Edge Davao 6 Issue 30 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013

Serving a seamless society

Lingawa ani uy!

INdulge

Page A1

Anna and the King

DISNEYLAND IN DAVAO? Yes, yesterday’s 8th National Children’s Day celebration at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound has all the trimmings of a Disneyland parade which also coincided with the birthday of evangelist Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy. Lean Daval Jr.

Blue Vote 2 OFF CAMPUS SURVEY OUT MAY 6

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

Sports

Page 15

OCAL candidates should watch out for the off-campus poll results of Ateneo de Davao University’s Blue Vote which was finished yesterday and will be announced on May 6. ADDU’s University Research Council (URC) is confident of its accuracy. Social Research and D eve l o p m e n t Office director Mildred Megarbio-Estanda told Edge Davao yesterday,

Lakers in 0-2 hole

“the Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll survey has 1,200 respondents from all over the Philippines while we had 1,800 in Davao City alone, this means we have

FBLUE VOTE , 10

LIFE-SIZED BARBIE. These are no toys. They’re live Barbie dolls atop a Barbie-inspired float in the colorful parade in yesterday’s 8th National Children’s Day at the Kingdom of Jesus Christ compound. Lean Daval Jr.

2 THE BIG NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013

3 rebel returnees decry false promises

hREE former rebel from the Pulang Bagani command in Paquibato, Davao City were presented to members of Davao media at the Task Force Davao headquarters, Sta, Ana wharf. The three, who surrendered to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) last March 11, told members of the press that they had become disillusioned with the false promises of the New People’s Army (NPA) and had decided to return to the folfd of ther law and lead normal lives. The three surrenderees are Noel Baguio, Cory Pelayo and Dindo Baguio. Cory Pelayo, who had

been in the rebel movement for along with husband, Dindo Baguio with whom she has a son. “Ako lang gihunahuna ang kahimtang sa among anak ug gikapoy nako magtago-tago mao to nagsabot mi (Dindo) na mubalik sa sabakan sa gobyerno,” she explained. Dindo Baguio bared that when the NPA recruited them (Noel), Leoncio Pitao, called Kumander Parago, had promised to help their parents with their livelihood. “Niingon pud sila na three months ra daw mi mukuyog-kuyog sa ilaha pero tingala mi niabot naman ug tuig di nami pa-

F3 REBEL, 10

WHISPER. Team PNoy senatorial bet Cynthia Villar (right) listens to Davao City third district Rep. Isidro Ungab during yesterday’s gathering of the city’s first and third district barangay captains. Villar promised to allocate a

Campaign propa

EDGEDAVAO

considerable chunk of pork barrel to Davao City if elected. (left). Lean Daval Jr.

Vendors call for lifting of ban on ‘magic sugar’

Cabantian has the most V materials nailed to trees

By Che Palicte

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

A R A N G A y Cabantian in district 2 has the most number of campaign materials posted on trees, 60 percent of which are from local candidates, according to City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) Solid Waste Management Board Division chief Dolly Remojo. In the iSpeak forum

yesterday, Remojo said that, during Oplan Baklas of the Commission on Election (Comelec), Cabantian had the most campaign materials nailed on trees.” She said this after divulging the information that since the campaign period, garbage collected increased to 430 tons a day from 410 tons on ordinary days.

She said, “five to ten percent of this increase is from campaign materials, but the bulk of it comes from fruit peelings.” Cenro chief Joseph Felizarta supported Remijo’s statement, saying, “besides this campaign season, it is also durian season, which is why there are a lot of durian peels and coconut husks col-

lected contributing to the increase.” Remojo expects that there will be an increase in garbage collection for the rest of the campaign period. “The daily garbage collection will definitely increase because of Oplan Baklas as there are a lot of candidates who are not following the right poster areas.”

ENDORS of refreshing drinks at the Agdao Public Market, Davao City are calling for the lifting of the ban on neotogen or ‘magic sugar’ in the city. The Food and Drug Administration (FAD) has recently allowed the use of ‘magic sugar’ provided that its importation is legal license and all documentations on it are with the approval of the FAD. The approval revokes the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) Advisory No. 2000-05 issued August 7, 2000 which prohibits its importation, distribution and sale. During last Tuesday’s session of the City Council, Bernard Al-ag, chair of the committee on health, said that magic sugar is still not allowed in the city and penalties and sanctions

are still applied against those who violate the ordinance. Ernie Bislad, a buko juice vendor in the Agdao public market told Edge Davao that on knowing that FAD now allows the use of magic sugar, they (vendors) were delighted because it would mean better business for them. “Katong nakabalo mi sa balita nalipay mi kay barato ra gyud na nga asukal kumpara sa among ginagamit karon. Napalaw pud mi kay di man diay gihapon mi makagamit ana kay bawal sa syudad” he explained. Deborah Legaspi, supervisor of the FDA based in Davao City told Edge Davao that the decision of the FDA to finally allow applications for market authorization is based on Codex Stan-

FVENDORS CALL, 10

Gun ban violators now 172

G NEXT MALL. Construction workers assemble steel structures in one of the buildings of the Gaisano Mall project in Toril, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

UN ban violators in the Davao region from January 13 to April 24 now number 172. Police Superintendent Marlon Pinote of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in region 11 told media yesterday at the Task Force Davao headquarters in Sta. Ana wharf, Davao City that a total of 106 firearms were confiscated, 33 of them long 73 short (handguns). “We have filed a total of 81 cases and

will make sure that all the violators will face charges,” he said. The violators were arrested Davao City, 91; Davao del Norte, 33; Davao del Sur, 19; Davao Oriental, 13; and Compostela Valley Province, 16. Pinote added that PNP 11 is strict in the implementation of the election gun ban, and that they expect the number of violators to increase, especially during the May 13 polls. (CMP)

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013

SUBURBIA

‘Musikahan’ proceeds benefit ComVal’s typhoon victims

hE Tagum City Local Government Unit has purchased 800 pieces of corrugated G.I. sheets out of the proceeds of their Musikahan Festival for the super typhoon Pablo victims in ComVal. On April 18, Tagum City Tourism Council Chair Madam Alma Uy turned-over the corrugated G.I. Sheets to the provincial government through Governor Arturo T. Uy for distribution to the typhoon victims with partially damaged houses in Brgy. Andap, New Bataan. In the ceremonial turn-over at the Capitol, Governor Uy gratefully recognized the Tagum City LGU being one of the leading LGUs in the country which

really supported ComVal in trying times. Added to the cash and food donations, relief goods, and other interventions were the 22 units of Chain Saw provided by Mayor Rey T. Uy for the ComVal LGUs in the clearing and debri management operation in their respective areas. Each municipality is afforded with 2 units by Governor Uy. With the clearing operation, those coconut trees that fell down during the typhoon Pablo are utilized into lumber materials/ coconut wood utilization, which Governor Uy finds it very helpful for the construction of bunkhouses for the typhoon victims. [IDS-COMVAL]

MARINE FORMATION. Marine Battalion Landing Team 3 troops stand in attention during their arrival presentation held at the Army camp in Bancasi, Butuan City on April 23, 2013. [MindaNews/Erwin Mascarinas]

Igacos, first Salintubig recipient Maternal deaths seen to go down

hE city government of the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) received a P2-million pesos grant from the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig para sa Lahat (SALINTUBIG) Program of the national government identified as one of the priority areas for the BottomUp Planning and Budgeting Projects (BUPBP). The Salintubig program aims to provide sufficient and potable water to all the households in the barangay that anchored to the local poverty alleviation reduction program of the national government. Barangay Aumbay of Island Garden City of Samal is the first recipient of the SALINTUBIG Program fit to avail of the project which belonged to a waterless munici-

uips

pality/city and one of the poorest barangay with reports of high level of waterborne diseases. An initial grant fund of P1M out of the P2M was received by the city government here for the implementation of water supply project last April 11. Department of Interior and Local Government Manila Engr. Richard Cruz with DILG Region XI Engr. Gail Gravador accompanied by personnel from the office of DILG-Samal, IGaCoS Water District, City Engineer and City Planning conducted an ocular inspection and evaluation of the project area last March 5, 2013. The IGaCoS Technical Working Group of the Salintubig Program was responsible for the speedy preparation of all

‘As a brother nation in ASEAN, our country is committed to nurturing our relationship; we commit to enhancing cooperation with Brunei and with all Southeast Asian states, not only through economic and cultural engagements, but also through dialogue for maritime security.’

-President Aquino in honor of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, ApriL 16, 2013

documents needed for the release of the grant fund. The IGaCoS Water District prepared the feasibility study while the detailed engineering design was prepared by the City Engineer’s Office. The SALINTUBIG program is consistent with the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) No. 7 that is to reduce by 50% the world’s population without access to safe and potable water which our governments committed to provide water to all Filipinos particularly for the poor and waterless communities. Priority to water and sanitation is also stipulated in the Philippine Development Plan for 2011 – 2016. The national agencies tasked for the Salintubig Program were the National Anti-poverty Commission (NAPC), Department of Social Welfare and Development, DILG, Department of Budget and Management, Local Waterworks Utilities Administration and the Department of health which were responsible in identifying priority areas for the BUPB project and to provide safe and potable water through the “Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig sa Lahat Program. [Lorderly CPDO/Melrose]

with ultrasound at health centers

ATERNAL Mortality Rate in Mindanao is expected to go down with more rural health doctors trained to use the ultrasound for early detection of pregnancy complications. Department of health assistant secretary Dr. Romulo Busuego shared this vision as he revealed the target of DOh to train about 100 rural health doctors to use the ultrasound in diagnosing complications of pregnancy. The DOh formally started rolling out the program Tuesday on the first day of the 10-day OB-Sonography Training for Primary Care Physicians at the Davao Regional hos-

pital located in Apokon, Tagum City, Davao del No rte. Two rural health doctors from Bukidnon, one from Lanao del Norte, one from Zamboanga Sibugay, one from Misamis Occidental and one from Misamis Oriental join the first batch of OB-Sonography training hosted by DRh with which Dr. Busuego also serves as the chief of hospital. The training bills each participant a fee of P160,000 for a package of one unit of portable ultrasound machine, board and lodging and the training which brings a panel of experts among whom are from the Institute of

Diagnostic Medical Sonography (IDMS). “They can readily bring home the ultrasound machine,” Dr. Busuego said while he viewed ultrasound to become a common medical equipment available at the municipal, provincial and district hospitals , “just like the stethoscope”. “What is ultrasound? It’s but a simple technology that can be learned by anybody trained to use it,” he said in putting emphasis on the need to provide “justice to the health needs” of those who badly need it at the community level especially the pregnant women. [PIA 11I/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan]

the Poll Automation Law requires the Comelec to release to parties the source code for independent review. RA 9369 states that “the Commission shall promptly make the source code..available and open to any interested political party or groups which may conduct their own review thereof.” “The release of source code is not optional. It is a legal requirement precisely because it is an important safeguard against possible massive electronic cheating. The Comelec should

be held legally liable for failing to comply to such requirement,” he said. he said the Comelec should “stop making lame excuses and should stop decieving the public.” “The Comelec’s excuse that the source code was not reviewed in 2010 is not a defense. It is an admission that they broke the law before and that they intend to break the law again,” he said. Crisostomo said the failure could be a “deliberate ploy” of the Aquino administration to “manufacture” election results.

No source code: Comelec breaking law, putting elections in peril - youth group

OUTh group Anakbayan yesterday assailed the Comelec, saying it is breaking the law for its failure to release the source code of the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines for the May 2013 elections. Anakbayan national chairperson Vencer Crisostomo said that without the source code release, the public should brace for massive “e-cheating” and manufactured results. Crisostomo said Section 14 of RA 9369 or

4 T

hE upcoming polls on May 13 may prove that the second generation of Aquino and Marcos families finally moved on from the deep-seeded rivalry between their political families during Martial Law years. This, as Senator Franklin Drilon, campaign manager of President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s senatorial slate, confirmed the commitment of the Marcoses to work for Team PNoy’s victory in Ilocos region. “Our surveys show that in Regions I and II, we are consistently dominating polls there. We attribute this, of course, to the effort of out coalition partners in particular the Nationalista Party,” Drilon said. “Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos has expressed her support for Team PNoy. We are confident that this coalition will hold until May 13,” the veteran

VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013

Marcoses in Ilocos region commit to Team PNoy victory, says Drilon

Team PNoy in one of the political rallies.

senator told reporters. Drilon issued the statement as he denied the need for all of President Aquino’s bets to personally campaign in Northern Luzon as a team. In a press conference, Drilon said he is confident about the success of the individual campaigns that Team PNoy bets took in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur. “Individually, TP

members have been making sorties to the Ilocos region. The success of the sorties of our individual candidates is reflected in the surveys in Regions 1 and 2,” Drilon explained. “It follows the national results of having 9 candidates in the top 12 and sometimes 8 in the top 12,” he noted. Drilon, a ranking official of President Aquino’s Liberal Party,

also assured support from another political leader in Ilocos Sur. The acting chairman of Senate Committee on Finance is counting on Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Chavit Singson, who promised that a substantial majority of Team Pnoy will win in his province. “In fact, he told me: “huwag na kayong pumunta sa Ilocos Sur,

Casiño: Gov’t should hasten rehab of Mindanao hydropower assets

AKABAyAN Coalition Senate bet Teddy Casiño yesterday called on the government “to hasten the rehabilitation of the Agus-Pulangui hydropower complex and to stop pushing quick-fix profit-oriented solutions that are not healthy for Mindanao in the long term.” “It is definitely wrong for the government to continue forcing the issue that Mindanao electricity consumers should bear the higher cost to get a stable supply of electricity. It is not right for the people of Mindanao to suffer for decades of government neglect of the Agus-Pulangi and for the non-establishment of new base load power plants,” Casiño, the only Davaoeño senatorial candidate in this year’s polls, said. “Fossil fuel plants will increase carbon emissions and will affect our health and the environment. It would be more logical for the government to follow the recommendations of the Mindanao Power Summit last year. Aside from immediately rehabilitating the hydropower plants in

EDGEDAVAO

Mindanao, the government should tap solar power and other renewable energy sources to augment both peak and base loads on the short term and long term,” he added. The Department of Energy (DOE) on Monday rejected Casiño’s proposal to adapt solar energy in Mindanao instead of putting up coal-fired power plants. “The DOE is towing the Malacañang line to make Mindanao accept artificially high power rates in order to solve the power crisis. We acknowledge the supply shortage. But what the administration is doing is muddling the problem that was caused by government’s flawed policy of abandoning the power sector to private corporations. If government had rehabilitated the Agus and Polangui power plants earlier, Mindanao will not be saddled with 8 to 10-hour brownouts daily. Government has to address the issue with the right mix of immediate and long-term solutions,” Casiño said. DOE secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla, said that “using solar energy might actually be more expensive

for the people in Mindanao in the long run as solar energy requires long-term contracts to be viable which could take as long as 20 years. “The problem with Malacañang and the DOE is that they look at the short term and have the profit-oriented mindset. Sasabihin pang mahirap atunsustainable magtayo ng solar plants dahil heavily dependent on the available sunlight. Sinong niloloko n’yo? Our country is the best location to put up solar power plants since it is the second in Southeast Asia in terms of irradiation and insolation. We also have the foundation to become a renewable energy leader in the region owing to the strong semi-conductor industry and the manpower base serving in the manufacturing and service sectors, especially the installers sub-sector,” Casiño said. Last year, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved the FIT rate of P9.68 per kWh for solar, P8.53 per kWh for wind, P6.63 per kWh for biomass, and P5.90 per kWh for hydropower proj-

ects. Although the original petition was P17.95 per kWh for solar, P10.37 per kWh for wind, P7 per kWh for biomass, and P6.15 per kWh for hydro resources, majority of them are below or around the P10 per kwh rate. “Kung tataasan na rin naman ang presyo ng kuryente, mag renewable ka na lang. Malinis pa at mas sustainable in the long run. Contrary to the DOE position, solar power is cheaper , healthier and safer in the long run compared to coal- or diesel fired plants,” Casiño said. Casiño is the author of house Bill 5405 or the proposed One Million Solar Roofs Act which provides for incentives and financing facilities to encourage the use of solar energy by ordinary electricity consumers like residences, offices and small to medium business establishments. Mindanao’s power demand is expected to grow at an annual rate of 4.56 percent from 2011 to 2030. Demand is projected to exceed existing generation capacity by 2014 unless additional power generation capacity is installed.

ako ng bahala doon.’ We are confident that with our coalition there with various political parties, we will prevail in regions 1 and 2,” Drilon said. “he assured me that he will carry a big, substantial majority of the Team PNoy,” he noted. But over the weekend, Singson vowed to support the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) in what ap-

peared to be an effort to make up with former President Joseph Estrada. Singson said the mayors of the province would campaign for UNA, which is being led by the former president. Singson’s accusation about illegal numbers game in his region was instrumental to Estrada’s ouster in 2001. [yahoo!]

Summer heat, campaign overfatigue down JV Ejercito

hE son of former President Joseph “Erap” Estrada can no longer take the “heat” of the upcoming polls. But San Juan City Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito clarified it’s the humidity of the season and not the intensity of their rivalry against administration bets that put him down this week. Ejercito, who is running for Senate under the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), confirmed not being able to join UNA’s out-of-town rallies after suffering from heat stroke. The San Juan lawmaker added he got confined Monday at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center due to heat stroke and overfatigue after more than a month of going around the country. “I hope to bounce back soon. Need to get well for the last stretch! Bawal na magkasakit!” Ejercito posted on his Twitter account. his camp said the

senatorial candidate has been down with high fever since Saturday when UNA visited Vigan and other areas in the Ilocos region. But this did not stop the son of former President Estrada to from hitting President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III’s allies in Team Pnoy. he said UNA’s nine senatorial candidates and stalwarts have been tirelessly campaigning in the provinces amid the blazing summer heat. “Grabe na nga ang kulay namin! Todo kayod at suyod kasi. hindi tulad ng mga administration candidates, ang puputi pa! Sagana kasi sa ads kaya wala nang suyod!” he said in a statement. Ejercito hopes his condition will improve by Thursday so he could join the last leg of UNA’s campaign trail. The young lawmaker vowed to make the most of the time left to campaign in vote-rich cities and provinces. [yahoo!]

5 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013

Over 30,000 vacancies in Labor Day job fairs By Greg G. Deligero

VER 30,000 jobs will be available in three major job fairs set to be launched by the Department of Labor and Employment 11 (DOLE) in Davao City and Tagum City to coincide with the country’s celebration of Labor Day on May 1. Atty. Joefrey M. Suyao, DOLE 11 regional director, said a total of 30,141

of vacancies will be available for job seekers in the job fairs to be simultaneously held in Gaisano Mall of Tagum, Gaisanao Mall of Davao and SM City of Davao. The job fair in Gaisano Mall in Davao will be extended up to May 2. Suyao said DOLE personnel will assist jobseekers in various stages of application process— from employment facili-

tation up to the interview area. Job fairs in Davao City will be handled by personnel from the agency’s regional staff and Davao City and Davao del Sur field offices while the job fair in Tagum City will be handled by DOLE field offices in Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley province and Davao Oriental. A job fair pre-registration is slated on April

26-30 at the SM City Davao and Gaisano Mall of Davao. “To fully facilitate the employment of jobseekers, we have invited government agencies to provide pre-employment services,” he said. The invited agencies include the Social Security System, National Statistics Office, the National Bureau of Investigation and Pag-IBIG.

ARRIVAL. Visitors from Manila gather around the baggage carousel to get their luggage inside the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Buhangin, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Suyao said that during employment facilitation, the applicants found to be unqualified for vacant jobs will be referred to the desk of Technical Education Skills Development Authority (Tesda) “to help them know how and what trainings they need.” To complement the job fairs, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration will be setting up an information desk that will offer free overseas calls to families of Overseas Filipino Workers with Globe Telecom as its partner. The Philippines Overseas Employment Authority will also join the job fairs to answer queries on legal matters and monitor the agencies which are participating in the activities. Of the total number of vacancies, 19,497 are overseas and 3,730 are local. The top ten in demand local jobs are technical support representative, customer service consultant, call

center agent, waitress and waiters, online tutors, accounting staff, management trainees, sales associate or representative, teller and IT specialist and computer programmers. In the overseas, the top ten in demand job are domestic helper, household service worker electrician, technician, waitress and waiters, receptionist, engineer, mason and carpenter, babysitter and driver. Suyao said there are 222 companies participating in the jobs fair this year, 156 of which are for local employment while 66 are for overseas, an increase of 55.24 percent from 143 companies which participated in 2012. DOLE data showed that among the major industries, job vacancies are high in cyber services followed by wholesale and retail, personal and household goods, social and personal service activities and manufacturing.

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

5.4 4th Qtr 2012

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

6.8 4th Qtr 2012

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

USD 3,969.51 million Dec 2012 USD 5,135.46 million Nov 2012 USD -1,585 million Nov 2012 USD -209 million Mar 2012 P 5,171,689 million Dec 2012

8. Interest Rates 4/

3.6 % Jan 2013 P155,308 million Nov 2012 P 5,381 billion Nov 2012

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

P 40.67 Feb 2013

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

6,242.7 Jan 2013

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

132.4 Feb 2013

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.4 Feb 2013

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

3.8 Feb 2013

16. Visitor Arrivals

352,438 Nov 2012

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

20.9% Jan 2013

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

7.1% Jan 2013

MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE (January 2012-February 2013) Month Average December November October September August July June May April March February January

2013

2012

2011

40.67 40.73

42.23 41.01 41.12 41.45 41.75 42.04 41.91 42.78 42.85 42.70 42.86 42.66 43.62

43.31 43.64 43.27 43.45 43.02 42.42 42.81 43.37 43.13 43.24 43.52 43.70 44.17

It figures

VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Poor port condition sinks Davao bid to be ASEAN RoRo T

hE Port of Davao in southern Philippines had been considered as one of the links in the ASEAN RoRo (roll on-roll off) shipping network, but it failed to make the cut because of its poor condition, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said. JICA said the Port of Davao or Sasa Wharf plans to build a small roll-on, roll-off terminal but the site is being occupied by illegal settlers. “Since the port infrastructure is deteriorated, rehabilitation deserves a priority,” JICA said. Sasa Wharf needs sufficient rehabilitation and no alternative port in Davao has been identified to receive international RoRo ship calls for the time being. “If the seaway is selected, the intercity route between Davao and General Santos must be detoured by 285 kilometers, which is much longer than the intercity road,” JICA added. Talks of privatization of the Davao port have been ongoing since 2011, when the port reached congestion point. The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) plans to privatize Davao port to better serve the growing business community in the area. It targets to increase the port’s capacity to

1.06 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) from only 700 million TEUs at present. Also, the port needs to have additional five cranes for efficiency, yet its current condition hampers the expansion of cargo-handling equipment. The Davao port modernization is estimated to cost P3 billion to P5 billion. Leading port operators International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) and Asian Terminals Inc. (ATI) have expressed their intentions to bid. The PPA said its board had approved the terms of reference for the procurement of developer and evaluation methodology and bid documents. These have been submitted to the National Economic and Development Authority through the Department of Transportation and Communications. “The feasibility study and implementation plan as well as other deliverables for the proposed public-private partnership in the management, operation and development of the Port of Davao (Sasa), Davao City are 100% complete,” PPA said. “DOTC is now in the process of procuring the transaction advisor for this project,” it said. PPA granted Davao Inte-

grated Port and Stevedoring Services Corp. (DIPSSCOR) a 10-year contract to manage and operate arrastre, stevedoring, bagging and crated cargo handling services exclusively at Sasa Wharf in 2006. DIPSSCOR agreed to pay PPA 10% of the gross income for handling domestic cargo and 20% of the gross income for handling foreign cargo, wheth-

er billed/unbilled or collected/ uncollected. Total fees paid by DIPSSCOR to PPA, shown as part of the “Port authorities’ share in gross revenues” account in the consolidated statements of income, amounted to US$2.3 million or P105.5 million in 2010, $3.4 million or P148.3 million in 2011 and $3.3 million or P137.6 million in 2012. [Port Calls Asia]

signatories to the MOA were Impasug-ong Mayor Mario Okinlay; Ricardo Anlicao, chairman of Barangay Guihean in Impasug-ong; and Boy Jabonillo, hedcor’s vice president for business development. The MOA signing, AboitizPower said, signals the start of a more detailed feasibility study for the project. Okinlay was quoted as

saying that the hydroelectric plants, set to be constructed in nearby Manolo Fortich town, would help ease the Mindanao power crisis. hedcor intends to build two cascading hydro plants that will use water from the Amusig, Guihean, and Tanaon rivers. One of the rivers reportedly pass through Impasug-ong. Okinlay, during the signing,

urged his constituents to support the project so they could help get rid of the brownouts. Bukidnon province is experiencing daily load curtailment. AboitizPower said the Manolo Fortich hydro-1 will have a capacity of 35.2 MW and the Manolo Fortich hydro-2 will generate 16.4 MW or a total capacity of 51.6 MW. Both plants, according to the project brief, can produce at least 300 million kWh annually. Jabonillo, during the MOA signing, ensured local officials of Impasug-ong town that his company, aside from bringing power to the community, would continue to help residents through “sustainable social development programs.” hedcor claims to be the country’s leading run-of-river hydro plant developer in the Philippines. In Mindanao, hedcor manages and operates hydropower plants with a generating capacity of 47 MW. [Malu Cadelina Manar / MindaNews]

DaVao By the numBers Davao Region has

4.46 million inhabitants

1.44 million of whom reside in Davao City. Source: 2010 cenSuS

Hedcor to build 2 hydro power plants in Bukidnon

OCAL officials in the municipality of Impasug-ong in Bukidnon province and representatives of hedcor, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AboitizPower Corporation, have signed on Monday a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to build two run-of-river hydroelectric power plants. A press statement from AboitizPower said among the

WAITING. “Trisikad” drivers wait in queue as large volume of passengers slowly going out of the University of Southeastern Philip-

WORTH of jewelry collection of Rep. Imelda R. Marcos, former first lady of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos, which the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) plans to be put on display this year.

pines where the Philippine Military Academy silent drill is being held Tuesday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

THE Supreme Court has dismissed four Cebu City judges and several Court administrative personnel accused of involvement in civil marriage solemnization rackets and irregularities. Dismissed were judges Anatalio Necessario, Gil Acosta, Rosabella Tormis and Edgemelio Rosales of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Branches 2, 3, 4 and 8.

9,743

HONDA Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) on Thursday said it is recalling 9,743 units of Honda Civic 2001 to 2002, and CR-V 2002 models because of a faulty inflation device for the front passenger airbag. BusinessMirror, April 12-13, 2013

49.8

MISS KRIS AQUINO, youngest sister of President Noynoy Aquino, paid P49.8 million in income tax, making her the No.1 top individual taxpayer in the country, as against the richest Filipino businessmen listed in Forbes magazine.

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013

THE BIGGER PICTURE 7

In the eyes of a child “I

N the eyes of a child, there is joy, there is laughter, there is hope, there is trust, a chance to shape the future.”

Those were the words from a memorable song which aptly describes the happy, simple, and pure world of a child. Unpretentious, innocent and expressive –children mirror the love and happiness of life. But everything in this world is not all happy

and colorful. Not every story is made out of fairy tales. Not all story ends with living happily ever after. In the eyes of a child, t h i s world could b e

sometimes a reflection of hatred and sadness. A senseless and exploitative society pushes children to become images of hopelessness and vulnerability. Society’s eminent problems such as poverty and inadequate opportunities for education force them to sacrifice their young bod-

By Lean Daval Jr. ies to work just to survive this life’s struggles and unfairness. Just recently, Davao City won the ‘child-friendly’ city award in the urbanized category but does it reflect the real state of the

children of this society? As they say, a picture paints a thousand words.

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Getting It All Wrong

COMMENTARY By Patricio P. Diaz

T EDITORIAL

Blue Vote’s reliability

TENEO de Davao University’s Blue Vote which came out on Tuesday is the first locally mounted independent survey of the 2013 elections. The Blue Vote survey may have been questioned for being done before the start of the campaign period for local elective positions still it gave Dabawenyos a reliable viewpoint of the coming polls. The next round of survey is set to be released on May 6 or a week before election day. That should be something to look forward to. The Blue Vote is conducted by ADDU’s University Research Council (URC) and reached 1,800 respondents from 57 barangays out of the 182 barangays in Davao City. A unique feature of Blue Vote is observing Davao’s tri-people demographics embracing Christians, Muslims and Indigenous Peoples (IPs). Blue Vote’s 27 interviewers reflect Davao three vital demographics. True, the initial results of the survey may not be reflective of the latest trend going into the last two weeks of the campaign. But there is a semblance of reliance to the name recall of old hands in local pol-

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itics although there is also a growing preference for young politicians. The Blue Vote, assures it prime movers, is not designed to sway voters to vote in the so called trend. Instead, it educates voters of the perception of the electorate towards the aspirants from the local to the national level. There is more to the surveys though than just the trend it reflects. It gives us a chance to work for an educated electorate with still ample time left. By now, perceptions could change as the campaign went from that cold standstill in early March to the heated race this late April. The efforts by Ateneo’s URC should be commended for using the vast resources and reach of the institution for this significant undertaking which should help shape the future of Davao’s political landscape. Believe the results or don’t, but that’s how the first survey went. For those who did not do well in the first run, there is still enough time to up the ante of their campaign. For those who did well, the first salvo should not be a reason to celebrate prematurely. It’s getting interesting.

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(2nd of three parts)

he Moro (Bangsamoro) problem could have been solved in the first three decades of the American rule had government given what had to be given; and so could have the Philippine Republic decades after independence in 1946. The MILF demands – as well as those of MNLF – were essentially the same as the Moro demands in their petitions in the 1920s and 1930s. But even what could be given were NOT given to the Moros! The initialing of the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain was a historical landmark: Government granted a significant part of the MILF demands. But MOA-AD was immediately slain by the leaders of the Filipino majority who considered the grant to the Moros a violation of their constitutional rights and by the Supreme Court which ruled that Government cannot grant more than what the 1987 Constitution provides. In the wake of the MOA-AD debacle, the talking point in the peace negotiation deviated from “how to solve the Bangsamoro Problem” to “how to solve the Problem about the Bangsamoro Problem”. More than ever, the Moro Problem has become the Problem of Government and the Filipino majority. hard Questions Deles told the Iligan City Rotarians: “The lessons of MOA-AD continue to remind us to practice due diligence by carefully studying the repercussions and examining the viability while making certain that that the voices of the people are heeded in the process.” “We will never allow another hastily forged agreement to waste the gains achieved in the 14-year negotiations. We will never allow our people to suffer again. It is for this motivation that we want to settle on an agreement that is based on solid foundation and can withstand scrutiny and cynicism.” Is Deles sincere? She knows. She risks being misunderstood as talking tongue-incheek. It took more than four years to negotiate the MOA-AD? Call that a hastily forged agreement? There were long suspensions of the talks, repeatedly in fact, because of the need for “due diligence” in studying contentious issues. She knows that; the MOA-AD negotiation started and continued for years under her watch as Arroyo’s peace secretary. The Aquino III government does want to waste the gains of the14-year negotiations. Who wants to? The “gains” should not just be for “14 years” but for 37 years dating back to December 23, 1976 – the signing of the Tripoli Agreement. Likening the gains to a house, the FAB is the fifth renovation of the first house established in Tripoli. What are these “renovations”? First, the Regional Autonomous Governments IX andXII of President Ferdinand E. Marcos; second, the ARMM constitutional regional autonomy under President Corazon C. Aquino; third, the Jakarta Accord or 1996 Final Peace Agreement under President Fidel V. Ramos; and fourth, the MOA-AD. Comparing the FAB and the four other “renovations” to the substantive provisions of the 1976 Tripoli Agreement, would we find much essential difference? The FAB embodies the gains bilaterally agreed from Tripoli to Kuala Lumpur. So as not to “waste the gains”, the Parties must have the FAB implemented as agreed. They must avoid the pitfall of the past: The Parties agreed but disagreed in the implementation.

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013

officer up in Tumurok, Col. Paul Marshall, wanted to make sure the enemy was not headed that way. Corminal and I were classmates in Surigao high (Class 1940) and playmates in our boyhood. We were on the same wavelength, so to speak, that’s why I guess he picked me. I did not foresee how I would almost lose my life – because of him. he took the right side of the highway, I took the left as we followed on the heels of the Japanese column. No stars were in the sky and it was hard to make out each other’s figure in the dark. At one instance I came upon a mound of earth that covered what seemed to me a freshly-dug grave from which stuck out a crudely made cross. Some poor soul must have unknowingly run afoul of the ruthless enemy. I felt goosebumps as I made the sign of the cross. Soon enough the two of ussaw the silhouette of houses up ahead and heard the plaintive howl of a stray dog probably wondering where its masters had gone. We had reached the ghost town of Claver. After mak-

ing sure that the enemy had not stayed over for the night, we walked through the town with only the dog’s howling breaking the silence of the night. We stopped at the last house on the town’s fringe and rested until daybreak, deciding to find a fisherman to take us by banca to an island where we would probably come upon someone who may have information on the enemy. We were told that the enemy appeared to be heading for the next town, Carrascal, the last town before Cantilan. Which meant regimental headquarters was safe for the moment and we could return to base for Corminal to make his report on the mission. ThEN it happened. We were ferried back to the mainland aboard another banca. When the boat stopped in shallow water, Corporal Corminal was the first to disembark. holding his Thompson in one hand he jumped into the water, but the butt of his Thompson struck the boat’s outrigger and the impact caused the gun to accidentally fire a short burst of several rounds of bullets that fanned my face as I followed behind him to the water. By “fanned” I mean I felt the bullets as they whizzed inches past my face. It took a long while before I recovered from my shock from that close call with death at the hands of my boyhood friend and comrade. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be reading this.

Disturbing events

hERE is something disturbing in the strings of events that involved the Communists Party of the Philippines-New Peoples Army and their legal fronts. Recall how they inveigled the masses to barricade the national highway at the height of the calamity that hit Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley. They were able to paralyze public transport in Comval for hours with hardly a police or military action to deter them. Then they boldly staged a twin assault on Dole and Del Monte pineapple plantations in Bukidnon. Last month, several construction equipment were set on fire in Panacan, Davao City and without hesitation proudly claimed the crime. Last Sunday Gingoog City Mayor Ruth de Lara Guingona, wife of former Vice President Teofisto Guingona, and her companions were ambushed by the New Peoples Army on her way back from a fiesta celebration. She was seriously wounded while two members of her party were killed. The NPAs apologized but later Bayan Muna issued statement which in many words tend to convey the message that she was part of the collateral damage in the civil strife brought about by the withdrawal of the government from the peace negotiation with the CPP-NPA-NDF. While the ambush was being staged

COMMENTARY By MenarDo WenceSlao in Gingoog City, a band of militants mostly members of the legal fronts of the CPPNPA along with some elements in religious habits trooped to Baganga, Davao Oriental in the guise of conducting an investigation on the death of a Barangay official. They group claimed that the victim was killed by the military. If we are to believe the military spokesman who was interviewed at ABS-CBN however, the victim was gunned down in the town proper and that he was a rebel returnee. While this cannot be independently ascertained the question arises: Why should a government soldier shoot anyone in the middle of the town? As this developed the communist fronts appeared to be pressing its agenda to re-establish its foothold in Davao Oriental which had been declared by the Armed Forces of the Philippines as cleared of insurgents. In another show of force reminiscent of the mass action that crippled the national highway in Compostela Valley the group composed of Barug Katawhan and Balsa Mindanao staged the same demonstration in Mati City. They were bused to Mati from all over Mindan-

ao. The issue that they rallied about was the indiscretion in the distribution of rice in Mati. It is a rehash of what they did in Comval. They brushed aside the fact that the Department of Social Welfare and Development never had any rice allocation for Mati since it was not hit by typhoon Pablo. The group attempted to discredit Gov. Corazon Malanyaon whom they charged to be “committing indiscretion in the distribution of rice”. This sounds funny if one considers that Malayaon is running unopposed. Now the indefatigable governor who is not cowed by Barug and Balsa demos has come out with a challenge: “I will resign as governor if you can prove your allegation”. The CPP-NPA-NDF foray into local politics has become more perceptible. In Mati City the mass action was given permit by Mayor Michelle Rabat. In Davao City they openly declared their support for Joji Ilagan Bian courting a confrontation with ideologically liberal Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. Gingoog City Mayor Guingona, Governor Malanyaon and Comval Gov. Arthur “Chingkee” Uy are certainly unhappy. With the attempt on the life of Guingona, Pres. Benigno S. Aquino is not pleased either. We will see whether he will go beyond ordering the dismantling of checkpoints of the New Peoples Army.

Muzzling the online vigilantes

A brush with death

NE cloudless night in December of 1944, Lt. Richard “Dick” Barton, commanding officer of the Regimental Combat Company, hq. Bn. 114th Inf. Regiment, 110th Div., United States Forces in the Philippines (USFIP), Agusan-Surigao sector had a mission for Corporal Agustin Corminal. Earlier that day, a platoon of 17 men from the RCC had engaged in a brief firefight with a column of some 200 Japanese that was approaching our Command Post. The gunfire lasted long enough to alert regimental headquarters up in the hills of the barrio of Tumurok. Our platoon disengaged and withdrew to the second line of defense at the CP itself. It turned out that the enemy did not intend to attack our CP or Tumurok, but was only bringing food supplies to their garrison based in Cantilan another 60 or 70 kilometers along the highway. Days later the enemy would return to their base in the capital town of Surigao but would be ambushed at Doyangan hill by our company, this time by a full complement of 100 men that had more firwpower than the enemy. But that’s another story. Cpl. Corminal picked me, a buck private , as his buddy for the mission, which was to follow the enemy and find out where they would bivouac for the night or continue on their way. It seems that the 114th commanding

VANTAGE POINTS

ANAlYSIS By Michael Maiello

(Conclusion)

N other instances, online activists have won some measure of public sympathy by targeting odious people. hackers affiliated with Anonymous claimed in mid-April that they know the identities of at least two Nova Scotia teenagers who have been accused of raping classmate Rehtaeh Parsons and then cyber-bullying her until she committed suicide. The incident has attracted attention because, despite photographs of the alleged crime, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police decided it did not have sufficient evidence to charge any of the boys. The group is demanding “immediate legal action against the individuals in question,” or it will, if the Parsons family consents, release the names, substituting public shaming for a criminal prosecution. Of course, there is no due process when dealing with Anonymous. Just as with the Reddit investigators, we have to trust their motives, their restraint, their ability to police themselves and their willingness to be fair. Even if they take the utmost care, mistakes are possible and, of course, there will be times when online investigators believe that crimes have been committed but the authorities don’t. People are free, of course, to say what they want and to investigate what they want. People in public spaces have no real expectation of privacy. But there needs to be some negative consequences for those investigations that have gone wrong, if only to deter amateur sleuths from too enthusiastically pursuing their quarry and smearing people with allegations. One answer would be to give those who are publicly accused of a crime, but never convicted, an easy avenue to sue their accusers in civil court. In cases where the accusers use online handles, those who are accused and exonerated should be able to compel Internet service providers and services like Reddit to identify their users. If the Recording Industry Association of America can identify online music pirates, surely somebody falsely accused of a crime should be able to identify their antagonist. In the U.S., it is purposefully difficult to bring successful suit for libel or slander, as the laws are written largely to protect the rights of people to speak their minds and to sometimes make mistakes. A complainant has to prove not only that false statements about them were harmful but also that the statements were the result of recklessness and malice. Civil libertarians tend to worry about the government’s surveillance powers but, practically speaking, the nosy neighbor is probably more a threat to people’s privacy and reputations than government eavesdropping. These days, that neighbor could be a stranger living thousands of miles away. It could be an accuser who will never have to face you. Our laws need to be updated to deal with that.

10 NEWS

VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Blue Vote survey ‘very reliable,’ says UCEAC chairman Cabarde By EJ Dominic Fernadnez

UNMINDFUL. A young boy savors his ice cream not minding the foul odor from chicken wastes at the Agdao Public Market yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Blue Vote...

FFROM 1

close to only .01 level of error.” She added that they began conducting the off-campus survey last April 8 and finished it yesterday, with 27 interviewers composed of teachers and young professionals. There were 1,800 respondents from 57 barangays out of the 182 barangays that Davao City has, and since District 1 has the most registered voters based on data from the Commission on Election (Comelec), 40% of the respondents came from that area, she said. According to her, since Davao City is observing the tri-people

approach embracing Christians, Muslims and Indigenous Peoples (IPs), the 27 interviewers consisted of these demographics to make it easier to connect with the different kinds of respondents. Another important instrument that URC used in the gathering of data was the Global Positioning System (GPS) tracker. This way, they (URC) were able to track their interviewers to ensure that they followed the algorithm properly. This also allowed the research team to mark entry points, schools, chapels, and other important estab-

lishments in the area where they conducted the survey for further research related to the University, according to Estanda. They will be conducting future research in these areas regarding disaster management, migration, overseas Filipino workers and religious studies for the school’s classes, centers and further studies. “The poll survey we (URC) conducted will be used for future research, which means we are not getting any outside funding for this survey, since it will benefit the university later on,” Estanda said.

hawaon,” he said, adding that when he visited his parents they told him that the rebel group didn’t help his mother for her hospitalization. “Didto nako nakahuna-huna na wala gyud sila’y ayo, nadaot mi sa ilang pasalig,” he explained. Baguio said the rebel group had threatened to kill them for leaving the

group. “Nagpasalamat mi sa mga sundalo kay ila giampingan among seguridad,” he added. Lt. Col. Inocencio Pasaporte, commanding officer of the 69th Infantry Battalion said that during their interview of the three returnees, they got the same answer: that they were fed up with the promises of their leaders.

“Right now we are identifying the type of livelihood we will give them. They will not face any charges because we already have a background check on them and discovered that they were not involved in any atrocity of the rebel group,” he explained. he said the three returnees had surrendered without any firearm.

3 rebel...

FFROM 2

LUE Vote, the first poll survey in Davao City that is not funded by any political party or candidate, is very reliable, according to lawyer Romeo Carde Jr., University Community Engagement and Advocacy Council (UCEAC) of Ateneo de Davao chairman. “Considering the algorithm, the methodology and the instruments that the university’s Social Research and Development Office used for the survey, I can say that it is very reliable,” Cabarde told this reporter yesterday. Social Research director Mildred Megarbio-Estanda, in an interview yesterday, said the survey’s level of error is “close to only .01.” The Moodle system and the face-toface interview are the primary methodologies that were used for the in-campus survey where students, teachers, administrators and non-teaching staff of Ateneo were interviewed. According to Estanda, Moodle is an online open-source software for e-learning management that can be download-

ed from the internet and it can be used for education, training, business settings and development. The Moodle headquarters is based in Perth, Australia. The school downloaded and set up this software upon enrolment wherein each student and teacher will have only one account, “which means there are no risks of a person answering a questionnaire twice,” according to Estanda. There were 2,307 respondents of the Moodle system in the Blue Vote survey, 1,000 students and the rest teachers and administrators. For the face-toface interviews, there were 503 respondents who were non-teaching staff like janitors, Estanda said. There were 17 interviewers, mostly teachers while some were young professionals who were properly screened by the University Research Council (URC). The interviewers followed a strict algorithm formulated by the Social Research and Development office, which means they could not simply create random answers or results, ac-

Vendors call...

dard 192-1995 on Additives Permitted for Use under Specified Conditions in Certain Food Categories or Individual Food Items, and other provisions of Codex General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA). “FDA Advisory number 2013-009 allows the use of magic sugar, but the trader, distributor and importers must apply for license to operate with the FDA in the city. We will always comply with the city government’s ordinance,” she explained. Legaspi said that the city is adamant in

cording to Estanda. For the validity of the instruments, Estanda said they based their questions and choices on past poll surveys while questions on the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) were based on the law. “The methodologies and the instruments used went through pre-testing to make sure there would be no ‘hokuspokus’,” she said. The in-campus survey was conducted in March after it was launched in February as part of the Blue Vote 2013 campaign. Part of the survey results showed that Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero topped the senatorial slate with 62.9 percent in face-to-face interviews and 63.8 percent in the Moodle, while Congressman Karlo Nograles took the lead in first district congressional race with 58.7 percent in face-to-face interviews and 38.7 percent in an online survey while former vice mayor Luis Bonguyan got 22.3 percent in face-toface interviews and 26.2 percent in the online survey.

FFROM 2

its implementation despite the reviews made that ‘magic sugar’ is not risky to our health. “Different organizations, like the World health Organization, Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives and European Food Safety Authority say that in Philippines there have been no problems to health among millions of consumers,” she said, adding that, the findings led to the adoption of magic sugar as a food additive. “There are no safety issues with regards to its usage and FAD would like to stress that

vendors selling juices are not the ones to get licenses but distributors who sell sugar to them,” she explained. To recall, magic sugar is an artificial non-caloric sweetening agent which was discovered in 1937 and despite reports that it can cause urinary bladder tumor in laboratory rats, it was marketed in several countries. “If this is still the findings, we will not allow it, but recognized agencies say that it is safe to use, so FAD approves its use again,” she said.

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013

NATION/WORlD11

ASEAN leaders work to defuse China tensions S

OUThEAST Asian leaders wrapped up a summit on Thursday dominated by efforts to defuse tensions over the South China Sea and deepen economic links throughout the region. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) endured deep divisions last year over how to handle rows with China over the sea, and leaders have been focused at this week’s talks in Brunei on rebuilding unity. Philippine President Benigno Aquino said after an initial gathering on Wednesday night -- a dinner hosted by Brunei’s Sultan hassanal Bolkiah -- that the leaders had succeeded in finding common ground on the flashpoint issue. “Everybody is interested in having a peaceful resolution and also in voicing... concern that there have been increasing disputes,” Aquino told reporters. China says it has sovereign rights to nearly all of the South China Sea. But ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, as well as Taiwan, also claim parts of the strategically vital and resource-rich body of water. The competing claims have for decades made the sea one of

Asia’s potential powderkegs for military conflict, and concerns have risen in recent years as China has become increasingly aggressive in staking its claim. Among the actions that have caused alarm were China’s occupying of a shoal close to the Philippines’ main island last year, and the deployment last month of Chinese naval ships to within 80 kilometres (50 miles) of Malaysia’s coast. however ASEAN, which for more than four decades has operated on a spirit of consensus, was divided last year as the Philippines and Vietnam failed to persuade the bloc to send a united message of concern to China Cambodia, a close Chinese ally that held the rotating chair of ASEAN in 2012, blocked the efforts of the Philippines and Vietnam. Aquino said on Wednesday night that he was pleased Brunei had made the South China Sea issue a top priority at this week’s summit, and for future talks throughout the year. “We should really be thankful that the whole of the ASEAN is willing to discuss this instead of putting it on the backburner,” Aquino said. The leaders had a “retreat” session at the

Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) attend lunch in Bandar Seri Begawan on April 25, 2013. Southeast Asia’s efforts to create a single market by 2015 are in their hardest phase owing to protec-

tionist reflexes on sensitive sectors, Philippine President Benigno Aquino said.

Brunei prime minister’s office on Thursday morning, which was to be followed by a lunch. The Philippines and Vietnam have been pushing for ASEAN to try and pressure China into agreeing to a long-awaited and legally binding code of conduct for the sea. But China, which prefers to negotiate directly with individual countries rather than a

united ASEAN bloc, has refused to begin meaningful talks on the code. Southeast Asian diplomats in Brunei said they did not expect progress on the code, first proposed in 2002, anytime soon. But Aquino said he was nevertheless happy ASEAN was now at least united in trying to ensure the disputes did not “become bloody”. “So there is unity of

purpose and one can always be hopeful that that will lead to something more concrete,” he said. One of the other key issues on the agenda during the summit is pressing ahead with deeper economic integration within ASEAN, and other countries in the region. The bloc is aiming to create a single market for the 10 Southeast

convoy of Gingoog City Mayor Ruth Guingona, wounding the official and killing two of her security escorts. “you want to challenge us? Go ahead, make our day,” Lacierda said in a Palace press briefing. This, as he slammed the guerilla arm of the National Democratic Front for resorting to banditry and for making farce of the elections by using it to raise funds. “They (communist rebels) have been reduced to a bandit group, and it makes no sense for them to continue their nefarious ways, and just help us,” Lacierda said. The Cabinet official said the NPA is taking on “soft targets” or poorly armed groups and individuals. “They are going to the house of policemen, trying to grab mga baril (guns), or they are trying to extort money from the telcos or from a cell site,” he said. Lacierda also hit the rebel group’s solicitation of fees

for “permit to campaign” in guerilla areas. “[W]e’re asking local politicians: Do not succumb to this,” the presidential spokesperson said. he added that paying such fees and so-called “revolutionary taxes” will make politicians “subject to [NPA] whims, subject to their mercy.” he further assured leaders, including candidates for the 2013 local and national elections: “There’s only one Armed Forces and we will protect you.” Lacierda nonetheless emphasized the government’s commitment to resume peace negotiations with NDFP, noting that the government wants guerillas to “come down from the mountains.” “We have committed to talk to them they have refused to talk to us,” the Cabinet official said. “We have always maintained that we are committed to resolving the--all internal armed conflicts,” he added. [yahoo!]

OUTh Korea on Thursday offered North Korea formal talks on suspended operations at their joint Kaesong industrial zone, and hinted it might pull out entirely if Pyongyang declines. The South said it was offering working-level talks to resolve the impasse over Kaesong, a rare symbol of inter-Korean cooperation that has become the most notable victim of escalating military tensions on the Korean peninsula. But the offer came with an ultimatum of unspecified “significant measures” if Pyongyang fails to accept the proposal within 24 hours. “There is no change on our stance to support the stable operation and improvement” of Kaesong, Unification Ministry Spokesman Kim hyungSeok said. “But we cannot let this situation continue as it is,” he added. “If North Korea rejects our proposal... we

Asian countries and its 600 million people -- known as the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) -- by 2015. More than three quarters of the blueprint for the AEC has been agreed upon but Aquino and others involved said the most difficult areas were yet to be addressed. Analysts say the 2015 deadline is unlikely to be met. [AFP]

Lacierda challenges NPA rebels: ‘Make my day’ S. Korea delivers talks ultimatum to North

ALACANANG has challenged communist rebels to face the government’s armed forces instead of targeting politicians and civilians. A 500-strong Marine

LACiErDA

battalion is being moved to the 4th Infantry Division covering Misamis Oriental, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said. The move is in response to the New People’s Army attack on the

have no choice but to take significant measures.” Kim did not elaborate, but the ultimatum suggested South Korea was considering a permanent withdrawal from the zone, which normally employs 53,000 workers at 123 South Korean companies. The talks proposed by Seoul would be between the respective heads of the North and South management committees that oversee Kaesong operations. The proposal came a day after Seoul announced pan-governmental action to help firms with factories in Kaesong deal with liquidity problems caused by lost production and the cancellation of orders. Established in 2004 and lying 10 kilometres (six miles) inside North Korea, Kaesong is a crucial hard currency source for the impoverished North, through taxes and revenues, and from its cut of the workers’ wages. [AFP]

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1) 1-hectare commercial lot at P10,000/sq m, along National Highway, facing east, beside NCCC Panacan, Davao City. 2) 17,940sq m commercial lot at P2,500/sq m, along Matina Diversion Road. 3) 3,831 sq m lot along Matina Diversion Road. 4) 41,408 sq m commercial/industrial lot at P800/sq m along the National Highway, Bunawan. 5) 7,056 sq m at P1,200/sq m commercial/residential lot along Indangan Road, Buhangin District. 6) 27,411 sq m commercial/industrial lot along the National Highway in Bincungan, Tagum City. 7) 116.15 to 245.92 sq meters , at P5.5M to P12.3M commercial/ office condo units in Bajada, Davao City. 8) 699 to 1,117 sq m at P4,100/sq m commercial lots at Josefina Town Center, along the National Highway, Dumoy, Toril. 9) Ready-for-Occupancy Residential Properties: 4BR/3T&B in a 240 sq m lot with 177.31sqm floor area (2-storey) at P4.8M in an exclusive beachfront community in Dumoy, Toril.; 3BR 2-storey in a 71.25 sq m 2-storey in a 143sq m lot in an exclusive flower village in Maa, Davao City; 180 sq m lots with 71.25sqm to 126.42 sq m floor areas, priced at P3.751M to P5.773M in an exclusive mountain resort community along Matina, Diversion Road. 10) 1BR/2BR residential condo units located in Bolton, Maa, Obrero, Davao City. 11) FOR ASSUME (RUSH): 1BR res’l condo unit in Palmetto, Maa. P600K negotiable. Note: Items 1-9 can be paid in cash, in-house or bank financing. If interested, please call Jay (PRC REB Lic. 8237) at 0922-851-5337 (Sun), 0908-883-8832 (Smart) or send email to propertiesindavao@yahoo.com.

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NOTiCE OF LOSS Notice is hereby given by LOyOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAyMENT No.(s) 1003075 under LOyOLA PLAN Contract No.(s) VVV12289393/36613-7 issued to Fernandez, Rose A. was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

4/12,19,26

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013

EDGEDavao

Serving a seamless society

Sales Representatives (2) - Male / Female, not more than 30 years old - Candidate must posses a Bachelor/ College Degree in any Business field. - Willing to work under pressure, flexible, persuasive, can speak fluently and computer literate - A team player - With Basic Salary, Transportation, Communication, allowance + Commission For interested applicants, you may send your resume to: HR Department EDGEDavao Doors 13 & 14 Alcrej B;dg., Quirino Ave., Davao City Tel. No. (082) 221-3601 Email: edgedavao@gmail.com

COMMUNITY SENSE13

Camella conducts art and photo workshop and contest

hE photography and art workshops that highlighted the 2-day exhibit and grand launch of Camella Davao has yielded winners in the contest for each workshop. Winners in the photography contest were Anikka Zen C. Tabin for the People category and Catherine Lynne S. Abe for the Project category. Entries depicted the event theme “A Showcase of Camella Lifestyle” with the People category featuring portraits, small groups, and crowds in the

event. The Project category featured the lifestyle of Camella Northpoint, Camella’s landmak condo development in the region. The contest was held after the “Point and Shoot for a Creative Photography” workshop by Jojie F. Alcantara, a lifestyle columnist and photographer in Davao. Over 30 amateur photography enthusiasts joined the workshop and 25 joined the contest. Winers were awarded by Alcantara and Marlon B. Escalicas, Camella SouthMin head.

Themed “My Best Family Moments with Camella”, the art workshop and contest for kids was facilitated by Victor C. Secuya, Davao’s renowned visual artist, poet, and writer. Kids from seven to 12 years showed their creative skills using only craypas and illustration board. Nineteen of the 21 participants entered the contest bested by Margaret Ashley Tolentino in 1st place, followed by Guilliane Pio Neparan in second and Bless Rivera in third.

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VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

100 teams in 36 FEDBOP National bowlfest S

OME 100 teams from all over the country will crowd the hunt for the 36th FEDBOP National Duckpin Bowling Championship on April 29-May 4 at the Dover Mega Lanes. The week-long event hosted by Davao City Bowlers Association (Daciba) will have con-

tingents from 24 bowling associations in Manila, Visayas and Mindanao cities, according to DACIBA president Emmie Orteza who guested in yesterday’s DSA Forum at Calle 5. “It’s going to be a very exciting tournament,” Orteza said. The tournament will

feature competitions in the following categories: youth, Mixed Doubles, Seniors, Executives, and the regular Men’s and Ladies events. Also up for grabs are the prestigious Master and Grandmaster titles. Trophies and cash prizes await the winners. Orteza said more than

P300,000 in prizes are at stake in the biggest duckpin bowling event of the year. “Our prizes are sourced from sponsorships and registration fees,” Orteza bared. The city government through Mayor Sara Duterte is the major supporter of the tournament. (NJB)

Pamatian who hails from Bago City, Negros Occidental and an incoming senior student at Ramon Torres National high School settled for silver with a time of 2:18.4. Mae Therese Gula, another sprinter from Bago City, also bagged the 800M elementary girls

but failed to break the record set by de Josef last year. Seventeen year-old runner Christopher Lirazan from Kabankalan City, ruled the 100M secondary boys with a time of 10:84 while Alexis Soqueño from Bacolod City bagged the bronze medal

in the high jump secondary boys with 1.75m. Renalyn Aguirre and Jealyn Lancita bagged the silver and bronze medals, respectively in the secondary girls 400M hurdles while Roque Lisondra got the bronze in the 400M hurdles secondary boys. (PNA)

WV girls break records in Palaro

ACOLOD CITy-Freshman runner Angelica de Josef from Aklan is the recent record holder of the 800M secondary girls with a time of 2:17.2, erasing the 1995 record of 2:18.30 set by NCR runner Dely Condes. Fellow runner Lovelyn

CHARGE. Indiana Pacers guard Lance Stephenson (1) draws the charge from Atlanta Hawks forward Ivan Johnson as he makes a shot in the first half of Game 2 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series in Indianapolis, Wednesday (Thursday PHL Time), April 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Pacers play tough, up 2-0 I

NDIANAPOLIS (AP) -Indiana had everything covered Wednesday night. When Atlanta tried to get tough, the Pacers buckled down and got even tougher. When the hawks tried to run, the Pacers simply slowed them down. And when the hawks tried to rally, well, the Pacers punched back with Paul George, George hill or any other open shooter. The result was the same. George scored 27 points, his second straight playoff career high, hill finished with 22 and the Pacers pulled away from the reeling hawks 113-98 to take their first 2-0 lead in a playoff series since the 2004 Eastern Conference semifinals. ‘’We naturally just play physical,’’ George said. ‘’It wasn’t like ‘hey, let’s play physical, let’s retaliate.’ That’s just how we play. That’s how we approach the game. We just have to keep playing how we play.’’ Indiana made it look easy. They matched Atlanta’s intensity step for step, and when they had a chance to put things away, they didn’t hesitate.

Three days after George posted the second triple-double in the franchise’s NBA postseason history, he put on another brilliant show. The league’s Most Improved Player rebounded from a 3-for-13 shooting effort to go 11 of 21. he finished with eight rebounds, three assists, four steals and turned in another sterling defensive performance as the Pacers won their fourth straight at home over Atlanta. There was plenty of credit to go around. After a slow start, hill knocked down four 3-pointers before hitting his right elbow hard on the court late in the game. he said he expects to play in Game 3 on Saturday. Roy hibbert wound up with 15 points and nine rebounds, and Gerald Green came off the bench, made his first three 3s and finished with 15 points. Indiana, which relied primarily on defense to win its first Central Division crown in nine years, has topped the 100-point mark in consecutive playoff games. And the 113 points was the highest postseason total for the Pacers since a 120-87 rout over the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2000 NBA Finals.

INdulge!

VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 • FRIDAY- SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

ARTS AND CULTURE

No expense was spared for the creation of the costumes, props and backdrop which uses a huge LED screen.

A breathtaking evening with Anna and the King

love the theatre, the pomp and pageantry coupled with the energy and creativity involved in the production never fail to recharge my creative flame, and there is no other production in the Philippines that can top Resort’s World Manila’s production of Rodger and Hammerstein’s The King and I. The Aliw Awards 2012 Best Musical Production is on an extended run and I was lucky enough to be invited by Cebu Pacific and Resorts World Manila to finally experience it. The play adds to its already cast the country’s, award-winning TV and stage veteran

Nonie Buencamino as the King, and the first lady of Philippine musical theater Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Anna. 2012 Aliw Awards nominees, Bo Cerrudo and Shiela Valderamma also stay on continue with their roles as King and Anna. I was able to catch the performances of Bo and Shiela and I can definitely say that that the nominations were well-deserved. Not to take away from the other cast members who brought life to an amazing story which made me become a child

again. The production of the all-Filipino musical is also top-notch. From the colourful costumes, the realistic scenery, to the grandly scaled props, every detail was exquisite. And as I gave a standing ovation during the curtain call, you can say that The King and I clearly made my weekend at Resorts World Manila a culturally and creatively stimulating experience. To know more about the latest news on The King and I, visit www.rwmanila. com or call Resorts World Manila’s Tourist / Visitor Hotline at (02) 836-6333. Follow me on Twitter and on Instagram @kennethkingong for more travel tips, foodie finds, and happenings in, around and beyond Durianburg.

Nonie Buencamino as King Mongkut.

The King and teacher Anna.

The King and his children.

The huge Newport Performing Arts Theater.

Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo as Anna.

The scene of the song Getting to Know You.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge! UP AND ABOUT

SM City GenSan celebrates Labor Day with Job Fair JOB seekers will be given an opportunity to meet their recruiters, choose their desired career, acquire employment information and explore various job internship offers from local, national and international companies and service sectors on May 1 at the Trade Hall, 3rd level of SM City General Santos. The Job Fair aims to help as many people as possible to find employment. This is also a good place to meet many company representatives from different corporations of all industries and sizes during a short period of time. Applicants are requested to bring their updated resume or bio-data, and other important requirements. This Simultaneous Job Fair across all SM Supermalls began in May 1, 2008 as part of the company’s aim to bring employers together and make it easy for jobseekers to hunt career opportunities in the convenience of the malls. SM Supermalls have been a catalyst in creating employment and business opportunities in all areas where they are located and a Job Fair is one of the many ways in which it can do its share for the community. The Nationwide SM Supermalls Job fair is actively participated by both public and private sectors to build a nation by providing employment to the people. The job search will open with a short program at 10am. For more details and inquiries, call SM City General Santos admin office at (083) 878-0667.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013

MOVIE REVIEW

It takes a man and a woman

By Jay Rosas

ONe thing you cannot accuse Star Cinema flicks of is being pretentious, or at least the ones that I have seen, particularly the current crop of Pinoy romantic comedies. It doesn’t pretend, it doesn’t aspire to be what is not. It knows that it is a crowd-pleaser, and it pleases the millions of people who troop to theatres and make Star Cinema the most successful film production outfit of this generation. Of course, there are a lot of things to poke criticism at. The formula is the most obvious, presenting the same stories of boy-meets-girl with little variations to the how the boy gets SM Store and Parisian Shoes and Bags the girl. Which is why even more pleasing, holds special online Summer Giveaway it’s when despite this formuTHE SM Store and Parisian Shoes and Bags holds a special la, it surprises us with its Summer Giveaway! Each week for the whole month of April, cleverness and innocent self-awareness. (My faa lucky ‘tweeter’ will vorite Star Cinema romwin a P1,000 gift coms are still My Amne- feel-good, but also presenting certificate and a bag sia Girl and I Won’t Last a unique Pinoy persona. from Parisian! Just The story of Laida Magtaa Day Without You. Both follow @thesmstore take Pinoy pop culture las and Miggy Montenegro and @SMParisian on aspects – our penchant (and I would argue that their twitter and tweet for corny love punch- story stands comparably well “I want to win @ lines and the appeal of to that other well-loved couthesmstore @SMPalove advice radio shows ple Popoy and Basha of One risian Summer Give– and make it a refresh- More Chance), embodied efaway! #thesmstoing element by which the fectively by Sarah Geronimo reparisiansummer.” love stories can revolve.) and John Lloyd Cruz, is perSpread the news! The Promo runs from April 22 to 26, 2013.

ACOUSTIC PRINCESS. Catch the acoustic princess and ASAP sessionista Princess Velasco live at the Activity Center of the Abreeza Mall today, April 26. Listen to her as she sings titles from her latest album Acoustic Princess II by Vicor. Visit the concierge booth located at the ground floor of the Abreeza Mall now for ticket inquiries.

since she was 16, it means the world. even if you don’t have the background of their love story, the quick turn of events that unfurled in the first 15 minutes, makes up for the

If superheroes and robots are what make a successful franchise in the US, Pinoys look forward to these uncomplicated, familiar stories of love and family (don’t forget the Judy Ann Santos-Ryan Agoncillo starrers).

It is also precisely this formula that draws Pinoys in. Like that saying, why fix it if it ain’t broke, the predictability of these love stories is in itself the payoff for the 2-hour emotional investment. (even the most seeminglyambivalent of endings in The Mistress, the final moment is deserved and right.) Pinoys value the role that love plays in our lives, whether romantic or familial, it dominates our daily conversations more than current events or politics, and this sensibility is what Pinoy romcoms highlight, and magnify in cinematic, operatic proportions. The public declarations of love in streets, in transport terminals, in parks, wherever there’s a gathering of unknown onlookers; and the rain punctuating that singularly romantic moment, are the most notable examples, that, I would like to argue, make Pinoy romcoms effective not only in delivering the

haps the most popular and familiar, even spawning a trilogy, now on its third instalment with It Takes a Man and a Woman. If superheroes and robots are what make a successful franchise in the US, Pinoys look forward to these uncomplicated, familiar stories of love and family (don’t forget the Judy Ann SantosRyan Agoncillo starrers). In this instalment to their love story, we expect Laida and Miggy’s inevitable maturity. If A Very Special Love and You Changed My Life show the couple in their cutesy beginnings and the glimpse of the usual potential love roadblocks, here we see them deal with the issue of forgiveness – what do you do if the person you love most hurt you in the most unforgivable way? Yes, the issue of infidelity may have been considerably minor and the damage reparable, but in Laida’s world where a woman has loved one man

gravity of their predicament. The introduction of the third party, in the person of Miggy’s high school sweetheart played quite competently by Isabelle Daza, is carefully handled – her existence merely a blip in a melodious love song, the part where it lags just before it succeeds to a lingering, satisfying coda. John Lloyd Cruz, for the most part, portrays Miggy as the damaged, incomplete man sympathetically – is bound appear like a failure, one of the foibles afforded by his socioeconomic status, and the only way for him to feel and become whole is through Laida’s love and forgiveness. There’s a certain appeal and match to Sarah Geronimo’s Laida. Unlike John Lloyd’s onscreen love team Bea Alonzo, Sarah’s natural Filipina-ness is graspable, something that guys, believe it or not, are also drawn to. There’s a certain physicality to her that is homey and honest. The “metamorphosis” was a bit of a stretch but Sarah’s likability pretty much makes up for the tendency of the direction to ham it up What makes the possibility for forgiveness believable is because, except for that funny plea at the start, the story doesn’t subject Miggy into a series of pathetic attempts –

the necessity of forgiveness is grounded on Miggy’s own brokenness, and Laida’s capacity to grant him this. For Laida and Miggy, love is the only equalizer. Laida’s preoccupations in the film are equally difficult, but these are evened out by her ever-supportive family. The scenes between Laida and her mother (Irma Adlawan) and between her father (Al Tantay) presents a very heartfelt picture of a Pinoy family, where the mother seems to be the perpetual source of good judgement and perspective, and the father, though relegated to wordless making-amends, is appreciated precisely for this courage. And then of course, there is that highly-discussed airport scene, which brings us back to the element of the formula that makes this a Star Cinema romantic flick. Yes it is unbelievable. Singing and dancing with the aid of airport personnel and passengers, who themselves look like they are destined to be in on the final act, is ridiculous. But it works, simply because this is the part that plays on the Pinoy mentality of a happy ending, however fantastical it may seem. I think that if the ‘proper’ ending to their story was scrapped and it ended in the airport, it would have been perfect. But it wouldn’t also have been realistically Pinoy. Because we want our weddings, we want to see the couple funnily snuggle on their honeymoon, we get just that. “Reality ever after” as Laida would say, though it diminishes the magic of the moment that preceded this propriety. Because I would have liked to bask in that moment of clumsiness, that awkward exposition of love, that the lyrics of the song, Kailan, an OPM classic, allows us to have as it is hilariously passed around until that final plea. It offers the magic of the ‘kilig’ moment, that after all of this chasing, we know will be paid off. Rating: 3/5

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013

ENTERTAINMENT

PSY’s Gentleman breaks another Youtube record PSY’s definitely doing something right.

Recently, the South Korean rapper beat a world record when his video for “Gentleman” surpassed 100 million views on YouTube in less than a week, and now, less than a week after that happened he’s breaking yet another record. His latest viral video was viewed 38 million times on April 14, according to YouTube’s trends manager Kevin Allocca, which means he beat the single-day record of 30 million set by the KONY 2012 short film. Right now, “Gentleman,” which also holds the day-of debut record with 18.5 million hits,

APRIL 25, 2013

1 2 : 6 + 2 : , 1 * 11:45 2:45 5:45 8:45

IRON MAN 3 2D (GP)

les premiere of his latest film, Pain & Gain. Director Michael Bay suggested on the red carpet that the injury stemmed from Johnson’s

other job. “He was pushing it too hard,” Bay told E! News. “[He] needs to grow up and stop wrestling 300-pound men.

IRON MAN 3 2D (GP)

11:45 2:45 5:45 8:45

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IRON MAN 3 2D (GP)

Tube, currently held by none other than PSY’s original single “Gangnam Style” with over 1.5 billion views.

11:30 2:40 5:50 9:00

11:00 2:05 5:10 8:15

is well over 200 million views. The only record left to beat is the most-viewed video of all time on You-

12:15 3:15 6:15 9:15

IRON MAN 3 2D (GP)

IRON MAN 3 3D (GP)

Dwayne Johnson shows off bulging biceps from hospital bed after emergency surgery COULD it be that undergoing emergency hernia surgery left Dwayne Johnson with even more energy than usual?

The erstwhile Rock showed that it’s impossible to keep his bod of steel down for long, posting a twitpic of himself that was taken from his hospital bed in which he’s wearing a triumphant look and doing his best to burst, Hulk-like, out of his Superman T-shirt. “Surgery a success! Dr repaired 3 hernial tears (fun pain). Superman is on the mend.. #WeFallWeRise,” Johnson tweeted. The action star’s rep told E! News that he is now back home after undergoing the operation last night, unexpected drama that forced him to miss the Los Ange-

IRON MAN 3 Robert Downey, Jr. , Gwyneth Paltrow

Robert Pattinson checks out of New York City Hotel

IRON MAN 3 -3D Robert Downey, Jr. , Gwyneth Paltrow GP

HIS bags are packed shades. and he’s ready to go! R.Pattz was in the Big Robert Pattinson was spotted leaving the Bowery Hotel in New York City earlier today. The Twilight hunk left the Lower East Side hot spot by himself; he was wearing a plaid jacket and retro Lennon-esque

Apple briefly after stopping by the Coachella Music Festival in Indio, Calif. with Kristen Stewart. The two were seen checking out their favorite music acts alongside mutual pal Katy Perry. Hurry home, Rob!

12:50 | 3:20 | 5:50 | 8:20 LFS

11:40 | 2:15 | 4:50 | 7:25 | 10:00 LFS

IRON MAN 3 Robert Downey, Jr. , Gwyneth Paltrow GP

01:40 | 4:10 | 6:40 | 09:10 LFS

R-16 IRON MAN 3 Robert Downey, Jr. , Gwyneth Paltrow GP

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A4 INdulge! EVENTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013

Iron Man 3 IMAX midnight screening at SM Lanang By Kenneth Irving Ong

SM Cinema’s IMAX at SM Lanang Premier recently held their first midnight screening featuring the much-awaited comicbased block buster hit, Iron Man 3. People started filling up the IMAX Theatre’s lobby as early as 11 o’clock, eagerly anticipating the 12:05 AM screening. Guests also took time off to interact and have their photographs taken with cosplayers who cams as Iron Man and Warmachine. The IMAX midnight screening is a simultaneous event in all IMAX cinemas in the Philippines. Iron Man 3 is now showing 3D and 2D in all SM Cinemas.

Stanfilco alumni summer outing 2013 AFTeR months of planning, invitations were sent thru, SMS, text and facebook, as all roads are off to Seagrass Beach Resort at San Miguel Peñaplata, with this year’s theme “Oldies but Goodies”. Alumni were treated to a sumptuous buffet, lunch and dinner conceptualized by its CeO Gregorio “Boy” Sarmiento, a fellow alumni. It was a day of reminiscing and camaraderie, swimming, playing parlor and card games or just simply updating each others lives. The highlight of the evening were band playing and firedancing.

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013

Shorter distance for Suzuki’s RBW racing By Neil Bravo

SUZUKI RAIDER BREED WARS. (Left to right) Von Oro, Phoenix Cyclomax marketing and sales manager, Marianne dela Cruz, Suzuki Philippines motorcycle product supervisor, Astrid Vislenio, Suzuki Philippines PR specialist,

Jun Diray, Phoenox account manager for Southern Mindanao, and Jessie John Yap, Phoenix account manager for Northern Mindanao. (DSA/Tomas Avancena)

2013 Suzuki Raider Breed Wars on Sunday

OTORCyCLE riders and enthusiasts will flock the New Municipal hall of Tagum City as Suzuki Philippines and Phoenix Cyclomax set the first Mindanao leg of the 2013 Raider Breed Wards on April 28. Dubbed as the “Battle of the Kings”, the 2013 Raider Breed Wars (RBW) has staged two successful legs in Pangasinan and in Quezon Province. This time,

the riders from Tagum City and the rest of the Davao region have the chance to outrace each other for the podium. The 250-meter races are divided into two categories: the Underbone 115 and the Raider 150. The races are exclusive for Suzuki motorcycles. The first-placers for each category will be crowned Kings of Tagum City. They will travel to

Manila via an all-expense paid trip on December to represent their province in the 2013 Racing Breed Wars National Finals. The Raider Breed Wars powered by Phoenix Cyclomax Motorcyle Oils, now on its fourth year, exemplifies Suzuki Philippines’ commitment to bring excitement to its customers without compromising rider and spectator safety. Sharing its

Parker’s run gave the Spurs a 75-65 lead with 3 minutes left in the third. The Lakers shot 37 percent (9 for 24) in the first quarter, a slight improvement over their 7-for-20 performance (35 percent) in the opening quarter of Game 1. Gasol posted early, tipping in a miss by howard for the game’s opening basket and missing a 5-footer before Duncan blocked his 5-foot hook. The Lakers went to the perimeter following the block, resulting in consecutive 3s by Blake and World Peace for an 8-6 lead with 8:23 left in the first quarter. Ginobili once again energized the Spurs, sparking runs of 13-4 and 10-3 to close the first and second quarters. he had 12 points in the first half and was 3 for 4 on 3-pointers. he had six points with two assists and a block in 6 minutes to bridge the first and second quarters. Ginobili hit two 3s in the final minute of the second quarter, including one off his initial pass that bounced off DeJuan Blair’s head but eventually found its way back

to him. he also fed a streaking Leonard for a dunk off a turnover. In the first quarter, Ginobili hit a step-back 3 and then drew the defense and fed Gary Neal for an open 3, which he made to give the Spurs a 28-23 lead at the close of the first quarter. The Lakers went on a 9-2 run to close within 33-32 with 8 minutes left in the first half. Nash opened and closed the run with jumpers. Bonner’s 3 on an open look drew a cry of frustration from Gasol, who shouted at the bench and pointed at Bonner over an apparent missed assignment. howard had heated battles with Bonner and Duncan in the first half. After getting tied up midway through the second quarter, Duncan and howard walked down the court glaring at each other with howard jawing at Duncan. howard was later grabbed from behind by Bonner and his arm was pulled by Ginobili, but the Lakers All-Star still managed to bank in a layup, flexing his muscles after the shot. howard even made the ensuing free throw, giving the Lakers a 44-43 lead with 3 minutes left in the first half.

Spurs sink Lakers to 0-2 hole

AN ANTONIO (AP) -- Tony Parker had 28 points and seven assists and the San Antonio Spurs beat the Los Angeles Lakers 102-91 on Wednesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference first-round playoff series. Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard had 16 points each, Manu Ginobiliadded 13 points and Matt Bonner had 10 for San Antonio. Dwight howard and Steve Blake had 16 points each to lead Los Angeles. Metta World Peace and Pau Gasol added 13 points each, but no other player had more than nine as the Lakers shot 45 percent from the field. Game 3 is Friday night in Los Angeles. Los Angeles said a key to winning was shooting better, and they did - but so did San Antonio. The Spurs shot 51 percent from the field after shooting 38 percent in Game 1. San Antonio was 7 for 14 on 3-pointers, including 5 for 7 in the first half. Parker had 15 points in the third quarter after going 1 for 6 in the first half. he scored 12 straight points on a series of layups and floating jumpers against Steve Blake.

commitment are sponsors Talk N Text and Denso Sparkplugs. The RBW is a free drag racing event sanctioned by the National Motorcycle Sports and Safety Association ( NAMSSA). It provides the proper venue and safety gears to all participating riders and drag racing enthusiasts. It is being organized with Racing Line as its race and media partner.

rom the usual quarter mile distance, this year’s Suzuki Raider Breed Wars “Battle of the Kings” Davao qualifying races set this Sunday in Tagum City will feature a shorter distance of 250 meters. “This means the race will be faster from the get-go,” said Marianne dela Cruz, Suzuki Philippines motorcycle supervisor. Guesting in the weekly Davao Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum at Calle 5 Retso-Bar, Dela Cruz said that the change in distance is implemented only this season, the fourth year of the popular Suzuki RBW racing. Suzuki is partnering with Phoenix Cyclomax Oils of Phoenix Petroleum Philippines for the event which will send the top riders in the two race categories to the National Drag Racing Championships set December 7 this year. The race categories

are Underbone 115 and Raider 150. “We did tests of our oils and we found that it is perfect for fast reaction off the gates,” said Jun Diray, account manager of Phoenix Cyclomax. The race is sanctioned by National Motorcycle Sports and Safety Association (Namssa) and allows for 70 percent retention of the stock Suzuki motorcycles. “We are imposing strict safety standards set by Namssa in order to avoid any untoward incidents,” said Dela Cruz. The Suzuki RBW “Battle of the Kings” is free to all Suzuki riders. Registration will be entertained onsite on Sunday prior to the races. The next qualifying races will be on May 26 in Tarlac, June 2 in Pagadian, June 23 in Batangas, July 6 in Cagayan de Oro, July 28 in Nueva Ecija, August 11 in Cebu City, September 8 in Antipolo, and September 29 in Bacolod.

BLOCK. San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan (21) is blocked by Los Angeles Lakers’ Pau Gasol (16), of Spain, during the first half of Game 2 of their first-round NBA basketball playoff series. The Spurs are up 2-0.

FALLEN EAGLES VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 â&#x20AC;˘ FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013

EDGEDAVAO Sports

EAGLE ONFLIGHT. The Davao Eagles of DAVRAA in action against Central Visayas in boys basketball in the 2013 Palarong Pambansa in Dumaguete City. The Cebuanos beat the Eagles 80-74.

By Neil Bravo

hIS bunch of Davao Eagles is bound for a bad

fall. With only a day left in the 2013 Palarong Pambansa in Dumaguete City, the Davao Regional Athletic Association (Davraa) contingent will have to brace itself for a forgettable stint. The Davao bets added three gold medals on Thursday in its biggest haul yet in the four-day old sports conclave among the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elementary and secondary athletes. The Eagles improved to 4 golds, 2 silvers and 4 bronzes but stayed out of the top ten in the medal standings. The Eagles are at 11th spot in the medal tally. It could get worse

if the Palaro Championship Points system will be used. According to the official 2013 Palarong Pambansa website, Davraa is still without championship points. The Big City athletes from the National Capital Region have practically wrapped u p the o ve r all title after blowing the opposition apart with a runaway harvest of 57 golds, 40 silvers and 31 bronzes. Western Visayas is a far second with 28 golds, 23 silvers and 15 bronzes. Rounding up the top ten are Central Luzon which is running third

2013 PALARONG PAMBANSA AT A GLANCE

overall with a 16-10gold-

1 1 silverbronze harvest, followed by Southern Tagalog 13-12-23, Central Visayas with 7-10-14, Caraga 6-128, Northern Mindanao 6-9-12, Cordillera 6-6-5, Ilocos 5-5-9, and Cagayan Valley 4-4-5. In the championship points tally, NCR is on top with a combined 55 points for elementary and secondary divisions followed by Caraga Region with 35 points, Central Visayas with 27, Southern Tagalog with 13 and Bicol with 10.5 to comprise the top 5. Only 9 regions have scored under the championship points format.

PERFECT FORM. A young gymnast shows perfect form in the ribbon exercises of girls gymnnastics in the ongoing 2013 Palarong Pambansa in Dumaguete City.

DAY 3 BASKETBALL Boys Secondary Davao Region wallops Central Luzon. Score: 87-61 Ilocos defeats Zamboanga Peninsula. Score: 76-45 Northern Mindanao nips Bicol. Score: 75-68 Zamboanga Peninsula bounces back to edge Cagayan Valley. Score: 80-75 Ilocos falls to Cordillera. Score: 80-64 Central Luzon drubs ARMM. Score: 99-35 Central Visayas beats Davao Region. Score: 80-74 Calabarzon clobbers Northern Mindanao. Score: 106-36 Big City bets dispatch Eastern Visayas counterparts. Score: 114-40 CARAGA dominates MIMAROPA. Score: 82-56 Cordillera got past Zamboanga Peninsula. Score: 71-60 Western Visayas dismantles Cagayan Valley. Score: 98-33