Edge Davao 5 Issue 109

Sugod na ang mga kalingawan sa Kadayawan.

EDGEDAVAO P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

VOL.5 NO. 109 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 - 4, 2012

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Page 3 COLORFUL. Personnel of City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) erect colorful flags for the Kadayawan Festival around at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport yesterday.

DavSur mayor, 6 aides held following gun bust [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

Science/ Environment Page 4

By Anthony Allada Correspondent

Sports

Page 13

T

HE mayor of the municipality of Jose Abad Santos and his six security aides were arrested by combined elements of the Philippine National Police (PNP) for alleged illegal possession of firearms and explosives in a raid on the mayor’s house, dawn of Thursday.

Mayor James “Jimmy” Y. Joyce and his men were arrested at around 1:30 a.m. by operatives of the Regional In-

telligence Unit 11 led by Supt.

Leonardo A. Felonia, Davao del Sur Police Provincial Office Public Safety Company under Supt. Querubin Manalang and 4thSpecial Action Force Battalion led by Chief Insp. John Michael Mangahis.

Felonia identified the mayor’s aides as Ronnie Pandamon, Arnel Dionesio, Victorino Venancio, Hernan Miguel, Floro Arquillano and Boroy Tilo.

He said the operation was

conducted by virtue of a search warrant issued by Manila Executive Judge Marino dela Cruz Jr of the Regional Trial Court National Judicial Region Branch 22 against the house of Joyce located in Sitio Talisay, in Cabuaran Small.

A total of 12 high-powered firearms, including an AK 47 assault rifle, and ammunition were seized during the raid.

Felonia said the operatives were in a convoy on board nine

vehicles travelling for nine hours from Davao City’s Mintal staging area.

Upon arriving in the area, a SAF team immediately went into action against seven predesignated premises to clear and neutralize members of Police Auxiliary Group (PAG) in one broad sweep in preparation for the RIU-11 search party together with lawyer Richard Patriarca to serve the search

FDAVSUR, 12

Banker cleared of American’s killing n Cops scored for sloppy police work T

By Antonio M. Ajero

Follow Us On

HE City Prosecutor’s Office cleared a young banker from complicity in the “robbery with homicide case” of an American national in a posh subdivision in Davao City, January, this year.

Insufficiency of evidence partly brought about by sloppy police work saved the day for Ramon S. Jungco, a bank manager, accused of killing Basil Joseph Griffin, 73, an American national inside his

house at 2345 Champaca Lane, Woordrige Park Subdivision in Ma-a, Davao City on January 3, 2012.

The robbery with homicide case was filed by Police Officer 3 Wilfredo M. Gallego, officer on case, who acted as complainant since the victim did not have a relative in the city.

In dismissing the case against Jungco, assistant city prosecutor Marte Melchor S. Velasco said that pieces of evidence submitted by complainant police officer Gallego were not strong enough to sustain a finding of probable cause.

Velasco said the complainant’s witnesses had different ver-

sions of the factual circumstances and “that the more they state what the facts are, the more that it excludes the respondent (Jungco) from the commission of the incident.”

“There is no evidence linking the respondent to the grisly killing of Griffin except that he was the last person to visit the said victim,” Velasco said, adding that “this alone however would not

FBANKER, 12

2

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 NO. 109 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 - 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Social housing project in IGaCoS is unveiled A WIDOWS. Beatriz Ogao cries while listening to Josephine Catagman, both widows of Datu Causing, during an AFP/PNP press briefing yesterday at the Philippine

Information Agency office. Datu Causing, a tribal leader, allegedly killed by the New People’s Army (NPA) last month in Marilog, Davao City. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

Kadayawan opens today

M

AKE way for the King of Festivals.

Davao City rolls out its bounties for the much-anticipated Kadayawan Festival which formally opens this afternoon in elaborate and meaningful rites at the People’s Park.

Festival organizers have released a sneak peak of today’s opening ceremonies but would rather say the unique program should be a “touching moment.” Kadayawan, Davao’s annual festival of thanksgiving for a yearround bounty, will feature its ten proud tribes -- Sama, Maranao, Maguindanao, Kagan, Tausog, Clata, Manobo, Ata, Matigsalug, Tagabawa.

In a fitting tribute to its theme “Ten Tribes, One Vibe”, leaders of the ten tribes will

join City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio in the rites aptly called “pagtinapok-tapok” (convergence).

Today’s opening ceremonies at 4:30 in the afternoon will begin with a convergence of street dancers depicting the diverse ethnicities of Davao. Before sunset, Mayor Duterte-Carpio will beat the large agong to sound off the official start of the Kadayawan.

She will then be joined by the ten tribal leaders-Hadja Estrellita Tanjili Mahamud of the Sama Tribe (Sama), Gapor Usman, AlHadj of the Maranao Tribe (Illanun) Esmael Nakan (Maguindanao Tribe), Nicanor Mohamad, Al-Hadj of Kagan Tribe, Kagan or Kalagan), Masil Ahalul, Al-Hadj (Tau-

sog), Bae Herminia Ortiz (Clata), Omelis Duyan (Obu Manuvu), Roel Arthur Ali Sr. (Ata Tribe), Datu Carlito Guinto Sr. (Matigsalog), and Bae Gregoria Uy (Tagabawa).

The highlight of today’s opening ceremonies is the Ritual sa Panaghiusa and the Gasa sa Malabuong Tuig where Mayor DuterteCarpio presides over the unveiling of the giant durian fruit which peels off to a big basket of an assortment of Davao fruits.

“It’s something new, it’s an entirely new concept and this is just the start of the many new things to expect from this year’s Kadayawan,” said Gene Bangayan, chairperson of Duaw Davao Festival Foundation, lead organizer of the Kadayawan.

place to better the power situation in Mindanao.”

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), which was established under Republic Act No. 9996 and is currently chaired by Luwalhati Antonino, will oversee the MPMC. The coordinating body also serves as the secretariat.

Other members of the MPMC are the Department of Energy, the Energy Regulatory Commission, National Electrification Administration, National Power Corporation and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. Representatives from the Mindanao Electric Power Alliance and Association of Mindanao Rural Electric Cooperatives are likewise enjoined to become members of the committee.

The President directed the MPMC to develop

a database on pertinent information regarding the power sector in Mindanao, assess the energy situation in the region and evaluate the viability of the recommendations put forward following the Mindanao power summit, among others.

Government agencies, including state-owned and -controlled corporations, are asked to assist the MPMC to help it carry its mandate.

Ochoa said initial funding for MPMC will come from the contingent fund and other sources that may be determined by the Department of Budget and Management.

The subsequent budget will be incorporated in the regular appropriation for MinDA. EO No. 81 takes effect immediately upon its publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Creation of Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee okd

P

RESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III has issued Executive Order No. 81 creating the Mindanao Power Monitoring Committee (MPMC) to facilitate all initiatives aimed at improving the energy supply in the southern region.

Executive Secretary Paquito N. Ochoa Jr. said on Thursday that under E0 81 signed by President Aquino July 30, the coordinating body will monitor, harmonize and integrate recommendations designed to address the concerns of the Mindanao power industry sector.

“The President approved the formation of the MPMC since there is a need for a team or a body that will study the feasibility of recommendations to address the power situation in Mindanao,” Ochoa said. “It will ensure that coordination and monitoring are in

[PNA]

resettlement area in the Island Garden City of Samal is being developed with the support of the Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council.

Nancy Binay Angeles, representing Vice President Jejomar K.Binay, Sr., chairman of Housing Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement between the National Housing Authority (NHA) 11 by Engr.

Carolina Angel, regional director, and the government of Island Garden City of Samal by Mayor Aniano P. Antalan at the P20M Tambo Resettlement Project, Peñaplata Freedom Park on Thursday, July 26, 2012.

Earlier that day, Binay together with the officials of HUDCC Region 11, NHA11I and IGaCoS department heads joined the ground breaking and laying of a time capsule in the 3.7 hectare resettlement area at Barangay Tambo, Babak district.

The ground breaking ceremony was in time for the Madayaw Hugyaw Samal Celebration Opening Program.

“Saludo kami sa sector ngpabahay ninyo, sa proyektong ito hindi na mapa-alis sa tinitirahan ang ating mamamayan at magkaroon na sila ng sariling tirahan” ( We salute the local housing sector for this project, citizens won’t be forced from their houses and they would have their own houses), Nancy Binay Angeles said.

Binay commended the city government for giving priority to the resettlement program.

Mayor Antalan appreciated the presence of Binay and the fund extended by NHA which he said is of great help to reduce the housing backlog of the city.

The NHA fund assistance will be used for site development of the relocation area to cover relocation, subdivision survey and monumenting, earthworks,

roadworks, drainage, septic tank provision and water system.

Architect Maria Alma Valenciano, NHA manager for Mindanao, lauded the IGaCoS government, particularly the City Housing Board for the establishment of the housing project. The city expects to collect 50% of the funding from the beneficiaries to be returned to the NHA and with the remaining 50% to be retained as seed money of the city for another housing project.

The Tambo Resettlement Project area has 271 lots to accommodate homeless settlers residing along the shoreline of Barangay Pichon and Barangay Tambo, Babak district.

The relocation and resettlement of informal settlers residing in danger zones is one of the priority programs of the city. This is to protect settlers from untoward disasters and also to give way for the development of the city. [Samal CIO]

to look into the reports.

The Rodriguez brothers filed House Resolution 2542 urging the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs chaired by Rep. Walden Bello (Party List, Akbayan) to conduct an inquiry and invite all concerned officials of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Migrante Middle East and other agencies and entities to shed light on the matter.

Rodriguez said unemployed OFWs are forced to sell blood to hospitals on a monthly basis in order to raise money for their daily needs as well as to support their families back home.

Saudi Arabia hospitals pay around 300 to 500 Saudi Riyals per 500cc of blood.

Rep. Zamora-Apsay said the Bello committee had received such reports as early as October of last year but the Philippine Embassy there denied such reports.

“As you know may programa tayo to relocate some of the people living in the danger areas… we’ve allocated over 10 billion pesos to these and that work is ongoing but clearly naabutan tayo ng ulan, those projects are ongoing and we’re hopeful that over the next few years we will see the effects of these programs,” Carandang said.

“One is further flood mitigation, second is relocation… I think that’s been announced in the past hindi pa tayo natatapos dun, that’s not going to happen overnight... so we can expect at least for the next few months we will continue to help communities

living in these areas,” he added.

Carandang further noted that the Aquino government, through its various concerned agencies, has been coordinating to assess the situation and formulate the necessary actions to be taken for the safety of the people.

“What we’ve seen from the storms over the last few days is that it looks as if more work can be done… what we’ve seen over the last two days is that the zero casualty remains an aspiration that we’re working for... We will have an assessment of this and we will take appropriate actions based on

Zamora-Apsay backs probe on OFWs’ selling blood in KSA

S

TRANDED and unemployed Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia have reportedly been forced to sell their blood to hospitals for their daily sustenance, according to reports reaching some Philippine lawmakers.

Rep. Ma. Carmen Zamora-Apsay of Compostela Valley fully agrees with the proposal of Representatives Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City and Maximo Rodriguez Jr. (Party List Abante Mindanao for the House

Relocation from danger zones govt.’s key priority program

T

HE relocation of the people living in danger areas and the implementation of more flood mitigating programs are some of the key priorities of the Aquino government, a senior government communications official said on Thursday.

In a press briefing in Malacanang, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office Secretary Ramon Carandang bared that over P10 billion has been allocated by the government to pursue these projects to lessen the vulnerability of the people during typhoons and ensure their safety in times of calamities.

FRELOCATION, 12

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 NO. 109 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 - 4, 2012

IT project benefits

3

UP Min students

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HE ambitious e-UP project of the University of the Philippines system will greatly benefit UP Mindanao says UP Min Chancellor Gilda Rivero.

“A lot, it makes it more efficient,” Rivero said when asked if the IT project would yield benefits to the Mindanao campus.

Rivero cited e-UP’s benefits in terms of enhancing manpower efficiency. “UP Mindanao is lean particularly on manpower.” she said adding that the IT project will help them perform their tasks more efficiently.

The chancellor also said that the university can share its resources more particularly in talent sharing.

“We have so many talents.

It would be easy for other constituent universities to tap the resources available.”

Rivero also cited that with academic resources being made available online, the IT project makes UP Min more relevant particularly in giving support to Mindanao’s agriculture.

The e-UP project is an ambitious 3- year program which aims to put in place integrated, interconnected and interoperable Information and Communication Technology (ICT) systems

and infrastructure in and across all UP campuses.

A flagship program of UP President Alfredo E. Pascual, the e-UP project is scheduled to be implemented in UP Mindanao by 2013.

Currently the project is in the design stage of various information systems.

According to Dr. Elvira Zamora, UP Systems vicepresident for development, the project is initially worth P750-million but reiterated that it is a running budget citing the different needs of specific constituents in the UP system.

The project covers five components namely: 1.) policy formation, organization and mobilization, 2.) benchmarking and IT audit, 3.) acquisition/ development and installation of information systems, 4.) ICT infrastructure development and 5.) ICT competency building.

Among the tangible infrastructure will include enhancements of wi-fi access, upgrading of fiber-optics procurement of top-of-theline software.

Added capabilities include video-conferencing, online enrolment, wi-fi campuses, online learning

FIT, 12

LAND USE. Community volunteers paint the 3D relief model according to type of land use.

3D relief model of watersheds now on view at People’s Park

By Antonio M. Ajero

A

3D relief map, anyone?

Yes, Davao City has a three-dimensional relief model of the Talomo-Lipadas, PaniganTamugan and Matina wa-

tersheds, another “first” that Dabawenyos can be proud of, a symbol of their serious concern on the health of the environment that means so much for their survival.

The unique relief map is an additional attraction of the People’s Park.

Members of the Davao City Watershed Management Council (WMC) headed by Mayor Sara

Duterte-Carpio viewed the still unfinished 3D map undergoing finishing touches inside at the Park. The WMC will soon be the owner and custodian of the unique model

F3D, 12

4 SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 NO. 109 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 - 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Pacific region on brink of El Nino T

HE Pacific region is set to experience in the next three months an El Nino weather pattern, which can bring dry weather and affect crops, New Zealand scientists said on Wednesday.

Sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific are warming, and tropical sea temperatures are near El Nino levels.

“Conditions in the tropical Pacific are currently on the brink of El Nino, and it is likely El Nino will develop during the early spring period,” the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (NIWA) said in its latest climate outlook.

“The majority of climate models which NIWA monitors predict that the El Niño threshold will likely be exceeded during

the August to October period.”

The El Nino typically brings rainfall below the average to the Asia-Pacific region, threatening the yields of agricultural crops, while parts of Latin America and the continental United States may be hit by weather that is wetter than average.

The U.S. grain belt is now suffering its worst drought in 56 years, which carried corn and soybean prices to record highs last month on expectations of lower production.

Weather scientists in Australia and Japan last month warned of developing El Nino conditions.

NIWA said the Southern Oscillation, an indicator of changing weather patterns, was close to zero last month, which signalled El Niño condi-

tions were not yet fully in place.

Current indications are that most of New Zealand, whose economy is driven by agriculture, would have normal weather conditions through to October, it said.

However, it added, there might be less rainfall than average in the eastern South Island, home to hydropower stations supplying more than two-thirds of the country’s power.

A La Nina pattern of cool water in the equatorial Pacific, which normally brings colder, wetter conditions to parts of the continental United States, ended this year, and there had been talk of an El Nino pattern developing before year’s end.

Human ecology Battle over the Dumoy water resource in space and time Science vs law

(Part 1)

By Ricardo Jr. A. Jimenez

J

ULY 3, 2012 was a Red Letter day for Mother Nature in Davao City.

On that day, the City Council of Davao stood tall and proud before their constituents by upholding a little-known city ordinance which disallowed new memorial parks and cemeteries to be put up on top of water resource areas despite questions on its alleged infirmity.

The battle between the pro and anti-memorial park camps had taken much of the session time of the legislative body since the controversial items became part of the council agenda from April this year.

Up to the last two sessions – June 26 which lasted up to 11:00PM and July 3 when the two memorial park applications were voted upon by the body – the final arbiter was the untried and untested Davao City Water Resource Management and Protection Code or Ordinance No. 117-01 which the 11th Council enacted in 2001.

It was a classic case of science being overturned by the objectives of the law.

A noted columnist and a friend, Rene Ezpeleta Bartolo, at one time a member of the core management group which prepared the proposed ordinance starting June of 1997, wrote in his column Ricochet (MT, July 4, 2012): “Today, the Water Code is at the center of a raging controversy: the plan to construct at least two private cemeteries on top of the aquifers of Baliok and Dumoy (this should read Lubogan and Baliok) and the bitter opposition from residents of subdivisions within the locality.

“The developers and some members of the City Council are using the law as an excuse; the oppositors are using it as a defense.

Hence, the controversy,” Bartolo wrote.

To put the debate in perspective, the Water Code defined the locations of water resource areas through a map and a number of sections: Calinan to Dacudao, Calinan to Malagos and Sirawan. A fourth section merely stated: “And other water resource areas as the Council may define and identify…” This was the problematic section in the ordinance.

Left out in the definition of water resource areas are the water rich-barangays from Lubogan to Ulas where 39 out of the 54 production wells of the Davao City Water District (DCWD) operate and where 900,000 Dabawenyos get their fresh, sweet, and nice tasting “Dumoy Water”.

The non-mention of the Dumoy water resource area in the Water Code is being used as an excuse by procemetery proponents to recommend the approval of new burial sites on top of the Dumoy water resource areas. “No law is violated,” they intoned..

Prior to the climactic July 3rd voting and the June 26th appearance of a surprise speaker, retired Judge Jesus V. Quitain, the pro-cemetery camp practically had all the aces up their sleeves. The pros were far ahead, llamadong-llamado, as gamblers would put it.

Testimonies of more than a dozen experts were supported by certifications from mandated agencies, among them, the DCWD, HLURB, DOH, CHO, CEO,

CENRO, MGB, DAR, City Planning and Development, the City Development Council, the memorial part investors themselves and their geologists and hydrologists, on top of the barangay resolutions from host barangays Baliok and Lubogan interposing no objections to the proposals.

Their message was loud and clear: everything was documented and scientific.

There was no danger of contaminating the underground water resource; the proposed park sites were a safe distance away from existing DCWD wells and protesting communities.

In the subcommittee level hearings, from early part of 2011, the opposition side was never heard, until late March of 2012 when a petition from the United Residents and Homeowners Association of Dacoville, Inc (URHADI) board of directors led by president Conrado Vidanes, in Dumoy, dated November, 2011 was finally referred by the City Planning and Development Office and the DCWD, to the subcommittee on housing and subdivisions (middle end), chaired by Councilor Dr. Bernard Al-ag. There was a gap of four months!

The URHADI board resolution cited reasons for the opposition: proximity of the planned burial site to Dacoville, and to several DCWD production wells. Moreover, the burial site in general is part of an environmentally critical area wherein development is highly regulated and limited due to the presence of the aquifer below it.

Besides there was no public consultation with four other affected communities.

In early March, the Dumoy barangay council headed by punong barangay Dr.

Jessie Mar Y. Culaste initiated an urgent public consultation with the five Dumoybased subdivisions near the Baliok boundary, to determine actual public sentiments. Their unanimous response: No to the new Baliok burial area! Immediately, the council came out with a resolution strongly opposing the project. Some 1,100 persons later signed petitions, including those of two dozen working media persons, proving the memorial park project in Baliok did not have social acceptability.

The first attendance of the opposition in the Al-ag subcommittee hearing in April was foreboding. The protesters were told: “why come only now at this late of day, when we have just about wrapped up our findings based on numerous expert testimonies and ready to submit our recommendations to the council as a whole for second reading?

But you will be welcomed just the same in the plenary session.”

Part II of this six-part series will report how the opposition slowly gained the upperhand especially after the Water Code was introduced in plenary by Councilor Melchor V. Quitain. The ordinance was providential, completely taking the procemetery camp by surprise.

Very few people knew it ever existed. By order of the presiding chair, the memorial park item was ordered returned to subcommittee level to reconcile recommendations with provisions of the Water Code. The opposition considered the chair’s decision a first round victory of sort in the battle for Mother Earth, especially for the protection of the precious Dumoy water resource.

A

travelogue spanning more than five decades in academe and interdisciplinary human ecology.

This best describes Dr. Percy E. Sajise’s book “Ecology, Environment, and Sustainable Development: Reflections Spanning Five Decades”.

The book is co-published by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) through its School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM) and College of Human Ecology (CHE).

It brings together the discipline of ecology and the perspective of human ecology in analyzing environmental problems over time and space in the landscape of the Philippines, Southeast and East Asia.

Highlighting significant lessons learned from the analysis of case studies, it reflects Sajise’s collective experiences from his travels, publications, and interdisciplinary research and development engagements.

The experience spans more than four decades across communities, farms and forests as well as universities and research institutions worldwide.

With his vast work in Asia, the Pacific and elsewhere, Sajise is an internationally recognized ecologist, environmentalist and mentor.

He is currently a SEARCA Senior Fellow and served as SEARCA Director in 19941999.

He is an Honorary Research Fellow of Bioversity International and a member of the World Academy of Arts and Science.

Sajise was recently appointed as a member of the Advisory Group to the Secretariat of the Commission on

Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture of the Food and Agriculture Organization.

The Advisory Group plays a key part in the preparation of the State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture.

He is also a member of the advisory body of the Center for Biodiversity and Indigenous Knowledge based in Yunnan, China.

Sajise is a prolific writer and is a member of the editorial board of research journals, including the Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development, Environmental Science Journal, Journal of Environmental Science and Management, and Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences.

He is now an Adjunct Professor at the UPLB-SESAM, where he had devoted most of his professional life.

He was the Dean of UPLB’s CHE and College of Arts and Sciences as well as Director of the Institute of Environmental Science and Management, the forerunner of SESAM. He spearheaded the Southeast Asian Agroecosystems Network and the Environmental Education Network of the Philippines.

Sajise was Regional Director of Bioversity International’s Office for Asia, Pacific and Oceania in 2000-2008.

He obtained his doctorate in plant ecology from Cornell University and was a Research Fellow at the Environment and Policy Institute, East-West Center, Hawaii, and a Visiting Professor at Leiden University, The Netherlands.

“Ecology, Environment, and Sustainable Development: Reflections Spanning Five Decades” will be launched on August 6 at 4:30 p.m. at SEARCA, a Los Baños-based international research center currently headed by Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit, Jr. sciencenewsphilippines@gmail.com

EDGEDAVAO

Stat Watch 1. Gross National Income Growth Rate (At Constant 2000 Prices)

5.8% 1st Qtr 2012

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

6.4 % 1st Qtr 2012

3. Exports 1/ 4. Imports 1/ 5. Trade Balance 6. Balance of Payments 2/ 7. Broad Money Liabilities

USD 4,931 million May 2012 USD 4,770 million Apr 2012 USD -135 million Apr 2012 USD -209 million Mar 2012 P 4,580,674 million Apr 2012

8. Interest Rates 4/

4.1 % May 2012 P131,403 million May 2012 P 5,075 billion Apr 2012

9. National Government Revenues 10. National government outstanding debt 11. Peso per US $ 5/

P 42.78 Jun 2012

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

5,091.2 May 2012

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

130.1 Jun 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

2.8 Jun 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.7 Jun 2012

16. Visitor Arrivals

349,779 Apr 2012

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

18.8 % Jan 2012

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

7.2 % Jan 2012

THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 NO. 109 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 - 4, 2012

5

Two budget hotels up in Davao City

By Anthony S. Allada

T

WO budget hotels will be open for business anytime this year along Claro M. Recto Street in downtown area, this city.

Jason Magnaye, Davao City Investment and Promotion Center (DCIPC) head, said the six-storey Hotel Uno will be opening its doors to guests and tourists this month in time for the 27th Kadayawan Festival celebration.

Magnaye said Hotel Uno, which is being developed by 3S Realty Corporation, is a budget hotel designed to cater to travellers, families and friends, and even businessmen who demand conducive relaxation

during their stay in the city.

He said Hotel Uno has a total of 148 rooms, with specific classification in each room to meet the guests’ needs. The rooms are classified as non air-conditioned rooms, single superior, single deluxe, double superior, double deluxe, twin deluxe, junior luxury and luxury sweet.

Magnaye said another project is a three-storey building with a total of 50 rooms whose construction will start early next year.

He said the Davao Rogienald Corporation will introduce the Brooklyn and Walters Hotel and Mainstreet Claveria,

also known as Oroderm City along C.M. Recto Street.

Davao Rogienald Corporation allocated some P120 million for the construction of both projects, he said.

Magnaye said the first phase of the project is the Mainstreet Claveria or the Oroderm City, a commercial building housing a total of 40 units. This will be opened in the last quarter of the year while the Brooklyn and Walters Hotel will be erected behind the commercial building, he added.

He said the firm allocated some P80 million for the renovation of the hotel’s infrastructure. The area where the struc-

ture is standing used to be an old and deserted building with a total area of 3,726 square meters.

Magnaye said these business establishments will support city efforts to revive Claro M. Recto, the city’s busiest commercial district way back in the 90’s.

“I’m thankful to the developers for introducing these hotels on Claro .M. Recto Street,” Magnaye said.

He said the opening of new establishments, as well as commercial spaces in the whole stretch of the street will support new developments in city.[PNA]

MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE (January 2009 - December 2011) Month Average December November October September August July June May April March February January

2012

2011

2010

42.85 42.70 42.86 42.66 43.62

43.31 43.64 43.27 43.45 43.02 42.42 42.81 43.37 43.13 43.24 43.52 43.70 44.17

45.11 43.95 43.49 43.44 44.31 45.18 46.32 46.30 45.60 44.63 45.74 46.31 46.03

EastWest Bank secures BSP’s ok to operate as a universal bank E DELICACY. Neatly wrapped “toron” and other banana delicacies displayed in a stall along Ponciano Reyes Street attract customers who love to eat cheap but heavy snack. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

ASTWEST Bank, one of the fastest-growing banks in the country today, has received the approval from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to operate as a universal bank.

With its unibank license, the Bank now has the authority to expand its businesses to nonallied undertakings.

Even with this license, EastWest said it still intends to focus on serving the retail and corporate middle-market sectors.

“We have no plans to put up an investment banking subsidiary at this time. We are looking to form a unit inside the Bank which will offer investment banking services,” said EastWest President & CEO Antonio C. Mon-

cupa, Jr. At this point though, Moncupa said, EastWest will continue to focus on commercial and retail banking.

“Our primary target markets remain to be mid-sized corporates and the consumer segments.

The added capabilities from our unibank license will primarily be directed to serve these market

segments better,” he said.

Aside from the basic investment banking services like underwriting, arranging, and advisory, Moncupa said the Bank is also looking into leasing.

Earlier this year, EastWest successfully listed its shares at the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), the first bank to do so in eight years. [PNA]

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

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

6

THE ECONOMY

SMDC net income surge 38% to P2.7B

S

M Development Corporation (SMDC) continued to surprise the market as its 2012 first half home sales surged by 85% to P19.8 billion. Correspondingly, the number of units sold rose sharply by 72% to 8,007 from only 4,655 units during same period last year.

Financial performance for the period remained very strong as revenues from real estate rose 73.6% to P11.9 billion.

Net income from real estate for six months ended June 30, 2012 grew 31.8% to P2.51 billion while consolidated net income increased by 38% to P2.7 billion for a net margin of 22%. EBITDA also rose by 32.6% to P2.97 billion translating to an EBITDA margin of 25%.

Henry T. Sy, Jr. SMDC vice chairman and chief executive officer said, “We are highly gratified

by the warm response that the market continues to give to SMDC’s products. Our homebuyers encourage all of us to work even harder to match their expectations or even exceed them in terms of quality, lifestyle and convenience.

SMDC’s residential condominiums are being designed and developed to cater to the Filipino’s growing need for privacy, sophistication, and greater access to retail and home-related services which offer greater convenience and time for families to live a more balanced life.”

All of SMDC’s projects are conveniently located near malls, transport hubs, and schools.

They provide amenities such as swimming pools, hotel-like lobbies, and function rooms which, in the past decades, were beyond the reach of midrange homebuyers. [PNA]

36,000 sitios to get electricity by 2016

E

NERGY Secretary Jose Rene Almendras is optimistic the remaining 36,000 sitios nationwide will get electricity by 2016.

Almendras said the 32,000 sitios will be connected through the grid while the remaining 4,000 sitios not connected to the grid will use renewableenergy technology.

He cited as example Polilio Island, now 100 percent with power through solar energy.

“If we can do 6,000 sitios this year and 9,000 sitios in the next 3 years until 2016, kaya ang target,” Almendras told reporters at the sidelines of the 33rd Annual General Membership Meeting of Philreca.

“Hindi pa po natin nasubukan gawin ito pero dahan dahanin natin and let’s get used to it [We haven’t done this before but let’s take it slowly and let’s get used to it],” he added.

Almendras said the Aquino administration has set a record after 1,500 sitios were connected with electricity in 90 days, benefiting more than 30,000 households in far-flung areas.

“We’ve never done this in the past. This year, we’ll hit 6,000 sitios,” Almendras said.

The President, who was present at the event, vowed to energize the remaining 36,000 sitios by 2016. [PNA]

Security Bank gains P5 billion

S

ECURITY Bank Corp.

(Security Bank) gained P5 billion from the issuance of seven-year Long Term Negotiable Certificates of Deposits even as the offer period was closed ahead of schedule.

In a disclosure with the Philippine Stock Exchange Wednesday, the bank said issuance was upsized from the P3 billion initial offering.

The offer period was closed Tuesday this week instead of August 8 was announced earlier.

Issue date is on Aug. 15, 2012 and Security Bank will pay the interest on a quarterly basis.

Security Bank tapped Deutsche Bank AG Manila branch and Standard Chartered Bank as joint lead arrangers for the issuance.

LTNCD has a minimum denomination of P10,000 and minimum investment size is P50,000.

It is a deposit product that gives higher returns and longer maturities compared to regular time deposits.

VOL.5 NO. 109 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 - 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

GSIS taps Globe Business for automation project T

HE Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), the social insurance institution securing the future of all local government employees, and Globe Business, the group in Globe Telecom serving small, medium and large enterprises in the Philippines, announced the successful implementation and rollout of the GSIS Wireless Automated Processing System (GWAPS) kiosks.

GWAPS is a secure system that performs remote, paperless transactions. A GWAPS kiosk resembles an ATM and adopts world-class technologies such as radiofrequency identification or RFID recognition, biometrics and virtual private networks.

The easy-to-use terminals are powered by Globe Business and allow GSIS members to carry out various transactions through the GWAPS, including loan applications and checking of personal records.

The GSIS also plans to deploy an additional 350 units within the year, includ-

n Successful partnership benefits over 1.7M stakeholders ing the rapid-deployment type, which can be quickly set up in typhoon-affected areas.

In all, GWAPS kiosks in GSIS offices nationwide as well as in other government offices will number more than 1,000, ready to serve millions of government workers and pensioners when they perform transactions such as updating of personal records and loan applications.

“We are pleased to partner with Globe through the GWAPS kiosks project. Our 750 kiosks deployed across the country offer greater convenience to our 1.7 million members and pensioners. They can apply for their loans, check their records or request to update their accounts, without the need to visit our offices,” GSIS president and general manager Robert G. Vergara said.

For his part, Globe Busi-

MAIDEN FLIGHT. Candice Iyog, vice president for Marketing and distribution of Cebu Pacific (4th from left), together with Engr. Jose Emmanuel Sadam, CAAP assistant airport area manager-Francisco Bangoy International Airport (ext. left), Jason Magnaye, Davao City Investment Promotion Center and City Tourism Operations Office OIC (3rd from left), Edward Bangayan, general

ness head Jesus Romero noted that the GWAPS project is one of most innovative projects initiated by Globe and GSIS, leveraging on the ICT competencies of Globe Business to provide simple, seamless and relevant services to millions of state workers and pensioners.

“We are delighted to be in a strategic partnership with GSIS. Providing innovative services to the public has always been one of the key initiatives of Globe, and we want to help GSIS realize its new slogan ‘Maaasahan ng Lingkod-Bayan’ by delivering efficient and effective solutions to the nation.

Through GWAPS, millions of government workers and pensioners need not travel to GSIS offices and can instead process transactions in a quick and easy manner.

This is truly an example of expedient public service, made possible through

the effective use of ICT by Globe,” said Romero.

Globe Telecom has been in partnership with the GSIS for over a decade, with ICT solutions spanning voice, mobile and data connectivity. Aside from the GSIS, Globe Business has been successfully collaborating with various government offices in employing relevant products and services that enhance the level of service given to the public sector.

Globe works with government institutions in order to improve the quality of services and increase operational efficiencies in enforcing public policies.

As a full-service ICT provider, Globe Business understands the needs of various small, medium and large enterprises in the Philippines and provides them with a comprehensive range of solutions relevant to their specific needs. This suite of solutions comprises mobile, wire line, broadband, data connections, Internet, managed services and ITenabling services. [PNA]

manager of Summit World (3rd from right) and Art Boncato, regional director of DOT XI (extreme right), grace the cutting of ribbon during Cebu Pacific’s Davao City-Puerto Princesa maiden flight yesterday at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

BSP to review 2012 GIR target anew

T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas will again review its foreign reserves target for 2012 after preliminary July 2012 level surpassed the US$ 77.5-78 billion target.

“We will most likely review that because the capital flows are very strong the past months,” BSP Gov. Amando Tetangco Jr. said at the sidelines of the House

Committee hearing of the proposed 2013 national budget.

During the hearing, Tetangco told lawmakers preliminary July 2012 gross international reserves is placed between US$ 77-79 billion.

The initial foreign reserves in the seventh month this year is higher than last June’s US$ 76.3 billion.

Tetangco traced the continued expansion in the foreign reserves to the robust remittance inflows and capital flows among others.

He said the capital inflows remain strong because of the improvement in the country’s fundamentals and the anticipation for an investment grade credit rating in the near term.

Last June, monetary officials scaled down the GIR target for this year from the previous level of US$ 79 billion on account of the impact of volatilities overseas.

Aside from the GIR, the BSP also lowered its 2012 projections for foreign direct investment, foreign portfolio investments, and balance of payment surplus. [PNA]

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 NO. 109 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 - 4, 2012

AGRITRENDS

7

Corn production project thrives in Davao Oriental A

T least two farmers in the country’s far southeastern province of Davao Oriental have good reasons to be upbeat these days.

One, Jaime Taya of Brgy Salingcomot in Baganga, was able to harvest 2.8 tons of corn out of 5.5 kilos of seeds he planted on his almost arid land through the help of the government’s PAMANA program.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) said Wednesday Taya had the harvest with proper know-how in farming taught to farmers and full support by government in the supply of farm implements.

PAMANA or “Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan” is the government’s Peaceful and Resilient Communities program.

It is a framework for peace and development in conflict-affected communities in the country and covered by existing peace agreements.

It aims to reduce poverty, improve governance and empower communities in these areas.

Oliver Binancilan, PAMANA manager, said Taya started with 5.5 kilos of seeds and harvested 2.8 tons.

Another farmer, Carlito Bendanello, also a corn grower, was able to construct his dream house and a motorcycle from the earnings of his threehectare corn farm.

“Until the day I die, I will never forget this,” OPAPP quoted Bendanello as saying during the festival.

During the event, community members of Sitio Tayudong shared their successful experience of “panag-uban,” the coming together for the common goal of peace and development.

“We know that this province experiences poverty due to persistent armed conflicts. We want the community to know that the government is on their side, helping families who have long been affected by conflict and violence,” Binancilan was further quoted as saying.

He said prior to the corn production initiative, nobody believed that Baganga’s type of soil and terrain could yield tons of corn.

PAMANA had previously assisted Baganga in rubber production through a P1.7-million fund.

This year, the town is set to receive another P2 million to expand its corn production and an additional P2.3 million in 2013 for the purchase of post-harvest facilities.

Other government agencies such as Agrikulturang Makamasa Barangay Extension Technician, Barangay Nutrition Specialist, Agriculture Technologist, and Sangguniang Bayan, helped in the implementation of the PAMANA program. [PNA]

DA proposes $627-M rural dev’t program

T

HE Department of Agriculture is proposing a medium-term nationwide rural development program, called the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP), which will initially cover six regions (4A, 4B, 5, 6, 7 and 8) in Luzon and Visayas, and all provinces covered under the current Mindanao Rural Development Program Phase 2 (MRDP2).

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the PRDP will be funded through a $500-M loan from the World Bank (WB), which has also bankrolled the MRDP2, a $120-M counterpart from the Philippine government and beneficiary local government units (LGUs), and a

$7-M grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

He made the announcement during a July 31 press briefing, at the DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management, in Quezon City, as part of the ongoing 11-day (July 31 to August 10) 8th World Bank (WB) review mission.

He said the PRDP will be patterned after the fiveyear MRDP2, which was also funded by a $83.75-M WB loan, and about $40-M worth of counterpart from the Philippine government particularly the DA and beneficiaryLGUs. MRDP is implemented by the DA in partnership with the ‘enrolled’ LGUs and project beneficiaries. [CATHERINE NANTA, DA INFORMATION SERVICE]

Farmers team with scientists to make the perfect rat trap R ICE farmers from two districts in Vietnam have successfully implemented a community action plan to thwart rodent damage to their crops – thus reducing damage caused by the pests and giving them a 20% boost in income.

Every year, Vietnam loses 10% of its rice production to rats. In years of rat outbreaks, this rises to 20–30%.

“Farmers in many ricegrowing countries see rats as one of their top three pests,” says IRRI rodent expert Grant Singleton.

“The situation is depressing – especially for smallholder farmers in Asia who already depend on what limited harvest they can get from their land for their own food needs.”

Rats cause hardship and food insecurity to farmers by eating grains or parts of the rice crop; spoiling grain through their droppings; bringing diseases to humans, poultry, or livestock; destroying personal possessions; or, sometimes in extreme cases, biting humans in their sleep.

“The key to outsmarting rodents is ecologically based rodent manage-

ment, but, to be effective, it should be implemented strategically with community participation or collective action,” says Singleton.

In a three-year project, Singleton and his team worked alongside village cooperatives and people’s committees of two districts of Ha Nam Province in Vietnam, Binh Luc and Kim Bang, to implement ecologically based rodent management practices with the local community.

Ecologically based rodent management uses knowledge about when and where rats breed, and other ecological and biological information, to control rodents effectively without relying on rodenticides.

Practices adopted by the community included synchronized community planting (if crops are planted at different times, there is a continuous food source for rats that favors their breeding), timely community rat control campaigns, smart trapping systems, hunting female rats, and proper sanitation of fields. “These are all important steps a community must take if it is to successfully reduce

rat populations in fields since rats don’t recognize borders, and are apt to move from field to field,” said Singleton.

“Just like rats, humans must adapt if they are to prevent rats from causing more poverty, hardship, or food insecurity, and working together as a community to control rats before they breed is an essential step,” he added.

Farmer An Van Lai, who got involved in ecologically based rodent management, notes that, before the project, the farmers had no hope to control rats. Thus, even when they knew that rodenticide was not good, they didn’t have much of a choice.

However, with community action at the early stage of the crop, they found themselves effectively managing rodent populations. When they studied dead pregnant rats in one community action activity, they saw many rat embryos. They also saw and caught many baby rats in the burrows at the side of the rice paddies. So, the fear that rats would return disappeared.

The rodent manage-

ment community project resulted in 93% less rodent damage in rice areas, a 10–14% increase in rice yields, 20% higher economic returns, and 50% less rodenticide use.

“Using electrocution as a way to get rid of rats has also stopped,” says Dr. Nguyen Huu Huan, deputy director general of Vietnam’s Plant Protection Department. “Sometimes, farmers get accidentally killed when using this method, and this has been reported by the local press.”

According to IRRI social science expert Florencia Palis, who is also involved in the project, it was easier for ecologically based rodent management to be adopted in northern Vietnam, where there is a history and culture of community cooperation.

“We are also doing work on ecologically based rodent management in other countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, Laos, and the Philippines,” she concludes.

“But, sometimes, the hardest challenge is to try to break those cultural perceptions that rats are smarter than humans.”

8

VANTAGE POINTS

EDGEDAVAO Social media and the new Cold War

VOL.5 NO. 109 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 - 4, 2012

COMMENTARY

BY PHILIP N. HOWARD

T

EDITORIAL

Gahi’g ulo

H

ARD-HEADED. STUBBORN. This is how Bucana (Barangay 76) village chief Robert Olanolan describes many of his constituents who insist on staying in their shanties along the shore which is constantly battered by monsoon waves. These “squatters,” euphemistically referred to in government reports as “informal settlers,” have actually accepted relocation and assistance, but eventually return to the area after a time.

Olanolan has come to realize that this situation cannot go on forever and that a more lasting solution must be found.

Although exasperated no end, the village chief is not about to give up on this seemingly never-ending problem in his barangay.

He is seeking the assistance of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to find a relocation site for the shoreline dwellers where the threat of monsoon waves will become a thing of the past.

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Relocate them, only to see them return to the area later? Perhaps, Olanolan has finally found the formula for a lasting solution to his the perennial problem. He should be encouraged to do this and not be ridiculed for his obstinacy to find a solution.

We suggest that Olanolan pay a visit to Dumaguete City where a beautiful seaside boulevard has existed since time immemorial without being taken over by squatters. Or he can cross the Pakiputan Strait and see how the local government unit of Island Garden City of Samal is proceeding with its massive removal of coastal dwellings. They must be availing of an existing law which empowers LGUs to relocate people and structures from coastal and other areas where they are at risk from disasters like monsoon waves, tsunamis and floods.

Mr. Olanolan must know that if there’s a will, there’s a way.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO CARLO P. MALLO Associate Features and Lifestyle KENNETH IRVING K. ONG KARLOS C. MANLUPIG • JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR., Creative Solutions Photography LORIE ANN A. CASCARO • JADE C. ZALDIVAR • MOSES C. BILLACURA Staff Writers

Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN • NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG

JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

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HERE is a new Cold War starting. It does not involve opposing military forces, but it does involve competing ideas about how political life should be organized. The battles are between broadcast media outlets and social-media upstarts, which have very different approaches to news production, ownership and censorship. And some of the biggest battles are in Russia, where the ruling elites that dominate broadcast media are pitted against the civil society groups that flourish through social media.

Whereas broadcast media is most useful for authoritarian governments, social media is now used by citizens to monitor their government. For example, in early 2012, rumors circulated that a young ultranationalist, Alexander Bosykh, was going to be appointed to run a Multinational Youth Policy Commission.

A famous picture of Bosykh disciplining a free-speech advocate was dug up and widely circulated among Russian language blogs and news sites, killing his prospects for the job (though not ending his career).

These are not simply information wars between political elites and persecuted democracy activists. There is a deep structural rift between the organization and values of broadcast media and those of social media. Putin is media savvy, but his skills are in broadcast media. The Kremlin knows how to manage broadcast media. Broadcasters know where their funding comes from, and they know what happens if they become too critical. Indeed, Putin’s recent changes to the country’s media laws are specifically designed to protect broadcast media and burden social media.

In Russia, critics have been driven into social media, where they have cultivated new forms of anti-government, civic-minded opposition. Russian political life is now replete with examples of online civic projects doing things the state can’t or won’t do. Liza Alert helps coordinate the search for missing children. Other sites track complaints about poor public services and coordinate volunteers. (Disclosure: I recently accepted financial support from Moscow State Humanities University for research and travel expenses.)

The most recent battle in the Media Cold War involves the government’s webcam system for monitoring elections.

To prepare for the last election, the government spent half a billion dollars on webcams for every polling station in the country. With widespread skepticism about the transparency of Putin’s regime, this move was designed to improve the credibility of the electoral process.

The election was held on March 4, 2012, and a highlight reel of election antics went up on YouTube. For Putin’s political opponents, the webcams demonstrated citizen disinterest in the election. For Russia’s ultranationalists, the webcams revealed no systematic fraud.

Alas, the elections commission decided that video evidence of fraud would not be admissible. The video feeds were not systematically reviewed, and the electoral outcomes were never in doubt.

What’s happening in Russia is happening elsewhere. Digital activism is on the rise globally, and the impact of these activist projects grows more impressive year by year. The Arab Spring involved countries where citizens used social media to create news stories that the dictator’s broadcasters would not cover. Both Bouazizi’s self-immolation and Said’s murder became the inciting incidents of uprisings because of social media. Tunisia’s Ben Ali and Egypt’s Mubarak were definitely caught off guard by socialmedia organizing. In Iran, the opposition Green Movement uses Facebook to advance its cause, while the mullahs’ propaganda response comes in the form of a movie.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 NO. 109 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 - 4, 2012

S

Bringing passport services to shopping malls

HOPPING malls used to be associated with buying sprees, eating out, watching movies and leisurely strolls but now an important chore can be added to the list: getting a passport.

Filipinos welcomed a Department of Foreign Affairs move to bring passport processing services to popular shopping malls, saying it is convenient, fast and literally, cool.

Droves of mallers witnessed the launching of the Department of Foreign Affair’s first-ever passport processing outlet at the upscale Marquee Mall in Angeles, Pampanga Monday and expressed relief that the days of long lines and waiting amid sweaty crowds are coming to an end.

“It’s more comfortable here and cool,” Blessing Dizon, a 24-year-old call center agent, told the PNA as she watched DFA officials inaugurate the passport processing office, located near Marquee’s movie houses and a row of trendy restaurants and shops.

“When you get a passport, you will not get exhausted because it’s cool, there are many restaurants nearby while you wait, you see many things and you can go shopping,” said Dizon, who was strolling at the Pampanga mall with her family while on home vacation from her overseas job in Singapore as a call center agent.

“Getting a passport used to be very tough because you’re made to wait for a long, long time and you have to travel very far,” said Dizon, who secured a passport in the past from the DFA’s consular office in San Fernando, Pampanga before she traveled to Singapore last year to work.

IT worker Troy Mercado, 33, welcomed the marriage of passport application and the joys of malling.

“I haven’t applied for a passport in a mall,” Mercado said. “But I expect it to be much faster compared to traveling to Manila. It’s more comfortable here in the mall because you can stroll while you wait. You won’t get bored.”

Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said the new DFA offices in the Angeles mall “is an example of how we reach beyond our grasp.”

“Our new consular facility here at the Marquee Mall is a total makeover of what once was the Clark Satellite Office.

It is the result of an out of the box approach that the Department pursued last year to make our services more accessible to the public,” he said in remarks at the inauguration rites.

Mallers watched the ceremonies with curiosity, including mothers with children and teen-aged students, strollers and office workers.

Aside from convenience of applicants, bringing passport services to malls would decongest crowds at regular DFA consular offices and bring huge revenues to the government’s coffers.

The new passport initiative, which started last year, is among several projects under the Public-Private Partnership drive of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s administration.

It is expected to generate P1.14 billion in government savings from operating costs in the next 10 years.

After the outlets in the Pacific Mall in Cebu, Robinsons Starmills in San Fernando, Pampanga, and Marquee Mall in Angeles City, Del Rosario said the DFA will soon open passport offices at the Robinsons Galleria, Robinsons Lipa, Robinsons Bacolod, Robinsons Dumaguete, Robinsons General Santos, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong, SM Manila, SM Baguio, SM Davao, Pacific Mall Legazpi and Metro Gaisano Alabang.

The Secretary said the public can

Monkey Business

SPECIAL FEATURE

BY MICHAELA DEL CALLAR also look forward to the opening of passport offices in Laoag, Batangas, Iloilo, Tacloban, Puerto Princesa, Butuan and Cagayan de Oro before 2014.

Just last week, the DFA concluded negotiations for the hosting of consular offices at the Pacific Mall in Legazpi City

and at Metro Gaisano at the swank Ayala Town Center in Alabang.

Del Rosario said the DFA is in the final stages of negotiations with private sector partners for the hosting of consular offices in several other locations.

DFA Angeles, which is being hosted

by Ayala Land, is one of the largest mallbased consular offices of the DFA with a floor area of 811 square meters. It is configured to accommodate at least 500

“Those of you who have been served in our former offices would certainly see the difference in terms of how we look and the service we provide.”

passport applicants per day.

“Those of you who have been served in our former offices would certainly see the difference in terms of how we look and the service we provide,” Del Rosario said.

“But we are not stopping there,” he noted, adding the mall-based consular offices will operate in line with mall hours from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mondays to Saturdays for added public convenience.

It will also be open half-days on Sundays to enable applicants to claim their passports even on weekends.

By December, Del Rosario said the DFA hopes to put in a place a dedicated call center that would allow applicants to schedule the time and day they prefer to be served at any of the DFA’s consular locations in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

“With this, we hope to finally be able to deal with the long lines that have become synonymous with the passport ap-

plication process,” he said.

In Central Luzon, people either have to go to the San Fernando consular branch of the DFA or travel all the way to the main office in Manila to get a passport, often after waiting for hours to secure a passport.

All that is coming to an end for Vilma Agustin, a 52-year-old food stall owner at the Angeles City Hall canteen.

“Now, we don’t have to travel anymore to San Fernando to apply for a

passport,” Aqustin said.

Another stall owner, Aurora Mirande, said she is “happy” that the DFA consular office is near the city hall, where she operated her business.

“It’s just a few minutes from the city hall. Very convenient for me and other people who work there,” she said.

The Philippine passport has undergone changes itself. On August 11, 2009, the first Philippine biometric passport was released by the DFA. The new e-passport has various security features, including a hidden encoded image, holographic laminate and a tamper-proof electronic microchip. It costs 950 pesos for the two-week regular processing or P1,200 for rush processing that takes 10 days.

Over the years, there has been a huge demand for passports among Filipinos, particularly those who travel abroad for employment.

About 10 million Filipinos - about a tenth of the entire population – work or live abroad.The money sent home by overseas Filipino workers each year spark domestic consumption that keeps the local economy afloat. They remitted an all-time high of .76 billion in 2011.

Applying for a passport has been likened to a nightmare before.

Aside from passport services, the new mall-based DFA offices in the provinces will also entertain migrant workers’ concerns. Many OFWs and their families hail from far-flung rural areas and they could now be served better and faster in the DFA’s provincial mall offices.

For Milagros Timbang, a mother of two, getting a passport now have turned from an ordeal into a lively activity in the cool and secured confines of the chic Marquee mall.

With a mall as the destination, even kids can tag along.

“Getting a passport used to be a lot of hassles,” she said. “Now it’s more convenient for the whole family.” [PNA]

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Trade diversification

A

DDING A BIT OF VALUE – At present we have seen a lot of interest from Taiwan in Davao City’s economic activities.

The Taiwanese are more interested than other foreign entrepreneurs in business diversification. Taiwanese investors are now looking locally after their success in the global market. Diversification and handson management have been very important to Taiwanese merchants.

They have been enthusiastically participating in trade and investment in the country most particularly in the city for quite some time. Their business undertakings specifically dealing in retail trade is very strongly signified in the city and they intend to continue doing that. Well, I’m not an investment or financial analysts but I firmly believe Davao City is a place where Taiwanese capitalists find with an entrepreneurial spirit. The local economy may be facing some sort of a slowdown due to other concerns, but that’s only temporary.

The long-term economic outlook for the city is superb. I think the logic of our common interests suggest that the city government should offer tax incentives and somewhat relaxed business regulations to lure other foreign investors aside from the Taiwanese in establishing business in the locality. Every now and then we are looking around and searching to see if we do come up with anything interesting. Hence there is some degree of confidence in the city’s business trend enabling the Taiwanese traders to get on with running their retail business smoothly, and of course, profitably.

But it was exactly the astonishing opportunities and the business disciplining effect that made the Taiwanese financiers so much more efficient and competitive locally. As elsewhere in the country, this kind of traders proved to have the steadiness of nerve and vision to take advantage of any opportunity that crosses their paths. One of the most encouraging things that came about as a result of the “Taiwanese invasion” was that Ramon Magsaysay Avenue and its nearby commercial areas and touted as the city’s Chinatown are now the business hubs to these intrepid people.

Davao City is much more important to the dauntless Taiwanese businessmen. The city has got a sizable consumer base compared to other bustling metropolis outside Greater Manila and Metro Cebu. From the point of view of an investor looking for a strategic business location and safe harbor, it certainly bolstered the notion that doing business in the city will succeed in such an environment. The time therefore is right for a lot of growth in the retail business. With the Taiwanese showing themselves to be very responsive, the retail trade has great prospects in the city if they will offer good quality products at very reasonable costs.

Filipino entrepreneurs should make the Taiwanese businessmen as good example.

Their country’s electronic companies became global players in terms of component supply. They have about 30% to 40% of the global market and had a long history of being an electronics exporter. But if you will look at the composition carefully, a lot of products – ranging from appliances, electronic gadgets, computer software, smartphones, accessories, garments, sports gear, cosmetics, kitchenware, hardware to food products or think of anything else, name it and they have it.

Right now, Dabawenyos accept that the Taiwanese investors are now part of the city economically and in other ways too. Local consumers can’t panic in the face of the first person who criticizes products made in Taiwan. They buy because they want them and consumers think the price is economical.

However, the debate for all of us, particularly the city government, is how we can make sure the business activities undertaken by Taiwanese entrepreneurs are actually adding a bit of value to the people’s lives.

10 SUBURBIA

VOL.5 NO. 109 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 - 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

DSWD project creates better communities – San Isidro Mayor T

HE implementation of Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-Cidds) has revolutionized government system because it has allowed the communities to have a say in choosing what they need for development.

Edgar Flor V. Saulon, mayor of this municipality, said what he appreciates about the project is that it helps the “community to open their mind.”

“Maganda ito kasi walang menu (This project is good because it has an open menu),” Saulon said, explaining that this system has allowed the community to help in coming out with sub-projects that they really need.

The community-driven development (CDD) approach of the project, he explained, shows that the democratic system has matured as it indicated the evolution of government processes from being too centralized to tapping the involvement of those who truly need the project.

“So if it is for the people, paano mo iimplement yung mga programs and

projects na talagang totoong pupunta doon sa taong bayan, hindi doon sa taong malalalim yong bulsa (How should one implement the programs and projects that will truly benefit the people and not those people with deep pockets),” he said.

The KALAHI-CIDSS, a DSWD-implemented project, is done through community consultation from sub-project conceptualization until implementation.

The community is not only consulted, but its involvement extends even in the disbursement of funds and the procurement of materials and services.

“I really appreciate how this program was conceptualized,” Saulon said, pointing out that its beauty is the involvement of the community in the processes.

“Ito ang maganda, kasali sila. Sila pa yung mag canvass, magpa-bidding. Tinuturuan yung mga tao na maging engineer. Baka yung mga engineer natin hindi na kailangan (The beauty of the project lies in the community’s involvement. People in the communities do the canvassing and the bidding. They are also taught engineering matters. Per-

haps our engineers will not be needed),” he added.

He reasoned that allowing the people to participate in project implementation provides them self-determination including the leeway of allowing them to find solutions to their immediate needs.

Eh kung hindi na nila kaya (If they cannot do it), if they need my assistance, that’s the time I will help.

Kasi kung every time nandun ka, hindi sila matuto (Because if you are always there for them, they cannot stand on their own), he added.

The KALAHI-CIDSS implementation has also allowed the people to widen their horizon. “Nagre-react na sila. Marunong na silang mag observe (They now react, they now know how to observe)” he said, adding that this has led the public officials to be on their toes.

He said it has empower the people and that this has led to a “very strong community.”

“In the long run, at least nale-less na yung mga pasaway (at least now we lessen rogue officials),” he concluded. (RIGA/JDA/DSWD/LES-

This is to make sure all the mechanisms vital for the safety and well-being of the people are put in place before, during and after the onset of calamities.

To be more pro-active, the Response Committee of the PDRRMC met on July 31, 2012 to strengthen its organizational structure and clearly define the roles and functions of its subsectors based on the ICS. Team leaders were subsequently identified for the sub-sectors of the search, rescue and retrieval operation; medical emergency; evacuation, relief and evac management; transportation; and, security.

Del Rosario enjoined the reinforcement of the ICS, as a standard on-scene disaster response and management system that

ensures a unified and wellcoordinated action in times of emergencies.

“The governor wants the Capitol and the LGUs to be truly prepared and be able to respond more effectively and mitigate the impacts of disasters,” Sanchez said in the vernacular.

He bared the system was already established in all the city and municipal governments, including the 64 flood-prone barangays in the province. The PDRRMC aims to set up the mechanism in all the other barangays this year.

He added his office is now completing the disaster operations manual of the province, which will form part of the local public safety code being reviewed at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.

LIE LAO-FRANCISCO-PIA11)

Sarangani students top National Achievement Test

C

OMBINED average performance of elementary and secondary schools in this year’s National Achievement Test (NAT) has placed Sarangani on top of all provinces and cities in Region 12.

“With pride and honor Sarangani is the number one division in Region 12 because we are number one in secondary and we are number two in the elementary,” Dr. Allan Farnazo, Sarangani schools division superintendent, told principals and supervisors in a Management Committee (Mancom) meeting.

In the elementary NAT result for school year 2010-2011, the regional ranking was: 1. Cotabato Province with mean percentage score (MPS) of 79.43, 2. Tacurong City – 77.01, 3. General Santos City – 73.25, 4. Cotabato City – 72.44, 5. South Cotabato – 69.93, 6. Sultan Kudarat – 69.26, 7. Sarangani – 67.57, 8. Koronadal City – 67.28, and 9.

Kidapawan City – 64.44.

This year, Sarangani is number 2 with MPS of 73.43. The rest of the ranking is: 1. Cotabato Province – 79.26, 3. General Santos City – 71.59, 4.

Tacurong City – 71.28, 5.

South Cotabato – 70.22, 6.

Kidapawan City – 66.00, 7. Cotabato City – 63.81, 8. Sultan Kudarat – 63.78, and 9. Koronadal City – 61.55.

What pulled up Sarangani division to the combined highest rank this year was its high school NAT result as number 1.

Governor Migs Dominguez, who attended the Mancom held Friday (July 27) in the mountainous campus of San Roque National High School, congratulated the Department of Education (DepEd) supervisors, principals and teachers “for achieving something that we never believed we could achieve.”

“Because we all said that we can believe in ourselves, in our leadership. We can believe in the children, first time that we have said that we can

become number one,” the governor told Sarangani’s top educators.

“Sarangani was always a joke, isn’t it?”

Dominguez said. “In sports we are already happy at number 7, number 8, 9. In examinations and contests, we just scratch our heads as long as we are not in the bottom.”

Farnazo said the result of NAT held last March was a “good lead.”

In last year’s NAT results, Sarangani ranked number 7 and number 6 in elementary and secondary, respectively.

“And suddenly we became number 1,” Farnazo said. In previous years though, Sarangani was already posting an “upward trend.”

The schools division chief attributed the “meteoric performance” to the “hardworking teachers, to the effective supervisors who did the instructional supervision and to the huge investment of the province of Sarangani.”

as cooking and handicrafts making.

Also, the program will enable them to collect funds that can help support their daily needs.

Florante Herrera, Cotabato Tesda provincial director stated that their office provided P50, 000 for the training of the detainees. In line with the training, inmates will be given national certificates from Tesda.

On the other hand, in her message during the launching, Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza expressed her full support for the program

since she believes that it will help improve the lives of inmates.

“I hope this will change the lives of the detainees, making them better persons once they are outside,” Mendoza said.

The governor also thanked Tesda and KCSTCI being partners in promoting “Serbisyong Totoo.”

The livelihood program for the inmates of Cotabato district jail is anchored on the theme, “Kasanayang Teknikal sa Piitan, Daan Tungo sa Kaunlaran”. (SJD-PIA12)

Davao del Norte beefs up incident command system Skills training for NoCot inmates

T

HE Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) strengthened its incident command system (ICS), while fast tracking the establishment of the mechanism in all the barangays.

The council reinforced the ICS in compliance with Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario’s directive to raise the level of disaster preparedness in the province, especially during normal times.

According to PDRRMC Action Officer Sonio Sanchez, who was also designated as the incident commander of the province, the governor has ordered the council to strengthen its disaster response capability, along with the sectors of preparedness, mitigation, and rehabilitation.

Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario enjoins members of PDRRMC of Davao del Norte to heighten level of preparedness, particularly during normal times, during the last council meeting. [NOEL BAGUO/DAVNOR PIO]

F

ORTY-FIVE inmates from Cotabato District Jail will undergo skills training under the livelihood program which the Cotabato provincial government launched yesterday, July 31, to train detainees skills helpful in improving their lives.

This program is in collaboration with Kidapawan City Skills Training Center Inc. (KCSTCI) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) where inmates will be trained in different livelihood skills such

PDRRMO Trainor Redentor Cardinal poses with the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of Brgy. San Jose, Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte led

by Brgy. Captain Henry Dejisica after their DRM and ICS seminar last May 2012.PDRRMO

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 NO. 109 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 - 4, 2012

ART curator Vic Secuya (right) shows the painting made

by Mayor Inday Sara Duterte that will be on display during the Mindanao Travel and Tour Expo (MinTTE) 2012 set on August 17-19 at the Atrium Annex of the SM City

Davao. Also in photo is Charito Aranda, president of the organizing Davao Tourism Operators Association (Dabtoa). Photo taken during the media launching held at the Royal Mandaya Hotel last July 31.

Mayor Sara Duterte to display her own painting in MinTTE

M

AYOR Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio will be showing also her artistic side as she displays her own painting in the coming Mindanao Travel and Tour Expo (MinTTE) 2012 set on August 17 to 19 at The Atrium Annex of SM City Davao.

This was announced by art curator Vic Secuya during the MinTTE 2012’s media launching held Tuesday at the mezzanine floor of the Royal Mandaya Hotel.

Secuya, also a renowned artist, showed the mayor’s painting that will be joining the artworks of lawyer Domingo Duerme and businesswoman Elizabeth Dureza, who are making their first back-to-back visual art exhibit entitled “D2D: The Duerme-Dureza Art Exhibit”.

“This is a one of a kind art exhibit, a very important event here in Davao,” said Secuya.

Duerme and Dureza are also both important personalities in the tourismbusiness sector. Duerme is

WATER ADVISORY

the vice-president for Mindanao of the Philippine Airlines while Dureza owns the Seagull Resorts.

Dureza, wife of former Presidential adviser for Mindanao Atty. Jesus Dureza, started painting when she accidentally fractured her foot at her resort in Buda.

“It was the best time to paint and it also helped me remove stress,” said Dureza, who loves to paint flowers including her favorite Sunflower using acrylic paint.

Secuya said that “Dureza’s artworks are impressionistic, with still life and more on landscapes”.

“She paints freely without inhibitions, very sincere, expressive of herself.

The spirit of Beth is overflowing with dynamism,” said Secuya.

Duerme, on the other hand, according to Secuya is more on watercolors which is “a very difficult material to manipulate.”

“He (Duerme) will soon become a professional

painter after he retires from PAL. His paintings are already of professional quality,” said Secuya.

Secuya said that Duerme’s favorite subjects are “figurative, mother and child, boy and a carabao that will capture you also.” “(The) compositions are his strength. He puts his figures in the right position,” Secuya added.

The three-day event, held also in celebration of the Kadayawan sa Dabaw Festival, is presented by the Cebu Pacific Air and copresented by the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company. It is supported by the City Mayor’s Office, Department of Tourism and SM City Davao.

The Expo is participated in by the key players in the tourism and trade related industries from all over the country and some selected international guest exhibitors. For inquiries, contact mobile nos. 09228577868 (Lino) or 09228434561 (Chato).

Water service interruption Aug. 3 -4

D

AVAO City Water District customers in some areas in Catalunan Grande, S.I.R. Matina and Deca Homes Subd. in Cabantian will experience temporary water service interruption on August 3 and 4 as DCWD crews will conduct various service improvement projects.

First set is on August 3 from 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM due to tapping of 100mm diameter Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipeline to the existing 100mm diameter PVC pipeline for the mainline improve-

ment along Edullantes Compound at Sitio Felomina in Catalunan Grande to accommodate additional new service connections in the area.

The water cut will affect areas from corner of Sitio Guadalupe road to Matina Pangi Relocation including Samantha Homes, Sitio Toril, Restauro Village in Catalunan Grande and in Matina Pangi specifically Matina Pangi Relocation and Saavedra Relocation.

Second and third set is scheduled on August 4 from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM at en-

tire S.I.R. Phase 2 in Matina and its immediate environs and at entire Deca Homes Subd. in Cabantian. The Operations and Maintenance Department (OMD) will tap the newly installed 160mm Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipelines at S.I.R. Phase 2 in Matina as part of the DCWD’s mainline replacement project. Simultaneously, the OMD crews will install gate valves to the bypass line at the entrance Deca Homes Subd as part of the utility’s District Metered Area project.

COMMUNITY SENSE11

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VOL.5 NO. 109 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 - 4, 2012

Robinson’s mall-cum- hotel Banker... construction ongoing in Butuan FFROM 1

C

ONSTRUCTION of the first mall-cum-hotel in the Caraga Region

by Robinson’s Land Corporation (RLC) is now underway in Butuan City.

Robinson’s investment in the regional capital of the so-called “Timber City of the Philippines” is seen as prime indicator of the city and region’s potentials as among the vibrant economies in Mindanao, which include the cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro and General Santos.

RLC will be constructing a shopping mall with a 100-room budget hotel on its top floors in partnership with Go Hotel Butuan. It started construction in the second quarter of this year and is expected to be completed in the third quarter next year.

The five-story building, which will be situated at the city’s major thoroughfare at J.C. Aquino Ave., will have a

DavSur...

gross floor area of 45,300 square meters.

This property development also boosts the city and region’s assertion in becoming a regional hub to watch out as the city holds the 21st Mindanao Business Conference starting today. Hundreds of traders, as well as big property developers, entrepreneurs, decision-makers, government officials, foreign dignitaries, observers and various stakeholders, are already gathered at the Almont Inland Hotel here for the grand opening in the afternoon.

“Butuan is a progressive city that is increasingly becoming the commercial and business hub of northeastern Mindanao. We are glad to be part of its development through this project that will surely generate thousands of employment and attract even more investments into the city,”

said Arlene Magtibay, RLC general manager for commercial centers division.

The mall will feature shops, restaurants and four cinemas, including the first 3D film theater in the region.

“This is good because there will be additional entertainment available in Butuan, including a new theater,” local resident Nonoy Amarille said.

The hotel, meanwhile, is being developed by GoHotels.ph Butuan, which will offer among the most affordable rates to local and foreign tourists. Room rates range between P400 and P2,000, depending on one’s budget. Guests can even have advanced bookings by accessing the GoHotels website. The rooms will have amenities like Windsor beds, rain showers, flat-screen TV and wireless Internet connection.

pistol, one rifle grenade and assorted magazines with ammunition.

In another search, recovered were one AK 47 assault rifle, one Tavor 5.56 assault rifle, two M16 bushmaster rifle, one .40 STI caliber pistol, and assorted magazines, rifle bags and scope.

Joyce and his companions were taken to the

Davao del Sur Provincial Police Office for proper disposition and filing of criminal cases for violation of RA 8294 against the suspects in court.

Mayor Joyce was quoted by a television report that all his firearms are licensed. He said politics was behind the police raid. He did not elaborate.

cerns but the number one priority will be to continue and perhaps even hasten our efforts to relocate these families,” Carandang stressed.

Over the past week, Metro Manila and some provinces in Northern and Southern Luzon were greatly affected by the recent weather disturbances.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said that the continuous rains brought by typhoon ‘Gener’ (international name: Saola) has left at least 23 people dead and five injured.

It added that some

49,118 families or 234,487 persons have been affected by the recent typhoon.

The NDRRMC report also revealed that a total of 1,172 houses were damaged with 31,457 families or 156,681 individuals taking shelter in evacuation centers.

In its continuous contingency efforts for the typhoon victims, the government has already provided P1.530 million worth of assistance to the different regions of the country.

The destruction caused by “Gener” was placed at P2.130 million based on the initial estimate of the government.

workers. “Nobody would lose his or her job but the nature of the jobs had changed.” Zamora said. She added that part of the project includes competency building where personnel will be trained on IT matters.

The system also has inputted costs for continuous upgrades to protect the sys-

tem from obsolescence and also the budget of the IT program will not eat up to existing budgets of different constituencies.

The funding allocation of the e-UP project would come from reprogrammed funds of the UP system and additional funding from the Commission of Higher Education. [PIA/RG ALAMA]

FFROM 1 warrant.

Felonia said the mayor did not resist arrest even as the operation was documented by crews of ABSCBN and GMA and two barangay kagawads.

First to be seized in one area were two M16 standard armalite rifles, two M16 baby armalite rifles, one Ingram machine pistol, one colt .45 caliber

Relocation...

FFROM 2

the assessment,” Carandang said.

When asked on the administration’s political will to implement these programs considering the coming elections next year, Carandang assured that it will never be a factor for the national government.

“As far as the national government is concerned ‘yung elections is not going to be a factor, these people are living in areas which could put them in danger next time there’s a storm and that is going to be the primary consideration, so we will coordinate with the local governments, we will listen to their con-

IT...

[PNA]

FFROM 3 materials among many others. Zamora said that the project will optimize the IT resources of the UP system integrating it based on the state university’s guiding spirit “One University, One UP. Zamora and Rivero also allayed fears that the subsequent modernization will lead to lay-offs of university

give a peremptory conclusion that it was Jungco who committed the acts complained of unless there is additional evidence linking him to the said crime.”

The prosecutor also noted that of the six witnesses presented by the police officer -- Kim Datoon, alleged lover of Griffin; Jomar Enerio, who had a joint account with Griffin; Arnold Denzon Pagales, chief security officer of Woordrige; Jerry Sabacan, Jocelyn Songcoya Depaz and taxi driver Allan Amante – only

3D...

EDGEDAVAO

one, Amante, appeared during the clarificatory hearing of the case.

Jungco, the respondent, attributed “sloppy investigative work on the part of the investigators whey they singled him out as the suspect in the death of Griffin and the loss of his money.”

Aided by his defense counsel, lawyer Ramon Edison C. Batacan, Jungco likewise questioned why the police investigators did not look into the angle of who would be the beneficiary of Griffin’s estate whose prop-

erties where in his lover’s name. Jungco said Griffin’s death would be a bonanza for the persons in whose names Griffin’s properties are registered, but the investigators failed to delve into it.

Jungco also stated that an alleged constant companion of Griffin who might possibly be his lover was dismissed by him sometime in December 2011 for no apparent reason. Surpisingly, the identify of this person was not pursued by the police investigators.

ability. The creation of a 3D watershed relief model falls under the Knowledge Management Component which aims to institutionalize a site-based knowledge bank/center of forest restoration programs and establishment of a centralized repository of reliable and updated data on the various local efforts undertaken on forest restoration.

“IDIS contracted the Philippine Association for Intercultural Development, Inc. (PAFID), a social development organization to facilitate the 3D mapping activity. PAFID pioneered and refined the community approach to 3D modelling, having used it many times to support ancestral domain claims of their partner peoples organizations. As technical expert, PAFID took the role in facilitating the participatory process which resulted in the 3D model.

“Participatory 3D Modelling (P3DM) is a valuable tool because it integrates the people’s local geographical knowledge with the traditional spatial information (contour lines) maps to produce a stand-alone relief model that can be used for a variety of purposes, both at the local and city level.

“Advantages of the P3DM process: ·The activity provides local communities and city agencies with a powerful model to illustrate extensive and far-flung areas, allowing for more public participation in land/resource use planning and management.

•It is an efficient community organizing tool because it allows people to share information and concerns. The community elders get to share history by passing on information about particular places in the community, thereby, enriching the information which can be provided by the traditional contour survey maps. ·The coding system allows the 3-D model to function like a rudimen-

tary community-based GIS accommodating layers of information . This is extremely useful in establishing visual relations between resources , tenure, their use and jurisdiction.

“Representatives from 53 barangays all around the watershed areas were requested to participate in order to validate the color codes which depicted land use areas . This is essential because while the elevations, the river tributaries and other geographic features were accurately modeled based on existing topographic maps, the specific uses of each land use area depended on local knowledge. For instance, while data from topographic maps showed which area was forested, barangay representatives were needed to validate which forested areas were of primary growth, secondary growth or agroforesty areas.

“This is the primary value of the P3DM activity: the integration of people’s knowledge of their area with the spatial information taken from survey maps.

“For two weeks, community volunteers from Brgy Tawantawan worked on the relief model at the Tawantawan public gym.

Using enlarged topographic maps, the elevation contours are used as templates for cutting out rubber sheets (to express the vertical scale). These cut-outs are progressively superimposed to build the 3D relief. The whole model is then covered with epoxy to strengthen and protect it from the elements.

“When the epoxy has dried, barangay representatives, using their knowledge of their area, then depict land use and cover and other features on the model by the use of pushpins (points), yarns (lines), and paint (polygon). The resulting model is a 3D depiction of the entire watershed areas and the extent of land use along its slopes.”

FFROM 3 to be donated to it by the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (PFE) and the Interface Development Interventions (IDIS).

The 3D model may be viewed by park-goers who want to learn more about the watersheds on the slopes of Mt. Apo and Mt. Talomo, a dormant volcano said to have last erupted in 1600.

The Davao Medical Society headed by Dr. Analiza Moscoso-Lanuza volunteered to partly finance the construction of a protective shed for the relief map.

A paper on the project obtained by Edge Davao from IDIS has this description: “The 3D relief model of the TL-PT-M Watersheds is a component of the ‘Up-scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas Project,’ a nationwide reforestation project being implemented by the Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

“The project intends to help mitigate the decline of the Philippine forests by enhancing the management and protection of key biodiversity areas and reforesting at least 480 hectares of forest areas in eight target sites all over the country.

“In Southern Mindanao, FPE partnered with the Interface Development Interventions (IDIS) due to its track record in implementing advocacy and environment projects to protect the Panigan-Tamugan and Talomo-Lipadas Watershed areas of Davao City.

“FPE provided IDIS with a financial grant to implement the following project components: Knowledge Management, Partnership Building, Natural Resource Management and Sustain-

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS

VOL.5 NO. 109 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 - 4, 2012

13

Barriga: Eyes on the prize L

Mark Barriga will have his eyes only trained on a gold medal in the Olympics.

Michael Phelps swims to his 19th Olympic medal. He has two more events left.

Federer plays first-time Olympian Isner

W

IMBLEDON, England (AP) -- John Isner will play on Centre Court at Wimbledon for the first time on Thursday, a privilege that he eagerly awaits. The bonus? It’s his first Olympics, and his opponent is Roger Federer, winner of a record-tying seven titles at the All England Club.

What an opportunity.

“It’s going to be a very fun experience,” said No. 10 seed Isner, who described the chance to play the world No. 1 on Wimbledon’s main court in the quarterfinals as “pretty special.”

After that match, thirdseeded Maria Sharapova plays Kim Clijsters in the quarterfinals on the same court. Sharapova, who rallied past No. 15-seeded Sabine Lisicki of Germany, 6-7 (8), 6-4, 6-3, said she and the Belgian, who plans to retire after the U.S. Open, know each other’s games well even though it is their first meeting on grass.

“She’s such a tough competitor, such a great mover,” said Sharapova, who is herself known for competitive fire. “She has so many great qualities as a tennis champion.”

Isner, playing for the U.S., is not just looking

to experience a moment on the big stage when he plays Federer. While he is 1-3 against the Swiss, he beat Federer in four sets when they played in Davis Cup in February. Isner said that having the knowledge that he can defeat Federer “under his belt” is critical and that he will go into the match believing that he can win.

Then there is his ferocious serve, a weapon that is especially effective on the fast surface of grass.

“I feel my serve is pretty effective no matter the surface,” Isner said.

“I don’t care if it’s mud or grass or clay or hard.”

Isner had 22 aces, never faced a break point and won 54 of 59 points on his first serve in a 7-5, 7-6 (14) win over No. 7 Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia in the third round. Isner needed six match points to close the victory, which came when Tipsarevic doublefaulted.

Federer endured two rain delays and beat Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan, 7-5, 6-3, and later lost in doubles with Stanislas Wawrinka, with whom he won a gold medal at Beijing in 2008. The four-time Olympian has yet to win a singles medal.

“We know he’s got one

of the best serves on tour, if not the best,” Federer said of Isner, who is 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 meters) tall.

“That obviously makes it complicated getting into rallies, into rhythm. That’s grasscourt tennis.”

Isner said he knew exactly what he needed to do, and not do, against Federer.

“He’s the hottest guy on the tour, he’s back to No. 1 in the world. I’m going to have to serve well,” said Isner. He described his own form coming into the Olympics as “on a roll,” with wins in seven of his eight previous matches and a title on grass at Newport in the United States.

He lost in the first round of Wimbledon to Colombian Alejandro Falla, who in turn lost to Federer in the first round of the Olympics.

“I have to go for my shots. Anytime I get a ball I can hit, I’m going to have to hit it big because I can’t rally with Roger,” Isner said. “It’s as simple as that.

If I try to get in rallies with him, he’s going to beat me.”

He said he planned to be aggressive on his service returns, without being “too crazy,” and that he didn’t stand a chance if Federer took the offense.

ONDON -- The morning after his decisive opening win, Mark Barriga returned to work, shadow boxing, punching mitts and doing some stretching in a 45-minute ritual under the guidance of coach Roel Velasco on Thursday.

They would do the same later in the afternoon on a long strip of grass near the plaza in the heart of the Athletes Village, doing their thing there like the rest of the athletes who are still in contention or haven’t played yet.

In between, the coach and the boxer would study tapes of Kazaksthan’s Birzhan Zhakypov’s victorious outing against Jeremy Beccu of France also on Tuesday and his losing effort against a Cuban in the last world championship.

Ladies and gentlemen, Mission Zhakypov has begun.

“Magaling din. Pero parang wala lang kumpiyansa,” said Barriga, bumping into a team official as he went out of the elevator after the practice session.

He was humming a few lines of the old song I Started A Joke of the Bee Gees when he was ushered into his room by amateur boxing official Ed Picson, winking and smiling, his youthful exuberance in full display.

“Head hunter. Matangkad pero medyo manipis ang katawan,” said Velasco when

asked to describe the 28-yearold foe standing between Mark and a place in the quartefinals.

On Tuesday, the 19-yearold Panabo City native passed his baptism of fire in the Olympics with flying colors, easily beating Italy’s Manuel Cappai, 17-7, behind masterful counter-punching and an amazing defense in their light-flyweight division clash.

Zhakypov made it to the round of 16 the hard way, needing a lot of doing in the third and final round before beating Beccu, 18-17, and setting the stage for a showdown with Barriga on Saturday at ExCel center.

According to Velasco, he will tell Mark to go for the body since the Kazakh is also taller at 5-foot-6 like Cappai, and seems to be weak in the belly as what was found out in his close win over the Frenchman.

Being the taller guy, Velasco said Zhakypov will most likely do “jab, straight, hook, jab, straight, hook” against Barriga unless he has something up his sleeves when they mix it up at 1:30 p.m.

“Alam mo, malalambot ang mga tiyan ng mga Europeans.

Kaya yun ang tutumbukin natin,” said Roel, a bronze medalist in the same division during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, who spent his first few years as a coach handling women box-

ers.

“But he might change tactics at fightime,” added Velasco.

The two fighters know each other pretty well. They haven’t met in any international tournament, but have sparred at least three times during the world Olympic qualifier in Kazaksthan where Barriga trained.

The going will definitely gets a lot tougher in case Barriga gets past the Kazakh since it will either be flashy Cuban light-fly Yosbany Veita Soto or reigning titlist Zou Shiming who’ll be waiting in the wings.

In one of the most lopsided bouts of the day, Soto, fast with his hands and quick with his feet, made Australian Billy Ward look as if he belonged in another sport by taking an easy 26-4 decision that merited a big applause from the big crowd.

Boxing being a good source of medals in the past, Barriga is one of only two athletes in Team Philippines who’s given a fighting chance of ending a medal drought in the last three Olympic Games.

The other is BMX rider Danny Caluag, who is set to see action on August 8.

Curiuosly, it was Roel’s younger brother Mansueto, or Onyok to family and friends, who delivered the country’s last medal by capturing the silver during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Vera Zvonareva of Russia reacts during her loss to Serena Williams of the United States at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

14

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The country’s biggest Agri Trade Fair opens its doors on August 6-31 at the Parking C, featuring Mindanao’s bests in agriculture, floriculture and horticulture; while DABTOA mounts one of the biggest travel marts in the region with the Mindanao Travel and Tours Expo 2012 on August 17-19 at The Annex.

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VOL.5 NO. 109 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 - 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO ENTERTAINING

You asked Partyphile answered 2 A few weeks ago, I answered some of your questions about partying and/ or drinking alcohol.

Since then, more and more queries got to me through social networking sites and the ever-trusty BBM. Thus, here is the second part of You Asked, Partyphile Answered for the year.

Bo asks: What is your ideal Chill-Out party?

Zhaun answers: My idea of a perfect Chill Out party has all white interiors, music from Telepopmusik, Angela McCluskey, and Frou Frou, lounge chairs, bean bags, and lush carpeting. Also, they have to have light, comforting food items that are easy to eat, and alcoholic beverages that are easy on the palette. It would also be a huge help if they assigned a butler per table.

Sid asks: What piece of advice can you give the youth about drinking alcohol?

Zhaun answers: Stop it!

Seriously though, learn how much you can take ad never exceed your limit.

Never try to compete with other people because everyone has different alcohol tolerance.

Jon asks: Does partying always need to involve al-

cohol?

Zhaun answers: Of course not! I’ve been partying without drinking since early this year. If you are in the right company, partying is fun with or without alcohol.

Carlo Gabriel: Do lowcalorie alcoholic beverages prevent you from getting fat?

Zhaun answers: If you

drink a whole case, then it wouldn’t. As with anything, the key here is moderation.

The truth is, any type of alcohol stimulates the production of cortisol which makes you gain weight. But if you had to drink, stick to low calorie beer instead of alcopop which has the same amount of calories as a hundred grams of lechon per bottle.

Bianca asks: How do you avoid bar fights if the bar is full of jerks?

Zhaun answers: Avoid the bar.

BJ asks: What is the best way to keep someone who is intoxicated with alcohol calm?

Zhaun answers: If he gets wild when he’s drunk, I suggest that you take him

home. If that doesn’t sober him up, wake his mother up and let her deal with him. If he refuses to go home, leave him at the beer. Sometimes, the best type of love is tough love.

Ezra asks: How do I get rid of my hangover?

Zhaun: Stay hydrated and eat some protein. Scrambled eggs with cheese is probably the easiest to make when you have a hangover and is very effective. Avoid caffeine and sports drinks, wake up at your normal waking time, drink more water, then go back to sleep.

Ryan asks: How do you organize a party?

Zhaun answers: That’s very difficult to answer because I would have to know what type of party you plan on organizing but the basic elements to consider are the: guest list, the food, the drinks, the theme, the interiors, the invitations, the entertainment, the giveaways, ad the program. There are a lot of unique ideas online and a little research can help you a lot.

Diane asks: Do you get drunk faster at night or during the day?

Zhaun answers: It actually depends on where you drink. If you drink in a cold place, you get drunk faster because your metabolism slows down.

CEB launches 6 more inter-island routes

THE Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSE:CEB) further strengthens its most extensive route network in the Philippines, with the launch of 6 more inter-island routes.

Starting October 4, 2012, CEB will launch thrice weekly flights between Cebu and Busuanga, and between Tacloban and Legazpi. Both routes will operate on a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday frequency, using an ATR 72-500 aircraft.

Starting October 5, 2012, the airline will also launch the following flights using an ATR 72-500 aircraft: Davao – Butuan (Mon-

Offers P488 all-in introductory seat sale

day, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday), Davao – Dipolog (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday), and Tacloban – Iloilo (Monday, Wednesday and Friday).

Meanwhile, CEB will launch an Airbus A319 service between Zamboanga and Cagayan de Oro starting October 20, 2012.

This will be a thrice weekly service, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

“CEB currently offers 63 domestic routes to 32 domestic destinations, providing passengers with

the fastest access to key cities and destinations in the country. With these six new routes, CEB can offer the best connectivity options and the lowest fares to its guests, as well as promote trade and tourism in the destinations it flies to,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

“We will accept delivery of three more brand-new Airbus A320 aircraft in the 2nd half of 2012, and 7 more in 2013. We look forward to expanding our route network to better serve the

ever-growing traveling public in the Philippines,” she added.

CEB holds an introductory P488 all-in seat sale for these new routes until August 2, 2012 or until seats last. This is for travel from October 4 to December 18, 2012.

P488 all-in seats are available from Davao to Butuan or Dipolog, from Tacloban to Legazpi or Iloilo, from Cebu to Busuanga, and from Cagayan de Oro to Zamboanga.

Meanwhile, CEB also holds

a seat sale for its recently announced new routes, for travel from November 8, 2012 to January 31, 2013. Passengers can also buy P488 all-in seats from Iloilo to Puerto Princesa and General Santos, and from Cagayan de Oro to Bacolod. P1,488 all-in seats are also available from Iloilo to Hong Kong or Singapore.

For bookings and inquiries, guests can go to www.cebupacificair.com, or call the reservation hotlines (02) 7020-888 or (032) 230-8888. The latest seat sales and promos can also be found on CEB’s official Twitter and Facebook pages.

A2 INdulge!

VOL.5 NO. 109 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 - 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

ENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT

Adopted daughter to inherit half of Dolphy’s estate?

IF like us you were wondering who the other girl that was sitting next to Zsa Zsa during the wake and necrological services for Dolphy was, aside from singer Zia Quizon, it’s no other than the adopted 22year-old Nicole who is currently living and studying in Australia.

And she is set to inherit half of the entire estate of the late Rodolfo “Dolphy” Vera Quizon. The 16 living children of Dolphy will have to share the remaining half.

Legally, under Philippine laws, Nicole, being legally adopted by Dolphy, is the only legitimate heir. Dolphy did not marry any of the mothers of his children.

In the GMA News Online report, it stated that the Philippine laws on succession prioritize legitimate children, Nicole Quizon – legally adopted by Dolphy in 1990 – gets a much bigger inheritance under the law than any of her siblings.

Lawyer Toni Coo of the law firm Coo & Partners explained to GMA News Online that under the Domestic Adoption Law, a legally adopted child is considered legitimate. Coo & Partners specializes in succession cases.

“In this situation, since Nicole is the only legitimate child, she will be entitled to half of the entire estate of Dolphy,” Coo explained.

The rest of the Quizon brood will divide the remaining half of Dolphy’s estate among themselves, Coo said, citing Article 895 of the Civil Code.

Lawyer Angelo Cabrera, Executive Counsel of AMC Law Office, which handles estate and inheritancerelated issues, agreed with Coo’s opinion.

“If it is true that Nicole is indeed legally adopted, she does get half of Dolphy’s estate,” he said.

Dolphy had 18 children with six different women.

His fourth child, Freddie, died in 2005. According to law, only the living can inherit property from the dead. However, Freddie’s three children are entitled to his share.

According to Dolphy’s memoir, “Hindi Ko Ito Narating Mag-isa,” Nicole

GMA News Online has the first dibs!

Quizon, Dolphy’s 17th child, was legally adopted by him, making her the only legitimate child in the brood since her siblings were born out of wedlock.

“Si Nicole, dinala sa akin sa Hizon’s, at gusto raw ng nanay, sa akin mapunta.

She was just a few months old,” the late comedian wrote. Nicole’s family and friends also call her Coco, the second to the youngest of Dolphy’s children and sent by Dolphy to Australia for her college education.

“Nakilala ko ‘yong ina.

Gustuhin man niyang bawiin ang bata, hindi puwede. Legally adopted e,” he added.

Dolphy’s last will and testament Dolphy’s long-time part-

ner Zsa Zsa Padilla and his son Eric Quizon have revealed that the comedy king did leave a last will and testament, of which they are co-executors.

However, both Cabrera and Coo said that Dolphy’s will might not even be followed.

According to Philippine law, leaving a will does not mean that a person can freely distribute his or her properties after death. The law requires a portion of the deceased’s estate to be reserved for certain heirs called “compulsory heirs.”

In this case, the compulsory heirs are Dolphy’s children.

Cabrera explained that whatever is in Dolphy’s will, which has not been divulged publicly, the law

already requires half of his estate to go to Nicole, and the other half to her siblings. Nothing of Dolphy’s estate would be left to be given out by will.

Coo further pointed out that the mothers of Dolphy’s children are not entitled to inherit from him.

Zsa Zsa’s share not her inheritance On the other hand, properties acquired during the partnership of Dolphy and Zsa Zsa are a different matter altogether, Coo said.

The comedy king and the singer-actress were together for the last 23 years, though it was only in May 2011 that her marriage to Dr. Modesto Tatlonghari was annulled.

Dolphy and Zsa Zsa have

no conjugal properties to speak of because they never wed. But the law does not discount the fact that they acquired properties jointly while they were together.

Any property Zsa Zsa gets from the dissolution of her long-time civil relationship with Dolphy must not be misconstrued as inheritance. Rather, those properties never became part of Dolphy’s estate, Coo said.

Effect of annulment of Zsa Zsa’s previous marriage Coo said that during the first part of Dolphy and Zsa Zsa’s partnership – when her marriage was a “legal hindrance” for him to marry her – only their “actual contributions” to their illicit union belonged to them both while they were still living together.

Article 148 of the Family Code also provides that “if one of the parties is validly married to another, his or her share in the coownership” belongs to the married couple once the extra-marital affair ends -which, in this case, ended with Dolphy’s death.

After Zsa Zsa’s marriage was annulled, her union with Dolphy then fell under Article 147 of the Family Code, which governs the relationship between a man and a woman – both single – who live exclusively with each other as husband and wife without getting married.

Under Art. 147, their wages and salaries shall be owned by them in equal

shares and the property acquired by both of them through their work or industry would be governed by the rules on co-ownership.

Coo said in this case the couple share equally in the properties, regardless of actual contribution.

No sign of resentment Despite the unique status of Nicole as the only adopted and legitimate child of Dolphy, and thus the heir of a larger portion of the late comedian’s fortune, there has been no sign of resentment from her siblings.

In the weeks before and after his death on July 10, no word of family discord leaked out and their public appearances have exuded only warmth and unity.

Nicole herself said in her eulogy for her father that he loved them all.

“Ganitong klaseng tao si Papa. May 17 siyang anak sa labas, isang ampon,” she said during Dolphy’s necrological service at the Heritage Park Memorial Chapel in Taguig City on July 12. “Lahat tayo minahal ni Papa. Lahat tayo napagtugunan niya ng pansin.”

“18 children, saan niya nahugot lahat ng energy at pagmamahal na lahat kami well-provided for all through our lives kahit sa pagtanda namin, lahat naibibigay,” she said, thanking her father and mother Zsa Zsa for the opportunity to study in Melbourne, Australia, where she still lives.

– GMA News Online

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

VOL.5 NO. 109 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 - 4, 2012

ENTERTAINMENT

How will Robsten promote Twilight finale?

WHILE Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson’s future may be uncertain, the two will have to come together soon enough: To promote the final installment in their vampy saga, Breaking Dawn: Part 2.

Rumors swirled that, in the wake of Kristen involvement with Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders, R.Pattz canceled press opportunities for his next film Cosmopolis. Rob’s rep and the film’s distributor have since shot those stories down. Studio reps confirm that the New York City premiere for Cosmopolis is set for Aug. 13 and that Rob is expected to attend. But what about the usual whirlwind world tour that accompanies a Twilight movie?

“While it is studio policy not to comment on the personal lives of actors,” Summit’s president of worldwide marketing, Nancy Kirkpatrick, told Entertainment Weekly. “Summit is moving full-steam ahead and looking forward to this November’s opening of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 2.”

While no specifics were mentioned concerning what the press tour this time around will contain, Kirkpatrick continued, “We are confident that the film delivers amazing entertainment for our passionate fans and general audience alike.”

Why is RobPat at Reese’s house?

REESE Witherspoon brought her Southern hospitality all the way to California.

And the month or so leading up to it should surely deliver a different kind of spectacle. Rob and Kristen, of course, play happily wedded vampires with a newborn (and a pack of undead foes dead set on destroying the Cullen clan, but no biggie) in the last Twilight film.

In real life, the couple is having their

The Jackson Family Feud

every move speculated upon—from where each is currently holed up to whether or not they’re communicating and everything in between—so it will certainly be interesting (and water cooler-worthy) watching how they must interact together in public.

And by interesting, we mean awkward!

‘Let’s give peace a chance’

THE Jackson family is ready to give peace a chance.

Last week, Katherine Jackson temporarily lost custody of her grandchildren Prince, Paris and Blanket to T.J. Jackson (Tito’s son and Michael’s nephew).

Katherine, 82, was “devastated,” but not for long: Katherine’s attorney, Perry Sanders, tells E! News that on Thursday, paperwork will be filed naming T.J. and Katherine joint guardians.

But the drama doesn’t end there.

Earlier this week, Janet, Randy and Jermaine Jackson were barred from their mother Katherine’s Calabassas, Calif., home.

T.J.’s lawyer, Charles Shultz, confirmed to E! News that a letter had been given to security making it clear that none of the family members involved in an incident on July 23 would be allowed into Katherine’s home.

On Wednesday, Jermaine issued a statement about the touchy situation, saying, “Enough has become enough.”

“Yesterday, I had a phone call with my son Jaafar that broke my heart. He asked, ‘Is it true that we cannot visit grandmother’s house as a family anymore?’” Jer-

maine said. “After much soul-searching, it is clearly time for us to live by Michael’s words about love not war. In this spirit, I offer this statement by way of extending an olive-branch.

Accordingly, I rescind my signature from the letter which was sent to the estate, and which should never have gone public.”

On July 17, Janet, Jermaine, Rebbie, Tito and Randy fired off an angry letter to the two men overseeing Michael’s estate. There has been speculation the reason for this was to invalidate their late brother’s will, which provides an $86,000 a month allowance to the guardian of Michael’s children. Tito has since retracted his signature from the letter.

Jermaine still holds“deep reservations about many issues involved the estate” and “will continue to bring scrutiny and a resolute voice wherever we have cause for concern.”

He points out, however, that “the way to address such matters is through the proper channels and via a private dialogue, not public conflict.”

“Whatever the tabloid and online misrepresentations have led people to believe, my primary con-

cern has only ever been rooted in the welfare of our mother in the environment where she lives,” he says. “No one outside has a clue about the stresses and pressures she has been under long before recent events and I, like everyone in the family, adore the ground she walks on.”

Jermaine goes on to deny there was ever “a malicious attempt to ‘block’ the kids from talking” with Katherine when she was in Arizona. He says the family was simply “worried a call home would first entail, or lead to, conversations with individuals we are in dispute with and that would, therefore, increase pressure on Mother—and pressure was what a doctor said she didn’t need.”

“Mistakes have been made and irrational things have been said on both sides in a highly-charged emotional environment,” he adds. “It is time for us all to draw a line in the same and move towards peace, cooperation, love and healing. I truly hope that we can find it in our heats to do so.

Because above and beyond anything else, what matters…is family.”

Let’s hope for the kids’ sake everyone can keep it civil.

The 36-year-old pregnant star let her Water for Elephants costar Robert Pattinson crash at her Ojai estate last week, a source confirms to E! News. The Twilight hunk is, however, “gone now” from Witherspoon’s tranquil vacation home. (She let Elle Décor, who has the full story on her lovely estate, take a glimpse inside her home in the mag’s latest issue.)

Pattinson, 26, presumably wanted a calm, private getaway following the news of Kristen Stewart’s “momentary indiscretion” with Snow White and the Huntsman director Rupert Sanders.

Witherspoon’s sprawling,

seven-acre ranch—complete with a swimming pool, horse barn and guest cottage—probably provided just that.

But don’t think Pattinson plans to hide out and then shirk his professional obligations due to a broken heart. A report yesterday claimed the actor had ditched a press appearance for Cosmopolis, but Pattinson’s rep told E! News he hasn’t canceled any of his commitments.

“Cosmopolis is a film that Robert is very proud of and looks forward to supporting,” the rep said in a statement. “No confirmed engagements have been canceled. Any reports to the contrary are inaccurate.”

Good thing Rob has a pal like Reese to help him through the tough times.

A4 INdulge!

VOL.5 NO. 109 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 - 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

ENTERTAINMENT

Kapuso and Kapamilya stars highlight SM City Gen San opening SM City General Santos, which will officially open its doors to the public on August 10, 2012 at 10am, continues to give excitement to its shoppers by bringing in stars on August 10, 11 and 12, 2012.

Have fun with the Italian-Filipino Car Racer Matteo Guidicelli and Gensan’s very own first grand champion of ABS-CBN’s noontime show “Showtime”, XB GenSan, as they perk up the grand opening on August 10 at the Atrium of SM City General Santos at 11am. The casts of the top billed romancedrama royalty-themed television series “Princess and I”, Kathryn Bernardo and Khalil Ramos will also entertain shoppers at 4pm on the same day.

Catch the biggest stars of Kapuso in their mall show led by no less than Kapuso leading man Dingdong Dantes together with GMA’s most gorgeous actresses Bianca King, Chynna Ortaleza, and Ryza Cenon on August 11 at 4pm.

Kapamilya stars, Filipino actor, model and television host Paulo Avelino and actress-singer Denise Laurel will both meet their fans at the Atrium of SM City General Santos on August 12 at 4pm.

SM City General Santos will also house its two-storey Al Fresco strip with restaurants to enliven GenSan’s night life. The row of dining establishment promises a refreshing and a more relaxing ambience as shoppers listen to the natural sound of acoustic music.

Juris, the former lead singer of acoustic group

MYMP, will serenade shoppers and diners on the evening of the opening day, August 10, 7pm at the Al fresco open plaza. Catch the acoustic heartrobs Jimmy Bondoc on August 11 and Nyoy Volante on August 12 at 7pm only at Al fresco Strip, SM City General Santos.

A grand fireworks show also happens on August 10, 11, and 12 at 9pm. For more details, call (083) 5527647 or like SM City General Santos on Facebook for event and promo updates.

Catch all these exciting events for free only at SM City General Santos.

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS

VOL.5 NO. 109 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 - 4, 2012

Bata reaches final 16

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Bata Reyes advanced to the Round of 16 in New York.

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FREN “Bata” Reyes advanced to the final 16 of the Predator World Tournament of 14.1 (straight pool) in New York City.

Reyes remained unbeaten after defeating Brandon Shuff, 150-33, as he continues to roll in the tournament.

The legendary Filipino

pool player drew a firstround bye in the knockout stages after going undefeated as the third-seeded player.

Reyes is joined in the round-of-16 by nine-ball stars Thorsten Hohmann, Darren Appleton and Johnny Archer.

Hohmann defeated Mika Immonen, 150-44,

MEDAL COUNT

Appleton overcame Zaid Thweid, 150-108, and Archer won over Earl Strickland, 150-73.

Strickland and Immonen, however, still made it to the final 16 after winning in the losers’ bracket. Strickland downed Holden Chin, 15065, while Immonen ousted Steve Lipsky, 150-27.

Serena Williams of the United States reacts during her match against Vera Zvonareva of Russia at the All Eng-

land Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday.

Phl Archer thinking retirement

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RCHER Mark Javier is mulling retirement after he was eliminated from the men’s recurve competitions of the 2012 London Olympics.

Javier lost to American Brady Ellison, 1-7, in the round-of-32.

The 30-year-old Javier, who also fell at the same stage in the Beijing Games four years ago, posted his plans on the social net-

working site Facebook hours after losing to Ellison.

“Thank you all for your encouraging words before my game. I’m proud and honored to represent the Philippines in two Olympic games but for now I think I have shot my last arrow,” Javier said on his Facebook post.

“Archery has given a lot to me specially the memories that I will al-

ways cherish. To my teammates and friends thank you so much guys,” he also said.

Aside from two Olympic appearances, Javier also has the 2007 Asian championship and the 2012 World Championship in his resume.

Female archer Rachel Ann Cabral also didn’t make it past the first knockout round in London.

16 SPORTS

VOL.5 NO. 109 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 3 - 4, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

IOC asks for probe of badminton coaches

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HE IOC is urging the Chinese, South Korean and Indonesian national Olympic committees to investigate the coaches of the badminton players who were disqualified for trying to lose matches.

“We have asked the NOCs to look into the entourage issue to see if there are questions to be answered there,” IOC spokesman Mark Adams said Thursday.

The International Olympic Committee wants team coaches, trainers or officials to be punished if they encouraged or ordered the players to lose deliberately.

Four women’s doubles teams were kicked out of the competition Wednesday after playing badly to secure a more favorable draw in the next round conduct that strikes at the heart of Olympic rules on fair play and sportsmanship.

Adams said the three national committees are now in the process of expelling the players from the games completely - taking away their accreditations, removing them from the athletes village and sending them home.

“We’re making sure that

at this stage that they consider also the entourage, in this case the coaches, just to make sure it isn’t just the athletes who are punished for this,” Adams said. “We will ask them if they are looking at it.”

The doubles teams - the top-seeded pair from China, two pairs from South Korea and one from Indonesia - deliberately conceded points in an apparent attempt to lose their roundrobin matches so they would face easier opposition in the knockout stage.

“We’re keen to make sure that on the ground it wasn’t just the athletes that were being punished, and that if there are some people to be looked into then the national Olympic committees will do that,” Adams said. “We have to leave them to take their decision.

We’ll be following what they do and what they say.”

If the IOC isn’t satisfied, it could intervene to take its own disciplinary action.

“The NOCs are now making sure those athletes are leaving the village and are on their way home,” Adams said. “The games are about good sporting experience and that’s what we’re encouraging. When that doesn’t happen we need to take action.