Edge Davao 7 Issue 135 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014

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Martial Law: A tale of 2 newsmen

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Martial Law: A tale of 2 newsmen By ANTONIO M. AJERO

Lucio G. “Jun” Gutierrez Jr. Serafin “Jun” Ledesma Jr.

ARTIAL LAW was proclaimed on September 21, 1972 (It would later be known that while then President Ferdinand Edralin Marcos announced the proclamation of Martial Law on September 23, 1972, he actually signed the pertinent document –Presidential Proclamation 1081- on September 17 but postdated it to September 21, 1972.)

Martial Law is the curtailment of all freedoms enjoyed by people living in a democracy, and the first freedom to be lost is Freedom of Expression or Press Freedom. When Marcos placed the country under martial rule, his soldiers padlocked all radio and television stations and newspaper publications. It would be interesting to know therefore how Martial Law affected members of the working media then, the people who were employed by print and broadcast establishments which were closed down as a result. Since it happened 42 years ago, many of them have already died, shot and killed during martial law either by soldiers or by rebels, if not died of natural causes. Of all those still alive, we were lucky to interview two – Jun Ledesma and Jun Gutierrez, who are both in Davao City enjoying the joy and travails of life as septuagenarians. I asked them where they were on the day Presidential Proclamation No. 1081 was announced and what happened to their lives after that.

Lost a job This is the story of Serafin “Jun” Ledesma Jr., now publisher-editor of Mindanao Journal, columnist of Sun.Star Davao, and lately appointed by Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte as member of the board of directors of the Davao City Water District. “I lost my job as program director of Radio Mindanao Network–Intercontinental Broadcasting Company (RMN-IBC),” said Ledesma. “I was ordered to stop publishing my weekly, the Davao Chronicle, and didn’t know what to do

with my brand new wife. I hated Fedinand Edralin Marcos for all the sufferings that he had caused me and thousands of other media persons at the time.” Remember “The Vigilantes,” a network program of RMN-IBC which I was anchoring in Davao? “We were openly batting for Senator Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. for President. All in all 86 employees in the entire network lost their jobs. “About two years later, we were told to report back to work, which I did, only to be terminated later when Roberto S. Benedicto, who owned rival KBSRPN (Kanlaon Broadcasting System-Radio Pilipino Network) aside from being chairman of Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), took over our network from the Canoys. Prior to the proclamation of Martial Law in 1972, we had the only live television program in Davao City. I had so many friends. When I was dismissed, no one would touch me with a 10-foot pole. As the late Davao del Norte Governor Gelacio “Yayong” Gementeza would say, markado ka na. I remember the diminutive Romy Torres, who moonlighted as editor of my Davao Chronicle, aside from being managing editor and columnist of the Mindanao Mirror, told me “mamundok na lang tayo pare,” his way of inviting me to go join the rebels in the mountains. He was so mad when I showed him a letter brought to me by no less that Col. Isidro Gatmaitan, the chief of police then. The letter came from Gen. Hans Menzi, aide de camp of Marcos who owned the Manila Bulletin and paper mill Menzi & Co., who was named by Marcos as chair-

man of the Philippine Center Print Media (PCPM), one of the censors bodies formed by Marcos upon declaration of Martial Law.” Change of opinion “However, decades after my misery, I am realizing that with the corruption that flourished flagrantly after Marcos and the continued isolation and depravity of Mindanao, I buried that misery in the catacombs of forgetfulness. Reason? Marcos energized Mindanao, established a matrix of concrete road network that connected growth centers and constructed the most number of irrigation systems. His projects in Mindanao cannot be equaled by all presidents after him combined and I can defend that in Plaza Rizal.

Jaycee connect For Lucio G. “Jun” Gutierrez Jr., a native Dabawenyo, it was a slightly differently story in those years of living dangerously. “I was on board my morning news-commentary program on dxRG, a radio station of the University of Mindanao Broadcasting Network (UMBN) where I was station manager, when I first heard that the night before Marcos had proclaimed Martial Law,” Jun B, also known as Bagsoy, recalled. “I couldn’t believe the story and I was of the opinion that Marcos did not have any basis for proclaiming Martial Law, so I continued my broadcast criticizing the Marcos government and tackled other issues of the day.” However, he said “a few minutes after, the station phone rang. It was Colonel Gerry Kagaoan, the Phililippine Constabulary com-

mander in General Santos City. Gerry, who happened to be my president in the Jaycee club chapter in GenSan, told me to immediately leave my station as constables under his command were on their way to arrest me and Larry, one of my employees. The two of us were in the list of those to be picked up. Before, I did not only cover street demonstrations and sit-ins, I participated in them, although I was not a card-bearing member of the underground Kabataang Makabayan or the newly formed New People’s Army then. It was different with Larry, my production manager, who was deep in the movement, and was reportedly involved in the planning in Cebu City of an earlier successful hi-jacking of PAL plane to China. “Fortunately for both of us, we were fellow Jaycee members of Colonel Kagaoan who advised us to burn copies of Mao Tse -tung’s Little Red Book and other documents that would link us to the commies. Gerry told us to move out of area as he could no longer help us when he would by assigned to other areas. “I belatedly learned that the original plan for me and Larry to be arrested and ‘salvaged’ (killed) just like the thousands of young activists and militants who opposed the Marcos regime.” It was not Jun’s first brush with death and “salvaging.” He experienced being mauled to a pulp when

he was arrested again in Iligan City and twice in Manila, each time saved by some past relationship as broadcaster and civic leader, or somebody he knew in the military. However, he considers his near encounter with death, ironically not during Martial Law but in connection with it. This was during the series of coup attempts against the Cory Aquino government by disgruntled soldiers led by then Colonel Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan of the RAM, now a senator. As announcer of Radyo ng Bayan during the the August 28, 1987 coup, he manned the government station in a nationwide broadcast appealing to the people to continue supporting the government and deny help to the rebel soldiers who were on the verge of taking over the critical installations of the government. He ignored appeals from supporters all over nation and his partner technician and phoned-in threats from angry soldiers to abandon the station so he would not be killed by the advancing rebels. It took a call from the late Teodoro “Teddyman” Benigno, the Press Secretary, telling him that he was being ordered to leave the station by President Cory herself, for him to decide the escape with his technician. Before they left however, Gutierrez disabled three government radio stations in the compound by removing all their crystals and turning them over to then Director

Jose Mari Chan. For his heroic achievement, Jun was awarded a plaque of appreciation by the Asosasyon ng mga Kumentarista at Anaunser sa Pilipinas (A.K.A.P.) or the Association of Commentators and Announcers of the Philippines. The award citation reads: “FOR THE RARE DISPLAY OF COURAGE SHOWN IN PREVENTING THE ENEMIES OF THE STATE FROM CAPTURING RADYO NG BAYAN DURING THE AUGUST 28, 1987 COUP D’ ETAT. GIVEN THIS 21ST DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 1988 AT THE ARMY AND NAVY CLUB.” The plaque was signed by Reynaldo L. Bagatsing, president, and Lupino A. Lazaro, chairman on awards. Martial Law was wrong “I honestly believe nga maling maliang pagdeklara ni Marcos ng martial law. Ang pagdeklarar ni Marcos sa Balaud Militar, mao toy gigamit niya arong magpabilin sa poder, since he cannot run for reelection under the Constitution,” Jun said, when asked what he thought of Martial Law, after 42 years. Unfortunately for Jun Gutierrez, the struggle continues as he is now sick with a life-threatening disease, a carcinoma in the face, which strikes the skin of those who has blood of a Caucasian in his vein. This other story of a colorful persona is also worth telling. ANTONIO M. AJERO

Lucio “Jun” Gutierrez Jr.’s award from the Asosasyon ng mga Kumentarista at Anaunser sa Pilipinas (A.K.A.P.).

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014

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SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014

GREEN IS IN How property developers and construction industries face the challenge of sustainable construction

THE MATINA ENCLAVES by Esdevco

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

njb@edgedavao.net

UICK here, what’s the “most despised” buzzword in the building industry nowadays? Answer: Green. No surprises here. The word can mean so many different things to different people. In the Philippines, it means being eco-friendly, and that’s practically where most developers are leading their promotional campaign to convert people’s interest and environmental consciousness into sales. Add too, the ‘pogi’ points developers and construction firms get for advocating the new construction wave.

Suffice it to say, when you talk about sustainable construction, the buzzword is green. Green is in and that’s where everyone wants to cash in. Question is, does everyone understand what sustainable construction and green development is all about? When Filipinos are into something trendy, we always look further back to the influences of the advanced economies like the United States to find the consensus of what “green building” really means. In the U.S. where green construction fanned winds of change as early

as year 2000, there used to be little consensus about what constitutes a “green building.” A decade and a half later, some three billion square feet of construction have been “certified” under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating systems introduced by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), and, according to estimates, LEED has cut annual carbon emissions by nearly ten million tons. That’s the difference. In the U.S., a system of certification has been developed. In the Philippines, we are still in the stage of getting to know what

“green construction” is although there is already a system being developed by the Philippine Green Building Council (PGBC) called the Green Building Rating System. So, how far have we gone in developing green construction? Remember the 7.2-magnitude earthquake that hit Bohol province and the Supertyphoon Yolanda (international code name Haiyan) that devastated central Philippines in the last quarter of 2013 have again revealed the country’s vulnerability to natural hazards? The aftermath of the

VILLA SEÑORITA by Jenson Land

two major disasters has forced the government and the private sector into stepping up rehabilitation in these areas with the battle cry “build back better.” This question came up: Are we up to the challenges posed by what is now perceived to be “the new normal,” where strong earthquakes and flash floods-triggering super typhoons, landslides and lately, deadly storm surges? Make no mistake about it. Everyone has climate change in mind as the culprit to the spate of devastations. Nevertheless, instead of whining over the new challenge, developers and construction firms have armed themselves with the antithesis for climate change. Call this major revolution as “Green Revolution (version 2.0)” particularly after Typhoon Ondoy sank Metro Manila and nearby towns in Luzon a few years back, Pablo devastated Davao Oriental and Compostela Valley in 2012 and Yolanda sinking Eastern Visayas in 2013. The focus was more on flood-prevention and disaster preparedness, almost forgetting about rebuilding better and safer structures—office and homes and communities—that are resilient to natural hazards. According to a recent report published in the Business Mirror, Architect Christopher de

la Cruz said, CEO of the PGBC said property developers have evidently thought about using environment-friendly designs, materials and technology a long time ago even without a law setting a minimum standard for environment-friendly, energy- and water-efficient construction. The PGBC, which started in 2000 with just 10 companies and individuals focusing on the issues of solid waste, water and energy as it affects the industry, was formally established in 2007. It is now a 300-member organization promoting ecological soundness in various aspects of green building—from design, construction, the use and application of technology to aid design, and even building operation and maintenance. The PGBC is behind the, a Green Building Rating System, which measures environmental performance of buildings— above and beyond existing mandatory building and environmental laws. The banner program of the PGBC called Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence (Berde) aims to set standards to measure how environment-friendly buildings are—whether new or existing. The Green Building Rating System developed by PGBC is in response to the building industry’s need

FGREEN, S6

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014 Living up to the five "target issues" for sustainable construction: Training center for sustainable construction, Marrakesh, Morocco; winner of the Holcim Awards Bronze 2011 Africa Middle East. Holcim Foundation photo

SUSTAINABILITY IS THE KEY How developers in Davao respond to the green challenge

AVAO City is experiencing a boom in construction with the big names in the real estate development industry crowding the city’s vast landscape to stamp its imprint in the market. Megaprojects like the P15-billion Megaworld’s Davao Park District (DPD) in Lanang, and the emergence of local players with signature projects like FTC’s 33-level Aeon Towers and the mixed use Matina Enclaves of the Escandor Development Corporation (Esdevco) are just among the heap

of construction projects hitting this part of the country. Amidst the construction boom, emphasis is given on sustainability of construction and how developers respond to that challenge. To understand sustainable construction, it is important that people realize its impact and siginificance in our daily lives. DEFINING SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION According to Holcim Foundation which has launched an award-giv-

ing program for sustainable construction, “sustainability” is one of the world’s most talked about but least understood words. Its meaning is often clouded by differing interpretations and by a tendency for the subject to be treated superficially. For most companies, countries and individuals who do take the subject seriously the concept of sustainability embraces the preservation of the environment as well as critical development-related issues such as the efficient use of resources,

continual social progress, stable economic growth, and the eradication of poverty. BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE Holcim Foundation stressed that sustainable construction aims to meet present day needs for housing, working environments and infrastructure without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs in times to come. It incorporates elements of economic efficiency, environmental performance and social

responsibility – and contributes to the greatest extent when architectural quality, technical innovation and transferability are included. Along that concept, we asked developers in Davao City the following questions: What are your distinct structural innovations that address problems on flooding and interventions in case of forces of nature like typhoons and earthquakes? What element/aspect/component of your design/project that uti-

lizes green technology or contributes to healthy environment and ecology, water conservation and biodiversity? Respondents made varying responses which revealed a common consensus of being conscious and aware of the importance of sustainable construction in this rapidly growing building industry. This special issue of Edge Davao henceforth gives emphasis on the initiatives made by developers towards the concept of sustainable construction.

Environment has always been a priority THE FAIRLANE Developer: Damosa Land Inc. In view of the growing trend in green building or sustainable construction, please inform us of your moves of changing style and designs of your structures. Please give us much detail and examples of these changes as you can. As a company that has its roots in the agricultural industry, the environment has always been something a priority for us. We continue to challenge ourselves on ways that we can be environmentally responsible. After all, what we’re building is not just for today, but for future generations. For instance, one common characteristic in our developments is open space. We normally allocate a large portion for parks and open space. Even for our future midrise condo project, we

plan to build on less than 30% of the area. We also try to design our structures to maximize wind flow. You’ll see this in our house designs and clubhouse at Damosa Fairlane. This is also one of the characteristics we will be highlighting in our condo project. We even make it a point to go down to the littlest of details. At Damosa Fairlane, we plant trees, which come from one of our farms, in each of the purchased lots. Hence the term, “from our home to yours.” Do the changes necessitate increase in cost? If yes, what aspect of green construction need added cost?

In some cases, yes. Of course at the end of the day, we have a fiduciary duty to our stakeholders so we do have to make

sure that we are within budget. This is really where the challenge comes in for us.

Kindly state which property development projects that are on going where you apply the principles and practices in green construction. As mentioned earlier, we strive to apply these principles in all of our projects. Currently these are being applied at Damosa Fairlane. These will be applied in our forth coming projects, namely our mid-rise condo project and mixed use development in Panabo City. Do you believe that this new trend will continue for a long time to come and not just a fad? Yes. These are positive developments in the

industry. I believe as we move forward, new technologies and new designs will evolve which will further make for environmental friendly projects. Please enumerate your new projects and state the outstanding features of these projects so we can help publicity for them.

Mid-rise condo project: 6 tower development with spectacular views of Samal Island. Over 70% devoted to open space. Mixed use project in Panabo City: self-sustaining, master planned community, which will include residential, commercial, institutional, and tourism components. One of the major feature of this project will be the agro-tourism component. As Panabo City is the banana capi-

tal of the Philippines, we want to capitalize/promote bananas and other fruits by establishing a tourist site based on this. We are also exploring using “e-jeeps” or other environmental friendly modes of transportation within the development. We intend to launch both of these projects by the end of this year/Q1 2015. As with our previous developments, each of these will be characterized by quality, deliverability, and community. What are your distinct structural innovations that address problems on flooding and interventions in case of forces of nature like typhoons and earthquakes?

As a company, we normally work with well-known engineering firms with a strong track

record. We like firms that actually have experience working on foreign projects in countries that have high standards for guarding against flooding and other natural calamities. What element/aspect component of your design/project that utilizes green technology or contributes to healthy environment and ecology, water conservation and biodiversity? We spend a lot of time on space planning. Our goal is to plan our structure in such a way that promotes optimal movement of wind. In turn, this will reduce the number of hours that air-condition units are used. We also employ ways of collecting rain water, which is then used for watering. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

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Green... FFROM 2

to address the negative impacts of climate change in the property sector. This is the Philippines’ equivalent of the U.S.’ LEED system. These days, property developers, including those in Davao City, are even using the term “green” as a marketing strategy. Now, are we really on the right track in promoting green building? How far has the country gone to achieve the ultimate goals of green development? Based on the National Building Code, the government promotes ecological soundness with the end view of paving the way for environment-friendly building practices. It is also worthy to note that there are proposed measures in Congress that promote green buildings which would hopefully promote environment-friendly, safe, energy- and water-efficient construction of commercial and residential buildings in the country. These are Senate Bill (SB) 2133, which proposes the creation of the Greening Building Code Commission to draft the National Green Building Code filed on February 20 by Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago; SB 1928, an Act Establishing a Green Building Standard for Government Building Projects in the Philippines, filed on November 18, 2013, by Sen. Manuel Lapid; SB 410, or the Philippine Green Building Act, which calls for the establishment of a National Green Building Code and Rating System filed on July 3, 2013 by Sen. Ferdinand Marcos. In the House of Representatives, House Bill (HB) 02896 promotes the establishment of a green energy for homes and building programs in the Department of Energy and provide financial assistance to promote residential, commercial and industrial-scale energy efficiency and on-site renewable technologies filed by Rep.

Susan A. Yap on October 10, 2010; HB 02962, calling for the establishment of a green building standard for planning, design, construction, operation or maintenance practices, renovation, expansion and retrofitting of government building projects in the Philippines, was filed by Rep. Anna York Puyat Bondoc on August 9, 2010; HB 05220, or an Act Authorizing Higher Education Curriculum Development and Graduate Training in Advanced Energy and Green Building Technologies, authored by Rep. Diosdado Macapagal Arroyo, is pending with the committee on higher and technical education since September 6, 2011; and HB 05999, An Act Authorizing Higher Education Curriculum Development and Graduate Training in Advanced Energy and Green Building Technologies, by Rep. Ma. Theresa Brondial Bonoan-David, is pending with the Committee on Higher and Technical Education since March 19, 2012. These proposed measures all promote green building. However, if we think our lawmakers have progressed to the level of being green-minded, we are probably celebrating too early. Sadly, they appear to be not among the priority measures being pushed by the country’s lawmakers. Green building advocates said the industry needs the big push from government—through legislation to promote a policy environment that will not only encourage government to regulate the construction industry toward green building, but also to educate the market to go green. A law promoting green building is essential but a private-led green building-rating system should exist to ensure a credible rating system—to promote competition among industry players.

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Ambient lighting and minimalistic design AMIYA RESORTS AND RESIDENCES Developer: Kisan Lu Lands By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

VERY family needs a home, not just a mere box topped with metal sheets; a comfortable home that cradles the needs of its inhabitant and responds to the ever-changing landscape of Davao City. That's how Amiya Resorts and Residences of home-grown developer Kisan Lu Lands defines home – sophisticated and works side-by-side with what is presented by nature. Nesting several meters above sea level, the 80- hectare real estate development project is one of the countless projects in Davao City, but it’s more than that. Kisan Lu Lands marketing manager Albert P. Egot Jr. said adapting green architecture puts them above all other projects. It all started with the vision of creating a "sophisticated yet affordable" residential tenement for the growing population in Davao City. Coming from the Thai word "amiya" which means abundant and wellness,

the master designer of the project ensures that green architecture is being implemented in every home inside the community. Green architecture is a design that complements nature. It is a global trend because of the changes brought by climate change, which affects the balance of nature and of those that depend on it, particularly humans. According to Egot, each Amiya home is designed with see-through glass that allows natural light to illuminate the majority of the area while conserving the use of electricity. After a long day of utilizing the ambient lighting from the sun and cool breeze provided by the numerous surrounding trees, homes and streetlamps lighted with LED bulbs are turned on. Another design on their checklist is the different roofing design that is adaptive to the climate in Davao City and its environment. "We have an edge because we're from here. We know Davao City very

well," Egot said. "This is how we make our project as it should be," he said, adding that green architecture provided them a venue to explore Asian minimalistic design while producing homes that are efficient, sustainable and adaptive. "The design should be ‘homey’ and not physically grand," he added. Green architecture is not only applied with the residential design in Amiya Resorts and Residenc-

es but is extended all the way to another real estate development project: the Twin Palm Subdivision in Maa, Davao City. According to a study conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resource (DENR) in Davao region, Maa is one of the flood-prone areas because it is a catch basin of rainwater because of its low elevation. But Kisan Lu was able to put a remedy to the heavy flooding by widening the drainage system.

"It cost the company millions but nothing is more rewarding than to provide a growing or starting family a safe and warm place to stay," Egot said. He said that during the initial construction of the development project in 2011, the management, through the mandate of the 17th City Council, decided to extend their drainage system all the way to the creek in San Rafael, Maa. The 600-meter long

extension flushed out the rainwater that flooded some neighboring areas of the four-hectare Twin Palm subdivision last year. Dabawenyos do not only think of how much a house and a lot will cost but how the house will become a home especially during rainy months when rivers in the city overflow. "Almost 50 percent of our clients and potential lot owners ask whether our projects are resilient from flooding," Egot said.

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Project Head Gerald Garces (left) and Architect James Magdadaro (right).

Elevated, flood-free

WHAT are your distinct structural innovations that address problems on flooding and interventions in case of forces of nature like typhoons and earthquakes?

There are two sides in what Matina Enclaves did regarding aspect. First, ESDEVCO secured the residence by elevating the whole development to free the residence against flooding when these circumstances will happen. Secondly, to help the surrounding community from having the same struggle, ESDEVCO helps in improving and rehabilitating the existing drainage lines to accommodate the growing drainage demand in the whole area. What element/aspect/component of your design/ project that utilizes green technology or contributes to healthy environment and ecology, water conservation and biodiversity?

THE MATINA ENCLAVES Developer: Escandor Development Corporation Architect: James Ray L. Magdadaro, AGM Architects + Engineers Project Head: Gerald Garces

Matina Enclaves has the following features incorporated in the design to contribute to a healthy environment and ecology: a. For conservation of water, Matina Enclaves has rainwater collection in which water is stored and used for maintaining landscaping, flushing of toilets, and other purposes. b. The development was designed as to maximize open areas where water could percolate and goes directly to the aquifer and not to the drainage lines which results to flooding. Outdoor parking areas use turf blocks for the safe purpose. c. To conserve on energy, Matina Enclaves participates in using products and technologies such as lighting fixtures that efficiently uses power. These are used in Street lighting and at common facilities. d. Matina Enclaves also has a waste water treatment facility to filter and process effluent waste for a safe and clean output to the public drainage lines.

City requires rainwater catchment system By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

LOODING is one of the major problems in Davao City. Every time the rain pours, some flood-prone areas are always filled with water; the problem is sometimes so acute that it affects the economic and other activities of the city. The primary reason for the frequent floods in the city is the small drainage system which can no longer hold the high volume of water cascading from the mountains, which itself is a result of deforestation. Due to this recurring problem, the City Council passed an ordinance which could mitigate the flooding incident in the city. In 2009, it approved Ordinance No. 0298-09, series of 2009 or the “Davao City Rainwater Ordinance of 2009.” As of last Wednesday, the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the ordinance was already submitted in the office of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. City Legal Office (CLO) representative lawyer Gil Norman Ciudadano said that signing the IRR is the final operative act of the measure’s approval. The ordinance aims

to implement proper harvesting, storage, and utilization of rainwater to reduce the effects of storm water and surface runoff and siltation. It is seen to contribute to the reduction or mitigation of flooding, soil erosion, deposit of silt loads on local roads and rivers, non-point source pollution in urban areas, and improve the quality of surface water. It also aims to pursue the context of a balanced ecology through the proper use of natural resources, giving due consideration to the protection and conservation of the environment and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Among the measures is the adoption and development of appropriate technologies related to rainwater utilization by medium to large size commercial, institutional, agricultural and industrial establishments, including medium to high-end residential subdivisions, which are now required to install Rainwater Catchment Systems (RCS). RCS is composed of five basic components: collection system (catch-

ment surface), conveyance system, storage system, treatment and disinfection system, and drainage/sewerage system. All construction of new commercial and industrial buildings, including major renovations and expansions of existing public and private buildings, must include an RCS. It must be integrated in existing government buildings, specially public schools and public markets. Owners of other existing buildings are encouraged to install RCS. The developers and owners, including the homeowner’s association of new residential building units, may install a communal or cluster type RCS. Owners of existing residential building units are encouraged to set up their own system. N e wly- e s t a b l i s h e d agricultural plantations should install RCS or Small Water Impounding Systems (SWIS), and the existing plantation are also encouraged to be build the system. The installation of RCS is a mandatory requirement in the issuance of a

new building permit. The proper harvesting, storage and utilization of rainwater shall be integrated with the proper design, construction, and maintenance of drainage systems that will imitate the natural hydrology of the developed site. Establishments or individuals that will connect their drainage to the public drainage system must secure a Drainage Clearance from the Office of the City Engineer, or from the Department of Public Works and Highways, in case of drainage systems along national roads. The objective of the implementation is to reduce run off and flooding in sealed ground surfaces. Proprietors of such areas must have rainwater drainage/catchment systems that should recycle the runoff and not create nuisance in other places. It also aims to increase the holdback capacity of water, reduce run off and soil erosion, contain effluents as well as augment farm water supply. Agricultural areas must have ground basins or structures that should catch

rainwater. Harvested rainwater stored in tanks and cisterns should be used as additional water for nonhealth purposes such toilet flushing, general cleaning, gardening, laundry, car washing, fire fighting, and construction. The ordinance states that the use of stored rainwater for drinking should be with much caution. The Department of Health (DOH)/City Health Office (CHO) should be the recognized agency for the water quality tests needed to warrant the potability of the stored rainwater. The city government will also prepare guidelines for the grant of subsidies and tax rebates to owners of existing agricultural, residential, industrial, institutional and commercial buildings or plantations upon installation of an RCS in compliance with the provisions of the ordinance. The City Treasurer’s Office, with the assistance of the City Engineer’s Office or the Office of the Building Official and City Agriculturist’s Office, are the task agencies that will

prepare guidelines on the incentives which will be submitted to the City Council for approval. The said offices will also prepare guidelines on the fees to be collected from the owners of buildings without appropriate RCS, considering the volume of water withdrawn from the water utility that are used for non-potable purposes and the volume of untreated water discharged to the manmade and natural waterways. In addition, they will also formulate guidelines on the fees to be collected for the areas sealed or to be sealed due to the development of a site such as roads, open air parking areas, sports and recreational facilities and the like, considering the volume of the surface runoff and the untreated water discharged to the manmade and natural waterways. The collected ecological and sealing fees shall be used for the grant of incentives, for compliance with the ordinance including programs or projects for the improvement of freshwater resources in the city.

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Understanding green building By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

HE world is getting warmer each day. Thanks to industrialization, the amount of carbon dioxide, one of the main culprits of the change of global temperature, in the atmosphere has increased over the past years. The reason for the increased levels is the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil to generate electricity and gasoline for automobiles. In 1988, Dr. James E. Hansen of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) told an American Senate hearing that the greenhouse effect “is changing our climate now.” As a result of this global phenomenon, the world is becoming environment-conscious. Green products – claimed to be “good for the environment” – become instant hits. In the United States, consumers prefer to buy green products and are even willing to pay more for them. Green products have successfully transcended other avenues. In fact, there is now such a thing as green construction which, according to one writer, “champions energy efficiency and environmental sustainability

in the setting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and even demolition of structures where human beings live, work, and play.” “Green building” has become a buzzword in construction. “Green buildings play a fundamental role in addressing some of the most pressing challenges of our time,” pointed out Jane Henley, chief executive officer of the World Green Building Council. Green buildings, she said, can help reduce the global carbon footprint, save money, and improve productivity – aside from creating jobs and improving the lives of millions of people. But what is a green building in the first place? There are various definitions, and most of them are wordy, but it is not really hard to understand. Green building – also known as green construction or sustainable building – refers to a structure and process that is environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life-cycle: from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demoli-

tion. “This requires close cooperation of the design team, the architects, the engineers, and the client at all project stages,” write Yan Ji and Stellios Plainiotis in “Design for Sustainability.” The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adds that green building practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort. Although new technologies are constantly being developed to complement current practices in creating greener structures, the common objective is that green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment. According to EPA, these can be achieved by: (1) efficiently using energy, water, and other resources; (2) protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity; and (3) reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation. EPA gives this example: “Green buildings may incorporate sustainable materials in their construction (e.g., reused, recycled-content, or made

from renewable resources); create healthy indoor environments with minimal pollutants (e.g., reduced product emissions); and/or feature landscaping that reduces water usage (e.g., by using native plants that survive without extra watering).” “Sustainable, or ‘green building,’ design and construction provide an opportunity to use resources more efficiently, while creating healthier and more energy-efficient homes and commercial buildings,” the website greenbuildingsolutions.org notes. “Successful green buildings leave a lighter footprint on the environment through conservation of resources, while at the same time balancing energy-efficient, cost-effective, low-maintenance products for construction needs,” it further says. In simpler terms, green-building design involves finding the delicate balance between homebuilding and a sustainable environment. The concept of sustainable development can be traced to the energy (especially fossil oil) crisis and environmental pollution concerns

of the 1960s and 1970s. But it was the book, “Silent Spring,” authored by Rachel Carson and published in 1962, that made the initial efforts to describe sustainable development as related to green building. In the United States, the green building movement came into fruition from the need and desire for more energy efficient and environmentally friendly construction practices. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, shares this information: “There are a number of motives for building green, including environmental, economic, and social benefits. However, modern sustainability initiatives call for an integrated and synergistic design to both new construction and in the retrofitting of existing structures.” The time for green buildings has come. especially now that the world’s growing population is becoming ever more urban. “This transition has the potential to dramatically improve human development while reducing the stress that we place on the world’s resources,” notes the introduction of Southern Innovator, a magazine

celebrating South-South innovation. “But this is not a certain outcome and will not happen unless people make radical changes to the way in which they live their lives,” it adds. “The products and resources that people use to improve their living standards also deplete their finite resources and often leave pollution and toxic waste behind.” By 2050, two out of every three people on the planet will live in a city. “We are living as if we have an extra planet at our disposal,” deplores Jim Leape, director-general of WWF International. “We are using 50 percent more resources than the Earth can sustainably produce and unless we change course, the number will grow fast: by 2030 even two planets will not be enough.” But if there’s a will, there’s a way. “It is not a time to lose hope: the range of solutions to these challenges is vast, and many innovators and pioneers are developing new ways to do things,” the magazine’s introduction said. Certainly, green buildings are among the possible solutions.

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014 Club house

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION

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THE ILUMINA ESTATE Developer: Santos Land Development Corporation Construction Manager: Engr. Paolo Perfecto S. Domingo

Rainwater catchment in every home WHAT are your distinct structural innovations that address problems on flooding and interventions in case of forces of nature like typhoons and earthquakes? Their housing projects have designs which can help mitigate the flooding in the area at the same time

can tolerate the occurrence of typhoons and earthquakes. They installed water tanks as their Rainwater Catchment System in every houses in their housing project in. This catch the rainfall water from the roof will immediately go to the tanks and mitigate the rainwater going to the ground. As to earthquake proof,

THE VILLA SEÑORITA Developer: Jenson Land and Realty Development Corporation. Project Manager Engr. Fernando R. Bajada

Maximum rainfall intensity What are your distinct structural innovations that address problems on flooding and interventions in case of forces of nature like typhoons and earthquakes? In Land Development aspect, our distinct design consideration and practice is to adopt the Maximum Rainfall Intensity and Catchment Area for Drainage Design. This will turn to adequate Drainage system in addressing flooding in the area. As to structural aspect of the building, it is our always adherence to specifications and standards , strict quality and

material control .

What element/aspect component of your design/project that utilizes green technology or contributes to healthy environment and ecology, water conservation and biodiversity? One of our design component is implementing Minor Land scraping to individual houses and preserving natural grown trees and vegetation to our project sites. Introducing and incorporating renewable energy in our design such as Solar Panels in our future projects.

they installed Tie Beams to reinforce the footing of foundation, so that the houses will not be easily shaken during earthquakes. “Instead of separate footings, with the Tie Beams, the footings are connected,” Domingo said. For typhoon, he said that the roofs of the houses will not be easily dragged by strong wind since they

already using steel traces. He said this material can tolerate strong winds.

What element/aspect component of your design/project that utilizes green technology or contributes to healthy environment and ecology, water conservation and biodiversity?

Part of their design also is the high ceiling with window in the roofs in which the light can easily penetrate inside the house. He said that during daytime the household will not need to switch on the light the house is already illuminated with the light of the sun. This design it will lessen the carbon emission to the atmosphere since the

households have saved electricity with it. In terms of water conservation, their installed water tanks can contribute to it since they already catch water from the rainfall. He said that they can use the water in the tank for non-potable use such as washing their vehicles and flushing the toilets. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

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THE MATINA ENCLAVES:

A PROGENY OF SOLID BUSINESS You can’t build a great building on a weak foundation. You must have a solid foundation if you’re going to have a strong superstructure. -Gordon B. Hinckley

OCK-SOLID. That’s what comes to mind when the pedigree of proudly Dabawenyo developer Escandor Development Corporation (Esdevco) is the dish on the discussion table. Imagine this. Davao Security and Investigation Agency (DASIA) and The Royal Mandaya Hotel— just two of a number of market leaders under one conglomerate— the Escandor Group of Companies (EGC). It’s a simple thumb rule. Those who know Davao’s business landscape like the back of their hand should be no less than the homegrown taipans. True to that, Esdevco emerges as the newest player in the real estate business in Davao. Despite entering the industry as a newbie, Esdevco prides itself of being founded on the solid reputation of a respected old hand in the

local business frontier. Backed up by its tradition of excellence and reliability, Escandor Group of Companies’ new baby Esdevco comes to town offering Davao City’s first ever multi-family, mixed-use and exclusive contemporary living with its project called The Matina Enclaves. That’s quite a splash for a new player creating a new innovation in the real estate business. At the reigns of Esdevco is Glenn Yap Escandor, the man who inherited the EGC leadership from his father, the revered late Ret. Col. Emil Escandor—a visionary businessman who pioneered the security agency business in Davao City before diversifying into various businesses including one of Davao’s most prominent address The Royal Mandaya Hotel. “I inherited my father’s business reputation and

our family is committed to keep that reputation in all of our business endeavors,” Escandor said. According to the youthful Escandor, The Matina Enclaves is a product of long study from design to meeting the needs of clients of varied choices and requirements. “It is never easy to come up with an idea and make it acceptable to the market. I assure that this project is a product of a lot of work and thinking. It’s not like coming up with something because it’s the trend or it’s the bandwagon. We had to understand the complexities of the market,” he said. First, Escandor believed that they have the best available strip of real estate in the city. “We have the best location to start with. Undeniably, you cannot find a better location than this at this point in Davao’s

growing metropolis,” Escandor said. The Matina Enclaves is tucked along Quimpo Boulevard just across Davao City Golf Club and minutes- walk from SM City Davao. It is accessible to the city’s central commercial district, government offices and prominent schools. The 5.3-hectare development is unique as it offers three residential options to choose from. Matina Enclaves has a 1-hectare open lot development through its pocket development called The Plains. It also offers house and lot units through another 1-hectare pocket development called The Courtyard. And to complement The Plains and The Courtyard, Matina Enclaves boasts of its Medium-rise Condominium Project called The Enclaves Residences. Its condo

project will consist of 6-proposed buildings. Matina Enclaves will also have a neighborhood commercial development called Arqadia which occupies one hectare of the development. Arqadia will have a boutique hotel, shops, a wellness center, a member-only gym-spa and cafe. The Matina Enclaves Project Director Gerald Kent M. Garces said that Escandor has aggressively developed the entire property for the past seven months, paving way for the construction of roads, drainage system, landscaping and an imposing main entrance gate that will also have water features on both sides. “Mr. Escandor has his full commitment towards developing a landmark in Davao. And by any standard, his passion towards creating a quality project is going to be the

key towards establishing Esdevco as a premier local developer,” Garces said. Escandor has emphasized that Esdevco is venturing into the real estate business to help families get the best value for their money. “It’s not just building your home or buying a house and lot, or owning a condo unit. It’s about investment. It’s about your hard-earned money. That’s what this project will offer its clients—value for their money,” Escandor said. And with a solid reputation in business, investors and homeowning clients can be pretty much assured that at the end of the day, they made the right decision. (For inquiries, visit the Sales Office and Showroom at Unit 11 Genesis Arcade, Ecowest Drive. You may also contact (082) 2857059, 0932-1200497 or 09228177305.)

3 THE BIG NEWS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014

MinDA to conduct feasibility study on Mindanao railroad before yearend By CHENEEN R. CAPON

RESOURCEFUL. A “watch-your-car” boy uses folded cardboard boxes to shield himself from the searing midday heat along San Pedro Street in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

crc@edgedavao.net

HE Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) plans to conduct the feasibility study of the proposed 2,000- kilometer Mindanao Railway System (MRS) before the year ends. “We are targeting that by the end of October or early November we will be able to announce the plans with the private sector partner who might do the feasibility study ”MinDA executive director Janet M. Lopoz said in an investment forum at The Marco Polo, Davao last Friday. According to Lopoz, the October schedule is just for the announcement on the details on how MinDA in-

tends to proceed with the partner on the feasibility study. Lopoz said there is already an existing study on the Cagayan- Iligan route, but the plan is to connect key areas in Mindanao together like Bukidnon that will connect Davao, then Cotabato, then Pagadian. “The whole of Mindanao will be looped,” Lopoz said. Earlier, two Mindanao lawmakers filed a bill that will help in the implementation of the proposed railway system across the island-region. Rep. Rufus Rodriguez of Cagayan de Oro City and

thing else, your nation you control, it’s yours,” he said. But Duterte also said the leaders still need to study what system of federalism to follow. While batting for federalism, Duterte said he

still supports the Bangsamoro, which he said is a door to a peaceful Mindanao. For her part, President Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) Secretary

FMINDA, 10

Duterte bats for federalism – but still supports Bangsamoro By Funny Pearl A. Gajunera

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte expressed his support to the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) but believes the only way to have peace in Mindanao is through federalism.

In his speech at the 11th Mindanao Island Conference Provincial Board Members League of the Philippine (PBLP) on Thursday night, the mayor said the Bangsamoro is just a step in cre-

ating peace in the island region. “Bangsamoro is a good start. It might be the catalyst to do it later on but we have to go federal if we want a peaceful Philippines,” he said.

magnitude 5.0 earthquake jolted the province of North Cotabato on Saturday afternoon, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs). In its bulletin, the agency said the tremor occurred at 12:26 p.m. with its epicenter traced at 14 kilometers southwest of Kidapawan in North Cotabato. Phivolcs said Kidapawan City felt the tremor at

Intensity 4. Phivolcs described an Intensity 4 as moderately strong felt generally by people indoors and by some people outdoors. Light sleepers are awakened. It added that liquids in containers are slightly disturbed. Water in containers oscillate strongly while rumbling sound may sometimes be heard. The tremor, which was tectonic in origin, had a

shallow depth of 11 kilometers. Despite the reported intensity, the agency noted that there was no casualty nor damage reported from the quake. However, the agency said aftershocks are expected in affected areas. The Philippines lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where 20 to 25 earthquakes per day -- mostly imperceptible – are common. (PNA)

Manila-based group’s latest attempt to convince him to change his mind. Speaking to participants of the 11th Mindanao Island Conference of the Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines at the Water-

front Insular Hotel Davao last Thursday, Duterte said he is not interested in and does not covet the position. “I thought it was really a bad joke but there are people whom I really have

Magnitude-5.0 quake jolts North Cotabato A

He said Mindanaons have to create a nation for the different tribes and not a republic. “Hindi man namin maibigay sa inyo ang orihinal na lupa, let the government offer you some-

FDUTERTE, 10

Duterte nixes another call to run for President HANKS but no thanks. This seems to be the mantra of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte whenever a person or group calls on him to run for President, and he said it again in response to a

FDUTERTE NIXES, 10

MASTER-PLANNED. Lapanday Properties Philippines, Inc. (LPPI) sales and marketing manager Maria Luisa Abaya presents the amenities, facilities, and features of Ciudades, LPPI’s large-scale integrated mixed-use, mas-

ter-planned township development in the city before the delegates and visitors of the 1st Southern Mindanao Growth Corridor (SGMC) Investment Forum at The Marco Polo, Davao on Friday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

4 NEWS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014

City to prioritize evacuation center in 2015 annual budget By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City Government will prioritize the city’s evacuation center in the 2015 annual budget. City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) head Marcelino P. Escalada said the evacuation center is one of the priorities of Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte in the 2015 budget. “It is high time we acknowledge the fact that evacuation centers are part of the activities of an urban

city like Davao City,” Escalada said. He said evacuees always go to the schools and covered courts every time there are calamities in the city. He said classrooms and covered courts are not designed as evacuation centers Escalada cited the Rizal Elementary School which served as the evacuation center of the survivors of April 4 Isla Verde fire. He said a classroom caught

Online petition launched to extend liquor hours

group in Davao City posted an online petition asking the city government to extend the time of the liquor ban in the city from the current 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. The group, which calls itself helpingdavaophp, posted its online petition to change.org requesting Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and the City Council to consider giving allowance to the liquor ban during weekends until 3 a.m. The group said many businesses and jobs, are being affected by the strict enforcement of the 1 a.m. ban . These include not just bars and clubs but indirect businesses like public transportation, hotels, the liquor industry, tourism agencies,

restaurants, airlines, etc. “We understand the need for regulations and share in the reasons why they were implemented originally. We believe that as important as it is to protect the people, it is also very important to grant the rights and freedom to choose when and how to spend their free time,” the group said in its post. It said police patrols can be seen everywhere nowadays, and although the city feels safer than ever, it also looks “empty and sad” during the evenings. Bars, clubs, restaurants and other indirect businesses are closing down and people are losing jobs, the group said.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 11 has already served 204,486 households in its conditional cash transfer or commonly known as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Speaking during the Partners Forum and Consultation, DSWD 11 Pantawid Pamilya monitoring and evaluation officer Margeena G. Cabido said they already have high numbers in the four provinces in the region, including Davao City, as of August this year. Cabido said they catered to a total of 454,716 children beneficiaries from the six cities, 43 municipalities, and 1,000 ba-

rangays in the region. Based on the breakdown of active household per province as of August 13, Cabido said Davao del Sur has the highest number beneficiaries with a total of 61,955 or 30 percent of the total numbers in the region. This is folowed by Compostela Valley, 43,874 (22 percent), Davao del Norte, 43,471 (21 percent), Davao Oriental, 35,181 (17 percent), and Davao City, 20,005 (10 percent). Aside from the cash assistance, the program also has the Students Grant In-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation for beneficiaries who have

FONLINE, 10

DSWD 11’s cash transfer serves 204K households

FDSWD, 10

fire during the evacuees’ stay there. He said the common problems usually encountered in government facilities which serve as evacuations centers are potable water supply, power supply, and the sanitation of the evacuees. Escalada said these problems can be avoided if f the city has a permanent structure designed as an evacuation center. He said the evacuation

center will have complete facilities such as beddings , water facilities, and enough power supply. He said this project was supposed to be implemented this year but was deferred due to the fire in Isla Verde. Earlier, Central 911 chief Emmanuel Jaldon said there was an ongoing evaluation for the most suited area for the permanent evacuation center. Jaldon said they are

still searching for a “safe, accessible, and hazardfree” area in the city that is owned by the government. Jaldon said the integrated evacuation plan (IEP) of Davao City identified upper Sta. Cruz, Tibungco; Barangay Magtuod, Maa; and Barangay Wireless, Poblacion as elevated areas where the facility can be set up. According to Jaldon, the number of victims in the April 4 fire incident in

Isla Verde will become the basis of the capacity of the planned center. “Aside from the fire victims, the number of residents living along the coastal areas of the city will be also taking into consideration,” Jaldon said. He said that there are about 400,000 people living along the coastal areas that are vulnerable to tsunami and storm surge. (with reports from Cheneen R. Capon)

THE ECONOMY 5

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014

Aquino welcomes potential $2.3-B investments from Europe P

RESIDENT Benigno Aquino considers his delegation’s trip to Europe this week a success partly because of additional investment inflows to the Philippines. In a briefing with Filipino journalist in Berlin Germany, which was aired over state radio station Radio ng Bayan Saturday, Aquino said he met with 19 European companies interested in investing in the Philippines. He said some $2.3-billion investments are targeted to be placed in various sectors such as manufacturing, energy, information technology, infrastructure, and transportation. Of the total, some $908 million worth of investment have been committed while prospective investments amounts to about $1.47 billion, he said. Aquino said these investments are seen to provide job opportunities to some 55,500 Filipinos. The President said European investors now understand better the

Philippines’ reason for bringing its territorial dispute with China before the United Nations. He said European investors now have a deeper appreciation on why the issue needs international arbitration. Last March, the government submitted a 4,000-page memorial before the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) arbitral tribunal to explain its side and ownership on some islands in the West Philippine Sea. The memorial was made after several instances wherein China’s coast guard prevented boats used by the Philippine government that will bring supplies to members of the Philippine Navy who were stationed at the Ayungin Shoal. China has been claiming ownership to islands in the South China Sea and its issue with the Philippines is not unique as several other countries have the same territorial claims problem. (PNA)

TIME CAPSULE. Officers and members of the Philippine Association of Real Estate Boards (PAREB) Davao lower the time capsule during the groundbreaking ceremonies for the proposed Davao Board of Realtors

Foundation, Inc. building along Rizal Extension last Friday in time for the organization’s 63rd founding anniversary. Lean Daval Jr.

THE ECONOMY

VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014

Yes to intercropping, no to palm oil, says councilor A

member of the City Council has proposed implementing intercropping projects such as cacao and banana instead of massive oil palm ventures in Paquibato and Marilog districts. Councilor Marissa Salvador Abella, chair of the committee on agriculture, told reporters she was wary of oil palm as a crop since it would not promote sustainable agriculture. However, Abella said the decision on which project to support rests on the City Council. She said there should be a parallel development of the other crops so in the city’s hinterlands instead of devoting these huge a single crop. She said there are studies that say oil palm could affect the city’s watersheds. Last June, Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte said the oil palm project could help address insurgency and

poverty in some areas of Paquibato district. “For so many years, the local government has been trying to solve the problem of insurgency and poverty in some areas of Paquibato district. I support the suggestion of the Mayor (Rodrigo Duterte) to put up a Palm Oil Plantation because I think this brings about a win-win solution to the problem,” the vice mayor said in a statement. The younger Duterte said aside from the farming opportunities for the residents of Paquibato, the project would also lead to more benefits such as social security as well as the creation of a profit-sharing scheme to ensure that the farmers and owners get their fair share of the profits generated by their land. Mayor Duterte said earlier this year that Malaysian and Thai companies are eyeing tracts of land in both Paquibato and Marilog districts as plantations

for the crop. Panalipdan, however, urged the city government “to look also at the perils of foreign corporate-controlled palm oil plantations based on people’s experiences and not only the companies’ mere promises of economic development.” The environment group said establishing oil palm plantations in the area threatens the status of Paquibato as an important water resource area. The New People’s Army is also active in the area. According to the city’s Comprehensive Land Use Program (CLUP), Marilog district covers 11,102 hectares of forest cover, with at least 45,000 hectares classified as brush and agricultural lands. The area serves as a major production area of the city because of its agroforestry products, the CLUP said. Paquibato, meanwhile, has at least 110,000 hect-

study the Marikina Watershed Initiative (MWI), a project of a private sector consortium in partnership with the government and local communities that aims to protect, reforest, and rehabilitate the Marikina Watershed, one of the major aggravating causes of massive flooding in Metro Manila. “The MWI is a classic example of an initiative that is so big in scale—it needs various sectors to work together for it to actually work. While the Marikina Watershed is not a polarized issue, there are opposing views from various stakeholders. One of the biggest tasks here is reconciling

and uniting opposing views to save lives,” said Flores. “Five years into the partnership, the work is far from finished. A lot still needs to be done. But I believe that the foundation of a strong multi-stakeholder partnership has been put in place. Moving forward, we will continue to seek what needs done, and do it,” added Flores. The Marikina Watershed Initiative was established by the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation and its government and corporate partners, including Smart, in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Ondoy.

ares classified as brush and grass lands, with forest cover occupying 10,492 hectares. Around 1,700 hectares has been classified as agricultural land. Both districts are occupied mostly by indigenous peoples, the Ata, Manobo, and Matigsalug. Paquibato and Marilog are also classified as potential geo-hazard risks due to its steep slopes, according

to the Mines and Geosciences Bureau. According to the document, the city’s policy includes the promotion of priority permanent crops such as durian, cacao, coffee, banana, coconut and rubber. In February, City Agriculturist Roselio Tabay said the city was eyeing the expansion of the city’s cacao areas from 2,800 hectares to 10,000 hectares.

The official said they were banking on the joint initiative Departments of Environment and Natural Resources and Agrarian Reform, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples and the Philippine Coconut Authority to implement the farming projects. Tabay said cacao was a rising industry due to the low supply of the crop in West Africa. (MindaNews)

Inclusive partnerships key to resilientcy, says Smart S

MART Communications, Inc. (Smart) underscored the importance of inclusive partnerships in making the Philippines more resilient especially with the increasing threat of disasters. Speaking in one of the breakout sessions at the Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility held recently in Makati City, Darwin Flores, department head for community partnerships at Smart, stressed the importance of establishing a common ground to create and maintain multi-stakeholder collaborations amid diverse agenda. He cited as a case

It figures

39.5% THE Philippine automobile industry achieved combined sales of 19,116 units for the month of August. The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (Campi) and Truck Manufacturers Association said August volume is still higher by 39.5 percent than the 13,700 units sold in the same month last year. BusinessMirror, Sept. 18, 2014

32 THE DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE ANDTECHNOLOGY’S Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) is now hiring 32 project managers to fasttrack the implementation of essential electronic or e-government initiatives. The ICTO said a number of medium-to-large scale e-government projects are in line with the ambitious eGovernment Masterplan and the Medium Term ICT Harmonization Initiative. Philippine Star, Sept. 14, 2014

50,000 GROWTH in online shopping is boosting profit at FedEx, and the company plans to hire more than 50,000 extra workers to handle what is shaping up as another record year for holiday-season package deliveries. MANILA BULLETIN, Sept. 19, 2014

VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014

Never forget

ost Filipinos know September 21, 1972 as the date that then-President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law. Few are aware, however, that the former dictator actually signed Proclamation 1081 four days earlier on September 17, but postdated it to September 21 because of his superstitious belief in the number 7 and its multiples. And most do not remember that the now-infamous television footage of Marcos announcing his proclamation was shown not on September 21 but two days later, September 23. We can be forgiven for being confused about these and other details about martial law; after all, these events happened 42 years ago, and the memories of those who were old enough to know what was going are now starting to fade. What does not fade, however, are the memories of those dark days in which our freedoms were taken away from us, many of our fellowmen arrested and jailed for no other reason than being critical of the dictator. The next 14 years would be characterized by more suppression and oppression as the Marcos regime held tightly to power and kept it by all means possible. We still have in our midst the victims of martial law who were jailed, tortured, and even raped by

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those who implemented martial law. And sadly, there are hundreds more who have died or disappeared who can no longer tell their tales. There is today a growing sentiment especially among the young that the Marcos regime was not as it is now being pictured by the generation that lived through it. Call it revisionism, or a glossing over, or even a sanitization – whatever it is, people are being made to believe that the martial law days were not as dark as they really were, that the Philippines was better off because it was declared, and that we are a better country today because of martial rule. There are those who want the people to forget the hell the country had been through and change history as we know it. This is only possible if all the evidence of the misdeeds of the dictatorship would suddenly disappear from the face of the earth. As we said, there are many people still alive who lived through those years, and their stories of the truth cannot be expunged from the records. As a people, it is incumbent upon us to tell these stories to the next generations so that they do not make the same mistakes. We will never forget, and neither should our children. ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

AGAPITO JOAQUIN JR. Associate Editor

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. CHENEEN R. CAPON BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO Reporters MEGHANN STA. INES AQUILES Z. ZONIO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. FUNNY PEARL GAJUNERA Lifestyle Photography CHA MONFORTE JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA Correspondents ARLENE D. PASAJE Contributing Photographer Cartoons MUNDA • HENRYLITO TACIO • MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO AURELIO A. PEÑA • MARY Columnists: CARLOS MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. ANN “ADI”• C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • VIDA MIA VALVERDE • Economic Analysts:• ENRICO BORBON MARY ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN • NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN EMILY “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER PEREZENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA EconomicM. Analyst:

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love to travel. I have seen the temples of Bangkok in Thailand. I have scaled the Petronas Twin Tower in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I have walked through the fine white beaches in Bali, Indonesia. I have toured the award-winning zoo in Melbourne, Australia. I have experienced real safari while I was in Durban, South Africa. I have learned to speak French (not fluently but just barely) while staying for almost a week in Montreal, Canada (more so when we traveled to Quebec). I have been to the United States several times. I have ridden a snowmobile while I was in Hibbing, Minnesota. I did surfing twice – once in North Carolina and the most recent one while I visited my aunt and uncle in Savannah, Georgia. I marveled at the mysterious Wakulla Springs in Tallahassee, Florida. In Iowa, I saw Old Faithful, the world’s best known geyser, spew out hot water. I have been at the top of the Washington Monument. I have touched the Statue of Liberty in New York City. I became a little kid again as I toured the Paramount’s King’s Island in Ohio. I got tired after board walking in New Jersey’s Atlantic City. As I write this, the song popularized by Nancy Sinatra came to my mid. Well, while in the US, I have never been to Texas, but I have been to Utah. I have never been to Alabama, Nebraska, or Alaska, but have visited Indiana, Montana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Now, can you name the title of the song? The chorus said, “I know you’re tired of following my elusive dreams and schemes; for they’re only fleeting things, my elusive dreams.” (If you hear me singing this song in karaoke bars, now you know the reason.)

VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014

VANTAGE POINTS

Traveling around the world I n d e e d , THINK ON THESE! there are many songs that add in famous cities and places. Frank Sinatra’s “Around the World” tells the story of a man who travels around the globe searching for the right girl Henrylito D. Tacio for him. “I traveled on when henrytacio@gmail.com hope was gone to keep a rendezvous,” the song goes. “I knew somewhere, sometime, somehow you’d look at me and I would see the smile you’re smiling now.” At the end of the song, the man in love expresses his final thought: “No more will I go all around the world for I have found my world in you.” But for those who are madly in love and love to travel, “the world is not enough,” to quote the title of a James Bond movie. The film’s theme song has these words: “The world is not enough but it is such a perfect place to start, my love; and if you’re strong enough, together we can take the world apart, my love.” “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page,” commented Saint Augustine. “I travel not to go anywhere, but to go,” novelist Robert Louis Stevenson once said. “I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” When you travel to an uncommon place, you don’t have to worry about what other people will say about you. As William Least wrote in Blue Highways, “When you’re traveling, you are what you

are right there and then. People don’t have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road.” If you’re planning on going abroad and wanting firsthand information, ask people who are always on the go because they know what they’re sharing. Here’s one advice from Susan Heller: “When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.” Got that? One of the most important documents to bring when traveling is a passport. It is very important but Lemony Snicket can’t help making fun of it. “A passport, as I’m sure you know, is a document that one shows to government officials whenever one reaches a border between countries, so the officials can learn who you are, where you were born, and how you look when photographed unflatteringly.” Traveling gives you all kinds of emotions: sadness, happiness, fear, excitement, disgust, politeness, hunger, pain, thrill, loss of energy – name it and you have it. Award-winning film director Orson Welles (of “Citizen Kane” distinction) observed, “There are only two emotions in a plane: boredom and terror.” For those who experienced the latter, Mignon McLaughlin has these words: “Whenever we safely land in a plane, we promise God a little something.” Flying is indeed not for the faint-hearted. But even if you travel by bus or boat, you still encounter a lot of hazards like accidents and typhoons. But these are just few reasons why some people don’t travel. “If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home,” advises James Michener.

Funny incidents every now and then are bound to happen while traveling. A family living in Montreal, Canada traveled by land to Orlando, Florida last November. A day before their departure, the mother told her two kids, a 6-year-old son and a 4-year-old daughter. “Let us make this clear. No one should ask if we are almost there,” the mother said. The two children agreed. Almost two days later, they were still in the road. The mother was driving while the father took his turn to sleep. The two kids were already feeling bored. They wanted to ask their mother if they are almost there but they backed off such thought remembering their agreement before. So, the little girl inquired, “Mom, will I still be four years old when we get there?” Robert Frost penned this famous line: “Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by.” Wherever you are, enjoy the most of it. “To awaken alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world,” said Freya Stark. And try to get the most of it. Listen to the words of wisdom from Moslih Eddin Saadi: “A traveler without observation is a bird without wings.” I have been to different parts of the world. But there is no place like home. Most of the time, I always look forward to coming home. After the excitement has died down and fatigue has engulfed your being, all you want to do is to go back to familiar surroundings. (That is why I don’t get enough when I am in Davao.) How true, indeed, were the words of Lin Yutang: “No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow.”

gram—through seminars, workshops, or teach-ins—to train and develop a cadre of the party faithful, to recruit members, to organize chapters, to nominate candidates, to carry or propagate the Party’s message, and to fight for its causes. Unfortunately, our so-called parties aren’t particular about principles or platforms. They don’t even bother with requirements for membership except— in most cases—financial capability and willingness to spend big for elections. Does any so-called party member even bother to cite any party stand or platform as basis for proposing, supporting, or rejecting a policy or proposal? And look if they have members or chapters; if any, they’re vested interest, either incumbents or previous losers wanting to get back in; and no plain citizens, whom they don’t bother recruiting. ***** In fact, a party will usually be organized to operate at every level of the electorate: barangay, municipal, provincial, national—each chapter geared to address issues or needs of its level: barangay tends to its neighborhoods and the empowerment of its residents; municipal to its barangays, provincial to its municipalities, national to the regions and provinces. All this in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity. A party would define its short, medium, and long term objectives for the level of development it purports to bring

about. And it would have a process for recruiting, qualifying, or screening candidates that aspire to carry them through. Not least, it would have a formal nominating process—usually by holding a convention of delegates—and a proclamation of both the chosen candidates and the convention-ratified platform. Vice President Jejomar Binay has been talking of forming a new party; what’s taking him so long? Is he pondering the foregoing requirements and rationale for his new party? How will it nominate him and the rest of his team? ***** The absence of such protocols at present betrays the fakery of the alleged parties—which are largely financed and controlled by entrenched traditional politicians. That being the case, one wonders how the nation’s destiny will unfold as we sail into the waters of the ASEAN Economic Integration. Manny is former UNESCO regional director for Asia-Pacific; secretary-general, Southeast Asia Publishers Association; director, development academy of Philippines; member, Philippine Mission to the UN; vice chair, Local Government Academy; member, Cory Govt’s Peace Panel; awardee, PPI-UNICEF outstanding columnist. He is president/national convenor, Gising Barangay Movement Inc. valdehuesa@gmail.com

Without formal parties, it’s just ukay-ukay politics

T’S still early for the 2016 presidential elections to be heating up but quite late for establishing the necessary conditions for a decent electoral exercise as befits the first democracy established in all of Asia. That same year the new Bangsamoro regional government also hopes to hold its first elections. How nice all of this would be if all the action could take place with a sense of structure or of process—meaning, at least a modicum of formality in qualifying or screening candidates. But no one even talks of evolving a credible mechanism for nominating anyone for any office. What we call a political system isn’t really a system; there’s just no system—none for national office, none for Mindanao, none for Bangsamoro! And those that claim to be real parties don’t sound like they know what they’re talking about; nor do they act like they know the role or function of a party in a democracy. ***** Look closely and see if they even have the most basic thing that characterizes a party—a group organized with real people as members, with a common set of principles binding them, and a platform that commits them to turn into reality once in power. It doesn’t help that we have a Commission on Elections that readily ac-

THE WORM’S EYEVIEW BY MANNY VALDEHUESA credits any group claiming to be a party—without bothering to ascertain the validity of such claim or indeed whether it has members. What in fact is a political party? It’s an association of leaders and responsible citizens who wish to establish a government according to a set of ideals, principles, or platforms by fielding a slate of candidates dedicated to the realization of same. Its role is akin to that of a seminary or a madrasah in the life of Christians or Muslims: each one is to the Church as a political party is to the State. Just as a seminary or madrasah trains acolytes to be priests, imams, or evangelizers to preach and promote the faith, so does a political party train its members to advance democracy and the interests of the Republic through good governance. ***** Note how political parties in mature democracies maintain an institute or training center for members and candidates alike—complete with faculty, classrooms, library, party literature, and assorted courses of both the theoretical and the applied variety. In our case, while it’s not absolutely necessary to establish a Party Institute, there has to be a political education pro-

NEWS

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014

no control over. I do not know them and they are printing all over the town. I’ve said numerous times that I’m not interested,” he said. The mayor said if it is matter of destiny, he is declining it as early as now because he does not want the position. “If I wanted a national position then I would have done it during the time of President Fidel Ramos. And in the last year of her term, President Arroyo wanted me to be the Defense Secre-

tary but I did not want it,” he said. In a report, the Center for Enterprise Advancement (CEA) said its search for the most trusted leader who should run for president has pointed it to Duterte. CAE described Duterte as a hard-hitting, no-nonsense local government leader feared by criminal elements. The group called for focus group discussions (FDGs) in about 20 locations in Metro Manila with the participation of

the youth, labor, and business sectors, and Duterte stood out as the first pick for presidency in the majority of the discussions. Early this month, Seneator Miriam Defensor-Santiago expressed her willingness to run again for President in 2016 election and pointed to Duterte as a possible running mate. Duterte refused the offer and endorsed former Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro instead. With reports from Cha Monforte, Correspondent

The group also said major liquor companies have canceled annual events in the city and cut down all sponsorships of Davao based businesses due to low sales. Public transportation such as taxis and others lose many hours of extra work per day with the night shift workers being the most afflicted. The amount of international tourists and Filipinos visiting Davao City has lessened as more and more people choose to spend their holidays elsewhere, the group said. It said hotel occupancy has also been affected due to the drop of visitors and the cancelation of events. Tourism agencies have less work and

airlines have less passengers flying to the city since the Francisco Bangoy International Airport has only one international connection. “Our own most precious celebration of the year, Kadayawan Festival, was not as successful this year as compared to the previous years,” it said. The group said regulation is good and all cities that want to progress must have regulations, “but sometimes too much could be a disadvantage, and maybe some of the regulations being applied right now are too strict.” “We honestly hope this letter is not taken on a personal level, and we hope this petition will bring the topic out to the

public, so the right people, business owners and the local government, can openly discuss the growing situation and hopefully come up with a solution,” the post stated. The group said it knows this small change will not solve all the problems “but it would be a good start.” “Davao is a city full of potentials and it is our responsibility to ourselves and each other to harness those potentials and give it the environment it needs to grow. This humble request has no further intention but to try to help Davao City to be an even better place for all of its citizens,” the group said. ABF

college students. Cabido said through the partnership with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), a total of 1,391 student grantees were able to avail themselves of an educational assistance program provided that they are college-age and children of Pantawid Pamilya grantees. She said these students are enrolled in different universities and colleges in Davao Region. Of the number, 259 are enrolled in the Davao Oriental State College of Technology (DOSCT), 155 in the Southern Philippines Agri Business

and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology College of Agri-Business and Marines Sciences (SPAMAST – CAFMS); and 77 in the SPAMAST - College of Agricultural Sciences. There are also a total of 265 beneficiaries enrolled in the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) - Obrero Campus; 240 in the USePMabini Campus, 172 in the USePMintal Campus, and 223 in the Davao del Norte State College. Cabido said the beneficiaries are provided with livelihood programs and job placements in partnership with the sus-

tainable livelihood program of DSWD. A total of 4,086 beneficiaries have benefited from the program with a total fund of P4,166,500 as of August 2014 in the five provinces. Of the total number, 1,215 beneficiaries came from Compostela Valley with P2.59 million fund, followed by Davao City with 1,089 beneficiaries and P40,000 fund, Davao del Sur with 900 beneficiaries and P250,000 fund. In Davao Del Norte there are 567 beneficiaries with P747,500 fund and 315 in Davao Oriental with P536,000 fund. ABF

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Aquino: 2015 a banner year for Phl economy G

IVEN the unprecedented investor confidence enjoyed by the Philippines, President Benigno Aquino said he expects 2015 to be a banner year for the country. Speaking before a forum organized by the French Institute for International Relations here, President Aquino said all the factors needed to allow the country to build the momentum are already in place. “Given the unprecedented confidence enjoyed by our country, we expect 2015 to be a banner year. After all, the factors that can allow us to build on our momentum are in place,” President Aquino said, adding that the country is entering a demographic sweet spot by 2015, which will last for around 35 years. “We have been investing in our greatest resource – our people, resulting in an expanding, productive labor force now even more prepared to seize all the opportunities,” he said. President Aquino also said the Philippines has a strategic location and vast potential to be a crucial hub of trade, investments, and services. During his speech, the President cited the administration’s significant achievements in terms of

improving the lives of Filipinos, as well as the reforms in key government agencies. “Together with ensuring that government would no longer be a party to wasting our people’s hardearned money, we introduced landmark reform to agencies once known as hotbeds of corruption,” he said. According to President Aquino, his administration’s commitment to good governance is now bearing fruit, and that the money that once went to the corrupt now goes to massive investments into the Filipino people. “All these investments were made to ensure that the Filipino people, who are our greatest competitive advantage, are enabled to make the most of opportunities borne of renewed confidence in our country,” he said. “Indeed, good governance has redounded to a more capable and more active citizenry full of hope and optimism, and the combination of an increasingly-competitive population and a sustainable, prudently-run economy, has gained global notice,” This was affirmed by the investment grade status given by Moody’s, Fitch and Standard and Poor’s,

he said, and just recently by Korea’s National Information and Credit Evaluation Ratings, Inc. The French Export Credit Agency has likewise upgraded the country’s risk rating. “All this happened at a time when agencies have been very conservative with their evaluations due to an uncertain global economic climate. In fact, even in a period when various countries were being downgraded, the Philippines emerged as the world’s most upgraded sovereign,” he said. “It is clear: good governance is good economics. Again, let me emphasize that this is not an empty pronouncement. Our Business Process Management Sector continues to mark impressive growth; manufacturing has rebounded impressively; and tourists all over the world are flocking to our beaches and cities, seeing for themselves how truly it is more fun in the Philippines,” he added. Prior to his attendance to the forum, President Aquino visited the facility of Dassault Systèmes, a 3DEXPERIENCE company. During the visit, the President toured the 3Ds Paris campus and witnessed simulations on urban planning and disaster risk reduction. (PNA)

his brother Maximo of the party-list group Abante Mindanao said the first phase in the construction of the proposed MRS may soon be a reality if House Bill 4059 they filed is passed into law. The bill “seeks to appropriate the proceeds of the privatization and sale of the old Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro City to finance the MRS project.” “With the opening of the Laguindingan International Airport in Laguind-

ingan, Misamis Oriental in June last year, the old Lumbia Airport is not being used anymore,” the lawmakers said in the bill’s explanatory note. The Department of Transportation and Communication has confirmed that the Lumbia Aiport will be privatized through an Executive Order No. 323 or the rules and regulations covering the state privatization program. DOTC also said proceeds from privatization of

the Lumbia Airport could be used in financing other government projects. The Rodriguez brothers said the money from the airport’s privatization should be “devoted exclusively” to finance the first phase of the MRS – the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Railway project. According to the earlier report, HB 4059 has been pending with the House Transportation committee since March 10, 2014.

Terisita Deles said she expects that the BBL will be thoroughly scrutinized by Congress. “We expect the Senate

and Congress to scrutinize it thoroughly. We want it, so that if the law will be passed, nobody will say that it was railroaded,” Deles said in the same forum. Deles said she was confident that the BBL will surpass the question of whether or not it is constitutional. “As we have said, the first item is constitutionality. We are confident that what we have brought is constitutional.

It all falls within the four corners of the constitution,” she said. Last September 10, President Benigno Aquino submitted the final draft of the BBL to Congress. The BBL, which embodies the comprehensive peace agreement signed by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the government, aims to end the decades-long armed conflict in Mindanao.

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NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. ThatCERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 1004399 under LOYOLA PLAN Contract No.(s) 298750-1 / NNN 711079175 issued to TERESITA R. CABANIAL was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void. 9/22,29/10/6

11 HEALTH

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014

HIV/AIDS: Sex in the city By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

ILLIAM was only 18 when he went to Metro Manila to study in one of the country’s most prestigious schools. The parents of the Davaoeño wanted him to be a lawyer. William was an outstanding student during his first year. But after meeting some friends, everything changed. His friends brought William to a pub one evening. There, the young man was introduced to a beautiful guest relations officer. And the rest, as they say, is history. Since then, William was picking up girls here and there. Lately, however, he started suffering from a chronic cough that lasted for more than a month. He also experienced itching in several parts of his body, aside from having swollen lymph. William decided to see a doctor and told him his problem. After hearing his woes, the doctor asked William about his sexual lifestyle. Quite surprised at the question, the young man told his story just the same. After conducting several blood tests on William, he was asked to return a week later. “I am sorry to tell you this William,” the doctor told him when he returned, “but you are positive of HIV.” HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus, the microorganism that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). William felt all the energy drained from him. “I don’t know where I got this disease…” his voice trails off as he recalls his past sex conquests. “Maybe from one of those girls I picked up. Or maybe…” From being ranked No. 2 in the country in 2010 to No. 5, that’s the status of Davao Region (composed of Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Compos-

tela Valley, and Davao Occidental) this year. That may be a big improvement but it is still very alarming. After all, AIDS does matter! In a recent news report, “Edge Davao” reporter Cheneen R. Capon quoted data released by the National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health which said that as of July 2014 the region “contributed 6 percent of the total 585 confirmed cases of HIV/AIDS in the country.” That’s equivalent to 35 new recorded cases. Ahead of Davao Region in terms of HIV/ AIDS cases were the National Capital Region with 41 percent (240 news cases), Region 4-A (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) with 17 percent (99 news cases), Region 7 with 11 percent (64 new cases), and Region 3 with 8 percent (47 new cases). AIDS is a disease caused by a deficiency in the body’s immune system. “It is a syndrome because there are a range of different symptoms which are not always found in each case,” explains Dr. John Hubley, author of “The AIDS Handbook.” “It is acquired because AIDS is an infectious disease caused by a virus which is spread from person to person through a variety of routes. This makes it different from immune deficiency from other causes such as treatment with anti-cancer drugs or immune system suppressing drugs given to persons receiving transplant operations.” The origin of HIV viruses and AIDS is still a mystery until now. There have been many theories but none so far have been proven. During the early stages of the AIDS epidemic, the flimsiest evidence was used to blame AIDS on certain

“Medical experts say HIV is relatively fragile and can be easily killed by household disinfectants. But once it is inside the human body, there is no way a person can eliminate the dreaded virus. AIDS is the most severe form of HIV infection.” groups, countries, or animals. Kenneth Kaunda, former president of Zambia, urged: “It is not important to know where it came from but rather where it is going!” HIV is present in all body fluids of an infected person but is concentrated in blood, semen, and vaginal fluids. Virtually, it is present in all body tissues and organs, including the brain and spinal cord. It can be found in tears, saliva, and breast milk although these last three are not considered significant routes of infection. In fact, you can’t get HIV/AIDS from kissing. “A protein in human saliva keeps HIV from infecting white blood cells,” informs “The Merck Manual of Medical Information.” “The protein attaches itself to white blood cells and protects them from infection.” And if ever you get HIV through kissing, you need to imbibe 32 liters of an infected person’s saliva, according to Health Action Information Network (HAIN). “That would be enough saliva to fill up the gasoline tank of six-by-six truck. And the transfer should happen in one kissing session!” HAIN said. Medical experts say HIV is relatively fragile and can be easily killed

by household disinfectants. But once it is inside the human body, there is no way a person can eliminate the dreaded virus. AIDS is the most severe form of HIV infection. “HIV progressively weakens the body’s immune defense system until it is no longer able to fight off infections, many of which are normally harmless,” said Dr. Dominic Garcia who, at the time when this author interviewed him, was the program officer of the AIDS Society of the Philippines. “When the immune system is severely damaged by HIV, several opportunistic infections are present at once.” How does HIV work? The AIDS Information Unit of the Department of Health (DOH) explains: “When HIV enters your body, your body tries to kill the virus by creating chemicals called antibodies. This process – from the moment you are infected until the moment antibodies appear in your blood – takes an average of six weeks but may take as long as one year.” The DOH information sheet said HIV antibodies do not kill the AIDS virus. The antibodies and HIV remain in the bloodstream of a person until the rest of his or her life. Only a special blood test

can detect whether a person is HIV-positive. According to Dr. Garcia, HIV is a retrovirus or a slow virus. “Unlike flu, which already gives you the symptoms the following day after acquiring it, HIV can show no symptoms for several years. Possibly as short as three years or as long as 12 years,” he points out. Symptoms differ widely from country to country. In most cases, AIDS starts with flu-like symptoms that resemble mononucleosis (the so-called kissing disease). These may persist for two weeks to a few months after HIV enters the body. “After the first stage,” says “The Medical Advisor: The Complete Guide to Alternative and Conventional Treatments,” “symptoms may disappear for several years. How the AIDS patient takes care of himself or herself during this time is extremely important, because HIV is multiplying in the body, slowly at first and then rapidly. As the virus systematically destroys the cells that fight off infection, the immune system begins to fail and the patient becomes vulnerable to various illnesses and tumors.” Among the diseases that affect people with HIV are tuberculosis, Kaposi’s sarcoma (a tumor primarily affecting the skin), pneumonia, herpes, shingles, and weight loss. “Many complications of HIV infection, including death, are usually the result of these other infections and not of the HIV infection itself,” the Merck manual states. A DOH report cited sexual intercourse as the leading mode of transmission in the Philippines. Vaginal intercourse, where the penis of the male penetrates the vagina of the female, is the usual route of transmission. Anal intercourse, where the penis penetrates the anus of the other person, can also be a route of transmission. “A single sexual encounter can be sufficient to transmit HIV,” Dr. Hubley wrote. “Although the risk from an individual sexual act may be low, the more times a person has sex, the greater the likelihood that transmission will take place. Women appear to be more at risk than men from heterosexual sex. The transmission of HIV from man to woman is believed to take place more easily than from woman to man.” Injection or infusion of contaminated blood,

as occurs with blood transfusions, the sharing of needles or syringes, or an accidental prick from an HIV-contaminated needle is another mode of HIV transmission. Transfer of HIV is also possible from an infected mother to a child before birth, during birth, or after birth through the mother’s milk. “A few children contract HIV infection through sexual abuse,” the Merck manual informs. What is alarming is that more and more young people are engaged in sexually risky behavior. “Pabata nang pabata sila – from 15-25 years of age. They are involved in sexual activities that leave them prone to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases,” said Hadji Balajadia, an official of the National Confederation of Youth Advocates. What is even more frightening is the fact that more and more Filipino children are “employed” in the sex trade. Nobody really knows how many of them there are but the International Labor Organization estimated about 100,000 Filipino children. Most are girls, but the number of boy prostitutes is increasing. Health experts say condom use is one of the most effective ways of stopping the spread of HIV. But most Catholic priest are against it because they say condom promotion is “dangerous and ineffective.” One priest said the most effective way to prevent the spread of the virus is to have a change in sexual behavior. The idea of “safe sex,” he said, lulls men and women into complacency, thinking that using condoms would protect them from the disease. Instead, the Catholic Church encourages “men and women to live morally upright lives, and to practice marital fidelity and chastity within and outside marriage.” Health experts say a diagnosis of AIDS should not be taken as an immediate death sentence. “With proper care, the AIDS sufferer can stave off the worst symptoms and live a productive life for many years,” The Medical Advisor points out. For William, life goes on. “I know just how difficult it is to cope with being HIV-positive,” he says. “I feel the pain, the burden. The tendency is to be depressed, and depression weakens the immune system, which is what the AIDS virus attacks. A positive attitude helps…”

12 CLASSIFIED

Billiard Supplies

Phone Nos.

Cell Nos.

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

FOOD

Pastries go Paleo ARTISANAL food is having a major moment right now in Davao and batting for the healthy corner is Vanessa Ong’s Paleo Palate. So let’s break it down, because understanding the underpinnings of this diet has everything to do with what you take in and leave out. The Paleo diet is a modern approach to eating and food preparation inspired by the intake of our forebears during the Paleolithic era who were hunter-gatherers. The diet consists mainly of eating proteins from lean meats and seafood, nuts, fruits & vegetables and healthy fats. Basically, it wants you to scrap anything refined, processed or loaded with preservatives. Whereas deviating from keeping any artifice from regular savory food is already a challenge to say the least, Vanessa or Bang - as she is more commonly known to friends – felt it more than ever come dessert time. This statuesque mother of three adorable girls had trouble shedding the extra pounds

FPASTRIES, A4

A Paleo grin of Almond Cupcakes and Chocolate Chip Cookies.

A2 INdulge! UP AND ABOUT

Globe expands flat rate for data roaming to more countries GLOBE TELECOM has expanded the coverage of its standard rate for data roaming of P599 per day to fifteen (15) more countries, expanding its coverage to a total of 35 countries worldwide. The default rate for data roaming is now available in Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland. For only P599 a day, postpaid customers travelling outside the country for work or leisure can avail of data roaming services without the need for promo registration. Customers can surf the Internet on their mobile phones and enjoy access to their e-mail accounts, social networks, apps, and other sites for a full 24-hour cycle. With the default data roaming rate, subscribers are guaranteed of no bill shock, especially those who don’t get to activate or renew promo subscriptions. Customers no longer have to take note of various roaming rates with a standard rate for all countries covered. They also need not wait until midnight to register and keep track of time zones since the new default rate covers a full 24-hour cycle. “More Globe customers around the world can now enjoy our default data roaming rate as we continue to grow our coverage with the addition of 15 new countries, effectively bringing the worry-free data roaming experience to more Filipinos abroad. This standard rate aims to simplify the roaming experience and protect our customers from bill shock due to excessive data charges,” said Raul Macatangay, Vice President for Postpaid Business and Devices at Globe. “With our default P599 roaming rate, subscribers can enjoy access to the Internet without the fear of bill shock, as well as without having to memorize roaming rates or promo codes. Subscribers can also register anytime because the P599 rate is valid for an entire 24-hour period. Just select the roaming partner in your country of destination and enjoy a wonderful and worry-free data roaming experience from Globe.” Aside from worry-free surfing, subscribers will also enjoy free TravelCare insurance for up to 30 days, which provides up to P200,000 worth of protection from travel inconveniences like flight or baggage delay, loss of travel documents, and trip cancellation, as well as accidental death or medical expenses. The standard P599 flat rate is also available in partnercarriers in Australia, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, UAE, UK, USA, and Vietnam. To know more about the P599 flat rate for data roaming, visit www.globe.com.ph/roaming or call the Globe Roaming Hotline at +6327301212 toll-free even while abroad.

HEY, MOMS AND DADS! Come & celebrate Avent’s 30th Anniversary at Baby Company. Get 30% OFF on all regular priced Avent items on September 19-21. Terms and conditions apply. Don’t forget to bring your Mom card when you shop to earn points. Happy Shopping!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014

SM Lanang Premier holds Korean Film Festival this week Seven blockbuster and critically-acclaimed films will highlight the Korean Film Festival at the SM Cinema from September 17 to October 12. A joint partnership between the Korean Embassy’s Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines and SM Cinema, the film festival will begin at SM City Clark from Sept 17 to 21, followed by screenings at SM Lanang Premier in Davao from September 24 to 28, and at SM City Cebu from October 1 to 5. The film festival’s culminating event will be on October 8 to 12 at SM Megamall. Other partners include the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), the Korea Tourism Organization – Manila (KTO), and the Korea Copyright Com-

mission. The much awaited films include A Company Man, starring Korean superstar So Ji-sub as a hit man who finds himself targeted by his ex-employers after he falls in love with a single mother and quits his job; Hwayi: A Monster Boy, which is top billed by Korean heartthrob Yeo Jin-goo as a 16-year-old boy who was raised by five criminal fathers to become the perfect assassin; and My Paparotti, which focuses on the special relationship between a high school gangster and the music teacher who helps him pursue his dream of becoming a singer like the late tenor Luciano Pavarotti.

Audiences will also enjoy Korean comedies like All About My Wife, which is about a timid husband who hires a professional Casanova to seduce his seemingly perfect but fearsome wife, hoping this will make her divorce him; and Man on the Edge, a box-office

hit about a powerful crime boss’s right hand man, and his new identity mixed with supernatural shenanigans. The festival will also feature contemporary films such as Hide and Seek, a mystery that revolves around two families who believe strangers to be living and hiding in their homes, and struggle to fight back; as well as King of Pigs, the animated drama in the

2012 Cannes Film Festival Directors’ Fortnight selection, which is about childhood bullies and the memories that come with it. For more information and queries, please contact the Korean Cultural Center at 555-1711 or email events@koreanculture.ph. The 2014 Korean Film Festival is one of the many interesting cultural events of SM Cinema.

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INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

Judy Ann takes on television daily with ‘Bet On Your Baby’ FOLLOWING a triumphant first season, the Philippines’ cutest game show “Bet On Your Baby” is returning on ABS-CBN this September due to viewers’ requests. What’s more is that this time, the program will now run from Mondays through Fridays—set to bring five times the amount of joy that it delivered the past season. This also means that the country’s award-winning host will be taking on television every day of the week, with “Bet On Your Baby” airing on weekdays, and her new program “I Do” capturing the hearts of many over

weekends. Given stellar reviews as “Bet On Your Baby’s” host, Judy Ann had also received high regard from the show’s original company creator, Electus. They identified Judy Ann as the only host of “Bet On Your Baby” internationally to bring such a high level of enthusiasm by even being the only host in the world to dance on set despite her superstar status. The uniqueness of the Philippine edition of “Bet On Your Baby” even made it an international peg that Electus shows to countries that seek to take on the fran-

chise. This second season which will be launched on September 22, more joy, inspiration and even more prizes are well on the way. “Bet On Your Baby’s” Season 2 will be delivering something new to the table , two new exciting segments namely: “Wachamakulit” and “Dice Dice Baby.” This season’s jackpot round now has more piggy banks to break. 15 piggy

banks will hold cash prizes no lower than Php25,000 and families may win special prizes. Of course, the major prizes of either a house and lot package or Php1 million are also up for grabs. With all the show’s brand new games, weekdays are sure to become more exciting for the whole family. Don’t miss out on “Bet On Your Baby: Season 2” which will begin airing daily from September 22.

Gerard Salonga, excited for another concert with Cellist Richard Bamping THE ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra is busy preparing for their concert this Saturday, September 20, at the BDO Francisco Santiago Hall. This concert features the cellist Richard Bamping from Hong Kong. Born in Manchester, Bamping has been living in the eastern part of the globe for the past 20 years, playing as the principal cellist of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. This isn’t the first time Richard shares the stage with Maestro Gerard. Richard has been invited by the Maestro last 2010 to play with the then FILharmoniKa. When asked about Richard’s performance during that concert, Gerard says

“He made a tremendous impression the last time he was here! His charm and musicality captivates the audience, and it’s something Filipinos can relate to. He’s a perfect example of how good a Filipino musician can

be.” Gerard hopes that the audience looks forward to the concert as much as he does, “…his love for music has such a strong vibe. You can really feel how much love he has for what he does.”

And with that amount of love, the Maestro hopes that listeners would allow themselves to be gripped by the music. “You don’t really have to be knowledgeable about classical music, you just have to be open enough to allow the material to touch you.” In a quite serendipitous arrangement, Richard is set to perform the piece that made him want to be a cellist in the first place: Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto. The program also includes Brahms’ Tragic Overture and Symphony No. 1. Tickets are available at all Ticketworld outlets and online. You may also call the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra at 4152272 loc. 2409 or at 09374103242.

Tom Rodriguez thrills viewers in GMA’s newest gameshow Don’t Lose The Money CONTINUING to offer all-out entertainment, GMA Network brings to the viewers this September 22 (Monday) the newest gameshow Don’t Lose The Money to be hosted by Kapuso Prime leading man Tom Rodriguez. “Sobrang nakaka-excite dahil this will be my first time to host a gameshow. Aside from the challenges for the competing teams, Don’t Lose The Money aims to inspire viewers na maging mas ma-diskarte so they can achieve their goals in life,” shares Tom. A successful franchise from Germany, Don’t Lose the Money features two (2)

teams, with three members each, competing with each other. The team, who keeps the biggest amount of money at the end of the program, after going through grueling physical challenges, wins and gets to take home the money. Viewers will definitely be thrilled and inspired as the players combine strength, courage, tactics, and strategic timing to win and fulfill their life goal. Directed by Mark Reyes, don’t miss the thrill and excitement on Don’t Lose The Money every Monday to Friday after Basta Every Day Happy in GMA.

THE GIFTED Anne Curtis, Cristine Reyes and Sam Milby R 13

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

MARIA LEONORA TERESA Iza Calzado, Zanjoe Marudo, Jodi Sta. Maria R 13

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

A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONE Liam Neeson, Dan Stevens R 13

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

R-16 THE MAZE RUNNER Dylan O'Brien, Kaya Scodelario PG 13

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

A4 INdulge!

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FOOD Vanessa Ong.

Pastries...FFROM A1 Bang uses derivative she gained after her third pregnancy and was advised to go on a low fat and low salt diet by her doctor. The culprit to her problems, she knew, was mainly her sweet tooth. She was already taking cues from the local community of Crossfit enthusiasts who were among the first to introduce the principles of Paleo to Davaoeños and decided to apply what she picked up to her love of baking. Through this healthier approach, she could have her cake and eat it too. Bang seriously pursued her line of Paleo-friendly goodies just last June 2014 and has come a considerable way from going public with her first offering, the best-selling banana loaf. She has since added Brownies, Chocolate Chip Cookies with Cacao Nibs and a trio of cupcake flavors that include Vanilla Chocolate Chip, Chocolate and Almond. Her creations are feats in themselves as Bang makes them rise with golden goodness while keeping them dairyfree, gluten-free, refined sugar-free and grain-free. She uses derivative products of fruits and nuts such as almond flour and coconut flour and milder sweeteners like honey, ca-

products of fruits and nuts such as almond flour and coconut flour and milder sweeteners like honey, cacao nibs and dark chocolate to do her pastries sweet justice. The use of these ingredients make them taste nuttier and the texture differs from when “whites” like white sugar and white flour is thrown into the mixture. cao nibs and dark chocolate to do her pastries sweet justice. The use of these ingredients make them taste nuttier and the texture differs from when “whites” like white sugar and white flour is thrown into the mixture. Bang is constantly finding that right balance of sweetness and moistness while staying within the bounds of what Paleo allows. Bang’s pursuit of Paleo through her baking venture is a double act of educating people and winning them over through their taste buds. She recently joined a bazaar and a lot

of her time was spent explaining the higher price of the products along with the meaning of the Paleo approach to prospective buyers. The healthy baker is levelheaded about answering questions, ap-

Vanessa’s famous Paleo approved Banana Bread. proaching it with a mix of good humor and patience. These are traits that she has cultivated from her bids to keep off the pounds and slowly spread the message of Paleo. The other challenge that constantly presents itself is the limited availability of her ingredients as she has to order them specially. She has learned since to more than make do and remains extremely excited about this purposeful direction to her oven-related explorations. It is helpful to note that entering into such a unique niche of baked goods is a perfect fit for Bang. She is by heart a true creative and loves to rework and look beyond the usual. She has certainly applied this do-different philosophy to Paleo Palate and it shows in the delicious way her cookies crumble. Visit Paleo Palate’s page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Paleo-Palate or text 0917-7004489

Chocolate cupcake (Left) and Almond cupcake (Above). Call: 224-0733 • Tionko St., Davao City

VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 â&#x20AC;˘ SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014

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CLASSIFIED 13 PUBLISHING, INC. ZION ACCUPRINT Is in need of:

MACHINE OPERATOR (Printing Press)

Qualifications:

- At least high school graduate, not more than 30 years old - Physically and mentally fit - Can handle minor repairs of the machine - Has the ability to be cool under pressure of deadlines and complex projects - Experience of at least one year

Send application letter & resume to: HR Supervisor ZION Accuprint Publishing, Inc. Door 14 Alcrej Building, Quirino Ave., 8000 Davao City, Philippines E-mail: marketing@edgedavao.net zion_publishing@yahoo.com Telefax: (082) 2213601 Website: www.edgedavao.net

NOTICE OF LOSS Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. That CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 21031611 under LOYOLA PLAN Contract No.(s) 186363-6 issued to ROSITA C. ROMERO was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void. 9/8/15/22

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s)

46268 under Loyola Contract No(s). 4094132 issued to PRUDENCIO C. AWIT 82015 under Loyola Contract No(s). 560437-6 issued to MAXIMINO D. ASISTIDO JR. were lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void. 9/15/22/29

SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014

Fireworks explode from the roof of the Asiad Stadium during the opening ceremony for the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea,Friday, Sept. 19, 2014.

FACTBOX (Part 3 of a series): Here’s the factbox on the sports events at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea from September 9-October 4:

CRICKET

Veteran bowler eyes gold By Aldrin Cardona, PNA

NCHEON, Korea (PNA) -- If courage, dedication and patriotism will share names, she will be called Liza Clutario. For what could aptly measure all three than this 35-year old bowler who stands just some centimeters over five feet for what she did just to make her trip from Meycauayan to Manila, then from Manila to this city, at the height of a strong typhoon. Clutario had to brave the flood while typhoon ‘Mario’ was battering Manila for her morning flight to this city. What she did not expect was her route, from her village in Lawa, Meycauayan to the mouth of

the North Luzon Expressway that was already waist-deep in flood. “I asked for any help I could get just to be able to make the trip. My neighbors looked for a truck, but they could not find any. Until one neighbor selflessly offered his SUV (sport utility vehicle) to ferry me to the mouth of NLEX, which was an even greater sight,” shared Clutario. The mouth of NLEX was already near shoulder-deep. No driver ever braved the wide road. Except for one who offered his help to the national player.

He was maneuvering a “pedicab,” a motorized bicycle with an elevated sidecar used by vegetable traders. “I was standing throughout that problematic trip, but the flood was still above my waist. Fortunately, my neighbors stuck with me until we reach a clear road where I was able to ride my way to the airport,” Clutario narrated.It was a clear display of the Filipino’s bayanihan spirit throughout. One neighbor hoisted Clutario’s ball above his head to save it from the flood. All her bags were wrapped in garbage bag, keeping them dry until

she was able to check in at the airport—three hours more after she had survived the flood-- with a sigh of relief. Clutario has reasons to make the trip despite her long ordeal. Clutario won a singles bronze medal here in 2002 in Busan, aside from the silver she got in the 5-man team competition. And because she made it here in one piece, she is determined to bring home the one goal that is missing from her collection of trophies and medals her family had saved from the flood back home: An Asian Games gold medal. (PNA)

HILIPPINE boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao threw down a fresh challenge to Floyd Mayweather Jnr on Thursday, daring the American world champion to “fight me” instead of setting terms that could torpedo the dream bout. “He’s all talk. Until now he has not yet agreed to fight me. Instead of blabbing, he should face me atop the ring,” Pacquiao told AFP in an interview. Ring fans the world over have been baying for a mega-fight between two of the world’s greatest boxers of their generation,

but previous talks have always broken down before a deal could be signed. Pacquiao, 35, has held world titles in eight separate weight divisions. He is training to defend his World Boxing Organization welterweight title against another undefeated American, Chris Algieri, in Macau in November. Mayweather, who scored a lopsided victory over Marcos Maidana in a rematch in Las Vegas on Saturday, pushing his record to 47-0, later denied he was trying to safeguard his unblemished record

by avoiding Pacquiao. However, he said a Pacquiao bout would have to be on the American’s terms. Pacquiao retorted Thursday that great fighters did not duck facing the best and did not let any challenge pass by. “I’m tired of his alibis. If he really wants to fight me, he knows how to reach me. We can fight anytime, anywhere,” Pacquiao added. The Filipino, who has won 56, lost five and drawn two fights, also dismissed the manner of Mayweather’s second

Maidana win, in which the American retained his World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association welterweight titles. “To me, Maidana won that fight. Mayweather’s face and lips were swelling compared to Maidana’s unblemished face,” Pacquiao said. Ahead of his bout in Macau, Pacquiao said he would not underestimate Algieri, 30. “I’m not taking Algieri lightly. He’s taller than me and moves around the ring with savvy. That’s why I started my training early,” Pacquiao said.

team is learning,” Tan said. The newcomer Kawano won the silver medal in the 8-10 years old girls kumite after bowing to a Singaporean karateka by just one point in the finals, she also won the bronze medal in the 8-10 girls kata. Aside from Kawano, also present were Gabriel Quiñones and Darlene

Ross Maramara who both won gold medals of the eight medals won by the team. The eight-medal harvest was accomplished by AAK Davao in the strong field composed of 185 participants from five countries (Singapore, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan and Malaysia). The 2014 So KIm

Cheng athlete of the year awardee Quinones (Brokenshire) won the gold in the 11-15 boys kata by besting a Sri Lankan karateka in the finals. He also won a silver medal in the boys cadets division in kumite after bowing to an Uzbekistan karateka. Darlene Ross Maramara (DCNHS) also won the gold in the girls 11-

15 kata by besting an Uzbekistan karateka in the finals. She also won a silver medal on the girls cadets kumite after bowing to an Uzbekistan player via enchosen (tie break). John Paul Ponce and Julian Ambrose Ramirez (Precious) won the bronze medal in the 8-10 boys kata and 11-13 boys kumite respectively.

The men’s and women’s Twenty20 cricket events will take place from Sept. 20 to Oct. 3 at the Yeonhui cricket ground in Incheon with India once again opting to skip the tournament. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are the only test playing nations who are sending teams for both medal events, while another, Pakistan, will compete in just the women’s competition. Both events start with group play but Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh have been given a bye to the quarter-finals of the men’s tournament, with Japan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh receiving the same in the women’s. Cricket made its debut in Guangzhou four years ago with Bangladesh taking the men’s title and Pakistan the women’s. --

CYCLING

There are 18 cycling medals up for grabs with the 10 track events taking place in the unusual setting of an outdoor velodrome that is 83 metres longer than the traditional indoor 250m venues used for major competition. Hong Kong, who have raised issues about the track venue, and hosts South Korea, won four golds at the last Games where China topped the medals table with seven wins. London Games silver medalist Guo Shuang of China and Hong Kong’s Olympic bronze winner Lee Wai Sze are set to renew their track rivalry in the women’s keirin and sprint events. The two BMX events will take place at the Ganghwa Asiad Track, while the road races will head through the Songdo business district and the university area of the city. The mountain bikers will compete for gold at the Yeongjong Baegunsan course. --

EQUESTRIAN

Pacquiao: Floyd can fight me anytime, anywhere P

The equestrian events take place at the Dream Park Equestrian Venue over eight days from Sept. 2030, including three rest days. There will be a total of six golds on offer, with women and men competing on equal footing in individual and team competitions in dressage, eventing and jumping. History suggests a showdown between the hosts and Japan for the titles but Saudi Arabia won both jumping titles in Guangzhou four years ago and the Gulf nation should again be strong over the obstacles. The first death of an athlete in competition in the history of the Games came in Doha eight years ago when South Korea’s Kim Hyung-chil was crushed by his horse in a heavy fall. --

Ai... FFROM 16

GOLF

FENCING

Fencing takes place at the Goyang Gymnasium in Gyeonggi Province over six days. There will be a total of 12 golds on offer, six each for men and women with individual and team events for both sexes in foil, epee and sabre. South Korean hopes of home success will be high with the Olympic champion men’s sabre team and women’s individual sabre gold medallist from London, Kim Ji-yeon, out to add to their medal collections. -The golf events take place at Dream Park Country Club, from Sept. 25-28. There will be a total of four golds on offer, one individual medal each for men and women and one each for the men’s and women’s team competitions. The competition will be run under the stroke play system with two-men teams and three-women teams playing 18 holes each day. The hosts and China are expected to fight for gold

To be continued...

VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014

SPORTS 15

EDGEDAVAO

ASIAD OPENING. Flag bearer of Philippines Geylord Coveta leads the team into the Opening Ceremony of the 17th Asian Games in Incheon September 19, 2014. Behind him is PSC chairman Richie Garcia.

AAP rules DACS athletics HCDC chessers T

HE Assumption Academy of Peñaplata from Samal Island emerged over-all champion both in the high school track and field competition of the on-going Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) Sportsfest held recently at the Davao City National High School oval. AAP collected a total of 53 points in dominating the boy’s division. AAP ruled the boy’s 100 meter dash, 200 meters, 400 meters and 800 meters. AAP finished second in the 4x400m relay and third in the 4x100m relay. Our Lady of Fatima Academy placed over-all second in the boy’s division with 46 points. Third was Holy Cross of Babak with 33 followed by Holy Cross of Calinan (16) and

Assumption College of Davao (15). In the girls’ division, AAP collected 87 points to beat HC Babak (44). AAP’s Elton Jay Montilao clocked 13.19 seconds to win the boy’s 100m finals. Second was HCB’s Swen Jade Candol (13.42) followed by OLFA’s Cresller Taganas (13.54) and HCCC’s Carlo Villarante (13.91). Montilao also won the 200m boys with a time of 26.19 seconds. Second was also Taganas (26.32) followed by AAP’s Crisanto Cañete (28.06) and ACD’s Bill Roldan Pantanosas (29.46). Cañete topped the 400m boys at one minute and 2 seconds followed by HCCC’s John Kenneth Morales (1:06), OLFA’s Andrey

Cada (1:08) and Michael Bañez (1:09). Camila Jade Pavia also of AAP ruled the girl’s century dash with a time of 16.80 seconds. Second was teammate Danica Lugay at 16.94 followed by HCB’s Nicovil Cervantes (17.32) and Precious Damag (19.31). Pavia also won the girl’s 200m at 32.61 followed by teammate Nicole Aya (34.12) and Cervantes (38.72). Pavia continued her supremacy on the track by topping the 800m with a time of 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Aya was second at 3:34. Aya, however, won the girls 1500 meter run. Nikki Montalvo also of AAP took the 400m at 1:19 followed by Lugay (1:22).

Lugay shared the limelight by capturing the girls long jump with a leap of 3.05 meters. Montalvo placed second at 3.20. AAP also won the girls’ 4x100m relay (1:06) and 4x400m relay (6:27). The other results: 4X400M RELAY BOYS – 1st – OLFA (5:02), 2nd – AAP (5:51). 800M BOYS – 1st – Bill Roldan Pantanosas (2:29), ACD; 2nd – Crisanto Cañete (2:30), AAP; 3rd – Maikle Bañez (3:10), OLFA. 1500M BOYS – 1st – Swen Jade Candol (5:17), HCB; 2nd – BR Pantanosas (5:20), ACD; 3rd – Nildren Bonotan (6:20), AAP. 4X400M BOYS – 1st – C. Taganas (53.31), OLFA, 2nd – Jake Solarta (54.68), HCB, 3rd – C. Cañete (1:01), AAP.

was Ateneo de Davao University followed by the Holy Cross College of Sasa. The Crusaders, however, topped the women’s division. Ateneo finished second followed by the University of Immaculate Conception and the St. John Paul II College of Davao in that order. Gene Anthony An-

gkang and Krisal Keith Ira Almoroto, both of the Assumption College of Davao ruled the high school boys and girls’ singles, respectively. Angkang defeated his own teammate Mark Robin Almoroto in the finals. Third was Leodemar Abella of Stella Maris Academy.

Almoroto crushed ADDU’s Bai Advincula in the finals of the distaff side. Third was UIC’s Krizia Argallon. In boys’ doubles, the ACD pair of Harvey James Penales and Christopher Penales drubbed Rigil Geo Dalagan and Karlo Torreon of ADDU in the championship.

SPC, HCDC top table tennis in DACS S

AN Pedro College and host Holy Cross of Davao College shared top honors in college table tennis event of the on-going Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) Sportsfest. The SPC Stallions won the men’s division by besting the HCDC Crusaders, who placed second. Third

reign supreme T

HE host Holy Cross of Davao College dominated the chess event in the on-going Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS) Sportsfest . The HCDC Crusaders under coach NM Bebot Cruz tallied 12.5 points in topping the men’s division. San Pedro College placed second with 10 points followed by the Ateneo de Davao University (10) and St. Peter College of Toril (5.0). The Crusaders also ruled the women’s division by scoring 6.5 points followed by ADDU (5.0) and SPC (0.5) as second and third, respectively. WMC Ella Grace Moulic of HCDC lived up to her billing by ruling the individual high school girl’s division. Moulic carded 7.0 points to beat ADDU’s Yedda Marie Arao (6.0), who settled for second. Third was Marie Amor Borinaga of Holy Cross College of Sasa with 5.0 points, who bested in a tiebreak ADDU’s Lileanna Marie Amila (5.0). The top four finishers in the boy’s division were Gino Angelo Asun-

cion (7.0), Francis Xavier Guimalan (5.5), Gerald Casiro (5.0) and Jason Mariano (5.0). ADDU, however, won the team event in the HS girls with 11 points followed by HCDC (10.5), Assumption College of Davao (9.0) and Our Lady of Fatima Academy (8.0). University of Immaculate Conception also carded 11 points to top the boy’s team. Second was Stella Maris Academy with 10 points followed by HCCS (9.0) and St. Peter’s College of Toril (9.0). HCDC’s Niel Sebastian Enoc (6.0) topped the grade school boys event in a tiebreaker with ADDU’s Jonathan Fune II (6.0). Third was SMA’s Eric Jan Taibolo (5.0), who bested ADDU’s Kavin John Castillanes (5.0). SMA’s Blanche Ellyz Bongato (6.0) also won the grade school girls via a tiebreak against ADDU’s Raphaelah Blanca Adel (6.0) and Nicole Loqueloque (6.0) who settled for second and third, respectively. HCDC’s Rochelle Althea Dula (4.0) placed fourth.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 7 ISSUE 135 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2014 MEDAL HARVEST. (Left-right) Ai Rina Kawano, Darlene Ross Maramara and Gabriel Quiñes pose with their medals during the Fast Fridays media forum at Archipelago 7107 at SM Lanang Premier. Lean Daval Jr.

Ai:AAKThe Silent Warrior Davao learns from a special teammate

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

njb@edgedavao.net

all her “The Silent Warrior.” Ai Rina Kawano is the latest toast in loacal karatedo. The 10-year old student of SPED Rizal recently won a silver medal in kumite in the recent 34th IKGA Singapore Gojukai

Annual Championships in Singapore. For someone born without the gift of hearing, it sure is not an ordinary feat. Ai took to karatedo after years of developing her ballet skills. Ai shifted to

martial arts according to her mother Flordelyn because “she really wanted to do martial arts.” “Also, it helps that she will learn how to defend herself,” said her mom who was her “assistant coach” in the Singapore

joust. “It helped that Ai’s mother came along because we are not yet well versed with sign language. However, we found out we can make use of sign language as the team’s way of communication,” said

Rommel Tan, AAK Davao head coach, during the formal presentation of the Davao City achievers at the Fast Fridays media forum at SM Lanang Premier’s Archipelago 7107 by Barrio Fiesta. Tan admitted that he

had to communicate to his players in the vernacular so that the opposing team cannot understand his instructions. “Now, we have used the sign language to communicate and it is working. Everyone in the

FAI, 14