Edge Davao 5 Issue 61 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

EDGEDAVAO

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

VOL.5 ISSUE 61 • MAY 29 , 2012

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Serving a seamless society

Indulge Page A4

Sara to DCPO

‘Make school opening safe’ By Jade C. Zaldivar

Science/Environment Page 4

Sports Page 15

HE marching order of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to the Davao City Police Office is ensure the opening of classes on June 4 and June 13 safe for everybody.

expects police to do their job. “The mayor has been telling me that she wants all students, parents, and teachers to feel safe during the Balik Eskwela (Back to School) season which will be a very busy time, he said as he opened a command conference at the

FMAKE, 13

SMASHED. A truck carrying cases of softdrinks knocked askew an electric post of the Davao Light and Power Company on an island along Quirino Avenue, Davao City at 5:30 a.m. yesterday causing a 12-hour power interruption which affected several business establishments in the area. Power was restored at around 5:30 in the afternoon. [PHOTO BY OLIVE VELASCO]

PSALM figures on Agus-Pulangi not true By Lorie A. Cascaro

n Dela Rosa fields 700 cops to schools n 300 traffic enforcers assigned too DCPO chief Ronald dela Rosa said yesterday that Mayor Sara had been pressuring him to ensure the safety of everybody during the opening of classes. SSupt. Dela Rosa said the city mayor

HE Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) is refuting the figures presented by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Manage-

n Hydro complex earning P6B annually since 2001 ment (PSALM) showing that the AgusPulangi Hydro Complex (APHC) is debtburdened. This, according to Romeo Montene-

gro, head of media and public affairs of the MinDA, in yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City. “Napocor (National Power Corporation) and PSALM had never been forthright in reporting the real income of the

FPSALM, 13

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 61 • MAY 29, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

DTI, DCPO prepare for ‘balik eskwela’ By Lorie A. Cascaro

HILE school enrolment is going on, Davao City is preparing for the “balik eskwela” (back to school) season with the Oplan Balik Eskwela of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and the Presyo Diskwento (price discount) caravan of the Department of Trade Industry (DTI) 11. City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio had instructed the DCPO to ensure that all students, parents and teachers in the city feel safe during the “balik eskwela” season, said DCPO chief Ronald dela Rosa at a press conference in the Department of Education office yesterday. “Although we lack manpower, we will provide a police assistance desk in every school for one week after the school opening,” he said. Police visibility in

all schools is needed, he added, so that people will have somebody to depend on in terms of personal security and public safety concerns. He also mentioned that police officers have been trained on how to deal with different communities, as well as schools. Meanwhile, DTI Davao City field officer Teolulu T. Pasawa said the Presyo Diskwento caravan at the Sangguniang Panglungsod yesterday provided cheaper school supplies, with discounts ranging from five to 15 percent. “We invited 12 establishments to sell school supplies there ,” he said, adding that the DTI expect about P500,000 in gross sales from the event. Last May 1, a similar caravan was also conducted in Barangay Catalunan Grande, earning P700,000, while another caravan will be held in Digos City on May 22.

NOT ALARMED. A banana vendor in Davao who says vendors are not alarmed over plans of the government to campaign for more widespread

City’s debts paid by 2018

By Jade C. Zaldivar

HE soonest possible year for Davao City to be “debt-free” is 2018, six years from now. Mayor Sara DuterteCaprio yesterday bared this following her statement that for 2012 the local government has allotted P800 million for debt servicing. “Dako pa kayo ang utang sa City, 2018 pa ta mahuman ug bayad ug utang,” she said during her regular Monday press briefing at her office in the City Hall. In 2011, P600 million was allotted by the city government for debt servicing. Duterte-Carpio, however,

did not say how much the city still owes Land Bank of the Philippines. 2012 priorities Asked to name her priorities for the last year of her first term as city mayor, Duterte said “there’s still a lot of things I want to do.” However, asked for her top three priority projects, she said debt servicing is one of them. Other than this, she also mentioned wanting to finance a facility for children in conflict with the law and construction of a City Hall annex along Magallanes St. facing the Davao City Council building. “Under pa lang na siya sa infrastructure. Ang utang

dapat bayaran na. Gusto pud ko mutabang sa katong facility para sa Juvenile Justice Law nato nga ordinance, ug ang annex building sa City Hall,” she said. The annex building would cost about P30 million which was appropriated in the 2011 supplemental budget approved by the Davao City Council. The building will rise on the area currently occupied by the office of the city agriculturist. Asked on how much a new city hall building would cost, Duterte-Carpio said it would “cost a lot” and that the city cannot afford it at the moment.

AVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio yesterday said she’s hesitant to use the city government’s funds for job order requests (casual employees) from the Commission on Election (Comelec) for Davao region as such action “may be given color.” The mayor said she wants to avoid possible accusations later that the city government has Comelec 11 under its control. Duterte-Carpio admits

that her hesitation stems from the petition filed by former House Speaker Prospero Nograles against her after she won as city mayor in the 2010 local elections with 388,465 votes over Nograles’ 160,225 votes. Although Nograles’ petition for a recount was junked earlier this year for lack of evidence, DuterteCarpio said she’d rather remain cautious on such matters. “Nag-duha duha ko kay

basi ingnon napud nga ang Comelec kontrolado sa city government,” she said during a press conference held in her office. The mayor said Comelec 11 this year had requested the city government to finance the salaries of six new job orders as augmentation to their function as an electoral body. Duterte-Carpio had agreed to this, however, only recently Comelec 11 had requested for additional six casuals. “Wala ko kabalo kung unsa ilang gihatag na trabaho sa nauna nga six job orders. Wala pud mi nangutana. Wala mi naga-panghilabot kung unsa ilang trabaho,” she said. “Dili nako gusto nga

Sara hesitant to help Comelec

Quips ‘YOU SEE I’m back, I told you I’ll be back. You thought I would not return.’

--Former First Gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo told reporters upon arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminal on May 10.PDI

FSARA, 13

local consumption of Cavendish bananas to address the surplus as result of China’s tightening of trading policies. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

3 schools to pilot K+12 senior high in Region 11

NE public school and two private schools in the Davao region will hold pilot classes in Grades 11-12, according to Susana Teresa B. Estigoy, regional director of the Department of Education (DepEd) in Region 11. Estigoy said the Tagum National Trade School (TNTS) in barangay Apokon, Tagum City as mandated by the department to be a model school for senior high schools in the region. Offering technical vocational courses, the TNTS was chosen by the DepEd to be a pilot

school because it has the resources and facilities, and its teachers are all bearers of national certificates, said Tagum Schools Division superintendent Nenita E. Lumaad. Estigoy also mentioned that TNTS is also an assessor of the TESDA. In Davao City, the Davao Doctors College (DDC) and the Philippine Women’s College volunteered to pilot the senior high school by following the DepEd’s curriculum with the approval of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Skills and Development Authority

(TESDA). Estigoy said the DDC will offer optometry, while the Philippine Women’s College will offer Hotel and Restaurant Management, and Food Technology courses. She added that after taking the two years senior high school, students will be qualified for work as soon as they will pass the exam for the national certificate of TESDA. Should they decide to take up the bachelor’s degree of the same course, the two years in senior high school will be accredited. Estigoy cited that out

Rep. Diosdado Macapagal Arroyo (2nd District, Camarines Sur), who authored House Bill 6129. In filing the bill, Arroyo noted that the easy access to pornographic sites via the worldwide web, films that brazenly display sexual acts and establishments, which show seductive acts, only encounter token censorship hurdles. According to Arroyo, past government efforts against pornography were lacking due to sole dependence on personalities exercising censorship functions and their interpretation of what their duties and responsibilities were as guardians of

the country’s moral fiber. Despite their unwavering commitment and display of bravado, Arroyo said their efforts have been hampered by the lack of a comprehensive anti-obscenity and pornographic law. “As responsible citizens, we have the primordial duty to be vigilant against the onslaught of such obscene and pornographic materials in the presence of our children,” Arroyo said. The bill, co-authored by Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (2nd District, Pampanga) proposes penalties ranging from one to six years impris-

F3 SCHOOLS, 13

Anti-obscenity bill pushed

lawmaker is strongly pushing for the immediate approval of the proposed AntiObscenity Act of 2011 to arrest the decline of national morality and the corruption of Filipinos.

“Lewd and pornographic entertainment in various media including the Internet, movies, magazines, comics, and nightclub entertainment are currently in an upswing. Unabated, these will expedite the deterioration of our society’s ethics and values,” said

FANTI, 13

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 61 • MAY 29, 2012

DOT invites Davao group PBGEA: Remembering the past to join PATA travel mart T By Lorie A. Cascaro

HE Tourism Promotions Board of the Department of Tourism (DOT) is inviting tourism industry players in the Davao region to join the 2012 Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) travel mart on September 25-28 at SMX Convention Center, Manila. “We entice the Davao group to support the hosting of PATA travel mart and join as sellers,” Tess H. Mauricio, officer in charge, marketing and promotions, Tourism Promotions Board-DOT, said Wednesday during DOT’s meeting with travel and tour operators in

Davao City. She added that this is an opportunity for the Davao group to present the region with its property development, peace and order, convenient transportation, and tour packages, while potential buyers get first hand information. PATA Travel Mart (PTM) is PATA’s business contracting and networking event for the travel and tourism industry aimed at providing a perfect opportunity to showcase and source latest products and services and updating the industry on tourism outlook and trends. More than 300 high profile buyers, 800 sellers/

exhibitors and 100 media from across the world are expected to attend this event hosted by the Philippines for the second time after 31 years. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the expected buyers will be from Northeast Asia; 20% from Southeast Asia; 17% from North America; 15% from Europe; 10% from Pacific regions; 10% from Africa/Middle East; and, three percent from South America. Mauricio noted that by winning the bid, the Philippines aims to exceed what India did for last year’s PTM which was attended by more than 1,000 delegates.

FDOT, 13

HE Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) says that from 2007 to 2011, their fresh banana markets in Russia, Singapore and China had been increasing. Statistics show that the volume of exported fresh bananas to Russia increased to 2,040,461 boxes (13 kilograms each box) in 2011 from 1,249,307 in 2007. In 2008, the export volume decreased to 959,000 boxes but went up to 1,197,307 boxes in 2009. The Singapore export volume increased to 1,487,538 boxes in 2011 from 844,076 boxes in 2007. The volume of exported bananas to China increased to 23,735,153 boxes from 16,028,769

boxes in 2007. The PBGEA’s DoleStanfilco, Lapanday, Tadeco, and Hijo Resources supply fresh bananas to these three countries. The NEH Philippines and Sumifru-Phils supply to Russia and China, while La Frutera, Alip River, Dizon Group, AMS Farming, Marsman, and Unifrutti are all suppliers of China. There was also an increase in export volume in Hong Kong from 3,674,769 boxes in 2007 to 4,423,079 in 2011. Volume exported to New Zealand increased to 3,862,384 boxes in 2010 from 3,680,538 boxes in 2007 however it decreased to 3,591,846 boxes in 2011. In 2007, the Korea export volume was 20,215,846 boxes, which increased to 20,883,615

boxes in 2010, and decreased to 19,493,153 boxes in 2011. Zero volume PBGEA’s export volume of fresh banana turned to zero in the first quarter of 2012 in Syria with 931 MT in 2009 to zero since 2010. Other countries where PBGEA had zero volume of export banana in the first quarter of 2012 include Turkey with 22 MT in 2009; Brunei with two metric tons in 2008; Italy with 14 MT in 2008. Egypt export volume also was zero in the first quarter from 1,619 MT in 2011; Palau from seven MT in 2007; Thailand with 43 MT in 2011; the United Kingdom with 412 MT in 2011; and, Vietnam with 228 MT in 2011.

Runaway power rates hit Socoteco II users

OWER rates of South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (Socotecdo II) for the month of April are up by close to 15 percent over March after Therma Marine Inc. reportedly charged the electric cooperative over P106 million for last month’s billing alone. Electricity bills for the month of April cost at least P7.70 per kilowatthour, up almost P1 from March. Socoteco II general manager Rodrigo Ocat earlier warned power rates will be up after the National Power Corporation (Napocor) announced in March that it will cut down supply to just 45 megawatts following the shutting down of the Pulangi IV hydroelectric plant. Ocat said they had to contract additional power supply from Therma Marine to minimize the impact of reduced power supply from Napocor. “We requested Therma Marine to bring their supply to 30MW which reduced the number of rotational brownout hours,” the Socoteco II manager earlier told reporters. In April, Socoteco II implemented a 2-4 hour rotational brownouts after total power supply from Napocor barely reached 75 MW during peak hours. Socoteco II has a peak hour requirement of 105

MW. Gerry Desesto, Socoteco II head for institutional services department, said they already asked Power Sector Assets Liabilities Management Corp (PSALM) for the breakdown of the Therma Marine billing which was already incorporated in the generation charge of Socoteco II’s electricity bill. For the month of April, the generation charged was pegged at P4.1267 per kilowatt hour. Including transmission, distribution, systems losses and other charges, the cost of electricity bill for Socoteco II consumers went up to P7.70 per kilowatt hour, nearly double from the average total cost of P4.70 a year ago. Therma Marine is reportedly charging Socoteco II at least P9.00 per kilowatthour. The rate however changes when prices of petroleum products move up or down in the international market. Therma Marine now owns the bunker C-fired Power Barges No 117 and 118 after these were sold by Napocor as a result of the privatization of its generating assets.

Quips

‘A LOT of our parents don’t believe in education because they themselves didn’t get an education. And a lot of our parents didn’t encourage their kids to go to school, so these children became illiterate and the cycle goes on.’ --Valenzuela Mayor Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian before Davao Central Jaycee officers.

SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 61 • MAY 29, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Coral reefs: Future sources of tomorrow’s medicine? By Jims Vincent T. Capuno

NITED States marine biologist Dr. Kent Carpenter, who has been diving in the country’s oceans since the 1970s, considers the Philippines to be “the best place in the world for a marine biologist.” In terms of coral riches, he is certainly right. There are about 400 species of reef-forming corals in the country, comparable with those found in Great Barrier Reef of Australia. The Philippines has about 27,000 square kilometers of coral reefs; two-thirds in Palawan and the Sulu Archipelago. A single reef can support as many as 3,000 species of marine life. As fishing grounds, they are thought to be 10 to 100 times as productive per unit area as the open sea. Around 10-15 per cent of the total fisheries in the Philippines come from coral reefs, and up to 90 per cent of the incomes of small island communities come from fisheries. “Coral reef fish yields range from 20 to 25 metric tons per square kilometer per year for healthy reefs,” Dr. Angel C. Alcala, former environment secretary. But what my physician friend doesn›t know - and this may interest a lot of doctors, too - is that coral reefs are a vast source of medicines that could help humanity. In fact, they could be the major sources of many new medicines in the present century. Ocean potential “Marine sources could be the major source of drugs for the next decade,” says Dr. William Fenical, an American natural products chemist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California. In Japan’s reefs - one of the most studied coral coasts in the world - there is a chemical called kainic acid, which is used as a diagnostic chemical to investigate Huntington’s chorea, a rare but fatal disease of the nervous system. Coral reefs also produce a natural sunscreen, which is now being marketed to sell as a sunscreen in the United States. The

porous limestone skeleton of coral is now being tested as bone grafts in humans. “If used properly, the reefs of the entire world can better serve humans with medicine rather than with food,” some researchers claim. “Half the potential pharmaceuticals being explored are from the oceans, many from coral reef ecosystems,” estimates the US State Department. Writing in Reef Research, Dr. Patrick Colin, a marine biologist, described the hopes that had led him to spend the 1990s collecting marine samples in the Pacific for the US National Cancer Institute (NCI). “Over the years, the NCI has been screening terrestrial plants and marine organisms worldwide for bioactivity against cancer and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and has come up with a number of hot prospects, a number of which are in clinical trials,” Dr. Colin says. “Many coral reef species produce chemicals like histamines and antibiotics used in medicine and science,” reports The

Nature Conservancy, an organization whose mission is to preserve plants, animals and natural communities by protecting the lands and waters needed for their survival. Traditional cures For centuries, coastal communities have used reef plants and animals for their medicinal properties. In the Philippines, for instance, giant clams are eaten as a malaria treatment. Chemicals from sea sponges collected off the coast of Florida have been used in developing a new drug, Ara-C, used to treat acute myelocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin›s lymphoma. The antiviral drug called Ara-A is used for the treatment of herpes infections. Unfortunately, the future of the planet›s coral reefs is in jeopardy. Ten per cent of the world’s reefs have already been seriously degraded and a much greater percentage is threatened, particularly in areas adjacent to human populations. If this decline continues, there could be a significant loss of the world›s reefs and their resources,

The Philippines is not spared from this problem. Nationwide surveys conducted from the 1970s to the 1990s found that only 4-5 per cent of the reefs were in excellent condition, 25-27 per cent good, 39-42 per cent fair, and 27-31 per cent poor. “The general trend is negative for the coral reefs in the Philippines,” the World Bank reported in a global survey. It found that the Philippines had “the most degraded reefs of all sampled countries.”

The analysis found that 98 per cent of coral reefs in the country were “at risk from human activities,” with 70 per cent at high or very high risk. The decline is thought to be due primarily to destructive human activities. “Many areas are in really bad shape due largely to unwise coastal land use, deforestation and the increasing number of fishermen resorting to destructive fishing methods,” says marine biologist Porfirio M. Alino. Dr. Edgardo D.

Gomez, director of the Marine Science Institute of the University of the Philippines at Diliman, agrees. “If asked what the major problem of coral reefs is, my reply would be ‘The pressure of human populations’,” he asserted. Coral reefs have been around for about 200 million years, and have survived eons of storm-induced damage and sea animal predation. Unfortunately, their survival in this century is less certain.

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

47.032 46.851 48.139

48.161 48.146 47.905 47.524 48.217

48.458 47.585 47.207

THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 61 • MAY 29, 2012

DBM releases P2.5 billion for barangay electrification T

HE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released P2.5 billion to the National Electrification Administration (NEA), reinforcing the government’s commitment to energize off-grid communities through the Barangay Line Enhancement Project (BLEP) and the Sitio Electrification Project (SEP). “Too many Filipino families live without the benefit of electricity, and this alone seriously impairs their ability to jumpstart local economic growth. The latest release to NEA energizes the Aquino administration’s efforts to electrify these communities and empower them toward progress,” Budget and Management Secretary Florencio B. Abad said in a

press report. Of the total release—chargeable against the 2012 General Appropriations Act—P2.0 billion will go to the SEP to electrify 3,408 sitios. The remaining P568.5 million will be used for line enhancement activities for 189 barangays under the BLEP. “The President is determined to improve living conditions in impoverished communities, beginning with their electrification. Without electricity, off-grid families are unable to take control of their livelihoods because all economic activity halts the moment the sun sets. This forces residents to resort to expensive or inefficient solutions to meet their basic power requirements. Electrification will

certainly change all that,” Abad said. According to the DBM, it has also released a Notice of Cash Allocation for P1.25 billion or 50 percent of the P2.5billion release to enable NEA to fully finance the initial funding requirement for beneficiary barangays and sitios. The fund will be downloaded immediately to Electric Cooperatives (ECs), allowing both NEA and all ECs to jumpstart the electrification program and meet their project deadlines. The latest release augments the P1.1 billion that was given to NEA in January 2012 for the line enhancement of 202 barangays and energization of 833 sitios. The earlier release was charged against the gov-

ernment’s Malampaya Funds. Abad confirmed that the P1.1-billion release has been fully disbursed to ECs, adding that the electrification and line enhancement of targeted sitios and barangays have already been completed. “The P1.1 billion was intended to enhance the power lines of 202 barangays and electrify 833 sitios across the country. We’re pleased to announce that the government exceeded that target, successfully enhancing the lines in 207 barangays and connecting 885 sitios to the power grid. Moreover, the project was completed in just four months, starting from the fund release and culminating in its documentation,” Abad said.(DBM)

deemed it best to move the regional control center as well. Taking cue from the knowledge and experience of its partners from the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) that Regional Control Centers in China are located in the heart of urbanized cities and

not in far-flung substations, Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City was selected as the new site for being the nearest and most accessible to customers and stakeholders, an international airport, commercial amenities, and military and police installations, which will be

able to respond to any emergencies at once. NGCP, the country’s sole power system operator and transmission service provider, uses the SCADA/EMS system in its day-to-day operations of the nationwide power grid. (PNA)

NGCP builds power control center HE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has invested P147 million to build a new power control center for the Mindanao grid. Constructed from October 26, 2010 to April 19, 2012, the new building located in Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City houses state-of-the-art SCADA/EMS systems and telecommunications equipment and also serves as the office of the Mindanao System Operations, which was previously based in Iligan City. The new regional control center serves as the nerve center for grid operations in Mindanao equipped with modern power monitoring and control systems. The building was constructed as part of the infrastructure upgrade under the third regulatory period. Carmen substation located in the heart of Cagayan De Oro City was chosen after an extensive evaluation of its the technical, business and security viability. Considering that load center of power generation and the expansion of NGCP backbone facilities has moved geographically away from the Agus Complex in Iligan City to the northeastern and southern parts on Mindanao, NGCP

ROLLBACK. An employee at a gas station in Davao City changes the price signage as the country experience a series of rollbacks on the prices of oil products after it skyrocketed which resulted to massive protests across the archipelago. [KARLOS MANLUPIG] as of august 2010

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

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

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

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

6:15 6:25 6:30 7:00 8:50 8:10 8:30 9:40 10:10 12:20 12:30 13:35 13:25 14:05

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

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

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

THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 61 • MAY 29, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

DA: PHL bananas cleared in China A

GRICULTURE Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said 170 40-footer vans with fresh Philippine bananas previously held have been cleared by Chinese quarantine officials. The DA chief received the favorable development from Director Clarito Barron of the DA’s Bureau of Plant Industry, who is currently in Beijing as head of a threeman Philippine quarantine team. They were dispatched to join their

Chinese counterparts in inspecting container vans with fresh Philippine bananas that were allegedly infested with scale insect. “Four days ago, around 30-40 containers were already given a go signal to enter the Chinese market, as their quarantine officials did not find pests in the shipment. Yesterday, reports from Director Barron said a total of 170 containers were already given clearance,” Secretary Alcala said.

He reiterated that China has not imposed a ban on Philippine bananas. “Actually, our products were never banned. Our Chinese counterparts are merely conducting a more thorough and extended inspection of our fruit exports,” the DA chief said. Early this month, bananas from the Philippines were held up longer than usual at Chinese ports as quarantine personnel implemented

a 100% inspection. The stringent measures were enforced following the discovery of scale insect, scientifically known as Aonidiella comperei, in March. This prompted Secretary Alcala to send a team to China and present the Philippine plant quarantine protocol. “We wanted to assure them that our bananas are of highest standards and quality,” Secretary Alcala said. “This episode should

serve as a wake-up call for all us,” he said, “as we may have been lenient in complying with international quarantine protocols. “From here on, we will impose a zero-tolerance policy with respect to insect and other contaminants. We have to keep a closer watch at our procedures and assure that they are strictly followed,” he said. He said Director Barron and his team will meet tomorrow (May 25)

with Chinese quarantine officials to consolidate mutual agreements and measures to prevent similar cases from happening in future fruit shipments. The team will fly back to Manila over the weekend. “Our offer still stands,” Secretary Alcala reiterated, referring to an invitation to Chinese quarantine experts to visit the Philippines, particularly Davao, “to see first-hand how rigid our protocols and procedures are.”

pany that specializes in the lowest discount hotel prices. Its network includes more than 160,000 hotels worldwide. 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 the largest aircraft fleet in the Philippines. Between 2012 and 2021, Cebu Pacific will take delivery of 22 more

Airbus A320 and 30 Airbus A321neo aircraft orders. It is slated to begin long-haul services in the 3rd quarter of 2013. In its 16th year of operations, CEB had flown over 60 million passengers. It provides access to the most extensive network in the Philppines, with 32 domestic and 19 international destinations. The airline also remains a pio-

neer in the Philippine aviation industry by being the first to offer web check-in, self checkin, e-ticketing, Lite Fares and One Peso seat sales. About Cebu Air Inc. (PSE: CEB) Cebu Air Inc. is the largest carrier in the Philippine air transportation industry, offering its low-cost services to more destinations and routes with higher flight

frequency within the Philippines than any other airline. In its 16th year of operations, CEB had flown over 60 million passengers. It provides access to the most extensive network in the Philppines, with 32 domestic and 19 international destinations. The airline also remains a pioneer in the Philippine aviation industry by being the first to offer

web check-in, self check-in, eticketing, Lite Fares and One Peso seat sales. About Cebu Air Inc. (PSE: CEB) Cebu Air Inc. is the largest carrier in the Philippine air transportation industry, offering its low-cost services to more destinations and routes with higher flight frequency within the Philippines than any other airline.

CEB offers P699 all-in seat sale to all domestic destinations

OR November – February travel The Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSE:CEB) holds a P699 all-in seat sale to any of its 32 domestic destinations from May 28 to 30, 2012 or until seats last. This is for travel from November 1, 2012 to February 28, 2013. P699 seats are up for grabs to the following destinations: Bacolod, Boracay (Caticlan), Busuanga (Coron), Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Cauayan (Isabela), Cebu, Clark, Cotabato, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Kalibo, Legazpi, Laoag, Manila, Naga, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa, Roxas, San Jose (Mindoro), Siargao, Surigao, Tacloban, Tagbilaran, Tawi-Tawi, Tuguegarao, Virac and Zamboanga. This promotion is only available via www.cebupacificair.com or through travel agents using the Amadeus global distribution system. These all-in fares are inclusive of fuel surcharge, administrative fee, aviation security fee, 12% VAT and 7 kilos hand carry baggage allowance. Flight changes are permitted with P800 rebooking fee and P900 cancellation fee. “CEB continues to stimulate travel by offering the lowest possible fares for advance bookings. For those who have travel plans especially in November and December, we encourage them to book their seats now,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog. “Travelers may check out flights on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or flights on off-peak dates, to easily avail of this seat sale. To get a head start on our next seat sale, go to CEB’s official Twitter and Facebook pages,” she added. Iyog said that guests can also book hotel deals through its partnership with agoda. com, the leading Asia-based online hotel reservations com-

It figures

$11 billion REVENUE generated by the Philippines in 2011 from the fast-growing information technology and business process outsourcing (IT-BPO) industry last year – 24 percent higher than a year ago.

IRRIGATING THE COUNTRYSIDE. Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (3rd from left) said the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) will undertake several projects in Davao region this year and in 2013, with cost totaling P1.5 billion, that would irrigate an additional 8,250 hectares. This will increase the region’s palay production and rice sufficiency level. He made the commitment at a special board meeting of the Davao Integrated Development Program (DIDP), composed of four Davao provinces and six cities, and chaired by Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario (left).

$371.95 million FIRST quarter revenue of AirAsia Berhad, Southeast Asia’s largest budget carrier, showing an increase of 11 percent over the $333.809-revenue recorded last year, due to a 12-percent increase in passenger volume and higher capacity.

100

NUMBER of new aircraft Philippine Airlines plans to acquire over the next five years, its most aggressive refleeting program since the mid-1990s. Ramon S. Ang, PAL’s new president, said would come in the form of regional single-aisle planes like the A320.

Secretary Alcala receives a plaque appreciation after the DIDP board meeting, which was also attended by Governors Corazon Malanyaon (Davao Oriental) and Arturo Uy (Compostela Valley), and City Mayors Rey Uy (Tagum), Jose Silvosa (Panabo), Michelle Rabat (Mati), and Joseph Peñas (Digos). Other DIDP board members are Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Cagas, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, and Samal Mayor Aniano Antalan.

4.1 million NUMBER of Filipinos who have joined the ranks of the jobless between December 2011 and March 2012. The unemployment rate is now 34.4 percent or an estimated 13.8 million individuals, according to a survey by the Social Weather Stations.

P1.13 billion

NET INCOME of state-owned Philippine Ports Authority during the first three months this year as a result of higher revenues from vessels and cargoes and also the lower operating expenses. This shows an increase of 6 percent over last year’s profit of P1.07 billion.

47,000

SHORTAGE of teachers in public elementary schools across the country. The shortage is due to lakc of budget for the salaries of new teachers, according to Department of Education assistant secretary Jesus Mateo.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 61 • MAY 29, 2012

PROPERTY

Amiya Resort Residences builds P200-M clubhouse

HE weather couldn’t have been more auspicious with warm sunshine and cool breeze as Kisan Lu Lands president Kristin Lu lowered the capsule into the ground to inaugurate one of the biggest amenities in their high-end residential resort project. The clubhouse of the Thai-inspired project is estimated to cost P200 million and will be completed over the course of two to

three years. “It will have a main clubhouse, casitas, restaurants, bars, and a swimming pool. The clubhouse will still carry the Thai concept of the resort – from its architecture, details, furniture, and down to its landscaping,” Lu said. “We do not want to shortchange the market by giving them something half-baked. As an architect myself, I know that my projects will speak volumes about me that is

why I am very passionate and very hands-on with it.” The project is also expected to establish Amaya Resort Residences as the new benchmark in real estate development in the city, especially for the high-end market. “We will show the city and the world that a homegrown player like Kisan Lu Lands can set the bar higher and can give them the best option in real estate development,” Lu said.

mit supporting documents as proof of contribution payments.” Situation 2 is a category under the Penalty Condonation Program wherein the member-borrower has paid at least three amortizations since the loan take-out and a minimum of three months contributions within the last six months prior to the month of their application to the program. The SSS will write off 90 percent of accrued penalties for memberborrowers who opt to settle the amount due in one full payment, and 80 percent of penalties for those who opt to pay in monthly installments over a one, two or three-year period. “The online system will automatically inform members if they need to fulfill certain requirements in or-

der to qualify, such as payment of contributions. Those with approved applications will receive an email detailing the amount of payments due under the Condonation Program and other information,” Solilapsi added. Solilapsi urged members to enroll in the SSS website, which allows registered users online accessibility to their SSS records. The website also enables users to verify their loan balance and eligibility for penalty condonation, without need to go personally to an SSS branch. “However, memberborrowers who fall under Situations 1a, 1b and 3 must still submit their application forms and other required documents such as pay slips, affidavits and benefit claim forms to their SSS servicing branch,” Solilapsi explained.

SSS loan condonation can be applied now online

OCIAL Security System (SSS) members can now apply for condonation of loan penalties through the SSS website to make their availment of the amnesty program faster and more convenient. SSS Officer-in-Charge Edgar Solilapsi announced that delinquent borrowers who are eligible for the condonation of 80 to 90 percent of their penalties can file their applications at www. sss.gov.ph. “We have made it easier for members to apply for penalty condonation by allowing them to file online instead of them going personally to an SSS branch,” Solilapsi noted. “As long as they are already registered SSS website users and they are qualified under Situation 2, they no longer have to sub-

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 61 • MAY 29, 2012

EDITORIAL

Privatization debate

ALL it a trend, but there’s a growing mindset being promoted by no less than the government itself to privatize most vital public services. Potable water supply. power generation, hospital services, railway system--you name it. There’s been talk in Congress and other corridors of power in favor of privatization. There is also what is called corporization, which means first placing management and control of these vital services under government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs).Then, when these GOCCs fail due to mismanagement or whatever, some smart guys in Congress will come up with the brilliant idea of privatizing them. That’s what happened to the National Power Corporation (Napocor), the GOCC which has close to 30 vice presidents – a clear case of too many cooks spoiling the broth. The railway transit system in Manila, after having been proven to be effective in providing efficient transport service to millions of Manila commuters and a very viable enterprise, here come private sector players salivating to have a piece of the action. Privatization is also being proposed for the Agus-Pulangi hydro electric complex, which is being vigorously opposed by Mindanaoans ironically led no less than by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the highest government agency on the island. Then, there is the move to privatize water districts, the autonomous bodies mandated to provide potable water to their respective communities. This is a proposal being pushed in the

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Senate by Senator Edgardo Angara and in the House of Representatives by congressmen Romeo Federico S. Quimbo and Karlo B. Nograles. The bills also seek the creation of a Water and Sanitation Regulatory Authority (WSRA). The former University of the Philippines president and Senate president was quoted as saying “we have to be realistic – the government alone cannot sustain this service given our budget deficit. By making the water sector a viable area for investment by private companies, we will also be able to improve the quality of water service delivered to our people.” We grant that the proposals of the lawmakers are well-motivated. Unfortunately, the existing leaders of the country’s water districts, chiefly the Philippine Association of Water Districts (PAWD) led by Gilbert Camaligan, its national president, view the proposals with suspicion. Rightly or wrongly, they suspect the proposals are a prelude to privatization and eventual commercial operation of the water districts. They argue that such a situation is disadvantageous not only to the 20,000 employees of water districts, but most significantly the millions of water consumers. Questioning the motive/s behind the bills is legit. It symbolizes vigilance of the citizenry which is one of the great things about democracy. On the other hand, the authors must be able to provide satisfactory answers to all questions posed by doubting Thomases. Good intentions are not enough. The road to hell is paved with them, to borrow a cliché that refuses to die. 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

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EDGEDAVAO

Outside the radar

OR the first time in almost five years, world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao failed to hog the front pages of Philippine media barely two weeks before his fight. Not because he is wanting in attention. It could be because people are more preoccupied with things and events other than seeing and reading a dose of hard sell from his promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank trying to hype Timothy Bradley as a big threat to Pacquiao’s incredible run to greatness. Many are either fixated with the homestretch of the Corona impeachment trial or were mesmerized by FilAm singing sensation Jessica Sanchez on live TV and Twitter or both such that Pacquiao was relegated into the inside pages and tidbits of the news the past few weeks. For some, the thought of Pacquiao’s expected victory over Bradley has taken off some excitement from otherwise another compelling fight for the fighting Filipino congressman. Boy, his brush with the LGBT thing was more headlinehugging than – who is it again? From purely the standpoint of boxing, it is hard to stimulate interest from fans given Bradley’s largely unknown and untested box-office appeal. Unlike the recent fight between Floyd Mayweather and Miguel Angel Cotto, who each had a considerable fan base, Pacquiao will have to bring in all the payper-view buys by himself. Let’s admit it, Pacquiao’s June 10 (Philippine time) date with Bradley is all about matching PPV sales with Mayweather who is said to have sold 1.5 million buys when he outwit Cotto en route to a hard-fought 12 round unanimous victory. Pacquiao and Mayweather may never face each other atop the ring to settle their own issues. But for as long as they continue to box, they will be fighting over bragging rights outside the ring. Not bad at all considering that they will be laughing their way to the bank without risking a potential career-ending loss against one over the other. They will continue to twit and outwit each other for that bigger column-inch spreads and precious minutes of airtime. They will continue to vie for the highest number of clicks and visits in anything written and said about them in the cyber world. Pacquiao however should be wary about the red flags why his Bradley date is taking a backseat as far as media coverage is concerned. He can only give his fans so much uninteresting fights after spoiling them with too much aplomb with career-defining victories en route to reaching the top. The eight-division world boxing phenom needs to knockout the loud-mouth Bradley in a manner that will serve notice to all and sundry that he is still the man Mayweather will have to blow past to lay claim to greatness. Pacquiao can fight until Mayweather decides to quit without ever fighting him even if takes for him to fight just once a year like Mayweather has been doing over the last five years. Patience is a virtue. But prudence is too. Pacquiao could no longer afford any slack in public interest on him. He has 2016 and beyond ahead of him.

EDGEDAVAO

T SEEMS like a tall order for the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), but they came here just the same hoping to entice small and medium enterprises to raise capital by “going public” or selling a part of their company thru the stock exchange. On top of that, these PSE “market education” guys came all the way from Manila to conduct this year’s free seminar for beginners in the stock market. The first activity took place in the morning, with bankers and SME’s at the Royal Mandaya Hotel last May 24 while the second activity took place in the afternoon of the same day. We’re not sure whether they succeeded getting SME owners from Davao and Cotabato to consider listing in the stock exchange to raise millions in capital for business expansion, but that wasn’t a problem because bankers from the Development Bank of the Philippines were just waiting in the wings, ready to swoop down on loan-hungry guys who need some pile of cold cash just to keep their heads above water. But participants in the free PSE seminar on stock investing for beginners weren’t disappointed with the outcome. Most were probably thinking earlier they would be fed with technical jargon of the stock market and treated like kindergarten kids that left them

E V E R ENDING CYCLE OF DEPRESSED AND LOW GROWTH – Right now, with growth slowing and the economy uncertain, the influential and assertive World Bank (WB) has again urged the country’s finance managers and economic planners to improve management of funds and raise new taxes. But with the country’s present strained economy, even a minor raise in taxes are the stuff of both idle chitchat and intense intelligent debate. The WB insists that even if the economy isn’t really crushing, the Philippines still needs additional assets to beef up its capability to take advantage of new growth opportunities. Still, the WB stressed that the country, along with a few developing economies in the Asian region, has to invest in technology, projects and programs that will boost domestic productivity. Within this framework, the WB is highly confident that higher productivity would in turn help the country service the growing need for various goods of other well-developed countries. However, that is a lot easier said than done. While it is widely believed that higher productivity spurs increased consumption and likewise requires increased production, and more jobs, labor productivity has drastically declined due to lack of job opportunities. Mindful that uncertainties raise the

Monkey Business

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 61 • MAY 29, 2012

A tall order for the Philippine Stock Exchange dazed and confused last year when they did the same seminar at Apo View Hotel. Joey Antonio Vilar, PSE head of marketing services, made sure this won’t happen again, as he set up an “investing game” for everyone in the seminar, making everybody there an imaginary “investor” and gave each an imaginary P100,000 capital that they would “invest” in an imaginary company called “Pacman Food Corporation. It was up to everyone in the hotel function room whether they’d use the P100T capital to “trade” or “invest” in the stock market, as their Power Point screen showed news events that were either good or bad for Pacman’s company. If the news looked positive, they were asked to shout “Bull!” and if the news turned out negative, they were to shout “Bear!”. To be honest about it, this was probably the most lively seminar ever held by the PSE in Davao, possibly the first time they ever “connected” with the usually polite and quiet Dabawenyos pretending to be tightlipped, but ready to explode when something exciting like this jerks them off their seats. With the help of Jose Cecilio Penaflor, PSE assistant head of market education, little sheets of paper were turned into buy and sell slips as seminar participants “bought” a thousand more shares every time good news drove the Pacman stock up. There were also bad news that scared off some of the “investors” forcing them to sell and take profits early. From our vantage point, what these

PSE guys were trying to put into everyone’s head was long-term investing instead of short-term trading (which is our own personal approach), riding up and down with a company stock price as it see-saws in the market for five, ten or twenty years. Penaflor made that clear during his presentation at the beginning of the afternoon seminar with the supposed “greenhorns” who later turned out to be veteran stock traders among the Davao crowd. We had this funny feeling that this crowd looked polite and quiet simply out of courtesy and respect because many of them seemed to know more than those PSE guys. The PSE guys also made sure the world’s greatest investor Warren Buffet’s quote was there on the screen for everyone to read: “Be greedy when everyone is fearful and be fearful when everyone is greedy” --- which seems to fit stock traders more than stock investors. Vilar admitted to me the loss of confidence, the mistrust as well as ignorance of many Filipinos in the stock market that have kept them away all these years. Pinoys would rather park their life’s savings in the bank for many years despite the pathetic 2% (or less) annual interest rate. All of them at PSE know the long difficult road ahead for them to develop the capital market and boost investments in the Philippine stock market. “It’s difficult to break into that mindset, but we’ll do this one step at a time, until we can reach our goal,” Vilar said. (Comment? Email me at:tradingpost_ davao@yahoo.com)

possibility of continued post lackluster growth in the US and Europe in the wake of the previous global recession, the WB expects that the Philippines and its neighbors in the Asian region can boost growth by intensifying regional trading activities. Nevertheless, another important step following the post economic meltdown in the US and European economies, the country, according to the WB, must take advantage of the situation by shifting from being export oriented to boosting income through domestic sources. Such a move by few countries in the region could at least be considered by the Philippines as a growth opportunity, the WB said in its economic report. Some of our neighboring nations are seen to require more imported goods needed to boost their domestic production and the country should take advantage of the situation by selling more intermediate goods to them, including the well-developed nations. Although the country’s export industries have slowly redefined competitiveness and economic advantage worldwide, its farlarger domestic sector- agriculture, has languished. One glaring example is the recent banning of world-class Philippine Cavendish bananas by China due to strict phytoquarantine requirements and other stringent barriers to the detriment of our local producers and exporters. The situation has spurred a never-ending cycle of depressed and low growth. Now let’s go back to the tax hike sug-

gested by WB. Is increasing taxes through the dictation of the WB a quick solution and advantage to the so-called new growth of opportunities? Can the Philippines still be regarded as a haven for investors with a looming tax hike? From the point of view of an investor looking for a safe haven, raising taxes on WB’s terms certainly signals that considerable amount would be set aside for additional taxes, thus their earnings will be greatly affected as well. It will be expected – but not certain – that the taxpaying public, notably the business sector, will accept the WB tax hike scheme. Surely, the government will be on shakier ground when it realizes the implication of the WB proposed tax increase. It has genuine economic concerns and few in the business sector think a new round of tax hike will do much good. If the government wants to attract entrepreneurs to invest in high technology projects as desired by the WB to boost domestic productivity, then the most important thing for government to do to be able to establish that is to have a welleducated workforce and to make sure our strategic trade controls are reliable. Perhaps, inevitably at this stage there’s more emphasis on providing the basic needs of the people and less emphasis on tax increases. The Philippines has been going through a socio-economic and political crunch and a new tax hike, probably the World Bank’s own “modest way” to help the country, is either part of the solution or part of the problem.

Growth of opportunity

Prelude to a showdown?

N their closing arguments at the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona, the defense lawyers employed an approach that provided a glimpse of what they will do in case of a conviction. Their arguments centered on questions surrounding the process leading to the trial and on whether the allegations brought up by the House of Representatives are impeachable offenses. Predictably, both sides focused on article 2 of the articles of impeachment, which deals with the non-declaration by the Chief Justice of his dollar accounts and some properties in his statements of assets, liabilities, and net worth (SALN). Lead prosecutor Niel Tupas insisted that the amounts in Corona’s accounts cannot be explained by his salary and other lawful income, although illegal wealth is not among the articles of impeachment. He hastened to add that the issue though is not the amount but the nondisclosure of these assets in the SALN. Congressman Rodolfo Farinas, another prosecutor, cited the inconsistencies in Corona’s actions and pronouncements in relation to the amount of money he actually has. Speaking mostly in Tagalog, Farinas called these actions and pronouncements “palusot” (lame excuses). For instance, he asked why Corona declared having obtained a loan of P11 million from the firm owned by the family of his wife when he already had tens of millions in the banks. The congressman pointed out the error in Corona’s recollection of the dollar-peso exchange rate at the time that he supposedly started investing in dollar deposits. He also stressed that Corona was still a student then. House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. spoke last for the prosecution. Reading from a prepared statement, Belmonte tried to convince the Senate sitting as an impeachment court that the central issue is Corona’s “moral fitness” and credibility. He cited the rulings handed down by the Supreme Court in the case between the Philippine Airlines and its employees, and the temporary restraining order which would have allowed former president Gloria MacapagalArroyo to leave the country and possibly escape prosecution for graft and other crimes. On the other hand, consistent with their tack that the trial should be treated as akin to a criminal proceeding, the defense lawyers dwelt on the supposed irregularities of the process, legal arguments on which law should prevail with regard to the once concealed accounts, and on whether the allegations lodged against their client fall under the category of high crimes as contemplated by the constitution. The defense lawyers echoed their contention at the start of the trial that the impeachment complaint was submitted to the Senate without giving Corona due process, and that some of the 188 House members who signed it did not even bother to read its contents. Cuevas had tried to raise this issue, but Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile ruled that it had become moot and academic after the impeachment received the complaint and decided to proceed with the trial. Atty. Eduardo de los Angeles asserted that Republic Act 6713 (SALN Law) does not do away with the confidentiality of foreign currency deposits as provided under RA 6426. He further said that such confidentiality is protected by the right to privacy enshrined in the constitution. De los Angeles added that Corona’s nondisclosure of certain assets in his SALN does not constitute an impeachable offense, citing the law itself provides for a corrective measure in case of errors or omissions. He said the Chief Justice did not declare the controversial amounts in his SALN based on his own interpretation of RA 6426, an omission made in “good faith.” Moreover, Cuevas dismissed as mere “scrap of paper” the documents from the Antimoney Laundering Council presented by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales the other week at the impeachment trial. “They are mere scrap of papers, the attestation required by law is not present and therefore they are not admissible as evidence. If they are not admissible as evidence, what probative value does it have here?” But the more telling part was when Cuevas admitted to Enrile that they will ask the Supreme Court to declare the impeachment proceedings null in case Corona was convicted. The lead defense counsel has always maintained that the High Court can intervene in impeachment cases. The Senate president said that while he respects Cuevas’ position “I just want to remind you that our reading of Article 11 provided that the Senate shall have the sole power to try and decide all impeachment cases.” Will Corona run to his colleagues in case of a conviction? Nobody can stop him from doing it, but that would be like seeing the Boston Celtics play with Doc Rivers as the referee.

SUBURBIA

EDGEDAVAO DENR donates lumber for Davao school chairs

VOL.5 ISSUE 61 • MAY 29, 2012

EMPLOYEES HELPING EACH OTHER - To carry to fill in the wing van the two hundred seventy nine (279) assorted new school furniture painted in yellow (132 armchairs, 100 kiddie chairs and 47 deks) which will be delivered and distributed to the 5 Elementary School in Municipality of Camiling, Province

of Tarlac in Luzon. Hauling was done on Friday May 25, 2012 at Tagum City Motorpool in Tipaz, Barangay East, Tagum City. The new school furniture was fabricated by the LGU of Tagum City under its Social Responsibility “Care for School Chairs Program” thru the initiative of Tagum City Mayor Rey T. Uy.

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENRXI) donated on Friday (May 25) a total of 32,984 board feet of Lauan and Yakal lumber worth P1,055,488 to the Department of Education (DepED-XI) for the manufacture of schools desks and other fixtures for schools in Davao city. The said donations came from the confiscations made by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Davao City headed by CENR Officer Melchor G. Ozaraga last February 2012 in line with the implementation of Executive Order No. 23. Under Section 2, Article 2.7 of E.O. 23 issued by President Benigno S. Aquino III on February 1, 2011, DepED is given the priority in the use of all confiscated logs. The lumbers which are now deposited at the Boy

Scout of the Philippines Camp in Malagos, Davao City.DENR-XI Director Jim O. Sampulna said that this will greatly help address the lack of desks and school fixtures for the growing student population. “As part of the monitoring process, DepED is mandated to submit pictures and detailed report of the use of donated lumber to the DENR. The DepEd’s report will be the basis for monitoring the disposition of the lumber,” Sampulna said. The donation was made official with the signing of the Deed of Donation signed by DENR-XI Director Jim O. Sampulna, DepED-XI represented by Dr. Helen D. Paguican and witnessed by Ozaraga, Regional Technical Director Hardinado Patnugot Jr., Engr. Inocencio Maranga and Dr. Maria Ines Asuncion of DepED-Division Office.

Records show that Tagum City has already delivered 42,660 pieces of new chairs since August 2011 to schools in Tagum, Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur and Compostela Valley. Just recently, the National Anti-Illegal Logging Task Force turned over

2,461 pieces of lauan logs with a total volume of 490.21 cubic meters to the city government, which will use it for the fabrication of chairs. Said action is in compliance of Executive Order No. 23 mandating a total log ban issued by President Benigno S. Aquino III.

Tagum donates chairs to Tarlac public schools

AGUM City Mayor Rey T. Uy’s Care for School Chairs (CFSC) Program’s latest beneficiary is the Municipality of Camiling in Tarlac. A tota of 279 chairs were hauled last May 25, at the city’s motorpool before being transported to the said area, which is the second school in Luzon and outside Mindanao Region to benefit in the ground-breaking project. “I have read the news article entitled ‘Tagum donates chairs to Quezon City School’ in national newspaper and I cannot help but admire how the administration transcends the meaning of public service in Tagum City. As the Sangguniang Bayan Committee Chairman on Agriculture and Environmental Protection, I would love to duplicate your agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural

Resources to experience it also in our municipality,” wrote Wrancudo Felix in his letter of request dated May 14, addressed to Mayor Uy. “The donation of classroom furniture to our Elementary Schools in my district will truly complete our school package that we are dreaming for so long for these barangays public schools.” This prompted Councilor Felix to request 200 pieces of school furniture for the district composed of five barangay schools (Bacabac, Cayaoan, Libueg, Pindangan 1st and Pindangan 2nd) to Mayor Uy, who immediately directed the chairs to be delivered to Tarlac. This school furniture were carried through a wing van and left the area past 11:30 a.m. last May 25. Additional 79 pieces were loaded since the wing van can still accommodate more chairs.

The shipment was comprised of 132 armchairs, 100 kiddie chairs and 47 desks fabricated from seized logs through the Care for School Chairs Program of Mayor Uy. Mayor Uy said that Tagum is glad to reach out to Camiling. The preparation and

hauling of the school chairs were witnessed by DepEd Region XI Director Susana Teresa B. Estigoy, Tagum City Divisions Supt. Nenita E. Lumaad, Vice Mayor Allan L. Rellon, City DILG Director Eliza P. Mendoza, and Councilor Nicandro T. Suaybaguio, Jr.

(DENR XI/BING CORDOVA/PIA XI)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 61 • MAY 29, 2012

COMMUNITY SENSE 11

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

Leo Apalisoc Davao Light’s Revenue Protection Department discusses Republic Act No. 7832 otherwise known as the Anti-Electricity and Electric Transmission Lines and Materials Pilferage Act of 1994.

Davao Light conducts safety, anti-pilferage drive in Panabo

ONTRARY to the old adage, in electricity, what you don’t know CAN hurt you. With customers’ safety as a paramount issue for Davao Light and Power Company, an AboitizPower subsidiary, the company goes the extra mile to inform its customers on the hazards of electricity so they can avoid accidents. Dubbed as Intensified Safety or I-Safety Campaign, the activity now on its second run, benefitted around 70 constituents of Barangay Katualan last May 4. Katualan is about an hour travel on rugged road from Panabo City proper. The campaign

is in support to the observance of the National Electrical Safety Month, and in coordination with the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. Northern Davao Chapter and the Local Government of Panabo City. Aside from giving information on the risks related to electricity, the campaign also included an Anti-Pilferage presentation aimed at educating and protecting the customers from unscrupulous acts related to electricity theft. Moreover, presentations on Energy Saving Tips and How to Read Electric Meter were made so as to help them

Barangay Katualan residents listen intently as topics on safety, energy saving tips and anti-pilferage were being discussed. With the presentation, customers were ad-

manage their electricity. The activity was spearheaded by the company’s LMC-Safety & Security Subcommittee under Chairman Nelson Gumba, together with Dado Gonzales of the Safety Department, Leo Apalisoc of the Revenue Protection Department, and Panabo Branch representative Ricky Morales. The company through its Safety Department plans to conduct similar activities in 3 barangays in Panabo City and Municipalities of Carmen, Dujali and Sto.Tomas, 3 universities and colleges and 2 barangays in Davao City within the year.

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

For Inquiries: Nelson Gumba, Davao Light’s LMC-Safety & Security Subcommittee chairman, explains how to read the electric meter during the I-Safety and Anti-Pilferage Cam-

paign at Barangay Katualan. This will be useful for the customers in monitoring their electric consumption.

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NATION/WORLD

NATION BRIEFS Contingency ALACAÑANG

bared the government’s contingency measures being implemented by various concerned agencies that were tasked to ensure not only the maintenance of peace and order but also the safety of the millions of students nationwide who will be going back to school next week. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said that the Dpeartment of Education (DepEd) has launched “Oplan Balik Eskwela-Information Action Center” to attend to the needs and queries of the parents and students during the backto-school season in June.

Vacate HE state-owned

Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) said that 277 families occupying the BCDA property in JUSMAG have applied to voluntarily vacate the area and avail of the relocation program being offered by the BCDA. BCDA president and chief executive Arnel Paciano D. Casanova said the 277 families represented 92 percent of the 300 informal settler-families, who occupied the JUSMAG Area.

Growth

HE software services outsourcing industry in the Philippines posted a positive growth as it reached a robust 37 percent in 2011, translating to $993 million with 11 percent growth rate on employment or some 50,000 information technology (IT) professionals, based on a recent study conducted by the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA). The nearly $1-billion figure is attributed to an increase in demand from international clients to tap local firms for their specific IT and software requirements.

Investment fund RESIDENT Benigno S.

Aquino III announced on Monday the creation of a P25-billion investment fund which the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) would allocate funds to strengthen infrastructure projects in the Philippines. Dubbed the Philippine Investment Alliance for Infrastructure (PInAI), the President said this investment fund, the largest single investment on infrastructure, would be formally launched in July of this year and is expected to improve the economy and provide more jobs.

VOL.5 ISSUE 61 • MAY 29, 2012

The butler did it... or did he? Vatican leaks row rumbles I

WORLD TODAY

HE Vatican is hunting for the masterminds of leaks that have enraged the Holy See, with few believing the pope’s arrested butler was behind the scandal, Italian media reported on Sunday. Vatican officials confirmed Saturday that Pope Benedict XVI’s personal butler Paolo Gabriele was arrested on suspicion of leaking confidential documents from the pontiff’s private study after secret papers were found in his home. His arrest was greeted with disbelief as the 46-year-old Gabriele was well-liked throughout Vatican City and known for his devotion and loyalty to the pope. The Italian press has been filled with speculation that the butler, one of a limited number of people who have access to the pope’s private quarters, was a pawn in a game of intrigue and struggle for power inside the Holy See. “No one thinks the butler was capable of orchestrating the ‘Vatileaks’ by himself and so the focus is on a higher, ecclesiastical level,” wrote the Corriere della Sera under the headline “Vatican braces for new arrests.” “Maybe someone set up the butler by placing the documents at his house or

‘Cannibal monster’

BUTLER. Paolo Gabriele (bottom), the pope’s butler, sits in the popemobile next to Pope Benedict XVI in April 2012. maybe he was executing orders from higher up. When you are loyal you are also obedient.” Last month, the pope set up a special commission of cardinals to probe the leaks, which began in January and have seen a number of private documents splashed in the Italian media -- to the embarrassment and anger of the Vatican. The documents shed light on many Vatican secrets, including the Church’s tax problems, the funding of Catholic bodies, sex scandals and negotiations

with hardline traditionalist rebels. Gabriele’s arrest came hot on the heels of the sacking of Vatican Bank president Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, who has also been suspected of being behind the leaks. Tedeschi was accused of failing to clean up the image of an institution that has come to symbolise the lack of transparency and the scandal gripping the Holy See’s administration. “Vatican hunts for accomplices,” La Stampa newspaper said of the leaks.

“Investigators are looking for confirmation, for evidence, for accomplices and a possible ‘higher level.’” A friend of Gabriele, who has worked at the Vatican since 2006, told the paper he believed the butler was probably set up. “From what I know of him, he either suddenly became a madman or he fell into a trap because someone important convinced him to safeguard the documents,” the friend, who also works at the Vatican, was quoted as saying on condition of anonymity.

preliminary discussion on the substantive agenda,” OPAPP said. Aside from the GPH and MILF peace panels, also present during the executive session was the Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato’ Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed only. However, members of the International Contact Group (ICG), who sit as observers in the GPHMILF peace negotiations, were not present in Mon-

day’s session. OPAPP said the ICG would attend Tuesday’s “formal proceedings between the two parties where details on powersharing, wealth-sharing, governance, geographical areas and normalization are expected to be tackled, to serve as inputs for the peace pact.” The exploratory talks will last until May 30. The negotiations resumed a month after the

two sides signed the Decision Points on Principles containing 10 points that will serve as a guide on the substantive issues to find a lasting solution to the long-drawn Mindanao armed conflict. GPH chief negotiator Marvic Leonen has maintained a “cautious optimism” for this new round of talks after holding a series of consultations in southern Philippines the past months. OPAPP said the government peace panel had conducted a total of 96 consultations to date. During these public dialogues, the GPH panel explained to stakeholders the content, concept and rationale of the Decision Points Principles. In preparation for the talks this month, the GPH panel held dialogues with senators, congressmen, local chief executives in Mindanao, business leaders, Ulama, and members of the Organization on Islamic Cooperation – Peace Committee on Southern Philippines (OIC-PCSP) to know their sentiments and gather their inputs on the GPH-MILF peace process. [PNA]

GPH, MILF resume talks in KL

ITHOUT fanfare, the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) resumed their 28th exploratory peace talks in Kuala Lumpur Monday, according to the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP). “As of 9:32 a.m. today, the government and the MILF panels engaged in an executive session for a

Power plant

RAN is to build a new nuclear power plant, alongside its sole existing one in the southern city of Bushehr, by early 2014, state television reported on Sunday, quoting the head of the country’s Atomic Energy Organisation. “Iran will build a 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plant in Bushehr next year,” the television quoted Fereydoon Abbasi Davani as saying. He was referring to the Iranian calendar year running from March 2013 to March 2014.

No need

HE head of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said there is no need to come up with a single currency inSoutheast Asia just topursue economic integration among the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations(ASEAN). BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said that studies have showed there is no need for a single currency just to achieve economic integration in Southeast Asia. The statement was made amid talks that Greece would exit the euro zone amid the sovereign debt crisis in Europe.

EDGEDAVAO

PROTESTS. A child with a Syrian opposition flag painted on the face, reacts as Syrian refugees take part in a protest in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, May 26, 2012, against an attack by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s forces on the Syrian city of Houla. [REUTERS]

man has been arrested on suspicion of killing 11 men in China, the official Xinhua news agency confirmed on Sunday, breaking its silence over the capture of a loner dubbed the “cannibal monster”. News reports from China and Hong Kong on Friday alleged the 56-yearold, a convicted murderer who was released from prison in 1997, had chopped up the bodies of the dead and sold the flesh to unsuspecting consumers.

Best spy

OR almost three decades after Fidel Castro took power, Cuba’s budding intelligence service fielded four dozen double agents in a worldclass operation under the nose of the CIA, according to a new book by a veteran CIA analyst. It was not until June 1987, when a Cuban spy defected to the U.S. Embassy in Vienna, blind-siding U.S. intelligence services, that the CIA learned how badly it had been duped, writes Brian Latell, a retired veteran CIA analyst and Cuba specialist.

Interrupted

protester interrupted the evidence of former Prime Minister Tony Blair to a judicial inquiry on Monday, shouting anti-war slogans and calling the former Labour leader a war criminal for joining the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The man entered the media press inquiry at the High Court in London from behind the stand where Blair and the judge were seated, and shouted: “this man should be arrested for war crimes. The man is a war criminal.”

Blast

blast struck a shopping complex in Nairobi’s business district during Monday’s lunch hour, wounding more than a dozen people, but it was not immediately clear what had caused the explosion. Dense black smoke billowed from the badly damaged building and sirens blared as emergency service crews rushed to Moi Avenue, a major road running through the city centre.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 61 • MAY 29, 2012

PSALM...

Make... FFROM 1

DCPO conference room. The meeting was attended by all police station commanders, the Public Safety Command Center (PSCC) head retired Major Magno Adalin, Traffic Management Center (TMC) chief retired Col. Desiderio Cloribel, and other members of the city’s peace keeping units. Department of Education (Deped) region 11 director Susana Estigoy announced that public schools will open on June 4 and private schools on June 13. “Now more than ever, we have to translate this intention into action. We are expecting that people will flock to schools, public or private, so we must have presence there,” Dela Rosa said. The DCPO chief earlier told Edge Davao that the Philippine National Police Oplan Balik Eskwela would

have at least two police officers per school. During the meeting, it was discussed that at least 700 personnel from the DCPO will be deployed on those days. TMC chief Cloribel said his unit will also be deploying at least 300 in the streets, especially near schools along busy thoroughfares. Other than putting police visibility in schools, the DCPO will also provide one public assistance desk per school. “The meat of this plan is to create police visibility and to provide assistance,” he said. “As much as possible kailangan merong assistance desk which will be very helpful. In case of emergency, such as may manakawan o may batang nawawala, the public assistance desk will provide help,” Dela Rosa said.

APHC,” he added. PSALM had reported P15.03 billion in losses allegedly incurred by the National Power Corporation (Napocor) from its operations the last 11 years. “There was no objection from the PSALM on our presentation when we reported that Agus-Pulangi is a net income earner,” Montenegro said. In an earlier press statement, MinDA Secretary Lualhati Antonino said it is not pure allegation that Agus and Pulangi are net income earners backed by financial records of Napocor and PSALM. Gathering data from the Commission on Audit and the websites of the Department of Energy (DOE), Napocor and PSALM, MinDA was able to present to President Benigno Aquino III the viability of APHC. As presented by PSALM, the Napocor had overall losses of P83 billion from its operations on

lot schools will help the DepEd finalize its curriculum for senior high school, she added. Based on the K+12 program of the DepEd, senior high school will be mandatorily implement-

ed by school year 20162017. In the school year 2012-2013, only Kindergarten, Grade 1 and Grade 7 will be implemented, according to the program. [LORIE A. CASCARO]

P60,000 be imposed on the owner, lessee, and maintainer of any establishment who shall knowingly allow the commission of any unlawful act enumerated in the measure. The penalty shall be imposed in its maximum if the offender is a public officer or employee who shall suffer perpetual disqualification from holding public office. Second offenders will also be meted

the maximum penalties. If the offender is a corporation, partnership or association, the officer/ officers shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment, and its business license or permit shall be withdrawn, cancelled or forfeited. The bill has been referred for proper appreciation and action to the Committee on Justice, chaired by Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr.

leading tourism hub in Asia Pacific. The event will generate actual business by participating travel and tourism entities such as hotels/resorts, tour operators, airlines and other various services and

product providers. The Philippines will have a yearlong worldwide publicity through PATA’s traditional and online media channels and international press that will cover the event.

3 schools...

FFROM 2

of 100 high school graduates, only 54 of them take up a bachelor’s degree; 23 take the TESDA technical vocational courses; and, 23 quit schooling for whatever reason. The experiences of pi-

Anti...

FFROM 2

onment and/or a fine ranging from P1,000 to P200,000, depending on who the persons violating the provisions of the proposed Act are – performer, producer, financier, promoter, importer, author, writer, publisher, editor or painter of any materials. Likewise, the bill proposes a penalty of one year to six years imprisonment and/or a fine ranging from P10,000 to

DOT...

FFROM 3 Hosting PTM with delegates from different countries will also bring prestige to our country, she said, adding, “It shows that many tourists still want to come to our country.” The event will also earn international goodwill for the Philippines while drawing global attention to the country’s much improved facilities and increased capacity. The DOT said PTM 2012 will be another opportunity to showcase the Philippines’ capability to host major international events and highlight the destination as a

Sara...

FFROM 1

Quips

‘I GUESS it’s harmless to wish that even though power rates have no chance of coming down, it would at least not increase in the years leading to 2016.’ --Senator Ralph Recto. PhilStar

all power assets, including diesel-fired, coal-fired, and geothermal power plants. The MinDa also cited that the amortization of P5.679 billion for the 210-megawatt STEAG coal-fired power plant in Misamis Oriental should not be computed as part of the losses since it is a capital lease. Montenegro said the average annual income of the APHC is P6 billion based on the P1.32-billion real profit and P5.679 billion, representing the amortization for STEAG that the government is contracted to until 2032. Antonino said, “If PSALM used up every centavo earned by Agus and Pulangui to subsidize said losing NPC assets, then it should have not allowed the hydro complex to deteriorate by allocating from its huge internally generated earnings for rehab and repair so these can continue to serve at expected generating capacities.”

FFROM 2

pareha sa una nga daghan na diay kaayo ang job orders sa ilaha unya ang naga-bayad diay kay ang city government,” she added. The mayor said that years before the 2010 elections, the city government had been providing personnel augmentation to Comelec 11. However, in the 2010 election, the former House Speaker had questioned this. In April of 2010, Comelec 11 received a memorandum from its national office ordering the removal of 86 casual employees, whose salaries were financed by the city government, in order to avoid further protests. This was less than two months before the election. All should help As a solution to the Comelec 11’s lack of personnel, Mayor DuterteCarpio suggested that “they request job orders not just from the city government but also from the district representatives and other units of the local government.” “Para dili masulti nga Comelec-slash-city government ang ilang office,

dapat mangayo sila ug tabang sa tanan nga mga congressman and other local government units,” she said. “Tanan pud unta mutabang sa Comelec office para dili ang city government lang pud ang ilang madaganan,” Duterte-Carpio added. She also noted a suggestion from her chief-ofstaff Lemuel Ortonio that “the city government grant the Comelec 11 office 100 job order employees so they can quickly finish their preparations. “Suggestion sa akoa was mag-provide ang city ug 100 ka employees pero before sa elections i-pull out lang daw,” she said. “Pero maski ingani man gud ilaha gihapon nang i-question. Nga basi naay gibuhat nga inganiingana. So, nag duha-duha gyud ko,” she added. Duterte-Carpio said she remains unresolved on whether to grant the second batch of six job order augmentation to Comelec 11, adding that the national agency should seek help from other local government units.

SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 61 â&#x20AC;˘ MAY 29, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

CHAMPS. John Jeric Accion (up) and Christian Fel Lopez (below) show fine form in these file photos. Both Accion and Lopez won titles in the recent Milo Junior Tennis Cup held at Eco-1 Tennis Center.

INdulge! FOOD

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Demystifying Arabian cuisine

FIGS, pistachio, honey, quail, chickpeas, parsley, savory yoghurt, and mint jelly are ingredients that may sound unfamiliar to some and are uncommon in regular Filipino fare. In fact, ask most normal Juans and Marias out on the street what they know about Middle Eastern cuisine and the most common answer would be “shawarma” and summing the rich cuisines of the Arab word in just one dish that would be like saying pandit canton is THE Chinese dish-dujour.

Serving the Fatayer -Triangular Meat Pies

Sambousek - Meat and Onion filled Half-Moon Shaped Pie and Falafel - Deep Fried Chick Pea Balls

Dolmas - Grape leaves roll stuffed with rice

Good thing Cafe Marco at the Marco Polo Hotel recently launched its Arabian Nights food festival featuring a kaleidoscope of gastronomic halal delights with foods coming from Egypt, north to Turkey, and east towards the Arabian peninsula and around the Persian Gulf. On the mouth watering menu are fresh vegetarian delights from fresh salads to light Persian borani-e khiar (yoghurt-drizzled cucumber and walnut) to the heftier potato and parsley Lebanese salatit el bataata and fattoush (pita bread with mint, olives, romaine, and feta), among others. Meat lovers on-the-

other-hand will love the finely spiced tender meat entrees, among them roast leg of lamb, ordek firinda (roast wild duck with honey, thyme and almonds), hearty kebabs and beef and chicken shawarmas. Seafood aficionados will savor garides me saltsa (shrimps drenched in tomato, wine and feta cheese sauce), bakaliaro tighanito (deep-fried cod), and uskumru polmasi (baked mackerel filled with the goodness of pine nuts, currants, and herbs), and other expertly prepared gifts from the ocean. And for only Php990 net per person, this virtual middle eastern journey is well within reach, but you better hurry since this culinary magic carpet ride is only available for dinner until June 16, 2012 only. Follow me on twitter @ kennethkingong for more foodie finds, travel misadventures, and happenings in and around the Davao.

Lamb Kofta and Butterflied Marinated Grilled Quail over couscous.

Mackerel Pilaki

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

EVENTS

Callum’s Heatstroke

YOU are in the middle of the dance floor. You forget everything else that is going on and start to move your feet to the beat. You for-

get that everyone else can see you; that everyone else has an opinion about you; and you simply stop everything and dance. You forget that you have work the next day, that you have a family to come home to, or a Twitter account to update. You let it all out and give in to the seduction of sound. You jump, you scream, you laugh, and you even wink at that cutie. Suddenly, you are caught in a state of party. You don’t consider anybody else. Heck, you do not even consider yourself. In fact, you consider nothing. Think about nothing. Analyze nothing. Being in a state of party means that your brain has stopped, and that your feet have taken over. And as you jump up and down while you raise your arms in the air; you start to understand that THIS is what partying feels like. And for most partyphiles I know, this realization happened last May 19, 2012 at DC Fahrenheit for Poshbox Event Solutions’ first party ever: Heatstroke featuring Manila’s ‘it’ boy, DJ Callum David a.k.a. Vinimal. Heatstroke was, dare I say, the hottest party of the season. And no, this is not a biased opinion even though I hosted the event. I seriously think that the organizers were successful in executing everything that they intended to. Although we are all aware that Fahrenheit isn’t exactly what comes to mind when talking about chichi events, which was a cause of concern for me, Poshbox managed to bling out the otherwise ho-hum interiors of the club enough to make me forget where I was. The interiors were classy, exciting, young, and fresh. It was very streamlined and refined; nothing over the top or too tongue-in-cheek. With a few yards of cloth and a whole lot of lights, DC Fahrenheit was transformed into Partyphile Paradise for a night. And that was only fitting as the crème de la crème of

young Davao society were in attendance. The program followed a simple, streamlined plan as well. One of the resident DJs for Fahrenheit started the ball rolling followed by one of the best DJs I’ve heard recently, DJ Ryan, whom I have never seen in action until this party. He was joined by the Tagahabi Drumbeaters as they pounded their percussions to the beat of the tracks that DJ Ryan spewed out. The idea was novel; the music it made was kitschy but very entertaining. All in all, it was a little added extra oomph before the main event. Prior to the main act, I hosted several quick games to get the crowd pumped. Prizes were given away by Globe Telecom, Pyesta KTV, Hairs and Nails, Envy Me, and other sponsors. Once we got the crowd’s interest we then welcomed the man of the night: DJ Callum. The model/socialite/DJ was impressive; he actually played his whole set without a monitor, laptop, or any of those fancy stuff that makes DJ-ing easier. He did it the

Callum David aka DJ Vinimal is Manila’s newest IT boy and the DJ du jour

old school way: with just his CDs, (audio) monitor, and the sound controls. This back-to-basics approach was rather interesting for a guy who made a name for himself through glamorous modelling. He dished out some of the hottest current favorites alongside old school tracks and even threw in some obscurities in the mix. The result: a hard hitting set that stretched for three long hours; an hour longer than agreed upon by the DJ and organizers. This was testament to how much Callum enjoyed the Davao crowd. And if you aren’t convinced that this noted Manila DJ actually appreciated the local crowd, he even tweeted “Ok, seriously I think that was the crazi-

Young Davao Society girls Chiche Alejandre and Kitty Marfori

est gig of my life. I love you Davao!” the next day. So maybe finally, our Northern counterparts are realizing how vivacious the local Partyphile crowd is. All in all, the event was a success. DJ Callum was amazing, his opening acts were equally impressive, the interiors were sophisticated, and the crowd was banging. Here’s to hoping we get even more events from Poshbox. Catch Confessions of a Partyphile on the radio every Wednesday evenings from 6 to 9 PM on 105.9 Mix FM or www.mix1059.com. For comments, suggestions, and more confessions from this partyphile log on to confessionsofapartyphile.blogspot. com or follow the columnist on twitter.com/zhaun

Party staples Doy Bijis, Micah Frasco, and Paolo Zurita

The people behind Poshbox Event Solutions and Rezzulier Photography

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

Where on earth is John Travolta?

How has the actor managed to be under our radar? EVER since the wave of lawsuits and allegations against him, John Travolta has been flying under the radar. Figuratively and literally.

While he was seen in Florida recently and is said to now be in the Bahamas, the actor has essentially remained out of the spotlight—aside from his attorney’s denials. But how, in this day and age, is someone as high-profile as Travolta so hard to track down? As most folks know, Travolta is a licensed pilot. However, when E! News tried to track the tail numbers attached to two private jets Travolta has used or owns, both numbers were blocked by request of the owner, and blocked aircraft can-

not be tracked by the general public.

“Congress enabled a program to allow peo-

Will Men in Black 3 topple the Avengers? THE boys are back in time, but do Agents J and K have the right stuff to neutralize a bunch of superheroes at the box office? Based on the $1.5 million that Men in Black 3 grossed from midnight screenings last night, the oftplagued threequel doesn’t come anywhere close to the $18 million The Avengers tallied from its midnight showings a few weeks ago. But there is some good news. While fanboys weren’t exactly crying out for a follow-up after the critical and commercial letdown that was Men in Black II, MIB3 has generated enough buzz to have a good shot at toppling the Marvel blockbuster from its perch as the No. 1 film these past three weeks. That’s because, per Deadline, industry analysts feel confident the Will SmithTommy Lee Jones-Josh Brolin vehicle will end up raking in upwards of $90 million thanks to the long Memorial Day weekend. And the only other competition that may give Men in Black 3 a run for its money this weekend is

the controversial horror thriller Chernobyl Diaries, which nabbed $525,000 in midnight screenings. By contrast, The Avengers is expected to earn less than that amount after last weekend’s solid haul of $55 million in ticket sales, when it fended off an invasion of flicks in the form of Battleship, The Dictator and What to Expect When You’re Expecting to up its domestic total to a whopping $457 million. No doubt after the many re-

writes and shooting delays, Columbia Pictures execs are hoping Men in Black 3’s mostly positive reviews (it scored a 65 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes) will give the sci-fi comedy franchise a much-needed jolt and help erase the bad memories that still linger from its predecessor. When it was released in 2002, Men in Black II grossed $441 million worldwide, a big dropoff from the $589 million global take of 1997’s original Men in Black. (E! Online)

ple to opt out of having their flights tracked in

real time over the Internet for broadcast to

anyone anywhere in the world who has an Internet connection because Congress realized that there are valid security concerns when that happens,” Dan Hubbard, Senior Vice President for the National Business Aviation Association told E! News. Hubbard said it is his understanding that anyone requesting his or her tail number blocked can simply email the FAA showing they are owners of the aircraft and the valid security reason why they are requesting the block. Security and law enforcement agencies such as FAA, police, DHS, traffic control TSA, however, can still see the aircraft. “Everyone who needs to see it, can see it,” Hubbard said. Ah, that explains it. (E! Online)

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge! UP AND ABOUT ENTERTAINMENT

WORLD TODAY Serving

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society

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

Davao

Tulip Drive, Ecoland, Davao City

VOL.5 ISSUE 60 • MAY 27 - 28, 2012

Fly all over the country for free with Nokia Lumia

HAS it always been your dream to explore the Philippines’ beautiful sceneries but you’re restricted by costly airplane fares?

Thanks to Nokia, Microsoft and Philippine Airlines, you can now explore the country as much as you want, without having to worry about spending so much on airfare. All you need is a Nokia Lumia smartphone to get a

chance to win unlimited PAL flights. To join, you must simply be an owner of any model of Nokia Lumia smartphone. If you don’t have one yet, then you can buy one from May 18 to June 15, 2012 at participating select Nokia, Globe, Smart Stores and retail outlets nationwide. Once you have your Lumia, retrieve its IMEI number by typing *#06# on

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

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your homescreen. Then, text I CAN LUMIA <Full Name>/<Address>/<IMEI> and send to 2960 for Globe and Smart subscribers. This will serve as your entry to the grand electronic raffle draw on June 17, 2012, where 100 lucky Nokia Lumia users will win unlimited roundtrip PAL flights. Winners will be able to travel to top local destinations such as Legaspi, Kalibo, Cebu, Tagbilaran, Davao and Puerto Princesa for one month from July 1, 2012 to July 1, 2013*. Don’t be a stranger in your own country! Join the Nokia Lumia – PAL promo and travel to the Philippines’ hottest tourist destinations as much as you want.

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EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS

Spurs strikeS in Game 1 VOL.5 ISSUE 61 • MAY 29, 2012

AN ANTONIO -- It’s a catchphrase likely coming soon to fan T-shirts, Internet memes and the lexicon of the NBA playoffs for the foreseeable future.

San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili celebrates after leading his team past Oklahoma in the NBA West Finals Game 1.

Davao karatekas win 11 golds

OST AAK Davao stamped its class with a devastating performance that netted 11 golds 10 silvers and 14 bronze medals in the just concluded AAK Davao Karate Cup at the SM City annex on Sunday. A total of 159 entries joined the event. Participating teams are from aak-la salle greenhills, aakdlsz,aak-st paul,aak-jru, aakmegamall, comatcom davao, shoreikan bukidnon, shutokai mati and host aak davao. As expected, karatedo prodigy Oona Barnes led Davao’s campaign with a double gold medal harvest. Also winning twin golds was

Pavel Jervis Bacayo. The other gold medalist are Alexa Barnes, Christian Tarnate, Tristan Sy, Vivian Cortes, Gabriel Quinones, Raven Camins, and Arthur Lao. Taking home silver medals were Rick David Aquino, Manuel Sy, Craig Tarnate, Angelica Noro, Olaf Lancelot Daguio, Carmela Marie Estarilja (2), Mary Ann Pilarte and David Espiritu. The bronze medalists are Tristan Sy, Danya Paquil, Alyssa Witara, Ian Patrick Veroy, Jhon Albert Albarico, and Nikko Estarija. The event was graced by AAK chairman Manuel Pocholo Veguillas and wife Josefina Veguillas. Ricky Lim

was the chief referee (World Karate Federation) assisted by Rex Resurrection, Sonny Montalvo, Meds Bacunawa, Bert Apas, Cris Campomanes and Rogel Caasi. The new rules of the WKF were used (version 7.0) in the event. The event was sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission under chairman Ricardo Garcia and executive director Atty. Guillermo Iroy, Jr., Genbukai Karatedo Canada, LCI Inc., Powerade, Alex Lao, Benjie Lim, Arch. Ben Lim, AAK Davao parents, DTI employees, Ricks Carwash, Beefit Gym, SM City Davao Annex, RD Asia, Pixmaker, and Charlie and Gloria Estarija.

16 third-quarter points, San Antonio scored 39 in the fourth. Westbrook chalked it up to a defensive breakdown that ‘’got out of hand’’ but it still left the Thunder in search of the road win they’ll need to in this series to reach the NBA finals for the first time since the franchise moved to Oklahoma City in 2009. Game 2 is Tuesday night. ‘’How it happened is irrelevant,’’ Thunder guard Derrick Fisher said of letting a lead slip away. ‘’Whether we lose by 20 or lose by one, we lost.’’ That’s something the Spurs haven’t been able to say since April 11. They joined the 2001 Lakers as the only other team to carry a winning streak this long in the playoffs - and that Los Angeles team did so on its way to a championship. The Spurs matched the fourth-longest streak in NBA history, and with one more will become just the fourth team to surpass 20. Tim Duncan had 16 points and 11 rebounds, and Tony Parker shook off a dismal start to finish with 18 points.

Ivanovic advances

Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic reacts after winning over Spain’s Lara ArruabarrenaVecino during their Women’s Singles 1st Round tennis match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, on Monday in Paris.

ARIS -- Former champion Ana Ivanovic reached the second round of the French Open by beating Lara ArruabarrenaVecino of Spain 6-1, 6-1 Sunday. Ivanovic won her only major title at Roland Garros in 2008, but lost in the fourth round a year later. She fell in the second round in 2010, and then lost in the first round last year. Against ArruabarrenaVecino, the former topranked Serb had five aces and 27 winners. Arruabarrena-Vecino finished the match with only four winners.

Roddick exits in 1 round P

GOLD MEDALIST. Oona Barnes shows off her two gold medals won in the recent AAAK Davao Karate Cup.

‘’I want some nasty!’’ Gregg Popovich didn’t just coin it. He snarled it, and the way his San Antonio Spurs obliged has the Western Conference finals off to a thrilling start. Manu Ginobili scored 26 points and the Spurs won their 19th in a row - tying the NBA record for longest winning streak kept alive in the playoffs - by rallying in the fourth quarter on the orders of their furious coach to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-98 in Game 1 on Sunday night. It was a tantalizing near-upset for the young Thunder, who came as close as anybody to beating the Spurs for the first time in 46 days. But a nine-point lead didn’t last after the famously mercurial 63-yearold Popovich - the NBA’s Coach of the Year - huddled

his lagging team together in the fourth and told them to ‘’get nasty.’’ ‘’I said that?’’ Popovich said afterward. A nationally television audience heard it. ‘’The heat of the game, stuff comes up,’’ Popovich said. ‘’So I talked to them about they’ve got to get a little bit uglier, get a little more nasty, play with more fiber and take it to these guys. Meaning you have to drive it, you have to shoot it.’’ And when they did, the Thunder couldn’t keep up. Kevin Durant led the Thunder with 27 points. Russell Westbrook had 17, and insisted he was OK after taking a spill that was nasty in its own right - face first, bracing his fall with his hands and sitting under the basket for more than a minute while the entire Thunder bench walked across the court to check on their All-Star point guard. ‘’I shot good shots, made good passes,’’ Durant said. ‘’Unfortunately, we lost.’’ After being held to just

ARIS -- Easy to understand why Andy Roddick never enjoyed playing on red clay all that much. First and foremost, the footing is tricky as can be. The soft courts take his booming serves and forehands down a notch, too. Put simply, his game is built for hard or grass courts. As if that weren’t enough, he arrived at this French Open having played only 16 matches in a season interrupted by injuries to his right hamstring and right ankle. If Roddick was tempted

to sit out Roland Garros altogether - or tempted to use his health or rust as an excuse for playing poorly - he did not. The 26th-seeded American, once ranked No. 1 and once a Grand Slam champion, gave it a shot and came up short Sunday, exiting in a major tournament’s opening round for the first time since 2007, and at the same venue. His 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 loss to 88th-ranked Nicolas Mahut at the French Open dropped Roddick’s record to 7-10 this season, 0-4 on clay. Of the seven previous major title winners in action on Day

1 in Paris, including Venus Williams in her first Grand Slam match since revealing in August she was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, only Roddick was beaten. ‘’Wasn’t playing really well. I move just horrendously out here. My first step is just so bad on this stuff,’’ Roddick said. ‘’I feel like I’m always shuffling or hopping or not stopping or something.’’ Like Roddick, and for much the same reasons, Williams is not nearly as comfortable on clay as faster surfaces.

She’s also dealing with the difficult process of learning to live with Sjogren’s syndrome, a condition that can cause fatigue and joint pain. But the 31-year-old Williams, a seven-time major champion, overcame a slow start Sunday to beat 19-yearold Paula Ormaechea of Argentina 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. ‘’A lot of it, I have to figure it out. It’s physical and emotional and all kinds of different things. Mental,’’ Williams said of her medical condition. ‘’It’s a big accomplishment for me to be here right now.’’

SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 61 • MAY 29, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Stephenson leads Wake Jam winners

By Neil Bravo

AVAO’S Zech Stephenson ripped the competition apart on his way to the Pro Wakeboard title to lead the winners in the recent Davao Summer Games Wake Jam at the Deca Wake Park and Resort. Stephenson, a recent awardee of the Mayor Inday Sara Duterte Sports Recognition, bested rivals Simon Carlos and Luda Horfilla to top the Pro Wakeboard category of the event serving as the competition phase of this year’s Davao Summerfest. Stephenson also won the Best Surface Trick Award in the Pro Wakeboard class. Artemiy Duraev matched the feat of Stephenson when he also ran away with the

Pro Wakeskate title and the Best Surface Trick award in the same class. Duraev beat Obi Cembrano and Fermin Tamayo while adding the Best Kicker Trick award. In the Open Women’s Wakeboard class, Mikee Selga won the title over Celina Cembrano and Kelsey Albano. Herberth Carpentero meantime won the Open Men’s Wakeboard title over Franco Carabuena and JJ Hernandez. In other fronts, Jon Yu won the Freeride Wakeboard by besting Louie Horfilla and Caz Israel. Joshua Stephenson won the Open Wakeskate over Jason Perez and Ylai Mendoza. Simon Cantos also won the Best Kicker Trick Award in the Wakeboard class. Complete Results:

Freeride Wakeboard Champion - Jon Yu 1st Runner Up - Louie Horfilla 2nd Runner Up - Caz Israel Open Womens Wakeboard Champion - Mikee Selga 1st Runner - Celina Cembrano 2nd Runner Up - Kelsey Albano Open Wakeskate Champion - Joshua Stephenson 1st Runner Up - Jason Perez 2nd Runner Up - Ylai Mendoza Open Mens Wakeboard Champion - Herberth Carpentero 1st Runner Up - Franco Carabuena 2nd Runner Up - JJ Her-

nandez

Pro Wakeskate Champion - Artemiy Dunaev 1st Runner Up - Obi Cembrano 2nd Runner Up - Fermin Tamayo Pro Wakeboard Champion - Zecn Stephenson 1st Runner Up - Simon Cantos 2nd Runner Up - Luda Horfilla Best Kicker Trick Wakeboard: Simon Cantos Wakeskate: Artemiy Dunaev Best Surface Trick Wakeboard: Zech Stephenson Wakeskate: Artemiy Dunaev

DURIANMAN. Kathleen Competente competes in the Durianman Novice Sprint Triathlon last Sunday at the Davao Crocodile Park. [JOEY FERNANDEZ]