Edge Davao 8 Issue 107 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 8 ISSUE 107 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 28 - 29, 2015

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ROOT OF ALL CORRUPTION

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Duterte: Congress is where corruption starts

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

WITH THE EDITORS. Davao City Mayor went face to face with editors of the Philippine Daily Inquirer on Tuesday night. Photo by Roldan Gorgonio

INSIDE EDGE

City Hall clamps down on corruption P2 Sara climbs in latest IPO survey P2

By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte wants to set up a revolutionary government if he gets elected as president in May next year, saying this is the only solution to fight criminality and eradicate corruption plaguing the country today. Duterte said a revolutionary government will pave the way for federalism, a form of government which the extremely popular mayor has been advocating since the torch of leadership was turned over to him by Mindanao leaders last year. “The well spring of corruption is the constitution itself. For as long as the Constitution

mandates that all money for government emanates from Congress, there will be no hope for the country,” the Duterte camp quoted the mayor as boldly announcing to the editors of the Philippine Daily Inquirer Tueasday evening. “It is where all the wheeling and dealing starts,” he added. Duterte said the gravity of the illegal drugs problem coupled and the systemic defects in the country’s political set-up are the two main reasons why he wants a revolutionary government if he gets elected president in May 2016. He said when Cory

FROOT, 10

P4 EDGEDAVAO Sports

Jordan Clarkson joins Gilas practice Page 16

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 107 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 28 - 29, 2015

LARGE ID. Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) head Erwin Alparaque shows the new – and very large – identification card for personnel of the city government during yesterday’s I-Speak media forum. Alparaque said wearing of the new IDs will be implemented soon to help eradicate the presence of fixers in government offices. Lean Daval Jr.

Davao bypass road gets Japan funding

MAJOR road construction program aimed to decongest major thoroughfares in Davao City will get Japanese funding. This after the government of Japan and the Philippines signed and exchanged notes on August 25 on P13 billion worth of projects, which will be extended by Japanese loans characterized by longer repayment schemes and low interest rates. The Davao Bypass Construction project will cover a two-lane 28.8-kilometer bypass road network complete with tunnel and bridge sections. It has a proposed

budget of P11.126 billion It aims to connect the southern district of Toril to the neighboring northern city of Panabo. The goal is to decongest the existing four-lane road network in the city, some sections of which are experiencing heavy vehicular traffic. The road network was part of the programs under the Davao Region 2016 Investment Program endorsed by the Regional Development Council. The other project extended by the Japanese loan is the Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project. (PIA/RG Alama)

Thousands to attend food safety seminar

HOUSANDS of food vendors are expected to attend the second food safety seminar for food handlers and street food vendors which will be conducted by the City Health Office (CHO) next week. In yesterday’s I-Speak media forum, CHO environment and sanitation division head Robert Oconer said the seminar will be held in the afternoon of September 4 at the Davao City Recreation Center-Almendras Gym. Oconer said this will be the last batch of seminars that will be conducted, after which his office will implement the “no mayor’s identification (ID) card, no vending policy” on the first week of October. “We will implement the policy by October as ordered

by the Mayor (Rodrigo R. Duterte),” he said. Oconer said the CHO is expecting close to 5,000 to attend the seminar, about the same number that attended the first one last month. He said the more than 4,700 who attended the seminar last month were already given their respective certificates of attendance, which is a requirement before they can get their ID. Oconer said more than 3,000 vendors have already received their IDs from the City Planning and Development Office. He said aside from the ID from the City Mayor’s Office, the vendors are also required to have a health certificate and personal protective equipment

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City steps up drive against corruption By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

HE Davao City Government is monitoring the employees of the city’s income-generating offices due to reports of possible corruption. “We are now looking at the income generating offices because they are the ones who are vulnerable to corruption,” Human Resource Management Office (HRMO) head Erwin Alparaque told reporters in yesterday’s I-Speak media forum. He said among the city’s income-generating offices are the Business Bureau, City Treasurer’s Office (CTO), City Assessor’s Office (CAO), City Health Office (CHO), City En-

gineer’s Office (CEO), Office of the City Building Official (OCBO), City Environment and Natural Resource Office (CENRO), and City Planning and Development Office. He said city administrator Jesus Melchor V. Quitain is still receiving reports of employees who are allegedly asking for money from people in order to expedite the processing of their papers. “There are personnel who are doing some sort of fixing in exchange of fees… and it is strictly prohibited,” Alparaque said. He said some crooked employees even pocket both the money they asked for and the

amount that should have been paid by the taxpayer. “Here comes now the taxpayer who becomes the complainant,” he said. Alparaque said the city government strictly prohibits employees from “fixing,” and anyone caught doing so faces dismissal. “Fixing is a grave offense and the corresponding penalty of it is dismissal from service and perpetual disqualification from being employed in any public office,” he said. Alparaque said four employees are still on trial by the Administrative Tribunal of the city. He did not reveal what office the employees belong to.

He said the city now is also now imposing the wearing of big identification (ID) cards in which the names of the employees are visible to the transacting public. “The ID is for easy identification of the employees,” he said. Alparaque said the ID is also in compliance with Republic Act No. 9485 or the Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007. He said the ID will help the public identify corrupt and impolite personnel. Last year, the city government dismissed five employees of the City Treasurer’s Office for misappropriation of funds.

HE Davao City Health Office (CHO) said JJCM Food Products cannot yet reopen its Wendy’s Delicious Durian Candy factory due to the numerous violations it has committed that led to the poisoning of almost 2,000 schoolchildren in Surigao del Sur last month. In yesterday’s I-Speak Media Forum, CHO environment and sanitation division head Robert Oconer told reporters that the manufacturer still need to comply with “tons of requirements” due to E. coli bacteria found by the Food and

Drug Administration (FDA) in its deep well. Oconer said the owner should condemn the deep well even if it is not being used because of the bacteria that contaminate the raw materials. “They are having minor renovations now and procuring new equipment which we recommended during our inspection,” he said. “Pero hindi pa po siya talaga makakapasa sa amin as of now (But it still hasn’t passed our requirements as of now),” he added. He said if the owner can

comply with all the requirements, the CHO may give consideration for the possible reopening of the factory. Oconer said owner Janet Aquino expressed her intention to comply with the requirements. The CHO also has not given a deadline. Earlier, Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) Durian Candy head chief Senior Superintendent Aaron Aquino said the team is set to file a case against the owner after the FDA found the E. coli bacteria in its raw materials. Aquino said the deep well

water was used by Wendy’s to wash the materials and equipment used for manufacturing the candies. Aquino said the FDA noted the presence of microorganisms on the durian candies of Wendy’s as well as its other products such as Blesses Durian Candy which was also sold in Surigao del Sur where a massive food poisoning occurred on July 10. He said the machine, sugar container, the wrappings, and the chopping boards were contaminated with microor-

Durian candy maker can’t reopen yet: CHO T

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NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

Next president should focus on health, education: Voters By VANESSA KATE F. MADRAZO

EALTH and education topped the issues and concerns that Davao City voters want to prioritize according to the latest survey conducted by the University of Mindanao Institute of Public Opinion (UM-IPO). The IPO conducted an electoral survey last July 1118 which cover a total of 1,200 systematically chosen respondents from the three congressional districts of Davao City. The survey included asking the respondents what issues or platform of government their preferred presidential candidate must forward. Eight sectors were extracted but leading are the health sector (68%), and education sector (60%), and followed respectively by economics and business (43%), peace and order (38%), social and community (31%), agriculture (22%), infrastructure (19%), and in-

ternational relations (14%). According to the survey, the people primarily demand for free medicine and hospitalization, and an increase in the PhilHealth coverage. This is linked to the increasing outof-pocket health expenses that Filipino households have to pay for. The ISO survey also reveals that voters place a high priority in education particularly in making college education free, constructing additional school buildings, purchasing more books, and scrapping the K-12 curriculum. This reveals the voters’ strong consciousness regarding the value of a college education and the nuances of better facilities and access to more academic resources, but also their strong skepticism regarding the effectivity of K-12. Not far behind the voters’ desired platforms is the eco-

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Party hits Comelec, BOC

UCCESSIVE protest actions were held today at the offices of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Bureau of Customs (BoC) under what protestors dubbed as the start of a series of “Tour to Expose Corruption” in line with the 2016 elections. The said agencies were accused of being “institutionally corrupt and are perfect instruments for cheating and raising funds for the coming elections.” The protest action was initiated by Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM), a political party of the marginalized sectors. Among its affiliates are the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino (BMP), the Kongreso ng Pagkakaisa ng Maralitang Lungsod and the Pagkakaisa ng Manggagawa sa Transportasyon. “As the campaign fever rises by the day, we fear that the probability of holding clean and honest elections also fades by the day,” said Sonny Melencio, chairperson of PLM.

Highly Probable Collusion Melencio explained that, “The P300-million midnight deal between Smartmatic and the COMELEC for the diagnostics and repair of 82,000 PCOS machines that was declared void by the Supreme Court was already a red flag, and yet no reforms were implemented and no transparent and upgraded mechanisms were put in place to ensure the COMELEC deals were in the best interest of the people.” “Negotiators of Smartmatic must be the luckiest people on earth for monopolizing billions-of-pesos worth of contracts from the COMELEC in the past three months,” he said. Smartmatic was recently awarded a P7.86-billion lease contract by the COMELEC for 90,977 optical mark reader machines (OMRs), on top of the 23,000 OMRs already awarded to it early this year at

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Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte with editors of the Philippine Daily Inquirer at the PDI office in Makati City Tuesday night. Photo by Roldan Gorgonio

Sara rating climbs in latest IPO survey By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

ORMER Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio remains the top choice of Dabawenyos for mayor in the 2016 election and her numbers are shooting up. Based on the latest electoral survey conducted by the Institute of Popular Opinion (IPO), eight of 10 Dabawenyos said they will vote for Duterte-Carpio for mayor if the elections were held today. The latest result was big jump from Duterte-Carpio’s showing of 64 percent in the October 2014 survey. The increase also took place despite the former mayor not yet de-

claring her intention to mount a political comeback. Adrian Tamayo, IPO specialist on politics, economics, and governance, said the latest survey conducted last July 11 to 18 involved 1,200 systematically chosen respondents from the three congressional districts of Davao City. A 5 percent margin of error and 95 percent confidence interval was employed in the survey. Duterte-Carpio’s brother, Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte, was a distant second with only 12 percent, a dip of 5.3 percent from his October showing of 17.3 percent.

First District Rep. Karlo Nograles also suffered a decline in the July survey with 7 percent to remain at third spot, far from his October showing of 10.7 percent. In the same IPO survey, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte got the overwhelming support from the Dabawenyos should he decide to seek the presidency in the 2016 election. Eighty percent of the 1,200 respondents from the three congressional districts of Davao City said they would vote for Duterte. The latest survey showed

New payment option offered to Davao Light customers

D ROAD CLEARING. City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) chief Rhodelio V. Poliquit says the agency needs four towing vehicles to make the clearing of the streets of abandoned and condemned vehicles faster. Poliquit graced yesterday’s I-Speak media forum. Lean Daval Jr.

Duterte gaining 14.2 percent from the October 2014 result, which placed the local chief executive at 65.8 percent. Vice President Jejomar Binay is at second with 11 percent, although he climbed in the latest survey by 3.3 percent after amassing only 7.7 in the October 2014 survey. Senator Grace Poe is ranked third with 6 percent, while Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada is at fourth spot with 2 percent. Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas and Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago each had 1 percent.

AVAO Light and Power Company customers may now pay their electricity bills in any M Lhuillier branch in the Philippines. M Lhuillier Financial Services is the AboitizPower Distribution Utilities (AP DU) new collection service partner, which includes Davao Light, in accepting electric bill payments from its customers anywhere in the country. This is in line with the AP DU group’s thrust of providing various payment options for a maximum convenience to its customers. A customer may pay to M Lhuillier whether he or she is holding a green or red bill. Full or partial payments even after the due date are

also allowed. Within the Davao Light franchise alone, M Lhuillier has 31 branches that customers may choose from. The signing of the Memorandum of Agreement was made in April 2015 in Banilad, Cebu City by Davao Light President Jaime Jose Aboitiz and M Lhuillier President Michel Lhuillier to seal the collection partnership. For the list of other Davao Light Third Party Collecting Agents, customers may check at the back of their electricity bill or visitwww.davaolight. com. They may also contact Davao Light’s call center at (082) 229-3572 or at (084) 822-3572 for Davao del Norte customers.

EDGEDAVAO

4 ECONOMY

VOL. 8 ISSUE 107 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 28 - 29, 2015

Lacson in DCCCII meeting today S

ENATOR Panfilo M. Lacson will be the guest speaker of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII) during its 8th General Mem-

bership Meeting this morning starting at 10:30 at the Grand Men Seng Hotel. Lacson will discuss strategies on the eradication of crime and graft and corrup-

tion, and the access to quality education and healthcare services. Participants will also have the chance to get to know the senator’s personal advocacies and viewpoints

on the country’s current political and economic issues. While in Davao, Lacson is also expected to meet with local officials led by Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte.

Only several weeks back, the DCCCII had no less than Mayor Duterte and Interior and Local Government Sec. Mar Roxas as its guest speakers at The Royal Mandaya

Cebu to host APEC confab I

CHIEF EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE. Panelists Cathy Ileto, director of marketing communications and public affairs of Sutherland Global Services, and Vina Sy-Santos, recruitment director of Expert Global Solutions (EGS), have their picture taken along with other panelists and ICT-Davao vice president Wit Holganza following a successful discussion during the recent Chief Executive

Conference of LIVEX 2015. Smart Communications Inc., WACOM, Expert Global Solutions, Sutherland, and HP Philippines were the sponsors of the successful four-day BIMP-EAGA ICT event held in Davao City. Next year, LIVEX is scheduled to be held in Zamboanga. Lean Daval Jr.

DRH now a medical center T

HE Davao Regional Hospital (DRH) in Brgy. Apokon Tagum City is now Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC). Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Anthony del Rosario revealed earlier today during Blessing and Inauguration of the new facilities of the DRMC that President Benigno Aquino III signed yesterday Republic Act 10678 converting DRH to a medical center. Congressman Del Rosario

said that among the features of the new law is the increase of the bed capacity of DRMC from 200 to 600 beds. Senator Toefisto Guingona III emphasized that the since the medical center will have more responsibility in which it will cater to any kind of disease or affliction that may affect Mindanao, DRMC will receive more funding than what it has for the moment. DRMC Chief Romulo Busuego disclosed that the bud-

get of the center for this year is at around P32-million in its maintenance and other operating expenses. Congressman Del Rosario also stressed that as of today, the Davao Region is the only region in the country that has two medical centers – DRMC and the Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City. Dr. Busuego said that the two medical centers will not compete with each other instead they will complement with different specialization.

“We don’t have to compete because we are not into business; we are providing services to our people. Since they have their heart center, we are developing here our cancer center,” Busuego said. Other visitors in the inauguration ceremony were Department of Health Region XI Director Abdullah Jr., Davao del Norte Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario, Compostela Valley Gov. Arturo Uy and Tagum City Mayor Allan Rellon. (PIA 11/ Michael Uy)

gler na nananamantala sa bayan sa paggamit ng mga balikbayan box, at sirain ang simbolo nito bilang bunga ng pagpupunyagi ng mga OFW na nagsasakripisyong magtrabaho sa ibang bansa para sa kapakanan ng kanilang mga pamilya,” he said. “Iyon namang pagpapadala ng kinita, kung tutuusin natin, ay personal na pagpapasya ng bawat manggagawa at ang kanilang pinagpapadalhan ay ang kanilang mahal sa buhay—pamilya na tinutustusan, sinusuportahan, at binibigyan ng kalinga,” he further said. Secretary Coloma noted that OFWs may delay their remittances but they would still send money to their families. “Kaya sa kanilang pagpapasya isasaalang-alang nila na,

kung ano mang pagpapahayag ng kanilang saloobin, kailangan pa rin nilang maiparating ang mga remittance na ‘yon. Maaaring maantala ito ng isang araw pero hindi naman siguro ito nila iniisip na huwag nang ipadala,” he said. “Ang pagsunod nila o hindi nila pagsunod, ibabatay nila ito sa katuwiran, at nananalig kami na sa paggamit nila ng katuwiran ay gagawin nila ang pinakamainam para sa kapakanan ng kanilang mga mahal sa buhay,” he added. The Palace official saw no cause for concern if the “No Remittance Day” pushes through, citing a similar incident in 2013. “Ang dating naging karanasan diyan ay noon pang 2013, noong kasagsagan ng

isyu ng PDAF (Priority Development Assistance Fund) o pork barrel, at noon naman ay walang naiulat na masamang epekto ito. Kaya kung ito ang pagbabatayan ay tila wala naman tayong dapat ikabahala hinggil dito,” Coloma said. Migrante International, an OFW group, has urged migrant workers to join the remittance holiday on August 28 to protest the BOC policy to manually inspect random balikbayan boxes in an effort to curb smuggling. President Aquino however ordered the BOC to have the balikbayan boxes pass through X-ray machines, instructing that only packages with suspicious contents will have to be manually inspected. (PCOO News Release)

Malacañang respects OFWs’right to join‘No Remittance Day’protest C

OMMUNICATION Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said the government respects the decision of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to join the “No Remittance Day” on August 28 in protest of the Bureau of Customs’ (BOC) plan to conduct random inspection of balikbayan boxes. Secretary Coloma, Jr. said OFWs have the right to express their sentiments. “Iginagalang namin ang karapatang magpahayag ng saloobin ang ating mga Overseas Filipino worker. Patuloy naming kinikilala ang mahalagang ambag ng mga OFW sa ating ekonomiya, bagaman kailangan ding isaalang-alang ang pangangailangang sawatain ang mga smug-

Hotel. DCCC is led by the chairman of the board of trustees John Y. Gaisano Jr. and its president Antonio T. dela Cruz.

N a bid to enhance regional economic integration, ministers from twenty-one (21) Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies will meet in Cebu City on September 7 and 8 to review APEC’s structural reform efforts and set the post-2015 agenda of the region. The APEC Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting (SRMM), to be chaired by Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan, will focus primarily on addressing issues that impede inclusive growth. “Guided by this year’s theme, our priority is to facilitate inclusiveness, not only in the regional sense but also within economies. The APEC region has been growing rapidly as a whole but this is in many cases shared unevenly across societies,” Balisacan said. At the SRMM, the ministers will discuss key issues including challenges in implementing structural reform, their respective economies’ priorities, and areas of collaboration. Speakers from the APEC

Secretariat and the World Bank will also speak on regulatory reform and cooperation on services. This will be followed by a panel discussion among ministers and heads of delegations on the challenges in undertaking structural reform. Discussions of the SRMM will revolve around five themes. These are 1.) Structural Reform for Inclusive Growth; 2.) Structural Reform and Innovation; 3.) Structural Reform and Services; 4.) Tools for Structural Reform; and 5.) New Directions for Structural Reform in APEC. At the end of the meeting, the ministers will adopt a post2015 APEC New Strategy for Structural Reform (ANSSR), which will further enhance the efforts and focus of structural reform initiatives from 2016 to 2020. NEDA Deputy Director-General Emmanuel F. Esguerra will head the Philippine delegation to this year’s Structural Reform Ministerial Meeting (2nd SRMM). The first meeting was held in 2008 in Australia.

Launch of Startup Roadmap just the beginning: GOAB organizer

HE Philippine Startup Roadmap, launched at the just concluded third Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) in Boracay, looks forward to spawning some 500 startups with an estimated cumulative valuation of $2 billion by 2020. Deputy Executive Director Mon Ibrahim of the Department of Science ande Technology-Information Communication Technology Office (DOST-ICTO) led the launch of the roadmap which he described as a list of what the Philippine startup community needs to do. The roadmap declares that its main goal is “to produce the next billion dollar tech startup from the Philippines.” “The launch of the roadmap is just the beginning,” said Tina Amper of TechTalks.ph, the community that organized the annual Geeks on a Beach conference. “The next steps of implementing, funding and constant collaborating are critical to positive impact to the Philippine economy,” she said adding that GOAB 2015 generated inquiries to take GOAB to other parts of the country.

“We are open to partnering with like-minded companies who can bring this happiness business to other parts of the world,” Amper said. According to Amper, “Year 3 produced lots of positive feedback from participants about connections made, lessons learned, dreams re-discovered, and passions stirred.” “We are so honored to work with some of the best in the country and the world during GOAB3. With the solid support of our co-organizer DOST-ICTO and the groundbreaking launch of the Philippine Startup Roadmap, TechTalks.ph feels a sense of accomplishment in participating in this collaborative effort to uplift our startup founders and aspiring entrepreneurs, she said. Amper also expressed thanks for the support of the co-presenters: IdeaSpace. ph, Smart Communications, Smart DevNet, SmartBro and PLDT Innolab. With their anchor sponsorship, they provide GOAB3 with seed money to start organizing the event long before the audience hears about it.

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EDGEDAVAO

THE ECONOMY 5

Phl ranks 15th in financial report By JON JOAQUIN

jon@edgedavao.net

HE Philippines achieved a number 15 ranking for its overall financial inclusion efforts in the 2015 Brookings Financial and Digital Inclusion Project (FDIP) Report and Scorecard launched by the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings Brookings Institution Governance Studies communications director Christine Jacobs said the project, which evaluates access to and usage of affordable financial services across 21 countries, was unveiled on Wednesday (Thursday in the Philippines) in Washington, DC where the Brookings Institution is based. Brookings experts John D. Villasenor, Darrell M. West, and Robin J. Lewis analyzed the financial inclusion landscape in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, and Zambia. Countries received scores and rankings based on 33 indicators spanning four dimensions: country commitment, mobile capacity, regulatory environment, and adoption. The FDIP Report and

Scorecard seeks to answer a set of fundamental questions about today’s global financial inclusion efforts, including: Do country commitments make a difference in progress toward financial inclusion? To what extent do mobile and other digital technologies advance financial inclusion? What legal, policy, and regulatory approaches promote financial inclusion?” The Philippines earned 68 percent of the total possible points. In terms of performance metrics, the Philippines also: ranked in 8th place for country commitment; secured 8th place for mobile capacity; earned a 7th place ranking for regulatory environment; ranked 15th place for adoption; and developed two of the earliest mobile financial services schemes, Smart’s Smart Money (launched in 2001) and Globe’s GCash (launched in 2004). The FDIP report said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) was the first central bank in the world to establish an office, called the Inclusive Finance Advocacy Staff, dedicated to financial inclusion.

Also, BSP’s Circular 649 in 2009 and Circular 704 in 2010 provided e-money reg-

ulatory guidance and enabled non-bank institutions to be eligible to become e-money

issuers, the report said. This year’s Report and Scorecard is the first of a se-

ries of annual reports examining financial inclusion activities around the world.

EDGEDAVAO

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INdulge!

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EDGEDAVAO

EVENT

A celebration of

expression TO BE totally honest, I do not normally go out on a weekend unless I really have to. Gone are the days when I would look forward to dressing up in my best digs to drink and dance the night away. But I decided to make an exception last Saturday and made my way to Manic Nightning’s Arcadia EDM Festival after much prodding by the Manic Mom, Kat Dalisay.

Although the festival doors at D’Leonor Inland Resort, Arcadia’s venue, opened at two in the afternoon, I was not able to go to since I still had other commitments that tied me down and was only able to make my way to D’Leonor by around eight in the evening. I was supposed to take the Manic bus service from the D’Leonor Hotel in Bajada but luckily I was able to hitch a ride thanks to GMA Davao’s Richard Angeles who was also on his way to the party.

Urbanissimo A4

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EDGEDAVAO

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STYLE

Moda MindaNOW at

Couture Category grand prize winner. A T’boli-inspired creation by Archie Castillo.

LAST AUGUST 16, the tenth year edition of Moda Mindanaw kicked off SM City Davao’s celebration of the 30th Kadayawan. The Moda Mindanaw was born as a spin off from Urog Etnika. Since 2006, SM City Davao has been its home.

Moda Mindanaw 2012, through the initiative of Mindanao Commission on Women and in cooperation with the Department of Tourism, showcased T’boli heritage in an evening of fashion. Participating designers from different parts of the region were provided with Tinalak textile which they incorporated in their entries. In 2013, Moda Mindanaw participants were paired with the city’s 10 tribes namely Ata Manobo, Bagobo Tagabawa, Ubo Manobo, Matigsalog, K’lata (Guiangan), Maranao, Maguindanao, Tausug, Sama and the Kalagans. Their immersion with the respective tribes resulted to works reflecting the culture of the tribal groups. The Maguindanaon inaul took center stage in 2014, when the Province of Maguindanao provided inaul fabrics to participating designers. Designers incorporated the heritage textile to their creations of long gowns, men’s formal wear Pret-a-porter grand prize winner. A T’boliinspired creation by Pret-a-porter grand and ladies’ cocktail dress. prize winner. A T’boli-inspired creation by After ten years, Moda MindaNow continues Sherwin Tiongson. to showcase Mindanaoan ingenuity while highlighting the colors and patterns of the region. This year, SM partners with Fashion Institute of Design and Arts (FIDA) for the event’s staging and production. FIDA is the only institute that offers focused fashion education in the city. “In this milestone edition of the Moda MindaNow, we advance the challenge for our participating designers. They are now tasked to raise the bar and create globally competitive designs. This year, we envision to see the designs being worn around the world—mainstream fashion, yet still authentic in its design elements,” assistant mall manager Engr. Nick Santos shares. Thirty designers from across the region joined the competition. There were 3 categories—Preta-porter, innovative design and couture, with 10 entries each. Koronadal’s Sherwin Tiongson bested the pret-a-porter category with his T’boli-inspired ensemble. Rogie Vergara Jr. of Panabo City came in second while Davao’s Neil Patrick Jimlani SM City Davao assistant mall manager Engr. Nick Santos. ranked third. Creations of the two runners up were inspired by B’laan and Tausug tribes, respectively. Another designer from Koronadal, Duhata, awed the crowd and bagged the grand prize with his entry. Richard Pulatche’s Monobo-inspired creation ranked second and Joao Tarepe’s ‘OvuManovu’-inspired creation ranked third. Pulatche hails from Davao del Sur while Tarepe is from Davao City. Completing the sweep for Koronadal is Archie Castillo with his red T’boli couture number. Ranking second is Joey Hambala and Mark Joseph Sayad, third. Both are from Davao City. Celebrating Mindanaoan talents, Moda MindaNow 2015 also highlighted the B’laan-inspired collection by Jared Servaño. Servaño is a finalist in the Runway Philippines and was Moda Moda MindaNow featured designer Project Runway Philippines finalist and Moda Mindanaw Mindanaw 2015 grand prize winner for long gown. 2014 grand prize winner Jared Servaño.

Innovative Design grand prize winner. A T’boliinspired creation by Duhata.

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ENTERTAINMENT

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Vice dishes out good advice in ‘IT’S SHOWTIME’ Vice Ganda is doing more than just giving useful advice in his “It’s Showtime” segment “Advice Ganda.” Aside from dishing out words of wisdom for troubled people with problems, Vice has also started spreading good vibes by granting some of the madlang people’s wishes. In fact, Vice, through the segment, initiated a meet-up between Melody and her idol, the Queen of All Media Kris Aquino. Melody, who sat in the studio audience, talked over the phone to Kris, who then invited her to a “Kris TV” taping in order to meet her. Meanwhile, a 23-year-old dancer from General Santos City was named the “Sample Queen” of “It’s Showtime” last Saturday (August 22) after impressing the jurors and the madlang people with her jampacked and high-energy performance. Queenie Velarde, a mass communication graduate, pulled out all the stops to showcase her skills in dancing, rapping, and even playing the guitar and drums. As the grand winner, Queenie won P300,000. Don’t miss the fun in “It’s Showtime’s,” 12:15PM from Mondays to Fridays and 12NN on Saturdays on ABS-CBN. For updates, follow @ItsShowtimena on Twitter, @ItsShowtimeOfficial_IG on Instagram, and like www.facebook.com/itsShowtimena.

MTRCB Uncut on what ‘horrifies’ every Pinoy HALFWAY to the closing of the so-called “Ghost Month,” the infotainment program of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board titled MTRCB Uncut features this Sunday, August 30, the Filipino’s fascination with horror shows. Join hosts and MTRCB board members Bobby Andrews and Jackie Aquino as they tackle the exciting yet terrifying feeling of watching ghosts, spirits, and other supernatural creatures on TV and motion picture. To give viewers idea on how this genre is able to create a sense of fear, panic, alarm, and dread for the audience, MTRCB Uncut invites some of today’s acclaimed directors of horror films to the set. Joining them in the show is board member Atty. Jojo

Salomon, who, for his part, explains how this type of shows is being rated by MTRCB. Also gracing this Sunday’s epi-

sode is veteran character actress Lilia Cuntapay. Dubbed as the “Queen of Philippine Horror Movies,” Lilia has already participated in numerous horror films but is most likely known for her debut role in the film series Shake Rattle and Roll. Meanwhile, MTRCB Chairman Toto Villareal, in the segment “IShare Mo Kay Chair,” personally answers questions sent to the agency. Chairman Toto discusses the lasting effects of horror movies on children as well as the rating process on festival films. Under the direction of Joey Romero, MTRCB Uncut airs Sundays, 7:00pm in Net 25. To get the latest updates about MTRCB, follow its official Twitter (@MTRCBgov) and Instagram (@mtrcbuncut) accounts.

August 26 – September 1, 2015

INSIDE OUT Diane Lane, Amy Poehler, Mindy Kaling PG

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

PIXELS Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Michelle Monaghan PG

12:20 | 2:45 | 5:10 | 7:35 | 10:00 LFS

HITMAN: AGENT 47/ * NO ESCAPE Zachary Quinto, Rupert Friend/ *Owen Wilson, Pierce Brosnan R13/*R13

R-16

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

THE LOVE AFFAIR/ * THE VATICAN TAPES Bea Alonzo, Dawn Zulueta, Richard Gomez/ *Olivia Taylor Dudley, Michael Pena R13/*R16

11:30 | 1:50 | 4:10 LFS / *6:30 | 8:15 | 10:00 LFS

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EVENT

Urbanissimo A1 As we made our way to the festival grounds the roads narrowed and the sound of electronic dance beats loomed closer and closer. As we arrived, we were greeted by long queues of eager partyphiles waiting to get in. This was despite the venue being a good distance from downtown Davao, showing that Dabawenyos love a good time, no matter how far they need to travel. I parted with Richard at the parking lot and made my way slowly to the Eagle Stage. The first of three stages, the area around the eagle stage was full of Dabawenyo urbanites singing and jumping to the music. There were also

food and drink booths around the area which created a party village like atmosphere. AirAsia and Globe’s booths were also located in the area providing partygoers with treats and prizes which made the evening more enjoyable. I had wanted to experience the Carnival Stage located in the rides section of the D’Leonor Resort but unfortunately I was not able to, as the stage was already closed by 10 in the evening to give way to the two bigger stages. Not wanting to miss a thing, I hurriedly made my way to the Floating Stage located at the water park section of the resort. Literally floating in the middle of the resort’s massive wave pool, Arcadia’s

Floating Stage is the first of its kind in Davao and was truly a sight to behold and experience. The pool setup ensured that the party was truly wet and wild which gave me visions of the parties I experienced while visiting Boracay and Phuket. Manic Nightning’s Arcadia EDM Festival is truly one for Durianburg’s record books, creating an unforgettable experience where guests and truly express themselves though dance and music. A festival worthy of Davao’s nine thousand strong party goers. Follow me on Instagram or on Twitter at @kennethkingong for more travel stories, foodie finds, and happenings in, around, and beyond Durianburg.

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EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

VOL. 8 ISSUE 107 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 28 - 29, 2015

EDITORIAL Enrile ruling as precedent

HERE is reason to believe that the Enrile Ruling handed down by the Supreme Court that paved the way for the ailing Senator to post bail on humanitarian grounds could be a precedent. It’s no surprising if the same ruling is used in other related cases. A news report quoted Retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Edilberto Sandoval as saying that the Enrile decision will open the floodgates for similarly situated detainees, though they have to first file a similar petition before the high court. With the Enrile Ruling, the SC will have to consider everything now in similar cases because humanitarian consideration is a very broad concept. In ruling on the Enrile case, the court considered three mitigating circumstances--humanitarian grounds, Enrile’s old age, and his voluntary surrender. The High Court also considered Enrile as not a flight risk, just like former President Gloria Arroyo, another detained VIP. Unlike Enrile, Senators Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada, nevertheless, cannot benefit from the ruling because the same mitigating circumstances do not apply to them.

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However, the circumstances in the Enrile case could also be applied to political prisoners. This is Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Zarate challenged the SC and the Aquino government to refute the view that Enrile was given special accommodation by releasing political prisoners suffering from ailments for just and humanitarian reasons. Zarate said that if the government and the Supreme Court are truly impartial, it should not be so difficult to extend this kindness to ailing political prisoners languishing in prisons all over the country. As of November 2014, there are 491 political prisoners, of whom 43 are female, 53 are ailing, 42 are elderly, and six minors according to the Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Pag-Aresto (SELDA.) Fifty-three of these political prisoners have illnesses ranging from diabetes and asthma, leukemia, thyroid and heart disease. The Enrile Ruling opens a scenario where political detainees could use humanitarian consideration as a ground to be granted bail in a formal petition before the High Court. The only way to prove that there is really no special treatment or selective justice is to put the ruling to the test.

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VANTAGE POINTS

Have friends and keep them

COUPLE of years ago, an English publication offered a prize for the best definition of a friend, and among the thousands of answers received were the following: “One who multiplies joys, divides grief.” “One who understands our silence.” “A volume of sympathy bound in cloth.” “A watch which beats true for all time and never runs down.” But here is the definition that won the coveted prize: “A friend - the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out.” Charles Spurgeon, a noted American commentator, once said: “Friendship is one of the sweetest joys of life. Many might have failed beneath the bitterness of their trial had they not found a friend.” What fun would life be if we had no friend to share it with? No one with whom to celebrate our successes, share our laughter, confess our disappointments? Friends, indeed, are an essential ingredient for a full, happy life. Following are some tips to help you make and keep them. Make friendship a priority. The people who always seem to have good friends are those who deliberately place friendship high on their list of priorities. Be a friend. Ralph Waldo Emerson had said it right when he wrote: “The only way to have a friend is to be one.” Oftentimes, that means taking the first step and initiating deeper contact

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with another THINK ON THESE! person. Practice the art of self-disclosure. Nothing bonds two people more closely than self-revelation. When you take the risk of sharing with Henrylito D. Tacio another person, henrytacio@gmail.com things that bring you joy and pain, the friendship deepens considerably. K. Alvin Pitt once said: “A true friend is one in whom we have confidence and to whom we will listen.” Celebrate differences. Often the closest friends have as many differences as they do similarities. The finest friendships often cross religious, political and social boundaries as people discover there can be great unity within diversity. Robert Weiss, a social psychologist at the University of Massachusetts, explains it in this manner: “One recipe for friendship is the right mixture of commonality and difference. You’ve got to have enough in common so that you understand each other and enough difference so that there is something to exchange.” Give love and support. A good friend is always someone whom you can count on when

life gets rough. In difficult and depressing times, a real friend suspends judgements and provides a continuous flow of love and support so that the other person can heal and recover. C. Neil Strait, a well-known American author, said: “The greatest service one can perform is to be a friend to someone. Friendship is not only doing something for someone, but it is caring for someone, which is what every person needs.” Be loyal. A survey published in Psychology Today, an American publication, revealed that loyalty is one of the most desired qualities in a friend. Loyalty, someone once defined, is “faithfulness, and effort, and enthusiasm. It is common decency plus common sense.” Franklin Owen offers these words about loyalty: “Friendship is loyal. A real friend is loyal through thick and thin. He will stand by you in the hour of need. He will help you when you are down. He will celebrate with you when you are up. Friend-ship is patience with one’s friend when he is right, patience with him even when he is wrong.” Don’t expect perfection. A friend’s moods may change. A friend may make decisions you do not feel are wise. And a friend may act in ways that you would not. Nevertheless, strong and true friendship does not have a high perfectionist impulse attached to them. Forgive and forget. Sometimes friends hurt us through words and deeds or by neglect. If

the friendship is real that person will sense the hurt caused and will give us an explanation or an apology. Rather than crossing the person of your list of friends, forgiving and forgetting is in order. Listen to the advice of American journalist Judith Viorst: “When a friend fails to come through for us, but acknowledges it and regrets it and apologizes for it, we should - for the sake of friendship - forgive and forget. And when a friend explains how he or she honestly thought he/she was doing the right thing when he/she did something we think is really wrong, we may disagree but we also ought to - in order to save the friendship - forgive and forget.” Forgiveness, after all, saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits. Listen with your heart. More than anything else, so many people need others to hear them when they are hurting. This means hearing beyond the words and withholding judgement. Poet Marian Evans, writing under the male pseudonym George Eliot, had a friend who was able to listen this way. Evans wrote: “Oh the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words but to pour them all out, just as it is, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keeping what is worth keeping and then, with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.”

balk at paying them the same amount we willingly fork over for the privilege of riding cabs in other countries. We rant about paying higher taxes, when the fact is, we don’t. We complain about everything, yet, outside of pointing it out for all the world to see, we refuse to do anything to help. And no, signing a petition on change.org or posting it on Facebook so that you can get “likes” does not count. What WE Filipinos should understand is that WE are all as big a part of the problem as anyone else or thing we complain about. Maybe even bigger. This is the Philippines that WE have made in our image. Not politicians, nor the government, nor some imaginary bogeyman – it is US. TAYO ang may gawa nito. And the sooner we come to grips with this fact and get up off our butts, then the faster we will be able to either (a) migrate to another country or (b) stay here and fix the whole situation. Either way, please stop sitting there with your faux sense of patriotism and concern for the masses, nitpicking everything that’s going on in the country as if you have nothing to do with

it being this messed up in the first place. It just makes me want to smack that smug look off your face. --Two reporters are killed on live television and the whole world (or at least that part of it that is not yet inured to deaths happening on a daily basis, and in more sensational ways) is electrified. Millions of people are now all of a sudden tuned in to see how the rest of this story unfolds. Analyses, insights, comments are all flying fast and loose as everyone is weighing in on the topic. Trying to get the first words in, edgewise or otherwise, we just have to say something about what everyone else is talking about. Looking at all the noise and chatter out there, I have to admit that I have no idea what to say. I don’t know what it means now or what it portends for the future. I am lost in the flood of information, and I wonder how long this newest unprecedented event, in a long line of unprecedented events, will be able to hold our interest. This is what it’s probably like being stuck in a crowd during a fire, you know that everyone is talking about something important yet you cannot for the life of you understand what it is everyone is saying. And so you all die. When things like this happen, people want to look for meaning. Our minds are not very good at handling random events. Which is why

we like to look for patterns and faces in the clouds. Why we see Jesus in a piece of burnt toast. Why we refuse to acknowledge our powerlessness in the face of nature, or God, or life and death. We need to have answers for everything like a junkie needs his fix. Ironically with the 24/7 news cycle and global voices providing non-stop, real-time commentary on practically everything that is happening in the world, we are still no closer to getting answers to the really important life questions than we were a decade, a century, a millennia ago. If anything, all that our searching has been able to do is reveal that the more we discover, the deeper confused we can become. It’s like trying to kill the Curiosity Hydra, for every question we answer, two more emerge to bite us. We used to ask, “if a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear it, does it make a sound?” Today, there will always be someone there to hear it. Someone to record the sound, post the video on YouTube, the photo on Instagram, live tweet while the tree is falling, pin a DIY infographic on how to make cute wooden chairs and tables, create a fan page on Facebook for a new line of furniture, and form a network on LinkedIn to look for funding to start a company that would sell, market, and promote the brand. Yet with all of this, no one still truly understands the sound that the tree makes as it falls to the ground and dies.

Is the Philippines becoming a nation of complainers?

N the Philippines it is always the government’s fault. Or of government officials. Or politicians. It doesn’t matter who they are or how many times we go through the process of changing those in power, it will always be their fault. Never ours. We of course are the embodiment of saints and geniuses. We know everything that is wrong “with this country” or with our countrymen and are not shy about sharing our opinions. But even the most vocal among us shy from admitting that, to really understand what is wrong with us, we have to start with ourselves. Not the theoretical, philosophical, conceptual self – but the actual person. You and me. I. Our families, friends, the people we know – tayo. That’s where it all starts and ends. The thing is, though, the most that what we, THE PEOPLE, will ever, ever cop to would be that we chose the wrong government, or government officials, or politicians to lead the country. But even then, it will always be the masa, or the bobo supporters of the other candidate, or some other irresponsible sector of our society that, thank God, we don’t belong to. But start talking about personal accountability and see where that gets you. We blame the government for the traffic, all the while ignoring the fact that we regularly hail buses, or jeeps, or taxis anywhere we want to get on or off the vehicle. We complain about rude and undisciplined taxi drivers, but

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Aquino became president after the People Power in 1986, she also declared a revolutionary government. Duterte, however, was quick to add that he will not be a dictator. “Cory closed Congress. Do not worry, I have no ambitions of being a dictator,” Duterte said. Turning to PDI editor-in-chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc, Duterte said: “Ngayon kung ilagay mo lang ako dyan with the solemn pledge that I will just stick to the rules (referring to the Constitution), ma’am sabihin ko sa inyo pagtindig ko rito tuloy n akosa pinto.” Earlier in the day, Duterte reiterated his warning about the serious drug menace the country is facing during a trip to Balanga City in Bataan. “Constant use of prohibited drugs destroys the human brain. We will have an entire generation of empty minds and lost souls if we do not swiftly and forcefully address this menace,” Duterte told public school educators attending the Bataan Education Summit Tuesday morning as quoted by his camp. Duterte told the teachers that due to the worsening poverty in the country, these young drug dependents become easy prey to criminality. But, although he has been busy of late going around the

country to advocate for federalism, Duterte has remains reluctant in throwing his hat into the presidential derby. During the PDI office visit, Duterte was asked whether the mass media will be closed should his revolutionary government be implemented. “Hindi a! (Of course not),” was his quick reply. Meanhile, a staunch supporter of Duterte said the mayor will definitely corner the Cebuano votes once he eventually decides to join the presidential race next year. “People in Visayas have long desired for a leader who can catch national attention and stand a chance of becoming president. Duterte has a good chance,” Laviña said of Duterte, who traces his roots to Cebu. Laviña recalled that the last leader from Visayas who was elected president was Carlos P. Garcia. “Sergio Osmeña tried in 1969 but failed,” he said. No Mindanao leader has also made it to Malacañang, but Laviña was bold enough to declare that Duterte will become the first leader from the South to land the country’s highest position should he decide to join the presidential race less than a year from now. “Mayor Duterte is the only one among the preferred presidential candidates who has a clear agenda for change.”

ganisms which caused the poisoning. Aquino attributed the poisoning to the poor food safety preparation of the manufacturer.

FDA Davao supervisor Deborah S. Legaspi said the owner has already committed a violation by not having a license to operate from the FDA. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

before they are allowed to sell food. Duterte earlier required all street food vendors and food

handlers to undergo food safety handling seminar to ensure food safety in the city. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

nomics and business sector where they want control of prices to make goods more affordable, the rationalization of the tax system, and regulation of fuel prices. Peace and order concerns, on the other hand, point to the arrest and conviction of drug and crime lords, the eradication of the illegal drugs problem, and a solution to juvenile delinquency. In terms of agriculture, the next president should construct farm-to-market roads, improve the market power of farmers, and provide free inputs to farming. Conversely, the infrastructure agenda should include the construction of better roads and bridges, and addressing the energy crisis. Under international relations, however, the next president should, according to respondents, focus on the protection of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and provid-

ing them with financial support, and assert claims on the West Philippine Sea. Dr. Adrian Tamayo of IPO said that the survey employed random sampling. The only minimum standard for response is for the person to be a qualified voter. “The randomness of the [respondents] in needed to represent the psyche of Dabawenyos,” he said. “We need to know what the people wants to hold their government accountable for.” The prioritized sector is only one part of the electoral survey conducted by the IPO. The larger part of the findings also reveal that Duterte is still top of the presidential candidate preferences of Dabawenyos with an outstanding support of 8 in 10 voting for him. Vice President Jejomar Binay comes in a far second with about 1.1 in 10 voting for him, and Grace Poe with 0.6 in 10 supporting her.

Durian... FROM 2

Thousands... FROM 2 Next ... FROM 3

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SECOND CHANCE. Environment Sanitation Division chief Robert Oconer announces during yesterday’s I-Speak media forum the holding of the second food safety seminar for food handlers and street food vendors which will be conducted by the City Health Office (CHO) on September 4 at the Davao City Recreation Center. Lean Daval Jr.

Party... FROM 3 the cost of P1.72 billion. Melencio noted that after the voiding of the P300-million refurbishment deal, the COMELEC’s budget for the refurbishment of the PCOS machines, including consumables and the official ballots, was adjusted twice from P2.88 billion to P3.13 billion. Smartmatic refused to re-bid. Surprisingly, COMELEC nullified the remaining bid by the Dermalog, Avante & Stone of David group, leaving no takers for the refurbishment contract. There was an alarming change of mind by the Commissioners who dropped the idea of refurbishing the 82,000 warehoused PCOS machines in favor of leasing a new set of 93,977 OMRs. All these seemed ridiculously tailor-fitted for the interests of Smartmatic. Melencio demanded that the COMELEC explain thoroughly to the public the sudden change of plans and explain why it was more beneficial and cost effective to the tax-paying public to lease new machines instead of using the old ones. He also lobbied for a holistic review of all Comelec decisions since 2010, as well as the inclusion of representatives of civil society and peoples’ organizations in the entire electoral process being undertaken by COMELEC to ensure transparency and people’s trust in the voting system. “The COMELEC has failed in extinguishing doubts on the reliability of the PCOS machines since the 2010 elections, and the lack of transparency in its operations has fueled the suspicion of many, experts and skeptics alike, that something was wrong with the machines,” he lamented. Motive behind the Balikbayan box fiasco The PLM likewise held a demonstration at the BoC office in Port Area calling for Customs Chief Bert Lina’s resignation. They accused Lina of using his position to influence tariff and custom measures to gain undue advantage over his competition in the forwarding and freight business. On top of that, Lina treated OFWs as “mere collateral damage” in the competition between these companies in the logistics industry.

PLDT... FROM 14 “Lina is misleading the public by declaring that he is just out to implement and upgrade the Customs rules, when his only intention is to give his previously owned companies advantage over competition,” Melencio declared. “The processing of cargoes is already stiff, but his order for mandatory inspections will further impede the forwarders’ operations. This in turn will force its clients to find more reliable, prudent and punctual forwarding services. And Lina’s companies would be it. This is plain and simple harassment of Lina’s business rivals,” he averred. Lina, together with his wife Sylvia, is chairman and major stockholder of 19 companies under the Lina Group of Companies which spans from logistics to solar energy and waste management. Among them are Airfreight 2100 Inc., Air2100 Inc., Cargohaus Inc., U-Freight Philippines Inc., and U-Ocean Inc., all doing business with the BoC. Upon accepting the appointment as Customs chief last April, Lina declared that he would divest himself of all business interests as they are in obvious conflict with his public office. But up to now, no public announcement by concerned agencies has been made on the status of his divestments. The group believes that Lina’s companies were sold to lesser know associates or even to dummies so that he may buy them back after Aquino’s term ends in 2016, similar to what he did in 2005 when he resigned as Customs chief from Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Cabinet and joined the Hyatt 10. Despite Lina’s lion share of the market, the PLM deems that he is “going in for the kill – a move to monopolize the entire forwarding industry before President Noynoy Aquino steps down from office”. Lina is believed to be one of the major contributors in the campaign of Aquino when he ran in 2010. PLM fears that Lina will most likely contribute to the campaign kitty of the Aquino-endorsed candidacy of Mar Roxas in the 2016 elections for as long as the Palace supports the scheme of the Customs chief.

Valencia explained. Even the government and the academe are stepping up their game, Valencia added. Just recently, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) collaborated with IdeaSpace to help build the country’s first national innovation hub, which will help nurture and build on the successes of startups around the country. During the GOAB conference, the DOST-Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) also launched the Philippine Roadmap for Digital Startups in collaboration with ecosystem partners in government, the academe, and the private sector. “As a startup founder, you are in a unique time in the Philippines as investors, corporations, the academe and government are pushing for your growth. The world is looking at us, and we hope to hear more success stories during the next GOAB conference,” Valencia added. Nurturing innovation During the conference, participants were also able to take part in various break-out sessions that tackled various aspects of founding, running, and making startups grow in the country. This included a quick session by Smart DevNet Developer Evangelist Paul Pajo on how to create mobile web applications that can be accessed from just

about any phone, including feature phones that are not as sophisticated as most smartphones today. Pajo said developing these types of applications could allow majority of mobile users in the country, which are still using feature phones, access sites and applications that are relevant to their needs. Sites developed through this approach could also be included in the Internet. org initiative of Facebook, which is currently being pushed by Smart’s value brand Talk ’N Text. Meanwhile, startup founders were also able to hear from PLDT Innolab’s Joey Limjap how the innovation center of PLDT could help them accelerate the growth of their startups. With presence in major urban centers around the country, PLDT Innolab provides the right space and infrastructure for startups so that they may develop the country’s next-generation ICT solutions. The third GOAB conference also hosted an international pitching competition supported by Smart Bro, which saw five founders from the Philippines and around the world pitch their startups to investors and speakers present during the event. Singapore’s Nearcircles, a location-based service that allows users to connect with their neighbors, eventually won the grand prize, which included $1,000 in cash plus gadgets from Smart Bro.

DAVAO HELEN’S PAWNSHOP CORP. De Guzman St., Davao City Telefax (082)225-4473

NOTICE OF AUCTION SALE All unredeemed items pawned during the month of April 2015,if not redeemed/renewed on August 31, 2015 will be put on Auction Sale September 1, 2015 at 9:00 A. M. to 5:00 P.M. Pahibalo nga ang tanang wala malukat nga prenda sa bulan Abril 2015,kung dili malukat sa Agosto 31, 2015 isubasta sa bulan sa Setyembre 1, 2015 sa alas 9:00 sa buntag hangtud sa alas 5:00 sa hapon.

DAVAO HELEN’S PAWNSHOP CORPORATION

Davao City: 252 San Pedro St., 167 San Pedro St., CVA Bldg., C. M. Recto St., G/F Victoria Plaza Bajada 120-B Lapu-lapu St., Agdao 75C R. Magsaysay Ave., 2nd Level Gaisano Mall Bajada, G/F NCCC Bldg., R. Magsaysay Ave., Centerpoint Plaza Matina Fronting San Pedro College Guerrero St., Carlson Bldg., Lapu-lapu St.,Agdao NCCC Mall Matina Saavedra St., Toril Gaisano South Citimall, Ilustre St.,

Km. 11 Sasa Km. 13 Panacan Boulevard Buhangin Cabantian Bankerohan Calinan Davao del Norte: Gaisano Mall, Panabo Davao del Norte Gaisano Grand Mall of Tagum, Tagum City Gaisano Mall of Tagum, Tagum City Purok Marilag 11, Quezon St.,Tagum City Davao del Sur: Gaisano Grand Mall of Digos, Quezon St., Digos City

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11 BIGGER PICTURE

Lifeblood of Philippine agriculture By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“T

HE amazing thing about the coconut palm is that it provides almost all the necessities of life: food, drink, oil, medicine, fiber, timber, thatch, mats, fuel, and domestic utensils, as well as serving important environmental services such as soil erosion control in coastal regions, wind protection and shade for other crops.” – Craig Elevith, author of various books on tropical agriculture On August 19, 1987, then President Corazon C. Aquino proclaimed the last week of August every year as the National Coconut Week by virtue of Proclamation No. 142. Coconut has been touted as a “lazy man’s crop.” According to an old legend, coconut is God’s gift to the lazy man. “He sleeps in the shade of the tree, is awakened when a nut falls, drinks the milk, and eat some of the meat. He then feeds the rest of the meant to the chickens and cattle, which produce eggs and milk and meat, respectively. The leaves provide thatch for the roof and walls of his coconut hut, and are also woven into hats, baskets and mats.” The Philippines is the world’s second largest producer of coconut products – after Indonesia. “(Coconut) provides vital economic support to the rural communities, with over 3.4 million farmers directly benefiting from the industry,” reports the Laguna-based Philippine Council

for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD). Copra or dried coconut meat is the main products of coconuts. It has high oil content, as much as 64%. Coconut oil, which is the most readily digested among all fats of general use in the entire world, furnishes about 9,500 calories of energy per kilo. Its chief competitors are soya bean oil, palm oil, and palm kernel oil. Aside from copra, there are many other products that you can get from coconut. After all, in Sanskrit, coconut is called kalpavriksha, which means “the tree that provides all the necessities of life.” One coconut product that is making waves in the United States is coconut water. “Drinking what they call coco water, and what we call buko juice, is a growing trend in the US,” President Benigno Aquino III told the press when he returned from a working visit to the US a few years back. “Because of its nutrients, because it is natural and environment friendly, it is becoming the new natural sports drink in America and is now a hundred-million-dollar industry.” A book published by PCAARRD knows why: “The coconut water has lots of health nutrients and uses. It is among the purest of all waters. It has no cholesterol but contains more electrolytes than any fruit or vegetable juice or sports drink currently avail-

able in the market. It contains trace amounts of copper, phosphorus, and sulfur which help correct electrolyte imbalances. “Coconut water contains enough vitamin C to meet the daily requirements of the body. Further, it keeps the body cool thus, helps maintains the human body’s natural fluid levels while carrying vital nutrients and oxygen to cells. It improves calcium and magnesium absorption which supports the development of strong bones and teeth. It also improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose.” In his book, How to Live Longer, Dr. Willie T. Ong writes: “Coconut water is good for kidney stones and cleansing the digestive tract. It’s low in carbohydrates, low in sugar and serves as an isotonic beverage, which means it’s good for replenishing your body.” By planting more coconuts, the Philippines can also help stave off the effects of climate change. “These coconut lands could be developed for income generating carbon sequestration projects and carbon credit market,” pointed out Dr. Severino S. Magat, extension department manager of the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA). Carbon sequestration describes long-term storage of carbon dioxide or other forms of carbon to either mitigate or defer global warming and avoid dangerous climate change. Carbon dioxide, in the

form of gas, can be sequestered out of the atmosphere through photosynthesis. The carbon dioxide is converted into sugar by the plant or emitted back to the air through perspiration. Carbon stored in plant parts other than the stem wood or trunk are generally decomposable biomass which eventually becomes a part of the soil organic matter (SOM) of which the more stable component is the 50 percent soil organic carbon (SOC). In his paper presentation entitled, “Productive and Sustainable Coconut Farming Ecosystems as Potential Carbon Sinks in Climate Change Minimization: A Review and Advisory Notes,” Dr. Magat explained the important role of the coconut lands against the negative impacts of climate change. In coconut, as in most tree crops, carbon is stored or sequestered both by the biomass and the soil of the ecosystem, indicating that the biomass and the soil are the main carbon sinks of atmospheric carbon dioxide. These “carbon sinks” could be regulated and managed to a great extent by following proper cropping practices, according to Dr. Magat. A two-year study conducted by PCA showed the annual rate of carbon sequestration in local tall variety coconut crop is 4.78 tons carbon per hectare. That is equivalent to 17.54 tons of carbon dioxide

Dehusked coconuts per hectare, Dr. Magat claimed. The coconut industry is the lifeblood of the Philippine agriculture. Unfortunately, the country’s coconut production and productivity are both declining. “Currently, the average yield is pegged at 46 nuts per tree per year, which is way below the India’s average yield of 120 nuts per tree per year,” PCAARRD reports. In addition, coconut farmers are considered as the most marginalized in the agricultural sector. “Ninety-six percent of coconut farmers are smallholders who are regarded non-bankable by the formal banking sector and cannot borrow capital to improve their farms,” PCAARRD laments. In an article which appeared in Marid Agribusiness

Digest a few years ago, the, Philippine Coconut Authority administrator was asked on his assessment of the coconut industry in five years. “If the Aquino government will fulfil its promise to the coconut farmers, we will see more integrated processing plants where we can produce more coconut water and the coconut meat will be processed into refined coconut oil through cold press. We also hope to develop other feasible coconut products by that time,” he replied. “But the President really wanted to see coconut farmers take control or own the integrated processing plants and other feasible coconut products, not the businessmen or traders. I really hope that this would happen,” he added.

12 CLASSIFIED

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 107 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 28 - 29, 2015

DAVAO CITY MAIN OFFICE JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales Door 14 ALCREJ Bldg., Quirino Ave., Davao City Tel: (082) 224-1413 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 GENERAL SANTOS CITY MARKETING OFFICE EDMUND D. RENDON Marketing Specialist Mobile: (Smart) 0909-424-7990 MANILA MARKETING OFFICE ANGELICA R. GARCIA Marketing Manager 97-1 Bayanbayanan Ave., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 654-3509

VOL. 8 ISSUE 107 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 28 - 29, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS13

‘No remittance day’ to cost economy P3.1B – Chiz S

ENATOR Francis Escudero said the government stands to lose some P3.1 billion in one day if the campaign for “Zero Remittance Day” by overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) pushes through this weekend in connection with the “balikbayan” box controversy. According to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), personal remittances from OFWs in 2014 set an all-

time high for the country at $26.93 billion, which accounted for 8.5 percent of the gross domestic product last year. During the first half of 2015, the BSP reported that personal remittances from OFWs grew by 6.2 percent to $12.7 billion from $11.9 billion in the same period last year. On the average, Filipino workers across the globe sent a combined remittance of P2.014 billion per month

from January to June this year. Escudero said a one-day remittance boycott could translate to losses of over $67 million, or some P3.1 billion (at P46.61 exchange rate), for the Philippine economy—money which could have been spent for the basic necessities of relatives of OFWs here such as food, clothing, shelter and utilities. “The OFWs play a major part of the Philippine econ-

omy and its sustainability, so I don’t understand why the BOC (Bureau of Customs) targets the OFWs in its anti-smuggling campaign,” Escudero said. “This is not the way to treat our modern-day heroes. I say no to physical inspection of balikbayan boxes. The BOC should run after big-time smugglers.” “The proposed policy is anti-migrant and will only fuel serious backlash like a boycott on the remittances sent by OFWs,” he added. Escudero, who used to head the Senate Committee

on Finance, said the BOC should put to good use its budget for surveillance and prevention of smuggling amounting to P540 million under the 2015 General Appropriations Act, to enhance the agency’s intelligence gathering capabilities. “Nakakahiya naman sa mga OFW na nagpapadala ng bilyun-bilyong piso para sa ating ekonomiya kung hindi natin magagamit ang pondo na dapat sana ay pinambibili ng mga digital X-ray scanners, K-9 dogs, CCTV cameras. Isama na rin yung

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS

Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late MARIA THERESA COSICO GUERRA has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS executed among her heirs per Doc. No.51; Page No.11; Book No. 107; Series of 2015, of the NOTARY PUBLIC FATIMA IRENE T. ADIN 8/14.21.28

wastong training ng mgacustoms personnel para lumakas ang kanilang kakayahan,” the veteran lawmaker said. Escudero said President Aquino did the right thing when he stopped the BOC from implementing the regulation following complaints from netizens, and OFWs and their families here and abroad. “Sa tingin ko ginawa ng Pangulo kung ano ang nararapat at natutuwa naman po tayo at pinakinggan nya ang boses ng mga OFW at taumbayan,” Escudero said.

14 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

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IdeaSpace’s Earl Martin Valencia and TechTalks.ph’s Tina Amper discuss the early beginnings of ‘Geeks on a Beach’, Global investors around Asia, including those who came from Russia, Singapore, and Malaysia, discussed the kinds of which started as a casual conversation with friends over lunch. startups they are looking to invest in.

launches PLDT backs digital startups NCCA green architecture in 3rd ‘Geeks on a Beach’ F

IRMS under PLDT, the country’s leading telecommunications and digital services provider, threw their full support behind the fast-emerging startup ecosystem and the need for innovation to advance the Philippines’ digital economy during the ‘Geeks on a Beach’ (GOAB) technology and startup conference held recently Boracay Island, Aklan. Now on its third year, the GOAB conference organized by Cebu-based TechTalks.ph pooled some 500 participants from around the Philippines and abroad to hear more than 35 local and international speakers, including investors and guests from Silicon Valley, share about how to further boost the startup

ecosystem of the country. The conference was co-presented by IdeaSpace Foundation, Smart Communications, Smart Bro, Smart Developer Network (DevNet), and PLDT Innolab. Execution is critical Smart e-Money, Inc. (SMI) Chief Operating Officer Paolo Azzola, the keynote speaker for the conference, underscored the need for sound and efficient execution of startup ideas in order to ensure growth, especially since the local startup ecosystem has already started taking off. “While ideas are useful, execution is critical, and efficiency comes with sound execution. Too often we see startups be-

ing built with useless bells and whistles, with founders deploying funds on useless things,” Azzola said, adding that execution, and not “sushi and comfy chairs” as one of his mentors put it, is the most important component of a startup. Azzola likewise highlighted the need to collaborate with other startups, even among competitors, so that they may be able to build the ecosystem together. “No matter how smart and driven you are, if you go alone, you will fail alone,” he added. ‘Pivotal’ year IdeaSpace Foundation President Earl Martin Valencia, meanwhile, pointed out how 2015 is a pivotal year for the local startup ecosystem as more

groups from here and around the world pour support for startups in the country, from idea stage up to expansion stage. IdeaSpace, a tech incubator and accelerator for early-stage startups supported by companies under the First Pacific Group including PLDT and Smart, has for one received a record-breaking 1,028 ideas for its national startup competition this year. “Many are now realizing that the Philippines is a good market to start a business. The fact that many of these ideas came from various regions around the country is a testament that the ecosystem is growing way beyond major urban cities in the Philippines,”

Vilchez of the Council of Deans in IT Education, Mr. John Mark Dumanig, IT Education Supervisor of CHED-XI, and outgoing PSITE-XI President Vicente Calag of UP Mindanao, who delivered the PSITE-XI 20142015 accomplishment report. The election of new officers for SY 2015-16 resulted in the election of Engr. Chrys Velasco (Holy Child IT Academy) as President, Prof. Fe Yara (University of Mindanao–Main) as Vice President, Ms. Cinmayii

Garillos (UP Mindanao) as Secretary, Ms. Nancy Mozo (Holy Cross Davao College) was re-elected as Treasurer, Mr. Meljohn Aborde (UM–Main) was re-elected as Public Information Officer, and Mr. Eugene Iglesias (Davao Merchant Marine Academy–College of Southern Philippines) as Auditor, Mr. Al Ventures (ACES College–Tagum) as North Cluster representative, and Mr. Benjie Pabroa (Cor Jesu College) as South Cluster rep.

The participants also heard talks from and government and private sector. Mr. Arriel Nengasca of DTI-XI talked about the Negosyo Center and its services for IT start-up companies. Ms. Regina Evangelista and Mr. Mads Singers of Mr. Outsource shared opportunities in Business Process Outsourcing, and Mr. Julius Rivera of American Technologies Inc. discussed digital arts and design and its challenges and opportunities for the academe.

FPLDT, 10

PSITE XI holds, elects new officers T

HE Philippine Society of Information Technology Educators-XI (PSITE-XI) convened last August 14 for their General Assembly and Seminar-Workshop and Election of Officers at Tower Inn Business Hotel, Quirino Avenue, Davao City. The assembly was attended by some 80 participants from various higher education institutions in Region 11. Update reports were given by Dr. Randy Gamboa of PSITE National, Dean Ramcis

Physical attributes is not enough for Misters 2015

By PRINCE SIMON CANDA, ADDU Intern

HE Philippines is one of the countries regularly hit by typhoons and earthquake and yet most homes were not built to be disaster-resilient. With this in mind, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) together with the Swito Architectural Design is promoting Mindanao and green architecture through “Balay-Balay Ta” workshop and puzzle exhibit of the Maranao Royal Ancestral House, the Torogan. Architect Rose Dy said that the main goal is to promote Mindanao architecture to the young specifically to the early graders and inculcate nature building to the children and Mindanao architecture is for all. “Another aim of the exhibit is to also gauge the market on how they will respond to the puzzle exhibit and we want to develop organic materials because we are using non-toxic paints and it’s for children,” Angelyn Chi said. The puzzle exhibit features six puzzles that have 62 puzzle pieces and 18 kinds of puzzles of the torogan. It is a prototype of the royal Maranao house and it is open to all those who are interested. On August 28, there will be an Okir workshop that is an element design of a Panolong of

the torogan “This is to teach young children their cultural heritage and about nature building,” Arch. Rose Dy said. The main highlight of the event is to feature disaster resilient house that is in pre-colonial house, the torogan. It’s not just by the Maranao’s Sultan but it can also mitigate the occurring issue on climate change that could destroy houses by earthquakes and typhoons. “It’s time to get inspiration from our traditional houses because of the climate change,” Angelyn Chi said. Before the event, the puzzle exhibit was inspired by a research study of Henna Dazo, a UP Mindanao Architecture graduate that is about the historical evolution of the Maranao houses. It mainly started with the torogan in Tuka District in Marawi, Lanao del Sur. “I went in Marawi in coordination with the Mindanao State University and other researchers in the area. Though, it’s a prototype it’s really effective to introduce to children about Maranao tradition and promote cultural heritage,” Dazo said. The opening of the event will be on August 28, 10 am at the Abreeza Mall. The event will last until September 5.

By JESSA MARIESTELA P. PUTONG, ADDU Intern

AN Flores Alibo was named representative of Davao del Norte for the Misters 2015 pageant on September 13 at Resorts World Manila. Retchelyn S. Barcelo, team coordinator of the province of Davao del Norte, announced Alibo as representative for Davao del Norte during the Club 888 Media Forum at Marco Polo Davao last Wednesday. Alibo is a mechanic and a church lay minister. Barcelo said that they conducted a screening for Mister Davao del Norte and Alibo was the one who passed or survive

the said screening. There is an age and height requirement for the said pageant. One must be between 18 to 29 years old and with a height of at least 5’10. “Hindi lang basta gwapo ang kailangan sa screening ng Mister Davao del Norte kundi ang kanyang attitude or the character itself,” Barcelo said. She said that they conducted an observation to all who auditioned the said screening. An observation was made discreetly so that the contestants would not know about the said observation. They asked the contes-

tants’ neighbors and friends for them to figure out something about the contestants’ character and attitude. After the said observation which took them a month, they came up with a decision that the one who really deserve the title was Alibo. Alibo announced that this coming September 4, 2015 is their pre pageant which is the swim wear competition at the Dahilayan Matti, Davao del Sur at 7:00 pm-9:00 pm and there are 30 candidates that will be competing. After the swimwear competition, there will be a white beach party.

SURVEY SAYS… Institute of Popular Opinion (IPO) executive director Dr. Maria Linda Arquiza says according to her group’s survey, 80 percent of the 1,200 respondents from the three congressional districts of Davao City would vote for Davao City

Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte should he decide to seek the presidency in next year’s election. Arquiza, together with research specialist Adrian Tamayo, graced yesterday’s Club 888 media forum at The Marco Polo, Davao. Lean Daval Jr.

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DAY VS. SPIETH R

SPORTS 15

TRMH-CMO imports making moves in PBA offseason

Fil-Aussie Day hopes to unseat Spieth as player of the year

EWLY-CROWNED PGA Champion Jason Day sees the FedExCup playoffs as the opportunity for a challenge to world number one Jordan Spieth in the voting for the PGA Tour Player of the Year award. Day is returning to competition at The Barclays this week at Plainfield Country Club after his breakthrough three-stroke success over Spieth at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin.

The 27-year old Australian plans to play all four FedExCup events and is hopeful, despite Spieth having captured two majors and two other PGA Tour titles this season, that winning the FedExCup could lift his own Player of the Year chances. “The next four weeks starting this week here in New Jersey are very important and to be able to win the FedExCup would be the icing on my season,” Day told Reu-

ters on Tuesday at Plainfield. “If I could snag the FedExCup trophy to go with my PGA Championship victory I could go very close to being named Player of the Year. “I know it’s going to be tough to unseat Jordan because he’s played such amazing golf this year but then if I were to capture the FedExCup, it puts my name in the mix for that award, and gives our peers voting on the award someone else’s name to think

BATTLE ROYALE. Fil-Aussie Jason Day (left) will battle American world no. 1 Jordan Spieth for the Fedex Cup.

BRING ON... FROM 16 ferent,” said Norwood, one of a handful of holdovers from the Gilas team that saw action in the 2013 Fiba Asia showpiece in Manila. “Hopefully it’s a morale booster, just knowing we have another NBA talent outside of Andray (Blatche) on the court. For the country, I think it’s a boost to have another Filipino out there, playing for the best of his country,” he added. The high-flying Rain or Shine combo guard, however, was quick to manage expectations over Clarkson’s arrival. “In terms of popularity, it’s a big boost. Hopefully, we are not putting undue pressure on Jordan coming in, to guarantee any type of victory or things like that,” he said. “It’s up for all of us to come out and work. There’s

no guarantee in basketball. Hopefully, It’s an added boost and not added pressure (for all of us),” added the top pick overall of the2008 PBA draft. Hours before joining Clarkson in Gilas practice, Norwood couldn’t hide his excitement. “It’ll be fun, anytime you have an NBA talent on the court. It’s a good time. I’m all for it, so I am hoping (his playing with us) gets done,” he said. Norwood also looks forward to picking the brain of someone who has played alongside Lakers

PINOY PASSPORT. Jordan Clarkson’s authentic Philippine passport (top) as posted on social media by sports journalist Chino Trinidad. Right, Clarkson gets instructions from coach Tab Baldwin.

about.” Spieth leads the FedExCup standings with Day in second, 1710 points behind the young American and the Australian said winning the PGA Championship’s Wanamaker Trophy for his maiden major only added to his motivation to win the playoff series and its $10 million bonus prize. “If there is any extra inspiration I need to win the FedExCup then it’s been looking each day at the Wanamaker Trophy that’s sitting proudly upstairs back home in my office,” he said. “I sat there one time last week just looking at it for I don’t know how long and just reading all the names on the trophy. “Now having won one major, it would be nice to go on and win all four.” Apart from hosting two corporate outings in Columbus, Ohio, the world number three has spent much of last week relaxing with his family and only arrived at the Plainfield course on Tuesday, where he was congratulated by his fellow competitors, officials, caddies and spectators. “The reception since I arrived here at Plainfield has been simply amazing,” he said.

star Kobe Bryant. “Hopefully, we can learn from the whole experience. It’s his first time playing internationally, it’s a little bit of a differe n t

ONNIE Matias and Bryan Heruela are making moves in the PBA offseason a week after steering The Royal Mandaya Hotel-CMO to the Kadayawan title in Davao. Matias is hoping to make a comeback with Rain or Shine while Heruela is moving over to San Miguel Beer. The journeyman Matias has been trying out for his former team for the past two weeks, eager to crack the roster ahead of the new PBA season. “Nagbabakasakali lang,” Matias said on Wednesday after the team’s tune-up game against National University. “Pinapunta tayo dito ng RoS management eh. Try din natin. Wala namang mawawala, ‘di ba?” Meanwhile, Heruela is packing his bags from Barako Bull to San Miguel and will be reunited with longtime pal and former University of Cebu teammate June Mar Fajardo. Heruela, who recently played for The Royal Mandaya Hotel-CMO in the Kadayawan Invitational, admitted knowing nothing of the transaction that saw him being shipped to the Beermen in exchange for Jeric Fortuna. The burly guard said he had just come from the Barako Bull practice and nothing was mentioned to him about the matter. “I really don’t know any-

game. But overall, we want to pick his brain, things he’s learned as a pro, playing with a great guy like Kobe (Bryant), playing against great players,” Norwood said. “But we’ll probably have more questions (for him to answer) than (learn) things on the court. But anytime you got a guy who’s playing against the best players in the world today, he can help us.”

thing about this. I’m just here resting since I just got home from practice. All this is a surprise to me,” said a shocked Heruela in a talk on Tuesday afternoon. “But it’s a business and I understand that. I was only starting to get comfortable at Barako Bull and learning the ropes there. As players, we can only do our best and play where we’re supposed to play,” the Filipino-American shared. But surprise quickly turned to ecstasy for Heruela once details of the trade were explained to him. “Wow, this is really a dream come true for me. Ever since we parted ways in college, I have always dreamt of playing with Abai (June Mar Fajardo) once again. I never thought that it would come true!” Playing minutes at San Miguel is not guaranteed though for Heruela as resident playmakers Alex Cabagnot and Chris Ross alternate playing the point. Heruela though, could not care less. Matias was a member of the Rain or Shine team that won the franchise’s only championship in 2012. He was later dealt to GlobalPort and found his way to San Mig (now Star) before spending last season as a reserve player at Barako Bull.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

BRING ON CLARKSON

Lakers guard joins Gilas practice

XCITEMENT filled the air on Wednesday night when Clarkson wore a Gilas Pilipinas uniform for the first time and joined the national team practice at the Meralco gym. The Filipino-American rising NBA star, who’s in town as the newest endorser of Smart, took part in some of the drills of a Gilas side that’s preparing for the Fiba Asia Championship next month. Clarkson though is not officially yet part of the national team as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is still seeking clarification from Fiba on the eligibility of the Los Angeles Lakers guard and permission as well for a release from his mother team. The SBP has barred

media from interviewing Clarkson. The Lakers guard’s appearance at practice did not threaten the starting guard of the National Team Gabe Norwood. The two are more or less the same height and play the same position, but Norwood insisted he is in no way threatened by the arrival of Fil-American guard in the Gilas Pilipinas practice. Instead, Norwood welcomed the arrival of the Los Angeles Lakers guard, saying it will be a big boost in morale and popularity for the team bound for the Fiba Asia championships set from September 23 to October 3 in Changsha, China. “ N o

challenge, I mean, there’s a lot of guys that play the position on the team now, I don’t think it’ll be dif-

FBRING ON, 15

VOL. 8 ISSUE 107 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 28 - 29, 2015 VOL. 8 ISSUE 107 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 28 - 29, 2015 PINOY AT HEART. Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson joins the practice of the Smart Gilas Pilipinas on Wednesday night.