Edge Davao 7 Issue 236

VOL. 7 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15 - 16, 2015

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2 COVER STORY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15 - 16, 2015

From the police files

crimes of passion

By ANTONIO M. AJERO

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HE world is full of stories of “forbidden love,” relationships between men and women in love which did not have the approval of their parents, their other relatives, or the conservative societies in which they lived.

The story of Romeo and Juliet, the teenage lovers who took their lives when their feuding parents disapproved of their relationship, is one. Although it was fiction immortalized by William Shakespeare, the story was a representation of what was common during the Medieval times when parental consent to marriage was a must.

Of course, another form of forbidden love was the one between King Edward VIII of England and Wallis Simpson, an American socialite who was divorced from her first husband and was pursuing a divorce from her second husband. As it was against England’s law for the monarch to marry a divorcee, King Edward VIII, defying conventions at the time, officially abdicated the throne and married Mrs. Simpson.

The Philippines has its abundant share of stories of verbotene lieve (German for forbidden love), stories which could be as sensational if not more than those in other parts of the world. Remember the Manila mayor who died

literally on top of a dramatic actress?

Also, the files of Davao City’s Finest, endearing moniker of the old Davao City Police Department (DCPD), now officially called the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), are full of accounts of “forbidden love” which turned into tragedies.

(Caveat: We enclose the term in quotation marks to indicate that the “forbidden love” being referred to here is more of an allegation rather than a proven fact. For who are we to judge that the affection between man and woman, no matter what the objectionable circumstances are, is indeed forbidden, to paraphrase Pope Francis’ recent comment about gays. To repeat, forbidden love here is more an assignment of term rather than a final verdict on the guilt of the parties involved).

Love in the capitol There was this male government employee of the old undivided Davao province, then based in Davao City, who fell in love with his supervisor who was a single lady, who returned his affection. It was not known how long the affair had been going on, but it ended when one tragic day the man called the Davao City Police Department to report that he had killed the woman he loved.

It appeared that the couple had decided to end their objectionable affair through suicide. So one evening they checked into a motel located in Balusong, Matina. The plan was to kill themselves the following morning, with the man shooting the woman first and then turning the gun on himself.

What happened was that after shooting the woman, the man, perhaps realizing the horrible implications of his action, developed cold feet and decided to surrender to the police instead.

The failed suicide, a very married man with kids, died of tuberculosis inside the old city jail two years later.

Cop with a dead woman PFC (Patrolman first class) MG was known to be an amiable and gentleman policeman, almost a model cop.

However, one morning, radio listeners were shocked to learn he was inside a hotel with a dead woman!

Radio reporters, including this writer, went to the scene and saw the young lady, about 20 years old, naked from waist up lying in a pool of her own blood. She has been shot in the head.

The policeman admitted that the deadly weapon, a .38 caliber revolver issued by the police department, was his,

but he said the shooting was accidental.

Just the same, he was charged criminally and was tried. However, the case was settled amicably with the girl’s family and the man was freed.

He must be in his 70s by now.

Gay policewoman There was a time in Davao City’s history when kidnapping for ransom and rape of beautiful women were near rampant. There was even an incident when a coed of a sectarian college was abducted, raped, and killed.

Well-off parents who feared for their daughters opted to hire security aides for their protection. One wealthy couple requested police escort for their daughter who was studying in the same school.

However, Dabawenyos were horrrified one morning to hear their radio sets blaring with the news that the young lady and her gay police escort committed suicide. It was theorized that it was not really a case of suicide, but of the gay policewoman killing the coed, after which she shot herself.

The gory incident devastated the family of the victim.

The goodlooking college dean By far the more sensational story was the one which in-

volved a dean of the college of commerce of a very popular sectarian school.

One day, the dean’s wife disappeared. The search launched by the police, the constabulary, members of the family and concerned citizens led to a lonely spot in the Davao City-Cotabato highway.

The lifeless body of the missing woman was found under a concrete road gutter with telltale marks of strangulation.

The family driver who was the last person to be seen with the victim was arrested and investigated for murder. Talks then stated that she strangled with a belt around the neck.

Later, the dean was accused of ordering the killing himself as he allegedly had an affair with the beautiful wife of a very popular hotelier.

The case was heavily covered by Manila-based dailies which sent reporters to Davao to write on the developments of the investigation and the ensuing trial, with some episodes hitting the headlines no less.

A story is told that while the accused family driver was being detained, somebody cut his tongue, obviously to prevent him from testifying about what he knew of the crime. An investigation was started who was the guy who cut the suspect’s tongue. However, while the investigation was in prog-

ress, somebody with a gun slipped into the detention cell and shot the drive to death.

This crime incident happened more than a half a century ago. One can hardly find a Dabawenyo who remembers all the details of the story. It was difficult to separate “real facts” from what we now call urban legends.

In the end, the charges against the dean were dismissed by the Court of First Instance, forerunner of the now Regional Trial Court, for lack of evidence. The case ended without the hotelier’s wife being indicted.

The brilliant defense lawyer who repotedly studied under the great late senator Claro M. Recto was later elected city councilor a number of times and later appointed CFI judge. His son also became city councilor and vice mayor.

After his acquittal, the college dean left the city with his family, never to be heard from again.

The other dramatis personae of this story – the police homicide investigators, the prosecuting fiscals, the judge, the court personnel who assisted in the trial and the reporters who covered the sensational case – are all dead now, relegated to what one famous author said the catacombs of forgotten memories.

AMA

VOL. 7 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15 - 16, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

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4 THE BIG NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15 - 16, 2015

ONE BILLION RISING. Bayan Southern Mindanao Region coordinator Sheena Duazo leads a 5-minute flash dance mob participated in by indigenous people (IP) from Paquibato District at the junction of Roxas and C.M. Recto Avenues, part of the kick-off ceremony for the One Billion Rising Revolution 2015 in Davao City on Saturday afternoon. Lean Daval Jr.

Davao City still free of MERS-Cov: CHO head

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

AVAO City Health Office (CHO) chief Dr. Josephine Villafuerte said the city is still free from the threat of the deadly Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERSCoV).

This is after Villafuerte confirmed that a Dabawenyo was among the 220 passengers of Saudia flight 860 on February 1 which also had on board a 32-year-old Filipina nurse from the Middle East who was positive of MERSCoV. “In Davao City, there is no positive (case). May nakasabay lang sa eroplano at mi-

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nomonitor din naming (sya) at negative naman, (There’s no positive case in Davao City.

We were told that there’s one from Davao City who was on the same flight and we monitored the person, who turned out negative of the disease,” Villafuerte told reporters in an interview.

Villafuerte did not name the Dabawenyo passenger but said he was quarantined right after the CHO received notice from the Department of Health (DOH).

“We don’t have to worry about it because we’re monitoring him. So far other people on the same plane

Why does DCWD oppose Helpmate?

AVAO City Water District (DCWD) said it opposes Helpmate Inc.’s project to put up a water service facility in the Second District because it would result in higher water rates in the area.

In a statement, DCWD spokesperson Atty. Bernardo D. Delima Jr. said the water utility’s opposition is

anchored on a number of reasons.

“First, Helpmate, Inc. will source water from Davao River. Years ago, DCWD conducted studies on river as a potential water source. Rivers considered were Lipadas, Talomo, Tamugan, Panigan, Tagulaya, Sibulan and Davao. Results showed that

FWHY, 12

are healthy strong and doing well,” she added.

Villafurte said the central DOH office issued a manifest that included the list of passengers seated three rows away from the nurse who contracted MERS-CoV. She said different health offices in the country are closely monitoring all passengers in the same plane where the first case of patient MERS-CoV in country was recorded.

Meanwhile, health authorities in Cotabato City are closely watching a 20-yearold woman from North Cotabato after she showed signs

of MERS-CoV. Dr. Helen Yambao, Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) chief, refused to name the woman who worked in Jordan as domestic helper and returned to the country on February 6.

“She has high fever and coughs so she went to the rural health unit in North Cotabato,” Yambao told reporters.

Yambao also refused to name the woman’s hometown.

She was admitted to the CRMC Thursday.

Yambao said health workers have already taken sputum samples and throat swab samples which the

CRMC sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Metro Manila.

She said once the results come out and turned out to be positive, health workers will have to find the people she had close contact with like family members and rural health workers of the town she came from.

A 32-year-old Filipina nurse from Laguna was found to be positive with MERS-CoV and people she contacted with, including her husband, have also shown symptoms.

Department of Health OIC Janette Garin announced that 11 of the 56 people who

had close contact with the nurse had to be subjected to a second round of testing.

According to Garin, the 56 people were mostly medical workers and staff of the Evangelista Medical Specialty Hospital in San Pedro, Laguna, where the nurse first sought medical attention on February 2. She arrived in Manila from Saudi Arabia on February 1.

The nurse was among the 220 passengers of Saudi Airlines SV860 who arrived in Manila. So far, only 92 have been located by the government and have agreed to be tested.

ing permits of all the facilities in the property of Sta. Cruz and we will also submit our building permits. From there, we will come up with the sharing based on the value of the facility,” Quitain said.

He said he ordered City Engineer’s Office (CEO) head Engineer Roland C. Reyes and City Planning and De-

velopment Office (CPDO) officer-in-charge Marcelino P. Escalada Jr. to fast-track the documents will be presented in the next meeting.

“We are supposed to get these documents, the building permits, and the plans because the building permits will tell us how much the value of these properties is,” he

Davao City open to equal share of coal plant income

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City Government is open to the possibility of having a fair share with the Municipal Government of Sta. Cruz, Davao Del Sur in the local business tax (LBT) of Therma South Inc. (TSI)’s coalfired power plant.

In an interview last Friday, city administrator Jesus Melchor V. Quitiain told

reporters he and other city officials had a meeting on Tuesday afternoon with officials of Sta. Cruz headed by Mayor Joel Ray L. Lopez to discuss the scheme for the sharing of the income that will be generated by the operation of TSI. “We agreed that, so that everything will be equitable, they present to us the build-

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VOL. 7 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15 - 16, 2015

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

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City chamber of commerce celebrates 47th anniversary

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MMM… CHEESE… A mall-goer tries out the world-class farm-fresh cheeses of Malagos Cheese during the first day of ’Wine x Cheese x Cholate Fair’ at the atrium of SM Lanang Premier. Lean Daval Jr.

HE WINNGEST Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) will turn 47 years old by Monday, February 16.

DCCCII president Antonio dela Cruz and chairman John Gaisano Jr. will lead the simple celebration marked by a religious service officiated at

by Pastor Roger Delgado. It will also serve as the blessing of the newly renovated interiors of the chamber building started during the watch of Daniel Lim as president and Sebastian L. Angliongto as chairman.

DCCCII just won its hall of fame award after being being

adjudged the country’s most outstanding chamber, large category. Earlier, it was chosen most outstanding chamber of the Pacific, and was a finalist in the search for the world’s best.

The chamber was founded by the late Ramon “Monet” A. Tirol, retired ambassador to Brunei and vice president of the country’s 1971 Constitutional Convention representing Davao del Norte, to be the voice of the expanding business community. A top business executive, he was the first president of the chamber who was a lawyer. The other lawyers were Wilgefortes

FCHAMBER, 12

One Billion Rising attracts 5,000 people

Mangudadatu urges constituents to help arrest ‘wounded’ Usman O

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

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AGUINDANAO Gov. Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu challenged Friday his fellow Maguindanaoans to help locate Filipino terror suspect Abdul Basit Usman, whom the official claimed was wounded in the January 25 Mamasapano operation.

Mangudadatu’s challenge was indirectly addressed to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), and private armed groups, (PAGS), which the authorities believed have knowledge about Usman.

Citing a “reliable source,” the governor said Usman was allegedly wounded in his arms and “was bleeding profusely” while moving from

one place to another in Maguindanao after the January 25 Mamasapano carnage.

“It has to stop, the agents of terrorism must be stopped, we have to do something to put an end to these terrorist activities. Maguindanao has suffered so much from these terrorist activities,” Mangudadatu said.

“For those who have been coddling Usman, now is the time for you to let go of him,” he said. “I am [asking] communities in Maguindanao [that] may have information about Usman to please help.”

“We must do it if we want peace in our community,” he said.

The governor said that aside from the fatalities in the Mamasapano debacle, the civilians and the province “also

OCBO: Permit delays not personnel’s fault

suffered the most.”

“Even the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) has been affected, our legislators appear to be showing lukewarm treatment on the draft law,” he said.

Mangudadatu said he fears violence will return to Maguindanao if the peace process will collapse in the aftermath of the Mamasapano incident.

“God forbids that war will erupt and the cycle of violence will again hound us in Maguindanao,” the visibly worried Mangudadatu said.

He admitted the development of Maguindanao as compared to other provinces in Mindanao has been affected by the cycle of violence.

“The terrorists are making our life difficult, we

should help to put an end to this, our children have been suffering,” he said.

Addressing the country’s lawmakers, Mangudadatu urged them to push with the peace process.

“Maguindanao is the casualty here, our ordinary people are suffering. From my heart I appeal and beg you to continue discussing the draft BBL,” Mangudadatu said.

Despite the Mamasapano carnage that left 44 elite policemen, 18 Moro rebels and four civilians dead, Mangudadatu appeared optimistic and believed that the province should move on.

Malaysian terror suspect Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, was killed during the police

FMANGUDADATU, 12

VER 5,000 individuals attended the 3rd One Billion Rising activity spearheaded by Gabriela Women’s Party on Saturday afternoon at Rizal Park.

Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan said the yearly activity aims to bring awareness to women all over the world that violence against women should be stopped.

Speaking during the activity, Ilagan said this year’s theme, “Revolution,” indicates a new beginning for the women in terms of thinking and action.

“Karon na ang adlaw sa bag-o tungod kay ang kapintas nag padayon lang gihapon, kita nanayaw wala nag pasabot nga nalipay sa pag pangabuso sa mga kababayin-an, nanayaw kita isip pamaagi nga aron ipahibalo sa kalibutan nga ang kababainhan mubarog batok sa kapintas,” Ilagan said.

She said nowadays there

are too many forms of violence against women, including domestic, economical, mental, and political.

Ilagan said her organization has recordeda bigger number of domestic violence cases against women by influential people.

Ding Ilagan, convenor of V-Men which is a group of men who support the rights of women, said his group understands the issues that women are facing right now.

“Ana mi diri, ang V-Men aron mahimong ahente sa mga kababainhan para manawagan og maningil og hustisya sa tanang biktima sa tanang porma sa pag lapas sa katungod sa mga kababainhan,” he said.

Councilor Leah LibradoYap said it is about time that women step up against all forms of violence against women and their children.

Over 200 countries simultaneously joined the activity.

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

AVAO City Office of the Building Official (OCBO) assistant head Joseph Dominic Felizarta blamed the facilitators and engineers of developers for the delay in the release of building permits, saying OCBO personnel work hard to comply with Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s mandate to release the permits within 72 hours.

Felizarta made the statement after being asked by reporters about some complaints that have reached the office of city administrator Jesus Melchor V. Quitain.

“We are very careful with the process and we want to release it to the applicants imme-

diately so that we can comply with the 72-hour mandate of the mayor,” he said.

Felizarta said some of the complainants think the permits are still in the hands of OCBO when in fact the office had already given them to the engineers and facilitators.

“When we verified it because the applicants keep on complaining, we found out that we had already issued a notice to comply,” he said.

Felizarta said the applicants now understand that the permits are automatically being released after 72 hours.

He said there are instances when the permits are not

FOCBO, 12

YOUNG WIZZES. Elementary students from various Davao City schools who won in the recently-concluded National Science and Math Quest held at Rizal High School in Pasig City pose with their coaches before the start of the Fast Fridays media forum at Archipelago 7107 by Barrio Fiesta at SM Lanang Pre-

mier on Friday They are Colegio de San Ignacio’s Kyle Angelo Dapitan, Davao Christian High School’s Scott Agni Zapanta, Davao City Special School’s Shenn Eunice Kawahara, Ateneo de Davao University’s Andrew Nell Tumulak, Mary Grace Espino, and Karol Josef Fuñe. Lean Daval Jr.

6 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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BIMP-EAGA Trade Fair, confab net P6B in business agreement

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

HE parallel business to business session during the 2nd Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) Trade Fair and Business Leaders Conference last year were able to forge a total of P6 billion or US $140 million worth of business agreement.

“These potential investments, when realized, will provide approximately 127,830 possible employment for the people of Mindanao and Palawan,” Mindanao Business Council (MinBC) chairman Vicente Lao reported during the council’s first general membership meeting at the Seda Hotel.

The event was conducted from October 22 to 26 at

the SMX Lanang Premier last year and was organized by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) in partnership with MinBC. The Business Leaders Conference, one of the main features of the event, was attended by 1,574 foreign and local delegates, Lao said.

Meanwhile, the international trade fair which was participated by 280 traders, processors, producers and other businessmen from the services sectorgenerated more than $103 million or roughly P4.4 billion booked and negotiated sales, Lao added.

He added that there were 15 exhibitors from Brunei Darussalam; 24 from Indonesia; 51from Malaysia; 190 from the Philippines; andthree from Thailand.

“SMEs from Mindanao and

Malita fisherfolks get motorized boats project

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OME 100 fisherfolks from the ten coastal areas in the municipality of Malita, Davao Occidental received Thursday motorized boats from the provincial government’s livelihood assistance project.

The project dubbed as Banca Loan Program has given each of the fisherfolk-beneficiaries in said town the chance to own a motorized boat (small fishing boat) or banca in the vernacular, which is worth P30,000 per unit.

Under this special loan window, a fisherfolk-recipient is required to pay for the unit at least PhP50 pesos a day, and to have it fully paid in 18 months.

Through the Banca Loan Program, the Davao del Sur provincial local government unit is also providing the beneficiaries in Malita the opportunities to avail of the Philhealth

scholarship program and food processing technology.

The barangay captains and the fisherfolks have committed to take care of the livelihood project and abide by the rules and responsibilities given them as project recipients.

On the part of Malita LGU, Mayor Benjamin Bautista, Jr. has also vowed to ensure that the livelihood assistance will be sustained.

Bautista assured that 200 additional motorized banca will soon be awarded to another batch of beneficiaries in the municipality.

The Banca Loan Program is part of the provincial LGU’s agriculture and fishery program, one of Governor Claude Bautista’s major programs, aiming to upgrade the livelihood of the farmers and fisherfolks in Davao del Sur and Davao Occidental. (CDIO-Malita/Alona Estrella/PIA-XI, CLC)

Comval to have 5 tourism road projects in 2015

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HE province of Compostela Valley will be a recipient of five road projects under the TRIP (Tourism Road Infrastructure Project).

The projects will have an allocation of P330 million and will be implemented in 2015, according to Christine Dompor, Comval’s provincial tourism officer.

The TRIP is a convergence project of both the Department of Tourism- (DOT) and Department of Public Works and Highways and is aimed at connecting hard-to-reach tourism destinations.

Under the TRIP, the DPWH can develop remote road networks regardless of classifica-

tion.

“Even if the road is a provincial or barangay road, the DPWH can still improve on it thru the TRIP.” Dompor said.

Two road projects are located in Maragusan, another pair of road projects in New Bataan and one project in Mabini.

Most of these roads connect to the province’s picturesque waterfalls such as Tagbibinta and Maranging falls in Maragusan and Malumagpak falls in New Bataan. A road project connects White Peak mountain in New Bataan while another TRIP road traverses the beachfront of Mabini Municipality. (PIA/RG Alama)

Palawan managed to generate an estimated $ 3.7M booked sales and $ 74.5M worth on negotiated transactions,” Lao said.

Aside from business leaders conference and trade fair, the event also featured simultaneous side events that included International Exporters and Importers Conference, ASEAN Economic Community Information Sessions, ICT Summit, Golf Tournament and ASEAN Food Festival.

Lao said the five-day international event were able to draw a total of 25,000 local and international visitors.

Laos said that for this year, the council is eyeing to co-host the BIMPEAGA Investment Conference and further strengthen Philippines’ representation in BIMP-EAGA Business Council as the focal organization ofthe country.

ATTRACTION. Hog’s Breath Café store manager Pompeii Afurong says the Australian-based restaurant is still seeking to attract more customers in the Davao City market by com-

ing up with promos and adjusting its prices. Afurong graced the Fast Fridays media forum held at Archipelago 7107 by Barrio Fiesta at SM Lanang Premier on Friday. Lean Daval Jr.

Australian-based Davao steakhouse seeking to attract more customers

By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

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ORE than two years after opening business in Davao City, Australian-based Hog’s Breath Café is still trying to find its mark in the cutthroat competition of food service industry.

Located at SM Lanang Premier, Hog’s Breath Café seeks to attract more customers aside from the A and B market by coming up with promos and adjusting its prices.

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“Our first year was experimental for us,” store manager Pompeii Afurong said during the regular Fast Fridays forum last week at SM Lanang Premier’s Archipelago 7101 by: Barrio Fiesta.

“After we first opened, we have adjusted our prices,” he added.

Afurong said since Hog’s Breath Café opened business in December of 2012, they brought down the prices of

their products by 45 percent from their original prices, adding that the restaurant is still trying to establish its place in Davao City.

Hog’s Breath Café boasts of quality products from Australia and New Zealand, and its black angus beef is a best-seller among customers.

Forty five percent of Hog’s Breath customers are foreigners, according to Afurong.

Hog’s Breath has 18 branches in Australia and four in the United States. The steakhouse is also present in Singapore, Vietnam and Malayiia.

The Davao branch, the first in the Philippines, is the biggest among all Hogs Breath Café stores with a capacity of 192 people.

Soon, Hog’s Breath will open its second branch in the country at Alabang River Park.

tic people in both camps who tried to get advantage of the ignorance of the two,” Lao said.

Lao also said it is very difficult for the business sector to disregard the reality on the ground, that Certificate of Ancestral Domain already gave the IPs the title and ownership of thousands of swaths of lands Mindanao.

“We will really have to live with them. Sad to know a lot of people from the business sector are not aware or does not have the idea of what really they need do to have a harmonious relationship with the IPs who owns the properties,” Lao addedduring the council’s first general membership meeting for 2015 at the Seda-Abreeza Hotel last Thursday.

He said there are a lot of potential in ancestral domain areas of IPs that could be developed for economic and social purposes.

“There’s a wealth of op-

portunity there. You have minerals, forest products, tourism potential but all of these will be not monetize if will not set in place a process,” Lao said.

One of ancestral domains in Davao Region that were presented to the business sector during the meeting was the ancestral domain of Dibabawon and Mangguangan tribes which has a total area of 20,087.33 hectares or 19 barangays located in Montevista; 4 in Monkayo; and one in Asunsion, davao del Norte.

According to Datu Tumatabang Wifredo Lopez of the Dibabawon tribe, there were identified commercial area sin the ancestral domain that can be leased and developed into quarrying for sand and gravel, inland beach resorts.

Lopez added that some areas have potential for agricultural investment, livestocks, irrigation, potable water source, tourism spots, and feeds processing plan, among

others.

“We need financing to develop this area,” he said.

Lao said IPs in the communities will be assisted and will be uplifted from poverty if investors, who vowed to respect their cultural heritage and integrity, will be allowed to enter ancestral domains.

“There were already interested investors from neighboring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia who wanted to invest but are interrupted because of the lack of process,” he said.

By establishing the desk, Lao said these huge areas owned by IPs will be develop for corporate farming, among others.

Aside from assisting investors, the IP desk will extend aid to non-government organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs) who want to extend intervention to IP communities in Mindanao. CHENEEN R. CAPON

IP desk to assist investors eyed

HE Mindanao Business Council (MinBC) will team up with the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) and International Alert-Philippines for the establishment of an IP desk that will assist investors interested in ancestral domain lands in Mindanao.

MinBC chairman Vicente Lao said the national director of the NCIP has agreed to sign the Memorandum of Agreement with the business group on the project.

The IP desk will be set up at the office of MinBC in Buhangin, Davao City by May. “The MinBC found it necessary to create a link between the IP, which basically owns the land and assist them on a lot of issues like succession, governance because a lot of negotiation between IPs and the business sector sometime lose power not because they do not like it to succeed but because there are opportunis-

7 CULTURE&ARTS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15 - 16, 2015

From ducks

come balut & salted eggs Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio

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UCK production is one of the most profitable livestock industries in the country mainly because of its egg which can be marketed through different channels. But one disadvantage of duck eggs is that they have a fishy odor and flavor which many people don’t like.

This is probably the main reason why most duck eggs are processed into two major Filipino delicacies: balut (a fertilized egg with a nearly-developed embryo inside that is boiled and eaten in the shell)and salted egg (itlog na maalat).

It might be unacceptable to most foreigners but for Filipinos, balut is one of the country’s most treasured delicacies. Indeed, they enjoy this delicacy popularized by a small town in Pateros, Rizal.

Making balut is native to the Philippines. A similar preparation is known in China as maodan (literally “feathered egg”), and Chinese traders and migrants are said to have brought the idea of eating fertilized duck eggs back from the Philippines .

However, the knowledge and craft of balut-making has been localized by the balut-makers (magbabalut). Today, balut production has not been mechanized in favor of the traditional production by hand.

Named after the Filipino term which means “wrapped,” balut has been touted as aphrodisiac as it boosts libido. Studies have shownbalut contains 12.6 grams of protein, 181 calories and good sources of Vitamin B1 and B2, minerals, niacin, beta carotene and other supplements.

Balut is common on street drinking sessions and just chatting with friends late nights.

Generally, balut is being sold mostly when the street lights are on by vendors in basket covered with thick foams and cloths to keep them warm.

Generally, balut is eaten with a pinch of salt, though some balut-eaters prefer chili and vinegar to complement their egg. The egg is savored for its balance of texture and flavor; the broth surrounding the embryo is sipped from the egg before the shell is peeled and the yolk and young chick inside can be eaten. All of the contents of the egg are consumed.

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Photo 1: Salted eggs Photo 2: Balut Photo 3: Ready-to-eat balut

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“This food is the defining factor of all exotic foods in the country,” one foreigner commented. “It has made the Philippines unique from all of the countries in the world.

Hopefully, in the future, the world will be ready for it and that the Philippines would make it as an international phenomenon.”

Balut has been the “shocking” topic of some television shows because of its taboo nature in some Western cultures. In two episodes of Survivor: Palau and two episodes of Survivor: China, separate challenges featured attempts to eat this fertilized egg. Similarly, Fear Factor frequently uses balut as a means of disgusting contestants. The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mirfeatured balut eaten by several contestants after

its introduction by a Filipino-American fighter Phillipe Nover.

Recently, balut has entered higher cuisine in the Philippines by being served as appetizers in restaurants: cooked adobo style, fried in omelettes or even used as filling in baked pastries.

Like balut, salted egg (itlog na maalat) is now well accepted by Filipino consumers. In fact, it is a common feature in Filipino dining table especially during breakfast. It can be eaten along or with steamed rice or mixed in salad style with diced tomatoes and onions.

Salted egg is also used as an ingredient in pastries and toppings on breads and other bakery products, especially bibingka. In China (where it is eaten with congee), the yolk of salted egg is highly

prized as it is used in mooncakes to symbolize the moon.

Eggs contain nutrients essential to our body’s growth and development.

Salted egg is packed with nutrients. Compared to fresh egg, balut, or century egg, salted egg is highest in calcium (120 milligrams), carbohydrates (4.4 milligrams), ash (202 milligrams), and thiamin (0.74 milligram).

So popular is salted egg that Filipinos who are now living or working abroad are looking for it. A study conducted by Dr. Jovita M. Datuin, of the Don Mariano Marcos State University showed the Philippines is already exporting processed duck products including salted eggs to Kuwait , Arabia, Peninsula , Bahrain , and even the Trust Territory in the Pacific Islands .

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EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

VOL. 7 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15 - 16, 2015

EDITORIAL Biggest solid waste management offenders

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HE Philippine is again in the top of an ignominious list. This time on solid waste management.

The country ranked no. 3 in the list of the biggest culprits for shoddy waste management and littering across the globe from a study involving 192 countries with a coastline.

According to a recent study published in the journal Science, the five worst offenders listed were China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka.

The latest figures on record shows that sloppy waste management and littering added eight million metric tons (17.6 billion pounds) of plastic to the ocean in 2010, posing significant dangers to marine life.

This study measures the amount going in from 192 countries with a coastline in 2010, instead of the amount currently in the ocean, which previous studies have examined.

The method for determining that amount was a mathematical model that was based on the per-person waste generation for 192 countries with a coastline. One percent of the waste was presumed to be plastic, and another one percent was presumed to be mismanaged, meaning litter or waste was dumped on land and not properly contained.

The study said middle income countries with rapidly developing economies tended to be the biggest contributors of plastic trash in the ocean because they were least likely to have developed adequate waste management systems to keep pace with growth.

This global problem could get worse. With growing populations, increasing plastic consumption and increased waste generation – by 2025

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the number could be doubled.

Darrel Blatchley, the man known as D’Bone Collector in Davao City, has warned us of this fact. Our waters are polluted with a lot of plastic and it is alarming. Quite a few endangered marine species have died, accounting for Blatchley’s growing bone collection. Given that bone collecting is his hobby, that doesn’t make him happy.

Studies say that it remains unclear what happens to all that plastic in the ocean – though certainly some float, some are suspended in the water, and some fall to the ocean floor – and scientists are concerned about the effect of such pollution of fragile fish and marine life that consume plastic fragments.

The way to reduce this problem is to improve waste management and cut down on plastic consumption.

Since the top 20 countries accounted for 83 percent of mismanaged plastic waste, such efforts should be concentrated on keeping plastic out of the ocean, not trying to clean it up after the fact.

Davao City may have taken the lead in reducing plastic use with municipal laws in place like the banning of non-biodegradable plastic. However, much of the plastic packaging that we consume are manufactured outside the country and brought down here and in the 7,000 or so islands of the Philippines. And that is worrisome because no amount of efforts from local governments can reverse this situation unless the whole country makes a herculean effort to improve waste management and reduce plastic use.

Drastic times call for drastic measures.

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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HE Lord God, the Bible tells us, created man “in his own image.” He had given Adam – the first man – the power to control all His other creations. But God observed that Adam was lonely – he was alone.

Genesis 2:21-23 chronicles how the first woman came to be: “So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, ‘This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman’ for she was taken out of man.

The first marriage took place after that.

In fact, Genesis 2:24 is perhaps the most-often quoted verse during weddings: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

The Bible story came into my mind when I heard a little girl who was asked during a Sunday school if she knew the story of Adam and Eve. “Of course, I do,” she replied. “First God made Adam and then looked at him and said, ‘I think I can do better,’ so He created a woman.”

Here’s another version: A small child came home from Sunday school and told her mother: “The teacher told us how God made the first man and the first woman. He made man first, but the man was very lonely with no one to talk to, so God put the man to sleep, and while he was asleep, God took out his brains and made a woman out of them.”

Then, troubles start. Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said: “If

A

MERICAN contact with Mindanao predates the conquest of Davao by the Spaniards. In 1796, the first American trading ship, Astrea, reached Manila under the command of Captain Henry Prince (1764-1846). Two years later, Lady Washington, a 90-ton American merchant sloop, foundered in the Philippines. An 1842 map of Sulu Sea, on the other hand, shows a U.S. expedition led by naval officer Lieutenant Charles Wilkes (April 3, 1798 – February 8, 1877), who captained the exploration vessel USS Vincennes and the schooner Flying Fish, visiting the sultanates of Sulu and Mindanao at a time when foreign ships entering the Moro kingdoms must seek permission from the rulers in order to be protected while sailing the seas they controlled. It was only in 1865 when the ship Young America sailed from New York to Manila to get her load of hemp.

Abaca gained worldwide prominence in 1820, when the US Navy discovered that “(its) fiber strands, when twisted into a rope, could be made into excellent marine cordage or rope.” This created a stir, and it was before long that abaca, later known as Manila hemp, became one of the country’s key export products to the U.S. This positive note occurred centuries after Spanish authorities found no commercial use for the abaca other than being a fiber source.

As early as 1842, Americans had already found several uses for the abaca, ranging

VOL. 7 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15 - 16, 2015

…and God created woman

you want some- THINK ON THESE! thing said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.” Joseph Conrad contends: “Being a woman is a terribly difficult task since it consists princi- Henrylito D. Tacio pally in dealing henrytacio@gmail.com with men.”

With women, there are always two choices. Will Rogers advices: “There are two theories to arguing with a woman. Neither one works.” Ihre Freundin said: “There are two kinds of women in the world: those who take a man’s strength and those who give a man strength.”

Now talking about two types of women, a psychoanalyst shares: “My women patients can be divided into two categories: the ones who work and the ones who stay at home.

The former suffer from a guilt complex, the latter from frustration.”

Have you ever wondered why there are few women in combats? Elaynse Boosler explains: “We have women in the military, but they don’t put us in the front lines. They don’t know if we can fight, if we can kill. I think we can. All the general has to do is walk over to the women and say, ‘You see the enemy over there? They say you look fat in those uniforms.’”

This story contradicts a foremost anthropologist who supports the idea of coed

BY THE ARCHIVIST

from cordages and ropes to pulp and paper.

During this time two US firms—Sturges & Co. and TN Peale & Co.—monopolized the local abaca trade. In order to stimulate production, these firms “gave crop loans to farmers and growers. Spanish businessmen attracted by the huge demand for abaca carved large plantations in Bicol. They took the role of agents or middlemen who intervened between the American exporters and the Filipino farmers…”

When the Americans arrived in the gulf of Davao in 1899 they hatched the idea of setting up abaca plantations due to the potentials they observed during their first weeks. Using benevolent assimilation as an approach, the U.S. forces did not take long to get the trust of the natives, who accepted the

9

conscription, but draws the line at letting the ladies be battleaxes. Her reason: “I do not believe in using women in combat, because females are too fierce.” Military generals, are you listening?

Here are some words of wisdom about women from noted personalities. Oscar Wilde: “Woman begins by resisting a man’s advances and ends by blocking his retreat.” Aristotle Onassis: “If women didn’t exist, all the money in the world would have no meaning.”

In 1966’s The Second Neurotic’s Notebook, Mignon McLaughlin wrote: “Women are never landlocked: they’re always mere minutes away from the briny deep of tears.” In 1933’s ‘Literature in My Time,’ Compton Mackenzie penned: “Women do not find it difficult nowadays to behave like men, but they often find it extremely difficult to behave like gentlemen.”

Are men and women really different?

Elissa Melamed noted: “Men look at themselves in mirrors. Women look for themselves.” Oscar Wilde differentiates: “Women are never disarmed by compliments. Men always are. That is the difference between the sexes.”

Will Rogers contends: “Every time a woman leaves off something she looks better, but every time a man leaves off something he looks worse.” Elayne Boosler argues: “When women are depressed they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country.” Yul Brynner quips: “Women have an unfair advantage over men: if they can’t get what they want by being smart, they can get it by being dumb.”

Here’s another advantage of being a woman. “I’d much rather be a woman than a

man,” Gilda Radner remarks. “Women can cry, they can wear cute clothes, and they are the first to be rescued off of sinking ships.”

If a man is looking for attention, don’t expect it from a woman. David Garnett reminds: “Women, it is said, do not concentrate.

They can attend to the subject in hand, but their attention has not the wholeheartedness of a man’s. If so, it is just possible that since women have been cooking the supper, mending clothes, listening to half a dozen children talking at once, and keeping them good-tempered and amused since before the dawn of history, they have learned to be able to attend to several things at a time. A man, on the other hand, focuses his mind.”

British actor Michael Caine has a different tale: “One of the most important things for a woman, I think, is to respect herself. ‘Cause a woman usually gets from men the same amount of respect she has for herself, almost to the ounce. Men have a second sense about women and when they sense that a woman has no respect for herself, they’re very quick to follow in her footsteps.”

As much as possible, never ask a woman how old is she. You’ll never know: “Women have a passion for mathematics. They divide their age in half, double the price of their clothes, and always add at least five years to the age of their best friend,” Marcel Achard points out. Why is this so? “Age to women is like Kryptonite to Superman,” says Kathy Lette.

At one time, a thirty-something woman applied for a job. The receptionist gave her an application form and one of the queries was about age. The woman wrote: “Nuclear.”

offer to do paid work in abaca plantations.

This development opened the floodgates of hemp cultivation within five years of the arrival by the new colonizers.

But the enterprising Chinese could not be barred also from entering the lucrative trade.

In 1850, unlike the Spaniards, they adopted a more acceptable method in attracting growers. They did not only give crop advances but established stores in exchange for rice and other goods. This allowed them to dislodge their Spanish competitors. Several of the small growers found the barter system acceptable because they did not have money to purchase their needs before the crops were harvested. Estimates show that it would take 18 months and around P1,000 per hectare to develop a new abaca plantation until the fibers are ready for harvest.

The Chinese, moreover, offered better prices for the abaca if the farmers took payments in goods in lieu of cash. The practice also involved the leasing of small plantations already planted with abaca. The merchants waited until the crop was ready for harvest, had the fields stripped of mature produce sold to exporters. For others with abaca plantations, they rented the lands to farmers and took a share from the profits. During the abaca boom, the district of Guianga, next only to Lapanday, was the hub of hemp plantations; it was where the Japanese population was dense. It was Mintal that earned the sobriquet of “Little Tokyo” primarily because

this is where most of the Japanese enterprises, farmlands, and cottage industries were concentrated.

Michaelangelo Ebro Dakudao, in his The Japanese Immigrants’ Houses And Settlement Patterns In Davao (Ca. 1904-1941), wrote: “Mintal, with Japanese-funded development, became a self-contained center that was linked with the economic and information functions of central Davao City. It had the first modern hospital, the Mintal Byoin, owned and managed by the Ohta Development Company. Likewise, the Japanese town was also provided with the Mintal Japanese School, the second biggest Japanese school to be founded in Davao; the Bago Oshiro Kenkyujo, an experimental station for the study of abaca, ramie, and others; a 16-kilometer irrigation dam and 360 horsepower hydroelectric station; a 35-kilometer private telephone; Mintal Ice Plant; 100 kilometers of private road; the Japanese cemetery; Shinto shrines and temples, and others. Mintal came to be the only place in Davao to be designated in Japanese characters [Mintaru] which… means ‘where people will gather to stay.’…

Mintal became a mini-city in its own right, using its ties with the Japanese-controlled plantation areas in the vicinities. Thus, the place became another “people of growth” which attracted a considerable number of Japanese, Mintal was the most Japanized town in Davao, if not in the whole Philippines.”

Rise of American plantations

FAST BACKWARD

VANTAGE POINTS

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Now someone can manage your FB account after you die F

ACEBOOK is making it easier to plan for your online afterlife.

The world’s biggest online social network said Thursday that it will now let users pick someone who can manage their account after they die.

Previously, the accounts were “memorialized” after death, or locked so that no one could log in.

But Facebook says its users wanted more choice.

Beginning in the U.S., Facebook users can pick a “legacy contact” to post on their page after they die, respond to new friend requests and update their profile picture and cover photo. Users can also have their accounts deleted after their death, which was not possible before.

If you want someone to manage your account after you die, click on the upside-down triangle on the top right corner of your page, open “settings” and find “security.”

For U.S. users there will be an option to edit your legacy contact, who must be a Facebook user. But you don’t have to pick someone else to manage your account. You can also check a box to permanently delete

your account when you die.

The person you choose to manage your account won’t be notified of your choice until your Facebook account is memorialized. But you can send them a message before.

Facebook will also send you an annual reminder of your pick.

This could help if the person dies before you do, for example, or if your friendship cools as the years pass.

If you give your contact additional permission, they will be able to download and archive your photos, posts and profile information after you die. They will not be able to access your private messages.

To log into your account, they will have to use their own Facebook login — they won’t be able to sign in as you.

Facebook accounts are memorialized at the request of loved ones, who must provide proof of the person’s death, such as an obituary. Facebook tries to ensure that the account of the dead user doesn’t show up as a “suggested friend” or in other ways that could upset the person’s loved ones.

Facebook, which has nearly 1.4 billion users, won’t say how many accounts are

AFTERLIFE. A Facebook employee walks past a sign at Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif. Facebook is giving more options to decide what happens to users’ accounts after they die. The world’s biggest online social network will now let users pick a trusted contact who can manage their account or elect to have the account deleted. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File) memorialized, though Facebook product manager Vanessa Callison-Burch said there have been “hundreds of thousands” of requests from loved ones to do so.

Other Internet companies also offer ways to post-

humously manage your accounts. On Google, a tool called “inactive account manager” lets you choose to have your data deleted after three, six or 12 months of inactivity.

Or you can choose someone, such as a parent or a spouse,

to receive the data. The tool covers not just email but also other Google services such as Google Plus, YouTube and Blogger.

Twitter, meanwhile, will deactivate your account if contacted by a family member or

a person authorized to act on behalf of your estate, after verifying not only that you died but that the Twitter account is yours, since many people don’t use their full names on the site. BARBARA ORTUTAY, AP Technology Writer

quently builds into its weekly software updates.

“We don’t have customers or users. They prefer to be addressed (as) fans,” said Hugo Barra, who defected from his job overseeing Google’s Android products in 2013 to help plot Xiaomi’s expansion outside China.

Barra was joined Thursday by Bin Lin, Xiaomi’s co-founder and president, at the company’s first major press event in the United States.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Barra described the U.S. website as “an experimental launch” that will help the company raise awareness in the U.S.,

which in turn would help its profile in other countries.

He said the company also is hoping to get the kind of feedback and ideas from U.S. consumers that the company gathers in China.

Xiaomi has emerged as a mobile-computing sensation with a line of smartphones sold in China, India and six other countries where much of the population still lacks Internet access. The company plans to expand into Brazil later this year. The phones offer a smattering of the sleek technology featured in fancier devices made by Apple and Samsung, but they sell at much lower prices, ranging from about $95 to $280.

In comparison, an iPhone 6 starts at $650 without subsidies for signing two-year contracts.

A Xiaomi phone “may not be the best product out there but a product with the best combination: a very affordable price and good quality,” said Bing-Sheng Teng, a corporate strategy expert at the Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business in Beijing.

While the iPhone still dominates the smaller luxury segment of China’s market, Xiaomi’s devices are being snapped up by the masses almost as quickly as the company starts accepting online orders. Xiaomi sold about 61 million phones last year, more than tripling

its 2013 volume, Lin said.

That established Xiaomi as China’s top seller of smartphones with a 15 percent market share to edge out Samsung at 14 percent, according to research firm IHS. But another firm, Canalys, estimates that Apple sold more phones in China than either of those companies in the fourth quarter of 2014, when Apple’s new iPhone 6 models came out.

By concentrating on online sales of phones and accessories, Lin said, the company has built the third-largest e-commerce site in China. Besides phones, Xiaomi has an electronics lineup that ranges from a 49-inch flat-panel TV for $550 to a fitness band for about $13.

The company also has sold about 2 million stuffed bunnies that serve as Xiaomi’s mascot.

Xiaomi is just dipping its toes in the U.S. market by selling accessories for now, including headphones for about $80. Barra said it takes “an incredible amount of work” to bring more technologically complicated products, such as a smartphone, to a new market. He didn’t say when that might happen.

But executives acknowledged the company would face big hurdles in the U.S., where most consumers buy smartphones from wireless carriers at subsidized prices. That could make Xiao-

mi’s low-margin business model less effective here.

In addition, Xiaomi has been accused of copying — or at least closely imitating — some designs from Apple or other companies. At the San Francisco event Thursday, executives stressed an array of software and features that Xiaomi has developed to run on top of the Android system that Google makes available for other device makers. They range from games and messaging features to services that let users search for a nearby doctor and make an appointment on their phone.

When asked whether a fear of patent lawsuits could deter Xiaomi from selling phones in the United States, Lin implied that it’s not a big factor for the company.

But he said, “all companies have had patent litigation.”

He said Xiaomi has filed for hundreds of patents in part to beef up its own defenses against such claims.

Xiaomi raised $1.1 billion late last year in an investment that valued the privately held company at $45 billion. The company’s eight founders include CEO Jun Lei, one of China’s best-known technology entrepreneurs; Lin, a former engineer at Microsoft and Google; and former Motorola executive Guangping Zhou. BRANDON BAILEY and MICHAEL LIEDTKE, AP Technology Writers

Xiaomi enters US market with accessories

X

IAOMI, one of China’s hottest companies, is bringing its blend of cheap yet fashionable technology and crowd-pleasing antics to the U.S. Although its smartphones won’t be available here anytime soon, Xiaomi unveiled plans Thursday to test the U.S. market by selling inexpensive headphones and other accessories online. It plans to hew to the Internet-driven, customer-friendly model that has helped turn the company into a major player in mobile computing just five years after its founding.

Xiaomi — pronounced schow-mee — has made

a name in China by selling sleek gadgets at relatively low prices, using online sales and social media to keep marketing and distribution costs low. Some analysts have hailed the company as the Chinese equivalent of Apple, in part because of its intensely loyal fans.

There are some significant differences between the two companies’ approach, though. While Apple tends to keep its future product plans secret, Xiaomi has invited customers to nosh on popcorn at company parties, chat on Xiaomi’s online forums and review or make suggestions for new features, which Xiaomi fre-

Xiaomi president Bin Lin speaks at a presentation in San Francisco, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015. While stopping short of declaring plans to sell phones in the United States, Xiaomi said Thursday that it will dip its toes in the U.S.

market by selling headphones and other accessories online, through an Internet-based, fan-friendly model that has helped make the company one of the leading smartphone suppliers in China. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

11 SUBURBIA

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 7 ISSUE 236 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15 - 16, 2015

Sarangani Province

Pacquiao shells out P1M for students

By Aquiles Z. Zonioa

W

ORLD eight-division boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao gave out on Thursday a total of P1 million in educational cash assistance to poor but deserving students from seven different public schools in this town.

A total of 435 elementary and high school students received P2,000 each from Pacquiao, who personally attended the affair together with his wife, Vice Governor Jinkee Pacquiao.

Pacquiao also gave P5,000 each to some college students in this town who direly need financial support in pursuing their college education.

“Malapatan town was the first to receive. This will be replicated in six other municipalities to help poor yet deserving students in those areas,” Pacquiao said.

The beneficiaries were from public schools in remote and destitute villages like Lun Padidu, Libi, Lun Masla, Tuyan, Daan Suyan, and Kinam.

Analy Riquiapo, a graduating student at Lun Padidu Elementary School,

Davao del Norte

was profuse with thanks for what she had received from Pacquiao.

“I will use the amount to settle my remaining accounts for graduation, Parents-Teachers-Community Association and National Achievement Test. This is really a big help for us,” Riquiapo said.

Pacquiao has also been supporting the scholarship of about 2,500 students from Sarangani and General Santos City.

“I am just sharing to you God’s blessings. This is my way of glorifying and thanking God for what he has done to my life. I am a sinner but despite that, He has showered me with so much blessings,” Pacquiao said.

The boxer-lawmaker said he wants to prove to all and sundry that not all elected officials are corrupt.

“I’m a politician with a mission. Politics to me is a vocation. It’s more of a sacrifice than personal gain.

That is why I don’t hesitate to spend my own money just to help people and I find self-fulfillment in do-

SCHOOL AID. Boxer-lawmaker Manny Pacquiao and his wife Sarangani Vice Governor Jinkee hand over P2,000 educational cash assistance each to 435 poor students from different public schools in Malapatan town. The amount came from the Pinoy ring idol’s personal fund. Photo by Aquiles Z. Zonio ing this,” Pacquiao said.

The Pinoy boxing idol believes God is just using him to help other people.

“Many politicians are enriching themselves to the detriment of public service and at the expense of

Integrated program to benefit coastal communities in Panabo

T

HE Provincial Government of Davao del Norte is launching this month the Cagangohan Community-Based Integrated Development Program (CCBIDP) which aims to im-

prove the lot of indigent families in the coastal barangay of Panabo City.

The program will pool together the resources of various government agencies and the private sector

in developing a 1.5-hectare lot to be a pilot adaptation project in uplifting the social, economic, and environmental well-being of the shoreline community.

Governor Rodolfo del Rosario said the components of the initiative include organic agriculture, coastal biodiversity conservation, tourism development, grassroots sports development, and livelihood development.

“We shall involve the mechanism of pooling the resources of the government and the private sector together in providing a better quality of life to the coastal BOARDWALK. Perspective of the boardwalk leading to the open-air community,” he said.

Del Rosario added the seawater swimming pool, a component of the Cagangohan Communityfacilities that will Based Integrated Development Program in Panabo City. PEO be put up in the area include an organic agriculture demonstration farm, mangroove nursery, boardwalk, an open-air seawater swimming pool, restaurants, and the likes.

Beneficiaries identified for the project consist of recipients of the INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT. Aerial perspective of the proposed Cagangohan Community- government’s Based Integrated Development Program in Panabo City, which consists of organic agriculture, 4Ps program and coastal biodiversity conservation, tourism development, grassroots sports development, indigenous comand livelihood development. PEO

munity.

They will be given emergency employment while engaged in some livelihood training to become a cohesive community with profitable productive opportunities.

“They will be compensated while they are learning,” the governor said.

The youth in the area will also be trained in the swimming event, capitalizing on their inherent physical strength and endurance in open-water swimming.

Since the area is identified as a tourism site, the residents will also be capacitated in tourism management.

Joining forces with the provincial government are the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Labor and Employment, and the Kasilak Foundation, among others.

The project is anchored under the Ugmad Komunidad (UK) program, which was launched by del Rosario over two years ago to help constituents generate revenue primarily through sports tourism and livelihood activities. Noel Baguio

the people. I thank God for giving me this rare opportunity to serve the people.

As public official, we should

Zamboanga City

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always bear in mind the 10 Commandments. One of which says, “Thou shall not steal,” he said.

All set for 78th Dia de Zamboanga

HE city government announced that all is set for the celebration of the “78th Dia de Zamboanga” (Zamboanga Day) on February 26.

The celebration marks the 78th anniversary of the installation of the first set of city government officials in 1935.

City Hall information officer Belen Sheila Covarrubias said Saturday that the main highlight of the celebration will be the grand civic-military parade.

It will be followed by the commemorative program and the conferment of awards to Local Achievers on February 27 covering various fields of endeavor.

Covarrubias said among the city government-sponsored activities and the schedules are as follows: Drum and Lyre competition (secondary level) and the city–wide cheer dance competition at the Mayor Agan

Coliseum, February 20; Zamboanga Film Festival (public screening), short film (live action and animation) and music video (live action and animation) at the Cinamatheque Center, February 23 to 25; awards night at the Centro Latino, Feb. 25; Grandiosa Venta de Mercado (Grand Market Sales) at the Plaza del Pilar, Feb. 18 to 28; and, Kasalang Bayan at City Hall lobby, Feb. 27.

Covarrubias said also forming part of the city government-sponsored activities is the Juego na Dia de Zamboanga (Zamboanga Day Sports Fest).

She said various other activities, organized by private groups, are also included in the Dia de Zamboanga calendar of activities.

The Dia de Zamboanga marks the day when the first set of city government officials headed by Mayor Nicasio Valderoza was installed into office in 1935. (PNA)

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Davao River water was highly turbid due to chemical use in agricultural cultivation.

Effluents from residential houses along the riverbanks also raised the e-coli bacteria count to unconscionable levels, thus rendering the water highly contaminated,” he said.

For its part, DCWD will tap Tamugan River for its surface water development project based on study made by experts that its quality is the same as that of Dumoy groundwater. The project is targeted to be completed by year 2019.

“Once operational, it will supply and deliver by gravity 300 million liters per day of treated bulk water to DCWD off-take points. This will sustain water supply to the consumers in Davao City’s three districts. This shall address the inadequate supply experienced in entire Davao City including the Second District for at least 30 years,” Delima said.

DCWD will likewise construct additional storage reservoirs in its water systems of Dumoy, in the First District, Tugbok, Talandang and Calinan in the Third District and Panacan, Cabantian, Indangan and Mandug in the Second District. Lot purchases for these reservoirs and surveys for the water distribution lines have been accomplished.

Mainline replacements and improvements will be done to improve water pressure.

Delima said the second reason for DCWD’s opposition to Helpmate is “not because the latter becomes a competitor of DCWD but because of its staunch commitment of providing quality and affordable water to all the people of Davao City.”

“With Helpmate, Inc. tapping of the contaminated Davao River water comes the high cost of water treatment that may translate to higher water rates which the Second District consumers will bear,” he said.

“It is thus noteworthy to emphasize the Tamugan Surface Water Development Project which DCWD has started and which will solve water shortage in the Second District as it sustains adequate water supply in the service areas of Dumoy Water Supply System,” Deli-

ma said.

“In addition, the water treatment facility in Cabantian Water Supply System is expected to be completed within this year and if found to be successful, it will be replicated in the Panacan Water Supply System to address water quality issues,” he added.

Delima said thirdly, the water rate structure of DCWD does not include an item for “margin of profit” as it does not have investors or owners unlike a private water service provider. “All incomes realized by DCWD is plowed back to the consumers through expansion of water service,” he said.

Based on the report of the City Council’s committee on energy headed by councilor Louie John Bonguyan, Helpmate was given favorable endorsement with the condition that it will comply with the requirements of the Davao River Water Quality Management Area.

The requirements are an approved Water Safety Plan based on Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water 2007 and submission of treatment facility plan to address water pollution.

The report stated that barangay captains in Buhangin District sent a letter to Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte telling him of their willingness to accept and accommodate any water service provider to serve in every barangay considering that their areas were not reached by the services of DCWD. “Representatives of barangays Cabantian, Hizon and Sasa have expressed their support for the project of Helpmate considering that as per experience, DCWD cannot amply supply the water needs of their respective barangays,” the report said.

The report said the water supply of DCWD is not sufficient and “can no longer provide good service to the public.”

During the committee hearing last February 7, 2014, lawyer Richard Tumanda, representing DCWD, confirmed that there is no exclusivity with regards to franchises granted to entities. With a report from of Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

operation.

To prove peace is still possible, the provincial government pushed with the Sagayan Festival, a week-long celebration which was preceded by the Mamasapano incident.

“Amid all these violence, our celebration must continue,” he said, adding that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is coming up with a resolution urging Congress to push through with the passage of the draft Bangsamoro law.

Mangudadatu said he and

the local government executives of 36 municipalities are one in saying that the BBL “is the answer to all these peace and order problems hounding Maguindanao.”

On Valentine’s Day, Maguindanao will host the Army’s “Bangsamoro Bike for Love” or BBL to be participated by thousands of peace advocates, soldiers, police and MILF members.

The “Bangsamoro Bike for Love” aims to drum up support for the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro law.

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CHINESE NEW YEAR. Davao City Chinatown Development Council (DCCDC) spokesperson Jasper Huang (right) and Popee Manapat promote the activities of the upcoming Chinese New Year celebration on February 18.

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Huang and Manapat were guests of the Fast Fridays media forum held at Archipelago 7107 by Barrio Fiesta at SM Lanang Premier on Friday. Lean Daval Jr.

said.

The next meeting is yet to be set since both parties are still gathering the documents needed.

Quitain said during the meeting, Lopez said Sta. Cruz wants an equal share of the remaining 70 percent of the LBT since Davao City will automatically receive 30 percent of the tax since the main office of TSI is in Davao City.

In October 2014, the Davao City Council deferred the passage for second reading the “Letter Request of Benjamin Cariaso, Jr., President and Chief Operating Officer of TSI and Manuel M. Orig. First Vice President for Mindanao Affairs, AboitizPower Corporation Requesting for the Passage of an Ordinance (1) Specifying the Sharing of Local Business Taxes of Industries and Entities Situated at TSI, and (2) Granting Local Legislative Authority for the City Mayor to Sign the Memorandum of Agreement, for Appropriate Action of the Body. “ Until now, the item is

still pending before the City Council.

Quitain said councilor Danilo C. Dayanghirang, proponent of the item, was present during the meeting.

“I understand that the City Council has not yet made a stand on the matter because they are also waiting for development after the conferences,” he said.

During thee discussion of this item last year, councilor Victorio Advincula said there is a need for another committee hearing on the matter to accommodate the Sta. Cruz government.

Based on the committee report read by Dayanghirang, TSI proposed that the remaining 70 percent of the LBT be shared by the two local government units (LGUs).

The proposition was based on a similar case of the San Roque Power Corporation (SRPC) in Pangasinan in which the sharing of LBT was decided by the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) under the Department of Finance (DOF).

The TSI said the BLGF “held that in the instance where the facilities located in another municipality are integral and indispensable part of the hydroelectric plant and no electric power will be produced without the other, the 70 percent sharing shall be shared between the two municipalities. Under these circumstances, SRPC’s integrated hydroelectric plant is a single unified plant that is physically located in two municipalities within the contemplation of the LGC (Local Government Code).”

Quitain said in the report that the city should have the biggest share and therefore he was not in favor of equally sharing the remaining 70 percent.

TSI legal counsel Raul Nadela Jr. informed the Sta. Cruz LGU about Davao City’s proposal but said TSI did not agree and instead pushed for a 50-50 share.

The report said based on the inquiries made with TSI personnel, the part of

the project being constructed in the area of Sta. Cruz is the Coal Dome which will be used as coal storage since it is close to the port.

Quitain said if that is the case, then the part where the Coal Dome located is not integral and indispensable because this can be relocated in Davao City.

City treasurer Rodrigo Riola said the city should have a bigger share of the LBT since the city got the higher percentage of equipment of the coal plant compared with Sta. Cruz.

Riola also said the Coal Dome located in Sta. Cruz is “dispensable” and can be relocated in Davao City.

Orig told reporters that TSI will abide by what the two LGUs will agree on regarding the tax sharing. He said 80 percent of the land area of the power plant is on Davao City while 20 percent lies in Sta. Cruz.

As for the equipment of TSI, 60 percent are in Davao City while 40 percent are in Sta. Cruz.

“Willie” Escudero, Jose Sevilla, Manuel “Nonoy” M. Garcia, Martin Suelto, Gerardo Yap II and Bienvenido Cariaga.

The bankers were Antonio Lim, Delia Mercado Ladao, Pedro Durano, and Gaisano Jr., also a retailer of the Gaisano clan.

The certified public accountant were Adolfo Arguna, Protacio “Cocoy” Tacandong, and Emilio Piansay, while the civil engineers were Vicente Albay and Robert Quinto.

The agriculturists Romeo

Serra and Angliongto who at 37, was the youngest ever elected as president.

The others were business executives and entrepreneurs like Simeon Marfori, Jose B. Custodio, Bonifacio Tan, Sofronio M. Jucutan, Domingo Duerme, Edmundo Madrazo, and Alberto “Bobby” Soriano.

Daniel Lim is the lone architect, while Dr. Ma. Lourdes G. Monteverde is the only physician. Dr Monteverde is the third lady to have served as president following Delia

Ladao and Joji Bian.

Angliongto proudly related that during his first term, the chamber was able to convince Banco Davao and Bank of the Philippine Islands to restructure its outstanding loan of more than P300,000 rather than foreclosing the chamber. He said they talked to the late congressman Lorenzo Sarmiento, owner of Banco Davao, and BPI President Larry Reyes to be lenient to the chamber. Many of the members also agreed

to pay their corporate contributions in advance to raise the money.

One of the biggest achievement of the chamber then as the champion of small and medium enterprises was to succeed in having an ordinance on Percentage Tax repealed as it tantamounted to double taxation. After a series of action, the Davao City Council then agreed to repeal the controversial ordinance.

The chamber also figured in other successful advocacies.

released after 72 hours due to lack of documentary requirements on the part of the applicants.

Felizarta said the comput-

erized application system will help not only the office but also the applicants because they will able to know whether the permit was already released or

is still in the hand of the facilitators.

In an interview last Friday, Quitain said his office did not receive any complaints over

delayed release of permits of OCBO in the past few days.

“So far, I did not received any complaints anymore,” he said.

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EVENT

ALDEVINCO turns golden EVER SINCE I could remember, the Aldevinco Shopping Center has been the go-to place when one wants to shop for Davao souvenirs. I could remember exploring its maze of corridors looking for local crafts, batik items, and antique trinkets to buy and bring to Manila as pasa lubong for friends.

Opening number by Kalumon Performing Ensemble.

Inaugurated on January 2, 1965, the Aldevinco Shopping Center was the first shopping centre in Davao City. A brainchild of Conrado Alcantara and his wife, Ladislawa. It quickly became a landmark of the city’s bustling downtown area which Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez would describe as a “landmark, heritage center and an active tourism exchange in Davao City that brings together under one roof local and foreign visitors, and the beautiful products of Mindanao.”

Last January 24 saw the Aldevinco Shopping Center enter its 50th anniversary with a Golden Anniversary Celebration held at the SMX Convention Center Davao.

Alcantara Group Chairman Tomas I. Alcantara during his closing remarks.

ALDEVINCO A4

Alsons Dev Senior Managers (L-R): Rey Benedict Aquiatan, Jessa Mae Sisi, Amado C. Bernardino, Luis Conrado de Jesus, Rosie Dominguez, Eric de la Costa, Maricor Roque, Ma. Theresa Dalhug, Jolla Soriaga, Juan Claudio Tinga.

Mr. Nestor Quizon thanks Alsons Dev management for 50 years of partnership. Aldevinco Shopping Center shop owners in their colorful Ethnic and Filipiniana attire.

Ms. Mildred Aguila reminiscing how she began 50 years ago at Aldevinco Shopping Center.

The 23 Loyal Partners of Aldevinco Shopping Center in 50 years. Special Awards were given to 23 storeowners who have remained in the Aldevinco Alsons Dev Executive Vice President Rosie A. Dominguez Shopping Center from 35 years to 50 years. during her Welcome Remarks.

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UP AND ABOUT

ENTERTAINMENT

Kap drea

A week-long Chinese feast at Park Inn by Radisson Davao KUNG HEI FAT CHOI! Park Inn by Radisson Davao ushers in the Year of the Sheep with a week-long celebration of Oriental culinary delights at the RBG.

Discover the flavors from the great “wok” of China as you feast in a Chinese set meal, good for a family of 6 to 8 persons. “Inspired by the concept of our Supersize meal, which an all-time crowd favorite, our kitchen team have once again donned their creative hats and came up with a choices for a Chinese set meal, which we’re offering for lunch and dinner starting on the evening of February 15th until the 20th,” shares Mr. Pavan Kakar, the hotel’s General Manager.

“We’re talking about variety and value that’s big in size, big on taste. For only Php1,888.00 net per set meal, you get to indulge in a feast of Chinese dishes, complete from starter to dessert. We also offer you a lineup of delectable choices for soup, main course,

dim-sum, rice and drink, on top of our serving of lettuce wraps, Chow Mein and buns and platter of assorted desserts and fruits.

This medley is sure to satisfy everyone in your group.”

The selection for soup features Crab and Corn, Hot and Sour, and Garlic Asparagus. For the entrée, guests get to choose from Steamed Whole Red Snapper in Soya Sauce, Kung Pao Shrimps,

Roasted Whole Chicken glazed with Schezuan Sauce, and Hoisin Braised Pork Belly.

The vegetable dishes in the menu are Bok Choy, Shitake and Carrots with Oyster Sauce; Stir Fried Spinach, Red Capsicum, Grilled Young Corn and Bamboo Shoot; and, lastly, Young Corn, Shitake & Tofu with Rice Wine.

Guests may opt to have their dumplings with vegetable shrimp,

chicken or pork, and cooked either steamed or fried.

Complementing your hot dishes are rice choices from Plain Rice, Yang Chow and Tofu Fried Rice with Beansprout.

Among the assorted desserts served at the end of the meal are the Tapioca, Egg Custard, Buchi, Nian Gao, and Crispy Wonton Crepe with Chocolate and Berry Fillings.

“We also offer one whole Peking Duck for a la carte orders at only Php988.00 net. This is one delicacy you can enjoy and add together with your set meal,” adds Mr. Kakar.

“The annual Chinese New Year festivity is all about families gathering to welcome and celebrate new beginnings. We invite everyone to try our limited dining offer for this season. All families are also free to come over to join us witness the Dragon Dance on February 18, starting at 6:00 PM.” Call and book your table through 272 7600.

Share your extras at SM SM invites its shoppers clean their closets and Share Your Extras with the less fortunate in this store based campaign.

A joint project of The SM Store in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and SM Foundation, Share your Extras booths have been set up at all SM Stores where shoppers can donate their extra clothes or new pair of slippers until March 31.

All donors will be entitled to a P50 coupon to be redeemed with a minimum P500 single receipt purchase of regular priced ladies’, men’s and children’s apparel at The SM

Together in the spirit of giving, SM Store President Ms. Cielo Monasterio with SVPOperations Mr. Joey Singian, SM Foundation Inc. Executive Director Ms. Connie Angeles, DSWD representatives with the first beneficiaries covered by the government’s 4Ps- Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program at the Share Your Extras launch.

Store until March 31, 2016.

Share your Extras was recently launched at SM Marikina highlighting the campaign’s first beneficiaries from nearby barangays in Marikina that are covered by the government’s 4Ps- Pantawid

Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

SM Store President Ms. Cielo Monasterio, SVPOperations Mr. Joey Singian, SM Foundation Inc. Executive Director Ms. Connie Angeles together with Social Welfare Offi-

cer IV Ms. Karen Bullecer took part in the heartwarming ceremony happily handing shoes, clothes, and undergarments from the SM store to the delighted kids.

Many more less fortunate communities from

DSWD accredited beneficiaries nationwide will receive clothes and slippers from the SM Store through the Share Your Extras campaign.

Join SM in making a difference with the Share Your Extras campaign.

WITH only a few days left until the loveliest day of the year, it’s definitely hard not to feel that love is in the air! By this time, couples, families, friends, and even those who are happily single are now planning on what to do, where to eat, and what to give their loved ones on Valentine’s Day. From an extravagant cruise ride, to a romantic candlelight dinner by the beach, to just a simple yet intimate date at home, some Kapuso stars share how they would like to spend their ideal Valentine’s Day. Read on as they also reveal their most memorable Valentine’s date ever, as well as give a few practical tips on how one can express love to others this season of hearts.

Camille Prats Q: Describe the best Valentine’s Day you’ve ever had.

A: February 14 is my brother’s birthday, so usually Valentine’s Day is a family gathering for us.

Q: List ways that you could show your affection to your loved ones on Valentine’s Day. A: You have to make her feel special. Kung ano ‘yung mga normally hindi mo ginagawa dati, gawin mo sa Valentine’s Day. Flowers are very important. I think every girl would really appreciate that. Hindi naman kailangang extravagant, basta do something you’ve never done before, maa-appreciate niya ‘yun.

Jeric Gonzales Q: Describe the best Valentine’s Day you’ve ever had.

A: Best Valentine’s Day para sa akin nung pinag-prepare ko ‘yung ex-girlfriend ko ng very romantic date. That time, magkaaway kami and medyo parang maghihiwalay na, pero dahil love ko siya at hindi ko kayang magkahiwalay kami, I surprised her. And sobrang na-surprise naman siya sa ginawa ko.

Q: Imagine a perfect Valentine’s Day. Who would you be with? Where would you go? What would you do?

How would you feel? Describe it.

A: Perfect ang Valentine’s Day if makakasama ko ‘yung someone who is very special to me. Then gusto ko pupunta kami somewhere na kami lang

ang min pw

Suz Q: tine A: M not Day onc we tion Kam driv ma erv But bit hav our and serv we we hou will wer nam it w

Q: I tine be go?

Ho scr A: wo tine spe na w try, don Day wo

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puso stars share their am Valentine’s date outing kami ng barkada ko. At least, hindi ako alone ‘di ba?

Kasi ako, laging nasasakto yata na kapag Valentine’s Day, wala akong boyfriend. Kung hindi family ang kasama ko, friends, group lagi kami.

Q: Imagine a perfect Valentine’s Day. Who would you be with? Where would you go? What would you do?

How would you feel? Describe it.

A: Gusto kong mag-cruise para romantic. Parang “Titanic” pero huwag lang magkaka-accident. Then may dinner date with someone special. Dapat gwapo! Magpapakaambisyosa na ako, siguro mga Adam Levine or Zac Efron ganyan. (laughs!) Ipu-push ko na ‘yung mga ganung level. Tapos ako, ganda-gandahan lang dahil sa dinamirami ng nagkakagusto sa kanila at gusto silang

makasama, ako ang nagwagi.

Q: List ways that you could show your affection to your loved ones on Valentine’s Day. A: Simple ways lang. Pinakaimportante ‘yung sasabihan mo siya ng “I love you” nang bukal sa puso mo. Syempre, hindi lang naman siguro para sa mga girlfriend or boyfriend ‘yun, pwede rin sa family. And siguro, iti-treat ko sila ng dinner, mage-effort talaga ako.

Julia Lee Q: Imagine a perfect Valentine’s Day. Who would you be with? Where would you go? What would you do?

How would you feel? Describe it.

A: Gusto ko whole family naman ang makakasama ko this time. Kasi usually, kami ng boyfriend ko ang magkasama.

Gusto kong ma-experience na kumpleto kami, although I know mahirap ‘yun kasi malayo kami sa isa’t isa. For me, kahit simple dinner, lunch, or whatever lang yan basta makumpleto ulit ‘yung family ko. Pwede siguro kaming pumunta either sa brother ko sa Canada or sa sister ko sa Panama. Sobrang iba kasi ‘yung love na nabibigay ng family. It’s something na hindi ko na-experience, I think for 7 years. So, in that sense, hindi siya ‘yung girlfriend-boyfriend thing.

Q: List ways that you could show your affection to your loved ones on Valentine’s Day. A: For my mom, flowers, dahil mahilig siya sa bulaklak.

To my special someone, usually kung ano ‘yung gusto niya, pag umiikot kayo, you should take note kung ano ‘yung nagpapasaya sa kanya. Para sa akin, ang Valentine’s Day parang birthday. It happens just once a year. Valentine’s is another date to appreciate someone.

g tao kung saan pwede kang makapag-kwentuhan at wede ko siyang haranahin.

zi Entrata-Abrera Describe the best Valene’s Day you’ve ever had.

My husband and I kasi try t to go out on Valentine’s y kasi nagutom na kami ce. We tried to go out and didn’t have any reservan so nagutom talaga kami. muntik na kaming mag ve-thru. So after that, we ake sure that we have resvation or cook at home. t one time, my kids were a grownups na kasi and we ve a gazebo at the back of r house, so I cooked food, d then our three girls, they ved as our waitresses. And have a bell pa, because were a bit far from the use, so they, our waitresses, l get water for us and they re so excited na mautusan min sila for something. And was really beautiful.

Imagine a perfect Valene’s Day. Who would you with? Where would you ? What would you do? ow would you feel? Deribe it.

Obviously, my husband ould be my perfect Valene. We usually, like I said, end it at home. Pwede rin we will go out of the coun, to a place na hindi masyang big deal ang Valentine’s y katulad ng Japan. That ould be very special.

Aicelle Santos Q: Imagine a perfect Valentine’s Day. Who would you be with? Where would you go? What would you do?

How would you feel? Describe it.

A: Siyempre ‘yung perfect Valentine’s Day would be with the man you really love ‘di ba? ‘Yung taong mahal mo tapos siya rin in love sa’yo. Pero wala pa siya ngayon, baka natraffic. Where would we go?

Sana sa hindi mataong lugar.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ‘yun.

Pwede ring candlelight dinner by the shore. And kung itutuloy natin ‘yung pagka-cheesy ng moment, dapat may string quartet doon.

Joanna Marie Tan Q: Describe the best Valentine’s Day you’ve ever had.

A: Siguro ‘yung time na nag-

February 16-17, 2015

JUPITER ASCENDING/ *THAT THING CALLEDTADHANA PG13/ *PG13

Mila Kunis, Channing Tatum/* Angelica Panganiban, JM De Guzman 12:30 | 3:00 | 5:30 LFS / *8:00 | 10:00 LFS

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan R18

11:40 | 2:15 | 4:50 | 7:25 | 10:00 LFS

PADDINGTON / *EVERLY Hugh Bonnevilles, Xian Lim (Voice of Paddington) / * Salma Hayek

Catch the latest issue of M (Life & Living in Mindanao) Magazine featuring Dabawenya model Karina Cabiling. A model who is now making waves in Canada’s fashion scene, Karina graces the cover of latest issue. M Magazine is now available in more than 200 outlets nationwide.

R-16

PG13/ *R16

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

THE WEDDING RINGER Kevin Hart, Josh Gad R13

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

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EVENT

The 3 generations of the family of the Founders of the Aldevinco Shopping Center.

(Present at the event from L to R) Marco, Anton, Rose & Alex, Patricia with daughter Natasha, Tommy, Nick , Rosie, Edith, Tisha & Miguel Dominguez with daughters Mariana & Sofia, Paul Dominguez.

ALDEVINCO A1 No expense was spared as Officials of the Alcantara Group, family friends, tenants, and partners were treated to a lavish Mindanaoanthemed party with entertainment courtesy of Mitch Valdez, Isabella Gonzales, and crooner Richard Poon. The biggest news of the evening however is the announcement coming from the chair of the Alcantara GroupTomas I. Alcantara.

“Aldevinco Shopping Center was the flagship

The Alsons Properties Associates enjoying the festivities.

Shop owners of Aldevinco Shopping Center together with Mrs. Rosie Dominguez. property project of Conrado Alcantara, founder of the Alcantara Group. Over the past 50 years, we have seen the landscape around the shopping center evolve in sync with Davao City’s growth and development,” Alcantara said.

And with the evolving landscape on C. M. Recto Ave., where the Aldevinco Shopping Center stands, it was also time for the shopping center to change as well.

“Davao has a changing landscape and we are going to adjust to it. There are studies being undertaken now as to how

will we continue to be at pace with the growth of the city and be able to meet its changing demands,” Alcantara added.

The improvement and evolution of Aldevinco will include office spaces and condominium units. “We will be building (the project) vertically.”

Although the planned redevelopment of Aldevinco will change the landscape of downtown forever, there is an assurance that the character of the shopping centre shall remain the same as the premier place to shop and experience Mindanao and its colourful wares.

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Pryor believes Floyd James voted VP of NBPA won’t beat Manny L B OXING legend Aaron Pryor said he wants to see Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. finally get it on in the squared circle.

“The Hawk,” who is known for his monumental battles against fellow legend Alexis Arguello in the early 80’s, said the Filipino southpaw is wellloved because of his all-out fighting style.

“I like PacMan. Because he throws a lot of punches and he’s giving it his all,” Pryor said in Mark Malinowski’s report to the Ring Observer.

Pryor also said Mayweather has proven himself in over 40 fights, but he wants the undefeated American to prove himself once again by fighting Pacquiao.

“For me to be on his side he gotta beat the best. And Pac Man is one of the best. Then I’ll say, ‘Yay.’” But Pryor, who was among

the best junior welterweights of his era, thinks Mayweather, despite his defensive acumen, will have a hard time handling a left-handed volume puncher like Pacquiao.

“I think PacMan throws a lot of punches and I don’t think that Pretty Boy Floyd Mayweather… I don’t think Mayweather is gonna be equipped to handle it. That’s just how I feel,” he said.

But Pryor said this doesn’t means is already counting “Money” Mayweather out.

“He’s proved himself so many times… that’s what the fight game is about – every time you fight – prove yourself.

I had eleven world title fights.

Each time I fought one of those title fights it was about proving myself.”

Fans are still waiting for the fight to happen despite repeated negotiations for the past five years.

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

EBRON James is about to play a new power position - vice president.

The Cavaliers star was unanimously elected first vice president of the National Basketball Players Association on Friday, giving the game’s top player a leadership role within a union set to square off in the future with the league’s owners over revenue.

James was elected during the union’s annual meeting as part of All-Star weekend at a hotel near Times Square. A person familiar with James’ election said Clippers All-Star guard Chris Paul, the union’s president, had urged the fourtime MVP to accept a prominent role within the union.

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity before union executive director Michele Roberts announced the election, said James wanted to be deeply involved in future collective bargaining with the league.

Roberts could hardly wait to announce James’ addition. ‘’We have a new vice president who was elected unanimously. His name is LeBron James,’’ she said, saying it slowly for emphasis. ‘’I can not tell you how delighted I am because it simply confirms that our union is supported by players all across the spectrum. LeBron’s addition to our executive committee is evidence of that. This is a great day for our union.’’

James, who considered running for president before

LeBron James

Paul was elected, has been outspoken on several player-related issues already. But he’ll now have a formal seat alongside Paul at the bargaining table, giving the union a formidable executive branch at an important time.

Players or owners can opt out of the current CBA following the 2016-17 season, and the sides appear to be headed

toward a showdown over revenue, which will grow exponentially with a new, $24 billion television deal set to kick in after the 2015-16 season.

One of the main reasons James signed only a one-year contract with a player option in Cleveland last summer was to ensure he would be a free agent in 2016 and maximize his earnings.

Roberts said James serving as an executive gives the union obvious clout. ‘’LeBron has been a force to be reckoned with among our players since the man has hit the court,’’ she said. ‘’We have always wanted to have players of influence included in our executive committee. It gets your (media) attention. It gets all of your attention.’’

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DAVAO CITY MAIN OFFICE

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GUNNING FOR THE CROWN Pinoy billiards masters aim for first-ever men’s 10 Ball title

F

or the first time since 2011 a world championship in 10 Ball will be held. This is a chance for the Philippines to finally claim a men’s world title in the game regarded as the most popular among the world’s top pool pros.

The 2015 MP Cup World 10 Ball Championship lags tomorrow in General Santos City, South Cotabato, with the single elimination race-toseven stage one qualifiers that

will produce sixteen players for the second stage starting Tuesday in SM City Gen San. Stage two will begin with 128 players in a race-to-nine double elimination phase that will halve the field to 64 shooters. Then the tournament shifts to single elimination, race-to-eleven matches all the way until the last blueand-white ball drops in the final on Saturday, February 21.

All matches will use alternate breaks.

The event is being organized by boxer and congressman Manny Pacquiao, who held a couple of 10 ball events in his hometown last year. The total prize purse is one of the biggest in the pocket billiards world, US$200,000, with $40,000 going to the champion. Official sponsors Aramith will supply the balls while fellow Belgian brand Simonis provide the cloth.

The World Pool-Billiard Association, the governing

Lee Vann Corteza leads a contingent of Mindanao-bred players who would love to win the first-ever men’s 10 Ball world title for the Philippines.

body of the sport of pocket billiards, has granted the tournament its sanction, and the WPA’s president, Ian Anderson, will be on hand.

There have been three previous editions of the world 10 ball championship for men, all taking place in Manila, but none featuring a Pinoy winner. Rubilen Amit has been the only Philippine citizen to win a world 10 ball crown, in the women’s category.

In the inaugural event in 2008, England’s Darren Appleton claimed the victory in the Philippine International Convention Center by outplaying Wu Chia Ching of Chinese Taipei, 13-11 in the final. A year later, another European, Mika Immonen, lifted the trophy by disappointing the home crowd in the World Trade Center with a fine 11-6 conquest over Lee Vann Corteza in the title match.

After a hiatus in 2010 the

event returned to the Philippines in 2011, with the Netherlands’ Huidji See prevailing over China’s Fu Jian Bo 11-8 in the last match to grab the title in SM Megamall.

In every running of the competition, there has been at least one Filipino semifinalist, with Demosthenes “Plong-plong” Pulpul reaching the last four in 2008 and Carlo Biado repeating the feat in 2011. Antonio Lining also made the final four in 2009.