Edge Davao 6 Issue 1 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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VOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

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HABEMUS PAPAM. Pope Francis I (Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina) is named the 266th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. [From the wires]

Emphasis on Church

Indulge

Page A1

Bishop Capalla hails election of new Pope

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

FlipTop

Sports

Page 16

RMH-VMO nears finals

HE new Pope, Pope Francis, will bring emphasis on the Roman Catholic Church, not changes. This is the statement of former Archbishop Fernando Capalla who described his feelings yesterday as “very” happy and grateful that the Catholic Church has a new Pope in a short period of time after the resignation of Pope Benedict the XVI. Capalla told Edge Davao his expectations of the new Pope saying, “’Changes’ would not be a proper word, emphasis would be more appropriate.” He said, “I knew him personally at the synod of 2005 where he presided over the workshop group.” “Even then some were already whispering he could be the next Pope,” said Capalla.

A man of many firsts, Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina, now the newly elected Pope Francis I, is known as a man with the spirituality of humility and poverty. He is the pope that is known for his care for the people with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and is also known for his concern for single mothers with children denied with baptism in his archdiocese. His election was historical because he is the first Jesuit pope, first non- European Pope since the 8th century, the first from the Latin America, and the very first Pontiff to take the name of Francis. He is also known for his simplicity. The new pope refused to reside in the archbishop’s palace, he takes public transport everyday, and he cooks his own meal.

The new pope took the name Francis, the very first for papal names, to honor St. Francis of Assisi who is a lover of nature and a servant of the poor and the destitute.

The choice of the name itself was tagged “precedent shattering”. The name symbolizes poverty, humility, simplicity and the rebuilding of the Catholic Church. Because of the new

pope’s humble characteristics, he is now called the “Pope of the People” and the “back-to-basics Pope.” Pope Francis is the successor of Pope Benedict the XVI who retired.

THIS ISSUE COMES WITH OUR SPECIAL ARAW NG DABAW SUPPLEMENT

2 THE BIG NEWS

HOT CAR. Customs Commissioner Ruffy Biazon (right) and Davao District collector lawyer Martiniano Bangcoy inspect one of the three high-end vehicles seized by the agency at the Terminal Facilities and Services Corporation (TEFASCO) in Brgy. Ilang Tibungco, Davao City yesterday. Aside from the vehicles

VOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

were which believed to have street value of P9 million, Biazon also inspected twenty 20-footer vans containing float glasses worth P12 million. The BOC commissioner was in the city to lead the launching of the Container Monitoring Unit (CMU), an equipment that has the ability to automatically alarm

as a warning signal to detect an overstaying empty container.

Youths hit CHED ‘hands off’ tactics on tuition hike

P21 M hot cargo seized R Customs nab 3 high end cars, float glasses

By Che Palicte

HE Bureau of Customs in Davao City has seized P21 Million worth of smuggled cargo at the Terminal Facilities and Services Corporation (TEFASCO) in Brgy. Ilang in Tibungco. Customs Commissioner Rozanno Rufino Biazon yesterday inspected the seized contraband consisting of three units highend cars. Also seized were float glasses which is used as building construction

material. Biazon bared that the three seized vehicles approximately worth over P 9 million and the float glasses amounting to P 12 million were apprehended by the operatives of the Enforcement and Security Service-Customs Police Division and Run-AfterThe-Smugglers (RATS) at the Port of Davao for misdeclaration, misclassification and undervaluation last February this year.

He said that the 40-footer container van bearing the three vehicles; a 2003 Mini Cooper; a 2003 Nissan 350Z; and a 2006 Range Rover sport utility vehicle (SUV) which arrived from Long Beach, United States of America (USA) last February 21 and consigned to Ranths General Merchandise. Biazon also inspected some 10 other 20-footer container vans of Victo-

He said that the CMU is an initiative of the Davao port which will hopefully be emulated by other customs offices in other ports of the country. “We only celebrate if we can already produce results. Show to us that you can do it,” he said. Lawyer Edward James Dy Buco, deputy district customs collector for operations, explained that CMU is a kind of a monitoring equipment for empty containers. “CMU is the search for

non-traditional source of income and has the ability to automatically alarm as a warning signal to detect an overstaying empty container,” the lawyer explained. He added that few people knew that a container van is an imported article subject to duties and taxes if not re-exported within five months under Philippine laws. According to Section 5 of the Customs Administrator Order 12-80, con-

Container monitoring unit launched by BOC-Davao

USTOMS Commissioner Rozano Ruffino Biazon yesterday launched of Container Monitoring Unit (CMU) to improve the income collection of the Bureau of Customs in the Davao port at Sasa Wharf, Davao City. “I commend the port of Davao for initiating this revenue-generating project. You exercise the creativity in your desire to help the bureau hit if not surpass its collection target,” Biazon said.

FCONTAINER, 10

ry Float Glass and another 10 20-footer container vans of Bronze Float glass that came from China and consigned to CSB Import and Export Containers, which was forfeited last January 7 for violating certain provisions of the Tariffs and Custom Code of the Philippines (TCCP). “We have an on-going investigation regarding these smuggled units; we’ll make sure that the

FP21 M, 10

EDGEDAVAO

ESPONDING to the statement of CHED Region XII Director Raul Alvarez, League of Filipino Students challenges the Commission on Higher Education not to evade its responsibility on tuition fee increase issue. Rendell Ryan Cagula, Coordinator of the League of Filipino Students Davao City, deplores the statement of Alvarez that students are ‘barking on the wrong tree’ and should express their dissent to their respective schools. “This only attests the inutility of CHED that should, as mandated, to

ETHICS TALK. Edge Davao editor Antonio M. Ajero (center) and Ateneo de Davao University Mass Communication students (L-R) Gellie Paz, Julia Toni Azarcon, MaeAnne Bornillo, Isa May Bathan, Diego Sebastian and Ma-

regulate the collection of tuition and matriculation fees” said Cagula. LFS questions the new CHED Memorandum Order 3 which contains guidelines governing tuition and other fees increases. “We question this new CMO 3, particularly provision stating the presence of the CHEDRO representative may depend upon the request of the school. The absence of any CHED Representative in the process has allowed the proliferation of ‘bogus’ consultation processes that go under the sleeves of CHED which rely solely on

FYOUTH, 10

ria Isabel Oñate pose for a souvenir photograph at Edge Davao office along E. Quirino Avenue, Davao City after an interview on journalism ethics yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

PROPERTY

Northpoint surpasses criteria for good condo investment W

HETHER you’re an expert or novice investor, these three points are critical considerations

you should look into before putting in your money on a real estate investment. See how Camella Northpoint measures up

to the yardstick of a wise condo investment. Developer track record. Beware of developers that promise you the

moon and stars, or those that sell you hype rather than actual brick and mortar. It is difficult to buy and invest in a condo home when all you see is a flyer and illustrations and no actual development yet to see and inspect. Camella Northpoint’s first three building are already up, with homeowners already living in the first two. This British colonial themed condo community is now on its fourth tower, soon to be constructed amidst strong demand for its units. Camella’s other projects in Davao are already living, thriving communities that are among the few most admired communities in the city. Camella caters to the mid-market segment of the country’s premier homebuilder, Vista Land & Lifescapes, where it is a subsidiary. A 2011 study by Colliers International Research showed Vista Land as the leader in Philippine residential real estate development with over 18,422 houses, houses and lots, and condominiums sold out in that year alone. As the country’s largest homebuilder, Camella has built over 100,000 homes in 18 provinces and 41 cities and municipalities. Its portfolio of successful real estate projects all over the country makes Camella a solid, reliable, and reputable real estate company. Check the numbers. Rental numbers are another key consideration when investing in a condo. You need to make sure amortization, dues

and property taxes can be covered by the rent. Otherwise it can become a money pit that will drain your resources. Rental rates in north Davao remain competitive for properties within the class and reputation of Camella Northpoint. Prevailing rental rates in Northpoint are up to P50,000 for a three-bedroom unit, P30,000 for two-bedroom unit, and P20,000 for studio. Owing to its worldclass facilities, prime location, and well-appointed condo homes, Northpoint commands rental rates even higher than in Manila. This is also bolstered by the asset management service offered by Northpoint’s property management team that takes care of the maintenance and leasing for the unit owner. Northpoint’s rental rates are more than enough to cover amortization and expenses pertaining to its upkeep, and still have a good margin for profit for the investor. With a professional property management team handling the maintenance of the condo property, a future resale value is also guaranteed to yield a profit. In fact, even before the first building was built, Northpoint’s value has already gone up, and in the next three years has appreciated between 15% to 40%.With its lifestyle center currently housing a fine dining restaurant and wine cellar, with a coffee shop, boutique hotel, specialty stores and even a supermarket to follow, Northpoint’s value will continue to rise. As a green condo community, Northpoint’s

value is not hinged on its brick and mortar alone. The green living it espouses reduces the carbon footprint of its residents--a priceless investment on nature that residents and unit owners can both feel good about. It’s still location, location, location. Keen investors always think ahead. Will their condo investment have a solid resale value in the future, assuring capital gain? Will rental capacity remain strong in the years to come? Answers to these usually point to location. While other condo projects rely on its immediate neighborhood to drive its value, Camella Northpoint holds its own. Located at the junction of Buhangin and JP Laurel Avenue in Bajada, it is situated at the pulse of the growth area of north Davao. Here is where major real estate development is taking place, with the construction of topbrand malls, new hotels, business and commercial centers taking place. Northpoint’s location alone is a big selling point for Camella, making it the city’s newest premier address. Its proximity to all public utilities and major locators are what makes it attractive, driving more people to want to live in this exclusive address. Find out more about making a wise investment in Camella Northpoint at 222-0963, Delgar Bldg. (fronting Camella Northpoint) JP Laurel Avenue, Bajada, and get latest Camella news at http:// www.camella.com.ph/, like “Camella Official” on Facebook, and follow”@ CamellaOfficial” on Twitter. #

4 THE ECONOMY

VOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Upcoming Davao Ecofair: Spreading environmental advocacy thru bazaar

S the whole world gears up for the celebration of Earth Hour 2013 on March 23, there is a growing initiative to strengthen this environmental advocacy down to the level of everyday living. In the aftermath of Sendong, Pablo and the natural calamities threatening us today, everyone is enjoined to think and live a green life. Gone are the days when planting a tree is enough to contribute to the protection of nature. Today, we are called to look for all practical means to ensure a sustainable future. Think green, live green To spread this environmental consciousness, the first Davao EcoFair, a four-day bazaar showcasing unique products made of natural, organic or recycled materials, eco-tourism sites, local handicrafts and eco-friendly services, will be held on March 21-24, 2013 at Abreeza Mall GF Supermarket area.

The fair includes a varied mix of products and services that can be used in our day-to-day lives which can help minimize our carbon footprint, save on energy, reduce waste and maximize resource utilization. For instance, buying fresh or locally-produced merchandise can lessen the need for local businesses to ship their products elsewhere, thus reducing fuel and energy consumption. Choosing products with non-toxic chemicals in basic needs such as skin and body care, cleaning agents, dishwashing liquid and laundry detergents can significantly cut the risk of contaminating our natural environment. The upcoming Davao EcoFair aims to present practical and environmentally sustainable alternatives for an eco-friendly lifestyle. Art for earth Also in line with this thrust, the Artists Help-

ing Artists in Mindanao (AHA-Mindanao), a collective of involved or engaged collaborative visual artists of Davao, is mounting ART FOR EARTH, a visual art exhibit inspired by the group’s rootedness with the Mother Earth from March 18-31, 2013 at the GF Exhibit Hallway. The exhibiting artists are Jeff Bangot, Boboy Buenaventura, AnoyCatague, Jun Cayas, Victor Dumaguing, Stella Estremera, Marion, Kublai Millan, NonoyNarciso and Rosamond. Also participating are UM Fine Arts students – Kevin Albofera, JaylordAligway, Macro Aquino, BadzAmora, Dream Ando, QricBatilaran, Jayvee Caballes, Omar Casan, Elben Mark Fernandez, Reagan Deiparine, Sherwin Mara, Kent Medenilla, Jester Oani, Dominick Pilapil, BoylinPoral, Alvien Reyes, Soon Unlang and Eve Sevilla. The group envisions to promote not only the

appreciation of the arts but the message of environmental stewardship through this art exhibit. Caring for the earth is not anymore just a

passing advocacy but a commitment to sustain life. Let us take care of the Earth, one green step at a time. The upcoming Davao Fair 2013 and Art

for Earth exhibit is made possible with the support of Abreeza Mall, Globe Telecom, Ads & Promo Management and G-Core Events.

EDGEDAVAO

THE ECONOMY

VOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

DoE, MinDA told to solve power crisis P

RESIDENT Benigno Simeon Aquino III has ordered the Department of Energy and Mindanao Development Authority to address the power crisis reportedly affecting parts of Mindanao in Zamboanga City. Mayor Celso Lobregat said Aquino issued the order after meeting with him and House Deputy Speaker for Mindanao Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar last Tuesday in Malacañang. Lobregat and Salazar sought the meeting in a bid to find immediate solutions to the worsening power situation which has resulted to seven- to eight-hour daily power interruptions in this city. Other parts of Mindanao are also experiencing power curtailment depending on their power supply and actual demand. Zamboanga City has a shortage of over 24 megawatts since the Power Sector Assets and Liabil-

T ities Management Corporation and Therma Marine, Inc. could only provide a combined power of 54 MW of the total demand of 79 MW. Aquino also directed DoE Sec. Carlos Jericho Petilla and MinDA chair Sec. Luwalhati Antonino to attend the Zamboanga Power Forum to brief the people on the situation as well as discuss steps to be taken to address the crisis. The forum, which

was initiated by Lobregat, will be held Friday. The power crisis in Mindanao has been attributed to the decreased generating capacity of hydropower plants caused by the reduced water level in Lake Lanao. Lobregat said the power forum aims not only to brief the people on the power situation but also to discuss possible mitigating measures. [MindaNews]

Alsons takes over Iligan diesel plant

HE Alcantara Group has formally taken over the 102-megawatt (MW) Iligan diesel power plant from the Iligan City government at a total project cost of P1.2 billion, a company executive said on Thursday. Oscar Benedict Contreras III, Alsons Power Business Unit manager for communications and stakeholder relations, said the power plant was turned over Monday and will operate under the name Mapalad Power Corp (MPC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the publicly-listed Alsons Consolidated Resources, Inc. He placed the acquisition cost of the Iligan power plant at P387 million. “The total project cost that includes the acquisition, rehabilitation and other expenses amounted to P1.2 billion,” Contreras said in a text message. With the takeover by MPC, he said that rehabilitation of the power plant

has commenced and that the plant might go on commercial stream “before the end of summer.” Contreras said that MPC has forged power sales agreements with the South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative, Inc. for 30 MW, Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative, Inc. for 18 MW, Iligan Light and Power, Inc. for 10 MW and Zamboanga del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. for 5 MW. The acquisition of the Iligan diesel plant, identified as one of the solutions to ease Mindanao’s power woes, from the Iligan City government was being worked out since last year, with the Commission on Audit conducting the procedural review for the transfer of ownership. The Iligan local government earlier put the power plant in auction after the state-owned National Power Corp. reportedly failed to settle the real property tax due

to the city. The Alcantara Group originally operated the Iligan diesel power plant, formerly the Northern Mindanao Power Plant, through the build-operate-transfer scheme. The company turned the power plant to Napocor in 2003. Parts of Mindanao have been suffering from power outages since the last few weeks with the generation deficiency of existing power plants in the island blamed for the problem. In this city, Socoteco II has implemented a four-hour daily rotational brownout since the start of the month due to deficient power supply. Based on the website of the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines on Thursday, the Mindanao grid has a supply deficiency of 320 MW. Demand for the day stood at 1163 MW while the actual capacity was only 843 MW. (Bong S. Sarmiento/MindaNews)

6 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Remembering Bataan Day 71 years ago (1st of two parts) SPECIAL FEATURE BY HONOR BLANCO CABIE

A EDITORIAL

Faith in Francis

E is the first from Latin America. First from the Jesuit Order. First with such new papal name. And first with only one lung. That, for starters, are what sets Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina or now Pope Francis I apart as a new Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. When news of the election of a new Pope came just before midnight on Wednesday came, the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics rejoiced as one—undivided by race or color. A man from the continent with the biggest population of Catholics has emerged as the new head of the Church. Drowned in the spiritual rejoicing are the hopes and dreams of Filipinos of a homegrown Pope in Cardinal Luis Tagle, who was touted as among the frontrunners among papabiles. In the end, everyone set aside their own wishes. “Habemus Papam.” Those words of announcement of a new Pope elected were greeted with a thunderous applause from a throng of faithful waiting about in the grounds of Sistine Chapel. The millions around the world too roared in approval.

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Indeed, such is the overwhelming unity of the Catholic Church in their faith and trust in their representatives. The faithful knew their representatives will not fail them. Hey, this is not Congress and this is not politics where our representatives follow their own whims and not the people they represent in the sacred halls of the legislature. This is not an election where self-interest, political dynasty and vendetta dominate one’s motivation to win an office. This is religion and our Cardinals have lived up to their sworn creed. How great could it be if our elections are this sacred, peaceful and filled with integrity. That, we know for sure, would be like asking for heaven. We welcome the papacy of Francis I full of hope and optimism that his vision and vigor as one who preached and practiced the vow of poverty, and one who speaks out his conviction like the knowledgeable teacher of Theology, and one so prayerful, will restore sanity and human dignity to the wicked. La fede in Francesco (Faith in Francis). ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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

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

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

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day after the new moon in April, elderly Filipinos – in their 60s and 70s – will join the younger generation of their countrymen mark, yet again, the day Filipinos and their American comrades surrendered to Japan’s Imperial troops on April 9 in Bataan. The surrender, under the scorching Philippine sun that summer, had its genesis with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on Dec 7, 1941, Dec 8 in the Philippines. The attack prompted the United States to declare war against Japan. The war in the Pacific theater had begun. Germany and Italy, both allies of Japan, declared war against the United States and Britain, igniting the global war. The war in Europe itself was triggered by the invasion of Poland by the Germans on Sept. 1, 1939. But the war was fundamentally a conflict between two ideologies: democracy and totalitarianism. When Japan was included in the alliance of Germany and Italy, they were called the Axis Powers. By 1941, Japan, with an expanding population, was on its way to conquer other territories, two of which were Manchuria and Indochina. This brought the Philippines yet again on the war map after Emperor Hirohito’s Imperial Forces and Kamikaze fighters occupied the country for three years and put their foot down on civil liberties. This rudely interrupted the 10-year preparatory period for the restoration of Philippine Independence, known as the Commonwealth. The country’s economy was pushed to meet the demands of the Japanese war efforts, its educational structure dismantled to enable the Filipinos to think along Tokyo’s track, and political life was shaped to the Japanese-sponsored Republic. On Jan. 3, 1942, the commander-in-chief of the Japanese Army, only a day after enemy occupation of the capital warned Filipinos against “offering resistance or committing hostile acts against the Japanese forces in any manner.” Some historians say the United States had underestimated Japan. In January 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt opined, in a letter to Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood, that Japan had no near-term purpose of moving against the United States. In fact, historians have writ, the Americans had believed the Philippines, once acquired as a colony by the United States, would have strategic value and that no foreign power would dare stand up to it. But the Pearl Harbor “surprise offensive” changed all that. Japan was rising fast as a military power in the Pacific and defenses in the Philippines were not sufficient. Washington’s military anxieties heightened.

EDGEDAVAO VOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

‘Thrilla in Manila’ (Circa 2013)

ANY love him dearly. Many others simply dismiss him as a big joke, a humorous piece of endless amusement.

Either way, Joseph Estrada, or Erap to his adoring fans, is always a good, amusing media copy. Every time he opens his mouth, he lands on the front page of national dailies. Whether we like it or not, Erap is a living legend, albeit not the kind that should be emulated by the youth. The painful truth, however, is that to millions of Erapians, he is a folk hero who is both real and reel. Erap is an ex-actor, ex-mayor, ex-senator, ex-vice president, ex-president of the Philippine Republic and, finally, ex-convict. Now, who can possibly duplicate such achievements? Will there be another Erap in the next 20 or 30 years? Did I hear someone mention the name Jinggoy? (Hehehe). oooOooo The Supreme Court last month ruled that Erap is qualified to run for mayor of Manila. It dismissed the petition seeking Erap’s disqualification for lack of residence in Manila and for his being an ex-convict. Now, that puts to rest all questions about Erap’s candidacy. So, it’s now full steam ahead of Erap’s jeepney ride to Manila City Hall.

It’s showtime and showdown in Manila – Dirty Harry versus Asiong Salonga – the battle between the lawman and the hoodlum. Who will remain standing when the smoke dies down, Harry or Asiong?

As the PBA battlecry says, Saan Ka? Kampihan na! oooOooo While the battle in Manila between Harry and Asiong is raging, there’s another battle brewing in Bacolod City over political campaign tarpaulins were placed or hanged at San Sebastian Church. Printed on these tarpaulins are words Team Buhay and Team Patay --- the former has the list of candidates whom opposed the Reproductive Health Law, while the latter bears the names of politicians who favored the RH Law. The Comelec ordered that these tarps be pulled down as these do not conform with the Comelec prescribed size.

The Church officials ignored the order claiming that the Comelec has no authority/power over the Church because of the principle of separation of Church and State. Is the Church not subject to the laws of the State? The Bacolod bishop and his sycophants arrogantly thinks so. After gaining a TRO from the Supreme Court (for 20 days), some 30 Catholic churches in Bacolod have posted Team Buhay / Team Patay tarpaulins on their church facades. An open was has been declared by the Catholic Church against the state. The Church is now playing politics. It’s about time that the CBCP should be converted into a political party and get rid of its religious substance. The leaders of the Catholic church has never subscribed to the principle of Separation of Church and State. They even ignored the Pope’s admonition to stay out of politics. The Church and the State in this country has been at logger heads for decades. The same situation will continue for as long the churchmen think they are superior to state leaders because they insist that their authority comes from God, while that of the political leaders comes from men. TALKING POINT: Spiritual or moral arrogance makes tyrants out of men.

Budgeting for mistrust

AUL Ryan unveiled the House Republican budget this week with an ominous yet familiar warning: “America’s national debt is over $16 trillion.” Having stated the problem, he then offered a solution, one which differed only marginally from what he’s offered the past two years. Namely: restrain government healthcare spending on Medicare and Medicaid, reform the individual tax code, close loopholes, lower corporate taxes, and promote natural gas and energy independence. The goal? A balanced budget by 2023 that will ensure “the well-being of all Americans… and reignite the American dream.” The strongest part of Ryan’s unveiling is not the specifics, which may not be very strong at all, but the unimpeachable critique of the White House and congressional Democrats for not offering their own blueprint and budget for the future. Some of that is semantics; both the president and congressional Democrats have offered various rough outlines of their long-term budget, and now Senate Democrats offered their counterproposal. But until late they had operated more in the rough-and-tumble of dysfunctional Washington negotiations rather than with explicit, official and formal (and long) outlines of exactly what will be spent and how. Yes, each

ANALYSIS BY ZACHARY KARABELL

(1st of two parts) year the White House, through the Office of Management and Budget, does assess and express views about present spending. That is not the same as an explicit pathway for the future, which Ryan has indeed offered. Such offerings are vital. You may, as I do, disagree with key elements of what Ryan and the Republicans are proposing. You may, as I do, object to the fixation on the size of the current debt without any consideration of why that debt was incurred and how much it currently costs to service it, given historically low interest rates. But Republicans are offering a set of answers, and Ryan for one is asking for those to be addressed so the process of debating and, yes, compromising can begin. No, the president is not required to offer a detailed budget; the power of the purse lies with Congress, not the White House. But a detailed vision, especially one that contrasts with the Republican one, would be welcome and productive. Instead, what we get is mutual mistrust and bile. Assuming the worst of

those you disagree with is in vogue these days, at least in politics. It’s a bipartisan sport. Just as Ryan was claiming to welcome ideas from the president and Democrats, House Speaker John Boehner made the following claim on his website: “The president [is] AWOL and unserious about eliminating the deficit.” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid shot back that Ryan’s budget proposal “is anything but balanced, anything but fair.” The fund-raising machines of both parties jumped on these ideas. The Democratic House Majority PAC issued an email blast saying Ryan’s budget ideas were recycled (which is true) and that if his plans ever came close to becoming law they would gut middle-class safety nets. At the same time, “The wealthy, Big Oil and companies that ship jobs overseas? They’re sittin’ pretty.” American politics, let alone any country’s politics, have never been characterized by gentility. People of strong disagreements rarely engage in heated and passionate debate that stays on point, let alone debate that begins and ends with the presumption that everyone engaged is committed to the best interests of the collective. In that sense, today’s political and economic discourse is no more or no less ad hominen, immature and demagogic than at multiple points in the past.

VANTAGE POINTS

Bureaucracy will set you free (1st of two parts)

COMMENTARY BY JOHN LLOYD

WO movements, fundamentally opposed, are at work in the world: corruption and anti-corruption. The marketization of the economies of China, India and Russia in the past two decades has exacerbated the corruption in those countries. Businesspeople and politicians, often hardly distinguishable, become billionaires in tandem. But corruption is falling out of favor in more and more countries as more and more governments realize that while it may get things done in the short term, it corrodes everything in the long term. As public anger rises everywhere against the grossest inequalities the modern world has seen, it provides the fuel for future fires. Bribes, the most common form of corruption, are a crime not just against the law but against the public. Those states now climbing the wealth ladder will risk worse than poverty if they do not grasp that truth. What do they need? A good bureaucracy, that’s what. For two centuries, disparaging bureaucracy has been a major component of our freedom myths. Charles Dickens, Franz Kafka, George Orwell rynd Alexander Solzhenitsyn all made the bureaucrats villains in their work. In Dickens’ 1857 masterpiece, Little Dorrit, an inventor, Daniel Doyce, goes gray attempting to register his invention at the Circumlocution Office a tragicomic institution dedicated to squashing all private initiative. He gets a final judgment that: Upon the whole, and under all the circumstances, and looking at it from the various points of view, [we are] of the opinion that one of two courses was to be pursued in respect of the business: that was to say, either to leave it alone for evermore, or begin it all over again. Likewise, anti-bureaucracy is a major trope in U.S. culture, one that harks back to a time when government was tiny and people were free. In Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln, the country’s defining president is attended by at most two officials. When messengers bring him news from Congress during the debate on the anti-slavery amendment, they burst into a White House empty except for Lincoln and his young son. It’s an entrancing picture of the way things were and if the Tea Party had its way, the way things should be. One of the Tea Party’s lodestars, Ron Paul, argued that “the judgment of politicians and bureaucrats … replaces confidence in a free society.” But it’s not confined to the Republican right: All presidential candidates must run against Washington, even as they are later embraced and soothed by its bureaucrats. So ingrained is this reflex, at least in the western political world, that it was a surprise when Britain’s former top bureaucrat, Gus O’Donnell, who was cabinet secretary until last year, broadcast two programs on BBC Radio 4 titled “In Defence of Bureaucracy.” They argued that bureaucracy was the basis of a good society and might even save the world.

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VOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

SSS sues over 1,400 delinquent employers in 2012

HE Social Security System (SSS) filed charges against more than 1,400 delinquent companies last year for various violations, the most common of which is their failure to remit the monthly SSS contributions of their employees. SSS Officer-in-Charge Edgar Solilapsi said 1,165 employers were sued in 2012 for non-remittance of contributions totaling P376.33 million, including P193 million in penalties. Under the law, employers are charged a monthly penalty of three percent for overdue contributions. “We continue to exhaust all legal means available to compel employers to fulfill their obligations under the law. As a result of our cam-

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paign against erring employers all over the country, the SSS sued a total of 1,418 companies in 2012, up by 16 percent from our 1,227 total in 2011,” he said. Among those charged last year were 253 employers that failed to report their workers for SSS coverage and those that refused to present their employment records to SSS account officers, who are assigned to check companies’ adherence to the Social Security Law. Under the law, delinquent employers face jail terms of 6 to 12 years and fines ranging from P5,000 to P20,000. Those who deduct SSS contributions and loan payments from workers’ salaries without remitting these to the SSS are also liable for estafa

or swindling under the Revised Penal Code. “Apart from possible imprisonment and stiff fines, erring employers must also fully settle their delinquency. This includes the penalties that continue to add to their overdue SSS obligation every month until full payment,” Solilapsi said. “The longer they delay, the more they pay.” The agency collected P303.88 million last year from employers that settled their delinquent accounts after the SSS initiated legal actions against them, such as issuance of demand letters and filing of cases in court and before the Social Security Commission, which is empowered to hear and settle SSS-related disputes.

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people involved in this will be put to jail,” Biazon said. He said that the BOC is trying to send a message that they will spare no one in their anti-smuggling drive and that they will go after the persons responsible. The Commissioner also added that in two weeks they have already seized hundreds of mil-

Youth...

lions of pesos worth of illegally imported goods from agricultural products, electronic gadgets, vehicles and general merchandise. “We will continue to aggressively pursue the government’s anti-smuggling campaign and drive the axe on smugglers, no matter who their backers are,” Biazon stressed. Recently, Biazon led

custom officials in the raid of a fashion store in Cebu with over a P100 million worth of imported fake handbags. Biazon’s anti-smuggling sweep in Cebu netted P10 million worth of smuggled rice, another P5 million worth of smuggled sugar, a Yamaha 1000 motorbike amounting to P1 million and several guns of undetermined cost.

CHED allowed over 200 schools to increase collection on tuition fee for the present academic year, and how this has been done unabatedly for years” said Cagula. Citing the report of the National Union of Students of the Philippines (NUSP), for over a decade, the average tuition rate has increased over 108.35% from P257.41 per unit in 2001

to P536.31 per unit in 2012. “CHED should take side on this issue and protect the rights the youth to accessible education. However, Alvarez’s statement speaks otherwise” he concluded. LFS warns the CHED for a bigger protest of the youth if CHED remains to turn deaf ears and close their doors to the growing dissent of the youth.

ing the containers. “Containers which have not been reshipped within 150 days or within the period of extension granted, shall be treated as any imported commodity subject to payment of duties, taxes and other charges,” Dy Buco said. He said estimated duties and taxes due to the government for 200 empty containers could amount to P436,814,692. “There are about 1,000 overstaying containers being monitored

here in Davao region alone. If computed, duties and taxes for that stuff could reach to P2-billion,” he said. Luigi Ray Galura, CMU officer-in-charge, described his task to be a big challenge but he is positive that they can produce results in the few days to come with the help of his team. “We will actually make our monthly accomplishment report and we will inform you,” Galura said.

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the documents submitted to their office,” said Cagula. Last March 12, students from various schools in Davao City protested in front of the office of the Commission on Higher Education calling for a halt on the incessant tuition hikes. “CHED has taken a grim role in the rising cost of education. The youth remember how

Container... FFROM 2

tainers arriving as empties shall be re-shipped within 150 days counted from the date of last discharge. Also, containers stuffed with imported cargoes shall be reshipped within 150 days counted from the date of return of the empty containers to the shipping line as evidenced by the Equipment Interchange Receipt (EIR) issued by the shipping company and signed by the party receiving and/or deliver-

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An elementary student yawns while listening to her teacher during their dance rehearsal before the start of Sayaw Pinoy along San Pedro Street, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Cattle dispersal program benefits NC tribal group By Che Palicte

ORTH Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza led the turn over ceremony of the 29 heads of cattle under the cattle dispersal project of the government to the Tinananon-Kulamanon Lumadnong Panaghiusa (Tikulpa), a local tribal organization in Arakan, North Cotabato last Tuesday. Mendoza personally handed over the 29 heads of cattle to the beneficiaries which came from Tinananon and Aromanon Manobo tribes in the towns

of Arakan, Antipas and President Roxas in the province of North Cotabato. The governor emphasized the continuing implementation of programs and projects of the provincial leadership under the “serbisyong totoo” advocacy. Datu Boy Sumin, a Tikulpa leader and one of the beneficiaries thanked the governor and the provincial leadership citing the importance of the dispersal project to their communities. Meanwhile, Timuey

Lito Palma, head of the council of elders, said that more cattle dispersal schedules are set by Governor Mendoza in the province this month. Palma bared that 15 more heads of cattle will be dispersed to tribal members to the towns of Magpet, Aleosan, Carmen, Makilala and Kidapawan City on March 21 while 12 more heads of cattle will be turned over to another group of lumads in the towns of Pikit, Alamada, Banisilan, Pigcawayan and Libungan on March 22.

quisition, rehabilitation and other expenses amounted to P1.2 billion,” Contreras said in a text message. With the takeover by MPC, he said that rehabilitation of the power plant has commenced and that the plant might go on commercial stream “before the end of summer.” Contreras said that MPC has forged power sales agreements with the South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative, Inc. for 30 MW, Zamboanga City Electric Cooperative, Inc. for 18 MW, Iligan Light and Power, Inc. for 10 MW and Zamboanga del Sur Electric Cooperative, Inc. for 5 MW. The acquisition of the Iligan diesel plant, identified as one of the solutions to ease Min-

danao’s power woes, from the Iligan City government was being worked out since last year, with the Commission on Audit conducting the procedural review for the transfer of ownership. The Iligan local government earlier put the power plant in auction after the state-owned National Power Corp. reportedly failed to settle the real property tax due to the city. The Alcantara Group originally operated the Iligan diesel power plant, formerly the Northern Mindanao Power Plant, through the build-operate-transfer scheme. The company turned the power plant to Napocor in 2003. [Bong S. Sarmiento/MindaNews]

Alsons takes over Iligan diesel plant

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SPORTS 11

VOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

Kobe: What a time to get injured? A

TLANTA (AP) -The Lakers’ push for the playoffs might be without Kobe Bryant for a while. The Los Angeles star severely sprained his left ankle Wednesday night after missing a game-tying shot in the closing seconds of a loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Lakers spokesman John Black said Bryant is out indefinitely, just as a team that underachieved much of the season is playing its best basketball. The 96-92 loss snapped a four-game winning streak and was just Los Angeles’ third loss in the last 12 games. The injury occurred with the Lakers trailing by two, after Bryant put up a baseline jumper that slid off the rim with 3 seconds remaining. As he came down, his left foot landed on defender Dahntay Jones’ right foot, twisting awkwardly as Bryant crumpled to the

court. No foul was called. Bryant remained down for a few seconds then hobbled to the bench accompanied by the trainer. The 34-yearold seemed perturbed that he couldn’t stay in the game, but he had to sit since the Lakers were out of timeouts. Kyle Korver hit two free throws to clinch Atlanta’s win. While X-rays were negative, Bryant could miss significant time. He said it’s the worst sprain he’s had in his 16-year career, and blamed Jones for sliding underneath him after he went up for the shot. ‘’First and foremost, the officials really need to protect shooters,’’ Bryant said. ‘’You just can’t go into shooters. That’s a dangerous play.’’ He didn’t say how long he might be out. ‘’I’ll just do what I have to do,’’ Bryant said.

Then, he delivered a warning to Jones and the Hawks. ‘’I can’t get my mind past the fact that I have to wait a year to get revenge,’’ Bryant said,

knowing the teams don’t meet again in the regular season. ‘’It’s just a very, very dangerous play, especially when I’m fading away.’’ Bryant has carried

be facing now after its cold semi-walkout in the ongoing Mayor Sara Duterte and Vice Mayor Rody Duterte – 76th Araw ng Dabaw Commercial Basketball Tourna-

ment. Basketball-crazy Davawenyos fans from all walks of life trooped to the Davao City Recreation Center Almendras Gym

on Wednesday night to apparently witness a double-header. But the thrill and excitement of some, most especially those who failed to catch the first game and did not watch or finish the second game, turned out to be in dismay. The fans – young and old – were upset to see Goldstar Hardware sending only five players in the game against the visiting team, Team Villar, in the main event of the evening. Liga Dabaw secretary-general Butch Ramirez and City Sports Development Division officer-in-charge Cholo Elegino were disappointed by the move of Goldstar and felt sorry for the Davaoeno basketball fans. “For all Davaoenos watching the scenario of Goldstar fielding only five players does not serve well to the people of Davao,” Ramirez said in a statement. “It was unfortunate that it happen that way. It was beyond our control but we have learned lessons out of this event. The games will go on,” he added. Seeing only five players – all local players - warming up for Goldstar, several fans headed for exit even before the game starts. “What’s going on? Why there are only five players for Goldstar?,” a saddened basketball enthusiasts at his late 40’s asked as he walked out of the venue.

Should Goldstar be sanctioned?

AN a team just quit ‘fighting’ after losing its opening game without being sanctioned? That is the question Goldstar Hardware must

FLYER. Mark Jeffries of RMH-VMO catches the ball before stuffing it in during the Dexter’s Pizza Stadium Slam Dunk Contest a side event of the 76th Araw ng Dabaw basketball tournament. [Lean Daval, Jr.]

the Lakers in their turnaround and ranks among the NBA scoring leaders at 27.5 points per game. Despite scoring 31 points against the Hawks, it was largely an off night. He

made just 11 of 33 shots and missed the biggest one of all with a chance to force overtime. ‘’He can’t be Superman every day,’’ coach Mike D’Antoni said.

Sharapova, Kirilenko advance to semis

NDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - Erratic serving cost Petra Kvitova dearly as the fifth-seeded Czech was knocked out of the BNP Paribas Open by Russian Maria Kirilenko on Wednesday, losing 4-6 6-4 6-3 in the quarter-finals. Kirilenko will next meet 2006 champion and compatriot Maria Sharapova, who beat sixth-seeded Italian Sara Errani 7-6 6-2 in a late evening match at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Left-hander Kvitova double-faulted 13 times during an error-strewn encounter which ended after almost two-and-ahalf hours when the 2011 Wimbledon champion sent a forehand long on a steaming hot afternoon at the Indian Wells. Kirilenko, who won her sixth WTA singles title at Pattaya City last month, squealed in delight while pumping her fists in celebration after extending her unbeaten record this year in three-set matches to 6-0. “Finally I reach the semi-finals,” a jubilant Kirilenko said courtside after reaching the last four at Indian Wells for the first time at the elite WTA event. “It is my 10th time playing here. “I am really happy I won this match. I had some problems with my knee in the first set but I was able

to keep fighting and win. Every time we play we have really tough ones. “In the first set I was leading 4-2, and then suddenly she start to play unbelievable, a lot of winners. It seems when she’s losing she’s more relaxed. She can be very dangerous.” EARLY CONTROL Kirilenko, who had upset third seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in the previous round, broke Kvitova in the sixth game of the opening set but then failed to hold her serve in the seven and ninth games as the Czech took early control. Kvitova seized an early 4-2 lead in the second set but her power game became increasingly erratic before she lost the set in unusual circumstances when, serving at 4-5 and 15-0, she made four successive double faults for the Russian to level. The final set went with serve until the sixth game when the Czech again failed to hold. After breaking back in the seventh with a rasping forehand winner down the line, Kvitova lost serve in the eighth with her 13th double fault of the match. Serving for the match, Kirilenko began poorly to trail 0-30 but won the next four points on three Kvitova unforced errors to wrap up the win and improve her record against the Czech to 4-3.

12 SPORTS

VOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

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RMH-VMO nips Montaña By Neil Bravo

HE frontline duo of Mark Andaya and JR Guerilla combined for 42 points as they carried Royal Mandaya Hotel-VMO past its last stumbling block to its title ambitions Montana Pawnshop, 78-76, on Wednesday night. The win shoved the Hoteliers to a virtual finals seat and a possible clash with the Pawnbrokers should the latter make it back to the finals via the backdoor in the ongoing Mayor Sara Duterte and VM Rody Duterte 76th Araw ng Dabaw basketball tournament at the Davao City Recreation Center. Andaya was a monster inside the paint while Guerilla thrived on putbacks for the Hoteliers who are now perched on top of the four-team field with two wins in as many outings. The Hoteliers are scheduled to close out their eliminations assignment as of presstime against Goldstar Hardware (11). The loss dropped the Pawnbrokers to a 1-1 card and are in a must-win scenario against winless Team Villar late last night. Ex-pros Cris Calaguio and Francis Adriano added 8 points

apiece while import Cedric Happi chipped in 6 in a tightly-guarded night. Marc Magsumbol had 5 for RMH-VMO. Montana was paced by import Devon Sullivan with 19 points. Sullivan earlier won the

Dexter’s Pizza Stadium Slam Dunk contest over RMHVMO’s Mark Jeffries. In the nightcap, an undermanned Goldstar Hardware eked out a 85-82 win over Team Villar.

SLAM DUNK CHAMP. Devon Suvillan of Montaña Pawnshop in his rim-rattling windmill jam. (left) Mark Magsumbol of RMH-VMO drives inside heavy traffic. [LEAN DAVAL JR.]

INdulge!

VOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

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ARTS & CULTURE

FlipTop: Take it or leave it By Leebai Sinsuat Ambolodto I admIt, I was intrigued. I appreciated the deed but not one to dwell as I was clouded with negativity even before I was able to see. Nonetheless, as I grope unto the words of those in the scene, I recognized the reality behind the reality itself. Enabling myself to be acquainted with the craft urged me to believe of the greatness that surrounds it. armed with nothingness, I literally saw and conquered the scene. I watched and anticipated and I must say, it was all worth the wait. Last march 2, 2013, Fliptop enthusiasts from all over mindanao congregated at the GSP Gymnasium to witness Pakusganay 2013. Spearheaded by the Founder himself, anygma, the event displayed talented mc’s from across the country. Cheers and laughter echoed the halls of the venue as soon as anygma said: Fliptop, mag-ingay! -- and the night took off . Let’s get the low down with none other than the Founder of Fliptop, aric “anygma” Yuson as he unmasks Fliptop and himself to us… Leebai: Describe FlipTop in 3 words. Anygma: That’s really tough, I don’t know. do you want adjectives? It’s very paradoxical. It’s very post modern. It’s a lot of fun. I say it’s paradoxical as battling really involves destroying your opponents but it is a very self-actualizing activity. It’s self-actualizing on a personal and on a communal level - even though self-actualizing is singular in usage. You really dig deep into yourself to come up with material, with a performance, with concepts and it involves pushing yourself in order to destroy this other person who

is pretty much doing the exact same thing. It may look destructive but overall it’s really a creative thing. It’s all for the improvement and the advancement of things like rap lyricism, camaraderie, appreciation of hiphop, history and culture. Post-modern because it is a very post-modern art form, that’s pretty much self-explanatory. It’s also very moral. I mean, as tricky as it sounds, people think that they call each other and accuse them – so where is the moral in there? It’s you testing your own moral threshold and seeing how far you can push it, I guess. and as far as being true to yourself and writing your own material, what things would you allow yourself to say, what things would you not allow yourself to say? are you going to compromise your personal integrity just for cheap laughs? Things like that. L: You said that FlipTop is a proper noun, what makes it a proper noun? A: Well, it is the name of our company… of the league. L: What made you establish the company? A: It’s basically applying the

It’s all for the improvement and the advancement of things like rap lyricism, camaraderie, appreciation of hiphop, history and culture. modern format of battle rap here in the Philippines. I have been an mc for the longest time as well. So, being a fan of all sorts of things that are under hiphop, I just watched it and applied it. L: How did you derive the term FlipTop?

A: I do not know, I just thought of it. I have a weird process when it comes to thinking of titles, like even if its song titles, titles of events and, I don’t know… I just feel it. If it makes sense to me… Sometimes, I’m aware that a lot of people would give it all sorts of different meanings, and if all the meanings sit well with me then its okay. I try not to think of a title that will involve some kind of meaning that I don’t associate with. L: FlipTop is basically for whom? A: There is no real target market. It’s just for anyone who is actually willing to watch it and who’s interested in getting deeper into hiphop and the battle scene itself. I don’t really care. I don’t force anyone to watch it.

One of the night’s anticipated battle, Antz vs Zaito. Antz is from Davao.

L: What is or has been the biggest misconception about FlipTop? A: There are so many. Like ten of them, all equally damaging misconceptions. What would it be? I guess I value all the misconceptions equally bad. I can enumerate if you

DJ McCoy provided the beat during breaks and open mic session.

want. First, is the misconception that it is supposed to be freestyle, which is known as the old school format of battle rap. Second is that people think that it is merely about offending your opponent or insulting your opponent or making use of vulgar language which is not the case at all. It just so happens that we

do. People tend to think that that is all that happens. Out of all the words that are spat by an mc, let’s put it out 1,200 words or so, probably only 5% or even like 2% of those are bad or cuss words or vulgar words and the rest are all normal words. It’s weird when people say parang lahat sila

FFLIPTOP, A4

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March is Women’s Month at SM City General Santos GLobALLy, we celebrate women’s month every month of March. It is an event designed to highlight the contribution of women to events in history and contemporary society. It is an opportunity to learn about the contributions of women and girls to our society and to the quality of our lives today. Enjoy great deals as all women get 10% off and other special treats from all participating The SM Stores all Wednesday of March. Aside from the exciting treats, all women are invited for a make over session and beauty consultation at the Fashion & beauty Expo every Saturdays and Sundays of the month at the mall event center near The SM Store entrance during mall hours. Come March 16, 2013, watch the What Women Want: Fashion Show at the mall Event Center at 5pm. This fashion show is a synergy with anchor affiliates, The SM Store and Watsons, to showcase beauty and fashion as well as to acknowledge women in general featuring some empowered women of General Santos City. This event is also in partnership with Circle of Arts Production. At the Alfresco Strip, join the Zumba pink party on Mach 16 at 6pm and be serenaded by an all-girls acoustic band featuring Sentro at 7pm on March 22. For more event updates, call SM City General Santos Marketing Department at (083) 878-0667 or visit and like SM City General Santos (official) on Facebook.

Spectrum Party with DJ Callum at The Fountain Court ThE coolest party this Araw ng Dabaw happens at SM Lanang Premier on March 16 with no less than Australian model-DJ Callum David.

Party to the most electrifying beats from the country’s hottest mixer as Spectrum brings life to an evening of colors at the second level of the Fountain Court. Passes are available at New orleans, Clawdaddy’s, hukad, Cellar de boCa, bistro Selera, Mesa, hogs breath Café, Sumosam, Archipelago 7107 or bulgogi brothers at Php 400, consumable. Dine, drink and dance! This is one epic party no social being would want to miss. Party at the Fountain Court starts at 8PM. Plus, get a chance to meet and greet the gorgeous DJ Vinimal, 6PM at the Mall Atrium. For inquiries, call 285.0943. Like SM Lanang Premier on Facebook or follow @smlanangpremier on Twitter for event and promo updates.

Baihana top bills at SM Lanang Premier’s Women and Music Mall Show Series CELEbRATING Women’s Month, SM Lanang Premier and Crossover proudly present Women and Music: the Mall Show Series this of March.

Giving ode to women of all ages and sizes, the series of concerts started last March 9 with Monica balibay and with Juliet bahala last March 10. This weekend, March 15, catch the awesome trio baihana live at the Atrium, 6PM. Composed of Mel Torre, Krina Cayabyab and Anna Graham, baihana are three lovely ladies who mixes amazing harmony with humor and wit, to give everyone an unparalleled entertainment experience. on Sunday, celebrate women with Davao’s best female vocals Monica and Juliet with Rochelle Venuti live, 6pm at the Atrium. Admission is free. For inquiries, call 285.0943. Like SM Lanang Premier on Facebook or follow @smlanangpremier on Twitter for event and promo updates.

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VOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

Wherever they are in the country, Filipino bloggers get there with Sun Broadband

It wasn’t too long ago when blogging was a novelty. today, modern technology has enabled people to have their own little nook in the web where they can share their stories to the world. For many, a reliable Internet connection has paved the path to a blogging career while at the same time, enabled them to reach out to their audience.

Three Filipino bloggers share their blogging experience, what they went through and why having a consistent Internet connection is a blogger’s best friend. Faster connection in Baguio City Living in the country’s summer capital hemmed in a tapestry of cultures and surrounded by scenic views provided 33-year-old Vincent tabor a lot of material to start his own blog some five years ago. Like many others whose blogs were conceived as online diaries that chronicled their everyday exploits, Vince’s blog entries were mostly about his casual escapades around the city. “I started blogging when I came to know about it because of a freelance job,” says Vince, a blogger and an SEO specialist. Before long, Vince was writing about almost anything under the sun including the latest technology in the market, his personal reflections about life, and inspirational articles for which he gained a lot of followers. “my interest in blogging really took off when I came to know from my mentor that with blogging, you can make a difference,” Vince says meaningfully. The founder and an active member of the Cordillera Bloggers, Vince admits that it has only been a year since he switched to Sun Broadband upon the recommendation of his friends and on account of the good reviews he’s heard from its subscribers. “I found Sun Broadband to be very affordable, and also because of word of mouth from friends who were telling me that the network’s Internet connection is faster in Baguio and Benguet areas,” he says.

Gen San’s Avel Manansala. Vince has since been very satisfied with his Sun Broadband prepaid, which he says, enables him to seamlessly blog anytime, anywhere he is – even outside Baguio. “It’s really convenient because the signal is consistent in our area and I can take it with me in events where Wi-Fi is not available.” For him, Sun’s strong signal and reliable Internet connection saves him a lot of downtime. “I can easily upload my blog posts and respond to emails from my readers.” Blogging to promote his hometown GenSan Indeed, it’s never too late to start your own blog. and that’s what avelmar “avel” manansala exactly did five summers ago. But instead of starting an online blog about his daily adventures, avel utilized his personal online space as a vehicle to communicate his advocacy and create positive change in his hometown, General Santos City. avel’s advocacy stems from his frustration over the negative stories being published both online and offline about his hometown and the SocSarGen region. He soon realized that blogging was the perfect venue to address these issues and disseminate information that highlights the beauty of GenSan and its people. “I purposely learned blogging and started writing positive news for a change. I felt that doing so would somehow erase the negative perceptions people have about my locality.” an employee at the GenSan City mayor’s Office, avel has been blogging for more than five years now and his topics range from

the activities in the local government, newsworthy events to developments in General Santos City. He cites Sun Broadband as his partner of choice in shaping the good image of his province. “I felt that the network is not that crowded. and since it shares its connectivity with Smart, I’m having the best of two worlds!” he notes. avel goes on to say that using Sun Broadband is so effortless it’s like “eating tuna lumpia while saying ‘magandang GenSan’.” “No need to transfer the SIm out of the Sun Broadband stick to a hand phone and load it from there. I just need to go to a store and choose from SBW60 or SBW100 and I’m good to go,” he continues. He further adds, “Sun Broadband’s signal is the best in GenSan whether you are located downtown or in Purok malakas or inside the fishport in Barangay tambler. Nothing beats Sun when it comes to speed and easy connectivity!” true to his commitment of helping promote GenSan, the government employee formed a group of four bloggers from all over the SOCCSKSaRGEN Region with the goal of transforming the region’s image through blogs. “We formed the SOCCSKaRGEN Bloggers, and along with other recruits including my brother, Orman, a banker, we wrote and shared online whatever good developments there was from the region and organized blogging events to encourage other people to do the same.” Booming blogging

business in Cebu For thirty-two-year-old Ruben Licera, blogging is more than just a hobby; it’s business. He maintains several blogs where he writes about the different products and services of his clients. a blogger since 2004, Ruben took online writing seriously in 2007 when he was sent to Netherlands to attend training. While there, he discovered the many potential of blogging and how he could turn it into good use. to date, Ruben is the president of Cebu Bloggers Society, the Community manager of Google developers Group (GdG) Cebu and the lead organizer of Social media Influencers Summit 2013. He is an advocate of promoting social media users responsibility and professional blogging community in the Queen City of South. For the developers group, he aims for a more prepared developers community to ensure that skills matches the requirement of business process and knowledge process outsourcing companies. In addition, he is currently venturing into a web-based outsourcing company. Thanks to Sun Cellular, Ruben says he can do business and advocacy works all the time. anywhere he goes sans the worry of not being able to go online. “ayoko nang biglang nawawalan ng connection, especially since my business and advocacy is operational online. I need to be in touch with my staff and colleagues all the time,” says Ruben. Having subscribed to the Sun Broadband postpaid plan where he was given a pocket Wifi, it is now easier for him to run talk to clients and run his business even while he’s on the go most of the time. truly, Sun Broadband’s consistent, fast and reliable Internet service allows many Filipino bloggers with different purposes and in different locations of the country accomplish what they need to do, be who they want to be and get to wherever they want to go – making it their good choice. For more information, visit www.sunbroadband.ph or Facebook page www.facebook.com/Sun-BroadbandWireless. Follow @suncelldeals on Twitter.

VOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

ENTERTAINMENT

Gwyneth Paltrow:

My low-carb family diet leaves us with hunger pangs GWyNETh Paltrow’s new cookbook is giving folks lotsa choice intel to chew on.

The actress turned Goop goddess is set to release her latest culinary tome, It’s All Good, on April 2, in which she offers a slew of healthy recipes inspired by her own recent switch to a healthier diet and lifestyle. but in the book, the 40-year-old star admits that her family’s strict diet—which includes dishes that are both gluten-free and low-carb— often leaves her hubby, Chris Martin, and their two children, 8-year-old Apple and 6-year-old Moses, with hunger pangs when the meal is over. “Every single nutritionist, doctor and healthconscious person I have ever come across...seems to concur that [gluten] is tough on the system and

many of us are at best intolerant of it and at worst allergic to it,” she writes in a cookbook section devoted to grains, per an excerpt in the Daily Mail. “Sometimes when my family is not eating pasta, bread or processed grains like white rice, we’re left with that specific hunger that comes with avoiding carbs,” she adds. The avowed foodie—whose first cookbook, My Father’s Daughter, was a huge best seller when it was released in 2011—reportedly decided to write It’s All Good after learning last spring that she was both anemic and had a vitamin D deficiency. The book’s 185 recipes provide a flavorful spin on dishes borne out of her new doctor-prescribed

diet, which included cutting out dairy, eggs, soy, sugar, coffee, alcohol, shellfish, wheat, meat and processed food, among other ingredients. her toothsome solution includes dishes like huevos rancheros, hummus tartine with scallionmint pesto, and salmon burgers with pickled ginger—recipes of which are included in the book.

luster sales. but, hold the phone— Swift more than holds her own when it comes to selling magazines. She may not be Lady Gaga wedged into a Marc Jacobs fishtail gown on the September cover of Vogue, the fashion bible’s top seller in 2012, but Swift’s February issue sold 329,371, an aboveaverage number for the year, according to publisher Condé Nast. More than 443,000 copies were sold of the November issue of Glamour, featuring Swift and the tease of “Stuff She only Tells her Girlfriends” on the cover.

She also helped harper’s bazaar sell an above-average number of copies for December: 138,412. “I’d put money on her for the long run,” Glamour Editor-in-Chief Cindi Leive tells Women’s Wear Daily, which first reported the sales figures, noting that a sales slump, for whatever reason, is “nothing a pro can’t come back from.” And Swift’s photo shoot schedule certainly didn’t slow down heading into 2013: She has already graced the March cover of Elle and the April issues of Vanity Fair and InStyle UK.

Taylor Swift sells magazines just fine, thank you very much

IS this not the face of a best-selling artist?

Sure, when it comes to album sales, Taylor Swift is an unparalleled success, what with Red having the best debut week of any album in the last 10 years and the Recording Academy of America declaring her the Top Digital Selling Artist only yesterday. but when it comes to being a cover girl, Swift is rumored to be falling short of platinum status because the December issue of Cosmopolitan featuring the 23-year-old with the fascinating love life on its cover had lack-

INdulge! A3

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge! ARTS & CULTURE

VOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

FlipTop... FFROM A1

BlackLeaf (FlipTop Davao President), Anygma (Founder of FlipTop) and me during our interview. nagmumura na lang. If you were to do a word count and actually check the percentage of cuss words in it, you’d surprise yourself. For example, if someone says something along the lines of “P******** mo, banat mo ay ganito, ganyan, kaya ka ganito ganyan,” that’s just one curse word. It doesn’t automatically make the entire line vulgar. Out of the 11 words in that sample line, only one word is vulgar which puts it at 9% vulgarity (and of course, lines are longer than just 11 words so expect the percentage to be even lower). another annoying misconception would be the comparison of Fliptop to modern balagtasan – which is really not the case. It’s pretty insulting because it’s not like battle rap is such a mundane thing or that it is advanced physics or anything. If everyone knows of hiphop itself, inside the world of hiphop obviously there is this thing called battle rap. and I’m pretty sure everyone has watched 8 mile but battle rap has been around long before that. So it’s your own misinformation for even comparing battle rap to something else as if the words ‘battle rap’ aren’t precise enough for said activity. L: What is the biggest hindrance of FlipTop in the country? A: maybe just the general ignorance and mental laziness of the people because everyone seems to have their own understanding of Fliptop, of what it takes to be a battle mc, what it takes to run an event, what it takes to establish and maintain something, and most them cannot be farther from the truth. I say part of the ignorance is the undervaluing of our product. We provide this free on the internet as it is and yet a lot of people will complain and say “it’s too expensive” and I’m thinking, “do you actually understand the true value of money? You want these guys to not make money? You want

them just to go home and they have 3 kids and no one’s gonna feed them. are you going to fee their kids for them? You expect it for free and if it isn’t, you’re going to complain or accuse others of being money-driven?” most of these comments come from kids who don’t even know what it’s like to pay for your water or electricity anyway but you’d also be surprised with the amount of comments we get from grown, working men, who complain about this and that as if they knew the least bit about running an organization like Fliptop. I merely make it possible for all parties concerned. I do not even have to do this in a sense but I still do. So, the general ignorance extends into a lot of things. L: What makes FlipTop worthy of one’s attention? A: I don’t know, you tell me. I don’t force anyone to watch it. I won’t go out to claim that it is worthy of anyone’s attention. I just put it there and it is up to you if you want to watch it. In my own personal appreciation of Fliptop, its really quality in the sense of how rap lyricism is exercised, how the performance aspect is exercised, the communal aspect is exercised. Just the overall representation that goes on in Fliptop – like when you hear all these different battle mc’s, you hear different styles and you hear different uses and usage of language, of idioms and of expressions, that’s simply just representation of what they’ve come from or what they have seen. The fact that you use a certain kind of slang, that is already a representation of this certain demographic of people. and you have this other guy who uses other slang, other values, other schools of thought, it’s representative of another demographic in Philippine society. So I say that’s worth enjoying – worth appreciating. L: What has been FlipTop’s biggest contribution to the country?

Anygma and DoubleD (Fliptop Davao Mc) A: as a whole, I guess. The fact that Fliptop gives a platform to all these mc’s who otherwise would not have seen other provinces, might not even experience to fly on a plane, who might not get to know other mc’s or like minded people, who might not actually survive off something they love or really work hard for. If I’ve failed to mention it earlier, the league is for the mc’s, first and foremost. I’d also like to think that the overall literacy and appreciation of language of the country has improved. L: What are your future plans for FlipTop and the hiphop scene in the country? A: We try to work four months ahead. We have a number of events lined up and its basically doing what we do and maintaining the quality of our product and of course, pushing everyone to keep doing and contributing their part for the culture they love and/or claim to be a part of. L: Why Mindanao? Why Davao? Obviously the talent is there, but what prompted you to penetrate Davao? A: It’s really just my own want to see other people shine, to get the opportunities that I think they deserve. I mean, prior to Fliptop, the hiphop scene was very political. It is still is very political. at certain points, it gets stagnant because of said politics and it leads to a lot of missed opportunities for people who are really, really talented. Basically, I know the tal-

ent is there and I feel like they deserve it, and it’s my personal contribution to hiphop. That’s what I give back to hiphop as a culture. L: What is next for FlipTop? A: I have a battle in australia on march 16 along with our very own Protégé (English Conference mc and battle rapper). We have an international event in april in manila and we currently have the second installation of the dos Por dos tournament (2 vs 2 battles) as well as the Isabuhay tournament (one on one battles). L: Message for those who are still ignorant to FlipTop. A: Hmm… I don’t really have any message when it comes to things like that. take it or Leave it. That could be it. Fliptop: take it or Leave it. L: If you weren’t doing FlipTop, what would you be doing now? A: I don’t know. I really have no idea. I could be dead for all we know. Shout outs to those who made this interview possible. to Nate for urging me to get out of my house in the middle of night. to Kevin for being so accommodating and camera shy. to BlackLeaf and the rest of the Fliptop mc’s for the photos and care during the event. to Jeff, Cj, mike and Jane for giving in to my whims. and specially to aric “anygma” Yuson for the interview, revisions and for the profundity you have inculcated upon me. tHaNK YOU!

ARAW NG DABAW SPECIAL

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

ARAW NG DABAW SPECIAL

VOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Spread your wings,

DAV A O

By Neil Bravo Cover photo by Lean Daval Jr.

AVAO City is 76 and changing. In android speed, Davao is transforming its vast landscape (all of 2,443.61 square kilometers) into a bustling metropolis of skyscrapers and mushrooming malls and real estate properties It used to be that Davao is simply downtown area with the City Hall and the major arteries Uyanguren (now Ramon Magsaysay), Claveria (now C.M. Recto) and San Pedro streets. Today, Davao’s development stretches from the North gateway in Lanang to the South gateway in Ecoland and McArthur Highway. There are major malls

in both ends and residents need not travel far to the other side to shop and or chill on weekends. Without doing the math, it is easy to say that Davao is growing by leaps and bounds. Local revenues are high and the prospects are looking as bright as day. Look around and you’ll see cranes and heavy equipment working on construction projects. You can just imagine how this city will look like a year or so from now. And with the biggest land area in the country and the most attractive real estate property investment yet, Davao City is like its King Eagle, ready to spread

its wings. The new Davao is worth a celebration like no other. This year’s celebration of the ArawngDabaw is, no doubt, bigger. “Our top objective is to engage the Dabawenyos and tourists alike in the different activities we have. We at the (organizing Duaw Davao) foundation believe that events such as these make positive economic impacts to our city but we try our best to manage negative environmental impacts as well as social impacts to our locals. We desire that Dabawenyos and tourists will serve as ambassadors of the city

and promote our festivals. We can truly achieve this if we carry our Dabawenyo pride and spirit across the globe,” says Duaw Davao executive director Lisette Marques. Aside from the traditional AnD events like the Mutya ng Dabaw pageant, the Parada, and the Sayawsa Da’n (streetdancing), there are a bevy of new events worth experiencing. There are the variety shows at malls sponsored by leading television networks (thanks to the network rivalry, shows are brought down here), club parties, concerts, art exhibits, film festival, and sports events. The AnD has also transformed into a multi-event festival that has earned the attention and interest of

tourists. For the festival organizers and the City Tourism Office, the thrust is to keep that interest growing. “Several events come to mind. The start of this year’s celebration was a highlight too, as we have crowned five Dabawenyas who are I guess, more quirky, than most candidates. I applaud these ladies for their outstanding performance most especially at how they carry themselves and how much

pride they have being identified as Mutya ng Dabaw. This year’s carnival theme was a hit too! We are definitely replaying this show over and over again,” Marques said. Certainly, in the hands of the Duaw Davao and the CTO is an unenviable responsibility of keeping Davao soaring like its eagle. They, too, have to spread their wings in making the AnD among the top crowd-drawing events in the entire country.

EDGEDAVAOVOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

ARAW NG DABAW SPECIAL

VOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

Opening soon

EDGEDAVAO

Seda Hotel Davao: Complementing Abreeza By Antonio M. Ajero

‘I guess it is a reflection of a good economy.’ --Ma. Rowena M. Tomelda, VP of Ayala Land

EDA HOTEL DAVAO, a 196room hotel in the 10-hectare mixeduse project of the Ayala Land Inc. with Anflocor Management and Investment Corp., opens in Bajada, Davao City sometime this month. Seda Hotel will complement Abreeza, its mall in the area, according to Ma. Rowena M. Tomeldan, AyalaLand vice president and head of Operations and Support Services for Commercial Business Group in a recent talk with the Edge Davao business news team. “This is something to look forward to,” Tomeldan said, adding that the Seda is packaged as a hotel for the visiting business executives making the mall “the natural market.” She said another great development that could comple-

ment the mall is that there is a growing market for residential units as the first tower of Alveo Land Inc., the high-end property development arm of Ayala Land, has been sold out. “I guess it is a reflection of a good economy,” Tomeldan said The challenge, she pointed out that since the project is mixed-use, is how to package the entire project to the markets. The other projects within the 10-hectare property have reinforced the theory that malls “have made them the one-stop shop,” she said. The company is also looking at accommodating government offices in the mall as some of the malls of the company in other areas have hosted some agencies, she added.

Clubbin’ time! Neil Bravo

T’S intensity 8 party this Araw ng Dabaw weekend and what could be a dream sequence for Davao’s partyzens than having four of the country’s best club DJs. The party rush begins its big salvo tonight (March 15) at The Marco Polo Davao as Party Animal brings “Playground”—that club party event at the Grand Ballroom. You couldn’t be asking for a better place to party than at this classy venue. Bring in the rockthe-house jocks in DJ Ace Ramos of Resorts World Manila’s Republiq along with Deuce Manila’s hot lady DJs Patty Tiu and Kat DJ. Tickets sell at P350 at the Eagle’s Bar, Backyard Burger, Green Windows

Dormitel, Java Jive, Southern KTV and Bagnetian. Coming at the heels of Playground could well be another mega earth-shaker, not just an aftershock. Brace youselves because Callum David, the country’s most sought-after DJ, is bringing his act and yes, his pretty face and dimples to boot, at the Spectrum Party at the Fountain Court of SM Lanang Premier. Party starts at 8 pm at the Second Level of the Fountain Court. For the screaming fans, there’s the meet-and-greet with Callum David at 6 pm at The Atrium. Whoever is not coming out to party on these two Godzilla-sized parties is a certified Goliath-sized loser.

EDGEDAVAOVOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

ARAW NG DABAW SPECIAL

Globe Business Mobile Solutions maximize work efficiencies outside the office

N this day and age, conducting work and business transactions have transcended the confines of the office, as companies are now putting more premium on mobility. As such, constant connectivity for their field personnel should be made easier than ever, which can translate to their increased productivity and greater work efficiency. Globe Business realizes this occurrence as the new norm for large commerce and industries, understanding the mindset of businesses both small and big to widen their presence on the field. But more than just enabling with a complete portfolio of solutions to maximize their utility and budget, it actually offers holistic mobility for a workforce that is always on-the-go. Consider the daily activities of a Sales Manager who received a directive to launch a new sales campaign. He can still effectively roll it out just as being office-bound, thanks to Business Plus, a post-paid that allows

his smartphone or tablet to be linked to the Internet, aside from having unlimited texts and calls to communicate with his staff or check on sales performances. With a connectivity solution that allows subscription plans to be customized according to user requirements and tailor-fit depending on the profile of usage, it’s a wise investment for key personnel on fieldwork. Given a new assignment requiring him to coordinate with clients or agents for the new campaign while moving within his assigned territory, his company can take advantage of bulk services, where text messaging costs can be reduced by up to 75 percent for large-volume transactions, while calls rates can be cut in half for heavy toll calls. In case he needs to collaborate with field operations to rollout the campaign to distributors, he can get in touch with them less the worries on unpredictable communications costs if his team is enrolled under Business-Capped,

a cost-efficient solution to keep capital expenses at a minimum as subscriptions are fixed and communications allowances are budgeted. Should his subordinates require more load credits for their prepaid line to text-blast retailers, he can request his company to send it through its Autoload MAX Corporate Edition (AMAX CE), an automatic load facility which sends prepaid credit to multiple users in the company. It is one of the Value-Added Services (VAS) of Globe Business which complements the rest of its mobility suite. Another web-based VAS, TxtConnect will enable him to broadcast follow-up SMS to the distributors and retailers as well as to broad base of customers without sacrificing on cost efficiency. Authenticated by Globe, his recipients are assured on the reliability of messages to the defined target recipients. At the end of a fastpaced day, he will be able to send reports to his home

office of the campaign’s initial performance even from a distance, thanks to the ultra-reliable Tattoo mobile broadband he and his colleagues in the field are equipped with. And being tech savvy, he can be equipped with the latest smartphones and devices powered with business apps to help him gauge the success of the sales campaign. With iPhone, BlackBerry, or Android handheld models, Windows- or Symbian-operated systems as well as the newest tablets, sales professionals like him can be armed with these “mobile offices,” ready to meet the demands of his business. Globe Business group product marketing manager Patricia Rodriguez observed that mobility is

now a must to operate any successful business relying on field operations, as many companies now have important functions being performed outside offices. “Globe Business recognizes this evolution in the way we work nowadays, that is why we have put in place our brand of cutting-edge, cost-efficient and value-laden mobile solutions to enhance the coverage of businesses to effectively reach their customers and stakeholders. We have helped them redefine field-work as the ‘new office’ for the mobile workforce,” she said. Indeed, companies, big corporations as well as small enterprises will appreciate the premium and flexibility of these

solutions, and will have full control to choose what is best to address the requirements of their manpower on the field while experiencing their newfound empowerment delivered through Globe Business. More information on these services can be provided by your Globe Business Account Manager, who can help determine the right plans for these solutions depending on the usage behavior of your employees. Globe Business also has dedicated after sales support for business customers which will assist your company’s appointed representative to manage your company’s multiple subscribed lines and services.

ARAW NG DABAW SPECIAL

VOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

By Vannah Ang

UNTINGS and flags fly in vibrant colors as Davao celebrates 76th Araw ng Dabaw with pomp and pageantry uniquely Dabawenyo. According to Lisette Marques of the organizing Duaw Davao Foundation, “The spirit and ethos of a city are its people. 76 years of continuously evolving and involving new cultures that we happily adapt to, we are indeed a melting pot. This celebration is a showcase of the DABAWENYO AT ITS BEST. We have several talent competitions, a pageant that picked 5 amazing Dabawenyas as our ambassadresses and a true Dabawenyo (Lankuban) concert will certainly prove this.” This must be what makes the celebration a truly colorful one. “Celebrating the anniversary of the birth of our city is always heartwarming when you look back at the mile-

stones we have achieved throughout the years. Kadayawan on one hand, is a celebration of culture of our father tribes as the first settlers. A charter day anniversary is a celebration of what we have in the present..how much we have grown as a city.” That surely makes Araw ng Dabaw definitely unique compared to other feasts. “Gauging success is relative to the observer. There have been many celebrations in the past years that were overwhelmingly astounding. My gauge of success would be looking at how involved the Dabawenyos are in the many activities that we have. Probably when I see Dabawenyos as happy as I am watching our streetdancing and still not complain about how much traffic it is causing, that would be a sign of success.” Marques explains. This is how she

managed to make the event reach the point of great success. Several events come to Marques’ mind when she thinks of what most people enjoy about the celebration. “The start of this year’s celebration was a highlight too, as we have crowned 5 Dabawenyas who are I guess, more quirky, than most candidates. I applaud these ladies for their outstanding performance most especially at how they carry themselves and how much pride they have being identified as Mutya ng Dabaw. This year’s carnival theme was a hit too! We are definitely replaying this show over and over again.” Amidst all the hoopla, the best way to celebrate the festivities is to engage and enjoy the celebration. Happy 76th Araw ng Dabaw to everyone!

Invites you to visit its new Davao Showroom as we celebrate with all Dabawenyos on the 76th Founding Anniversary of Davao City Km. 7, J.P. Laurel, Ave., Lanang (beside Grand Regal Hotel), Davao City Tel. No.234-0057 to 58 www.kia.ph

EDGEDAVAOVOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

ARAW NG DABAW SPECIAL

VOL.6 ISSUE 1 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, MARCH 15-16, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

St yle

EDGEDAVAO

HEN you ask a typical teenage Davaoeña where the city’s trendiest boutique to shop is, she’ll definitely answer Forever 21. And when you see her walk off the mall with that distinct yellow plastic bag, you can be sure where she’s from. Their numerous arrays of stylish pieces organized in clothes racks and accessory stands will surely make girls go ga-ga. The best part is that you don’t have to empty out your wallet to pull off an ultra chic look because their prices are quite affordable for the average shopper. Forever 21 is an American chain of clothing retailers founded in 1984 that offers merchandise of apparel, accessories, shoes, and beauty products. Their first branch was built in Los

T A H T

Angeles, California and their clothing line has grown into over 400 stores worldwide, including our country, the Philippines. Forever 21 exclusively opened its first Davao branch to VIP guests last September 27, 2012 at the first floor of the SM Lanang Premier. The chic cocktail event opened with an awe-inspiring fashion show filled with models wearing the hottest pieces of the season and ended it with the exclusive opening of the store. Loads of

trendy shoppers left the boutique with smiles on their faces and glorious yellow plastic bags in their hands. The store surely boasted off affordable fast fashion merchandise that catered to all ages. Just that and Davaoeños can now pull off looks inspired from fashion runways. Expect lots of fun bright shades of color and prints from Forever 21’s summer line. Their swimsuit line and pretty sandals are always something to look out for. Florals, graphics and leopard prints are a definite “yes” this season. As usual, they would

L E Y

W O L

rather talk about what’s hot and leave what’s not behind. Don’t forget to check out the Forever 21 plus line, it’s a favorite among the curvaceous ladies. Davao’s Forever 21 team hopes that they will be able to fill the stylish needs of Davao’s fashionable generation. “There’s so much that we can offer – from basic to trendy pieces. We know that it can be excitingly overwhelming to go to Forever 21, so we recommend that you get our mesh bag and enjoy each section of the store. Don’t be afraid to fill up your bags and try different pieces on,” said Jane Kingsu-Cheng, marketing manager of Forever 21 Davao.

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Jr. l a ng Dav A h n na Lea n Va by By otos Ph

S10 EDGEDAVAOSt yle

St yle EDGEDAVAO S11

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Photo by Kethley Uy

Be hot as summer By Vannah Ang

ArCh is quickly passing by and the school season is almost over.

It’s that time of the year when the weather is getting hotter. And so is the fashion trend. Girls know that summer isn’t always about the sun, salt and sand, it’s also about the bikinis and flirty sun dresses. Leave those boring shades of black and gray at home and step out into the sun in bright colors of fuchsia, scarlet and turquoise instead! Still looking for the perfect beach bum attire? Spare your time finding one because we’ve got five major style tips to spice up your summer look.

Tip #1:

Get rid of Fall’s neutral look; show some skin in vibrantly colored prints. You could either lay bare under the sun only wearing the cutest aqua-colored bikini or go dancing in the sand with a floral-printed tube dress.

Tip #2:

Keep your look in full swing with the right pair of sunnies. round and oversized sunglasses are in this season.

Tip #3:

Start curling up your long boring locks because a summer look is never complete without messy beach waves on your head. That extra bounce could just give the right amount of oomph to your attire.

Tip #4:

Tired of over-stuffing that little black purse of yours? Then put it back to storage! Oversized bohemian bags are the bomb this season. You could just throw in your summer essentials and travel off to the nearest beach.

Tip #5:

Stop mesmerizing over edward’s pale white vampire skin. Grab some tanning oil and soak under the sun. Bronze, sun-kissed skin is a definite turn-on. It won’t only tone your skin; it’ll make it look healthier too.

So there you have it, 5 major style tips that could turn something “not” into “hot”!

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By Vannah Ang Photos by Lean Daval Jr.

NLY two years ago, the Davaoeño market just got a taste of something new from Asia’s next retail giant, The Primer Group of Companies. But don’t look now, there’s still more to come. So, what do you think of when you hear the word Res|Toe|Run? If you get the idea of shoes and food then you’re right because according to Dale Camandang, Res|Toe|Run’s Marketing & Communications Officer, “Res|Toe|Run is a restaurant-inspired multi-brand

shoe shop.” The store is founded in 2007 and opened its first branch in Davao City last May 12, 2011 at the Abreeza Mall. You could see how they intelligently came up with their rare yet somehow hip brand name influenced by their products and creative motif. “Res|Toe|Run is a Shoe-topia for Shoe-aholics designed to satisfy one’s infinite appetite for shoes. Their product mix is divided into three categories: RES represents their comfortable casual footwear

line; TOE is composed of toe-flaunting sandals and flip flops; and RUN is made up of active and athletic-inspired shoes.” “Res|Toe|Run astonishingly has over forty international brands which come from different corners of this shoe-crazy world such as United States, Europe, and Asia. Some of the most popular and top brands are; Fitflop, Sanuk, Native, DC, Kickers, and the North Face.” So if you’re looking for comfort and class, then this store will surely suit your feet and lifestyle. “Today, Res|Toe|Run has twenty-eight stores nationwide; twenty-one in Luzon, four in Visayas, and three in Mindanao. The establishment does not have plans yet in having additional stores in Davao, but they are planning to have more outlets in other provincial areas so people can experience the variety of footwear that they offer. The store will be adding new branches this 2013 in Bacolod, Iloilo and KCC Mall General Santos City.” This is definitely good news for the

Philippine market. So far, Res|Toe|Run has been performing in tip-top shape with great amounts of love from their customers and special awards; namely, Best in Fashion Shoes & Bags Category 2011 and The Most Promising Retailer of the Year Award 2010 by the Philippine Retailers Association. “The Primer Group of Companies sees a great potential in the Davaoeño market. The lifestyle here is so dynamic that the consumers know how to look for the right footwear that could perfectly fit their active lifestyle. Besides maintaining style and fashion, they also look for function and durability. This is exactly why Res|Toe|Run is bringing into the country, a whole new world of shoe shopping experience with its wide array of heritage and alternative footwear brands.” (Like Res|Toe|Run on Facebook: www.facebook. com/ResToeRunOfficial Follow Res|Toe|Run on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ ResToeRun and Instagram: Restoerunofficial.)

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