www.edgedavao.net
VOL. 10 ISSUE 6 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 9 - 10, 2017
ZION
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ACCUPRINT PUBLISHING, INC.
D O U B L E
By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO
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With that mindset, Edge Davao was conceived and given birth nine years ago at a time when digital media is starting to make newspapers a thing of the past. The onset of the internet has set back the time zone in which newspapers evolved and with the speed of the former, everyone started believing newspapers have seen its glory days. “Newspapers cannot be defined by the second word—paper.
SERVING A SEAMLESS SOCIETY
A N N I V E R S A R Y
Power to influence OMEBODY said “a good newspaper is a nation talking to itself.” If that is the mission of a national newspaper, then a good community newspaper must be a community talking to itself.
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They’ve got to be defined by the first word—news.” But that was not the case with the “fathers” of Edge Davao whose rich experience in the business made them believe otherwise. It was Shannon Alder who said “If you were born with the ability to change someone’s perspective or emotions, never waste that gift. It is one of the most powerful gifts God can give—the ability to influence.” Again came another mindset— that passion to influence and shape opinion. Brandishing that powerful gift Alder referred to, Edge Davao’s forefathers gave it a go amidst the untracked waters of the digital age.
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VOL. 10 ISSUE 6 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 9 - 10, 2017
Davao Food Evolution:
Delicious, affordable and for the family By BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO
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OOD, like politics and religion, inevitably warrants strong opinions from anyone you may come across with. Kids, tweens, yuppies or adults, you would surely have a different opinion of taste, texture, flavour and depth on every food on every menu of every gastro dining place you’d ask for. Is the confusion worth it? For a foodie, YES. Why? Because it is through confusion that you are able to expect the unexpected. Cliché, right? Maybe. BUT in Davao, confusion is the clarity that gets your palates excited. Food -- ever evolving; always a need. For years, we’ve seen the influx of restaurants, cafes and concept stores flock the streets of Davao. Of which, home-grown talents and local produce were raised on a pedestal for optimum recognition. Despite such, we, Dabawenyos, clamour for that particular something – until found, we move and resist to settle. In Davao, the evolution of gastronomic dining places gave us a glimpse of the behaviour of the Davao foodie market. What we want: for dishes to be delicious according to our taste, affordable according to our budget and most of all, perfect for family gatherings or get together.
Ellen’s Tuna Queen
Address: 494 South Street, DBP Village, Brgy Maa, Davao City Phone: 0932 986 3989 One of Davao’s best kept food secret, Ellen’s Tuna Queen is a quaint restaurant that serves lutong bahay meals that has since become favourites for locals and visitors alike.
Of their many selection, their Paksiw na Buntot ng Tuna is a best-seller that will surely have you hungry for more. Though located in a residential area, many still flock the restaurant to taste Tita Ellen’s repertoire of delectable lutong bahay meals. Over the years, the restaurant has introduced regional and national dishes to the delight of its patrons. When on a craving frenzy, do also try their Santol na Laing, creamy Kare-Kare and milky Halo-Halo. At Ellen’s Tuna Queen, food evolution in Davao has never been this melodic.
you’d surely be amazed as to why you’d be drawn to their dishes in an instant. More so, it is at Belito’s that you’d appreciate the manga and bagoong on your plate. Familiarity truly does play a big factor.
Tiny Kitchen and Dulce Vida
Bajada, Davao City Phone: (082) 227 6726 One dish – Lamb Kaldereta. Is one of Davao’s best kept foodie destination. Rustically comforting, Belito’s is a class on its own. With an unconventional set-up, you would surely not expect to be served the flavours of Spain and love it until the last crumb. For one, their menu is filled with Spanish meals cooked
Bulcachong
Address: General Luna Street, Davao City You’ve never been to Davao if you’ve not had a bowl of Bulcachong... or so they say. For the most part, Bulcachong is known as an ‘after-drinking’ soup to soothe the soul. For others, a bowl of bulcachong is already an adventure in itself. Bulcachong is bulalo made of cara-beef. Not a staple amongst household, carabao meat is a luxury to be considered. Though they still serve the same fatty laden dishes on their menu, you’d be shocked to know that many still flock their restaurant even during the wee hours of the morning. Why? Nothing appeases the soul like a hot bowl of comforting bulcachong. Just do not forget the calamansi and bird’s eye chili please.
Balik Bukid Farm & Resto
Address: Quimpo Blvd, Sandawa Park Ecoland Bucana, Davao City Phone: (082) 296 4543 Redefining healthy eat-
unapologetically with Spain in mind. Though you would, to an extent, taste Filipino as an influence in their meals,
(Tiny Kitchen) Address: F. Torres St, Poblacion District, Davao City, Davao del Sur Phone: (082) 305 9232 (Dulce Vida)Tulip Drive, Ecoland, Davao City One does not speak of Tiny Kitchen without mentioning Dulce Vida and vice versa. Elevating the ante on Davao gastronomic dining places, Tiny Kitchen mixes the taste of Spain and texture of the Philippines on their dishes. It truly is a feast with their plate of Paella Negra, Salpicao and Pepino drink every single time. Not to mention, the use of disposable place mat, that doubles as a scribble page, to catch your crumbs without fuss. Dulce Vida is Davao’s dessert and cake haven. With their extensive selection of carefully prepared and baked cakes to pouches of delectably baked pastries to pieces of sugar-free sylvannas, you’d surely have a hard time selecting a
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ing, Balik Bukid pioneered and inspired the many other concept stores in the city. Fresh, invigorating and best for the body, Balik Bukid serves Filipino com-
fort foods prepared and cooked with a twist. Using a number of locally sourced and produced ingredients, you would be happy to know that everything you eat here is truly what your body needs. Their repertoire involves a wide range of flavours and tastes that will transport you in an infinite selection of garden grown herbs and spices used for your meal of choice. Not to mention, Balik Bukid restaurant lets you settle in a conventional bukid setup without having to leave the city.
Belito’s Vineyard
Address: Palm Drive,
With a business perspective as its chief headset, Edge Davao blazed a new trail in community newspaper business and succeeded with the unique format as a weekly paper for the first five years. And just when the digital platform had started to eat up the market, Edge Davao transformed itself into a mainstream daily. If it was initially successful in its business format, it was partly because Edge Davao did not define itself simply as a business paper. It defined itself as “news.” And as it faced the challenge of being in the daily market, Edge Davao came to war defining itself not just “news” but “new.” “New” means revolutionizing the look and content of community newspapers with bold big
photographs splashed in vibrant colors, dynamic and seamless content, fresh news, and fearless opinion. In time, Edge Davao gathered trophies and plaques of recognition and emerged as the country’s best edited community newspaper for two consecutive years. Today, Edge Davao is on its ninth year in the newspaper business and still treats itself as “new”—coming out on the streets every morning with something new for its readers. Its predecessor company--Zion Accuprint--the main reason for Edge Davao getting printed each day, is also on its first decade. Indeed, Alder can’t be wrong. If you were born with the ability to change people’s perspective or emotions, never waste that gift.
VOL. 10 ISSUE 6 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, APRIL 9 - 10, 2017
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Move into Tomorrow... Today. congratulates Edge Davao on its 9th anniversary!
N a r r a P a r k R e s i d e n c e s , t h e m a i d e n p ro j e c t of N u r t u r a L a n d & H o m e , i s a c o m m u n i t y of e x p e r t l y - c o n s t r u c t e d , h i g h - q u a l i t y h o m e s i n s p i re d b y m o d e r n A s i a n d e s i g n l o c at e d i n T i g at t o , B u h a n g i n D i s t r i c t i n D a v a o C i t y.
(082) 224-3686 | www.nurtura.ph | LS No. 030083 3/F GIMS Bldg., Magsaysay Ave., Davao City Project Location: Km 9 Brgy. Tigatto, Buhangin District, Davao City Project Completion Date: October 6, 2019 | HLURB SMR AA 2017/01-003
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Davao City’s top 10s and others By HENRYLITO D. TACIO
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HEN God created the world, it took Him only seven days (although He rested on the seventh day). But He gave Moses the Ten C o m m a n d m e n t s . But when Jesus came into the world, He summed up the Ten Commandments into two: “Love your God and love your neighbors.” But despite that, the top 10 lists continued – even today. And so here are my ten lists about Davao City and anything: 10 cinemas from the past Before there were cinemas in the malls, there were movie houses that were scattered all over the city. They are no longer around but those
living in the 1970s, 1980s and early 1990s can recall them: 1.Golden in San Pedro Street 2.Galaxy in Ilustre Street 3.Garmon in Ilustre Street 4.Crest in San Pedro Street 5.Lyric in San Pedro Street 6 Ideal in Claveria Street 7.Eagle in Claveria Street 8.Lawaan in Claveria Street 9.Queens in Bonifacio Street 10. Tagumpay in Bonifacio Street
Magallanes, Legaspi, Bolton and Anda streets in the mid60s. There were others, too, which were no longer patronized due to the advent of more comfortable and more ideally located cinemas inside malls. These standalone moviehouses included Davao, Center and Life theaters along Recto or Claveria street, Gem’s theater at the corner of Bolton and San Pedro streets fronting St. Peter’s Cathedral and City Hall, Liberty and Universal along San Pedro Street near My Hotel in the old Grand Menseng Ho(Actually, there tel and Restaurant, were more theaters Clifford fronting in Davao City then, Queens at the corner but a number of them of Bonifacio and Pongot burnt during a ciano Reyes Streets, big fire that engulfed Roxy and Star theparts of San Pedro, aters along Magsay-
say avenue, Avenue at the corner of Bangoy street and Sta. Ana avenue, Garnet at the back of the NCCC Mall in Sta. Ana and Rey Cinema fronting the Agdao Public Market. There were also three moviehouses in Toril, two in Calinan, one in Barangay Bunawan and another in Lasang. The first mall cinemas were the ones inside Victoria Plaza which have been converted into places of worship by some Protestant sects and Born-Again Christian groups. –Editor-in-chief) 10 best fruits from Davao City Davao City is considered as the fruit basket of Mindanao. And so here are the top 10 best fruits
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close to authentic dishes that let’s you share them with your family and friends. Hanoi’s bowl of Pho will not only take you to the streets of Vietnam but more so, bring you closer onto understanding the fresh taste of their cuisine. The mere inclusion of Vietnam cuisine in the many available restaurants in Davao is already an evolution in itself. Loving it is another story. Tsuru, like
cake that suits your mood. When all else fails, order a slice of their richly decadent YOLO cake munch on until you leave nothing. Yes, the YOLO cake.
The White House
Address: Camella Northpoint, J.P. Laurel Ave, Buhangin, Davao City Phone: (082) 282 4540 Fine dining has never been this exciting. With the addition of The White House in the many other must visit restaurants in the city, you’d find that theirs is of a particular class unlike any other. I am not merely talking about the vibe of the place but more so, everything about it. From the location to the staff and of course, the food, you’d love to fall in love with Davao’s The White House. Their menu goes beyond borders and simply translates the flavours of Asia onto your plate. Go ahead and experience the sea with their Trio of Oysters or embrace the highlands with a plate of their Hanging Tenderloin Steak on nights when you just want to reward yourself for no reason at all. While at it, never leave them without tasting their creamy yet not nakaka-umay Durian Cheesecake. You’d thank me later.
Ahfat Seafood
that are sold in public markets and elsewhere in the city: 1. Durian 2. Pomelo 3. Banana 4. Mangosteen 5. Mango 6. Marang 7. Rambutan 8. Guyabano 9. Jackfruit 10. Pineapple 10 Attractions in Davao City 1.Philippine Eagle Center 2.Malagos Garden Resort 3.Eden Nature Park 4.Davao Crocodile Park 5.Gap Farm 6.San Pedro Cathedral 7.People’s Park (most visited) 8.D’Bone Collector Museum 9.Museo Dabawenyo 10. Lon Wa Buddhist
Restaurant
Address: Bajada, Davao City Phone: (082) 221 4688 Food timeline scene in Davao will not be complete without dabbling onto some dishes from Ahfat (or Ahfats as locals love to call it). Steamed, fried, saucy or not, this magnificent gastronomic dining place is perfect for how Dabawenyos love to eat – together. Made for big crowds, Ahfat lets you enjoy every calorie you put inside your body. Not to worry, they serve hot tea after the meal. At Ahfat, every meal is made perfect by their inhouse Cantonese chef that ensures everything that comes out of their kitchen is what you are craving for. Choose from their many dishes on their menu and
don’t forget the Mango Sago at the end.
New Davao Famous Restaurant
Address: 401 Ramon Magsaysay Ave, Poblacion District, Davao City Phone: (082) 227 2633 This is Davao’s reply to a restaurant that has stood the test of time in the city. Dating more than 10 years back, Davao Famous has since been serving and catering to the local’s clamour for cheap but affordable meals. The evolution may have been slow for them but certainly not for the Dabawenyos. What happened was the reverse… everyone seems to go back to basics and seek for delectably comforting dishes that soothes the mind, body and of course, soul.
Temple 10 Recommended Hotels in Davao City I have stayed in these hotels and so I highly recommend them: 1.Marco Polo Davao 2.Park Inn by Radisson Hotel 3.Seda Abreeza Hotel 4.Waterfront Insular Hotel 5.Apo View Hotel 6.The Royal Mandaya Hotel 7.The Pinnacle Hotel 8.The Ritz Hotel at Garden Oases 9.Grand Regal Hotel 10. Grand Men Seng Hotel 10 Universities and Colleges in Davao City 1.Ateneo de Davao University
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Bakeshop
198 F. Iñigo Street (formerly Anda Street), Davao City (082) 227-5305/ (082) 227-9865/ (082) 227 2085 An institution backed with years of creating delicious pastries, snacks and cakes, Cecil’s is Davao’s answer to everyone’s impending hunger for delicious food that’s always within the budget. Mami, pancit luglug, empanada, lumpia and a whole lot of beautifully prepared and cooked Filipino faves will keep you satisfied every
Noodles, veggies, rice toppings and siopao – staples of every dining table. Their contribution to the Davao food scene? Their bowl of hot off the grill satemi that you won’t find anywhere else.
Hanoi & Tsuru
J camus st. Davao City 8000 (082) 225 4501/ (Tsuru) (082) 221 0901 With Davao’s emphasis on deliciously affordable dishes, you’d find that Hanoi and Tsuru, though of different flavours and taste, has etched its name inside the hearts of local and visitors alike. Why is this so? Hanoi & Tsuru offers a wide selection of
Hanoi, highlights the crunchy yet clean flavours of Japan. Unlike Hanoi, Tsuru has a more familiar taste to many. Nonetheless, that did not stop it from being recognized as a definite must try Davao restaurant.
Cecil’s Snack Inn &
single time. Though, like the rest, only few inclusions were made, the sanctity of Cecil’s being a snack inn and bakeshop that caters to families and groups is reason enough for it to be loved by all – all throughout the years.
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214 Tandang Sora Ave., Quezon City Tels. (02) 924-2686, 929-3174, 928-2232
greets
Happy Anniversary EdgeDavao @9 and
Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. @10
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A decade of social, economic and political growth (2006-2016)
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HE rise of former Davao City mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte as the country’s 16th president in 2016 has literally and figuratively altered the socio-economic and political landscape of the country, specifically benefitting southern Mindanao. More than just a cause for celebration among Mindanaoans, his ascendancy necessitates an appreciation of the socio-economic impact and the political direction he has bequeathed to the city, in particular, and the Davao region, in general. The amazing growth the city has achieved in the last decade is best seen in the growth of the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. Among the highly urbanized regions outside Metro Manila and Cebu, Davao City has led Mindanao in terms of information technology (IT) development. All around, as a result, new IT structures have risen, resulting in tens of thousands of job openings and adding oodles of money in the economy of the metropolis.
The massive development of the city is also reflected in the thousands of subdivisions that dot its landscape, the construction of skyscrapers to cater to condominium patrons and companies needing office spaces, sale of the sports utility vehicles and highend cars that add traffic to the already jammed streets, and the increase in new investments recorded in the city’s business bureau. Progress may have come with attendant problems, but it has made the city the new assets capital. A better gauge of a city on a fasttrack to development is the mushrooming of billeting facilities. Hotels, apartments, inns and pension houses of all kinds are appropriately addressing the volume of tourists, guests, and visitors entering the city, especially after Duterte scorched the campaign trail with his colorful language and handily won the electoral contest. Though there has been a decline in nocturnal pubs for night owls due to stringent regulations on drink-
By ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA
ing and smoking, the rise of corporate centers indisputably has also defined the city’s growth horizon. Agricultural shift Starting as early as its first seven decades ago (1893-1963), Davao became a world shipping destination mainly because it was the leading global supplier of abaca f ib er, erroneously labeled in most accounts as the Manila hemp. This product did not only drive the local economy; it also triggered opportunities that were linked to the socio-economic growth of the old town and the province, in general. But with the invention of the plastic-based cordage and twine, the abaca industry slowly took a near-fatal plunge, necessitating a
drastic adjustment in agricultural priorities and the shift to banana and new crops. This change provoked positive inroads following the development of idle lands, and the reopening of the region to largescale cultivation of farms. In the next decades, Davao reestablished itself as a global player in the field of plantation economy. Davao City, as an agricultural market, has also trained its initiative on other farming endeavors, such as revitalizing the coconut industry, while strongly promoting ventures that encourage the manufacture of food-based products and cultivation of new, high-yield crops in demand worldwide. The highlights of this new paradigm focus on coffee and cocoa, now the most sought-after millennial articles. To its credit, the Mala-
gos Garden Resort, a privately-owned farming village, has pioneered in cacao advocacy, inspired by the huge global demand for chocolate. Its entry into an immensely competitive world of cocoa and choco was a huge gamble that eventually paid dividends. After earning a name for its Malagos wine, the outfit introduced Malagos chocolate, a pure, all-natural product that have so far earned four international honors. In 2013, Malagos chocolate, to the surprise of naysayers, won the Asean Best Food Products Recognition Awards (Singapore). This was followed two years later by credits from the International Chocolate Awards (2015, Germany) and the Academy of Chocolate Awards (2015, United Kingdom). Last year, it brought home the plum as winner of the 2016 Great Taste Awards, so called as the ‘Olympics of the Food World’ (United Kingdom). Beyond serving tablea, the native chocolate, the resort also holds the distinction of building the country’s first chocolate museum and the first chocolate park anywhere in the archipelago. Statistically, Davao City contributes only eight per-
cent of the country’s total export of cacao, a drop in the bucket, so to speak. To address the global demand for the commodity, the city, in 2011, launched its Cacao Development Program, with an aim to plant 1,000 hectares with cacao, and opened its Cacao Agribusiness Zone Center at Tugbok district. On the other hand, coffee investment in the city’s countryside regions has also shown positive strides. With Davao contributing only 13.1 percent to the national coffee output, the urgency to expand the industry, in part due to the growing demand for native-grown coffee in iconic café establishments, has become an imperative. Leading the initiative to put Davao City on the coffee map is a company known as Mt. Apo Coffee, Inc. Owned by a prominent local family, the business focuses more on propagating the indigenous civet droppings, the most expensive in the world, and the Altura coffee. Coconut, on the other hand, remains stable despite the wanton cutting of old trees in small plantations and the million trees
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Edge Davao at 9:
Zion: At par with the big players and going strong
Steady she goes T
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AIR blows the wind in so far as Edge Davao’s journey is concerned. Davao is brimming at the seams in both investments and business opportunities. The economy is growing by leaps and bounds. More importantly, a Philippine president in the person of Rodrigo R. Duterte has emerged from Davao itself. Suddenly, the spotlight is on the city. His name has been the magnet that continues to draw people and by extension, business to Davao City. An admirable peace and order and a disciplined people continues to complement its attractions as a destination. Edge Davao has seen it all and played its role to the hilt as a leading player in the media industry by dutifully recording and commentating on the events as they happened. Without fail, it has dutifully recorded in both news and vivid images the emergence of President Duterte as the biggest story that ever emerged in the local scene, now a continuing story while RRD remains entrenched in the presidency. It is an exciting time for journalism. To its credit, Edge Davao has ‘marched in
cadence with time,’ and the awards that it reaped in the process, affirmed its overall standing and soundness as a product. How did Edge Davao emerge into the scene? It is a human interest story as printed in its May 17, 2012 issue: “The emergence of Edge Davao as a daily publication was not an overnight affair. It existed for three years as a weekly that achieved modest gains despite the myriad challenges it faced. In early 2008, barely a year after Zion Accuprint Publishing, Inc. started operating, general manager Olivia D. Velasco, who for many years held the same position in a local newspaper before resigning to venture into the publishing business, thought of putting up a newspaper to keep her machines busy. She invited former colleague and veteran newspaperman Antonio M. Ajero to head a team to launch a business paper. Ajero was formerly editor in chief of the newspaper she had worked for. In no time at all Velasco and Ajero formed the core group of what is today Edge Davao by bringing into the fold Ramon M. Maxey as editorial consultant, Grego-
rio G. Deligero as associate editor, Kenneth Irving C. Ong as lifestyle editor, now Canada-based Moses B. Billacura as sports editor and Jocelyn Panes as director of sales. Working together as a team was not really difficult as most of them had worked for the same newspaper for decades. The challenge was how to make a difference in local journalism with new ideas and creativity. After a series of meetings and brain storming, the design and content of the sections of the paper were finalized. The staff realized that the business landscape in Davao and the rest of the region was changing at a fast pace and decided to ride the wave of progress and to make the most of the opportunity that presented itself for advancing the newspaper’s mission and vision. It was in this milieu that Edge Davao was born to give sharper focus on local and regional business reportage. The time had come, too, for a differently packaged delivery of business news, features and views, all designed to achieve the vision to help readers make informed decisions.
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HERE will be no changing the trajectory for Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. At 10 years young, the company has surprised even itself with the realization that it has been able to establish parity with the big players in the printing industry in a relatively short time. It was a goal it has set its sights early on certainly, like a hunter glued to its prey. But that it could be realized in quite a brief stretch may be described as amazing. General Manager Olivia D. Velasco cites several factors that clinched it for the company. On top of the list is the dedication of people working with Zion. “They are our No. 1 asset because of their passion and love for the work,” she said. The company also took care its suppliers were paid promptly. “I do not recall a single bouncing check returned to the office,” she said. A satisfied clientele helped spread the word and soon the company began to establish a solid reputation for reliability and quality of work. “It exceeded our expectations,” she added. For this year’s anniversary celebration, Ms. Velasco said the theme “Fierce and fearless” encapsulates the company’s zeal and passion to excel. “If we were not aggressive we would not have reached this far,” she said. “That said, we also recognize there is still room for improvement.” Here is how Zion came
about, courtesy of Lorie A. Cascaro: “Before Zion Accuprint Publishing, Inc. joined the publishishing industry and proved to be a competitive player, there was Olivia Velasco, a lady who already had years of experience in the business as general manager of another publishing company. Velasco was not content being employed in a business which she had come to believe she could run better if she was the boss. She decided to reinvent herself within her forte. That was when she opted for early retirement to follow her longtime dream, which was to establish her own company, Zion Accuprint Publishing, Inc. As it turned out, Velasco was not venturing into the unknown. Her vast experience in the business proved valuable. Her 23 years in publishing helped her overcome the hurdles that usually stand in the way of starting up a business as she ventured into her expertise.
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greets
Happy Anniversary EdgeDavao @9 and
Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. @10
“Capitalization was a challenge, but thanks to friends and the network I developed through the years, I was able to assemble a team and the basic equipment needed to start a publishing venture,” she said. It had been decided that the best way to begin, was to start small and grow from there. “The little money that we pooled together was augmented by friends and network connection. Being a member of PIADI is also a big help,” she said, referring to the multi-purpose printing industry cooperative. With her huge experience in the “ins and outs” of the business, Zion invested in the right machines, giving Zion the advantage of a more advanced technology than that of her former company. On April 21, 2007, Zion was launched with a team of five persons headed by Velasco. Only a year after, the Edge Davao weekly business paper was born, with Antonio M. Ajero as editor in chief, winning journalistic awards along the way and, after four years, has transformed itself into a daily. Publication is Zion’s core competence, Velasco bared, adding that the management is prudent while maximizing with a lean, but mean, organization. “We give incentives to our employees. Asset gyud ang workforce,” she said. Aside from the two color machines, Zion acquired a multi-million computer-to-plate (CTP) machine to cater its own needs. After five years, the publishing house has increased its capacity by three-fold. It has established clientele in printing and publication. Its clients and business partners include multinational and local companies such as Camella, SM City Davao, Kisan Lu, Abreeza Mall, Santos Land, DMCI and other big companies and non-government organizations. Cheree Pajarillaga, an awardee of the company for her five years service, has witnessed the fast growth of Zion from its infancy. “Sa five years, gikan sa gamay nga collection hangtud sa first million peso nga naresibuhan nako,” she said, admitting her blooper on the first million-peso
receipt she issued as she was only used to hundreds of pesos. Responsible for accounting, delivery and collection, Pajarillaga, fondly called “Buga” by officemates, was one of the pioneers of Zion, together with Zaldy Nemenzo, Rogelia Mamaed, Imelda Lee and Velasco. “I learned that it is not easy to achieve your goals. Paghirapan gyud nimo kay sama sa Zion, nagsugod gyud mi nga dili sayun as not all things come on a silver platter,” she said. She has been mo- Agustin Miagan Jr. tivated to excel in five-year service her field of expertise, Coming from especially that the “boss” (Velasco) manages her people with a ing companies f zo has remaine personal touch. “Tanang klaseng bonus naa. since. The compan Gikan sa bugas padulong sa tambal. From 13th to 14th month pay plementing qual and he can attes naa,” she said. “Sa amo pa Buga has woven her dreams along with Zion’s, seeing herself makapasa imon advance in life as the company na lang sa custom na sa akoa kung progresses. However, he Having seen how the company has developed, she said, five was disciplined years from now Zion will have its precision and own building, and will become cially when Zio one of the top players in the in- Edge Davao dai But, it was n dustry. “Ang mga tao diri well-trained lem to him at al kay dili lang siya sa job descrip- commercial pr tion. Multi-tasking diri. Gwapo newspaper. “Walay prob nga training ground. Kung wala ang isa, makapadayon gihapon lang koy waitin kay kabalo ang tanan sa tanang kaayo ang isa k pay plate,” he sa trabahuon,” she said. Zion has been the training was the only op ground for machine operator before Edge Dav Comparing Zaldy Nemenzo as well, also a
Eladio Aviola
Juan Ramirez
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Marketing Department
Zaldy Nemenzo
Manila Marketing Rep
e awardee. m different printfor years, Nemened with Zion ever
ny is strict in imality and prudence, st to that. lang daan dili na ng trabaho, unsaon mer? Charge gyud g mamali,” he said. e admits that he and trained with efficiency, espeon started printing ily. not really a probll working on both rinting and daily
blema basta wala ng time. Dako na ka oras nga wala aid, adding that he perator for a year vao hit the streets. himself to fellow
Everly Codino operators in other companies, he said working in Zion is quite an advantage as he has to deal with delicate tasks every day. “Delikado permanente. Basta mga delikado nga trabahuon, dili na na bag-o sa amoa. Lahi man sa uban, magtira silag resibo unom ka bulan, resibo ra. Kung naay colored mokalit og abot, siyempre mawala ka sa rhythm nga pang commercial nga tirada. Ang instruction gani sa amoa bisan dyaryo dapat commercial gani ang quality. Dili kay dyaryo nga lamo-lamo lang basta madisplay,” he said.” Zaldyboy Nemenzo, awardee for having served the company for five years said he particularly like five things about the company: • “Naanad na mi sa sistema (We have been accustomed to the system. • “Maka diretso og istorya sa tagdumula o tag-iya (We can talk directly with managements or the owners) • Zion uses modern equipment and
Cheree Pajarillla technology • Close na nako ang mga kauban sa trabaho. (I enjoy the close camaraderie and cooperation with my fellow workers) • “Sure Ball ang suweldo (Salary is always on time) Cheree “Boga” P. Pajarillla, awardee for having served a total of 10 years with Zion Accuprint Publishing, Inc. Interviewed, she bared that the best things that happened to her during the years with Zion, include: • I have developed confidence in myself, after meeting so many new friends and acquaintances at the rate of 10 to 20 people a year. • I feel that my co-workers and officemates are my extended family; no hassle at all. • It was during my employment with Zion that I acquired a house and lot; partner na lang ang kulang. • The company gives me an oppor-
tunity to travel; and • It was during my employment here that I gained 200 pounds because I am happy and satisfied. Everly “En-en”F. Codino, awardee for having served 5 years, is happy because: • Pay has never been delayed. • Hard work is rewarded by the company in so many ways, • “We get the full benefits under the law and even beyond” • “You can say, this is the reason I stayed long in the company.” • It was during my employment with the company that I got married and started building a family with my loving husband and my cute son. Agustin “Dodoy” Miagan Jr., awardee for 5 years of service to Edge Davao: • Management is considerate and kind
• Salary is always on time. • Co-workers are kind and cooperative. • I love my work as circulation-in-charge • All the workers benefits are given by the company. Thank you, suppliers! The owners, management and staff of Zion Accuprint Publishing, Inc. and Edge Davao also extend their eternal gratitude to the following suppliers and business associates: Juan “Jonjon” Ramirez of Cortess Printing Corp.; Eladio “Lads” Aviola, chairman of the PIADI (Printing Industry Association of Davao, Inc.); Andi Lee, general manager of CP Commercial; and Ms Luningning E. Regala, president of Ideal Marketing and Manufacturing Corp. They have stuck with us through thick and thin all these years of our dramatic existence. --JKL with a story by Lorie A. Cascaro)
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Extra:10 things Dabawenyos should remember when travelling abroad Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO
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INCE time immemorial, man has traveled. The Bible, for instance, is replete of people who traveled from one place to another. In the book of Exodus, Moses led his people out of Egypt. In the New Testament, Paul chronicled his visit to various places through his epistles. Matthew wrote the story of the “wise men” who traveled from east to Jerusalem looking for the Holy Child so that they could worship Him. Today, traveling has become a major part of life for a modern Dabawenyo. This is especially true in Asia, where you could go and see mesmerizing locations, eat exotic foods, and immerse in a totally different culture. “Travel broadens the mind, flattens the finances, and lengthens the conversation,” Lois Haase once said. While most travelers find their journey memorable and exciting, there are those who come home frustrated and exhausted. A few unfortunate ones even end up facing life imprisonment or the death penalty. There are several reasons for travel fiascos but most of them can be avoided. Here are 10 basic rules to keep in mind when traveling abroad: 1. Secure a passport from any offices of Department of Foreign Affairs. A passport is a document, issued by a national government, which certifies the identity and nationality of its holder for the purpose of international travel. A passport entitles the passport holder to return to the country that issued the passport. The elements of identity contained in all standardized passports include information about the holder, including name, date of birth, gender and place of birth. 2. Get a travel visa
for countries that require it. A visa (from the Latin charta visa, literally “paper that has been seen”) generally gives non-citizens clearance to enter a country and to remain there within specified constraints, such as a time frame for entry, a limit on the time spent in the country, and a prohibition against employment. 3. Get ready. Get to know the country you’re visiting. Buy a travel book and a map of the city you’re going to. Get phone numbers of your friends or relatives who may be living in the area (just in case you get lost). Be sure to have all the necessary documents: a valid passport (check six months’ validity), visa (if the country you’re entering requires it), plane tickets, letters from your sponsors (if you’re invited), identification card, and other pertinent papers. If possible, make a check list and check all items you put into your luggage. That way, you won’t miss anything. In addition, read up and make sure you know what you need to know. Before leaving, get some firsthand information from your government through its travel advisory. Ask friends or relatives for tips. Read news stories about the country you’re visiting. But don’t believe everything you read or hear. 4. Have yourself (and your companions) get vaccinated – if needed. There is no point spending hours choosing your swimwear, beach bag and flip-flops if you barely think about the bugs and other health risks that could ruin your holiday. Infectious diseases can make you very sick, spoil your holiday and even kill or disable you. Vaccinations protect you
against many travel-related infections, such as yellow fever, typhoid and hepatitis A. 5. Observe regulations when checking in. Be at the airport at least two hours before departure. Carry-on luggage must fit under the seat or in an overhead compartment. Dangerous articles such as compressed gases, explosives, flammable liquids and solids, and poisons and infectious substances, are not allowed in carry-on luggage. Do not carry drugs. 6. Expect the unexpected. Losing a luggage is one of the most-often complaints of air passengers. If you lose your luggage while fly-
“Travel does what good novelists also do to the life of everyday, placing it like a picture in a frame or a gem in its setting, so that the intrinsic qualities are made more clear. Travel does this with the very stuff that everyday life is made of, giving to it the sharp contour and meaning of art.” – Freya Stark ing, seek help from airline personnel and present your luggage tags, advises the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA). If the airline locates your luggage, ask to have it sent to your hotel. If you lose your baggage outside the airport, inform local authorities. What if you lose your travel documents? The PTAA suggests that you present photocopies of your documents – if you have them. Be prepared for delays. If you lose your plane ticket (these days, e-ticket is more preferable), inform your travel agent or airline so they can send you a substitute ticket. If you lose your passport and/or visa, you can no longer continue your trip. Visit the nearest embassy to arrange for temporary travel documents. As a result of losing your visa or passport, you need
to cancel or reschedule your trip. To do this, call your travel agent or airline. There is usually a last-minute penalty for cancellation. In some instances, penalty can be waived for valid reasons like sickness or death in the family – but be sure to present pertinent documents. 7. Pick your seat. A 2007 study by “Popular Mechanics” found passengers sitting at the back of a plane are 40% more likely to survive a crash than those sitting in the front. Although the article quotes Boeing, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and a website on aircraft safety, all claim there is no “safest” seat. The article studied 20 crashes, not taking into account the developments in safety after those accidents. However, a flight data recorder is usually mounted in the aircraft’s empennage (tail section), where it is more likely to survive a severe crash. 8. Secure travel insurance. This is intended to cover medical expenses, financial default of travel suppliers, and other losses
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The first issue of Edge Davao came off the press and hit the streets on March 10, 2008. Decidedly, Edge Davao’s entry quickly stirred a positive reaction among all the community media players. First, the perking up of the once ho-hum business pages of local newspapers. And then, the phenomenal migration of economic news into the front pages. All these, the staff realized, only serve to whet the regional reader’s appetite for more. This is the raison d’etre of Edge Davao’s eventually becoming a daily. Thus, on March 5, 2012, three years after the first weekly edition saw print, came the first daily issue. From a core group of six, there are now over 25 personnel behind Edge Davao who are assigned to editorial, marketing, accounting, circulation, admin and production departments. On top of the many considerations for the daily publication is the fast changing Dabawenyo lifestyles. As Davao’s economic drivers rev up and the peso’s buying power strengthens, the people’s taste for the good life is stimulated. INdulge, Edge Davao’s lifestyle section reflects the latest in Davao’s fashion, arts & culture, food, wellness, entertainment, and the social scene. Keeping Dabawenyos up-to-date with the newest lifestyle
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2.University of Mindanao 3.University of Southeastern Philippines 4.University of Immaculate Concepcion 5.San Pedro College 6.Holy Cross of Davao College 7.Philippine Women’s College 8.St John Pope Paul II College of Davao 9.Brokenshire College 10. Davao Doctors College 10 Recommended Restaurants in Davao City If food is your thing, among those that I can recommend when you visit Davao City are the following: 1.White House 2.Bon Appetit! La Botique 3.Claude’s Le Café de
trends. Another cutting edge of the paper is the superior printing technology employed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. Employing the latest in Computer-to-Print technology, Edge Davao’s pages are crisp, vivid, and clean. Every letter of the story and every color in every advertisement is crystal clear and easy to read. That Edge Davao has raised the bar of excellence in reportage is evidenced by the accolades it has so far notched. In two years, the paper received three awards in the annual Philippine Press Institute-Coca-Cola Export Philippines Community Press Awards –Best in Business and Economic Reporting and Best in Science and Environment Reporting in 2011 and Best in Science and Environment Reporting 2012. By keeping Dabawenyos informed, it will soon conquer the Digital Divide. Edge Davao is Davao’s first e-paper with all pages –news and editorial, advertisement and advertorial – intact. It is a virtual version of Edge Davao’s hardcopy available for viewing anywhere in the world. And, going digital is not an impossible dream. Watch Edge Davao migrate to the next level of news delivery. In real time. With moving images. And interactive, too. Edge Davao—serving a seamless society.” Steady she goes. (JKL)
Ville 4.Café de Flore 5.Caffe’ Antoccino 6.Vikings Luxury Buffet 7.Jack’s Ridge 8.Yellow Fin Seafood 9.Marina Tuna 10. Swiss Deli 10 Hollywood Actors favorites of Dabawenyo moviegoers who received 5 Oscar nominations Before Denzel Washington received his fifth Oscar nomination for Fences, there were 10 others who accomplished the feat ahead him: 1.Gary Cooper 2.Daniel Day-Lewis 3.Robert De Niro 4.Tom Hanks 5.Fredric March 6.Paul Muni 7.Al Pacino 8.Gregory Peck 9.Sean Penn 10. James Stewart
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incurred while traveling, either within one’s own country, or internationally. The most common risks that are covered by travel insurance are: medical emergency (accident or sickness), emergency evacuation, repatriation of remains, return of a minor, trip cancellation, trip interruption, accidental death, overseas funeral expenses, lost, stolen or damaged baggage, personal effects or travel documents, delayed baggage (and emergency replacement of essential items), missed flight
connection due to airline schedule, and travel delays due to weather. 9. Don’t be afraid of flying. “There’s still this mystique about flying,” said Ron Nielsen, a retired US Airways pilot who’s found a second career counseling people who are afraid to fly, was quoted as saying by “The Seattle Times.” “There’s a fear of being closed in, and there’s a fear of dying.” A 10-year average of US National Safety Council statistics from 1996 to 2005 showed only two people died in commercial airline crashes per 10 billion miles traveled. That compares to a death rate of five people per 10 billion miles on
passenger trains. And in cars, 81 people died for every 10 billion miles traveled. 10. Enroll in a frequent-flyer program. It is a loyalty program offered by many air-
lines. Typically, airline customers enrolled in the program accumulate frequent-flyer miles (kilometers, points, segments) corresponding to the distance flown on that airline or its partners. There are other ways to accumulate miles. In recent years, more miles were awarded for using co-branded credit and debit cards than for air travel. Acquired miles can be redeemed for air travel; for other goods
or services; or for increased benefits, such as travel class upgrades, airport lounge access, or priority bookings. “Airlines generally award one air mile for every mile flown on a full-price flight, and some airlines even give a reduced allocation on discounted flights,” informs the Asian edition of “Reader’s Digest.” To end this piece, the statement of Paul Fussell seems to apt: “All the pathos and irony of leaving one’s youth behind is thus implicit in every joyous moment of travel: one knows that the first joy can never be recovered, and the wise traveler learns not to repeat successes but tries new places all the time.”
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A decade S6 uprooted by Typhoon Pablo. Overall, Davao region has around 30 million productive coconut trees that greatly contribute to the national output. In terms of banana production, Davao region leads with 37 percent share in the national export. Dizzying investments In the past decade (2006-2016), the volume of investments that has been introduced in the roster of economic players has trebled. An important factor in the rise of capital is the city’s improved peace and order, and the better than expected reviews Davao gained from respectable institutions abroad. 2006, in some ways, projected itself as the ‘year of soaring’ for the city. That year, the Jakarta-based Sriwijaya Air made its maiden flight to Davao region, signaling that the once rustic metropolis was pushing for a more liberal global agenda of growth. With a burgeoning population needing space for health imperatives, the city opened the People’s Park the following year. It was also in 2007 when SV More Group of Companies opened its Pharma Nutria N.A. Corporate Center at Bajada district. From here, the years that followed would be magical. In 2008, in recognition of the role the Chinatown has played in the city’s growth, the business district’s first symbolic archway was inaugurated. That same year the first hospital for mariners, the Gig Oca Seamen’s Hospital at Agdao district, was opened. To address the dizzying rise in port transactions, the national government inaugurated in 2009 the Davao Port Expansion Project, and later the P870-million passenger terminal building project in 2009. Ayala’s entry in Davao’s investment landscape was formalized in 2011 with the opening of the 10-hectare Abreeza Mall, a joint venture with homegrown Anflocor Group of Companies. Later, its trademark hotel, the Seda, and condominium project, Avida,
one of Southeast Asia’s best state schools. Davao City is not only the domicile to the most number of malls anywhere in Mindanao, but it also prides itself of ‘owning’ the largest conference facility, the SMX Convention Center. Soon, the ‘miracle city of the South’ will become home of two of the country’s largest coliseums, namely the UP-Mindanao Sports Complex, a state-funded were also launched. 2012 saw the rise of SM Premier at Lanang District, the second mall of the Henry Sy conglomerate in Davao City The following year the 204-room Park Inn by Radisson , the city’s second five-star hotel opened its doors to the public. It was also the year when leading Malaysian lending institution, the Maybank, opened a branch in Davao region. As a testament to the growing business transactions in Davao, the city inaugurated its City Hall Annex in 2014. 2015 saw the rise of Tebow Cure Hospital, one of the country’s most modern pediatric orthopedic surgical care, and the inauguration of the Colorsteel Systems Corporation plant, which wa in response to the expanding order for better housing materials in the subdivision industry. In a way, 2016 hosted numerous investment initiatives. At nearby Panabo City, the Davao International Container Terminal (DICT) was formally opened, the P35-billion AboitizPower’s Davao baseload power plant was inaugurated, the Gokongwei-owned Go Hotel was launched, and the 300MW coal-fired power plant of Therma South, Inc. at Binugao, Toril, was instated. That same year, the city opened its P268-million, 11-hectare sanitary landfill at Tugbok District. Topping the 10-year investment cycle was the installation of Duterte as Mindanao’s first president, an event that more profoundly pushed Davao City to the forefront of national and global socio-economic
and political developments. Passion for ‘bigness’ Recognized as the country’s city in terms of area, Davao City’s resolve to be at the top of the socio-political equation takes a deeper significance in that it hosts many landmarks that by Mindanao standards are definitely the biggest and largest. The marathon to establish local records took a giant step on December 17, 1998 with the opening of the 18-storey Marco Polo Hotel which, in 2015, became the first five-star billeting facility in the great South. Its height did not only introduce the definition of a skyscraper to the city, it also set a record for the tallest edifice in Mindanao, which is double the tallest structure found anywhere in the city and adjacent regions.
Davao’s sobriquet as ‘home of big things’, mainly modern amenities that set the city apart from other urban centers of Mindanao, extends to other facilities now regarded as icons. In the field of health, Davao City hosts the largest medical hospital outside Metro Manila, the 1,000bed plus-capacity Southern Philippines Medical Center, home to the only burnt hospital and heart center outside the National Capital Region. Moreover, the city is home to four of the trend-setting academic institutions in the South: Ateneo de Davao University, the largest sectarian school; University of Mindanao, the largest private university; University of the Philippines Mindanao, the state university with the largest campus; and University of Southeastern Philippines,
athletic facility, and the record-setting P7-billion KJC (Kingdom of Jesus Christ) King Dome owned by Sonshine Sports Management, an affiliate of the religious group ACQ Ministries. In the field of penology, the city government, in stride with the need to address congestion in detention facilities, is planning to build a modern jail that can accommodate 5,000 inmates in Calinan. Davao region is also known for its ‘largest’ achievements, three of them are the Tagum Development Corporation (TADECO), as the largest family-owned banana plantation; the Monfort Bat Cave, home of the world’s largest colony of rosette fruit bats; and the world’s largest and heaviest rosary beads at the Tagum Cathedral in Tagum City.
Tourism arrivals Records at the Department of Tourism (DOT) show that tourist arrivals in Davao region in 2016 hit 2,110,210, an increase of 11.4 percent from the previous year. In part, this growth was connected to the sudden national curiosity brought about by the electoral triumph of Duterte as former mayor of Davao City. Officially, there were over 1.2 inbound passengers (8,668 flights) recorded in the first nine months of 2016 alone, which is actually a deficit of more than 300,000 passengers compared to the target of over 1.5 inbound passengers (13,321 flights). Also, some 1.3 outbound passengers were recorded against the target of 1.6 passengers. Side by side with tourism, the city has grown to become a MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) destination. The exodus of people attending regional and national gatherings in Davao City, mostly social, economic, tourism, and political initiatives, has encouraged the robust growth of the hotel industry. To accommodate the influx of MICE participants, hotels, as a result, have expanded their function rooms. Since the first international convention in the city was held in 1994 at the Bangko Sentral, the number of global and Asian initiatives hosted by Davao has tremendously grown by leaps and bounds. With President Duterte holding the chairmanship of the Association of East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the graph of international conference has shot up impressively in 2016 and 2017. Cementing the claim that the city is the new normal in the growth of Philippine cities are the cache of awards, mainly national, regional, and international, which has added glamour, glitz, and gist to Davao’s fame. Its rise to the top may not sound frivolous to some, but her achievements underscore her fabulous transformation from a rebel hotbed to a global player.
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