Edge Davao 5 Issue 207

EDGEDAVAO P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

VOL.5 ISSUE 207 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

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Environment

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Hope not lost for ‘Pablo 343’

By Aquiles Z. Zonio

F

ourteen days after Pablo, hope is not lost for the missing 343 fishermen.

Task Force Search & Rescue-GenSar remains in the “search & rescue mode” for the ‘Pablo 343’ although officials cautioned they do not want to

Sports

Search of Sar-Gen fishers reach Davao Oriental 47 boats unaccounted for give false hopes and could only hope and pray efforts will yield positive re-

Padayon ta sa pag-ampo!

sults.

The fishermen from the seaport city of General Santos and nearby Sarangani province went missing at sea at the height of typhoon Pablo.

FHOPE, 11

Page 14

Follow Us On GIVEAWAYS. Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio gives out Christmas giveaways to the detainees of the Davao City Jail as part of the Pasko Fiesta 2012 in Ma-a yesterday. Also in the photo are SSupt. Amelia V. Talento, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology regional director (3rd from left) and former Davao City Vice Mayor Louie Bonguyan (extreme right). LEAN DAVAL JR.

12 foreign relief shipments arrive

By Anthony S. Allada

F

OREIGN donations ASEAN neighbors Malaysia, have continued to Singapore, Indonesia send financial pour in as 12 more shipments arrived in Davao aid, relief goods City intended for distriDubai, Ireland ship tents bution to thousands of typhoon victims in the heavoverseas sources, the latest coming from ily-devastated provinces of Ireland.

Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.

In a press conference Tuesday afThe Inter-Agency One-Stop Shop, which was created to help expedite the ternoon, BOC-Davao district collector release of relief donations and manned Martiniano Bangcoy said BOC-Davao by the Bureau of Customs-Davao, al- reactivated the shop which was origiready confirmed 12 shipments from F12, 11

2 THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 207 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

Water service interruption in Toril, Indangan Dec. 20,22

T

hERE will be two water service interruptions affecting some areas in Toril and Indangan on December 20 and 22, the Davao City Water District announced.

According to the DCWD advisory, the first water cut is on December 20 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and will affect Green Prairie Subd., Purok 7 in Bangkas, Batulosa Village, Kristina homes, Purok 3, 5 and 6 in Lubogan, Toril Country homes, DLF Village, Dacoville Subd., Farlandville Subd., Susana homes III (Pag-ibig City), Rosalina Village 3 (Phase 1 – 3), Mindawide Relocation, IWhA Subd., Espina Subd., Ideal Subd., Sto. Rosario Village, Dusnai Village, Balai Village, Villa Josefina Subd. in Dumoy

and all their immediate environs.

The Davao Light and Power Company will have a power interruption on said schedule affecting DCWD’s Production Well in Lubogan to upgrade DLPC’s distribution line facilities along Lubogan Road.

Second water cut is on December 22 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and will affect Millenium Village, Adap Village and a portion of Indangan Road specifically from the corner of Millenium Village to the corner of Molave homes. Said water cut is needed to allow DCWD’s engineering crew to tap the newly installed 4-inch diameter Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipeline to the existing 8-inch diameter

FWATER, 11

Bangsamoro Basic Law

EO creating special commission signed

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RESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III yesterday issued Executive Order No. 120 creating a Transition Commission (TC) that will draft the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law. The Framework Agreement signed by the Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) last October 15 provides for the crafting of a law that will serve as the operative law of the Bangsamoro entity.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles said the EO “affirms the President’s resolve to move forward the peace process for the Bangsamoro as a strategic initiative for political stability and economic development.”

The peace adviser added that the EO also provides a mechanism for authentic democratic collaboration in the crafting of a proposed law where the affected people

themselves are actively involved.

The EO creates a 15-member TC that will be appointed by the President. The Government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front shall come up with a list of candidates from among the Bangsamoro and other residents in the prospective core area of the new political entity.

It is also provided that the TC may put up an office and coordinate with other government agencies and Congress to get its work done. It has an initial budget allocation of P100 million.

According to the Executive Order, the TC may also recommend to Congress and the people, when necessary, proposed amendments to the Constitution.

“The aim is to install the Bangsamoro through a new organic act as soon as possible in order to have an elected Bangsamoro

FBANGSAMORO, 11

PANAYGON. SACES Children’s Choir performs during the Panaygon Competition children’s category along San Pedro Street Monday night. Panaygon competition is part of the month-long celebration of Pasko Fiesta 2012. LEAN DAVAL JR.

Casiño welcomes antidiscrimination ordinance P

ARTy list Rep. Teddy Casiño (Bayan Muna) welcomed the passage of the anti-discrimination ordinance in Davao City saying that it is a positive development in lieu of the passage of his authored Anti-Discrimination Bill.

The Davao City Council passed the ordinance

last week, penalizing discriminatory acts directed against individuals by reason of sexual orientation, religion, disabilities, color, and ethnicity.

The passage of the ordinance was described as “another landmark legislation” for the Sangguniang Panglungsod. It comes at the heels of a

snowballing movement localizing the ADO Bill.

Last October, the Cebu City Council also passed a landmark ordinance that penalizes any form of discrimination against persons with disability (PWDs), different sexual preferences, ethnicity and religion.

Rep. Casiño is the au-

thor of house Bill 1483, also known as the LGBT Rights bill, which is already at the Bicameral Committee and has been incorporated with other discrimination issues involving race, ethnicity, religion and others.

The Davao City version of the ADO provides

Public Works and highways and humanitarian partners have pledged to help rebuild and/or repair classrooms, but that “it takes time.” By way of temporary remedy, learning spaces would be put up to serve as the schoolchildren’s informal education.

Atillo said classes are gradually back to normal in some areas of the two provinces and by January

13 next year, all learning spaces shall have been set up and school children would be ready to return to school.

But only 20 percent of schoolchildren and teachers have returned to school after classes resumed in their areas.

“That’s why, we are appealing for them to report now to their respective schools, especially the teachers,” he said.

(P100,000) Pesos grand prize. he works for almost 2 years now as security guard for businessman Uy Ching Siong at the latter’s Davao Farms Corp. Sabdula’s winning ticket no.

05965 was sold by yMCA president-elect Leoncio “Nonoy” Villa-Abrille.

Sabdula has always been dreaming of owning a motorcycle. his monthly paycheck however is only enough for his daily needs.

But one day he gambled and tried his luck. he borrowed P100 and bought himself one raffle ticket.

True enough, he won for

himself P100,000 cash, the best ever Christmas gift he got in his life.

Nelson Villamor, holder of ticket no. 13667 won the 2nd prize for Seventy-Five Thousand (P75,000) Pesos. Past president Jose “Joe” Custodio was the ticket seller; and Eva Busilaoco won Fifty Thousand (P50,000) Pesos, the 3rd prize, for her ticket no. 10395. PP Ricardo “Dick” Villegas was the solicitor.

Four of the ten (10) consolation prizes of P5,000 each, were sold by

FCASIÑO, 11

Pablo destroyed P729-M worth of classrooms

By Anthony S. Allada

T

hE Department of Education 11 has accounted P729,438,000 worth of classrooms damaged by typhoon Pablo in the provinces of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.

This according to data presented by Jenielito Atillo, spokesperson of DepEd 11, during the Inter-Agency OneStop Shop press confer-

ence at the Bureau of Customs here Tuesday afternoon.

Atillo said classrooms in the towns of Boston, Cateel, Baganga and Caraga in Davao Oriental were either totally or partially damaged while a number of classrooms were totally destroyed in New Bataan and Compostela town in Compostela Valley.

The Department of

YMCA cash raffle results out

T ASSISTANCE. Vice Mayor Arturo Monday of Baganga, Davao Oriental (4th from left), receives a chainsaw and construction materials from the Liga ng mga Barangay-Davao City rep-

EDGEDAVAO

resented by Brgy. Captain Edgar Ibuyan Jr. of Barangay 5-A (extreme right) at the office of Coun. Paolo Z. Duterte, ABC president yesterday. LEAN DAVAL JR.

hE young Men’s Christian Association (yMCA) of Davao, Inc. officially announced the winners of the grand draw of its raffle promo drawn on December 16 during its “Dinner for a Cause.”

The Christmas dinner was co-hosted by The Apo View hotel and held simultaneously with the yMCA Christmas ‘12 Fellowship at the hotel’s Grand Ballroom.

Michael Sabdula of SWAG Security Agency is the lucky winner of the One hundred Thousand

FYMCA, 11

SUBURBIA

EDGEDAVAOVOL.5 ISSUE 207 •WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

3

Religious congregation, radio stations extend aid to typhoon Pablo victims

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Catholic missionary congregation, its media outlets and residents of Central Mindanao raised funds and relief goods for the victims of typhoon “Pablo” in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.

May Leoncito Pinol, acting station manager of happy FM in Koronadal City, a radio station owned

by Oblates of Mary Immaculate, said calls for help were aired over five radio stations of the Notre Dame Broadcasting Corporation (NDBC) and were answered by generous people.

“We are very happy people responded aggressively, we are energized to extend help in whatever way we can for the benefit of flood victims in ComVal and Davao Oriental,” said Pinol, also NDBC regional marketing executive.

Earlier, Fr. Edgar Tuling, parish priest of New Bataan, Compostela Valley, went on air over NDBC radio stations and appealed for help.

“This is our humble response to the calls” aired

by Fr. Tuling whose parish priest was heavily devastated by typhoon Pablo two weeks ago.

Pinol, OMF-NDBC-IWatch Productions “Operation Tulong Pablo” chief d’mission, said the team will distribute relief goods, food packs, rice and water to affected families in New

MOVING ON. Churchgoers of San Antonio De Padua Parish in Cabinuangan, New Bataan head home after attending the first ‘Simbang Gabi’ Holy Mass celebration Sunday morning. To date, 398 persons perished in the recent Typhoon Pablo onslaught while over 300 are still missing in the town. (DSWD/Carmela Cadigal-Duron) MOVING ON. Churchgoers of San Antonio De Padua Parish in Cabinuangan, New Bataan head

home after attending the first ‘Simbang Gabi’ Holy Mass celebration Sunday morning. To date, 398 persons perished in the recent Typhoon Pablo onslaught while over 300 are still missing in the town. [DSWD/Carmela Cadigal-Duron]

Bataan, Compostela Valley.

To be accompanied by the 57th Infantry Battalion and some Oblate priests and volunteers, the relief mission will left Kidapawan City, the center of relief operations, at 3 a.m.

Tuesday for New Bataan.

Radyo Bida and hap-

py FM stations along with the Diocese of Kidapawan, 602nd Army Brigade and the North Cotabato provincial government delivered the first batch of relief goods to Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental last Wednesday.

The second relief mis-

sion, and the biggest so far, will be distributed Wednesday to New Bataan.

“Thank you and may the Lord God bless you for your generosity,” Father Jonathan Domingo, NDBC chief executive officer, said. [PNA]

times as long as he can well provide for the basic needs of his families such as food, clothing, shelter and education to children. ”The ARMM Rh law has been deliberated lengthily with the Darul Ifta, supreme assembly of Islamic religious leaders, and has been approved by various sectors,” Sulu 2nd District Assemblywoman Irene Tillah, author of the new law, said.

Tillah added that the regional version of the Rh law also corresponds with Muslim couples intimacy practices as it safeguards the preferment of natural family planning.

“We see no problem with Muslim males having multiple wives as long as couples abide with proper birth spacing of their children to enjoy comfortable lives,” she added. hataman said that

with the approval of the new law, the ARMM government would kick off soon its Rh and family planning assistance to its constituents. “We just want ARMM mothers and children the right to live healthily,” the governor said.

Without giving specifics, the governor noted that the ARMM has one of the highest mortality rates in the country. [PNA]

International Airport.

Major. Gen. Jorse Segovia, commanding general of Eastmincom, led the giving of the award to the group and its members, who were involved in the search and rescue operations conducted in the devastated areas by typhoon Pablo, particularly in the province of Compostela Valley.

Segovia personally expressed his happiness for the help extended by the Korean group, which did not just sympathize with the typhoon victims but actively participated in efforts to rescue missing victims.

“We really have good Samaritans out there who selflessly extended their

helping hands to those experiencing hardships while surviving from the wrath of the typhoon,” he said.

For its part, the foreign group was also thankful for the warm accommodation given them in their stay here and assured to be back when their help is needed. [PNA]

ARMM RH law responds to Muslim tradition on multiple marriages

A

S both Upper and Lower houses of Congress approved Monday the passing into law of the Reproductive health (Rh) bill, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) caretaker Governor Mujiv hataman inked on same day the region’s own version of the Rh law in accordance to Muslim practice.

Muslim tradition allows males to marry four

AFP cites Koreans in rescue operations

T

hE Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom) awarded a plaque of commendation to the Korean Rescue Emergency Foundation (Samaritan 911) and an EMC medallion to each of the 16 members during the send-off ceremony Monday morning at the VIP Lounge of the Davao

GPH commends MILF for not displaying firearms in public

T

hE government peace panel Tuesday lauded the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) for preventing its armed followers from displaying their firearms and military uniform in public in the aftermath of the signing of the Framework Agreement on Bangsamoro (FAB).

Army Brigadier General Gilberto Roa, chair of the government peace panel’s coordinating committee on the cessation of hostilities, said the MILF gesture would help fast track the restoration of confidence and avoid misunderstanding later.

“This gesture of the MILF will help improve the ceasefire mechanism being implemented on the ground as both sides continue peace negotiations aimed at ending the decades old armed conflict in southern Philippines,” Roa said.

The MILF gesture also earned the admiration of Philippine Army chief Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista. he said it will help fast track the peace process leading to the peace agreement that will bene-

fit Bangsamoro people.

Last week, the MILF has been criticized after its armed followers displayed firepower and military uniform while attending various fora on the Framework Agreement in Maguindanao and other Muslim communities.

Local officials raised the issue to prevent misunderstanding and fear among the locals.

Von Al haq, speaking for the MILF, said the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, the military arm of the MILF, has been strictly directed to refrain from carrying firearms outside their military camps.

“We inform them that the FAB does not give or entitle any MILF armed follower to carry firearms outside identified areas because it is a violation to the general agreement on the cessation of hostilities,” Al haq said.

Gen. Roa also warned individuals allegedly recruiting members to become part of the Bangsamoro police force once the peace agreement is signed. [PNA]

4

SCIENCE / ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 207 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

2012 a banner year for PHL in environmental protection

EDGEDAVAO

By Catherine J. Teves

y

EAR 2012 emerged as the banner year for the Philippines in terms of environmental protection efforts.

The country gained international recognition for being one of the world’s strong environmental performers.

From 50th spot in 2010, the country rose to 42nd place among 132 countries ranked in the 2012 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) of yale University, Columbia University, European Commission and World Economic Forum.

“This only showed our environmental policies and programs were correct,” Department of Environment and Natural Resources(DENR)Sec. Ramon Paje said.

EPI ranks countries on performance indicators tracked across policy categories covering environmental, public health and ecosystem vitality. The indicators provide a gauge on how close the countries are to respective established environmental policy goals.

“We gained perfect scores in five indicators,” Paje said.Three of such indicators are forestry-related.

“Those are protecting forest cover, reforestation and raising sequestration of carbon emissions by increasingly growing forests nationwide,” he said.

The two other indicators are agricultural subsidies for lowland and upland farmers and reducing outdoor air pollution. The government has started implementing several initiatives related to such indicators.

In 2011, Malacanang released Executive Order 23 which aims to increase Philippine forest cover as well as to enhance ecological balance and biodiversity nationwide. The EO 23 bans logging in natural

forests across the country.

Government deemed the logging ban necessary as studies showed Philippine forests cover in 2004 already shrank to a mere 24 percent of the country’s 30 million hectares total land area from 70 percent in the early 1900s.

Authorities likewise reported the Philippines registered, during the 20002005 period alone, an annual forest cover loss rate of 2.1 percent. They noted the country’s loss rate was Southeast Asia’s second fastest and the seventh most rapid in the world.

Illegal logging, land conversion and “kaingin” or slash-and-burn practices were among the causes of deforestation nationwide. Paje said Malacanang was bent on imposing the logging ban. he assured DENR’s continuing efforts to curb illegal logging.

Such efforts include sacking DENR personnel who will be found either involved in such illicit activity or remiss in stopping this.

In mid-2012, DENR announced the sacking of 31 of its officials for failing to curb illegal logging in their respective areas of jurisdiction. “The government’s anti-illegal logging bid continues to gaining ground,” Paje noted. he said that before the issuance of EO 23, there were 197 municipalities in 51 provinces identified as illegal logging hot spots.

“The number of such hot spots dropped to 28 municipalities in 11 provinces,” he reported in late November 2012.

DENR also noted that nationwide timber extraction occurred at a rate of about 300 million board feet (BF) per year before EO 23’s enforcement. Paje said government already confiscated some 19.2 mil-

lion BF of illegally sourced forest products as of September this year.

DENR donates confiscated wood to Department of Education (DepEd) which were then made into school furniture. A total of 546 cases have been filed against parties implicated in illegal logging convicting 72 parties found involved in the illicit activity.

Paje said DENR is partnering with Department of Justice (DOJ) to help improve case build-up against parties accused of engaging in illegal logging.

“We want to bring before justice financiers of such activity,” he said.

The military is already spearheading government’s anti-illegal logging campaign in CARAGA region where DENR said illicit tree-cutting remains serious. “Illegal logging groups there are armed so we need the military,” Paje noted.

To help boost reforestation nationwide, Malacanang issued last year Executive Order 26 which instituted the 2011-2016 National Greening Program (NGP). NGP targets reforesting 1.5 million hectares of open, denuded and degraded land nationwide using some 1.5 billion seedlings of indigenous and exotic tree species.

By implementing NGP, government hopes to reverse the denudation trend that characterized forest land nationwide for decades. Government launched NGP in mid-2011 with an initial greening target of 100,000 hectares for that year.

Since the launch, DENR reported about 142.6 million seedlings have been planted in over 232,000 hectares of land nationwide. “The program also generated over 364,000 jobs,” DENR said.

The 2012 fourth quarter NGP accomplishment report also shows government and its private partners were already able to plant some 62.16 million seedlings in 130,942 hectares of land as of Nov. 12 this year.

Such accomplishment represents about 65 percent of the 200,000 hectares government targets greening under NGP this 2012. Government projects NGP to increasingly result in more vegetated than denuded forest land beginning 2013.

Experts continue advocating regeneration and sustainable management

of forests, noting these perform several functions ranging from water resources and soil protection to natural habitat and biodiversity conservation.

Forests are also sources of food and raw materials particularly for uplanders who generally continue being impoverished. Experts likewise cited forests as being capable of absorbing carbon emissions.

They identified such emissions as among greenhouse gases that accumulate in the atmosphere and trap heat there, raising global temperature that drives climate change.

DENR projects NGP

to help raise nationwide carbon sequestration by some eight percent. From 36 million tons per year, Forest Management Bureau (FMB) Dir. Ricardo Calderon said estimated volume of carbon dioxide (CO2) that forests can naturally sequester or remove from the atmosphere is targeted increasing to nearly 39 million tons annually.

DENR noted photosynthesis enables trees to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and store carbon in roots, stems and leaves of these. Forests serve as carbon storage areas when left intact, DENR also said.

[PNA]

pagbabago ng klima,” said Sering.

And because what was agreed upon in the latest Doha talks was to reduce 18 percent below the 1990 levels, she said, “ang ibig pong sabihin nito -kung patuloy na ganito lang ang commitment ng developed countries ay maaaring trajectory ng tinatawag nila na impact ng two degree to four degree ay mangyayari.”

Sering said the United States, Canada and Japan had already pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol as they do not agree to the second commitment.

“So ang nangyayari po, we had an 18 percent reduction only and there is another 82 percent that is not captured as what science actually requires. So kung isasama natin siya sa impact ng pang-ekonomiya, isa kasing rason ng ibang countries is hindi pa talaga klaro kaya kahit ’yung mga pledges na nilagay ng European Union ay kinokonsider pa rin naming weak dahil

ayon naman sa kanila hindi pa rin nila alam ‘yung full implication ng reduction ng greenhouse gas and up to what percentage,” she said.

So overall, Sering said, “the Doha talks, based on the developing country perspective, is weak.”

But, she said, they are still “very hopeful” that by next year this will improve.

“Paghahandaan po natin ‘yung usapin na mangyayari sa 2015 kung saan ay balitaktakang napakatindi po ang mangyayari. Kaya ang Pilipinas naman ngayon ay naghahanda na ng pag-aaral kasama ng Departments of Energy, Agriculture, and Transportation (and Communications), kung anong klaseng targets ang ating ipi-pledge if ever by 2015. Wala pa tayong pag-aaral kung anong klaseng impact nito pero napag-uumpisahan na po kung papaano natin mare-reach ’yung target na ’yon by 2015,” she said.

[PNA]

Doha talks ‘weak’ T

hE latest Doha talks was “weak” as only a few countries agreed to a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol in the reduction of carbon emissions, setting only to 18 percent from 1990 levels by 2020.

“Doha talk was considered weak, almost in all fronts,” said Secretary Lucille Sering, vice chair of the Climate Change Commission during a press briefing in Malacanang.

“Ang napagkasunduan lang, although may second commitment period ay 18 percent lamang below 1990 levels,” she said. The Climate Change Commission believes this is not enough to prevent a further increase in global temperatures.

“Ang problema po kasi dito, alam natin na ayon sa mga siyentipiko na ang dahilan ng paginit ng panahon ay dahil sa greenhouse gas at ang pag-init ng panahon o ang pagtaas ng temperatura ay siyang dahilan ng

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 207 •WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

THE ECONOMY

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Park Inn Davao opens in February 2013

By Che Palicte

P

ARK Inn by Raddison Davao, the first NexGen Park Inn by Raddison in Asia Pacific, will formally open in February 2013. It is located next to the newly opened SMX Convention Center and SM Mall Lanang, only a 15-minute ride from the Davao International Airport.

The hotel is a short drive from major tourist attractions, beaches and museums of Davao. Designed to suit the needs of business and leisure travelers, it has 204 guest rooms, one restaurant, four meeting rooms that can accommodate 45 persons each, a swimming pool, fitness center and pool bar. The hotel’s “living room” concept provides guests with a lifestyle hub where they can socialize and relax in the spacious Lobby area or enjoy a book and other media materials in the Park Inn Lounge. Guests can expect vibrant décor, complimentary in-room high speed internet, as well as the signature Adding Colors to Life service concepts which aims to exceed expectations.

Food and beverage options at the hotel in-

INVESTMENT. Ryan Guadalquiver, managing director of Hewlett-Packard Philippines, reveals the company’s plan to invest in Davao City for 2013 during a meeting with the stakeholders at the Davao City Investment Promotion Center in R. Magsaysay Ave. Monday afternoon. LEAN DAVAL JR.

clude RBG (Restaurant Bar and Grill), a hip allday dining restaurant.

RBG is a bold new bar and grill concept that de-

livers buzz and ambience, great food and friendly service in a modern setting. Fresh ingredients, charcoal-grilled meats

and fish, locally-inspired specialties and classic dishes make up RBG’s menu which is updated periodically.

The hotel room rates are less expensive than the major hotels in Davao, according to Gier Sikko, the general man-

ager of Park Inn. he said that guests could have an uncomplicated stay and will be surrounded by a friendly environment.

6 THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 207 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Sun offers greater business revenues via Xpressload Pro Enterprise service S

UN Business, the corporate solutions arm of Sun Cellular, presents enterprises with a new way of doing business by tapping on the growing network and top-up technology of its mother brand and offering the Xpressload Pro Enterprise service.

“We offer entrepreneurs an easy yet sustainable business opportunity that’s designed to generate additional revenues for their businesses, without necessarily requiring additional manpower and substantial increase in overhead expenses,” says Michele Curran, Vice President of Sun Business Marketing.

The Xpressload Pro Enterprise service is an online-based solution which allows enterprises to facilitate the selling of loads for Sun Cellular Prepaid subscriptions. Boasting a user-friendly technology, this service can be easily integrated into existing point of sales, making it cost-efficient and convenient to manage loading transactions.

Launched in August of this year, Curran said that plenty of businesses from diverse industry backgrounds have already been reaping the revenue benefits of the Xpressload Pro Enterprise service. Among its clients are renowned players in the retail, banking, money-lending, global remittances and commercial loading industries of the country.

With the rapid growth and rising consumer

SNACK FOOD. These women prefer a steaming hot traditional Filipino snack food --boiled corn--from a vendor despite a steadily increasing price in corn as an aftermath of typhoon Pablo that hit the region and destroyed agricultural crops. LEAN DAVAL JR.

preference for over-theair loading transactions, Curran highlighted that the Xpressload Pro service would make a sustainable means for every business to take part in Sun’s continuously growing network, as well as in the booming telecommunication industry of the country.

“As one of our most sought-for solutions and loading channels, we are glad to have been getting great reviews about the Xpressload Pro service, not just because of the

greater revenues it generates for our corporate clients, but also from the greater convenience it gives our individual consumers who get a wider access to our products and services,” says Curran.

To know more about the Xpressload Pro solutions of Sun Business, visit www.sunbusiness.com. ph or call the 24/7 Sun Business hotline at (02) 395-8PRO (8776). Sun Business is powered by Sun Cellular, a member of the PLDT Group.

clusivity period for the talks between the shareholders of BPI and PNB lapsed last December 15, 2012. We will immediately inform the Exchange should there be any new developments,” she said.

BPI and PNB officials remained mum on the talks about the banks’ possible merger.

Earlier, BPI President and chief executive Aurelio Montinola said the banks were in discussions “but there’s nothing to

disclose.” “Only time will tell whether eventually there might be something to disclose,” he said.

The BPI chief said they wanted to grow organic “because it gives us the flexibility to take care of our customers and train our employees so that they can take care of our customers.”

“That’s really still the main event for BPI. If something comes up then we’ll look at it,” he said.

[PNA]

BPI, PNB merger dialogues lapsed T hE timeframe of discussions for possible tie-up of the Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Island (BPI) and Lucio Tan’s Philippine National Bank (PNB) has ended.

In a disclosure with the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), PNB Corporate Secretary Doris Te said PNB has “not received any official communication on the matter.”

“We note that the ex-

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 207 •WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Christmas: It’s merrier in thePhilippines!

7

By Loretta Allarey-Paje

F

ILIPINOS who work abroad and cannot go home to the Philippines for the yuletide relate home sickness and feeling the blues the most around this time of the year. And they have all the right reasons.

It is often said that in the Philippines, people have the longest and merriest celebration of Christmas than anywhere else in the world, filled with interesting and colorful customs and traditions – both age-old and modern - that revolve around families.

Old Traditions here in the country, Christmas unofficially starts at the advent of the “ber” months. Come September each year, radios start playing Christmas songs. Malls play them, too, enticing consumers to start shopping early for the holiday gift-giving.

After the observance of All Saints’ Day on November 1, people start decorating their home for Christmas, putting out and adorning the trees, assembling the Belen or nativity scene and hanging out the “parol” or lantern.

At the onset of December, preparations come at a feverish peak. At this time, malls around the country teem with shoppers looking for gifts to give their family, friends and godchildren. Wellknown shopping meccas Divisoria, Baclaran and Quiapo are filled with zealous bargain-hunters.

“Tiangges” or flea markets abound to give consumers more shopping avenues.

Meanwhile, wives and mothers line up at

the supermarkets, armed with lists of food items needed for their planned Noche Buena feast. On the streets when darkness falls, children in groups go from house to house for the “caroling”, singing Christmas songs by the gates in exchange for money, and are usually handed out a few coins.

In schools and offices, classmates and co-workers, respectively, do the “monito monita” or Kris Kringle, which is essentially themed gift-giving.

Because givers have to comply with the theme, creativity and ingenuity come out of individuals especially when the theme becomes quite tricky and challenging such as “something long” or “something weird”.

This is done for several days, usually culminating during the class or company Christmas party.

This tradition spells fun and excitement, moreso because the “monito” doesn’t know who his “monita” is until the last day of gift-giving.

On the 16th of December, Christmas celebration officially starts at the onset, too, of Misa de Gallo or Simbang Gabi, the dawn masses usually held at 4 a.m., for nine days ending on the 24th.

Ardent church goers fight sleepiness, get up in the wee hours of the morning, and brave the cold December weather to get to the nearest church.

After the mass, they queue at stalls usually put up in the vicinity of churches to eat the traditional Christmas fares “bibingka” (rice cake) and “puto bumbong” (cylindrical cake) paired with

steaming salabat or ginger tea or a cup of hot chocolate. Filipinos believe that those who complete the nine-day Misa de Gallo will have their wishes granted by the Creator.

When the 24th of December dawns, everyone looks forward to the Noche Buena, the grand Christmas meal at the strike of 12 midnight, December 25, and before this, the traditional gift-giving to family and godchildren. For Noche Buena, one can almost always expect to see “hamon” (ham) and queso de bola on the table, as well as “lechon” (roasted pig) for the more affluent.

After Christmas Day, people prepare to welcome the New year, when families partake of an equally grand meal called Media Noche. Filipinos are known for their noisy New year revelries because of the popularity of and, in many areas, unregulated use of firecrackers, such that hospitals, on the first day of the New year and even days prior to it, become filled

with patients injured by firecracker blast. yuletide celebrations end on the first Sunday of January, the Feast of the Three Kings also known as the Feast of the Epiphany. On this day, the manifestation of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles represented by the Three Wise Men from the East – Melchor, Balthazar and Gaspar – is remembered. In some places in the country, a street parade is held by three men depicting the Three Kings, dressed in robes and riding on horses, and throwing candies to children waiting for them along the roads. yuletide season in modern times While age-old traditions are still observed to this day to celebrate Christmas in the Philippines, there are also new ones that have emerged and become part of modern yuletide celebrations in the country. In the olden times, Filipino families spent Christmas Day holding reunions inside the home, but in recent years, celebrations and merry-making have gone outdoors, with many families, particularly those in the metropolis, preferring to go to the malls, theme parks, or watching shows in entertainment centers.

For instance, when Star City in Pasay opened its doors to the public in 1991, it has become a must for the young ones to visit it at Christmas time, to experience the thrills of various rides and attractions. Since then, other theme parks have opened to include the Manila Ocean Park and Enchanted Kingdom in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, and all these are jam-packed with people during the month of December, especially the days leading

to Christmas and the big day itself.

Also, these days, many business and government areas seem to outdo each other in putting up dazzling and extravagant Christmas displays, which have become popular attractions. Whereas before, only the then popular COD Department Store in Cubao, Quezon City put up an animated Christmas display to entertain shoppers and passersby.

Today, even a residential area is offering similar attraction - the Policarpio Street in Mandaluyong City. From January to October, this quiet street wouldn’t get a second look from passersby but come November and December, this area comes to life at night through the rows of houses lightened in all corners by millions of Christmas bulbs. The houses offer such a spectacular sight that since 1995, it has become a must for many people to visit this area at Christmas time. Business-minded people have taken advantage of the throngs of visitors to Policarpio St. and have wisely put up stalls selling toys, clothes, gift items and refreshments.

Nowadays, popular, too, is the Christmas Light and Sound Show at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City, the country’s business district.

The stunning attraction features over a million LED (light-emitting diode) lights that “dance” or flicker to the tune of a mixture of traditional and modern songs. The free show is on every 30 minutes from 6 to 9 p.m. and is watched not only

by Makati residents and workers but also by people from other areas in Metro Manila and even

nearby provinces.

Likewise becoming a modern holiday tradition of sorts for some urban dwellers is the Disney musical show at the Araneta Coliseum. Staged by the cartoon characters made popular by the American multinational mass media corporation Walt Disney, the show is popular among children and watched by many families from Christmas Day until after New year’s Day. Meanwhile, since 1975, the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) has been held annually, and for many Filipinos, watching the participating films has become part of their Christmas celebrations.

During the course of the festival, only these films, and no foreign ones, are shown in theaters around the country starting on Christmas Day. Before this, a grand parade of floats is held with the Rizal Park in Manila as starting point. Each float represents a movie entry for the film festival, and the actors ride on it during the parade, which is much anticipated and joined by film enthusiasts and starstruck fans in the metropolis. however, the main highlight of the festival is the awards night, where major accolades are given to the deserving actors who starred in the MMFF film entries.

When all the merry-making, shopping and eating sprees have been done with, it’s time to put down the Christmas tree, the parol and Belen after the Feast of the Three Kings.

Life is back to normal, to the usual grind at work and school, but count on Filipinos to start looking forward to the next yuletide season. [PNA]

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 207 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Next step is gun control ( 1st of two parts ) ANALYSIS

By Celinda lake and JoShua uliBarri

Q

EDITORIAL

Time to move on

W

ITh Congress finally putting an end to the long debate on the controversial Reproductive health Bill, it is now time for our people to unite and move on. house Bill 4244 and Senate Bill 2865 will henceforth become an amalgam of what will soon be the Rh Law after the bicameral committee shall have reconciled versions of both houses.

Like any debate, the heat of battle is now history and all that is left is a country ready to face the consequences of its chosen path. What we gained from the passage of the controversial measure is the appreciation of democracy’s blessings where everyone can freely express his or her ideas on even the most delicate of topics such as sex and personal choices.

The Church for one departed from the constitutional bounds of the separation of Church and State and expressed passionately its opposition to the Rh Bill, keeping the debate on the platform of morality and religious doctrines.

Proponents of the measure on the other hand anchored their arguments on

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empowering women, arresting poverty and protecting the welfare of children.

The long, protracted battle swung us back and forth to the varying opinions, from promiscuity to liberality on one hand to life conservation and morality on the other.

In the buildup towards the final voting, however, the issues were filtered and misconceptions were corrected.

Gone are the arguments that bordered on the ridiculous and stupid. These are signs that we have matured as a country and we have deepened our understanding of the real issues of this strongly-debated measure. Although we cannot also avoid that there are still legislators in the house and Senate whose votes are more influenced by self-preservation “in aid of reelection.”

Now that Congress has spoken as representatives of the people, it is time for the government to focus on the bigger picture and the more pressing concerns that are all intertwined with the Reproductive health measure—strengthening the economy, generating jobs, and promoting social justice.

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UITE frankly, thoughts and prayers can only go so far.

They have limited ability to protect our families. The time has come for our elected leaders – including President Barack Obama – to stand up and fight for our families and children, and their safety.

Obama’s comments Friday after the shooting tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, where 20 little children were killed along with six adults in the Sandy hook Elementary School, were personal and touching. yet the president’s only allusion to something like gun control were his words about taking “meaningful action.”

But the American people support stronger gun safety measures more than he believes or cares to say. Polls now demonstrate this to be true.

When our children are being shot at and killed in their schools, or movie theaters, we have to take meaningful action. These tragedies are too frequent, and are, as the president said, heartbreaking.

We need to talk about gun laws. We need an open and honest debate about the tragedies happening in our communities, one after another. There are common-sense laws that can help prevent these tragedies, and Americans support them.

The “Fix Gun Checks Act,” if passed, would make it tougher for the mentally ill to legally buy guns by strengthening background checks so people like James holmes (the Aurora shooter) can’t acquire guns. Ninety percent of Americans want to fix gaps in government databases that allow the mentally ill or drug users from buying guns. Even gun owners support the laws.

Eighty-two percent of gun owners (National Rifle Association and nonNRA members) believe that a criminal background check should be required for anyone purchasing a gun, according to data released by Republican pollster Frank Luntz for Mayors Against Illegal Guns earlier this year, 76 percent of gun owners support prohibiting people on the terrorist watch list from buying guns, 80 percent support mandatory gun safety training for anyone applying for a concealed permit, and 78 percent of gun owners believe that concealed permits should only be granted to applicants who have not committed violent misdemeanors.

The NRA, which fights against all this, is out of touch — even with its own membership. Its power to dictate this debate has to be challenged.

The data on assault weapons is just as telling. The man identified Friday as the gunman, Adam Lanza was armed with semiautomatic pistols and a semiautomatic rifle and the killers in Aurora and Portland both used an AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle.

Sixty-three percent of Americans said they favor a nationwide ban on assault weapons, according to a 2011 CBS/New york Times poll, and 63 percent favored banning high-capacity magazines that hold many rounds of ammunition.

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL.5 ISSUE 207 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

RH Bill dispute is finally over

N ADVOCACy WORTh OUR SUPPORT AND COOPERATION – Just the other day, Congress had put the final polish on the highly controversial Reproductive health Bill or Rh Bill, in which the house of Representatives voted 133 in favor, 79 against and 7 abstained. Meanwhile the Senate voted 13 in favor and 8 against the approval of the bill. It’s just a matter of time or probably before the end of the year when President Benigno Aquino III finally signs the bill into law.

After months of being severely pounded by harsh critics led by the influential Catholic Church hierarchy, the intense debates are finally over. But the anti-RH Bill forces, who are badly disheartened and upset over the decision of Congress, blame President PNoy solely for alleged “parliamentary interference.” Also, they fesl that it was a “day of mourning” for the Filipino nation.

One primary reason for their strong opposition is the allegation that the Aquino government resorts to family planning and birth control program to reduce fertility levels and population growth rates, but actually not to improve women’s overall health and well-being. Overbearing church leaders, in particular, even seek the help of pro-life advocates and women’s groups including media to support them put women’s issues in a proper perspective. The move aims to demonstrate that reproductive health deserves as much space as stories of politics, crime and violence.

For the Rh Bill detractors, the past months and week of intense debates in Congress are simply a matter of sluggish reaction to the quick changing news cycles. They pointed out that the main issue of the government’s reproductive health policy revolve around the “anti-life and anti-family laws and practices into our social order.” And besides, they stood firm in their opinion that certain provisions

A

S good and as spectacular was Nonito Donaire’s KO victory over tough Jorge Arce, it cannot take away the pain in the many fans who are still grieving over the shock defeat of Manny Pacquiao to Juan Manuel Marquez.

To proclaim that it redeemed the pride of the Philippines is to take away the honor from Donaire who, while he is no Pacquiao, is already in a class of his own.

In boxing, the only payback is a reversal of one’s loss to the one who inflicted it.

After taking the risk by accepting a fourth fight, the only way Pacquiao can exact revenge is to seek a fifth fight and take care of business. I think it was premature for his handlers to print a T-shirt which said “FINIShED BUSINESS.” Whatever they meant by it, the loss took away its intended message and meaning.

It is not Donaire’s business to take revenge for Pacquiao’s defeat.

Donaire was there Sunday to continue building his own name and be the man of his own.

Pacquiao would surely understand that Donaire will eventually have to step out of his shadow.

Donaire is a fine boxer. One of the finest the Philippines has ever produced.

In another time and generation, ev-

in the Rh Bill promotes and leads to abortion, therefore it’s a case of corruptionmentally and physically. Is that so, monsignors?

Moreover, severe critics say that if we were to examine past experiences, the several millions of pesos that government has previously earmarked for its population control and family planning program have not produce appreciable results. It traces the progression of international population policy when past and present government faced with dwindling resources and fast-growing population that they began trying to control birth rates. But most of the methods introduced by our current lawmakers to accomplish their objectives on birth control and family planning procedures were focused solely on limiting women’s capability to bear children.

And for the displeased and disappointed critics, government reproductive health program is more than mere statistics because it often neglected women’s real needs and concerns. Too often, though, women end up being treated as mere tools in a campaign to tow down population growth rates. Since the start of the debates, over-assuming church leaders, pro-life advocates and women’s groups decided to intervene in every twist and turn aimed at making lawmakers realize that lifting women’s status in life by providing them with education, skills training and jobs along with ensuring their political participation and physical well-being was more a permanent approach to man-

aging population rather than plunged contraceptives into them.

With the anti-Rh Bill groups marching on the streets and spewing lot of diatribes, however, it lamentably offered nothing to help solve the country’s worsening population problem and ease out the burden faced by the government. Goodness gracious! Despite all the tirades coming from different directions, the Aquino administration remains unfazed. It has consistently emphasized that overpopulation, more than anything else, is straining the country’s resources. The population grew at a rate of 2.5 % annually and the county is now home to an estimated 96 million people. If the annual population growth rate continues at accelerating pace, the country’s population is expected to double in approximately 30 years.

Population experts noted that if the present dispensation will accord lesser concern to the burgeoning population, the annual growth rate could be even slightly higher. With population increasing at accelerating speed will we be able to double in 30 years – the number of homes, jobs and classrooms? What about food, clothing, water, power and medical services?

What about social services, peace and security? Then there’s criminality and brutal lawlessness – will we be able to double the number of courts and prison cells? All the problems that go with these social aberrations are expected to swell.

But the government could only undertake advocacy work on population and human development and make it succeed if officials – from top to bottom would embrace sacrifice, work hand in hand and set aside self-righteous pride in addressing the needs and concerns and see to it that the urgent program should be strictly followed and implemented. It’s an advocacy worth the people’s support and cooperation.

erybody would have noticed his slow ascent to stardom.

It was difficult, but everybody now seems to notice him – if only to take away the pain of Pacquiao’s loss.

It was both fortunate and unfortunate for him to come in an era dominated by Pacquiao’s own spectacular rise to boxing immortality – the loss to Marquez included.

Pacquiao opened the door to all Filipino would-be champions. he revived the careers of some veteran boxers, the way he persuaded Gerry Peñalosa to come out of his self-imposed retirement.

Not many made the grade.

Donaire came as a promising Filipino-American flyweight who shared the same childhood roots with Pacquiao.

Slowly, Donaire emerged as a feared KO artist in weight classes that many American TV and cable viewers shy away from.

But he eventually triumphed against all odds. he demolished many established names in his weight classes and became a multi-division champion.

But he was still relegated to late night TV fares. He toiled in fight cards that were seen only by hardcore boxing fans.

In an era where champions can choose to be selective with fights and can afford to take longer breaks in between, Donaire fought four times in 2012 despite a pesky injured left hand – the more potent of his boxing hands.

There was a time he became impatient because his promoter failed to give him fights.

And until lately, promoters have shied away from top billing him in a fight card. he is not yet a tested PPV headliner. At least for now.

But with the need for Pacquiao to take a rest and ponder on his future, Donaire has forced his promoter to re-channel efforts to market him a PPV bankable marquee fighter.

As we continue to watch Pacquiao’s boxing saga, we also cannot but help ourselves enjoy Donaire’s odyssey.

It looks like Philippine boxing is here to stay. [Edwin G. Espejo writes for www. asiancorrespondent.com]

Donaire’s Odyssey

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Facebook and immortality COMMENTARY

F

By John C aBell

ACEBOOK wasted no time acting with impunity by (once again) diluting member privacy protections this week. But it needn’t have hurried. Any semblance of democracy was washed away at noon Pacific Time Tuesday, when a vote to have votes on policy changes went down in flames. It solidified the world’s largest social network’s rule by fiat. This may be good for business now, but in the long-run it could backfire.

On Tuesday not enough Facebook members weighed in on whether they should keep their right to vote down policy changes. The vote didn’t count unless 30 percent of the service’s 1 billion members bothered to vote.

The vote to keep the vote failed to meet the arbitrary threshold — by 299 million votes.

At pretty much the same time that vote ended, Facebook changed a number of privacy settings. Some made it easier for members to control what others knew about them by more prominently displaying who could contact them and who could see their “stuff,” in the parlance of Facebook. A different modification was a big improvement: a one-button link to block someone.

Another big change was the sort of matter on which members might have wanted to offer feedback: The elimination of the right to opt out of searches on Facebook. Director of Product Sam Lessin told the New york Times that only a “single-digit percentage of users” availed themselves of this feature. But as Nick Bilton notes in the article, even 1 percent of a billion is 10 million people who would rather be left alone and now won’t be.

So what? Who needs Facebook anyway, right?

Like any other business you no longer want to patronize, you can still vote with your feet on Facebook. But the world’s largest social network does not seem to be afraid of that. Or maybe it’s just more afraid marketers will walk away if Facebook’s commodity — member data — isn’t mined for every penny it’s worth.

Facebook benefits from the network effect — if you don’t want to be there. you might have to be anyway because everyone you know or want to reach is. Once on Facebook, the service has leverage to keep you there: If you decide to move on, you can’t take everything you’ve done or uploaded there as easily as, for example, Google+ makes severing ties. This issue is known as data portability — Google calls it data liberation.

These threads tie up into a neat knot: Facebook has become an effective monopoly and is increasingly acting like one — take or leave it (if you dare). Member pushback isn’t their problem. Political and regulatory scrutiny in the United States and Europe is.

The European Union’s competition commissioner, Joaquin Almunia, is already grumbling about data portability — without naming names. “I believe that a healthy competitive environment in these markets requires that consumers can easily and cheaply transfer the data they uploaded in a service onto another service,” Almunia said in a speech last month. “In those markets that build on users uploading their personal data or their personal content, retention of these data should not serve as barriers to switching.”

Remember how Microsoft ruled the world by insisting that a browser was an integral part of a computer’s operating system? Never in the 20 years before the advent of the World Wide Web did the software giant make this claim. But the surge of Netscape, a startup co-founded

by Marc Andreessen, the guy who invented the graphical Web browser, spooked Microsoft.

10 NATION/WORLD NATION BRIEFS Not worth

I

f he had it his way, Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. would punch Canadian popstar Justin Bieber “in the face” himself. But wearing the hat of the highest official in the house of Representatives, Belmonte thinks it’s not worth getting into.

“That’s just the sort of thing we’re talking about: People should say whatever they want. And I don’t think that amounts to libel,” Belmonte said.

More demand

T

he office space market in the Philippines is setting new records, led by demand from business process outsourcing (BPO) companies and multinationals, indicating growing business confidence, according to one of the country’s largest property consulting firms.

Jones Lang LaSalle Leechiu’s (JLLL) director for project leasing, Sheila Lobien, said that from January to November 2012, demand for office space rose to a total 425,000 square metres, and may rise further by yearend.

T

The same

A

Priority

he Philippine economy may have grown faster this year but most Pinoys feel that their Christmas will be the same as 2013’s, a new Pulse Asia survey showed.

The coming holiday season will not be “more prosperous” but will also not be “poorer” for 56 percent of respondents in the November survey of 1,200 Pinoys nationwide. fter passing the reproductive health (Rh) bill, the house of Representatives is setting its sights on voting on the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill early next year.

In a press briefing, house Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said he wants plenary debates on the FOI bill—formally known house Bill 6766—to begin as soon as possible so that the lower chamber can vote on it by January.

P

VOL.5 ISSUE 207 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

RH bill-U.S. massacre comparison slammed

B

IShOPS may oppose the controversial Reproductive health (Rh) but they should not incite hatred against leaders pushing for the measure, an advocate said.

Senatorial aspirant and former Akbayan Party-list Representative Risa hontiveros particularly hit an official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) for comparing President Benigno Aquino III to the gunman in a recent U.S. school massacre.

“As a Catholic, I understand the opposition of the Catholic hierarchy to the Rh bill. But comparing President Aquino to the Newtown murderer is already excessively irrational and unfair, a total abandonment of reason,” hontiveros said.

“With due respect to the Archbishop, he should apologize to President Aquino, who has always maintained civility despite the poisonous rhetoric that surrounded the Rh bill,” she added. hontiveros was referring to Batangas Archbishop Ramon Arguelles who reportedly compared Aquino to the 20-year-old

RH BILL. Mothers stay with their babies in tandem beds of four mothers and their babies at a ward normally occupied by around 300 mothers at one time, in Jose Fabella maternity hospital in Manila September 12, 2012. Pitting himself against the teachings of the country’s powerful Catholic Church, Phil-

ippine President Benigno Aquino, a Catholic like 80 percent of the population, has thrown his support behind a reproductive health bill that guarantee access to free birth control and promote sex education. [REUTERS]

Newtown massacre suspect.

“Our President intends to kill 20 million children with a fountain pen... to sign the Rh bill into law,” Arguelles was quoted in the Philippine Star as saying.

The comment came days after Aquino certified the Rh bill pending in both houses of Congress as urgent.

“The comparison is meant to incite hatred

against a President who is not only expressing his conscience, but who, more importantly, is fulfilling the ultimate duty of a leader--to put first the interest of the people, not of the few,” hontiveros said.

She further hailed Aquino as a “pro-life President” for supporting the Rh bill, which is seen to widen the government’s family planning program and other projects on

women’s health.

The proposed Rh measure has again moved closer to approval Monday, hurdling second reading in the Senate and third and final reading in the house of Representatives. hontiveros meanwhile urged the CBCP to “accept its defeat graciously.” “We know why the Catholic hierarchy must insist on having the bill junked, but the enactment of the bill is now inevitable,” she said.

tia region in the Russian Far East, one of the most remote and inhospitable places in the world.

Only two of the men were finally helicoptered to safety at the end of November and the discovery of fragments of a human corpse at their campsite prompted investigators to open a murder case amid

rumours of cannibalism.

The two survivors have not been arrested but are being treated as witnesses in the murder case. however it appears investigators are now certain cannibalism took place.

“During questioning, one of the witnesses testified that cannibalism

did indeed take place,” a source in the investigation told the Komsomolskaya Pranda daily.

“It was not murder.

“They ate the man after he died from being unable to cope with the conditions.” yakutia newsite NVPress.ru also quoted local investigators as saying that the fisherman named Alexander Abdullayev confessed that he and the other survivor Alexei Gorulenko ate the corpse of Andrei Kurochkin.

“According to Abdullayev, Kurochkin died a natural death -- he froze to death -- and he and Alexei Gorulenko fed themselves with his flesh for weeks,” NVPress.ru said.

Investigators from yakutsk, the capital of yakutia, confirmed officially for the first time last week that they were looking at cannibalism as a possible explanation.

The local branch of the Investigative Committee (SK) said they had flown out one of the fishermen -- apparently Abdullayev -- last week to look for the fourth man named as Viktor Komarov.

Russians lost in wilderness ‘ate companion to survive’ T

WO Russians who were rescued in November after four months lost in the taiga wilderness of the Far East ate the corpse of a companion in order to survive, reports said Monday.

A group of four men had disappeared in August on a river-fishing expedition to the vast yaku-

Replaced

RESIDENT Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday witnessed the change of command in the Philippine National Police, with Deputy Director General Alan Purisima replacing Director General Nicanor Bartolome who opted for an early retirement.

During the turnover ceremony, Aquino lauded Bartolome for improving the state of the PNP, adding this means more is expected of Purisima.

“Palagay ko ho ‘yung mga mas kaunti ang minanang problema dapat mas malaki ang output bago mag-retire,” he said.

EDGEDAVAO

Russian police patrol Moscow’s Red Square on January 26, 2011. Two Russians who were rescued in November after four months lost in the taiga wilderness of the Far East ate the

corpse of a companion in order to survive, according to local media reports. [AFP]

WORLD TODAY Gun control

U

nburdened by re-election worries and empowered by law to act without Congress, U.S. President Barack Obama could take action to improve background checks on gun buyers, ban certain gun imports and bolster oversight of dealers.

Prospects for gun control legislation intensified in the wake of the school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, as more progun rights lawmakers said on Monday they were open to the possibility while Obama and three cabinet members met at the White house to discuss the subject.

Unlikely

B

ashar al-Assad’s deputy said a clear winner is unlikely to emerge in Syria’s war and he prefers a negotiated solution, in remarks at odds with the president, as clashes raged across the country.

Vice President Faruq al-Sharaa gave a gloomy assessment of the conflict, however, as rebels launched an all-out assault on the central city of hama, regime warplanes bombed eastern Damascus and refugees fled a second day of clashes at a Palestinian camp in the capital.

J

Finance post

apan’s next Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will offer the finance minister’s job to Taro Aso, media said, a veteran lawmaker and former prime minister expected to toe the party line calling for aggressive monetary easing and a public works splurge.

Asahi and Mainichi newspapers reported on Tuesday Aso would get the finance post while yomiuri said Aso, 72, was also being considered as a possible foreign minister.

T

Final push

he two rivals for South Korea’s presidency made a final pitch to voters Tuesday -the eve of an election that looks set to go down to the wire and could produce the country’s first female leader.

The eventual winner of Wednesday’s ballot will face numerous foreign and domestic challenges, including a pugnacious North Korea, a slowing economy and soaring welfare costs in one of the world’s most rapidly-ageing societies.

New police

M

exican President Enrique Pena Nieto announced the creation of a national police force to crack down on crime and battle the country’s powerful drug cartels.

The force -- a gendarmerie based on the model of Spain’s Guardia Civil -- would be 10,000 strong.

Currently Mexico has a patchwork of city and state police, along with some national police.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 207 •WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

Hope...

FFROM 1

FFROM 1

“We don’t want to give you false hope, but let’s keep on hoping and praying. The Task Force until now is still in the search & rescue mode,” Navy Capt.

Lued Lincuna, Operation Officer of the Task Force, told the more than 100 families of missing fishermen who attended the holy Mass and debriefing held here Monday morning.

Lincuna bared that the massive search and rescue operation continues 300 kilometers away from the coastline of mainland Mindanao, particularly Davao Oriental, where typhoon Pablo made the landfall early dawn on Dec. 3.

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) led by Sec. Luwalhati Antonino created the Task Force on Dec. 9 after the Socsksargen Federation of Fishing & Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII) reported that around 315 fishing crew of eight fishing companies here have been missing.

From 315, the number increased to 372 after the families of several undocumented small-time fishers reported and sought the help of the Task Force in finding their missing family members.

Out of the 372 missing, only 25 were retrieved – 17 were alive and eight (8) dead.

The total number of missing was 343 as of the latest.

Casiño...

The Task Force claimed 47 fishing vessels composed of mother boats, carrier boats and light boats remained missing up to this time.

Out of 50 vessels only three were retrieved.

Lincuna added that the search & rescue operations is now going towards southwest – to Celebes Sea and Indonesia – in line with the current flow of sea current.

Lincuna further disclosed that 22 boats from the Phil. Navy boats, Coast Guard, United States Navy and SFFAII are currently scouring the fishing grounds from Mati, Davao Oriental area to Indonesia to find the missing fishermen.

“This is aside from three Phil. Navy aircrafts which are conducting the aerial search & rescue,” Lincuna revealed.

The Navy official said that on Dec. 16, one US Navy aircraft arrived to assist in the search & rescue efforts.

“On Dec. 17, a US naval aircraft scoured the fishing grounds in the boundary of the Philippines and Indonesia but no sighting of survivor except floating debris,” he said.

A US Frigate with two choppers aboard helped in the search & rescue as far as inside the territorial waters of Indonesia but all they saw were Filipino fishermen conducting fishing expedition in the area.

“The chief of staff of the Armed Forces of Indonesia had given our search and rescue teams a clearance to operate even inside their own territorial waters,” he said.

According to him, the Task Force’s search & rescue operation has no timeline and will continue unless the local government and the fishing federation decide to call it off.

Mayor Darlene Custodio bared the city social welfare office continues to conduct debriefing among the families of missing fishermen.

Custodio bared the fishing companies have also pledged to support the families of the missing crewmembers. helen Dampog, 29, whose husband remains missing until this time continues to hope her husband would be rescued alive.

“Despite the odds, I do keep my fingers crossed that my husband is still alive,” Dampog said.

Dampog said she appreciates the search & rescue efforts launched by the government to find the missing fishermen.

“It gives us solace that they continue to search for missing fishermen even two weeks after the tragedy. The initiative of the city government to reach us out and keep us updated of what is going on in the search & rescue is laudable,” Dampog said.

[Aquiles Z. Zonio]

(SOGI) as contained in house Bill 1483,” Casino added.

“LGBTs do not want nor claim additional “special” or “additional rights.” All they want are the same rights as those of heterosexual persons that are denied - either by current laws or practices - basic civil, political, social and economic rights,” Casiño said.

Like the consolidated bill in Congress, the Davao and Cebu City ordinance

Bangsamoro...

prohibits excluding, refusing or dismissing any person from public programs and services and educational institutions on the basis of disability, age, health status, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity and religion.

It prohibits discriminating against any organization or group and makes it unlawful to deny medical and other health services, transportation and other facilities based on the said biases.

Water...

ASEAN countries Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. Priscilla Razon, DSWD regional director, said that Malaysian government officials extended US $1-M and relief donations as early as December 7, three days after the disaster.

Razon said aside from the cash assistance, relief goods like 200 packets of rice, 334 boxes of cream cracker biscuits, 82 boxes of milk powder, 1,500 pieces of blankets, 1,000 pieces of mats, and 72 boxes of towels were also given to the DSWD. The Singaporean government meantime donated two units of pure water filtration system shipped last December 8 and immediately brought to calamity-stricken areas.

Indonesia also brought 634 packages of canned goods, blankets and noodles while Dubai donated

183 packages of plastic sheet rolls, tents.

DOLE-Japan provided 4,032 boxes of bottled water while DOLE-Korea also chipped in 555 boxes of cup noodles and 112 boxes of mineral water.

Another Malaysian shipment arrived on December 14 bearing additional relief goods and shelter materials.

The Irish Aid/Plan International sent tents, soap, spades, and pickaxes while the Network of Filipino Churches in Singapore donated food stuff, clothing, and medicines.

Wilma Cabrera, DSWD assistant secretary for international development group, said that the shop is very helpful in fast-tracking the relief operations, especially in processing the release and distribution of foreign donations.

(ASA)

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

The general public may call the DCWD trunk

line at 221-9400 and press “1” on their phone dial to listen to the latest daily water updates, or contact its call center through the 24-hour hotline 221-9412 or 09277988966 for updates, complaints, queries and other matters pertaining to DCWD services. [Jovana T. Duhaylungsod]

The last three (3) winners are Kirby Rosalem - ticket no. 03454; Joe Fedillaga - ticket no. 12433 and Garvin Jeng - ticket no. 13510. The sellers were Director Paciencio Rosalem Jr, PP Vicente Banez Jr and PP Joe Custodio.

The draw was conducted in the presence of an independent licensed accountant, Alfredo Gelua, who operates an accounting firm, and currently the president of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA), Davao

Chapter.

Winners are requested to claim their prizes at the yMCA Davao Office along 996-3 Villamor Street near the Central Bank in Jacinto Extension.

To call, kindly dial (082) 222-0363 or (082) 3005541 and look for General Secretary Sylvia Piedad.

To claim the cash prizes, winners are required to present the winning ticket and proper identification. Prizes not claimed by the winners within 60 days from date of publication shall be forfeited in favor of yMCA Davao.

FFROM 2

PVC pipeline for the expansion of the water supply system from Indangan Road to Indangan Relocation site. Once this project is completed, approximately 100 households can be accommodated.

Acting general manager Edwin V. Regalado appeals for the understanding and coopera-

YMCA...

The Transition Commission shall also assist in identifying development programs together with the Bangsamoro Development Authority and the Bangsamoro Leadership and Management Institute-- two institutions affiliated with the MILF. “Government is committed to the reconstruction of conflict-affected areas and to fast track socio-economic develop-

Nonoy Villa-Abrille to the following winners, Conrad Go - ticket no. 02243; Cheryl VA Silva – ticket no. 02483; Virgilio Quijada - ticket no. 05552; and Justin Fuertes - ticket no.

06189.

The other P5,000 winners are Narciso Jabines for ticket no. 02632 that Engr. Fernando Ongkingko sold. Daisy Partoza - ticket no. 02826 and Philip Cuevas - ticket no.

03230 also won for tickets sold respectively by Pres. Antonio Partoza Jr. and General Secretary Sylvia Piedad.

LOT FOR SALE

FFROM 2

government by 2016,” said Government chief negotiator Miriam Coronel-Ferrer. “This does not prevent the TC or its members from examining the constitution and recommending constitutional reforms.” “however, the President has made clear that constitutional change is not his priority during his term,” Coronel-Ferrer added.

nally created in 2009 by virtue of Executive Order 831. It authorizes the Department of Finance, for the duration of the current emergency, complete discretion in authorizing tax and tariff exemptions for relief operations donated from abroad.

“This was the time when typhoon Ondoy hit the country, particularly Luzon, and during last year’s typhoon Sendong,” Bangcoy said.

The shop is headed by the DOF through BOC in all collection districts and composed of representatives from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, Department of health, Department of Agriculture, Department of National Defense, and other government agencies.

Among the first wave of foreign aid came from

FFROM 2

FFROM 2

for a penalty of P1,000 for first-time offenders, P2,000 fine and 10 days imprisonment for second-time offenders and P5,000 fine and 15 days imprisonment “or upon the discretion of the court” for frequent violators.

“I hope that other cities can legislate similar ordinances but it would be better if we have a law against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity

12...

CLASSIFIEDS ADS11

ment in the region,” Coronel-Ferrer said. “This will be accomplished by empowering the Bangsamoro themselves through their participation in transforming their own communities.”

The TC can begin its work even as the GPh and the MILF negotiating panels are still finalizing the four annexes that will complete the FAB, she added.

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

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VOL.5 ISSUE 207 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

Realty

EDGEDAVAO

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), 0908-883-8832 (Smart) or send email to

propertiesindavao@yahoo.com.

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

Specialty Store

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 2213601.

EDGEDavao Gensan Partners

Tel No. (083)- 553-2211

We offer Pasta, Pizza and all Filipino foods and international cuisine

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

SPORTS13

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 207 •WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012 Thunder thumps Spurs

O

KLAhOMA CITy (AP) -- Serge Ibaka ripped away an offensive rebound, got hacked in the process and found his way toward midcourt to flex his muscles in celebration.

Ibaka is a force to be reckoned with, and what better way to show it than by delivering his best game of the season against a rival who had a player take a jab at him on Twitter?

Ibaka tied his career best with 25 points and grabbed a season-high 17 rebounds, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs 107-93 Monday night for their 11th straight win.

The victory kept San Antonio from creating a virtual tie with the Thunder for the NBA’s best record.

It was the first meeting for the teams since San Antonio’s Stephen Jackson made a threatening post about Ibaka on Twitter, drawing a $25,000 fine from the NBA. ‘’I don’t want to talk about it,’’ said Ibaka, who set the tone for Oklahoma City by making his

first seven shots. ‘’A great win for us. We need that.

It’s about a team win.’’

Jackson just happened to make his return after missing the previous 14 games with a broken right pinkie finger.

The two had a chance for a confrontation in the first half when Jackson stood in the way as Ibaka went up to catch an alley-oop from Durant.

Jackson stood his ground to prevent Ibaka from dunking, and Ibaka fell to the floor. But Jackson simply raised his hand to claim credit for the foul and peace prevailed. ‘’I’m leaving that alone,’’ Jackson said. ‘’It’s all basketball. Whatever was said on the court is going to stay on the court and I’m going to leave it alone. ‘’I wish Serge the best.’’

The Spurs never found an answer for Ibaka, who had just four points while fighting foul trouble in Oklahoma City’s season-opening loss at San Antonio. he finished 10 for 16 from the field, led the Thunder to a 49-37 rebounding advantage and also blocked three shots.

Houston Rockets guard Jeremy Lin got booed and clobbered in his return to Madison Square Garden to face his former team but he came out the winner as the Rockets beat the New York Knicks.

Battered Lin wins in New York N

EW yORK (AP) -his old fans booed him. his old friend clobbered him.

Otherwise, it was Linsanity all over again at Madison Square Garden.

Jeremy Lin had 22 points and eight assists in his return to New york, leading the houston Rockets to a 109-96 victory Monday night that ended the Knicks’ 10-game home winning streak to open the season.

Cheered then jeered,

and later floored by Tyson Chandler’s flagrant foul, Lin added another masterpiece to the ones he put together last season during the height of his memorable run. No longer the fan favorite he was when wearing the home uniform, Lin got a mixed reception when he left the game with 2:25 remaining and the Rockets leading by 16. ‘’It was a lot of fun playing out there and I think our team, we took a step in the right direc-

tion,’’ Lin said. ‘’And for me, it was great to be back and it was a lot of fun to play on that court again.’’

James harden had 28 points and 10 rebounds for the Rockets, who blew out the Knicks for the second time this season.

They have won the last seven meetings, including a 131-103 rout in houston on Nov. 23.

Rookie Chris Copeland scored a career-high 29 points for the Knicks, who played without leading

scorer Carmelo Anthony and had their four-game winning streak snapped.

They fell to 18-6, matching the record they finished last season with under Mike Woodson.

Woodson’s team decided not to match houston’s contract offer to Lin, and nobody could argue when Raymond Felton, Jason Kidd and Pablo Prigioni led the Knicks to the best record in the Eastern Conference with a team that led the NBA in fewest turnovers.

14 SPORTS

Hands of stone Donaire fought with injured hand

M

OVE over Roberto Duran. Filipino world superbantamweight champion Nonito Donaire is boxing’s new ‘manos de piedra’ (hands of stone).

Donaire once more unravelled what damage his hands can do when he sent Mexican legend Jorge Arce

reeling to the ropes and snoring his way to slumber after three vicious rounds.

But that is not the story.

The knockout win sure was remarkable in the eyes of many. What a lot people may not have known was that Donaire fought Jorge Arce with an injured hand.

The reigning World

Boxing Organization super-bantamweight champion admitted he was a bit wary about the injury on the night he climbed the ring against the durable Mexican at the Toyota Center here.

“My left hand is not completely healed,” said Donaire of the explosive

Pacquiao: What retirement?

U

NA mas? No problemo (One more?

No problem).

It could be Juan Manuel Marquez’s way of greeting Manny Pacquiao a happy birthday.

The ageing yet still fiery Mexican appears to be amenable to doing a fifth fight with his long-time boxing nemesis from the Philippines.

Angel heredia, the controversial strength and conditioning coach of the 39-year-old Marquez, disclosed the boxing hero from Mexico City is open to the idea of clashing with Pacquiao in the ring again.

Marquez is barely two weeks removed from his astounding sixth-round knockout of the Filipino boxing star at the MGM

Grand in Las Vegas.

“They’re talking about a fifth fight, and I think Marquez, I spoke to him, wants to do it,” said heredia while here for the Nonito Donaire Jr.-Jorge Arce super-bantamweight title match at the Toyota Center over the weekend.

“It’s really up to the promoters on what they really want to do.” heredia is the latest member of Marquez’s inner circle to come out in the open and make known how the Mexican is interested in another 12-round of battle against Pacquiao, who turns 34 Monday.

Marquez initially refused to commit when asked about a fifth en-

VOL.5 ISSUE 207 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Now it can be told, Nonito Donaire fought with an injured hand against Jorge Arce.

fist that sent Arce into retirement with a smashing knockout with just a second left in the third round.

“It didn’t bleed, but I was kind of worried about it.”

Donaire had previous experiences of injuring either his left or right hand shortly after a fight. Prior to the Arce fight, the 30-yearold Filipino suffered a cut in his left knuckles following his ninth-round knockout win over Toshiaki Nishioka of Japan.

The injury he suffered

in the aftermath of his title bout with Nishioka initially became a concern, with fears that his highly-awaited showdown with Arce may be postponed given the short proximity of the two fights.

But the warrior in Donaire prevailed. he said, “a lot of people are actually saying, `you sure have fought well already this whole year,’ insinuating that he need not rush fighting Arce, who at 33, still remains one of the toughest Mexican fighters

‘Una mas’ One more? No problem with Marquez camp

today.

Donaire asked the opinion of doctors before agreeing to take on Arce.

“The doctor said it’s not going to be 100 percent, but if I’m okay with it, a month’s rest would be enough,” added the ‘Filipino Flash.’

On fight night, it hardly showed Donaire was hurting. he dropped Arce down to the canvas thrice, including the powerful left hook which he referred to as the “damaging punch” of the match.

counter with the Filipino southpaw, saying he’ll rather savor his victory first and celebrate with his family rather than think about the matter.

After absorbing that stunning loss, the ‘Pacman’ didn’t Manny Pacquiao celebrated his birthday and certainly Juan Manuel Marquez’s camp is amenable with gifting him with another fight. think twice about meeting heredia said MarThe exercise science think he’ll retire beMarquez again when asked if a fifth quez is going to take a program graduate at cause he’s a tremendous bout is possible. Top rest from boxing for the Texas A&M is also glad fighter,” he said. “I think Rank Promotions Bob next two months, and to hear that Pacquaio is he can still comeback Arum is also on the same will be eyeing a fight celebrating his birthday anytime. he’s a warrior.” heredia himself is page as he didn’t con- comeback sometime in in General Santos City, tradict the possibility June in a possible tune- referring to the boxing very much in favor of of the two ring warriors up for the Pacquiao sensation as still one of Pacquiao and Marquez his favorites. going at each other facing each other again bout. “ I again, stressing the rilate d o n ’ t valry stretches to the next fighter’s respective coryear. ners, with him pitted against Alex Ariza, and Freddie Roach opposite Nacho Beristain. “you’re looking at a whole complete team going at each other,” he added.

A fallen Pacquiao says he is not thinking of retirement yet.

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 207 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

ART & CULTURE

My first introduction to the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein was through Julie Andrews, better known as Maria in the movie “Sound of Music.”

At 5 years old, I was hooked to watching it at least once a day, hoping someday I’d get to fine tune my vocals and hit the high notes like Julie Andrews did. My mom, being a veteran stage actress from PETA (Philippine Educational Theater Association) tried her best to give me voice and acting lessons, which resulted to such an epic fail.

As my mom once put it, “It’s a good thing you can dance well.” To this day, I remain tone deaf and the amateur singer in me only finds solace in the shower.

Nevertheless, I still believe in giving music a try, especially for kids. Not only does music help put discipline among its learners, it also helps sharpen the memory of kids. It’s a good thing to see more and more music schools opening doors to willing and

able talents who wish to improve on their vocals. In a way, this musical and holistic approach to boosting confidence foster a community of next generation artists who will add color to the music and theater industry.

One of the better music institutions I’ve seen in Davao is Musikademy, pioneered by its Alvin “Bong” Aviola. The school offers lessons on voice, piano, violin, and guitar.

As a Christmas offering to music and theater enthusiasts, the school organized a special musical production last December 7 and 8 entitled Something Wonderful, Something Musical. The theatrical concert featured excerpts from internationally acclaimed musical plays of Rodgers and Hammerstein namely The Sound of Music, The King and I, and South Pacific.

Giving life to the music and characters were Musikademy’s talented roster of scholars and students.

They were joined together with seasoned performers such as Bo Cerrudo, who is a recipient of the 2012 Aliw Award for Best Male Performer, Hong Kongbased Dabawenyo pianist Michael Lopez, and wellknown thespian, architect, and lifestyle columnist Michael Ebro Dakudao.

Speaking of Michael Dakudao, I never thought he could sing! I have always known him to be more of a dancer, also because of his family relation to celebrated and award-winning choreographer Agnes Locsin. His acting prowess and background in the arts made him a perfect King of Siam, added with elaborate (and sparkly) costumes, which are signature to Mike Dakudao’s style and fashion inclination.

The powerful vocals of scholars Ella Velez, Shaira Opsimar, Nica Tupas, Mikee Espinosa, Gabbi Sombilon, and Angel Pateleon came close to the original rendition done on Broadway and the West End. Clearly, such talents deserve all praises and further exposure in the other parts of the world.

Everyone who took part of the play deserved the standing ovation from the audience. Credit also goes to the production team headed by Cecile Hidalgo Alvin “Bong” Aviola, March de Ramos, and Bimbo Edison Morales.

A2 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 207 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

HEALTH

Easy tips to stay 7 things you didn’t healthy this Holiday season know about your skin

THANKSGIVING is over, the leftovers devoured and shopping has begun. Many are beginning to decorate their houses for the holidays and plan for the parties at schools, neighborhoods, work, and with friends.

It’s the time of year when delicious food becomes a focus, as everything revolves around sugar and butter.

This often means that well-intentioned plans of staying healthy fall by the wayside until January second.

Don’t get down on yourself. Use these 5 tips to help keep you balanced through the rest of the year.

First, be good when you can.

Specifically, pay attention to what you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner if you are going to snack on treats during the day and enjoy parties at night. Focus on foods with high protein and vegetables, such as a smoothie, or eggs and spinach in the morning.

Eat vegetable chicken soup and salad for lunch. Then choose lean protein, vegetables, soups and salads at night.

When you find yourself reaching for cookies or fudge during the day, grab carrots or celery and start crunching. The sound of the crunch is satisfying and may take your mind off the sugar cravings.

Second, do not ignore your exercise routine.

In fact, consider taking it up a notch. Burn off the extra drinks, the coffee cake, the chocolate pretzels and the sugar cookies.

If you normally exercise three days per week, increase it to four. If you have a typical routine, shake it up with a new class.

Search options online so that you can work out from home instead of heading to the gym due to time constraints.

Third, plan ahead.

All that sugar, fat and alcohol can make one feel bloated, heavy, sluggish and puffy. Consider taking digestive enzymes when you eat to help your body digest all those heavy foods better. Probiotics can help with intestinal health, the immune system and may improve bloating.

All the rich foods may make one prone to gout. Research shows that eating cherries or drinking cherry extract can prevent this painful joint condition.

Fourth, fall back on common tricks used during the season.

Eat before a party to feel full. Drink water and remain hydrated or opt for sparkling water instead of alcohol.

Walk away from the table full of food or the trays of snacks brought to work. Give away baked goods as gifts instead of keeping them around the house or limit the amount of sugar allowed in your house during the season.

Choose your snacking wisely – only go for things you really want or only get once a year instead of something you could eat anytime.

Fifth, manage your stress.

‘Tis the season for meltdowns and family drama. Between the baking, cooking, planning, traveling, packing, organizing, shopping, wrapping and managing ... remember to take some time for you. Get a good solid eight hours of sleep so that you wake up refreshed in the morning.

Say “no” to things that really aren’t that important and choose not to volunteer for everything. Divide out the responsibility amongst your family or friends when it comes to parties or gifts and remember to make your list and check it twice to stay organized.

TAKING care of your skin is probably second nature by now. you know to slather on SPF each morning and scan for new and changing moles to keep your skin happy and healthy. But despite understanding how to combat wrinkles and ward off disease, there’s a fair share that you might not know about your body’s largest organ.

Read on for seven interesting facts about your skin.

1. Your skin’s appearance and texture can give you clues about the rest of your health.

Sometimes, changes in your skin can signal changes in your health as a whole. For example, according to Brooke Jackson, MD, Director of the Skin Wellness Center of Chicago, “The hormones that the thyroid produces are directly responsible for the natural fats that protect the skin, as well as hair and cell growth and hair pigmentation.”

She explains that in a person with hyperthryroidism (when the thyroid overproduces thyroid hormone), the epidermis––the outer layer of skin––may thicken and skin may be soft. With hypothyroidism (when the thyroid underproduces thyroid hormone), on the other hand, symptoms include very dry skin and thickened skin on the palms and soles.

Another way your skin can tip you off to health issues: Acanthosis nigricans, a condition in which skin around the neck darkens and changes in texture, is often associated with diabetes, according to D’Anne Kleinsmith, MD, dermatologist at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI. 2. Everyone has the same pigment in their skin that’s responsible for color.

Melanin, explains Josie Tenore, MD, SM, is a coloring pigment that is present in all people’s skin—regardless of race. “The difference in skin tone between people of different races—and between people of the same race––lies in how much of this pigment is present, and its distribution within the skin.”

More specifically, everyone—no matter how dark or pale they are––has the

same number of melanocytes, which are the cells that make melanin, explains Arnold Oppenheim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist. “It’s their product, melanosomes—which contain the melanin––that differ. Some people have denser and larger ones, which make their skin darker.” Also, the denser and closer together they are, “the more protection the skin is afforded from skin cancer,” he says.

3. As we age, our skin sheds cells more slowly.

Ever wonder why children have such naturally rosy and dewy skin? While skin of all ages produces new cells which eventually move to the surface and shed off, young people’s skin does this more often, according to Dr. Tenore.

“In kids, this happens every two to three weeks, which gives them that vibrant, shiny skin. But as we age, this process becomes slower. More dead cells stay on the surface, resulting in that dull, dehydrated look.”

She adds that exposure to direct sunlight slows down the sloughing off process even further because UV light decreases cellular turnover. Depending on your skin type—your dermatologist can identify yours––daily exfoliation or a topical antioxidant serum that contains retinoids, vitamins and peptides can help encourage cell turnover, according to Francesca Fusco, MD, a New york City dermatologist.

4. Stretch marks can be prevented—to a degree.

Pregnancy, weight fluc-

tuations and even teenage growth spurts can all cause stretch marks, those squiggly lines that start out darker than your skin color and often appear on the hips, thighs and abdomen (but can crop up anywhere).

When collagen and elastin initially break down, says Dr. Oppenheim, skin creates striae rubrae—red or purple stretch marks on light-colored skin—due to inflammation. When stretch marks are in this phase, applying retinoid creams to them—no matter where they appear– –can “considerably lessen their appearance,” says Dr. Fusco. That’s because the medication promotes cell turnover and skin regeneration. Some older stretch marks, which are lighter in color and have indentations, can be treated with lasers to help smooth the skin, says Dr. Kleinsmith, but it depends on where they appear—ask your dermatologist if lasers can help reduce the appearance of your older stretch marks.

5. The oiliness of our skin dictates what type of hair grows in that area.

The relationship between hair and skin is a close one. “The whole sebaceous (oil) gland and hair apparatus is one unit,” says Dr. Oppenheim. “The oil gland grows out of the hair follicle, which it helps to lubricate.” But it’s the difference in the individual glands that affects hair type. According to Dr. Oppenheim, “Where we have large oil glands, which produce more oil, we have thin hairs; where we have small

oil glands, which produce less oil, we have thick hair.”

People have oily skin in the middle of their faces because there are large sebaceous glands there, and they have dry skin on the periphery because there are small oil glands there.

This is why even men with heavy beards don’t grow hair in the middle of their faces.

6. Age spots should really be called “sun spots.”

Those brown spots that tend to crop up with age have little to do with the passing years, and much more to do with soaking up rays. “Age spots are the result of cumulative sun exposure and subsequent damage,” says Dr. Fusco.

“They appear because pigment cells have accumulated in the top layer of skin.”

To prevent sunspots, apply sunscreen in the morning every single day—and every few hours afterward if you’ll be in direct sunlight.

“The minimum SPF you should use is 30; be sure that it’s broad spectrum to block UVB and UVA rays.” advises Dr. Fusco. Aim to use a marble-sized amount of block for your face and a shot glass–sized amount for your body. Though age spots aren’t directly related to age, seborriheic keratosis, benign hereditary moles that usually stick out from your skin, are. They vary in color from white to black, says Dr. Oppenheim, and tend to appear on the face, scalp and torso (but can show up anywhere except your palms, the soles of your feet and your mouth) as you grow older.

7. Melanomas don’t always have color.

If you’re on the lookout for dark moles to screen for skin cancer, you’re on the right track. But malignant spots aren’t always so easy to find. “Follow the Sesame Street rule—‘One of these things is not like the other,’” says Barbara Reed, MD, a dermatologist at the Denver Skin Clinic.

“Melanomas can be red, purple, flesh-colored or even white. I think I’ve seen them in every color except green,” she explains. If a mole looks funny, grows, itches or just plain makes you obsess over it, Dr. Reed recommends heading to your dermatologist for a check-up. And always tell your doctor about any other new spots or skin irregularities that you notice.

VOL.5 ISSUE 207 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

ENTERTAINMENT

Kate Middleton makes first appearance since announcing pregnancy

Do you see the pregnancy glow yet?

Kate Middleton made her first public appearance since announcing that she and Prince William will be expecting a little royal baby, attending the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year Awards in London on Sunday.

In a statement, the Palace told E! News that the duchess graced the event “in response to a long-standing invitation from the BBC.” Dressed in a long, dark-green Alexander McQueen gown with bell sleeves and a deep Vneck,Middletonstoodbeside soccer champ David Beckham to present Brit-

ish professional roadand track-racing cyclist Bradley Wiggins with the Sports Personality of the Year Award, although the duchess kept quiet while Beckham did all the talking.

She also presented British politician and former athlete Seb Coe with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Hollywood hacker who leaked photos of Scarlett Johansson, Mila Kunis sentenced to 10 years in prison SCARLETT Johansson, Mila Kunis and more are finally getting justice in the infamous Hollywood hacking scandal.

U.S. District Judge S. James otero sentenced Christopher Chaney—the Florida man responsible for breaking into the private email accounts of more than 50 celebs, swiping their intimate photos and posting the pics online—Monday morning to 10 years in prison. He was also ordered to pay $66,179 in restitution.

Today’s hearing also revealed that Chaney hacked two non-celebrity targets.

Both victims claim they were stalked by Chaney for more than 10 years.

Chaney has been in custody since March when he pleaded guilty to nine felony counts, including unauthorized computer access and wiretapping as part of a plea agreement.

At today’s hearing, the judge said that Chaney’s actions demonstrated a “callous disregard to the victims.”

Johansson fought par-

ticularly hard to have personal naked photos of herself from the web. She also spoke out about the distressing incident in order to raise awareness.

The 36-year-old hacker was arrested last october in relation to the massive celeb phone-hacking scandal which the FBI famously dubbed operation Hackerazzi.

The feds accused him of hacking into the emails and cell phones of a slew of hot young starlets in-

cluding Jessica Alba, Christina Aguilera, Demi Lovato, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, Ali Larter, Busy Philips, Emma Caufield, Renee olstead and Addison Timlin and then posting his fraudulent findings online.

Chaney later apologized on the news in Jacksonville, Fla., after his arrest, saying that what he did “was probably one of the worst invasions of privacy someone could experience.”

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EDGEDAVAO

EVENTS

ExPERIENCE a Christmas that dreams are made of with this looming 40-foot Christmas tree inspired by royalty. Decked with decorative gems, Venetian glass frames, lady figurines and mini chandeliers, this tree exudes an elegant and majestic glow that pretty much reflects the grandness of the holiday season.

Truly fit for royalty, the tree was lit up by no less than Ms Universe Ms Margie Moran during the launch. By far the tallest indoor Christmas tree in Davao, it indeed adds more sparkle to the city’s holiday celebration. Visit the Royal Christmas tree today at the Atrium of SM

Lanang Premier and have your photo taken with your friends and family to capture that special Christmas moment. And get to meet Santa Claus from Dec 17, 19, 20, 23-25 right by the tree. For details check out our facebook page at www. facebook.com/smlanangpremier or call 285 0943.

VOL.5 ISSUE 207 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 207 •WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

Stallion upsets Global, wins UFL Cup S

PANISh reinforcement Rufo Sanchez and Ruben “Balut” Doctora Jr. sparkled for Stallion Gilligan as it stunned Global, 2-1, to capture the United Football League Cup championship on Monday night at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Skipper Doctora and Spanish striker Sanchez were on target as the Stallions bucked a three-week layoff and toppled a powerhouse squad packed with 10 national team members in its fold.

It was a remarkable rise for the Stallions, who won the Cup after being promoted to Division 1 earlier this year and finishing fourth place in their maiden League campaign.

“We proved we belong in the first division and now we proved we belong in the elite,” Stallion coach Ernie Nierras said.

“We really wanted to play Global because we felt that we were going to play our best. you saw it. The game was back and forth.”

Stallion dealt its opponent its first loss of the season.

Doctora scored in the 24th minute but had to miss the second half due to an ankle sprain.

“Nag-worry ako nung lumabas ako sa start ng second half. Alam ko malaki pa sana maitutulong ko pero tiwala ako sa team

namin,” said Doctora, who received the Golden Ball award equivalent to the MVP trophy.

Sanchez broke not only the deadlock but also the hearts of the pro-Global crowd at the venue as the Spaniard scored in the second half with a header before being substituted late in the match due to severe cramps.

“We were cramping up so we had to make substitutions,” Nierras said. “Kahit nagte-training kami, kulang pa rin yung match fitness eh.”

“Global was better conditioned than us but we were able to take advantage of their mistakes,” Nierras added, explaining that almost half of Global’s lineup stayed in tip-top shape after they suited up for the Azkals who participated in the recent Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup. Stallion goalkeeper Wilson Muñoz also came up big with a crucial rejection of an Izzo El-habbib header late in second-half injury time that would have been the equalizer. he copped the Golden Gloves Award.

Loyola’s Phil younghusband rounded out the individual awardees as the Filipino-British striker bagged the Golden Boot award for scoring the most goals in the tournament with 10.

Stallion Gilligan players celebrate its 2-1 win over highly-favored Global FC in the finals of the UFL Cup.

Little Azkals in AFC U-14 Qualifiers

T

hE Philippine national Under-14 football team will face tough opposition in what could be its biggest competition so far as the Little Azkals join the qualifiers of the inaugural Asian Football Confederation U-14 Championship in 2014.

The Little Azkals, which have had success in various invitational tournaments abroad this year, will face Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Timor Leste and host Myanmar in Group E of the Southeast Asia zone of the qualifiers.

Meanwhile, Thailand, Laos, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Singapore and Cambodia comprise Group F of the ASEAN qualifiers.

The Little Azkals are no strangers to their neighbors in the region, beating the likes of Cambodia, Brunei, Malaysia and even Australia during their stints in several international football festivals this year, including a tournament in Japan last June where they finished third behind host Japan and Indonesia.

In other draw results

Asia zone.

Meanwhile, China will host Northern Mariana Islands, South Korea, Chinese Taipei and Guam in Group G, as well as Mongolia, hong Kong, North Korea, Macau and Japan in Group h in the East Asia zone.

Most matches for the qualifiers are expected to be played from February to March next year.

The top two nations from each zone will qualify to the inaugural AFC U-14 Championship 2014 proper.

Sunday.

“Pupunta ako sa Friday, pero magpapakita lang. Kailangan ko rin kasi ipahinga yung right elbow ko,” Tenorio said.

“Matagal na itong injury na ito, nung nasa Alaska pa ako. Kakausapin ko muna si Dr. (George) Canlas para tanungin ko kung puwede bang operahan na lang at the end of the season, or kailangan lang ng pahinga,” he added.

Tenorio said he hyper-extended his elbow last season while playing for the Aces and has felt pain in the area from time

to time.

“Sabi nuon sa akin, parang may kailangang tanggalin na buto na humaharang, so ngayon, kung sinabi niya para di mabugbog, ipapahinga ko na muna,” explained the 28-year-old former Ateneo star.

The fourth overall pick in the 2006 PBA draft played in Gilas 2.0’s two most recent international tournaments – the Williams Jones Cup where the national squad won the championship, followed by a fourth-place finish in the Fiba Asia Cup in Tokyo, Japan.

Tenorio unsure of Gilas stint

G

INEBRA playmaker LA Tenorio rates his chances of playing for the Smart Gilas 2.0 national team early next year at 50-50 at this point due to a right elbow injury he had been nursing since his time with Alaska.

The 5-8 guard told Spin.ph that he played through the injury during his stint with Gilas early this year as well as in the PBA Philippine Cup, where the Gin Kings saw their championship bid end after losing their quarterfinals series to Rain or Shine, 1-2, on

John Rey Bacong (left) drives his way against the defense of John Harvey Mesiona (right) of 2T Max in the finals of the Trip Ko Phoenix Fuels Basketball Cup Season 5. Bacong was part of a big 2T Max rally that gave them the come-from-behind win. (Phoenix photo)

which were determined last week, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and United Arab Emirates and host Oman comprise Group A, while Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan, Palestine, yemen and host Saudi Arabia form Group B to complete the brackets in the West Asia zone.

Group C features Bhutan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Maldives, Afghanistan and host Nepal, while Pakistan, India, Turkmenistan, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan and host Iran play in Group D of the Central and South

David Halili (left) of Cyclomax Titans runs the break against Accelerate Supreme in the battle for third place of the Trip Ko Phoenix Fuels Basketball Cup Season 5. (Phoenix photo)

16 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 207 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

AJ Damag of Cyclomax 4T Force drives for a twinner in the finals against 2T Max. Inset, John Nicole Barrera of Cyclomax Titans in action during the 3-point shootout competition, was winner of the Sportsmanship Award.

(Phoenix photo)