Edge Davao 7 Issue 204 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 204 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

STAYING BEHIND. A young Lumad boy extends his arm to ask for alms from a young girl peeking out from a vehicle along the junction of Cabaguio and R. Castillo Avenues in Davao City yesterday. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte promised to bring the Lumads back to their hinterland homes last Saturday but some have chosen to stay behind until after the New Year celebration. Lean Daval Jr.

CEASEFIRE ATTACK 2 soldiers, militiaman killed by NPA By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

WO soldiers and a militiaman were killed allegedly by the New People’s Army (NPA) yesterday morning in Sitio Barigyan, Barangay Candinuyan, Mabini, Compostela Valley Province. The incident happened in the middle of a ceasefire between the Armed Forces

of the Philippines (AFP) and the NPA from December 18 to January 18, 2015. The military said the two soldiers and one member of the Civilian Active Auxiliary (CAA) were unarmed and in civilian clothes on board a single motorcycle on their way to their Christmas break from Barangay Anitapan

when they were shot at point blank range by around eight NPA members at around 9:45 a.m. yesterday. Responding troops from 71st Infantry Battalion disclosed that the three victims bore multiple gunshot wounds. “We sympathize with the bereaved families of the slain

soldiers and will exert all efforts to bring to justice those responsible for this merciless, treacherous crime,” 10th Infantry Agila Division Commander Major General Eduardo M Año said. “The continued banditry attacks disproves the sugar-coated statements of the

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INSIDE EDGE ALASKA A WIN AWAY SPORTS page 14

2 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 204 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

BBL UPDATES. Lawyer Al Julkifli (second from right) of the Government of the Philippines (GPH) peace panel updates Davao media updates on the ongoing consultation for the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) which is being conducted around Mindanao. Julkifli graced yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

Heavy security for Torotot Festival T

HE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) will implement “maximum deployment” of foot and mobile patrol operatives in the whole stretch of Roxas Avenue for tomorrow’s “Torotot Festival.” In an interview, DCPO spokesperson Senor Inspector Milgrace C. Driz told Edge Davao that the DCPO will deploy 500 personnel who will secure the expected 10,000 participants of the event. Driz said the 500 will come from the Mobile Patrol Group, Davao City Public Safety Company, Task Force Davao, Traffic Group, Barangay Police Units, and the augmentation force from the Regional Public Safety Battalion. Forces from National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG), and other law enforcement agencies will also help secure the event. “We will provide covert and overt security,” Driz said.

The public is discouraged from carrying backpacks, although a baggage center will be designated in the area. Driz said bringing of liquor and other alcohol drinks as well as bladed weapons is also prohibited. “Cigarettes are also prohibited because we really need to implement our Anti-Smoking Ordinance during the event,” she added. The event will start at 2 p.m. tomorrow (December 31) with a parade that will start at People’s Park going to Roxas Avenue. Smart Communications Southern Mindanao sales manager Arnold P. Dellosa earlier told Edge Davao that more games and prizes await those who will participate in the event. Dellosa said one of the additions is the costume contest which is divided into two categories: group and individual

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Number of firecracker ban violators drops By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

UST because there is a total ban on firecrackers in Davao City doesn’t mean there are no violators, but the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has recorded much lower numbers this year than last year. As of December 28, the police have arrested five persons identified as Marlene M. Macaampao, 27; Papao A. Baguinda, 44; Abdul Limbona, 44; and two minors. In 2013, the DCPO arrested 39 people, 24 of them minors, for violating Ordinance 060-02, Series of 2002 which prohibits “the Manufacture, Sale, Distribution, Possession or Use of Firecrackers or Pyrotechnic Devices and such

other similar devices and the exploding of Firecrackers or other similar explosives within the territorial jurisdiction of Davao City.” DCPO spokesperson Senior Inspector Milgrace C. Driz told Edge Davao in an interview that the minors arrested this year were turned over to the Quick Response Team for Children’s Concern of the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO). The three adults, meanwhile, have already been charged before the City Prosecution Office. “Wala siguro sila kabalo or kabalo pero nagtake risk na magpabuto (Maybe they did not know that there is

continue with the intensified operations against illegal firecrackers in the next three days within the province’s 10 towns and lone city. He directed all chiefs of police in the area to enforce the provisions of RA 7183 and make sure that the designated areas for the selling of the regulated firecrackers and fireworks are properly followed. The official urged local traders, especially the sari-sari stores and ambulant vendors, to refrain from selling firecrackers and fireworks. The South Cotabato Integrated Provincial Health Office earlier reported that a number of firecracker victims in the province, specifically of picco-

lo, were able to purchase the items from sari-sari stores and ambulant vendors. “They (sari-sari stores and ambulant vendors) are not allowed to distribute and sell any firecracker or firework. The selling and even buying of piccolo is prohibited,” Briones said. He warned that aside from the confiscation of the items, violators could face charges in connection with RA 7183. Under RA 7183, firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices that have more than the allowable explosive content are strictly prohibited. Among the banned materials are watusi or the

an ordinance or they might know it but they took the risk just the same),” Driz said. Driz attributed the decrease of the number of apprehensions to the DCPO’s intensified operation and information dissemination. She said the DCPO has done 2,520 foot patrol operation and 2,602 mobile patrol operations from the 12 police stations in the city. The DCPO also conducted a total of 324 information drives in the different barangays. Meanwhile, Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 regional director Chief Superintendent Wendy Garcia Rosario directed all chief of

police, station commanders, and other operating units in the region to be aggressive in their police operations against irresponsible persons who illegally discharge their firearms and illegally sell firecrackers. “The seriousness of our police operation stemmed from our desire to keep the public safe from firecrackers and illegal discharge of firearm related injuries especially the children. Let us put a stop to the never ending story of people being hurt, hit, or killed by stray bullet mostly caused by drunk irresponsible people with loose firearms,” Rosario said. With Funny Pearl A. Gajunera

1,500 boxes of piccolo seized in South Cotabato Over 300 flee as rivers swell in Bukidnon

OLICE operatives in South Cotabato province seized around 1,500 boxes of the banned piccolo firecracker in a series of operations over the weekend in Tupi town. Senior Supt Jose Briones, South Cotabato police director, said Monday they confiscated the illegal firecrackers from three traders who were confirmed to have been openly selling them in the area. He said he had ordered the Tupi police station to step up its operations against the selling of illegal firecrackers after the area posted 10 confirmed injuries due to piccolo since November 30. A report released by Chief

Insp. Larry Salcedo, Tupi police chief, said they recovered a total of 1,583 boxes of piccolo worth around P25,000 in their operations in the last two days. He said the illegal items were seized from three traders identified as Jocelyn Saquil Jamindang, Datu Taya Talib Colano and Noradin Cabuyao Sampulna, who reportedly operate in Barangays Poblacion and Bunao. Salcedo said he will recommend the revocation of the licenses of the three traders for violation of Republic Act (RA) 7183 or the “Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution and Use of Firecrackers and other Pyrotechnic Devices.” Briones said they will

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VER 300 individuals from at least six villages in Bukidnon have fled as water levels in rivers and streams connected to the Pulangi River started to rise as tropical storm Seniang continued to dump heavy rains across the province, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said at noon Monday. Ma. Leah Barquez, focal person at the Bukidnon Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said Valencia City accounted for most of the evacuees with 275 individuals or 34 families.

She said these families left their homes in response to orders for a preemptive evacuation by the local DRRMCs. The PDRRMC reported that in Valencia, 150 individuals came from Barangay Batangan, 20 families or around 100 persons from Barangay Catumbalon, 12 families or around 60 persons from Sitio Hinauan, Purok 5 in Barangay Poblacion, and two families or 10 persons from Barangay Sugod. These villages are along the Pulangi River. In Cabanglasan, the Municipal DRRMC said the water

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 204 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

Cop fires gun By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

ALL SMILES. Department of Tourism Assistant Secretary Arturo Boncato takes a picture of media practitioners during yesterday’s post-Christmas and pre-New Year gathering at a restaurant along F. Torres Street in Davao City. Notice Edge Davao lifestyle writer Kenneth Irving Ong at right also taking picture of Boncato. Lean Daval Jr.

Congress eyes final BBL draft by January By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

HE House of Representatives and the Senate both target to have the final and refined draft of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) finished by January next year. Lawyer Al Julkifli, a member of the legal team assisting the government panel in talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), said the 75-member House ad hoc committee, headed by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus rodriguez, has already completed all 33 meetings, most of which were conducted publicly. Speaking at the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Annex yesterday, Julkifli said the last public consultation was simul-

taneously conducted in Cebu, Iloilo, and Butuan. The series of consultative meetings in Mindanao started in September and ended on December 17. Julkilfi said the results of the public consultation in different areas in the country are being consolidated now to have a collated version by early next year. “The ad hoc committee is planning to have an executive meeting once it reconvenes in January to talk about the possible amendments of some provision and the refinement of the words used in the proposed law,” he said. He said the House of Congress plans to do the refine-

Missing plane was airworthy: AirAsia

HE Air Asia Indonesia plane that lost contact with air traffic control on Sunday morning was “in airworthy condition and had undergone its last scheduled maintenance on November 16, 2014, the airline said. In a statement, Air Asia also said the captain in command was an experienced pilot with a total of 20,537 flying hours, of which 6,053 flying hours were with AirAsia Indonesia. The statement said the first officer, who was French, had a total of 2,247 flying hours. Flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore lost contact with air traffic control at

7:24 (Surabaya LT) on Sunday morning. The flight took off from Juanda International Airport in Surabaya at 5.35 a.m. The aircraft was an Airbus A320-200 with the registration number PK-AXC. There were two pilots, four flight attendants, and one engineer on board. There were 155 passengers on board, of which 137 were adults, 17 were children, and one was an infant. The airline said the passengers were composed of one Singaporean, one Malaysian, three South Koreans, one British, and 149 Indonesians. The crew was composed of six Indonesians and one

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ment and tweaking of the proposed BBL from January 21 to 30. Meanwhile, the Senate intends to hold two more public consultations among different local chief executives from the proposed core territories of the Bangsamoro on January 19 in Quezon City. The next day a public consultation for special group composed of members of the MILF and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). Julkifli said Senate President Franklin Drilon ahs already said the proposed law will be prioritized next year. The processed BBL version of both houses of Con-

gress will be submitted to the plenary for second and reading by February before it is submitted to President Aquino for signing. The government targets to hold the plebiscite by May or June next year. Julkifli said the approval of the bill will be not affected by the upcoming 2016 election because the filing of candidacy will be in October. The Bangsamoro bill, now House Bill No. 4994, “provides a legal framework for the final peace accord signed by the government and MILF in March after 17 years of negotiations aimed at ending four decades of war in some part of Mindanao.”

POLICE officer assigned at Laak Municipal Police Station, Compostela Valley Province was allegedly fired his weapon illegally on Sunday afternoon. The officer was identified as Police Officer (PO)1 Jhoy Abucayon Velasco, with badge number 202257. Laak police said Velasco abandoned his post and engaged in a drinking session. He also sent an unruly text message to Senior Inspector Melvin Pardillo Fernandez. Police said Velasco then

indiscriminately fired his service Glock 9mm pistol twice. PNP personnel were able to disarm Velasco but the suspect managed to escape after the incident. Recovered from the crime scene were two fired 9mm cartridges. Personnel of the Laak police station are still conducting a manhunt operation for the suspect. Velasco will be facing an administrative case for grave misconduct and a criminal case for illegal discharge of firearm.

Palace: No preconditions for resumption of peace talks

HE Palace on Monday reiterated that the government will not consider any precondition for the resumption of peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army-National Democratic Front (CPPNPA-NDF). “Our emphasis is always – walang preconditions when it comes to talks. We have said that before. We have always said that when we come to talks with either party – NDF or MILF (Moro Islamic Liberation Front) – there are no preconditions with the talks. This is something we have said time and time again,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a press briefing in Malacañang. Lacierda was responding to a question on whether the government would consider CPP founder Jose Maria Sison’s request to release Benito and Wilma Tia-

mzon before the peace talks resume. He explained that there is a pending criminal case against Benito Tiamzon and his release is out of the question. Benito Tiamzon is one of the top leaders of the CPP-NPA-NDF, while his spouse, Wilma, is the group’s Secretary General. Both were arrested in Carcar, Cebu last March 22. Malacañang said at that time their arrest was not covered by the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantee, signed with the CPP-NDF in 1995. “Now, there is a possibility of a resumption of talks. What (Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process) Secretary Ging Deles has always emphasized is, ‘Let’s have a resumption of talks where it is doable and time-bound; and there are certain issues that we need to clarify further,’” Lacierda said. (PNA)

IN CONCERT. Abdul Candao, the first Filipino tenor based in Vienna, Austria, promotes his upcoming concert slated on January 4 at the Ateneo de Davao University during Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 204 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Oil palm industry sees 300K hectare expansion By CHENEEN R. CAPON crc@edgedavao.net

MEMBER of the Philippine Oil Palm Industry Development Council is eying a 300,000-hectare expansion in oil palm plantations in the country in the next ten years. Former Davao City councilor Peter Laviña told reporters during the Kapehan sa Dabaw yesterday that there is a big potential in the oil palm industry because of its huge demand locally and abroad. Locally, palm oil – a product of oil palm – is used for cooking, baking, and in food services. “In 2013, the Philippines imported a total of P35 billion worth of palm oil from countries like Malaysia and Indonesia,” Laviña said. The Philippines imported a total of 550,000 tons of refined palm oil, of which 80 percent came from Malaysia and only 20 percent came from local farms. Laviña said the country

will be able to save a huge amount if farmers here start producing their own palm oil instead of importing from other countries. The current 70,000 hectares of oil plantation in the country only produces 20 percent of the total local demand. “It will be also benefit our farmers because it has a higher yield than coconut or soya,” Laviña said. A single hectare planted with 140 good variety of oil palm and good farm management can produce as much as 20 tons per year, of which 17 to 23 percent can be utilized for oil palm production. Coconut, on the other hand, needs to have three to four hectares before it can produce the same amount. “Farmers need to see the big potential of this industry. It is not true that it emits more greenhouse gases as claimed by some environmental

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BIG POTENTIAL. Former Davao City councilor Peter Laviña, a member of the Philippine Oil Palm Industry Development Council, believes the oil palm industry has big potential because of its huge demand locally and abroad. Laviña was guest in yesterday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

Gov’t registers P6.8B BOI approves Unilever’s $120-M expansion project surplus for November T

HE National Government (NG) achieved a P6.8 billion fiscal surplus in November despite revenues contracting 4 percent year-onyear as expenditures similarly slid by 8 percent for the period. In a statement, the Department of Finance (DOF) said the recorded surplus for November is higher than the P1.0 billion surplus from last

year, narrowing the year-todate deficit to P26.8 billion for 2014, 76 percent lower than the 2013 level. Net of Interest payments, NG registered a primary surplus of P24.9 billion, higher than the P19.1 billion in November 2013. Similarly, JanNov 2014 primary surplus of P265.5 billion is 43 percent

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HE Board of Investments (BOI) has approved the expansion project of Unilever in the Philippines amounting to US$120 million before 2014 ends. According to BOI, the country is granting incentives to Unilever under a pioneer status. This means the world’s leading consumer goods manufacturer will be entitled to six years of income tax holiday (ITH). The government can also extend the ITH to the company for another two years if the

company will be able to meet some requirements such as exports pledges. The BOI will also grant Unilever zero duty on capital equipment importation for its expansion project. The expansion plan of Unilever in the Philippines involves purchasing new and pioneering technologies and upgrading of equipment in food, personal care, and home care categories. This will help the company to increase its production capacity and asset base. The multinational firm

targets to deliver the expansion plan by 2020 which will include purchasing of new 11 processing lines from its current 16 lines; upgrading of nine existing processing lines; while retiring the seven remaining processing lines. By 2020, the company eyes to complete purchase of 60 filling lines and upgrading its current 20 filling lines. For end-of-line automation, the firm sets to purchase 58 new units while upgrading the four existing units. Unilever Philippines and its parent company are also

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Globe is ‘Top Company to Work for in Asia’

TOP FIRM. Globe Telecom Chief Human Resource Officer Renato Jiao receives the Top Company to Work for In Asia Award from ACES Awards jurors Dr. Jayanthi Desan, Managing Director of Synergio and Andrew Bryant, Managing Director of Self Leadership Institute.

eying to make the Philippines a part of its global supply chain particularly in its edible oil requirements. This is part of the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) which targets to locally source agricultural raw material to create impact on the livelihood of farmers worldwide. In the Philippines, Unilever sourced its tamarind locally as one of its main ingredients for its Knorr Sinigang Mix. The tamarind was sourced specifically in Cagayan Valley and Batangas through its sup-

LOBE Telecom was hailed as Top Company to Work for In Asia at the Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (ACES) Awards 2014. In a statement, Globe said the award was “a testament to (our) efforts to create the most wonderful experience possible for each of (our) over 6,000 employees nationwide.” ACES recognizes successful companies and individuals in Asia across two main domains: leadership and corporate social responsibility. The awards value services and achievements of businesses, both large and small, national and international, for their contributions to their communities and the world. The Top Company to Work for in Asia awards are present-

ed to five companies that take on a people centric approach and demonstrate strong commitment towards employee empowerment and enrichment. The winning companies show advocacy for investment in people, recognition and retention, improving employee’s job satisfaction, practices fair communication, and promote work life balance. The awarded companies have low attrition rate, houses a great pool of talents, and have a practice of knowledge sharing among employees and stakeholders. “We are proud to be selected as among the best companies to work for in the region,” Globe Chief Human Resource Officer Renato Jiao said.

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 204 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

6 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 204 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Health groups join calls to probe tobacco firm’s tax malpractices A

NTI-SMOKING groups have joined the calls for a congressional probe into cigarette maker Mighty Corporation over alleged tax malpractices. The organizations, composed of The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP), New Vois Association of the Philippines (NVAP) and Philippine College of Physicians (PCP), said there is

a need for an investigation on how tobacco companies, particularly Mighty Corp., are adhering to Republic Act 10351 or the Sin Tax Law. “There should be a congressional probe into sin tax malpractices and illicit trade (not just of Mighty) but of all tobacco companies,” FCAP executive Director Dr. Maricar Limpin said in statement. She said it is a dangerous precedent to allow vio-

lations of existing tax laws as it invalidates the purpose of the measures, noting that failure to comply with the sin tax law means that cigarettes would remain affordable to children and the poor. “They get to undermine the law and thus prevent us from achieving the two main objectives of sin tax: health and revenues,” Limpin said. For his part, NVAP president Emer Rojas said

an assessment of the sin tax law is necessary. “As stated in the law, the sin tax must be assessed again before 2017 or the final year of implementation,” he said PCP president Dr. Tony Leachon welcomed the sin tax review, especially to assess its health and revenue impact, but said a review had just been done. “It will be redundant to have another review this soon,” he said.

The Bulacan-based cigarette firm has been criticized for selling its products at economically unsustainable prices – even below the cost of production, excise tax, and VAT. RA 10351 is one of the major health and revenue measures passed by the Aquino administration with the aim of increasing cigarette prices and alcoholic drinks, thereby making them unaffordable for the youth and the poor.

Under the law, 85 percent of sin tax revenues is earmarked for the enrollment of the poorest of the poor to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth). Earlier, the Department of Health and lawmakers led by House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. and Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Juan Edgardo Angara called for a congressional inquiry on Mighty Corp. (PNA)

HE Philippines’ public and private sectors’ ability to pay in advance large part of their foreign liabilities in the past years resulted in lower prepayments as of end-September 2014. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) data show that prepayment of the public and private sectors on their medium and long-term foreign loans reached US$253.0 million at the end of the ninth month of 2014. This is lower compared to the US$2.87 billion paid in advance in the same period in 2013. Of the total, the private sector paid higher amount at US$164.7 million compared to the US$89.2 million of the public sector. This levels, on the other hand, are lower than the US$2.4 billion paid by the private sector in end-September 2013 and the US$467.8 million made by the public sector during the same period. The strong liquidity

situation in the domestic economy along with the resiliency and strength of the local currency enabled both the government and the private sector to pay their liabilities ahead of time. Domestic fundamentals continue to improve enabling both the government and the private sector to benefit from the situation. In 2013, the Philippines received investment grade ratings from the three major debt watchers namely Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) and Moody’s Investors Service. This development benefited some large corporations like banks since they also got their respective investment grade ratings. This development increased investors’ confidence to the economy making both the government and the private sector take out loans at a lower interest rate. (PNA)

Colmenares also noted that airlines in many instances do not use the passenger tube even if the passengers have paid for its use, making it difficult for the elderly and the sick as they have to go down the tarmac. He also batted for lower airline fare, saying there has been a substantial decrease in fuel prices leading to lower fares in jeepneys and other public transport. “But the airline rates have not gone down. A decrease in airline rates will not only result in a tempo-

rary relief for airline passengers but could also ease the rising prices of some commodities transported through these airline companies,” he said. “It would be better if the Committee on Transportation would just call for a motu propio hearing to probe these issues during the break, but if not then I hope that it would immediately be scheduled on the resumption of sessions so that these airlines would improve their services,” he said. (PNA)

MMFF 2014 gross earnings Phl prepayments reach $253.9M in September breach P365M in first 3 days T M ETRO Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Francis Tolentino announced on Sunday the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) grossed P365 million for the first three days up by 12 percent compared to last year. Tolentino, who is also the chairman MMFF committee, said on the first

three days the ticket sales recorded some P365 million compared to P326 million in the same period last year. Tolentino said the four top-grossing films were comedy films My Big Bossing’s Adventures and The Amazing Praybeyt Benjamin 2, horror film Feng Shui 2, and action-fantasy Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2.

He said the four films have no ranking as of now and the final ranking will be released on January 4. The four other official entries are historical drama Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo, romance-comedy English Only Please, action film Magnum Muslim .357, and horror film Shake, Rattle & Roll XV. Tolentino said the MMFF

is expecting a gross income of P1.1 billion this year, surpassing last year’s gross income of P987 million. Tolentino said the beneficiaries of the MMFF include the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation Inc., Motion Picture and Anti-Film Piracy Council, Film Development Council of the Philippines, and the Optical Media Board. (PNA)

Solon calls for sanctions on CebuPac for dismal service B AYAN Muna Party-list Rep. Neri Colmenares on Sunday said the offer of Cebu Pacific Airlines for refunds is not enough and that the airline should be sanctioned for its continued dismal service. Colmenares said a refund is not enough to silence disgusted passengers of Cebu Pacific and said the authorities should impose stiffer penalties on the airline to send a strong message. In a December 16 privilege speech in Congress,

Colmenares decried the country’s airlines’ “excessive fares, delays, and dismal service” and called for an investigation on them as well as on the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) for failing to protect airline passengers. “CAB should not be allowed to escape accountability since dismal service has been going on for a long time,” he said. Last Sunday, Colmenares said he wished that Congress had immediately called for a probe.

“But that did not happen, so I will file a resolution when Congress opens on January 5 for the probe to immediately take place. While it is good that the CAB will already start its investigation to get to some of the details of the continued inconvenience of airline passengers, I think that the CAB should also be probed for not doing its duty to regulate these airlines and protect airline passengers,” he said. Colmenares said aside from the long queues, de-

layed flights, and overbooking the resolution will probe cancelled flights and expensive rebooking fees and penalties. He said another problem, particularly for Cebu Pacific, is that it offers a “deceptively low initial base fare” but in the end the fare shoots up due to big tax and surcharges that are “even higher than that of Philippine Airlines (PAL).” “They also charge passengers with a web administration fee that is ridiculous,” he said.

7 ENVIRONMENT

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 204 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Coral reefs facing death due to bleaching

Coral bleaching (photo courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO Photos courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

ECENTLY, Agence France-Presse reported that the Marshall Islands “is experiencing its worst-ever coral bleaching as global warming threatens reefs across the entire northern Pacific.” “The worst coral bleaching event ever recorded for the Marshall Islands has been occurring since mid-September,” Karl Fellenius, a Majuro-based marine scientist with the University of Hawaii, was quoted as saying. C. Mark Eakin, manager of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coral Reef Watch program, confirmed the report. In fact, the recent observations showed the problem was widespread across the vast waters of the northern Pacific. “Major bleaching was seen in Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, the northwestern Hawaiian Islands, the Marshall Islands, and Kiribati,” Eakin pointed out. Fellenius traced the massive coral bleaching due to climate change. “While bleaching can occur on very hot days in pools of water with little circulation (such as) very low tides on reef flats, it has become a global problem due to greenhouse gas emissions causing elevated temperatures under climate change,” he said. Globally, high temperatures that change the climate around the world is one of the main reasons of the decimation of coral reefs. “There is no debate among marine scientists that climate change is for real,” said Dr. Robert H. Richmond, president of the International Society for Reef Studies. Coral reefs are among those that are greatly affected by the global warming phenomenon. A sudden or abrupt change in temperature is bad for corals. “It leads to stress that cause coral bleaching, and eventually, death of corals. “Bleaching is not a good thing,” explained Dr. Terry Hughes, a distinguished professor at James Cook Universi-

ty, who convened the most recent International Coral Reef Symposium held in Cairns, Australia. “Thermal stress due to global warming is not good.” According to Dr. Hughes, as global warming intensifies, coral bleaching would also increase at an unprecedented level. “Bleaching events are expected to increase in terms of frequency,” said Dr. Hughes, who has been a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science since 2001. “The surface of the world’s oceans has warmed by 0.7°Centigrade, resulting in unprecedented coral bleaching and mortality events,” said the statement released during the 2012 ICRS. The document was drafted by a working group of eminent scientists, brought together under the auspices of The Center for Ocean Solutions. In a series of journals some years back, Science reported that climate change could trigger the death of coral reefs, with coral bleaching being the clearest sign. “A range of stresses, including disease, sedimentation, pollutants and changes in salinity can induce coral bleaching,” explains the face sheet disseminated by Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA). “However, it is unusually high water temperatures that trigger the mass coral bleaching events that can extend over tens to hundreds (or even thousands) of kilometers.” The GBRMPA is recognized as a world leader in managing reefs affected by coral bleaching. “Mass bleaching has now affected every reef region in the world,” it says. “A particularly severe, worldwide bleaching event occurred in 1998, effectively destroying 16 percent of the world’s reefs. Some areas lost 50-90 percent of their coral in this single event.” In 2010, as much as 95 percent of the corals in the Philippines suffered bleaching after a warming event. “The bleaching has been observed at many other sites around the Philippines featur-

ing mass mortality of corals,” a news report said. Coral reefs are touted as the rainforest of the sea. Each coral formation is a colony of hundreds or thousands of tiny organisms (known as polyps) that jointly build a skeleton that forms the reef. The outside layer of each coral polyp is inhabited by tiny one-celled plants scientists called zooxanthellae. Corals get up to 90 percent of their energy supply from the zooxanthellae that live within their tissues in a symbiotic relationship (a beneficial interaction between the coral and zooxanthellae). Stressful conditions cause the relationship to break down and the coral expel their zooxanthellae. “Because zooxanthellae are the major source of color for most corals, the coral’s white skeleton becomes visible through their tissue,” the GBRMPA fact sheet points out. “Bleached corals begin to starve once they bleach.” The Management of Bleached and Severely Damaged Coral Reefs traced coral bleaching as far back as 1870.

However, since the 1980s, bleaching events have become more frequent, widespread and severe. While some corals are able to feed themselves by capturing plankton and edible particles from the water, most corals struggle to survive without their zooxanthellae. “If stressful conditions subside, corals can regain their zooxanthellae, return to normal coloration and survive,” the GBRMPA fact sheet says. Recovery of severely damaged reefs caused by bleaching can take a long time, even on relatively healthy reefs. In addition, “the corals that repopulate a damaged reef may be significantly different from what existed before bleaching,” the GBRMPA fact sheet says. Recovery is even slower if there are other stressors like poor water quality, overfishing or disease. “Where reefs are already stressed, recovery can take many decades, or even centuries,” GBRMPA says. “(But) a healthy, resilient reef will recover more quickly from bleaching.” In some instances, even if

corals survived from bleaching, they are now more susceptible to diseases, according to a study which appeared in the journal Ecology. “Traditionally, scientists have attributed coral declines after mass bleaching events to the bleaching alone,” says Marilyn Brandt, the leader of the study. Warmer water temperatures can also lead to increased incidences of coral disease, which, unlike most bleaching, can cause irreparable loss of coral tissues. In many cases, bleaching and disease occur concurrently on coral reefs. Brandt and her colleagues wondered if the occurrences of bleaching and disease were linked beyond simply occurring under the same conditions. “Coral bleaching and coral diseases are both related to prolonged thermal stress,” says Brandt. There seems to be no glimmer of hope. By the end of this century, the consensus statement said with the current rate of carbon dioxide emissions, the sea surface temperatures will further become hotter by at least 2-3° Celsius. Not only that, sea-level will rise by as

Coral reefs undergoing bleaching (photo courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)

much as 1.7 meters. “Projected increases in global temperatures under climate change scenarios suggest that (coral bleaching) will continue over coming decades, placing greater stress on reefs globally,” the GBRMPA warns. “This also has significant implications for the millions of people who depend on reefs for food, income, and protection from ocean waves.” In the Philippines, destruction of coral reefs means disaster. “Coral reefs are home to thousands of marine species, and losing them will spell disaster for our ecosystems, not to mention the thousands of Filipinos who depend on them for food and as sources of livelihood,” reminds Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change. Some 50 million Filipinos are dependent on the coastal ecosystem that comprises mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. Some 40 percent of the country’s coral reefs today are assessed as “poor” – up from the previous 27 percent. Only one percent is considered to be “pristine.”

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 204 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

EDITORIAL

Tape over bullets?

ACH year the police organization goes through the ritual of taping over the muzzles of the police officers’ firearms in an effort to dissuade them from firing these during the celebration of Christmas and the New Year. The event is highly publicized, the photos often landing in the front pages of newspapers to show how serious the Philippine National Police (PNP) is in preventing its own people from firing their guns indiscriminately, usually under the influence of liquor or even drugs. It would be serious stuff – if it weren’t so comical. As many people have commented, a piece of masking tape is no match against a raging bullet. Any officer drunk or high enough to click the trigger will cause serious injury or even death to anyone who happens to be in the bullet’s path. The presence of that tape is a nothing but a sad reminder that some policemen do fire their guns during the celebrations, as evidenced by the annual count of victims who are either killed or maimed by the indiscriminate firing, and the government is literally powerless to prevent it. All it can do is put

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masking tape over the muzzles of the guns – and what chance does an adhesive have over a bullet? It is the police organization’s duty to protect the people, not hurt them, but in this country the ordinary citizens cower in fear each time Christmas and New Year come because there is that chance that this year could be their last. That there is even a need to dissuade policemen from firing their guns is an indictment on the PNP, which for decades has had a sadly well-deserved reputation for harboring some of the worst criminals within its own ranks. Reports of policemen involved in or even leading criminal activities are all too common, and so the reality in this part of the world is that during the holidays, the officers must be held down – albeit symbolically, with masking tape – so that they would not cause any trouble. We look forward to the day when policemen would not have to have their guns taped over during celebrations like this, but until then we must look warily at their firearms and hope they are not fired. 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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GENERAL OFFICE SANTOS CITY CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OLIVIA D. VELASCO JOCELYNRICHARD S. PANES C. EBONA SOLANI D. MARATAS OLIVIA D. VELASCO SOLANI D. MARATAS MARKETING OFFICE | Marketing Manager General Manager of Sales SpecialistFinance General Manager DirectorAdvertising FinanceLEIZEL A. DELOSOLEIZEL A. DELOSO | MarketingFLORENCE ManagerS. VILLARIN

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

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EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE POINTS

Nothing but the truth

HE Bible states it directly, “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). In his book, Reminiscences, General Douglas MacArthur – known in the Philippines for his famous quote, “I shall return!” – recalls a classroom experience he had as a West Point cadet. His class was studying the time-space relationship, which the great genius Albert Einstein later called his Theory of Relativity. The text was very complicated and Cadet MacArthur could not figure out what it was all about. So, he just memorized the pages concerned. When he was called upon to recite, he dutifully reeled off almost word for word what the book said. The instructor looked at him in a puzzled sort of way and inquired, “Do you understand his theory?” It was a bad moment for the young cadet, but he stood up straight and answered bravely, “No, sir.” Hearing his answer, everyone in the class seemed to stop breathing. You could have heard a pin drop. The young MacArthur braced himself and waited. Then, the instructor said very slowly, “Neither do I, Cadet MacArthur. The class is dismissed.” “Truth is generally the best vindication against slander,” wrote American President Abraham Lincoln in a letter to Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. There is also truth to this statement by Arthur Schopenhauer: “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” In The Importance of Being Earnest, Os-

VOL. 7 ISSUE 204 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

car Wilde commented, “The THINK ON THESE! truth is rarely pure and never simple.” To which Alexander Solzhenitsyn contends, “We do not err because truth is difficult to see. It is visible at a Henrylito D. Tacio glance. We err henrytacio@gmail.com because this is more comfortable.” How right. In fact, more often than not, people don’t want to hear the truth. They prefer to listen to fiction. A noted clergyman was preaching one Sunday and noticed that his congregation was drowsing. Suddenly, he paused, and then in a very loud voice, he related an incident that had no connection whatsoever with his sermon. “I was once visiting a village and came to the house of a farmer,” the clergyman related. “I stopped for a bit when I saw something stranger than I had ever seen in my life. There was a sow with a litter of ten little pigs. She and each of her piglets had a long curved horn growing out their forehead between the ears.” At this point, the clergyman stopped his story and ran his eyes over the congregation. Everybody was wide awake now. “How strange,” he told the audience. “A few minutes ago, when I was telling you the truth,

you all went to sleep. But now, when you have heard a whooping lie, you are all wide awake!” “How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?” wrote Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in his Sherlock Holmes novel, The Sign of Four. Truth shall set us free but it does not always win. Four frogs were sitting on a tree trunk floating at the edge of a river. Suddenly, the current started to pull it downstream. The frogs were thrilled because none had ever sailed before. Minutes later, the first frog spoke, “This is a wonderful log. It moves as if it were alive.” Whereupon, the second frog said, “No, my friend, the log is not moving. The river is.” To which the third frog disputed, “You’re both wrong. The movement is strictly in your mind; for without thought nothing can move.” The three argued and argued and got nowhere, and so they asked the silent fourth frog what he thought. “Each of you is right, and none of you is wrong,” the fourth frog explained. “The movement is in the tree trunk, in the water, and also in your minds.” None of the three frogs wanted to admit that the fourth frog was telling the truth and each of the other frogs believed they were right. So, the three frogs decided to throw the fourth frog into the river. “Truth is tough,” pointed out Oliver Wendell Holmes in The Professor at the Breakfast Table. “It will not break, like a bubble, at a touch, nay, you may kick it all about all day

like a football, and it will be round and full at evening.” A chemist at Queensland University in Australia pours certain quantities of various elements into a laboratory test tube and then he heats the mixture. He gets a result and write down a very accurate report of exactly what he did and how he did it. His discovery is published in a scientific journal in London. Now, a British chemist tests this experiment. He does exactly what the Australian student did and gets the same result. It simply means that a truth has been discovered, revealed and confirmed. It makes no difference if the British scientist tests the university student’s experiment 10 or 20 years later. Nor does it matter that one chemist is 12,000 miles away from the other. Neither time nor space has anything to do with the accuracy of a truth – if it is a truth. “Truth exists,” someone once said, “only falsehood has to be invented.” After all, “Men occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened,” dismissed Sir Winston Churchill. And Filipinos should listen to the words of Edith Sitwell: “The public will believe anything, so long as it is not founded on truth.” According to Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies.” And what did Mark Twain write in Advice to Youth? “The history of our race, and each individual’s experience, are sown thick with evidence that a truth is not hard to kill and that a lie told well is immortal.”

2014, the rice self sufficiency goal, and alternative universes

F 2013 was the year we tried to achieve rice self sufficiency, then 2014 was the year we achieved the uncomfortable realization that we could not. 97 percent rice self sufficiency isn’t all that bad but it isn’t all that good either. It’s good because it means that for every 100 kilos each Filipino family consumes, 97 kilos are locally grown by a Filipino farmer. It’s bad because this means that government resources are devoted to overfarm areas already producing rice in a manner that remains wasteful and in the stranglehold of unscrupulous cartels. Again, it’s the typical squeeze play of the Manila government, where it leads us on to think that we are not self sufficient to justify importation that created corruption. The fact remains that as much as 30 percent is lost during drying and milling due to poor post harvest facilities. It’s a given that rice is not an easy crop to grow. You need lots of water, a well prepared paddy, and the hope that a typhoon won’t wipe it out. Harvesting it has its own problems when the tiny grains are wasted in the process of threshing, drying, and milling. Perhaps this being a backbreaking set of chores has created the cultural bias against agriculture, and why it has failed to substantially take root as rewarding livelihood. Even songs and poetry surrounding planting are centered on rice farming, and

often decry the hardship rather MY TWO CENTS’ than the virtue, set against the backdrop of the fact that the singer does not own his land, or if he does own the property, leaves John Tria productivity to fate rather than ecisouth@gmail.com a willful desire for better yields. The logo of our Agriculture Department is a rice stalk. Add to this the reality that historically, what was the swidden farm producing a variety of food for the community was turned into the rice driven surplus agriculture that was run from the encomenderos hacienda, which eventually became the absentee landlords resthouse. As a semblance of land reform took root, de facto control of the process was taken by the unscrupulous trader. As time marched on, less of their progeny cared whether the land was truly productive or efficient, or both. Their parents often dissuaded them from farming anyway. Hence, little investment was made to make production better. It is the pursuit of those

who failed to finish school. In the Davao region alone, hundreds of less than productive hectares are now owned or inherited by people living in the US and Canada, some of whom have never seen nor bothered to visit these properties. Agricultural lands became a less then meaningful resource that laid waste when it was no longer fat enough. Thus, leave agriculture to current market forces with the lousy structure it is in and you have the today that you’d rather close your eyes to. For in today’s agricultural economics, “price stability” means the right price for the profiteer, not the consumer. Instead, It is a viable resource when, properly harnessed, it can produce more than enough for the producer, and the collective surplus can feed a hungry nation where today almost a third can barely survive with enough calories to sustain the daily rise from sleep. Produce more and sell more and you wipe out, or at least diminish control of some thick-faced traders who make money by creating scarcity. OK. If only an alternative universe existed where the state through the department of agriculture took a more proactive role in ensuring the right production that can feed a nation. Maybe local governments, rather than Manila bureaucrats, can be prodded to take charge of the self-sufficiency goals for their area. Maybe a farmgate price target and a retail price

reduction target can be an objective. The net effect of such programs is a community, and a nation of full stomachs, creating a peaceful, progressive and more stable society. When stomachs are full, food prices go down and the diet becomes healthier and more diverse. In turn, the creative juices and confidence to pursue higher goals takes root in the soul. Perhaps come election time, their votes will count for leaders who truly carry their interests and take their welfare higher, rather than dance and sing their way to office. Moreover, if in an alternative universe idle agricultural lands are taxed for failing to achieve sustainable yields, or, conversely, are rewarded with incentives or placed under probationary programs to produce more food. This induces healthy production and ensures the right surplus that lowers costs and enables more Filipinos the food they need. After all, in this new universe, land is an essential resource meant to be productive, not merely an entitlement over property to do as you please. Land here is to be continually enhanced rather than a memory some would rather forget by selling off. Owning land is not the goal, but making it productive is the point. Agriculturally speaking, if 2014 is the year of uncomfortable realizations, then we creatively cling to the hope that 2015 we start building the alternative universe.

NEWS

Ceasefire... FFROM 1 CPP-NPA. They claim that they are pursuing peace but their actions clearly contradict what they are saying,” he added. In a press statement, 10th Infantry Division spokesperson First Lieutenant Vergel Lacambra said theAFP has been observing the month-long Suspension of Military Operations (SOMO) since December 18 and has consequently shift-

ed to community service. During the 46th anniversary of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) last December 26, National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) spokesperson for Mindanao Ka Oris said the NPA plans to intensify the armed struggle for the upcoming year even amid talks of a resumption of peace negotiations.

costumes. The first prize winner will receive P30,000. Aside from the prizes, Smart will also offer free international calls to people who will join the festival. “This is to greet their loved ones who are working abroad,” Delloso said. Delloso said Smart will also bring celebrities from Manila to add more attraction to the event. He said the additions could attract their 10,000 party horn blowers target participant which is enough to set a world record. Delloso said they will allot a bigger budget for this year’s event just to assure that the city will really get the record. Last year, the city was not able to break the record of Japan that holds the record for having the largest assembly of party blowers with 6,900 people. He said that they come up with this new strategy be-

cause they noticed during the last year’s festival that most of the participants went home perhaps due to hunger. “We now see the advantage in the area because the food vendors are already there that could provide the necessary food that will make the participants not to go home because they are not hungry,” Dellosa said. He said they are going to install the stage near the night market. Delloso said the Smart-sponsored event is their way of expressing thanks to the people of Davao. He said that they also support the zero-firecracker advocacy of Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte and the city government. He said that the festival is their way to make the people of the city enjoy their New Year even though there is a total firecracker ban in the city. [ABF]

groups,” Laviña said. He also said oil palm trees can be intercropped with coconut. “There’s no truth to those claims that palm oil will destroy the coconut industry. This is evident in Indonesia and Malaysia which are both producers of coconut oil and palm oil,” he said. Laviña said Mindanao has a suitable climatic situation, temperature, and amount of rainfall that are among the qualifications of establishing oil palm plantations. However, despite the conducive environment of the Philippines, Mindanao for planting oil palm because of its proximity to the equator, farmers cannot boost their planting activity because of the lack of planting materials. “A single seedling can cost a farmer from P200 to P300 and that’s huge because a single hectare needs 140 pieces,” Laviña said. He said it will take five to ten years before scientists in the country produce our own variety. “This is the reason why farmers need financial assistance or loan program either from government or Land

Bank of the Philippines,” he said. Local and foreign investors in the industry also have a hard time expanding here because of the issue of lack of land, he said. “I’ve already gone into many places in Mindanao and there’s no available land as big as our target. That’s why it will be consolidated,” he said. Laviña said some local chief executives from different provinces in Mindanao are promoting the planting of oil palm. Among these are the local government units (LGUs) of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, and North Cotabato. He also said some members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) have already planted some 300 hectares to oil palm. Laviña also said there is a need to establish more palm oil mills in the country to boost the production of palm oil. There are already private sector-installed mills in Bohol, Palawan, Agusan, North Cotabato, and others, he said. “The cost of transporting of the raw will be lesser if the mills will be nearer to production areas,” he said. [CRC]

plier, Sunrich Manufacturing Corporation. Unilever plans to expand farming sites of tamarind trees until 2016 in areas of Cararayan and Camirines Sur in the Bicol Region. Aside from tamarind, the firm also locally sourced ube (purple yam) for Selecta prod-

ucts. It started sourcing ube in Compostela Valley in 2011 when it was hit by typhoon Pablo. It further expanded its beneficiaries to Gawad Kalinga Pueblo in Davao; Concepcion, Tarlac; Florida, Pampanga; and Laiya, Batangas. (PNA)

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1,500... FFROM 2 “dancing firecracker,” piccolo, super lolo, atomic big triangulo, mother rockets, lolo thunder, pillbox, boga, big Judah’s belt, big bawang, goodbye Philippines, kabasi, five star, pla-pla, OG, giant whistle bomb and unlabeled firecrackers.

“I’m appealing to everyone to refrain from buying or using any firecracker or firework. We can celebrate the New Year by using horns and other noise-making materials to make sure that we will be injury-free in 2015,” he added. (MindaNews)

level in Mandahican River has risen and threatened some areas in Barangay Iba. The council had scheduled a preemptive evacuation of at least 196 families in a cluster of villages around 3p.m. today. In Malitbog, the MDRRMC reported a landslide past 8a.m. Sunday that partially destroyed a house in Barangay Sumalsag. The incident prompted a preemptive evacuation of 21 families in Barangays Sumalsag and Patpat. In Sumilao, the MDRRMC also reported a landslide early Monday morning in Damay, Barangay San Vicente, along the Sayre Highway. But Barquez pointed out that the highway had been cleared as of 9:45a.m. Monday. In various points, the water levels have doubled as monitored by stream gauges provided by Project Noah of the Department of Science and Technology. Water level in Lumbayao Bridge over Pulangi River in Valencia rose from 1.22 meters as of 10:40 a.m. Sunday

to 2.35 meters as of the same time Monday. In downtown Valencia, water rose from 10.33 meters to 13.11 meters during the same time frame as monitored from Valencia City Bridge near Batangan. In Malaybalay City, water level also increased from 0.83 meters as of 10:50a.m. Sunday to 1.207 meters by 10:40a.m. Monday. In Libona town, water level in Bubunawan River, which flows into Cagayan River, increased from 4.7 meters to 6.2 meters within the same time frame. In Baungon town, water level also increased in Kabula Bridge, also over Bubunawan River, from 45.75 meters to 47 meters as of 11a.m. Monday. As of 1p.m. the PDRRMC was yet to receive reports from the DRRMCs of Malaybalay and other towns of Bukidnon. The PDRRMC said it was on a 24/7 alert status for Seniang. (Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

“We are excited for our employees because they have made this possible. We will keep improving our working relationships and engagement programs because happy employees will naturally push for boundless company achievements,” he added. Jiao said Globe’s “Circle of Happiness” is simple: happy employees who understand their value and contribution create more opportunities for better products and services which our customers enjoy. “Happy customers circle back towards increased growth and revenues for Globe, making our shareholders happy as well. This is our basic philosophy in improving our employees’ work experience,” he said. Jiao said Globe partners with employees in building a workplace that is dynamic, entrepreneurial, collaborative and innovative through a number of initiatives. The most notable is the Customer First Circle (CFC) program in which employees help the organization deliver a superior customer experience through completion of hundreds of customer-centric projects since its inception in 2009. For instance, the Enterprise Group’s Hot Fudge Team, Project of the Year winner for 2014, came up with a device to reduce data network equipment-related outages by 50 percent to promote greater network reliability. Globe also brings innovation through iSpark, an idea pitching competition designed to unleash creativity, and support an environment where employees enjoy working across teams and work on their big ideas. To cultivate Globe Telecom’s culture of giving greater appreciation and recogni-

tion for one another, Globe introduced Kudos, a fun and easy way for employees to say thank you and recognize wonderful actions following its Globe Way Values. Kudos is given anytime, anywhere. Globe likewise believes in nurturing leaders across all levels. Conversations on improving work relationships and performance are facilitated through “Everyday Leadership.” Globe has an integrated leadership program called iLead for key executives, middle managers and young entrants in the succession pipeline. Careers@Globe gives access to other employees to improve themselves and help them build a career. Globe University gives access to training and various professional courses to all. Realizing that work environment makes a difference in work satisfaction, the Globe Tower was built with an open workspace and wireless facilities to allow greater collaboration among employees. Google helps employees reach out to each other easily and faster. With a 97 percent participation rate in the Employee Satisfaction Survey, Globe enjoyed a 73 percent over-all satisfaction index from employees. This stable uptrend of the metric over the years can be attributed to the wide range of programs on culture, leadership and well-being. Early this year, Globe was recognized as Asia’s Best Employer Brand by the 5th Asia’s Best Employer Brand Awards and Best Workforce by the 1st Sustainable Business Awards Philippines. It also won in the Integrated Communication Category of the ASEAN Corporate Sustainability Summit and Awards.

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Missing... FFROM 3 French. As of press time, search and rescue operations were being conducted under the guidance of the National Search and Rescue Agency Republic of Indonesia (BASARNAS). AirAsia Indonesia said it was “cooperating fully and assisting the authorities in investigation in every possible way.” In Surabaya, the management of AirAsia along with the Governor of East Java, and officials of BASARNAS), Airport Authority of Indonesia, and Airport Operator (Angkasa Pura I) met with the members of the families to update them on the latest developments and reconfirmed their commitment to providing assis-

tance in every possible way. AirAsia Indonesia CEO Sunu Widyatmoko said the airline is “deeply shocked and saddened by this incident.” “We are cooperating with the relevant authorities to the fullest extent to determine the cause of this incident. In the meantime, our main priority is keeping the families of our passengers and colleagues informed on the latest developments,” Widyatmoko said. “We will do everything possible to support them as the investigation continues and have already mobilized a support team to help take care of their immediate needs, including accommodation and travel arrangements,” he added.

higher than the previous year’s, the DOF said. Total revenue collection for the month amounted to P158.2 billion, 4 percent short of the take for the same month last year. Collections set aside for tax refunds reduced the revenue performance of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) by P9.0 billion and P6.5 billion, respectively. This caused the first year-on-year contraction in monthly collections of both Bureaus in 2014. Year-to-date revenue now stands at P1.7 trillion, 11 percent better than the amount recorded over the same period in the previous year. Year-on-year, BIR collections fell by 4 percent in November, totaling P121.9 billion. In total, BIR collections as of end-November amounted to P1.2 trillion, up by 9 percent from the same period last year. Similarly, the BOC was not able to sustain its monthly double-digit growth, as actual collections decline by 13 percent, year-on-year. Despite this, year-to-date BOC revenue performance has improved by 16 percent year-on-year, registering at P324.6 billion. Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) total Income amounted to P3.4 billion, contracting 10 percent year-on-year. However, year-to-date cumulative collections is up 20 percent to P90.5 billion, outperforming the P56.2 billion target for the whole year. Collections from other offices posted significant yearon-year growth of 27 percent, amounting to P8.2 billion for the month. Year-to-date revenue of P100.2 billion indicates a 12 percent improvement in collections over the same period in 2013. Total disbursements in November amounted to P151.4 billion, declining 8 percent from a year ago. Nevertheless, year-to-date expenditures of P1.8 trillion is still up 5 percent or P 84.9 billion higher than similar spending for 2013. Monthly interest payments (IP) reached P18.1 billion, maintaining its level from a year ago. As a percentage of expenditures, IP for the month reached 12 percent, 1 percentage point higher from

a year ago due to higher foreign IP. However, year-to-date figures still indicate a 1 percentage point decrease to 17 percent compared to the same period in 2013. “I am pleased to note that the National Government’s budget balance in November 2014 was at a surplus of P6.8 billion, wider than the year-ago surplus of P1.0 billion. Year-to-date, the budget balance was at a deficit of P26.8 billion, well-within the program,” Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said. The primary balance for the month was at a surplus of P24.9 billion, wider than last year’s comparable figures of P19.1 billion. As of end-November, the primary balance was recorded at a surplus of P265.5 billion, also wider than last year’s level. “With the recent Moody’s credit rating upgrade, as well as improved scores in the Millennium Challenge Corporation scorecard leading to our eligibility for a second compact, one thing is clear: the Philippines is in a virtuous cycle. Prudent fiscal management by the national government keeps us in this sweet spot, reaping rewards and raring to reach for more,” Purisima added. He said the continued decline in interest payments, apart from the substantial hauls pulled in by the revenue agencies, “significantly expands our fiscal space and enables us to fuel more growth. “Credit rating upgrades that respond to the government’s commitment to good governance and sound economic management, for example, lower our borrowing rates and free up more funds for more productive investments,” he said. “The quick-paced growth of year-to-date revenues leaves even more room for strategic government expenditures. With increased fiscal space to invest in health, education, infrastructure, and other social services, we are able to reap even more rewards for the Filipino people. Such is the virtuous cycle put into motion by this administration’s conviction that good governance spurs good economics,” Purisima said.

Gov’t... FFROM 4

BIGGER PICTURE 11

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LLOYD EDISSONE J. MONTEBON

Singing champ continues to dream By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

FTER being crowned the Junior Grand champion in the 18th World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Los Angeles, California last July, Lloyd Edissone J. Montebon’s quest for his dreams still continues. WCOPA, often referred as the “Olympics of Performing Arts,” is the only international competition which aspires to find the best performing artist in the world. Singer Jed Madela was the first Filipino to win the WCOPA grand championship title. Lloyd may have reached the unreachable star, but the life of this 12-year old Dabawenyo remains simple. Last December 17, five months after he bagged the World Championship crown, Edge Davao went to Sta. Ana National High School where Lloyd studies to find out how he is. It was their class Christmas party but we were able to talk to his adviser Petronila Sarenas and his father Ernesto Montebon Jr. Sarenas said Lloyd was not attending the school regularly

because of his busy schedule. He is in the modular program of the Department of Education (DepEd) and he complies with his assignments and other requirements without having to go to school. Lloyd is in demand in other DepEd Divisions like Davao del Sur and Davao del Norte. This writer saw Lloyd and his family and immediately approached Ernesto for an interview. The WCOPA victory, he said, has had a huge impact on the family since Lloyd is now known as one of the best singers not just in the country but in the whole world. Lloyd started singing when he was seven years old at the Vicente Hizon Elementary School. Ernesto trained his son and made him join different singing contests in the city. Lloyd eventually became the grand winner of Talent Edge held at Abreeza Mall and was three-time champion in the Metro Davao Singing Association. It was after he won the Talent Edge that Lloyd was chosen as one of the members of the

Philippine team to compete in WCOPA. The Davao City cluster of the team headed by manager Arthur Zata went to the City Council to ask for financial aid for their accommodation and fare expenses. Councilor Marissa Salvador-Abella assisted the team by asking other councilors for a donation. Lloyd and his team also went to radio stations to ask for help to compete in the United States. National Youth Commission commissioner-at-large Dingdong Dantes, Department of Education 11, Association of Regional Directors and Employees (ARENA) in Region 11, Lafayette Lim and NCCC Mall of Davao, and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines responded to their call and donated funds for their trip. Lloyd’s hard work eventually paid off, and now he is recognized as one of the best singers in the world. He does not sit on his laurels, however, and continues to dream big for his career. Stay tuned to Lloyd Edissone J. Montebon – this boy will definitely go places.

Montebon

MARY ANJELAY PELAEZ

A medal and a diploma By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

“

SPORTS is not forever, you need to strive hard and finish a degree,” says Dabawenya taekwondo star Mary Anjelay Pelaez. The beauteous Pelaez, who recently bagged a bronze medal in the Asian Games in Incheon South Korea, recently finished a degree in Marketing at San Beda College. She says before she entered col-

Pelaez

lege she only had two priorities in life – taekwondo and her studies. Enjoying a full athletic scholarship from San Beda, she played for the Red Lions where she bagged two con-

secutive Most Valuable Player awards and a series of championships for her team. In her five consecutive years with the National Team, Pelaez trained twice a day: she would wake up early in the morning to train, then study in the afternoon, and go back to training in the evening. Being the only Dabawenya in the Philippine Taekwondo team, she knows how hard it is to finish college especially at this time. Despite the hardship of her schedule as a student athlete, she never forgets to study in order to achieve her goals in life through education. “Yung Taekwondo hindi naman forever, tatanda ka din, at least pag tumanda ako may degree ako (Taekwondo is not forever. I will get old, but at least I would have a degree),” Pelaez says. She says determination and hard work are the keys for her to excel both in Taekwondo and her studies. That determination has paid well in her chosen sport as she bagged nine medals out

of her 15 international competitions all over the world. To top it all off, Pelaez wore her red toga in her graduation rites at San Beda College a few weeks ago. “I thank God for helping me finish my studies, for my coach who always guides me, and of course for my family for all the support. Without them I might not have done all of these things,” she says. Now that she has finished her studies, Pelaez is looking forward to the 2016 Rio Olympics where she hopes to earn a slot and play for the country and Davao City as well. Outside her life in competition, Pelaez has shown that she does not only possess the heart of a champion but also the heart of an angel. She plans to give back to the community especially to the less fortunate kids who like her have an interest in sports and have the determination to finish their studies. She plans to build her own gym in Buhangin where she wants to teach kids the sport of Taekwondo for free. Her

“dream gym” will be ready to train kids by January. She also teaches in several public schools in the city and even in Tagum City for free to inspire the kids to make use of the sport as their ticket to college. Making herself the ultimate example, Pelaez teaches kids that Taekwondo was her ticket to enter college in a prestigious school, and now that she is influential in her sports, she vows to bring more Dabawenyos to bigger opportunities in Manila. “Nakikita ko kasi ang sarili ko sa kanila, like before I also came from public school alam naman natin pag public school minsan talaga walang-wala ang mga parents and my only way to help them is through sports pag mag college na sila makahelp tayo sa kanila,” Pelaez says. “Ngayon na tapos na ako, may nag tulong din sakin before kaya ngayon gusto ko naman na ako naman yung makatulong sa kanila para naman ma-achieve naman nila kung ano ang gusto nilang ma-achieve,” she adds.

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EDGEDAVAO

TRAVEL

My most memorable travel stories of 2014

WHO would have known that a year would pass by so quickly. This 2014 was a year when I finally got to travel more around the Philippines as well as travelled to new places and rediscover old ones, and although every moment spent travelling deserves a story all of its own. Here is a compilation of some of my most memorable travels of 2014. Finding romance in Silay 2014 started with a visit to Bacolod and its neighbouring municipalities thanks to Cebu Pacific’s direct service from Davao to Sugarlandia. While Bacolod City; with its rich history, vibrant culture, and culinary creations; never fails to charm visitors, it was the famous ruins at Silay that instantly made my trip to Negros memorable. A burnt-down shell of what used to be an elegant mansion built in the middle of a vast sugarcane field, its story of undying love has captured the imagination of visitors to the place. Although no longer suitable for habitation, the Ruins of Silay still conjures up visions of a long gone era of romance in the fields of Negros. Learning more about Rizal in Dapitan For many, it is easy to say who the national hero of the Philippines is, but to ask how he lived his life and why we, as Filipinos, should follow his virtues is a bit more difficult. Thankfully, I was able to visit Dapitan to learn more on Rizal during the days of his exile. It was truly a unique experience to actually set foot at the Rizal Shrine, the grounds where Rizal used to live. Walking on the

A jump shot at The Ruins.

park’s lawns and walkways sent visions of how Rizal would spend his days in exile away from Manila, the replicas of the many different bamboo and wooden houses where Rizal would teach as well as treat the sick, is a testament to the hero’s selfless love for his fellow man. Hong Kong from top One thing that everybody knows is the fact that I love Hong Kong. From the hustle and bustle in its streets to the vibrant energy of its nightlife, Hong Kong never ceases to amaze and amuse me and this year, my Hong Kong trip was made extra special with a trip to West Kowloon. I had always explored the city on ground level, discovering new and exciting street markets and interesting alleyways but a trip to the Sky100 observation deck at the world’s seventh tallest building, the International Commerce Centre, gave me a

In front of Juan Luna’s Spoliarium. new perspective to the former British Crown Colony. The views of the city as well as of Victoria Harbour, the bridges, and the outlying islands were simply breathtaking. Of course the quick 60-second express elevator ride was other thing that also needs to be experienced first-hand. Visiting the National Art Museum We all read about Philippine art and the works of our national artists from books at school but nothing beats seeing the actual paintings in the flesh at the National Art Museum which I would highly recommend for anyone who is

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EVENT

Waterfront Insular Hotel hosts Christmas party for House of Hope FOR THE PAST five years Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao has had the privilege of throwing an annual Christmas party for the children of the House of Hope. Though it is part of the hotel’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), most of its employees see it mostly as an opportunity to bond with kids stricken with cancer and, in one way or another, spread hope and laughter. “You really feel for the kids. Although you cannot let them see you being affected by their condition because it will just make them feel depressed so you have to put on your best smile, even though you’re holding back tears,” says Unique Barbecho, Credit and Collections Officer. Most of the staff find it as an outlet for them to give back and share the spirit of Christmas. Waterfront Insular Hotel went all out this year, hiring energetic hosts clad in Santa outfits and game booths that the kids, and

kids at heart, can enjoy nonstop. The hotel’s very own Insulares Chorale also gave a fun performance for the entertainment also of the children. And, as an added surprise, the children of the House of Hope also gave their own song number, as a “Thank You” to Waterfront and its staff. Most every personnel in attendance could not hold back their tears and feel

emotional over the simple song the little angels were singing. It only goes to show how little things can really have a big impact. Fun and games followed right after. Adults all gamely partnered with the participating kids, bringing the house down with never-ending laughter. It was the perfect prelude to a delicious buffet dinner, everyone really ate their fill. The evening didn’t end there as there was more enjoyment to be had. Dr. Mae Dolendo, Director for House of Hope, then expressed her appre-

ciation and gratitude as this year was the best party the children have experienced. Once the program finished, OIC for Hotel Operations, Mr. Bryan s. Lasala, warmly handed out the loot bags and giveaways to each and every child and teen present. All in all, it was indeed an eventful affair. Every one in attendance went home with smiles on their faces and feelings of accomplishment. Truly, no act is too simple when it comes to giving love and hope during the Christmas Season.

SM City Davao holds spectacular Christmas Parade A 60-character parade surprised shoppers last Christmas day at SM City Davao. Santa Girls, elves, giant candy canes, film-inspired characters, the nutcracker and tenant mascots spread cheers around the mall with dance performances and photo opportunities. The candy-themed Magical Christmas Parade is the first of its kind in Mindanao. Kids and adults alike were delighted with the spectacle. “This is the first year that we are doing this in SM City Davao. We are very happy with our shoppers’ reception. Even adults took time to take photos with our characters! Next year, we hope to bring a grander showcase for everyone,” SM City Davao Lynette Lopez shares. The grand Christmas Character Parade was made possible with the participation of Jollibee, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Auntie Anne’s and Shakey’s. It is part of the mall’s Holiday offerings. Among other Holiday events at SM Davao were

the caroling cheers, the Ryan Cayabyab Singers mall show, the CompanY album tour and Santa meet and greet. Great shopping and surprises do not end at SM City Davao as the season’s best deals await shoppers in the End-of-Season Sale from December 26 to January 11. SM City Davao extends its mall hours to 10 PM until December 30. For inquiries, call 297.6998. Like SM City Davao on Facebook or follow @SMCityDavao on Twitter and @SMDavao on Instagram for event and promo updates.

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ENTERTAINMENT

‘Bonifacio’ and ‘English Only, Please’ win big at the MMFF 2014 awards night

THE 40th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) awards night closed with a bang at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) last Saturday, December 27 with Bonifacio: And Unang Pangulo running away with seven awards including Best Picture.

The period flick starring Robin Padilla and Vina Morales also won several awards including Best Musical Score, Best Sound Engineer and Best Theme Song, and the FPJ Memorial Award for Excellence. Adventure thriller Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2 on the other hand won awards for production design, makeup, and visual effects including awards for Joey Marquez and Lotlot de Leon for their supporting roles. Considered a dark horse, romantic comedy English Only, Please won awards for story, screenplay, and best director with Derek Ramsay taking home the best actor trophy and Jennylyn Mercado winning the best actress accolade. The 2014 MMFF also included five full-length entries under the New Wave category with Magkakabaung by Jason Paul Laxamana taking home the New Wave Best Picture trophy. Here is the he full list of winners for the 2014 MMFF: • New Wave Special Jury Prize (shorts): “Kalaw” by Asia Pacific Institute • Best Float: Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo

rial Award for Film: Robin Padilla for “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo” • Best Supporting Actor: Joey Marquez for “Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2” • Best Supporting Actress: Lotlot de Leon for “Kubot: The Aswang Chronicles 2” • Best Director: Dan Villegas for “English Only Please” • Best Story: Antoinette Jadaone and Dan Villegas for “English Only Please” • Best Screenplay: Antoinette Jadaone for “English Only Please” • Special MMFF 40th Year Award: MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino

• Youth Choice Film Awards: Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo • New Wave Best Actor: Allen Dizon for “Magkakabaung” • New Wave Best Supporting Actor: Kristopher King for “Maratabat” • New Wave Best Supporting Actress: Gloria Sevilla for “Mother’s Maiden Name” • New Wave Best Actress: Zsa Zsa Padilla for “Mother’s Maiden Name” • New Wave Best Director: Jason Paul Laxamana for “Magkakabaung” • New Wave Special Jury Prize: “Mother’s Maiden Name” • New Wave Best Picture: “Magkakabaung” by Jason Paul Laxamana • Best Musical Score: Von de Guzman for “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo” • Best Sound Engineer: Wild Sound for “Bonifacio:

Ang Unang Pangulo” • Best Theme Song: Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo • Best Child Performer: Ryzza Mae Dizon for “My Big Bossing” • Best Make Up: Kubot The Aswang Chronicles 2 • Best Visual Effects: Mothership Inc. for “Kubot The Aswang Chronicles 2”

• Best Cinematographer: “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo” • Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Cultural Award: Robin Padilla and producers for “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo” • MMFF 2014 3rd Best Picture: “Kubot The Aswang Chronicles 2” • MMFF 2014 2nd Best Picture: “English, Only Please” • MMFF 2014 Best Picture: “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo” • Best Actor: Derek Ramsay for “English Only Please” • Best Actress: Jennylyn Mercado for “English Only, Please”

• Best Production Design: Ericsson Navarro for “Kubot The Aswang Chronicles 2” • Best Editor: Marya Ignacio for “English Only Please” • Best Cinematographer: Carlo Mendoza for “Bonifacio: Ang Unang Pangulo” • Face of the Night: Nadine Lustre • Fernando Poe Jr. Memo-

Freestyle Band and Tom Taus at the Grand Year-end Party of SM City General Santos INDULGE in a merrier and magical shopping, dining, and entertainment at SM City General Santos on December 30. Experience a fun-filled year-end party tradition with renowned Pinoy rock- R&B band, Freestyle and DJ Tom Taus. Party to the mixes of DJ Tom Taus as he brings the house down with his beats. Taus had been making waves in Los Angeles Club Crowd in Hollywood as DJ Tommy T. Delight in the music of the once of the country’s well-loved show bands Freestyle. Bask in their soulful sound, influenced by R&B and urban music.

clock in the evening. For updates and inquiries, check-out SM City General Santos (Official) on Facebook, or call (083) 8780667. December 29, 2014

ENGLISH ONLY PLEASE Derek Ramsey, Jennylyn Mercado PG 13

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

FENG SHUI 2 Kris Aquino, Coco Martin PG 13

To cap the year end celebration, marvel at the Magical Fireworks spectacle at the Roof Deck of SM City General Santos. Catch all these and more on December 30, 7pm and

enjoy t h e e x tended shopping hours until 10 o’

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

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

R-16

12:25 | 2:45 | 5:05 | 7:25 | 9:45 LFS

THE AMAZING PRAYBEYT BENJAMIN Vice Ganda, Richard Yap PG 13

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

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 204 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

TRAVEL

The colourful streets of Malacca, Malaysia.

URBANISSIMO A1 visiting Manila. Housed in the Old Legistative Building (which is also another work of art), the National Art Gallery houses the biggest collection of some of the best artwork created by Filipino masters throughout the years. I could not help but emphasise my utter awe and pride the moment I set my eyes on Juan Luna’s massive masterpiece, the Spoliarium as well as the many art pieces that adorn the many different galleries in the museum, each piece a unique window to the Filipino spirit which should definitely not be missed. Riding on the North Borneo Express If there was one ride that I cannot ever forget, it would be the steam train ride on the North Borneo Express, in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, West Malaysia. Although it was just a short 65 kilometres from end to end, the North Borneo Express was a romantic, elegant, and informative way to travel through Sabah with the train line cutting through various terrain ranging from city, to marshland, to rice paddies, and dense jungle. The smell of the air while the steam train chugged along was like no other as steam mixed with the ash of burning wood in the engine as well as the sweet aroma of the jungle air. Tickled pink at Greater Sta. Cruz Island I admit that I am not so much a beach person as I am a big city person, but if I were to rank the best beaches I was able to visit this year, on the top of my list would be Zamboanga’s Greater Sta. Cruz Island. Sure the beaches at Samal may be closer, fine the beaches of Boracay may be whiter, and ok that Dahican’s beach front may be much longer but Greater Sta. Cruz Island’s beach is

unique in the sense that it has a pink hue they comes from bits of red pipe coral that can be found mixed with the sand. Aside from the unique sand however, is also the fact that the island is relatively unspoilt, free from ugly overdevelopment that plagues many popular beaches in the country. I just hope the city of Zamboanga can keep the island’s natural beauty as well as peaceful charm for everyone to enjoy. Exploring the heritage of Malacca Last but not the least in my list of memorable travel places and experiences is Malacca, Malaysia. One of

Malaysia’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Malacca is a melting pot of trade and cultures that dates back centuries. The architecture of the city is a heady mix of many influences with its cuisine even more mixed up, making my visit to the city seem like I dove right into a magical history book. A short walk through the city’s fort area reveals the colourful history of the city, from its founding as an early spice trading post with the Chinese and the Arabs, through to its colonisation by the Portugues, the Dutch, and eventually by the British. My favourite part of

All aboard the North Borneo Express.

A replica of Rizal’s Casa Redonda.

Malacca though would be Jonker Street where lines of colourful shophouses sell anything from uniquely Malaccan Chicken Rice Balls, to souvenirs, artwork, and antiques. I could have spent an entire day exploring the street as well as its many adjacent alleyways just trying to get lost. A very big thank you to everyone who was part of my journeys in 2014. Cheers to more exciting travel stories for 2015! Follow me on Instagram or on Twitter @kennethkingong for more travel stories, foodie finds, and happenings in, around, and beyond Durianburg.

On cloud 9 at Sky100.

Setting foot on Greater Sta. Cruz Island’s famous pink sand.

13 COMMUNITY SENSE

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NorCot governor: Attaining peace is everybody’s business

NSURING the safety of every resident of North Cotabato is not the sole responsibility of police and military personnel as well as local officials but everybody, North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza said yesterday. Mendoza said attaining peace in the province needs the full cooperation of the general public. “You local officials down to the barangay have huge roles to play to maintain law and order in your respective community, attaining peace is the business of everybody,” Mendoza said in a statement released by her office Saturday. She said the provincial government is doing its best to ensure the province is free from violence and trouble, especially during the

Christmas season. “The government needs the support of the grassroots officials, ordinary citizens and everybody to ensure the province is peaceful,” Mendoza said. She admitted the two separate bombing incidents in Kabacan and Mlang in North Cotabato have sown fear among the residents but with the police and other law enforcement agencies, including the local officials, the province has been quiet since. Intensified police action led to the arrest of one of the two suspects in the Kabacan bombing that left one student dead and wounded 17 others. As the province prepares for a more exciting and meaningful 2015, Mendoza urged the village officials in the province to help maintain peace. (PNA)

DARING BOYS. Instead of running away from the river with the rising water level as Typhoon Seniang batters Northern Mindanao, a boy leaps into the strong current of Palao River in Iligan City to retrieve debris Monday afternoon. MindaNews photo by Bobby Timonera

SPORTS

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NO STOPPING SPURS Injury-hit San Antonio turns back Houston

HE San Antonio Spurs needed a lift after a succession of injuries to key players and a series of deflating losses. Patty Mills’ return gave the Spurs a boost, but withstanding an emotional and physical matchup with the Houston Rockets provided what they truly needed - a win. Danny Green had 24 points and San Antonio held off a late rally to beat Houston 110-106 on Sunday, snapping a six-game skid against its intrastate rivals. Mills had eight points, all in the final quarter, but his energy was the spark that helped the Spurs snap a twogame skid. The 6-foot guard from Australia even dived on his surgically repaired right shoulder for a loose ball in the first half and played all but 12 seconds in the fourth quarter. ‘’His energy, just his activity is was contagious,’’ San Antonio forward Tim Duncan said. ‘’It was great for us; brought a huge spark to the team.’’ Duncan had 16 points and Manu Ginobili had 15 for the Spurs (19-13). James Harden had 28 points and Dwight Howard added 24 points and 17 rebounds for Houston (218). The Rockets’ newest additions had differing levels of success: Corey Brewer scored 25 points and Josh Smith added five points. Smith sat all but 30 seconds in the final seven minutes due to what Houston coach Kevin McHale deemed a lack of ‘’familiarity’’ on a couple of missed defensive assignments. It wasn’t just Smith that seemed lost, though. Houston had 25 turnovers, including eight in the final quarter that resulted in 11 points.

‘’We weren’t really sharp all night,’’ McHale said. ‘’They beat us on back cuts. They beat us on cuts and we weren’t as sharp as we needed to be and the turnovers just killed us tonight, 25 of them, just too many turnovers.’’ Houston went 4 minutes without scoring between a pair of dunks by Howard - San Antonio ran off 15 straight points to open a 10291 lead with 4 1/2 minutes remaining. Harden blamed himself when asked what changed offensively. ‘’Me, myself. I was terrible, terrible,’’ Harden said. ‘’Just too much indecision, which is rare for me.’’ The Rockets responded with a 12-4 spurt, capped by Harden’s 3-pointer with Duncan in his chest that pulled Houston to 106103 with 52.1 seconds remaining. After Green missed a 3-pointer, Harden dribbled the ball out of bounds for his ninth and final turnover. Green made four straight free throws in the final minute, helping San Antonio avoid going into overtime for the fourth time in its last six home games. With Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard still out, the Spurs needed a boost and Mills provided it. ‘’I was excited, it felt a lot longer than it actually was,’’ Mills said of his absence. ‘’Knowing I was getting the chance to play again was great. I had a great sleep last night and great game-day nap.’’ Mills received a loud ovation upon entering the game with 3:28 remaining in the first quarter. Normally never shy about shooting, Mills did not attempt his first shot until nearly 2 minutes into his season debut.

SCAMPER FOR THE LOOSE BALL. Raymond Almazan of Rain or Shine (right) battles Alaska’s Cyrus Baguio for the loose ball in Game 5. PBA Images

Alaska a win away from PBA finals A

LASKA Milk coach Alex Compton has often expressed his admiration for Rain or Shine counterpart Yeng Guiao’s coaching style, saying that the Hall of Fame coach’s teams play hard regardless of whether they’re ahead or behind in any particular game. “They play the same all the time, works the same play all the time. You went up, you keep playing hard, you went up, you keep playing hard. These are the things we want to emulate,” Compton told sportswriters after steering the Aces to a 93-88 come from behind victory in Game Five of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals. But that attitude hasn’t

always been there for Guiao’s Elasto Painters in this series, which they currently trail 3-2. In fact, Guiao believes that complacency has already cost them two crucial games in these semis. “We know we have the capability to carve out a win, but sometimes we relax too soon,” Guiao admitted. “Nag-re-relax kami ng maaga. Same mental practice we had in Game One. We relaxed too early.” The fiery mentor remained positive, considering it a good sign that they have established big leads even in their losses in Game One and Five. “It’s still a close series. We’ll make adjustments for Game Six. I’m confident we can bring it to a Game Seven. I don’t

think we can establish those leads if we’re not capable of winning the game,” he added. “I feel, if we bring it to a Game Seven, we can pull it through.” The league takes a break from beginning December 28 and resumes on January 4. Both squads intend to give their players some much-needed rest, although neither team can afford to take long breaks as they make preparations for the all-important Game Six. “We start practicing Monday, then take a break on December 31 and January 1, then January 2 and 3, practice ulit. We must allow them to spend time sa family,” Guiao said. The coach believes that the break won’t favor his team

Pistons rout Cavs

MARKED MAN. Gabe Norwood of Rain Or Shine struggled in Game 5 against Alaska. PBA Images

specifically, but will benefit both sides. “Yung long break is good for everybody. It will rest their guys because they like to press, kami ganun din. It doesn’t give anybody any advantage,” added Guiao. Compton, though, doesn’t think that’s the case and he remains wary of the very experienced Guiao and his adjustments for the coming game. “At this point, I don’t think anybody will be carrying a momentum for the next game. But yun na nga ang nakakatakot because with a Hall of Fame coach like Coach Yeng, I’m sure they’ll figure out a way to win Game Six and this break will give them enough time to prepare,” the Alaska coach said.

EBRON James suffered a poor shooting performance and Kyrie Irving remained sidelined by a bruised knee as the Cleveland Cavaliers were routed 103-80 Sunday by visiting Detroit. The Cavaliers, whose only loss in the prior five games was a Christmas defeat at Miami, fell to 1812, three games behind Central division leader Chicago and fifth in the Eastern Conference while the struggling Pistons improved to 7-23. Brandon Jennings scored a game-high 25 points to spark Detroit, which also had 16 points and 17 rebounds from Andre Drummond. The Pistons hit 17-of-31 3-point attempts to win their

second game in a row but only their fourth in 21 games. James hit only 5-of-19 shots from the field but still produced 17 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Kevin Love added 20 points and 10 rebounds and Tristan Thompson had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Cavaliers. Australian guard Irving, averaging 20 points a game, missed his second game in a row. Aussie Matthew Dellavedova had three points and six assists in 26 minutes starting in place of Irving. The Cavaliers are also recovering from last week’s loss of Brazilian big man Anderson Varejao, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon that will sideline him for the remainder of the season.

SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

IF IT HAPPENS Pacquiao-Mayweather: A trilogy in the making

VOL. 7 ISSUE 204 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

HE long awaited showdown between Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao and unbeaten American Floyd Mayweather Jr. could lead to a trilogy rekindling memories of the Ali-Frazier duels. Muhammad Ali lost the ‘Fight of the Century’ on March 8, 1971 against his erstwhile rival Joe Frazier, before winning the rematch in January 1974 and the ‘Thrilla in Manila’ on October 1975. The two heavyweights featured in 41 brutal rounds defying the limits of human endurance to stamp their legacy in boxing folklore. Pacquiao and Mayweather have yet to throw a punch but their rivalry is reaching a zenith since they are considered the best pound-forpound boxers of this generation. It has reached mythical proportions and the fight boxing fans want to see is finally expected to take place in 2015. However, one fight may not be enough to determine who is the better fighter, according to Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach. “I would love to see these guys fight more than once. If they split the first two, we could have a third, there could be a rubber match. We could have three big fights. It’s been done before, it could be done

again,” Roach told The Fight Game via BoxingScene. Mayweather, who is coming off two consecutive victories against Marcos Maidana earlier this year, has said he wants to face Pacquiao on Cinco de Mayo weekend on May 2 next year. A UAE investment group has upped the ante by raising Mayweather’s already record-setting purse to an unprecented $120 million, according to BoxingScene.com website. Mayweather, nicknamed ‘Money’, has confirmed that he is only motivated by money. “Got to give them another reason to hate, but I will motivate people that are ambitious and want to be winners in life. I’m materialistic and I’m motivated by money,” Mayweather has posted on the social networks according to BoxingScene.com website. He is aware that there is no bigger fight financially than fighting Pacquiao, although there are rumours that the Mayweather camp is also courting WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto for a rematch on May 2. Roach taunted Mayweather, 37, who has 47-0 record (26 KOs) to accept the challenge of facing ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao (575-2, 38 KOs). “He is so in love with that zero on that record,” Roach said of Mayweather. “That’s

NON-BELIEVER. Despite getting a bad beating from Manny Pacquiao, Chris Algieri thinks the Filipino will be no match to American Floyd Mayweather. the thing with boxing, if you are champion of the world you fight everybody, you don’t duck anybody and you fight all comers. If he retires not fighting Manny, that will be a big question when he’s asked for

things. I think that will ruin his legacy.” Pacquiao, 36, says he is ready to fight Mayweather anytime. In his official Instagram account, Pacquiao has revealed

his two reasons why he wants to make the fight happen. “Two (2) reasons why I want the Mayweather fight. (1). My oldest son Jimuel. He asked me before my career is over to fight Floyd first. I

don’t want my son to think of me as a coward. (2). The Fans. It is what everyone wants. I am going to do everything in my power to make the fight happen. God Bless,” Pacquiao posted.

Pacquiao is set to judge a beauty pageant in Miami in January, referring to the Miss Universe contest. Pacquiao would not comment on his judging stint as he has yet to confirm it, only that he has been invited and plans to bring his wife, Sarangani Vice-Governor Jinkee Pacquiao, to the United States. He is also excited to see

the Philippines’ representative, MJ Lastimosa, who hails from Mindanao. Pacquiao also expects to receive an update on the negotiations for his potential mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather in January. Meanwhile, Pacquiao and his family plan to welcome the New Year with a simple celebration in General Santos City.

the Mavericks to rally from an 88-81 deficit entering the fourth quarter. Chandler Parsons was also huge for the Mavs with 26 while Monta Ellis finished with 18 despite going just 6-for-20 from the field. Rajon Rondo added 15 points, six rebounds and seven assists as Dallas snapped the Thunder’s two-game winning streak. Dallas, which won two straight, stayed in fifth place in the Western Con-

ference with a robust 22-10 slate. Serge Ibaka recorded a season high 26 for the Thunder and Reggie Jackson added 21 off the bench. Russell Westbrook, who had been on fire late, tallied 18 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, but he struggled greatly on the field, missing 17 of 23 shots. The Thunder dropped to 15-17, 2.5 games behind for the 8th spot in the West.

Busy 2015 for Manny

ILIPINO boxing champion and Saragani Rep. Manny Pacquiao expects to have a busy 2015, as he already has a host of commitments lined up for January, including possibly judging the Miss Universe pageant. Top Rank chief executive Bob Arum revealed earlier this month that

Mavericks cool off Thunder

D DRIVING THROUGH. James Harden (13) of the Hoiston Rockets drives past three San Antonio defenders.

IRK Nowitzki had a turn-back-the-clock performance on Sunday night and led the Dallas Mavericks to a 1121107 win over the streaking Oklahoma City Thunder at the American Airlines Center. The 36-year old Nowitzki, a 12-time All-Star and 2011 NBA Finals MVP, scored 30 points by making 8-of-13 field goals, 2-of-3 threes and 12-of-12 free throws. His output allowed

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 7 ISSUE 204 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

GOLFING LAWYERS. (l-r) Lawyers Ramon Edison Batacan, Vincent Paul Montejo, Percy Donalvo and Paolo Evangelista of the Batacan, Montejo and Vicencio Law Firm show fine form off the tee during the 1st BM&V Law Firm Invitational Golf Tournament at the Rancho Palos Verdes.

Gov. Mendoza’s program nets gold in Batang Pinoy A

12-YEAR-OLD girl made Antipas town and North Cotabato province proud after she went home with the gold medal of the karatedo event of this year’s Batang Pinoy National Championship in Bacolod City. JC Anne Marriz Quimah-

an, a grade 6 pupil of Antipas Central Elementary School, was the youngest player of the North Cotabato delegation to the national event held last week. Allan Matullano, delegation head of young athletes, said Quimahan showed her skills, talents, and expertise

in karatedo, and bested all other athletes from different provinces in the same category. Quimahan was among those who hauled gold medals in Karatedo during the Mindanao leg of the Batang Pinoy championship in Pagadian City two months ago.

Aside from Quimahan, Marc Angel Dominic Gabriel also won the gold medal in karatedo while Clarenz Vallar and Michell Muyco both won silver medal in Taekwondo, and Liezel Joy Cañada reached the quarter finals of the table tennis competition. Romeo Anito, Cotabato

provincial sports coordinator, said the victory of four athletes made North Cotabato known among sports enthusiasts in the country. Anito said the support extended by North Cotabato Gov. Emmylo Mendoza raised the confidence of athletes and did their best to make the

province proud. Mendoza earmarked about P7 million funds for Batang Pinoy athletes this year. Anito said through this program, the youth are encouraged to engage in sports and away from illegal drugs and other social ills.