Edge Davao 5 Issue 89

EDGEDAVAO

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

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Serving a seamless society

Indulge Page A4

Payong-payong operators junk conversion

Color coding for jeepneys

By Jade C. Zaldivar

F

or the sake of having an orderly traffic system, the Davao City overnment is mulling to

So with tricycles

n implement a color coding system for all public utility vehicles according to their routes, particularly jeepneys and

tricycles.

Davao City Councilor Pilar Braga, chair of the committee on energy, transportation, and communication, yes-

FCOLOR, 13

Science/Environment Page 4

NEW HOTEL. Hotel management officer Carol Bacaltos (2nd from left) and the Big 8 Corporate Hotel staff greet guests with a smile. The new hotel in Tagum City held its soft opening yesterday. [LEAN DAVAL, JR.]

Sports Page 16

Daneco wants DLPC to service IGaCoS

By Antonio M. Ajero

Follow Us On

S

oME 9,000 members of the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Daneco) voted last Sunday to authorize Daneco to enter into an agreement with the Davao Light and Power Company, Inc. (DLPC) for the Davao City-based power firm to provide electricity to the Island Garden City of

n

n

Co-op board, GM authorized to sign MOA with Davao Light Dabawenyos hail move as boost to island’s economic progress

Samal.

The approval was reached during a special general membership assembly of the

Daneco in the municipal gymnasium of Maco, Compostela Valley, according to IGaCoS city

FDANECO, 13

2

THE BIG NEWS

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

MRDP pours in P65M infra projects in South Cotabato

CHO says no hunger in Davao City, but… r

By Lorie A. Cascaro

N

oT a single Dabawenyo is experiencing hunger, but there are families who are not eating the right kind and amount of food, a city health officer yesterday said.

Vangie Genete, officer in charge of the nutrition office, City Health Office (CHo), said because of inadequacy of essential nutrients from what Dabawenyos are eating, malnourishment among children remains prevalent in the city.

She cited that the prevalence rate of mal-

CIDG inaugurates new Davao building

nutrition increased from 4.75% in 2010 to 5.26% in 2011.

Statistics show that 2,054 severely malnourished children and 8,974 underweight children were recorded by the CHo last year. out of 16 health districts in the city, Bunawan had the highest number of malnourished children while Paquibato district had the highest prevalence rate of malnutrition, followed by Baguio, Poblacion (District D), Agdao, Bunawan, Tugbok, and Toril.

“Davao City is abundant in food supply,” Nu-

EDGEDAVAO

trition Officer II Teresa Ng said, adding that even beggars and scavengers have some income to buy food.

However, she said some people are only uneducated on what are the right kind of food to eat.

With this, the health office is intensifying its advocacy to promote eating of organic and nutritious food.

Generally, there is no hunger in Davao City because there is abundance of food, according to Pilar Braga, who also said that if only Filipinos are industrious, it is possible to

FCHO, 13

urAL folks in South Cotabato will expect countryside developments in the next few months through the Department of Agriculture’s anti poverty alleviation initiative Mindanao rural Development Program (MrDP) which poured in a total of P65 million for projects.

In a recent Provincial Development Council (PDC) meeting, the provincial government of South Cotabato endorsed the proposed list of rural infrastructure sub-projects.

However, Gov. Arthur Pingoy Jr., PDC chairman, said P6.5 million or 10 percent of the total

cost will be the financial counterpart of the provincial government and will benefit seven towns.

The projects for implementation are rehabilitation and construction of farm-to-market roads (FMrs), potable water system and dam site.

According to the list of projects under the FMr, MrDP eyes the building of a P7.3million Nongon FMr in Suralah, the P1.4-million Poblacion-Crossing rubber-Palian road in Tupi, the P9.3-million FMr in the town of Sto. Niño and the P25.8-million Sta. Barbara dam site in Koronadal.

on the other hand, MrDP will also invest in a P3.5-million water system in Liberty, P3 million in Lampitak and a P3-million level 2 water system in Sto. Niño.

Last month, the province received a P10million MrDP grant for a rubber production project in T’boli while they also gave monetary assistance to farmers in Lake Sebu three years ago for the same project. recently, South Cotabato received P32 million in assistance from the DA for a rice processing facility which will be put up in Sto. Niño. [MiNDANEws]

C

rIMINAL Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) head Director Samuel D. Pagdilao and Davao City ViceMayor rodrigo Duterte formally led the blessing and inauguration of the newly renovated CIDG regional office building in the locality Thursday morning.

Pagdilao thanked Duterte, the local government units in Davao province, the non-government organizations (NGos) and the members of Community Investigative Support (CIS) in region 11 who have given their support to the renovation of the CIDG’s regional office.

He said the newlyrenovated CIDG office is a testament to the healthy working relationship CIDG 11 chief, Senior Supt. Albert Ignatius Ferro, has established with the local government as well as the active participation of NGos and the CIS in complementing the effort of the CIDG to have a conducive working place for its personnel in Davao City.

Pagdilao said the renovation, which has cost more than P600,000, will give way to a high sense of decency and will cer-

FCIDG, 13

SEAIR opens Manila-Davao daily flights T REPAIR SHOP. A young child plays in the doorway while his father is busy tinkering with an old electric fan in their shop in Davao City. [KARLOs MANLUPiG]

HE second oldest airline in the Philippines, the South East Asian Airlines (SEAIr) finally offers two daily flights from Manila to Davao City starting August 18.

Flights from Davao will be scheduled at 7:45 in the morning, and 8:30 in the evening.

Chief operating officer Patrick Tan yesterday said bringing in to Davao the

lowest fares to all destinations, SEAIr also eyes Davao-Cebu and DavaoSingapore flights in the future.

The SEAIr acknowledged Davao’s potentials in passenger traffic as investments are already coming in from both domestic and international sources such as the growing business process outsourcing industry.

Tan also said that

The Chamber of Mines Caraga region, Inc. (CMCrI), the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) and the Department of Environment and Natural resources (DENr) inked the agreement at the culmination of the Environment Month on June 30 at the Surigao del Norte Provincial Forest Park in Brgy. Ipil here.

The place was the mined out area of Pacific Cement Philippines (PACEMCo), which incidentally is already part of the final decommissioning and rehabilitation phase of the mining company as exemplified under the Mining Act of 1995.

According to Dulmar raagas, CMCrI presi-

Davao is the most livable city in the country and the 87th fastest growing city in the world, being the only city in the Philippine that made it to the top 100, based on a survey by international think tank City Mayors Foundation.

Also this year, SEAIr started flights from Manila to Cebu, Tacloban, Iloilo, Puerto Princesa, Kalibo (Boracay), and Bacolod.

With its partner air-

line, Tiger Airways, SEAIr utilizes new 144-seater Airbus A319, and new 180-seater Airbus A320 aircrafts.

Citing that the company is eyeing 85% load factor for Davao flights daily, Tan said there will be packages to be offered during Kadayawan festival.

SEAIr was in Davao as part of a seven-city roadshow to announce its big-

gest network expansion nationwide, considering Davao as a major business proposition for investors.

Expanding its fleet to five Airbus planes by September, SEAIr also offers the lowest fares to all its current destinations: Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Kota Kinabalu, and Kalibo.

SEAIr scored 92% on peak season on-time performance in 2011.

which was passed on July 23 of the same year, took effect. The provincial government had all the while believed that Bukidnon became a province on March 10, 1917.

This was clarified by Dr. Maria Serena Diokno, chair of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), in a letter to the Sangguniang

Panlalawigan which had requested the NHCP in 2010 to clarify the province’s founding date when it began planning for its centennial celebration.

The province holds a month-long festivity to commemorate its supposed anniversary. The highlight of the festivity is the Kaamulan Festival,

Caraga mining firms commit Bukidnon has been celebrating to P-Noy’s greening program its foundation on the wrong date

M

INING companies in the Caraga region have committed to join the national greening program of the Aquino government with the signing of a memorandum of agreement wherein their employees, officials and the host communities will plant at least 10 trees for every individual every year until 2016.

FCARAGA, 13

Wrong mistake, hehe

A

LL these years the province of Bukidnon has been wrong in celebrating its foundation anniversary, like when it marked its “95th” anniversary on March 10, 2012.

Truth is, it was founded as a full-fledged province on Sept. 1, 1914, when the Philippine Commission Act No. 2408,

FbukIDNON, 13

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

Davao coal plant to be fast-tracked

T

HE 300-megawatt clean coal fired power plant by Aboitiz Power is now being started on the preparatory phase, with the company intent of fast-tracking the project to provide a solution to the looming Mindanao power crisis.

Bobby orig, First Vice President for Mindanao Affairs of Aboitiz Power said that they hope to deliver much-needed power to distribution utilities, electric cooperatives and other consumers in Mindanao by 2015 when the power plant is expected to be completed.

Estimated at P35 billion it is considered as the largest investment in Mindanao.

And just this week Aboitiz Power through its subsidiary Therma South Incorporated has signed $546-million worth of contracts related to the construction of the plant.

The site of the power facility is an 80-hectare land situated in the city of Davao and

the municipality of Sta. Cruz.

Site preparation has already been started which could last for one year before construction of vertical infrastructures are started.

Hundreds of workers from the host communities of Barangay Inawayan (Sta. Cruz) and Binugao (Davao City) have been utilized in the site preparation.

Aboitiz Power is setting up jobs fair within the communities to supply the manpower needs of the construction. It is estimated that the project will generate up to 2,000 direct and indirect jobs during the 3-year construction period of the plant.

A 200 hectare carbon sink has already been identified to be put up in Coron Sta. Cruz, which will be planted with different species of trees.

These are one of the mitigating measures put up by Aboitiz Power to ensure that

THE BIG NEWS

3

FDAvAO, 13 FAREWELL. Wreaths for the late Don Antonio Floirendo Sr. reach even outside the chapel of TADECO where his remains lie in state on Thursday. [LEAN DAVAL, JR.]

4

SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Greenpeace slams ‘illegal’ coal plant in Indonesia Defiant South Korea vows to restart whaling

Greenpeace activists wearing black suits stand beside a symbolic boat (top) with a banner that reads “coal kills” attend a rally outside the Maritime and Fisheries Ministry in Jakarta. rEENPEACE activ- built in a public-private ists Wednesday partnership between Inprotested plans by donesian coal miner AdIndonesia to build South- aro Energy and Japan’s east Asia’s biggest coal Electric Power Developpower plant, saying it ment (J-Power) and Itowould sully coastal wa- chu Corp., after the conters and strip the liveli- sortium won a $3.2 bilhoods of fishermen and lion tender last year for ouTH Korea said farmers. the project. that it would start Masked activists from Greenpeace activists whaling under a the environmental group, called the project “ildressed in black, marched legal”, arguing that the loophole in a global moraalongside a replica of a coastal area of ujungne- torium that allows sciensinking ship through the goro-roban to be devel- tific research, outraging capital Jakarta to the Mar- oped was actually pro- conservationist nations itime and Fisheries Minis- tected territory under a by using the same tactic try, calling for the project central government regu- as Japan.

At sometimes heated to be scrapped. lation from 2008.

Greenpeace said the But Batang’s district talks of the International Commission planned coal plant in cen- government issued a Whaling in Panama, South Korea tral Java’s Batang district new regulation in 2011 said it would announce would pollute coastal stating the area was no waters and threaten the longer protected -- and later how many whales it livelihoods of more than a maritime ministry of- would kill and when but A Minke whale and calf rise to the surface in this photo it will start whaling under a loophole in a global mora10,000 fishermen as well ficial said Jakarta had no insisted that it did not taken from a Bass and Flinders whale watching boat off torium that allows scientific research the coast near Sydney on June 8, 2010. South Korea says as farmers on nearby authority to overrule the need foreign approval.

South Korea’s head lands. decision.

New Zealand charged South Korea’s plan is whales “accidentally” Greenpeace cam“Indonesia is a de- envoy Kang Joon-Suk said that South Korea would “unnecessary and borders caught in nets -- is popular consumption of whale paigner Arif Fiyanto mocracy, and our counalso be putting whale popon the reckless.

New Zeain the Korean coastal town meat “dates back to histornoted that Indonesia had try decided to give more committed to reducing its power to local govern- ical times” in his country ulations at risk and said land is strongly opposed of ulsan. South Korea’s greenhouse gas emissions ments to make these de- and that the minke whale Japan’s years of expedi- to Korea’s proposal,” its unusually high rate of by 26 percent from 2009 cisions,” Sudirman Saad, population had recovered tions had not contributed commissioner, Gerard van bycatch has raised suspiBohemen, told the confer- cions among activists that levels by 2020. the ministry’s head of since a 1986 global mora- to science.

New Zealand Foreign ence. whales are sometimes de“But coal contributes marine, coastal and small torium went into effect.

Minister Murray McCully ryan Wulff, the acting liberately killed.

“Legal whaling has 60 percent of global emis- island affairs, told Greensaid there was no need to uS deputy commissioner, “If they wanted to conbeen strictly banned and sions,” he said. “If Indone- peace and reporters. harpoon whales to consaid the united States opduct research, they could subject to strong punsia were serious about its “This isn’t our responposed killing whales for just use the bycatch. This commitment, it would try sibility. If you want to ask ishments, though the 26 duct effective research.

Australia urged South research in principle and is a thinly veiled attempt to reduce the country’s why this project was ap- years have been painful Korea to scrap plans to kill voiced concern for the so- by Korea to conduct comand frustrating for the dependence on fossil fu- proved, you have to ask whales as part of a scien- called J-stock of the ocean mercial whaling,” said people who have been traels.” the Batang government,” ditionally taking whales tific research programme, giants in the northern Pa- Wendy Elliott, head of The Indonesian gov- he said. the WWF conservationist ernment says the planned Indonesian delegates for food,” he told the con- saying the move was a set- cific. back for conservation and “The only stock that group’s delegation. ference. coal plant would be the at the rio+20 environlacked credibility. they could be realistically South Korean delegate Kang said South Korea biggest in the region, and mental summit in Brazil “I’m very disappointed engaging with in their Park Jeong-Seok voiced with a capacity of 2,000 last month stressed the would conduct whaling in megawatts (MW) would importance of a “blue its own waters -- in con- by this announcement by waters is J-stock and that anger at the foreign critiboost the country’s bid economy” to help tackle trast to Japan, which infu- South Korea. We are com- stock is in severe trouble cism. He said that Seoul to add 20,000 MW to its climate change and con- riates Australia and New pletely opposed to whal- already due to the exces- did not need to inform othgrid from 2005 levels by serve marine resources Zealand by killing hun- ing, there’s no excuse for sive amount of removals ers about scientific whal2016. in the world’s biggest ar- dreds of whales a year un- scientific whaling,” Austra- every year due to bycatch,” ing and was only doing so “in the spirit of trust, good der the guise of research lia’s Prime Minister Julia Wulff told AFP. The plant is set to be chipelagic nation.

Gillard told reporters.

Whale meat -- from faith and transparency.” in Antarctic waters.

G

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EDGEDAVAO

Stat Watch

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

3.5% 4th Qtr 2011

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

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

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

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

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

P 43.65 Dec 2011

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

3,999.7 Sept 2011

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

128.1 Jan 2012

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.9 Jan 2012

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.4 Dec 2011

16. Visitor Arrivals

284,040 Sept 2011

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

19.1% Oct 2011

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

6.4% Oct 2011

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

2011

2010

2009

Average December November October September August July June May April March

43.31 43.64 43.27 43.45 43.02 42.42 42.81 43.37 43.13 43.24 43.52

45.11 43.95 43.49 43.44 44.31 45.18 46.32 46.30 45.60 44.63 45.74

47.637 46.421

February

43.70

46.31

January

44.17

46.03

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

47.032 46.851 48.139

48.161 48.146 47.905 47.524 48.217

48.458 47.585 47.207

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

5 S&P upgrades country’s credit rating THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

S

TANDArD and Poor’s (S&P) on Wednesday upgraded its foreign currency rating on the Philippines to ‘BB+’, a notch below investment grade, from ‘BB’ with stable outlook, leveling it with the country’s long-term local currency rating on account of continued improvement in the country’s fiscal flexibility.

“In our assessment, the Philippines’s fiscal flexibility is gradually increasing, reflecting an improving government debt profile and moderating interest burden,” the ratings agency said in a statement.

“The stable outlook balances the country’s emerging net-external-creditor status, relatively strong external liquidity, and signs of improving growth prospects, against low income levels and continuing challenges in fiscal and structural reforms,” it said.

“We expect the country will move into a slight net-externalcreditor position this year,” it said.

The ratings agency also affirmed its ‘B’ short-term sovereign credit ratings and ‘axBBB+’/ axA-2’ ASEAN scale ratings on the Philippines while the country’s transfer and convertibility assessment (T&C) was changed to ‘BBB-’ from ‘BB+’.

S&P credit analyst Agost Benard said: “The foreign currency rating upgrade reflects our assessment of gradually easing fiscal vulnerability, as the government’s fiscal consolidation improves its debt profile and lowers its interest burden.”

“The rating action also reflects the country’s strengthening external position, with remittances and an expanding service export sector continuing to drive current account surpluses,” he said.

As of last May, the country’s gross international reserves (GIr) amounted to uS$ 76 billion, which is enough to cover 11.4 months worth of imports of goods and services and income.

The country’s latest foreign reserves is also equivalent to 10.8 times the country’s shortterm external debt based on original maturity and 6.6 times based on residual maturity, which the central bank defines as the “outstanding external debt with original maturity of one year or less, plus principal payments on medium- and longterm loans of the public and private sectors falling due within the next 12 months.”

The central bank projects Philippines GIr level at uS$ 77.5 to uS$ 78 billion this year, lower than the uS$ 79 billion forecast earlier on account of the impact of external volatilities. relatively, fiscal consolida-

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

tion has resulted in the improvement among others of the government’s budget gap, which stood at P22.79 billion as of last May, higher than year-ago’s P9.54 billion but way below the P109.34 billion programmed for the first half this year. revenues in the five-month period rose by 11 percent to P645.65 billion from year-ago’s P581.50 billion.

Also, expenditures expanded by 13.1 percent to P668.43 billion from the P591.04 billion in end-May 2011.

S&P said the ratings on the country “encompass the country’s low income level, evolving political institutions, and challenges in expanding revenues to meet development needs.”

“These constraints are balanced by a robust external profile featuring an emerging netexternal-creditor position and strong liquidity ratios, as well as a track record of moderate economic growth with less variability than seen in many other countries,” it said.

Bernard said “a high, albeit declining, interest burden constitutes an additional rating constraint,” citing that “interest burden of 13 percent of general government revenues is high, largely because revenues remain low relative to the size of the economy.”

“Notably, the government’s foreign-currency debt stands at a relatively high 42 percent of total, rendering debt service costs and fiscal outturns susceptible to adverse exchange rate move-

ments,” he said.

Another limiting factors to the Philippines’ credit rating is the low revenue generation, which in turn prevents the country to improve its basic infrastructure and public services.

The revenue collection was traced to the narrow tax base and high incidence of non-compliance. on the other hand, one positive factor that impacts on the country was the strengthening external profile, S&P said.

The statement said: “A long record of current account and overall balance of payments surpluses has produced a substantial foreign exchange reserve buffer” noting that “foreign exchange reserves cover about 10 months of current account payments.”

“We project ongoing current account surpluses of about 2% of GDP, based on remittance inflows from a large and well-diversified expatriate labor force, and a fastexpanding business process outsourcing industry,” Benard said.

The central bank projects a five percent growth for remittances this year.

As of last April, money sent home by overseas Filipinos (oFs) expanded by 5.4 percent to uS$ 6.5 billion from year-ago’s uS$ 6.21 billion.

S&P said the country’s “record of fairly steady economic growth, albeit low in light of the stage of development, supports our ratings.”

“We view medium-term growth prospects as more favor-

able, if increased political stability stimulates private sector growth, and the administration’s fiscal consolidation program enables higher levels of public investment,” it said.

The ratings agency also noted that ratings of both the country’s foreign and local currency are the same “partly because the sovereign has indicated that its global local currency issues are of the same ranking as the sovereign’s other external (and mostly foreign-currency-denominated) indebtedness.”

Also, “the domestic debt market is not as well developed and monetary policy tools are not quite as effective as in countries where we view the government as having measurably greater capacity to service local currency obligations.”

“The stable outlook balances the country’s expected net external creditor status, relatively strong external liquidity, and signs of improving growth prospects against low income levels and continuing challenges in fiscal and structural reforms,” it said.

S&P said it expected the country’s ratings level to improve due to “either our appraisal of improving political and institutional factors or by evidence of a sustainable structural revenue improvement” but the ratings will be lowered “if the government’s commitment to fiscal consolidation weakens, resulting in rising debt, or if the external liquidity position deteriorates significantly.” (PNA)

we have started towards macroeconomic stability, fiscal sustainability and inclusive economic growth.”

“Two out of three major credit rating agencies now have us one notch below investment grade. We can now clearly make our case for an investment grade status,” he added.

Aside from the upgrade of the country’s foreign currency rating from ‘BB’ with outlook placed at “Stable” on account of continued improvement in the country’s fiscal flexibility S&P also affirmed the domestic economy’s ‘BB+’ long-term local currency rating.

“In our assessment, the Philippines’s fiscal flexibility is gradually increasing, reflecting an improving government debt profile and moderating inter-

est burden,” the ratings agency said in a statement.

“The stable outlook balances the country’s emerging net-external-creditor status, relatively strong external liquidity, and signs of improving growth prospects, against low income levels and continuing challenges in fiscal and structural reforms,” it said.

“We expect the country will move into a slight net-external-creditor position this year,” it added. relatively, S&P also affirmed its ‘B’ short-term sovereign credit ratings and ‘axBBB+’/axA-2’ ASEAN scale ratings on the Philippines while the country’s transfer and convertibility assessment (T&C) was changed to ‘BBB-’ from ‘BB+’. (PNA)

BSP, DOF positive for more credit upgrades E

CoNoMIC managers are positive that the Philippines has the momentum to get an investment grade credit rating following Standard and Poor’s (S&P) upgrade of the country’s rating to ‘BB+’ Wednesday.

“We have a positive ratings momentum given all the favorable developments in the economy,” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipnas (BSP) told PNA Wednesday night.

Also, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima is grateful that S&P has noted the improvement in the government’s fiscal and monetary front.

“This is the 8th positive credit ratings action under the Aquino administration and this only gives us more confidence to continue with the work that as of august 2010

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

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THE ECONOMY

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Forum on ‘responsible mining’ praised But critics say crucial issues glossed over

By Carolyn Arguillas in the Philippines, particu-

S

uPPorTErS and operators of large-scale mining cheered Tuesday’s Forum on responsible Mining, which was intended to “educate” the public on what “responsible mining” is all about. But critics say the forum’s “glossing over” of crucial mining- related issues in Mindanao such as food security and human rights, further strengthened their resolve to push for a “pro-Filipino, pro-environment,” alternative mining law.

In his opening remarks, former Environment Secretary Antonio Cerilles, now governor of Zamboanga del Sur and concurrent president of JCI Senate Philippines, told the audience of about 300 at the Grand Men Seng Hotel that they “will not convince you to be pro-mining, we will not be convincing you to be antimining but we want you to know that there is such a thing called responsible mining.”

Before representatives of large-scale and smallscale mining operators, the academe, indigenous peoples, non-governmental and peoples’ organizations, Cerilles defined “responsible mining” as being “responsible to the environment, responsible to government, and…responsible to your fellowmen.”

But Fr. Joel Tabora, president of the Ateneo de Davao university (ADDu), who asked the first question during the open forum after the morning’s speeches, said the discussions on “responsible mining” had “very serious gaps.”

Dr. Jean Lindo, Kalikasan party-list third nominee, commended the efforts of the organizers but noted that the forum sounded like a “product presentation whose objective was only to sell rather than provide a discussion or analytical framework that would elevate the quality of discourse on mining.”

The forum’s organizer according to the program was JCI Senate Philippines although the draft programs included as organizers the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines (CoMP) and the Coalition for responsible Mining in Mindanao (Coremin) The morning’s topics were an overview of Philippine mining by CoMP chair Art Disini; fundamentals of responsible minerals development by CoMP VP for Communications rocky Dimaculangan; JCI Senate Philippines’ “Yes to responsible Mining, No to Illegal Mining” advocacy by Atty. Menjie redelosa, chair of the JCI Committee on responsible Mining; and Geology by Mines and Geosciences regional director Ed Arreza.

“Who benefits” “In terms of discussion today …relative to responsible mining, I felt there were serious gaps, like for instance, who benefits?

When we’re talking responsible mining policy, we have to answer the question ‘who benefits?’” Tabora asked.

Tabora also asked why there was hardly any discussion on the pressing issues that have repeatedly been raised in previous conferences on large-scale mining

larly in Mindanao, their impact on agriculture, water resources, and indigenous peoples rights, among others.

Tabora was the subject of CoMP’s full page paid advertisement in a national daily in late January for not inviting representatives of the mining sector to the International Conference on Mining in Mindanao, which he convened at his university.

The full-page ad came out on January 27, the last of the two-day Conference that ended with the passage of a “Mindanao Declaration: Defending the Dignity of Life, Securing our Future.”

The Declaration called for a repeal of the 1995 Mining Act, urged the enactment of a “pro-Filipino, pro-environment alternative mining law” and the declaration of a mining moratorium.

A month ago, at the Mindanao Economy and Environment Summit held also in Davao City, Secretary Lucille Sering, vice chair of the Climate Change Commission, warned that given a reduced rainfall by 2020, potential conflicts over water use have to be defined and studied.

“Mining has been mentioned. Water is crucial… If you see reduction of water in 2020, mining needs water, agriculture needs water and even hydropower needs water. Ano po ba ang uunahin natin sa paggamit sa ating tubig?” (What will be our first priority in using water?),” Sering asked.

Tabora said responsible mining should also be discussed “in the context of agricultural development” because “when we are talking about the possibilities of mines, we are talking precisely about the possible effects of a mine on thousands of hectares of rice because it will affect the hydrology of the area.”

He said the speakers pointed out “that legal mining is the way to go and illegal mining is not the way to go but legal mining seems to deny the poor people who are into mining, access to the fruits of mining.”

Four parameters of “responsible mining” “I was hoping that we would talk about this in a forum on responsible mining and not just the fact that of course we all use cell phones, (but also the) tough issues we have to face,” he said, adding that ADDu will continue to sponsor discussions on mining and “next time, the Chamber of Mines will be invited.”

Lindo said the speakers gave a litany of visible gains from mining like beautiful subdivisions, corporate social responsibility, scholarships “but these are actually social obligations rather than genuine contribution.”

She said she would have preferred to see the mining industry’s contributions “vis-à-vis the Millennium Development Goals at a minimum, especially that the reasonable targets are identified.”

“We respect their organizational stand but we want to make them aware that there are other more important considerations….

People’s rights, sustainable

development devoid of greenwash, rights-based corporate social responsibility rather than Pr (public relations),” Lindo said. responding to Tabora, CoMP’s Dimaculangan said “responsible mining” has four parameters: economic growth, environmental protection, social equity and good governance.”

He said the company has complied with the first parameter on economic growth if “it pays taxes religiously, provides employment to the community, conducts itself in accordance with law, and provides economic progress for its host” local government unit.

There is compliance with the second parameter, he said, if the company “undertakes, even before it goes into actual mining operations, all the requirements of law, to follow the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) system, Environmental Compliance Certificate and then undertakes reforestation proper tailings impoundment, water quality monitoring and air pollution control progressive rehabilitation.”

He said an “overwhelming majority” of their members have complied with this parameter. on social equity, Dimaculangan said companies comply with this third parameter when it” does not have any preferential treatment as regards employment, gives equal opportunity to IPs (indigenous peoples), women when it conducts social development and management programs.”

He said good governance means the company “consults the community, IP or not, as to its plans and programs both for community and operations, when it does not corrupt, does not condone corruption, when it follows highest ethical standards in the conduct of business.”

A future under SMI Bai Dalena Samling, described in the program as tribal chieftain of Danlag in Tampakan, South Cotabato, where the Sagittarius Mines, Inc. (SMI) operates, declared in her testimony in the afternoon session that it is only SMI that has given them a future. “Walay lain naghatag sa amo sa kaugmaon kundi ang mining company,” she said.

She challenged those opposing SMI to give them the freedom to exercise their rights over their ancestral domain, repeatedly saying “illegal small-scale miners” cannot give them the benefits such as scholarships that SMI is giving.

“Kung anti kamo, anti lang mo sa inyong duta kay katungod man na ninyo,” (If you are anti-mining, do so in your area because that is your right),” she said, adding the protesters should allow them their rights to determine what is best for them.

Danlag represents a portion of the Tampakan gold-copper project that straddles the agriculturebased provinces of South Cotabato, Davao del Sur and Sultan Kudarat.

In June, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, who graced the groundbreaking

of a P24-M rice processing facility in Sto. Nino, South Cotabato, said the Department of Agriculture had written the Department of Environment and Natural resources expressing concern on the Tampakan project’s possible impact on agriculture. If the project will affect agricultural production, he said, “We’re on the side of the farmers.”

He said the DA letter to DENr stressed that prime agricultural lands across the country should not be affected by any mining projects. outside the hotel on Tuesday morning, protesters staged a picket, demanding, among others, the repeal of the 1995 Mining Act. Francis Morales, secretary-general of the environment group, Panalipdan, handed over to the organizers during the afternoon open forum a copy of their three-page “People’s Position Paper” expressing their opposition “to the current mining policy” under the 1995 Mining Act. The position paper also pushed for the enactment of House Bill 4315 or the People’s Mining Bill and other proposed legislative measures that aim to regulate the Philippine mining industry and reorient its policy and practice towards “social justice, genuine development for the Filipino people and environment sustainability.” (CarOlyn O. ar-

GuIllas/MIndanews)

Employment

DA, DAR, DENR converge for unified program

P

rESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III renewed his support to the convergence program of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian reform and Department of Environment and Natural resources saying he is excited about the outcome of the program.

The government wants to ensure that trees planted under the convergence initiative grow and reach maturity, the President said during the Wallace Business Forum Quarterly round Table in Makati City on Wednesday.

Communities involved in the program will guard the coffee and cacao trees and are given stipends, the President said, adding that within a year and a half to three years, the trees will mature and will be ready for harvest.

The government started implementing the program in Northern Mindanao and in other areas, and has so far covered 128,000 hectares planted to coffee, rubber, cacao and various forest species, according to the President.

“We are very, very excited.

Some of the informal settlers

actually will be resettled. They have a preference for upland areas. So you have a solution for the informal settlers. You have a solution for protecting the forest and therefore the flood-control program as well,” he said.

“So, this is really convergence of so many problems and the attendant solution is something that we are very excited about. And, we will really support this particular program.”

John Miller, Nestle Philippines Inc. chairman and chief executive, said they were committed to developing the country’s agriculture because they believed they had an obligation to the Philippine society where Nestle operates.

For this reason, Miller said Nestle had signed an agreement with DENr, DA and DAr to help the country’s agriculture sector and help farmers earn a living. So far, stakeholders were able to plant two million coffee seedlings to 2,000 hectares of lands nationwide. They were also able to train 2,500 farmers and held two investors’ fora.

Hotels, restaurant job hiring to boom A

S the Philippines’s campaign to boost the tourism industry through the slogan, “It’s more fun in the Philippines,” intensifies, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) also sees a corresponding boom in the hotel and restaurant industry.

“The hotel and restaurant industry is a pillar of the tourism sector. It goes without saying that improved tourism means increased hotel and restaurant activities,” said Labor and Employment Secretary rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz.

Data of the Department of Tourism shows that a total of 1,497,851 visitors came to the Philippines from January to April 2012, an increase of 14.61% over the previous year’s volume of 1,306,944 for the same period.

“If this current trend continues, the growth in the hotel and restaurant industry is expected to provide more employment opportunities to our workers,” Baldoz said.

In anticipation of this demand, the DoLE has included the occupational position of chef in the DoLE’s Career Guides as one of the featured careers under the hotels and restaurant industry. The

DoLE’s Career Guides can be accessed at the Bureau of Local Employment’s website: http://ble.dole.gov.ph/ career.asp.

According to the career guide, there are no specific educational requirements for chefs. However, most employers prefer to hire high school graduates who have completed a course on commercial food preparation.

A four-year degree in International Hospitality Management, with specialty in culinary arts, will give a chef a distinct advantage when applying for a high-paying job, such that of an executive chef in a prestigious restaurant or hotel.

“For those who were not able to enroll in college this year, there are culinary schools that offer short-term courses in culinary arts for one year and two months; a three-month training program for the certification of the fundamentals in culinary arts; or a four-month training in commercial cooking, or a five-day culinary course ,” said Baldoz.

A four-year degree in international hospitality management with specialty in culinary cost around P170,000 to P200,000 per semester, inclusive of the materials

(utensils and ingredients) that will be used during the whole course.

As indicated in the DoLE’s Career Guide, salaries of chefs vary according to the type of food services establishment in which they work. The monthly salary for entry level chefs starts from P10,000 to P18,000, depending on the level of education they have achieved and if they are able to land a job in elegant restaurants and hotels.

Specifically, a chef is tasked to plan and direct food preparation and cooking activities; plans menus, ensures food meets quality standards; estimates food and labor cost; supervises activities of cooks and other kitchen staff; demonstrate new cooking technique; instructs cooks in preparation, cooking, garnishing of food displays; and plans the requisition of food and kitchen supplies.

“There are many employment and business opportunities for a chef, which includes authoring a cookbook, going into catering business for weddings, and business functions, among others.

They can also work as consultants for restaurant owners who want to develop special menus,” Baldoz added.

EDGEDAVAO

AGRITRENDS

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

7

Samal Island’s seaweed pilot project to expand in 2 other coastal villages T

HE Island Garden City of Samal’s most successful seaweed pilot project developed by the seaweed industry cluster team some three years ago is expected to be replicated in two other coastal areas villages in the island.

“We’re looking at two possible sites just north of our pilot project in barangay Tambo as part of our upgrading program in this project,” said Domingo Ang, head of the seaweed industry cluster team and president of Philippine Export Federation (Philexport) Davao chapter and Marina Tuna Corporation.

Ang said the seaweed farmers and fishermen in the two coastal villages of Camudmud and Libuak on the northern tip of Samal Island (officially known as Island Garden City of Samal) in Davao del Norte need to be mobilized and organized into cooperatives by the industry cluster team sometime this year.

“We like to replicate our success with the Tambo seaweed project by organizing these seaweed growers and provide them training, technical support and a stable market for their seaweeds,” Ang said during a cluster meeting with consultants of Japan

International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the joint partner of JICA, supported by other government agencies in the second stage of Davao Industry Cluster Capacity Enhancement Project or DICCEP 2.

JICA senior consultant Tetsuo Inooka cited the Tambo seaweed pilot project as a “very good model” for replication to other provinces in the country that show good potentials for growing and producing seaweeds.

“There’s big income for seaweed farmers, it’s a good way for them to make a good living. Big buyers buy seaweeds to make carrageenan for export” Inooka told the seaweed cluster team.

The JICA consultant was particularly impressed with the Tambo project’s “integrated food production” system that uses the sea water below the wooden drying platform to grow exotic sea products like lobsters and lapu-lapu fish commercially.

“This is added income for seaweed farmers waiting for their seaweeds to grow. It’s a very good model that should be copied by other provinces,” Inooka said.

A Japanese seaweed buy-

Seaweed er who attended the industry cluster meeting with the cluster team offered to buy all the Spinosum seaweeds grown by coastal growers in Davao del Sur for export to okinawa, Japan. urasaki Tatsuhiko, owner of Sakura Pioneer Trading,

has been buying fresh Spinosum seaweeds direct from seaweed farmers in Punta Biao, Digos, Davao del Sur then drying them just enough and sealing them into small plastic bags before shipping them by air to Japan.

Ang stressed that the

their operations more efficient and productive.

Aside from increasing the cropping intensity, modern methods of corn farming will also result to lesser hard labor in the farms.

Estigoy said farmers manually plant and harvest their corns and only the preparation of the land and the shelling of the corn are done with the help of machines and farm implements. But with corn mechanization, he said, the farmers can expect more yield and more income from their corn farms.

He said the Corn Mechanization course consists of three modules namely: Module 1-Introduction of Farm Mechanization in Corn Production, Module 2- Level of Mechanization and Module 3- Economic Benefits in Adopting Mechanized operations using a MediumScale Machinery.

Among those expected to benefit from the Corn Mechanization Course are the corn farmers, Agricultural Extension Workers and agricultural entrepreneurs.[PhiLMEc]

o fast track the implementation of sustainable and competitive agriculture projects in the island, agriculture sector players in Mindanao have pushed for better access to credit facilities.

This was among the major issues raised by the Mindanao private sector and business groups at the second day of Mindanao Policy roundtable Discussion (rTD) held in Manila, which was also attended by the high ranking officials from concerned government agencies.

Specifically, the private sector representatives highlighted the need for greater access to adequate and low cost sources of financing and capital to boost agricultural production in Mindanao.

“Better access to credit facility is deemed necessary in promoting productivity and cost competitiveness of our agricultural outputs,” roberto Amores, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Chair for Agriculture, said.

Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup, in his response to the issues raised, has assured that the department is now expediting the release of the latest Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF)

coastal farmers of Davao del Sur grow mostly 75 percent Spinosum, a specie of seaweeds good for table salad.

While Samal seaweed growers grow 100 percent Cottonii, the specie of seaweeds used as raw material to produce Carrageenan pow-

der, a blending agent with thousands of consumer and industrial uses in the world’s biggest economies.

Global demand for carrageenan has been growing steadily at five to seven percent annually in the world market, added Ang. [PNA]

implementing guidelines. upon the finalization of the guidelines, ACEF shall be extended to the project proponents in the form an interest-and collateral-free loan. This is considered as one of the most cost-effective loan options for the partners.

Various government financial institutions (GFIs) were also encouraged to have a special loaning scheme specific for farming-related projects.

Mindanao Development Authority chairperson Secretary Luwalhati Antonino has assured the agricultural players her office will constantly lobby for sufficient government support for the island’s agricultural sector.

“As a matter of fact, the President himself has instructed to have an additional budget for the coconut industry, because he personally recognizes the contributions of coconut production and exports to local and national economy,” Antonino cited.

The MinDA chair also underscored the long term strategy under Mindanao 2020 to strengthen and widen agriculture and agribusiness as linchpins for broad-based Mindanao development.

Another crucial issue raised during the discussion was the need for a

streamlined customs regulation for agri-products of Mindanao, to which Customs Commissioner rufino Biazon agreed, saying that all the necessary infrastructure for the Philippine National Single window are already in place.

“The NSW is currently 50 percent complete, along with the electronic clearance system that we are also building,” Biazon reported.

NSW aims to establish a single submission and faster processing of application for licenses, permits and other authorizations required for a specific trade transaction. The system will interlink with DA and other related government agencies involved in trade regulations.

Biazon also added that the country will be a part of the ASEAN Single window come 2015.

“It is high time for us to shift our benchmark to the agricultural performances of our neighbours in the ASEAN,” Salacup said.

The policy roundtable on Mindanao business policy agenda is conducted to address the critical concerns that prevent the agriculture sector from harnessing its full potential leading towards domestic and export competitiveness. [PNA]

Corn mechanization lessons Mindanao agriculture players now available online--Philmec seek better access to credit

F

ArMErS and agricultural entrepreneurs can now increase the productivity of their corn farms by enrolling in the Agricultural Training Institute’s free e-Learning Course on Corn Farm Productivity Through the use of Mechanization Technologies which opened up online starting last month.

“It is now possible to get additional education to improve your corn harvests without spending a single centavo,” Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (Philmec) Applied Communication Division Chief Dr. rodolfo P. Estigoy said. The 3-moduled course, which was developed by PhilMec, can be completed at the registrant’s own pace.

Most Filipino farmers still toil heavily in their farms and produce a lot of waste because of the lack of knowledge and access to postharvest facilities. This is a reality which PhilMec seeks to remedy by making available to the agricultural sector not only the modern postharvest facilities but also additional

knowledge in farm operations.

“Those who enroll in the e-Learning Corn Mechanization course can expect additional knowledge when it comes to the importance and economic benefits of farm mechanization,” he said. They can also expect to learn the different technologies they can use to improve production of corn and even postproduction.

Estigoy said the productivity of our corn farmers is greatly influenced and improved by the technology they use so it is imperative that those in the agricultural sector should avail of every chance they have to improve their knowledge on agricultural mechanization. He said the eLearning course is free so they need not worry about paying their tuition fees or even their transportation expenses since the course can be completed online.

Corn farming is generally laborious and can cost a lot in terms of production cost. With the use of more modern corn mechanization technologies, he said, farmers will be able to make

T

8

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Are state-led economies better?

AnAlysis

By Ian Bremmer

A

EDITORIAL

D

Death of the cemeteries

ABAWENYoS are elated with the decision of majority of the Davao City Council to declare a moratorium on the establishment of memorial parks above the Dumoy aquifer, undoubtedly the city’s main source of potable water for more than half a century now. True, the Davao City Water District started pumping water from Dumoy in the early seventies, or 40 years ago, but Dumoy had long been the source of independent concessionaires, ship chandlers and other enterprising Dabawenyos who took advantage of the water crisis and then engage in the lucrative business of water supplying. They got water from the area and then transport this water to the city proper for distribution.

Surprisingly, though, Dumoy and its surrounding water-rich areas have been missed out in the definition of major water sources in two related ordinances –the Water Code and the Watershed Protection and Management ordinance.

This infirmity in both ordinances should first be fixed before development projects like cemeteries can be considered. This is because memorial parks and certain other structures are not allowed in major water sources.

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The lawmakers might also want to investigate how come the Dumoy aquifer and other sources of potable water have not been included in the ordinances’ definition of water sources.

To be credited with the defeat of memorial park applications endorsed by Councilor Bernie Al-ag are vigilant citizens who understand the importance of the Dumoy aquifer. The vigilance had to be resorted to because Al-ag and his ilk were merely concerned with the documentary requirements that the proponents have been able to secure with some ease from the DCWD, DENr and City Planning and Development office, City Health office and City Environment and Natural resources office.

These were agencies more concerned about paper work. The certifications issued by the factotums of these agencies sort of hoodwinked the City Development Council into approving the cemetery projects, the same piece of document used by Al-ag as his argument for endorsing the controversial projects.

The oppositors can thank the heavens that in the end there are still members of the city council who know their job and are sensitive to the people’s welfare.

Now the next important task is to amend the city ordinances to correct their lapses.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

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

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

JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

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s Europe’s leaders struggle to restore confidence in the single currency and America’s economy limps ahead at a painfully slow pace, China’s economy continues to power forward at its now characteristically strong clip. For the past three decades, China has been the world’s fastest growing economy—and within the next several years, the People’s republic will overtake the united States as the world’s largest. Some economists have even argued that, measured by purchasing-power parity, China has already pulled ahead. Such prognostications, accurate or not, have led to dire warnings that liberal capitalism’s best days are behind it, that the future lies with authoritarian market managers who are able to relocate populations and move mountains by decree. For the moment, at least, state-managed capitalism appears to be triumphant.

Such appearances, however, are misleading. The appeal of state capitalism lies in its ability to withstand the occasional crises that afflict market systems, thus shielding the general population from politically inconvenient disruptions. It is a system in which the state uses state-owned enterprises, national champion firms, sovereign wealth funds, and politically loyal banks to dominate the process of domestic wealth creation. To be sure, this is not communism; significant segments of state capitalist economies are in private hands. But the state plays the largest role in ensuring that market forces serve political ends—by ensuring that, profitable or not, businesses invest in projects that bolster social stability and protect the ruling elite’s political control.

China is not the only state capitalist economy producing impressive results. As the Arab world continues to contend with the risks of political turmoil, Saudi Arabia and the united Arab Emirates have stockpiled the cash they need to maintain stability by controlling much of the wealth produced by national oil companies. Even some emerging democracies have begun to flirt with limited forms of managed capitalism.

Brazil’s private sector remains crucial for the country’s expansion, but its government leans on state-owned energy firm Petrobras and privately owned mining champion Vale to help create jobs. President Dilma rousseff’s government won’t milk cash from these firms as President Hugo Chávez has done with state-owned oil company PDVSA in Venezuela, but Petrobras is already at risk of becoming a much larger, less efficient, and thus less profitable company.

State control is not the future of capitalism. It is a dead end from which China will have to free itself if it is truly destined to dominate the world economy. As a system and by design, state capitalism ensures that wealth creation does not threaten the leadership’s hold on political power. Its ability to stimulate growth and general prosperity is a secondary benefit. Forced to choose between public wealth and political survival, state capitalists will always protect their own interests first. In China, as elsewhere, commercial activity depends on access to information, and the Internet provides the best and most efficient access to it. Yet if the Internet threatens to enable popular resistance to China’s authoritarian government, and if political officials have the means to shut the Internet down, even temporarily, they will do just that.

State capitalism’s greatest weakness lies in its intolerance of “creative destruction,” a process that invests liberal capitalism with vital self-regenerating momentum. The liberal capitalist model makes it possible for the workers, resources, and ideas invested in a dying industry to spontaneously recombine in novel configurations to produce goods and services that satisfy emerging demand. But the economic engineers of state capitalism fear any form of destruction that develops beyond their control. This is why state-owned companies, which build influence within government over time, often succeed in resisting the need to adapt to changing times.

Then there is the question of openness. Within autocratic state capitalist systems, government-owned companies like China National Petroleum Corporation and some of the Arab world’s sovereign wealth funds shun the transparency that long-term resilience and adaptability demand. This opacity can benefit a country’s ruling elite by hiding unsuccessful investment decisions, but it is very harmful for the system’s long-term health. When such institutions can hide their failures, they are free to inflict much more lasting harm than they otherwise could.

EDGEDAVAO

Q

: What’s t h e theme song of senators and congressmen?

A: roll out the barrel (of pork) rozzano rufino Biazon, Aquino’s man at the Bureau of Customs, is set to file a leave of absence as soon as he returns from an official travel abroad. He has been assured of a slot in the administration senatorial ticket for the 2013 midterm national elections.

It is to be recalled that Biazon ran and lost in the 2010 Senate race. He wants to try his luck again next year.

Why does rozzano want to be a senator? Is it the call of service that prods him to run?

Let’s analyze a little bit. It is common knowledge that the Bureau of Customs is known for patent corruption. It is a haven of fixers, brokers, grease money operators, importers of contraband goods, etc. The government loses hundreds of millions of pesos in the form of taxes and duties which go to the pockets of corrupt BOC officials and their businessmen connections.

M

Roll out the barrel (of pork) Biazon will be doing a great service to the nation as P-Noy’s eyes and ears in that corrupt-laden agency. But he wants to sit in the August Halls of the Senate.

Why? Ph200 million annual pork barrel.

That’s why. That is also the biggest reason why people – ambitious politicians and celebrities from the entertainment world – want to win a senate seat. Why do you think Alma Moreno wants to be a senator? What will she do there – sing and dance the latest barrel, while a senator gets Ph200 million. It is, therefore, easy to deduce why congressmen want to move up to the upper Chamber.

Service? I doubt. Self-service is more like it.

Sen. Franklin Drilon was reported to have declined a nomination for Supreme Court Chief Justice. He said he prefers to stay in the Senate.

Drilon is wise and practical. The SC Chief Justice has no pork barrel. It’s that simple. of the 23 incumbent senators, only Joker arroyo and Panfilo lacson do not avail of their pork barrel. I doubt if they are doing the right thing.

Dep Ed is short of classrooms, school buildings and thousands of teachers. our countryside need farm to market

roads and bridges. DoH lack hundreds of health centers and clinics. Arroyo and Lacson should assign their respective pork barrels to Dep Ed, the DoH and the DPWH. after all, the official nomenclature of the pork barrel is Countrywide Development Fund (CDF).

-oThere’s no denying that political dynasty is here to stay. The Constitution frowns on it. But our politicians promote it. We all know that many cities and provinces are ruled by family political dynasties.

Husbands and wives, fathers and sons, brothers, cousins and uncles simultaneously hold elective positions . Who is to blame for such situation? Partly the politicians and largely the voters.

Why put the blame on us, ask the dynasty-holders? We were duly elected.

We only follow the wishes of our constituents! Big deal.

If you want dynasties to disappear, educate the voters about the dangers of placing political power in the hands of one family, or group of relatives.

The advise of Vote Wisely seems to fail on deaf ears every election time. It’s time voters should wisen up.

The ‘America effect’: How immigrants fall crazy in love

Y father left a mud-hut village in Pakistan to come to America, hoping to receive some technical training. He hadn’t counted on falling for America, but that’s what happens to unsuspecting visitors. And the world is becoming a better place for it.

Dad enrolled at North Carolina State university more than 50 years ago and earned an engineering degree. on a brief return to Pakistan, he met my mother at a wedding – their own. As you might have guessed, it was an arranged marriage.

The prefabricated couple decided to spend “just a few years’’ in the united States because of the job opportunities here. But they took on more of America than they had bargained for.

That immigrant passion for America was first described to me by a university president who noticed that foreign students are susceptible to a peculiar effect that warps their plans and bends their dreams. If they return to their homeland, they wish it were more like America, and will work to make it so. often they choose not to go home, or choose to return to America after a while. once you’re crazy in love with America, you begin to see life in a cockeyed manner, even if you try to resist it. You begin to believe you can pen the script of your own life, instead of allowing your family or your culture to write it for you.

You sulk on your visits back home that life there is too corrupt or inefficient or limiting.

And while you’re concerned about that legendary permissiveness in America, you also sense that these Americans

Monkey Business

CommentAry By roB aSghar aren’t overly uptight, and something feels right about that. And when your children begin to drift from your heritage, as was the case with me and my father’s other children, you might stay awake late fuming about this country, but you suspect your destiny is tied inextricably with it.

That drifting involves a certain liberty, which has its roots all the way back to the settlement of this country by seekers of religious freedom. That basic value, fought and died for, has protected freedom of conscience to worship – or not – as one will.

Similarly, that freedom is helping (slowly) moderate latter-day Islam, as Gallup and Pew polls of Muslim-Americans have shown.

America, stunningly, hasn’t witnessed a major terrorist incident succeed on its soil since 9/11. This may be due to luck, prayer, and outstanding work on the part of government workers; but there is another reason that would-be terrorists have failed to make a dent here since that black September day.

“A lot of these guys lose the jihadi, desert spirit,’’ an intelligence agent told Newsweek a few years ago. “They get families, they get jobs and they lose the fire in the belly. Welcome to America.”

Welcome, indeed.

My parents rued that my older brother and I were growing up “much less Pakistani’’ than they’d hoped, but they made peace with it.

9 Glaring gap between two navies VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

Still, they tried another strategy with their youngest son, sending him to Islamabad to be immersed in their traditional values. In an eerie recapitulation, he decided to come to the uS for an education.

He returned briefly to Pakistan to take part in an arranged marriage, brought his bride to the united States hoping to spend “just a few years” establishing a career as a physician, and well, you know the rest.

He and his wife realized they’re here to stay. They hear me talk about the idea of an “America effect” and they nod. They have caught it, or it has caught them.

Their bright-eyed young daughters, 10 and 7, already display a happy and productive tension between traditional Pakistani values and American individualism. Puberty and adulthood will add to the tension, and will keep their parents awake at night. Their parents will second-guess why they didn’t whisk their girls back to Pakistan when they had the chance. And then, like my father before them, they will remember that crazy love that America inspires.

After navigating those teenage icebergs, they will find that America changed their approach to life, just as it has changed everything else it has touched. They will see that America gave their traditions the slack they needed to adapt to a new era.

They will be grateful for America, and so, increasingly, will the rest of the world.

[Rob Asghar is a university fellow at the University of Southern California’s Center for Public Diplomacy and a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy.]

“I

(1st of 2 parts)

YAN ang pangarap natin. Magkaroon man lang sana tayo niyan.”

(That is our dream. How we wish we will own one like that.)

Spoken with a tinge of resignation, these were the wishful words uttered by Cmdr Lued Lincuna of the Philippine Navy as his patrol boat approached uSS Vandegrift past noon Sunday at the mouth of Sarangani Bay, some 20 nautical miles off General Santos City.

To think that the uS frigate is nowhere near the top-of-the-line warships of the uS Navy, Lincuna cannot be faulted for dreaming of one day skipping that kind of floating vessel which maximum speed is a top secret. “over 25 nautical miles (per hour),” was all Commodore David Welch would volunteer to say. Welch is Task Group 73.1 commander of the uS Navy that is participating in the ongoing 2012 CArAT exercises in General Santos City.

CArAT stands for Cooperation Afloat readiness and Training, an 18-year joint military exercise and training between the uS and its allies in Southeast Asia.

Some uS warships can cruise as fast as 50 nautical miles per hour. That is equivalent to 92.6 kilometers per hour speed overland. uSS Vandegrift is a versatile vessel capable of navigating international waters and behind hostile territories. It is armed with torpedoes and is also designed for anti-submarine warfare and can stay afloat for weeks on end without refueling. Most of all, it can eavesdrop anywhere in the world with its sophisticated listening and surveillance devices.

Stationed in San Diego, California, it can be deployed anywhere in the world in a moment’s notice.

Lincuna must be drooling even more as uS Coast Guard cutter uSCGC Waesche is now docked side by side with uSS Vandegrift at Makar Wharf in General Santos City. uSCGC Waesche, commissioned in 2006, is the flagship of the uS Coast Guard and also its most modern vessel.

Members of the local press here were only allowed limited tour on uSS Vandergrift (commissioned in 1984) and were not led to uSCGC Waesche.

Lincuna, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class 1993, said the Philippine Navy, along with the Philippine Air Force, was once one of the best in Asia.

“The Philippine Navy had its glory days in the 1970s (before Martial Law was declared),” Lincuna said as his fast attack craft BrP Salvador Abcede made a traditional welcome pass around Vandegrift.

The Philippine Navy, however, deteriorated over the years as it lost its aura of strength – at least in this part of Asia.

It can only bark at the might of China, Japan, Korea and even neighbor Indonesia to whom it shares thousands of nautical miles of international waters.

According to the global intelligence website www.globalsecurity.org, “Philippine warships are armed entirely with mounted machine guns and deck guns, the largest of which is 3 inches (76mm).

The Fleet lacks missile-armed ships, greatly limiting range and effectiveness against enemy warships and aircraft.

Even antisubmarine weapons (ASW) like depth charges are absent on all or almost all of the Philippine warships.

The Philippine Fleet also lacks its own submarines, not to mention aircraft carriers.”

10

SUBURBIA

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Aboitiz Power, Aboitiz Equity get gold awards

ALL GOLD. The three publicly listed companies of the Aboitiz Group--Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV), Aboitiz Power Corporation and Union Bank of the Philippines--have been conferred the Gold Award by the Institute of Corporate Directors for complying with corporate governance rules and globally accepted practices. AEV Chairman Jon Ramon Aboitiz accepted the award

during the 9th Annual Dinner at The Peninsula Manila recently. Flanking Aboitiz are (from left) Founder and Chairman of The Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) Dr. Jesus P. Estanislao, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairperson Atty. Teresita J. Herbosa and Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE) President Hans B. Sicat.

Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV) and Aboitiz Power Corporation (AboitizPower) are now among the distinct group of corporations that have been conferred with the Gold Award by the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD).

The ICD’s Corporate Governance Scorecard for Publicly Listed Companies gives a Gold rating to companies that have garnered scores of at least 95% in their compliance with corporate governance rules and globally accepted practices.

AboitizPower posted notable increase in its score, from 96.9% in 2010 to 98.94% in 2011. AEV’s score, meanwhile, slightly

dropped from 98.4% in 2010 to 98.28% last year.

ICD’s Corporate Governance (CG) Scorecard measures the compliance of publicly listed companies in five categories—rights of shareholders, equitable treatment of shareholders, role of stakeholders, disclosure & transparency, and Board responsibility.

This year’s awardees were honored during its 9th Annual Dinner at the rigodon Ballroom of The Peninsula Manila last May 30. Accepting the awards were AEV Chairman Jon ramon Aboitiz for AEV, and AboitizPower SVP for Power Marketing & Trading Luis Miguel Aboitiz for AboitizPower.

Caraga needsDavao better roads City seeks visitors’ T

o attract more tourists, Caraga needs better roads leading to the different tourist destinations in the region, the regional director of the Department of Tourism (DoT) acknowledged.

Director Leticia Tan stated that most of the highly commended tourist destinations in the region – like Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig and Enchanted river in Hinatuan, both in Surigao del Sur – need better roads to facilitate the increase of tourist arrivals. “road construction is definite priority. Better roads going to the areas lead to more arrivals which in turn would bring the towns better economic gains,” said Tan. She acknowledged it is still a big task since many roads leading to the dif-

ferent tourist destinations need huge funding for repair or construction.

“We know that the process is slow but surely we will get there. I have made requests and recommendations and we hope that by 2013 more of the roads will be finished,” she said.

During a visit to the majestic Tinuy-an Falls in Bislig and Enchanted river in Hinatuan, several of the guests complained about the poor road conditions. one of the visitors, medical representative Sharon Latar, noted that the sites are totally world class and that these are incomparable but would think twice in returning to the area since it would damage their family car. unless one is driving a rugged vehicle, she said one would have to risk his or her cars in visit-

ing the sites.

“The highway travel is convenient. The problem comes in when you take the turn to the barangay roads going to the sites,” Latar said, noting that several of her counterparts complained that their cars encountered problems, like flat tires and engine failures, along the way because of the bad roads.

With the expected increase in tourist arrivals this year and by 2013, provincial and municipal tourism personnel hope they will have better roads soon so the economy would improve with the tourism boom.

Statistics provided by DoT Caraga points out an increase in tourist arrivals by 21 percent in 2011 as compared to 2010, mostly due to domestic tourists. (ER-

statistics from hotels

T

HE city government of Davao urged hotels and lodging establishments to provide visitors’ statistics to government so that a real picture of the tourism and hotel industry can be made. out of 125 hotels and lodging establishments in the city only 52 gave them the data which was asked by the city, said Jason Magnaye, City Investments and Promotions Center chief and current City Tourism officer of Davao City.

Speaking before the Club 888 Media Forum at Marco Polo Davao held on July 4, Magnaye said that with incomplete statistics, they cannot provide industry players and potential

investors the true picture of the hotel industry. He said that the city is asking establishments to submit their monthly hotel accommodation reports.

The data from these reports can give them an accurate picture of the industry and provide benchmarks for growth targets.

Magnaye said that based on the data from the 52 establishments, these hotels posted an average of 47.9 percent occupancy rate with each guest staying an average of two days.

Data also show that 90 percent of the visitors are Filipinos while 10 percent are foreigners. East Asians comprise about 37 percent of the foreign guests fol-

lowed by 21 percent coming from North American countries. About 32 percent of the visitors come for leisure while 29 percent are visiting for commercial and business reasons.

The City Investments and Promotions head said that there are big hotels in the city who have not yet submitted their hotel accommodation reports.

Magnaye said that in the next two years, they are expecting 1,000 hotel rooms to be added to the city.

These include rooms from large hotel developments like the Kukun in Abreeza and the radisson Hotel in SM Lanang, there are also smaller hotels being put up in the city. (RGA/PiA11)

event that converges key players from hotels and restaurants and wedding planners in one setting to provide free consultations.

The event also provides venue for Tagumeños for a one-stop-shop in preparing wedding celebrations.

The city’s Civil registrar’s office spearheaded the event in partnership with the united restaurant and Hotel owners, Managers Executive in Tagum City (ur HoME TC), City of Tagum Tourism office and 3G Eventologists Management.

T’S all systems go for the July 9-19 general voters’ registration in the Autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao (ArMM) in so far as preparations and awareness campaign is concerned, the CoMELEC, military and police assured.

Army’s 6th Infantry Division Chief Maj. Gen. rey Ardo, Directorate for Integrated Police operations for Western Mindanao Head Police Director Manuel Barcena, and Maguindanao Provincial Election Supervisor Atty. udtog Tago updated the media on the status of preparations being undertaken to ensure clean, smooth and peaceful conduct of the general voters’ registration in the ArMM. During yesterday’s media interaction held at the 6th ID camp, Ardo vowed all out support to the Commission on Elections (CoME-

LEC) in ensuring protection and security of personnel, machines and aquipment as well as the public during the conduct of the general voters’ registration.

Ardo said everything is ready for the general voters’ registration with the establishment of the joint AFP/ PNP/CoMELEC Commander Center for immediate action on issues and concerns that may arise.

While remaining focus on the general voters’ registration and the implementation of the gun ban, Ardo said they also extend full support to the upcoming Bangsamoro Leaders’ Assembly scheduled July 6-9, 2012 at Camp Darapanan, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to boost peace advocacy campaign in Mindanao.

all set for 36 couples exchange vows ARMM voters’ registration in Tagum’s mass wedding I T HIrTY six couples officially tied the knot in a mall on June 28 during a “Kasalang Bayan” sponsored by the local government unit here.

The LGu of Tagum City brought its “Kasalang Bayan” as a highlight in the bridal fair and exhibition dubbed “Kasalang Tagumeño” at the atrium of the Gaisano Mall of Tagum.

Tagum City Mayor rey T. uy administered the civil wedding ceremony and imparted an inspirational message, emphasizing on responsible

parenthood that would create a stable family for a much stronger community.

The LGu shouldered most of the expenses for the wedding, including the gowns and barongs worn by the newly-weds, which were lent for free from the sponsoring boutiques in town.

The couples were given free accommodation with meals by the hotels in Tagum as part of wedding gift from the organizers.

The couples only spent P150 for the Certificate of No Marriage (CENoMAr)

wiN MAscARiñAs / MiNDANEws)

from the Civil registrar’s office.

Alma uy, who sits as the President of the City of Tagum Tourism Council, attended the event and personally gave gifts to the newly-wed couples.

LGu Tagum is quarterly pursuing this kind of service to Tagumeños, especially for the unmarried couples. The “Kasalang Bayan” is anchored on the goal of minimizing the number of illegitimate children in the city.

The “KasalangTagumeño” which is now on its 3rd year, is an

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

Live green at Camella Northpoint

W

HETHEr you are a homebuyer or a renter, when you’re in the market for a new home, it pays to look at key environmental features a potential home may have, especially with growing concern nowadays for greenhouse emissions and its impact on the earth..

But what could a home possibly contribute to the fight against climate change?

A lot, apparently, and Camella Northpoint leads the way.

This landmark condo development in Davao of Camella has much to offer our natural environment.

For one, Camella Northpoint’s condos are green buildings that help its occupants reduce their carbon footprint, which is the amount of greenhouse gases produced by human activity.

Greenhouse gas causes the warming of the earth, resulting to climate change.

Camella Northpoint condo buildings are designed to harness the natural breeze to cool the interior temperature of all residential units, lessening the need for air-conditioning.

Indoor air quality is achieved through the introduction of an Atrium, a vertical shaft that allows cool air to enter the structure and expel any hot air.

When Northpoint residents have less need for airconditioning, they not only save money on energy cost, they also reduce energy consumption. That’s less carbon dioxide or Co2 emission and reduced carbon footprint for them.

Another environmentfriendly feature is the Sky Garden, open spaces within the building where residents can actually feel the natural breeze enter the building and flow into the hallways and into the condo units.

The Sky Garden also has live greenery that adds to the cool and fresh ambiance inside the buildings. This also allows more natural light to

enter, requiring less lighting during the day, again saving energy.

Green living in Northpoint goes beyond than just its green buildings; even its location is environment friendly. Located at the junction of Buhangin road and JP Laurel in Bajada, it is nestled within the heart of north Davao’s growth area, in close proximity to everything a homeowner needs. This makes it the city’s newest premier address.

Its strategic location allows its homeowners to either take a short ride in a public transport accessible outside the condo property, or to drive only a short distance to their destination.

There is less need to use a car, whose engine burns fuel and emits Co2.

Northpoint’s green landscape is friendly not only to the environment and but also to its homeowners’ health. The almost P4 million worth of imported Caribbean pine trees transplanted all over the condo property augments an already green landscape of preserved age-old trees and verdant plant life.

Northpoint homeowners also take pride in the fact that they planted some of these pine trees during their community tree-growing activity last year, contributing to the enhanced environs of their home. The lush greenery emits oxygen and creates a healthy and refreshing en-

vironment in Northpoint.

As a company that adheres to environmental integrity, Camella has implemented its own solid waste management system within its communities, from its first project Solariega, to its latest landmark development Camella Northpoint.

The professional management team that handles the maintenance and security of Camella Northpoint has instituted a waste segregation program in partnership with the homeowners, ensuring proper segregation of waste in consonance with the solid waste ordinance of the city government. overall, Camella Northpoint is the only condo development in the city that gives back to the environment even as it develops its projects to blend within its natural environs.

So when looking for a new home as a buyer or a renter, wouldn’t it be great if your lifestyle already allows you to reduce your carbon footprint? only Camella Northpoint will allow you to do that, because here, you don’t only breathe green and feel green, you also live green.

Homebuyers can find out more about living green during the Buyers Day in Camella Northpoint this Saturday, July 7, as Camella hosts a meet-and-greet with foreign artist Dan Hill at 11 a.m. at the clubhouse, Wakefield Manor.

COMMUNITY SENSE 11

12 NATION/WORLD NATION bRIEFS be careful IAo Xin Yi Dian [Be

X

a little careful]. This was Malacañang’s response to a report in China Daily allegedly accusing the Philippines of creating tensions anew in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) following President Benigno S. Aquino III’s pronouncement that the Philippines might tap the assistance of a uS spy plane to monitor its territory.

“Xiao Xin Yi Dian. Be a little careful about your statements,” Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing yesterday, noting that President Aquino’s statement should not be viewed by China provocatively.

Raised TANDArD &

S

Poor’s raised the Philippines’ long-term foreign currency credit rating to within one rung of investment grade on Wednesday, citing the government’s improving finances.

The uS rating outfit assigned the government a “BB+” rating with stable outlook, from “BB” with positive outlook, the agency’s credit analyst Agost Benard said in a statement.

T

Affirmed

HE Court of Appeals (CA) has affirmed a ruling of the Professional regulation Commission (PrC) revoking the professional license of cosmetic surgeon Hayden Kho stemming from his controversial sex video with actress Katrina Halili.

In a 17-page decision promulgated last June 29 but was released only yesterday, the Eighth Division of the appellate court dismissed Kho’s petition seeking to reverse the findings of the PrC’s Board of Medicine that found him liable for immorality, dishonorable and unethical conduct.

New director

T

HE board of directors of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has elected Lt. Gen William Hotchkiss III (ret) as director general of CAAP during a recent meeting at the Department of Transportation and Communications (DoTC).

Transportation and Communications Secretary Mar roxas said Hotchkiss III brings to CAAP his comprehensive air operations experience and proven people management skills. “A staunch advocate of discipline, good work ethic, and prioritizes safety in air flights, he fits the bill in overseeing the operations of CAAP.”

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

There are no mermaids--uS T

HE united States government has assured its citizens that, much like zombies, mermaids probably do not exist, saying in an official post: “No evidence of aquatic humanoids has ever been found.”

“Mermaids -- those half-human, half-fish sirens of the sea -- are legendary sea creatures,” read the online statement from the National ocean Service (NoS).

The agency, charged with responding to natural hazards, received letters inquiring about the existence of the sea maidens after the Discovery Channel’s Animal Planet network broadcast “Mermaids: The Body Found” in May. The show “paints a wildly convincing picture of the existence of mermaids, what they may look like, and why they’ve stayed hidden... until now,” a Discovery Channel press release says.

Conversely, the uS government declaration offered no conclusive proof to deny the existence of mermaids.

The statement comes after another government agency, this time the uS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), declared there was

File photo of Hannah the Mermaid in the Mermaid Lagoon exhibit at the Sydney Aquarium. The United States government has assured citizens that much like zombies, mermaids probably do not exist. “Mermaids -- those half-human, half-fish sirens of the sea -- are legendary sea creatures.” no conclusive evidence for the existence of zombies.

The CDC had published instructional materials on how to survive a “zombie apocalypse,” in what the agency now calls “a tongue in cheek campaign to engage new audiences with messages of preparedness messages.”

The campaign was followed by a series of cannibalistic attacks in North America.

In one such attack on May 26, a 31-year-old Mi-

ami man stripped naked and chewed off most of a homeless man’s face.

The Twittersphere was suddenly alive with people talking about the real and present danger of a zombie apocalypse.

The CDC was quick to respond to allegations of corpses rising from the dead to eat the living.

“CDC does not know of a virus or condition that would reanimate the dead,” a government spokesperson wrote in an email to The Huffington

Post.

While zombies would be a big problem, popular folklore holds that mermaids are relatively benign creatures.

But the NoS statement associated the finned friends with more threatening mythological beasts.

“Half-human creatures, called chimeras, also abound in mythology -- in addition to mermaids, there were wise centaurs, wild satyrs, and frightful minotaurs, to name but a few,” it said.

actors had already been halted for maintenance and safety checks to see if they could withstand an earthquake and tsunami similar to the disaster that devastated Tokyo Electric Power’s <9501.T> Fukushima Daiichi plant in March 2011, causing the worst atomic crisis since Chernobyl in 1986.

The government approved the restart of the No. 3 and No.4 ohi units in western Japan to avoid a possible summer power crunch. But public safety

concerns ovrer nuclear power remain deep, with surveys showing about 70 percent of voters want the country to ditch nuclear eventually.

A panel appointed by parliament to probe the causes of the Fukushima disaster and assess problems with the often-chaotic response, is to issue a final report later on Thursday.

Kansai Electric, Japan’s second biggest utility, said it began generating power from the

1,180-megawatt No.3 ohi reactor at 5 percent of capacity at 7 a.m. on Thursday (2200 GMT on Wednesday) as scheduled, four days after the unit was restarted.

The No. 3 unit is expected to reach fullcapacity output around July 9-10. Its sister unit, the 1,180-MW No.4 ohi reactor, is scheduled to resume operations between July 18-20, start power output from July 21-25 and reach full-capacity generation from July 25-30, a company spokesman said. restarting the two reactors will help reduce fossil fuel consumption since utilities have been meeting the power gap created by the shutdown of all 50 reactors, with capacity of 46,148 MW, by firing up plants using costly fuel, especially gas and oil.

Before the Fukushima crisis, Japan relied on nuclear power for about 30 percent of its electricity and was the world’s third-biggest user after the united States and France.

Japan regains nuclear power

J

APAN ended two months without nuclear power on Thursday when the No. 3 unit at Kansai Electric Power Co’s ohi plant became the first reactor to resume supplying electricity to the grid since a nationwide safety shutdown after the Fukushima disaster.

Japan’s last working reactor was idled in early May, leaving the country without nuclear power for the first time since 1970.

The rest of the 50 re-

WORLD TODAy

A

T

Workers of Kansai Electric Power Co’s Ohi nuclear power plant monitors the restart of the No.3 unit in Ohi, Fukui prefecture, in this photo taken by Kyodo July 1, 2012.

Slammed

nurse came under media fire in Estonia Thursday after she posted a photo of a dying three-month-old baby on her Facebook profile along with the child’s confidential medical data.

“I had no idea I can’t post the photos I take at the hospital and my comments about my work on Facebook,” the woman told Estonia’s leading Eesti Paevaleht newspaper.

S

More protection HE listing of 32

more countries that are deemed as safe destinations for overseas Filipino Workers (oFW) should compel the Aquino government to lay out more programs aimed at ensuring protection of Filipinos working abroad, Sen. Loren Legarda said Wednesday.

“The job of our government does not end with certifying countries as safe havens for our oFWs,” said Legarda, who is chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign relations.

EDGEDAVAO

Recovered

panish police have recovered a priceless 12th-century guide to Spain’s Way of Saint James pilgrimage and arrested four people over its theft, officials said.

Officers found the unique medieval document, known as the Codex Calixtinus, in a garage near Spain’s holiest city Santiago de Compostela, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

C

Talks

uban President Raul Castro begins talks with China’s leaders on Thursday during which he is expected to win backing from his country’s longtime ally in helping to implement historic economic reforms.

Castro will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing on Thursday afternoon, after which the two sides are scheduled to sign a series of agreements that analysts said may focus on trade and infrastructure.

I

barrier

srael will resume construction of its controversial West Bank barrier within the next few weeks after a fiveyear delay, public radio reported on Thursday, citing an army officer.

Israeli radio reported that Colonel Ofer Hindi, the officer responsible for the barrier, delivered details of the plans to resume construction work in a session before the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

P

Rejected

akistan rejected Thursday renewed Indian charges that Pakistani “state actors” were involved in planning and coordinating the 2008 Mumbai attacks that left 166 people dead.

“I would very strongly reject any insinuation of any involvement of any state agency in acts of terrorism in India,” Pakistani Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani told reporters after talks with his Indian counterpart Ranjan Mathai.

EDGEDAVAO

Daneco...

Color...

FFROM 1

FFROM 1

terday said part of the upcoming plan of the city is to assign colors to jeepneys denoting their routes.

She bared this upon following a query on the upcoming law which would declare payongpayong (motorcycle units with side cars), and habal-habal (units without sidecars) as illegal, mandating owners of the former to convert their units into mini-cabs similar to the tricycle.

“Having a color coding for jeepneys would prevent them from going outside of their routes. It would also make it easier for the local government to monitor them,” Braga said during a media forum at the city hall.

The plan is in line with the city’s pending Traffic Code.

“This is one of the proposals for the City Transport and Traffic Management office (CTTMo) which will be created upon the approval of the city Traffic Code,” Braga

CHO...

said.

The Traffic Code’s preliminary draft points out the road safety issues and concerns currently faced by the city.

It will address concerns on drivers who lack education in traffic laws; vehicles which have outlived their road worthiness and the lack of safety gadgets; the traffic environment involving erring pedestrian; illegal vendors; illegal parking; lack of knowledge of the enforcer regarding traffic laws, and others.

Meanwhile, the law mandating the conversion of payong-payong into mini-cabs or tricycles would include imposition of a color coding system.

Braga said an example would be that tricycles from Agdao would be limited within their area, and Toril tricycles within their area.

The councilor said since Mayor Sara announced that payongpayongs would no longer be allowed, her

office has been receiving requests that the upcoming law should not be implemented.

“They keep coming to my office pleading their case and I tell them it’s for their own good eventually.”

The city mayor on June 28 said that the task force created to craft the law on payong-payong and habal-habal will soon reveal an example of how the motorcycle units should be converted.

Estimated cost for conversion is from P8,000 to P9,000. “right now these illegal motorcycle units are not within the system of the city government. They do not have the training to be become educated drivers, meaning they lack the skills and etiquette needed for a driver,” Braga said. “As a result many of them break the rules of driving, putting their passengers and themselves in danger, because they lack the knowledge,” she added.

good to start the habit of eating affordable, clean and nutritious food in school,” she added.

Genete said the CHo cannot monitor school children buying junk food from vendors outside the school, but, they can monitor the pre-school children.

The CHo started its sixmonth feeding program on the opening of classes in all day care centers in the city from Mondays to Fridays.

Health workers are

also promoting a campaign dubbed “food revolution” in which they sell food delicacies made of organic ingredients to school children.

Maria Teresa L. ungson. Nutrition Program Coordinator 11, earlier said that in celebrating this year’s nutrition month on the theme “Pagkain ng gulay ugaliin, araw araw itong ihain”, the nutrition office is educating people to include at least five servings of vegetables in their daily diet.

FFROM 2

plant vegetables in their backyards for domestic consumption.

“Even if we are eating more than enough, if the kind of food is not right, there is still malnutrition.

And, our aim is to stop malnutrition,” she added.

Braga also mentioned that the city government signed a memorandum of understanding with the region’s Department of Education to prohibit selling of junk food in schools.

“Schools are the extension of our homes, so it is

bukidnon...

FFROM 2

which showcases the mountain province’s seven indigenous tribes.

“Considering that Act No. 2408 took effect on 1 September 1914, this date should be considered the basis of creation of Bukidnon province,” Diokno added.

The provincial board

Davao...

FFROM 3

the project complies with environmental standards. The modern Circulating-Fluidized-bed technology used by the power plant utilizes lime to capture sulphur and nitrogen emission and turn them into solids in contrast to old coal power plants which allows sulphur and nitrogen to seep into the atmosphere as emissions.

These lime wastes are then

13

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

passed an ordinance last week affiring and adopting the NHCP’s findings.

This moves the year of the province’s celebration of its centennial three years ahead, from 2017 to 2014. The ordinance likewise corrected the founding date to Sept. 1, and authorized Gov. Alex Calingasan to create an interim centennial committee to prepare for a month-long

sold to cement factories which would be used for the production of cement.

Erramon Aboitiz President and Chief Executive officer of Aboitiz Power said that the company is committed in building the power project the soonest time possible. “We have been an integral part of the Mindanao power sector since the 1930s, We will continue to invest in power generation projects to support the growth of Mindan-

celebration.

“The celebration of the centennial year of any LGu (local government unit) is of historical significance, hence the necessity to clarify which is the exact date when Bukidnon became a separate and full-fledged province,” the board said in its 2010 resolution requesting clarification from the NHCP. [wALtER

i.

BALANE/MiNDANEws]

ao today.” Aboitiz said.

As of Wednesday (July 4) total power curtailment in Mindanao reached 210 megawatt. It is estimated that Mindanao will have energy deficit of 484 megawatts of power by 2014 if no new plants is going to be built.

Currently the Davao power plant is the only power investment in Mindanao which has started construction. [PiA 11/RG ALAMA]

administrator Cleto Jr. Bravo Gales.

Gales said none one of the close to 9,000 members who attended the meeting opposed the resolution authorizing the Daneco board of directors and general manager to sign the MoA with Davao Light.

The Daneco vote was quickly hailed by government officials and businessmen as very significant development that augurs well to the economic progress and social services of the island city as it would mean the advent at last of stable power supply.

“Surely, this is a very promising turn of event that would ease the apprehensions of existing and would-be investors of IGaCoS due to the present instability of power supply,” said Gales, adding that “this would be a big boost to the investment climate of the

CIDG...

island.”

Jonallier Perez, a ranking officer of the Mindanao Tourism Council and consultabt to the municipality of Glan, Sarangani, expressed elation over the decision of the Daneco members to allow Davao Light to service the island, a move that has earlier met opposition from Daneco leaders.

“I am happy about this development, Daneco itself has long admitted its limited capacity to supply the island’s power needs,” Perez said who had written papers analyzing tourism campaigns by local government units.

He said the most recent challenge of IGaCos was the “frequent outages outages that plagued the island in the beginning of the summer season towards the end of March, resulting to various complaints among resort owners, either be-

cause of the inconvenience of a long brownout, incapability of buying their own generators or sheer cost of operating one plus the noise a genset creates.”

Perez said any industry, including tourism, needs two key ingredients for its growth: hard and solft infra.

“Hard” includes structures, utilities, roads, etc.), while “soft” includes policy environment, taxation, laws, etc.).

Daneco’s move is very commendable and adds hope to further boost island’s tourism industry, he said.

Perez said that next to power supply, should follow the concreting of access roads to various destinations and other infra along key entry points.

“I believe that the Samal city government is on the right track on this,” Perez said.

must be implemented in Davao region as deterrence to the possible rise of firearms related crime incidents in Mindanao as the country braces for the upcoming 2013 midterm elections.

The CIDG chief urged CIS volunteers in Davao to continuously provide them with information that will lead operatives in locating places where illegal firearms are be-

ing kept to deny partisan armed groups with the access to weapons and other tools to intimidate voters and influence the outcome of the elections.

Pagdilao also lauded the CIS in Davao for their contributions to the success of the CIDG in its drive against most wanted persons and in the neutralization of criminal gangs in the region.

Mines official added that the industry is not bothered by the report, nothing that it is Failon’s duty to report. raagas disclosed CMCrI and its members are negotiating with the provincial government to have a portion of the park be “exclusively” apportioned to them.

“Mining companies are now required to take part in the national greening program of the government,” said lawyer rise Faith recabo, legal and administrative chief of the MGB’s regional office.

“The main objective basically is to inform the public that mining companies are not only doing initiatives in promoting a better environment inside (the mining sites) but also outside,” she added.

Mining executives and support groups from host communities as far as Agusan del Sur joined the activity which mainly included tending the trees and grass cutting.

“We cannot plant yet because of the weather so we just watered the trees, cut some grass and tendered the nursery,” she said.

An extemporaneous speech competition, poster making and essay writing contest was subsequently held, participated by students from the host communities.

The national greening program is one of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s priority programs in addressing global warming and greening the barren mountains of the country. He issued Executive order No. 26 series of 2011 which aims to plant 1.5 billion trees covering at least 1.5 million hectares all throughout the country until 2016.

The DENr is the primary agency responsible for the protection, preservation, management and utilization of the country’s natural resources. (VANEssA L. ALMEDA /

FFROM 2

tainly uplift the morale of the CIDG personnel in Davao.

He also stressed to CIDG personnel the need for an aggressive campaign against loose firearms in region 11.

The blessing will coincide with the oath taking of 100 new members of CIS in Davao City.

Pagdilao said a stepped-up campaign against loose firearms

Caraga...

FFROM 2

dent, mining companies are committed to preserving the environment contrary to perceived negative reports, while underscoring the efforts and initiatives of responsible mining companies that follow environmental laws.

“This is actually the first in the province and (even in) the city as this is participated by the various stakeholders, including the local government units. The mining sector here in the region shows its commitment to preserving the environment,” raagas noted.

He also cited as “onesided” the recent report

by ABS-CBN’s Ted Failon showing the negative effects of mining to the environment.

“You’ve seen the area. It’s been dredged and rehabilitated. And you will see that it is being developed,” raagas said, referring to Claver Bay, particularly along the coastline where Taganito Mining operates.

The Chamber of

MiNDANEws)

14

SPORTS

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HELPING YOU MAKE INFORMED BUSINESS DEcISIONS.

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

23 schools in DbL

By Neil Bravo

I

T’S back to school varsity rivalries as 23 private secondary schools will be taking part in the Duterte Basketball League (DBL) Inter-Private High School Championships which gets going on Saturday at Davao’s Gaisano Skygym.

The 23 schools will be divided into Division 1 and Division 2 according to rankings made by the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) Davao City Chapter.

Powerhouse Ateneo de Davao university head the cast in Division 1 composed of six other teams in Holy Child School of Davao, Assumption College of Davao, Agro-Industrial Foundation College, Emar College, Jose Maria College and Ford Academy.

16 teams will battle it out in Division 2 led by Davao Jones Academy, Philippine Women’s College, Holy Cross of Davao College, Stella Maris Academy, St. Therese College,

Thompson Christian School, Davao Wisdom Academy, Davao Christian High School, Davao Central High School, Assumption College of Davao-B, Precious International School of Davao, MCFCS, BSHS and St. Peter College of Toril. Two other unnamed schools have confirmed participation.

The tournament, sanctioned and organized by the SBP Davao City chapter, calls for a single round elimination with the top four teams advancing to the crossover semifinals. Winners will contest the title in a winner-take-all affair while semis losers play for third.

“This tournament officially opens the school basketball season in Davao and we are expecting these private schools to have prepared for this in anticipation of many regional tournaments late this year,” SBP City Commissioner Atty.

Marvin “oying” Melodias Veteran golfer Anthony Sasin pitches from the fringe during the recent 1st Direcsaid. tor’s Cup at the Spo Golf and Country Club. (BOy LiM)

INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

Ready, set, scrap at SM Davao, July 8!

ReADy, set, scrap! It’s “All About Scrapbooking” on Sunday, July 8 at SM City Davao Annex.

The scrapbooking competition is open to all ages. Registration starts at 10:30 AM while competition proper rolls at 11:30 AM to 4:30 PM. To join, participants must purchase the kit worth P200 and use/bring their own photos and scrapbooking tools.

During the competition, there are 2 pit stops where the participants will be asked to perform scrapbooking tasks.

For each entry they submit, participants will receive a free gift pack. Criteria for judging include creativity, technique and materials used in the entry.

Grand prize winner takes home P4000 worth of gift pack from AAS, Hallmark and BIC, P3000 worth of gift packs for the 1st runner up and P2000 worth of gift pack for the 2nd runner-up. Three consolation prizes of P1000 worth of gift packs will also be given to deserving entries.

SEAIR flies from Davao for only P949 To celebrate the launch of its newest domestic destination South east Asian Airlines is offering special one-way fares for as low as P949 until July 11, 2012 for travel on November 30, 2012.

The airline will offer two daily flights to Davao using the new 144-seater Airbus 319 aircraft starting August 18, 2012. Passengers can log on to www.FlySeair.com or www.tigerairways.com to avail of the promo.

SeAIR is the Philippines’second longest-running airline, and is the first airline based in Clark. It has the reputation of having pioneered commercial flights to the country’s fastest growing tourist destinations including Boracay, Batanes, and northern Palawan.

Now on its 17th year of operation, SeAIR is has expanded its reach with its current jet services to Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Kota Kinabalu.

CEB holds ASEAN seat sale THe Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSe:CeB) promotes travel to five international and select domestic destinations including Boracay and Cebu, with a seat sale from July 5 to 8, 2012 or until seats last.

For travel from September 1 to November 30, 2012, passengers can buy P1,988 all-in seats from Manila to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh or Siem Reap. CeB is the only airline with direct services from Manila to Hanoi and Siem Reap, gateways to world-renowned Ha Long Bay and the UNeSCO World Heritage Site of Angkor, respectively.

P2,688 all-in seats are also available from Manila to Bangkok, and from Manila, Cebu or Clark to Singapore.

All-in international fares are inclusive of fuel surcharge, administration fee and 7 kilos hand carry baggage allowance, but exclusive of country-specific taxes and check-in baggage allowance.

Meanwhile, CeB offers an all-in select domestic seat sale, for travel from September 3 to November 30, 2012.

P588 all-in seats are available from Cebu to Bacolod, Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Dipolog, Dumaguete, General Santos, Iloilo, Ozamiz, Pagadian, Surigao, Tacloban or Zamboanga, as well as from Cagayan de Oro to Iloilo.

Passengers can also buy P888 all-in seats from Manila to Bacolod, Caticlan, Cebu, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Kalibo, Roxas, Tacloban or Tagbilaran; as well as from Cebu to Caticlan or Clark.

All-in domestic fares are inclusive of fuel surcharge, administration fee, aviation security fee, 12% VAT and 7 kilos hand carry baggage allowance, but exclusive of check-in baggage.

For bookings and inquiries, guests can go to HyPeRLINK “http://www.cebupacificair.com” www.cebupacificair.com, or call the reservation hotlines (02) 7020-888 or (032) 230-8888. The latest seat sales can also be found on CeB’s official Twitter and Facebook pages.

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

EDGEDAVAO eNTeRTAINING

You asked, Partyphile answered Gone are the days when people would voluntarily send columnists e-mail questions regarding their topic of expertise.

These days, if there isn’t a prize involved, it doesn’t seem like anybody wants to ask anymore. Why? Because it is obviously easier to Google stuff.

But you know what would be even easier than Googling? Answering questions through social networking sites. And that is what I’ve been busy with recently.

I’ve started to accept questions from my online network ad have started answering them as well. It’s kind of a strategy to get them interested in reading more fulllength articles like this one, and it’s more convenient for the asker to just read the reply instead of researching on Google (which is now considered tiresome by many). The premise is, if a lot more people get to read individual questions and answers online, a lot more people would be interested in reading more questions.

When that happens, people start to think of some of their own questions, and I get

to write more helpful articles. Sound plan, right? So here is the fruit of my first attempt at impromptu party-question answering.

Cherry asks: I’m not sure if I know anybody at a party. Should I still go?

Zhaun answers: Here is the thing. When people see you alone in a bar, drinking by yourself, you may come off as a sexual predator. You know, the type who simply goes to a bar to hook up. And that is fine if that is your intention, but if it isn’t than skip the party and go someplace else where you can enjoy some “me” time like a spa or at a coffee shop with a book.

However, if it is a party that celebrates something like a grand birthday, wedding, debut, or corporate thingie, then you should drop by just to tell the celebrator that you made the effort to celebrate the oc-

casion with them. You can always leave once you feel awkward and uncomfortable, but make your presence be known to the celebrator. Also, why not use this opportunity to make new friends a possible love connection?

McJorick asks: Why do people dress up when they party when they just end up getting puked on, waster, or worse?

Zhaun answers: Because, at the very core, the point of partying is socializing; not getting drunk. I guess, it just makes people more confident to socialize when they are dressed properly.

Ice asks: What do you gain from partying or drinking?

Zhaun: I think that the whole reason why people party may be summed up in three words: relaxing, socializing, and networking. Different people party for different reasons, while some party for all three.

The thing is, there is a lot of things to gain from partying although a lot of people tend to link it with very negative images or memories. When played right, partying can be your lucky charm when it comes to your business or job.

As for drinking, it helps you forget about your job, your mom, your wife, and your boss.

Galilea asks: In your opinion, what is the craziest thing a person can do when partying?

Zhaun answers: not paying the bill. Word will get around and everyone will think you intentionally did it. Also, making out with someone else while your boy/girlfriend is in the area. or, revealing one of your scandalous secrets.

Peter asks: Is it true that drinking through a straw makes you get drunk faster?

Zhaun answers: It is not true. Straws just make you drink faster.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

ARTS AND CULTURe eNTeRTAINMeNT

Visua

I

confess that I am not a particularly re lieve it has been a long while since I las not that I don’t believe in God, its just lies inside each person no matter wha Such spirituality is also manifest in the wor ground floor area of SM City Davao’s Anne Remember Me When You are in Paradise

by Lito Pepito

Titled “Heaven Scent”, the exhibit communicates to viewers the beauty and goodness of nature and positive experiences in peoples lives. A visualization of each artists silent meditations, each artwork evoke a wide range of feelings.

Chito Gavino III’s works are a reflection of his understanding of the word of God and have themes coming from the Bible.

Lito Pepito’s pieces show the artists reflections upon seeing each sunrise. one can see a shift on his style of work from his more cubist works to his current works that aim for more realism and on emphasis on color theory and how it plays with people’s emotions.

Where most all artists that were

Still life

by Arnel Villegas

Inner Journey, Portrait of a Soul

by Josie Tionko

In Weeding

by Chito Gavino III

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

Good Morning Davao

by Lito Pepito

Green Life (Lilies)

by Bina Balchad

al meditation

eligious person, in fact, I best went to a house of worship. that I believe that spirituality at faith a person believes in. rks of five Davao artists at the ex. part of the exhibit chose to do their works using oil, Arnel Villegas’ works are in pen and ink and showcase his mastery of the medium. With intricate details done in only black and white, his pieces stand out from the other pieces on ex-

hibit.

From stark contrast, to beautifully playful, Josie Tionko’s works that tug at your heartstrings and are a true joy to behold. Her bold lines and bright colors bring life to her flowers and landscapes. There is a child-like quality, bright, full of energy, and honesty to all of her pieces.

Drawing inspiration from spirituality, religion, consciousness, light, nature, beauty, and love. Bina

Balchand’s works are energetic yet exude a certain inner peace. Using “action painting”, she visualizes and perceives forms on the canvass after splashing paint on it as a form of her expression.

The Heaven Scent exhibit is ongoing and runs until the 8th of July at the ground floor of SM City Davao’s Annex.

Follow me on twitter @kennethkingong for more foodie finds, travel happenings, and random urban ramblings.

Green Life (Coco Leaves)

by Bina Balchad

INdulge! A3

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

eNTeRTAINMeNT

Will the TomKat split be one of Hollywood’s most expensive?

TOM Cruise played a hair-metal legend in Rock of Ages. Up next...Neil Diamond?

Aside from Diamond’s many hits and his continued heartthrob status at 71, the singer-songwriter is also quite famous for having paid one of the heftiest divorce settlements in Hollywood history—$150 million by all estimates— in the mid-1990s to his second wife, Marcia Murphey.

But that came after 25 years.

There’s no chance that Katie Holmes, who filed for divorce from Cruise last week after five years—not to mention a prenuptial agreement—together, will have a shot at that kind of money.

Is there?

While the prenup probably lays out in very clear detail exactly what Holmes gets from Cruise in the event of a divorce, based on length of marriage, rea-

son for the split, etc., the matter of child support could still be left open to a judge’s discretion.

Sure, spending decades as a top-earning, boxoffice-smashing (most of the time) movie star is great for day-to-day life.

But that level of success sure can turn into an albatross when it comes time to divvy up, can’t it? you may not have seen Rock of Ages, or Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol before that—but Cruise made $75 million over the last 12 months all the same, landing him atop Forbes’ latest list of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors between May 2011 and May 2012.

“This was a huge year for Tom Cruise,” Dorothy Pomerantz, Forbes’ L.A. bureau chief, told e! News, adding that Cruise conceivably could have taken in roughly $200 million over the last five years. (In the meantime, he’s rumored

to be worth upwards of $275 million—remember, very rich people have very rich expenses.)

“He makes super-smart deals on these movies and they continue to pay off,” she said. “And when we look at his earnings, we see that he still earns from older films too. When a

Is Suri Cruise joining an elite Scientology group?

RUMOR has it Tom Cruise wanted to send Suri away to a hardcore Scientology group called the “Sea Organization” prior to Katie Holmes’ divorce filing last week.

According to the latest TomKat story floating around, the couple had been “arguing about Suri’s indoctrination into Scientology” and the whole Sea Org bit was the breaking point for Holmes.

But, was the six-year-old style maven really going to be forced to join the strict religious group?

This one is...

So false!

In response to reports involving Suri joining the Sea Organization, Gary Soter, who represents the Church of Scientology, International, tells e!: “With regard to your question about Suri Cruise joining the Sea Organization, Scientology’s religious order: The first we’ve heard of this is from the media.

The story is preposterous and untrue.”

A lawyer for the church later told TMZ no one under the age of 16 can join the Sea Organization, and that without exception all minors must have the “consent of both parents and/or all legal guardians” in order to join.

In case you haven’t heard

of the Sea Organization before, it is an elite Scientology group reserved for the “singularly most dedicated” of the religious order, according to the Washington Post.

And its members are required to sign a “one-billionyear-pledge” to serve the religion.

Tom Cruise movie is on TV and they are played endlessly, he gets money from that. He just has this really great stream of revenue.”

Forbes estimates that Holmes earned roughly $5 million last year.

Former Dawson’s Creek star Holmes filed for divorce in New york, where the law dictates that the assets accumulated during the course of a marriage be divided via equitable distribution. That usually

amounts to half and half, except for in special cases of egregious misconduct and other things we certainly hope neither Cruise nor Holmes engaged in.

Meanwhile, Cruise is expected to counterfile the divorce in La-La Land, and California law is all about community property— meaning both spouses jointly own everything accumulated (no matter who technically paid for it) during the marriage and whatever gets labeled community property at the time of their divorce is divided up 50-50.

In addition to their respective checks for acting, the pair formerly known as TomKat acquired a 10,286square-foot Beverly Hills estate for $30.5 million back in April 2007 and a Manhattan brownstone for more than $15 million in April 2009. (e! Online)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

SPORTS

15

I’m sorry

Allado eats his tweets, Salud: show evidence P

Don Allado in action against Powerade. After Barako Bull ended up losing the game, he accused the PBA of rigging the games as seen from his Twitter posts (right). Below, Allado was a popular character in the PBA whether bul-

lying his way inside the paint or doing a Tim Tebow. Below right, Commissioner Chito Salud is not happy about Allado’s tweets and asked for evidence.

BA veteran Don Allado of Barako Bull issued a swift apology over Twitter on Wednesday night when his claim that pro league games are “fixed” stirred up a storm and drew a strong reaction from the Commissioner’s office.

Just hours after Tuesday’s 99-95 loss to Powerade knocked Barako Bull out of semifinal contention in the Governors Cup, Allado said on his official Twitter account @alotofDoN: “I’m the guy that says what others can’t. #PBA games are fixed.

They control who is in & who is out. It’s a disgrace to be in this league.”

Allado, a 13-year veteran out of La Salle, also vented his frustrations at the officiating in the micro-blogging site, saying in an early-morning posting: “I can accept losing to teams. But I can’t accept losing bcoz of referees.”

But even before a day that saw him become a trending topic on Twitter and his stunning accusation the subject of a press conference by Commissioner Chito Salud could end, the Barako Bull slotman deleted his controversial tweets and clammed up when contacted for comment by sports online network SPIN.ph.

The next tweet seen on his page late in the night was a well-crafted apology.

“I would like to extend my sincerest apologies to Comm Salud and the entire PBA for last night’s tweets that’s now a subject of controversy. It was an error in judgement on my part to let my passion for this game get the best of me.

As a professional I should’ve known better,” he tweeted.

“I understand my statement may be construed by many as discrediting the PBA. Let it be known, however, that such is not my intention. Again, my sincerest apologies to the Comm Salud, Board of Governors and entire PBA.” Allado is set to appear before Salud on Thursday and the league chief had expressed disgust over the accusations, saying he found them “inexcusable and unacceptable.”

“Clearly our constitution prohibits our players and all team officials from issuing public statements that are prejudicial and detrimental to the league whether true or not,” he said. “My interest right now is to find out if he has evidence to back up his accusations saying that this league is rigged.”

Special Assistant to the Commissioner Willy Marcial had also warned of stiff sanctions against the player, although that may change now that an apology has been made.

“Kulang ang fine at suspension sa mga accusations ni Allado sa liga kapag hindi n’ya napatunayan,” Marcial said.

Allado initially appeared undaunted by the threat of sanctions. After being advised by a follower to delete his controversial post lest he get into trouble, the slotman tweeted back: “tnx pare. But I hope they sanction me. I will expose them all.”

“I will leave on my own terms. Not theirs. Thanks,” he tweeted later.

Tuesday night’s game was marred by an unbelievable non-call in the end game when the referees failed to whistle Powerade import omar Sneed for a three-second violation despite being flat on his back inside the shaded area for at least eight seconds.

Marcial has confirmed that referee Peter Balao, who should have made the call, has been immediately suspended for the rest of the season.

Allado was apparently frustrated over the way the game was called.

In succeeding tweets, he said: “I am bitter about losing. Not to Powerade, but to #PBA . In my opinion, this league has little credibility left.

“I feel for #Barakorepubliq management. They put in time, effort & resources to form a competitive team like this only to be wasted by#PBA,” he said. (From spin. ph)

Murray wants to be Wimbledon’s Lebron

W

IMBLEDoN, England -- Drawing inspiration from LeBron James and his new NBA title, Andy Murray is ready to win his first championship, too.

The fourth-seeded Murray, who has lost in three Grand Slam finals, advanced to the Wimbledon semifinals for the fourth straight year by beating No. 7 David Ferrer of Spain 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-4, 7-6 (4) Wednesday. ‘’He came very close to winning quite a lot of times,’’ Murray, Britain’s best tennis player and a big basketball fan, said of James. ‘’I would say for me I guess it’s a similar situation. I’ve been close

a lot of times and not quite made it. You know, just have to keep putting myself in the position, and hopefully it will click.’’

Murray’s three near-misses in major finals - twice at the Australian open and once at the u.S. open - have raised questions about whether he’ll ever win the big one. But this year, with rafael Nadal already out and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga waiting in Friday’s semifinals, could be his time - at least to make the final. Winning it all, like James did last month with the Miami Heat after two losses in the NBA Finals, would be even better. out on Centre Court, Murray finished off Ferrer with a royal

flourish, smacking his 18th ace on match point and setting himself up with yet another chance to reach the final match at the grass-court Grand Slam.

For much of Wednesday’s match, Prince William and his wife Catherine - also known as Wills and Kate - watched from the royal Box. The pair sat in the front row, applauding politely at times and clapping loudly at others.

Murray is trying to become the first British man to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.

If Murray beats Tsonga, he will be the first British man to reach the Wimbledon final since Bunny Austin in 1938.

Andy Murray wants to finally get his first title in Wimbledon.

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SPORTS

VOL.5 ISSUE 89 • JULY 6 - 7, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Federer, Djokovic in semis Roger Federer is headed to a collision with world no. 1 Novak Djokovic in the semis.

FTEr curling in losses at the All England Sampras in 2000. a 102 mph ace to Club the past two years, Nothing worked for grab a two-set lead including a wasted two- Youzhny, including a kida mere 56 minutes into set edge in 2011, six-time ding plea for help from his Wimbledon quarter- Wimbledon champion Fe- eight-time major champifinal Wednesday, roger derer bullied 26th-seeded on Andre Agassi, who was Federer casually pulled Mikhail Youzhny of russia seated next to his wife, an extra tennis ball from 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 to reach his Steffi Graf, in the front his pocket and strolled to record 32nd career Grand row of the royal Box, near sit in his changeover chair Slam semifinal.

Prince William and his for a sip to drink.

He’s two wins away wife, Kate.

No fist pump. No yell from a seventh Wimble‘’I know I’m playing of excitement. No ener- don championship, which really well,’’ Federer said. gized jog to the sideline. would equal a mark set by ‘’I am aware things are There still was work William renshaw in the going to get complicated to be done; nothing to 1880s - back when the in the next match.’’ be taken for granted. defending champion reSure are.

Motivated by the bitter ceived a bye directly into That’s because he’ll memory of quarterfinal the final - and tied by Pete face a familiar foe Friday:

A

No. 1 Novak Djokovic, the defending champion, who didn’t have too much trouble while beating No. 31 Florian Mayer of Germany 6-4, 6-1, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.

This will be the sixth semifinal in the past eight Grand Slam tournaments, and 27th meeting overall, for Federer and Djokovic, and their first at Wimbledon.

Federer leads 14-12, but Djokovic won six of their last seven matches, including at the French open a month ago.