Edge Davao 6 Issue 5 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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VOL.6 ISSUE 5 • THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

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Serving a seamless society

SILENT PROTEST. The famous Oblation statue outside the University of the Philippines-Mindanao in Mintal, Davao City is draped with a black cloth in memory of a student of UP Manila who committed suicide recently. Lean Daval Jr.

Bantay mga day!

Mercury found on skin products Indulge

Page A1

FAD bares list of products with high toxic mercury content

By Che Palicte

Pepper Lunch Sports

Page 15

Pinoy Pride in Davao

ere’s a warning to those who are crazy for vanity. The cosmetics you are using could be dangerous to your skin. several cosmetic products which were not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have reportedly entered the Philippine market. They were found to contain a high level of toxic mercury and had been banned in the Philippines months ago. Deborah Legaspi, FDA supervisor, told edge Davao yesterday that the products are highly toxic if they contain more than the allowable limit of one part per million (ppm) of mercury. “We did a sampling of these products and we found out that they exceeded the allowable limit for mercury,” she said. she bared the following cosmetic products which

FMERCURY, 11

There’s money in water lilies

T used to be that those colorful flowers growing by the small ponds and lakes were nothing but just that—adornments. residents of Lubogan in Toril, Davao City are learning more and earning more from water lilies. On Tuesday, some 60 residents of that small sitio completed a three-day Water Lily Weaving skills training focusing on slipper-making and wine holder-making out of water lilies and hyacinths as raw materials. The livelihood training under the auspices of Uswag Bubai livelihood program was organized by the Villar Foundation which provided two trainers aside from the raw materials and equipment. The Villar Foundation also made available for the trainees o n e welding

FWATER LILIES, 11

WATER LILY WEAVING. A woman-trainee fixes the frame of a wine holder while displaying some of her water lily-woven works in Toril, Davao City. The Villar Foundation has conducted three livelihood training seminars in the city thus far. (Lean Daval)

2 THE BIG NEWS

VOL.6 ISSUE 5 • THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Joke only

EDGEDAVAO

‘I am the only drug lord in Davao City’ -- Rosales

“I

am the only drug lord in Davao City.” Philippine Drug enforcement Agency (PDeA) Davao regional director emerson rosales was only kidding when he guested in the Club 888 forum at The Marco Polo Davao yesterday. What he actually meant by the statement is his successful management of the PDeA in so far as drug cases in the city are concerned. He reassured Dabawenyos that there are no drug lords, illegal drug laboratories nor narco-politics in the city. The new edition of the International Alert, a

book entitled Out of the shadows: Violent conflict and the real economy of Mindanao, funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), states that, according to a leaked United states embassy Cable from 2006, drug lords are holding the position of mayor in at least nine municipalities of Lanao del sur province. Mayors of fourteen municipalities in Maguindanao, and nearly all of the mayors, including a high provincial official of sulu provinc, are suspected to be involved in the narcotics trade,” accord-

FJOKE ONLY, 11

BACK TO THE STREETS. A progressive group member shouts a slogan against the policies of the government during a protest rally at the Freedom Park in CM. Recto Avenue, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

CTO to follow through I on MICE customers

Less than 1% in PHL are vaccinated with HPV

By EJ Dominic Fernandez

FTer the meetings, incentives, conventions and events/ exhibitions (Mice).conference held at the sMX convention center last March 6 to 9, the next step the City Tourism Office (CTO) will take is to follow through on the buyers and delegates of the event. Davao City Tourism officer-in-charge, Jayson Magnaye said in a business forum held at DermPath sM Annex, ecoland Tuesday that the benefits of the MICeCon will be reaped after the event that is why a follow through is needed. There were 50 buy-

ers in the MICe market here during the event, 40 of them foreign-based, mostly from Asia. Four of the them were from Taiwan, three from russia, three from Vietnam, one from Malaysia, 13 from China, two from singapore, five from Australia, and two from Japan, with the rest from other Asian countries. The CTO is closely coordinating with the city government of Davao, the Department of Tourism (DOT), and the Tourism Promotions Board (TBP) which handles coordinating efforts with the buyers. “We will go after the

buyers to know when they will be using the MICe market in Davao so that we can assist them,” Magnaye said. “If possible, we must not time them on the same week so we can accommodate them properly,” he said. “event organizers must also be licensed and have the approval of the DOT to make it easier for the organizers and the delegates,” he said, adding, “We were able to prove that we can handle the MICe market,” he said. He had the confidence to say this from the developments that have been going on in the city. The

city engineer’s office says there was a 14.7 percent growth in new buildings last year with 6,624 in 2012 from 5,776 in 2011, and a 65.19 percent increase in value with P13.3 billion in 2012 from P8 billion in 2011. Magnaye said the business bureau reported a total capitalization growth of 4.5 percent in the city with P196.4 billion in 2012 from P187.9 billion in 2011. He also expects a 15 percent growth in accommodation rooms in hotels and inns for this year based on the rate the city is going with 12 percent

FCTO, 11

n the Philippines, less than one percent of the eligible population are vaccinated against the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), one of the leading causes of cervical cancer among women as reported by gynecologist, Dr. elmer Chua, to members of the rotary of east Davao Tuesday at The Marco Polo Davao. “It is sad to say that only less than one percent of eligible people (women from 9-45 years old, and men from 9 to 26 years old) in the Philippines are vaccinated against HPV,” Chua said. HPV is a virus that infects the keratinocytes of the skin or mucous membranes of the body presenting itself in the form of warts that may lead to

cancer of the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, oropharynx and anus. Chua said, “this is why awareness on HPV among Filipinos must be raised.” “Famous personalities are helping in raising the awareness of Filipinos on HPV, but ultimately, it is the doctors’ recommendations that count,” he said. According to Chua, HPV may occur in 50 percent of sexually active men and 80 percent among sexually active women. This virus can cause cervical cancer, where half out of 6,000 Filipinas suffering from it die after five years while 12 women in the Philippines die from it everyday, according to Chua.

FLESS THAN, 11

Enrile’s cop escorts fired upon in Mawab By Che Palicte

OVERFLOW. Even on a hot summer day, water overflows from a clogfed canal caused by debris and other refuse at the junction of Bacaca Road and J.P. Laurel Avenue, Bajada, Davao City. Lean Daval Jr

single bullet hit a car escorting the convoy of senatorial candidate Jack enrile of the United nationalist Alliance (UnA) upon passing a portion of the national highway in Mawab, Compostela Valley. This was confirmed by police senior superintendent Camilo Cascolan, provincial director of the Philippine national Police (PnP) in Compostela Valley in a phone interview yesterday. Cascolan said that around 3:15 PM, while the convoy was traversing sitio Banga in Barangay sawangan, Mawab town, police personnel on board heard a single shot of un-

determined firearm. “The shot was fired from the direction of the mountainous side of the national highway,” the police personnel said. In an investigation conducted in Tagum City, authorities found out that the patrol car was hit by a single bullet at the front passenger side particularly near the door knob of the vehicle and they have recovered what they believed as part of the slug. Cascolan said that the probable group responsible to the incident is the new People’s Army (nPA). “That area where the

FPOLICE ESCORTS, 11

SUBURBIA

EDGEDAVAO VOL.6 ISSUE 5 •THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Bukidnon Province needs new investment code - -biz leader B

UKIDnOn Province needs new investment code - -biz leader. Bukidnon needs to revise its18-year old investment code for it to be more competitive, roderico Bioco, president of the Bukidnon Kaamulan Chamber of Commerce and Industry told the provincial legislature Monday at the opening of committee hearings on the proposed amendments. Bioco cited the need to be competitive “given the environment of stiff competition” where Bukidnon enterprises need to compete with those in other provinces.” He said a new investment code would create proper environment for enterprises to prosper, create more jobs, earn revenues, and push for development in general. He explained that the goal of the amendments is to come up with realigned investment plans akin to that pushed by the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Interior and Local government, and the business sector. Bioco cited three highlights of the amendments

proposed by the Bukidnon Investment and export Promotion Board: the composition of the board, funding for the board, and details of the investment priority areas. The business community through the investment board pushed to reconstitute the body to include more members from the business sector. Bioco said that under the proposed amendment, the chamber president will become vice chair of the board, ushering greater participation of the chamber. The board also proposed that the P500,000 budget provided in the 1995 Provincial Ordinance no. 95-03 to be increased to P2 million. But he said he hopes the provincial board would raise it to P5 million, claiming it is a small investment that will earn more investments fort the province. He cited the need to identify investment priority areas based on investment directions of the national government and the capability and potentials of the province. Bioco, stressed the national government invest-

BANGSAMORO DAY. At the Bangsamoro Day parade in downtown Jolo, Sulu, women wave flaglets of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF). Muslim Mindanao Act No. 67 passed in 1998 declared every March 18 as Bangsamoro Day and holiday in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. March 18 is the anniversary of the Jabidah Massacre and the date reckoned by the Moro National Liberation Front as its founding day. [MIndaNews/Carolyn O. Arguillas] ment thrusts emphasize on food security. Manny James Cudal, chair of the Micro-small Medium enterprise Development Council, stressed

that the investment code is an equally important policy of the province. “It is very important for peace and progress,” he said, adding that for 18 years, the code was “not well appreciated.” But Junar Merla, senior trade and industry development specialist

at DTI-Bukidnon, said the major reason why investment and export promotion did not take off despite a provincial ordinance was lack of personnel. He said over the years, the investment board only had one job order employee.

Merla said in 2011, Gov. Alex Calingasan decided to revive the board, hired and assigned a regular employee to the office. He said they propose at least three for the technical staff in the amended code. [Walter I. Balane/ Mindanews]

He Bureau of Internal revenue (BIr) 11 padlocked Tuesday morning the Bluejaz Beach resort and Waterpark at the Island Garden City of samal, Davao del norte for under declaration of sales amounting to more than a million pesos. BIr regional director Glen Geraldino, who personally led the operation, said the closure was part of their “Oplan Kandado” campaign in efforts to collect more taxes from these erring establishments. Geraldino already hinted in a recent press conference here that they had already monitored some establishments who continued to operate despite warning for alleged violation of the Taxation Code of the Philippines. He said the closed resort can however operate again if they could already pay the taxes due for the government. “This is to serve as warning to other establishments to pay their real taxes to avoid closure,” Geraldino said. He said the BIrDavao collected some

P14 million from the 17 establishments closed last year, mostly due to under declaration of sales by more than 30 percent. According to the official, they will continue the monitoring for as long as there are reports on establishments not paying their taxes.

Under Oplan Kandado, business operations of non-compliant taxpayers will be suspended and their establishments will be temporarily closed if the will be found to have violated certain tax laws. This program was implemented nationwide in January 2009.[PnA]

BIR 11 closes high-end resort in Samal Island T QUIPS

‘AT this time of writing, too much blood in Tanduo-LahadDatu has been shed, thousands of Filipinos evacuated from Sabah, and cooperative undertakings in B I M P- EAGA derailed.’

--Former President Fidel V. Ramos Manila Bulletin, March 17, 2013

VOL.6 ISSUE 5 • THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Tourism, nature in politics

Hagedorn explains CPR LAW in Palawan

By Antonio M. Ajero

ALAWAn, the rock star of Philippine tourism, has a coping mechanism in order to conserve and protect its pristine environment. It’s called CPr LAW which means “conservation, protection and restoration of land, air and water.” CPr LAW was explained by Puerto Princesa City Mayor edward Hagedorn who met Davao newsmen recently as part of his rounds of the country to campaign as an independent nationalist People’s Coalition (nPC) senatorial bet. He said his decision to run for senator was

EDGEDAVAO

quite late, a reason he is neither in the Liberal Party (LP) slate nor in the United nationalist Alliance (UnA) lineup. CPrLAW is the coping mechanism of Puerto Princesa, according to the popular mayor, whose exploits weremade into a bio pic, starring the late Fernando Poe Jr., adding that it is the mechanism wherein the forests are preserved to keep the land base from erosion and landslides even if it floods. He said environmental protection tops his platform as senatorial candidate using the success story of Palawan, especially Puerto

Princesa. since Day One of his mayorship of Puerto Princesa, he said he advocated that the now famous underground river be placed under the management of the city government. “Luckily, I got the authority in six months, and at the time, we immediately started our campaign to make it a heritage site and later, one of the 7 Wonders of nature,” Hagedorn recalled. He said that after the proclamation of the underground river as one of the world’s new wonders, tourist arrivals and revenues in Palawan shot up.

addresses the urgent need to regenerate and improve the information mechanisms of government,” said Legarda, principal author of the law. Legarda, a former broadcast journalist, explained that the law amends the PTV Charter to allow the network to generate funds from advertising and airtime sales, which shall be utilized solely for the net-

work’s operations and capital expenditure. PTV shall also be allowed to adopt other measures that will help restore the viability of the network operations. “We need to resuscitate our national television and use it for massive education and information dissemination of the programs and advocacies of the various departments of government,” she said.

Legarda hails signing into law of amended PTV charter

enATOr Loren Legarda today hailed the enactment of republic Act 10390, An Act revitalizing the People’s Television network, Incorporated, stressing that it is about time to resuscitate the national television network. “I am glad that the amended charter of PTV has been signed into law. This measure is very important as it

THE PRESIDENT’S CHOICE. President Benigno Aquino III and 2nd district Congresswoman Mylene Garcia flash the Laban sign in this photo released by the Liberal Party. The Davao City soloin is both the official candidate

of Pres. Aquino’s political party and the Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod of Vice-Mayor Rody Duterte. (Contributed photo)

hAGEDorn

Factory workers endorse Casiño’s senatorial bid

OrKers in various factory enclaves in Cavite have recently openly thrown their support to Teddy Casiño, calling him their candidate for senator in the coming May 2013 polls. Unionized workers from factories and businesses in Cavite recently banded together to form the Workers for Teddy Casiño (WFTC) to bolster the Makabayan Coalition’s bet for the senate. “We pledge to warmly and vigorously campaign for Casiño among the ranks of our fellow workers, our families and relatives and in the homes and communities in Cavite,” the group said in a statement. Casiño welcomed the endorsement, saying that he is heartened by the gesture. “Maaasahan nila ang patuloy kong pagla-

ban para sa karapatan ng mga manggagawang Pilipino,” he said. Before becoming the secretary general of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) and one of the prominent young leaders during eDsA Dos, Casiño worked with trade unions as a member of the Kilusang Mayo Uno. “We have witnessed how Casiño has worked to pursue a pro-worker and pro-poor standpoint as congressman of Bayan Muna in his nine years in Congress. He is with us in the continuing fight for a P125 legislated wage increase, in efforts to stop the massive contractualization of labor, and in firmly advancing our right to form unions inside and outside the halls of Congress,” the workers said. Casiño expressed his

thanks to the WFTC and Caviteño workers and pledged to “continue striving to bring the plight, issues and demands of Filipino workers, this time in the senate.” The WFTC also challenged Casiño to “continue in deeds, not just in words, his drive for good governance and nationalist change for the common tao.” Workers from the samahan ng mga Manggagawa ng eMI, Hyesung Workers Union, samahan ng mga Manggagawa sa eagle ridge Golf Course and residential estate, eagle ridge employees Union and the solidarity of Cavite Workers form the core of the WFTC. Cavite has 954,745 employed workers in the industrial, services and self-employed sectors.

EDGEDAVAO

THE ECONOMY

VOL.6 ISSUE 4 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2013

MICECON draws praises, stirs raves By Joy A. Gador

AVAO City, the city of bloom and boom from islands to highlands, is now in the world map of the meetings, incentive travel, conventions and events/exhibitions (MICe) industry. This development surfaced and shone during and even after the recent staging of the international MICe Conference (MICeCOn) 2013 at the sMX Convention Center in Lanang, where the annual event

had the biggest number of local and foreign delegates in its history, the unprecedented appearance of President Aquino with Department of Tourism secretary ramon Jimenez Jr. and other dignitaries, and the big delegation of buyers from India, China, Japan, russia, Vietnam, Malaysia, singapore, Taiwan, Australia and the Philippines. even government executives from Manila were all praises for Davao. “All

HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL MICECON 2013. TPB (Tourism Promotions Board) executives and Davao City host committee officers pose with MICECON 2013 speakers from various countries during the staging of this highly successful event recently. From left are Tina Flores of the TPB, master storyteller Don Allison of The Mark of a Leader, Jason Magnaye of the Davao City Tourism Office, delegate Rose Libongco of the hotel industry, Tourism Region II Director Art

hosted lunches and dinners were great! The hospitality of the Davaoeños is truly remarkable,” said Liza M. Lucas of the DOT’s nCr office. “That was a very impressive cultural presentation showcasing the various indigenous groups and talents of the province,” said evelyn del rosario of the Tourism Infrastructure and enterprise Zone Authority as she witnessed the burst of colors from

varied costumes, the grace in their movements, and the regal beauty of the performers accentuated by native sounds and sights and the richness of the diversity of the local traditions and heritage. speaking from Manila, conference convenor stanie soriano of the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), the marketing arm of the DOT and organizer of the event, acknowledged that Davao’s hosting of MICeCOn 2013

Boncato of the DOT, MICE and Business Development officer-in-charge Stanie Soriano of the TPB, seminar speakers Andrew Chan, Maureen O’Crowley, Tony Steven and Ray Shaw, Davao City organizing committee officers Baby Montemayor and Gene Bangayan, delegates Clang Garcia and Celine Clemente of the tourism sector, and Jerome Diaz of the TPB.

was a tough act to follow. soriano hailed the city for its “feasts of exotic food, islands-to-highlands tourism showcases, airport-to-airport hospitality, booming and blooming cityscape, and uniquely ‘funtastic’ cultural presentations that dazzled everyone -- foreigners and Filipinos alike.” soriano’s assessment was echoed by a delegate from an event organizing firm who commended the welcome reception at the airport for making guests feel very special and well taken care of. “We’ve had a very delightful experience in Davao, all very warm people! Truly, it’s more fun in the Philippines,” said executive Lou B. Gorospe of Hotel stotsenberg. still in awe over the dinner at the D’Leonor resort, Glenn remorra of Imus Institute exclaimed: “Mabuhay Davao! Thank you for demonstrating how to organize a conference and execute it to perfection.” nonetheless, it was not only people and performers that flowed all around. “Food was overflowing,” said Ma. Leroz P. Lizada of the negros Oriental state

University. “We will attend the next event in 2014,” said Alyssa sarte of ex-Link events after her colleague shaine C. santos remarked: “Great speakers, very warm welcome and hospitality. Cheers to Davao City! Food, party and overall experience were very good!” And to confirm it all, Juli Zardilla from the country’s export marketing and events authority Center for International Trade expositions and Missions sighed: “excellent event!” not surprisingly, the conference seminars also drew praises and stirred raves. The most popular among the celebrity speakers were Jorg Dietzel, Cherly Cecchetto, Andrew Chan, and Don Allison whose storytelling made many in the audience cry. “There were just too many inspiring and even flattering comments from all the delegates to quote,” said soriano, also TPB’s MICe and Business Development officer-in-charge. “But those comments have brought additional pressure for the TPB to top what it had accomplished for MICeCOn in Davao this year,” soriano added.

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

VOL.6 ISSUE 5 • THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Power supply in Mindanao cities, provinces unstable F

Or those in Mindanao, keep those pamaypays (hand fans) ever ready this summer. This after an official of the national Grid Corp. of the Philippines (nGCP) on Wednesday admitted that the power supply situation in the island would remain precarious until new power producers would come in to supply the Mindanao grid, especially this summer season. “When the power situation in the island would stabilize, that we cannot tell since we’re just transmitting those generated by the power producers,” Milfrance Capulong, nGCP corporate communications officer for Mindanao, said in a telephone interview. Outages in parts of Mindanao have worsened in the past few weeks to as long as eight hours daily, as in the case of Zamboanga City. On Monday, residents in nearby General santos City have been advised to brace for seven hours of brownout daily, from six the past week. In this city, the seat of government of region 12 or soccsksargen region, a two-and-a-half hour daily rotational brownout is being implemented by the area’s distribution utility. In 2010, parts of Mindanao at this time of the year also suffered eight-hour daily outages due to dwindling generation capacity at the time by the hydropower plants, which produce half of the island’s power supply, because of declining water dam level as a result of the el niño or dry spell phenomenon. Mindanao on Wednesday has a power supply shortage of 258 megawatts (MW), with

available supply pegged at only 910 MW against the peak demand of 1,168 MW, the nGCP website showed. “ever since [2010] there is supply deficiency already,” Capulong said. The nGCP maintains a daily reserve of 150 MW to maintain the grid’s integrity as required by the Philippine Grid Code, she noted. But it could “not be dispatched” because that is allotted as a contingency supply just in case any of the power plants in the island would bog down, Capulong added. The Grid Code establishes and documents the basic rules, requirements, procedures and standards that govern the operation, maintenance and development of the high-voltage backbone transmission system in the Philippines Capulong said the power supply deficiency in Mindanao may ease with the looming operation of the 102-MW Iligan diesel-fired power plant, which was recently formally acquired by the Alcantara Group. Oscar Benedict Contreras III, Alsons Power Business Unit manager for communications and stakeholder relations, said last week that rehabilitation of the Iligan power plant had commenced and that it will go on stream “before the end of summer.” The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical services Administration officially announced that the summer season started on March 18, which it expects to last until May. Meanwhile, Capulong urged power consumers in the island

Davao by the nuMbers There are

218 accommodation facilities in Davao City.

47 are hotels. The rest are inns,

pension houses and resorts. Source: city touriSM operationS office, Davao city

to help ease the shortage by moving their use of appliances from peak hours to non-peak hours. In General santos City, Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio has initiated talks with big power consumers such as the malls and the manufacturing

sector, including the tuna industry, which the city is known for. Under the scheme, large establishments would use their generator sets to de-load the demand in the city for use by small consumers, she said. [Bong s. sarmiento/ Mindanews]

latter’s expansion plans this year. PCPPI, the exclusive bottler

of PepsiCo beverages in the Philippines, serving at least 440,000 outlets and manufacturing brands such as Pepsi-Cola, Mirinda, Mountain Dew, 7-Up, Mug, Gatorade, Lipton and Tropicana, earlier announced plans to venture into the powdered juice market this year. “Metrobank, being a major banking partner of Pepsi in the Philippines, is happy to support the company in this expansion project. The bank has been consistent in putting our customers at the front and center from across the supply to distribution chain, especially now given the overall bullish theme anchored on a very strong domestic consumer market,” said Anthony Ocampo, senior Vice President and Head of the Large Corporates Division of the Corporate Banking Group of Metrobank.

Metrobank inks loan agreement with Pepsi

eTrOPOLITAn Bank and Trust Co (Metrobank) signs an agree-

ment for a loan facility with Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI) to help finance the

LOAN AGREEMENT. Metrobank signs a loan agreement with Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines (PCPPI) to help the latter finance its expansion in the country this year. The agreement was signed by Fabian Dee, President of Metrobank, and Partha Chakrabarti, President of PCPPI (3rd and 4th from left, respectively); and witnessed by (from

It Figures

P729.8 billion THe Philippine government settled debts totaling P729.8 billion in 2012, an increase of one percent over the P722.8 billion it paid in 2011, the Bureau of the Treasury reported.

P10 billion CUsTOMers of Manila electric Co., the country’s biggest power distributor, can soon expect refunds from the P10 billion worth of transmission line costs that were overcharged by the state-run Power sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PsALM) starting in 2006. PDI, March 18, 2013

left) Metrobank Corporate Banking Group Deputy Head Joey Chan; Bliz Cuna, Senior Executive Vice President and Institutional Banking Sector Head, Metrobank; PCPPI Vice President for Treasury Tae Hong Roh; and Imran Moid, Senior Vice President and CFO of PCPPI

P13.53 billion 187,000 tons JG summit Holdings Inc., a com-

pany controlled by the Gokongwei family, reported that its net income in 2012 reached P13.53 billion from the previous year’s P8.48 billion. Consolidated revenues grew 9.5 percent to P135.25 billion in 2012 from the previous year’s P123.5 billion as most its subsidiaries posted decent growth.

THe Philippines is set to import 187,000 metric tons of rice as buffer stock for this year’s lean season, through a government-to-government deal, according to Agriculture secretary Proceso Alcala.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.6 ISSUE 5 • THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT 7

Gov’t, partners plan more research on PHL crocodiles G

OVernMenT and its partners will further research the Philippine crocodile (scientific name: Crocodylus mindorensis) to better understand its nature and environmental impact so strategies can be developed to effectively conserve and increase population of this endemic but critically endangered specie. That research will follow the scheduled March 22 release of 36 young farm-bred Philippine crocodiles in Mindanao’s siargao Island Protected Landscape and seascapes, noted Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau which is spearhead-

ing both activities. “We need more information on the specie to better conserve it,” PAWB Dir. Ma. Theresa Mundita Lim said Tuesday at a briefing on the planned release. she noted the specie might have previously inhabited sIPLAs. Authorities are racing to conserve ‘Crocodylus mindorensis’ as experts already cited this freshwater animal as the world’s most endangered crocodilian specie. “such specie’s population is officially estimated at about 250 adults only though some suggest there could be more,” said Vicente Mercado, presi-

dent of the six-member domestic crocodile farmers’ group Crocodylus Porosus Philippines Inc. which is partnering with PAWB on the undertaking. PAWB said the specie was earlier reported in Luzon, Mindoro, samar, Leyte, Masbate, negros, Mindanao and Jolo islands. ‘Crocodylus mindorensis’ is nationally protected under republic Act 9147 (Wildlife resources Conservation and Protection Act) and other Philippine laws. “It’s also internationally protected under the Convention on International Trade in endan-

gered species of Wild Fauna and Flora,” PAWB

noted. PAWB and its partners earlier commenced undertaking the Philippine Crocodile release Program in sIPLAs. The program targets establishing a viable and free-ranging population of C. mindorensis in the area.

Aside from conservation and research purposes, PAWB said the project aims to enhance siargao’s eco-tourism potential. “We’re not just conserving for the specie’s survival but also have in mind benefits of communities there,” Lim said. she said siargao residents will be tapped to

help monitor crocodiles released in the wild there. They’re no stranger to crocodiles since a specie called C. porosus abounds in area, noted Mercado. He said such specie is already commercially farmed in the Philippines and elsewhere, being much sought after for its prized skin. [PnA]

He ongoing campaign of “no stairway to Mt. Apo” will continue amidst the different reactions coming from the separate sectors according to its leader on Tuesday. “We will continue to be noisy and we want the whole mountaineering community to join us in shouting ‘no stairway to Mt. Apo!’,” said Danilo “Jhune” Bacus, vice-president for Mindanao of the Mountaineering Federation of the Phils. Inc. (MFPI) and president of the Tribung Mindanao Mountaineering Club (Trimmoc), during Tuesday’s sCOOP of The royal Mandaya Hotel. Bacus said they would not care who would be angry of their protest because their only concern is to preserve the beauty of the highest peak in the country. He led 150 mountaineers in Manila for the seven-kilometer walk “no stairway to Mt. Apo” campaign held from sM Mall of

Asia to the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta last sunday. At least 860 mountaineers from different clubs in Davao City had also joined a similar campaign last March 16 during the “Araw ng Dabaw” parade. The Kidapawan City government reportedly has a proposal to construct a seven-kilometer stairway to the summit of the 2,954 high Mt. Apo natural Park. According to Ali M. Hajinasser, chief of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Division of Department of environment and natural resources (Denr)-12, the plan has been presented to the multi-sectoral Protected Area Management Board (PAMB). PAMB, which is tasked with overseeing developments in the area and is vested with the authority to approve projects in the park under republic Act 7586, or the national Integrated Protected Areas systems Act., however, has yet to approve. [PnA]

Davao River system designated water quality management area T By AnTonIo M. AJEro

He Davao river system has been designated as a water quality management area (WQMA), pursuant to the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004, also known as republic Act 9275. This was announced by lawyer Joseph Dominic Felizarta, Davao City community environment and natural resource office (Centro) acting chief. Felizarta said the designation is contained in Administrative Order no. 2013-04 signed by environment secretary ramon Paje, who said the order “aims at protecting and improving the water quality of the Davao river to make it a sustaining resource for the people of Davao City.” Coverage The Davao river WQMA shall cover the river’s natural or man-made

tributaries that are within the WQMA boundary, including the land embraced by the hydrologic unit identified through various maps. The order pinpointed 56 control points which were determined by a survey of the highest elevation of various areas draining to the Davao river that “shall comprise the geographic coordinates of the QWMA and its watershed.” Jurisdiction The order also bared the political/administrative jurisdiction of the QWMA as determined by the environment Management Bureau (eMB) of the Department of environment and natural resources (Denr). The jurisdiction encompasses 10 barangays in the first legislative district, seven in the second

district and 38 in the third -- barangays 1-A, 2-A, 5-A, 8-A, 19-B, 38-D, 40-D in the poblacion, Bucana, Ma-a and Magtuod in the first district; Buhangin Proper, Callawa, Mandug, Tigatto, Waan, Malabog and sumimao in the second, and Baguio Proper, Cadalian, Carmen, Gumalang, Malagos, Tambobong, Tawan-tawan, Wines, Calinan Proper, Dacudao, Dalagdag, Dominga, Inayangan, Lacson, Lamanan, Lampianao, Megcawayan, Pangyan, saloy, Bantol, Malamba, Marilog Proper, salaysay, suawan, Tamugan, new Carmen, new Valencia and Talandang in the third. Governing board A WQMA governing board to be chaired by the eMB regional director has also been created. The members include about 30 personalities repre-

senting national government agencies in region 11, multi-agency bodies, the mayor of Davao City, the sangguniang Panlungsod environment and natural resources committee chairman, the general manager of the Davao City Water District, the president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., representative of the Davao City Watershed Management Council and many others. The terms, vacancy and compensation of the governing board shall be governed by Department Administrative Order (DAO) 2005-10. Functions secretary Paje’s order listed a total of 14 functions of WQMA governing board, which is mandated to meet at least once a month. AMA

for 2012. This year, we hope that green initiatives from other sectors will be recognized and highlighted in the next batch of Lunhaw Awardees.”, said IDIs executive Director Ann Fuertes. For 2013, the search will now include initiatives coming from the areas of education/Advocacy, Waste Management, Pollution Control, energy ,and Forest-based Initiatives. “The inclusion of the new categories underscore our support for Davao City’s thrust to provide an environment which is healthy and sustainable for its residents.

Davao is a trailblazer in terms of the number of environmental ordinances passed; this Award serves to strengthen the current policy direction by highlighting the successful green practices of its citizens.”, Fuertes said. Organized by the City Agriculturist’s Office (CAO), the City environment and natural resources Office (CenrO), Davao Association of Catholic schools (DACs), Davao City Water District (DCWD) and IDIs last 2012, the Lunhaw Award seeks to recognize initiatives by individuals or groups which use innovative and sustainable practices to protect the envi-

ronment. The contest is open to initiatives which have been practiced in the city for a minimum of two years. entries are judged according to the following criteria: environmental and economic Benefits, Use of renewable energy, replicability, sustainability and Innovation. The winners will be announced next year during the 2014 Araw ng Dabaw celebrations. each Lunhaw Awardee will be receive P5,000, a trophy and a bag of organic goodies. nomination forms can be obtained from the offices of the organizers or downloaded at http:// www.idisp

Protest campaign on against proposed stairways to Mt. Apo

Lunhaw Awards 2013 includes more categories QUIPS

HIs year’s search for green initiatives has been expanded to include more categories, according to co-organizers of the Lunhaw Awards. Launched last Friday during the Araw ng Dabaw festivities, the search for this year’s best green initiatives will run the whole year and culminate in the city’s foundation day in 2014. The Interface Development Interventions (IDIs), one of the award co-organizers, said that the change meant more initiatives in Davao City can be recognized. “Organic farming practitioners comprised most of the awardees

‘oh how I would like a Church which is poor and for the poor!”

--Pope Francis (former Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina).

8 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.6 ISSUE 5 • THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Abrazos para Papa Francisco (Conclusion)

A SOJOURNER’S VIEW

By Karl M. GaSpar CSSr

EDITORIAL

Back to basics

Here is more to school woes than just tuition fees. If you are a graduating student, there’s more to worry about. sample this. Thesis writing expenses, graduation fees, contribution for graduation ball, yearbook, souvenir program, toga rental, graduation dress and shoes. With all that taken into account, it’s more expensive to graduate from school than to stay in school. We need not do the Math. That’s simple arithmetic. That’s the hard reality. If a young student takes her life for being stopped from going to school because her fees are unpaid, as in the case of UP Manila student Kristel Tejada, how else can one aspire to graduate when the cost of that one great march in March is so high a price to pay? Can our schools make it simple? Perhaps we can take out some of the non-essential ancillary events to the graduation, like a graduation ball, or simplify the ceremonies and cut down on the fees for graduation and

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yearbook. Mandatory solicitation for yearbook has always been a lament by parents and students. The cost, almost always, falls on the pockets of the graduates because it is never easy asking for solicitations these days. At the end of the day, nothing is left for even a simple celebration for the graduate’s family. everything has been sucked dry by the long list of fees. That dream of marching for one’s diploma has become so expensive that by the time one walks to the stage to that familiar graduation marching tune, one’s smile has already faded from the excruciating battle to settle fees for this, fees for that, and God knows what other fees. It’s time schools go back to the basics. Afterall, the essence of graduation rites is that moment when you receive your diploma which is the symbol of one’s educational accomplishment. How about this for a shift to the basics--make the final exams more difficult to answer, but make the cost of marching easier to pay.

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eVer was Philippine society so divided and the lines were very clear: you either opposed the regime and did so with risks involved or you were in favour of its hold on power. Those who thought they were neither by staying “neutral” were actually on the side of those who favoured Marcos and his ilk. reflecting Philippine society, the Church, too, was divided. There were bishops, priests, pastors, religious, seminarians and lay people who resisted the evil of martial rule; alas, they were a small minority. The rest would only wake up when it was safe and fashionable to go yellow! Which was why when many of us became direct victims of the repression, there were church leaders who looked the other way. I would like to think I understood why and never bore a grudge against any one, including my very own Archbishop. And the reason was because there were other bishops, priests, religious, seminarians and lay people who were not afraid of the consequences of their stance and stood by those whose human rights were so brazenly violated. And for me, there was Bishop Federico escaler sJ. He was rector of the Ateneo de Davao for most of my college years. When he became Bishop of Kidapawan he made it very clear that he wanted the Local Church to make a preferential option for the poor; in a martial rule, that also meant fully supporting the human rights campaign. He and the late Bishop Bienvenido Tudtud of Marawi were my “bosses” when I worked as executive secretary of the defunct Mindanao-sulu Pastoral Conference secretariat. After I finished my term at the MsPCs, I got arrested. And to my eternal gratitude both of them stood by me despite the risks. And I was to find out later on that Bishop escaler moved heaven and earth to meet with Madame Imelda Marcos to ask her to intervene on my behalf so I could be released from prison. she did meet him but Bishop escaler was sorry he could not charm her enough so she would do the favour. I would like to believe that this kind of story may have taken place in the life of Fr. Bergoglio and an Argentinian activist. As I would like to believe that he, as Pope Francis, is truly serious about the Church becoming a Church of the poor; but more so in walking the talk. I would like to further believe that his notion of being Church of the poor follows the track of his fellow Latin American Bishop, the late Helder Camara of Brazil, whose quote remains close to my heart when he said: “When I gave bread to the hungry, people called me a saint. But when I asked why they were hungry, they called me a communist.” For now, abrazos Papa Francisco! We embrace you in our hearts and wish you well. [Mindanews/redemptorist Brother Karl Gaspar of Davao City, former head of the redemptorist Itinerant Mission Team and author of several books, including “To be poor and obscure,” and “Mystic Wanderers in the Land of Perpetual Departures,” writes two columns for Mindanews, one in english [A sojourner’s Views] and the other in Binisaya [Panaw-Lantaw].]

EDGEDAVAO VOL.6 ISSUE 5 •THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

A free press without total freedom

Do we care?

ANAlYSIS By John lloyd

THE WORM’S-EYE VIEW

OUrnALIsM gyrates dizzily between the dolorous grind of falling revenue and the Internet’s vast opportunities of a limitless knowledge and creation engine. On the revenue front, no news is good. The just-published Pew Center’s “state of the Us news Media” opens with the bleak statement that “a continued erosion of news reporting resources converged with growing opportunities for those in politics, government agencies, companies and others to take their messages directly to the public.” not only, that is, is the trade shrinking, but those who once depended on its gatekeepers have found their own ways to visibility. Journalists’ task, as large as any they have collectively faced in 400 years of their trade’s existence, is to find a way to continue the journalism that societies most need and citizens are least willing to pay for: detailed, skeptical, truthful, fair, investigatory writing and broadcasting. It’s a big ask. The British are in the process of not answering it. They are staging a sideshow: not an unimportant one, but in a minor key all the same. Over the past two years, a series of alleged crimes – illegal interception of phone messages, bribery, blackmail, perverting the course of justice, theft – have been committed by journalists working for the British tabloids. The Leveson In-

VANTAGE POINTS

(1st of two parts) quiry, prompted by revelations of phone hacking, and subsequent police investigations have laid bare a shaming landscape of cruelty and criminality. Many politicians of all parties bowed before the perpetrators, adding to the shame. redress is planned. Over the past few days, the three main party leaders have agreed to a much stricter regime of press regulation. The political parties, sensing that the popular mood has been and may remain critical of the tabloids, have also agreed (it seems; the deal may still fall apart) to put their collective weight behind a regulator with the power to levy fines up to £1 million and to command prominent display for corrections. The tabloids, led by rupert Murdoch’s sun, the most popular daily in the land, cry tyranny. That cry is most eloquently uttered by Trevor Kavanagh, the paper’s veteran political columnist, who warned on Tuesday that “once politicians seize control of that voice [a free press], whatever their promises and assurances, there is nothing to stop them gagging it altogether.” British tabloid journalism, which of-

ten shocks foreigners with its brutality, sees itself, in the minds of its editors and owners, as in the great line of British arguments for press freedom – John Milton’s Areopagitica; John Wilkes’ “seditious” defiance; the caustic cartoons of Hogarth and rowlandson; John stuart Mill’s “On Liberty”; George Orwell; and the tradition, in print and broadcast, of investigative journalism. The regulations’ supporters, which include some of the “upmarket” (or, as tabloid editors like to say, ”unpopular”) papers, see the tabloids as mendacious, careless of ethics and shameless in their avidity for salacious detail – an avidity which prompted most of their criminal behavior. nevertheless, the government’s reaction is well-meaning but wrongheaded. The Internet has exposed a truth as old as journalism, disguised in the last two centuries by journalism’s professionalization. Journalism is not and cannot be a certified profession. Unlike medicine, or the law, or the academy, or for that matter plumbing, carpentry and auto mechanics, it’s not something that requires lengthy training, professional standards and a certificate of competence. It can be done by anyone who can observe, write and/or broadcast. It belongs not to a guild of protected practitioners but to the citizenry. Journalists ‘r’ Us.

Social media life: What privacy?

T was almost quaint: Google’s recent apology for privacy violations. Granted, it came in the face of a lawsuit where the company got its hand slapped for “data-scooping,” a wonderful phrase that could be the slogan of our current lives. Google was found to have crossed the line with its street View Project, where in addition to photographing houses and buildings along the world’s streets and avenues, the Googilians scooped up all manner of personal information from zillions of unencrypted wireless networks. really? I’m shocked. not. Who doesn’t data scoop is my question? I look at a bathing suit on line. For the next few weeks, whenever I open my laptop it pops right up. It’s like I am being stalked by a bathing suit. I vow to never ever succumb again to online shopping, a resolve that crumbles faster than my new Year’s resolutions. every day I am online giving away — not just bits of information but bytes of my soul, or at least that’s the way it feels. Obviously the social media sites, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Foursquare, et al, are the most glaring examples. We can complain about Google and about the predatory identity thieves out there who hack into our so-called private information. But the truth is we are the saboteurs of our own privacy. We have signed on for this ride. We have put ourselves out there to an aston-

COMMENTARY By anne Taylor FleMinG

(1st of two parts) ishing degree. I do some of this myself: I blog therefore I am. People post back: lovely things, nasty things. I don’t know these people. Why do I care? I see in myself what I see in others, a turn towards the spotlight — or the cyberlight, if you will. A willingness to live a large part of life in public, to give away part of myself, to spill my guts, my sorrows — over losing a mother, for example, as I did not so long ago — in a cheap and easy way. There is our now reflexive-compulsive need to run to the laptop or message or tweet. even the president and the pope are tweeting (the last one anyway; we don’t know about the new one). We are on a share high. We don’t sit with the grief or, for that matter, with the joy. We don’t let it register, penetrate the nerve endings. In our frantic efforts to recycle our deepest feelings, they become, in the process, less deep. We cheapen ourselves and our memories. We don’t even let them settle before repackaging them for public consumption. For shame. I feel that often: that shame.

Two steubenville, Ohio, teenage boys sunday were found guilty of raping an inebriated girl at a party, as other kids tweeted and texted about the incident and sent out picture and videos. she was so drunk that the teenager found out the details of her sexual assault on social media. These texts and online videos were key to the charges against the high-school football stars. I would say: unbelievable. But on some level it isn’t anymore. By the dark grace of our technology, we are all voyeurs now — even of a rape. On a different level, something else is happening: My writing is getting worse, slicker — like that of so many others. not so long ago, a friend sent me the Facebook posting from someone she knows who had just fallen in love with an old boyfriend. It was a love letter to him. I was embarrassed by it — yes, because it was personal (a concept we have lost) — but mostly because it was goopy and badly written. That’s the problem. Art takes time. Art takes quiet. Art is sacred. It will not come in a flash of self-revelation. We are becoming decidedly less artful. We are giving away so much so fast — the feelings, thoughts, highs and lows — that we don’t take the time to make all that into something larger, more lovely — certainly better written. We are all shooting from the hip not the heart — or better yet, the mind.

(Conclusion)

Manny ValdehueSa

OO long has lack of knowledge and information about this grassroots government emasculated Filipinos. In their ignorance, they are unable to influence governance, unable to impose their will upon their own officials—servants who take them for granted and act like they are the masters. This explains why Filipinos do not oversee their own community or participate meaningfully in its governing process, making grassroots governance susceptible to manipulation and corruption. It is this susceptibility to manipulation and corruption that makes it imperative for the educated sector of every community—the A & B category of residents (generally viewed as role models and pace-setters)—to be attentive to their barangay’s affairs. Their involvement is important for inducing the solidarity needed to keep the community together, to add vigor to its democratic process, to make it vibrant but peaceful, to induce progress and stability, to ward off or keep away bad influences, and to resist manipulation and corruption. Teaching by doing The Assembly on March 30 is a chance for those who claim to want to “educate” people about values or civics. Affirmative acts that promote good governance or exemplify responsible citizenship can better educate the electorate than lectures, just as deeds and good example more effectively “teach” values and ethical standards than sermons. The outlook, standards, and work ethic of progressive sectors need to be affirmed/demonstrated in the community for the edification of the masses. It will motivate them to be discriminating about their political decisions, and “teach” them to vote wisely. Let the March 30 Assembly be an opportunity for affirmative action in our respective communities. It’s one of those little happenings in the barangay that make up the big things in the nation, just as the customs and practices at grassroots level make up the culture of a nation. Carpe’ diem! For a more elaborate background on why we should participate, ask us for the paper, “essential Attributes of the Barangay” or the GBM’s Yellow Book. [MindaViews is the opinion section of Mindanews. Manny Valdehuesa is the president and national convenor of Gising Barangay Movement Inc. He can be reached at valdehuesa@gmail.com ]

QUIPS

‘I can say categorically that in banning journalists from covering the Sabah events, Malaysia is incontrovertibly violating international law on human rights, particularly the International Covenant on Civil and Political rights.’

--Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago

10 COMMUNITY SENSE L

VOL.6 ISSUE 5 • THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

YMCA Davao cites Tan as 2013 Most Outstanding Youth Leader

OrrAIne Antoinette T. Tan, 16, an acknowledged student leader and a senior from the Davao Christian High school, was adjudged by the YMCA of Davao as the 2013 Most Outstanding Young Leader of Davao City. The city-wide search for the most outstanding young leader is one of the leadership programs of YMCA Davao that awards young achiever, who manifested exemplary performance in pursuing excellence in academics and extra-curricular activities. In addition to a plaque and medallion, YMCA Davao, under the auspices of the Don Cesareo Villa-Abrille Foundation Inc., also gives away a P10,000.00 cash prize to the top 3 honorees - P5,000.00 for the top winner, P3,000.00 for the 1st runner up and P2,000 for the 2nd runner up, respectively. Moreover, the 3rd runner up is recognized with a special plaque, named Past President Jose B. Custodio Leadership Award. not only is Lorraine Tan a consistent honor student since grade

school, she is also a well-rounded individual. Among others, she is an editor-in-chief of the school paper, writer, a poet, public speaker, an artist, a pianist, a performer, singer and sports enthusiast, roll into one. she had been equally involved in numerous campus organizations. The conviction of Tan, that being “a leader is more than just sticking to the codes of moral conduct but is also setting an example for others to follow,” had motivated her to excel as a leader and become a role model for others. Gabriela Zenia e. sayon, 16, of Precious International school of Davao was chosen 1st runner-up while Denise Faith U. Garcia, 16, of Davao Christian High school was declared 2nd runner-up. sayon considers the youth as idealists and visionaries who are, among others, “the gatekeepers of the future of our community.” On the other hand, Garcia defines an outstanding leader as “a servant who puts others above self,” one who “finds joy in helping others.”

YMCA 2013 MOST OUTSTANDING YOUNG LEADER. Lorraine Antoinette Tan of the Davao Christian High School, adjudged Most Outstanding Youth Leader of Davao City, receives from Pres. Leoncio Villa-Abrille (extreme left), 1st VP Jose Custodio (center) and Director Severo de la Cruz a plaque, a me-

reil Obinque Benedict s. Obinque, 15, of Lower Tamugan national High school, who ranked 3rd runner-up, was awarded the Past

President Jose Custodio special Leadership Award. Obinque describes a young leader as one “who has the desire to lead and the interest

March 8, at the Holiday Inn at Clark, with executive Vice President and Corporate Banking Group head Alfonso “Yogi” salcedo Jr. holding a media briefing and presenting an overview of the program, along with senior Vice President reymundo “Budong” sL Castro, assistant vice president Pearl

Padilla. Andrew Bateson of Genus Pig Improvement Co. (Genus PIC) talked about “Genus PIC, Helping nourish the World” followed by Vincent Borromeo, who discussed “World-class Pig Production in the Philippines.” BPI also brought along its experts in sustainable energy Finance, which is expected to show that agribusiness companies can use farm waste as energy source and thus reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. Technical lectures on livestock production and poultry management capped the event. “The agriculture sector is highly important for the Philippines as it promotes food security. Agriculture promises to be the key to alleviate poverty among millions of Filipinos who depend on farming and livestock raising. A stronger agri sector is needed to sustain growth and food sufficiency,” BPI said.

BPI pushes agribusiness dev’t in Luzon, Mindanao B

EDGEDAVAO

AnK of the P h i l i p p i n e Islands (BPI) is betting heavily on agriculture this year and is increasing its involvement in the sector by launching a loan program designed to benefit livestock raisers in Central and north Luzon and in the expanding business corridors in

Mindanao like Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Gen. santos. Through its BPI Agribusiness solutions, the bank has crafted a program that would support commercial poultry raisers and hog farmers. For starters, the bank formally launched BPI Agribusiness solutions last

LAUNCHING. At the launch of BPI Agribusiness Solutions, from left to right: BPI SVP and Head of Provincial Lending Reymundo SL Castro, PIC Philippines, Inc. Gen-

eral Manager Vincent Raphael M. Borromeo, BPI EVP and Corporate Banking Group Head Alfonso “Yogi” Salcedo Jr. and BPI AVP and Head of Agribusiness Pearl Padilla.

dallion and a P5,000.00 cash prize from Don Cesareo Villa-Abrille Foundation Inc. during the awards ceremonies held on March 15, 2013 at the Multi-Purpose Hall of YMCA Davao. [Photo by Jupjop Salera]

to serve.” The Department of education of region XI recognized Obinque as an outstanding leader when he became president of the Federation of supreme student Government, Division of Davao City. Included in the 10 finalists were rnice Delgra (Ateneo), Dewy rose escueta (Davao Central High), Paula Combista and Ara Arianne Tuga-on (both from Bernardo Carpio national High), ethel Tricia Tan (Davao City special national High)

QUIPS

and Mervin stewart Uy (Davao Central High). There were 26 nominees in all from 19 schools in the city that participated in the 2013 search. The search for the Most Outstanding Young Leader, conducted annually under the auspices of YMCA Davao, recognizes the achievements of the youth leaders in Davao City. Moses shoon Cam, of Davao Christian High school was last year’s recipient of the top honor. [By Frances Marian V.A. Castana]

‘It’s full of values and lessons in life. I think people relate to that. They all want to be entertained. They feel good after watching the show.’

--actor Richard “Sir Chief” Yap pDi, March 13, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

Mercury...

Illegals

FFROM 1

contain excessive levels of mercury: Fruit and Lovely Quickacting Whitener and speckle remover package; 6 Days specific eliminating Freckle Whitening sun Block Cream, and Green Olive and Papaya natural essence, both manufactured by Yudanting International Cosmetic Group Co.; spring return Ginseng and Pearl natural Pure Plants Whitening Cream which is a product from new York, UsA; TVC spot remover Cream manufactured by The Products from Opbiacus Internatiocionais de Mexico; natural Orange

Whitening and AntiAging Package, both manufacrtured by GLDJB (Harbin) Cosmetics Co. Ltd; and Yoko whitening Cream with sPF-15, manufactured by siam Yoko Co. Ltd. she added that mercury in cosmetic products inhibits the formation of melanin in the skin, resulting in a lighter skin tone and there had been cases of adverse health effects brought about by highly toxic mercury in this product. Legaspi said that absorption of high level of mercury in a short period of time may lead

to severe gastroenteritis, burning mouth pain, salivation, abdominal pain, vomiting, colitis, nephrosis and anuria. she added that local government units (LGUs) and enforcement agencies must coordinate with FDA to apprehend vendors or outlets found selling the highly toxic cosmetic products to prevent further exposure to consumers and to protect the environment. “We will continue to monitor outlets selling these products in order to stop the rampant distribution of all of these,” she explained.

Bubai chairperson, said that the training is also supported by the Department of social Welfare and Development (DsWD) which will extend capital assistance to the beneficiaries after completing their training.

“The local government support will come in the form of marketing the products to consumers through display centers,” Barquin said. The next training will be conducted in sirip, Calinan. [nJB]

no jurisdiction over those places, but assures Dabawenyos that there are no validated reports of narco-politics in the City. “There are only reports of politicians involved in the illegal-drug trade, but these reports are not yet validated,” he said. The latest drug bust last Tuesday involving a firefighter is another incident where the drug pusher got the illegal-drug supply from Cotabato City. rosales said there are

no illegal-drug laboratories in Cotabato City and the entire province that it belongs to, however, it is the loose backdoor channel that enables illegal-drugs to enter through the ports of the province from foreign countries. rosales, however, did not identify which foreign countries the illegal drugs come from. He said, “there are no ‘big fish’ and no ‘drug lords’ in Davao city, there is only one ‘drug lord’ here, and that is me,” he said with a smile.

entire Davao region. “This number could go higher because only 51 percent of tourist-accommodating hotels and inns submitted their reports,” he said. As of January to Feb-

ruary this year, there was some 55 to 56 percent occupancy rate among hotels and inns in the city; however, this is not a hundred percent submission rate out of the 7,000 available rooms in the city.

smear, and vaccination as this virus can be transmitted from skin to skin or genital to genital, especially by people who have multiple sexual partners,” he said. “Abstinence and monogamy are very import-

ant because it is unfair for women who are monogamous to still acquire the virus due to partners who may have extramarital or sexual encounters or premarital sexual encounters with other partners,” he said.

Water lilies... FFROM 1

machine and flattener. The training is the third of a series of programs by Villar Foundation after it also held similar programs in Barakatan, Toril and Los Amigos in Tugbok. Lolly Barquin, Uswag

Joke only... FFROM 2

ing to the 2006 Us embassy Cable, a non-profit organization that publishes submissions from anonymous whistleblowers. rufa Cagoco-Guiam, one of the authors of the book, said Lanao del sur is a “narco Politic province” with seven local chiefs engaging in the illegal drug trade mimicking a large corporation named “Lucky 7 Club” a corporation where local chief executives handle illicit trade in illegal-drugs. rosales said he has

CTO... FFROM 2

growth last year. Tourist arrivals in the city last year based on the hotels and inns that submitted their accommodation reports reached 1.075 million in Davao City and 1.5 million in the

Less than... FFROM 2

Treatment for cervical cancer costs P150,000 to P500,000, but lately it may reach P1 million, Chua said. “That is why it is best to avoid HPV through abstinence, monogamy, using condoms, annual pap

VOL.6 ISSUE 5 • THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

More Filipinos than Indons were repatriated in 2012 By EJ Dominic Fernandez

Ore Filipinos were repatriated from Indonesia than Indonesians repatriated from the Philippines for illegal entry, according to the eastern Mindanao Command (eastMinCom). eastMinCom’s Lt. Col. Arthur sales bared that 40 Filipinos were repatriated from Indonesia last year, however, he failed to give a figure on how many Indonesians were repatriated from the Philippines in 2012. To strengthen the enforcement of laws in the border areas of Indonesia and the Philippines, eastMinCom deputy commander Capt. severino David said at the Club 888 forum yesterday at The Marco Polo Davao that they will hold the 27th Coordinated Patrol (COrPAT) Operation on the fourth week of this month. COrPAT is an annual activity wherein eastMinCom and its Indonesian navy counterpart called Lantaman 8 conduct

border patrol operations on the high seas of the Philippines and Indonesia to guard the security of each state from expeditious disposition cases, develop joint operation patrol doctrines, and practice naval tactics. David said, “this activity will help repatriate some of our countrymen who were apprehended and are stranded in Indonesia due to illegal entry with no means of coming back.” “In turn, Indonesians who were apprehended and were stranded in the Philippines can also be repatriated to their country with the help of their navy,” he said. sales said, “so far, this year, there were no illegal entrants apprehended, underscoring the last COrPAT’s success in guarding the borders of Philippines and Indonesia.” repatriation is an inter-agency effort which includes the Bureau of Fisheries, Bureau of Customs, Bureau of Immigration,

Bureau of Quarantine, and the Department of social Welfare and Development, according to sales. The opening of the COrPAT operation will be held at the sasa-Panacan seaport on the 4th week of this month, where eastMinCom will station itself at the border of the Philippines and Indonesia for 12 days, sales said. According to the eastMinCom briefer, COrPAT Operation is embodied in the Border Patrol Agreement and the Border Crossing Agreement between the government of the Philippines and Indonesia where a Border Committee from the eastMinCom and the Indonesian navy oversees the implementation of these agreements. The briefer also states that besides border patrol operations, there will be a medical and dental civic action program (Medicap) in Marore, Indonesia and Balut Island in the Philippines.

TOP General Merchandise in Dumaguete City were found to bearing fake ICC stickers. such helmets reportedly were from Double e Trading. Moreover, motorcycle helmets without ICC stickers were sealed by the DTI inside the warehouse of UnITOP General Merchandise in Malabon City, Metro Manila. The issuance of ICC stickers was pursuant to the implementation of the joint Administrative Order no. 1:2011 of the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and DTI, in consonance to republic Act 10054 or the Helmet Law. In Davao, the issuance of ICC stickers for motorcycle helmets started in August

last year. such activity lasted until December 28, the last working day of the year. DTI-Davao regional Director Marizon s. Loreto said the agency’s provincial offices are intensifying their monitoring efforts to properly address this concern. However, Loreto said, the agency needs the vigilance of consumers in order to strengthen their monitoring activities. “We need the support of the public. If they know of an establishment that could be selling helmets bearing fake ICC stickers, please report to us immediately. Our monitoring teams are lean so we definitely need your help,” she said. [DTI 11/JenMendoza]

DTI warns vs fake ICC helmet stickers, asks public support

He Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has issued a warning against possible purchase of motorcycle helmets with fake Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) stickers. The advisory cited the brand names Ben 2, KH, nss, Oscar, Cobra, Pioneer, 2A, and sunstar which may possibly bear fake ICC markings. These brands are imported by Double e Trading, based on the record of DTI’s Bureau of Product standards (BPs) with a registered address of no. 525 Femii Building, A. soriano Avenue, Intramuros, Manila. Further, DTI said the advisory came after some motorcycle helmets sold at UnI-

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VOL.6 ISSUE 5 • THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Realty

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EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS 13

VOL.6 ISSUE 5 • THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

WORLD CHAMPS. Diminican Republic players whoop it up after beating Puerto Rico 3-0 in the finals of the World Baseball Classic in San Francisco. The tournament also saw the fall of the Americans, the inventors of the sport, who were eliminated despite fielding a line-up of Major League players.

Dominicans win World Baseball title s

An FrAnCIsCO (reuters) - The Dominican republic capped off an unbeaten campaign by defeating Caribbean neighbors Puerto rico 3-0 to win the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday. The Dominicans made up for their first-round exit

in the 2009 tournament by taking their record to 8-0 after the title game, five pitchers combining for a three-hit shutout on a rainy, chilly night at AT&T Park before a crowd of more than 35,000. Closer Fernando rodney struck out Luis

Figueroa for the final out to spark a celebration on the mound which continued with the players parading a huge Dominican flag around the field. robinson Cano was named Most Valuable Player of the tournament after hitting .469 with two home

runs, six runs batted in and six runs scored. The new York Yankees second baseman later fielded a phone call from the president of the Dominican republic. After Cano handed the phone off to Jose reyes at the post-game news conference, he was asked how

he felt about returning to spring training after experiencing the high of WBC triumph. “Tonight we’re going to celebrate. Tomorrow we’re going to celebrate and Thursday we’ll worry about spring training,” Cano said with a laugh.

The Dominicans wasted no time getting on the scoreboard with a two-run double by edwin encarnacion off losing pitcher Giancarlo Alvarado giving them a 2-0 lead in the first inning before they added another run in the fifth on erick Aybar’s double.

14 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

Tiger favored to win T

Here are plenty of things pointing towards a Tiger Woods victory this week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. For one, the guy has won at Bay Hill seven times including his breakout win a season ago. And 2013 has been pretty good to Tiger with wins at Torrey Pines and the Blue Monster, making him the only guy on tour with multiple wins thus far this year. Las Vegas is also on board with Woods being the favorite, pegging him at 11-to-4 to win his third event of the season. right behind Tiger is a familiar

VOL.6 ISSUE 5 • THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

face in Phil Mickelson, at 15-to-1, as is Brandt snedeker and Justin rose. sergio Garcia rounds out the five guys that landed at 20to-1 or better odds, with the rest of the names after the jump.

WooDS

DC GOLFERS. A group of Davao golfers with Fr. Bill Larousse formally inaugurated a food business of a Davawenyyo cook whom they helped realize a dream to build his own business. (Boy Lim)

DC Golfers come to aid of a cook

group of Davao businessmen-golfers came to the aid of one promising cook who realized his dream of building his own food business. The golfers led by prominent corporate executive Anthony sasin, Jimmy Larrabaster, Kozo Maeda, Archie Moralizon, Ting Castillo, Louie Brodeth, Mayong Pillerin, nonoy Llamas, Boy Tan and Jeffrey Abejay all contributed to Dennis Lapaz’s

initial business capital to build Lou’s rice Bowl. The new fast food restaurant is located at Mamay road and was recently inaugurated by Fr. Bill Larousse. “Masaya ako na natulungan sa negosyo ko,” said Lapaz. Lou’s rice Bowl, now becoming a favorite among golfers, offers meals from Japanese Teriyaki, Indian Chicken Curry and Pinoy style Chicken Pork Adobo.

UNSTOPPABLE. Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson (3) shoots in front of Oklahoma City Thunder forward Nick Collison (4) in the second

quarter of an NBA basketball game in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

INdulge!

VOL.6 ISSUE 5 • THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

FOOD

D.I.Y. food trip at The Peak’s

Pepper Lunch

Dabawenyos love their meats, in fact, most of the fastest moving items in Durianburg’s restaurants have been the big, juicy, delicious steaks. I myself cannot get enough of it, but unfortunately, such delicious meaty goodness is not made for every day consumption unless you have a fat wallet, or an ultra fast metabolism.

Chris Tiu and Kevin Gaisano.

Tobi Ang and Michelle Seng.

Chris and the staff of Pepper Lunch.

RJ and Stephanie Ong.

Congressman Karlo and Marga Nograles .

enter one of Japan’s hottest food craze, Pepper Lunch. with over 200 stores all over Japan and with many more stores in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and across southeast asia, Pepper Lunch is finally in Davao City to provide mouth-watering steaks and pepper rice but at a price that won’t break the bank. what is unique about this fast casual dining restaurant is the fact that it is the diner who decides on the doneness of the steak they want. This is thanks to Pepper Lunch’s unique hot plate that provides even and intense heat to properly sear and cook the meats and after cooking, keep the rice meal piping hot throughout the dining experience. of course all the Pepper Lunch goodness is not just limited to beef as there are also chicken and salmon variants for those who would like to have lighter fare. Present last March 17 for the blessing and grand opening of Pepper Lunch Davao was basketball star Chris Tiu as well as Gaisano Mall of Davao’s Kevin Gaisano. also present were Davao Congressman Karlo and wife Marga nograles, RJ and stephanie ong, Tobi ang and Michelle seng, as well as friends from Davao’s media. “I love Pepper Lunch’s Pepper Lunch Rice since it is reasonably priced and is actually quite healthy”

Professional basketball player Chris Tiu.

says Chris Tiu “I often get an extra serving of steak especially when I am doing basketball training.” Kevin Gaisano on-theother-hand loves the salmon Pepper Lunch and the shake shake salad. “These are lighter and healthier food choices for those watching their weight.” It may seem the ladies have a sweet tooth as Michelle seng, stephanie ong and Marga norgales all love Pepper Lunch’s Chicken and beef Teriyaki Pepper Lunches. “My son Matteo, loves Pepper Lunch and

Double burger steak.

Beef Pepper Rice every time we visit Gaisano Mall, he would always ask for beef Teriyaki Pepper Lunch with mashed potato,” says Marga “even if we had to take the order out to eat at home.” I personally love Pepper Lunch’s angus Pepper Lunch mixed with lots of pepper sauce to add fla-

vour. of course it helps to really get into the do-ityourself groove as soon as the plates hit the table so as not to dry out the steaks, the cows won’t want that. Follow me on Twitter and on Instagram @kennethkingong for more foodie finds and happenings in and around Durianburg.

Lava Cake a la Mode. Jojie Alcantara with her Shake-Shake Kani Salad.

How to make your own delicious Pepper Lunch Given that Pepper Lunch is a fast casual dining restaurant that relies on YOU yourself to determine the doneness of the steak you order. Haere are a couple of steps to ensure the best Pepper Lunch experience for ultimate nom noms:

Step 1: The steak cooks as soon as it reaches your table and the thinly sliced strips of beef can get overcooked fast. So keep your eye on the beef and start mixing as soon as you see the beef start to lose some pinkness. But resist the urge to mix the rice and beef right away as it might lead to steak that can be a bit too underdone. The key here really

is timing. Step 2: As soon as you like the doneness of the steak, start mixing in the rice and corn together with the steak. Do not forget to add Pepper Lunch’s trademark pepper sauce as this is where most of the flavours for the rice are. Be careful with the sides of the iron plate though as it is still extremely hot. Step 3: Allow the rice and corn to crisp up slightly and the steak to soak up the pepper sauce before taking your first scoop of delicious Pepper Lunch Rice. Of course, try to cool it down a bit first before placing a spoonful into your mouth to enjoy.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge! UP AnD ABOUT

SM Davao to observe Earth Hour on March 23

SM City Davao, in support of the Worldwide Fund for nature (WWF) will be observing the earth Hour on March 23, 8:30PM at the mall’s Parking C. “We encourage our tenants, partners, shoppers and friends to join us. This has become an annual event for us and we continue to be committed to the cause of the campaign,” SM City Davao mall manager Lynette Lopez says. in 2012, over 1,000 Davaoeños participated in the earth Hour observation at SM Davao to the call for lifestyle changes in order to mitigate the effects of global warming. This Saturday, the event will be kicked off by a parade around the mall where representatives from different private and government agencies are expected to participate. Program proper will start at 8PM at the mall’s Parking C. For inquiries, interested parties may call 297.6998 local 126. Like SM City Davao on Facebook and follow @smcitydavao on Twitter for event and promo updates.

CEB launches maiden flight to Bali, Indonesia The Philippines’ largest national flag carrier, Cebu Pacific (PSe:CeB) launched its maiden flight from Manila to Bali (Denpasar), indonesia, last Saturday, March 16. Bali is the airline’s 20th international destination. “CeB launched its direct service from Manila to Bali, just in time for peak summer travel in the Philippines. Bali is now a convenient and affordable option for leisure travelers, honeymooners, groups of friends or families,” said CeB vP for Marketing and Distribution Candice iyog. CeB’s Manila-Bali (Denpasar) twice weekly service is scheduled every Tuesday and Saturday. it will depart Manila at 4:00am and arrive in Bali (Denpasar) at 7:50am. The return flight will depart Bali (Denpasar) at 8:35am, and arrive in Manila at 12:25pm. Bali (Denpasar) is CeB’s 2nd destination in indonesia, aside from Jakarta where CeB operates a four times weekly service. Lowest year-round fares from Bali (Denpasar) to Manila start at PHP3,499, which is up to 38% lower than other airlines. “CeB also aims to tap foreign tourists in Bali who wish to make the most of their holidays, by adding fun Philippines to their travel itineraries. They will surely find CeB’s trademark lowest fares and unbeatable Philippine route network a great value proposition,” iyog added. CeB is also slated to launch flights from Cebu to Camiguin on April 15, from Cebu to Masbate on June 1, and its first long-haul service from Manila to Dubai on October 7, 2013. For bookings and inquiries, guests can go to www.cebupacificair.com, or call the reservation hotlines (02)7020-888 or (032)230-8888. The latest seat sales can also be found on CeB’s official Twitter and Facebook pages.

SUMMER is here at the SM Store and slippers are in! We found a way to beat that summer heat with our first ever SLIPPERS SALE from March 15-31. Get up to 50% OFF on great selections! Happy Shopping!

VOL.6 ISSUE 5 • WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

TRAveL

Raffles and Fairmont Makati makes its debut in the Philippines afTeR almost two decades, Makati warmly welcomed the opening of the Raffles and fairmont Makati, the latest luxury hotels to open in the financial capital of the Philippines. The launching of the Raffles and fairmont Makati, belonging to the globally renowned luxury hotel brands, is a significant milestone and a boost to the tourism industry of the country.

a 30-story tower located at the prestigious new development of ayala Land in Makati is home to a 32 all-suite Raffles Makati, a 280-room fairmont Makati, and 237 Raffles Residences. This new concept of two hotels in one property provides a choice for business or leisure travelers. furthermore, Raffles Residences which are comprised of one to four bedroom apartments, offer residential accommodations for short or long-term stays. The modern look of the stand-out 30-floor building that houses both Raffles and fairmont was conceived by leading architects arquitectonica. The impressive interiors were done by the renowned interior designer company bent severin International. Modern architecture alongside the rich, cultural characteristics of filipino design has created a sophisticated, elegant look abound with filipino art and furnishings. a gastronomic tour for the palate awaits guests at the Raffles and fairmont Makati. spectrum is the vibrant all-day dining restaurant featuring

The Fairmont room

The modern look of the stand-out 30-floor building that houses both Raffles and Fairmont was conceived by leading architects Arquitectonica. The impressive interiors were done by the renowned interior designer company Bent Severin international. five “culinary theaters” to enjoy from. a chic pastry boutique, Café Macaron, offers fresh sandwiches, desserts, pralines and exquisite pastries. The Long

bar was inspired by its namesake, the Long bar in the Raffles singapore, featuring creative liquid concoctions including the famous “singapore sling”.

for quiet and space, the parlour-like writers bar offers a respite from the bustling city. The fairmont Lounge is perfect for afternoon tea and light meals. for meetings and special events, the hotel offers 1,700 square meters (18,000 square feet) of function space including an 859 square meter ballroom. The willow stream spa totals 1,200 square meters (14,000 square feet) of soothing surroundings, featuring five fully equipped treatment rooms, hair salon, full-service nail studio, a mineral pool, an outdoor swimming pool and beautiful terrace offering a luxurious urban retreat.

VOL.6 ISSUE 5 • THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

enTeRTAinMenT

Richard Gutierrez and Marian Rivera reunite in GMA’s My Lady Boss AFTeR the huge box-office success of My Best friend’s Girlfriend five years ago, GMA Films and Regal entertainment, inc. are set to reunite Richard Gutierrez and Marian Rivera on the big screen via My Lady Boss. This film is directed by Jade Castro and will be shown in cinemas this coming April 10.

There is no doubt that the Richard – Marian tandem still has a huge following after their first movie together and this follow up movie will surely make their fans love them even more. My Lady Boss, a romanticcomedy film relives their onscreen chemistry and at the same time shows a different Richard and Marian as they portray more mature roles. And since, Richard and Marian are very much comfortable with each other, all their scenes in My Lady Boss are more “kilig”, intense and realistic. in the story, Richard plays the role of Zach, a rich boy who is forced to find and keep a job after a major blunder in a company he set up. He ends up working for evelyn, the boss from hell, but eventually sees her for who and what she really is. Meanwhile, Marian plays the role of evelyn, an uptight and tough Brand Manager who needs

to hire a new Assistant Brand Manager. When she was dumped by her boyfriend, she finds comfort in Zach, her assistant and sees a different side of him. As they get to know each other and as their encounters become more intimate, they begin to question how they feel f o r

each other. But how will they deal with the situation of them being boss and subordinate working in a company where office romance is prohibited? in the end, Zach and evelyn have to decide what matters to them the most; they need to figure out if love has become a liability or something they can look forward nurturing. My Lady Boss also stars Rocco nacino, Ruru Madrid , Dion ignacio, Sef Cadayona, Tom Rodriguez, Jace Flores, Princess Snell, Petra Mahalimu y a k , Matet De Leon, Bianca Umali, Regine Tolentino, Gerard Pizarras, Pinky Amador and Jackie Lou Blanco. With special participation of Ronaldo valdez, Sandy Andolong and Maricel Laxa – Pangilinan. Don’t miss the much-awaited reunion movie of Richard Gutierrez and Marian Rivera in My Lady Boss as it opens in theaters on April 10, 2013.

Howard Stern:

The Tonight Show will be “the greatest” when I take over LATe night? not a big enough deal for Howard Stern. But The Tonight Show? He’s ready to move right in. “i’ve already contacted [Matt Lauer] about how i’m taking over The Tonight Show,” the radio icon and America’s Got Talent judge joked today on his Sirius XM morning radio show, a week after he called the very idea of him taking over Jimmy Fallon’s post-Tonight

Show slot “an insult.” “This is going to be the greatest Tonight Show ever,” Stern continued. “The guys are going to love it. Maybe not the women demos...but i’m going to deliver a hundred share of the men [in the ratings],” the shock jock cracked. “everybody’s staying up that night!” exclaimed longtime wingwoman Robin Quivers. “That’s why Greenblatt said, ‘You’ve got to take

over the show,’” Stern continued, referring to nBC entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt. While Stern has never missed a chance to slam Jay Leno, the latest Tonight Show commentary comes on the heels of reports (which have so far been denied) that nBC executives are planning to announce Leno’s retirement once his contract expires next year, making Fallon a frontrunner to replace him.

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A4 INdulge! FOOD

VOL.6 ISSUE 5 • THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

Creating Keepsakes food and crafts IT was one of those days – sky was getting darker by the minute and the weather was as unpredictable as change. Despite the heaving clouds, my officemates and I opted to raid the new MTs compound for new food finds. search we have and found we did.

Despite the vacant rooms lies a whimsical looking establishment. aptly named Creating Keepsake’s, the signage alone implies of an impending adventure. Indeed, upon opening and stepping into the store, you would be delighted of the many colors that brings life to it. you cannot help but smile as you get settled in and greeted by their friendly staff. The girl at the counter made us feel like regulars and treated us to the many staples they have for their customers. The first thing that caught my eye was their counter filled with colorful cupcakes and cookies. Vanilla, Chocolate Chips, Cookies and Cream, Red Velvet and Lemon were but some of the many cupcakes that welcomed us. Their sugar cookies were also a sight to see. as colorful as an artist’s palette, such are shaped playfully to catch anybody’s attention. offering more than sweet nothings, they have a full menu that boasts of chicken, beef, pork, pizza and nibbles that are surely to satisfy your hungry tummy. settling for their chicken pieces, my friends went on to order their pizza which was on a buy 1 Take 1 spree. yes, you read that right. Pizza is at buy 1 Take 1 all day long – from opening till closing time. Their fried Chicken was served hot and delec-

Cheese Balls.

Interiors of Creating Keepsakes.

tably crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. My friend got a piece of their Honey Glazed Pork and he tells me it’s so delicious, he could eat it all day. another was their buffalo wings which was nothing like I have tasted. with 5 pieces on your colorful plate and a heart shaped rice, you would be enjoying it bite after another – despite the spicy glaze that comes with it, you would be treated to a rich and flavorful palate adventure! as if we were not yet satisfied with our many orders, we added nachos to the list. served hot off the oven, their nachos are all but tasty and savory at the same time. More so, I fell in love with their Cheese balls served with dip. although my doctor told me to lessen my cheese intake, I cannot help but take a bite after another of their hot and zesty cheese balls.

Sugar Cookies.

Nachos. no regrets there! More than the food from their kitchen and the cupcakes that line their counter, you would be treated to some colorful and fruity shaped packed marshmallows kept in one of their colorful shelves. yes, kids will surely love how they look and taste inside their mouths! oh and I almost forgot, their prices are easy on the budget! aside from their delectable menu, Keepsakes offers scrapbook pieces that could help you get your pictures stand out from that of the rest. Though we are already in the digital age and uploading pictures are as easy as 1-2-3, people (like me) still opts to keep memories in the form of scrapbooks. I like to dwell, for hours, and

Bottles of ice shaker flavors. play with colors and little whatnots for my pictures. It is like relaying the memory in full colors – well, in this case, with the help of pictures. for unique scrapbook pieces, visit their shop and be amazed! you will soon feel like a kid all over again. Visit Creating Keepsakes food & Crafts (fun Dining .Party Place. Crafts) at the Matina Town square (MTs), Mcarthur Highway, Matina, Davao City . Call them up at (082) 2992058. Do you want to be a part of Davao’s Thursday habit? Send me your recipes, questions, suggestions and comments and be featured. If you are interested, then email me at leebai@chefroyale.com or visit www. chefroyale.com for more recipes. Happy Cooking!

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS 15

VOL.6 ISSUE 5 • THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

PINOY PRIDE XIX. Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista (top) strikes a fighting pose after announcing his championship fight against Jose “Negro” Ramirez of Mexico on April 20 in Davao City. Lower photo shows promoter Michael Aldeguer of ALA Promotions. (Lean Daval Jr. and Boy Lim)

Pinoy Pride XIX on April 20 Boom Boom predicts knockout ending versus Mexican Ko artist

By neil Bravo

He country’s biggest boxing promotional series swings to Davao City for the first time with the staging of Pinoy Pride XIX on April 20 which topbills reigning World Boxing Organization International featherweight champion rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista. The ALA Promotions card dubbed as “Mexican Invasion” was formally launched yesterday at The royal Mandaya Hotel. Venue of the fight will be the new UseP Gym in Barrio Obrero. Bautista, who has a ring record of 34 wins 2 losses and a draw with 25 knockouts, will be staking his title against dangerous Mexican Jose “negro

ramirez of Mexico. ALA Promotions CeO Michael Aldeguer bared in yesterday’s fight launch that the card will be bringing in tough Mexican fighters who will be out for the Filipino side’s scalp. ramirez, for one, is described by Aldeguer as a knockout artist with an impressive record of 24 wins, 3 losses with 15 knockouts. Five of those abbreviated wins came in the first round while the rest did not go beyond four rounds. “Definitely he is no pushover. We are not bringing patsies. Like any Mexican, ramirez will come here to fight,” Aldeguer said. Bautista, who arrived

in a dapper black coat and jeans, said he expects a tough fight with ramirez. The Candijay, Bohol native went to the extent of predicting a knockout ending with either man standing after 12 rounds. “naa gyud matumba ani. (One of us will go down in this fight),” said Bautista who has trained under the watchful eyes of his trainer edito Villamor since november last year for his next fight. An aborted fight last December and a recent wrist replacement surgery is not affecting Bautista at all, says Aldeguer. “He is one of the most injury-prone fighters but he is in good shape after the surgery. He is ready to

fight,” Aldeguer added. The fight card will also feature two promising Davao boxers in John Vincent and engelbert Moralde who will be seeing action in the curtain-raisers. The undercard pits the Philippines’ rocky “The road Warrior” Fuentes against Juan “Loquito” Kantun of Mexico in a 112-pound fight, and an OPBF super flyweight championship fight between ALA’s Arthur “el Matador” Villanueva and Wakee salud stable’s Marco Demecillo. Also in the same card is the 126-pound encounter between the Philippines’ Lorenzo “Thunderbolt” Villanueva and Arief “The Ice” Blader of Indonesia.

coat and jeans combo. He was accompanied by ALA Promotions CeO Michael Aldeguer who was in the ALA signature all-black outfit. I swear Boom Boom rocked the house. And he

has not even thrown a single punch. ALA’s decision to bring Pinoy Pride here was spurred by the high television ratings the PP series got in Mindanao and in Davao City in particular. Aldeguer got so intrigued with that high ratings that he decided it was time to bring a big ticket fight to Davao. “Davao always gives us the highest ratings. even higher than Manila audience. Davao is one city which deserves a Pinoy Pride,” Aldeguer told Davao media in yesterday’s press con. Here’s why Pinoy Pride can give Davao a good deal

of favor. One, the fight is shown on overnight delayed telecast over national television (ABs CBn). Two, it is also shown on TFC (The Filipino Channel) and fed in the Middle east, United states, singapore, Australia, among others. And three, it is in the national media (including social media) from its launch to the post-fight. People will be talking about PP XIX and Davao City as well. There could be no mileage bigger than that. Talk about revenues. Imagine the brisk business brought about by the fight, from hotel accommoda-

tions, to food, to transport and merchandise. People will be coming in from the Us and Mexico. not to mention Manila and Cebu. The national media too will be planed in. It’s a made-forTV event. now how about that? Be proud. It’s finally in Davao. Thanks Pinoy Pride. Thanks ALA. ----nOTes: Our sympathies to the family of the late Atong Mangosong, the young and promising motocross rider who died in a freak accident during the Araw ng Dabaw Phoenix Cyclomax Motocross series.

Boom Boom fight puts Davao on global audience

T came by surprise. While all the hoopla was on Davao’s recent events like the MICe Con 2013 and the 76th Araw ng Dabaw, one event that’s sure to place Davao in the global television audience came yesterday all too quietly. Mind you, this event is like a typhoon as sweeping as Pablo and an earthquake with intensity level 8. It may be an exaggeration but yes, many were not prepared to hear this come so swiftly—Pinoy Pride, that top-rating television boxing show, will hit Davao City on April 20. And what better way to shake a long restive boxing scene in

Davao than to bring a fighter who by his name alone, sends shockwaves around Palma Gil street yesterday. Pinoy Pride XIX will be bringing in no less than Boom Boom Bautista, the Boholano Bomber who has always wished of fighting in Davao. Boom Boom’s father Alberto grew up in Davao City and lived here for five years before settling for good in Candijay town in Bohol—that kalamay-producing ‘republic’ known for its chocolate hills and tarsiers. Boom Boom walked into the Kanato Hall of The royal Mandaya Hotel yesterday, rocking in his black

VOL.6 ISSUE 5 • THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 2013

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