Edge Davao 5 Issue 122

Kaluoy ni Sec. Robredo

EDGEDAVAO P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

VOL.5 ISSUE 122 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012

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Science/ Environment

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Leaders grieve passing of ‘Jess’

By Vicky Berdina M. de Guzman

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sad day for the entire nation.

Local and national government officials are in deep grief, following news of the untimely demise of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.

ICT HUB

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Sports

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Flagpole at Davao City Hall will be at half-mast until the burial.

“He was a kind man. He was very kind to me, always helpful , never condescending. He is my best example of how you don’t

need to sing and dance to win an election. When I learned he was rushing home for his daughter’s event, saludo ako. Minsan lang ako

mapabilib ng lalaki. Secretary Jesse, my hat’s off to you,” said Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio.

“Para sa akin ang malasakit niya sa pamilya far outshines his excellence in public service. May

FLEADERS, 12

LITTLE STARS. Witty kids MJ M. Latip (right) and French Marie L. Dueñas will represent SM City Davao to the Grand Finals of SM Little Stars 2012 on Sunday at SM Mall of Asia. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

Illegal copper mining persists in Tampakan Follow Us On

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utHoRItIeS intercepted yesterday eight tons of mineral ores illegally acquired from the mines development site of foreign-

backed Sagittarius Mines, Inc., an official confirmed on tuesday.

Siegfred Flaviano, South Cotabato Provincial environ-

ment Management office chief, said the truckload of mineral deposits was apprehended in the boundary of tampakan and tupi towns in South Cotabato

on Monday.

“We are still investigating if these deposits were extracted using “banlas” (sluice mining)

FILLEGAL, 12

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THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 122 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012

German diver placed on decompression chamber

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German diver, one of the many volunteers who assisted local rescue units in the recovery of the remains of Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, was placed on the decompression chamber of the BRP eDSA DoS (SAR002) following a faulty ascent tuesday.

PCG commandant Vice Admiral edmund tan identified the former as Danny Brumbach, 31. His hometown was not disclosed.

He added the former made a rapid ascent and reached the surface unconscious around 3 p.m.

“He is now in stable condition at our decompression chamber aboard BRP eDSA DoS,” tan stated.

Science and technology Secretary Mario Mon-

tejo said Brumbach was working at 180 feet below sea level prior to the incident.

He added the German diver made a too rapid ascent to the surface and probably suffered decompression sickness.

Such incident is the reason why decompression stops or gradual ascents are needed.

Metabolically inert gases in the diver’s breathing gas, such as nitrogen and helium, are absorbed into body tissues when inhaled under high pressure during the deep phase of the dive. these dissolved gases must be released slowly from body tissues by pausing or “doing stops” at various depths during the ascent to the surface. [PNA]

He eastern Mindanao command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, particularly the Anti-Illegal Logging task Force, continues to notch achievements in its campaign conducted with the Department of envrironment and Natural Resources in the eastMinCom area in line with President Aquino’s executive order No. 23. eo 23 declares a moratorium on cutting and harvesting of timber in

the natural/residual forests. the same executive order also created the Anti-Illegal Logging task Force, according to Lt. Gen. Jorge V. Segovia, eastMinCom commander.

General Segovia credited the leadership of retired Major Gen. Renato P Miranda, the AILtF executive director who led the confiscation and apprehension of the illegally-cut forest products along with other anti-illegal logging–law enforcers.

EDGEDAVAO

MAGIC. Cris Castro, chairman of the 9th Asian Magic Association Convention, performs a money floating magic during the 9th AMA Convention press conference to promote their upcoming Davao City show at Penong’s Restaurant along E. Quirino Ave. yesterday. LEAN DAVAL JR.

EastMinCom bares strides Ninth Asian Magic Association in anti-illegal logging drive Convention set in Davao City t t In summary, a total 79,159.62 board feet good lumber and 687.49 cubic meters logs and one (1) container van loaded with undetermined volume of Lauan lumber inside the Philippine Span Asia Carrier Corporation (formerly Sulpicio Lines) has been confiscated, so far.

According to the task force executive director, appropriate criminal charges have been filed against all the involved persons.

By Vicky Berdina M. de Guzman

He first in the Philippines is the 9th Asian Magic Convention (AMA) which will be held in Davao City on September 14-17, 2012. Some 350 to 500 conventioneers from all over the world are expected to attend the gathering.

Last year’s AMA convention was held in Hong Kong during which Davao City was chosen to be the venue, the first in the Philippines. Local magician James Infiesto, the 9th AMA Convention director, said the city government is supporting the event’s opening and closing segments. the conventioneers will be treated to lectures by well-known magicians and entertainers, aside from having the chance to mingle with magicians representing various countries, experience quality time and enjoy watching magic shows and visit the dealers’ booth where lat-

est magic gadgets will be launched.

Performers on the first day include Germain Pilou and Jordan Gomez of France, Mark and Pinky Loo of Malaysia, tim ellis of Australia, Cris Castro, Renee and Ritchie of the Philippines. Second day performers will be Danny Cole from uSA, Kimika and Fukai from Japan, Mikhael Szanyiel from France, James Infiesto of the Philippines, Vincent tan and Silvan Prayogo from Malaysia, and Yo Ho Jin from Korea who also won as the 2011 and 2012 Grand Prix Champion in the World Championships of Magic (FISM).

Non-competing delegates for this event are coming from Korea, thailand, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Macau, Bangladesh, India, Hong Kong, China, Iran, India, Brunei, and the Philippines. the event, which will be the longest

AMA convention, will support the Kids of Hope Davao Children’s Cancer Fund, Inc. During the press conference at Penong’s Restaurant Quirino, Cris Castro, 9th AMA Convention chairman performed some of his stage magic while Infiesto performed some of his tricks as well. the whole day registration for this convention would be at the Royal Mandaya Hotel Mezzanine on September 13, 2012. there will also be registration on the first hour of the 14th.

For those who want to watch a magic show, tickets for the Star Magic Show of the AMA Convention range from 250 pesos up to 1,000 pesos each. the annual AMA Convention is the only program in Asia that brings all magicians together once a year to share magic ideas with one another and audiences.

P26.87 billion, followed by the P3.03 billion from fermented liquor and P1.45 from distilled spirits.

From 2014-2016, the additional revenue will gradually increase to P39.02 billion in 2014, P42.68 billion in 2015 and P41.51 billion in 2016. the incremental government tax-take from cigarette will amount to P34.72 billion for 2014,

P36.27 billion for 2015, and P35.38 billion for 2016.

For distilled spirits, the additional revenue for 2014 will amount to P1.78 billion, while that for the next two years are P2.62 billion and P3.03 billion, respectively.

For fermented liquor, the government expects to get additional P2.52 billion in sin tax in 2014, P3.79 billion in 2015 and

Gov’t sees at least P31.3-B tax-take from sin products

t ILLEGAL LOGGING. A joint team of the Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force, Department of Natural Resourses (DENR) 13, the Butuan City Police Office and other police units seized ap-

proximately 10,000 board feet of lauan lumber at Brgy Ong Yiu, Butuan City.

He Department of Finance expects to collect at least P31.35 billion additional taxes from sin products once amendments to the sin tax laws are passed this year.

Department of Finance (DoF) data shows that once the sin tax amendments are approved this year and will take effect in 2013, the bulk of the total incremental revenues will come from cigarettes at

FGOV’T, 12

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 122 •WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012

WINNERS. the grandiose floral float of Kisan Lu Lands, Inc. (left above) wins this year’s Pamulak Kadayawan 2012 big float category on Sunday bagging a P500,000 cash prize while the Villar Foundation’s Camella Homes floral float (right above) bags the grand prize

in the small float category and went home P150, 000.

In Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan 2012 open category, the Bambad elementary School Performing Arts Group from Bambad, Isulan, Sultan Kudarat takes home the much coveted P500,000 grand prize. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

THE BIG NEWS

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4 SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 122 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Spotting whales in Davao Gulf

By Aurelio A. Pena

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NDeR a hot morning sun amidst the choppy sea of Davao Gulf, with the southern tip of Island Garden City of Samal rising in the horizon, a sudden burst of water spout blew out of the water, startling off fisherman usman Malumod, 37, as he pulled up his fish net with several moro-moro fish still leaping up and down.

Although he had seen this sight a few times before, it can be scary at times seeing these big black, shiny boulder-like creatures rise above the sea, flushed their suspicious eyes at him, before sinking back underwater, waving their huge wet tails and swishing water all around.

It was a group of sperm whales taking a breath of fresh air in the Davao Gulf, a very unlikely place of all other places where these whales are supposed to be found in the world’s oceans.

Jose Lorenzo tan, head of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the Philippines, said the Davao Gulf is the home of some 10 species of whales, a fact that’s surprising even for most Davao and Samal Island residents.

“It’s a good place for whales seeking refuge to breed and take it easy before returning to the world’s oceans,” tan said.

Sighted at the Gulf in recent years, according to tan, are the sperm whales, pilot whales, killer whales, bottlenose dolphins, beaked whales, Fraser’s dolphin, long snout spinner dolphin, Risso’s dolphin and even the longman’s beaked whale, the least known and rarely-studied among the world’s whales. eight of these 10 whales were cited by the Committee of trade of endan-

gered Species (CIteS) to be among the rarest and most endangered. the presence of these whales in the Davao Gulf, according to tan, suggest that the harsh effects of global warming are forcing these whales to seek cooler and safer places in the world’s oceans like the Davao Gulf, where these whales feel more comfortable, turning it into a good breeding ground. “that’s why it’s so important to protect the natural conditions of the Davao Gulf which are still intact and perfect for breeding whales coming from Pacific ocean and the seas of Indonesia,” says tan.

Although the Davao Gulf

looks secured and protected from devastating typhoons hitting Luzon and the Visayas almost regularly, it has its own set of problems that must be confronted and settled before it loses its natural advantages to other places in the Asia-Pacific area.

“If these environmental problems are not addressed sooner, whales will see, smell and find that the Gulf is no longer suitable and safe for them” says tan.

Worried that whales might start leaving Davao Gulf and seek safer shelters in the seas of Indonesia, the WWF recently joined hands with the Davao Gulf Management Council

(DGMC) to figure out what to do to save the Gulf.

Some of the things they agreed to do together were to study the effects of industrial pollution and

agriculture chemicals being dumped in the Gulf by factories and plantations. they called this an “environmental sensitivity index” or eSI that will survey and map the Gulf in the next three years. this eSI mapping will figure out just how serious the growing environmental problem is in the Davao Gulf.

Covering an area of over 8,000 square kilometers, the Gulf is bounded by over 600 kilometers of coastline. What really worries them, according to Margie Moran Floirendo, DGMC secretary general, is that Davao Gulf is a major transhipment point of both foreign and domestic shipping vessels, which makes it vulnerable to big environmental disasters like oil spills from sea accidents. the entire coastline of the Davao Gulf is bounded by four provinces, 18 towns and five cities with several banana plantations,

and mining operations that make this huge body of sea water highly exposed and susceptible to pollution coming from farm chemicals and mining wastes like mercury and cyanide.

“We’re all worried about all these pollution coming from plantations and mining, as well as garbage and siltation” says Floirendo who has devoted much of her time trying to save the Davao Gulf.

Floirendo says the presence of whales in the Davao Gulf is a sign that the sea waters and the feeding grounds for various species of fish, including tuna, are still intact—but facing a growing threat from pollution, garbage and siltation. today, the Davao Gulf remains to be one of the country’s major fishing grounds where nearly 20,000 fishermen depend for their daily survival.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 122 •WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012

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

5.8% 1st Qtr 2012

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

6.4 % 1st Qtr 2012

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

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

8. Interest Rates 4/

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

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

P 42.78 Jun 2012

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

5,091.2 May 2012

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

130.1 Jun 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

2.8 Jun 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.7 Jun 2012

16. Visitor Arrivals

349,779 Apr 2012

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

18.8 % Jan 2012

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

7.2 % Jan 2012

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

2012

2011

2010

42.85 42.70 42.86 42.66 43.62

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

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

THE ECONOMY

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One Network Bank net income hits P336 million in first 7 months To remain rural bank, despite robust growth

D

AVAo CItY – based one Network Bank registered a robust performance during the first seven months of the year as its net income went up by 93 percent during the period to P336 million.

Based on its annual report, the biggest rural bank in the country today, already surpassed its 2011 income of P315 million. During the first seven months last year, its net income was only at P174 million. “this net income level, if annualized, translates to a 41-percent return on average private equity and 4-percent return on average assets, indicating a powerful core performance for the leading provider of modern quality banking products and services in the countryside,” said Alex V. Buenaventura, bank president. the increase in income also resulted in the growth in its capital which went up to P2.77 billion by the end of last month, or beyond the P2.4 billion minimum capital requirements for commercial banks. the bank has a policy of reinvesting all its income to strengthen its position. total resources, on the other hand, went up by 37 percent to P17 billion as of end July, from P12 billion in July last year.

However, Buenaventura said the growth of the bank will not allow the bank to convert itself into a commercial bank.

SECOND HAND. More and more motorists choose to buy tires of their vehicles from second hand tire dealers because of the brand new tires’ high prices.

LEAN DAVAL JR.

“We will maintain our status (as a rural bank) because this is where we are good at. Being a rural bank, we are able to provide our clients with products that only commercial banks are offering,” he told reporters. the increase in the net income was attributed to the expansion in net loans and receivables which went up to P1.83 billion, or 17-percent increase during the period, half of it was registered in July.

Its loan portfolio also grew by 70-percent to P5 billion

compared with the first seven months of the year. the bank was able to extend bigger loans as its deposits also grew by 40 percent to P14 billion during the period. the bank extends as much as P600 million to a single borrower.

Buenaventura believed the bank will continue to perform better as it opened its branch in Makati City, its 83rd and is waiting for the approval of its merger with the six-branch Rural Bank of San enrique in Iloilo City. the Bangko Sentral

ng Pilipinas already approved its application for five branches also in Iloilo City.

During the first seven months, the bank also opened its second branch in Butuan City, and new branches in Balingasag in Misamis oriental and in Sangali in Zamboanga City.

Buenaventura said growth projection is also based on the plan of the bank of putting up five micro banking offices, which function as branches but cater only to small deposits and loans.

134,375 nurses, to subsidize 5.4 million indigent families under PhilHealth, and to provide 7.5 million senior citizens with influenza and pneumonia vaccines, 6.2 million children with various vaccines, and 19.2 million children with rotavirus vaccine.

Similarly, the lost revenues from cigarettes are enough to hire 203,125 nurses, subsidize eight million indigent families under PhilHealth, and provide 11 million senior citizens with influenza and pneumonia vaccines, 29 million children with rotavirus vaccine and nine million kids with various vaccines.

Finance and Health officials are one in saying that the Philippines has one of the lowest excise tax rates in the world.

For one, all smoking-related

diseases burden the government with P177 billion annually. Also, smoking is the No. 1 preventable risk factor in death from heart attack and stroke. the poor and the young are the most vulnerable to the current low excise rate in the country because they can easily access cigarettes and beer but they do not have the funds to finance themselves once they fall sick.

President Benigno S. Aquino III, in his recent State-of- theNation Address (SoNA), raised his hope for the immediate passage of the sin tax measures since this will not only benefit the government in terms of additional revenues but the public as well.

Health Secretary enrique t. ona said the passage of the sin

tax proposals is good both for the health and revenue sides.

“Increasing excise tax will make these products more expensive, and thus discourage their consumption, especially by the poor and the young as well as generate funds for Kalusugan Pangkalahatan or the universal health care program,” he said.

Senator Ralph Recto has vowed to finish the hearings on the proposed sin tax bill in a month to ensure that President Aquino will be able to sign it into law before the end of the year. ”In a month’s time, we can wrap up the hearing, a month to debate it in the Senate, a month for the bicam. We should be done by the end of the year...,” he said. [PNA]

Gov’t loses P32.4B from current excise tax levels

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FFICIALS of the Department of Finance (DoF) are urging the county’s lawmakers to pass the proposed excise tax amendments for the government to have additional funds to finance basic healthcare services in the country.

Data presented at the recent Senate hearing on the excise tax amendments show that about P19.5 billion was lost by the government because of the downshifting in cigarette taxes from 2006 to 2010. on the downshifting of taxes for beer, about P12.9 billion is also wasted, which could have been used for the hiring of nurses as well as procurement of vaccines.

Specifically, the lost taxes from beer are enough to hire

as of august 2010

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6 EDGEDAVAO Sugar industry asks gov’t to cushion AFTA impact THE ECONOMY

t

He Philippine sugar industry is now calling for more government support in efforts to cushion the impact of the ASeAN Free trade Area (AFtA) which will be fully implemented in 2015.

In a statement, the Sugar Masterplan Foundation (SMF) said stakeholders are well aware of the changing global market conditions for sugar products, especially with the advent of free trade agreements.

However, the group said as preparations are being implemented to cushion the impact of AFtA, the distortions in the domestic market situation might hamper and even derail these initiatives.

SRA is mandated to provide sugar for the domestic market, coupled with the goal of improving the income of the small farmers are, in itself, daunting tasks even with the participation of the private sector. “the economic contributions of this sector are of primary concern. Preparing for the forthcoming AFtA adds to the burden,” SMF said. “the country’s sugar industry has been on a ‘sariling sikap’ mode,” it added.

SMF said that infrastructure support such as farm to mill roads and

technical assistance especially with regards to the changing weather patterns would be most welcome.

It added that support for the research and development of farm machineries such as cane harvesters and loaders would impact on the profitability of the farms.

“Difficult as it may seem, the industry is moving forward via a very strong partnership between the SRA and the private sector,” SMF said.

At present, the sugar industry contributes about P70 billion to the country’s gross domestic product and another P2 billion to the national treasury in value added taxes.

Sugarcane is a primary source of fuel ethanol, a potent replacement for the expensive oil imports. Also, the sugar factories are being eyed to contribute to the energy self sufficiency program through the use of biomass and waste from the milling process.

Based on records, there are some 60,000 farmers planting sugarcane in about 420,000 hectares all over the country.

Farms with areas of less than 10 hectares comprise 88 percent of the total; while those with areas of 5 hectares or below

VOL.5 ISSUE 122 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012

PERFECT SPOT. Two lady vendors look for a perfect spot to display the bunnies and birds that they are selling along Gov. Duterte Street yesterday. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

represent 79 percent of all farms. the very small farm sizes are the result of the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).

But despite the small sizes of sugarcane areas, SMF said that efforts at developing the local industry are now on stream to help meet the challenges despite the meager resources.

PhilMech’s study on longer shelf life of mangoes, grains underway

t

He Department of Agriculture (DA) is now conducting an advance research into the use of biocontrol agents to help extend the shelf life of mangoes and pest control methods for stored grains.

Rex Bingabing, executive director of the DAPhilippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech), said scientists have discovered that certain kinds of antagonistic bacteria and fungus can fight bacteria, which cause rot in mangoes.

“If we can lessen or eliminate the use of chemicals to fight the bacteria that cause rot in fruits or infests stored grains, consumers will greatly benefit because that will mean increased food safety for them,” Bingabing said. the PhilMech chief also noted that the Philippines has an abundance of flora where the natural active ingredients for biopesticides can be sourced.

For mangoes, PhilMech researchers combined the use of a biocontrol agent and hot water treatment to reduce stem-rot and anthracnose infection on mangoes.

Mangoes for the export

market usually undergo hot water treatment to fight fungi that cause stem-rot and anthracnose infection. Mangoes can also be sprayed with chemical fungicide before undergoing hot water treatment.

Based on PhilMech trials, combining hot water treatment with the use of a biocontrol agent reduced stem-end rot and anthracnose infection of mango samples by an average of 80 percent to 90 percent. “traditional hot water treatment can only reduce stem-end rot and anthracnose infection in mangoes by an average of 60 percent to 90 percent,” the official said.

Bingabing said that PhilMech will conduct further testing on the combined treatment for mangoes before it could be commercialized.

Meanwhile, a separate ongoing research showed that certain Philippine native plants have natural active ingredients that can be used as biopesticides against pests infesting stored grains, particularly rice and corn.

Preliminary investigation showed a reduction of fungal and insecticidal activities when extracts

from native plants Bituon, Bangbangsit , Anobrang, Hagonoy and Bayating were tested on stored grains.

Stored grains, particularly rice and corn, are usually sprayed with chemical pesticide which, however, presents some health concerns.

PhilMech is one of the government agencies that have taken an active role in developing organic or natural solutions for the country’s agriculture sector. “one of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala’s vision for the Philippine agriculture sector is to reduce chemical use, and PhilMech’s researchers have made modest strides in developing biocontrol agents which will greatly help both farmers and agribusiness entrepreneurs,” Bingabing said. the agency has already discovered the biocontrol agent to fight the dreaded banana crown rot, and validated that the humble trichoderma can be used to reduce the spread of aflatoxinin harvested corn. Aflatoxin is a known carcinogenic. the most popular way to treat both banana crown rot and aflatoxin infection in corn is through chemical fungicides. [PNA]

“the small farms are being encouraged to form groups or blocks of 50 hectares each to consolidate operations and share support services,” SMF said.

the local district development councils (MDDC) are also being strengthened to serve as channels of information dissemination and vehicles for development initiatives

whether local or national.

Independently, farmers and factories are investing in their respective operations with strong optimism on the near future of the sugarcaneindustry.

portfolio. CBAP loans for agricultural production or microfinance bear interest rates that do not exceed 15 percent per annum.

Meanwhile, the AMP, which is a joint program of the DA-ACPC with the People’s Credit and Finance Corporation (PCFC), was able to release P45.6 million to 3,808 farmers and fisherfolk in the first semester of 2012. through the AMP, accredited microfinance institutions (MFIs) of the PCFC provide agri-micro loans to individual borrowers coming from small farm and/ or fishing households. the program also gives priority to areas hit by natural calamities.

For its part, the CALP, a joint program between ACPC and the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), released P4.7 million in loans to 159 farmers and fishers in the first semester of 2012.

Launched in June of 2011, the CALP provides a revolving credit line for cooperatives for the purpose of strengthening their lending services for their farmer and fisherfolk-members. the Sikat Saka Program implemented jointly by the DA and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) released P1.25 million loans to 30 rice farmers in the first semester of 2012. the Sikat Saka Program was set up in January 2012 for lending to small palay farmers in support to the

DA’s Food Staples Sufficiency Program (FSSP). It also provides a window that makes direct access to credit with the Land Bank of the Philippines available to rice farmers who are members of irrigator’s associations (IA). under this scheme, farmers will enjoy an interest rate of only 15 percent per annum for the first two cycles. For succeeding cycles, the interest may further go down by one percent per cycle provided the borrower consistently repays on time. the priority provinces of the Sikat Saka Program are Isabela, Nueva ecija, Iloilo and North Cotabato.

Created by the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (RA 8435) and implemented since 2003, the AMCFP has already cumulatively generated P1.361 billion loans for 84,164 farmer and fisherfolk borrowers as of the first semester of 2012.

Corpuz said they expect lending under the AMCFP to peak in the second semester of 2012 as they adjust the program guidelines with guidance from the ACPC Governing Council. “the onset of the wet season towards the second half of the year, which traditionally increases agricultural production for the remainder of the year, is also expected to boost loan availments in the agri-fishery sector,” Corpuz added.

[PNA]

DA finance unit releases P452.4 M to marginalized farmers, fisherfolk

A

N umbrella finance unit of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said it has released almost half a billion worth of loans to marginalized farmers and fisherfolk in the first six months of the year.

In a statement, Jovita Corpuz, executive director of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), said some P452.4 million loans under the Agro-Industry Modernization Credit and Financing Program (AMCFP) have been released, which benefitted 10,288 agri-fishery borrowers across the country. the agri-fishery financing programs that have been funded through the AMCFP include the Cooperative Banks Agri-Lending Program (CBAP), the AgriMicrofinance Program (AMP), the Cooperatives Agri-Lending Program (CALP), and the the Sikat Saka Program.

In the first half of 2012, the CBAP released the biggest amount of loans with a total of P400.9 million. this amount was able to finance the agri-fishery projects of 6,291 farmers and fisherfolk. the CBAP is a program that provides funding support to eligible cooperative banks in the form of special time deposits (StD). the program was implemented in September 2011.

CBAP funds are used by participating cooperative banks to expand their small farm and fishing loan

ICT HUB

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 122 •WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012

7

Apple, Samsung CEOs talk but no trial settlement reached t

He chief executives of Apple Inc and Samsung electronics Co Ltd have talked but did not settle the high stakes patent dispute between the two electronics companies, a Samsung attorney said in court on Monday. u.S. District Judge Lucy Koh had requested that the two talk on the phone at least once more before the jury begins deliberating this week.

Apple and Samsung are going toe-to-toe in a patents dispute that mirrors the struggle for industry supremacy between the two rivals that control more than half of worldwide smartphone sales.

Apple accuses Samsung of copying the design and some features of its iPad and iPhone, and is asking for a sales ban in addition to monetary damag-

es. South Korea’s Samsung, which is trying to expand in the united States, says Apple infringed several patents, including some for its key wireless technology. top executives from both companies had participated in mediation with a u.S. magistrate judge before trial, but Koh asked them to explore settlement once again.

“I see risks here for both sides,” Koh said last week.

Closing arguments are scheduled for tuesday. In court on Monday, Samsung attorney Kevin Johnson told Koh nothing had come from the talk.

“We will see you tomorrow,” Johnson said. the case in u.S. District Court, Northern District of California, is Apple Inc v. Samsung electronics Co Ltd et al, No. 11-1846.

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks during an Apple event as he introduces the new iPad as an image the device is projected on screen in San Francisco, California March 7, 2012.

Facebook director Thiel sold Google list of paid bloggers 20 million shares after lockup not sufficient, judge says

F

ACeBooK Inc director Peter thiel sold roughly $400 million worth of shares in the Internet social networking company last week, cashing out most of his stake, according to a regulatory filing. thiel sold his shares on thursday and Friday at average prices ranging between $19.27 and $20.69 per share after the end of the first lockup, which barred early investors and insiders from selling shares following the initial public offering. the sales, in which thiel sold roughly 20 million Facebook shares, were conducted as a result of a trading plan that thiel entered into on May 18, according

to the filing. thiel, who co-founded PayPal and was among Facebook’s earliest backers, still owns roughly 5.6 million shares of Facebook.

A spokesman for thiel declined to comment on the sales.

Accel Partners, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm that was also an early backer of Facebook, distributed roughly 57.8 million Facebook shares to the limited partners and general partners of its various funds on thursday, according to another filing. the move allows those partners to sell or hold on to their distributed Facebook shares as they see fit.

Facebook, founded by

Mark Zuckerberg in his Harvard university dorm room, became the only u.S. company to debut with a market value of more than $100 billion. But investors have grown disillusioned with Facebook’s inability to articulate a plan to reverse slowing revenue growth.

Shares of Facebook finished Monday’s regular trading session at $20.01, down nearly 50 percent from their $38 offering price in May. More than 1.4 billion additional shares held by early investors and Facebook employees are set to become available for trading by year’s end, as additional post-IPo lockup restrictions are lifted.

Peter Thiel speaks during a news conference on “nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to economic research and innovative public policies for the 21st century” at the National Press Club in Washington.

G

ooGLe Inc failed to comply with a court order to disclose the bloggers and other commentators on a patent and copyright case who might have been influenced by payments from the Web company, a judge said on Monday. u.S. District Judge William Alsup gave Google until noon on Friday, August 24, to provide an amended list of public commentators on the high-profile case between Google and oracle Corp who have received payments as consultants, contractors, vendors or employees.

“Just as a treatise on the law may influence the courts, public commentary that purports to be independent may have an influence on the courts and/or their staff if only in subtle ways,” wrote Alsup. earlier this month, Alsup issued a highly unusual order, riveting technology and legal circles, that Google and oracle identify all writers who commented on the companies’ intellectual property lawsuit and who received money from the technology giants. the lists, submitted by the companies on Friday, contained no huge surprises. oracle acknowledged it hired blogger Florian Mueller, who often comments on

patent issues, as a consultant -- a relationship that was already known.

Google acknowledged contributions to various groups but said it has not paid any of them to comment on issues in the case.

But Alsup said on Monday he was interested not only in authors that the companies paid specifically to comment on the case but also those who commented and received money from the companies in other ways.

“Rather, the order was designed to bring to light authors whose statements about the issues in the case might have been influenced by the receipt of money from Google or oracle,” Alsup wrote.

He cited oracle’s disclosure of Mueller as an appropriate response: “even though the payment was for consulting work, the payment might have influenced the blogger’s reports on issues in the civil action.” oracle sued Google in federal court in 2010, claiming Google’s Android mobile platform violated oracle’s patents and copyright to the Java programming language.

It sought roughly $1 billion on the copyright claims. earlier this year, after the jury decided in Google’s favor, Alsup ruled oracle could not

claim copyright protection on most of the Java material that oracle took to trial. oracle has said it will appeal.

In his initial order, Alsup said he was “concerned” about relationships between commentators and the companies, but the judge has not revealed what specifically has prompted him to act. the case attracted heavy coverage from the mainstream media and technology-focused blogs.

Alsup said in his order that the payments in which he is interested do not include advertising revenue received by the commentators, and he said gifts to universities can be ignored. He noted that oracle must supplement its list if the order clarifies any issues for oracle.

“Google suggests that it has paid so many commenters that it will be impossible to list them all,” Alsup wrote. “Please simply do your best but the impossible is not required. oracle managed to do it.”

A Google spokesman said the company would comply with the order. oracle declined to comment. the case in u.S. District Court, Northern District of California, is oracle America, Inc v. Google Inc, 10-3561.

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EDGEDAVAO

oFFICIAL StAteMeNt

Reforms started by Robredo crucial for nation-building D

ePARtMeNt of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo has advanced reforms in local government and the interior sector that are crucial for the country’s “matuwid na daan,” government officials, lawmakers, civil society organizations, the academe, urban poor groups, and other supporters said.

Robredo’s body has been found on the morning of Aug. 21 by search and rescue teams in Masbate City, ending almost three days of waiting. He was on his way home to Naga City after two speaking engagements in Cebu City, when the twin-engine Piper Seneca aircraft he was on crash-landed off Bgy. obingay, Masbate City around 500 meters away from the airport runway.

Fishermen rescued his aide de camp, Sr. Police Inspector Jun Abrazado, who lost consciousness trying to protect the secretary, but Robredo and the two pilots remained missing after the crash.

Movement for Good Governance chairperson Solita Monsod said it was crucial that the reforms initiated by Robredo be continued and that his replacement would make sure that the ideals he fought for be protected. up until the night before his departure for Cebu, Robredo has been pushing his management team to find more effective ways to advance reforms in local governance and the interior sector. He was particularly focused on drumming up public

EDGEDAVAO

support for the Full Disclosure Policy (FDP), an instrument that he hoped would advance transparency and accountability in local governance. the FDP, the crown jewel of Robredo’s work in local governance, requires LGus to disclose in public places 12 key financial documents that show how funds are spent.

As of June 2012, 1,697 or 99% of LGus have complied with the policy. this is validated by latest Pulse Asia and Social Weather Stations surveys that showed more Filipinos now observe transparency and accountability in their localities. the FDP is a requirement in the conferment of the “Seal of Good Housekeeping,” which is awarded to LGus every year. the Seal rewards honesty and excellence in local governance. As of June 2012, 856 LGus that have qualified for the Seal have been granted P1.1 billion from the Performance Challenge Fund—money spent for the poorest of the poor.

“Lagi ko pong sinabi na itinaas na natin ang antas o sukat ng paglilingkod. Hindi na sapat na tayo ay matino lamang. Hindi rin sapat na tayo at mahusay lamang. Hindi lahat ng matino ay mahusay, at lalo namang hindi lahat ng mahusay ay matino. Ang dapat ay matino at mahusay upang karapat dapat tayong pagkatiwalaan ng pera ng bayan,” Robredo was fond of saying.

Last Aug. 17, Robredo wanted to start an advocacy campaign so that ordinary

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citizens would use the maximum benefits from the tool to demand good governance and transparency from their local leaders.

He also gave instructions that illegal logging be stopped, and those involved be made accountable.

Robredo has also been tirelessly improving disaster risk reduction and mitigation capabilities of local government units across the country. He has introduced the Seal of Disaster Preparedness, another incentive mechanism to help LGus deal with disasters and calamities. “the important thing here is reducing casualties to zero,” he said.

As of the first semester, a total of 8,504 LGus already have functional disaster management councils while 1,539 have command centers and alarm systems. they now have emergency response, rescue, and medical teams, and evacuation centers.

Having been a Mayor in Naga City for 19 years, Robredo was strict about ensuring that each LGu’s business process licensing system (BPLS) is streamlined and highly effective. the Department committed to the uS-based Millennium Challenge Corp. to streamline the BPLS of 120 LGus in four years. As of June 2012, 748 LGus have already streamlined their BPLS within a twoyear period. this has raised revenue collection by as much as 7% in Lapu-Lapu City and 18% in Butuan City. the latest National Competitiveness

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Survey results showed that 70% of businessmen respondents received permits in three days or less. In fact, 17% did so and less than two hours.

Robredo believed that measuring outcomes lead to improvement. He enhanced the Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS), a tool to measure LGu performance, by turning it into an assessment tool validated by third-party assessment. this is a departure from the old system of self-assessment.

Consolidated results of the LGPMS shows that there has been a consistent increase in the number of LGus with high overall performance ratings, from 913 in 2009 to 1,050 in 2010, to 1,261 in 2011. there has also been a 200% leap in the number of LGus that allow civil society organizations, public organizations, the academe and religious groups to participate in local governance. A concrete example of this is the DILG’s partnership with the ugnayan ng mga Barangay at Simbahan (uBAS) to monitor LGu budgets and with Ateneo School of Government and De La Salle university’s monitoring of public services in the local governments.

In the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao, Robredo was instrumental in the promotion of transparency and accountability among local governments through the Seal of Good Housekeeping. the DILG is also on top of the reform program in ARMM with funding of P8.59 billion.

In the interior sector, Robredo batted for a vision that every Filipino can walk the streets unafraid 24x7. In 2011, crime rate went down by 23.8%. Financial reforms in the Philippine National Policy also led to a 54% increase in the budget for field units to P1,000 per capital from P650. this means the police have more funds for uniform, shoes, bullets and other needs. Police visibility has also increased with the field deployment of 90% of the police force, as opposed to 85%, previously. through the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), the DILG initiated investigations and formally filed charges against individuals involved in spurious procurement contracts.

“Tatapatin ko po sa inyo, minsan mabigat sa dibdib ko ang gawaing ito. Subalit pag nakikita ko po yung ordinaryong pulis sa kaduluduluhang istasyon, sinasabi ko po sa aking sarili kailangan ko pong gawin ito para sa kanya. Ito na lang po ang kaniyang pag-asa at magsilbing huwaran din na dapat ang matuwid na daan ang syang dapat nating tahakin,” Robredo told officials of the interior sector during his New Year’s Call early this year.

He declared just last week that he intended to pursue all these reforms at whatever cost, to ensure that the “matuwid na daan” of the President is well lighted and easy to traverse for every citizen.

“Pinapangako ko po na marami pa tayong pakikinabangan sa mga repormang pinalakas natin sa DILG. Paiigtingin pa natin ang pagbabago sa lokal na pamahalaan at sa interior sector upang suportahan ang ginagawa nyo sa national. Sa tulog ng opisyal at kawani ng DILG, gagawin ko ang lahat ng aking makakaya para maabot natin ang pangarap ng isang bansang matuwid at maayos ang daan,” he said in a statement he was supposed to deliver for his upcoming Commission on Appointments hearing on August 29.

EDGEDAVAO

I

Women and friends

believe an average woman has many kinds of friends; some a keeper, others you’re better off without. Sometimes there’s a fine line between those who are real and those who aren’t really worth their salt. My girl friends and I alone provide a pretty good line up of types of women (or men) friends. Allow me to illustrate.

Gossip Friends. As it suggests, this is the type of friend who only huddles with you when there is a juicy piece of gossip. this relationship is superficial. You’re better off avoiding the next huddle, but do it subtly. If you know you have not done anything wrong or illicit, there’s no reason for you to worry that you’re the next morsel for gossip.

Basher Friends. they come to you like magnets to steel when there’s something they want to trash, whether it’s a person, thing, or an issue. they may not be necessarily negative company, but too much of this in a short period of time can drain your positivity. You can try to skip the next bashing session, especially if it’s something that does not involve or interest you. Keep your relationship with this person on positive terms, if you cannot afford full avoidance.

Social Friends. oh, those crazy nights out, getting wasted in watering holes, or socializing in places where you simply want to be seen and heard. these social circles can be fun and exhilarating, and if you’re circling among the right people, they can be more than social friends but networks too. the conversation can be meaningful to downright petty. Steer clear of those just wanting to ‘partey!’ and are wont to get you into trouble. Keep those who are cool, sensible, and enjoy clean fun. By all means, have a good time with them all, but know your limits.

Work Friends. You see them every day at work, engage them in meetings, maybe even share a meal or snack with them. If you’re lucky, they can be real and lasting

“A

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VOL.5 ISSUE 122 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012

friends. Choose who to befriend wisely, as office politics can get in the way, and if that’s what has purely shaped their opinion of you, do yourself a favour and move on.

The Inggitera.

Do we all fall the misfortune of having a friend like this? She’s the one who either gushes over your new ring or a nice pair of shoes or handbag or—on the extreme side of it—pretends she didn’t see any of them. then in a week or two, she parades around flashing her new ring with a bigger rock, or walks around in her new expensive Italian leather shoes, or struts with her new signature handbag. When this happens, it never ceases to amuse me.

Food Friends. Ah, one of my favourite type of friends. You get together when there’s something really delish brewing in a food joint. You talk mostly about food, places with food, tV shows on food, even people who cook really good food. they engage you just a little bit about the latest in your life or family, as serious stuff is not likely on the menu of your get-together. With these guys, it’s a pure gastronomic relationship.

Perennial or Annual Friends. I classify them like plants: perennial which lasts for about three years in your garden, or annual, lasting only a year. these friends usually live in a different city, region, or country, and depending on how often they or you come over for a visit, you are only with them every year or a few years. the interaction is short and sweet, depending on how close you are to each other. I find that a perennial friend can be one of the best, even surpassing those who are always with you. If each short gettogether is fun and meaningful, this friend is

a keeper.

Frenemies. I first heard of frenemies from the tyra Banks show, and when she described what they were, it was such a eureka moment as I was finally able to determine what type of friend it is that you have fun with, yet blatantly says or does something that offends you. they can say something really nice one moment and the next, something that makes you feel really bad. More often than not, they use the guise of honesty or good intentions, but really, it just gives them pleasure to put you down. If you’re not up to the emotional ups and downs with this one, I don’t see the value of maintaining this socalled friendship.

The ‘Me’ Friend. they want to get together so you can both keep track of all the haps and mishaps in both your lives. they’ll ask the perfunctory “So what’s up with you?”, but you’ve barely started on your update when they soon embark on a long narrative of their own. You normally have a certain level of relationship with them, so full evasion may not be easy. Brave up; cut short her ‘Me’ time and demand equal ‘sharing’ time.

Absentee Friends. Well, you know what this type does—drift in and out of your life at their convenience. they’re not necessarily bad friends; they may be dealing with some issues in their life you’re not privy to. As long as they’re nice and good when they decide to float within your radar, you can opt to reciprocate.

And last but certainly not the least, Real Friends. the kind that lets you be you and embraces all your flaws. they may sometimes hurt your feelings with genuine honesty, but will fiercely fight for you when you need protecting. they may even become any of the above, and yet bounces right back in your life in a good kind of way. that’s the best kind of all.

‘Food Truck’ frenzy sweeps US culinary landscape

ttACK of the Killer Potato” isn’t a horror film about a crazed spud on a murderous rampage.

It’s a hamburger loaded with hash browns and barbecue sauce – available only at a mobile “food truck”, the hottest trend sweeping the uS restaurant industry.

“Food truck owners march to the beat of their own drum,” said Dylan Watkins, owner of the Burger Monster food truck in orange County, California.

“What I really like about owning a food truck is that it gives you a lot of time and freedom to grow as an entrepreneur.”

“I love the culture and people,” explained Watkins, whose customers can also satisfy their palates with “the Creature From the Black Lagoon” – a roasted mushroom sandwich adorned with tomatoes, cheese, avocado spinach and garlic herb spread.

Watkins’ mobile restaurant is just one of an estimated 7,500 “food trucks” operating throughout the united States, industry experts say.

But numbers are growing by the week as the uS food truck frenzy expands, changing the way Americans dine – and expanding their culinary horizons in the process.

Food trucks have evolved from rudimentary hot dog stands on city street cor-

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By Jaclyn O’laughlin ners to sophisticated mobile eateries that offer a variety of gourmet food items for the consumer on the go, such as a lemongrass chicken taco or a strawberry-lemonade cupcake. the current incarnation of the American food truck dates to 2008 when a mobile eatery called Kogi started selling Korean barbecue tacos in Los Angeles, according to Richard R. Myrick, editor-in-chief of Mobile Cuisine Magazine and author of “Running a Food truck For Dummies.” And, the craze has quickly spread to almost every major city and state in the united States.

“Food trucks are not just in major population centers,” said Myrick. “Some have to operate differently according to different municipality rules, but the concept is the same with preparing food on the truck.” the Dallas-Fort Worth area of texas, for instance, illustrates vividly how quickly the food truck phenomenon is spreading. one year ago when blogger Stephanie Hawkes started writing about the food trucks there on her site DFW Food truck

Foodie, there were nine trucks.

Now, there are 65 with plans for 40 more by the end of the year.

“In Dallas, the trucks rove and they are in different locations each day throughout the city,” Hawkes said.

“It’s convenient. You can walk out of your office building or drive down the street and get a gourmet meal right on the corner for an inexpensive price, and you don’t have to get dressed up to eat there.” the uS National Restaurant Association confirms that consumers are seeing more food trucks in their communities. the group cites convenience for consumers and low costs for owners operating in a sluggish uS economy as among reasons for the surge in popularity of the food truck.

“Within the industry, food trucks have offered business opportunities during the economic downturn when it was challenging for entrepreneurs to get access to credit and financing to launch a brick-and-mortar restaurant or expand an existing one,” said NRA spokeswoman Annika Stensson.

Industry experts say food trucks also offer owners who aspire to open their own brick-and-mortar restaurants in the future an excellent way to test market their products and business ideas.[PNA/RIA Novosti]

9

A competitive tourism landscape

t

He WAtCHWoRD – A growing number of stakeholders in the tourism industry are declaring that it’s about time for more work, good ideas and proper planning because creativity and originalities are enticing domestic and foreign tourists.

Competition is the watchword nowadays in the tourism business. Rousing competition in any endeavor is the single-most-important strategy for driving productivity higher.

High-profile city and regional tourism officials demonstrated their knacks for evolving into a post-festival observation and focused more on heaving praises and accolades of the success of the recently concluded 27th Kadayawan festivity. the remarkable success story of the ethnic-inspired celebration has started to simmer down. Better still, the city and regional top tourism executives should refrain from deluging the news desks and airwaves with hyperbolic plans and promotions for next year’s festival. that is a lot easier said than done, for one thing, tapping fully the city’s tourism potentials have had plenty of time and effort to prepare. Instead of thinking about new ideas how to make Kadayawan far better next year, city and regional tourism planners should better emulate other city and provincial tourism offices in improving tourism promotions in their areas. I am referring to the provincial tourism agencies of Cebu and Iloilo. the two leading tourist destinations have been implementing with increasing intensity the objective that always worked so well: emphasis on high-glitz promotions through the gathering of public and private tourism representatives to discuss and formulate strategies to stimulate tourism. Well, we may call it a grandiose goal in these penny-pinching times but it’s just appropriate. the province of Iloilo organized its two-day 1st Provincial tourism Summit last month while Cebu convened a similar tourism congress a month earlier.

Ranking government officials and noted figures from the tourism Infrastructure and enterprise Zone Authority shared some of their expertise in the tourism industry. the two summit meetings similarly became the venues for all tourism stakeholders to reassess their respective tourism plans. the gatherings were both well-attended and gracing the events were local officials, tourism officers, tour and travel operators, tour guides, tourism committee chairpersons, media practitioners and other stakeholders.

As expected, output of the convention, in the case of Iloilo is the finalization of tour and travel packages for the province. Provincial tourism officials say the summit meeting is just the first step in attaining the goal of selling the province as a primary destination to both tourists and investors in tourism. they have a more fundamental approach in promoting tourism and the two provinces are already considered among the country’s most productive in the tourism industry – and not by a little quantity.

Within this climate, the city and region’s tourism top honchos should at least learn a thing or two from their counterparts in other areas. this hasn’t escaped the attention of many stakeholders in the tourism business because stiff competition has intensified dramatically. other provinces in Mindanao with vast tourism potentials have snapped out of their slumber and adjacent areas have likewise proven that they can match Davao City and the region as the ultimate destination for both business and leisure.

But rather than confront a new competitive tourism landscape head on, city and regional tourism managers should first organize a summit meeting where the industry players would discuss how best to promote the city in particular and the region in general as tourist havens. the idea is to give the city and region a boost especially during the low season and the stakeholders want to achieve that objective. With the astonishing success of the Kadayawan festival, Davao City managed to settle into a kind of comfortable status, however, tourism people still had a lot of preparation to do to achieve more. that’s probably the city and regional tourism agencies can hope for.

10

SUBURBIA

VOL.5 ISSUE 122 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Durian Festival formally opens M

INDANAo’S Biggest Culinary olympics formally opened on Friday, August 17, 2012 which aims to celebrate the King of Philippine Fruits, Durian and other yields of the fields in tagum City’s very own Durian Festival. the Durian Festival is a month-long celebration starting August 17 to September 17, 2012 which will feature events/competitions like the Food Basket in the 23 barangays of the city, durian kakanin, chef’s relay, coffee blending, cocktail flairtending, durian petit four, durian celebration cake, durian dessert buffer and the best durian fruit competition.

From August 17 to September 17, the highly-anticipated Durian trade Fair will also treat tagumeños and local tourists with wide varieties of durian on sale that ranges from 40 to 60 pesos a kilo. the festival was formally opened by the Senior City Councilor Hon. De Carlo L. uy together with Hon. Joedel Caasi the committee on Agriculture, engr. eduardo t. omandac and Chairperson of Durian Festival 2012 and City of tagum tourism Council Alma L. uy, at the Rotary Park, Pioneer Avenue, this city. the opening began with a motorcade of the different Durian Growers and farmers of the Plant

IN A HURRY CRACK! Some of the contestants of the fastest person to open a durian contest were captured during the opening of 7thDurian Festival sa Tagum 2012 last august 17, 2012 at the open space Rotary Park, Pioneer Avenue, Tagum City. Photo by Leo Timogan of CIO Tagum

Now Pay Later Program of the tagum City Mayor Rey t. uy, followed by the parade of chefs and bartenders, school’s banner raising and the opening program. the Durian Plant Now Pay Later Program is another brainchild project of Mayor uy that started in 1997 when he was still a provincial board member of Davao del Norte and was later given a boost in 2000 when he assumed the position as the

city mayor of tagum.

As of present, there are already 210 hectares of durian farms in the city that span in 14 barangays of the city and has benefited a total of 210 farmers, according to Mr. Bernie Suego, agricultural specialist of the tagum City Agriculture office.

He said that in the span of four years, the city government provided the inputs (seedlings, fertilizers and chemicals) to the beneficiaries of the pro-

Pamonag, Field operations Division chief of PRo 12 said that this initiative will “put a face” to the MDR and ensure that only the intended beneficiaries will be able to use the MDRs for purpose of claiming PhilHealth benefits in any accredited hospitals and non-hospital facilities. on the lower portion of the MDR this words are: “Ako ay miyembro ng PhilHealth na may benepisyong pangkalusugan. Sakop ng aking benepisyo ang aking asawa, mga anak na may edad 20 taon pababa at magulang na may edad 60 taon pataas. Wala kaming babayaran sa mga pangunahing operasyon at karamdaman kung magpapaconfine kami sa ward ng mga pampublikong ospital. Sagot ng PhilHealth ang konsultasyon, laboratory at ilan pang serbisyo ng aking pamilya mula sa aming health center. Kai-

langan ko lamang ipakita ang aking Health Insurance Card o Member Data Record kapag gagamit ng benepisyo.” this message should also remind the MDR of his responsibility as a PhilHealth member. to properly distinguish PhilHealth MDR from other documents, this is printed in a light yellow A4 size paper.

Further, PRo 12 urged all accredited health care providers to access the list of NHtS-PR members from http://www.philhealth.gov.ph/members/ sponsored/nhts-pr_list. html to verify their status and eligibility.

PhilHealth Cares nurses assigned in selected hospitals in the region can also assist in the verification process through their Customer Service Information System [DeD-PIA 12/ Amor Sequito, PRo 12]

gram and on the seventh year, they have to pay annually the 30% of the total acquisition cost they got through the program.

Fastest person to open a durian was the first competition staged during the opening ceremony along with a durian- eating contest that was di-

P

ing with a twist using durian on their cocktail. the seven (7) participating students from the different schools in Davao region left the crowd in awe as they performed their outrageous stunts on bartending. City Information office tagum - Reportorial team

the province. each classroom was provided with two oL trap kits consisting of a black plastic cup, organic pellets, and lawanit paddle.

Dr. Zenaida Hadji RaofLaidan, regional director of DoSt 12, said the distribution of oL traps is part of the department’s school-based program to reduce dengue-carrying mosquitoes that may infect children.

Before the kits were dispersed to classrooms, coordinators from the Department of education (Deped) were oriented on the installation, manage-

ment and maintenance of oL traps. oL traps have been proven effective to limit increase of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, and resulted in the reduction of dengue cases in areas where these were installed and properly managed. the oL trap assembly attracts female mosquitoes to lay eggs inside the plastic cup where the water is mixed with the organic compound. the mixture prevents the eggs and larva from maturing. It is placed where mosquitoes usually congregate and breed.

Irrigators’ association president Juralde Deposo and Brgy. Captain Reumero Geonson received the project while Gov. Migs Dominguez, Board Member eleanor Saguiguit and engr. Gina Lozano, acting chief of office of SilwayBuayan RIS/Sarangani Province, led the turnover ceremony to the recipient barangay. the project is one of

the newly-completed irrigation projects of the NIA to rehabilitate, restore and construct various irrigation projects in the country. the CIS project at upper Biangan includes the construction of 290-meters lined main canal and 2,320-meters lined lateral canal. the construction started March 14, 2012 and was completed on August 14.

DOST intensifies OL trap distribution in schools

PhilHealth, GenSan City D intensify anti-fraud drive HILHeALtH Region 12 and the city government of General Santos have intensified their campaign against health care fraud by distributing member data records (MDRs) with the family picture of sponsored program members and their qualified dependents.

At a recent MDR distribution attended by General Santos Local Health Insurance office head Nol Valila and City Social Welfare and Development officer Rebecca V. Magante, 712 sponsored program members listed under the National Household targeting System-Poverty Reduction (NHtS-PR) gathered at Brgy. San Jose, General Santos City. the members brought their spouses, children and parents aged 60-years-old and above to have their pictures taken and printed on the MDRs. Dr. Miriam Grace G.

vided into two categories: the kids and adults.

A foreigner conducting a research for their blog about the year of the durian even participated in the Durian eating contest.

In the Cocktail Flairtending Competition, several schools showcased their mastery on bartend-

ePARtMeNt of Science and technology (DoSt) 12 has intensified its campaign against the dengue virus in Region 12 with the distribution of ovicidallarvicidal (oL) traps in elementary and secondary schools.

DoSt 12 said the agency has already distributed 11,270 oL traps, which were installed in nearly 5,600 classrooms in North Cotabato.

A total of 1,454 kits were distributed to schools in Kidapawan City, and 9,816 kits to schools in the 17 municipalities of

Village gets P4-M irrigation project

A

Communal Irrigation System (CIS) worth P3,932,718 at upper Biangan village, Malungon, Sarangani was recent turned over by the Silway-Buayan Regional Irrigation System/Sarangani Province. the local irrigator’s association accepted the project for operation and maintenance from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 122 •WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012

NATION BRIEFS Investigation AtHoLIC Bishop Le-

C

andro Medroso has called for an investigation of the Ateneo faculty members who signed a statement declaring support for the controversial reproductive health (RH) bill being pushed by the Aquino administration in Congress.

Medroso, the permanent council member of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and chairman of the episcopal Commission on Canon Law, said the university should make sure that the teachers who endorsed House Bill No. 4244 were not teaching concepts against Church laws.

Online trading He Philippine Stock

t

exchange (PSe) is ready to pilot-test in the next few weeks an online trading platform for trading participants that aims to harness technology to widen investor base in the country.

In a briefing, PSe president Hans Sicat said the exchange was expecting to recover its cost from the rollout of the trading platform “in three years or less.”

NATION/ WORLD 11

China’s Gu Kailai gets suspended death sentence

C

HINA sentenced the wife of fallen Politburo member Bo Xilai to death on Monday but suspended her execution, setting the stage for a possible final purge of Bo himself in a scandal that has shaken Beijing ahead of a leadership transition. the sentence means Gu Kailai is likely to face life in jail for murdering British businessman Neil Heywood last year.

It also brings a curtain down on China’s most sensational trial in three decades, yet opens a new and more politically dangerous

act for the ruling Communist Party -- how to deal with Bo, an ambitious and well-connected provincial leader whose downfall exposed rifts in the party.

“I feel the verdict is just and fully reflects the court’s special respect for the law, its special respect for reality and, in particular, its special respect for life,” Gu said of the sentence in official television footage of the hearing.

Gu, 53, wore a white shirt and black suit and stood expressionless, hands folded in front of her, as she spoke, pausing at one point

to find the right words.

At her trial on August 9, Gu admitted to poisoning Heywood last November, and alleged that a business dispute between them led him to threaten her son, Bo Guagua, according to official accounts published by state media.

A court official, tang Yigan, said the court had concluded that Heywood used threatening words against Bo Guagua, but had never acted on them. the court also found Gu’s actions reflected a “psychological impairment” but did not elaborate.

Renewed

t

He alleged kidnapping of convicted road rage killer Rolito Go has given the Philippine National Police (PNP) the impetus to launch a renewed campaign against the remaining kidnap-for-ransom (KFR) groups operating in the country.

Director General Nicanor Bartolome, PNP chief, said he has instructed the police elite Anti-Kidnapping Group and other units to go after the reported 10 remaining KFR groups in Metro Manila and nearby regions.

Assured

t

HeRe will be no retrenchment or mass layoffs of employees at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR).

“Definitely, there is no mass layoff at the Department of Agrarian Reform.”

DAR Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes gave this assurance to the department’s personnel on tuesday as he belied reports that around 7,000 to 9,000 employees would be laid off when the land distribution component of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) expires on June 30, 2014.

Deportation GeNtS of the

A

Bureau of Immigration (BI) have arrested an American and a South Korean fugitives during separate operations in Quezon City and Manila. American Micah Wagner, 23, and Korean Kim Chong Rok, 37, are detained at the BI jail in Bicutan, taguig pending their deportation.

Immigration Commissioner Ricardo David Jr. said the foreigners were apprehended in separate operations conducted by members of the bureau’s fugitive search unit with mission orders from the BI chief at the request of the embassies of the uS and South Korea.

Gu Kailai (front, C), wife of ousted Chinese Communist Party Politburo member Bo Xilai, attends a trial in the court room at Hefei Intermediate People’s Court in this still image taken from video

Gu could still face execution if she commits a new offence over the next two years. Almost invariably in China, however, such suspended sentences are commuted to long prison terms. the court, in the eastern city of Hefei, also said Zhang Xiaojun, an aide to the Bo family, was sentenced to nine years in jail for acting as an accomplice to the poisoning of Heywood.

“With both of the defendants declining to appeal, this marks the end of things,” Zhang’s lawyer, Li Renting, told Reuters.

Four policemen were also convicted on Monday of having sought to protect Gu from investigation, receiving jail sentences of between five and 11 years - a development that could prove damaging for Bo because it establishes formally that there was an attempted cover-up.

Police sources in Chongqing, the southwestern municipality ruled by Bo until he was ousted as its party chief in March, have said that Bo tried to shut down the investigation into his wife after being told she was a suspect early this year.

A ‘fitting’ state funeral for Robredo

t

He nation will give a “fitting” state funeral for Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, who died in a plane crash off Masbate.

“It is fitting and proper that the State renders honor to the late Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, commensurate with the peoples’ affection and admiration for him,” according to Memorandum Circular number 36 issued tuesday by executive Secretary Paquito ochoa. earlier in the day, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III personally supervised funeral arrangements and even brought the Interior secretary’s remains to his family in Naga City. the circular noted that Malacanang has created the Committee on Funeral Arrangements and Burial, composed of the offices of the executive Secretary, Presidential Management Staff, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning office, office of the Presidential Spokesperson, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine National Police, office of Presidential Protocol, Malacañang So-

Members Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police carry the body of DILG Sec. Jesse Robredo placed inside a metal casket inside the Masbate airport on 21 August 2012. cial office, Appointments office, and the Presidential Security Group. “these honors and all forms of official recognition must be done in accordance with law, wishes of the bereaved family of the late Secretary, and the fullest participation of the agencies he headed and the people he represented,” the memorandum added. on Saturday, a twinengine, four-seater Piper Seneca plane carrying Robredo, and en route to Naga City from Cebu City crashed off Masbate after

reports of engine trouble.

Robredo was found tuesday still inside the plane, at sea depths of 180-feet, reported DotC Secretary Mar Roxas.

Roxas said rescue operations for two other pilots, Captain Jessup Bahinting and Nepalese flight student Kshitiz Chand, has been turned into a retrieval operations.

Probe on the crash will continue after the pilots’ bodies have been retrieved, said Roxas.

Meanwhile, government officials grieve Robredo’s

passing. Friends and supporters of Robredo also continue to flock De La Salle Greenhills (LSGH) Chapel in Mandaluyong City.

LP spokesperson and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo “erin” tañada III told reporters after the mass that Robredo was “a big loss to the party.”

“Members of the party are still discussing plans of flying to Naga to condole with the Robredo family,” he said.

LP Vice Chairman and Senator Franklin Drilon concurred, noting that Robredo’s death is still “a shock” to his party.

WORLD TODAY

R

Forgiven

uSSIA’S top orthodox clerics on Saturday asked for mercy for the punk band Pussy Riot for its antigovernment protest in a Moscow cathedral, but the church’s forgiveness is unlikely to change the band’s punishment in a case that caused an international furor over political dissent.

Despite its plea for clemency for the three rock activists, a leading cleric called the demonstration ``awful’’ and defiant of the powerful church that is the heart of Russia’s national identity.

Abolished

M

YANMAR abolished direct media censorship on Monday, the latest dramatic reform by its quasi-civilian regime, but journalists face other formidable restrictions including a ban on private daily newspapers and a pervasive culture of selfcensorship. under the new rules, journalists no longer have to submit reports to state censors before publication, ending a practice strictly enforced during nearly half a century of military rule that ended in March last year.

u

Warned

.S. forces could move against Syrian leader Bashar alAssad, President Barack obama warned, notably if he deploys his chemical weapons against rebels trying to overthrow him.

In some of his strongest language yet on Syria, on a day when u.N. observers pulled out after a fruitless bid for peace and Assad’s forces mounted new attacks, the u.S. leader said Assad faced “enormous consequences” if he crossed a “red line” of even moving unconventional weapons in a threatening manner.

t

Damaged

Wo rockets fired by insurgents have damaged an aircraft used by u.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Martin Dempsey at an airbase in Afghanistan, a NAto spokesman said on tuesday. the general was not on board at the time.

“He was nowhere near the aircraft. We think it was a lucky shot,” Colonel thomas Collins told Reuters.

I

Unveiled

RAN unveiled upgrades to six weapons on tuesday, including a more accurate shortrange missile, a more powerful naval engine and an airborne testing laboratory, Iranian media reported. the hardware was presented at a ceremony marking Defence Industry Day and attended by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi.

12

VOL.5 ISSUE 122 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012

Leaders...

FFROM 1

you rest in peace, Sir Jesse!” she added. the mayor said Davao City Hall will be at halfmast until the burial of Secretary Robredo whose body was retrieved 8:15 in the morning yesterday inside the wreckage of his plane which crashed off the island of Masbate Saturday afternoon.

According to Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, the divers said the body of Robredo was still inside the plane when they found him at a depth of 180 feet.

Duterte-Carpio said that aside from a city government wreath, she will also send Councilor Paolo Duterte to Naga City to personally convey condolence to Robredo’s family. the mayor said she herself will attend his wake and condole with his wife.

“We are waiting for the wake and burial details.”

Davao City first district Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles also expressed his condolence. “our deepest sympathies and condolence go to the family and loved ones of Sec. Jesse Robredo. We pray for his eternal rest and we pray that his family remains strong during these times.

Sec. Robredo was loved by so many. More than his accomplishments, he will forever be remembered for the many lives he has touched and changed for the better.

We will miss him dearly.

Paalam Sec. Jesse,” he said.

Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo P. Del Rosario also expressed his sympathy.

“Si Gov. Del Rosarion miduyog sa katawhang Pilipino sa kasubo niini nunot

Gov’t...

sa mapait nga nahiaguman ni DILG Sec. Jess M. Robredo. Gidayeg ni Gov. Del Rosario ang mga repormang gilunsad ni Sec. Robredo sa lokal nga panggamhanan,” said the press release from his office.

Vice President Jejomar Binay also offered his condolence to Robredo’s family.

“I urge everyone to pray for them, that they trust God’s plan for all of us. they need our wholehearted prayers and support,” said Binay.

Presidential spokesperson edwin Lacierda said Robredo is a huge loss to the country. “the nation has lost one of its finest servant-leaders. Join us in mourning and tribute.” education Secretary Armin Luistro said the Cabinet mourns the “passing of an icon of good governance and faithful stewardship.” tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., for his part, tweeted: “Lord, may we find inspiration through our grief. Rest in Peace, Sec. Jesse.”

Senator Pia Cayetano said in her twitter account: “My family and I join the nation in mourning for the loss of a great Filipino servant and friend Sec. Jesse Rebredo and his companions.”

Senator Franklin Drilon concurred: “our country is grieving for we have just lost a man who had manifested genuine sincerity to serve his country.”

“We mourn with the nation for the loss of a great public servant, Jesse Robredo. our condolences

to his family and the two pilots’ families,” Senator edgardo Angara said via twitter.

Zambales Rep. Milagros “Mitos” Magsaysay, tweeted: “We mourn the loss of a man who has served this nation well, but most of all, a father who loved his family truly, RIP Sec. Jesse.”

“Rest in peace, Sec. Jesse. Heaven is your reward for a life well-lived. You will always be an inspiration to so many,” Leyte Rep. Lucy torres-Gomez said via twitter.

Bayan Muna Patrylist Rep. teodoro “teddy” Casiño, for his part, said: “Deeply mourning the death of Sec. Robredo. He was one of the cabinet members who we truly respected and appreciated.” uS Ambassador Harry thomas also said in a statement: “We will miss our friendship and partnership with Secretary Robredo, as he dedicated himself to bettering the lives of the Filipino people.”

“We stand with the people and government of the Philippines at this difficult time, and are prepared to assist the Philippine Government in the aftermath of this tragic accident,” he added.

Sec. Robredo was a recipient of the Ramon Magsaysay Award for governance, 1998 Konrad Adenauer Medal of excellence as Most outstanding City Mayor of the Philippines, a Junior Chamber International 1994 ten outstanding Young Persons of the World (toYP) Honoree and 12 other major individual awards.

December 2010, the tax amounts to P7.14. Without the price freeze, the tax would have been higher by P20.02 to P27.16.

For cigarettes with net retail price of P14.78, its current tax is P27.16 per pack, which Finance officials said was P15.73 cheaper compared to P27.16 when there was no price class freeze.

Similarly, the price classification freeze for beer has resulted to cheaper taxes than it should be.

For a specific brand that has an average net retail price of P48.06 as of December 2010, its tax only amounts to P9.65, or P9.40 cheaper than the P19.05 that must be collected if not for the price classification freeze.

For another brand of beer with a net retail price of P45.47, its cur-

rent tax is P14.35, P4.70 lower than the P19.05 it should be taxed with if there is no price class freeze.

Another brand that has a net retail price of P28.74 is currently being taxed P9.65 but Finance officials said its tax amounted to P19.05 had not for the price class freeze. earlier, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said the current level of taxes for sin products enabled the poor and the young to access these products, which in the long run becomes a burden to the government in terms of health-related services spending. “taxing it at a high rate is pro-poor so that they will not get into the trap that cigarette smokers are in right now,” he said. [PNA]

FFROM 2

P3.10 billion for 2016.

Finance officials said the government had been hindered to collect higher taxes on sin products, which could have been used on health-related services, because of the price freeze since 2006. under the law, taxes of cigarettes that have been offered in the Philippines before 2006 will pay tax based on that year but new entrants will pay higher taxes.

In the recent presentation in the Senate, Finance officials said excise tax on cigarettes with net retail price of P9.49 as of December 2010 is P2.47 but if there is no price class freeze, the tax per pack would have been P11.43 or P8.96 higher.

For mid-priced brands, or those with average net retail price of P17.95 per pack as of

EDGEDAVAO

Davao, Dipolog, South Cotabato, Surallah are top LGU performers

F

ouR local government units in Mindanao were named top performers in 2011 by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), with Davao City as the lone Mindanao LGu among 13 “consistent top performers” in the last three years.

Aside from Davao City, the other “consistent top performers” are the provinces of La union, Cavite, Albay and Ilocos Norte; the cities of Valenzuela, Makati, Angeles, taguig, Laoag, Vigan, and Cabanatuan; and the municipality of Ilagan in Isabela province.

“I extol these local governments for their unwavering commitment in scaling up and maintaining the highest standards of public service delivery in their respective localities. their shining examples serve as an inspiration to others to strive hard in the performance of their mandates,” the DILG report on August 14 quoted Local Governments Secretary Jesse Robredo as saying.

Robredo said the 13 LGus regularly made it to the top 10 provincial, city and municipal governments that gained the highest scores for the period 2009 to 2011 in the DILG-administered annual Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS).

Illegal...

LGPMS is a “management and development tool that does not only enable local governments to determine their capabilities and limitations in the delivery of public services, but also provides information on the state of local governance performance and their state of local development,” the DILG website said.

Robredo said LGus are being assessed and ranked based on performance area index ranging from one to five, with one as the lowest and five as the highest, in the areas of administrative governance, social governance, economic governance, environmental governance and fundamentals of good governance, which include transparency, participation and financial accountability.

Among the top 10 provinces, Bohol topped with an LGPMS ranking of 4.91 while South Cotabato ranked fourth with 4.864. the other top performers are La union with 4.89; Cavite, 4.88; Pangasinan, 4.87; Mountain Province (4.855); Albay, 4.839; Bulacan, 4.836; Rizal, 4.832; and Ilocos Norte, 4.828.

Among highly urbanized cities, San Juan City topped with an LGPMS ranking of 4.9 while Davao City ranked 10th with 4.7. the other top performing

cities are Puerto Princesa City, 4.88; Iloilo City, 4.87; Valenzuela City, 4.85; Makati City, 4.819; Angeles City, 4.816; tacloban City, 4.77; Quezon City, 4.75; and taguig City , 4.71.

Among component cities, Laoag City topped with an LGPMS ranking of 4.99 while Dipolog City ranked 7th with 4.83. the other top performers are Naga City, 4.93; Vigan City, 4.921; Ligao City, 4.917; tagaytay City, 4.87; Cabanatuan City, 4.86; Calamba City, 4.82; San Fernando City, La union, 4.81; and La Carlota City, 4.79.

Among the municipalities, Ilagan in Isabela topped with an LGMPS ranking of 4.92 while Surallah in South Cotabato ranked 7th with 4.843. the other top performers are Carmona in Cavite , 4.9; Santol in La union, 4.89; Alimodian, Iloilo, 4.883; San Mateo in Isabela, 4.879; San Luis, Aurora, 4.86; Maslog in eastern Samar and New Lucena in Iloilo with 4.839; Bacoor in Cavite , 4.822; and San Gabriel in La union, 4.820. the top performers get the chance to be nominated to the Gawad Pamana ng Lahi, which is conferred on LGus that advance the tenets of good governance based on certain criteria, including the LGPMS. [Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews]

despite cases filed against the suspected illegal miners since the term of former Gov. Daisy Avance Fuentes, which ended in June 2010. Fuentes is now the second district representative of South Cotabato.

He confirmed that illegal small-scale tunnel operations exist in the mountains of tampakan and involve the extraction of high-grade copper ores. there are buyers of copper ores that include Chinese people, Paye said.

Police reportedly said the truck containing the ores was bound for General Santos City.

Authorities have apprehended several truckloads of illegally-extracted copper ores from the tampakan mining site since two years ago.

John Arnaldo, Sagittarius Mines external communications and media relations manager, earlier acknowledged the illegal mining activities in their tenement, but said the mining firm has not been negligent in addressing the problem since they have been coordinating with authorities. tampakan hosts the

massive copper-gold project of Sagittarius Mines, Inc, which is not yet into commercial production. the firm’s application for an environmental compliance certificate has been denied by the Department of environment and Natural Resources. the company has appealed the environment department’s decision, which was anchored on the open-pit ban imposed

by South Cotabato, to the office of the President.

Sagittarius Mines has confirmed that the openpit method is the most viable extraction option due to the shallow location of the deposits from the surface. the tampakan project is touted as the largest known undeveloped copper and gold reserve in Southeast Asia. It is one of the key priority mining projects of the government. the estimated contained copper at tampakan in total resources has risen from 13.9 million metric tons to 15 million Mt while estimated contained gold has risen from 16.2 million ounces to 17.9 Moz, according to a company study. [BoNg S.

FFROM 1 or tunneling method,” he said on the phone, adding they had prior information that minerals would be transported.

Sluice mining is a destructive method banned by the provincial government. It employs highpressure water jets to dislodge or move sediments, causing siltation, mercury contamination and other devastating effects on the environment.

Illegal sluice mining operations have invaded tampakan town since 2008. Several persons have been arrested and haled to court since.

In April last year, four persons reportedly engaged in banlas operations were killed in Barangay Pulabato in tampakan after a landslide hit the area.

Constancio Paye Jr., Mines and Geosciences Bureau Region 12 director, said the latest copper ore seizure could have been extracted using the tunneling method.

He said that with banlas, illegal miners usually do not bring down the ores but already the gold particles.

Paye said that nobody has been convicted so far

SARmiENto/miNDANEwS]

SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 122 •WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012

13

Salomon Xtrail-Davao leg set Aug. 25

By Neil Bravo

A

DVeNtuRe runners will be tested to the hilt when the Salomon Xtrail Pilipinas 2012 goes to Davao this Saturday in Barangay Communal. the Salomon Xtrail Pilipinas- Davao Leg is a 3 hour adventure activity with the participants having to run from road to trail, then jump, crawl, climb, walk throughout the 12-kilometer trail. this course demands not only strength of legs but also character and determination.

organizer Dax Ang of eeverest outdoors said that temperatures can soar as high as 30`C, run will be plentiful and the course are scenic and quite challenging. “over 95% of the race is off-road tracks and some pavements,” Ang added.

Registration Fee is P500.00 inclusive of Salomon Shoe Bag, Salomon Race Bib, Race Jersey, Beach Hut Sunblock, MidMorning Snacks. Registration outlet is at Gaisano Mall of Davao ground level.

“this event involves trail run activity. We are very concerned about the safety of the participants.

Medical assistance will be positioned along the race course to allow immediate attention be provided in case of any emergency.

Medical treatment will also be provided, if so required. Medical evacuation team will be on standby at all times,” Ang further explained.

He said that participants should be mentally, physically and logistically prepared for this race.

the winner-take-all championship game is set on August 29 at 3p.m. at the Davao City Recreation Center Almendras Gym. Jhaystone oquias played the hero’s role for the rejuvenated ACD squad which found its old form in the right place and the right time. the lefty prolific forward, who scored 24 points in the first encounter, exploded with 27 points in the rubber-match as he came out unstoppable in the final half to carry the loads for Assumption.

It was a tough contest until under two minutes of

the game when Assumption led by oquias and Patrick Quidato pulled away to clinch the victory.

Holy Child played fierce early in a hope to bounce back from a Game 1 defeat but the wards of Ilde Cunanan came out short to absorb a back-toback lost at the hands of the squad that beat them in the Liga Dabaw finals last year.

Rowei Dignos paced Holy Child with 15 points.

Behind its run and gun type of play, Assumption beat Holy Child in the first encounter, 74 - 58, to force a rubber match.

where it will six straight games, the team faces Korea on tuesday at the tPeC gymnasium in a battle between two of the three unbeaten teams so far in the tournament.

After Korea – which is represented by champion club team Anyang KGC, and reinforced by talented imports Garrett Stutz and Juan Pattillo – Gilas battles

Japan, Lebanon, defending champion Iran and host Chinese-taipei before capping its schedule with a final-day encounter against a uS team. “even as we won by a big margin Sunday, we don’t have illusions about the coming games. It’s a treacherous trek, starting with the Korea game,” said national coach Chot Reyes.

ACD upset Holy Child, enter finals

A

ROOKIE. Chris Ellis, Ginebra’s no. 4 pick, is excited to suit up for the Kings in the PBA.

Ginebra’s Fil-Am rookies thrilled to play for Kings

F

ILIPINo-American rookies Chris ellis and Keith Jensen were drafted by the PBA’s most popular team on Sunday, and they couldn’t be more excited.

“It feels like a fairy tale,” said ellis, who was drafted sixth overall by Ginebra. “It’s everything I want right here. I hope I can bring this team more pride.”

It was a sentiment

echoed by Jensen, the No. 8 selection. “extremely excited because there’s a lot of history in this program,” he said.

When asked by fans what he sees would be his role for the team, ellis said that he sees himself as a “catalyst, someone to bring them energy and competitiveness.”

Jensen, for his part, said he’s ready to run

and gun along with the rest of Ginebra’s players “(I will) get up and down a lot. I’m aggressive,” said Jensen. ellis and Jensen both promised that they won’t make fans rue their selection by management.

“I’ll work every ounce of my body to bring championship to this team,” said ellis.

“I’ll play with a lot of heart,” said Jensen.

SSuMPtIoN College of Davao beat topranked Holy Child School of Davao twice in the semifinals capped with a 55-47 win in Game 2 to barge its way to the finals of the Duterte Basketball League (DBL) Junior Division1 Championships on Sunday at the Gaisano Grand Skygym.

ACD, which ranked No. 4 after the classification round, shrugged off Holy Child’s twice to beat advantage in the final four as the Cabaguio-based dribblers arrange a titular showdown with Agro Industrial Foundation College.

Gilas begins 6-game grind

t

AIPeI – After two convincing wins, Smart Gilas-Pilipinas got a one-day rest in its campaign in the 34th Jones Cup. And it’s a well-deserved break the Nationals needed before plunging in the decisive phase of their bid.

In the first of a backbreaking six-day stretch

KADAYAWAN CHESS. Ella Grace Moulic (left) watches as her opponent Jennelyn Boston (right) ponders on her next move. Right, FIDE Master Austin Jacob Literatus is on top of the leaderboard with four points. These matches are part of the ongoing Kadayawan Chess Tournament. (BOY LIM)

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PRIME PROPERTY FOR SALE ROBINSONS HIGH LANDS, 173 sq. meters, 1.5 M, Direct Buyers only Contact: 0926-305-1555 0942-966-2444

PROPERTY FOR SALE IDEAL FOR INDUSTRIAL / MANUFACTURING PLANT, 3 hectares, Santa Cruz along the National Highway, Direct Buyers only Contact: 0927-706-2510

APARTMENT FOR SALE 3 Door Apartment, lot 320 sq. m. located at Bo. Obrero near Victoria Plaza 10 M, Direct Buyers only contact: 0932-532-7304

LOT FOR SALE 180 sq. meter, Farland Subd., Dumoy, Toril, P 350,000 only Contact: 0927-706-2510

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.

EDGEDavao

EDGEDavao Gensan Partners

Serving a seamless society

Reporters (4)

- Male / Female, not more than 30 years old - Preferably a graduate of BS Mass Communication or related courses - Experience not necessary - Can work under pressure and within deadlines - Good command of the English language - A team player

Tel No. (083)- 553-2211

7. HEALTH PACKAGES 8. DRUG TESTING We offer Pasta, Pizza and all Filipino foods

CLINIC HOURS: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM

For interested applicants, you may send your resume to: HR Department EDGEDavao Doors 13 & 14 Alcrej B;dg., Quirino Ave., Davao City Tel. No. (082) 221-3601 Email: edgedavao@gmail.com

1. DOCTOR’S CLINIC 2. MOBILE ON-SITE SERVICES 3. DENTAL SERVICES 4. VACCINATION 5. LABORATORY SERVICES 6. IMAGING SERVICES

(Ultrasound, 2D-Echo,ECG, X-RAY)

Account Executives (2)

- Male / Female, not more than 30 years old - Candidate must posses a Bachelor/College Degree in any Business field.

- Willing to work under pressure, flexible, persuasive, can speak fluently and computer literate - A team player - With Basic Salary, Transportation, Communication, allowance + Commission

DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES

South Osmeña, General Santos City Cell No. 09999923588 Tel. No. (083) 552-3297

address: Door 3 & 4 ground floor cVa & Sons Bldg. along Quirino & JP laurel ave., Davao city Telephone no.: (082) 284-1978, 295-6894 Email add: med_laboratory@yahoo.com Website: www.meddiagnosticslab.com

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VOL.5 ISSUE 122 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

WOMEN

Photos by Paul Borromeo

Bayo-logically speaking, she’s a Davaoeña born of african and Filipino descent. The lineage is made more evident by the frizzy hair and mocha skin, which have, consequently, helped 18 year old Nikita Pia ortega McElroy’s modeling career skyrocket its way to success.

comparable to the hullaballoo that followed the launch of one of the country’s most established clothing brands, for which Nikita models, the buzz about this new and charismatic Davaoeña in Manila did not go unnoticed by key people in fashion and advertising industries.

Regardless of what the percentage in the ad said, her bio is as 100% dramatic as any Maalaala Mo Kaya episode. Think Venus Raj in MMK, except that Nikita’s childhood was set in cosmopolitan scenery and that she didn’t join the prestigious Binibining Pilipinas pageant… Well, at least not yet. i first met Nikita in the year-end fashion shoot we collaborated with leadFoto Studios, for which i styled in tandem with my photographer/stylistfriend. To me, Nikita is more than just a pretty face on camera. She is friendly, down to earth, funny, and full of life. By the way she talks, her life would seem like it is all picnic and party. in truth, her childhood was a difficult one.

“When i was young, i didn’t have any friends and i wasn’t part of any clique. i was an outcast. Maybe it’s because i look different.

To sum it all up, i’d say my childhood was nowhere near normal or ideal.”

Talking numbers, Nikita adds, “i can only count a few of those times when i was happy. and that won’t even total to a full set of fingers.”

Despite the lack of friends, she found solitude in her family, with whom she was able to show off a bit of confidence in singing and dancing. The videoke at home was her saving grace, allowing her to belt out any tune she wanted to.

She never got in any of the choral club auditions, but

it was her talent in dancing that got her to the final cut of her school’s stage productions.

Nikita reached her turning point at the age of 14, trying out her luck in performing arts by joining a modeling workshop in one of the malls in the city. “i wanted to do sometime different at that time, to kill boredom over summer time. i didn’t think i had what it took to be a model, and it helped that my mom encouraged me to go for it. i had her full support, though there were relatives who were against the idea of juggling studies with modeling. Nevertheless, i pursued it, even if i had

to sneak out of the house to attend go-see’s and join runway gigs and fashion shoots. While i did all that, i began to accept who i really am and see the good in me. Beauty, i realized, is not determined by color.

That acceptance helped boost my confidence and develop my love for this profession. Soon, right after high school, i became part of glam Model House, managed by Jon Nuñez. it was under his management that i got a lot of projects and was able to meet wonderful and talented people --- models, designers, photographers, make up artists, stylists, and event organizers. it

was all about building my portfolio and network.”

Determined and hopeful, Nikita grabbed the opportunity offered to her by a TV station, which specifically was for an acting job. She used the “once in a lifetime” code to get her family’s approval of her appeal to move to Manila. contrary to the job offer, she prayed she would be given a hosting job instead, and that she’d be able to make it big in the modeling scene as well. “i was lucky because i had friends who were already well connected. Still, i had to work my way around go-see’s and some other fashion events. i somehow made

a couple of breakthrough’s, even though they were not as monumental as some other models have achieved. i wasn’t bankable at that time for any modeling agency to pick up my name and draw a management contract for me.”

True to her nature, Nikita struggled in the city jungle and lived every single day full of surprises.

Nothing was predictable. one day, she plays the part of a fashion-inflicted teenager, walking the streets of Manila in unisex clothing such as blazers, suits, oversized tops, and combat boots. The next day, you see her getting fit in Zumba class, swimming a few laps in the pool, or jogging to the beat of her i-Tunes playlist. on normal days, she undergoes training under Professional Models association of the Philippines (PMaP), where she is an official member and is one of the selected few who are being groomed by celebrated artists such as Rissa Mananquil. “She is my idol,” Nikita quips. in a launch party for a top billed ice cream brand, Nikita was approached by an agent who was looking for models for the upcoming ad campaign of Bayo.

The agent took note of her credentials and presented her portfolio to the head honchos. it didn’t take long before Nikita got a call back from the agent, announcing the good news. it was no less than Xander angeles who photographed her for the ad layout, which was placed in magazines, on internet and billboard.

Phones were ringing off the hook, and Nikita was getting more bookings here and there. Not to mention

call from friends in Davao, screaming in excitement over her blossoming career. She may call herself a late bloomer, growing up shy and friend-less during her formative years, but her career is fast advancing at such an early age. To date, she has taken part of the Holiday and Spring/ Summer seasons of the Philippine Fashion Week for 3 years in a row. She has also done an editorial shoot for United colors of Benetton and a couple of other endorsements and magazine shoots.

Nikita humbly shares her other dreams and wishful thinking. “i hope for bigger things. Ten years from now, i’d probably have found my courage to take my chances in other fields such as hosting, or maybe in learning and education. Who knows? i may end up as a teacher here or abroad.

The thought of going international, in terms of modeling, won’t hurt either. after all, nothing is impossible. Everyone has to do their own part to realize their goals. you just really gotta have a brave heart, and i never give up even when challenges try to hinder my path. it helps that i went through an unhappy time earlier in my life, because now i get to appreciate my assets and blessings, and know what it is i really want to do in life. i put my heart and soul in everything i do, no matter how big or small.”

--Check out Meg’s blogsite at http://meg-has-sceneit.blogspot.com/for more stories about women, fashion, events, and lifestyle in Davao City.

EDGEDAVAO

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Tattoo offers ultimate shopping experience with Zalora

What do you get when the number one broadband in the Philippines partners with the leading online shopping site? Definitely the coolest and most convenient online shopping experience!

With the speed and reliability of tattoo plus the more than 500 brands and 15,000 great finds at Zalora, online shopping is taken to a different level. and to delight shopaholics even more, tattoo is giving away P1500 shopping credit to subscribers of tattoo Personalized Plan 999 from July 13-September 12, 2012! all plans activated via store, online and hotline are entitled to this promo. the tattoo P1,500 coupon at Zalora could translate to a trendy pair of women’s shoes, a fab cocktail outfit, a cute, comfy pair of men’s loafers, lovable baby goodies, or even nice accessories for the home. “as the shopping landscape changes with more and more Filipinos getting hooked to online shopping, tattoo partners with Zalora to give our subscribers the best online shopping experience. With tattoo’s fast and reliable internet connection, browsing and shopping through the catalogs of Zalora’s international and local brands becomes a breeze,” explains Dong Ronquillo, head of tattoo Nomadic Broadband Services. tattoo Personalized Plan 999 provides unlimited browsing at speeds of up to 7.2 mbps. Subscribers may also upgrade their speeds to up to 12, 15 and 21 mbps for minimal charges.

Gather your family and friends and have a blast doing your Zalora shopping by upgrading your stick to a Superstick, tattoo’s Wi-Fi sharing device that connects up to five devices for only P150 additional fee per month for 24 months.

Zalora is the leading online shopping site that boasts of 500 brands and 15,000 products cutting across all age and gender.

“We picked Zalora to be our partner in this promo because it is the leading online one-stop shopping site and also because of the excellent customer support that they provide, similar to what tattoo stands for,” Ronquillo adds.

Zalora offers the best in local and international fashion brands under one roof with same day shipping, 30-day return policy and FREE delivery. Zalora is also known for its safe and secure payment methods.

Subscribe to tattoo Personalized Plan 999 now and start your shopping spree at Zalora! Visit www.tattoo.com.ph or your nearest Globe store for more information.

Sun Cellular introduces their most affordable postpaid plan at 299

Driven by its continuous thrust of delivering best-value mobile services to Filipinos, Sun Cellular introduces its newest postpaid offering for as low as P299 per month. as the lowest-rated regular plan of Sun Cellular, the Sun Plan 299 offers unlimited Sun texts, 30 minutes of Sun calls and 200 texts to other networks. Subscribers also get to choose between an android MyPhone a618 and a full touch alcatel 720D for the complimentary handset of the plan. “this new plan has been created to offer best-value access to the convenience and practicality of a Sun Postpaid line. Given the dynamic mix of unlimited intra-network texts and bucket call and text services, users may now connect with their loved ones in more ways and as often as they’d want to, without having to spend much,” says Ricky Peña, Senior Vice President for Postpaid, Broadband, New Business and Marketing Services of Sun Cellular.

Further to this regular plan offering, Peña said that Sun Postpaid is keen on adding more premium to its services through its Power Up add-on plans. From bucket texts to other networks, discounted calls and texts to Smart and talk ‘n text, data services, special IDD rates and unlimited landline calls, Sun Postpaid introduces more services to cater to the growing demands of its subscribers.

“Given the changing and more diverse needs of today’s mobile users, we always strive to go beyond the conventions and create practical innovations for our customers to enjoy more mobile capabilities and more savings, hence, getting more for less,” Peña adds.

Sun Cellular is a member of the PLDt Group.

VOL.5 ISSUE 122 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012

hEaLth

6 nutrients for faster weight loss For years scientists have searched for a magical ingredient that would help people shed fat. in 2008, Dr. Shalamar Sibley of the University of Minnesota put 38 obese people on an 11-week diet where they consumed 750 calories less than their estimated daily need. Study participants whose blood levels of D were higher at the study’s start lost more weight than participants whose blood levels of D were lower. They actually lost a lot more--70 percent more, to be exact.

Based on the results of this study, by fueling your body with the D-rich nutrients it needs to stay out of a fatstorage state and in a fat-burning state, you can speed weight loss by 70 percent! Thousands of studies on vitamin D have been completed over a span of 40 years, and it’s become clear that vitamin D is pretty incredible and effective. Still, it’s not the only player on this fat-melting team. Turn up your metabolism and melt body fat adding vitamin D and these five fat-melters from The Vitamin D Diet.

Calcium HoW iT MElTS FaT: calcium is a mineral that works in tandem with D to help you shed fat. calcium is stored in fat cells, and researchers think that the more calcium a fat cell has, the more fat that cell will release to be burned. calcium also promotes weight loss by binding to fat in your gi tract, preventing some of it from getting absorbed into your bloodstream.

Protein HoW iT MElTS FaT: in addition to keeping hunger in check, regular doses of protein help to keep body composition--the amount of fat relative to muscle--in better proportion. along with calcium and D, protein helps you to preserve muscle mass as you drop pounds. a recent study out of the University of illinois found that women who consumed protein twice daily lost 3.9 percent more weight than women who consumed less of it on a diet. They not only lost more weight, they also got stronger as they did so, with their thigh muscles alone ending up with 5.8 percent more protein at the end of the diet than before.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids HoW iT MElTS FaT: omega-3s enable weight loss by switching on enzymes that trigger fat-burning in cells. They also help to boost mood, which may help reduce emotional eating. and omega 3s might improve leptin signaling in the brain, causing the brain to turn up fat burning and turn down appetite. you almost can’t consume D without consuming omega-3 fatty acids, and that’s a good thing. Fatty fish like salmon (which are also high in D) are one of the richest sources of this fat.

other foods, such as some nuts and seeds, contain a type of fat that can be converted into omega-3s after ingestion.

Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFAs) HoW THEy MElT FaT: MUFas are a type of fat found in olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocados, peanut butter, and chocolate, and they have just one chemical bond (which is why they are called “mono” unsaturated). one Danish study of 26 men and women found that a diet that included 20 percent of its calories from MUFas improved 24-hour calorie burning by 0.1 percent and fat burning by 0.04 percent after 6 months. other re-

search shows that MUFas zero in on belly fat. Specific foods that are high in MUFas--especially peanuts, tree nuts, and olive oil--have been shown to keep blood sugar steady and reduce appetite, too.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) HoW iT BURNS FaT: clas are potent fat burners that are found, along with D and calcium, in dairy products. They are fatty acids that are created when bacteria ferments the food in the first part of the stomach of cows, sheep, and other ruminant animals. The cla that is created through fermentation then makes its way into the meat and milk of these animals.

When we consume these foods, the cla helps blood glucose enter body cells, so cla can be burned for energy and not stored as fat. cla also helps to promote fat burning, especially in muscles, where the bulk of our calorie burning takes place.

Now before you start superdosing yourself with all of these fat melters and waiting for the fat to magically melt away, let’s be clear: D and other fat melters facilitate weight loss, but they are not magic pills. if you just took a bunch of supplements, you might see some effect--for instance, by swapping some fat for muscle. But to see serious weight loss, you’ll need to combine these fat melters with portion control. (Yahoo! Health)

VOL.5 ISSUE 122 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

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Top Gun director jumps off bridge in LA BLOCkBUStER film director tony Scott died today, his rep confirms to E! News.

the Los angeles County coroner’s office and LaPD say that Scott’s remains were found after an apparent jump from the Vincent thomas Bridge spanning the Los angeles harbor in San Pedro. according to witnesses, the 68-year-old British filmmaker climbed a fence on the south side of the bridge and leapt off “without hesitation” around 12:30 p.m.

Los angeles assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter tells E! News that “the case was reported as a suicide. there was a note found at his office by friends.” a joint task force of LaPD, California highway Patrol, firefighters and the Coast Guard recovered his body from the water at approximately 3 p.m. the brother and busi-

ness partner of Oscarnominated filmmaker Ridley Scott, tony was known for his red ball cap and a string of hits that also included Beverly hills Cop II, starring Eddie Murphy; Enemy of the State, starring Will Smith; and the taking of Pelham 1 2 3, starring Denzel Washington and John travolta.

Born in northern England in 1944, Scott began his career directing tV commercials and music videos before helming

his first feature, 1983’s the hunger, starring Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie and Susan Sarandon, before striking it big with top Gun in 1986.

Scott was also the man behind such movies as Days of thunder, true Romance, Crimson tide, Spy Game and Man on Fire. the last film he directed was the 2010 thriller Unstoppable. he also worked as a producer on such films as the a-team and his

brother Ridley’s recent sci-fi flick Prometheus.

But his work wasn’t limited to the big screen.

Scott earned an Emmy for executive producing a 2002 tV movie on Winston Churchill titled the Gathering Storm.

More recently, he had served as executive producer on the shows Numb3rs and the Good Wife.

Scott, who married three times, had two sons with his third wife, Donna.

Top Gun 2 already in the works aS qUEStIONS continue to swirl around the apparent suicide of director-producer tony Scott, one thing is clear—he and tom Cruise were determined to finally make top Gun 2.

Scott and Cruise were working on the muchanticipated follow-up to the 1986 film as late as Friday, according to the hollywood Reporter. the two apparently made a research visit to a Naval air station in Ne-

vada last week. talk of the sequel began back in November 2010. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer told us at the time, “We’ve been talking about it since the movie came out and it was a big hit. tom Cruise took a run at it many years ago and we just couldn’t crack it. So we’ll see what happens now.” a Paramount executive confirmed in May that plans had been solidified with Cruise, Scott and Bruckheimer returning and Peter Craig writing the script.

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 122 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012

ENtERtaINMENt

Rihanna: ‘I still love Chris Brown’

MaNy FaNS wonder what’s really going on between Rihanna and Chris Brown, and the singer cleared the air during her interview with Oprah Winfrey for Oprah’s Next Chapter.

Ri-Ri and Chris are not seeing each other (plus, Brown is currently in a relationship), but that doesn’t mean that the Barbados beauty has lost feelings for her ex-boyfriend.

“We love each other and we probably always will, and that’s not anything that we’re going to try to change,” Rihanna told Oprah, and explained that whenever she sees Chris, “it’s awkward because I still love him...my stomach drops and I have to maintain this poker face and not let it get to the outer part of me. I have to maintain that and suppress it.”

“I think he was the love of my life,” Ri-Ri shared. “he was my first love and I see that he loved me the same way...I truly love him—the main thing for me is he’s at peace. I’m not at peace if he’s not happy or he’s still lonely. I care. It actually matters that he finds that peace.” an emotional Rihanna also expressed that she found the power to forgive Brown for his brutal assault in 2009 through repairing her relationship with her father, who had been violent toward her mother. “all kinds of emotions started happening after that,” she said. “all kinds of things started making sense. I thought I hated Chris and I realized it was love that was tarnished.

It looked like hate because it was ugly, it was angry, it was inflamed, it was tainted and I realized that what it was is, I have to forgive him, because I cared about him still. and the minute I let go of that, I started living again.”

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 122 •WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012

Happy Kadayawan! from:

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VOL.5 ISSUE 122 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Timex Run listup reaches 800 TIMEX RUN. Left photo shows Team Pangilinan—Anthony, Maricel, Ella,Hannah, Donny, Benj and Solana—with Coach Rio dela Cruz in last Sunday’s Cebu Leg of the Timex Run. Right, Anthony Pangilinan checks in with his boys Donny and Benj. (Timex photo)

By Neil Bravo

R

eGISteReD runners have swelled to 800 with just five days going into the much-awaited timex Run-Davao Leg on Sunday.

Kenneth Sai of Vantage Sports said there are already 800 runners or more than half of the expected 1,500 runners expected to be at the starting line on Roxas Avenue for the event handled by Runrio and sponsored by

timex Watches.

Sai revealed that registration will continue at the timex shops at SM City Davao and Abreeza Mall. there will also be online registration via www.runrio.com. Registration is pegged at P400 for 5K, P500 for 10K and P600 for 16K categories.

Registered runners will receive a race kit of singlet, race bib with timing tag and they can avail of 20 percent discount

on select timex watches valid until September 30, 2012.

Bannering the array of celebrity runners taking part in the race this Sunday are the members of team Pangilinan made up of couples Anthony and Maricel and siblings ella, Hannah, Donny, Benj and Solana. Coach Rio dela Cruz, the popular running coach-organizer with the Afroman shock of hair, will also be suit-

ing up.

No word yet on actor Piolo Pascual, another timex endorser. team Pangilinan joined the Cebu leg over the weekend along with Dela Cruz in a race that was supported by Cebu City Sports Commission. the timex Run-Davao Leg is also supported by Powerade Ion, Viva Mineral Water, Black Beauty, united Neon and Grand Regal Hotel.

PHL Youth bounces back

R

eY NAMBAtAC and Jerie Pingoy converted crucial baskets in the end game as the Philippines repulsed erstwhile undefeated Chinese taipei, 88-83, on tuesday to clinch a spot in the quarterfinal round of the Fiba-Asia under-18 Championships in ulaan Baatar, Mongolia.

Nambatac’s go-ahead putback after a missed three-pointer by Pingoy with one minute and 11

seconds left gave energenPilipinas an 83-82 lead. then, Pingoy nailed a three-point play to widen the gap to four points with 46 seconds left, 86-82.

After what national coach olsen Racela described as the most important game of the second round, the Filipino cagers improved their winloss record to 3-1 against Group F teams, tying Chinese taipei in the standings.