Edge Davao 5 Issue 224 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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VOL.5 ISSUE 224 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

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Tulawie trial moved to Manila, but...

Threats to life of Cocoy more By Che Palicte and EJ Dominic Fernandez

HERE are more plots to kill bombing Temugen “Cocoy” Tulawie now that his trial has been ordered transferred to a Regional Trial Court in Manila. This was bared by lawyer Mary Ann Arnado, secretary general of the Mindanao People’s Cau-

Sports

Supreme Court okays petition of Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan for transfer of venue

Makahadlok!

cus, who is one of the defense lawyers of Tulawie, a human rights activist charged with complicity

FTULAWIE, 11

Page 14

REVEALED. Temugen “Cocoy” Tulawie’s mother Darwisa Tulawie (left) and mother-in-law Iluminada Sangkula (right) together with Mindanao People’s Caucus secretary general lawyer Mary Ann Arnado reveal that they received information about a plot to kill Cocoy in a Manila jail that’s why they’re asking

for support that he remain detain in Davao City in the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Rody warns 2-faced Hugpong supporters

ICE MAYOR RODRIGO R. DUTERTE said he would not hesitate to part ways with double-faced leaders and members of the Hugpong saTawong Lungsod, the local political party which he heads, if they persist in supporting candidates not officially endorsed by

Reiterates support for Louie, Mylene, Sid Slams Joji for use of call center against Dutertes in last election Hugpong, and worse if these bets are identified with former House Speaker Prospero C. Nograles, his archrival.

Duterte, who is running for city mayor in next May’s elections, aired his stern

FRODY, 11

2 THE BIG NEWS

Smoking is leading cause of cancer, says oncologist By Che Palicte

R. Gay Martinez Lapus, who specializes in adult cancer, said smoking is still the number one cause of cancer. In yesterday’s weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao specifically during the discussion on the National Cancer Consciousness Week with media practitioners, the lady oncologist said smoking causes more than four out of five cases of lung cancer and also increases the risk in over a dozen other cancers, including cancer of the mouth, larynx, pharynx, nose and sinuses and esophagus. Dr. Lapus said smoking causes 80 to 90 percent of cancer cases and the incidence rate keeps growing, adding that the implementation of

the Sin Tax Law could decrease the number of smoking-related cancer cases. The World Health Organization (WHO) says one-third of cancer cases are preventable and onethird curable if detected early, she said. “We would like to advice people that if they want to make sure that they are positive for cancer they should come to see a doctor for early detection and avoid financial problems,” Dr. Gapus said, adding that if the public is educated about cancer prevention there would be less fear about it. She said many adult cancer cases are caused by unhealthy lifestyle and can be avoided if people abandon practices known to put at risk.

SIAIAH 60:1 Arise, Shine, for the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” Pastor Danny Lagdamen, National Director of Arise Philippines quoted this verse from the Bible to show his optimism that Arise Davao 2013 on January 17, 18, and 19 will succeed in reaching out to, and addressing the, problems of the youth. While announcing the event, Pastor Lagdamen said at the Kapehan sa Dabaw held at SM Ecoland, “Arise aims to reach out to the young people in our community and all over the country and educate our youth and leaders to understand their

role as people of the community.” “The glory of God and the youth taking responsibility as part of God’s mobilization in reaching out to the young people of this generation will definitely make this event successful,” he added. The movement already has 137 volunteers coming from different churches and, because Arise aims to reach out to every city this year, it will be simultaneously happening on Quimpo Boulevard in Davao City, Oval Covered Court in General Santos City and the Sarangani Provincial Captiol Gym in Sarangani

‘Arise’ positive of its success “I

FARISE, 11

Starting tomorrow

Thousands expected to attend national lawyers’ gab in Davao By EJ Dominic Fernandez

OME 3,000 to 3,500 lawyers from all over the country are expected to converge in Davao City for the twin events of the 40th anniversary of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and the 14th National Convention of Lawyers to open formally on Wednesday. Lawyer Carlos Zarate, former president of the hosting IBP Davao City chapter, told reporters covering the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao annex at Ecoland that the gathering’s formal opening at the SMX Convention Center of SM Lanang

Premier will feature former Senate President Edgardo Angara, one of the earliest IBP national presidents, Senator Peter Allan Cayetano and Supreme Court Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno as key speakers. “The IBP chose to hold the anniversary in Davao City because Davao now has a bigger convention center as well as in recognition of the big role that Davao played in the history of the IBP,” Zarate said. He recalled that in 1985, three Davao lawyers, namely, Larry Ilagan, Antonio Arellano and

CONVENTION. Lawyer Carlos Isagani T. Zarate (left) promotes the 40th Integrated Bar of the Philippines founding anniversary and the 14th National Convention of Lawyers which will tackle various issues such as the decriminalization of libel and the

closer to God in the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Marcos Risonar, were arrested for their relentless fight against violations of human rights prevailing at the time. “Their case is now included in the Supreme Court Records Annotated which is now known as the ‘Ilagan Doctrine’ of the Constitutional law,” Zarate said. Some of the topics to be discussed during the event include the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education where lawyers need to get 36 units, the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamorro, the justice system and topics related to the

ongoing election season. Zarate also said that lawyers are affected by the many new innovative rules implemented by the Supreme Court. He said some of the laws in the Revised Penal Code were written during the American occupation in the 1930s, adding that this means, a lot of the laws are already “jurassic” and should already be removed.” He said certain laws have to be changed in order for them to be politically correct and relevant to the realities of the 21st century. EJDF

cross-border practice of law during Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao yesterday. Also in the photo is Cipriano “Peping” Domingo, author of the controversial indie film “Malan”, who talks about marketing the film internationally. Lean Daval Jr.

Indie film ‘Malan’ vying for int’l audience: author

D UPCOMING. Pastor Danny Lagdamen of Arise Davao promotes the upcoming simultaneous Arise Davao and SOCSARGEN rallies which aim to reach out to young people and make them

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 224 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

ESPITE being pulled out of the 2012 Sineng Pambansa National Film Festival due to a dispute between the producer and the director, the indie film “Malan” will be marketed internationally. According to Cipriano “Peping” Domingo, poet and former newsman who wrote the poem which was the basis of the screenplay , said a special screening of the film is scheduled this Wednesday for a select audience whose critique will be used to subject it to further editing to enhance his eligibility in the inter-

national market. During yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw held at SM City Davao at Ecoland, Domingo also said , his group still looking for a company that will support the film’s sally into the world market. “We want to make the film more presentable to international audiences,” he said. The special screening is slated at the Cinematheque Davao on Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 10 am. and open only to invited members of media and marketing experts. Domingo has high hopes for the Davao film

industry “because Mindanao is a melting pot of culture and every story that comes from Mindanao is considered ‘noble’.” He added that the film to be screened, “will be the producer’s cut, meaning it will still retain the scene with the ‘torrid kissing’ which screenplay writer, Don Pagusara said, is offensive to the B’laan tribe around which the story revolves. Domingo clarified that he does not take sides with any of the parties – director Benjamin Garcia or screenplay writer Pagusara of Buhilaman

FINDIE, 11

SUBURBIA 3

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 224 •TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

DavNor firms up data capture system B

ANKING on its initial wins in terms of disaster response and emergency relief, the provincial government of Davao del Norte is taking further steps in improving its system to sharpen the data it gets from the ground during disasters. The province has conceptualized a model for the systematic reporting of disaster loss, after Governor Rodolfo del Rosario mandated the frontline offices of the Capitol to put in place vital mechanisms for the standard accounting of extent of damages. He said accurate damage assessment following the impact of major catastrophe is very useful in determining the needs of the victims and the strategies for appropriate assistance essential to help the affected areas return into normalcy. “We must establish all the necessary systems that we can think of, so we can come up with a credible and quality report,” del Rosario intoned,

SYSTEMATIC. Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario gestures as he stressed the importance of having a systematic accounting of disaster loss in order to produce an accurate report on the extent of damages brought by calamities. [NOBAGS]

during the workshop on the establishment of a management information system (MIS) on the impact of disasters on agriculture held by the Provincial Agriculturist Office (PAGRO). The governor cited the final consolidated report on the impact of

Super Typhoon Pablo to the province of Davao del Norte, which sustained damages to agriculture worth P3.562 billion, as well as, to infrastructure costing P143.8 million. Del Rosario revealed the standard template generated at the disaster MIS workshop shall be

replicated to other frontline offices of the Capitol, such as the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Division, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, and Provincial Health Office, among others. After polishing it, Capitol will subsequently roll

out the new system to the different local government units of the province, to institute a uniform and quick reporting of damage assessment from the affected barangays and municipalities. This is very vital in producing an accurate final calamity report in the

shortest possible time, according to the governor. Del Rosario also appointed OIC-Provincial Information Officer Romulo Tagalo as the official spokesperson for the media and other organizations seeking information directly from calamities in the province.

part of the strategies set by the Police Regional Office 12 in its comprehensive security plan for the upcoming elections in the region. Region 12, which is also known as the Soccsksargen Region, comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and

Cotabato. “We’re currently observing maximum personnel deployment and this will continue until the end of the election period,” the official said. As of Monday morning, Monteagudo said they have completed the activation of police checkpoints that were assigned to specifically implement the firearms ban in the

HE Compostela Valley Province is grateful for the free plowing services in rice and corn fields extended by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Offices 10 and 12 to the Typhoon Pablo victims. DA Region 10 sent two farm tractors while DA Region 12I sent eight tractors to facilitate the plowing of the farmers’ fields. Corn fields located at Brgy. Mapaca, Brgy. San Miguel, and Brgy. Osmeña,

and the rice fields at Brgy. Lagab, Brgy. Aurora, and Brgy. Siocon were the first barangays of the Municipality of Compostela to benefit the service. In the first week of January alone, the rehabilitation teams were able to plow about 61 hectares of corn field and 34 hectares of ricefield in the first 3 barangay-beneficiaries as revealed by Mr. Eduardo Salomon, Area Supervisor of DA-12 Rehab Team. This endeavor really

supports to the agri-industry recovery strategies set by Governor Arturo T. Uy to help the farmers pull through from the damage done by the typhoon. Municipal Agriculturist Teodolfo Lora also shared that aside from the plowing service, certified rice seeds and vegetable seeds are also distributed. Corn seeds will also be given as soon as the weather will go back to its normal condition. [GRACE ALMEDILLA/ GILBERT CABAHUG, IDS-COMVAL]

Amar Pernal. His body was recovered around 8:40 p.m., or around 15 hours after the encounter began, and later brought to the military patrol base in Barangay Ned, about four kilometers from the encounter site, the military official said. Pernal was a member of the 7th CAFGU (Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit) Active Auxiliary of South Cotabato. Barber said the military has still no information if the armed group also suffered fatalities. 2Lt. Angelo Peralta, team leader of the troops that traded fire with the armed men, said the clash occurred in Ned’s Sitio Kumilat. Peralta said they were conducting active defense

patrol when the armed men fired on them. He said the armed men are headed by a certain Udtog and a certain Mod, both from Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat. Barber said that additional troops were deployed on Saturday aboard a helicopter due to the remote location of the area. Another team was deployed on Sunday also through a helicopter ride to help in the clearing operation in the area, Barber said. Barber said the armed men could have been in the area for quite sometime already, noting that Barangay Ned “has been the highway of armed men going towards Maitum in Sarangani.” Last year, military of-

ficials in South Cotabato said that the New People’s Army was trying to establish a presence in Barangay Ned. San Miguel Energy Corp., a unit of San Miguel Corp., has set up a base camp in Barangay Ned in a bid to extract massive coal deposits in the area. Studies showed that the Daguma Mountain Range, which straddles Ned, contains coal resources of 426 million metric tons. Initial exploration and drilling has blocked 55 million metric tons of minable reserves in 526 hectares of the mountain range. San Miguel had announced plans to build a coal-fired power plant with Ned as the source of raw material. (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)

PNP in R12 on full alert DA Region extends free field as poll gun ban starts plowing service to ComVal T P OLICE units in Region12 were placed on full alert status over the weekend in connection with the start of the 150-day firearms ban on Sunday in preparation for the May 13 midterm local and national elections. Chief Supt. Alex Paul Monteagudo, Region 12 police director, said Monday the upgrading of the area’s alert status was

FPNP, 11

Gov’t troops clash with BIFF in coal-rich town 4 killed in Maguindanao

OVERNMENT troops clashed with around 40 members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) in the remote coal-rich village of Ned in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, leaving a militiaman dead, the military said Sunday. 1Lt. Betheul N. Barber, public affairs officer of the 27th Infantry Battalion, said the firefight ensued after government troops responded to report from civilians that armed men have been sighted in the area. The government troops have been deployed in the area two days before the firefight that occurred around 5:50 a.m. Saturday, he said. Barber identified the slain militiaman as Rene

firefight despite gun ban

ENSION remains high in the town of Datu Piang, Maguindanao as dozens of families were forced to leave their homes after warring clans engaged in an intense gun battle that left four people killed. The incident happened during the implementation of gun ban. Military reports said the group of Commander Benaw and Commander Duma, who have links to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), attacked their long time adversary Commander Quiapo, a former Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) commander, in the village of Damabalas Saturday morning.

The source said there has been a long feud among the warring parties. The motive is reportedly to avenge the death of the relatives of Benaw and Duma, who were killed by Quiapo in Datu Piang last year. Police officials in the area remain mum on the incident by not responding to calls and text messages. The firefight that started around 5:30 a.m. lasted for several minutes, reports said. A civilian who was caught in crossfire was reportedly brought to the Cotabato City hospital. [Ferdinandh Cabrera / MindaNews]

4 SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 224 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

King-King mining firm signs mangrove forest project partnership agreement A

FTER a year of discussions, the barangay council of Fuentes in Pantukan municipality has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with St. Augustine Gold & Copper Ltd (SAGCL) to develop a mangrove forest in Sitio Bucana of Barangay Fuentes. SAGCL is the Toronto– listed mining firm developing the King-king Copper-Gold Project (KCGP) in Pantukan, Compostela Valley province. Company and government representatives officially launched the project in Sitio Bucana last month. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) helped craft the MOA through its Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Maco, Provincial Agriculturist Office (PAGRO), and Municipal Agriculturist Office (MAO). The project will help protect the coastal area of Sitio Bucana from further erosion as the coast line recedes. Several homes in the area have been destroyed by strong waves,

especially during the Habagat (west monsoon). The coastline has receded approximately 100 meters in the past five years. Mangroves serve as coastal breakwaters when the trees a fully grown. Previous mangrove planting projects near Sitio Bucana have not been successful because seedlings typically cannot survive the harsh conditions. Barangay officials, local residents and the KCGP Technical Environmental Team agreed that while mangrove trees are the most feasible solution to combat erosion, the challenge remained: how to ensure the seedlings take root during strong and high tides. KCGP environmental team members tried a new approach. Recent studies showed that certain species of mangrove have a better survival rate if the seedlings can be protected from the strong tides. For the project to be successful, the KCGP team knew that they had to collaborate with government agencies, local government and the com-

munity. Following a series of meetings the barangay officials of Fuentes and KCGP agreed to craft a partnership agreement in which all parties had some responsibility for the project’s success. The parties include government agencies, local gov-

ernment units, KCGP and local residents. The mangrove project covers five hectares of coastline in Brgy Fuentes. The KCGP Environmental Team has built protective fences to shield the seedlings from weather and tides. The project will start with a thousand seedlings,

which are housed in a mangrove nursery in Sitio Bucana. If 35 percent of the seedlings survive, the project will be considered a success. Fuentes Brgy Capt. Elizabeth Mabiscay says she appreciates KCGP’s hardwork and dedication to this project.

“Daghang salamat sa KCGP tungod kay nakita nako ilang tinuuray nga pagtabang aron masolusyonan ang atong problema diri sa Bucana” (I’d like to thank SASI for showing their sincerest intention in helping us out with our problem here in (sitio) Bucana.)”, Mabiscay said.

ID you know that light emitting diode (LED) lamps use only about 26% of the electricity that compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and traditional incandescent light bulbs use? Now imagine how much energy we can save if every Filipino household replaces all its older light bulbs with LED lamps. Demand on natural resources has doubled in the last 50 years. We are currently using the equivalent of 1.5 planets to sustain our needs. Given the challenge of finite resources, we need to find ways to do more while using less energy. Guided by this, leading renewable energy advocate World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWFPhilippines) partnered with Philips Electronics and Lightings, Inc. (Philips) to help Filipinos adopt simple steps to use energy wisely and reduce their ecological impacts on the planet. Energy efficiency simply means using the least possible amount of energy to get a job done. For the average Filipino consumer, energy efficiency is a way to reduce electricity costs and improve the planet’s health at the same time. WWF-Philippines and Philips have been

partners for two years in implementing the Bright Kidsprogram, which has educated thousands of public elementary students about energy efficiency and conservation. This 2013, Philips has taken its commitment to protect the environment a step further by supporting Earth Hour and its accompanying climate change adaptation program, Beyond the Hour. Providing additional support for WWFPhilippines’ sustainability and conservation programs, Philips plans to turn over 150 solarpowered lamps for the organization’s project sites, research facilities, and partner rural communities which are susceptible to power interruptions. “Philips has partnered with WWF-Philippines again in the hopes of establishing a better and more sustainable environment. Since it is our company’s objective to improve overall the health and well-being of communities, we intend to equip and educate Filipinos with simple yet integral steps to help them use energy more efficiently while enjoying an ideal quality of life,” says Ms. Fabia TetterrooBueno, Philips country manager.

a bright, sustainable Villar Foundation partners anew Establishing future through energy efficiency with DZRH in cleaning up Bay D

ORMER Las Pinas Rep. Cynthia Villar on Saturday led the clean-up drive at Manila Bay in the Las PiñasParañaque Critical Habitat & Eco-Tourism Area or LPPCHEA where some 1,500 sacks of garbage were collected by thousands of volunteers. Villar, also managing director of Villar Foundation, underscored the need to clean our environment to prevent flooding. “Protection of the environment will save us from disasters and calamities.

First cleanup drive for the year attended by thousands of volunteers

Calamities are added burden to us. It can make one poorer because all efforts would be futile if properties acquired through hard labor will only be destroyed by floods and other calamities,” explained Villar. To avert occurrence of this worst scenario, Villar cited the need to clean our rivers, our creeks and oth-

er bodies of water especially Manila Bay. She said the LPPCHEA, also called Freedom Island, which is accessible from the Coastal Road, is a very important area for the nearby cities of Las Pinas and Paranaque and some municipalities of Cavite to prevent flooding. “All our waters go here, said Villar who served as Las Pinas City

congresswoman for three terms or nine consecutive years. She said, regularly cleaning Manila Bay of tons of garbage and other debris is in consonance with the foundation’s partnership with radio DZRH. This year’s clean-up drive has for its theme, “Makabagong Bayanihan Manila Bay Clean Up”. The Villar Foundation had inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) represented by radio station DZRH in its Manila Bay Cleanup drive. “The Villar Foundation and DZRH agree that this is not only a joint cooperative undertaking, but more importantly, it is a major public service activity that would help contribute to the promotion of a livable, healthier and ecological sustainable Manila Bay,” read the MoA. The Villar Foundation together with students and other volunteers also conduct weekly cleanups. “The more partners we work with, the better it will be for the environment,” she said.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 224 •TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

THE ECONOMY 5

PHL jumps 10 notches in ranking of countries with freest economies M

ALACANANG on Monday lauded the Philippines’ improvement in the Heritage Foundation’s 2013 Index of Economic Freedom as the country jumped 10 notches in ranking. “The Philippines jumped 10 notches in ranking, making our economy the 97th freest in the world with an Economic Freedom Score of 58.2 in contrast to last year’s ranking of 107th with a score of 57.1,” said Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda. Among Southeast Asian nations, Lacierda said, the Philippines recorded the highest score improvement of 1.1 points -- “a trend of continuous growth over the past two years, bringing our country even closer to the world average score of 59.6 and above the Asia-Pacific regional average of 57.4.” In its 2013 Index of Economic Freedom, the Washington-based Heritage Foundation said the Philippines’ economic freedom ranking in 2013 is the highest since 2006 when the country ranked 96th. In the Asia-Pacific region, the Philippines ranked 17th out of 41 countries even as its over-

all score was slightly below the world average. The report noted the country’s improvements in investment freedom and freedom from corruption, outweighing a decline in business freedom, labor freedom and monetary freedom. “Although the perceived level of corruption has declined in recent years, more effective anti-corruption measures need to be institutionalized,” the Heritage Foundation said. The Washington-based think tank also cited the Philippine economy, which has been on a steady path of expansion, growing at an average annual rate above 4.5 percent over the past five years. “The government has pursued a series of legislative reforms to enhance the entrepreneurial environment and develop a stronger private sector to generate broader-based job growth,” it said. According to the foundation’s index, the top 10 freest economies are Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Canada, Chile, Mauritius, Denmark and the United States. In Southeast Asia, the Philippines trailed Malay-

PET FISH. A lady chooses from an array of different variety of pet fishes on display on a sidewalk along J.P. Laurel Avenue last night. Pet fish breeding, a popular trend

during the 1980’s, is trying to make a dramatic comeback in this digital generation where children are more interested in computer and video games. Lean Daval Jr.

sia (56th) and Thailand (61st), but was ahead of Indonesia (108th) and Vietnam (140th). Lacierda said the Aquino administration was “encouraged” with the country’s improvement in

as an affirmation of the goals we have set out to achieve and a recognition of how far we have gone to realize the potentials of our people and country,” he noted. “Legislative reforms

the Heritage Foundation’s 2013 Index of Economic Freedom. “This prominent international evaluation shows continued improvement in the business of governing our country. We take this

pursued by the Aquino administration were also noted which are seen to enhance the entrepreneurial environment and develop a stronger private sector to generate broader-based job growth,” he added. [PNA]

THE ECONOMY

Stat Watch

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

5.8% 1st Qtr 2012

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

6.4 % 1st Qtr 2012

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

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

8. Interest Rates 4/

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

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

P 42.78 Jun 2012

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

5,091.2 May 2012

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

130.1 Jun 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

2.8 Jun 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.7 Jun 2012

16. Visitor Arrivals

349,779 Apr 2012

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

18.8 % Jan 2012

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

7.2 % Jan 2012

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

2012

2011

2010

42.85 42.70 42.86 42.66 43.62

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

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

VOL.5 ISSUE 224 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

BIR exec lauds faster court action on erring tax payers F

ASTER court action on erring tax payers has inspired and made the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) more resolved to collect revenues. The year, the revenue collection agency has increased its individual income tax collection target for 2013 to P258.14 billion, up 16.4 percent against last year’s P221.77 billion. Collection from individual taxpayers accounts for about 20 percent of BIR’s revenues, according to BIR Deputy Commissioner Estela V. Sales. She expressed confidence that with the success of the agency’s Run After Tax Evaders (RATE) program, more people will be vigilant in reporting those who are not paying correct taxes. The Supreme Court’s (SC) 2012 last year affirmed a decision of the Court of Tax Appeal (CTA) convicting one Gloria Kintanar and her husband, Benjamin Kintanar, for tax evasion. Gloria Kintanar, a former distributor of the Forever Living Products, was convicted by CTA based on “willful blindness” ruling, which disallows taxpayers to blame their accountants for their fraudulent returns. Gloria Kintanar is now in hiding. Her husband has applied for probation, which the

SIN TAX. Dr. Antonio Ybiyernas of Central Lab (left) believes that the passing of for Sin Tax Law will be a key factor in the decline of the smoking problem of the country in the weekly Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao yesterday.

Listening at right is lawyer Carlos Isagani T. Zarate who promoted the 40th Integrated Bar of the Philippines founding anniversary and the 14th National Convention of Lawyers. Lean Daval Jr.

CTA rejected citing that he is not qualified for the probation. “In the past, the agency’s batting average at the Department of Justice was dismal if you look at the number of cases that actually make it to the courts. Now, the increase in the

number of cases that reach the Court of Tax Appeals is much higher,” Sales said. The statement said tax evasion incidence in the country is high, according to records. Citing data from the Professional Regulation Commission

(PRC), BIR said there are about three million registered professionals in the country and about 190,000 of these are doctors and lawyers “who charge higher fees and have higher incomes.” BIR may improve tax collection from them. [PNA]

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Sun Broadband announces exciting partnership with MCA Music Inc. S

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as of august 2010

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

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

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

6:15 6:25 6:30 7:00 8:50 8:10 8:30 9:40 10:10 12:20 12:30 09:05 13:25 14:05

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

MI588 / MI588 MI566 / MI566 MI551 / MI551 5J507 / 5J598 15:55 Z2524 / Z2525 5J967 / 5J600 PR813 / PR814 5J215 / 5J216 5971 / 5J970 5J973 / 5J974 5J969 / 5J972 2P987 / 2P988 PR821 / PR822 PR821 / PR822

18:55 18:55 15:45 15:00 Mani2Mani 16:05 16:35 16:55 18:00 18:40 20:00 20:30 20:30 21:20 22:20

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

13:35 15:20 12:05 15:30 16:45 17:05 17:45 18:20 19:10 20:30 21:00 21:00 21:50 22:50

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 224 •TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

COMMUNITY MOTORING SENSE 7

DCWD trains out-of-school youth on plumbing S

EVENTEEN out-ofschool youth (OSY) from District 2 completed the four-weekend plumbing training given through Davao City Water District’s “May Bukas Ka Bata!” program. The training was conducted at the University of Southeastern Philippines during weekends from November 16 and until December 17, 2012. The skills training is a joint project entered into by DCWD and USEP to help OSY’s get alternative education that would help equip them with the necessary skills, knowledge, values, competencies and entrepreneurial abilities they need in order to be competitive for employment. The memorandum of agreement for the program was signed by acting general manager Edwin V. Regalado and USEP president Dr. Perfecto A. Alibin on June 5, 2012. In this project DCWD shouldered the training expenses and monitored the trainees’ performance throughout the course of the program. USEP, on the other hand, conducted the training on plumbing and provided the trainer

“May Bukas Ka Bata!” program benefits 17 out-of-school youth. Trainees learn and enjoy plumbing skills during one of the classes of the four-weekend training.

and training certificates of completion. Both partners conducted evaluation at the middle and end of the training period to test the

capabilities of the trainees. For many years now, DCWD has been creating linkages with partners in order to maximize the ef-

1,146 qualify for work in Oyo Job Fair 2013

total of 1, 146 job-seekers qualified for different jobs, including 37 persons who were hired-onthe-spot during the job fair initiated by Senior City Councilor De Carlo “Oyo” L. Uy as a way of “giving back” to Tagumeños in time for this 28th birthday last January 12, 2012. Thousands of Tagumeños went to Tagum City Trade and Cultural Center to take part in the fifth year of the annual one-stop service fair spearheaded by Councilor Uy in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment, the

National Statistics Office, the Professional Regulation Commission and this city’s Public Employment Service Office. PESO Manager Nilda Garcia said there are about 36 local agencies and 22 overseas recruitment agencies who participated in the said oneday job fair dubbed “Pasasalamat ni OYO – Handog sa Tagumeño Year 5.” Aside from the job fair, thousand others availed of the mobile renewal of PRC licenses as well as the authentication of birth certificates by NSO. Data supplied by PESO listed 1, 362 indi-

viduals who were able to avail of the NSO authentication while there are 170 professionals who renewed their professional licenses, with 74 others still need to be processed this week. A free legal consultation was also offered during the event. In a statement, Councilor Uy stressed the importance of this event as this adds convenience to Tagumeños and by not worrying for additional expense especially in fare noting that these services are only offered in the regional offices in Davao City. [Louie Lapat /CIO Tagum]

ficiency of its projects including the ones under its community relations program. Aside from providing alternative education

the goods brought in by Commodore Ari Soedewo of the Indonesian Armed Forces on board naval vessel Kri Makasaar 7:00 pm Saturday at the Sasa Wharf. The goods consisted of 2,000 tons of rice, blankets and tents. It was the third sortie conducted by Indonesian government for the typhoon survivors in South-eastern Mindanao.

The Indonesian National Defense Force handed relief goods and cash assistance to the government in December 10 at the Davao International Airport. The delegation was welcomed by Lt. General Jorge Segovia, commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command. On December 28, 2012, Agung Laksono, minister of Social Wel-

ter and sanitation projects, environmental protection campaigns and community extension undertakings. [Jovana T. Duhaylungsod]

is originally worth P25 million but requires P18 million to restore. Tagalo said the province also have to repair and restore bailey or connecting and hanging bridges damaged by the typhoon. These bridges will require P5 million to repair, he said. The concerned offices, he said, are preparing the program of work for the different infrastructure projects requiring repair and rehabilitation while the PEO is conducting an inventory of the extent of the damage. He said the province has already included in its 2012 budget a P20-million floating backhoe which will help in de-silt-

ing the rivers. Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario has given the department heads up to January 15 to come up with a complete assessment of the extent of the typhoon’s damage in preparation for the release of the calamity fund from the Department of Budget and Management. Tagalo said initial reports show that agricultural damage in the province due to the typhoon has reached P38 billion affecting 16 thousand hectares of land. He said infrastructure damage is estimated at P143.8 million but the amount required to repair it amounts to P240.8 million.[LAC]

DavNor now in restoration phase

HE province of Davao del Norte is now on the restoration and rehabilitation phase after a little more than a month of facing agriculture and infrastructure damage due to Typhoon Pablo. “We are implementing a four-phase approach including preparedness, mitigation, response and rehabilitation,” Davao del Norte Assistant Provincial Administrator Romulo Tagalo said. We are now on the fourth phase of our disaster efforts, he said, and the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) is preparing its plan to repair and restore the Suaon-RCDG bridge in Kapalong which

Indonesia sends more aid to typhoon Pablo victims

ORE humanitarian aid arrived from Indonesia Saturday for the survivors of Typhoon Pablo in the hardest hit areas in Davao Region as relief and rehabilitation effort continues to bring back normalcy on the affected communities. Captain Severino David, deputy commander and spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command formally received

to unprivileged youths, DCWD also offers educational assistance, health care programs, gender and development activities, wa-

fare of Indonesia handed more assistance of the Indonesian government to Undersecretary Vilma Cabrera of the Department of Social Welfare for the survivors of the storm. The additional Indonesian aid came in form of 2,000 tons of rice and 12 tons of tarpaulin, blankets and food. [PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines]

DSWD sets cash for work rate at P226 per day

EPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has set the rate for all Cash for Work (CFW) jobs at P226 per day effective January 2013 to ensure a standardized implementation of the government’s program. The standardization of the CFW rate was raised as an issue by international partners working with the different Philippine government agencies for the relief and rehabilitation of communities rav-

aged by Typhoon Pablo in Compostela Valley and in Davao Oriental. “The CFW rate is 75 percent of the daily wage set by the Labor Department which presently amounts to P301 so the allowed CFW rate is P225.75 per day,” DSWD XI Institutional Development Division Chief Ma. Elena Labrador said. However, she said, DSWD has pegged the CFW rate at P226 effective January this year for uniformity. [LAC]

8 VANTAGE POINTS POOLED EDITORIAL

VOL.5 ISSUE 224 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

Pass the FOI bill now

UICK and correct action. This is the best and justly deserved path for the House of Representatives to take on the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill. Slow and wrong. This is the worst and justly reasonable judgment that Filipino voters would have of the House members, most especially of those seeking reelection in May 2013, should the FOI fail to pass. Time, the dribble drivel in the House, and an Executive seemingly less than lame in his support for the bill – the odds seem stacked against the passage of the FOI bill in the 15th Congress. This is even as the Senate had passed its version of the bill on third and final reading before last Christmas. Only nine session days remain from Jan. 21, when lawmakers return to work after a month-long holiday break, to Feb. 6, 2013, after which lawmakers will have another extended break and plunge into election campaign mode. They will have just three more session days in June intended mainly for closing ceremonies, before adjourning sine die to give way to the incoming 16th Congress on June 30, 2013. Failure by the incumbent House to pass the FOI up to third reading, so it could be submitted to bicameral action thereafter, in the coming nine session days is certain death for the bill in the 15th Congress. Legislative work on the bill will revert to step one yet again in the 16th. This is why only quick, focused action to pass the FOI bill is the absolutely correct path for the 280-odd members of the House to take, in their last nine session days before the election campaign kicks off. It avoids wasteful spending of scarce taxpayers’ money on legislative work that often starts and ends as mere verbal jousts among lawmakers. It is, most assuredly, also the right thing for the House to do. The FOI bill implements the state policy of transparency and accountability that the Constitution we Filipinos ratified in 1987 explicitly and fully

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guarantees. Passing the FOI bill is thus a constitutional obligation that lawmakers have had to fulfill, to do right by all citizens, from 25 years ago. Passing the FOI bill is a public good that trumps any and all supposed private concerns that a few lawmakers claim are the reasons why they do not favor FOI and insist on loading it up with right-of-reply (ROR) provision. They have had, they say, fallen victim to negative reporting by the news media. Lawmakers that they are, they must be well aware of the Constitutional principle of “a public office is a public trust,” the very reason why the news media and all citizens must pry and probe, critique and censure, and report news good and bad about issues and events vested with public interest. Libel laws, codes of ethics, and self-regulation mechanisms are fully observed in most news media agencies. There are no reasons that are writ in law for these few lawmakers opposed to the FOI to now dangle ROR as a precondition to their vote. In this instance, it is clear that to them, ROR is truly just a monkey wrench to kill the bill. We, the newspapers, television networks, radio stations, online and independent media agencies, and citizen journalists of this nation state here and now clearly our expectations of the House of Representatives: Get back to work, assure a quorum, pass the FOI bill in your last nine session days. You have all promised and sworn to serve by matuwid na daan, transparency, and accountability in government, and we expect nothing less than clear, concrete results on your promises. It is election season once more and you are all likely to offer more promises to get elected. But before we vote, we ask you to finish your unfinished business. Start with one you swore to deliver two decades and a half ago: Pass the FOI bill now. ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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‘Poet and Peasant’ now on a fade-out ( 1st of two parts )

SPECIAl FEATURE By Honor Blanco caBie

EEKEND guests inside this off-urban resort in the border of Quezon and Laguna southeast of Manila were treated recently to a string ensemble interpretation of the Austrian composer’s composition “Poet and Peasant.” The musical masterpiece used to be the opening number, an overture as it were, in formal town gatherings and school functions where orchestras – complete with the reeds, the percussions, and the wind instruments – played the nearly 12-minute composition in the different time signature and stress. For the past nearly a score, bands invited to play ballroom music during town fiestas no longer play the overtures of old – they now dish out popular tunes with leggy silhouettes dancing to the rhythm of fast numbers to the amusement of the captive audience. Franz von Suppé or Francesco Suppé Demelli , an Austrian composer of light operas, is credited for four dozen operettas and the “Poet and Peasant” overture composed in 1846, a favorite of full Philippine orchestras in the 1950s until opening numbers were changed by present-day bands. But when the string ensemble, with its restless strings, played the von Suppe’s composition among its repertoire that weekend, many in the audience, some of them in their 50s and above, were completely overwhelmed by the interpretation and the memory. Some seniors were visibly touched by the classic air, remembering the serenatas of the 1950s and the 1960s played by at least a 25-piece small town band in the countryside. Some younger people in the audience began to stroll down memory lane, remembering the concerts at the Rizal Park, colloquially called Luneta, by the Manila Bay, where bands from towns in the city’s outskirts played martial music to the delight of afternoon weekend promenenaders. The concerts at the Rizal Park are continuing these days, but the serenatas in the country have been overtaken by CDs and DVDs bought from the nearest department stores if not brought in from the metropolis by visiting residents. A northerner, himself a trombonist in his youth in the 1960s, still remembers the weekends in Paoay, the town which at the time had three major bands of at least 40 members each, doing afternoon serenatas beside the two-story town hall in the heart of town near the now United Nations heritage-listed Roman Catholic church. Their weekend repertoire included overtures and martial music which always gave great pleasure to the population, mostly farmers and fishermen as well as civic leaders and home-grown professionals. It was soothing to hear any of the three bands – The Majestic, the Smart, and the Rhythm Masters – play, on alternating weekends, von Suppe’s “Poet and Peasant” and other operettas, a genre of light music in terms of subject matter. And they always heard, among many familiar classic compositions that were part of the culture of that generation, “Haydn Concerto in e flat Minor,” the first movement of the opus of Austrian-born Franz Joseph Haydn, acknowledged as a great composer of the classical era.

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 224 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

Long climb back to the top

ANNY Pacquiao is in a hurry. He wants to immediately redeem himself from two successive losses, the last of which was an emphatic knockout defeat from longtime nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez. His camp insists the congressman from Sarangani is raring and aching to go after a long vacation in Israel where he cloistered himself with his family, away from the maddening coterie of friends and hangers on which leaves a question whether his extended vacation really did his health being any good. Pacquiao was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission for 120 days, 90 of which he is barred from doing any contact activity related to boxing. The 120-day suspension effectively slammed the door for an April fight for Pacquiao in Las Vegas. Now, his camp is looking at three possible countries where Pacquiao can start his long climb back to the top of boxing world. Singapore, Macau and Dubai have been mentioned as possible venues for his next fight, possibly in April. These places serve double purpose for Pacquiao. One, they offer the Filipino boxing champion some tax relief. And, more importantly, they enable Pacquiao to conveniently skirt the Nevada suspension. Fighting and finding a suitable opponent for an early return in the ring for Pacquiao should be hassle free. But guaranteeing another huge pay day may not be that easy. Pacquiao will have to take a consid-

erable pay cut if he cannot fight in Las Vegas, where all roads to big money fights lead to. But a good tune-up fight for a September fifth fight with Marquez is not bad if Pacquiao wants to exact revenge from the Mexican. The Marquez loss was not only a devastating blow to Pacquiao’s air and aura of invincibility. It also wrought havoc to his plans leading to eventual retirement before the 2016 Philippine general elections when he plans to run for senator. More importantly, the loss took away some sheen from his lucrative endorsement deals. Nobody wants to see their logo emblazoned on the seat of his pants the way Pacquiao laid face down and motionless in that Marquez defeat. Corporate sponsors will be having second thoughts about striking a new deal with Pacquiao. Not, if they cannot help stop replays of that punch that sent Pacquiao to dreamland. But as I stated before, Pacquiao’s loss to Marquez was not a dominant defeat. He was on his way to finally stopping Marquez. Except that he walked into that straight right of Marquez. In the aftermath, questions were raised about Pacquiao’s state of health

although he has been cleared of any contusions and serious brain damage by Nevada health officials following the KO loss. But many, too, fear the cumulative effect of Pacquiao’s intense fights could lead to long term brain damage, one that will slowly affect his motor skills long or shortly after he retires from boxing. The business side of boxing in Pacquiao is dictating that he continues to strike while the proverbial iron is still hot. Pacquiao himself cannot wait any longer to prove he still has what it gets to be a marquee fighter and a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. may yet cap his Hall of Fame bound career. Pacquiao has done it before – come back from decisive defeats. Two of those defeats (against Rustico Torrecampo and Medgeon Singsurat) were knockouts and he rose to become a more devastating fighter. His decision loss to Erik Morales even propelled him to greater heights by avenging the only loss that he was decisively outfought. He routed Morales in two rematches – each of those revenges ended up in stoppage victories. Then came that Marquez debacle. Forget about that Timothy Bradley highway stickup early in 2012. There is no doubt Pacquiao will again rise to challenge. But time element is no longer on his side. The window of opportunity is closing in. Think about these and you will realize why Pacquiao is in a hurry. [Edwin G. Espejo writes for MindaNews and www.asiancorrespondent. com.]

Cops Shoot Cops: Echo Clear

HAT so-reported shootout on Marharlika Road in Atimonan, Quezon in the afternoon of last January 6 was a loud post-New Year greeting for President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III and the Filipinos. The echo was loud, still ringing in the national media for almost a week – the message resounding. The two sides in the shootout so-reported were a police-military contingent manning a checkpoint and a three-car convoy of suspected members of a crime syndicate that fired at the lawmen instead of stopping when flagged down. That story is familiar. Two of the cars – Montero SUVs – were peppered with bullets, in the picture looking like sieves; the third car was able to turn around and flee. That, too, is familiar. Eleven in the two cars were instantly killed; two others died on the way to the hospital. There were no survivors to answer questions. On the lawmen’s side, only the police officer in command of the checkpoint, standing behind another officer flagging the convoy to stop, suffered leg and arm wounds. Even that is not unfamiliar. Two reports said ten guns were recovered from the two cars – eight caliber 45 pistols and two (M-14 and M-16) ri-

( 1st of two parts )

MINDA NEWS By Patricio P. Diaz fles; in a third report, 11 caliber 45 and one 9mm pistols, one M-14 rifle and one M-16 carbine. Evidently, the suspected criminals were outgunned – explaining the lack of details about the shootout and in damage on the checkpoint. That was a one-sided “shootout”. Among the slain suspected “criminals” were a top official of Region IV-A Police Command and his two aides; three identified as military men – one belonging to the air force and two to the intelligence service (the two, officially denied as impostors); and seven others linked with “jueteng” – including one as the top operator in Southern Tagalog, who was also in security agency business but a suspected hea of a gun for-hire group. These are intriguing elements. The immediate relatives of the “shootout victims” denied the accusations that their loved ones were in illegal and criminal business. By their accounts, the victims were not only innocents but were respectable and exemplary members of society. The police and military men were officially reported to have no

criminal records; one victim was a municipal administrator and a civic leader; two were elected barangay officials. The relatives cried “rubout” and filed charges. That, too, is not new or unexpected. Initially, the Palace supported the police report of the incident as “a legitimate operation” and “a shootout” (The Philippine Star, January 8, 2013: Killed in shootout: 3 cops, 3 soldiers). But in an Inquirer report, the President reversed the earlier position (Philippine Daily Inquirer, January 10, 2013: Aquino doubts Quezon encounter was a shootout, cites inconsistencies). And he ordered the National Bureau of Investigation as the sole agency to investigate the incident. While unfortunate, the flip-flop is not new. In the above are facts of the “cops shoot cops” in capsules – the reports being updated by the hours. Loud is the echo: The crime fighters are deeply involved in crimes!!! This is clearly implied in the focus of the investigation ordered – more than just on the facts of the so-reported shootout, on the association of the police on both sides of the shootout with persons or groups engaged in illegal activities. As reported in the media, sources within the Philippine National Police have called the shootout an eruption of “jueteng war”.

Economic optimism in 2013 ( 1st of two parts )

COMMENTARY By anatole KaletSKy

ILL the world economy be in better shape in 2013 than 2012? The Economist asked me to debate this question with Mohamed El-Erian, chief executive officer of PIMCO, the world’s biggest bond fund. El-Erian is the author of When Markets Collide, a brilliant book that coined the term “New Normal” to describe the world’s inevitable descent into a Japanese-style era of stagnation after the 2008 financial crisis. I was delighted by the invitation because I wrote a book at about the same time, taking a very different view of the crisis – and many of my predictions finally look like they will be realized in 2013. In Capitalism 4.0, I argued that the crisis would create a new model of global capitalism, one based neither on the blind faith in market forces that followed the Great Inflation of the 1970s nor on the excessive government intervention inspired by the Great Depression of the 1930s. While this new species of capitalism would doubtless go through a painful period of evolution, its character would be fundamentally optimistic because it would be driven by four historic transformations. Those transformations helped trigger the 2008 crisis, but their roots are in the demolition of the Berlin Wall in 1989. First, the end of the initial wave of communism created a world that was unified under a single property-based economic system. Second, the opening of China and India added 3 billion producers and consumers to global markets. Third, the revolution in information technology made globalization possible by slashing communications and logistics costs. Fourth, the worldwide adoption of pure paper money money not backed by gold, silver, currency pegs or any other arbitrary standards of value allowed governments to stabilize macroeconomic cycles to a previously unimaginable degree. These powerful megatrends inspired economic optimism, but for that very reason they created financial bubbles, followed by inevitable busts. The tragedy of 2008 was that a blind faith in markets dissuaded governments from properly managing these boom-bust cycles, thereby creating an unprecedented financial collapse. That crisis, however, is now over. Policymakers and voters have recognized that markets cannot be left to their own devices. Economies need to be managed. As a result, a new model of managed global capitalism is evolving, and gradually replacing the market fundamentalism that dominated the world from the Reagan-Thatcher period until 2008. My book, published in 2010, was before its time – which can be a euphemism for “plain wrong.” But events in 2013 are starting to fit into my optimistic framework for three broad reasons. Short-term cyclical forces are turning positive. Long-term trends in globalization and technology are regaining momentum. And economic policy revolutions are becoming entrenched from Washington to Frankfurt to Tokyo.

10 NATION/WORlD NATION BRIEFS

Exempted

hilippine President Benigno Aquino may continue to carry a gun despite an impending ban on bearing firearms in the run-up to polls. Gun ownership is a sensitive topic in the Philippines, where calls are growing for tighter controls or an outright ban in the aftermath of a series of shootings starting on New Year’s Eve that have left 23 people dead. The ruling by the official Commission on Elections exempted Aquino, a gun enthusiast and competitive shooter, on the basis that he is constitutionally the head of the military.

Inequality

ivil society groups say President Benigno Aquino III has been unable to narrow the gap between rich and poor in the country, and that he has failed to wield agrarian reform to close that gap. Aquino’s critics came out recently to urge him to speed up the distribution of land to the landless, as the government’s Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Extension with Reform (CARPER) nears its end.

No access

he Philippines may boast of being the social networking hub, but nearly four out of five Pinoy adults still have no Internet access at home, results of a new poll showed. A total of 79 percent of Filipinos reported being offline at home, U.S.-based pollster Gallup found in a survey of 1,000 adults in each of 148 countries globally.

Debate

hilippine lawmakers crafting the final bicameral version of a bill granting compensation to victims of human rights violations during martial law are debating whether or not to automatically recognise a certain group of claimants for indemnification or to open the fund to all claimants. Despite this snag, however, they remained optimistic a final version of the measure would be ready for ratification by the Senate and House of Representatives when both houses resume sessions on January 21.

Millions flock to world’s biggest religious festival

EDGEDAVAO

ILLIONS of Hindu pilgrims led by naked ash-covered holy men streamed into the sacred river Ganges on Monday, for a record-breaking start to the world’s biggest religious festival. The Kumbh Mela in the Indian town of Allahabad will see up to 100 million worshippers gather over the next 55 days to take a ritual bath in the holy waters, believed to cleanse sins and bestow blessings. Before daybreak on Monday, a day chosen by astrologers as auspicious, hundreds of gurus, some brandishing swords and tridents, ran into the swirling and freezing waters for the first bath, signalling the start of events. Assorted dreadlocked holymen, seers and self-proclaimed saints from all over the country have assembled for the colourful and chaotic spectacle that offers a rare glimpse of the dizzying range of Indian spiritualism. “I am ecstatic. When I enter the Ganges I feel so happy, it’s a feeling I can’t explain,” said Mokshanand, a heavily bearded guru who emerged shivering from the water in a small pair of saffron-coloured underpants.

Sadhus or holy men run into the Ganges river during the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad on January 14, 2013. Millions of Hindu pilgrims led by naked, ash-covered holy men streamed into the sacred river at the start of the world’s biggest religious festival. [AFP]

“Our biggest wish is that there is peace and that people should look after each other,” a member of the Naga Sadhus, a devout, fierce and famously nude sect of followers of the Hindu god Shiva, told AFP. For most ordinary Indians, the Kumbh Mela is a religious holiday enjoyed in an almost carnival atmosphere, where prayers and blessings are offered and sought alongside family or friends camping together at the vast festival site. The hardships of being squeezed in the crowds, enduring endless whistling

and barked orders from thousands of policemen and even catching a cold in the chilly January weather are seen as a price worth paying for a dip. “I was a bit reluctant to go in at first because of the cold, but I was pushed into the river by the mass of people,” Indu Bala Dhawan, a 70-year-old grandmother from western Punjab, told AFP. “I yelled at first but I’m very happy now.” The Kumbh Mela takes place every 12 years in Allahabad, in northern Uttar Pradesh state, with smaller

but similar events every three years in other locations around India. It has its origins in Hindu mythology, which describes how a few drops of the nectar of immortality fell on the four places that host the festival -- Allahabad, Nasik, Ujjain and Haridwar. For men like Ram Krishna Verma, a 42-yearold farmer from Chhattisgarh state who travelled some 700 kilometres (430 miles), it is a time of solemn duty as he has come to scatter the ashes of his late mother.

should not begin until the start of the campaign period, Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes said via Twitter. ’Election period’ is different from the ‘campaign period’. I hope politicians will not mistake one for the other,” Brillantes said in another post. This, as he noted that the campaign period starts only on Feb. 12, 2013 for

national candidates, namely those eyeing Senate seats. For local candidates, the official campaign period is set to start March 29, 2013, Brillantes tweeted. Last September, however, the poll chief admitted that his hands are tied when it comes to premature campaigning. Brillantes cited a Supreme Court ruling which said that persons who have filed certif-

icates of candidacy shall only be considered candidates at the start of the campaign period. He meanwhile appealed to the media last October to be circumspect about granting interviews with politicians running in the May 2013 elections. This, as Brillantes noted that the interviews may give candidates “unnecessary exposure,” which he said is tantamount to “indirect campaigning”. The Comelec chairman also reminded the public that apart from carrying firearms, the following are prohibited acts during the election season (Jan 13 to June 12): -transfer or movement of officers and employees in the civil service; -use of security personnel or bodyguards by candidates, unless authorized in writing by the Commission; -organization or maintenance of reaction forces, strike forces o other similar forces; and -suspension of elective local officials.

Poll chief: ‘Election period’ is not ‘campaign period’ T

HE Philippines has entered the official election period Jan. 13 but does that mean candidates running in the midterm polls can start campaigning? Not so fast, the poll chief said Monday, in a subtle jab at politicians popularly tagged as “epal” for ubiquitous “premature campaigning”. “Official campaigning

WORLD TODAY Responding well

he brother of Hugo Chavez has denied that the ailing Venezuelan president is in coma, saying the Venezuelan leader is responding well to cancer treatment in Cuba and making progress on a daily basis. eports that the president is in a coma and that the family is discussing ending life support, are totally false,” Adan Chavez, governor of the state of Barinas, said. “He continues to respond well to his medical care and to make daily progress in his recovery.”

“R

Represented

he Philippines will be represented in the inauguration of US President Barack Obama II on January 21, Malacañang said Sunday. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Philippine ambassador to Washington Jose Cuisia Jr. will lead the country’s representatives.

VOL.5 ISSUE 224 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillanes. [Photo by NPPA Images]

Exercise

he naval force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has held exercises to test new equipment and battle tactics in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Iranian media reported on Sunday. The drills tested the IRGC naval force’s combat-readiness, speed in responding to natural disasters and familiarity with new weapons, the Fars news agency reported.

Air strike

ust as its leaders were defining a new “handsoff” strategy for Africa, France has been thrust onto the front line of one of the continent’s riskiest battlefields deep in the desert of Mali. President Francois Hollande’s backing of air strikes to halt Islamist rebels advancing on the capital Bamako raises the threat level for eight French hostages held by al Qaeda allies in the Sahara and for the 30,000 French expatriates living in neighbouring, mostly Muslim states.

Threat

ndia’s army chief General Bikram Singh held out the threat of retaliating against Pakistan for the killing of two soldiers at the de facto border in Kashmir, saying he had asked his ground commanders to be aggressive in the face of provocation. Singh’s strong remarks on Monday, amid mounting public anger at the alleged decapitation of one of the slain soldiers, appeared set to ratchet up tensions further with Pakistan, although analysts said a breakdown in ties was highly unlikely.

Cluster bombs

yria’s regime has resorted to firing rockets containing cluster bombs, marking an expansion in its use of the banned munitions despite international condemnation, Human Rights Watch said on Monday. The New York-based HRW has previously reported Syrian forces using air-dropped cluster bombs but in its latest statement said this had been expanded to the use of groundbased methods to spread the weapons.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 224 •TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

Tulawie... FFROM 1

in the May 2009 roadside bombing in Patikul, Sulu said to be aimed at killing Governor Tan. Arnado appeared before reporters during yesterday’s episode of the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao at Ecoloand, Matina, Davao City with Mrs. Dawie Tulawie, mother of Cocoy and Mrs. Iluminada Sangkula, his mother-inlaw to make updates on the case of Cocoy who was arrested one year ago yesterday. According to Arnado, “Cocoy is still in Davao City Jail and will be transferred soon to Manila after the petition of Sulu Governor Sakur Tan for transfer of venue was approved by the Supreme Court.” The Tans and Tulawi-

Rody..

es are rival political families in Sulu. “As of now, we are just waiting for the court order for the transfer,” Arnado said. “We are preparing the transfer of Cocoy and we are coordinating with the Commission on Human Rights and they committed that they will take care of the security arrangement for the transfer of Cocoy for it is at high risk because there are a lot of threats to his life and he (Cocoy) wants to be assured that the transfer to Manila will thoroughly be assessed, especially the jail that he will be placed in,” she said. Mrs. Tulawie, mother of Cocoy and mother-inlaw Sangkula appealed to the people of Davao

for support the release of the detained suspect. Cocoy was arrested in the midnight of January 14, 2012 in Davao City. In his letter from prison, Cocoy wrote on December 9, 2012 he expressed his gratitude and support for all the human rights defenders in the Philippines. In the letter, he wrote “I wish to end this letter with a thanksgiving and a deep sense of gratitude for all your support, hard work, generous assistance, prayers and well wishes in the last 12 months when I had been robbed of my freedom. Let us continue working together to defend all human rights defender in the Philippines and all over the world.”

and former mayor Benjamin C. de Guzman, known rivals of Duterte, in several previous elections. The vice mayor said he had not forgotten that in the 2010 elections, Bian’s call centers were even used to campaign for the candidates of Nograles who, himself, ran and lost heavily to Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. “Kamong taga Hugpong, kahibalo mo kung kinsa ang akong kandidato sa second district…si Mylene Garcia (Members of Hugpong, you know my candidate in the second district is Mylene Garcia),”Duterte said, using as example the lady lawmaker whose family has been a consistent supporter. “Kung dili mo maka suporta kang Mylene, magbuwag-buwag nalang ta karon (If you cannot

support Mylene, we better part ways now),” he added. Duterte was referring to certain Hugpong allies who were defeated when they ran against Duterte’s candidates in some past elections and who are now secretly working for Bian allegedly to avenge their defeat to the Garcias. Political analysts observe that since Team Nograles had failed to form a group in the 2013 elections, it has also become fashionable for some candidates aligned with the former House Speaker to try hard to shake off the Nograles stigma by acting friendly with the Duterte family, especially with the vice mayor who is running virtually unopposed in the coming May 2013 elections. ASA/AMA

is a part of their community program and he can see that “the youth are very enthusiastic and they want to be a part of what is happening.” “Another project of the Arise advocacy is to organize a group of leaders to respond to whatever situations Davao and other places may have,” said Pastor Danny, referring to the Typhoon Pablo incident. He added, “Like what happened in Matina during the flashfloods, we immediately responded,

this is what we call ‘Love in Action’.” According to pastor Danny one of the greatest challenges that the movement is facing is “raising funds to keep the movement moving.” When asked about the main problems of the youth, he said “Almost everyday our youth are involved in crimes. Being on the spiritual side, it is our responsibility to open an avenue for the youth to understand how to live a life that is in accordance with the will of God.”

FFROM 1

warning during his popular Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa television program Sunday. In the same program, Duterte reiterated that the entire Hugpong political machinery and the Duterte family will be behind the candidacies of former vice mayor Luis C. Bonguyan for congressman in the first district, reelectionist congresswoman Mylene Garcia in the second district, and congressman Isidro T. Ungab, also a reelectionist in the third. He also frowns on suggestions made by propagandists and politicians identified with the Team Nograles that he is secretly backing the candidacy of businesswoman Joji Ilagan-Bian, saying he knows the political loyalties of Bian who ran and lost with Nograles

Arise...

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Province. The highlight of the event will be the Gospel Concert that will be done every night of the event with 10,000 to 12,000 thousand young people coming from different sectors of the city are expected to attend. As a part of their flagship program, Arise has chosen the seaside villages of Matina Aplaya for the construction of toilets to the Badjao community which will, “God willing,” be turned over this Friday. Pastor Danny said this

Indonesia sends boatload of aid for Pablo survivors By Che Palicte

NDONESIA sent 1,700 tons of rice, blankets and tents aboard the vessel KRI MAKASSAR-590 that arrived last Friday evening at the Sasa wharf in Davao City as assistance to survivors of typhoon Pablo in the provinces of Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental. Commodore Arie Soedewo, head of the Eastern Fleet Command and of the mission, said they left Port Bitung, Indonesia last January 11. He added that the In-

donesian government is always willing to help its neighbor when it comes to relief operations. Captain Antongan Simatupang, vice commander to Soedewo, said they brought at least 130,000 bags of rice, each weighing 15 kilos, which were immediately turned over to Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) personnel represented by Pedrita Dimakiling. “The Indonesian government has helped us

for the third time already and the rice donation is enough for thousands of families until June this year,” Dimakiling said. She added that the rice would directly transported to areas affected by Pablo. “This is the reason why we didn’t start our 2nd round of distribution kasi hinintay naming itong bigas at hindi na naming ito ire-repack kasi it is 15 kilos a bag na and it will last from 9 to 10 days na consumption ng isang pamilya,” Dimakiling said.

expressed by some participants that while there is wide public support for the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) signed by the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), there are fears that insecurity, land issues and political marginalization will worsen. “These fears were there

before,” said Coronel-Ferrer. “They did not result from the FAB. They are part of the unacceptable status quo that we now wish to transform through the peace process.” Bishop Jose Colin M. Bagaforo, Auxiliary Bishop of Cotabato concurred that there has been no fighting with government forces since the FAB was signed.

ping Domingo in his book “Crow with the White Feathered Wings.” Domingo told young film makers of Davao that if they want to make a film, they must have a purpose in making it so that they will have the intensity to push through

with the project because it (making a film) is a long process. “You must start your project when you are already finished, which means, you must have already planned everything to the T’, before you start the production of your film.”

still verifying whether the reported encounter between government troops and breakaway group Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Movement (BIFM) in Barangay Ned, Lake Sebu last Saturday was election-related. “We initially classified it as a suspected election-related incident,” he said. The encounter, which happened in Sitio Kumilat of Lake Sebu town’s Barangay Ned, supposedly involved around 40 members of the group’s armed wing Bangsamoro Freedom Fighters. 1Lt. Betheul Barber, public affairs officer of the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion, said the firefight ensued after government troops responded to report from civilians that armed men have been sighted in the area. A militiaman identified as Rene Amar Pernal, who is a member of

the 7th CAFGU (Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit) Active Auxiliary of South Cotabato. 2Lt. Angelo Peralta, team leader of the troops that traded fire with the armed men, said they were conducting active defense patrol in the area when the armed group fired at them. He said the armed men were headed by a certain Udtog and a certain Mod, both from Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat. Last year, hundreds of residents had fled their homes due to the tension brought about by a long-standing land dispute in the area. Police, military and Comelec personnel had identified Barangay Ned as well as the municipalities of Tampakan and T’boli as among possible areas of concern in the run-up to and during the May 13 polls. [Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews]

Framework Agreement ‘guarantees’ equal protection for all -- panel chief

“T

HERE will be equal protection for all in the new political entity that will be called the Bangsamoro,” GPH negotiating panel chief Miriam Coronel Ferrer assured Catholic bishops, priests, Jesuit university presidents and heads of peace centers in Mindanao. Coronel Ferrer acknowledged concerns

Indie...

FFROM 2

Visions Davao Inc., saying “Pagusara wants to take out the torrid kissing scene while Benjie wants to take out the scenes with excessive violence.” The title “Malan” is the name of a B’laan woman. The story came from one of the poems of Pe-

PNP...

FFROM 3

region. He said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has required the establishment of a checkpoint in each municipality and city in the region that would regularly conduct firearms inspections on local motorists. “We might set up more checkpoints in the coming weeks, depending on the security situation and needs of our concerned local governments,” he said. Since the gun ban started on Sunday, Monteagudo said there were no reported incidents yet regarding possible violators in the region. He said the ongoing implementation of the ban has so far turned out smoothly and with no related untoward incident happening in any part of Region 12. Meantime, the police official said they were

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VOL.5 ISSUE 224 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

Realty

EDGEDAVAO

Coffee Shop

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.

EDGEDavao Gensan Partners

Tel No. (083) 553-2211 / (083) 877-0019 / (083) 878-0308

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

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

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

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

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

NOTICE OF LOSS Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No(s) 090438 under LOYOLA PLAN Contract No(s) 1085157-4 issued to ESTRELLA M. MAGALONA was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void. 01/8,15,22

EDGEDavao

Serving a seamless society

Account Executives (2) - Male / Female, not more than 30 years old - Candidate must posses a Bachelor/ College Degree in any Business field. - Willing to work under pressure, flexible, persuasive, can speak fluently and computer literate - A team player - With Basic Salary, Transportation, Communication, allowance + Commission For interested applicants, you may send your resume to: HR Department EDGEDavao Doors 13 & 14 Alcrej B;dg., Quirino Ave., Davao City Tel. No. (082) 221-3601 Email: edgedavao@gmail.com

SPORTS 13

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 224 •TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

Lakers snap skid L

OS ANGELES — Dwight Howard had 22 points and 14 rebounds in his return from a three-game injury absence, and the Los Angeles Lakers snapped their six-game losing streak with a 113-93 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday night (Monday, Manila time). Kobe Bryant scored 23 points for the Lakers, who finally earned their first victory of 2013 while ending their longest skid since February 2007. Howard went 9 for 11 despite his injured shoulder while leading Los Angeles to a comfortable victory over the lowly Cavaliers, who beat the Lakers last month. Kyrie Irving and Dion Waiters scored 15 points apiece for Cleveland, which has lost seven of

nine. Alonzo Gee added 14 points for the Cavaliers, who fell behind by 19 points in the first quarter of their second stop on a five-game West Coast road trip. Cleveland (9-30) is barely ahead of Washington (6-28) for the NBA’s worst record. Steve Nash had 10 points and nine assists for the Lakers, whose skid has been severe enough to cause fans to worry about this star-packed roster’s playoff chances even in mid-January. After Oklahoma City ran the Lakers out of Staples Center on Friday night in a 116-101 victory, a downbeat coach Mike D’Antoni told his players that “our season starts Sunday.” Opening day went well

for the Lakers, but much bigger challenges loom — including the Miami Heat’s visit on Thursday. Pau Gasol missed his fourth straight game for Los Angeles with a concussion, while top backup Jordan Hill is likely out for the season with an injured hip. Earl Clark had another solid game in the starting lineup with 13 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots, while Antawn Jamison added 16 points and hit four of the Lakers’ 13 3-pointers. Howard injured the labrum in his shoulder earlier this month during a game against the Clippers, and he aggravated the injury last Sunday while grabbing a career high-tying 26 rebounds against Denver. He sat out for the past

week to rest the injury, but didn’t appear limited while patrolling the paint against the Cavs despite committing seven turnovers. Although struggling Cleveland seemed to be an ideal slump-buster, the Cavs beat the Lakers 10094 last month in Cleveland, Los Angeles’ third straight road loss in the series. Before the game, Cavaliers coach Byron Scott declined to follow the lead of fellow ‘80s Lakers greats Magic Johnson and James Worthy in hammering the current Lakers for their defense and Mike D’Antoni’s coaching. Scott understandably has bigger concerns than his ex-teammates-turned-pundits who have mercilessly ripped D’Antoni, Howard and even Bryant in recent weeks.

OKC drops Blazers

ORTLAND, Ore. — Kevin Durant had 33 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder snapped Portland’s ninegame winning streak at the Rose Garden with an 87-83 victory over the Trail Blazers on Sunday night (Monday, Manila time). Russell Westbrook added 18 points and nine assists for the Thunder, who played without starters Serge Ibaka and Thabo Sefolosha because of injuries. LaMarcus Aldridge had 33 points and 11 rebounds for the Blazers, who trailed by 11 points but pulled within one point with less than a minute left. Westbrook’s 3-pointer made it 84-74 with 3:35 left but the Blazers closed to 84-80 after Nicolas Batum’s putback with 1:57 to go. Batum added a 3-pointer with 21.9 seconds left to make it 84-83. Kendrick Perkins missed the first of two free throws and after a timeout Aldridge missed a tough fade-away jumper from about 20 feet out with 1.7 seconds left. Westbrook made a pair of foul shots for the final margin. The Blazers extended their Rose Garden winning streak to nine after rallying for a 92-90 win over Miami on Thursday night. But Portland fell 103-97 at Golden State on Friday to stop a four-game overall winning streak. Ibaka missed the game because of chest contusion he sustained in the third quarter of the Thunders’ 116-101 victo-

ry over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night. It was the first time Ibaka missed a game this season. The 6-foot-10 forward is averaging 14.3 points and 8.4 rebounds. Ibaka was replaced by Nick Collison in Oklahoma City’s starting lineup. Sefolosha, who was held back with a sore neck, has also started in all of the Thunder’s games this season, averaging 7.5 points and four rebounds. He was replaced by DeAndre Liggins, who made his first career start. The Blazers trailed by eight points early, but pulled to 18-17 on Aldridge’s layup and free throw late in the first quarter. Portland couldn’t get any closer and Collison’s reverse layup midway through the second quarter gave the Thunder a 33-27 lead. The Blazers responded with a 12-2 run, pulling ahead on a trio of free throws and a 3-pointer from Batum that put Portland ahead 39-25. Durant was whistled for three fouls and went to the bench but the Thunder kept up the pressure and the Blazers hung onto only a 43-42 lead at the break. The Thunder pulled back in front, 52-48, after Westbrook’s finger-roll layup and Collison’s hook shot. Durant made a 3-pointer over Batum to make it 57-50. Liggins hit a 3 that stretched Oklahoma City’s lead to 63-52. Aldridge and Batum had back-to-back dunks to pull Portland to 72-67 with 8:04 left.

14 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 224 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

SHARAPOVA IN DOUBLE BAGEL DEBUT

EDGEDAVAO

How sweet it is M

Djokovic wins Aussie opener M

ELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Novak Djokovic cruised through his first match at Rod Laver Arena since his shirt-ripping victory celebration last year, opening his bid for a third consecutive Australian Open title with a 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 win over Paul-Henri Mathieu on Monday. The top-ranked Djokovic faced only three break points, saving them all, and lifted his tempo when it counted most against Mathieu. Djokovic’s five-set win over Rafael Nadal in the 2012 final that lasted almost six hours is already part of Australian Open folklore. He tore off his shirt and flexed his muscles after the marathon win last year, and is hoping to add another chapter by becoming the first man to win three consecutive Australian titles in the Open era. Nine others have won back-to-back titles: none have claimed three in a row since the Open era started in 1968. ‘’Any achievement, especially if it’s part of history, would mean a lot to me,’’ Djokovic said. ‘’I love

this sport. This sport is my life since I was 4 years old. I try to generate this great desire to play this sport from that love. ‘’I think it’s too early, again, to speak eventually about the title because there are many contenders to win this title.’’ Djokovic, who lost to Australia’s Bernard Tomic in the Hopman Cup this month, said his win over Mathieu, who reached a career-high No. 12 ranking in 2008, was a good stepping stone for his second-round match against American Ryan Harrison, a 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 winner over Santiago Giraldo of Colombia. Maria Sharapova and Venus Williams had nearly flawless opening matches in the women’s draw earlier in the day. Sharapova finished her first match of the year in 55 minutes, cruising to a 6-0, 6-0 win over Olga Puchkova on center court. She showed no signs of trouble with her sore right collarbone. The No. 2-ranked Sharapova, who lost to Victoria Azarenka in last year’s Melbourne final before going on to win the

French Open, faced only two break points in her opener and she saved both of those in the first game. Then she went on a 12game roll that earned her a second ‘’double bagel’’ inside of a year. Sharapova withdrew from the Brisbane International this month with the collarbone injury, saying she wanted to concentrate on being fit for the first major of the season. She skipped the Brisbane tournament last year, and went on to reach the Australian Open final. ‘’After a couple of close games and a few break points, I certainly started to concentrate a bit better,’’ she said. ‘’I didn’t want to concentrate on the fact I hadn’t played a lot of matches. I just wanted to focus on what was ahead of me and really be aggressive. ‘’It was one of those matches where I didn’t try to worry about her too much.’’ Sharapova has a potential third-round match against Williams, who needed just an hour for her opening 6-1, 6-0 win over Galina Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan.

ELBOURNE (Reuters) - Maria Sharapova has put a small fortune into her sweet making business but she might consider a sideline in baked treats after serving up fellow Russian Olga Puchkova a double-bagel to cruise into the second round of the Australian Open on Monday. Sharapova’s 6-0 6-0 demolition of the hapless Puchkova at the Rod Laver Arena completed a ‘bagel slam’, having left opponents scoreless at the French Open, Wimbledon and Flushing Meadows. The second seeded Russian launched her premium-priced range of “Sugarpova” lollies in Melbourne on Friday, bringing her fledgling business Down Under after successfully introducing it to the United States. But there was precious little sweetness on display on center court as Sharapova crushed the 107thranked Puchkova in 55 minutes to stay on track for a mouth-watering third round clash with Venus Williams. “I didn’t want to focus on the fact I hadn’t played a lot of matches,” Sharapova, the 2008 champion, told reporters. “(I) just wanted to fo-

cus on just what was ahead of me and really concentrate and, you know, be aggressive. “So it was just one of those matches where I didn’t try to worry about her too much. I just tried to, you know, think about what I had to do.” After saving two breakpoints in the opening game, Sharapova needed to do precious little thinking, with her opponent committing 19 unforced errors, including one to bring up three match points. Sharapova had pulled out of all of her warm-up tournaments after suffering pain in her neck and collarbone, but showed little discomfort as she blasted six aces and 18 winners in bright morning sunshine. Puchkova surrendered the match with a forehand that floated long. While undoubtedly leaving her a bitter taste, the score gave Sharapova little extra satisfaction. “When you’re out there and playing, you’re just focusing on every point and every game and trying to win as many as you can, and today was just a good scoreline,” she said. “If you win 7-6 in the third, you still won the match.”

INdulge! EDGEDAVAO A red hot Christmas at the Marco Poloâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Christmas party VOL.5 ISSUE 210 â&#x20AC;˘ SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 23-24, 2012

EVENTS

You can now buy your weekly paper fill of in-depth business news and features from any of these establishments still at Php 15.

Christmas parties are times when colleagues finally forget the stresses of work and let their hair down for a jolly good time of eating, drinking, and laughing together with the bosses. Throw in a sprinkling of contests and prizes and you have a memorable evening that is The opening dance number was a portent of hot things to come.

FA RED HOT, A4

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 210 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 23-24, 2012

UP aND aBoUT

Get the most out of the holidays with Sun Call & Text Unlimited 25 MAX! alThoUgh the holiday season kicks off earlier than usual in the country, it seems there’s still not enough time to squeeze in everything before Christmas day arrives – from decorating the house, shopping and wrapping gifts, to planning a Christmas reunion with family and friends.

The holiday flurry has the potential to stress you out as you sprint from one errand to the next. avoid morphing into the grinch come Christmas time by making the most out of the remaining weeks before Christmas Day. adopting a clear plan on how to maximize your productivity each day this December will help make you worry less about forgetting a task or missing out on must-attend get-togethers. Your mobile phone will be your best friend in the coming days as you try to keep track of your holiday to-do’s, so better make sure you don’t run out of load in the midst of all the activities. Power up your phone with Sun Cellular’s Call & Text Unlimited P25 maX (Sun CTU 25 maX) which lets you maximize your productivity this holiday season. loading up Sun CTU 25 maX will guarantee that you have one less thing to worry about this December because at P25 valid for one day, Sun CTU maX 25 already gives you unlimited Sun calls and unlimited Sun texts for maximum talk time when you need to call – to book venues, order food in advance or just stay in touch with friends you haven’t heard from in a long while. You will have no worries reaching your non-Sun contacts either with the generous 100 FrEE texts to other networks that now comes with Sun CTU 25 maX. it’s a cost-efficient way to accomplish a lot of things through SmS – whether it’s inviting a wide circle of friends to come over or asking a younger sibling to pick up items at the store. With Sun CTU 25 maX, Sun prepaid subscribers are sure to get the most out of the holiday season because they can maximize their time with worry-free unlimited calling and texting to just about everyone in their contact list. get Sun CTU 25 maX from your friendly Sun Prepaid retailers, or convert your regular load by texting CTU25 to 247. Sun CTU 25 maX is available until January 31, 2013. To know more about Sun Prepaid’s other offers, visit www.suncellular.com.ph or Facebook page www.facebook.com/suncellprepaid. Follow @suncelldeals on Twitter.

Blugre closes 2012 with foreign franchisee

New store located at the birthplace of the original Blugre coffee shop

Davao’s pride, Blugre Cofffee enters into another milestone in its growth by launching yet another Blugre coffee shop in one of the prominent retail institutions in Davao City, the Gaisano mall of Davao. a nurse from tampa, Florida, Usa, ms. vivian Cubero, ventures into the franchise world by being the first foreign investor who has joined the Blugre family. ms. Cubero is a native of Bohol but is not unfamiliar to the business climate and opportunity that Davao has to offer. after she experienced Blugre in one of the trips to Davao, there was no doubt that when the opportunity came to be a part of

this fast growing company, she made no hesitations to invest. The new store at the second level of the Gaisano mall of Davao carries Blugre’s new updated interior design with cozy ang lounge-like furniture. The store still carries the full line of Blugre’s favorite

drinks and pastries like the decadent Choco torte, and pasta. This is only the beginning of Blugre’s national and international positioning and aggressive business mission to be a worldwide brand and to invite investors to come and invest in the Philippines as well as the other

countries that they are targeting in the year 2013. 14 stores are being negotiated right now including stores in singapore, New York, Las vegas and Los angeles. it is a bold move by Blugre but the potential, capability and quality all lead to global recognition. Blugre invites the business community nationally and internationally to invest in this fast growing company. 2013 will be a big year for Blugre and this launching is only the beginning of foreign investments coming in and local investors joining the Blugre family nationally and globally. Franchise inquiries are welcome, interested parties may email ms. Joanne B. siy at franchise@blugre.com

Merry Kris Kringle-ing at SM Stationery ChriSTmaS is that time of Secret Santas, a fun and creative way of exchanging gifts between friends, classmates, and officemates. and you’ll find a treasure trove of gifts for your Kris Kringle at Sm Stationery – your one stop shop for practical and functional gifts for school and the office. Plan ahead with this 2013 Paperline weekly planner

Polka pencil bags with bow

There are sticky note

Stylish leatherette iPad cases.

pack and memo pads for jotting down notes and reminders as well as weekly planners, journals, and notebooks to help them plan for a busy year ahead. Stylish laptop cushions and iPad cases; fashionable iPad stylus pens; and fancy USB flash drives are great techie treats. The Collection is available at the Stationery section of all Sm Stores. also visit our website at www. stationery.com.ph

MOODS memo pad

Bright colored 9-10’’ Netbook Sleeve laptop protector

Sticky note folio for notes and reminders.

VOL.5 ISSUE 210 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 23-24, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTErTaiNmENT

Kate Middleton’s health and nanny hires? Prince William’s military obligations? More royal baby questions answered!

EVEN by greenwich mean Time, nine months are nine months— and, though ultimately they’ll fly by, the world’s still got a long way to go before it gets to meet Kate middleton and Prince William’s firstborn child, aka the most exciting baby ever.

What will the ensuing trimesters really be like for the expectant couple? and what’s going to happen once the little prince or princess arrives?! The British royal family is better than most at keeping a tight lid on their private lives, but we’ve got some details, starting with how the nannyhiring process is going for Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge... Well, it isn’t going, at least not yet. “Forget all the stories about nannies, how many William and Kate will have, whether they will have one at all,” a royal source tells E! News. “They have not made any decisions yet on that. The likely scenario is that they will follow royal protocol but it’s too early to say, as they have not decided on how many nannies, if they will have a nanny, etc.”

tend to, as well. “Next year, William will be spending quite a lot of time in anglesey [an island off the coast of Wales] getting up his flying hours,” our source says. “it’s very important to him that he fulfills his obligations.” meanwhile, Prince harry is spending Christmas at his base in afghanistan

We’re just guessing that royal protocol includes extensive background checks, presuming mary Poppins herself is not available. more important than how much she’s getting done, however, is the state of Kate’s health. She’s back in the public eye, looking proper as always, after a bout with hyperemesis gravidarum, a beyond-morning-sickness condition characterized by violent nausea and vomiting that usually requires intravenous fluids and, in some cases, a

feeding tube. Basically, our source suggests that Kate being out and about will speak for itself with regard to how she’s feeling. if we don’t see her, that means she isn’t up to being seen. Kate is taking it one day at a time and “is hoping to do a few solo engagements next year prebirth,” the insider says. as for more couples engagements, Kate’s princely husband—who’s still an officer in the royal air Force, remember?—will have certain duties to at-

Jennifer Aniston “Amazing” at pole dancing: “She looks really hot!” says costar Emma Roberts JENNiFEr aniston is really good at pole dancing.

Emma roberts, who costars with aniston in the upcoming comedy We’re the millers, knows firsthand just how sexy the Friends actress’ stripper moves are in the movie. “She’s really good,” roberts told us of aniston’s We’re the millers poledancing scenes earlier today. “i saw bits and pieces of it and she is amazing.” on a scale of 1 to 10? “[She’s] like a 20,” roberts laughed. “it was unreal! She looks really hot.” in the funny flick, Jason Sudeikis stars as a pot dealer who assembles a fake family in order to traffic drugs to mexico.

aniston plays his stripper wife and roberts is their pretend daughter. While we will be getting to see aniston on the stripper pole, roberts says Justin Theroux’s gal won’t be partaking in any fake drug-doing on screen. “if i recall, no one actually smokes pot in the movie,” she dished. “it’s more the chaos that ensues on such a ridiculous adventure. Four people, pretending to be a family to smuggle across the border is pretty funny on its own, so the stuff that goes wrong is only funny.” as for making the movie, roberts gushed, “i got to work with Jennifer aniston, who’s just the most amazing comedic actress,

and Jason Sudeikis, who’s obviously hilarious... They’re funny of course but also just the sweetest people. and i think that’s really important working with people for so long.” meanwhile, roberts has partnered with the CocaCola Company and (rED) to promote (ThrED), a mobile game with a cause to help deliver an aiDS-free generation by 2015. “it’s something that i think, especially young people, don’t really think about,” roberts said. “i think it’s something that young people really need to be aware of. That’s why i thought, since i’m a young person and i can help get the word out, it’d be a great thing to do.”

but is due back home in January. “he will spend the first month decompressing,” the royal source says, “and so will be off the radar for a bit.” (great news for the royal family, maybe notso-great news for tabloids.) But William will be jetting back in plenty of

time for the baby’s arrival. While no formal arrangements are in place yet, the source tells us that Kate will likely introduce their child to the world on the steps of the hospital—just as Princess Diana did with Will 30 years ago. Depending on how the duchess is feeling, of course.

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 210 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 23-24, 2012

EVENTS

Marco Polo Davao general manager Bruno Simeoni performs to the crowd.

A red hot...

Lingeries, pantyhoses, bikinis and tanktops were the costumes of the night.

FFROM A1

sure to create lasting memories.

This year, i was again invited to the Christmas party of the marco Polo Davao and i can say that each year is definitely rowdier than the last and this year’s theme was definitely a hot one. i mean, how can you get hotter with siagon red Light District, right? The party started with songs performed by the marco Polo Davao’s very own choir which performed beautiful Christmas songs to set the mood. What followed were performances by the different department, each one more daring, crazier, and wilder then the last. of course the different heads of departments also joined in the dancing and merriment.

The heat is on in Saigon.

With the level of the performances, it was hard to imagine that these talented performers actually work at the hotel. This shows the talent and passion that each person at the marco Polo posses. and as the wine flowed, prizes dolled out, and the bonuses are announced, i felt happy to be able to share a special moment of Christmas joy with the marco Polo Davao family. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @kennethkingong for foodie finds, travel tips and happenings around Durianburg.

The performances were really on a different level.

Halifax Davao Hotel Inc. family with Halifax Davao Hotel Chairman Mr. Carlos G. Dominguez.

WORlD TODAy Serving

Seamless

society

You can now buy your favorite Business Paper from any of these establishments still at Php 15.

Davao

Mr. Lawrence Lee-VP Finance of Marco Polo Hotel, Mr. Bruno Simeoni-MPD General Manager, Mr. Hans Hauri-Area General Manager, Phils. MPH and Francis Ledesma-V.P of Halifax Davao Hotel

The Voices of Marco Polo.

Tulip Drive, Ecoland, Davao City

The heads of departments and managers take to the stage in their own dance presentation.

F. Torres St., Davao City Tel No. 227-3773 - (72) Fax: 295-3485

HELPING YOU MAKE INFORMED BUSINESS DEcISIONS.

Awards were given to 5-year and 10-year employees.

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO VOL.5 ISSUE 224 •TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

GAME 3 LOSS

Bitter pill to Tiu C

ELEBRATED Rain or Shine rookie Chris Tiu had his best game as a pro in Game 3 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against Talk `N Text Sunday night. Unfortunately, his best wasn’t good enough as the Elasto Painters lost, 89-80, and are now on the verge of getting swept in the best-of-seven title series. “A win is always a win. Whatever it takes to win… Today, we were lacking on offensive options. I was just trying to be aggressive. Definitely, I wouldn’t trade a win for my best game,” said Tiu quietly emerging from

the Rain or Shine dugout shortly after the sorry loss. The 6-foot former Smart Gilas mainstay played aggressively for 22 minutes before a crowd of 16,000 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum, wisely posting up the smaller Jimmy Alapag several times in the second half and knocking down clutch jumpers from the perimeter. In all, Tiu finished with a team-high 14 points, his best in his first conference in the league. Tiu just lamented that Rain or Shine faltered in the stretch run

once again, failing to hold grip of a nine-point lead the Elasto Painters had in the final period. “Eh, nasa match up eh. Kami yung may advantage. Di rin maka-connect sila Paul (Lee) at Jeff (Chan) sa labas. Kailangan makahanap ng paraan maka-score. Pinuwersa ko na lang, bahala na,” he said. “Pero iyan na naman, just like the other games, we got the run, the lead, but when it mattered most, that’s when we didn’t deliver. We made crucial turnovers. “Sila (Tropang Texters) naman they made the big shots, the big

plays, which goes to show their championship composure. We need to play a perfect game against this team (in Game 4),” added the seventh pick overall in the Draft. With the specter of losing the series via a sweep, the guard out of Ateneo said the Elasto Painters will just have to concentrate on putting up their A-game in Game 4 and hope to prolong the series. “We want to take it one game at a time, concentrate first on getting one game first. We don’t even want to think of the championship first,” he said.

the South Cotabato Sports Complex in Koronadal City. Forward Nate Burkey led Kaya with two goals, while midfielder Chris Greatwich and striker Dario Dakic scored one goal apiece.

Kaya took a commanding 3-nil edge at the break courtesy of goals by Burkey and Greatwich. Dakic then joined the scoring fray in the second half, which saw M’Lang score an own goal to settle the final score.

With the victory, Kaya will advance to the quarterfinals to face the winner of the match between fellow UFL team Loyola Meralco Sparks and Flame United FC of Cavite on Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium.

ERES FC of Negros Occidental crashed into the quarterfinals of the Philippine Football Federation-SMART National Club Championships after stunning United Football Cup titlist Pension Stallion Giligan’s, 1-0, Sunday at the Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City. Korean import Kim Jung Mook scored in the first half to give Ceres a

1-nil edge, which Stallion couldn’t recover from. With the victory, Ceres advanced to the quarterfinals to face powerhouse Global FC, which prevailed in its match against Nomads FC, 2-1, at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium. National team members Carli de Murga and Patrick Reichelt both scored in the second half to lift Global to victory.

Nomads still found the back of the net off a penalty kick in injury time, but it was not enough to overcome its deficit to Global. Pasargad FC advanced to the next round after edging Philippine Army FC, 2-1, also at the Rizal Stadium. Nigerian striker Emmanuel Mbata and Johan Taher both scored in the first half to give the triumph to Army, while

Ricardo Becite nailed a goal in the second half for Army’s lone goal of the match. Pasargad will meet fellow UFL squad General Trias International FC in the quarterfinals slated next week, which will also feature knockout matches between Kaya FC and the Loyola Meralco Sparks and Green Archers United Globe versus Pachanga FC.

M’lang bows to Kaya FC NITED Football League squad Kaya FC demolished M’Lang FC of North Cotabato, 5-0, to open the knockout stages of the Philippine Football Federation-SMART National Club Championships at

Negros booters stop UFL champs

Knicks end losing run N

EW YORK – Carmelo Anthony scored 27 points and rookie Chris Copeland added 22 Sunday as the New York Knicks beat New Orleans 100-87 to snap a three-game National Basketball Association losing streak. Amare Stoudemire added 12 points for the Knicks, who had five points and 14 rebounds from Tyson Chandler on the way to ending the Hornets’ four-game winning streak. “They got into a flow. Carmelo got into a big flow in the second quarter and when he is flowing, their whole team is flowing,” said Eric Gordon, who led the Hornets with 22 points. “They had a big quarter and they kept having big strides after that. We didn’t play as well.” The Knicks got off to a slow start, and trailed 29-22 after the first quar-

ter. Then Anthony came alive, out-scoring the entire Hornets team 18-12 in the period. A free throw by Anthony knotted the score at 36 with 4:19 to play in the first half, and the Knicks never trailed after that. “We were slow again out of the box defensively, I thought,” Knicks coach Mike Woodson said. “We’ve just got to start the game better. That’s what I’m concerned about right now.” Anthony said the Knicks were determined to tighten up on defense after surrendering 29 points to the Hornets in the opening quarter. “We came back to the huddle, at the end of the quarter, looked up and knew 29 points was definitely too many points,” Anthony said. “We held them to 12, 13 points and the game turned around from there.”

16 SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 224 • TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

DavNor, Deped to pool resources for DAVRAA By Neil Bravo

AVAO DEL Norte Governor Rodolfo Del Rosario is making sure everything is in order when the province hosts the 2013 Davao Regional Athletic Association (DAVRAA) meet set February 24-March 1 at the Davao del Norte Sports Complex. Del Rosario met with Department of Education XI regional officials last January 11 to ensure the successful staging of the regional sports conclave which will be hosted by the province for the first time after the old sports complex was gutted down by fire sometime in the early 90s. Provincial Information Officer Romulo Tagalo told EDGE Davao in a text message that the provincial government and the Deped Re-

gional Office have agreed to pool their resources together for the weeklong school-based sports competition. “They have agreed to pool together to be used for the Davraa,” Tagalo bared. Governor del Rosario

and provincial government officials represented the host LGU in the meeting while Deped was led by Dr. Nenita Lumaad. Tagalo also revealed that the private contractor of the Davao del Norte Sports Complex project has started to lay down

the first layer of the rubberized track oval. The Davraa meet will be participated by Davao City, Panabo City, Digos City, Island Garden City of Samal, Compostela Valley, Davao Oriental, Mati City, Tagum City and host Davao del Norte.

round knockout victory over Briton Ricky Hatton in November. Senchenko, 33-1 with 22 knockouts, is already 35 years old and was losing to Hatton when he nailed the latter with a good body punch. Senchenko boasts of above-par punching power but he is a tough sell because of his age and the fact that he is not even known in his own household. Vargas is a young 23 and totes a record of 21-0 with nine knockouts. He reportedly has the inside track because he is also promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions. Vargas is also easier to sell to the public because he is undefeated and has Mexican blood running in his veins. Oh, with only nine

knockouts, Vargas also appears to be a safe opponent for Pacquiao. Born in Los Angeles, Vargas moved to Las Vegas, Nevada at age six and developed an interest to boxing at age eight after his father gave him a documentary video of one of Mexican’s greatest champions, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr. Vargas was a two-time National Golden Gloves champion and compiled an amateur record of 120 wins against only 20 losses before turning pro in 2008 with a first-round knockout of Joel Gonzales. Vargas initially fought for Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s boxing outfit before he jumped ship and joined Top Rank Promotions early last year. Vargas holds victories over world

champions Vivian Harris and Steve Forbes, but remains untested. He has not scored a knockout victory in his last five fights and was lucky to escape with a split decision over Mexican Josesito Lopez in September 2011. Vargas’ last knockout victim was journeyman Walter Estrada, who showed up in the fight with a 39-14 wonloss record and was predictably dispatched in two rounds in July 2011. While the names of Brandon Rios and Timothy Bradley Jr. have also been mentioned, all point to Pacquiao taking on a lesser-risk adversary. Vargas appears to fit the bill, the perfect cannon fodder for a fighter like Pacquiao who is looking to regain his competitive edge.

Pacquiao picking on Vargas, Senchenko F

ORMER world p o u n d - fo r - p o u n d champion Manny Pacquiao is reportedly picking on two ‘light’ opponents whom he will be facing in April in the first step of his boxing career’s reconstructive surgery. The Filipino eight-division champ is looking at a short-list of possible next foes – either American Jessie Vargas or Ukrainian Vyacheslav Senchenko. A look at the records of the two prospects will show one aging fighter in Sechenko and a young upstart in Vargas. Either way, Pacquiao is expected to bulldoze his way over. Senchenko is a former World Boxing Association welterweight (147 pounds) champion who is coming off a ninth-