Edge Davao 7 Issue 203

VOL. 7 ISSUE 203 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 - 29, 2014

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2 COVER STORY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 203 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 - 29, 2014

NEW DAY. A scene by the beach in Opol, Misamis Oriental shortly before sunrise. Each morning brings us hope of a new day. MindaNews photo by H. Marcos C. Mordeno

Hopeful for 2015 Y

AHOO Philippines gives us an insight into how 2014 went by providing us with the top 10 searches for the year:

1) Typhoon Ruby 2) Paolo Bediones scandal 3) iPhone 6 4) Ellen Adarna 5) Jennifer Laude 6) Deniece Cornejo 7) Miss World 2014 8) Philippine Basketball Association 9) Frozen 10) Mayon Volcano

We should actually thankful that this list contains these items. Only three of them are what can be considered major from a news writer’s point of view: typhoon Ruby, Jennifer Laude, and Mayon Volcano. Ruby (international name Hagupit) was the typhoon that hit the country in early December and took almost a week to pass through because of its very slow speed of about 15 kilometers per hour. It had been categorized as a supertyphoon early on and prompted people to prepare for another Yolanda, but thankfully it was not as strong as anticipated. It helped that the country overprepared for it; Yolanda was a lesson well learned.

Jennifer Laude was the transgender allegedly killed by an American serviceman in Olongapo City, a case that is straining the ties

between the Philippines and the US and which has resulted in calls to review the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) which heavily favors the Americans over the Filipinos — right in our own soil.

Mayon volcano, of course, hit the news because it had shown signs of being active again, but so far it has been relatively quiet. Let’s hope it stays that way.

All the others seem to be trivial: the Paolo Bediones scandal (a sex video that has cost the popular host and now born-again Christian his career), iPhone 6 (the latest from Apple), Ellen Adarna (a sexy starlet), Deniece Cornejo (involved in the mauling of actor/host Vhong Navarro), and so on and so forth.

Again, we should actually glad that these are the top searches for the year because it means there were no major scandals, controversies, or calamities that hit the nation over the past 365 days. The previous year was much more eventful, as show by Yahoo Philippines’ top 10 searches for 2013: 1) Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan) 2) Pork barrel scam 3) 2013 elections 4) Visayas earthquake 5) Manny Pacquiao 6) Zamboanga crisis 7) Spratlys

8) Sabah standoff 9) MV Thomas Aquinas sinking 10) Violent crime

In a way, the 2013 list paved the way for a more peaceful 2014. Yolanda (Haiyan) was the strongest typhoon ever to make landfall, and it caused unprecedented devastation and deaths in many parts of the country, and it was that experience that prompted us to be more prepared when Ruby came this year. The pork barrel scam exploded last year and an angry people demanded that those involved in the P10-billion scam be made to answer for it, and this year we saw three powerful senators — Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Bong Revilla Jr., and Jinggoy Estrada — jailed for their alleged participation (along with alleged mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles). 2014 may be thought of as the follow-up to 2013, and we are making progress in some fronts.

Perhaps the biggest controversies in 2013 were those revolving around Vice President Jejomar Binay, but since this is a prelude to the presidential election, everything is being taken with a grain of salt by the people who know that those who are throwing mud at Binay are probably interested in the presidency themselves. His ratings have seen a slide in recent weeks, but it must be kept in mind that Binay is still the man to beat as of this moment.

On the bright side, 2014 was marked by

some good news as the Philippines rose from the destruction wrought by Yolanda and gave a strong overall economic performance —in fact continuing to outperform its regional neighbors. Government figures show that strong foreign direct investment (FDI), which surpassed government targets well before the end of 2014, drove economic growth, as well as remittances from overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) which rose 6.2 percent to US12.7 billion during the first half of the year. Other economic drivers were the expansion in the real estate, business process outsourcing (BPO), and mining sectors.

For us in Mindanao, the biggest news was the signing of the peace agreement between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) last March. The decades-long rebellion had cost countless lives and millions of pesos in lost opportunities, and the peace deal was a ray of hope in an island region that has seen so much bloodshed. Congress is now deliberating on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) that will govern the new autonomous region that will replace the ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao), and many of us are hopeful that Mindanao will finally fulfill its tag of being the Land of Promise.

There is thus much to be hopeful for in 2015, and hopefully we can all rise above circumstances and continue to build on the gains of the past few years. [Edge Davao staff]

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4 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO

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EXPANDED. Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, spokesperson of the National Democratic Front-Mindanao, at the 46th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines on Friday, December 26 in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur. MindaNews photo by ROEL N. CATOTO

Reds to back Duterte for President in 2016? T

Armed struggle to continue even with peace talks: NDFP

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

T

HE National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) might consider supporting Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte if the latter decides to run for President in 2016.

In an interview with the media on the 46th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines held in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur, Ka Oris said Duterte’s statement that the war between the communists and the government will come to an

end if he becomes President is “a good plan.”

“Maganda yan. Ang kailangan lang ay ano yung concrete. Sabi niya sosyalismo yung kanyang perspective, sabi niya pag nanalo siya magkaroon nga coalition government between the revolutionary forces and the government. Maganda pero sana magbigay siya ng more concrete program (That’s good. What is needed are the concrete steps. He says his perspective is socialism, and

he says if he wins there will be a coalition government between the revolutionary forces and the government.

That is good but we hope he will give more concrete programs),” Oris said.

Oris, however, clarified that the communist movement will not take part in the election and that the NDFP cannot support any candidate.

“We are not part of the election and we cannot support any candidate, but if

Duterte wins his programs are good. We might check what we can consider,” he said.

Duterte himself has consistently said he will not run for President in 2016, saying he is too old and sickly and he has no money to mount a campaign.

In previous statements, however, Duterte said if he becomes President he will declare a revolutionary government and close Congress.

HE National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) marks the 46th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) by vowing to intensify the armed struggle against the government even if the peace talks resume.

Speaking to reporters in Marihatag, Surigao del Sur, NDFP spokesperson for Mindanao Ka-Oris said the NDFP intensified its efforts “to ensure the continuous advance of the people’s democratic revolution throughout the country from the year it started.”

“The advance of the armed struggle does not necessarily depend upon the peace talks. With or without

the peace talks the armed struggle will advance because the people’s army is the only hope of the people,” he added Oris said the 46 years of the communist movement, which was founded on December 26, 1968, saw advances in the armed and political mass struggles.

He said the New People’s Army (NPA) is expanding and gaining strength as more platoons were created this year.

Oris said the NDFP and its allied organizations continue to expand their influence to the different sectors of society fighting against US imperialism, domestic

FARMED, 12

LGUs urged to increase MILF to field regional candidates, not local budgets for nutrition T

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

R

crc@edgedavao.net

EGIONAL Nutrition Council director Maria Theresa L. Ungson urged local government unit (LGU) officials in Davao region to increase their budget allocation and develop more projects related to the nutrition situation of women and children.

In an interview with Edge Davao, Ungson said there are still local chief executives who do not prioritize nutrition and health-related programs.

“Some only put budget enough for the celebration of nutrition month, but other than that there’s none because it’s not like a bridge or any infrastructure that is physical,” she said.

Ungson said there are LGUs that allocate only a little above over percent of their whole budget to nutrition, which is not enough to address the poor nutrition situation of the region.

FLGUs, 12

HE Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s proposed political party – the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP) — will field candidates in 2016 not for local but for regional posts only, MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim said.

“What we are thinking is during the 2016 elections, we will not field candidates for governors and mayors….. We will focus on (fielding candidates for) the Bangsamoro government kasi yun na man ang bunga ng peace process (because that is the fruit of the peace process),” Murad told MindaNews late Tuesday afternoon at the first of

the three-day 1st Volunteers’ General Assembly.

Earlier, Sammy Al Mansoor, Chief of staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) and concurrent UBJP Secretary-General, said they were expecting at least 26,000 volunteers to attend the Assembly. But Murad claimed “more than that” number had come from all parts of Mindanao.

Thousands of volunteers clad in collarless green shirts bearing the party’s name and the statement on the back that it is a “principled party,” gathered here for the Assembly that, according to Murad, would serve as orientation for

those who will organize the party at the grassroots.

“My party, Your Party, Our Party,” the shirts proclaim.

Murad’s cool green collared shirt has the 2013 seal of the UBJP with “A Principled Political Party” below it.

At least 60 seats The draft Bangsamoro Basic Law, based on the Philippine Government’s (GPH) and the MILF’s March 27, 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, provides that the Bangsamoro Government shall be parliamentary and “shall adopt an electoral system suitable to a ministerial form of govern-

ment, which shall allow democratic participation, encourage formation of genuinely principled political parties, and ensure accountability.”

The Bangsamoro Parliament, according to the draft law “shall be composed of at least sixty members, unless otherwise provided by the Parliament, who are representatives of political parties elected through a system of proportional representation, those elected from single member districts and to reserved seats to represent key sectors in the Bangsamoro.”

The Chief Minister who heads the ministerial gov-

FMILF, 12

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Upi town celebrates unity through dancing

U

PI, Maguindanao (MindaNews/ 24 December) —Drums beat loud and fast. A showcase of moves with the bilao and the indigenous basket biton for props, a splash of colors and folk rhythms thundering from the agong and the kulintang filled the streets of this town up in the mountains.

Already on its 12th installment, Upi’s Meguyaya festival on Monday had its biggest year yet with nine teams of street performers from Cotabato City, Datu Piang in Maguindanao and Esperanza in Sultan Kudarat, as well as a local team of grade school pupils.

The festival serves as a great reminder for Mindanao and the rest of the country that unity among people with different religious and cultural backgrounds is not only possible but is here a reality.

“We can’t help but reminisce the good relations, the good working together of everyone to make the Meguyaya festival more meaningful, especially for the tri-people of Upi,” said Mayor Ramon A. Piang Sr. The mayor was referring to the lumad group Teduray whose thanksgiving feast the festival takes its name from, the Bangsamoro people, and the Christian settlers from Luzon and the Visayas.

Upi’s own delegation of elementary pupils in the end won the competition for their performance that highlighted the tri-people’s varied courtship and marriage rituals.

“Kung titingnan po natin ang ating Meguyaya festival, nakatulong ito para mas lalong maging buo, para lalong maging mag-isa ang ating pananaw: pananaw sa ating kaunlaran, pananaw

FUPI, 12

Cop arrested in gun smuggle try A

POLICEMAN was arrested Wednesday while allegedly trying to smuggle high-powered firearms and gun parts in Basilan province.

Superintendent Albert Larubis, Isabela City police chief, identified the arrested policeman as Police Officer 1 Pendatun Mohammad, who is assigned in Sumisip, Basilan.

Larubis said Mohammad was arrested by combined police and coast guard personnel around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday as he was about to disembark from a roll-on roll-off vessel at the wharf of Isabela City, Basilan.

Larubis said Mohammad was arrested follow-

ing receipt of information that a sports utility vehicle loaded with guns boarded a ferry from this city en route to Basilan via Isabela City.

Larubis said Mohammad admitted that he was bringing high-powered firearms when they confronted him after conducting verification and paneling backed by a bomb-sniffing dog aboard the ferry.

The police official said they confiscated from Mohammad’s vehicle three AR-15 caliber 5.56 (Baby Armalite), two upper receivers of M-16 Armalite rifle and 25 pieces of long alloy M-16 magazines.

He said charges will be filed against Mohammad.

(MindaNews)

RAISE ME UP. Popular novelty singer Max Surban (center) serenades the crowd with the song “You Raise Me Up,” a personal favorite of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte (background left, with his ex-

ecutive assistant Christopher “Bong” Go at right) during the annual Pahalipay ni Mayor Rody in Central Park Subdivision, Bangkal on Christmas day. Lean Daval Jr.

NPA assures safety of captive warden

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

M

crc@edgedavao.net

EMBERS of the New People’s Army (NPA) assured the family and relatives of Jose Mervin Coquilla that the abducted provincial jail warden of Compostela Valley Provincial Rehabilitation Center will be safe.

“We assure his family that he is being treated well by the NPA and the revolutionary mass base,” NPA Comval-North DavaoSouth Agusan Sub-region Sub-regional Command spokesperson Aris Francisco said in a statement.

Coquilla was taken from his carwash business near his house at barangay Sto. Niño in Panabo City at around 7:45 a.m. on De-

cember 23, just two days before Christmas.

It was reported that Coquilla’s wife was also snatched but was later freed by the abductors.

A few hours later the Coquillas’ vehicle was found abandoned in Purok 2, Barangay Fatima, Paquibato District.

“Coquilla was taken into custody by the NPA in order to subject him to an investigation to determine his individual culpability with respect to the complaints lodged against him before the People’s Democratic Government by jail inmates and their families,” Francisco said.

Francisco said Coquilla is being investigated for

complaints against him “which include his willful negligence in the supervision of inmates and his direct and indirect, overt and covert participation of drug trade and drug use inside the Comval jail.”

Coquilla has allegedly siphoned off funds which are already slashed by high officials of the jail, Francisco said “According to the complaints received by the NPA, Coquilla’s corruption has resulted in the inadequate medical and health care and food provision for inmates. To exercise absolute and fascist control, Coquilla’s guards allegedly perpetrate physical abuse to their prisoners,” he add-

ed.

Francisco further claimed that Coquilla has “maintained double standards and discriminatory practices. He supposedly imposes strict and inhumane regulations for visiting families who are forced to talk to their loved ones while behind bars. But he allegedly turns a blind eye to inmates who were caught using illegal drugs, and to jail guards who were involved in ferreting drugs inside the prison cells.”

Davao del Norte Police director Senior Superintendent Samuel Gadingan said he has already formed a Special Investigation Task Group that will handle the kidnapping incident.

20 injured by firecrackers in South Cotabato, GenSan

A

DANGEROUS PLAYGROUND. Two children make the center island along the busy J.P. Laurel Avenue in Davao City their playground, unaware of the danger of being hit by the vehicles traversing the area. Lean Daval Jr.

43-YEAR-OLD man lost a finger while 19 others, mostly children, sustained various firecracker injuries in connection with the Christmas revelries in this city and parts of South Cotabato province.

The South Cotabato Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) recorded a total of 16 firecracker-related injuries while the City Health Office (CHO) here listed four cases that mostly happened in the run-up to and during the Christmas Eve celebrations in the area.

Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr., IPHO chief, said Friday a resident of Surallah town sustained serious hand injuries that required the amputation of a finger due to the accidental explosion of the banned whistle bomb firecracker.

He said the 15 other injury cases involved piccolo that is also a prohibited firecracker but remained popular among users, especially children.

The official said the youngest victim was a fouryear-old boy who sustained

F20 INJURED, 12

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CHRISTMAS GIFT. A child at the Gawad Kalinga Rainbow Village in Barangay Tambacan in Iligan City shows off her family’s portrait, courtesy of the photography group The Umbrella, on Christmas eve 2014. MindaNews photo by Bobby Timonera

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Customs nabs meds, mercury from China

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PERATIVES of the Bureau of Customs Intelligence Group apprehended a total of seven container vans containing various smuggled items from China at the Manila International Container Port on December 23.

Among the items seized are at least 360 kilograms of mercury worth an estimated P1.8 million, various pain and anti-arthritis medicines, and assorted counterfeit footwear and apparel.

Deputy Commissioner Jessie Dellosa, Head of the Bureau’s Intelligence Group, said that so far only one of the seven containers has been subjected to 100 percent physical inspection, with the rest to follow in the coming days.

He said the shipments are consigned to Greyvoid Corporation and Thunderdragon Foods and Agricultural Products Import Export Corporation. These had been declared as paper cups, paper plates, and t-shirts, he added.

Mercury is used in a wide

array of devices such as thermometers, barometers, manometers, sphygmomanometers, float valves, mercury switches, mercury relays, fluorescent lamps and telescopes. It is also used in amalgam for dental fillings as well as cosmetics. Mercury is also used in mining to separate gold from crushed ore.

However, because of the toxicity of the heavy metal, the use of mercury is being banned. In 2012, President Aquino issued Executive Order No. 79, banning the use of mercury in small-scale mining. The Philippines is also a signatory to the United Nations-backed Minamata Convention, an international treaty that seeks to ban mercury use in over 130 countries by 2020.

Among the seized items are a variety of pain medicines for arthritis, including syringes of sodium hyaluronate. They had no English text on the labels or product inserts. The shipment also had apparel and footwear

FCUSTOMS, 12

SMUGGLED MEDS. Customs Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence Jessie Dellosa (right) and Zsae Carrie de Guzman of the Bureau of Customs’ Intellectual Property Rights Division inspect medicines from

SMEs to sustain Phl economic growth

A

SIDE from education and infrastructure, the government considers the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as another key component that will sustain the long-term economic growth of the Philippines.

“We recognize how important SMEs are that is why we came up with programs like, Shared Services Facilities (SSF),SME Roving Academy, (DBFTA),” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Gregory L. Domingo said during the recent National Export Congress.

Domingo added that SMEs will be at the center of the agenda during the

country’s chairmanship of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference next year.

“We feel that SME agenda is very important. We are pushing to simplify the trade rules to make SME benefit in global trade. That means simplifying application forms and custom procedures,” Domingo said.

Domingo added that since 2011, DTI has been pushing this agenda in meetings of APEC, World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“The Philippines’ hosting of APEC in 2015 is a momentous occasion for all of us here in the country as

it will open up windows of opportunity. It has avenues for us to showcase what the Philippines has in store for the world,” DTI Undersecretary Ponciano C. Manalo added.

Manalo noted that some meetings and activities lined up for APEC, will be attended by ministers and businessmen from 21 APEC economies while DTI will be mounting various trade fairs to ensure that Philippine products get the best exposure.

“We are hopeful that they will share their experiences here in the Philippines with their friends, families and fellow businessmen back in their home country

so that they too can come here to appreciate and patronize our country, especially our export products,” Manalo added.

Manalo noted that DTI is putting emphasis on SMEs and their role in inclusive growth. He added that SMEs and their multiplier effect have more impact on the economy when it comes to inclusive growth.

According to Manalo, in ASEAN, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are considered as the backbone of economic development, accounting for 96 percent of all enterprises, and 50 percent to 85 percent of domestic employment. SMEs

HE Department of Agriculture (DA) is incorporating climate change policies in its programs, plans and budget to meet the demands of the forthcoming weather changes.

“In response to the directive of his Excellency, President Benigno S. Aquino, and in line with the Climate Change Act, DA has put in place adaptation strategies to cushion the impact of extreme weather conditions,”

Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said in a statement.

Alcala added that the government through DA will be setting up 153 automatic weather stations in agricultural production areas to give weather advisories to food producers.

“These stations will serve as source of information so they will know when and how to plant on a particular season,” he said.

Alcala added that the

government has been working non-stop to develop climate-resistant food varieties. Aside from super rice, research centers under DA have been developing drought-, flood-, and salinity-resistant rice varieties.

During the 44th Gawad Saka awarding ceremony held at the Philippine International Convention Center on December 18, 2014, Alcala urged all the agri champions to continue to look for effec-

tive farm systems that are climate smart.

He thanked all the 22 winners of various individual and group categories who partnered with the government in adapting new technologies.

“Your efforts have contributed to the sustainable growth of the agri-fishery sectors, which incurred .33 percent increment in the first nine months of the year,” he said. (DA)

FSMEs, 12

DA pushes climate smart technologies T

China. The medicines are part of a shipment of smuggled items seized by the Bureau on Tuesday that include counterfeit apparel and footwear and 360 kilograms of mercury, a toxic chemical.

Timbangan ng Bayan placed in Lanao Norte

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EN local government units (LGUs) in the Province of Lanao del Norte received Timbangan ng Bayan facility from the Department of Trade and Industry-Lanao del Norte Provincial Office (DTI-LDN).

“We have allocated one each for the nine coastal towns of Linamon, Kauswagan, Bacolod, Maigo, Kolambugan, Tubod, Baroy, Lala, Kapatagan, and one for the municipality of Baloi,” said provincial director Ruel B. Paclipan, DTI-LDN. The Timbangan ng Bayan facility is a hanging-type weighing scale, with steel casing (housing) and a set of standard test weights.

The test weights shall be used during calibration.

“As a State Policy following the Consumer Act, consumers’ interest must be protected and standards in the conduct of business should be established.

And the installation of

Timbangan ng Bayan in public markets is one of the shields in protecting the consuming public against deceptive sales acts and practices,” said Paclipan.

The local government unit should also enjoin the buying public to use the Timbangan ng Bayan to validate the weight of their purchases and get the best value of their hard-earned money, Paclipan added.

In response, Mayor Benjie Y. Baguio of Kapatagan said, “We sincerely thank the DTI and we commit that my administration would be providing measures to protect the Timbangan ng Bayan Facility from theft, misuse or abuse.”

The Timbangan ng Bayan turned-over ceremony was held at the Macapagal Training Center, provincial capitol in Tubod, this province, on December 16, 2014. (Angelo A. Devero/TIDS-DTI LDN/ PIA-10 LDN)

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Formalizing the partnership are Globe Business Senior Vice President for Enterprise Group Nikko Acosta (third from left) and DOMSAT President Greg Yu. Joining them are (from left) Globe Business Portfolio

EDGEDAVAO

THE ECONOMY

Head of Data and Managed Connectivity Alex Salud, Globe Business Director of Enterprise Product Management Cindy Salaya, iDirect Asia Vice President and General Manager, Asia-Pacific Tom Cheong, and

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President of Enhanced Electronics & Communication Services Inc. Francis Villapando, Jr.

Business taps iDirect Rice processing complex Globe to deliver VSAT technology saves SoCot farmers P88M P

J

AIM Junsay, chairman of Firmus Farm Services Cooperative (FFSC) in Ambalgan, Sto. Nino, South Cotabato, is certain that most of the farmers in their community had a better Christmas this year. This is because the 11-month old rice processing complex (RPC) entrusted to their cooperative by the Department of Agriculture has bring more than good news but also higher milling recovery and better income for all their farmers.

DA said that since this January, the processing center has milled 36,000 metric tons of palay from 5,000 farmers cultivating some 10,000 hectares of rice land in South Cotabato and neighboring provinces of Soccsksargen region. With the improved RPC milling recovery of at least 65 percent, compared to the single-pass rice mills with a recovery of 58 percent, the farmers instantly saved around 2,500 metric tons of rice that could have gone to waste. This would translate to at least P88 mil-

lion in savings.

DA-12 Regional Executive Director Amalia Datukan in a statement said the government invested a total of P32 million for construction, operational capital, capability building and for administrative and management requisites of the facility. Classified as RPC III, the complex houses two biomass-fed mechanical dryers capable of drying 600 sacks of palay in eight hours; a modern rice mill, and a storage facility.

“Wala pa pong isang taong operasyon ng RPC sa South Cotabato ay tubong tubo na ang investment ng pamahalaan pagdating sa pakinabang ng mga magsasaka.

P88 milyon agad ang value ng naisalba nating bigas na natapon lang sana kasama ng ipa” explained Secretary Proceso Alcala.

“Kaya po nagtatayo tayo ng mga RPC sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa ay upang paliitin ang production loss at maitaas ang pagkita ng ating mga magsasaka,” added the DA chief.

38 SSS offices opened in 2014 T HE Social Security System (SSS) opened 38 new offices in 2014 serving members and pensioners nationwide.

“Bringing SSS closer to over 31 million members is among our top priorities hence establishing more offices across the country is one of our primary thrusts to better serve their needs. We also hope that this increased access and visibility will also encourage more people to join SSS,” President and Chief Executive Officer

Emilio De Quiros Jr. said.

Of the new 38 SSS offices nationwide, 25 are full-service branches while 13 are Service Offices mostly located in malls. In terms of location, for NCR, there are 14 new branches and three service offices; Luzon with six new branches and four service offices, Visayas with three branches and three service offices, and Mindanao with two new branches and three service offices.

“For next year, we will

F38 SSS, 12

Junsay said the better milling recovery is just one of the good gifts of the RPC as it provides more room for income and convenience for the farmers consolidating their efforts for higher productivity and bigger income.

He claimed there are even instances that the recovery reached as high as 72 percent.

Rice farmers and owners of palay buy-and-sell station Liwayway Andigan and Mary Jean Ursal said they deliver their palay to the RPC because of its high milling recovery and the mechanical drying facilities. “After we consolidate hundred sacks of newly harvested palay, we can immediately deliver to RPC for drying and eventually, milling,” Andigan shared.

“More than the higher recovery, RPC improved the quality of milled rice to well-milled that commands a higher commercial price with clearer white, less spots and bigger head rice,” Ursal added.

“Palay production in South Cotabato is more than

sufficient but we lack milling facilities. It is also disheartening that because farmers do not have easy access to storage, drying and milling facilities, they are forced to sell their palay harvest to traders at a very inferior price” explained Junsay.

Junsay added that FFSC is charging fees for the services offered at the RPC but at much lower rates compared to the private counterparts. They charge P67 per sack for milling services, and P33 per sack for drying.

FFSC is a farmer cooperative based in Koronadal City which manages the operations of the facility with the local government unit of Santo Niño, National Food Authority (NFA) and the DA Region 12.

FFSC offers farm workers and machinery for hire for every production stage –from land preparation to harvesting; and with the RPC, postharvest activities.

The RPC could also serve as a buying and storage facility of NFA. (DA-RAFIS 12)

ROVIDING connectivity to regions of the country which require terrestrial services, Globe Business recently announced its tie-up with VT iDirect, Inc. (iDirect), a company of Vision Technologies Systems, Inc. (VT Systems) and a world leader in satellite-based IP communications technology, with its very small aperture terminals (VSAT) to bolster its portfolio of services for its business clients.

Through VSAT, the corporate and enterprise information and communications technology arm of Globe Telecom will be running data services in the Philippines over an MPLS network, targeting automated teller machines or ATM banking, mining and government services as initial markets. The iDirect Evolution platform, coupled with the iDirect X3 remote, provide flexibility and efficiency necessary to help Globe deliver services that meet the demands of customers, which include large companies, multinational corporations and the like.

“Globe Business further

increases its influence in the region by partnering with iDirect Asia as we combine our expertise for Philippine businesses to leverage on best-in-class satellite capabilities. This synergy further strengthens our commitment to provide our customers leading technologies to enable them to advance their ICT functions,” said Globe Business Senior Vice President Nikko Acosta.

“Our partnership with Globe Telecom by way of Globe Business marks iDirect’s initial entry into the Philippines and further demonstrates VSAT’s strong growth in the Asia-Pacific region. It showcases one of the unique value propositions that satellite can deliver, being able to provide highspeed connectivity to regions of the country that had previously been unconnected,” acknowledged iDirect Asia General Manager Tom Cheong.

According to officials of both companies, delivering connectivity to regions of the Philippines that require the reach of terrestrial services

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Soliman says DSWD resolved COA findings

D

E PA RT M E N T of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman yesterday said that answers and clarifications to the 21013 audit observations on the Pantawid Pamilyang Pililpio program have already been submitted to the state auditing firm.

Soliman was responding to news articles citing the findings of the 2013 Annual Audit Report of the Commission on Audit (COA) on Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program being implemented by the Department

of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Soliman emphasized that the auditors were merely seeking documentation of program implementation and did not indicate any suspicion of misuse or misappropriation of funds.

“We are confident that there is nothing to doubt about the Department’s integrity, especially with the funds that COA cites as unliquidated in their 2013 annual audit report. The funds went to the rightful beneficiaries,” Soliman added.

The news articles reported that out of the P10.626

billion funds transferred by the DSWD to the Land Bank of the Philippines for the payment of Pantawid Pamilya cash grants for 2013, only P10.295 billion was utilized or disbursed as of Dec. 31, 2013, leaving behind a balance of P330.347 million representing unpaid amount intended for beneficiaries in eight regions.

Some P91.929 million of which were unclaimed grants of active beneficiaries in Regions IV-A, VI, IX, and CARAGA. “The DSWD is currently working on the liquidation of the whole amount. In fact

we have already liquidated 94% of the 2013 funds for cash grants. Further, the Department is processing the return of cash grants intended for families/ households who were tagged by our system as delisted, with reflected status as missing, no eligible member for monitoring, or moved to areas not covered by the program,” Sec. Soliman explained.

DSWD further said that on the reported COA finding of 4,032 double household entries, the Department has responded and said that

FSOLIMAN, 12

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EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 203 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 - 29, 2014

EDITORIAL An eventful year closing

T

HE year is about to end and what a fine year it was.

In a nutshell, 2014 goes down as one of the most eventful and defining years in our history. The year saw for the first time the wheels of justice turned on three embattled senators of the republic who were turned in as jailbirds in a not-so-jail-like prison.

There was also the backlash on the Aquino administration over the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) which caused the Social Weather Station (SWS) rating of President Aquino to plummet. But worse than that was Vice President Jejomar Binay who was hardest hit by a wave of controversy and questions about his wealth and his political past as Mayor of Makati.

It could well be a bad year for the frontliners in the presidential race for the 2016 elections as Secretary Mar Roxas, President Aquino’s altar boy, also suffered negative responses in pulse surveys. Roxas was a favorite butt of jokes among netizens on social media who dismissed his antics as mere

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political showoff.

With the frontliners suffering from the ratings game, the year saw the emergence of new presidentiables like women Senators Miriam Santiago and Grace Poe. Down South, the movement for Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for President snowballed along with calls for Federalism. Mayor Duterte himself is pushing for a shift in the form of government.

About the only bright spot for President Aquino is the signing of the Bangsamoro Annexes en route to the eventual passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law. By the end of the year, fears of another supertyphoon enveloped most parts of the country. Thanks to massive awareness and the people’s preparedness, the superstorm that was Ruby came by without much havoc.

In closing the pages of 2014, this year will go down as a prelude to what could be a more eventful year that is 2015 – the penultimate year to another electoral exercise.

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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EDGEDAVAO

A

LITTLE kindness goes a long, long way. But to some people, they expect kindness to be offered to them in a silver platter – and without giving back anything in return.

Recently, I went to Davao City on a bus. In Sta. Cruz, the bus stopped to drop some passengers. But there were more passengers going to Davao so by the time the bus left, it was fully loaded.

Near where I was sitting, a woman was wondering if someone would offer her a seat.

Being a gentleman, I stood up and the woman took the seat. Without smiling at me or even thanking me for what I did, she immediately went on texting.

The incident reminded me of a story related to me by a friend. The same scenario happened in a bus. When the woman felt that no one was offering her a seat, she started complaining loudly.

“Well, the days of gallantry when men gave their seat to women who are standing in a bus are gone,” she said.

And looking at the man who was sitting beside her, she added, “There are men who know a woman needs a seat and he won’t even bother to give her his seat.”

The woman kept on rambling.

S

INCE 1916 when the region was first represented in the legislature, Davao had only one assemblyman or its equivalent. The same arrangement was adopted until the war, and later as part of Davao del Sur until 1972. During the Interim Batasang Pambansa the city was represented by three legislators but they were under the larger territory known as Region XI. When the regular Batasang Pambansa was created, two assemblymen-at-large were elected. It was only in 1986 that the city was divided into three congressional districts.

In 1997, Davao City councilor Aristeo Albay, a lawyer, personally commissioned a study that would recommend the redistricting of the city four districts. The result of the initiative was submitted to Rep. Manuel M. Garcia (2nd District, Davao City) in order that a corresponding bill could be filed in the House but the lawmaker advised against it because the proposal amounted to amending the 1986 Constitution.

Aside from filing a resolution in the City Council, Albay also discussed the matter with Rep. Prospero C.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 203 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 - 29, 2014

VANTAGE POINTS

11

A time to be kind Twenty minTHINK ON THESE! utes later, the man shouted to the driver to stop. “Finally, he is going down,” the woman pointed out.

“He could Henrylito D. Tacio not take henrytacio@gmail.com what I have said.”

But before the woman could say another word, the man asked the conductor to give him his crutches.

He was having a hard time going down and all eyes were on him. The woman, who took the place, pretended to sleep until the bus arrived at its destination.

In an office of a non-government organization, this passage was posted in an area where everyone could see and read: “If someone were to pay you P100 for every kind word you ever spoke and collect P50 for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor?”

“Kindness is more than deeds,” C. Neil Strait once reminded. “It is an attitude, an expression, a look, a touch.

It is anything that lifts another person.”

There are some instances where

a person who has rendered kindness gets in trouble because of the kindness he extended to the other person. Let me share the story of an Indonesian journalist who attended a recent conference in Cairns, Australia.

It was a long trip from Jakarta to Sydney. Now, she was ready to take her final flight from Sydney to Cairns.

She was already sitting for a few minutes inside the plane when the lone seat next to her was taken by a little Australian boy. “Are you alone?” she inquired. The boy answered negatively. “My father is sitting out there,” he pointed out.

The flight was fully booked and there was no way the father and son could be together. Since it was still a three-hour flight, she stood up and told the father he could take her seat so the two could be together.

They were already flying when she remembered that she placed her notebook computer at the back of the seat where she previously occupied. She stood up and asked the father of the little boy if he saw the computer.

“Yes, I did,” the man replied. “I gave it to the stewardess. I thought it belongs to a previous passenger before this flight.” The journalist answered, “But you know that I occupied this seat before. Why didn’t you bother to ask me first?”

The journalist went to the stewardess and asked for her computer.

She was told that it was left in Sydney because they thought it was left by a previous passenger, as what the man told them.

All throughout the flight, the Indonesian journalist was fuming mad.

“And this is what I get for extending kindness to them?” she told herself. It was not until two days later that she took hold of her computer again.

“Constant kindness can accomplish much,” said Albert Schweitzer.

“As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.”

A few years ago, I was vacationing with my sister’s family in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. One day, I was at the backyard when I saw my two nephews were playing not far from where I was sitting.

Thirty minutes later, I heard Phil shouting for help. “My balloon, my balloon,” he said. But before the balloon went up, Erik was able to grab the string. He gave it to his little brother.

Phil was smiling when he got back his balloon. Without much ado, he told Erik: “Thank you very much.

You’re my hero.”

Katherine Francke said it succinctly: “As perfume to the flower, so is kindness to speech.”

Redistricting and renaming

FAST BACKWARD

BY THE ARCHIVIST Nograles whose district and Garcia’s were the ones directly affected by the proposal. Under the redistricting plan, barangays Poblacion and Agdao, which was still undivided, would be placed under District I to comply with the population requisite, while the rest of District II would comprise the second legislative district. The constituents in Talomo up to Toril were to be placed under District III, while the new fourth district would comprise basically the regions west of the city, at the boundary of Bukidnon.

Actually, there is nothing in the

post-1986 Charter that needs amendment in order to push through with the redistricting. Article VI, Section 5 (1) states that the House of Representatives shall be composed of not more than 250 members “unless otherwise fixed by law,” and Section 5 (3) stipulates that each legislative district “shall comprise, as far as practicable, contiguous, compact, and adjacent territory” with a population of at least 250,000. The 1995 survey shows the city with 1,006,840 inhabitants, and in the 2011 census, 1,530,365 residents.

The real reason for the lack of enthusiasm to redistrict the city was largely political. Incumbent city mayor Rodrigo Duterte was not supportive of the idea, and there was an unfounded apprehension the creation of a new congressional district would result in the di-vision of Davao into two cities, an idea the City Hall was strongly against.

Nearly a dozen years later, the redistricting issue was revived again in the Sangguniang Panlungsod. City Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, who wanted the creation of two more legislative districts, passed a resolution

in 2008 supporting the original Albay initiative, and followed it up with another similar proposal the following year. Central to the Dayanghirang resolution was the additional P100 million in development funds per year (which was increased later to P70 billion for each congressman in 2010) that the city could get for its development efforts if the two new districts were legalized.

Meanwhile, during the 12th Congress (2001-04), Rep. Manuel E. Zamora (1st District, Compostela Valley), as author, with Rep. Prospero S. Amatong (2nd Dist., Compostela Valley) as co-sponsor, filed on July 17, 2001 House Bill 1081, which sought to rename the province of Compostela Valley to Davao de Oro. The bill was contained in the Report No. 1957 of the Committee on Local Government submitted on January 5, 2004.

The following month, on February 3, the House approved the bill on third reading with a vote of 166 ayes with no objection or abstention. Two days later it was transmitted to the Senate but was received only on Feb. 9, 2004.

Being an election year, the bill did not get the upper chamber’s attention.

12 NEWS

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Armed... FFROM 4

feudalism, and bureaucrat capitalism.

Asked what the NDFP’s plan is for 2015, Oris said they will intensify the armed struggle.

“We must raise the armed struggle. This is the only hope of the people to achieve what they have been aspiring for,” he said.

LGUs... FFROM 4

The malnutrition rate among children 0 to 5 years old in Region 11 currently stands at 5.9, which is a slight improvement over last year’s rate of 6.2 percent.

Most cases are recorded in typhoon Pablo-stricken areas mainly in Compostela Valley Province and Davao Oriental, but Ungson noted that children with acute malnutrition are slowly standing up from being underweight.

She said that the nutrition council hopes that there will be no more typhoons as disastrous as Pablo or Yolanda that will hit the region so that the prevalence of malnutrition among women and children will not spike again.

She said investing in nutrition programs can spare the local government units from investing in health and termination of diseases.

“Everything starts with good nutrition. What’s the point of having progress if the constituents are not healthy?” she said.

Ungson also said increas-

UPI... FFROM 6

sa development, pananaw sa pag-buo ng ating samahan dito sa ating bayan ng Upi (If we observe the Meguyaya festival closely, we see that it helps us unite and be one in our outlook for progress, development and harmony here in our town of Upi),” said Piang.

Datu Piang Mayor Genuine Piang Kamaong, a guest at the festival celebrations, praised the Meguyaya festival for being “a manifestation that the municipality of Upi is not only a peaceful municipality but also one of the progressive municipalities in the province of Maguindanao.”

The festival is now already making its name in important festivals across the country, he added.

In fact, earlier this year, the Meguyaya festival

Oris said the NDFP showed interest in the peace talks by releasing several Prisoners of War in this year.

He added that the NDFP is expecting that the government will show the same gesture.

The CPP anniversary was attended by almost 15,000 individuals. [FPG]

ing the budget allocation for nutrition could also help increase the allowances of nutrition workers in the region.

“This is important because they are the implementers of programs on the barangay level,” she said.

The council recorded around 1,600 Barangay Nutrition Scholars (BNS), 60 nutrition program coordinators, and 53 nutrition action officersin Region 11.

“We’re mobilizing and organizing all of them to have one action, voice and movement. Through this we can have a uniform message for the nutrition sector,” Ungson said.

She said these nutrition workers are in charge of implementing programs on breast feeding for lactating women and right complementary food for children.

The nutrition council will be organizing the nutrition workers in each province next year to become a team that is prepared when disaster strikes.

placed second in the annual Aliwan Fiesta street-dance championships in Manila presented by the Cultural Center of the Philippines, among others.

“Upi has actually leveled up in terms of tourism,” said Nelly Nita Dillera, the Department of Tourism’s director for Region 12 and chairperson of the board of judges of the Meguyaya street-dance competition.

“Festivals are just one area of tourism because they’re seasonal,” Dillera added, before further challenging the Upi local government to also capitalize on its other tourism potentials. “Hindi pa last ito (This won’t be the last),” promised Piang.“We will move on and upgrade our festival celebration.” (Jake Soriano / VERA Files)

Customs... FFROM 8 bearing brands like “Havianas,” “Keds,” “Sandugo,”Abercrombie and Fitch,” “Polo Ralph Lauren,” “Fred Perry,” and “Giordano.”

“Almost all the items in the shipments are illegal importations. Mercury and all medicines are regulated items that require permits from other government agencies.

We also believe that all the clothing with fake brands are meant as additional stocks for the holidays,” said Dellosa.

The other week, operatives of the Bureau conducted raids on warehouses of fake electronic devices such as cellphones and tablets that were being passed off as original products.

ANNUAL TREAT. At least 12,500 people from the different barangays of Davao City attend the annual Christmas treat of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte in Central Park Subdivision, Bangkal on Christmas day. Lean Daval Jr.

MILF... FFROM 4

ernment of the Bangsamoro is to be elected by a majority vote of the Parliament from among its members.

The Chief Minister in turn appoints the Deputy Chief Minister from among the Members of Parliament, and the members of the Cabinet, majority of whom shall also come from the Parliament.

Comelec requirements Mansoor had earlier said the MILF was busy completing the requirements for registration with the Commission on Elections. The party’s officials, Mansoor said, are Murad as chair, assisted by five vice chairs: Ghazali Jaafar, MILF Vice Chair for Political Affairs as vice chair for Central Mindanao, Maamor

Estino for Western Mindanao, Hussin Munoz for Eastern Mindanao, Alim Ali Solaiman for Northern Mindanao and Mohagher Iqbal, MILF peace panel chair and Bangsamoro Transition Commission, for Southern Mindanao.

Murad said their application for a regional party was filed with the Commission on Elections in October this year.

In August, Murad told MindaNews that they were proposing three names for the party: UBJP, United Bangsamoro Party and the Bangsamoro Justice Party.

“But the number one is the United Bangsamoro Justice Party,” he said. (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)

20 injured... FFROM 6 hand and finger injuries due to piccolo explosion.

He said the municipality of Tupi post the most number of firecracker-related injuries with nine followed by Koronadal City with four.

“We’re appealing to our residents to take this matter seriously and shun from using firecrackers because the injury risks are quite high,” Aturdido said in a radio interview.

As of December 23, the IPHO only recorded two injury cases due to firecracker explosions in the area.

Two young boys from Tupi sustained finger and hand injuries due to separate explosions involving piccolo.

It said the first case, which was recorded last Nov. 30, involved a 12-yearold boy who was treated at the rural health unit of Tupi.

The second victim was a seven year-old boy who was

brought to a local hospital for treatment last Dec. 7.

In this city, a 54-yearold man identified as Reynaldo Decena, a resident of Barangay San Isidro, was listed as the area’s first firecracker victim on Christmas Eve. Decena was rushed to the city hospital here on Wednesday after sustaining minor injury due to the explosion of super lolo firecracker.

Another victim, 43-year-old George Calve of Barangay Saway in Labangal was treated for minor leg injuries from a still undetermined firecracker.

On Thursday, the CHO said two other victims — Kenneth Cajes and Joshua Luciano, both 10-years-old — were also treated at the city hospital.

Cajes sustained hand injuries due to piccolo explosion while Luciano was hit on the eye by a boga or PVC cannon. (MindaNews)

SMEs... FFROM 8 contribute between 30 percent and 53 percent to gross domestic product (GDP), and between 19 percent and 31 percent to exports.

Of the almost 945,000 registered business enterprises in the Philippines as of 2012, 99.6 percent of these were micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The number of additional jobs generated by SMEs on the same year was almost 5 million or roughly 61 percent of the country’s total employment, as compared to only 2.6 million

jobs generated by large enterprises.

Manalo also noted that ASEAN integration is another significant development in 2015 that will boost exports, and poses huge opportunities for local businesses and foreign businesses that intend to do business in the Philippines. With the country’s location and value-for-money in terms of labor, the Philippines can very well serve as a gateway for businesses wishing to tap the ASEAN region. (DTIPRU)

1,752 of which are unique households and were retained in the programs, while only 609 are actual duplicates and were delisted. The remaining 1,636 remaining entries are still undergoing validation.

In the COA report, the auditors claim to have found 364,036 benefeciaries not in the database entries. After authenticating, the DSWD confirmed that 107,373 of these beneficiaires are covered under the regular CCT

program and are both in the Pantawid Pamilya and the National Household Targetting System (NHTS) databases. The other 256,663 are under the modified CCT (MCCT). MCCT households are not under the NHTS, but are considered poor and part of the vulnerable sector. These are street dwellers and indigenouse people.

The information of MCCT beneficiaires are stored in a separate database and is open for COA’s viewing. PIA

Soliman... FFROM 9

38 SSS... FFROM 9

continue to determine strategic locations for setting up additional branch and service offices to make sure that every member of the SSS has easy and direct access to us,” De Quiros added.

By end-2014, SSS has 264 offices across the Philippines located in NCR (61); Luzon (119); Visayas (41), and Mindanao (43).

Apart from more loca-

Globe... FFROM 9

generates new social and economic opportunities not only for the telecommunication company’s business clientele, but also its individual customers. In addition, VSAT

tions, selected SSS branches are open on Saturdays to serve members who are unable to transact during weekdays. These include those located at Diliman, Makati-Ayala, and Makati-Gil Puyat in the National Capital Region; Cebu, Lapulapu, Bacolod and Iloilo in the Visayas; and Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Zamboanga in Mindanao.

deployed through Globe Business can help establish disaster recovery networks to enable maintaining voice and data communications at all times.

INdulge!

STYLE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 203 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 - 29, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

Message in a Locket ACCESSORIES make a perfect gift for any special occasion.

There’s so much thought dedicated to the process of choosing the right article that will match your friend or loved one’s personality and sense of style. Some would choose to match it with a person’s color preference or skin tone. For a change, why not customize the piece to icons which define a person’s appeal and favorite things?

Unlock your best memories of a special someone and create a precious keepsake out of them. Full-time mom Tatiana Jean “Ina” Bautista – Moran has recently introduced a novel gift idea of personalizing a charmed locket necklace with little trinkets inside. “Favorite Things,” as Ina would call them, are charming neckpieces which can give more character to a person’s fashion statement.

Aside from being an accessory to an outfit, the

gift itself becomes more meaningful for the person receiving it as each neck-

METRO MOM A4

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

Grab up to 70% off at SM Lanang Premier’s End of Season Sale HERE’S a New Year treat from the metro’s premier shopping and lifestyle destination!

Shop till you drop at SM Lanang Premier’s End of Season Sale, which runs from January 2 to 11, 2015.

Kick off the year with big savings on musthave items on your wish list. Get up to 70% discount on great selections at participating stores.

Catch the End of Season Sale at SM Lanang Premier! For more information, call 285-0943. You could also visit SM Lanang Premier on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for sale alerts and promo updates.

Keeping it lite with Native in SM City Davao IF you’re looking for an easy-to-wear, lightweight and fashionable pair of shoes, then you must have a pair of Native shoes. Made from injection molded EVA(Ethylene Vinyl Acetate) foam, Native is designed to mold to your feet for a an easy-going, casual & classic look that would fit any occasion.

Native store has just opened it biggest Philippine store here in Davao City with a 54 square meter space at the Ground floor of SM City Davao. The store welcomed Dabawenyos with generous perks. As an opening promo, Native is giving out a Php 1,000 cash vouchers for every Php 2,000 regular purchase. Native’s beautiful models are also roaming around the mall to announce the store opening giving out balloons to the kids and young at heart.

Native was founded in Vancouver, Canada in 2009 by two entrepreneurial individuals with the common goal of creating a lightweight shoewear.

In 2011, the first collection was launched nationwide in 23 countries, namely, Canada, US, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Australia, Italy, France, UK, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Norway, Denmark, Kuwait, Israel, Guam, Panama, Puerto Rico, including the Philippines.

Native stores are also located nationwide in Trinoma Kiosk 2nd level, Robinsons Ermita Kiosk 2nd level, Glorietta 4 2nd level and SM City Fairview Upper Ground Floor Main Bldg. Also Available at Res|Toe|Run, Bratpack Greenbelt 5, ROX BHS,Rustan’s ATC and Selected SM Dept Stores.

Primer Group of Companies is the exclusive distributor of Native in The Philippines.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 203 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 - 29, 2014

FOOD

New Year’s Eve food staples MERRY CHRISTMAS! May you have the best of this festive season and the years to come. Showcase your kitchen power and prowess and whip up dishes that will make this momentous day even more memorable.

For us Filipinos, nothing speaks of celebrations as the many food and dishes on our dining table. For us, festivities are never complete without a chaotic kitchen scene with everyone hustling and bustling from one corner to another. This time, let’s take it slow.

So, what do you have on your dining table?

Kakanin is a year round staple celebration star in every Filipino household. As the cliché goes, “the stickier, the better”. From homemade family recipes of suman, cassava or maja blanca to store bought ones, the kakanin is a must especially at midnight!

Salads are easy on the budget and easy to prepare. Have it done a day or two ahead and it will still taste delicious. Not only that but it’ll give you more time to prepare for your other dishes. Others love their salads simple, just the basics of ingredients while there are those

BBQ all night, under the night sky, is a must try before the year turns a year older.

who’d go for a more lavish take on their creations.

Whatever your prefer, don’t forget to keep them Have a sticky New year ahead -- no pun intended! chilled before the big year beef or pork and even fect ending to a year of reveal!

Anything on skewers is seafood, it is always best many surprises.

BBQ at its best! The long to keep your marinade From one royalty to anhours before the great re- simple. Soy sauce, sugar, other, Happy New Year! veal, we opt to stay out- chili powder, garlic pow- May the force of life and doors and savor the cold, der and you are all set. tomorrow bring forth Leche Flan, like the happiness, stability and smoky feel of the remaining year. Be it chicken, kakanin, is a year round wisdom as we transition staple. Small, medium from one calendar page and large, whatever the to another. Cheers, everysize, we love its sweet taste one! lingering on our palette.

Make #TheRoyalChef Whether eaten on its own, your Thursday habit! Folatop a scoop of vanilla ice low and tag me on instacream or on cakes, the gram (herroyalheiress) for many sweet layers of the your delicious pics and flan and caramel is a per- food finds!

Salads are colorful representation of the year that was and the year ahead!

Servings of Leche Flan add a sweet touch to any celebration.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 203 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 - 29, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

INdulge! A3

ENTERTAINMENT

GMA Films, Agosto Dos Pictures and Reality Entertainment ink partnership

GMA Films, Agosto Dos Pictures and Reality Entertainment yesterday signed a partnership to continue the franchise of the exclusive actionadventure series The Aswang Chronicles. The contract-signing was held at the Executive Lounge of GMA Network Center in Quezon City.

GMA Films President Annette Gozon – Abrogar promises that the partnership will continue to produce quality entertain-

ment to the viewers. She also mentioned that the three film outfits’ entry to the Metro Manila Film Festival Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles is definitely better than the first one – from storyline, special effects to other production essentials. “The challenge of having a franchise is that every new release has to be better than the previous one. We will meet that goal with Kubot as well as for the future sequels. That is our commitment.”

Dingdong Dantes, who plays the main character in the film and is also one of the producers, has put his entire faith on The Aswang Chronicles franchise.

He expressed how each of them is sharing the same passion, which is to create and produce innovative films and promised that as long as they get people entertained, they won’t stop making films.

“I treat the franchise, The Aswang Chronicles, as well as sa lahat ng artistang

kasama ko, as really something na proud kaming ishare sa mga tao. Hangga’t marami kaming mapapasaya na mga manonood andyan ang partnership namin ng mga producers to give the audience what they deserve,” says Dingdong.

Meanwhile, Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles is the official entry of GMA Films, Agostos Dos Pictures and Reality Entertainment at the 40th Metro Manila Film Festival.

Newlyweds Aiza and Liza ready to have a baby AFTER their controversial same-sex marriage in the United States recently, Aiza Seguerra and Liza Diño reveals in “Tapatan Ni Tunying” airing this Thursday (December 25) that expanding their new family through in vitro fertilization (IVF) is next in their plans for 2015.

“The egg cells will be harvested from me, and then we will get a sperm donor for fertilization. The fertilized egg will be injected to Liza,” Aiza explains on how the said medical procedure will be conducted.

“I will be the surrogate of our baby. I’ll be carrying the baby,” Liza adds.

The newlywed couple also plans on hosting an-

other wedding ceremony here in the Philippines.

Aiza immediately clarifies that the said celebration does not aim to advo-

cate for the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) community, but only to celebrate love.

“I know that as a person, I have the right to love, neither just as a woman or a man. As a person, I have the right to show my love to Liza and to share it with our loved ones,” says Aiza.

“It’s a celebration of love, our commitment to each other with our family, friends, and people we care about. That is the whole point of doing that here in the Philippines,” Liza adds.

Kapuso stars and programs receive Anak TV seals GMA Primetime Royalties Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera, together with local television’s one and only “Bossing,” Eat Bulaga host Vic Sotto, led the list of Kapuso winners during the 2014 Anak TV Seal Awards held recently.

Dingdong, Marian, and Bossing Vic were again included in this year’s Anak TV Roster of Makabata Stars; while various programs from GMA and GMA News TV were, in turn, given the Anak TV Seal.

Awarded the Anak TV Seal were GMA programs “Aha!,” “I-Bilib,” “Del Monte Kitchenomics,” “Kap’s Amazing Stories,” “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho,” “Kusina Master,” “Pepito

Manaloto,” “Pinoy MD,” “Sarap Diva,” “Tropang Potchi,” “Wish Ko Lang!,” and the now defunct “Picture! Picture!.”

Also cited was GMA Regional TV’s locally produced travel and culture program “Let’s Fiesta.”

Completing the roster of Kapuso winners were GMA News TV’s weekly programs “Ang Pinaka,” “Born to be Wild,” “Good News with Vicky Morales,” “Idol sa Kusina,” “I Juander,” and “Taste Buddies.”

The Anak TV Seal is a national award bestowed by various stakeholders representing multiple sectors on local TV programs that are deemed as child-friendly shows.

December 27, 2014

KUBOT: THE ASWANG CHRONICLES 2 Dingdong Dantes, Isabelle Daza PG 13

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

FENG SHUI 2 Kris Aquino, Coco Martin PG 13

12:30 | 2:45 | 5:00 | 7:15 | 9:30 LFS

MY BIG BOSSING'S ADVENTURE Vic Sotto, Ryzza Mae Dizon GP

R-16

11:20 | 1:55 | 4:30 | 7:05 | 9:40 LFS

THE AMAZING PRAYBEYT BENJAMIN Vice Ganda, Richard Yap PG 13

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

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

STYLE

METRO MOM A1 lace is tailor-made in collaboration with the giver himself.

“I really involve buyers in the design process. I let them go through my selection of charms, locket frames and chains. They get to mix and match pieces which remind them of a memorable experience or perception of a special someone. There are also statement charms and letters, should they wish to spell out how they feel about a person, exactly,” shares the pretty mom, who seem to have inherited the business acumen and creativity from her young looking aunt and fellow mompreneur, Mimi Vergara – Tupas.

“It’s a great way of showing your appreciation to a friend, relative or

lover. In a way, it channels the kid in you as this design process will inspire and ignite your creativity, just like a little child who’s busy with his drawing or painting. In the end, it’s a necklace chosen and made by you. I am just the person who puts the style elements together and seal the memory into a locket necklace. It’s a great exercise of the mind and feelings, as it takes you down the memory lane while you choose the icons that would suit a person’s personality and image.”

“This just started out as a hobby which later on realized into an online business. I pay my clients a visit so they can personally select and design the necklaces. Prices vary depending on the type and

number of charms, plus the size of the locket ,” explains Ina. “What makes this gift unique is its sentimental value and the fact that it’s very personal. These statement pieces are unique and do not have replicas in stores because they are created specifically for a certain someone.”

For orders, please contact Ina Moran at mobile no. 0917 803 1425.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 203 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 - 29, 2014

13 BIGGER PICTURE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 203 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 - 29, 2014

Anak ng Passig…

The old tires tend to collect trash

Text and Photos by JON JOAQUIN

N

O, that’s not a typo.

Passig (accent on the second syllable) is an islet off Barangay Bato in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur that was featured on TV and in some blogs a few years ago.

But whatever you may have read about or remember of it is no longer true. If you go there today you will be sorely disappointed: the islet has fallen into neglect, and it is as tourist-unfriendly as they can get.

We (my family and some friends) had gone on a road trip on Christmas Day and decided to go to Passig to have a meal there. Our friend Dian had said it was a nice place and the seafood was fresh, so we headed for Barangay Bato (about 50 kilometers from downtown Davao City) and turned left into a small road leading to the dock where we would take the boat to the islet.

It was at the parking lot that we got our first sniff of trouble. We were

Passig is surrounded by old tires

greeted by someone who can only be described as an extortionist who told us there was a parking fee, but when we asked how much he said any amount would do. (When we paid later on he did not give us a receipt, so that “fee” obviously went straight to his pocket).

At the dock the dispatcher assigned us a boat and gave us the cell phone number of the pilot. The fare was P150 round trip, and to get back from the island we were told to text the pilot and he would pick us up. The boat itself was a rickety number, with no lifejackets on board. It was a good thing the trip was a short five minutes over about 700 meters of not-sodeep water.

The islet itself was visible from the dock, and I could see something black surrounding it that made it look like a gigantic floating structure — more like an oil platform than a white sand

islet. When we got closer I realized it was surrounded by old tires — a strange choice because they effectively hid the white sands which are supposed to be the islet’s main draw. I understand that they’re intended to keep the islet intact, but I think it would have been nicer to leave it alone and let the waves shape it (like Guyam in Siargao).

Once on the islet we saw virtually everything in disrepair. There were bathrooms and toilets that had definitely seen better days, and the cottages were dirty and looked almost unstable.

No one was cleaning up so there was trash everywhere, especially in between the old tires where candy and chichiria wrappers could be found in abundance. The water itself was not so inviting because of the pieces of trash that floated close to the beach.

I wanted to ask someone about the islet but no one

The jetty has fallen into disrepair seemed to be in charge save for a guy sitting on a table under a sign that said “Civil Security Unit” whose only task was apparently to charge visitors the fifteen-peso fee.

The only information I got was from Dian who said the islet was much prettier a few years ago when it was the provincial government’s pet project. Whatever it was before, it’s now just a shadow of its old self.

The islet has seen better days

We left after only a few minutes since the vendors were no longer selling seafood. At the dock we saw scores of people waiting for their ride, and we almost got into an argument with a family who had taken our boat.

It was a good thing another one offered to take us back at no extra charge.

As we were leaving I took some more pictures and realized that Passig did have a

lot of potential. Given some attention it can become a top tourist draw, but until then it’s really not worth going back to. On the way out one of us was actually singing the chorus of the Geneva Cruz song “Anak ng Pasig,” which is about the Pasig River in Manila but could very well describe Passig Islet: “Anak ng Passig naman kayo Kalat doon, kalat dito...”

14 SUBURBIA EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 203 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 - 29, 2014

Pyrotechnic tilt held during GSC Christmas

T

HE 1st “Paskuhan sa GenSan” Pyrotechnic Competition finally came to a close and spectators are left with higher expectations for next year.

Six contestants from different parts of the country painted the skies of GenSan with beautiful lights and colors for three straight nights on December 21 to 23.

The performers came from Manila, Dumaguete, Tacurong, North Cotabato, and GenSan. Two contingents performed every night.

People flocked inside the Oval Plaza during the competition to witness the fireworks launched from the adjacent Mindanao State University High School campus.

The competition attracted visitors from nearby areas such as Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani Province.

The pyrotechnics were judged according to the volume of launched fireworks,

luminosity and brightness, creative transition, and the overall composition of the display.

In the end, a team from Manila bagged the first prize (P80,000), while pyrotechnic artists from Matalam, North Cotabato (P60,000) and GenSan (40,000) got the second and third place, respectively.

Non-winners got P20,000 as consolation prize.

Jane Gollon-Rivera, GenSan Tourism Council chair and the organizer of the pyrotechnic competition, said they will make the competition bigger and brighter next year.

“As we see it, a lot of people were very happy to witness a fireworks competition in the city. It is the first time for something grand to happen here in GenSan and we vow that we will make it a regular event every Paskuhan sa GenSan,” Rivera said. (GenSan CPIO/Ian John M. Lagare)

GENERAL SANTOS CITY. The grandest fireworks display takes place on the culmination night of Paskuhan sa Gensan 2014 Wednesday, December 24. The fireworks exhibition painted the sky with vibrant

hue that lasted for 15 minutes. It was a fitting climax to the December 21-23 First Pyrotechnics Competition in Mindanao hosted by Gensan Tourism Council. (Gensan CPIO/ Russell Delvo)

15 HEALTH

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 203 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 - 29, 2014

Why beer is good for your health

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO Photos from the net

“

24 hours in a day, 24 beers in a case. Coincidence? I think not,” humorist Henry L. Mencken once wrote.

“Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy,” so said American statesman Benjamin Franklin.

After all, although not referring to beer at all, British playwright George Bernard Shaw wrote: “When we drink, we get drunk. When we get drunk, we fall asleep. When we fall asleep, we commit no sin. When we commit no sin, we go to heaven. So, let’s all get drunk and go to heaven!”

“In heaven there is no beer, that’s why we drink it here,” so goes the line of a song that was originally composed as a movie score for the film 1956’s “Die Fischerin vom Bodensee.” “When we’re gone from here, all our friends will be drinking all our beer!”

Beer is the world’s oldest and most widely consumed alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall (after water and tea).

It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of starches, mainly derived from cereal grains – the most common of which is malted barley, although wheat, corn, and rice are also widely used.

Nutritionists claim beer contains vitamins B and B2 (as well as B6, which is needed to make hemoglobin, the red coloring in blood) and essential minerals like calcium, potassium, and phosphorus.

Dark beer is better for you than light beer. A recent study published in the “Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture” has found that dark beer has higher iron content compared to lighter beers.

Dark beer also contains more flavanoids which are natural oxidants that help to protect the body from disease.

The beneficial effects of drinking alcohol have been guessed at from the earliest days of humankind. Beer was first used as a homeopathic remedy back in the good old days of the Egyptian Pharaohs. Since the beginning of the 20th century, doctors and researchers have sought scientific evidence to understand the association between alcohol and human health.

According to a study published in 1999’s “New England Journal of Medicine,” those who drank one beer a week compared to those who drank one beer a day experienced no variance in reducing stroke risks. It is said that light to moderate drinkers will decrease their chances of suffering a stroke by 20 percent.

In the United States, a researcher at the Texas Southwestern Medical Center reported that those who consume moderate amounts of beer (one to two a day at the most) have a 30-40 percent lower rate of coronary heart disease compared to those who don’t drink.

More than 100 studies also show that moderate drinking trims risk of heart attacks and dying from cardiovascular disease by 25 to 40 percent, reports the Harvard School of Public Health.

A beer or two a day can help raise levels of HDL, the “good” cholesterol that helps keep arteries from getting clogged.

Beer contains high levels of silicon, which is linked to bone health. In a 2009 study at Tufts University and other centers, older men and women who swigged one or two drinks daily had higher bone density, with the greatest benefits found in those who favored beer or wine. However, downing more than two drinks was linked to increased risk for fractures.

A beer a day may help keep Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia at bay, researchers say. A 2005 study tracking the health of 11,000 older women showed that moderate drinkers (those who consumed about one drink a day) lowered their risk of mental decline by as much as 20 percent, compared to non-drinkers. In addition, older women who downed a drink a day scored as about 18 months “younger,” on average, on tests of mental skills than the non-drinkers.

Drinking beer also reduces risk for diabetes. A 2011 Harvard study of about 38,000 middle-aged men found that when those who only drank occasionally raised their alcohol intake to one to two beers or other drinks daily, their risk

of developing type 2 diabetes dropped by 25 percent. The researchers found no benefit to quaffing more than two drinks. The researchers found that alcohol increases insulin sensitivity, thus helping protect against diabetes.

In 1999, a Finnish-U.S. study of beer-drinking, middle-aged men was published in the “American Journal of Epidemiology.” The report stated that an increase in beer consumption may reduce the risk of developing kidney stones. Results showed that there was a 40 percent lower risk of kidney stones in beer drinkers, but the researchers were stumped as to whether the results were due to water, alcohol or hops.

Of course, there are also bad sides of drinking beer.

For one, there’s such thing

Assorted beers (from Wikipedia)

as “beer belly.” In a German study, Gerard Klose said “dangers begin to emerge in men measuring more than 94 centimeters around the middle, and become ‘really risky’ at a girth of 102 centimeters.”

Here’s the hitch: “Too much fat,” Klose said, “makes diabetes, certain forms of cancer, and heart disease a distinct possibility.”

It’s no secret that high level of fat accumulated on the body is unhealthy and can cause serious illness over time. An article in the London Times reports that fat that collects around the internal organs to form the typically male beer belly will also find its way into the bloodstream and in turn, raise your cholesterol levels. This leads to heart and vascular disease and strokes.

Again, as in all things, moderation is the key here.

A 12-ounce of beer (one bottle) is equal to one drink. One drink per day for women, two for men, is considered a safe and beneficial amount. Excessive drinking will produce negative health effects. “Beer,” commented Thomas Jefferson, “if drunk in moderation, softens the temper, cheers the spirit, and promotes health.”

Drinking beer and other alcoholic beverages over moderation can lead to liver damage, dangers of drunk driving, and damage to fetuses of pregnant women who are drinking – just to name a few.

By the way, beer is not only for drinking but for cooking as well. It is incomparable as a cooking tool in Western Europe. Due to the fact that alcohol has a much lower boil-

ing temperature than water, it evaporates quickly while cooking your recipe and thereby only leaves the characteristic taste of the beer.

Some ways to use beer in cooking are as follows: marinades for beef (both tenderizes and adds flavor), as a substitute for water in different soups and stocks, used in batters for fried foods, added to gravies to spice up the taste, and as a cooking base/liquid for steaming foods like sausages, shellfish, and clams.

“Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer,” wrote Dave Barry, a Pulitzer Prize -winning American author and columnist. “Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza.”

16

CLASSIFIED

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 203 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 - 29, 2014

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

Billiard Supplies

Phone Nos.

Cell Nos.

COMMUNITY SENSE 17

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 203 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 - 29, 2014 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY

HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND Or Pag-ibig Fund, Mortgagee

EJF-REM CASE NO. 14,962-14

-versus-

HENRY R. NAJERA married to Ma. Alicia B. Najera, Mortgagor/s.

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF EXTRA-JUDICIAL SALE

Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the above- mentioned morgagee against HENRY R. NAJERA married to Ma. Alicia B. Najera with postal address at LOT 2 , Block 9, Phase 2 Villa De Mercedes, Toril, Davao City to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness in the total amount of ( Php 722,520.56 ) Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest, penalty charges as of July 14, 2014, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to TEN ( 10%) of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public auction on January 16, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland,Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate of Title No. T- 146-2010004412 “A parcel of land xxx (Lot 2, Blk. 9, xxx) situated in Barangay of Cogon, Sirawan, Toril, City of Davao Island of Mindanao. xxx Containing an area of TWO HUNDRED (200) SQUARE METERS, more or less” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date,it shall be held on February 12, 2015. without further notice.

Prospective buyers are hereby enjoined to investigate for themselves the condition of the unit property/ies and encumbrances thereon, if any there be.

Davao City, Philippines, December 2, 2014

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF:

Noted by:

(SGD.) REYNALDO O. GIRADO Sheriff IV

(SGD) ATTY. EDIPOLO P. SARABIA, JR. Clerk of Court VI & Ex-Officio Provincial Sheriff (edge 12/15,23,29)

IGaCoS keeps vintage 1958 firetruck running “

BETERANO na ni sa gira (This is veteran in fighting fires),” said Valentino Israel, the fire chief of the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS), as he slapped the back of perhaps the oldest fire truck in the country.

The truck was acquired circa 1958 and the city fire department still uses it during fire incidents.

“We’re still using and maintaining this, although this needs alignment and overhaul,” Israel said.

There is, however, a hitch: “Mahadlok ko basig di na kauli kay tiguwang na (I’m afraid it might not

be able to return after a fire because of old age).”

The vintage 1958 Nissan diesel firetruck still has a robust body with no sign of corrosion. build and not being corroded by rust.

The fire chief has been asking help from agencies to beef up the island with at least with one more firetruck to add to his current fleet of three, including the vintage one.

He said he is thankful for the active support of Mayor Aniano Antalan to the city fire department.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) for IGACOS has 32 firefighers, 23 of whom are regular and

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 21050650 under Loyola Contract No(s). 1371223/000130005179 issued to ANONAT, JESUS 1002611 under Loyola Contract No(s). 393173/000112355079 issued to ANONAT, REMY were lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

12/22,29,1/5

IGACOS fire chief Valentino Israel beside the vintage firetruck nine job order personnel.

Ten regular personnel are stationed in Peñaplata BFP base, seven in Babak, and five in Samal District.

Israel said his current manpower can still effectively respond to the fire incidents occurring in the island, which occur infrequently considering the island’s sparse population. “Samal isn’t yet a high-risk area,” he said.

Israel has stationed the best firetruck in Babak District which is the most urbanized area in the island.

He urged islanders to be extra careful during the holidays. “December is also fire prevention month knowing that this is the month when there’s high consumption of power due to celebrations and Christmas lightings. A power overload or underload can trigger fire,” he said.

Last month he and his personnel put off four fires, but as of press time not a single fire has occurred in the island this month. Cha Monforte, Correspondent

SPORTS DAVAO 18 EDGE Sports

VOL. 7 ISSUE 203 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 - 29, 2014

CHAMPION. Tessa Dianne Galendez of Davao City (2nd from left) wins the 1st SM Bowling Millionaire’s Cup held at SM Megamall’s Mega Fashion Hall. She is presented with a cheque worth P2M by six-time world bowling champion Rafael “Paeng” Nepomuceno (from left), SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc. President Edgar Tejerero, AVP of Education & Leisure Center Nicole Mariz Deato and Division Manager of Bowling & Leisure Center Christian Jan “CJ” Suarez.

SM LANANG PREMIER LEG WINNER. SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc. Regional Operations Manager (Mindanao) Edgardo Bayani awards 100,000 cheque to Tessa Galendez when she won the Mindanao leg of the competition held at the SM Bowling & Leisure Center at SM Lanang Premier.

Davao bet tops SM Millionaire’s Cup D

IANNE Galendez, 20 years old, amateur bowler from Davao City, emerged as the first bowler to win the SM Bowling Millionaire’s Cup held at the Activity Center of SM Megamall’s Mega Fashion Hall.

Dianne Galendez who won the best-of-three games in the Grand Finals earned

the P2 million top prize and a brand-new Chevrolet Sonic, taking home the biggest prize in Philippine bowling history, while the 1st runner up, Nelia Santos pocketed Php 500,000.

Finishing 2nd and 3rd runner up, with each earning Php 250,000 and Php 150,000 respectively were Teresita Eusebio and Lorenzo Mendoza. In

addition, the 5th-16th placers received Php 25,000 each.

Designed to revive the Filipinos’ passion for bowling, the SM Bowling Millionaires Cup was a month-long nationwide tournament open to all amateur bowlers, held across all eight bowling centers in: SM Fairview, SM North EDSA, SM Valenzuela, SM Mega Mall,

SM South Mall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Cebu and SM Lanang Premier in Davao. SM Bowling and Leisure Centers worked hand in hand with the Philippine Bowling Congress for the success of the tournament.

The top bowling contenders battled amongst a pool of 145 aspirants to qualify for the top 2 spots competing

for the grand finals. Dianne is the youngest competitor of the entire competition. She emerged as the champion for the Mindanao leg of the competition held in SM Lanang Premier. The SM Bowling Millionaire’s Cup is in celebration of the SM Bowling and Leisure Center’s 25th year anniversary.

“We are very happy with the turnout of the first SM Bowling Millionaire’s Cup,” said former World Cup champion CJ Suarez, who is now SM Bowling Division Manager. “With the success of the Millionaire’s Cup, we hope to hold the tournament to serve as springboard for young bowlers.”

VOL. 7 ISSUE 203 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 - 29, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS

19

BRING ON THE BROOM

Beermen sweep Texters

T

FOILED. Miami Heat forward Chris Andersen (11) fouls Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) in the fourth quarter as the Miami Heat host the Cleveland Cavaliers at the AmericanAirlines Arena on Thursday (Friday PHL Time), December 25, 2014. Al Diaz Miami Herald Staff

James leads All-Star voting

C

LEVELAND Cavaliers forward LeBron James grabbed the early lead in fans voting for the 2015 National Basketball Association all-star game.

Two-time all-star game MVP James has a slim lead over Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry.

James, who has started 10 consecutive all-star games, has a league-best 552,967 votes, while Curry sits just behind him with 549,095 votes.

New York forward Carmelo Anthony (265,170) and Chicago’s Pau Gasol (247,953) are on pace to start in the frontcourt for

the Eastern Conference next to James. Washington point guard John Wall (299,209) and James’ former teammate with Miami, Dwyane Wade (265,917), lead all East guards.

New Orleans Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis is third in overall voting with 524,623 votes. Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, who is off to his worst season since 2003-04, has 521,542.

Voting will continue through January 19 and the starters will be announced on January 22.

This season’s game will be played February 15 at Madison Square Garden.

HE San Miguel Beermen brought out the brooms as they swept the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters, winning Game 4 of their semifinals series 100-87, Friday night at the Mall of Asia Arena. The Beermen barged into the 2014 PBA Philippine Cup Finals where they are awaiting the winner of the series between Alaska and Rain or Shine.

June Mar Fajardo had a monster performance for the Beermen with 28 points on 12 of 17 shooting from the field with 16 rebounds and five assists. The only downside to his dominant performance was committing nine turnovers.

As a team, the Beermen really did not take care of the ball as they committed 25 turnovers. However, even this could not help the Texters get a win.

San Miguel Beer shot a scorching 57.7% from the field, almost 20% higher that what Talk ‘N Text came up with.

Talk ‘N Text was led by Jimmy Alapag who had a conference high 17 points in the game. Larry Fonacier and Danny Seigle had 12 each while Ranidel De Ocampo and Matt

Ganuelas-Rosser both had 11.

The Beermen remained dominant in Game 4 as they only allowed the Texters to hold the lead once at 1-0. For 46 minutes and 27 second in the 48-minute game, San Miguel Beer held the lead, which was often in double-digits.

The Beermen last won the Philippine Cup triphy back in 2001 when they were still led by TNT head coach Jong Uichico. They’re hoping to add the first title to their tally after winning the 2011 PBA Governors’ Cup. The Main Man: Fajardo was just too dominant for the Texters. They out different defenders on The Kraken but no one could stop him one-onone. When he was double- and even triple-teamed, Fajardo found open teammates who sot well from the outside.

Honorable Mentions: Alex Cabagnot and Chris Lutz provided help on offense as they combined for 31 points while Arwind Santos had another steady night with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals.

Game Turning Point: With 1:50 left on the game, the Texters were gearing up for one last run as Jayson Castro’s

jumper cut their deficit down to eight at 89-81. The Texters enforced a full court press but Marcio Lassiter found Fajardo down low on the press break.

Fajardo completed a threepoint play which sealed the deal for the Beermenx Stat of the Game: The Beermen’s rebounding dictated the tempo for the game as they had 52 compared to only 39 for the Texters He Said It: SMB head coach Leo Austria: At the start of the semis, we were not expecting this to happen. I defined the role of the players, solid sila.

We help each other. Kahit yung players na di nagagamit very supportive sila. The players are so willing to learn, na-develop yung chemistry.

The scores: SAN MIGUEL 100 - Fajardo 28, Cabagnot 16, Lutz 15, Santos 13, Tubid 11, Lassiter 7, Ross 6, Maierhofer 2, Omolon 2.

TALK N’ TEXT 87 - Alapag 17, Fonacier 12, Seigle 12, Rosser 11, De Ocampo 11, Castro 6, Reyes R. 5, Williams 5, Washington 4, Alas 4.

Quarter scores: 24-20, 4938, 73-57, 100-87.

wants to develop into one of the best big men on the international level.

“June Mar has to take more steps internationally, he’s doing a great job in the PBA. He’s a real tough assignment for any team as we are observing right now, but internationally, he’s just another big man,” Baldwin told a small group of sportswriters.

The coach added that Fajardo needs more games on the international level, which

will help him out much more than his dominating over the PBA. “While we need big men, we need quality big men. So June Mar has to continue to step forward and continue to become a better international big man. I think that’s only gonna happen in the international level. The type of resistance you’re getting in the PBA doesn’t really qualify or help develop him,” he said.

“Obviously when the im-

ports come in, he’ll get more competition, but that’s what he really needs. He needs a lot of exposure in international basketball and continue to adapt,” Baldwin added.

Baldwin understands that while the Philippines’ main strength lies on the guard spots, but on the international level, it’s a necessity to get quality big men to represent the national team and compete against the best frontliners in Asia and also in the world level.

Baldwin: Junmar still lacks experience N

EWLY-INSTALLED Philippine national men’s basketball team coach Tab Baldwin has seen San Miguel center and PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo improve from the time he got involved with the Gilas program.

The Talk ‘N Text coaching consultant was treated to an up-close look at the still improving 6-foot-10 slotman in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals but felt like Fajardo still needs more exposure if he

Rockets sign up Smith

J

OSH Smith, a standout forward dropped at the start of the week by the Detroit Pistons, signed a new NBA deal Friday with the Houston Rockets, the team announced.

The move came after the Pistons released Smith on Monday, less than halfway into a four-year contract that had been worth $54 million (44 million euros). The new contract was reportedly for one year at $2 million (1.6 million euros).

Smith, 29, had averaged 13.1 points and 7.2 rebounds over 28 games this season for Detroit.

Houston center Dwight Howard was a team-mate of Smith’s when both played on an amateur club in Atlanta.

Smith has career averages of 15.4 points and 7.8 rebounds over 781 games with Atlanta and Detroit.

The Rockets released forward Tarik Black to make roster room for Smith. Black averaged 4.2 points and 5.1 rebounds in 25 games this season.

At 20-7, the Rockets rank fourth in the Western Conference, just behind Memphis (21-7) in a fight for the Southwest division lead.

TIGHT GUARDING. Alex Cabagnot of San Miguel Beer tries to drive past a pesky Jimmy Alapag of Talk N’ Text during their semifinals encounter.

Nuki Sabio

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 203 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, DECEMBER 28 - 29, 2014