BusinessWeek Mindanao (December 7, 2015)

BusinessWeek MINDANAO

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YOUR Mindanao-wide BUSINESS paper

Volume VI, No. 072

Market Indicators As of 6:21 pm December 4, 2015 (friday)

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P47.081

6,921.93

7.4

X Briefly

cents

X

72.17 points

New shopping mall ALSONS Development and Investment Corp., owner of the iconic Aldevinco Shopping Center here, is in talks with homegrown developer Damosa Land, Inc. (DLI) to open a similar souvenir shop at the latter’s Market Basket complex near the airport.

At the recent launching of the refurbished Market Basket, DLI Vice-President Ed O. Villaver said they are eyeing to develop part of the Damosa complex into a “Pasalubong Center,” where tourists can shop for local goods.

“It’s already happening now since this is the last junction going to the airport. Everyone that goes to and from the airport can pass by here,” Mr. Villaver said in an interview on the sidelines of the event.

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Value of mine exports from Surigao down www.businessweekmindanao.com

Monday | December 7, 2015

S

P15.00

By ROEL CATOTO, MindaNews

URIGAO City — Prices of nickel export products have continued to plummet in the world market affecting profits of large-scale mining companies, Lilibeth M. Mangsal, district collector of the Bureau of Customs in Surigao City said.

A document obtained

by MindaNews showed that from January to October last year, mine export products being shipped out reached 15.9 million metric tons with a total value of US$775.8 million. value/PAGE 11

SLUMP. Big ships wait off the shore of the coastal village of Cagdianao, Claver town in Surigao del Norte. These ships reportedly carry nickel ore to China. mindanews file photo by roel n . catoto

Cerilles wins int’l award for policy-making, governance

By BONG D. FABE, Contributing Editor

Paris filmfest DAVAO City -- A short film about a physically impaired man living in Davao City’s San Pedro Street is now being screened in 13th Signes de Nuit International Film Fest in Paris, France.

The film helmed by Albert Egot Jr. joins seven other films from the Philippines which is currently being shown in the annual film festival that showcases several multi-genre cinematic works from across the world. The festival started last November 26 and will run to December 6.

“Ang Baril ni Polding na Walay Pulbura” (The Gun of Polding without Gunpowder) tells the story of John Michael Exel alias Polding, a paraplegic living in the streets of San Pedro and Claveria in downtown Davao City who despite being jobless and homeless still finds beauty in his everyday’s life.

PA G A D I A N C i t y - Zamboanga del Sur Governor Antonio Herrera Cerilles has

been chosen as this year’s recipient of the prestigious Cerilles/PAGE 11

IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME. Trees at the capitol grounds in Cagayan de Oro City are decorated with dozens of colorful bulbs as the provincial government officially lighted the trees on Friday night (December 3, 2015). photo by gerry lee gorit

Customs-10 personnel under probe for cyanide smuggling EXCELLENCE. Governor Antonio H. Cerilles of Zamboanga del Sur receives the award for Excellence in Agricultural Leadership 2015 for Policy-Making and Governance from Association of Agriculture Technology in Southeast Asia (AATSEA) President Kasem Soytong in Hanoi, Vietnam. photo courtesy of julius breva

By CHENG ORDONEZ, Associate Editor

BUREAU Of Customs Region 10 (BOC-10) collector Atty.

Ruby Claudia Alameda has asked the signatories

responsible for the release of the seven containers full of sodium cyanide to explain within 48 hours from

Friday why they released the shipment despite loopholes in the documents.

I n i t i a l l y, A l a m e d a pointed out negligence on cyanide/PAGE 11

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Economy

CDO walks in unity for peace in Mindanao

STUDENTS and teachers, g ov e r n m e nt a n d n o n government organizations, and religious groups in Cagayan de Oro City walked in unity despite rainfall, from Provincial Capitol Grounds to Kiosko Kagawasan, Divisoria on 26 November 2015 for the opening Mindanao Week of

Peace celebration.

As t h e p ar t i c ip ant s arrive at Kiosko Kagawasan, Divisoria, the solidarity begins. Different groups of religion – Lumads, Muslims, and Christians unite for peace through prayers in the endeavor towards peace in Mindanao. The Lumads,

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Muslims, and Christian may have different traditions and beliefs, but despite of these differences, there exist common thing which is faith.

With that common faith, all hope for peace in Mindanao.

With this year’s theme: “Mindanaoans Aspirations for Peace: Kalinaw sa Dios – Katawhan – Kinaiyahan,” Archbishop Antonio Ledesma further highlighted the message of theme.

“Ang katawhan mao ang pinaka importante apan walay kalambuan alang sa katawhan kung walay kalinaw ug karun kita ginahagit sa pag amping sa kinaiyahan,” (People are the most important but there will be no development if there is no peace and now we are challenged to take care of mother earth.) he said.

“We have to be reminded always that we Muslims,

of mind. Let us continue to live harmoniously with love, respect and understanding with one another,” says

Christians, and Lumads are one in hope, one in aspirations, and live a life that is vibrant with peace

National Commission for Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Director Ombra Gandamra. peace/PAGE 10

60 Mindanaoan stakeholders back Pag-ibig Fund’s integrity pledge right thing to do. We are setting the tone from the top,” she said.

Berberabe stressed that since Pag-ibig is entrusted with large contributions from the people, it must as well adhere to values like honesty and transparency from its ranks towards their partner stakeholders.

“People must know what we are doing,” she pointed out.

Berberabe said the Pag-ibig Fund is ISO-certified 9001:2008 which is an indicative of their commitment to improve their services.

DAVAO City -- A total of 60 stakeholders signified their commitment to the Integrity Pledge as Pag-ibig Fund holds the third of a series of governance and integrity forum in Davao City.

Atty. Darlene Marie Berberabe, president and chief executive officer of the Pagibig Fund said transparency and accountability is very important in their mission as they put importance to excellence, performance and good governance.

“The integrity pledge is the

She said that the agency also gets 100 percent passing rate in anti-red tape in surveys conducted in 2013 and 2014 conducted by the Civil Service Commission.

“We believe in performance, but we also believe in integrity,” Berberabe said stressed.

She also took the opportunity to present updates on the Pagibig Fund’s accomplishments especially its achievements resulting from good governance.

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Jollibee opens 25th Davao store

By CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO, Correspondent

D

AVA O C i t y - Jol lib e e Fo o ds C orp. continues to strengthen its grip on the local quickservice restaurant sector, whi le currently on an aggressive expansion in the international market, as it recently opened its 25th store in the city and announced plans for more in other parts of Mindanao.

T h e n e w c o mp a ny owned branch, on a 24hour service, is one of the biggest in Mindanao with a seating capacity of 133 in a

372-square meter floor area, plus a drive-through facility.

“It’s (our) commitment t o re a c h out t o m ore more Filipino families in the region... but also our continuous support for the city’s growing economy,” Ana Lourdes Aluyen, company regional business unit head, said in a statement.

About three-fifths of the 25 stores in the city are company-owned while the rest are under franchise.

The listed fast-food giant has more than 1,000 Jollibee stores in the Philippines and

AirAsia begins operations at Kota Kinabalu Terminal 1 AIRASIA’S operations in Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) has started operating out of Terminal 1 effective December 1, 2015, the airline company said in a news release.

T h e A i r As i a G roup c ur rent ly op erates 504 weekly flights to and from Kota Kinabalu International Airport, and all the existing flight schedules for both domestic and international flights remain unchanged.

AirAsia operates four times a week flights from Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport

Terminal 3 to Kota Kinabalu or every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

All AirAsia guests departing or landing into Kota Kinabalu were informed of the move from Terminal 2 to Terminal 1, which is 4 kilometers away from each other. The airline will continue to provide assistance to all guests travelling to and from its Kota Kinabalu hub in light of this move.

For assistance, passengers may call its hotline: 722.2742 from Monday to Sunday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Ayala quietly moves into the airline business THE listed Ayala Corp. has quietly launched a scheduled domestic airline business without being noticed by the Manila-based media.

AirSWIFT, owned by the Ayala Capital Corp., last week began offering daily flights between Cebu and El Nido, whose airport as well as the world-famous Palawan beach destinations are also owned

by Ayala.

Introductory fares are pegged at P1,680 one-way, or P3,360 round-trip.

The Manila (Terminal 4)El Nido return fare, on the other hand, costs P12,688, as much as a Manila-Hong Kong ticket.

The daily Cebu-El Nido service is in addition to the three daily Manila-El Nido flights that AirSWIFT is offering, using two leased ATR 42-500 turboprop planes for the cannonball runs.

According to industry

chatter, AirSWIFT will also launch a Manila-to-Sicogon service beginning March 2016.

AirSWIFT has actually been operating since 2002 as Island Transvoyager, Inc. (ITI Air), when the charter carrier and El Nido were still controlled by the Sorianos, Zobels’ cousins.

The Zobels acquired the airline in 2012, after taking majority control of the El Nido Resorts in 2010. Ayala Land eventually took full control of El Nido itself in late 2013.

In addition to the airline, the airport and the four beach resorts, Ayala also owns the surrounding 325-hectare property, which the Zobels are developing into an Asian version of their famed Sotogrande gated community by the Spanish Mediterranean. ayala/PAGE 10

abroad, 106 of which are in Mindanao.

Grace S. Merc ado, company operations director for the Visayas and Mindanao, said they are continuously scouting for new areas to locate in, particularly in second-tier cities such as Zamboanga in southwestern Mindanao.

Ms. Mercado said they are initially focusing on new shopping malls that are expected to open before the end of the year or next year.

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All Hands on Deck (2) I woke up early last Friday and, as was my habit, I immediately opened my Facebook account. What greeted me on my timeline was the picture of a young sweat-drenched man bent for ward w hile working with a spade. His head was wrapped with a t-shirt (in the fashion of street workers) so that only part of his face showed. But his tanned, well-defined arms told me that I know this guy.

The photo caption read: “#MeetOurStaff Mike, a software analyst from Los Angeles, California.

Mi ke f irst volunte ere d for #ProjectLeyte on January of 2014 and has since volunteered multiple times in Tacloban and has also volunteered for two months on Project Nepal.

The Filipino-American said “I volunteered to help out our fellow Filipinos and the work and the people at All Hands is what makes me keep coming back.”

The caption continued: “Mike has taken on the role of the new associate project director for our #RebuildHernani satellite project in Western Samar.”

My heart swelled with pride. Mike Arceo is my nephew. He is eldest child of Charito Oca-Arceo, my wife Mira’s younger sister.

In Los Angeles, California, Mike Arceo works as an IT Project Manager for a few health care organizations. He

arrived the other week for his third tour of duty in the Philippines as a part of All Hands Volunteers.

All Hands Volunteers is a volunteer-driven U S - b as e d org an i z at i on that provides hands-on assistance to survivors of natural disasters.

It was founded in 2005 following the Southeast Asian Tsunami. AHV has since coordinated more than 17,000 volunteers from over 42 countries. AHV has participated in 36 disaster operations worldwide.

The volunteers consist of people from all over the world. The UK, New Zealand, Australia and the US. Their ages range from as young as 18 and 19 to 50s and 60s. Usually they are students who are on break, professionals taking a break and retired professionals.

Mi ke’s volu nte e r is m ne ve r c e as e s to ama z e me. Why would a young professional like Mike, take time off from work, travel half-way across the globe, pay for his own expenses, including medical insurance, carry his back pack and own sleeping pad, to join like-minded volunteers?

What dr ives him to help i n d i g g i ng s e pt i c tanks and clearing rubble, constructing drainage canals, planting trees, rebuilding schoolhouses, and building transitional shelters?

In e xchange for h is

sweat contribution, Mike gets to live communally, provided only with basic accommodations and simple, local meals on work days.

“When I saw the images of the death and devastation ……. I felt the urgent need to help. I could easily donate to relief organizations but I decided that I wanted to do more,” Mike explained.

Mike first ser ved in Ormoc. On his second tour, he served in Barangay San Isidro, Tacloban helping build “transitional homes”.

He went home to LA but only stayed briefly.

Next time I knew he was in Nepal. The April 2015 Nepal earthquake flattened entire villages across many districts of the countr y, killing more than 9,000 and rendering thousands homeless.

According to Mike, the best part of working in disaster areas comes from inter-acting with survivors.

“The kids would come out and hang out with us.

Some even try to help with the removal of the rubble.

“Nothing beats the sight of those young children who are smiling once again. “ We also get to talk to residents, who in time slowly open up to us. They relive their experiences and fears.

But always you can sense their hopes and boundless optimism.”

That’s Mike Arceo, my nephew, my young hero.

Heard in the streets

SPEAKING

O ut

Ignacio Bunye The conviction last week of US Marine Lance Corporal Pemberton and the perceived unequal treatment accorded to him as a convict triggered another wave of resentment against the onesided agreement known as VFA. Here are just some of the remarks heard in the streets.

VFA – Visiting Filipinos Agreement. Activists claim that under the VFA, we are treated as visitors in our own homeland.

V FA - Ve r y Fu n ny Agreement VFA – Very Favorable to Americans *** The two ships recently pledged by President “Barko” Obama at the sidelines of APEC will, according to activists, be named “BRP Jennifer” and “BRP Nicole”, respectively. *** Note: You may email us at totingbunye2000@gmail. com.

Mankind will perish due to global warming

Start Again Think a minute…How will you celebrate Christmas?

With presents and Christmas songs? A big feast with your family? It’s funny how our birthday is such a big, important event to us when we’re children. We can hardly wait a whole year before our next birthday. But when we’re older, it’s the opposite. The years fly by and we seem to go “straight from pimples to wrinkles! So by the time our face clears up, our mind gets fuzzy!”

They say the two greatest days of your life are the day you’re born and the day you discover why you were born.

You know, Jesus Christ was born just so you and I could finally know why we were born. It’s sad that some people live their whole lives and die without ever even knowing why they were born. It’s like doing something the wrong way all your life without ever knowing there’s a right way to do it. So it’s only natural that the one Person Who knows the right way our life works is the One Who made us.

Jesus Christ, who’s God the Son, said that for us to know why we were born we have to first be born again.

What did He mean by that?

Simply that we each must start life all over again by

Opinion

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THINK

A Minute

Jhan Tiafau Hurst asking Jesus to forgive us for our past wrongs and living our own way. Then we must let Him take full control of every area of our life every day. Jesus does not want us to have religion. He wants us to have a daily, personal relationship with Him. This is why Jesus died and came back to life: so you could be forgiven and free from your past, wrong life. He’ll show you how to start living His right, successful way everyday for the rest of your life. So why not make today the greatest day of your life? You can be born again right now, if you’ll just ask Jesus for His free gift of forgiveness and your new life. It’s the most important choice you’ll ever make, and the one you’ll never regret.

Just Think a Minute…

LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… The LORD will strike you with… scorching heat and drought… The sky over your head will be bronze, the ground beneath you iron. The LORD will turn the rain of your country into dust and powder; it will come down from the skies until you are destroyed…”

(Deuteronomy 28:22-24, the Holy Bible).

-ooo MANKIND WILL PERISH DUE TO GLOBAL WARMING: Indeed, I can only agree wholeheartedly with the statement of French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius that it is life itself which is at stake in the environmental problem which is now known the world over as global warming and climate change.

C onsequently, if the current United Nations C onference on Climate C hange in L e B ourget, France will still fail to come up with a solution to global warming and climate change, in much the same way that the first 21 years of UN conferences on climate change utterly failed to find a solution, extinction and death of mankind wouldn’t be so far behind anymore.

The only problem here is that, although there is

already a draft agreement conformed to by the countries participating in the 2015 climate change conference, it is not expected to yield any immediate solutions as yet since it has not been firmed as a law which will have obligatory ef fect on the world. In short, the Paris conference notwithstanding, there is total failure once again in finding a solution to global warming.

-ooo BLIND SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE: Why are the world’s brightest scientists and most astute world leaders unable to come up with a solution to environmental degradation, and the ever-increasing warming of every nook and cranny of the whole world?

Surely, a l l of t hem are known experts in finding solutions to environmental woes.

Wh at i s m ore, e a ch of them studied for long periods of time in search of a cure. They have also spent huge amount of money already in their research and conferences and meetings about global warming and climate change. The fact is, the latest climate change conference in Le Bourget, France is already the 21st annua l me et ing on t he

matter.

So, what, really, is behind the repeated failure of the world to find a solution to environmental destruction?

As I see it, this failure is largely due to the failure and blind refusal of experts to recognize that the true solution to global warming and climate change lies in its spiritual angle.

-ooo SOLUTION TO GLOBAL WARMING: If the truth be told, with scientists, experts, a n d w o r l d au t h o r i t i e s continuing in their refusal to acknowledge the spiritual angle of global warming and climate change, the more difficult and impossible it would be for them to find a solution to the deadly problem.

If they will only read the Bible of the Christian believers, they will not fail to see that global warming and climate change was a c tu a l ly prophe s i e d to happen in its verses, which say that the sky over our heads will be bronze and the soil will be like iron if people will no longer listen to God and will no longer obey His commands.

If we will only lo ok more carefully on these verses of the Bible, it will appear that the solution to global warming will be very

K akampi

Mo A ng Batas

Atty. Batas Mauricio simple: listening to God and obeying His commands all over again. The only real problem here is that, man has become so confused in his mind, leading him to rebel against God and refuse to listen to Him and obey His commands.

Death and destruction are the sure penalties for this madness.

-ooo PLEASE LISTEN: “Ang Tanging Daan” (The Sole Way): a Bible study and prayer session online could now be heard, 24 HOURS a day, in the Philippines and the world at www.facebook. com/angtangingdaan or w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / ANDKNK (For ANDKNK, look for “Ang Tanging Daan” broadcasts). Phone: 0922 833 43 96, 0918 574 0193, 0 9 7 7 8 0 5 9 0 5 8 . E m ai l : batasmauricio@yahoo.com.

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2015 palay output to decline by 600,000 MT

T

H E c o u n t r y ’s unmilled-rice production could decline by 600,000 metric tons (MT) by the end of the year due to natural disasters, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Wednesday.

Agriculture Assistant Secretary Edilberto de Luna, who is also coordinator of the DA’s Rice and Corn Program, said rice farmers inc urred loss es due to the drought caused by El Niño and Typhoon Lando (international code name Koppu).

“Lando and El Niño would have a major impact on rice output this year, which could settle at 18.3 million metric tons [MMT]. We would lose around 600,000 MT of palay

due to these natural disasters,” de Luna told reporters at the sidelines of the 2015 Makina Saka in Pasay City.

The projected rice output of 18.3 MMT by the end of the year is 3.54 percent lower than the 18.97 MMT produced in 2014, and is also 3.68 percent lower than the target of the DA pegged at 19 MMT. The DA earlier set a palay production target of 20.08 MMT for this year. This was lowered to 19 MMT due to the onslaught of Lando and El Niño in major rice-producing areas in the country.

If n o t f o r E l Ni ñ o and Lando, de Luna said Philippine rice output for the whole year could reach 19.5 MMT. Last month the Philippine

Statistics Authority (PSA) projected that rice output for 2015 would reach 18.3 MMT. For the second half of the year alone, the PSA said palay output may decline by 5.81 percent to 9.97 MMT, from 10.59 MMT last year.

Meanwhile, de Luna said the increase in irrigation water due to rains brought

by Lando would allow rice output to recover in the first quarter of 2016. The PSA projected rice output in January to March 2016 to inch up by 0.31 percent to 4.38 MMT, from 4.37 MMT recorded in the same period last year.

The expected increase in rice output prompted the government to review palay/PAGE 11

Farmers and some of their family members walk home after spending hours harvesting their rice crop in Candon, Ilocos Sur. (Mau Victa)

PMFTC set to upgrade plants, facilities CIGARETTE giant Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. (PMFTC) is focusing on upgrading its manufacturing plants and facilities in the Philippines in order to expand

its portfolio and improve the quality of its products in the country, the company said.

PMFTC President Roman Militsyn told reporters on the sidelines of the Ninth Bright Leaf Awards Night in Pasay City that the company is currently concentrating on widening its portfolio of brands.

“For us, the market is very important. [The Philippines] is quite a big market so we continue to focus on our portfolio. I think we have a quite solid and strong portfolio of our brands. The major focus will continue to be on how we can grow that,” he said. upgrade/PAGE 10

DA urges students anew to take up agri courses

BOOK DISTRIBUTION IN CAGAYAN DE ORO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL – VICE GOVERNOR JOEY G. PELAEZ was warmly welcomed by the teachers, students and parents of Cagayan de Oro National High School as he visited the school to distribute books given by Children International Philippines, Inc. In his message, Vice Governor Pelaez encouraged the students to still continue reading books even though digital copies are available in the internet because some information there cannot be trusted wholly and are easily falsified. Present during the simple turn-over ceremony were the teachers headed by Principal MARLON FRANCIS SERIÑA, GPTA President ERNESTO MOLINA and the students. photo provided

DAVAO City -- The office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Davao region has appealed anew to students to take up agriculture courses, which have been seeing a decline in enrollment as more young Filipinos go for nursing and information-technology courses.

DA Regional Director Remelyn R. Recoter made her pitch for agriculture courses when she spoke with officers and members of irrigators’ associations in the Davao region during their recent congress.

Recoter said the youth should consider a career in agriculture to ensure that the sustained growth of a critical sector.

“We are hopeful our younger generation would pursue courses in agriculture.

They are not only becoming a

producer but they could also be the best entrepreneur in the farming industry,” she said.

Recoter said farmers in the Philippines are aging, as their average age is 57 years.

“Let us encourage our youth to join the DA programs like capabilityenhancement trainings for them to understand and somehow get encouraged in embracing the farming world,” she said.

Me anw h i l e , R e c ot e r assured various irrigators’ associations that the DA “is intensifying its support to achieve rice self-sufficiency.”

She said the assistance would be extended in the form of production support to rice farming “by making provisions to respond the challenges on climate change.” courses/PAGE 10

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AFFP: credit window for farmers, fisherfolks. Anchored on its mandate in the provision of timely, adequate and affordable credit to farmers and fisherfolks, the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC) with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO 10) spearheaded a facilitation meeting between the People’s Credit and Finance, Corp. (PCFC), microfinance institution (MFI) partners and the regional, provincial and municipal/city focal persons of the Agricultural Fisheries Financing Program (AFFP). Norman William S. Kraft, ACPC director, said that it is necessary for the council to continue with its regional roadshows throughout the country to fast track the disbursement of funds under the Program, which is pegged at Php 2 billion as provided in the 2015 General Appropriations Act. He added that farmers and fisherfolks registered under the Registry System of Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) should maximize the availment of funds under AFFP as it is an alternative to the rigid and stringent credit facilities usually provided by banks, with palay, corn, coconut, high value crops, livestock, poultry and fisheries as the priority commodities for assistance. For more small scale farmers and fisherfolks to have access to the Program, the body agreed to organize orientations per province throughout Northern Mindanao, to fast track the identification and endorsement of potential MFI partners to PCFC and submission of RSBSA listed farmers to MFIs. # (JLOlson, DA-RFO 10)

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EVERYDAY IS SHOE DAY AT SM SM started out with shoes when Founder and Chairman Henry Sy, Sr. opened his first Shoe Mart store in downtown Manila in 1958. He thought that if he could sell a pair of shoes to every Filipino, he could be a successful man.

He, of course, became more successful than he ever imagined. His shoe store has evolved into a retail giant, a chain of super malls, and one of the country’s largest conglomerates.

Even today, SM continues to focus on footwear to serve a new generation of shoppers– updating its iconic Parisian brand, and bringing shoe shopping to a whole new level as the ultimate shoe destination with the widest selection of footwear for all ages and occasions. There is even the Shoe City in SM Makati, which is home to the country’s biggest shoe department.

SM Shoes and Bags continues this legacy as it celebrates Everyday is Shoe Day beginning this month.

And it’s the best time to explore your shoe obsession.

What makes shoes special? Most women will tell you that they love their shoes because of the way they make them feel. Flats, heels, boots, sandals, pumps, platforms, wedges, strappy, lace-ups, peep-toes – a new pair of shoes has always had amazing effects.

These can instantly

refresh your look, or just make you feel incredibly sexy.

“When you ask, what do women want?

– the answer seems to be shoes,” says fashion historian Valerie Steele, director and chief curator of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.

She adds that a stunning shoe is like a three dimensional piece of art. “Shoes are the creative, playful part of fashion.

They have their own sculptural, artistic shape.”

Shoes are forgiving.

Shoes are loyal. Heels also elongate the leg, change your posture and elevate you. Sex and the City highlighted shoes and identity by mixing up an appreciation of shoes with an assertion of one’s identity as a stylish, successful, and independent woman.

For men, the power of shoes is in the steps

they take. Shoes are as much about action as they take them to many places – from their first baby steps in booties, to school in sneakers, to the office in formal shoes, and to their favorite holiday place in weekend warrior style.

And like family values, stories and traditions, a passion for shoes often passed through generations.

That’s why kids today like wearing mini versions shoes just like Mom’s or Dad’s.

Apart from exciting

finds and discounts, SM Shoes and Bags further shares the shoe-love as it donates more than a hundred pairs of footwear daily to the less fortunate through the SM Foundation.

Celebrate #EverydayisShoeDayatSM and get connected with SM Shoes and Bags by liking their Facebook page: SM Shoes and Bags and through Instagram and Twitter via @ SMShoesandBags.

Check out these accounts to avail of the Deals of the Day.

Two-toned boat shoes in hip colors for men

Men can go through the day’s activities with their trusted sneakers

A World of Flats: Fab flats from Parisian Shoes, Rusty Lopez, Hush Puppies and Jeffrey Campbell

Fun booties for the little fashionista

Little girls join the shoe party with stylish boots

Messages of Burmese refugees’ hope echoed by American missionary in CDO Story and Photos by MARK FRANCISCO

FROM the cramped Karen refugee camps in the Thailand-Myanmar border to the urban serenity of Cagayan de Oro in the Philippines, it seemed to be a cultural shift for the then 28-year-old Californian missionary Gordon Griffith when he got married here last year.

But it was not. For Gordon could relate that the 40-year-old conflict in Mindanao is akin to the plight of the Karen people in Thailand.

Persecuted by what was then known as Burma in the late 1940s, the Karen people are still in a seemingly stateless notion and

has been cramping in nine refugee camps in Thailand for the past 60 years suffering from overcrowding, disease and periodic attacks from the army of what is now known as Myanmar.

Embarking on a Christian mission to the Karen refugee camps in the province of Kanchanaburi in Thailand in 2009, the professional photographer Gordon taught the refugees how to document human rights abuses, taught English to the Karen kids and assisted the grassroots-based newspaper within the camp on the basics of

photojournalism.

In 2012, Gordon met the then 24-yearold Graceila Verdadero who was a Filipina from Cagayan de Oro working as a Christian missionary in Sabah, Borneo. In October 2014, the couple got married and settled down in this City of Golden Friendship.

Despite that, Gordon never forgot his fiveyear-immersion with the Karen community in Thailand. After settling down here, he decided to continue his peacebuilding advocacy here in Mindanao.

Gordon partnered with the local Light of the Word Church’s peacebuilding arm

which is in turn part of the larger Philippine Ecumenical Peace Platform. Gordon was part of the Light of the Word’s group successfully securing the release of then Pfc. Adonis Jess Lupiba from the New People’s Army (NPA) in Gingoog City.

To help in the logistics of his peacebuilding efforts, Gordon created the #thegriffithprojecthouse where various crafts meticulously made by his talented wife are sold. These are succulents in cocktails, non-traditional Christmas decors, macramé, wall decos, mini-furniture, stylized jars, dreamcatchers

Non-traditional Christmas decors

and other cute handy house items. Some of these stuff are currently exhibited and also for sale at the 2/L, North Concourse, Limketkai Center till December 10, 2015. You may also contact the couple on

their Facebook page The Griffith Project House.

The couple is looking forward for a more concerted effort to continue bringing peace and harmony among Mindanaoans in the future.

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Congratulations!

JEFFREY T. ANG 2016 President

Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Inc.

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Peace... from page 2

“Today, we can hear lots of chaos from one place to another. There is a need for us to motivate other people in spreading peace particularly in Mindanao since we know that there is a conflict between Muslims and Christians especially the rebels and others. We need peace and that is why I am here.” says Kristal Baldon, a student from Camaman-an National Highs School.

Participants from different groups gather together, extending their right thumb connecting one hand to another as a sign of peace which symbolizes that each people is part in creating peace. It will be the kind of peace that will be shared to everybody – Muslim, Christian, and Lumad united as one.

Mindanao is a land of diversity in terms of race, culture and religion. For years, Mindanao has been encountering peace issues and recently, the number peace issues are rising in especially in terms of land ownership and rebel attacks that result to chaos.

Mindanao Week of Peace is being celebrated annually throughout Mindanao from the last Thursday of November until the first Wednesday of December covered by the Presidential Proclamation No. 127 whereas, the government recognizes the common aspirations of Mindanaoans to live in peace, unity and harmony with each other regardless of status in life, religion, or culture and in order to raise consciousness for a culture of peace among the peoples of Mindanao.

(Michelle Love Hilario/ JMOR/PIA10)

Ayala... from page 3

Before the Second World War, the Z obels leased what is now known as the Ayala Triangle to a group of businessmen who built and operated Manila’s first private international airport, the Nielson Airport.

The pre-war passenger terminal and airport tower, appropriately called Nielson Tower, still stands and is now the site of the fancy Blackbird restaurant.

Andrew Tan topples Lucio Co’s tipple Count Puregold’s Lucio Co among the few who will probably not raise a toast to fellow taipan Andrew Tan’s 2 7 5 - m i l l i on - e u ro (P13.8 billion) acquisition of Bodegas Fundador.

With Tan now as the new emperador of Spain’s biggest and oldest brandy cellar, Co’s status as the country’s largest liquor importer and exclusive Philippine distributor of the popular Spanish tipple may evaporate faster than the proverbial angel’s share.

Fundador is presently being imported and distributed locally by Meritus Prime Distribution, a unit of

Co’s listed holding company, Cosco Capital, that is also importing a lesser known Spanish brandy, Excelente, which competes with Tan’s Emperador.

According to C os co Capital’s third quarter 2015 report, its liquor distribution segment contributed about P2.86 billion revenues, out of the P81.45- billion total revenues generated by Cosco Capital for the first nine months of 2015.

While the overall contribution may be modest within Co’s sprawling retail empire, revenues from the liquor segment nevertheless saw a remarkable 24- percent increase from the same period last year.

As to the Fundador Pedro Domecq acquisition, Tan’s holding company Alliance Global said it had tapped the euro debt market to finance the cash purchase.

Alliance Global also clarified that its chairman’s 5 5 8 - m i l l i on - e u ro ( P 2 8 bi l l i on ) a c qu i s it i on of Madrid’s Torre Espacio (Space Tower) was done by Tan in his “personal capacity.”

Heard through the grapevine Another son of taipan Lucio Tan, the little-known John Tan, has been elevated to the board of PAL Holdings, replacing lawyer Florentino Herrera III. John already sits on the board of Tanduay, although his photo, for still unknown reasons, is the only one missing among the directors in the liquor company’s website.

impact on the disposable income of Filipinos, which he said is positive for the tobacco industry. Citing data from Nielsen, a third-party research agency, the president said PMFTC is demonstrating growth, which makes the company “optimistic” that it can continue to do well in the future.

“I think that we will be in a good position entering the end of the year or beginning next year based on the consumer offtake standpoint. If you look at consumer offtake, we are around 73 percent to 74 percent,” Militsyn said.

“It’s difficult when you are already quite big to grow further, but that’s the ambition of any company, to look for further opportunities to grow.

That’s why we continue to focus on expanding our portfolio involving plants and packaging to further satisfy the customers’ needs,” he added.

Meanwhile, Militsyn said PMFTC’s year-round tobacco-growing operations and fresh-leaf buying and curing facility in Claveria,

Misamis Oriental, has been showing good progress. He said the goal for the facility is not centered on the quantity, but rather to improve the quality of the tobacco output in the area.

“The most important thing is to make the quality right, and then, later on, we will get the quantity. So, overall, I would say we are quite happy in terms of the progress and we are looking forward for an expansion, as well,” he said.

Courses... from page 6

“With the threat of El Niño phenomenon, environment and soil stresses are the main concern of our farmers. With that, the [government] will support you by providing drought and saline tolerant varieties for the fields affected

by El Niño,” she said.

“The DA will also support the expansion of planting areas of farmer-cooperators, in coordination with their respective provincial or municipal agriculturists,” Recoter added.

Upgrade... from page 6

The company is expected to invest millions of dollars into its facility upgrades in the country, although Militsyn did not cite any specific figures.

Militsyn said PMFTC is di re c t i ng its ef for t s into modernizing its manufacturing facilities and equipment in Batangas and Marikina. The company is also improving in terms of investment and its work force.

The recently appointed company president said that, due to the competitiveness of the global tobacco market, the quality-to-price ratio of tobacco products plays a key role for the company’s growth.

“The focus of the industry is to work on the quality and be competitive in terms of pricing, so in principle, I think there is an opportunity to work on that and make the Philippine tobacco industry even more competitive,” he said.

Militsyn, who was formerly assigned in Argentina, said t he Phi lippine tob acco market is “bigger” than the Argentinian market, and that he sees good potential for growth in the local tobacco industry.

For one, he said, the good performance of the Philippine economy could have an

CAGAYAN DE ORO MAIN BRANCH P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers Kalambagohan Sts., Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Telefax # (088) 856-1947 CAMIGUIN BRANCH B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel. # (088) 387-0491 CORRALES BRANCH Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City DIVISORIA BRANCH Atty. Erasmo B. Damasing Bldg., #61 Don A. Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 857-3631 LAPASAN BRANCH Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-6739 CARMEN BRANCH Vamenta Blvd., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-2011

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LANAO DEL NORTE 12TH Judicial Region BRANCH 07 Tubod, Lanao del Norte SPL. PROC. NO. 309-07-2015 IN RE: PETITION FOR CANCELLATION OF THE SIMULATED BIRTH CERTIFICATES OF MINOR CHILDREN, EMMA BLESS M. AGUAVIVA and DWIGHT DAVID M. AGUAVIVA FLORY MAE M. AGUAVIVA,

- versus –

Petitioner,

The LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF BAROY, DEL NORTE Respondent. x-------------------------------------/ ORDER Filed before this Court is a petition for cancellation of the simulated Birth Certificates of minor children, EMMA BLESS M. AGUAVIVA and DWIGHT DAVID M. AGUAVIVA by the herein petitioner praying among others that after notice and hearing, an Order be issued directing the respondent to effect the cancellation sought for.

Petitioner alleges that she is of legal age, Filipino, married and a resident of Sto. Niño Village, Baroy, Lanao del Norte. The Respondent is sued in his official capacity as such. The petitioner is one of the legitimate children of spouses Emeliano T. Aguaviva and Marietta M. Aguaviva. That sometime in June 2000, she fell in love to a man named WILMAR JUFE MEDIANERO who promised her to give immortal love and everlasting happiness. One month after they became sweethearts, she got pregnant at the young age of eighteen (18) years old but when she broke the news of her pregnancy to her boyfriend, WILMAR JUFE MEDIANERO, the latter quickly vanished into thin air, leaving the petitioner in grief and distraught. She had no other recourse but to reveal her pregnancy to her parents. After having been informed of her pregnancy, petitioner’s parents decided to send her in exile to petitioner’s maternal Grandmother in Calamba, Misamis Occidental so as to avoid public ridicule and embarrassments. On March 28, 2001, she gave birth to a baby girl named EMMA BLESS in Calamba Emergency Hospital. Instead of registering the birth of said child in the Local Civil Registrar of Calamba, Misamis Occidental, her parents decided to cause the registration of the child in the Local Civil Registrar of Baroy, Lanao del Norte making it also to appear that they are the parents of the child registering the child to be EMMA BLESS M. AGUAVIVA when in truth and in fact, she is the true biological mother of the child and the biological father is WILMAR JUFE MEDIANERO. More than one year after giving birth to her first child, she fell in love to another guy named MARC PHILLIP BORJA, also a resident of Sto. Niño Village, Baroy, Lanao del Norte. Their relationship resulted again to her second pregnancy. However, instead of going in exile to another place, she opted to stay at home. Two months after she discovered that she was pregnant, she broke up with Marc Phillip Borja. On August 17, 2003, she gave birth to her second child named DWIGHT DAVID at Lanao del Norte Provincial Hospital. When the birth of the child was registered in the Local Civil Registrar of Baroy, Lanao del Norte, her parents again insisted to write their names as the parents of the child, making it appear that the child Dwight David M. Aguaviva is their son, when in truth and in fact, she is the biological mother of the child, Dwight David which she begot with Marc Phillip Borja. Petitioner was constrained to give her consent to simulate the birth certificates of her children, Emma Bless and Dwight David owing to the fact what life would follow after giving birth to her children without their fathers assist her in raising them up. Thus, her parents were compelled to simulate the birth certificates of her children believing in good faith that by doing such scheme, it would be for the best interest of the children. Now, that she has grown up and mature, she realized that was she did is a big mistake and deeply felt in remorse and regret of her wrongdoing of having allowed her parents to register their names as the parents of her two children. That there is an imperative need to cancel the birth certificates of the children and they contained entries that are false and spurious so as to avoid confusion as to the true identities of the said children. Hence, the petition, filed not to conceal crime or evade criminal prosecution.

Set the initial hearing of the case to January 29, 2016 at 8:30 in the morning for the reception of evidence to establish jurisdictional requirements.

The Petitioner is hereby directed to publish copy of this Order to a newspaper of general circulation in the province of Lanao del Norte for three (3) consecutive weeks, at her expense. Furnish copy of this Order to the Office of the Solicitor General, Makati City, Public Prosecutor’s Office, Tubod, Lanao del Norte, Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Baroy, Lanao del Norte, to Atty. Eleuterio M. Obial, Jr. of Dawis, Baroy, Lanao del Norte and to theMAIN petitioner BRANCH herself at her known address, CDO at Sto Niño Village, Baroy, Lanao del Norte.

P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers Let Kalambagohan copy of this Order be posted at the Bulletin Board Sts., of this Court and the Bulletin Board of the Office of the Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Local Civil Registrar of Baroy, Lanao del Norte.

Telefax # (088) 856-1947 So Ordered.

Tubod, Lanao del Norte.

CAMIGUIN November 20, 2015. BRANCH B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin

Tel. # (088) 387-0491 (Sgd) DENNIS P. VICOY

Acting Presiding Judge CORRALES BRANCH Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro BWM: Nov. 23, 30 & Dec. 7, 2015City

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Value... from page 1

For this year, the same volume of mine exports was valued at US$596.4 million.

Mangsal said the mine exports had come from the operations of different mining companies in Surigao del Norte and Dinagat Islands.

She said November and December were not included as extraction activities would stop during these months due to rains.

The exports were mostly limonite and saprolite, high and low grade nickel ores that were shipped to Japan and China.

Frizzy Lei G. Nacation, acting export document processor at the Bureau of Customs said a few of these exports were cobalt sulfide and nickel sulfide which are produced by Taganito High Pressure Acid Leach of Nickel Asia Corp. in Claver, Surigao del Norte.

Dulmar M. Raagas, president of Chamber of Mines Caraga Region Inc., said the prices of nickel ores continued to dip affecting the profitability target of the mining companies.

Raagas said there are 13 mining companies in Dinagat Province and five others in Surigao del Norte.

He said the decrease in export earnings affected taxes and royalty shares to some indigenous peoples’ communities.

Currently, he said, the price of nickel in the market has gone down to US$8,145 per ton, the lowest price in the last four years.

In 2011, Raagas said

the price of nickel in the market was pegged at between US$21,845 and US$18,266 per ton.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Caraga Region said 18 mining companies in the region exported 33.7 metric tons of nickel ore in 2013 with an estimated value of US$659.1 million.

The government earned P554.9 million in excise tax, P1.2 billion pesos in royalty tax and P183.1 million in royalty tax to the indigenous peoples.

Cerilles... from page 1

Excellence in Agricultural Leadership Award 2015 from the Association of Agricultural Technology in Southeast Asia (AATSEA).

Cerilles was honored f o r h i s “o u t s t a n d i n g achievement, dedicated service, untiring efforts, exemplary vision, farming system innovation, unwavering commitment and selfless support in the field of organic agriculture,” said AATSEA President Kasem Soytong in an email.

A AT S E A , b a s e d i n Thailand, is an organization of scientists in Southeast Asia.

Cerilles received the award for Policy-Making and Governance during a glitzy ceremony during the 4th International Conference on Integration of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in Hanoi, Vietnam last November 27-28 which was attended by at least 200 participants

they intercropped with the cassava, thus enabling them to be freed from the clutches of poverty.

GO-CFS also contributes in mitigating the effects of climate change by employing minimum tillage and organic agriculture. It significantly reduces the emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) that happen profusely with over-tillage of farms. It does away with chemical inputs whose production spawns a lot of GHG emissions. More importantly, it leaves more lands untouched that can be set aside for forest to grow that would help mitigate the effects of climate change.

“G O - C F S h a s b e e n proven feasible and viable for smallholders in Zamboanga [del Sur], providing them with sufficient yield and income even during drought,” he said.

Cerilles is also behind the move to make Zamboanga del Sur a member of the prestigious International Fe d e r at i on of O r g a n i c Agriculture Movements and in s o doing, made history by becoming the first Philippine province to be admitted to IFOAM, the umbrella organization for the organic agriculture movement with close to 800 affiliates in 117 countries that is also popularly known as Organics International.

Zamboanga del Sur is also a founding member of the Association of Asian Local Governments for Organic Ag r i c u lt u re ( A L G OA ) , which is implementing the “bio-village model of organic agriculture development” together with IFOAM-Asia.

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10th Judicial Region Branch 25 Cagayan de Oro City

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL 10th Judicial Region Branch 41 Cagayan de Oro City

OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL SHERIFF

BALIKATAN PROPERTY HOLDINGS, INC., EJF NO.2015-261

Mortgagee,

FOR : SPS. ROGELIO Z. BINONGO & EXTRA-JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE ILLUMINADA P. BINONGO, REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE Mortgagors. x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -/

SHERIFF’S NOTICE OF SALE EJF File No. 2015-289 Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135 as amended, filed by HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND or PAG-IBIG FUND, Mortgagee, with address at J.R. Borja Street, Cagayan de Oro City, against ROY W. IGNACIO, Mortgagor, with postal address at Lot 22, Block 14, Bloomingdale Subdivision, Iponan, Cagayan de Oro City/Zone 6, Molugan, El Salvador, Misamis Oriental, to satisfy the mortgaged indebtedness which as of October 15,2015, amounts to SEVEN HUNDRED SIXTY TWO THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED TEN PESOS & 17/100 (P 762,210.17) Philippine Currency, as outstanding obligation, inclusive of interest and penalty charges and other charges that may accrue thereafter, plus the foreclosure expenses, the undersigned Sheriff will SELL at public auction on January 18, 2016 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning or soon thereafter at the entrance of the City Tourism Hall, City Hall Compound, Regional Trial Court, Branch 25, Cagayan de Oro City, to the highest bidder for CASH and in Philippine Currency, the property mentioned in the said mortgage which is described as follows: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. 137-2011004056

“A PARCEL OF LAND (Lot 22, Block 14, PCS-10-003948 portion of Lots 3615-B, PSD-10-004675, 24178-A, PSD-10-009444, 3614-A-1-B, PSD-10-009566, 24178-B-1, PSD-10-010320, 24178-B-2-A, PSD-10-052968, 24178-B-2-B-1, PSD-10-054199, 24178-B-2-B-6,PSD-10-054199,4178-C-1, PSD-10-054997,3605,CAD. 237, Cagayan Cadastre. Situated at Iponan, Cagayan de Oro City. Including all improvements existing thereon. Bounded on the x x x. Beginning at x x x. Containing an area of EIGHTY (80) SQUARE METERS. Registered in the name of ROY W. IGNACIO.”

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated date, time and place.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date for whatever reason, the same will proceed on the following working day, without further notice, posting and publication.

Prospective buyers/bidders may investigate for themselves the title of the herein above-described property and encumbrance thereon, if any there be.

and 28 scientists.

AAT SEA re cog nize d Cerilles for his innovative GO-CFS or Gahung-Gahung Organic Cassava Farming System: A Climate Change Ad apt ive an d Pove r t y Alleviating Farming Strategy program that promotes the organic cassava farming system that benefits thousands of smallholder farmers in Zamboanga del Sur. “Our organic cassava program has matured to a level that is worth replicating in other provinces and countries,” he said.

C erilles said that he conceptualized GO-CFS in 2001 when he had a brief rest from politics.

During that time, cassava f ar me rs i n Z amb o ang a del Sur followed the conventional cassava farming system but when Cerilles assumed the top elective post in the province, he mustered the resources of the provincial government to promote organic cassava farming.

S i n c e t h e n , c a s s av a farming in the province has never been the same again.

In 2013, Cerilles started i mp l e m e nt i n g a n o t h e r program to complement the GO-CFS — an innovative microf inance economic enterprise.

In GO-CFS, a cassava farmer is able to harvest cassava ten times a year from a hectare of farm, thus enabling them to have a sure monthly income of P7,000 to P12,000. Aside from this, cassava farmers also have other sources of income from the other crops

Cagayan de Oro City, November 27, 2015.

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO PROVINCIAL SHERIFF:

NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE

Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act No. 3135/4118 filed by BALIKATAN PROPERTY HOLDINGS, INC., against SPS. ROGELIO Z. BINONGO & ILLUMINADA P. BINONGO, both of legal age, Filipino citizens with residence and known addresses at RB Compound, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental and Lot 6, Blk 7, Alley PROMISELAND SUBD., BRGY. POBLACION, TAGOLOAN, MISAMIS ORIENTAL and TRANS BUILDERS RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT CORP., to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of October 2, 2015 amounts to TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY SEVEN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY FIVE PESOS AND 34/100(P277,855.34), Philippine Currency, exclusive of interest, penalties, charges, attorney’s fees and expenses of foreclosure, the undersigned or his duly authorized deputy will sell at public auction on January 27, 2016 at 10:00 A.M. at the main entrance of this Court, Regional Trial Court, Branch 41, Capitol Compound, A. Luna St., Cagayan de Oro City, to the highest bidders, for cash or manager’s check and in Philippine Currency, the following personal properties, to wit: TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE NO. T-15584

A PARCEL OF LAND(Lot 6, Blk.7, of the cons. Subd. Plan, PCS-104324017657. Situated in the Barangay of Poblacion, Municipality of Tagoloan, Province of Misamis Oriental, Island of Mindanao, containing an area of ONE HUNDRED(100) SQUARE METERS, more or less including all improvements existing and to be constructed/erected thereon.

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated date, time and place.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date for whatever reason, the same will proceed on the following working day, without further notice, posting and publication.

Prospective buyers may investigate for themselves the property herein-above described and encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

Cagayan de Oro City, November 25, 2015

(SGD.) LOVE M. VERDADERO Sheriff IV

(SGD.) ALDEN V. SAMBAAN Sheriff IV

BWM: December 7, 14 & 21, 2015

BWM: December 7, 14 & 21, 2015

Cyanide... from page 1

the part of some personnel of the Mindanao Container Terminal (MCT) who ordered the release of the contraband.

Alameda said the releasing officers failed on three matters, as follows: They failed to verify the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) permit if it was valid; they failed to check if the declared value of the shipment, which is a regulated product, is correct and proper; and that the signatories failed to check if the shipment’s container number matched those that were included in the earlier issued alert order.

Alameda assured that sanctions against erring personnel for gross misconduct will be issued, even as she said that there is no room for negligence in the BOC. Alameda though said that the first consignee, Acestar International Service Corp., could be a mere Forwarder International Consolidator and that Greenstone Resources Corporation is the real consignee, which allowed the shipment to pass through the MCT gate.

The BOC is tracking down seven containers full of sodium cyanide slipped out of the MCT by suspected syndicate group in cahoots with some BOC and port personnel.

B u r e au o f Cu s t o m s Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Jessie Dellosa has ordered the formation of a team of investigators who will be arriving to investigate the incident.

Last October 26, Intelligence Officer II Alvin Enciso, acting chief of the CIIS, Port of Cagayan de Oro and MCT, requested for the issuance of an alert order for the seven containers of sodium cyanide after receiving derogatory information that the shipment, which arrived MCT on October 23, 2015, was devalued and with no pertinent documents from the Department of Environment and Natura l Res ources (DENR).

EXTRAJUDICICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH A DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE OF A PARCEL OF LAND Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the Late OSIAS MALLE represented by his surviving spouse Norma Nalitan Malle, who inherited the property which she sold to the herein buyer/ vendee is of legal age, widow and a resident of Igpit,Opol,Misamis Oriental, herein after referred to as the seller/vendor left a parcel of land situated in Igpit, Opol, Misamis Oriental and which property described as follows; Certificate Title No. T-34841 Covered by Tax Declaration No. 0815000707156 containing an area of ONE HUNDRED FORTY FIVE (145) square meters more or less is the subject of EXTRAJUDICICIAL SETTLEMENT WITH A DEED OF ABSOLUTE SALE OF A PARCEL OF LAND Under Notary Public of ATTY. EMELITO J. MARQUIÑO per Doc, No. 424; Page No. 84; Book No. XI; Series of 2015.

BWM December 7, 14 & 21 2015

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Immediately on the same day, Atty. Alameda issued the alert order against the shipment under the name of Acestar International Service Corporation as consignee with Bill of Lading (BL) No. APLU014021866,which arrived from Japan via Sima Sapphite V024.

However, on Tuesday, Encis o found out t hat despite the Alert Order on the shipmment, the seven containers had been shipped out of the MCT. When checked, Enciso found out that the consignee has been changed to Greenstone Resources Corporation and the BL nu mb e r has a ls o b e e n changed.

Enciso said there are only two cirsumstances when the coonsignee can be changed.

These are if the shipper went to the shipping lines and requested for the change, and if the shipper requested the change before the BOC and asked for ammendment/s.

Enciiso said both processes were not done in the case of the shipped-out seven containers.

Enciso also said the shipment managed to slipped out of the MCT despite the fact that the container numbers, which were alerted upon, remained the same.

Enciso said agents from the BOC, in coordination with the military, have been dispatched Wednesday night to track down the shipment. If located, the BOC will immediately issue warrants for its seizure and detention based on two factors: Devaluation and lack of permit from the Enviroment Management Bureau of the DENR. Enciso said the shipment has been placed at P1.2 million, three times lower than its reference value and that the importation permit for the chemicals was issued

by DENR Caraga, instead of Northern Mindanao, and had been dated April 21, 2015, and is good for 12 calendar months.

Enciso suspects the permit used in the clearance of the shipment has been recycled.

The National Bureau of Investigation has also been requested to investigate the case.

If found guilty, all the staff and personnel involved in the release of the shipment will be held accountable and graft and corruption charges will be filed against them.

The consignee will also be charged with smuggling.

Palay... from page 6

the volume of rice it would import next year to beef up the country’s rice stock.

Economic Planning S ecretar y and National Economic and Development Authority Director General Arsenio M. Balisacan said the projected production is “more favorable than expected.”

The country’s El Niño task force earlier recommended an additional 1.3 MMT of rice imports prior to the release of the data from the PSA.

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Apple Tree Resort and Hotel on the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration M The Premier Resort and Hotel in Metro Cagayan de Oro welcomed the Christmas Season with its traditional Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony

arked as the second (2nd) Christmas Tree Lighting Event, Apple Tree Resort and Hotel continues its annual ceremony held recently (December 01, 2015) at the hotel lobby. It has been a tradition to everyone especially the Christians to light up their Christmas Trees with different decors as to signify the start of the yuletide celebration in the country.

This year, Apple Tree Resort and Hotel partnered with the Cagayan de Oro Photographers Photoshoot (CDOPP) a camera club

From Left to Right, Ms Bjanesha M, Emphasis (General Manager), Ms Nollie (COHARA Executive Secretary), Ms Nelia Lee (COHARA President), Ms Maristela M. Maape (HR/Admin Supervisor), Ms Lorna M. Nacua (Operations Manager) photo by clement dampal ii

based in Cagayan de Oro which aims to foster the ability to promote Northern Mindanao as a place with great potential and growth in beauty and

style through photography.

The annual occasion started at 4:30 in the afternoon with a thanksgiving mass held at Punta Gorda, one of the hotel’s function areas and was followed by the program proper emceed by Ms Odessa Bahian and Mr Raffy Vacalares. Mr Clement Dampal II, the hotel’s Marketing and PR Officer inaugurated the event and warmly welcomed the guests, media personnel, hotel partners, and the chosen foundation, and

emphasizing the spirit of Christmas, a message both timeless and universal- a season of generosity and love.

“Exactly a year ago today, Apple Tree Resort and Hotel staged the first

tree lighting ceremony.

We, as Apple Tree Family, faced trials that we have proudly surpassed. We, as individuals experienced the same. But we all have decided to brush away our tears, dust off our

asses and say, “The show must go on.” And with this, we light up our tree to symbolize our beacon of light and hope for just around the corner, Christmas is waiting full see full story/PAGE B2

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Apple Tree Resort and Hotel on the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration M The Premier Resort and Hotel in Metro Cagayan de Oro welcomed the Christmas Season with its traditional Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony

arked as the second (2nd) Christmas Tree Lighting Event, Apple Tree Resort and Hotel continues its annual ceremony held recently (December 01, 2015) at the hotel lobby. It has been a tradition to everyone especially the Christians to light up their Christmas Trees with different decors as to signify the start of the yuletide celebration in the country.

This year, Apple Tree Resort and Hotel partnered with the Cagayan de Oro Photographers Photoshoot (CDOPP) a camera club based in Cagayan de Oro which aims to foster the ability to promote Northern Mindanao as a place with great potential and growth in beauty and style through photography.

The annual occasion started at 4:30 in the afternoon with a thanksgiving mass held at Punta Gorda, one of the hotel’s function areas and was followed by the program proper emceed

by Ms Odessa Bahian and Mr Raffy Vacalares. Mr Clement Dampal II, the hotel’s Marketing and PR Officer inaugurated the event and warmly welcomed the guests, media personnel, hotel partners, and the chosen foundation, and emphasizing the spirit of Christmas, a message both timeless and universal- a season of generosity and love.

“Exactly a year ago today, Apple Tree Resort and Hotel staged the first tree lighting ceremony. We, as Apple Tree Family, faced trials that we have proudly surpassed. We, as individuals experienced the same. But we all have

decided to brush away our tears, dust off our asses and say, “The show must go on.”

And with this, we light up our tree to symbolize our beacon of light and hope for just around the corner, Christmas is waiting full of presents and blessings for all of us. So ladies and gentlemen, we proudly present, the first viewing of Apple Tree’s Christmas Tree!” said by Ms Bjanesha M. Emphasis, the General Manager on the actual first viewing of the Hotel’s Christmas Tree.

For this year, Apple Tree Resort and Hotel decided to make it something exceptional yet practical. Not only one but three Christmas Trees meticulously made through the efforts of Mr Bert Edroso, the Maintenance Supervisor which were carefully designed and manifested by Mr Rey Vitor, the hotel’s Banquet Head.

The two smaller Christmas Trees stands at 7 feet, each with 13 candle bulbs with the biggest tree standing at 17 feet tall having an approximate vital statistics of 220 inches, 240 inches, and 260 inches circumference respectively with 35 candle bulbs. The Christmas Trees are made

The Gugma sa Kabataan kids together with Ms Iluminada Sa. Domingo (The foundation’s Executive Director), Mr Clement Dampal II (Marketing and PR Head), Ms Bjanesha M. Emphasis (General Manager)

up of 220 pieces of dried coconut fronds commonly known in Visayan dialect as “palwa” which were utilized to create a remarkable masterpiece. Additionally, “the biggest Christmas Tree is adorned not only with the usual Christmas trimmings but of poignant scenes caught on camera by our partner Photographers.”

- said Ms Bjanesha M. Emphasis.

THE RECIPIENT: Apple Tree Resort and Hotel Management chose the GUGMA SA KABATAAN Foundation as the year’s beneficiary of the event. The Gugma sa Kabataan Foundation (GsK) is registered as a non-profit incorporation in the Philippines, run by its members.

With its vision of an empowering place for street children to enjoy survival, development, protection, and participations towards a transforming community with HOPE, FAITH, and LOVE, the Gugma Sa Kabataan provides temporary care for street children and youth. Working with the street children in providing opportunities to be integrated in family,

The CDOPP (Cagayan de Oro Photographers Photoshoot)

school, and labor is its sole mission thus, preventing children from choosing the street to be their home or place of livelihood is the main goal of the foundation.

Ms Emphasis also showcased the 9 additional 12x18-sized printed arts from the CDOPP Photographers exhibited with the theme “Kids on Streets” displaying the realistic and noteworthy situation of the kids on the streets. Then after,

the official lighting of the Christmas Tree was commenced around 6:00pm as Ms Bjanesha M. Emphasis countdown in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 together with the guests and partnered institution.

“Indeed, our Christmas Tree is an epitome of realistic and simply beauty.”- she added.

Meanwhile, the hotel served Filipino foods and delicacies after the Christmas Tree Lighting wherein guests witnessed the interpretative performance

of the hotel employees.

Additionally, highlighting the occasion was the performance made by the kids of Gugma Sa Kabataan as they gracefully danced with the beat of the music.

Children’s Joy Foundation, Inc., the hotel’s recipient last year joined the event as well and entertained the guests with their The event officially ended after Santa Claus gave his bundles of joy to the hotel’s partnered foundations.

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Strong demand for Italpinas IPO PROPERTY developer Italpinas Development Corp. enjoyed robust demand for its initial public offering (IPO), the underwriter of the share sale said.

Unicapital, Inc. Managing Director Leonardo R. Arguelles, Jr. said in a mobile phone message said the allocation for the local small investors (LSI), trading participants (TP) and quality institutional buyers (QIB) was oversubscribed by multiple times at the close of the offering last Friday.

“LSI was fully taken up as of

Tuesday. TPs [were] 3.5 times oversubscribed. QIBs [were] 3 times oversubscribed,” Mr. Arguelles said, adding the LSI was 2.6 times oversubscribed.

Unicapital, the issue manager and underwriter of the transaction, informed the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on Nov. 24 -- the second day of the offer period -- that total applications of the LSI have already surpassed the 10% allocation of 5.763 million shares.

Italpinas is raising up to P207.44 million from the

maiden share sale of 57.622 million common shares at P3.60 each.

The P3.60 offer price is 14.29% lower than the P4.20 maximum price the company initially announced, bringing down the gross proceeds from the original P242 million the company had intended to raise from the stock market.

The shares to be offered comprise 26% of the company’s outstanding capital stock.

Italpinas will be listed at the PSE’s Small, Medium and Emerging Board on Dec. 7.

Italpinas is the company behind Primavera City, a mixeduse project consisting of seven residential and commercial buildings in Cagayan de Oro City. Primavera integrates into its design eco-friendly features such as rooftop solar panels to generate part of the buildings’ electricity supply and reducing power use by maximizing natural light and wind ventilation.

The firm is acquiring a property in Sto. Tomas, Batangas where the company plans to undertake a mid- to high-rise

residential project.

The company also plans more projects in Lipa, Batangas; Cagayan de Oro, Misamis Occidental; Subic, Zambales, Montelago, Oriental Mindoro; Dumaguete, Negros Oriental; and Iloilo City, Iloilo.

Italpinas is set to become the fourth company to join the stock market this year after Crown Asia Chemicals Corp. (P222.78 million), SBS Philippines Corp. (P1.16 billion) and Metro Retail Stores Group, Inc. (P3.97 billion). (Krista A.M. Montealegre/BusinessWorld)

XUHS is champ in Steag Energy Quiz 2015 Story by FRELINE LOAYON; Photo by MARK FRANCISCO

ON its 11th year, STEAG State Power Inc. (SPI) conducted the Energy Quiz 2015 at Limketkai Mall last Thursday, December 3. The said competition is SPI’s much awaited annual event that was participated by 34 high schools in Northern Mindanao. It is to show the student’s competency and learning in science and energy.

The contest was composed of three rounds. The quiz contained current events about electricity, energy and other subjects related in chemistry and physics.

Each participating school

was represented by a team of three students who were pre-selected by their administrators and identified as among the brightest in their class.

Corpus Christi School won during the tie breaker among Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology, Sacred Heart of Jesus Montessori School and Saint Mary’s School.

Xavier University High School won the first place and received a trophy, medals and P10,000. The second placer received a trophy, medals and P8,000 which was the Regional Science

media partners

High School. Corpus Christi School got the third place and also received a trophy, medals and P6,000.

SPI presented a video regarding their company.

They also showed a video before and during the competition started. The event ended successfully.

This annual event has become one of the much awaited campus competitions among high schools in Northern Mindanao as it provides opportunities among students to demonstrate and prove their competence and knowledge in the fields of science and energy.

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