your own homes to avoid these kinds of modus operandi,” dela Rey added.

In the meantime, Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11)

Spokesperson Andrea dela Cerna said Mayor [Inday Sara] Duterte has reminded all police units and personnel of their law enforcement and public safety duties.

Dela Cerna added all security personnel are expected not to take a break or file a leave of absence, saying “all of us will be on duty in cemeteries and in villages that will be left by people going to memorial parks.”

employees, a good number of them belonging to the “generation after us” referred to by Ms. Fores in her message, beamed with pride as they thanked guests not only for coming, but as the invitation card, elegant

in its simplicity, says, “…for journeying with us in creating synergy while enriching the value of Mindanao’s culture in the business landscape.” By Susan T. Jo/HIJO Resource Davao

City... FROM 3

PNP... FROM 3

WAR ON POOR Duterte has also talked vowed to crack down on big illegal drug dealers, government officials and prominent Filipinos who use drugs, take bribes from drug syndicates or are directly involved – dropping hundreds of names with alleged links to illicit drugs The PNP said there is a list of celebrities accused of being drug users and peddlers.

President Duterte, however, has refused to identify them.

“Project Double Barrel Alpha will now start going after the big names in the illegal drug trade or the HVTs and celebrities,” dela Cerna said.

The counter-narcotics campaign has so far focused on impoverished drug users and small-time dealers, prompting criticism that it’s actually a war on the poor.

CLEARING BARANGAYS Another element of Project Double Barrel Alpha, was what one source described as a “Barangay Clearing Operation.”

Dela Cerna explained the police will work closely with local authorities and residents to “systematically” rid neighbourhoods of drugs and place more emphasis on rehabilitation.

“The chief of police will certify the barangay as drugfree once community leaders declare an area as such,” dela Cerna said.

SUBURBIA... FROM 6

FARMERS’ SUBSIDY. Farmers who will join a protest rally to lobby for their subsidy as victims of El Niño get off from a dump truck near the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 11 office along R. Magsaysay Avenue in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Dad... FROM 2

He then compared this price to the cost of other lowcost housing units which, on the average, are priced at around P420,000.

Elias was also sceptical on the reason why the NHA was asking the city government to pay a 1 percent interest fee for the units considering that they are low cost.

The councilor pointed out that the city government has already released P10 million out of the P20 million total budget allocated for the housing project.

He said that around 100 houses will be built based on the MOA.

To date, around 65 houses have already been completed.

Elias stressed that the city government had put a high premium on “living conditions, welfare, and comfort of the residents” when it conceptualized the relocation project.

However, the councilor lamented that the NHA did not take these factors into consideration when they constructed the housing units.

Elias said the beneficiaries of the housing project will be given 25 years to pay for the housing units, whose payment will be initially shouldered by the city government.

Malaysia to No. 23 from No 18, Cambodia to No. 131 from No. 127, Lao People’s Democratic Republic to No. 139 from No. 134, and Myanmar to No. 170 from No 167.

In the summaries of Doing Business reforms in 2015/2016, the DB report noted that in dealing with construction permits, “The Philippines made dealing with

construction permits easier by increasing the transparency of its building regulations.”

As for paying taxes, the report said, “The Philippines made paying taxes easier by introducing an online system for filing and paying health contributions and by allowing for the online corporate income tax and VAT returns to be completed offline.”

grow 6.4 percent this year and 6.2 percent in the next two years,” the World Bank statement said.

“The Philippine economy may surpass the forecasts if authorities can further ramp up spending on public infrastructure as planned,” said the World Bank in its Philippine Economic Update titled ‘Outperforming the Region and Managing the Transition.’

In its press statement, the World Bank pointed out that Mara Warwick, its Country Director for the Philippines, has said that “macroeconomic stability puts the Philippines in a good position to accelerate inclusive growth that benefits all Filipinos.”

According to the World Bank, its report noted that “as economic growth is sustained, and as spending on health, education, and social protection expands, extreme poverty is projected to decline from 10.6 percent in 2012 to 7.8 percent

in 2016, 7.2 percent in 2017, and 6.7 percent in 2018.”

The World Bank report also took note of the Duterte administration’s plan to pursue comprehensive tax policy reforms as one of its priorities, “to make the country’s tax system more equitable, efficient, and competitive in the region.”

In its press statement, the Bank also noted that Birgit Hansl, its Lead Economist, has said that “domestic consumption will also continue to prop up the economy, driven by three factors: rising purchases from an expanding middle-class, remittances from overseas Filipino workers, and the expansion of jobs as a result of the growing economy.”

“Many reforms are being unveiled, specifically on tax policy and administration, the tracking of government spending, security of land tenure, ease of doing business, and restrictions on foreign participation,” said Hansl.

PH... FROM 4

EU... FROM 5

Voters... FROM 3 over 1 million more voters for the 2017 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections than the 2016 presidential elections.

Around 54 million voters registered for the May 2016 National and Local elections.

On the other hand, 3,095,187 registered for the Barangay and SK elections.

“We can now formally be-

gin our preparations for the 2017 elections now that the bill on the postponement of the 2016 elections has been signed into law,” Jimenez added.

The law on the postponement of the 2016 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections was approved by President Duterte on October 15, 2016. (Comelec)

million Filipinos out of poverty by 2022 and eradicate extreme poverty by 2040.” Dominguez said.

The near-term goal of the Duterte administration’s tax reform plan, Dominguez said, is to raise P600 billion, which is about 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), by 2019 to help fund the 10-point socioeconomic agenda of the Duterte administration for sustained high—and inclusive— growth, which is anchored on accelerated spending on infrastructure, human capital and social protection for vulnerable sectors.

Of this amount, P400 billion (2 percent of GDP) will come from tax policy reforms and another P200 billion (1 percent of GDP) from reforms in tax administration.

Dominguez said reforming the tax system and protecting the country’s vulnerable sectors should go hand-in-hand in realizing President Duterte’s electoral mandate of making the benefits of economic growth felt by all Filipinos.

The adjustments in oil excise taxes and later indexing these to inflation, the expansion of the VAT base and the restructuring of the excise tax on automobiles are measures that would offset the revenue losses arising from the reduction of personal income tax rates.

He pointed out that adjusting oil excise taxes would remove the subsidy on fuel that is actually enjoyed mostly by the rich, and transfer this instead in the form of highly targeted assistance to low-income households and other vulnerable sectors.

“The incremental revenues will be used to fund the mas-

sive infrastructure needs of the country and the programs to develop our human capital and provide social protection for the poor,” he added.

Dominguez said the general rule under the Duterte administration is that the rich would have to pay more while poor and low-income groups would pay less or none at all.

He said the tax plan would lay the groundwork for raising an extra P1 trillion yearly for sustained higher spending that will meet the Duterte administration’s vision of transforming the Philippines into a high middle-income country, where Thailand and China are today, by 2022, and to a high income country, where Malaysia and Korea are today, by 2040.

The macroeconomic assumptions under the 2017 National Expenditure Program show that prices of crude oil in the world market will stay within the US$40-60 range in 2018 and 2019.

Earlier, Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua said a main feature of the first reform package submitted to the Congress last month is that the personal income cuts would be cut from 32 percent to 25 percent that will in effect exempt 4.7-M taxpayers, which already include the current 1.7 million minimum wage earners, from paying income taxes. Another 450,000 taxpayers would pay only 20 percent of the excess of P250,000 of their net taxable income.

Entry level workers above the minimum wage earning about P13,000 a month would be covered by the tax exemptions, along with those earning not more than P20,000 a month. (DOF)

Economic... FROM 4

INdulge!

Food for the Seoul

VOL. 9 ISSUE 175 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

FOOD

EDGEDAVAO

Sa Gae Cafe and Korean fusion comfort food

THERE IS A KOREAN INVASION ON THE SHORES OF DURIANBURG, with a lot of new Korean restaurants sprouting all over the city and even in the remotest of places. While most Korean restaurants serve traditional Korean fare, I found one new Korean hang-out that serves more than the usual kimchi stew.

That new restaurant is called Sa Gae Cafe.

Located at the ground floor of Lanang Business Park, SaGae Cafe looks much like any Korean restaurant on the outside. With its hipster interiors with Korean-Western accents, I can see many diners taking selfies while waiting for friends or family. Everything seemed typical to me, at least until I got to the menu.

While most Korean restaurants in the city serve typically Korean dishes, which any Korean mom knows how to make, SaGae (which in Korean means Four Seasons), chose to offer a Korean menu that is more modern, yet still retains the taste of classic Korean comfort food.

Take for instance their signature dish, the Kimchi Cheese Nabe Donggas which is sure to win-over cheese lovers everywhere. Simply translated, it is a fried pork cutlet mixed into a kimchi stew and topped with ooey-gooey mozzarella cheese. The dish may seem strange at first, but it actually made a lot of sense, as the creamy stretchy cheese balances out the spiciness of the kimchi stew. The breading of the pork cutlet serves as the perfect vehicle to soak up all the cheese, as well as the kimchi stew.

For those who would rather skip the spicy kimchi, SaGae also has a Cheese Pork Cutlet that is served similar to the Kimchi Cheese Nabe Donggas, but without the spicy kimchi stew. This is perfect for a cold. rainy night, or just when you’re craving for something deliciously decadent to eat.

“The owners wanted to introduce the concept of Korean dishes that are best for the different seasons which is why the restaurant is called SaGae,” explained restaurant manager Guy Enano “For warm days, we offer home-made Momil which is perfect to counter the heat.”

Momil is a buckwheat noodle which

Rich, gooey and spicy hot , SaGae’s Kimchi Cheese Nabe Donggas is sure to pique every cheese lover’s interrest.

Service with a smile together with my Coffee Bing Soo. is usually served with a cold dipping soup. I tried the restaurent’s Pan Momil Jeongsik, which is made up of buckwheat noodles that are hand made by SaGae’s Korean chef Youn Haeng Koo. The dish is made up of a cold broth, vegetable and shrimp tempura, rice rolls, and kimchi. The noodles were snappy and the dipping broth with the grated raddish and wasabi made for a refreshing yet filling dish. The tempura is also made to be dipped into the umami-filled broth, its fry coating soaking up each luxurious drop of flavor.

The Pan Momil Jeongsik is a refreshing meal made to combat a warm day.

For dessert, I had SaGae’s signature Coffee Bing Soo. The humongous heap of coffee flavored ice was fine as snow and, much like all of Sa Gae’s menu items, was served in humongous portions - enough for two to share.

“Guests also like our Strawberry Bing Soo which uses fresh strawberries, as well as the classic Red Bean Bing Soo.” added Guy. SaGae is located at Unit E of Lanang Business Park and is open daily. For deals and discounts, you can visit their Facebook page at SaGae Cafe, or call them at +63.82.3271867.

SaGae Cafe’s Chef Youn Haeng Koo and his kitchen staff.

A2 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

VOL. 9 ISSUE 175 • THURSDAY, OCT

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ENTERTAINMENT

GMA wins at intl. fi

THE TEAM OF GMA PUBLIC AFFAIRS’ ANIMATED ANTHOLOGY SERIES ALAMAT receives from U.S. International Film & Video Festival (USIFVF) Chairman Lee W. Gluckman, Jr. (center) its trophies for winning the “Best of Festival” and “Gold Camera” awards at the prestigious 2016 USIFVF. Joining Gluckman in presenting the awards last Monday, October 10, is GMA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty. Felipe L. Gozon (fourth from right).

Alamat gave the Philippines its first-ever “Best of Festival Award,” which is considered as the Grand Prix of the USIFVF and is given to an outstanding entry among the Gold Camera winners. Alamat first won the Gold Camera Award in the Entertainment: Children category for its “Alamat ng Bayabas (The Legend of the Guava)” episode. Alamat’s winning episode was produced by a team led by Public Affairs Program Manager (now Asst. Vice President) Jaileen F. Jimeno. The series began airing in 2015, featuring Philippine myths and legends that mirror Filipino culture. It also marked the first time that GMA’s Post Production Team embarked on a

full length animation.

Receiving a “Gold Camera” award as well is GMA News TV’s Reel Time for its episode “Isang Paa sa Hukay (The Price of Gold)”. I-Witness and Reporter’s Notebook were both conferred the “Silver Screen” awards for the episodes “Kawayang Pangarap (Bamboo Dreams)” and “Hikbi sa Ibayong Dagat (Far From Home)”, respectively. Brigada (“Para sa Pangarap”), Front Row (“Maestra Salbabida”), and Investigative Documentaries (“Gutom”) each earned a “Certificate for Creative Excellence” in the Social Issues category, while Karelasyon’s “Tres Rosas” and Wagas’ “Gabriela and Diego Silang Love Story” were given “Certificates for Creative Excel-

lence” in the Docudrama category.

Earning accolades as well were GMA ETV programs “Pepito Manaloto” and “Idol sa Kusina”, which received “Certificates for Creative Excellence” in the Cooking and Comedy categories, respectively.

TOBER 27, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

film and video Fest Rocco Nacino renews ties with GMA Network ONE OF GMA NETWORK’S TOP LEADING MEN ROCCO NACINO remains a Kapuso as he signed an exclusive contract last October 20 with GMA Network, Inc.

Present in the contract signing were GMA Entertainment TV’s Senior Vice President Lilybeth G. Rasonable; GMA Consultant for Business Development Department II Marivin T. Arayata; GMA Senior Assistant Vice President for Alternative Productions Gigi Santiago-Lara; GMA Artist Center Assistant Vice President and Head for Talent Imaging and Marketing Unit Simoun Ferrer; and Mrs. Linda Nacino, Rocco’s mom.

During the contract signing, the Kapuso hunk said he appreciates how the Network helped him grow as an actor. “This is where I started my career. I am just thankful na sa lahat ng projects na binigay sa akin ng GMA, tumatak siya sa viewers. Nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng assistance ng GMA sa career ko at sa kanilang pagtitiwala,” Rocco said.

He is currently part of the

top-rating primetime series Encantadia as Aquil, the head soldier of Lireo who fell in love with Sang’gre Danaya. According to Rocco, his role in the iconic telefantasya is definitely one for the books because of the experiences he has gained and the friendships he has formed with the cast members.

“Nagpapasalamat talaga ako for being part of Encantadia kasi talagang classic show siya ng GMA. Lahat ng tao tinututukan fervently

yung program because of its story talaga. Bukod sa ang dami kong natututunan as an ac-

tor, enjoy siyang gawin.

The cast I am with is just so fun to be with.

Also, the fact that kahit ako ginugulat ni Direk Mark (Reyes) sa twists ng show, nakaka-‘wow!’ lang talaga.”

Rasonable said the network is proud to have a talented actor like Rocco and they will continue to provide quality projects for him. “We’re very happy that he remains a Kapuso since he is a homegrown artist. I’m happy that we were able to develop him throughout the years. Definitely, we will still give him good projects since he is a very good actor, also multi-talented because he can dance, sing and host.”

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

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FOOD

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 175 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

Sweet and scary Halloween bites BOO! October may be coming to an end but before it does, my favourite holiday is just around the corner. Yes, it’s Halloween.

What’s not to love about Halloween?

Halloween, though not as popular as it is in other parts of the world, is more than just the monsters under your bed or floating figures – it’s a day to celebrate life in the past, now, future and beyond. Even to this day, Halloween remains to be one of my favourite holidays.

Personally, I love the spooky feel in the air.

The many scary yet funny masks lined on shelves, cuddly monsters of different colours and sizes and of course, the many delectably designed spooky treats on display. To me, Halloween gives off a certain happy vibe that awakens the child in me. And a big yes to sugar rush!

Growing up, we would feast on bags of colourful candies and sweet treats from the store. Our parents simply snuck into our bedrooms and allow us to stuff our faces until we stop. It wasn’t like the traditional trick or treat (as practiced in the world over). For us, it was a 24-hour excuse to eat sweets and not be reprimanded.

To this day, I still love Halloween. Not only because it’s a favourable excuse to stuff my face with anything sweet and savoury but more so, I can play with my food. Not in a distasteful way, that is. Play in terms of me recreating the many monsters in my head. Believe me, I sometimes end with a new monster.

So, how does my Halloween haul looks like every year? Here are my yearly sweet and savoury nibbles that you might find interesting. What’s yours?

Marshmallows On top of my list is a bag of fluffy marshmallows. Not only is it a sweet nibble treat but more so, allows for many creative creatures to come alive. From simply eight legged spiders to witch hats to fluffy Frankenstein with googly eyes made of chocolate chips, a piece of marshmallow goes a long way. A very long way, that is.

My easiest marshmallow Halloween go-to treat are the Mummified Mallows (or so I would like to call them that). Melted chocolate is used as glue for pieces of black or white mini chocolate chips as eyes for your fluffy monsters. I then mix red and green food colouring for the lips and I’m done. For that added

flare, sometimes I drizzle (zigzag) on some melted white chocolate for that mummified effect. Let chocolate harden before eating them.

Candies All year round, we are faced with a mountainfull of beautiful candies.

Though I’m not a big fan of candies, I simply adore them because I can create many delightful treats with them. Use them as eyes on cupcakes or cakes or gems over tombstones on edible cemetery. Gummy candies are also staples for Halloween.

Open up a pack of worm gummy candy and lay on top of cakes, cupcakes or even donuts and you are all set. Don’t forget, they are edible.

Eggs Devilled eggs, all the way! Not because it sounds “devilish,” but because you can easily dress up a devilled egg and recreate that savoury monster in your head.

My favourite Devilled Egg recipe for Halloween involves a bunch of black olives, banana ketchup and chives. Sometimes, I add a hint of paprika for that rich rusty red effect. If you are that adventurous, you can add food colouring to your filling for that added twist.

Biscuits I never ran out of boxes of biscuits at home. Aside from being my everyday office snack, I love dressing them up for different occasions. For Halloween, my staples include rectangular shaped biscuits for my edible cemetery and round digestive cookies for anything I can think of.

A few years back, I used pieces of digestive cookies as base for my monsters.

On top of the biscuits I added a dollop of egg sandwich spread then I added peas for the eyes, ripe tomato for the mouth and julienned carrot for the nose. Easy, peasy.

Want to know my latest food finds?

Follow me on Instagram @iamleebai and I’ll make you hungry in a snap. For missed features, you can read them on my blog theroyalchefeats.wordpress. com.

Happy munching, #royalistas!

11 HEALTH

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 175 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

MANGO: The fruit of all seasons One small mango provides a quarter of your recommended daily allowance for vitamin C, nearly two thirds of your daily quota for vitamin A, good amounts of vitamin E and fiber. They also contain vitamin K, phosphorus and magnesium.

Mangoes are particularly rich in potassium

Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

N

OW, it has been finally confirmed: mango tops as the most favorite tropical fruit in the Philippines.

This was based from the survey conducted by this author. More than 50% of the 70 respondents interviewed via e-mail and text messaging have chosen mango as the fruit of all seasons.

Dr. Marimel Yap-Veloso, consultant ophthalmologist at the Asian Eye Institute in Makati City, reasons out: “Mango is sweet and satisfying – and it has great texture, too! It’s great on cakes, pies and as a juice or shake. It’s a versatile fruit. The green variety is also delicious with fish and bagoong.”

Lionel Tierra, a Filipino who now lives in California, prefer ripe mango. “It is succulent, sweet and heavenly to the taste,” he wrote. “I’ve tried durian, star apple, and atis, among others – they are all very good to the taste, but mango, to me, is still the best.

Mango is like my best friend and sweetheart. All other fruits are just good friends and acquaintances.”

When it comes to mango, Philippine mangoes are the number one. “They are the best in the world,” said Dr. Kenneth Y. Hartigan-Go, the director of Food and Drug Administration. Dr Yap-Veloso echoed the same sentiment, “I’ve tried mangoes from Mexico and other countries – nothing comes close to the Philippine mango.”

Larry Stoffel, an American who is married to a Filipino, confirmed this. “The rich juicy flavored mango from the Philippines is the most fantastic fruit I have ever tasted,” he revealed. “It’s true that we import mangoes from other countries but those imports cannot duplicate the mangoes I have eaten in Bohol. I miss the mangoes and can’t wait until I can have some more when I go back there.”

For sure, the Philippine mango is one of the country’s sources of pride. Former Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Q. Montemayor said the “Super Manila Mango” variety

has found its way in the Guinness Book of World Records as the sweetest of its kind in the world.

A ripe super mango emanates a sweet fragrance, reminding you of tropical summer breezes which sweep across warm, blue seas. No other mango has ever looked like this – bright yellow as the blazing afternoon sun, smooth to the tongue, and leaves a persistent craving for a next one.

These are the images that only Philippine super mangoes can evoke.

Whatever variety, mango is a vitamin powerhouse. “One small mango provides a quarter of your recommended daily allowance for vitamin C, nearly two thirds of your daily quota for vitamin A, good amounts of vitamin E and fiber. They also contain vitamin K, phosphorus and magnesium. Mangoes are particularly rich in potassium,” wrote Fiona Wilkinson, author of “Health Benefits of Mangoes.”

Mango is also considered a ‘high volume’ food; it means you get a lot of food for a relatively small amount of calories. “One mango contains around 135 calories,” wrote Wilkinson. “However, they are quite high in natural sugar with one mango containing around 30 grams.”

Mango, being high in calories and carbohydrates, is good for those who are trying to gain.

As it is high in iron, mango is said to be very good for pregnant women as well as for people suffering from anemia.

“Mango has three times the vitamin C of a single orange or apple and important minerals essential to prevent cancer and other diseases,” said Dr. Martin Hirte, a German health food researcher and pediatrician.

-- Fiona Wilkinson, author of “Health Benefits of Mangoes”

Health benefits The German physician also found that mango contains minerals that are vital for pregnant mothers and stressed-out people. “The calcium and magnesium of mango relaxes the muscles, relieves stress and prevents miscarriage,” Dr. Hirte wrote in his research paper entitled, “The Benefits of Mango for Human Health.”

The skin can also benefit from the fruit, whether it is eaten or applied. Diana Herrington, in a piece titled “10 Health Benefits of Mangoes” for the Care2 Healthy Living newsletter, says the fruit clears clogged pores and eliminates pimples.

Mango may be processed in a blender and applied to the face easily and quickly. Mangoes contain beta-carotene that the body converts into vitamin A which, like vitamin C, is “crucial to skin self-repair,”

Herrington adds. “When eaten, mangoes help resolve all skin problems including pimples,” Herrington says.

But that’s not the only health benefit you get from mangoes. The fruit contains a soluble dietary fiber called pectin, which has been shown to lower blood cholesterol levels. Recently, scientists at The Institute for Food Research discovered that a fragment released from pectin binds to, and inhibits galectin 3, a protein that plays a role in all stages of cancer progression.

Research has shown antioxidant compounds in mango fruit have been found to protect against colon, breast, leukemia and prostate cancers.

These compounds include quercetin, isoquercitrin, astragalin, fisetin, gallic acid and methylgallat, as well as the abundant enzymes.

Those having diabetes can also get help from mangoes.

“Mango leaves help normalize insulin levels in the blood,” Herrington wrote. “The tradi-

tional home remedy involves boiling leaves in water, soaking through the night and then consuming the filtered decoction in the morning. Mango fruit also have a relatively low glycemic index (41-60) so moderate quantities will not spike your sugar levels.”

Eating mango can also help those with eye disorders.

Ripe mangoes are highly beneficial in the treatment of night blindness in which one cannot see properly in dim light. This disease is caused by vitamin A deficiency. It is very common among children who are victim of malnutrition due to poverty.

“One cup of sliced mangoes supplies 25 percent of the needed daily value of vitamin A, which promotes good eyesight and prevents night blindness and dry eyes,” Herrington noted.

Taking an examination soon? Why not try drinking fresh mango juice. “A regular consumption of fresh mango juice is linked to better mem-

ory, higher abilities to focus and concentrate, better performance while studying or memorizing something,” says the guide2herbalremedies. com. “That is why mango juice is recommended to all students.”

Some cautions Health experts caution of not eating unripe mangoes in excess. Here’s a statement of warning from a physician: “Their excessive intake may cause throat irritation, indigestion, dysentery and abdominal colic. One should, therefore, not consume more than one or two green mangoes daily. Water should not be drunk immediately after eating the green mango because it coagulates the sap and makes it more irritant. Sap or milky juice which comes out on breaking the stalk of the green mango is irritant and astringent. Eating green mangoes without draining the sap may cause mouth, throat and gastrointestinal irritations.

The sap should, therefore be fully squeezed out or the skin should be peeled before using raw mango.”

Ripe mangoes are eaten fresh as a dessert or processed into dried mangoes, puree, juice, concentrate, shakes, and many more. When eaten green, they are a tasty treat for lovers of sour fruits as they are usually dipped in salt, fermented fish, or shrimp (bagoong). Green mangoes are also pressed into juice and shakes.

Mango is also used to make juices, both in ripe and unripe form. Pieces of fruit can be mashed and used in ice cream or blended with milk and ice to make thick milkshakes. In Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries, sweet glutinous rice is flavored with coconut then served with sliced mango on top as a dessert.

History records showed that mangoes originated from the Myanmar region, where it was known to have been cultivated 4,000 years ago.

Buddhist monks took mango to Malaya and eastern Asia in the 5th century B.C. Later in the 18th century, Portuguese explorers would introduce mango in Brazil. From there, mango cultivation would reach Florida, United States in 1833 and eventually in Africa and in other lowland tropical and sub-tropical areas. Today, there are about 83 mango-producing countries in the world.

12 NEWS Filipinos... FROM 2 and Excellence in Governance (INCITEGov), discussions on how to localize the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda defined by the United Nations.

EDGEDAVAO

Started in 2015 Edillion said that the focused group discussions started in mid-2015 after the NEDA chanced upon a study made by the Asian Development Bank entitled “Asia 2050,” which said that for the next 20 to 30 years, it would be time for Asia to become the dominant world economy. The same study, however, saw the Philippines being lumped with Afghanistan and Myanmar near the bottom of the standings of the region’s economies.

Edillion said that the NEDA has formulated a vision for the country that “by 2040, the Philippines shall

be a prosperous, predominantly middle-class society where no one is poor,” with the people enjoying long and healthy lives, are smart and innovative, and living in a high-trust society.

High-income by 2040 “With the right policies, the Philippines can be nearly a high-income country by 2040,” Edillion declared.

“This, of course, would require good fiscal policy, sound macro fundamentals, and a strategic fiscal spending program, including a tax and non-tax investment incentive program to address capacity constraints, increase competitiveness, encourage innovation, reduce inequality, and build up resiliency.”

The NEDA’s Deputy Director General said that the focused group discussions the agency has spearheaded

all point towards that aspiration among typical Filipinos, with their motivations for every aspiration revolving around the family.

“What they want is a ‘matatag, maginhawa at panatag na buhay para sa lahat,’” she said.

Not overly ambitious Edillion said that Filipinos are not overly ambitious and would just want to be paid decent salaries to have money that is enough for everyday needs, with 88 percent of them wanting to work in the Philippines and only a miniscule portion that constitutes the hardcore still wanting to work abroad.

She said, however, that for Filipinos to live a comfortable life with family nowadays and for them to be free of hardship and worry, a gross monthly income of

P120,000 would be needed broken down as follows: monthly car maintenance or amortization of P5,000, day-to-day sustenance of P40,000, amortization for a medium-sized house of P30,000, college education expenses of P10,000, income tax payment of P20,000, leisure expenses of P4,000, and occasional travel expenses of P6,000.

Also speaking besides Edillion during the round-table discussion was Dr. Philip Arnold Tuaño of the Ateneo’s Department of Economics, who talked about the creation of an informal consortium of schools cooperating to make the youth aware of the country’s sustainable development goals. Dr. Tuaño’s group, the Young Public Servants, is doing roadshows throughout the country toward this end. (DAP)

properly used in food-forwork programs or brought to different centers and institutions catering to vulnerable groups. I have already directed field offices to send monthly reports on the expiration of goods and their plans on how to use it productively,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Secretary also clarified her stand on accepting donations and assistance from the private sector, individuals, organizations and foreign institutions,

including governments.

Sec. Taguiwalo said that the Philippine government has enough funds for relief and rehabilitation efforts for victims of Typhoons Karen and Lawin. She added that foreign aid is also welcome as long as they do not come with “conditions.”

The DSWD chief stated that authorities are currently assessing the government’s needs in terms of relief supplies and will get in touch with those who have offered

aid once needs have been properly identified.

“We are grateful to friends, individuals, organizations and other private and public entities who are extending their hands to assist us in our disaster relief efforts. However, we need to continue to assess the situation on the grounds in order to know what type of assistance and how much is needed by our affected citizens. We want to base the type of assistance that we

need based on the extent of our needs and without any conditions from donors,” she clarified.

Lastly, she asked the public to continue to work with the government in reporting corruption inside the bureaucracy.

“We do not want any form of irregularity or corruption.

The president is very clear about it so please work with us in eliminating corruption in the government,” she concluded. (DSWD)

DSWD... FROM 3

VOL. 9 ISSUE 175 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

Group... FROM 3

ti-littering plea, the Malaya youth theater group presented a dance skit inspired by the song “Basura.”

They likewise performed the viral hit “Pen-Pineap-

ple-Apple-Pen” song, changing its lyrics to promote the use of reusable bags instead of plastic bags, and the use of lead safe paint in refurbishing tombs.

The smartphone also highlights its Helio P10 processor, which ensures low energy consumption, while providing high performance. This feature, hence, allows for maximizing entertainment needs without worrying about speedy battery drain.

built-in rear dual color flash lamp, RealTone, and front LED flash with Color Rendering Index that allows users to shoot clear images even under dim light. The camera has 64 different lighting combinations that produce much more vivid and natural color images.

Flash... FROM 13

Next-gen security feature When it comes to security, Flash Plus 2 integrates a next-generation front-facing fingerprint module. This feature allows the user optimum convenience while unlocking the phone because of a 3600 accuracy level that responds in half a second. It can also safeguard all the apps and private folders by assigning a specific fingerprint or mark to access them.

For instance, the user can assign his thumb to open Facebook, index finger to send an e-mail, among others.

High definition phone camera In keeping with the superior photography DNA of all Flash products, Flash Plus 2 gives better images through its built-in high definition camera with a 13-megapixel rear lens. It also adopts PDAF and contrast focusing features, which allows the user to capture fleeting moments with its 0.1 second focal alignment capability.

The camera phone also has

Immersive, Hi-Fi music experience Flash Plus 2 also boasts of its high-fidelity amplifying functionality. It has high-quality earphone acoustics, high sound volume effects, and MIX music production that are essentail in creating an immersive sound experience.

These are made possible through the independent AKM4375 audio decoding chip coupled with state-of-the-art IRD sound digital filter, with value-retaining signal output measuring up to high-fidelity acoustic effects. The music can also be amplified to reach 3.6 watts—eight times greater than the volume of average smartphones—using its NXP980 power amplification chip and built-in DSP algorithm.

Flash Plus 2 is now available in two color options, Luna Silver and Venus Gold, which is now available in Lazada.

For more details, please visit the website at http://www. flash3c.com/ph.

13 COMPETITIVE EDGE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 175 • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2016

Energy Smart Mindanao 2016. Davao Light and Power Company’s EVP and COO, Arturo Milan discussed about The Challenge of Making Sustainable Power Available to All during the Energy Smart Mindanao 2016 held last October 25, 2016 at Park Inn by Radisson Hotel in Lanang, Davao City. The event was spearheaded by the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines. This was participated in by the energy sectors in Mindanao in support to the advocacy for a stronger commitment in promoting and building a competitive and sustainable energy for the future.

Financial assistance turn-over. The Davao Light and Power Company in partnership with the Aboitiz Foundation Inc. formally turned over the financial support amounting Php. 175,000 to Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation Inc. last October 21, 2016 in Davao Light Ponciano office to support Gawad Kalinga’s projects in Davao City.

Davao Light EVP and COO Arturo Milan handed over the check to Gawad Kalinga’s Provincial Head, Glicerio B. Rosario. Also present during the turnover were Davao Light Community Relations Manager Fermin Edillon and Gawad Kalinga’s Admin Officer, Wendy Reyes.

Flash Plus 2 redefines smartphone experience

Digitizing healthcare with SHINE OS+

Smart innovation enhances delivery of rural health services S

D

R. Mimi Bondoc, municipal health officer of Zarraga, Iloilo, has worked in public health service for the past 26 years, and has witnessed how technology has helped in improving the delivery of healthcare to Filipinos, particularly those in underserved areas.

Technology, she says, helped address one of the biggest constraints of public healthcare facilities—lack of manpower.

She recalls how patients would line up for hours for a consult with a health worker.

Many of them would go home displeased by the poor quality of public health services. Undermanned, she and her team need to work longer hours so all patients for the day are served.

Then in 2011, Smart Communications chose Zarraga as one of the pilot sites for its innovation Secured Health Innovation Network Exchange or SHINE, an electronic medical record (EMR) platform that

digitizes patients’ records.

With this breakthrough, patients’ records are accessible unlike before when everything is done manually and the health center staff had to spend more time looking for the records of patients.

“We owe the improvement in the public health system to technology. The breakthrough in EMR made our workload lighter and helped address the lack in manpower. We’ve been using this Smart innovation for more than five years,” says Bondoc.

“With a single click of a button, the patient’s record is already there so we get to serve more patients, and they go home satisfied with the services,” she adds.

This story is common for many rural health centers in the Province of Iloilo, where the EMR was piloted in 2011.

It has since evolved to become SHINE OS+, an open source platform that allows developers to design modules and plugins to customize it based October 26 – November 1, 2016

DOCTOR STRANGE

on the needs of target communities.

To familiarize existing and new users of the new features of SHINE OS+, Smart organized a two-day training workshop in Zarraga last September.

Health workers including doctors, nurses and midwives who represent the municipalities of Zarraga, Leganes, Maasin, Janiuay, Barotac Nuevo, Banate, Calinog, and Carles attended the training. Apart from Zarraga, other existing users are the rural health units (RHUs) of Leganes and Maasin.

The training was conducted by Dr. Reena Estuar, executive director of the Ateneo Java Wireless Competency Center (AJWCC), which developed the open-source platform. The training includes introduction on the functionalities of SHINE OS+, and encoding a health record. The Data Privacy Act of 2012 was also discussed to underscore responsible data keeping among the health

workers.

“Developing the SHINE OS+ was in line with the vision of Smart to digitize healthcare down to the patient level. We allow the public to customize the platform to address the specific need of the end-user, making it relevant to a community,” says Estuar.

AJWCC has also developed the SHINE OS+ Mobile to make the platform and its functionalities accessible to health professionals anytime, anywhere, and MySHINE, which was designed as a companion app for patients whose healthcare records are stored in the network.

“We have been optimizing use of technology to make lives better for more Filipinos.

SHINE OS+ will help make quality healthcare accessible to underserved, and isolated areas, and at the same time, make it easier for our health workers to deliver quality healthcare,” said Ramon R. Isberto, head of Public Affairs at Smart.

MARTPHONES have evolved as one of the most indispensable innovations of digitalization. Over the years, it has revolutionized the way people live given its evolving capabilities and consequently, enhancing the way people live, play and work.

However, as the demand for these gadgets continues to grow, experts say that smartphone users consider buying devices that are long-lasting. In a recent survey, global environmental organization, Greenpeace Philippines, noted that nine out of 10 Filipinos believe that the durability is an important aspect they look for in smartphones.

Also, 98 percent of the 1,000 respondents also consider battery life of smartphones as another important feature.

In response to this demand, Flash Philippines—one of Asia’s rising developers of lifestyle and smart devices—rolls out its flagship phone, the Flash Plus 2, with superior and highly durable built-in features valued only P6,190.

“Flash Plus 2 received positive reviews from its users as we first introduced it in the country earlier this year. This model is developed to bring out superior functions while giving a more efficient and durable smartphone unit for the users,” said Sheree

Gayas, Flash Philippines’ marketing manager.

Among the pioneering features of Flash Plus 2 include its sleek metal case, a fast-charging battery, fingerprint recognition, high definition phone camera, and Hi-Fi audio capacity. These attributes allow for more durability, efficiency, and convenience.

Sleek and durable metal case Flash Plus 2 is made more durable with its aluminum case, which is crafted employing several kinds of metal polishing processes. The case’s sides are treated with Bead Blasting textures, allowing for a stylish side view. Meanwhile, the back panel is treated with high density hairline metal-drawing processes for excellent grip and added protection against scratching.

High performance and fastcharging battery Flash Plus 2 is equipped with fast charging battery technologies — TI BQ25896 chip and 9V/1.67A battery — to achieve a mere 30-minute charging time for a 50 percent battery level. However, when fully charged, this phone guarantees a reliable capacity that lasts up to 10 hours of continuous calls.

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OPERATIONAL. Personnel of the Davao City Water District’s (DCWD) open the valve of Production Well No. 38 located at Bacanaya Compound, Brgy.

Catalunan Pequeño, Davao City. The 28.5 million project, which has a

production capacity of 1,200 gallons per minute, will increase water supply in areas served by Line 2 of the Dumoy Water Supply System. (Katrina Belen M. Roble)

14 EDGEDAVAO Sports

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2 Davao cagers among 55 hopefuls in 2016 PBA Draft

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

T

njb@edgedavao.net

WO Dabawenyo cagers will be among those who will keep their fingers crossed that their names will be called in the PBA Rookie Draft this Sunday.

The PBA on Tuesday released the names of the 55 aspirants who have declared themselves for the 2016 PBA Rookie Draft.

Six-foot-seven center John Spencer Eman, brother of Alaska’s Samigue Eman, and 6-0 Reden Celda, are the Davao

City hopefuls hoping to land a team that will pick them in the deep draft. Both Eman and Celda played for National University.

Twelve of the players, who have already signed up for the national team, will be available to teams via a special draft.

They are Mac Belo, Matthew Wright, Jiovani Jalalon, Arnold Van Opstal, Russel Escoto, Kevin Ferrer, Von Pessumal, Roger Pogoy, Mike Tolomia, Ed Daquioag, Carl Bryan

Cruz and Fonzo Gotladera.

The rest of the players will be picked in the regular draft scheduled on the same day.

Interestingly, there are seven other draft hopefuls from Mindanao led by nationals Belo, Jalalon and Tolomia.

The 6-4 Belo, who spearheaded the Pilipinas Gilas’ campaign in the recent FIBA Asia Challenge Cup, is from Midsayap, North Cotabato.

Other MIndanaoans in the rookie class are Jalalon

MINDANAO CAGERS. (L-R) Spencer Eman (Davao), Reden Celda (Davao), Mac Belo (Midsayap), Jio Jalalon (Cagayan de Oro) and Chris Tolomia (Zamboanga).

(Cagayan de Oro), Tolomia (Zamboanga), Dexter Garcia

(Zamboanga). Gino Juamo-as (Zamboanga), John Ambulod-

to (Maguindanao) and Edzel Mag-isa (Agusan del Norte).

OFFTOWRONG START

Spurs spoil KD debut with Warriors T

HE Golden State Warriors have been the NBA’s biggest story for the past few years, but excite-

SPOILED DEBUT. Kevin Durant and the Warriors are going to need some time. (Associated Press)

ment s u r rounding the team reached new levels when Kevin Durant joined the record-setting and championship-losing

club on July 4.

One of the most impressive collections of talent the league has ever seen has inspired all kinds of reactions.

Will the Warriors set another record for wins? How will they bounce back from last June’s collapse against the Cleveland Cavaliers? And can the NBA survive a team that looks so dominant?

One game will not answer so many complicated questions, but the result of Tuesday’s season opener at Oracle Arena will surely remind everyone that the Warriors remain a work in progress.

The visiting San Antonio Spurs

dominated Golden State 129-100, winning their first game without Tim Duncan on the roster in 20 seasons.

It’s far too early to glean much from this result, but it at least proves that the Warriors are not going to win the championship in the season’s first week. It’s going to take time for this favorite to jell.

Durant can take solace in knowing that he was not the problem on Tuesday. The 2014 MVP led the Warriors with 27 points (11-of-18 FG, 1-of-3 3FG, 5-of-6 FT) in 37 minutes, looking very much like his Oklahoma City Thunder self with the threat to score from anywhere on the court.

KD did not throw off the Warriors’ muchpraised ball movement and spacing — if anything, he fits better than could have

Pacquiao not looking beyondVargas

F

ILIPINO star Manny Pacquiao says he remains undecided about his future in boxing beyond this year, insisting he is not looking past his upcoming world title bout with Jessie Vargas.

Pacquiao returns to the ring to face World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Vargas on November 5, three months after ending his four-month “retirement”.

But the 37-year-old eight division world champion said he has not thought about his plans after the Vargas fight as he continues to juggle the demands of the sport and his duties as a newly elected member of the Philippines Senate.

“Right now my focus is on this fight. Then I go back and do my job, then I could think about 2017,” Pacquiao told reporters on a conference call.

Asked if he expected to fight again, he added: “I don’t know yet. One fight at a time. I cannot say yes right now.

“Today, Jessie Vargas is the most important fight of

my career.” working in the Senate is not to Los Angeles last weekend, Pacquiao’s veteran pro- easy, especially, along with said he had detected a more moter Bob Arum believes training,” he said. “You need serious side to the boxer. that the Filipino icon will to manage your time and “I know it’s been a very remain in demand if he pro- that’s what I did in training difficult camp with the Senate duces a convincing win over for this fight while I am work- and so forth,” Roach said.

Vargas. ing in the office.

“Manny has always been “If Manny comes in and “I don’t have time really a busy person but because dominates this fight and for any other activities -– all of the Senate he seems to be looks like the old Manny, and of my time is with working a lot more serious than anywants to continue fighting, and training.” thing else he has done. He is there will be certain oppoPacquiao’s long-time in Senate sessions on some nents that will be consid- trainer Freddie Roach, who nights until 7:30 or 8:00 at ered,” he said. oversaw a camp in the Philip- night and when he is done we “If he decides that it’s pines before the duo returned go right to the gym.” too much juggling two careers, then he shouldn’t continue.

“If he is determined to continue and his performance suffers because of his work in the Senate, I would have to look in the direction of somebody else for an opponent.”

Pacquiao meanwhile admitted that juggling his workload as a pugilistic politician had proven demanding.

READY FOR VARGAS. Manny Pacquiao is not looking beyond Jessie Vargas whom he “I can say that fights on Nov. 6.

been expected after only a month of training camp.

For that matter, Durant made plays on the glass (10 rebounds), as a playmaker (four assists), and on defense (two steals and two blocks) in displaying the all-around skills that should get more attention in his new home.

Unfortunately, the Warriors as a whole were a hot mess. That was especially true at the defensive end, where the Spurs encountered little resistance in the paint (20 offensive rebounds) and plenty of open looks from the perimeter (12-of-24 from deep).

New Warriors Zaza Pachulia and David West combined for a horrendous two points, five rebounds, and seven turnovers in 31 minutes in performances that had many Warriors fans pining for former starter Andrew Bogut, one of several players made expendable after the acquisition of Durant.

Vargas DQ’d from POC polls

B

OXING chief Ricky Vargas has been disqualified from running as president of the Philippine Olympic Committee in next month’s elections.

The disqualification of the Association of Boxing Alliances of the Philippines’ president to run in the Nov. 25 election was bared during the POC’s general assembly on Wednesday at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.

Also disqualified was Philcycling presdent and Cavite Rep. Abraham Tolentino, who is also running in the Vargas ticket as chairman.

According to the election committee, Vargas and Tolentino did not meet election requirement under Article 7 Section 11 of the POC constitution, for the president and chairman to have been “an active member of the POC general assembly for two consecutive years at the time of their election.”

Abap secretary general Patrick Gregorio said they will put the decision under protest.

Vargas was not present in Wednesday’s general assembly.

POC election committee

chairman Frank Elizalde said Vargas, based on documents, has only attended one general assembly meeting in the span of two years.

“As per records of attendance, I regret to advise that they did not comply with the attendance in general assembly,” Elizalde said.

The Vargas camp has insisted that the term “active member” refers to the national sports association, with Abap, through executive director Ed Picson, regularly attending the general assembly.

But Elizalde said the election committee interprets the provision otherwise, saying the term “active member” refers to the individual, based on previous documents and practices by the POC. “It is very clear that it is the individual that has to attend sufficient meetings. And I’m quoting from a document that was not made yesterday or the day before, and has been on record for quite a few years, meaning that if you aspire to be a president or chairman of the POC, you have to attend the general assemblies. It’s as simple as that,” said Elizalde.

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IRONMEN. Tophe Eyao (right) gets set for the transition to the bike race. Reggie Reyes (left) atop his all-carbon Cervelo Time Trial bike.

SPORTS15

AGELESS Veteran Eyao wins Tri United 3 category race in Subic

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

C

HRISTOP H E R E y a o turned back the

hands o f t i m e as he emerged one of the race winners in the tough Tri United 3 Long Distance Triathlon on Sunday in Subic.

The 41-year old Dabawenyo fitness instructor and wellness coach, once a feared endurance runner in the elite circuit now racing in the age group class, clocked five hours, 3 minutes and 1

Lebron, Cavs get rings

T

HE city of Cleveland waited 52 years to win a major sports championship before the Cavaliers defeated the Golden State Warriors last June.

But that doesn’t mean fans were any more patient in the four months between that title and the official unveiling of that long-coveted banner.

Tuesday’s ring ceremony at Quicken Loans Arena brought that opportunity for yet another celebration of a classic victory.

After coaches and players received their rings, LeBron took to the microphone to thank fans for their support and build even more excitement for a historic night in Cleveland sports history.

The Cavaliers moved up their ceremony a n d tip-off time 3 0 minutes

to accomodate fans hoping to watch the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the World Series.

That contest is taking place just right across the street at Progressive Field.

The Indians have not won Major League Baseball’s championship since 1948, so 2016 has the potential to become a monumental season for the region’s sports fans.

The Cavs’ rings are the heaviest in NBA history. (via Cavs.com)The Cavs’ rings are the heaviest in NBA history. (via Cavs.com) The Cavs’ rings are typically ornate in keeping with past NBA champions. Its many jewels also tell the story of the franchise, the 2015-16 season, and personal details for each recipient.

second to top the 40-44 age category.

The 112.9-kilometer race covers 1.9-kilometer swim, 90-kilometer bike, and 21-kilometer run.

Eyao negotiated the swim phase in 44 minutes, then rode his all-carbon Specialized TT Transition bike in 2:27:45.

He capped his blistering pace with 1:45:51 in the running segment.

Jessie Magat of Team Baqui finished second in 5:33:58 while Aldwin Arevalo of Team Trimac wound up third in 5:42:31.

Rounding up the top 5 are Julian Valencia of Herbalife (5:46:33), and dJoy Reginald Antolin Te of Herbalife (5:48:10).

It was the second straight win for Eyao, representing Manila-based Team Trangko, in the 40-44 class after he also topped this year’s Ironman 70.3 Asia Pacific last August.

It did not come easy for the

diminutive triathlete, who has eight triathlon races across his name, as he found the race tougher than the Ironman.

“Masyadong mahaba ang bike course at maraming uphill, tapos ang run course masyadong mainit at uphill na parang Eden (Toril),” Eyao, a first-timer in the Tri United 3, told Edge Davao in an online interview.

Another Dabawenyo Reggie Reyes took part in the 45-49 age category. Reyes, a banker, finished the race in 6:07:41 for seventh place. Jose Leal won the category title in 5:15:21.

Acea Resort (formerly Dungaree Beach) served as the swim location for the 1.9km swim. From the transition area, the runners proceeded to the bike route outside SBMA and traverse SCTEX going to Dinalupihan, Pampanga and back to Acea Resort. The 21K run proved to be an acid test of enduring spirit as participants

give their all on roads inside Subic Bay Freeport Authority.

Eyao thanked his bike

sponsor TYK Bike Hub Inc., and the Davao City government for supporting him.

off the bucket in a big way in the third, though, as Cleveland scorched the nets in the second half — 25-for-40 (62.5 percent) from the field, 9-for14 (64.3 percent) from longrange — to kick off their repeat bid in style and send the newlook Knicks to their first loss of the season.

After the extended pregame championship ring ceremony and banner-raising, both teams came out looking rusty, combining to shoot just 6-for22 from the field in the first 4

1/2 minutes of play. Playing their first regular-season game under new head coach Jeff Hornacek, the Knicks clearly seemed to be looking to push the pace from the outset, seeking early offense both in transition and with dribble-drives into the paint in half-court sets.

But outside of All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony, who scored 11 of New York’s first 17 points, no other Knick had the early knack; non-Melo Knicks made just two of their first 11 shots.

Cavs’win opens repeat bid

“W

HEN this is over and that banner goes up, there’s only one thing left to do,” said Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert after receiving his 2016 NBA championship ring from Commissioner Adam Silver at center court of Quicken Loans Arena. “Repeat.”

The long journey to backto-back titles begins with a single step, one the Cavs took confidently on Tuesday night, as LeBron James and Kyrie Irving put the hammer down on the visiting New York Knicks in the third quarter to open the 2016-17 NBA season with a 117-88 victory.

James began his evening by feeding red meat to the Northeast Ohio faithful at the ring ceremony — “If you’re not from here, live here, play here, or get yourself to Cleveland, then it makes no sense for you to live at this point,” he said, capping his post-ring-receipt speech with the exclamation, “Cleveland against the world!”

— and continued feeding his people all night. James finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds, 14 assists and one block in 32 minutes of work, notching the 43rd triple-double of his career — and his first ever on an opening night — to pace the Cavs to a victory that they broke open after halftime.

The reigning NBA Finals Most Valuable Player continually toyed with the Knicks’ defense, bending and distorting New York’s coverages and finding open shooters all over

the court, many of which led to 3-point shots in the Cavs’ high-powered offense: 7 of the Cavaliers’ 9 3-pointers have been assisted

by LeBron James. James has 12 assists and the Knicks have 9 — ESPN Stats & Info (@ ESPNStatsInfo) October 26, 2016 While James’ own jumper continued to look a bit iffy, the man who will turn 32 this December and who’s carried an unprecedented workload as he enters his 14th NBA season looked as spry as ever attacking the basket, throwing down a half-dozen thunderous dunks to send charges through the Q. Irving offered the lightning to complement James’ thunder, working over New York’s defenders with his snare-drum tight handle and super-smooth shotmaking on his way to a game-high 29 points on 12-for-22 shooting.

Nineteen of Irving’s points came during a third quarter that saw Cleveland turn a two-possession game into a 20-plus-point laughter in just over six minutes of game time.

Irving made three of his four 3-point tries in the third, helping spark a team-wide turnaround that continued after intermission. In the first half, James and the Cavs offense generated plenty of open looks against a scrambling Knicks defense, but couldn’t convert, going 4-for-21 from beyond the arc. The lid came

LeBron James let the Knicks know early in the third quarter he was done messing around.

16

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