Edge Davao Volume 12 Issue 198 | Friday-Saturday, December 13-14, 2019

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VOL.12 ISSUE 198 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2019

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Despite lifting of Martial Law, military ops to continue: Army

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he Philippine Army assured on Thursday focused military operations will continue to ensure peace and order in the areas under its jurisdiction despite the lifting of Martial Law in Mindanao.

The military supported the non-extension of martial law at the end of the year.

Captain Jerry Lamosao, spokesperson of the Philippine Army's 10th Infantry Division, told Edge Davao that focused military operations, re-

tooled community support program (CSP), intelligence gathering and stakeholders engagement will continue to ensure that Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs) will have no place to roam and conduct their atrocious plans.

"The10ID supports the decision of our leaders, on the national level on non- extension of Martial Law. In order to maintain security posture,” Lamosao said.

He added that the 10ID through Peace and Order Councils and differ-

LIFE, P9

Members of Central 911 Fire Auxiliary Support team haul a sack of Christmas food packs into a vehicle outside a supermarket along Gov. Sales Street in Davao City on Thursday which will be distributed to Davao City's Muslim communities. The city government of Davao prepared thousands of Christmas food packs for various communities in the city including the Lumads in the hinterlands.

Lean Daval Jr

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 198 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte bids farewell to outgoing Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to the Philippines Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, who paid a farewell call to the President at the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

SEC warns public vs P KAPA claims anew

Duterte to veto unconstitutional items in 2020 budget bill - Palace

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he Securities and Exchange Commission this week warned the public against false claims in a YouTube broadcast saying that KAPA Community Ministry International Inc. is already registered with the SEC as a crowd funding entity.

In an advisory received

by Edge Davao yesterday from the SEC information of�ice in Davao City, the Commission said it was made aware of YouTube videos featuring the alleged news relayed by anchors, Roger Abing Camingawan and Daniel Flash Villas in their radio broadcast stating, among others, that KAPA Community Ministry International, Inc. (KAPA) will not be subjected to NBI raid since it is already registered with the Commission as a crowd funding entity as a result of the issuance of SEC Memorandum Circular No. 14, Series of 2019.

Furthermore, in the said YouTube videos, Mr. Camingawan further declared that by virtue of Section 2 Paragraph (Q), “Registrar of Quali�ied Buyers,” KAPA is now registered as a crowdfunding entity and that KAPA is now merely awaiting the document that authorizes them to be a crowdfund-

ing entity.

To set the record straight, KAPA is not registered with the Commission under SEC Memorandum Circular No. 14, Series of 2019 or the Rules and Regulation Governing Crowd Funding either as a crowdfunding intermediary or funding portal, nor has it a pending application before the Commission under said Rules.

Thus, KAPA is not licensed to engage in Crowd Funding.

The public is hereby warned to exercise caution in viewing these kinds of YouTube video posts as they have been found to contain false reports. Samples of these videos are attached herewith for the reference of the public.

Further, KAPA through its counsel on record has disclaimed authorizing the publication of a myriad of posts on social media claiming that only authorized of�icers of KAPA, namely: Rene Catubigan

and Ronnie Garay may speak on behalf of the entity.

The public is reminded that on 14 February 2019, the Commission en banc issued a Cease and Desist Order against KAPA, the respondent Joel A. Apolinario and those acting for and in behalf of KAPA. The dispositive portion of said Cease and Desist Order reads, as follows: “Wherefore, premises considered, KAPA Community Ministry International, Inc., KAPA Kabus Padatuon (Enrich the Poor), KAPA/KAPPA (Kabus Padatoon) KAPA-CO Convenience Store and General Merchandise, KAPA Worldwide Ministry, and/or Mr. Joel Apolinario, their partners, of�icers, directors, agents, representatives, conduits, assigns and any and all persons claiming and acting for and in their behalf are hereby ordered to immediately cease Page 2 of 4 and desist under pain of contempt, from engaging in activities of selling and/ or offering for sale securities in the form of investment contracts in the guise of a donation or any other forms of the same nature, as discussed above.

“Furthermore, the subject entities and individuals are directed to CEASE

from promoting its investment scheme through the internet and/or delete or remove immediately the promotional presentation of such investment scheme from the websites.

“Moreover, to forestall grave damage and prejudice to all concerned and to ensure the preservation of the assets for the bene�it of the investors, respondents or any of their representatives, or any person/s acting for and in their behalf, and such other persons directing or controlling the activities of such corporation, of�icers, representatives, salesmen and agents, are all enjoined from a) transacting any and all business involving the funds in its depository banks, and b) from transferring, disposing or conveying in any other manner any and all assets, properties, real or personal, and including bank deposits, if any, of which the named persons herein may have any interest, claim or participation whatsoever, whether directly or indirectly, under their custody, immediately upon receipt of this Order, until further orders from this Commission.

“The said Cease and Desist Order was eventually made permanent and

SEC, P9

resident Rodrigo Duterte will veto unconstitutional items in the proposed P4.1-trillion national budget for 2020, Malacañang said Thursday, following claims of “insertions” in the spending plan.

The 2020 budget bill is now up for Duterte’s signature after the Senate and House of Representatives rati�ied the bicameral conference report on Wednesday. “[The] provisions in the budget that run counter to the Constitution will be vetoed by the President. There is no change in that policy,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a message to reporters.

Earlier, Senator Pan�ilo Lacson said at least 1,253 budget items worth P83.219 billion were apparently used as the congressmen's "source" of

their "list" of 742 projects worth P16.345 billion that were inserted in the bicameral conference committee report signed by Senate and House panels on Wednesday.

Lacson said he received information that many of the insertions were the items vetoed by the President in the 2019 budget.

Also on Thursday, Lacson said the Senate will inform Duterte of what he claimed to be “questionable insertions” in the 2020 national budget.

“Ang mangyayari ngayon, nag-usap kami nina SP (Senate President Vicente Sotto III) at Senator (Sonny) Angara, �inance chair.

Ililista namin ang lahat na questionable items at ‘yan ay ipapadala namin, inform namin,” Lacson said in an interview.

“Of course we cannot

DUTERTE, P8

Army vows to fight terror groups in Central Mindanao without ML

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he chief of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID) vowed to continue to impose stricter security measures to prevent lawless elements from sowing terror even without martial law.

“Our campaign against terrorists, against people in possession of loose �irearms and criminals, will continue with or without martial law,” Maj. Gen. Diosdado Carreon told reporters here in an interview on Tuesday.

Carreon, who also heads the Joint Task Force Central (JTFC), made the

assurance after President Rodrigo Duterte signi�ied he will no longer seek the extension of martial law in Mindanao after it expires on December 31.

The 6ID 6ID commander said their units will maintain its alert status and strengthen strategies to prevent terrorists from in�licting harm to civilian communities.

The JTFC’s area of operation includes Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, parts of North Cotabato, parts of Lanao del Sur and the cities of Cotabato and Tacurong.

ARMY, P8

VOL.12 ISSUE 198 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2019

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VOL.12 ISSUE 198 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2019

MinDA, DavOr gov’t join hands to protect ‘million-dollar tree’

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Department of Trade and Industry 11 (DTI 11) director Maria Belenda Ambi, together with assistant director Edwin Banquerigo, discusses the agency’s accomplishments this year during its Annual Media Interface held at Pinnacle Hotel on Thursday. Lean Daval Jr

Radio transmitter in DavOro torched

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radio transmitter located in Purok Mahayahay in Mawab, Davao de Oro, was burned by two unidenti�ied men on Wednesday evening.

Pat Lucero Pacquiao, owner of the Tagum Citybased 99.9 RP-FM transmitter, said the damage is estimated at around PHP700,000.

“I received a report

from my staff saying two men arrived in the transmitter site and entered the control room and burned the equipment inside,” he told the Philippine News Agency on Thursday.

Tagum City purok chiefs get insurance coverage

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AGUM CITY- Taking into consideration the potential hazard or risk to the lives of the peacekeeping forces in the city, the local government unit of Tagum renewed on Sunday, December 8, 2019, the insurance coverage of 886 peacekeepers in Tagum City when it handed to them an insurance certi�icate during the 6th Peacekeepers General Assembly at the City Hall.

The Insurance Certi�icate for Personal Accident covers Accidental Death/ Dismemberment/Disablement worth P50,000, Unprovoked Murder or Assault (P50,000), Accidental Medical Reimbursement (P5,000) and Accidental Burial Bene�it (P5,000).

The insurance coverage afforded to the peacekeepers was in view of the enactment of City Ordinance No. 21, series of

2002, or the Tagum City Peacekeepers Organization (TACIPEOR) which provided for policies and guidelines in the establishment and operation of the said organization.

City General Services Of�icer Jalmaida Morales said in an interview that the insurance coverage of the peacekeepers is renewed annually, with the effectivity of the recently handed out insurance certi�icates commencing on December 14.

According to the local legislation, the peacekeepers organization is composed of Purok Leaders of the city.

Notably, the 17-year old local legislation specifically stated that the ordinance is only applicable to existing puroks duly created before its enactment in February 2002.

TAGUM, P8

Pacquiao said he remains clueless about the motive of the perpetrators but suspected that it might be related to some of his hard-hitting radio commentary.

“It might be one of the reasons, but I’m still waiting on the result of the investigation,” Pacquiao said.

He added that the incident could also be connected to the slay-try on him last October.

Pacquiao survived an ambush in Tagum City when an unidenti�ied man shot and wounded him as he was heading home after his radio morning program.

“I also presume that since they failed the attempt on my life, they now try to destroy my source of living,” he said.

Police said it was still investigating the incident as of posting time. (PNA)

Purok leaders, who are also designated as members of the city’s peacekeeping force, receive two-wY hand-held radios, cash incentive amounting to 2,000 pesos, and a sack of rice from the City Government

he Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and the provincial government here agreed on Tuesday, to start the Agarwood Protection and Propagation Program to save the province’s fabled “million-dollar” tree.

In his Facebook post on Wednesday, Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said that Governor Nelson Dayanghirang has informed him that Agarwood Tree, locally known as “Lapnisan,” grows wild in the province but is now threatened by poaching because of the highly-valued resin produced from the tree.

“Governor Dayanghirang brought up Agarwood during my meeting yesterday (Tuesday) with the members of the Indigenous People’s communities, mostly Kalagan, where the MinDA presented the Green Mindanao Project which proposes tree farming in critical watershed

areas,” he said.

He added that the governor asked about the propagation of Agarwood since it is growing wild in the mountains of the province “I have long heard of the incredible value of Agarwood but I dismissed it as another tall tale and another get-rich-quick product which victimized farmers in the past,” Piñol said.

“When I checked on the available information about Agarwood did I realize the value of the tree whose resin is processed into perfume, and resin is believed to have medicinal value,” he added.

Following the recommendation of Dayanghirang, MinDA will craft the Davao Oriental Agarwood Protection and Propagation Program to conserve the remaining Lapnisan trees in the forests of the

MINDA, P8

PNP, PDEA say over 200,000 nabbed in 3-year drug war

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he number of persons arrested in the government’s drug war has breached the 200,000mark, authorities reported Thursday as they sought more arrests of high-value targets.

A total of 220,728 people were arrested in 151,601 anti-illegal drug operations from July 1, 2016, up to Nov. 30, according to a “Real Numbers” update by the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The death toll in the drug war meanwhile inched higher but stayed at the 5,00-mark at 5,582.

A total of 8,185 high-value targets were arrested, 2,290 of which are in the President’s list.

“We need more arrests of high-value targets,” PDEA Director General

Aaron Aquino said.

He added that authorities are also on the lookout for about 186 drug rings in the country.

The said drug groups, according to Aquino, are included in President Duterte’s list of over 12,000 high-value drug targets, which covers government of�icials ranging from congressmen to village chiefs.

Authorities also reported that a total of 42,025 villages were cleared of illicit drugs while 17,175 have yet to be cleared.

Law enforcers have also dismantled a total of 433 drug dens and laboratories since the war on drugs started 3 years ago.

The amount of illegal drugs and drug-related materials seized by authorities has reached P40.39 billion of which P31.25 billion is “shabu.”

PNP, P9

of Tagum, on top of the insurance coverage for them under the care of the local government. CIO Tagum

VOL.12 ISSUE 198 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2019

5 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

Term deposit rates mixed anew

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Cebu Landmasters, Inc. chief operating officer Jose Franco Soberano provides details of the company’s upcoming projects in Davao City during the blessing of The Paragon showroom at Edge Bldg., along Jacinto Ext. and E. Qurino Avenue in Davao City on Wednesday. These projects are

the 2nd tower of The Paragon located in MacArthur highway in Matina, the Davao Global Township (DGT) in Matina, the Casa Mira Towers in the Lyceum Township and for a property recently acquired in Magtuod, Maa. Lean Daval Jr

he rates of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) term facilities ended mixed anew on Wednesday, with undersubscription registered in the longest-tenor facilities.

The rate of the seven-day term deposit facility (TDF) rose to 4.3040 percent from 4.2834 percent during the auction last December 4.

The central bank offered this facility for PHP60 billion and received PHP66.835 billion worth of tenders. The auction committee made a full award.

Last week, this tenor was offered for PHP60 billion, and got PHP56.572 billion worth of bids.

Its bid coverage ratio improved to 1.1139 from 0.9429 in the previous auction.

The rate of the 15-day facility, on the other hand, declined to 4.3249 percent from the previous week’s 4.3310 percent.

It was offered for PHP60 billion and received ten-

ders totaling PHP69.993 billion. The auction committee made a full award.

Bid coverage ratio declined to 1.1666 from 1.1231.

This was offered for PHP60 billion last week and tenders was higher at PHP67.388 billion.

The average rate of the 28-day TDF, meanwhile, slipped to 4.3496 percent from week-ago’s 4.3522 percent.

Bid coverage ratio went down to 0.7452 from last week’s 1.0314 after tenders only amounted to PHP44.71 billion against the PHP60-billion offer.

This was offered for PHP50 billion last week and received PHP51.568 billion worth of bids.

BSP Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila Jr. said the higher offering for the longest-tenor facility was “due to expected higher liquidity from the implementation of the reduction in reserve requirements of banks.”

“The auction results

dustry cluster, DTI 11 conducted the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) in Compostela Valley Province in March this year and discussed the issues and concerns that will serve as an input to the plans and activities of the industry.

A presentation showed potential market of bamboo fabrics and its huge demand from the domestic markets.

On the banana industry cluster, the agency also spearheaded the conduct of the banana Productivity Enhancement Activity and farm visit of the seven agrarian reform bene�iciary cooperatives composed of 35 agrarian reform bene�iciaries and small banana growers in Davao del Norte.

TERM, P8

DTI 11 reports accomplishments in promoting region’s high value crops

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he regional of�ice of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI 11) reported its accomplishments in promoting the region’s high value crops during its preliminary annual performance report on Thursday of the various sectors and industries from January to November 2019.

In the cacao industry cluster, DTI 11 reported a successful facilitation of the Businesw Matching Session with the European delegation and the Davao City chocolate processors and farmers organization last May 27 where at least P16,000 was generated in terms of sales for the cacao lamps from Teles Lamps; provision of cacao bean

samples to Save Chocolates by Subasta Integrated farmers Multi-purpose Cooperative; featuring of cacao leaves during Salon Du Chocolat in Paris in October 2019; and technology sharing.

The agency also conducted public consultation meeting on the revised cacao speci�ications last September 19 in Davao City

which was attended by 50 cacao stakeholders.

To improve farm productivity and increase production and access to quality planting materials, a cacao doctors’ training was also conducted last march 4 to 7 which was attended by cacao farmers. To strengthen the effort, the cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao Inc (CIDAMI) also conducted cacao bean pro�iling and bean grading which is very relevant in cacao processing.

DTI 11 also conducted a consultative meeting with the province of Davao del Sur’s cacao growers to identify gaps and further assistance needed to increase production volume.

On the coconut in-

dustry cluster, DTI 11 addressed production gaps by conducting a consultative meetings with various coconut farmer groups in Davao del Sur. It also addressed other issues in order to meet volume requirement of existing buyers. The agency also facilitated visit of the of�icials of Guangzhou Food Enterprises Association (GFEA) namely President Mai Jiaying and vice presidents Ma Haiping and Lian Peiqiang last September 9 to 10 in Davao City.

The said of�icials also met with the coconut stakeholders from Davao Region to discuss possible partnership since the demand for coconut products in Guangzhou, China have been on the rise.

Likewise their company was able to visit some of the coconut farms and participated in the Davao Agri-Trade Expo (DATE) in September this year.

For the coffee industry cluster, the Davao Occidental and Davao Oriental Coffee Councils were organized. These Ad hoc provincial coffee council were anchored on the Davao Region Coffee Council which aims to promote the coffee industry in the region.

DTI 11, Department of Tourism 11, and ACDI/ VOCA PhilCaFE spearheaded the conduct of the Specialty Coffee Forum dubbed as Promoting Local Tourism through culture and coffee last August 8, 2019.

For the bamboo in-

“However, it needs to further strengthen its ability to undertake rigorous competition enforcement for merger review and antitrust investigations, and competition research and advocacy. This has been particularly dif�icult for a new competition authority struggling to invest in its human capital while competing with the deeper pockets of large corporations,” he said in a press brie�ing on Wednesday.

Balisacan also underscored the need to empower relevant agencies so they can more effectively carry out their mandates related to the promotion of competition, including the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Department

of Justice, and Of�ice of the Solicitor General.

“History and experience have shown that authorities operating in silos and without securing the support of fellow government agencies are rarely successful in implementing their policies,” he added.

The six-year project will provide government staff with opportunities to further their education and skills relevant to competition law and economics, including through non-degree programs, short-term courses, distance learning courses, secondments and scholarships for degree programs.

It will establish a center of excellence in competition law and policy at the University of the Philip-

pines to expand the number of local experts on antitrust, competition policy, and research and advocacy.

Principal Country Specialist Cristina Lozano said, “the role of the academic community is very important so the government is to nurture local expertise in this �ield in the long term.”

Lozano said such a center of excellence in competition law and policy will also collaborate with other international centers of excellence and universities.

“So it’s an opportunity for the Philippines to be called a leader also in competition policy,” she added.

Jose Antonio Tan III, director for Public Management, Financial Sector, and Trade at ADB’s Southeast

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ADB loan boosts PH's fight vs. anti-competition practices

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he Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) has secured USD23.3-million loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to help build its capacity and of other government agencies to promote healthy business competition in the country.

PCC chairperson Arsenio Balisacan said the loan will �inance the Capacity Building to Foster Competition Project that provides technical assistance and support for agencies with competition-related mandates to expand operations.

Balisacan said the Commission has built the country’s competition policy framework that will guide the private and public sectors in the coming years.

ADB, P8

Now Telecom inks deal with Aboitiz Infra, Frontier Tower for common telco towers

ow Telecom Co. Inc. has signed deals with Aboitiz InfraCapital Inc. and Frontier Tower Associates Management Pte. to lease common telecommunications towers.

The companies have agreed to discuss and negotiate the lease of build-tosuit sites, towers, and passive telecommunications infrastructure and facilities that will be made available for the installation of Now’s facilities and equipment in order to provide telecommunications and internet services.

“We welcome the government’s initiative to foster tower sharing because it reduces the cost of deployment while also accelerating the network rollout

as ‘dif�icult or costly to acquire’ sites become feasible as the cost is shared among operators,” Now Telecom president Rodolfo Pantoja said in a statement on Thursday.

“We started our engagement with the Aboitiz Group for the provision of broadband connectivity to Union Bank of the Philippines. We are happy to explore more opportunities with Aboitiz and its partner, Frontier Tower Associates, in key areas such as shared infrastructure,” Pantoja said.

On June 19, Aboitiz Infra and Frontier Tower signed a cooperation agreement to develop, construct, operate, and maintain com-

TELECOM, P8

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 198 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2019

EDITORIAL Post-Martial Law optimism Mindanao can move on forward to a post-Martial Law period.

The decision of President Rodrigo Duterte, upon the recommendation by the military, to lift Martial Law in Mindanao will �inally remove the ignominy of being tagged as troubled section of this country--an image that has stalled Mindanao’s development despite efforts of the administration to bring projects and services that will �inally put it in good standing in the trade, investment and tourism community.

Davao City, for one, will bene�it much from this. Far from the �ield of battle in Marawi City, Davao City clearly suffered from the declaration of Martial Law with several foreign governments issuing travel advisories to its citizens. In effect,

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the proclamation stymied Davao City from progressing to full potential. It has been the recommendation of the business community, in response to reactions from would-be investors, that the city be freed from the cudgels of martial law.

With the decision of her father to end Mindanao’s martial law, Mayor Sara Duterte was �irst to celebrate. Rightfully so, it is long time coming. Davao City had been praying to be exempted from the martial law coverage if only to put its thrust towards promoting the city for investments and tourism chugging like a well oiled machine.

Finally, Davao City can expect more foreign tourists and investors to the city in the days ahead after the martial law shall have lapsed.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

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ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. ADAM B. MORRELL DR. MAURO L. PUYOD CHRISTIAN JAY H. RAFAL CHA MONFORTE Cartoonist Layout/Cartoons Correspondent Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR.,TRIA • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: ANTONIO V.“ADI” FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO •B.JOHN CARLO • MUJAHID NAVARRA ••FRED C. LUMBA • DENNIS R. GORECHO ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO •“GICO” G. S. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER GREGORIO G. DELIGERO VIDA MIA VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE M. PEREZ

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VOL.12 ISSUE 198 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2019

VANTAGE POINTS

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ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

FERNANDEZ HERMANOS, SHIPPERS Fernandez Hermanos is not just an owner of lands in Samal island and the old town of Davao. During prewar period, it also played a signi�icant role in the country’s maritime transport system, especially in the shipment of hemp from Mindanao, after it acquired in 1912 the majority shares of Compañia Maritima, a Spanish shipping �irm founded in 1894.

Fernandez Hermanos was founded by three brothers, namely Vicente, who died weeks before taking over the shipping �irm; Jose, who died in 1939; and Ramon, who later became Manila mayor and senator. In 1937, during the Commonwealth, they also acquired the Varadero de Manila. The siblings carried dual Filipino and Spanish citizenships.

The purchase of the shipping �irm’s majority stocks led the Fernandez brothers to open a branch in Davao. Feliciano Iñigo, with a medical background, was appointed as �irst manager.

When Compañia Maritima’s interisland route expanded by �ielding more ships, its steward and cabin services were

improved, and new improvements introduced. In 1926, the Fernandez Hermanos, which was alternately identi�ied as the shipping �irm, opened its direct steamer service between Manila and Davao with Zamboanga as the only intermediate stop.

Contrary to reports, Fernandez Hermanos strongly backed Davao as an open port and supported an appeal addressed to Governor-General Leonard Wood. Some 470 merchants, planters, and residents of various nationalities signed the letter, which was endorsed by “the insular collector of customs, the legislature, the shipping board, the American chamber of commerce, the Portland chamber of commerce, Messrs.

Welch-Fairchild, Ltd. and D. Ramon Fernandez, as representative of Fernandez Hermanos.”

In the October 1925 issue of The American Chamber of Commerce Journal, the petition, which cited the need to secure funds to cover the salaries of port of�icials and the maintenance of the customs house in case Davao became a port of entry, was received by the Ameri-

can chamber. In its response, it replied: “During the year 1924 there was exported from the port of Davao, 149,341 bales of hemp and 1,056 tons of copra, on this there was paid as wharfage P38,081.95 and P2,112.00. The value of the hemp exported was approximately P9,000,000 and of the copra P250,000 and there was paid a sales tax of approximately P138,750.

“The total number of bales of hemp pressed in Davao was, in round numbers 175,000 and at ten cents per bale P17,500 was paid to the Government of the Philippine Islands as inspection fees. Local wharfage charges amounting to P7,000 were collected from the Stevedoring Co. and boat operators.

“These items, approximating P200,000.00, would indicate that Davao would from the start more than pay its way, and, in addition, the output of Davao is constantly growing, and the revenues will increase, and “Whereas, the exports from Davao are now much more than both of the ports of Zamboanga and Jolo, together and Where-

as, the cost of living in Davao is abnormally high due to the fact that all products necessarily imported must be transshipped from Manila, Cebu or Zamboanga at a heavy and unnecessary expense, and “Whereas, the cost of labor in Davao is very high in comparison with other large producing Provinces of the Philippines, directly due to the high cost of living in Davao.

“Therefore, the Davao Chamber of Commerce urgently requests the Government of the Philippine Islands, to make Davao a �irst-class port of entry for the following reasons: “First, the �igures shown above as Governmental revenues certainly warrant it.

“Second, the citizens of Davao should have equal opportunities for moderate cost of living as those of other provinces.

“Third, the merchants of Davao deserve equal opportunities with the merchants of other more favored communities to export and import their wares direct.”

The petition was later realized with the setting aside of funds for the concreting of the

Santa Ana pier and its recognition as the second port of entry in Mindanao after Zamboanga.

After the war, Compañia Maritima, meanwhile, continued to operate and even owned the country’s best and biggest vessels brought as brand-new liners from Europe. When most of its ships were hit by numerous tragedies due to typhoons and other calamities, the �irm started to sink. The last vessel it acquired before �inally �iling bankruptcy in 1980 was M/V Mindanao.

Earlier, Congress, on June 17, 1950, passed Republic Act 547, granting Fernandez Hermanos, Inc., lest known as the shipping �irm’s majority owner, “a temporary permit to construct, maintain and operate private �ixed point-to-point and private coastal radio stations for the reception and transmission of radio communications within the Philippines.”

Until today, the Fernandez Hermanos, as a surviving company, still operates in Davao City. It has its own building from where it handles mostly real estate and non-shipping activities.

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH “Truth is like a bright full moon in a dark country sky.

Powerful, bright and undeniable. Lies are like clouds that continually try to cover that moon. Sometimes, they might be able to cover the moon, but only temporarily. The truth will always outshine the clouds.” – Alex Haditaghi in As I Leave Her *** The Bible states it directly, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

In his book, Reminiscences, General Douglas MacArthur – known in the Philippines for his famous quote, “I shall return!”

– recalled a classroom experience he had as a West Point cadet. His class was studying the time-space relationship, which the great genius Albert Einstein later called his “Theory of Relativity.”

The text was very complicated and Cadet MacArthur could not �igure out what it was all about. So, he just memorized the pages concerned.

When he was called upon to recite, he dutifully reeled off almost word for word what the book said. The instructor looked at him in a puzzled sort of way and inquired, “Do you understand his theory?”

It was a bad moment for the young cadet, but he stood upstraight and answered bravely, “No, sir.”

Hearing his answer, everyone in the class seemed to stop breathing. You could have heard a pin drop. The young MacArthur braced himself and waited. Then, the instructor said very slowly, “Neither do I, Cadet MacArthur. The class is dismissed.”

“Truth is generally the best vindication against slander,” wrote American president Abraham in a letter to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton.

There is also truth to this statement by Arthur Schopenhauer: “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”

“So, what was it then exactly this truth-telling?” asked Graham Swift wrote Mothering Sunday. “It was about being true to the very stuff of life, it was about trying to capture, though you never could, the very feel of being alive. It was about �inding a language.

And it was about being true to the fact, the one thing only followed from the other, that many things in life – of so many

more than we think – can never be explained at all.”

Truth is stranger than �iction, so goes a familiar saying.

Oftentimes, however, people prefer to listen to �iction than knowing the truth. From Gems of Thought comes this anecdote: One Sunday, a clergyman was preaching one Sunday and noticed that his congregation was drowsing. Suddenly, he paused, and then in a very loud voice, related an incident that had no connection whatsoever with his sermon.

“I was once visiting a village and came to the house of a farmer,” the clergyman related. “I stopped for a bit when I saw something stranger than I had ever seen in my life. There was a sow with a litter of ten little pigs. She and each of her piglets had a long-curved horn growing out their forehead between the ears.”

At this point, the clergyman stopped his story and ran his eyes over the congregation.

Everybody was wide awake now. “How strange,” he told the audience. “A few minutes ago, when I was telling you the truth, you all went to sleep. But now, when you have heard a whooping lie, you are all wide

awake!”

“How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?” wrote Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in his Sherlock Holmes novel, The Sign of Four.

The truth shall set us free but it does not always win. Allow me to share this anecdote taken from Reader’s Digest: Four frogs were sitting on a tree trunk �loating at the edge of a river. Suddenly, the current started to pull it downstream.

The frogs were thrilled because none had ever sailed before.

Minutes later, the �irst frog spoke, “This is a wonderful log.

It moves as if it were alive.”

Whereupon, the second frog said, “No, my friend, the log is not moving. The river is.” To which the third frog disputed, “You’re both wrong. The movement is strictly in your mind; for without thought nothing can move.”

The three argued and argued and got nowhere, and so they asked the silent fourth frog what he thought. “Each of you is right, and none of you is wrong,” the fourth frog explained. “The movement is in the tree trunk, in the water, and

also in your minds.”

None of the three frogs wanted to admit that the fourth frog was telling the truth and each of the other frogs believed they were right. So, the three frogs decided to throw the fourth frog into the river.

“Truth is tough,” pointed out Oliver Wendell Holmes in The Professor at the Breakfast Table. “It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch, nay, you may kick it all about all day like a football, and it will be round and full at evening.”

“Truth exists,” someone once said, “only falsehood has to be invented.” After all, “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened,” dismissed Sir Winston Churchill.

And we should listen to the words of Edith Sitwell: “The public will believe anything, so long as it is not founded on truth.” According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies.”

And what did Mark Twain write in Advice to Youth? “The history of our race, and each individual’s experience, are sown thick with evidence that a truth is not hard to kill and that a lie told well is immortal.”

8 EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 198 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2019

NOTICE OF AUCTION The VGM Pawnshop, Inc. will hold a Public Auction Sale to all unredeemed and unrenewed items on the following schedule listed below at 9:00 O’clock in the morning.

Ang VGM Pawnshop, Inc. magasubasta sa tanang prenda nga wala nalukat sa maong sumusunod nga mga petsa sa alas 9:00 sa buntag.

BRANCHES

DATE PAWNED

DAVAO Sasa Maa Panabo Main Panabo Branch

DAVAO A member of Central 911 Fire Auxiliary Support team carrying a sack of Christmas food packs walks by piles of sacks of food packs inside a supermarket along Gov. Sales Street in Davao City on Thursday which will be distributed in some communities in the city. Lean Daval Jr

TERM... FROM5

were generally in line with the BSP’s expectations,”

he said, adding undersubscription on the lon-

gest tenor facility was due to banks’ preference for

shorter tenors ahead of the holidays. (PNA)

mon towers.

Aboitiz Infra brings to this project the Aboitiz conglomerate’s extensive experience in building and

operating provincial utility networks like the Visayan Electric Co. Inc., Davao Light and Power Co. Inc., and Cotabato Light and

Power, Now Telecom said.

Frontier Tower, a member of established international tower �irm Frontier Tower Associates Group, is

experienced in rolling out and operating thousands of towers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations region.

Asia Regional Department, said the ADB support aims to help the Philippines eliminate barriers to business entry and anti-com-

petitive practices in many sectors of the economy, which affects prices for consumers.

“By fostering better

enforcement of the competition law, this project will also help the government sustain economic growth in the Philippines, which

at an average of 6.3 percent annually from 2010 to 2018, is among the fastest in Southeast Asia,” he said.

(PNA)

TELECOM... FROM5 ADB... FROM5

MANAGING... FROM10 garbage is generated by Filipinos every day, according to a paper, “Status of Solid Waste Management in the Philippines,” written by Alicia Castillo and Suehiro Otoma. “On the average, each person in the country produces about 0.5 kilogram and 0.3 kilogram of garbage every day in the urban and rural areas, respectively,” the two authors wrote.

Plastics are part of solid waste generated by Filipinos. A 2015 study conducted by the University of Georgia showed 81% of plastics waste in the country was mismanaged.

“Once plastic is discarded, it is not well managed,” deplores Agata E. Pawlowska, World Bank acting director for Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

The word plastic comes from the Greek plastikos, which means “capable of being shaped or molded.”

It refers to their malleability or plasticity during manufacture, which allows them to be cast, pressed, or extruded into a variety of shapes – such as �ilms, �ibers, plates, tubes, bottles, boxes and much more.

History records showed the world’s �irst synthetic plastic was invented in New York in 1907 by Leo Baekeland. “Due to its relatively

low cost, convenience, versatility, ease of manufacture and imperviousness to water,” the Washington, D.C.-based Worldwatch Institute reports, “plastic exploded in popularity as a material.”

From two million tons in 1950, plastic production increased worldwide to 380 million tons in 2015, according to Science Advances. Of the 7.8 billion tons of plastic produced between 1950 and 2015, about half has been produced in the last 13 years.

The increase in plastic production is faster than the increase in world population.

Take the case of plastic bottles. Globally, humans buy a million plastic bottles per minute, according to Trevor Nace, science senior contributor of Forbes. As if that is not enough, 91% of all plastic is not recycled.

Now read this: next year, over half a trillion plastic bottles will be sold.

The United Nations Environment Program says between 22% and 43% of the plastic used worldwide is disposed of in land�ills, where its resources are wasted, the material takes up valuable space, and it blights communities.

“If we continue at our current pace, we will need

new planets as land�ills,” deplored Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research.

What is alarming is that most of the plastics end up in the oceans. “Over 80% of ocean plastics comes from the land – it is discarded and not well managed and thus leaks into the ocean,” a study conducted by Ocean Conservancy found out.

“Only 20% is thrown directly or purposefully into the ocean from ships, drilling rigs, etc.”

The Ocean Conservancy study also discovered that 75% of leakage comes from waste that is uncollected by waste management systems, while the remaining 25% of leakage happens from within the system itself.

A recent report stated that 80% of the plastic that is �illing the oceans comes from 20 countries in the world. The Philippines is one of the top three contributors of plastic waste in the world’s oceans, said Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, citing a United Nations report.

The Philippines contributes 1.88 million tons into the earth’s oceans every year, according to the World Bank. China, the top in the list, contributes about 8.82 million tons of

plastic wastage with Indonesia ranks next as it contributes 3.22 million tons.

“If current trends continue, by 2050, there may be more plastic than �ish in the ocean, by weight,” Pawlowska warns.

“Our insatiable dependence on plastic has led us to a man-made environmental crisis which is currently still growing in size,” Global Initiatives pointed out. “Our oceans and beaches are increasingly awash with waste plastic, while plastic dumping and land�ill is at an all-time high.”

Plastic is a material made to last forever, yet 33% of all plastics are used just once and thrown away.

“Disposed plastic materials can remain in the environment for up to 2,000 years and longer,” wrote Barry E. DiGregorio in an article.

Meanwhile, Darrell Blatchley reported that 62 whales and dolphins have already died in the vicinity of Davao City in the last 10 years. At least 47 of those pointed to plastic products and their variants as culprits.

“It’s clear that we need to stop plastic at the source,” he said. “Not only is plastic killing marine wildlife; it’s also killing us as well.” (To be concluded)

Sandawa Matina Ulas

June 1-30, 2019

June 1-30, 2019

DATE & PLACE OF AUCTION Dec. 20, 2019 (Friday) 9:00 AM VGM Pawnshop, Inc, Panabo Main VGM BLDG. Quirino St. Panabo City July 27, 2019 (Friday) 9:00 AM VGM Pawnshop, Inc, Matina, Branch VGM BLDG. Km.06, McArthur H-way, Matina, Davao City

THE MANAGEMENT 12/11,12,13

DUTERTE... FROM2

in�luence the President.

But we can inform him and DBM (Department of Budget and Management) na ito ang sa tingin namin ang questionable at maaaring hindi maimplementa o kung maimplementa man, hindi tama ang pag-implementa,” he added.

In April, Duterte removed P95.37 billion

worth of public works appropriations from the original P3.757-trillion spending plan this year.

The President said then that the items, which came as a result of post-rati�ication budget realignments made by lawmakers, were not within the “programmed priorities” of the government.

Carreon said the JTFC will not waver in its efforts to eradicate and put a stop to terror groups such as the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and Dawlah Islamiyah.

Military visibility will continue in crime-prone areas and zones where the IS groups are operating in the region, he said.

Meanwhile, Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi said that if she had her way, martial law

should be retained as it has "helped improve the city’s peace and order situation."

“We, the city of�icials, want martial law to be retained but will respect the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte,” Guiani-Sayadi added.

The mayor said curfew hours being implemented in the city through a local ordinance has produced good results for the city.

The city has been implementing curfew from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. (PNA)

The LGU also handed to each of the peacekeepers one sack of rice and a cash incentive of P2,000, as prescribed in the ordinance, and provided them

with a two-way hand-held radios to strengthen their peacekeeping activities, especially during emergencies. Richi Gulle/CIO Tagum

province.

“Had I not traveled to Davao Oriental to present the Green Mindanao Project, how would I have known that the tale about Agarwood is true and that the tree grows wild in the mountains,” he said.

Piñol added that Lapnisan or Agarwood also grows in other parts of Mindanao and there is a need for its protection and propagation as it could

generate more income for the locals.

“Once again I have to emphasize that of�icials like me must really get out of our air-conditioned of�ices and travel to the neglected parts of the country,” he said.

He added: “We might just �ind the answers to the problems of poverty in the countryside by talking to people and discovering new things.” (PNA)

ARMY... FROM2

TAGUM... FROM4 MINDA... FROM4

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VOL.12 ISSUE 198 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2019

EDGEDAVAO UP AND ABOUT

HOLIDAY FITNESS IN YOUR MIND

By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS will always be something to look forward to. Except that it also means a whole lot of binging, not going to the gym, gaining weight and coming out on the first of January feeling pretty bad about one’s self.

Extra festivities mean lots of opportunities for extra eating and drinking and the hectic holiday schedules leave little to no time for working off the extra calories. As a result, many of us pick up some unwelcome weight between now and New Year’s Day. Sounds familiar? You got heaps of company.

Entering into the so-called crucial part of the holidays where the corporate parties and catch ups begin, it’s time to get into the holiday fitness mood by setting goals early. That’s the way to meet the challenge.

Davao City’s fitness mecca--Arcadia Fitness Gym-get’s you battle-ready for the holidays. First, you can jump in with a member buddy for that Buddy Weekend free workout every Saturdays and Sundays.

If that ain’t enough, how about Gym Membership as a present? It could be your wish-list or a present to yourself. Arcadia’s Gift of Membership is being offered at cutdown prices for an ideal present.

Monthly membership is slashed down to P2,400 from P3,000, Quarterly for P6,700 from P7,650 and Annual for P24,000 from P27,540. This promo runs until January 10 so everyone can take advantage of this by ringing (0917) 146 4304 or (0923) 104 2585.

Arcadia boasts of the top-of-the-line gym equipment and its battery of coaches and training experts provide topnotch training from individual to group classes.

As this time of year is an especially challenging time to focus on fitness, buying in to a membership cements that commitment to stay fit and survive the binge.

HOLIDAY FITNESS A2

EDGED

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UP AND ABOUT

TEAM LAKAY AND GLOBE AMBASSADOR INIONG WINS KICKBOXING GOLD IN 2019 SOUTHEAST ASIAN GAMES GINA INIONG leaned on her veteran savvy to give the country another gold to highlight an outstanding performance by the country in the kickboxing event as the 2019 Southeast Asian Games comes to a close.

Iniong, a mainstay of Team Lakay and a Globe Ambassador, withstood the aggressive start of her Thai opponent Apichaya Mingkhwan, 3-0 to win the gold medal in the women’s 55 KG Kick Light category.

Iniong, a veteran mixed martial arts athlete who switched to kickboxing just for the 30th edition of the Southeast Asian Games, took her time to frustrate and even knocked down her Thai opponent several times in posting the convincing win.

“Hindi nasayang ang hirap at pagod namin sa training lalo na first time ko lumaban para sa bayan at dito pa sa kickboxing,” an elated Iniong said after her gold medal winning performance at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Iniong wins gave Team Lakay a total of three gold medals in the biennial event.

Teammate Jean Claude Saclag went all out against Mohammed Bin Mahmoud to win the gold in the men’s 63.5 KG Low Kick category.

Jerry Olsim earlier won the gold medal in the men’s 69 KG Kick Light finals after outclassing Sarayut Klinming, 3-0.

“It has been a wonderful Southeast Asian Games experience for Team Lakay and our athletes. Not only they brought honor and fame for Globe, Team Lakay delivered and did their part to ensure that the Philippines will reign king once more in the region after several years of frustrations and defeats. They made our countrymen proud. Kaya naman pala talaga pag sama-sama tayo,” Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO added.

Aside from the three gold medals, Renalyn Daquel gave the Philippines the silver in the women’s 48 KG kickboxing category. Jomar Balagui also took home the silver in men’s KG low kick bracket while Karol Maguilde added the bronze in the men’s 51 KG full contact event.

SUNRISE EVENTS, A PART OF T GROUP DOMINATES SPORTS TOU

SUNRISE EVENTS INC., A part of the IRONMAN group and its flagship triathlons IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 dominated the recently concluded Philippine Sports Tourism Awards. Sunrise Events Inc. was bestowed a total of three awards for impeccable sports tourism management and their continued commitment to promote sports tourism in the country.

Organized by Selrahco PR and Primetime Plan Bravo, the Philippine Sports Tourism Awards, now in its 3rd year, sought to recognize and celebrate the movers and shakers of sports as a major pillar of Philippine tourism. Different institutions which were awarded the prestigious PSTA trophies varied from governments, private companies, venues, conventions, and more. A total of 14 awards were presented in the Grand Bar & Lounge of Resorts World Manila, Pasay City.

Sunrise Events together with the City of Davao received the award for Destination Marketing of the Year for their efforts in underpinning Mindanao as a safe and happy place for sports despite the dire aftermath of the Marawi siege the year prior. The 2018 70.3 Ironman filled slots the same day they opened and brought together local and international triathletes to the undeniable charm of Davao City.

The 3rd PSTA also recognized Sunrise Events Inc.’s pulsing efforts up north. The 2018 IRONMAN in Subic Bay marked the first time that IRONMAN went full distance.

This racked up over 1,000 triathletes as a result. The award was received together with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority for the

Princess Galura, the General Manager of Sunrise Events Inc. receives the award for Events Organizer of the year for their annual sporting events across the country. Sunrise manages some 12-15 annual sporting events that garners over a thousand participants.

She is joined on stage by award presented Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. of the Department of Tourism, PSTA Founder Charles Lim, and Primetime CEO Pauland Dumlao

HOLIDAY FITNESS A1 Now, with a little planning, one can still enjoy the season and emerge in the New Year feeling good about your fitness.

The most important thing is to not lose all the fun during this season.

Remember to relax a little. Enjoy holiday traditions and embrace special times with friends and family.

Don’t be too hard on yourself in the coming weeks trying to lose weight the day after binges.

Staying focused in doing your best to maintain your fitness level and make it to New Year’s Day without any new pounds showing up on the scale is the key. That alone is something worth celebrating.

Lalie Novero (S Maria Cecilia B Association Ph Magsino (Marc Remollo (City o Benito Bengzo Zozobrado (Pre (Province of Ne Sports Tourism

latter’s fu These, alo nual even and the 5 Sunrise E ful driver and touri was awar the Year – ping off t awards. H event in C participa has now b powerhou 15 multithousand basis. Su awarded Organize Sunrise E by the IR

DAVAO

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VOL.12 ISSUE 198 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2019

THE IRONMAN URISM AWARDS

Sunlife Financial), Atty. Ramon O. Agregado (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority), Bobadilla-Bitare (Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority), Agusto Lagman (Automobile hilippines), Ali Go (Ceres - Negros FC), Josen De Tagle (Philippine Airlines), Vicky co Polo Plaza Hotel), Joee Guilas (Resorts World Manila), Mayor Felipe Antonio of Dumaguete), Noemi Julian (Clark Development Corporation), Undersecretary on, Jr. (Department of Tourism), Princess Galura (Sunrise Events, Inc.), Roberto esident, PATA Philippine Chapter), Michelle Lim (Cebu Pacific), Anthony Carlo Agustin egros Occidental), Generose Tecson (City of Davao), Charles Lim (Founder, Philippine m Awards), Pauland Dumlao (President, Primetime)

ull support and assistance. ong with their other annts including IRON KIDS 5150 triathlon, highlighted Events Inc. as a powerr for Philippine sports ism. Sunrise Events Inc. rded the Organizer of – Private Award—capthe night with a total of 3 Having started from one Camsur that yielded 583 ants, Sunrise Events Inc. become a sports organizer use, managing around 12-sport events that garner ds of athletes in an annual unrise Events has been best International Event er three years in a row.

Events, Inc was acquired RONMAN group, a part

of Wanda Holdings Inc in March 2019.

Other winners of PSTA 2018 were The City of Dumaguete (Event Organizer of the Year – Government), Ceres – Negros FC (Sports Association of the Year), Resorts World Manila (Charity Event of the Year), Sunlife Financial (Event Sponsorship of the Year), Philippine Airlines (Airline of the Year), AA Philippines (MICE Event of the Year), Marco Polo Plaza Hotel (Hotel of the Year), Cebu Pacific – Juan for Fun (Adventure Event of the Year), Philippine Sports Commission/Philippine National Games (Event of the Year – Domestic), Panaad Park & Sports Complex, Bacolod City (Sports Venue of the Year) & Clark Freeport (Sports Destination of the Year).

ENTERTAINMENT

‘THE CRAWL’ FINDS FINESSE AND FLAVOR IN FRANCE IT’S the stunning country that most travelers dream of crossing off their list, the City of Lights, the City of Love, but more importantly, a place known for its haute cuisine and fine wines, and it’s where Metro Channel’s “The Crawl” heads on to next—France.

The mouth-watering exploration is led by fashion and design enthusiast, Stephanie Kienle-Gonzalez, who also hosts the home and living show, “Metro Home.” She is accompanied by Jhonel Faelnar, a topnotch advanced sommelier hailed by Wine & Spirits magazine as the Best New Sommelier of New York, and the wine director of Atomix, a star restaurant recognized by Wine Enthusiast as one of the Best Wine Restaurants in the USA. Stephanie’s profound respect for food and design and Jhonel’s expertise on wine culture is surely the perfect combo to guide viewers in relishing the intricate wine-and-dine scene as well as the breathtaking sites in France.

Their journey starts at Café du Marche, which Stephanie used to frequent during her student days. There, they feast on some favorites like Soupe A L’Oignon, Confit de Canard, and Escargots de Bourgogne.

Meanwhile, Le Café Alain Ducasse and Manufacture de Chocolat Alain Ducasse may just be a blissful haven for coffee and chocolate lovers respectively, due to their unique coffee recipes and

some of the finest chocolates in the world. The pair also drops by Le Servan, a casual bistro founded by FrenchFilipina sisters Tatiana and Katia Lehva that serves exceptional French food with an international and Asian twist.

Naturally, Steph and Jhonel wouldn’t pass up the opportunity to pop in on the world-class wine and champagne houses in France like Rare Champagne, famous for its quality vintages, some of which date back to 1976 and Champagne Piper-Heidsieck, the official champagne supplier of the biggest events in Hollywood.

They also visit Vosne-Romanée, a tiny village home to 60 wineries, and meet the Lady Of Burgundy, Anne Gros of Domaine Anne Gros, which offers various activities for tourists

like hour-long cellar tours and wine tastings. They also stop at Maison M. Chapoutier, one of the earliest names in the Rhone Valley, committed to organic and biodynamic farming methods.

The trip ends with an extraordinary meal prepared by Chef Francis Fauvel, Head Chef of the Ducasse Sur Seine. A fitting conclusion to this incomparable culinary and scenic explosion, the hosts of “The Crawl France” tour Paris while feasting on excellent food concocted by the legendary 21-Michelin star chef, Alain Ducasse.

Witness and taste the magnificence of France in “The Crawl France” on Metro Channel this Sunday (December 15) at 7pm. The show can also be streamed via iWant.

THE TOP 6 OF GMA NETWORK’S ‘THE CLASH’ REVEALED The twists and surprises keep coming as GMA Network’s original musical competition, The Clash, unveils its final 6 Clashers.

Last weekend’s intense Clashback gave eliminated contestants a chance to challenge the remaining Clashers for a spot in the Top 6. And after singing their hearts out, one lucky challenger stood out and reclaimed a place in the competition.

Vying towards becoming this season’s champion are: Ang Pambatong Mangyan ng Mindoro, Aljon Gutierrez; Ang Viral Princess ng Parañaque, Antonette Tismo; Ang Birit Beauty ng Malabon, Jeniffer Maravilla; Ang Pop Heartthrob ng Imus, Jeremiah Tiangco; Ang Comeback Kid ng Cavite, Nef Medina; and Ang RnB Sweetheart ng Qatar, Thea Astley.

Aljon hopes to make his hometown proud by winning the competition, “Iniisip ko na lang po na challenge ‘to na binigay sa akin ni Lord. Gusto ko mapatunayan sa sarili ko na deserving ako makapasok sa Grand Finals. Makakapasok tayo, mga taga-Mindoro, at makikilala tayo mga tagaMindoro.”

Antonette, who successfully replaced Janina Gonzales in the Clashback round, made sure to give her very best to be part of

the Top 6. “Nung tinawagan po ako na may Clashback, sobrang nabuhayan po ako.

May chance na ulit. Sabi ko ibibigay ko lahat, wala nang pagkakamali.”

Meanwhile, Jeniffer is out to prove that she is worthy of her place in the competition, “May mga moments talaga na we fall pero ang importante is we stand up, work harder, and believe in ourselves. I am inspired to keep going and do my best palagi.”

On the other hand, Jeremiah is grateful to have made it this far, “Sobrang blessed po ako na nandito ako at hindi ko sasayangin ‘yung opportunity. Lalaban po ako hanggang dulo.”

Nef, who sang ‘Warrior is a Child’, chose the song to convey his fighting spirit, “Pag sinabi nating warrior, alam nating fighter ‘yan, lumalaban ‘yan. Ganun rin po ako dito sa The Clash.”

For Thea, music has always been her strength and she remains grateful to have come so far in the competition. “Music really saved me,” she said. “Nung nagsimula po ang The Clash, marami talaga akong doubts pero ngayon pa lang, masasabi ko na ang layo na nang narating ko, nakaya kong makipagsabayan sa kanilang lahat, nakaya kong lumaban.”

The Clash Panel is composed of Asia’s Nightingale

Lani Misalucha, Asia’s Romantic Balladeer Christian Bautista, and Comedy Concert Queen Ai Ai delas Alas; and hosted by Clash Masters, Total Heartthrob Rayver Cruz and Asia’s Pop Diva Julie Anne San Jose; together with Journey Hosts Rita Daniela and Ken Chan.

Under the helm of Director Louie Ignacio, don’t miss the finale of The Clash and find out who will become this season’s Grand Champion on Saturday (December 14) after Daddy’s Gurl and this Sunday (December 15) after Daig Kayo Ng Lola Ko on GMA-7.

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VOL.12 ISSUE 198 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2019

LIGHTING UP TRMH’S CHRISTMAS TREE AS has been the hotel’s tradition, the Christmas season won’t be complete without the ceremonial lighting of its gi-normous Christmas tree.

It was a classical Christmas evening at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on December 5 as the hotel’s top brass presided over the annual Christmas Tree switch-on ceremony.

The entire hotel is glammed up with red and green with hints of gold stretching up from its main lobby to the hallways as the hotel’s vibe bursts into the Christmas spirit.

The switch on ceremony started with a beautiful prayer led by Father Elvie Bordios and a welcoming message by TRMH General Manager Mr. Benjamen Banzon, Jr. who expressed his gratitude on behalf of the ho-

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tel’s management for all the support to The Royal Mandaya Hotel in their events and achievements in the year 2019.

Ms. Inna Escandor, representing her father TRMH President and CEO Glenn Escandor, also greeted everyone with her message: “Christmas will always have a special place for us Filipinos.

Here in The Royal Mandaya Hotel, we will always want to

cherish that. Making sure our guests will feel the Christmas spirit even if they are far away from home. As we light this tree, may all our hearts be filled with joy, prosperity, and gratitude.”

The business partners from events, government and corporate sectors, and media partners of TRMH were all there to witness the ceremonial lighting and ringing of bells spearheaded by

the Escandor matriarch Mrs. also shared a meaningful Violeta Escandor with grand- Christmas message that updaughters Inna Melissa Eslifted the Christmas spirits in candor, Irra Zarina Escandor, the hearts of all the guests at VP Gerome Escandor, Davao the ceremony.

City Chamber of Commerce “This Christmas season, & Industry, Inc. president let us all be a light to all our Arturo Milan, TRMH Genbrothers and sisters who are eral Manager Benjamen in need,” Mr. Milan said.

Banzon Jr., Vice President of The event culminated with Beauty & Wellness Sector of a quartet performance, rafDATA Cherry Faye Al-ag and fling of prizes and a sumpVOL.12 VOL.12 ISSUE ISSUE ISSUE 94 100 84 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, • SUNDAY-MONDAY, • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JULY JULY 19-20, 28-29, Thelma VOL.12 Derla. tuous buffet dinner at5-6, the2019 DCCCII President Milan Kamayo Cafe.

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UP AND LAUNDRY FURNITURE A2A1 ABOUTa silly method but for EJ and

VOL.12 ISSUE 198 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13-14, 2019

LIFE... FROM1

ent Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Con�lict (TF-ELCAC), incorporate its security plans to the Local Government Units (LGUs) security measures and initiatives.

“We are con�ident that our local chief executives are on top of every situation given our continuous collaboration and exchange of information in terms of maintaining and being proactive in conducting peace and security operations," he said.

In a statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which was among security-related agencies that were consulted as to whether or not martial law will be extended or not, was pleased that its recommendation for the non-extension of martial law was considered by President Rodrigo Duterte.

The AFP cited several reasons like improved security climate in Mindanao, the continues decline

of the Daesh-inspired local terrorist groups, and to further promote an environment more conducive to economic activities as it did in terms of increase in trade and commerce in Mindanao.

The AFP also vowed to continue to collaborate with local chief executives, and the people in the communities in the conduct of its current activities to sustain these gains brought about by martial law as well as pursue its advocacy towards the amendment of the Human Security Act into an Anti-Terrorism Law that will not be too restrictive to security forces but has more teeth to prevent or counter terrorism.

Meantime, the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc (DCCCII) expressed full con�idence in the military and police in maintaining the peace and security of Mindanao so that the high growth and development

today will even accelerate to a faster pace believing that there are no more impediments in doing business in Davao City.

“I welcome the nonextension of Martial Law in Mindanao by the President. I recall during the Davao ICon 2019 last June, the lifting of Martial Law was one of the issues raised by the foreign diplomats and delegates to Mayor Sara during their dialogue because of their interest to explore opportunities to invest in Davao and Mindanao. Martial Law was preventing the foreign nationals from travelling to Mindanao including Davao City because of the negative travel advisory issued by their governments. Mayor Sara seeing the importance of investments in the peace and development of Davao and Mindanao endorsed the request to President Duterte,” DCCCII president Arturo Milan said.

is in full force and effect up to the present. Further, on 3 April 2019, the Commission en banc rendered a Decision revoking the Certi�icate of Registration of KAPA.”

Finally, the Commission had already �iled a criminal complaint against KAPA and its directors, of�icers and agents including Joel A. Apolinario, Reyna L. Apolinario, and Margie A.

Danao for violation of the Securities Regulation Code before the Department of Justice which found probable cause to indict said persons before the appropriate courts, it said. AMA

President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration has pursued a �ierce campaign against illegal drugs,

mostly netting traders and users of shabu.

Last year, Duterte expressed frustration at the

dif�iculty of realizing his 2016 campaign promise of ridding the country of the illegal drug scourge.

SEC... FROM2

PNP... FROM4

EDGEDAVAO 9

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

is in need of

Accounting Clerks Qualifications: • BS Accountancy / Accounting Technology Graduate or any business related courses • Male/Female • Can work with minimum supervision • With or without experience

Account Executives Qualifications: • BS Marketing Graduate or any related courses • Male/Female • With pleasing personality • With or without experience and willing to be trained

Marketing Assistant Qualifications: • BS Marketing Graduate or any related courses • Male/Female • With pleasing personality • With or without experience and willing to be trained

Social Media Lead Qualifications: • Candidate must be creative and enjoys social media • Experience in creating social media post for news, business and organization • Good command of English • Experience in graphic design is a plus Send your application letter and resume to: Ella P. Tingzon HR/Admin Supervisor Edge Davao Review Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Bldg., E. Quirino Avenue, Davao City or email at edgedavao@gmail.com or ella_tingzon@yahoo.com

EDGEDAVAO 10SPORTS 12 ENVIRONMENT DAVAO EDGE EDGE DAVAO

SPORTS MANAGING PLASTICS BRACE FOR BATTLE

VOL.12 VOL.12 ISSUE ISSUE 198 164 •VOL.12 FRIDAY-SATURDAY, • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, ISSUE 78 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER OCTOBER JUNE 25-26, 13-14, 27, 2019

BY REALLY TRYING 4 games up as Escandor Cup Collegiate (First of Two Parts)

Sponsors League resumes Saturday T

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

hree years ago, on Norte; it is home to about December 16, a 37- 110,000 people, the Philfoot juvenile sperm ippine Statistics Authority whale By washed up inB. front reports. Each day, resiADAM MORRELL of a resort along barangay dents churn out 5 tons of Mirandaheavy of Babak district the bulk of which four-game bill garbage, Royal Mandaya Hotel, Dain the Island Garden City are plastics.

But the SPC peois on its way as ac- vies Paints, Mandarin of Samaltion (IGaCoS), whose ple of theMax's city Fried are very disin the Collegiate Branch, Chickturquoise are (CSL) part ciplined; they religiously Sponsorswaters League en and PTT Lubricants. of Escandor the DavaoCup Gulf.resumes on segregate their garbage Meantime, thein According to the26,Bu-at their homes, of�ices, and Saturday, October Agro-Industrial Foundathe Davao City Recreation tion College reau of Fisheries and other areas. of the PhilipCenter.Resources (BFAR), pines (AIFCP) Sailors and Aquatic Residents separate curtain raiser will biodegradables the UM Wildcats shared foreignThe objects – including from feature a wires, "David�ishnets versus non-biodegradables. the top spot in bracket ReA cellophane, Goliath" up as odds- cyclable with a 2-0 recordon each, and hooks,match and hardwood plastics, the on nail favorite Jose found Maria Colfollowed by the Red with – were in- other hand, are CJC collected lege (JMC) Kings takes on Lions with 1-0. The MCT side the stomach and inby the garbage trucks the struggling Brokenshire Navigators landed and on testines whale. (BCD) then brought to the Collegeof the of Davao the fourth spot withland�ill 1-1, Due to the lack of evi- located dribblers at 3:00pm. trailed at by sitio the Sampao defendingin dent physical The clashinjuries, betweencethe barangay championMambago-A. Holy Cross of tacean Darrell Dean “We have various ways San expert Pedro College (SPC) Davao College (HCDC) Blatchley believed the of collecting our1-2, garbage Stallions and the visiting Crusaders with DMCor ofJesu College (CJC) and MACSP Mariners cause death must have recycle them,” 0-1, says of internal.

Digos City Red Lions SPCD Saints 0-1, anda SPC been It wasn’t the Gie-Arr R. Valdez, city willtime go such after occurrence at 4:30 pm, councillor Stallions with �irst who0-2. is commitfollowed by the exciting tee chair The bracket meanhappened. on theB,environbattle between while, is currently by “Among the 53traditionwhales ment.

“Those that led cannot al powerhouse teams St. be therecycled Holy Cross College and dolphins recovered or cannot be Paul II College of of Sasa (HCCS) Spartans in John the last sevenSaints yearsand in used brought Davao (SPCD) with anymore 3-0 card,arefollowed Davao saidofBlatchley, MatsGulf,” College Technol- to byour JMCwaste Kingsmanagement (2-0), Asian theogy proprietor of D’Boneat facilities.”

(MCT) Navigators International School of Collector If only there were no 6:00 pm.Museum, “only Aeronautics and Technolfour died due to the natural people coming the At 7:00pm, un- other ogy (AISAT) (1-1), to Atecauses. rest ofofthem ButDavao IGaCoS is one of beaten The University Min- city. neo de University danao (UM) Wildcats will (Addu) Blue Knights (1-2), died because of Manny plastic the Pacquiao saystop eventourist at 40, he isdestinations not finished yet. stakewere its clean slateby against BCD (0-1), UM Penaplata waste, caught nets in Davao Region.

The city College dynamite of South- has (0-1), and Rizal Memoor DMMA killed through several good beaches ern Philippines (DMMACrial Colleges �ishing or were unable to and houses (RMC) many beach SP)inMariners BulldogsIn (0-2). feed the sea.” to wrap up resorts. fact, tourism is Saturday's IGaCos is onequadruple of the the main source of income header sponsored by del The of the city. three cities of Davao

A

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Millions of people �lock to the islands every year.

Most of them are from Davao City and neighboring areas. Last year, about 1.2 million people visited IGaCoS, according to the city tourism of�ice.

“This is where we have a problem,” Valdez admitted. “We can control our people here but we have no way of checking out how many wastes these visitors to our city have contributed to our garbage problem.”

Valdez cited a recent case when he went to Talikud Island, which is located southwest of the main island. When he arrived, the place was clean.

But at night, during a high tide, the scenario completely changed. The following morning, the area was awash with garbage.

“Those (garbage) are not from Samal,” he surmised.

It was for such cases – and the death of marine animals like the juvenile sperm whale – that the city government approved the 10-year solid SEE STORY ONwaste P11 management plan in 2015 in accordance with the provision of Republic Act No. 9003, otherwise known as Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

EDGEDAVAO

University of Mindanao will tryo to make it three in a row on Saturday as action in the Collegiate Sponsors League (CSL) Escandor Cup resumes at the Davao City Recreation Center. Escandor Cup/CSL photo ISSUE ISSUE • SUNDAY-MONDAY, 6VOL.12 •every SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 24-25, 17-18, ISSUE •FEBRUARY TUESDAY, MAY 21,2019 2019 Section 20 of VOL.11 the ActVOL.12 rate 241 increases three 51 gether toMAY help solve this VOL.12 ISSUE 45 • SUNDAYMONDAY, 12 -13, mandates all local govern- VOL.12 years. ISSUE problem,”MAY he told his conVOL.12 ISSUE55 21• SUNDAY-MONDAY, • SUNDAY-MONDAY, APRIL 7-8, 26-27, 2019 ment units to divert 25% Implementing the law stituents. “After all, it is not solid waste generated from may be a tall order, Mayor only for our own good but disposal facilities through Al David Uy said, but he also for the next generarecycling, composting or thinks it is doable. Doing tions.” other resource recovery so, he added, needs politAbout 35,580 tons of activities. The diversion ical will. “Let’s work toMANAGING, P8

NOT DONE YET A4 INdulge!

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LIFTING THE SPIRIT SEA Games triumph energizes the whole nation

A

s the 2019 Southeast Asian Games �inally came to a close on Wednesday, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William Ramirez lauded the Filipino athletes for their hard work and determination to regain the Games supremacy.

Ramirez made the remark after the Philippines pulled out its best performance in the 30th SEA Games, garnering a record 149 golds, 117 silvers and 121 bronzes in 530 events of the 56 sports played throughout the 10-day competitions of the 11-nation biennial multi-sports meet.

“Our athletes gave their all and they deserve all the respect and care that we can give them, as kababayans (countrymen) and as a nation. You all made us proud. Salamat sa inyong sakripisyo, tiyaga at pagpupursigi (Thank you for your sacri�ices, patience and determination),” the PSC chief

said.

“All your hard work and achievement produced more than just medals. It lifted the spirit of a nation hungry for inspiration and hope. It awakened the spirit of patriotism in each of us,” he added.

Meanwhile, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said the Philippines’ second overall title showed that the Filipino athletes can give their best “with proper support and encouragement”.

“I am proud that they proved that my faith in them was well-placed. But this is just the beginning. I see better things ahead for Philippine sports,” Tolentino said in separate statement.

He said the POC will partner with both government and private sectors to ensure that the country’s sustainable sports programs.

During the closing cer-

emony at the newly-built New Clark City Athletics Stadium, Ramirez and Tolentino joined Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Philippine Southeast Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) chairman Alan Peter Cayetano in hoisting the overall championship trophy to the delight the huge crowd and applause from athletes of the 11 participating countries.

Medialdea then of�icially declared the 30th edition of the SEA Games closed as the Philippine sports of�icials handed the Games �lag to their counterparts from Vietnam which will host the 2021 biennial meet.

Cayetano congratulated all the athletes including the Filipino athletes who duplicated the Philippines’ �irst overall title in 2005 with 112 golds, 85 silvers and 93 bronzes.

Arnis and dancesports started the Philippines’ campaign on the high note

right from the opening day of competition, taking early lead in the medal standing and was never challenged as wushu, taekwondo, athletics, obstacle course race and skateboarding delivered the wins that sustained the host country’s drive for overall title.

Vietnam, led by the Games’ best female athlete Thi Anh Vien Nguyen, rallied in the �inal three days of action to take second with 98 golds on top of 85 silvers and 105 bronzes while Thailand, seven-time overall champion, settled for third spot with 92 gold, 103 silver and 123 bronze medals.

Indonesia, which ruled the meet 10 times, failed to get the second-place target and went home with 72-84-111 medal tally followed by Malaysia and Singapore with 55-58-71 and 53-46-68 medal output, respectively.

Timor Leste was the only nation which failed to

win gold while Myanmar and Cambodia have four each and Brunei with two and Laos has one gold.

Nguyen bagged her third best female athlete award after �ishing out six golds and two silvers while another swimmer Zheng Wen cornered the best male athlete honor for also winning six golds and two silvers for Singapore which ruled the swimming with 23 golds, 10 silvers and 4 bronzes.

Filipino surfer Roger Casugay was given “Fair Play Athlete” citation for rescuing an Indonesian competitor, Arip Nurhidayat who broke his ankle leash and was swept by giant waves during the preliminaries.

Casugay, who eventually won the gold medal, earned praises from netizens as well as from no less than Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

President Rodrigo Duterte also met with Ca-

sugay and fellow local surfers in Malacañang on Tuesday, according to the photos released by the Palace to the media on Wednesday.

The top local athletes lived up to expectations with world gymnast champion Carlos Yulo snatching two golds and �ive silvers while Olympian weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz pulled out a golden performance.

Tokyo Olympic-bound EJ Obiena joined the 31 athletes who came out with record-breaking performances as the son of former national athlete Emerson won the pole vault gold.

James Deiparine awarded the Philippines its �irst gold medal in swimming in 10 years after ruling the 100-meter breaststroke in record fashion. Unfortunately, it was the only swimming gold for the host country.

Asian skateboarding gold medalist Margielyn Didal won not one but two golds. (PNA)

THE 30TH SOUTHEAST ASIAN GAMES ROUNDUP Agatha Wong (Wushu, 2 golds)

WOMEN POWER. Here are some of the women athletes of the Philippines who have displayed grit and determination, plus the beauty factor of a Pinay, in the recent 30th Southeast Asian Games.

Alisson Krystle Perticheto (Figure Skating, silver)

Hidilyn Diaz (Weightlifting, gold)

Kim Mangrobang (Triathlon, gold)

Nathalie Rose Uy (Gold, pole vault)

Kristina Knott, (Athletics, 2 golds)

Jamie Lim (Karatedo, gold)

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