Edge Davao 7 Issue 185

VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 1, 2014

www.edgedavao.net

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

REGARDING HENRY

Newest member of Edge Davao celebrates a winning season

2 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 1, 2014

REGARDING HENRY

How it feels to win a pair of journalism awards in one night Text and Photos By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

M

INDANAOANS went home with three awards in the 8th Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards held last November 27 at the Sunset Pavilion of Sofitel Manila. Adjudged Best TV Program or Segment was “Father’s Day Episode” which was shown in ABS-CBN Davao’s “Agri Tayo Dito,” produced by Karren V. Montejo and hosted by Ruben Gonzaga (winner of Pinoy Big Brother, Celebrity Edition).

Winner of the Best Radio Program or Segment was Malu Cadelina Maner of DXND Kidapawan City.

Her report, entitled “Panahon” for “Bida Specials,” was about “how the B’laans and the Moro people in the towns of Columbio and Esperanza in Sultan Kudarat cope with disasters using traditional knowledge and practices.”

Edge Davao’s very own Henrylito D. Tacio was cited for Best Agriculture Feature Story National for the article, “The prospects of swine industry in the Philippines,” which appeared in Marid Agribusiness Magazine.

At literally the same time, Tacio, representing his previous newspaper Sunstar Davao, won the Columnist of the Year award during the 3rd Globe Davao Media Excellence Awards which was held on the same night.

This is Henrylito’s account of winning the two awards in one night.

Last November 27, I received two journalism awards: one in Manila and another in Davao City. “Two awards in one night,” so went the text message of Edge Davao managing editor Neilwin Joseph Bravo.

But that’s going ahead of the story.

On November 12, I received an electronic mail from Monette Quiogue. It said in part: “We would like to cordially invite you to attend the 8th Bright Leaf Agriculture Journalism Awards night to be held on November 27 at Sunset Pavilion of Sofitel Manila at 6 pm.”

Reading further, I found out that Ms. Quiogue was with the secretariat of the awards committee. “We hope that you will make time in your schedule to be part of this annual event that honors and celebrates the work of the agriculture journalist all over the country,” the letter said.

Since the travel arrangements and accommodations were taken care of by the organizer, I decided to attend the ceremony. And I was glad that I did. But that’s going ahead of the story.

When my friend, Armando M. Mortejo, learned that I was going to Manila, he asked if he could join the trip since he had some business matters to be done in the metropolis. “It’s good that you will be staying in

Makati,” he said. “That’s where I am also doing my transactions.”

However, a day before leaving for Manila, I got another e-mail. Actually, it was an announcement of the 40 entries which made it to the Globe Davao Media Excellence Awards (GDMEA).

“The finalists will vie for nine award categories,” it said.

As in last year, I got two nominations for the same category: Reporter of the Year (for my report, “Apocalypse Now”) and Columnist of the Year (for my piece, “Take heed of these warnings”). Both articles came out when I was still with Sunstar Davao.

“The awards pay tribute and give recognition to print, broadcast, and digital media practitioners who have excelled in their respective fields,” the press statement said. The awarding was to be held at SMX Convention Center on November 27.

Yes, the awarding ceremonies were done on the same day: one in Manila and the other in Davao. Since I already had a plane ticket going to Manila, I opted to attend the Bright Leaf awarding night.

On the day of the awarding, a shuttle picked up the nominees at around 4:30 p.m. at the Suez Services Studios – where some of us

were billeted – and brought us to the Sofitel Hotel. The awarding was to be held at the Sunset Pavilion.

Now, let’s talk about the awarding. I was the second to be called. I was cited for Best Agriculture Feature Story National. The article I wrote, “The prospects of swine industry in the Philippines,” which appeared in Marid Agribusiness Magazine.

The citation reads: “Backyard swine raising can be a profitable venture due to the growing domestic market. However, there can also be some difficulties, such as diseases, inadequate price control as well as flooding of cheap meat products from other coun-

tries. There are programs available that can help solve existing issues and secure the income potential of swine raising.”

“The Filipino spirit is indeed admirable,” said president Paul Riley, president of Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Company, Inc. in his welcome address. “Their dedication to their craft and livelihood whatever it may be, inspires respect.

And their hard work and determination are stories that are meant to be told.

And through the journalists’ works, all these stories are being shared with the world.”

Aside from receiving cash, all the winners in this year’s competition are given

a trip to an Asian country this coming April (although the country to be visited was not yet announced).

While I received my award in Manila, I got a text from Edge Davao staff (Neil Bravo and editor Antonio M. Ajero) and my friend Rudolph Ian Alama that I bagged the Columnist of the Year in the 3rd Globe Davao Media Excellence Awards.

I failed to get the Reporter of the Year (which went to the more deserving Sunstar Davao editor-in-chief Estella Estremera).

The awarding season is over, but there is still the Jose Burgos, Jr. Biotechnology Journalism Awards, which would be given in early part of 2015.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 1, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

3

4 NEWS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 1, 2014

Aquino’s satisfaction rating among Dabawenyos drops

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

P KEYNOTE. Trade Union Congress Party (TUCP) party-list Rep. Raymund Democrito C. Mendoza delivers his keynote speech before Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, Inc. (PBGEA) officers and guests during

the organization’s induction of new set of officers at Seda Abreeza Hotel in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

abf@edgedavao.net

RESIDENT Benigno Aquino’s satisfaction rating among Dabawenyos dropped by 11.1 percent to 60.8 percent in October from 71.9 percent in April, a survey conducted by the Ateneo de Davao University-Social Research, Training and Development Office (AdDU-SSTDO) found.

The results of the citywide social survey survey released by the AdDU-SSTDO through its University Research Council last Friday also showed that the Senate and House of Representatives dropped at a staggering rate of 28 percent, 8.2 percent, and 8.9 percent respectively.

The survey was conducted on October 20 to 26 among 630 respondents chosen randomly in the three districts of Davao City.

51.5 percent were female while 48.6 percent were male.

The median age was 44.71 years old, and 30.2 percent of the female respondents have finished high school while 13.7 percent of the male respondents have completed college.

The survey talked about health and wellness, food, poverty, K-12 basic education curriculum, ASEAN integration, and current events.

FAQUINO’S, 10

Transformation body to push DTI adds noche buena for socio-eco, political reforms goods to price watch ‘Another EDSA revolution possible’

By ANTONIO M. AJERO

T

HE religious-dominated National Transformation Council (NTC) will push for a massive overhaul of the Philippine economy, electoral system, and governance.

This was learned from Norberto Gonzales, former Secretary of National Security and Defense, one of the Cabinet members of past administrations asked to share their experience and expertise during the various NTC gatherings held in various parts of the country since two years ago.

Gonzales briefed Davao media practitioners Saturday afternoon on what to expect during the NTC’s

consultation scheduled at the SMC Convention Center at SM Lanang Premier in Davao on Friday, December 5.

The former Cabinet member said the multi-faith gathering is the biggest so far as some 4,000 persons, mostly leaders in their own right, have signified intention to participate.

Similar gatherings, all led by Catholic bishops, including a cardinal, and actively organized by leaders of Muslim and lumad religious groups, were earlier held in Lipa City, Batangas, organized by Archbishop Ramon Arguelles, with 500 participants, and in Cebu

BOUT 10,000 local and overseas job vacancies will be made available for job seekers in the upcoming 2014 DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment) anniversary job fair at the Abreeza-Ayala Mall on December 8.

Labor communication officer Sherwin Manual told Edge Davao in a phone interview last Friday that DOLE has partnered with 52 local and 27 overseas companies.

“As of November 28, DOLE 11 has already solicited more than 7,000 job vacancies from our partner companies,” Manual said.

He said the regional la-

bor department is targeting to solicit 10,000 job vacancies before the job fair.

The top occupation with the most vacancies for local openings are customer service representative, call center agents, marketing staff, production crew, machine operator, and supervisors for hotels and restaurants, while skilled laborers for manufacturing and industrial sector, elderly care attendants, waiter and waitress, handicap care attendants, and technicians and factory workers for overseas.

Manual said most job opening are from countries in the Middle East which has

10K jobs for grabs in DOLE job fair A

F10K JOBS, 10

City, organized by Ricardo tos City, Gonzales said.

Cardinal Vidal with about He said the gatherings the same number of people so far have reached a univerin attendance. sal consensus that the bigThe gathering in Butuan gest problems of the counCity, considered the most try are unchecked poverty solemn so far and a lot big- worsened by the widening ger with 2,000 participants, gap between the rich and was organized by Archbish- the poor, rotten electoral op Juan Pueblos. system which tolerates elecGonzales said that the tronic machination through people of Clark in Angeles the PCOS machines, worsCity, Pampanga, are clamor- ening graft and corruption, ing for a gathering in their and a weak government sysarea on December 3, two tem no longer applicable to days before the consultation the country. in Davao City which is orgaGonzales said there is a nized by Davao Archbishop need to amend the Constiemeritus Fernando Capalla. tution to change to federal Another area asking system of government, imfor the holding of a similar plement a plan for the coungathering is General San-FTRANSFORMATION, 10

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

T

crc@edgedavao.net

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 has included noche buena goods in its price watch list along with Christmas lights and decorations.

Edwin O. Banquerigo, provincial director for DTI 11 Davao City field office, told Edge Davao in an interview at Seda Hotel last Saturday that supermarkets, malls, and grocery stores are now being monitored for undue price adjustments.

“We urge owners and operators of supermarkets, grocery stores, wet markets, and general merchandise stores to comply with the specified suggested retail prices (SRPs) for products classified as basic

necessities and prime commodities under Republic Act 7581 (Price Act),” he said.

Banquerigo said DTI is monitoring 500 malls and wholesalers in the whole Davao City.

He said DTI has found that some establishments were pegging prices on basic and prime commodities higher than the SRP (suggested retail price).

“We have already issued show-cause orders to these retailers that we have found selling more than the SRPs for basic and prime goods,“ Banquerigo said He said these establishments complied immediately once they received notice from DTI 11.

FDTI ADDS, 10

REMEMBERING BONIFACIO. Dressed as Katipuneros, members of militant groups stage a protest rally in commemoration of Andres Bonifacio’s birth anniversary in front of the his monument in Davao City last Friday. Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 1, 2014

Malacañang backs judicial reforms

M

ALACAÑANG said it welcomes any move that improves or reforms the country’s justice system for the benefit of the people.

Recently, a European Union representative said the Philippines must strengthen its justice system to sustain its economic growth.

At the same time, the Supreme Court, together with other stakeholders, launched a “Justice Zone” in Quezon City aimed at shortening by 50 percent the legal proceedings in that area.

“Magandang development ‘yan, and I understand may executive participation dito kasi ito ‘yung kasama ang DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government), ang DOJ (Depart-

ment of Justice) to support the Supreme Court on this particular matter,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a radio interview on Saturday.

“The President has always held out judicial reform as one of the pillars of his platform. And, of course, we welcome any development that would strengthen the justice system and, in fact, one of the major actions of the President has always been to support judicial reforms,” Valte told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

There may be instances that the executive branch and the SC disagree on policies or issues but it doesn’t mean that the Palace no longer supports initiatives to strengthen the judicial system, Valte said.(MindaNews)

4 Surigao fisherman alive, but one still missing after Queenie

F

OUR of five fishermen in this city who were reported missing since Tropical Depression “Queenie” made landfall Wednesday were found alive in Southern Leyte on Thursday evening.

The survivors were identified as Ednelyn Aparre, 26; Mike Aparre, 28; Aljun Ching, 24; and Edne Ching, 28 – all from the island village of Danaoan.

The four went fishing off the coast of the said village early morning Wednesday but were not able to return immediately due to the strong winds and rough seas they encountered.

According to Nards Go, head of Quick Action Response Team, the four were found by residents around 8 p.m. Thursday near Cabulihan in Limasawa Island, Southern Leyte, some 30 nautical miles west-south-

west from their home village here.

The four fishermen, he said, are now reunited with their families in Danaoan.

But one fisherman remains missing.

According to Geoffrey Gervo, station commander of Philippine Coast Guard-Surigao, a certain Poldo Gede, a fisherman from Barangay Mabua, still could not be found since he went to sea Tuesday morning.

Poldo reportedly went fishing early morning but was not able to come back before Queenie swept Surigao City Wednesday.

Gervo said the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Navy and Surigao City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council through the Quick Action and Response Team are still conducting a search for the missing fisherman. (MindaNews)

Abducted cops’wives ask gov’t to negotiate release with NPA

S

POUSES of two of the three policemen abducted by the New People’s Army in Surigao del Norte earlier this month have asked the government to negotiate with the rebels for the release of their loved ones.

Cristen Q. Amper and Matosalem L. Polvorosa, in separate statements, likewise asked the New People’s Army (NPA), whom they believed were behind the abduction, to release their husbands for their children’s sake.

PO1 Jonry M. Amper was taken in Malimono town last Nov. 12 while PO3 Democrito Polvorosa Jr. was seized in Alegria last Nov. 16.

Amper was driving his

XRM Honda motorbike in Barangay Bunyasan in Malimono town at 9:45 a.m. when he was flagged down by at least eight heavily armed men believed to be members of the NPA. He was believed to have been brought to the mountainous part of Barangay Tinago also in Malimono.

Before the rookie cop was abducted, he was conducting discreet surveillance on reports that unidentified armed men were roaming in Bunyasan.

Five days after Amper’s abduction, two policemen in Alegria town were seized by suspected communist rebels. One of them was PO3 Democrito Polvorosa Jr.

FABDUCTED, 10

NEWS 5

MEDIA EXCELLENCE. Globe Telecom senior vice president for corporate communications Yoly C. Crisanto welcomes members of Davao media during Globe Telecom’s 3rd Davao Media Excellence Awards at the SMX Convention Center in Davao City on Thursday evening. Lean Daval Jr.

6

NEWS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 1, 2014

SouthCot to expand livelihood program T STAYING DRY. One umbrella is not enough for these “payong-payong” passengers to cover themselves from the rain that fell on Davao City yesterday due to the developing low pressure area (LPA). Lean Daval Jr.

Dabawenyos want Rody to run for President: AdDU survey

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

A

abf@edgedavao.net

NOTHER survey from a premier university in Davao City showed that majority of Dabawenyos want Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte to run for President of the Philippines.

In a survey conducted by the Ateneo de Davao University-Social Research, Training and Development Office (ADDU-SSTDO) through its University Research Council, it was found that 75.2 percent of the 630 respondents of the three districts of the city want the mayor

to shoot for the highest position of the country.

Of the total respondents, 74.1 percent from the first district agreed that Duterte should run for President , 75.7 percent from second district, and 76 percent in the third district.

AdDU-SSTDO said the result also reflects in his 97.8 percent net satisfaction rating.

In yesterday’s presentation, ADDU Research Council chair Lourdesita S. Chan said the survey did

MOA-AD opponents say BBL ‘unconstitutional’

T

HREE politicians who led the opposition to the botched Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain or MOA-AD have made known their stand against the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law, which aims to conclude the on-and-off peace process between government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

In a public hearing here Friday by the House ad hoc committee on the BBL, Zamboanga City Rep. Celso Lobregat and former Iligan Mayor Lawrence Cruz said the BBL contains provisions that are unconstitutional.

“Like the MOAD-AD in 2008, the proposed Bangsamoro Law is full of unconstitionalities [sic],” Cruz said referring to the failed agreement which the Supreme Court junked as unconstitutional in 2008.

“What will happen now if the Supreme Court will find again the proposed Bangsam-

oro as unconstitutional? Will the MILF go to war again?” he added.

Some units of the MILF launched attacks in parts of Lanao and Cotabato area after the Supreme Court declared the MOA-AD as unconstitutional.

Cruz said he was questioning the “sticky issues” which could possibly be declared as unconstitutional namely the provisions on exclusive jurisdiction, water resources and disarmament of the MILF. “Everything is being lost in the technical mumbo jumbo.

What will happen if the High Court finds the proposed law as unconstitutional,” he said.

But Cruz said he will not file a case before the Supreme Court questioning the proposed law. “I am afraid for the city of Iligan. We learned our lessons in 2008 when the city was attacked after we led the opposition.”

FMOA-AD, 10

not include the reasons in the questionnaire because it only aimed to gather data on the awareness of the people on the issue.

The survey was conducted from October 20-26 and respondents were chosen randomly so that every sector and every place in the city would be represented.

Of the 630 respondents, 34.3 percent were from first district, 32.7 percent were from the second district, and 33 percent were from third district.

A

The respondents were 51.4 percent female and 48.6 are male with a mean age of 44.71 years old.

“More than a quarter or 30.2 percent of the female respondents have finished high school while the male respondents or 13.7 percent have finished college, ” the survey stated.

The AdDU survey came a few days after the University of Mindanao Institute of Popular Opinion (UM-IPO) revealed that seven out

FDABAWENYOS, 10

HE provincial government of South Cotabato is set to expand next year the implementation of flagship livelihood program Self-Employment Assistance Kaunlaran (SEA-K) in various marginalized communities in the area.

Romel Salanio, SEA-K program provincial coordinator, said they will roll out the program’s expansion starting January next year by offering additional loans for micro and small livelihood ventures and projects.

He said they will utilize the funds that have been collected from the current beneficiaries to support the new proposed ventures.

Since July last year, he said they already collected a total of P621,362 in loan repayments from the borrowers.

Salanio said their collectibles under the loan program currently stand at around P13 million and involve 330 individuals.

Under the program, members of SEA-K associations may borrow up to a maximum P15,000 to finance their small business ventures.

The loans are payable in monthly installments or repayments within a two-year period at zero interest.

The SEA-K program, which is supported by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, mainly aims to enhance the socio-economic status of poor families in marginalized communities in partnership with local government units.

The initiative involves organizing prospective beneficiaries into community-based

associations and the training of their members on various entrepreneurial skills.

“Through our sustainable livelihood interventions, we will be able to help improve their wellbeing. So that when they are no longer receiving grants from SEA-K program, they will be able to continue to provide for the needs of their families,” Salanio said in a statement.

He said they have conducted a series of activities that delivered effective knowledge and skills to the beneficiaries as well as proper strategies and ways of using their grants and in turning them into profitable businesses or livelihood projects.

Salanio said they also implemented case conferences, meetings, orientations, livelihood forums, monitoring, validation, capability building, and livelihood and business management trainings.

Since 2011, the provincial government, through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, has already released a total of P16.85 million in financial grants under the program.

The grants benefited 142 SEA-K associations within the province’s 10 towns and lone city.

The municipality of Banga received around P3.5 million, followed by Polomolok with P2.3 million, Tupi with P1.9 million, Tampakan and Koronadal City with P1.5 million, T’boli with P1.4 million, Lake Sebu with P1.3 million, Surallah with P1.02 million, Norala with P829,000 and Sto. Niño with P475,000. (MindaNews)

equipping national leaders in their own countries, empowering them to reach their own countrymen and women and this includes the children.

On November 21 and 22, 2014, 50 participants from

nine churches and three schools in Davao City attended the two-day Leadership and Supervisors Training conducted at the UCCP Auditorium, by the CBSI. Koko Rai, Children &

UCCP hosts Bible study for kids

CCORDING to Christianity Today, children and youth between the ages of 4 and 14 are growing up outside of the church while a high percentage of teens and young adults ages 15 to 24 are de-

The participants with trainors

parting from the Christian values they were raised with.

The challenge to get “everyone in the world ... in the Word” includes the children of the world. Community Bible Study International (CBSI) is about training and

FUCCP, 10

7 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 1, 2014

Customs slaps smuggling raps vs Starcraft over rice imports

A

WE SWEAR. Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association, Inc. (PBGEA) Board of Directors and officers for 2014-2015 led by its chairman Carlito H, Ona (5th from right) of Stanfilco (Dole Phils.) and Banana Export Industry Foundation, Inc. (BEIF) Board of Trustees and officers for 2014-2015 led by William L. Leh (sixth from right) of Vizcaya Plantation, Inc. take their oath of office presided by Trade Union Congress Party (TUCP) party-list Rep. Raymund Democrito C. Mendoza during the organizations’ induction ceremony

at Seda Abreeza Hotel in Davao City yesterday. Other officers who were inducted are Anthony Alexander N. Valoria of Tadeco, Hector E. Rivera of Del Monte, William L. Leh of Vizcaya Plantation, Inc., Victor S. Mercado Jr. of Sumifru, Stephen A. Antig of PBGEA, Herminio B. Martin of Unifrutti, Carlos Q. Barquero of Lapanday Foods Corp., Rosalino L. Caluban of Marsman and Vincent R. Floirendo of Wadecor. Lean Daval Jr.

NOTHER top rice importer faces smuggling-related charges filed by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) for allegedly bringing in rice without government permits.

Four separate complaints were filed by BOC Acting District Collectors Mario Mendoza of the Port of Manila, Elmir Dela Cruz of the Manila International Container Port, Roberto Almadin of the Port of Cebu, and Ricardo Butalid, Jr. of the Port of Davao against key officials of Starcraft International Trading Corporation and the firm’s Licensed Customs Brokers before the Department of Justice.

Starcraft president Jeffrey Daradal and board directors Eugene Pioquinto, Aveleo Godoy, Anna Orqueta, Brendel Daradal and Jessie Bantula, as well as company representative Hanlie Solema all face multiple counts

of violating Section 3601 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP) and Section 29 of Presidential Decree (PD) Number 4, as amended by PD No 1485.

The BOC also slapped charges against 12 customs brokers “for facilitating the unlawful importations of rice made by Starcraft.”

These are Denise Kathryn Rosaroso, John Kevin Cisneros, Emilio Chio, Eduardo Borje III, Rosemarie Arciaga, Gerald Villarosa, Jennifer Ann Reyes, Elbert Lusterio, Dianne Re Dizon-Tapia, Laila Silvestre, Francis Rudolph Forneste and Kenneth Quial.

Each count of violating Section 3601 of the TCCP has a maximum sentence of ten years in jail and P50,000 fine while each count of violating PD No 4 is levied a penalty of as much as four years imprisonment and a fine of P8,000.

INANCE Secretary Cesar V. Purisima remains optimistic of the country’s economic growth even as he admitted that the third quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth of only 5.3 percent – a slowdown compared with the previous quarter’s 6.4 percent – is a challenge.

“Our 5.3 percent growth highlights some challenges which we have the ability to address. Government spending can improve, and we have ample fiscal space to increase investments in our infrastructure and our

people, through education, health, and social services,” Purisima said in a statement.

Joey Cuyegkeng, an economist at ING Groep NV in Manila, had earlier said underspending by government and weak agriculture performance were some of the causes of the slower growth.”

Purisima, however, said government is “very confident” that growth will further pick up “as we strengthen our economic and good governance reforms in the tail-end of this administration.”

GDP slowdown, gov’t High labor cost could drive Despite still optimistic of Phl growth banana industry abroad F

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

T

crc@edgedavao.net

HE multi-billion-peso banana industry of Davao Region may vanish five to 10 years from now if government raises the minimum wage further.

Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) executive director Stephen Antig told reporters on the sidelines of the induction of new members last Saturday at Seda Hotel

that multi-national companies may soon be moving to countries that have lower labor cost and more appealing government subsidies.

“Among these countries that are viable for investment in this sector are India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Myanmar,” Antig said.

He said the high labor cost in the Philippines has

resulted in higher production cost for companies.

He said the cost of producing a single box of Cavendish banana exported to markets like Japan, China, and South Korea has already reached P360 to P385 this year, compared with just over P200 last year.

“We are appealing to the policy makers in the government to just maintain

and not increase the current minimum wage rate next year,” he said.

Antig said companies under PBGEA will definitely follow the P5 increase in costof-living allowance (COLA)

by Monday, December 1, as mandated under Wage Order RB XI-17.

According to the wage order, agricultural workers

FHIGH, 10

Tagum Coop management trainees finish course

T

agum Cooperative’s Management Training Program (MTP)-Batch 1 culminated with a colorful graduation ceremony on November 24, 2014 at the TC Function Hall.

The occasion commenced as the graduates marched when their names were called alphabetically by HRD manager Angelina A. Ramos.

Chair Norma R. Pereyras then gave her inspirational message for the graduates.

The ceremony was witnessed by the TC Officers, Expanded Management Team, selected employees, and the Whetstone Davao Consultancy Group, Inc. (MTP Consultants) representatives.

Ernesto J. Soriano, Whetstone Consultant, also gave a special message addressed to the

graduates.

In response, Jerry D. Cabanisas, OIC Branch Manager of TC Panabo Branch/MTP President, expressed their gratitude to the TC Board of Directors and the Management for giving them the opportunity to be part of the program. The graduates also presented the BODs with their Plaque of Appreciation duly signed by all the graduates.

The Management Training Program was launched on April 2014 with 15 aspiring employees, namely Ana Lourdes Alagon, Genevive Avelino, Esla Balagon, Jerry Cabanisas, Clyjenee Dairo, Nathaniel Desierto, Cesar Dimacuta, Elmer Galleto, Jeralyn Hisu, Anne Nieves Malingin, Theresa Minoza, Jenalyn Rivera, Karen Lynn Tano, and Eugene Elijah Veloso.

8

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 1, 2014

EDITORIAL Welcome addition

U

RATEX, a highly-diversified company veteran of close to five decades, but still a newbie in the booming Davao market, held its coming-out press conference last week at its sprawling display building and warehouse along McArthur Highway in Sasa, this city.

The presentations made by heads of the group’s various companies impressed the business reporters. Admittedly, the whole shebang succeeded in driving home a point – that the company is quality-driven, no wonder it has become world class.

Uratex, the country’s largest manufacturer of commercial and automotive foam products, is the flagship brand of the RGC Group of Companies, started 46 years ago by the late philanthropist Robert G. Cheng, in Luzon. Winner for the sixth consecutive year of the Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands Platinum Award, an Asia-wide survey running for 15 years now, Uratex has branched out into other ventures such as RGC Textile Manufacturing Corporation, Roberts Automotive and Industrial Parts Manufacturing Corporation; and Inoac Philippines, a joint venture with Inoac of Japan, and the RGC Foam Group, now with

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Building, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, Philippines Tel: (082) 224-1413 301-6235 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 www.edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net marketing@edgedavao.net

16-first rate plants all over the country, latest of which is the plant in Davao City. A second plant to manufacture quality furniture products in Dumoy, this city next year, is slated to employ more than 200 workers.

Two good things going for the group are its adherence to research and development and a dynamic marketing component, strategies which constantly get strong support from management through sufficient budget.

“We will not last this long and grow constantly, if not for our support for innovations and aggressive marketing campaigns,” said Eddie Gallor, vice president of RGC Group, who was already with the late Cheng when he started the burgeoning company in 1968.

Nationwide, the RGC Group is employing thousands of workers, excluding agents who assist the group in marketing hundreds of brands, many of which are already being exported.

Indeed, Uratex and the rest of the RGC Group are welcome additions to the fast-growing business community in Davao City and its neighboring cities and towns in the region.

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:

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

the national association of newspapers

GENERAL OFFICE SANTOS CITY CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OLIVIA D. VELASCO JOCELYNRICHARD S. PANES C. EBONA SOLANI D. MARATAS OLIVIA D. VELASCO SOLANI D. MARATAS MARKETING OFFICE | Marketing Manager General Manager of Sales SpecialistFinance General Manager DirectorAdvertising FinanceLEIZEL A. DELOSOLEIZEL A. DELOSO | MarketingFLORENCE ManagerS. VILLARIN

RICHARD C. EBONA AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation Marketing Supervisor

Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts. Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts. Marketing Specialist Cagayan de Oro City c/o PZ Villarin Marketing Cagayan de Oro City Tel: (088) 852-4894

Tel: (088) 852-4894

Salvani St., Oringo Brgy. City Heights Tel: (083) 303-2215

MANILA MARKETING OFFICE

ANGELICA R. GARCIA | Marketing Manager Blk. 1, Lot 10, La Mar Townhomes, Apitong St., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 942-1503

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 1, 2014

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Traitors in our midst Treason: treachery towards one’s country or government; betrayal of one’s country to an enemy. Traitor: one who is disloyal; one who betrays his country, cause, friends, etc. – Webster’s Dictionary

O

NE doesn’t use a loaded term like treason or traitor lightly. But faced with so many instances of betrayal and treachery that no one bothers to address, much less to redress, it may help to bring the issue into the open so people can confront it.

Half a century of independence, wars, insurgency, and related problems should have taught us enough to deal with abusive or irresponsible citizens who threaten society, betray its interests, or cause harm by supporting or selling out to people with bad intentions.

But it seems we haven’t learned enough; so we perennially face problems arising from the acts of betrayers and assorted wrong-doers with treasonous attitudes including officials who do not value their oath of office.

Out in Maguindanao, the very officials charged with safeguarding the people of their province, their towns, and their barangays, conspired and executed the atrocious massacre of 57 civilians including journalists in Ampatuan.

It was an outrageously evil betrayal of public trust, a heinous violation of their oaths of office, from governor to lesser officials including policemen. But the case remains pending and drags on, the prosecu“Patience, grasshopper,” said Maia. “Good things come to those who wait.”

“I always thought that was ‘Good things come to those who do the wave,’” said Simon.

“No wonder I’ve been so confused all my life.” ― From City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

“A

DOPT the pace of nature: her secret is patience,” declared Ralph Waldo Emerson. Josiah Gilbert Holland explained, “There is no royal road to anything, one thing at a time, all things in succession.

That which grows fast, withers as rapidly.

That which grows slowly, endures.”

The Holy Bible, the book of all seasons, teaches us patience. Take the case of Abraham. At age 75, he was given God’s promise of a son. Ten years later, he was still waiting.

Fifteen years passed, then 20, and still no son. Finally, when Abraham was 100, a quarter-century after God had made the promise, baby Isaac was born.

“Surely Abraham had times of doubt during those 25 years,” commented Dr. Charles Stanley, an inspirational author. “Yet he continued to trust God and kept watching for the fulfilment of His promise.”

Examples from the Bible abound. As a young man, Jacob met the girl of his dreams, but he worked many years before making her his bride. Joseph had a God-given vision of blessing at age 17 but languished 13 years in slavery and prison before receiving the reward. David was anointed King of Israel as a teenager but spent the next 14 years or so running for his life before taking the throne.

Those stories, related to me when I was

tion stymied, with no end in sight. It’s been 5 years! Treachery is unpunished. Impunity prevails. ***** In Surigao, there’s a missing absconder from Dinagat Island, ex-congressman no less, and cult leader, Ruben Ecleo, wanted for murdering his wife, now missing and unaccounted. Traitor!

In Palawan are two Reyes brothers— Joel, provincial governor, and Mario, Coron Town mayor—both wanted for murdering broadcaster/environmentalist Gerry Ortega, A.W.O.L. to evade arrest, fugitives until now. Betrayers of public trust!

Jovito Palparan, retired army general, on the lam for years to evade human rights offenses, now finally in custody: did he commit treason? It’s unclear how his case will pan out. Earlier, two other generals, Carlos Garcia and Jacinto Ligot, apprehended for financial mayhem, their cases still unresolved, betrayers of public trust.

In the Senate Panfilo Lacson went absent-without-leave for over a year to evade arrest, resurfaced, and simply resumed his post without a ripple, no questions asked, no explanations offered, no apparent consequences—lucky, clever fellow; now P-Noy’s rehabilitation “czar” for typhoon-ravaged

areas. Treasonous? But free!

There’s Nur Misuari, Moro National Liberation Front founder and erstwhile MNLF Chair and ARMM Governor, went fugitive since the disastrous Zamboanga caper in September last year, still loose and at large, now mouthing secession. Traitor? ***** What of the Marcoses? Still shamelessly flaunting their plundered wealth, grandstanding, actually hoping for a reprise at Malacañang with scion Ferdinand Jr. gunning for 2016! The other half of the Conjugal Dictatorship, Imelda, is free as a songbird— wasn’t plunder and shutting down the country treason?

Then there’s the long-running thorn in our society’s flesh—the Communist New People’s Army, victimizing hapless communities, burning businesses, wrecking public facilities, destroying property, generally sabotaging progress and development.

That these out and out traitors get away with their depredations says a lot about the inadequacy and incompetence of both our civil and military establishments. With all the personnel, ordnance, intelligence networks, and technology at our government’s disposal, it’s perplexing how it gets outfoxed by these marauders.

It’s the government duty to clear society of such elements; it’s why we have correctional institutions. ***** If it’s not the Communists, it’s the jihad-

ists and plain bandidos, lawless elements roaming the countryside, brandishing long arms, trespassing jurisdictions supposedly controlled by barangay and municipal enforcers and patrolled by government forces.

Moving about at will—sowing fear, dealing death and destruction, kidnapping for ransom—it all suggests connivance and complicity involving civil and government people in the very communities being victimized.

Clearly, we have fellow citizens and officials who, instead of protect, endanger the community. In the process, they sabotage government and put their neighbors in harm’s way.

And so the government’s capability to serve justice is under a cloud of doubt. They can’t put an end to traitorous acts. They can’t even identify the traitors, civilian or official, who threaten entire communities.

Traitors deserve infamy and disgrace, not freedom or favors from society. They should be flushed out, neutralized, identified, indicted, and taught a lesson.

[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 Government’s Peace Panel; awardee, PPI-UNICEF outstanding columnist. He is president/national convenor, Gising Barangay Movement Inc. valdehuesa@gmail.com ]

still a little boy, THINK ON THESE! came into my mind. But then the words of Paul Sweeney also haunted me. “How can a society that exists on instant mashed potatoes, packaged cake mixes, Henrylito D. Tacio frozen dinners, henrytacio@gmail.com and instant cameras teach patience to its young?” he wondered.

“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time,” said Egyptian novelist Leo Tolstoy. “Patience,” said a Turkish proverb, “is the key to paradise.” And Mahatma Gandhi reiterated, “To lose patience is to lose the battle.”

Men of science themselves value patience.

Thomas A. Edison said, “Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.” And Albert Einstein once admitted, “I think and think for months and years, ninety-nine times, the conclusion is false. The hundredth time I am right.”

“He that can have patience can have what he will,” American statesman Benjamin Franklin said. A young man presented himself to the local expert on gems and said he wanted to become a gemologist. The expert brushed him off because he feared that the youth would not have the patience to learn.

The young man pleaded for a chance. Finally, the expert consented and told the youth, “Be

here tomorrow.”

The next morning, the expert put a jade stone in the boy’s hand and told him to hold it.

The expert then went about his work: cutting, weighing, and setting gems. The boy sat quietly and waited.

The following morning, the expert again placed the jade stone in the youth’s hand and told him to hold it. On the third, fourth, and fifth day, the expert repeated the exercise and the instructions.

On the sixth day, the youth held the jade stone, but could no longer stand the silence.

“Sir,” he asked, “when am I going to learn something?” The expert answered, “You’ll learn.”

Several more days went by and the youth’s frustration mounted. One morning, as the expert approached and beckoned for him to hold out his hand, he was about to blurt out that he could go on no longer. But as the expert placed the stone in the youth’s hand, the young man exclaimed without looking at his hand, “This is not the same jade stone!”

“You have begun to learn,” the expert told him.

“Patience can’t be acquired overnight,” said Eknath Easwaran. “It is just like building up a muscle. Every day you need to work on it.” The description of Epictetus was even more picturesque: “No greater thing is created suddenly, any more than a bunch of grapes or a fig. If you tell me that you desire a fig, I answer you that there must be time. Let it first blossom, then bear fruit, then ripen.”

“The key to everything is patience,” reminded Arnold H. Glasgow. “You get the

chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.” But on second thought, “We smile at the ignorance of the savage who cuts down the tree in order to reach its fruit; but the same blunder is made by every person who is over eager and impatient in the pursuit of pleasure.”

Those words come from the pen of William Channing.

But do people still wait today? Even in the past as it is today, there is no such thing as sudden results. Listen to the words of Jacob Riis: “When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at a hundredth and first blow, it will split in two, and I know it was not that last blow that did it -- but all that had gone before.”

“Have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves,” Rainer Maria Rilke advises.

“Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps, then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.”

Wait and be patient. “Never think that God’s delays are God’s denials,” George-Louis Leclerc de Buffon pointed out. “Hold on; hold fast; hold out. Patience is genius.”

Or as Fulton J. Sheen puts it: ““Patience is power. Patience is not an absence of action; rather, it is ‘timing.’ It waits on the right time to act, for the right principles, and in the right way.”

THE WORM’S EYEVIEW

BY MANNY VALDEHUESA

Patience: taming your passion

10 NEWS Transformation... FFROM 4

try to achieve first world economic status which has been done by Singapore and other neighboring countries, among other reforms.

He said the Transformation Council would like to see to it that the current sufferings of the people and their righteous indignation could result in something positive, not in a bloody revolution that would be very destructive.

“We need to see to it that events like EDSA 1 and 2 would lead to genuine

reforms and not be wasted like what happened,” Gonzales said, adding that another people uprising like EDSA is possible to happen.

He also said that the people behind the Transformation Council can talk with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte about federalism in the future, but that the group has nothing to do with the Federalism Summit that Duterte is organizing in Davao City on Monday, December 1, at the Grand Men Seng Hotel.

“Some said they weren’t able to change the price tags that were still based on the October SRPs,” he said.

Banquerigo said the November SRPs – which is defined by the price suggested by food manufacturers – are much lower than the October SRPs. He said the operators of these establishments should implement due price adjustment with the November SRPs as the baseline.

Banquerigo said in some instances supermarkets and wholesalers are allowed to have price increases but the reason “must be justifiable.”

Banquerigo said those establishments are requested to submit and show cost

order as a proof that can be used for justification. “If we see that the price adjustment is reasonable we just allow it,” he said.

Banquerigo said DTI will continue the reinforcement of the price monitoring for the welfare of Dabawenyo consumers especially this season when there will be a large demand for consumable goods.

He also urged consumers to be vigilant in buying Christmas lights.

“They (consumers) should ensure that it (Christmas lights) has an Import Commodity Clearance (ICC) sticker placed on the product or on its packaging to ensure their safety,” he said. CRC

in the region will receive P307 daily minimum wage, up from P302. There are about 317,000 workers in the banana sector in the region.

The high cost of containing the Fusarium wilt or Panama disease which has already infected 7,000 hectares of banana plantation in Mindanao is also a major issue for banana growers, as well as the devastation caused by Black Sigatoka.

“Only the big companies will survive,” Antig said.

Mindanao Banana Farmers and Exporters Association (MBFEA) chair Romegio Garcia said the members of the association own about 24,000 hectares of banana plantations in Mindanao, but only 21,000 are still productive.

Garcia said some of their member farmers have already abandoned 3,000 hectares because of the Panama disease.

Another factor affecting the banana industry is the price movement of fuel used in production.

The event saw the induction of the new officers and members of the board for PBGEA and Banana Export Industry Foundation (BEIF), namely Stanfilco (DOLE Phil.) senior executive consultant Carlito H. Ona as chair; Tagum Agricultural Development Corporation (TADECO) president Anthony Alexander N. Valoria as president; Del Monte Philippines general manager Hector E. Rivera as vice president for international affairs; Vizcaya Planatation,

hair stand on end or your skin feels a thrilling sensation, the chances are that lightning is coming. The best thing to do is to squat, lie flat, bend your head forward, or hug your knees.

If caught inside a car, don’t touch any metal part or use the radio or cellphone.

Inside a building that is not protected by a lightning rod, you should stay away from stoves, radiators, doors, windows, and other conductors of electricity. Don’t use the electric fans or any plug-in

appliances.

A place where it is virtually impossible for you to be hit by lightning is the interior of an all metal-frame building which is well-grounded. The next safe place is a building protected by lightning rod. In a building without a lightning rod, the safest place is the center of the largest downstairs room.

Just remember, the possibility of a person of getting hit by lightning are one in 600,000. The possibility, however, could be greater.

DTI adds... FFROM 4

High...

FFROM 7

Watch...

FFROM 11

VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 1, 2014

Aquino’s... FFROM 4 During the presentation, project leaders Mildred M. Estanda and Dr. Christine S. Diaz said for household amenities and facilities, 75.2 percent of the respondents have billed running water for household use and among the three districts, tap water from faucets are the major source of drinking water.

Ninety 90 percent of the respondents have television sets with more than majority or 59.7 percent having access to new media.

City garbage collection emerged as the most common mode of waste disposal with 75 percent. Furthermore, jeepney and twowheeled motor vehicles are

the most commonly used mode of transportation in the three districts.

For health and wellness, 78.4 percent considered themselves healthy while a close number or 79.2 percent believed that their community is healthy.

Absence of sickness or 89.1 percent emerged as the top reason for personal health while peace and order or 76.3 percent for community health.

In terms of the labor force status, profile and economic trends, 46.8 percent of the respondent are hired which is also the same with self-employed people in the sample. Among those who are hired, the respon-

dents are either engaged in the services with 30.6 percent and the commercial sectors with 29.8 percent.

The median income of the respondents and of their family is P10,000.

Majority of the respondents or 50.2 percent considered their quality of life has not changed significantly in the last six months. Among those who said that their quality of life has been better dropped to 22.1 percent from 23.4 percent compared to last April survey.

In terms of quality of life in the next 12 months, a close to majority or 43.3 percent believed that it will be the same.

In terms of economic status and financial situation, 79.5 percent of Davao City residents believed that they are on the line which dropped from 82.1 percent in the last survey. In terms of hunger, a great number among them or 82 percent experience it few times.

For financial situation, 59 percent believed that what they had earned is the same as what was spent by their families, while 60 percent also believed the same in the next three months.

For wealth creation, 58.3 percent of the respondents believed that they can find more job opportunities in the market for the next 12 months.

been the prime market for the country’s human export.

DOLE will conduct a five-day pre-registration for interested applicants from December 2 to 6.

“We will have a booth at the second floor of Abreeza Mall,” Manual said, adding that there will also be an online registration through Philjob.net.

Dabawenyos...

Manual said applicants who will be pre-registered will be able to save time and energy during the job fair proper where there will be thousands of applicants looking for employment.

“A pre-registered applicant will be able to skip two process including the registration and will just proceed to interview,” he said.

FFROM 6

DOLE will be celebrating its 81st anniversary on December 8. About 8,000 applicants are expected to join this year’s DOLE anniversary job fair.

Last year, DOLE recorded a total of 579 applicants who were hired on the spot (HOTS).

A total of 23,746 job vacancies were solicited

for this year’s anniversary job fairs where 16,766 are overseas jobs and 6, 980 are domestic. The job fairs were participated by 158 local companies and 64 overseas.

Based on the data officially released by the department, they recorded a total of 4,561 applicants last year. CRC

of ten Dabawenyos would vote for Duterte as president in 2016.

The survey also found that eight in 100 Dabawenyos will vote for Vice President Jejomay Binay and 7 in 100 will choose Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

“Statistically, Duterte’s good leadership subsumes the idea that it is addressing criminality because he is brave (17 percent) and can implement peace and

order (15 percent) and rule of law (5 percent),” IPO said.

IPO said the respondents of the survey are those who can vote in 2016.

“They are mostly female (74 percent), married (82 percent), aged 30-49 (50 percent). Half of the respondents are unemployed, 30 percent are into business, 12 percent are working on a contractual basis, and 7 percent have

regular employment,” it added.

More than half have finished high school, 21 percent reached college, and 9 percent obtained a college degree.

Most of the respondents belong to income class E (59 percent) with monthly income P5,000 and below, a quarter belong to income class D (P6,000 to P1,000), 6 percent belong to lower class

C (P11,000 to P20,000), and 1 percent belong to income class B (P21,000 to P35,000), while 0.42 percent of the respondents belong to income class A. IPO surveyed 1,200 Dabawenyos on October 6 to 17, systematically choosing the respondents and employing a 5 percent margin of error and 95 percent confidence interval. (with reports from CHENEEN R. CAPON)

For his part, Lobregat pointed out some provisions of the draft law like the block grant for the Bangsamoro government that he claimed is unconstitutional.

Lobregat, however, conceded that since the 15th Congress is dominated by allies of President Aquino it will pass the BBL despite its “unconstitutionality”.

“They (Aquino allies) have the numbers. The law will surely be passed but it will face a wave of constitutionality cases in the Supreme Court,” Lobregat said.

The Bangsamoro is envisioned to replace the 25-year old Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao by 2016.

Lobregat and Cruz led the opposition to the MOA-AD in 2008 by questioning its constitutionality before the High Court.

After the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the petition against the MOAD-AD, war erupted anew when elements of the MILF who were angered by the decision staged attacks in Lanao and Cotabato areas.

Councilor Moises Dalisay, one of those who petitioned against the MOAD-AD in the Supreme Court, questioned the inclusion of some areas in the proposed Bangsamoro region.

He said the Constitution does not allow any province, city, town and barangay to be divided, merged with or its boundary altered without conforming to the Local Government Code of 1991, which also prohibits this exercise.

“This provision is applicable to Iligan City where eight barangays are classified to participate in the plebiscite,” he said.

Muntinlupa City Rep. Rodolfo Biazon (Lone District, Mandaluyong City), a member of the House committee, told Lobregat, Cruz and Dalisay that ensuring that the proposed BBL pass constitutional scrutiny is the job of the 15th Congress.

Biazon said it is also the job of the committee to reconcile the conflicting issues facing the bill.

“Our job is to see this law pass scrutiny because I am sure somebody or some group will raise this question before the high court once Congress will pass it,” he said.

Biazon said the worst thing that could happen is another war if the Supreme Court decides to rule against the BBL like it did to the MOAD-AD. “The condition of unpeace has become a disease in this country. We cannot go back to it and that is the reason we must find some compromised to the conflicting issues,” Biazon, a former Marines general who became chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, said. (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)

10K jobs... FFROM 4

MOA -AAD... FFROM 6

UCCP...FFROM 6

Youth (C&Y) Asia Pacific Regional Supervisor based in Bankok, together with her husband, Devendra Rai, Regional Director of CBSI Asia, led the training together with Rosemarie Campos, C&Y Trainor CBSI Philippines and Harry Viloria, C&Y National Coordinator.

This event was facilitated by the Board of Christian Educators of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines, Davao City.

Abducted ...

FFROM 5

Polvorosa and PO1 Marichel Unclara Contemplo were reportedly going to Barangay Pungtod aboard a patrol car for a meeting with personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and residents for the Pantawid Pampailyang Pilipino Program, but were blocked suspected NPAs. “Ako nanawagan sa gobyerno nga tabangan ang akong bana nga makauli na sa among panimalay tungod kay ang akong mga anak naapektuhan na ug dili na maghingaon ug gani nangasakit na ilabina ang akong kamanghuran,” Cristen Amper said. (“I am calling on the government to help my husband come home because my children are affected. Sometimes they refuse to eat, and even falling ill, especially my youngest.”)

She also asked the government to stop the military operations in Surigao del Norte so her husband may not be put in danger.

(MindaNews)

EDGEDAVAO

11 SCIENCE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 1, 2014

Watch out, lightning might strike you!

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO Photos from Wikipedia

“Lightning is one of the most beautiful displays in nature. It is also one of the most deadly natural phenomena known to man. With bolt temperatures hotter than the surface of the sun and shockwaves beaming out in all directions, lightning is a lesson in physical science and humility.” – John Zavisa

D

URING the talk show, “Debate: Mare at Pare” in 2000, then President Joseph Estrada called and told one of the panelists: “Iyan ang buong katotohanan. Huwag kang magsinungaling. Baka ka tamaan ng kidlat (That is the truth. Do not lie. Lightning might strike you.).”

A natural phenomenon, lightning occurs naturally in many parts of the country especially during a rain. The cause of so much fear (particularly among children), awe, and wonder, lightning has been responsible for the death of many and the destruction of homes and other buildings.

The chances of getting hit by lightning are one in 600,000, but in recent years, people have died and more have been hurt in separate lightning strike incidents in different parts of the country.

In May last year, a soldier died while another suffered burns when lightning struck a military outpost in a remote village of Zamboanga Sibugay province. According to the police report, the victims were on duty in the village of Libertad, Tungawan town when lightning suddenly struck the outpost in the early morning.

Lightning also took the life of Norbing Murines in 2007. He was the sixth person in the province of Iloilo to have died as a result of being struck by a lightning.

He was reportedly doing carpentry job at the roof of

a store but sudden rains prevailed, forcing him to stop his work and take shelter under a nearby tree.

In a wink of an eye, an ear-splitting thunderstorm simultaneous with the blinding spark of lightning hit the tree that also pinned Murines. “He sustained severe burns all over his body and was rushed to the nearby hospital where the attending physicians declared him dead on arrival,” said the report released by the Philippine News Agency.

In the United States, a 17-year-old Filipino American living in Chicago was suddenly struck and killed by lightning last year, just a few days before her graduation. A report of the Huffington Post said the teenager was just sitting in the grass at the park a few blocks away from their home when a lightning hit her. Paramedics tried to revive her but she was declared dead on the scene.

But there were those who cheated death. Two years ago, six men were given their second lives after they survived a lightning.

According to one of the survivors, they decided to harvest shells on the nearby shore in barangay Coronon in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur after the tide ebbed around 8:30 p.m.

But there was a sudden downpour of rain followed by strong winds so they decided to seek shelter under the coconut trees. A lightning struck a tree beside

Lightning hits tree (Photo from Wikipedia)

where they stood and some of the victims were electrocuted. Some of the victims fainted and sustained wounds all over the body.

All the victims were thrown in different directions due to the explosion.

“We were thrown three meters away,” a survivor was quoted as saying. “The explosion was so strong that it felt like it was a bomb.”

“About 2,000 people are killed worldwide by lightning each year,” reports the National Geographic. “Hundreds more survive strikes but suffer from a variety of lasting symptoms, including memory loss, dizziness, weakness, numbness, and other life-altering ailments.”

The discovery of lightning The world owes Benjamin Franklin its knowledge of what lightning really is.

By flying that historical kite into a thunder-cloud one summer afternoon, he made the important discovery that thunder-clouds carry electrical charges and that lightning is but a gigantic electrical discharge.

Actually, lightning is a massive electrostatic discharge between electrically charged regions within clouds, or between a cloud and the Earth’s surface. The charged regions within the atmosphere temporarily equalize themselves through a lightning flash, commonly referred to as a strike if it hits an object on the ground.

Experts say the electricity a lightning generates can power a 100-watt bulb for three months. Lightning can heat up the air around it to up to 30,000 degrees Celsius.

Lightning occurs approximately 40 to 50 times a second worldwide, resulting in nearly 1.4 billion flashes per year, according to John E. Oliver in an article which appeared in “Encyclopedia of World Climatology.”

During a seminar workshop held in Davao City last year, Niño A. Relos, senior weather specialist of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), said that lightning is classified into three types: forked lightning, sheeting lightning, and ball lightning.

Forked lightning is a common form of lightning, in a cloud-to-ground discharge, which exhibits downward-directed branches from the main lightning channel. Sheeting lightning appears merely as a general illumination over a broad area, usually because the path of the flash is obscured

by clouds.

Ball lightning is a rare form of lightning, consisting of a bright, luminous ball that moves rapidly along objects or floats in the air.

A classic example is Saint Elmo’s fire, which Filipinos called as santelmo.

Identifying lightning-generating clouds is one of the helpful ways to avoid being struck by a lightning. The weather bureau in a report on GMA News’ Balitanghali told the audience to look out for cumulonimbus clouds, which are thick and are shaped like a cauliflower.

These clouds produce strong winds, rains, thunder, and lightning. “Hindi tayo safe sa buong taon eh, dahil nasa tropics tayo. Tsaka napapaligiran tayo ng tubig so ‘yung weather natin napakabilis na magpalit. Nakakapag-produce sila agad ng cumulonimbus clouds in three hours,” Jori Loiz, PAGASA weather forecaster, was quoted as saying.

Studies show that about 70 percent of lightning occurs over land in the tropics where atmospheric convection is the greatest. This occurs from both the mixture of warmer and colder air masses, as well as differ-

ences in moisture concentrations, and it generally happens at the boundaries between them. The flow of warm ocean currents past drier land masses, such as the Gulf Stream, partially explains the elevated frequency of lightning in the Southeast United States.

More lightning during summer On land, lightning is more frequent at dusk than at dawn, according to meteorologists. On water, the reverse is true. Also, there are more lightning in summer than during rainy season.

The expression “Lightning never strikes twice (in the same place)” is similar to “Opportunity never knocks twice” in the vein of a “once in a lifetime” opportunity, that is, something that is generally considered improbable. But lightning occurs frequently and more so in specific areas.

The Empire State Building in New York City, for instance, has been hit more than 500 times in one single storm. The Washington Monument and the bell tower of St. Mark’s Square are also hit several times.

In many cultures, lightning has been viewed as

part of a deity or a deity in and of itself. These include the Greek god Zeus, the Aztec god Tlaloc, the Mayas’ God K, Slavic mythology’s Perun, the Baltic Pērkons/ Perkūnas, Thor in Norse mythology, Ukko in Finnish mythology, the Hindu god Indra, and the Shinto god Raijin. In the traditional religion of the African Bantu tribes, lightning is a sign of the ire of the gods. Verses in the Jewish religion and in Islam also ascribe supernatural importance to lightning.

Lightning safety precautions Science has yet to find ways of preventing lightning, but there are known ways of protecting yourself from being struck by it. Most victims are struck while outdoors. If caught outdoors, avoid hilltops, haystacks, lone trees, fences, and flagpoles. Don’t play golf, ride a bicycle, tractor or boat, go swimming, or undertake activities that require the use of metallic instruments.

The foot of a steep hill, a cave or a dense wood are good places to seek shelter.

Do not be the tallest object in a boot, hilltop, or open field. If you feel that your

FWATCH, 10

INVITATION TO APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND TO BID Plan International, Inc., an international, humanitarian, non-government, child-centred development organization, is inviting all interested printing press to participate in its forthcoming bidding for the printing of Alternative Delivery Mode (ADM) Modules with the following basic specifications: Particulars E-impact modules for grade 3 MISOSA Modules for Grades 4,5,6

Number of Modules

Specifications

Quantity

Size

Colour

Material

Cover page

8.5” x 13”

4 colours

Claycoat#12

Inside pages

8.5” x 6.5”

Black

Book 50

Cover page

8.5” x 11”

4 colours

Inside pages

8.5” x 11”

Black

178 639

Claycoat#12 Book 50

300 copies per module 300 copies per module

The following qualification documents must be submitted by the interested parties together with the Letter of Intent to BC for pre-qualification review (two sets: original and photocopy – original copies will be returned back after the review): 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Latest Mayor’s Permit / Municipal License Business Name Registration DTI or SEC Latest Income Tax Return and Audited Financial Statements, stamped received by BIR Company Profile which includes organizational structure/manpower pool, equipment and machineries; list of on-going and completed printed materials within the relevant period

The Committee will use non-Discretionary pass/fail criteria in the Eligibility Check/Screening as well as the Preliminary Examination of Bids and it will conduct post evaluation of bids.

BC Activities Submission of Intent to bid/ qualification documents

Schedule December 5,2014

Sending of notice to all bidders

December 8, 2014

Pre-bid conference/ Issuance of Bid Documents

December 9, 2014

Submission and Opening of Bids

December 11, 2014

Place Bidding Committee (BC) Plan International, Inc. REACH Management Office No. 68, Munda Subdivision City Heights, General Santos City Tel. No. (083) 552-8668

Prospective bidders shall submit the Eligibility Requirements together with the Letter of Intent to the Committee at the said address.

Letter of Authorization and Special Power of Attorney is not allowed.

No sub Contracting/subletting.

The BC assumes no responsibility whatsoever to compensate or indemnify contractors/bidders for any expenses incurred in the preparation of the said documents.

Plan International reserves the right to accept or reject any bids and to cancel the bidding at any time prior to award of the contract, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders or any obligations to inform the affected bidders of the reasons for employer’s action.

JOHNNY P. JUMAWAY BC Chairman Email add: johnny.jumaway@plan-international.org Telephone No.: (083) 552-8668

12 MOTORING EDGE DAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 1, 2014

EVENT Call: 224-0733 • Tionko St., Davao City

Billiard Supplies

Phone Nos.

Cell Nos.

INdulge!

STYLE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 1, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

The look of adventure

By Kenneth Irving Ong

SPORTSWEAR and active lifestyle brand Salomon opened their first store outside of Metro Manila at the second level of the Abreeza Mall.

Founded in 1947 in Annecy, France, the brand has set foot on Mindanao to provide top-notch products for the active lifestyle Dabawenyos are known for.

Salomon specialises in sporty gear for trail running, hiking, climbing, adventure racing, skiing, as well as snowboarding.

“While the brand may seem new to Davao, Salomon is the number one brand in the world when it comes to trail running,” says Salomon’s brand

FTHE LOOK, A4

A2 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 1, 2014

UP AND ABOUT

Columbia Sportswear to open at SM City Davao AMERICA’S well-loved maker of sports and outdoor apparel, Columbia Sportswear, is set to open at SM City Davao in December.

Founded in 1938, Columbia produces quality footwear, headgear, camping equipment and outerwear accessories. The brand is best known for their jackets featuring waterproof yet breathable material.

The compulsion to keep trying stuff and pursuing excellence is a trait shared by all Columbia brand ambassadors.

Exclusively distributed by the Primer Group of Companies, Columbia Sportswear celebrates the spirit of adventure and innovation. It believes in the science of trying stuff and gives testament to the growing number of adventure seekers as it opens its store at SM Davao.

Visit the new Columbia store, opening soon at the ground floor, main mall of SM City Davao. Like SM City Davao on Facebook and follow @SMCityDavao on Twitter and @SMDavao on Instagram for store and promo updates.

Globe customers to enjoy biggest US Sale with GCash American Express Virtual Pay

It’s the most wonderful time of the year as GCash American Express Virtual Pay gives customers access to Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sale in the country, the biggest and the most anticipated U.S. sale with hundreds of participating online retail stores and shops. Enjoy the shopping frenzy this November 28 to December 1 and get up to 75% savings on Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals anytime, anywhere using your GCash American Express Virtual Pay. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are the biggest sale seasons in the U.S. where many of the top online retailers and stores like Walmart.com, Amazon.com, eBay.com, Sephora.com offer products at highly reduced price, making them two of the most-awaited shopping events around the world.

The shopping experience gets bigger and better this year as GCash waives the P250 annual fee on GCash American Express Virtual Pay, enabling online shoppers to enjoy the service for free.

Moreover, Virtual Pay makes shopping easy and shipping easier with a 3% shipping rebate that all GCash American Express Virtual Pay subscribers can enjoy from My Shopping Box. “We are excited to be bringing the Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sale for three years now to allow Filipinos to enjoy the biggest discounts and most amazing shopping deals from their favorite international online retail stores,” says Paolo Baltao, GXchange, Inc. President. “This year, we are making the shopping experience of our customers even more wonderful by allowing them to subscribe to GCash American Express Virtual Pay for free and enjoy shipping rebates when they shop at various U.S. online retailers and stores.”

Online shoppers can get a GCash American Express Virtual Pay account via different platforms such as the GCash mobile app which can be downloaded from the App Store, Google Play Store, or BlackBerry App World and GCash website.

GCash American Express Virtual Pay is a virtual prepaid card linked to a user’s GCash wallet that allows a secure way of shopping from online retail sites that accept American Express. With the service, buyers can transfer funds to their GCash wallets by cashing in from the customer’s bank account or through any of over 7,000 GCash outlets nationwide.

GCash American Express Virtual Pay allows buyers to provide a personalized U.S. address where the item can be delivered to, granting Filipinos direct access to exclusive U.S. goods. From this address, the item will then be shipped to the buyer’s preferred delivery address in the Philippines.

Globe customers can also convert their Globe/TM prepaid load to GCash via the GCash mobile app by logging in to their GCash account, tapping Cash-in, keying in the desired amount to cash-in and confirming the transaction. Globe customers must have sufficient balance to cover for the GCash load conversion plus a 15% additional service fee.

Aside from getting easy access to Black Friday Sale, GCash American Express Virtual Pay also enables users to shop at the iTunes Store and choose from over 43 million songs, 85,000 movies, and more than 300,000 TV shows.

To learn more about GCash American Express Virtual Pay, visit www.globe.com.ph/gcash-virtualpay.

Enjoy the holidays while cuddling this Family bear set from Toy Kingdom.

Join Princess Sofia on her delightful vacation in the sea with this Sofia the First Vacation Place playset. This enchanting floating palace includes a mermaid cove with a seashell throne, and a Sofia the First doll that transforms into a mermaid upon removing her purple skirt.

Santa’s picks at Toy Kingdom MAKE A WISH... as Toy Kingdom makes a list of its top toys for the season. After all Christmas is that magical time of year for kids and kids at heart.

Have fun playing Santa as you complete the list of Top toys available at all Toy Kingdom Express outlets in SM Stores and Toy Kingdom Stores in most SM Supermalls.

Visit www.toykingdom.ph. Also type ToyKingdomPH for more amazing updates at Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Avengers Superhero Mashers is an exciting way of creating your own Avenger superhero.

All parts of the figure are removable so you can swap parts from other Super Hero Mashers figures.

The Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes Starter Pack PS4 introduces real-world interactive Marvel figures and brings some of Marvel’s most popular franchises, including The Avengers to the virtual world.. Includes Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes (2.0 Edition) Video Game, Marvel Super Heroes Figures: Iron Man, Thor and Black Widow, Disney Infinity Base (2.0 Edition) Toy Box Game Discs, Marvel’s The Avengers Play Set piece and Web Code Card.

Explore the exciting spots of Malibu Avenue with Barbie! There are plenty of shops to visit like the pretty Grocery store or the wonderland Pet Boutique. Barbie doll included.

Hello Kitty Princess Large Doll. Everyone’s favorite Kitty is back and more fashionable than ever with its removable outfits that can be mixed and matched with other collection of Hello Kitty Large dolls.

The Big Hero 6 fever lives on with this Deluxe Flying Baymax.

Baymax stands 11 inches tall with a wingspan that extends to 18 inches with his mighty weapons such as the lights and sounds or the launching rocket fist. Includes a 4.5” Hiro Hamada figure.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 1, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

Sef Cadayona grateful for his acting award STARSTRUCK alumnus and GMA Artist Center star Sef Cadayona was hailed as the Best Comedy Actor at the recently concluded PMPC Star Awards for Television.

Upon receiving his award, he admitted that he remained speechless and couldn’t believe that he was declared the winner.

He also shared that Michael V. and Ogie Alcasid are considered to be his mentors in comedy. “During taping ng Bubble Gang, lagi kaming nireremind ni Kuya Bitoy na ibigay ang todo naming energy at mas maging lively. After niyang magsalita, doon na ako nakakaisip ng mga jokes at punch lines na magagamit sa mga gags namin. Mas lalo kaming na-momotivate”.

When asked about his inspiration to pursue his long time dream of making people happy, he shared that he always take courage and strength from his family. “Kumukuha ako ng inspirasyon at lakas kung saan ako lumaki – sa aking mga pamilya sa Las Pinas.”

Meanwhile, the Kapuso Network will be launching another season of the successful reality-based artista search StarStruck. Sef gives an advice to all the hopefuls who want to enter show business. “Be prepared sa matinding training. Natatandaan ko yung mga araw na halos hindi na kami natutulog nun. Kasi po sunod-sunod yun, Rehearsal, workshop, test. Then rehearsal workshop, test. Ang masasabi ko lang sa kanila, kahit ano mang mangayari at kahit gaano kahirap,

empre lalo na’t kaming mga bago ang tumanggap ng Hall of Fame. Ang tindi! ‘Yun nga lang, medyo mataas na responsibilidad ‘yun. But I assure the viewers na hindi kami magbabago.

wag nilang kalimutan kung anong dahilan kung bakit sila nag-audition’’.

Here are some excerps from an interview with Sef: Q: How do you feel about winning the Best Comedy Actor Award at the recently–concluded PMPC Star Awards for TV? Did you expect to beat Vic Sotto and Michael V.?

S: To beat Vic Sotto and Michael V. is not the right term.

It’s more of them giving me the opportunity to shine.

Winning the Best Comedy Actor Award, ‘yung initial feeling ko is ang saya! Ang saya saya! But siyempre, heto ako, hindi pa rin makapaniwala. Wala naman kasi akong ibang gustong gawin kundi ang magpatawa ng viewers. At para bigyan ako ng ganitong klaseng recognition, I am so grateful para sa award na ito.

Q: How do you feel about Michael V.’s statement that he is very proud of you?

S: Siyempre abot-langit ang saya ko dahil ganun ‘yung naramdaman ng mentor ko sa akin. Abot-langit din ang pasasalamat ko kasi kung hindi dahil sa kanya, hindi naman ako mare-recognize, so very thankful and very blessed ako.

Q: Who among the veteran comedians do you look up to and why?

S: Vic Sotto, Michael V., Ogie Alcasid, Janno Gibbs, Dolphy, and Joey De Leon.

Medyo old school kasi ako, doon umiikot ‘yung mundo ko. Ang responsibilidad ko ngayon bilang bagong komedyante ay ang

Q: What is it about Bubble Gang you like best?

S: Pinakagusto ko sa Bubble Gang is ‘yung mga katrabaho ko. Kasi isang pamilya na kami and we bring out the best in each other.

Q: Can you share the back story of your segment in Bubble Gang which you share with Bitoy?

S: ‘Yung backstory kasi niyan, madalas naming napapansin sa Facebook ‘yung mga bata na kung anu-anong kalokohan ang ginagawa. Kadalasan gi-

maghain ng bagong paraan kung paano magpatawa.

Q: You are also considered as one of the best gay actors in show business today, can you share your acting style and technique?

S: Siguro, itong ginagawa ko and preparation ko is not just for gay roles per se, pero para sa lahat, especially sa comedy. Huwag kang matakot na maging baliw paminsan-minsan.

Kasi kung hindi medyo tuliro ‘yung utak ko, hindi ko rin naman gagawin ito. Pero dahil sa natutunan kong pagtawanan ‘yung sarili ko at bigyan ng katatawanan

‘yung ginagawa ko, gawin mo na. One technique is huwag kang maging uptight.

Basta kung ano ‘yung nararamdaman mo, gawin mo.

Q: What other type of roles do you want to be identified with?

S: Superhero, alien, estranghero, saka ‘yung mga hindi ginagawa ng tao gaya ng maging butiki, maging aso.

At gusto ko ring mag-voice over someday.

Q: How does it feel to be part of Bubble Gang, the longest–running gag show (19 years) in television?

S: Proud. Very proud ako siy-

ABS-CBN treats viewers with a meaningful gift this Monday with ‘Give Love On Christmas’ ABS-CBN is set to make the celebration of the Yuletide season more meaningful as it shares valuable life lessons to TV viewers through its Christmas special “Give Love on Christmas” that will begin on Monday.

“Give Love on Christmas” will first feature the story titled “Gift Giver” which will star multi-awarded veteran actor Eddie Garcia.

Eddie will portray the role of Ernest, a father who only wanted to have a happy and complete family. However, despite all his sacrifices for them to have a comfortable life, Ernest begins to lose his perfect relationship with his children when the love of his life Laura (Alicia Alonzo) suddenly dies.

How will Ernest deal with the pain and disappointment of his son and daughters now that Laura is gone?

Will Ernest still be able to fulfill his wish to have “the best Christmas ever” to-

gether with his complete family or is it already too late for him to make up for his shortcomings?

“Give Love on Christmas Presents Gift Giver” also stars Aiko Melendez, Dim-

ples Romana, Carlo Aquino, Louise Abuel, Gerald Madrid, and Nadine Samonte.

It is directed by Jerome Pobocan.

“Give Love on Christmas” is a Christmas special produced by Dreamscape Entertainment Television, the group that created toprating TV masterpieces such as “Walang Hanggan,” “Ina Kapatid Anak,” “Juan dela Cruz,” and “Ikaw Lamang.”

Don’t miss the beginning of “Give Love on Christmas” this Monday, before “It’s Showtime” in ABS-CBN Prime-Tanghali. For more information about “Give Love on Christmas,” visit the show’s official social networking sites Twittter.com/ DreamscapePH and Instagram.com/DreamscapePH.

nagawa nilang vanity ‘yung mga Facebook page nila.

So naisip namin, hindi ba nakikita ng magulang ito?

So ‘yun. Nakakatuwa rin kasi patok siya sa generation ngayon. Ginagawa lang naming katatawanan ‘yung mga kalokohan ng mga kabataan ngayon.

Q: What are your other current/upcoming projects?

S: Bubble Gang, Vampire ang Daddy Ko, Sunday All Stars, MP Sport Science, saka this coming December 25, ‘yung My Big Bossing.

Q: Where do you see yourself five years from now?

S: Five years from now?

Hopefully, I will have my own show para maipakita ko rin ‘yung kaya ko pang gawin.

A4 INdulge!

STYLE

EDGEDAVAO The look... FFROM A1

VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 1, 2014

manager Janice Tañada “some of the world’s top trail running champions such as Kilian Jornet, Ryan Sandes, and Anna Frost are some of the known names who helped develop and test our products.”

Tañada also adds that the entry of Salomon into the region shows how Davao’s population is more active, taking into account the city’s more laid-back atmosphere as well as island to highland

topography.

Salomon is exclusively distributed by Uniglobe Travelware Company, Inc. under the Primer Group of Companies, Asia’s next retail giant.

Other Salomon stores are located at SM Aura Premier in Taguig City, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong, SM North Edsa Annex in Quezon City, and Glorietta 3 in Makati City.

THE ECONOMY13

VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 1, 2014 Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH Judicial Region Branch 16 Davao City

IN THE MATTER OF CANCELLATION AND SUBSTITUTION OF THE BIRTH CERTIFICATES OF MARIA ARNELOU CAMILE OLBES CHUA AND MARIA ANGELICA ARABELLA OLBES CHUA, REP. BY HER SISTER, MARIA ARNELOU CAMILE OLBES CHUA SP. PROC. CASE NO. 13,310-14

MARIA ARNELOU CAMILE O. CHUA Petitioner, Versus

LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF DAVAO CITY & LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF LAAK, COMPOSTELA VALLEY, ORDER

Petitioner in their verified petition prays of this Honorable Court that:

1.

The first Birth Certificates of the petitioners registered in the Local Civil Registry of Davao which are defective be cancelled; AND 2.

The Birth Certificates of the petitioners registered in Laak, Compostela Valley be SUBSTITUTED as true and correct Birth Certificates of the petitioners.

ANNOUNCEMENT To serve you better Edge Davao and Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. have added a new telephone line: (082) 224-1413

Finding the said petition to be sufficient in form and in substance. It is hereby ordered that the said petition be set for hearing on February 09, 2015 at 8:30 in the morning on which date, time and place, all persons who are interested may appear and show cause if anu, why said petition should not be granted.

Let a copy of this Order be published in a newspaper of general circulation at least once a week for three(3) consecutive issued at the expense of the petitioner.

The Local Civil Registrar, Davao city, and the Assistant City prosecutor are cited to appear on said date of hearing, in order to show cause, if any, said petition should not be granted.

SO ORDERED.

Davao City, Philippine, October 27,2014.

SGD. EMMANUEL C. CARPIO Presiding Judge 11/17,24/12/1

NOTICE OF LOSS Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. That CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 1005321 under LOYOLA PLAN Contract No.(s) 32948-0 issued to NANNETTE B. MALALUAN was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

11/24,12/1,8

14

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 1, 2014

VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 1, 2014

EDGEDAVAO Sports

MARIA, MARIA!

15

Pinoy fans go ga-ga over Sharapova

M

ARIA Sharapova came into the country as a superstar. Much bigger than Lady Gaga or Taylor Swift.

No surprise that she played very hard in a short stint on court that lasted just two sets.

Maria wasn’t about to disappoint her adoring Filipino fans.

On the brink of another defeat in her International Premier Tennis League debut in Manila, the world No. 2 won the final four games to beat UAE Royals’ Kristina Mladenovic, 6-5, in their women’s singles match on Friday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Cheered by thousands of Filipino fans, Sharapova came charging back from a 2-5 deficit by breaking Mladenovic’s serve twice then taking

the tiebreaker, called the five-minute shootout, to atone for an earlier loss in mixed doubles with fellow grand slam champion Andy Murray.

“I didn’t want to lose my first singles match in Manila,” said Sharapova to cheers from the MOA crowd.

Sharapova’s first match in Manila actually ended in a loss after she and Murray bowed to Mladenovic and Nenad Zimonjic, 6-4, in the mixed doubles after their comeback fell short.

Down 1-5, Sharapova and Murray broke in the eighth game and won the ninth after winning a long rally to trail by just one, 4-5, behind the cheering of their ‘home’ fans. But UAE held serve the following game after several smashes by Zimonjic as UAE took a commanding lead in the

BREAKING THE TENNIS CODE

New tennis league attempts to revolutionize the sport

“W

E want to break the code, but not break the rules,” said International Premiere Tennis League (IPTL) COO Eric Gottschalk.

In a nutshell, that is what the IPTL aims to do with tennis in this revolutionary new tournament, which will kick off in Manila November 28 and move on to Singapore, India and the UAE in the coming days.

With a shorter and quicker format of play, the IPTL turns tennis into a game tailor-made for TV and cranks up the excitement level for the viewers and fans.

New Format No advantage scoring and a 20 second service shot clock are some of the innovative changes that the IPTL is implementing, together with a “Happiness Power Shot,” where a receiving player can get double points on the next point.

Matches are decided based on the total number of games won – not via the total number of sets won, which will see teams fighting it out till the very end.

A match will be composed of five players from five different categories: Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles and Legends Singles and all matches will have five sets played.

The Way Tennis Could Be “We are going in the right direction and if other people are going to the same direction then I think that it’s only great because it proves to us that this is the way tennis could be. I’m not saying it should be, but could be,” says IPTL CEO Morgan Menahem, in response to reports that Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt are set to play a similar short tennis scoring format prior to the start of the 2015 Australian Open.

“Players all wanted to be part of this. This is the future – the shorter format like what was done in cricket. New spectators are needed for tennis and this format will draw families to watch.”

“Hopefully, this will open the eyes and ears of a lot of people.”

New Venues for Tennis The Micromax Indian Aces’ Fabrice Santoro stresses the importance of playing in new places: “It is important to

bring tennis somewhere else, aside from the usual places.”

Reigning US Open Champion Marin Cilic echoes this sentiment, “This is an opportunity for us to play in Asia. Fans are going to like the quicker format of play.”

The Manila Mavericks are represented by playing captain Treat Huey, Andy Murray, Maria Sharapova, Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, Kristen Flipkens, Daniel Nestor and Carlos Moya.

Ana Ivanovic, Daniela Hantuchova, Kristen Flipkens, Patrick Rafter, Nick Kyrgios, and Lleyton Hewitt were seen hitting the practice courts and looked ready to go.

Murray and Sharapova were due to arrive last night.

Serena Williams is due to play on Sunday, November 30.

It is hoped that fan response to the event will be encouraging. After all, it isn’t everyday we see tennis stars in the flesh in the country. Organizers stopped short of confirming a second edition next year, but a healthy response from fans certainly would not hurt the cause.

tie.

Sharapova also appeared on the verge of another defeat in the women’s singles against Mladenovic when she went down 5-2.

But she came back by breaking Mladenovic in the 10th to send the match to a tiebreaker.

This time, the Russian star netter held on, quickly building a 6-1 lead in the shootout on the way to the win. (spin.ph)

CROWD DARLING. No doubt, Maria Sharapova is the biggest star in tennis today. In her first time in the country, Sharapova showed fans why she is the world’s no. 2 player.

16

VOL. 7 ISSUE 185 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30- DECEMBER 1, 2014