Edge Davao 8 Issue 152 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 8 ISSUE 152 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 - 31, 2015

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CAMELLA AMARILLO LAUNCHED TODAY Escalicas: We are the brand when it comes to housing

By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

HE booming real estate industry in the Davao Region receives a major boost as Camella Davao launches today its newest housing development in Panabo City and the municipality of Carmen, Davao del Norte. Called Camella Amarillo, the latest master-planned development from the country’s top residential builder Vista Land and Lifescapes, the project is the first of its kind in Panabo and Carmen to offer complete amenities, including a 24/7 security service for the homeowners. “When we launch the project it’s already announcing to Panabo and Carmen that we are already here. This is really true,” Camella Southern Mindanao head Marlon Niño Esacalicas said. Now, people in Panabo and Carmen are finally having a complete community of their own. “We are developing a Camella community. This will be a typical Camella community that we will be putting in Panabo and Carmen. Houses are of the same packages,” Escalicas said. The amenities include

a clubhouse, playground, swimming pool, open spaces, 24/7 security service and perimeter fence. Escalicas said the company is very excited with the project as it sees the tremendous economic potentials in both localities, specially Panabo, one of three progressive cities of Davao del Norte. The other cities are Tagum and IGaCoS (Island Garden City of Samal). “Normally when we chose a property we look at the pace of development of the area, as our company’s potential market. In the Davao Region, one of the booming cities, undoubtedly, is Panabo,” Escalicas said. The Camella executive cited Panabo’s world-class sea port facilities, its banana plantations, its ever-growing pommelo farms and active trading as the big factors that make the city attractive to real estate business. Escalicas said aside from the excitement generated by the development among Panabo and Carmen residents, he also took note of the fact that they are welcomed by officials in both local government units (LGUs) as the

demand for housing gets and Lesandra. Camella Amahigher and higher. rillo offers affordable to highAnd, most specially if the end houses ranging from P1.2 developer is Camella, which is million to P6 million. known for its quality projects. Camella Amarillo features “There has been a de- functional and stylish homes mand for us to open projects set against a backdrop of lush in Panabo because when we greenery and landscaped opened in Tagum, we were grounds, with deluxe amenialways asked what about in ties that will provide opporour area. They are very hap- tunities for rest and recrepy about our entry in Panabo ation. It will have tree-lined and Carmen. They welcomed avenues, jogging trail, and our company,” Escaslicas said. ball court that can cater to an “All across the country, active lifestyle as well. wherever we go the locals al“We are the brand ways get excited. Officials get when it comes to excited. They see us as a cat- housing,” Escalalyst of change. They see as icas said. partners in the development,” he added. Camella is actually developing a 30-hectNormally when we are housing chose a property we project in Panabo and look at the pace of Carmen, but development of the what will be launched area, as our company’s today is the potential market. In 20-hectthe Davao Region, one are-development of the booming cities, fe a t u r i n g undoubtedly, is Panabo. Marlon Niño Esacalicas, Camella Camella Southern Mindanao head Amarillo

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 152 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 - 31, 2015

Panabo LGU welcomes Camella housing project

Panabo City Mayor James G. Gamao

HE City Government of Panabo welcomes the entry of the Camella Amarillo housing development to the city and considers the project a boost to its growing economy and a boon to the city’s tourism industry. “It will generate more real estate taxes for the LGU, at the same time provide an opportunity of good housing in Panabo in addition to the existing housing subdivisions,” according to Panabo City Mayor James G. Gamao, speaking through City Administrator Jamail

for the residents Lunar G. Macla. and even those “This will from the neighalso give an boring areas impression to like Tagum City everyone that and the municPanabo is a ipalities of Carsafe city. This is men and Braulio the start of some Dujali. of the investments “It (Camella poured into Panabo,” the Jamail Lunar G. Macla, City Administrator development) mayor added. will open an opAside from providportunity to other non-Panaboing Panaboans an opportunity to avail themselves of quality hous- ans to be a Panaboan later. Withing, the entry of Camella Amarillo out doubt will also create jobs for will also create job opportunities Panaboans,” Gamao said.

Camella Southern Mindanao cluster head Marlon Niño Escalicas said their residential project will definitely boost the city’s economy with the local taxes to be generated by the LGU. “With this project, we will definitely be hiring workers,” Escalicas said. This is on top of the fact that Camella Amarillo will give residents of Panabo, B. Dujali and Carmen a chance to own affordable and decent homes they can be proud of. CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

It will generate more real estate taxes for the LGU, at the same time provide an opportunity of good housing in Panabo in addition to the existing housing subdivisions Panabo City Mayor James G. Gamao

New Camella community to rise in Davao del Norte

RUE to its reputation as the top developer of masterplanned communities, Camella will build a new residential development straddling Carmen and Panabo in Davao del Norte. Called Camella Amarillo, the subdivision will feature functional and stylish homes set against a backdrop of lush greenery and landscaped grounds, with deluxe facilities and amenities that will provide opportunities for rest and recreation. It will have treelined avenues, jogging trail, and ball court that can cater to an active lifestyle as well. The subdivision’s name is derived from the dominant color of Panabo being the center of the banana industry in the region. Amarillo refers to the color yellow which depicts sunshine, cheerfulness and happiness--the ambiance that Camella Amarillo will exude with its nature-inspired surroundings that will be filled with flowers flourishing yearround. “Camella Amarillo will

It pays to invest in Camella

UYERS of Camella properties get great benefits aside from having a comfortable abode. Aside from owning a home and enjoying the luxury of living in a complete community, it also pays to invest in Camella. For the Camella Amarillo housing development in Panabo and Carmen, this holds true just like in other Camella projects all over the

country. Camella Southern Mindanao head Marlon Niño Escalicas said buyers also see their projects as good investment because of fast and high appreciation of values. “Other than end-users, we are attracting investors,” Escalicas said. He said property values of Camella projects always rise and never go down, the

reason the company keeps on drawing buyers and homeowners in its 40 years of existence in the Philippines, 20 of these years in Davao. “They see Camella as good investment, fast and high appreciation of values, rental rates. Historically our appreciation is 10 to 20 percent a year. That is high,” Escalicas said. The Camella executive

bear the Camella trademark of quality, affordability, deluxe amenities, and superior location,” said dela Pena, adding that the masterplanned subdivision will further enhance the developing landscape of Panabo and Carmen. Camella strategically select cities and municipalities with robust industries and growing populations for their communities, creating residential options to cater to a growing populace. This is an indication of Camella’s pioneering spirit of building communities in dynamic and fast growing markets in the country. Camella Amarillo’s location is ideal for those who take part in the economic activities in trade centers such as Tagum or Davao, but prefer to go home to a place that does not have the hustle and bustle of city life. This new subdivision will give homeowners a tranquil home location where they can truly enjoy their downtime. “What makes our upcom-

said because of the company’s good reputation as builder of residential projects, more and more home buyers are patronizing their products. “The buyers are getting wise and intelligent. They look at the house as investment,” Escalicas said. “You really have to look at the track record and name of the developer. In 40 years, prices never go down. We

ing development truly special is that it will be the first masterplanned community in this part of its location, offering first class facilities and amenities. Its strategic location makes it easily accessible to nearby growth areas,” said dela Pena. Camella Amarillo raises the bar of subdivision living in Davao del Norte, a complete departure from the nondescript-looking houses cramped in the usual subdivisions that have meager or no amenities at all. With the increasing vibrancy of Davao del Norte, its people will want homes that will match their developing lifestyles. Camella continues to expand its reach to provide Filipinos the dream home they deserve. With Camella Amarillo, the people of Davao del Norte will have the best home option to live the good life. To know more about Camella Amarillo, visit 2nd floor of Great Sun Plaza, Purok Atis, National Highway, Panabo City or call 0922 955 4532.

have a lot of happy homeowners and home buyers in our projects,” he added. Living in a Camella community, Escalicas said, also gives homeowners some status and convenience. Camella Amarillo, the firm’s latest housing development in the Davao Region, will be launched this afternoon in Panabo. “When we launch the project it’s already announc-

ing to Panabo and Carmen that we are already here. This is really true,” Escalicas said. After the launch, development will start in the next few months. “In six months to one year there will be lots of movements in the site. Development will proceed and will follow,” Escalicas. CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

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Camella Amarillo brings happiness to Panaboans By CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

T is a red-letter day for Panabo City and its people today as Camella Amarillo launches the development of a complete community city officials and residents have been longing for. Amarillo is a Spanish word for yellow which is Panabo’s dominant color as the Banana Capital not only of the Davao Region, but also of the entire country. Camella Amarillo is indeed bringing happiness to the residents and those in neighboring areas as the project offers affordable housing that has all the comforts of home and amenities of an ideal community. The color yellow depicts sunshine, cheerfulness and happiness – the ambiance that Camella Amarillo will exude with its nature-inspired surroundings that will be filled with flowers flourishing year-round.

“Yellow is a picture of happiness,” said Anna dela Peña, Camella marketing head. Dela Peña said Camella Amarillo is the first subdivision of its kind in Panabo and Carmen, different from the other existing subdivisions in the area. “We are the only subdivision that will offer 24/7 security. We just don’t have guards in the gates, we also have roving guards,” she added. With today’s launch, Dela Peña said guests will have a glimpse of what Camella Amarillo will be. Camella Amarillo straddles Carmen and Panabo, two progressive communities in Davao del Norte. The subdivision features functional and stylish homes set against a backdrop of lush greenery and landscaped grounds, with deluxe facilities ideal for

rest and recreation. Aside from these features, Camella Amarillo will also have tree-lined avenues, jogging trail, and ball court that can cater to an active lifestyle as well. Dela Peña said the project will bear the Camella trademark of quality, affordability, deluxe amenities and superior location. “What makes our upcoming development truly special is that it will be the first master-planned community in these parts, offering firstclass facilities. Its strategic location is very accessible to nearby growth areas,” Dela Peña said.

Anna dela Peña, Camella marketing head

Panabo, Carmen residents excited with Camella Amarillo Jhong Diana, sales agent

Gina B. Marte Bulicatin, sales agent

Stephanie Palanca, Camella Amarillo marketing dept.

Liza Saa, sales agent

EOPLE in Panabo City and Carmen in Davao del Norte are all excited with the entry of Camella Amarillo in their areas. Desiring to have a complete community for years now, residents in the two localities can now look forward to an excellent housing development that only Camella can build. In Camella Amarillo, it’s a dreamcome-true for the residents. “People are very excited about Camella,” said Stephanie Palanca of the Camella marketing department. She said because of Camella’s track record as a topnotch developer, their sales agents and brokers are enjoying positive responses from home buyers and investors. “Camella already has a name,” Palanca said. The brokers and sales directors themselves have good stories to tell. Liza Saa, a member of a broker group selling Camella Amarillo, said her group has earned P38 million in sales.

Saa belongs to the LSS Pink Power group with more than 30 members. Another sales agent, Gina B. Marte Bulicatin, said she even sold one house and lot as early as June, way before Camella held is brokers’ launch last September. Bulicatin said she already sold two lots and is waiting to close deals of three more buyers. Sales director Jhong Diana said he was happy with the entry of Camella in Panabo, saying residents have long desired to have a complete community such as Camella Amarillo. Diana is a sales agent for Camella projects since 2010 selling housing units for Camella Tagum, Pagadian and Ozamis. With the development of Camella Amarillo in Panabo, Diana said he is more than happy to be going back to his place and sell houses for the company. CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY

D EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 152 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 - 31, 2015

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

ARRIVAL MARCH. Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ricardo C. Marquez goes on arrival march during his visit at Camp Quintin Merecido - Police Regional Office (PRO) 11. Marquez was escorted by PRO 11 regional director Chief Superintendent Wendy Rosario and Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Senior Superintendent Vicente D. Danao Jr. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

PUSHERS FLEE Top drug dealers have left Davao: PDEA

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

HE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 11 yesterday confirmed that the top suspected drug pushers have left Davao City after the 48-hour deadline set by Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte lapsed at 5 p.m. on Wednesday Speaking in yesterday’s I-Speak Media Forum at City Hall, PDEA 11 regional director Adzhar Albani said the top pushers in the agency’s list are are no longer in the city.

“We reported to the mayor last night (Wednesday) that persons who are in our priority list have not been sighted anymore in their respective areas,” he said. Albani confirmed the mayor’s earlier statement that the Quezon Boulevard area is where the illegal drug trade is at its worst. “Masaya kami kung aalis na lang sila diyan, para hindi kami mahihirapan (We would be happy if they just leave so

that it won’t be hard for us),” he said. Albani said the PDEA has three barangays at the top of its priority list but would not say which ones they are. He said the city has 67 barangays moderately affected by drugs and 74 slightly affected. Albani also said he could not divulge the profiles of alleged drug pushers because the list changes from time to time. He said the PDEA’s watch

list consists of raw information that need to be validated before the names are elevated to the “target” list. Duterte had given an ultimatum to drug pushers after receiving reports on illegal drug activities in the city especially in the Quezon Boulevard area. The mayor said he wants the drugs suspects to leave because he does not want to spend money to arrest them and build cases against them.

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 152 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 - 31, 2015

EXODUS. Passengers who will celebrate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day in their respective provinces start to arrive at the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) yesterday morning. Lean Daval Jr.

PNP chief mum on Duterte’s ultimatum By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. abf@edgedavao.net

HILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ricardo C. Marquez yesterday refused to comment on Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte’s 48-hour deadline on suspected drug pushers to leave the city or else die. Speaking to reporters in a press conference yesterday at the Police Regional Office (PRO) 11, Marquez said he could not comment on the stern warning given by Duterte “because it is speculative.” “I am not in the position to make a judgment call because I am a police officer and not a judge,” he said. Marquez, however, said

he appreciates the help of the Davao City government to the police in the fight against illegal drugs. “Kailangan may cooperation ang police, local government units, at ang community in the fight against the use of illegal drugs (There must be cooperation among the police, local government units, and the community in the fight against illegal drugs),” he said. Marquez said the country is facing a serious drug problem because there are some influential people behind the drug trade. Duterte had given his ultimatum last Monday, telling

FPNP, 10

Diño withdraws, asks Rody to run for President instead By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

DP Laban Presidential candidate Martin Diño yesterday announced his withdrawal from the 2016 Presidential election and asked party mate Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte to run in his stead. The announcement was divulged by former North Cotabato Governor Emmanuel Piñol in his official social media account. Piñol said Diño, the deputy secretary general of PDP Laban, made the move “on the advise of his lawyers following a petition filed by the

Commission on Elections (COMELEC) legal office to declare him a nuisance candidate.” The Comelec Law Department had earlier asked the Commission En Banc to cancel the certificate of candidacy (COC) of Diño, saying he was only a “stand-in” candidate for Duterte. The petition also belittled Diño’s capacity to undertake a national campaign for President. Duterte, who had already filed a COC for Mayor of Davao City on October 15, had been

widely expected to file his COC for President on October 16, the last day of filing, but did not show up at the Comelec. Diño filed his COC for President close to the 5 p.m. deadline, leading to speculation that he was only a place-holder in the event that Duterte changes his mind. He has up to December 10 to substitute for Diño. Piñol said according to PDP Laban national chair Ismael Sueno, former governor of South Cotabato, Diño decided to withdraw his COC

DTI monitoring prices of candles, bottled water

T THEY’RE GONE. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 11 director Adzhar Albani (left) confirms reports that top suspected drug pushers have left Davao City after the 48-hour deadline set by Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte

lapsed at 5 p.m. on Wednesday. Albani, together with Task Force Davao commander Colonel Cristobal Zaragoza, graced yesterday’s I-Speak Media Forum at City Hall. Lean Daval Jr.

yesterday “to pave the way for Duterte, who had earlier announced that he would yield to the decision of his national party.” Duterte himself had told reporters in Manila on October 18 that he would abide by his party’s decision. Last Monday, the PDP Laban passed two resolutions. The first affirmed the party’s support for Diño, while the second stated that should Diño decide to withdraw from the race, the party was “compelling” Duterte to run as substitute.

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao City will be intensifying its monitoring of the prices of items whose demand is expected to surge by the end of the week. DTI-Davao City officer Edwin Banquerigo said the DTI is inspecting and monitoring major distributors of candles and bottled water in the city as these two will be among the most in-demand items in the next few days as people commemorate All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. Banquerigo said the agency has been monitoring the prices of candles and bottled water in major supermarkets and grocery stores in the city to ensure that there is no price abuse.

“So far, establishments here are compliant and following the Suggested Retail Price (SRP) set by the department,” Banquerigo told EDGE Davao in a phone interview. He said the DTI is still coming out with a new SRP for this season. “What we have is the SRP for last year,” he said. Banquerigo said the monitoring and surveillance of the DTI is limited to big establishments. Small stores and vendors who are expected to operate near cemeteries are not included in the monitoring. He said the DTI also does not monitor the prices of candles and bottled water sold in public markets. CHENEEN R. CAPON

VOL. 8 ISSUE 152 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 - 31, 2015

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 152 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 - 31, 2015

TF Davao urges vigilance on All Saints’, All Souls’ By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

ASK Force (TF) Davao has reminded people observing All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day to be vigilant especially in crowded places. Speaking in yesterday’s I-Speak media forum, TF Davao commander Colonel Cristobal Zaragosa said although there are no intelligence reports on terrorists attempting to sow chaos in Davao City, it is still better to be alert to preempt attacks. “We are encouraging the people of the city to be vigilant because our safety doesn’t just lie on the security forces but also on the concerned civilians,” Zaragosa said. He said people should be observant especially of people act suspiciously and then leave

bags in crowded areas. “Baka mamaya ito na ang kanilang galaw para masira ang katahimikan ng Davao City (They may be attempting to ruin the peace in Davao City),” he said. Zaragosa said his troops will also conduct patrols not just in the cemeteries but also the streets and other places where people converge. He said his men will also tighten the checkpoints so that no one can sneak bombs into the city. Zaragosa urged the public who will take the bus at the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) to travel light to avoid delays since his men will implement strict inspection of bags.

DLPC customer services open on All Saints’Day

AVAO Light and Power Company (DLPC) customer services will be open to the public on November 1, Sunday, which has been declared a special no-work holiday. DLPC said its full service centers at SM Lanang Premier and at SM City Davao in Ecoland will be available to accept payment and customer services from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00

p.m. However, DLPC’s Panabo branch and payment offices in Toril, Calinan, and Sto. Tomas will not be available for customers on this day. These will resume operations the next day, November 2. DPLC said emergency services will remain available 24 hours through 229-DLPC (3572).

YOUNG WINNER. Precious Kay Niñal (front) bags the best in costume award during yesterday’s trick or treat program initiated by the child minding center under the Davao City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) at City Hall. The activity was participated in by 40 children of government employees. Lean Daval Jr.

Karlo for revamp at NAIA By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

OUSE Committee on Labor chair Karlo Alexei Nograles yesterday called for a “top-to-bottom revamp” of personnel and officials at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) after a 56-year-old overseas Filipino worker (OFW) was arrested for allegedly carrying a bullet in her baggage. In a statement, Nograles

said unlike most countries where their airports are a source of national pride, NAIA “has become a source of disgrace and national embarrassment.” “The credibility of the Aquino government’s success in the fight against corruption is being diminished by the NAIA’s notoriety not only because of its dilapidated facilities but

also because of its rogue personnel,” he said. Nograles said the story of 56-year-old OFW Gloria Ortinez, who was “obviously another victim of NAIA’s laglag-bala (bullet planting) scheme” which was exposed only a few weeks ago, “shows the incorrigibility and insensitivity of airport personnel and its officials.”

Ortinez, who was ordered to be freed by the Pasay City Prosecutors Office after the fiscal handling the case immediately saw discrepancies on the evidence submitted by the PNP-Aviation Security Office, is now in danger of losing her job as a domestic helper in Hong Kong for the last 20 years. “Ortinez was clearly a vic-

FKARLO, 10

YMCA Davao President Fernando S. Ongkingco Jr. (right) with past presidents Antonio Partoza Jr. and Vicente R. Bañes Jr. during a past annual election of the association. Another election is scheduled today, October 31.

Ongkingco: YMCA, part of Davao City’s history F

ERNANDO “BOIE” S. ONGKINGCO JR., Davao City district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), who is the current president of the Young Men’s Christian Association –Davao City chapter, invites local YMCA members to participate in the chapter’s annual election scheduled tomorrow, October 31, Saturday, at the YMCA Gym along Villamor Street, Davao City. (The place is near the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, southern Mindanao office and the Davao City branch of HSBC.) Ongkingko extended the invitation to the annual election as he narrated more facts

about the YMCA, an international organization founded in Great Britain 171 years ago by George Williams, a sales assistant who was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1894 for his YMCA work. Williams was buried in 1905 under the floor of St. Paul’s Cathedral among Great Britain’s heroes and statesmen. A large stained glass window in Westminster Abbey, complete with a red triangle, is dedicated to YMCAs, to Sir George and to Y work during the First World War. The YMCA is widely known to be the inventor of basketball and volleyball, two of the world’s games sports enthusiasts and fans are cra-

zy about. Commercially, these games, most specially basketball, are now multi-billion dollar industries. But the association is a lot more than that if one traces its history, Ongkingco said. The YMCA was very influential in the 1870s and 1930s, during which members successfully promoted “evangelical Christianity in weekday and Sunday services, while promoting good sportsmanship in athletic contests in gyms and swimming pools.” Later, the YMCA had “become interdenominational and more concerned with promoting morality and good citizenship than

FONGKINGCO, 10

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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 152 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 - 31, 2015

Farms urged to follow sustainable practices E

NVIRONMENT advocates urged pineapple and banana plantations in Southern Mindanao to use proper agricultural practices to prevent further damage in the rivers and the seas. This call was raised during the policy forum on “Climate Change Adoptive and Sustainable Agricultural Practices in Sloping Landscapes” at the Episcopal Mission Center along McArthur Highway in Matina here Tuesday. Raoul T. Geollegue, technical team leader of the Relief International-Enterprise Works Worldwide Philippines (RI-EWWP), said that the improper practices of some agricultural firms have already caused major damages by destroying the natural landscape that contributed to the soil erosions. In many of these farms, the soil erosion goes unnoticed because the bare soil will slowly be swept to the river during heavy downfall and the silt will gather in the riverbed. Geollegue said a farm that is compliant with sustainable farming protocols should observe buffer zones and apply methods that will prevent soil erosion. These buffer zones are usually forest trees and bushes which will serve as a biological filter so that the water containing the toxic agri chemicals will

not go straight to the rivers and creeks, he added. “How many kilos and tons poured into banana plantations? All these will go to the main rivers,” Geollegue said. He added that the RI-EWWP’s works focus on revegetating the easement and rehabilitation of bulldozed creeks. He urged the companies to use alternative to harmful chemicals and use manual weeding to remove the grasses, which “provides local employment and less harm to the environment.” In his presentation on “Sustainable and Climate Change-Adaptive Agricultural Practices in Pineapple and Banana Growing,” Engr. Edren Panti, vice president for environmental and health safety of the Unifrutti Philippines Inc., said that farmers must lay out their farms properly in such a way that will not cause soil erosion. “Soil erosion is silent crisis, waiting for heavy rain to exacerbate the problem,” he said. Panti said the roads in conventional farms are left naked, giving less importance to the natural vegetative covers like grasses. In slope farming, he added that the farmers must not go beyond 2 percent slope because the velocity of water will significantly increase if they go beyond the limit, making it

easy for rainwater to scour soil into the river. Panti also highlighted the importance of putting up canals that are at least equivalent to 20 percent of the total plantable area. This will impound the water, he said. Unifrutti, he said, has a total area of 1,100 hectares in Bukidnon, but only around 650 hectares are planted to

pineapples. The rest is allocated for buffer zones and canals. “The water will only flow to the next canal. It is also concluded that it is charging the water table below. With this technology, when we do monitoring at the low level of plantations, there is zero silt,” Panti added He said that they also do manual weeding but some of

the grasses on the roads are intentionally planted to hold the soil and prevent the accumulation of silts on the roads, which can be costly on the part of the companies in terms of maintenance. He said that 35 percent of the company’s capital expenditures is allocated for manual weeding. The company also avoids

using herbicides and other toxic chemicals that may harm not only the environment but also of the consumers, Panti said. Nematicides, for instance, are deadly up to fourth level consumption, he pointed out. “The area which has been applied with nematicide should allow no one to enter for at least 70 hours, others

FPLANTATIONS, 10

GOOD HARVEST. Evelyn Lim shows her harvest of anthurium flowers which are being sold for P40 a dozen at a buying station in Barangay Batasan, Makilala, North Cotabato. MindaNews photo by Toto Lozano

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P820M to be invested in Tagum By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

ESTIMATED total of P820 million will be invested in Tagum City, Davao del Norte with the construction of a mall and a business process outsourcing (BPO) call center building. Romeo Castañaga, provincial director for the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao del Norte, said

Manila-based Double Dragon Properties will construct City Mall with an investment of P800 million. “The mall is expected to be operational by next year,” Castañaga told Edge Davao yesterday. A Tagum-based Gazmen E-business Solutions, an ICTBPO firm, is also eyeing on the

Improved performance for ODA-funded projects

HE financial performance of projects and programs funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA) improved in 2014, indicating greater government efficiency in resource and program management, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). The NEDA ODA Portfolio Review for 2014 reported that the Philippines’ ODA portfolio consists of 76 loans and 449 grants totaling US$14.37 billion. The report showed that indicators of government’s absorptive capacity for ODA Loans – disbursement level, disbursement rate, availment rate and disbursement ratio, showed improved performance in year 2014 as compared to the previous year. The NEDA report showed that the overall disbursement level, or the amount of ODA fund allotment that were actually used for ODA funded projects and programs, increased to US$1.77 billion in 2014 from US$856 million in 2013. This was mainly due to higher disbursement of program loans amounting to US$1.28 billion

and comprising about 73 percent of total disbursements made for the year. Likewise, the disbursement rate, or the actual disbursement as a percentage of target disbursement for the period, increased from 60 percent in 2013 to 76 percent in 2014. Drawdowns of program loans accounted for more than half of the disbursements. Further, the availment rate increased from 76 percent in CY 2013 to 83 percent as of end of CY 2014. Availment rate is the cumulative actual disbursements as a percentage of cumulative scheduled disbursement, both reckoned from the start of implementation up to the reporting period. On the other hand, the grants financial performance (50 percent) registered a 2-percentage-point decrease in 2014 compared to the previous year. As of December 2014, US$1.60 billion was disbursed out of the US$3.19 billion alloted for 449 active grants. Of the total US$14.37 billion ODA, the World Bank had the largest share in the portfolio representing 32 percent (US$4.54 billion). Japan came

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BSP discounts market volatilities in near term

HE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) does not see major market volatilities in the near term on back of the Federal Reserve’sdecision to keep rates steady, which is based on its assessment that economic activity and labor market condition in the US are “nearly balanced.” Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando Tetangco Jr., in a text message to reporters Thursday, noted that “the Fed didn’t anymore seem to be as concerned as it was last meeting with the impact of external developments on their own domestic dynamics, as well as the impact of their policy actions on global financial markets.” “In a way, this could signal that extreme market reactions are no longer expected, and that they expect more normalcy,” he said. The central bank chief said the decision of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which held their meeting from October 27-

28, 2015, “should be market-positive.” “That said, as we are essentially a price taker in the scheme of things, we will continue to monitor domestic market reactions, to see if any action isneeded on our part to contain undue market volatilties,” he added. The Fed, in a statement, said economic activity “has been expanding at a moderate pace” based on information it received after its meeting last September. Household spending and business fixed investments has been rising “at solid rates” but these were countered by the “soft” net exports. Growth of jobs has slowed but unemployment rate is still steady, the Fed said but noted that “labor market indicators, on balance, show that underutilization of labor resources has diminished since early this year.” Inflation remain below-target, it also said. (PNA)

construction of a P20-million call center in Tagum City that will be operational also by next year. Castañaga said the two investor firms are set to present before the investment board of the Tagum City for the details of both project. Meanwhile, another mall is now being constructed in

Tagum City. This will add to the three existing homegrown malls operating in the area, namely the NCCC Mall of Tagum, Gaisano Mall of Tagum and the Gaisano Grand. The management of the Robinsons Mall has already applied for an incentive under the new Incentive and Investment Code of the City, according to

Castañaga. The Robinsons Mall could be the largest in this city when it fully operates by 2016, he added. Castañaga said the entry of the Manila-based mall is a welcome development for the city even as they already saw the pouring in of other big investments.

Robinsons Land Corporation, owner and operator of the Robinsons Mall, has already started with the land preparation. In 2014, he said investments registered to about P8 billion for the province of Davao del Norte making it the highest among the provinces of Davao region in cornering investments for the year.

IN DEMAND. A meat dealership worker delivers chicken and pork meat at the Agdao Public Market ahead of the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day holidays when demand is expected to go up. Lean Daval Jr.

Tagum as center for trade, commerce T

HE operation of the Hijo International Port Services, Inc. (HIPS) in Barangay Madaum will further make Tagum City as a strategic center for trade and commerce in the Davao Region, an official from the Department of Trade and Industry in Davao del Norte said. “It’s a trigger for more development in the city,” DTI Davao del Norte provincial director Romeo Castañaga said. He said the city is strategically situated in the center of cities like Davao, Mati in Davao Oriental and Butuan in Caraga

region. Castañaga added that completion of the road project that will give access to trucks and cargoes from Bukinon to Agusan will further boost the operation of the port. Instead of entering to city just to reach Sasa Port in Davao City, cargo trucks can proceed to Tagum and use the port in Madaum. The developments of different industries in the Tagum City are now limited because of the lack of institutionalized logistic system, according to him. At present, the operation

of HIPS, a joint venture of Hijo Resources Corporation and International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), is still limited to only few banana companies operating Compostela Valley and Davao del Norte. Hijo Resources Corporation vice president for industrial port services Jacobo C. Mantecon earlier said that the management put a temporary port with a capacity of 250 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) to support the operation of banana growers and producers in the two provinc-

es.

China over the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). According to the notes of the meeting, President Xi expressed his gratitude to his Filipino counterpart for taking part in the Beijing summit. He also vowed to support the Philippines’ hosting of APEC in 2015. Xi also described as “regretful” the developments in the West Philippine Sea. He expressed hope that both sides “will return to previous engagements and constructive engagement and look forward to turning a new page”. For his part, President Aquino responded by complimenting the warmth of the

Chinese leader’s hospitality. He ended the conversation by thanking Xi for “the opportunity to start the process of a better relationship”. Meanwhile, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said the Philippines, as this year’s APEC host, has several initiatives in accordance with the goal of a more inclusive integration of the region. The first is on the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) where Trade Secretary Gregory Domingo led the trade ministers in coming up with the Boracay Action Agenda, he pointed out. “As you know, the MSMEs account for the bulk of

employment, not just in the Philippines but across the region, and to really have true integration, we must bring these MSMEs into the fore,” said Secretary Purisima. On the part of the finance ministers, he said the aim is to support the trade agenda. “For the first time in the history of APEC, we came up with the Cebu Action Plan, which is really a roadmap on financial integration of the region,” the finance chief said. Purisima further noted that Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan had led the discussion on structural reforms, consider-

Mantecon also said the ICTSI will be shelling out a total of P9 billion for the development of a 54-hectare Hijo-owned property in Madaum, Tagum City for the next five years. The first phase of the project worth P4 billion will start this year that is expected to bring one million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) that will be available in the next two years. The second phase will bring out the remaining 1

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Noy to be ‘perfect host’of APEC event P

RESIDENT Benigno S. Aquino III would like to be the perfect host to all of his Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) counterparts by trying to engage all 20 leaders in fruitful conversations on the sidelines of the APEC Leaders’ Summit to be held in Manila next month. President Aquino said he looks forward to meeting all the APEC leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping, whom he met privately in November last year in Beijing, during China’s hosting of the APEC Summit. The 10-minute conversation took place amid tensions over the territorial dispute between the Philippines and

FNOY, 10

INdulge!

VOL. 8 ISSUE 152 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 - 31, 2015

EDGEDAVAO EVENT

Kids rule at

Abreeza Mall ABREEZA MALL came alive with children’s glee as it treated kids to a whole weekend of excitement, entertainment, and education. From October 17 to 18, Abreeza Mall’s Kids Day celebration offered shows, prizes, and fun treats to all young ones who attended. A highlight of the event were the science shows presented by Bonifacio Global City-based science museum The Mind Museum on October 17, in which Mind Mover Asia Aportadera demonstrated the science behind simple household items. On October 18, it was the turn of promising children from local music academy Muzic Skool to entertain the gathered

families with their talents in singing and playing the violin. Kids also exercised their right to vote in the interactive challenge Kids Choice, which allowed them to pick a president of their choice among popular animated TV characters on display at the venue. Princess Sofia from Disney Junior’s Sofia the First was declared the winner, and special gifts were raffled off to 10 of her lucky voters. The first 100 children to participate in the voting process also got freebies. Massive kiddie bouncers and a photo wall where little ones could strike a pose gave

kids more reasons to enjoy the two-date celebration. October holds even more treats just for kids as Abreeza Mall launches its eagerly awaited annual Halloween celebration on October 31. Kids in costume are encouraged to take part in the mallwide trick-or-treat activity at 1pm at no registration cost. The Halloween fun continues from October 31 until November 2 when customers present a single or accumulated receipt purchase worth at least P300 from any Abreeza Mall store at the Main Concierge. They will gain passes to the Activity Center, where kiddie bouncers let kids jump

to their hearts’ content, an activity board allows kids to display their drawings, and a Halloween Pumpkin Coach is on display for kids to take pictures at. Passes also grant entry to Journey Into The Woods at the 2F Expansion Wing, an enchanted forest setup where children can make a wish and meet fairy tale characters. For inquiries and updates on Abreeza Mall news and events, please visit the Main Concierge at the ground floor or call (082) 321-9332. Stay updated by liking www.facebook. com/AbreezaMall and following @abreezatweets on Twitter and @iloveabreezamall on Instagram.

ABOVE: Kids pose in costume at the photo wall.

LEFT: Children vote for their choice of president among popular animated TV characters.

ABOVE: Mind Mover Asia Aportadera from the Mind Museum demonstrates scientific concepts.

Talented kids from Muzic Skool perform onstage.

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 152 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 - 31, 2015

Apl.de.ap’s fight for children’s sight By Kenneth Irving Ong IN simple ceremonies last October 20, the Southern Philippines Medical Center became the launch point of Apl.de.ap Foundation International’s first healthcare initiative.

Who would have known that Allen Pineda Lindo, or better known as Apl. de.ap of the Grammy award-winning group Black Eyed Peas, is legally blind. So it was only appropriate that when his international foundation decided to tackle the issue of eyesight preservation, specifically addressing retinopathy or prematurity (ROP) - one cause of childhood blindness in the Philippines. “The Campaign for Filipino Children’s choice to address ROP is both strategic and sustainable,” says Ted I. Benito, Executive Director of the Apl.de.ap Foundation International. “The capacity of the Philippines to effectively address this issue is enhanced tremendously by the continuing professional development of the medical community and the provision of proper diagnostic equipment.” The Campaign for Filipino Children brings together an impressive list of collaborators such as the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology, - the leading industry association of Filipino ophthalmologists; the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, specifically through the worldrenown director of its Vision Center - Dr.

Thomas C. Lee; WesternUnion.com as a presenting sponsor of the campaign and the men and women of the Executive Committee of the Apl.de.ap Foundation International, specifically Sonia T. Delen of San Francisco who is the chairman of the campaign. The campaign’s approach is to assist the medical community in the Philippines through five regional hospitals to increase the capacities of these regions

to adequately diagnose retinopathy or prematurity (ROP, an affliction among pre-term infants that can cause lifelong blindness if not addressed within 48 hours of birth. Each hospital will receive a brand new Retcam Shuttle diagnostic equipment. “By training the physicians on the ground, we are able to dramatically improve outcomes for infants facing blindness as a result of ROP, which affects

thousands of children annually in the Philippines alone,” says Dr. Lee, Director of the Vision Center of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has given its commitment to be of service to children everywhere, and we are honoured to partner with Apl. de.ap Foundation International and the Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology in this important initiative. The equipment turnover ceremonies at the Southern Mindanao Medical Center (SPMC) was attended by Apl.de.ap, his manager Audie Vergara, Dr. Tomas C. Lee, Sonia T. Delen, and Bob Fan of WesternUnion.com together with the administration, staff, and residents of the (SPMC) headed by its Chief Administrator, Dr. Leopoldo J. Vega. “I am pleased to accept this donation in behalf of the men and women of the Southern Philippines Medical Center and the families we are privileged to serve,” says Dr. Vega. “We thanks Apl. de.ap and the members of the Executive Committee of the Apl.de.ap Foundation International for their trust in our work.” Plaques of appreciation were also handed out to honour the Campaign for Filipino Children’s presenting sponsor, WesternUnion.com and the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, a lead donor to the campaign. Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Philippines Sir Knight Danilo C. Datu Sr who received the award on behalf of the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc.

Rocky’s pays tribute to its partners FROM the very first Rocky’s Barbershop in Victoria Plaza that opened in 1996, the first barbershop in a mall, up to its latest branchin SM Lanang Premier, the number of barbers working for Rocky’s have grown. Some of these barbers have stayed longer than others and now the company considers these individuals as “extended family.” Five of the barbers have stayed the longest with Rocky’s- Jun Acub and Noel Mamacos, pioneering barbers in Rocky’s Victoria Plaza Mall, Ruel Danas, who joined Rocky’s in 1997, Ronnie Perdido in 1998, and Al Sarellana, Jr. who was

welcomed to the team in 2003 were featured in Rocky’s “My Father, the barber” father’s day story in Davao’s leading newspapers. From the pages of the local dailies, their faces can be once again seen on tarpaulin streamers posted around the SM Lanang Premier as “your reliable barbers” at the Rocky’s barbershops across the city, which was presented to these barbers, their families, and the other barbers of Rocky’s when they were all invited for Sunday breakfast by the founder of the barbershop. “The barbers were giddy all day and the smiles never left their faces the whole time we were together,” said Rocky’s founder Tom Gempesaw, and added, “This is our way of

showing them they are family and partners, not just employees, in this company. To many Dabawenyos, from dads to kids, they are their trusted ‘suking barbero’ and they can rely on them anytime not only for a good haircut and a great chat as well. If you happen to pass by the outdoor parking areas of the SM Lanang Premier, you might chance upon the smiling faces of your favorite barber on the streamers. See how long they worked as barbers at Rocky’s and it might just bring back memories on the first day you had this guy snip your hair. Remember the year? How about that as your next conversation with your ‘suking barbero’ at Rocky’s Barbershop?

Ronnie Perdido & his family with Tom Gempesaw.

Ronnie Perdido & his family with Rocky’s founder Tom Gempesaw. Al Sarellana & his family.

Jun Acub with wife & daughter.

Ruel Danas & family.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 152 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 - 31, 2015

EDGEDAVAO

Cinema One Originals 2015 lineup revealed TEN YEARS is a good round number to wrap up an era. For its first ten years, Cinema One Originals has produced some of the most unique, diverse, adventurous independent films in Philippine cinema. On its eleventh year, it is ready to level up. Welcome to Cinema One Originals Mark 2.0. As exemplified by its new tagline “Kakaiba Ka Ba?” Cinema One Originals continues to uphold diversity and uniqueness in Philippine Cinema, an exhortation and an affirmation for both filmmakers and film-goers. This year marks the first of another ten years and beyond and promises more of the same only bigger, better, bolder. Starting everything off are our nine Originals 2015. Joel Ferrer’s crossgenerational screwball rom-com “Baka Siguro Yata” which stars Valerie “Bangs” Garcia, Dino Pastrana, Ricky Davao, and Cherie Gil. Sheron Dayoc’s religious horror gothic “Bukod Kang Pinagpala” featuring real-life mother and daughter Bing

Pimentel and Maxie Eigenmann as a mother and daughter in the grip of sinister forces. Ivan Andrew Payawal’s comedy about suicide and celebrity “The Comeback” features Kaye Abad as a fading star whose life takes an unexpected turn. Sari Dalena’s “Dahling Nick,” an experimental docu-fiction hybrid that celebrates the life and work of Nick Joaquin with Raymond Bagatsing in the eponymous title role. Bor Ocampo’s “Dayung Asu,” featuring Ricky Davao and Junjun Quintana as a father and son enmeshed in a life

of crime, is a homage to Pinoy action set in a unique milieu. Ralston Jover’s “Hamog” blends neo-realism and magic realism with Zaijan Jaranilla and Teri Malvar as street children. Carl Joseph Papa’s fully-animated “Manang Biring” is the touching story of a terminal patient and her estranged daughter with Erlinda Villalobos in the title role. Raymond Red’s “Mga Rebeldeng Walang Kaso” is a look back at the early days of the first wave of Philippine independent cinema with Felix Roco, Epi Quizon, Earl Ignacio, and Nicco Manala.

INdulge! A3 Hou Hsiao Hsien’s “The Assassin,” Hong Sang Soo’s “Right Now Wrong Then,” Yorgos Lanthimos’ “The Lobster,” and Roy Andresson’s “A Pigeon Sat On A Branch.” This year’s Filipino Classics will be highlighted by a restoration of Ishmael Bernal’s “Ikaw Ay Akin” with no less than Nora Aunor and Vilma Santos, as well as restorations of Lino Brocka’s “Insiang” and Marilou Diaz Abaya’s “Karnal.” In the spirit of commemorating revolutionary cinema, Cinema One Originals 2015 will pay tribute the first wave of Pinoy indies, the short

filmmakers from the 80s led by Raymond Red, Nick De Ocampo, Rox Lee and Joey Agbayani, the pioneers of alternative cinema. As an auxiliary program, there will be also a showcase of 10 short films from the Philippines, New Zealand and Iran. Here is the form’s glorious past and it’s glittering future. From November 9-17, cinemas at Trinoma, Glorietta, Resorts World and SM Megamall will be haven for discerning cinephiles as Cinema One Originals once again celebrates cinema with a difference.

And lastly, Ara Chawdhury’s “Miss Bulalacao”, which introduces performance artist Russ Ligtas in his first film role, is a comedy about a young drag queen whose life is changed by a strange encounter. Aside from the nine Originals 2015, there will a Special Presentation of Cinema One’s production of Sherad Sanchez’s found footage horror film “Salvage,” with Jessie Mendiola as a reporter lost in a haunted jungle. There will also be an impressive program of films showcasing the best of world cinema, including Miguel Gomez’s “Arabian Nights,”

UP AND ABOUT

Have a Hotel Transylvania Halloween at SM Lanang Premier

ENJOY the Halloween Party at Hotel Transylvania this October 31 at SM Lanang Premier.

Dress as your favorite Hotel Transylvania character and join the Trick or Treat around the mall at 2PM then, get a chance to win exciting prizes in the Halloween Ball Costume Contest at 4PM. Plus, meet and greet Count Dracula with the gang at 5PM. To join the Halloween Ball Costume Contest and the Trick-or-treat, kids 4 to 12 years old must dress up in their best character costume and present Php1,000 single or accumulated receipts within registra-

tion period from October 17 to 31 from any SM Lanang Premier tenant. Registration forms are available at the mall atrium, Global Pinoy Center at the lower ground floor or the Mall Admin-

istration Office at the 3rd floor mezzanine. Duly accomplished forms must be presented with a copy of the participant’s birth certificate. Kids can choose either of the two categories:

Most Fa-BOO-lous Costume with freaky but fabulous costumes of Hotel Transylvania characters and Cutest Costume with the most fun and cutest costumes of princes, princesses, fairies, pirates, and superheroes. Winners of the costume contest will take home SM gift certificates, and awesome prizes from event partners Giardino Gelato & Krispy Kreme. Have a fun and faBOO-lous Halloween at Davao’s premier lifestyle and shopping destination – SM Lanang Premier! For inquiries, call the SM Lanang Premier Marketing Department at 285-0944.

October 28 – November 3, 2015

SICARIO Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro R16

1:00 | 3:15 | 5:30 | 7:45 | 10:00 LFS

THE LAST WITCH HUNTER Vin Diesel, Rose Leslie, Elijah Wood R13

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

EVERYDAY I LOVE YOU Liza Soberano, Enrique Gil, Gerald Anderson G

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

GOOSEBUMPS Halston Sage, Jack Black, Amy Ryan PG

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

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 152 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 - 31, 2015

UP AND ABOUT

Acropolis Super Club to hold Wicked Wonderland Halloween Costume Ball PREPARE for a magical story...

All the beautiful and precious moments, the unseen and mysterious ambiance foretells of a great story. We wrote the story together. Together, we cherish the moments forever. Forever, we experience the madness. Acropolis Super Club, Davao’s foremost and premier party place, celebrates this year’s most awaited event with a bewitching halloween costume ball – Wicked Wonderland Halloween Costume Ball on October 31, 2015! Come in your most beautiful wonderland costume and immensely be rewarded. A cash prize of Php10,000 plus two round trip tickets for anywhere in the Philippines is yours for the taking! It’s not just about costumes and merrymaking. At Acropolis on All Hal-

low’s Eve, it’s a holistic hal- best Halloween yet and loween event that’ll make party non-stop, Acropoyou wish it’s Halloween ev- lis Super Club style. Door ery single day. Charge is Php 200.00 with Gather your friends and 1 Bacardi Breezer. Wicked be enthralled by the music Wonderland gates open at and beats from their special 8PM guest dj’s to make it even For couch reservations more memorable. Party on and bookings, call them at with the hunky DJ Gus- 0928 307 2895 tavo Krier, a Brazili a n /A rgentinian DJ/ Mo del, and Acropolis Super Club resident DJ’s Paulyn Pulido and Tom “DjLaw” C a ha r ia n for a sparkling and majestic night to remember. Make Tom “DjLaw” Caharian this your

DJ Gustavo Krier

Paulyn Pulido

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 152 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 - 31, 2015

7 ENVIRONMENT

Oceans in deep trouble Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

“T

HE sky is the limit,” says Dr. Deborah Gochfeld, a senior research scientist at the National Center for Natural Products Research of the University of Mississippi. “The oceans have a much broader diversity of chemical structures than are found in plants – which include uses for cancer, heart disease, and infections, among others – so it is likely that marine animals will include all of these options and more.” Dr. William Fenical, director for marine biotechnology and biomedicine at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California, echoes the same idea. “Marine resources could be the major source of drugs in the coming years,” he pointed out. Most of these marine resources thrive in coral reefs. “Many coral reef species

produce chemicals like histamines and antibiotics used in medicine and science,” reports The Nature Conservancy, an organization whose mission is to preserve plants, animals and natural communities by protecting the lands and waters needed for their survival. “Coral reef plants and animals are important sources of new medicines being developed to treat cancer, arthritis, human bacterial infections, heart disease, viruses, and other diseases,” says the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). “Some coral reef organisms produce powerful chemicals to fend off attackers, and scientists continue to research the medicinal potential of these substances.” Unfortunately, the world may lose them soon as the oceans are continuously dev-

astated by human activities. “Once thought to be so vast and resilient that no level of human assault could damage them, the oceans are now crying out for attention,” noted a report released by the Washington-based Worldwatch Institute. “The world’s oceans are in danger, and the enormity of the challenge is bigger than one country or organization,” the World Bank said in a statement during the World Oceans Summit held in Singapore some years back.

Water world From the objectivity of space, the earth is overwhelmingly composed of water. Land appears almost as an afterthought. “Oceans cover nearly 71% of the earth’s surface, and their deepest trenches plunge farther below sea lev-

el than Mount Everest climbs about it,” writes Peter Weber, of the Washington, D.C.-based Worldwatch Institute. “They contain 97% of the water on earth, and more than 10,000 times as much as all the world’s freshwater lakes and rivers combined.” Since the dawn of life on earth, oceans have been the ecological keel of the biosphere. But their seminal contribution to the planet was life itself. Scientists believe that the very organisms were bacteria that developed in the depths of the seas some four billion years ago. These were the evolutionary forerunners of all subsequent organisms, and helped create the conditions under which life as it is now known could evolve. “Only around one-tenth of 115 million square miles of the sea floor has been explored

and chartered,” notes Donald Hinrichsen, an award-winning journalist and author of Coastal Waters of the World: Trends, Threats, and Strategies. Some marine scientists estimated that the sea floor alone may contain up to 10 million species, the majority of them undiscovered. “But no one knows for sure,” Hinrichsen pointed out. “The ocean is our last great frontier.”

Ocean acidification But this “last great frontier” may soon be gone, too. Thanks to the continuous of man’s emission of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane. These gases don’t only accumulate in the atmosphere, causing climate change, but they also sink into the sea floor making the waters to acidify. According to scientists,

between 25% and 50% of the carbon dioxide emissions over the industrial period have been absorbed by the world’s oceans, thus preventing atmospheric carbon dioxide buildup from becoming worse. “Two hundred years ago, the amount of carbon dioxide in the ocean was around 200 ppm (parts per million). Now it is nearly 400 ppm. If people continue their business as usual, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC)… predicts that it will be more than 500 ppm at the end of the century,” explained Dr. Edgardo Gomez, the founding director of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute. The acidification, Dr. Gomez added, may be gradual but would happen simultaneously all over the world. He

FENVIRONMENT, 10

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

Road safety

RECENT article came out in the internet as reported by Moneymax.ph on whether or not the Philippines could comply and pass the standards of the Global Road Safety Report. The article reported that based on the World Health Organization’s Global Status Report on Road Safety 2015, there were four reported road fatalities a day in the Philippines in 2013. The report compiles road-related statistics of 180 countries. In sum, that’s 1,513 fatalities for the year. That only takes into account reported deaths; WHO estimates that total road traffic fatalities are at 10,379. That increases the daily rate from 4 to 28 deaths a day. The report categorized road users into the following groups: 2- or 3-wheelers motorized riders, passengers of 4-wheelers and light vehicles, drivers of 4-wheelers and light vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. More than half (53%) of the deaths are from 2- or 3-wheelers motorists. This relates to the low enforcement of the national motorcycle law which is rated only 6 out of 10 (compared to 9 out of 10 for Singapore). The study compiles more road safety laws and

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how strongly these laws are enforced in the 180 countries part of the study. While we do not run out of laws concerning road safety, the compliance part is another story. Here is a report of the enforcement rating of each law in the Philippines: National motorcycle helmet law – 6/10 National speed limit law – 5/10 National seatbelt law – 5/10 National drink-driving law – 1/10 National law on mobile usage while driving – no law enacted The Philippines is one out of three Southeast Asian (SEA) countries with no national law on mobile phone use while driving. Seven other SEA countries already have these laws in place. A number of accidents are caused by mobile usage while driving. Still, legislators seem to be guilty themselves and have not acted on this matter. No one seems to be interested in this. We have speed limits, helmet laws, drunk driving and drug driving laws, but no mobile usage driving law. What are we waiting for? More road deaths? ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

AGAPITO JOAQUIN JR. Associate Editor

CHARLES RAYMOND A. MAXEY Consultant

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

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GENERAL SANTOS CITY OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING MARKETING OFFICE

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EDGEDAVAO

Why aren’t Filipinos nationalistic?

ationalism is a sense of loyalty and pride for one’s own country. From elementary to high school to college, we are taught the rich history of the Philippines and the heroic accounts of the likes of Jose Rizal and Andres Bonifacio in fighting the abusive colonizers and fighting for our liberty. We are taught the beauty of the Filipino language and Filipino literature through the narratives of Florante at Laura, Noli Me Tangere, and El Filibusterismo. Films, like the recent Heneral Luna, have placed renewed emphasis on the importance of a love for our country. But in light of all these, why aren’t Filipinos nationalistic? If Filipinos do have a sense of nationalism, it is more hinged on iconic people like Manny Pacquiao. We have even gone to the extent of feeling proud of foreigners who have only a tinge of Filipino blood or have a relative who lives abroad. Furthermore, many young professionals are adamant about leaving the country to pursue the good life and leave a place they call a “dead end.” Why are we not as proud of our culture and of our country? Philippine government An essential part of a nation’s unity is

VANTAGE POINTS

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NDAY Sara went bald. And the rest followed. Generally, women don’t lose their hair. But it’s a different story among men. One in five of us starts losing his hair soon after puberty and is completely bald – hold your breath! – by age 30. Three out of five gradually lose theirs between 30 and 60. After that, one of us is left standing with a full head of hair – and even then, that hair will be growing thinner, each strand shrinking in diameter around 15 percent by the age of 70. If it’s any comfort, some of the famous men we often read in the newspapers and see in the television are bald or going such. Among them: Andre Agassi, tennis player; Yul Brynner, actor; Danny De Vito, actor and director; Michel Foucault, author/philosopher; Bob Hoskins, actor; Michael Jordan, basketball player; Oscar Kempthorne, statistician; C. S. Lewis, author; Thomas Merton, spiritual leader; Tom Paxton, musician; Pablo Picasso, artist; Burt Reynolds, actor; Telly Savalas, actor; Patrick Stewart, actor and director; Sean Connery, actor; and of course our very own Bembol Roco. From the past, we have Julius Caesar and Napoleon Bonaparte. If ancient cave paintings in Mexico are any indication, balding is not just the fate of modern man. Nor is the struggle against hair loss. As Tim Clark reported in a 1988 article, the earliest recorded baldness remedy dates back to 4000 B.C., “when the mother of King Chata of Egypt recommended rubbing the balding head vigorously with a mixture of ground-up dog’s paws, dates, and asses’ hooves, cooked in oil. In later centuries, desperate men massaged their scalps

its govern- MY MILLENNIAL MIND ment. The quality of leadership and service that public servants give the Filipino people affects our sense of pride Vanessa Kate Madrazo and belongingness. If we assess the last decade, we have been governed by leaders who have been constantly associated with scandals and corruption: President Joseph Estrada and the jueteng scandal, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Election Commissioner Virgilio Garcillano and the Hello Garci scandal, and the most recent and abhorrent Pork Barrel scam spearheaded by Janet Lim-Napoles and participated in not just by senators but also those in the judicial and executive branches. The Filipinos have been constantly under the impression that their own government is cheating them and robbing them of the services and privileges they deserve. The people

who have sworn to protect our rights and lead the prosperity of our country have been the same people who have offended these rights and have hampered our progress. This has bred mistrust and has caused the nation to lose its faith in the capability of its own leaders to serve the public’s interest. It has caused the nation to question whether or not the Philippines is genuinely democratic. That also explains why today, most Filipinos are ashamed to associate themselves with the country. Simply put, our identity and character are ill-represented by our own government.

Philippine economy There is a glaring problem of unemployment in our country right now as a result of defects in leadership. There has been a failure in providing the Filipino people the means to make a living. And even for those employed, they feel like the government takes more than what it needs through taxes because they can’t feel the benefits of the services it’s supposed to offer. There has been a failure in upholding social justice and aiding the poor in uplifting themselves. Until today, redistributing land to the farmers who remain landless has been

Why nationalism matters A sense of loyalty to and pride in one’s country is important because it keeps the nation together in times of tragedies, and it creates a sense of belongingness and a sense that we are part of something bigger. Furthermore, it motivates the people to be more competitive and improve the industries that we have, and ultimately to fix the defects in social institutions and make them better. The government and economy are two social institutions that are foundations of Philippine society. Their failure affects not only the well-being of Filipinos but also their sense of national identity. If they can’t trust the system where they belong, how will a sense of nationalism flourish?

with...boiled snakes and THINK ON THESE! cow urine...to no avail…” The subject of baldness occurs several times in the Bible, including 2 Kings 2:23-24: “From there Elisha went up Henrylito D. Tacio to Bethel. As he was walk- henrytacio@gmail.com ing along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. ‘Go on up, you baldhead!’ He turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the Lord.” Caesar is believed to have worn his famous laurel wreath mostly to conceal his baldness. Napoleon, anticipating what would become a great symbol of modern “nerd-dom,” grew his hair long in back and combed all of it forward. Philosophers Aristotle and Hippocrates both had theories about causes and cures of baldness. Hippocrates, importantly, noticed that eunuchs never seemed to lose their hair. Though he didn’t realize it, he’d become the first person to make a link between baldness and the male sex hormone testosterone, a relationship scientists have discovered and are still trying to fully understand. If you’ve observed, hair grows on every part of our body except the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. The hair on our head grows in thin cylindrical filaments of nonliving cells of protein known in science

as keratin. These hairs emerge from pouchlike follicles located in the underlying dermis area beneath the scalp. Listen to the words of a hair expert: “At the base of each follicle, newly dividing cells emerge to form the bulb-shaped root of the hair, forcing older cells upward toward the scalp, where they die and harden into shafts of hair. While some follicles produce a single strand of hair, most human hair grows in clusters, typically two or three hairs per follicle, at an average rate of 0.33 mm per day, or six inches per year.” According to the Encarta Encyclopedia, the form of the hair is one of the most important and reliable hereditary characteristics. The nearly black hair of the Papuan, Melanesian, and African grows from a curved follicle, which imparts a spiral twist, and is flat or tape-like in cross section. The hair of the Chinese, Japanese, and Native American is straight, coarse, long, and almost always black. It grows from a straight follicle, is round in cross section, and has an easily distinguished medulla. Some 100,000 hairs cover the average human head. Adults lose an average of about 100 hairs a day. Science tells us that there are many categories of balding: from gradual thinning to the temporary hair loss associated with chemotherapy, stress, high fever, and iron deficiency. But until now, scientists still don’t fully understand the causes of baldness among men, though they know heredity, aging, and male hormones (known as androgens) all play a part. One report said: “For decades, a man’s testosterone level was believed to be the culprit–the more testosterone (and thus,

comfortingly for those afflicted, the more virility), the more likely and pronounced the balding. But recent research has shown balding not to be linked with testosterone quantity, but rather with some kind of testosterone conversion process.” The link is with the number of “receptor sites” that convert androgen into more active forms. And the old saying that a man could see his hair’s future in the head of his maternal grandfather also has fallen from accepted science. Baldness does run in families, but not in predictable ways. If we men start losing our hair, should we be alarmed? Don’t be. Listen to the reaction of this beautiful woman: “I have another friend who has lost most of his hair, but he is very good-looking and has wonderful eyes. His wife says she married him for (among other things) his face and for his hair. He is caring, kind, affectionate, and has a riotous sense of humor.” Here’s another reaction: “One of the most handsome man I ever saw in my life worked with me in a large computer company. We were both writers, and we saw each other often in projects in which we were both involved. He was funny, personable, gracious, intelligent, and was in great physical shape. It wasn’t until I was getting ready to leave the company that I noticed his hair was thinning! It didn’t bother him, and I knew him for months before I even noticed.” Here’s an assurance from a thirtysomething actress: “I hate to think of all the fantastic men out there who, for the lack of some hair, think they are not attractive. Forget about hair for a moment – how much else do you have to offer?” Hey, guys, can you answer that question?

HIV (Hair is vanishing)

neglected. This has again been reason for Filipinos to lose faith in the country’s capability to be a place for mobility and success. This has led a lot of Filipinos to pursue work abroad in the belief that other countries will offer them the life that the Philippines couldn’t give to them. That explains why there is a brain drain where professionals are going out of the country despite the government’s investment in education. Some even go to the extent of migrating altogether.

10 NEWS PNP... FROM 2

drug pushers that they had 48 hours or until 5 p.m. the following Wednesday to leave the city or risk being killed.

Duterte said he has ordered the police to shoot drug pushers and not to wait for them to commit a crime.

tim of a laglag-bala frame-up. Even the fiscal noticed that the supposed bullet that was seized from her was different from the bullet that was submitted to them as evidence. If there is evidence switching, there is no doubt there was also evidence planting in the case of Ortinez. What’s more revolting is the fact that the chief of the Aviation Security Office even tried to justify their own ineptitude,” Nograles said. Nograles said the case of 74-year-old Dalisay Mendoza, who was nearly victimized by an extorting airport porter, “also reflects the culture of impunity at the NAIA.” He said according to information he has received, porters, OTS personnel, and airport policemen “are actually working in cahoots to mulct money from incoming and outgoing passengers.” “From what I was told, it is the porters who place the bullets in the luggage of their

victims and their contacts at the OTS and the PNP Aviation Security Office carry out the arrest and the negotiations for the pay off. It’s not just bullets that are being planted but also illegal narcotics,” Nograles said. Nograles also lamented the fact that instead of exerting effort to get to the bottom of the rising complaints of evidence planting at the NAIA, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) administrator Jose Angel Honrado “quickly dismisses these allegations as false and untruthful.” “The NAIA has become the biggest source of embarrassment for this administration, not only here in the Philippines but in the entire world. MIAA Administrator Honrado has contributed nothing but shame and disgrace to the government. A top-to-bottom revamp is now necessary even just to prove that the government is taking this issue very seriously,” Nograles said.

four days. But if there’s heavy rains, then the soil will bring along with it the chemical,” he said. It is also necessary to leave the harvested area aside to rest for four to five months until the next planting season, Panti added. At the farms, they let the residues of the pineapples to rot as fertilizers. “In conventional plantations, they apply desiccant to pineapple trash and sometimes burn it,” Panti said. Reacting to the presenters, Maria Socorro Mallare, of the Environmental Education and Information Section (EEIS) of

the Environmental Management Board (EMB) 11, said the impacts of climate change can only be minimized, hence the best practices should be followed by not spraying herbicides and avoid practices that will further damage the environment. She said pesticides and burning may contain greenhouse gasses that will only trigger climate change. “Using manual labor in weeding is a very good practice. You employ people, help in their livelihood, at dagdag sa economic benefits,” she said. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

million TEU capacity of the port which is believed to be the largest in Mindanao once completed. Mantecon said ICTSI and Hijo are planning to rehabilitate their old berths to accommodate more shipping vessels. A five-hectare lagoon will also be created in the area as well as a storage facility for clients. Earlier this year, the Regional Development Council (RDC) 11 also approved Davao Region Physical Framework Plan (DRPFP) 2015-2045 which cited Tagum City as the region’s next highly urbanized

city and regional center. The DRPFP provides policy options for managing the region’s land and other physical resources that are consistent with the National Spatial Strategy that wll be the longterm development blueprint of the Davao Region. Included in the plan is identification of network of growth areas comprising of Davao City and other five sub-regional centers, namely, the cities of Digos, Mati and Panabo and the municipalities of Malita and Nabunturan, as well as provincial center. CHENEEN R. CAPON

ing that there are many structural issues across the region that need to be addressed. He cited as an example Japan, where they still have the “third arrow” that has yet to be implemented. The “Third Arrow” is Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s strategy to revitalize

Japan. The first two “arrows” are massive monetary easing, which has helped push up asset prices, and fiscal spending to stimulate demand. “And if you look across the region, that is mostly the case and they discussed that, there’s the disaster risk management meeting,” said Purisima. (PNA)

Karlo... FROM 4

Plantations... FROM 5

Tagum... FROM 6

Noy... FROM 6

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Ongkingco... FROM 4 a distinctive interpretation of Christianity.” Today the YMCA is more focused on inspiring youths and their families to exercise and be healthy. In 1947, or 68 years ago, the World Alliance of YMCAs gained special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. In 1955 the first black president of the World Alliance of YMCAs, Charles Dunbar Sherman from Liberia, was elected. At 37, he was also the youngest president in World Alliance history. In 1959 the YMCA developed the first nationally organized scuba diving course and certified their first skin and scuba instructors. By 1974, the YMCA had set up a curriculum to begin teaching cave diving. In 1973 the Sixth World Council in Kampala, Uganda, became the first World Council in Africa. It reaffirmed the Paris Basis and adopted a declaration of principles, known as the Kampala Principles. It include the principles of justice, creativity and honesty. It stated what had become obvious in most national YMCAs; a global viewpoint was more necessary, and that in doing so, thew YMCAs would have to take political stands, especially so in international challenges. In 1985 the World Council of YMCAs passed a resolution against apartheid, and anti-apartheid campaigns were formed under the leadership of Lee Soo-Min (Korea), the first Asian secretary general of the World Alliance. In 1997, at the 14th World Council of YMCAs, the World Council in Germany adopted “Challenge 21,” intended to place more focus on global challenges, such as gender equality, sustainable development, war and peace, fair distribution, and the challenges of globalization, racism, and HIV/AIDS. Affirming the Paris Basis adopted in 1855, as the ongoing foundation statement of the mission of the YMCA, at the threshold of the third millennium, members declare the YMCA is a worldwide Christian, ecumenical, voluntary movement for women and men with special emphasis on and the genuine involvement of young people and that it seeks to share the Christian ideal of building a human community

of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation. The YMCA is very much part of Davao’s glorious history, Ongkingko said. YMCA came to the Philippines with the first contingent of US Soldiers during the Spanish-American War in 1898. Its programs and services were at first confined to American soldiers and sailors. On June 28, 1904, the initial civilian YMCA in Manila was organized by the Foreign Department of the International Committee of the YMCA. With its expansion program, the YMCA of the Philippines was born on November 10, 1911 and several YMCA branches were established such as Los Baños, Cebu, Iloilo, Ilocos Norte, Pangasinan, Baguio and Davao.

YMCA DAVAO The first civic association to be taken to be established in Davao City after the war was the YMCA. What greatly encouraged the Association to start work in Mindanao after the war, however, was the presence of Cenon S. Cervantes who was the manager of the National Fiber and other Fibers Corporation (Nafco). On recommendation of prominent residents of the city, the YMCA National Board, on April 23, 1947, approved the appointment of the members of the first committee of management of the branch composed of Cenon S. Cervantes as chairman; William S. Hoover as vice chairman; Pedro Encarnacion, then Provincial Treasurer of Davao, as treasurer; and the following members: Mayor Leon Garcia, Brigido Valencia, Atty. Manuel Cabaguio, Provincial Governor, Dr. Manuel Abello, Dr. Roque Monfort and Mr. Raschid Borgaily. With Patricio J. Sacay as its first Executive Secretary, the branch established its first headquarters in Borgaily Building on San Pedro Street. Under the leadership of Sacay, the branch held its first summer camp for under-privileged boys on June 1-14, 1947, and before the year closed, it organized a Hi-Y Club in the Mindanao Colleges, now the University of Mindanao. (A.L. DACUMOS / ROSE B. PALACIO)

Improved... FROM 6 second with 23 percent share (US$3.33 billion), followed by Asian Development Bank and USA with 16 percent share (US$2.35 billion) and 8 percent share (US$ 1.15 billion), respectively. The total assistance from these development partners comprised 80 percent or US$11.36 billion of the portfolio for the year. Meanwhile, the United States, United Nation System and Australia were recorded as top providers of grant assistance to the Philippines with US$1,148.56 million (36% share), US$608.48 million (19%), and US$587.02 million (18%), respectively. The Infrastructure Development sector accounted for the largest share of the loans portfolio in terms of net commitment with 39 percentage share (US$4.32 billion for 34 loans), followed by the Social

Reform and Community Development (SRCD) with 24 percentage share (US$2.68 billion for 11 loans) and Governance and Institution Development (GID) with 22 percentage share (US$2.46 billion for 8 loans). For ODA grants, the SRCD, Agriculture, Agrarian Reform and Natural Resources, and GID registered the highest percentage share in terms of grant amount with 37 percent (US$1,193.51 million for 151 grants), 25 percent (US$793.71 million for 90 grants), and 18 percent (US$583.04 million for 141 grants), respectively. NEDA conducts regular consultations with implementing agencies, development partners, sector staffs and regional offices to discuss and resolve issues affecting delivery of ODA commitments towards improving portfolio management and information system support.

ENVIRONMENT... FROM 7 warned that it would be worse than the acidification of agricultural lands due to the use of chemical fertilizers. “Land is more manageable. With the use of organic fertilizer and chemicals, land can easily recover. But once the ocean becomes acidic, it would take millions of years to bring back their natural (state).” According to a study which appeared in the journal Science, the current acidification may be worse than during four major mass extinctions in history when natural pulses of carbon from asteroid impacts and volcanic eruptions caused global temperatures to soar. “We know that life during past ocean acidification events was not wiped out – new species evolved to replace those that died off,” noted Dr. Barbel Honisch, a paleoceanographer at Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, and lead author of the study. “But if carbon emissions continue at the current pace, we may lose organisms we care about – coral reefs, oysters, salmon.” Dr. Honisch and colleagues said the current rate of ocean acidification is at least 10 times faster than it was 56 million years ago. “The geological record suggests that the current acidification is potentially unparalleled in at least the last 300 million years of Earth history, and raises the possibility that we are entering an unknown territory of marine ecosystem change,” said co-author Dr. Andy Ridgwell of Bristol University. As made clear by the IPCC, the ocean is taking the brunt of warming in the climate system, with direct and well-documented physical and biogeochemical consequences. The impacts which continued warming is projected to have in the decades to 2050 include the following: reduced seasonal ice zones, including the disappearance of Arctic summer sea ice by ca. 2037; increasing stratification of ocean layers, leading to oxygen depletion; and increased incidence of anoxic and hypoxic (low oxygen) events. That’s not all. There are also some evidences that the oxygen inventory of the ocean is progressively declining. Predictions for ocean oxygen content suggest a decline of between 1% and 7% by 2100. Experts say this is occurring in two ways: the broad trend of decreasing oxygen levels in tropical oceans and areas of the North Pacific over the last 50 years; and the dramatic increase in coastal hypoxia (low oxygen) associated with eutrophication. The former is caused by climate change, the second by increased nutrient runoff from agriculture and sewage. The ‘deadly trio’ of the above three stressors - acidification, warming and deoxygenation - is seriously effecting how productive and efficient the ocean is, as temperatures, chemistry, surface stratification, nutrient and oxygen supply are all implicated, meaning that many organisms will find themselves in unsuitable environments. “These impacts will have cascading consequences for marine biology, including altered food web dynamics and the expansion of pathogens,” the IPCC said. Garbage, oil spills and over-

fishing As if those are not enough, nearly 270,000 tons of plastic, which is enough to fill more than 38,500 garbage trucks, is floating in the world’s oceans. This was based on a study done by 5 Gyres Institute, an organization that aims to reduce plastic in the oceans. The recent finding is comparable to an earlier study done by researchers in Spain who used different methodology. That said study estimated “there was 7,000 to 35,000 tons of plastics this size floating in the ocean.” These plastics are likely to stay in the oceans. “Plastics persist for up to 50 years and, because they are usually buoyant, they are widely distributed by ocean currents and wind,” notes World Resources Institute. Oil is another widespread pollutant in the oceans. In the Philippines, the sinking of a Caltex oil tanker in Limay, Bataan in 1990 comes to mind. Although it was much smaller proportions -- when compared to the 11 million gallons of oil spilled from the Exxon Superlaner Valdez in Alaska in 1989 -- it gave Filipinos a preview of the potential hazards of oil spills. “With the expected increase in shipping activity, the risks of oil spills and deliberate discharge from unscrupulous vessels is expected to grow in proportion,” observed Heherson T. Alvarez, former head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Continued overfishing is serving to further undermine the resilience of ocean systems, and contrary to some claims, despite some improvements largely in developed regions, fisheries management is still failing to halt the decline of key species and damage to the ecosystems on which marine life depends. “For the first in this century, world marine fish catches are declining,” deplored Greenpeace, the international environmental organization. “Many of the world’s formerly productive fisheries are seriously depleted, and some have collapsed due to overfishing.” Deteriorated marine ecosystems In 2012, the results of the Ocean Health Index ranked the Philippines 105th out of 117 territories. As such, the country is among those having the most deteriorated marine ecosystems in the world. The Index focuses not only how pristine the ocean is but how it can sustainably deliver benefits for the people within its territory. It uses 50 distinct indicators such as the sustainability of methods of seafood harvesting and coastal protection. “The Ocean Health Index is a new kind of yardstick because it measures how well our oceans can continue to deliver the needs of our growing population,” said Senator Loren Legarda, chair of the Senate Committee on Climate Change. “It recognizes people as a legitimate component of ocean health. And based on the recent results, it is clear that the health and socio-economic value of our oceans will continue to deteriorate if we do not innovate our strategies towards their conservation.”

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11 CULTURE & ARTS

Young IP leaders empowering themselves the T’boli way By HANNAH JOY N. BENTO hannahjoybento@yahoo.com

H E yo u t h of today no longer appreciate what leadership means, especially among the minorities and our indigenous peoples. Few truly understand what it takes to be a leader, how one empowers himself and contributes something good to the community. This is particularly true in the age of Facebook, online games, and parties. We spend most of our time educating ourselves, ensuring that we hurdle the poverty line and yet forgetting where we came from, who we are, and what our role is in our community. Our community needs us, and our people need a leader to look after them. Desiring to nurture leaders among the indigenous peoples, the 1st Indigenous Peoples Youth Eco-Cultural Leadership Camp was held at Lower Talubek, Barangay Lamlahak, Lake Sebu, South Cotabato on October 15 to 18, 2015. It aimed to instill the principles of eco-tourism, community volunteerism, and leadership among the young IP leaders through a community immersion camp, leading them to know their community, their people, and their needs as they share their lives and extend their camaraderie to their own folk. The activity was attended by students of the T’boli Senior High School, Santa Cruz Mission Schools Inc. (SCMSI)-Dekolon High School, Santa Cruz Mission Schools Inc.-Lem-ehek High School, SCMSI College Department, youth task force representatives of the 19 barangays of Lake Sebu, and young professionals. “This activity hones the leadership potential of our IP youth and nurtures their inner strength through character building activity via interaction among themselves. It develops cultural pride. In so doing, they know the details of their culture, thereby making them excellent with their outward activities. If they know their roots and foundation, they can adapt. After all, the most successful person is well-informed,” said Levi Butihen, DepEd District Supervisor of Lake Sebu. The IP youth are now beginning to open their eyes to the needs around them. They begin to ask questions, like who they are, what ails their community, and what they can possibly do. When asked for her opinion as one of the

key volunteers, Mona Lisa Eucare shared: “As an IP, we need a leader to stand for us. As a leader, we serve our people and it starts in our community. When we look into the situation of our IPs, it encourages a spirit of volunteerism. We do not just help others, we also help ourselves.” “Leadership training is something new to us, but this is a good start and we have to continue what had been started. In order to stir up passion for volunteerism and leadership, we have to know our history, our culture, and our people,” added Gaya Alam, one of the key volunteers also of the said event. As part of his personal advocacies, the event was a personal initiative of Michael Angelo L. Yambok, MPA, in partnership with the Department of Interior Local Government, Department of Education, Local Government Unit of Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Santa Cruz Mission Schools Inc., and The Green House Project Inc. which he founded himself. The Green House Project provides reading programs, tree planting programs, and leadership trainings among the T’boli indigents of the town at his personal expense, without government fund support. He is undoubtedly one of the unsung heroes of our tribe who serves as an inspiration to his fellow IP and is now leading his own people towards community involvement and development. “We have to change our mindset in order to be a leader of our community. After educating ourselves, we have to go back to our own people. Who else will help them?” Yambok said. Cultural extinction has been a threat to all of the indigenous peoples around the globe. I dread the day that our cultural heritage will only be remembered in history books, or worse, not remembered at all. Protecting the cultural integrity of the T’boli people begins from within. It is a milestone for IPs, like me. We set the pace and light our way through the murky world of modernity, carefully balancing intermingling interests, through empowered young leaders. Only then do we preserve and nurture our heritage as a people. NOTE: This December, the organizers will be conducting its second Christmas outreach activity among the Ubo and T’boli tribes in the Lake Sebu’s most remote and isolated village in Barangay Ned. Anyone willing to share may contact the organizers through mikel_scmsi@yahoo.com.

Some of the participants who completed the training program.

One of the training sessions conducted in the community.

12 CLASSIFIED

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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

COMMUNITY SENSE 13

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5th Jollibee Family Values Awards

Family feted for peace work T

HE Mambuay family, originally of Marawi City, was honored as one of the six exemplary Filipino families during the 5th Jollibee Family Values Awards (JFVA). The family’s mission to create a better understanding between the Muslim and Christian faiths through non-violent communication earned them the distinguished recognition. The JFVA is the company’s annual search for exemplary Filipino families whose works of compassion and generosity make a significant difference in their communities. Now on its milestone fifth year, the campaign hopes the new batch of winning families will serve as role models and inspiration for other Filipino families. The Mambuays, Nathaniel and Amina with their daughters Sarah, Lara, and Farrah, have been promoting a culture of non-violence and peace by

creating conducive environments for dialogue and discussion, without fear of hostility. They started out by conducting peace seminars in their neighborhood, which later extended to nearby municipalities, and eventually to other regions. In 2013, the family established Kalilintad Pilipinas, Inc. using their own funds and the help of a friend in Germany. The organization conducts trainings, workshops, and seminars on peace and non-violent communication to different groups in Mindanao. Youth peace camps were also facilitated by the Mambuay children. Aside from the family’s core advocacy of promoting peace, they also extend educational support to less fortunate children and hold values formation seminars for prison inmates. Nathaniel and Amina said

their experience of being subjected to prejudice for being Muslims in the past motivated them to pursue this cause for peace and understanding. Instead of nursing hatred for the discrimination that they faced, they used this as an impetus to

initiate change. “We know that (the eradication of prejudice against Muslims) won’t happen overnight, but what’s important is that we raise awareness on what is going on and we’re doing something to change this,”

said Nathaniel. Monsignor Elmer Abacahin of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro personally vouched for the Mambuays’ advocacy, noting the strong moral foundations of the whole family that serves as an inspiration

to others. “The whole family is very involved in and committed to their inter-faith and inter-religious dialogues. In fact, we coordinate with the Mambuays in our efforts to reach out to Muslims,” said Rev. Msgr. Abacahin.

The Mambuay Family, composed of (leftmost and rightmost) Nathaniel and Amina, and daughters (from left) Lara, Sarah, Farrah, and granddaughter Zafirah, brings home P300,000 for being one of the six Jollibee Family Values Awards-winning families, which they could use to further their peace advocacy – bridging the gap between the Muslim and Christian faiths.

14 EDGEDAVAO Sports

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Pacman ‘confirms’ talks over Floyd rematch M

ANNY Pacquiao has claimed he is in negotiations over a rematch with Floyd Mayweather. Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum confirmed on Monday that the Filipino intends to retire from boxing after his next fight, scheduled to take place on April 9. An opponent for the bout is yet to be announced, although Britain’s Amir Khan and WBO super-lightweight champion Terence Crawford have previously been suggested as potential opponents. But Pacquiao has indicated talks are underway to secure another shot at Mayweather. “I don’t know yet who’s my opponent next but we’re still negotiating right now about

the rematch with Floyd Mayweather so hoping for that,” the 36-year-old announced via his official Facebook page. Pacquiao has not fought since his unanimous points decision loss to Mayweather in May and has since undergone surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Mayweather confirmed his retirement from boxing following his victory over Andre Berto in September, a win which took his unbeaten record to 49-0 and put him level in the record books with legendary heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano. Mayweather Promotions chief executive Leonard Ellerbe said on Monday the 38-year-old would not be making a return to the ring.

Laporta: Messi will never leave Barca but Neymar might

IONEL Messi will never leave Barcelona, according to former president Joan Laporta, who believes Manchester United target Neymar might be sold. Messi - sidelined with a knee injury - has been linked with a move to the Premier League after a tax case in Spain. The Argentina captain is reportedly tired of the ongoing investigation. Barca team-mate Neymar has also been linked with a move to Manchester United, a rumour that has not subsided since the transfer window shut last month. Laporta was asked about the pair’s future and the 53-year-old is convinced Mes-

si will remain at Camp Nou but thinks Neymar might leave in order to balance the books. “Messi will never leave Barca. It is part of our emblem and our heart,” Laporta said. “I received many proposals when I was president. Notably Inter, who wanted to pay his release clause but I always refused. “For Neymar, it’s different. The economic situation of the club is not good, but the current president, to balance the books must sell players or assets. And the best solution is to sell a great player. “There is talk of a proposal for Man United. But all that, it is because of the mismanagement of the current leadership.”

He tweeted from his official Twitter account: “Floyd Mayweather is RETIRED, end of discussion.” If Mayweather does decide to cut short his retirement, the date of the fight may provide a stumbling block. Mayweather has not fought outside the months of May and September since his knockout victory over Britain’s Ricky Hatton in December 2007.

Manny Pacquiao (right) says he is in talks over a rematch with Floyd Mayweather

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SPORTS 15 Davao del Norte keeps winning streak

I Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) calls to players while moving the ball downcourt in the first half of an NBA basketbal game against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday in Memphis, Tenn. (AP)

Cavs rip Grizzlies

HE Cleveland Cavaliers looked like the defending Eastern Conference champs. The Memphis Grizzlies looked like a royal mess. Kevin Love had 17 points and 13 rebounds, Richard Jefferson had 14 points and Cleveland built a big early advantage and wrecked the Grizzlies’ season opener with a 106-76 victory Wednesday night. Cleveland capitalized on Memphis’ shooting woes, building a double-digit lead in the first quarter and ex-

tending the margin to 32 in the fourth. The Cavaliers lost their season opener to the Bulls 97-95 on Tuesday night. ‘’Tough game for the home team,’’ Memphis coach Dave Joerger said. ‘’. We did not have any timing whatsoever. We made a lot of uncharacteristic errors.’’ LeBron James, Jared Cunningham and Matthew Dellavedova had 12 points each, with James 4 of 13 from the field. Jefferson was five of six, including all three 3-point

tries, part of Cleveland shooting 45 percent from beyond the arc. Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol led the Grizzlies with 12 points apiece. Gasol and Tony Allen (six points) were the only Memphis players to make at least half their shots, and the Grizzlies shot 35 percent. ‘’That’s who we need to be,’’ James said of the defense. ‘’That’s who we are. In order for us to be who we want to be, we have to continue to defend at a high level.’’

Memphis erased some of Cleveland’s first-half advantage, but the deficit was too deep to overcome after halftime, particularly since the Cavaliers shot so well from 3-point range. By the midpoint of the fourth quarter, both teams were deep into their reserves. ‘’We’ve got a long way to go,’’ Jefferson said. ‘’Everyone does. This is not an indication. Memphis should not be worried. Chicago isn’t the leaders. We are not a .500 team.’’

the Grand Slam. Spieth won his fifth tournament of the year at the Tour Championship to claim the FedEx Cup and finish the year with just over $12 million, a PGA Tour record.

He also was voted PGA Tour player of the year and reached No. 1 in the world. And now it’s time to get back to work. Even as AT&T began to take down the mosaic, Spieth was get-

ting ready for a World Golf Championship next week in Shanghai. He also returns to Australia and The Bahamas to defend his title in the two tournaments he won late last year.

Spieth gets mosaic tribute D

OWNTOWN Dallas is the site of an unusual diamond in the rough: 24,152 golf balls on tees, arranged to show the likeness of hometown star golfer Jordan Spieth. Dallas-based AT&T Inc. showed off the tribute mosaic of the 22-year-old Spieth on Wednesday. The image in a downtown park shows Spieth wearing a cap and appearing to watch his shot off his backswing. Why all the fuss? Only a year ago, Spieth’s relationship with AT&T was expanded to include its logo on his golf bag. A month later, Spieth went on a tear. He closed out 2014 by winning the Australian Open in Sydney and the Hero World Challenge in Florida by 10 shots. He later said those two events set the tone for a 2015 season that allowed the 22-year-old Spieth to join some elite company. He became only the fourth player since 1960 to win the Masters and U.S. Open for the first two legs of

An image of Jordan Spieth is created with golf balls in downtown Dallas on Wednesday. Dallas-based AT&T found a unique way to celebrate its corporate relationship with Dallas-based Jordan Spieth. It has installed a mosaic of Spieth’s likeness by using 24,152 golf balls placed on tees at Main Street Gardens. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

T is harvest time for Team Davao del Norte, as the contingent grabbed a total of 34 medals at the end of the third day of the 2015 BatangPinoy Mindanao Qualifier in this city. Provincial Sports Coordinator Giovanni Gulanes is upbeat the DavNor Team will rake in further medals with the finals yet to be concluded for the swimming, arnis, karatedo, and table tennis on the fourth day of the games. He attributed the strong showing of his 54-man athletic delegation to the state-of-theart Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Complex and the no-nonsense provincial sports development program of Governor Rodolfo del Rosario. “So far, we have maintained our standing over the years,” he said, alluding to the increasing repute of the province in producing more and more competitive and champion athletes. DavNor’s taekwondo jins led the medal reaping with Christian Rhyan Chung,14, Jude Louise Andrae Dumdum, 14, and Lei Anne Frances Naval, 12, nabbing the gold in the boys heavy, boys bantam and girls fly weights, respectively. The silver was grabbed by Giery Mei Amodia, 13, in the girls light, Trecia Mae Onato,

13, in the girlslightheavy and Louie Victorio, 12, in the boys finlight class. While, Daven Benito Ricafort, 14, and Ileana Vanessa Edna Fuentes, 12, clipped the bronze in the boys bantam and girls welter, respectively. Swimmer Eryk John Omandam, 11, clinched another gold in the boys 12 & under 200-m butterfly, at the same time as, ZuhriPorza, 13, won bronze in the girls 13-15 400m freestyle. More bronzes were pocketed by Cyrus Dave Lucero, 12, in the boys 12 & under 200 freestyle and Vince Rey Anthony Navarro, 12, in the boys 200 breaststroke. Karateka Marjorie Ledesma, 13, pinched one more gold in the girls kata advance, as Jan Kritzmer Pedro, 15, bagged 2 bronzes in boys advance and intermediate kata. While,Ma. ErikahCancio, 13, had another bronze in boys advance kata. Kyla CieloBernaldez, 13, and Vince Carl Seismundo, 14, also took the silver in the table tennis mixed doubles. BatangPinoy is the government’s grassroots sports development program that inculcates the value of teamwork, discipline, sportsmanship and patriotism among young athletes ages 15 year old and below. By Boel Baguio

Griffin leads Clippers past Kings

ITH the game in the balance in the closing minutes, Paul Pierce did just what the Los Angeles Clippers hoped he would in the clutch. Pierce endeared himself to his new teammates by putting Los Angeles ahead for good with a late jumper in the Clippers’ 111-104 season-opening victory over the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday night. ‘’That’s what he’s here for,’’ point guard Chris Paul said. ‘’When you put me and Paul in that one-three pick and roll they have to make a choice. If you switch, you have a smaller guy on Paul. What are you going to do?’’ The Kings could do nothing as Pierce backed the smaller Rajon Rondo into the line and scored with 2:20 remaining to put the Clippers ahead 102-100 and help them avoid a late-game collapse. ‘’This group has been together for some years, they have a good understanding of one another,’’ Pierce said. ‘’I’m just trying to fit in and play with that group down the stretch.’’ Blake Griffin led the way with 33 points and Paul added 18 points and 11 assists. The Clippers blew a 15-point lead before surviving for the win. DeMarcus Cousins had 32 points and 13 rebounds in the Kings’ final season opener at Sleep Train Arena before moving to their new downtown home next season. Sacramento committed 12 of its 18 turnovers in the first half to dig a big hole before

rallying in the fourth quarter. Cousins had eight turnovers himself. ‘’At first we played terrible,’’ Cousins said. ‘’The turnovers killed us, especially on my end. We could have done a better job sharing the ball. But that being said, we had a great chance of winning the ballgame.’’ The Clippers led 89-76 when DeAndre Jordan was called for a questionable fifth foul. Cousins took advantage with a couple of scores inside, and then back-to-back 3-pointers from Marco Belinelli and Darren Collison cut Los Angeles’ lead to 92-88. Omri Casspi followed with another 3 after Jordan returned, and the Kings took their first lead of the night when Rudy Gay scored inside with just under 7 minutes left. The game stayed tight from there. After Pierce hit his fall-away jumper, Gay missed a shot that could have tied the game, and Cousins threw the ball away for his eighth turnover with 1:33 remaining. Paul then threw a lob to Jordan and made a jumper as the Clippers held on. ‘’That’s how you want to win,’’ coach Doc Rivers said. ‘’Execution is very important. We did that tonight.’’ The Kings were looking for improved defense this season after a full training camp under coach George Karl, who took over last February. But the Clippers started fast by making seven of their first eight shots to take a 15-4 lead and did not trail until the fourth quarter.

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