Edge Davao 7 Issue 226

VOL. 7 ISSUE 226 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 - 2, 2015

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PRAYING FOR PEACE

As war drums beat elsewhere, residents in Mamasapano pray for peace

2 COVER STORY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 226 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 - 2, 2015

PRAYING FOR PEACE

As war drums beat elsewhere, residents in Mamasapano pray for peace A

S war drums are beating elsewhere, residents in this village where a bloody misencounter Sunday left at least 54 persons dead – 44 from the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police (PNP-SAF) and 10 from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) – are praying “irespeto natin ang usaping pangkapayapaan” (let’s respect the peace process) to avoid a repeat of Sunday’s tragedy.

“Dito po, pagod na pagod na kami sa pagbabakwit,” (Here, we are very, very tired of evacuating), Abdulkadir Kambal, 49, a volunteer teacher at the Hadji Salik Kalaing National High School, told reporters Tuesday afternoon. Kambal narrated he could no longer count how many times he has had to evacuate since he was little.

The crowd that gathered around him nodded.

The residents’ call for the peace process to continue is shared by the government and MILF peace panels, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, the Mindanao Business Council, and various peace groups even as calls for “all out war” are again drowning out the voices of peace– very much like what happened in the aftermath of the October 19, 2011 operation of the Philippine mlitary’s Special Forces in Al-barka, Basilan.

That opeation also did not coordinate with the GPH-MILF’s Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH) and Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG) and resulted in the death of 25 persons (19 soldiers and five MILF guerillas), 17 injured (14 soldiers and three from the MILF) and displacement of 8,000 villagers.

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III responded to the calls for military action in 2011 by saying no to war and yes to “all-out justice.”

In Dagupan City, Archbishop Socrates Villegas, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) decried the “act of violence against human life” in Mamasapano but said they remain firm in their support for the peace process.

On the side of peace “While the CBCP vehemently condemns this act of violence against human life no matter what the avowed purpose of such violence may be, we cannot side with those who call for the discontinuance of peace talks,” Villegas said in a statement posted on CBCP News.

“If anything, the sad incident underscores the necessity and the urgency of arriving at a solution that is not rushed but that is inclusive, principled and just to all,” Villegas added.

Mindanao’s lone Cardinal, Orlando Quevedo, the Archbishop of Cotabato is presently abroad..

The Mindanao Business Council expressed “serious concerns” on the possible consequences of the Mamasapano tragedy but “we maintain our support for the peace process.”

“At this point when emotions are high and information are still vague, we appeal to our leaders in the government and the private sector to be careful and prudent in issuing public statements,” Vicente Lao, MinBC chair said.

Lao urged colleagues in the business community to “ extend their assistance to the victims and their families.”

Pray and believe, still Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat, Jr. in a statement said one of the SAF personnel killed was his cousin, “the breadwinner and hope of his family” and that several more ifugaos were killed, as well.

Baguilat admitted that it is “difficult but we still have to believe in the peace

PURSUING PEACE. MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim tells reporters on Wednesday they will pursue peace despite the incident in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao. Murad spoke with reporters at Camp Darapanan in Simuay, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao. MindaNews photo by Froilan Gallardo process,” recalling how his own brother, a captain, was killed in Basilan in 1998.

He said he had been dedicating his support to wage peace “in memory of his sacrifice.”

“Now, more young ifugaos have joined the list of martyrs. The natural emotional tendency is to condemn, to doubt, to grieve and to call for aggression. But the courageous thing for us to do is to pray and to believe, still,” he said.

Baguilat hopes the government and MILF can “sit down and analyze why despite the ceasefire mechanism, the peace agreement n the BBL being pursued aggressively in Congress, this tragedy still happened.”

“Answers must be given for we have a mood in Congress that’s not optimistic.

God help our country and its peacemakers,” he said.

Retrieving the dead Kambal said they were awakened at dawn by gunshots. He reckons the gunshots were heard in the

first clash site at 4 a.m. and at 4:30 a.m. in the second.

Kambal was among those who helped retrieve the bodies of the slain SAF personnel in one of the clash sites 1.5 kilometers from the main road last Monday. They retrieved 34 SAF personnel, most of them bearing gunshot wounds on the head.

The police commandos, he said, were likely wearing bulletproof vests.

Classes have remained suspended in four elementary and secondary schools there and the women and children, Kambal said, have been seeking refuge elsewhere during evenings.

The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Humanitarian Emergency Action and Response Team (ARMM-HEART) hase sent assistance to 563 displaced famlies who are now staying at the evacuation camp in Madrasa, Barangay Daladap.

Sobriety In Davao City, the Al Qalam Insitute of the Ateneo de Davao University reminded the public in a statement “about the importance of peace in Mindanao.”

“We reiterate that between an ‘all out war’ vs. an ‘all out peace,’ the former has been proven to be the most expensive. In an ‘all out war,’ innocent civilians are displaced. Properties are destroyed. Children are forced to live in evacuation centers,” the statement read.

Al Qalam is calling for a third party investigation on what happened in Mamasapano.

Fr. Bert Layson, head of the Inter-Religious Dialogue of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate appealed for “a peaceful process and not through the use of force in a violent manner.”

“War is inhuman. It kills fellow human beings. Ony a peaceful approach through negotiation could bring peace and development in this Land of Promise, Mindanao,” Layson said.

The Lanao Peace Advocates called for sobriety and urged legislators “not to derail nor halt” the legislative hearings on Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) “because this will just clearly hinder us in attaining our goals for lasting peace in Mindanao.”

“The tragedy should not be used to blind us in attaining what we desired as outcome of the peace process between the government and the MILF,” it added.

In Davao del Norte, Rep. Antonio Lagdameo clarified reports he withdrew his support for the BBL. “I would just like to clarify that I have NOT withdrawn my support for the BBL,” Lagdameo said in a statement. But “in the interest of peace in Mindanao,” he said, “I want answers. We need to know and understand what happened and why so that similar tragedies may be prevented in the future.”

Back on track, ASAP The Institute for Autonomy and Governance (IAG) said there is no question that this tragedy is “adversely affecting the peace process” with some members of Congress and the Senate already withdrawing support for the BBL or calling for the suspension of the legislative process for its enactment.

In a statement signed by executive director Benedicto Bacani, the IAG said there is no doubt that apart from the lives lost and injuries sustained, “the public trust and support of the GPHMILF peace process— an indispensable element in

peacefully resolving the Mindanao conflict— is a casualty in this unfortunate incident.”

“The peace process seeks to avert violent incidents by reconfiguring relations and reforming public policies towards creating an environment where justice and peace prevails,” Bacani said, as it called on the GPH and the MILF “to exert every effort to put the peace process back on track the soonest possible.”

The IAG called on governemnt to “conduct an independent and impartial investigation on the circumstances that led to the bloody confrontation, identify quarters and personalities who committed criminal acts, lapses in judgment and/ or violation of rules and policies and institute criminal and administrative charges against responsible personalities;” and the MILF to “conduct its internal investigation, ascertain the facts in an objective manner and when warranted impose punitive actions against their members who violated existing laws, rules and protocols.”

Bacani said the parties “must show concrete results in the short-term out of the political and security reforms under the roadmap that include but not limited to tangible progress in entrenching the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) in the BBL and in decommissioning MILF forces.

The government and MILF peace panels as well as ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman had earlier issued statements to preserve the gains of the peace process. (Carolyn O. Arguillas / MindaNews)

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4 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 226 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 - 2, 2015

Rody to Congress: Halt BBL hearing over SAF men killing

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

D

abf@edgedavao.net

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte asked the House of Representatives to stop its hearing on the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) pending result of the investigation being conducted over the killing of 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

The City Information Office (CIO) reported that Duterte made the call for the lawmakers to halt the hearing during a press briefing in Cebu City

T h u r s d ay night.

Mayor Duterte, whom CIO described as teary-eyed during the press briefing, said that discussion will only be resumed once result of the probe will be released.

The local chief executive earlier said that the killers of the SAF men and those who put them in harm’s way should be made accountable over their brutal death last January 25.

The elite cops were in Mamasapano supposedly to serve a warrant of arrest against a suspected

SAD BUT ANGRY. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte delivers an emotional speech during the 47th Annual Installation of Officers and Board of Trustees of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry,

international terrorist when they were mowed down by members of the Bangsamor Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Duterte was both saddened and angered by the incident as bodies of the SAF men bore signs of overkill.

He, however, rejected calls for a repeat of an allout war against the MILF as many people are calling for, including Manila Mayor and former President Joseph Estrada .

“There should be a resumption of the talks. It might not sound good to everybody, but we do not have a choice because we cannot go to war again,” Duterte told reporters in an interview at The Royal Mandaya Hotel Wednesday afternoon.

But, while he wants government to proceed with the discussion on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL), Duterte said this must be put on hold at the moment in lieu of the investigation over the Mamasapano encounter.

Duterte also added that he is personally not ready to talk with the MILF leadership right now as he is saddened by the incident.

“Magapahungawuna ta (Let us calm down first),” he said.

Duterte condemned the brutality with which some MILF men killed the SAF members. Reports said many of the SAF operatives were shot in the face or head.

“Puwede ka naming pumatay isang bala lang(You can kill even just one bullet).

That is really painful, as warrior, hindi naman dapat ganun (that should not have been done)... Hindi naman kailangan rakrakan yung mukha (you did not need to strafe the faces),” he said.

Who gave the order?

Duterte said the incident should be investigated to pinpoint what agency of government which gave the order for SAF to enter the area.

“The problem there is who ordered the poorly planned (operation)? Was there a plan at all or was it just a very reckless adventure?” he asked.

Duterte said government invested a lot in training the SAF men since it is the Inc. Wednesday night at The Royal Mandaya Hotel. Earlier, Duterte told striking reporters he felt sad and angry over the brutal death suffered by Special force Action Force (SAF) members in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. Lean Daval Jr.

of the PNP, but the men were “just thrown into a misadventure.”

Duterte said there is an existing agreement between the MILF and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in situations like the one last Sunday that led to the deadly clash.

“I am angry because if there is an agreement, huwag ka munang pumasok sa bahay ko habang hind itayo nagkaareglo(do not enter my house if have not yet come to an agreement),” he said.

“We are neighbors, we used to be friends, you visit my house, I can enter your house, nagkaroon tayo ng deperensya (but we came into conflict). In the meantime there is a settlement, you should honor the agreement,” he added.

Duterte said even the military in the area “were not properly informed, so they could not respond (when the SAF men were suffering heavy losses). What those kind of operation was going on?”

He said the military hesitated to reinforce the SAF because it would be prosecuted for violating the GPH-MILF agreement.

Duterte said the problem was that the superior of the killed SAF members did not follow the exact protocol for operations.

GENERAL services office (GSO) personnel in a local government unit in Davao del Norte said that these days it would only take a shortest three working days for government suppliers to be paid with check.

“The check payment will come out easily if they have complied all requirements and delivered fully, or without lacking units in the supplies they delivered, say five pieces of ballpens, then it’s money on the third day after delivery,” said Fredie Boy Aboyme, GSO clerk cum utility personnel of Asuncion LGU. Aboyme said he knows this practically from his thick of doing errands and knowing the ins and outs of GSO. He explained that the bulk of the papers are prepared by the procuring office using proformas for fill out, posting, recording and signatures of the BAC, municipal budget officer, accountant, treasurer and the mayor.

After a bidding is successful made, paperpushing seeking the ultimate

check payment would start with the purchase request (PR) of procuring office or department made as cleared by the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC).

The PR is then submitted to the municipal budget officer (MBO) who will certify for the availability of funds based on the approved annual budget.

The MBO will then return the PR to the BAC secretariat, which will in turn clear the purchase order (PO) and have it delivered it to the winning supplier together with its notice of award.

“If the suppliers won’t have these PO and notice of award, they won’t deliver,” Aboyme clarified.

When the suppliers deliver the materials or supply items, the GSO would thoroughly check the deliveries both in quantity and quality, and if they pass, then the PR, PO, obligations requests and vouchers clipped in sets would then go for rotation for final posting, recording and signatures

Suspected big-time pusher attempts to evade Only 3 days for checks of suppliers arrest, dies after jumping off from safehouse to come out: DavNor GSO man A A

SUSPECTED big-time drug pusher and gun runner in Davao City was killed during a joint police raid Thursday afternoon in Tibungco.

Police said the suspect, identified as Ador A. Albao alias Mano, 52, was not killed by law enforcers, but died after jumping off from the second floor of his house at Seaside, Acacia in Purok 13 and hitting his head on a wooden post while trying to evade arrest.

Albao is a known gun runner and drug syndicate

ring leader operating in the northern part of the city, according to the police.

The raid also led to the arrest of 17 other suspects.

Police also recovered assorted guns and ammunitions, and shabu with a street value of P1.6 million.

At around 5:10 p.m. of January 29, operatives from Davao City Police Office (DCPO), Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 11, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 11 and PNP Regional Maritime

Unit 11 implemented the search warrant against Albao issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 10 Judge Retrina Fuentes.

The suspect, sensing the approaching lawmen, tried to flee but hit is head on the post after jumping off from his house. The Maritime Police, who were at the sea during the operation, tried to revive him but to n avail.

DCPO director Senior Superintendent Vicente D. Danao Jr. said in his Isumbong kay Cddcpo Facebook account

that they consider Albao as big time drug pusher in the city.

“Dugay na namo ning ginapanid-an (We had him (Albao) under suveillanced for a long time),”Danao said.

CIDG 11deputy director Superintendent Edilberto Leonardo said they have been monitoring the suspect since October last year after receiving reports of his gunrunning activities.

“Kadtong mga walay kuarta, gusto ugbaril... gina pa lay away niya (Those who

schools for Grade VII students, who will receive measles, rubella, and tetanus vaccines.

She said that in Davao Oriental, all Grade IV students will receive HPV vaccines that will protect especially female students against cervical cancer.

Montejo explained that at present, bringing down these diseases up to minimum level remains a work in progress, prompting the DOH to push its vaccination program.

When a measles strikes on the youth, consequently, the children are also affected, according to Montejo.

“It brings the necessity to include the youth sector in the measles immunization,” she said.

Montejo added that as far as polio is concerned, not all children receive polio vaccine even if it is given orally.

The government through the DOH, she said, remains advocating the anti-polio

vaccination despite the World Health Organization affirmation that the Philippines is polio-free since 2000, because its neighboring Asian countries remain to have polio cases.

“The Philippines remains at risk in the importation of polio due to the movement of people,” Montejo said, adding that only the small pox is totally eradicated through vaccination worldwide. (PIA 11/Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

FSUSPECTED, 11

DOH 11 to pursue youth, kids immunization in August ‘15

H

EALTH authorities in Davao Region announced the holding of immunization activities for adolescents in August 2015 to ensure the protection of teenagers from polio, measles, flu and Hepatitis-B. Dr. Racquel Montejo, cluster head of the Family Health cluster of the Department of Health 11, said two vaccination activities will be conducted in August 2015 for all public national high

FONLY, 11

VOL. 7 ISSUE 226 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 - 2, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

LIGHT MOMENT. PHINMA Property Holdings Corp. president and chief executive officer Willie Uy (right) shares a light moment with some sales agents during the company’s Sales Conference 2015 at Grand Men Seng Hotel on Friday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

Aquino’s determination to continue talks lauded M

AGUINDANAO Representative Bai Sandra Sema lauded President Benigno Aquino III for not reacting on the killing of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members out of his emotion.

In a national address Wednesday night, President Aquino said the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) must continue despite the incident last Sunday in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

“But the impact is still surmountable as long as all people in Maguindanao, regardless of religious and tribal identities, all government agencies and Moro groups will unite and continue to carry out diplomatic means of addressing local security issues,” Sema said.

“Let’s continue preserving the gains of the Mindanao peace process. We will emerge stronger as a peace-loving

people,” the lawmaker added.

Sema and other local leaders in Maguindanao and North Cotabato called for sobriety amid the tension brought about by last Sunday’s bloody clash between government forces and Moro rebels.

Mayor Ramon Piang of Upi town in Maguindanao, said the people of the province and nearby areas should wait for the outcome of the investigation before issuing comments about the incident.

“The situation on the ground could become complicated if people continue to spread unverified stories,” Piang said.

Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, 6th Infantry Division chief, also appealed to the public to cease spreading photos and videos of the incident that will add fire to the already tense situation in Maguindanao.

Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu on Wednesday (Jan. 28) presided over a meeting of the provincial peace and order council to help ease the tension after the Special Action Force-Moro Islamic Liberation FrontBangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters clash.

He said hundreds of families were displaced by the hostilities.

He said provincial relief workers are now attending to the needs of the evacuees along with the Humanitarian Emergency Assistance and Response Team of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM-HEART).

Mangudadatu said he and ARMM Governor Mujiv Hataman are coordinating each other’s effort meant to foster normalcy in the conflict-affected Mamasapano municipality in the second

LOILO City Congressman Jerry Trenas today cautioned against calls to declare an all-out war against the MILF, as this could just be an attempt to incite more violence in Mindanao.

Trenas said that while the nation is hurting with the treacherous massacre of 44 operatives of the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force SAF’s “Fallen 44” an all-out war against the MILF is exactly what Islamic

extremist groups like the Al Qaeda, Jemaah Islamiyah and the Abu Sayyaf would want to happen.

“This is falling into the trap of these Islamic terrorists. Our rage and our yearning for vengeance should not cloud our sense of reason. Waging an all-our war against the MILF will only aggravate the situation in Mindanao,” Trenas said.

Trenas that people and groups who are calling for an all-out war against the

MILF are only providing Islamic extremists the right excuse to convince the MILF to withdraw from the negotiating table and take part in their terror campaign.

Trenas said he supports the Aquino government’s continued commitment to pursue the finalization of its peace talks with the MILF while making sure that those responsible for the debacle would be held accountable for the gruesome death of the “Fallen 44.”

it accounted for 56.7 percent of our country’s GDP and 53.6 percent to total employment,” said Deputy Director-General Emmanuel F. Esguerra, who serves as the convenor of the APEC Group on Services (GOS).

“This is a manifestation of how big our services sector is.

Yet, there are still underlying potentials that must be tapped and developed. The APEC fora provide good venues to pursue these,” he added.

For the First Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1) of

the GOS, the Philippines, along with other APEC member economies, aims to enhance current initiatives by building on last year’s developments and focusing on the integration of Small and Medium Enterprises into services global value chains (GVCs).

Many services are being undertaken in the production and sale of a product, whether it is a good or a service. Other sectors such as manufacturing have a number of services

FAQUINO’S, 11

Solon rejects call for all-out war I

Regionally-integrated PH services sector contributes to inclusive growth--NEDA

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HE Philippines’ current leadership in the APEC Group on Services can provide a necessary boost to the dynamism of our services sector and the attainment of inclusive growth, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

“Services is the largest economic sector and is a major employer in most APEC (AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation) economies, including the Philippines. For full-year 2014,

FREGIONALLY, 11

NEWS

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6 ICT HUB EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 226 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 - 2, 2015

DESPITE WI-FI BAN

Cuban youth build secret computer network C

UT off from the Internet, young Cubans have quietly linked thousands of computers into a hidden network that stretches miles across Havana, letting them chat with friends, play games and download hit movies in a mini-replica of the online world that most can’t access.

Home Internet connections are banned for all but a handful of Cubans, and the government charges nearly a quarter of a month’s salary for an hour online in government-run hotels and Internet centers. As a result, most people on the island live offline, complaining about their lack of access to information and contact with friends and family abroad.

A small minority have covertly engineered a partial solution by pooling funds to create a private network of more than 9,000 computers with small, inexpensive but powerful hidden WiFi antennas and Ethernet cables strung over streets and rooftops spanning the entire city. Disconnected from the real Internet, the network is limited, local, and built with equipment commercially available around the world,

with no help from any outside government, organizers say.

Hundreds are online at any moment pretending to be orcs or U.S. soldiers in multiplayer online games such as “World of Warcraft” or “Call of Duty.” They trade jokes and photos in chat rooms and organize real-world events like house parties or trips to the beach.

“We really need Internet because there’s so much information online, but at least this satisfies you a little bit because you feel like, ‘I’m connected with a bunch of people, talking to them, sharing files,” said Rafael Antonio Broche Moreno, a 22-year-old electrical engineer who helped build the network known as SNet, short for streetnet.

Cuba’s status as one of the world’s least-wired countries is central to the new relationship Washington is trying to forge with Havana.

As part of a new policy seeking broader engagement, the Obama administration hopes that encouraging wider U.S. technology sales to the island will widen Internet access and help increase Cubans’ independence from the state

and lay the groundwork for political reform.

Cuban officials say Internet access is limited largely because the U.S. trade embargo has prevented advanced U.S. technology from reaching Cuba and starved the government of the cash it needs to buy equipment from other nations. But the government says that while it is open to buying telecommunications equipment from the U.S., it sees no possibility of changing its broader system in exchange for normal relations with the U.S. Outside observers and many Cubans blame the lack of Internet on the government’s desire to control the populace and to use disproportionately high cellphone and Internet charges as a source of cash for other government agencies.

Cuba prohibits the use of Wi-Fi equipment without a license from the Ministry of Communications, making SNet technically illegal. Broche Moreno said he believes the law gives authorities latitude to allow networks like SNet to operate. He described a sort of tacit understanding with officials that lets SNet run unmolested as long as

it respects Cuban law — its hundreds of nodes are informally monitored by volunteer administrators who make sure users don’t share pornography, discuss politics or link SNet to illicit connections to the real Internet.

“We aren’t anonymous because the country has to know that this type of network exists. They have to protect the country and they know that 9,000 users can be put to any purpose,” he said. “We don’t mess with anybody. All we want to do is play games, share healthy ideas. We don’t try to influence the government or what’s happening in Cuba ...

We do the right thing and they let us keep at it.”

Users who break rules can be blocked from the network by their peers for as a little as a day for minor infractions such as slowing down SNet with file-sharing outside prescribed hours, with lifetime bans for violations like distributing pornography.

“Users show a lot of respect for preserving the network, because it’s the only one they have,” Broche Moreno

said. “But me and the other administrators are watching things to make sure the network does what it’s meant for.”

The Cuban government did not respond to a request for comment on the network.

Before Obama moved to restore full diplomatic ties with Cuba, the U.S. made several attempts to leverage technology against the Cuban government.

Contractor Alan Gross was sentenced to 15 years in prison after a U.S. Agency for International Development contractor sent him to Cuba to set up satellite Internet connections. He was freed after five years as part of the deal last month that paved the way for Obama’s new Cuba policy.

A separate USAID contractor tried to build a text message-based social network called Zunzuneo whose brief existence was revealed in an Associated Press investigation last year.

Joining SNet requires resources out of reach of many people in a country where the average salary hovers around $25 a month.

Humberto Vinas, 25, studied medical technology and accounting before finding a relatively well-paying job in the kitchen of a bar. He and nine friends shared an SNet node for several months, running hundreds of feet of Ethernet cable over neighbors’ roofs until one demanded they take it down, disconnecting most from the network.

“I miss SNet a lot,” he said sadly. “You can find out about soccer scores. It allows you to do so much, right from your home.”

Cubans have one of the hemisphere’s highest average levels of education and years of practice at improvising solutions to scarcity, allowing many to access and share information despite enormous barriers. For as little as a dollar a week or less, many Cubans receive what’s known as “the package,” weekly deliveries of pirated TV shows, movies, magazines and instructional texts and videos saved on USB memory drives.

There is no obvious

indication the U.S. or any other foreign government or group had anything to do with the creation of SNet, making it by far the most impressive example of Cuba’s homemade telecommunications engineering.

The network is a series of connected nodes, powerful home computers with extrastrong Wi-Fi antennas that communicate with each other across relatively long distances and distribute signals to a smaller network of perhaps a dozen other computers in the immediate vicinity.

SNet started as a handful of connected users around 2001 and stayed that way for a decade. More than 9,000 computers have connected over the past five years, and about 2,000 users connect on an average day.

Many use SNet to get access to popular TV shows and movies. The system also stores a copy of Wikipedia. It’s not necessarily current, but is routinely refreshed by users with true Internet access.

There’s also a homegrown version of a social network that functions similarly to Facebook.

Because most data passes from computer to computer in SNet, everything takes place much faster than on the achingly slow and expensive connections available from government servers that pass all information through central points.

Broche Moreno estimated it costs about $200 to equip a group of computers with the antennas and cables needed to become a new node, meaning the cost of networking all the computers in SNet could be as little as $200,000. Similar but smaller networks exist in other Cuban cities and provinces.

“It’s proof that it can be done,” said Alien Garcia, a 30-year-old systems engineer who publishes a magazine on information technology that’s distributed by email and storage devices. “If I as a private citizen can put up a network with far less income than a government, a country should be able to do it, too, no?”

MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN, Associated Press

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US attache, Chamber officers confer on business prospects N

EWLY-INSTALLED officers of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) led by Antonio dela Cruz spent their first day after induction Thursday meeting with Ms Aliza Totayo, commercial attache of the United States Embassy in Manila, who is visiting Davao for a look-see into the area’s investment opportunities and possible deals between

Davao and American companies and businessmen.

“It was a very fruitful meeting,” said Daniel T. Lim, an architect who is a past DCCCII president and reelected executive vice president. Covering a lot of ground, Lim said, the breakfast meeting at the Park Inn by Radissons ended with a number of preliminary agreements, foremost of which was the conduct of

U.S. COMMERCIAL ATTACHE. Newly-inducted officers of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) led by Antonio dela Cruz (rightmost seated) conferred with Ms Aliza Totayo, commercial attache of the U.S. Embassy in Manila (right of Dela Cruz) on various areas of commerce and trade during a

a series of dialogues and business matching sessions between American and Davao businessmen within the year.

“We talked about international financing, PPP (public, private partnership) in projects, exchange of wish lists and the efficient role of Philippine national agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the National Economic and

Development Administration (NEDA),” dela Cruz said.

Alvin M. Pinpin, regional head of SGV accounting firm and the chamber’s new corporate treasurer, told Edge Davao that both parties agreed to work on reviving a program which brought US businessmen and potential investors to Davao in order to enable them to understand how to do business in this part of the country, and at

breakfast meeting at Park Inn by Radisson Davao January 29. Other officers who attended were Sofronio “BJ” M. Jucutan and Architect Daniel T. Lim (seated), DCCCII executive director Maan Doromal, Luciano Frederick “Dicky” Puyod III, Wilfred “Evoy”Teves, Antonio M. Ajero, Ronaldo C. Go, Bonifacio Tan and Alvin Pinpin.

DTI 11 allots P1M for Negosyo Center

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

A

crc@edgedavao.net

TOTAL of P1 million will be allocated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 as its counterpart for the establishment of the first Negosyo Center in Davao City in the first quarter of the year.

DTI 11 regional director Belinda Q. Ambi said the local government of Davao City has already identified an area where the Negosyo Center will be set up. ‘’The City Government is eyeing a portion of space located at the ground floor of the City Council building for the center,’’ Ambi told Edge Davao Ambi said the budget allocated by the department for the center is minimal and that the participation of the city government was necessary. ‘’We’ve done the necessary negotiation..Our counterpart met last December for a

meeting and I think both parties are just fine-tuning the agreement,’Ambi said.

She added that it is necessary to speed up finalization of documents in order for the first center in Davao Region located in Davao City to be inaugurated by first quarter of 2015.

Constructing Negosyo Centers in strategic areas in Davao Region this year is the flagship program of DTI to develop start-up and existing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in both urban and rural areas. It emanated from the implementation of the Go Negosyo Act authored by Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” A. Aquino IV and which was passed last year.

Based on Go Negosyo Act, all municipalities in the country must have Negosyo Centers that will have in increasing the

competetiveness of MSMEs. The department piloted the centers last year at Batangas and Cagayan de Oro City while the center in Iloilo is expected to be inaugurated by February this year.

Ambi said the centers will assist MSMEs in facilitating both documantary and other requirements necessary in operating a business. ‘’We are targeting to launch five Negosyo Centers this year that will be located at strategic areas in each province in the region,’Ambi said.

There will be Negosyo Centers in Digos City for Davao del Sur; Nabunturan for Compostela Valley; Mati City for Davao Oriental and Tagum City for Davao del Norte this year, according to Ambi.

The establishment of centers, she said, is just among the efforts of DTI to assist MSMEs in the Asean

integration.

DTI will also continue conducting SME Roving Academy that give training to SMEs based on their requirement. she said that this program hones the skills of SMEs to become more competitive.

This will be the last year that DTI 11 will distribute shared service facilities (SSFs) to cooperatives and associations, she said.

However, she said DTI’s SSF program will end but other government agencies will still extend assistance to SMEs. Among these agencies are the Department of Science and Technology for the product improvement and technology development; Department of Labor and Employment and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority for skills development of SMEs.

set to specifically sustain the coastal development program where fisherfolks are given the opportunity to own motorized banca (small fishing boats) through a special loan.

Hubac said the Banca Loan Program started implementation late 2013 with a total of 160 fisherfolks from Digos City,

and municipalities of Sta. Cruz and Sta. Maria already benefiting from the project.

This year, she bared, the local government is preparing to distribute 100 bancas to the qualified beneficiaries in Malita and 150 fisherfolks in Don Marcelino, both of Davao Occidental province which is still under the administration of the governor of Davao del

Sur.

DavSur provincial govt. continues agri-fishery program

T

HE provincial government of Davao del Sur will continue this year to give focus on improving its agriculture and fishery program to upgrade the living of the farmers and fisherfolks in the province.

Marivic Hubac, executive assistant to Governor Claude Bautista, said the provincial government is

The motorized banca loan amounting to P30,000 per unit is giving the beneficiaries the chance of paying at least PhP50 pesos a day, and to have it fully paid in less than two years.

Gov. Bautista has announced last year that not less than 2,500 fishing boats

FDAVSUR, 11

the same time promote their products and services to local would-be partners and distributors.

Pinpin said the problem posed by travel advisories was likewise discussed with lady US commercial attaché Totayo admitting that little can be done about it since the advisories are issued by Washington.

Totayo agreed to the suggestion of Vice President for Industry Wilfredo “Evoy” T. Teves to work on the involvement of American companies and individuals in the holding in September of the Davao Agricultural and Trade Exhibit (DATE), Mindanao’s biggest trade fair, as participants or cosponsors.

Teves said this was done in a past DATE event which was heavily participated in

by American companies and individual businessmen.

Past chamber president and now vice president for agriculture Sofronio “BJ” M. Jucutan requested MsTotayo to followup on a recent policy statement of the US Department of Agriculture allowing the importation

by Americans of Philippine mangoes produced outside

the island province of Guimaras in Western Visayas.

It was BJ Jucutan who also suggested to MsTotayo that the American companies studying the exploration of the natural gas in Liguasan Marsh in Cotabato.

“She likewise noted my suggestion that her government promote the American model of the build-operate-transfer (BOT) system of developing the countrysideby putting up highways and railways to enhance the mobility of business sector even before the actual business booms or opportunities come,” Jucutan said.

“This is what they did in California and the Washington State,” the past chamber president said.

Other Chamber officers present in the breakfast meeting were Ronald C. Go, vice president for professional and service ventures; Bonifacio “Boni” T. Tan, past president and now vice president for trade and commerce; Luciano Frederick “Dicky” P. Puyod III, trustee, Antonio M. Ajero, trustee; and MaanDoromal, chamber executive director.

AMA

DOT 11 still awaiting feasibility study for Samal-Davao bridge

N

E W LY-A P P O I N T E D director Robert Alabado III of the Department of Tourism 11 said a bridge linking Davao City to Samal Island will improve the accessibility of tourist destinations in the area as this will ensure the influx of tourists to the sites in Samal.

“We expect that with the bridge that will be constructed between the two areas, we will have more tourist attractions being developed in Samal Island,” Alabado said, adding that a bridge will ensure a 24hour access to both areas.

Alabado said the National Economic and Development Authority in Davao Region has conducted a feasibility study on putting up a bridge through a public-private-partnership.

PPP is a government

Quips

“We expect that with the bridge that will be constructed between the two areas, we will have more tourist attractions being developed in Samal Island.”

– Newly-appointed Department of Tourism 11 director Robert Alabado III on the proposed bridge linking DavaoCity and the Island Garden City of Samal

service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies.

The feasibility study is crucial in looking at the mode of constructing the bridge, according to Alabado.

“We hope that the feasibility study will show that something can be earned out of the PPP, where the private sector will willingly construct the bridge for the government,” he said.

He also cited need for the feasibility study on the bridge to expand not only to income but to its environmental impact.

Samal Island, Alabado said,

FDOT 11, 11

8

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 226 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 - 2, 2015

EDITORIAL Peace process as the biggest loser

T

HERE is no question who is the biggest loser in the Mamasapano incident that left 44 PNP commandos and 18 MILF rebel fighters dead. It’s the peace process.

And the culprit? The blame game has just begun.

As we mourn over our fallen heroes in the aftermath of the bloodbath in Maguindanao, the MILF has also declared their loss—18 members dead and 14 injured. A civilian was also killed in the crossfire including a five-year old girl.

Pity the innocent civilians, they will not even receive the burial honors given to the fallen policemen.

The peace negotiations have resumed in Kuala Lumpur and the protocol for the terms of reference of the independent decommissioning body (IDB) has been signed. Meaning the peace process is still pushing forward despite the bloody encounter which the MILF calls a ‘misencounter.’

The MILF expressed full commitment and determination for the conclusion of the peace process and the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

The Masamapano bloodbath cast doubts on the sincerity of the MILF with the peace process. Some lawmakers are now having second thoughts passing the BBL. Former military officials are asking the MILF to surrender those who took part in the attack against the SAF and turn over the firearms taken from the fallen commandos.

On the other hand, the MILF maintains it was a ‘misencounter’ and blames another group for the carnage. They also maintained the SAF did not inform

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the peace process monitoring team that an operation will be conducted.

Like chess, the moves swing to and fro but one thing’s sure, both sides are concealing their gameplan.

Continuing with the peace process is out of the question. We are in a point of no return. However, trust and commitment is the reckoning point here and before any major progress can be resolved on the peace process, the Masamapano incident must first have a closure. Before that closure will ever come, there must be a probe.

There are a number of questions that must first be resolved. Who hatched the plan and who made the orders? Who was on top of the Masamapano operation? Why was the TOR of the peace process violated, if at all, by not coordinating with the key persons on the ground.

Now, since the next phase of the peace process will be the decommissioning of the MILF army, can we also begin with the surrender slash return of the firearms lost in the Masamapano encounter? These firearms will not be included in the MILF weapons to be turned over as part of the decommissioning of the MILF combatants.

It may take time for wounds to heal and the air of distrust to simmer and this peace process to push forward as envisaged by both the government and the MILF. The Masamapano carnage’s biggest casualty—other than the 44 PNP commandos, the 18 MILF fighters and the two innocent civilians—is the peace process. For now, it’s not what we will hear from the negotiators.

It’s how they keep their word.

Like the old saying, actions speak louder than words.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

AGAPITO JOAQUIN JR. Associate Editor

CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY Consultant

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. KENNETH IRVING K. ONG 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 ARLENE D. PASAJE Correspondents 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 226 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 - 2, 2015

9

Believe in yourself

D

URING a momentous battle, a Japanese general decided to attack even though his army was greatly outnumbered. He was confident they would win, but his men were filled with doubt.

On the way to the battle, they stopped at a religious shrine. After praying with the men, the general took out a coin and said, “I shall now toss this coin. If it is heads, we shall win. If it is tails, we shall lose.” They chorused, “Destiny will now reveal itself.”

The general threw the coin into the air and all watched intently as it landed. It was heads. The soldiers were so overjoyed and filled with confidence that they vigorously attacked the enemy and were victorious.

After the battle, a lieutenant thanked the general. “No one can change destiny.”

The general replied, “Quite right.” Then, he showed to the lieutenant the coin, which had heads on both sides.

This brings to the subject of confidence.

“There can be no great courage where there is no confidence or assurance, and half the battle is in the conviction that we can do what we undertake,” Orison Swett Marden once said. “With confidence,” remarked Jim Loehr, “you can reach truly amazing heights; without confidence, even the simplest accomplishments are beyond your grasp.”

The company which Walt Disney founded is one of the most successful in the world. At one time, a reporter asked the chief executive officer what the values the company adhered to. He said there are four C’s they hold fast to: curiosity, confidence, courage, and consistency. “But the greatest of these,” he said, “is confidence.”

Confidence is something you build with your actions. No one can give it to you or sell it to you. Your confidence must come from you. As boxing phenomenon Muhammad

T

VANTAGE POINTS

Ali pointed out, THINK ON THESE! “It’s lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believe in myself.”

Film actor Eddie Murphy also said, “I’ve always had Henrylito D. Tacio confidence. It came because henrytacio@gmail.com I have lots of initiative. I wanted to make something of myself.”

If you keep yourself always in the shadow of others, you won’t go that far. Listen to the words of Marcus Garvey: “If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life. With confidence, you have won even before you have started.”

Before probing deeper, what is confidence? “Experience tells you what to do; confidence allows you to do it,” said Stan Smith. “Confidence is the result of hours and days and weeks and years of constant work and dedication,” noted Roger Staubach.

“Self-confidence is either a petty pride in our own narrowness or the realization of our duty and privilege as God’s children,” Phillips Brooks declared.

But just how important is confidence?

Samuel Johnson offered: “Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings.”

Golfer Jack Nicklaus reiterated, “Confidence is the most important single factor in this game, and no matter how great your natural talent, there is only one way to obtain and sustain it: work.”

“Believe in yourself!” said Norman

Vincent Peale. “Have faith in your abilities!

Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.”

A young student approached the famous French scientist and philosopher, Blaise Pascal, and declared, “If I had your brains, I would be a better person.”

Pondering on the depth of that statement, Pascal paused momentarily before replying, “Be a better person, and you will have my brains.”

How do you become a better person?

How do you build your own confidence?

Chris Evert Lloyd shares, “I build confidence when I practice a variety of shots - hitting it high or low, working the ball. A lot of golfers go to the range and just hit full shots.

That doesn’t build on-course confidence, because you won’t always hit full shots out there. My confidence is built on knowing I can effectively work the ball in any circumstance.”

“It is you who make your destiny,” said the Master to a woman who complained about her destiny. “But surely I am not responsible for being born a woman?” she asked.

“Being born a woman isn’t destiny,” the Master replied. “That is fate. Destiny is how you accept your womanhood and what you make of it.”

Life is what we make it, so goes a popular saying. And it is by believing in ourselves that we can fully comprehend our destiny.

Actually, it is our attitude that can make us or unmake us. Rev. Charles Swindoll reminds us, “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures,

than successes, than what other people think, say, or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.”

Confidence comes from doing. “It seems to me that people have vast potential,” said Philip Adams. “Most people can do extraordinary things if they have the confidence or take the risks. Yet most people don’t. They sit in front of the television and treat life as if it goes on forever.”

But don’t believe in yourself too much also. “Danger breeds best on too much confidence,” Pierre Corneille warned.

A lion was stalking through a jungle looking for trouble. Seeking to pick a fight with a passing tiger, he grabbed the tiger’s tail and demanded, “Who is the king of the jungle?” The tiger answered meekly, “You are, O mighty lion.”

Next, the lion grabbed a monkey, asking, “Who do you say is the king of the jungle?”

The monkey humbly replied, “You, O mighty lion.”

Then, the lion met an elephant and inquired, “Who is the king of the jungle?” The elephant grabbed him with his trunk, whirled him around and threw him up against a tree, leaving him bleeding and broken.

The lion got up slowly and licking his wounds, addressed the elephant: “Just because you don’t know the answer is no reason for you to get so rough.”

Start where you are. There is something you can do. Make the effort. Build your confidence and it will serve you will. “I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within. It is there all the time,” said Anne Freud.

demonstrate time and again that they’re just takers and not givers, sharers, or humane; people who won’t meet you halfway or anyway except with guns?

I’m afraid we’re now faced with a gaping wound for which there is no quick cure from anyone except if it includes everyone. Yes, everyone! Not just the talking heads and gun-wielding and IED-lobbing zombies that lurk behind a studied façade of sincerity and noble purpose.

Trust must inhere on both sides. And everyone must be in on it. ***** In my 75 years of Mindanao life and times, plus generations of Higaonon and Manobo forbears before me, there’s a lesson that keeps ringing in my ears when dealing with fellow Mindanaons, especially in politics: be inclusive.

This lesson hit me unforgettably during the Emmanuel Pelaez for President Campaign in 1965. In the run up to the Nacionalista Convention at Manila Hotel, we had secured virtually all the leaders of Mindanao to close ranks behind our region’s favorite son against the nomination of Ferdinand Marcos.

But some Mindanaons somehow were left out of the discussion, who then leaked vital information and strategy—which enabled the Marcos campaign to move in and buy out everyone to inundate the votes already committed to our brightest hope for the presidency.

I remember General Mamarinta Lao of Lanao telling me after that: “If you want consensus and agreement, get everyone into the room, or those outside will sabotage things by lobbing a grenade to get attention and be heard.”

Well, we’re certainly hearing plenty from outside the peace-making tents, big bangs at that, and I bet there’ll be more to come!

(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 chairman/convenor, Gising Barangay Movement Inc. and author of books on governance. valdehuesa@gmail.com)

It’s time for a federal system in Mindanao

HE helter-skelter way our government conducts peace-building keeps on backfiring. They seem never to learn.

It reminds one of The Gang Who Couldn’t Shoot Straight by Jimmy Breslin about the pre-Watergate years in the U.S. capital.

The senseless carnage and massacre of the PNP elite commandos (44 dead!

A day-long firefight!) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, replays a phenomenon already familiar to all: yet another flawed fabric they call a peace agreement is unraveling.

When you weave such a delicate fabric to suit the bravado and timeline of a president in far away Manila, it’s bound to happen.

P-Noy seems to believe that the many-sided issues bedeviling Mindanao can be resolved by a formula based on a swashbuckling paradigm conjured by his KKK team. Kabarkada, Kabarilan, Kaklase. ***** You’d think peace-building is as simple as making puree from mango or mangosteen, then feeding it to people who are kept at a distance while their fates are negotiated with a dominant armed faction. It’s more complicated and thorny than that, ladies!

THE WORM’S EYEVIEW

BY MANNY VALDEHUESA First of all, it’s already obvious that the MILF isn’t all that reliable; their words can hardly be taken at face value. They make use of the BIFF as their wild card, or play them against government forces in a game of goodcop/bad-cop.

If they really cared about peace-building, of which the ceasefire is an essential condition for moving forward, why didn’t they stop the carnage at Mamasapano or at least limit its casualties? And why do they keep harboring savages like the blood-thirsty BIFF marauders and foreign terrorists like Marwan?

Now their true nature and intent are unmasked in no uncertain terms. As if Mindanaons aren’t up to their tricks! ***** Bottom-line: how does one build confidence and trust in people who defy law or order and place no value to life itself?

And how does one relate to people who

10 ENVIRONMENT EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 226 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 - 2, 2015

The boon and blight of plastics Text and Photos By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

I

N the award-winning 1967 movie, The Graduate, the character portrayed by then-newcomer Dustin Hoffman (who earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his performance) asked some advice on career direction.

“Plastics, my boy. Plastics,” he was told.

Businesses all over the world are heeding the advice.

“For more than 50 years, global production of plastic has continued to rise. Some 299 million tons of plastics were produced in 2013, representing a 4 percent increase over 2012,” writes Gaelle Gourmelon, communications and marketing manager of the Washington, D.C.-based Worldwatch Institute.

“Worldwide plastic production has been growing as the durable, primarily petroleum-based material gradually replaces materials like glass and metal,” the institute said in a statement.

“Today, an average person living in Western Europe or North America consumes 100 kilograms of plastic each year, mostly in the form of packaging.”

In Asia, one person uses just 20 kilograms. “But this figure is expected to grow rapidly as the region’s economies expand,” the institute pointed out.

Perhaps plastic bags are the

most ubiquitous consumer item that man has ever invented.

“Their light weight, low cost, and water resistance make them so convenient for carrying groceries, clothing, or any other routine purchase that it is hard to imagine life without them,” wrote Brian Halweil in an institute’s State of the World report.

“Since they were introduced in the 1970s, plastic bags have infiltrated our lives,” wrote Caroline Williams in New Scientist. “Globally, we carry home between 500 billion and a trillion every year – about 150 bags for every person on earth, or, to put it another way, a million every minute and rising.”

The word plastic is derived from the Greek plastikos, which means “capable of being shaped or molded.” It refers to their malleability or plasticity during manufacture, which allows them to be cast, pressed, or extruded into a variety of shapes -- such as films, fibers, plates, tubes, bottles, boxes, and much more.

Various plastics are used in the manufacture of each consumer item. For fibers and textiles, polyester (PES) is used while carbonated drinks bottles, peanut butter jars, plastic film, and microwavable packaging, the material used

Plastic bags.

The use of plastic bags and plastic bottles

Plastic hangers

is polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is used for detergent bottles, milk jugs, and molded plastic cases.

When manufacturing plumbing pipes and guttering, shower curtains, window frames, and flooring, polyvinyl chloride (PCV) is used, while it is polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) for food packaging.

Outdoor furniture, siding, floor tiles, shower curtains, and clamshell packaging come from low-density polyethylene (LDPE).

Bottle caps, drinking straws, yogurt containers, appliances, car fenders (bumpers), and plastic pressure pipe systems are made of polypropylene (PP). Packaging foam, food containers, plastic tableware, disposable cups, plates, cutlery, and compact discs and cassette boxes come from polystyrene (PS).

High impact polystyrene (HIPS) is made for refrigerator liners, food packaging, and vending cups. Fibers, toothbrush bristles, tubing, fishing line, and low strength machine parts (like underthe-hood car engine parts or gun frames) are made from polyamides (PA) or popularly known as nylons.

If you’re wondering what those electronic equipment cases (e.g., computer monitors, printers, keyboards) and drainage pipe are made of, it’s acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Eyeglasses, riot shields, security windows, traffic lights, and lenses are made of polycarbonate (PC).

Polyurethanes (PU) is currently the sixth most commonly used plastic material. It is used in cars such as cushioning foams, thermal insulation foams, surface coatings, and in printing rollers.

But the most popular of them all is plastic bags.

According to Halweil, these plastic bags start as crude oil, natural gas, or other petrochemical derivatives, which are transformed in plastic factories into chains of hydrogen and carbon molecules known as polymers or polymer resin.

(HDPE resin is the industry standard for plastic bags.)

“The polyethylene is superheated and the molten resin is extruded as a tube, sort of like the process of making pasta,” Halweil explained. “After the desired shape is achieved, the resin is cooled, hardens, and can be flattened, sealed, gusseted, punched, or printed on.”

Producing plastic bags uses about 20-40 percent less energy and water than paper sack production does, and generates less air pollution and solid waste, according to lifecycle assessments by both industry and non-industry groups.

Officials from the plastics industry also note that plastic bags take up less space in a landfill, and that neither product decomposes under the prevailing conditions in most landfills.

That’s one side of the coin.

The other side: Given the proper conditions, however, the paper sack would decompose rapidly, while the plastic bag would not.

In reality, many plastic bags do not find their way to landfills.

Landfill full of plastic bags.

Plastic bottles.

But many mischievous plastic bags do not find their way to landfills. Instead, they go airborne after they are discarded. A survey conducted by the EcoWaste Coalition and Greenpeace Philippines in 2006 discovered plastic bags and other synthetic packaging materials to comprise 76 percent of garbage retrieved from Manila Bay. In Laguna de Bay, plastic bags make up 25 percent of the solid waste that is polluting the lake.

Because they are usually buoyant, plastic bags are widely distributed by ocean currents and wind. A recent study conservatively estimated that 5.25 trillion plastic particles weighing a total of 268,940 tons are currently floating in the world’s oceans. This debris results in an estimated US$13 billion a year in losses from damage to marine ecosystems, The World Wildlife Fund for Nature claimed that nearly 200 different marine species die due to ingestion and choking from plastic bags.

“Discarded plastic bands encircle mammals, fish, and birds and tighten as their bodies grow,” reminded the Washington, D.C.-based World Resources Institute. “Turtles, whales, and other marine mammals have died after eating plastic sheeting.”

In the United States, plastic gears, six-pack yokes, sandwich bags and Styrofoam cups are so abundant in the ocean that they kill up to one million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals each year.

Discussing plastics in general term, a report which appeared in Environmental Action noted, “Many of the chemicals used in the production and processing of plastic are highly toxic, resulting

in hazardous wastes, toxic air emissions and discharges of toxic effluents into waterways.”

The report further stated: “People don’t think plastic products are toxic because by the time they get to supermarket shelves, they’re not. But ingredients in plastic production have dangerous properties for those who work with them or live near plastic factories.”

Environmentalists caution against burning those plastics to get rid of them completely.

Scientists say that chlorinebased plastics, when incinerated, contribute to the formation of dioxins, a poisonous waste that forms when chlorine is exposed to extreme heat.

Across the world, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Singapore and Taiwan are among the countries that ban the use of plastic. These countries have enacted local legislations to intensify their national law that prohibits plastic use.

In Davao City, the local government started the banning the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags and polystyrene foam three years ago. The ordinance was the execution of the two rules stated in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Davao

City Ecological Solid Waste Management Ordinance of 2009.

As stipulated in IRR Rule V: “All stores, as well as, ambulant vendors in Davao City shall sell or provide only the following as checkout bags or containers to customers: recycled or recyclable paper bags, biodegradable plastic bags, reusable bags (such as cloth bags), bags made of indigenous materials (such as buri, abaca, anahaw, bamboo and pineapple), or used corrugated boxes or cartons.”

Section 9 of IIR Rule V urges the participation of people buying items from malls and supermarkets. It said: “Shoppers or customers in all stores in Davao City are encouraged to provide for themselves reusable and recyclable shopping bags, when shopping or buying from stores. They are also encouraged to refuse a checkout bag from the store when buying small items that do not require a bag.”

The city ordinance also urges shoppers and consumers to properly disposed biodegradable plastic bags “like any other solid waste material.”

They “should not be thrown in canals, water bodies, vacant lots and other public places.”

Those are just words of reminders.

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. That CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 25905 under LOYOLA PLAN Contract No.(s) 390847-2 issued to Anita M. Zamora was lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

2/02,09,16

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EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 11

Suspected... FFROM 4 have no money but really want a gun... he will make an installment basis for them),” Leonardo said.

PDEA 11 director Emerson Rosales said Albao was the one who purchased shabu in Cotabato City then sold this in the city.

“Siya mismo ang nagakuhasa drugs from Cotabato City, ginabiyahe niya dinhi sa Davao (City) (He was the one who really purchase the drugs from Cotabato City and transported it here in Davao),” Rosales said.

Operatives also arrested 17 other suspects during the raid, 16 of them male and one female. Their names, however, were not stated in the police report.

Police recovered a total of 187.39 grams of suspected

shabu with an estimate worth of P1.686 million (P1, 686, 510), 100 grams of Marijuana worth P3,500 and paraphernalia.

Also recovered were a 9 millimeter pistol with long magazine 43 live bullets, Colt .45 pistol with two magazines and13 bullets, Government Model .45 pistol with two magazines and 12 bullets, a .38 revolver with two bullets, two magazines for Thompson submachinegun, two .22 bullets and a hand grenade.

The arrested suspects and recovered evidences were endorsed to CIDG 11 while the dead body of Albao was brought to Rivera Funeral Homes after being examined by the Scene of the Crime Operatives. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

district of Maguindanao.

North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza also sympathized with the families of 44 members of the police’s elite SAF who perished in the incident.

“We have to face these most trying times with calmness and patience,” Mendoza said in a statement.

She said law enforcement

by PNP elite force in North Cotabato should not be affected by the blood carnage in nearby Maguindanao province.

“People in North Cotabato are also in search of justice for the recent bombings that left several of our people dead and many others injured,” she said, adding that the incident in Mamasapano was an offshoot of the search for two wanted bombers.

“Our peace-building efforts must not be affected by the Mamasapano incident,” Mendoza said. (PNA) Palace remains focused on bigger picture -- winning over terrorism, achieving Peace in Mindanao.

Malacanang remains committed to pursue the fight against terrorism and to push for lasting peace in Mindanao, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Hermnio Coloma said.

Coloma said they will not dwell on the issues being thrown against them, particularly the death of 44 members of the police’s Special Action Force (SAF).

“Ang pokus po natin ngayon, katulad ng aking ipinarating, ay ‘yung kahalagahan na maipagwagi natin at maisulong natin ‘yung paglaban sa terorismo at maipagpatuloy din ‘yung prosesong pangkapayapaan (Our focus now, like what I already said, is the importance of winning against terrorism and to continue the peace process,” he said.

Reports said the Philippine National Police (PNP) Alumni Association has called on its members to go on a five-day mass leave while mourning the death of SAF members, who were killed in a “misencouter” with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao over the weekend.

Coloma said he respects the PNP Alumni’s decision although he stressed that he does not know if the group’s

decision was made before or after President Benigno Aquino III delivered his statement over national television Wednesday night.

He stressed that whether or not the police force will heed the call of its alumi depends on the policemen. ”Nananalig kami na sila ay gagamit ng katuwiran at tamang pagninilay at nauunawaan nila ang kahalagahan ng kanilang paglilingkod sa bayan (We believe that they will really think about it and that they understand the importance of their service to the people), he said.

Coloma said it is understandable for people to feel bad about what happened to the SAF members but he stressed that the govenrment should remain focused on the bigger picture.

Relatively, the Makabayanbloc in the House of Representatives said the death of SAF members may lead to another impeachment case against the President.

Coloma said whether the case will be filed or not depends on the lawmakers.

“Nasa kanila pong pagpapasya ‘yon kung sila ay nais ding magsulong ng sarili nilang agenda (It’s upon their decision if they want to push their own agenda),” he said.

Also, reports said former President Fidel V. Ramos urged Aquino to have a definite stance on the issue of felled SAF members.

Coloma said they respect Ramos’ ideas noting that the former President is among the leaders who is pushing for the peace talks in Mindanao.

Meawhile, the bodies of 42 SAF members who were killed in the Maguindanao clash arrived at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City Thursday morning (Jan. 29).

Coloma said the President was not able to go to the air base because he has earlier commitments.

He, however, said that the President will lead the necrological service for the fallen heroes at Camp Bagong Diwa on Friday, January 30, which has been declared as National Day of Mourning.

In a statement, Coloma said members of the Cabinet and other government officials will attend the mass along with the families of the slain policemen and their colleagues. (PNA)

Aquino’s.... FFROM 5

FAST FRIDAYS FORUM. University of the Philippines Alumni Association (UPAA) Davao chapter member John Tria (right) and UPAA Oblation Plaza project chair Dr. Roberto Puentespina Jr. hold the proposed design of Oblation Plaza which

will be constructed in time for the 20th foundation anniversary of U.P. Mindanao in Mintal on February 28. Tria and Puentespina graced Fast Fridays media forum at Archipelago 7107 by Barrio Fiesta at SM Lanang Premier. Lean Daval Jr.

Only... FFROM 4

Regionally... FFROM 5

of the MBO, municipal accountant, municipal treasurer and the municipal mayor.

Once done, the sets of papers stop at the municipal treasurer, who will then issue and sign a check, which would be finally signed by the mayor.

The check payment signed by the mayor would then be given back to municipal treasurer, who through his bonded personnel deliver the check to the supplier’s office “if its office is in Davao City” or the suppliers usually those coming from neighboring Tagum City will just pick up the check from the municipal treasurer’s office after they know about the check through call or text message.

“Mamalihug lang sa amo ang katong taga layo, taga Davao in call or text message nga dalhon ang tseke kung may adtoon mi didto (Suppliers in far locations like Davao City would just request us to deliver the check when we have other transaction in the city),” the GSO employee said.

That means that prior the start when the papers are on the go for rotation to offices after the full delivery the winning supplier has complied all requirements as eligible bidder of the LGU by first being accredited with the LGU, having the mayor’s permit, all the BIR papers,

and being registered with the online PhilGEPS (Philippine Government Electronic Electronic System).

Only those services or supplies worth P5,000 and below are not subjected for bidding, and in that case, the GSO goes for canvassing among suppliers, while the rest are posted for bidding in PhilGEPS, he said.

Aboyme said that the LGU encountered many suppliers and contractors who participated in LGU’s biddings upon learning bid notices posted in the PhilGEPS website.

“Representatives of suppliers and contractors physically come to the municipal hall, bringing their papers and filled-up bid forms,” he said.

“Their eligibility papers would be scrutinized by the Technical Working Group, and if insufficiency is found out, the concerned supplier cannot take part in the bidding but the supplier’s sealed envelop containing his bid price would not be opened by the BAC,” he explained.

Asuncion LGU has more than P120 million approved for this year. The town is 2nd class municipality and has only over 55,000 population. (Cha Monforte, Correspondent )

is a precious jewel of the Davao Gulf where the beaches and its natural features like the corrals will be properly preserved despite the expected industries and people who would visit once there is a bridge.

Lisette Marquez, tourism officer of Davao City, cited the need for the local government unit of the Island Garden City of Samal to also have a plan on how to handle the implication of having a bridge between the mainland and Samal Island.

She cautioned that having a bridge will also expedite

environmental degradation.

“We want that before the bridge is built the roads are also fine,” Marquez said.

She said that with the accessibility of Samal, tourists will only spend their time there by day, instead of converting them to nighttime visitors which is experienced today when people are served by two ferry services.

Marquez added that the carrying capacity of the island must be studied by the environmental planners. (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

DOT 11... FFROM 7

embedded in their processes.

These include design, quality control, inventory systems, transport, logistics, wholesale/ retail, marketing/advertising, repair/maintenance, installation/construction, finance after-sales services.

Firms in the services sector itself also outsource or move their non-core services functions offshore to their affiliates, as they seek to move up the value chain. The services then become value added to the final product.

“This ‘tasking’ in the production process of firms or in the GVCs are where opportunities for SMEs in the services industry reside,” said Esguerra.

For the APEC region, total services exports account for 20.27 percent. However, when viewed through a value-added lens, services share to total exports increases to 39.08 percent.

“Looking at services this way shows us that it has an important role not only in

big industries engaged in production but also in our small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In fact, among APEC economies, the Philippines has the highest GVC participation in electrical and optical equipment,” said Esguerra.

“These are only among the reasons why the government is keen on enhancing regional cooperation and engaging in partnerships in services.

In our pursuit of inclusive growth, services open numerous opportunities for employment generation and poverty reduction – goals that we have set in the Updated Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016,” he added.

For full-year 2014, services grew by 6.0 percent and generated 599,000 jobs, the highest among the country’s major sectors.

The NEDA is also host to four other related meetings of the APEC SOM1 from January 31 to February 7, 2015 in Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga.

will be distributed to other coastal areas in the province until 2016.

For the farmers, Hubac said the provincial government is bent on pursuing projects centered on developing the rice production in the province.

She cited the irrigation system support through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist to Magsaysay and Bansalan areas.

The provision of farm inputs, livelihood assistance and trainings have also been lined up to be undertaken this year.

Hubac said Department of Agriculture will also provide trainings to help farmers assure yielding good quality farm products.

She said that they have started organizing farmers in the upland areas to avail of the Plant Now Pay Later Program which is focused on

rubber production.

A rubber nursery will be put up in selected barangays for this project, she added.

Another financial assistance program will involve the wives of the fisherfolks and farmers as beneficiaries.

Hubac said an assistance of P5,000 will each be given to qualified fisherfolk wives who are fish vendors, and P3,000 each to farmers’ wives who are retailing vegetables.

“In this way, the wives are encouraged to become small entrepreneurs,” she stated.

She said the local government has been vigorously pouring in various livelihood projects for residents in the coastal and rural areas because “the governor wants to ensure that his constituents could meet their daily needs.” (PIA11/Carina L. Cayon)

DavSur... FFROM 7

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CLASSIFIED

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

Billiard Supplies

Phone Nos.

Cell Nos.

INdulge!

VOL. 7 ISSUE 226 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 - 2, 2015

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TRAVEl

CAIRNS:

Gateway to the Great Barrier Reef Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio FRAMED by a backdrop of rainforest clad and mountains and fringed by the Coral Sea, Cairns – named after William Wellington Cairns, a governor of Queensland – is no doubt Australia’s tropical paradise.

The city is the ideal base to explore the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforests. Both of these most fascinating ecosystems are listed in the World Heritage of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization.

“There are very few places on earth where two such treasurers rest side by side, and so easily accessible to visitors,” notes the 168-page colorful book, Insight -- Tropical North Queensland.

Cairns is located about 1,700 kilometers away from Brisbane, and about 2,420 kilometers from Sydney by road. Tourism plays a major part in the economy of this modern, sophisticated city.

I had the opportunity of coming to the city when I attended an international conference on coral reefs. For almost a week, I was at the Cairns International Convention Center but it didn’t stop me from roaming around the city.

There are few things that can be seen from outer space. One of them is the Great Barrier Reef, touted to be the world’s biggest single structure made by living organisms. This reef structure is composed of and built

by billions of tiny organisms, known as coral polyps.

Actually, the Great Barrier Reef is not one large reef but a collection of almost 3,000 individual reefs in various sizes ranging up to 100 square kilometers, according to some of our readings.

To see the Great Barrier Reef in its glory, you need to go to the Cairns Seaport, which is located on Trinity Inlet. Operated by the Cairns Port Authority, it serves as an important port for tourist operators providing daily reef trips.

According to Wikipedia, there are large catamarans which are capable of carrying over 300 passengers. There are also smaller operators that may take as few as 12 tourists.

During our visit, we took a yacht that seems like a bigger speed boat.

But before that, we went to get our tickets are the Reef Fleet Terminal, the most common departure point for passengers traveling to the world famous reef.

By the way, Cairns Port is also a port of call for cruise ships, such as Captain Cook Cruises,

Cairns A4

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UP AND ABOUT What is Vegas without line dancers?

Fabulous drag performances wowed the guests.

SEDA ABREEZA

goes to Vegas JUST a little over a couple years since opening its doors, Seda Abreeza is making waves across Davao’s burgeoning hospitality scene with its own brand of service, great food, as well as rooms fit for the needs of every business and leisure traveller.

To celebrate this milestone, Seda Abreeza threw a thanksgiving party to thank their clients, bookers, as well as media friends for their support in making the hotel as well as the Seda Hotel chain the Philippines’ Leading Hotel Group for 2014.

Going all-out with a Las Vegas theme, the thanksgiving event was a funfilled gathering thanks to

some of Seda Abreeza’s associates impersonating famous Vegas stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, and Tina Turner. A sumptuous spread consisting of some of the best dishes from Misto, the hotel’s all-day dining concept, as well as cocktails kept guests full as wine flowed freely.

The event started in earnest at the Sinamay Room with a message of

Talentadong Pinoy grand winner Neil Ray Garcia.

thanks from Seda Abreeza’s general manager Kennedy Capulong followed by the handing out of awards to the top bookers and top clients of the year.

Entertainment in between awards brought everything together with lots of fabulous line dancing, as well as some spectacular performances from drag queens and Talentatong Pinoy grand winner Neil Ray Garcia who brought down the house with his unique beatboxing.

Congratulations to Seda Abreeza on a job well done!

Follow me on Instagram or on Twitter at @kennethkingong for more travel stories, foodie finds, and happenings in, around and beyond Durianburg.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Eula Valdez joins cast of ‘The Half Sisters’ AVID viewers of GMA Network’s The Half Sisters, the country’s number one daytime show, will have all the more reason to stay glued to their favorite Afternoon prime series as veteran actress Eula Valdez joins the cast and brings an interesting twist in the story.

Eula will play the role of Isabela Zuñiga, the rich haciendera who saves Benjie (Jomari Yllana) from an accident that left him suffering from post traumatic experience.

She will do anything to fight for her love for Benjie whatever it takes.

Eula says she is very thrilled to join the cast of the network’s top-rating series and to work again with Director Mark Reyes.

“Egziteeeed ako to work with Direk Mark Reyes again whom I worked with the first time I transferred to GMA via Kamandag years ago =) and of course I’m delighted to be part of the #1 daytime soap nationwide =)” She is likewise very delighted to reunite with Jean Garcia and share the screen with her good friend in the program.

They last worked together in the network’s Pinoy version of the Koreanovela All About Eve in 2009. “Of course, I’m also looking forward to work with my original love team Jean Garcia =) yun ang lokohan namin before na kami ang magkalove team.”

Director Mark couldn’t be more proud of the program’s success since its pilot airing last year.

He is very happy with the Filipinos’ overwhelming

support for his program which explores the phenomenon about heteropaternal superfecundation.

“A good script and a great cast. That is the formula of The Half Sisters.

From its unique premise to its unpredictable plot twists and sympathetic characters in complicated story arcs, is what makes the show the number one daytime drama. And things get more exciting as Ms. Eula Valdez as Isabela Zuñiga joins the already stellar cast led by Jean Garcia, Jomari Yllana, Gloria Romero, Barbie Forteza, Thea Tolentino, Derrick Monasterio and Andre Paras. The iconic rivalry of Jean and Eula will once again be enjoyed by local audiences in the next chapter of the consistent top-rating afternoon prime show of GMA.” Meanwhile, The Half Sisters is still the uncontested number 1 daytime drama soap nationwide, according to data of the industry’s widely trusted ratings service provider Nielsen TV Audience Measurement.

The series remains the program of choice of viewers not only in its bailiwick Mega Manila and Urban Luzon, but across National Urban

series likewise led in Mega Manila, which represents 60 percent of urban TV households in the country, after generating a rating of 20.8 percent, while It’s Showtime trailed behind by 11.5 points with only 9.3 percent, Kapamilya Blockbusters dropped by 13.2 points with only 7.6 percent and Flordeliza behind by 15 points with only 5.8 percent.

Philippines. It is a certified hit compared to its counterpart programs in ABS-CBN: It’s Showtime, Kapamilya Blockbusters and the recentlylaunched Flordeliza.

Based on household ratings data recorded in NUTAM for January 1-23, 2015 (January 18-23 based on overnight data), The Half Sisters scored a rating of 17.5 percent, leading ABS-CBN’s It’s Showtime’s 11.5 percent by 6 points, Kapamilya Blockbusters’s 10.5 percent by 7 points and

Aside from Jean, Jomari and Eula, The Half Sisters is topbilled by Barbie Forteza, and Thea Tolentino, Derrick Monasterio and Andre Paras and Gloria Romero, Mel Martinez, Vaness del Moral and Ryan Eigenmann.

Expect more revelations and twists as the drama continues in The Half Sisters weekdays after Eat Bulaga on GMA Afternoon Prime.

Flordeliza’s 8.5 percent by 9 points.

In Urban Luzon, which comprises 77 of national urban television households, The Half Sisters marked another winning performance over its counterpart programs in ABS-CBN. It registered a rating of 20.1 percent, 9.9 points higher than It’s Showtime’s 10.2 percent, 11.1 points higher than Kapamilya Blockbuster’s 9 percent and 13.3 points higher than Flordeliza’s 6.8 percent.

The Afternoon Prime

Lifestyle Network airs replays of SAG Awards 2015 THE Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards recently honored performances of Hollywood’s best, with the Michael Keaton-led film, “Birdman” taking home the big prize.

To keep the excitement overflowing for the awards season, Lifestyle Network will air replays of the 21st SAG Awards on January 31 (Saturday) and February 1 (Sunday).

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards is the sole award giving body which honors the performance of actors selected by the actors’ peers in SAGAFTRA (Screen Actors Guild‐ American Federation of Television and Radio Artists). This year, “Bidrman”

was the recipient of the highest honor of the night - the outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture. It bested out strong contenders “Boyhood,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” “The Imitation Game,” and the “Theory of Everything.”

On the TV side, the Netflix series “Orange Is The New Black” revolving around stories of women

in prison, earned the outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series while the period drama “Downton Abbey” won outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series.

Moving moments also dotted the evening. Viola Davis’ acceptance speech for her performance in “How To Get Away With Murder” scored her the

outstanding performance of a female actor in a drama series award. Davis’ speech circulated several times on Twitter, with users quoting her statements.

Meanwhile, “Orange Is The New Black’s” Uzo Aduba turned emotional during her speech for outstanding performance of a female actor in a comedy series.

Catch more heartwarming and funny moments in the 2015 SAG Awards on January 31 (5PM), and February 1 (1PM) on the Lifestyle Network.

For updates, visit the Lifestyle Network’s official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/LifestyleNetwork) and for more details about the show, go to www. lifestylenetwork.com.ph.

January 28-February 3, 2015

INTO THE WOODS Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, Johnny Depp GP

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

TAKEN 3 / * VICE Liam Neeson / * Bruce Willis PG13 / *R16

11:40 | 1:50 | 4:00 LFS / * 6:10 | 8:05 | 10:00 LFS

THE BOY NEXT DOOR Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Guzman R16

R-16

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

HALIK SA HANGIN Gerald Anderson, Julia Montes PG13

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

EDGEDAVAO

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TRAVEL Cairns A1 which cruise the South Pacific Ocean. It also provides freight services to coastal townships on Cape York Peninsula, the Torres Strait and the Gulf of Carpentaria.

But the Great Barrier Reef is not the only tourist attraction Cairns offers. Here are more: Cairns Esplanade Foreshore: Located at the heart of the city, it is the place to go first as it has something for everyone no matter what the age is.

The space is so spacious that lots of activities are being done simultaneously. You can look or participate in what’s going on or you may opt to sit back, relax and watch the clouds pass.

Esplanade Lagoon: This is perhaps the foreshore’s most favorite attraction. In fact, you can swim at this 4,800 square meter saltwater swimming pool. It’s the perfect way to soak up some sun and enjoy some safe swimming at the 4,800 square meter saltwater pool. Just sitting in one of the beach benches, you get to enjoy the views of the stunning Trinity Inlet and mountains that line the horizon.

Esplanade Artworks:

Make sure you have a good look at the interesting sculptural artworks done by local artists. The most iconic of all of these artworks is probably the Bryan Robinson’s “The Fish,” which are the metal sculptures in the lagoon that look like giant, fish flying through the air.

Cairns Regional Gallery: Housed in a landmark heritage building the Cairns Regional Gallery is the region’s premier destination for exhibitions featuring historical and contemporary art by leading regional, national and international artists.

The Gallery also presents exhibitions highlighting key works and themes from the permanent collection that focus on the unique cultural heritage of Far North Queensland.

Harbour Walk: While walking, you can do some awesome bird watching with birds coming as far as from Russia! If you have a hard time knowing what birds you’re watching, there’s a Bird Directory to help you. You can rent a powered telescope to give you great close up views.

Cairns Marina: One of the most prestigious in Australia, if not the world.

It’s the home of many super yachts, cruising ves-

sels and provides its fleet with 5 star facilities. The Marina is well located near the Cairns E spla nade and is a few minutes from premier dining and shopping establishments

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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 11TH JUDICIAL REGION OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT-SHERIFF DAVAO CITY

EJF-REM CASE NO. 14,995-14

HOME DEVELOPMENT MUTUAL FUND Mortgagee -versus-

MARIO F. GALLEGO, JR. Mortgagor/s.

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

Upon extra-judicial petition for sale under Act 3135, as amended, filed by the above-mentioned morgagee against above-mentioned mortgagor with postal address at Lot 32 blk15 DECA HOMES SUBD., Cabantian, Buhangin Davao City to satisfy the mortgage indebtedness which as of July 24, 2014 amounted to ( Php 578,832.90 ) Philippine Currency, inclusive of interest, penalty charges, plus attorney’s fees equivalent to TEN ( 10%) of the total indebtedness plus other legal expenses incident of foreclosure and sale; the undersigned Sheriff IV of the Regional Trial Court, Davao City, will sell at public auction on February 27, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. or soon thereafter, at the main entrance of Hall of Justice, Ecoland, Davao City to the highest bidder for Cash or MANAGER’S CHECK and in Philippine Currency, the following real property mentioned and described below together with all the improvements thereon, to wit: Transfer Certificate of Title No. T- 444149

“A parcel of land (Lot 32, Blk. 15xxx), situated in Barangay of Cabantian, City of Davao, Island of Mindanao…xxx Containing an area of EIGHT ONE (81) SQUARE METERS, more or less” All sealed bids must be submitted to the undersigned on the above-stated time and date.

In the event the public auction should not take place on the said date, it shall be held on March 27, 2015 without further notice.

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

Davao City, Philippines, JANUARY 13, 2015

FOR THE EX-OFFICIO SHERIFF:

(SGD.) CONRADO P. MACUTAY, JR. Sheriff IV (1/26,2/2,9)

(1/19,26/2/2)

(1/19,26/2/2)

14 COMMUNITY SENSE EDGEDAVAO

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Marilog, Arakan, Bukidnon eyed as weekend getaway R

EGIONAL and city tourism officials as well as private tourism stakeholders met with National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) regional director Geroncio R. Aguio January 22, 2015 to discuss plans for the tourism development of the Bukidnon-Davao-Cotabato boundaries in the Marilog District, Arakan, and Bukidnon, which fall under the ancestral domains of several Indigenous Peoples (IP) communities in the area.

Through a series of ocular visits conducted by the Department of Tourism (DOT) 11, it was gathered that the Marilog, Baganihan, and Buda areas are highly touristic in nature and a promising destination that cross three regions, namely Regions 10, 11, and 12.

The areas covered are the Marilog District of Davao,

Kitaotao in Bukidnon, and Arakan in Cotabato.

DOT 11 and city tourism officials sought partnerships with the NCIP and private tourism partners in the area to ensure protection of the rights and welfare of the IP groups and settlers.

A tourism development plan was initially discussed to be crafted as a collaborative effort among national agencies including DOT, NCIP, DENR, DA, as well as local government units of Davao, Bukidnon, and Cotabato.

Apart from the IP’s welfare, DOT 11 regional director Roberto Alabado assured NCIP that plans for the environmental and cultural preservation are also integral considerations to the tourism development plans of the area, and that proper geohazard zoning will be observed.

Tall pine trees abound in the Marilog, Arakan, and Bukidnon area.

DEVELOPMENT PLANS. Department of Tourism 11 regional director Roberto Alabado III, Davao City Tourism Operations Officer Lisette Marques (fourth and third from left respectively), and BUDACO

Davao printer Midtown receives ISO from Germany’s Heidelberg M

IDTOWN Printing Co., Inc.(MPCI), a Davaobased printer, was awarded the first ever ISO 12647-2 Certification from Heidelberg Druckmaschinen AG in the Philippines.

This was announced by Leonilo G. Claudio, Chairman and CEO of Midtown.

The ISO 12647-2 Certificate was awarded last December 2, 2014 during the HPH Digital Event at Manila Peninsula Hotel Makati City. The award was presented by Mr. Ralph Streng, HPH SSU Managing Director and Mr. Eugene Marquez –HPH Business Unit Manager (Prinect& CtP) PCM/ ISO 12647-2 Project Manager and Mr. Noel Soquerata – HPH Business Unit Manager (Press, Postpress & Remarketed Equipment).

Mr. Alpha Alexander C. Atega, VP for Print & Production, received the Certificate on behalf of Midtown, Claudio said.

Heidelberg Philippines Inc. (HPH) & Heidelberg Graphics Taiwan Ltd. (HTW) Technical Team composed of Mr. Dennis Huang - Project Team Leader, HTW Press Application Engineer, Mr. Arci Calamanan HPH Senior Technical Application Specialist (Prepress Cons), Mr. Andre Pingol - HPH Technical Application Specialist (Press Cons), Mr. Jeffrey Obstaculo - HPH Systems Application Engineer (Prepress Software) and Mr. Romeo Agapito - HPH Press Application Engineer

evaluated and conducted the first ever ISO 12647-2 Certification Project from August 11 – 21, 2014 in Midtown Plant located in Toril, Davao City.

The whole project includes consultation that defines the standardization of the print process through printing.

Starting from prepress linearization of the plates and process calibration, to saving the print characteristic curves on the RIP. Ink presetting curves, pre-inkingand speed compensation was also adjusted for optimum quality assurance. The ICC profiles generated from the color calibration test from were being calculated on the Prinect profile tool to establish the least Delta in the LAB color values.

After a series of tests and careful evaluation, the results were consolidated and sent to Heidelberg Germany for final evaluation and certification.

The result was released six weeks later and Midtown Printing was cited to have Satisfactorily Passed the ISO 12647-2 Certification, which is valid for two years.

Established in 1967 by the Claudio family, Midtown started as a small-scale printer and has continuously upgraded to become one of the country’s well-established printing companies in the industry today. The company earned its stead from the trust and confidence of satisfied

customers for decades of wellfounded experience. Midtown started printing school publications and yearbooks as early as 1970. In 1998, Midtown opened its doors to the academic community by publishing its own line of preschool books, authored and illustrated by local talents, and carefully prepared to enhance classroom experience of young learners. Midtown then opened its own photography studio, which later expanded to a multimedia service doing video coverage for special events, producing interactive yearbook in DVDs, and a wide range of multimedia and graphic services, Claudio added.

Midtown is equipped with the latest state of the art printing technology integrated from prepress to press systems which includes Heidelberg Speedmaster SM74-4 four color press with inline measuring device Prinect Easy Control spectrophotometer, Heidelberg Suprasetter A75/ATL online processor CtP Imaging System, and Heidelberg Prinect Workflow (Prepress Manager) Automated System.

As ISO 12647-2 certified, Midtown Printing will greatly improve in terms of print quality and productivity.

This also means less paper wastage and fast make-ready with the standardization of print color management, Claudio concluded.

(Bukidnon-Davao-Cotabato) tourism stakeholders meet with National Commission on Indigenous Peoples regional director Atty. Geroncio R. Aguio to discuss plans for the tourism development of BUDACO.

SPORTS

DONE DEAL!

VOL. 7 ISSUE 226 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 - 2, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

15

Mayweather agrees to fight Pacquiao

T THE SCORER. Enrico Miguel Magno goes for the 3rd and final marker of Ateneo de Davao University against Lasang Football Club, 3-1 to earn third place in the PFF-DFA Under 15 Boys Championship held recently at the Tionko grounds.

HE boxing megafight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao appears to be locked!

A source involved in the negotiations tells TMZ Sports both fighters have agreed to fight and a date and location have already been set.

The source says the formal agreement has not been signed but everyone expects the signatures “soon.” Negotiators are putting “finishing touches” on the deal.

The much-anticipated fight is expected to be announced in the coming days, with rumors being that it may be formally announced during the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Mayweather and Pacquiao met face-to-face a few days ago at a HeatBucks game in Miami, and then reportedly spent a little time together in Pacquiao’s hotel room discussing the fight, too. The fight has been rumored and discussed all month long, with prior

reports indicating that it was further along than ever before.

While this is not an official announcement, it’s pretty close, and there is enough hope out there that maybe, just maybe, we really do have The Fight, after a six-year wait and several failed negotiations.

Mayweather (47-0, 26 KO) went 2-0 in 2014, beating Marcos Maidana in May and September.

Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KO) also went 2-0, beating Tim Bradley and Chris Algieri.

Region 11 woodpushers rule CEAP Minda Games LeBron returns,

H

OST Region 11 showed its dominance in the chess event of the 2014 Catholic Educational Association of the Phils.

(CEAP) Mindanao Games held on January 30 at the UIC Bajada conference room in Davao City.

Cor Jesu College of Digos City represented Region 11 both in the men and women’s college division.

CJC under coach Jimmy Dano earned a total of 10.5 points in topping the women’s college . Region 11 first drubbed Region 13’s Fr. Saturnino Urios University, 4-0 as the foursome of Starjen Candia, Mary Jonah Lequin, Crista Mae Gallego and Queenie Galinada crushed the quartet of Joanna Theresa Plaza, Rechelle Padro, Liaddy Abes and Joanna Marie Gomez in the first round.

In the next round, Region 11 downed Region 10’s Xavier

First there was Roger Federer falling by the sidelines to Andreas Seppi.

Then there was Rafael Nadal bowing out to Thomas Berdych.

Tiger is out of his first tournament of the year at the Phoenix Waste Management Open after shooting to a bloated 82 in the second round. That eleven over par round at TPC Scotsdale is Tiger’s worst record as a professional.

In those days I’d score an 82, I’d celebrate it like winning a tournament.

Bring out a bottle of Henessy XO even for golfing buddy Chito Malabanan at the good old Lanang Golf and Country Club where now lies the sprawling SM Lanang Premier.

Those trees still standing right there on what re-

University via a 2.5 win.

Candia and Lequin defeated Anne Rose Manilhig and Nicole Anne Rivera on boards 1 and 2, respectively while Charmaine Joy Rosatace drew with Alyssa Yasaiah Jamaca in board 4.

Gallero, however, bowed to Dianne Kaye Elizondo in board 3.

In the 3rd and final round, Region 11 blanked Region 9, 4-0 as Candia drubbed Jean Wong, Lequin subdued Regine Novo, Gallege bounced back by trouncing Rossel Vivares and Rosatace crushed Jane Elizabeth Macadaan.

Region 9 played by Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU) settled for second place with 6.5 points followed

by Region 13’s Fr. Saturnino Urios University (4.0) and Region 10’s Xavier University.

In the men’s college event, Region 11 also played by CJC tallied 9.5 points followed by Region 10 (6.5), Region 9 (4.5)

and Region 13 (3.5).

Region 11 nipped Region 11, 2.5-1.5 as board 1 John Ray Batucan and board 3 Adrian Alain Llanos outplayed Mervin Gonzales and Vince Christian Besario, respectively.

Board 4 Raymund Vistal, however, bowed to Carlo Gallardo while Neptali Batucan settled for a draw with Boshan Valencia in board 2.

Region 11 outclassed Region 10, 3-1 as Jun Mark Baldesimo took over board 2 to beat Keith Duval Ibaoc and Llanos trounced Neil Benson Yamit in board 4.

Batucan brothers John Ray and Neptali both drew with Adbul Khalid Imusor and Chezter Coquila, respectively.

In round 3, Region 11 routed Region 9, 4-0 as John Ray demolished Joseph Willaim Alcala, Baldesimo shaded Jerick Dale Mendoza, Neptali clobbered Anthony Cabual and Llanos outplayed

Roliet Mendoza.

In the girls secondary division, Candidate Women Master Ella Grace Moulic and Ma. Daniella Meking both of the Holy Cross of Davao College drubbed AdZU’s Crizzle Bustillo and Carmelie Ann Plaza, respectively in a tiebreak, 4-2.

After losing to Plaza in the first two rounds, Meking finally defeated Plaza in the third round, while Moulic swept Bustillo in their three encounters.

In the Boys division, Region 11’s Gino Asuncion of University of Immaculate Conception and Francis Xavier Guimalan of Stella Maris Academy stamped their class over Zamboanga’s Aaron Tan and Carlangelo Plaza, 4-0.

FNA Ronnie Tabudlong was the tournament manager while over-all event coordinator was Billy Cruzada.

– LITO DELOS REYES

We can’t tell for now. It’s just the first tournament of the year and the second tournament for Tiger since undergoing surgery last August.

We can’t tell from a golf expert’s perspective. Tiger just changed swing coaches from Sean Foley to Chris Como. If he took in DXUM station manager Roy Geonzon as swing coach, I could have blamed Roy that easy.

Golf observers have officially declared Tiger is in a slump after watching Tiger and the changes in his swing, his attacking game so typical of Tiger and the most dangerous there is in this sport is long gone. His chipping is also gone.

So are we seeing Tiger heading for the sunset?

I’m not a golf expert to know Tiger is out of it and

the young guns like Rory McIlroy, Ricky Fowler and Jordan Spieth have taken over.

Tiger is still Tiger.

The more he is pushed down, the louder he gets back roaring. So don’t count him out just yet. There’s more golf left for the year and for Tiger’s career.

Oh, remember that Tiger just lost a front tooth.

And Tiger appeared in this tournament flashing a sweet smile before the heavens came down on him in the second round.

Until when Tiger will play bad only his trainer knows.

And until when Tiger will be on the Tour only the gods of golf know.

For now, golf will not be the same without Tiger. Win or lose.

Is Tiger over the hill?

LET’S GET IT ON

Neil Bravo mains of the old golf course were witness to those afternoons I would drive down for a quick 9 holes before heading back to the office to close the sports pages during my days at the Mindanao Daily Mirror.

But that’s me. Not Tiger.

An 82 would kill Tiger like he just missed the cut at Phoenix.

Is Tiger over the hill?

Cavs extends run to 9 L

EBRON James met with played Wednesday. My wrist Cavaliers team doctors was too stiff, too tight. I couldn’t Friday night to decide if get much rotation on it.” he would play after missing James said he got a game because of a sprained treatment all day Thursday right wrist. and the wrist felt better at The decision was easy.

Friday’s shootaround.

“They said it was my call “Tonight was a matter of and obviously you guys know him saying I feel good enough what my call is,” James said to go, I want to go and allowing after scoring 19 points in him to play,” Cavaliers coach Cleveland’s ninth straight win, David Blatt said. “And I’m glad a 101-90 victory over skidding we did because we needed Sacramento. him tonight.”

James admitted his wrist Love led Cleveland with isn’t 100 percent, but he 23 points, including 16 in the made five straight shots in the first quarter, while Irving, who second half while Kevin Love scored an arena-record 55 and Kyrie Irving combined points Wednesday, added 21. for 44 points for the streaking DeMarcus Cousins, who Cavaliers. was named to the Western “It was a little sore, Conference All-Star team obviously, being in live action, Friday, scored 21 points but it was good,” James said. and had 13 rebounds, but James missed it wasn’t enough to prevent Wednesday’s game against Sacramento from losing its Portland but came back to eighth straight. go 7 for 16 from the field and “I think a lot of guys are commit six turnovers in 33 lost right now,” Cousins said. minutes. His five straight shots, “We need to find our roles. included a 3-pointer and a With the whole pace thing, dunk off a behind-the-back things are dribble, as Cleveland put the kind of game away early in the fourth wacko.” quarter.

A team trainer placed a brace on James’ wrist in the third and he wore it the rest of the game.

James was injured w h e n he fell hard to the floor Tuesday against Detroit but came b a c k in and finished with 32 points.

B u t James Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James s a i d , drives to the basket against “there Sacramento Kings’ Carl Landry (left) was no and Rudy Gay (right) during the way I second quarter of an NBA basketball c o u l d game on Friday in Cleveland. (AP h a v e Photo/Tony Dejak)

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 7 ISSUE 226 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 - 2, 2015

RDR assures Palaro security

G

OVERNOR Rodolfo P. Del Rosario gave his assurance that security will not be an issue during the staging of the Palarong Pambansa on May 3-9.

During the recent signing of the Memorandum

of Agreement between the province and the Department of Education, Del Rosario allayed fears related to the peace situation, a problem that has perpetually haunted the Mindanao region.

“Unlike the public

perception, our region is generally peaceful because we are located in a metropolitan area”, he said. “Besides, we will have 1,500 military and police personnel looking after the peace and safety of our

Palaro athletes and officials,” he added.

DepEd Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro also showed his confidence in the security plan of the province.

“Sometimes Manila media has to be more precise where

Visually impaired chess players Elmar Olivar (left) and Aldrin Paña give the details of an upcoming qualifying competition in Manila for the World Blind Games in Seoul, South Korea during Fast Fridays media forum at Archipelago 7107 by Barrio Fiesta at SM Lanang Premier. Lean Daval Jr.

the disturbances occur and not generalize,” he said.

National attention has been recently directed towards Mindanao after 44 Special Action Force police died in a gun battle with Moro National Liberation

Front and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Maguindanao last January 26.

The province has aptly chose the slogan, “Sports: Breaking Borders, Building Peace”.

Cor Jesu spikers cop 3 titles

T

HE volleyball teams of Cor Jesu College of Digos City captured three separate titles for Region 11 in the 2015 Catholic Educational Association of the Phils. (CEAP) Mindanao Games last Friday at the UIC Bajada gym in Davao City.

CJC ruled the boys secondary, men and women’s division to power Region 11 in the 3-day event hosted by the Davao Association of Catholic Schools (DACS).

CJC beat Region 13’s Fr. Saturnino Urious University in the finals of the college men’s division. Region 9’s Ateneo de Zamboanga University and Region 10’s Xavier University placed third and fourth, respectively.

In the distaff side, CJC walloped Xavier in the finals while AdZU and FUSS finished third and fourth in that order.

It was a heart-stopping victory by CJC, who took an early 2-0 victory in their bestof-five championship game before allowing the Cagayan de Oro City based spikers to rally by winning the next two sets for a 2-all deadlock.

However in the deciding 5th set, CJC woke up just in time to regroup themselves to take the winner-take-all match, 15-7 for the victory.

Eighteen-year old Dina Obregon jumped from the left wing to convert the winning spike. Obregon was later adjudged the Most Valuable Player in the collegiate women while her older sister Karen won the Best Setter individual award.

CJC also took the boys secondary title by whipping FSUU for the crown.

St. Michael School of Padada completed an allRegion 11 domination by taking the secondary girls’crown.

The Michaelians overpowered FUSS in the finals.

Ateneo de Zamboanga finished third.

DACS Executive Director Jimmie-lou de Vega and tournament manager Daks Yambao of Davao Volleyball Association (Dava) and Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) awarded the medals and trophies to the winners after the exciting game between CJC with the reward. LITO DELOS REYES