Edge Davao 7 Issue 192

VOL. 7 ISSUE 192 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

www.edgedavao.net

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

RODY PICKS NEXT IP GUY Kagan tribe aspirants favored to replace Mambo-o

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. abf@edgedavao.net

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AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte has already identified the next Indigenous People (IP) representative to the City Council.

In an interview after the lighting ceremony of the “Pasko Fiesta sa Davao” last Monday night, Duterte told reporters that he already chosen the successor to outgoing councillor Berino

Mambo-o Sr. of the Ata tribe.

“Naa na koy natarget (I already have someone in mind). But I will divulge his name in the proper time,” the mayor said.

Duterte, however, confirmed the earlier statement of Mambo-o that the next IP representative will be from Kagan tribe.

PASKO FIESTA. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte delivers his Christmas message of joy, peace and hope during the opening ceremony of Pasko Fiesta sa Dabaw 2014 and lighting of Christmas decorations at Rizal Park on Monday evening. Lean Daval Jr. “Ilis-ilis ng mga IP representative.

Iniikot yan… Para makapahimulos tanan (The IP representative post is rotated so that all tribes have equal opportunity),” he said.

Duterte said he will also reveal next year the name of the person who will assume the seat left by city administrator J. Melchor Quitain, who was council-

or only from July to September 2013.

Duterte said he will select someone from the Muslim sector to replace Quitain.

“Ang ako man gud…. Kung mahimo lang kanang ang tanan nga sector nay representante (What I want is for all sectors to be represented),” he said.

F RODY, 10

2 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 192 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

FOR SAFETY. Phoenix Petroleum Philippines president and chief executive officer Dennis A. Uy hands over a traffic safety cone to Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte during the turnover ceremony of traffic safety signs and road barriers donated by the Davao-based petroleum company to the city government of Davao at Rizal Park on Monday evening. Lean Daval Jr.

Duterte to lenders: Don’t collect from city workers P

Peace and order, Lingap get additional allocation

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte reiterated an appeal made by city administrator J. Melchor Quitain for money lenders to suspend their collection from city government employees for this month.

In an interview after the lighting and opening ceremony of “Pasko Fiesta sa Dabaw” on Monday evening, Duterte said the lenders must suspend their collection so that city government workers can have money to spend for their families this Christmas.

“To the lenders, whoever they are, suspend the collec-

tion for the meantime. Do not touch the salary of the City Hall workers for this month.

They can resume payment in January. They need the money now,” the mayor said.

Duterte said he decided to release the city employees’ bonus or Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) because many of them are in dire need for money just to have a decent Christmas celebration.

During the flag raising ceremony last Monday, Quitain said City Hall will formulate a mechanism on how to release the bonus because he

is worried about employees who have debts from loan sharks.

Also yesterday, the City Council approved the ordinance titled ‘An Ordinance Granting Authority to the City Mayor to Release the Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) based on Resolution No. 2014 -010, series of 214 of the Local Finance Committee (LFC), City Government of Davao entitled “Recommending Approval of the Implementing Guidelines on the Grant of Incentive for Plantilla Personnel (to include self-paid teachers but

to be charged against special education fund), Consultants, Job Orders/ Contract of Services, including Barangay Nutrition Scholars and Auxiliary Personnel of the City Government of Davao, in recognition of their valuable support in the performance of actual duties and responsibilities towards attainment and successful accomplishments of the city’s vision, mission and goal chargeable against any savings of 2014 appropriations.”

potential investor.”

Elman said the office was created last June and its team will be in full force next year as it gains more manpower.

“At present, the Mindanao IO team has a total of five members headed by Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office chief Atty.

Corazon Arancon,” he said.

Among investment grievances or complaints that can be filed under IO are delay in the delivery

of frontline services relating to the establishment or conduct of business; solicitation, demand, request by a government official or employee in exchange for the issuance of licenses, permits and certificates, the release of shipments and cargoes, as well as the arbitrary assessment of fees for the conduct of business.

IO will also entertain complaints on issuance of licenses, permits and certif-

The chairman of the com-

F DUTERTE, 10

Investment Ombudsman set up for businesses

By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

The Office of the Ombudsman in Mindanao will establish the Investment Ombudsman (IO) to give a voice to local and foreign investors and businessmen in Mindanao who experience injustice.

“The Ombudsman recognizes this need. There should be timely action on investors’ complaints,” Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao Rodolfo M. Elman said in an interview yesterday.

He said the office was

created under Office Order No. 327 series of 2014 “in the interest of the service and to encourage local and foreign investments in the country and improve global competitiveness through prompt action on investors’ grievance and speedy resolution of investors’ complaints.”

The team will “take cognizance of investment-related grievances or complaints… provided the complainant is an investor of

F INVESTMENT, 10

EACE and Order and Lingap – the medical assistance program of the Office of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte (CMO) -- will get additional funds for this year as they have been given allocations in the P183.6 million Supplemental Budget No. 2.

The City Council approved the ordinance titled “An Ordinance Approving the General Fund Supple-

mental Budget (SB) No. 2 of the City Government of Davao for Calendar Year 2014, Consisting of the General Fund Proper in the amount of P183, 607, 913.71.”

City Ccouncil committee on finance, ways and means, and appropriations chairman councilor Danilo Dayanghirang said Duterte decided to pour the entire budget into these two pro-

F PEACE, 10

Davao Oriental sees 45% hike in job generation

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HE province of Davao Oriental, which was struck by typhoon Pablo in December 2012, recorded the highest increase in job generation this year, up 45 percent from 4,176 jobs generated in 2013 to a total of 6,067.

A Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) report also showed that jobs generated by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Region 11 increased by 19 percent from January to November this year over the same period last year, SMEs, dominating the business industry of the region with more than 95 percent, generated a total of 27,683 jobs, higher than the 23,283 recorded last year.

Of the total jobs gener-

ated, SMEs accounted for 81 percent or 24,293. Jobs generated in Pablo stricken areas accounted for seven percent of the total, while jobs generated from shared service facilities (SSF) accounted for five percent.

The bulk of the job generated was recorded in Davao City with 9,217, higher by three percent than the 8,934 recorded in 2013.

Davao del Sur recorded an increase of 44 percent with a total of 4,339 jobs generated, higher than the 3,009 jobs generated last year.

Another Pablo-stricken province in the region that showed positive increase in the job generation was Compostela Valley, which had a total of 2,735 jobs generat-

F DAVAO, 10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 192 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

NEWS

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DSWD 12 sending 50K more food packs to Ruby-hit areas

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HE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 12 is delivering an additional 50,000 family food packs in the next few days to augment the relief operations in areas affected by typhoon “Ruby” in parts of Eastern Visayas.

Dennis Domingo II, DSWD12 information officer, said their personnel and some volunteers are currently repacking the relief goods, which comprise rice and other food items, at the regional warehouses in the cities of Koronadal and Cotabato.

He said volunteers from the regional chapter of non-government group Ka-

lipunan ng Liping Pilipina or KALIPI, which is a national federation of women’s organizations assisted by the DSWD, are helping the repacking of the relief goods.

Domingo said they also sought help from the Bureau of Fire Protection in Region 12 in the preparation of the family food packs.

“We’re targeting to dispatch these food packs to the typhoon-hit areas within this week,” he said.

DSWD-12 has sent an initial 15,000 food packs to the agency’s relief hub in Tacloban City to assist the ongoing relief operations in the area.

F DSWD, 10

Fr. Picx bikes for climate

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E biked “for peace” across the country for 18 days in 2000, meeting truckloads of soldiers on their way to the Estrada administration’s “all-out war” in Mindanao; “for life and peace” around Mindanao for 21 days in 2006; “for life and peace” from Davao to Appari and back or 5,000 kilometers for 56 days in 2008; walked “for life and peace” from Davao to Appari for 57 days in the summer of 2011 and in this stormy month of December, go on a 1,800 kilometer 14-day “Climate Ride” from Manila to Bicol, Samar, Leyte, Compostela Valley, Davao, Bukidnon, Cagayan and Iligan, Redemptorist priest Amado “Picx” Picardal of Iligan City, presently based in Manila as Executive Secretary of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines – Basic Ecclesial Communities, intends

to start his 1,800 kilometer ride from Baclaran to Iligan on Wednesday, December 10 (also International Human Rights Day). He is expected to arrive in Iligan City by December 23.

Picardal, who turned 60 two months ago, said he will bike across areas hit by destructive typhoons since 2011, in honor of the victims of Typhoon Sendong (December 16-17, 2011), supertyphoons Pablo (December 4, 2004), Yolanda (November 8, 2013) and Ruby which made landfall in Dolores, Eastern Samar at 9:15 p.m. Saturday, December 6.

Picardal said he will stay overnight in parishes and will concelebrate themisa de galloand preach as well to “call attention to the climate change and the disasters that result from it” such as extreme weather events like super-ty-

F FR. PICX, 10

INVESTMENT OMBUDSMAN. Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao lawyer Rodolfo M. Elman tells reporters about the establishment of the Investment Ombudsman (IO) which will give a voice to local and foreign investors and businessmen in Mindanao who experience injustice. Lean Daval Jr.

People affected by ‘Ruby’ breaches 2 million mark T

HE National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Tuesday the number of people affected by typhoon “Ruby” has hit the 2.096-million mark.

NDRRMC said 456,386 families or 2,096,562 persons were affected by “Ruby” in Regions 4-A (Calabarzon), 4-B (Mimaropa), 5 (Bicol Region), 6 (Western Visayas), 7 (Central Visayas), 8 (Eastern Visayas) and Caraga. Of these, 371,846 families or 1,699,041 people were evacuated.

NDRRMC Executive Director Alexander Pama said there were 11 confirmed

fatalities and 45 injured during the onslaught of the typhoon.

He said three of the fatalities have been identified while the cause/s of death of the eight others are still being validated by the Department of Health (DOH).

Pama said the three identified fatalities were Jimmy Cardente, 14, resident of Cebu who died of electrocution; Princess Abelgas, twomonth-old baby girl from Barangay Pagbalican, Calbayog, Samar; and Sunny Recto, from Naval, Biliran, who died due to head wounds caused by falling debris.

Pama also said the two

HOLIDAY FOR ALL. The holiday rush is for the religious, too, as these nuns prove by entering a mall in Lanang, Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

fatalities earlier reported in Iloilo were not included in the death count because they died due to hypothermia which was not directly related to typhoon Ruby as per validation of DOH. Meanwhile, Pama said the agency could not yet release the post-disaster analysis since Ruby is still inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).

“I’m happy with the way the people showed their cooperation and the way our local government units and practically the stakeholders reacted, acted and even pre-acted on the preparations. If you look at the pre-

paredness and the response, I will say that we are happy,” Pama told a press briefing held at the NDRRMC Headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

At least 1,523 passengers, 38 rolling cargoes, 379 vessels and two motor boats are still stranded in various ports of the country while 61 domestic flights and nine international flights have been cancelled due to bad weather.

Power outages are reported in 20 provinces in six regions. Globe and Smart networks are currently down in some parts of Leyte

HE city government is considering adopting a zoning scheme for tricycles in a bid to address the worsening traffic congestion in major streets in the area.

Geraldine Zamora, coordinator of the city’s Motorized Tricycle Franchising Regulatory Board (MTFRB), said they are currently studying the viability of implementing the zoning scheme for various routes within the city’s 26 barangays.

She said such move was among the alternative solutions that were identified to help address the problems in the city’s traffic and transport management plan.

The plan will be presented by the local government

to transport stakeholders in the scheduled city transportation summit in January.

“It’s one of the steps that we’ve considered to help ease traffic congestion in our major streets and roads,” she said.

Zamora, who also heads the City Permits and Licensing Division, said the proposed zoning scheme involves the creation of tricycle routes for the city’s barangays.

She said the barangays will be tapped to assist in the monitoring and regulation of tricycle operations, especially those plying specific routes in their areas.

Along with the implementation of the proposed

F PEOPLE, 10

GenSan to adopt zoning for tricycles T

F GENSAN, 10

4 SUBURBIA DavOr remembers ‘Pablo’ with new landmark EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 192 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

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HE provincial government inaugurated on Thursday, December 4, the newly constructed beach park in Barangay Dapnan in Baganga dubbed Baganga Sunrise Boulevard.

Opened in time for the second anniversary of Super typhoon Pablo that devastated the province exactly two years before, the new monumental landmark “symbolizes the province’s resiliency and development after three of the province’s towns were badly destroyed,” Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon said.

With project cost of about P 5 million shelled out by the provincial government, the site covers a 750-meter stretch of creamy-white coastline.

Overlooking the scenery ofthe vast Pacific Ocean, the new boulevard, which was completed in a span of only 45 days, consists of several amenities that include two restaurants, a volleyball court, shower area, beach huts, children’s playground, a concessionaire’s area, and

an information center. The latter will serve as the jumpoff area for tourists who wish to explore other tourist sites that can be visited within the town.

CPDA Chief Architect Charisse Puentespina, who worked on the project, said this is only the first phase of the entire site development as the province intends to expand its development.

Among the additions to beplaced are mangrove walk and boating area set to be realized next year.

Designed as an income-generating tourism site, the Sunrise Boulevard is also a venue for the locals to sell and promote their products andcommodities to tourists.

The Baganga Sunrise Boulevard is only one of the many infrastructure developments that the province has been implementing in the province as it takes off with its tourism industry.

Malanyaon divulged that the provincial government intends to put up a tourist land-

mark in each town. In fact, development has already started in other municipalities, which include, among others, the

Cape San Agustin in Governor Generoso, Pusan Point in Caraga, Mt. Hamiguitan in San Isidro, and Aliwagwag Falls in

Cateel. The latter is set to be inaugurated early next year.

She said that these developments intend to support

the province’s eco-tourism industry and boost economic development. [KLD/Photos

by Eden JhanLicayan]

HOUSANDS of indigenous people benefited from services brought by national government agencies (NGAs) during the ARENA-XI’s 12th “Serbisyo Caravan” in Sitio Patel, Barangay Gupitan, Kapalong, this province, on November 30.

Lumad constituents composed largely of the Langilan-Manobo tribe from the 43 sitios of the far-flung barangay availed themselves of the various services and assistance of the NGAs. The agencies were joined by the Philippine Army’s 10th Infantry Division, Provincial Government of Davao del Norte, and the local government of Kapalong.

Started in 2011, the “Serbisyo Caravan” is a flagship project of ARENAXI or the Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies in the Davao Region that aims to bring the government closer to the people far-flung and depressed areas.

Engineer Mariano Alquiza, president of ARENA-

XI and regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-XI), led the one-stop shop of government services.

He said the caravan brought the government assistance down to help alleviate the living condition of the lumads in Barangay Gupitan, which is Davao del Norte’s largest village that shares its borders with the provinces of Bukidnon and Agusan del Sur. Lumads in the village were recently caught in the fighting between government troops and the New People’s Army (NPA).

Over 20 national agencies brought their services to the far-flung village, including the DPWH, DA, OPAPP, DSWD, DAR,DENR, BFAR, AFP, TESDA, PNP, NEDA, DOH, DILG, DTI, CHED, PIA, and DepEd. Straight from his official trip from Singapore, Governor Rodolfo del Rosario joined the caravan, binging with him the top executives

Serbisyo Caravan Retirement home for priests unveiled ARENA-XI serves lumads in Gupitan T T HE Diocese of Tagum’s Most Reverend Bishop Wilfredo Manlapaz reached his 50th year as a priest on Saturday, December 6, with the Diocese’s 130 priests (109 of whom he ordained), religious laity, and the tens of thousands of laymen celebrating the milestone in the bishop’s long years in the priestly ministry.

The historic day was also marked by the inauguration and blessing of the retirement facilities for both retiree bishops and priests in Purok Capagngan, Brgy. Visayan Village, Tagum City.

In the morning, the collective congregation communed in thanksgiving mass for the bishop in the New Cathedral in Tagum City, followed by a program and lunch in prepared tents on the grounds at the Cathedral’s back.

The rare celebration of the diocese covering Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, and Davao Oriental had for its theme “Celebrating only once.”

“I celebrate this only once. A little over one year from now I’ll be retiring and I have to prepare,” the 73-yearold bishop said in an interview Saturday evening at the just inaugurated St. John Paul II Retirement Home for Tagum Clergy, the name he chose for the retirement facilities that he first planned to build three years ago.

Under Church rules, bishops have mandatory retirement age of 75 while priests have 65.

The bishop also asked the congregation to pray for the priests serving the parishes and wished for “more priests and good priests, not just the quantity but also the quality.”

The retirement houses sit on one-hectare land donated Benedictine sisters. The compound has bishop’s retirement house with a chapel and guest room, and a retirement house for the priests with chapel and a function room, and a wide ground concretely fenced around.

“The priests are getting old and sickly, and priests have no families to take care for them when they retire.

While waiting for them to retire, religious gatherings can be held here,” explained Bishop Manlapaz.

He said most of his priests are in their mid 30s, while some priests, including Mati Most Reverend Bishop Patricio Alo, will soon retire. The oldest priest in the Diocese is Fr. Dioscoro “Dodong” Bucod, who is 73 years old.

There are some 120 college seminarians current-

ly enrolled in the Queen of Apostles College Seminary (QACS) and 50 theologians (senior seminarians) enrolled in various seminaries in the country and bound to serve the Diocese.

Two retired priests, Fr. Jose Sison and Fr. Eligio Bianchi, died this year and last year, respectively.

“The compound has wide ground to give a spacious and homely ambience that the elderly priests need and an asphalted road for give ease to their movement when they are already on wheel chairs,” said Fr. Emerson “Father Em-Em” Luego, the priest who started the construction and whose planning and conceptualization started three years ago.

The funding comes from the parishes and donations from private patrons and benefactors.

It took only four months

to build the facility in fullblast construction starting August 6 this year under the timetable of Project 646, he said.

Project 646 refers to December 6, 1964, the date when Bishop Manlapaz was ordained priest.

Bishop Manlapaz is now on his 28th year serving as bishop. After serving for 22 years as a priest, Pope John Paul II on Dec. 2, 1980 appointed him as the Auxiliary Bishop of Maasin, Leyte.

On Jan. 31, 1986 he was by appointed as the Bishop of Tagum, succeeding Bishop Pedro Dean, who is now the Archbishop-Emeritus of Palo (Leyte), who alsosucceeded first Diocese of Tagum late Bishop Joseph Regan, who served 1962 to 1980.

Bishop Manlapaz was born on April 7, 1941 in Paracale, Camarines Norte. [Cha Monforte, Correspondent]

F ARENA-XI, 10

FARM TOOLS. ARENA-XI president and DPWH XI regional director Engr. Mariano Alquiza, Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario, and Mayor Edgardo Timbol hand over farm tools to tribal chieftains at the ARENA-XI Serbisyo Caravan in Sitio Patel, Gupitan, Kapalong, Davao del Norte. [noel baguio/davnor pio]

5 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 192 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

P26M machines for MSMEs

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HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Region 12 has distributed around P26 million worth of machineries and equipment to help improve the operations and competitiveness of 54 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region.

The machineries include portable cow milking machines, abaca spindle stripping machines, and meat processing equipment.

Ibrahim Guiamadel, DTI Region 12 director, said Monday that the initiative is part of the continuing implementation in the region of the agency’s flagship Shared Service Facility (SSF) Project.

Also known as Soccsksargen, Region 12 comprises the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and

Cotabato.

“The grants were aimed to improve their products and enhance their market competitiveness,” Guimadel said in a statement.

The DTI central office had allotted a total of P54.2 million for 83 SSF project grants in the region this year he said.

SSF was launched by the DTI to assist the expansion and address the development needs of MSMEs in the

country.

Guiamadel said the initiative aims to help local MSMEs produce more products of better quality and at a lesser production cost.

It addresses the gaps and bottlenecks in the value chain of priority industry clusters, through the provision of processing machines and equipment.

In Region 12, the priority industry clusters that are covered by SSF program are abaca, bamboo, coconut coir, processed fish, processed food, wearables and homestyles, cacao, coffee and rubber.

Under the program, Guiamadel said the agency provides machineries and equipment that are utilized or shared by multiple users like members of cooperatives and trade associations, communities, beneficiaries of recognized foundations and non-government organizations.

The units are provided for free to the beneficiaries but will remain the property of the DTI for six years from their awarding or reHOT CAB. A hot pink Grab Taxi is literally calling for attention as it waits for the light to turn green at the intersection lease, he said. of C.M. Recto Street and Roxas Avenue in Davao City. In contrast, the cab behind it looks so… ordinary. Lean Daval Jr.

He said their ownership would be transferred to the beneficiary after the prescribed period by way of donation or sale.

Among the project’s major accomplishments this year was the establishment of a mechanized milking facility in Malungon town in Sarangani in partnership with a local dairy cooperative.

Guiamadel said they released last October two units of portable cow milking machines to the Malalag Cogon Bangkal Dairy Farmers Cooperative to expand and enhance its operations.

He said the automatic milking machines were the first for the cooperative since it started producing fresh cow’s milk about three years ago.

“The machines help lower the risk of contamination of the milk and at the same time reduce the production process per cow to just 25 minutes from the previous two hours,” he said.

Two weeks ago, Guiamadel said they also turned over four units of

abaca spindle stripping machines to a group of weavers based in Barangay Lamlahak in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato.

He said the machines will improve the quality of abaca fibers that are used in making the province’s popular T’nalak fabric.

The shift from manual to mechanized mode hastens the processes involved in the production of T’nalak by 50 percent, he said.

In Barangay Concepcion in Koronadal City, 11 units of meat processing equipment were distributed to the Concepcion Women’s Association (CWA).

CWA’s meat processing center is manned by its 90 women members and is engaged in the processing and marketing of meat processed products such as chorizo, embutido, tocino and corned beef. It also produces frozen beef, poultry and pork.

Guimadel said they are currently working on the release of funds for the procurement of machines and equipment that were earlier proposed by 29 beneficiaries. (MindaNews)

6 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 192 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

PLDT’s Smart, Sun postpaid subscriber base now at 2.66M

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MART Communications, Inc. (Smart) and Sun Cellular (Sun) on Monday announced that its postpaid subscribers have reached 2.66 million as of end-September this year, a 15.4 percent increase from 2.30 million in the same period last year.

In a statement, the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) said that these numbers take on 55 percent of the total postpaid market.

The telcos’ combined postpaid revenues meanwhile acquired a 13.3 percent year-on-year growth, up from PhP14.035 billion to PhP15.908 billion.

Postpaid revenues now account for about 20 percent of total cellular revenues for the PLDT wireless group.

Smart and Sun executive vice president and head for wireless consumer business, Charles Lim in the statement said that both Smart and Sun continue to be the postpaid leader in terms of subscriber base and revenue growth.

He said that this was due to its offering innovative services that suit the various lifestyles of their subscribers.

“This is a segment where customer experience is key, we’ve definitely raised the bar in postpaid with our combined strategy of network superiority and digital lifestyle offerings together with premium handset deals and brand of customer service,” Lim said.

“As wave after wave of powerful smartphones come

into the market, and our network becomes more and more pervasive and able to deliver meaningful and valuable content via these devices, Smart and Sun Postpaid subscribers will have the advantage of having a full lineup of all kinds of relevant content ready for them to enjoy,” he added.

For Smart Postpaid, an array of value-added services launched during the period promoted this digital lifestyle, driving usage among subscribers and fitting perfectly with the rising number of more affordable but more powerful smartphones.

These services include premium music streaming via Deezer, and other content like movies, books and magazines, that are all accessible via mobile, and are conveniently charged to subscribers’ monthly bill at very competitive prices.

In the case of Sun Postpaid, its range of fully flexible, affordable but value-packed plans that all come with a handset and an assortment of value-added services such as mobile Internet and content, continued pushing usage among subscribers.

Innovative offers such as plans that come with functional and fashionable wearable gadgets at as low as Php 499 per month, or the pioneering tablet bundles that pair the device with a smartphone for productivity and enjoyment, also helped grow the number of Sun Cellular Postpaid’s subscribers. (PNA)

ING eyes zero movement for BSP key rates on Thursday

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N ING Bank economist discounts changes in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) key rates after the meeting of the central bank’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) on Thursday.

In a research note, ING Bank Manila senior economist Joey Cuyegkeng said “softer inflation practically cemented a no change outcome at this Thursday’s BSP-MB meeting.”

This after rate of price increases last November slowed to 3.7 percent from month-ago’s 4.3 percent.

This brought the average for the 11-month period to 4.3 percent, within the government’s three to five percent target for the year.

Cuyegkeng said the November 2014 inflation rate came as a surprise, which is corroborated by other analysts because of its big drop.

He said the December level “is likely to remain very modest with sustained drop in energy prices despite the inflationary pressures that Typhoon Hagupit/Ruby may trigger.”

He noted that the current policy setting of the BSP is likely to be carried until the second quarter of 2015.

“The moderating infla-

tion reports not only headline inflation but also core inflation deliver to BSP-MB policy space,” he said.

To date, the central bank’s overnight borrowing or reverse repurchase (RRP) rate is at four percent and the overnight lending or repurchase (RP) rate is at six percent.

Relatively, Cuyegkeng projected further cut in the BSP’s average inflation forecast to within the two to four percent target for 2015.

In the previous rate setting meet of the Board last October, it lowered the 2014 average inflation forecast to 4.4 percent from 4.5 percent.

The forecast for the next two years were also cut to 3.7 percent and 2.8 percent from 3.8 percent and three percent for 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Cuyegkeng, however, stressed that Philippine monetary officials will definitely move to protect its policy stance given the developments both here and abroad.

“A volatile financial market environment globally and locally may spur BSP to act as it protects the financial and banking sector,” he added.

(PNA)

SAY CHEESE. A group of ladies have their photo taken at the lobby of The Marco Polo, Davao which has been decked with decorations for the Christmas holidays. The season is a busy time for the tourism industry in Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

Bukidnon tourism industry gears up for emergencies M

OVES are underway to make the tourism industry in Bukidnon prepared for emergencies.

About 450 hotel and restaurant management students of Bukidnon State University underwent a two-day training on emergency preparedness and first response that opened Saturday with trainers from the private and public sector.

Maite Abellanosa, tourism cluster head of the Bukidnon Kaamulan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. called the training an initial step in partnership with BSU to build a safe and emergency responsive tourism industry.

Abellanosa, who owns the training firm Ohana Adventures and Events Management, said local tourism players need the training as one of the requisites of the international tourism industry.

First year to fourth year HRM students of BSU were required to undergo the training as part of their preparation, especially because they are taking internships and future jobs around the country and abroad, said Josephine Eugenio, a faculty member at BSU’s

College of Business, Accountancy, Hospitality, and Public Governance.

Eugenio said it was the first of such training for their HRM students.

Dr. Rachito Abellanosa told MindaNews the training is crucial for tourism professionals as they may figure in emergency situations in their jobs in the tourism and restaurant industries.

He added that many of the country’s HRM professionals are employed in first world countries where demand is high for emergency first responder certifications.

There are two batches of students with each batch to undergo whole-day training in four areas.

The first of the four workshops is the anti-crime/anti-terrorism safety workshop handled by Dr. Abellanosa, an international instructor for emergency first response, and Carlo Clapano, a former safety officer at the Philippine Air Force.

The other workshops includes the medical workshop with registered nurse and trainer Wynn Manette Perig, a certified emergency first re-

sponder; fire emergency workshop handled by Malaybalay City Fire officers led by Russel Bacawag; and Ms. Abellanosa, who gave the workshop on being psychological and emotional preparedness to survive.

Abellanosa said the twoday training only covered basic skills because the original training design requires five days for all four areas.

She earlier told MindaNews that Bukidnon’s tourism stakeholders “are not linked in a value chain.”

Abellanosa further cited the need to develop potential scenic attractions to make them better tourist destinations.

She said Bukidnon’s top attractions are nature and adventure tours, but added that the province can do very well in attracting tourists interested in culture and agriculture.

The province hosts seven indigenous tribes, each with a colorful culture that get showcased only during the annual Kaamulan Festival.

Abellanosa also said there is a need to train tour guides.

Abellanosa, a pioneering cultural guide in the province, noted that there are only two

tour operators accredited by the provincial government, but with workers who are mostly from Cagayan de Oro City “who know nothing about Bukidnon.”

Chamber officials lauded the initial training of BSU students on Bukidnon culture as a start of the enabling measures to develop tourism in the province.

Abellanosa said she will link with tour operators so the trained students will be hired as cultural guides.

The chamber, she said, intends to support culture tourism in the province, citing the music and arts of Waway Saway and his group of Talaandig artists.

“That’s our top global product from Bukidnon.

What’s good about them is that among similar groups, they are the ones who excel. They take efforts to polish their craft,” Abellanosa stressed.

Roberto Tinsay, the chamber’s vice president for membership, cited in an earlier interview that tourism should be emphasized in pursuing development because it is “one the best drivers of growth”. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

RUDE prices plummeted Monday as reports said that Iraq has cut its oil prices to Asia and the United States.

Iraq, the second-largest producer in OPEC after Saudi Arabia, decreased its official selling price (OSP) to Asian and the U.S. customers in January for its main

crude oil export grade, Iraqi state oil marketing company SOMO said on Monday.

The move followed a sharp reduction to Saudi Arabia’s crude oil OSP to Asia next month.

The price cut, announced last Friday, continued to weigh on crude prices. U.S. and Brent crudes closed at

the lowest levels in five years on Monday.

Despite a supply glut pushing down oil prices, OPEC, which pumps a third of the world’s crude, decided to maintain its collective production ceiling of 30 million barrels a day on a meeting in Vienna last month.

The producer group

pumped 30.56 million barrels crude a day in November, exceeding its official target for a sixth straight month.

Analysts believed that OPEC countries do not intend to cut production but decide to let the market decide the crude prices. (PNA/ Xinhua)

Crude prices plunge as Iraq cuts prices C

7 AGRITRENDS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 192 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

The prospects of raising goats (First of Two Parts)

Text and Photos By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

F

ILIPINO farmers who want to earn extra income from their farms should raise goats. They will not only help the Philippine economy, they will also lessen their farm expenses and help fight malnutrition among children.

“They may be known as ‘poor man’s cow,’ but goats can be farmers’ source of income should there be crop failure,” points out Roy C. Alimoane, the director of the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC) based in barangay Kinuskusan, in Bansalan, Davao del Sur. “Since goats have relatively smaller built than cattle and carabaos, they are easier to raise and require a small initial investment. As such, farmers won’t have any problem in integrating raising goats with their existing crop-based farming systems.”

Goats have been raised since time immemorial. David Mackenzie, in his book Goat Husbandry, wrote: “When man began his farming operations in the dawn of history, the goat was the kingpin of the personal life, making possible the conquest of desert and mountain and the occupation of the fertile land that lay beyond. The first of Man’s domestic animals to colonize the wilderness, the goat is the last to abandon the deserts that man leaves behind him.”

History records showed that goats were considered the first hoofed animals ever tamed. In the Biblical town of Jericho, people kept tame goats as long as 6,000 or 7,000 years before Christ. The ancient Greeks and Romans paid great attention to the rearing of goats. Anyone at all familiar with classical authors will remember how frequently these animals are mentioned, especially in pastoral poems.

According to Alimoane, goats multiply faster than cattle or carabaos. “Before a goat turns three years old, she can have given birth to as many as five kids,” he says.

Dairy goats

Another advantage: goats require less feeds than cows and carabaos. “About 10 native goats can be fed on the feedstuffs sufficient for one cow,” Alimoane claims. “About 6-7 purebred dairy goats can be fed on what one dairy cow needs.”

Although it is a small animal, “a purebred goat can produce as much as 4 liters of milk if the doe is given a ration that meets all of her nutritional requirements,” points out Alimoane.

Goat’s milk is nearest to mother’s milk. “Thus, it has a wide variety of health benefits,” wrote Dr. Edwin C. Villar in an article, “The ‘udder side’ of goat.” “Goat milk has smaller, well-emulsified fat globules, without agglutinin protein hence easier to digest.

This is very ideal for infants and senior citizens which constitute approximately 16 percent of the population of the country.”

That’s not all. “Goat milk has higher levels of amino acids and significant proportion of medium chain triglycerides, recognized as highly beneficial to a number of health issues, and has higher amount of vitamins and minerals with greater bioavailability,” Dr. Villar wrote.

A research done by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) showed that goat’s milk per 200 milligram serving can provide 20 percent of the daily requirements for calcium, 4 percent for vitamin A, and 8 percent for iron.

In the cosmetic industry, goat milk is the new trend.

“It has naturally occurring alpha-hydroxyacids which is a good skin exfoliant,” Dr. Villar reported. “It is also high in capric, caprylic, and caapronic acids, which makes it a good moisturizer with good fats (the medium chain fatty acids) that keeps the skin’s oil in balance.”

But goats are not only significant because of their nutri-

tional milk. In fact, they can also be valued for their manure. According to an article written by Rey E. Andres, “rice and tomato plants sprayed with liquid fertilizer made from fresh goat manure can effectively reduce the damaged caused by golden apple snails, tomato fruit worms, and other common pests attacking high value commercial crops.”

Andres based his report from the result of a study conducted by Dr. Aida D. Solsoloy.

It was presented during the regional symposium on research and development highlights in San Fernando City, La Union. The lady scientist from Batac, Ilocos Norte gave goat manure a brand new name: bio-organic fertilizer and pesticide.

The rice and tomatoes applied with the liquid fertilizer were not only healthier, Dr. Solsoloy also found them not to be adversely affected by the damages caused by golden apple snails and fruit worms.

“As a result, she gained a substantial profit from the harvest of both crops because no additional expenses were incurred on chemical fertilizers and pesticides,” Andres wrote. “Another thing that amazed her was that the liquid fertilizer did not emit foul odor, thus, it did not attract other harmful insects, microbes and harmful fungi in the farm.”

In her study, she found out goat manure contains 1.5 percent of nitrogen (N), 1.2 percent of potassium (P), and 0.5 percent of phosphorus (K).

“Goat manure contains more NPK than any other animal manure such as those in cow, deer, horse, pig, and chicken,” the study showed.

Despite this, goat farming is still not very popular among Filipinos and no one exactly knows how many goats there are in the country. The Laguna-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research

Goat feeding

Goat manure and Development (PCAARRD) claims that the total goat inventory is “steadily increasing” at two percent per year.

This supply is still not enough to meet the current demands.

“We expect that the increased demand will last to 2020 when the project supply can meet the demand of the consumers,” PCARRD said.

The optimum potential of goat as one of the main sources of milk and meat has not been fully tapped in the country. The Bureau of Agricultural Statistics of the Department of Agriculture reported that the total number of goats in the country is about 3,355,574.

Most of the goat farms are concentrated in Southern Luzon and various parts of Mindanao.

In Mindanao, goat farming is considered a “sunshine industry.” The country’s second largest island has a large Muslim population and goat meat is considered Halal food.

There is also a big demand in the international market, particularly the Middle East.

But there are some good news. The DOST through PCAARRD has recently embarked on a 3-year-old program called National Dairy Goat Science and Technology.

Goat milk “The program has four project components which will address pressing issues of the emerging industry,” noted Dr. Villar, who is PCAARRD’s Chief Science Research Specialist Director.

The performance evaluation of dairy goats in the country will be done under Projects 1 and 2. “The result of the evaluation would lead to the selection and infusion of good breeds across the country through artificial insemination and buck loan,” Dr. Villar reported. “A herd build-up of at least 58 percent is expected with this intervention.”

For Project 3, the nutritional value of a forage called

Indigofera as combined with other feed resources will be further explored as “it is believed to have a very significant contribution to the volume and quality of goat’s milk produced in some progressive farms.”

“On animal health, addressing the recurrent problems of mastitis which is common among dairy animals is considered urgent,” Dr. Villar wrote. “Thus, to abate the increasing incidence, a program on its control will be implemented particularly developing a rapid field diagnostic kit.”

Indeed, there’s a bright future now for goat raising in the country! (Next: Raising goats for food and profit)

8

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 192 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

EDITORIAL Give us some relief

O

NE of the great mysteries of the universe is how the prices of commodities refuse to follow the law of gravity, particularly when the price of oil goes down as it has in this past year. For 2014, global oil prices have already decreased by more than 30 percent, and this has benefited industries and businesses immensely. The cost of transporting materials, products, and other such necessities has gone down dramatically, allowing companies to enjoy a bigger margin of profit – all while not even lifting a finger, simply by waiting for oil prices to drop.

On the other hand, the common tao still suffer from the same high prices that had marked the end of 2013. One remembers that oil prices were skyrocketing last year due to unrest in the Middle East, and this was compounded by the destruction wrought by supertyphoon Yolanda. The year 2013 ended on a decidedly sour note, and 2014 was met with not a little pessimism by a people that had suffered a lot. But it soon became apparent that oil prices would actually go down in 2014, beginning as early as January due in

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part to some relief in the tense situation in the Middle East.

The rest, as they say, is history, and now we have the highly unusual situation of ending a year on a much better note.

The average person, however, has yet to feel the effects of this price drop in global oil prices. As far as we can tell, prices of commodities are still on the same level as they were back in January – and there is even a danger that prices will go up in the coming days as the Christmas holidays get in full swing. This makes little sense for the consumer who knows that a huge percentage of a product’s cost is based on the amount of fuel a company uses to manufacture and transport it. If oil prices went down by 30 percent, then why are the prices of commodities still basically the same?

There may be some economic rationale for this that industries can quote, but it is significant to note that even the government is asking the business sector to lower their prices to reflect the global decrease in fuel prices. Give the people some relief – the same relief the business sector is enjoying.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

AGAPITO JOAQUIN JR. Associate Editor

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

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I

VOL. 7 ISSUE 192 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

VANTAGE POINTS

9

Gifts for an Inclusive Davao Christmas

NCLUSIVE growth essentially means encouraging those who traditionally have not been able to participate in the economy to do so. A good illustration of this would be the small communities in our hinterland barangays and urban poor areas. Often they cannot access the market due to a lack of capital and poor infrastructure that would otherwise enable them to create and sell what they make towards building a sustainable livelihood.

Then there are an increasing number of institutions and organizations engaging in social enterprises that aim to build livelihoods by training local communities to create great products from locally available resources and materials. This adds value to decent work and in the long term, builds a constituency of consumers making the buying preference for products made by locals from local sources. The local economy will be better for it.

Echostore along diversion road in Buhangin near the Bacaca Road exit sells products made by local farmers and livelihood

products MY TWO CENTS’ from Gawad Kalinga Communities.

Their best seller is spa in a bottle that is made from natural ingredients to John Tria soothe aches ecisouth@gmail.com and pains without the offensive sting. It also has a café where you can eat healthy and sustainably. You can check them out at www.echostore.ph.

The Gift Farm. The family of flowers now produces high quality farm to table cacao and other products for the world market.

The Puentespina family has leveled up their market reach by launching the www.thegiftfarm.ph, where you can do online shopping for plants, the famous chocolate products, among other items.

Bios Dynamis sells sustainably pro-

duced rice from communities here in Davao and Cotabato. They have a store at Barroga building along Quimpo Boulevard in Ecoland but are also available at local supermarkets. Their website isbiosdynamishops.com.

The Freefood Company I set to produce a premium brand of artisanal chocolate candy through their COCO DOLCE Brand. It now comes in small candy bars with coco sugar as sweetener and pili nuts or chili, making them healthy gifts for the discerning chocoholic. Its texture is perhaps the smoothest of all locally produced chocolate candy and will not disappoint even the most discerning chocoholic. They are available at the Echostore and at the wines section of the Gaisano Malls.

Also at the Echostore you can find Padre Ninno’s food products such as pasta sauces, duck soppresata and other items from the kitchen of Fr. Franco Uras, a Salesian (Don Bosco) priest who has made it his mission to train lumad youths and local farmers in Buda, Tugbok on cooking such specialties and planting organic produce.

With social media enabling us to pass on quick information and make online purchases, the cost of selling and marketing artisanal products has indeed gone down. Furthermore, the numerous finds such as these create a community, or ecosystem, if you will of local consumers and producers that will eventually challenge the mainstream.

Technology has enabled us to pass on the links to our friends abroad and create a demand for these products.

Thinking about inclusive growth in the Aquino regime encourages me to think of it more purposefully given that indeed, this is the Christmas season, a time of giving and sharing. Rather than allow myself to spend for gifts to benefit others from beyond our shores, I have compiled a list of stores where gift items made. Every peso spent on such a product creates a sustainable livelihood for the local farmer, for the urban and rural community, sending their kids to school, and enabling better welfare for their families. That’s the inclusive Christmas that makes Christ happy.

Thirteen: Lucky or unlucky?

“

WE really don’t know, Sir,” the front desk lady replied when I asked why there was no Room No. 213.

I recently checked-in in one of the hotels in Davao City. I was given Room No. 214.

The room before that was Room No. 212.

So, what happened to Room No. 213?

This was the first time I observed this.

In the hotel I was staying in New York, there was no 13th floor. Flying from Singapore to South Africa, I noticed there was no seat 13; it jumped from 12 to 14.

The number 13 is considered to be an unlucky number in some countries. Charles Stewart Parnell had an irrational fear of the number thirteen. That fear is recognized as “triskaidekaphobia,” a word which was coined in 1911.

The superstitious sufferers of “triskaidekaphobia” try to avoid bad luck by keeping away from anything numbered or labeled thirteen. As a result, companies and manufacturers use another way of numbering or labeling to avoid the number, with hotels and tall buildings being conspicuous examples.

There are a number of theories behind the cause of the association between thirteen and bad luck, but none of them have been accepted as likely. Some thought it had something to do with the Last Supper of Jesus Christ as there were thirteen people around the table, counting Christ and the twelve apostles. That’s why it’s also considered to be unlucky to have thirteen guests at

a table.

THINK ON THESE! In ancient Iranian civilization and Zoroastrianism, the number 13 had been considered sinister and wicked. Since beginning of Henrylito D. Tacio Nourooz trahenrytacio@gmail.com dition, the 13th day of each new Iranian year is called Sizdah Bedar and this tradition is still alive among Iranian people both inside modern Iran and abroad. Since Sizdah Be-dar is the 13th day of the year, it is considered a day which evil’s power might cause difficulties for people. As such, people desert the cities and urban areas for one day and camp in the countryside.

“Triskaidekaphobia” also may be related to Norse mythology, which tells how the god Odin invited eleven of his closest friends to a dinner party at his home in Valhalla, only to have his party crashed by Loki, the god of evil and turmoil, thus giving a total of 13 people. The legend further relates how Balder, one of the most beloved gods, tried to throw Loki out of the party, resulting in a scuffle and ultimately Balder’s death with a mistletoe-tipped arrow.

While 13 is associated with the number of people at the Last Supper, the crucifix-

ion of Jesus Christ took place on a Friday, thus leading to an association of back luck with the combination of this number and day. However, the association of Friday the 13th with the arrest of Jacques de Molay, Grand Master of the Knights Templar, on Friday, October 13, 1307 by King Philippe IV of France – as repeated, for example, in D. Brown’s novel “The Da Vinci Code” – is a modern-day invention.

Paraskevidekatriaphobia, the aberrant fear of Friday the 13th, is probably the most widespread superstition in the United States (with the popularity of the “Friday the 13th” movie series).

Curiously enough, a study published in the prestigious “British Medical Journal,” which analyzed the relation between health, behavior, and superstition surrounding Friday 13th in the United Kingdom by comparing the ratio of traffic volume to traffic accidents on Friday the 6th and Friday the 13th over a period of years found that: “The risk of hospital admission as a result of a transport accident may be increased by as much as 52 percent. Staying at home is recommended.”

Apparently, 13 has not always been considered unlucky. In fact, it appears that in ancient times, 13 was either considered in a positive light or (more commonly) not at all. The apparitions of the Virgin of Fátima in 1917 were claimed to occur on the 13th day of six consecutive months.

The American flag has 13 stripes in hon-

or of the first 13 colonies. Apollo 13 was a NASA Moon mission famous for being a “successful failure” in that while the crew members were unable to land on the Moon as planned due to a technical malfunction, they were returned safely home.

Colgate University also considers 13 to be a lucky number. They were founded in 1819 by 13 men with 13 dollars, 13 prayers and 13 articles. (To this day, members of the Colgate community consider the number 13 a good omen.) In fact, the campus address is 13 Oak Drive in Hamilton, New York, and the male a cappella group is called the Colgate 13.

American country-pop singer-songwriter Taylor Swift was born on December 13. She considers 13 her lucky number due to lucky events that happens to her when the number appears (her first album going gold in 13 weeks, being seated at awards shows in the 13th seat, row or section). She also wears the number written on her hand at her concerts so she has it with her everywhere she goes.

Chris Paul wore the number 13 for both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. Mats Sundin, Pavel Datsyuk, Bill Guerin, and Michael Cammalleri wear 13 in the NHL. One of Iceland’s best handball players, Sigurður Sveinsson, wore the number 13 when he played for the national team. In association football, both Gerd Müller and Michael Ballack have favored the number 13, among others.

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

Rody... FFROM 1

VOL. 7 ISSUE 192 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

Duterte... FFROM 2

Earlier, Mambo-o said the IP Provincial Consultative Body and the deputy mayor of six IP tribes in the city sent him a letter asking for the creation of a technical working group (TWG) that will facilitate the Information and Education Campaign (IEC) as well as review and validate the applicable local guidelines for

the selection process.

He said the TWG also will help evaluate the selection process of the next tribe that will represent the IPs. Mambo-o said the Kagan tribe has six aspirants to be the next IP mandatory representative (IPMR).

The whole tribe will have a consensus on who its repre-

sentative to the City Council will be.

He said after the names are submitted to the TWG, the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) will evaluate them before it issues the certificate of affirmation on the chosen member who will be the representative of the IP sector in the city.

mittee on finance, ways and means, and appropriations, councillor Danilo Dayanghirang said with the approval of the ordinance, employees can receive their bonus next week if their department head will comply with all the requirement of the LFC. Based on the record, Plantilla employees will receive P10,000 each; consul-

tants, job orders, and contract of service will receive P5,000 each; and barangay health workers, nutrition scholars, and auxiliaries will receive P2,000 each.

Dayanghirang said the total budget for bonus is still being prepared due to the variation of the number of personnel for this year.

Human Resource Man-

agement Office head Erwin Alparaque said that the city government has a total 12, 827 employees: 2,827 are plantilla or regular employees, 4,242 are job order employees, and 5,365 contract of service employees.

The numbers of barangay health workers, nutrition scholars, and auxiliaries are not yet submitted.

ed, higher than the 1,972 in 2013.

Davao del Norte also recorded a three percent increase this year with 5,325, compared with the 5,192 jobs last year.

In order to assist SMEs and revive the livelihoods of typhoon victims in Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental, DTI implemented Pablo rehabilitation projects like the Rebuilding thru Innovation, Sustainable Employment and Enterprise (RISE)

project and Bayanihan para sa Kabuhayan.

DTI records showed that the agency was able to assist 126 SMEs in Davao Oriental that generated a total of 2,024 and 240 SMEs in Compostela Valley.

Through the program, a total of 2,361 farmers in Davao Oriental and 1,180 in Compostela Valley were trained for capacity building.

DTI conducted 71 trainings in Davao Oriental and 24 in Comval. [CRC]

The food packs were part of the assistance prepared by the DSWD-12 in anticipation of the onslaught of typhoon “Ruby,” which devastated parts of the Samar provinces and the neighboring areas.

Bonifacio Selma, DSWD12’s acting operations head, said DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman earlier ordered all regional offices in the country to prepare relief packs for immediate dispatch to the typhoon-ravaged areas.

Three wing vans carrying 8,400 food packs left the regional warehouse for Tacloban City last Sunday. An additional shipment containing 6,600 food packs was dispatched to the area on Tuesday.

The relief items also included 200 cases of readyto-eat food, with each case containing 48 tetra packs of

“rice-ulam” like rice-afritada and rice-tuna.

Each standard family food pack contains six kilograms of rice, eight sachets of coffee, eight packs of instant noodles and six canned goods comprising three sardines and three corned beef.

The relief packs are meant to address the immediate food needs of a family of five for two to three days.

Aside from the food packs, DSWD Region 12 director Bai Zorahayda Taha sent two social workers and two project development officers to assist the relief operations and camp management activities in the typhoon-hit areas.

The agency’s debriefing team and other social workers are currently on standby for possible deployment to the area.

grams because he wants to sustain their operations.

“Maybe this is the amount needed for the operations. You know, this is the budget of the Mayor, so the mayor knows what to do,” Dayanghirang said.

Based on the record, the peace and order program will get a total of P116,017,876. Of the total, P76 million will go to Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses, P40 million will go to other professional services and P17, 876 will go to the general services.

The Lingap program will get P67,412,294.35. Of the total, P41,727,081.62 will go to the drugs and medicines and P25,685,212.

35 will go to other maintenance and operating ex-

penses.

The record also showed that the source of fund came from the reversion such as the excess of amount obligated per purchase request against the actual payment, fund from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), actual collections not included in the estimates as of October 31, 2014 and actual collections in excess estimates.

Last September, the City Council passed the P217-million SB1to address the city’s funding of priority programs and services like the Lingap funds, repairs of Central 911 vehicles, and salaries and wages of contractual employees.

[ABF]

icates in relation to business to any person otherwise not qualified or legally entitled; and any other delay or refusal to comply with the referral or directive of the Investment Ombudsman team.

Elman said the office, though the leadership of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, is serious in assisting the business community in order to create a viable business climate in Mindanao.

He encouraged business owners to file complaints against government functionaries involved in mulcting, solicitation, or any illegal act that hampers a business entity from doing it business activity.

Elman said the Ombudsman is willing to assist even those who wish their names

to be confidential.

“We can file in behalf of the complainant,” he said.

Elman said his office will be focusing on complaints on some transactions in the Bureau of Custom (BOC) and Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR).

He also said the Ombudsman is planning to conduct an investment forum in Davao City in the first quarter of next year.

He said that the forum will be a venue for investors and businessmen to lay down their complaints on government offices and functionaries.

“We will be inviting Mindanao business leaders in the forum,” he said, adding that Cebu City which has a vibrant business activity earlier conducted the same forum.

and Eastern Samar, Pama said.

The NDRRMC also said that three roads have been closed to traffic due to flooding, landslide and fallen trees in Regions 5 and 8.

There were 16 flooded areas reported in the provinces of Quezon, Laguna and Marinduque.

The total cost of government assistance for the affected families in Regions 5, 6, 7 and Caraga has reached over P60,738,467.10.

Meanwhile, the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes in Region 5 and San Pablo City in Laguna have declared a state of calamity. (PNA)

phoons, floods, droughts, rising sea levels, water and food crisis,” and to promote biking “not only for exercise but also as a regular means of transportation and commute within our cities.”

“I have done three advocacy rides (for life and peace) around the country in my younger years and I thought I won’t be doing this anymore when I become a ‘senior citizen.’

But the super-typhoons that have hit our country every year and other calamities such as floods and droughts have spurred me to ride my bike across the country once again. I am aware that these are not ‘acts of God’ or mere natural occurrences. These are manifestations of climate change,” Picardal said in a

pre-departure statement(see statement).

“We are being reminded that we human beings are responsible for climate change due to our materialist and consumerist lifestyle, deforestation, dependence on fossil burning fuel for our cars, factories, power-plant which emits carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases into the atmosphere resulting in global warming and climate change. As the oceans gets warmer, the super-typhoons have become the new normal.

Ruby will not be the last super-typhoon, there is more to come,” he said.

He appealed to the government to come up with measures to address more seriously the problem of climate change and mitigate its effects.

He also appealed to the public to “do our part to contribute in saving the planet and saving our lives.”

While he will bike alone, Picardal said he would welcome local bikers to “join me for a few hours as I pass their cities.”

Picardal’s journey: Dec 10 Baclaran – Gumaca (Quezon, Luzon): 187k Dec 11 Gumaca-Naga:187k Dec 12 Naga-Sorsogon: 147k Dec 13 Sorsogon-Matnog ferry crossing to Allen- Calbayog (Visayas): 135k Dec 14 Calbayog-Tacloban: 175k Dec 15 rest day Tacloban Dec 16 Tacloban-Liloan Leyte cross to Surigao City (Mindanao): 154k Dec 17 Surigao- Prosperidad (Agusan del Sur): 182k

Dec 18 Prosperidad-New Bataan (Compostela Valley): 142k Dec 19 New Bataan- Davao City: 118k Dec 20 Davao- Maramag (Bukidnon): 152k Dec 21 Maramag-Malabalay: 49k Dec 22 Malaybalay-Cagayan deOro: 97k Dec 23 Cagayan-Iligan: 88 k Picardal will leave Baclaran after the 5:15 a.m. pre-departure blessing in the Baclaran Mother of Perpetual Help Shrine on December 10.

He told MidaNews some bikers will join him from Baclaran to Laguna while another group of bikers will meet him somewhere between San Pablo, Laguna and Tiaong, Quezon. (MindaNews)

of the province to assist in the activity.

The Department of Agriculture-XI provided 30 bags of certified corn seeds, 100 bags of OPV corn seeds, 10 bags of peanut seeds, 2,500 camote cuttings, 200 packs vegetable seeds, fruit tree seedlings, antirabies vaccine, nutritional supplements, antibiotics, and dewormers.

The Bureau of Fisheries

and Aquatic Resources (BFAR-XI) also distributed 20,000 tilapia fingerlings, while the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-XI) distributed 30 toilet bowls, 4,500 family food packs, crutches, and other services.

The Department of Health, AFP, and DPWH further conducted medical and dental services, while the other agencies

provided their respective information and advocacy drive, and a host of relevant services.

Del Rosario and Alquiza also led the groundbreaking of the Patel-Kapatagan twolane PSCG Bridge worth P108 million funded by the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP).

zoning scheme, she said they will strictly enforce the ban for tricycles from entering or passing portions of the national highway.

Zamora acknowledged that the zoning scheme will initially cause inconvenience to residents who are used to the current unregulated routes.

“But if this will eventually solve our traffic problem then why not adopt it,” she

said.

City officials earlier estimated that around 8,000 tricycles have been operating on a daily basis in various routes here.

But such figure was twofolds more than the actual number of tricycle franchises that had been issued by the MTFRB. The MTRB noted that “colorum” tricycles or those without franchises have

been clogging the city’s thoroughfares and eventually cause congestion, especially during the peak hours.

The city government earlier launched a crackdown against “colorum” tricycles after it came out that a significant number of tricycle units plying various routes have originated from nearby towns in South Cotabato and Sarangani provinces.

Davao... FFROM 2

DSWD... FFROM 3

People... FFROM 3

Arena-XI... FFROM 4

Peace... FFROM 2

Fr. Picx... FFROM 3

Investment... FFROM 2

GenSan... FFROM 3

11 ICT HUB

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 192 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

Team GameX Wargods bags League of Legends T

HERE is no stopping the Holy Child College of Davao – IT in bagging the Over – all champion cup of the recently concluded Mindanao Wide IT Olympiad, held at Holy Cross of Davao College last November 28, 2014. The IT program of Holy Child cut above the rest and made its way to the top, besting more than 20 able schools who competed in the different events of the IT Olympics.

The Mindanao Wide IT Olympiad is an event organized by the Council of Deans for IT Education in Region XI (CDITE-XI) and the Philippine Society of IT Educators-Region XI (PSITE-XI) with the participation of the Commission on Higher Education-Region XI (CHEDXI). This is held annually in a host school, this year, at Holy Cross of Davao College, Main Campus. To note, the different competitions participated by different schools in Mindanao, pave the way for the students to showcase their skills and competencies in the different fields of Information Technology.

Joining in diverse competitions which started 26th of November and ended on the 28th, the HCIT landed on a sweet spot in IT Quiz Bowl participated by Kathryn Faye Te Eng Fo and Jim Pendon, as champion among the 33 schools; champion in Hackathon participated

by Anthony King Valdez, Emmanuel John Tierra and Reymbrant Alcantara, among 16 schools; champion in Infomercial participated by Ian Kristoffer Vasquez and Brian Earl Paje, out of 18 schools; and, champion in Infographics competed by Edmund Jay Michael Rubin, Janssen Panizales, Joanna Lyn Labarite and Arvin John Magturo, out of the 24 competitors. While the Programming event competed by Gerard Oesterdal, Samuel Jonne Bustamante and Carlo Aqui, pulled off a close fight against 33 schools placing 11th in the rank. A share of the lead is attributed to the coaches sphere-headed by Mr. Regil De Castro, Mr. Alvin Mark Cabelino and Mr. Joash Tubaga.

Amidst trials and

Team GameX Wargods bagged the League of Legends (LOL) championship at the recent Esports and Gaming Summit held at the SMX Convention Hall to become the top-ranked pro LOL team in the country. The team consists of (from left): Neil “vyy” San Juan; Ronel “Stronger” Tan; Jaiby “JLC” Paglingayen; Robert Conrad “Otchie” Pascual; and Kenneth Jordy “Skill” Garcia. struggles in nailing this competition, the success can all be credited to the collaborative efforts of the IT academic lead, the flexible and vibrant faculty and coaches, the heads

– up participants, and the whole HCIT community.

Having brought home the bacon, the Holy Child College of Davao – IT is gearing towards higher goals for the coming com-

petitions so as to meet its statement, “When everybody becomes different, we become the standard; when everybody becomes standard, we become different.”

Globe extends ‘Libreng Tawag’ to serve Ruby-affected families W

And, while there is so much bragging to say, the glory still belongs to God who made HCIT the champion amongst all.

Kudos champions!

[KADV 11302014]

World’s first Wikipedia-Smart partnership promotes learning

T

ELCO’S free calling service connects overseas Filipinos back

home Globe Telecom announced that it will be extending its “Libreng Tawag” service abroad, which has helped overseas Filipinos connect with family and friends back in the Philippines as Typhoon Ruby (international codename “Hagupit”) barreled its way through the country.

With the free calling service well-received by Filipinos overseas, Globe will continue the “Libreng Tawag” program in the said countries and territories until 11:59 PM EST on December 9 or about 12:59 PM on December 10 in the Philippines.

“Globe is bringing its ‘Libreng Tawag’ initiative to eight countries around the world with some of the biggest OFW and migrant populations, knowing how important it is during these trying times for families separated by geography to communicate with each other and send messages of encouragement.

We are pleased to extend this service overseas for one more

day as our way of being united with our countrymen who may be affected by Typhoon Ruby,” said Globe Senior Vice President for International Business Rizza Maniego-Eala.

The “Libreng Tawag” of Globe was well-received overseas that, upon learning the severe weather disturbance will hit the Philippines, Filipinos trooped to various convergence points where the telco provided free calling stations. With this in mind, the telco will continue providing services for an extra day on the following locations: In Saudi Arabia, at the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, the downtown district in Balad as well as partner stores of Globe, including in Riyadh, will serve as locations for the calling stations.

In Spain, Filipinos based there may avail of “Libreng Tawag” at four strategic points along Joaquín Costa Street in Barcelona. In Italy, the new Globe store in Rome, which opened last December 6, as well as its

six month-old counterpart in Milan, will have calling stations for Pinoys in the Italian peninsula. Those in the United Kingdom will also be able to call home at no cost at Earl’s Court in London.

In Hong Kong, particularly in Central District, Filipinos can have the privilege to contact the Philippines for free, while OFWs in Singapore may avail of the service at the Lucky Plaza along Na-

than Road.

In Canada, Filipinos can get call cards for free in Winnipeg in Manitoba; Joyce-Collingwood in Vancouver; Calgary in Alberta; St. Catherine’s in Niagara; Montreal in Quebec; and in Eastern and Western Ontario. Pinoys based in the US can also have complimentary Globe call cards at Seafood City branches across the said country.

IKIMEDIA Foundation and Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) have joined forces in promoting and optimizing the use of online resources for learning.

Wikimedia operates Wikipedia, the world’s largest online encyclopedia.

“Smart’s emphasis on education is aligned with the Wikimedia Foundation’s global mission,” said Carolynne Schloeder, head of global mobile partnerships at Wikimedia. “We’re thrilled to support both Smart and our local partners at Wikimedia Philippines in their efforts to realize this mission, including their groundbreaking partnerships to incorporate Wikipedia into public education.”

Schloeder and Anna Koval, manager of Wikipedia’s education program, observed the afternoon session of Tap&Learn in Balanga as part of their recent four-day visit to the Philippines.

Wikimedia Philippines is now a resource partner for Tap&Learn: Tablets for Education, an initiative of Smart that trains teachers on how to make use of wireless devices like tablets as tools for learning. This is the first time

for Wikimedia to collaborate with a telco in advocating community-based and mobileenabled learning.

“In this increasingly knowledge-driven economy, it is important for our teachers to further improve their skills using mobile technology for education so they can make learning more engaging for their students.

Over the years, we have made use of technology and mobile communications to drive learning, and consequently, development,” said Ramon R. Isberto, head of Public Affairs at Smart.

Under the partnership, Filipino Wikipedia editors help train educators from public elementary and secondary schools across the country on how to use the online resource to enhance the learning experience of their students, as well as for their own professional development.

“Filipinos are keen to learn about the world. By making Wikipedia easily accessible through mobile devices, we are putting a huge virtual library of information in the hands of people wherever they go. This is great for students, professionals, and whoever needs to get information quickly,” said Isberto.

12 CLASSIFIED There’s a better way to get attention.

EDGEDAVAO

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

Advertise with EDGEDAVAO CLASSIFIEDS

DAVAO HELEN’S PAWNSHOP CORP. De Guzman St., Davao City Telefax (082)225-4473 NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE All unredeemed items pawned during the month of August 2014,if not redeemed/renewed on December 31, 2014 will be put on Auction Sale January 2, 2015 at 9:00 A. M. to 5:00 P.M. Pahibalo nga ang tanang wala malukat nga prenda sa bulan Agosto 2014,kung dili malukat sa Disyembre 31, 2014 isubasta sa bulan sa January 2, 2015 sa alas 9:00 sa buntag hangtud sa alas 5:00 sa hapon.

DAVAO HELEN’S PAWNSHOP CORPORATION

Davao City: 252 San Pedro St., 167 San Pedro St., CVA Bldg., C. M. Recto St., G/F Victoria Plaza Bajada 120-B Lapu-lapu St., Agdao 75C R. Magsaysay Ave., 2nd Level Gaisano Mall Bajada, G/F NCCC Bldg., R. Magsaysay Ave., Centerpoint Plaza Matina Fronting San Pedro College Guerrero St., Carlson Bldg., Lapu-lapu St.,Agdao NCCC Mall Matina Saavedra St., Toril Gaisano South Citimall, Ilustre St., Km. 11 Sasa

Km. 13 Panacan Boulevard Buhangin Cabantian Bankerohan Calinan

Davao del Norte: Gaisano Mall, Panabo Davao del Norte Gaisano Grand Mall of Tagum, Tagum City Gaisano Mall of Tagum, Tagum City Purok Marilag 11, Quezon St.,Tagum City

Davao del Sur: Gaisano Grand Mall of Digos, Quezon St., Digos City

DEED OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE Notice is hereby given that the estate

of the late ADORACION L. SEPNIO has

been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL

SETTLEMENT executed among her heirs per Doc. No.356; Page No. 72; Book No.

22; Series of 2014, of the NOTARY PUBLIC EMMANUEL T. EVANGELIO 12/10,17,23

NOTICE OF LOSS Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. That CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 34428 under LOYOLA PLAN Contract No.(s) 423061-1 issued to ABUDANCIO N. BULAC was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

12/3,10/17

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. That CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 63276 under LOYOLA PLAN Contract No.(s) 1025826-7issued to JOSE YDIANON GUTIERREZ was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

12/3,10/17

Billiard Supplies

Phone Nos.

Cell Nos.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 192 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

INdulge!

VOL. 7 ISSUE 192 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

WOMEN

Humabi

Style and purpose in a bag

THIS GENERATION has seen the birth of so many home grown brands. This business trend resonates well around the metro as a good percentage of the population has made the practical and sensible move to support local. In a way, you can say the market has matured and found a deeper connection to and appreciation for artisanal creations, homemade epicurean delights and crafts Bianca Barretto - Uy. made from indigenous materials.

While most of today’s artists and designers have explored the many types and uses of eco-friendly materials and adapted them into their production, Erika Soriano Mata has found a gem in recyclables and made good use out of them by turning them into fashionable bags.

“Our products are made entirely of tie box twines,” shares the budding entrepreneur. Erika, who is a fulltime mom to 3 children, has just recently launched her line of bags under the brand called Humabi. “It means ‘weave,’ which is how the bags are made.”

“I put up this brand in collaboration with my daughters. They are part of the design process. We wanted the bags to complement any outfit. It’s utilitarian in the sense that you can wear it to any event or occasion, even on a regular day. The idea of creating our own brand just sparked from our shared interest in fashion and style, plus the vision we have for the family’s outreach program.” Erika and her husband, Richard, have long since provided assistance to young adults who cannot support themselves in school. “All our scholars are

Marga Nograles

studying at the Philippine Science High School. We really hope we can send more children to school by getting the additional resources.”

With this goal in mind, Erika launched Humabi to raise funds for their charity work.

“Think of it as fashion for a cause. Every bag you buy sends a child to school.

The business provides livelihood to our weavers who are women and mothers in the correctional institution.

There really is so much heart in this project and I couldn’t be any happier with how everything turned out. The response from the market is also overwhelming. We’ve received so many orders from women, especially fellow moms. I’m so excited to share this blessing with our scholars,” beams Erika.

What other

mompreneurs say about Humabi: “I was impressed with the quality of its workmanship as well as the designs. It was obvious to me that each bag was designed with much thought and created with love and care. What’s even more impressive are the aspirations behind Humabi.

This brand is a perfect mixture of style, function and purpose.” – Kay Gempesaw “Only a few can definitely mix taste, class, substance, enterprise and purpose.

Humabi nailed all of the above. It comes to no surprise to me because Erika, being a woman I greatly adore, exemplifies just the same. She is all of the above, plus she does this with such grace, humility and a pure heart. Each woman would surely love to be just that sometimes and Humabi lends us a chance to be a tiny bit of one, or everything in our own little way.” - Mimi Vergara-Tupas “Humabi encapsulates the heartfelt commitment of the people behind it in their promise of a brighter future for brilliant young minds, and the hope of regaining the spirit of the women in the correctional institution.

Erika Soriano-Mata, the driving force behind this admirable advocacy, found beauty in the ordinary. Her tasteful designs were translated into carefully crafted elegant bags.” – Bianca Barretto – Uy “Humabi is very close to my heart because of all the love and passion that is put into it. ... Each piece tells a story and I carry it with love and pride knowing that it has helped many.“Humabi is very close to my heart because of all the love and passion that is put into it. Each piece tells a story and I carry it with love and pride knowing that it has helped many. It also makes a very special gift to your loved ones.” – Marga Montemayor – Nograles

Mimi Vergara - Tupas.

Erika Soriano Mata.

To order Humabi bags, visit http://www.humabi-bags. com or email humabibags@ yahoo.com.

Kay Gempesaw.

EDGEDAVAO

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

Daniel Matsunaga wishes for a Pinoy Christmas Pinoy Big Brother 2014 big winner Daniel Matsunaga is the ultimate hottie this holiday season as he cozies up with Chalk Magazine to talk about his life in sunny Brazil: his childhood dream of becoming a football player and his love for his tight-knit family.

The model turned actor also reveals his pursuit of making it big in the modeling industry and the frustrations and difficulties that come along with it. In this issue, the Brazilian-Japanese hunk shares to Chalk magazine his experience of living from one country to another in the hopes of landing a stable career until he finally found a sense of belonging in the Philippines.

With all the blessings coming his way like a Metro Manila Film Festival movie entry, Daniel’s future is brighter than ever. So what does Daniel wish for this holiday season? He only wants to fly in his family from Brazil to the Philippines so they can experience an authentic Filipino Christmas together.

Don’t forget to grab your copy of Chalk Magazine’s holiday issue available at your favorite newsstands today!

For more details, check out CHALK Magazine’s facebook page (www.facebook.com/chalkmagazine).

Smart, Sun, TNT launch International Christmas Extravaganza promo ALL Smart, Sun and Talk ‘N Text prepaid subscribers are in for a grand treat with the launch of the International Christmas Extravaganza promo, which gives all prepaid subscribers a chance to win a total of P1 million worth of prizes every time they connect with their loved ones overseas.

“For Filipinos, Christmas is a special time to connect with relatives and friends – especially those who are overseas.

There is no better way to send our warmest greetings to them than with a thoughtful text or call, which are now made easier and more affordable by the products of Smart, Sun and Talk ‘N Text,” said Michelle Curran, head of Data and International Services for Smart and Sun. “The International Christmas Extravaganza promo is our way of thanking as well as encouraging more prepaid subscribers to reach out to their loved ones abroad and send them the warmth of Pinoy Christmas.”

Prepaid subscribers of Smart, Sun and TNT may earn a raffle entry to the International Christmas Extravaganza Promo for every Php50 worth of load or registration to Smart Sulit IDD (denominations of 50, 100 and 500); Sun Todo IDD (denominations of 50, 100, 200 and 300); TNT Kamustext 20 and TNT Flexi-Call and Text (denominations of 30 and 50).

To join the International Christmas Extravaganza promo, prepaid subscribers must first register by texting INTL(space)<NAME>/<COMPLETE ADDRESS>/<REGION> to 211 for Smart and TNT and 2222 for Sun. Subscribers should key in three-letter codes to signify their region: North Luzon (NLZ); South Luzon (SLZ); Central Luzon (CLZ); National Capital Region (NCR), Visayas (VIS) and Mindanao (MIN). For example: INTL Juan Dela Cruz/Sampaloc, Manila/ NCR. Subscribers will be notified upon successful registration, and may start accumulating raffle entries via call cards, load conversion or eload.

Six lucky subscribers (one winner for every specified region) will take home a brand new motorcycle, while 30 subscribers (5 winners for every specified region) will each get gift certificates worth P10,000. Also up for grabs are grocery baskets for 60 lucky subscribers (10 winners for every specified region).

Subscribers may accumulate electronic raffle entries until January 31, 2015, for the raffle draw on February 13, 2015. To check the total number of raffle entries earned, subscribers may text INTL<space> PTS to 211 for Smart and TNT and 2222 for Sun. To know more about the promo, subscribers may simply dial the toll-free 24/7 hotlines of Smart and TNT (*888) and Sun Prepaid (200).

VOL. 7 ISSUE 192 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

EVENT

Companies decorate Christmas trees for a cause at Abreeza Mall A

treasured symbol of the Christmas season earns a deeper meaning and a greater purpose through a project at Abreeza Mall that encourages both charity and holiday cheer.

Abreeza Mall’s “Christmas Tree of Life, Love, and Peace” competition invited select companies to put up tree installations at the Christmas Village at the Abreeza Corporate Center, with cash prizes amounting to P60,000 in total at stake. Each participating company was encouraged to decorate their tree with the season’s ornaments as well as décor that represents the company, but none of the cash prizes would go to their pockets; instead, they would be awarded to each participant’s chosen cause or institution.

At the launch of the Christmas Village on November 15, four companies unveiled their trees: Anflocor Group of Companies with beneficiary Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, Inc.; Hijo Resources Corporation with beneficiary Tuason Development Foundation, Inc.; Villa Margarita Hotel with beneficiary SOS Children’s Villages; and Philippine Women’s College of Davao’s Fashion Design Program in collaboration with the Davao Elite Fashion Group seeking to benefit prison inmates of the Bureau of Jail Management & Penology.

After judging by Councilor Al Ryan Alejandre, Architect Michael Dakudao, fashion designer Robert Castillo, and Abreeza Mall Deputy General Manager Luigi Escano, Hijo Resources Corporation emerged in first place, Anflocor Group of Companies in second place, Villa Margarita Hotel in third place, and PWC of Davao’s Fashion Design Program together with the Davao Elite Fashion Group in fourth place.

The Christmas Trees of Life, Love, and Peace are

on display at the Ground Floor of the Abreeza Corporate Center as a major feature of the Christmas Village, which runs until December 20. The Christmas Village is a one-stopshop for holiday needs, including gift items and services, holiday sweets and Noche Buena treats, a toy fair and kids’ activities, and more.

For inquiries and updates on Abreeza Mall news and events, please visit the Main Concierge at the ground floor or call (082) 321-9332. Stay updated by liking www.facebook.com/AbreezaMall and following @abreezatweets on Twitter and @ iloveabreezamall on Instagram.

Hijo Resources Corporation’s tree emerged in first place to benefit the Tuason Development Foundation, Inc.

The Christmas Trees of Life, Love, and Peace are located at Abreeza Mall’s Christmas Village.

The Anflocor Group of Companies chose as its beneficiary the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines, Inc.

Villa Margarita Hotel offered its winnings to the SOS Children’s Villages.

PWC’s Fashion Design Program and Davao Elite Fashion Group sought to help prison inmates of the Bureau of Jail Management & Penology.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 192 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

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ENTERTAINMENT

Great music with RCS at SM City Davao LAST November 29, the country’s premier vocal group entertained SM City Davao shoppers in a 1-hour mall show at the Annex Event Center.

The Ryan Cayabyab Singers (RCS) is a vocal powerhouse composed of seven soloists, hand-picked by worldrenowned Filipino composer and musician, Ryan Cayabyab. Each of them hails from different backgrounds, and together they engender the vibrant brand of artistry that Mr. Cayabyab envisioned for his “dream team.” The group has created a blend of their voices, each powerful in their own right, to constantly master, reinvent, and deliver that stellar sound that is unmistakably the product of the Maestro.

RCS performed both a cappella and numbers accompanied by canned music. Mr Ryan Cayabyab’s influence on the group was manifested in their impeccable rendition of Motown and Bacharach classics. The group also surprised the crowd with their a cappella version of Pharrell Williams’ Happy as well as their medley of pop songs covering Katy Perry’s Roar, Maroon 5’s Payphone, Bruno Mars’ Just the Way You Are, Fun’s We Are Young and Carly Rae Jepsen’s Call Me Maybe. RCS’s cover

ing to the world that the gift of Filipino talent and generosity is indeed a

of All About That Bass by Meghan Trainor was also a favorite among the crowd. The group seem to have no limits as they

sang a wide collection of both OPM and international hits.

Christmas carols filled the event center during

treasure to be proud of.

Catch more of exciting holiday shows at SM City Davao with The Company Mall Show on the 20th and Grand Christmas Parades on the 21st and the 25th. Mall hours are extended up to 10 PM until December 30.

To give shoppers more time for Christmas and New Years’ preparations, SM City Davao will be open until 12 MN on December 12, 13, 19, 20 and 23; and from 9AM to 7PM on December 24 and 31.

Like SM City Davao on Facebook or follow @ SMCityDavao on Twitter and @SMDavao on Instagram for event and promo updates.

the second half of the show as the group incorporated audience participation in their performance of holiday songs.

With the Ryan Cayabyab Singers’ inimitable and outstanding artistry, combined with deep love for music and passion for excellence in performance, the RCS will undoubtedly continue to make waves in the music industry, and will certainly keep prov-

‘Francis: The Pope From The New World’ airs on GMA7 this Sunday A MONTH before his much anticipated January visit to the Philippines, GMA Network airs a documentary that unveils the personality, passion and extraordinary faith of Pope Francis.

Pope Francis was the first Pope from Latin America, the first Jesuit and the first to take the name Francis.

Within days of becoming Pope, he had captured the hearts of Catholics all over the world through his gestures of humility and care for the common man. Yet his background remained largely unknown.

Filmed on location in Buenos Aires and featuring interviews with close friends, collaborators, and his official biographer,

“Francis: The Pope from the New World the Pope” traces the remarkable rise of Jorge Mario Bergoglio.

From growing up surrounded by soccer games

and tango music to his defense of the poor and marginalized of Buenos Aires during his time as Archbishop, “Francis: The Pope From the New World”

explores the abiding compassion and unwavering resolve of a priest, a bishop and now a Pope seeking to bring the Church to the frontiers of society.

From overcoming the challenges of the day — including Argentina’s Dirty War, to his tireless advocacy for the poor, this documentary paints an indelible portrait of a towering figure of our time.

The documentary, produced by the Knights of Columbus in Rome, will be tagalized and narrated in Filipino by Jessica Soho.

“Francis: The Pope from the New World” airs on Sunday Night Box Office (SNBO), December 14 at 10:30PM only on GMA7.

THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY PART 1 Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson

PG 13

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

PAST TENSE Kim Chiu, Aiai Delas Alas, Xian Lim

GP

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

THE PYRAMID Ashley Hinshaw, Denis O'Hare James Buckley, Daniel Amerman

R 13

R-16

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

EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton John Turturro, Aaron Paul

PG13

1:00 | 4:00 | 7:00 | 10:00 LFS

EDGEDAVAO

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EVENT

VOL. 7 ISSUE 192 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

Featuring the 16-feet tall Christmas tree made of bamboo sticks and stars made of abaca fiber mounted on silver painted bamboos, Damosa Fairlane lights up for Christmas.

Damosa Fairlane transforms into a Christmas village Homeowners celebrate early Christmas party

IT’S THAT TIME of the year again – Christmas! And it’s hard to resist the Christmas spirit that is present at one of Davao City’s newest communities, Damosa Fairlane.

With the creative touch of the TADECO Livelihood and Training Center (TLTC), Damosa Fairlane has been transformed into a Silver Christmas Village.

Featuring a 16-feet tall Christmas tree, The Continental Club is especially joyous and dazzling with its decors and lights. Even the streets are all adorned with silver bamboo poles and stars made of abaca twine, all in accordance

with this year’s Silver and White Christmas theme.

Damosa Fairlane also made sure that, before everyone gets busy with shopping and merrymaking, all its homeowners got to celebrate a fun-filled early Christmas party.

Lucky homeowners cheered as they received gift certificates from the event’s major sponsors: Pearl Farm Beach Resort

and Microtel by Wyndham. They also enjoyed playing the games and contests with their family and friends.

“As what we have always mentioned even before, we want to make our homeowners feel that they are part of the Damosa Fairlane Family. And what could possibly be more fulfilling than celebrating Christmas with your family in this new community,” said Cary Lagdameo, Vice President of Damosa Land, Inc. The homeowners who moved in to their houses this year will spend their first Christmas in Damosa Fairlane. Lagdameo added, “Our homeowners and clients are our priority that’s why we give them only the best in every first moment that they experiHomeowners show off their decorated parols during the judging for ence here in Damosa Fairlane.” the Parol-making Contest.

Like the traditional Christmas parties, homeowners exchanged gifts with their neighbors.

From the time that the homeowners set foot in their home, to the weekend events well-spent with their families, until the recent Christmas Party, Da-

mosa Land, Inc. has proven that they will be with you every step of the way.

Damosa Land is the real estate and property development company of

the Anflocor Group – the company that is responsible for developing business and lifestyle oriented commercial center, Damosa District.

COMPETITIVE EDGE 13

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 192 • WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2014

Alliance Select bares reorganization P

UBLICLY-LISTED Alliance Select Foods International Inc. approved on Monday (December 8) changes in its board of directors and top management positions.

Company founder and incumbent president Jonathan Dee, who established the firm as Alliance Tuna in 2003, will assume the position of Chairman of the Board.

“It is now the most opportune time to pass the company’s leadership on to a younger, more dynamic management,” Dee said in a statement. “I am confident our new president, Raymond See, brings with him

the experience and knowhow to build on past successes of the company and catapult Alliance Select to even greater heights.”

“With these changes I think the company is prepared and better poised to address greater international competition. As ChairmanI will be focusing on overseeing the strategic direction of the company. This will include deepening market relations and forging further alliances with potential partners” he explained.

“I know these developments may raise questions as to whether it

is related in any way to the recent disagreements between certain board members. That is furthest from the truth and the timing is nothing more than coincidental” Dee added.

Independent Director George Sycip has relinquished his duties as the Chairman of the Board and will instead serve as the Vice Chairman in place of Alvin Dee. Alvin Dee will continue to advise the company as shareholder. He will be replaced as director by Raymond See, the new president and chief executive officer while Ibarra Malonzo, will be replaced as director by Atty. Antonio Pacis.

THE HOLIDAYS START. City Hall is all aglow with Christmas lights as the city officially starts the holiday season with a ceremony on Monday night. Lean Daval. Jr.

14 SPORTS Kobe closes in L

OS Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, closing in on Michael Jordan for third on the NBA’s all-time scoring list, insists he isn’t fueled by a desire to surpass the league icon.

“I only think about it when I’m asked about it,” Bryant said, refuting former coach Phil Jackson’s claim that Bryant has been driven throughout his career by a desire to surpass Jordan.

“People who say that don’t really understand me,” Bryant told the Los Angeles Times last week. “It’s a myth.

Phil likes to say things a lot of times to create good content and create good stories.”

But Bryant has been measured against Jordan ever since he joined the league,

making the leap straight from high school in 1996.

Since then, he has won five NBA titles with the Lakers — one less than the six Jordan captured with the Chicago Bulls.

Bryant, 36 and back on court after injury limited him to just six games last season, has been fielding questions since the pre-season about how his current campaign compares to the waning of Jordan’s career.

Bryant has admitted he can see how the comparisons arise, but he doesn’t necessarily think they are apt.

“We’ve had different career paths completely,” Bryant said, adding that he considers himself a torch bearer for a line of shooting guard

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on Jordan’s record greats that includes former Laker Jerry West as well as Jordan.

“I feel great about that,” said Bryant, who took his career points total to 32,230 in a loss to New Orleans on Sunday, and needs 63 to surpass Jordan’s career tally of 32,292.

Only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with 38,387 and Karl Malone with 36,928, scored more in their careers.

Bryant will no doubt edge closer to Jordan’s tally this week, when the Lakers host Sacramento on Tuesday and visit San Antonio on Friday. After that, the Lakers are at Minnesota on Sunday and Indiana on December

15.

T h e aging warrior is among the league leaders with an average of 25.2 points per game, but he’s connecting on less than 40 percent of his shots and his Lakers are a dismal 5-16 — next-to-last in the Western Conference.

Although a Jordan-matching sixth title for Bryant is seemingly already out of reach this season,

Lake r s

coach Byron Scott s t i l l thinks Bryant, who has

vowed this campaign will be his last, could still be persuaded to come back next year if the Los Angeles Lakers show signs of life.

“He’s got a lot left in the tank,” Scott said.

“And I think if we put something together that excites him, I think we have a real good chance of saying ‘Play another year, give it another shot.’ And that’s what we plan to do.”

OP Rank promoter Bob Arum is not considering any possible opponent for “Fighter of the Decade” Manny Pacquiao until he has exhausted all efforts to make a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight happen.

In an overseas telephone conversation with the Manila Standard/Viva Sports, Arum said he has been “talking to CBS president Leslie Moonves but not the Mayweather people” amidst indications that Moonves who heads CBS which owns Showtime which has a six-fight, $200 million deal with Mayweather, dealing with the Mayweather camp.

Moonves himself had indicated that because of the sensitive nature of the talks with the Mayweather people he didn’t want to discuss it publicly.

Arum said he is “concentrating on the Mayweather fight at least for the next couple of weeks” and indicated that if the negotiations are successful the fight will take place in June.

He said that should a Mayweather fight fail to materialize then Pacquiao, the eight division world champion will return to the ring sometime in April next year.

However, while some names are being mentioned for a possible Pacquuao fight, he hasn’t given them a thought.

One of those being pushed to a fight with Pacquuiao is Britain’s former world junior welterweight champion Amir Khan with Golden Boy Promotions Oscar De La Hoya indicat-

ing he is determined to secure Khan a fight against Pacquiao or – less likely – Floyd Mayweather in 2015.

De La Hoya who has mended his ties with Arum said “I’m pushing for a Pacquiao fight” but Khan would first have to overcome Devon Alexander in a WBC welterweight Silver title fight in Las Vegas this weekend.

De La Hoya who was quoted by the British newspaper The Guardian, said Khan “is a devastating puncher, has tremendous speed and he knows how to use it. He pleases the fans. He’s exciting. People want to watch him fight.”

De La Hoya said “Amir Khan is just beginning, he has a lot of fights left in him. He’s still learning and he’s still growing; he’s getting stronger and he’s getting faster. He’s more motivated than ever. If he keeps winning, if he keeps on getting into these big fights that are promised, I really do feel that Amir Khan can be one of the top fighters of all time. But first things first: Devon Alexander is a tough, tough opponent.”

The Golden Boy Promotions head noted that “Khan has been having eliminator after eliminator. The time for him is now. He deserves to be fighting Floyd Mayweather. He deserves to be fighting Manny Pacquiao” although it is clear that the easier fight to negotiate would be the one with Pacquiao with whom Khan trained at the Wild Card Gym of Freddie Roach and also in the Philippines.

Arum not considering any other opponent but Floyd

T

STREAK CONTINUES. Stephen Curry had 21 points to lead Golden State to its 13th straight win.

Win no. 13 for Warriors S

TEPHEN Curry and Klay Thompson scored 21 points apiece as the Golden State Warriors romped past Minnesota to stretch their NBA winning streak to 13 games.

Already enjoying the longest winning streak in club history, the Warriors ran their road winning streak to a franchise-first eight games.

Shaun Livingston and Marreese Speights both scored 12 points and Draymond Green added 10 points with 10 rebounds for the Warriors, who saw Aussie center Andrew Bogut depart after just two minutes with

right knee trouble.

The Warriors haven’t lost a game since falling to NBA champions San Antonio at home in Oakland on November 11.

But they’re not the only streaking team in the league.

The Cleveland Cavaliers notched their seventh successive victory with a 11088 victory over the Nets in Brooklyn, where the attendance of Britain’s Prince William and wife Kate at their first NBA game took some of the focus off the court.

Dion Waiters and Tristan Thompson combined for 40 points and keyed a third

quarter run that propelled the Cavaliers to victory over a short-handed Nets team.

James had 18 points and seven assists and Kevin Love added 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Cavs.

The Nets, playing without ailing guard Joe Johnson and injured center Brook Lopez, kept it close through the first half, but they were outscored 24-6 over the final six minutes of the third to take an 85-67 lead into the fourth.

The Atlanta Hawks won their seventh straight -- and fourth on the road -- with a 108-92 victory over the Pacers in Indianapolis.

Al Horford scored 25 points, pulled down eight rebounds and blocked three shots for the Hawks, who had 21 points and seven assists from Jeff Teague and 13 points from Kyle Korver.

The Pacers had been hoping to turn things around with a return home after a winless four-game road trip, but instead lost their fifth straight.

Things don’t get easier for the Pacers any time soon.

They next face the Los Angeles Clippers, where were gunning for their eighth straight win on Monday against Pacific Division rivals Phoenix.

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SPORTS 15

FIGHT FOR THE BALL. Misagh Medina Bahadoran of Philippines in action against Narubadin Weerawatnodom of Thailand during the semifinals of thhe AFF Suzuki Cup held at Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila on 06 December 2014.

(Czeasar Dancel/NPPA Images)

Malaysia coach blames indiscipline for loss

M

ALAYSIA coach Dollah Salleh blamed indiscipline for his team’s 2-1 loss to Vietnam in the first leg of their AFF Suzuki Cup semi-final at Shah Alam Stadium on Sunday.

Despite taking an early lead through a Safiq Rahim penalty, the hosts lost the plot and allowed Vietnam to take control of the game and dictate proceedings for most of the match.

Dollah, capped 97 times by Malaysia during his playing career, was at a loss to explain his team’s performance and said the defensive line did not play to instructions, especially on the right and singled out rightback Mahali Jasuli.

“He is a defender and should have been focusing on that instead of thinking of going forward all the time,” he lamented.

However, the 51-year-old said there was still 90 minutes left in the tie and expects his team to put in 200 percent for the return leg in Hanoi.

Dollah added he will be ringing the changes for the next match and said late substitute Indra Putra Mahayuddin - who as a substitute scored the third goal in the final group game against Singapore - will play a prominent role.

The 33-year-old Felda United striker came on in the 81st minute for Azammuddin Akil and had an immediate impact, full of running and coming close to an equaliser with a stoppage-time header that went wide.

The second leg will take place at My Dinh Stadium on Thursday at 7:00pm local time.

The winners will face either Thailand or Philippines in the final later this month.

Purefoods trades for Pennisi

T

HE Purefoods Star Hotshots added veteran presence in their frontcourt after trading for Mick Pennisi from Barako Bull. In exchange, the Hotshots gave away two barely used players in Isaac Holstein and Ronnie Matias.

Pennisi averaged 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 10 games for Barako Bull this conference. Holstein only saw action for three games and he normed 2 points and 1.33 rebounds. Matias only played for Purefoods against Alaska where he scored five points and grabbed three rebounds.

Purefoods will be burdened with twice-to-win disadvantage heading into the playoffs of the 2014 PBA Philippine Cup. They will need to win three straight do-or-die games to keep their title defense bid alive.

After forward Ian Sangalang suffered an ACL injury during the Hotshots’ first game, the Hotshots’ frontline rotation suffered. They signed Don Allado but he failed to crack head coach Tim Cone’s rotation. Purefoods played Yousef Taha as a started but they have since reinserted veteran Rafi Reavis in the starting lineup.

Getting Pennisi gives Purefoods a capable defender and a floor-spacer. He will first see action for the Hotshots against his former team on Tuesday at the Cuneta Astrodome.

Pennisi received a warm welcome from Purefoods as James Yap posted a picture with the center on his Instagram account a day before the trade was announced by the PBA.

120 top cue artists in P6.6M Pacquiao 10-Ball

By AQUILES Z. ZONIO

O

NE hundred twenty billiard players from all over the world trooped to this southern seaport city to compete in the 2nd international open 10-Ball tournament bankrolled by world eight-division boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.

Tony Danao, the tournament director, told reporters here that the total number of participants in singles category was triple compared to the previous tournament held here three months ago.

“In singles category alone, 120 players showed up to compete.

This is about triple the number of participants who joined in the singles category during last September’s tournament here. I could not yet give the total number of participants for the doubles category as it will start only after the singles is over,” Danao said.

The tournament officially kicked off Monday at SM Mall here. Singles format is dou-

ble elimination which will end up on Dec. 12. Doubles competition will be held Dec. 13 to 17.

Pacquiao dangled a total guaranteed prize of USD150,000 (P6.6 million).

Winners in the doubles category will bring home a total windfall of USD40,000 (P1.76 million), while the champion in singles category will receive USD13 (P.572 million).

The rest of the amount will go to t h e

2nd and 3rd place winners in both categories. There would also be consolation prizes.

World renowned cue artists Efren “Bata” Reyes and Mika Immonen breezed past their respective rival to lead the way of the favorites in the opening round of the match.

Reyes wowed the crowd here by his tricks, proving that sheer talent is no match against experience.

Reyes posted a lopsided win against compatriot Jerome Adolfo (9-2) to earn an easy spot in the second round.

Immonen proved too much for John Salazar, posting a 9-2 easy victory, to advance in the next round of the tourna-

TOP FAVORITE. Mika Immonen leads the cast of the $150,000 tournament sponsored by Rep. Manny Pacquiao. Yahoo photo

ment.

Other winners in their initial match include Genersis Ouano, Godofredo Ducanes, Lauro Bongay, Christian Gariando, Ahmad Taufiq, Benjie Guevarra, Archie Padal, Brian Beekers, John Morra, Johann Chua, John Rebong and John Plunkett.

Plunkett engaged Pacquiao in a featured, thrilling match which delighted the crowd inside the mall.

Pacquiao led by a single rack (8-7) and was about to finish off Plunkett until several miscues gave his rival a chance to catch up.

Joie Mantalaba, one of the spectators, said “Pacquiao obviously gave up the match to Plunkett. I watched him played several times and those miscues he committed today were unusual.”

For an overjoyed Plunkett “To me, this victory against a sports icon is worth more than a million.”

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NOW OR NEVER Azkals go for upset in Bangkok

I

TOP SCORER. Philippines' Phil Younghusband (right) fights for the ball during the first leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup semi-final. Yahoo Sports

T’S now or never.

The Philippines’ hopes of a dream finals appearance will be their biggest motivation in today’s now-or-never battle against Thailand which plays host to the second leg of the semifinals in the AFF Suzuki Cup at the Rajamangala Stadium.

The War Elephants will have their entire nation backing them up and the Azkals know pretty well how hard it is to win in Bangkok.

The Azkals produced one of their finest performances in the AFF Suzuki Cup on Saturday in holding favourites Thailand to a 0-0 draw in the semi-final, first leg at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

They were unlucky not to win the game but their coach Thomas Dooley sees the result as a huge positive.

“This game was another step forward just as it

was after the game against Indonesia. We didn’t win but we should be happy with the way we played,” he said.

The Azkals beat Indonesia 4-0 at the group stage in Vietnam and pushed Thailand all the way in a sometimes cagey but always compelling goalless draw.

With the second leg to take place at Bangkok’s iconic Rajamangala Stadium on Wednesday, it is essentially half time in this engrossing match-up between three-time champions Thailand and the Philippines, who are bidding to reach the final for the first time.

The Thais won all three of their group matches and have been playing impressive football but will feel somewhat shaken after their thriller in Manila.

They had to battle most of the second half on Saturday playing with

10 men after their striker Adisak Kraisorn was sent off.

“If we can hold them for the first 15 to 20 minutes (on Wednesday) I think we can have a good chance,” said Dooley.

“They will try and do everything to beat us at home and we just have to be ready. I have seen the sparks in our side for the last two days.”

Saturday’s game saw quick counter attacks by both teams.

Said Dooley: “Their transition from defence to offence is very fast as they push so many players forward. But this gives us space to counter attack.

As soon as we get the ball we try and play fast forward.”

Philippines star striker Phil Younghusband summed up the players’ feelings after the first leg: “We now know we can play at this level.”