Gensan Gazer February 2010

Arts & Entertainment ● City Life ● Shopping ● Tools & Gadgets ● Weekend Getaways ● Wining & Dining

Gensan Gazer

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General Santos City’s First Lifestyle, Trades & Travel Magazine ● February 2010

Are You Ready for the

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G adgets You Gadgets Yo u Ne ve r Le a ve Home Without Pepe’s Prize L i o n’s Be a ch Re born P ye s ta Na Sa b!?!

Save a tree.

Share your copy.

T he Cre dit Ca rd Tra p

Ang Bagong Touch Mobile

Armando Nicolas P J Editor

editor’s

note etween the euphoria over golden boy Manny’s world boxing wins and the slowly simmering fever of 2010’s election campaigns and proceedings, we’ve seen the influx of colorful personalities and new and semi-new businesses, including the ubiquitous haven of malls, as well as entertainment demi-gods, all gracing the limelight in this once backwater, now boom-town city, General Santos.

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In the unseen background -- with the sounds/colors of Kalilangan 2010 slowly filling the air/scene -- a lifestyle, trades and travel magazine was quietly taking shape, and after probably decades of wishful thinking and roughly a year of planning, is now breathing life between your fingertips.

If you have something to sell, do advertise with us. To our readers, share your Gensan Gazer Magazine with family and friends. (You can do your part in saving the trees by not wasting this copy.) More than you and I realize, we actually have so much to share. This great city of ours, for one.

Armando Nicolas PJ

what’ss what w

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inside 6

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Kalilangan 2010 is here, gear up for the festivities!

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The long way from Lion’s Beach to o Queen Quee Tuna Park.

dresse dressed ed up with somewhere 18 All to go and ready read to take off?

Check the e gadgets gad you never leave home hom without.

What to do d when you’re stuck in the t credit card trap Auteur Pepe P Pep Diokno speaks.

29 Darlenee at the Forefront 30 Revamp/ Revamp/Clean /Cl Up Your Vibe

ales and trivia 14 Travel tatales

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Where to dine and wine and bide your time...

32 3 2

Four boo books oks reviewed

Blog are we?

34 Big on Blogs,

35

Last look... look k...

our cover

story Kalilangan, ATOP (Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines) 2009 Best Tourism Event, is now coming our way again.

Expect the usual happy and united spirit, plus grander pomp and more spectacular extravaganza. Making a debut this year is Festivals of South Mindanao, Kalilangan’s groundbreaking showcase competition -pitting the festivals of the different cities and municipalities in the region against each other in one unforgettable showdown -- as well as its complement beauty pageant. So put on the glee and the garb, Generals, now is the time to celebrate!

Avel Manansala Orman Manansala Dan Meyer Marthin Millado Guest Contributors Napoleon Cafe Tess Napala Advertising Associates Jay Harvey J Circulation Manager

Gensan Gazer™ Magazine is published monthly and distributed in General Santos and SoCCSKSarGen by Armanikolas Publishing.

It is printed by Gregoria Printing Press in General Santos City, Philippines.

Gensan Gazer shall not, without the consent of the Publisher, be given, lent, resold, used as textbook, hired out or otherwise disposed of; or affixed to any part of any publication or advertising material in any way whatsoever. While all reasonable care is taken for contributed material, no responsibility will be assumed for its return or for corrections. Opinions expressed or implied in Gensan Gazer are solely those of the authors, and are not necessarily endorsed by the Editor or Publisher.

Advertisers and/or their representatives shall indemnify the Publisher in relation to any defamation, slander, breach, copyright and intellectual property infringements, unfair trade practices, royalties, or violation of privacy rights.

All unsolicited photo and story contributions are to be submitted by email to writing@gensangazer.com and are subject to editorial review for possible inclusion in any issue of the Gensan Gazer Magazine.

-- Armanikolas Publishing -B34 - L7 Doña Soledad II A Espina, General Santos City 9500 P H I L I P P I N E S Phone : +63-83-554-7055 Phone : +63-83-826-9221 Cell : +63-908-337-3005 Website : armanikolas.com Website : gensangazer.com Email: inquiry@armanikolas.com Email:inquiry@gensangazer.com

3 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

ASIA BREWERY, INCORPORATED

Region XII

are you ready for the

The Year of the Tiger 2010 promises to be a showcase year in the history of Gensan’s Kalilangan Festival in particular, and the city of General Santos in general. Already the organizing committee has lined up no less than 30 events for the whole duration of the festival, which spans two-and-a-half weeks from mid-February through early March.

a

s Kalilangan 2010 celebrates seventy-one years of this progressive city -- fondly referred to as Tuna Town, Pineapple Paradise and Pacquiao Precinct (or similar variations, you name it) -- the festival fosters the theme: Honoring the Past. Understanding the Present. Embracing the Future. Not a wisp of grandstanding there, just an optimistic vibe that transcends time, not quite unlike the equally reassuring festival by-line -- Kalilangan 2010: A Legacy of

6 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

Generals. It will not only be a confluence of our cultures. It will not only be about Gensan.”

The driving force is the notion that there is a need to regionalize even before going global. In this sense, “General Santos will lead the regionalizing of Kalilangan, making it the premier festival of Southern Mindanao,” if not the Philippine islands. Such is the manifesto that pervades in this year’s Kalilangan celebrations -promising a spectacle in color and culture. General Santos City, through Kalilangan 2010, will bring together the administrative units of Alabel, Cotabato City, Datu Paglas, Glan, Isulan, Kiamba, Koronadal City, Midsayap, Polomolok, Surallah, Tacurong City, Tampakan, T’boli and Tupi in one grand celebration -showcasing art and culture in harmony, unity and peace in diversity.

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Peace, Prosperity and Progress.

Awarded the Best Philippine Festival during the 2009 ATOP (Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines) Summit, Kalilangan’s 2010 celebrations “will not only be a celebration of the

‘

Honoring the Past.

Understanding the Present.

Embracing the Future.

‘

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t’s that time of year again, and on top of the Lunar New Year and Valentine’s Day celebrations, we gear up in style for the coming of one of General Santos’ very own cultural extravaganzas, the culmination of its proud city-hood, on the occasion of its seventy-first foundation anniversary -- a long, long way from its humble beginnings almost three quarters of a century ago.

Topping the elite list of anchor Kalilangan 2010 events are the Heritage Gensan Cultural Night and Barangayan sa Kalilangan Showcase, Lakan at Lakambini ng Kalilangan, Indak Kalila-

ngan – A Tribal Dance Exposition, Search for the Queen of the Festivals of South Mindanao, Festivals of South Mindanao Street Dancing Competition, and the Kadsagayan sa Gensan Street Dancing Competition.

A number of venues in

and around the city have already been especially hand-picked for the festivities -- including the indispensable Oval Plaza Grounds and Stage, city landmark Pioneer Avenue, functional PBA Sports Center, and the ubiquitous Malls of Gensan. The Kandagan sa Padi-

an Flea Market and Fiesta Carnival are slated to open from February 8 through March 3. The Kalilangan Festival Week spectacle, where most of the festival competitions are held, runs from February 22 through 27. (See the complete calendar of events on page 10.)

a tribute to the founding father

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n the 27th of February, 1939, with a firm resolve to bring progress to the south, General Paulino Santos led the first settlers, mostly from Luzon, to the shores of Sarangani Bay. The 62 pioneers doggedly nurtured Cotabato’s fertile soil and harnessed its rich natural bounty.

As a tribute to his legacy, the municipality of Buayan, where the founding father sowed the first seeds of progress, was renamed General Santos -- now fondly referred to the world over simply as Gensan.

Seventy-one years later, Gensan emerges proud and grounded as one of the country’s most progressive cities, being named the Most Competitive City in the Philippines for 1999-2000 (all cities category), and 2000-2001 and 2007 (mid-sized category).

In spite of numerous hurdles and challenges, Gensan has prevailed with as firm a resolve to better the lives of its residents and adopted citizens. Gen. Paulino Santos, the exceptional military officer who had the foresight and fortitude to pave the way for Gensan’s birth and rise, is forever cherished by the Generals, the city’s very own constituents -forever grateful and indebted to the Founding Father, his drive, and his vision.

An exercise in festive pomp, from top to bottom: Loch Ness wave at the Kadsagayan; Lakan at Lakambini ng Kalilangan winners; golds and blues at the street dancing competition (Photos courtesy of Kalilangan Foundation, Inc.)

what is kalilangan?

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alilangan comes from the Maguindanaon word kalilang, which signifies the notion and act of celebration. It encompasses the creative and humanistic side of interpersonal fellowship, which occurs when a community celebrates a landmark occasion or an event of historical value or traditional importance, as one singular force or entity.

The Kalilangan Festival, established in 1990 to a resounding success, celebrates

the founding of General Santos. It aims to showcase the cultural heritage and diversity of the Generals, as well as their collective aspirations, and to unite all sectors of the community in one festive celebration. With this year’s theme: Honoring the Past. Understanding the Present. Embracing the Future, Kalilangan 2010 seeks to surpass that goal and make this year’s celebration the festival that people will talk about for many years.

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H

eritage Gensan: A Cultural Presentation Night and Barangayan sa

Kalilangan ShowKalil Kal ila l nga la n an nS howho case cas asse - A show show w piece piecce of of Gensan’s prized possessions, the Heritage Gensan: A Cultural Presentation Night and Barangayan sa Kalilangan Showcase in tandem features the multi-ethnic colors of the city’s diverse cultural roots in a village park setting, and an open-air market fair showcasing a vast assortment of agricultural produce, livestock and

mayor’s message Fe Fe Fel Fellow Generals, visitors, associates an friends -- Magandang Gensan, first an and an and foremost.

Here we are once more at the ffo o forefront of Gensan’s founding ann niversary, and we are both pleased a and proud to see that we have ccovered substantial ground in terms off e o eco co conom no om mic, icc, social so ocia o cia ci a and cultural mileage. Over the economic, ccourse cou ou ourse urse r e of of th tthe he last las ast stt 71 years, we have seen our beloved city transform into the multi-faceted regional hub that it is today -- beautifully juggling the expansion of businesses, strengthening of educational institutions, nurturing of our heritage and the arts, and enhanced SoCCSKSarGen relations with the flair of a master performer. Now, more than ever, Gensan is better poised to face the challenges of the times, and realize the limitless potential of the Gensan name.

With that prospect, we stand behind Kalilangan 2010’s theme: Honoring the Past. Understanding the Present. Embracing the Future. Beyond its more sombre tones, Kalilangan is the occasion to celebrate another milestone in our city-hood. In a more relaxed parlance, this is the time to kick off your shoes and have a great time, and let the colors, sounds and spectacles of the Kalilangan Festival fill your senses.

We also congratulate Gensan Gazer on their maiden issue, and welcome them into the fold -- the same way we welcome all our pioneers and mainstays, leaders and supporters, our fellow Generals and visitors.

Let this be a Kalilangan Festival and Founding Anniversary to be proud of unreservedly.

dro o Ach ha aro ro on, n J Jrr Pedro Acharon, yor, r General Ge en ner eral al Santos San SSa an a nt Mayor, 8 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

handicrafts that constitute Gensan’s local products, as well as a grand night of live performances of ethnic music and dance. Heritage Gensan and Barangayan sa Kalilangan brings us even closer to our colorful heritage, and reorients us to the natural and manmade bounty that Gensan is generously blessed with.

Barangayan sa Kalilangan opens house on February 22, 9 am on Matalam Street, while Heritage Gensan Night glows on February 23, 6 pm at the PBA Sports Center.

kalilang anchor light Gensan’s finest young men and women in one amazing beauty-and-brains competition. This year’s contestants will walk the ramp in exquisite theme costumes, display their talents in live performances, and match wits with that next big question in the history of Gensan pageants. Screening of Lakan at Lakambini candidates begins on February 7, 3 pm at Gaisano Mall. The Fashion Show of Lakan at Lakambini finalists and the Mini-Concert of Raprapan & Sayaw Barangay finalists will be jointly showcased on February 21, 2 pm at Gaisano Mall. The Lakan and Lakambini Talent Night takes off February 23, 3 pm at Gaisano Mall; the Pageant Night is on February 24, 3 pm at Gaisano Mall.

Search for the Queen of L

akan at Lakambini ng Kalilangan - The Search for Lakandula at Lakambini ng Kalilangan puts in the lime-

the Festivals of Mindanao - A Kalilangan incarnation of the Aliwan Festival Queen pageant -- where last year our very own Miss Gensan Romarie Ivy

an 2010 events Cunanan emerged first runner-up after wowing the audience and jury with her winning personality -- the Search for the Queen of the Festivals of Mindanao is a perfect nightcap to the Festivals of South Mindanao Street Dancing Competition. Here the beauty titlists of each festival (Tuna Festival and Kalilangan, to name just two) compete with their counterparts to win the Queen of the Festivals of Mindanao crown. Hence, last year’s Miss Gensan and Lakambini ng Kalilangan represent their own festival for the first ever Festival Queen title this year. Queen of the Festivals of Mindanao Pageant g Night g heats up p on February 26, 26,, 3 pm at Robinsons Robins nson ns Place.

Plac ace ce.

Festivals), the Festivals of South Mindanao Street Dancing Competition brings together the best street dancing contingents from the SoCCSKSarGen area, each one representing their own local festival.

The joint Festivals of Mindanao Street Dancing Competition and Kadsagayan Street Dancing Showdown heats up the streets on February 27, 1 pm on Pioneer Avenue.

anao Street Dancing Competition - Another first this year (along with the Search for the Queen of Mindanao

Raprapan at Sayaw

Barangay - Raprapan is an inter-barangay rap-singing contest, while Sayaw Barangay is a children’s dancing competition -both pitting Gensan’s youth against each other in a grand showdown of talent, charisma and showmanship. The Mini-Concert of Raprapan & Sayaw Pambata finalists and the Fashion Show of Lakan at Lakambini finalists will be jointly showcased on February 21, 2 pm at Gaisano Mall. (More on page 11.)

message from the congressional representative Kadsagayan sa Gensan

Festivals of South Mind-

ing showdown. The joint Kadsagayan Street Dancing Showdown and Festivals of Mindanao Street Dancing Competition heats up the streets on February 27, 1 pm on Pioneer Avenue.

S Street Dancing Competittion - One of Kalilangan F Festival’s regular crowdp pleasers, this year’s Kadssagayan sa Gensan Street D Dancing Competition promiises to be more spectacular a and more colorful. The ccompetition, open to all schools and groups, pits 50 or more members per entry (including the instrumentalists) against the others in one grand street danc-

Warmest greetings to the constituentss of General Santos City on the occasion n of their 71st Foundation Anniversary and the Kalilangan Festival 2010!

Always, the bigger community that is SoCCSKSarGen takes great pride in Gensan’s remarkable strides towards becoming and determined stance in being South Mindanao’s premier metropolis and regional hub. We We n ne never eve vver er fa ffailill to feel pleasure in the active presence ea an and nd p prominent rro rom om omine minent ine ne ent nt involvement of this boom-town city in the concerns of its neighboring cities, municipalities and provinces in particular, and the whole region in general -- be it in commerce, culture or community activities. On this great occasion, we look forward to renewed ties with Gensan and a stronger commitment to the betterment of the city and South Mindanao as a whole.

Most importantly, we congratulate the Generals for 71 wonderful years, as we celebrate with them the Kalilangan Festival, the country’s most spectacular tourism event (ATOP, 2009). Magandang Gensan!

Darlene Antonino-Custodio len ene A en ntonin ntonin nto nin no-C o-C Cu ustto od d Representative, First District of South Cotabato and General Santos

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schedule of events Pre-Festival Pre e-Festival va Ac Activ Activities t iti tiv ities es s Feb b5 ri 3 pm m 5, F Fri, Feb 6, Sat, 3 pm Feb 7, Sun, 3 pm

Rap R aprapan S cre cre eening g Ga Gaisa sano n Raprapan Screening, Gaisano Sayaw Barangay Screening, Gaisano Lakan at Lakambini Screening, Gaisano

Continuing Events Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb Feb

8 - Mar 3 8 - Mar 3 13-28 13-28 15-28 25-27 26-28

Fiesta Carnival, OPG Kandagang sa Padiyan Flea Market, OPG Coca-Cola Food Zone, OPG Asia Brewery Pistahan Zone, OPG Garden Show and Exhibits, OPG Bakbakan sa Gensan, KCC Kasalan sa Gensan Wedding & Tourism Fair, Gaisano

FEBRUARY 13, Saturday FEB

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9 am 3 pm 7 pm

d y da FEBRUARY 24, Wednesday FEB

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Opening (OPG): Kandagan sa Padiyan Flea Market Fiesta Carnival Coke Happiness Zone & Food Court Asia Brewery Pistahan Zone

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9 am

Opening: Garden Show & Exhibits, OPG Kumpetisyon Para sa Karangalan at Kagandahan, Robinsons Place Morning KKK Workshop & Seminar Afternoon KKK Hair & Make-up Competition Evening KKK Fashion Show

FEB

25

9 am

20 3 pm

Pintura at Pananaw Mural Painting Competition, PBASC Auto & Bike Show, Robinsons Place Lakan at Lakambini Talent Night & Parade of Festival Costumes, Gaisano

FEBRUARY 21, Sunday FEB

9 am

21

3 pm

Alay Kapwa sa Kalilangan, PBASC Auto & Bike Show, Robinsons Place Mini-concert: Raprapan & Sayaw Barangay finalists & Fashion Show of Lakan at Lakambini finalists, Gaisano

8 1 1 1 3 6 6

am pm pm pm pm pm pm

&

FEB

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10 am 1 pm 3 pm 6 6 7 7

pm pm pm pm

9 am

22

3 pm 5 pm 7 pm

FEB

27

5:30 am 7 am 8 am 8:30 am 9 am 9 am 1 pm 1 3 3 4 6

Open House: Barangayan sa Kalilangan Showcase, Matalam Street Showdown (OPS): Best in Visual Effects Grand Ceremonial Opening Program Grand Fireworks Display, OPG

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2 pm 6 pm 6 pm

Back-to-back Finals: Sayaw Pambata & Raprapan, Gaisano Singing for Peace in Mindanao, OPS Heritage Gensan: A Cultural Presentation Night, PBASC

pm pm pm pm pm

7 pm 8 pm 9 pm

FEBRUARY 23, Tuesday FEB

Opening, Kasalan sa Gensan Wedding Tourism Fair, Gaisano Bakbakan sa Gensan Day 2, VC Queen of the Festivals of Mindanao Pageant Night, Robinson’s Place Bb. Gandang Hari Pageant, OPS Kalilangan for Jesus, PBASC Street Party @ East Asia Royale Hotel Bamboo Live in Concert, 18th Hole

FEBRUARY 27, Saturday

FEBRUARY 22, Monday FEB

Dance Sports Workshop, NDDU Bakbakan sa Gensan Day 1, VC Strings Acoustics Competition, Gaisano Smart Telecoms Day, OPS Dance Sports Competition, Robinsons Smart Presents: Live Concert, OPS Kulintangan, Kantahan at Sayawan sa Kalilangan, PBASC

FEBRUARY 26, Friday

FEBRUARY 20, Saturday FEB

6 pm 6 pm

kan n at a Lak akamb ambin ini ni Pagea geant Nig ght Lakan Lakambini Pageant Night isano no Gaisano Gan ndang g Har arii Pag P ageant age a Night PS Bb. Ga Gandang Hari Pageant Night, O OPS Indak Mindanao Cultural Dance Revolution, PBASC

FEBRUARY 25, Thursday

FEBRUARY 15, Monday FEB

3 pm

Thanksgiving Mass, OLPGV Church Ecumenical Service, GPS Shrine Parangal sa Watawat, GPS Shrine Wreath Laying, GPS Shrine Brunch of the Generals, City Hall Kasalan sa Gensan Wedding & Tourism Fair Day 2, Gaisano Kadsagayan Street Dancing Showdown & Festivals of Mindanao Street Dancing Competition, Pioneer Avenue Bakbakan sa Gensan Day 3, VC Coke’s Open Happiness Zone, PBASC Kapuso Mall Show, KCC Street Dancing Focal Presentation, OPS 71st Foundation Anniversary Ceremonies, OPS Grand Fireworks Display, OPG Street Party 2 @ East Asia Royale Hotel Globe Presents: Live Concert, OPS

FEBRUARY 28, Sunday FEB

9 pm

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9 pm

Kasalan sa Gensan Wedding and Tourism Fair Day 3, Gaisano Coke Trio Three-on-Three Basketball Showdown, PBASC

OLPGV - Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage | OPG - Oval Plaza Grounds | OPS - Oval Plaza Stage | PBASC - PBA Sports Center | VC - Volleyball Court

kalilangan 2010 organizing committee

(From page 7 -- Kalilangan Anchor An nchorr Even Events) en nts) n

gan - Last but not least is the spectacular sound and sights showcased in Kulintangan, Sayawan at Kantahan sa Kalilangan, a

T

he Organzing Committee of the Kalilangan Festival 2010 is competently comprised by the members of the prestigious General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry -named Most Outstanding Chamber in Mindanao by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry for the years

Biinibining ibi i Gandang G d Harii

-A And what is a festival as merry and grand as Kalilanm g gan a 2010 without a beauty of the alternasshowcase sh h tive ttiv iv kind? Enter the Bb. G Ga Gandang Hari Pageant, an elegant display of beauty, e l sh showmanship and talent featuring representatives from the gay community.

Expect fashion, flamboyance and fun on February 25, 6 pm at PBA Sports Center!

1998, 2000, 2001, 2006

musical extravaganza and kulintang playing, dance and singing competition.

Marvel at amateur artists and performers on February 26, 6pm at Oval Plaza Stage.

and 2007, the same group behind the sucStanding St Sta ndiing from nd m left left: ft: JJingle ing ing in gle e La Lau Laud, ud, d Marthi hn M illllado O rman M ana nansa ala Marthin Millado, Orman Manansala, cessful Tuna Festival James Simon, Peter Lubria and 2009 -- with GenSan Sheryl Lemery. Seated from left: Chamber VP and bankerEdna Simon and Pilar Afuang blogger Orman Ortega Manansala again serving as Festival Director. He is ably assisted by Gensan Chamber Executive Director Pilar Torrijos Afuang, who heads the Secretariat Committee; Edna Bautista ulintangan, Sayawan Simon, Finance Committee; Sheryl Disca Lemery and at Kantahan sa KalilanJingle Laud, Solicitations Commitee; James Eric Aniversario Simon, Logistics Committee; Marthin Millado, Creative Design Committee; Peter Lubria, Transportation Committee; and Teresita Fuentes, Major C Food Committee.

Catego ity Organizing a major ry multi-event production such as the Kalilangan Festival 2010 is no mean feat.

The festival, the grandeneral e en ner e al Santos er Sa an ntto os City City Ci ty added ad dd ded ed another an no oth therr feather fea eath ther e to to its itts est General Santos has ccap ca p with wiith w h a major maj ajo orr win win in at at the the 10th th 10tth 10 h Association Ass ssoccia iattiion on ever seen so far, covers Tourism Offi off T o ourriism ou sm O fffi ficers cer ers rs off the th he e Philippines Phi hili lipp lipp li ppin nes es (ATOP) (AT ATO OP P) more than 30 events National Convention held October 2009 in the spanning a month-long independently administered city. Held every Februaryy he to commemorate the city’s Foundation Anniversary, the period beginning FebruKalilangan Festival, was conferred by ATOP with the prestigious ary 5, with the festival award, Best Tourism Event of 2009 – Major City Category. highlights falling on The award is a project of both the ATOP and the Department of Tourism the main event period with the aim to “recognize and honor the most outstanding/ significant tourism beginning February 22 projects and programs and tourism officers who have excelled in their respecand winding down to tive local government units.” the grand festival finale “It is for this reason the ATOP decided to institutionalize an annual system February 27.

K

kalilangan bags

best tourism event award

ATOP Be Tourismst Event 20 09

G

The pressure is building up strongly as the event kick-off nears, doubly so as Kalilangan 2009 won the ATOP Best Philippine Tourism Event last year.

The he of recognition of distinguished tourism personalities, groups, and events. The rriism m ATOP Best Tourism Practices Award hopes to celebrate the best in the tourism industry.”

Mayor Jun Acharon thanked not only the ATOP but also the GSC Tourism issm m Association, Festival Director Orman Manansala, and the members of the GSC Tourism Council for helping make this recognition possible.

(Condensed from Avel Manansala’s feature on Philippine Blog Awards multi-winner GenSan News Online Mag at www.gensantos.com)

11 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

GENERAL SANTOS CITY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & INDUSTRY, INC. 3/F Yap Mabuhay Bldg, Mansanitas St General Santos, Philippines 9500

traveltales&trivia • ajlakbaydiwa

The Child Tout of Angkor Wat

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA

They’re your regular touts except that they’re younger, from 8 to 14 years old.

They’re extremely friendly and articulate in English by Cambodian (even Asian) standards, and almost always have that winning smile and very charming demeanor.

They show off their counterfeit travel guide books, cheap postcard prints, bottled water or whatever else they can easily lug around and shove practically in your face, single-mindedly closing in on a deal. I am only excited about getting inside Angkor Wat. I want to get there fast, maybe check out the nooks and crannies of this exquisite monument regular guided tourists don’t see. I say to one of the touts, “Maybe later.” To them, apparently, this constitutes a promise. After an hour or two on foot inside the temples, I proceed to my rented car, dying to go back to my hotel and a nice comfortable bar for an ice-cold beer or two. The tout suddenly reappears out of nowhere, shoving back in my face the goods I said “maybe later” to.

I say I’m not buying, that I have a similar book, that after seeing the place myself I no longer need a printed guide, and so

on and so forth. The tout reminds me of my promise. I say I only said maybe. The tout says, “Maybe is a yes, it’s a strong promise!” I stand firm on my decision, not to be outwitted or coerced or intimidated by a tout and a child at that. “Sorry, I’m not buying,” I say in all finality. Inside my rented car I can still hear the child saying, “Liar! Liar! Liar! Your mother is a %*$#@!”

Lesson learned: Don’t say maybe when you mean, no--not really. It might prove helpful even outside Cambodia.

Angkor Wat (or Angkor Temple), as shown above, is the centerpiece of the world-famous Angkor UNESCO World Heritage Site, which houses the majestic remnants of the Khmer civilization. Its ascending row of five towers culminates in a central tower that symbolizes mythical Mount Meru. Here thousands of feet of wall space are covered with intricate carvings depicting scenes from Hindu mythology.

Angkor Wat can be reached by land from Siem Reap City, the capital of Siem Reap Province in Cambodia. Siem Reap’s Old French Quarter and the Old Market District are characterized by colonial and Chinese-style architecture. Siem

14 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

Reap, being a popular tourist destination, has a numerous hotels and restaurants. Most smaller establishments are concentrated around the Old Market area, while more expensive ones are located between the international airport and the town along National Road 6. Another must-see sight from Siem Reap is Angkor Thom, an inner royal city built toward the end of the 12th century and is renowned for its temple grounds and the towering southern gate.

on a motorbike when taking the habal-habal.

It is usually driven in the countryside where jeepneys and tricycles cannot negotiate the rough roads, steep terrain and/or narrow streets, but surprisingly, is widely used on the streets of Gensan.

Not even the tragic story of one woman who got bumped off a habal-habal, fell on the pavement and was accidentally run over by on oncoming car, can dissuade people from taking this mode of transportation. As a

Habal-Habal, Anyone?

GENERAL SANTOS, PHILIPPINES The habalhabal, which (along with the ubiquitous tricy-

cle) taxi drivers claim as a bane to their livelihood, is a motorcycle that is driven by an enterprising driver, at times without any permit, and seats up to four (or more) persons as paying passengers.

The name habal is actually the vernacular term for the act of mating between animals, especially dogs, and in adult sexual parlance, refers to the more adventurous position in the context of predominantly Catholic and conservative Gensan society. Habalhabal in turn makes a pun at how people position themselves

result, perhaps indirectly, taking a cab in Gensan has become more expensive than getting one in Davao or Cebu, even Manila: because more and more commuters are taking the jeepney, tricycle and now the habal-habal, the very few who take the taxi literally have to pay a premium to keep them running.

As of this writing, taxis here no longer use the meter: P100 has become the de facto minimum charge within city limits. In the meantime, habalhabal motorbikes are multiplying in number where safer modes of transportation would have sufficed.

Chasing the Wind An old friend I haven’t

heard from for at least ten years, that is, until recently, chanced upon my TravBuddy page and Facebook profile.

Quite unexpectedly, he insinuated ever so subtly that my travels around the globe were pointless, finally asking me pointedly in the end, albeit in a playful chide, “What’s up with the restless wanderings around the world?

What’s with all this chasing of the wind?” I was caught off guard. I did not expect a good friend to question and ridicule my passion for travel. I was not prepared to be mocked so needlessly for that one thing that I value as dearly as feeling the rain on my face or watching the sunset or breathing. It would be safe to say that he who has traveled far and wide sees the world more openly, perhaps in more vivid light, and appreciates and respects the nuances of individual pursuits and universal oneness. No one could have said it better than the wise Mark Twain:

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrowmindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.

Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth...”

B

ack in the day, the enclave that was then called Lion’s Beach

neither had a beach (a decent one, that is, one that is safe and fit for public enjoyment) nor a lion of any sort to represent the waterfront strip. An extension of the old fish landing where fishermen used to offload their cargo or catch, no one can tell for sure, it became inhabited by strays and the city’s homeless, soon becoming a seaside slum not unlike the marginalized sea gypsy stilt houses at the fringes of most big coastal cities in the Philippines.

In fact, up until a few years back, tuna fishing boats used to unload their catch on this beach on the shore off Sarangani Bay, where the General Santos wet market is only a stone’s throw’s distance. With the relocation of the fish landing facility to a new fish port complex outside the city, which was heavily funded by the government of Japan -probably the biggest consumer of General Santos’ tuna harvest -e Lion’s Beach slowly enjoyed some breathing space, and managed to do a bit of housecleaning. It even put on some semblance of a seaside park replete with children’s play pens and tunnels in the shape of giant fishes and anatomically incorrect dinosaurs, to this day still standing in the now refurbished seaside park renamed to Queen Tuna Park.

We now see Lion’s Beach soaking in General Santos’ scorching sun, its light grayish sand glistening to an almost white tinge in the hot noonday light. In the middle of the ample beachfront there is a lone rag-tag lifeguard tower, almost always deserted, its flimsy corrugated iron sheet roof and walls ironically painted red. One cannot help but be reminded of the shanty houses made of similar or even flimsier material -- discarded tarpaulin and aluminum sheets, cardboard, old tires -- that used to crowd in the same area.

16 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

Lion Beach Reborn ’s

From top: Lone lifeguard tower, deserted again; Queen Tuna Park arch, with two yellowfins fighting over one crown; shoe house, remnant children’s tunnel playpen

It’s a far cry from Sydney’s Bondi Beach or Honolulu’s Waikiki, but we’re just happy that we now have a public beach that locals and visitors can actually enjoy in the heart of downtown General Santos. Of course, not without the occasional scourge of pollution that a growing metropolis has to put up with, which, in the case of General Santos, is amazingly, chronically swift.

We now see Lion’s Beach soaking in General Santos’ scorching sun, its light grayish sand glistening to an almost white tinge in the hot noonday light.

Indeed, after just a day’s cleanup, the d beach is again litb ttered with plastic bags, candy wrappers, b old pairless slippers, o disposable cups, tetra d packs, styrofoam fragp ments, corn cobs, and m wood scraps, even w dead fish, among many d others. In a place o where it’s almost norw mal to throw banana m peelings pe p eelin elings gss out the window while driving driv d vin ing g in i one’s car, it’s not hard to imagine. We are yet to h get acquainted with the kind g of discipline Singaporeans, o ffor fo o example, exercise when it ccomes to keeping the public sspace and their surroundings tthoroughly, even antisepticcally, clean.

The city government sp spearheaded pea the cleanup of Lion’s Beach and its redevelopment into Queen Tuna Park, is taking charge of its regular maintenance, but it’s up to us locals -- the very ones who enjoy the city’s only free beach -- to keep it clean and safe. Or, at least, to make it presentable enough for you to show off to your guests, and nice enough for you and your visitors to actually enjoy. By Mamang Mananagat

a

ctually these are the gadgets I never leave home without, but chances are, we don’t differ much in that department.

However, if we do, then probably it’s time you rethink the way you tackle

do-almost-all device. Apple launched the iPod a couple of years back, and we sure are mighty pleased to see the exquisitely refined polishing of what we can see and touch, and a dramatic addition of features never before seen on any portable music player. The most telling transformation is from glossy front fascia to anodised aluminium fronts, a great deal as no one ever liked those greasy fingerprints in the first place. Adorned with rounded corners, edges that curve gently towards ingeniously 18 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

the day after you close the door behind you on your way out.

I always start the day with a brisk walk interspersed with a mix of

sharp corners, and the original shiny chrome back, it has been trimmed down by a few millimeters (only 10.5mm for the 80GB model, 13.5mm for 160), yet remains comfortably familiar. What

sprints and jogs, not on a treadmill, but in the great outdoors. I won’t go into the details of the regimen, but always my iPod Classic keeps me company. The iPod Classic. Now there’s a magnificent device.

Apple’s relaunch of a revolutionary hard disk player, with anywhere

from subtle to stunning updates, makes this ubiquitous music box a classic that more than just stands up to its name. Though no longer the scene-stealer it once was, the iPod remains a hands-down, thumbs-up solid choice for any music fan seeking a heavy-duty

made a lot of buzz are the changes set to the user interface, the most interesting of which is the addition of Cover

Flow: this lets you flick through the album covers of your music collection as if they were mounted on a digital Rolodex.

This works perfectly on the iPod Classic, apart from the hi-fi sound, file storage, photos, games, videos and other applications you carry on your otherwise ordinary music device. The iPod Classic makes an ordinary day on the run -- be it on the tracks, on a long drive, or at work -- a lot less ordinary. Oh, and if you do run a lot with your Classic, wear it on your arm with a Belkin: they’re extraordinarily perfect together! (Continued on page 22)

places2go • GGPick Welcome to Gensan Gazer’s compendium of Places2Go and GGPick -- our list and picks of bars, cafés, hotels/inns, resorts and restaurants in and around General Santos City.

Although diligent effort has been taken to keep this list as accurate and up-to-date as possible, we do not assume responsibility for any untoward result as a consequence of endorsements, errors or omissions in the listing. If you wish to raise corrections or include your own business in the list, please email details to publishing@gensangazer.com; to post your ad here and/or elsewhere in the magazine, please call us at 835547055 or email us at advertising@ gensangazer.com. Happy advertising!

Gen. Santos, +63-83-3018263) [wi◦fi] Fagioli Coffee Shop - (Petron Station, National Highway, Lagao, Gen. Santos, +63-83-552749) [wi◦fi] Surprisingly private yet accessible joint, perfect after shopping or while waiting for company (Grd Flr, KCC Mall, Jose Catolico Sr Ave., Gen. Santos, +6383-5542384) [wi◦fi] GGPick Generals Brew - Fine gourmet coffees, sandwiches, combo meals (Pioneer Ave., Gen. Santos, +6383-5526559) [wi◦fi] Red Ribbon Bakeshop - Cakes, pastries, surprisingly sumptuous Filipino/Western meal combos (Lower Grd Flr, KCC Mall, J. Catolico Sr Ave., Gen. Santos, +63-83-3018388)

hotels/inns  bars  Dolores Tropicana Resort - Beach, GGPick Babes Bar - One of East Asia Royale Hotel’s watering holes, with discotheque, live music Thu-Fri (2nd Flr, Arcade 1, East Asia Royale Hotel, National Highway, Gen. Santos, +63-835534123 ext. 106) GGPick Cassado Billiard Bar Pool tables by the hour, ice-cold beers, hot babes (Grd Flr, Arcade 1, East Asia Royale Hotel, National Highway, Gen. Santos, +63-83-3028389)

cafés



GGPick BluGré Cafe - Next best thing to Starbucks, designer coffees/ teas, hot/cold mixes, filling meals (Robinsons Place, National Highway, Gen. Santos, +63-83-5542177) [wi◦fi] Bigger and more relaxing than the Robinsons shop, same great drinks/ eats (South Osmeña St, Gen. Santos, +63-5521111) [wi◦fi] GGPick Cafe Amoree - Local gem, great drinks/eats, ways off from city center but definitely worth a visit (Mabuhay Rd, Gen. Santos, +63-835542173) [wi◦fi] Cafe Paulino - Unpretentious coffee place, central but still a quiet retreat from the crowd (Gaisano Mall, J. Catolico Sr Ave., Gen. Santos) GGPick Coffee Club 101 - Coffee, pasta, desserts, free PC stations and mini-library for patrons (Laurel East Ave., Gen. Santos, +63-835535430/5534878/3010555) [wi◦fi] GGPick Great place to peoplewatch and be seen in, perfect after shopping or while waiting for company (Robinsons Place, National Highway, Gen. Santos, +63-83-5534878) [wi◦fi] Coffee Dream - Coffee and sweets, perfect after shopping or while waiting for company (2nd Flr and Basement 1, KCC Mall, Jose Catolico Sr Ave., 20 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

restaurant, hotel with air-conditioned guest suites/function rooms (Cabu, Tambler, Gen. Santos, +63-835539350/3807318/3807328) GGPick East Asia Royale Hotel - Stone’s throw away from the financial district, shopping malls, convention/exhibition centers, sports complex, with guest suites/function rooms (Grand Royale Ballroom, Babes Bar), restaurants/ bars, business center, 24-hour room service (National Highway, Gen. Santos, +63-83-5534123) [wi◦fi] Family Country Hotel & Convention Centre - Guest rooms, meeting/ banquet halls (up to 1,000 persons), Gensan’s only 25-meter pool, in-house restaurant Cafe Leticia amidst greenery (Mateo Rd, Lagao, Gen. Santos, +63-83-5528895-97) GGPick Phela Grande Hotel - Basic to luxury guest rooms, inhouse Meilih Restaurant, offsite Phela Convention Center (Magsaysay Ave. cor. Atis St, Gen. Santos, +63-835524220/5524925/3017676) [wi◦fi] GGPick Sydney Hotel - Centrally located, offers comfortable accommodations and excellent restaurants, professional banquet and conference facilities (Pendatun cor. Pioneer Ave., Gen. Santos, +63-83-5525479-81/3019140, Fax +63-83-5525478) [wi◦fi]

resorts



Dolores Tropicana Resort Beach, swimming pool and more (Cabu, Tambler, Gen. Santos, +63-835539350/3807318/3807328) GGPick Sarangani Highlands Garden & Restaurant - Hilltop joint with views of Sarangani Bay, downtown Gen. Santos and Mt Parker/Mt Matutum. Nature, fresh air, fine scenery, good food, function rooms for private parties/com-

pany activities (Prk Wal, Tambler, Gen. Santos, +63-83-3040752)

restaurants  GGPick Big Ben Steaks & Grills Steaks you can always rely on in a homey, central setting. You’d wanna hang out and chill long after the plates are cleared. (Robinsons Place, J. Catolico Sr Ave., Gen. Santos, +63-83-3030315) GGPick Bigby’s Cafe & Restaurant - Great designer coffees and sumptuous food platters. Exquisite dory in onion sauce! (Robinsons Place, J. Catolico Sr Ave., Gen. Santos) Cookie Factory - Home-style cafe, restaurant (J. Catolico Sr Ave., Gen. Santos, +63-83-5522035) [wi◦fi] GGPick Grab-A-Crab - Exciting seafood, crab specialties and more (Laurel East Ave., Gen. Santos, +63-835535430/5534878/3010555) [wi◦fi] GGPick Mandarin Tea Garden Restaurant - Simply amazing dimsum and Chinese/Filipino delicacies (South Osmeña St, Gen. Santos, +63-833013333) [wi◦fi] Mang Gorio Bahay-Kainan - Pinoy specialties, grill, seafood, desserts. Exceptional halo-halo! (National Highway, Gen. Santos, +63-83-5200816) [wi◦fi] GGPick Red Trellis Seafood Garden - Asian fusion-inspired, gives Singapore-style chili crab/black pepper crab restaurants a run for their money.

(Across NDDU-IBED, Tiongson Ext., Lagao, Gen. Santos, +63-83-3012722) Rooftop Grill Ihaw-Ihaw - Seafood/grill, drinks, with great views of Plaza Heneral Santos, City Hall, Pioneer Ave. (6th Flr, Sydney Hotel, Pioneer Ave., Gen. Santos, +63-83-5525479 Ext. 103) [wi◦fi] Royale Lounge - Relaxing café/ restaurant with minimalist decór, acoustic music Wed-Sat (East Asia Royale Hotel, National Highway, Gen. Santos, +63-83-5534123 loc. 2) [wi◦fi] GGPick Wanchin Dimsum Restaurant - Good food, pool table, dart board, piano, great views of Plaza Heneral Santos/City Hall (2nd Flr, Sydney Hotel, Pioneer Ave., Gen. Santos, +63-83-5525479 Ext. 115) [wi◦fi]

resto-bars



Crocodillo’s Resto Bar - Occasional expat haunt, laid-back and unpretentious crowd (very young, can be rowdy), cheap beers, great music (Laurel East Ave., Gen. Santos, +63-83-) GGPick Piyesta KTV & Resto-Bar - Value-for-money combo meals, intimate KTV rooms, great music, friendly staff (Robinsons Place, J. Catolico Sr Ave., Gen. Santos)

21 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

The DON’T GET ME WRONG:

credit cards can be a blessing. Cashless shopping is a breeze, especially when you can’t stand waiting in line at the automated teller machine (just picture the ATM queue around Pioneer Avenue on any pay day), or when the giant (40-inch, 60-inch — how much bigger can they make it?) flatscreen television you’ve been saving forever for is now selling on zerointerest plan, courtesy of your favorite plastic.

Even booking (on-line, that is) that mostawaited escapade to Palawan for two on discount flights can never happen without the mighty, all-empowering credit card.

So, tell me — what’s the problem with this thing you never leave home without again?

Absolutamente nada.

Completely nothing at all. Of course, until you fall deep into the spending binge — that vicious cycle of shopping mall euphoria and subsequent debt amnesia — and completely lose track of what you really need (as opposed to what you want), and 22 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

Credit Card Trap

by Armando Nicolas P J

how much you can afford to pay to tell the difference. And this is one finding-out that’s final, a point of no return. In short, when you spend more than you can actually pay for (trust me, credit cards can make you delusional on this bit), chances are you’re headed for some real trouble sooner or later.

Mostly sooner. Miss a minimum payment on your last bill and you’re charged a late payment penalty on top of interests accummulated on your outstanding bill. Multiply this by the number of platinums, golds and silvers you habitually flash in front of cash register clerks, then we’re getting hotter. Oh, and the banks are no longer waiving your annual fees for one reason or another, and all of a sudden they’re due again and as a result, have significantly

The sad truth is that, if you haven’t saved anything substantial to match your platinumwielding talents and the resulting debt that comes with it, you’re in big trouble. The only other worse thing that can happen to you is if you lose your job or fail at your business (knock on wood!), but either one’s a different story altogether.

The credit card trap is a tricky affair, and if you’re not careful, things can get really messy. Three of the things that most people forget regarding spending are: •

Your money is what you actually earn on a regular basis, not how much credit you have on your gold card.

•

There is no shame in steering away from Hugo Boss if Bench is the only one you can afford.

•

Always save for a rainy day.

padded your dreaded utang faster than you can say Polomolok. (Any word will do, but you get the picture.)

And no, don’t come crying to daddy when the banks call you non-stop and harass you into paying up either!

Let’s rewind to happier days. Remember what your father (hm, or was that Monica’s dad on TV’s Friends?) kept telling you all the time after you got that first job? Whatever you do, always set aside 10% of your earnings, no matter how small they (your earnings) are. Credit cards are the exact opposite: they chew away at your earnings no matter how big they (your earnings) are. Aside from those of Kalsangi folks and fishing magnates and their heirs/heiresses, they’re probably not that big at all.

Don’t come crying to daddy when the banks... harass you into paying!

It always pays to think before your next flash rush. “Do I need P6,000 shoes?” “Is the Europe trip really necessary?”

“Can I afford a brand new car?” Sure, you’re the better judge of your own priorities, but if you can say no to at least one of these questions, then there is hope.

You’re drowning in debt.

Now, what can you do?

6 just might do the trick.

T

he challenge of owing so much debt is how to make a measly budget work. With huge credit card payments to take care of each month, it makes the task even more daunting. You may call off your second cellphone subscription, unsubscribe from your local cable TV, cut down on dining out, or even scrimp on the most basic of expenses — still you’re treading on the brink of a financial disaster. One slight mishap — sickness, car accident or job loss — can make you pull out the credit card yet again, and get yourself deeper and deeper in debt. Here’s what you can do: 1.

Live within means. Take a look at your budget and spending habits. See where your money goes and cut as many of the high and/or unnecessary expenses as you can.

2.

Track your debt. When you know exactly how much you owe, you see how much more damage you cause yourself if you continue to use the credit card.

3.

Scrutinize your statements. Always examine your credit card bills. Make sure there are no errors and bogus late payment charges. If you asked for a waiver on your annual fees, make sure you’re not paying it. If your creditor underhandedly charges you finance fees, call right away and complain; if they don’t make adjustments, go to Step 5.

4.

Pay in cash. Stop using your cards. When you pay in cash, you’re more likely to see the gravity of your spending than when you simply flash the gold.

5.

Kill high rates.

When you sign up for store credit or miss payments, your interest rates o can skyrocket in no time. If your credit is good, find a low-rate offer and open a new credit card, and move all highinterest rate cards onto the fixed low-interest rate card; always mind your interest rates, and make sure they stay low. Save for your savior plastic, cut up all your credit cards.

6.

Do not stray. Some people succeed in paying off their debt, that is, until a major event comes along. During holidays, for instance, people find it much easier to believe that using debt to pay for things is a necessity. See Step 4; better yet, stick with Step 1.

24 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

(From page 18 -- Gadgets...)

My point-and-shoot is also a mainstay of my knapsack, if not my left pants front pocket.

My weapon of choice?

Olympus Mju 850 SW. A most unique digital camera: drop it from 1.5 meters and submerge it up to 3 meters underwater, and it still keeps on taking beautiful pictures -- perfect for trekking and lounging by the pool! And worry not if you accidentally leave it in the freezer either: it can withstand -10°C! Much of this 8-megapixel camera with minimal 3x optical zoom lens is optimized for shockproofing and waterproofing; don’t expect professional grade photos you intend to reproduce on giant billboards. In fact, most point-and-shoots cannot deliver that kind of quality. But if you need a sturdy digi-cam that shoots more than decent photos, this is your guy.

Tired of carrying one mobile phone each for business and for pleasure? Try Samsung D880. Cellphones that house and operate two SIM cards is nothing new really; we’ve seen a few, though usually made by obscure makers. Enter Samsung D880 DuoS slider phone (mine’s the equally indispensable D770, non-slide, seemingly the only difference), which can support two SIM cards from different operators or two phone numbers from the same

provider. Here both cards work simultaneously for making/receiving calls, and sending/ receiving text messages. You can easily select which card to use for Web browsing, email and other multimedia services; your WAP/ MMS/email profiles are automatically switched when a different card is selected. When you receive calls, the name of the card for which the call is intended flashes onscreen; naturally, each SIM card can be assigned its own ringtone, apart from contactsspecific ringtone variations. Missed call notifications also indicate the card in question. Except for the dual SIM cards and slider feature, Samsung D880 is your ordinary 2.5G Samsung mobile phone with GSM 900/1800/1900 EDGE connectivity; 2.3-inch QVGA display; 3.2megapixel camera with auto-focus; FM radio; Bluetooth 2.0, USB 2.0; 1200 mAh battery -- all in a passably small 104×51x18.9mm frame. Unless iPhones come up with multi-SIM card models, D880 is still worth its price tag.

When you do consider the luxury of not having to carry two phones in your bag or pocket or hand, the cost most probably wouldn’t look as steep.

A line of communication does not come cheap at all; two, doubly so.

By Tito Techie

25 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

Dole

commits to protect the environment it calls home

It was in 1963 when Dole planted its roots at the foot of Mount Matutum in South Cotabato. Soon after, this site has transformed into the home of the world’s best fresh pineapples and packaged fruits. After almost 47 years of being in the Philippines, not only has Dole Philippines Inc. (Dolefil) advanced as a world-class business enterprise, but it has also remained steadfast in its role as a socially responsible member of the community. It has distinguished itself for having maintained multiple international certifications: ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems), ISO

9001 (Quality Management Systems), Social Accountability 8000 (Improvement of Workers’ Conditions), among many others.

Its dedication to quality is not only backed up by state-of-the-art production technologies, stringent quality control measures, continuing research and innovation, but also by its commitment to the welfare of its employees, the community and environment.

Dolefil hand in hand with the local governments, NGOs, civic organizations and other stakeholders and partners have initiated various programs reflective of its mission to protect the ecosystem and to address the intensifying environmental challenges.

MICADEV Through the Mount Matutum Integrated Conservation and Development or MICADEV, Dolefil, in partnership with Mahintana Foundation, has continually been at the forefront of efforts to promote environmental protection, regeneration and conservation within the 15,600 hectares of the Mount Matutum Protected Landscape (MMPL) and the river systems and coastal areas of the Sarangani Bay Protected Seascape (SBPS). Moreover, the company’s advocacy in this regard aims to educate all stakeholders in the proper management and use of the natural resources. Because of its solid success, the program is now being adopted as a model to help protect forest areas in other provinces affected by environmental degradation.

26 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

CHAIRS FOR TREES Dolefil donates to different public schools and institutions colorful desk chairs, kiddie tables/chairs and church pews -- all fabricated by a local co-op out of the company’s used wooden pallets. To reciprocate, the beneficiaries are required to plant and grow trees. Given by Dolefil to the beneficiaries (together with the school chairs), the seedlings are sourced from a local co-op composed of women members, thus also providing them a sustainable source of livelihood. On November 7, 2007 the one-millionth tree was successfully planted. To date, more than 40,000 chairs have been donated and 1,280,744 trees planted -- all aiding in reducing pollution and helping prevent global warming.

BIOGAS PROJECT Dolefil, in partnership with the Philippine Bio-Sciences Company, Inc. and Rovy Fiber Corporation, initiated a Biogas Project that is designed to generate green fuel (biogas) from pineapple waste material. The biogas, in turn, can be used as fuel for its operations. The pineapple waste pulp is then converted into cattle feed and organic fertilizer for use in the plantation. This recycling procedure does not only promote zerowaste but it also generates jobs and significantly reduces the company’s carbon footprint.

profilefocus • armandonicolas

Pepe’s Prize P

: James Cameron’s Cameeron n’s Avatar. It reallyy reminded reemiinded me otherrrs, s,, I think -- and manyy others, g and a majesty j y of -- of the magic the cinema. Reminded me whyy I love filmmaking -- being able to create worlds for audiences to get lost in.

Pepe epe Diokno, the yo young oung Filipino lipino n auteur behind behin nd the eak kthrough film EngkEn ngkbreakthrough entrro -- which won n the wentro p award aw ward in the Orizzonti Ori o top (New Horizons) category of the 66th Venice International Film Festival, as well as the Luigi De Laurentiis Lion of the Future prize -- took a breather from his busy schedule to engage in a virtual dialogue, and offer us a glimpse into the mind of a budding genius.

a P

: What would you call the soundtrack of your life?

: I listen to lots of music -- different kinds of stuff. I think a soundtrack wouldn’t cut it, I’d need an entire iTunes playlist to score my life.

a P

: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

a

: It’s a quote I live by. I found it online. “Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing till you get there.” It’s by Josh Billings.

rmando: Where were you born and where do you live right now? Have you heard of General Santos City before?

P

epe: I was born and raised in Manila -- live here up to now. But I’d like to visit General Santos really, really soon.

Of course I’ve heard of the city -Manny Pacquiao! :-)

a P

: What made you want to be-

come a director? What got you started?

: I’ve always loved films, but I really started making films in high school. Every year, we had to do these shorts for Filipino class -- Ibong Adarna, Florante at Laura... I would always be the one directing, and in my freshman year, I already figured I had found what I want to do with my life.

a P

: What is your first big break?

What are your career highlights to date?

: I guess my big break was really with Engkwentro. It’s

28 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

my first film, and we’re all very humbled that it went so far. It was also such a challenging project to pull off, so just making the film was an incredibly enriching experience for everyone in the cast and crew.

a P

: Who are your favorite actors and directors?

: I have lots, and I really don’t want to begin enumerating because I’m afraid I might forget someone! (Haha) But I just have tremendous respect for all the actors and directors working in the local film industry. I’m just thankful for everyone who’s come before, for keeping local cinema alive for people my age to be a part of. : What’s the last thing you saw

a

onstage/onscreen that had a big impact on you?

a P

: What are your favorite pieces of literature/music?

: I’m actually not really much of a reader. With music, my favorite bands this year are Phoenix, Sound Team, Friendly Fires.

a P

: Favorite local hang-out/holiday destination?

: Me and my friends just hang out at each other’s places. My favorite hangout place is my bedroom. I think we’ve graduated from the whole going-out phase. We’re very corny people.

For holidays, nothing beats the beaches of the Philippines. I love traveling around the country. But there’s a place in Calatagan, Batangas where me and my family often spend New Year’s. That has sentimental value.

a

: What are your plans for the future?

P

Engkwentro, which won the Orizzonti Best Film prize and Luigi De Laurentiis Lion of the Future award at the 66th Venice International Film Festival, is inspired by true events, and tells the story of Richard and Raymond, two teenage brothers on opposite sides of a gang war. Richard is the leader of his gang, Bagong Buwan (New Moon) while Raymond is just being inducted into Batang Dilim (Child of Darkness), a rival gang led by a charismatic boy, Tomas.

Complications arise at a deadly midnight engkwentro or clash when Tomas gives Raymond the task of killing his older brother. All this happens while the City Death Squad lurks the streets.

(This real-life vigilante group is allegedly responsible for many unsolved murders of teen gangsters.) Today, they are hunting down Richard. Will they take the younger brother, too?

(Gensan screening dates unknown as of this writing.)

: Working on the second film! It’s an action-packed movie about child warriors in the middle of an insurgency. It’s going to be another tough, challenging ride. I’m ready for another hard shoot.

But when it’s all over, I want to be remembered as a guy who took risks.

I wouldn’t do a film that doesn’t push some sort of envelope.

Darlene at the Forefront

by Orman Ortega Manansala (Reprinted from his online blog at www.gandaeversomuch.com)

d

addy’s Girl. The first time I saw

Darlene’s election materials when she first run for Congress, I couldn’t help but snicker. There she was, Daddy’s favorite little girl, shoved under the glaring klieg lights of politics, looking pitifully unprepared for things to come. Her hair was tied tightly in a bun to make her look more mature. She did try to project an image to match her illustrious and well-known parents but she couldn’t seem to get out of their shadows. Darlene was not as eloquent as her father. She did not have the grace of her mother either. But she had that fire in her eyes and the staying power. And she has what her parents doesn’t have right now –charming youthfulness and fascinating stamina.

Learning the Ropes. I can’t remember when she started getting rid of the bun and just letting her hair down. But by doing so, Darlene became more relaxed and self-assured. In Congress, she was everybody’s baby. Her parents’ contemporaries were more than willing to assist the neophyte Representative from South Cotabato. Her smile was disarming, which most people say seals votes for her pet bills. She started to learn the ropes of the trade. She armtwisted, she cajoled, she won everyone’s heart. She was finally becoming her own woman. Darlene was on her way.

Resolute Tenacity. I don’t agree with some of her politics. She has, at several times, taken the road less traveled -– often getting the ire of even her most ardent supporters. I remember the time when she fought for the impeachment of Chief Justice Davide. “How could she?”

I asked myself. “Why can’t she?” was the answer I gave myself. Of course, Darlene can be charming at best but she has this resolute tenacity to speak her mind -– unbending, unwavering, steadfast and purposeful. Darlene was on overdrive.

Kicking GMA in the Shins. Shameful, shameful, that GMA. How could she even think about pulling a fast one on us, on Darlene? GMA must have thought that her inaanak won’t join the bandwagon. There she was, our Mighty Darlene explaining her vote to impeach her godmother. That single act alone earned her a place in Congress history. Way to go, Darlene. Your star is shining brighter than ever.

Doting Mom. Loving Wife. With all the political stuff going around her, does she ever have time for family? She remains foremost a doting mom to her son Avi, 10, and daughter Anika, 7. Both are in grade school and Darlene makes it a point that she gets to bond with them. Husband Benjie has remained supportive and still prefers to stay reclusive from the peering eyes of the media. Her family keeps her grounded. She may be a Congresswoman but in the Custodio abode, she’s wife and mommy, plain and simple.

w

hat’s Next? She’s on her third and final term as Representative. Her advocacy for women and children was the core of her political career. If you thought that all she did was to make life miserable for GMA, think again! AdWA’s favorite has actually authored more than 100 house bills. Her bill on Juvenile Justice was passed unanimously by the Filipino Congress, is a response to criticisms of the conditions under which young offenders were being held in prisons. Darlene’s claim to fame might be her charming youthfulness, but this is one lady who’s got the spunk to stand up to anyone who’s in her way. That, I think, is reason enough for her to look beyond the halls of Congress. Darlene has finally arrived. (Orman Ortega Manansala is class-A banker by profession, mover-shaker and blogger extraordinaire by persuasion.)

29 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

music & more • mandeejay We all have our share of some form of music theft at some point. Perhaps you copied the bulk of your brother’s mp3 collection, almost certainly an amalgamation of copies to the nth degree in itself. The new Kings Of Leon CD your boss gave your co-worker on her birthday he probably first ripped to his iTunes library. The digital album of Apocalyptica’s orchestral rework of Metallica’s pieces that I may have received by email last night is probably not far removed from this hazy realm of music piracy.

Though we have no real sympathy for big-name studios that churn out formulaic music through package artists and their franchises/endorsements, we also feel for the cache of real artists whose works get bootlegged left and right. At the same time, we marvel at Ani DiFranco’s more intimate live performances some guy my son hangs out with has dowloaded on Limewire recently. The moral questions do not escape us entirely, but hey, we just love our music unconditionally, and it’s not as if we earn anything from our little trespasses.

So, on with my mantra for this debut of Gensan Gazer’s music & more: Clean up your vibe. Music vibe, that is. Granted, you’ve disposed of your CDs (or about to) in favor of network-attached storage, accessed remotely from stategically positioned Bose speakers in all four areas of your humble abode, not a single optical disc in sight. On the other hand, you may have kept your CDs in all their glory — crystal case, full-color cover, limited edition seal, the works. The mission? Come up with a showcase 20 CDs for you to display and show off in your living space, for when your friends come by to hang out, or when your special someone spends the night and your musical vibe is in the limelight. I’ll list only five pieces; just fill the rest. This is, after all, your own showcase.

quiksoundbitez s

ufjan Steven’s Come On Feel The Illinoise sounds like someone just recovering from multiple personality disorder and finding a niche with an all-American high-school band -- mixing music that is both mundane and magical with banjos, choirs, trumpets and what-not.

Sufjan himself is an über whimsical dude who, it’s been said, wants to record an album based on every state of the US of A: this is just his second after Michigan.

Already this 20-some-

30 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

JOSHUA TREE by U2 (1987) — Never has it occurred to anyone that wailing could ever sound beautiful until Bono opened his mouth. In Joshua Tree, there’s wailing like we’ve never imagined to hear, or ever prepared to fathom, and not only with our ears. Add to that the soul-searching posed

by Where The Streets Have No Name and the anthemfor-the-lost I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For and you have music that’s soul food from early tasting to repeat seconds.

And boy that’s a lot of seconds! Running To Stand Still remains to this day the penultimate exercise in vocal haunting, as if the stripped-down ballad about heroin addiction is not somber enough for a seering musical experience.

Joshua Tree is easily on the top of my all-time list of great albums, With Or Without You, the soundtrack of my generation.

thing is soaking in great praises. His music seemingly intoxicates unsuspecting ears with private musings, historical anecdotes and unusual trivia about his chosen subject. It is beyond absurd and beautiful; I wonder how his Hawaii would sound like. ni DiFranco has gone from crude to funky to experimental to intimate to political, but with Little Plastic Castle, she’s outdone herself and her different facets. This

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NEVERMIND by Nirvana (1991) — Who doesn’t respond to Smells Like Teen Spirit? From 30-somethings to teenagers to toddlers, the scathing riffs and caustic vocals of this breakout song command nothing short of euphoria. (One TV news feature showed how 2-year-olds jumped and moved in happy frenzy— their way of dancing—to the Teen Spirit tune; in contrast, they shunned a standard Sinatra.) The album literally converted teens into punk-hood, grunging in style with its creator Kurt Cobain, who in the end suffered a most catastrophic effect of super-rock-stardom. All the other classics are here—In Bloom, Lithium, Come As You Are, On A Plane, and Lounge Act—making this second album stand out as a watershed not only for alternative rock, but for music as a whole. This is pure talent beyond anything here-and-now.

time she doesn’t throw her declarations in your face quite as often, but wraps them in funk catches and plenty of vibes most probably hard to replicate live. So listen to this album, and you should, as if you’re just getting acquainted with this master storyteller.

All that you will savor from this work of art borders on the magic of repetition and soul rhetorics. Without a doubt this is DiFranco’s more diverse, catchier and subtler of musical manifestos.

RUBBER SOUL by The Beatles (1965) — Of The Beatles’ countless recordings, Rubber Soul stands out prominently as groundbreaking and revolutionary, what with its sophisticated musicality and profound themes in spite (or as a result) of the 60s experimental vibe. Thanks in part to Bob Dylan’s influence, artistic intimacy and contemplative depth soaks much of such tracks as If I Needed Someone, I’m Looking Through You, Norwegian Wood, You Won’t See Me, and Nowhere Man, John Lennon’s dark self-portrait. But it is his nostalgic In My Life (“All these places have their moments / With lovers and friends I still can recall / Some are dead and some are living / In my life I’ve loved them all”) that is easily the simplest, most honest, most personal declaration ever made in popular music recording. This is the Beatles classic.

THE BENDS by Radiohead (1995) — The 90s may have been ground-broken by Nirvana, but the musical template of the decade was polished, if not perfected halfway through the 90s and onward by Radiohead, the mellower princes of grunge/punk nirvana.

Although Radiohead’s 1993 hit single, Creep, is Cobain-inspired, this sophomore album, The Bends, is less introspective and more socially sound. It signals Thom Yorke’s switch from intimate, angsty songwriting to social relevance, a direction that would lead the band’s subsequent body of works. Fake Plastic Trees was inspired by the transformation of a dockside area in London; Street Spirit (Fade Out), by Ben Okri’s book, The Famished Road. High And Dry, which Yorke considered “not bad... it’s very bad,” turned out to be a big radio hit and concert favorite.

JAGGED LITTLE PILL by Alanis Morissette (1995) — Singer–songwriter Alanis Morissette’s third studio album (her first after the dance pop sound she discarded for good), refers metaphorically to life’s bitter lessons, as effectively argued in You Learn. The other massive hit tracks in this breakthrough album are You Oughta Know, Ironic, Hand In My Pocket, and Head Over Feet. One of the most successful albums of all time for its commercial achievements, artistic awards and cultural resonance the world over, it launched Morissette as a global superstar extraordinaire. She’s never written or probably won’t ever write bolder, more cutting poetry than those that catapulted You Oughta Know to the top of the charts and the center of at least two generations’ collective musical consciousness. Jagged will remain one of the 90s’, even the last century’s major ajor breakthroughs in music both oth as art and commodity.

Eya E ya E Eyay yay P Pyesta yesta N Na aS Sab?!? ab?!?

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n endea endearing aring first album by Go South Young Man Band, and or o simply, G GSYM Band, one of General Santos City’s pioneeriing in g music groups, gro Eya Eyay Pyesta Na Sab?!? is a merry m mi x of traditional traditio mix chants, croons, rah-rahs, raps, party tunes, rrasta, ra sta, anthems, anthe even trance, accompanied by guitar, drums and keyboard and keyboard, plus the indigenous faglong and kubing in some t acks. Most of the tracks share a cohesive fiesta vibe, hence tr tracks. t e title of th th the the album, but there are other interesting stories in t is musical v th this venture. Eya Eya and Nais showcase two of the finest fi nest vocal a arrangement/rendition in this album, a perfect m rriage of F ma marriage Filipiniana and patriotic melodrama. On the other pr hand, Yay! proposes a socio-political commentary in rap, and Hanggang an Hanggang D’yan, in trueHa and true-blue soul groove. Mindanao State University’s Kabpap Kabp Ka bpa agariya Ensemble lend backing vocals to anthemic Halina and Layag SOCCSKSARGEN, bp Kabpapagariya both a call to unity in diversity, one of the region’s recurring themes of interest. MSU’s Larry Laroco, a pioneer of the performing arts in the acade academe and the community, also cameos in Lupa, a croony tribute to Mother Earth and God God, notwi notwithstanding any specific belief or persuasion. Other local guest artists include Ch Christian Dacoco (rap) and Alan Cator (vocals). GSYM Band consists of Kit Th Thomas Casiano (keyboard), Allena Cruz (vocals), Dainty Datoon (vocals), Dindo Epino (vocals, fill-ins), Ronnie Famador (vocals, keyboard), Sharon Flores (vocals), Dexter Morimonte (percussions), Bayani Nadua (vocals, guitar), John Anthony Senia (drums), Beethoven Togs Tuyac (bass guitar), and Jay Son Ugbaniel (vocals, percussions).

31 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

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Cagampang Street, General Santos Tel (083) 5525684 | (083) 3044745 Fax (083) 5524875

read & reviewed • danmeyer

Painfully brilliant writing.

From the first page to the last, this book grabbed me, pulled me away from my comfortable life and smashed my face into the world we share.

This should be required reading for every human being.

What Is the What: The Autobiography of Valentino Achak Deng, written by Dave Eggers, is based on the reallife story of Valentino Achak Deng, a Sudanese refugee and member of the Lost Boys of Sudan program. As a boy, Deng is separated from his family during the Second Sudanese Civil War when the Arab militia wipes out his Dinka village. He flees on foot with a group of other young boys, encountering great danger and terrible hardship along the way to an Ethiopian refugee camp; they are forced to flee a second time. Years later, he moves to the US. The story is told in parallel to subsequent hardships in the land of the free.

Prep: A Novel, by Curtis Sittenfeld, talks about a South Bend, Indiana girl, who goes to an elite boarding school near Boston (believed to be St. Albans School in DC, where she taught for 2 years). It tells of coming of age and class distinctions in acute detail, effective narration, and dialogue so convincing critics have raised the question over how much of the story is pure memoir and how much is pure fiction.

The final scene contains some of the most powerful and thought-provoking writing I’ve come across.

Theatre, by W. Somerset Maugham, is a fictional account of Julia Lambert, England’s greatest actress.

Onstage a professional, off stage she is bored with her husband and loose in her behaviour. At first amused by a young fan’s attentions, she finds thrill in his persistence, and next wildly but dangerously in love.

Though Maugham is most celebrated as a novelist, it was as a playwright that he first knew fame. Theatre is a tribute to a world from which he had retired, and a persuasive testimony to his enthusiasm for drama and the stage.

33 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

bigonblogs

L

ifehacker «lifehacker.com»

is a blog dedicated to tips on getting things done, a sort of survival guide

g

ot2BeGreen «got2begreen.com» Going green has taken a backseat with the onset of the recession -- an ironic turn as a lot of green initiatives can actually save money, if not earn extra income. This blog is all about concepts and consumer items

b

ad Astronomy

«blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy» A skeptic’s blog -- frequently attacking the misuse/abuse of science in daily life, at the same time lauding the marvels of legit scientific

g

enSan News Online Mag

«gensantos.com» Short of marrying Gensan Gazer, the magazine, and GenSan News Online Mag, the blog -- we recommend this no-frills, no-nonsense blog for anything and everything about General Santos

34 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

Postscript pt in these Pressing Times. It gets off on telling people to do more with what they already have.

Want to know how to brew the best possible coffee at no extra cost, or make simple and cheap dinners? How about writing a more effective CV by ditching worn-out phrases like attention to detail and teamwork? Lifehacker scored big on one of its popular posts, the one that told people how to transform their big-name multi-media device to the same big-name phone-player-and-more! that pay a little bit of respect for the environment and at the same time keep the spending in check.

For example, it shares that you could save significantly by plugging your PC and electronic devices into a switchable power strip or extension lead instead of letting components suck up electricity directly on standby. Also, that placing hot food in the fridge is a big no-no as it uses up more energy. These are just a few reminders that being eco-friendly is simply the smart thing to do.

research. It debunks such hearsays and heresies as measles vaccine being a cause of autism or the moon landings as plain fakery.

Contrary to its name, the blog is also a dependable guide to good astronomy, such as the the stunning pictorial of Centaurus, that elliptical galaxy with a massive black hole at its core (reminiscent of all other bad blogs in blogosphere -- loud, crowded and at first beautifully cluttered, but hollow and empty on the inside.

City, Gensan Gazer’s home base.

And other stories non-Gensan, of course. It didn’t win three Philippine Blog Awards (Mindanao) for nothing -- bagging the Chikka Reader’s Choice Awards for Mindanao (selected by text voting), the Globe Tattoo Digital Tribe Award, and the Best Destination Blog for Mindanao. Netizens the world over flock to this site for word on its adopted son Manny Pacquiao, for example, as well as bit stories on yellowfin tuna, Gensan’s PBB connection and what-have-you!

So we suddenly nly make mak kee an an appearance virtually lly from frrom rom out of nowhere, and the way ay things usually go this way, there’s bound to be a few things here and there that we’d miss by accident or pure oversight. This column (literally) is devoted to all the other last-minute things we can think of and are left with as soon as the first of our pages move from the computer to plates to the presses; needless to say, this page is the last to go.

Before we forget we’d like to thank Avel and Orman Manansala for steering this issue towards the 2009 Kalilangan Festival, probably the best occasion to be a part of, the most prestigious event to make an entrance with. Their invaluable inputs have made this venture extremely complicated, but at the same time paved the way to opportunitiess that are simply fabulous. To them we raise up our hats.

Orman did remark early on that th hatt the drabbest page in this issue is the feature on Queen Tuna Park (page 16), mostly because of its gloomy trio of photos. So off to Lion’s Beach again we went to catch even just one shot that will make all the difference, but to no avail. What we did find was a happy couple and their doubly happy child, though not a picture we can readily add to that short feature. Perhaps we can place it here as some sort of parting words, in this case, parting shot.

Lest we forget, “it takes only very little to be truly happy.”

For amateur writers/artists/ photographers out there, if you think you have something that might read/look well on our pages, write us at writing@ gensangazer.com. For any other inquiries or feedback, such as whether or not you’d pay for a copy of this magazine and for how much, write us at inquiry@ gensangazer.com. We’d love to hear what you have to say!

lastlook

Rowing The Sky Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, Philippines

35 ● Gensan Gazer ● Feb 2010

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