Edge Davao 4 Issue 50 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

highlights

VOL. 4 NO. 50 FEBRUARY 13-19, 2012

THIS ISSUE: P15 20 PAGES

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competitive edge p10

The Business PAPER Open for viewing ict hub p 12

Moving to Asia

community sense p13

Reforestation

figures of the week STOCK MARKET PERFORMANCE

Philippine Stock Index As of February 10, 2012

US DOLLAR = philippine peso As of February 10, 2012

A & A Securities, Inc.

JIFFYCAR Bldg., Ecowest Drive (Beside SM City Davao), Davao City

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On the cover

VOL. 4 NO. 50 FebRuary 13 - 19, 2012

THE BUSINESS PAPER EDGEDAVAO

P1.2 bil ion for Davao Norte palm oil project n Huge loan goes to FEDCO coops n 80T hectares suitable to crop—Gov. Dolfo

by Aurelio A. Peña

HE Land Bank of the Philippines (LDP) has approved a P1.2billion agriculture loan to farmers’ cooperatives under the umbrella of the Federation of Banana Cooperatives of Davao (FEDCO) to start and develop this high-value crop project in the Davao Region. Rene Dalayon, FEDCO president and chief executive officer, said banana farmers hedging against the growing risks facing the banana industry, are now set to develop a 5,000-hectare palm oil plantation in Sto. Tomas,

this province. “We were given the go-signal by Land Bank to start the ball rolling for this palm oil project immediately,” said Dalayon who gathered FEDCO board officers and top coop officials for a meeting the other day with Land Bank officials in Asuncion, Sto. Tomas. The P1.2-billion Land Bank loan for the Davao farmers participating in the palm oil project is broken down into P630 million for land development and seedlings and P580 million for a processing plant, he said.

“We’re now ready to do this project. We’ll start initially by producing crude palm oil to supply oil refinery plants in Manila. Later, when we have more areas and processing plants, we’ll put up our own refinery,” Dalayon said. Meanwhile, Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario has mobilized various government agencies and banks in the province to set in motion the development plans for a huge palm oil industry in the region to protect Davao banana farmers from continuing

he sale by the Social Security System (SSS) of its entire Meralco shares to Global 5000 in January 2009 did not place the pension fund in any position of financial disadvantage. This was clarified by SSS Executive Vice President for Investment Sector Edgar B. Solilapsi in response to the publicized report of the Commission on Audit (COA) that the SSS “assumed more risks by selling the Meralco shares.” “The sale was highly advantageous to SSS and in accordance with sound business practices and investment principles. It enabled SSS to convert a risky asset into cash while being adequately protected from any perceived risk,” Solilapsi said. The transaction cited by COA involves the sale of SSS’ stake in Meralco, equivalent to 62,990,638 shares, to Global 5000, as primary buyer, and Development Bank of the Philippines, as secondary buyer. The shares were sold at P90 per share or a total of P5.66 billion. Global 5000 paid P1.133 billion to SSS as downpayment, with the balance paid out in three (3) tranches, with the last payment due on January 31, 2012. COA had questioned the rationale of SSS in selling its shares for over P5 billion to a buyer with net assets of only P60 million. “This is exactly the rea-

son why the SSS required the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) as the secondary buyer, which was duly approved by the DBP Board as evidenced by their Secretary’s certificate,” Solilapsi explained. “The transaction is a contract of sale and not a loan. We did not lend any money to Global 5000, neither did we release any shares to the buyer, even if it had already paid the P1.13 billion downpayment in February 2009 and had partially paid P4.57 billion by December 2011. The SSS will not release its shares to the buyer unless they have fully paid.” Solilapsi further explained that the SSS sold the shares at P90 apiece when the market price then was at P59.50 per share, for a hefty P1.92 billion premium or 51.26 percent over its market value. On top of the P5.66 billion payment, the SSS would collect additional fixed interest payments of P729.3 million on scheduled installments. It received another P104.1 million interest in extended period payment. According to Solilapsi, the combined premium and interest income that SSS received, totaling P2.75 billion, “were significantly high enough to forego any possible dividend income, which was not even certain at the time of sale.” “The SSS was also protected by the forfeiture clause

in the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA), wherein all payments made by and including dividends credited to the buyer will be forfeited in favor of SSS if both Global 5000 and DBP fail to complete the P6.50 billion consideration,” Solilapsi said. “If this happens, the SSS will book those payments as income and we will continue to hold full ownership of subject Meralco shares. Again, this protected the SSS against any perceived risk,” he added. The said SPA, Solilapsi cited, provides for an extended payment date for any installment, subject to an interest of nine percent per annum on any extended installment amount. Global 5000 opted to extend the first installment, thus, SSS collected another P104.1 million interest when the first installment was paid. “They did not default. Likewise, there is no legal basis to collect another P76.3 million, as raised by COA,” he noted. “Last January 31, Global 5000, which is now SMC Global Power Holdings, fully paid the P6.50 billion consideration. Everything in this transaction was completed in accordance with the Social Security Law. We would never take uncalculated risks with the hard-earned contributions of our members,” Solilapsi ended.

threats and dangers facing the banana industry. Spearheading the development of a huge palm oil industry in Davao del Norte that will benefit farmers who are agrarian reform beneficiaries, del Rosario agreed with Dalayon that the entire province can develop 60,000 to 80,000 hectares for palm oil plantations generating annual revenues of P26 billion for the farmers. It takes at least 26 months from planting to harvesting oil palms before a farmer can start harvesting the nuts every two

weeks for processing the crude oil for shipments, according to Dalayon. He said this big palm oil project is the second hedging move FEDCO is taking, after they set up a successful cacao nursery for farmers’ cooperatives in the province. “We’re not replacing our main venture of producing high quality bananas for the export market. We’re diversifying to these two high value crops to protect our fellow banana farmers from the growing threats facing this industry,” Dalayon said. [PNA)

SSS vice prexy defends sale PBGEA wants SC of Meralco shares to Global to rule on aerial spray ban legality T

THE PHOENIX STORY. Youthful industrialist Dennis A. Uy, president and CEO of Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc. and newly appointed honorary consul to Kazakhstan, discusses the state of the oil industry and the story of his company before some 40 officers and members of

ike many other parties who have cases pending before the Supreme Court, the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) is also waiting for the high court to decide on the the question of the legality of a Davao City ordinance banning aerial spraying as an agricultural method. In an interview, PBGEA executive director Stephen A. Antig said that like those who are lobbying for the ban of aerial spraying, they also want the high court to issue a decision on the legality in a resolution at the soonest possible time. While President Benigno Aquino III has tasked the Philippine Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD) to consolidate the differing views of the banana industry and the various stakeholders, anti aerial spray ban groups have hit the Council for not inviting their representatives. “That is not true. In fact, Drs. Lyn Panganiban and Allan Dionisio of the University of the Philippines – National Poison Management and Control Center, and Rene Pineda, a member of the Civil Soceity Counterpart Council for Sustainable Development , who are all anti-

the Ambassador Club Davao, headed by Edge Davao editor Antonio Ajero, chapter president. (right). To Ajero’s left is Dr. Roy B. Ferrer, Ambassador Club Philippines national president. (Next week: The full Phoenix story.)

It figures 19 percent

INCREASE in listed Phoenix Petroleum Philippines’ consolidated net income in 2011 compared to a year ago. Last year’s income was P510 million, while it was P427 million in 2010.

4.5 million

NUMBER of Filipino families who went hungry in the last quarter of 2011, showing an increase of 400,000 families from the previous quarter, according to the latest survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS). Conducted during the period Dec. 3 to 7 last year, the survey showed that 22.5 percent of households went hungry, 1 percent higher that the 21.5 percent in the third quarter.

P33 billion

AMOUNT government us prepared to spend over the next five years to provide electricity to more households in remote areas of the country. The Department of Energy headed Secretary Jose Rene D. Almendras is seeking the support of the private sector, as it wanted the companies to do their share by ensuring quality materials and reasonable prices.

NEW banks and cooperatives admitted in 2011 as members of the BancNet, a consortium of banks and financial institutions. BancNet President Robert Blas said that the most prominent brand to join the consortium relatedto state-owned Development Bank of the Philippines whose membership brought the total members to 89 in all.

1.25 billion

Steve Antig aerial spraying advocates, are always present in the meetings conducted by the PCSD,” Antig said. “Maybe Dagohoy Magaway and Lia Esquillo have not been invited, but other stakeholders who are their friends have been invited.” Magaway is president of the Mamayan Ayaw sa Aerial Spray, while Esquillo is the executive director of Idis. Antig also belied allegations by Magaway that communities have complained of aerial spray planes spraying “a deadly mix of poison and chemicals.” The PBGEA executive director also reiterated that most of the allegations made by Magaway during a press conference Tuesday are rehashed and have never been scientifically proven. “We have not received any complaint from the communities and we should know because we are in the area. And also, what is being sprayed is a mixture of fungicide and water that has passed the stringent standards of the international community,” Antig explained. “If I may quote a Jesuit priest who said, “We do not need environmentalists who cry for the future generations but are blind to the poor, diseased, and hungry of the present. What we need are environmentalists who can differentiate raw risks from actual risks and who recognize the fact that there is such science as risk-mitigation and good chemistry,”” Antig added.

NUMBER of Asians 60 or older by 2050.This is 24 percent of the population that year. This partly explains why more money is being plowed into preserving wealth than enhancing growth, driving up demand for the region’s bonds that are beating returns on stocks.

4,000 jobs

NOKIA Corp. plans to stop assembling cell phones in Europe by year-end as it shifts production to Asia and will cut another 4.000 jobs. Nokia said it will make the new job cuts at three plants in Finland, Mexico and Hungary this year. The Finnish company plans to reorganize its global manufacturing operations to better compete with Apple’s iPhone and handsets using Google’s Android operating software.

$214 million

TOTAL amount in benefits and services received by more than 18,500 Filipino World War II veterans or their family members last year. The sum, equivalent to P9.22 billion, included pension payments ($186.5 million); onetime equity compensation payments ($15.07 million); medical services ($10.7 million); and education-related funds ($2.12 million).

P700-million

COST of the bulk water system project awarded by the Cebu provincial government to Ayala-led Manila Water Company Inc. The Ayala-led consortium will develop, operate and maintain the water system. The project aims to supply 35 million liters of potable bulk water per day. The water will come from the Luyang River in the municipality of Carmen.

EDGEDAVAO THE BUSINESS PAPER

FebRuary 13 - 19, 2012 VOL. 4 NO. 50

THE BUSINESS PAPER EDGEDAVAO

The economy

VOL. 4 NO. 50 FebRuary 13 - 19, 2012

as of august 2010

Cebu Pacific Daily Zest Air Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Philippine Airlines Daily Philippine Airlines Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sun Philippine Airlines Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Silk Air Mon/Wed/Sat Cebu Pacific Thu Cebu Pacific Tue/Wed//Sat

5J961 / 5J962 Z2390 / Z2390 5J593 / 5J348 PR809 / PR810 PR819 / PR820 5J394 / 5J393 5J599 / 5J594 5J347 / 5J596 5J963 / 5J964 PR811 / PR812 5J595 / 5J966 MI588 / MI588 5J965 / 5J968 5J965 / 5J968

STAT WATCH INDICATIOR

LATEST

1. Gross National Income Growth Rate (At Constant 2000 Prices) 2. Gross Domestic Product Growth Rate (At Constant 2000 Prices)

3.5% 4th Qtr 2011 3.7% 4th Qtr 2011 USD 3,342 Million Nov 2011 USD 4,985 Million Nov 2011 USD -1,643 Million Nov 2011 USD -114 Million Dec 2011 P4,442,355 Million Nov 2011

3. Exports 1/ 4. Imports 1/ 5. Trade Balance 6. Balance of Payments 2/ 7. Broad Money Liabilities 8. Interest Rates 4/ 9. National Government Revenues 10. National government outstanding debt

4.71% Oct 2011 P128,745 Million Nov 2011 P 4,898 Billion Oct 2011

11. Peso per US $ 5/

P 43.65 Dec 2011

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

3,999.7 Sept 2011

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

128.1 Jan 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.9 Jan 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.4 Dec 2011

16. Visitor Arrivals

284,040 Sept 2011

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

19.1% Oct 2011

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

6.4% Oct 2011

MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE (January 2009 - January 2011)

Month Average December November October September August July June May April March

2011 43.31 43.64 43.27 43.45 43.02 42.42 42.81 43.37 43.13 43.24 43.52

2010 45.11 43.95 43.49 43.44 44.31 45.18 46.32 46.30 45.60 44.63 45.74

February

43.70

46.31

January

44.17

46.03

2009 47.637 46.421

47.032 46.851 48.139

48.161 48.146 47.905 47.524 48.217

48.458 47.585 47.207

5:45 5:45 6:00 6:10 7:50 7:50 8:00 9:10 9:40 11:30 12:00 18:55 12:55 13:35

Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Cebu-Davao-Iloilo Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Zamboanga-Davao-Zamboanga Cebu-Davao-Cebu Iloilo-Davao-Cebu Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Cebu-Davao-Manila Davao-Cebu-Singapore Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila

6:15 6:25 6:30 7:00 8:50 8:10 8:30 9:40 10:10 12:20 12:30 13:35 13:25 14:05

Silk Air Thu/Sun Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri Philippine Airlines August Zest Air Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Philippines Airlines Daily Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Thu/Sat Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Tue/Sat/Sun Cebu Pacific Daily Airphil Express Daily Philippine Airlines Daily except Sunday Philippine Airlines Sunday

MI566 / MI566 5J507 / 5J598 15:55 Z2524 / Z2525 5J967 / 5J600 PR813 / PR814 5J215 / 5J216 5971 / 5J970 5J973 / 5J974 5J969 / 5J972 2P987 / 2P988 PR821 / PR822 PR821 / PR822

18:55 15:00 Mani2Mani 16:05 16:35 16:55 18:00 18:40 20:00 20:30 20:30 21:20 22:20

Davao-Singapore Cebu-Davao-Cebu 16:50 Cebu-Davao-Cebu Manila-Davao-Cebu Manila-Davao-Manila Cagayan de Oro-Davao-Cagayan de Oro Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila

15:20 15:30 16:45 17:05 17:45 18:20 19:10 20:30 21:00 21:00 21:50 22:50

DTI bullish on grabbing fair share of investments in Davao Oriental

he Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao Oriental is optimistic of grabbing a fair share of investments flowing to the Davao region and sustaining its high economic performance last year. Maria Belenda Ambi, DTI provincial director in Davao Oriental, expressed optimism over the province’s economic growth prospects this year, saying that the significant increase of investments in the province last year is likely to

be sustained this year owing to the “aggressive and great efforts” mainly initiated by the provincial government that is now creating a more business-friendly environment and a supportive governance. “There is high optimism that we will be able to sustain our high economic performance of last year because of the aggressive campaign, mainly initiated by the provincial government that projects Davao Oriental as the new investment haven

in the Davao region,” Ambi said. She also said the clear and focused strategic vision and agenda of Governor Corazon Malanyaon to make Davao Oriental an investment haven has accomplished a lot. The DTI official said investments in the province reached P593 million last year, exceeding its original target of P579 million. The 2011 investment figure is a 64 percent increase from the P361 million generated

in 2010, Ambi said. She said exports in the province surged to US$ 2.975 million from the original target of US$ 2.650 million while the domestic sales reached P124.913 million. Ambi said both export and domestic sales posted a 100-percent client satisfaction rate. The export sales are generated mainly from the supply of cardava banana to Europe and coco coir and peat to China, Hongkong, Taiwan and Japan while

the domestic sales are generated from participation in trade fairs, market matching, pasalubong center and trade facilitation. She also said a total of 1,856 jobs were created last year, exceeding by 11.1 percent the original target of 1,678 jobs while they assisted some 313 new and existing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), through provisions of business development and other trade and industry services. [PNA]

NEDA sees over 4.6% GDP increase

he Philippine economy is projected to grow more than 4.6 percent in the first quarter of the yea,r mainly because of increased government spending, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said Wednesday. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga Jr., told Davao media that the first quarter gross domestic product (GDP) is likely to be higher than the 4.6 percent growth in the same pe-

riod last year. In the fourth quarter of last year, the economy expanded by only 3.7 percent. “The government expenditure program is really working well but of course there are some downside risks and we’re watching what’s happening in Europe and then of course the oil issue,” Paderanga said. Ruperto Majuca, NEDA’s assistant director general, said there was a good chance that the first quarter GDP growth would be higher

than last year’s. “I see that the possible drivers will be the public construction, the ramping up of public expenditures, then also in general there’s a high business confidence. This is reflected, among others, in the stock market performance so this confidence will tend to stimulate business activity, investment and then it would have a positive impact overall,” Majuca said. The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) earlier reported

that the composite leading economic indicator (LEI) recorded an upward trend to 0.238 in the first quarter from a revised 0.168 in the fourth quarter of last year. “The latest LEI computations show the index in firmer positive territory auguring well for the domestic economy to start off the year of the dragon,” the NSCB said. For the full year, Paderanga said that the government is sticking to its economic target of 7

percent to 8 percent. “It will be fairly difficult [to achieve the target] considering the slowdown in global economic environment, including the Eurozone debt and the economic woes because it could spill over to other countries such as China. And then indirectly impact us also. So, we will also have to watch closely the recovery of the US, if it will firm up or it will remain fragile. We will have to watch closely China, of course Europe,” Majuca said. [PNA]

receive, whether or not it is relevant to available jobs, how their knowledge and skills will serve them in the long-term,” said the survey. “During economic downturns, young people are often the ‘last in’ and the ‘first out’” out of jobs, the report added. The 2008-2009 financial and economic crises forced the youth unemployment rate up to 11.9 in 2007 to 13 percent in 2009. It eased back to 12.6 percent in 2010 — when the adult jobless rate was just 4.8 percent.

The Middle East is worst hit with 25.5 percent unemployment among young men and 39.4 percent for young women in 2010, followed by North Africa with a 23.8 percent rate for men and 34.1 percent for women. The report said high unemployment was one of the key causes of the Arab Spring uprisings. Young people said they found their educational too theoretical and not geared enough to professional life. “Today it should be

easier to find a job because our generation is the most educated but there is a inadequacy between the training offered and the needs of the labor market,” said Amadou, a 24-yearold from Senegal. The UN report condemns the restrictive contracts with poor salaries given to first time job seekers. “Young women are doubly affected as they face not only a lack of opportunities but poor quality of work” with low wages, a lack of security and fewer

ways to raise grievances, said Lody, a 25-year-old Cambodian. The youth criticized a lack of public investment but believe that information technology, health and welfare jobs and the green economy will be boom areas. “Young people are in general more conscious of global issues like climate change and social equity, I think that promotion of green economies among youth is a winning solution,” said Michael, a 23-year-old Italian.

World’s youth fear jobless future: UN report

he world’s young increasingly fear a future without jobs, according to a UN report released over the weekend which highlighted how the 15-30 age group risks becoming the biggest victims of austerity programs. The young doubt the education they receive will fully arm them for professional life, said the World Youth Report which questioned about 1,000 people for its study. “Young people questioned the quality of education they and their peers

EDGEDAVAO THE BUSINESS PAPER

Property forum

FebRuary 13 - 19, 2012 VOL. 4 NO. 50

THE BUSINESS PAPER EDGEDAVAO

Agri trends

VOL. 4 NO. 50 FebRuary 13 - 19, 2012

Government to boost coconut Global rice production set to hit record in 2011-2012 areas carbon trading potential T he harvest of rice around the world in 2011-2012 should hit a new record of 721 million tons and lead to lower prices, the UN’s Food and Agricultural Organization said Wednesday. With the growing season nearly over in the northern hemisphere and well underway in the southern, the FAO predicted in

he Department of Agriculture (DA) will help enhance nationwide coconut production not only for increased yield but to also generate for the country some P47 billion in carbon trading revenues from this crop’s capability to sequester carbon dioxide (CO2), one of the greenhouse gases (GHGs) experts identified as driving climate change. DA Secretary Proceso Alcala assured such support, noting studies show a hectare of coconut land can sequester some 17.54 tons of CO2 per year. “That’s about P14.7 million per 1,000 hectares,” he said Monday in Metro Manila during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) symposium on climate change, citing available valuation under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol. The Philippines conducted such symposium to fulfill one of its commitments in the APEC Action Plan on Food Security. Alcala noted the country has some 3.2 million hectares of coconut land which represents a potential carbon sink. Carbon sinks are natural or artificial reservoirs of carbon. “We’ll continue undertaking planting/replanting and salt fertilization measures in coconut areas nationwide to boost the crop’s growth there,” Alcala said. Coconuts and other trees capture CO2 in the atmosphere during photosynthesis and store the carbon in respective biomass composed of roots, stems and leaves. Such process is called carbon sequestration.

coconut tree

Scientist and Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) consultant Dr. Severino Magat noted coconut trees can generally sequester carbon nearly as well as forest tree species. “The more carbon is stored in a tree’s biomass, the more resistance such plant has,” he noted. Experts earlier raised urgency for lowering emissions of CO2 and other GHGs, warning these absorb thermal radiation emitted by the earth’s surface so rising atmospheric concentrations of such gases could change energy balance on the planet and its climate as well. To help address such concern, countries adopted in 1997 the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Such protocol is an international treaty that aims to stabilize GHG atmospheric concentration at a level that prevents dangerous human interference with the climate system. CDM is a Kyoto Protocol mechanism that allows countries with GHG emission reduction

or limitation commitments to implement in developing countries emission-reducing projects that can earn certified emission reduction (CER) credits. CERs can be counted towards meeting respective countries’ Kyoto Protocol commitments and can be traded as well, the Convention noted.. For 2012, PCA Field Operations Division Officerin- Charge Pablo Romero said coconut planting/replanting activities are planned across some 136,925 hectares of land nationwide. PCA also plans undertaking this year salt fertilization activities in 200,000 hectares of land using 800,000 50- kilogram bags of salt. The agency’s 2012 budget for planting/replanting and fertilization are PhP 502.31 million and PhP 336.19 million, respectively, Romero noted. “This year’s budget for such purposes is higher than 2011’s appropriation of about PhP 150 million for planting/replanting and PhP 120 million for salt fertilization,” he said. [PNA]

its latest quarterly report that rice production should increase by three percent from the previous year. Adverse weather in Cambodia, the Philippines, and Pakistan had less of an effect than initially feared, it said. Asia, which is the top producer of rice by far, is set for a three percent gain in production to 653 million

tons. Africa was set for a one percent gain to 25.5 million tones. The FAO estimates that this should enable the price of rice to continue falling in the coming months as stocks increase and imports decline. It estimated that global trade in rice will decline by one million tons due to better harvests in traditional import countries.

DA sees significant increase in rice yield with early cropping scheme

he Department of Agriculture (DA) foresees rice production of at least one million tons from the proposed early cropping method that would address the perennial problem of destruction of crops during the typhoon season. Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, in a press conference on Thursday, said rice yield would increase once the proposal is implemented, noting that there would be five harvest seasons under the new scheme. Agriculture Assistant Secretary and National Rice Program Coordinator Dante Delima said they target to cover a maximum of 250,000 hectares nationwide for the early cropping method. “The possible rice production under the early cropping is four tons per hectare,” he said. Under the proposed

early cropping scheme, farmers would plant one or two months earlier than the usual practice of planting rice every September and October -- the height of the typhoon season. “Kung ang objective ay iwasan ang SeptemberOctober damage, dapat April pa lang ay mag-umpisa na ang early planting para July to August ay mag-harvest na sila,” Delima said. He said majority of the farmers favor the new planting scheme but with proper support from the government. Delima admitted that the method had been tried by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) but the initiative did not prosper due to lack of coordination with the department. “Hindi madali i-move ang planting season without the support system. Ang hinihingi ng farmers, dapat

available ang binhi at kung kaya ng irrigation system na mag-supply ng tubig,” he said. Delima said they are now conducting consultations with with NIA’s Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-UPRIIS) and the Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MARIIS) on the proposal. UPRIIS has a total of 386 irrigators associations (IAs) with some 82,000 farmer-members, while MARIIS has 363 IAs with some 65,000 farmer-members. The NIA plays a big role in convincing the farmers to accept the proposed early cropping scheme. Alcala said if the plan pushes through, hopefully the Philippines would be self-sufficient in rice after 2013. [PNA]

EDGEDAVAO THE BUSINESS PAPER

FebRuary 13 - 19, 2012 VOL. 4 NO. 50

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL. 4 NO. 50 FebRuary 13 - 19, 2012

THE BUSINESS PAPER EDGEDAVAO

America’s greatest speech

hat makes a great speech? It is the message or the language or the length? The first two are elemental; the third is inconsequential. 149 years ago, a twominute speech reverberated around the world not on the day it was spoken, but many years later. Popularly known as The Gettysburg Address, it was delivered by US President Abraham Lincoln. This speech lasted only two minutes, yet it immortalized Lincoln in the hearts of millions who speak, the English language and appreciate its lyrical beauty and powerful nuances. The Address is usually short consisting of just 267 simple and unaffected words. But it is generally considered by language authorities and critics as a masterpiece of English prose, and perhaps – according to Peter Applebome writing for the New York Times – America’s greatest speech. The Chancellor of Oxford University said: “The Gettysburg Address is a marvelous piece of English composition. The more closely it is analyzed, the more one must confess astonishment at its choice of words, the precision of its thought, its simplicity, directness and effectiveness.” Ironically, the Gettysburg Address was not the major speech of Lincoln. It was meant merely as a simple, brief speech for a solemn occasion. How the speech came about is a story in itself. The circumstances that led Lincoln to deliver it constitute an interesting vignette of the American Civil War (1861-65) that erupt over the issue of slavery. Gettysburg was a small town of Pennsylvania. It was the scene of a crucial battle between the Union troops and the Confederate forces. Thousand died in that battle. To honor the memories of the dead soldiers, the Pennsylvania State governor formed a commission to dedicate a portion of Gettysburg as a National Soldier’s Cemetery. The commission chose Edward Everett, the nation’s foremost orator at the time, to deliver the oration or principal speech.

Lincoln as President and Commander-in-Chief, was invited to say a few words of dedication. Lincoln started working on his speech on the first week of November. On November 18 while riding in a special train going to Gettysburg, he made some revisions and corrections. On the night of the same day, he put the finishing touches – re-writing portions of the speech consisting of two pages. Everett spoke for two hours. Lincoln delivered his remarks in two minutes. So brief was Lincoln’s part that the photographer failed to take a picture of Lincoln’s part that the photographer failed to take a picture of Lincoln speaking. The crowd gave Lincoln a polite round of applause. The newspapers virtually ignored Lincoln’s speech. They gave more prominence to Everett’s long oration. Days later, several important people requested copies of the Lincoln remarks. One of those was Everett who sent Lincoln this revealing note. “I should be glad if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion in two hours, as you did in two minutes.” Lincoln, with his typical humility replied in a person a letter: “In our respective parts, you could not have been excused to make a short address, nor I a long one. I am pleased that, in your judgment, the little I did say was not entirely a failure.” Now, form lack of space, may I just lift two of the most dramatic and oftquoted lines from the Gettysburg Address. It begins thus: “Four scores and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” It ends with: “That this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government of the people by the people, shall not perish from the earth.” P.S. February is the birth month of Lincoln, 16th president of the US and also known as Honest Abe and The Great Emancipator.

BizQUIPS ‘AGAIN, I’m not hiding anything, as soon as the Project Management Office is done with its report we can share that report with you.’ --Supreme Court administrator and spokesman Jose Midas P. Marquez, on the alleged irregularities in the Judicial Reform Support Project.

editorial

Exploitation and abuse

HE burning issues of the day in our country and elsewhere in the world are all about exploitation. Yes, exploitation of people and nature. In the Philippines, jobseekers are exploited by recruiters. The lingering problem here is illegal recruitment which usually result in large-scale estafa and related crimes, including sexual exploitation. The capitalists exploit labor, to use a rather neutral view. However, social activists and militant economists, including communists, call it exploitation of the poor by the rich. On the other hand, what stirs Filipinos more intensely these days is the issue of exploitation of our natural resources, particularly the country’s still rich mineral deposits and its highly depleted timber stand. There is a growing militant constituency against mining, particularly open-pit mining, as allowed by the existing law. Apart from the destruction that mining would inflict on the environment of the country, the anti-mining activists have raised hackles against the failure of the law to ensure that a much bigger share of the exploitation should go to the country and its people. It is not helping the mining advocates that the country is now experiencing the vagaries of climate change such as the typhoon Sendong-spawned killer floods in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan and the more recent landslides in Negros Oriental which was caused by a strong earthquake. Most of these catastrophes are blamed on illegal logging and unregulated small -scale

mining actitivities. On the other hand, everybody seems agreed that logging, legal or not, should be stopped. In fact, the Aquino government has decreed a moratorium on cutting of trees and instead launched a National Greening Program, another name for massive treeplanting. However, the government is unable to enforce the moratorium as illegal logging syndicates have become violent, murdering foresters and other enforcers of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in many parts of the country. Logging and mining are extractive industries that are both on record notorious environment spoilers. Some say that logging is the lesser evil because at least the exploiters who had enriched themselves were mostly Filipinos. In mining, unless the law is made more equitable, the bulk of the wealth extracted from the bowels of the earth will go to foreigners. Changing the law seems the biggest window of opportunity in this gathering impasse. While we are at it, there ought to be a law requiring families who made themselves filthy rich because of logging, illegal logging, log smuggling (and dollar-salting) to make some reparations of sorts to the Filipino people by way of compulsory contribution to a standby fund to be spent on victims of floods, avalanches, soil erosion and the like. While many of the original loggers are now six feet under, their offsprings are still around enjoying the fruits of exploitation. Don’t look now, but one or two may even be sitting in the ongoing impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Coronado Corona. EDITORIAL

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he country’s 1.4 million coastal fishermen are reeling from high gas prices that bite off up to 80 percent of what they earn from their dwindling catch. Because fishing relies heavily on fuel, more than half of the retail price of galunggong, dilis, tulingan, matangbaka, alumahan, tambakol, bisugo— the top seven species caught in municipal waters -- represents fuel expenses. But the fishing industry is contributing much to the economy. Total fisheries production in 2007 hit 4.712 million metric tons valued at P180.5 billion , with commercial fishing contributing P55 billion out of a volume of 1.193 million MT; municipal fishing, P64 billion (1.304 million MT) ; and aquaculture P61.5 billion (2.215 million MT). Economists have been urging the government to ex-

n my last article, I mentioned that my sister and I are in the life insurance industry. We have been in this business for almost a decade. We are now starting to build our own agency with a company that’s over a century old in the Philippines... We have both resigned from our employment and we pray to keep it that way. We are no longer employed. (But that doesn’t mean we are bums! Haha!) We have found our ultimate freedom! I even named our branch, Team Ultimate… because that’s just what it is. It is the ultimate thing… to be FREE. I have more time for my growing family, be there beside them when they are sick, I will not have any problems asking for permission to be off from work early or ask my boss for an emergency leave. When my sons have activities in school it used to worry me, how do I tell my boss I need to attend my son’s Recognition Day because he is in the honor roll? Yes, we are not employed and we don’t get a fixed, consistent monthly income but the chances in getting twice or thrice your salary is an ultimate possibility. (Sorry, I keep using Ultimate, I’m in love with the word. Ultimate Fighting Champions, AHOO!!) Inconsistent income is not so bad after all when you know that it’s inconsistently huge. I am not saying that

kbayan Party condemns the fast-tracked issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court on Chief Justice Renato Corona’s foreign currency bank accounts. This is a travesty of justice that can only spiral down into a constitutional crisis pitting the Supreme Court with the Senate impeachment court. However, this is not a mere constitutional crisis but also a hostage crisis; Corona, who is now exposed as a hostage taker is virtually holding the country at gun point with the use of a TRO in order to sabotage the people’s ongoing campaign to make him and his master, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, pay for their crimes. Now that evidence of his multi-million peso bank accounts, condominium units, and lavish perks are being revealed to the public, with many more still to be revealed, he has resorted to us-

FebRuary 13 - 19, 2012 VOL. 4 NO. 50

Hunger

Special Feature By Rene Ezpeleta Bartolo (Conclusion)

tend a gas subsidy to the country’s 1.4 million coastal fishermen, as it is doing to bus and jeepney operators. Fishermen’s groups have staged rallies towards this end, but whatever action government has done are are at best haphazard, and the silence of government seems to be deeper than the sea. Tonyo’s children quit school this year. Every morning, they help their mother gather shells from the seaside to sell at the Digos Public Market. They earn just about enough for a kilo of rice.

Just as he had done for the past three years, Tonyo dropped by my place last Sunday. He had gusaw and sap-sap, both coral fish, to sell. “Times are very hard,” he told me without my asking. “I don’t know what to do.” “How much do you earn in a day?” I asked. “Most of the time around one hundred pesos,” h answered tight-lipped. I told him about the doleout of government to the poor. He had not heard about it. Badiang is too far and too incon-

Who blogs about insurance?

it’s easy. It’s quite the contrary. There are going to be days where you’ll have to eat rejections for breakfast, why not throw in lunch and dinner as well. But what a challenge! You will not have to sit in your desk and do the same old routine every single day. The president of my former company said, for a career to be fulfilling, it has to have three things: AUTONOMY – To a certain extent, you can dictate your work input. No person (boss, immediate superior) looking over your shoulder constantly. Second, CHALLENGE – To encourage and motivate you and lastly, REWARD – what’s in it for me if I work harder and achieve a goal? All of those three things are in being an insurance agent. We are not required to be in the office from 8 to 5, no timecard, no overtime with limited pay. You are your own boss here. This is your own business, no capitalization, or an outrageously expensive franchise fee. The crucial thing here though is discipline. If

you’re used to going to work early because you’re paid, in this business, you push yourself to get out of the house, make appointments, talk to people about insurance day in and day out. Make a list of all the people you know and importantly, the ones with children. They will be the most affected when the breadwinner dies. Structure and organization of your day must be in place. You have to put your mind and heart at it. Putting your mind at it is sitting down and planning your course of action. Work hard, work smart. How many people you need to see, let us put it this way: How many lives do you want to be insured or how many families do you want to be covered? That is also where your heart comes in. You have to be sincere. You have to sincerely want to help families and think about your rewards last. Think of what you can do for the client firstly. After all, relationship and trust is the main ingredients for success in this business. Your client

Corona is a hostage taker

Statement

By Akbayan Party ing the power of the Supreme Court to save himself from conviction similar to how he and other Arroyo justices voted to grant Arroyo protection from prosecution. This hostage taking perpetrated by Corona risks creating even bigger crises. This is exactly what he wants. Corona, with aid from his patrons from the previous corrupt regime, seeks a showdown with the people’s campaign against corruption. But this is not a final burst of anger from a wounded foe. Far from being defeated, Corona still has many allies in the judiciary and many more outside it. We believe that Corona will do anything and every-

thing to prevent his eventual conviction, even if it means bringing down the entire country down with him. We have seen that there are still forces that are willing to join him in destroying the judiciary and the country. Theses groups continue with their vested actions despite constant calls from the public to cast off their allegiance to Arroyo. This goes hand in hand with some of those in the high court that continue to serve the interest of a corrupt past. Their loyal service to Arroyo during her regime and their decisions that derailed the current administration’s quest for accountability and justice,

sequential for the government’s attention, apparently. “So what do you do?” I asked him. “Most of the time, we eat rice porridge and ginamos (fish entrails in brine). Sometimes, cassava or kamote. Sometimes, nothing. I pity the children.” Tonyo and his family are among the 4.5 million Filipino families without food or running short of food every day. It is a pity that the hard work of this Filipino family has to go unrewarded by even the semblance of a passably bearable life. It is tragic – a tragedy that reflects on the whole nation – that Tonyo, with his wife and children, has to go hungry -- hungrier and hungrier by the day. For many, many Filipinos, hunger is the enemy. (For comments and reactions, email: rene_bartolo@yahoo.com) expects you to be there for their families up to the end of the line. When God finally calls them back home, you are expected to be there. Now that I have taken on the challenge of creating my own team of competent life insurance agents, I remember my own experience. I was 24 years old when I got my 1st life insurance policy. I actually called the insurance company because of an ad I received from the mail. The agent who took my call is still my agent, 14 years later. She has been there and witnessed my different life stages. She was very diligent in collecting my premium payments. There were a number of times I missed my payments but she was there to help revive my policy. In the insurance industry, the correct term is “reinstatement”. She made sure the policy did not lapse that in case something happened to me, my children will be taken care of and that they will get the benefits of my insurance policy. For me, she was the epitome of a true insurance agent! This industry is not for everyone and most especially not for the weakhearted. As I say to my team-mates, you have to be a little crazy to be in this industry. Of course I say that with a little humor. Again? A little crazy and… a lot of bravado! Till the next article! Be safe, be insured. such as their invalidation of the Truth Commission and status quo ante order on the Merceditas Gutierrez’s impeachment have only sealed their fate. Because their previous gambit of “rule of law” and “judicial independence,” both perverted and bastardized by the Corona-led Supreme Court has failed, their desperation has led them to use naked power under the guise of legalism . Corona has finally disrobed the cloak of a chief justice and shown his true color as Arroyo’s brute enforcer. Realizing that the public cannot be bought and the truth cannot be buried, Corona has declared a war of attrition against those that seek his removal from power. But Like Arroyo, Corona too will fail. We shall not allow such attempts to take fruition. The people will see that their Supreme Court.

The flourishing dollar-store concept business

HORT LETHAL PUNCHES – A political leadership should be credible, sincere and relevant. What the people really need is a government that collects taxes properly and spends money wisely and determined how resources are allocated or utilized appropriately. The citizenry need a system that promotes transparency and openness. POPULAR DOLLARCONCEPT STORES – Say what you will about Indian entrepreneurs but they sure know how to choose their line of business. In the city of Toronto, Canada for example, Indian immigrants notably those who have already been granted citizenship status demonstrated their knack for pouring money into a business that deals in cheaper consumerbased products. As the Chinese businessmen drive-up Toronto’s mini-convenience and grocery store business and wet market operation, enterprising Indian traders, on the other hand, dominate the dollar-store concept trend. What may appears to be a simple business endeavor has become very popular among small spenders, middle-income bracket, and of course to the thriftminded and tightwads. If you happen to go shopping at Toronto’s popular megamalls or at various commercial areas, you’ll doubtless find a dollar-concept store owned by Indian traders. Their business outlets and retail stores peddle cheaper consumer-based products, mostly manufactured in China ranging from garments, electronics, gadgets and accessories, fancy jewelries, kitchenware, to school and office supplies, toys, food stuff and many more. Name it they have it. Consumers will always remember these retail outlets simply because of the store sign and indicator that similarly sounds the same – “Dollar Store,Dollarama or Absolutely Dollar,” sort of a name recall, presumably because it is closely associated with the dollar. And to make it easier and convenient for the consumers, owners even revolutionized

a catch phrase that says “All items at $1 unless priced.” Venturing into the dollarconcept store business gives Indian traders a presence as well as a vehicle to put to good use their entrepreneurship touch. Despite stiff and tough competition, specifically from aggressive Chinese businessmen, there’s still a lot going for the Indian capitalists. They want to share a piece of Toronto, or Canada in general, the small entrepreneurship action and target niche sector, especially the low-income bracket and medium-class consumer audience. However, the most encouraging development is the unexpected acceptance by the city’s thrift-oriented sector and has been showing true to form. After all, the dollar-store enterprise is positioned primarily as a cost-saving business play. Furthermore, the booming dollar-concept store business experience shows that patience, courage, dedication, hard work and entrepreneur spirit do pay off. Some economists note that the Indianinspired business endeavor comprises a significant portion of the cheaper consumer economy. Even in highgrowth countries such as Canada, small spenders and medium-class families can truly appreciate a market where cheaper consumerbased products are selling unselectively, thus putting these low-end retailers in a good competitive situation. Such notions of an overwhelming cheaper consumer economy triggered by the dollar-store concept popularized by the Indian entrepreneurs are based on its success. Remember too, Indian traders favor small to medium enterprise fostered presumably by their ancestors. Indian businessmen in Toronto conduct their trade similar to their countrymen who are doing business in our country, Davao City in particular, minus of course the dollarstore concept. Surprisingly, I had not seen even a single motorcycle-riding Indian 5/6 collector on the streets of Toronto. I presume it’s an unacceptable business idea.

BizQUIPS ‘THE present picture now clearly exposes the concentration of economic and corporate power wealth and political influence in the hands of a few.’ --Lakas-Kampi-CMD Rep. Maria Milagros Magsaysay of Zambales, supporting House Bill 2291 of Rep. Danilo Suarez seeking to dismantle “family monopolies.”

THE BUSINESS PAPER EDGEDAVAO

competitive edge 10 Camella Tagum model Phoenix is Top 7 importer houses open for viewing VOL. 4 NO. 50 FebRuary 13 - 19, 2012

hoenix Petroleum Philippines garnered another achievement when it was named by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) as one of the country’s top importers for 2011. BOC Commissioner Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon presented a Plaque of Recognition to Phoenix and other top importers in a lavish ceremony held at the Social Hall of the Commissioner’s Building on the occasion of

its 110th Founding Anniversary last February 6. In the ceremony attended by President Benigno Aquino as guest of honor and speaker, the BOC Commissioner thanked the Top 15 Importers who have contributed immensely to the actual collection efforts of the national government for year 2011. Phoenix Petroleum Philippines emerged as the Top 7 importer after pay-

ing a total of P3.69 billion in taxes to the government. The Top 3 importers were Petron, Shell, and Chevron respectively. Total Philippines was at Top 6 narrowly edging Phoenix with total tax payments of P3.96 billion. In the “independents” category, Phoenix Petroleum was the No. 1 Importer nationwide after Seaoil and Unioil rounded up the 14th and 15th spots, respectively.

ONB 2011 record income jacks up bank’s networth O

NB ’11 net comprehensive income hit P428 million for a record 38 % increase over previous year. With this record income, the widest and most modern rural bank’s networth or net capital reached P 2.5 Billion now exceeding the P 2.4 Billion minimum capital required of commercial banks. “ONB will not convert to KB status principally because of the lower 3 % legal reserves required by BSP from RBs as against the 21 % legal reserves for KBs”

says Alex V. Buenaventura, ONB president. The main contributor to ONB’s record net comprehensive income is the 72 % increase in loan portfolio from P 6 Billion in 2010 to P 10.4 Billion by end 2011. The biggest portfolio increase was realized from Mindanao government teachers under the DepEdAPDS Salary Loan Program. As of end 2011, ONB’s exposure to 48,467 DepEd teachers reached P 5.9 Billion for a whopping 109 % increase over 2010. Business Loans to SMEs contributed next highest at 78 % increase in volume from only P .8 Billion to the P 1.4 Billion level by end 2011. This upsurge in lending increased ONB’s loan intermediation ratio to almost 1:1 (P 10.4 Billion Loans: P 10.5 Billion Deposits). The P 10.5 Billion De-

posit Liabilities as of end 2011 represents an 11 % increase from the P 9.4 Billion level in 2010. Lower cost CA/SA deposits account for 64 % of total deposits, a significant part of which come from around 360,000 PeraAgad Pinoy ATM Cardholders whose opening/maintaining balance of only P 100 makes this convenient and affordable product very popular among the small accounts especially in countryside areas all over Mindanao where ONB is in most cases the only provider of ATM machines. Total resources as of end 2011 reached P 15.7 Billion for a big 33 % increase over the P 11.8 Billion level in 2010. Capital Adequacy Ratio remains very healthy at 20 %, NPL Ratio at 5 % and NPA Ratio at 4 % as of end 2011.

more outlets this year, eyeing possible locations in Metro Manila and in Marbel, Koronadal City. To show the Pacquiaos the company’s continuous support, the new partners headed by Gloria Cuaresma, Joanne Siy, Myleen Cruz, plus the general manager, Ina Puruganan, made a courtesy visit to the Pacman and his lovely wife Jinky at their lavish home in General Santos City. Although the visit was on short notice, the Pacquiaos were happy to meet with their Blugre partners.

The visit lasted three hours, during which the couple gave the Blugre partners a tour of their grand abode. Cuaresma, noted that the Pacman and Jinky were simple and accommodating in spite of their stature in society. They openly discussed the vision of the company and how excited and passionate the new partners are in raising Blugre Coffee to the next level, making it a household name. The visit was then capped by a sumptuous dinner hosted by the Pacquiaos.

ODEL houses of Camella Tagum, the Mediterranean-Italian themed subdivision being developed in Tagum City by masterplan developer Camella, are ready for viewing by homebuyers. The three model homes are called Drina at 83 square meters and Carmela at 65 square meters under the Camella Series, and Marga at 46 square meters under the Lessandra Series, all completed on schedule in December. “We’re pleased to welcome homebuyers to take a look at Camella Tagum model houses, and see how their future homes will look like,” said Sheilamae C. Lara, Camella Tagum Marketing Head. Lara said the interior design of the model houses are being developed by Pinky Cruz-Peralta of Creative Post Inc., a Manila-based interior design company, applying different inspirations for each of the model homes. Drina is a two-bedroom model house inspired from an Italian beach house, while Carmella is a three-bedroom model unit with the unmistakable look of a vintage Italian villa. The Marga model home is another twobedroom unit with a distinct American-Italian style. “Each model home is unique and tastefully designed. There is surely one to catch the eye of our homebuyers,” said Lara, encouraging those who want to see the units to get in touch with them at 09175639617 and 09237399671, or at the Camella office at Unit 12 Gaisano Grand Arcade, Lapu-Lapu Extension, Apokon Road, Tagum City. Apart from the model homes, Camella Tagum is

pleased to announce that house construction will soon commence in June this year, while land development is being fastracked. Camella Tagum is sprawled on 14 hectares of prime land at the Visayan Village along the National Highway. As a masterplan development, it will be equipped with deluxe facilities and amenities, including a well-appointed clubhouse, swimming pool, and a multi-use court. “Of course like any Camella community, Camella Tagum will be a verdant community, with its gardens, natural park, and a playground,” said Lara. Regular features include an impressive entry gate, underground storm drainage, water system, complete electrical facilities, perimeter fence, 24/7 security system, all managed by a professional property manage-

ment team. Although Camella Tagum is located only within one- to three-kilometers away from schools and university, churches, hospitals, malls, and supermarkets, Camella will provide a shuttle service to the downtown area for the convenience of its homeowners. Camella Tagum is the first masterplan development in Tagum that offers fine subdivision living to Tagumenos and the rest of Davao del Norte. It will create a new standard of living in this growth area, as its people look to live the good life in keeping with the increasing vibrancy of their city. Camella is a subsidiary of Vista Land & Lifescapes, the largest homebuilder in the country with over 250,000 homes built in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao in over 35 years.

plant from India and Arabia that was declared the Philippine national flower under Proclamation No. 652 on February 1, 1934. Waling-waling, the country’s best orchid variety, scientifically known as Vanda Sanderiana, thrives in the tropical forest of Mount Apo in Davao and Zamboanga Del Sur, according to Garcia-Albano. “The Waling-waling plant grows on tall diptherocarps but is never known to be a parasite. It lives on treetops reaching for the light of the sun, making it truly symbolic of the Filipino traits and char-

acteristics,” Garcia-Albano said. Garcia-Albano said the Waling-waling, touted as the Queen of Philippine Flowers, is very popular in Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and Hawaii, making it one of the world’s famous orchids.

Pacquiaos set to open Blugre Waling-waling soon to be in SM Gensan and in Manila another ‘national flower

ooks like the new partners of Blugre Coffee Corp. are really set out to open 20 branches this year, especially with Manny and Jinky Pacquiao firmly expressing their interest to open three more branches of Blugre coffee shops outside of General Santos. Currently, the Pacquiaos own two coffee shops—one in Robinsons Gen San and another one in JMP Building. Apparently, the Pacquiaos are very pleased with the way their coffee business has turned out that they want to open

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he House of Representatives has approved on second reading a proposed measure declaring the Waling-waling orchid as a national flower of the Philippines alongside the Sampaguita. House Bill 5655 was authored by Rep. Mylene Garcia-Albano (2nd District, Davao City), vice chairperson of the House Committees on National Cultural Communities and on Reforestation. Garcia-Albano said the Waling-waling is not only indigenous but also endemic to the Philippines compared to the Sampaguita, a native

‘Home of Love’ charity closes [Wanted: Animal Lovers] My name is Irene Hanusch. I am the chairman of the German charity organization “Home of Love”. After many years of service, we are closing our project “Home of Love” in Juna Subdivision, Marang St. 14. This project cared for homeless children and gave poor people an education in basic health and taught them in home economics and proper animal care. We have several dogs and a few cats in our project and now we are looking for animallovers, to whom we would like to hand them over. If you are interested, please come to our house, we will provide a space where you can sit closer and observe the dogs. When you have chosen one, we request you to visit the dog every day for one week. We believe it is important, that the dog and you like and trust each other. In our house you can get all information what the animal needs to stay in good health. Our animals are used to be loved, please help us find people who would treat them with love and good care too. Please contact Ernesto Phone no. 09232295314.

EDGEDAVAO THE BUSINESS PAPER

suburbia

FebRuary 13 - 19, 2012 VOL. 4 NO. 50

BFP NorthCot gets new site

he North Cotabato Bureau of Fire Protection has a new site for its Provincial Fire Office/Fire Sub-Station Building at the capitol compound, Amas, Kidapawan City. A groundbreaking ceremony on January 18, 2012 led by Governor Emmylou “Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza and Chief Inspector Romeo T.Tactaquin, Acting Cotabato Provincial Fire Marshal, signaled the begin-

ning of the construction of the new structure at a governmentowned land with a total area of 3,000 square meters. With the coming construction of the BFP provincial office and sub-station buildings, informal settlers within the area were advised to vacate the area as soon as possible. Governor Taliño-Mendoza assured the informal settlers that a relocation site is ready

with water system, electricity and road network Among other national offices situated within the Cotabato provincial capitol compound are the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Commission on Audit, Department of Education, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the Philippine National Police. DCD/ sgjh

AUDITING. Days only after the yearly One-Stop-Shop Business Permit Processing System ended on midnight of Jan. 20, the local government is again auditing its efficiency and viability through feedbacks from client survey forms and suggestion boxes placed in strategic areas around the city. In a recent assessment meeting headed by City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio at City Hall with stakeholders, it turned out that clearance procedures required by some offices such as SSS, Pag-ibig Fund and BIR, including some barangays

‘No plastic, Comval health workers no styro’ law serve pregnant mothers in Koronadal in mining communities

The groundbreaking ceremony

Dav Sur governor prefers relevant, responsive courses

avao del Sur Governor Douglas Ra. Cagas has urged for more relevant and responsive courses to be taught in colleges that would address the human resource needs of the province. Cagas raised this suggestion on last week to officials of the state-ran Southern Philippines Agri-Business, Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST) during the latter’s celebration of its 30th founding anniversary held in its Digos City campus. In his keynote message, the governor emphasized the need for SPAMAST to modify its courses, saying “these courses should be relevant and responsive to the need of our people and to the province.” He said that providing the appropriate curriculum would also address the problem on unemployment and underemployment in the province and in the country. “The need for more relevant and responsive courses would ensure that our graduates will have something to get from their education for their survival in these difficult times,” he stated, as

in the city seems unacceptable to some, especially the micro-enterprising entrepreneurs who claims they were charging as much that it is unaffordable anymore. Secondly, offices which are supposed to be at the OSH Center from 8:00am - 5:00pm are either late in coming to their posts or just simply not there present. However, these offices renewed their commitment to the Mayor saying they are open for criticisms and are willing to correct anything that has attributed to the discontentment of the paying public. [C. Sulit/CPIO]

he addressed a crowd of SPAMAST officials, students, faculty members and guests. Cagas encouraged to develop in schools more entrepreneurs, and agriculturists “who will work in the farms”. SPAMAST college president Dr. Irvin Generalao responded positively to the challenge of the governor, saying that the school is going to the direction for more improvements. Generalao said they will include in their strategic planning the review of SPAMAST’s present programs, adding that “We really need reformation in order to address the human resource needs of the province.” He also took note of the governor’s suggestion on developing entrepreneurs, saying “We will review all the programs in order to open more area for entrepreneurship.” Meanwhile, Generalao presented the school’s accomplishments for the last two years citing the increase of enrollment by 11 percent. He also boasted of SPAMAST achievement in the board examinations, reporting that the school has obtained above national

COMMERCIAL HUB Brgy. Poblacion in Aurora, Zamboanga Del Sur, has become a magnet for business activity with the help of a trading center built by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). More than 300 farmers and traders from nine municipalities flock to the facility during tabo, or market day, to display and sell their produce. The trading center serves as a sheltered, orderly venue for commercial activity, encouraging more residents

passing rates in courses such as engineering, agriculture, fisheries and education. The weeklong celebration of SPAMAST’s founding anniversary kicked off yesterday (February 7) with a Holy Mass, motorcade and a program where SPAMAST officials recognized several of the school’s achievers, and supporters from the national and local government agencies, private sector, and civil society organizations. Other activities held during the first day were a techno demonstration and exhibit, tree planting and basketball games. The celebration would also be held in other SPAMAST campuses in the municipalities of Malita and Matanao. SPAMAST is the only state college in the province of Davao del Sur. It was created by virtue of Batas Pambansa Blg. 148 and amended by Batas Pambansa 651. It has two colleges, namely: the College of Agricultural Sciences (CAS) located in Matti, Digos City and Matanao town, and the College of Agri-Business Fisheries and Marine Sciences (CAFMS) in Malita town. [PIA 11/Carina L. Cayon]

to become entrepreneurs and enabling the local government to generate additional revenue from user fees. The trading facility is among the more than 1,400 barangay infrastructure projects (BIPs) completed in conflict-affected areas by USAID through its Growth with Equity in Mindanao Program, which is implemented under the oversight of the Mindanao Development Authority.

fter banning smoking within its city hall premises last month, the local government of Koronadal City has prohibited starting this month the use of plastic bags and styrofoam containers among its employees and in its offices. Koronadal City Mayor Peter Miguel said Tuesday they imposed the “no plastic, no styro” policy to promote a “plastic-free lifestyle” among its work force and eventually reduce the nonbiodegradable wastes accumulated by local government’s offices and operations. He said they intend to later expand the coverage of such policy to the city’s main and satellite public markets, local government-owned facilities, transport terminals, various public areas, local communities and households. “This is a city-wide campaign but we’re implementing it first at the city hall to promote it as model among our residents,” the mayor said at the city government’s regular radio program “Kanami Koronadal.” Miguel said they adopted such policy as part of the local government’s efforts to promote proper waste management practices among residents within the city’s 27 barangays. He pointed out that the city may face serious problems in the coming years if the rampant use and accumulation of plastic wastes in the area will continue unabated. The mayor cited the case of Legazpi City, which has been reportedly facing difficulty in controlling the accumulation of plastic wastes in its P100-million sanitary landfill. Miguel and local environment personnel visited Legazpi City last year for a study on its state-of-the-art landfill, which was modeled after a technology developed in Germany. Instead of using plastic bags and styrofoam containers, Miguel said they were encouraging their employees to utilize reusable canisters or containers, paper bags and other recyclable materials for their personal and office-related activities. He said they were also promoting the use of reusable baskets like “bayong” when going to the public market and even in the supermarkets. “It’s a matter of changing our lifestyles and getting used to these materials,” Miguel said. The mayor acknowledged that the city government is “quite far behind” in terms of the adoption of such practice as a number of local government units in the country have already been implementing the policy for several years now. [PNA]

he Provincial Health Office of Compostela Valley, in partnership with the rural health unit of Monkayo, conducted a health event campaign focusing on safe motherhood recently in Mt. Diwata, Monkayo, Compostela Valley. Inadequate antenatal care, poor knowledge of the danger signs of pregnancy, and lack of quick and appropriate response when emergencies occur are major contributing factors to many maternal and newborn deaths. Highlighting key messages on facility-based delivery, knowing the danger signs of pregnancy, importance of birth plan and pre-natal care, the health event

reached 130 pregnant women, mostly wives of miners and mine laborers. Aside from safe motherhood classes, the women also attended health classes on family planning, child health and nutrition, and tuberculosis. The rural health unit spearheaded consultation, laboratory and oral care services. The local government of Monkayo committed to pass a resolution sustaining the health promotion initiative in the mining community. Recent health status in the area reveals that a number of women are anemic and an average 40 to 50 deliveries per month is recorded.

DavNorte to install IP representative

overnor Rodolfo P. del Rosario assured that the provincial government of Davao del Norte is seeking a way how to swear in an Indigenous Peoples Representative to sit in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. The governor bared he has already instructed OICProvincial Administrator Norma Lumain, who is also the Provincial Budget Officer, to scout for funds needed for the installation of a sectoral representative coming from the sector of the Indigenous Peoples. Republic Act 837, better known as Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA) mandates local government units to have an IP representation in their local councils. “I have already instructed my budget officer to figure out how we can accommodate one IP representative in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan,” the governor told members of the media, during the press conference at the Ctapitol. He added that the province was not able to implement

the law for lack of funds, as some P36-million was slashed from its annual budget due to the 4.8 percent reduction in the internal revenue allotment to all LGUs this year. The province had also implemented the 10 percent increase in the salary of its employees. Del Rosario said his administration will make an effort to see if the funds for the IP representation will be available in the Supplemental Budget No. 1, which comes from the savings of the province last year. “If we can wiggle out some amount to support one IP representative in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, we will really do it,” he said. The Provincial Board, under Vice Gov. Victorio Suaybaguio has long approved the item for IP sectoral representative at the SP, subject to the availability of funds. The governor is hoping the annual budget of the province will increase next year so it will no longer face the dilemma of implementing the law.[Noel Baguio]

BizQUIPS

‘IT is, indeed, a win-win situation: you will profit, and at the same time allow our people to live even more dignified lives through the jobs that will be generated. You will empower the communities you operate in, and make certain that the momentum of the Philippine economy will pick up, and be sustained.’ --President Aquino speaking during the 7th Biennial Convention of the Chinese-Filipino Business Club, Inc.

THE BUSINESS PAPER EDGEDAVAO

ict hub

12 VOL. 4 NO. 50 FebRuary 13 - 19, 2012

working group names Nokia to axe 4,000 jobs, ICT 3 projects for BIMP-EAGA move assembly to Asia T

truggling Finnish phone maker Nokia plans to cut 4,000 more jobs at its plants in Finland, Hungary and Mexico as it seeks to cut costs by moving smartphone assembly work to Asia. The cuts of 8 percent of the phone business workforce bring total planned job cuts at the group since Stephen Elop took over as Chief Executive in September 2010 to more than 30,000. Nokia said in a statement the job cuts would take place in phases through this year. It has been reviewing the operations since unveiling the closure of its Romania plant last September. “This was inevitable. It was a surprise it took so long for the decision to be made,” said Steve Brazier, chief executive of technology research firm Canalys. “Stephen Elop may be a polarizing figure, but he is proving effective at driving the change and he should be credited for that.” Nokia’s recent business results have underscored the need for drastic cuts. Late last month it reported a 73 percent fall in quarterly earnings as sales of new Windows Phones failed to dent the dominance of Apple Inc’s iPhone or compensate for diving sales of its own old smartphones. Its fourth-quarter smartphone sales shrank 31 percent from a year ago and the busi-

ness made a steep loss for the quarter. Nokia said it would cut 2,300 jobs in Hungary, where it is a major exporter, some 1,000 in Finland and 700 in Mexico. It will continue to tailor models for specific operators at all sites. Its Finnish factory in Salo, which was the cornerstone for its success in 1990s, has been the last remaining major phone assembly plant in the Western Europe for some time. Most rivals have moved their production to Asia. The Hungarian government said it regretted Nokia’s decision. Analyst Gergely Suppan at Takarekbank in Budapest noted the highest value-added activities would stay in Hungary. The move comes only months after Nokia closed its plant in neighboring Romania, laying off some 2,200 people

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY

Mortgagee/Assignee, EJF-REM CASE NO. 13033-11

ROEL V. ELDUAYEN Mortgagor/s. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by Balikatan Housing Finance, Inc., with postal address at the 24th Floor, BPI Buendia Center, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City, against ROEL V. ELDUAYEN, with postal addresses at 88 Lopez Joana, Mt. Apo St. DAVAO CITY and Lot 20, Blk. 6, Topaz St. (road Lot 6),CRYSTAL MEADOWS SUBD., BO. SASA, DAVAO CITY ,DAVAO DEL SUR, the mortgagor/s, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of January 25, 2010 amounts to One Hundred Ninety Eight Thousand Three Hundred Thirty Four Pesos and 85/100 (198, 334.85.00), Philippine Currency, exclusive of interest, penalties and charges, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to 25% of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned will sell at public auction on March 22 2012, at 10:00 A.M., or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland, Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate/s of Title No/s. T-201353 “ A parcel of land of the subdivision project (Lot 20, Blk.6 , of the subdivision plan Psd-112402-034126 being a portion of Lot 26 (LRC) psd-97023) situated in the Barangay of Sasa, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao. xxx containing an area of EIGHTY ONE (81) SQUARE METERS, MORE OR LESS. xxx” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the abovestated time and date. In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on April 19, 2012 without further notice. Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the titles herein described real property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be. Davao City, Philippines, January 11, 2012 FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF: (SGD.) NICOLAS L. SUMAPIG Sheriff IV Noted by: SGD) ATTY. EDIPOLO P. SARABIA, JR. Clerk of Court VI & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff

Darussalam, held recenly in Manila. “These technological advancements in BIMP-EAGA are very promising. World-class infrastructure, knowledge, and ICT systems will soon be within our reach, enabling us to tap its potentials to benefit the people of Mindanao,” said Sec. Luwalhati R. Antonino, Chairperson of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) and Philippine-EAGA Signing Minister. The iROP and iCLID secured funding support and have qualified to be listed for the two-year rolling plan for 2012-2013. BIMP-EAGA Rink will be carried forward to the next rolling plan for 2013-

2014. The iROP is a BIMP-EAGA outreach program aimed to improve the ICT literacy of rural communities through construction of computer telecenters with e-Learning models and mobile applications. The Philippines has identified 30 pilot sites for the computer telecenters in the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Each pilot site is expected to have 20 computers. Brunei has successfully implemented the program›s first phase which includes training courses on ecommerce and the establishment of ICT centers equipped with broadband internet, and other applications. [MinDA]

tifical Gregorian University where the conference was held. An association for victims of abuse, while not commenting directly on the Internet project, has dismissed the conference as “window dressing” and said the Vatican should publish its documentation on abuse and hand it over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague. Victims’ groups for years have accused some bishops in the Church of preferring silence and cover-up to coming clean on the scandal, which has darkened the image of the Church around the world. But on Wednesday the Vati-

can’s top official for dealing with sexual abuse of minors, Monsignor Charles Scicluna, said hiding behind a culture of “omerta” - the Italian word for the Mafia’s code of silence - would be deadly for the Church. The symposium brought together some 200 people including bishops, leaders of religious orders, victims of abuse and psychologists, and some participants saw it as a turning point in the Church’s approach to the crisis. “The Church now has a baseline about where we are starting from,” Brendan Geary from the Marist Brothers religious order said.

Catholic leaders plan to use Internet against pedophiles

oman Catholic Church leaders unveiled an Internet teaching project on Thursday to help clergy around the world root out pedophiles in their ranks and protect children from potential abusers. Ending a four-day conference on child abuse in Rome, Father Francois-Xavier Dumortier said the 1.2 million euro ($1.60 million) project would provide multilingual advice and access to research on pedophilia and how to respond to the problem. “It will help to develop a culture of listening...a different face to the culture of silence,” said Dumortier, who is rector at the Pon-

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY BALIKATAN HOUSING FINANCE, INC., Mortgagee/Assignee,

BALIKATAN HOUSING FINANCE, INC.,

Copy furnished: The Mortgagee- Balikatan Housing Finance,Inc. The Mortgagor- ROEL V. ELDUAYEN PUBLISHER – EDGE DAVAO POSTING – 3 conspicuous places ( Edge- 2/13,20,27)

there. Finnish unions demanded hefty cash payments to laid-off staff and Antti Rinne, chief of union Pro, said the announcement was damaging for Finland’s employment outlook. “Raising the employment level and prolonging working careers is impossible if there are no jobs in Finland,” Rinne said in a statement. Finland has pushed for years to prolong working careers as the Nordic country struggles with a shrinking work force and sluggish economic growth. Nokia announced in April last year it would cut 7,000 jobs and unveiled a further 3,500 job losses in September. Its network arm Nokia Siemens announced cuts of 17,000 in November. The group had 130,000 staff at the end of 2011, including Nokia Siemens.

he Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Working Group for the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines–East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMPEAGA) identified three major projects to be included in the BIMP-EAGA Implementation Blueprint (IB) for 2012-2016. These are the ICT Rural Outreach Program (iROP), BIMP-EAGA Rink (Submarine Cable), and Intelligent Clearance Identification (iClid), projects anchored on technological advancements highlighted during the Strategic Planning for 2012 chaired by Hajah Airah Haji Abdullah, Acting Director of Communications, Ministry of Communications-Brunei

EJF-REM CASE NO. 13032-11

SPS. JOEL P. ENERO AND REBECCA A. ENERO Mortgagor/s. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by Balikatan Housing Finance, Inc., with postal address at the 24th Floor, BPI Buendia Center, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City, against SPS. JOEL P. ENERO AND REBECCA ENERO, with postal addresses at Bunawan Davao City and Lot 1, BLK 3, Jade cor. Road Lot 14, MARIETA VILLAGE, BRGY. TIBUNGCO, DAVAO CITY ,DAVAO DEL SUR, the mortgagor/s, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of Fbruary 18, 2010 amounts to Two Hundred Eighty Thousand Six Hundred (280,625.00), Philippine Currency, exclusive of interest, penalties and charges, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to 25% of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned will sell at public auction on March 22 2012, at 10:00 A.M.., or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland, Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate/s of Title No/s. T-195753 “ A parcel of land (Lot 1, Blk.3 Psd-11-013698 being a portion of Lot A-2 , Psd11-007077) situated in the Barrio of Tibungco, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao. xxx containing an area of ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY ONE (181) SQUARE METERS, MORE OR LESS. xxx” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date. In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on April 19, 2012 without further notice. Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the titles herein described real property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be. Davao City, Philippines, January 11, 2012 FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF: (SGD.) NICOLAS L. SUMAPIG Sheriff IV Noted by: (SGD) ATTY. EDIPOLO P. SARABIA, JR. Clerk of Court VI & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff Copy furnished: The Mortgagee- Balikatan Housing Finance,Inc. The Mortgagor- SPS. JOEL P. ENERO AND REBECCA A. ENERO PUBLISHER – EDGE DAVAO POSTING – 3 conspicuous places ( Edge- 2/13,20,27)

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH Judicial Region Branch 11 Davao City IN RE: IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR CORRECTION OF ENTRY OF HIS GENDER FROM “FEMALE” TO “MALE” IN HIS CERTIFICATE OF LIVE SPEC. PROC.NO. 11,650-2011 CHYREL QUINDAO ALEGRIA rep. by ABRAHAM R. ALEGRIA, JR. Petitioner -versusTHE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF DAVAO CITY x-----------------------------------------------------------------x ORDER BY THIS VERIFIED petition and for the reasons stated therein, the above-named petitioner, assisted by counsel, seeks for an Order of this Court directing the Local Civil Registrar of Davao City to correct petitioner’s gender as appearing on his Certificate of Live Birth from “female to “male” and to correct the spelling of petitioner’s name due to the blurred entry “CHYREL QUINDAO ALEGRIA”. Finding the petition to be to be sufficient in form and substance, the same is hereby set for hearing before this Court, sitting at the Hall of Justice,Candelaria St., Ecoland, Matina, Davao City on MARCH 8, 2012 , Thursday at 2:00 in the afternoon, at which place, date and time any interested person may appear and show cause if any, why the samw should not be granted. Let this Order be published at the expense of the petitioner once a week for three (3) successive weeks in a newspaper published in the City of Davao and of general circulation in the said city and the provinces of Davao as determined by raffled in accordance with law. Furnish each with a copy of the petition and of this Order the Local Civil registrar of Davao City and the City Legal Office of Davao City as counsel for the City of Davao. SO ORDERED. `Given this 26th day of January 2012, Davao City, Philippines. (SGD) VIRGINIA –HOFILEÑA A. EUROPA Presiding Judge Copy furnished: 1. Atty. Dennis R. Ampon, Calinan, Davao City 2. The Local Civil Registrar, Davao City 3. The City legal Office, Davao City (Edge 2/13,20/27)

EDGEDAVAO THE BUSINESS PAPER

community sense

FebRuary 13 - 19, 2012 VOL. 4 NO. 50

Hedcor reforests Davao region R

eforestation remains at the top of the environmental initiatives after Hedcor targeted 236, 000 trees to plant this year. The hydro firm achieved 210, 519 planted trees in Benguet, Ilocos Sur and Davao, recorded in the whole year of 2011 alone. “Tree planting activity is for everybody’s efforts to attain the total protection and preservation of the forest and for the riverbank stabilization,” Hedcor vice president Gregorio Jabonillo said. The host communities of Hedcor across the country were actively participating of its entire environmental endeavor. Like in Mindanao, the host communities of the

42.5-MW run-of-river Sibulan Hydro Power Plant were the one who maintain the trees planted by Hedcor volunteers at the steeply sloping land of Davao del Sur. During the Hedcor Sibulan, Inc. agreement of watershed management plan with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, local government of Davao del Sur and the community of Indigenous Peoples, Hedcor adopted 1000 hectares of the protected areas of Mt. Apo Natural Park to contribute the preservation of riverbank. For sustainable development, Hedcor allows the host communities to request what trees to plant at their areas according to the farm-

ers’ need. “Usually, their requested trees were narra, mahogany, molave, bamboo, coconut, durian, rambotan, and lanzones,” Jabonillo said. Hedcor listed anew of various reforestation-related activities this 2012 to supplement the watershed capacity due to Hedcor’s power generation is entirely dependent to the amount of river flow. Hedcor is committed to promote Cleanergy, AboitizPower’s brand of clean and renewable energy, and will continue to look for more rivers to develop for run-of-river hydropower generation. To date, Hedcor has 18 run-ofriver hydropower plants in the country with a total capacity of 150 MW.

Globe Telecom provides free calls for earthquake victims in Negros

he victims of the Negros Oriental earthquake have been calling their loved ones for free at the Globe Libreng Tawag Stations located in Jimalalud Poblacion Central School, Negros Oriental State University, municipal Plaza of Guihulngan, Tayasan police station, and La Libertad and Tanjay towns, Negros Oriental (in coordination with NTC region 7 group) Globe provides the DSWD Guihulngan City of-

fice with prepaid mobile phone load as well as broadband tattoo sticks for internet use. Globe has strong 3G signal in the area which allows for fast delivery of data via the internet. The Globe-provided communication tools make it easier for DSWD to coordinate the mobilization of relief goods. In coordination with SLB – Simbahang Lingkod Bayan, Globe Telecom, Inc. conducted relief operations last Friday, Feb. 10 Sitio,

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY BALIKATAN HOUSING FINANCE, INC., Mortgagee/Assignee,

Nagkalhim, Claubhinhan, Sito Cadre and Sito Bucana, all isolated and unserved areas of around 500 families. Globe is distributing relief goods of water, rice and canned goods sourced from Robinsons, Bacolod and brought to Guihulngan (a good 5 hour land travel). CSR Staff Apple Evangelista -09175882919/ 09179374878 and Security Officer Ramon 09177941963 are coordinating efforts from Negros, Oriental.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. Residents of Tugbok District, Davao City volunteer to plant hundreds of

Monkayo residents benefit from Army medical mission

ver seven hundred residents of Monkayo, Compostela Valley Province benefited from the medical and dental mission spearheaded by the 25th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army in collaboration with the local government unit (LGU). The weeklong medical mission that began February 6 (Monday) covered four barangays to include Tubotubo, Babag, Union and Naboc in the municipality of Monkayo benefitting 711

EJF-REM CASE NO. 13030-11

MAE LYNN D. DORINGUEZ Mortgagor/s. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by Balikatan Housing Finance, Inc., with postal address at the 24th Floor, BPI Buendia Center, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City, against MAE LYNN D. DORINGUEZ, with postal addresses at 7-1 Del Pilar St., Agdao, DAVAO CITY and Lot 18, Blk. 4, LA VERNA HILLS SUBD., BO. PAMPANGA ,DAVAO CITY DAVAO DEL SUR, the mortgagor/s, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of February 09, 2010 amounts to Two Hundred Eighty Nine Thousand Six Hundred Twenty Five Pesos (289,625.00), Philippine Currency, exclusive of interest, penalties and charges, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to 25% of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale;the undersigned will sell at public auction on March 22 2012, at 10:00 A.M.., or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland,Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate/s of Title No/s. T-179643 “ A parcel of land of land of the consolidation-subdivision project(Lot 18, Blk.4 of the consolidation –subdivision plan Pcs-112402-001422 , situated in the Barangay of Pampanga,,City of Davao, Island of Mindanao. xxx containing an area of ONE HUNDRED FORTY FIVE (145) SQUARE METERS, MORE OR LESS. xxx” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date. In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on April 19, 2012 without further notice. Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the titles herein described real property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be. Davao City, Philippines, January 11, 2012 FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF: (SGD.) NICOLAS L. SUMAPIG Sheriff IV Noted by: (SGD) ATTY. EDIPOLO P. SARABIA, JR. Clerk of Court VI & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff Copy furnished: The Mortgagee- Balikatan Housing Finance,Inc. The Mortgagor- MAE LYNN D. DORINGUEZ PUBLISHER – EDGE DAVAO POSTING – 3 conspicuous places ( Edge- 2/13,2027)

residents. The mission consisted of minor surgeries including circumcision, medical and dental check-up to include tooth extraction among others. 25th IB Commanding Officer Lt. Col. Cesar A. Molina commended the contribution of the Municipal Health Office (MHO) of Monkayo and the medical and dental teams of the 10th Infantry Division’s and the Eastern Mindanao Command. “This is a joint effort

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY BALIKATAN HOUSING FINANCE, INC., Mortgagee/Assignee,

EJF-REM CASE NO. 13031-11 RETCHEL P. DIABORDO Mortgagor/s. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by Balikatan Housing Finance, Inc., with postal address at the 24th Floor, BPI Buendia Center, Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, Makati City, against RETCHEL P. DIABORDO, with postal addresses at 30 Juan dela Cruz St. Davao City and Lot 20, Blk.48, Turkey St., CABANTIAN COUNTRY HOMES, BO. CABANTIAN, DAVAO CITY ,DAVAO DEL SUR, the mortgagor/s, to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of May 06, 2011 amounts to Two Hundred Eleven Thousand Two Hundred Fifty Pesos (211,250.00.00), Philippine Currency, exclusive of interest, penalties and charges, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to 25% of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale;the undersigned will sell at public auction on March 22 2012, at 10:00 A.M.., or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland,Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate/s of Title No/s. T-215056 “ A parcel of land of land of the consolidation-subdivision (Lot 20, Blk.48 of the consolidation –subdivision plan Pcs-112402-001696 , situated in the Barangay of Cabantian, ,City of Davao, Island of Mindanao. xxx containing an area of NINETY SEVEN AND 100/65 (97.65) SQUARE METERS, MORE OR LESS. xxx” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date. In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on April 19, 2012 without further notice. Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the titles herein described real property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be. Davao City, Philippines, January 11, 2012 FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF: (SGD.) NICOLAS L. SUMAPIG Sheriff IV Noted by: (SGD) ATTY. EDIPOLO P. SARABIA, JR. Clerk of Court VI & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff Copy furnished: The Mortgagee- Balikatan Housing Finance,Inc. The Mortgagor- RETCHEL P. DIABORDO PUBLISHER – EDGE DAVAO POSTING – 3 conspicuous places ( Edge- 2/13,20,27)

bamboo seedlings along the Talomo River for riverbank stabilization together with Hedcor employees.

with our partners who never fail to provide assistance in delivering basic services to the residents of far flung areas,” Molina said adding that there will be more of the same to be conducted through the Peace and Development Outreach Program (PDOP). “You can expect that more communities will benefit and that more needs be addressed thru PDOP, that is why we continue to collaborate our efforts with the LGUs,” Molina said. [10th ID]

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11th Judicial Region Branch 17, Davao City REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff,

CIVIL CASE NO. 32,378-08 FOR: ESCHEAT

-versusDEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES,DAVAO BRANCH; EQUITABLE PCI BANK (NOW BANCO DE ORO), AGDAO, BANGOY,BANKEROHAN, C.M. RECTO, R. MAGSAYSAY, AND SAN PEDRO DAVAO BRANCHES; LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, DAVAO (RECTO) BRANCH; MAYBANK OF THE PHILIPPINES , DAVAO CITY BRANCH; METRO BANK, AGDAO, BAJADA, BANKEROHAN, DAVAO CENTER, DAVAO DOCTORS, RIZAL, STA. ANA, AND D. SUAZO BRANCHES, PHILIPPINE BANK OF COMMUNICATION, MONTEVERDE BRANCH, PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK, TORIL ,DAVAO BRANCH; PHILIPPINE VETERANS BANK, DAVAO BRANCH; AND ALL CREDITORS/DEPOSITORS AS LISTED IN ANNEXES “A” TO “I” THEREOF, Defendants, x------------------------------x ORDER The plaintiff Republic of the Philippines filed the instant Complaint, praying that after publication and hearing, judgement be rendered declaring that the deposits with the defendant banks, credits and unclaimed balances in question be escheated to plaintiff Republic of the Philippines, and commanding defendant banks to forthwith deposit the same with the Treasurer of the Philippines. Finding the Complaint to be sufficient in form and substance, set hearing of this case to May 21, 2012 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning, directing all interested persons to appear on the said date ; and to show cause, why plaintiff’s prayer should not be granted. Plaintiff through counsel, is directed to publish this Order, at least once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks, prior to-the-date of hearing, in a designated and assigned qualified newspaper of general circulation, pursuant to Act No. 3986. Furnish a copy of this Order to the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Davao City, for raffling of the publication. SO ORDERED. Given this 16th day of January 2012 at Davao City, Philippines (SGD) EVALYN A. MORALES Presiding Judge Serve on: Asst. City Prosecutor Carlos Castaños- City prosecution Office Solicitor General- 134 Amorsolo St. Legaspi Vill. Makati City The Clerk of Court-RTC hall of Justice, Davao City (Edge 2/06, 13 ,20)

THE BUSINESS PAPER EDGEDAVAO

governance

14 VOL. 4 NO. 50 FebRuary 13 - 19, 2012

Mayor Sara creates Davao City Festival Management Committee N

oting the primary importance of tourism as one of the backbones of the local economy, Mayor Inday Sara Duterte has created the Davao City Festival Management Committee through Executive Order No. 03 series of 2012. The mayor said tourism generates revenue for the local government and has provided livelihood to a number of Dabawenyos as well as for big and small-scale businesses. “The Festival Management Committee has been created to harmonize all the festivals celebrated by the City of Davao, fully maximize its objectives and properly realize the plans for each event,” Duterte said. Davao City’s identity has been showcased through the celebration of its various festivities, like the Araw ng Dabaw, a commemoration of the city’s founding anniversary;

SARA

the newly created Davao Summerfest, which promotes sports tourism in the city; the highlyacclaimed Kadayawan Festival, which features the ten tribes of Davao City and the city’s flora and fauna and the Pasko Fiesta, which gives prominence to the Dabawenyo way of celebrating Christmas amid the different beliefs and traditions of the people of Davao City. In addition to those events, Davao City has been chosen to host the Meetings,

Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) in 2013. Hosting MICE next year is considered a tourism milestone and valuable achievement for the local tourism industry. The Committee, which will be chaired by the Mayor herself, will also include City Administrator Zuleika Lopez as vice chair and Gene Bangayan of Duaw Dabaw Festival Foundation as co-vice chair. Included among its functions are the planning and ensuring the smooth coordination of all of the activities of the four major festivals of the city and encourage greater private sector participation during the events. According to the Executive Order, the roles and responsibilities for ensuring the successful implementation of the major events to be celebrated this year have been defined and will be specifically assigned to the committee member accountable. [Jo-

seph Lawrence P. Garcia]

NATIONAL AWARDEE. DSWD 11 Assistant Regional Director Priscilla N. Razon [2nd from right] and husband Roberto [rightmost] pose with Secretary Corazon J. Soliman after the recent DSWD 61st Anniversary Program and Awards Ceremonies in

Davao City gov’t to review its waste-to-energy project T he Davao City executive department will review waste–to-energy (WTE) proposals earlier submitted by foreign companies for the city’s P300-million sanitary landfill. Lawyer Joseph Felizarta, head of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office

‘Davao-in-a-Minute’ video contest marks city’s Diamond Anniversary

n time for the 75th anniversary of its cityhood, the City of Davao is launching a one-minute video competition which aims to complement its Life is Here branding campaign. “We are inviting filmmakers, video artists, wedding videographers, graphic artists, animators, vloggers

(video bloggers), mass communication students or any interested person to join this competition; this is one way to help promote Davao in their own creative style,” said Rjay Sta. Teresa, project coordinator. The videos can be in any form (short films, music videos, commercials, slide

shows, audio-visual productions, documentaries, animations,etc.) as long as the body of the video does not exceed 60 seconds or one-minute. The video must also conform to the theme; Davao City-Life is Here. “We want the video competition to be this year. These

Batasan, Quezon City. Razon was named National Awardee as Best Assistant Manager for her outstanding performance and accomplishments. Also in photo are Undersecretary Mateo G. Montano and Undersecretary Alicia R. Bala. [DSWD Photo]

one-minute video works can easily be uploaded, is audience and media friendly and with the potential to be viral since it can easily be shared. ” Sta. Teresa said. “Making one-minute videos is an exciting artistic challenge for the makers to conceptualize, create their stories and compress them in one minute. That is why the limitation of the concept rests on the creative juices of the makers.” Sta. Teresa added. For those interested to join the competition, registration is required, which is absolutely free. Registration forms are available at Duaw Davao Festivals Foundation Office at Room 12, 2nd Floor Davao City Hall Bldg and the Mindanao Film and Television Development Foundation (MFTDFI) office at 59-A Aala Bldg, F. Inigo St. Davao City Hall. For inquiries, call the organizers at 225-3456 (MFTDFI office) or email them at davaoinaminute@ live.com. Deadline for video submission is on March 9 at 3:00 p.m. Winning videos will receive: P30,000 (first prize), P20,000 with trophy (second prize) P10,000 plus trophy (3rd prize). Five other videos will receive consolation prizes of P5,000 each and a people’s choice awardee will receive P5,000. The top one-minute videos will be exhibited in roving exhibitions at the major malls of the city. The awarding ceremony will be held on March 13 during the Mayor and Vice Mayor Appreciation program. The first Davao-in-aMinute Video Competition is organized by the Duaw Davao Festivals Foundation in partnership with the Mindanao Film and Television Development Foundation Incorporated (MFTDFI), organizer of the annual Davao City-based Mindanao Film Festival, one of the continuous longest running indie film festivals in the country. The One-in-a-Minute video competition is one of the many activities on the occasion of Davao’s Diamond Anniversary as a city which was inaugurated as a Chartered City on March 16, 1937. [PIA 11/RG Alama]

(CENRO), said two of these WTE proponents are the Sinova Holdings Ltd., a Singaporean company, and Integral Global Green, Inc. based in Canada. Felizarta made the statement following the pulling out of Herhof, a company based in Germany from its WTE proposal for Davao City due to some disagreements with its local counterpart. Felizarta, however, did not elaborate further on the two other WTE proposals clarifying that the existing sanitary landfill is still capable of holding wastes eight to 10 years from now. He also said the WTE project is still preferable and probably the best option because aside from addressing the waste disposal problem of the city, it will generate clean energy, and is environment friendly. Mayor Sara D. Carpio earlier welcomed Herhof’s decision to withdraw because there are still

other potential companies that can be tapped to carry out a WTE project for the city. Herhof’s WTE project proposal was earlier estimated to cost P1 billion at no cost on the part of the city government. It was learned that City Council Environment Chairperson Marissa Abella, had earlier revealed that the US-based firm representative, a certain Mike Jimenez and his local partner, William Lima, disagreed on some matters that resulted to the pullout. Abella rendered her report to the mayor on her visit to Herhof’s plants in Germany as well as Jimenez and Lima’s disagreements. Among the by-products that will be produced through the WTE project are liquefied gas, construction bricks, plastic pellets and compost fertilizer.

[PNA]

Good Governance key to nutrition accolades

inning major awards in nutrition has a lot to do with governance, Regional Nutrition Program Coordinator Maria Teresa Ungson said. Basing her observations on the latest Regional Nutrition Awarding in December last year, Ungson noted that inherent among awarded local government units (LGUs) were the integration of nutrition concerns in their investment plans, aside from the receptiveness of local chief executives (LCEs) to take initiatives in line with the nutrition program implementation. “Di mahirap kausapin ang mga local chief executives (It is not difficult to deal wit local chief executives) when it comes to nutrition,” she said. Other winning edge of LGUs were the parallel support to the nutrition program among city and municipal governments and barangays, and the presentation of sufficient document to back up claims of efforts geared towards bringing down malnutrition among children. Regional Awardees Citing Davao del Norte, Ungson explained that the province last year earned the recognition as the Regional Green Ban-

ner Awardee not because it posted the lowest rate of malnutrition among pre-school children, but because its cities and municipalities also showed strong efforts on nutrition. The Regional Green Banner Award is given to LGUs (province, city and municipality) in recognition of their “exemplary performance in managing the nutrition program, contributing to the improvement of the nutritional status of their constituents.” Ungson revealed that the province of Davao Oriental attained the highest reduction of malnutrition among preschool children, pushing down the prevalence rate to 5.48 percent in 2011 from 6.32 percent in 2010, while Compostela Valley posted the highest reduction in malnutrition prevalence rate among school children from 7.09 percent in 2010 to 6.14 percent in 2011. Davao del Norte achieved a reduction of only 0.1 percent in malnutrition prevalence rate among pre-school children from 6.7 percent in 2010 to 6.6 percent in 2011, but some of its component LGUs were found doing remarkable strides in addressing malnutrition.

[jeanevive duron abangan/ PIA 11]

BizQUIPS ‘THESE are just samples of the problems that are arising in the course of the impeachment trial. Indeed, what we often see is that in an imperfect world, we do not always have perfect justice.’ --Fr. Joaquin Bernas, constitutionalist and columnist

Heart and sex

EDGEDAVAO THE BUSINESS PAPER

FebRuary 13 - 19, 2012 VOL. 4 NO. 50

P17

E-mail: edgedavao_editorial@yahoo.com.ph

Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

1. Start the day with a jog at the People’s Park. There’s no better way of celebrating Valentine’s Day than by taking good care of your heart. 2. A hearty and healthy breakfast is a creative alternative to the usually over-rated dinner dates during February 14. Cross the Davao Gulf and have a romantic breakfast by the beach at Paradise Island. 3. Indulge in the world of art at the Davao Museum inside Insular Village. The art pieces and the peace and quiet of the place make it the perfect romantic getaway on Valentine’s Day.

here is no greater manifestation of love than diamonds and other precious stones. As materialistic as it may sound, the expression of joy that reflects on woman’s face when she is honored with rare earth gem is as beautiful as the spectrum of colors that a diamond reflects when hit by light – soft, subdued, and delicate. There is nothing like a pair of ruby or emerald earrings that can accentuate a woman’s face, or the way that sapphires and diamonds adorn a woman’s fingers. Like all precious stones, true love is will to go through great lengths to prove its worth. There are many other ways of showing your love for a person but nothing is as grandiose, more intimate, and more personalized than jewelry. Unlike other things or products that you can buy in the market, precious stones are one of a kind – meaning no two stones are the same – which only shows that the precious stones are as special as your loved one is. Here are some tips that you should consider when buying jewelry for that special woman in your life: Birthstone earrings It should surprise no one that earrings and other jewelry featuring birthstones make fitting birthday gifts. To determine her birthstone, you can check out the listings at Gemstone.org. Expect price and quality to

vary widely here depending on when her birthday falls. The world’s most highly valued gemstones are sapphires (September), emeralds (May), rubies (July), and diamonds (April). Sterling silver charm bracelet or white gold if she doesn’t like silver. Charm bracelets are good to give her on a first-time occasion, such as a first anniversary or a first vacation together. Include one charm with the bracelet to get her started -- one that references the occasion -- and you’re set. The great benefit to the charm bracelet should be obvious: It’s provides built-in, relatively foolproof gift solutions for the future -- more charms to add to the bracelet. Teardrop choker Versatility is not a general hallmark of jewelry, particularly as prices go up. However, teardrop chokers come in countless styles, are made out of many different materials and play a big part in a woman’s accessorizing. This versatility, along with a lack of any overt symbolism, helps to make such a piece of jewelry a great gift to present on a whim, as a way to show your love and appreciation. Swarovski crystal earrings Swarovski crystals enjoy a worldwide reputation as a luxury commodity. But the company itself does not make jewelry, just the crystal. Consequently, an attractive pair of Swarovski crys-

tal earrings in virtually any style carries a luxury brand name at a reasonable price, making them good gifts for the holidays and occasions you regard as less important than others, like the dreaded Valentine’s Day. But the most important thing that you should consider in giving jewelry to your partner is something that she would appreciate and would want to wear. After all, it’s her who’s going to wear the jewelry, right? Here are some more tips you should consider before busting your credit limit on that 3 carat diamond ring: Listen to her Easier said than done for many of us, but in this instance it more accurately means to be listening for when she does drop a hint. If push comes to shove, try to induce a hint: Take her to the mall on some pretense and walk her past every jewelry store in the complex. She’s bound to point out something that catches her eye. Look at her Over the course of a week, as you see her dressed up for different occasions -work, a dinner out, a party -- take inventory of each piece of jewelry she wears, noting as best you can the nature of the jewelry. Ascertaining what she wears and what she doesn’t gives you a solid head start. After all, if she never wears earrings, there’s little point buying her a pair; but if she can’t make up her mind between hoops

Heart of Stone

or studs, you may be on to something. Appraise her taste Using the results of your inventory, then broadening that scope to include her wider style in clothes, and appraise her tastes. Does she have finer tastes, getting weak-kneed in the presence of another woman’s massive diamond ring? Or are you one of the luckier guys whose companion prefers the variety and accessibility of less expensive costume jewelry? Avoid rings You’ve heard of promise rings, engagement rings and wedding rings. Ever heard of a girlfriend ring? Of course not, because they don’t exist. Nor should they. You can’t win a fight against centuries of symbolism, so unless you’re already married or you plan to give her this ring on bended knee (more symbolism), the gift of a ring is just too loaded. It’s not cute nor is it appreciated by women unless your intentions are clearly that of solid commitment and a future walk down the aisle. Ask for advice This is dangerous ground, so tread lightly. The problem with asking her friends for advice is that you’re engaging one woman in a conspiracy of silence against another , and almost inevitably something’s going to give. Instead of having to find this out too late, eschew the friends and stick with reliable family members. Sisters are an excellent source of information, especially if they are close in age and spend a great deal of time together. No doubt they’ve poured of many a childhood fantasy about knights in shining armor -- and their gifts. Compiled by Carlo P. Mallo Products courtesy of Emilia’s Jewelry

4. Valentine’s Day is after all the feast day of St. Valentines. Say a prayer for him at the Sta. Ana Church and imagine yourself walking down that pretty long aisle when the day comes. 5. Grab a bite at Gino’s Burgers along Sta. Ana Avenue for that unpretentious-straight-off-the-grill-goodness meal. Just like how love should be, it has no frills and just so real. 6. Since it’s a workday, Valentine’s Day will be a good day to spend shopping with that special person. Check out what the new stores of Abreeza or your well-loved brands at SM City Davao have to offer. 7. Drive to the cool mountain resorts of Eden or Malagos Garden for some private time and MOMOL. 8. Maybe you can accompany your loved-one do the grocery at the Gaisano Mall of Davao for a complete selection. You can then make a special dinner at home and have that candle-lit dinner. 9. If you’re eating out, don’t just bring your dinner date anywhere, make it extra special by making reservations at restaurants like Binggoy’s Gourmet along J.P. Laurel Ave., or Belito’s Vineyard along Palm Drive. 10. Express your sweetness with the scrumptious dessert from Lachi’s or Tiny Kitchen. 11. Watch the latest Pinoy chick flick – Unofficially Yours. With John Lloyd Cruz playing the lead role, you can never go wrong with that. 12. Take a drive around the city and play some old school romantic music – it’s a great day to be mushy. 13. Cap the night with a steaming mug of coffee or a cup of yogurt at Coffee Cat, or with a bottle of sangria at De Borderij along MacArthur Highway. 14. Complete the night with a relaxing massage in a couple’s room at the Lazuli Spa of Marco Polo Hotel Davao. Compiled by Carlo P. Mallo

TRAVEL UP AND ABOUT

VOL. 4 NO. 50 FebRuary 13 - 19, 2012

Experience love with every bite Share moments of love in a Valentines rendezvous at Marco Polo Davao. Lotus Court’s dinner buffet showcases their best sellers such as the Roast Peking Duck, Roast Pig, Dim Sum delights, Steamed Garoupa, Crabs, and other premium seafood items, while Polo Bistro sets the mood for romance over candlelight dinner and live serenade. Their set menu includes a selection of salads, soups, entrées, desserts, and a complimentary glass of wine. Avoiding the V-day rush? Café Marco extends their Valentine Special from Feb. 13 to 15 featuring, among others, Beef Prime Ribs, Roast Pig, and other Japanese favorites, available for both lunch and dinner buffet. Dinner comes with a free glass of wine. For reservations and inquiries, please call (63 82) 221 0888 local 7222 or 7233.

An extravagant Vegas Valentine at the Waterfront Davao Hotel Catch an exciting dinner show packed with non-stop performances from Davao’s premier talents. Fill up your senses with the gorgeous lights, sounds and flavors of fabulous Vegas. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime chance; get your tickets now for only Php1,250.00 nett per person. For reservations and inquiries, call (082) 233 2881.

Go retro at SM Department Store

SM Department Store introduces the new retro phone! It’s 99% radiationsafe with a convenient one touch pick up / hang up compatible with with all 3.5mm Jack Mobile Phone & Computers. Say bye-bye to static / not clear conversation with its Crisp Audio Technology. Special price offering of P399.75 only from Feb 1- 29. What’s more get 10x your points when you present you SM Advantage, Prestige and BDO Rewards card upon purchase of Retro Phone. Be hip, be trendy, get the Retro Phone now! Comes in 4 different colors to suit your individual style.

YOUTH TRENDS

THE BUSINESS PAPER EDGEDAVAO

Singleton V-day diary

t is eight in the morning, the air is cool, and I just woke up. Normally, my mind would tell me that everything is good. I woke up unusually early, the weather is great, and I’m still alive. In fact, my morning is so seemingly perfect; I’m surprised why I haven’t started hearing birds sing while I vomit rainbows and butterflies. (I know, I’m weird in the morning)

But there is one major problem. February is coming up, and that is not a very happy thought. In fact, it is a thought that is pretty daunting; one that sends me shivers of panic and leads me to doubt everything I know about myself. I know you know where this is going. February is the Love Month. It is the month when we celebrate Valentine’s Day; a holiday that falls on the fourteenth but is actually extended from the beginning of the month until the end of it. Is there a problem with that? Not really. But here is where the problem lies: When you extend the season of love for a whole month, you magnify everything about

your love life. That means that you start thinking about your significant other and your relationship with them. Why does that scare me to bits? Because I have been single for twenty-five years… and I’m only twentyfour. Seriously though, people always say that Valentine’s is a time for love, no matter what type of love it is. Love for your family, love for your friends, love for your self, love for your neighbour, love for shopping, love for partying, or what ever other form of love you may feel towards any other person, object, or idea. But we all know that the real reason for Valentine’s is to celebrate romantic love. We try to fool ourselves into thinking that it is alright to be dateless during Valentines, or that it is okay to be single during the whole month where everything sweet and perfect and mushy is magnified and highlighted as if to slap you in the face with a big red sign saying “Hey, I’m painfully single!” The truth is, the whole Season of Love makes it difficult for single people like me because it puts some pressure on us to find a date or try to pretend to be happy with our singleness. And although this may seem laughable to some who are luckier in love, it actually is pretty difficult to do that especially on Feb 14. You see, some single people are glad to not have to face the fact that they are loveless. But when your singleness coincides with a season that celebrates everything but (being single), you are forced to realize that you are so terribly alone. And that is not a very comforting thought. So what do we do to cope? Most people frantically look for dates; somehow finally accepting or asking out people who did not seem date-worthy prior to the flu of desperation that comes with Valentines. Some try to set themselves up with old flames that happen to be single, or try to gather a group of miserable, single friends to

celebrate the holiday. While some try to pretend that they are oblivious to the whole love frenzy and stay home to enjoy the company of their imaginary boyfriend. But do these really help? Des it really feel good to have a date on Valentines, even if that means you are going out with someone you do not actually have feelings for? Is it worth all the effort to drag yourself to go out with someone just for the purpose of going out with someone? Is it really comforting to go out with a group of single friends and brave all the

traffic and hassle of dining out during Valentines just to comfort yourself with the thought that you weren’t dateless during the Day of Dates? I don’t know about you, but I have survived 24 dateless Valentine’s before. And if that doesn’t make me an expert about it, I don’t know what else will. I think that the sooner you realize that although it doesn’t feel right to be dateless during Valentine’s, it is alright. In fact, it is just another day spent towards your journey of finding your one true love. Think about it as just another knot in the rope, another hump in the road, another day off the calendar, and you are bound to cope. I’m not saying it will be easy, because you will feel the pressure and you will be bitter about it, but try to let it pass as painless as possible. And if it helps (and it always does), go out and party with your friends and celebrate the fact that you are mature enough to admit that you are single and dateless during Valentines, are bitter, but coping with it. Listen to Confessions of a Partyphile on the radio every Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9. For comments, suggestions, V-Day date invitations, and confessions from this partyphile log on to http://party.i.ph or twitter. com/zhaun

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EDGEDAVAO HEALTH THE BUSINESS PAPER

FebRuary 13 - 19, 2012 VOL. 4 NO. 50

Heart and sex A

t last! Valentine’s Day is here and the best past time on this day is spending quality time with your loved ones specially your partner! So, how can we enjoy and perform well in bed and strengthen our hearts in the process? Is it true that we can have better sex through diet and exercise? You bet! Eating the right kinds of foods and getting plenty of muscle-strengthening exercise is just the prescription for a healthier sex life. A dash of positive attitude ties it all together: You have to believe you’re hot if you want to make things sizzle in the bedroom. Being sexy and self-confident is just a state of mind. Here’s how… Attitude Is Everything Believe in yourself. Reward your successful weight loss with an alluring outfit or lingerie that showcases your new figure -- even if you’re still far from your goal. If you feel good about your body, that feeling is communicated loud and clear to your sweetheart. We all would love to have the bodies of supermodels, but let’s be realistic: Your main squeeze is loving the new you and your renewed sense of well-being -- a positive byproduct of your diet and exercise routine! A healthy diet, regular exercise, and a positive attitude are only the beginning. It also helps to get plenty of sleep,

quit smoking, and control the stress in your life. Not only will you look better, you’ll feel good about yourself -- a real boost in the between-the-sheets department. The Secret to Sexual Prowess Both men and women can get great results if they follow the advice from Lynn Fischer’s book, The Better Sex Diet. The author suggests that if you eat a heart-healthy diet, the benefits to your heart will improve the blood flow to other organs in the body. And increasing the blood flow to sexual organs will increase desire and function. The theory is simple. Good health is an integral part of good sex, and eating healthfully and exercising regularly is the pathway to good health. The book is based on Dean Ornish’s research on reversing heart disease with a very lowfat, almost vegetarian, diet. Fischer recommends eating a low-fat diet with lots of fiber, grains, fruits, nuts, vegetables, and lean sources of dairy and protein. No mystery here, just creative packaging that reiterates the message that a healthy diet goes a long way toward a satisfying lifestyle. Shake It Getting regular physical activity is an easy way to boost your sexual prowess. “Adults who exercise regularly not only have increased levels of desire, but also enhanced ability to perform sexually and greater sexual satisfaction,” says Cedric Bryant, PhD, chief exercise

To strengthen your heart

and

help

build

endurance,

add a few highintensity bouts to your fitness routine. For

example,

increase the incline on the treadmill, or increase the speed, for a few minutes at a time during your workout.

physiologist for the American Council on Exercise. To strengthen your heart and help build endurance, add a few high-intensity bouts to your fitness routine. For example, increase the incline on the treadmill, or increase the speed, for a few minutes at a time during your workout. Strength training is also a good idea, to build shapely muscle and to keep your body strong enough to handle all your day-to-day activities (including sex). One exercise for women is

the Kegel -- the same exercise gynecologists recommend to keep the pelvic floor strong during pregnancy. These muscles can increase pleasure sensations during sex. They’re the same muscles you use to stop the flow of urine when you’re using the bathroom. Just practice tightening them whenever you think about it during the day. Staying fit works wonders for so many parts of the body. With as little as 30 minutes a day of regular exercise, you will burn calories, build muscle, and feel more confident, more vivacious, and virile for Valentine’s Day and every day thereafter! Recharge and Energize A good night’s sleep goes a long way toward ensuring that you have enough energy for a roll in the hay. It’s hard to be in the mood for love when you are exhausted! It’s also important to have the right frame of mind. So leave your troubles behind, forget about work -- unwind and experience the pleasure of your partner. A healthy sex life needs to be a priority. Take a hot bath, a quiet walk, or whatever it takes to help you relax. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. It is no secret that excessive alcohol can dampen your sexual energy. Plan ahead, and limit your consumption to one or two drinks before an evening of romance. Remember, a lifestyle that’s healthy for you overall will be healthy for your sex life -- period. Boost your sexual potency naturally with a healthy diet, lots of physical activity, and an attitude that screams, “I’m worth it!” Happy Heart’s Day to all!

STYLE

VOL. 4 NO. 50 FebRuary 13 - 19, 2012

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Jackets 101 from Surplus

With the New Year’s cool crisp air, the jacket is the stylish woman’s best accessory. These will not only keep you warm, but also give you that attitude and allure jackets have long been associated with. Here are some key jacket finds from Surplus to keep you confident, upbeat, and in-trend. * Padded Jackets: Your perfect companion when travelling abroad. Snuggle in style with Surplus’ great selection of padded jackets. * Denim Jackets: A timeless classic with lots of attitude and lots of allure. * Tailored Jackets: Sleek structured jackets that go well with power suits and simple jeans and tees. * Cardigans and Knitted Jackets: Pretty preppie pieces. Soft and lightweight, these are perfect substitutes for a blazer when at work and great for chilling out on casual days. * Sporty Jackets: Now out of the gym, most sporty jackets today are street-wear inspired and in high fashion style. But they still capture all the fun and fitness vibe of the sporting life. Complete your look with Retro Phones from Surplus. Get 10x your points when presenting your SM Advantage, SM Prestige or BDO rewards Card upon purchase of a Retro Phone for only P399.75 until February 29, 2012. The Jacket collection is available at Surplus located at the Second Floor of SM City Davao, where we all come together!

ABOVE: Pink and blue hooded jackets from Surplus worn with graphic tees and denim jeans. LEFT: Cardigan. Keep warm in this pink knitted hoodie with a plaid lining and button detailing. BOTTOM: Cool classic denim jacket with shearling lining. F. Torres St., Davao City Tel No. 227-3773 - (72) Fax: 295-3485

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A pretty faux fur detachable hood and pastel colored muffler jazzes up this beige padded jacket.

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games

FebRuary 13 - 19, 2012 VOL. 4 NO. 50

PhilHealth’s Mindanao Fun Run generated P4.5M for Davao’s children cancer center T

he Mindanao-wide simultaneous fun run organized by the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) last February 5 (Sunday) will benefit the Children’s Cancer Center and Blood Diseases Unit (CCCBDU) of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), this city. The PhilHealth Run: The Mindanao Run for Hope, kicked off early morning of February 5 in six key cities in Mindanao with around 18,000 runners from Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Koronadal, Marawi and Zamboanga. Newly appointed PhilHealth president Dr. Eduardo P. Banzon said the fun run will provide financial assistance to the children cancer

center facility of the largest government-run hospital in the country. Banzon said 100 percent of the proceeds, estimated to net P4.5 million from the registration fees and major sponsors, will go to SPMCCCCBDU. He said PhilHealth organized the charity activity after seeing the need to give support to the facility which lacks beds, and financial means to help families increase the survival rates of patients. SPMC-CCCBDU pediatrician-oncologist Dr. Concepcion J. Dolendo said despite the presence of the facility, the survival rate remains bleak due to budgetary constraints, uneducated parents and the lack of access

Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications

LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao city

Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate an AIRCONDITIONED TAXI Service.

Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a SCHOOL TRANSPORT Service.

MAMERTO M. SALANGA, Petitioner Case No.2010-XI-00427 x- - - - - - - - -- - - - ----------- - - x NOTICE HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of an AIRCONDITIONED TAXI service on the route: WITHIN DAVAO CITY to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on December 31, 2011. In the petition filed on December 28, 2011, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same units previously authorized. NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on MARCH 06, 2012 at 09:00 a. m. at this office at the above address. At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time. This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence. WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 28th day of December 2011 at Davao City. TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transport Development Officer

/hoc Copy furnished: Petitioner, Mamerto M. Salanga, P4 B70 L15, Deca Homes, Brgy. Tacunan, Davao City Counsel, Atty. Napoleon F. Sango, Rm. 204, Caritas Bldg., CM Recto St.,Davao City NOTE: Affidavit of Publication and newspaper where notice was published must be submitted three (3) days before the scheduled hearing.

RUBY SOCORRO P. LOPECILLO, Petitioner Case No.2007-XI-00390 x- - - - - - - - -- - - - ----------- - - x NOTICE HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a SCHOOL TRANSPORT service exclusively for the transportation of Students/ Pupils from their respective residences from Gulfview Executive Homes, IWHA Village, Dacoville Subdivision to St. Peter’s College of Toril, Davao City and vice versa with the use of ONE (1) unit, which Certificate will expire on September 18, 2012. In the petition filed on December 27, 2011, petitioner requests authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same units previously authorized. NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on MARCH 06, 2012 at 09:40 a. m. at this office at the above address. At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time. This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence.

to a cancer facility. Dolendo said the center has only 25 beds, a dismal number compared to the number of kids with cancer that need to be treated. The SPMC-CCCBDU is the only facility in the Vi-

sayas and Mindanao that can deliver multi-disciplinary care for children with cancer, Banzon told the media in a press conference held on Saturday, Feb. 4 at The Marco Polo Davao. From the participants’

registration fees at P250 for the 3K run, P300 for the 5K run, P500 for the 10K run and P600 for the 17K run, PhilHealth regional vice president Dennis Adre said the fun run generated not less than P4.5 million.

the award by the country’s sportswriting community composed of editors and sportswriters from the different national broadsheets and tabloids. As one of the most active NSAs all-year round, ABAP will receive the award for the second time in a row under the leadership of chairman Manny V. Pangilinan and president Ricky Vargas, but its third in the last five years after likewise being bestowed of the title in 2006. Since first handed out to the Philippine Taekwondo Association in 2004, only seven distinguished NSAs had received the award, including the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation (2005), Philippine Aquatics Sports Association (2007), Philippine Wushu Federation (2008), and the Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (2009). “The award is a testament to the BSCP and ABAP’s commitment to continue developing sports heroes for the country,” said Rey Bancod of Tempo, president of the oldest media organization in the country responsible for taking the lead

in honoring Filipino athletes during its yearly awards rite presented by Smart, ICTSI, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Milo, Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), Harbour Centre, SM Prime Holdings, and Coca-Cola. Vice-President Jejomar Binay is the guest of honor and keynote speaker during the formal, two-hour bash. Orcollo, who shares the coveted Athlete of the Year honor with reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) super-bantamweight title holder Nonito Donaire Jr., won the 8-ball championship by routing Neils Feijen of the Netherlands in the finals, 103, at the Fujairah Exhibition Center in United Arab Emirates . The 32-year-old former fisherman-turned-world champion then added to his collection the eight-ball gold medal of the 26th Southeast Asian Games, where lady cue artist Irish Ranola accounted for the other two gold medals of billiards. Orcollo ended the season as the Player of the Year by the World Pool and Bil-

Adre said the charity activity was a kick-off event to PhilHealth’s 17th anniversary celebration on February 14, with the theme: “Sa PhilHealth, Pinalawak na Benepisyo, Garantisado.” [PIA 11/Carina L. Cayon]

Donaire, Orcollo: ‘Athletes of the Year’ P

roducing four world champions and the first Filipino to qualify in the London Olympics, there was no doubting Philippine sports in 2011 belonged to both billiards and boxing. World No. 1 player Dennis Orcollo, and the tandem of Rubilen Amit and the great Efren `Bata’ Reyes kept the pool flame burning in the country, while youthful Eumir Marcial and Mark Anthony Barriga kept the country’s tradition as home to some of the world’s finest boxers. For developing world class athletes on a consistent basis, both the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines (BSCP) and Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) share the distinction as the National Sports Associations (NSAs) of the Year by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA). On March 3 at the Manila Hotel, the two sports bodies will stand side by side when the PSA pays tribute to the top achievers of the year in its Annual Awards Night. For the BSCP, it marked only the first time the federation will be honored with

Filipinos join Asian Rowing Championships

hree Filipino rowers will be competing in the 2012 Asian Rowing Championships in South Korea in the hope of qualifying in this year’s London Olympic Games. Philippine Rowing Association (PRA) president Benjie Ramos said during Friday’s SCOOP Sa Kamayan weekly session that Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Nestor Cordova and two teammates -- similarly be-medaled Alvin Amposta and Edgar Ilas -- are entered in two of 14 events scheduled in the competition set on April 26-29 in Chungjung, South Korea. [PNA]

liard Association (WPA) and finished as the top player in the world rankings. Reyes and Amit, meanwhile, renewed their partnership and dealt the American duo of Johnny Archer and Jeanette Lee a 10-6 beating in retaining the World Mixed Doubles Championship in Hangzhou , China . Marcial on the other hand, became the first ever Filipino to win a gold medal in the AIBA Junior World Boxing Championship in Kazakhstan, outclassing Onat Cengiz of Turkey in the 52 kg final, 9-7. Barriga failed to win a medal of any color in the AIBA World Championship in Baku , Azerbaijan , but the quirks of an AIBA rule allowed him to book a berth in the 2012 London Games despite only reaching the Round-of-16 of the world tournament. The Filipino boxers actually saved their best for last as they accounted for four gold medals in the Indonesia SEA Games courtesy of lady warriors Josie Gabuco and Alice Kate Aparri and male counterparts Charly Suarez and Dennis Galvan.

[PNA]

Beach volley, R11 Prisaa Meet at V-Day DSA Forum Tuesday

HE Nestea Beach Volleyball Mindanao Leg and the Regional Private Schools Athletic Association (RPrisaa) Meet will be the main topics in the Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum on Valentine’s Day, Tuesday, at the Tower Inn. Leg organizer Kenneth Sai of the Vantage Sports Promotions and tournament director Ali Bernan are guests along with Prisaa assistant executive director Joaquin “Boy” Sarabia.

Sai and Bernan will tackle the beach volleyfest set on Feb. 23 to 25 at the Paradise Park and Beach Resort, Island Garden City of Samal. Sarabia will talk on Davao City’s preparations for the regional eliminations on Feb. 24 to 26 at the University of Mindanao (UM) Matina. It will serve as qualifying for the National Prisaa Collegiate Games set in Cebu City in April. The 17-year-old weekly forum, sponsored by

Tower Inn, had been held every Thursday at the same venue, but DSA members, in a meeting yesterday, unanimously agreed to hold it on Tuesdays starting Feb. 14 to give way to the city government of Davao-backed I-Speak Forum set every Thursday. The DSA Forum has active members from media outlets Sun.Star Davao, Mindanao Times, Mindanao Daily Mirror, Edge Davao, Goldstar Daily, Sun.Star Davao Superbalita and Mindanews. [DSA]

WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 28th day of December 2011 at Davao City. TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transport Development Officer /hoc Copy furnished: Petitioner, Ruby Socorro P. Lopecillo, Prudential Village, Daliao, Toril, Davao City Counsel, Atty. Magin C. Natividad, Balusong Ave., Matina, Davao City NOTE: Affidavit of Publication and newspaper where notice was published must be submitted three (3) days before the scheduled hearing.

KAPATAGAN BIKING. Some of the biking enthusiasts from Davao City and Gen. Santos City pose during the Mt. Apo Highland DiscoveRide at Kapatagan, Davao del Sur organized by Mindanao

Travel Channel, Mt. Apo Highland Resort and Bravetower Events Promotions.

VOL. 4 NO. 50 FebRuary 13 - 19, 2012

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