Edge Davao 5 Issue 118

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VOL.5 ISSUE 118 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012

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ALL SET. Personnel of the Davao City General Services Office start to assemble the bleachers for the audience of Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan and Pamulak Kadayawan at Rizal Park yesterday. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

Science/ Environment Page 4

Sports

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Calamity in Luzon

Veggies shortage in Davao feared D

avao CITY and the rest of the Davao region are expected to feel the pinch of a low supply of vegetables, as a big portion of its limited vegetable produce would be diverted to Luzon now being battered by stormy weather.

Ray acain, president of the vegetable Industry Council in Southern Mindanao (vicsMin), said Wednesday that as of last

Davao City produces only 6-8 tons but consumes 80 tons of veggies daily.

week, the region’s vegetable traders have been shipping their veggies to Luzon as Benguet, the chief vegetable producing area in Luzon, remains inaccessible after highways to the area were affected by torrential rains and storms. acain told reporters that farmers are currently shipping 10% of their vegetable produce to Luzon. However, Davao farm-

ers are expected to increase their shipment up 60% of their produce to Luzon in two weeks as the vegetable shortage in that area worsens as result of the continuing bad weather spawned by monsoon rains.

(National television reported last night that vegetable farms

in Benguet and Baguio areas are now flooded due to heavy rains brought about by typhoon Helen and vegetable supplies to Metro Manila and other parts of Luzon are expected to sharply decline.) acain said prices of veg-

“We got to discuss matters regarding legal procedures here in the city as they are very concerned about violations committed by, and against, their people,” the vice mayor said.

Duterte said the case of the 78

Taiwanese nationals arrested in Davao City some months back was also discussed with Commissioner Te Hua Lin of the Criminal Investigation Bureau of Taiwan and the agency’s officers.

“We were updated on the case

and they informed us that those arrested here last april are already in prison,” Duterte said.

Measures to further strengthen the two countries’ cooperation in fighting human trafficking, ter-

FVEGGIES, 11

Rody’s Taiwan visit good for PHL

Follow Us On

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avao City vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte yesterday said his recent three-day trip to Taiwan will benefit not just Davao City but the whole country, in matters concerning transnational crimes.

FRODY’s, 11

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THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 118 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012

TWIN EVENTS. Roger Tong-an, governor of the Philippine Nurses Association Region 11, promotes the 2012 Regional Assembly and Launching of the Wellness Tree on August 22-23, 2012 at the CAP Auditorium during Club 888 media forum at Marco Polo

Non-communicable diseases killing more Filipinos today

by Vicky Berdina M. de Guzman

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oMMUNICaBLE diseases have been replaced by non-communicable diseases as the number one killer of Filipinos these days, according to Philippine Nurses association, Inc. Region 11 governor Roger P. Tong-an.

In 2007, the Department of Health noted a shift from communicable diseases killing more Filipinos to noncommunicable diseases taking more Filipino lives.

Tong-an said current data reveals that seven out of 10 leading causes of death in the country are noncommunicable diseases, like heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes mellitus, chronic respiratory diseases and renal diseases.

Together with accidents, the non-communicable diseases mentioned account for over 50 percent of deaths every year. In addition, the Philippines belongs to the 23 countries that contribute

DOH reports

around 80 percent of the total mortality burden attributed to chronic diseases in developing countries.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are accountable for 56 percent of all deaths, in low-and-middleincome countries, and the World Health organization projects that the rate of NCD deaths will increase rapidly.

This has resulted in the campaign by the PNa which is the Launching of the Wellness Tree along with the 2012 regional assembly. It will be themed “Nurses, Midwives and Barangay Workers: Leading the fight against Non-Communicable Diseases” on august 22 to 23 at the CaP auditorium, which also features Senator Edgardo J. angara who will deliver the keynote address.

The event is being funded by Pfizer which will provide materials.

Tong-an says that empowering people to be re-

sponsible for their own health would be effective in minimizing the risk of acquiring non-communicable diseases. This would include educating the people about what having unhealthy lifestyles can lead to.

The Wellness Tree includes the roots, environment and the branches. according to Tong-an, roots refer to the origin of health of an individual or history while environment pertains to physical health influenced by the environment, and the branches refer to choices or personal preferences of the individual; his lifestyle. according to Tong-an, there is also a need for the government to check on the street foods that are currently available at wide range areas in the city. He said that one cannot be sure about their sanitary preparation, adding that most of the foods come with much oil which is also bad for one’s health.

Dengue death toll rises to 328

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he Department of Health (DoH) on Wednesday advised the public to clean their surroundings particularly of stagnant water as it recorded death toll from dengue reaching 328 from January to July 14 this year alone.

In the DoH latest data, a total of 51,597 dengue cases were reported from January 1 to July 14 this year, which is 16.43 percent higher compared to the 44,315 for the same period last year.

There were already 328 deaths recorded for the period compared to

the 293 in 2011.

Most of the cases came from the National Capital Region with 11,476 (22.24 percent); Region Iv-a, 7,265 (14.08 percent); and Region III, 7,044 (13.65 percent).

In the NCR, Quezon City recorded the highest with 3,589 cases; followed by Manila with 1,931 cases; Caloocan City, 1376; Paranaque, 674; valenzuela, 655; Pasig, 595; Malabon, 457; Taguig, 410; Pasay, 333; Las Pinas, 303; Makati, 255; Marikina, 239; Muntinlupa, 154; Mandaluyong, 148; Navotas,

144; San Juan, 134; and Pateros, 79.

Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, DoH program manager for Emerging and ReEmerging Disease, appealed to the public to clean their surroundings as dengue cases usually peak from august to September.

Suy said everyone must make sure that there is no stagnant water in possible breeding places of dengue-carrier mosquitoes like pots, cans, old tires and “even grasses with water.”

The DoH campaign is

FDENGUE, 11

EDGEDAVAO

Hotel yesterday. Guesting also in the forum is Leo Avila (right), Davao City Agriculturist Office head, who proudly announces that organizers of Liwanag World Festival choose the city as the venue for the festival on January 29 to February 2, 2013. [LEAN DAVAL JR]

5-day holiday good for Kadayawan ‘12 D

aBaWENYoS will have more time to relax and enjoy the fun-filled activities of the Kadayawan Festival this year with the coming extended weekend.

Davao City will have a five-day holiday starting Friday, august 17, after Malacañang acceded to the request of the Davao City Council to declare august 17 as a special non-working day in the city to pave the way for the culminating activities of the Kadayawan Festival per Proclamation No. 432.

The end of Ramadan, or the Muslim holy month, on august 20, has also been declared a national

holiday with Malacañang issuing Proclamation No. 455 which provides that the observance of Eid’l Fitr is to promote cultural understanding and integration of the entire Filipino nation to join our Muslim brothers and sisters in the observance and celebration of Eid’l Fitr.

Eid’l Fitr is celebrated

by Muslims everywhere for three days after the end of the month of fasting. The observance of Ramadan started last July 20.

In November last year, President aquino also issued Proclamation No. 295 which included the declaration of august 21

as one of the special nonworking days for 2012.

This is in commemoration of the 29th death anniversary of former senator Benigno S. aquino Jr., father of the President.

The five-day holiday, the longest this year, will give Dabawenyos and those visiting the city during the annual Kadayawan Festival more time to join the celebration.

Major events and highlights like the Hiyas sa Kadayawan Finals will be on Friday, the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan on Saturday and the Pamulak Kadayawan (Flower Parade) will be on Sunday. [City Information Office]

rector of the 2012 Durian Festival, all participants in the competition are students, most of them are from Davao City. She is confident that the supply of durian is enough to sustain this month-long event as there are 203 hectares planted to durian in Tagum City. Last year’s Best Durian variety, a.k.a. D1o1, described as creamy, sweet and somehow similar to the Puyat (another variety of durian) but with smaller seeds and with thicker flesh.

The difference between this year’s Durian Festival and last year’s is that competitions are compressed and made more complex while the prizes are have been

raised. Different varieties of durian will also be displayed for sale at reasonable prices.

The city government supports durian growers and paved the way for such events like this, including the Plant Now, Pay Later program of the city government.

The fair will be ushered in with the Parade of Chefs and Bartenders.

There will also be interesting events within the festival that will be available on scheduled nights, such as grand opening of GSM Blue Night, Film viewing, Parlor Games, Live Band Entertainment, videoke Challenge, Dance Showdown and others. [Vicky Berdina M. de Guzman]

Month-long Durian Festival in Tagum, Aug. 17-Sept. 17

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hirty-three exhibitors are ready to compete for the best durian in the month long Durian Trade Fair to be held at the Rotary Park, Tagum City, from august 17 to September 17.

The event is a feature of the Durian Festival 2012 initiated by the City Tourism Office and the city government of Tagum in cooperation with the regional Department of Tourism which will include various competitions, such as Best Booth, Coffee Blending, Cocktail Flairtending, and Best Durian Fruit (for both Davao del Norte and Compostella valley entries). according to Ms Pedelina o. Huevos, festival di-

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 118 •THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012

THE BIG NEWS

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PHL hails US plan to pre-position logistics T

HE Philippines has welcomed a plan by the U.S. military to transfer its military equipment to the country so it could be used -- faster -when responding to disasters and humanitarian crises in the asia-Pacific region.

Foreign Secretary albert del Rosario said the Philippines has had initial talks with Washington about such proposals.

“We obviously think that a cooperation with the U.S. would be helpful in terms of disaster response and management,” Del Rosario told reporters in an interview.

U.S. officials are considering to send military equipment that would be moved from afghanistan, where Washington is drawing down its military presence, to asian countries like the Philippines and Singapore, so these can be used in responding to major disasters or humanitarian crises in the asia-Pacific.

That would allow american forces to respond faster to asian emergencies and save on the cost of transporting those equipment from the U.S. and non-asian points.

Diplomatic analysts say the plan reflects Washington’s move to reassert its role as an asia Pacific power, a move that has brought it to a collision course with asian superpower China, which has been wary of the

increasing U.S. activities in the region.

If the plan materializes, Manila hopes Washington would consider leaving the equipment or assets in the country for joint use by the Philippines and the U.S., Del Rosario said.

“We don’t know where those assets are coming from but, yes, we’ve had those preliminary discussions on their assisting us and the advantage of having those equipment in the Philippines,” del Rosario said. asked if the transfer would require a separate agreement with the U.S., Del Rosario said: “I don’t think so. It’s obviously to our advantage.”

Situated in the Pacific and in the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines is susceptible to earthquakes, volcanic eruption and typhoons.

Each year, the country is visited by at least 23 to 24 typhoons.

“We’re looking to the U.S. and to other countries as well for assistance in terms of disaster management and response, especially as we see it now we are constantly being threatened and we are being disadvantaged by natural disasters that we are experiencing,” Del Rosario said.

“It’s not a matter of if but a matter of when. So this is part of being ready for that,” he said. [PNa]

Construction workers get skills upgrade with TESDA

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aTCHING the industry’s robust growth, the Technical Education and Skills Development authority (TESDa) is expanding its partnerships with various stakeholders to beef up the skills of the country’s construction workers and make them more competitive in both local and overseas labor market.

TESDa partnered with leading associations of construction workers with the aim of standardizing, coordinating and improving the system of implementation of construction-related skills development programs.

Secretary Joel villanueva, TESDa Director General, said qualified construction worker-trainees would be provided with training in construction-related programs offered by TESDa and selected technical vocational education and training (TvET) institutions under its Training for Work Scholarship (TWSP). after the training, the graduates will also undergo assessment to determine if they have already acquired the needed competencies.

Passers of the assessment will be certified by TESDa and will be issued their National Certificate or Certifi-

cate of Competency.

“Technical vocational training has been proven to be a reliable engine for creating opportunities for jobseekers,” villanueva said, adding that the training programs will help in building the workers’ competitive advantage in their respective qualifications.

He said improving the skills of construction workers is vital amid the increasing demand in the market because of the robust construction projects. according to the National Statistics office (NSo), private construction projects grew by 4.4 percent in the first quarter of 2012 to 29,585, from the 28,347 projects registered in the same period the previous year.

Public construction projects, meanwhile, are expected to continually increase as the government undertakes massive implementation of infrastructure works.

“We would like to be ready with a pool of competent and highly skilled workers to match the demands of the industry, and this is where our training programs and the assessment and certification of workers would come in,” villanueva said.

MOVIE TIME. A boy watches a movie instead of studying his lessons during school lunch break along San Pedro Street yesterday. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

4 SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 118 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Full compliance with Solid Waste Management Act must-- Legarda

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N light of the devastation wrought by floods due to extreme weather disturbances during the past two weeks, Senator Loren Legarda has stressed the need for full compliance with the Ecological Solid Waste Management act of 2000.

“There is an overwhelming need for a comprehensive recovery and rehabilitation plan that will reduce the susceptibility of all sectors to the floods that threaten people’s health, homes, and livelihoods. Solid waste management is central to such a plan,” she said.

In her privilege speech on the State of Disaster and Climate Risks in the Philippines, Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change, noted that the recent monsoon rains submerged 80% of Metro Manila in floodwater, leaving 92 dead and more than half a million Filipinos displaced. at present, over 89,000 families remain in evacuation centers as a result of these recent disasters, adding to the 3,995 families, or so-called “climate refugees” still residing in temporary shelters seven months after typhoon Sendong.

“Why do our flooding woes seem to worsen every day? a main reason is the non-compliance with our environmental laws.

Sixty-two per cent or 945 of 1,516 LGUs nationwide still use open and controlled dumps which R.a.

9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management act, prohibits,” she explained.

“It is time to honestly ask ourselves if we are working on preventing and mitigating the floods or merely responding to their onslaught,” she remarked, noting that while disaster response preparedness is important, it is never enough for saving lives and reducing socio-economic losses substantially.

The Senator, in suggesting best practices that LGUs can implement, cited the small town of San Francisco in Camotes Island, Cebu and the third class municipality of Hinatuan in Surigao del Sur. “The town of San Francisco received the 2011 United Nations Sasakawa award for Disaster Risk Reduction by strictly enforcing their “no trash segregation-no collection” policy. The Municipality of Hinatuan won the 2010 Zero Basura olympics because their townspeople worked together in cleaning clogged canals, their surroundings and seawater, as well as in regulating plastic use,” she explained.

“The forces that threaten our people and the development of our country must be met with resolute will and sustainable solutions. Strong political will at the local and national levels can help bring about the big change we want to see,” Legarda concluded. [PNA]

JCI Philippines takes lead in ‘Save Bora’ drive

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HE Junior Chamber International (JCI) Philippines has taken the lead in galvanizing public support and initiative in securing the long-term viability of the Pacific tourism paradise in Malay, aklan.

Boracay recently topped the Travel+Leisure Magazine 2012 World’s Best awards.

JCI Philippines recently launched here its “Sama Ka, Let’s Protect Boracay” campaign which aims to heighten public awareness and sense of responsibility in taking care of the country’s tourism assets to keep them viable and beneficial for both the present and future generations of Filipinos.

The campaign launch here saw JCI members joining some 300 Boracay Island residents in retrieving and properly disposing off about 500 kilos of waste materials around the island’s beaches.

The Save Boracay drive

also includes a signature campaign, with every signature translating to P1donation from JCI international partners that will help fund the continuing cleanup of Boracay Island, particularly its powdery white sand beaches.

“Protecting our natural resources, specifically our beaches, is an advocacy close to my heart.

This campaign, ‘Sama Ka, Let’s Protect Boracay!’ is a call for everyone to do their share, no matter how small, to ensure that the beautiful beaches we enjoy today will be inherited by generations yet to come,” JCI Philippines national president Randolf Ivan Ruste said in brief remarks during the launch.

Still a bachelor, Ruste added: “I want to have my own family someday, and I want my kids to see the same Boracay that I’ve seen in my youth -- beautiful and blessed with spectacular sunsets. I want my kids to have the chance to appreciate the world’s best island.” [PNA]

BOYCOTT. Norma Monfort of Monfort Bat Cave and Conservation Foundation, Inc. (right) asks the public to boycott the movie Expendables 2. Monfort accuses the Expendables 2 actors led by Arnold Schwarzenegger of killing 15

species of European bats while filming the movie. With her is Nikki Miranda also of Monfort Bat Cave and Conservation Foundation, Inc. during Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao Monday. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

Climate change debate must focus on well-being, livelihood H

UMaN well-being and livelihood should take center stage in the negotiations over ways to lessen greenhouse gas emissions.

Few issues in the negotiations focus on the impact of climate change on watersheds, biodiversity and the capacity of species and ecosystems to support livelihoods, said Dr. antonio G. M. La viña, Dean of the ateneo School of Government.

“These must be prioritized to make the connection between climate change and human well-being,” he pointed out during the Seventh Executive Forum on Natural Resources Management: Watershed Governance in a Context of Climate Change.

The forum was organized by the Southeast asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in agriculture (SEaRCa), the Regional Community Forestry Training Center (RECoFTC)

for asia and the Pacific and the aSEaN Social Forestry Network.

La viña said the ongoing negotiations for a new international agreement on greenhouse gas emissions end in 2015 and will take effect in 2020. “Negotiations take a long time, and for them to take effect even longer,” he said.

The need for better information is essential, he said, pointing out “there’s not much we know about what’s coming.”

Connecting environmental change to the economy and to human well-being is necessary, he said, adding that without these, “we’d just be guessing.”

Watersheds bear the impact of climate change, affecting in part the natural resource base, and affecting the livelihood of farmers and stakeholders that are dependent on these resources, said Dr. Gil C.Saguiguit, SEaRCa

Director. These farmers and stakeholders are also resource-poor, he pointed out in the same forum.

“Climate change is here to stay and watersheds bear its impacts,” he said. “The forum will hopefully equip policy makers to better respond to issues in watershed management and evenly distribute the cost and benefits of watershed management.”

Considering the various risks associated with climate change and their implications for agricultural development in Southeast asia, SEaRCa has prioritized climate change and risk management on its five-year plan focus on natural resource management. along with the asia Pacific adapation Network, SEaRCa is mainstreaming climate change adaptation and mitigation from the regional to grassroots levels.

SEaRCa’s Climate Change adaptation and Miti-

gation Program (CChaMP) for agriculture and Natural Resource Management in Southeast asia aims to reduce poverty and enhance food security.

CchaMP empowers agriculture and natural resource institutions and policyand decision makers with science-based knowledge on climate change. It also mainstreams climate change adapation in national and local development plans. among the resource persons in the Executive Forum were Dr. Doris Capistrano, advisor, aSEaN-Swiss Partnership on Social Forestry and Climate Change; Dr. Rex victor o. Cruz, Chancellor of University of the Philippines Los Baños; Dr. Herlina Hartanto, Learning and application Senior Manager, Indonesia Forest Program, The Nature Conservancy; and Dr. Yurdi Yasmi, Ms. Celina Yong and Mr. Toon de Bruyn of RECoFTC.

ing is the seven-kilometer stretch of West valley Fault that traverses the country’s former capital.

“We’ll develop linear parks where possible along that stretch,” said QC disaster action officer Elmo San Diego.

He said the QC government is discouraging people from continuing to reside along the stretch, noting experts already warned WvF is ripe for movement. a magnitude 7.2 quake from WvF’s movement will be destructive, experts said.

Bautista said QC will

also develop linear parks along waterways in the city.

The waterways’ easements will be greened once QC government relocates informal settler-families there, he noted.

Plants to be used in greening QC will include endemic tree species which are native to the country, Bautista further said.

Saplings or young trees will be planted instead of seedlings which have lower chance for survival, he continued. authorities expect use of endemic species to help enhance QC’s tourism po-

tential.

Such planting strategy will also help highlight richness of Philippine flora and need to protect this resource, they likewise pointed out.

Experts also reported endemic tree species help restore an area’s biodiversity.

Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources continues to promote planting of such species.

Endemics are among tree species being planted under government’s 20112016 National Greening Program. (PNA)

Multi-million peso greening bid mulled

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MPRovING the landscape of Quezon City would help enhance this urban center’s bid to become an environmentfriendly tourism hub.

“We’ll plant trees across the city starting next year,” said Mayor Herbert Bautista.

He noted the QC government earlier targeted a budget of PhP50 million to PhP100 million for the decade-long greening activities.

“That amount could even be more, however,” he clarified. among areas for green-

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 118 •THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012

THE ECONOMY

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Kadayawan brings to fore Davao City’s charming sights like Camella Northpoint a

S the Kadayawan unfolds in Davao, domestic and foreign tourists flock to this city known for its many fine attributes such as its unique sights and experiences, festive environment, good food, and warm hospitality.

While the Kadayawan Festival is that time of the year that brings in more tourists to Davao, the city gets its fair share of visitors all year round. They come to experience the redolent Durian, admire the beauty of Waling–waling, view the majestic Mt. apo, and have a close encounter with our national bird, the Philippine Eagle—all irrefutable natural icons of Davao and its people. on top of that, visitors come to sample the freshest catch from the seas and harvest from the country’s food basket, and revel in the company of Davaoenos known to give their guests a taste of local flavour and camaraderie. visitors to Davao can frolic in white sand beach resorts in the morning and spend a cozy night in a cabin on fog-shrouded mountain resorts. In between they can

sample the home-grown restaurants that offer dishes at par with restaurants in Manila (at half the cost!) while sharing laughter and swapping interesting stories with their Davao hosts. all these make Davao a top destination of choice of foreign and domestic tourists who admire its rustic charm yet cosmopolitan appeal. The city’s modern business and commercial enclaves, exciting recreation and shopping centers, historical landmarks, and contemporary residential communities are worth sightseeing.

Most notable of these is Camella’s landmark condo development, Camella Northpoint, located at the junction of Buhangin Road and JP Laurel avenue in Bajada, right at the heart of the pulse of exciting north Davao.

Camella Northpoint is a veritable pine estate, planted with almost P4 million’s worth of Caribbean pine trees imported from New Zealand, currently thriving and are now over a dozen feet tall. only Camella North-

FKADAYAWAN, 11

Security Bank earns PHP 5 B for 1st half of 2012, ROE of 31%

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ECURITY Bank Corporation disclosed its first half 2012 financial results with a net income attributable to equity holders of P 5.0 billion, a 107% increase over the previous year’s P2.4 billion, resulting from the expansion of the core businesses and securities trading gains. This translates to an annualized return on equity (RoE) of 31%.

Security Bank president and chief executive officer alberto S. villarosa attributed the momentum seen in the bank’s balance sheet as a testament to the expansive confidence of both international and domestic investors on the Philippine economy as evidenced by their long-term commitment in growing key sectors in the country. Mr. villarosa said, “although our first semester results were exceptionally strong, we benefited from one-time gain from the disposal of investment securities. our net interest margins reflect continued stiff competition for deposits and loans.”

The Bank’s loan books grew 29% to P 110.3 billion versus year ago levels, driving the bank’s asset base expansion of 11% to P235 billion. Deposits grew by 26% to P 130.7 billion as of June 30, 2012.

Net interest income grew to P 4.0 billion, a P 500 million or 14% increase over the first half of 2011 with net interest margin (NIM) at 3.95%.

Non-interest income, net of the one-time trading gains, were steady as gains from underwriting fees covered for lower foreign exchange earnings. operating expenses, excluding provisions for credit and impairment losses, amounted to P 2.9 billion, 40% higher than the comparable period in 2011 mainly due to the significant increase in gross receipts tax as a result of higher revenue, the consolidation of expenses of Security Bank Savings (formerly known as Premiere Development Bank) which Security Bank acquired in February 2012 as well as the opening of 10 out of the 50 new restrictedarea branches during the first half of the year.

Chief Financial officer Joselito Mape said the bank is in the initial stages of an investment phase with the expansion in its branch network and the acquisition of Security Bank Savings.

Mr. Mape notes that “The bank will remain cognizant of costs while emphasizing asset quality and prudence in implementing its growth plans. “

TRADE FAIR. Judges choose this waling-waling as one of the best orchids in this year’s Agri-trade Fair at the car park of SM City Mall Davao. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

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VOL.5 ISSUE 118 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012

PHL factory output expands 4.4% in June

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aCToRY output expanded by 4.4 percent in June from the previous month’s decline of 4.1 percent, according to the National Statistics office (NSo).

The NSo said 11 of 12 major sectors influenced the increase in production output in June such as footwear and wearing apparel, furniture and fixtures, wood and wood products, transport equipment , leather products, machinery except electrical, non-metallic mineral products, chemical products ,food manufacturing, textiles and electrical machinery. on a monthly basis, voPI picked-up as it increased by 6.1 percent in June.

The average capacity utilization of polled factories stood at 83.4 percent in June from 83.5 percent in May. The NSo said sectors that posted more than 80-percent capacity utilization rates were food manufacturing, petroleum products, basic metals, electrical machinery, machinery except electrical, non-metallic mineral products , miscellaneous manufactures, rubber and plastic products, chemical products, paper and paper products and wood and

wood products.

The proportion of establishments that operated at full capacity stood at 18.4 percent in June down from 19.1 percent in May. about 58.3 percent of the establishments operated at 70 to 89 percent capacity while 23.3 percent of the establishments operated below 70 percent capacity.

The value of production index (vaPI) grew 2.4 percent in June from 2.9 percent contraction in May. on a month-on-month comparison, vaPI also recovered as it grew by 4.3 percent in June 2012 from its previous month’s decline of 4.4 percent. value of net sales index (vaNSI) registered a slower year-on-year growth of 3.1 percent in June 2012. This was attributed to the diminished value of net sales in furniture and fixtures and chemical products.

While the major contributing sector with significant increase in value of net sales was footwear and wearing apparel, with three-digit increment of 119 percent and other 10 major sectors that posted two-digit growth.

[PNA]

Vista Land posts P2.19B net income in H1 2012

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FFICIaLS of villar-led vista Land & Lifescapes Inc. (vLL) are optimistic of hitting their 2012 targets given the robust business in the first half of the year.

Net income in the first semester is up by 25 percent to P2.19 billion from P1.74 billion last year.

Revenues rose by 22 percent to P8.1 billion from P6.6 billion during the same period last year.

Sales expanded by 47 percent year-on-year to P20 billion, boosting optimism that full-year performance will be posting a record growth, vista Land Chief Financial officer Ricardo Tan Jr. said in a briefing Wednesday.

“It should be a solid year for vista Land,” he said.

The company, which is the holding company of five business units namely Brittany, Crown asia, Camella Homes, Communities Philippines and vista Residences, to date, has launched a total of 15 projects worth P20 billion in 28 provinces and 60 cities and major municipalities in the country.

Three of these projects were launched this year in Palawan, vigan (Ilocos) and Bohol. about 10 to 30 percent of these newly-launched projects are already sold.

Tan said they target to launch subsequent projects in the same areas once these three projects are fully sold.

“We’re moving forward.

The demand is there and the demand for housing in the next few years will going to

be strong,” he said.

Relatively, vista Land President and Chief Executive officer Manuel Paolo villar, during the same briefing, said vista Land officials “are anticipating good results” for this year.

“We’re following our game plan, which is to do aggressive expansion,” he said.

He disclosed plan to introduce new projects, some of which will be done through joint ventures (Jv), but declined to give specifics.

He said they are looking at doing vertical developments in key cities in the provinces of Cebu and Davao, among others.

“In most of the provincial areas, the main market is still predominantly house and lot but there is more room for vertical projects,” he stressed.

Relatively, Tan said they are not considering any capital raising activity again for the rest of the year.

“We’re pretty much done. I don’t think we will be borrowing more,” he added. vista Land raised P4.5 billion from the issuance of unsecured corporate notes last april but the amount was increased to P4.8 billion last June due to more demand for the debt paper.

Proceeds of the notes sale will be used to refinance debt and for additional capital.

The company has set a P15.2-billion capital expenditure program for this year and bulk of this will be used for land development and acquisition. [PNA]

EDGEDAVAO

MEN ALIKE. Native bags on display in the ongoing Kadayawan Crafts Tourism Fair at the abreeza Mall attract not only women but also men alike. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

Personal remittances rise to US$ 11.3 B in H1 P

ERSoNaL remittances from overseas Filipinos (oFs) amounted to US$ 2 billion in June 2012, rising by 4.2 percent from the level posted in the same month a year ago, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor amando M. Tetangco, Jr. said Wednesday. on a cumulative basis, remittances for the first half of the year reached US$ 11.3 billion, higher by 5.3 percent than the level registered in the same period last year.

The steady uptrend recorded during the six-month period was supported by higher personal remittances from land-based oF workers (oFWs) with work contracts of one year or more (by 2.7 percent), as well as sea-based workers and landbased workers with shortterm contracts (by 13.7 percent).

Meanwhile, cash remittances from oFs coursed through banks totaled US$

10.1 billion in the first half of 2012, posting a year-on-year growth of 5.1 percent. Fund transfers from land-based workers at US$ 7.8 billion and sea-based workers at US$ 2.3 billion registered increments of 2.8 percent and 13.6 percent, respectively.

During the six-month period, the countries which largely contributed to the continued growth in cash remittances were the U.S., Japan, Germany, the United arab Emirates, and Hong Kong.

While cash remittances from most countries in the euro area (e.g., Greece, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, among others) posted downtrends as a result of the interlocking sovereign debt and banking crisis, higher remittances were registered in some countries in the non-euro area, notably the United Kingdom.

In terms of the share to total remittances in the

first six months of the year, the leading country sources were the U.S. (42.8 percent), Canada (9.6 percent), Saudi arabia (7.6 percent), Japan (5.0 percent), the United Kingdom (4.8 percent), Singapore (4.2 percent), and the United arab Emirates (4.1 percent).

The sustained growth in the deployment of oFWs was the key contributory factor to the upswing seen in remittance flows.

Preliminary data from the Philippine overseas Employment administration (PoEa) revealed that for the period January-December 2011, the number of workers deployed overseas increased by 14.8 percent to 1,687,831 from 1,470,826 in the same period a year ago.

Nearly 80 percent of the total number of deployed oFWs were land-based workers (1,318,727), more than 25 percent of which were newly hired workers

(437,720). The leading destinations of the land-based workers (new hires and rehires) were Saudi arabia, the United arab Emirates, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Qatar.

Data from the PoEa also showed that in JanuaryJuly 2012, approved job orders aggregated 472,261, of which about 35 percent consisted of processed job orders for services, professional, technical, and production and related workers.

The bulk of processed job orders were intended for the manpower requirements in Saudi arabia, United arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Taiwan. another factor that helped shore up oF remittances was the continued expansion of bank and nonbank remittance providers that enabled the wider capture of a larger share of the global remittance market.

abreeza Mall has available BPo office space of 9,000 square meters, she said.

Tomeldan said the nature of their development is mix use that is why abreeza goes with a Mall, BPo, a condominium, a hotel and a lot more.

She said ayala Land’s objective of locating here is to “bring the best in Davao and give the best to Dabawenyos”.

“We are misinterpreted as high-end market,” she said but clarified that they offer a good mix of affordable and premium products to consumers.

Tomeldan said they

use research and study to achieve their goal and know their market even as they provide opportunities to Manila-based investors and make available the property to local home-grown entrepreneurs as well. “and we want them to grow with us,” she said.

She said these homegrown traders could be anchors for tourists or foreign shoppers in promoting the products of Davao and the crafts, culture and tradition of the locals. alongside with the BPo, she announced the opening of their 180-

room hotel, the Kukon, on the first quarter of 2013.

She said they want abreeza to be a landmark in Davao and the second home to Dabawenyos.

Meanwhile, she said their Centrio in Cagayan de oro City will open in october, another project in partnership with anflocor.

Tomeldan said the Mindanao market continues to grow and there is always room for growth and possible expansion in the future.

To date, she said ayala Land has a total of 22 new development projects across the country. [PNA]

[PNA]

Two US-run BPOs locating in Davao City

T

Wo U.S.-run Business Process outsourcing (BPos) companies are locating in Davao City, according to an ayala Land executive.

Rowena Tomeldan, ayala Land head of operations and Support Services Commercial Business Group, confirmed that the two BPos are locating at abreeza Mall along J.P. Laurel avenue, Bajada, Davao City.

But Tomeldan did not give details and the identities of the companies but said the investors are locating either end of 2012 or first quarter of 2013.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 118 •THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012

GAME CHANGER

7

CCT: Providing families with better opportunities

“G

IvE a man a fish and he will live for a day. Teach a man how to fish and he will live for a lifetime”, this is one of the best known quotes by the Taoist philosopher Lao Tzu. This quote has often been cited in a number of negative feedbacks regarding the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or the famed “Conditional Cash Transfer Program” of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) firmly stressing that the program promotes mendicancy.

It is costly and palliative. It is a dole out.

What is really Pantawid Pamilya? How does this program identify their recipients? Isn’t the program just a band-aid fix and will not really address the root cause of poverty in families? Why is the Philippine Government even bothering implementing a program if its investments will end up futile?

Program definition Practiced in over forty countries worldwide, the

Philippines has benchmarked the “Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT)” program and called it the “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program” (formerly known as 4Ps) which has the same goals of breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty by providing cash grants to identified poor households in the country to help improve the health, nutrition and education especially of children aged 0 to 14 years old. The families must then comply with the program conditions on health, nutrition, education and family development sessions prior to getting their grants.

The program has dual objectives. one is for Social Assistance that is to provide cash assistance to the poor to alleviate their immediate needs or short-term poverty alleviation; and second is for Social Development that is to break the intergenerational poverty cycle through investments in human capital.

Identification of beneficiaries

Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries of Brgy. Cogon, Island Garden City of Samal listen intently to the resource person during a Family Development Session (FDS). Held every month, FDS capacitates beneficiaries through seminars on Responsible Parenthood, Basic Financial Management, Child Care, Home Management and other topics that fit their needs and interests. (DSWD/ShERyLL JANE B. SANico) The DSWD selects the beneficiaries through the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) program where assessment of households in the selected municipalities is conducted to identify who and where the poor are.

The poorest households

in the municipalities that were enumerated and interviewed are then filtered through a Proxy-Means Test.

This test determines the socio-economic category of the families by looking at certain proxy variables such as ownership of assets, type of housing, education of the household head, livelihood of the family and access to water and sanitation facilities.

Not a dole-out Beneficiaries are asked to comply to certain program conditions in order to receive their grants. For the health condition, (1) pregnant women must avail of pre- and post-natal care and be attended during childbirth by a trained health professional; (2) o-5 year old children must receive regular preventive health checkups and vaccines; and 6-14 years old children must receive deworming pills twice a year.

For the education condition, 3-5 year old children must attend day care or preschool classes at least 85% of the time; and 6-14 year old children must enroll in elementary or high school and must attend at least 85% of the time. also, parents must attend the monthly-held Family Development Sessions (FDS) wherein topics that are beneficial to the recipients are discussed such as Responsible Parenthood, Financial Management, Child Care, Home Management and other topics that fit their needs and interests.

To ensure that beneficiaries’ compliance to the conditions is monitored, the DSWD has installed the “Compliance verification System.” Compliance verification Forms are distributed every two months to Schools and Health facilities.

Failure to comply with the program conditions for three consecutive times within the year will result in the temporary suspension of cash grants. The beneficiary also not will be eligible for monitoring.

Program transparency and accountability The department exercises transparency and accountability to correct mistakes and further improve program implementation. at present, the Municipal Links assigned in every Pantawid Pamilya area are administering the Social Welfare Indicator (SWI) to identify if each household fall in any of these categories survival, subsistence and selfsufficient. The SWI will then help the department identify what other interventions can be done to assist the family.

Each municipality also conducts the monthly City/ Municipal advisory Committee (C/MaC) which is chaired by the City/Municipal Mayor.

During the C/MaC meetings grievance-related issues in the municipality are discussed. also, problems on Supply Side are tackled to draw out possible solutions to resolve the Supply-related problems.

Beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries are encouraged to voice out their concerns.

Queries and complaints may be forwarded to the respective City/Municipal Links (C/ML) assigned in the area.

The complainant must provide the C/ML with the correct and detailed information of the complaint.

Complainants can also visit the Pantawid Pamilya Regional Program Management office at 3rdFloor, New DSWD Building, Suazo Street, Davao City or call tel nos. (082) 227-1964 / 2262857. They can also send their email at pantawid-

pamilya.fo11@gmail.com or fo11@dswd.gov.ph. another easier option is through the Grievance Hotline, complainants can text their questions and complaints to the Grievance Hotline at 0918-9122813 by following the format Pantawid Pamilya <space> your name <slash> address <slash> complaint (ex. Pantawid Pamilya Juan Dela Cruz/Davao City/Wala ko sa payroll).

Program gains Conditional Cash Transfers have been a trend in Latin america and have been proven to be very effective in reducing poverty. In the Philippine setting, Pantawid Pamilya has shown impressive developments since its onset on 2008. The Social Weather Station’s study on Pantawid Pamilya last 2010 show improvements in school attendance, use of health services, immunization coverage, child nutrition, and knowledge of maternal health services.

The SWS assessment also revealed that more students and parents attend extra-curricular activities; students come to school with better clothing, project materials, and food making them more active in classrooms. It is also noteworthy that Pantawid Pamilya plays a major role in reducing child labor especially rural areas because many poor parents are now able to send their children to school.

Meanwhile, a Qualitative Impact Evaluation on Pantawid Pamilya done by the Institute of Philippine Culture of the ateneo de Manila University concluded that the program has a lot of potential in improving people’s lives. Changes in behaviors related to health and education have also been observed

FCCT, 11

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 118 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Africa as muse, not mess COMMENTARY

By ThE ChRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

D

EDITORIAL

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Batwoman vs The Expendables 2

S NORMAN MONFORT of the world renown Monfort Bat Cave, the only natural wonder of the Island Garden City of Samal that is listed in the Guinness Book of Records, is up in arms against filmmakers of “The Expendables 2” for what they had done to a wide swath of forest in Bulgaria.

Monfort, also fondly called “Batwoman” by friends on account of her advocacy for the protection and respect for fruit bats found in a cave inside the land she had inherited from her parents, and her fellow conservationists are urging Dabawenyos to boycott the action movie to be premiered in the Philippines on August 17. Expendables 2 topbills Silvester Stallone, Jet Li, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren, Chuck Norris, Bruce Willis, Jean Claude Van Damme, and Arnold Schwarzenegger—all known for starring in movies of violence--and for this, it is expected to be a blockbuster just like its prequel, “The Expendables.”

But Norma and her allies –the Mon-

EDGEDAVAO

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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Door 14 ALCREJ Building, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, Philippines Tel: (082) 301-6235 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 www.edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net marketing@edgedavao.net

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OLIVIA D. VELASCO General Manager

fort Bat Cave and Conservation Foundation, Inc. and Philippine Bat Conservation, Inc. –will have nothing to do with the movie. They want everybody to join them in boycotting the film.

Monfort’s group wants moviegoers to know that The Expendables 2 filmmakers cleared a portion of a major forest in Bulgaria in violation of a limited government permit, taking down small trees and shrubs, thereby doing permanent damage to a bat cave. Aside from this, excessive explosives were used during the filming near the cave, killing 15 species of European bats. They reported that a stuntman died and another was injured during an on set explosion.

We sympathize with Ms Monfort and all conservationists who identify with her cause. We wish them luck for their boycott move. But in this country, many twists of fate can happen in a public campaign. Indeed it is quite possible that instead of heeding the boycott call, some people’s curiosity is aroused that may lead them to watch the movie.

ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Associate

CARLO P. MALLO Features and Lifestyle

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR., • JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA Photography Creative Solutions 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

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URING a two-week tour of africa, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has raised an intriguing idea, one that breaks a tired stereotype. africa, she asserted in a speech Wednesday in Cape Town, has solutions for some of the world’s problems.

The continent certainly has enough problems – bad governance, civil war, and drought, to name only three. and solving any one of them might become a model for other nations. africa, for example, has found exemplary ways to reduce child deaths. as a region with an economy larger than India’s, its growth rate now surpasses that of the West, which is in a slump. Seven of the 10 fastest-growing economies are in africa.

Compared with asia and Latin america, africa has shown unusual partnership among its more than 50 nations in tackling the continent’s worst conflicts, such as in Somalia. It has plenty to do.

Most of the world’s failed states are in africa.

With steady if uneven progress toward stable democracies, africans are showing ways to achieve peaceful turnovers of power, such as in Ghana last month. along its arab north, Tunisia, Egypt, and Libyahave led the arab Spring. and with the end of Muammar Qaddafi’s rule in Libya, africa no longer has someone using oil wealth to try to control the future of sub-Saharan africa.

In a continent known for its strongmen, Malawi has a new female president, Joyce Banda, who joins Liberia’s Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in helping to raise the aspirations of african women.

Last month, the african Union elected its first female leader, Nkosazana DlaminiZuma.

For Mrs. Clinton, however, South africa is seen as the best hope for africa.

Per capita, South africa’s wealth exceeds that of China or India. Last year, the mineral-rich nation, now 18 years free of white rule, was inducted last year into the global club of large, non-Western economies called BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South africa).

Clinton praises South africa for voluntarily giving up nuclear weapons, for its civil-society activism, and for helping other african nations with security, agriculture, and minerals. She likes the leadership of President Jacob Zuma in pushing a Cairo-to-Cape Town highway that could be a north-south infrastructure artery for the continent.

Most of all she cites it as role model: “In South africa, you achieved something that few countries have ever done.

You proved that it doesn’t take an all-out civil war to bridge the divide between people who grew up learning to hate one another. You showed that the rights of minorities can be protected even in places where the majority spent decades and decades living in oppression. You reminded the world that the way forward is not revenge, but truth and reconciliation.”

By suggesting ways that africa can assist the world, Clinton may help break negative impressions of its future. or as she told her audience of young people, “The world needs you to contribute much because you already have accomplished much.”

EDGEDAVAO

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VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 118 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012

Filipino Catholics celebrate Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary to Heaven

ILIPINo Catholics Wednesday join other Catholic countries around the world celebrating the assumption of the Blessed virgin Mary to heaven body and soul, a dogma declared by Pope Pius XII on Nov. 1, 1950.

The Catholic world observes Feast of the assumption every august 15.

The dogma states that “the Immaculate Mother of God, Mary ever virgin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven.”

The Philippines, one of the two predominantly Catholic countries in asia – the other one is East Timor – has chosen the Blessed virgin Mary as its patron saint.

Records show that there are as many as 95 Catholic churches in the Philippines dedicated to the Blessed Mother, making the Philippines as one of the largest in the whole world in terms of churches named after the virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ. one of the early messages given at Medjugorje, when asked if she went to Heaven

‘ The website zenith.

SPECIAL FEATURE

By BEN CAL the ‘miracle of the sun’ on four occasions and he considered this experience as confirmation of his plan to declare the dogma of the assumption. The information contained in this handwritten note by Pius XII went on public display for two months in the vatican in November 2008.”

It may be recalled that the “miracle of the sun” was known worldwide following the miracle in Fatima, Portugal on october 13, 1917 witnessed by more than 70,000 people.

The “miracle of the sun” occurred when the Blessed Mother appeared to three children Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco to manifest the Divine power of God so that people would come to believe.

In that miracle, the sun “danced” and at the same time drying “instantantaneously

org said: “A previously unpublished document came to light which revealed Pope Pius XII had witnessed the ‘miracle of the sun’ on four occasions and he considered this experience as confirmation of his plan to declare the dogma of the Assumption.

The information contained in this handwritten note

by Pius XII went on public display for two months in the Vatican in November 2008.’ before or after death says: “I am the Mother of God and the Queen of Peace. I went to Heaven before death.” october 12, 1981.

The website zenith.org said: “a previously unpublished document came to light which revealed Pope Pius XII had witnessed

the rain-soaked land spectators.” Pope Pius

XII wrote: “I have seen the ‘miracle of the sun,” this is the pure truth.”

In his testimony, the Pope said that on oct. 30, 1950 at 4 pm, during his “habitual walk in the vatican Gardens, reading and studying,” upon arriving at the statue of our Lady of Lourdes, “toward the top of the hill…

I was awestruck by a phenomenon that before how I had never seen.”

“The sun, which was still quite high, looked like a pale, opaque sphere, entirely surrounded by a luminous circle” and as he looked at the sun, “without the slightest bother (in his eyes). There was a very light little cloud in front of it,” the Pope said.

He also said that he again saw the same phenomenon on oct. 31 and Nov. 1, “the day of the definition of the dogma of the assumption, and then again on November 8, and after that, no more.”

The Filipinos have shown their deep devotion by venerating the Blessed virgin Mary, as the Mother of God, the savior of mankind. [PNA]

9

A season of gratitude

S

PECTaCULaR .– We knew that 2012 would be a fruitful and delightful year for Davao City and its people. after all, the events all year round most notably the “Kadayawan sa Dabaw” were widely recognized by the national and international communities. The city’s most prestigious annual celebration, billed as the “Mother of all Festivals” is the kind of festivity that visitors, local and foreign tourists, including journalists appreciate.

The city comes alive in a season of dances, music, trade exhibits, agro-industrial fairs, variety shows, musical concerts and the search of “Hiyas ng Kadayawan,” chosen from candidates representing the 10 ethnic tribes comprising the indigenous peoples sector of the region. Kadayawan to most people is the season of thanks. Dabawenyos celebrate the event every second and third week of august.

The essence of the festivity goes beyond the street dancing, the night-out parties, the wining and the dining.

Predictably, there will many participating delegations – city-based and out-of-towners expected to join the famous “indak-indak” or street dancing competition. Dance groups are classified into different categories as attractive prizes await the winners and recognition of being best of the crop. The promised highlight of the annual thanksgiving celebration will be the fruit and flower parade on culmination day. But the closest thing to the event will be the dozens of float fully loaded with homegrown fruits ”King of Fruits” and various agricultural produce aside from varieties of orchids and different types of flowers propagated in the locality.

For the past days hyperbolic promotions to lure tourists and visitors are rigors of the city officialdom and the tourism industry – from tour packages to hotel and air fare discounts. officials are hopeful the event will be a huge success expecting the arrival of more than 50,000 visitors resulting in high hotel occupancy and extra scheduled flights coming from different parts of the country. ooo NoTaBLE REMINDER – We can understand the big howl raised by public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers over the traffic rerouting and restrictions in several strategic routes in the city specifically in busy thoroughfares during the conclusion of the Kadayawan festival. They claim it can really slowdown their travel time therefore effectively reduces their usual income.

However, looking at a better perspective, the rationale here is to bring back order in the streets. Despite the one-side parking scheme along the city’s main streets, vehicular traffic is almost always chaotic because of abusive and zigzagging PUJ drivers. Worse, others blocked the path of fellow drivers in the race to solicit more passengers – the most unpleasant behavior of rude and thickfaced PUJ drivers.

Furthermore, drivers decried the stiff imposition of higher penalties but many of them remained habitual traffic violators.

There is no reason why PUJ drivers cannot be careful enough to avoid violating simple traffic rules and regulations such as picking up of passengers in No Loading and Unloading Zones, jumping through red lights, overspeeding, trip-cutting and fare overcharging.

The rerouting scheme during the Kadayawan affair is just a matter of hours. Clearly, it would not greatly affect the PUJ drivers’ daily income. The small sacrifice is well worth it.

10

SUBURBIA

VOL.5 ISSUE 118 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Tagum City fights human trafficking T

HE Tagum City local government is now officially part of a network of government agencies and non-government organizations to check human trafficking.

Tagum City Mayor Rey T. Uy yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement (Moa) with Regional Prosecutor antonio arellano, binding the commitment of the city government to the Regional Inter-agency Council against Trafficking (Riacat)-Regional Integrated action Network (Riaction).

In his message, Uy reminded the Public Employment Services office to assure the legitimacy of recruiters. He also called on members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) to be “accommodating” in handling cases of human trafficking. arellano said that Tagum

City came in third among the cities that Riacat-Riaction had networked to strengthen preventive measures against and programs on human trafficking.

RIaCaT brought into the circle of Riaction the cities of Davao and Panabo and the province of Davao oriental.

Republic act 9208, known as anti-Trafficking in Persons act of 2003 creates the Inter-agency Council against Trafficking, with the secretary of the Department of Justice as the chairperson and the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as the vice-chairperson. among the mandated members of the Council are the Department of Foreign affairs, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Philippine overseas Employment administration, Bureau of Immigration, PNP

POWER ADVISORY

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avao Light and Power Company’s frontline customer services will be available to the public during the proclaimed non-working holidays on august 17, 20 and 21. all the accredited customer service and bill payment offices of the local electric distribution utility in Ponciano, Bajada, Panabo, Toril, Sto. Tomas, and Calinan offices will be open to serve the public during the said holidays.

Davao Light’s Ponciano, Bajada, and Panabo offices on the said dates will accept payments from 7:00 aM to 5:00 PM, with no noon break. Meanwhile

for Toril, Calinan and Sto. Tomas offices, the schedule will be be from 8:00 aM to 12:00 noon, and 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM. The Ponciano and Panabo customer service offices will cater to its customers from 8:00 aM to 5:00 PM straight with no noon break.

The company’s Panabo branch and the accredited collection office in Sto. Tomas, both in Davao del Norte, however, will have normal operations on august 17 during the Kadayawan Festival, as these are not covered by the holiday declaration.

Emergency service will remain available 24 hours through 229-DLPC (3572).

WATER ADVISORY

D

avao City Water District customers residing in S.I.R. Phase II in Matina and its immediate environs will experience temporary water service interruption on august 18 from 9:00 aM until 5:00 PM. acting general manager Edwin v. Regalado said the operations and Maintenance Department (oMD) crews will tap the newly installed 160mm Polyvinyl Chloride (PvC) pipelines at S.I.R. Phase 2 in Matina as part of the utility’s mainline replacement project to help reduce non-revenue water.

Regalado also appeals for the understanding and

cooperation of the wouldbe affected customers and advises them to store enough water prior to the scheduled water service interruption as water supply may be restored earlier if work goes smoothly or later if unforeseen problems arise.

The general public may call the DCWD trunk line at 221-9400 and press “1” on their phone dial to listen to the latest daily water updates, or contact its call center through the 24-hour hotline 221-9412 or 0927-7988966 for updates, complaints, queries and other matters pertaining to DCWD services.

(SyLViA MAy L. VoSotRoS)

and the National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women.

The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is among the mandated agencies to provide intervention programs on human trafficking.

The law mandates the council involvement of three representatives from nongovernment organization representing the women, the children and the overseas Filipino worker sectors. aside from formulating a comprehensive and integrated program to prevent and suppress trafficking in persons, the council is also tasked to “coordinate the conduct of massive information dissemination and campaign on the existence of the law and the various issues and problems attendant to trafficking through

the local government units (LGUs), concerned agencies, and NGos.” as Riacat had seen the need to widen its alliance with other agencies of national and local governments, arellano said the council created a network to bring in members with whom the council can work with in checking human trafficking cases.

“We created Riaction to expand our network and bring others to work with us,” he said in a press conference after signing the Moa with Uy. arellano had no categorical views on the vulnerability Tagum City has regarding human trafficking, but he had found it necessary to network with LGUs outside of Davao City where the international airport has become the hub of domestic and international flights.

“The possibility of a terminal to become a point of entry or exit of human trafficking increases, as the number of (air transport) destinations increases,” he said. arellano targeted to involve all provincial and city LGUs in the Davao Region before the year ends.

DILG Tagum City Director Liza Mendoza said barangay residents had already been advised to report individuals found recruiting in their area.

“If there are recruitments at the barangay level, that should be done with Public Employment Services office. Without the PESo, residents should immediately report the recruitment to the barangay officials,” she said. authorities are closely keeping watch on illegal recruitment as it may end up

in human trafficking that, under Ra 9208, “refers to the recruitment, transportation, transfer or harboring, or receipt of persons with or without the victim’s consent or knowledge, within or across national borders by means of threat or use of force, or other forms of coercion, abduction, fraud, deception, abuse of power or of position, taking advantage of the vulnerability of the person, or, the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the consent of a person having control over another person for the purpose of exploitation which includes at a minimum, the exploitation or the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery, servitude or the removal or sale of organs.” (PiA-11/ JEANEViVE D.

with today’s trying times, and so we are bringing the schools here. and for the students, this is for their convenience. aside from saving money, the School Fair also saves their time, as they can already pick from the choices of courses and schools in two days. and for the schools also, they no longer have to go school hopping and promote their courses offering.

They can do it only in two days in one venue,” vice Governor Mayo almario said.

The local government units will take care of the transportation of the students through their vehicles, bring the students to the fair site and back to their respective places. almario said Department of Education Secretary armin Luistro already

confirmed his attendance in the event upon invitation of Congresswoman Thelma Z. almario. vice governor almario said Congresswoman almario will still coordinate with Governor Corazon Malanyaon and Mayor Michelle Rabat for Luistro’s visit.

The second event is the second Inter-Sanggunian Sportsfest scheduled in September.

Members of the different Sangguniang Bayan (SB) and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) will converge at the SP Complex for the games, a very friendly competition designed to strengthen good relationship among the SB members from the 10 municipalities and the City of Mati and SP members.

“It’s very refreshing for us

to spend even a day as a rest from our work. In here, we can also have time to discuss matters involving our respective legislative councils. We will get to hear from them, learn from each other’s best practices,” the vice governor said.

SP members headed by their presiding officers, city, municipal councilors with their staff and workers from the office of the Sanggunian Secretaries will outdo each other in the different games and even parlor games.

For the Inter-Sanggunian Sportsfest, there will be no legislative house rules this time but mechanics of the games, no resolutions and ordinances but the pledge of sportsmanship, no debates and caucuses, but just fun and games.

almerol assured Governor Rodolfo del Rosario and other provincial officials, during the recent convocation program at the Capitol.

The province married its frontline services up with the army’s Peace and Development outreach Program (PDoP) last year in creating the local convergence program, in collaboration also with the police and other agencies.

The program, which rolled out its 17th outreach in Semong, Kapalong town on august 10, 2012, has already served health, agriculture, environment,

infrastructure, and legal assistance, among other services, to over 20,000 individuals in distant and depressed villages this year.

Yet, its most encouraging impact, according to Gov. del Rosario, is the highest number of surrenderees for the province throughout the Davao region, as some 73 rebels returned to the fold of the law in Davao del Norte during the first half of 2012 alone. almerol, who was the former commander of the 60th Infantry Battalion before his recent assignment as G3 of the 10th ID, said

the army top brass made sure military personnel are actively involved in the conduct of convergence missions in the province.

He said the program has been very effective in changing the wrong perception about the military and in making the people realize that the army “is the real protector of the people and their true armed forces.”

“The military cannot do it alone . . . but with the convergence program, we could win the peace and achieve our aspirations for the people,” he said.

ABANgAN)

Davao Oriental prepares for provincial school fair T

HE province of Davao oriental is in the thick of preparation for two big events, a province-wide school fair and sports fest.

The fourth Davao oriental School Fair will be held on august 24 and 25. The fair aims to help graduating fourth year students to decide which course to take in college.

Forty schools are invited to participate in the school fair. Students’ academic choices will be laid on them in one venue.

“This means lesser expenses for the parents, as the students no longer have to go to Tagum or Davao City, or in any other part in the country to still, get their choices from the different colleges and universities. We understand their predicament

Army supports DavNor convergence

T

HE convergence program of the province continues to enjoy the powerful backing of the military, according to a high-ranking army officer.

Col. Greg almerol, Deputy Chief of Staff for operations of the 10th Infantry Division, assured the army remains steadfast in its commitment as a strong ally of the province in implementing the Davao del Norte Convergence for Peace and Development.

“Your military will always be there to support and sustain this peace and development initiative,”

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 118 •THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012

Veggies FFROM, 1 etables have gone up, primarily cabbage which was formerly priced at P20 a kilo and now sells for P50. other vegetables’ prices are also expected to rise, such as carrots, squash and broccoli. In Tagum City there is already a dearth in the supply of squash. acain explained that the shift in supply is a business decision as traders normally would ship their produce to markets offering higher prices, meaning Luzon.

He likened the situation to that brought about by Typhoon ondoy which hit Luzon and saw the price of cabbage surge to P60 per kilo.

If the vegetable shortage persists, Davao City will be among those that will be affected adversely.

He said the city consumes about 80 tons of vegetables daily. It produces only 6-8 tons of vegetables, with the rest of its demand being sourced from other areas in the region. The region produces around 80 tons of vegetables daily.

Earlier, acain said the unabated banana plantation expansion and discoveries of new mining areas have shrunk the areas planted to vegetable, threatening stability of supply in the domestic markets, and the export of Mindanao vegetables to recently developed markets.

He said vicsmin and the Department of agriculture need to update production areas that

Dengue

were already mapped in 2005 due to “changes in the crops that farmers have planted recently.” areas like Kapatagan, Davao del Sur and Maragusan in Compostela valley, have reduced their usual volume of “semitemperate” vegetables – such as broccoli, cauliflowers and bell peppers –when farmers either opted or were forced to shift to export Cavendish bananas, as in the case in Kapatagan, or when the menfolk left the farms to try their luck in a newlydiscovered mining area, as what happened in Maragusan.

But it was mostly the shift to banana that threatened the traditional sources of vegetables, acain said, citing the same trend in Bukidnon and Marilog, the northern agricultural district of Davao City.

The threats in areas like Tupi and Lake Sebu in South Cotabato were less severe, though still a cause for concern, “as these grow the tropical vegetables, or what we call the Bahay Kubo set of vegetables,” the vicsmin president bared. vegetable growers sort out vegetables into two distinct groups: the “Bahay Kubo” or “pinakbet” group, or the tropical climate vegetables, and the “chopsuey,” or temperate climate vegetables.

The more common and affordable vegetables like squash, eggplant, ampalaya, string beans and other leafy vegetables be-

long to the “Bahay Kubo” group.

The more expensive vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflowers, bell peppers and lettuce, belong to the “chopsuey” group.

Environmental concerns have been raised on the conversion of lands in Kapatagan from vegetables to bananas, as the barangay which is 25 kilometers from Digos City proper, has been classified since two decades ago as a protected area, being part of Mt. apo, a national park and wildlife reservation.

Kapatagan is at the foothills of Mt. apo.

The most susceptible to crop conversion are mostly farmers who have problem with access to markets.

“For growers of mostly semi-temperate climate vegetables, the shift to banana was less tempting because these farmers already have institutional buyers, like shopping malls and hotels,” acain said.

“For instance, we have these farmers in the Malaybalay, Bukidnon side of Mt.Kitanglad, whose lettuce and broccoli are already pegged to the demand of hotels and shopping malls in Cagayan de oro City, and to a high-end hotel in Davao City.”

“But there would be a realignment of the vegetable map in Mindanao,” he said, “especially that until now, there are still a lot of vegetable farmers who are not listed in our roster”.

measures such as wearing long sleeves and pants or using mosquito repellant; Seek early consultation or a doctor for immediate

diagnosis or treatment of the disease; and Say no to indiscriminate fogging.

[PNa]

ang mga bata kay tungod sa kadaghan. Sa poblacion pa lang daan nadungagan na ug 14 ka bata, gikan sa 60 nahimo nang 84 ka bata (at first we were worried where to put the others because of the huge increases of daycare enrollees. In Poblacion, an additional 14 children enrolled in preschool, from 60 children it now upsurge to 84 children),” added Norberta.

Similar stories have also been documented in other Pantawid areas where there has been striking increases in school enrollees, availment of health services and attendance to Family Development Sessions. Pantawid Pamilya not only provides the basic rights to health and education but also provides

them a better perspective in life. It empowers them to be productive individuals and in turn create a more productive society.

Elizabeth Cabilan, 39, of Brgy. Poblacion, Compostela is overwhelmed by the assistance that her family is receiving from the program.

“Walay katapusan gyud ang akoang pasalamat sa programa. Dili ko kabalo asa ko magsugod sa kadaghang natabang sa programa sa amoa (I can never say enough thank yous to the program. I do not know where to start because of the lots of things that the program has helped us), Elizabeth exclaimed.

Elizabeth’s eldest son Judiel, 13, a consistent honor student is also equally grateful to the program. Judiel is

[With REPoRtS fRoM RoDuLPh ALAMA AND MiNDANEWS]

FFROM, 2 anchored on the 4S advocacy: Search and Destroy possible breeding places of dengue-causing mosquitoes; Self protective

CCT...

FFROM, 7 in beneficiaries. These shortterm outcomes are motivation for enhancement and continuous implementation for the betterment of lives of the poor.

In Region XI, the laudable impact of the program is already perceived. Norberta Sandoval of Barangay Poblacion, Sta. Maria, Davao del Sur and a Daycare Worker since 1984 affirmed the huge increase in Daycare enrollees when the program started in 2009. “Gina-expect na namo ni nga mahitabo sa pag-abot sa 4Ps apan wala kami nagdahom nga ingon ani kadaghan (We expected that this would happen upon the onset of 4Ps but we did not anticipate that it will be this huge).” “Sa pirmero naguol mi kung asa ibutang

11

Lawmakers open to amending law to break “code of silence” in frats

L

aW enforcers admitted on Wednesday that the so-called ‘code of silence’ being practiced and imposed among fraternity members deters them from solving hazing cases including those of recent victims Marvin Reglos and Mark andrei Marcos, both law students of San Beda College. ”The problem is how to break the code of silence among the fraternity members and even other witnesses,” Philippine National Police (PNP) P/CSupt. Erickson velasquez said. ”It is true that the burden is with the law enforcers in gathering the evidence and these are practical difficulties in the field because of the code of silence being observed by the fraternity members,”

Rody’s...

FFROM, 1

rorism, organized crime, illegal firearms and drugs smuggling and the needed action to curb and eventually eradicate such crimes were also explored with the CIB officials.

The Taiwanese National Police agency, according to Duterte, also brought up

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) deputy director Medardo De Lemos, for his part, said.

The two officials made their respective statements during the second Senate public hearing on the two proposed Senate bills (SB 2257 and 3131) aimed at amending Republic act 8049, or an act regulating hazing and other forms of initiations rites in fraternities, sororities and organizations.

In response, Senate committee on public order chairman Gregorio ‘Gringo’ Honasan II said he will consider in the proposed amendments the problem of ‘code of silence’ that the authorities have been facing in running after the violators of the anti-hazing law.

”We have a lot of things to consider if we are going to amend this law and that include the code of silence which prevents our law enforcers from solving cases of hazing,” Honasan told the media after the hearing.

Former Senator Jose Lina Jr., one of the authors of Ra 8049 when it was passed in the 9th Congress, said the existing anti-hazing law “is sufficient as a whole”. ”There can be minor amendment but the law itself is sufficient if properly implemented. The police will just have to do their work because hazing per se is banned. The law says that there is no any form of hazing or any form of initiation rites shall be allowed unless there is a consent of authorities,” Lina said.[PNA]

their concern over the peace and order situation in the city, with the vice mayor assuring them that law and order in the city is always on top of the priorities of the local government.

“They said Taiwanese nationals in Davao City are concerned about their se-

curity in the city and I told those who we talked to in Taiwan that I could guarantee their safety here,” Duterte said.

Duterte added that CID Commissioner Te Hua Lin and some of his agency officers may yet visit Davao City, too. [city iNfoRMAtioN officE]

commercial area is now a sought-after destination in Davao, with the opening of The White House by Ninyo’s Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge, with its exquisite fine dining experience offering a fusion of Japanese and French cuisine, a culinary fare one will be hard pressed to find anywhere else in the city. visitors will find a trip to Camella Northpoint is worth experiencing for its fragrant pine trees, wellness pool, and the meticulously sculpted green landscape. of course, the experience would not be complete without dining at Ninyo’s to have a first-hand taste of Davao’s fresh bounty, and

experiencing the privileged lifestyle of those who call Camella Northpoint home.

Camella Northpoint is set to develop its commercial and lifestyle center in an area of almost one hectare, featuring a boutique hotel, retail shops, coffee shops, spa, fitness gym, and specialty restaurants—making it the next premier destination in Davao city.

With Camella Northpoint, the city gets another feather on its hat, bolstering its position not only as a premier tourism and business destination during Kadayawan and all-year round, but also as one of the most preferred residential locations in the country.

Kadayawan...

FFROM, 5 point offers a pine-scented ambiance and a refreshing vista of green landscape, which will even get better when the pine trees grow to about a hundred feet tall.

The world-class clubhouse, Wakefield Manor, hosts a good sized wellness pool with its sparkling salinated water, replete with comfortable lounging chairs, gazebos, and grill pits ideal for a picnic or pool party. The multipurpose hall, with its wide space, huge open windows, and relaxing couches is the ideal place to relax and take in the condo community’s unique and refreshing environment.

Camella Northpoint’s

certain that the program will be his gateway to success.

“Kung matigulang mo Ma ako ang makatabang sa inyo.

Maningkamot ko ug eskwela aron makahaw-as ta sa kalisod(When you grow old, I will always be here for you.

I will strive hard in my studies so I can give you a better life), Judiel said with both innocence and conviction.

Hoping to be a teacher when he grows up, Judiel dedicates all his achievements, medals and honors to his parents and to Pantawid Pamilya.

Convergence of efforts To scale-up the povertyreduction agenda of the national government and to ensure sustainability of this strategy in recipient areas, a Convergence scheme or the aptly named “Tatsulo” has

been recently introduced.

The Convergence Strategy converge all three programs of the DSWD – the KaLaHICIDSS, a program which empowers communities through active participation in community development projects; SEa-K or the sustainable livelihoods equip the poor with opportunities and skills to sustain them in the long term; and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program which provides conditional cash assistance to identified poor families.

The three targets all aspects of development thus, a comprehensive and effective way to combat all phases of vulnerability.

In Region XI, a total of 168,528 families in 4 provinces, 41 municipalities and

6 cities in 944 barangays are already benefiting from the program.

Thus, Pantawid Pamilya does not promote mendicancy; it is a rights-based program that promotes responsible parenthood and empowerment of the poor.

Pantawid Pamilya is costly and palliative. Not. The program only augments, at most, P 1,400 per month or P 15,000 a year, so that children can finish up to second year high school and get better opportunities in the future. as what DSWD Secretary Soliman always say, CCT sends children to school and keeps them healthy.

Pantawid Pamilya not only gives a man fish but also teaches him how to fish. (DSWD/ShERyLL JANE B. SANico)

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VOL.5 ISSUE 118 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012

Realty

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Deadline for submission of materials is 12:00 NN. Deadline for Friday and Saturday issues is 5:00 PM. Deadline for Sunday and Monday issues is Saturday 12:00 NN. For more information, please call our Advertising Office 221-3601; 301-6235 and ask for Jane or Chay.

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EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 118 •THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012

Happy Kadayawan! from:

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14 SPORTS

TV5 actor Victor Silayan ran under the 5K category.

VOL.5 ISSUE 118 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Actress Alice Dixson of TV5, Atty. Mans Carpio who is representing Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, and Davao City Water District Community Relations and External Affairs Manager Imelda Magsuci at the gun start.

As expected, Senator calls for sports review after debacle M

aNILa (PNa) – Sen. Francis Pangilinan urged the government Tuesday to review the tenets of the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine olympic Committee following another failed attempt to win a single medal in the 2012 London olympic

Games.

Pangilinan said in a statement: ”We should review the efforts of the PSC and PoC and make sure that they are efficient and effective.

“There could be some things that we fail to implement, and things we are taking for granted. Let us do this for the sake of

our athletes.”

Since boxer Mansueto ‘onyok’ velasco won the country’s only second silver medal in 1996 atlanta olympics, the Philippines has not won any medal in the world’s most prestigious sports event.

In London, all the 11 Filipino athletes went

home empty handed with boxer Mark anthony Barriga having the highest finish when he hurdled the second round by beating Italian boxer Manuel Kappai.

Barriga lost by only one point, 16-17, to Kazakhs Birzhan Zhakipov in the second round.

Despite failure to bring

home medal, Pangilinan commended the Filipino athletes for showing “valiance and competitive heart.” ”Representing the country is a huge undertaking. We must prepare our athletes for the pressure of competing on a global scale and do all that we can to provide

them the necessary tools and skills to ensure victory,” Pangilinan said.

The Philippines has yet to win a gold medal since it joined the olympic Games in 1928.

The country’s other silver medal was won by boxer anthony villanueva in the 1964 Tokyo Games.

(PNA)

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 118 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

FOOD

StuffedFreshHomemadeTofuwithMincedPorkandDriedScallops

Shrimp Polonchay Kaw

CHInA is one of the world’s greatest cultures that brought inventions that changed the world. Paper, the printing press, the compass, and gunpowder are just some of these inventions that revolutionized life as we know it.

This newspaper you are holding in your hand is an example. Without paper, you would be holding a block of wood or bamboo instead, instead of clearly printed letters, and each world would have to be handwritten.

One less trumpeted part of Chinese cuisine though is it’s food. Yes, everybody loves Chinese food. Its myriad forms coming from the many Chinese who have populated the world created permutations and many different variations of Chinese cuisine. In fact, the most popular and most widespread restaurants in the world are Chinese restaurants.

Upon closer research, it is also interesting to note that there are many different ways of cooking and chinese words that refer to styles of cooking. In fact, there is a character for braise, and other character for slow braise, a character for deep-fry another char-

acter for stir-fry. So specific are the techniques that there are endless dishes that can be created just by a handful of ingredients.

Enter the Lotus Court’s Great Wok of China Buffet where one can taste everything a Chinese chef can conjure. From various roast porks, to the most delectable dim sum, the Lotus Court’s latest promo is sure to impress every hungry Dabawenyo.

I personally loved the Ham Soi Kok, a crispy fried glutinous rice meat dumpling with a sweet and savory taste that needs precision

and skill to make. Another pleaser is Lotus Court’s homemade tofu dishes. I am not a fan of tofu to be honest, but the Lotus Court’s homemade tofu is tofu that is taken to a different delicious level.

I know everybody loves the dark chocolate buchi balls, but for this session, I tip my hat off to the new coffee jelly dessert. It had a nice coffee and cream taste that is a nice end to a filling meal.

Hunrgy already? The dim sum buffet at the Lotus Court is served during lunch from Monday through Friday for only Php 388 net per person, and Php 194 net per child from 5 to 12 years old while the Great Wok of China buffet is available for dinner.

You may inquiries or make reservations, by calling (082) 221 0888 local 7232 or 7233.

Follow me on Twitter @ kennethkingong for foddie finds and travel sights.

ExecChefEdTuazon(middle)withLotusCourtchefsRollyandJerome

HamSoiKok

Vegetablekaw

StuffedSquidwithimportedScallops

Coffee Jelly, Ham Soi Kok, and Vegetable Spring Rol

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 118 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 2012

ENTERTAINMENT FOOD

Beefing up with Beef

with beer instead of wine.

Ingredients: thin beef slices Kosher salt freshly cracked black pepper minced garlic chopped onion sifted all purpose flour red wine vinegar white sugar dried thyme beef bouillon water light beer bay leaf

by Bai Fauziah Fatima Sinsuat Ambolodto, MBA

MY MOM used to scold me whenever I opt for a beef dish rather than chicken or fish. She would give me her ultimate homily even if we are in a restaurant and insist that I change my order to something healthy. I used to get irritated whenever she does that but as I age, I finally knew what she meant. Thank you Mama!

cattle. It is the primary meat used in cuisines in the Middles East, Australia, Argentina, Europe and parts of East and Southeast Asia.

• In some cultures, beef Humans as we are, we is considered a taboo food crave for that specific taste – Indian culture (ascenthat could verily satisfy our dancy of cow and its impalate craving. Most of the portance to farming comtime, we opt for meat to munities) and discouraged satisfy our yearning. Per- among some Buddhists. sonally, I adore the juici- • Beef is the 3rd widely ness of beef and the inter- consumed meat in the play of flavors from spices world (after Pork and Poulto come up with a dish so try). The United states of flavorful it could be eaten America, Brazil and China with rice or pasta or even are the largest consumers if as bites such as burgers, ta- meat. cos and wraps.

• Nutrition wise, beef Here are some fun facts is an excellent source of from our favorite meat: protein, zinc, phosphorus, Did you know that … iron, vitamin B and sele • Beef is the meat from nium. Also a good source bovines especially from of creatine.

This week’s recipes is me paying homage to the goodness of beef and its versatility. Try them out and add flavors of your own. Remember, your imagination is your limitation!

Beef Stroganoff Sick and tired of looking for that perfect beef stroganoff? Try this recipe with a twist (instead of beef slices I will be using ground meat) and do not forget to keep some for your friends Did You Know: Beef Stroganoff is a Russian dish with origins from the 19th century Russia and has become popular around the world – with considerable variation from the original recipe.

Ingredients: cooking oil

ground beef chopped onion sliced button mushroom tomato paste saffron powder Kosher salt freshly cracked black pepper beef bouillon water sour cream Procedure: Heat oil in a pan over medium heat. Add ground meat and cook until it browns. Remove from pan and set aside.

Place onion in same pan, cook until translucent.

Add mushroom slices and cook until soft for another 8 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, saffron powder, garlic powder, Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pep-

per until well blended.

Add the ground meat, sour cream and beef broth (1 bouillon cube : 2 ½ cups of water), stirring constantly to combine. Simmer until the meat is tender and half of the broth remains – about 15 minutes over medium heat.

Remove from heat and stir in chopped onion chives and sour cream.

Serve over hot rice or egg noodles.

Beef Carbonnade Try a new pasta sauce and you will soon be whipping batches after batches of this.

Did You Know: Carbonnades flamandes (Vlaamse stoofkarbonaden) is a Flemish (Belgian) beef stew similar to French Beef Bourguignon – but made

Procedure: In a pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add beef slices, salt and freshly cracked black pepper and cook for 5 minutes. Make sure to brown the beef on all sides.

Add minced garlic and cook. Remove meat slices from and set aside. Add chopped onion to pan, cover and cook until translucent, stir constantly.

Stir in sifted flour and cook for a minute or two.

Add red wine vinegar, white sugar, dried thyme, beef bouillon cube, light beer, water and bay leaf.

Cover and bring to a boil for 30 minutes or until beef is tender. Discard bay leaf and serve hot over rice or egg noodles.

THAnK YOU for all your wonderful feedback!

Keep them coming Happy Ei’d Fitr to all my Muslim brothers and sisters.

Tell me what you think of this week’s recipe. Email me your questions, suggestions and comments at iamtheroyalchef@gmail. com . Happy Cooking!

CafeFrance brings a new dining experience to Davao City CAFEFRANCE brings a different dining experience to the premier city of Davao as it sets to open three stores. In its first venture out of Luzon, CafeFrance is determined to capture the palates and hearts of Davaoeños with the opening of stores at the Manila Bulletin Building on J.P. Rizal Street, at the Upper Ground Floor of Gaisano Mall of Davao, and at The Peak at the 4th level of the same mall.

“CafeFrance is more than your usual coffeeshop,” says Enya Baltazar, CafeFrance’s Business Unit Head. “We go further by providing not only a place for a coffeebreak, but a hangout where people can relax, spend time with friends and family over good food at any time of day.”

And the menu, indeed, has an array of yummy treats to sat-

isfy a hungry tummy anytime of the day. Start off with a hearty Breakfast Plate that comes with freshly-baked, breakfast meats, eggs, fresh fruits and premium coffee. Lunch could either be the picture-perfect Tray Couture of California Chicken Clubhouse Sandwich and Garlic Pesto Pasta, served with soup, a chocolate for dessert, and drink; or a filling rice meal of Chicken Mediterranean and fresh Red Grape Frappé.

Punctuate your day with CafeFrance’s mouth-watering pasta, man-sized club sandwiches, and an assortment of breads and pastries—all baked on-site.

“CafeFrance is here to offer fresh and healthy food choices which are sorely missing in the urban foodscape. Our food is prepared only as ordered, and we have studied out menu items carefully checking on nutritional values that each one gives the diner. We know no shortcuts—just serving food the way food should be cooked and served,” Ms. Baltazar adds.

The arrival of CafeFrance in Davao is definitely something to look forward to as it brings new flavors, new dishes to enjoy, a new coffeshop experience, and a new way to enjoy life. As the French say, “C’est la vie!”

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ENTERTAINMENT

Joseph Gordon-Levitt:

Premium Rush is hardest film to make

WHILE Joseph Gordon-Levitt may be best known for romantic fare like (500) Days of Summer, he’s made quite a name for himself in the world of kick ass action movies—like, say, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises and the upcoming Looper.

But if you ask him, his most challenging role is Wilee, a bike messenger who gets entangled in a nasty chase when he unwittingly

begins to transport a very-much desired package, in Premium Rush.

“Physically, just as far as the physical challenge, this was the hardest,” JGL explained at the press junket for the movie, held at the W Hotel in Hollywood. “Inception would come in a close second, but I was on a bike every day, all day.

The whole movie is on a bike. Inception has cool action sequences, but this is the entire movie.”

Costar and love interest Dania Ramirez recalled the grueling training for the film, explaining, “We trained for like six weeks prior to actually going to New York City…

It was a lot of endurance, because you couldn’t run out of breath. You had to get your scene across and still be going really fast.”

And, like any good action movie, Joseph was left with a scar to remember his time on set—a bloody injury that even made its way into the credits of the movie!

“There was a bit of an accident.

I should start off by saying that everyone on the set—Dave [Koepp], the director and everyone on down—was very safety conscious,” the actor told us. “It was a perfect storm of a lot of things going wrong at once. To make a long story short, a diplomat broke through our lockup. In NYC, you have the United Nations so there’s diplomats driving around—” “There’s no rules for diplomats,” Dania interjected.

He continued, “They can break the law. So he broke through our cones and the cops and double parked right in the middle of where we were going, and basically I ended up going through the

rear window of a taxi cab and getting 31 stitches.”

Ouch!

“Everyone was worried, of course…I’m flooded with adrenaline right when it happened, you don’t feel any pain right when your arm breaks open. So I was just like ‘Oh my God, Jesus! I’m

OK!’ and Dave ran up and was like, ‘Are you OK?!’ and he was terrified and I was like, ‘You gotta record this, man, it’s crazy!’”

The new-found action star must be resilient too, because, as Dania gushed, “He was at work the next day, with a smile on his face.”

Is Charlie Sheen back on Twitter?

WELL, that wasn’t very long.

Pretty much a month to the day after Charlie Sheen appeared to say bye-bye forever to Twitter, it looks like the actor has returned to the social media site.

Kinda, sorta.

After all, as of Tuesday morning, Sheen has only tweeted once. (OK, technically, twice, but with the exact same message.)

“It’s on! My pop guest stars Thursday on Anger Management. Watch my dad show up as my dad 9:30p on FX. Best yet!!” he wrote along with a link to a photo of him and his father, Martin Sheen, sharing a laugh on set.

Sure, it may have just been promotional, but knowing Sheen, there’s bound to me more interesting stuff where that came from, right?

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EVENTS ENTERTAINMENT

GMA Kapuso Night with Richard Gutierrez at SM Davao!

GMA’s most bankable actor Richard Gutierrez joins the Kadayawan Festivities at SM City Davao on August 17, 5 PM at the mall’s open grounds.

Gutierrez currently hosts GMA News and Public Affairs weekly show Pinoy Adventures where he explores undiscovered side of the Philippines in search for hidden treasures. He also plays the lead role in the network’s new Telebabad show “Makapiling Kang Muli” alongside Carla Abellana and rumoured sweetheart Sarah Labhati.

Joining Richard for the Kapuso night are Sarah Labhati, TJ Trinidad, Mark Anthony Fernandez and John “Sweet” Lapuz.

Feel the Kadayawan vibe at with Ballet Philippines and enjoy the SM Kadayawan Sale on August 13-19. Amazing discounts await everyone, as much as 70% off on great selections mall-wide. To give its valued shoppers more time to shop, the city’s hippest hub is extending its mall hours until 10 PM on August 17 and until midnight on August 18 for the sale.

For inquiries, please call 297.6998 local 126. Like SM City Davao on Facebook or visit www.smcitydavao. blogspot.com for event and promo updates.

SPORTS

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Mintal kadayawanbootfest set Friday T

Tiger vs. Rory 2,500 runners joined the Kadayawan Phoenix ‘I Recycle’ Run held over the weekend at SM City Davao.

K

IaWaH ISLaND, South Carolina— The next major is eight months away. The next showdown is nine days away.

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are assured of being paired together next week at The Barclays for the start of the FedEx Cup playoffs. and while these playoff events are more about making money than making history, this could become meaningful down the road.

Woods has never faced a rival with this kind of potential.

He has never won at

least three times in a year without being looked upon as the undisputed best player in golf.

For the first time in his quest to break Jack Nicklaus’ record in the Majors, the biggest challenge for Woods is no longer overcoming a failed marriage, four knee surgeries, a tender achilles tendon or even the fact that he’s simply getting older.

It’s another player.

McIlroy and Woods have played in the same tournament 12 times this year. McIlroy has finished ahead of Woods seven

times, including wins at the Honda Classic and the PGa Championship.

They both tied for 40th at the Masters. McIlroy has seven top-five finishes in those events, along with three missed cuts.

This is not about where they were at a similar stage in their careers.

Woods is incomparable in that regard. McIlroy has won twice in his first 16 majors as a pro. Woods won five majors in that span, including the career Grand Slam at age 24.

It’s about where they are now.

So dominant was

McIlroy at Kiawah Island, where he had rounds of 6766 on the weekend to win the PGa Championship by eight shots, that it’s easy to get caught up in all things Rory. He is only 23, younger by some four months than when Woods won his second major, and he is doing things only thought possible by Woods. a record score at the US open last summer at Congressional. a record margin of victory at the PGa Championship on Sunday at Kiawah Island.

McIlroy has won two majors by a combined 16 shots.

Global Port is new PBA team a

FTER submitting p e r t i n e n t d o c u m e n t s Wednesday, the entry of Global Port, the new team owned by Mikee Romero, into the PBa is good as done, according to a league source.

“He’s got the

numbers from the voting members,” said the source.

The businessman submitted paper work to the PBa, including the deed of assignment from Powerade, the previous franchise owner, to Sultan 900 Inc., Romero’s

holding company. But while a deal has been struck, Romero’s entry into the PBa still requires approval by a majority vote from the league’s Board of Governors. according to PBa media bureau chief Willie Marcial, the board will

meet on Friday to vote on the matter. New PBa chairman Robert Non, who represents Ginebra on the board, will preside over the meeting.

Coca-Cola Bottlers Philippines, Inc. notified the PBa about the sale on July 30.

HE Davao Football association’s grassroots proram wings to Mintal this Friday with the staging of the Kadayawan Football Tournament Mintal Leg at the UP Mindanao Field and Mintal Eelementary School.

The tournament is held in partnership with the Davao City Sport Development office.

“This is a one day 7 a-side tournament to support grassroots football and celebrate Davao City’s premier festival Kadayawan,” said Erwin Protacio in an emailed statement.

The tournament will feature five categories: 12-Under, 10-Under, 8-Under, Elementary Girls, and 6-Under.

Each team shall be composed of no more than 10 players. Protacio said all players must bring photo copies of their birth certificate. “Non compliance is a ground for disqualification and forfeiture of all the games of the team played by the person involved. Games will start immediately

after the opening program at 8:00 aM. Teams not present during this time will not be accommodated,” Protacio said. according to Protacio, the tournament is supported by the office of Congressman Isidro T. Ungab, Department of Education, and UP Mindanao. It is open to teams in Los amigos, Tugbok, Catlunan Grande, Catalunan Pequeṅo, Toril, Tacunan, Bago oshiro, Sto. Niṅo, and Mintal.

I n t e r e s t e d participants can contact Barangay Mintal Kagawad Benedict adan at 09107302742. Deadline of confirmation is on 16 august 2012.

Meantime, DFa bared the winners of the Calinan Kadayawan Football Tournament was held at the villafuerte Elementary School Grounds. Philippine Nikkei Jinkai won the 10-Under title, Calinan Central Elementary School took the 12-Under a crown and villafuerte Elementary School bagged the 12-Under B trophy.

Sonsona, Penalosa now in great shape

S

U P E R bantamweights Eden Sonsona and Dave Penalosa are in great shape for their Saturday showdown against separate Thai opponents at the Mandaluyong City Gym. Their fights are the double main event for “Pinoy Knockout” which will be telecast via satellite on aKTv on IBC 13 starting at 10 p.m.

Former two-division world champion Gerry Penalosa said that both promising young prospects had trained hard and looked good in sparring.

Peñalosa was particularly proud of his nephew, an undefeated 21-year old southpaw with a record of 4-0 with 2 knockouts. He conceded that the youngster still has to gain experience before he is matched against rated fighters.

The young Peñalosa, the son of former world champion Dodie Boy Peñalosa, will face 30year old Thai Yodpichai Sithsaithong, who has a record of 7-5 with three knockouts. The Thai fighter is coming off back-to-back losses against omar Kimwari of australia in a six-round bout last July 13 and Rex Tso in a four-rounder last May 5.

Yodpichai had also lost by a fourth round knockout to Filipino Marlon Tapales on June

25 last year.

The 23-year-old Sonsona is on the comeback trail after a disappointing 9th round knockout loss to Jonathan oquendo in Puerto Rico on July 10, 2010. He was winning in the early rounds before he was dropped by the hardhitting and bigger Puerto Rican.

Since that loss the southpaw Sonsona has won a ten-round majority decision against Eman Labanza on august 6, 2011 and a seventh round TKo over Godwin Tubigon on october 2011.

Prior to his loss to oquendo, Sonsona impressed fight fans in the US with a second round TKo of Eilon Kedem on November 2009 and a eighth round knockout of former world champion Mauricio Pastrana on March 2010. Both fights were on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao title fights.

Sonsona clashes with Thailand’s Petchnamnung Sithsaithong who has a record of 9 wins and 2 losses with 7 knockouts.

Known as a slugger, Petchnamnung got tagged during an exchange with Filipino Richard Betos and suffered a 4th round TKo last June 30. Referee Bruce McTavish called a halt to the bout which was for the WBC asian Boxing Council Interim super bantamweight title.

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