Edge Davao 5 Issue 186 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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VOL.5 ISSUE 186 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

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Serving a seamless society

Maayohon sa Pasko!

Indulge

Page A1

Budget being finalized

P150M for Fiesta, Christmas bonus By Anthony S. Allada

Page166 The Economy Page

Page 15

Sports

HE Davao City government is setting aside more than P150 million for the social amelioration or bonus to its plantilla and job order employees and the much-anticipated yearly Pasko Fiesta celebration unfolding on December 7.

P10 million for Pasko sa Lumad alone P129 million for bonus of plantilla, joborder workers Orly Escarilla, festival director and spokesperson of Pasko

FBUDGET, 11

Page 16

OF WATERSHEDS AND ANCESTRAL DOMAIN. Edgar Barquin of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 11 who heads the delineation survey team of the Davao City Watershed Management Council (WMC) presents to reporters attending Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao yesterday a portion of the watershed map already surveyed by the team. In photo at right, WMC coordinator

Comprehensive peace pact signed by yearend

Fiesta, said that the budget is not yet final but has already the nod

of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and there is only a need of formality after various committees can already submit guidelines of their respective events. “This amount is almost the same compared to last year,” Es-

HE annexes to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro will be finished before the yearend, the government (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) reiterated Saturday in their joint statement at the end of the sixday talks at the Palace of the Golden Horses hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Government and MILF peace panel chairs Marvic Leonen and Mohagher Iqbal told MindaNews they are confident that even as there are still several contentious issues, the annexes would be completed before December 31, 2012. This week’s round of talks was cut short by a day as both panels

agreed to consult their respective principals and prepare for the next, and hopefully last, round in December. “We will finish,” an optimistic Leonen said. Iqbal was equally optimistic. “Yes, matatapos” (it will be finished), he said. The FAB, which provides for the creation of the Bangsamoro, a new autonomous political entity that would replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) by June 30, 2016, provides that the parties would work on the annexes and “complete a comprehensive agreement by

FCOMPREHENSIVE, 11

Claudio “Toto”Ybanez bares other WMC activities. To his left are Datu Jose Amban and Datu Eddie Rosete fielding questions about a resolution of the Davao City Council setting aside more than 20,000 hectares in seven highland barangays to be managed by the Matigsalog Manobo Tribal People Council of Elders. LEAN DAVAL JR.

ISUZU DAVAO

(Southern Motors of Davao, Inc.)FDAVAO’S, 11

122 MacArthur Highway, SMDI Building Matina, Davao City Trunk Line: (63-82) 297-3344 Sales: (63-82) 297-8844 / 297-8855 Fax No. (63-82) 299-0088 Email: isuzu_davao@yahoo.com

2 THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 186 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

SPELLING BEE CONTEST. Participants from different schools of Davao City show their answers during the spelling bee portion of the Davao City Public Library’s National Book Week Storytelling and Spelling Bee Contest at the Annex of SM City Davao yesterday. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

In Monkayo

Rebel slain in clash By Anthony S. Allada

N ALLEGED member of the New People’s Army was killed in an encounter with government troops Sunday morning in Monkayo town, Compostela Valley. Lt. Col. Cesar Molina, commander of the Army’s 25th Infantry Battalion (IB), said the slain rebel had yet to be identified. The government troopers were conducting a community security

patrol in sitio Bongabong, Barangay Awao, Monkayo at 9:50 a.m. Sunday when they chanced upon around 30 communist rebels which triggered a firefight resulting to the death of one rebel whose body was recovered along with high-powered firearms, one improvised landline, tents and food left by the fleeing rebels. On October 17, one M16 rifle, one caliber 30

carbine, two IEDs, a hand grenade, a switch device, wires and batteries as well as personal belongings of rebels were recovered following an encounter between 25th IB elements and NPA rebels in Purok 9, Liloan of Barangay San Vicente, also in Monkayo. Molina attributed the success of the troops in locating the NPAs to a timely report from civilian residents in the area.

160 Talicud tillers may lose land to ‘outsider beneficiaries’ By Kerima Bulan T. Navales

OR over three decades, Carmen Omambac tilled a small part of a land in the upland village of Sta. Cruz in Talicud in the Island Garden City of Samal without fear. Her husband, Albert has worked as one of the caretakers of the more than 400-hectare property, portions of it planted to coconut, since he was a teenager. The two met, married and built their

family in the village, relying primarily on the produce of the farm to sustain their living. But in February this year, the Omambacs were prohibited from entering the land by a group of individuals who claimed the land is theirs-- the Cogon-Sta. Cruz Farmers Beneficiaries Association (Costafba), a breakaway group from the Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries As-

sociation (ARBA). The past years, the Omambacs, along with more than 160 farmers, have been head-to-head with members of ARBA and Costafba over ownership of the 400-estate owned by the Reta family. But it was different in February. Armed guards were deployed in the area by ARBA and Costafba, threatening Omambac

mo said the planned tax on texting was already junked in 2008 for being “unjust, oppressive and anti-people” and should not be revived. “The tax on text qas been killed by the people several years ago. It would be a zombie bill if Congress revives it,” he added. Crisostomo also

hit IMF chief Christine Lagarde for bringing up the measure. “Lagarde knows nothing about the plight of poor Filipinos and should shut up. If she hasn’t left yet, she should be made to leave the country immediately. Her bankrupt institution’s stupid suggestions are not welcome,” said Crisostomo. “In fact,

texting is already being taxed via VAT. Overseas communications are also being taxed presently. Texting is already a public utility and should be affordable to most,” he said. “We will ‘text blast’ these people who want to tax us. Let our ‘general message’ be made clear: no tax on text,” Crisostomo said.

Also on display will be a recycling-inspired Christmas Tree standing at 30 feet tall made of recycled bottles and boasting a unique design that reflects beams of light, creating an eye-catching display that raises awareness on the importance of recycling. Escarilla said that from 2009 to 2012 there has been a consistent number of visitors during the Christmas season of close to 60,000 each year. The Pasko Fiesta is among the four major quarterly celebrations by the city that is known worldwide, namely, Araw ng Dabaw in the first quarter (March), Sum-

mer Festival in the second quarter (May), Kadayawan Festival in the third quartter(August) and Pasko Fiesta in the fourth (December). Other events in the Pasko Fiesta are Kahayag sa Pasko Competition, Parol ug Paskong Kahoy Design Competition, Hudyakaan sa Kapaskuhan (Food Street Festival, Roldalsaya performances (Rondalla Groups competitions), Panaygon (Christmas carolling competition), Tugsayaw (Christmas-themed competition), Lamdag Parada (Christmas-themed parade competition), Rondalsaya Caravan, and New Year Midnight Run.

F160, 11

P-Noy to address Youth group hits plan to tax texting 5th nat’l NGO gab Y

RES. Benigno S. Aquino will be the keynote speaker at the 5th NGO National Congress set November 20-22 in Quezon City which will be attended by over 1,000 representatives of civil society organizations from all over the country. The event, convened

by the Caucus of Development NGO Networks (CODE-NGO), will be held in Quezon City on November 20-22 under the auspices of the CODENGO. the Philippines national NGO platform since 1991. It is composed of 12 national and regional

FP-NOY, 11

OuTH group Anakbayan today assailed the International Monitary Fund (IMF) chief’s suggestion to impose a new tax on text messages, saying a “texters’ revolt” will erupt if Congress pursues the plan. It did not say in what form the revolt would be. Anakbayan chairperson Vencer Crisosto-

Pasko Fiesta

Spectacular ‘Show of Lights’ expected to attract thousands

DAVAO CHAMPIONS NEED SUPPORT. Startup Weekend Davao organizer Dulce Lada (left) asks Dabawenyos to support through online voting Team Testcovery who won the recently concluded Startup Weekend Davao and the city’s represen-

tative to the Global Startup Battle during yesterday’s weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao. With her is Eriberto “Bert” Barriga Jr., executive vice president of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Davao. LEAN DAVAL JR.

RGANIZERS of the Pasko Fiesta expect what they dub their spectacular “Show of Lights” to attract tourists to the People’s Park from December 21, 2012 to January 1, 2013. The display will consist of a fusion of Christmas-related music and multi-colored lights lasting six minutes to be played once every hour nightly. “We are expecting that this will attract not only locals but also tourists,” said Orly Escarilla, festival director and spokesperson of Pasko Fiesta. “Children and adults will thrill to the symphony of traditional Christmas music and lighted parols.”

SUBURBIA

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 186 •TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

ComVal supplemental feeding ends T

HE 3rdbatch of the Adopt-A-Child Program of Compostela Valley Province designed to help malnourished children in Barangays Nuevo Iloco and Nueva Visayas in Mawab came to a close on November 16 with the children gaining weight after the 120-day supplemental feeding program. Eleven children in Nuevo Iloco and 16 others in Nueva Visayas were given additional commodities such as grocery items, toys, vitamins and rice during from the provincial government, employees and Mawab during the closing program. Gov. Arturo T. uy as the chairman of the Provincial Nutrition Council launched the AdoptA-Child Programin last December 2010 to address malnutrition among pre-school children. Various offices of the provincial government sponsored a 120-day supplemental feeding to an identified malnourish child. Instead of using government funds, the money spent all came from the pocket of the employees. Focal persons are assigned per office to visit and ensure the success of

ADOPT-A-CHILD. Compostela Valley’s 3rd batch of the Adopt-A-Child Program ended on November 16 with improved weight of all 27 children from Nuevo Iloco and Nueva Visayas. They were also given

the program. The program was also an entry point of other possible services and interventions that the employees could extend to the family such as helping them repair or build houses.

Another feature of the Adopt-A-Malnourished Child Program of the province is a Superhome Contest won by PGO-Administrator’s Office under Provincial Administrator Virgilia Allones. This is where

tional leaders of the identified bottom barangays as well as to implement a concrete monitoring and evaluation activities to check on the progress of EFA and literacy achievement. Among the barangays that benchmarked with Tagum’s programs on literacy are from the Provinces of Misamis Oriental, Zamboanga, Lanao del Sur, among others. Philip J. Purnell, manager of the SEAMEO INNOTECH, expressed confidence on how the country would be able to reach the goals of EFA by year 2015, if only local government units double their efforts to make their respective places illiterate-free. This can be achieved if the government intensify its efforts in reducing the number of adults who are basic and functional illiterates as well as to identify the highly vulnerable areas in the country and to determine if existing literacy program interventions are reaching them and meeting the needs of their communities. This idea was seconded by Kim MyoungShin, program specialist of the Korean National

Commission for uNESCO, whose government he represented appreciated Tagum’s excellent delivery of literacy programs through the city’s historic win of the King Sejong International Literacy Prize last 2011 awarded in New Delhi, India. The said prize, was jointly awarded by the uNESCO and the Korean Government. This, along with the city’s monumental victory as Hall of Famer in the National Literacy Awards, became the contributing factor why the city was chosen as a place for benchmarking among the identified villages with low literacy levels. Among the landmark programs benchmarked by the team are the following: the Care for School Chairs Program, RTu LEADS (Reaching the unreached: Locate, Educate, Assess/Assist and Develop Skills), the Palengkeskwelahan, Balik-Aral sa Selda, the Alternative Learning System, the Basic Literacy Program for the Indigenous People and the Madrasah Education for Muslims. [Louie Lapat/ CIO Tagum]

additional commodities such as grocery items, toys, vitamins and rice during the culmination from the provincial government, employees and LGU Mawab. [IDS COMVAL]

the respective family-beneficiaries are motivated and guided by the Capitol employees to practice healthy lifestyle through maintaining cleanliness in their surroundings, facilitate beautification, house-

hold arrangement, proper waste segregation and a livelihood assistance of putting-up a backyard gardening project. The employees of every department who adopted the identified

malnourished children assisted in the backyard gardening where they planted at least 10 kinds of vegetables and another separate area for the 5 kinds of herbal plants. [IDS-COMVAL]

ute to the victims of the carnage three years ago that killed 58 civilians, 32 of them journalists and media workers. Col. Prudencio Asto, 6th Infantry Division spokesman, said among their security concerns is the road safety of those that will be coming to the massacre site. “We are still determining which [Army] troops will be deployed to se-

cure the event,” said Asto, speaking on the phone while the security conference for the third year massacre anniversary was in progress. Asto said that security forces, which include members of the Philippine National Police, will provide escorts if the situation warrants it, although he added that the area’s security condition remain in a “normal status.”

of the Gawan clan that has been claiming several pasture lease areas in the city as part of their ancestral domain. On November 12, Hannah Paglangan and three others were seriously wounded when a gunman, also riding in tandem, ambushed them just outside a coffee shop along the national highway here. The Paglangans and the Gawans have conflicting claims over the former Forest Land and Grazing Lease Area (FLGLA) No 542 in Lanton village, erstwhile operated by the Alsons Development Corporation. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, then under Secretary Heherson Alvarez, cancelled the lease con-

tract of Alsons in the late ‘90s, paving the way for claimants to file petitions for the issuance of certificates ancestral domain claims. The Paglangans were the original petitioners and were the parties mentioned in a Supreme Court decision that awarded them portion of the roughly 900-hectare property. But sources said the Gawan clan and another group of claimants, led by former police officer Nasser Pendatun, were the first to be awarded certificates of ancestral land titles by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples. The Pendatuns and the Gawans are also embroiled in boundary disputes of their own.

Literacy stakeholders benchmark Security measures up for 3rd year Tagum City’s education programs anniversary of Ampatuan massacre

HE local government of Tagum City extended a helping hand to identified bottom villages with low literacy levels in the three-day Policy Forum and Capacity Building Activities on the universalization of the Education for All (EFA) last November 12-14 in this bustling capital city of Davao del Norte which is known for its excellent and unique programs on literacy and education. Organized by the Korean National Commission for the uNESCO, the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH) and DepEd’s National Literacy Coordinating Council, the said forum was held to conduct situation analysis of the bottom barangays through policy forum/dialogue and workshop to better understand their literacy situation. The said forum, which was directly coordinated with the City Literacy Coordinating Council chaired by Mayor Rey T. uy, also aims to provide a policy and program benchmarking to barangay captains and educa-

ECuRITY preparations for the third anniversary of the infamous Ampatuan massacre are being finalized to thwart possible attempts to sabotage the commemoration, a military official said Monday. Hundreds are expected to troop to the massacre site in Sitio Salman, Barangay Masalay in Ampatuan, Maguindanao on November 23 to pay trib-

Another man gunned down in GenSan; land conflict eyed

ESS than a week after four people were wounded in a murder attempt in broad daylight, a member of a rival Blaan clan was gunned down Sunday mid-morning in what relatives said is related to an ongoing land conflict in General Santos City. Loreto Gawan, 44, died two hours after he was brought to the Mindanao Medical Center after a lone gunman riding in tandem shot him behind his ear while traveling inside his service car. His driver, whom police identified as Christopher Balunto, said they were driving home after coming from Makar Wharf when the gunman shot Gawan once in the head. The victim is a member

4 SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 186 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

WB fears 4.0-degree global warming

The smoke stacks at American Electric Power’s Mountaineer coal power plant in New Haven, West Virginia. The World Bank has warned that global temperatures could rise by four de-

HE World Bank warned that global temperatures could rise by four degrees this century without immediate action, with potentially devastating consequences for coastal cities and the poor. Issuing a call for action, the World Bank tied the future wealth of the planet -- and especially developing regions -- to immediate efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions from sources such as energy production. “The time is very, very short. The world has to tackle the problem of climate change more aggressively,” World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said on a conference call as he launched a report conducted for the global lender. “We will never end poverty if we don’t tackle

grees this century without immediate action, with potentially devastating consequences for coastal cities and the poor. [AFP]

climate change. It is one of the single biggest challenges to social justice today.” The study said the planet could warm 4.0 degrees Celsius (7.2 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels as early as the 2060s if governments’ promises to fight climate change are not met. Even if nations fulfill current pledges, the study gave a 20 percent likelihood of a four-degree rise by 2100 and said that a three-degree rise appeared likely. uN-led climate negotiations have vowed to limit the rise of temperatures to no more than two degrees. “A four-degree warmer world can and must be avoided. We need to hold warming below two degrees,” Kim said. “Lack of ambitious action on climate change threatens

to put prosperity out of reach of millions and roll back decades of development.” uN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a statement that the study showed the need to hold nations to their commitment, made last year in Durban, South Africa, to put in place a legally binding new climate agreement by 2015. The more than 190 nations in the uN Framework Convention on Climate Change start their latest annual talks on November 26 in Qatar. Global temperatures have already risen about 0.8 degrees Celsius. The planet has charted a slew of record-breaking temperatures over the past decade and experienced frequent disasters some experts blame on climate change, most recently su-

perstorm Sandy, which ravaged Haiti and the uS East Coast. The report said that, if temperatures rise by four degrees, regions will feel different effects -- recent heatwaves in Russia could become an annual norm and July in the Mediterranean could be nine degrees higher than the area’s warmest level now. under that scenario, the acidity of the oceans could rise at a rate unprecedented in world history, threatening coral reefs that protect shorelines and provide a habitat for fish species. Rising sea levels could inundate coastal areas with the most vulnerable cities found in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mexico, Mozambique, the Philippines, Venezuela and

Vietnam, the study said. “Many small islands may not be able to sustain the communities at all. There would be irreversible loss of biodiversity,” Kim said. The study found that the most alarming impact may be on food production, with the world already expected to struggle to meet demand for a growing and increasingly wealthy population that is eating more meat. Low-lying areas such as Bangladesh, Egypt, Vietnam and parts of Africa’s coast could see major blows to food production, with drought severely hindering agriculture elsewhere, the study said. Flooding can also contaminate drinking water, increasing illnesses such as diarrhea. The dire warnings

Bangladeshi farmers harvest rice in a field on the outskirts of Dhaka in May 2012. According to a study issued by the World Bank, rising sea levels could inundate coastal areas with the

were designed to encourage bolder action, but the report did not focus on potential steps. Identifying one area, Kim called for less reliance on coal, which is the dirtiest major form of energy but is politically sensitive in the united States and China due to industry jobs. Kim said that the World Bank was determined to support renewable energy in its lending, saying: “We do everything we can not to invest in coal -- everything we possibly can.” The fight against climate change has faced political obstacles in a number of nations including the united States, where many conservative lawmakers have called action too costly and cast doubt on the science.

most vulnerable cities found in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Mexico, Mozambique, the Philippines, Venezuela and Vietnam. [AFP]

change body partners Biggest GHG loser Climate converge to enhance advocacy program launched T A

uTHORITIES launched yesterday the country’s first recognition program that aims to help boost reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which experts cited as trapping heat in the atmosphere, causing global warming that drives climate change. Philippine League of Local Environment and Natural Resources Officers Inc. (PLLENRO) and united States Agency for International Development spearheaded launching the Biggest GHG Loser program, optimistic such move will increasingly encourage reduction of the climate change-driving emissions. “Recognition will be given to LGus and private entities that register the biggest measurable GHG emission reduction in a year,” PLLENRO public

relations chief and Pasig City environment officer Raquel Naciongayo said at the launch. She noted 2010 is the program’s base year. The launch was part of Green STORE GHG emission mitigation summit, one of several activities lined up for this year’s observance of the annual National Climate Change Consciousness Week from Nov. 19 to 25. Climate Change Commission and Department of Environment and Natural Resources are supporting the program. Naciongayo said PLLENRO and its partners will meet to discuss the program’s mechanics. PLLENRO will release such mechanics as soon as possible, she noted. She clarified the program is open to all cities

and municipalities as well as to private entities like hotels and industrial establishments, however. During Green STORE, PLLENRO president Danilo Villas of Makati LGu urged fellow local environment and natural resources officers nationwide to help mitigate climate change by promoting GHG emission reduction. “On our shoulders lie the responsibility to be more pro-active in leading our people towards more action on the matter,” he said. Sta. Rosa, Laguna environment officer Erlinda Creencia agrees, saying LGus can do much to help reduce GHG emissions. “We can initiate action on energy efficiency within our respective organizational boundaries,” she said during the event.

HE Climate Change Commission (CCC) and several non-governmental organizations are partnering to help improve public awareness and action on the impacts of climate change. On Monday, such partners opened in Metro Manila a workshop on updating modules that such faith-based anddevelopment organizations use in their respective climate change education and information campaigns nationwide. ”Organizations concerned will integrate into their respective existing modules latest available climate change data presented during the workshop,” said Raylemuel Crisaldo, who’s coordinator of Micah Challenge Philippines, the country-specific campaign mobilizing Christians in the advocacy against poverty. The workshop is

among the activities lined up by the CCC for this year’s observance of the annual National Climate Change Consciousness Week (NCCCW) from Nov. 19 to 25. ”Faith-based and development organizations aim enhancing their respective modules as climate change affects communities where these groups conduct poverty alleviation initiatives,” Crisaldo said. He noted that climate change can wipe out gains from such initiatives. “Weather extremes spell disaster,” he said. Authorities also earlier pointed out patterns of persisting poverty coincide with areas of high climatic variability. Aside from affecting poverty alleviation efforts, authorities warned climate change also negatively impacts on the bid for environmental sustainability. Addressing poverty

and achieving environmental sustainability are among the united Nations’ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for 2015. The MDGs also cover universal education, gender equality, child health, maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS and global partnerships. Meeting the MDGs is among Micah Challenge’s advocacies. “We aim better linking efforts of civil society and government on this,” Crisaldo said. He noted Micah Challenge requested CCC’s assistance on identifying possible areas of collaboration on the matter. “Organizations concerned work with communities so suchpossibilities abound,” he said. Crisaldo is optimistic that enhancing the modules will help better engage the communities in climate change adaptation and mitigation.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 186 •TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

6 THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 186 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Stat Watch

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

5.8% 1st Qtr 2012

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

6.4 % 1st Qtr 2012

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

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

8. Interest Rates 4/

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

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

P 42.78 Jun 2012

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

5,091.2 May 2012

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

130.1 Jun 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

2.8 Jun 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.7 Jun 2012

16. Visitor Arrivals

349,779 Apr 2012

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

18.8 % Jan 2012

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

7.2 % Jan 2012

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

Davao-Bitung accord for RoRo route inked A

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte and Davao City Congressman Isidro T. Ungab attend the US-Asean Business Council Meeting last November 15.

roll-on roll-off (RoRo) vessel will start servicing Davao City and Bitung in Indonesia hopefully early next year after officials formally inked Friday the memorandum of cooperation connecting the two seaports. The parties signed the agreement at the sideline of the twoday Davao Investment Conference here. Among the signatories were Dionisio Pacional, secretary general of the North Sulawesi-Mindanao Business Council; Daniel

Pesik, chairperson of the North Minahasa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.; Malou Monteverde, chairperson of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.; and Paul Rodriguez, president and chief executive officer of the Super Shuttle RORO. Enrique Castillo, president of the Supply Chain Management of the Philippines, sent his representative to the signing ceremony. Monteverde said they are now preparing the Customs-Im-

migration-Quarantine-Security station at the Sasa Wharf here to service the foreign route. The Super Shuttle, a Cebu-based company that operates nationwide, committed to initially service the Davao-Bitung route at least once a week starting early next year. Rodriguez said that with the Indonesians’ commitment to use the channel for importation, the Super Shuttle is ready to start anytime as soon as all the requirements are completed. He told reporters that the

company will deploy its RoRo cargo ferry, which is a medium-sized vessel with a capacity of 200 twenty-foot equivalent units. Bitung, an international seaport in Indonesia, will import consumer goods, construction materials, and house wares among others that are mostly from China, Rodriguez said. He noted that China will make Davao as a transshipment point to Indonesia, noting that the new route will shorten the transit time from 10 days to oneand-a-half day.

HE total volume of fish catch landing in General Santos City has slightly increased in the first 10 months this year compared to the same period in 2011, despite an overall drop in the country’s total fish production that pulled down growth in the agriculture sector last year. Data obtained from the General Santos City Fish Port complex showed a total landed catch of 110,864 metric tons (MT) from January to October, up by 2916.15 MT or 2.6 percent over the same period last year. Big gainer was the big yellow fin tuna catch which landed 10,634 MT in the first ten months, up by 229.31 percent over last year’s 10-month catch of 4,637.26 MT. This is the first time since 2008 that the catch for big yellow fin tuna breached the 10,000 MT

mark after it bottomed up at the 6,000-7,000 MT mark in 2009 to 2011. In 2008 and 2007, the annual catch totals for big yellow fin tuna were 12,680.45 MT and 20,194.42 MT respectively. Also registering an increase in catch figure is Market 2, which landed 42,631 MT of combined fish species also for the first 10 months this year, up by 16,935.11 or 39.77 percent over the same period from last year. Biggest decliners were landings of frozen catches, mostly skipjacks, both from Manila and foreign origins. Total landings for frozen tuna from Manila and foreign origin were only 40,169 MT and 5,395 MT respectively from January to October, both down by 18.64 and 45.7 percent from the first 10 months of the 2011 figures.

An industry insider who requested anonymity said the decline in landings of frozen tuna can be attributed to increased landings of\ fresh catches by local tuna producers. The same source said there is also abundant supply of frozen tuna accumulated in local storage plants. Depressed prizes of frozen tuna may also have shooed away foreign suppliers. Tuna canneries here have resorted to importing frozen tuna during the last decade to cope up with their production targets. Skipjack are the main raw materials for canning. General Santos is home to six of the country’s seven tuna canning plants and is also the center for export of fresh chilled and process tuna products. Carlos Hagosojos, Philippine Fishing Port Development

Authority manager for General Santos City, said he expects better figures for this year as more fishing vessels are now deployed in international waters following the opening of Pocket 1 of international fishing ground exclusively for Filipino tuna fishers. The fish port manager, however, said they have yet to determine if the volume of local tuna landings this year can be attributed to the 2010 closure of two pockets of seas in the Western Pacific Ocean, said to be lying along the migratory path of tuna and tuna-like species. Pocket 1, located in an area of about 590,000 square kilometers north of Papua New Guinea and east of southern Indonesia, was closed to purse seine and FAD fishing beginning 2010 following world concerns over declining tuna stocks.

General Santos fish catch up a bit T

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

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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

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PROPERTY

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 186 •TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Camella Cerritos now a liveable community W

ITH over 150 houses built and a hundred more being constructed, Camella Cerritos, the Mediterranean-inspired subdivision project of masterplan developer Camella, is now a liveable community. It has also completed its land development, with its road network already established and fully concreted, and amenities that homeowners can already enjoy. “When looking for a new home, wise homebuyers don’t look only at the house itself, but also the facilities and amenities, the whole neighbourhood, and at the developer’s reputation,” said Anna Mae dela Pena, Camella Davao Marketing Head, adding that it’s the whole sense of community and good living that attracts most buyers. “Bolstering the liveability factor of Cerritos are its deluxe amenities, such as the Parko Alberto, the Forro Verdi, and the crown jewel of the subdivision, the Villa Romana clubhouse,” dela Pena revealed. Parko Alberto is an open tree park that provides a vista of green within the community, enhancing an already verdant landscape of green grass, trees, and other plant life. Forro Verdi is the central open space at the

heart of the subdivision, where homeowners can hang out, enjoy the beauty of nature, and revel in the wide, expansive space. It is inspired from the Foro (forum), the center of Roman public life. There are also quaint piazzas, parkos, and pocket gardens for more natural, open recreational points, including an interactive playground for kids and those young at heart. More recreational sports can be enjoyed at the basketball court, jogging trails, and a goodsized swimming pool where homeowners can have a refreshing dip in its cool waters. At the heart of Camella Cerritos is the well-appointed clubhouse called Villa Romana, a single-storey structure that can host special occasions and other social gatherings, enhancing the community life of its homeowners. “That’s not all. There is going to be a commercial plaza located at the front of Cerritos, where homeowners only need a brief stroll to get to and enjoy the shops, stores, and other commercial spots,” said dela Pena. The commercial project is expected to stimulate growth in this part of Mintal, turning it into a self-contained area ideal for good living. It will also allow Camella Cerritos

Camella’s stylish and functional homes, well-sculpted landscape, green surroundings, and well-appointed facilities and amenities are the perfect setting for living a full and satisfying lifestyle.

to become a self-sustaining community, where its homeowners can enjoy its world-class facilities and amenities, and the convenience of getting everything they need from the commercial center a few steps away. Camella Cerritos is a master-planned residential development that has an upscale appeal but is

offered at mid-price range, clearly a wise home choice for all types of homebuyers. It is sprawled over nine hectares of prime land along Mintal Highway, a location that makes it accessible to schools, worship places, markets, terminals, shopping centers, hospitals, banks, and other public utilities that

making living in Cerritos very convenient. As a development of Camella, Cerritos gives homebuyers the assurance of having a developer that consistently delivers on its promises. Camella is a proud subsidiary of the country’s largest homebuilder, Vista Land & Lifescapes, that has built over 250,000 homes all over

the country in its 35 years of existence. That’s almost four decades of solid track record of successfully creating communities. Camella welcomes all inquiries at 2/F Delgar Building, J.P. Laurel Ave., Davao City, or at 2220963, 222-5221, 2225223, vismin@camella. com.ph (email) and www. camella.com.ph. #

Damosa Fairlane Phase 1 almost sold out Model houses nearing completion, land development speeding up

AMOSA Fairlane has every reason to revel in the coming holiday season with limited units left out of its Phase 1 offering. The robust take-up is a testament to the market’s acceptance of the innovative community concept by Damosa Land Inc. within the burgeoning Damosa District in Lanang.Offering only three (3) bedroom premium homes ranging from P4.8Mn to P6.6Mn set with wide spacious roads and sidewalks,Damosa Fairlane has a living solution for every family. Fast-developing, the development would like to invite all discerning families to take advantage of the availability of the remaining units, as the development is scheduled to increase prices after November 22. The soon-to-be completed entrance complex and model houses at the background were the center of attention during the exclusive community viewing last October 28. “The model houses are set to be completed in a few months while we are fast moving forward in com-

pleting land development works to showcase our innovative approach to creating a spacious life- setting for each family,” said Alex G. Gocotano, Senior Project Manager of Damosa Land, Inc.,the developer of Damosa Fairlane. Aside from the Damosa District, Damosa Fairlane enjoys convenient accessibility to other distinctive landmarks in the city such as – SM Lanang Premiere, Abreeza Ayala Mall, Robinsons Cybergate to Davao City International Airport, churches, schools, offices and commercial establishments situated within Damosa District. Easy access to these key places will be an indulgent convenience to the fast-rising families as they live in a city-center address with their daily tasking almost right at their doorsteps. Interested families and buyers can visit the Damosa Fairlane marketing office, at the Damosa Business Center, Damosa District, Lanang, Davao City. Damosa Fairline truly raises Davao’s home lifestyle thatallows everyone to move up toa better life.

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 186 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

When did America get so pessimistic? ( 1st of two parts ) COMMENTARY

EDITORIAL

Greed breeds scams

HE WORLD is full of scammers. To paraphrase a street-smart witticism, when the heavens rained the world with scammers, it seemed a great many of them fell on the Philippines. No wonder scams happen in this country with regularity. Three years ago, it was the Legacy Group of Companies with no less than a town mayor as the alleged scam mastermind separating hundreds of Dabawenyos from their hard-earned money worth billions of pesos. Many of the victims belong to society’s upper crust who would rather suffer in silence than be exposed to public ridicule as victims of their own folly. A lot of people seem unable to learn any lesson from the Legacy’s shameful legacy and similar experience as they continue to patronize investment schemes of dubious legality. The nation is currently agog over the recent discovery of at least three illegal investment companies in northern and southwestern Mindanao. unlike in

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the case of Legacy, more victims this time are coming out with their stories to denounce those behind the scams. Worse, some victims are so blinded with rage they resort to violent means to recover their money. It does not boggle the imagination why these double-your-money rackets continue to victimize Filipinos. It is clear that this kind of criminal activity feeds on certain people’s innate greed and desire for easy money. Now, we know that greed for easy money leads people to make stupid investment decisions. This is exacerbated by the failure of authorities to effectively stop this crime due either to sheer incompetence or complicity of lawmen themselves in the racket as suggested in the case of the scam in Zamboanga. It would seem that the solution is not more laws and better enforcers. People moderating their greed will definitely help. Is this possible? Your guess is as good as ours. ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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By Zachary KaraBell

ARELY had the counting ceased in last week’s presidential election when the news took a somber turn. Two of the next day’s headlines read “Back to Work, Looming Fiscal Crisis Greets Obama” and my favorite, “America has Sown the Seeds of Its Own Demise.” Politicians either celebrated or decried the results, but regardless of party affiliation most warned of formidable challenges and a perilous future. How did it come to pass that even the resolution of a contested election brings almost zero relief from the relentless focus on problems and threats? How did a country that for much of its history exhibited a (sometimes naive) willingness to ignore obstacles and plunge forward become a society that struggles to turn its gaze away from the dangers that loom just ahead? In short, how did the united States become so pessimistic? Some of it surely has to do with how the past decade has unfolded. Without question, this has been a challenging time for America and much of the Western world. We can all recite the crises, disasters and failures: Y2K, the bursting of the Nasdaq stock market bubble in 2001, 9/11, Iraq, Afghanistan, Enron, WorldCom, the bursting of the housing bubble, the Wall Street implosion of 2008, the euro zone’s troubles, chronically high unemployment, anemic growth, the continued emergence of China as a global economic force. I could go on. The bleak attitudes of the past decade are in stark contrast to the giddy optimism of the 1990s, a consequence of the Internet revolution,a soaring stock market and the end of the Cold War. Yet even then, the growth model that so many Americans took for granted was showing signs of strain. Manufacturing jobs were quietly evaporating, and incomes for the middle class were stagnating. And so we have come to a point where even the conclusion of a peaceful, contested democratic election offers no pause in the drumbeat of negativity. Few today are unaware of the problems that beset us. There is ample informed commentary, analysis and prognostication describing what is going wrong and could get worse: increasing deficits, waning economic growth, high unemployment, unstable financial systems, stock markets crashes, inflation spikes, geopolitical conflict, renewed recession, destructive gridlock, rising inequality, etc. No one could argue reasonably or rationally against the possibility that these issues will undo us or lead to worse times ahead. The problem, is that few argue consistently or cogently that our fears may, in the end, just be fears and that we will do more than muddle through. That is the goal of “The Edgy Optimist,” my new column. It will examine what might go right and how, and what is going right and why. To deny the challenges and perils of our world, particularly the changing nature of our material and economic lives in the West and how we can ensure sustainable prosperity and growth in the years to come well, that would be foolish. But it is equally wrongheaded to dismiss arguments to the contrary as foolish, unlikely or ill-informed. Behavioral psychologists have shown that when people feel fearful, anxious or pessimistic, warnings about the dangers that lie ahead sound smarter and wiser than alternate views that suggest more constructive outcomes. Alliance Bernstein recently sent a note to clients charting how the Dow could quietly reach 20,000 within five years. The reaction? Anger and outrage. Bernstein was flooded with complaints that they were naifs. Had they released a paper with the title “Dow 5000” they likely would have generated just as much reaction, but from clients wanting to know how to prepare for what seemed like a credible scenario.

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 186 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

A problem hard to crack

uBLIC HEALTH TREAT – A while ago city officials, health authorities and law enforcement units are waging a total crackdown against prostitution. While the official campaign against the sex trade maybe something of a moral crusade, there is growing evidence that widespread prostitution has something to do with the people’s deep social and economic concerns. If you want to look at what’s really happening, just drive over in any given hour of the night along Quirino Avenue or to be precise at the vicinity of the Central Bank compound. Actually, it doesn’t matter where you go since the similar scene is done in parks, commercial district and busy thoroughfares all over the city. In most occasions where you probably feel doing some sort of “undercover work,” you will notice a middle-aged man or somewhat a younger fellow pull off his car up to the sidewalk. Then a young woman dressed either in miniskirt and halter top or sexy outfit gets up off from the sidewalk gutter. After a brief transaction the driver speeds off together with the woman. After an hour or two, the woman returns to her turf looking tired and exhausted but still managed to flaunt a broad smile. Just down the street another “client” opens the door of his car and another girl approaches the new patron. The scene is as common as it is controversial. The worsening problem on prostitution has become a subject for intense debate. On one side is an unpopular government drive bent on crushing the

problem. On the other side are the hundreds or maybe even more of prostituted women (PW) in the city who won’t just say no. The government is on shakier ground and same true with the church when it criticizes the moral implications of prostitution. It has genuine concerns, but few in the illegal trade think the total crackdown will do much good. The quality of life nowadays is fast eroding and lack of job opportunities is the primary reason why many jobless women have to sell their bodies many times over in a night. Many of them are young unwed mothers and products of broken families. They also have mouths to feed, money for children’s education, clothing, shelter and most importantly income for their everyday needs. The social menace has become the millstone tightly tied around their necks. Then again, consider a more serious problem. First, the health risk. All that potentially venereal-spreading diseases, HIV and killer AIDS and those unsightly scene wherever, is reason enough for health authorities to consider prostitution a public irritant. Some concerned groups and health advocates call it a public-health treat because about half of the city’s PW are undocumented and have never been to government physicians for a regular weekly medical check-up. The

recent crackdown on a well-patronized prostitution turf attracted considerable attention. As a result, some civic-oriented organizations show sympathy to the PWs and the way they earn “extra income” just to make both ends meet. Does it mean some sectors in society should allow people like the PWs decide for themselves what constitutes an unacceptable health risk? unfortunately, women and children’s groups and human rights advocates found the right patsy upon whom to fix the blame – the government. And they are woefully pestering the government for allegedly not doing enough to alleviate the sad plight and miserable situation of the country’s jobless women. The government meanwhile admitted that in an impoverished nation like the Philippines, people – in particular women face life with handicaps – inadequate education, joblessness to minimal health care. But the situation is gradually improving with the help of the local government units (LGus), different government organizations (GOs) and non-government organizations (NGOs). Many women now learned new skills through livelihood programs that provide additional income. For the better, what the government can provide means a brighter future for the country’s women. Admittedly government is in the position to declare that prostitution actually cannot be stamped out totally, but it can be minimized if not fully regulated. It’s not only our problem, but it’s a worldwide trend that dates back to the ancient days.

Davao authors make a splash at the National Book Awards event

was not able to attend the 31st National Book Awards event held on 17 November 2012 in the afternoon at the Old Senate Session Hall, National Museum of the Philippines, City of Manila. A month earlier, I had received an invitation to attend the event from the organizers, namely the National Book Development Board and the Manila Critics Circle. My book -MANOBO DREAMS IN ARAKAN: A People’s Struggle to Keep their Homeland - published by the Ateneo de Manila university Press (2011) was nominated in the Social Science category. Four other books were nominated in this category, namely: A Clash of Cultures: Early American Protestant Missions and Filipino Religious Consciousness (by Melba Padilla Maggay, Anvil for DLSu), Bound by Law: Filipino Rural Poor and the Search for Justice in Plural-Legal Landscape (by Jennifer Franco, ADMu Press), Komunista: The Genesis of the Philippine Communist Party 1902-1935 (by Jim Richardson, ADMu Press) and Lungsod Iskwater: The Evolution of Informality as a Dominant Pattern in Philippine Cities (by Paulo Alcazaren, Luis Ferrer and Benvenuto Icamina, Anvil). For whatever the reasons are for the decision of the jury, my book won. There have been authors from Davao who have won National Book awards in the past, including Dr. Macario Tiu and Mr. Jowel Canuday. But at this 31st year-

A SOJOURNER’S VIEWS

By Bro. Karl GaSpar, cSSr ly event, Davao authors made a splash. Lolita R. Lacuesta’s The Davao We Knew won in the category of Anthology, English. Edited by Lolita Lacuesta, the book (published by Anvil) gathered 19 essays written by a mix of Davaoeños, both homegrown and migrant, namely Jo Bacani Angeles, Tita Lacambra Ayala, Nenita Belda Azarcon, Pribhu Dhalamal Balchand, Renato S. Basa, Jose F. Campo, Ernesto I. Corcino, Fe del Rosario Dacudao, Karl M. Gaspar, CSsR, Lolita R. Lacuesta, Cynthia Nograles Lumbera, Margarita Marfori, Patria Garcia Montemayor, Marcelino E. Payumo, Aida Rivera-Ford, Michael L. Tan, Ting Tiongco, Josie C. Tionko and Macario D. Tiu. In the category of the Gemino H. Abad Prize for Poetry in English, Ricardo M. de ungria won for Tala Mundi: The Collected Poems of Tita Agcaoili Lacambra Ayala (uST Publishing House). An adopted Davaoeno - Tim Dacanay - also won along with the members of his group for the Anthology, Filipino category. His groupmates include Luna Sicat-Cleto, Rrolando S. dela Cruz, Elmar Beltran Ingles, Nicolas B. Pichay and Rene O. Villanueva. Their book is titled Telon: Mga Dula (NCCA). All in all there are 17 categories under the National Book Award. For the longest time, it has been the Manila-based groups who have taken

the initiative to organize themselves in such a manner that they can monitor the books published throughout the year in the Philippines. As most publishing houses in the country are based in Manila - thus, being the imperial center, it holds the purse – book awarding events have been mainly monopolized by those in our country’s capital metropolitan city. One is not surprised that most winners are from Manila. We do appreciate the efforts of the NBDB and the Manila Critics Cirlce to look beyond Manila when they have their deliberations for the awards, but perhaps, Mindanawons need not rely solely on their initiatives. Perhaps the time has come for us in Mindanao to set up a similar Board and Circle that can honor our very own authors, independent of what happens in Manila. But who will take the lead? Indeed, a very good question to ask, as this body will need the integrity, independence and commitment that the NBDB and MCC are already known for. I wish I were still alive to see the realization of this damgo. [MindaNews/Redemptorist Brother Karl Gaspar of Davao City, is author of several books, including “To be poor and obscure,” “Mystic Wanderers in the Land of Perpetual Departures,” “The Masses are Messiah: Contemplating the Filipino Soul,” and the recently-launched “Manobo Dreams in Arakan.” He writes two columns for MindaNews, one in English [A Sojourner’s Views] and the other in Binisaya [Panaw-Lantaw.]

Collateral damage of surveillance state ( 1st of two parts ) ANAlYSIS

By Julian SancheZ

S the surreal sex scandal that forced CIA Director David Petraeus’ resignation reveals another prominent general’s “flirtatious” emails, the serious scandal here may well be the breadth of the FBI’s power to launch fishing expeditions through Americans’ most intimate communications. This investigation began in May, as we now know from copious FBI leaks, with a series of rude anonymous emails to Tampa socialite Jill Kelley. The messages criticized her cozy relationships with military officers at a local base, where she volunteers as a social planner. Although the e-mails have been described as “cat-fight stuff” rather than threats, a friend of Kelley’s at the FBI,Frederick W. Humphries II who had sent Kelley shirtless photos and was ultimately barred from the case by superiors worried he had become “obsessed” urged the bureau to investigate. The FBI obliged apparently obtaining subpoenas for Internet Protocol logs, which allowed them to connect the sender’s anonymous Google Mail account to others accessed from the same computers, accounts that belonged to Petraeus biographer Paula Broadwell. The bureau could then subpoena guest records from hotels, tracking the WiFi networks, and confirm that they matched Broadwell’s travel history. None of this would have required judicial approval let alone a Fourth Amendment search warrant based on probable cause. While we don’t know the investigators’ other methods, the FBI has an impressive arsenal of tools to track Broadwell’s digital footprints — all without a warrant. On a mere showing of “relevance,” they can obtain a court order for cell phone location records, providing a detailed history of her movements, as well as all people she called. Little wonder that law enforcement requests to cell providers have exploded — with a staggering 1.3 million demands for user data just last year, according to major carriers. An order under this same weak standard could reveal all her e-mail correspondents and Web surfing activity. With the rapid decline of data storage costs, an ever larger treasure trove is routinely retained for ever longer time periods by phone and Internet companies. Had the FBI chosen to pursue this investigation as a counterintelligence inquiry rather than a cyberstalking case, much of that data could have been obtained without even a subpoena. National Security Letters, secret tools for obtaining sensitive financial and telecommunications records, require only the say-so of an FBI field office chief. Though President Barack Obama once pledged to end the use of these letters to siphon up sensitive information about innocent Americans without judicial oversight, they have been issued in unprecedented numbers during his administration. More than 14,000 Americans were affected just during his first year in office. Internal audits have revealed “widespread and serious misuse” of this authority, yet Congress has not acted to restrict it. unlike conventional wiretaps or physical searches, many of these methods can be used without the targets ever being told regardless of whether evidence of a crime is found. Americans remain largely in the dark about how widely or frequently they are used.

10 NATION/WORlD NATION BRIEFS

To stay

No ebooks

ollowing reports that Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago will file a resolution Monday to file a joint resolution calling for the termination of the Visiting Forces Agreement between the Philippines and the united States, a Malacañang official reiterated that the VFA is here to stay. Santiago and Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello will file the resolution in light of their outrage over the dumping of toxic waste by a uS Navy-contracted vessel 37 kilometers off Subic Bay. books and novels were not among the winners in the 31st National Book Awards, which recognized the best books published in the Philippines in 2011. In the awarding ceremonies held on November 17 at the National Museum, the National Book Development Board (NBDB) and the Manila Critics Circle (MCC) handed out awards to authors of books in various categories, from poetry to science. However, no winners were chosen for the Juan C. Laya Prize for Best Novel, whether in a foreign language or in a Philippine language.

War room

n the face of recent threats from hackers and cybercriminals, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is setting up a cybersecurity war room to ensure its intelligence, surveillance and communications data are secure. AFP spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said they are planning the Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (C4ISTAR).

Reminded

rincipals and teachers especially in public schools were reminded over the weekend to keep their upcoming Christmas parties simple. Education Secretary Armin Luistro issued the reminder after receiving complaints from parents of high fees for the event. Luistro said Christmas parties should be austere and simple, with no need for fancy preparations. He added he had received information that some parents were complaining this early about schools collecting fees for the party.

VOL.5 ISSUE 186 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Obama eyes deeper reform WORLD TODAY on historic Myanmar visit S Pressed

outheast Asian nations are set to press China on Monday to quickly begin talks on easing tensions over maritime territorial rows that have shaken the region and overshadowed efforts to boost trade. Leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have flagged they will raise the contentious South China Sea issues during a meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in the Cambodian capital.

S President Barack Obama will endow Myanmar’s startling reform drive with his newly replenished political prestige Monday, as he makes history in a short, but hugely symbolic, visit to the country. Thirteen days after he was re-elected, Obama will become the first sitting uS president to visit the formerly isolated state, hoping to spur greater reform and to highlight a rare success for his policy of engaging pariah regimes. But his mission is not without peril: should Myanmar’s new political dawn darken and conservative forces move to regain control, Obama’s trip could appear in hindsight as premature and invite a domestic political backlash. Obama, who first flies into Thailand on Sunday for a night, hopes to solidify the political reforms of President Thein Sein by granting the Myanmar leader his highest profile moment on the world stage since his nominally civilian government replaced outright military rule. “I want to be very clear that we see this visit as building on the progress that the Burmese gov-

A graffiti portrait of US president Barack Obama with the words ‘Welcome Obama.’ pictured in Yangon on November 17. Obama will endow Myanmar’s startling reform drive with his newly

ernment has made,” said Ben Rhodes, a uS deputy national security advisor. Washington still refers to Myanmar as Burma. “We are going in part to encourage them to continue down that road, because much more needs to be done within Burma to realise the full potential of its people.” After meeting Thein Sein, Obama will visit the rickety home of Aung San Suu Kyi, where his fellow Nobel peace laureate was confined for years of house arrest by the paranoid and repressive junta.

replenished political prestige on Monday, as he makes history in a short, but hugely symbolic, visit to the country. [AFP]

Obama was deeply impressed by Suu Kyi during their private meeting in the Oval Office in September, and told aides the National League for Democracy leader lived up to her billing. But there will be an air of incongruity when Air Force One touches down and Obama’s armoured motorcade rattles through Yangon’s decrepit streets, in the shadow of the gleaming, golden spire of the Shwedagon Pagoda. The fact Obama will be there at all is testament to the pace and depth

of a reform drive that took American officials by surprise, after they spent years isolating the country’s ruling generals through sanctions. “It’s a bit risky for the president to go,” said Michael Green, a former Bush administration specialist on Southeast Asia, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “This (reform) is not irreversible,” he said, adding that Obama’s visit was not a “victory lap” but designed to encourage wider change.

Lord Trimble urges Filipino Muslims to work for peace

OBEL laureate Lord David Trimble urged Muslim rebels on Saturday to strive to overcome remaining hurdles to peace after they signed a landmark deal with the Philippine government. Lord Trimble held

up the example of the 1998 Belfast Good Friday agreement that ended the 30-year conflict in Northern Ireland as a template during a visit to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front camp in the southern Philippines. “Our experience was

it was difficult... to get an agreement. And when we did get an agreement, we found the implementation of the agreement challenging,” he told reporters accompanying him on the visit. “And sometimes the challenges were not the

Investigate

rosecutors in Manila will investigate whether bribes were paid in relation to the $2 billion Manila Bay casino being developed by Japanese billionaire Kazuo Okada, a spokesman for Philippine President Benigno Aquino said on Monday. Edwin Lacierda, a spokesman for Aquino, told reporters the country’s Department of Justice had been asked to investigate whether bribes were paid in relation to the project being developed by Okada’s Tokyo-based company universal Entertainment.

EDGEDAVAO

Nobel laureate Lord David Trimble, pictured here, urged Muslim rebels on Saturday to strive to overcome remaining hurdles to

peace after they signed a landmark deal with the Philippine government.

ones we anticipated before.” He said he discussed with MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghazali Jaafar the potential roadblocks to the successful implementation of the deal the group signed with President Benigno Aquino’s government last month. The 12,000-strong MILF agreed in the pact to give up its quest for an independent homeland in the south in return for significant power and wealth-sharing in a new autonomous region there to be known as Bangsamoro. The pact aims to achieve a final peace by 2016, ending an insurgency that has claimed an estimated 150,000 lives since the 1970s. “I am delighted with the framework agreement,” Trimble said. There’ll still be a problem in the future, but I think the problem will be on a different order,” he added.

Battered

sraeli air strikes killed 16 Palestinians in Gaza on Saturday, prompting the Arab League to announce a visit to the battered enclave and a review of its Middle East peace policy. Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi told reporters in Cairo his government was in “vigorous” communication with both Israel and the Palestinians.

Denied

he united States has denied visas to Iranian officials hoping to attend a u.N. meeting in New York, Iran’s state news agency reported on Saturday. The Iranian judiciary’s Human Rights Headquarters said in a statement that the united States denied visas to members of an Iranian delegation that planned to travel to a meeting of the united Nations’ Third Committee, which focuses on social issues and human rights, state news agency IRNA said.

Tragedy

ORTY-SEVEN school children were killed on Saturday when a train smashed into their bus in central Egypt after a railway signal operator fell asleep, officials said, prompting protests and resignations. Transport Minister Rashad al-Metini stepped down after the tragedy saying he “accepts responsibility. President Mohamed Morsi also accepted the Egyptian Railway Authority chief’s resignation.

Arraignment

u.S. soldier accused of killing five fellow servicemen at a military combat stress center in Baghdad in 2009 will face an arraignment at a military base in Washington state on Monday, preparing the way for a trial that could result in the death penalty. Sergeant John Russell, of the 54th Engineer Battalion based in Bamberg, Germany, is accused of going on a shooting spree at Camp Liberty, near the Baghdad airport, in an assault the military said at the time could have been triggered by combat stress.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 186 •TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Budget... FFROM 1

carilla said, adding that the Pasko sa Lumad has an appropriation of P10-million just like last year. The bulk of the money will go to bonuses of city employees which could reach P129-million where each plantilla personnel receives P15,000 and job order workers take home P10,000. Escarilla said P7-million is also allocated for the Christmas fiesta celebration as its share to Pasko Fiesta sa Dabaw celebration, which is organized by Duaw Davao Festival Foundation, Inc. while P10-million will be spent to the food preparation for security personnel composed of the Davao City Police Office, Task Force Davao and other volunteer groups. Duaw Davao executive director Maria Feliza “Lisette” Marques earlier said that they are also spending P3.5-million as cash prizes for winners of various events, which is P1-million higher than last year’s. Escarilla also said the mayor has approved the guidelines for the Pasko sa Lumad which runs from

160...

FFROM 1

December 3 to 23. He said barangay officials and workers of the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) are tasked to implement the guidelines. The policy assures the accommodation, peace and order maintenance, personal hygiene and sanitation, use of toilets, bathrooms and cooking areas, proper waste disposal, proper behavior and information and education activities for indigenous peoples while they are in the city. In another interview Mayor Duterte-Carpio said shelter areas will be assigned according to tribal groupings and curfew will start at 9 p.m. for all lumads. The mayor said tribal leaders should ensure that constituents follow peace and order policies in shelter areas, even as the ban on liquor and smoking will be observed at all times in shelter areas. Any lumad who causes trouble will be sent home. “No sharp objects, weapons of any kind will

be allowed in shelter areas,” she said. She said police visibility will be imposed in every shelter area in partnership with barangay tanods with the assistance of a tribal leader to provide support and easy coordination. While in their shelters, various offices of the city government will conduct lectures on farming, sanitation and environmental laws and ordinance, family development sessions, anti-smoking, health, nutrition education and sanitation and birth registration for the IPs. The mayor said the IPs senior citizens, pregnant women, lactating mothers and children below 13 are not allowed to engage in caroling. IPs will be housed in different gymnasiums located in the city. Those coming from Marilog areas will be billeted in Calinan, Toril, Mintal and Tugbok gymnasiums, while those from Paquibato district in Bunawan, Buhangin and Bankerohan, according to the guidelines.

under the name of Cornelio Reta, was placed under CARP. On March 1993, the certificate of land ownership award was distributed but not to the group of Omambac. A January 2000 letter to Samal Mayor Rogelio Antalan, former DAR municipal agrarian officer Manuel A. Sanoy Jr. said the tenants of the Retas— the Omambacs included— did not submit themselves to become beneficiaries of the land out of “loyalty to the landowner.” But a May 12, 1993 petition to former DAR provincial officer Rodolfo Inson, the group of Omambac expressed dismay over their non-inclusion in the list of beneficiaries. The petition read: “Kami wala i-apil ni Mr. Sanoy sa listahan sa beneficiaries kay kuno dili kami meyembro sa ARBA. Ang kadaghanan sa listahan sa beneficiaries nga anaa sa listahan ni Mr. Sanoy taga-gawas, nga wala makatrabaho sa yuta ni Mr. Reta.” “Kami interesado nga mamahimong beneficiaries sa CARP apan wala kami hatagi ni Mr. Sanoy sa mga application forms aron kami maka-apply, hinuon gitago niya ang application forms ug wala kami masayod sa iyang katarungan.” And the Reta workers added: “Kining maong petisyon among ginahimo aron mapatigbabaw ang hustisya ug aron usab ma-

likayan ang dako nga kagubot sa among area, kay dili man kami mupahawa sa yuta bisan pa nga dili kami i-apil sa programa.” In February, 15 Reta workers were sent to jail after they were accused of stealing coconuts inside the contested area. For two months, they languished in jail, something that they said was an injustice to them because “we did not steal anything…we harvested what was ours.” In 1995, almost 20 workers of the estate were also sent to jail because they insisted on harvesting coconuts. Of them was 73-year old Eulalio Adlawan, one of the farm workers since 1962. “Perteng lisura sa among kahimtang karon. Sila naman nagtrabaho sa among katungod. Kami man unta adunay katungod,” he said. And as if warning, he added: “Dili lang gyud mi gusto og kagubot.” The Retas, on the other hand, said they do not have problems if their property is distributed to the farmers, although the family has filed a petition to cancel the CLOA because the estate has been identified as not suitable for agriculture. The estate has also been long declared by the Department of Tourism as a tourism zone, even including it a comprehensive development plant. The petition is yet to be resolved.

FFROM 2

and the other tenants. Their areas have also been fenced. Fighting her tears back, Omambac said they are the rightful owners of the land that has been distributed by the Department of Agrarian Reform through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program to the members of ARBA. She said members of ARBA or of Costabfa are not the tenants of the Retas.They are outsiders, she said. “Kami ang adunay katungod kay dugay na mi diri. Karaan mi diri nga koprasiro, sugod pa sa among mga ginikanan. Kami ang nagtamon ug nag-alima unya karon mukalit lamang sila og sulod ug mangilog sila namo. Dili sila ang naghago. Dili sila ang mitrabaho. Pero sila ang nagpahimulos karon,” said Omambac. They are afraid of the armed guards roaming around the property, she said. In the village, there were signage warning ‘intruders’ against entering the property. No one from ARBA or Costafba were seen there, only their guards who were also quick to avoid visiting journalists. “Gusto namo makabalik sa among pagpanarbaho. Gusto namo maka-kopras mi sa pag-usab. Karon man gud grabe ang kagubot diri sa taas tungod anang ilang mga gwardya,” she said. In 1989, the property

Comprehensive...

the end of the year.” Guide for TransCom The annexes are intended to guide the Transition Commission (TransCom) when it drafts the Bangsamoro Basic Law. The 15-member TransCom will be created as soon as President Benigno Simeon Aquino III issues an Executive Order. Seven member s will come from the GPH and eight from the MILF, including the TransCom chair. The one-page joint statement signed at 4 pm Saturday said the technical working groups (TWGs) on wealth-sharing and power-sharing “made substantial progress in the crafting of the annexes while the TWG on normalization, which convened for the first time this week, had “agreed on an outline of issues and had initial positive exchanges on these matters.” The panels, it said, “remain committed to complete the annexes before the end of the year.” The TWGs handed over their respective joint reports to the peace panels during the plenary at 2 p.m. with the TWGs on power and wealth sharing reportedly listing down their consensus points and points of divergence. The TWGs on power and wealth sharing had been meeting every month here since August. The TWG on normalization was convened only last Monday. More than 9054 In both the power and wealth sharing TWGs, the major issue is how much more powers would be granted to the Bangsamoro than what has been granted to the ARMM under Republic Act 9054.

P-Noy...

“It will be more than 9054… it cannot be less,” Leonen told MindaNews Saturday morning. Asked how much is “more,” Leonen replied that this is what the TWGs are discussing. He defined “more” as “more that will be satisfactory to the MILF.” Ma. Lourdes Lim, NEDA regional director and chair of the GPH-TWG on wealth-sharing told MindaNews that the joint TWG has “put the details to the provisions on wealth sharing in the FAB and we came up with substantive inputs for the Transition Commission to consider but this will have to go to the panels. We are just recommendatory.” Lim said the powers proposed for the Bangsamoro would be more than what RA 9054 provides. “9054 is the minimum. That is our reference point. That’s the baseline,” she said. “Harder nut to crack” Iqbal in his opening remarks on Monday had said that of the three – wealth and power sharing and normalization – the latter is “the harder nut to crack” because “it is not only about disposition of troops, weapons, decommissioning and policing, but it is more importantly tied up with implementation of the Agreement on the ground, which in turn breeds trust. Trust is something that cannot happen instantly especially between former adversaries. You have to patiently build and nurture it.” National Security Council undersecretary Zenonida Brosas, chair of the GPH-TWG on Normalization said she is confi-

dent they can finish their task because “pareho kami ng frame of mind” (we have the same frame of mind), referring to their MILF-TWG counterparts. Signing of comprehensive peace pact Leonen told MindaNews on Friday that there will be another signing for the comprehensive peace agreement, which he defines as “the Framework Agreement plus the annexes. Asked whether it will be grander than the signing of the FAB on October 15 in Malacanan Palace, Leonen said the panels have yet to discuss this. But the signing of the comprehensive peace pact does not mean the panels will be disbanded. unlike in the GPH-Moro National Liberation Front peace agreements in 1976 and 1996 where the panels were disbanded after the signing, the GPH-MILF peace panels have agreed to continue their work beyond the signing of the 2012 comprehensive peace agreement. The FAB provides that at the end of the transition period, the GPH and MILF peace panels, together with the Malaysian facilitator and the third party monitoring team, “shall convene a meeting to review, assess or evaluate the implementation of all agreements and the progress of the transition” and “an ‘exit document’ officially terminating the peace negotiation may be crafted and signed by both parties if and only when all agreements have been fully implemented.” [Carolyn O. Arguillas/ MindaNews]

The 5th National NGO Congress will feature learning sessions which offer venues for candid dialogue and exchanges between CSOs, government and other stakeholders regarding issues surrounding multi-sectoral engagement for a more effective, transparent and accountable governance. MINCODE will sponsor a forum entitled “The Road Ahead for Bangsamoro and Philippine CSOs” which will feature speakers from the GPH and MILF panels. Sec. Teresita Quintos Deles of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Peace Process (OPAPP) has been invited to speak in the forum. Sarenas said that “With the recent signing of the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro, MINCODE recognizes the imperative of widening the constituency that will

be supportive of all the processes necessary to translate the Agreement towards the final establishment of the Bangsamoro and from then on, all post-peace agreement work needed to ensure its success. The forum speakers shall point out the open spaces for more meaningful participation of CSOs all over the country in the peace process.” Other activities are lined-up for the Congress. On November 20 , a Cultural Night: Dalawang Dekada ng Samahan at Saya! , to be held at the ISO, Ateneo de Manila university, will feature cultural performances to be staged by the 12 member networks of CODENGO. There will be a plenary presentation of the “Post 2015-MDG Agenda” by the uNDP Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Ms. Luisa Carvalho on November 22.

FFROM 2

CSO networks representing 1,600 NGOs, people’s organizations and cooperatives nationwide. CODE-NGO convenes its National Congress every five years to review its work of those five years and to set its directions in the next five years. The delegates are expected to approve its Strategic Plan for 2013-2017. Chairperson Patricia M. Sarenas says the 5th NGO Congress also marks the culmination of the network’s celebration of its 20th year in social development work in the Philippines. This Congress’ theme: “Breaking Barriers in Civil Society’s Constructive Engagement for Development.” Sarenas, also chairperson of the Mindanao Coalition of Development NGO Networks (MINCODE), the biggest network of CSOs operating all over Mindanao.

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VOL.5 ISSUE 186 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Realty

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.

Health and Wellness

FOR SALE:

1) 1-hectare commercial lot at p10,000/ sq m, along national highway, facing east, beside nccc panacan, Davao city. 2) 17,940sq m commercial lot at p2,500/ sq m, along Matina Diversion road. 3) 3,831 sq m lot along Matina Diversion road. 4) 41,408 sq m commercial/ industrial lot at p800/sq m along the national highway, Bunawan. 5) 7,056 sq m at p1,200/sq m commercial/ residential lot along indangan road, Buhangin District. 6) 27,411 sq m commercial/industrial lot along the national highway in Bincungan, Tagum city. 7) 116.15 to 245.92 sq meters , at p5.5M to p12.3M commercial/office condo units in Bajada, Davao city. 8) 699 to 1,117 sq m at p4,100/sq m commercial lots at Josefina Town center, along the national highway, Dumoy, Toril. 9) ready-for-occupancy residential properties: 4Br/3T&B in a 240 sq m lot with 177.31sqm floor area (2-storey) at p4.8M in an exclusive beachfront community in Dumoy, Toril.; 3Br 2-storey in a 71.25 sq m 2-storey in a 143sq m lot in an exclusive flower village in Maa, Davao city; 180 sq m lots with 71.25sqm to 126.42 sq m floor areas, priced at p3.751M to p5.773M in an exclusive mountain resort community along Matina, Diversion road. 10) 1Br/2Br residential condo units located in Bolton, Maa, obrero, Davao city. 11) For aSSuMe (ruSh): 1Br res’l condo unit in palmetto, Maa. p600K negotiable. note: items 1-9 can be paid in cash, in-house or bank financing. if interested, please call Jay (prc reB lic. 8237) at 0922-851-5337 (Sun), 0908883-8832 (Smart) or send email to propertiesindavao@yahoo.com.

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Edge Davao hiring editor, 3 reporters EDGE DAVAO is in need of an editor and three staffwriters/reporters for its expansion program. The reporters will be assigned to the business, science/environment and political beats. On the other hand, the editor will supervise the reporters and do gate-keeping tasks. Applicant must be a graduate of a four- year college course. For reporters, experience is not needed although preferable. The editor should have at least one-year experience in editing. Interested parties may send their application letter to Mr. Antonio M. Ajero, Edge Davao editor, thru email address ajero_antonio@yahoo.com. For inquiries, please call Mr. Ajero thru mobile phone 09052422686 or landline 221-3601.

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EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 186 •TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

COMPETITIVE EDGE 13

Casa Munda Inn & Resto launched

ASA Munda Inn & Resto is now open to serve you. Originally the ancestral home of the family of enterprising couple Attorneys Amado and Rosa Munda together with their six children Amado Jr., Carlos, Marissa, Rosemarie, Antonio and Ramon, Casa Munda was originally designed by Ramon D. Basa, a close family friend and now the “Father of Davao Architecture”. Casa Munda offers superb food choices and warm hospitality amidst a blissful and serene setting. Composed of a team of hospitality professionals, Casa Munda also accepts special events and functions. Conveniently located at 826 Ma. Loreto St., Juna Subdivision, Matina, Davao City, Casa Munda is in close proximity to academic institutions, malls and shopping centers. Casa Munda is managed by Amado “Dinky” Munda Jr. For inquiries and reservations, you may call 297-2927 or 295-7674. Casa Munda is owned and managed by Amarosa Land Corporation.

CASA MUNDA INN & RESTO. Relaxing homey interiors as well as superb cuisine and warm, personalized hospitality make Casa Munda the perfect venue for lunch and dinner gettogethers as well as special

functions and events. Casa Munda is located at 826 CASA MUNDA INN & RESTO OPENS. Members of Ma. Loreto St., Juna Subdivision, Matina, Davao City. the Munda family of Davao led by General Manager Dinky Munda, Ms Marissa Tay, Chief Financial Officer

Carlos Munda Sr. , Resident Manager Antonio Munda and Ms. Baby Munda formally cut the ribbon to open Casa Munda last November 8.

14 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 186 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Fun run benefits 21 kids with cancer By Anthony S. Allada

OPE gets high for 21 children who are suffering with the dreaded cancer disease as they were beneficiaries of last Sunday’s fun run that was participated by more than 500 runners in an outand-back course at Victoria Plaza car park along J.P. Laurel Avenue, this city. Employees of the Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC), through the company’s KaibiganGives Back program, organized the yearly activity as a way of unselfishly giving their time, talents and efforts to help cancer patients undergoing therapy at the House of Hope. Most of the runners were composed of DLPC officials and workers and their respective families, who joined the three categories – 3-kilometer, 5-kilometer and 10-kilometer footrace. “I am very happy that we come and participate not just to have a healthy life but to give life and to share what we have for children with cancer,” said Arturo Milan, DLPC’s ex-

ecutive vice president and chief operating officer. Milan said this yearly event will continue and DLPC’s Kaibigan Gives Back remains a partner of House of Hope to inspire the children with cancer that there is always hope because there are a lot of people out there to help them. For her part, Dr. Mae Dolendo, executive director of House of Hope, lauded the DLPC for their unending support that really helps financially and even morally running the halfway home. “We are inspired by generous people like you who never hesitate to help us,” Dolendo said. Meanwhile, organizers treated participants with raffle gift items including shoe and sling bags, MP3 players, speakers and car accessories. Fun run winners for the three categories were also awarded with cash prizes. Marlon Laureano ruled the 10-k run, clocking 42:53, followed by Blair Capitan (48:49) and Jayson

Sison (50:48). Romar Duay was the first place in the 5-k category with a 21:25 time, second was George Bilarmino with 25:13 and third was Nelson Limas with 26:16. In the 3-k division, Rixan Arellano Jr. clocked 20:25 to grab the first spot, followed by Greg Balabag with 22:29 time and Alan Rivera with 23:51.

AIWAN – The Philippine baseball team will still have something to cheer about in the face of humiliating defeats it suffered during the World Baseball Classic qualifier held here. 23-year-old Vlaimir Eguia from San Ildefonso, Bulacan has earned high praises from longtime Japanese coach Kunifumi Itakuma who plans to bring the lefty Filipino pitcher to

Japan. According to Itakuma, Eguia has the qualities of playing in the Nippon Professional Baseball league, particularly the Kunichi Dragons where Fil-Japanese pitcher Ryuya Ogawa once played. “There is a need for left-handed pitchers in Japan and Eguia has a good chance of making it there. Right now he is the top pitcher of the Philippines,”

said Itakuma through an interpreter. Itakuma, 64, has been helping Philippine baseball since 2006 by donating equipments from bats, shoes, helmets and gloves aside from lending his coaching expertise for free. But since that year, it is only now that he saw a player with vast potentials of making it into the prestigious Japanese pro league.

Phl pitcher to try out for Japan ballclub T Durant scores triple double O

Golfing businessman Jimmy Testado and Philip Kimpo at the Fairways and Bluewaters Golf and Country Club in Boracay. Testado won the Class A gross title while Kimpo won the Class C net division.

KLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma – Kevin Durant recorded his first career triple double as he powered the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 119-109 win over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.

Durant finished with 25 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for the Thunder, who have won seven of their past eight National Basketball Association games. “Some guys can just pass, some guys can just

Phl baseball team passes mark

The Philippines had a 1-2 mark in the tournament featuring some of the best baseball teams in the region. YUKIHITO TAGUCHI/WBCI

shoot, some guys can just rebound,” Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said. “Obviously, with Kevin, he can do many things on the floor and we always have to challenge him because we don’t know how good he will end up being.”

HERE was apparently some confusion over the play signals and there was also the language barrier that somehow contributed to the early exit, but for a team that was formed just days before the World Baseball Classic qualifiers, the Philippines performed creditably against some of the best in the world, according to Philippine baseball officials. “The team pretty much met the expectations,” said general manager Marty Eizmendi. “They could have done better but this was definitely a good start.” The Philippines had a solid debut in the qualifiers when it defeated major leaguer Johnny Damon

and his Thailand team, 8-2. However, the Filipinos ran into powerhouse teams and suffered two consecutive defeats. The Philippines was handed by Chinese Taipei, ranked eighth in the world, a 0-16 defeat in its second game of the tournament. In the do-or-die match for a finals berth, the Filipinos lost to New Zealand, 10-6. “This was a good learning curve because of the high level of competition brought by this tournament, a level we’ve never played in before. The strengths and weaknesses of the team was noticed more so in comparison to our competitors,” said Eizmendi.

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 186 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

TRAVEL

A terminal affair Finding our flight detail is easy.

Airports are a necessary “evil” when it comes to traveling. From the moment one passes through initial security checks, through to the check-in counters, looking for your proper gate of embarkation, and waiting for your actual flight; the process can get to be tedious even for the most seasoned of travelers. one of my favorite airports though would be Hong Kong’s Chep Lap Kok Airport, more popularly known as Hong Kong international Airport. Built as a lasting legacy of British rule, the airport was designed to take over from the already congested Kai tak Airport in downtown, Kowloon. The HKiA is a marvel to behold as one arrives in the former British Crown Colony. Built from land that was reclaimed from the sea, the airport is currently one of the busiest airports in the world and is also one of the world’s largest buildings ever built.

The spacious passenger terminal of HKIA.

Arriving i love the airport’s connectivity to the rest of Hong Kong since it offers so many options for getting to and from downtown HK. My personal preference would be the express busses that are not only affordable (at HK$33

HKIA’s teminal gate.

HKIA’s comfy lounges.

I love the airport’s connectivity to the rest of Hong Kong since it offers so many options for getting to and from downtown HK. FA TERMINAL, A4

Photo courtesy of Airport Authority Hong Kong.

Designer boutiques and casual dining restaurants can be found all over the two terminals.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge! EVENTS

Cebu Pacific flies 70 millionth passenger; offers 75% systemwide sale THE Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSE:CEB) flew its 70 millionth passenger, Rubia Jalaluddin, today.

CEB VP for Airport Services Antonio Jose Rodriguez and CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog awarded the lucky Juan with 70 free domestic flights. The awarding ceremony was held at 2:30pm, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA T3) check-in area. Gracing the occasion were Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General William Hotchkiss III, Civil Aeronautics Board Deputy Executive Director Porvenir Porciuncula, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Terminal 3 Manager Octavio Lina and MIAA Public and Media Affairs Division Officer-in-charge Connie Bungag. “Last January 2011, President Benigno Aquino III awarded CEB’s 50 millionth passenger, an Austrian named Harald Toifl. In less than two years, CEB flew 20 million passengers more. This definitely shows how CEB’s trademark lowest fares have revolutionized air travel, giving everyJuan the chance to fly for the first time or more often,” Iyog said. Iyog recognized NAIA T3’s contribution to CEB’s expansion, as the only airport terminal that can accommodate the airline’s growth. CEB bases majority of its operations in Manila, with additional hubs in Cebu, Clark, Iloilo, Kalibo and Davao. “We will end the year with the largest aircraft fleet in the Philippines, and we expect delivery of 7 Airbus A320 and 2 A330 aircraft next year. This is part of the incremental delivery of over 50 aircraft until 2021. It is truly an exciting time for Cebu Pacific, and we look forward to when we fly our 100 millionth guest,” she added. To celebrate CEB’s 70 millionth passenger milestone, CEB announced it is offering a 75% off seat sale to any of its 32 domestic and 19 international destinations. The seat sale is from November 15 to 17, 2012 or until seats last, for travel from January 1 to March 31, 2013. International destinations on sale at 75% off are: Bangkok, Beijing, Brunei, Busan, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Incheon, Jakarta, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Osaka, Shanghai, Siem Reap, Singapore, Taipei and Xiamen. For bookings and inquiries, guests can go to www.cebupacificair.com, or call the reservation hotlines (02) 7020-888 or (032) 230-8888. The latest seat sales can also be found on CEB’s official Twitter and Facebook pages.

A Davao holiday like no other this Christmas Season THERE are many reasons why people come to Davao City. They attend seminars or conferences and other events, visit relatives or old friends or simply spend a relaxing holiday with people close to their heart. But whether it’s for business or leisure, one thing’s for sure, they leave the city with wonderful memories. Some even promise to return with their loved ones and friends. A day spent at The Ritz Hotel is more than enough to satisfy one’s needs for fitness, relaxation and good food. From the time you wake up, you can decide to go jogging or walking around the complex, go swimming or play a little basketball at the covered gym. For body pampering afterwards, you may have a shiatsu massage at the spa adjacent to the hotel. A fulfilling dining experience also awaits guests at the newly renovated Oases Seafood Restaurant. Located just across the hotel, the spacious restaurant that boasts of clear glass walls and tables offers scrumptious Filipino and Chinese dishes at a price that’s easy on the pocket. For this holiday season, guests can enjoy a special rate of P4,388.00 for a stay of three days and two nights. This is the lowest package rate anybody can get during this peak season starting this month until January 6 of 2013. Apart from accommodation, the package includes free buffet breakfast and use of the swimming pool, internet access in the entire hotel, round-trip airport transfers and 10 percent discount when dining at the Oases Seafood Restaurant. What’s best about this exclusive offer is that guests who spend their Christmas and New Year in the city get to experience the hotel and resort’s upcoming holiday events as well. This is what creating great memories is all about without having to sp end much and you can definitely do that here at The Ritz Hotel at Garden Oases only in Davao City. Book now by calling 224-1403 or email info@theritzhoteldavao.com.

VOL.5 ISSUE 186 • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

ENTERTAINMENT

Call of Duty bigger than Breaking Dawn:

How CoD’s $500 million compares with pop culture’s biggest hits

Video-gAMe fans clearly heeded the Call of Duty.

The latest installment in the lucrative CoD franchise, Black Ops II, pulled in a whopping $500 million in its first 24 hours on tuesday, shattering the record for the biggest firstday gross in video-game history. The previous record holder was—whaddaya know?—Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, which drummed up more than $400 million in 2011. so just how explosive was Black Ops II? “to put it in comparison, it’s larger than most Hollywood blockbuster opening weekends,” says scott steinberg, head of video-game consulting firm techsavvy. “Call of Duty belongs to this pantheon of games which have actually transcended to become popculture phenomena, and therefore command an audience in millions. to the extent, you’ll even see— in select cases—gamers phoning in sick to work.” indeed, with a $500 million haul, we bet more than a few bosses found their staffers playing hooky this week. But how does CoD’s blockbuster first-day gross stack up against the year’s other pop-culture biggies in film, music and more? • The Avengers, which holds the title for the biggest opening weekend in movie history, raked in less than half of CoD’s first-day

revenues of $447 million by the end of its run. (Boxoffice analysts maintain that the Aurora shooting tragedy, which occurred at a midnight screening of TDKR, kept more moviegoers from seeing the film on opening weekend.) • So far, Breaking Dawn Part 2 has eked out $30.4 million from midnight grosses, with $207 million screenings, with experts in ticket sales in North projecting an opening America. By the end of its weekend in the vicinity of domestic run, the film had $158 million. New Moon, shaken down $623 mil- however, remains tops for lion—$100 million more the franchise, at $142 milthan CoD’s debut day. (The lion in receipts. biggest single opening-day • In music, Taylor Swift gross among movies, how- has the biggest U.s. firstever, goes to Harry Potter week sales for any artist in and the Deathly Hallows: 10 years with her just-rePart 2, which pulled in $91 leased Red, which moved million last year.) 1.2 million units. Although • Another of this year’s its exact first-week grosses movie juggernauts, The are tricky to peg, Billboard Dark Knight Rises, didn’t reported that itunes alone even come close to CoD’s sold 465,000 copies in its numbers: its opening debut week—more than weekend gross clocked in a third of total sales. At at $160 million, with total $14.99 a pop, that’s easily

“To put it in comparison, it’s larger than most Hollywood blockbuster opening weekends,”

$6.9 million from the Apple music hub. • The Super Bowl, always a reliable cash cow, still pales to CoD: For this year’s game, NBC reportedly sold all 70 spots by November 2011. At $3.5 million a pop, the telecast readily juiced up a cool $245 million in ad sales, but well below CoD’s halfa-million haul. • CoD’s biggest challenger, it seems, comes from tech land: The iphone 5 reportedly sold five million units in its first weekend in september, a million more than the iphone 4s moved last year. exact grosses haven’t been disclosed, but let’s do some basic math: The entry-level iphone 5 goes for $199 (or more if you don’t have a subsidized plan). With five million units in the can, this means that Apple’s coffers are likely cha-chinging to no less than, well a billion dollars. game over, CoD!

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ENTERTAINMENT

American Music Awards:

5 things you didn’t see on TV 5

SuRE, there was plenty of action during tonight’s American Music Awards.

But what happened when the cameras weren’t rolling? Read on for the five things you didn’t see on TV... Nicki Minaj is one of the last to arrive. She (and her entourage) slowly made their way to her seat during usher’s opening performance. She and Taylor Swift say hello, and within in minutes they’re taking a photo with Cyndi Lauper. It’s a commercial break, and unlike any other awards show, fans actually approach the celebs. Carrie underwood sitting with her hubby, Mike Fisher, happily stands up to sign five autographs before sitting back down. She reapplies her lipgloss. Modern Family star Eric Stonestreet is having a real good time. He waves to the audience while walking off stage after he presents Taylor Swift with the Favorite Country Female Artist

You’d think Justin Bieber would have big, burly bodyguards keeping him safe in the audience. While there are a couple, it’s actually two female ushers standing in front of him as others walk by. But three young girls do get through—and Bieber agrees to take a photo with each, proving that he really is all about the fans.

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award. And now, he’s talking to Neon Trees during a commercial break. After No Doubt’s performance, he makes he way across the theater to talk with underwood and her husband. Luke Bryan kisses his award before heading off stage and high-fiving Lady An-

tebellum. The group has to wait till Nicki Minaj is done with her performance to go back to their seats, but also not before Nicki’s choir walks off stage and out of the theater. Oh, there’s Eric Stonestreet again following Lady A to their seats. He gives Charles Kelley a hug as Bryan says hello to Mike Fisher.

which then morphs into the premiere date for the show: 03.31.13. “If we lose, the night will never end,” she concludes over booming drums. Now, was that Carice van Houten as Melisandre? Tough to tell, though that’s exactly the sort of day/night, ice/fire, for-us-or-against us declara-

tion she makes all the time. Loads of fun at parties, our Mel. Whoever it was, kudos for working in the name of the George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series of novels upon which the show is based. Also, major points to the graphics team for those three flying swords, suggesting the title of the third book, A Storm of Swords— which many fans think is best of the five so far. Does this little taste get you even more fired up for the further adventures of houses Stark, Lannister, Baratheon and Targaryen? Sound off the comments!

Game of Thrones Season 3 teaser trailer premieres on HBO

HOW impatiently are we awaiting the March 31, 2013, premiere Season 3 of HBO’s Game of Thrones? Enough to be geeking out over a sound-and-graphicsonly teaser trailer that actually contains little and less.

The teaser ran tonight shortly before a new episode of Boardwalk Empire, and featured some portentous foreshadowing. “The great war is between death and life, ice and fire,” declares a disembodied female voice as three swords impale the “O” in GoT—

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 186 â&#x20AC;˘ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

TRAVEL ENTERTAINMENT

The vast shopping and dining area of Terminal 2

A detail of the undulating ceiling of Terminal 2

AFROMterminal... A1

for a ride to Kowloon) and efficient, but also offer a more laid-back 45-minute ride with exciting views of the many bridges and communities along the way. people who are on a such though may want to take a taxi or the Airport express for a quicker ride to the city center. i would suggest taking the cab when traveling in groups of three or four and taking the train when traveling solo (of course you still need to take a cab or transfer to another train to get to your final destination since the express train stops at only a few stations to and from the airport.) Departing Leaving Hong Kong is also a breeze and the Hong Kong international Airport

really shines here. The layout of the terminals and the check-in counters are clear and efficient. i also love the way the architecture of the terminals really inspire and harken back to the days when air travel is a thing of luxury. going around the terminal, one notices that the airport feels more like a mall, with a myriad of restaurants, bookstores, luxury boutiques, convenience stores, and even an iMAX theatre to satisfy the last minute need to shop. i love that the HKiA has a city vibe to it and departing from it makes me sad that i am leaving Hong Kong, but also excited and wanting to come back and be greeted again by this wonder of an airport.

One can even watch a movie on IMAX before their next flght.

SPORTS15

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 186 •TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2012

Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard follows through on a dunk during the second half of their NBA basketball game against the Houston Rockets in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 119-108. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Lakers rip Rockets without D’Antoni L

OS ANGELES (AP) -After just two practices and two games together, Kobe Bryant already can see Mike D’Antoni’s ideas and schemes improving the Los Angeles Lakers. Although a triple-double isn’t usually part of Bryant’s game plan, he happily picked it up along with another win for a team that has been revitalized before their new coach has even taken the court. Bryant had 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for his 18th career triple-double, and the Lak-

ers ran past the Houston Rockets 119-108 Sunday night for their fourth victory in five games since firing coach Mike Brown. Dwight Howard had 28 points and 13 rebounds, and Pau Gasol scored his 15,000th career point among his 17 as the Lakers returned to .500 by running away from their second straight opponent since D’Antoni took over their practices. Although D’Antoni and his surgically replaced knee haven’t even appeared on Los Angeles’ bench yet, his new team is already playing with passion and fluidity

it hadn’t showed during a miserable start to the season. ‘’We’re just picking apart the defense,’’ said Bryant, who also had three of Los Angeles’ 10 steals. ‘’We’re putting the defense in predicaments where they have to choose, and we’re making them pay.’’ D’Antoni watched his second straight game from the Lakers’ locker room while interim coach Bernie Bickerstaff ran the bench. D’Antoni decided earlier Sunday to delay his debut, giving him at least a few more days to recover from surgery.

bounds, and the Knicks bounced back from their first loss of the season, beating the Indiana Pacers 88-76 on Sunday. ‘’Last year we let this game slip away,’’ center Tyson Chandler said. ‘’It’s definitely the maturity of the team and obviously the maturity of the players. We got a lot of vets

around here that understand that these games add up. These are the games at the end of the year when you are in that dog fight and jockeying for position, these are the games that put you over or under.’’ JR Smith added 13 points and Raymond Felton had 11 for the

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, left, drives on Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich, middle, as he is screened out by Trail Blazers forward Jared Jeffries during the first quarter of their NBA basketball game in Portland. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)

Knicks bounce back N

EW YORK (AP) -- This was ugly, even before Jason Kidd’s unfortunate headband style. That’s fine with the New York Knicks, who are winning even when they don’t look good doing it. Carmelo Anthony had 26 points and nine re-

Indiana Pacers forward David West, left, looks to pass around the defense of New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) in the first half of their NBA basketball game at Madison Square

Garden in New York. Right, Jason Kidd (5) wears a headband after injuring his head. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Houston Rockets guard James Harden rolls over after being fouled by Los Angeles Lakers guard Jodie Meeks during the first half of their NBA basketball game.

Knicks in their only home game in a span of seven games. After falling 10595 at Memphis on Friday, the Knicks (7-1) go right back on the road to start another three-game trip Tuesday in New Orleans. Neither team shot 40 percent, but the Knicks, perhaps sluggish after a quick turnaround following Saturday morning’s return home, built a big early lead, went up by as much as 20 and were never challenged. ‘’Today was one of them days where we had to do it on the defensive end,’’ Anthony said. ‘’Offensively we were trying to find it, shots that we missed that we normally make. But on the defensive end for us to be in sync the way we are right now, especially this early in the season, that’s a good thing. We want to keep building on that.’’

The only thing they want to change is Kidd’s wardrobe, after watching a cut on his head force him into the headband that had its own Twitter account by the end of the game. ‘’Not a good look,’’ Anthony said. ‘’Today he had to do what he had to do, but we’re not going to allow that.’’ Paul George scored 20 points for the Pacers, who remained inept offensively as they played without leading scorer Danny Granger. They hoped they had broken out with an impressive 103-point performance against Dallas on Friday, but managed only 30 first-half points and committed 19 turnovers in the game. ‘’We turned the ball over way too much,’’ George said. ‘’When you look at it, we got 71 attempts and they got 90 at-

tempts and when you are playing a team as dangerous as New York is, you give them 20 more shots, of course you are going to get the results you got.’’ David West added 14 points in Indiana’s sixth straight road loss. The Pacers came in allowing an NBA-low 90.3 points per game but often wasting that without Granger, who is expected to miss three months with a sore left knee. They were averaging 87.8 points, 28th in the league, but were nowhere near that against a Knicks team that’s also good defensively. ‘’Our defense, you know, we’ve been No. 1 in the NBA right now defensively. We knew we could rely on that, but again, we’ve got to get more shots, better looks, more attempts and take care of the ball,’’ George added.

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EDGEDAVAO

Cali wins in ‘gung-ho’ style Champ turns off hometown fans with grandstanding By Neil Bravo

ESPITE the dominating win by Pacific X-treme Combat flyweight champion Ale ‘The Young Gun’ Cali against comebacking MMA veteran Erwin Tagle, his fans at home were turned off by his grandstanding antics. The 21-year old Davao City native, taunting and showboating through the one-sided fight, scored a dominant third round stoppage win in Saturday’s main event of PXC 34 at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

“He is a very talented fighter but his antics turn me off. He is a braggart and that’s not good for a champion,” said EDGE Davao editorial consultant and sports aficionado Ram Maxey who watched Cali’s fight on television. Another mixed martial art follower said Cali did not conduct himself well that night. “Pangit tingnan, ang yabang niya. Gusto ko nga matamaan sana at matalo kasi ang yabang talaga,” said the MMA fanatic. According to the television coveror AKTV

website, “Cali’s knockout power overcame the submission pedigree of Tagle, dominating the third round with his standup game until Tagle was unable to answer the bell for the fourth round.” Tagle held his own in the face of the vicious attack by Cali, a hard-hitting boxer. By the second round, Tagle was hurt and bloodied by Cali’s power-punching. He entered the third gasping as the champion taunted and toyed with him en route to the stoppage win.

ic X-Treme Combat 34 against Kyle Aguon of Guam over the weekend at the Smart Araneta. Grandeza threw the first kicks, wanting taller and more experienced Aguon to immediately fight back but instead waited for the right time to grab and pin down the Dabawenyo.

Aguon locked Grandeza’s right arm and when the Dabawenyo tried to break away, his left hand touched the canvass twice and the referee saw it as tap. “The referee called a tap but I did not. I was maneuvering for an escape and when I was about to get out, he (ref-

Grandeza `loses’ PXC fight

E did not tap the floor to signal the referee he is giving up the fight but the referee officiating saw it that way and ended the fight. Thus, it did not go well for Team Moo Duk Kwan’s Steve “Red Knight” Grandeza in his first fight in the Pacif-

eree) stopped the fight,” Grandeza said. Davao’s finest martial artist thanked his supporters Mayor Sara Zimmerman Duterte, Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, Councilor Paolo Z. Duterte, the vice may-

or’s executive assistant and sportsman Christopher “Bong” Go, Phoenix Petroleum Philippines through its CEO, Dennis uy and corporate manager Beethoven Sur, 105.9 Red Hot Mix FM, iFlex Fitness Gym, Redrock De-

signs, NIS Motors Corp. and Engr.Manny Gornez for the confidence given to him. “Thank you for believing in me,” said the World Kickboxing Federation K1 super welterweight champion.[MPB]