Edge Davao 7 Issue 06 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 6 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 23-24, 2014

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BIG TICKET PROJECTS IN PIPELINE

Vista Land investing billions in Davao Region

By GREGORIO G. DELIGERO

greg@edgedavao.net

UOYED by strong performance last year, the country’s largest homebuilder is set to invest up to P40 billion in the Davao Region and neighboring areas in Mindanao in the next five to six years, aside from two malls and three real estate development projects to be implemented in Davao City this year.

Former senator Manuel A. Villar, Vista Land chairman, says the company is rolling out P23 billion

worth of projects this year, a bigger portion of which will be poured into the Davao region.

Vista Land is the dominant player in the low-cost and affordable housing segments, having

built more than 250,000 homes in 34 provinces, 73 cities and municipalities throughout the Philippines. It is the holding company of five business units, Brittany, Crown Asia, Camella Homes, Communities Philippines and Vista Residences. To further strengthen

its dominance in the housing market, Villar said Vista Land is launching a new brand called Lumina, which will sell house and lot products under P1.2 million to serve the low-cost segment of the market. Also available under the company’s new brand are housing units worth

P400,000 which will serve as its compliance with the Urban Development Housing Act (UDHA) of 1992 provision on socialized housing. Section 18 of UDHA requires developers to allocate 20 percent of the land area or total cost of a project for socialized housing.

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2 ON THE COVER EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 6 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 23-24, 2014

BIG TICKET PROJECTS IN PIPELINE Vista Land investing billions in Davao Region

Villar said the Lumina brand, together with Camella for the affordable market, will drive the company’s growth in the next five years even as Vista Land continues to sell vertical projects. “There is a lot of opportunity in low cost and socialized housing segments,” Villar said as he bared more projects under its Camella Homes brand after posting another banner year in 2013 with earnings, real estate revenues and reservation sales hitting all-time highs. Earnings of Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc breached the P5-billion mark last year driven by strong residential sales of its Camella brand. Net income rose 15 percent to P5.06 billion last year from P4.39 billion in 2012, fuelled by a 23 percent growth in real estate revenues to P20 billion. Likewise, reservation sales jumped 15 percent to P46.1 billion from P40.1 billion over the same period. Flagship brand Camella and Communities Philippines, which develops lowcost house and lot prod-

ucts outside Mega Manila under the Camella brand, improved their combined contribution to 75 percent of total real estate revenues from 68 percent last year. The rest came from Crown Asia, Brittany and Vista Residences that cater to the higher segment of the market. Last March 20, Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc secured the top issuer rating from a local credit watcher. Credit Rating and Investors Services Philippines Inc (CRISP) assigned a “AAA” issuer rating with a stable outlook. In assigning the rating, CRISP noted Vista Land’s “leadership in the low-cost and affordable housing market, excellent financial performance, strong management team and a successful operating model.” Vista Land is undertaking its maiden bond issuance to raise P5 billion, which would bankroll the commercial development projects of its subsidiaries. The real estate firm also plans to refinance this year $150 million worth of maturing obligations. The company had a to-

tal land bank of 1,888.20 hectares at end-December. “We are honored by this high credit rating. It recognizes us as a well-managed company. It shows our strength in terms of liquidity and profitability,” Villar said. Last Friday, Camella Davao honored its top salespersons and brokers during its annual awarding night at SM Lanang Premier graced by Villar and other company executives. “We feel good about Southern Mindanao. I feel good and happy to be with you tonight,” he told the over a hundred-strong sales force that jam-packed the SMX ballroom, all wearing formal and elegant attire. Camella Davao contributes a total of P3.5 billion in sales, the highest among the company’s branches in the entire country. Camella Davao general manager Marlon B. Escalicas attributed their strong sales performance in 2013 to expansion projects particularly the Camella housing project in Koronadal, South Cotabato. “More sellers have joined us,” he said.

CAMELLA DAVAO TOP BUSINESS DIRECTORS.(L-R) Camella Davao general manager Marlon Niño Escalicas, Camella Solmin president Jerryle Luz Quismundo, 2nd placer Merlita Romero, 1st placer PCPI Avengers represented by James Austria, 3rd placer Teresita Gonzaga of Excel Group, Camella marketing heads Anna Mae dela Peña and Fritzie Joy Gepolio.

CAMELLA GENSAN TOP BUSINESS DIRECTORS. (L-R) Camella Davao general manager Marlon Niño Escalicas, Camella Solmin president Jerylle Luz Quismundo, Rolando D. Rivera of Selemeder Group, OIC of Camella Koronadal Mailyn Ellodar and Camella GenSan general manager Ivy Rizza Provido.

CAMELLA GENSAN TOP BUSINESS DIRECTORS. (L-R) Camella Davao general manager Marlon Niño Escalicas, Camella Solmin president Jerylle Luz Quismundo, 3rd placer Jenrix Fernandez, 2nd placer Ivy Soliva, and 1st placer Anna Marie Guatlo; Camella GenSan general manager Ivy Rizza Provido and OIC of Camella Koronadal Mailyn Ellodar.

CAMELLA TAGUM TOP BUSINESS DIRECTORS. Camella Davao general manager Marlon Niño Escalicas, OIC Sheila Mae Lara, TOp Business Director PCPI Group represented by Leni M. Opena and Camella Solmin president Jerylle Luz Quismundo.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 6 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 23-24, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 6 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 23-24, 2014

TYPHOON CALOY

Davao City on alert By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

S of yesterday noon, Davao City was still on alert even if public storm signal number one Caloy had been lifted. In a report from the National Risk Reduction and Management Center, the city still activated its operations center. The report said that CDRRMC was still monitoring for any untoward incident and also disseminating of weather updates.

At 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Caloy had made landfall in Tandag, Surigao del Sur at 45 kilometers per hour. Some parts of Mindanao such as Surigao del Sur, Surgao del Norte, Siargao island, Dinagat island, Northern part of Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Northern part of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental and Camiguin island were still

under signal number one. The continuous heavy rains brought by Caloy have affected 3,387 families in some barangays of Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley. Caloy will be in 60 km east of Dumaguete City today. Then, 170 km east of Puerto Princessa on Monday morning and will traverse going to western part of Palawan on Tuesday morning.

City’s ugly, messy overhead wires gone soon- -Avila By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

HE ugly and messy overhead wires in the city will soon be

gone. DAVAO Light and Power Company (DLPC) will present the design of the planned underground cabling to City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte next week. Arturo Milan, president of DLPC told Edge Davao in an interview during the meeting of Mindanao Business Coun-

cil at the Marco Polo Davao last Saturday that they are now finishing some parts of the design which will be implemented this year. “We are targeting to start the project by first semester this year,” Milan said, adding that if not, it will be in the second semester of this year. “We will start the digging once it is approved by the mayor,” he said.

DLPC, a power distribution company in the metro is just one of the partners of the city government in this initiative. Earlier, Councilor Leonardo Avila III said that they have partnered with utilities that are using overhead wires like the Philippine Long Distance and Telephone Co., (PLDT) and a cable company for the project.

wants to invest in processing and manufacturing industry in the city. “But, we do not intend to venture into manufacturing because we don’t have the capacity for that,” said Quitain. However, he said that the city has producers of fruits of export quality that Mexican firms would want to import. Quitain said that they need to talk with them first what could be the pos-

sible trade and investment that they need to be done in the city. Ambassador Villaseñor paid a courtesy call on Quitain the Friday at the city hall Quitain and afterwards on acting-mayor Paolo Z. Duterte at the Sangguniang Paglungsod with a;ong with city council floor leader Tomas Monteverde IV and city tourism officer Maria Felisa Marquez. [ABF]

MEXICAN AMBASSADOR. Ambassador of Mexico to the Phils. Julio Camarena Villaseñor gestures while addressing the guests of the welcome reception in his honor held at the Marco Polo Davao Friday evening. Lean Daval Jr.

BMV lawyers pass test for real estate brokers 7 Dabawenyos among top 10 passers

Mexico opens trade relation with Davao T

HE Mexican government has expressed interest to open trade relations with Davao City. City administrator J. Melchor V. Quitain told reporters in a chance interview last Friday that Ambassador Julio Camarena Villaseñor of Mexico said that they want a trade relationship between the city and its country. He said that his country

FCITY’S, 10

HE Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) released last Friday the passers of the Real Estate Broker Licensure Examination, and among the successful examinees were Atty. Ramon Edison C. Batacan, Atty. Percy Valsan Jun P. Donalvo, CPA, and Atty. Eleanor P. Dela Peña of the Batacan Montejo & Vicencio law firm (BMV law). Managing partner, Atty.

Batacan, stated that this may perhaps signal the start of BMV law’s offer of services which specifically cater to real estate matters and their legal consequences. This future expansion, Batacan said, hopes to provide professional, technical and legal competence to real estate clients in Mindanao. “It has always been the goal of BMV law to operate a fully integrated legal and cor-

porate service as it drives itself towards being a regional leader in the legal profession. Successful legal advice is measured by a responsiveness to the changing needs of the clientele, and admittedly, such needs now comprise real estate concerns”, Batacan said. Attys. Batacan, Donalvo and Dela Peña are the firm’s first lawyers to take the REB licensure exam.

tional Bureau of Investigation, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency should start tapping social media as powerful tool in informing the people of the identities of fugitives from the law. Even the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, Recto added, can create a Facebook page showing the list, faces, and last known addresses of illegal recruiters who have been issued judicial warrants of arrest. “It’s not just Facebook,

there’s also Twitter. If we can Instagram the mug shots of wanted persons, the better. We can also post in Youtube the footage of their capers which have been caught on cam,” Recto said in batting for the online posting of a rogues’ gallery in various social media sites. In the case of Facebook, in which the Philippines was ranked 8th globally in 2012 in number of users, it provides a portal where a netizen can view “what notorious

FBMV, 10

Law enforcers urged to post Solving the power crisis wanted criminal on Facebook M

INDANAO residents experienced a regionwide blackout last Feb 37 grid went off from 1:30 am to 4:30 am which puzzled not only Mindanaoans but also distribution utilities and electric cooperatives. Last Saturday, the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) recorded a shortage in power supply of 106 megawatts (MW) while the demand peaked at 1,256 MW. Authorities in the power sector usually make pronouncements of possible rotating brownouts even before

the summer period starts. However, “there is a big solution to this big problems.” This is according to Engr. Randelle U. Espina, vice president for committee on energy of the Davao Inventors Association Inc., (DIAI) who suggest that residents of Mindanao should practice power management and net metering. Espina said that if only if the “politicized” power industry movers would allow the people to know what are the alternatives that can be used as solution to power crisis, this can be ended. “The problem here is that

the people don’t know anything and those players in the power industry don’t want the people to know because it is big business,” he said. Net metering, according to R.A 9136 otherwise known as the Energy Power Industry Reform Act, encourages consumers to build their own renewable energy (RE) system, “such as a solar photovoltaic system on their roofs.” Last December, 2013 the Department of Energy in cooperation with the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB), launched the “Net

FSOLVING, 10

EN. Ralph Recto on Saturday urged the law enforcement agencies to create a Facebook account which features the country’s thousands of wanted persons to forewarn the public and seek their help in bringing these fugitives to justice. “Uploading the pictures and profiles of these wanted criminals on FB is easy and free. It is not that complicated,” Recto said. He added that agencies like the Philippine National Police, the Na-

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5 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 6 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 23-24, 2014

3000 kilos of ‘hot meat’ seized in Davao in 2013 T

HE Davao City Veterinarian’s Office (CVO) confiscated last year a total of 3,129 kilos of illegally slaughtered meat from the city’s public markets. This was only 78% of the office’s target of 4,000 kilos of illegal meat for the year. According to the city’s annual report, the highest number of confiscated illegally slaughtered meat was in the third quarter of 2013, with 1,089.75kg. A total of 2013, 879.22 kilos were seized in the second quarter, while 629 kilos and 531.13 kilos were confiscated in the fourth and first quarters, respectively, the report added. According to the city government website, www. davaocity.gov.ph, a total of 5,997.99 kilos of assorted “hot meat” was confiscated from January to August 2012 alone. But the CVO assured the meat products from the city’s public markets are safe to eat. City veterinarian Cerelyn Pinili said regularly monitoring the public markets in Tibungco, Panacan,

Bankerohan, Matina, Calinan, Mintal, Toril, and Agdao. Clarita Pellano, the CVO’s meat, livestock and fisheries inspection division chief, said they are also giving information to consumers on the city’s guidelines on meat consumption and sales. “We will be hanging tarpaulins in the city’s public markets and slaughter houses,” Pellano said. She said the office conducts daily random surveillance of public markets through “spotters” who report on instances of illegal meat being sold there. She said the information campaign will include information on how to spot fish caught via dynamite fishing, locally known as “binuthan”. Pinili said buyers should be more cautious of the meat products that they buy. “If you notice that the meat is slimy and has a foul odor, don’t buy it. It could be double dead meat.” City councilor Edgar Ibuyan, a former barangay captain of Bankerohan, asked buyers to make sure

INDICATION. Locally-made kites are sold by hawkers along E. Quirino Avenue in Davao City yesterday, an indication that summer season has arrived. Lean Daval Jr. the meat products they buy come from the city’s slaughterhouses. “Avoid meat without stamps,” Ibuyan said.

“You’re not only buying clean meat, you are also helping the cooperative that runs this slaughterhouse,” he said.

The satellite slaughterhouse in Bankerohan is run by the Bankerohan Livestock Breeders’ Cooperative.

Ibuyan said the satellite slaughterhouse is able to earn for the city at least P2 million per year. [MindaNews]

6 THE ECONOMY Stat Watch Indicator

Latest

1. Gross National Income 1. GrossRate National Income Growth Growth Rate2000 Prices) (At Constant

7.1 1st Qtr 2013 6.8

2.2.Gross GrossDomestic DomesticProduct Growth Rate Product (AtGrowth Constant 2000 Prices) Rate

7.8 1st Qtr 2013 7.5

(At Constant 2000 Prices)

3. Exports 1/ 3. Exports

4. Imports 1/ 4. Imports

5. Trade Balance Trade Balance 6.5.Balance of Payments 2/

7.6.Broad Money Liabilities Balance of Payments

2nd Qtr 2013

USD 3,741 million 5,045 FebUSD 2013 million USD 4,708 Sep 2013 million FebUSD 2013 5,711 USD -967 million million Sep 2013 Feb 2013 USD -665 USD -640 million million Sep 2013 Dec 2012 P 4,964,560 USD 692 million million Feb Jun2013 2013 P2.45,980,938 % million Mar 2013 Aug 2013

8. Interest Rates 4/

7. Broad Money Liabilities

P113,609 2.0 % million Sep2013 2013 Mar P P5,281 127,336 billion million Mar Sep2013 2013

9. National Government 8. Revenues Interest Rate 9. National Government

10.Revenues National government outstanding debt outstanding debt

P 5,609 P 41.14 Aprbillion 2013

11.Stocks Peso per US $ 12. Composite Index 6/

6,847.5 P 43.83 Mar Sep2013 2013

12. Stocks Composite

6,191.8 132.8 Sep 2013 Apr 2013

13. Consumer Price Index

135.2 Oct2.62013

10.Peso National government 11. per US $ 5/

Sep 2013

13. Consumer Index Price Index 2006=100

2006=100 14. Headline Inflation Rate 14. 2006=100 Headline Inflation

Apr 2013

2.9 Oct3.12013

Rate 15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

2006=100

Apr 2013

2006=100 16. Visitor Arrivals

418,108 Oct 2013 Feb 2013

15. Core Inflation Rate

2.5

382,022 Aug 2013 20.9%

16. Visitor Arrivals

17. Underemployment 7/ 17. Rate Underemploymen

Jan 2013 19.2%

18. 18.Unemployment UnemploymentRate Rate7/

7.1% Jan 2013 7.3%

Rate

Jul 2013 Jul 2013

MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE (January 2011-September 2013) Month Average December November October September August July June May April March February January

2013

2012

2011

43.83 43.86 43.35 42.91 41.30 41.14 40.71 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. 7 ISSUE 6 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 23-24, 2014

BOC sustains revenue collection growth F

OR the third month in a row, cash collections of the Bureau of Customs continued to surge as the agency trimmed its revenue target shortfall in January 2014. Final numbers reconciled by the Bureau of Treasury show total BOC revenue collections reached P29.8-Billion in January 2014, up 21% versus the same month last year. “Although there is still much room for improvement, the numbers prove that the President’s Customs Reform Program has considerably enhanced the growth trajectory of our collections. As we continue to plug loopholes, implement measures that boost compliance of our importers and stakeholders, and go after smugglers, we aim to sustain the double-digit growth momentum in revenues,” said Customs Commissioner John P. Sevilla. For the months of February and March,

FRESHWATER FISH. A fish vendor from Barangay Dunguan in Aleosan, North Cotabato sells freshwater fish for P65 per bunch in Barangay New Leon, also in Aleosan. New Leon is at least 16 kilometers away from the town proper. [MindaNews photo Keith Bacongco] the BOC has to collect P30.184-B and P33.286-B, respectively. Sevilla noted that the growth momentum in revenue collections was hindered by the imple-

mentation of the expanded truck ban in Manila. “Preliminary data indicates a softening of our average daily collection in February. Nevertheless, we will continue

to monitor and extend assistance to the transacting public to ensure that the revenue momentum we have started continues in the coming months.”

For the entire 2014, the DBCC programmed a target collection of P408.1-B, representing about 22% of total revenues of the National Government.

ly disclosing and correcting safety issues about which they were aware, Toyota made misleading public statements to consumers and gave inaccurate facts to members of Congress,” Holder said. “In other words, Toyota confronted a public safety emergency as if it were a simple public relations problem.” In reaching the settlement, Toyota admitted that it lied when it insisted in 2009 that it had addressed the “root cause” of the problem by fixing floor mats that could trap the accelerator. As part of the cover-up, Toyota scrapped plans to fix the “sticky pedal” defect in the United States and instructed employees and its parts supplier not to put any-

thing about the design changes in writing. Lying to public, regulators Toyota eventually revealed the sticky pedal problems and recalled millions of affected vehicles. But it continued to try to cover its tracks by lying to the public, safety regulators and even a US congressional hearing about when the problem was discovered, the settlement agreement said. Perhaps most disturbing for the families of those who died is the fact that Toyota knew about the floor mat problems as early as 2007 but did not think it was serious enough to fix until affected models received a “full redesign” – something that happens only every

three to five years. Internal documents showed that Toyota employees celebrated saving more than $100 million in “unnecessary costs” by convincing safety regulators investigating defect reports in 2007 that only the mats had to be fixed. It hid from regulators evidence that the pedals were also problematic because they sank too close to the floor. Toyota said it has made “fundamental changes” to improve its handling of safety issues and consumer complaints and is “committed to continued improvement in everything we do to keep building trust in our company, our people and our products.” “Entering this agree-

ment, while difficult, is a major step toward putting this unfortunate chapter behind us,” Christopher Reynolds, chief legal officer for Toyota Motor North America, said in a statement. “We remain extremely grateful to our customers who have continued to stand by Toyota. Moving forward, they can be confident that we continue to take our responsibilities to them seriously.” ‘Lasting damage of deception’ Holder warned other car companies to “not repeat Toyota’s mistake.” “A recall may damage a company’s reputation, but deceiving your customers makes that damage far more lasting,” he said. [AFP]

Toyota to pay $1.2B over defect cover-up T

OYOTA Motor Corporation will pay US$1.2 billion to settle US criminal charges that it lied to safety regulators and the public as it tried to cover-up deadly accelerator defects. The Japanese auto giant eventually recalled 12 million vehicles worldwide in 2009 and 2010 at a cost of $2.4 billion as the scandal over sudden, unintended acceleration spread and tarnished its once-stellar reputation. Dozens of deaths were blamed on the defects which caused vehicles to speed out of control and fail to respond to the brake. “Toyota’s conduct is shameful,” Attorney General Eric Holder said. “Rather than prompt-

as of May 2013 Cebu Pacific Daily Zest Air Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Philippine Airlines Daily Philippine Airlines Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sun Philippine Airlines Daily Cebu Pacific Daily Cebu Pacific Thu

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

5:45 5:45 6:00 6:10 7:50 7:50 8:00 9:10 9:40 11:30 12:00 12:55

Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Cebu-Davao-Iloilo Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Zamboanga-Davao-Zamboanga Cebu-Davao-Cebu Iloilo-Davao-Cebu Manila-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila Cebu-Davao-Manila Manila-Davao-Manila

6:15 6:25 6:30 7:00 8:50 8:10 8:30 9:40 10:10 12:20 12:30 13:25

Cebu Pacific Tue/Wed//Sat 5J965 / 5J968 13:35 Silk Air Mon/Sat MI588 / MI588 13:35 Silk Air Wed/Sun MI566 / MI566 15:20 Silk Air Thurs MI551 / MI551 12:05 Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 5J507 / 5J598 15:00 Philippine Airlines August 15:55 Mani2Mani 16:50 Zest Air Daily Z2524 / Z2525 16:05

Manila-Davao-Manila Davao-Singapore Davao-Singapore Davao-Singapore Cebu-Davao-Cebu

14:05 18:55 18:55 15:45 15:30

Cebu-Davao-Cebu

16:45

7 ENVIRONMENT

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 6 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 23-24, 2014

World faces ‘water-energy’ crisis: UN S

URGING populations and economies in the developing world will cause a double crunch in demand for water and energy in the coming decades, the UN said Friday, March 21. In a report published on the eve of World Water Day, it said the cravings for clean water and electricity were intertwined and could badly strain Earth’s limited resources. “Demand for freshwater and energy will continue to increase over the coming decades to meet the needs of growing populations and economies, changing lifestyles and evolving consumption patterns, greatly amplifying existing pressures on limited natural resources and on ecosystems,” the report said. Already, 768 million people do not have access to a safe, reliable source of water, 2.5 billion do not have decent sanitation and more than 1.3 billion do not have mains electricity. About 20% of the world’s aquifers today are depleted, according to the report. Agriculture accounts for more than two-thirds of water use. The World Water Development Report, the fifth in the series by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), is an overview collated from data from scientific studies and investigations by agencies. It said ever more freshwater will be needed for farming, construction,

drinking, cooking, washing and sewerage, but also for energy production – 90% of which uses water-intensive techniques today. The report gave this snapshot of the future: - Global water demand is likely to increase by 55% by 2050. - By then, more than 40% of the world’s population will be living in areas of “severe” water stress, many of them in the broad swathe of land from North Africa and the Middle East to western South Asia. - Asia will be the biggest hotspot for bust-ups over water extraction, where water sources straddle national borders. “Areas of conflict include the Aral Sea and the Ganges-Brahmaputra River, Indus River and Mekong River basins,” said the report. - Global energy demand is expected to grow by more than a third by 2035, with China, India and Middle Eastern countries accounting for 60% of the increase. - In 2010, energy production gobbled up 66 billion cubic meters (2,300 billion cu. feet) of fresh water – more than the average annual flow of the River Nile in Egypt. By 2035, this consumption could rise by 85%, driven by power plant cooling systems that work with water. Thirsty energy Shale deposits and tar sands, driving an energy boom in North America, are especially hefty in their demands for water to force out the precious

gas and oil, the report said. Even so, “they are outstripped by far by biofuels,” said researcher Richard Connor, who headed the study. Renewable sources like solar and wind energy that use far less water are gaining ground, and accounted for about a fifth of global electricity output in 2011, the report said.

But they are unlikely to expand this share significantly if fossil fuels continue receiving the bulk of subsidies, it said. Oil, gas and coal had subsidies of $523 billion (376 billion euros) in 2011, nearly 30% more than in 2010, compared to $88 billion for renewables, the report said, citing International Energy Agency (IEA) figures. Africa, Latin America

was bound to be created in the transition zone because of the ultra-high pressures and temperatures there. A piece of this mineral has been a long-sought goal. It would resolve a long-running debate about whether the poorly-understood transition zone is bone-dry or water-rich. But, until now, ringwoodite has only ever been found in meteorites. Geologists had simply been unable to delve deep enough to find any sample on Earth. Worthless diamond brings luck

brown diamond. Measuring just 3 millimeters (0.12 inches) across and commercially worthless, the stone was acquired by the scientists when they were on a quest for other minerals. But the accidental acquisition turned out to be a bonanza. In its interior, they found a microscopic trace of ringwoodite – the very first terrestrial evidence of the ultra-rare rock. “It’s so small, this inclusion, it’s extremely difficult to find, never mind work on,” Pearson said in a press release, paying tribute to the diligent work of grad student John McNeill. “It was a bit of a piece of luck, this discovery, as are many scientific discoveries.” The team theorize that the brown diamond rocketed to the surface during

and the Caribbean have plenty of potential for hydro-energy, which reuses the precious resource, it added. Hydro-electric dams have been extremely controversial. Big projects deliver gigawatts of power but critics say they are ecologically damaging and prone to massive cost overruns. The review called for a global effort in efficien-

cy gains, pointing the finger at the arid countries of the Middle East where between 15% and 60% of water is wasted through leaks or evaporation even before the consumer opens the tap. The report also called for smart choices in allocating the trillions of dollars likely to be invested in water and energy infrastructure over the next two decades.[AFP]

Earth has a secret reservoir of water –scientists

HUNDRED and fifty years ago, in “Journey to the Centre of the Earth,” French science-fiction forerunner Jules Verne pictured a vast sea that lay deep under our planet’s surface. Today, that strange and haunting image has found an unexpected echo in a scientific paper. Writing in the journal Nature, scientists on Wednesday, said they had found an elusive mineral pointing to the existence of a vast reservoir deep in Earth’s mantle, 400600 kilometers (250-375 miles) beneath our feet. It may hold as much water as all the planet’s oceans combined, they believe. The evidence comes from a water-loving mineral called ringwoodite that came from the socalled transition zone

sandwiched between the upper and lower layers of Earth’s mantle, they said. Analysis shows that a whopping 1.5% of the rock comprises molecules of water. The find backs once-contested theories that the transition zone, or at least significant parts of it, is water-rich, the investigators said. “This sample really provides extremely strong confirmation that there are local wet spots deep in the Earth in this area,” said Graham Pearson of Canada’s University of Alberta, who led the research. “That particular zone in the Earth, the transition zone, might have as much water as all the world’s oceans put together.” Ringwoodite is named after Australian geologist Ted Ringwood, who theorized that a special mineral

Good fortune, though, changed all this. In 2008, amateur gem-hunters digging in shallow river gravel in the Juina area of Mato Grasso, Brazil, came across a tiny, grubby stone called a

a volcanic eruption, hitchhiking in a stream of kimberlite, the deepest of all volcanic rocks. Years of analysis, using spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, were needed in specialized labs to confirm the find officially as ringwoodite. Scientists have debated for decades about whether the transition zone has water, and if so, how much of the precious stuff there might be. None, though, has embraced Verne’s fancy of a subterranean sea with a rocky coastline dotted with forests of giant mushrooms and petrified trees. Hans Keppler, a geologist at the University of Bayreuth in Germany, cautioned against extrapolating the size of the subterranean water find from a single sample of ringwoodite. And he also said the

water was likely to be locked up in specific rocks, in a molecular form called hydroxyl. “In some ways it is an ocean in Earth’s interior, as visualized by Jules Verne... although not in the form of liquid water,” Keppler said in a commentary also published by Nature. The implications of the discovery are profound, Pearson suggested. If water exists in huge volumes beneath Earth’s crust, it is bound to have a big impact on the mechanics of volcanoes and the movement of tectonic plates. “One of the reasons the Earth is such a dynamic planet is the presence of some water in its interior. Water changes everything about the way a planet works,” said Pearson. [AFP]

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 6 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 23-24, 2014

EDITORIAL

Retooling a weak military

HAT have we to boast about in terms of military hardware? Not much. At a time, there was a joke about the Philippines Air Force being 90 percent air and 10 percent force. That’s understandable considering the number of Hueys, Tora-Toras and even C-130s figuring in accidents. Compared to our Asian neighbors, the Philippines is not known for military might. So we better think twice before challenging China over the disputed Spratley’s, it’s like going to war against a high-tech modern military with our low-tech albeit patriotic army. Let’s not dream about scoring a reversal. This is not basketball where we can beat China or Korea on a good and lucky night. With the threats of China over the territory dispute, the Philippines decided to retool its military hardware. The latest is that we are buying $524.7-million worth of aircraft from South Korea and Canada as part of a military upgrade. The deal will include the purchase of 12 FA-50 fighter jets from state-run Korea Aerospace Industries for P18.9 billion ($417.95 million. On the other hand, the

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state-owned Canadian Commercial Corp. will supply eight Bell 412 combat utility helicopters worth P4.8 billion, with the first three helicopters expected to be delivered next year. The retooling is said to be significant because it will give our armed forces the minimum capability to demonstrate ability to perform their responsibilities. In sum, the Philippines has embarked on a P75-billion effort to upgrade its armed forces, particularly units tasked with patrolling disputed territory in the South China Sea. The figures may sound impressive but even with the additional military hardware, we are still way behind the mighty China military. The Philippines has already acquired two refurbished frigates from the US coastguard as part of its military modernization program. Are these enough? Definitely not. China, even if their military hardware is made in China, will still be a bullying force and a virtual impenetrable wall. Simply put, this exercise could be a waste of lots of money.

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG Creative Solutions

ARLENE D. PASAJE Cartoons

RAMON M. MAXEY Consultant

GREGORIO G. DELIGERO Associate Editor

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA Photography Contributing Photographer

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR./ CHENEEN R. CAPON Reporters

Columnists: CARLOS MUNDA • MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • MARY ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NICASIO AGUSTIN • VIDA A. MIA VALVERDE • Economic ENRICO“ADDIE” “GICO” G. Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER ANGELO C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA Analysts: • BERNADETTE B. DAYANGIRANG M.QUISIDO PEREZ • Lifestyle Columnists: BAISR., FAUZIAH SINSUAT •AMBOLODTO • MEGHANN STA. INES BORBON • MARY• JONALLIER ANN “ADI” C. • LEANDRO B. DAVAL • NIKKIFATIMA GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY •ZEN NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 6 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 23-24, 2014 EDGEDAVAO Brief glimpse of the erstwhile Organic Act

OW THE AUTONOMY FOR MUSLIM MINDANAO STARTED – Keen observers and stakeholders in the Mindanao peace process are perceptive that the road towards lasting peace in Muslim-dominated areas is now within reach. They cited the continuing peace dialogues between the government and MILF peace panels as the indicator of their conjectures. After a series of consultations and dialogues with the different sectors the past year and months, and the bilateral meetings between the government (GRP) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels, a framework agreement has been reached and signed designed primarily to address the lingering socio-economic and political glitches of the people in the Muslim Mindanao provinces. Foremost in the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) outline is the renaming of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to Bangsamoro homeland. Representatives of the government, MILF, some senior officials and lawmakers expressed high hopes for the new framework agreement to be finally signed and fully implemented before the term of President Benigno Aquino III ends in 2016. Well, moving the sequence of events a bit backward to have a clearer background will give us the idea on how the ARMM Organic Act started. On July 13, 1989 both leaders of the legislative branches of government signed the autonomy bill for Muslim Mindanao, originally House Bill 22929, which was reconciled with Senate Bill 902 at the conference committee of Congress. Then on August 1, the bill was signed into law by then President Corazon C. Aquino and became Republic Act 6734. The autonomy act for Muslim Mindanao finally was presented in a plebiscite to 13 provinces and 9 cities on November

19 of the same year. Certain provisions of the Constitution declared that only those provinces and cities which vote for the Organic Act will become part of the autonomous region. The referendum was held in the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Tawi-tawi, Sulu, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato, Maguindanao, Palawan, Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Basilan and North Cotabato. And the cities included in the plebiscite are Zamboanga, Puerto Prinsesa, Pagadian, Marawi, Iligan, General Santos, Dipolog, Dapitan and Cotabato. Hopes are high at that time in Congress that the majority of the areas will approve the Organic Act. Once it is approved, elections for the regional governor, vice governor and three representatives for the regional assembly from each congressional district will be held not later than 90 days after the referendum. A month later an Oversight Committee from the national government will supervise the transfer of properties and personnel. The Act sets a maximum period of six years from the time the regional government is established for effecting complete transfer of all government agencies to the new regional government. In the rush to join the campaign for the autonomous region, Congress revised its legislative calendar to allow congressmen more time to inform their constituencies of the Organic Act. However, after its passage in Congress

on June 8, 1989 and was ratified in a plebiscite held November 19, only four provinces – Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi approved the Act. The Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), then the ruling political party favored the Act at the outset. Senior party leaders said the LDP was obliged to take stand on the issue. They believed the establishment of the autonomous region would have national ramifications; the act largely the handiwork of the LDP-dominated House of Representatives. Although the LDP had taken an early pro-Organic Act stance, the members of the House from the affected areas were inclined to take individual positions on the issue. Members of the House of Representatives crossed party positions to take stands that they felt reflected the sentiments of their constituencies. Initial reaction to the autonomous bill had ranged from confused to outright unfavorable in many areas. The final results in which only four provinces and not even one city approved the Organic Act have been given negative interpretations. Though in several occasions Congress leaders pointed out that the autonomous bill would serve to achieve greater autonomy for Muslim Mindanao and allow the region greater flexibility to address its interlocking problems in its own way. But it was rather unfortunate those 25 years after the ratification of the Organic Act for ARMM, the results proved otherwise. With the much-ballyhooed FAB perceived to be suitably in place people in the autonomous region hope that it will not endure the similar fate experienced by the previous peace deals. Lest we forget the MNLF-Misuari faction is asserting its rights and likewise urging the government to revive the 1996 Tripoli Agreement.

tion, DOE conducted several focus group discussions with power stakeholders in Davao to solicit their inputs on the review of the EPIRA law. It was in one of these FGDs that the National Power Corporation (NPC) announced that their proposed revision to EPIRA is to remove the APHEC from the list of plants to be privatized by the Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corp. (PSALM), and revert its operation and management back to NPC. It’s interesting to note the while a member of the academe called for the privatization of APHEC, a government entity wants to keep it in public hands. Now here are two opposing positions from the stakeholders in the whole equation that is EPIRA. That should keep the DOE busy as they try to consider all the inputs of the different sectors in an effort to determine the fate of the EPIRA law. Representatives from the labor sector had their own agenda when they silently whipped out their placards without fanfare when it was their turn to speak. The messages scribbled on the placards were loud and clear. One called for energy democracy while the other simply said “EPIRA Ibasura”.

At least they were consistent. Coming from the labor sector their position would certainly be to demand for the repeal of a law that has brought misery to power consumers since it was created. After all, their membership represents a critical mass of consumers that directly bear the brunt of Mindanao’s power woes. While the labor representatives sent their message loud and clear, conspicuously silent was the transmission side. Representatives from the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) were mum at the sidelines, intently listening as the different points of view flew across the function room. I might have stepped out of the room and missed it when someone from their camp spoke, but I would have wanted to hear them throw in their two cents worth in the discussion, especially when some quarters poke fun at the meaning of the letter ‘G’ in NGCP, saying it stands for ‘greed’ instead of grid. Even when said in humor it was still a loaded joke. For me the best sound bite came from a participant in the consultation on EPIRA Review, who said that “Profit is good, but too much profit is indecent and immoral.” I don’t know about you, but that one I think sums the most powerful sentiment of all in the whole debate on Mindanao’s (lack of) power. Extrapolating even further, my friend, Milva, gave a remark that was apropos of the underlying issue of the whole power discussion: “Power is good, but too much power is indecent and immoral.” I tip my hat off to that.

Powers at play at power events

DON’T think a day goes by that Mindanao’s power issues are not dissected in all sorts of media, so I’m going to veer away from joining the fray. There are too many experts and naysayers out there making their own analysis and giving their viewpoints on this electrifying issue on the power situation. But I realized I didn’t have to be an expert on power to understand the forces that move people to mouth emphatics on issues on such a complex sector as power. The series of power events held in Davao City last month gave me enough opportunities to witness powers that be at play, espousing different and oft contrasting views. In the Mindanao Energy Plan (MEP) public consultation held last February 11, a participant who identified himself as coming from the academe strongly suggested to place the management and operations of the Agus-Pulangi Hydropower Electric Complexes in private hands—exactly what the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 (EPIRA) stipulates. He claimed that after decades of inefficiency under government hands, the hydro plant might perform better if run as a privately-owned company. It struck me as an odd position coming from a member of the academe, because I would expect this sector to strongly call for keeping APHEC in public hands. The argument is that once APHEC is sold to the private sector, there is no stopping business from wanting to get their ROI fast by turning these power plants into money-making machines. So why the call to sell APHEC to the private sector? A few days prior to the MEP consulta-

VANTAGE POINTS

How to fix higher education ANALYSIS BY REIHAN SALAM

(Conclusion)

VEN if we denied federal financial aid dollars to these programs, however, we’d still have students in need of post-secondary education options. The for-profit higher education sector often emphasizes that it serves students that community colleges and private nonprofits fail to reach, like working adults who need flexible schedules. It could be that wiping out the low-performing vocational schools will allow a new wave of high-performing vocational schools to flourish. Yet it’s also possible that vocational schools will stay on the right side of the new regulations by refusing to take on challenging students. There are two really deep problems that plague U.S. higher education. The first is the absence of useful and reliable data that students and parents can use to evaluate programs of all kinds. In “College Blackout: How the Higher Education Lobby Fought to Keep Students in the Dark,” Amy Laitinen and Clare McCann of the New America Foundation recount how the private nonprofit higher education lobby has fought against efforts to create a federal student unit record system. As obscure as this sounds, the lack of such a system makes it extremely difficult for higher education consumers to answer basic questions like which schools do the best job of preparing their graduates for the workforce and which leave their students drowning in debt. Making this data easily accessible would force the weakest performing schools to either change their ways or face steep enrollment declines. But if the students who turn away from the bottom of the barrel have nowhere else to go, as the best schools have only so many seats, we’ll still find ourselves in a bind. This leads us to the second problem. While transparency would help expose the worst schools, it won’t necessarily improve the average quality of America’s higher education institutions. It’s true that in a world of greater transparency, schools would be more likely to offer a high-quality education at an affordable cost, but that’s not enough. Andrew Kelly of the conservative American Enterprise Institute has emphasized that we need a supply-side strategy designed to increase the availability of affordable, high-quality college opportunities. This could mean making it easier for new schools to gain accreditation, or incentivizing existing high-quality schools to become more inclusive rather than more selective. Over time, increasing the supply of affordable, high-quality college opportunities will raise the average quality of higher education by driving the worst schools out of business and forcing the best schools to continually raise the bar. By combining these strategies — greater transparency plus more entry of good schools and exit of bad schools — we can see to it that our entire higher education sector, and not just the elite slice at the top, is one that we can be proud of. That change advances upward mobility for all.

NEWS

BMV...FFROM 4

Meanwhile, the PRC said that 2,048 out of 3,535 passed the REB examination administered by the Board of Real Estate Service in Manila, Ba-

guio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi and Lucena this March 2014. The results were released in 5 working days after the examination.

RANK NAME 1 BLAKE SALINGBAY FEKEN 2 JUAN CARLOS CABALLES GINES 3 JERRY MAGBANUA CATAGUE RAUL NESTOR CRUZ GUNGON PETER JOHN METADIO ONG FELIX TIU SY JR 4 JOANNE HERMOSILLA ALMADEN JANELL ONGGO AMISTOSO IRIS ONG CHUA MARK CONRAD MERCADO DEL ROSARIO 5 GEORGE ASPA EDUVALA JANBERT BALBUENA JADRAQUE 6 HAYDEE LOPEZ BACUAG JONATHAN MAGSANO BATALLA ALDRIN ISIDRO BERNARDO ANALYN MARCELO BUAN JOHN PAUL RODRIGUEZ CABILAO MARIA PATRICIA RODRIGUEZ CERVANTES-POCO AL-ZHOHEIR HASSAN HAJIM JOSEPH BRIAN SERRANO NOYNAY ALDRIN CARIAGA OLIVA JOWENA URETA REDECIO EFREN FLORES RIMANDO RYAN MORILLO UY 7 VANESSA AZURIN DAGLE CHARLENE DALMACIO JANER WYNA LABUGUEN LUMANAG 8 NOEL MOZO AJOC LILIBETH DY MAQUILAN DEXTER GALAPON MATIAS MICHELLE NICOLE FATIMA SARINO PADA MA ELOISA CAHIGAN REY WISDOM BALATBAT SARMIENTO MAYSON CULALA SOLIMAN RAYMOND ADRIAN TAN SORIANO MELISSA JOYCE YU TO 9 SHEILA MARIE BACTOL AGLUBAT CYRIL LACTUPO COLE CARLO ALVIN NADAL JAVINIAR AURELIO CASTRENCE LOPEZ JR EDUARDO MONSANTO MASANGCAY ABEL OCHOCO OCHOCO CHRISTIAN LEO ABRASALDO REYES KIM HERRERA SANCHEZ JOLLA ANGELICA AMPARO SORIAGA ANTHONY PASCUA TUMBAGA JEFFERSON BAQUIAL UY GEMINI JOY FERNANDEZ VILLAMIL 10 MA NEMONE ALLANAH ARCIAGA ALCANTARA MARK ANTHONY JAVIER AREVALO CHERRIE BERNARDO BELMONTE-LIM DIANA MARCELO CHAN LEA CARDEL COSTO JOSEFINO DE GUZMAN DE GUZMAN VENICE REYES DEE GODFREY SALVA DIGAL DAN NEIL LAUZON DIMA-ALA AARON JARVEEN ONG HO MICHELLE ALONSABE OGATIS ALDAMARIE VALMORIA PANGANDOYON MARIA FENORA DE LEON PIGON RICKY JAMES LOBITAÑA ROSALEJOS CRISOSTOMO SALVOSA SERRANO JR SHEILA MARY BERNAL TAN LORENZO RAY NAZ TANAEL JOHN ALISON BUTALID UY

Solving...FFROM 4

Metering Reference Guide: How to avail of solar rooftops and other renewables below 100 KW in the Philippines.” According to DOE’s webpage the guidebook is a book which will serve as the standard net metering guide for Philippine electric consumers who intend to use RE technologies to power up their homes or buildings to help lower their power cost as well as secure their energy needs.” The net metering reference guide completes the requirements of the renewable energy policy mechanisms. In spite of these, there’s a lack of wide information dissemination and the application of some RE projects related to net metering is just put into a pile. “Kung hindi pa namin tinanong ang Davao Light Power Corp. (DLPC), hindi nila sasabihin na available na pala to and we can already apply it,” he said. “They don’t want us to know that and they don’t believe in that technology,” he said, adding that net metering is protected and not even in the news. “Japan is already using the technology,” Espina said. “We can solve the crisis. For instance, we have 180,000 households in Davao City and if all of these will apply the technology we can solve the problem,” Espina said, adding that each house should put a solar panel on the roof that has a capacity to produce 1,000

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 6 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 23-24, 2014

Also seven examinees from Davao were among the successful examinees who garnered the 10 highest places. Five of them are from the Areneo de Davao

Unviersity, while one is from University of Mindanao and the seventh is a graduate of the UP-Mindanao. The topnotchers are the following:

SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN UNIVERSITY OF THE EAST-CALOOCAN ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY MOUNT CARMEL COLLEGE-QUEZON CITY UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY-Q.C. UNIVERSITY OF CEBU-BANILAD UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MINDANAO DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-MANILA UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA SAN BEDA COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-VISAYAS-TACLOBAN CITY COLEGIO DE DAGUPAN (for.COMPUTRONIX COLL) UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY-Q.C. UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN UNIVERSITY OF MINDANAO-DAVAO CITY GARCIA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY FEATI UNIVERSITY SAN BEDA COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY MINDANAO STATE UNIVERSITY-ILIGAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY PHILIPPINE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION-MANILA DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-MANILA IMMACULATE CONCEPTION COLLEGE-BALAYAN POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MAIN-STA. MESA DON HONORIO VENTURA TECHNOLOGICAL STATE UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY-Q.C. AKLAN CATHOLIC COLLEGE-(FOR AKLAN COLLEGE)-KALIBO NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY UNION CHRISTIAN COLLEGE ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY-Q.C. ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY-Q.C. MAPUA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY-MANILA CENTRAL MINDANAO UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-VISAYAS-ILOILO CITY LICEO DE CAGAYAN UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN TABACO COLLEGE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MAIN-STA. MESA SILLIMAN UNIVERSITY DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY-MANILA UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-DILIMAN XAVIER UNIVERSITY UNIVERSITY OF THE VISAYAS-CEBU CITY PHILIPPINE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION-QUEZON CITY PHILIPPINE MILITARY ACADEMY UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-MANILA UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES-LOS BAÑOS BICOL UNIVERSITY-LEGAZPI ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY-Q.C.

kilowatts (kW), Said Espina, who is also chair of renewable energy in the regional level. In Davao City alone, the 180 MW produced from net metering will not only lessen the burden of each household but also the entire Mindanao. “We are just talking about Davao City, what if the entire island does it.” he said 0 percent of the supply, 40 percent goes to industrial, and 30 percent proceeds to commercial users. “Yang sinasabi nilang brown out dahil walang supply sa gabi, hindi totoo yan kasi may enough supply of energy during night time kasi ang peak demand naman kasi is 10am to 5pm,” Espina said who is also the dean of School of Engineering and Architecture at the Ateneo de Davao University (ADdU). “Homeowners can utilize their roofs to produce 1,000 kW during the day,” and help the energy sector cope with insufficiencies. But what we see as a hindrance here is that the government seems to be supportive of coal-fired power projects, Espina said. As of now, there is an on-going constuction of the 300MW coal fired Therma South in Toril, while the San Miguel Corporation is planning to build a 600 MW coal plant in Malita, Davao del Sur which has an initial capacity of 150 MW, while Filinvest Development Group is also planning

to set up a 405 MW coal plant in Misamis Oriental. Most of these power plants are expected to be operational by 2016 and 2017. Espina said that this is against the goal of the energy sector to attain 50-50 balance in the supply of energy from RE and non-renewable energy. Last month, the Mindanao Development Authority, in cooperation with USAid, and DOE announced areas in Mindanao that are good sources of renewable energy. They

RATING (%) 84.00 83.50 83.25 83.25 83.25 83.25 83.00 83.00 83.00 83.00 82.75 82.75 82.50 82.50 82.50 82.50 82.50 82.50 82.50 82.50 82.50 82.50 82.50 82.50 82.25 82.25 82.25 82.00 82.00 82.00 82.00 82.00 82.00 82.00 82.00 82.00 81.75 81.75 81.75 81.75 81.75 81.75 81.75 81.75 81.75 81.75 81.75 81.75 81.50 81.50 81.50 81.50 81.50 81.50 81.50 81.50 81.50 81.50 81.50 81.50 81.50 81.50 81.50 81.50 81.50 81.50

promoted hydro and biomass because it is still among the untapped renewable energy sources in the island. Despite this announcement, it would still take a minimum of six years before an application to put up a RE project can be approved but installing a solar panel on roofs of houses will just take a couple of months. Without any effort, rotating brownouts, power outages, and hot summers will continue. [CRC]

City’s...FFROM 4

These utilities agreed and committed to an experimental setup of underground cables. In an earlier report, it said that the dry run will take place on the grounds of City Hall and Sangguniang Panlungsod within the year. It also said that the communications committee headed by Avila will be drafting the report soon, adding that the agreement was only verbal as of the latest committee hearing held earlier this month. Avila said that the city administrator’s office will be drafting soon the budgetary requirements for the project. Last year, “Avila proposed the measure after showing a presentation to the city council.” The communications committee head showed in his presentation various areas in the city that have overhead wires in-

stalled by various utility providers via the city’s existing electric poles. Avila said that he will be “proposing that the city adopt an underground setup for the city’s wires.” In a privilege speech delivered by Avila last year, he said that “utilities using the city’s poles and eventually causing tangled cables and telephone wires have messed up the city’s skyline.” “The city’s skyline deserves a better view,” he said. The report also said that the” measure has so far passed first reading, with deliberations to come after the committee report.” Avila said there will be no more committee hearings on the matter and that the dry run will be the benchmark for the rest of the city, if successfully implemented.

criminals look like and what they do.” “Two years ago, there were already 27,720,300 Facebook users. On this site alone, you already have a big audience ready to receive, share the information you want disseminated,” Recto said. “Social media can aid in the arrest of a serial child rapist, for example. If properly tapped, it can make the arm of the law longer,” he added. Recto said government can only involve the citizenry in community policing if they are informed in advance of what and who to look out for. Instead of keeping these photo albums of wanted criminals in police precincts, they should be brought out in the open, he said. Although some law enforcement websites do feature “wanted” notices, these are limited to the most wanted persons, Recto noted.

”What we need is a comprehensive registry,” Recto said. He also observed that public notification of wanted persons is done through the old wanted posters which are “few and far between.” While he is pushing for the Internet posting of profiles of wanted criminals, Recto said utmost care must be done in their online publication. ”Data must be triple-checked, verified, peer-reviewed, carefully examined, and panel-approved before they are posted online. There must be sanctions for posting erroneous information. And a person who was wrongfully included in the wanted list should be financially compensated if only to deter carelessness,” he said. Recto said the police need not commission an IT company to create police notification apps or some security software. [PNA]

Law... FFROM 4

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 6 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 23-24, 2014

BIGGER PICTURE

Filipino indigenous film inspires Lao cinema By LORIE ANN CASCARO

N independent film that depicts the indigenous tradition and beliefs of the Palawan tribe in the Philippines Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications LAND TRANSPORTATION FRANCHISING AND REGULATORY BOARD Regional Office No. XI Davao city

Petition for Renewal of a Certificate of Public Convenience to operate a PUJ DUAL Ordinary Regular Service WILLIAMITA S. VILLAVELEZ, Petitioner Case No. 93-XI-01217 x- - - - - - - - -- - - -----x

NOTICE OF HEARING Petitioner is a grantee of a Certificate of Public Convenience issued in this case authorizing the operation of a PUJ-DUAL Ordinary Regular Service on the route: MULIG ROUTE and for cargoes as dual service from said route to any point in Region XI with the use of ONE (1) unit, which certificate will expire on April 20, 2014.In the petition filed on March 10, 2014, petitioner request authority to extend the validity of said certificate to operate along the same route with the use of the same unit previously authorized. NOTICE, is hereby given that this petition will be heard by this Board on APRIL 7, 2014 at 09:40 a.m. at this office at the above address.

At least, TEN (10) days prior to the above date petitioner shall publish this Notice once in a one (1) daily newspaper of general circulation in Mindanao Parties opposed to the granting of the petition must file their written opposition supported by documentary evidence on or before the above date furnishing a copy of the same to the petitioner, and may if they so, desire appear on said date and time. This petition will be acted upon by this Board on the basis of its records and the documentary evidence submitted by the parties, unless the Board deems it necessary to receive additional documentary and/or oral evidence. WITNESS the Honorable BENJAMIN A. GO, CESO V, Regional Director, this 10th day of March 2014 at Davao City. TERESITA DELA PEÑA-YÑIGUEZ Chief Transportation Development Officer

opened a curtain with new light in Lao cinema. Young Lao filmmakers and audience, including Filipinos and foreign expatriates saw last week the movie Busong, which means “fate” in Palawan dialect. The director, award-winning Mr Auraeus Solito, a.k.a Kanakan Balintagos (which means Hunter of Truth), visited Laos and showed his film, which is first part of a trilogy based on Palawan province. It won the Grand Prize at the National Geographic All Roads Film Festival in the US and was selected for Director’s Fortnight in Cannes Film Festival. The second part was “Baybayin” or Philippine indigenous writing. “The Lao filmmakers saw the possibilities of indigenous cinema,” Kanakan said, having attended the screening during the annual film fest Vientianale and by the Philippine Embassy here. He received compliments from the audience, especially from Lao filmmakers like Mr Lee Phongsavanh who won an award for his short film. “Filmmakers are cinematic visual people who can see. Perhaps the feeling is similar when I saw Okinawan filmmaker Takamine Go’s film “Untamagiru” as a blooming filmmaker. His film opened my mind’s eye on the possibilities of a culturally strong indigenous cinema,” Kanakan said. Exploring the four corners of Pha That Luang in Vientiane where he was enchanted by a solitary Ganesh ring that perfectly fits on his finger, Kanakan said he might be coming back to Laos for possible cooperation with Lao filmmakers. “I would love to share what I know to this young breed. The Laos filmmakers should be inspired by the emerging new wave in neighboring countries like the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. There has been a great indie film movement in South East Asia the recent years. I’d also

love to have a Laos-Philippine co-production in the near future,” he noted. During the Busong screening, Philippine Ambassador to Lao PDR, Ms Maria Lumen Isleta observed that young Lao filmmakers who were among the audience expressed hope that they could learn more from Kanakan. She added that others wished that workshops would be conducted so that they could learn more about many facts of filmmaking including screen writing. “Others wondered how the director was able to film the butterfly scene which they found quite interesting but possibly difficult to execute,” the ambassador said. She was referring to a scene showing butterflies coming out of Punay’s (Alessandra de Rossi) wounds. Ms Isleta cited that a foreign diplomat was very impressed by the film. “He fully understood why foreign directors had chosen it and made the grade for screening at the Cannes Film Festival,” she added. Kanakan had met with Lao filmmakers in Vientiane and seen a “very inspired movement, especially that digital technology has revolutionized cinema and has leveled the playing field.” Citing that Lao film industry is very young with one or two local feature length films a year, he said Lao cinema is in the “cusps of greatness” as the young filmmakers are talented and open to experiments. “It reminds me of our generation when digital technology began in 2004 and gave us true freedom in expressing ourselves, our stories, and our beliefs through cinema,” said the renowned director. Kanakan said he loves all his works, composed of two short films in 16 mm, a music video, two documentaries and six feature fiction films. “But perhaps, Busong holds dear in my heart as it is based from my mother’s stories to put me to sleep,” he added. “My indigenous rela-

tives’ stories and my own personal story of rediscovery of my tribal roots were all interwoven into a form that is so different from western forms. I have told our story to how my tribe tells story and that is a story is born out of another story that is born out of another but in the end they all somehow interweave into one story!” he said. Kanakan is working on the third part of his Palawan trilogy titled “Sumbang” (Deluge) which is about the time of the shaman-chieftains and how they lost their great magic. He explained that Palawan shamanism is about respecting the environment and fellow

human beings. “When man is one with nature, magic happens. Magic is simply respect for nature. Nature follows man when man respects nature. When man and nature is one, anything is possible.” As an experimental director and wanting to explore possibilities of cinema, Kanakan is inspired to go back to his documentary roots. He is doing a documentary film on Sugar Pie Desanto, a forgotten pioneer of Blues in the US who is half Filipino-half Afro-American. She rose from the ranks with Etta James, her best friend. She was named after “ampalaya”, a bitter vegetable that Filipinos love.

“That is why the title of the documentary is “BitterSweet”, from ampalaya to Sugar Pie,” he said. Asked to describe a good movie for him, he said, “A good movie not only makes you laugh or cry, but makes you think and rediscover your humanity.” Although he is yet to see more of Lao culture and indigenous communities in his future visit, this artist noticed the similarities in texture of the clothing and fabric in Laos and the Philippines. [Lorie Ann Cascaro of Mindanews is a fellow of FK Norway exchange program. She’s currently in Laos and hosted by Vientiane Times.]

12 CLASSIFIED EDGEDavao Davao Partners

VOL. 7 ISSUE 6 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 23-24, 2014

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EDGEDAVAO

EVENT

Glowing liberation! IT may seem that parties in Durianburn are evolving. From parties where a few hundred guests were considered “big” a few years ago, today the number of guests for a big party is in the thousands and last Araw ng Dabaw weekend was no exception and one such party was Liberalia: The Neon Glow Party.

The party at the concert grounds of the Riverfront Corporate City started at three in the afternoon as monitored on my Twitter and Instagram feeds but I decided to go at around 9PM when it should be cooler. I was pleasantly surprised as the place was already packed with partygoers, all dancing and fistpumping the air. Although the rain did pour that evening, it did not dampen the party spirit. In fact, the crowd cheered even more, not minding getting wet and having their glow-in-thedark paints smear all over. It was a glorious mess of a

party and I love it! The highlight of the evening of course was the appearance of Universo Robot who danced with the crowd with DJ Surf and DJ Ace Ramos serving the beats making the party a unique one-of-a-kind experience. Many thanks and congratulations to Kat, Wacky

and the Manic Nightings team who made me and many other Dabawenyo urbanites present that night feel young again that night. Follow me on Instagram or on Twitter at @kennethkingong for more travel tales, foodie finds, and happening in, around and beyond Durianburg.

A2 INdulge! UP AND ABOUT

Agoda.com and Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines sign partnership AGODA.COM, one of Asia’s leading hotel booking sites and part of Nasdaq-listed Priceline Group (Nasdaq:PCLN), has forged a partnership agreement with the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines (TPB), the marketing arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), to grow the online exposure for the Philippines as a premiere tourist destination. On itsmorefuninthephilippines.com – the Philippines’ flagship tourism website – visitors can browse DOT-accredited hotels & resort throughout the country all with Agoda. com signature offerings such as its Best Price Guarantee, room availability, and exclusive promotions. The hotel listings are available in 38 languages and 45 currencies, meaning consumers around the world can shop with ease and certainty.

The Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines and Agoda.com formalized their partnership in a Memorandum of Agreement signing at Fairmont Makati recently with (from left) TPB’s Chief Operating Officer Domingo Ramon C. Enerio III and Agoda.com’s Vice President of Partner Development Lennart van der Beek. Together both companies share the same vision in boosting the country’s tourism so that travelers can now enjoy their overall stay through the wide network of hotels with the best rates and experience the Filipino hospitality. The partnership announcement is another positive development for Philippine tourism, following the country’s recent international recognition as one of the top destinations for 2014, according to British publications such as The Daily Telegraph and Rough Guides. In the last quarter of 2013, readers of American magazine Condé Nast Traveler rated the “Cebu and Visayas Islands” 80.4 out of 100 due to the friendly locals, beautiful scenery, and endless beaches. Agoda.com’s Vice President of Partner Development Lennart van der Beek said: “As one of Asia’s leading hotel booking sites, we see immense value in working in partnership with the Tourism Promotions Board of the Philippines. With more than 7,000 islands, the country offers many of Asia’s “bests” – from white-sand beaches to breathtaking landscapes to diverse marine life. We are thrilled to extend our best-in-class hotels offerings to domestic and international visitors of the Philippines.” TPB’s Chief Operating Officer Domingo Ramon C. Enerio III said: “It is with great pleasure for the Tourism Promotions Board to welcome the partnership with Agoda in these times where digitalization is a growing trend in every business. Thru Agoda, this instant-online-hotel-reservations-service will enable visitors of the It’s More Fun in the Philippines website to immediately book their stay in the Philippines. Travelling to the Philippines is more convenient allowing domestic and foreign tourists to experience a direct access to real-time rates on accommodation. It is high time that we convert our website views into actual hotel bookings. With Agoda, everyone can now easily access this service and help tourist get a chance to experience that world renowned Filipino hospitality immediately.” Both organizations encourage yet-to-be listed Philippine properties to sign up in the Agoda.com network for greater online exposure and stronger foothold in the international playing field. In line with the TPB’s thrust of creating a world-class Philippine tourism marketplace, domestic hotels listed on Agoda.com are able to take advantage of its instant confirmation and best price guarantee, both features are readily available to customers in just few simple clicks. To learn about special deals and promotions on hotels in the Philippines, connect at www.itsmorefuninthephilippines. com or go directly to www.agoda.com/morefunph . For hotels or properties who want to be part of our global network you may email bd-philippines@agoda.com.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 6 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 23-24, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

ENTERTAINMENT

An MXtraordinary Araw ng Dabaw MX3 made the 77th Araw ng Dabaw extraordinary as MX3, together with GMA Network Davao and Sky Davao brought more fun to thousands of visitors in the city. The celebration of the founding of the city was a showcase of Davao’s tradition, culture, and vast resources. The day also symbolises unity with the coming together the various ethnic tribes and immigrants from all over the Philippines in one parade. MX3 and GMA held Mall Shows at Gaisano Mall Toril with the cast of the soap opera ‘Rhodora X’. Another show at NCCC Mall of Davao followed were the cast of the GMA’s primetime TV offering ‘Carmela’, Alden Richards and the Primetime Queen Marian Rivera entertained the crowd. Both star studded shows were opened with games sponsored by MX3 where

Marian Rivera entertained the crowd at NCCC Mall. participating audience members received bags of MX3 products. The giftgiving continued as MX3 handed out thousands of product samples to the audience. The excitement continued outside of the malls as MX3 held MXtraordinary games such as the MX3 Balloon Relay, MX3 Limbo- Limborac, MX3 Water

Brigade and MX3 Hooray which were sure crowd pleasers together with Sky Davao. Game participants brought home MX3 gift packs of MX3 products, MX3 eco-bags and MX3 t-shirts. MX3 is the brand of the most trusted herbal dietary food supplement based on the Global Management Excellence

Awards (GLOMEA) 2013. MX3 has Pure Natural Xanthone, a phytonutrient- a natural plant derivative from mangosteen fruit (Garcinia Mangostana) that is widely popular in Davao City. The participation of MX3 in the festivity is a way of sharing blessings to people in promoting a healthy community.

Metro Lifestyle Fitness Center & Spa, Holiday Gym & Spa, Planet Infinity, and BeeFit Gym, aims to give participants a fun time while helping whip them into shape. On March 23, Sunday, at 3:00 p.m., don’t miss

the country’s leading dermatologist to the stars, Dr. Vicki Belo, as she visits the Abreeza Mall Activity Center to dish expert beauty knowledge in a talk dubbed Enhancing Beauty. In addition to the weeklong See Green, See Life Organic Fair, health and wellness programs also take place until March 28 at the Activity Center. Wrapping up the series is Colonversation, a colon cancer awareness talk to be given by colorectal surgeon Dr. Robert Bandolon on March 28 at 1:00 p.m. For inquiries and updates on Abreeza Mall’s Health, Beauty & Wellness Fair activities, visit the Main Concierge at the ground floor or call (082) 321-9332. Stay updated by liking www. facebook.com/AbreezaMall and following @abreezatweets on Twitter and @ iloveabreezamall on Instagram.

Healthy, Beauty & Wellness Fair happens at Abreeza Mall on March 21-28

FRESH from a successful lineup of Araw ng Dabaw activities, Abreeza Mall now invites Davaoeños to live their fullest life by getting healthy, getting active, and getting gorgeous with the Health, Beauty & Wellness Fair, taking place from March 21 to 28, 2014. Kicking off the Health, Beauty & Wellness Fair is the See Green, See Life Abreeza Organic Fair 2014, which takes over the Activity Center from March 21 to March 28. Customers seeking to go green will love the locally produced eats and beauty and wellness treats on display at this massive gathering of organic finds. On March 22, Saturday, Abreeza Mall brings in the authors of the national bestseller The Sexy Chef Cookbook, Rachel Alejandro and Barni AlejandroRennebeck, for The Sexy Chef: A Healthy Cooking Demo at the Activity Cen-

ter at 4:00 p.m. On the same day at 5:30 p.m., Abreeza Mall invites everyone to dress up in their workout best and head to the Park Dining area for the Big Fun Zumba Party. This outdoor fitness event, held in partnership with

EDGEDAVAO

Afternoon TV’s most desirable series ‘Moon of Desire’ preems on ABS-CBN AFTERNOON television’s most desirable series “Moon of Desire” is set to captivate viewers with its compelling story about love, lies, and finding true beauty beginning Monday (Mar 31) in ABS-CBN’s Kapamilya Gold. Two of Philippine television’s most desirable actors JC De Vera and Meg Imperial team up for the first time alongside Ellen Adarna, Dominic Roque, and Miko Raval. Watch Ayla’s (Imperial) journey to finding her true self despite being constantly discriminated and mistreated because of her medical condition hypertrichosis, or having excessive growth of hair all over her body. The popular radio DJ of the program Moon of Desire, Ayla hides her insecurities behind the radio booth and finds acceptance from her listeners who seek her advice on love. She may seem confident on the outside, but deep inside, Ayla is still hurting over a broken promise made by the one and only person who has shown her kindness and love -- her childhood friend Jeff (De Vera). Many years after, Ayla

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once again crosses paths with Jeff, now a successful dermatologist. Jepoy will instantly be smitten by the now seductive Ayla without knowing that she is the same girl he has loved his whole life. Unbeknownst to Ayla, Jeff has devoted his time studying medicine to find a cure for her condition. Will Ayla give him a second chance? Or will she seek revenge for the hurt he caused her? Can Jepoy finally heal Ayla? Will he also heal her broken heart?

Ayla and Jepoy are not the only ones who desire each other as people around them want them just as bad. There’s Vince (Roque), a photographer who falls in love with Ayla despite her looks; Tamara (Adarna), the rich heiress of the company Jepoy is working for and who is head-over-heels for him; and Eron (Raval), the radio station’s sound engineer who is passionately and secretly in love with DJ Ayla. Also included in the cast are Precious Lara

Quigaman, Carmi Martin, Perla Bautista, Beauty Gonzales, Dawn Jimenez and Franco Daza. The series is directed by FM Reyes and Raymund Ocampo. The original theme song “Moon of Desire” was composed by Trina Bellamide and interpreted by “The Voice of the Philippines” finalist Morissette Amon. Don’t miss the premiere of “Moon of Desire” this Monday (Mar 31), after “It’s Showtime” in ABSCBN’s Kapamilya Gold.

Hot or Not? She’s just being Miley! During her Bangerz tour concert in Tampa last night, Miley Cyrus shared her saliva with some (lucky?) fans. While walking around the stage and speaking to concertgoers through the mic, the 21-year-old pop star started chugging from a water bottle before spitting a large stream of water into the audience below! Miley chugged and spit out water onto the audience multiple times and it didn’t seem like fans minded as they were screaming and cheering the “Wrecking Ball’ singer on during the stunt.

Andrea Torres renews exclusive contract with GMA Network BEAUTIFUL Kapuso actress Andrea Torres renewed her ties with the Kapuso Network. She was welcomed by GMA officers after signing an exclusive network contract today at the GMA Network Center. Present in the contract signing were GMA Entertainment TV’s Senior Vice President Lilybeth G. Rasonable, GMA Vice President for Entertainment TV Marivin T. Arayata, GMA Vice President for Drama Productions Redgie Acuña-Magno, GMA Senior Assistant Vice President for Alternative Productions Gigi SantiagoLara, GMA Assistant Vice President for Corporate Communications Angela Javier Cruz, and Program Manager for ETV Charles Koo. Also in attendance was Andrea’s manager Rams David, President of All Access to Artists. She is comanaged by GMA Artist Center.

Andrea is currently part of Sunday All Stars and Bubble Gang. She has appeared in various programs of the network including Blusang Itim, My Beloved, Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga and With A Smile. During the contract signing, Andrea says she is very happy with her renewal of contract with GMA 7 and is very thankful that the network continuously gives her good

projects, “I’m definitely looking forward sa next three years ko in GMA kasi yung past three years ko sa network, sobrang masaya talaga ako. Doon ko masasabi na nabigyan nila ako ng break, at nabigyan nila ako ng maraming pagkakataon para mapakilala yung sarili ko sa audience. I’m very happy na muli nila akong pinagkatiwalaan. Ang sarap ng pakiramdam na

mafu-fulfill yung dreams mo sa iyong home network.” Rasonable, on the other hand, believes that Andrea is one of the talented and versatile artists of GMA, “She is an allaround artist. Magaling siyang umarte. Nag-umpisa siya as a host. sa Sunday All Stars, she dances and there was a time na nagrap siya kung saan siya nanalong best performer for that episode. And she does comedy in Bubble Gang. Ilagay mo siya sa light, or sa heavy drama, she excels. Talagang nakakadagdag siya sa galing ng roster of talents ng GMA. She can do so many things. Ang laki pa ng potential niya to grow as an actress and as an artist. She shows many talents.” Andrea, who was an avid fan of GMA’s trending primetime series My Husband’s Lover, wishes to work with Dennis Trillo, and Tom Rodriguez in her future projects.

NEED FOR SPEED 2D Aaron Paul, Dominic Cooper PG 13

12:00 | 2:30 | 5:00 | 7:30 | 10:00 LFS

MAKE YOUR MOVE 2D BoA Kwon, Derek Hough PG 13

12:40 | 3:00 | 5:20 | 7:40 | 10:00 LFS

DEVIL'S DUE 2D Allison Miller, Zach Gilford R 13

12:25 | 2:20 | 4:15 | 6:10 | 8:05 | 10:00 LFS

R-16 300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE 2D Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green R 16

12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

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EDGEDAVAO

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Davao’s Fashion Czar to hold show together with Emilia’s Jewelry Photos by Kenneth Hao Styling by Otoy Mercado

ALFONSO “Boy” Guinoo will present his latest collection at the Apo View Hotel Ballroom. Titled “Alfonso Guinoo Badu,” Tito Boy will showcase elegant contemporary gowns together with his signature modern ethnic ensembles, which were recently showcased in his New York gala. Known for his intricate beadwork and appliqués, Davao’s Fashion Czar once again proves that he is the city’s foremost fashion couturier with designs that are current, classic and timeless. Each gown carrying the impeccable attention to detail that is Alfonso Guinoo’s trademark going back to the1950’s and is probably the only local designer who could boast to have dressed four generations of Davao society’s who’s who. Complementing his elegant gowns are jewelry pieces from Emilia Sitjar Jewellery. Like Guinoo, Emilia Sitjar Jewellery is a Davao-based jewelry house that has etched its mark in one of a kind, bespoke and hand crafted jewelry. For Badu, Emilia Sitjar Jewellery designed and prepared classic-whimsical pieces incorporating cameos, colored gems, pearls and diamonds with different metal treatments to compliment Alfonso Guinoo’s designs. In Badu, Guinoo envisions a more interactive approach to his clothes and to the jewelry of Emilia by allowing interaction between models and guests before and after the show. Part of the proceeds of Badu and the Emilia’s jewelry sale will benefit cancer stricken children of Kids of Hope.

13 COMPETITIVE EDGE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 6 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 23-24, 2014

Enjoy seven days of Smart LTE when you purchase a Huawei LTE-capable device M

OBILE broadband leader Smart Bro is giving more Filipinos a chance to experience ultra-high speed mobile Internet as it offers a free LTE SIM with seven days of unlimited Internet for every purchase of a Huawei LTE device from accredited

stores nationwide. Smart Broadband, Inc. (Smart Bro), a subsidiary of wireless services leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), has partnered with Huawei Technologies Philippines, Inc. (Huawei), a leading global information and communications technology

(ICT) solutions provider, to offer an entire week of LTE surfing to all buyers of the Huawei Mobile WiFi E5372 LTE and Huawei B593 LTE CPE until supplies last. “We want all Filipinos to enjoy the ultrafast broadband Internet that only Smart Bro’s LTE service can

offer. Together with Huawei, Smart Bro is leading the charge in letting subscribers get blazingly fast broadband speeds and experience more of what the Internet has to offer,” said Michele Curran, Data and International Services Marketing Head at Smart.

“We are delighted to be partnering with Smart to let more Filipinos experience and enjoy the ultra-high speed LTE connectivity through our ready-to-use, portable, and high-quality devices. We believe this

partnership is only the start of more exciting things to come from both Smart Bro and Huawei,” said Charles Wu Chuan, Country Consumer Business Head at Huawei Technologies Philippines.

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 1002816 under LOYOLA PLAN Contract No.(s) 30745-5 issued to ALBITE, DANILO T. was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void. 3/24/31/4/07

14 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

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Ateneo battles Holy Child for title EDGEDavao Davao Partners

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

njb@edgedavao.net

ITTER rivals Ateneo de Davao University and Holy Child School of Davao will clash one mre time to settle an old score and determine this year’s champion in the cadet division of the 4th Royal Mandaya Hotel Cup. Gametime is set at 1:00 p.m. today at the Davao City Recreation Center. Coach Miggy Solitaria

will try to annex the title for the Blue Knights who sent the series to a deciding Game 3. The Reds, however, are determined to go all the way. Ateneo won Game 1 63-61 but Holy Child came roaring back in Game 2 winning 66-49 to forge Game 3. “There is no more tomorrow, we will settle this now. I hope my boys will deliver down the stretch,” said Solitaria on

the eve of the match. Tournament director Jek Melendres called on the team supporters for both the Blue Knights and the Reds to wear their school colors in the finals. Ateneo fans will be coming in blue while Holy Child will don red. The fans will also have their designated areas. “Parang UAAP ang gagawin natin. Sa isang side Ateneo in blue, sa

HUDDLE. Coach Miggy Solitaria and his bunch of Blue Knights will try to annex the title in Game 3.

kabila Holy Child in red,” said Melendres. The TRMH Cup is an annual basketball tournament for Mini ad Cadet players, sanctioned by the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP) under regional director Regino “Boy” Cua. TRMH president Glenn Escandor and Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte will award the prizes in today’s awarding rites.

EDGEDAVAO

Smart hosts MVP Olympics S

YOUNG DAREDEVILS. Bilog Cabaya (right) from Aleosan, overtakes his opponent in the final jump during the Aaw ng Davao Phoenix Moto-Cross championship at the Riverfront Corporate City in Maa. (Tommy Inigo)

WINNER. Charlie Pascua, 8-year old rider from Kabacan, wins the Peewee 500 cc category. (Tommy Inigo)

SBP, Talk ‘N Text tie up for 3-on-3 hoops T HE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and Talk ‘N Text (TNT), the value brand of Smart Communications Inc. (Smart), have teamed up for TNT Tatluhan, a nationwide three-on-three basketball competition for the youth that will give the winning team a chance to represent the country at the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) tournament. Aimed at promoting basketball at the grassroots level,

the FIBA-endorsed TNT Tatluhan is open to any team of three players (plus an alternate player) under 18 years old. The tournament will run from March to May in 20 legs around the country that will culminate in a national championship in Manila. Aside from special prizes, the top four TNT Tatluhan teams will get a chance to train under TNT Tropang Texters, preparing the national champion for the FIBA international

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tournament to be hosted by the country in July. “Through TNT Tatluhan, we are finalizing the threeon-three format, which that has been played by Filipinos since time immemorial – in the streets, in parking areas, barangays. The format actually started the basketball development in the Philippines, and this tournament will be a big boost to our country’s sports program,” said Moying Martelino, SBP Senior Consultant.

MART Communications, Inc. is hosting the 5th MVP Olympics (MVPO), an annual sports event bringing together 21 companies from the group led by businessman and sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan. About 2,500 employees are participating in this year’s Olympics, which features 26 events including basketball, bowling, and track and field. The MVP Olympics is also holding talent competitions such as Battle of the Bands, the MVP Idol singing contest, and a cosplay competition. This year Smart will introduce mystery games, the mechanics of which will be announced only on March 21. Smart has also encouraged a more active participation among the companies’ top executives. The activities will culminate in a closing ceremony at the Meralco grounds on March 23. “Smart is happy to host this year’s MVP Olympics, which is in line with our active support for sports activities which inspire our workforce and Filipinos to ‘Live More.’ We are optimistic that the MVPO

activities will foster a spirit of camaraderie and promote wellness among employees,” said Charles Lim, Smart executive vice president and head of consumer wireless business, and this year’s MVPO chair. Smart has 20 employee clubs that promote wellness and productivity, and has supported national athletes such as Gilas Pilipinas and the Azkals, as well as sports activities organized by third parties. The MVP Olympics started in 2009 as a venue to promote teamwork and excellence among MVP companies. The companies joining this year’s MVP Olympics are Smart, Digitel Mobile Philippines, Inc. Metro Pacific Investments Corp., Metro Pacific Tollways, Delos Santos Medical Center, MegaClinic, Central Luzon Doctors Hospital, Meralco, PLDT, ePLDT, Philex Mining, Outback Steakhouse, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Riverside Medical Center-Bacolod, Makati Medical Center, Mediaquest, Maynilad, First Pacific Leadership Academy, SPi Global, Davao Doctors Hospital, Asian Hospital and Medical Center, and Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

below, 18 and below, 16 and below, 14 and below, 12 and below, 10 and below and 8 and below. The winners of the Mindanao elimination will qualify to the National Grand finals set on April 21-28 at the Leahchar Resort in San Antonio, Quezon Province featuring the 196 grand finalists. “The 14 grand champions will represent the country to the 2014 ASEAN+ Age-Group Championships in Macau on June 3-12,” said Gonzales. Among those also seeing action in the two-day event are Davao’s Marvin Miciano and Rowelyn Joy Acedo, Biazza Diaz Natori of Sagay City, Chrisus Joseph Sanchez and Chrisus Joshua Sanchz of Koronadal City. Miciano, formerly of

Ateneo de Davao University is now a varsity of La Salle Greenhills Manila. He won two silver medals in the Vietnam ASEAN Age-Group in 2012 and was second player in last year’s National AgeGroup Grand Finals in the 14Under boys division. Acedo, on the other hand, now plays for De La Salle girl’s team. “Umuwi talaga sila dito sa Davao just to play,” said NCFP XI Director James Infiesto. The Mindanao Qualifying leg, which also offers cash prizes and medas to the winners, is hosted and co-sponsored by the city govermment of Davao in cooperation with the Philippine Sports Commission and supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee. [pr]

193 players in Nat’l Age Group Chess Mindanao elims in Davao A

TOTAL of 193 players from all over the country are seeing action in the Mindanao Qualifying tournament in this year’s National Age-Group Chess Championship which started yesterday (March 21) at the NCCC Mall in Matina. “We’re very glad on the big turnout and we owe this to our local organizers here,” said GM Jayson Gonzales, secretary-general of the organizing National Chess Federation of the Philippines. City Sports Development Division OIC Butch Ramirez made the ceremonial move together with Davao City’s top female bet Ella Grace Moulic. The categories are the boys and girls are 20 &

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