Edge Davao 8 Issue 217

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‘I’LL RESIGN’ PDEA 11 chief to quit if ‘Great Raid’is pursued VOL. 8 ISSUE 217 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

CLEAR. Motorists clear the way for a visually impaired woman so she can cross Ilustre Street safely yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

HILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 11 regional director Adzhar Albani yesterday said he will resign if PDEA National Capital Region (NCR) conducts an operation in Davao City without coordinating with his office.

“What’s the use? It’s an insult if there is no coordination.

There is an impression that these people will not trust (us) for their operation,” he said in yesterday’ s AFP-PNP Press Corps forum held at Task Force Davao Headquarters.

Albani said he already

told PDEA director general Arthuro Cacdac Jr. that he will resign if such an operation is launched without him being informed.

“I also told Mayor Duterte last night (Monday) that I will resign if this operation from NCR will be pursued,” he added.

Albani made the statement a day after Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte bared a plan, dubbed “The Great Raid,” to fabricate a shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) laboratory in the city in order to discredit him and

derail his presidential bid.

Duterte had said he will kill operatives from the NCR if they pursue their plan to plant drugs in the city.

Albani said under PDEA rules, operatives planning to conduct a drug raid in another area need to secure a pre-coordination certificate to ensure that their operation is legitimate.

He said the alleged PDEA NCR plan to raid a drug laboratory in Davao City needs prior coordination because it would be a big operation. “We will issue a certificate to them,”

he said.

Albani said his office does not want to prevent other law enforcement units from conducting drug operations in the city “but they must follow the right protocol.”

“We are willing to help them. They need not to tell their real target. We will not ask their targets because their operation might fail,” he said.

Albani said if the PDEA NCR operation is pursued, he will tell the public that the operation did not follow protocol.

“Huwag nila kaming isama

FI’LL RESIGN, 10

INdulge! A1

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 217 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Tagum City mall robbers’ Manila connection probed

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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CHANGE OF MOOD. Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte, who minutes before had gone ballistic after his name was dragged into the drug and crime activities in the city, changes mood as he happily chats with a woman who personally thanked him for financial assistance he had extended to help her build her house. Lean Daval Jr.

abf@edgedavao.net

NVESTIGATORS are still looking into the possibility that the suspects in the January 16, 2016 NCCC Mall robbery case in Tagum City are affiliated with a big robbery syndicate in Manila.

In an interview after the AFP-PNP Press Corps yesterday at Task Force Davao, Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 spokesperson Chief Inspector Andrea dela Cerna said the incident appears to have been well planned, something that only organized crime groups can do.

“We will not discount that possibility,” dela Cerna said.

She said the arrested suspect, Salvador G. Dagong alias Atort, has connections with the Acetylene Gang.

Dagong was arrested on January 18 through a warrant of arrest issued last year by Panabo City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 34 Judge Dax Gonzaga Xenos for robbery with violence and intimidation.

“We need to investigate deeper on their connection so that we will locate it and to see their affiliations and if they have cases in other areas in the country,” dela Cerna said.

Dela Cerna said Dagong came from Luzon and came to Region 11 to work on the gang’s robbery operations.

“The police are now intensifying the intelligence monitoring because we want to locate his (Dagong) other cases,” she said.

Meanwhile, dela Cerna said the Tagum City Police Office has already filed a case against the six other suspects for robbery and homicide.

Dela Cerna said the case

was filed at the Davao del Norte Provincial Prosecutor’s Office through regular filling last week.

She said although the suspects have not been identified, they appeared as John Does in the complaint.

Dela Cerna also said PRO 11 has already formed Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) NCCC to concentrate on the robbery probe.

The robbery was mounted at around 9:15 a.m. on January 16. The robbers, armed with long and short firearms, entered the mall and pointed their guns at the security guard at the entrance.

The robbers simultaneously ransacked the mall’s own jewelry section and Shirley’s Jewelry, breaking the glass compartments of the said shops.

The suspects fled to unknown directions using three XRM motorcycles.

Quorum in House not for BBL but for Miss U Pia Wurtzbach

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HE House of Representatives mustered a quorum Tuesday not for the Bangsamoro Basic Law but for 2015 Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach.

Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on the BBL, said 173 House members attended the session to catch a glimpse and take pictures of Wurtzbach.

Rodriguez said most of his colleagues were no longer in the session hall when the beauty titlist left at around 7:30 pm.

“There was no longer a quorum when the numbers were counted,” Rodriguez said.

He said had there been a quorum, deliberations for the passage of the Basic Law on the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region or BLBAR would have started and lawmakers would have introduced amendments to the bill.

The House conferred on Wurtzbach the Congressional Medal of Distinction, the highest award that the body can confer on an individual.

NTI-DRUG operatives arrested an American citizen after allegedly being found in possession of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu in a hotel here early Wednesday.

Kath Abad, public information officer of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Region 12, said suspect Hyun Seong Hong was nabbed following a search in his room at the Microtel hotel in Barangay Dadiangas Heights at around 1:10 a.m.

She said the operation, which was directly supervised

by PDEA-12 director Lyndon Aspacio, was based on a search warrant issued by the Regional Trial Court here.

She said during the search, agents recovered from Hong’s “possession and control” around 10 grams of suspected shabu with an estimated market value of P75,000, three pieces aluminum foil strips, an improvised tooter, an impro-

vised needle and a roll of aluminum foil.

“The suspect is currently undergoing investigation and will be subjected to a drug test,” she said in a statement.

“We’re currently investigating the suspect regarding his possession of the illegal drugs, his activities and the possible sources of the items,” she said.

Abad said they staged the operation based on a tip from an informant about the presence of shabu at Hong’s hotel room.

She said they immediately applied for a search warrant after getting initial confirmation on the matter.

PDEA-12 records showed that the 53 year-old Hong, who is reportedly a businessman, is a resident of 2710 Park Way, Irvine, California in the United States (US) and just on vacation in the city.

The suspect, who is a US

FQUORUM, 10

American nabbed for shabu in GenSan A

FAMERICAN, 10

VOL. 8 ISSUE 217 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

4 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

DEMO SESSION. A personnel from the Department of Health (DOH) 11 demonstrates to students of Jose Rizal Elementary School the correct way to swallow or chew a deworming tablet during the agency’s anti-intestinal worms program dubbed Oplan Goodbye Bulate yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

‘Little problem’ faced

by Hugpong in Dist. 3

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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abf@edgedavao.net

AVAO City Vice Mayor Paolo Z. Duterte has revealed that the local political party Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod is facing “a little problem” in the city’s third district regarding its congressional seat.

“I have no authority to

discuss it but I will give you an idea. We have problem in the third district,” Paolo told reporters on Tuesday.

He said the party is now discussing the resolution of the glitches in the third district.

“Karon naay mga possible na matanggal sa Hugpong,

makambyohan kay nagaproblema, naay nangabuta sa saad (Now, there is possibility that some will be removed or replaced because of the problem.

Some of them were blinded by the promises given to them),” he said.

Paolo would not confirm if

the problem is the face-off between councilor Karlo S. Bello and engineer Alberto Ungab, brother of incumbent third district Rep. Isidro Ungab.

“Dili pa definite, mag-meeting pa ang Hugpong (It is not yet definite, the party is yet to

“Intermittent power supply will redound to longer recovery of DCWD facilities particularly the production wells that temporarily shut off whenever there is a power outage,” the water utility said in a statement.

“DCWD needs additional time for re-switching of

affected facilities, pressure build up and line delivery.

Thus, the longer and more frequent the power interruptions are in areas where DCWD facilities are situated, the longer it takes for the water level in the pipelines and reservoirs to recover,” it said.

“This means that DCWD customers especially in far north and elevated areas continue to experience low water pressure to no water despite resumption of power supply,” it added.

DCWD general manager Edwin V. Regalado asked for the understanding and

is weak?” The tough-talking mayor said.

Duterte also noted the presence of international drug syndicates in the country, such as the Sinaloa drug cartel, a Mexican-based group considered the largest and most powerful drug trafficking organization in the west.

“This is a clear national security threat. This is an invasion of a new kind. Drug lords, domestic and foreign, have declared a war against our families and children, and the government is helpless about it,” Duterte said.

The duo said if elected, they will implement a combination of national, regional and international strategies to combat drug

trafficking. “On the national level, we will strengthen and capacitate our security forces.

We will cleanse the ranks of the police and military of the corrupt, provide better salaries and incentives and modernize their anti-narcotics infrastructure,” Cayetano explained.

“We will also strengthen the five pillars of our criminal justice system. Drug trafficking thrives best in countries where there is grave insecurity and injustice,” Cayetano added.

Meanwhile, on the regional level, Cayetano said they will push to develop the regions, especially those heavily infiltrated by illegal drugs, to provide the people

FLITTLE, 10

VOL. 8 ISSUE 217 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Comelec gun ban violators now at 396 T

HE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday announced the arrest of almost 400 persons for violating the election gun ban.

Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor, PNP spokesman, said as of 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, 396 persons, mostly civilians, have been apprehended for carrying firearms since the implementation of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) gun ban on January 10.

The said figures include 381 civilians, two police officers, three government officials, three members of Bureau of Jail Management and Penelogy (BJMP), six security guards, one employee of a law

enforcement agency, and one member of the Civilian Armed Forces Geographical Unit, Mayor said.

He added that the PNP confiscated 254 firearms, 2,381 deadly weapons, 14 grenades, one other explosives, eight firearm replicas and 2,358 ammunition.

The gun ban is being implemented by the PNP and other law enforcement agencies for the national and local May 2016 election period from January 10 to June 8. “(PNP chief), Police Director General Ricardo Marquez, assures that the PNP will remain vigilant in its law enforcement and security operations to ensure Safe and Fair Election,” Mayor said. (PNA)

15-minute blackouts scheduled on Jan. 31

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AVAO Light and Power Company will implement two 15-minute power interruptions on January 31 affecting customers connected to its Tugbok Feeder 1.

These service disruptions are necessary to conduct relocation of poles and lines to facilitate the DPWH’s construction of Mintal overpass.

To avoid longer duration of service disruptions, loads from the affected substations will be temporarily transferred to nearby lines from 12:01 AM

to 12:15 AM. Normalization or return of loads back to its normal set up will be from 4:45 AM to 5:00 AM. Customers affected are those from Mercury Drug Ulas up to Tugbok Substation.

Davao Light apologizesdfor the inconvenience of these scheduled power interruptions but said it will exert all efforts to restore electric service as scheduled or earlier. However, there may be instances where restoration may extend beyond the schedule due to unavoidable circumstances, it added.

cooperation of affected customers and apologized for the inconvenience the water service interruption is causing. He also advised customers to store water whenever they can.

For queries and further updates, the general public may visit DCWD website

( w w w. d ava o - wa te r. g ov. ph) and official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ davaowater) or call the Central Information Unit / Call Center through the 24hour hotline 297-DCWD (3293), 0927-7988966, 0925-5113293 and 09084410653.

Blackouts affecting water supply: DCWD T

HE management of the Davao City Water District (DCWD) yesterday said the delivery of water supply is being adversely affected by the rotating power interruption being implemented by the Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC).

Duterte-Cayetano warns country on the brink becoming narco state

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HE tandem of presidential bet Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano today warned that if the disorder brought by illegal drugs will not end, the country will become a narco state.

In a statement, Duterte said the country is showing alarming signs of becoming a narco state. “In the national capital region (NCR) where the country’s capital is situated, the government admitted that 92 percent of barangays are already infiltrated by illegal drugs. If Manila, the country’s seat of power, is helpless to address this, what more the other parts of the country where government presence

FDUTERTE, 10

WARNING. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 11 director Adzhar A. Albani warns PDEA operatives that he will disown them if they join an operation against alleged drug laboratory in Davao City without proper coordination. Albani and Police

Regional Office (PRO) 11 spokesperson Chief Inspector Andrea G. Dela Cerna were among the guests in yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum at Task Force Davao headquarters. Lean Daval Jr.

5 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 217 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Outlook bright for property sector

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

UTLOOK remains bright for the real estate development in Davao City as more Manila-based and international property developers will pour in investment here this year.

“We have a very positive outlook for the real estate sector not only of Davao but also of Mindanao as development starts to go to other key cities of the island-region,” certified international property specialist Dr. Maria Lourdes Monteverde said in yesterday’s Wednesday’s media forum at the Habi at Kape at Abreeza Mall.

Monteverde said the fast development in real estate sector will continue to be a major factor in the growth of Davao City’s economy this year.

She emphasized that the sector was considered an eco-

nomic driver last year which fuelled both the economy and employment.

Two to three Manila-based property developers are each planning to establish township projects with at least 100 hectares area outside the city’s central business district.

Monteverde said the township developers are already on the process of “finalizing their documentation and physical plan” before it can proceed with the start of the projects.

“There is a growing demand for township projects in Davao City because people do not want to encounter traffic anymore,” she said, adding that the developers target to set-up the project in the northern and southern part of the city.

Allowing development to spur outside the CBD gives the city a secondary growth area,

FOUTLOOK, 10

BUSINESS AS USUAL. A vendor sells bottled mineral water, soft drinks, and food items to people waiting in queue to acquire employment and community tax certificates at Sangguniang Panlungsod yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

6 THE ECONOMY

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 217 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

DTI 11 to establish data banking, analytics system

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DECREASING OIL PIRICE. An attendant from a gasoline station in downtown Davao City pumps gas into a car while her co-worker looks on Wednesday morning. With the continued decrease of oil prices in the world market, commuters are now demanding a reduction of the fare rate, too. Lean Daval Jr.

Gradual imposition of zonal valuation increase requested

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

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crc@edgedavao.net

ERTIFIED international property specialist Dr. Maria Lourdes G. Monteverde appealed to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for a “gradual” implementation of the proposed 100 percent minimum increase in the zonal valuation.

“The increase in zonal valuation has a big effect on the attitude of investors whether local, national or international.

The raise in the zonal valuation will slow down the entry of these investors to Davao City,” Monteverde said in Wednesdays’s Habi at Kape forum at Abreeza Mall.

Monteverde, who is also the interim president of the Philippine Real Estate Service Practitioners (Philres) Inc.,- Davao, said the increase in zonal valuation will also affect the development of lowcost and socialized housing

project which has high demand in the city as the increase will be passed on to buyers and developers.

The acquisition cost of land properties, she said, will increase when the new valuation is approved.

“The increase led to the creation of a niche market which are high-end consumers because projects are not affordable anymore,” Monteverde said.

Unfortunately, she said the Davao market is not yet mature for high-end projects. She said the majority of the market segment here still ranges from medium to low but there is a growing demand for highend projects as the economy grows.

Monteverde added that the effect of the hike in land valuation will extend to the promotion of the Davao City as

an investment haven for property developments by the city government.

However, she said the effort of city government to improve the land use plan and designation of zones based on usage will still help interested investors on real estate sector.

The increase in zonal valuation might affect the city’s sector but it will also lead to expansion of developments in other areas near to Davao City where valuation is lower.

The improvement in road infrastructure, she said, will bring commercial development to other areas.

“The improvement in interlinkages in the different cities is really making a big difference. Investors are already looking in other municipality and provinces for their commercial development and the residential will come in after,”

she added.

Monteverde said private stakeholders of the sector as well as the City Government passed a resolution asking the bureau not to increase the valuation by more 50 percent of the current land valuation to ensure the growth of the sector.

“We are just waiting for the reply of the Department of Finance,” she said, adding that the recommendations was forwarded by the BIR On an earlier report, BIR 11 regional director Glen Geraldino, basis of the taxation of the real property will depend on which has the higher value among the actual selling price, zonal value of the BIR, and the City Assessor’s value.

He said the zonal valuation in the city has been left untouched for 17 years and now is the right time to revisit it.

ture program for 2014 and 2015.

“Seventy-nine of these projects have already been completed while the remaining 44 are still ongoing,” she said in media forum.

A report released by the PEO showed that 65 of the projects or 52.84 percent are vertical structures.

It includes the construction and repair of multi-purpose buildings, health facilities, school buildings and

local government offices.

Of the remaining projects, 23 or 18.70 percent involve the concreting and rehabilitation of roads while 35 or 28.46 percent are related works for bridges, box culverts, drainage canals, water system, among others.

Capundan cited that the development of one of the ongoing projects was suspended since May last year due to various problems.

She said the 43 oth-

er ongoing projects have a total contract cost of PHP309,542,355.04.

“The bulk of these projects are due for completion before the end of the year,” she said.

Aside from the implementation of the priority infrastructure projects, the PEO also served the needs of the barangays particularly in the repair, rehabilitation and maintenance of barangay roads. (PNA)

SC infra investments reach P474M in 2015

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HE provincial government of South Cotabato has released nearly PHP474 million last year for the implementation of various priority infrastructure projects in parts of the province.

Generosa Capundan, assistant chief of the Provincial Engineer’s Office (PEO), said Tuesday they specifically implemented a total of 123 projects that were listed under the province’s infrastruc-

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 will establish a data banking and analytics system which will consolidate the data on the number of businesses operating in Davao Region.

DTI-Davao City director Engineer Edwin O. Banquerigo said putting up the data banking will capture the number of manufacturers engaged in value-adding.

“We are trying to capture the percentage of businesses engage in manufacturing and focus projects on the sector,” Banquerigo said in yesterday’s media forum at Habi at Kape at Abreeza Mall.

Banquerigo said DTI 11 intends to focus on projects that improve the competitiveness of manufacturers engaged in value-adding.

Although there is no specific budget allocated for the package of services that will be extended to manufacturers, he said these identified entrepreneurs will receive services like trainings from the Negosyo Centers.

Meanwhile, the system will be developed by the in partnership with the Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-Davao and will be using primarily the data from the Business Permits and Licensing System (BPLS) of DTI 11 and data from the Business Bureaus.

“We’re planning to launch it in the middle of this year,” the DTI official said.

Initial key cities that will be prioritized for the project are Davao City, Tagum City in Davao del Norte, Mati City in

Davao del Sur, Digos City in Davao del Sur, Nabunturan in Compostela Valley and Malita in Davao Occidental.

For Davao City, the DTI 11 will be also using data from the Business Bureau which recorded more than 35,000 businesses operating here.

Banquerigo also said that the analyzed data will be used in tailor-fitting DTI’s projects and programs based on the needs of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“We wanted our MSMEs to graduate and move forward from being a start-up to becoming exporters, for instance,” he said.

The analyzed data will be also used by business councilors who will man the Negosyo Centers in different areas in the region.

Last year, the center conducted training to more than 600 participants, mostly OFWs who are interested to venture into business.

The DTI also intends to create a “virtual assistant center” that will be established in each center which will allow stakeholders to have access to the data even without being physically present in the facility.

“It will allow the services of the center available 24 hours,” Banquerigo said.

The plan to have a virtual assistant is targeted to be established next year, while the data banking and analytic system will be this year.

“We are already finalizing the Terms of Reference for the project,” he said. CHENEEN R. CAPON

UN agricultural programs at par with ASEAN economy

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HE United Nations launched an agricultural program aimed at leveling the 11 agrarian communities in Mindanao into the standards set by the integrated Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) economy here five days ago, an official said Tuesday.

Country Representative Benoit Thierry of the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), said that the project is known as Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment (CONVERGE).

He said that the CONVERGE is a US$ 34.59 million project, which is expected to benefit a total of 300,512 farmers in Mindanao or around 54,628 households.

The project covers Region 9, which comprises the Zamboanga Peninsula, Region 10 comprising five provinces, and the Caraga Region with four provinces.

IFAD will assist the 11

communities through investment plan preparation, capacity building for the farmers, technology upgrading and diffusion, and cluster farming organization.

Thierry said that a business sector matching, extension services, quality control of the end products, credit/ microfinance facilitation and post-harvest facilities and equipment are also part of the project.

“We will teach them certain cropping techniques to meet production targets, so they can be at par with the Asean standards,” Thierry said.

The Philippines had entered the integrated Asean economy just last year, he said.

The UN-IFAD has made its presence in the Philippines since 1978, bringing a total of US$ 244.4 million in 14 projects as an anti-poverty interventions. The project Thursday last week was the 15th, Thierry said. (PNA)

EDGEDAVAO

7 COMPETITIVE EDGE 3 schools vie for Aboitiz green fashion top prize M VOL. 8 ISSUE 217 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

ETRO Manila’s top young creative talents are poised to

battle it out and paint the town green with an exciting mix of today’s most stunning

GREENER DESIGN FOR A BETTER WORLD. Metro Manila’s top fashion talents will be competing for the top prize as they showcase a variety of eco-friendly designs at the upcoming Aboitiz Green Fashion Revolution on

and sustainable fashion designs at the Aboitiz Green Fashion Revolution on Janu-

ary 30.

An annual favorite within Cebu’s college fashion cir-

January 30 at the SMX Convention Center Aura. Pictured here is a sneak peek of the fab designs from Asia Pacific College, one of the four colleges competing this year.

cuit for the past four years, the Aboitiz Green Fashion Revolution – with the theme “ECOUTURE: Greener Design for a BetterWorld” – is being staged in Manila for the first time this year.

Hitting the grand runway at the SMX Convention Center Aura this coming Saturday are the freshest and fiercest designs from three fab schools: Asia Pacific College, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, and University of the Philippines-Diliman.

These designs will be judged by some of the country’s eminent fashion icons such as topnotch designers Ma. Rosanna Ocampo and Ito Curata, Philippine Tatler’s Mia Borromeo and People Asia’s Paolo de la Cruz, Celia Elumba of the Philippine Textile Research Institute, and Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc.’s Melissa Aboitiz-Elizalde.

For Aboitiz Foundation Chairman Erramon I. Aboitiz, the program has been successful in providing a platform for the youth to celebrate their creative talent while pushing for a timely environmental mindset.

“Aboitiz Green Fashion Revolution is an initiative under our Wealth on Waste Program that promotes creative

recycling of waste materials after their useful life. This is part of how we in the Aboitiz Group live out our sustainability mindset: that we can do well by doing good, always making the right long-term decisions that balance the interests of people, planet, and profit,” Aboitiz said.

Aboitiz shared that the designers have repurposed an estimated 200 kilograms of waste material from various Aboitiz business units for their various collections. This year’s participants will battle for Best Clothing Design, Best Accessories Design, Best Bag Design, and Best Footwear Design. On top of the grand prize, winners will get to implement a corporate social responsibility (CSR) project for their chosen beneficiary.

Aboitiz Green Fashion Revolution was the brainchild of a group of Aboitiz scholars during the Aboitiz Scholars’ CSR Summit in December 2011 and was first staged in 2012 through the auspices of the Aboitiz Foundation. Since then, it has been challenging students to create clothing, footwear, and accessories that make use of recycled materials and highlight the importance of the 3Rs—Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

VOL. 8 ISSUE 217 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

EDITORIAL Democratic options

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HE burning issue of the day among many concerned Dabawenyos, most especially environmentalists and environment-conscious citizens, is the amendment by the Davao City Council last Tuesday of City Ordinance No. 0546 or the “Comprehensive Land Use Plan (CLUP) 2013 -2022.” The amendment removes from the ordinance the requirement that a housing developer should set aside 10 percent of the subdivision’s total area for green space. This is on top of the 30-percent that the subdivision should reserve for open space as originally provided for in the old subdivision law.

The city councilors, except for Councilor Mabel Sunga-Acosta and another local lawmaker who reportedly abstained from the voting, approved the amendment in positive reaction to a proposal from the local housing developers who complained that allocating 40 percent of the area to be developed would be disastrous to their business.

Admittedly, both sides have strong arguments in their favor.

The environment advocates opposed the amendment and its approval saddened, if not angered them.

The oppositors, led by two groups –the Save Davao Shrine

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Hills Advocates led by Norma Javellana and the Interface Development Initiatives (IDIS), Inc. led by Mary Ann Fuertes –said they were not invited by the committee of Councilor Bernie Alag to the hearings where they could have aired their opposition to the proposal.

These groups are slated to regroup today and plan out their next moves.

Fortunately there are many options open to the oppositors.

First they can convince Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte to veto the amendment.

They can put up a legal battle if they are convinced they have the goods that could stand in court. They can question in court the failure of the city council to invite them to the hearings. They can also question the legality of amending the CLUP, which has only been approved less than three years. The councilors admit that an ordinance like the CLUP cannot be amended only after five years it was approved.

Another option, which is admittedly a long shot is make the amendment an issue against the councilors who voted for it in the May 2016 election.

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JR Circulation

GENERAL SANTOS CITY OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING MARKETING OFFICE

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EDGEDAVAO

C

EBU City is the part of the country where north meets south equidistantly. Tagged as the Queen City south of the country’s capital, Cebu never stops mesmerizing me, whether there is a major event or one just goes there on a relaxing tour, domestically speaking.

Without fear of contradiction, I will boldly state here that Cebu City is inhabited by people who are most politically-mature among their ethnic counterparts elsewhere. Why? Because Cebuanos eat politics for breakfast, lunch and dinner, even for merienda.

That is not just a figure of speech. It is the exact description of a people who are well attuned with the political times. But let me go straight to the point.

The huge boos VP Jejomar Binay received during his guest appearance at the Sinulog festival was a manifestation of the political maturity of Cebuanos. They could not control their candid perception of the man who aspires to become president of the country but who hides behind a veneer of hypocritical in-

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The boos in Cebu

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nocence.

SPECKS OF LIFE Cebuanos hissed their collective outcry because the man, who occupies a lofty position that is a heartbeat Fred C. Lumba away from the presidency, refuses to answer allegations of massive corruption hurled against him and his family but instead sidesteps with a coy “pulitika lang yan” snide remark. He thinks and presumes he can fool the people all the time.

Cebuanos cannot be fooled. They want this man who wants to be king to confront his accusers at the Senate and prove beyond doubt that his honesty in governance is unsullied.

Binay’s spokesman, Joey Salgado, has

wittingly placed the booing scenario on Mar Roxas who, he said, mobilized his LP supporters at the Sinulog to yell in unison when Binay’s name is called and he appears on stage.

Buti na lang, hindi si Duterte ang ginawang scapegoat, ha?

What message did the booing against Binay send?

That, first, he is not welcomed thereat.

Second, Cebu, as the surveys show, will most probably throw its support to Davao City Mayor Digong Duterte not only because of ethnic identity but more because the Cebuanos appreciate the track record of the guy who transformed a former criminal-infested LGU into one of the top ten safest cities in the world.

Third, Cebuanos expressed their political dismay in an occasion Binay wanted to make use as a forum to articulate – and pollute them with - his presidential ambitions.

Now, hindi po pambabastos yun.

That is freedom of expression. That is a

singular manifestation that democracy is healthy in our country. I reckon Cebu City and the Cebuanos can take pride among themselves of registering their voices when it matters.

Buti nga hindi sapatos ang ipinukol sa kanya tulad ng ginawa sa isang head of state.

Dito sa atin, kamatis ang pinupukol.

But surely, the Binay camp will work overtime to erase and overturn the stigma of the Cebu booing incident. Salgado will burn the midnight oil harnessing his media allies in the press - radio and print.

That is why the surveys periodically put out by research and survey firms cannot achieve a standard degree of credibility. At best, they are mere predictive outputs designed to sway the undecided and form an opinion collaterally attuned with the survey results.

The booing in Cebu was resoundingly deafening. Give me a pair of cotton balls, please. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@ yahoo.com). God bless the Philippines!

Undersecretary THINK ON THESE! Vicente Belisario, Jr. was quoted as saying.

In South Cotabato, the state-run Philippine News Agency reported that in the past four years, Henrylito D. Tacio no malaria has henrytacio@gmail.com been recorded.

“We’re aiming to sustain this status this year so we could be finally declared as a malaria-free province,” said Jose Barroquillo, team leader of the Integrated Provincial Health Office’s malaria program.

Of 53-known provinces that are endemic for the disease, 27 have already been declared malaria-free. These were: Cavite, Batangas, Marinduque, Catanduanes, Albay, Masbate, Sorsogon, Camarines Sur, Iloilo, Aklan, Capiz, Guimaras, Bohol, Cebu, Siquijor, Western Samar, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, Northern Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Camiguin, Surigao Del Norte, Benguet, Romblon, Batanes, and Dinagat Islands.

Like the dreaded dengue fever, malaria is caused by a bite of a mosquito, which has about 2,000 species. They are found from the tropics of the Arctic Circle and from lowlands to the peaks of high mountains. The species that transmit malaria are classified in the genus Anopheles.

There are some 400 species of Anopheles mosquitoes, but only about 70 species are known to be responsible for transmitting malaria. About 30 are of major importance, responsible for a significant amount of all

malaria cases around the world. On the other hand, malaria is caused by four types of plasmodium, a single-cell parasite transmitted by the bite of the female Anopheles. Of these four types, Plasmodium falciparum produces the greatest number – and the most lethal – of infections.

(Malaria can also be transmitted accidentally by blood transfusion, or through contaminated needles or syringes. During pregnancy, fetuses can become infected with parasites from the blood of the mother.)

According to a WHO publication, Rural Health, the malaria parasite is not simply transferred from one person to another but must live part of its life in the mosquito. “Life inside the mosquito is a race against time, because the time taken for the parasite to go through its growth and development is close to the average lifespan of the insect. This period is longer in cooler environment and shortens as the temperature rises. Thus, the survival of the parasite is on a knife-edge, and once the average temperature drops below a certain point the mosquito tends to die before it can transmit malaria,” the publication explains.

But how does the malaria parasite invade our body? The WHO publication explains: “The malaria parasite is injected into humans in the saliva of the mosquito when it feeds.

Once in the human, the parasite at first causes no symptoms but enters the blood stream, travels quickly to the liver and then hides there while it grows and divides. After a period of nearly two weeks, the new daughter parasites burst out of the liver and enter the blood stream where they invade red blood cells.”

It continues: “The parasite now enters a cycle of rapid multiplication, every 48 to 72 hours the newly formed daughter cells spew

out of the red blood cells and invade new ones.

By this means, an infection that begins with a small number of parasites can, over a few days, produce tens of thousands of millions of daughter parasites.”

At this point, the human host begins to feel the symptoms. The first signs are usually fever and a general feeling of aching and being unwell, often with a bad headache. Many people who have had malaria feel that they can tell it from other illnesses, but this is a dangerous belief in reality since at this stage malaria is easily confused with many other illnesses such as an attack of flu. Other symptoms such as cough, vomiting or diarrhea may lead the patient to think it is a chest infection or a stomach upset.

“Malaria is a great imitator and the only safe rule, if you live in or have visited an area where malaria is known to exist, is to consider every fever as a potential case of the disease,” the WHO publication advises. “High levels of awareness and rapid appropriate treatment are the keys to preventing the disease from developing to the dangerous state of severe or complicated malaria.”

If treatment is not started quickly, the patient gets more ill. The symptoms are caused by the destruction of the red cells, causing anemia, the release of toxins into the bloodstream as the parasite bursts out of the red cells, and the blocking of small blood vessels throughout the body. The patient becomes weaker.

Danger signs include persistent vomiting, becoming confused, increasing difficulty in breathing, or having an epileptic fit. The patient may become unconscious, a condition known as “cerebral malaria.” Any of these symptoms is a sign of serious problem and the patient needs urgent admission to a hospital or health center with the facilities for good inpatient care.

The other mosquito-borne disease

OST Filipinos’ knowledge of malaria is limited to two facts: You get it from mosquitoes, and it makes you sick.

That’s shockingly little compared to the large impact the disease has had on humans for literally thousands of years.

From almost preventing the Panama Canal project in the 1880s to causing White House officials to install mosquito netting in the Presidential suite in the early 1900s to altering the course of World War II, malaria has arguably made more of a mark on history than Adolf Hitler.

Some years back, malaria gained prominence recognition as a health threat in the country following the infection of Reyster Langit, the son of broadcaster Rey Langit, after a sortie in Palawan where they checked on reports that a tribe is slowly dying because of an unknown disease which, health experts said, could be malaria.

It happened in 2005. In 2010, the Department of Health sent a team from its National Center for Disease Prevention and Control to look into incidents of malaria in Gumitan village in Davao City. Two residents -- a school teacher and a child -- reportedly died and 60 others were downed.

In 2001, 5,860 confirmed cases of malaria were reported in Davao Region. But in 2014, malaria cases went down to 67 (65 cases from Kapalong in Davao del Norte and two cases from Marilog district in Davao City). That’s 98.85% decrease, according to Dr. Abdullah B. Dumama, Jr., the health department’s head in Davao.

“We used to talk about malaria control.

Control meaning bring it down to a level where it is not a major issue; it’s not the talk of the town, it’s not the buzz. Now we’re beginning to talk about malaria elimination,” Health

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GUN BAN UPDATES. Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Chief Inspector Migrace Driz gives updates on the election gun ban, saying 16 violators have been apprehended in Davao City. Driz and Task Force Davao commander Colonel Cristobal N. Zaragoza graced yesterday’s AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum at Task Force Davao headquarters. Lean Daval Jr.

Panabo PESO best in 2015 implementation M

AYOR James G. Gamao congratulated the Public Employment Service Office (PESO) of the city for winning the Best Peso in Region 11 under the component city category during last Monday’s convocation at the New City Hall lobby.

The actual awarding ceremony was conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region 11 headed by Regional Director Joffrey Suyao held last January 11, at Big 8 Corporate Hotel in Tagum City.

PESO manager Cherelle

Espinosa said that Panabo City will represent Region 11 for the best PESO in the Philippines on October 2016 at Cebu City.

Among the special awards recognized were: Best in the implementation of Special Program for the Employment of Students (SPES) and Pre-Employment Seminar for Local Applicants (PESLA), Best in National Skills Registration Program (NSRP) and Best in Implementation of Special Recruitment activity.

According to Espinosa, PESLA program provides ba-

kung may kalokohan sila na binabalak (They should not include us if they are planning anything irregular),” he said.

He said he will not risk his career for the benefit of politicians who are using black

propaganda for their political gains.

Albani also said no shabu laboratory is being monitored in the city. “We verified the information but it found out not true,” he said.

she said.

Apart from mix-used development, there are also three investors on development of property for academic purposes.

Earlier, the Davao City Investment Promotions Center (DCIPC) reported that the Yuchengco-led Mapua Institute of Technology, the country’s largest engineering school will establish operation here as well as De La Salle Uni-

versity, and Lyceum of the Philippines.

A Manila-based hospital will also expand its operation here, according to Monteverde.

Aside from Manila-based developers, a Dubai-based property developer also targets to establish an economic zone suitable for manufacturing and medium industries in Davao City.

“The investors already conducted ocular inspection in

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sic steps and information to local applicants by conducting an orientation on filling of requirements for their employment, while SPES give student-beneficiaries a chance to earn and this will help them with their educational expenses.

Meanwhile, City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) Head Jeanette Lamoste presented the certificate of 100% Excellent Financial Liquidation on Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) cycle 4, which is awarded to LGU Panabo last December 2015 at the DSWD

Regional Office, Davao City.

The Monday convocation sponsored by CSWDO formally started with the spiritual message shared by Rev. Pastor Sam Macad of Faith Fundamental Baptist Church followed by the presentation of their office accomplishment report that highlights the 90% completion of the Buildings located at Barangay Datu Abdul, namely: Girl and Women Crisis Center, Children in Conflict with Law (CICL) Center and Pag-Asa Youth Drop in Center formerly known as Angel Baraquel, Home for the Boys. jaszparas/CIO Panabo

alternative livelihood.

The vice presidential bet also said that internationally, he and Duterte will enforce stricter immigation laws to prevent international drug syndicates from entering the country.

“We will not allow the disorder to continue and our

country to become a narco state. We will build a strong developmental state to provide bold solutions and swift actions to bring about real change. Under the DuterteCayetano watch, everyone will be afraid of the law, but everyone will be protected by the law,” Cayetano ended.

Duterte... FROM 4

the city last year during a site visit led by the DCIPC as part of the side events of the Dubai Annual Investment Meeting,” Monteverde said.

The availability of economic zones, she added, has been one of the major requirements of manufacturers when locating in other areas. Major economic zones in the region are now eyed to be developed in Tagum City and in Panabo City both located in the prov-

ince of Davao del Norte.

Aside from tax incentive and holiday, economic zones provide opportunities to foreign investors to locate here and establish a 100 percent foreign-managed operation.

“Property development for commercial purpose has been growing not only in Davao City but also in other areas in Davao City because of improvement of road infrastructures,” Monteverde said.

Quorum... FROM 2 Rodriguez said he had hoped that BLBAR, his committee version of the Bangsamoro law, would have been deliberated on Tuesday afternoon.

“If there is just a quorum, I am sure the BLBAR will be approved because all the controversial provisions were already taken out,” he said.

But the Cagayan de Oro lawmaker said he remains optimistic Congress will pass the BLBAR before it adjourns on Feb.3.

“If it is not approved by Feb. 3 then that will be the end.

Nothing will come out of the BLBAR,” he said.

Rep. Arlene Bag-ao (lone district, Dingat Island) said the BLBAR will be approved if the administration will push for its passage.

“The question is will the government really want it passed?” she said.

Bag-ao was in Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro as guest of honor in the presentation of the new rifles to the 4th Infantry Division Tuesday

afternoon.

Rodriguez and his committee tweaked the original draft of the BBL and came out with the BLBAR which was rejected by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front.

During a forum on the BBL in Iloilo City on Dec. 4 last year, MILF peace panel chair Mohagher Iqbal said the House version of the bill retained 90 percent of the draft submitted by the Office of the President, but 50 percent of the provisions on powers was deleted.

In the Senate, Iqbal further noted, the version presented

by Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. removed 80 percent of the provisions in the draft bill, including those on territory.

“Marcos doesn’t want the term “territory” in the BBL, but this is cited 85 times in the ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) law,” he added.

The MILF has declared it won’t accept a BBL that would be less than the ARMM. (Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)

immigrant from South Korea, was listed by the agency as a “high value target.”

Abad said Hong, who is currently detained at the PDEA-12 lockup, will be charged for violation of Sec-

tion 11 (possession of dangerous drugs) and Section 12 (possession of drug paraphernalia), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

(PNA)

meet),” he said.

There have been reports of factions being formed by barangay captains in the third district after a report from the side of Ungab that Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte declared the area a free zone.

“Free zone” means Duterte

will not support any candidate for the congressional position.

Duterte, however, said the official candidate of the party is Bello since he signed the certificate of nomination and acceptance (CONA) of the latter during the filing of certificate of candidacy.

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EDGEDAVAO FOOD

LAST JANUARY 18, I was invited to the anniversary kick-off of the Marco Polo Davao which turns 18 this coming December 17, 2016. To highlight the occasion, a simple opening ceremony hosted by the hotel’s general manager Dottie Würgler-Cronin was held at the hotel’s lobby which was immediately followed by lunch at the hotel’s Polo Bistro featuring culinary highlights for Valentine’s Day.

Marco Polo Davao General Manager Dottie Wügler-Cronin and Executive Sous Chef Alex Destriza.

Wild mushroom truffle cappuccino topped with crisp bacon bits and herbs.

The beautiful fivecourse Velentines tasting menu was especially prepared by the Marco Polo Davao’s Executive Sous Chef Alex Destriza and F&B Manager Chel Galang-Yabut to tickle the palate as well as highlight the Polo Bistro’s new direction.

While waiting for the first course, a basket of the Marco Polo Davao’s famous ciabatta was served. I could still remember the first time it was introduced by then general manager, Nigel Fisher, who tasked the kitchen to create a bread that had a crispy crust on the outside yet soft and chewy on the inside.

The meal started promptly with the serving of the amuse bouche, a bite of Parma ham paired with balsamic vinegar, melon, and micro greens.

The single bite-sized hors d’oeuvre is meant

Pan-fried almondencrusted salmon with vegetable ratatouille and Heart-shaped strawberry chilled cheesecake, mini chocolate truffles, and a lemon tart.

The meal was truly a beautiful love affair, which sadly like every love affair with good food, ended shortly after the last bite. to amuse the mouth and ready one’s taste buds for the upcoming courses.

A salad of Blue simmer crabs with mesclun leaves, spring onion sour cream, and red lumpfish caviar and compressed fruits followed. The sweetness of the crab paired well with the brininess of the caviar while the sour cream added a richness to the well-thought-out appetiser.

This was followed by a

Wild mushroom truffle cappuccino topped with crisp bacon bits and herbs. The richness of the soup was accentuated by the truffle with a punch of saltiness coming from the bacon bits. This is a truly rich soup but the serving with just right so as not to overwhelm the palate.

After the soup, the main course of Panfried almond-encrusted Norwegian salmon was served together with veg-

etable ratatouille, and a cepes leek fondue sauce.

The salmon was cooked to perfection while the acid coming from the ratatouille and roasted tomatoes brightened the dish.

The roasted almonds also added a crunchy texture that made the mouth wanting more.

To cap off the meal, a dessert composed of Heart-shaped strawberry chilled cheesecake, mini chocolate truffles, and a lemon tart was served.

The play of sour and sweet, bright and rich flavours played well with each other in my mouth, egging me to eat some more until there was not a trace left. The meal was truly a beautiful love affair, which sadly like every love affair with good food, ended shortly after the last bite.

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FOOD

IF YOU ARE CRAVING for bowls of proper Japanese cuisine in Davao, then Sakurazaka is the best place to be.

It’s quaint, colorful and is the perfect izakaya rendezvous that’ll have you craving in an instant.

Not to mention, the scenic wall painting is in full bloom – all year round.

Since it opened in November 2015, it has become a favorite place to dine for the locals and visitors of the city. Also, of the many foodies that are always craving for something new. But what makes Sakurazaka a most favorable delicious destination? The fact that you’ll see Japanese nationals enjoying their meals here -now, that’s something to really consider!

Sakurazaka, as shared by its owner (Citoy, happiest birthday to you), is actually a popular street in Japan. With his love and fascination towards the place, the people and the food, it was a no-brainer that he ended with a foodie place that speaks of his passion and, again, love for food.

With Sakurazaka, not only will you taste the flavours of Japan (trust me, their dishes will virtually take you in the streets of Japan – it’s that authentic!) but will allow you to experience Japan minus the travelling expenses. More so, the ingredients they use are imported from Japan. Want more? They have a Japanese chef that transforms your cravings in delectable munchies in an instant. Now, that’s something to always look forward to, right?

The fact that you’ll see Japanese nationals enjoying their meals here -- now, that’s something to really consider!

Their menu is one of the most colorful I’ve seen -- literally and figuratively, that is. It’s packed with Japanese goodness that’ll have you salivating in an instant. Theirs is composed of an array of selections that will urge you to make a choice one after another. One other best feature of their menu? The images at the back -- making it easier for you to trim down your choices...or not.

Also, they have the friendliest and most accommodating staff on this side of the city.

Some of Sakurazaka’s sought after dishes include their Japanese curry, beef steak, hamburger steak, garlic steak, sukiyaki and shabu-shabu. Not to mention, their ramen choices are superb, thus making you crave even more.

If you want some meat and rice to end your day, then better try their Gyudon. What sets them apart from the rest is their timpla. I love that the meat strips are thinly sliced yet still very juicy. It literally melts in your mouth. Not to mention the rice that

comes with it – perfect food combo!

For the pork meat lovers, try their Butadon and you’ll surely love every bite. My good friend, Chef Lllerma of Green Rocks Pastries, swore how the meat was well cooked and juicy with every bite. It comes with some shredded veggies for a complete meal in one bowl.

For our good friend Julius, it was a bowl of Hot & Spicy Ramen that made him sweat, smile and satisfied in an instant. From a distance, you can ver-

ily see that their ramen is packed -- with both broth and meat goodness. Accordingly, it is the broth that sets this ramen apart from the others. Theirs has that distinct taste that you won’t find elsewhere.

For the ultimate sweet treat, try their Matcha ice cream. It’s not too overpowering, not too sweet but is creamy like heaven in a bowl. This, to me, is one treat you shouldn’t miss.

So, the next time you want something to satisfy your cravings, go ahead and indulge at Sakurazaka.

Sakuraka Japanese Restaurant is located at Door 6, Rowi Square (near 7-11), Damosa, Davao City.

For orders and reservations, you may call them at 082 321 0566. They are open Mondays to Saturdays 11:00am-11:00pm and Sundays 5:00pm11:00pm Make #TheRoyalChef your Thursday habit! Never miss a feat with theroyalchefeats.wordpress.com and on Instagram @theroyalchefleebai.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 217 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

ENTERTAINMENT

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Shaina Magdayao gets teased about entering the convent “Si Sister Shaina?” Vina Morales joked about Shaina Magdayao during their recent guesting in ‘Walang Tulugan with the Master Showman.’

“Hindi, sister ko talaga siya eh,” she playfully cleared.

The younger Magdayao disclosed that Kuya Germs, the father-in-law of their sister Shiela, used to tease her about being a nun.

“Lagi akong inaasar ng Papa kung mag-ma-madre na ba ako,” she said, laughing.

Vina explained that it rooted from the church and charity events

that Shaina actively takes part in. “[This is] one thing [about] Shaina na hindi niya nilalabas… and we’re very proud of her. I’m sure si Kuya Germs din ay proud rin sa kanya dahil napakaraming charity work na ginagawa ni Shaina, [ang dami niya] na tinutulungang mga bata… nagbibigay siya ng kung anuano. Nagpapaligo pa siya ng mga kids, ng mga street children,” she revealed about her younger sister.

For Shaina, the fulfillment that this kind of work brings is incomparable.

“Siguro kasi iba ‘yung fulfillment na nabibigay po sa akin. Medyo

‘yung mga dreams ko siguro bilang artista, kahit paano, nagawa ko na ‘yung ilan doon [so I really enjoy doing this],” the former child star said.

One of the compassionate people she looks up to is the Master Showman himself.

“Hearing people’s stories about how he treated [others was really heartwarming]. Mababa ka man, mayaman ka man, magaling ka man, [he will be nice to you]. Hindi po siya namimili so nakaka-proud lang po talaga ipagmalakai na mabuting tao at napakalaki ng puso ng Papa,” she concluded.

Vic Sotto talks about age gap with Pauleen Luna COMEDIAN Vic Sotto sat with the kalye-serye lolas of Eat Bulaga for an exclusive interview before he exchanges I do’s with Pauleen Luna.

In the first two installments of the special, Bossing revealed what they do as a couple, what he likes most about Pauleen, and what he thinks of their age difference.

In a fill-in-the-blanks challenge that Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola, and Paolo Ballesteros gave, the noontime show host answered honestly. For the item ‘hindi mo akalain na si Pauleen ay…’, he quickly responded ‘… magkakagusto sa akin.’

Vic shared about the unexpected beginning to their relationship because of a couple of factors, mainly their ages. “…Nagsimula kami sa trabaho, magkaibigan [kami] tapos medyo malaki agwat ng edad namin so

‘di ko man lang akalain na ‘yung edad pala doesn’t really matter,” the sixty-one year old said.

For him, their over thirty year difference isn’t something to be frowned upon.

“Hindi naman bawal ‘yun eh.

Wala namang pinagbabawal sa batas. Kahit sa batas ng Diyos, walang pinagbabawal [na ganun],” he added.

The two are set to get married this weekend after almost five years of being in a relationship.

Promise of love, commitment, and revenge put to test in last three weeks of ‘Pangako Sa ‘Yo’ THE CHARACTERS of “Pangako Sa ‘Yo” will be put to the ultimate test as they struggle to fulfill the promises they made as the top-rating teleserye nears its finale this February.

In the last three weeks of the series, Claudia follows through her vow to take revenge and inflict grief on Amor (Jodi Sta. Maria) and Yna (Kathryn Bernardo) after successfully killing David (Diego Loyzaga).

Claudia will even scale the greater heights of evil just to make Amor (Jodi Sta. Maria) suffer and at the same time hide

from her and Eduardo (Ian Veneracion) the truth – that Yna as their daughter Maria Amor.

Amidst their mourning, Yna at Angelo (Daniel Padilla) will again face one of the biggest challenges

in their relationship as they will be blamed for David’s supposed suicide.

Will Yna and Angelo remain true to their word that they will fight for their love? How far will Claudia go to

torment Amor?

Will they keep their promises until the end?

Don’t miss the exciting continuation of the classic Filipino love story on television, “Pangako Sa ’Yo,” weeknights after “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” on ABSCBN Primetime Bida.

For exclusive updates, log onto Twitter. com/StarCreativesT V and Instagram.com/ S t a r C r e a t i v e sT V. Meanwhile, viewers may also catch up on full episodes and past episodes of “Pangako Sa ’Yo” through ABSCBNmobile. For more information, please go to www.abscbnmobile. com.

January 27 – February 2, 2016

FATHERS & DAUGHTERS Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried R13

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

EVERYTHING ABOUT HER Vilma Santos, Angel Locsin, Xian Lim PG

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

13 HOURS James Badge Dale, John Krasinski R13

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

THE BOY Lauren Cohan, Rupert Evans, James Russell R13

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

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UP AND ABOUT

Globe #StartNow Youth Summit set to educate and empower students on the latest digital trends and innovations THE CONTINUING RISE in smartphone penetration in the Philippines has allowed more individuals to get a hold of their own device and eventually learn to adapt a digital lifestyle – from social networking sites to various apps for efficiency. One’s mobile experience has immensely improved with tasks such as booking movies, restaurant seats, and even hailing cabs now having its corresponding apps for convenience.

With this fast-paced evolution, the youth now have more power than ever in their fingertips. Knowing how to maximize, adapt and embrace it the right way is what Globe Telecom advocates through the #StartNow Youth Summit. Set to be a venue for learning, the Youth Summit aims to immerse students in the latest digital trends, innovations, and applications, and further open their creative minds to innovate for the development of their future. The Youth Summit also focuses to inspire students and equip them with the tools to contribute to the greater good.

Globe #StartNow Youth Summit will be on January 30, 2015 at the University Theatre, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City. Open and free for all students, participants will be able to join various activities related to digital trends. One of the highlights is the plenary sessions headlined by select speakers specializing in different

fields.

“Globe #StartNow Youth Summit allows us to go beyond products and services and give the youth a different perspective on how they can maximize the power of their digital life,” shares Globe Senior Vice President for Consumer Mobile Marketing Issa Cabreira. “Today’s youth and their adaptation of the digital lifestyle have empowered them more than any other generation in the past. And learning sessions such as this aims to help them realize that and use that power to create positive change.”

The forums carry the themes Level Up, Transform, and Digital Persuasive. Level Up focuses on how telecommunications companies contribute to the development of apps that in turn create business for others. Leading the session are Angelique Yap Co-Founder of the Philippines’ first mobile rewards program ZAP Group Inc. and Ron Baetiong Founder and CEO of Par-

tyPhile Inc., a mobile access to the hottest parties and events around the metro. Yap and Baetiong both carry the experience of app development and go-to-market strategies for these types of new businesses.

Transform on the other hand will be led by Move.ph and Rappler System Operations Head Rupert Ambil and TV host, author, and editor Bianca Gonzales-Intal, who will talk about being a responsible leader in the digital age and how to utilize tools that will allow the youth to

make a positive contribution to the country. Ambil spearheads Rappler’s citizen journalism arm Move.

PH that aims to engage communities that want to bring about change through intelligent conversations and stories that can influence and inspire others to move and spark change. Gonzales-Intal also has remained a significant voice on social media through her advocacies.

She has also bagged several youthoriented awards including the premiere social media excellence

award-giving body, Tatt Awards.

Lastly, the Digital Persuasive session featuring acclaimed writer and film director Antonette Jadaone focuses on the power of social media in mobilizing and influencing the target market. Jadaone is recognized for her applauded movies such as That Thing Called Tadhana, and All You Need is Pagibig.

The youth summit is part of the brand’s #StartNow initiatives – encouraging the youth to share their innovative ideas on efforts they would like to jumpstart. With Globe GoSURF50 and its free access to digital content, one can find a new inspiration every day from the latest trending videos from YouTube, the best movie and TV titles on HOOQ, and all the newest hits on Spotify, for only P50 for three days.

Registration of participants starts at 8:00 a.m. To know more about Globe #StartNow Youth Summit and how to join , visit http://www. globe.com.ph/prepaid/start-now/ pre-register and visit www.Facebook.com/GlobePH or follow @enjoyGlobe on Twitter.

To learn more about Globe and its latest line-up of products and services, visit www.globe.com.ph. To know more about Globe Telecom’s line-up of activities for Sinulog 2016 visit www.Facebook.com/GlobePH or follow @enjoyGlobe on Twitter.

11 ENVIRONMENT

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 217 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Marine turtles: Here today, gone tomorrow?

Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO (First of Two Parts)

A

Rescued marine turtle

Released marine turtle

Hatching area of marine turtle eggs

COUPLE of years back, marine turtles caught the attention of authorities when reports reached them that some roadside restaurants in Cebu had been serving dishes made from the endangered species to their customers.

In his report, VERA Files’ Nestor B. Ramirez wrote: “Business is brisk, judging from the throng of people and cars parked outside this makeshift eatery in Pasil, a shoreline barangay. The customers, some in long sleeves and tie, do not mind the heat and the dishevelled slum area. They are here for one reason: To eat their favorite stewed dish of pawikan.”

Upon learning of the report, the government formed a special task force with eight members to go after restaurants selling the meat of protected marine turtles, locally known as pawikan.

“The task force is created to pursue and initiate an aggressive protection and conservation movement of the endangered marine turtles which are now on the verge of total depletion,” explained regional environment chief Maximo Dichoso.

Government authorities are helpless in stopping the trade. In the past, traders were easily caught because they are selling the endangered species alive. But they have wised up and sell pawikan meat already butchered. As such, authorities have a hard time telling if the meat is that of a pawikan or not.

The eateries, which serve the pawikan dishes, are made of temporary structures which are easily dismantled, allowing them to elude authorities.

“The vendors themselves know they are violating the law,” wrote Ramirez, quoting Basilisa Piaquinto, an official of one of the line agencies of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, “but the demand

for pawikan meat has kept the trade going.”

Of the eight species of marine turtles known to man, five of them can be found in the Philippines.

These are the Green Sea (known in the science world as Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricate), Loggerhead (Caretta caretta), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), and Leatherback (Dermocheyls coriacea).

The three others are the Kemp’s Ridley (Lepidochelys kempi), Flatback (Chelonia depressa), and Black Sea (Chelonia agassizi).

Unfortunately, all eight species are listed under the Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which means the trade of these species and subspecies is strictly “prohibited except for educational, scientific or research and study purposes.”

The Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has also classified the eight species as endangered. This is so because “their populations are in danger of extinction and whose survival is unlikely if the causal factors continue to operate.”

Since 2001, hunting, sale and killing of marine turtles have been banned in the Philippines. The Wildlife Conservation Act, or Republic Act No. 9147, penalizes violators with a fine of up to P100,000 and one year in jail.

Despite sincere efforts by the government and environmentalists to save marine turtles from extinction, the decimation of the endangered species continues unabated.

The main primary reason for the decline of marine turtle population is catching the reptiles alive. They are valued for their precious shells.

“It was beauty that all but killed the Hawksbill turtle,” wrote one journalist. “Polished and carved, the blackand-yellow plates on its back were long sought for tortoise-shell jewellery and combs.”

The gathering of pawikan eggs, which are considered by Chinese as aphrodisiac, has contributed to the rapid disappearance of marine turtles. The eggs, which look like pingpong balls, are also prize as energizing protein. But marine scientists dispel the myth. They said pawikan eggs are just like chicken eggs and nothing more.

These days, gathering pawikan eggs is already unlawful with the passage of the Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act in 2001.

Pollution has been cited as another prime factor why pawikan are on the verge of extinction. Included in the millions of tons of garbage dumped annually into the sea are plastic materials which marine tur-

tles mistake for jellyfish, squid, or some other food. Once digested, plastic wastes can block the turtle’s digestive tracts, causing starvation and ultimately death.

The rapid development of beach resorts for the tourism industry has destroyed the nesting beaches of marine turtles. Marine turtles spend most of their life in the sea and get all the things they need there. They even mate in the sea. But when the time comes to lay their eggs, the females return to shore, usually in the same place where they were hatched.

“If you imagine a first time nester approaching its place of birth, how much do you think of its birth place or nesting beach remains over the last 35-50 years?” asked Dr. Arnel “AA” Yaptinchay, founder and director of the Marine Wildlife Watch of the Philippines. “I would guess there would be very little space left for it to nest and enough disturbance developed to shoo it away. We are preventing them from fulfilling their life purpose. For me this is very tragic.”

In some instances, some tourism facilities view marine turtles as attractions. “This is fine if you view marine turtles from a distance, but most (beach owners) are greedy and would take a turtle and put it in a tank for secured viewing for their guests,” Dr. Yaptinchay said.

But what he considered as worrisome is when beach owners would tie the turtle to a tree. “This has happened and is still happening,” deplored Dr. Yaptinchay.

Those resorts located in islands sometimes think they are helping marine turtles by keeping hatchlings in containers and allow them to grow for a few months before releasing them into the open sea.

“What they do not realize is that they have just disrupted the whole life cycle of the turtles,” Dr. Yaptinchay said. “Hatchlings are supposed to be in open pelagic waters for the first decade of their lives. Again an important phase in their lives is affected.”

There are several other reasons why marine turtles are fast disappearing from the Philippine waters.

In an article published in Business Mirror, Jonathan L. Mayuga cited these culprits: natural predation, climate-change effects (such as sea level rise, storm surge and extreme heat), and illegal and destructive fishing methods (use of dynamite and cyanide or being trapped in fish nets).

“Unless we, Filipinos, seriously take on the task of protecting the much endangered marine turtles, these ancient creatures will soon be gone (from our waters),” Haribon, a local environmental group, warns in a statement. (To be concluded)

12 CLASSIFIEDS

Advertise with Tel No. 082.221.3601/224.1413 Email: edgedavao@gmail.com marketing@edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 217 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 217 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

13 ICT HUB ASUS ZenFone 2 picked Smartphone of the Year A SUS Philippines recently announced that since July 2014 to December 2015, the company has sold more than 1,000,000 ZenFones.

With the success of the ZenFone 2 ZE551ML as the best smartphone of the year hailed by the Philippine’s top bloggers, ASUS celebrates by giving back to users with bundling of a free ASUS ZenPower 10,050mAh Powerbank and a chance to win Flip Cover Deluxe covers.

The Philippine’s top tech bloggers have awarded the ASUS ZenFone 2 ZE551ML as the smartphone of the year. Bestowed

by Yugatech, Unbox, Gadget Pilipinas, Jam Online, AdoboTech, and DR on the Go, the ZenFone 2’s incredible performance to value ratio proves that it is a smartphone to beat until now because of its unbeatable camera, unique 4GB RAM and price.

Launched May 2015, the ZenFone 2 ZE551ML is still the only smartphone with 4GB RAM that is under

P25,000. Beating the competition against flagship smartphones that costs as high as P36,995. With the PC-grade performance of Intel Z3580 2.3Ghz QuadCore processor and 4GB RAM, the combination delivers unprecedented performance among smartphones today.

As ASUS celebrates this milestone, buyers who avail a 64GB ZenFone 2 ZE551ML worth P14,995 will get a free ASUS ZenPower 10,050mAh power-

bank worth P795. On top of this, ZenTalk (ASUS Fans) have the chance to win a ZenFone Deluxe Flip Cover when they visit http://bit. ly/ZF2Milestone2015. All they have to do is share why they love the ZenFone 2 ZE551ML and tag 3 friends to get a chance to win a ZenFone 2 Deluxe Flip Cover.

The ZenFone 2 ZE551ML 64GB is available for P14,995 with free ASUS ZenPower 10,050mAh powerbank. Promotion runs until February 29, 2016.

14 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 217 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Rebs telling Davao pols to pay campaign fees, DCPO says T HE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) on Tuesday said some politicians have allegedly been asked by the New Peoples’ Army (NPA) to pay permit-to-campaign fees.

DCPO spokesperson Chief Inspector Milgrace Driz cited a military report that they have obtained documents on the alleged extortion demands.

But Driz clarified they are yet to verify if the claims of the candidates are true.

She added they will send personnel to areas where the candidates would be campaigning to preempt attacks by any armed group.

She said they are preparing their personnel for the start of the election campaign on Feb. 8.

Driz said the police will work closely with the military to clear the areas of armed

groups.

The Police Regional Office 11 placed two areas in the city under category 2 of election watchlist, namely: Paquibato and Marilog Districts.

Category 2 means there is a presence of armed groups in the community.

Earlier, Commission on Elections 11 assistant regional director Marlon Casquejo said that paying permit-to-campaign fees to the NPA is a ground for disqualification.

He said military personnel may file a disqualification case against candidates who pay such fees to the NPA. He said it can be considered as a form of cash donation, which is prohibited during the election period from January 10 to June 8, 2016. The gun ban also takes effect during this period. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

LGU seizes 15 boats in Siargao for fishing in marine sanctuary

F

IFTEEN boats suspected of being used in illegal fishing activities in this town have been seized since November last year, an official said.

Mayor Jaime P. Rusillon told MindaNews on Sunday that these boats were found fishing within the town’s 560-hectare marine sanctuary.

The marine sanctuary covers the area from the poblacion to Barangay Malinao.

“Nasayod na sila sa ato ordinansa, sigi pa gihapon pangisda diha. Karon tagam sila,” (They already knew that we have a local ordinance, and yet some of them still go fishing in the area. Now they have learned their lesson) Rusillon said.

He said the sanctuary will become the future tourism site of the town.

“If there are more fish, there will be activities such as snorkeling, diving, sports spear fishing, among others,” he said.

Prudencio Meras III, one of the many local fishermen said the sanctuary has 24/7 security with a watch tower.

He said that after the

sanctuary was set up late last year fish population has increased in the area.

“Some fishermen are tempted to go inside the sanctuary since this area has never been disturbed for several months,” he said.

Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource-Caraga identified the area as the largest breeding ground of fish in the town.

Rusillon said aside from strengthening the protection of the marine sanctuary, they are also placing artificial reefs.

He added he wanted to restore the area’s rich marine flora and fauna.

Wilfredo Nohara, 73, a retired fisherman of Barangay Union in Dapa town recalled that when he was still in his 20s this area was full of corals and fish.

Dapa is a town adjacent to General Luna.

“I could see sharks, dolphins, and there were even different colors of corals. It was beautiful,” he said.

He said the use of dynamite and other illegal methods of fishing ruined the rich marine resources.

(Roel N. Catoto/MindaNews)

PROMOTING RECYCLING. Child models display apparels made of recycled materials inside a department store in Malaybalay City on January 23 to promote recycling. MindaNews photo by H. Marcos C. Mordeno

It’s TIME to CHANGE THE GAME. Your ads come to life with vivid, clear, crisp colors.

Get the value for your money and don’t settle for an awful copy on a badly printed space.

Advertise wisely.

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

As creative as you can get.

VOL. 8 ISSUE 217 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

GROUP OF DEATH

SPORTS15

Gilas is drawn to play France and Canada, among others, in the Manila qualifier.

T

France, Canada, Turkey drawn with Gilas in Manila Olympic qualifier

HE worst fear of Gilas Pilipinas and its fans has come true.

On Wednesday morning, France, Canada and Turkey have been drawn to play in the Manila leg of the 2016 Fiba Olympic Qualifying Tournament, meaning the Philippines will need to hurdle the three powerhouse sides to earn a ticket to the Rio Summer Games.

Senegal and New Zealand join the four in what is arguably the toughest of the three qualifiers, the others to be held in the Italian city of Turin and Belgrade in Serbia.

Serbia is joined by the Czech Republic, Japan, Angola, Latvia and Puerto Rico in the Belgrade qualifier set from July 5-10 while drawn with Italy in the similarly tough Turin tournament are Greece, Tunisia, Iran, Croatia and Mexico.

France is the highest ranked team in the 18-team field for the qualifiers at No. 5 with a team expected to be studded with NBA stars like Tony Parker, Boris Diaw and Nicolas Batum. On the other hand, Canada, while ranked lower at No. 26, is set to parade a team led by Andrew Wiggins, Tristan Thompson and Kelly Olynk.

Turkey is also a formidable side ranked eighth in the world, bannered by Ersan Ilyasova and Omer Asik. And while Gilas beat Senegal in overtime in the 2014 Fiba World Cup, the African side can bank on a deep pool of tall, athletic players led by NBA veteran Gorgui Dieng.

The only break Gilas caught in the draw held in the Swiss city of Mies is that it landed in Group B of the Manila preliminaries with France and New Zealand, a team which has not had much success since now Gilas coach Tab Baldwin took it to the semifinals in the 2002 world championships.

Under the tournament format, Gilas, assuming France sweeps its preliminary matches, will need only to beat New Zealand to advance to the crossover semifinals.

Turkey, Senegal and Canada will make up Group A in the preliminaries, with only the champion team from Manila making it to Rio. Based on the competition format released by Fiba, Gilas will draw a bye in Day One (July 5) when France and New Zealand face off before making its debut against the Kiwis on July 6. The Filipinos take on France the next day.

‘Big Difference’passes away C

ARLOS Loyzaga, recognized by many as the greatest Filipino basketball player of all time, died Wednesday morning, January 27 at Cardinal Santos Medical Center at the age of 85, his son Chito told Rappler in a phone interview.

His son said details of the wake will be announced within the day.

Loyzaga had been in failing health after a stroke struck the man who had been called “The Big Difference” in his playing years, which coincided with the Philippines’ dominance in Asian basketball and a seventh place in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics.

The 6-foot-3 Loyzaga could shoot, dribble, pass and defend against big men, using his long arms and timing.

“If you notice, in some games, he was not the highest scorer but his presence was a big plus,” said Ramoncito Campos, 90, his teammate in two Olympics, included the fabled 1956 crew, in an interview for a forthcoming book tentatively titled Years of Glory.

Before him, only Charlie Borck, 6-foot-1, and a member of the 1936 Berlin Olympic team, had the youth and ability but World War II robbed him of his

Carlos Loyzaga best years. However, Borck did not have Loyzaga’s all-court skills.

Despite his abilities, Loyzaga was not a ball hog. “He would get angry if you didn’t cut to receive a pass,” said Loreto Cabonnell, another mainstay of that 1956 team.

Loyzaga was discovered in a basketball court in Teresa, Sta Mesa. The court, named Teresa Valenzuela or Tervalac, pitted the players in that area, where Loyzaga was living with his family, and

a team piloted by Olympian Gabby Fajardo in 1949. He impressed Fajardo immensely with his well-rounded game and it eventually became his ticket to play for San Beda in the NCAA. Joe Lim, a center of Fajardo’s team, remembered Loyzaga in an story for Asian Dragon magazine 4 years ago that Loyzaga “was not a rough player and he blocked shots cleanly.”

The Philippines won 4 Asian

Games basketball titles when Loyzaga was playing and lost it in 1966, two years after he retired.

In the Asian Basketball Confederation, forerunner of FIBA Asia, the Philippines won in 1960 and 1963, where he played with an injury in the final game against Taiwan.

“He could not move much but just his presence was a big factor,” said Ed Roque in an interview for the basketball book last year.

Loyzaga retired in 1964 at that time playing point-center, a big man who stays on the top of the keyhole and pass, recalled Felix Flores, a small center with Yco’s farm team in the old MICAA, Tanduay, Loyzaga’s fame took a wider dimension when he coached the national squad, nicknamed The Dirty Dozen, to regain the ABC title in 1967, two years after it yielded the crown to South Korea.

He later became a councior in Manila, got a job at the airport and coached in the PBA for Tanduay. He and his family emigrated to Australia, but he returned to the Philippines in 2013.

He has 4 children: Chito and Joey, who followed in his footsteps; and actresses Bing and Teresa. – Rappler.com

Ateneo faces Notre Dame in 5th Notre Dame Cup

A

LUMNI and students of the Ateneo and Notre Dame are invited to join and compete in the Ateneo v. Notre Dame Golf Duel during the 5th Notre Dame Cup on 6 February 2016 at the Apo Golf and Country Club in Davao City.

The 5th Notre Dame Cup is an annual golf tourney organized by Batch 85 – Notre Dame of Kidapawan for Boys and Girls HS Alumni Association, Inc. and Batch 86 – Notre Dame of Kidapawan for Boys and Girls. It is a charity fun golf tournament aimed to raise funds for the socio-civic programs and projects of the organizers.

More than 100 players from all over the country, majority of whom came from various schools in Mindanao, have participated in the first four editions of the event, all of which were held in the challenging Apo Golf and Country Club. During the 4th Notre Dame Cup, a friendly challenge was issued and accepted by alumni of Ateneo de Davao and Notre Dame for them to tangle in a dual meet within the tournament. Thus, the Ateneo v. Notre Dame Golf Duel was conceived.

The 5th Notre Dame Cup will thus feature the emerging rivalry between Ateneo and Notre Dame in the golf course. Anyone who has enrolled, is studying or has studied, or has graduated from any Notre Dame school and any campus of Ateneo may join the Ateneo v. Notre Dame Golf Duel, whether he or she enrolled in the elementary, high school or college level.

The match will employ the System 36 Format. There is no limit to the number of players who may play for each team. However, only the top ten (10) scores of each team will be counted.

Participants are encouraged to pre-register if they want to join the Ateneo v.

Notre Dame Golf Duel. They may register at the Apo Golf Front Desk c/o Grace Solis (0922-8922955) or they may send an email to ateneovnotredamegolf@yahoo. com.

Interested participants may also register with their respective Team Captains and representatives. Ateneo has chosen Dr. Ferdie Pascua (09177290029) to spearhead its team with Notre Dame choosing Engr. Danilo Robles (0998545 3013) to captain for it. Ateneo golf players may also contact Darius Gloriani at 09209549129 while Notre Dame players may contact Gary Santiago at 09202485252.

The winner of the Ateneo v. Notre Dame Golf Duel will receive the Team Trophy and bragging rights until the 6th Notre Dame Cup. The organizers will also give a special award to the winning team.

This early, the participants to the Ateneo v. Notre Dame Golf Duel are already preparing for the much-anticipated match up.

The organizers expect more than 100 players to participate in the 5th Notre Dame Cup, which has attracted golf players from all over Mindanao and even from Metro Manila in its past staging. The event is open to all golf players, even those not coming from Notre Dame and Ateneo.

Tickets are reasonably priced at P1,500.00, which entitles the participant to several giveaways, including a dri-fit shirt and Pepsi products, one practice round and free green fee on the actual tournament, lunch and participation in the raffle. You may purchase your tickets at the Apo Golf Front Desk.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 8 ISSUE 217 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2016

Djokovic vs Federer in Aussie Open semis N

OVAK Djokovic has a larger than life presence at the Australian Open.

His face smiles at fans from sponsor’s billboards.

His voice gives inspirational advice over center-court speakers between matches.

There’s even a new addition to Melbourne Park called ‘’Novak’s World,’’ where fans can slip on virtual reality goggles and feel as if they’re walking in Djokovic’s shoes - as he stretches in the locker room and then walks out onto the court as the crowd roars.

A few years ago, the Australian Open and the other majors could have been called ‘’Roger’s World’’ - when Roger Federer was No. 1, still dominating men’s tennis and the favorite face of sponsors.

On Thursday, the two players’ worlds collide.

Again.

The top-ranked Djokovic will play No. 3 Federer in a blockbuster semifinal match at the Australian Open. It will be the 45th installment in a riveting rivalry that is so equally split that they are tied with 22 wins each.

Spectators walk past a large billboard showing defending champion Serbia’s Novak Djokovic at the …

It’s a rematch of last year’s final at the U.S. Open and Wimbledon, both of which Djokovic won in thrilling nail-biters.

It will be their 15th matchup at a Grand Slam tournament, more than any other pair of men in tennis’ Open era, which dates to 1968. Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have played each other 13 times at majors, Federer and Nadal 11 and John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl 10.

But more than just numbers, it is a tantalizing rematch that holds great importance to both players as they try to cement their place in history.

For Federer, who owns a record 17 Grand Slam titles, it offers a chance to prove that his best is not entirely behind him. He is 34, which means that time really is running out. ‘’It would mean a lot to me, no doubt about it,’’ Federer said Tuesday when asked about the significance of winning one more major in the era of Djokovic. ‘’It’s part of the reason why I guess I’m still playing. I feel like I’m competitive at the top. I can beat all the guys on tour.’’

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after defeating Kei Nishikori of Japan in their quarterfinal mat …

That is true, but the

problem for Federer has been making it happen in the last round of a major.

Federer hasn’t won a major since Wimbledon in 2012 despite repeatedly coming close. He was runner-up in 2014 at Wimbledon and in 2015 at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open - beaten all three times by Djokovic.

The 28-year-old Djokovic finished 2015 as the No. 1 player for the fourth time in five years.

The Serb won three Grand Slams - the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open - and reached the final at the French Open.

Djokovic is considered the best baseliner in the game, contorting his body

Novak Djokovic plays a forehand return to Kei Nishikori during their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia on Tuesday. (AP Photo/ Andrew Brownbill)

as he stretches and slides between defense and offense.

In Melbourne, Federer has been playing a brilliant brand of attacking tennis, ushering him comfortably through the draw and past No. 6 Tomas Berdych 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-4.

Djokovic and other players have commented that he’s

playing as well as ever, if not better, deploying wellhoned new skills and aggressiveness at net. ‘’Roger is playing really terrific tennis,’’ Djokovic said after his 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 quarterfinal win over No. 7 Kei Nishikori. ‘’He’s got great defense, amazing offense. He’s very complete.

He puts constant pressure on the opponent. You have to be aware at all times. You got to be tough. You’ve got to be concentrated. ‘’This is going to be a big challenge for both of us,’’ Djokovic said. ‘’I’m expecting a great fight.’’