Edge Davao 5 Issue 52

EDGEDAVAO

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

VOL.5 ISSUE 52 • MAY 16 , 2012

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Serving a seamless society

Indulge Page A2

Land reclassification measures at SP

Dads’ sources of corruption

By Jade C. Zaldivar

Science/Environment Page 4

V

ICE Mayor Rodrigo Duterte yesterday said he is “keeping track” of the City Council’s resolutions on requests for

n Rody says city councilors who deal in corrupt practices should “shape up” or risk exposure. land reclassification as these have become “sources of corruption.”

Continuing his earlier statements on

corruption in the local government, Duterte said the City Council “should not be spared” from his scolding.

“Kaibalo ko, naa puy corruption sa City Council. Even before, and kanang mga reclassification, source na sa corruption. I am

FSP SOURCES, 13

Sports Page 15

GIANT MACHINE. A huge crane atop a building that is being constructed along J. P. Laurel Avenue appears to hover over motorists along by the busy street. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

Vice Mayor to help coed rape victim Follow Us On

V

ICE Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte yesterday said he would be willing to give assist a 19-year old female college student who says she is a victim of rape.

Duterte said his office will be open to the rape victim whose alleged offenders are her acquaintances.

“Ali diri para tanawon nato unsay mabuhat,” Duterte said during his TV show Ato ni Bay held at the City Council building.

Asked to say something to the alleged rapists, the vice mayor said: “Dapat putlon ang inyong ****!”

Learning that the victim and the respon-

dents are students of a prestigious university, Duterte said the school “should not be an issue.”

“Ang nagkasala ang dapat maoy magbayad sa ilang sala,” he said.

Last May 11, the victim, accompanied by her mother, a younger sister, and law-

FVM RODY, 13

2

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 52 • MAY 16, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

DCOTT cracks down on delinquent renters

By Lorie A. Cascaro

T

EN stands and 33 stalls will be closed by the Davao City Overland Transportation Terminal (DCOTT) if their owners refuse to pay their arrears in rentals upon their final notice of eviction, a city official said last Monday.

Maribeth M. Lumactod, DCOTT officer in charge, said as of March this year, a total of P82,903.80 in rentals remained uncollected from 10 stands, and P390,855.76 from 33 stalls.

Most of the renters were the same delinquents in the previous year, she added, while there are also newly enrolled delinquents.

In 2011, there were 10 stands and 25 stalls issued with final notice of eviction, but only two stands were closed after their owners failed to pay their arrears.

As mandated by the city ordinance no. 110 series of 1986, the DCOTT management has no power to impose surcharge or penalize

delinquent tenants, she said.

However, the stores’ operations may cease after owners fail to comply with the required payment upon the issuance of final notice of eviction.

A tenant delaying payment up to three months will receive a first notice of eviction. If he or she fails to pay several days after receiving the notice, a final notice will be issued to him or her.

Lumactod bared that last year there was a delinquent tenant who had total arrears of P150,000, but was not evicted after immediately paying the total amount.

This year, one stand owner has total arrears of P27,000, she said, adding that most of the delinquents pay only when they receive a final notice of eviction.

Delinquent owners of stalls and stands who are evicted will no longer be allowed to operate inside the terminal unless the board decides otherwise.

There are a total of 82 stands located in the DCOTT,

which are charged P2,500 a month for those facing outside the terminal, and P2,000 a month for those facing inside.

A total of 78 stalls inside the terminal, which are allotted two square meters each, are charged P6 per square meter a day.

The DCOTT’s collection from stands and stalls decreased to P692,140 in the first quarter of this year from P785,110 in the same period last year.

Similarly, the total collection of DCOTT decreased to P4,934,330 in the first quarter this year from P5,098,790 in the same period of 2011.

However, its total collection as of April this year increased to P1,704,184.71 from P1,655,954.74 of the same period last year.

Lumactod said the significant increase was contributed by the recent events such as Araw ng Dabaw, Holy Week and summer vacation that drew more domestic tourists coming to the city.

Magnaye said the forms provided for their reports were not clearly explained to them as admitted most of the participants, some of whom said there was no need for them while others said it was the first time they saw the forms.

The proposed online system for submission of reports will be studied further by the city tourism office to determine whether it is still necessary given that hotels have agreed to submit reports.

Magnaye said in 2011, the total number of tourists recorded based on the reports submitted t the time was 744,275.

In the first quarter this year, the number of tourists reached 194,834, showing a 9.6% growth from the same period of 2011.

These figures were gathered from barely 14% to 29% of submissions out

of the total number of establishments in the city.

He said one can imagine that the number of tourists was actually larger than that if at least 80%, if not 100%, of the establishments submitted reports.

Based on a factual data of tourist arrivals, the city’s investment promotion center headed by Magnaye, may encourage investors to put up more hotels based on the projections.

“What will be our basis of saying that promotion of an investment area if we do not have exact data to rely on?” he said.

All hotels and event organizers in the city are required by the city tourism office to submit their schedules of conventions and other activities to avoid saturation of guests on particular dates while having fewer guests on other dates. [LORIE A. CASCARO]

will be looking for potential investors, including overseas Filipino workers in Singapore to invest in business process outsourcing (BPO).

“We are still halfway through our goal of a 30 thousand ICT workforce,” he said, adding that call centers remain to be the biggest sector among ICT industries.

The ICT sector eyes to increase the small and medium enterprise category of the BPO, which is showing some growth potential in the city.

Small and medium BPOs are those with capitalization of P1 million to P100 million.

Davao hotels committed to report occupancy rate

T

OURISM establishments, especially hotels in Davao City, have commtted to submit to the city and regional tourism offices their occupancy rates on a regular basis, a city official said yesterday.

City tourism officer Jason Magnaye said owners of hotels and other tourism establishments finally understood the city government’s need to gather substantial data on tourist arrivals after a meeting last week.

Out of 175 registered hotels as of last year, some 120 hotel owners/general managers attended the meeting, including those from the major ones.

Within the first 10 days of the month, an establishment shall submit a report on the previous month starting this June, including occupancy from January to June this year.

ICT sector to join Davao’s selling mission to Singapore

T

HE information and communication technology (ICT) sector of Davao City will join the selling mission of the city government in Singapore, tentatively set on July 1.

Lawyer Samuel Matunog, vice president for industry development of ICT Davao, Inc., said the sector

FICT, 13

CLOSELY WATCHING. Mindanao Development Authority chair Luwalhati Antonino faces members of the press on Monday to declare that the people of Mindanao are

closely watching the maneuvering of a few people who wish to monopolize the power industry in the island regon. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

IP councilor urges

Colleges in city should offer scholarships to IP

By Jade C. Zaldivar

T

HE Indigenous people’s (IP) representative to the City Council yesterday appealed to colleges in the city to offer slots for deserving indigents in their scholarship program.

Councilor Berino Mambo-o, a member of the Ata tribe, said it is a dream of IPs that their children receive college education and become professionals.

But since most IPs are too poor to afford it, Mambo-o said “this dream of becoming professionals disappears.”

Recognizing that some colleges in the city offer scholarship programs for indigents, the IP representative said several youths from the Ata tribe have graduated from college.

“But my hope is not only for my tribe, but for all indigenous people,” Mambo-o said in a privilege speech in the Council yesterday.

“Many wish to go to school, finish college and become professionals. I hope that all tertiary education institutions would offer slots for indigenous people in their scholarship and grants programs,” he said.

The IP representative added that he intends to author a resolution requiring colleges in the city to offer

this opportunity.

Commenting on the matter, presiding Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said he supports Mambo-o’s advocacy and suggested that the latter should first approach City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

“It was the mayor herself who advocated for an IP representative in the City Council. The Council can only go as far as passing a resolution, but it is the mayor who really is in a position to do this,” Duterte said.

“Inday wants to see the Lumads’ lives improve. The same for the Muslims. Talk to the mayor, and as for the City Council we could appropriate funding for IP scholars,” he told Mambo-o.

In an interview, the IP representative said the IP community currently has around 40 students who are in college.

“They are under the STEP (Scholarship on Tertiary Education Program) of the city. We really hope that all Lumad children can go to school. This way we will not be treated with discrimination,” he said.

Six Ata graduates The Ata tribe currently has six college graduates in courses of education, social work, and AB English.

All members of the youth group Ata Paquibato Kalayag Organization (Apa-

ko), the Ata’s six graduates are: Mernalyn Chavez, 32, who graduated in 2002; Reynante Manlangan, 29, graduated this March, and Rimo Española, 28, who graduated in 2011.

Other graduates are Marilou Badan, 29, who finished in 2010, and sisters Maria Leah Lausan, 22, and Mary May Lausan, 24, who both graduated in 2009.

Present during City Council session, Española said that he along with Mary Lausan founded the student organization at the University of Mindanao (UM) in school year of 2008-09 which paved the way for Lumads to ‘be respected in the school community.’

“Naka-experience mi ug discrimination before pero katon naa na ang organization na-lessen ang discrimination,” he said.

The organization’s name is PAGLAOM which stands for Program Advocacy Governance for Lumads Association of UM. “Gusto sad ko nga makahuman ug skwela ang akong mga katribung Ata sa Paquibato. Ikaduha, unta daghan pang mga colleges and universities ang mag-offer ug scholarships,” Española said.

“Ug unta naay mga agency nga magtabang sa mga estudyante nga naglisod sa ilang pagtuon,” he added.

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 52 • MAY 16, 2012

MinDA launches Mindanao 2020

T

HE Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) formally launched yesterday the Mindanao Peace and Development Framework Plan for 2011-2030, also known as the Mindanao 2020.

The unveiling of the Mindanao 2020 Document was spearheaded by MinDA Chairperson Luwalhati R. Antonino and Australian Agency for International Aid (AusAID) Philippines Governance Adviser Sam Chittick during the opening preliminaries of the Mindanao Economic Policy Forum held at N Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.

Secretary Antonino said the Mindanao 2020 is a holistic, integrative, and multidimensional plan that hopes to transform Mindanao into a peaceful, integrated, cohesive, and dynamic island-

economy that will be at the forefront of the country’s sustainable development within the next 20 years.

She said the 20-year peace and development roadmap for Mindanao addresses various challenges and opportunities in the island-region not only within the context of securing peace amid a history of conflict but also in terms of harnessing its inherently rich economic potentials for the benefit primarily of Mindanawons.

MinDA created Mindanao 2020 through a process that took two years in the making. It has engaged the participation government, private sector, non-government organizations, civil society, academe, interfaith groups, women, and youth in the formulation of the plan.

ARANGANI is becoming a haven for sports tourism, a tourism official said, with the biggest national cycling stage race kicking off in Sarangani right after the Sarangani Bay Festival.

SarBay Fest will be held in Gumasa where Singapore’s leading adventurer Khoo Swee Chiow with two of the Philippine’s finest kayakers Erwin “Buzzy” Budlong of Cebu and Arnel Gabutero of Davao City started on August 31, 2009 the firstever attempt to kayak the en-

tire length of the Philippines that ended 3,300 km. away in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte.

“Just like the Sarangani Bay Fest which happens in May 18-19 and bringing about 800 sports enthusiasts to enjoy Sarangani Bay through Fun Run, the 15-kilometer Swim-Across-theBay, paragliding, jetski offshore adventure, bancarera and other beach sports,” Regional Tourism Council chair Michelle Solon said LBC Ronda Pilipinas is bringing in “96 athletes in 16 teams

competing in different stages and venues in the Philippines.”

“LBC Ronda Pilipinas, a national road biking competition, has chosen Sarangani as the starting point of its Mindanao Leg,” said Solon, who also chairs the Provincial Tourism Council.

“LBC Ronda is going to do their time trial on May 23 at the Provincial Capitol and inviting even local road bikers of Sarangani to participate in the time trial,” said

The various livelihood projects have benefited a total of 124,816 households, she added.

Ramos said CFAD aims to increase agricultural production and improve incomes of small farmers. Its component is a municipal-based funding facility though which MRDP provides financing for the diverse needs and priorities expressed by poor communities.

“The bottom-up approach under the program, where the people’s organizations themselves identify and manage the project, has promoted participation and transparency in governance and prompteda for the empowerment of many rural folks,” she said.

To date, there are already 3,712 agri-based livelihoods funded by the program. Of these, 1,605 were already completed, 574 are still ongoing, 584 are ready for implementation, and the rest are under preparatory stage.

Caraga and Region 12 lead in the implementation

with P235 million under its portfolio.

Region 12 has a total of 765 projects, 389 of which have been completed and turned over to POs. On the other hand, Caraga region has a total sub-projects of 689, where 356 have been completed.

Region 10 follows closely, having accessed P232.21 million for its covered towns.

The region has a total of 767 sub-projects where 352 are already completed.

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) has a total portfolio of P227 million for its 506 projects; Region 11 has a portfolio of P157.50 million with a total of 531 sub-projects; and Region 9 with P139.75 million for 444 projects.

“Aside from the number of completed sub-projects, we are also glad that we are attaining our goal to benefit 30 percent of women and indigenous peoples,” Ramos noted.

[PIA 10]

3

CATWOMAN. While attending to her newspaper stand, an old lady takes care of her pet cat along at the corner of Magsaysay Ave. and JP Laurel St. unmindful of pedestrians and vehicles. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

Sarangani fast becoming MRDP’s geo-tagging haven for sports tourism promotes transparency P S FSARANGANI, 13

DA earmarks P1.3B for Minda farmers, fisherfolk livelihood

T

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) has earmarked multimillionpeso funds for various livelihood projects to aid farmers, fisherfolk, women and indigenous peoples in Mindanao.

The Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP), being implemented by the DA, has already spent a total of P388.25 million for its livelihood arm.

Another P345.37 million was also downloaded for ongoing projects and those ready for implementation, and a total of P412.30 million for those new projects under preparation by the People’s Organizations (POs), making the overall portfolio of the Community Fund for Agricultural Development (CFAD) to approximately P1.3 billion.

Program director Lealyn Ramos said funds for the CFAD were spent mostly in food security interventions, community managed livelihoods and small support infrastructure.

[PNA]

RESIDENT Benigno Aquino III has lauded the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) in Davao City for using geo-tagging technology as this promotes transparency in project implementaion.

“Gamit ang geotagging, nababantayan at nasusuri ninyo ang pagsasakatuparan ng ating pong mga proyekto (Using geotagging, you can monitor and review the implementation of our projects),” the President said in his speech yesterday during the MRDP Peoples’ Organization Congress in Davao City.

Geotagging, according to Wikipedia, is the process of adding geographical identification metadata to various

media such as geo-tagged photos/videos, websites and short messaging system.

This prevents the implementation of “ghost” projects as it provides the exact location of a project. Also, the technology avoids duplication of efforts.

“Matutukoy dito ang mga overlapping road projects, at kung may hokuspokus na nangyayari (We can now identify overlapping road projects and other anomalous transactions in a project),” Aquino said. He added that cases in the past where a “road” was continuously under repair or being constructed—yet remained impassable—will be exposed through geotagging.

In an earlier interview,

Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that geotagging technology particularly useful in infrastructure projects as it helps makes the DA’s program more transparent.

“Geotagging would be of big help in project implementation, which the World Bank suggests to be done in other projects too,” Alcala said.

Aside from transparency, other uses of geotagging include measuring distances, reading elevations, organization and preservation of photo documents, and mapping out barangay profiles.

Geotagging can also be used in the marketing and site development of eco-tourism areas and the establishment of geo-hazard maps. [PIA 11]

“We are delighted to have submitted the DMPF to the DENR and MGB, and are pleased with the successful completion of this major milestone, which will enable us, together with our partners St. Augustine, to accelerate the development of this flagship mining project, which will bring many benefits to the Philippines, particularly the Pantukan community and Compostela Valley Province.”

The DMPF was completed by NADECOR with its partner, St. Augustine, a mining company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

St. Augustine’s leadership team members have played key roles in developing and managing some of the larg-

est mining projects in the world, including Grasberg in Indonesia (the largest open pit copper/gold mine in the world), Nchanga in Zambia (a world class copper deposit) and Mount Hope and Liberty in the US (two of the largest molybdenum projects in the world). St. Augustine’s major shareholders include global institutional investors Wellington, Franklin Templeton and Passport.

To date, St. Augustine has invested more than $70 million in the project and the DMPF, and has $16 million in cash resources. The next key step for the project is the Bankable Feasibility Study, which is targeted for completion later this year

Company submits feasibility study for King-king copper-gold project

T

HE Nationwide Development Corporation (NADECOR), as party to a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement with the Philippine Government for the King-king CopperGold Project (King-king) in Pantukan, Compostela Valley Province, recently submitted its Declaration of Mine Project Feasibility (DMPF) to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

The submission was announced by NADECOR director Conrado T. Calalang, who is past Chairman and leads an investor group that controls over 50% of the Company. Calalang stated,

FCOMPANY, 13

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SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 52 • MAY 16, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

World living beyond its resources, summit off-track

Trees are reflected in the waters of the Yesa reservoir, about 50 km (31 miles) from Pamplona, northeast Spain March 22, 2012. [Reuters]

B

IODIVERSITY has decreased by an average of 28 percent globally since 1970 and the world would have to be 50 percent bigger to have enough land and forests to provide for current levels of consumption and carbon emissions, conservation group WWF said on Tuesday.

Unless the world addresses the problem, by 2030 even two planet Earths would not be enough to sustain human activity, WWF said,

launching its “Living Planet Report 2012”, a biennial audit of the world’s environment and biodiversity - the number of plant and animal species.

Yet governments are not on track to reach an agreement at next month’s sustainable development summit in Rio de Janeiro, WWF International’s director general Jim Leape said.

“I don’t think anyone would dispute that we’re nowhere near where we should be a month before

Europe struggles for climate lead

U

N climate talks have opened in Germany, with the EU struggling to keep its position of a global leader.

Small developing countries that linked up with the EU in a new coalition last year say the bloc must commit to tougher emission cuts and more finance.

Existing pledges on “climate aid” run out at the end of this year, and the EU has yet to clarify what happens then.

Most EU nations want to increase carbon cuts but they have not worked out how to negotiate around Poland’s blocking.

Attempts to toughen the EU’s target from 20% to 30% below 1990 levels by 2020 have stumbled on Polish government

fears about its economic impact on the major coalproducing and coal-burning nation.

Last December’s annual UN climate summit, in South Africa, saw the EU team up alongside at least 80 nations, primarily small island states and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), in a new “rainbow coalition” pressing for a new global deal that would eventually restrict all nations’ emissions.

At a small informal meeting in Brussels last week, just over 30 nations from the coalition took stock of the situation, with members of the Alliance of Small Island States (Aosis) urging the EU to adopt the 30% target as soon as possible.

the conference in terms of the progress of the negotiations and other preparations,” Leape told reporters in Geneva.

“I think all of us are concerned that countries negotiating in the U.N. system for an outcome for Rio have not yet shown a willingness to really step up to meet these challenges. Those negotiations are clearly still tangled.”

The Rio+20 meeting on June 20-22 is expected to attract more

than 50,000 participants, with politicians under pressure from environmentalists to agree goals for sustainable development, in the spirit of the Rio Earth Summit that spawned the Kyoto Protocol 20 years ago.

Despite that pact aimed at cutting planetwarming carbon emissions, global average temperatures are on track for a “catastrophic increase” by the end of the century, WWF said.

Leape said there

were many initiatives governments could take unilaterally without being “held hostage” to the wider negotiations for a binding global climate deal to replace Kyoto, which expires this year.

It said the world should move away from “perverse” subsidies on fossil fuels that amount to more than $500 billion annually and ensure global access to clean energy by 2030.

Asked why environmentalists were still

struggling to win the argument that something needed to be done, Leape said: “Let’s not underestimate the inertia in the system.

“We’ve built an economy over the last century that is built on fossil fuels and on a premise that the Earth’s resources could not be exhausted. You see that conspicuously in the case of the oceans, where we’ve been taking fish as if there were no tomorrow, as if fish would just always be there.

LOBAL temperatures could rise by 1.4-3.0C (2.5-5.4F) above levels for late last century by 2050, a computer simulation has suggested.

Almost 10,000 climate simulations were run on volunteers’ home computers.

The projections, published in Nature Geoscience, are somewhat higher than those from other models.

The researchers aimed to explore a wider range of possible futures, which they say helps “get a handle” on the uncertainties of the climate system.

People planning for the impacts of climate change need to consider

the possibility of warming of up to 3C by 2050, even on a mid-range emission scenario, the researchers say.

The study - run through climateprediction.net with the BBC Climate Change Experiment - ran simulations using a complex atmosphereocean climate model.

The representations of physical parameters were varied between runs of the model, reflecting uncertainties about precisely how the climate system works.

And the forecast range was derived from models that accurately reproduced observed temperature changes over the last 50 years.

The low end of their range is similar to that of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its 2007 report, but the high end is somewhat above the range their analysis produced.

‘Innovative’ ensemble Myles Allen of the School of Geography and Environment and Department of Physics, Oxford University, principal investigator of climateprediction.net, said other climate modelling groups’ data did not “set out to explore the full range of uncertainty, which is why studies like ours are needed.”

The research was described as “an important step toward estimating uncertainty more compre-

hensively,” by Gabi Hegerl, professor of climate system science at the University of Edinburgh.

The results were also described as “very promising” by Prof Corinne Le Quere, director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia.

“Better constrained climate projections are needed to help plan a wide range of adaptation measures, from sea defences to water storage capacity and biodiversity conservation areas,” she added.

However, the research was questioned by Julian Hunt, emeritus professor of climate modelling at University College London.

Temperatures could rise by 3C by 2050, models suggest G

EDGEDAVAO

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

3.5% 4th Qtr 2011

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

3.7% 4th Qtr 2011 USD 3,342 Million Nov 2011 USD 4,985 Million Nov 2011 USD -1,643 Million Nov 2011 USD -114 Million Dec 2011 P4,442,355 Million Nov 2011

3. Exports 1/ 4. Imports 1/ 5. Trade Balance 6. Balance of Payments 2/ 7. Broad Money Liabilities 8. Interest Rates 4/

4.71% Oct 2011 P128,745 Million Nov 2011 P 4,898 Billion Oct 2011

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

P 43.65 Dec 2011

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

3,999.7 Sept 2011

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

128.1 Jan 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.9 Jan 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.4 Dec 2011

16. Visitor Arrivals

284,040 Sept 2011

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

19.1% Oct 2011

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

6.4% Oct 2011

MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE (January 2009 - December 2011) Month

2011

2010

2009

Average December November October September August July June May April March

43.31 43.64 43.27 43.45 43.02 42.42 42.81 43.37 43.13 43.24 43.52

45.11 43.95 43.49 43.44 44.31 45.18 46.32 46.30 45.60 44.63 45.74

47.637 46.421

February

43.70

46.31

January

44.17

46.03

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

47.032 46.851 48.139

48.161 48.146 47.905 47.524 48.217

48.458 47.585 47.207

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

THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 52 • MAY 16, 2012

5

Agus-Pulangi should be managed by Mindanaoans L

ocal government officials welcomed the statement of President Benigno Aquino III to give a chance for the Mindanaoans to manage its power.

This, as President Aquino stated that privatization of the Agus-Polangui hydro-power plant will be given to the people of Mindanao.

Davao Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, in a chance interview Monday after the People’s Organizations Forum hosted by the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) held at the Grand Regal Hotel here, said the President’s pronouncement was exactly what the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA)

has proposed for the creation of a Mindanao Power Corporation, which shall serve as a power generation company that would be owned by the Mindanaoans.

“We can form our own power corporation that would properly manage the AgusPolangui hydro-power plant,” he said.

The said hydro-power plant is the main source of cheap electricity in Mindanao.

It supplies 52 percent of the region’s electricity.

During the 1st Mindanao Power Summit last month here, which was attended by the President, local governments and stakeholders unanimously rejected the planned

privatization of the Agus-Pulangui hydro-power plant.

They claimed that “privatization would only be giving market power to a private entity. If left with the government without the profit motive, hydro power can blend power rates and mitigate spikes in power prices.”

Instead of privatization, they proposed for the creation of Mindanao Power Corporation that would formulate a viable way to operate and maintain not only the AgusPulangui hydro complexes, but the power system of the region “without sacrificing the interest of the people of Mindanao.”

Del Rosario said the idea of creating a power corpora-

tion is “to have Mindanaoans be responsible for powering Mindanao.”

The proposed Mindanao Power Corporation will also be tasked in putting up a onestop shop for power investments and projects in the region.

President Aquino earlier said having a more consistent energy source will give Mindanao a more convincing business proposition to potential investors -not just in the energy sector.

“This isn’t just about energy, this is about attracting investments and creating jobs, and this is about securing the future of this region,” he said. (PNA)

over the Scarborough Shoal.

Agriculture Secretary Proseso Alcala, at the sidelines of his dialogue with farmers in the region on Tuesday, said they are looking at Singapore, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Korea, North Asia, Middle East countries, Europe and the United States for expansion of the country’s banana exports.

China is the country’s second-largest banana market after Japan with total shipments worth US$ 470.96 million last year.

Bananas are also the Philippines’ second-largest agricultural commodity export after coconuts.

Reports said some 150 containers were refused entry

by Chinese quarantine personnel, citing alleged “scale” insect infestation.

The refusal has cost Philippine banana growers at least US$ 760,000 in rotting produce.

Alcala, however, said the country has no scale insect problem.

But just the same, he said he will be sending a technical team to be led by Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) director Clarito Barronto to China to inspect the remaining 89 containers, alongside Chinese quarantine officials.

“This week po mayroong isang team tayo na papupuntahin sa China at magdadala po sila ng credential para kaharap sila (Chinese) sa pagbubukas ng ating mga produkto sa exports. Pero, at the same time, kasama ang imbitasyon naman natin sa kanila para pumunta ang delegasyon dito at i-check po nila ‘yung protocol natin. Ang importante po dito mai-prove natin na ang mga produktong iniluluwas hindi lang po sa China kundi sa ibang bansa man ay wala pong peste,” the DA chief noted.

“We are now working closely with China to resolve this regulatory issue,” he added.

no less than Sen. Manny Villar and Camella President Jerylle Luz Quismundo were waiting to fete them a lavish meal.

The tour was highlighted by site visits to several developments of Vista Land in Metro Manila, such as Avant, a high end condo project in The Fort, where P12 million to P50 million units amazed the brokers.

Portofino, a high-end Italian-inspired subdivision in Daang Hari, Muntinlupa and the events destination called Fern Brook – Portofino, partly owned by the Villars, were also visited, as well as the pine haven Crosswinds in Tagaytay and Georgia Club in Sta. Rosa.

The brokers left each project filled with awe at their beauty

and charm.

Apart from the exclusive and posh developments, they also went to other Vista Land

projects that belonged to the affordable to mid-priced range, such as Cerritos, Pontecilli, and Valenza.

Look for other countries, banana growers told

T

HE Philippines is looking at other potential buyers for bananas.

This, after President Benigno Aquino III directed the Department of Agriculture (DA) to find other export markets for the Philippines’ Cavendish bananas after China imposed more stringent quarantine requirements on the fruit.

“We have to look for other export markets. It is important to diversify to ensure our hands are not tied to the decision of just one country,” the President said amid speculation that China imposed stricter rules on Philippine bananas amid its territorial dispute

Camella takes top Mindanao sellers on Manila tour

A

S a reward for an excellent sales performance in 2011, Camella’s top exclusive brokers and sales managers from Davao, Gen. Santos, Cagayan, Butuan, and Tagum were given an all-expense-paid tour in Manila on April 17-19, 2012.

Before jumping off on their first tour day, Camella’s top sellers participated in a training on ‘Creative Selling’ where Raymond Llanes, professional sales consultant and resource speaker, taught them new selling techniques and strategies at the Vista Land Training Center.

They were taken for dinner to David’s Tea House at the Wharf in Sucat, another project of Vista Land, where

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

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

as of august 2010

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

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

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

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

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

6

THE ECONOMY

ABS-CBN posts P7.1billion in Q1

A

BS-CBN Corp. on Monday reported a consolidated revenues of P7.1 billion in the first three months, up 8 percent compared to the same period in 2011.

The Lopez-led broadcasting company said advertising revenues contributed 59 percent of total consolidated revenues while consumer sales made up the balance of 41 percent.

The company generated a net income of P306 million for the first quarter of 2012, down by 69 percent compared with P976 million in the same period last year.

Consolidated advertising revenues across all platforms and subsidiaries increased by 4 percent to P4.2 billion.

ABS-CBN maintained its national audience share and ratings leadership with prime-time audience share averaging 42 percent in the first quarter of 2012, with a 12 percentage point lead over GMA’s, based on the Kantar National TV Ratings.

For the first three months of 2012, 17 of the company’s shows were in the Top 20, with the following occupying the Top 10 slots: Walang Hanggan, Ikaw ay Pagibig, Budoy, My Binondo Girl, Dahil sa Pag-ibig, Eboy,Maalaala Mo Kaya…, TV Patrol (Weekday), Nasaan Ka Elisa, Wansapanataym, Junior Master Chef Pinoy Edition (Saturday) and Rated K Handa Na Ba Kayo?

Consumer sales for the first quarter amounted to almost P3 billion, or a 15 percent increase year-on-year.

The increase was

largely attributable to Sky Cable’s growth in revenues, which grew by 12 percent.

The increase in sales of other subsidiaries is partly attributable to the growth in sales of ABSCBN Film Productions in the first quarter of 2012.

Sky Cable’s consolidated revenues for the year from cable TV and broadband services grew 12 percent year-on-year, driven by a 9 percent growth in postpaid revenues and a 31 percent growth in broadband revenues.

Broadband service subscriptions increased 20 percent year-on-year, while subscriptions to Sky Cable’s post-paid TV offering grew by 10 percent.

ABS-CBN Global’s revenues increased year-onyear by 3 percent in peso terms, or 5 percent in US dollar terms.

The lower rate of increase in peso terms was due to a 2 percent, or P0.91 appreciation of the Philippine peso exchange rate against the US dollar, from P43.79 in 2011 to P42.88 in 2012.

ABS-CBN Global’s overall viewer count was an estimated 2.5 million at the end of March 2012, 3 percent more compared to the previous year.

Double digit growth in subscribers continued to be experienced in Canada, and single digit growth in all other territories except Japan and Europe where subscribers declined.

Capital expenditures and program rights acquisitions for the first quarter of 2012 amounted to P1.1 billion, 22 percent higher than last year’s P875 million.

China bans fishing in South China Sea

C

HINA will impose a routine fishing ban in northern parts of the South China Sea, including the waters around Huangyan Island, for two and a half months beginning May 16, authorities announced Monday.

All fishing vessels should be moored and nets shelved during the ban, according to a spokesman for the South China Fisheries Administration Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Violators can have their catches and boats confiscated, fishing licenses

revoked and be fined up to 50,000 yuan (7,936 U.S. dollars).

The ban will only be imposed in areas north of the 12 degrees north latitude -- which includes Huangyan Island but excludes most of the 820,000 squarekm Nansha Islands, the spokesman said.

Imposed annually since 1999, the ban is aimed at protecting fishery resources in the South China Sea. Since 2009, it has been imposed starting on May 16 and ending August 1.

Quips

‘HOW can anyone be made to explain something that does not exist.’

--Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, before the decided to appear before the Impeachment Court as stipulated by defense counsel Jose Roy III, May 8.

VOL.5 ISSUE 52 • MAY 16, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

DA: increase in meat tariff means higher meat prices

A

GRICULTURE Secretary Proceso Alcala on Monday hit the meat processors’ claim that increasing the reference prices of hogs and chicken imports would mean higher prices of these products.

Alcala said the accusation “only shows that meat importers had been undervaluing their imports.”

The Alliance of Food Processors, Providers and Stakeholders (AFPPS) earlier accused the government of failure to consult them, the United States and other countries as trading partners

to agree to the increases first.

They demanded the suspension of the increase in reference prices in pork to US$ 2.97 a kilo from 80 cents and US$ 1.23 a kilo for chicken from 54 cents, which they viewed as a concession to the local hog and chicken industries that threatened to go on a five-day pork and chicken holiday should the government fail to address their concerns on smuggling and over-importation.

Alcala, however, said that the AFPPS “should also consider the interest of domestic hog produc-

ers, and they should not penalize the livestock industry.”

“Hindi naman puwede na ang interest lamang nila (AFPPS) ang poprotektahan (It is not only their interest that should be protected),” said Alcala at the sidelines of the People’s Organizations Forum hosted by the Mindanao Rural Development Program (MRDP) held at the Grand Regal Hotel here.

Last April 27, the DA chief recommended to Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima that the reference prices on imported pork and chicken parts

be raised.

For pork carcasses and half carcasses, the reference price Alcala has recommended should be US$ 2.102 per kilo.

For hams, shoulders and “cuts thereof with bone-in,” the price set was US$ 2.128 per kilo and for others, US$ 2.976 per kilo.

The prices of poultry, chicken leg quarters were pegged at US$ 1.238 per kilo, mechanically deboned meat (MDM) of chicken at US$ 0.953 per kilo, and MDM of turkey at US$ 0.699 per kilo.

on LCCs world-wide, passenger traffic among the leading 75 LCCs in 2011 jumped by nearly 12% to 727 million passengers. LCC passengers are highest in Europe with 37.1%, while North America (29.5%) and Asia-Pacific (21.6%) come in at 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Load factors, which refer to how full planes are, among more than 50 reporting carriers in 2011 were at 81%. CEB posted a load factor of 86.3% in 2011.

“CEB is the only Philippine carrier to make the list, which is a testament to our growing route network and number of passengers served. We will continue to expand our services for the benefit of more travelers, especially with our planned long-haul operations in 2013,” said

CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 22 more Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft orders. It will also lease up to 8 Airbus A330300 aircraft to serve new markets beyond the range of CEB’s current fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft.

“With over 720 million LCC passengers worldwide, CEB will continue to differentiate itself with its fun culture and trademark low fares to all the destinations we serve. We look forward to increasing the LCC market in the Philippines and beyond, enabling everyone to fly,” she added.

CEB currently operates 10 Airbus A319, 20 Airbus A320 and 8

ATR-72 500 aircraft.

Its fleet of 38 aircraft – with an average age of 3.6 years – is one of the most modern aircraft fleets in the world.

It flies to 32 Philippine destinations including Boracay, Coron, Cebu, Palawan and Siargao, and 19 international destinations: Bangkok, Beijing, Brunei, Busan, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Incheon, Jakarta, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Osaka, Shanghai, Siem Reap, Singapore, Taipei or Xiamen.

For bookings and inquiries, guests can go to www.cebupacificair. com, or call the reservation hotlines (02) 7020888 or (032) 230-8888.

The latest seat sales and promos can also be found on CEB’s official Twitter and Facebook pages.

Cebu Pacific is 15th largest low cost airline

T

HE Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSE:CEB) ranked 15th in Airline Business Magazine’s list of the world’s top 75 low-cost carriers (LCC) based on 2011 passenger numbers. CEB also ranked 15th in 2010.

According to Airline Business Magazine’s May 2012 issue, CEB flew 11.9 million passengers in 2011, with a 13.6% passenger growth compared to 2010.

CEB bested other LCCs in Asia such as India’s Spicejet (no. 19), China’s Spring Airlines (no. 23), Thai Air Asia (no. 24), Tiger Airways (no. 29) and Indonesia Air Asia (no. 33). The world’s three largest LCCs are USA’s Southwest, Ireland’s RyanAir and UK’s EasyJet. In its special report

PHL now in transition to PDIC to study rehab two-tiered wage system proposal for Export Bank HE Philippines has She said a productivBy Carlo P. Mallo

T

HE government owned and controlled Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) will study the proposal of the Sy-led Banco de Oro for the next 90 days to determine whether such will be most advantageous to the depositors and creditors of Export Bank.

After Export Bank was placed under its receivership in April, PDIC has 90 days to determine the rehabilitation proposal.

PDIC intends to come up with a terms of reference for all interested parties to consider as well as engage the services of a financial auditor to help PDIC determine the valuation of Export & Industry Bank (EIB). These will be submitted to the PDIC Board and the Monetary Board that will

ultimately approve the rehabilitation proposal.

BDO has submitted a proposal to rehabilitate EIB with certain conditions. PDIC is reviewing the legal and economic viabilities of said proposal. Some of the conditions as proposed are not within the authority of PDIC. The PDIC’s immediate concern now is to take stock of the deposit liabilities of EIB and conduct payout for all valid insured deposits as soon as possible.

Payment for accounts with balances of P10,000 and below will start by the end of the month.

Holders of these accounts who have no outstanding loans and who have updated their addresses in the bank in the past year, need not file deposit insurance claims.

T

joined its progressive neighbors in the implementation of the two-tiered wage system with the effectivity of the Regional Tripartite Wage and Productivity BoardRegion IV-A’s wage order, according to Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz.

“The Philippines is definitely in transition to a two-tiered wage system which offers better protection to minimum wage earners,” Baldoz said.

Baldoz was referring to Wage Order No. 15 of the RTWPB IV-A, the first regional wage order that provides for a wage increase under the twotiered wage system.

ity-based wage system is central to Republic Act No. 6727, or the Wage Rationalization Act, adding that even Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBEs) will benefit from the two-tiered system.

The two-tiered wage system consists of a fixed “floor wage” or entry-level wage for new entrants and low-skilled workers, and a flexible wage above the floor based on worker productivity and industry or enterprise performance which may be negotiated between the employer and the workers.

The ground-breaking wage reform seeks to upgrade and modernize the existing minimum wage setting in the country.

EDGEDAVAO

Yahoo investors applaud change

Y

AHOO Inc’s choice of interim chief executive is a signal the company is returning to its roots selling brand advertising on its consumer websites, analysts say, even as a deal with an activist hedge fund raises new questions about its future.

Yahoo’s global media head Ross Levinsohn got his chance on Monday to revive the struggling Web pioneer, as he stepped into a job that has been held by four others in the past five years.

Analysts say the former News Corp executive will bring a track record of digital media experience and deal making to Yahoo’s top job. He also has the backing of Dan Loeb, the head of hedge fund Third Point, which now has three seats on Yahoo’s board and which led the ouster of former CEO Scott Thompson.

Yahoo’s shares rose on Monday after Thompson stepped down just four months into the job, following a controversy over his academic record.

Thompson will not receive any severance as part of his termination, according to a Yahoo filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday. He will retains the right to a “make whole” grant of restricted stock, valued at $6.5 million, for compensation he left behind at his former job.

Thompson’s departure caps yet another tumultuous episode involving Yahoo management in recent

years and comes as the company struggles to regain relevancy and revive growth amid fierce competition from rivals Google Inc and Facebook.

With Levinsohn at the helm, albeit on a temporary basis, Web industry observers said Yahoo was likely to stop trying to compete head-on with Google and Facebook in an expensive technology arms race, turning away from being a search engine and developing technology products, and focusing instead on attracting large brand advertisers to its popular online properties including Yahoo Sports and Yahoo Finance.

“Finally you have someone with the kind of background, the kind of experience and the kind of talent that would be appropriate” for a company like Yahoo, said Scott Kessler, an analyst with Standard & Poors.

“Ross Levinsohn is a media guy. He’s an Internet advertising guy.”

Still, Yahoo faces a steep climb as it tries to reclaim its status as a top online destination among consumers and advertisers. Visitors to Yahoo’s websites spent an average of 133.1 minutes per month on its properties in March, compared with 203.6 minutes on Google sites and 369.4 minutes on Facebook, according to research firm comscore.

Yahoo’s share of U.S. online display advertising revenue has shrunk from 18.4 percent in 2008 to 10.8 percent in 2011, according to research firm eMarketer.

Adobe appoints board members

A

DOBE Systems Inc, maker of Photoshop and Acrobat software, has appointed three new members from technology and media companies to its board of directors.

The company said on Monday that it added Cisco Systems Inc chief financial officer Frank Calderoni, Comcast Venture’s managing director, Amy Banse, and Laura Desmond, global head of the Starcom MediaVest Group, to the board.

That raises the number of board members to 12 from 9, the company said.

“Amy Banse, Frank Calderoni and Laura Desmond bring deep expertise in media and technology to our board, which are critical to our mission of being the category leader in digital media and dig-

ICT HUB

VOL.5 ISSUE 52 • MAY 16, 2012

ital marketing,” John Warnock and Chuck Geschke, co-chairmen of the Adobe board said in a statement.

Adobe, the biggest maker of design software, reported slower first quarter revenue growth in March as sales of its widely used Creative Suite software fell, missing its forecasts, ahead of widely anticipated product launches.

Analysts are increasingly concerned the Webbased subscription service, known as Creative Cloud, will hurt Adobe’s financial growth over at least the short term.

In November, Adobe said it planned to lay off more than 7 percent of its workforce and take a charge of up to $94 million as part of a restructuring to focus on core businesses such as digital media and marketing.

7

Facebook’s Zuckerberg says mobile first priority F

ACEBOOK CEO Mark Zuckerberg, whose limited role in promoting the No. 1 social network’s market debut has drawn criticism, laid out its growth strategy to investors on Friday, saying that transforming its mobile and advertising experience are top priorities in 2012.

Integrating online apps more strongly into Facebook is also a major goal, he told hundreds of investors at an event that capped the first week of Facebook’s cross-country “roadshow” to pitch its highly anticipated initial public offering.

Facebook aims to raise about $10.6 billion, dwarfing the coming-out parties of tech companies like Google Inc and valuing it at up to $96 billion - rivaling Amazon.com Inc’s.

Zuckerberg, 27, who started Facebook in his Harvard dorm room 8 years ago, said Facebook’s key priorities in 2012 were to improve its mobile application, to build stronger ties incorporating its social network with other online apps and to create a “transformative” advertising experience.

The company is “just getting started” with its mobile app, said Zuckerberg, who appeared on stage in a grey T-shirt and dark trousers at Palo Alto’s Crowne Plaza, flanked

by Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg and finance chief David Ebersman.

With 900 million users, Facebook is the world’s dominant social network. Zuckerberg was Time Magazine’s Person of the Year in 2010 and was

depicted in the fictionalized 2010 movie “The Social Network”.

“Over the next 10 years or so, every consumer category should be transformed to be built around people,” Zuckerberg told fund managers and Silicon Valley glitterati such as Netscape co-founder and venture capitalist Marc Andreessen.

“People will listen to music and watch TV with other people” through Facebook.

“We only recently reached this tipping point,” Zuckerberg said as the audience consumed a lunch of curried chicken salad and chocolate-chip cookies.

“It is a bit of a celebrity event,” said Alice Evans with London-based F & C Asset Management.

“You’re not expecting to learn that much but it’s as close as you can get to kicking the tires.”

NO STOPPING IT?

Wall Street had been concerned about the company’s ability to wring revenue from mobile users, considered crucial for long-term growth, as well as slowing growth in Facebook’s main advertising business.

But that may not dampen demand for shares of the high-flying Web company, which is as much a cultural phenomenon as it is a business success story. On Thursday, a source close to the process told Reuters its IPO was already oversubscribed, a week before final pricing.

Facebook has indicated an IPO price range of $28 to $35 a share on Thursday, which would value the company at $77 billion to $96 billion.

Zuckerberg - sans his trademark “hoodie” sweatshirt - made brief introductory comments at the event, which took place 8 miles from Facebook’s new Menlo Park

headquarters at One Hacker Way, before opening the session up to questions.

The company had provoked some grumbles from investors earlier this week, when it took limited questions from the audience at an event in New York. And Zuckerberg skipped other stops on the roadshow this week, such Boston.

Investors managed to get in more than 10 questions at Friday’s event, ranging from capital spending to regulation, even as Facebook maintained tight control over the proceedings, forbidding follow-up questions.

Zuckerberg and Sandberg said Facebook’s overall advertising business was gaining steam, with increased spending by most of its marketers. The two executives highlighted social ads as an important tool for Facebook to tackle its mobile challenge.

ARMVILLE 2 is on the way, according to Tech Crunch, alerted to the existence of its apparent beta test Big Harvest on the Filipino version of Facebook.

It sports the same isometric viewpoint as Farmville, while graphics have been considerably enhanced.

If true, Farmville would be only the second Zynga game to generate a direct sequel, after Mafia Wars.

Breaking records with a staggering 80 million regular users in 2010, FarmVille is down to 24 million digital greenthumbs, with urban

follow-up CityVille the studio’s current top performer.

Still, FarmVille remains Zynga’s best earn-

er and Facebook’s fourth most popular game in a top ten comprised almost entirely of Zynga output -- only Angry Birds

(Rovio), Bubble Witch Saga (King.com) and Diamond Dash (Wooga) remain under the auspices of other publishers.

Facebook Inc. CEO Mark Zuckerberg is escorted by security guards as he departs New York City’s Sheraton Hotel May 7, 2012. [Reuters]

‘Farmville’ sequel unearthed F

8

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 52 • MAY 16, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Instagram’s Facebook filter ANALYSIS

BY PAUL SMALERA

T

EDITORIAL

To privatize or not

L

EADERS of Mindanao both in the government and the private sector appear to be one in resisting a proposal to sell the government-owned Agus-Pulangi hydro-electric plants. The opposition, led by Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chair Lualhati Antonino, herself the Aquino administration’s highest official in Mindanao, is anchored on the argument that privatization of the Agus-Pulangi complex will trigger higher electricity rates for Mindanaoans. The Agus-Pulangi hydro is the leverage of Mindanaoans to continue enjoying cheap electricity rate. Cheap rates which translate to low return of investment (ROI) are also allegedly the reason big-time energy players are discouraged from investing in the power generation business here.

President Aquino himself seems inclined to favor the proposal to privatize which is orchestrated by big players in the power industry and some strong supporters in his Cabinet.

It may be recalled that the President during the recent Mindanao power summit asked Mindanao consumers to be ready to sacrifice and pay more for electricity, even before he could hear the various proposals of leaders and stakeholders in the island.

There is now a great debate between Antonino and the other Mindanao leaders

EDGEDAVAO

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supporting her, on the one hand, and the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management (PSALM), on the other hand, on whether Agus-Pulangi is making money or not.

Antonino’s Mindanao group does not believe that the Agus-Pulangi complex, once described by former secretary Jesus G. Dureza and other past government officials as the “crown jewel” of Mindanao, is losing as claimed by PSALM president Emmanuel R. Ledesma Jr. The MinDA secretary insists that the power plants are earning and are capable of paying the debts they have incurred in the past. She was quoted to have told PSALM and privatization proponents “Hindi n’yo kami maloloko.” (You can’t fool us).

Antonino’s remark was not only a clear indication of the strong sentiment of Mindanaoans against privatization, it was also an indictment that Ledesma and his group ought to answer and refute. Silence can only be perceived as an admission that indeed some people are manipulating Mindanaoans.

On the other hand, we encourage Antonino to further strengthen their position by scrutinizing the profitability of AgusPulangi and expose all their findings so that the public may know who’s manipulating who.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO CARLO P. MALLO Associate Features and Lifestyle KENNETH IRVING K. ONG KARLOS C. MANLUPIG • JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR., Creative Solutions Photography LORIE ANN A. CASCARO • JADE C. ZALDIVAR • MOSES C. BILLACURA Staff Writers

Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN • NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG

JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

RICHARD C. EBONA IMELDA P. LEE Advertising Specialists

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE

LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts. Cagayan de Oro City Tel: (088) 852-4894

MANILA MARKETING OFFICE

ANGELICA R. GARCIA | Marketing Manager Blk. 1, Lot 10, La Mar Townhomes, Apitong St., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 942-1503

(PART 1)

HE predominant way of interpreting Facebook’s billion-dollar purchase of Instagram, in light of the socialnetworking giant’s forthcoming IPO, is that Mark Zuckerberg had to pick up the photosharing app to boost his company’s mobile engagement. That would allow him to guard the mobile flank against incursions from Google, Twitter, and whatever other socialmedia tools might next arise.

That may be true – and it may even be the way Zuck thought about the deal when he swallowed hard and ponied up the purchase price. But that way of analyzing Facebook’s pickup, and the pickup of dozens of other startups, not just by Facebook but by Google, Twitter, LinkedIn and others, is probably not telling the whole story. Here’s a different theory, one that better describes the tech world that we, the users of the Internet, now inhabit: Instagram may have had millions of us as its users, but it was really built for just one customer: Facebook.

Silicon Valley, for too long, has confused the issue of what it means to be a user of a website, service or app, and what it means to be a customer of the app. Intuitively, you’d think they would be one and the same: The person using the app is the person consuming the app. But increasingly, apps are being made to grab the attention of the hegemonic companies in tech. Whatever it takes to get bought.

Sure, startup CEOs are careful to refer to their user bases as just that – users – but even when money changes hands, those users are cattle to be herded toward a cell on a venture capitalist’s spreadsheet, to help the VC decide whether to fund another pivot, engineering acquisition, rack of servers, whatever. Users are just another dart, basically, that startups have to hurl at the bull’s-eye and ensure success.

A colleague of mine tells a story: You can tell when a tractor was made to be purchased by a farmer, and you can tell when a tractor was made to be purchased by a corporation to be used by its employees. Tractors whose users are also the customers come equipped with every convenience, from a satellite radio to Wi-Fi to all the cupholders a farmer could dream of. They drive well, and their controls are intuitive, because that’s what the average tractor driver wants, and what the tractor competition provides. Tractors bought by companies, for earthmoving, rock breaking and the like, come equipped with nothing but a hard seat and a prayer. Employees – mere users – don’t get any say on the amenities, or lack thereof.

Those in the tech world who gawked at Instagram’s spartan app suite – no Android app (until recently), a barebones website, all of its focus deployed toward speed and social – were, in retrospect, mistaken in believing the company’s goals were to grow as fast as possible, period. Instagram was only after one thing: to grow as fast as possible on mobile. The iPhone, more than any other platform, owns the mobile app universe.

And so rather than waste its energy, Instagram aimed at the beating heart of the mobile world and hit it right between the arteries, with its incredibly popular iPhone app.

Facebook, as Paul Ford recently argued in New York magazine, has something like a gigantic, impossible video camera recording what everyone is doing on the Web every moment of the day, every day. It could likely see, with its magic data video camera, more and more and more and more Instagram usage showing up across the Internet, on iPhones. Then Instagram released its Android app, getting 5 million downloads in six days. Instagram was for real, and no company was in a better position to know that faster than Facebook. What Instagram was selling, in other words, was a huge amount of Facebook engagement. That’s basically valuable to just one customer in the entire world. Yep. Zuck.

EDGEDAVAO

T

HE impeachment trial of Philippine Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona resumes in the afternoon today with his defense counsels taking the biggest gamble yet in the four-month-old high political drama by calling hostile witnesses in a dramatic dash to the finish line.

Repeatedly scored by Presiding Judge Juan Ponce Enrile for “cluttering” the trial by presenting “immaterial and irrelevant” witnesses, the defense panel dropped the bombshell last week by offering its client in the witness stand in exchange for the appearances of several personalities in connection with Corona’s alleged dollar account or accounts.

Ironically, one of them might just be the kind of witness that will open a Pandora’s Box on how the Chief Justice is presiding over the country’s High Magistrate. One who knows the tightly guarded inner workings of the Supreme Court. One who could have in her possession details of his foreign currency

I

T’S NOT a good idea to let China feel that it’s the only banana market in the world, that if it pulls the rug under us, we’ll all be dead. Hey guys, wake up!

That’s the impression we got from the Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) last week during an urgent press conference that made us feel as if the world was crumbling all around us because China rejected all fresh bananas coming from the Philippines.

Of course, we all agreed with Stephen Antig, PBGEA honcho, who said that China is one huge, valuable market with the biggest potential for growth and we’re fast losing it.

Antig’s face reflected all the worries and anxieties of both big and small growers, exporters and farmers in the Davao region.

“It’s such a huge market for Davao bananas, we can’t afford to lose it now. We have to do something,” Antig said.

It’s a good thing Jimmy Estimada of the Mindanao Banana Farmers and Exporters Association (MBFEA) was there to clarify a lot of things calmly during the presscon, especially the losses their members are suffering from China’s sudden move to reject and ban bananas from our country.

“Our farmers are losing so much money from our shipments to China. All our fruits are rotting at the three China ports because they’re all being held by quarantine,” Estimada told reporters.

We reminded Antig that this isn’t the only time Philippine bananas had been held by a country for quarantine reasons. The first time was Australia which refused to accept our fruits because they wanted to protect their own local banana industry and saw the threat of Panama wilt disease if Pinoy bananas were allowed into their market.

This time, China is closing its doors to our bananas because they found some coco-

Monkey Business

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 52 • MAY 16, 2012

Corona’s Rubicon deposits. One who is his nemesis.

Corona and his wife must also feel so alone with relatives of his spouse coming out in the open to further reveal the character of the Chief Justice. While the family feud over the Basa-Guidote property and corporation is not included in any of the articles of impeachment, it has become a telling and damning sidebar of the Corona trial.

Corona and his lawyers must have seen the futility of weaving a story for his defense without the accused himself offering his di-

‘By agreeing to testify and defend himself before the Senate Impeachment Court, Corona has crossed his Rubicon.’

rect testimony.

They could and should have already presented their best evidences to refute all

charges against the Chief Justice after a break of over a month. But with the patience of the senator-judges growing very thin every time the defense presents witnesses that only prove the existence of these and those documents that otherwise can be had through judicial notice, even former Supreme Court Justice Serafin Cuevas now admits that only Corona can save himself.

By agreeing to testify and defend himself before the Senate Impeachment Court, Corona has crossed his Rubicon.

And he might as well just being candid when his lawyers said he will drag President Benigno Aquino III to wherever his trial will eventually end up. Corona has repeatedly claimed the President was behind the move to impeach him and hope that the potential hostile witnesses he asked the Impeachment Court to be subpoenaed will buttress his defense theory. If that is the case, Corona is no longer as interested in defending himself as to bringing down with him the Aquino government. If not now, at least in the future.

[Edwin G. Espejo writes for www.asiancorrespondent.com.]

Forget China, find other markets!

nut insects and mealy bugs that like the smell of Cavendish, even if they’re in China. But this problem is really no big deal because they can easily be cleaned with more washing in the packing plant.

But if China is doing all these with bigger sinister reasons behind it (like the huge oil deposits under the Scarborough Shoal) then there’s really nothing we can do except to get the hell out of the China banana market. There’s no point trying to massage the backs of Chinese authorities to win them back, because to them this is all a game of wits and guts and they intend to WIN. Get a copy of “The Art of War” by Sun Tzu, it’s all there!

Philippine President Noynoy had only one word to say to Davao growers, farmers

‘Forget China now!

Contact these guys and offer to supply them with your Class A or Class B bananas---they’ll buy anything China is rejecting in the three ports of mainland China.’

and exporters--- DIVERSIFY! Go find other markets and stop begging for China to lift the ban on our bananas. Although I still find Noynoy a bit clumsy and awkward as a country’s leader acting like walang pakialam sa mundo, I agree with him 100% on this position. Don’t show China like we’re all gonna die without them eating our bananas.Let’s look for other markets!

Okay guys, here’s a Russian buyer looking to buy big volumes of Philippine bananas for shipment to Vladivostok port. They’ve been buying Del Monte, Dole, and Chiquita

bananas from both the Philippines and Ecuador and still planning to buy more if you stop supplying China and ship them to Russia instead. Contact this guy Andrei Melnicuic, general manager of Double D Trade at email : melniciuc@gmail.com or andre@ddtrade. net or call him direct at: +1 206 779 7996.

If you want to ship direct to a Saudi buyer, here are two addresses in Saudi Arabia you might like to contact: Taufic Al Rammah at Rammah Supermarket, email : sakhtar@ alrammah.com or Adel Al Habib of Arabian Marketing at email: adel@euromarche.com Want a direct contact to reach buyers in United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Iran? You can try contacting Sachin Singh of Planet Eagles General Trading at email: sachin@planeteagles.net or call him direct at telephones: (971) 4 446 1406 or Fax (971) 4 422 6042 or cellphone (63) 90 6494 2938 This guy has been in Davao before to look for suppliers, most especially small banana growers and exporters with good buying prices to get regular supplies of fresh bananas to feed the eager stomachs of Arabians, Iranians, Iraqis and Jordanians.

Or if you just want an export broker to look around the world for new banana markets for you, you might try to contact Jamil at Goldelyonn Exim Ltd at email: goldelyonn2012@yahoo.com Forget China now! Contact these guys and offer to supply them with your Class A or Class B bananas---they’ll buy anything China is rejecting in the three ports of mainland China.

Just remember, since March 5, there’s a total of 1,500 container vans with thousands of Cavendish bananas in carton boxes now rotting in those ports and losses suffered

by Davao banana growers, farmers and exporters are running close to P2 Billion.

And more are being dumped into the sea.

Wake up, guys! Time is running short, you’re losing a lot of money and China is bleeding us dry!

(Comments? Email me : tradingpost_ davao@yahoo.com)

9

Massage therapy: A job for the blind SPECIAL FEATURE

M

BY IONA MAGSOMBOL

ASSAGE is now an important component of the health and wellness of Filipinos. In fact, it is already a global occupation of which spas, clinics, hospitals, hotels and small medical places are not complete without it.

Tourists often demand massage treatment as it is common in different nations in the world. In turn, they help improve the economies of the countries they visit as more people and more personnel get employed in health undertakings.

Massage is practiced by both the able and disabled since it earns well, especially in big hotels and establishments where in families enjoy reunions doing during holidays or weekends.

Even during ordinary days, workers from all walks of life visit clinics and sometimes open spaces where masseurs for kneading of their of their aching muscles, straightening of pinched nerves or ligaments or healing of tiredness.

Indeed, the massage industry in the Philippines boomed some 10 years ago in hotels.

In fact, according to the Spa Association of the Philippines, it is considered a multi-million business because it is not a mere luxury but now a necessity.

As massage continues to flourish, more masseurs with talent, proper attitude and training are becoming in demand, to serve ever-increasing customers.

Massage therapy should be learned and those who are to administer it should be legitimate “masahista” or masseur in as much as it is now considered as a profession.

Massage has attracted the sector of persons with disabilities (PWDs), particularly the blind. Many of them have undergone training under the Department of Social Welfare Department (DSWD) and non–governmental organizations (NGOs) and later given referral to organizations, clinics or establishments for work.

Some have formed themselves in small groups and asked some mall or business establishment for accommodation or asked Manila City Hall to allow them treat customers within the Quiapo Church compound as free lance masseurs.

However, blind masseurs, especially those working at Isetann Manila, Cubao and others say that getting a license from DOH would be difficult for most of them, especially those of them who have not finished even elementary education.

Lacking education and with earnings of P50 to P150 per client a day per client which is barely enough to support a family of three, how could they save for a P7,000 licensure fee required by Department of Health (DOH) by year 2014 is a question often asked by blind masseurs.

Alberto Verania, a 42-year-old father of six, has been working as a blind masseur for 19 years in different places around Manila and in the province.

He said in his workplace RM Massage, they are being asked to pay P12,000 for all the trainings, examination and licensing processing.

Other institutions ask for varied amount of payment depending on the services they offer in their particular curriculum approved

by DOH. “The government doesn’t understand people with disabilities,” stressed Lisa Bucad, a 52-year-old blind masseur also from Isetann Mall. “For us who are sightless, P12,000 is just too much. Those of us who have not gone beyond elementary years think they can’t pass the examination.”

Verania and Bucad said they want to live a decent life by doing massage because of their training by the government and NGOs but if they can’t take or pass the DOH licensure exam, where will they be?

Besides, if they pay the P12,000 fee and fail in the exams, will they have to pay the same amount for a re-examination?

But as of this year, Dr. Josephine Hipolito, head of the Committee of Examiners for Massage Therapy (CEMT) of the Department of Health (DOH), claimed that they have a total of 145 blind trainees all over the country, and in the 2011 two examinations, both topnotchers were blind.

Hipolito said all masseurs, whether professional or freelance, blind or not, must be accredited which requires passing examination and undergoing advance trainings in 14 accredited institutions in Luzon and the Visayas with a price, of course.

What happens if they don’t take the exams, will they be removed by their employers and go wandering and begging in the streets again to feed themselves and their families?

“There is an agreement among the training institution and DOH, that when a trainee fails in the first examinations, he or she can take another one until he/she passes,” said Hipolito. [PNA]

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COMMUNITY SENSE

VOL.5 ISSUE 52 • MAY 16, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

PBB Kapitbahayan,GK ComVal Selecta company ink for livelihood By: Rodielyn A. Manugas

C

OMPOSTELA Valley – Another advocacy for the goodbye gutom program of Bayan Anihan, Gawad Kalinga and the provincial and local government of the province sealed with an ink for Ube production last May 10, 2012.

Bayan-Anihan, which means «community harvest», believes that to solve the problem of hunger in the Philippines, we must empower the poor to produce their food with their own able hands believing that by empowering the poor, we can eradicate hunger.

Some of Pag-Asa at Bagong Buhay Kapitbahayan (New Bataan GK Village)became the pilot grower of Ube Production in partnership with Bayan Anihan, Gawad Kalinga and Selecta Corporation.

The Growers will have to take care of the ube (purple jam) production for ten (10) months until harvest time.

They will be receiving an allowance for the ten months period and their product will be solely sold to Selecta corporation through the Bayan ANihan of Gawad Kalinga. Its an income generating project without capital.

Governor Uy and Mayor Balbin is very happy of the

Another advocacy for the ‘goodbye gutom” program of Bayan Anihan, Gawad Kalinga and the tion last May 10, 2012 in Mabini’s newest GK Village in partnership with Selecta Corporation. (R. provincial and municipal local government in Compostela Valley sealed an ink for Ube produc- ANTIBO/IDS COMVAL) project. “We are setting up from corporations, to share to be hungry again. We be- Bayan-Anihan is planting the It is longed that all of the sustainable food programs their time, resources and lieve that if we teach a man seeds of hope towards that GK Villages in Comval will in every impoverished com- expertise to the community how to fish, in this case how beautiful vision of a hunger- enjoy and benefit the Ube munity and bringing to- to make sure that every Fili- to plant, we will indeed feed free and prosperous prov- production project. (RODIELYN A. MANUGAS-IDS COMVAL) gether concerned partners pino family will never have him for a lifetime. Today, ince.” Uy said.

28 IB soldiers, health office hold Operation Tuli

A

total of 119 boys benefitted on a free circumcision program on May 9,2012 with the Provincial Health and Army’s 28IB as part of the summer health program of the province.

The Operation Tuli in Brgy Bagumbayan, Lupon, Davao Oriental successfully circumcised the boys accompanied by their parents having the Provincial Health Volunteers lead by Dra Joy Sanico together with the Peace & Development Team (PDT)

deployed in the said barangay led by TSg Ritz Teves.

Accordingly, Sanico also trained soldiers from 28IB in preparation for this surgical mission facilitated by the Barangay Officials led by their barangay chief, Hon Generoso Rañeses.

“The assistance rendered by the soldiers of 28IB made it possible to multiply the beneficiaries of this program and complete it by 2PM. The Provincial Health Office was also prepared to accommo-

date everyone who yearned to avail the services,” Rañeses said.

“The success of the activity relies on the collaborative efforts of the Provincial, Brgy LGUs and other stakeholders who are looking for the welfare of the Filipino people and sincere in the delivery of basic services as their contribution on IPSP Bayanihan to attain lasting Peace and Development in the District II of Davao Oriental,” LTC IMBANG said.

EDGEDAVAO

DCWD supports city’s coastal rehab efforts T

HE Davao City Water District, through its community relations office, extended support to the writeshop for the formulation of the LasangBunawan Marine Protected Area (MPA) management plan last April 27 at the Barangay Bunawan session hall. Said plan will help the local barangay officials protect, rehabilitate and conserve the 415 hectares of coastal area in Lasang to Bunawan.

The Lasang-Bunawan MPA declared last 2007 through City Ordinance No. 0375-0 is a combination of mangrove habitat and fish sanctuary situated at the northern part of Davao City which stretches from Sitio Bucana in Barangay Lasang down to Sitio Budbud in Barangay Bunawan. The presence of whale sharks or butanding, sea turtles and other marine species and habitat was among the

SUBURBIA

VOL.5 ISSUE 52 • MAY 16, 2012

reasons for its declaration.

Twenty-eight barangay officers in the LasangBunawan area participated in the activity which was facilitated by resource speakers from the office of Councilor Marissa Salvador-Abella, Coastal and Marine Management division of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Fisheries Section of the City Agriculturists Office (CAO). Discussed were the different biophysical, socioeconomical and institutional problems that greatly affect the MPA in Lasang-Bunawan.

From these problems, the participants formulated their own Lasang-Bunawan MPA management plan vision, mission and goal, all of which will constitute chapters two and three of the plan.

The writeshop is part of the on-going drafting of the proposal for the coastal

resource management plan of Davao City in which the initial barangay covered was from Barangays Hizon to Lasang. This project is spearheaded by the office of Councilor Marissa SalvadorAbella in coordination with other agencies including DCWD, DENR, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource, CAO and City Planning Office.

Previous to the writeshop, a consultation was conducted regarding the proposed plan to protect and rehabilitate critical habitats of the marine ecosystem in the city in Barangays Bunawan and Lasang on April 18. Another two-day writeshop will be conducted this May 23 and 25 at the Violet Room in Sangguiang Panglungsod for the continuation of the drafting of the plan. (JOVANA T.

11

LOCATION Matina, Davao City Matina(Diversion) Davao City Bunawan, Davao City Indangan, Davao City Bincungan, Tagum City

DUHAYLUNGSOD)

AREA (sq.m.) PRICE/sq.m.

17,940

P2,500

3,831

P1,500

41,408

P800

7,056

P1,200

27,411

P1,000

LOCATION Formulation of Lasang-Bunawan Marine Protected Area (MPA) management plan. Participants listen to (extreme L) Leland C. Briones of the Coastal and Marine Management Division of the Department of Environment and

AREA (sq.m.) PRICE/sq.m.

Villa Josefina Resort Village, Dumoy Toril, Davao City

Minimum of 240 sq.m.

P5,985

St. Joseph Homes, Sirawan, Toril,Davao City

Minimum of 150 sq.m.

P3,600

Natural Resource as they consolidate the different biophysical, socio-economical and institutional problems of the Lasang-Bunawan coastal area.

Rain or shine

MX3 reaches Dagupan City for Bangus Festival 2012

F

ACING the Lingayen Gulf, there lays Dagupan City, an independent city of the Province of Pangasinan situated in the island of the northern part of Luzon. Long before Dagupan was officially declared as city on June 20, 1947, for many centuries, this city is being regarded as a Regional Market Center for Commerce and Industry, as described in the Pangasinense language “Pandaragupan” or termed as “Gathering place” since many of the countries known banking/ financial institutions, foods industry, clothing shops and everything there is, just name it and they have it. Amazing for a small city like Dagupan, but this is very brave and courageous enough in stepping-up to make business flourish over the years.

Indeed, Dagupan City,

with its remarkable reputation in having it involved with commerce and industry, this city is also known as the Milkfish (Bangus) Capital of the Philippines. That’s why every year, for the whole month of April, the province of Pangasinan celebrates Pista’yDayat or termed as “Sea Festival” as thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest and abundant fishing from the sea. Because of this festival, many tourists and visitors are ;ured to join and witness the said celebration.

Then sometime in 2002, as part of the Pista’yDayat celebration, the first Bangus Festival was being launched to pave the way in marketing the world’s tastiest milkfish, in which, until today is a success!

Dagupan City is very proud to have reached their 10th year in celebrating Bangus Festival.

Last April 30, 2012,

city streets of Dagupan were adorned with colorful streamers and the presence of large billboard ads were visually displayed to welcome the visiting guests and tourists. The City Government of Dagupan was really prepared to make the celebration a grand one because there were lots of free street concerts that were made possible by GMA and the dazzling performances by their GMA talents, and then there were shopping markets selling city’s local goods supported by LGU and the most awaited event was the grilled milkfish, a good long stretch of 10,000 pieces, more or less, of milkfish as its scent wlowly wafted in the air, good enough to make everybody’s mouths water and go about feasting on every grilled milkfish there is.

LOCATION Lot Area Flr. Area Blk. 4, Lot 10 Villa Josefina Resort Village 240 sq.m. 177.31 sq.m Dumoy, Toril, Davao City

For Inquiries: Please Call : PRYCE CORPORATION c/o SONNY MOLE Contact No. : 0922-­‐879-­‐0036 / (082) 224-­‐2686 Email ADD : sonitomole1223@yahoo.com

PRICE P4.8 M

12

NATION/WORLD

NATION BRIEFS Priesthood

F

ATHER Noynoy in 2016? President Benigno S. Aquino III on Monday said he is considering becoming a priest when he steps down from office in 2016.

Assuring more take-home pay for public transport drivers and their families because of cooperatives which now offer big discounts for public utility vehicles (PUVs), Aquino said in jest that more drivers will become “sweet lovers.”

P

Ambassador

RESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III is accelerating the search for the country’s next ambassador to China amid the tense dispute at the Panatag Shoal.

The President yesterday disclosed that he has interviewed some nominees for the ambassadorial post and would look for the “best” candidate to ably deal with the country’s complex ties with China.

T

Investment

ELECOMMUNICATIONS giant Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) said yesterday its decision to raise its investment in MediaQuest Holdings Inc., owner of television network TV5 and directto-home satellite provider Cignal TV, highlights its stepped up efforts to diversify its business through new multi-media services.

PLDT, through whollyowned subsidiary ePLDT, is investing P6 billion in the form of Philippine depositary receipts (PDRs) in MediaQuest to sustain the growth momentum of TV5 and Cignal TV. MediaQuest is owned and controlled by the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund.

P

Split

ROMOTERS for pound-for-pound superstars Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. voiced out varying proposals as to how the revenue should be split, if and when the megabuck fight the world wants to see would eventually materialize.

Fielding the question about the division of the pie during the new HBO series “The Fight Game with Jim Lampley,” Top Rank boss Bob Arum suggested a 45-45 share, with the remaining 10 percent going to the winner.

A

EDGEDAVAO

Philippines, China ban P fishing in disputed sea

WORLD TODAY

T

HE Philippines and China will both impose fishing bans in the South China Sea where the two countries have been involved in a tense territorial standoff.

China had already announced its annual ban, which it says is aimed at curbing over-fishing, and includes the waters around the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

The Philippines Monday refused to recognise China’s measure, which runs from May 16 to August 1, as it encompasses waters it considers as its own.

But Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said President Benigno Aquino welcomed the chance to replenish fish stocks and that the Philippines would issue its own ban.

“We do not recognise China’s fishing ban in as much as portions of the ban encompass our Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ),” del Rosario said in a statement.

“However, the president has decided that in view of the accelerated depletion of our marine re-

I

Countersuit

FISHING BANS. Fishing boats are anchored off Santa Cruz bay, north of Manila, facing the South China Sea. The Philippines and China will both impose fishing bans in

the South China Sea where the two countries have been involved in a tense territorial standoff. [AFP]

sources, it would be advisable for us to issue our own fishing ban for a period of time to replenish our fish stock.”

The standoff at the Scarborough Shoal began when China blocked an attempt by the Philippines on April 8 to arrest Chinese fishermen who were allegedly taking governmentprotected marine species from the area.

The two nations have

since stationed non-military vessels at the shoal in an effort to assert their sovereignty over the area.

Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said that no dates or exact areas had yet been set for the Philippine fishing ban.

But he added that Philippine ships at the shoal, which sits about 230 kilometres (140 miles) from the main Philippine island

of Luzon, would remain in the area.

China, which claims almost all of the South China Sea, says it has imposed the fishing ban every year since 1999 to protect “maritime biological resources”.

Vietnam, which also claims part of the South China Sea, has complained that the Chinese fishing ban violates its EEZ, and has lodged a formal protest.

the central prosecutor’s office as saying. It said he had confessed to the crime.

Ali-Mohammadi was killed in January 2010 when a remote-controlled bomb attached to a motorcycle outside his home in Tehran went off.

Tuesday’s report said Fashi had travelled abroad on several occasions to receive training from Mossad before returning to Iran to plot the assassination.

Yet Western analysts

said Ali-Mohammadi, a 50-year-old Tehran University professor, had little, if any, role in Iran’s sensitive nuclear programme.

A spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation said at the time he was not involved in its activities.

The most recent attack on an Iranian scientist occurred in January. Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan - a deputy director of the Natanz uranium enrichment facility

- was killed when a magnetic bomb planted on his vehicle detonated.

Tehran has accused Israel and the United States of assassinating four Iranian scientists in order to sabotage its controversial nuclear programme. Washington has denied any U.S. role, while Israel has declined to comment.

Last month, Iranian intelligence officials said they had arrested 15 people they called a “major terror and sabotage network with links to the Zionist regime”. The group had plotted to assassinate an Iranian scientist in February, the authorities said.

Iran denies Western accusations it is seeking to develop a nuclear weapons capability, but major powers are pushing Tehran to become more transparent and cooperative ahead of talks later this month.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague on Monday warned the European Union would impose tougher sanctions on Iran if it failed to take concrete steps to allay international concerns over its nuclear programme.

Iran hangs Mossad agent for the killing of scientist

RAN has hanged a man it said was an agent for Israeli intelligence agency Mossad whom it convicted of killing one of its nuclear scientists in 2010, Iranian state media reported on Tuesday.

Twenty-four year old Majid Jamali Fashi was hanged at Tehran’s Evin Prison after being sentenced to death in August last year for the murder of Massoud Ali-Mohammadi, Iran’s state news agency quoted

Protests

ALESTINIANS and Arab-Israelis prepared on Tuesday to mark Nakba day, commemorating the exodus of hundreds of thousands of their kin after the establishment of Israel state in 1948.

Protests were scheduled to take place across the Palestinian territories, and an AFP correspondent said clashes broke out early on Tuesday between police and stone-throwing demonstrators in the east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Issawiya.

Sentenced

Quezon City court sentenced seven men to life imprisonment for kidnapping a FilipinoChinese woman in 2003.

John Galicia, Roger Demetilla, Leopoldo Sariego, Carlito Ugat Jr., Eliseo Villarino, Roger Chiva and Napoleon Portugal were convicted for kidnapping Venilda Ho. Sariego is an ex-soldier while Ugat is a retired policeman.

VOL.5 ISSUE 52 • MAY 16, 2012

Majid Jamali Fashi in Tehran August 23, 2011. [REUTERS]

D

ISGRACED ex-IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has filed a $1 million countersuit against the New York hotel maid at the center of last year’s explosive sexual assault allegations, a report said Tuesday.

A year after the scandal broke, the former French Socialist party presidential hopeful accused the maid, Nafissatou Diallo, of “knowingly and intentionally making a false report to law-enforcement authorities,” the New York Post said Tuesday citing court documents.

Unhappiness

C

HINA’S economic growth of the last 20 years has generally been met with declining happiness, especially among the poorest members of society, according to a US analysis published on Monday.

The study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) is based on six different surveys on self-reported satisfaction with life since 1990, a period when China’s gross domestic product per capita increased fourfold.

A

Pardon

Taiwanese Buddhist leader on Tuesday urged Taipei to pardon World Bank chief economist Justin Lin, who as a young military officer in the late 1970s defected to China by swimming to the mainland.

Lin, who also serves as senior vice president at the lender, last month reiterated his hopes of returning to Taiwan, where he was born, despite still being wanted over the escape.

Intervened

India’s central bank likely intervened in foreign exchange markets on Tuesday after the rupee breached the key 54 level against the dollar, nearly hitting its lifetime low, dealers said.

India’s Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is suspected to have started selling dollars after the rupee hit an intraday low of 54.13 against the dollar in early

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 52 • MAY 16, 2012

SP sources...

VM Rody...

FFROM 1

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keeping track of the papers,” the vice mayor said during his TV show Ato ni Bay at the City Council building.

Duterte said city councilors who deal in corrupt practices should “shape up” or risk exposure.

“People who deal into these resolutions will eventually tell me. I know which councilor ang naga-binuang.

You better shape up or I will talk again. Giingnan na tamo even before. Stop it now or you will receive a word from me or better yet panganlan tika publicly,” he said.

The vice mayor in past weeks said he had received information that some local government offices are involved in corrupt practices.

ICT...

He said that he knows as a local government official that “paper work gives leeway to corruption.”

“If you hang on to the paper it means that you want something. Tanan naa nay corruption, naa sa gobyerno, sa pulis, sa military. Ayaw diri,” Duterte said.

“I told you nga ilista tanang kinahanglan sa tao pagkahuman ayaw na pangayo. Ayaw pabalik-balika and tao,” he added.

The vice mayor said he would “keep an eye” on the performance of the City Council and the local government.

“Ayaw ninyo gamita inyong posisyon para maka-isa sa mga tao,” he said.

yers, filed the case before the Regional Trial Court for Davao region.

The victim said on the night of last April 28 she was in the company of four male acquaintances for drinks at a bar along Vinzons St., Barrio Obrero, this city.

She said she must have been was drugged which led to her losing consciousness, adding that she could not remember anything.

Upon waking up near dawn, she realized that she had been abused.

“Everybody’s here (Davao City). My friends, relatives, but I can no longer come here. I can no longer live a normal life. All my relatives know what happened, my family. What am I going to do?” the complainant said, according to a TV report.

The vice mayor advised the victim to see him in his office.[JADE C. ZALDIVAR]

week,” he added.

Each of the four teams will have a member from the government, private sector and the Philippine embassy.

The ICT team will have members from the DCIPC and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) from the government and ICT Davao from private sector.

The agri-business team, particularly producers of processed foods, will have members from the Department of Agriculture and DTI from the government and the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc.

(DCCCII).

The tourism sector will have members from the region’s Department of Tourism and City Tourism office, and Davao Association of Tour Operators.

Magnaye said the city chose Singapore for this mission to avail of existing direct flights aside from the convergence among sectors who identified Singapore as potential destination.

The length of the mission depends on the objectives and activities set by the teams, and will be finalized along with the date

Visayas and Mindanao – “will feature at least 96 Filipino cyclists vying for cash prizes totaling almost 8 million Pesos, the biggest prize ever for local cycling,” said Chulani in a letter to the governor.

“Together we can maximize the impact of this massive sports event upon your constituents and the public at large. Ronda Pilipinas 2012 will be an exciting sports event and tourist attraction that will encourage people to love our country and take up cycling which is an eco-friendly sport,” Chulani said.

The organizers have

mapped out a 2,077 km route, up from last year’s 1,650 km, that will take the riders from Mindanao to Northern Luzon and back to Manila in the 19-day, 15-stage competition which starts with a 20km prologue - an individual time trial - in Sarangani on May 23 and ends with a 15-lap race on June 10.

The organizers said riders will be ferried from all over the country to Sarangani starting May 20 in time for the prologue three days later.

The 15 regular stages have an average distance of

and the stakeholders in this project. This is a result of the Aquino administration›s policy of encouraging the entry of responsible mining companies like NADECOR and St. Augustine into the industry, and we are committed to helping the Aquino administration achieve its development goals for the Filipino people.»

Both companies have been passionate about helping the local communities

in Pantukan, including the tribal minorities who comprise a sizable portion of the population. Partnerships with local government units have been actively pursued for the past year, focusing on health, education and livelihood concerns. There have also been joint initiatives with national government agencies, such as tree planting activities with the DENR and skills training with TESDA.

FFROM 2

The mission intends to promote four priority industry sectors of the city, namely, agri-business, ICT, tourism, and real estate.

Jason Magnaye, officer in charge of the Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC), said the strategy of the selling mission is to form sectoral teams based on the four areas of investments.

“They will come up with their proposed activities, and define the nature of the businesses and profiles of possible clients which they will submit by the end of this

Sarangani...

FFROM 3 Solon.

“On May 24, the real race happens starting from General Santos to Kiamba and back with about 180 kms on this leg of the race,” Solon added.

Jaideep Chulani, project director of Ronda Pilipinas 2012, has informed Governor Migs Dominguez that “the race will start in Sarangani and reach General Santos City, Kiamba and Davao City passing through various town and municipalities of Sarangani Province.”

Ronda Pilipinas 2012 the biggest national cycling stage race covering Luzon,

Comapany...

FFROM 3 and will enable construction to begin in 2013. Once approved, the project will generate high paying jobs for the residents of Pantukan and nearby communities, including more than 4,000 jobs during construction and 2,000 careers during operation.

Calalang added, «We are very pleased with the support we have been receiving from all the government agencies, the community

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CA freezes bank assets of four internet websites

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HE Court of Appeals (CA) has issued a freeze order against the bank accounts of an internet website allegedly used in illegally reproducing and distributing copyrighted works in violation of the law of the United States.

In a seven-page resolution written by Associate Justice Florito Macalino, the CA’s Second Division issued a freeze order against the bank assets under the names of Megateam Corp., Kim Schmitz, John Paul L. Lo and Dahlia Teng Lo in the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and all web-related accounts or deposits.

In its resolution, the CA said that it issued a freeze order in order to avoid the possibility of the funds in the subject bank accounts from be-

depending on the availability of Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio and the assessment of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore.

Last year, the mayor went with a selling mission for tourism to Beijing, China for three days.

Immediately after the mission, Magnaye said, a group of 30 Chinese tourists, and another group from

ing withdrawn, removed, transferred, concealed, and placed beyond the reach of Philippine law enforcers.

Concurring with the ruling were Associate Justices Remedios Salazar-Fernando and Ramon Bato, Jr. The freeze order was first issued on March 26, 2012 and was extended again for 30 days through a CA resolution dated April 17, 2012.

Megateam Corp., a call center in the Philippines, is located at 27/F Fort Legend Towers, 3rd Avenue corner 31st St. Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

The resolution directed the BPI to comply with the order and deliver a complete return before the CA showing compliance by such bank.

Hong Kong visited the city.

He added that the issue on Scarborough Shoal concerning China and the Philippines is a temporary setback, which has impacted on the local economy.

“But so far I have not received any report of cancellation of flights from China to Davao City yet,” he said.

In the past, Davao City

Department of Justice (DOJ) Chief State Counsel Ricardo Paras III sent a letter to the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) regarding the request for assistance by the US government pursuant to the Treaty on Mutual Assistance in criminal matters.

The request was in connection with the prosecution and continuing investigation of the members of a worldwide criminal organization known as the “Mega Conspiracy”, which has engaged in and facilitated criminal infringement and money laundering on a massive scale around the world with estimated harm to copyright holders of more than US$ 500 million and transfers of more than US$ 125 million in criminal proceeds.

also received missions from Saudi Arabia and China for possible suppliers of commodities and available areas for agriculture.

Following the strategy of selling real estate properties, joining selling mission is part of the city’s effort to introduce the city to potential tourists and investors, and inviting them to visit the city, he said. [LORIE A. CASCARO]

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SPORTS

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OLE!

VOL.5 ISSUE 52 • MAY 16, 2012

Bukidnon’s OLLES FC wins 5 titles in Davao Summer Games foootball

By Neil Bravo

O

LLES FC of Bukidnon romped away with five titles to emerge as the biggest winner in the recent Davao Summer Games Football Festival at the sprawling Davao Crocodile Park Football complex.

OLLES FC rolled to their championship runs in the Players 6, Players 7, Players 9 , Boys 13, and Boys 16 divisions of the biggest football festival in Davao this year.

The two-day bootfest organized by the Duaw Davao Festival Foundation for the city government of Davao attracted a record field of 82 teams in 16 categories.

So impressive were the Bukidnon booters that the only title that escaped their hands was the Players 8 and 10 categories which went to Davao’s Ateneo FC and Davao Crocodile FC, respectively.

“They were simply impressive,” said Davao Crocodile FC coach Christian Ea whose team got beaten by OLLES in the semifinals of

SUMMER GAMES FOOTBALL. Some of the exciting action in the recent Davao Summer Games Football Festival held at Davao Crocodile Park football complex. Top, Ching delos Reyes of DDS kicks the leather hard over a defender; (2nd row) Ateneo’s Jelli Diamante disputes ball possession, (Bottom) Ateneo Players 9 team watch from the sidelines, and DDS’ Kristel Dureza takes a fall. (DAPOY DIAMANTE)

CATEGORY PLAYERS 6 PLAYERS 7 PLAYERS 8 PLAYERS 9 PLAYERS 10 BOYS 11 BOYS 12 GIRLS 13

CHAMPION OLLES FC OLLES FC ADDU FC OLLES FC DAVAO CROC FC DON BOSCO CEBU MAPFRE FC THE STRIKERS

BOYS 13 GIRLS 14 BOYS 14 GIRLS 16 BOYS 16 BOYS 18 WOMEN’S OPEN MEN’S OPE

OLLES FC SUPLADAS LRCA SOLIDO FC OLLES FC DABAW UTD SOLIDO FC HOOLIGANS

the Players 6 and 7.

Solido FC of Davao won two titles in the Girls 16 and the Women’s Open to carry the pride of the home squads. Davao won titles courtesy of Ateneo in the Players 8, Davao Crocodile FC in the Players 10, The Strikers (Girls 13), Supladas (Girls 14), Dabaw United (Boys 18), and multi-titled Hooligans (Men’s Open).

Cebu’s Don Bosco FC won the Booys 11 title while MAPFRE FC of Cagayan de Oro took the Boys 12.

Davao Football Association (DFA) president Edward Lam, Duaw Davao Festival Foundation chairperson Gee Bangayan, executive director Lisette Marques and SDD officer-in-charge Pocholo Elegino graced the competition.

The event is supported

by Davao Light and Power Co., SM City Davao, H2Zero Water, AMA Computer College Davao and Nature Spring Water.

DAVAO SUMMER GAMES FOOTBALL FESIVAL COMPLETE RESULTS 1ST RUNNER-UP ADDU MINTAL UTD OLLES FC DAVAO CROC BLACK KNIGHTS BLACK KNIGHTS MINTAL UTD INSTATECH DRAGONITES BLACK KNIGHTS ECHUSERAS BLACK KNIGHTS MEDVIL FC BUKIDNON LEBAK FC BERNALDEZ ANGELZ DIGOS CITY

2ND RUNNER-UP DAVAO CROC FC DAVAO CROC FC DAVAO CROC FC BLACK KNIGHTS OLLES FC MAPFRE FC BLACK KNIGHTS THE KICKERS TAGUM DRAGONS GARBO-DAVAO DEL SUR GARBO-DAVAO DEL SUR MALAYBALAY PTA BOYS-RJA PN ROA TABUDOGS DDS USEP

Mayor Duterte to open Davao Sports Expo today

D

AVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte will formally open the first ever Davao Sports Expo today at the SM City Annex activity area.

The Sports Expo, a five-day exhibition of sports brands, products and services, serves as the business development segment of the annual Davao Summerfest which is ongoing for the entire

month of May. Mayor Duterte will be cutting the ceremonial ribbon of the Sports Expo along with Duaw Davao Festival Foundation chairperson Gene Bangayan and City Tourism Officer Jason Magnaye.

The Sports Expo, which runs from May 16-20, is spearheaded

by Duaw Davao Festival Foundation with SM City

Davao as its venue partner. It is also backed up

by Davao Light and Power Corp., H2 Zero, International Pharmaceuticals Inc., Nature Spring Water and AMA Computer College Davao.

Among the highlights of the Expo are demonstrations by the Philippine Rugby Team more popularly known as the Volcanoes and the URC

exhibitions led by top ranked fighters.

Bike Clubs, wakeboard and triathlon groups will also be setting up exhibits of the latest equipment and gears.

At the Carpark C area, tennis and football demonstrations will be held on May 18-20. Interested participants may join the sports demo camps for free.

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 52 • MAY 16, 2012

Picture perfect

EDGEDAVAO

STYLE

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am one of the billions of mothers around the world who have become paparazzis in our own way --- thanks to the wonders of modern technology. “Doting mother” is now an understatement as our adoration for babies keep us busy, cameraclicking and instagrammin’ to capture every smile and milestone.

Baby pictures are wonderful and heart warming mementos that parents and child can both treasure for a lifetime. In fact, right after the baby makes it grand entrance, parents take hundreds and thousands of baby portraits in the following months.

While the digital world now gives us more freedom

in abusing our cameras to its limit, parents also opt to have a formal photograph taken of their child, to give due credit to the blessed event.

Attempting and perfecting a best baby portrait is no easy task. Infants are unpredictable and they get fussy without any warning.

It’s hard to capture sudden burst of laughter, a yawn, or a funny expression with the limited aperture and speed applications of a handy cam, and more so of camera phones.

Good thing we have pros like Ayie Hernandez, who have mastered the art and

speed in photographing babies and toddlers. Her Facebook page (Ayie Hernandez Photography) displays her impressive portfolio of happy and touching images of newborn babies, toddlers, and expectant mothers.

“Kids are very interesting subjects. You feel the most sincere and purest emotions.

It is heart warming when you see them smile and happy. As for photographing expectant mothers, it moves me to see a woman shining at her best, in her most defining moment, celebrating a miracle that is about to come.”

Presumably, her fascination with babies stems from her personal experience with childbirth. No, she is not a mother… Well, at least not yet. She is rather, if I may say so, a mother of reinvention as she re-branded herself with a different profession, taking a bold leap (and projects in between) from nursing to

photography. To date, Ayie also sidelines as stylist and co-photographer in fashion shoots and photography workshops.

Ayie is not a graduate of any film school nor did she take any formal training in photography. She considers herself a late bloomer in this field, joining the bandwagon merely 4 years ago. Much to everyone’s fascination in capturing still life with digital photography, Ayie’s baby steps to full bloom began with just the use of a camera phone. She tinkered with a Canon Ixus handycam for a short while before she settled with the specialized tools of Nikon D40 and D90.

I’d say she became a photographer by chance, sheer instinct, and wild imagination. Her images are not perfected by the use of a light meter. She plays with ambient light and delivers superb images by her own gut-feel

and trained eye.

And she brilliantly does so, even when working with kids. This is pretty much challenging as a photographer because you need to maintain control of your techniques while your subjects move unpredictably.

You have to challenge yourself to make newborn babies look interesting even with rag-doll poses. Toddlers, on the other hand, have their own moods, and react differently in front of the camera.

Some kids enjoy being the center of attention, and show off their signature antics to please the photographer.

Others get shy with strangers, and would even get hysterical at times.

“That’s why I take time to get to know my subjects, gain their trust, understand their moods, and work around it. I shoot kids as natural as possible. I let them play. I

wait and catch them in their own element. A child can never fake an emotion. You can’t force a natural smile from anyone, especially from a child. That’s why I keep things light and spontaneous. Each smile and even a cry that comes out from them are the moments that are worth capturing.”

Ayie advises parents to enjoy these moments with their children. After all, we can’t freeze time and keep them as kids for the rest of their lives.

“Make sure you have your camera with you all the time to capture each precious moment. Kids change and grow up so fast. It is only through pictures that they remember images of their innocence and youth.”

For more about baby portraits, please visit Ayie Hernandez Photography on Facebook, or call 0922 834 0989 for bookings.

EDGED

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Stylish entrepreneurs WOMEN ENTERTAINMENT

Nicole Hao-Bian, 24

iChef and JIB Career Center Taking the helm from her mother, another style icon, Joji IlaganBian, Nicole dresses the part to look respectable without losing her youthfulness.

“I have to dress up in a way that I will look mature as I deal with a lot of people who are older than I am, and it is one way of showing that you are the one in command,” Nicole said, adding that she indulges in classic pieces and would consider her style as classic.

Just like her style, Nicole prefers the tried and tested road in running the business.

“Before I embark on any changes, I study the market first before I push through with the changes I have in mind,” Nicole said.

Having Princess Diana and Grace Kelly as her style icons, Nicole shows that one does not have to give up style and bearing to show that she is in command.

Photo by Wrap Meting Text by Carlo P. Mallo

You can see them doing the inventory of their stocks, or pack boxes to be shipped off to a bazaar, or wash the dishes when needed in their coffee shops, and wipe whiteboards clean, while wearing their

6-inch stilettos and nary a strand of hair or curl out of place.

Gone are the days when entrepreneurs would look fresh out of the bodega or the market. The new breed of entrepreneurs that we have today are making a name for themselves in business but at the same time expressing themselves with the clothes they wear.

INdulge! gathered four of the city’s new breed of entrepreneurs who are known not only for the businesses that they have, but also for being some of the most stylish in their respective fields.

Flip to the next page and find out what the personal styles of these four young ladies and how it reflects with the way they run business.

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VOL.5 ISSUE 52 • MAY 16, 2012

Carine Cabebe, 28

House of Glamorosa “My personal style is more focused on comfort, more laid back, but at the same time also very feminine and at times, risqué,” Carine said.

Having established her own business, Carine oversees the entire operation of her business – she even personally scouts for suppliers abroad, and packs the items herself. The nature of the business itself is a direct reflection of Carine’s love for style; she created House of Glamorosa, an online store that sells the latest trends from all over Asia.

The femininity on the style of Carine reflects with the pieces that she selects, mostly made out of soft fabrics and dainty prints.

“I think I the risqué side of my style comes out also in the way I do business as I also take risks and bring in products that are new to the Dabawenyos,” Carine said, adding that her risky side was something that was always welcomed by her customers.

Just like her style icon, Nicole Richie, Carine is not afraid to dress up in soft and sheer fabrics matched with a new pair of clogs, while she wraps a packaging tape on a box that will be shipped off to a bazaar that she will be joining in Manila.

e w

Sandy San Pedro, 25

Coffee at Yellow House, Sabroso Weekend Market One thing that you will immediately notice about the businesses of Sandy is how streamlined and frills-free these are.

“It’s just like my style, I like my clothes simple, classic, and basic.

My wardrobe is composed primarily of basic staples like white polo shirts, button down shirts, and some preppy outfits,” Sandy said.

While she may take risky options every now and then, Sandy makes sure that her moves are well calculated. “Just like when you are dressing up, when you are in doubt of what you are wearing, you go back to the basics,” Sandy said.

Her style icons, Lucy Torres and Kate Middleton, may wear safe styles but always pulls a shocker with the color or their accessories, Sandy also believes that being safe always equates to being boring.

Cheekie Albay, 28

Splatshop Dressed in her trusty Doc Martens, Cheekie explains that her style is a mix of alternative and bohemian.

“My style is more carefree, more flexible,” Cheekie said.

Her business, Splatshop, is a store that sells toys and different products for babies and toddlers. “Just like my style, my business should also be an extension of my personality,” Cheekie said.

Like her style icons Alexa Chang and Kate Moss, Cheekie believes that business, like clothes, is another way of expressing yourself, another way of living life.

INdulge! A3

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UP AND ABOUT

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 52 • MAY 16, 2012

Special moments with Mom at SM

KIDS can express their love for Mom this Mother’s Day with heartwarming statement tees from the SM Kids collection!

These brightly colored statement tees tell the world what Mom means to them mostly in superlatives - “My Mom is totally Awesome”, “My Mom is Fabulous”, “Mom is the Best”. Kids can also tell the world that they are “Mom’s Rock Star” or “Mommy’s Little Man”. And sometimes “I Love Mom” says it all.

Kids can enjoy these lovely statement tees and get a chance to win Php2,000 worth of SM gift certificate through the Mother’s Day Facebook Page www.facebook. com/smkidsfashion. Simply upload a Mom and Child bonding moment wearing an SM Kids’ Fashion Mom Statement Tee. Then complete the caption “I enjoy my bonding moment with mommy because_________”.

Promo period is from May 1 to 30, 2012.

The Mother’s Day statement tees are available at the Children’s Wear Department of all SM Stores.

ENTERTAINMENT

The royal pup, Lupo

CALL it the dog days of spring.

Maybe attending the London 2012 Olympics kickoff last Friday put Kate Middleton and Prince William into a particularly sporty state of mind, because the royal couple, along with Prince Harry, joined forces Sunday afternoon to participate in a charity polo match in Ascot, England.

Well, Wills and Harry did most of the participating.

Kate, on the other hand, cheered the boys on as best she could, despite having her attentions slightly divided...

That’s because joining her on the sidelines was the luckiest dang dog in the United Kingdom, her new pup Lupo!

And talk about a scenestealer: The black cocker spaniel somehow managed to wrangle almost more attention from the assembled masses than the royals themselves,

with Prince Harry even taking a break from the action at one point to lavish attention on the heirs’ best friend.

As for the occasion that brought the gang together in the first place, the royal brothers were participating in the second day of the Audi Polo Challenge, an event they take part in every year to raise funds for their chosen charities.

This year’s chosen recipient of the money raised is

Harry’s pet project, Sentebale.

Kate, who donned a Libélula shirtdress and Stuart Weitzman wedges for the sunny day outing, was kept company during the play by both Lupo and one of her royal aides.

All told, more than 200 guests were in attendance to watch the princes’ team best their opponents, among them actors Gemma Arterton and Tom Hardy.

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Thundering Game 1: OKC clobber Lakers 119-90

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KLAHOMA CITY -- When the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City last met, Metta World Peace delivered an elbow that sent the Thunder’s James Harden home with a concussion.

It’s the Lakers who are

Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots over Derek Fisher of the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals in the 2012 NBA Playoffs on Tuesday at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Oklahoma City defeated Los Angeles 119-90

smarting after the playoff rematch.

Russell Westbrook had 27 points and nine assists, Kevin Durant added 25 points and the Thunder blasted the weary Lakers 119-90 on

Monday night in the opening game of the Western Conference semifinals.

The Thunder took a 15-point halftime lead, opened the third quarter with a 15-2 blitz filled with crowdpleasing 3-pointers and dunks and never looked back. ‘’From then on, it was cruising for us,’’ Westbrook said. ‘’When our team plays like that throughout the game, we put ourselves in a good opportunity to win.’’

Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum scored 20 points each for the Lakers and

Bynum had 14 rebounds.

Two games after trailing by as many as 28 points in a blowout loss in Game 6 in Denver, it got even worse as the Lakers were down by as many as 35. They responded to their last loss by beating the Nuggets 96-87 in a thrilling Game 7 on Saturday night.

They’ll need another big bounce back for Game 2 in Oklahoma City on Wednesday night. ‘’We got beat tonight. You can say anything you want to about a seven-game series and us having a day or what-

ever,’’ Los Angeles coach Mike Brown said. ‘’The bottom line is this is the playoffs, we’ve got to come to play and we didn’t. We got beat. ‘’It’s one game, so we’ve got to bounce back for the next one.’’

The Thunder didn’t need any dirty tactics to get even for World Peace’s suspension-worthy transgression.

The league’s most turnoverprone team - committing 16.4 per game in the regular season - gave it away only four times, a record low for the franchise.

76ers level series B OSTON -Evan Turner made the goahead layup with 40.4 seconds left and Philadelphia held off Boston the rest of the way with six straight free throws as the 76ers evened the second-round Eastern Conference series with an 82-81 victory Monday night.

Turner finished with 10 points, including his layup that put the Sixers up 76-75. He added two free throws with 12 seconds to go.

Jrue Holiday scored 18 points and Andre Iguodala added 13 points, seven assists and six rebounds for the Sixers, who blew a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter as the Celtics won Game 1.

Kevin Garnett had 15 points and 12 rebounds and Ray Allen scored 17 points for the Celtics.

Game 3 is Wednesday in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia won its first playoff game in Boston since 1982 despite committing a playoff-high 19 turnovers and getting outrebounded 47-36.

Spencer Hawes finished with eight points and 10 rebounds and Lavoy Allen scored 10 points for the Sixers.

Brandon Bass had 12 points for the Celtics, who couldn’t quite repeat their comeback in the series opener.

The Sixers led by 10 points early in the fourth quarter of Game 1 before the Celtics rallied for a 92-91 victory.

It was starting to look familiar for Philadelphia on Monday, but the Sixers were able to hold off the Celtics down the stretch in a tight finish.

SWEAT. Dr. Alejandro Pineda of the Philippine Center for Sports Medicine talks on sports science and sports medicine in the first day of the Sports Wellness, Exercise, Acclimatization and Training (SWEAT) Davao Sports Conference at the Almendras Gym. (BOY LIM)

Philadelphia led 57-49 entering the fourth, but Boston tied it twice before going up 72-71 on Avery Bradley’s 3-pointer, setting off a series of shots from beyond the arc.

Holiday answered with a 3 for the Sixers, then Ray Allen got the lead right back for the Celtics on a 3-pointer with 1:40 left. The Celtics had a chance to extend the lead after forcing the Sixers into a 24-second shot clock violation, but Rondo missed a shot and Iguodala got the rebound, leading to Turner’s layup to put the Sixers up 76-75 with 40.4 seconds to go.

Rondo and Allen both missed shots that would have put Boston ahead, then Rondo fouled Turner with 14.4 seconds left as the shot clock was winding down.

The Celtics fouled Turner again with 12 seconds and he hit both free throws to extend the lead to 78-76.

KIDS CAGEFEST. Young kids take the floor in the ongoing CPB Cup Basketball Tournament. (BOY LIM)

RUGBY CLINIC. Participants take a pose with some members of the Philippine Rugby team in the Rugby Clinic held at the Davao Crocodile Park football complex. The clinic is part of the ongoing Davao Summerfest.

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