Edge Davao 5 Issue 212

EDGEDAVAO P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

VOL.5 ISSUE 212 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

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Serving a seamless society

Indulge

Page A1

BIR, Red Cross reminders:

Pablo donations tax-deductible

Kanay maayo!

By Che Palicte

Environment

Sports

Page164 Page

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ORPORATIONS and institutions were encouraged yesterday to continue giving donations to the thousands of victims of freak typhoon Pablo in the Davao Region as these donations are deductible from their income tax.

Lawyer Aileen A. Lizada, member of the board of directors of the Philippine National Red Cross Davao City chapter, showed newsmen a copy of the memorandum of Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) commissioner Kim Henares on the tax deduction.

At the same time, Lizada said private companies and institutions are enthusiastic about the move of the Davao City Red Cross to form a partnership between the

PNRC chapter forming govt.-private sector partnership for quick disaster response, continuous training

sector and the government on a mechanism for a swift assistance in case the city encounters a calamity.

Lizada said the partnership is necessary as this can be tapped either for preparedness training as well as when a calamity occurs.

During the first partnership meeting last December 21, representatives of diverse private groups expressed their interest in the idea and are looking forward to

a series of future meetings so the partnership can start.

Ms Lizada said that among those raring to start are participants from culinary schools, bakery and transport groups.

“This may be funny to some, but chefs are important during disasters,” she explained, saying that food is very necessary

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Follow Us On BYPASS LINE. On-going pipe-laying work for the 400mm bypass line on Generoso Bridge for Line 1 of the Dumoy supply system of Davao City Water District.

DCWD lays bypass line to improve water supply

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He Davao City Water District laid a 400mm bypass line on the Generoso Bridge last December 2122 to alleviate water supply problems in areas affected by the collapse of the 600mm and 750mm transmission lines of Line 1 of the Dumoy water supply system along the same bridge last December 16 after being hit by logs carried by the strong current of the Davao River.

Acting general manager edwin V. Regalado said that on December 28-29 another 400mm bypass line will be laid on top of the already laid pipe.

“Although these 400mm bypass lines may not restore normal water supply in affected areas, specifically

20-hour water service interruption slated on December 28-29. downtown, Agdao, Obrero, Bajada, Lanang and Sasa, they will already be of considerable help,” he explained. According to the feedback of DCWD’s call center, some customers have already felt improved water supply after the first 400mm bypass line was laid.

DCWD will also be adding a 750mm bypass line which will be laid early next year. “With three bypass lines tempo-

FDCWD LAYS, 11

FPABLO, 11

2 THE BIG NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 212 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

Form partnership for disaster response

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PARTNERSHIP. Rogelio U. Aca, Philippine Red Cross Davao City chapter administrator, and lawyer Aileen A. Lizada, board of directors member, appeal to the people of Davao City to establish a disaster response system in

partnership with PRC and the government so the community would be ready for all forms of disaster. Photo taken during a press briefing at the Philippine Red Cross building on Roxas Avenue yesterday. [LEAN DAVAL JR. ]

IFRC continues helping Pablo victims

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He International Federation of the Red Cross is assisting in relief operations for Typhoon Pablo victims in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.

IFRC delegations are, (1) German Red Cross, (2) Spanish Red Cross, (3) Swiss Red Cross and (4) Japanese Red Cross which are providing much needed logistical and technical support.

On their fourth week of relief operations, the Red Cross continues giving interventions such as: (1) emergency and medical services, (2) water-sanitation services to

produce potable water, and (3) providing relief goods thru the support of IFRC, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other National Red Cross (NRC) societies.

“Right now we are in the process of expanding operation because at this stage there are International aid agencies that are coming in and that we have other national societies that are helping us in several aspects of the operations such as health, shelter, food and all other concerns,” engr. Rogelio Aca, Red Cross Davao chapter administrator

said.

The Swiss Red Cross plans to put up tents for 5,000-8,000 families and, through the support of ICRC, there is going to be an intensive relief operation in Davao Oriental and Comval in the next six months that would cater to at least 25 thousand families, according to Aca. emergency health stations are being put up in Baganga because their district hospital is incapacitated and the Red Cross is sending volunteer nurses and doctors to man the facility. In Cateel, ICRC is supporting

the repair, logistics and other technical needs of the district hospital for it to become operational.

Aca said they have approximately 200 volunteers from Davao City, including teams that give psychological first aid to the victims. The Red Cross is still addressing the basic needs of the victims (food, shelter and medical rescue). The recovery period will follow which provides economic support and livelihood trainings that can help the families get back to their normal life and soon rehabilitation will be conducted. [By ChE PALiCtE]

vessels and aircraft involved in the operations are presently on standby mode due to poor visibility and the rough weather condition in the search areas off Mindanao’s eastern and southern seas.

“The prevailing weather condition within the search area is not ideal for search and rescue operations,” he told a local television station.

Lincuna said the operations, which are concentrated in the waters bor-

dering the country and Indonesia, were initially hampered late last week by sporadic rain brought in the intertropical convergence zone (ICZ).

The weather condition further worsened in the last three days due to the entry of tropical storm “Quinta.”

On Monday, the official said one of the rescue vessels of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) was forced to return and take refuge near Balut Island

in Davao del Sur after it met huge waves while pushing towards Indonesian waters.

The weather within the search area was not expected to improve until “Quinta” leaves the country’s area of responsibility on Friday. [Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews]

and the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front have agreed to a bilateral ceasefire declaration for the holidays.

With a bilateral ceasefire in effect, the government expects the leadership of CPP-NPA-NDF will notify its troops on the ground,

Presidential spokesman edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacanang.

With regard to the possible eruption of violence as the communists celebrate their 44th anniversary, Lacierda said the Armed forces will remain vigilant in the midst of possible threats

Suspend search for missing fishers

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OOR weather condition has forced authorities to suspend search and rescue operations for the more than 300 fishermen from General Santos City and Sarangani province who remain missing in the wake of Typhoon Pablo.

Navy Commander Lued Lincuna, spokesperson of Task Force Maritime Search and Rescue SarGen (Sarangani/General Santos City), said Wednesday the rescue

eARNING from experience with rescue and relief operations for the victims of Typhoon Pablo, eight private organizations have forged a partnership that aims to deliver immediate response to local disasters, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Davao City chapter said Wednesday.

Aileen A. Lizada, secretary of the PRC board of directors, said in a press conference that the eight organizations committed to join the partnership during an initial meeting last December 21 initiated by the PRC. For instance, a school on culinary arts may provide volunteer chefs to join a disaster response team, while restaurants may provide scrap meat and excess ingredients, and bakeries some bread supplies, she explained.

Lizada added that some individuals are open to lending their 4x4 vehicles to response teams in their relief operations.

“We learned that it was during the first three days since Typhoon Pablo made landfall that many people died and many would have been saved,” she said.

She cited that during this crucial period volunteer chefs could cook food for the victims instead of giving them uncooked items, as cooking would be difficult on the part of the latter.

Also proposed in the meeting is the link up with local hospitals to maintain a support desk for disaster victims, she said.

Rogelio Aca Jr., PRC Davao City chapter administrator, said the partnership is important for the city to avoid being reactive only in times of disaster.

He cited that since December 5, the PRC had distributed 25,000 beneficiary cards to avoid duplication of relief assistance.

FFORM, 11

Rody plays Santa to SPMC patients

By Che Palicte

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AVAO City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, together with Central 911 emergency volunteers and City Health Office (CHO) staff gave gifts and Jollibee food packs to about 900 patients of the Southern Philippines Medical Center last Saturday afternoon.

The gifts consisted of Jollibee food packs for patients and watchers.

Vice Mayor Duterte first stopped at the Children’s Cancer and Blood Disease Unit. Upon entering the wards, Duterte sang Christmas songs to the children,distributing the gifts (toys and cash envelopes) to the patients whom he hugged and kissed.

Accompanying the vice

mayor were a Santa Claus and mascots Popo and Jollibee who added much excitement for the children.

Nenet Lozada, mother of a 15 year old cancer patient, said the city government is helping them in the treatment of her son who has been confined at the hospital for more than two years.

Duterte also distributed gifts in the pediatric section and in all other rooms where there were children patients.

Meanwhile, Duterte met with the city’s deputy mayors and barangay captains at the Grand Menseng Hotel, Sunday afternoon.

Gracing the meeting were senatorial candidates

FRODY PLAYS, 11

PHL gov’t expects communist rebels to observe holiday truce

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He Philippine government made an assurance it will observe the ceasefire agreed on with the communist rebels for the celebration of Christmas and New Year and expects the insurgents to do the same, a Palace official said Wednesday.

Both the government

FPHL, 11

PARTY MATES. Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte speaks before Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod barangay captains and Muslim and tribal sector deputy mayors at the Grand Men Seng Hotel Sunday afternoon. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

EDGEDAVAOVOL.5 ISSUE 212 •THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

Sleepless nights no more in ComVal C

OMPOSTeLA, Compostela Valley – Alberta Maquiling hopes that her six children, especially her oneyear old baby Carmela, will finally be able to sleep soundly.

The family of Maquiling is among the ten families who were given priority so they could be relocated to a bunkhouse built for them as their temporary shelter.

Her house was totally destroyed by typhoon Pablo when it wrought havoc in Compostela Valley and in the nearby province of Davao Oriental on December 4.

“Gina-una nato og hatag ang mga dagkong pamilya, ang mga naay anak nga gagmay pa, may mga tigulang ug mabdos ug katong may mga PWD (We are prioritizing big families, families with small children, senior citizens, pregnant mothers and persons with disabilities),” said Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Acting Regional

Director Priscilla N. Razon.

The Department has mobilized engineers and field workers of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) Project to design and take charge of the construction of the bunkhouses.

The bunkhouses, measuring 7.4 meters by 24 meters and built using corrugated galvanized iron sheets as roofing and marine plywood as walls, will become the temporary shelters of the affected families within the next three months. each bunkhouse has a bathroom for men and another for women, and has a 1 meter by 24 meters concrete walkway. A bunkhouse can accommodate 10-15 families.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman assured the affected families that the bunkhouse will just serve as temporary shelter. The national

9 hurt in firecracker blasts in GenSan, South Cotabato

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eALTH authorities have recorded nine firecracker and fireworks-related injuries in the run-up to the Christmas eve and during the Christmas Day celebrations in General Santos City and nearby South Cotabato province. eight of the victims, three of them children, came from Koronadal City and other areas in South Cotabato while only one came from General Santos City.

The City Integrated Health Services Office (CIHSO) here identified the lone victim as nine year-old Ramon Fabular, who was treated as an out-patient at the General Santos City Hospital.

Dr. Mely Lastimoso, CIHSO’s epidemiology and surveillance unit chief, said the victim sustained minor burns due to an ill-lit fountain-type firework during the Christmas eve revelries.

In South Cotabato, Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) chief Dr. Rogelio Aturdido said Wednesday the recorded injuries were based on their monitoring in the last five days on various private and government hospitals in the province’s 10 towns and lone city.

He said four of the victims were brought to the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Koronadal City following the Christmas eve celebration.

A hospital report identified the victims as Christopher Callado, Raniel Galido, Rey Gallardo and Peter Paul Palacio.

“One of them lost a finger while the others sustained lacerations and minor burns,” Aturdido said in a radio interview.

The official said piccolo, which is a banned firecracker, caused anew most of the injuries, especially among the children.

Last year, 27 of the 54 total firecracker and fireworks-related injuries recorded during the Christmas and New Year’s eve revelries in the province were also caused by piccolo.

Owing to this, Aturdido urged anew residents to shun from buying and using any firecracker or firework in the upcoming New Year’s eve celebration.

“Let’s all focus on making sure that we’re healthy, injury-free and with all our fingers still intact as we enter the New Year,” he said. [Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews]

One of the two bunkhouses of DSWD in Compostela, Compostela Valley. government, in coopera- 11 families occupy one tion with the internation- classroom),” she said, al humanitarian organi- pointing out that even the zations, will eventually roof had leaks. build permanent houses She recalled that harfor them through the Core rowing experience her Shelter Assistance Project family had on December of the Department.

4 when the rampaging Maquiling said the wind started to destroy bunkhouse will be a bet- houses. Coupled with the ter shelter for her chil- rise of the water level, the dren as the evacuation family hesitantly left their center was very crowd- home. ed. “Diha sa eskwelah“Kusog kaayo ang an [evacuation center] hangin. Dili unta mi molapas tuhod [ang tubig]. bakwit unya nangaguEleven mi kabuok [pam- ba na man ang balay. ilya] didto (Water inside Tagahawak [ang tubig] the school [evacuation didto sa amoa. Nanagan center] was knee-deep.

FSLEEPLESS, 11

SUBURBIA 3

Alberta Maquiling with three of her children, [from left] Arniel, Marillen, and baby Carmela.

RDR: Referendum to decide Daneco conflict

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AVAO del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario opined that member-consumers have to decide whether the 40-year old Davao del Norte electric Cooperative (Daneco) would operate under the supervision of the National electrification Administration (NeA) or under the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA).

He told local reporters that “Daneco is supposed to be a coop and as such members have to decide.”

He added that the referendum “should be done properly, and should not be politicized.”

The governor said that he learned of the legal problems that came up when most of the mem-

bers of the old set of board of directors were sacked by NeA due to an administrative case.

“Now there’s a new board appointed by NeA,” he said, adding that he hoped that this time the problem and conflict in Daneco would end.

Daneco has some 125,000 member-consumers and services the whole province of Compostela Valley and most of the towns and cities of Davao del Norte except Panabo City, the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) and the towns of Carmen, Sto. Tomas and Braulio e. Dujali.

Since July 2012, two factions of Daneco leadership have been warring against each other resulting to the emergence of

Daneco-CDA and Daneco-NeA groups and two sets of managements, board of directors and collection activities.

The NeA-sacked officials trooping under Daneco-CDA stuck on and engaged in series of court and quasi-judicial battles while physically holding for more than six months the Daneco Tipaz office in Tagum City until the office was forcibly closed by a sheriff backed up by provincial police following a break-open-closure order from the Court of Appeals.

However, the Daneco-CDA faction subsequently set up their new office at the Philippine Cooperative Union (PCU) office in Barangay Magdum, Tagum City and continued their

collection activities.

The faction set up collection center in Gaisano Mall of Tagum directly competing with the Daneco-NeA collection in the same mall. Also, it set up a collection unit in the premises of barangay hall of Barangay Visayan Village in the city.

The Daneco-CDA’s new officials, no longer those sacked ones, claimed that they still operate legally as the CDA registration was only temporarily suspended by the CDA and pending Supreme Court’s resolution of the appealed case relating to the Writ of Preliminary Injunction issued earlier by the Court of Appeals.

[Rural Urban News/Cha Monforte]

and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) that allows them to go into production stage.

“We’re starting slowly and hopefully next year, we can go into full-blast operation,” Tiamzon, a lawyer, told MindaNews.

Constancio Paye Jr., MGB-Region 12 director, said their main office issued the interim DMPF after determining that Tribal Mining has complied with the “crucial requirements.”

The permanent DMPF will be issued once the MGB approves the environmental Protection and enhancement Program, which Tribal Mining already submitted to the MGB main office, said Paye.

He said the interim DMPF already authorizes the company to proceed to the development and operating periods, including the extraction and commercial disposition of gold and associated min-

erals in the contract area.

The DMPF is filed within the term of the exploration period if the results of the exploration reveal the presence of mineral deposits economically and technically feasible for mining operations.

Citing the environmental compliance certificate issued by the environmental Management Bureau, Paye said that Tribal Mining is allowed

Commercial production for gold-silver project starts

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Canadian-backed mining company in T’boli, South Cotabato has started embarking on commercial gold and silver production and is planning to go full-blast operations next year, an executive said on Wednesday. eumir ernesto Tiamzon, TMC Tribal Mining Corp. president, said they have already acquired the interim Declaration of Mining Project Feasibility (DMPF) from the Mines

FCOMMERCIAL, 11

4 SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 212 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Polar bear trade ban divides campaigners W

ILDLIFe campaigners are at odds over a new attempt to ban the global trade in polar bear parts.

Some activists say the market for rugs and ornaments made from the bears is driving them to extinction.

But others argue that the most pressing problem for the species is climate change and the disappearance of polar ice.

The issue will be decided at a UN wildlife conservation meeting in Thailand in March 2013.

The Humane Society International/UK says that polar bears have been brought to a tipping point by climate change but that increased hunting in recent years is pushing the species “beyond the brink”.

“The drivers for the increase in recent years in the trade in polar bear parts are the extremely worrying and rapidly increasing prices being paid on international markets for polar bear parts,” said Mark Jones, executive director of the Humane Society International/UK. He points to the fact that in the five years up to 2012 there has been a 375% increase in the number of polar bear skins offered at auction, some selling for as much

as $12,000 (£7,400).

Opinions divided every year around 600 bears are legally killed by hunters in Canada and in the decade to 2010 more than 30,000 bear parts were traded as trophies, rugs and ornaments.

Opponents of the trade have now proposed a ban on the international sales of polar bear parts. It will be tabled at the next meeting of the Convention on the Trade in endangered Species (CITeS) taking place in Thailand next March.

The move is being supported by the US and Russian governments. The last time an attempt was made to change the ruling in 2010, it was defeated after the UK and the eU voted against. Mark Jones believes the UK government›s position is very influential and wants them to support the ban.

“We urgently need the British government to step forward and be a champion for polar bears by supporting their maximum protection,” he added.

But some prominent campaigners are against changing the protected status of the bears. WWF has had a long association with the iconic species but believes that the threat from international

A grisly collection of polar bear skins which can sell for extremely high prices.

Some campaigners argue that the key issue for polar bears is climate change. trade is not significant for the science when it compared to the threat suits us and then ignore from climate change. it when it doesn’t suit our “If we were tempted case,” he added. to support it on the baLittle impact sis of trade being a maWWF are supported jor threat, it is not,” says by other groups includDr Colman O’Criodain, ing Traffic International WWF’s wildlife trade pol- and IUCN. But Mark Jones icy analyst. says the Humane Society “We have to focus on International have broad what is the major threat support for their position and not distract ourselves as well. with a relatively minor “We’re members of one. We can’t be arguing a very big campaigning

group called the species survival network and we do believe we have a very wide consensus among groups on this particular issue,” he said.

Dr Colman O’Criodain says that WWF won’t actively campaign against the ban and will accept it if it is voted through. But he argues that would be a bad outcome for polar bears.

“You could say that

this is just a distraction factor and that it could have the effect of making people think something has been done to address the threat when the net effect will be almost negligible,” he said.

Indigenous groups in Canada are actively working against the proposed ban. And they particularly resent the fact that the US is leading the charge for change.

“The American government is using the threat of climate change to justify banning the international trade in polar bear parts while utterly failing to do anything to reduce their own activities,” said James eetoolook of the Nunavut Tunngavik, a group that represents Inuit interests.

They argue that their own research in the western Hudson Bay region carried out earlier this year indicated that bear numbers were increasing rather than declining.

Campaign groups in favour of the new ban are taking comfort from the fact that some governments are still undecided.

A spokesperson for the UK’s department of the environment, farming and rural affairs added: “We are currently considering the proposals ahead of the Conference of the Parties meeting next year.” [BBC NAtuRE]

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 212 •THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

THE ECONOMY 5

PCA Davao eyes replanting of coconuts in 40,000 ha

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total of 40,000 hectares (ha) will be replanted to coconut trees in the Davao Region as part of a strategic rehabilitation plan after Typhoon “Pablo” devastated farmlands in the area last December 4, a government official said.

Rex Buac, regional

manager of the Philippine Coconut Authority-Region 11 (PCA-11), said in a phone interview that Pablo affected at least 101,000 ha of coconut farms in the region.

Ten percent of the affected coconut areas, he continued, were totally damaged, which will be

WAITING. A fisherman weaves a fishing net while waiting for the weather to get stable and safe for him to go out to sea in Barangay 76-A Bucana, Davao

covered by the replanting.

Constancio Maghanoy Jr., acting regional director of the Department of Agriculture (DA), said earlier the damage to coconut areas in the region has reached about P5.1 billion as of December 18.

Davao Oriental lost P4.2 billion potential in-

come from its 84,000 ha of coconut farms due to Pablo’s aftermath.

He said its provincial governor, Corazon Malanyaon, requested for the support of the DA and PCA in rehabilitating the province’s coconut industry, as well as the entire agricultural sector, in a

City yesterday. Unstable weather in the Davao region raises the price of fish products during the Christmas season.[ LEAN DAVAL JR.]

meeting last Wednesday.

Compostela Valley (ComVal) lost P855 million from a total of 16,000 ha of coconut farms damaged by Pablo, while Davao del Norte lost P131,000 from 2.6 ha.

Maghanoy added that coconut trees in the city and Davao del Sur were not affected by the typhoon.

Immediate help Buac noted that the PCA is focusing its immediate assistance to the provinces of ComVal and Davao Oriental, as they suffered the most damages, losing 33 percent and 52 percent, respectively, of their total coconut areas.

He said a part of the PCA’s immediate assistance is the distribution of 70 chainsaws to the two provinces—35 each-- to be used by farmers in clearing their areas of debris, concentrating on the felled or uprooted coconut trees.

Twenty chainsaws were already released, 12 of which were distributed in ComVal and eight in Davao Oriental, Buac said,

adding that the deployment of the equipment is left with the local officials.

The PCA, through the Davao research center, has also distributed green muscardine fungus (GMF), which controls the plague of rhinoceros beetles (locally known as “bakukang”) that breed inside coconut trees, causing the plant’s deterioration, Buac said.

Powderized GMF is dusted in the breeding sites of active beetles to eliminate them.

A total of 53,530 bags of fertilizer for the rehabilitation of coconut trees, good for 13,382 ha, will also be distributed in the two provinces, he said.

Buac said the PCA head office has yet to provide the exact amount of funding to assist the typhoon-hit coconut areas in the region.

Intercropping Buac said the PCA advised coconut farmers to practice intercropping so that they will have something to harvest for food within five to seven years, before the coconut trees

FPCA, 11

6 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO MinDA says ‘Pablo’ to exact P9.6B value losses in 2013

VOL.5 ISSUE 212 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

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UNIQUE AD DRIVE. A group of young men hired by Globe Telecom piggyback the telco’s promotional materials along San Pedro Street last night. [LEAN

DAVAL JR.]

YPHOON “Pablo” would exact an estimated value losses of P9.6 billion for 2013 in areas hardest hit by the disaster, according to the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), which is appealing for an integrated approach to rebuild the provinces wrecked by the typhoon.

In a statement, MinDA said the value losses would include direct and indirect employment, businessmen’s income, losses from rental of lands and other related services.

“It bears to point out that the hard hit areas of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental are among the top producing agricultural provinces of the country, especially banana, coconut and other high value commodities,” the agency said.

It added that the next two to three years of rehabilitation and reconstruction will certainly need to have strong focus on reviving the agri-industry strength of these areas to provide greater employment opportunities and catch-up growth.

As this developed, Secretary Luwalhati Antonino, MinDA chair, said the hard part of carrying out rehabilitation and reconstruction of areas ravaged

by Pablo requires integration of all strategies and resources.

In a meeting with U.S. Ambassador Harry Thomas, Jr. and officials of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at the Growth with equity in Mindanao (GeM) Program office in Davao City recently, Antonino stressed the need for greater coordination in doing medium and longterm programs.

The meeting was also attended by Social Welfare Secretary Corazon

Soliman and Governors Arturo Uy and Corazon Malanyaon of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, respectively.

“We need all hands on deck to do the job of bringing normalcy to the lives of affected families and to move ahead with rehabilitation and reconstruction,” Antonino said in the statement.

She added “the broader scale of medium and long term interventions entail greater integration.”

Thomas reportedly said the US government will extend continuing support to ongoing relief operations as well as to reconstruction plans for areas devastated by the typhoon.

As immediate needs of affected families such as food, shelter and other basic necessities are currently being address by the DSWD with support from international development partners and private volunteer organizations, MinDA together with local government units of affected provinces and other key agencies are starting to put together plans for early recovery and long term reconstruction, the statement said.

A report made by MinDA noted that the initial impact assessment pointed to significant pull down of agricultural output including export oriented commodities, and a projected dent on Mindanao’s overall agri-industry performance.

It recorded a total value loss in production of P25.8 billion due to damages that cover total or partial destruction of physical assets existing in the affected area. Its monetary value is expressed in terms of replacement costs according to prices prevailing just before the event.

[MindaNews]

Korean SMEs eye PHL as their investment destination of choice

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He Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Seoul provided the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) capital office with an article recently published in the Korea economic Daily (KeD) citing the Philippines as the emerging overseas investment destination of choice for Korean small and medium enterprises (SMes).

“KeD is published in Korean language. It is one of Korea’s most widely read and respected economic dailies.

Owned by a syndication of conglomerates that include Samsung, Hyundai, SK, and LG, it has a

readership of at least one million,” PTIC Seoul Commercial Counselor Nicanor Bautista said.

In the article entitled “For Korean SMeS, the Philippines is the emerging overseas investment destination of choice”, continuing global recession is cited as the major reason for the growing number of Korean companies eyeing the Philippines. It also mentioned other reasons like the Philippine average wage at about US$ 300 per month which is only half the wage in China, and the common use of english language in the country. [PNA]

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 212 •THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

COMMUNITY SENSE 7

DCWD employees celebrate Christmas by giving relief goods to Pablo victims W

HAT was supposed to be “A Beautiful Christmas” themed party last December 18 turned out to be a meaningful celebration for all DCWD employees when they voluntarily gave up festivities and instead asked that the budget be used to purchase rice, canned goods, biscuits and noodles which they themselves repacked for the victims of typhoon Pablo in Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley.

The office also prepared bottled water to go along with the gift

packages and relief goods which the employees also personally donated.

Last December 7, DCWD donated 12,500 bottles of water through the City Government of Davao and again, on December 13, some its personnel delivered 3,827 bottles of water, grocery items and used clothing to the Provincial Government of Mati for distribution to the victims.

Selected employees brought the newly repacked gift packages to Mati and Compostela Valley via DCWD vehicles December 20.

CHRISTMAS CHEER. Employees find the true meaning of Christmas as they prepare to share assistance to the victims of typhoon Pablo.

A special Christmas get together for the families of missing fishers

By Aquiles Z. Zonio

“N

OTHING could fill the poignant void left by the untimely disappearance of my brother.

But this Christmas presents somehow cheered us up,” said the 25-year old edward Sayson, a resident of Barangay Fatima, General Santos City. edward’s elder brother, Ronel, a fisherman employed under LPS Fishing, perished while aboard a fishing boat during the typhoon Pablo.

Based on the data from the Task Force Maritime Search & Res-

cue-GenSar, a total of 372 fishermen and 47 fishing vessels from eight different fishing companies in General Santos City were lost during the tragedy.

The Task Force added that out of 372, 351 are still missing up to this time.

The search & rescue was stopped due to Tropical storm Quinta which made a landfall in Leyte Wednesday morning.

“The search & rescue operation will continue after the storm. Our air and sea crafts suspended the search due to strong

winds and big waves in the high seas,” Navy Capt.

Lued Lincuna, operations chief of the Task Force, said.

Pamaskong handog...

The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa, the city government Of General Santos and the provincial government of Sarangani initiated a Christmas get together for the families of missing fishermen at the Antonio C. Acharon Memorial Sports Complex in Calumpang village on Sunday.

Other agencies like the

Socsksargen Federation of Fishing & Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII), General Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (GSCCCII), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Police Regional Office-12 and giant television network ABS-CBN joined in the activity dubbed “Pamaskong Handog.”

Vicky Magante, City Social Welfare Officer, claimed that 322 families showed up during the holding of “Pamaskong Handog.”

The activities kicked

off with a Holy Mass officiated by Fr. Joy Pelino from the Justice & Peace Desk of the Diocese of Marbel.

Other activities included storytelling and parlor games for children, psycho-social debriefing and distribution of relief goods.

MinDa chair Sec. Luwalhati Antonino said “Pamaskong Handog” was initiated to make the families of missing fishermen happy during Christmas eve.

“This would hardly fill the emptiness brought

Families of more than 300 missing General Santos City fishers went home laden with gift packs from the city government, business group, fishing federation, BFAR, PNP & ABS-CBN. [Photo By AquiLEs Z. ZoNio]

about by the absence of your loved ones. But we hope this could somehow make you feel happy despite of what happened,” Antonino said.

Antonino added this only shows that the government – both local and national – is not remiss in doing its duty in taking care of the families of missing fishermen.

The MinDa chair bared that President Aquino, himself, is closely monitoring the progress of the search & rescue operation.

Outpouring of support...

Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio thanked the various agencies which participated in last Sunday’s “Pamaskong Handog.”

“The outpouring of support coming from various sectors was truly surprising and heartwarming.

I hope, this would make the families of the victims even stronger. You are not alone,” Custodio said. each family went home bringing along about 40 kilos of rice, food items, noche buena packs and canned goods.

“We received lots of Christmas presents. We have to hire a tricycle to bring these home,” said Gemalyn Jugarap of Barangay Apopong whose husband was among those missing up to this time.

That was not the last.

MinDa and the local governments of Gensan and Sarangani, including other participating donors, would be doing the same activity before the New Year.

8 VANTAGE pOINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 212 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

PHL pauses Sunday to mark Rizal’s 116th death anniversary SpECIAl FEATURE

By Honor Blanco caBie

T

EDITORIAL

Another first

O

Ne local legislative measure destined to make a mark in the lives of Dabawenyos is the ADO, short for Anti-Discrimination Ordinance.

A brainchild of Vice Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte, ADO, as crafted by Councilor Melchor V. Quitain and approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod two weeks ago, penalizes all forms of discrimination.

The ordinance defines discrimination as “acts committed when a person impinges on the right or freedom of another on the basis of national or ethnic origin, religious affiliation or belief, gender, descent, race or color.”

Prohibited acts may be in the form of refusing employment, admission to any academic institution, and refusing entry into restaurants, bars, stores, moviehouses, theaters, malls or other establishments by reason of ethnic origin, religious affiliation or belief, sex, gender, identity, or sexual orientation, descent, race or color.

The ordinance also prohibits “any analogous act that demeans the dignity and respect of a person.”

It is the common perception that the immediate beneficiaries of the landmark ordinance are members of the so-called LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and trans-

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sexual) community, a fact that is widely acknowledged by their leaders. LGBT members have suffered discrimination for quite a time now, that’s why.

Among those who expressed euphoria over the measure’s passage were Marivic Desquitado of the lesbian community of Davao City and Prof. Hadji Balajadia.

“The ADO provides a formal remedy for individuals who suffer discrimination, promotes preventive measures in order to diminish discrimination against LGBT and Lumads, and serves as vehicle for social engineering to counteract and address not only direct discrimination...” said Balajadia.

Dabawenyos take pride in the unique ordinance and are happy for the LGBT’s well-deserved emancipation. It is also hoped that LGBT leaders can inspire discipline and responsible behaviour among their ranks to encourage healthy social engagements. We are referring to latest findings that HIV-AIDS infections are high and rising among LGBT members, particularly the MSMs (men having sex with men).

In this way, ADO will be meaningful and significant at least to the LGBT community.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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He Philippines will pause on Sunday to mark the 116th death anniversary of one of its national heroes, with the center of celebration at the sprawling Luneta Park where he was gunned down 16 and 100 years ago.

On December 26, 1896, Jose Rizal, described as the pride of the Malay –sometimes referred to as Malayan – race, was accused of treason, sedition and illegal association with the underground movement.

According to historical documents, Rizal, then 35, was sentenced to death by firing squad, done four days later.

Some historical papers suggest that in his final letter to his Prague-born “best and dearest friend” Ferdinand Blumentritt, Rizal said: “Tomorrow at 7, I shall be shot; but I am innocent of the crime of rebellion. I am going to die with a tranquil conscience.”

Rizal is seen by some as perhaps the first revolutionary whose death was “attributed entirely to his work as a writer; and through dissent and civil disobedience enabled him to successfully destroy Spain’s moral primacy to rule.”

Some historians say Rizal, before his execution in what was then called Bagumbayan – what today is the bayside Luneta Park -- wrote “Mi Ultimo Adios (My Last Farewell).”

The execution site was some 100 meters west of Rizal’s 12.7-meter monument – shorter than Bonifacio’s monument in Caloocan City – the memorial sculpture designed and created by Swiss sculptor Robert Kissling.

President Benigno S. Aquino, III is expected to lead in the country’s celebration of Rizal’s death at the Luneta, where many strollers are also expected to have their Sunday leisurely walk after sunrise, with a wreath laying at his memorial statue facing Manila Bay. Moments before Rizal was executed on Dec. 30, 1896 by a squad of Filipino soldiers of the Spanish Army, historians say a backup force of regular Spanish Army troops stood ready to shoot the executioners should they fail to obey orders.

Local government units in the metropolis and the countryside north and south of the metropolis will each have their respective Rizal Day celebration, as they have separately done since after the second world war in early morning sunshine, approximating the time of Rizal’s execution.

Rizal was secretly buried in Pacò Cemetery in Manila with no identification on his grave.

But Rizal’s sister Narcisa, according to some historical accounts, toured all possible gravesites and found freshly turned earth at the cemetery with guards posted at the gate.

Assuming this could be the most likely spot, there never having any ground burials, she made a gift to the caretaker to mark the site “RPJ”, Rizal’s initials in reverse, according to the accounts.

Rizal, born José Protacio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda, has been described by historians as a Filipino nationalist and reformist, considered one of the national heroes of the Philippines, together with Andres Bonifacio.

Rizal studied in europe, and was the most prominent advocate for reform in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era, which began in the 16th century. Some historical papers suggest Rizal was wrongly implicated as the leader of the Katipunan Revolution, which led to his execution in 1896. [PNA]

EDGEDAVAO

Christmas scribbles

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spent my Christmas eve and do-day in desk. Indulged in net-babad while there are more foods around. Got to share those scribbles in here: The cold December air from Siberia is being whipped up now by the tail-end, lost wind of typhoon Quinta. The last dawn mass is over. It must be that down there in stricken Comval and DavOr areas, tens ofthousands of kins and relatives of the dead and missing are shivering from this cold and from the bitter pangs of off-and-on hunger, band-aided by relief ops.

It came to pass that the extent of damage and casualty wrought by the so vicious typhoon Pablo is beyond the efficacy of our combined resource, manpower and governmental responses now. It took years and and decades that we ravaged our forests, and solutions could never be made in days.

But we recognize the urgent need for relief and retrieval. The former has sort of abundance now, the latter is scarce given the the gargantuan tasks, logistics and resources to scour the decomposed. We are still much on the stage of relief ops.

I must not say that I have that “prophetic” opinion years ago. Oh, that “Submerged Valley Theory”. Google it!. It was simple geo-technical-environmental projection for the valley. Those “de kahon” ultra leftist analysis of lambasting the big, corporate mining firms as one of the reasons of this misery is a jaded one aimed to propagandize the CPP-NPA-NDF ideology and muckrack the military. In Comval, we don’t have many

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VANTAGE pOINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 212 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

big mining firms reigning. There’s only Crew Mining and those 2 or 3 in Pantukan are still on exploration stage. What reign are the endogenous small scale mining, whose growth is irreversible, sadly at the expense of our environment. We collectively bite the bullet as we now have an army of highly trained small miners scattered digging all over Comval’s hills and mountains.

There’s still the Code of Omerta sealing the reported high casualties in Diwalwal, and the guerillas, military and our public officials, the DeNR, etc are mum on this. After all many have shared from Diwalwal’s gold, and a government takeover of Minahang Bayan in Diwalwal is a no-no scenario. ****** Thanks for the warm we have this Christmas. Can’t yet sleep thinking of themthe typhoon Pablo survivors and affected.

How are they now? Did they consume just on time for the celebration the noche buena packs given by Sec. Dinky last Thursday?

Or they consumed in their next dining right fter the noche buena packs were given? especially those who are gripped by this

moment’s chilly winds and dense fog that mixed with the stench of unretrieved decomposed, and who could not move afar for lack of land and receiving relatives in lighted areas, the horror, the macabre situation of carcasses buried near somewhere, the threat of epidemic breakout in dark, howling valley of death and tears, made life so difficult and harsh for them. And this is Christmas. May those who shiver now have lighted small fires to keep themselves warm. May Santa be made true riding on his sleigh and shower them with foodstuffs, mineral waters, jackets, sweatshirts, and blankets. May our Most Benevolent Lord Jesus Christ cover them of his warm protective shield. ****** Just past midnight, somewhere in DC: The much-praised firecrackers’ ban in Davao City is a myth! At the strike of 12 midnight I heard sounds of exploding firecrackers-big and small- outta here in my neighborhood. The folks, the kids were cheering. No policeman in his right mind, body and heart foremost will patrol around just to watch out violators who simply wanted to meet the birthday of our Lord with a bang. After a short while, the about 10-15 minute explosion of firecrackers immediately stopped. The cops are surely also with their loved ones celebrating Christmas. Gee, nobody was hurt. Merry Christmas to each and everyone! [For reactions: e-mail: chamonforte@yahoo.com]

WAYWARD AND FANCIFUl

head. “I just waved my hands about. My uncle fished me out.” The boys laughed and simulated frantically waving their hands about. “You must have shouted,” said one.

“I would. I’d shout, ‘Tabang! Tabang!’” Lowiemar’s face broke into a sad attempt at a smile. The clinician in me filed that check mark away. The boy was trying to connect, to accommodate, to cooperate.

“No school?” I asked, changing the subject. “What do you guys do all day?”

“We’d love to play, but only one ring is left in the basketball court. And we don’t have a ball,” they volunteered.

“Hmm. Are you sure you know how to play basketball?” I asked. They immediately picked up coconuts lying around and showed me how to shoot. One of them even instructed me how not to shoot like a girl.

After much tossing around, they came up to me again, hitching up their shorts.

“Wala kami brief, ‘te,” they candidly explained, inviting me to merrily laugh with them. Carlo Miguel said, “I’d really rather play football, ‘te.” I remember former Philippine Sports Commissioner Butch Ramirez’ inquiry about tying up with COPeRS at the psychosocial rehab of child survivors. I called him to ask if he would come down with me to New Bataan on the 27thto play ball with the kids. Hearing my end of conversation, Carlo Miguel tugged my hand to ask in a conspiratorial whisper, “Pila premyo sa manalo, ‘te?”

“Hmmm. Let me think about it, basta naa. How about a basketball?” I asked. Hearing that, the boys excitedly ran around, launching their VHS spools like mini Frisbees across the rocks.

I stayed balanced atop the fallen coconut trunk, recording their precious free play on my cellphone videocam. I needed the distancetostopmyselffromcrying.[GailTanIlagan, PhD, **Director of the Center of Psychological Extension and Research Services at the Ateneo de Davao University, writes the column, “Wayward and Fanciful” for MindaViews, the opinion section of MindaNew])

The bagyo boys of New Bataan

AGAWAD Boy Polinar, his wife and I were surveying what used to be three blocks of houses in Purok 4, Barangay Poblacion, New Bataan in Compostela Valley that drizzly morning eighteen days after these got buried under mud and rocks and timber. Five boys, ages seven to ten, quietly came up to us and aimlessly loitered about.

I registered their need to be near adults.

The village official said there were a lot of children in the evacuation camp.

“Seventy-three,” volunteered one of the boys. Kids hear and see a lot. They’re welcome in places adults and outsiders are not.

It’s worth listening to them when official communication is hard to come by.

The drizzle turned heavier and we followed the boys to shelter beside a ruined shack. At close quarters, I was now able to see the ravages of the storm on the bodies of the little ones.

Cupping 7-year-old Lowiemar’s face in my hands, I gently asked him, “Nasugatan ka sa baha, ‘nak?” Haunted eyes looked up to me. He nodded. “Sa bato. Madaming bato,” he replied.

“Masakit pa?” I asked. “Hindi na. Muntik na ako mamatay.” “Ako rin, ‘te,” piped up irrepressible 10-year-old Carlo Miguel, grabbing my attention. “Muntik rin kami mamatay.” He hiked up his pants to show me an ugly superficial wound running the length of his tibia. His friends did the same, showing me a nape and the length of their backs.

“Naanod mi. Duha namong kauban namatay. Grabe ang baha, ‘te, murag gapilo-pilo ang lutak! Tapos, daghan – dagko ang bato, ang kahoy!” Carlo Miguel was speaking in excited bursts. Their companions nodded vigorously at everything he said. Lowiemar was quiet, sad eyes downcast, his hands listlessly worrying the spool of the VHS tape they had salvaged from the ruins, turning it around and around. The other boys told me that they were now housed in the evacuation center. I noted that they had clean clothes and that their wounds had been seen to.

By Gail ilaGan The rain had stopped. My heart about to burst, I asked the boys where they lived before the flood came. The boys led me away from Kagawad Boy and his wife. I noted they walked with ease, albeit with much nervous energy. They brought me back where the spread of rocks started. “This wasn’t a river before. The river was over there,” Carlo Miguel helpfully pointed me to a blue building about half a kilometer away on the left. It was a chapel, he said, where the outstretch arms on the statue of the Blessed Virgin had seemingly warded the deadly flow away.

“She lost her hands, but she kept the mudflow from coming any further and hurting the people,” they helpfully told me.

I leapt across a narrow stream to get a better view. The boys followed along, each one trying to outdo the other at leaping farther and landing like a cat on his feet. I walked up a big coconut trunk that was held down on both sides by a pile of rubble. It was lodged so fast and true, it made for a steady bridge across the rocks strewn on the ground. I tried not to think about what lay buried under those rocks. The boys trailed after me.

Balance and coordination okay. A lot of laughter, but no jostling. And no fear of the rocks and tree trunks. They nervously chattered about how the debris flow had hit at them with terrifying force during the storm, how they tried to avoid the worst of it. (I remember doing a walk-through of the disaster site hereabouts with another 7-year-old boy two days after he had lost his 9-year-old sister at a crossfire in the summer of 2006. That boy had turned mute until I came).

Lowiemar quietly said, “I was buried in mud. Only my head was showing.”

Lump in my throat, I asked, “What did you do? Did you shout for help?” He shook his

9

Men who dance

T

HeRe is something about men who love to dance even if dance does not exactly love them back in return. Dancing somehow imbues a man with a certain magnetism that would not normally be present. Maybe there is something about his being lost to the rhythm and beat of the music that calls out to us. even a ridiculous-looking dancer will elicit a bit of admiration for such bravery despite his lack of finesse. The line, “Dance like no one is watching; love like you will never get hurt,” is very telling of how dance could be a basic human indicator of how one lives life. The individual who is able to let go of his inhibitions and insecurities through dance is also the individual who is not afraid to make mistakes; the individual who embraces life with gusto.

My father is a 67-year old diabetic who can no longer walk properly because of neuropathy, a degeneration of the nerves. His feet are numb and he says it is as if his feet are made of wood. Nevertheless, when the opportunity arises, he still gamely takes to the dance floor and gives my mother a twirl or two. Disease and disability suddenly become invisible. This is also how Papa lives his life – with faith and passion as if nothing could go wrong. Or even if everything already goes wrong, he still finds meaning and reason to go on… and dance. Then the people around him, onlookers to his dance and his life, could not help but take on the rhythm and applaud him.

A friend of mine deeply entrenched in corporate life has a dancer for a boyfriend. Upon hearing of this, we could not help but raise questioning eyebrows at the wisdom of such a relationship.

The guy belonged to a dance crew that performed street funk, pop, hip hop, and the like. When we met him, he was very self-assured and integrated with the group well. Girly gossip has it that this guy gives our friend ecstasy that has not yet been reached before. He turned out to be a wonderful doting father to their baby.

My cousin recently married a seemingly retiring and quiet guy. He seldom interacted with our family and came across as a bit of an antisocial. However, during their wedding, he shed off this image and surprised my cousin and the crowd with a very rousing dance performance. He shook his hips and wiggled his body to our delight. With that dance, our impression of him changed and we have become more hopeful of how well he will love my cousin.

However, there is one man that stands out for me. He was breakdance champion of Davao City in his younger years. He incorporated gay choreography with the more macho dance moves.

He embraced the masculine and the feminine and is the better man because of it. The complicated steps challenged him and he pushed himself to a higher level. Dancing gave him intuitive rhythm which served him well as he proceeded to earn the coveted blackbelt in a martial art; intuitive rhythm also served him well as he maneuvered the pressures of a demanding career. In the bigger dance that is life, he pursued a woman who made him dance some more. He danced like no one was watching so he could captivate her. He loved like he would never get hurt, even if he did get hurt, so he could irrevocably have her. He really did have her and walked her down the aisle. He married me, another complex choreography to dance.

10 NATION/WORlD NATION BRIEFS Generous

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T would appear that Filipinos have taken to heart the words of that classic Christmas carol that goes, “at magmula ngayon, kahit hindi pasko ay magbigayan.”

According to the World Giving Index 2012 by British organization Charities Aid Foundation (CAF), the Philippines is the 17th most generous country out of 146 countries included in the study, with a world giving index score of 45 percent.

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Injuries

He number of holiday-related fireworks injuries has shot up to 44 as of Christmas eve, the Department of Health said Tuesday.

National epidemiology Center head enrique Tayag noted the 44 incidents was one more than those recorded in the same period in 2011.

“Fireworks injuries climb(ed) to 44 as of Dec. 24, 2012 compared to 43 last year. Metro Manila leads all regions with 14 injuries,” Tayag said on his Twitter account.

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Vibrant

He Philippines’ chief economist expects to see a more vibrant industry sector in 2013 as the government focuses on key industries and strives to ease the processes and costs in doing business.

“Our key priority sectors, namely tourism, business process outsourcing or BPO, electronics, housing and real estate, agribusiness and forest-based products, logistics and shipbuilding, will be given more focus. We need also to consolidate the various industry roadmaps to further fuel the industry sector, especially manufacturing,” economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

Monitoring

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resident Benigno S. Aquino III is closely monitoring the situation in the Visayas hit by typhoon Quinta during the Christmas holidays, a Palace official said Wednesday.

Presidential Spokesperson edwin Lacierda said during the regular press briefing in Malacanang that the Chief executive, who left Tuesday night for a brief vacation, remains in contact with officials of government agencies regarding the typhoon to ensure the safety of the people.

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VOL.5 ISSUE 212 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

Strong currency hurts Philippine call centers R

WORLD TODAY Retaliation

ussia’s upper house of parliament approved a bill on Wednesday that would prohibit Americans from adopting Russian children and impose other measures in retaliation for a U.S. law designed to punish Russians accused of human rights violations.

The bill, which President Vladimir Putin has hinted he will sign, would also outlaw some U.S.-funded non-governmental organizations and impose visa bans and asset freezes on Americans accused of violating the rights of Russians abroad.

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He peso’s rise is hitting call centers in the Philippines, handicapping the global leader in the lucrative business as it combats a challenge from top rival India, industry officials said on Wednesday.

Forty percent of the members of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines had cancelled expansion plans and an equal number reported losing business to other destinations, the industry group said.

Nearly half disclosed in a group survey that they were having trouble meeting revenue targets because of the strong peso, it said in a statement.

The association said the local currency had become uncompetitive compared to the rupee in India, the Philippines’ main rival for outsourced business services.

“The combination of an appreciating peso and a depreciating Indian rupee has provided India with a meaningful cost advantage,” the statement said.

The Philippine peso has strengthened by about seven percent from about 43.90 to the US dollar on

This file photo shows Filipino call center employees working in suburban Manila. [AFP] January 2 to about 41.05 at leader in call centers in rev- call centre revenues would the close of last week. enue terms in 2009 and in rise to $8.4 billion this year Industry president Ben- manpower terms in 2010, with 493,000 people emedict Hernandez said Phil- according to industry fig- ployed. ippines-based call centers ures.

They said this should must be able to operate Manila is also making increase to $14.7 billion by “within acceptable market strides in other outsourced 2016, when the sector is prices”, but added: “That’s businesses like medical tipped to employ 862,000 becoming increasingly dif- and legal transcription, ac- people. ficult as the peso continues counting, software writing Hernandez did not say to appreciate”. and animation. if the targets were now in The Philippines overearlier this year the as- danger of not being met. took India as the world sociation had forecast that [AFP]

UNMeN attacked a church in volatile northern Nigeria during a Christmas eve service, killing six people including the pastor, before setting the building ablaze, residents and police said Tuesday, as the pope deplored “savage acts of terrorism” against Christians in Africa’s most populous nation.

The raid in Yobe state is the latest violence like-

ly to be blamed on radical Islamist sect Boko Haram, which has repeatedly targeted churches during times of worship, including multiple attacks last year on Christmas Day, during its deadly insurgency.

In his traditional Christmas message from the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI prayed for “concord in Nigeria, where savage acts of terrorism

Nigeria gunmen kill 6 during Christmas service G continue to reap victims, particularly among Christians”.

Boko Haram attacks have often targeted churches, as well as police and other symbols of the establishment in Nigeria. Violence linked to the insurgency is believed to have left some 3,000 people dead since 2009, including killings by the security forces.

“A group of gunmen

Crackdown

n line with its efforts to minimize injuries and death on New Year’s eve, National Police head Director General Alan Purisima ordered a nationwide crackdown on illegally manufactured firecrackers nationwide.

Purisima has instructed all police commanders to conduct raids on shops making and selling firecrackers that are not up to government safety standards. “We are very concerned of the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnic materials and that is why are joining forces with the Dept. of Health in reducing firecracker-related injuries,” the PNP chief stressed.

EDGEDAVAO

People stand in front of the partially destroyed St Theresa Catholic Church after a bomb blast in the Madala Zuba district of Nigeria’s capital Abuja on December 25, 2011.

Gunmen attacked a church in volatile northern Nigeria during a Christmas Eve service. [AFP]

came into the village at midnight and went straight to the church,” said Usman Mansir, a resident of Peri village near Potiskum, the economic capital of Yobe.

“They opened fire on them, killing the pastor and five worshippers.

They then set fire to the church,” he added, specifying that a branch of the evangelical Church of West Africa (eCWA) was targeted.

A senior police official in Yobe confirmed the details of the attack to AFP, but declined to be named, while Yobe’s police chief Sanusi Rufa’i said “this is a security issue” and refused to comment further.

The head of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Yobe, Idi Garba, told AFP that many worshippers at eCWA “are still missing.”

“I have been informed that six bodies have been recovered,” Garba said, adding that some who lived near the church “fled their homes during the attack and it is assumed that they are still hiding in the bush.” [AFP]

Signed

e

gyptian President Mohamed Morsi has signed into law a new constitution voted in despite weeks of opposition protests, but on Wednesday he was left facing an economic crisis and international disquiet over his rule.

The Islamist-dominated senate convened on Wednesday to swear in 90 new members appointed

by Morsi. It was expected to draft a law for legislative elections for the dissolved lower house that have to be held by the end of February.

T

Defected

he head of Syria’s military police has defected from the army and declared allegiance to the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, according to a video and a Syrian security source.

The high-level defection, while not a strategically significant development in the 21-month-old conflict, will be a blow to morale for Assad’s forces, which are hitting back at a string of rebel advances across the country.

I

Banned

ran’s parliament has banned on airplanes from flying in the country during the Azan call to Islamic prayer, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported on Wednesday.

“According to the new directive, airplanes are banned from flying during Azan, especially during the call to morning prayers,” Mehr quoted the spokesman for parliament’s cultural committee Ali Taheri as saying.

M

Probe

yanmar on Wednesday hunted for clues about the cause of an airplane crash-landing that left two people dead, as foreign tourists told of their miraculous escape from the burning jet.

The ageing Air Bagan Fokker 100 jet came down in thick fog Tuesday and caught fire in a field short of the runway at Heho airport -- the gateway to the popular tourist destination of Inle Lake, according to officials.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 212 •THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

Pablo donations...

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both to responders as well as to those affected by the calamity.

Chapter administrator Rogelio Aca said the chapter is also setting up a mobile kitchen that will be deployed to disaster-stricken area in case of a calamity. “Someone has donated the facilities of the kitchen,” he said.

The two officials pointed out that kitchen is among the basic necessities in times of disaster. “In this situation, we need the help of schools (offering culinary courses) as well as bakeries,” said Lizada.

She pointed out that everyone in the community must join the partnership because he or she has a role to play in times of disaster. “We

must not be caught flatfooted,” she said.

She added that the chapter has also strengthened its partnership with the city government so that holding preemptive measures and addressing disasters will not meet any problem.

“We have a very good partnership with the city government,” said Lizada who once served as the city’s tourism operations officer.

The chapter, the point of coordination for the typhoon Pablo, has sent about 200 of its volunteers to areas stricken by the typhoon that hit the Davao Region on December 4, helping in the rescue and in providing assistance to those in need.

Mr. Aca said the chapter has volunteers with different competencies needed in areas affected by the calamity. “We have even volunteers in charge of providing psycho-social help,” he added.

The chapter is also being helped by chapters of the International Federation of the Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross as countries like Switzerland, Germany, Spain and Japan have already sent their volunteers.

This developed as Lizada called on corporations to continue contributing to the organization as their contribution will be deducted from their taxable income. “We need their help,” she said.

saying that the bets he was endorsing are known for their dedication to public service.

Casiño seemed overwhelmed by the endorsement being a Dabawenyo himself who has resided in the city for 15 years. If elected as senator, he said he would pursue (1) retirement pay for brgy. officials, (2) Magna Carta for Day-

care Teachers, and (3) mandatory PhilHealth benefits for barangay health workers and daycare teachers who are not plantillas.

Mayor Hagedorn said he wants to bring his environmental advocacy to the senate, He helped put Puerto Princesas’ Underground River as one the Seven Wonders of Nature last January 28.

years.”

Asked about the potential income of a coconut farmer, Buac said the price of copra or coconut oil has always been dependent on the dictate of the world market, unless it is value-added like virgin coconut oil or coco sugar, among others.

Still coconut Whether or not the coconut industry is ready to mitigate damages that may be brought by another calamity, considering that the region is no

longer “typhoon-free,” Buac said everybody has to take care of the environment. “everything was affected by the typhoon.

It’s the causes of climate change that we all need to face,” he added.

As a part of the industry, Buac still prefers planting coconut, saying, “Can you think of other crop that is immune to typhoon like Pablo?”

sa sagingan. Nahapla man pud tanan ang saging (My husband used to work in a banana farm. But the storm toppled the banana trees),” she added.

For now, Maquiling’s family is relying on the P1,400 monthly stipend that she gets from being a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, a program that benefits the poorest of the poor. even with the bunkhouse, the 35-year old mother hopes that her family will be able to re-

build their house.

“Unta makakuha mi og kahoy gamay ug sin, mabarog namo ang balay.

Gamay ra gud na pero ganahan man gyud sila [mga anak] didto. Sa diri na gani mi, mangadto-nganhi lang gihapon sila [mga anak] bisan pa og naguba na to (I hope we can get lumber and galvanized iron, we can rebuild our house. It was a small house, but my children like it there. even now, they would still visit the place even if it was destroyed),”she said. [DSWD/ Leslie Lao-Francisco]

Rody plays...

FFROM 2

Puerto Princesa Mayor edward Hagedorn and Teddy Casiño, 3rd district Congressman Isidro Ungab, former Justice Secretary Silvestre Bello III and former Davao City vice mayor, Louie Bonguyan.

Duterte asked the barangay officials to support senatorial bets edward Hagedorn and Teddy Casiño in the 2013 polls,

PCA...

FFROM 5

will bear fruit.

“Our coconut farmers are really in a depressing condition,” he told MindaNews.

Before Pablo hit the region, he said the PCA had encouraged farmers to plant corn, coffee or cacao in between coconut trees to mitigate the fluctuating prices of copra in the world market.

But now, he added, “we want them to do intercropping because they won’t have anything to harvest in at least five

Sleepless...

[LoRiE ANN A. CAsCARo/MiNDAN-

Ews]

FFROM 11

na lang mi, (The wind was so strong. We would have wanted to stay but the storm destroyed our house. The water level was waist-deep. And so we ran to the evacuation center),” Maquiling sorrowfully narrated.

She said the family not only lost their home, but their livelihood. Her husband, Homanel, then working for a banana farm, has found no farm to work for because the farms were submerged in water.

“Nagtrabaho na siya

DCWD lays...

rarily replacing the collapsed transmission lines, we may be able to normalize water distribution to all affected areas,” Regalado added.

Regalado thanked all affected customers for their understanding and cooperation amid all inconveniences brought by the collapsed transmission lines. He also appealed again for the same kind of support from affected customers and motorists while DCWD conducts system improvement projects to replace the damaged transmission lines.

DCWD has scheduled a 20-hour water service interruption from 9:00 PM of December 28 until 5:00 PM of December 29 affecting some city parts to allow its crews to install the additional 400mm diameter steel pipeline at Generoso Bridge.

No water areas include the entire Bo. Obrero and Agdao and some portions of Bucana in ecoland specifically in Savina, Manggahan, St. John, Kasilak,

11

Sto. Niño, Bilusa, Sanasa and Busna.

The whole downtown area will experience no water except for some portions which will experience low water pressure which includes Lizanto Homes, Davao Doctor’s Hospital, Fatima Village, Garden Park Village, Sto. Niño Hillside Subd., eMP Village II, Marfori Heights, Mineral Village, Monfort Village, Doña Vicenta Village and San Rafael Village.

Low water pressure to no water areas include Angliongto, Pampanga, Sasa and water connections in Panacan served

by Dumoy Water Supply System.

Acting general manager edwin V. Regalado explained that completion of the installation of the second 400mm diameter steel pipe will further improve water supply in downtown, Agdao, Obrero, Bajada, Lanang and Sasa. These areas experienced intermittent and low pressure to no water after the collapse of

the 600mm and 750mm transmission lines of Line 1 of Dumoy Water Supply System along Generoso Bridge last December 16 after being hit by floating logs brought by the strong currents of Bankerohan River.

Regalado also appealed for the continued understanding and cooperation of affected customers and likewise advised them to store enough water prior to the scheduled water interruption as water supply may be restored earlier if work goes smoothly or later if unforeseen problems arise.

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

provinces.

Aca stressed the PRC won’t allow politicians to use PRC activities for political gains, a practice now widely known as “epal”.

“We will not entertain them as it runs counter to our principle. We will talk to them properly. We are

only following orders from the national office,” he said.

He added that educating communities with the help of media can prevent politicians from taking advantage of relief operations. [Lorie Ann Cascaro/ MindaNews]

prevent clashes in the field.

“The AFP is vigilant.

There is a SOMO as agreed upon by the joint panel abroad. So we received that press release from, I think,

the ambassador of Norway and Netherlands. But I just spoke to Col. (Arnulfo) Burgos, kahit naman may SOMO vigilant sila,” he said. [PNA]

Tiamzon said they hope that the problem with the small-scale miners will be resolved so that the company’s fullscale mining operation will proceed smoothly.

“We hope it can be settled because we want to co-exist peacefully with the small-scale miners,” he added.

The provincial government earlier reported that there are at least 300 tunnels operated by small-scale miners in the area.

Last year, Tiamzon said the Court of Appeals had ruled that the conflict over rights between the mining firm and the small-scale miners involving the disputed area shall be resolved by a Regional Panel of Arbitrators, which is a qua-

si-judicial body annexed to the Department of environment and Natural Resources.

He said Wednesday that the mining firm has yet to pursue the case with the quasi-judicial body.

Tiamzon had claimed that under the SmallScale Mining Act of 1992, small-scale mining operators should ask the consent of the company that holds the tenement.

An earlier company study showed that the T’boli project has deposits of 2.4 million tons, containing 420,000 ounces of gold and 1.6 million ounces of silver.

Tribal Mining will excavate the deposits using the tunneling method.

[Bong S. Sarmiento/MindaNews]

Form partnership...

FFROM 2

Twenty-six truck loads of relief goods had been coursed through the PRC for Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental typhoon victims, including 200 tents for each province, he said, adding some 200 PRC volunteers from the city were deployed in the two

PHL gov’t...

FFROM 2

from the rebels.

Lacierda noted there is a suspension of offensive military operations reached by both sides in recent talks at The Netherlands that should

Commercial...

FFROM 3

to mine and mill only up to 70,000 metric tons of ore from the project area annually.

But Tiamzon said that small-scale miners within their tenement are posing a problem to their commercial mining operation.

Tribal Mining was granted the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement 090-97-XI covering 84.20 hectares in 1997.

The T’boli gold silver project, however, straddles the “minahang bayan” or people’s mining area, covering 21 hectares, that was declared over a decade ago by the provincial government, under then governor Hilario de Pedro III. Canadian firm Cadan Resources, Inc. is a major investor in the T’boli project.

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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.

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.

VOL.5 ISSUE 212 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 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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LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Francisco Escarcha, Sr. has been EXTRA JUDICIALLY SETTLED , executed by his heirs per Doc. No. 4; Page No. 82; Book No. 41, Series of 2012 of the Notary Public Ronald S. Tolentino.

Coffee Shop

(Edge 12/27,01/3,10) NOTICE OF LOSS Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATeD INC. that CeRTIFICATe OF FULL PAYMeNT No(s) under LOYOLA PLAN issued to the following planholders, to wit; PH NAMe

1. eDUARTe,TeReSITA C. 2. eDUARTe, RAFAeL C.

CFP NO.

1004673 21049402

CONTRACT NO.

UUU430004449 MRO530007497

were lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

12/13, 20, 27

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

SpORTS 13

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 212 •THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012 RePUBLIC OF THe PHILIPPINeS ReGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL ReGION OFFICe OF THe CLeRK OF COURT-SHeRIFF DAVAO CITY

HOMe DeVeLOPMeNT MUTUAL FUND, or Pag-ibig Fund, Mortgagee -versus-

Houston Rockets’ James Harden, center, battles Chicago Bulls’ Kirk Hinrich, right, and Jimmy Butler, left, for a loose ball in their NBA game won by the Rockets.

eJF-ReM CASe NO. 13, 838-12

MANUeL L. LOZADA, married to elizabeth T. Lozada Mortgagor/s. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICe OF eXTRA-JUDICIAL SALe Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the mortgagee Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) Pag-ibig against MANUeL L. LOZADA, married to elizabeth T. Lozada, mortgagors with postal address at Blk. 06 Lot 56 , Bahay Pagibig Heights Subdivision, Catalunan Grande, Davao City to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of October 18, 2011 amounted to Php 243,913.65 Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest, penalty charges, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to TeN ( 10%) of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public auction on February 7, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, ecoland,Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGeR’S CHeCK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate of Title No. T- 282216 “ A parcel of land (Lot 5, Blk. 6 of the subd. plan Pcs-11-000352, being a portion of lots xxx situated in the Barangay of Catalunan Grande, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao.xxx Containing an area of ONe HUNDReDTWeNTY (120) SQUARe MeTeRS, more or less” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date,it shall be held on March 07, 2013 without further notice.

This NOTICe will be posted in three(3) conspicuous public places in the City of Davao and in the place where the property is located and where the auction sale will take place for the information of the general public and the parties.

Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the titles herein described real property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

Davao City, Philippines, December 5, 2012

FOR THe eX-OFFICIO SHeRIFF:

(SGD.) SeRGIO LeONARDO J. TUPAS Sheriff IV

Noted by:

(SGD) ATTY. eDIPOLO P. SARABIA, JR. Clerk of Court VI & ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff (edge12/20,27,01/3)

RePUBLIC OF THe PHILIPPINeS ReGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL ReGION OFFICe OF THe CLeRK OF COURT-SHeRIFF DAVAO CITY

HOMe DeVeLOPMeNT MUTUAL FUND, (HDMF) or Pag-ibig Fund, Mortgagee -versus-

eJF-ReM CASe NO. 13,856-12

MILLeR L. DeLIGeRO Mortgagor/s. x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICe OF eXTRA-JUDICIAL SALe Upon extra-judicial petition for foreclosure and sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the mortgagee Home Development Mutual Fund or Pag-ibig Fund against MILLeR L. DeLIGeRO with postal address at BLK. 30, LOT 11, VINCeNT HeIGHTS SUBD., MAMAY, LANANG, DAVAO CITY to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of October 05, 2012 amounting to ( Php 415,644.39) Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest, penalty charges, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to TeN ( 10%) of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public auction on February 7, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, ecoland,Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGeR’S CHeCK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate of Title No. T- 267442 “ A parcel of land (Lot 11, Blk. 30, of the cons.-subd. plan PCS11001996,xxx) situated in Barangay of Mamay, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao.xxx Containing an area of ONe HUNDReD FOUR SQUARe MeTeRS,(104).”

All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date,it shall be held on March 07, 2013 without further notice.

Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the titles herein described real property/ies and the encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

Davao City, Philippines, DeCeMBeR 05, 2012

FOR THe eX-OFFICIO SHeRIFF:

Noted by:

(SGD.) HIPOLITO A. BeLANGDAL Sheriff IV

(SGD) ATTY. eDIPOLO P. SARABIA, JR. Clerk of Court VI & ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff (edge12/13,20,27)

Rockets tame Bulls

C

HICAGO (AP) -- Omer Asik enjoyed his trip back to Chicago. And he got help from James Harden and Jeremy Lin. Asik returned to the United Center and had a double-double with 20

points and 18 rebounds to lead the Houston Rockets to a 120-97 win over the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday night.

It was his first trip to Chicago since signing with the Rockets in the offseason. ‘’Omer is a big-time play-

er in the middle,’’ Rockets coach Kevin McHale said. ‘’Tonight he was blocking shots, getting rebounds, and outletting the ball for us.

He’s got a big body and sets wide picks for us. This was a very good game for him.’’

Harden scored 26 points and Lin added 20 points and 11 assists for Houston, which had all five starters score in double figures.

Chandler Parsons scored 23 points and Marcus Morris had 10.

Houston has won six of seven.

The Rockets had been just 3-7 on the road entering Tuesday, but a strong second quarter turned the holiday matchup into a blowout.

The Rockets outscored the Bulls 31-19 in the period to break the game open.

Lin capped a 14-2 run midway through the quarter with a drive and a layup to make it 55-34. He scored 12 in the second quarter and Harden had 13.

Houston led 58-41 at halftime. ‘’We are a very young team, but are continuing to learn and believe in our system,’’ McHale said.

Nate Robinson led the Bulls with 27 points, and Marco Belinelli scored 15.

Houston entered the game tops in the league in scoring at 105.4 points per game, while Chicago allowed the third-fewest in the league at 91.

Houston, though, was not slowed at all.

The Rockets pushed the pace and shot well against Chicago’s defense. The Rockets outscored the Bulls 6632 in the paint and 31-8 in transition. Their largest lead was 35 points.

The 120 points allowed and 23-point loss were season-worsts for the Bulls.

The Turkish-born Asik spent his first two years in the NBA with Chicago. He signed a three-year, $25 million offer sheet with the Rockets this summer that the Bulls did not match.

14 SpORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 212 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Gilas settle for college stars A

cadet-reinforced Smart Gilas-Pilipinas 2.0 will carry the country’s colors in the 24th Dubai International Basketball Tournament set two weeks from now.

Big man Greg Slaughter, former UAAP MVP RR Garcia, Kevin Louie Alas, Ronald Pascual, Jake Pascual, and Justin Melton comprised half of the team named by coach Chot Reyes for the January 10-19 tournament at the Al Ahli Club.

Reyes bared the Gilas lineup on his Twitter account @coachot.

The unavailability of several star pro players made Reyes decide to tap the services of the cadet cagers from the national pool.

Gilas Pilipinas members Gary David (foot) and LA Tenorio (elbow) are both nursing injuries,

Sol Mercado is ineligible to play, while Arwind Santos and Junemar Fajardo – two players coveted by Reyes for his team - failed to get the green light from Petron management to wear the national colors.

In their place, Reyes has tapped Meralco players Jay-R Reyes, KG Canaleta, and Ronjay Buenafe.

Completing the team are naturalized players Marcus Douthit, Garvo Lanete, and Matt Rosser Ganuelas. Reyes also left two slots reserved for Japeth Aguilar and new FilAm recruit Isaac Holstein.

The Smart Gilas-Pilipinas team of former national coach Rajko Toroman bagged the bronze medal during the 2010 edition of the Dubai International, with Jayvee Casio adjudged as the best point guard of the tournament.

Jarencio leaving UST?

P

IDO Jarencio is stepping down as coach of University of Santo Tomas after a season in which he led the Tigers to a runner-up finish in the UAAP and a first-ever Philippine Collegiate Champions League title.

According to multiple sources, Jarencio has already tendered his resignation to school officials two weeks ago and will most likely take on a head-coaching job in the PBA before the Commissioner’s Cup comes around.

Sought for comment, the colorful coach confirmed that he is mulling over his departure from a UST team he led to one championship, two Finals appearances, and five Final Four stints in seven seasons in charge, but re-

mained coy about his plans.

“Hindi pa naman ako nakakapag-decide pero siguro second week of January. Dun tayo magde-decide kung ano ang future natin at kung saan tayo pupunta,” said the former PBA gunner.

Asked to elaborate, he added: “Syempre, pitong taon na tayo run, baka sabihin naman ng iba masyado na tayong swapang. Saka maganda na ang accomplishment natin dun. Naayos ko na yung team. Solid na yun kaya kahit sino umupo dun okay na.”

Jarencio declined to reveal his possible destination.

“Basta, sasabihin ko na lang pag okay na. Pero definitely, sa PBA yun,” said the outspoken coach, currently an assistant at Petron and the San Miguel Beermen in the ABL.

Elvie Lopez, Jr. (left photo) returns a shot to Alessi Ballarta (right photo) during their Dunlop-Zesto Mindanao Junior Tennis Series 2012 singles

Ateneo slotman Greg Slaughter will lead a pack of collegiate recruits for the Smart Gilas 2.0 squad.

Donaire is ESPN’s ‘BOY’ N

Nonito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire has been named by ESPN as its Boxer of the Year.

match at GSIS Heights Tennis Club in Matina yesterday. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

ONITO Donaire has been named Boxer of the Year by eSPN in a 2012 campaign that saw him win four fights after moving up to the junior featherweight division. eSPN’s Dan Rafael noted that “Donaire seized the mantle from Pacquiao, his idol, as the Philippines’ best boxer.” Pacquiao, who won the honor three times in the past, lost both of his fights this year — a controversial decision against Timothy Bradley last June and a shocking sixth-round knockout to Juan Manuel Marquez this month.

Donaire, on the other hand, has been both busy and impressive. He dominated Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. in February before knocking out Jeffrey Mathebula

last July. ‘The Filipino Flash’ followed that up with another one-sided knockout of respected Japanese fighter Toshiaki Nishioka last October before capping the year with a resounding victory over Jorge Arce. eSPN also lauded Donaire for signing with the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, which imposes tests more stringent than those required in boxing today. Under VADA regulations, a fighter can be tested any day at any time.

“I don’t mind it. I think it’s a good for the sport and I am going to do it,” Donaire said. “It’s a good idea. I have nothing to hide. I would love for all fighters to follow me, but not everybody is like me.”

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 212 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

FOOD

The BluGre kiosk is located just a few steps from the original Blugre coffee shop.

The return of the original

Coffee served in Bugre’s trademark mug.

ThErE was a time not too long ago, in-fact it was less than 15 years ago, when there were no places where Dabaweyo urbanites can sit back, relax, and chitchat over a cup of freshly brewed coffee. You could say Davao’s lifestyle was a bit on the boring side.

Everything changed when Blugre opened Davao’s first specialty coffee store at the ground floor of the Gaisano Mall of Davao. Suddenly, Dabawenyos had a place to hang out while having a nice cup of joe and a delicious slice of pasty to go along with it.

The concept was a hit and spawned two more stores all around Davao City.

Sadly though the original store at the Gaisano Mall had to close.

Fast forward to today and although the times have changed, Blugre still remains as one of Davao City’s most iconic coffee

Red Velvet cake

shop brands and is not undergoing a massive renaissance with the opening of more stores in Davao and General Santos cities and one of these stores is the reopening of a Blugre coffee shop at the second floor of the Gaisano Mall of Davao,

bringing the brand back to where it started.

Although already a franchised store, and now sporting a more updated, modern vibe, the Blugre store carries with it the same line of freshly brewed coffee and coffee mixes, pastries, and sandwiches along with new products that are sure to be hits in their own right.

Blugre coffee’s vice president for operations Joanne Siy says Blugre will soon open more stores in the Philippines and around the world, with 14 stores that are being negotiated right now including stores in Singapore, New York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles for 2013.

Truly, Blugre has come a long way from it’s simple beginnings yet stays true to its promise of coming back to the basics of good coffee, cozy ambience, and great service with a smile.

Follow me @kennethkingong on Instagram and Twitter for more foodie finds, travel tips, random ramblings and happenings in and around Durianburg.

Blugre’s delicious Choco Torte.

Blugre’s coxy lounge atmosphere.

Delicious mini ensaymada balls.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

UP & ABOUT

VOL.5 ISSUE 212 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

FOOD

The Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao celebrates a different Christmas This Christmas, The Waterfront insular hotel Davao purposely veered away from the traditional way of dressing up the hotel with the usual Christmas décor of red and green. And instead paid homage to Mindanao.

As such, the hotel’s theme for this year’s season is dubbed, “Colors of the south”. The décor centered around three Christmas trees of different sizes that epitomize a family --- father, mother and baby, which is what the season is all about. We have chosen to be bold with our choice of indigenous materials and accentuated our décor with batik, tinalak and amakan to signify “tatak” Mindanao, further giving light to the rich heritage of the south. since Filipinos are distinct in celebrating the world’s longest Christmas season, we onset with Christmas Carols from December 16 to December 31 at the Lobby at 6 in the evening, where you will be serenaded with joyous songs by “st. Joseph Parish Choir”. Also from December 16 to December 31, at Pizzaiollo, we will be serving authentic Filipino specialties such as puto bumbong, native bibingka, tsokolate and salabat.

The Waterfront hotel also offers Christmas Balls for Php 200.00, to hang on our Christmas Trees and the entire proceeds for the sale will go a long way in sharing a circle of hope with the cancer-stricken kids at house of hope.

‘Flintstones and the Gang’ in New Year’s Eve Party at Marco Polo WiTh a light heart and a Parisian flair, welcome 2013 at Marco Polo Davao’s Magnifique!, the New Year Countdown Party on December 31.

Rocking the house is famed Party Band, “Flintstones and the Gang,” whose performances have brought people to their feet not only in Manila but also in Okinawa.

Apart from stints in clubs and hotels, the band has shared the concert stage with international icons such as sheena Easton, sergio Mendez, James ingram, the Pointer sisters, and Tom Jones among others.

“Flintstones” plays soulful strut, ballroom glam, or cool retro, without missing a beat.

For sheer range and that ultimate party groove, Flintstones is a class all its own.

“We are looking forward to partying with you in Davao on December 31 up until the magical hour when the whole world counts down to a new year,” drummer extraordinaire and band manager Manuel Luis Fernando enthuses.

The New Year Countdown Party at Marco Polo wraps music, dance, and fashion in one fun and sophisticated package. For only Php 2,500 net per person, tuck in a Café Marco or Lotus Court celebration dinner buffet before heading off to the Magnifique! The Party at the Ballroom, with four food and beverage coupons and party giveaways.

Other exciting gifts include a ticket for the lucky draw and discount coupons for Marco Polo Davao’s restaurants and bars. The children’s rate is only Php 1,750 net per child.

For inquiries and reservations to the most happening Countdown Party of the year, call 221-0888 local 7228.

My Christmas and shawarma

2012 has definitely been a shining shimmering splendid year for me. rekindled acquaintances, updated employment status and exploration of places are but some of the many things that has happened. I feel greatly privileged to have had shared the 12 fruitful and productive months of the past year with my family, friends and new found one’s, officemates and people from all occupations from all over the world.

Being able to explore, not only of the world within my immediate scope, my limitation allowed me to go beyond my comfort zone and evaluate my capacity as an individual. Simply put, I am able to create dishes that are not only a fusion of flavors but more so easy to make.

Whenever I cook, I always take in consideration the availability of ingredients and the budget – I am one spendthrift chef.

I admit, I have my temperamental days inside my kitchen and I would rather sit than cook. however, there are days wherein I could spend the entire day exploring my imagination as to coming up with a dish that is uniquely different and distinct from that of I have tasted.

This time, let me get you enthralled in one of my present addiction -- homemade roti with white onions, cucumber and Beef Salpicao. Although I have already shared my roti recipe, I would like to teach you to go beyond the roti and come up with your personalized dish using the roti.

As part of our family traditions, luncheon during the 25th of December are but inevitable thus a wide array of dishes come to life.

Just because I love being different, I opted to serve them with roti and ended

2 ½ cups tepid water

up with a customized shawarma luncheon.

Three kinds of meat dishes, namely: braised beef salpicao, shredded roasted chicken and boiled chicken with salt and pepper were devoured by the kids and kids at heart. Vegetables were limited to white onions and cucumber. For the sauce, I made sure that I had plenty of Yogurt, Garlic and lemon white sauce stored in the ref. having an impromptu party is easy – play with your imagination. have them a taste of your palate and of your vast imagination. Do not be afraid to explore and when things do not fall as to your liking, do it again. Be not be disappointed and feel all frustrated the first time around.

Instead, have fun and do it all again --- until you get what you want.

Roti Ingredients: 4 cups all purpose flour

Method: Place flour in a bowl. Gradually add tepid water and mix until it forms dough like. If the dough is wet, add more flour, otherwise, add water. Continue until you reach a certain consistency that is either wet or dry. Form into big bowl and set aside. Cover with damp cheese cloth for 10 minutes.

Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough. Cut into small balls or of your preferred roti size. Once formed, drizzle ball with vegetable oil and roll until crepe like shape and thickness. Set aside for another 10 minutes. heat pan with oil and butter in high heat. Once heated, place flattened dough in pan and cook for a minute or two on each side. Flip only once – when browned.

Serve hot.

Braised Beef Salpicao Ingredients: 1 kilo beef brisket ½ cup light soy sauce ½ cup water 1 pc beef bullion cube 2 teaspoon raw sugar 2 tablespoon cooking oil 4 tablespoons butter 6 to 8 cloves of garlic thinly sliced 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

Method: Cut beef into bite size pieces.

In a bowl, combine soy sauce, water, bullion cube and raw sugar. Set aside.

In a pan, combine beef and soy sauce mixture.

Bring to a boil. Leave to cook until beef is tender.

In another pan, heat oil and butter. Sauté garlic until brown but not crisped.

Add beef (strained) and sauté for another minute or two. Pour sauce and add Worcestershire, salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot.

White Sauce Ingredients: 1 tub plain yogurt ½ lemon juice 1/8 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon pepper ½ cup mayonnaise Method: In a bowl, mix all ingredients until yogurt and mayo are thoroughly incorporated. Season according to taste and keep refrigerated before using. Store in an airtight container. happy holidays to each and everyone! Your royal Chef is looking forward to another year of good food and more food finds!

Do you want to be a part of Davao’s Thursday habit? Send me your recipes, questions, suggestions and comments and be featured.

If you are interested, then email me at leebai@chefroyale.com or visit www. chefroyale.com for more recipes. happy Cooking!

VOL.5 ISSUE 212 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAiNMENT

Les Misérables primer:

5 things you need to know before joining the French Revolution

LEs Misérables is the big-screen version of the world’s longest-running stage musical (take that, Cats!).

since its 1985 debut, the show has been seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries and in 21 languages. Mon Dieu! For this eagerly anticipated adaptation, the Oscar-winning director of The King’s speech, Tom hooper, shifts his focus from stuttering British royalty to singing French paupers in the 19th century. Victor hugo’s epic tale follows fugitive Jean Valjean (hugh Jackman) as he’s hunted for decades by relentless inspector Javert (Russell Crowe), through the Paris Uprising of 1832. Whether you’re a Les Mis newbie or a diehard fan (who can’t wait “One Day More”!), you’ll want to arm yourself with these fun facts before soldiering on.

1. No Lip-Synching or Auto-Tuning Allowed: Les Mis is mostly “through-sung,” with only a few spoken lines, so to amp up the realism, hooper insisted the cast sing live instead of lipsynching to prerecorded tracks. Technological advances, including digitally erasing the mics on actors’ costumes, allowed him to pull off the unconventional approach. While the live singing does lend a raw honesty to the performances, it also highlights the limited vocal prowess of certain actors, including out-of-his-element Crowe and even stage vet Jackman, who strains through the weeper “Bring him home.”

2. I Dreamed a Dream.. of an Oscar: Amanda seyfried (Mamma Mia!) and Eddie Redmayne (My Week With Marilyn) are winning as young lovers Cosette and Marius, while newcomer samantha Barks impresses as ill-fated third wheel Éponine.

But it’s Anne hathaway as factory-worker-turnedhooker Fantine who gutpunches you with her tear-jerking, susan Boyleobliterating rendition of “i Dreamed a Dream.” That song alone makes hathaway a major contender for the Best supporting Actress Oscar. it’s gonna be a 19th-century smack down between her and sally Field’s Mary Todd Lincoln!

3. The Les Mis WeightLoss Makeover: Not as glamorous as it sounds!

To help convey Fantine’s suffering, hathaway lost 25 pounds and had her own hair chopped off in a scene where the character sells her tresses. Jackman also dropped poundage and went without water for 36 hours before shooting scenes of Valjean as a gaunt prisoner. (he then gained the weight back during the 12-week shoot.)

To enhance the convict effect, Jackman grew out his beard, and it’s a bushy look that would make any Chia Pet jealous.

4. Suddenly, There’s

a New Song: The movie incorporates all the show’s well-known songs, though the filmmakers have made trims and occasionally shifted their placement in the narrative. They’ve also added a new composition, “suddenly,” which Valjean sings after rescuing young Cosette from her abusive guardians (helena Bonham Carter, sacha Baron Cohen). This means “suddenly” is eligible for a Best Original song Oscar; it also means the Les Mis fanatic sitting near you will mercifully stop singing along with the film, at least long enough to learn the new tune.

5. Gobs of Grime, All the Time: The streets of revolutionary Paris are packed with beggars, urchins, thieves and whores.

To dress the downtrodden, the wardrobe crew created some 2,200 costumes and then ripped, shredded, and blowtorched the clothing to achieve a raggedy look.

The makeup team gave actors rotten teeth and diseased skin—for an effect akin to The Walking Dead! Plus, set dressers painted slime on the walls and hauled in seaweed, sand and mud. in the end, the filth onscreen is palpable, and you’re grateful Les Mis isn’t presented in smell-o-Vision!

A4 INdulge!

WOMEN

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 212 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

Shift shape MOST likely by today, some people, like me, would feel troubled with how much food we’ve consumed over the holidays. The weighing scale becomes a detested companion, and we resolve to delay the “big reveal” until the last bite of the year end feast. Some people even laugh off and mock the now defunct 2012 End of the World scare by saying, “Too bad the world didn’t end when I ate like there’s no tomorrow the whole year round.”

The ‘post-gobble guilt,’ as I’d call this agony, usually leads me to self-imposed hibernation and quarantine until I’ve dieted pitilessly enough to emerge similar to how I look during pre-Christmas time. I used to think this is the easiest and fastest way to lose the holiday gain. Well, this year I’m doing things differently by taking the road less traveled.

I know I am not the most credible person to take diet tips from. I’m no health practitioner. I closed the chapter on dancing and working out from the time I got pregnant, and simply just yoyo-ed my weight through the years with fad diets and starvation. I’m sure my friends who’d read this would go “Is that you?” right at the next paragraphs. however, just a few weeks ago, I’ve learned a couple of points which helped change how I see and eat food --thanks to my man-friend who is a passionate sports and health fanatic. Though it took quite a lot of strength to fight my zzz’s as he went on with his sagacious discourse on the metabolic jargon, weight management, and calorie burning routines, the bits and pieces my brain managed to absorb seem sensible and doable even for working moms like me. To be a steadfast follower of this healthy living is now my goal even before I bid 2012 goodbye. Imagine, after close to seven years of fast food (in the literal sense), my daughter exclaims, for the first time, “Wow! There are fruits and vegetables in the ref

now, Mommy!”

Let’s keep it real. I’m sure none of us women gained 20 pounds after 2 weeks of Christmas dinners. however, 10 pounds would be a bit more difficult to lose than 20. The closer you are to your normal weight, the more stubborn the excess poundage becomes to lose. The only way to beat the dreaded plateau is to watch what you feed yourself and understand how metabolism works. This is no rocket science, it’s basically about striking balance without deprivation.

The slow burn to your dream body is probably because of the myths you (and I) believe in. rice, they say, makes us fat and bread is the better option. Truth be told, it’s just the amount of rice we take that makes us fat. Some would even go for a strictly low sugar diet, while the healthier option would be to move to preservative-free food. Time and again, I’ve heard doctors debunk diet myths which eat our approach to fitness.

“Great bodies are simply not born, they are made.”

Despite our differences in genetic makeup, we can still reprogram our body to change its shape. Some of us are blessed with good genes of small frame and speedy metabolism. If you are constantly feeling lethargic, constipated, and vulnerable to headaches and flu, chances are you have a slow metabolism. Instead of depriving

Though it took quite a lot of strength to fight my zzz’s as he went on with his sagacious discourse on the metabolic jargon, weight management, and calorie burning routines, the bits and pieces my brain managed to absorb seem sensible and doable even for working moms like me. yourself to a few bites over a 3-meal diet, eat small meals every 3 to 4 hours. This will ignite your metabolism to work faster and adjust to the proper rhythm, and keep your stress hormones in check.

Eating well balanced meals is just the tip of the iceberg, but knowing how often and how much is totally a different story. Those who tend to starve themselves to thinness unknowingly kill their metabolism and adapt a grouchy state of mind. Tech savvy-wise, it’s helpful to have a pocket light friend who calculates the calories you take. This usually comes in the form of a phone application featuring an easy- eat guide that keeps you within your calorie and metabolic range. It doesn’t tell you what to eat. It helps you properly distribute your calorie-limit all throughout the day by doing the math on how much

calories there are in each plate. What makes this gadget perfect in this generation and lifestyle is how it aids you in carving out a plan for yourself that lets you breathe and enables you to eat out in restaurants.

Warning: do not mistake cravings for hunger pangs.

Cravings would make you drool for either something sweet or salty, while true blue hunger makes you want a satisfying and filling meal to ease the growling inside.

Stepping out of a sedentary lifestyle doesn’t mean you over-exercise. Do not go on a gym binge. A maximum of 2 hours per day is enough --- anything more than that will make you look tired and fat. Too much exercise releases stress hormones and your body can’t cope with too much stress. If you are maintaining an actionpacked schedule, you need to back it up with proper nutrients. Depriving yourself with food when your body needs it will only deteriorate your immune system and slow down your metabolism. This results to catabolism, which is the negative way of burning.

It just eats on your body components and slows down your muscle activity, which is the important engine in burning fat. It’s better to maintain an active and balanced lifestyle to convert calories to energy and not fat.

This simple shift in lifestyle is no boot camp. This babystep to fitness is as simple as cutting down on food that are preceded by the words “junk,” “processed,” and “fast.” Don’t fall prey to a languid lifestyle and start maximizing your day with proper nutrients and activities. Not only will you start shaping up and look better, but you’ll feel happier and more productive day in and day out.

SpORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 212 •THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012 PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Davao’s Lascuna nets P2.5M in Phl Tour T

ONY Lascuna, a golfing journeyman from Davao, capped a banner season by winning the Players’ Player of the Year honors, gaining the nods of his fellow pros he dominated with a three-leg victory in the just-concluded 15-stage ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

His nine-stroke romp in the season ending P2.5 million ICTSI Wack Wack Invitational last week highlighted Lascuna’s successful campaign in the country’s premier golf circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. where he also turned in five runner-up finishes.

The Apo-bred Lascuna wound up with P2.5 million in winnings, beating 2009 OOM winner elmer Salvador by more than P500,000 in a dominating stint that included victories at ICTSI eagle Ridge Invitational and Manila Southwoods.

Like the rest of the top guns, Lascuna missed four legs before the star-studded Wack Wack stage campaign on the Asian Tour, but came back strong to rule the tour’s richest leg which offered a top purse of P450,000.

“This is really my best year, I couldn’t ask for more,” said Lascuna, who

turned 42 yesterday. “But I worked hard for it, took a swing change, and trained hard to polish my game.”

The ace Davaoeno shotmaker, also the top Filipino player on the Asian Tour at No. 12, was also unanimously voted by his fellow pros as the year’s top player, completing a rare sweep of both the OOM and the Players’ Player of the Year honors.

John Kier Abdon copped the Best Amateur award, while Canlubang Golf and Country Club, represented by golf director Rolly Viray, was named Venue of the Year during the annual awards rites of the circuit graced by ICTSI PR manager Narlene Soriano also at Wack Wack.

Salvador, who won at ICTSI Sherwood for the second straight year and at Aboitiz Invitational, also a leg of the Asian Development Tour, pooled P1.685 million to finish second in the OOM race, while Zanie Boy Gialon, who ruled the Negros Occidental and Canlubang legs, placed third OOM champion Tony Lascuna poses with (from left) best amateur John Kier Ab- Club, ICTSI PR manager Narlene Soriano and daughter Shan Antonette during with P905,103 in winnings. don, Rolly Viray, golf director of venue of the year Canlubang Golf and Country the annual awards rites of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

Miguel Tabuena, who had a great start of two vic- ADT OOM champion, with winner Marvin Dumandan (P598,607), Angelo Que tories in the first six legs of P691,174.

Rounding out the (P590,310) and Pueblo de the circuit before campaigning on the Asian Tour, end- Top 10 are elmer Saban Oro stage winner Charles ed up fourth with P759,199 (P661,156), Clyde Mondilla Hong (P586,691). followed by Jay Bayron, the (P647,647), John Hay leg

Lakers rocking with Nash back L

Steve Nash’s return has brought a different rhythm to the Lakers’ offense.

OS ANGeLeS — With the way Kobe Bryant was gushing about what it’s like to play next to the great Steve Nash after the Los Angeles Lakers 100-94 win vs. the New York Knicks on Tuesday, it was natural to wonder if Bryant ever caught himself watching his fellow future Hall of Famer with admiration.

“I ain’t watching (expletive),” Bryant said with a laugh as he sat at his locker.

“I’m looking to get open.”

It’s only two games with Nash and the Lakers at full strength, but what a difference a two-time MVP makes. Nash, who returned to hit a game-winner at Golden State on Saturday after being out since Oct. 31 with a left leg injury, followed up that 12-point, nine-assist outing with a 16-point, 11-assist effort in which his poise and presence were major factors late against the Knicks. One thing is clear already: Nash changes everything for Bryant and his teammates.

After so many years spent either being asked to carry too much of the offensive load or doing it of his own, Bryant finds himself with luxuries he has never had before. The options are many, chief among them a pick-and-roll with Nash

Kobe Bryant slams one against the Knicks. and center Dwight Howard that has Bryant often left alone – no typo there – on the wing. And that, far more than a five-game winning streak that won’t mean much if this season goes South again, is the part that should still scare Lakers’ foes the league over.

“I get a rebound (and) I’m looking for him, running the floor,” Bryant explained afterward. “If he’s penetrating or whatever, I’m looking for an angle to back-cut somebody, or coming off a screen, I’m always just looking for crevices to get open because I know he’ll find you.”

For all the attention paid to the Bryant-How-

ard pairing and all its similarities to the Bryant-Shaquille O’Neal days of old, Bryant-Nash is where it starts for the Lakers.

“It’s like (Michael) Jordan having (John) Stockton, or (Scottie) Pippen, (a player who) can facilitate and allows him to do what he does. I haven’t had that throughout my career,” Bryant said. “I’ve played with some great off-guards like (Derek) Fisher and (Ron) Harper and so forth, but I’ve never played with a point guard of his caliber that can manipulate the defense and put you in positions to be successful and organize the floor. It’s great.”

16 SpORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 212 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2012

Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat gets tangled up with Thunder center Kendrick Perkins while battling for the rebound. AP

Lakers get Christmas win over Knicks L

OS ANGeLeS — The pieces of the puzzle that have been the Lakers’ confounding season so far are starting to fall into place.

Kobe Bryant engineered a second-half comeback, the defense stepped up, and Los Angeles beat the New York Knicks 10094 on Tuesday ()Wednes-

day, Manila time), extending its winning streak to five games.

“We’re .500,” a smiling Dwight Howard said.

“We did it on Christmas, too. I knew this day would come.”

Bryant scored 34 points in his NBA-record 15th Christmas Day game and Metta World Peace

added 20 points and seven rebounds while defending Carmelo Anthony, whose 34 points led the Knicks.

Anthony said he hyperextended his left knee, but expects to play on Wednesday in Phoenix.

Bryant, the league’s leading scorer, has topped 30 or more points in nine straight games.

Kobe Bryant scores 34 points in his NBA-record 15th Christmas Day game. The Lakers won for the fifth straight time at the expense of the New York Knicks. Story on page 15. AP

“If you’re going to play on Christmas, it’s always better to win. Makes it all worthwhile,” said Bryant, who would soon hop a flight to Denver, getting there ahead of the Nuggets, who played the Clippers in the other half of the holiday doubleheader at Staples Center.

The Lakers improved to 14-14 — 9-9 under new coach Mike D’Antoni — and upped their holiday record to 21-18, including 13-9 at home. They returned to .500 for the first time since they were 8-8 on Nov. 30.

“It’s so early in the season to have turned a corner,” Bryant said. “We have everybody in the lineup and we’re starting to see how we want to play.”

The Knicks controlled most of the game behind Anthony and J.R. Smith, who had 24 points. But they struggled offensively in the fourth, when Anthony was limited to seven points and Smith had five as the Lakers’ defense clamped down. World Peace fouled out with 1:58 to play and the Lakers ahead by four.

World Peace credited his defense on Anthony to “old-school basketball.”

“I’m back in shape and it’s a little tough to guard me,” he said.

Steve Nash said: “This is what he’s been doing all year. He gets his hands on a lot of balls, pounds on the other team’s best guy. You can’t win without that type of effort.”

Smith’s 3-pointer pulled New York to 96-94.

After Pau Gasol made one of two free throws, Smith missed another 3-pointer that would have tied the game at 97 with 32 seconds left.

EDGEDAVAO