Edge Davao 5 Issue 72

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL.5 ISSUE 72 • JUNE 13, 2012

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Serving a seamless society

Indulge Page A4

Mayor Sara says

Drainage plan to cost billions

By Jade C. Zaldivar

C

ONSTRUCTION of three main drainage canals will cost Davao City billions of pesos, according to Mayor Sara

n Construction to take over a decade n System to cost P20M a kilometer Duterte-Carpio.

The lady mayor confirmed an announcement of the City Planning and

Development Office (CPDO) last week that the city is mulling to invest a huge amount of money in building a comprehensive drainage system as a long-term solution to the perennial flooding problem.

FDRAINAGE, 13

Science/Environment Page 4 Sports Page 14

WAR VETERANS. War veterans pay tribute to comrades who sacrificed sweat and blood for the liberation of the country from foreign oppressors during yesterday’s commemoration of the country’s 114 Independence Day. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

As of 1p.m., only 2,000 applied for 24,300 vacancies

Most job-seekers snub job fair

Follow Us On

By Lorie A. Cascaro

A

RE job fairs becoming less attractive to job-seekers? This question was asked by observers upon learning

that as of 1 p.m. yesterday, a measly 1,957 job-seekers applied for 24,301 supposed vacancies involved in the Kalayaan job fairs held the Abreeza Mall and NCCC Mall in Davao City where the Department of Labor

and Employment (DOLE) 11.

As of that time, only 853 of the applicants qualified--497 for local employment , and 356 for overseas deployment.

The total registered job applicants inter-

FMOST, 13

2

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 72 • JUNE 13, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Gov’t agencies ink MOU on MindaNOW project

A

number of national line agencies have forged a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the implementation of MindaNOW: Nurturing Our Waters Program, a flagship program of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

MinDA chairperson Secretary Luwalhati R. Antonino said that under the MOU, the agencies have committed to help in the planning, implementing, monitoring, and evaluation of the project.

The MOU signing was held during the Mindanao two-day environmental summit dubbed as the Mindanao Economy and Environment Summit held earlier this week at Grand Regal Hotel in this city.

Signatories to the MOU were Sec. Antonino; Sec. Mary Ann Lucille Sering of Climate Change Commission, Agriculture Sec. Prospero Alcala , Environment and Natural Resources Undersecretary Demetrio Ignacio, Office of Civil Defense Undersecretary Benito Ramos; Public Works and Highways Assistant Secretary Dimas Suguilon; Science and Technology region XI director Anthony Sales; Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Science and Technology Asst.

Secretary Abdullah Salic; Tourism XI director Arturo Boncato; National Economic Development Authority XI director Ma. Lourdes Lim; Commissioner Santos Unsad of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Interior and Local Government director Francisco Jose and Education XI assistant director Fe delos Reyes.

She said the MindaNOW Program was a concrete response of MinDA to calls for ensuring sustainable economic development and ecological integrity of Mindanao. It also seeks to fulfill the vision of sustainable development

under the Mindanao 2020 Peace and Development Framework Plan. It aims at developing and managing Mindanao’s river basins and watersheds. Aside for protection and preservation, the watersheds and river basins needs to be managed properly to sustain its viability as Mindanao’s main source of power.

“This will ensure a continuing coordination across sectors and across river basin units. We will have to organize our coordination flow in a way that can provide focus on each unique requirement of every basin while ensuring convergence across watershed units,” she said.

Antonino quoted Jose Ma. Lorenzo Tan, chief executive and director of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the Philippines, on his positive note to the project and the collaboration of the national line agencies.

“For the longest time, too many people have looked at environmental concerns in a “standalone” manner. This thinking is outdated. Current thinking looks at the physical environment, and the ecological services that come from it, in a cross cutting manner,” he said.

“The opportunity is to establish climate smart, economic convergence at meso-scale. If natural ecosystems are used as development anchors, this strategy will probably involve multi-regional zones defined by economic consonance,” he added.

Under the MindaNOW program, Antonino said the participating agencies would also provide technical service support to the river basin management units which, in turn, would coordinate the various local resource councils and local government unit alliances for the sustainable management of their respective watersheds. [PNA]

HOLE IN THE WALL. A construction worker takes a break from his labor to peek through an opening in the enclosed construction site at Jones Circle.

Like him, many Filipinos are looking for better opportunities in life. [KARLOS

HE Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC), a non-government Filipino organization based in Washington, D.C., said on Tuesday the Philippines and three other countries from South America signed with the United States Department of Labor (DOL) partnership agreements that would ensure migrant workers their right to safe workplaces and full payment of wages as provided for under U.S. laws.

In an e-mail to the Philippines News Agency, MHC said U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis signed the agreement for the U.S. while Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose L. Cuisia Jr. signed on behalf of the Philippine government.

Ambassadors Nathalie Cely of Ecuador, Harold Forsyth of Peru, and Jorge Ramon Hernandez Alcerro of Honduras signed for their respective countries.

The signing was held at the DOL headquarters in Washington on Monday (Tuesday, Manila time).

The accord augurs well for Filipino migrant workers throughout the U.S. MHC said that according to the 2010 U.S. Census, the number of “Filipinos in any combination” in the U.S. increased by 44.5 percent from 2,364,815 in 2000 to 3,416,840.

The protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare and interest of Filipinos overseas is among the three pillars of Philippine foreign policy, the MHC said.

In a statement, Cuisia said: “We are very pleased to sign these joint declarations and letters of arrangement with DOL. We assure DOL we will do our part in ensuring the dissemination of helpful information to Filipino workers concerning their right to a safe and healthy working environment, and fair wages and work-

ing hours in the U.S., and in assisting them to seek redress when such rights are disregarded or outrightly violated.”

Under the agreement, regional enforcement offices of the U.S. Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and its Wage and Hour Division (WHD) will cooperate with Philippine consulates throughout the U.S. Together, the consulates and Labor Department agencies will reach out to migrant workers with information about U.S. health, safety and wage laws, MHC said.

The partnerships will help the WHD and OSHA to more effectively enforce U.S. laws, especially in high-risk and low-wage industries. This cooperation also will help both agencies identify problems faced by migrant workers and target labor law enforcement efforts.

“Migrant workers

make important contributions to our economy,” Solis said.

“Enforcing labor rules means we ensure that companies that play by the rules get an advantage and compete in a level playing field, and that all workers are safe on the job and are fairly compensated,” she added.

DOL now has similar agreements with 11 countries. The Labor Department previously implemented agreements with Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and India.

The U.S. DOL’s WHD is responsible for administering and enforcing laws that establish minimally acceptable standards for wages and working conditions in the country.

WHD has over 200 district, field, and area offices across the country with trained personnel available to assist workers. [PNA]

PCOS machines, including the software and the consolidation and canvassing system (CCS).

However, several poll watchdog and IT groups have challenged the deal with the Netherlandsbased Smartmatic-Total Information Management.

The SC has already issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the Comelec and Smartmatic from carrying on with their PCOS agreement. [PNA]

HE decision of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) to include former congressman Juan Miguel Zubiri Zubiri on its 2013 senatorial ticket “weakens its pretensions that it will set the tone for the reformation of our country’s corrupt political system,” former Senate minority leader Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. said in a statement.

“By welcoming Migs into its fold, UNA has unequivocally put itself on the side of electoral cheats and sends the message that it will do anything to propel itself into power,” Pimentel Jr. said.

“To UNA, the principles that Koko Pimentel is fighting for: clean and honest elections, transparency and accountability especially of public officials are useless and irrelevant. And should be substituted by what is politically practical and expedient,” he

added.

Pimentel’s son and namesake, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, has also objected to Zubiri’s entry to UNA, a coalition between the Binay-led PDP-Laban and the Partido ng Masang Pilipino of former president Joseph Estrada.

In the 2007 senatorial election, Zubiri won the 12th and last seat by a slim margin against the younger Pimentel.

Pimentel III filed a protest before the Commission on Elections and the Senate Electoral Tribunal, citing massive cheating, particularly in Maguindanao province then ruled by the Ampatuans.

Zubiri yielded his seat in the Senate in August 2011, after some witnesses, some of them election officials, surfaced and revealed how the cheating in Maguindanao was carried out.

Pimentel III was finally sworn in as senator a few

days after Zubiri stepped down, with the SET ruling that he led his rival by over 250,000 votes.

In an interview Tuesday night with ANC’s Lynda Jumilla, the senator said the problem is not Zubiri’s candidacy but his decision to run under UNA of which he (Pimentel) is a member.

He said allowing this to happen would be like “rewarding” Zubiri.

Pimentel III hinted he might run outside of the UNA ticket. “I would be up for adoption by any political party and by the people themselves,” he said.

The administration Liberal Party has invited the senator to run under its ticket.

Zubiri had maintained that although he was the beneficiary of the cheating in Maguindanao, he had no knowledge about it. [MIND-

MANLUPIG]

PHL, 3 other countries sign with U.S. partnership pact on migrant workers T

UNA hit for accepting Migs Zubiri Comelec hopeful to get favorable SC decision on PCOS machines T

T

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is hoping to get a favorable decision from the Supreme Court (SC) on the purchase of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines from Smartmatic International.

The High Court will deliberate on Wednesday on the petition against the poll body’s decision to exercise its option to purchase the PCOS machines, which were first utilized in the automated May

2010 elections.

“Kung close vote, or maski 7-7 yan… okay na ako diyan kasi panalo pa din kami, kasi they have to get ‘8’ dahil sila ang petitioner,” said Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes.

He added that getting a favorable decision would give them the virtual “green light” to go ahead with their preparation for the May 2013 polls.

The Comelec has decided to exercise its “option to purchase” the

ANEWS]

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 72 • JUNE 13, 2012

Reason for resignation

3

PDP- Laban doesn’t allow dual membership – mayor

By Jade C. Zaldivar AVAO CITY Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio resigned from the PDP-Laban (Partido Demokratikong PilipinoLakas ng Bayan) because of its rule that does not allow members to be part of another political party.

“I resigned because of that PDP rule,” she told a media briefing recently. “I was informed that there’s conflict of interest if you belong to another party, unless it’s just an alliance wherein you’re still part of a party which formed alliance with another,” she added.

It was upon the initiative of Duterte-Carpio that Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod (Hugpong), the political group of Duterte allies, applied with the Comelec for recognition as a party list.

However, she said the group has yet to hear from the Comelec.

“I’m party-less right now.

We’re still waiting Comelec’s

processing of our papers,” she said.

Duterte-Carpio said that her decision is unconventional.

PDP-Laban, chaired

by Vice President Jejomar Binay, had recently formed an alliance with Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) of President Joseph Estrada, giving birth to the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

“I suppose it’s a backward decision; that while everyone is going to PDP here comes one who resigned,” she said in vernacular.

Duterte-Carpio justified that she’d rather focus on local politics than continue her membership in the PDPLaban.

“I decided also to focus on local elections. Wala man koy interest sa national elections para walay conflict of interest,” she said.

“Mag-focus na lang ko sa local elections. I’ll just let national politics run its course,” she added.

Meanwhile, UNA

By Lorie A. Cascaro

n To promote savings consciousness among

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will work hard in promoting savingconsciousness among Filipino households, and some other policies and programs in reaction to the results of the first customer financial survey (CFS) in the Philippines.

Diwa C. Guinigundo, BSP deputy governor, monetary stability sector, said Monday that the BSP should continue to work toward a more inclusive financial system that reaches those who are otherwise “excluded”

or “unbanked”.

Guinigundo said the survey indicated that very few Filipinos are saving their money in the banks, a problem that has persisted since the country’s birth more than a hundred years ago.

CFS results show that eight in 10 households or 78.5% did not have a deposit account. The main reason cited by 92.8% of households for the absence of a deposit account was that they did not have enough money for bank deposits.

Other reasons men-

D

announced the addition of three more senatorial candidates for next year’s elections. They are Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, Zambales Representative Mitos Magsaysay and former Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.

All three have been identified with former President Gloria MacapagalArroyo.

“We do not take them in thinking they are Arroyo-allies, or whatever.

Whoever we support will be supported because of his or her capabilities,” Binay said in an interview following his guesting at Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s TV show here in Davao City.

“If they are liable for dubious activities during the time of the former president (Arroyo) then we will not support them,” he added.

UNA’s other senatorial bets are Joey de Venecia, Cagayan Representative Juan Ponce “Jack” Enrile, Senator Gregorio Honasan, and San Juan City Representative Joseph Victor Ejercito.

BSP reacts to results of customer financial survey

T

Filpinos

NOT FREE. Progressive groups led by Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) stage a protest activity in time for yesterday’s 114th Independence Day commemoration wherein they condemned the continuing intervention and presence of American

tioned by the remaining 7.2% of households were: do not need a bank/cash account (1.7%); cannot manage an account (1.5%); minimum balance is too high (1.2%); do not like to deal with banks/financial institutions (1%); and, others not specified (1.8%).

Guinigundo said the BSP has already made some headway in promoting and establishing an enabling policy and regulatory initiatives, training and capacity building, and promotion and advo-

FBSP, 13

military forces in the country, declaring that the Philippines is not for sale to foreign forces and multinational corporations.

[KARLOS MANLUPIG]

INDEPENDENCE DAY. Davao City Mayor Inday Duterte-Carpio leads the commemoration of the 114th Independence Day at the Rizal Park. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

S

30 Dabawenyos to train in ‘pawikan’ conservation

OME 30 Dabawenyos will join training on marine turtle (pawikan) conservation to be given by the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau (PAWB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) central office come June 14-15 to be held this city.

City Agriculturist’s Office (CAO) in-charge Leonardo Avila III said yesterday that most of the participants will come from Toril district, particularly Binugao, Sirawan and Lizada.

“These areas have a number of pawikan nestings and emergence reported the past years. We

have a temporary hatchery in Lizada. We need to train the community in the advocacy and technical capability,” he said.

The CAO is the lead office in the city, together with DENR 11 and PAWB, in the conduct of this training.

Ernesto T. Santa Cruz, a volunteer researcher and advocate of pawiAkan conservation in the Davao Gulf, recommended the training design, which he adopted from the training design of his former colleagues in the Pawikan Conservation Project of PAWB. As indicated in the training design recom-

mended, the training will provide participants knowledge about marine turtles.

This includes marine turtle biology and morphology; differences between a marine turtle and a land turtle; species identification techniques; species identification learning assessment; evolution and life cycle.

Participants will also learn about threats and causes of marine turtles’ mortality; their population status; and ecological significance, as well as the impacts of climate change.

They will also be taught how to protect pawikans that involves hatchery site

1 dead; missing person found

nag-puyo tupad sa bukid.

Nag-ligid ang yuta gikan sa bukid ug nitabon sa mga balay,” he added.

Retrieval operations were conducted by the Urban Search and Rescue Team of Central 911 in coordination with community residents and the elements of the 84th Infantry Battalion of the Philippine Army.

According to its commanding officer, Lt. Colonel Gabriel Viray, three of the destroyed houses belonged to CAFGU (Citizens Armed Forces Geographical Unit) personnel in the area.

Mayor Duterte-Carpio said the victims of the landslide will be given ample assistance from the local government.

Those whose houses were totally damaged will be

F30 DABAWENYOS, 13

Landslide cost P312-T in damages

P

312,000 worth of damage was caused by the landslide that hit about 2 a.m. last June 11 Sitio Ladian, Marilog district, Davao City.

Central 911, Davao City’s emergency response unit, reported that eight houses were totally damaged while two others were partially damaged.

“A tribal office building was also partially damaged,” according to Central 911 action officer Emmanuel Jaldon.

The number of persons affected were 32--17 children and 15 adults.

As earlier reported, an 11-year old girl died in the landslide. She was identified as Sweet Jahira Unad, daughter of Myra Unad, a single mother.

An unidentified person who was earlier reported as

n

missing turned out to be unharmed and was not missing at all, Jaldon said.

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said there was no rain that could have triggered the incident.

“There as no rain. The ground simply caved in,” Mayor Sara told reporters in a briefing in her office last June 11.

However, the Office of Civil Defense for Davao region said there had been heavy rains in the area for the past few days.

“The rains that occurred the past several days reportedly caused stress to the upland soil,” said City Information Office acting head Joseph Lawrence Garcia.

“Ang mga tao man gud

FLANDSLIDE, 13

4

SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 72 • JUNE 13, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Madagascar community sets example of saving environment W

ITH his hat pulled down low over his face, Mamy braved the autumnal winds and rain of the southern hemisphere to proudly point to a range of grey granite mountains in Madagascar.

“This is a special place,” he says, acting as a guide to the natural park. “We’re going to see lemurs, caves, ancestral tombs, chameleons, birds, butterflies and also medicinal plants.”

He belongs to Madagascar’s Anja community which has been working to save local forests and wildlife and setting an environmental example that has earned Anja a UN-backed prize.

Up in the mountains, a labyrinth of corridors wind through the rock.

Mamy points out zebu horns which mark the entrance to a tomb. A little farther on, he looks up and notes the black and white lemurs leaping from tree to tree.

“These are Maki-Katta lemurs. ‘Katta’ comes from the English ‘cat’ because they look like cats.”

Today, 300 lemurs live in the park. Twenty years ago, they were nearly all gone. At the beginning of the 1990s, half of the 13 hectares (32 acres) of the forest of Anja was illegally chopped down.

The consequences

were dramatic, including a fall in water supplies, the drying out of rice paddies and the drifting of sand on to fields.

The lemurs fled and the few that remained were sometimes eaten by villagers close to starvation.

To cope with the disaster,local people in 2001 set up an association named Anja Miray (the community of Anja), which involved six villages in reforestation and the development of ecotourism.

The project received a United Nations donation of about 30,000 euros (38,000 dollars) -- a substantial payout in a country where three quarters of the population live on less than a dollar a day. The goal was to make local people aware of the economic interest in protecting their environment.

Eleven years later, the UN has awarded Anja Miray the biennial Equator Prize, which recognises 25 communities from all over the world for their work in safeguarding biodiversity and promoting ecotourism.

In a village another Anja native and local guide, Bruno, leads the way down a dirt track to a brick house where children are playing outside.

“Before it was a very small house. But today we have money, thanks to the association. There are several thousand tourists

A woman prepares food in Anja, southern Madagascar. The UN has awarded Anja Miray the biennial Equator Prize, which recognizes 25 communities from all over the world for their work in safeguarding biodiversity and promoting ecotourism. who come every year. So I was able to make my house bigger and build a balcony,” he says.

Balconies, a typical regional feature, are a sign of a certain social standing. “Now almost everybody has one,” Bruno remarks.

Ecotourism brings about 30,000 euros a year into this community of 2,500 people. With the help of this money, Anja Miray pays for patrols to watch over the park, take

a census of the species living there and provide a welfare system to benefit the handicapped and the elderly. The community is also now self-sufficient in food.

Later this month representatives from Anja will go to Rio de Janeiro to accept their prize at the UN environment summit there. A celebration of this trip recently brought together the residents of Anja and about 40 guests from communities all

over the Indian Ocean island nation.

Fatma Samoura, UN coordinator in Madagascar, was one of the invited and said: “I feel proud for this community.”

And she said they have a message for the delegates at the Rio summit.

“Today these communities, by way of the statements they are going to make in Rio, will nevertheless raise the alarm, by saying, ‘Listen, we made

the choice of not being dispossessed of our land, but we should also like the Madagascan authorities really to help us to stay in our homes and to produce at the same time as conserving nature’,” Samoura said.

The representatives who took part in the celebratory event founded a network whose aim is to ensure that each community enjoys the same type of development as has taken place in Anja.

Bureau (MGB) and FMB partnered with UPLB in producing the handbook, realizing availability of and access to information on sound rehabilitation and restoration technologies are essential in promoting responsible mining across the country.

The Australian government as well as the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization provided support for the undertaking.

“A sound rehabilitation program using scientifically- based techniques is very essential in order to bring about a responsible mining industry,” said ERDB Director Marcial Amaro Jr. During DENR’s silver anniversary celebration last week, he and other officials concerned turned over a copy of the handbook to Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.

“I hope our field implementers will use this handbook to guide them on management and restora-

tion of forests throughout all stages of mining operations,” said FMB officerin-charge Director Neria Andin.

She noted both forestry and mining sectors must work together to help ensure rehabilitation will truly restore miningaffected areas to functional stability.

“Forest resource use as well as extraction of mineral resources in forest lands is allowed under existing laws, rules and regulations but with safeguards,” she said.

Latest available DENR data show forest land accounts for about 50 percent of the Philippines’ 30 million hectares of land.

Of the country’s total forest land covering some 15 million hectares, DENR said about 30 percent “are considered as high potential for minerals.”

Evangelista expects DENR to come out soon with a memorandum circular directing its field offices nationwide to adapt

the handbook.

“That circular might be out by this month’s end,” she said.

She said a draft of the circular was already presented to Paje for his approval and signing.

MGB Director Leo Jasareno considers the handbook’s production as “timely,” warning abandoned and unrehabilitated mine sites pose danger to people and the environment.

“This explains why we continue to work for advancement of responsible mining where mining activities shall be undertaken with due and equal regard for economic and environmental considerations as well as for health, social and cultural concerns,” he said.

He reiterated that mine rehabilitation aims establishing a permanently stable landscape “that’s aesthetically and environmentally compatible with surrounding lands.”

Amaro assured

ERDB’s participation in related future undertakings so this agency can develop initiatives that’ll further help promote sustainable and responsible mining nationwide.

ERDB’s output will also form part of the scientific basis for developing sound mining policies, he noted.

“Science-based policies are very necessary in evolving a responsible industry that aspires to bring usability and stability to the environment,” he said.

Cruz likewise said UPLB will “continue to share the burden of other research institutions in generating effective and cost-efficient mining rehabilitation technologies for widespread use by mining companies.”

Fora and symposia will still be among UPLB’s means of sharing knowledge for improving existing Philippine policies and practices on mine rehabilitation, he added. [PNA]

Training mulled on mining-affected forests’ management, restoration

T

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will soon orient stakeholders concerned on the contents of its new landmark “Handbook on Management and Restoration of Forests in Areas Affected by Mining in the Philippines” to help them better bring such eco-systems back as near as possible to their original states in terms of species composition, structure, function and productivity.

Such handbook is the first attempt to consolidate in one publication existing policies as well as knowledge, experiences and practice on managing and restoring affected Philippine forests at all stages of mining operations from exploration to decommissioning, DENR said.

“There’ll be orientation training on the matter,” said Remy Evangelista, who’s chief of the Reforestation Division under DENR’s Forest Management Bureau (FMB).

She added that the training will be for mining companies, noting these are duty-bound to rehabilitate and restore areas where respective operations were carried out.

“Members of multisectoral monitoring teams in the country will also be briefed on the handbook so they’ll know what to look out for,” she said.

University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Chancellor Dr. Rex Victor Cruz believes the handbook’s production will help boost the bid for responsible mining.

“With almost US$ 1 trillion mineral reserves underneath the Philippine land surface, many of which are below many forest eco-systems, striking the delicate balance between development and conservation is vital in achieving goals of both realms,” he said.

DENR’s Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau (ERDB), Mines and Geosciences

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 72 • JUNE 13, 2012

5

SMI waits for new mining policies S

AGITTARIUS Mines, Inc. (SMI) awaits issuance of an Executive Order on new mining policies by President Benigno Aquino III as it continues to prepare the groundwork for its planned commercial operation by 2016.

“We are still waiting for it,” said Mark Williams, SMI general manager.

Williams was in the city recently for the launching of the 2011 Tampakan Copper-Gold Project Sustainability Report as part of the company’s commitment to open and transparent business reporting.

President Aquino last year said the EO to be crafted by a Special Team, led by the National Economic Development Au-

thority (NEDA), would be out

by January. But there has been no news so far on the EO that is being awaited by the mining industry.

The US$ 5.9-million Tampakan Copper-Gold Project-the single biggest investment in the Philippines today--is situated on the boundaries of four provinces: South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat and Davao del Sur and is considered as one of the world’s largest undeveloped copper-gold deposits.

The Project has an estimated 2.94 billion metric tons of ore reserves at a grade of 0.51 percent copper and 0.19 grams per tons gold, using a cut-off grade of 0.2 percent cop-

per. This represents 15 million tons of copper and 17.6 million ounces of gold.

The Tampakan Project is operated by SMI, whose 40 percent controlling equity is a joint venture among Xstrata Copper (62.5 percent) and Indophil Resources NL (37.5 percent).

The 60 percent non-controlling equity shareholders of SMI are the Tampakan Mining Corporation and Southcot Mining Corp. (known as the Tampakan Group of Companies).

Malacanang earlier assured foreign and local businessmen and other stakeholders in the local mining industry that their concerns would be taken into consideration in President Aquino’s executive order out-

114 FLAGS FOR THE 114TH INDEPENDENCE DAY. As the entire country observes a national commemoration, 114 security guards bearing 114 national flags paraded around SM City Davao as a tribute in the celebration of the 114th Independence Day. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

lining the government’s mining policy.

Foreign investors are interested in pursuing ventures, but policy bottlenecks are hampering them, and like SMI are eagerly awaiting the presidential EO. Aquino in March said various stakeholders are now going through the draft of the EO for their final inputs before he signs it.

On top of the pending EO, SMI is also awaiting results of its appeal with the Department on Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) which has temporarily denied approval of its Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) on the basis of the ban on open-pit mining by the South Cotabato provincial government.

The DENR denial of its ECC and the South Cotabato open pit mining ban, including security risks to its personnel posed by communist rebels, however have not affected the schedule of SMI to start commercial operation in 2016, said John Arnaldo, corporate communications manager of SMI, which invested some P1.8 billion last year alone for its large-scale project in the mountains of Tampakan town in South Cotabato.

Arnaldo said despite the delays in the permitting process, they were still hopeful to jump start the production of the Tampakan project on schedule.

“Admittedly, if there are delays in the approval process, it would have an effect [to the timeline]. But so far, we are still looking at 2016 for the production phase,” he said.

Majority of Filipinos have no bank account

T

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) First Consumer Finance Survey (CFS) in the country showed a big number of the population still unbanked.

BSP deputy governor Diwa C. Guinigundo said in the CFS result, it showed that said eight out of 10 households or 78.5 percent did not have deposit accounts.

Gunigundo on Monday told stakeholders here that the CFS has a sample size of 10,520 households consisting of 3,872 households from the National Capital Region or 36.8 percent and 63.2 percent in AONCR (area outside of NCR), specifically Regions 1, 7, and 11 and the overall response rate was

89.4 percent.

He said the reason cited why 92.8 percent of the households do not have deposit accounts was they do not have money for bank deposits. Other reasons cited by the remaining 7.2 percent of the households were: they don’t need a bank/ cash account, 1.7 percent; cannot manage an account, 1.5 percent; minimum balance is too high with 1.2 percent, do not like to deal with banks/ financial institutions, one percent; and others not specified at 1.8 percent.

“Despite the number of banks operating in various communities and with several branches, many of our households are still unbanked,”

Gunigundo said.

He said for those who have deposits or cash accounts, he said the most common type of depository among households across all regions are the commercial banks.

The secondary deposit institutions in Regions I, VII, and XI are the rural and cooperative banks, he added.

Gunigundo also noted that the survey result showed that Filipinos are inclined towards savings, and display good sense of money, however many people are not risk takers when it comes to their income and business.

The results, he said would affirm BSP’s financial inclusion and financial education

initiatives.

Guinigundo said some policy implications that can be drawn from the results of the survey is for the BSP to work towards a more inclusive financial system that reaches out to those who are otherwise “excluded” or “unbanked”.

The BSP official however, said BSP has already made some headway in promoting and establishing an enabling policy and regulatory environment to increase access to financial services of the entire populace through policy and regulatory initiatives, training and capacity building, and promotion and advocacy activities.

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

6

THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 72 • JUNE 13, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Aquino to discuss faster land distribution with farmer groups P

RESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III is set to meet with representatives from farmer organizations to firm up strategies that will fast track distribution of land to legitimate farmer beneficiaries, a Palace official said on Monday.

In a regular press briefing in Malacanang, Presidential Spokeperson Edwin Lacierda assured farmer beneficiaries that the Aquino government, through the Department of Agrarian Reform, was expeditiously working towards distributing land to them as mandated by the Comprehensive Agrarian Program Extension with Reforms (CARPER) Law. Lacierda said Presi-

dent Aquino will meet the farmer organizations the soonest possible time.

“The Cabinet Secretaries will be briefing the President because there are certain proposals that require the approval of the President. Kapag naayos na po iyan, we will find a schedule for the President to meet with the farmers. At nasabi na rin po ni Pangulong Aquino na nais rin niyang makita at makausap ang mga magsasaka,” Lacieda said.

Lacierda said Friday’s meeting between the members of the Aquino government and the representatives from farmer organizations was a constructive one as both

sides agreed on several issues.

After the meeting, the Cabinet secretaries came out with proposals to be submitted to President Aquino.

“May mga 5 or 6 doables kaming na maipapakita kay Pangulong Aquino. And some of them would require the approval of the President.

Kasi pinag-usapan din doon ang support services na hinihingi rin ng mga magsasaka. Ang support services will be provided for by the Department of Agriculture,” Lacierda said .

“One of the complete steps na ginawa po natin is to focus on the claim folders. May tinatawag po

“We may reduce it to P100 billion. It won’t be drastic so as not to make the market anxious and make the prices fluctuate,” he said.

The government has set a P117-billion and P106.5-billion borrowing program for the first and second quarters this year, respectively.

BTr data show that to date, it has sold P131.856 billion worth of T-bills and T-bonds.

Of the total, T-bills sold

amounted to P59.856 billion while T-bonds totaled to P72 billion.

The government has a 75-25 borrowing mix this year in favor of domestic borrowing to save from paying costly funding overseas.

Earlier, Finance Cesar Purisima said they continued to issue more debt with longer tenors onshore to maximize the low interest rate environment as well as lengthen maturities of liabilities.

Relatively, the local currency gained P0.35 against the dollar after closing at 42.92 from last Friday’s 43.27 finish.

It started the day at 43.10, better than the previous trading session’s 43.20 opening.

Its strongest trade during the day stood at 42.90 while weakest was at 43.12 resulting in an average of 43.004, an improvement over last Friday’s 43.237.

Volume of trade amounted to US$ 976.7 million, slightly higher than the US$ 967.05 million at the end of last week.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Diwa Guinigundo, in a text message, said improvement of the peso against the dollar “suggests that the market has digested recent financial market developments and realized Philippine macrofundamentals remain strong and sound.”

He stressed that monetary officials “have seen a resumption of capital inflows complementing the resilient current account

transactions.”

“We expect this to continue unless the events in the Euro and US turn for the worse and deleveraging forces the money out of the emerging markets anew.”

The central bank official said that strengthening of the local currency would impact negatively on merchandise trade, remittances, tourist receipts and foreign investments.

For one, stronger peso means lower peso value for remittances. It will also make domestic products expensive to foreign trade partners.

Guinigundo, however, stressed that “the BSP for its part will have to assure the markets that liquidity will be made available.”

“Monetary and banking policies and measures will be appropriately adjusted to suit the new configuration of economic realities,” he said.

“Constant monitoring will be done and we shall sustain our communication with the markets,” he said.

Gov’t to reduce borrowing in 3rd quarter of 2012

T

HE government may reduce its borrowing program to around P100 billion in the third quarter this year due to its healthy cash position, a ranking Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) executive said.

Deputy Treasurer Eduardo Mendiola said they were considering to issue lower allocations of Treasury bills (T-bills) and Treasury bond (T-bonds), with the latter with tenors of 10, 15, 20 and 25-year.

PSE back in 5,000-level

E

UROPEAN finance ministers’ decision to extend 100 million euro bail out to Spain’s ailing banking sector has resulted positively even to the local bourse and the currency, which went up to the 5,000-level and 42-level, respectively Monday.

The composite index gained 81.78 points, or 1.64 percent, to 5,075.85 points over the previous trading day’s 4,994.07 points.

Also, the broader all shares index rose by 35.99 points or 1.08 percent to 3,371.10 points from last Friday’s 3,335.11 points.

All the sectoral indices, led by the property index, also ended the trade with gains.

The property index increased by 2.85 percent or 50.99 points to 1,841.81 points from the previous session’s 1,790.82 points.

Value turnover surged to P10.66 billion after 1.14 billion shares changed hands.

Gainers led losers at 103 to 43 while 42 stocks were unchanged.

son Edwin Lacierda, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, Agrarian Reform Secretary Gil Delos Reyes, Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson and Presidential Management Staff Secretary Julia Abad.

Landbank President and CEO Hilda Pico was

also present in Friday’s meeting in Malacanang.

Other officials who were at the meeting include undersecretaries from the Department of Agrarian Reform Anthony Parungao, Jerry Pacturan, Narciso Nieto and Assistant Secretary Jose Grajeda.

ALES of motor vehicles rose to 59,177 units in the first five months this year, up six percent from 58,976 during the same period last year, according to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI).

“The strong showing was largely due to the improved supply condition and sustained consumer confidence that was reflected by the 6.4 percent growth in the Philippine economy in first quarter,” CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez said.

CAMPI data showed that for the month of May alone, the 16-member association of cars and trucks assemblers and importers managed to sell 14,265 units as against 12,304 units in April to land a 15.9 percent monthly increase in sales.

The May performance was also substantially higher at 30.7 percent compared to 10,913 units sold in May 2011.

“During the first four months of the year, the industry posted minimal growth due to the continued limitation in supply still brought out by the effects of the Thailand flooding. However, because of exciting new model introductions, improved supply conditions and the country’s thriving economy all brands still continued good showing

during this period,” Gutierrez said.

“This May we have seen drastic improvements in the industry because manufacturers are able to serve the strong demands due to the stabilization of supply situation. We are very optimistic that the clear performance in May is a clear sign that the industry is on the road to recovery and can achieve record breaking sales for 2012,” he said.

CAMPI data show that sales from the passenger car segment in May grew 15.5 percent to 4,274 units from 3,702 units in April. However, on a year to date basis this segment remains in the red at 9.5 percent lower as cumulative sales reached only 17,616 units from 19,462 units in the same period last year.

The commercial vehicle segment performed better in May with 16.18 percent increase to 9,991 units from 8,602 units in the previous month.

In the first five months of the year, this segment grew 5.5 percent to 41,561 units from 39.185 units in the same period last year.

Almost all vehicle categories also posted positive growths. The Asian utility vehicle grew 16.4 percent year to date and 19.5 percent in May versus the previous month.

AUV sales reached

16,393 units in the first five months as against 14,048 units in the January-May period last year.

Last month, the AUV category sold a total of 3,881 units from 3,249 units in April.

Sales of light commercial vehicles grew 13.5 percent in May to 5,806 units from 5,116 units in April, but its year to date sales still remained negative at 1.3 percent to 23,865 units from 24,173 units last year.

The light trucks category substantially improved its performance with 17.2 percent increase to 873 units from 745 in the first five months last year. Last month, sales of light trucks (pick-ups) grew 15.3 percent to 166 units from 144 units in April.

The most improved category is the light trucks and buses category which posted a 48.4 percent increase in sales to 136 units in May from 93 units only in April. Its year to date sales also went up 16.5 percent to 488 units from 419 units in the same period last year.

In terms of ranking, industry leader Toyota Motor Philippines Corp. dominated the market with 39.7 percent share followed by Mitsubishi Motor Philippines Corp. with 23.9 percent and Isuzu Philippines Corp. with 8.1 percent.

HE Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines (RBAP) welcomed the Monetary Board’s decision to remove the restrictions on bank branching rule saying this will further widen rural banks’ customer base and increase access of rural folks to the formal banking sector.

“The Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines welcomes the deci-

sion of the BSP in lifting the limitations to branch expansions. For rural banks, it is a way of further creating growth and progress in far flung areas by providing much needed financial services like loans for farmers and micro entrepreneurs,” RBAP President Ian Pama said in a statement.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has removed the restriction

policy on bank branching but requires banks applying for the opening of new branches and extension offices to ensure that it has the necessary qualifying capital to do so.

BSP Circular No. 759 Series of 2012 estates that total processing fee for the branch and extension offices application will be charged immediately against the bank’s

silang claim folders kung saan doon iyong mga lands to be acquired and distributed,” he said.

Among the members of the Aquino administration who joined the fivehour meeting with the farmers include Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Presidential Spokesper-

Vehicle sales up 6% in first half of 2012 S

Rural bankers elated over new bank rules

T

FRURAL, 13

7 Apple takes on Google with own maps, better Siri EDGEDAVAO

A

PPLE Inc took the wraps off its own mobile mapping service and improved the search capabilities of its Siri electronic assistant technology, as it rolled out souped-up software and hardware on Mon-

ICT HUB

VOL.5 ISSUE 72 • JUNE 13, 2012

day to help it wage war on Google Inc. CEO Tim Cook, who took over from late cofounder Steve Jobs last August, spearheaded the unveiling of new services -such as in-house mapping, beefed-up Siri software, address-bar search on its

Safari browser -- to help keep at bay Google and its fast-growing Android mobile platform.

Apple tweaked a number of features in its mobile operating system to further its lead in enticing users to stay within its ecosystem. The upgrades

marked a bolstering of Apple’s arsenal as it tries to keep its top-down applications and hardware environment ahead of competition from Android device makers such as Samsung Electronics and Motorola Mobility.

The event’s key high-

Apple CEO Tim Cook speaks during the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2012 in San Francisco, California June 11, 2012. [Reuters]

Banners for the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2012 are seen in San Francisco, California June 11, 2012.

[REUTERS]

light was the debut of Apple’s new in-house mapping service that the company has been working on the past few years.

Its new mobile operating software -- the iOS6 -- comes with the mapping system “built from the ground up,” said software chief Scott Forstall, sidelining the Google map service that the Internet giant has invested heavily in.

Apple will be replacing Google Maps, a pre-loaded app so far on the iPhone and iPad, with its own inhouse map service, delivering a big blow to Google, which gets about half its map traffic from Apple devices.

The move signals that the friendship between Apple and Google -- whose former CEO once sat on Apple’s board -- is long over, and underscores Apple’s efforts to reduce its ties with Google, said Colin Gillis, analyst with BGC Partners.

“What happens if one day Google decides to not provide Apple with maps,” said Gillis. “You can’t have that kind of dependency on a competitor.”

Apple’s map service comes with three-dimensional images of cities called “Flyover” along with real-time traffic updates and also turn-by-turn navigation, the last a feature

that Google has in Android devices but had not made available in Apple devices.

And Siri, the innovative voice-activated iPhone search-feature users have criticized as faulty and inadequate, is now available on iPads and recites a larger database of answers, especially sports, restaurants and movies.

Siri is also integrated into the new mapping service so users can ask for step-by-step directions.

While Apple is late to the game with turn-byturn directions, Forrester analyst Charles Golvin said that Apple’s new service featured various nice touches, demonstrating Apple’s ability to take an experience offered by rivals and “go even further.”

He also cited a new app for iPhone and iPads called Passbook that organizes a user’s electronic airline tickets, movie tickets and restaurant loyalty cards.

The app is a “harbinger of them doing much, much more,” said Golvin, pointing to the electronic payment and mobile commerce market.

Finally, executives said Apple has integrated No. 1 social network Facebook deeper into the operating system, allowing Siri-users to post photos with voice commands.

THE EDGE Long lines marked the beginning of the week-long annual Worldwide Developers’ Conference, where Apple developers rub shoulders with employees, test the latest products and software, and connect with peers. Apple kicked off proceedings by touting its hardware, its biggest edge over Google.

The consumer device giant introduced an allnew addition to its MacBook Pro lineup, Apple’s highest-end laptops. At 0.7 inches and weighing under 4.5 pounds, the new MacBook Pro ranks among the thinnest laptops in the market and will hit store shelves months before many Microsoft Windowsequipped “Ultrabooks.”

They will employ the “retina” displays that have won strong positive reviews for the new iPad, but start at $2,199.

Along with the introduction of the new MacBook Pro, Apple also updated it current Mac lineup including the MacBook Air. Marketing chief Phil Schiller outlined how the redesigned MacBook Air notebooks will be about

$100 cheaper on average than predecessors, but sport quicker Intel Corp processors, potentially eating into territory staked out by Hewlett-Packard, Dell Inc and other PC makers.

Analysts have speculated that the company will begin aggressively competing on price, gradually shrinking the premium its Macs carry in general.

More than ever, Apple finds itself in a pitched battle with Google: in smartphones, cloud computing, and a never-ending competition to attract the best software developers. That is crucial as Apple looks to draw users deeper into its applications ecosystem.

Cook told the audience that customers have downloaded more than 30 billion Apple apps so far, choosing from more than 650,000 apps -- the largest library in the industry.

Battling in many arenas, the rivals employ different weapons. Apple’s vise-like grip on its ecosystem - with the closely managed app store and its seamless integration with the hardware - stands in sharp contrast to Google’s free-for-all approach.

The open system approach, reminiscent of Microsoft Corp’s hugely successful strategy of creating standard-setting software that runs on a variety of hardware, has allowed Android to capture the market lead in smartphones, albeit with nothing close to Apple’s profit margins.

Android has also helped create several potent hardware rivals to Apple. Samsung Electronics’ Android-driven Galaxy SIII is drawing favorable comparisons to iPhone and Amazon.com Inc’s cheaper Kindle Fire is challenging Apple in tablets and digital content.

The move - years in the making - to replace Google Maps is a dramatic example of how the rivalry between the companies has been evolving.

Google has invested huge sums in mapping technology over the years, and about half its map traffic now comes from iPhones and iPads.

Among other things, the traffic from those devices reveals valuable location data that helps improve the mapping service and provides features like real-time traffic reports.

8

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 72 • JUNE 13, 2012

S

EDITORIAL

A class of his own

M

ANNY Pacquiao, despite losing his world welterweight title in controversial fashion on Sunday, has shown the world he is a class act.

There is no denying the pain of losing a fight you fervently believed was yours up to the end. Manny was the classier fighter in probably 9 or 10 rounds of the 12-round championship match against American Timothy Bradley Jr. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. But when the verdict was read by ring announcer Michael Buffer as a split-decision win for Bradley, it stunned majority of the 14,206 fans who filled the cavernous fight venue and millions more around the globe who saw the fight on TV. Though equally shocked by his loss, Manny, the born again Christian, kept his poise without a whine or whimper, taking the judgment in stride like a true gentleman--a class act so rare in the giddy world of the fight game. At that instant, he was already looking forward to a rematch with Brad-

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ley in November when he would regain his WBO crown--and there would be no need for intervention by biased judges. Read that: a knockout win over Bradley.

Humble to the end, despite the aggravation of the patently unfair and onerous verdict against him, Manny “accepted” his “loss” even if he did say that he won the fight. This Bible-reading ring warrior is a rara avis, indeed.

Where mere mortals would have erupted in revolt and disagreement, Manny took the verdict in stride. This is boxing. This is sports. He had done his best, except that two of the three judges, for reasons of their own, did not see it that way. Or were like “blind mice” in the words of promoter Bob Arum.

As they say in sports, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. And sometimes it rains.

That’s what happened that night in the MGM Grand Garden Arena, in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA. It “rained” and poor Manny got “wet!” – as in.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

ALBERTO DALILAN Managing NEILWIN L. BRAVO Sports and Motoring ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

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

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EDGEDAVAO Disturbing signs from UNA

O it has come to pass: Representatives Gwendolyn Garcia and Mitos Magsaysay, as well as former congressman Juan Miguel Zubiri, have been officially accepted into the senatorial ticket of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) for 2013.

This latest development in the political front not only confirmed that Lakas, to which the three had belonged while it was convenient to do so, has disintegrated; it has also exposed Vice President Jejomar Binay’s real worth, if any, as a politician.

Although not entirely unexpected, the announcement that the three prominent allies of the former president are running under UNA has shown to what extent Binay will go to fulfill his ambition to win the presidential race in 2016. It doesn’t matter that these three politicians have defended Gloria no end. It doesn’t matter that one of them stole the vote in Maguindanao in 2007, and had the gall to say that he had no knowledge of the fraud that enabled him to illegally occupy a seat in what used to be a dignified institution called the Senate.

In explaining why Zubiri was accepted despite the objections raised by Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, UNA spokesperson Jose Virgilio Bautista said: “The covenant clearly indicated that a member of a political party, meaning either PDP Laban or PMP, endorsed by said party shall automatically become a candidate for the position for which he or she has been endorsed.”

Bautista’s statement only exposed the superficiality of the alliance. UNA should be ashamed that its covenant is more concerned with technicalities even if it would mean accommodating personalities who have given electoral fraud a face. Bautista asked Pimentel III to exercise “better judgment.” As things stand however it’s UNA’s leadership that lacks good judgment. I wonder if it’s really a covenant, a term that connotes nobility of purpose, or a Faustian pact.

Strange that in this country disgraced politicians hold no qualms about giving it another try. And it’s disgusting that the voters treat them like they just committed a childish demeanor. In mature democracies they would be consigned to a mental institution if they think they’d be able to fool the people twice.

Recycling waste materials is good for the environment. But having recycled politicians like Zubiri, Garcia and Magsaysay in the Senate adds to the vexation of our body politic. Can this country not find the likes of Jose Diokno, Lorenzo Tanada, and Claro M. Recto? Can we not look beyond people who have given us a reason to be ashamed as Filipinos?

I know this is a lonely cry. Given their resources and their patrons – including Arroyo perhaps – they have good chances of hoodwinking us for yet another time. No, we don’t have a short memory as a people; we simply don’t have one. [MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. H. Marcos C. Mordeno can be reached at hmcmordeno@ gmail.com.]

EDGEDAVAO

I

have grown this habit of scribbling down my own scorecard every time Manny Pacquiao fights after he was held to a draw

by Juan Manuel Marquez.

So Sunday, I again took a few notes which actually sum up the way I saw every round of his fight with Timothy Bradley. I have four pages from my notes.

Rounds 1-3 Manny Pacquiao captured all first three rounds of the fight with Bradley trying to probe Manny’s defenses. Bradley was the busier, throwing more punches but it was Manny who were landing the more accurate and heavier punches. Manny is outlanding and outpunching Bradley. At the end of the first round, long time second corner man Buboy Fernandez was telling Manny, “basaha, basaha” (read, read him – referring to Bradley). Pacquiao is bringing the fight to Bradley in the first two rounds and they intermittently traded punches in spurts. Manny was landing his powerful left straights which Bradley cannot seem to figure out.

W

ARNINGS that the crisis in Syria will spiral into a serious regional problem have been sounded since the regime of Bashar al-Assad began to forcibly put down protesters over a year ago.

Those warnings have turned out to be true – meaning that a solution to Syria should also involve the region.

International envoy Kofi Annan, then, is right to suggest the idea of an international “contact group” that can influence both sides in Syria – including regional players such as Iran. As the former UN secretary general himself admits, his six-point plan is not working and the country is in “imminent” danger of “full-scale civil war.”

But as Syria is divided, so is the region, and the obstacles confronting a contact group of world and regional powers are high indeed.

Events in Syria have always had regional implications and repercussions. For example, this conflict has produced a large number of refugees seeking shelter in neighboring Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey.

However, in the past few months, the cross-border impact of the Syrian crisis has intensified. In northern Lebanon, for instance, recent clashes between pro-Assad Lebanese Alawites and pro-opposition Sunni groups highlight Lebanon’s own deterioration of relations between sects. While these clashes have not led to broader armed confrontations at the national level, still, the longer the violence continues in Syria, the more tense sectarian relations will become in Lebanon.

While the Syrian conflict is having increasingly stronger repercussions in the Middle East, it is also true that regional players are having a growing impact on the crisis in Syria.

Shiite Iran is strongly backing the Assad regime, made up of an Alawite minority that is a considered a Shiite branch. Regional Sunni powers, such as Saudi Arabia, are supporting the opposition. Involvement from both sides fuels the Syrian fire as the country becomes a proxy battlefield for these two regional powers that compete for influence in the Middle East.

Sadly, the Middle East has seen this

Monkey Business

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 72 • JUNE 13, 2012

Another look at Pacman-Bradley fight

Rounds 4-6 Action picked up as both fighters were looking to engage in a brawl. In Round 4, both fighters locked themselves up several times and went at each other with loaded bombs. Manny repeatedly caught Bradley and may have hurt him a couple of times.

The crowd was roaring in approval. Manny clearly won the round convincingly by landing the cleaner and clearer punches.

In Round 5, Bradley started cautiously but was again forced to engage Manny in furious exchanges. Bradley was swinging wildly while Manny had his share of misses.

Still Manny got the better of exchanges. In Round 6, it was Manny’s turn to pace himself but caught Bradley with a powerful uppercut to end the round. I gave all rounds at this stage of the fight to Manny.

Rounds 7-9 Pacquiao resumes hunting for Bradley who would oblige in toe-to-toe battle from time to time and would inevitably end up at the receiving side of exchanges. More power shots coming from Manny. In Round 8, Bradley tagged Manny several times but was quick to retaliate. Buboy urged Manny to feint his attacks. In what arguably was the best round of the evening, both fighters went after each other all over the ring

with both fighters throwing caution to the wind. Manny was throwing roundhouses and Bradley was likewise wildly swinging.

Manny still dominating the fight and in my scorecard was going for a shutout.

Rounds 10-12 Bradley now looked like he was intent on finishing the fight standing. He is now boxing. Manny looked gassed up and was breathing through his mouth. I gave the 10th round to Bradley as Manny was missing his backpedalling target. By now, I lost interest scoring the fight as I believe the outcome is a foregone conclusion. Still, I give the 11th round to Manny. I didn’t bother score the 12th round, which, even if it went to Bradley, was still a runaway win for the defending champion.

Until the verdict was announced.

So outrageous was it that I posted this on by Facebook: “EXCLUSIVE: a hologram expert was hired to do the coverage of Pacman-Bradley fight. He went further by photoshopping and digitally altering the PacmanMarquez fight and made it appear it was Bradley. Result: the judges saw a different fight and Pacquiao lost.” (P.S. I still have my notes of the Pacquiao-Marquez III where I scored it a draw.)

Good place to start OPINION

BY BENEDETTA BERTI proxy fight before, during the long Lebanese civil war between 1975 and 1990.

What’s more, the Syria crisis mirrors a broader international divide. Members of the UN Security Council have opposing interests in Syria – with Russia, for instance, wanting to protect its strategic interests, investments, and port access there by keeping Mr. Assad in power.

Accordingly, a contact group along the lines that Mr. Annan proposes would engage all the main parties, both Assad’s backers – mostly China, Russia, and Iran – as well as supporters of the opposition – Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. They would try to devise a mutually satisfying approach to end the violence.

Involving these players has an undeniable advantage: It is in tune with reality, recognizing that the conflict in Syria has reached a point where regional and international interests have mixed with those of the warring parties.

It also implicitly adjusts to the worsening internal situation within Syria. With the level of mutual trust between the Assad regime and the political opposition at an all time low, it will require solid third-party guarantees to convince both sides of the conflict to commit to end the hostilities.

However, this new approach would face staggering obstacles. An obvious one is that the regional and international actors involved have mutually exclusive interests in Syria’s future. Such is the case with Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Also, the minimal condition for the Syrian opposition to join a political negotiation process – the removal of Assad from power – is strongly opposed by China, Russia, and Iran. The last two countries in particular have strong historical, personal, economic, and strategic ties to Assad and his regime, and persuading them to give up on their regional ally will require some serious convincing.

Unless the international community is

prepared to provide concrete incentives for them to do so, the negotiations on the future of Syria are likely to stall. In turn, this will give Assad more time to crack down on opponents.

Finally, even if a Syria contact group could agree on a mechanism to remove Assad from power (such as protection in exile) and to begin a transition process, this would not guarantee a permanent end to the hostilities.

As the ongoing internal divisions in Libya shows, getting rid of a dictator is very different from ensuring a smooth political transition afterward. Because of the frail state of internal sectarian relations and the growing wedge between the warring parties, a postAssad political transition could easily spiral into more internal violence – short of strong external peace enforcement.

Given the general international reluctance to get involved in yet another shaky post-conflict stabilization scenario, one cannot help but wonder how a peace agreement between the parties would be kept.

If the contact group is to work, it will have to get Russia and Iran on board, for example by meeting the political prices demanded by both countries – obvious ones being a significant change to the US missile defense program in Europe and an easing of international sanctions on Iran.

These are (rightly) considered too costly.

However, if both countries can be convinced that Assad is unequivocally doomed and that by supporting a political transition, Moscow and Tehran can retain some influence over who rules the country next, then there may be chance to lure them away from supporting Assad.

If not, the choice for the next step may be even more difficult: watching Syria as it descends into a potentially long and devastating civil war, or a “coalition of the willing” for military intervention, for which none of the usual nations have any appetite.

[Benedetta Berti is a fellow at the Institute for National Security Studies, a lecturer at Tel Aviv University, a member of the Atlantic Council’s Young Atlanticist working group, and coauthor of the book, “Hamas and Hezbollah: A Comparative Study” (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2012.]

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Fading out SPECIAL FEATURE

BY HONOR BLANCO CABIE

T

HE traditional Filipino serenade, popularly known in this Southeast Asian archipelago as “harana,” is slowly fading out.

This part of the country’s culture, in vogue and in crescendo in the 1950s up to the 1960s – when Elvis Presley was wiggling his hips with “Jailhouse Rock” and the Beatles dishing out their “It’s Been A Hard Day’s Night,” has now been overtaken by a different key and scale.

The inroads of the cell phone technology and the spread of social networking services have helped erase from the manners of today’s generation of Filipinos the erstwhile cherished tradition of their grandparents and grand uncles and aunts.

In some provinces – like Quezon, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and the whole Ilocos region – the sight of a man and his friends, the classic Spanish guitar in hand, was most familiar by the window of one woman being courted at past dusk.

The men in their late teens or early 20s, in their evening best, hair combed with scented pomade available from the nearest town store, belted out several love songs when the night was young and the moon was yellow.

In some of the provinces, particularly those in rice-growing Nueva Ecija, the men would be politely invited inside where they would engage, alternately, in sort of competition with the woman being courted with the number of songs sung till past midnight.

But those in the Ilocos, even if they were still awake, would never let the men inside – high in the belief the modest Ilocana should never show the man courting him he was being considered, if at all.

It seemed they belonged to the old school of thought that the Ilocana, as were many Filipino women in other parts of the country, were basically shy and secretive.

Fast forward to the later decades, and the culture of “ang-angaw” among the Ilocanos and “tuksuhan” among the Tagalogs or just teasing flourished.

This was common among teeners and young adults, a way of matching people who may have mutual admiration or affection for each other and may end up in a romance or avoidance of each other if the scenario became embarrassing for both individuals.

The presence of other men during the evening serenade, most notably very close friends of the one courting or one who is interested in the woman next door or in some other barangay, was at that time a psychological boost.

In the Ilocos, the men would blend voices and sing the ballad “adayo pay nga ili ti naggapuanmi, ‘diay ili a Santa Fe…” That only means, even while the men and the woman being serenaded knew it was not true, that the men had come from a distant place, the town of Santa Fe in far Nueva Vizcaya across the imposing Caraballo mountains.

Among those that evoke poignant memories is the Tagalog “harana,” popular in Bulacan and Laguna and other surrounding provinces of Metro Manila, particularly the one being sung today, “O Ilaw (Oh Light)” where the man compares his beloved to a star in pitch dark sky.

The song lyrics particularly asks the woman to open her window and look out at the man, who is dishing out his heart and affection.

But the modern Harana of Parokya ni Edgar can be a bit facetious.

Notice the lyrics: ” Uso pa ba ang harana?

Marahil ikaw ay nagtataka/Sino ba ‘tong mukhang gago, nagkandarapa sa pagkanta... at nasisintunado sa kaba. Meron pang dalang mga rosas. Suot nama’y maong na kupas at nariyan pa ang barkada...

Its loose translation: “Is serenade still the trend to date? Perhaps it makes you meditate.

Who is this looking like a fool alone, singing p[iteously out of tune. And he has a rose in his hand. What he’s wearing are denims old in the company of friends so bold.”

Singing the harana, in provinces near the metropolis or those in the far-flung countryside, had its origins during the Spanish colonial period that started in 1521.

That was the year Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese navigator sailing under the flag of Spain, brought the Catholic Cross to these far eastern islands, 141 years after Arabian missionary Sheik Karim ul-Makhdum established the first Muslim mosque in Simunul in TawiTawi.

Today, with modern gadgets easily available and convenient -- without having to learn the lyrics of an appropriate ballad or love song -- a loved one may just be a text away.

Or the loved one may just be an email away, in an email protected by the account holder’s password none of even his closest friends may know.

And the wonder of it all is the text message may no longer come from just one direction.

If there is mutual understanding – or MU in the language of the 21st century generation of Filipinos – the text messages can clog the twoway street.

Every day, every week of the yea. Or, in the language of the now generation, “24/7.” [PNA]

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SUBURBIA

VOL.5 ISSUE 72 • JUNE 13, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Success Stories

How OTOP changed the countryside

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Municipal Health Officer Dr. June P. Lim checks a baby up during the convergence medical and social mission in San Jose, Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte.

Shelter for young offenders to rise soon in New Corella C

HILDREN who come into contact with the law in the province will soon have a temporary home that would restore their values and social functioning.

Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Arlene Semblante revealed the construction of the Bahay Pag-asa in New Corella town is set to start this June to provide shortterm residential and rehabilitation care to the juvenile delinquents 15 years old and below.

She said Governor Rodolfo del Rosario has pushed for the establish-

ment of the center since it is in line with the governor’s P.E.O.P.L.E. agenda, apart from being mandated by Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006.

“The Bahay Pag-asa shall offer a safer place for children in conflict with the law (CICL) than jails,” she said at the recent quarterly meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council.

Semblante is confident that the establishment of the facility will address the rising number of young offenders who figured in various crimes

around the province.

P/SSupt. Edgardo Wycoco, Provincial Director of Davao del Norte Police Provincial Office bared that from April 2012 to June 8, 2012 alone his office has recorded a total of 23 crime incidents committed by minors.

“Dumarami ang krimen na involved ang mga bata dahil hindi natin sila makasuhan at wala din silang mapaglalagyan,” he said.

He hopes the temporary shelter will help significantly reduce, if not eliminate the number of crimes perpetrated by the

minors.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development provided P2.5 million for the construction of the center, while the provincial government in turn allotted two hectares for the location of the center within the vicinity of the Luntiang Paraiso Regional Rehabilitation Center.

The province shall also allocate funds for the annual operational costs of the facility, to include the budget for personnel services and maintenance of the facility, among other expenses.

Vice Gov. Victorio Suaybaguio, Jr. hands over the visual and reference materials to Day Care Worker May Alinao, at the convergence mission in San Jose, Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte.

REAMING for improvement in life is a free enterprise. For One-Town OneProduct (OTOP) program producers in Davao del Norte, this has inspired most micro entrepreneurs to improve their products despite their old age, lack of finances, and lack of technological expertise.

Grass into mats Engineer Joaquin lives in Ilagan, Barangay Limbaan, New Corella. This man in his 60s is the producer of Tikog mats exclusively sold at SM Malls nationwide. He also weaves Tikog into hats, bags, hammocks, lamp stands, and slippers. He vies not only for local and national markets but also for international markets. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) sends him to showcase Philippinemade products during national and international trade fairs.

A mechanical engineer by profession, he has retired early from government service as a worker of the National Irrigation Administration. For 18 years now, he devotes his time and energy into his Tikog handicraft products that bear the trade name, Silagan Handicraft.

With his wife Clara Silagan who will soon retire from her government work as the Alternative Learning System (ALS) District Coordinator of New Corella, he is dreaming of crossing countries with his Tikog mats and handicrafts. He hangs on to this dream though the local supply of Tikog is dwindling as swampy areas where such grass grows have been planted with bananas.

“Banig lang ang akong gisaligan. (I am banking only on my mats),” he said.

Silagan now gets a 50kilo supply of Tikog locally in a month. He buys much of his Tikog raw materials from Kalingayan, Bayugan, in Agusan. He continues to look for more supply to meet the demand for his Tikog mats and handicrafts.

Waste water turned vinegar Young Mandaya chieftain of Buclad Tribal Council, Joel Andoy, 41 years old, confessed of dreaming a better life for his tribal council members, among whom were Dibabawon, Mangguwangan, Muslim, other than Mandaya.

Indigenous women in Buklad used to have no productive undertakings, but now they are into vinegar and coco-shell accessories production. This is an offshoot to the partnership that the tribal council has tied up with St. Mary’s

College Business Resource Center (SMC-BRC), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and DTI. A vinegar production house now stands in their community, making use of the coconut juice that used to be just thrown away when producing copra.

Mang Bernard Aquino, 66, goes around the nearby coconut plantations to collect the coco juice to be fermented into vinegar. Some women help in fermenting and bottling of vinegar, while others are into the production of coco-shell craft made into accessories and handicrafts.

“Kung mag tapok-tapok sila karon, aduna nay panginabuhian nga gibuhat (When they come together now, they are into livelihood production),” Andoy said as he conveyed thanks to partner agencies that extended values education and entrepreneurship training to the members of his tribal council.

Fresh banana to flour AMS Employees Fresh Fruit Producers Cooperative (AMSEFFPCO), aside from producing fresh bananas for export, widens its business ventures to food-grade flour production to make the most of the huge market demand.

It used to supply the Universal Food Corp (UFC) about 60 tons of foodgrade flour from 2007 to 2009, and Anselma Ronquillo, AMSEFFPCO Chairperson, wishes such demand to come again as it means more business opportunities for the cooperative.

AMSEFFPCO is working to get a Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) certification as proof of assurance that the flour it is producing is safe for public consumption. AMSEFFPCO eyes not only big food companies but also supermarkets so it can widely sell its banana flour which bears the trade name, “Musa.”

While complying with the stringent standards of BFAD, Ronquillo takes comfort from the support given by OTOP cooperating agencies, particularly DTI and DOST, which have continually assisted AMSEFFPCO to improve its product as well as its labeling. The Department of Agriculture-Mindanao Rural Development Program (DA-MRDP) is also awarding it a solar dryer, worth P1.5 million.

When asked about banana chips production, however, Ronquillo referred to Aling Yeyeng, an AMSEFFPCO member who, Ronquillo said, got so serious of such venture.

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VOL.5 ISSUE 72 • JUNE 13, 2012

DCWD runs for Kalusugan, Kalikasan, and Kalayaan A ROUND 300 employees of Davao City Water District ran from the DCWD Matina office to Barangay Matina Pangi last June 9, 2012 for their fun run activity themed “Takbo Para sa Kalusugan, Kalikasan, Kalayaan“. Aside from the actual run, another highlight of the whole event was the tree planting along the riverbank of Matina Pangi wherein a total of 600 Malibago and Mahogany seedlings were planted.

During the opening program, OIC-assistant general manager for administration Mildred G. Aviles welcomed and thanked all the runners for supporting the cause.

She stressed that the activity is very instrumental in preventing another flood disaster from devastating lives citing the 2011 flood incident which greatly affected Brgy. Matina Pangi and Davao City in general.

Acting general manager Edwin V. Regalado also explained the rel-

evance of the KKK theme in the whole event. “Aside from enjoying ourselves, this activity allows us to exercise which is really good for our health. The tree planting is also very instrumental in restoring the Matina Pangi riverbank which is also part of the watershed of Davao City as it helps replenish our aquifer. Lastly, this fun run is also our way of celebrating the 114th Independence Day of our nation. Thus, the theme Kalusugan, Kalikasan, Kalayaan,”Regalado said.

Winners for the male category include Romeo C. Masuela of the Engineering and Construction Department in first place, Dick O. Magdosa of the Production Department in second and Ariel M. Clenuar of the General Services Department in third. For the female category, first placer was Roxanne C. Sayago of the Human Resource Department (HRD), second placer was Ruth G. Jabines of HRD and third placer was Jade C. Veloso of the Cor-

porate Planning Department.

For both categories, first placers received P1,500 and trophies, second placers got P1,000 and medals while third placers received P700 and medals.

Matina Pangi barangay captain Benjamin T. Badon was very thankful that the DCWD family has chosen his area for the benevolent cause. “They say that water is life. However, last June 28, 2011 we have witnessed how it can also be very destructive. That is why we are very thankful for DCWD for helping us plant trees along the river to lessen the possibility of another flood disaster from happening,”Badon said.

Closing the whole event was OIC-assistant general manager for operations Exequiel B. Homez who lauded everyone who participated.

He challenged everybody to strive harder and to continue supporting and joining DCWD hosted fun runs and other events. (JOVANA T. DUHAYLUNGSOD)

DCWD FUN RUN AND TREE PLANTING. Employee participants exercise before running towards Brgy. Matina Pangi to (R) plant trees along the riverbank of Pangi River.

COMMUNITY SENSE 11

12 NATION/WORLD NATION BRIEFS

Punish EING detained in a hos-

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pital has not stopped Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo from filing a bill seeking to punish with life imprisonment government officials and employees for stealing from and desecrating victims of natural and man-made calamities and accidents.

While detained at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center on charges of electoral sabotage, Arroyo has sought the filing of House Bill 6226 which also seeks to impose stiff penalties for crimes of looting, robbery and desecration against victims during and in the aftermath of natural or man-made disasters and accidents.

Probe HE National Bureau of

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Investigation (NBI) has asked Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales to investigate 21 officials and employees of the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for allegedly allowing the release of 20 shipping containers without inspecting them, defrauding the government of P1.4 million in duties and taxes.

The NBI recommended that the Ombudsman investigate Filomeno Vicencio Jr.; former director of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Section and current Intelligence Group officer-in-charge; former Intelligence Division chief Fernandino Tuazon; former CIIS officer-in-charge Marina Rae Galang; CIIS attorney Floro Calixihan Jr.; former Port of Batangas district collector Juan Tan; Assessment Division acting chief Leonardo Peralta and Ports Operations Division chief Felix Embalsamado.

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Heritage

ABLE News Network (CNN) International cited the historic landmark Manila Hotel, the oldest premiere hotel in the Philippines, as one of today’s seven “heritage hotels” in Southeast Asia, alongsideMandarin Oriental in Bangkok, Thailand, and Raffles Singapore.

In the article “Then and now: The stories behind Southeast Asia’s heritage hotels” posted on http://www. cnngo.com/explorations, authors Tina Hsiao and Jules Kay “pondered on the legacy... [in] these grand old dames of hospitality” by tracing a bit of the history of each of the seven hotels, their famous guests, unique features and distinctions, and their present states, which were accompanied by then-and-now images.

A

Ban

shell fish ban has been imposed in several bays across the country, a report of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) showed.

BFAR said the ban is in effect in Balite Bay in Mati, Davao Oriental; Dumanquillas Bay in Zamboanga del Sur; Murcielagos Bay in Zamboanga del Norte and Misamis Occidental; Bataan waters of Mariveles, Limay, Orion, Pilar, Balanga, Orani, Abucay and Samal and Matarinao Bay in Eastern Samar, after testing positive for red tide toxins.

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VOL.5 ISSUE 72 • JUNE 13, 2012

US exempts India, but not China, from Iran sanctions U

WORLD TODAY

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HE United States said it would exempt seven emerging economies including India from tough new sanctions after they cut back on oil from Iran, but the punishment still loomed for China.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton added India, Malaysia, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Taiwan to the list of those exempt from the sanctions. In March, she made exemptions for European Union nations and Japan.

The decision was announced two days before Clinton meets Indian officials for annual talks. The move resolves one of the biggest points of tension in years in the growing relationship between the world’s two largest democracies.

Under a law approved last year that irritated some US allies, the United States starting on June 28 will penalize foreign financial institutions over transactions with Iran’s central bank, which handles sales of the country’s key export.

Clinton said the seven economies exempted on Monday have all “signifi-

Iranians line up at a petrol station to fuel their motorcycles in central Tehran on February 19, 2012. The United States says it will exempt seven emerging economies including India from tough new sanctions after they cut back on oil from Iran, but the punishment still loomed for China. cantly” reduced crude oil purchases from Iran. She cast the exemptions as proof of success in the US campaign to put pressure on Iran’s clerical regime, which Israel and some Western officials fear is seeking a nuclear bomb.

“By reducing Iran’s oil sales, we are sending a decisive message to Iran’s leaders: until they take concrete actions to satisfy the concerns of the international community, they will continue to face increasing isolation and

pressure,” Clinton said in a statement.

However, the United States did not announce an exemption for China -- which is heavily dependent on oil from Iran and elsewhere to power its giant economy. Officials said that the United States remained in talks with Beijing.

“We have informed our Chinese colleagues fully about the scope and urgency” of the sanctions, a senior US official told reporters on condi-

tion of anonymity.

But the official said that China -- one of six nations in talks with Iran that resume next week in Moscow -- was a “very important partner” on the nuclear row.

“We may have different perceptions of sanctions at different times, but one of the things that has been very important is that China has agreed to this dual-track process of pressure as well as persuasion,” the official said.

percent dissatisfied).

The SWS noted the President had the biggest dip in satisfaction rating in Metro Manila.

The survey showed that Metro Manila respondents who remain satisfied with Aquino dropped by 24 points, from 72 percent in March to 48 percent in May. The President’s satisfaction rating among the class ABC also declined to +25 from March’s +62 (from 79 percent to 54 percent).

The only recorded im-

provement was in Mindanao, where Aquino’s net satisfaction score increased by eight points to +61 from +53, staying in “very good” territory.

His scores plunged to a “good” +41 from the “very good” +50 previously in the Visayas, and maintained his “good” score in balance Luzon, but was down four points to +41.

Satisfaction with Aquino in rural areas was almost unchanged at +51 from +52, still “very good,” while urban satisfaction

fell to +35, still “good,” from +45.

Aquino’s net rating remained “good” among the class D or masa at +41, slightly lower than March’s +46.

The President maintained his “very good” rating among class E, but was down by two points to +50.

Satisfaction among women, meanwhile, dropped to a “good” +41 from a “very good” +50.

Aquino maintained his “good” rating of +43 among men, although lower than the +48 in March.

The SWS surveyed 1,200 adult Filipinos nationwide.

Noy trust rating drops in Pulse Asia survey Although Aquino continued to enjoy the trust of a majority of Filipinos in the past three months, a recent Pulse Asia survey noted a slight drop in his approval and trust ratings in May. Pulse Asia said majority approval ratings are recorded across geographic areas (57 percent to 69 percent) and socio-economic groupings (58 percent to 71 percent). “Only marginal changes in presidential performance and trust ratings occur between March and May 2012,” Pulse Asia said in a statement.

P-Noy’s satisfaction ratings dip

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RESIDENT Aquino’s net satisfaction rating has dropped to its lowest level so far, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.

The poll, conducted from May 24 to 27 and published in BusinessWorld yesterday, showed 63 percent of Filipinos remain satisfied with Aquino’s performance and 21 percent dissatisfied for a net score of +42, down by 7 points from March’s +49 (68 percent satisfied, 19

Access

NITED Nations leader Ban Kimoon demanded UN access to the Syrian city of Al-Heffa, as regime helicopters fired on rebel stronghold towns, leaving more than 100 people dead.

On the political front, the newly elected leader of Syria’s exiled opposition urged President Bashar al-Assad to hand over power to his deputy, in line with a plan based on a UN-backed transition in Yemen.

Increase

AR sales of member firms of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines (CAMPI) rose 30.7 percent in May with sales of 14, 265 units from 10, 913 in the same month last year as limitations in the supply chain brought by flooding in Thailand ease.

Sales in May rose 16 percent from April sales of 12, 304 units.

EDGEDAVAO

Philippine President Benigno Aquino (C) reviews the honor guard upon his arrival to lead a flag-raising ceremony in front of the Barasoin church in Malolos town, Bulacan province. [REUTERS]

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Reelection

HOUSANDS of supporters thronged the streets of Caracas to join cancer-stricken Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez as he registered to seek reelection amid ongoing concerns about his health.

The president sought to play down any concerns he might seek to extend his long-ruling socialist government -which has nationalized strategic industries and heaped praise on Cuba’s Communist model -should he lose at the polls.

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Wildfire

ORE firefighters were called up on Tuesday to help fight a raging wildfire in the western US state of Colorado, which remains out of control and has claimed one life, officials said.

Up to 200 firefighters were ordered in to help reinforce the 400 already battling to contain the blaze northwest of Denver, along with aircraft, including five of the nine heavy air tankers available nationwide.

Unimpressed

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HE euro came under fresh pressure in early trading Tuesday as fears over the health of the common currency resurfaced following initial euphoria over a rescue deal for struggling Spanish banks.

On Monday the markets had enjoyed a brief bounce as they reacted to the weekend news that Spain’s eurozone partners had agreed to extend up to 100 billion euros ($125 billion) to salvage a banking sector weakened by reckless lending to a property market that crashed in 2008.

Human shields

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YRIAN troops have tortured children, executed them and used children as young as eight as “human shields” during military raids against rebels, according to a UN report released Tuesday.

The United Nations branded the Syrian government as one of the worst offenders on its annual “list of shame” of conflict countries where children are killed, tortured and forced to fight.

EDGEDAVAO

Drainage...

BSP...

Most...

FFROM 1

“It would take billions (of pesos) to implement,” she told reporters recently.

The mayor said the drainage plan is not new but rather an implementation of the city’s original master drainage plan.

“In the discussion during the meeting of Task Force Drainage, participated in

by Dutch expert, it was the consensus that there’s no need to make new a plan.

What needs to be done is to re-visit the master drainage plan,” she said.

“What we did was to see what has been done and what has not yet been done out of the master drainage plan,” she added.

Duterte-Carpio said the master plan encompasses numerous recommendations “but which still need to be filtered.”

“The task force on drainage is now reviewing the master plan, and also look for ways how to fund it,” she said.

The mayor said implementing the master drainage plan would take at least a decade to finish.

“Kung nasugdan ni siya at the time, 1996, most likely naa ta karon at 75% completion,” she said.

“Pero sa pagkakaron man gud wala na-implement tanan nga naa sa masterplan.

Naa pero mga ginagmay pa

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FFROM 3

FFROM 1 lang ang na-implement,” she added.

Last week, CPDO officerin-charge Robert Alabado said the areas eyed for the construction of three main drainage canals are in barangays Lasang Buhangin, and Toril.

“We’re looking at a drainage system that would cost perhaps as much as P20 million per kilometer,” Alabado said during the I-Speak media forum.

“We’re not looking at this as if we’re only going to use this once. These drainage canals are going to be kumbaga the main highways ng ating drainage system. They’re going to be huge. This is going to serve the present and the next generation so gagastos talaga tayo. The city is going to have to bite the bullet,” he added.

However, the area proposed cuts across both public and private lands, thus Alabado said lands would still have to be bought from people.

“We would still have to procure these lands. This is according to the present proposal we’re looking at,” he said.

Alabado also said that the city government is planning to buy small backhoes in aid of its anti-flooding operations in residential areas.

viewed were 675, with 318 for local, 180 for overseas, and 177 for local and overseas employment.

There were 126 individuals hired on the spot whose names were announced publicly during the jobs fair, with 74 for local and 52 for overseas employment.

The total applicants for final interview or “near hire” were 223, specifically 144 for local, and 79 for overseas employment.

Saying that the region’s labor office has been conducting the Kalayaan jobs fair for four years now, Allan R. Baban, officer in charge/ chief technical support and services division, DOLE 11, said jobs fairs are only “stop gap” measures for the growing labor force of the country.

He said the demand in the local labor market is low as industries are limited in the country, adding that while there are more local companies than overseas, more overseas jobs than local jobs were solicited for the jobs fair.

In fact, of the 104 companies, 71 were local and 33 were overseas, but, out of the 24,311 solicited jobs, 5,136 were local jobs and 19,175

overseas.

Baban said the DOLE seeks to provide more than just the stop gap measures such as jobs fair, but the department is also looking forward to sustainable resolution to economic related problems.

Conducting jobs fairs is only to stabilize the current situation, he added, but, workers should be free from economic problems, as well as unemployment.

Citing the message of Labor Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz for the Independence Day, Baban said the overseas Filipino workers must be liberated from their condition of working abroad for the lack of employment here.

Thus, it remains a challenge for the government to have long term measures for workers to have sustainable placement through industry creation, industry development and foreign investments among others, he added.

Baban also noted that there will be no more jobs fairs conducted when all labor forces are being absorbed by local industries, and overseas employment is only but an option.

Landslide...

FFROM 3

given P10,000 each, while the lone casualty will be afforded free burial services, she said.

“Food assistance to the victims will be extended by the City Social Services and Development Office,” she added.

The city mayor also said she wants the victims of the landslide to use the financial assistance as means to relocate.

“We expect them to relocate and rebuild their homes somewhere else not within the areas considered as landslideprone,” she said, recalling how in past years residents had been warned about the dangers of building their houses on landslide-prone areas.

Although near the landslide site, the Davao-Bukidnon highway was not affected by the calamity.

In a geo-hazard mapping conducted last year, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau or MGB of the DENR identified barangays Marilog and Magsaysay as having several sitios determined as landslideprone.

cacy activities.

As soon as the BSP complete the rolling out of CFS results and gathering all observations, issues, suggestions, and recommendations from sectors involved, he said they will encourage banks to review their fees and charges to accommodate more clients.

The results were already presented in Metro Manila, Quezon City and Davao City, and the next schedule will be in Cebu City.

There is a need to continue educating Filipino households on the advantages of saving in financial institutions and investing in various forms of financial instruments, he continued.

In 2010, the BSP formulated an economic and financial learning program to integrate its various learning programs, which are aimed at promoting general awareness and understanding of important economic and financial issues.

He said there is a need to look into “shadow banking” transactions and related regulatory and supervisory approaches to monitor system-wide risk exposure to particular sectors without reducing credit opportunities for consumers.

It was shown in the survey results that money lenders are the primary source of loans for other real property acquisitions.

The BSP should liaise with government pension systems to encourage membership, and regular/timely payment of premiums to national pension and retirement funds among household members who are selfemployed and unemployed.

The CFS results show that only three in 10 household members (29%) were covered by health insurance, which indicates that Philhealth insurance was able to cover less than one-third of household members and that the majority of the population has yet to be covered by health insurance.

Guinigundo said the results of the survey affirm the relevance of the BSP’s commitment to financial inclusion, which is the provision of a wide range of financial services, including credits, savings, payments and insurance.

He added that the results also attest to the importance of the BSP’s advocacy for inclusive and proactive economic and financial education among its stakeholders.

Dabawenyos...

FFROM 3

Rural...

selection/construction; hatchery design; advantages of hatcheries; hatchery procedures (ex situ); movement induced mortality; hatchery monitoring; and, nest evaluation.

Also in the training is the proper handling of marine turtles, especially on tagging, stranding, and nesting incidence monitoring; and, what to do when a marine turtle is encountered.

As indicated in the training design, participants are also requested to commit their support by conducting marine turtle tagging, hatchery, rescue, rehabilitation and release of stranded marine turtle/s in their respective areas of jurisdiction.

“I just hope participants can design an action plan

based on what they learn and self knowledge to protect marine turtles in other wildlife in Davao Gulf and implement their ideas,” Santa Cruz said.

Inputs on Wildlife Resources, Conservation and Protection Act (R.A. 9147), Guidelines on the establishment of critical habitat, and Adopt-A-Wildlife Species (AAWS) Program will also be given.

Avila said the CAO may consider making the city’s pawikan hatchery sites and the communities surrounding them as tourism destination in the future.

“But, it should be conservation first. Tourism should only be considered if the former is assured,” he added. [LO-

demand deposits and not on staggered basis.

Opening of the branch is allowed to be extended for one to three years after the approval date and will not be subject to further extension.

However, the central bank will ether suspend or revoke the opening of new branches if it discovered that the bank’s qualifying capital is no longer enough to support

the remaining unopened branches; the bank or any of its subsidiaries is not under BSP’s prompt corrective action (PCA); and the banks has no major outstanding supervisory concern on safety and soundness.

Pama explained that the new policy will enable rural banks to increase their presence and in turn the services they provide aside from the use of au-

tomated teller machine (ATM) and mobile banking, which he said increases “our market presence and our relevance and value to our customers.”

“We welcome this very positive decision by the Monetary Board of the BSP in BSP Cirular 759.

It is a step towards better services for our depositors and helping the banking industry grow in general,” he added.

RIE A. CASCARO]

FFROM 6

14 O

SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 72 • JUNE 13, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

NBA FINALS PREVIEW Focus on Lebron and KD

KLAHOMA CITY -- LeBron James versus Kevin Durant. It is the story of these NBA finals.

Except to the guys who share the top billing.

One of them will emerge with his first championship and probably the title of best player in the game.

It could be James, the three-time MVP. Or it might be Durant, the league’s scoring champion the last three years.

All they know is whoever it is won’t have done it alone. ‘’Everybody is going to make the most out of the matchup of me versus LeBron, but it’s the Thunder versus the Heat,’’ Durant said Monday. ‘’One guy versus another guy, it’s not going to be a 1-on-1 matchup to win the series, it’s going to be all about the team.’’

Maybe, but it’s easy to get caught up in their individual brilliance.

It’s the first time the MVP and scoring champ have met in the finals since 1997, when Michael Jordan’s Bulls knocked off MVP Karl Malone and Utah.

They are friends and workout partners, play the same small forward position and are blessed with unlimited basketball talent. After

years of waiting on a JamesKobe Bryant finals matchup that never materialized, the league gets one starting Tuesday that’s perhaps even better, if not quite as sexy, to wrap up a successful season after the lockout. ‘’It’s great for the NBA,’’ Miami’s Shane Battier said. ‘’I anticipate record ratings, which is great, so maybe we can get some of the escrow check back from the owners.

First and foremost, that’s why I’m excited to see Kevin Durant versus LeBron James. But selfish reasons aside, it’s just a great matchup. ‘’There’s so many young, great players in this league and established players and All-Stars. If you’re a basketball fan, you’re missing out if you’re not watching this series.’’

Both have sworn off Twitter, at least for the time being, James posted his last message on April 27 and Durant on May 1.

For now, KingJames and KDTrey5 will stick to making their statements on the court. ‘’Kevin is locked in on what he needs to do to help the team win,’’ Thunder All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook said. ‘’It’s going to be a great series for both

It’s going to be a marquee match up between two of NBA’s best players today—Miami Heat’s Lebron James and Oklahoma’s Kevin Durant. teams and hopefully we can last year in his first season there’s a lot of guys who But obviously he wants to come out with the win.’’ with Miami, then carried don’t get there once,’’ Heat win and get another opporJames is back for a third the Heat to another chance guard Dwyane Wade said. tunity. I’m sure he will try to crack at his first champion- with victories in the final ‘’Of course, that right there seize it a little bit better than ship, his Cleveland Cavaliers two games of the Eastern in itself is an honor. But you he did the first two times.’’

A disappointment last swept aside by San Anto- Conference finals against want to win one. You want to nio in 2007 just a couple of the Celtics, starting with a get there and win one. Obvi- year in the Heat’s six-game weeks before Durant was sensational, 45-point, 15-re- ously, LeBron wants to win loss to Dallas, James has said drafted by the then-Seattle bound Game 6 performance a championship. I can’t say he’s been in a better frame that he wants to win more of mind this season and is SuperSonics with the No. 2 in Boston. pick in the draft. ‘’You know, third time than the next man, than any- looking forward making up James fell short again in the finals in nine years, body on OKC. I can’t say that. for his previous failure.

King without a crown vs.

Boy who would be King

O

Davao’s Javi Romero-Salas (7), playing for the Philippines’ U-14 Little Azkals, maneuvers against a Timor Leste defender during the AFC U-14 football festival in Stadium Likas, Kota Kinabalu. (DAPOY DIAMANTE)

Philippines U-14 Little Azkals captain Jed Diamante (10) of Davao City in the pre-match briefing with the game officials in their match against Timor Leste in the AFC

U-14 football festival in Stadium Likas, Kota Kinabalu.

(DAPOY DIAMANTE)

KLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma – For LeBron James to finally claim his longsought NBA Finals title, he and the Miami Heat will have to shut down NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Two star-studded teams begin the best-ofseven championship series at Oklahoma City on Tuesday, ending a campaign shortened by a financial dispute between players and team owners that delayed the season’s start to December 25.

James, this season’s NBA Most Valuable Player, departed the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010 for Miami to join fellow superstars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh and spoke of not only winning an NBA crown but taking multiple titles.

The Heat lost to Dallas in last year’s NBA Finals but James has worked to reach the NBA Finals for the third time in his career in his ninth NBA season, having also lost with Cleveland to San Antonio in 2007.

James averaged 27.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists to spark Miami and has produced 30.8 points and 9.8 rebounds a game in the playoffs, but the goal remains another four victories away from the superstar playmaker.

“We look forward to the next challenge,” James said. “Still one more step.”

The Heat and Thunder split two regularseason meetings, each club winning at home.

Oklahoma City went 4719, one game better than Miami, to claim a homefield edge for the final showdown.

This will mark the first year since scoring king Michael Jordan guided the Chicago Bulls against Utah’s Karl Malone in 1997 that the NBA’s top scorer and Most Valuable Player competed against each other in the NBA Finals.

But Durant, who averaged 28.0 points this season and is netting 27.8 points and grabbing 7.9 rebounds in the playoffs, has some help in the form of fellow 23-year-old American Russell West-

brook.

Add James Harden, voted the NBA’s top man off the bench, and Serge Ibaka, the Spanish big man who led the NBA in blocked shots for the second year in a row, and the Thunder bring plenty of confidence they can claim the crown.

“It doesn’t matter who starts or who finishes the game,” James said. “James Harden doesn’t start, but he’s always on the court at the end of the game. It’s who is being productive.

That’s what it all boils down to.”

There are some historic links between James going to Miami and the Thunder. To help clear salary room for making a run at James in 2010, the Heat sent away Daequan Cook and Derek Fisher to the Thunder.

Miami’s Bosh has returned from an abdominal strain but has yet to start since coming back in the Heat’s Eastern Conference finals win over Boston.

“I’m going to have my time out there with certain lineups,” Bosh said.

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 72 • JUNE 13, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

STYLE

Designer gem IT was one of those rare Wednesday afternoons when a ladies’ night out starts at four o’clock.

Davao City’s own Jackie O., otherwise known as Ms. Mary Ann Montemayor, gathered female jewelry enthusiasts for a fashion encounter at the Villa Margarita Hotel. Dubbed as Le’ Mar Arts and Crafts, the cocktail event featured the creations of one of the country’s celebrated accessory designer, Oskar Atendido. Ms. Montemayor, fondly called by most as “Tita Baby,” has always been a strong supporter of Philippine brands and products, and has constantly trail blazed events that highlight the unique talent and artistry of Filipinos from all over the country.

This time around, she flew in Oskar Atendido to showcase his Philippine Filigree collection, a jewelry

Oskar Atendido and Ms Montemayor.

Oskar Atendido together with his models.

line of delicate and intricate ornamental work made from gold, silver, and other finely twisted wires. Most of his pieces are reminiscent of the Spanish jewelry style, translating the romantic look and feel of lace into jewelry. For his exhibit in Davao, he displayed his freshest rendition of the Filigree, a juxtaposition of the vintage and modern touch with the use of multicolored glass beads and precious pearls and stones.

Classic black was the dress code for the models during the fashion show.

Their black tank top and slacks became the modern fusion to the off-white piña and multi-colored Mindanaoan cover up’s --- very nationalistic, just in time for the celebration of the Philippine Independence Day. It was great to see fellow moms / friends, Marga Nograles and Dit-Dit Santos, on the runway, modelling Oskar’s collection of necklaces, bracelets, rings, and earrings. These two successful momprenuers are the perfect models for these set of intricately-designed ornaments, as they ooze with the spirit of the elegant and fashionable modern woman. Both looked stunning and walked the ramp like pros.

The afternoon show and fan fare got good reviews from the audience, more so with the group of ladies who lined up to reserve pieces from Oskar’s limited collection.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 72 • JUNE 13, 2012

EVENTS ENTERTAINMENT

Ending Summer with a BURN

The beautiful sunset provided a gorgeous backdrop to the ultimate Summer-ender of the season

ACCORDING to PAGASA’s reports, Summer 2012 ended last June 1; which makes it all the more appropriate for the latest Confessions of a Partyphile event, a Summer-ender to be held on the same day.

In many respects, this Summer-ender was not like all the other Confessions of a Partyphile parties. Instead of having a long, kitschy title, this one was simply called BURN. The first-ever Confessions of a Partyphile pool party was also held at Marco Polo Davao’s The Deck instead of the usual Eagles Bar. Tickets went for 350 pesos instead of the usual 250. And the time was a little different. As BURN was a Sunset party, it went on from 3PM until 9PM only; just enough to start getting buzzed until the sun set, and then dance for a couple more hours to get set for more hardcore partying elsewhere. But what else went down during the event? Here’s what happened: As with most Confessions of a Partyphile events, cocktails were over-flowing and came free with the door charge. For this event, we served some Mai Tai, Mojito, Daiquiri, and Margarita, much to the delight of the guests. Aside from these, guests were treated to more freebies. Everyone who attended the event got baller bands form popular urban and athletic wear, DC, as well as sim cards from Globe Prepaid. Aside from this, they also had the chance to avail of free fifteen minute massages from Marco Polo Davao’s very own luxurious day spa, Lazuli. Guests could also try out the amazing Slendertone which gives the user a workout equivalent to doing 120 crunches in 20 minutes, without do-

ing much more than just wearing the Slendertone belt around their torsos.

DC also upped the fun ante with their game booth that gave away limited edition gift items from the company for anyone who could complete their challenge— that is, shoot three DC baler bands into a bottle in one turn. One of the most exciting freebies for the night was from FunFlips! Much

like a photo booth, FunFlips had set up their own little nook filled with light and cameras in one side of The Deck. Unlike a photobooth, however, FunFlips allowed guests to pose for a seven seconds video in front of the camera. The print-outs came in the form of flipbooks that brought a little more novelty and fun to the whole event.

Aside from all these freebies, more free stuff were given away via our standard games. Prizes included pedometers from Slendertone, cash vouchers from DC, gift items from Globe Prepaid, and gift certificates from Pizzaccademia. Partyattendees had to perform three dares each to win the prizes. Unfortunately, I can’t really describe on this

column what went down during that part of the party due to censorship rules, but pants were definitely dropped.

All in all, the party was one for the books. The amount of freebies the guests enjoyed, the overflow of happy juice (alcohol), the crazy games, the uber-relaxed vibe the poolside afforded the party, the gorgeous music played by DJ Gary, the beautiful sunset, and the attendance of Davao young society’s most revered, BURN was definitely an affair to remember. The best bit of news is that a lot of the attendees have been asking for a repeat which Confessions of a Partyphile might be able to get around to once the rainy season has passed.

PYT-Pretty Young Things- all came ready for the first pool-side party from Not the usual suspects-- first-timers in the Confessions of a Partyphile Confessions of a Partyphile scene came in looking fashionable and fierce

Confessions of a Partyphile’s regular patrons were there to party despite having work on a Friday.

Partyphiles lounge at the pool side.

Partyphiles enjoy the unlimited drinks by the pool.

The ladies of Marco Polo.

VOL.5 ISSUE 72 • JUNE 13, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

And the Tony goes to...

“WHAT if life were more like theater?”

2012 Tony Award host Neil Patrick Harris asks the audience before breaking out into song and dance.

combining popular movies with popular musicals.

Our favorite? My Left Footloose.

Nice Work!: Amanda Seyfried, who looks stunning with her hair slicked back and deep red lips, The magical night presented the award for brought a slew of dancing Best Performance by an stars and singing sensations Actor in a Feature Musical to the stage at the Beacon Role. The winner? Michael Theatre in New York as per- McGrath for his perforformances by Ricky Mar- mance in Nice Work If You tin, the cast of Once and a Can Get It. First surprise of special award presented the night! to Hugh Jackman made for Spooky Surprise: The an entertaining evening. cast of Ghost takes the Missed out on all the ac- stage for a performance tion? Never fear, fellow the- after a brief commercial ater lovers! We’ve got the break. It’s far mellower than best, the worst and all the the Newsies showdown rest from this year’s 2012 we saw earlier, but the Tony Awards: cast sounds phenomenal Opening Act: The 2012 as they belt out the sweet Tony Awards kick off with tunes. the musical number “Hello” WorstShocker: Butwe’re from 2011 Tony winner The not complaining! John TifBook of Mormon. Let the fany takes home his first razzle dazzle begin, folks!

Tony for Once and thanks Best Opening Line: his family for the “gift of “Welcome to the 66th An- music” onstage. nual Tony Awards, or as we Best Sweet Speech: like to call it, Fifty Shades Mike Nichols wins Best Diof Gay,” third-time host rector of a Play for Death of Neil Patrick Harris quipped a Salesman—his sixth Tony before gushing over the Award (and 18th nominashow. LOL! We knew this tion!). Nichols teared up veteran host would bring as he thanked the “cast his A-game. straight from heaven” and From the Best Kick-Off was bursting with happiRoutine: Neil Patrick Har- ness onstage while his wife ris breaks out into song beamed in the audience. and dance with an original Best Superstar Performusical number and won- mance: Josh Young belts ders what life would be like out a hit from the Broadwithout theater. Amanda way show Jesus Christ SuSeyfried and little orphan perstar. Dressed in a shiny, Annie even take the stage royal blue suit, Young gave with Harris as he belts out a powerful and entertainTony-inspired lyrics. “If like ing performance. were more like theater, life Neil, Quit Hanging wouldn’t suck so much,” Around!: Leave it Neil PatNPH sings. rick Harris to serve up a few To The First Big Win!: surprises! We couldn’t help Paul Rudd presents the but LOL when NPH was award for Best Actress for suspended from the ceiling a Feature Role in a Play. upside down in an ode to Theater speak translation? Spider-Man. Add Andrew Best supporting actress— Garfield’s adorable smile which went to Judith from the audience and you Light for Other Desert Cit- have one priceless Tony ies. “I’m a little bit in shock, moment. but I’m really thrilled...I Best Smile, Worst Outdreamed about it, hoped fit: Jessica Chastain had us about it,” Judith gushed to mesmerized with her stunE! News backstage. ning smile and beautiful red JoBro Sighting!: Nick hair as she presented the Jonas takes the stage to award for Best Performance introduce the company by an Actor in a Featured of Newsies before the cast Role in a Play, which went breaks out into a peppy to Christian Borle for Peter rendition of “Seize the Day.” and the Starcatcher. Our Cue the impressive dancing only complaint? Chastain’s and acrobatic tricks—we dress—the nude mesh and loved all the action in this sequined embroidery were high-energy performance. simply too much.

Worst (Silly) Idea: NPH Worst Performance: takes the stage and makes Sorry, Matthew Broderick, a fairly convincing argu- but we simply weren’t feelment for a Tony Award ing your Nice Work performash-up—and suggests mance. It was cute and en-

tertaining, but far from the night’s best.

Best Ode to the Plays: It’s not just about the musicals! Of course, the Tony Awards took a moment to recognize the year’s best plays with a video montage and mini performances from the stars. One of our favorite moments from the night so far!

Best Original Score: Eight-time nominee Alan Menken takes home his first Tony for Newsies and recalled how the film bombed at the box office and received a Razzie before becoming one of the most successful musicals on Broadway this year.

What an impressive turnaround!

Once Upon a Tony: Cast of Once takes the stage for a very instrument-savvy performance. The violins, guitars and sweet vocals made for a nice mid-show musical number.

Big Banging at the Tonys: Jim Parsons brings his signature smirk to the stage as he introduces the nominees for Best Play as moments from each nominee flash across the screen.

Sheldon Cooper himself then presents the Tony Award to Clybourne Park, penned by Bruce Norris.

Livin’ La Vida Tony: The company of Evita, including the multi-talented Ricky Martin, bring their sizzle to the stage for a fun performance. Ricky rocks a silly ‘stache and hits some seriously high notes as he somersaults for the audience.

Best Married Moment: Hugh Jackman was

beaming as his wife took the stage to present a special Tony Award honoring the musical thesp. “I know you hate public speaking.

This is probably the greatest thing you’ve ever done for me,” Jackman gushes as he accepts his honor. “This was a minor miracle that it happened,” Hugh told E! News backstage after the big surprise.

Most Touching Moment: Steve Kazee gave the most emotional speech of the night when he accepted his award for best lead actor in a musical and remembered his mother,

who passed away on Easter Sunday. “My mother always told me before shows to stand up and show them whose little boy you are. And I am here to tell you I am the son of Kathy Withrow Kazee who lost the fight with cancer on Easter Sunday this year,” he proudly said. Talk about a tear-jerker!

Worst Upset: Fans were shocked when James Corden won for Best Lead Actor in a Play for One Man,

Two Guvners snagging the award from frontrunner Philip Seymour Hoffman. A tearful Cordon thanked his fellow nominees including his “favorite actor in the world,” Philip Seymour Hoffman. “When you’re on a list like that, you don’t expect to win,” Corden admitted to E! News backstage after the big moment.

Best Closing Moments: Nina Arianda squeals with excitement as she accepts the award for Best Lead Actress in a Play for Venus in Fur. Audra McDonald then accepts the award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical for The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess.

“I was a little girl with a pot belly and Afro puffs, hyperactive and overdramatic, and I found the theater and I found my home,” McDonald remembers.

And That’s a Wrap!: Once wins the award for Best Musical as the show comes to a close!

A4 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 72 • JUNE 13, 2012

OLYMPICS COUNTDOWN

Which British Royalty is competing in the Olympics?

We already know that some of the royals are pretty skilled when it comes to athletics.

But one young lady in particular shows so much promise, that she’s been selected to compete in the Olympic games.

So who can we look forward to seeing go for the gold?

That would be Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter Zara Phillips.

According to The New York Times, Phillips was selected to compete on Great Britain’s Olympic team at the London Games in 2012.

An experienced equestrian, Zara is one of five members of Great Britain’s eventing team, according to a statement released Monday by the British Equestrian Federation.

“It’s awesome to be given this opportunity,” Phillips said in a statement released by the federation. “I’m really excited and can’t wait to kick on and get him there— hopefully we will make it this time after you know what happened last.”

This will be the 31-yearold’s Olympic debut after missing out on the 2008

Beijing Games when her horse, Toytown, was injured before the competition.

Phillips will be competing

with a horse named High Kingdom.

Sounds fitting, if you ask us.

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 72 • JUNE 13, 2012

Fight to be reviewed

By Neil Bravo

T

HE three judges who scored the controversial Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley fight will be watching it a second time. Slowly and surely.

In the aftermath of the controversy that stained Sunday’s fight awarded to Bradley in a widelycriticized split decision,

rector Keith Kizer plans to review the video of the disputed split-decision that dethroned Pacquiao as WBO welterweight titleholder separately with each of the fight’s three judges.

Bradley (29-0, 12 KOs) was awarded the victory over Pacquiao by the scores of 115-113 on the cards of judges C.J. Ross and Duane Ford, while Jerry Roth had it

ing to review the tape of the bout because there was so much controversy, and because there was so much disagreement with the decision. Even with bouts with less controversy, judges like to review the tape anyway.”

“I want them to review it with me for my own edification. So I’m going to have them come in individually and we will watch it. I expect

The controversial loss of Manny Pacquiao to Timothy Bradley will be reviewed by the three judges, according to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. the Nevada State Athletic Commission is set to review the video of the fight with the three ring judges that scored the bout.

The RingTV.com, the online news website of Ring Magazine, reported that NSAC Executive Di-

for Pacquiao by the same score. An informal poll of 51 writers favored Pacquiao over Bradley, 48-3.

The RingTV.com reported Kizer as saying, “I’ve talked with all three judges after the bout, as well as today. We’re go-

these judges will show that they used correct scoring criteria and can verbalize their decisionmaking, as they have be able to do in the past,” RingTV.com reported.

Kizer’s decision comes on the same day

ARIS -- Rain or shine, clay or mud, Sunday or Monday, Rafael Nadal rules Roland Garros.

The man they call ‘’Rafa’’ won his record seventh French Open title Monday, returning a day after getting rained out to put the finishing touches on a 6-4, 6-3, 2-6, 7-5 victory over Novak Djokovic. He denied Djokovic in his own run at history - the quest for the ‘’Novak Slam.’’

The match ended on Djokovic’s double-fault, a fittingly awkward conclusion to a final that had plenty of stops and starts, including a brief delay during the fourth set Monday while - what else? - a rain shower passed over the stadium.

They waited it out and Nadal wound up as he has for seven of the past eight years: down on the ground, celebrating a title at a place that feels like a home away

from home for the secondseeded Spaniard. He broke the record he shared with Bjorn Borg, improved to 52-1 at the French Open and beat the man who had defeated him in the last three Grand Slam finals. ‘’This tournament is, for me, the most special tournament of the world,’’ Nadal said.

After serving his fourth double-fault of the match, the top-seeded Djokovic dropped his head, slumped his shoulders and walked slowly toward the net - an emotional two-day adventure complete, and not with the result he wanted.

He was trying to become the first man since Rod Laver, 43 years ago, to win four straight major titles. He came up short just as Roger Federer twice did in seeking four in a row - his pursuit also halted by Nadal at Roland Garros in 2006 and 2007.

‘’It was a very difficult match against the best player in the world,’’ Nadal said. ‘’I lost three Grand Slam finals - Wimbledon, the U.S. Open last year, and the Australian Open this

that Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who promotes both Pacquiao and Bradley, told RingTV.com that he has requested that Nevada attorney general Catherine Cortez Masto investigate the results of Bradley-Pacquiao, which took place on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

“This is by no means any kind of negative thing. I want to have them come in and take a look at the replay with me, which happens from time to time, and which they were going to do on their own anyway. With competitive bouts, sometimes you agree and sometimes you disagree with others’ round scores,” Kizer told RingTV.com.

“They [judges] see the bout from different angles and have to subjectively decide how hard a punch was, and relate it to the other punches landed in that same round. You do your round by round scoring and there are often a lot of close rounds. It’s hard to evaluate in real time.”

Pacquiao (54-4-2, 39 knockouts) out-landed Bradley in 10 of the 12 rounds, with the overall count in his favor 253to-159. He also scored with more total jabs (6351) and power punches (190-108). Bradley outlanded Pacquiao in only the ninth round, while the 10th was even in punches connected with

Sweeter the 7th time for Rafa P

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates victory in the men’s singles final against Novak Djokovic of Serbia. Nadal won his seventh French Open title.

year. I’m very happy, very emotional.’’

Nadal won his 11th overall Grand Slam title, tying him with Borg and Laver for fourth among the

FSWEETER, 16

Phl U-13 girls fall to 5th

A

FTER an impressive opening campaign, the Philippine Under-13 girls football team composed of the core of Davao City’s U-13 squad, dropped two of its last matches in the Asian Football Confederation U-13 Girls Festival of Football at Thong Nat Stadium in Vietnam.

The nationals lost to Vietnam on Sunday, 3-0, and Guam on Monday, 4-0, to fall to fifth place out of the six countries competing in Group C. In the festival’s openNovak Djokovic hits a backhand return to Rafael Nadal.

ing day on Saturday, the Philippines showed might as it drubbed Cambodia, 5-1, behind the heroics of Mikhaela Jumawan and Cecile Deita, who both hit two goals in the match.

The squad takes a one-day rest today before facing Myanmar on Wednesday and Thailand on Thursday to cap off the event.

The festival is formed by the AFC to develop young football players in coaches in Southeast Asia.

each landing 14.

Kizer said the idea is to examine each of the indviduals’ judging criteria.

“What you do is you go through and you watch the rounds, especially the rounds where there was disagreement among the judges, and you go through the rounds. You stop the fight a couple of times during the round and say, ‘right now, where did you have the round?’ or ‘how did you have it scored through the first minute and 10 seconds,’” said Kizer.

“What I’m interested is seeing is where the rounds were close, and why one judge went this way and the other two went the other way. What

15

was the difference in A) how close it was in their minds, and B) what was the difference in that round that they gave that round to Pacquiao or they gave that round to Bradley. So again, what your looking for is A) a good explanation and B) very similar if not the exact same criteria that the judges are applying to what they see and what they hear.”

Kizer said he wants to get the process going as soon as possible.

“I have to get a copy of the DVD first and have them stop in when available,” said Kizer. “Depending on their schedule, I would want to do it sometime this month.”

Is Bob Arum sincere?

T

HE furor over Manny pacquiao’s ridiculous loss to Timothy Bradley will not die down that easy.

I was elsewhere reading a foreign daily and one page was devoted to the story entitled: Was Manny robbed?

The social media is still abuzz too. Twitter, for example, exploded with twits including those from professional athletes and celebrities.

Here are some: Former Coyotes center Kyle Turris (@KyleTurris): “Wow, watched the first 6 rounds and went to bed, thought Pacquiao won all 6. What happened in the second half?”

Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald (@LarryFitzgerald): “Saw a robbery by the Nevada (athletic) commission 2night @ the MGM. Big ups 2 Manny 4 being a class act regardless of the circumstances.”

Aaron Brooks, Suns guard who played in China last season (@thirty2zero): “I hope the (Philippines) don’t have weapons of mass destruction.”

Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett (@DDockett) : “PAC got robbed without a gun!!!

I’m seriously (ticked).

First my Celtics crumble in the 4th then PAC got robbed and Bradley know he didn’t win.”

Phoenix Suns swingman Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) was really riffing: “They’re cheating in Vegas!!!! OMG!!!! Wow!!!!!

Biggest cheat EVER!!!!”

“This is crazy. Those judges in Vegas need to be fired ASAP! I never felt so cheated of my money in my life!!!!”

“I can’t get over that PAC MAN fight! You know how the Gov got involved with steroid use in baseball, it’s now time for boxing.”

Cardinals running back Alfonso Smith (@ FonzoAZ46): “#RipBoxing.”

Yeah, rip it. This boxing boo-boo will never die down that easy even if Manny himself has walked away from talking about it.

But the question in my

mind, to be very honest about it is whether or not Bob Arum is sincere.

Arum, he of the brilliant mind in boxing, says he wants an investigation first before accepting a rematch. Did you suspect anything here? Ju honestly believe Bob Arum really sincere?

Before this fight, I had thought Manny is going the way of Marco Antonio Barrera. Life is but a cycle.

Even in boxing. Fame and greatness is like a wheel of fortune. It goes around.

Barrera was an ageing legend when a young Manny Pacquiao was tossed in the ring with him.

Unlike Bradley though, Manny won via by a vicious TKO. When Manny was said to be taking a young Bradley as his next foe, I thought honestly in my humble, untrained boxing mind, that there will be a changing of the guards in boxing. Floyd is in jail. Manny is already gobbled up by politics and let’s face it, Manny is beginning to lose his mojo. In his last two fights, Manny is as flat as a day old beer. Nothing of the kick of the strong beer he endorses.

In short, boxing needs a resident champion. A new blood. New excitement.

Bob Arum, to keep his outfit Top Rank, had to get him a new star to bank on.

Remember it should have been Amir Khan but he lost to Lamont Peterson.

Then it could have been Chavez Jr. but the kid just doesn’t have the charisma of a Pacquiao or a Dela Hoya.

The search goes on for Bob’s new star. He knows, pretty soon, Manny’s days will be over.

By the law of gravity or by the law of averages.

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SPORTS

Sweeter...

FFROM 15

all-time leaders.

Next up on Nadal’s list: Chris Evert? Yes. Before Monday, Evert was the only player, man or woman, to win seven titles at Roland Garros, and Nadal would break that record next if he wins No. 8. ‘’He’s definitely the best

player in history on this surface and the results are showing that he’s one of the best-ever players to play this game,’’ Djokovic said.

A match with so much of tennis history riding on it proved awkward and frustrating for both players.

Unable to solve Nadal’s mastery of the clay, Djokovic was throwing rackets

VOL.5 ISSUE 72 • JUNE 13, 2012 around early in the final. A bit later on Sunday, Nadal was complaining bitterly as the rain picked up, the tennis balls got heavy and officials refused to stop the match.

Djokovic rolled through the third set as the rain turned the heavy red clay into more of a muddy paste. He had all the momentum when play was

halted, up a break early in the fourth. The weather cleared well before dusk Sunday and Djokovic said he was sitting around the locker room, ready to play.

But officials decided to call it a washout, setting up the first non-Sunday finish at the French Open since 1973, when Ilie Nastase wrapped up his title on a Tuesday.

EDGEDAVAO