Edge Davao 7 Issue 211

VOL. 7 ISSUE 211 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 11 - 12, 2015

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

THE EAGLE FAMILY Gov. Dolfo

Nonoy Vince

Arthur

Sonia

2 COVER STORY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 211 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 11 - 12, 2015

THE EAGLE FAMILY

By ANTONIO M. AJERO

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HE year just ended marked the passing of former Rep. Manuel “Nonoy” M. Garcia, 82, one of Davao’s well-loved politicians known for his “politics of performance” style of leadership.

Garcia is a scion of the illustrious family of pioneering professionals, entrepreneurs, and philanthropists. He is the son of lawyer Leon Garcia Sr. who once served as appointed mayor of the city, and grandson of Kapitan Tomas Monteverde, who was one of the first municipal presidents, the equivalent of present-day mayor. His brother, Leon Jr., was a member of the 1970 Constitutional Convention, while youngest son Vincent was congressman of the 2nd district for three terms. His daughter Mylene Garcia-Albano is on her second term as 2nd district congresswoman.

A brilliant lawyer and top debater, Nonoy shunned demagoguery. Instead of rabble-rousing and bad-mouthing political rivals, he would prefer to concentrate on crafting laws and bringing tangible improvements to his district, earlier classified as the city’s light, medium, and heavy industrial corridor, including transportation and utilities (TU) zones.

In fact, Nonoy is known for the efforts he had exerted for the establishment and construction of big ticket infrastructure projects such as the P5.4-billion Francisco Bangoy International Airport, the city’s two flyovers (Agdao and Dakudao), the first and only underpass along Carlos P. Garcia St. (a.k.a. Diversion Road) in Buhangin, the multi-million improvement of the Sasa international port, the Philippine Heart Center wing in the Southern Philippines Medical Center, and the first Mindanao campus of the Philippine Science High School and the University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP), among others.

Nonoy is particularly famous for his lifetime advocacy and work for the international fight to save the endangered Philippine eagle from extinction.

Initial impetus The long campaign to save the endangered raptor, running for almost half a century now, got its initial impetus when Nonoy’s youngest brother, Arthur, then a businessman in his late twenties, donated “Diola,” his one-year old eagle, to the campaign made famous internationally with the involvement of Cap-

tain Charles Augustus Lindbergh, the multi-awarded American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist who stunned the world by doing on May 20-21, 1927 a solo non-stop flight from New York to Paris, France, a distance of nearly 3,600 statute miles (5, 800 kilometers). It was then a formidable effort to promote airmail.

Lindbergh was the first Time magazine “Man of the Year” at the age of 25, the youngest until now.

While studying the flora and fauna in the Philippines, Lindbergh became involved in efforts to protect the endangered Philippine eagle and the tamaraw, a rare dwarf buffalo in the island of Mindoro.

Sometime in 1970, the young Art Garcia turned over Diola to Lindbergh, who in turn gave the younger raptor to the Bureau of Forest Development headed by Macario Bacena, a buddy of Alberto “Bobby” Montemayor, a tri-media practitioner who happened to be the brotherin-law of Nonoy Garcia.

On July 4, 1971, a grateful General Lindbergh, from Darien, Connecticut, wrote a one-page letter to Arthur for his donation: Dear Mr. Garcia: Having returned to the United States, I write to thank

is highly encouraging to find men like yourself joining in this effort, and to see how it is increasingly supported by so many of your fellow citizens of Mindanao.

With deep appreciation and best wishes. (signed) Charles A. Lindbergh Diola’s role Diola gave birth to Pagasa and Pagkakaisa, the first two Philippine eagles bred in captivity. Diola died suddenly from cardio-pulmonary failure with respiratory arrest leading to congested heart failure in 1993 at the age of 24. Then Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Angel Alcala and the country’s environmentalists mourned her passing, cognizant of the role that she played in the great battle to save the raptor, now renamed the Philippine eagle.

“Diola played a very important role in the Philippine eagle conservation as she produced the first eagle ever bred in captivity,” said Dennis Salvador, long-time executive director of the Philippine Eagle Conservation Foundation, Inc. (PECF).

“Tito Nonoy’s family not only donated Diola to the (conservation) program, but also helped muster local support to keep the eagles in Davao when DENR wanted to

Dabaw celebrations in 2002, Vincent, Nonoy’s youngest son, invited eight of his fellow congressmen to visit the city and got their commitment to help in the conservation efforts for the Philippine eagle.

Vince and his colleagues chose to support a comprehensive conservation program project that included the production of a documentary titled “Hope for the

Capt. Charles A. Lindbergh

Alberto “Bobby”Montemayor

Dennis Salvador

you again for presenting me with your Monkey Eating Eagle when I was in your wonderful island of Mindanao. As you know, this eagle is a member of one of the world’s most seriously threatened species.

By taking part in an attempt to return it to its native habitat, you are recognizing the responsibility of man to his environment and setting an example to all mankind.

It will be a long and difficult task to save the Philippine Monkey Eating Eagle, but one well worth the effort. It

move all of them to Manila,” Salvador recalled.

“Tito Nonoy also helped steer the organization (Philippine Eagle Conservation Foundation, Inc.) in its formative years as its treasurer, then chairman,” according to Salvador, who added that Nonoy Garcia continued to serve as chairman emeritus until his death last year.

Family involvement Aside from Arthur, donor of Diola, there were other members of the Garcia clan who helped in the advocacy and works to save the eagle.

Bobby Montemayor, husband of Nonoy’ s sister Patricia, drummed up public awareness and support for the save-the-eagle campaign in his Mindanao Times column and radio and television programs.

Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario did his part in a big way as minister of the old Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR).

Del Rosario’s pro-Philippine eagle stand was further manifested when he was congressman for several terms.

During the Araw ng

Eagles,” the improvement of existing audio-visual facilities at the Eagle Center, the provision of falconry materials, and the renovation of the biodiversity exhibit room into Diola’s Forest.

Vince and friends “Diola’s Forest is an enhanced children’s discovery room directed at providing interactive learning for young audiences,” states a report by Tatit Quiblat, former PECF communication officer. “The room is composed of six modules. The first and second modules feature display boards and three-dimensional fiberglass figures of trees, lizards and vines to represent the forest, and touch-screen computers for the enjoyment and education of the children.

The third and fourth modules provide information on Philippine Eagles, with stuffed specimen of the eagle and various eagle artifacts such as eggs and feathers on display.

The last modules provide visitors with more fiberglass representations of the forest ideal for ‘selfie’ and ‘groufie’ photo opportunities.”

Vince and his eight

Author with Pag-asa on the day he was transferred to the big cage

KIDS’ EDUCATION. Sonia Garcia’s daughter Marga, son Migo, nephews and nieces are given an educational tour of the Philippine Eagle Center in Malagos. colleagues pooled funds amounting to P750,000 for the project.

Sonia remembers Sonia Garcia, niece of Nonoy, did a lot more creatively during her stint as regional director of the ubiquitous Department of Tourism.

Sonia, daughter of Amado, another brother of Nonoy involved in the save-the-eagle movement, would make sure that the Eagle Foundation (PECF) was included in the Eco-Tourism Council for Region 11. The DOT included the foundation in the tourism marketing program – bringing Diola to countless WOW exhibits in Manila at Intramuros. DOT brought the Philippine Eagle bird-watching package to international roadshow in Europe, including the Philippine Eagle as must-see in the first Birdwatching in the Philippines, a book produced by DOT. Under former Secretary Joseph Ace Durano, the foundation was able to fund the new visitors center at Malagos.

Sonia had the fondest memories about her childhood with the eagle Diola.

“I grew up at the big house of Lola Milagring (mother of Nonoy) with Diola inside a small kulungan (cage) under a mango tree in the backyard. Diola’s cage eventually encased the whole mango tree. Since the grandkids always had lunch at the big house, we always took the time to peek in her cage as we passed by the back gate to Ilustre Street.”

She remembered an instance “when the uncles decided to put a bayawak (lizard) inside the cage to check Diola’s reaction.” No show, the raptor didn’t rise above her docile behavior, taking no interest in the reptile.

“It was a big day when Capt. Charles Lindbergh came to ask for Diola for a conservation project stationed in Baracatan, “ she said. Sonia never got an opportunity to see Diola in Baracatan. But her father, Amado, would report about what the raptor was doing with human handler Goning when he came down from his

visit to his friend Dr. Ronald Kruppa, who was the Eagle Foundation executive director at the time.

Sonia got the chance to see Diola again “when all the cousins were brought to her new home at the Philippine Eagle Conservation Center Park in Malagos. From her little kulungan under the mango tree she now had her own mini forest. It was truly a joy to see her finally fly.”

Morning at the Eagle Park When Sonia’s daughter Margarita turned 17 last April she made arrangements for her and her cousins to spend the morning at the park. They watched a video, after which they went to the museum and were able to see the stuffed Diola.

“I talked about our generation’s time at the big house with Diola and the commitment of Lola, Tito Arthur, and the cousins’ family to the program,” she said.

The kids then planted trees and made their imprints on the cement blocks.

“Margarita had donated her birthday money to the park.

We walked through the park with the guide explaining about endangered species and the conservation mission of the park, a vision of one day being able to introduce more Diolas into the wilds, the mountains of Kitanglad, Talomo, and Hamiguitan, repopulating the species so that these majestic eagles will finally be able to soar above free and secure that they will not be hunted for sport or food. The morning ended with snacks at the visitors center and slicing of cake with the Philippine eagle photo.” (Sonia had taken a picture of one of Diola’s descendants and brought it to Goldilock’s for imprinting on a mocha cake). “I hope that one day, Marga, Miguel, and their cousins will be able to bring their children to the park and retell these stories,” she said.

(Ms Garcia now works at Knowledge Channel, based in Manila, where Marga and Miguel study, Marga at the Ateneo de Manila and Miguel at BALFOUR. – Author.)

VOL. 7 ISSUE 211 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 11 - 12, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

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4 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 211 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 11 - 12, 2015

FEDERAL PUSH. Mayor Leoncio Evasco of Maribojoc, Bohol stresses that there is an urgent need for paradigm shift of system of government from unitary to federalism because the current form of government tends to neglect areas far from the seat of power. Evasco was a resource speaker during Saturday’s Support Duterte for Federalism summit attended by barangay officials at the Davao Recreation Center. Lean Daval Jr.

Pick a president who’ll push federal system, says Duterte

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AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte urged Mindanaoans to choose a presidential candidate who will support the push for federalism.

“I would like to ask everybody to support only a presidential candidate who could promise us with sincerity that they would start building federal type of government for the Republic of the Philippines,” Duterte said in an interview at The Marco Polo, Davao on Thursday.

Duterte said he will give his full support to the presidential aspirant who can really push the paradigm shift from the current presidential unitary to a federalism form of

government.

Duterte himself is a staunch advocate of federalism and even hosted a symposium among Mindanao leaders in December last year.

He said the Philippines should do away with the system because it only intends to marginalize the places in the countryside.

Duterte said the unitary type of government is “dictatorial” and aims to control the nation especially on financial matters.

Duterte said Mindanao has been giving more revenues to the central government but only a few projects go to the island region.

FCHOOSE, 10

Helper kidnaps boy

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

PERATIVES of Talomo Police Station arrested a 39-year-old house helper who allegedly abducted a 4-year-old boy in Catalunan Grande, Davao City.

The suspect, identified as Julita (full name withheld) who is from San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur, was the stay-in helper of the family of the boy she allegedly abducted.

She had been working for the family for only about a month.

Talomo police said the boy’s family’s driver went to the station to report that Julita

had left with the boy at around 9:30 a.m. on Friday without the consent of the boy’s parents.

The boy was declared missing after Julita failed to return the child to his home. The police then immediately conducted an investigation.

Police traced the suspect’s location to Kabacan, North Cotabato. This was confirmed when Julita sent a text message to a another helper telling her not to tell the police that they were going to Zamboanga del Sur. Around 11:30 p.m. on the same day, police conducted a

In a separate interview, Allones told reporters that during their talk with Duterte, they came up with a plan for confidence building with the NPA because she believes the rebels have faith in the mayor.

She said they will follow what the mayor will tell them for the release of the captured jail warden.

Allones said the main demand of the NPA was the release of a certain Commander Jinggoy.

“Sumala sa phayag ni mayor tabangan sa legal na paagi (According to the mayor, he will help in the release of Commander Jinggoy the legal way),” she said.

Lijobet Coquilla, wife of the jail warden, appealed once

again last Thursday to the group for his immediate release because it is very difficult for their children to lose their father.

In a press conference, Lijobet said it also saddened them that her husband is now accused of being a drug protector.

Coquilla was taken from his carwash business near his house in barangay Sto. Niño in Panabo City at around 7:45 a.m. on December 23, just two days before Christmas.

It was reported that Lijobeth was also snatched but was later freed by the abductors A few hours later the Coquillas’ vehicle was found

pre-operation briefing for the arrest of Julita.

The suspect was finally arrested at 5:45 a.m. on Saturday inside the COMPATSI terminal in Cotabato City while she suspect was about to leave with the boy for Pagadian City.

The boy was rescued and immediately brought to the Women’s and Children’s Desk for debriefing and immediate medical examination.

On Saturday, Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte presented Julita to the media and said what she had done was “unforgivable.”

“Buti pa na makapatay ka

nang tao sa away kasi mapapatawad pa kita (It is better if you just killed someone in a fight because I can forgive you),” Duterte said.

Duterte told Julita that her case is non-bailable and could earn her a life term in prison.

In an interview, Julita said it was a certain Ryan who asked her to kidnap the boy.

She said Ryan had wanted to marry her but she refused for financial reasons.

She also said they had asked for a ransom of P100,000 because her child was sick.

Duterte in talks with NPA for jail warden’s release PhilHealth wants a list of

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AYOR Rodrigo Duterte yesterday asked the family of the warden of the Compostela Valley Provincial Rehabilitation Center to give him a month to negotiate with the NPA for his release.

“Pupunta pa ako sa bukid kasi patakbo-takbo yang mga NPA. May cell phone pero hadlok man pud madakpan (I will go to their camp because the NPAs are always on the move.

They have cell phones but they are afraid of being traced),” he said.

“I hope to recover the warden who was kidnapped by the NPA,” he added.

In an interview Thursday afternoon at The Marco Polo, Davao, Duterte said the NPA told provincial administrator

Virgilia S. Allones of Compostela Valley, who had initial negotiation with the rebels, to ask him (Duterte) first before they proceed with the negotiation for the release of warden Jose Mervin Coquilla.

When asked by reporters if the NPA demanded the release of political prisoners in exchange for Coquilla’s freedom, Duterte said that is not possible.

“It is not a good bargain. I do not do something which is not allowed by law. If they will be released because the cases are bailable there would be no problem, but to do something extraordinary just because you want to use it as a bargain, that is something that I cannot fathom,” he said.

FDUTERTE, 10

non-member senior citizens

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

HE heads of the different barangays in Davao City are requested to submit their respective lists of non-member senior citizens to PhilHealth.

PhilHealth social insurance officer Clea Dublin told Edge Davao in an interview that there are still barangays in the city that have not submitted the lists of their 60-yearold and older constituents who need to be included in the lifetime program as mandated by the law.

“There were barangay senior citizen associations that already submitted this month

but there are still more. We are targeting to have the massive barangay registration by February in Davao City,’’ Dublin said.

Dublin said under the barangay level registration, senior citizens will no longer have to go to the PhilHealth office.

All senior citizens who will be covered by the universal PhilHealth membership will receive the same benefits from paying members, retirees, and pensioners, she added.

However, she clarified that the law has a provision that ex-

FPHILHEALTH, 10

VOL. 7 ISSUE 211 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 11 - 12, 2015

NEWS 5

EDGEDAVAO

50 more suspects charged with Ampatuan massacre

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IFTY individuals have been included as suspects in the 2009 Ampatuan massacre for their alleged participation in the planning and execution of what is considered the bloodiest political violence in recent history.

Forty-three complainants along with witnesses said the suspects were involved either in the planning, execution, or covering up of the bloodbath.

Assisted by private prosecutor Nena Santos, the complainants and witnesses took their oaths before Maguindanao Provincial Prosecutor Tocod Ronda at the provincial governor’s office conference room on Tuesday to signify the veracity of their additional manifestation.

It is said to be “the final wave” of the prosecution’s undertaking in the massacre trial which Ronda will immediately relay to Justice Secretary Leila De Lima.

Among the 50 is Cotaba-

to City Administrator Atty.

Cynthia Guiani Sayadi.

Sayadi was the solicitor-general of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) under Regional Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, when members of the Ampatuan allegedly perpetrated the massacre, which left 58 people dead, more than 30 of them journalists.

Sayadidenied in a press briefing on Friday that she had a hand in the massacre.

She dared her accusers, especially the Muslims, to swear on the Qur’an before testifying against her.

The complaint sheet read: “In the course of the Ampatuan, Maguindanao massacre case, the witnesses presented in court have testified that several other persons who were not charged were involved in the planning, execution, and cover-up of what is known as the worst election-related case in the Philippines.”

SUPPORT. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte welcomes Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC) commissioners led by Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panel and BTC chair Mohagher Iqbal during their courtesy

meeting with the mayor at The Marco Polo, Davao on Thursday night. Duterte reiterated his support for the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) during the meeting. Lean Daval Jr.

Indian landlord denies ‘Peace in Bangsamoro accusations of students needs good governance’ T

HE Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) should not be viewed as a perfect law that will solve all problems besetting the proposed political entity that will replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, the heads of the peace panels of both the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) said in a forum here Thursday.

Speaking during the media roundtable discussion on the BBL, Mohagher Iqbal, chair of the MLF peace panel cited that while the bill is a product of 17 years of negotiations, it is only one element that will help achieve lasting peace in Mindanao.

Iqbal stressed, for instance, that it requires good governance and leadership and good implementation of

F50 MORE, 10

the law to make groups like the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and Abu Sayyaf irrelevant.

Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, chair of the government peace panel said it would be unfair to pin all hopes on the BBL since there are other factors to consider, for example, how to deal with the splintered Moro National Liberation Front.

Ferrer added that while the process of legislating the BBL may appear slow it is much faster than the passage of the Reproductive Health Act and the Freedom of Information Bill, among others.

She commended both the House of Representatives and the Senate for having held several consultations on the BBL. Iqbal, who also chairs the

FPEACE, 10

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

HE Indian national who is the subject of complaints by Indian medical students at the Davao Medical School Foundation (DMSF) has denied the allegations against him and said there are people out to sabotage the existing partnership with the school regarding admissions to its medical program.

In an exclusive online interview with Edge Davao, Dr. Ashin Mohan said three Indian nationals, along with a few collaborators, were behind a plot to cause a disturbance at the school so that the Indian students would be transferred to schools in Manila.

He said the three, whom he identified as Sateesh babu

Garikapati, Sreenivasa babu velagapudi, and Ariyamuthu Gunasekharan, want to transfer the students to the Perpetual Help College of Manila and Lyceum College.

“Sateesh is trying to do maximum damage,” Mohan said. “Nothing to worry, I’m still fine but worried for the college. Anyway I will not let them go through with their plan against the college. I will safeguard the college at any cost since it involves a lot of lives and the future of the students in this institution,” he added.

Mohan, who said he was the chief operating officer of DMEMS Co. Ltd. on a special working permit visa, also de-

nied claiming he had bribed Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte.

“The city mayor is someone I respect the most in this country,” he said.

On Wednesday last week, about 50 Indian students of DMSF met with city administrator Melchor Quitain to air their complaints against Mohan, which range from illegal operation of three dormitories, various threats, and illegal detention.

Quitain set up a meeting between the students and Mohan on Thursday, but the latter failed to show up.

Mohan, who is not connected with DMSF, is the alleged owner of the Davao Medical Education Manage-

away last January 3, will be laid to rest on Monday at Mt. Apo Gardens Memorial Park. Lean Daval Jr.

FINDIAN, 10

5 Zambo residents face human trafficking suit

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LAST FAREWELL. Supporters pay their last respects to the late former Davao City Councilor Jose Louie Villafuerte during a necrological service held at Sangguniang Panlungsod session hall on Friday. Villafuerte, who passed

ment Services (DMEMS). Mohan allegedly operates three multi-story dormitories in Bankerohan, Bajada, and in Jacinto Street.

Mohan said all the accusations being hurled against him are just “allegations.”

“If they tell that I bribed the mayor, every single child in this country knows how good the city’s respectful mayor is.

That itself is an invalid statement,” he said.

Mohan also said he had already spoken with Quitain and showed documentary proof refuting the allegations of the students.

“I explained to him well the situation and why they are

OLICE on Wednesday filed charges before the City Prosecutor’s Office against five suspected illegal recruiters for violation of Republic Act 10364 otherwise known as the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2012.

City police director Senior Supt. Angelito Casimiro said Friday they were doing follow-up operations to arrest one of the five suspects, who remain at large.

Casimiro did not name the suspects and the victims except to say that the alleged illegal recruiters are all from this city while the victims are from Cagayan de Oro City.

He said the youngest

among the victims is 21 years old and the oldest is 32 years old. They were recruited to work as bar girls.

He said the suspects were arrested last Monday by the city police’s Special Investigation Unit headed

by Supt. Felixberto Martinez at Solis Drive, Barangay Sta. Maria.

He said the arrest came after the SIU received information about the presence of a group of people with unfamiliar faces in the area.

He added the suspects are detained at the Police Station 7 after signing a 15day waiver to avail of their rights to preliminary investigation as provided for in the Revised Penal Code.

(MindaNews)

6 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 211 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 11 - 12, 2015

Aquino firm on MRT, LRT fare hike P

RESIDENT Benigno Aquino on Friday stood firm on the fare adjustment in the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT) systems, saying the decision may not be popular but it is right.

“Pero ulitin ko ano iyong desisyon hindi naman popularidad,” the President said in a media interview following his attendance to the inspection and inauguration of infrastructure projects in Romblon.

This even as militant, labor, and commuter groups have filed petitions before the Supreme Court (SC) seeking to stop the implementation of the MRT and LRT fare increase.

President Aquino said the fare hikes are aimed at reducing the P12 billion in annual subsidies just for train operations by P2 billion. The subsidies are

sourced from taxes collected all over the country.

“Assume natin na all the 14 million daytime residents of Manila, ‘yung the NCR (National Capital Region) Metro Manila, ginagamit ‘yang MRT at LRT and that’s a very big assumption. So there are 14 million people being benefited and 86 million helping pay the bill,” he said.

The Chief Executive added that the fare increase, along with the Senate-approved subsidy, will be used for the improvement of services of the MRT and LRT systems.

“May kailangang magbayad. So talaga namang makatwiran naman ‘yung ‘ikaw ang nakikinabang baka naman pwedeng dagdagan mo ang bayad mo. Sa increase hindi pa rin mapupuno ‘yung P60 (subsidy) ha ng MRT, may subsidy pa ring kailangan,”

FAQUINO, 10

Firm invests P1 billion in Koronadal power plant

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NERGY firm Supreme Power Corporation is investing around P1 billion for the construction and development this year of an 11.9-megawatt (MW) bunker-fired power plant in nearby Koronadal City in South Cotabato.

Executives of Supreme Power and its partner Next Power Consortium Inc. led on Thursday the formal ground breaking of the power plant, which is planned to go on stream later this year in partnership with the South Cotabato 1 Electric Cooperative (Socoteco 1).

Lawyer Juanita Sy, Supreme Power president, said they are targeting to complete the construction and start the operations of the plant, which will rise in a property owned by the electric cooperative in Matulas, Barangay Paraiso in Koronadal City, within the next six months.

“We already completed

the necessary requirements set by the Department of Energy for the construction of the plant,” she said.

Based on the company’s agreement with Socoteco 1, the power plant, which will be powered by modular generator sets from South Korea, will be embedded into the systems of the electric cooperative.

Socoteco 1, which lists a daily peak power demand of 36 MW, serves Koronadal City, eight municipalities in South Cotabato and Lutayan town in Sultan Kudarat.

Santiago Tudio, Socoteco 1 general manager, said the company will operate the plant for 15 years and will directly serve the needs of its service or franchise area.

After 15 years, he said, Supreme Power will transfer the ownership of the plant to the cooperative at no cost.

Lawyer Vince Tecson, Next Power president and

chief executive officer, said the operations of the plant will bring about additional charges of 80-centavos per kilowatt-hour (kwh) to consumers of Socoteco 1.

But he said such rate will be subject to public consultations and the approval of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

“We already applied for the issuance of a provisional authority for the rates pending the release of the ERC’s its final approval,” he said.

Tecson said their applied rate of 80-centavos per kwh is justified based on the projected costs for the operations of the plant.

“We are not allowed by law to charge more than what is allowed. We are also assuming that the rate we are proposing is acceptable to the ERC,” he said.

Tecson said they decided to start the construction of the plant ahead of the issuance of the ERC’s approval for their applied rates to

D

EPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Proceso J. Alcala has ordered the temporary ban on the importation of livestock animals that may be susceptible to foot and mouth disease (FMD), their products and by-products, coming from Chungcheongbuk-Do, Korea; Jiangsu, China; and Caprivi, Namibia.

The temporary prohibition took effect through Memorandum Orders 98, 100 and 102, respectively, in December 2014 to protect the health of the local livestock population, and consequently, food safety in the country.

The directive was made following reports from the Office of International des Epizooties (OIE) of outbreak of FMD Virus of Serotype O affecting backyard

piggery farms in China and Korea, and FMD Virus Serotype SAT2 affecting cattle kraals in Caprivi, Namibia.

“We cannot afford to take chances. We are maintaining our reputation of being an FMD-free country so we are very vigilant of every possible entry of FMD-infected animals or animal products in the Philippines,” Alcala said.

He added that being FMD-free will be an advantage to the Philippines as the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) integrates and opens a free regional market this year.

Under the orders, the DA chief has also listed other specific emergency measures such as the immediate suspension of the processing, evaluation of

ticularly cited the Romblon-Sawang-Agpanabat provincial road, the Sibuyan Circumferential Road, portions of San Jose Circumferential Road, road connecting Sta. Fe-Guinbirayan Provincial Road and the Romblon-Cogon-Sablayan Road.

“Ang mga proyektong ating nabanggit ay bahagi lamang ng malawakan nating estratehiya na paunlarin ang sektor ng imprastraktura,” he added.

President Aquino said his administration’s good governance has resulted in sustained economic growth and 21 positive credit rating actions the Philippines re-

ceived from different agencies around the world.

“Benepisyo nito: Tayo po’y nag-o-operate deficit pero nakakahiram na tayo nang mas mura dahil nga ho tumaas ang ating credit rating at bumaba ang ating risko; mas naeengganyo ang mga negosyanteng magpasok ng puhunan sa bansa, na nanganganak ng trabaho sa maraming Pilipino,” he said.

“Sa walang patid na paglago naman ng ating GDP (gross domestic product), nabibigyan tayo ng kakayahang maghatid ng agarang benepisyo sa ating mga kababayan,” the President added.

(PNA)

FDA, 10

Infra spending boosts Phl economy: Aquino

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Aquino

show their sincerity in pursuing the project.

As a new entrant in the power industry, he said they deemed it vital to build the power plant first and prove that they are capable of running or operating a major project.

South Cotabato (2nd District) Rep. Ferdinand Hernandez, who graced the ground breaking rites, lauded Socoteco 1 for pursuing the project.

“Socoteco 1 acted ahead and did not wait for another power crisis to happen. We should commend them for that,” he said.

With the entry of the project, Hernandez said they expect the area’s power situation to further stabilize and eventually usher in more growth in terms of trade and investments.

“This is a major endeavor — about a billion worth.

We need more people like you here in the province,” he added. (MindaNews)

DA bans products susceptible to FMD

RESIDENT Benigno Aquino on Friday said the government is further increasing spending on infrastructure across the country to P562.3 billion this year in a bid to significantly boost economic growth and job creation.

During his visit to Romblon province, Mr. Aquino said the country allotted P442.3 billion for various infrastructure projects last year from just P175.4 billion in 2011.

“Panatag po ang loob nating magbuhos ng pondo para sa imprastruktura dahil alam nating bukal ito ng paglago ng ekonomiya. Kapag mas maayos ang kalsada, mas mabilis

ang takbo ng mga produkto at serbisyo patungo sa merkado; mas lalago ang negosyo, na siya namang lumilikha ng trabaho, at nagbubukal ng malawakang kaunlaran,” he said.

The President said the government is considering the welfare of the majority of Filipinos in the implementation of infrastructure projects.

“Estratehikong pagkilos ito ng gobyerno upang ihatid ang benepisyo sa mas nangangailangan, at mabigyan sila ng kakayahang makiambag sa kaunlaran. Mahalaga po dito ang maayos na ugnayan ng lokal at pambansang gobyerno,” he said.

The President par-

VOL. 7 ISSUE 211 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 11 - 12, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

Monetary officials see positive growth M

ONETARY officials see that some economic indicators in the last quarter of 2014 continue point to positive growth momentum for the Philippine economy ahead.

The positive outlook was made even with the sustained deceleration of the domestic economy in the third quarter of the year due to government underspending.

Based on the recently released highlights of the meeting of central bank’s policy-making Monetary Board (MB) last December, the Board noted the deceleration of growth until the third quarter of the year.

This after growth, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), slowed to 5.3 percent from quarter ago’s 6.4 percent and yearago’s seven percent.

Growth in the first three quarters of last year reached 5.8 percent while full-year growth target is a range between 6.5-7.5 percent.

Despite the slower growth as of end-September 2014, the domestic economy posted its 11th over five-percent quarterly growth, among the highest in Asia to date.

The MB said domestic output from July to September 2014 was driven by the industry, particularly manufacturing, and services sectors.

Household consumption, fixed capital formation and net export also boosted growth.

These factors, the report noted, are indicators of the economy’s “resilience and underlying strength in private demand.” ”Other indicators continued to point to positive growth momentum in the fourth quarter,” the report said.

This after business expectations for the last quarter of the year turned more positive compared to the survey done in the third quarter of last year.

Business confidence in the last quarter of 2014 posted its highest level since the first quarter of 2010 at 48.3 percent on back of high commodity demand during the Christmas season and the main rice harvest season.

This is higher than the 34.4 percent index in the previous quarter’s business expectations survey (BES).

Relatively, results of the

FMONETARY, 10

Taxi drivers required to display tamper-proof IDs by Jan. 16

B

Y next week, taxi drivers are required to display their new tamper-proof IDs on their vehicles, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said on Friday.

LTFRB last November said it would soon be issuing these new IDs to provide passengers with a quick way for them to identify the names of the drivers and, if necessary, report to the authorities in case they are refused service.

At the same time, it

will also be easier for the board to determine taxi drivers possibly involved in criminal activities.

The IDs will require the driver’s name and picture and company name, while a barcode will bear the driver’s track record.

LTFRB said that this can be accessed via smartphone.

The IDs will be out by January 15 and are required to be displayed on January 16.

Drivers who do not comply will be penalized, LTFRB said. (PNA)

THE ECONOMY 7

TAKE YOUR PICK. A young girl checks out cartoon character-shaped balloons sold at the San Pedro Cathedral compound in Davao City. Sunday is still a special day for families in Davao City even with the fast-paced life here. Lean Daval Jr.

Oil firms likely to enforce P1 rollback by Monday

E

XPECT rollbacks amounting to more than one peso for every liter of petroleum products by Monday, an independent gas company official said. ”Yes, we can expect a rollback, more than one peso again,” Eastern Petroleum chief and executive officer (CEO) and Chairman Fernando Martinez told PNA in a text message.

Martinez said both gasoline and diesel will have a price reduction by next week.

Phoenix Petroleum vice president for External Affairs Raymond Zorrilla has also confirmed the oil price reduction by Monday. ”Yes we can expect another rollback,” Zorrilla told PNA in a text message.

Based on the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) latest oil price monitoring

in Metro Manila, diesel was being sold at a common price of P 29.25 per liter at gas stations, while gasoline was offered at a common price of P 40.25 per liter. It was observed after the first rollback of 2015 on Jan 5.

DOE said diesel was being sold at a range of P 27.05 to P 30.40 per liter in the Metro Manila area.

For gasoline prices, the DOE monitor said it was playing between the amount of P 36.05 to P 42.20 per liter.

Also, the oil price chart indicated that 2014’s total rollback for gasoline amounted to P 13.29, while diesel was reduced

by P 15.03.

Meanwhile, the country’s total petroleum demand for the first half of 2014 reached 58,737 million barrels, which was equivalent to 339.3 mil-

lion barrels of oil, according to DOE figures.

The first half of 2015 will likely top the previous half’s consumption demand due to the factor of low oil prices.

Further, for the first half of 2014, the DOE said oil imports have reached 33,040 million barrels, mainly contributed by increased gasoline importations.

Last year’s downward trend in oil prices was mainly attributed to the spurt of shale oil in the international market, which forced the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to refuse cutting production to defend its former dominating market share. It holds huge supplies and has various clients around the globe.

Reuters reported on Thursday that OPEC

ministers and delegates blamed the shale oil production by non-OPEC producers (i.e. Russia, Mexico Kazakhstan, U.S.) for the oversupply of crude oil in the market.

The blame came as international crude oil prices fell to their lowest since 2009-- far from the previous USD 100-120 per barrel prices.

For February delivery, Xinhua reported West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil was offered at USD 48.79 per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Europe benchmark Brent Crude settled at USD 50.96 per barrel.

Previously, the Middle East offered lower contract prices to Asia at a discount compared to Brent and WTI prices.

Thus, Asia can expect lower contract rates by next week. (PNA)

deficit last November. ”Helping boost the sentiment further was the positive surprise in exports,” the trader said.

Uncertainties on the path of global growth remain but the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Friday reported that the country’s exports grew by 19.7 percent in November, a tad lower than the 19.8 percent expansion same period in 2013.

The trader said actual growth of Philippine exports last November is un-

expected since worries on global growth continue to linger.

With the resumption of investors’ risk sentiment, the peso moved in close range Friday after it traded between 44.97 and 44.92 resulting to a 44.94 average.

Volume of trade reached US$772.3 million, slightly higher than the US$609.4 million a day ago.

Next week, the currency pair is seen to trade between 44.80 and 45.10.

(PNA)

Peso appreciates against US dollar

R

IS sentiment among investors returned Friday, enabling the peso to recover against the US dollar.

The local unit finished the year’s first trading week at 44.95, which is also the currency’s opening level for the day and is better than day-ago’s 45.06.

A trader said this is in line with the movement of other Asian currencies on back of positive economic reports in the US such as the drop in the world’s largest economy’s trade

8

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 211 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 11 - 12, 2015

EDITORIAL No justification for murder

T

HE murder of yet another journalist in the Philippines has been overshadowed by the gruesome killing of 12 people inside the headquarters of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo in Paris, but her death is no less important, especially since it brings to 171 the number of murdered journalists since democracy was restored to the country in 1986. Indeed, that the death of Abante reporter Nerlita Ledesma in Bataan on January 8 is virtually being ignored is testament to how callously the government – and the people in general – treat the snuffing of the life of a journalist. This has happened many times before, and there is a danger of it becoming the norm as more and more journalists are felled by the guns of murderers.

This is because with every journalist killed, the people are desensitized to the news and treat it as just another crime that is committed. Not that reporters are more important than any other person, but it is worth

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noting that journalists are being killed merely for exercising the right to freedom of expression. And if reporters themselves pay the ultimate price for a right we all should be enjoying, what does that say of freedom of speech in the Philippines? In other words, if journalists are not free to express themselves, then who is?

Each time a journalist is murdered, government issues the same old line that it will investigate the matter and bring the guilty to justice. So far, however, only a precious few cases have been brought to court, and in those instances only the gunmen have been identified while the masterminds have remained scot-free. To make matters worse, President Aquino has insinuated that the murdered journalists had somehow deserved what they got because they had abused their freedom of expression – as if such abuse is justification for murder.

No one – no one – deserves to be killed for what he or she expresses.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

AGAPITO JOAQUIN JR. Associate Editor

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

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 211 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 11 - 12, 2015

A

IR pollution is one of the most serious environmental concerns all over the country. In fact, a recent assessment released by the Washington, D.C.-based World Bank based says that in developing countries around the world – and that includes the Philippines – some half to one million people die prematurely annually as a result of exposure to urban air pollution. The figure excludes the millions of cases of respiratory illness associated with air pollution in large cities.

“The economic damage from urban air pollution (including its effects on structures, crops and vegetation and forests) is estimated to amount to US$1 billion to US$4 billion annually in cities in Asia,” says the report entitled, “Urban Air Quality Management” (World Bank Technical Paper No. 508). “Air pollution also contributes to the accumulation of stratospheric greenhouse gases, with implications for global climate change.”

But before probing deeper, let’s talk about air. Although we speak of the material we breathe simply as “air,” it is actually a mixture of substances. Clean, dry air is mostly (99 percent) nitrogen gs and oxygen gas. However, clean air contains several other substances that, although present in only small quantities, are still very important.

“Scientists believe that 4.5-5 billion years ago, the earth’s atmosphere was similar to the mixture of gases released when volcanoes erupt -- primarily water vapor, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen,” wrote Penelope ReVelle and Charles ReVelle, authors of The Environment: Issues and Choices for Society.

“During the period when the earth was cooling and becoming more solid, heavy rains washed out most of the carbon dioxide. The oxygen now in the atmosphere came from a

W

Poisoned air

completely difTHINK ON THESE! ferent source: green plants.”

The earliest recorded incident of air pollution in the United States was on 1948 in Donora, Pennsylvania.

“A heavy smog Henrylito D. Tacio settled down over the area henrytacio@gmail.com surrounding the town” on Wednesday morning. The first death occurred on early Saturday morning.

“More followed in quick succession during the day and by nightfall word of these deaths was racing through the town. By 11:30 that night, 17 persons were dead,” the report said.

Four years later, in December 1952, an air pollution episode gripped the city of London for five successive days. “More than 4,000 deaths occurred in that interval as a result of the pollutants that hung in the air,” the ReVelles wrote in their book. “These deaths, attributed to the London fog, were in excess of those normally expected to occur during that time of the year.”

According the scientists, the primary air pollutants are lead, fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and oxides of sulfur and nitrogen.

Motor emissions can contribute as much as 80-90 percent of atmospheric lead in cities where leaded gasoline is still used. Although the effect of lead on children’s IQ is probably the most significant impact of using leaded gasoline, there are other health effects. There

VANTAGE POINTS

9

is qualitative evidence that lead may adversely affect the reproductive process in men and women. The effect of lead on the cardiovascular system has been studied extensively. There appears to be a weak but positive association between lead in blood and blood pressure.

In low-income countries, the vehicle emissions problem tends to be dominated by emissions from old and poorly maintained heavy-duty vehicles that contribute to high ambient concentrations of the fine particulate matter. In Asia, the particulate problem is exacerbated b the widespread use of two-strokeengine gasoline vehicles that use excessive amounts of poor-quality lubricant, which for these engines is blended directly into gasoline.

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a product of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. In most cities, gasoline-fueled vehicles account for the bulk of CO emissions. People with chronic heart disease may experience chest pains when CO levels are high. At very high levels, CO impairs vision, manual dexterity, and learning ability and can cause death.

Sulfur oxides, products of the combustion of sulfur-containing fossil fuels, contribute to acid rain, which is a regional air pollution problem. On the other hand, nitrogen oxides are formed during combustion as nitrogen in the air reacts at high temperatures with oxygen.

Ozone is responsible for photochemical smog and has been associated with transient effects on the human respiratory system. Of the documented health effects, the most significant is decreased pulmonary function in individuals taking light to heavy exercise.

Until recently, air pollution meant outdoor air. Today, studies have found indoor

pollution to be a serious problem (after all, we spend 90 percent of our time indoor).

Sick-building syndrome and building-related illness are examples of how indoor pollution affects our health.

Sick-building syndrome refers to a collection of symptoms people get while in tightly closed buildings with poor ventilation due to inefficient heating, ventilation, and air-condition systems. The symptoms reportedly are similar to a cold or flu, including dry or burning sinuses and runny eyes and noses.

Two factors play a major role in the increase in indoor pollution in recent years: the increased use of chemicals and synthetic materials in the construction of buildings and the move toward energy efficiency by building tightly sealed buildings.

Substances such as formaldehyde are released from building products into the air by the process of outgassing (a form of evaporation that occurs when unstable molecules are released into the air). Asbestos particles, along with numerous other harmful substances, are found in many building and furnishings.

Pesticides, heavy metals from road dust, naturally produced radon, and pathogenic microbes can accumulate indoors and thrive in heating, ventilation and air-condition systems.

The biggest indoor air problem, however, is smoke from cigarettes, including passive smoke breathed in by non-smokers. On the other hand, two billion people still depend on biomass fuels, such as firewood, crop wastes and dung for cooking and warmth. Burning biomass fuels create the world’s deadliest air pollution: every year, more than two million people die from breathing the cocktail of chemicals given off when they burn.

untenable state that prevents our Republic from attaining stability and our democracy from thriving.

Let’s face it: what preoccupies most of us most of the time, although it may not be so obvious, is governing—our lives, our families, our professions, our livelihood, our community. It is so whether in the private or public sector but no one seems aware of it or bothers to acknowledge it. ***** Governing is what most people do all the time but only public officials get glorified for doing it. Managing the arrangements of living—coping with activities and events that take place around us, confronting problems and deciding what to do, creating harmony— are governing tasks.

Our efforts to avert bad things from happening to us or our family, while nurturing and promoting the good, are also part of managing or governing the circumstances of our lives.

Although we may not be aware that it’s what we’re doing—whether in our household, neighborhood, community, or the larger society—governing greatly preoccupies us.

We are, as a management guru would say, multi-tasking. Especially in our increasingly complex environment, coping with the demands of each sphere of activity—personal, social, economic, political, religious—we are ever engaged in multitasking; we manage our relationships, we arrange or rearrange

things, process ideas, and act or react according to our values, attitudes, or inclinations.

In other words, governing is something we do even without swearing an oath of office, even without getting paid for it, or whether we do so consciously, unconsciously, or unwittingly. It is why we can say that government is everybody’s business.

The elite in Philippine Society should keep this in mind so they will outgrow the habit of relegating local politics and governance to undereducated and highly corruptible sectors of their community. They should resist the tendency to focus on national politics while keeping away from the local, especially the barangay level.

It is not right that they are focused on Malacañang and Congress while no one is watching, let alone supervising, the Barangay Hall. At best, they might look in on the municipal/city hall or the capitol occasionally, but rarely if at all do they pay attention to their own community’s governance.

[Manny is former UNESCO regional director for Asia-Pacific; secretary-general, Southeast Asia Publishers Association; director, Development Academy of Philippines; member, Philippine Mission to the UN; vice chair, Local Government Academy; member, Cory Government’s Peace Panel; awardee, PPI-UNICEF outstanding columnist. He is president/national convenor, Gising Barangay Movement Inc. valdehuesa@gmail.com]

Government is everybody’s business

E tend to think of governing as a task performed by people in power (public officials), that it only concerns them while the rest (who are not officials) are mere beneficiaries of government goods and services.

This prevailing thought distorts the correct concept of politics and governance in a democracy, as if only the officials matter. It reduces a citizen into a passive factor in the community—as mere recipient of government favors, services, or goods.

Moreover, not only does it reinforce wrong habits and practices among bureaucrats, it perpetuates apathy and docility among constituents, either reinforcing their tolerance for bad governance or creating disgust and resentment when government fails—a consequence of the wrong belief that officials are the source or giver of all that government dishes out.

Equally insidious is how the attitude denigrates the role of a citizen as a dynamic partner of government—as in fact the source of its power and authority. ***** To characterize a citizen as a passive beneficiary of government service, instead of as an active partner in governance, makes him out into a subject or ward of the government.

It is misguided thinking like this which causes much of society’s social, economic, and political problems. It drives officials to

THE WORM’S EYEVIEW

BY MANNY VALDEHUESA view their constituents patronizingly, treating them as objects of their kindness or generosity—then expect gratitude in return, gratefully keeping them in office.

As for the citizens, letting their officials get away with this attitude invites victimization, opening themselves to abuse by their putative public servants.

The harm done by such attitude cuts both ways. It encourages impertinent behavior in public service while belittling the role of citizens who are the real sovereign and source of government authority. ***** The persistence of such misguided attitudes explains why we have such badly performing and corrupt governments on all levels. It weakens the government’s legitimacy; it cannot claim to have unqualified consent of the governed, the underlying principle behind its authority.

To let such wrong notions obtain fosters illegitimate exercise of power, encouraging officials to take liberties with their derived authority, rendering the role of citizens meaningless as it negates the participative and inclusive nature of democracy.

It’s important to point this out in view of the powerless condition of our citizens, an

10

NEWS

Choose... FFROM 4 He also said the current system is prone to corruption because only those in the national government benefit from the taxes of the people.

“Lahat ng pera nandoon, lahat sa kanila na (All the money is there, it is all theirs), they plan what to do and what to spend, sometimes ending up in their pockets,” he said.

Duterte said that in the

current system, almost 75 percent of the revenue of a local government unit is given to the central government, with only 25 percent left for its own needs.

He said a federal government would promote more development in the countryside because each state will manage its own income.

[ABF]

cludes senior citizens who will be listed with this registration free from paying any monthly contribution. ‘’Their monthly contribution will be taken from the sin tax from liquor drinks and cigarette,’’ she said.

Dublin also said the head of senior citizen associations and local chief executives only need to present a copy of the identification card (ID) from the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA) or birth certificate that will prove their age as

well as an ID picture.

She said it would be better if associations and barangay officials can provide soft copies of all requirements that will be used for easier encoding of membership data.

Dublin said PhilHealth sub-regional offices in the cities of Tagum, Mati, and Digos will have separate schedules for the massive barangay registration.

She said the barangay registration could be a year-long activity for PhilHealth this year.

abandoned in Purok 2, Barangay Fatima, Paquibato District.

drug trade and drug use inside the Comval jail.”

Coquilla has allegedly siphoned off funds which are already slashed by high officials of the jail, Francisco said.

“According to the complaints received by the NPA, Coquilla’s corruption has resulted in the inadequate medical and health care and food provision for inmates. To exercise absolute and fascist control, Coquilla’s guards allegedly perpetrate physical abuse to their prisoners,” he added.

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

[ABF]

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 211 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 11 - 12, 2015

PhilHealth... FFROM 4

Duterte... FFROM 4 NPAComval-North DavaoSouth Agusan Sub-region Sub-regional Command spokesperson Aris Francisco said in a statement that Coquilla was safe.

“We assure his family that he is being treated well by the NPA and the revolutionary mass base Francisco added in a statement.

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

Francisco said Coquilla is being investigated for complaints against him “which include his willful negligence in the supervision of inmates and his direct and indirect, overt and covert participation of

Indian... FFROM 5

doing this. Things are fine and he said the government has nothing to do with the rules and regulations of the college or dormitory,” he said.

One of the complaints of the students was that Mohan was charging them P10,000 in rent per month instead of P6,000 which they had agreed upon before they arrived in Davao City.

Mohan said the P10,000 being collected from the students covers the following:

buffet Indian food at three meals a day, accommodation, air conditioning, unlimited internet through wifi connection, study rooms, electricity (unlimited), water (unlimited), fully furnished rooms, transportation buses, 24 hour a day security, CCTV, and maintenance.

“All the other support services we offer for free like visa assistance, field trips, enrollment, medical assistance, etc,” he said.

he said.

President Aquino further defended the adjustment, noting that the light rail systems provide better services than the air-conditioned buses that are currently charging higher fares.

“So ang tanong: ‘Yung bus ba mas maayos sa

traffic kaysa ‘yung MRT at LRT?’ Siyempre mas maganda ‘yung serbisyo ng MRT kaysa doon sa air-conditioned bus. So nagbabayad ka ng mas mahal doon sa bus pero mas maganda ang serbisyo supposed to be nitong MRT mas tuluy-tuloy,” he said. (PNA)

Aquino... FFROM 7

BLACK NAZARENE. Stalls selling religious items inside the San Pedro Cathedral compound in Davao City enjoy brisk sales of Black Nazarene miniature replicas in time for the patron’s feast on Friday. Millions of Filipino devotees

joined the 19-hour annual Black Nazarene translacion held in Manila which ended early morning of Saturday. Lean Daval Jr.

It added, “To attain full justice, we, the heirs of the Ampatuan, Maguindanao massacre victims file the multiple murder case against the (mentioned) persons who participated in the gruesome commission of the crime,” the complainants said in their manifestation.

But Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Mangudadatu, whose wife and other family members died in the massacre, expressed concern about the security of the remaining witnesses, noting that many witnesses have been killed or threatened.

He cited the case of former Datu Salibo town mayor Akmad Ampatuan who survived an ambush a few weeks ago. Armed men also reportedly went to his house and that of his son in Shariff Aguak town to harass them.

Akmad Ampatuan, along with two companions who are also witnesses, was also ambushed last Nov. 18.

Denix Sakal, said to be a close aide of detained Andal “Unsay” Ampatuan Jr. was killed in the attack. Sukarno “Butch” Saudagal was wounded.

“Akmad’s statement is the complete picture of all the previous statement of witnesses. There are new revelations that told the untold versions during the carnage and the background of accused Ampatuans,” Mangudadatu said.

Akmad, a close relative and trusted man of Andal Ampatuan Sr., turned his back against his former boss after he decided to become a prosecution witness.

Mangudadatu is also concerned that some of the private armed groups, which harassed massacre witnesses such as Akmad Ampatuan, have allied with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF).

But the BIFF denied the allegation saying they could not accept as members men like those involved in the massacre, unless they fully submit to or practice Islam in good faith.

Meanwhile, Cotabato City Administrator Atty.

Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, one of the 50 new suspects, said the case against her is “politically motivated” because of her plan to run for Congress in 2016. (Ferdinandh B. Cabrera/MindaNews)

application and issuance of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Import Clearance to import the aforementioned commodities from said locations; and stoppage and confiscation of all shipments of aforementioned commodities from said locations.

The OIE is an inter-governmental organization

that, among others, has functions of informing governments of the occurrence of animal diseases and of ways to control these diseases, of coordinating studies devoted to the surveillance and control of animal diseases and of harmonizing regulations to facilitate trade in animals and animal products. (PNA)

monthly Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) survey showed sustained rise in domestic output last October after a slowdown in the previous months as a result of the port congestion problem until the third quarter of the year. ”The sustained expan-

sion in bank lending also supports the view that underlying domestic demand remains strong,” the MB meeting highlights said.

The government is set to release the report on the fourth quarter 2014 and full-year growth this month. (PNA)

Bangsamoro Transition Commission (BTC), said they are hoping for a “resounding endorsement” of the BBL, citing their “trust in the collective wisdom to pass the BBL.” “Let us not waste the opportunity to establish peace in Mindanao,” he said as he appealed to media to push Congress to do its job. He added that media, for sure, is interested in stories other than war.

Both panels are expecting Congress to pass the BBL within the quarter to achieve the timetable of having the Bangsamoro government set up by 2016.

On unity in the Bangsamoro, Ferrer said that would be the task of the regional government.

For his part, Iqbal said they “hope for the best” in reaching out to their constituents.

Ferrer said the feats achieved by the peace process in 2014 reflected the trust and confidence that was built, reciprocated and sustained through the years of negotiations.

“We want that trust and confidence should be stronger as we move along…and ensure that all the elements of the comprehensive agreement will be put in place,” she added, citing that such trust and confidence showed in the statements and actions of both panels in different aspects of the agreement.

Ferrer admitted however that based on the results of committee hearings conducted by Congress there is a need to fine-tune the BBL to ensure that it would pass judicial scrutiny.

She said both Houses of Congress have scheduled committee hearings and meetings with governors in affected areas within the month.

Among the issues raised in the roundtable discussion was the need to prolong the transition period. Lawyer Jesus Dureza, president of the Philippine Press Institute and formed chair of the government peace panel, said it should provide enough time for the MILF to “mature politically”.

The MILF last month organized the United Bangsamoro Justice Party in preparation for the first elections for the autonomous government.

Decommissioning Ferrer noted that the MILF decommissioning process has been hampered by the lack of

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guidelines.

Iqbal said the decommissioning process would follow the Irish Republican Army model, that is, MILF weapons will not be surrendered but merely deposited to a third party. He added the pace of the process will depend on the progress of implementation of political reforms and other terms of the peace agreement.

Lawyer Benedicto Bacani of the Institute of Autonomy and Governance said the process of pushing political and legal reforms is slow and must be viewed within the larger picture.

He said it must be put alongside the goals of attaining respect for identity, addressing instability, and the Bangsamoro’s right to self-determination.

“We need to have faith and support the peace process and continue to push for reforms,” said Bacani, who is a member of the Panel of Independent Lawyers supporting the BTC. Datu Al Abdulla Camlian, a BTC member and a military leader of the MILF, appealed for support to a good BBL that would prevent a resurgence of conflict.

Camlian said the MILF’s decision to enter into a peace agreement with government showed their interest to settle for autonomy not independence.

“We are not seeking independence. We remain citizens of the Philippines,” he added.

After the passage of the BBL it will be ratified in a plebiscite in the proposed Bangsamoro region. The outcome of the plebiscite will determine the geographical scope of the Bangsamoro.

After ratification of the BBL, the ARMM is deemed abolished and the BTC will be replaced by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority which will serve as the interim government in the run-up to the first regional election in 2016.

The forum was organized

by MindaNews in partnership with the Embassy of Canada, BTC, Conciliation Resources, European Union and Philippine Information Agency.

MindaNews held a similar activity in September 2014 at the Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City.

Another roundtable discussion on the BBL with journalists will take place in Cagayan de Oro City next month.

(Walter I. Balane/MindaNews)

11 CULTURE&ARTS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 211 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 11 - 12, 2015

‘Secrets’ of our medical past Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

T

HE nightmare started on March 20, 1902.

At 2:30 p.m., two people were admitted at San Juan de Dios Hospital for treatment. The doctor who checked the patients was totally aghast by what he found.

Hospital physicians immediately notified the board of health. In just a matter of one hour, Dr. L.M. Maus, the health commissioner, arrived. He confirmed the diagnosis: cholera.

Just like what cholera had done in other countries, the disease was soon to wipe out thousands of Filipinos. In the first three days, thirty-seven were confirmed. It ballooned to 102 ten days later – with an astounding death rate of ninety percent!

Realizing the enormity of the situation, the health board (mostly Americans) carried a government orde, which called for the burning of infected nipa huts – to the confusion of the natives. It also advocated cremation of bodies, outlawing of funerals, and land quarantine. All these conflicted with Filipino customs of funeral visits and visiting of the sick.

Despite these measures, the cholera epidemic continued to take its toll. People were not aware on how to prevent the disease from spreading. The contaminated water supply, rampant defecation in the rivers, and lack of hospitals contributed to the rapid spread of cholera.

All in all, 200,222 lives – including 66,000 children – perished. Three percent of the population was dec-

Doctors to the barrio painting

More old medical instruments

imated in what was touted to be “the worst epidemic in Philippine health history.”

New generations would never know this had it not been for the Co Tec Tai Medical Museum on Taft Avenue in Pasay City, which showcases the history of medical practice and health care in the Philippines.

Perhaps the first and only medical museum in the country, it has various collections of rare photographs, health artefacts, memorabilia, mementos, medical books and instruments, and paintings.

One of the things that captivated me during the recent visit was the two paintings by Thomas Daquioag.

One was titled “Barrio Doctors,” where physicians are depicted helping the needy barrio folks. The other one is “Panata Ko… Bayan Ko,” a reminder of their oath: to save lives.

Touring around the museum is like walking through times – starting from the Spanish era (when three great epidemics hit the country: cholera, smallpox and beri-beri) to present time (the photograph of Health Secretary Enrique Ona interviewed by broadcaster Joe Taruc at the DZRH radio station).

There are lots and lots of historic photographs. Each photo is arranged according to the time it was taken: epidemic years (1891-1909), American health initiatives (1910-1919), training Filipino leaders in research and public health (1920-1929), passing the torch (19301939), the war years (19401949), golden age (1950-

Dr Willie T. Ong 1959), medical progress (1960-1969), and Martial law years (1970-1979).

The year 1980-1989 was considered the primary health care years, 19901999 as burden from infectious and lifestyle diseases, and 2000 to the present time as health in the New Millennium.

The museum also has complete photographs of health secretaries – starting from Dr. Jose Fabella (19411945) down to Dr. Enrique T. Ona (2010-present).

Among the most popular health heads were Dr. Francisco Q. Duque, Dr. Jesus C. Azurin, Dr. Alfredo (who re-

ceived a Ramon Magsaysay Award), Dr. Juan M. Flavier, and Dr. Manuel M. Dayrit. So far, only two women became health secretaries: Dr. Carmencita N. Reodica (19961998) and Dr. Esperanza I. Cabral (2010).

The medical museum is named in honor of Mr. Ong Yong – better known as Co Tec Tai in the Chinese community. He was born in Jinjiang, China but came to the Philippines in 1922. He had been very active in charity works and was president of several civic organizations.

He died in 2009 after a lingering illness.

“My father gallantly

fought alongside the guerrillas in World War II,” said daughter Julie Ong-Alonzo.

“When the war was over, he did small businesses until he built his fortune in later years. He then thought of sharing what he had to the Filipino people to show his gratitude to the Philippines which he considered his second home.”

The Co Tec Tai Medical Museum is the brainchild of her brother, Dr. Willie T. Ong. A cardiologist at Manila Doctors Hospital and Makati Medical Center, Willie graduated from De La Salle University College of Medicine in 1992 and completed his training in Adult Cardiology at the U.P.-Philippine General Hospital in 1999.

During his early years in medical school, Willie was in search of Famous men and women of Philippine medicine in paint- role moding el Filipino doctors that could serve as his inspiration. But he couldn’t find any. So, after graduating from school, he and his wife, Dr. Anna Liza R. Ong, went to the UnitOld medical instruments ed States and studied History of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin. “ F o r months, we toiled through the icy winter of Madison, collecting Old photos

anything and everything related to Philippine medicine,” Willie recalled. The couple also went to Washington, D.C., Maryland, Boston, and Wisconsin to gather “any scrap Filipino health workers had left behind.”

Almost daily, the two doctors searched various libraries and American government agencies until finally they brought home 19 boxes of pictures, journals and books about “secret of our past.” Willie admitted, “Many of these historical sources were destroyed in the Philippines by the bombs of World War II.” The couple also traveled to other countries in quest for other information. In Spain, they went to Biblioteca Nacional in Madrid, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Ministerio De Sanidad y Consumo, and Museo Nacional de Antropologia.

In Japan, they went to Tokyo and visited the National Diet Library.

“Though this medical museum, all the good works and noble projects of our countrymen in the health sector can be safely stored and remembered,” said Willie, who writes a health column for a national daily and has two weekly television shows. “And as we look at the pictures and listen to their stories, it is our fervent hope to continue to tell and retell their stories for the younger generations to learn from.”

It took the Ongs nine years to collect all what are now being displayed at the museum. First opened to the public in 2006, it is located at the fourth floor of the Sonlie Building, 2652 Taft Avenue Pasay City (between Edsa Rotunda and Libertad Street). It is open from Mondays to Saturdays from 9 am to 5 am. Visitors are welcome to visit in large groups.

Students in high schools and colleges, especially those interested in health sciences, are welcome to tour the museum. Admission is free.

12 ICT HUB EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 211 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, JANUARY 11 - 12, 2015

Globe brings back Free FB with Viber G

LOBE Telecom is bringing back its Free Facebook starting January 13, and is throwing in free Viber for good measure.

In a statement, Globe Chief Operating Advisor Peter Bithos said the telco is reviving its popular promo as its way of thank its customers “for a wonderful 2014.”

“We don’t want to let 2015 to start without a bang... or without thanking our customers for a wonderful 2014. So, starting January 13, 2015 – and for an entire month – our world-renowned Free Facebook is back,” Bithos said in a statement.

This time, however, Globe is spicing up the promo by offering Free Viber for all customers in the month leading up to Valentine’s Day. “And always with Globe, we make it easy for you – n purchase required, no promo required, no daily registration required, and available to all

Globe customers (mobile and Tattoo)... plus, it comes with all our love and affection,” Bithos said.

“For years now, Globe has been the leader in mobile internet, 4G and countless digital experiences from Free Facebook to Spotify, and our latest partnership with the NBA,” he said.

“At Globe, we like surprising you by giving something special from time to time. We like being the brand that introduces you to new experiences, especially at little or no cost.

Thanks to you, our customers, our passion for digital experiences and your digital life makes Globe the fastest growing telco in the Philippines today. And increasingly, our approach is being adopted by others in the Philippines and across the world. We are humbled by all the local and global companies who have decided to follow in our footsteps,” he added.

AyosDito joins OLX to create one marketplace Smart Free Internet

O

LX and AyosDito, two of the biggest online marketplaces in the Philippines, have merged into a single platform “to create a better online classifieds platform that possesses a larger abundance of items for sale and a larger base of potential buyers, all under a single brand.”

In an announcement posted on OLX.ph website, OLX said it did not buy AyosDito but merged with it “to create a better online classifieds platform that possesses a larger

abundance of items for sale and a larger base of potential buyers, all under a single brand.”

The merger was announced last November 13 and was officially closed last Thursday, January 8.

In a FAQ (frequently asked questions) on its website, OLX. ph said the two sites merged “to make it faster and easier for Filipinos to turn their items into cash and find the best price for the item they are looking for.

It also said the two sites have one common goal: “To help Filipinos improve their lives through facilitating winwin exchanges.”

“Merging the two strong platforms can only lead to shared expertise and knowledge to effectively educate the market about online classifieds and most importantly, increase the number of successful transactions for you (users),” it said.

OLX also allayed fears of advertisers of AyosDito, say-

ing starting January 22, all users will now be redirected to www.olx.ph.

“Your AyosDito ads will not get reposted automatically on OLX. Instead, we’ll be sending you an e-mail of all your active ads so you can select which ads you would want to get reposted by OLX on their website,” it added.

The ads, however “will remain as they are. Same goes for all other seller information you saved in your OLX account.”

extended to February 5

W

IRELESS services leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has announced that its Free Internet promo for all Smart, Talk ‘N Text and Sun Cellular subscribers is now available until February 5, 2015.

Through the Smart Free Internet promo, all 69 million Smart, Talk ‘N Text and Sun Cellular subscribers all over the country can use their data-enabled cellphones to access the Internet without data charges, for up to 30MB daily.

“The positive response to the Smart Free Internet promo – a real game-changer in the industry in that it introduced mobile Internet to more people than ever before – gave us a very strong indication of Filipinos’ propensity for mobile data use,” according to Charles A. Lim, head of wireless consumer business at Smart Communications and Sun Cellular.

“This is why we are very pleased to extend it and continue providing our subscribers -- many of whom already have the mobile devices capable of accessing the internet but have yet to use them to go online – the opportunity to try out and experience the Internet. This way, Smart can truly push ‘Internet for all’ and spread the benefits of the Internet in the fastest and most effective way possible,” Lim added.

Alongside the extension, Smart also announced that its network

is ready for the expected surge in mobile data traffic in 2015, as the increasing affordability of data-hungry smartphones encouraged more Filipinos to snap up devices in the last few weeks of 2014.

Over a fourth of Smart and Sun Cellular’s combined over 69 million subscribers are already using smartphones, helping drive a robust 112% increase in mobile data traffic within the network, equivalent to 27,000 terabytes worth of data exchanged from January to September 2014, compared with just 13,000 terabytes of data for the same period last year.

“We can only expect these volumes to increase exponentially in the months ahead,” Lim added.

Through the Smart Free Internet promo, all 69 million Smart, Talk ‘N Text and Sun Cellular subscribers just need to register by texting FREE to 9999, to start using their data-enabled cellphones to access the Internet without data charges, for up to 30MB daily. It is available across all network platforms – from 2G to 3G to 4G speeds in the country.

Smart continues to have the largest mobile network in the country today, with a total of 24,938 cellular/broadband base stations, including 9,946 active 4G/HSPA+/LongTerm Evolution (LTE) base stations, supported by more than 90,000 kilometers of fiber-optic cables around the country.

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EDGEDAVAO

FOOD

Comfort food at Chef Robby Goco’s

Munchtown Diner MANILA-BASED celebrity chef Robby Goco, who has been at the front and center of the country’s ever dynamic food scene, has brought his breakthrough – Munchtown Diner –the first ever branch in Visayas and Mindanao, to Davao City.

Celebrity Chef Robby Goco at Munchtown Diner.

The man behind the success of several restaurants such as Cyma, Green Pastures and Charlie’s Grind and Grill has changed the way we view comfort food – making it more mouthwatering, richer and tastier Munchtown-style.

Munchtown Diner, which has gained a following in Manila for its famous sliders, is now open at the 1st Level of The Fountain Court, SM Lanang Premier. It is a joint venture by local restaurateur Carlo Lorenzana and entrepreneur Marga Norgrales in collaboration with Chef Robby.

Get a taste of the musttry dishes Chef Robby has curated for Munchtown Diner. Choose from a wide range of bestsellers made from the freshest ingredients – the Black Angus burgers, Burrito, Taco dog, freshly baked pizzas, original Greek gyro, and Canadian poutine fries. Finish your meal with a cup of Oreo Overload Milkshake and other irresistible dessert options.

Check out Munchtown Diner now at SM Lanang Premier. For more information, contact (082) 2851541 or visit Munchtown Diner’s Facebook account.

Munchtown’s Sliders – 100% Black Angus Burgers – are perfect afternoon snacks while their Oreo Overload Milkshake will freshen you up on hot days.

Feast on Chicken BBQ Pizza made from homemade dough and the yummiest ingredients.

A2 INdulge!

UP AND ABOUT

SM Accessories launches pre-summer collection

SM ACCESSORIES takes 2015 in a desert storm with the presummer collection of 2015. See Anne Curtis, Xian Lim, Georgina Wilson, Enrique Gil, Julia Barretto, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla venture into the wild with pieces that merge style and function.

Animal prints and bold chains from WWW dominate the ladies’ line, combined with soft tones of pearls and fur. Indulge in multipurpose scarves that can be used in various ways—from hat and bag accents to turbans to a stylish sarong. Find your pair with eyewear in all shapes, colors and sizes for you to take around all year long.

Layer bangles and necklaces and transform any outfit in an instant.

Combined materials such as leather and tweed from MSense take over the men’s line, from stackable arm swag to utilitarian backpacks and messenger bags for everyday use. The hues of army green, brown and black both camouflage yet make you stand out, perfect for easy mixing and matching.

Start the year right with all the right pieces you need in that wardrobe, and conquer your best year yet with SM Accessories.

All items are available in SM Stores nationwide.

Globe lends support to PS-PhilGEPS Hackathon AS A STAUNCH supporter of the Philippine government’s drive to institutionalize transparency in its transactions, Globe Telecom hosted the recent #KabantayNgBayan: Procurement Hack. It gathered top developers, “data gurus” and designers in a competition to ideate potential applications or “apps” to help Filipinos understand and monitor the government’s procurement process, match government needs with prospective bidders and assemble a history or track record or previous bidders.

Held at its corporate showroom at the Valero Telepark in Makati City, the “Hackathon” was the result of the collaborative efforts of Globe, the Procurement Service and Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PS-PhilGEPS) as well as Open Data Philippines to harness the potential of information and communications technology or ICT in promoting government transparency, and increasing public awareness of the procurement process by way of a “hack” marathon-competition where participants can create apps inside 24 hours to solve a particular challenge.

Developers, programmers, designers, researchers and information technology experts in groups of three to four converged for the “Hackathon” to create web-based and mobile apps intended to facilitate efficiency in bidding and open up the procurement process to the public. They were provided with ultra-fast data connections as well as a conducive work environment to assist them in creating innovative apps from government data.

“Globe is one with the Philippine government in its quest to promote transparency and accountability to its citizens. By way of our collaboration and participation to the PS-PhilGEPS ‘hackathon,’ we are encouraging opportunities for our best ICT talents to take part and in this endeavor,” said Globe Vice President for IT-Enabled Services Group Rey Lugtu.

“As with our previous ‘hackathons,’ the Procurement Hack aims to promote civic participation in national affairs. By bringing together different sectors, the hackathon provided a platform for collaboration among various groups—government, the private sector, civil society, and international partners. It is also in line with the Aquino administration’s commitment to tuwid na daan and to reforms in public expenditure,” said Presidential Spokesperson Sec. Edwin Lacierda, in a statement.

Globe executives led by Head of Device and Customization for myBusiness John Bibal and Head of Products, Service and Delivery for IT Enabled Services Group Michael Sy shared their IT expertise as members of the panel who rated the app submissions. Globe Labs, the developer community of Globe Telecom, also provided a technical workshop for the application program interfaces’ SMS, voice, charging and location based-services.

Out of 22 teams which produced web-based and mobile apps, the Gold Prize went to Team PewPew’s MetroLitrato, a crowdsourcing mobile app which helps track the progress of government infrastructure projects by collecting photos from citizens and displaying them in a timeline. Team SillyWalk’s Market Snitch, a market research tool aiming to help facilitate the creation of accurate budget estimates based on current market prices was good for the Silver Prize. Rounding up the winners with the Bronze Prize was Rod Coronel’s Transparent Procurement which feature projects open for bidding via Facebook, Twitter, and email. All three groups took home cash prizes as well as other gadgets and peripherals. In addition, they will closely work with PS-PhilGEPS to further improve their developed apps.

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EVENT

Grand Regal Hotel celebrates Christmas with children GRAND REGAL HOTEL DAVAO held a postChristmas celebration last last January 7, 2015 in a special affair for the children of its employees.

This was the first time employees’ children are given privilege to enjoy as the stars of the occasion, and their parents could only take the sidelines of the spotlight. It was indeed a grand time for kids, as they get to do just what kids normally do; dancing, jumping, screaming, giggling and rounding up the stage grabbing microphones. The proud parents can only get amused watching these hordes of toddlers and pre-teens mixed together doing their antics, after all, it’s their party.

All the kids gamely participated in the different contests, and one game tested the parent-child bonding when kids actedout their favorite cartoon characters for their parents to guess. It was a test if parents were aware what their kids were spending time with in the boobtube.

A singing Santa Claus serenaded the kids with his awesome rendition of “ It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”, and handed lootbags filled with goodies.

The powerhouse guest performer, was no less, Lloyd Edisonne J. Montebon, the current toast of Filipinos who have etched a mark in the performing arts and conquered the title- WCOPA 2014 Junior Grand Champion Performer of the World.

The World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) is the first and only international competition held annu-

2014 World Champion (WCOPA) Lloyd Edisonne J.Montebon, special guest performer joined onstage by his young fans.

2014 World Champion Lloyd Montebon with General Manager Ilde V. Bontia Jr. and kids of Grand Regal employees. ally in Hollywood to find which culminates in an employee gatherings. the best aspiring perform- annual televised final General Manager Ilde ing artists in acting, sing- awards show, in Holly- V. Bontia Jr., in behalf of ing, dancing, modelling, wood. Lloyd belted out the management said his instrumentalists, and va- “Titanium”, “I Believe” yuletide message to the riety categories. Referred (Fantasia) and “Let It Go” children as he also exto as the “Olympics of the (Frozen) to the delight of pressed his gratitude to all Performing Arts”, con- the kids and parents who parents and other employtestants from over 70,000 sang with him these fa- ees, including all Departapplicants in 47 countries vourite ditties. Lloyd, is ment Heads for the wonare screened, qualified the son of Housekeeping derful time spent together and selected under spe- Supervisor Ernesto Mon- in celebrating a meaningcific guidelines founded tebon, who himself is a ful post-Christmas celby Griff O’Neil in 1996, performer in the hotel’s ebration.

Grand Regal Officers: James Salvador (Exec. Asst-Admin), Princess Martin (Exec. Secretary), Joel H. Sazon (Exec AsstOperations), Laarni Jalinao Santa Claus singing for the kids before giving their lootbags.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Over 100,000 people joined GMA New Year Countdown at SM MOA

THE GMA New Year Countdown Special at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA), Seaside Boulevard was indeed a bright and beautiful scene. With over 100,000 people plus numerous performances of artists, the Kapuso network ended the year with a bang.

The brightest and hottest Kapuso stars united for their show-stopping performances that sent thrills to everyone.

The event was hosted by the Master Showman German “Kuya Germs” Moreno, Kapuso stars Christian Bautista, Jennylyn Mercado, Jaya, Alden Richards, and Lovi Poe .

Chef Boy Logro opened the countdown with what he does best: provide the most delicious media noche recipes, which he prepared in real time.

The crowd was definitely given an outstanding musical treat as Asia’s Romantic Balladeer Christian Bautista and Asia’s Pop Sweetheart Julie Anne San Jose showed off their powerful vocals.

Kapuso Premier actress Lovi Poe showed off her singing prowess as she performed Royals and How Do We Do together with Glaiza De

Bet sa Kantahan of Bet ng Bayan Hannah Precillas together with Kierulf Raboy, Renz Robosa and Veronica Atienza.

Aside from the overwhelming attendance, GMA New Year Countdown became even more special as it featured simultaneous celebrations at Kapuso Stations in Cebu and Davao.

Master Showman German “Kuya Germs” Moreno led the top of the hour portion with all the stars and representatives of the show’s sponsors—Tanduay, Tanduay

Castro, Aicelle Santos, Bet ng Bayan grand finalist Veronica Atienza, and Jaya.

Another performance that really shook the stage and fired up the night was Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2014 Best Actress Jennylyn Mercado’s rendition of Girl On Fire. The Kapuso actress is set to capture the hearts of viewers in the upcoming primetime drama series Second Chances with Camille Prats, Rafael Rosell, and Raymart Santiago.

Fearless Diva Jonalyn Viray gave an explosive

song number while Kapuso artists Katrina Halili, Rocco Nacino, Andrea Torres, Rodjun Cruz, Steven Silva, Winwyn Marquez, Diva Montelaba and Mark Herras grooved to the beat of various dance hits.

The countdown was indeed a colorful event as GMA also highlighted some of the festivals in the country through a costume parade led by Kris Bernal, Mike Tan, Benjamin Alves, Joyce Ching, Frencheska Farr, Pancho Magno, Ervic Vijandre, Aryan Bautista and Max Collins.

Ice, and Alaska Krem Top. As they waited for the first hour of the year, the sky started to get painted with glitters of color.

The fireworks display did not only celebrate the New Year, but it also brought an overwhelming excitement to the crowd. 2015 was warmly welcomed, and GMA’s spectacle induced a handsome amount of joy to everyone who witnessed it at the MOA Seaside Boulevard, as well as to those who enjoyed it at the comfort of their homes.

The adorable teen love teams, Ruru MadridGabbi Garcia, and Miguel Tanfelix-Bianca Umali also added more fun and excitement to the show.

Kapuso youngest loveteam Miguel and Bianca started to bring good vibes this 2015 with the primetime series Once Upon A Kiss.

Despite the rain, Soul Diva Jaya and comedian Betong Sumaya made the crowd laugh with their musical comedy stint. Serenading the audience were voices from Maricris Garcia, Rita De Guzman, and Ultimate

Piolo Pascual is numero uno on Cinema One for 2015 Tagged as Cinema One’s NUMERO UNO choice artist for January 2015, top billed Kapamilya leading man Piolo Pascual will be spicing up TV screens as his best performances in high-grossing movies will be featured all month long in Cinema One. Pascual, known for his diverse acting roles in Philippine cinema, has starred in blockbuster films that have left a mark in history.

Some of his must-see films that will be shown this January in the country’s number one cable channel are “Milan” the 2004 romantic drama which earned Pascual his FAMAS Award for Best Actor on January 14 (Thursday, 5PM), the Erik Matti action-packed crime film “On The Job” which was one of the 21 films selected under the Directors’ Fortnight category in the prestigious 2013 Cannes Film Festival on January 23 (Friday, 10PM), and the 2014 blockbuster romantic comedy film “Starting

January 8, 2015

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB Ben Stiller, Robin Williams PG 13

12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES

Over Again” opposite Toni Gonzaga on January 30 (Friday, 10PM).

As the male icon of Cinema One, Pascual is a household name in the country, scoring more than 20 films since 1993 and has worked as a film producer as well aside from his TV and modelling stints.

Catch the best performances of Piolo Pascual this January only on the number one Cable Channel which celebrated its 20th year, Cinema One! For more information, visit Cinema One’s official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Cinema1channel).

Martin Freeman,Ian Mckellen, Richard Armitage PG 13

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

SEVENTH SON Ben Barnes, Julianne Moore, Jeff Bridges PG 13

R-16

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

THE AMAZING PRAYBEYT BENJAMIN / * LOVE ROSIE PG 13 / *R 13

Vice Ganda, Richard Yap / * Lily Collins, Sam Claflin 12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 LFS / * 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

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EVENT

Smart Prepaid welcomes 2015 with Davao’s Torotot Festival Smart Prepaid joined Davaoeños in celebrating the colorful Torotot Festival, Davao City’s creative and harmeless way of welcoming the New Year – sans firecrackers, which have been banned in the area since 2002.

Although without the literal bang of firecrackers and fireworks, Davao City’s Torotot Festival was definitely not any less loud and fun, especially with Smart Prepaid’s ‘Live All Out’ brand of epic celebration.

Davaoeños kicked off the festivities with a parade of creative Torototinspired costumes that livened up the streets around People’s Park leading to Roxas Boulevard. On the other hand, a Torotot featuring an intricate durian wood carving bested other stunning entries in the search for the most creative piece, showcasing the undeniable artistry of Davaoeños.

Loyal and new Smart subscribers at the festival enjoyed the Torotot Festival like no other as they got the chance to win exciting raffle prizes at the Torotot

Festival countdown show as well as Smart Prepaid activity booths.

The New Year countdown program started in the afternoon with a grand hiphop dance battle among Davao City’s barangays. In the end, Sta. Ana Move Struck earned the top prize with their jaw-dropping moves.

Hours before the much awaited countdown, the iconic Pinoy band “Color it Red” and renowned vocalist Luke Mejares dished out popular Pinoy songs that got the crowd singing along.

But the cheers and shrieks of the crowd were the loudest when Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte addressed the crowd and thanked everyone, including Smart, for supporting the city’s advocacy in creating a safe, peaceful New Year celebration.

With so much enthusiasm, thousands simultaneously blew their colorful torotots at the final moments of 2014, embracing the New Year with optimism and hope.

Throughout the cel-

ebration, everyone enjoyed snapping, posting and sharing the most awesome moments with family and friends here and abroad on the strength of Smart’s network, and its 30 MB worth of free mobile Inter-

net to all subscribers.

As a fitting welcome to the New Year, Department of Tourism (DOT) Asst.

Sec for Region 11 Arturo Bongcato unveiled its new campaign, “Visit the Philippines 2015.” Bongcato

highlighted Davao City’s important role in this news campaign as it continues to draw a growing number of local and foreign tourists every year for its natural wonders, rich culture and joyful festivals.

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13

EDGEDAVAO Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH Judicial Region Branch 12 Davao City

IN THE MATTER OF PETITION FOR RECOGNITION OF THE FOREIGN DIVORCE BETWEEN HISAKI FURUKUWA AND LEA MARIE PARBA PILLO SP.PROC.NO.:13,371-14 LEA MARIE PARBA PILLO Petitioner,

x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x ORDER

This is a verified petition for Recognition of the Foreign Divorce between Hisaki Furukuwa and Lea Marie Parba Pillo, assisted by counsel, praying that upon due notice and hearing, judgment be rendered judicially confirming and recognizing the Divorce obtained in Japan involving Petitioner Lea Marie Parba Pillo and Hisaki Furukuwa.

Finding the verified petition to be sufficient in form and substance, set the hearing of this petition on February 17, 2015 at 8:30 a.m.

WHEREFORE, Petitioner is hereby directed to cause the publication of this Order at her expense, in a newspaper of general circulation in the City and three (3) provinces of Davao, once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks.

Petitioner is further directed to furnish the Office of the Solicitor General a copy of this petition.

Likewise, let a copy of this Order be furnished the Local Civil Registrar, Davao City Any person interested or who seeks to oppose the instant petition may appear to state why the petition may appear to state why the petition should not be granted.

SO ORDERED.

Davao City, Philippines, December 9, 2014.

(Sgd) PELAGIO S. PAGUICAN JUDGE

(1/12,19,26)

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SPORTS EDGEDAVAO Sports 15

Pacman vs Khan in England?

I

S Manny Pacquiao considering fighting Amir Khan if the Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight doesn’t push through?

Michael Koncz, who will be accompanying the Filipino champion to visit Prince

Harry of Wales this month, said that they might bring up the topic of fighting in England when they meet the British royal.

“I am not sure what we will talk about but certainly I will question them about holding a boxing event there and what concessions we can get,” he said in Ronnie Nathanielsz’ report in Boxing Scene.

Of course, the most appropiate opponent for

Pacquiao in the United Kingdom would be Britain’s boxing superstar Amir Khan.

Khan has recently been harping about fighting Pacquiao if the latter doesn’t get Mayweather.

Khan has also been lobbying for a fight against Mayweather, but the American boxer doesn’t seem to be interested.

Pacquiao’s camp is currently in negotiations with the Mayweather side. Kon-

In Pinweight (46.1-48 kg) category, John Benedic Cadavido clobbered Mandaluyong City’s Dominique Casanares to deliver another gold for the team. He outclassed Jeremy Gonza of Sorsogon Province in the penultimate round of the competition.

Paperweight (42.1-44 kg) campaigner Danny Antonio overwhelmed another Labangan, Gensan athlete in Reymark Alicaba to complete Barangay Una’s Gold Medal haul.

Bronze medals were courtesy of Jerald Cantero (L.Mosquito wt.), Jake Sone Saludar (Paper wt.), and Joesh Pelipas Niez (Flyweight) to complete the medal tally of the Panaboan’s.

City Mayor Jose L. Silvosa and Panabo City Schools Div. Superintendent Dr. Ma. Ines C. Asuncion also lend their sup-

port for the team’s participation.

Edwin Pardillo, Brgy.Una Exec. Director spearheaded the team along with Technical Consultant Celestino Revamonte, Gym Manager Edgar Encabo and Nat’l Referee/ Judge Gregorio Revamonte.

Head Coach Ricarte Mancao heads the corner for the Barangay Una standouts along with Trainor/Coaches Rey Mancao, Leogene Siodina and Jonas Jerusalem.

Among competing teams, those who prominently garnered medals (gold-silverbronze) include Cebu (2-0-1), Escalante, Negros Occ. (2-0-0), Mandaue City (2-1-0), Gen.San (2-2-2), Labangan, Gensan (22-2), Cebu City (2-0-1), Sarangani Province (1-0-1), Paranaque City (1-0-0), and Cagayan de Oro City (0-4-0).

Truly, the Barangay Una pugs showed grit and guts against the country’s best amateur standouts. They have once again showed that with full support and backing from its patrons, Davao del Norte kids could excel in the sport.

The Barangay Una Boxing Program deeply carved its niche in the sport since its foundation more than a decade ago by then Congressman Tonyboy Floirendo as part of his Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign.

Up to this day, the program still enrolls around 70 children all provided with free education up to college and year-round training with board and lodging, perhaps, the only athletic program in any sport in the country to do so that is privately-funded and non-profit-oriented.

cz said they have sent a counte r - o f fe r to Mayweather’s camp.

T h e eight-division champion is still waiting for Mayweather’s response.

“Nothing [so far],” he said in an interview.

Panabo boxing team dominates in Bacolod Ride for Baby Chiko

P

ANABO City’s Barangay Una Boxing Team remains the country’s juggernaut in amateur boxing as it dominates the 2014 Batang Pinoy National Finals held in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

The multi-titled team jointly funded by ANFLOCOR Top Honcho Tonyboy Floirendo and Davao del Norte solon Antonio F. Lagdameo, Jr. hauled down 3 golds and 3 bronzes to capture the most medals in the said tourney.

Leading the charge for the team is Bantamweight (52.154 kg) dynamo Jhun Rick Carcedo who trounced Manny Pacquiao-funded Labangan, General Santos City’s John Marlan Genova via unanimous decision to bag a gold medal.

Carcedo earlier defeated Clark Justine Abilar of Hulo, Rizal in the semi-finals to qualify.

set January 25 T

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO HIS ride is to save one’s life.

Davao Mumho Riders will stage a fun ride for a cause on January 25 dubbed as Ride for Baby Chiko.

This charity ride was hatched to raise funds for the medical expenses of one-year old Baby Chiko Gumban who needs a liver transplant after being diagnosed of biliary atresia shortly after his birth.

The baby’s parents, Choko and Carol Gumban, who are also bike enthusiasts, have called on the support of the biking community to help defray the expenses of their son’s medical expenses which could fetch up to P4 million.

Davao Mumho Riders

Spurs rally without Big 3 to outshine Suns

T Panabo City’s Barangay Una boxers proudly display their medals they won during a dominating 2014 Batang Pinoy National Finals campaign held in Bacolod City. The boxing team is led by executive director Edwin Pardillo.

San Miguel’s Santos shrugs off Game 2 cut

T

HE PBA Philippine Cup title series between San Miguel and Alaska has not only turned into a highly-physical encounter, it just became bloody.

San Miguel’s Arwind Santos and Alaska’s Calvin Abueva, two Cabalen competitors, went at it in Game Two. Santos, a former PBA MVP, suffered a cut on his

forehead after Abueva appeared to have landed an elbow on the Beermen forward after taking a shot. The players exchanged words in the fallout, but it was Abueva who clearly got out of his rhythm from their grueling encounter.

Santos is not taking the incident personally and considered it all part of the sport.

“Part ng laro yan. Parang kailan lang naalala ko noong naglalaro ako sa Pampanga. Ang sabi ko nga sa mga teammates ko, sa Pampanga, pustahan, hindi lang ulo dumudugo,” Santos told a small group of sportswriters.

“Pati paa, ilong, o ano pa.

Pero tuloy lang ang laro.”

Santos also issued some ominous words to describe

a series that has not only become extremely physical but visibly emotional as well.

“Nag-uumpisa pa lang ang laban.”

Abueva refused an interview after the game, although he felt that the game spoke for itself.

“Napanood niyo naman yung laban, di ba?” he said on his way out of the arena.

president Ferdie James Nervida is organizing the event which is open to all bike enthusiasts. Registration fee is pegged at P150 and those interested may register at Ridea Bike Shop at the 5th level of Gaisano Mall Davao. Registration includes a helmet sticker and raffle stub. All proceeds will go to the Gumban family for their son’s medication.

Jumpoff time for the bikefest is set at 6 a.m. at Magsaysay Park. A special award will be given to the biggest delegation.

Interested bikers and donors may also visit the official Facebook page of the event fb.com/rideforbabychiko and fb.com/helpbabychiko.

HE San Antonio Spurs have learned to play with poised desperation when Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are all sitting out.

The Phoenix Suns are still learning to keep their poise, period.

Danny Green had 20 points and San Antonio fought through the second half without their Big Three, rallying to beat the Suns 100-95 on Friday night.

The seventh-place Spurs moved a game ahead of the eighth-place Suns in the Western Conference.

The Spurs scored a season-high 41 points in the final quarter after blowing a 14-point lead. ‘’It’s tough after playing so well in the first half,’’ Duncan said. ‘’And then we give it up in that third quarter and you get the feeling, ‘Here we go again.’

We’ve had some really tough ones, some really close ones, where one or two possessions changes the entire game. Good to grab this one tonight and trying to get our ship back on the right path.’’

The loss was as much

about the Suns’ collapse as the Spurs’ rally.

Phoenix, which entered the game shooting 37 percent on 3-pointers, was 7 for 26 from long range.

Coupled with a pair of late technical fouls, the loss aggravated Suns coach Jeff Hornacek. ‘’You saw the times that we drove it in there, you get a shorter shot or you get fouled,’’ Hornaceck said. ‘’But they want to live by the jumper or die by the jumper, I guess. These guys think they can make every shot, but if you don’t, you lose.’’

While the Suns were struggling, the Spurs took flight in the fourth quarter thanks to Parker’s backups.

Patty Mills had 15 points, including two 3-pointers in the final 2 minutes, and Cory Joseph scored nine of his 11 points in the fourth quarter to help San Antonio snap Phoenix’s four-game winning streak.

P.J. Tucker and Eric Bledsoe had 19 points each and Goran Dragic added 17 points for the Suns. They have lost five straight in San Antonio.

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