BUSINESSWEEK MINDANAO SEPTEMBER 17,2012

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www.businessweekmindanao.com Issue No. 108, Volume III • Sept. 17-20, 2012

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P15.00

Market Indicators AS OF 5:55 PM SEPT. 14, 2012

FOREX

PHISIX

US$1 = P41.42

5,322.47

; ; Briefly 13 cents

81.97 points

Gaisano diversifies

CEBU City -- The Gaisano Grand Group, whose core business is retail, is diversifying into property development with the launching next week of its first residential condominium project here.

Grand Land, Inc., property development arm of the group, said in a statement it will develop a condominium village within a 3.2-hectare resort community located in Banilad, just a few meters away from the major business districts here.

The project, called Grand Residences Cebu, will offer a total of 2470 studio, onebedroom and two-bedroom units. Six condominium towers will rise amid a tropical landscape.

El Niño mitigation

GENERAL Santos City -- Irrigation personnel here and nearby Sarangani province have stepped up the repair and maintenance works on the area’s irrigation systems in preparation for the onslaught of another long dry spell or El Niño Phenomenon that was foreseen to begin by next month.

Engr. Gina Lozano, acting chief of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) here, said such move is part of the agency’s ongoing mitigation efforts for the El Niño, which was projected to affect an estimated 1,011 hectares (ha) of palay farmlands in the city and nearby Sarangani province.

Lozano said they expect around 600 farmers in this city and another 494 in Sarangani would be directly affected by the calamity.

By IRENE DOMINGO, Reporter

A

BOUT P60-billion worth of financing from various banks is being eyed to finance Aboitiz Power Corp’s coal-fired facilities in Luzon and Mindanao.

In a statement, Aboitiz Equity Ventures Inc. chief finance officer Stephen Paradies said that the company’s power unit is now finalizing the loan to bankroll its projects in Subic and Davao.

Paradies said the said amount represents about 70-75 percent of the budgeted capital expenditure for the projects, with the balance to be sourced from an equity infusion.

“These things are very complicated. Banks do a lot of due diligence. We may be able to close one before the end of the year, hopefully two,” said Paradies.

AP will tap P36 billion to P40 billion in loans for the 600-megawatt coal plant in Subic, a joint

venture with Manila Electric Co. and Taiwan Cogeneration through Redondo Peninsula Energy Inc. The project will cost $1.2 billion.

Through wholly owned unit Therma South Inc., AP is undertaking the construction of the 300-megawatt coal plant in Davao at a cost of $650 million. The debt component of the project is P18 billion to P20 billion.

AP also is eyeing project financing for the 400-megawatt expansion of its coal-fired plant in Pagbilao, Quezon. Cost per megawatt is pegged at $2 million, Paradies said.

AP accounted for 79 percent of AEV’s net income in the first half.

The power unit’s earnings contriABOITIZ/PAGE 6

FARMER’S BOUNTY. Farmers from Misamis Oriental show off their bounty during the recent trade fair held in Talisayan town. PHOTO BY GERRY L. GORIT

A laborer bends his body to deliver a bundle of vegetables to the market site in Davao City. The country’s economy will remain healthy for the rest of the year, with full-year growth seen at 5.5- 6 percent, economists said. (PHOTO COURTESY OF MEDEL V. HERNANI OF DAVAO TODAY)

Steady GDP growth seen THE country’s economy will remain healthy for the rest of the year, with full-year growth seen at 5.5 percent to 6 percent on the back of strong domestic consumption and continuous government spending, according to a report of a local think tank.

First Metro Investment Corp.

(FMIC) and University of Asia and the Pacific’s (UA&P) Capital Market Research said the country’s economy is vibrant despite the economic woes confronting the United States and Europe— two of the Philippines’s major export markets.

The think tank’s projection for the country’s economic growth for 2012 is consistent with that of the government’s forecast of a 5-percent to 6-percent increase.

“Continued strong domestic

consumption and further national government spending, as well as improved bank-lending performance, will counter exports deceleration, dampened by weak global demand,” said a periodic report titled “The Market Call.”

The think tank said Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) electricity sales in July remained elevated particularly for the industrial sector, bolstering its expectations that gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the second half would be robust.

While there are expectations of a slowdown in economic growth for the third quarter, FMIC-UA&P’s Capital Market Research added that this would be “minor.” Economic activity may have decelerated sharply GROWTH/PAGE 6

Leadership, political will affect risk reduction: UNISDR

By BONG D. FABE Correspondent

(Part 2) THE United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR) said that leadership and political will is the num-

ber one factor that affect a community’s ability and capability to reduce risk.

The UNISDR study Making Cities Resilient Report 2012, released on September 4, noted that one of the challenges affecting cities’ and communities’ disaster risk reduction activities is

the “frequent turnover of political leadership.”

“Frequent turnover in political leadership can impact the continuity of disaster risk reduction activities. One challenge is the length of the political term at the local level, which generally peaks at

eight years. A great deal of resilience building can be done in the short term, but governance structures and the involvement of various actors must be in place to ensure the continuity and fulfilment of these shorterterm efforts and achieve LEADERSHIP/PAGE 6

BusinessWeek Economy 2 Canned pineapple tops northern Mindanao 2Q exports September 17-20, 2012

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By APIPA P. BAGUMBARAN, Contributor

CANNED pineapple was Northern Mindanao’s top export earner in the second quarter of 2012.

Canned pineapple contributed US$52.55 million or about 22 percent of the regional total exports, Cecilio Y. Clarete, chief economic development specialist of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in the region said.

He said crude coconut or cochin oil, which used to be the top earner in the

past year, now ranked second posting an export value of US$35.78 million, down by 70 percent compared to the same period last year.

Abaca pulp was the region’s third top dollar earner for the quarter with a total export value of US$14.70 million, 3.4 percent higher compared to the same quarter of last year.

Clarete said the other top dollar earners commodities for the quarter were fresh pineapple, live grouper, sintered ore, sawn lumber/ core-finished/kiln-dried, coconut charcoal or charcoal granules and powder, ferronickel shots and fresh bananas.

Records from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in the region show that seven out of the 14 export sectors in the region registered negative growth for the quarter.

Coconut-based products, which accounts for 50 percent of the total exports value dropped 42 percent, year-on-year, pulling down the region’s total exports.

The region’s value of exports for the quarter only amounted to US$241.9 million, lower by 17 percent compared to same quarter of 2011.

The decrease in the exports volume for coconutbased and sugarcane products in Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte and Bukidnon contributed to the decline in the regional exports for the Cagayan de Oro is home to Del Monte Phils., Inc., the quarter, Clarete said. major exporter of canned pineapple.

BOI stresses 5-point strategy for investment development

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DAVAO City -- An official of the Board of Investments (BOI) has emphasized the importance of five-point strategy in order to corner more investments.

Luna Gracia P. Ahmad, BOI-Head Office’s Senior Investment Specialist, said an effective promotional strategy must consider five major activities, which include the establishment of an Investments Promotion Center (IPC), passage of Local Investment Incentive Code (LIIC), creation of a Speakers’ Bureau, tag line, and promo collaterals.

These insights were shared by Ahmad with the local economic and investment promo officers (LEIPOs) during the twoday Capacity Building on Investment Promotion for LEIPOs of Davao Region last August 15-16 in Davao City which was spearhead-

ed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11.

“Investment promotion is a local and regional economic development concern. If you are an LEIPO, you have to address the investors’ requirements quickly,” she said.

Ahmad said these promo mix activities must answer the image building, investment generation, and investor servicing of a particular area.

“In image building, you are putting together favorable characteristics to hone a positive perception and bolster investment promotion,” she said adding that the role of the local government units (LGUs) is to provide an enabling environment for the investors to be lured.

Meanwhile, DTI 11 Investment and Industry De-

velopment Division (IIDD) chief Rachel S. Remitio said the department’s partnership with the LGUs is anchored on their common goal of promoting and capturing investments.

“To facilitate faster influx of investors, we truly need to device an effective investment promotion strategy along with the LGUs,” she said.

Remitio said DTI 11 is optimistic about hitting a bigger investment accomplishment figure at the end of the year. As of June 2012, DTI 11’s investment-related programs, activities, and projects (PAPs) have already recorded an investment of P5 billion.

Data of DTI 11 showed the region cornered a total of P11 billion worth of investments last year as a result of DTI 11-intiated interventions.

DFA opens office in Davao mall

By RUDOLF IAN G. ALAMA Contributor

DAVAO City -- The Department of Foreign Affairs opened on Friday, Sept. 14 its Regional Consular Office in SM City Davao.

Described as a Public-

Private Partnership (PPP) between SM chain of malls and the DFA, this is the second DFA satellite consular office opened in an SM Mall.

In August 31 the National Capital Region East passport office was opened

in SM Megamall. The SM Davao office is the second of its kind in the country.

The former RCO was located in a rented building in Jacinto Street in Davao City.

Ms. Flora Belinda Bacosa OIC of the Regional Consular Office in Davao City said that though the former location is nearly equal in size with the new SM office but the latter is much sleeker and better designed with larger space for clients than in the previous office.

Bacosa said they used to entertain 300 clients per day in their former office, now they are expecting 400 clients a day in their modern comfortable office.

SM Supermalls president Annie Garcia said the office is rental free for a period of 10 years plus the construction of the office was borne by SM, the mall also provided DFA Davao with a brand new Toyota van to be used in the various functions of the Department.

She said the Department will gain P1.04 billion worth of savings for the next ten DFA/PAGE 6

BusinessWeek

September 17-20, 2012

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Available at:

Suzuki 3’s CDO - VELEZ

Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City Telefax No.: (088) 857-2647 Date Opened: December 8, 1994 OIC: Alner K. Verdida

GINGOOG

National Highway, Gigoog City Telefax no.: (088) 427196 Date Opened: December 08, 2005 OIC: Rowena Pacheo

CDO BORJA

Andrada Bldg., JR Borja St. Brgy. 32, Cagayan de Oro City Telefax: (088) 8573140; 8573139 Date Opened: July 18, 2006 Store Supervisor: Evelyn M. Sumingit

CDO GUSA

JVR Bldg.,Sta. Cecilia Subd., Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City Telefax: (088) 22710126; 8571126 Date Opened: Store Manager: Lilibeth O. Hanasan

ILIGAN - SABAYLE

Benito Labao cor. Sabayle Sts., Iligan City Telefax: (063) 221-5505; (063) 225-0509 Partyphone # 0973-903342 Date Opened: August 12, 1989 Store Manager: Maria Elena T. Zerna

MALAYBALAY

Brgy. Sumpong, Fortich St., Malaybalay City Telefax. No. (088) 221-3424; (088) 813-4754 Partyphone # 0973-903818 Date Opened: April 25, 1996 Store Manager: Carlos E. Abarrientos

VALENCIA

Hagcol, Valencia, Bukidnon Fax No.: (088) 828-4127; Telephone No.: (088) 222-2412 Partyphone # 0973-903780 Date Opened: July 15, 1989 Store Supervisor: Narciso F. Tabulong

MARAMAG

Purok 1, North Poblacion, Maramag, Bukidnon Telefax No.: (088) 222-5208 Date Opened: August 05, 2004 Store Super visor: Ma. Rochelle M. Paano

PAGADIAN TIGUMA

EMCOR Bldg., National Highway Tiguma St., Pagadian City Telefax #: (062) 214-1723; 214-4302; 215-3958 Date Opened: September 8, 1997 Sales Supervisor: Julie to D. Alcalde

PAGADIAN ZULUETA

Zulueta Bldg., J. Rizal Ave., Pagadian City Fax No.: (062) 214-1462; Tel No.: (062) 214-4996 /214-2822; FSO: 062-2144997 Date Opened: September 8, 1989 Sales Supervisor: Marbel M. Crusio

PAGADIAN - CLARK

Rizal Ave., Pagadian City Telefax No.: (062) 214-4758 Date Opened: November 22, 2002 Sales Supervisor: Cristy V. Guisado

MARANDING

National H-way, Mercado St., Maranding, Lala Lanao del Norte FAX No./Tel. (063) Tel. No.: (063) 388-7048 Date Opened: March 14, 1992 Sales Supervisor: Marivic B. Gran

MOLAVE

Provincial H-way, Molave, Zamboanga del Sur FAX No.: (062) 225-1407

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September 17-20, 2012

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Member: -Philippine Press Institute -Cagayan de Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (Oro Chamber) -Misamis Oriental - Cagayan de Oro Association of Publishers (MOCAP), Inc.

Preaching PREACHING is, of course, an indispensable activity of the Church, because this is none other than transmitting the word of God. Yes, the word of God, eternal and ever relevant to us, needs to be proclaimed always, so as to be known, loved and lived by all as much as possible.

It is the word that gives us eternal life and not just some human and natural knowledge. As St. Peter said when our Lord asked the apostles if they too would leave him after telling them he was the bread of life that caused disbelief among the Jews, “To whom shall we go?

You have the word of eternal life.” (Jn 6,68) If we go by the standard expressed by St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians, then this must be a tremendous responsibility requiring nothing less than vital union with God. “My speech and my preaching was not in the persuasive words of human wisdom, but in the showing of the Spirit and power, that your faith might not stand on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God,” says St. Paul. (2,4-5) Further down this Pauline chapter, the apostle of the Gentiles professes that “we have the mind of Christ.” (2,16) It’s a “we” not an “I”, for St. Paul refers to himself, first, then to the others, his listeners, for only when we have the mind of Christ, one way or another, can we appreciate preaching, whether we are the giver or the listener.

We have to be wary therefore of preaching or listen-

HINTS AND TRACES

Corpboard

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Switching Price Tags?

THINK a minute…

Imagine you are in a store and you see a big new television for only $1. You look at a t-shirt and the price on it is $1,000. Next to it is a brand new motorbike that costs only $3. Wouldn’t you wonder if someone had sneaked into the store and changed all the price tags?

What you thought was very valuable is now not very valuable at all.

Have you ever gone through a painful loss or frightening crisis that turned everything in your life upside down?

Maybe the doctor told you that you have a serious,

life-threatening illness.

Someone you love died in an accident. Suddenly almost everything in your life was reshuffled and changed.

Those things that seemed important and took much of your time before now meant nothing to you. And the things that you took for granted and hardly even noticed now became the most important things to you. It was like someone came and switched all the price tags in your life.

Sadly, these painful losses and problems in life are sometimes the only things that wake us up to see what’s truly important

in life.

Unfortunately for many of us, it’s only when the problem and storm hits that we begin to understand there are only 2 things that really matter: our Maker and people.

Life is short. Often shorter than we expect!

And hopefully before it’s over we learn how valuable every day is. Each day is just one more gift from God. So we need to start spending what little time we have left on getting close to Him and the people He’s given to us to share our lives with. That is the only way we can have no

THINK A MINUTE

JHAN TIAFAU HURST

fears or regrets when we die. Some of us are scared and don’t want to think of dying because we’re not sure if we’re ready to face our Maker and Judge.

Think a Minute…

Advertising with a sense of Economics LAST September 13, 2012, I wrote a column in the Cagayan Times, a regional newspaper of daily circulation in Cagayan de Oro City and Northern Mindanao regarding the travel funding availability of foreign tourist.

Our Department of Tourism and other government propaganda bureaus have been screaming how good we hype our marketing slogans and promotional campaign with a 30 seconds ad in CNN for worldwide campaign of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”.

No doubt it is good and even excellent considering the stature of the advertising company, Jimenez-Basic who conceptualized and produced the advertising materials.

Basic, facilitated the advertising campaigns of such successful top conglomer-

ates in the country to name some, Unilab, San Miguel, Meralco, Globe Telecom, Cebu Pacific and Jollibee.

We have seen how the revenues of these companies leaf frog in business. Their share values at the Philippine Stock Exchange have also appreciated. Of course, they also belong to the best managed companies in the Philippines.

Other campaign ads during the incumbency of DOT Secretary Alberto Lim were even widely criticized for plagiarism of the tourism campaign of Poland.

I will not identify the ad agency for the sake of business ethics. The short lived “Pilipinas kay Ganda” was shot down by the tourism stakeholders. That caused later the resignation of the beleaguered former DOT Secretary.

Advertising is a tool in

selling but the penetration and sales materialization is dependent on economic conditions that will convert the marketing process into revenues. How to convince the market under adverse economic conditions is a tough strategy for the marketing planners.

Those who understand economics must consider the November US Election.

Will the present US government be open to priming the economies of its allies?

If the Republicans win, what will be the new doctrine of trade and foreign policies? How about the economic contraction in Europe? Will there be more breathing space for their currency in the next quarter?

The faltering exports of China that will lead to the devaluation of their Ringgits as probable economic

TRAVERSING THE TOURISM HI-WAY

PED T. QUIAMJOT letdowns in the 3rd quarter.

The above scenarios will influence currencies leading to depression slowing down world travel.

The increasing tension in Iran over their nuclear enrichment program can tilt the balance of peace in the Middle East and make the Street of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf a volatile passage to the shipment of oil.

QUIAMJOT/PAGE 6

What you need to know about pawnshops FR. ROY CIMAGALA

ing to it outside of Christ’s mind, doing it solely on the basis of our human talents and conditions, without referring it to Christ.

This happens when one preaches oneself instead of Christ. This happens when instead of making the gospel and the doctrine of our faith as the framework of preaching, one uses mere rhetoric, or his mastery of the sciences, or he exhibits his talents.

Nowadays, more and more people are relying on their human knowledge rather than on word of God as their ultimate key to human development and happiness. And some of them have brought this human knowledge with its accompanying skills to such polish and perfection that the word of God becomes totally irrelevant if not discredited.

They have also become smooth talkers, and many people also have practically lost any touch with the “mind of Christ,” such that they can only welcome the CIMAGALA/PAGE 6

(Conclusion) THIS is a continuation of last week’s publication of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ primer on pawnshop operation basics.

Frequently Asked Questions on Pawnshops: 1. What are the basic obligations of the of the pawnshop owner/operator to the pawners with respect to their pledged articles?

• The owner/operator should preserve and safeguard all pledged articles.

The pawnshop operator/ owner must see to it that pawns are kept inside the safe or the concrete vault except for the bulky ones.

These bulky pawns should still be insured and kept within the premises of the pawnshop.

• The pawnshop owner is liable for any pawn lost or destroyed because of his or her employee’s negligence, fault, delay in delivery, or willful violation of the pledged agreements.

• The pawnshop owner or operator should not use the pledged articles or allow his employees to use them for any purpose without the expressed

consent or authority of their pawners, unless their continued use is necessary to their preservation.

• The pawnshop owner or operator should return the pledged items in the same condition when they were first pawned to their respective pledgors or owners, upon full settlement of the latter’s loan obligations.

• Should a pawnshop release a pawned article even if its owner-pledgor does not present and surrender the coverpawn ticket?

• Pawner should execute and submit and affidavit of loss. In this case, however, they should ascertain the identity of the pawner to make sure that the pawned item is not released to unauthorized persons.

2. Does a pawner have the right to demand payment for his pawned article which has been destroyed or becomes defective while in the pawnshop’s custody?

• It depends. If the pawn is lost, destroyed, or becomes defective due to a fortuitous event and without the fault of the pawnshop, a pawner cannot recover any amount. However, if the

loss, destruction, or damage to the pawn was through the negligence or fault of the pawnshop, the pawner can file a civil case in court which will determine the extent of the pawnshop’s liability.

3. What are examples of fortuitous events?

• Natural calamities such as fire, earthquakes, typhoons, and public disorders such as robberies.

4. Can a pawner redeem his pawn after the expiration of the 90-day grace period?

• Yes, if the pawnshop allows him to. Legally, however, after the expiration of the 90-day grace period, the pawnshop acquires the right to dispose of the unredeemed article through auction sale.

5. If the pawner who wants to redeem his pledged article before maturity date is informed by the pawnshop that the pawned article has already been sold at auction, what can he do to protect his rights?

• The pawner can file a criminal and/or civil case, as well as administrative complaint with the Bangko Sentral against the pawnshop.

SPEAKING OUT

IGNACIO BUNYE 6. How can the pawner control the items for auction for the purpose of acquiring back the item he pawned but was not able to redeem?

• The pawner can only participate and actually bid in the auction sale. Beyond that, he has no right over any aspect of the auction sale proceedings. At this point, the pawnbroker has unquestionably acquired the right to sell the unredeemed article, assuming it has complied with all the legal formalities required.

7. Can the owner claim his article which has been stolen, then pawned?

• Yes, the pawnshop can be ordered by a competent court to return stolen articles pledged with it to their legal owners.

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Companies

September 17-20, 2012

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Coal Asia targets to finish P800-M IPO next month COAL Asia Holdings Inc., which controls the country’s second-largest coal reserve, is planning to finish its P800million initial public offering (IPO) next month, president Jaime Ang said on Thursday.

In a phone interview, Ang said the offer period is scheduled to run from October 9 to October 15 with the company expected to start trading on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) on October 23.

Coal Asia, which is raising funds to help bring operations to “commercial-level” production, is scheduled to hold an investors’ briefing for the domestic offering on September 26, he said.

The company has already obtained the approval of the

PSE and Securities and Exchange Commission to hold the country’s fourth IPO this year.

Its prospectus showed earlier that the company is selling 800 million new shares at a par value of P1 each. The offer, equivalent to 20 percent of its expanded capital, values 100 percent of the company at P4 billion.

Proceeds from the share sale will partly finance the development of its Davao Oriental and ZamboangaSibugay mines and bring these to commercial production by 2014 and 2015, respectively. Coal is mainly used by power-generating companies to produce electricity.

Coal Asia presently pro-

duces high-grade coal with a volume of less than 100,000 metric tons (MT) a year. By 2014, the production will ramp up to 600,000 MT per year.

Net income is projected to reach P500 million by 2014, Coal Asia said in a statement.

The company booked a profit of P4.9 million in 2011 while total sales hit P21.84 million, a pro-forma financial statement attached to its prospectus showed.

Its single-largest shareholder is the Tiu family behind TKC Steel while other shareholders include Gertim Chuahiong, Eric Roxas and Jamie Ang. Abacus Capital and Investment Corp. was tapped as underwriter for the IPO.

Quiamjot...

tourism product competitive.

Hotel promotions such as room slash down rates can be extended at random when occupancy falls. The industry has built up data for the low and high period of tourist traffic that should not be difficult to effect promotions period on some part of the year.

It can be institutionalized and extended to airline fare discounts. How about reducing excise taxes of aviation fuel with covenant to the airline

industry players to sustain year round low fares.

Government can support the tourism industry achieve or even exceed the targeted figures by giving incentives to foreign tourist who will visit the Philippines. One is to exempt foreigners from the travel tax and airport terminal fees collected in our exit airports.

Why should we let our visitors’ pay for those encumbrances when we invited them to be our guests?

shop for the public.

DFA Undesecretary Rafael Seguis said that the mall offices is part of the DFA commitment to improve consular services and bringing DFA services closer to the public. Seguis said that by 2013 another service will

introduced in the mall offices- the authentication of documents.

Seguis said that if the office can now authenticate documents, clients would no longer have to go and send their documents in Manila, thus saving time and money.

from page 4 oil. Any disturbance will send the price of oil spiraling in the international market. Iran supplies one third of the world’s oil.

The hotel industry being a price sensitive market can adapt to the economic conditions by supporting the Department of Tourism promotions with more attractive perks and discounts that will make our

DFA...

from page 2 years under the MOA with SM. She added the move to have a DFA office in SM is an innovation in customer satisfaction where the mall is envisioned to be a one-stop

Cimagala... from page 4

wisdom of the world rather than the word of God. Again St. Paul referred to this when he said: “There shall be a time, when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, they will heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears, and will indeed turn away their hearing from the truth, but will be turned to fables.” (2 Tim 4,3-4) We have to make our preaching effective.

The desire for it should be made to burn in spite of the inhospitable environment.

But, yes, there have to be appropriate, creative ways to do it.

Preachers really have to prepare their material well.

It starts with a consistent life of prayer and earnest search

Growth... from page 1

in August due to typhoons but a recovery is expected in September.

The think tank said economic growth in October to December would provide a convincing finish to the country’s economic performance for the rest of the year.

“Recovery in the fourth quarter will be robust, given election spending in the United States and the beginnings of one in the Philippines,” the report read.

Leadership... from page 1

sustainable resilience,” it said.

And this is more pronounced at present especially since gains of one political administration are often undone or left unfinished by succeeding administrations especially if the successors belong to different political parties.

Thus, making cities and communities resilient has become a major development challenge for those holding the reins of political power, especially since political leaders have only 8 to 9 years at the most to make sustainable disaster resiliency institutionalized from top to bottom or vice versa in the levels of governance.

“A high turnover in leadership was noted as one of the chief barriers to sustaining urban risk reduction programmes by Makati City, Philippines; Quito, Ecuador; and Kathmandu, Nepal, which recently completed a one-year Cityto-City Sharing Initiative, sponsored by the World Bank Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery. Mumbai has faced similar challenges, such as the need for informed and trained local authorities to coordinate long-term disaster risk reduction ac-

for sanctity. Without these, no amount of brilliant and clever delivery can cover the hideous hole that will always be apparent when such consistency is missing.

Obviously, preachers have to think of their audience and try to figure out who they really are and what God wants to tell them in their current conditions.

Thus, abiding observation of the people and the social developments is a must.

But let’s not forget that the best way to know the people is when one spends hours hearing confessions.

Here he can really get a good glimpse of the intimate interior lives of the people.

The gospel should be made the background of preaching. We have to be wary when we are drawn to participate in secular debates and discussions.

The gospel should inspire such exchanges, not the other way around, or worse, discarding the gospel.

This is a proximate temptation because in the desire to be up-to-date or to be knowledgeable about social, economic or political events and developments, the gospel can be sidelined or simply treated as an ornament.

Preaching has to bring these discussions to Christ, and in fact Christ should inspire them. The word of God is always relevant to these discussions. And these discussions are in great need of divine inspiration.

Let’s also pray that the listeners have the proper attitude toward preaching.

They should not expect social or political theories, but rather only to hear God’s word.

Consumption spending, meanwhile, will be boosted by expectations that inflation—or the rise in the price of consumer goods—will be tame even as it sped up in August. The report said inflation would not exceed 4 percent for the rest of 2012.

“Crude oil will tend to flatten or ease slightly and food supplies should normalize by end-September based on the experience of Typhoon Ondoy in 2009, which was admittedly worse than the August monsoon rains and floods,” the think tank said.

GDP growth for the second quarter eased to 5.9 percent from the revised 6.3-percent growth posted in the first quarter due to the anemic performance of agriculture and lower demand for Philippine exports.

tions. There is no doubt that training helps, but in order to build municipal capacity for risk reduction, knowledge and learning must go beyond elected officials to reach technical and professional staff within these municipalities,” the Report stressed.

With only very limited time in office but with disasters increasing in frequency and intensity, political leaders have to feel “electoral pressure” for them to have that political will to really build a lasting legacy — disaster resilient cities and communities.

“Electoral pressure is an important stimulus for creating political will for resilience building. Some cities explicitly link public demand for disaster risk reduction activities to electoral support and political advantage. This is particularly true when it comes to infrastructure and critical municipal services.

For example, [Al Arquillano] the former mayor (now vice mayor) of San Francisco, Cebu, Philippines, acknowledges that because he is concentrating resources on increasing community resilience, ‘as a politician, you can never go wrong, and at election time the people understand that you care about them, that the town is moving in the right direction’,” the Report

noted.

However, the Report noted that political leaders must have the support of everyone most especially the electorate (residents) in order to generate innovative activities and programs toward reducing risks from disasters and climate change.

“Building resilience to disasters requires the political will and intervention of active, competent local governments. They must be supported at the national level through strong policies and sustained, sufficient financial commitments.

All who make a city function, from municipal service providers to urban planners to the private sector and residents themselves, must be committed to building safer cities to secure resilience,” it stressed.

It added: “The question of resilience in the context of urban growth recognises that disaster risk reduction is not limited to preparedness and response, but is a key determinant for sustainable development. How cities grow – the strategic planning and design of spatial elements and their impact on the natural and built environments, the inclusion of the most vulnerable in urban planning — all dictate a city’s capacity to absorb and recover from disasters, including those driven by an extreme climate.”

Aboitiz... from page 1

contribution rose by 16 percent to P9.4 billion in the first semester because of a 7-percent increase in average selling prices and 10-percent hike in net generation.

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Banking/Finance

UnionBank bullish on 3Q ABOITIZ-LED Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) expects a “good” third quarter after seeing its lending business surge during the period, its top official said.

“It will be a good quarter... as loan growth has been very strong in the area of mortgages and auto loans...

We are seeing double-digit growth in both [areas],” UnionBank President Victor B. Valdepeñas told reporters on the sidelines of an Aboitiz Group event Thursday night.

Initial data for the quarter, he said, showed that consumer loans have grown by 30-35% year-on-year, while corporate loans have risen by 19-20%.

UnionBank posted P4.07 billion in net profit in the first half, 42% higher than a year earlier, due to a surge in trading gains.

For the second half of the year, Mr. Valdepeñas said UnionBank does not expect income from securities trading to be as strong.

“The first half was very strong with respect to the trading component. Now as we move towards the second half, I don’t expect it to be as strong as the first half,” he said.

“The reason behind it is as you approach a certain level, the drop in yields is now more muted and limited.

If you look at the prices of securities, they are starting to plateau. That means the yield reduction is no longer

as great as what was seen in the first half of the year,” he explained.

Still, Mr. Valdepeñas said the bank is on track to hitting its 10-15% income growth target for 2012 amid robust loan growth.

UnionBank posted P6.595 billion in net income in 2011, 23.20% higher than the year before due trading gains and income from charges, fees and commissions.

Asked about its expansion plans, Mr. Valdepeñas said UnionBank should have nearly 200 branches by the end of the year from the 189 branches it had in 2011.

“By the end of the year we expect to hit almost 200 branches... We continue to complete our network... Our strategy is to be present in any urban area that requires financial services,” he said.

He added that UnionBank will also put up branches in provincial areas where a

bank is needed.

Regarding its acquisition plans, he said the bank remains open to acquiring a thrift bank as “part of UnionBank’s growth strategy” but stressed it is not looking actively.

If UnionBank does take over a bank, he said, it will be run “independently.”

“The bank will be standalone, we will not fold it under UnionBank... This model will best serve our clients because it will focus on a different market,” he said.

Regarding participation in the government’s flagship public-private partnership program, Mr. Valdepeñas said: “UnionBank will be on the financial side because we do not have the technical expertise [to be an equity investor]. We are open to form a consortium with other banks to fund the projects.”

September 17-20, 2012

7

Pinoys’ financial IQ now at 52% FILIPINOS are more financially literate now than five years earlier, their financial IQ having lifted by more than four percentage points over five years to 52 percent, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gov. Amando M. Tetangco Jr. said.

The improvement, Tet angco s aid in a briefing he co-hosted with executives from a unit of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in this city, was traced in part to the unrelenting effort of both the government and locally operating financial entities to inform Filipinos on the value of saving, investing and consumer protection.

According to Tetangco, the landmark financial literacy survey conducted by the Manila unit of Citigroup in 2007 now shows that more and more Filipinos embrace the importance of setting aside a portion of their earnings and putting some of the funds to work in some manner of investment.

“The financial IQ of Filipinos is rising and now average 52 percent based on a survey conducted by Citi,” he said.

In 2007 when Citi first sought to determine how financially literate the average Filipino was, this stood at only 47.8 percent.

He said the rise in the financial IQ of Filipinos was important from the larger perspective and goal of boosting the country’s savings rate, reportedly the lowest in the region.

Tetangco noted, for instance, that only 44 percent of those receiving regular allotments from the foreign earnings of overseas Filipinos take the trouble to save some of the money and invest it in some form beyond merely spending them for consumption purposes.

That the Philippines made commendable progress in raising the financial IQ of Filipinos was a development that prompted Andre Labaul to say: “We wish to commend the efforts completed by your central bank which are quite advanced compared to other countries.”

Labaul heads the financial affairs division of the OECD and chairs the International Network of Financial Education or INFE, a unit of the OECD. Tetangco and Labaul headed a seminar for young professionals, students and others in this city tackling s p e c i f i c cha l l e nge s of pursuing financial education in Asia.

Such issues as innovative credit-delivery channels, migrant worker issues as well as issues facing smalland medium-scale enterprises were also discussed at length.

After the seminar/ conference, Tetangco and colleagues from around the region conducted closed-door round-table discussions on the role of central banks in financial literacy and inclusion.

Central bank representatives from the People’s Bank of China, Central Bank of Samoa, Bank Indonesia and the Securities and Exchange Board of India were in attendance.

8

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Apple unveils ‘tall and slim’ iPhone 5

S

AN FRANCISCO—For the first time, the iPhone is growing even as it slims down. After sticking for five years to the same screen size, Apple on Wednesday revealed a new phone that’s taller, with a bigger display.

The iPhone 5 will go on sale in the US and eight other countries next Friday, September 21.

Even though it’s taller than the iPhone 4S, it’s lighter, thanks to a new screen technology that makes the whole phone thinner.

The bigger screen—4 inches measured diagonally—creates room for another row of icons on the screen and lets widescreen movies fit better. The calendar will now show five days at a time instead of just three.

Previous iPhone models carried 3.5-inch screens.

In another big change, the iPhone 5 will come with the capability to connect to the fastest new wireless data networks in the US and overseas.

The new device also carries another distinction: It’s the first iPhone developed and unveiled since the death of Apple founder Steve Jobs.

The iPhone that Jobs had conceived ushered in what he billed as “the post-PC era”—a shift that is causing people to rely less on personal computers and more on mobile gadgets they can hold in their hand. Jobs died last October, the day after Apple introduced the iPhone 4S, which was the fifth version of Apple’s phone.

There was little surprise in Wednesday’s announcement. Despite the pains the company takes to hide its plans, the rough launch date, the new screen and the capability to connect to so-called LTE networks had been reported for months by blogs and analysts.

“There was nothing unexpected in terms of the new features of the iPhone,” said Tavis McCourt, an analyst with Raymond James.

That’s a contrast to last year, when Apple watchers were first surprised by a delay in the launch, and then by the fact that the phone that was revealed was the iPhone 4S rather than a more radical update. The 4S, nevertheless, has been a smash success. During the first nine months that the iPhone 4S was on the market, Apple’s revenue from iPhones has exceeded $63 billion, helping to establish Apple as the world’s most valuable company ever.

One thing that did surprise McCourt this year: Apple is launching

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks in front of an image of the iPhone 5 during an Apple event in San Francisco on Wednesday. (AP PHOTO)

the phone in so many countries so quickly. On Day One, the phone will be available in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and the UK, besides the US. A week later, it will go on sale in 22 more countries, including Italy, Poland and Spain.

Another surprise about the iPhone 5 is that it’s 18

percent thinner than its predecessor. The company was expected to use the space freed up by the new screen technology to expand the phone’s battery, not make the phone thinner.

Apple followed its usual script for the new iPhone’s coming-out party.

Apple CEO Tim Cook, Jobs’ hand-picked successor, kicked off the fes-

tivities before an audience of reporters, bloggers, applications developers and special guests with a summary of the company’s milestones. He then handed things over to his top lieutenants, a group led by marketing chief Philip Schiller and mobile software executive Scott Forstall.

It has become such a familiar ritual that Cook, Schiller and Forstall all appeared to be wearing the same attire as they did at Apple’s last product event in June. Adopting a personal work uniform was something that Jobs embraced. After learning that designer Issey Miyake had made work uniforms for Sony Corp. employees in Japan, Jobs eventually paid Miyake to make him the black mock turtlenecks that became the signature piece of clothing in an ensemble that included jeans and New Balance sneakers.

With Jobs gone, the Apple executives left the showmanship to the rock band Foo Fighters, who closed out the two-hour presentation with three songs, including one called APPLE/PAGE 11

10

September 17-20, 2012

Agri News

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Davao region attracts new coconut investments

By CARMELITO Q. FRANCISCO, Correspondent

DAVAO City -- The region’s coconut industry is attracting new investments with two companies allocating about 109 million for projects here, and three others finalizing their investment plans.

The MRDP-NRM on-the-ground investments in Linamon, Lanao del Norte: the coral reef restoration, rehabilitation of Larapan riverbank, and Tinago sub-watershed area seen to boost the town’s local food resources. Below photo: Mayor Noel Deaño receives the Certificate of Ownership of the project handed to him by BFAR acting Assistant Regional Director and NRM Focal Person Asuncion Maputol, witnessed by the representatives of various concern agencies, and sectors including the peoples organizations –the beneficiaries of the project in a turnover ceremony held on August 24, 2012 in Linamon.

NRM OGI seen to boost local food resources LINAMON, Lanao del Norte – Sow now, and reap later. The principle the local government unit of Linamon exhibited in their effort to implement the Natural Resources Management (NRM) on-the-ground investment (OGI) subprojects to boost their local food resources.

“I believe our NRM endeavors will go a long way. It will answer our envisioned sufficiency and affordability of food for every household in our community using our own resources, “said Linamon Mayor Noel Deaño.

Linamon is implem e nt i ng N R M O G I subprojects such as, the rehabilitation of Tinago sub-watershed, Larapan river-bank rehabilitation, and the coral restoration and enhancement through community-

based coral transplantation in a marine protected area.

Funded by the World Bank (WB) through the Mindanao Rural Development Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA-MRDP), the Php 7 million worth NRM project is implemented on a counterparting scheme in which 80% from WB loan proceeds, 10% from the national government, and 10% from the local government unit (LGU).

Now fully completed and officially turned over to the Linamon LGU on August 24, 2012, Mayor Deaño vows to sustain the project and further develop it using the town’s resources considering that the project fund had been fully utilized.

“We even encouraged concern barangays to allocate 20% of their CDF for its development and maintenance, as well as ensure our staff to continue

providing technical assistance,” Deaño said.

Likewise, Region 10 NRM focal person Asuncion Maputol also encouraged the stakeholders to strengthen support to the project especially now that the World Bank support has ended.

Maputol, who is also the acting assistant director of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources in Region 10 challenged utmost commitment from the beneficiaries of the project.

She said that additional funding support is not a problem when the project is undertaken seriously especially now that they experienced gratifying results.

In barely three years of implementation, Mayor Deaño gladly mentioned the immediate outcome of their NRM project.

NRM/PAGE 11

Gensan coop revitalizes asparagus Venture, targets different markets GENERAL SANTOS CITY—A farming cooperative here is proving that with persistence and marketing know-how, an organization can overcome setbacks and emerge stronger in the process.

For three years, the Greenland Multi-Purpose Cooperative supplied the asparagus requirements of a multinational company.

Bound by its contract grower agreement with the firm, the cooperative enjoyed a steady revenue stream which provided its members with a stable source of income and enabled them to expand production.

In the fourth year of the partnership, however, Rogelio “Roger” Pascual, the cooperative’s president, noted delays in the company’s payments to the cooperative. The delays in payments by as much as thirty days created cash flow problems for the cooperative.

“It was a difficult time.

We could no longer afford the daily wages of our workers and other overhead costs,” Pascual recalled.

After consulting its members, the cooperative’s management decided to discontinue the contract agreement with the company

and to look for new buyers.

It was a risky move, but deemed necessary to ensure Greenland’s longer-term survival.

Pascual knew that the key to success was to become aggressive in establishing new markets. In 2010, he attended a forum organized by the Vegetable Enthusiasts and Growers Society (VEGS) in collaboration with the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID’s) Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program.

The forum provided an opportunity not only to COOP/PAGE 11

Rachel S. Remitio, chief of investment and industry development division of the regional office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), said her office knew of the plans in the second quarter, pointing out there was no registered investment in the first quarter.

Based on DTI data, Franklin Baker Co. of the Philippines is expanding its facility in Sta. Cruz, a Davao del Sur municipality south of this city, with project cost estimated at about 98 million.

Juan Armando J. Patag, president of the company, told local media during its

90th anniversary celebration held here last month the expansion is necessary so it could catch up with others in the industry.

Mr. Patag noted that while other companies have already exp or ted products aside from the traditional coconut oil, Franklin Baker has not come up with new products in years.

The other investor is Korean firm Mati Peat Top Corp. in Mati City, Davao Oriental which is putting up an 11-million coconut peat plant.

The firm, which received perks from the Board of Investments, would pro-

duce about 10,000 metric tons of peat annually from coconut husks.

The company decided to set up its plant in Davao Oriental since the province is known for being the region’s top coconut producer.

Ms. Remitio identified the three other companies that are still finalizing their coconut-based projects as Feel Green Trade, Inc., Gowrite Philippines Corp. and Koko Fiber.

What attracted these companies to the region, she said, is the adequate supply of raw materials.

Based on the data from the Philippine Coconut Authority, the region has about 376,000 hectares of farms planted to coconut, with half of the total area located in Davao Oriental.

From these farms, the region produces about three million nuts annually.

Mindanao University to operate tree cloning facility KORONADAL -- A staterun university in Central Mindanao has accepted the challenge to operate a tree cloning facility to support a reforestation program in the region.

Dr. Jesus Antonio G. Derije, president of the University of Southern Mindanao (USM) in Kabacan, North Cotabato, said the school has agreed with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to host a clonal facility for the seedling requirements of the National Greening Program.

“We will ask our students to assist in activities related to the [implementation] of the greening program in our region,” he said.

The National Greening Program is the flagship reforestation initiative of the Aquino administration.

It aims to plant 1.5 billion trees across the country until 2016.

Adeluisa G. Siapno, DENR Region 12 director, said that under the agreement, the department will extend P3.5 million to USM for the operation of the cloning facility.

“The facility will produce high-quality planting materials, particularly those from superior indigenous forest tree species such as lauan, molave and tanguile,” she said.

The DENR will extend technical assistance to USM through its research service in the region, particularly on the scientific approach to clonal nursery operation.

“We will not only provide funding support but

also capacitate our counterparts and transfer the appropriate technology to them,” Ms. Siapno said.

The USM, for its part, will allocate an area within its sprawling campus where the cloning nursery will be constructed.

The school will undertake the mass production of quality cloned planting materials for distribution to beneficiaries identified

by DENR field offices in the region.

Bighani M. Manipula, DENR Region 12 technical

director, said the clonal facility project with USM will immediately commence as soon as the national office returns the agreement with the signature of Environment Secretary Ramon Jesus P. Paje.

So far, the DENR has forged clonal facility agreements with at least 10 state universities and colleges across the country to boost the National Greening Program, Mr. Manipula said.

USM has an area of 1,024 hectares. It started operations on Oct. 1, 1954.

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NRM... from page 10

Larapan riverbank was saved from the havoc of the flash flood last December and January that devastated the next town’s side, as it was protected by the project’s fast-growing forest and fruit trees, bamboo and vetiver grasses that bristled in the area.

Worth to mention also is the controlled siltation when big-time quarrying activity had ceased as a result of joint lobbying by the LGU and concern agencies to the authorities at the onset of the project implementation.

The fruit and forest trees planted at Tinago sub-watershed are doing good too. The Mayor mentioned that in the near future full-bearing fruit trees of various kinds like durian, marang, lanzones, and more shall also draw tourists and visitors in the area aside from the attraction of the enchanting Tinago Waterfall. Thus it will provide enterprising opportunity to the local residents and beneficiaries of the project.

The marine protected area which were embedded with concrete substrates of transplanted corals serving as breeding ground of fishes, now a sanctuary of various species like grouper, spotted scat, snapper, mullet, bangus, scad among others.

To ensure its sustainability, the Mayor said they strictly implement the Fishery Law against all sorts of illegal fishing. He said they had eradicated dynamite fishing long years ago. And

Apple... from page 9

“My Hero” dedicated to the company’s employees for developing products like the iPhone 5.

It’s the year’s most anticipated phone. The number Apple can sell, analysts believe, is limited mostly by the production capacity of its suppliers. There had

they see to it that fishermen fish 50 meters away from the marine protected area using the authorized fishing method. Likewise, the sanctuary is guarded 24/7 by “ bantay-dagat” volunteers of the Magoong, Samburon Fishermen’s Associations (MASAFA).

As these NRM on-theground investments now in place in Linamon, the LGU, the people’s organizations, concern national agencies like DA, BFAR, DENR, and others are in the process of drawing Sustainability Plan for the project to become more effective and sustainable and to achieve its desired objective to conserve the environment and to sustain productivity in food production areas. # (Rosie R. E. Paasa, DA-10)

11

to learn about the latest farming technologies, but also to meet with prospective buyers and to learn their specific quality and volume requirements.

“It enabled our group to expand its marketing network, which is very important in the vegetable business,” Pascual explained.

USAID/GEM, through its Targeted Commodity Expansion Project (TCEP) component, then introduced Greenland to a Manilabased company that supplies fresh fruit and vegetables to supermarket chains and other bulk buyers.

Initial introductions were soon followed by market reconnaissance visits to Manila for meetings with

more prospective buyers, which USAID also organized.

To help Gre e n l and Multi-Purpose Cooperative improve the post-harvest handling of its produce, USAID provided the cooperative with food-grade plastic crates and stainless sorting tables for use in its daily sorting and packing operations.

Today, Greenland ships an average of 300 kilos of fresh asparagus daily to several buyers, including major supermarket chains, hotels and restaurants in Cebu and Manila.

In mid-2011, USAID assisted the cooperative in drafting a project proposal for the construction of a new packing house and cold storage facility that would replace their makeshift packing area, help maintain the freshness of their harvests, and serve to store excess produce.

The cooperative submitted the project proposal for possible funding to the Department of Agriculture (DA) through its financing arm, the National Agribusiness Corporation (NABCOR). The proposal was approved by the DA, with DA Secretary Proceso Alcala leading a groundbreaking ceremony a few weeks later.

The new packing house was turned over to the cooperative last month at a ceremony attended by Reed Aeschliman, Deputy Mission Director of USAID/ Philippines, and officials from the DA, NABCOR and the local government.

To help Greenland maxi-

PEACEBUILDERS from 18 countries in Asia once again share experiences and renew their commitment to Peace Writ Large in the region and in the world during the 4th Action Asia Peacebuilders’ Forum in Dili, Timor Leste this week.

At least 60 peacebuilders from Asia will gather from September 19 to 21 to learn from “uniquely Asian strategies and approaches in the field of conflict transformation and peacebuilding which are being practiced in the different countries in Asia,” said Charlito “Kaloy” Z. Manlupig, founder and president of the Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc., mother organization of the Balay Mindanao Group of NGOs. Manlupig, who is also head of the Action Asia Secretariat based in this Northern Mindanao capital city, said that this year’s Forum—Action Asia Peacebuilders’ Forum is held

every two years, the last of which was held in Siem Reap, Cambodia on October 20-23, 2010—will revolve around the theme “Towards a New Paradigm: CSO-Government Engagement in Peacebuilding, from Exclusive Peace to Inclusive Peace.”

The Forum will be keynoted by newly-elected

Timor Leste President Taur Matan Ruak and outgoing President Jose Ramos-Horta. Horta was the founder of the revolutionary front while Ruak was one of the guerrilla leaders, both fighting against the Indonesian Rule. Ruak became army chief when independence was restored in Timor in CONFLICT/PAGE 12

mize the most of its new packing and storage facility, USAID provided the cooperative with chillers, weighing scales, stainless dipping tubs, trolleys, and other equipment.

Pascual said that Greenland, whose members have a combined farming area of 50 hectares and can produce 500 to 700 kilos of asparagus

daily, is close to achieving its long-term goal of penetrating lucrative markets abroad.

“The export market offers good returns as long as you are able to meet the strict quality requirements of foreign buyers,” said Pascual. He added that the cooperative was finalizing a supply agreement with a

Korean buyer, while negotiating with other prospective foreign clients.

“We’re doing a lot better now, thanks to the assistance provided by USAID and DA. We’re working hard to continually improve the quality of our produce and gain a strong foothold in local markets—and abroad,” Pascual concluded.

been concerns that supplies could be tight. Even so, analysts were expecting Apple to sell tens of millions of phones before the year is out, including perhaps as many as 10 million of the devices before this month is ever.

If the iPhone 5 lives up to the lofty expectations, it will be the company’s hottest selling—and most lucra-

tive device yet. But it will face stiff competition from an array of smartphones running on software made by rivals Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp., as well as tablet computers that also cater to consumers’ desire for a more convenient way to stay connected to the Web. Apple has dominated the tablet market by sell-

ing more than 84 million iPads since they came out in April 2010, but it’s facing a challenge from Amazon. com Inc. and Google. Both those companies are peddling less expensive tablets with slightly smaller screens than the iPad, a threat that many analysts expect Apple to answer next month by rolling out a mini-iPad. The bigger screen in

the iPhone 5 moves Apple somewhat closer to competing smartphones, but the iPhone is still small compared with its main rivals. Samsung Electronics Co., Apple’s biggest competitor, has increased the screen size of its flagship phone line every year, and it’s now 4.8 inches (12.19 centimeters) on the diagonal, about 45 percent larger

than the one on the new iPhone. The new iPhone is lighter than Samsung’s new Galaxy S III. The iPhone will cost the same as the iPhone 4S did when it debuted, starting at $199 with a two-year contract in the US. Meanwhile, the price for the iPhone 4S will drop to $99 for new contract signers and the iPhone 4 will be free.

Coop... from page 10

Asian peacebuilders shares strategies in conflict transformation

By BONG D. FABE Correspondent

http://www.businessweekmindanao.com/ | Advertising: 09177121424 |

PEACEBUILDER. Photo shows Charlito “Kaloy” Z. Manlupig, head of the Action Asia Secretariat, welcoming delegates from all over Asia during the 1st Action Asia Peacebuilders’ Forum held at the Peace Center in Mindanao of the Balay Mindanaw Group of NGOs in Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City in 2006. (PHOTO COURTESY OF BOBBY TIMONERA)

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Lawmakers push P500-M additional budget for ARMM THE chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, along with progressive solons have expressed full support for the proposed inclusion of additional P500 million in next year’s budget of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to provide educational grants to Muslim youths.

Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, chairman of the House panel, said once Congress approves the additional funding, it would help rebel youths reform and go back to the mainstream.

“I suppose it depends on where the funds would be taken since as we know any additional increase in the budget is taken from another item elsewhere in the budget because of constitutional limitations on increasing appropriations.

But in principle, it sounds

like a good idea especially to attract rebel youths or even rebel returnees from the ASG or MILF,” he said in an interview.

The motion to increase the ARMM’s R13.998-billion spending plan for next year was made by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez during Wednesday’s House plenary deliberations on the Malacañang’s P2.006-trillion national budget. On the same day, Rodriguez wrote the President to appeal for an increased ARMM budget and even pledged R1 million

of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) for such undertaking.

Gabriela party-list Rep. Luz Ilagan said she would definitely support Rodriguez’s proposal.

“For ARMM and for scholars, Yes! But my question is: Where will it be taken from? Kung sa lump sum ng Malacañang budget, will Aquino give it? What are the logistical requirements?

Baka magkaroon ng ghost students?” she raised.

She even took note of the Cagayan lawmaker’s gesture to give a substantial part of his pork barrel allocation for the Muslim education fund, saying that “PDAF as source is more realistic.”

Kabataan party-list Rep. Raymond Palatino also threw his support to the proposed

increased ARMM funding but he counted on the government to continuously implement pro-transparency and good governance reforms in the region.

“No problem with infusing more funds for ARMM, especially if used to improve education. But I hope the past problems of corruption, funds misuse, lack of transparency in the ARMM bureaucracy are already addressed,” he said.

Last Wednesday, the House approved the proposed P13.998-billion ARMM budget, which is 12-percent higher than the current P12.468-billion budget.

Itemized under the Houseapproved ARMM budget include : P6.9-billion for basic education; P1.4-billion for technical/vocational and ter-

Two solons question P70-B subsidy for losing state firms TWO congressmen have questioned the administration’s decision to give P70 billion in fresh taxpayers’ subsidy next year to government corporations.

During the House plenary debates on the proposed P2-trillion 2013 national budget, Representatives Carlos Padilla of Nueva Vizcaya and Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City said most of the recipients of additional capital are losing companies that should be collapsed.

Padilla said there should be enough political will on the part of the administration to close down losing state firms or to sell these to interested private investors.

He said it is not a good policy to prop up state corporations that cannot even earn what is needed to keep them operating without need for taxpayers to subsidize them through the national government.

“P70 billion is a huge amount of precious taxpayers’ money that could otherwise be put to good use, that could otherwise be spent for infrastructure or important social services like education,” he stressed.

For his part, Rodriguez asked Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya about what happened to a good governance commission for state corporations, which Congress created last year.

Abaya, the appropria-

tions committee chairman who is defending the 2013 budget proposal, said the commission has started a study on which corporations to retain and which to collapse.

He said it would take the good governance body at least two years to complete its study.

Rodriguez said he could not understand why state firms with functions that are better carried out by the private sector continue to exist and are given annual subsidies.

“For instance, why do we have a Precision Tools Corp. and a Rubber Estate Corp.? Should the government be in the business of manufacturing precision

tools? Should the government be in the business of producing rubber?” he asked.

He said producing tools and rubber should be the job of private companies.

He suggested that these and many other similar state firms be collapsed and their subsidies used for more productive purposes.

The House will hold sessions again next Thursday and Friday to wrap up discussions on the 2013 budget proposal.

Congressmen usually convene only from Monday through Wednesday. They are scheduled to approve the budget on second reading before the first congressional recess starts on Saturday.

Fair deliberation over ‘milk’ assured HOUSE Deputy Speaker Lorenzo Tanada II has assured fairness in the congressional deliberation on the controversial proposal to amend the Milk Code of the Philippines and allow milk companies to advertise products for infants up to six months old.

Tanada also appealed for restraint among stakeholders from both sides as the House Committees on Trade and Industry and on Health try to reach a decision on issue.

Ta n a d a’s a s s u r a n c e earned the admiration of

the Infant and Pediatric Nutrition Association of the Philippines which is reportedly supporting the bill as part of its “full commitment to the promotion of awareness of improving access to information on the best nutrition to support the needs of Filipino infants, children and their mothers.”

On the other hand, the Save the Babies Coalition called for a rejection of the bill, saying that allowing firms to advertise milk and infant formulas will mislead the public,

especially mothers, into patronizing their products and at the same time abandon breastfeeding.

The law limits the advertisement of milk products and infant formulas meant for babies below three years old in order to help ensure the promotion of breastfeeding which medical experts said cannot be substituted if wellness and health are to be prioritized.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez has sought amendments to the bill by reducing the ad-

vertising limits and allows milk companies to promote products for babies from 0 to six months old.

Ro dr iguez s aid t he amendments will address the changing lifestyle of “Filipina mothers and their kids.”

IPNAP members said it wants to improve the welfare of Filipino women and children today, thus, Congress must provide “avenues on how best Filipina mothers can be fully be made aware of information on health and the well-being of their kids.”

Conflict...

Various case studies relating to the theme will be presented, which will be highlighted by a sharing of the BMG-Misamis Oriental peace collaboration experience to be given by Teddy Sabugaa, director of the Misamis Oriental Peace and Order Council.

Manlupig said that civil society organizations (CSOs) are “resources” especially towards the achievement of

genuine and lasting peace.

“In most Asian countries, basic economic resources such as land and water are also considered political and cultural resources. In many cases, the inequitable ownership and control of these resources have caused the marginalization and continuing powerlessness of the majority. These factors of continuing inequity, injustice and marginalization have con-

sequently become the main or root causes of the continuing unpeace and violent conflicts.

One key challenge, therefore, is bringing about peace by addressing the roots of these conflicts – the conditions of inequity, underdevelopment, poverty and marginalization. These challenges can be daunting but definitely not insurmountable. We are a rich resource for peace,” he said.

from page 11

2002 while Horta became 2nd President of the Independent East Timor in 2007.

He shared a Nobel Peace Prize in 1996 with Timorese Bishop Carlos Felipe for working towards a peaceful solution to a long conflict with Indonesia that finally led to independence for the country in 2002.

Rodriguez tiary education; P852-million provision for health services; P1.5-billion for infrastructure program; P826-million for agriculture, agrarian reforms and environment; and P817.8million for the Office of the Regional Government.

Apart from the proposed

ARMM budget, a total of P5-billion would be allocated to the Proyektong Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program that would benefit conflict-vulnerable communities numbering to about 4,943 local government units (LGUs).

Tourism campaign taking off THE government’s tourism promotion campaign “It’s more fun in the Philippines” is taking off, according to Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ramon Jimenez.

“It’s going well. As of July, we already recorded 2.5 million foreign visitors.

And the peak months are yet to come,” Jimenez told reporters last Tuesday on the sidelines of the House plenar y session on the proposed P2-trillion 2013 national budget.

“We are well on the way to attaining our 2012 goal of 4.6 million foreign visitors, 700,000 more from last year’s 3.9 million,” he said.

During the short debate on DOT’s P2.95-billion 2013 budget, Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez asked Jimenez to consider including the disputed Spratly group of islands off Palawan among the country’s tourist destinations.

Rodriguez said the government should do this since China, which is aggressively pursuing its territorial claim over these islets, has reportedly made them part of its tourism promotion campaign.

“If you do that, I will head a group of local tourists that will visit these disputed islands,” he said.

Jimenez later told reporters that his department would take the cue from President Aquino on the tourism potential of the Spratlys.

“Obviously, this is not just a tourism issue. It involves national security and foreign relations,” he said.

He said for next year, the DOT is aiming to bring in 5.54 million foreign tourists who are expected to spend a total of $3.8 billion here, or an average of $700 each.

In 2013, he said the tourism sector is expected to contribute 500,000 new jobs to the economy, on top of its revenue receipts.

In terms of domestic tourism, Jimenez said the

DOT projects a total of 31.5 million local travelers, down from 36.636 million in 2011 but slightly up from 30.233 million in 2010.

The tourism chief did not indicate the country’s ranking in terms of foreign tourist arrivals among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

But a DOT report submitted to the House in last year’s budget hearings showed that in 2010, the Philippines ranked sixth with 2.5 million tourists, just ahead of Cambodia, which had 1.786 million arrivals.

Malaysia topped the list with 25.6 million foreign tourists, followed by Thailand, 15.9 million; Singapore, 11.6 million; Indonesia, seven million; and Vietnam, five million.

Jimenez said the DOT is actively promoting Philippine tourism in such markets as the United States, Japan, China, South Korea, Canada, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Europe, India, the Middle East, Russia, and in ASEAN. He said his agency has an “international promotions” budget of P467 million and P1 billion for its “branding campaign” for next year.

He said aside from DOT’s P2.9-billion budget, other departments have their own funds for tourism-related services and infrastructure.

For instance, he said the Department of Public Works and Highways would have P12 billion next year for access roads to tourist destinations, while the Department of Transportation and Communications would have P3.5 billion for airport and port improvement projects.

In all, he said national government agencies would put up a P16.4-billion budget for tourism expenditures, while government corporations like the Manila International Airport Authority and Clark International Airport Corp. would spend a total of P5.5 billion.

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MetroSpect

September 17-20, 2012

13

Ultra Marathon ’12: A run to remember a feature by Christine H. Cabiasa

H

ave you experienced joining a longdistance running event, a fun run or a marathon? What did you feel after? Tired? Thirsty? Exhausted? Oh if yes, then your experience may not be as extreme as what the 2012 CDO-Dahilayan Ultra Marathon 80k trail participants felt.

Imagine, 80 kilometers trail; they ran and indeed they reached the finish line.

Amazing isn’t it?

Circles Productions Inc. in partnership with Pine Grove Mountain Lodge, Parasat Digital, Sprint Multisport, Forest Park Dahilayan, Bukidnon, The North Face, Gatorade, Municipality of Libona, Unifrutti, and City of Cagayan de Oro initiated CDODahilayan Ultra Marathon on September 8. Around 125 runners from Davao, Iligan City, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro, and Manila joined the run. There were three

categories: 80k solo, 57k solo and 80k relay.

As we were heading off to Dahilayan, I can’t resist smelling the forest breeze of the trees and wishing I could touch all the lovely flowers beside the road.

Well, we came from the city and not often we draw ourselves near to timberland that’s why even though I’m sleepy, I can’t sleep. Plus it’s a rolling uphill and the temperature got colder as we were approaching Dahilayan.

I could see how the Bukidnon people preserved and conserved their natural resources, from the eye-fresher view of the lowlands to its pride and hall mark of Bukidnon’s pioneering industry—pineapple plantation and crop production.

Why is it a run to remember?

Continue reading.

Runner’s Endurance As to this CDO-Dahilayan U lt r a Mar at h on ’ 1 2 , it i s quite long for it is an 80k trail and that it is going up with a varying weather and temperature. According to Br yan Quiamco, champion for 80k solo that it was hard and tiresome and it was made harder due to the temperature but he counter parted it with a month long training for the Ultra Marathon.

B e f ore j oi n i n g t o l on g distance running competitions, there are a lot of factors to be considered and of course one of those is health risk.

“We had this speed, ward, and heart and lungs training”, Bryan shared. Oh it’s not easy actually. “Kapoy man gani magdagan anang 1km kana pa kahang 80km? Mura ko gadagan pud padulong Iligan kay taga didto man pud ko”, he added.

The long run is an important element in marathon training. Recreational runners c om m on l y t r y t o re a c h a maximum of about 20 miles (32 km) in their longest weekly run and a total of about 40 miles (64 km) a week when training for the marathon, but wide variability exists in practice and in recommendations.

More experienced marathoners may run a longer distance during the week. Greater weekly training mileages can offer greater results in terms of distance and endurance, but also carry a greater risk of training injury.

Most male elite marat hon r u n n e r s w i l l h ave we e k ly mileages of over 100 miles (Daniels, J. PhD, 2005. Daniels’ Running Formula, 2nd Ed.) “Halos mahutdan nako ug ginhawa gani”, Br yan said.

Well, 80k is too long and before you will decide that you will run, hold your breath first and think if you can conquer it.

Hold, marathon competition may result in various medical, musculoskeletal and dermatological complaints.

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a common condition affecting runners during the first week following a marathon (Pfitzinger,2011).

What’s amazing again about this Ultra Marathon was that no one received major injuries or any problem, just minor muscle cramps and muscle soreness.

“Congratulations to our runners for they made it and they did not experience seriouss injuries, I salute them”, Engr.

Elpidio Paras, CEO Dahilayan n Adventures Park said.

See? It did show that ourr runners from Mindanao and d Manila were ready for thee marathon.

A run to remember No. 1: There is this 56-year old guyy w ho joined t he e vent and d placed 9th in the 80k solo. Oh,, commendable! 56-year old,, 80k? Endurance wise? Check!

Strength wise? Check! (It is he;; I only knew so far who run in n the 80k at his age, some older than him but in 80k).

“Kapoy man gani magdagan anang 1km kana pa kahang 80km? Mura ko gadagan pud padulong Iligan kay taga didto man pud ko”

CDO TIMES Editor-in-Chief Shaun Uy poses with 80k Champion Bryan Quiamco

Bryan Quiamco 80k Men’s Solo Champion

Annabel Pacamalan final runner for 80k Relay jumps for joy as she survives the run

The Aaammaa-Zipline Experience: Side Trip First time in Dahilayan and first time to experience t heir world renowned zipline. Oh, what more could I ask for? It has been my dream to be there, and now I can finally say “I’ve been there”. Who will not be enticed with Dahilayan’s zipline? With the Asia’s longest dual zipline? Oh, when we talk about Bukidnon, first stop is pineapples and next is? Of course Dahilayan!

Honestly, when we were still on our way to Dahilayan, I was thinking about zipline,

zipline and zipline and how I will zip the line. Lo and Behold, a dream came true indeed! As we were waiting for the remaining runners to arrive, we rode the zipline.

Well, I’m afraid of heights but I forgot it as I was to try the 250m zip.

“This is it!”, I uttered. You know the feeling of extreme happiness plus fulfillment plus great ambiance plus majestic forest view plus zipline? Oh unexplainable right? It was like I’m flying and even just for once I experienced how it is to

Christine with Mindanao Daily News Editor Arjay Felicilda & CDO Times Photographer Justine Llano

be like Superman is. It’s great to fly looking down pine trees, astonishing pine trees actually. I mean, all I saw was green; it only proved that the Dahilayan management takes good care and put extra attention to the natural forest reserves of Bukidnon.

A run to remember No.2: September 8, Ultra Marathon ’12--- my dream came true, to ride on a zipline and I got my Ziprider’s Certificate.

Let me make it clear, I did not join the marathon.

Why a run to remember

because it was in the event I gained knowledge about marathon and the life of being a runner and I had the aaammmmmaaa-zipline experience.

A run to remember No. 3: “I conquered Asia’s longest dual zipline”.

A r un to rememb er indeed.

(Be startled with Dahilayan’s new venture, the Drop Zone. Literally startled.)

“Fly by wire, experience extreme adrenaline.”

Christine with Mindanao Daily News Editor Arjay Felicilda & CDO Times Editor-in-Chief Shaun Alejandrae Uy

****************** In my Up close with the Little Azkals feature, I thanked Sir Shaun a million times but now it’s ten million plus this A run to remember No.4 ; “rub eyeballs” with Sir Arjay and Sir Justine. Affront, it is four in one!

14

September 17-20, 2012

Art in Focus

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TIMBAYAYONG MINDULANI:

Strengthening the Theatre and Cultural Network in Mindanao

by HOBART SAVIOR

T

he National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Xavier University, Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts (XCCA) and the National Committee on Dramatic Arts (NCDA) held Timbayayong Mindulani last September 8 and 9, 2012 at the SEARSOLIN, Manresa Farm, Cagayan de Oro City.

Twenty four participants who are theatre directors, thespians, designers, arts managers and c u ltural wor ke rs f rom a l l ove r Mindanao composed the caucus of Timbayayong Mindulani whose objectives included discussions and recollections on the current status of Mindulani as a Mindanao Theatre and Cultural Network; review Mindulani’s framework, core values and past activities for appropriate and strategic theatre programming in Mindanao; presentations on the Mindanao Theatre Aesthetics, Mindanao Equity for Creativity and the Arts among others.

Invited speakers (the oracles) were Amy Noel Francisco, Rosalie Zerrudo, Fe Remotigue, Br Carlito “Karl” Gaspar, Marili Ilagan, Felimon Blanco and Dr.

Steven Patrick Fernandez.

The congress was also graced by the NCCA Chairman Prof. Felipe de Leon Jr and NCDA Chairman Lutgardo “Gardy” Labad who also gave talks about NCCA and its current thrusts on the promotion, preservation and protection of culture and heritage.

The two-day event is p a cke d w it h d i a l e c t i c s on MINDULANI in synchronic detailing of its history. Mindulani as it is culled from Ani sa Dulang Mindanao har vests the people’s theatre and culture rooted from the popular theatre movements in the 1970’s and the 1980’s.

Back then, Mindulani unified cultural workers and theatre artists and used literature and the arts to liberate the people from a culture of silence and oppression. At present, MINDULANI stands as a significant network among the many new Mindanaoan theatre and cultural workers.

Timbayayong Mindulani updated its database by accepting young t he at re d i re c tors f rom Kitao-tao Bukidnon, Basilan, Zamboanga City, Maguindanao, Ozamiz City

and Cagayan de Oro City.

The caucus agreed to have Xavier University through its Xavier Center for Culture and the Arts as MINDULANI’s secretariat with an Adhoc representing the various regions.

XC CA is t asked to retrieve the old files of the said network; update database; and consolidate all information pertaining to the revitalization of M I N D U L A N I . Pa r t o f MINDULANI’s immediate task is to come up with an initial theatre and culture m appi n g t o d o c u m e nt appropriately and archive the programs and productions of the various centers, companies and individual artists whose works are contributory to the movement and development of Mindanao theatre and cultural work.

Timbayayong Mindulani as a network building project is through the leadership o f t h e t h re e o u t g o i n g Mindanao representatives to the National Committee on Dramatic Arts of NCCA: Hobart P Savior (NorthEast and Central), Felimon Blanco (Western) and Romeo Narvaez (South). Next year, MINDULANI will be in General Santos City.

PHOTOS BY EROLLE LINUS T. MIRANDA

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Involvement

September 17-20, 2012

15

An Evolving Culture of Hope

by Jett Torres

H

ow do we value our desire to help the street children in our city? Evidently, street children in the city need to be healed from their suffering and taking away their own rights as we step forward to a better community.

It evolves our culture of hope by bridging our fellow kagayanons who suffered from the complexity of existence.

As we continue to build a secure and shared community, let us open our eyes in restoring our culture of friendship and the identity of our mission.

For three years now the CDO STREET TUTORIAL advocacy will celebrate its anniversary on September 19, 2012 at Magsaysay Park, Divisoria, Cagayan de Oro City.

This advocacy aims to encourage young students, professionals, and group of volunteers who willingly render their time, knowledge, and compassionate heart to the Street Children and Out-of-School Youth through teaching basic and functional literacy and numeracy.

It continuously encourages other groups of individuals to join the cause through a friendly dialogue and listening generously to each other’s life stories.

The celebration intends to strengthen the friendship among volunteers and street children through team building activity.

Trying to continue molding, shaping and bridging their dreams, this advocacy will evolve its commitment to empower their minds and build self - confidence in their struggles.

Our challenge is to share our

time and skills to these street children. You don’t have to be a professional social worker, or a teacher as long as you have the heart of helping hand.

Let us help them get off from the streets and enable them to live a healthy mal living, acquire their formal education and become productive individuals in our city. Let’s make itt happen now.

This is our calling as kagay-anons to protect them in street fights r, and bullying from older, torture from misguided authorities, harassmentt ion from policemen, suspicion and arrest for petty crimes.

Cultivating a sense of community is to constantly be sensitive to our fellow kagayanon.

This advocacy needs your generous support et in continuing their street s tutorials every Mondays and Wednesdays, 7:00 – 8:00pm at the foot of Magsaysay Park, Divisoria. You can donate through monetary support in order to sustain the g activity and the feeding program. You may also donate used books, clothes and toiletries.

We are part of this unjust society. We must change and become free from selfishness and greed so that ciety we can change the society.

“Our challenge is to share our time and skills to these street children. You don’t have to be a professional social worker, or a teacher as long as you have the heart of helping hand.”

MY TEACHER, MY HERO!

By Glenn B. Añora

Quantities of entity are said about her, but do we inquire from her which is bona fide?

She pays attention to many of our life and personal stories, but do we ever have the nerve to ask of her own story?

She conveys exculpation, but do we exonerate her when she’s at imperfection?

She nurse back to health many of our society’s infirmities, but do we ask her when she is not a hundred percent and provide a sanctuary for her?

She fastens many of her student’s secrets, but why do we chronicle many stories about her?

She connects us to Divinity through her teachings, but why do we

have a sneaking suspicion in many of her noble acts?

She brings forte and optimism to every student she get in contact with, but does she have something to look forward to when she’s long forgotten?

She edifies us in the ways of Piousness, but do we even go into raptures over a successful classroom discussion?

Still, many have been whispered about her, some are galling, some are gratifying.

Despite everything she’ll make it a point to be au fait with and give herself sincerely to every student.

Even for a very exasperating day and sometimes a feeling of bleak devotion, she’ll carry on teaching because… She’s

my TEACHER, my HERO. On September 5, we start to celebrate the National Teachers’ Month and culminate it with the World Teachers’ Day on 05 October 2012.

The Department of Education (DepEd) as coordinated by the Center for Students and CoCurricular Affairs (CSCA) under Executive Director Joey G. Peláez enjoined all public and private elementary and secondary schools, including division and regional offices to follow the synchronized programs, projects and activities as approved by Secretary Br. Armin A. Luistro through DepEd memorandum No. 109, s.

2012 dated 27 June 2012.

16

September 17-20, 2012

News in Focus

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