SUPPLEMENT 7 ISSUE 251

VOL. 7 ISSUE 251 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, MARCH 8 - 9, 2015

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ALE chauvinist pigs who used to consider the opposite sex second class citizens, can now eat their heart out because many women of today have become empowered. Women of substance, those whose sphere of positive influence has gone beyond the confines of the home, their traditional turf, no thanks to the patronizing mindset of their traditional husbands. Take the print and broadcast media industry, banking, malls, name the business sectors, where men used to reign supreme, and most likely, they are now in the hands.Of the four local dailies, only one is led by a male

editor. All five television stations and even the dominant cable tv are headed by lady managers. Ladies now manage the oldest mall and newest one, and many of those in between. Women now head many banks and majority of the tour and travel agencies.

Here, as a tribute to empowered women, Edge Davao is featuring eight (?) women of influence, admittedly a limited number due to limited space and time. We know there are hundreds of other deserving ones and we commit to feature them in some future time.

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DR. MAE CONCEPCION J. DOLENDO Pediatric Oncologist

Hope for Children with Cancer

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

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R. Mae Concepcion J. Dolendo is a native of Iloilo but came to Davao City because her husband, engineer Gabriel dela Cruz Dolendo, is from this city. The two met during a national conference convened by YMCA Rizal Youth Leadership Training Institute.

Dr. Dolendo is one of the recipients of the Datu Bago this year, cited for “her outstanding work in pediatric oncology.” The citation added that she has placed Davao City in the world map of pediatric oncology “due to her international linkages.”

“I am deeply honored and truly humbled,” she says of the recognition. “It means I have contributed something significant to Davao City, my home. It

means a bigger voice, hope and inspiration for the children I advocate for and the people who tirelessly work for these children.”

Dr. Dolendo is the driving force behind the House of Hope, which is located inside the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC). She heads the Children’s Cancer and Blood Diseases Unit.

“SPMC is the biggest public tertiary hospital and serves as a referral center for Mindanao,” she says. “We have patients who come from as far as Zamboanga, Surigao, and Sarangani. In fact, recently we have patients coming from Bohol, Tacloban and even Bicol region.”

On why she founded House

of Hope, she says, “Treatment for child cancer is long term and requires repeated visits to the hospital. The children and their families need a place to stay which is clean, wholesome and conveniently near the hospital.

House of Hope served as a transient home for these patients for the duration of their outpatient treatment.”

Over the past ten years, DCCFI has successfully realized its vision and mission. “We are trying to further strengthen its capacity so that it can respond to the increasing number of patients it serves and continue to advocate for legislation that will promote sustainability of support for child cancer,” Dr. Dolendo says.

ANGELY CHI

Promoting art and culture

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

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NGELY Chi is a young Dabawenya who is now making a name for herself in the field of art owing to the events she has initiated. Some of these notable events are “Litorgy MetamorphoSIX” which brought together many literary artists and enthusiasts last month and the BLTX (Better Living Through Xeroxography), a small press forum which aimed to teach writers and artists to publish its own works at a minimal cost.

Angely, who is known as “Chi” to her friends, shares some of her thoughts on arts with Edge Davao: An artist should not be a pigeonholed or compartmentalized in a single genre. Chi said an artist should learn other mediums of art to present their different views and perspectives

of the world. She said the job of an artist is to make other people see the beauty and uniqueness of the world through various perspectives.

“An artist should live other experiences to appreciate the value of different crafts that make a masterpiece a one of a kind. Some artists have the anti-social mentality, thinking that they do not belong to the society,” she said.

Chi herself is involved in different interests such as creative writing, painting, and filmmaking.

Artist should be collaborative. Chi passionately organizes events in the city because she wants to promote art and culture. She said there many potential artists in the city but there are no platforms to convene them

here.

She wants different artists such as painters, sculptors, creative writers, and filmmakers to meet in one event to talk about the best things that Davao can be known for.

Chi said she is willing to help other art groups in the city -- but it does not mean that she should work alone. She said she realized during her events that little impact is created on audiences if artists work alone.

The young artist said collaborative effort will lead to success in promoting the art and culture of Davao City.

She said it is easier to work with like-minded people, but working with those with opposite views can also create positive results. The last thing she wants is for Davao City to be known for only one thing.

Event Organizer

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WOMEN POWER Women of the world speak on women empowerment

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A R G A R E T Thatcher once said: “If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.”

Today (March 8), the world celebrates International Women’s Day and that popular line enshrined with Thatcher’s iconic legacy fittingly provides us of how the late British leader views women’s role in the society.

In honor of women, we present a collection of unforgettable and interesting lines from the so-called “women who dare.”

From Nancy Rathburn: “A strong woman understands that the gifts such as logic, decisiveness, and strength are just as feminine as intuition and emotional connection. She values and uses all of her gifts.”

From former US first lady Eleanor Roosevelt: “A woman is like a tea bag—you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.”

From Diane von Furstenberg: “I always wanted to be a femme fatale. Even when I was a young girl, I never really wanted to be a girl. I wanted to be a woman.”

From pop star Madonna: “I’m tough, I’m ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay.”

From Gloria Steinem: “A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.”

From Maya Angelou: “I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels.

Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass.”

From Malala

“If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.”

Yousafzai: “I raise up my voice— not so I can shout, but so that those without a voice can be heard...we cannot succeed when half of us are held back.”

From G.D. Anderson: “Feminism isn’t about making women

strong. Women are already strong. It’s about changing the way the world perceives that strength.”

From Erin McKean: “You don’t have to be pretty. You don’t owe prettiness to anyone.

Not to your boyfriend/ spouse/partner, not to your co-workers, especially not to random men on the street. You don’t owe it to your mother, you don’t owe it to your children, you don’t owe it to civilization in general. Prettiness is not a rent you pay for occupying a space marked ‘female.’”

From Bill’s wife Melinda Gates: “A woman with a voice is, by definition, a strong woman.”

From first woman aircraft pilot Amerlia Earhart: “Women, like men, should try to do the impossible, and

when they fail, their failure should be a challenge to others.”

From actress Bette Davis: “When a man gives his opinion, he’s a man. When a woman gives her opinion, she’s a bitch.”

And from Angelina Jolie on her double mastectomy: “I do not feel any less of a woman. I feel empowered that I made a strong choice that in no way diminishes my femininity.”

The collection of quotes could go on and on as women empowerment has become a global beat. To the courageous women of the world—from the ordinary housewives to the working women in factories and in offices, to the women in politics and women CEOs—we doff our hats and offer our heaps of respect.

(NJB)

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SANDRA CONCEPCION DOS REMEDIOS Athlete

Fighting to live, competing to win

By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

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OT only did this lady fight to live, she competed to win and showed the world all is not lost for an individual suffering from the dreaded Big C. This is the story of Sandra Concepcion Sarenas Iñigo-Dos Remedios, a breast cancer survivor from Davao City, who accomplished sporting glory with her determination.

Sandy, as she is called by friends, is a paddler who won four gold medals and one silver as a member of an Australian team that dominated the 1st IPDBC Breast Cancer Dragon Boat World Championships in Singapore nine years back.

“I’m the only Filipino in the event,” says a teary-eyed Sandy while recalling that one glorious moment in her life in the 2006 Singapore campaign.

Sandy said she even cried the moment she saw the other participants of the race in Singapore, all in their 50s and 60s and she was only 46 that time.

“You really can’t imagine seeing older participants, and they really joined the race,” she said.

Just seven years before the event, Sandy, who was 38 then, woke up one day from a surgery after doctors discovered she has breast cancer.

Luckily for her, the cancer

was in its first stage and she immediately went under the knife to rid of the disease.

She went on to live and now enjoys life with husband Raymund and their four sons.

Not only that, she gets to do what she loves to do—water color painting.

“I have to be strong for my children,” Sandy said.

Today, Sandy is still very much involved in the sport of dragon boat, practicing four times a week and competing when there are races here and abroad as a member of the Manila Dragons Dragonboat Rowing Team.

“There is really life after sickness, after cancer,” she says with a smile this time.

PRISCILLA N. RAZON Regional Director, Department of Social Work and Development

Dedicated public servant

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

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N the far-flung villages of Paquibato and Marilog Districts of Davao City, some indigents and poor families are enlisting themselves to become beneficiaries of the government’s conditional cash transfer program called Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). These families are just among the 700,975 target beneficiaries of 4Ps in Region 11 for this year that will receive monthly allowance from the government.

Alleviating poverty and providing sustainable livelihood programs to Davao region’s poorest of

the poor is just among the tasks of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 11 regional director Priscilla N. Razon.

Recently, the soft-spoken director was given the Best Manager award during the celebration of the 64th Founding Anniversary of the department in Quezon City. This was another feather in her cap since she had won best assistant manager in 2011.

She was also a semi-finalist to the 2007 Lingkod Bayan Awards of the Civil Service Commission and was conferred best Division Chief in 2006 But for Razon, the

awards do not seem to matter as much as the opportunity to serve those who truly need help.

“DSWD 11 is serving more than 290,000 4Ps beneficiaries who are receiving conditional cash which will be used for education and health,” Razon said. For this year, the national government increased Region 11’s budget allocation for 4Ps from P4.5 billion to 109 billion. This translates to bigger task for Razon, but she said it also means the agency will be able to help more Dabawenyos seeking assistance to give their children a better future.

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SYLVIA CONCEPCION UP Mindanao Chancellor

Educating for change

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

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OR University of the Philippines Mindanao (UP Mindanao) Chancellor Sylvia Concepcion, setting one’s priorities is the key to success. She has placed God first, followed by country, family, and career.

“It is very important for young women to set their priorities because it is easy to be sidetracked by urgent things that are not important,” Concepcion told Edge Davao.

When Concepcion went to Cebu as a newly married woman 35 years ago, all she wanted was to work in a profession that would give her time for her growing family.

She felt that her teaching job at UP Cebu would give

her just that. Little did she know that the job would make her a mother not just to her three children but to hundreds of students who were just starting to weave their dreams.

And now as UP Min chancellor, she wants her second home and “children” to grow and prosper. UP Min is already known for its high quality graduates and research studies produced by faculty, but she believes there’s still much room for it to grow.

“Twenty years from now, UP will have many roads, but before that the campus should be able to engage the community living around it.

So that development will be

inclusive,” Concepcion said.

She believes that colleges and universities should produce patriotic students that are innovative. “That’s the problem with our country. We are late in everything – technology development, education. We all have the ideas swinging in our heads but when we put it down to something commercially viable, we sell it to the Japanese or the Americans,” she said.

However, she believes that when the facilities of UP Min are completed, the school will be able to support the ideas and studies of faculty and students who want change.

LIZABEL “WIT” HOLGANZA Vice president of ICT-Davao

The IT lady and her dedication

By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

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HE name Lizabel “Wit” Holganza is synonymous to dedication.

Give it to this lady’s commitment that the flourishing information and communication technology-business process outsourcing (ICTBPO) industry of Davao City grew by leaps and bounds.

From only 1,600 jobs available for the ICT-BPO in 2006, there are now over 20,000 people employed under the industry to date.

“That’s a very, very great contribution of the industry,” says Holganza.

She cited the Information and Communication Technology-Davao’s aggressive campaign to promote the career of young individuals and the collaboration of government and the private sector in attaining this growth.

“I want to be able to claim that it is the cooperation between us, private stakeholders, and govern-

ment in promoting the career and even inviting investors,” Holganza said.

Holganza was the president of ICT-Davao for almost four years and really worked hard during her reign to promote jobs and attract investors. Some of the activities she and her fellow officials did were organize events, roads shows and job fairs.

Aside from getting deeply involved in the industry, Holganza also established the MTC-Academy, a school that offers course offerings specifically on medical transcription.

One of the areas that Holganza pioneered was the education for the blind in medical transcription. She did this by introducing the first program here in Davao using some technology.

“I feel very happy about it. They wanted their world to expand beyond the four walls of their homes. They

became more self sufficient,” Holganza said of her students.

Holganza was working with Jollibee Foods Corporation for 19 years, including five years in the US where she was director for operations of the fastfood company when she decided to come home.

“I would like to provide jobs for my fellow Dabawenyos. Instead of setting up a business in Manila I decided to come home because my heart is here in Davao,” Holganza said.

“I wanted to promote the BPO as an alternative career for the Dabawenyo,” added Holganza, currently the vice president of ICT-Davao.

Today, there are more than 100 BPO companies in Davao City, a big leap from the 2006 number of only 16 firms.

That’s the fruit of Wit Holganza’s superwoman effort.

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Top producer Alma Apolonio of Apolonio Realty

Renowned singer-comedianne Kay Brosas entertains the crowd during the Santos Land Development Corporation Awards night at the SM Lanang Premiere’s SMX Convention Center.

SLDC honors top sales, marketing men, women

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International Travel Incentives Award

Top producer Miguel Lysander Top producer Fernan U. Maturan Manimbo of Homeadvisor Realty of Maturan Realty

By Bai Fauziah Fatima Sinsuat Ambolodto

HE awards given were split into categories.

The appropriate event was not just about the figures, sales and quotas – it was about a whole range of disciplines that made it even more exciting. For those in attendance, it was a night of inspiration and opportunities. For those who made it to the roster of superlatives, it was an unforgettable evening, more than enough to motivate them to further hone their craft in marketing and notch more successes.

Last February 26, 2015 at the SMX Lanang, the men and women of Santos Land Development Corporation, SLDC for brevity, reigned supreme. Dressed in their most beautiful and handsome couture, it was a night of memories as SLDC honored its top performers through their Sales and Marketing Annual Recognition.

With Monette Cutler on the microphone, everyone was grinning from ear to ear and occasionally exploding in guffaws – adding flare and

mirth to the already festive night. Invocation was led by Miguel Lysander Manimbo while Nora R. Morada, SLDC Chairperson of the Board, gave a rousing opening remarks that were both inspiring and motivating.

Mr. Antonio “Tonyboy” S. Domingo, SLDC President, together with the Chairperson of the Board handed out the certificates in recognition of the top Sales Performers and special awards for Quota Producers for the 4th quarter and Annual Performers of 2014. For the latter, Sales Directors, Sales Managers, Sales Executives and Top Producers for the 4th Quarter of 2014 were duly recognized.

Special annual citations in different categories were given to Annual Top Producers, Annual Quota Achievers, Annual Cash Producers, Outstanding Salesman of the Year, Annual Commitment Bonus and Annual International Travel Incentive.

Of course, the night would not be complete without the usual sumptuous dinner and an exciting raffle draw that made everyone giggly and on their feet in anticipation of the handsome cash prizes!

Renowned comedianne extraordinaire, Kay Brosas, made the night even more special with her witty and funny antics. In addition, Liezel Serna kept everyone relaxed with her special numbers.

As the night came to an end, Top Producer Alma Apolonio gave an inspiring message that talked of passion and dedication while President Tonyboy Domingo thanked everyone for making 2014 another prosperous and triumphant year.

Special Performance Award-Outstanding Salesman of the Year

Annual performer Apolonio Realty

Quota achiever Sales Director Aimee P. Maturan of Maturan Realty

Annual performer Maturan Realty

Annual performer Homeadvisor Realty

Quota achiever Sales Manager Quota achiever Sales Executive Homeadvisor Realty

Annual performer Lucky Star

Annual performer Layague Realty

Annual Awards - Quota Achievers

Annual Awards - Elite Eagle

SLDC family

Special Performance Award-Annual Committment Bonus

Nora R. Morada, SLDC Chairperson of the Board

Monette Cutler, emcee

May Ann Plana and Estela Aguilos

SLDC Staff

Liezel Serna belts out a song number during the affair

The Bankers

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MARY ANN MONTEMAYOR Private Sector Tourism leader, businesswoman

Servanthood and a balancing act

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

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njb@edgedavao.net

ARY Ann “Baby” Montemayor attends to a family hotel and catering business, add a new venture in furniture crafts to that. On the side, she tends to a small and medium enterprise advocacy, local handicrafts, sits as tourism sector representative, wracks her brains on providing opportunities to local entrepreneurs, goes around empowering women and families, speaks at seminars and conferences, and does her part with several civic organizations.

Oh, before we forget, she’s a wife to hotelier-sportsman Leon Montemayor, mother to emerging entrepreneur Marga and granny to three.

We asked this woman whose name is synonymous to local tourism if she still has time for family and she said she has enough.

“It’s a balancing act,” she

said over a cup of brewed coffee out of native beans grown in the hills of Bukidnon at her newly-opened Habi at Kape at the third floor of Abreeza Mall’s corporate center.

“I am glad that everything falls into place and I don’t have to manage my time. I just go on doing what I need to do and more, and then I still find quality time with the family. It’s amazing. It’s really a blessing.

I think it’s when you give unselfishly that everything comes back to you,” Montemayor said.

Of her engagements, the list is almost eternal we can only ask her for the most recent and major ones.

Since 2013, she sits as vice chair of the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Council headed by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Gregory Domingo, and like-

wise represents the private sector for Mindanao. She heads the Davao Regional Tourism Council which is a six-year mandate, the Davao Eco Crafts which has some 20 member establishments, and sits as rep for the tourism private sector in the Regional Development Council (RDC).

Recently, she and husband Binggoy opened LeMar Arts and Crafts in addition to running the Villa Margarita Hotel operations and their catering business, one of only a few accredited suppliers of SMX Convention Center.

“I look forward to seeing my grandchildren after work or weekends. Binggoy is a very happy Popsy to the three kids of Marga and Karlo (Rep. Karlo Nograles) and oftentimes they stay with us when their parents are travelling.”

Amidst all her accom-

plishments and her engagements, we asked what motivates a woman like her.

“It’s a calling. I look at it as servanthood. When you work for something good for others, it will pay off. I just leave everything to Him to manage how I do things and surprisingly, things just move on like it’s planned,” she said.

She looked up to her mother-in-law Patria Monteverde Garcia as an inspiration.

“She introduced me to civic works starting with the Soroptimist. She is really the epitome of women empowerment,” said Montemayor who will turn 60 this year.

“I am excited to be a senior citizen in the year of the sheep. Now, I can enjoy the benefits like 20 percent dining and free movies,” she said as we wrapped up the interview in laughter.

DR. MALOU MONTEVERDE AMBASSADOR-DOCTOR

Multitasking is her cup of tea

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

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R. Malou Monteverde is a multitasker who can spend quality time on her family, her chosen profession, and her advocacies.

Now in her late 50’s, Dr. Monteverde is a selfless and independent leader in various industries in Mindanao. She is a wife and nurturing mother, an OB-Gyne practitioner, a consul, and a pioneer in pushing the establishment of a Roll on-Roll off (RoRo) route between Indonesia and Mindanao.

Dr. Monteverde believes that women can do anything for of Davao City and Philippines, and she has proven this with her own life. She was appointed the First Honorary Consul of Mexico to Mindanao, working for the Consular Corps of the Philippines. She is also the Governor of the Philippine Medical Association, founder and President of the Philippine Institute of Real Estate Service Practitioners (PhilRES)-Davao City Chapter, a member of the Board of Trustees of the International Realtors Association, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Gusi Peace Prize.

Monteverde was the first female doctor to be the president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Inc. (DCCCII) and played a vital role in the creation of Davao City’s Public-Private Partnership (PPP) ordinance in 2012.

The support from her family, especially her husband Dr. Tomas Monteverde, enabled her to do everything

even under pressure. “In general, women have broken barriers in the workplace, sexism and racism, and inequality of standards,” she told Edge Davao in an interview. “But a lot still needs to be done.”

There are still some gaps in attaining true equality, Monteverde said, and proper education, not ignorance, will empower women.

“A woman is a biological female who is God’s gift to humanity. She is basically nurturing but independent and selfless. In general, women tend to care for others beyond themselves,” she said.

“Our young women should be empowered by getting a proper education, to keep on reading and learning, to be surrounded by loving and nurturing positive people, being confident, to believe that good things will happen when you do good and should keep their faith,” she said.

Monteverde said young women should celebrate their own identities, be educated, have their own careers, be financially independent, and keep on improving themselves through positive education.