Edge Davao 8 Issue 64 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 8 ISSUE 64 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

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INSIDE EDGE

Fake rice has reached Davao, NFA confirms P2 Replace coco trees: Philexport P5

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

FALLEN FRIEND. Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte pays his respects to fallen New People’s Army leader Leoncio Pitao aka Kumander Parago on Monday night at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes. Parago was killed by elements of the Philippine Army last Sunday in Paquibato District, Davao City. Lean Daval Jr.

CAPT. ALBERTO CABER PIO, EASTMINCOM

INFORMANT AN INSIDER? AFP dismisses informant is Parago’s own man

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. abf@edgedavao.net

S the informant that led to killing of Kumander Parago an insider? The question surfaced after an information came out that the alleged informant was a member of the New People’s Army (NPA) and not a civilian

as reported. A P5.6 million bounty awaited the informant for the capture or killing of the iconic NPA leader whose real name is Leoncio Pitao who was slain in an encounter with 69th Infantry Battalion troops in Purok 9,

Barangay Pañalom, Paquibato District on Sunday. However, the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom) yesterday quickly brushed aside the report and maintained the informant who gave information that led to

the death of Parago was “a civilian from Paquibato District.” In a telephone interview yesterday with EDGE Davao, EastMinCom public information officer Captain Alberto Caber said that was all the in-

FINFORMANT, 10

Davao bets favored in ICTSI Golf Tour today Sports 16

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 64 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015

HUDDLE. Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte meets with station commander and officials of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), instructing them to fast-track the investigation of the proliferation of synthetic rice in the city. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

DPWH, DCWD hit for road projects D AVAO City Councilor Rachel P. Zozobrado-Nagayo lashed out at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Davao City Water District (DCWD) for the inconvenience being cause by road constructions and repairs the two are undertaking. In a privilege speech in yesterday’s regular City Council session, Zozobrado-Nagayo said the increase in construction work in the city could mean inconvenience for motorists and passengers who have to bear long hours on the road. She said she understands that the project of DPWH and DCWD are all geared towards better services to the public, “but in the process of making these public services

WHAT THE?

better, these agencies seemed to have taken for granted the reality that road construction zones present a danger not only to the workers but also to motorists and pedestrians who use these roads.” “While we are lucky here in Davao because there is a speed limit and motorists have no choice but to go slow, accidents caused by road hazards such as uneven roads, construction equipment left in the middle and roads and even lack of road signs leading to road repairs could not even be avoided,” she added. Zozobrado-Nagayo said the road widening in the main highways are causing not only traffic but also accidents. “The same is true for the diggings left by DCWD all over

FDPWH, 10

China’s Great Wall ‘is disappearing’

Around 30 percent of China’s Mingera Great Wall has disappeared over time as adverse natural conditions and reckless human activities -- including stealing the bricks to build houses -erode the UNESCO World Heritage site, state media reported. The Great Wall is not a single unbroken structure but stretches for thousands of kilometres in sections, from Shanhaiguan on the east coast to Jiayuguan in the windswept sands on the edge of the Gobi desert. In places it is so dilapidated that estimates of its total length vary from 9,000 to 21,000 kilometres (5,600 to 13,000 miles), depending on whether missing sections are included. Despite its length it is not, as is sometimes claimed, visible from space.

Judge blames cops for low disposal rate of drug cases By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

DRUGS court judge in Davao City has blamed the low disposal rate of drug-related cases here on policemen who do not appear in court to testify. In last Monday’s Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting, Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 13 Judge Rowena Apao-Adlawan reported that only 18 out of the 3,507 total pending cases in the two drugs court in the city have been disposed. Apao-Adlawan said for the month May 2015, her sala dis-

posed of 12 out of 1,277 pending cases. The other drugs court, RTC Branch 9 under Judge Carlo Espero, had a disposal rate of 6 cases out of 2230 total pending cases. “One of the issues and concerns that we face is the issuances of subpoena. We have a problem of our policemen who do not appear as witnesses,” Apao-Adlawan said. She said there are police officers handling the case who have already retired from the service.

“The chain of custody will no longer be proven because of them,” she said. Apao-Adlawan said the prosecution witnesses’ failure to appear results in delays in the proceedings or dismissal of the case. She also said there are policeman handling the case who are reassigned to other police units in the region without the court being informed. “They are somewhere else... Where can we serve our subpoena? So, that is one of the predicaments our court is fac-

ing now,” she said. Apao-Adlawan said the last reason she observed is that the police officers had lost interest in pursuing the case. “There are instances even during trial that the policeman would intentionally forget the details of the operation,” she said. Apao-Adlawan said she will request the Supreme Court to give the courts Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras for their future reference. “They can assess the de-

“Dili malata (It won’t soften). It doesn’t even look like a hybrid variety of rice,” he added. Alerta said the NFA is still clueless on the original supplier of the fake rice in a store in Cabantian. He did not confirm if the alleged fake rice was smuggled from China. “We are tracking the supplier of the fake rice who was allegedly from Bislig, Surigao del Sur,” Alerta said. The rice was allegedly

sold to the store by a distributor from Bansalan, Davao del Sur. “But when we checked the distributors warehouse, we found nothing,” he added. Alerta said Grenio’s sisterin-law would not identify the rice distributor in Cabantian, saying her friend who is the daughter of the owner will get angry at her. “The agency is asking her cooperation for the fast iden-

FJUDGE, 10

Fake rice has reached Davao, NFA confirms By CHENEEN R. CAPON and ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

HE National Food Authority (NFA) in Davao City has confirmed that fake rice has reached the city. NFA provincial manager Virgilio Alerta told EDGE Davao yesterday that a certain Carmen Grenio, a resident of Matina Aplaya, turned over a sample of the alleged fake rice last Friday. Alerta said the rice was bought by Grenio’s sister-inlaw in a store in Cabantian and was cooked by Grenio.

“The alleged fake rice turned over to us looked like Styrofoam,” Alerta said. However, he said the alleged fake rice still needs to be tested in the NFA laboratory in Manila to further identify its composition and to find out whether it is edible or not. Alerta said the fake rice turned over to NFA looked different from well-milled and regular milled NFA and nonNFA rice coming from Vietnam and Thailand.

FFAKE, 10

VOL. 8 ISSUE 64 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

A mere intellectual move, Danao says of slay suspect’s appearance

HELP. Heidy Lizza V. Timbancaya, aunt of Gringo Villaruz, the member of Philippine Coast Guard who was abducted by the Abu Sayaff last May 4, shows a picture of her nephew and news clippings to reporters. Tibancaya asked Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte to help secure the release of Villaruz and two other captives. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

AVAO City Police Office (DCPO) director Senior Superintendent Vicente D. Danao Jr. said the appearance of engineer Rosam Giger Jr., suspect in the murder of architect John Riz Fortuna, before Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte “a mere intellectual move.” Last Monday afternoon, Giger went to Duterte to explain his side on the killing of Fortuna. Danao said he believes the appearance of the suspect was part of his lawyer’s strategy since Giger’s camp learned that the 72-hour hot pursuit operations had already lapsed. “Our time had already lapsed. It has been more than 72 hours,” he said, noting that the police now have to wait for a warrant of arrest before they

abf@edgedavao.net

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte asked the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to help secure the release of two Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) personnel and a barangay captain reportedly abducted by the Abu Sayyaf last May 4. This after Heidy Lizza V. Timbancaya, the aunt of Gringo Villaruz, 28, one of the three abducted men, appealed to him personally at the Grand Men Seng Hotel on Monday night. In an interview, Duterte said that he talked to someone from the MNLF to negotiate with the abductors for the

possible release of Villaruz, fellow Coast Guard member Rod Pagaling, and Aliguay, Dapitan barangay captain Rodolfo Boligao. Duterte said the three men were reportedly abducted by members of the Abu Sayaff but he has yet to confirm the story. “Dapitan (City) man to sila gikuha, ang Dapitan atbang na man na sa Dumaguete (City), Nothern Mindanao na unya molibot ka pa nia ra man ng kuan (kampo sa Abu Sayaff sa Western Side] (The three were captured in Dapitan City and what I know is that Dapitan is fronting Dumaguete City

Rody leaves Felonia’s murder case to court

in the Visayas. The area is in Northern Mindanao while the Abu Sayaff are in the Western part of Mindanao),” he said. Duterte said he has no reports on where the three have been kept by the group but he is hoping for a positive outcome on his attempt to save the lives of the three. In a separate interview, Tibancaya said she asked for Duterte’s help because of the mayor’s connections with some officials of the MNLF. “It can help a lot and I am thankful that the staff of Mayor Duterte called me to talk about this,” she said. She said Duterte told her

that his friends in the MNLF will try their best first to see if the captives, including her nephew, are safe. Tibancaya said the Abu Sayyaf is asking for P3 million in ransom, a reduction from the P100 million the group previously asked for. She said the national government has already declared that it is implementing no-ransom policy. She said she is worried that Villaruz would be beheaded. Tibancaya said the three were captured inside the Barangay Hall in Aliguay last May.

FA MERE, 10

N. Cotabato farmers get oil palm, cacao seedlings

Duterte asks MNLF to help save T PCG men from Abu Sayyaf By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

could arrest Giger for the murder case filed against him. Danao said Giger must volunteer to go to the police as soon as the warrant is released by the court. He added, however, that it would be “better” if Giger does not surrender. He did not elaborate, although not surrendering means the police would go out to arrest him. For her part, Sta. Ana Police Station commander Superintendent Royina Garma said Giger’s appearance before the mayor was “merely a media millage” since Giger did not submit a waiver submitting himself to police custody. “Legally speaking, Giger did not volunteer for police custody,” Garma said.

HE provincial government of North Cotabato continues its Seedlings Dispersal Program with 280 small farmers from five towns receiving seedlings of oil palm and cacao on Tuesday, local officials said. These farmers are from the municipalities of Kabacan, Carmen, M’lang, Antipas and Tulunan. The turnover ceremony, held at Triple P Farm in Barangay Katidtuan, Kabacan, was led by North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza and Provincial Agriculturist Eliseo M. Mangliwan who handed oil palm seedling over to some 240 farmers to be planted in their respective nurseries or farms. Another 47 farmers were also given cacao seedlings by Mendoza and Mangliwan in a separate ceremonial distribution at the Agri-Center, Capitol Compound, Amas, Kidapawan City.

“The provincial government of Cotabato continues an integrated approach of assisting farmers, especially those affected by the long drought in February to May of this year,” Mendoza said. “With sensible programs, we aim to improve the living conditions of our farmers by giving what is useful and practical for them. In this case, the seedlings will serve as augmentation for their existing farms,” she added. One of the highlights of the dispersal program in Barangay Katidtuan and in the Agri-Center was the opportunity for farmers to talk to the governor and updated her on the status of their respective farms. Maribeth Alejo of Antipas and Rogelio Quintero of New Janiway Village, M’lang, two of the recipients of oil palm seedlings, expressed their gratitude for the assistance which they referred to as instrument to

FN. COTABATO, 10

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

AYOR Rodrigo Duterte refuses to help former Regional Intelligence Unit (RIU) head Superintendent Leonardo Felonia in his case for allegedly masterminding of the killing of Cebu-based hotelier Richard Lim King last year in Davao City. Felonia was transferred on Friday from Camp Crame to Davao City Police Office (DCPO) where he was temporarily detained for his murder case. Duterte said he will not extend help to Felonia since the alleged crime he committed was not in line with his duties. “No! I cannot be of help to anybody. Colonel Felonia must answer (for this),” the mayor said. Duterte has always as-

sured police officers that he will help them if they are charged with anything while in the performance of their duties. “As I said, all policemen who are working will have my protection, but for those not in the performance of duty, you’re on your own,” he said. Felonia, who was detained at DCPO since last Friday, was brought to Southern Philippine Medical Center (SPMC) after he experienced difficulty in breathing. A petition to bring him back to his mother unit at Camp Crame was filed by Felonia’s legal counsel Lawyer Caesar Europa on Monday. Felonia previously claimed he received threats on his life.

FAKE RICE. Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Senior Superintendent Vicente Danao Jr. coordinates with City Agriculture Office (CAO) head Rocelio Tabay in efforts to trace the source of synthetic rice which has reached Davao

City. Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte said selling fake rice is considered economic sabotage and ordered Danao to conduct a thorough investigation on the matter. Lean Daval Jr.

EDGEDAVAO

4 SUBURBIA DTI 11 recognizes social entreps’role

HE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao Region is fully recognizing the role of social entrepreneurs in nation building. Social entrepreneurs are defined as individuals who utilize and maximize their expertise in finding solutions to some of society’s pressing concerns. Thus, they use their business ventures as their platform to address social concerns like poverty. Considering the fact that Davao Region is home to a number of social entrepreneurs, DTI is optimistic about helping more individuals in the community where they are operating. DTI-Davao City Field Office Director Engr. Edwin O. Banquerigo said that social entrepreneurship is an innovative solution to address social problems and help achieve inclusive growth, an economic growth felt by everyone. “We know for a fact that some private corporations focus on profit while non-government organizations (NGOs) focus solely on social impact. As you can see, these two are in the extremes when it comes to the spectrum of social entrepreneurship. Social enterprises, on the other hand, operate at the middle whereby their performance is measured still based on profit but they take into account a positive return to society,” he said. Meanwhile, in recognition

of the social entrepreneurs’ contribution towards uplifting the lives of many Filipinos, BPI Foundation, in partnership with the Ateneo Center for Social Entrepreneurship (ACSEnt), recently launched its new project called “BPI Sinag”. As explained by the bank, “BPI Sinag” is a business plan competition that is aimed at empowering entrepreneurs with a social mission. Social entrepreneurs from 18 to 35 years old who have business ideas or existing enterprises that address social issues may join the competition. Entries must be submitted not later than July 20, 2015. Aside from winning cash prizes, the top entries to “BPI Sinag” will also have access to workshops, mentorship, and financing. Five finalists will receiveP200,000 each , sixmonth mentoring, and access to Ateneo business incubation center. With this opportunity at hand, Banquerigo has urged social entrepreneurs in the area to participate in the “BPI Sinag” search. “This will surely be of great help to them considering that they will not only enjoy monetary benefits but as well as technical assistance,” he said. Interested social entrepreneurs may visit www.sinag. bpifoundation.org for more information. They can also check their social pages (Facebook and Twitter) for updates. (DTI11/JenMendoza)

NGCP commits to 5-year tree planting activity

HE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has entered into an understanding with the city government of Tagum to adopt a one-hectare treeplant area within five years. NGCP Regional Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Officer Milfrance Capulong revealed that the tree-plant activity that NGCP conducted last Friday was the kick-off of the five-year undertaking it committed to do as stipulated in the affidavit of understanding it had signed earlier with the City Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) of Tagum City. Saying it was a catch-up activity of NGCP in observance of the Arbor Day on June 25, Capulong said NGCP had been into tree-planting which NGCP does nationwide, deploying employees from all its districts. Participating in last Friday’s tree-plant activity were some 100 employees from District V of NGCP’s operations and maintenance and support group from corporate communications office, finance, asset management and general services, among others. Aside from tree-plant, NGCP also took part with

the annual coastal clean-up which it did last year in Bunawan, Davao City listed as a NGCP’s host community just like Tagum City where transmission lines going to areas in Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental were running across, Capulong explained. “We are doing tree planting and coastal clean-up every year. These are nationwide regular activities of NGCP,” she said. Meanwhile, Tagum City CENRO Forester Ronie Senangote revealed that CENRO provided the 300 seedlings of Mangrove and Tiwi planted during the NGCP tree-plant in Barangay Busaon and that his office also assisted in clearing the tree-plant site. However, the treeplant site maintenance and tree-growing supervision will be taken cared of by NGCP which committed to deploy teams of line-men to do the ground weeding around the planted trees. “In case of replanting needs, we can provide the seedlings,” he said while explaining that the tree-planting activity formed part of the Reforestation and Greening Program of the City Government

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 64 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015

GIANT WHALE. No, this isn’t from Jurassic Park. This is Davor (short for Davao Oriental), the 53-foot long and 20-ton sperm whale’s skeletal remains on exhibit at the Subangån Museum in Dahican, Mati, Davao Oriental. The

fisherman who first sighted the sperm whale said he saw three: two sperm whales escorted the injured Davor to the San Isidro and Governor Generoso shores on June 25, 2010. Contributed photo by Pam Chua

Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe benefits from P13-million infra projects T HE Bagobo-Tagabawa community is part of the localities in the hinterlands of Sta. Cruz town and Davao City enjoying the benefits of basic infrastructure projects provided by Hedcor, Inc. More than P13 million worth of infrastructure projects composed of a training center, water systems, tribal halls and access roads have been turned over to the host communities of Hedcor’s hydropower plants during the first half of this year. Boy Jabonillo, Hedcor vice president for business development, said the deserving tribal beneficiaries are residing in Barangay Sibulan in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur and in Barangay Sibulan City Side, Davao City. “The dreams of the indigenous people in Hedcor host communities are finally coming true after years of aspiring, planning and working for must-have basic structures,”

Jabonillo said. The training center was provided to Sitio Mamaon of Barangay Sibulan City Side. The tribal halls were named as Pogpog Tribal Hall for Sitio Tudaya, Barangay Sibulan; Sibulan Tribal Hall for Barangay Sibulan; Sibulan City Side Tribal Hall; and Jose Rizal Tribal Hall for Barangay Jose Rizal, all of Sta. Cruz, and Kapatagan Tribal Hall for Barangay Kapatagan, Digos City. Jabonillo said the water systems were installed at Sitio Tudaya in Barangay Sibulan; Barangay Jose Rizal; Sitio Mareras and Sitio Sinorongan in Barangay Sibulan City Side. He said the people at SitioTudaya have gained access to farm-to-market road through a road opening from Lower Pogpog to Centro Pogpog, which provides easy transport of farm goods. The Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe expressed thanks to Hedcor for providing their com-

munities 11 infrastructures, saying that the projects were dreams come true to them, Jabonillo stated. Hedcor quoted Tribal Council member Paterno Aninipot of Sitio Pogpog as saying, “Mao kini ang ginapangandoy sa katawhan sa una pa. Og dili tungod sa Hedcor nga naay panalangin gikan sa Ginoo, wala unta kini. Nagpasalamat ko sa grupo sa Hedcor. Kung wala pa ang Hedcor, wala unta kini (This is what the community has long been aspiring for and had it not for Hedcor, with the grace from God, these wouldn’t be possible. This is why we thank them).” “Dako ko og pasalamat sa suporta sa project. Hingpit ug kinasing-kasing namong gidawat ang proyekto. Ginapasalamatan pud nako ang komunidad ug labi na ang kompanya, kay kon wala ang kompanya, wala tay mahimo… walay proyekto nga moabot

Engineer Eric Matutino, head of PAGIBIG Tagum Sales and Marketing Division, said the loyalty card was the result of the survey conducted by their main office on how they can actually provide benefits to the members in their everyday life aside from their usual services like multi-purpose and housing loans. Matutino said the card can be used by the members in any partner merchant of PAGIBIG Fund nationwide. According to the PAGI-

BIG website, the agency currently has around 60 partner-merchants, which include Rivera Medical Clinic Inc in Panabo, Penong’s Restaurant, NCCC Department Store, Hardwaremaxx, Emcor, Davao Doctor’s College, Holy Child College, and Bread Factory. Matutino said members can avail themselves of 2%60% discount depending on the partner-merchant’s offered services. He said they are now approaching other local com-

(We welcomed the project whole-heartedly, and I greatly thank those who supported it, especially the company because without them, we have no way of making our dreams a reality),” Sibulan Tribal Chieftain Datu Rudy Agtag was also quoted. The IPs vowed to take care of the projects and assured the company that all their efforts will not be wasted. “Without the trust and support of the community, Hedcor’s dream of making lives better through sufficient supply of power would not have come true. Thus, a big part of the company’s success is theirs,” stated Hedcor Vice President Rolando Pacquiao. Hedcor, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AboitizPower owning and operating 22 runof-river hydropower plants in Davao, Benguet, Mountain Province and Ilocos Sur with a total capacity of 185 MWs. (PIA-XI/Carina L. Cayon)

PAGIBIG offers loyalty card

FFICIALS of the Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF) or PAGIBIG Fund urged members to apply for loyalty card to avail themselves of privileges and discounts from partner-merchants. Speaking during last Monday’s Kapihan sa Kapitolyo at the Provincial Information Office, PAGIBIG Fund Tagum Branch Head Emelinda Glemao said the loyalty card is an added benefit to the members in their day-today activities.

panies to increase more the coverage of the loyalty card. To register, members can proceed to any PAGIBIG branch to fill up the registration form, have their picture taken, and pay P100. “A company or office may also request us to visit their establishment for an offsite registration,” he said. PAGIBIG Information Officer Mahencio Lindayan Jr. said that a member need to register only once at any PAGIBIG branch. (PIA11, Michael Uy)

5 ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 8 ISSUE 64 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015

Replace coco trees: Philexport By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

HE Philippine Exporters Confederation (Philexport) in Davao City is urging the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to replace half-century old coconut trees throughout Mindanao, saying not doing so would threaten the coconut export industry. “The production rate of coconut trees here had decreased to 15 to 20 percent throughout the years,” Philexport Davao chapter president Ferdinand Marañon told reporters on Monday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw. Marañon estimated that a single hectare of coconut trees has a full production rate of 2,000 kilograms or two tons per year, but this has declined through the years due to ageing coconut trees in the island-region. Coconut and its byproducts are classified as the country’s top export products and large portion of it comes from Mindanao. The multi-million peso coconut industry of Davao

Region is its second export commodity, next to banana. The Davao Region also holds the coconut capital of the country located in the province of Davao Oriental. “The PCA and DA should start replanting to maintain the high performance in the coconut export industry,” Marañon said, adding that there have been incidents of closure of some coconut processing plant here in the region because the supply of raw coconut is very low. According to PCA data, Mindanao is home to a total of 1.76 million hectares planted with a total of 171.96 million coconut trees with a production of 8.92 billion nuts in 2011. Of the 79 provinces in the island-region, 68 are coconut areas, the report said. The coconut industry of Mindanao was heavily affected by Typhoon Pablo in 2012 which caused multi-million peso damages in the coconut areas of Davao Oriental and other areas. Coconut produced are

GETTING READY. A worker of a roadside eatery grills pork chops in preparation for the influx of customers from a nearby call center company along Jacinto Extension in Davao City before dawn Tuesday. Lean Daval Jr. processed into virgin coconut oil, coco sugar, desiccated coconut, and coconut oil which can be used for cosmetics and pharmaceutical

purposes, among others. These are mostly exported to Europe and the US. Marañon said it would take three to five years to at-

tain the full maturity of a coconut tree and start producing at its maximum capacity. He said this concern will be lobbied to officials of PCA

in the upcoming three-day Philippine Exporters Congress on July 23 to 25 at the SMX Convention Center in Lanang.

6 THE ECONOMY

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 8 ISSUE 64 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015

NGCP lifts Luzon’s yellow alert status T HE National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) has lifted the yellow alert status of the Luzon grid Monday, according to the Department of Energy (DOE). ”Yellow alert was lifted effective 16:30 (4:30 p.m.) due to sufficient operating reserves. We are at normal operations,” DOE’s Electric Power Industry Management Bureau (EPIMB) Director III Irma Exconde told PNA in a text message Monday citing NGCP data. She reported that the second unit of the state-owned Malaya thermal power plant ran at a capacity of 328 Megawatts (MW) from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The plant, which was supposed to be privatized, only runs when there is an imminent power shortage. Exconde added the highest

peak on Monday was recorded at 8,692 MW. According to the NGCP’s power situation outlook as of 6:00 p.m., Luzon’s power supply has stabilized at 9,123 MW with a demand of 8,036 MW. Luzon’s reserves grew to 1,087 MW, which is higher than the required reserve of 647 MW, from 8,948 MW at 2 p.m. The NGCP placed a red alert on the Luzon grid from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday due to zero contingency reserves. Luzon only had 269 MW of reserves during the hour, coming from a supply of 8,948 MW and 8,679 MW, which is lower than the 647 MW requirement. NGCP said the power shortage was due to the forced outages of a number of power plants, but had not named these plants. (PNA)

Aquino inspects $82.9-M airport dev’t in P. Princesa

HE upgrading of the Puerto Princesa City Airport (PPCA) into a world-class international gateway in this city has reached 30-percent completion, Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) Undersecretary Julianito Bucayan Jr. informed President Benigno Aquino III during the latter’s brief visit Monday morning. The Puerto Princesa Airport Development Project (PPADP), which was part of President Aquino’s third state of the nation address (SONA) in 2012, is under the $82.9-million design-and-build contract awarded to Korea’s Kumho Industrial Co. Ltd.-GS Engineering & Construction Joint Venture financed by the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF). In briefing President Aquino, Bucayan said the Puerto Princesa Airport Development Project (PPDAP) is intended “to enhance the quality of airport services in Palawan, comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) safety standards, expand the Puerto Princesa international airport capacity to addressthe growing air traffic” in the province. It is designed to accommodate two million passengers per annum with a peak flow of 690 travelers per hour. Showing President Aquino a slide of the passenger terminal, the DOTC undersecretary informed that of the total project cost of $102.561-million, the construction is $82.9-million or P3.755-billion. “The passenger traffic in Palawan at its peak is 690 at the most comfortable level, Mr. President, or roughly 15 square meters per person so, if we’re going to compress, it can go much higher,” he said, adding that the capacity of the

existing airport is only 200 per 15 square meters. The main scope of work at the PPDAP involves civil, building, and navigational aid and airfield ground lighting works. Civil works include the development of new pavement of apron, taxiway, airside roads, access road and car parking lot, and rehabilitation of the existing runway. Building works, meantime, involve the upgrading of the passenger terminal, cargo terminal, airport tower control (ATC), rescue and fire fighting facility (RFFF) building, administration, maintenance, powerhouse, and temporary facility buildings. Bucayan said the passenger terminal is 12,999.84 square meters; cargo is 1,213.23 square meters, and administration and operation building has an area of 749.43 square meters. “The passenger terminal has an almost total area of 13,000 square meters compared to the current existing that only has a 3,000-square meter floor area. This is bigger in terms of floor area by one hectare,” he informed President Aquino. The ATC, he said, is going to be ICAO compliant since it will have state-of-the-art equipment facilities for air traffic control. Of the total $102.561-million total project cost, Bucayan updated President Aquino that the Korean government through the EDCF provided $71.6-million that has an interest rate of .1% and payable in 40 years. The runway of the worldclass international airport in the city is 2,600 meters long to comply with the ICAO safety standard of at least minimum 150 meters from the centerline.

FAQUINO, 10

POWER UP. An employee demonstrates the use of a power juicer which makes natural unadulterated juice directly from fresh fruit. Photo taken during the recently concluded World Food Expo at SMX Convention Center. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

Architecture exhibit draws 120 participants By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

ROUND 120 Davao City and Manila-based suppliers of different innovative construction materials varying from steel for infrastructure foundation to metal sheets for roofing will participate in the 13th Arki Quest at SM City Davao Annex on Friday. “Our exhibitors will be showcasing the latest innovation and technology in the construction industry in the three-day event,” Philippine

Institute of Architects (PIA) Davao chapter president architect Gerardo Digal said in Monday’s Kapehan sa Dabaw. Digal told reporters that the exhibition, which will run until the weekend, is a necessary venue to give updates on the latest trend in architectural and infrastructural design not just in the country but globally. He also said the exhibition will be providing inno-

vative construction materials that can be incorporated in the booming construction and real estate industry of Davao City. “Based on the statistics of the National Building Code, the city was listed number one with the most approved building permits which is crucial in starting a construction project,” he said. Digal noted that the city is compliant with the building code and even with the

law which requires commercial buildings to have a ramp or elevator to provide easiness to people with disabilities (PWDs). Aside from an exhibition of construction supplies, there will be also a open seminar and free consultation for the public during this weekend, PIA director for fellowship Ace Algas added. “Our architects will be providing free consultation to the public,” Algas said.

“The Philippines should have interest in AIIB since the government is in its infrastructure move. This will benefit the country to fast track infrastructure projects,” said Yao. “Set aside territorial claims. This is about business. PCCI will recommend it to the President,” he said. In October last year, the Philippines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Beijing, China on establishing AIIB. However, on AIIB’s signing of Articles of Agreement on Monday, the Philippines, along with Denmark, Kuwait,

Malaysia, Poland, South Africa, and Thailand have yet to sign AIIB’s Articles of Agreement. Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary stated that the Philippines remains keen on AIIB and the Philippine government is prudently studying whether to commit in the regional financial institution. Meanwhile, United Statesbased think tank IHS Global Insight noted that the AIIB should be a positive factor for the Philippines to support the country’s long-term economic growth. “The governance stan-

dards for the AIIB are expected to be high and the Philippines will benefit from being amongst the large group of Asian economies that are taking part in this initiative,” IHS Asia-Pacific Chief Economist Rajiv Biswas told PNA in an e-mail. “Over the long-term the AIIB could become an important source of development finance for Asian developing countries and it would serve the Philippines well to be part of this strategic initiative together with most other Asian nations,” Biswas stressed. (PNA)

China-led AIIB beneficial for PHL: PCCI president C

OMMITTING to the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will be beneficial for the Philippines to fast track developments in the country. Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) President Alfredo M. Yao told the Philippines News Agency (PNA) that the Philippines should join the AIIB, regardless of the dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea, as there is a need for infrastructure development in the country given its robust economic growth in the last five years.

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EDGEDAVAO

WOMEN

THE BEAUTY CONNECTION

THERE’S MORE to a person than what meets the eye. By coincidence, this old saying kept playing in my head as I scanned through the profile of 23-year old beauty, Sofia Sibala. She is predominantly visible on my Facebook newsfeed, mainly because of common friends. Notifications and “flood likes” would lead one to a photo streaming of this young makeup artist / model, a visual narrative of her journey through career and life.

Not taking to account her blood relations to celebrity blogger Patty Laurel – Filart, I’d say Sofia is one pretty face that is

making a name for her self. She is the kind whose experience and commitment outshine her physical attributes. While blessed with good genes, she proudly credits her glow and bliss to her devotion to God and family. “My path to self discovery wouldn’t have been this fruitful, had it not been for the guidance and love of my parents and the one above,” shares the young lady. “I’ve made a personal pact of finding my purpose in life through others. For a time, I served as nurse right after I graduated. It feels good to be able to help relieve people of their pains and ails. It humbled me, kept me grounded. Through the course of my earlier career, I found myself wanting to try something different. It wasn’t fad that led me to the beauty industry. Inside me grew that yearning for different encounters by inspiring people to feel good about themselves and to make them appreciate their best assets.” She may have the privileges that most don’t, a family name and influence that rings a bell among the locals, but her career flourished out her

own drive and determination to succeed. There is no ounce of arrogance or conceit in her. In fact, even as a budding professional, she has learned to reciprocate the trust of her clientele and share her time and talent in helping build the careers of other artists. She is her best advert and it helps that she has a pleasing personality that can easily win trust and confidence. I’ve met countless of makeup artists and I’m impressed with how fast young Sofia has acquired entrepreneurial skills to sustain her calling. Beauty, talent, purpose, character and brains combined, it is no wonder why Sofia is gaining

momentum now, earning the trust of established brands and women from all walks of life. “I guess this all boils down to my understanding of a woman’s heart --- that inner desire to be appreciated. This is my constant source of inspiration whenever I step in front of my clients.” Check out #hairandmakeupbySofiaSibala to view samples of her work. For collaborations or make up services, please contact Sofia at 09333571222 or email her at sibalasofia@ gmail.com. You may also follow her on Instagram (@sofiasibala, @hairandmakeupbySofiaSibala) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/sessibala).

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UP AND ABOUT

Minions mania at Toy Kingdom THE despicable squad is back! And as they hit the theaters and star in their very own film, Toy Kingdom brings the adorable Minions to life with toys inspired by their muchawaited self-titled movie. There are many reasons to love this cuddly Gone Batty Minion Plush buddy styled with spooky-fun Dracula costume.

Kids can join in the fun with toys inspired by the film’s main characters – Kevin, Bob and Stuart, the brave trio that saves the entire clan of minions from extinction by finding the most despicable master of all time. There are cuddly action figures that speak delightful minion words, and make fun moves like dancing, bouncing, singing and silly laughing; as well as plush buddy minions to hug and hold. There’s more fun ahead with collectable pocket size play sets with minion surprises inside. Minions’ toy collections are available at all Toy Kingdom Express outlets in SM Store, as well as Toy Kingdom stores in SM Lanang Premier and SM City Davao. Also visit www. toykingdom.ph.

Minion Kevin Banana eating action figure. Aside from being fond of bananas, this Kevin figure also speaks minion sounds with a press in his pocket. Move his head in many ways for lots of funny response.

Minion Bob with Teddy Bear has a Bob plush figure that’s interacting with his friend Teddy Bear Tim. Join in the fun by squeezing Bob’s left hand and hear him talk or give a big hug to make him sing. Both have cheeks that glow.

Micro Minions playset - Bored silly minions. Pocket sized Kevin, Bob and Stuart are depicted in their most boring yet funny looking state. Features a tiny play area with a backdrop inspired by the scene in the movie.

Rock n’ Roll Stuart. Meet Stuart the Rock Star with his electric guitar that plays cool rhythms. A must for music lovers with guitar strumming action, interactive talk mode and dialogues inspired by the original movie voice.

The little yellow men love the city life as this Micro Minion playset NYC Minions reveals. Micro sized minions included. This soft and cuddly Cro-Minion plush buddy is the sweetest thing to hug.

Biggest SM City Davao University Fair set July 9 to 11 THE REGION’S biggest gathering of schools, the University Fair, happens at SM City Davao on July 9 to 11.

Now on its third year, the event is expected to feature a powerhouse collection of academic and technical institutions from around the country. Among the out-of-town institutions who confirmed are Ateneo de Zamboanga and Ateneo de Cagayan de Oro (Xavier University), International Academy for Film and Television (Bigfoot) from Cebu, Dumaguete’s Silliman University, Manila’s National University, De La Salle College of Saint Benilde, Mapua College of Technology, University of Santo Tomas and SoFA Design Institute. Davao-based schools are also set to showcase their

programs—Ateneo de Davao University, Davao Doctor’s College, Fashion Institute of Design and Arts, Institute of International Culinary and Hos-

pitality Entrepreneurship, Joji Ilagan Career Center Foundation, MOST Institute of Davao, Philippine Women’s College, University of Mindanao and

University of the Philippines in Mindanao. “We are always excited to open the University Fair. In terms of exhibitor participation, this year is the biggest yet. We are expecting 18 institutions, 9 of which are from out-of-town. Also, this year, we intend to inject forums on the K-12 program as well as the ASEAN integration… The U-Fair is mounted not only for High School students, graduate school and opportunities for further studies will also be available,” mall manager Lynette Lopez shares. Apart from school options, the fair will also offer forums on scholarships and career planning. For block bookings and inquiries, interested schools may contact 297.6998.

ENTERTAINMENT

Jame conce

IF there’s one concert event Dabawenyos should not miss this year, it must be the James Ingram Greatest hits Tour on July 3 at the SMX Convention Center. The three-time Grammy Award winner is set to take Davao by storm as he performs here for the first time, and probably the only time. Which makes his record hit “Just Once” very apt to describe this once-in-a-lifetime chance to witness Ingram perform in person. “It’s an event Dabawenyos shouldn’t miss,” said local organizer Vincent Tupas of Ovation Productions. Ingram is expected to arrive tomorrow from his concert in Manila at Mariott Hotel. “He will be backed up by a crew of 16 All-American band and his entire performance will be the same as that in Manila where people pay a fortune for a ticket,” Tupas said. “We are lucky here in Davao to have this opportunity to see him perform at a price much lower than that in Manila.” Tupas said there are some from Manila who bought tickets of the Davao concert who will fly in here. “In a way, we are promoting tourism here. People come for the concert and also to experience Davao.” Sponsored by Air 21, Max’s Fried Chicken, Boiling Crabs and Shrimps, Ad and Promo Management, Wild 92.3 FM, 95.5 Hit Radio, and Edge Davao,. Tickets are available at The SM Store Customer Service Counter of SM City Davao and SM Lanang Premier, Customer Service of Gaisano Mall of Davao or at Mount Olive Trading at the corner of Mabini and Circumferential Road near the

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ANIME’ fans and enthus asts had a blast during th annual Hero Face Off tha took place at the Mus Hall, SM Mall of Asia earlie this month. It was the big gest cosplay battle to date celebrating the distinct P noy creativity as embodie in the year’s sixth edition o the ultimate cosplay battl in the Philippines.

The Hero Face Off competitio was divided into three categorie the Kids Squad category, Leagu of Heroes category, and the Fac Off category. The competitio now recognizes Filipino chara ters as part of the choices for th participants, apart from the a ime’ favorites. Team XO, comprised of Sara Jane De Ocampo and Jennif Ong, in their “Dynasty Warriors themed costumes, took home th grand prize in the Face Off catego ry. The two ladies will be the Ph ippines’ first-ever representative for the World Cosplay Summit Nagoya, Japan this August whe they’ll be going head to head wit cosplayers from around the glob

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es Ingram ‘Greatest Hits Tour’ ert set to take Davao by storm pan, Singapore and Malaysia, he’s one of the most popular U. S. Artists, performing and playing before sold out audiences, year in and year out. At home he’s also currently working with choreographer /producer Debbie Allen on a musical entitled “The Legend” in development. The essential quality that is apparent

in James’ music is the downon-the-ground realness and authenticity that James Ingram brings to every song he writes, sings or produces. That honest approach to music stems the balance James maintains between his career and his home life. “ ‘I never confuse who I am, with what I do”.

MES INGRAM upon arrival in Manila on Monday.

trance of Marfori Subdivision side Mercury Drugstore. For ore info call 0916-2867088 and 32-6376185. Tickets for the concert are ld at SVIP - 4000 with seat numr (Limited Seats); VIP - 3500 th seat number; GOLD - 2500 e seating; SILVER 1500 free ating.

CADEMY AWARD WINNER Not many people can claim be back-to-back Academy ward nominees, but singer mes Ingram is among that sect company. One of the truly perb voices in contemporary usic. he earned the best song

Oscar nomination for “ Look What Love has Done,” the enchanting love theme from the movie Junior, a song he co-wrote with Carole Bayer Sager and James Newton Howard. A native of Akron, Ohio, Mr. Ingram has earned three Grammy Awards, and 17 nominations over the years. He first drew widespread attention in the early 1980s for his memorable performances of “One Hundred Ways” and “Just Once,” two smash hit singles that helped make Quincy Jones’ The Dude the most Grammy nominated album in history to date. Mr. Ingram also immortalized “Somewhere Out There,” a duet he sang

with Linda Ronstadt in Steven Spielberg’s animated feature An American Tail, and his duet with Patti Austin, “How Do You Keep the Music Playing,” was an Oscarnominated song from the movie Best Friends. As a songwriter, Mr. Ingram co-wrote with Michael McDonald, and won a Grammy award for “Yah-Mo Be There”. In 1993 he teamed up with Carole Bayer Sager and Clif Magness to co-write “The Day I Fall in Love,” from the movie Beethoven’ Second. Sung as a duet between himself and Dolly Parton, it went on to earn an Academy Award nomination for best song in 1994. Thom Bell, (Producer) pro-

vided James with his first solo number one pop hit: “I Don’t Have The Heart” paving the way for more acclaim and recognition for the powerhouse vocalist. In 1990, James was also featured on “The Secret Garden,” the No. 1 R &B hit from Quincy Jones’ multi platinum album, “Back On The Block”. James Ingram’s other hits include “Whatever We Imagine”, “Baby Come To Me”, “There’s No Easy Way”, among others. In addition to all his corporate performances and activity as a recording artist, James travels world wide and has been constantly busy with trips to South East Asia: in The Philippines, Ja-

ased ladies win Hero Faceoff 2015

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The country was just an observer nation the last few years, but this time, the Philippines has qualified to be a competitor. The winner for the Kids Squad category was Ashley Hernandez, who came on stage as Christian Bale’s Batman and even rode a motorcycle to add more ohhs and ahhs from the crowd. For the League of Heroes category, the Dragon Ball Z Warriors took home the top prize as they re-enacted adrenaline-pumping scenes from the anime’.

The judges of this year’s Hero Faceoff were World Cosplay Summit, Inc. CEO and Founder Tokumaru Oguri, Hero TV channel head Jojo Estacio and Comic artist Berlin Manalaysay. The big convention was not only for cosplay enthusiasts as Hero TV gave everyone a treat with their free showing of the latest Dragon Ball Z movie titled “Dragon Ball Z: Battle of the Gods.” And being the gracious hosts that they are, they also invited the voice of Son Goku himself, Jeffrey Utanes, along with

the voice behind Shiroe from Log Horizon and the original voice of Naruto, Blair Arellano, to share secrets and tips to prospective dubbers. However, the most-anticipated part of the program was the performance of Japanese Idol group Starmarie. The affable girls from Japan had the crowd roaring wild when they performed a song from one of the country’s most-loved anime’ series of all time, Samurai X. The group also had a meet and greet with some lucky fans after their energetic mini-concert. KZ Tandigan, the grand winner of X Factor Philippines, serenaded the crowd as part of the opening act before the cosplay battles ensued. The crowd showered her with cheers as she worked through her set. Adding spice to an already impressive lineup, one of the popular cosplayers in the land and Hero TV jock, Myrtle Sarrosa hosted the event along with one of the original host of My Hero Nation, Dino Imperial. For updates, visit www.facebook.com/myheronation.

July 1 – 5, 2015

JURASSIC WORLD Chris Pratt, Judy Greer PG

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

MAX Josh Wiggins, Thomas Haden Church G

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

THE BREAKUP PLAYLIST Sarah Geronimo, Piolo Pascual PG

R-16

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

TERMINATOR GENISYS J.K. Simmons, Emilia Clarke, Jai Courtney PG

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

EDGEDAVAO

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Grand Regal Hotel, PAGCOR holds joint bloodletting event BLOOD DONORS can live longer because doing good for others is one of the best ways to reduce stress. People who volunteered for altruistic reasons recognized the fact that the need for blood is always there, and that donating blood is as good for your health as it is for the receiver. Last June 24, 2015 Grand Regal Hotel & Casino Filipino allowed its employees to share drops of their lives to help others in dire need to precious blood. A total of 42 employees heeded the call and undergone the procedures. This bloodletting activity is being done annually to encourage the employees to donate and appreciate the positive effects of donating blood. Studies revealed, blood donors are 88% less likely to suffer a heart attack and 33% less likely to suffer any type of cardiovascular event compared to non-donors. Blood with a high viscosity, flows like molasses so repeated blood donations may help the blood flow in a way that’s less damaging to the lining

of the blood vessels and could result in fewer arterial blockages. Donating blood also removes 225 to 250 milligrams of iron from the body, that’s a significant amount of iron that may have had a huge impact on atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, thus the risk of heart disease. Iron affects how thick and sticky the texture of the blood is. Raised iron levels also accelerate the oxidisation process of cholesterol. Healthy adults usually have about 5 grams of iron in their bodies, mostly in red blood cells but also in bone marrow. When you donate a unit of blood, you lose about a quarter of a gram of iron, which gets replenished from the food

you eat in the weeks after donation. Weight watchers are ecstatic to know the donors burn 650 calories with every pint of blood donated. After donating blood, the body replaces all of the blood volume within 48 hours, and all the red blood cells within four to eight weeks. With the Red Cross Team headed by Rizh

Abellano and Richard Alvarez, the bloodletting activity conducted at the Pantawan Hall of Casino Filipino from 1:00-5:00 PM gathered an overwhelming response from volunteer-donors. Grand Regal Hotel’s CSR Head Ernesto Macasaet Jr., revealed another round will be conducted on December 1 in time for the celebration of World Aids Day. Donating blood has many benefits to the donor, this the employees of Casino Filipino & Grand Regal Hotel understand that they roll up their sleeve and pick up this healthy habit of giving blood to save lives.

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THE ARCHIVIST

7 CULTURE & ARTS

Street Icons: The Bangoys By ANTONIO FIGUEROA

NLY two surnames have so far earned the distinction of having been honored with the most number of city streets, the Bangoys and the Torreses (Nicasio, Florentino, and Guillermo). As pioneers, the Bangoys—that is, Francisco, Cayetano, and Paciano— could be considered as the first- and second-generation Davao politicians whose direct descendants and relatives have helped shape the historical landscape of Davao region. In fact, the Bangoys, starting from grand old man Antolin, are the single, largest politically powerful clan to evolve in Davao. Intermarriage, extensive land ownership, first-class education, and high-profile social stature have made the clan irretrievably linked to Davao history. Francisco Bangoy, who previously owned most of the prime lands in Sasa area, represented the second district of the Province of Mindanao and Jolo, in the 9th Legislature (1931-34). Agustin L. Alvarez, the future Davao City mayor, represented the 1st District; Datu Ibra Gundarangin, 3rd district; Datu Sinsuat, 4th District; and Jose G. Sanvictores, 5th District (at large). Prior to this, Francisco won as

board member of Davao in the April 1915 elections, and was later appointed congressman of Davao Province on July 16, 1931 by American Governor-General Dwight F. Davis. He served as lawmaker from July 8, 1929 to Jan. 9, 1932. Married to Emilia Villanueva of Zamboanga, Francisco had three children, namely, Paciano, the only son, and daughters Salud Reta and Mercedes Pichon. The city’s international airport (old and new), acquired from his heirs, is named after him, and the former street that connects Nicasio Torres to Magsaysay Avenue (formerly Oyanguren), is also named in his honor. On the other hand, Cayetano Bangoy, the non-politician brother of Francisco, remained a low-profile person. He settled in Toril district where most of his descendants now live. His son, Benigno ‘Bebeng’ Bangoy, a look-alike of former movie idol Leopoldo Salcedo, was longtime elected city councilor whose wife, Lydia, and son Renato were later elected to the City Council. His scions include members of the Amoguis-Bangoy and the Calizo clans. In Cayetano’s honor, the old Ponciano Reyes Street, named after the famous secretary of the Province of Mindanao and Jolo, was later renamed in his mem-

The Bangoys could be considered as the first- and second-generation Davao politicians whose direct descendants and relatives have helped shape the historical landscape of Davao region. ory.

The third Bangoy to be honored is Paciano, the last governor of Davao. A short and somewhat stocky individual, he used to reside at Santa Ana Avenue in a grandiose house situated just across the main entrance of the Holy Cross of Davao College. The patriarchal abode became venue for high-society events, hosted Philippine presidents, and was the symbol of wealth in the district. As a landed scion, he owned extensive properties around the city. He was appointed governor of the undivided Davao in 1965, the last in a batch of illustrious provincial leaders to grace the local political landscape of an undivided region. When Davao was partitioned into three provinces (Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur,

and Davao Oriental), he was appointed caretaker, in acting capacity, of the province of Davao Oriental until the next governor was elected. Prior to his governorship, he was twotime appointed city councilor (1945-47; 1954-55). He is the grandson of Antolin Bangoy, whose daughter, Sofia, was married to Teodoro Palma Gil. In his memory, the old Bolton Street, named after the third American governor of Davao, was renamed after him under Resolution 503, approved by the City Council in 1971. The clan, which makes up the iconic organization known as the Hijos de Davao, has so far contributed six councilors to the Sangguniang Panlungsod with Bangoy as surnames.

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

VOL. 8 ISSUE 64 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015

Vigilance

ERE’S one for the books. According to Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 13 Judge Rowena Apao-Adlawan, only 18 out of the 3,507 total pending cases in the two drugs court in the city have been disposed in May. That’s a disposal rate of only one out of every 194, or a mere half of one percent. To call this low is a complete understatement. To make matters worse, the reason for the abysmal rate was traced by the judge to the very police officers who bring these cases to court in the first place. Judge Apao-Adlawan said one of the issues and concerns the drug courts face is that policemen do not appear as witnesses in court. Now to be sure there are reasons for this non-appearance. One is that sometimes the police officers handling the case retire from the service. A second reason is that some officers are assigned to other regions, making it difficult and even impossible to continue attending hearings. But while these two may have valid grounds, a little coordination on the part of the Philippine National Police (PNP) with the courts will certainly go a long way. After all, it does

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not take much effort for the police to inform the court of these two eventualities, and it will allow the court to take measures to make sure the cases against drug suspects continue. A third reason, however, opens up a chilling possibility. According to Judge Apao-Adlawan, many cases are delayed or do not prosper because some police officers “lose interest” in pursuing the case. “There are instances even during trial that the policeman would intentionally forget the details of the operation,” she said. There is something amiss here, to be sure: how can a police officer who was part of the operation forget details of the case -unless, of course, a deal had already been struck somewhere? The judge went so far as to say she will request the Supreme Court to give the courts Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras so they can “assess the demeanor of the policeman testifying in the court” – in other words, to catch them if they are lying. Davao may be known as a relatively drug-free city, but we must stay vigilant lest drug pushers – or sadly even police officers – turn things around.

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VANTAGE POINTS

Things I learned over the weekend (LGBT and Uy)

HE weekend saw the aftermath of two important events: the gay marriage affirmation by the US Supreme Court and the graduation at the University of the Philippines in Diliman. My Facebook newsfeed was filled with a flurry of opinions on these two events , which featured a subject I am quite passionate about: prejudice and discrimination. As a Filipino, I am of mixed ethnicity, and living in Davao exposes me to the reality that cultures happily mixing together is one of the bedrocks of its success. Prejudice that became bigotry and discrimination In the case of Tiffany Uy, I was appalled that many were upset by her getting high grades because of her being of Chinese lineage. These assertions surprise me, since being in Davao, we are never exposed to any ethnic prejudice. The mix of cultures, including the Chinese and Indian, Japanese and Caucasian with the indigenous population, produced a dynamism that at once reminds you of Singapore. It’s a wonder that she got this in what is supposed to be cosmopolitan Manila, and a shock that she had to receive such things even from within the liberal, academically inclined University community itself. Would it have been different if it was a Filipino-American, a Muslim Filipino, or the son of a Bagobo chieftain? Prejudice against one particular group stinks, and bigotry and discrimination are its outgrowths. The University of the Philippines already had a president with Chinese lineage, and many professors teaching there have the same. Why should her Summa cum Laude elicit the prejudice she had to deal with? Her being of Chinese lineage therefore shouldn’t matter.

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THE best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others,” said Mahatma Gandhi, the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India. “The successful man doesn’t use others, other people use the successful man, for above all the success is of service,” noted American writer Mark Caine. American poet Emily Dickinson has penned some lines about service: “If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain,” she wrote. “If I can ease one life the aching, or cool one pain, or help one fainting robin unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain.” In 1908, Eugene V. Debs delivered one of the most eloquent speeches. “Now my friends,” he said, “I am opposed to the system of society in which we live today, not because I lack the natural equipment to do for myself but because I am not satisfied to make myself comfortable knowing that there are thousands of my fellow men who suffer for the barest necessities of life. “We were taught under the old ethic that man’s business on this earth was to look out for himself. That was the ethic of the jungle; the ethic of the wild beast. Take care of yourself, no matter what may become of your fellow man. “Thousands of years ago the question was asked; ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’ That question has never yet been answered in a way that is satisfactory to civilized society.” The American union leader, one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers

There is MY TWO CENTS’ more to Traditional Marriage than I thought Having received the news about the US Supreme Court lifting early on Friday, I expected a lot of excitement John Tria on it from Faceecisouth@gmail.com book. Suddenly many changed their profile pictures by adding the rainbow app, indicating their support for gay marriage. But below the surface tension is where the real discussions took place. The supporting opinions of the justices were hailed as a remedy to the present quandary of homosexuals, but the dissenting opinions raised questions about exactly how such changes need to be made in a democracy. Moreover, the dissenting opinions and the amicus brief provided by the US Catholic Church hierarchy opened the door to discussion regarding marriage itself, its nature, its sociology, and how its future must be held. It led me to rethink “traditional marriage” as defined, and put forward by religious groups. Many of course, wanted such perspectives relegated to the garbage bin. For better or for worse, LGBTs want what traditional marriage gives Further to the previous point, it is vital to note that, reading the supporting opinions of the Justices voting in favor, they voted to give

homosexual unions the status and protection accorded to those in “traditional marriage.” Unsurprisingly, this may have roiled a few dissenters to such a perspective, many of whom are people opposed to marriage per se. They consider gay marriage unnecessary pandering to the institutions that have “worked to marginalize homosexuals,” and therefore condemn same sex marriage from that standpoint. Meanwhile, heterosexual married supporters of gay marriage rejoice at the chance that their homosexual friends can now partake of the same emotional benefits of marriage. The supportive judicial opinions and the adverse and supportive positions of some towards marriage are all heard and rest on their own appreciation and experience. Heterosexual marriage has its own challenges, and many aren’t perfect. The question worth asking is whether the homosexual marriage can achieve the same personal and social outcomes and benefits of traditional marriage, and how well they can deal with the same issues of heterosexual marriage. Its funny, but while my LGBT friends in my Facebook celebrate and rejoice at the SC decision, their heterosexual supporters are the ones preaching about the benefits and expectations of gay marriage to the point of admonishing against others who may have an adverse opinion, even sounding intolerant at times, warning of consequences of not being on the “side of history.” The funnier thing is that many of those saying so aren’t married, and are not even gay. Catholic celibate gays actually exist I got an interesting bit of information regarding groups of homosexual Catholics who

At your service

of the World, THINK ON THESE! continued his speech: “Yes, I am my brother’s keeper. I am under a moral obligation to him that is inspired, not by any maudlin sentimentality but by the high- Henrylito D. Tacio er duty I owe myself. What henrytacio@gmail.com would you think me if I were capable of seating myself at a table and gorging myself with food and saw about me the children of my fellow beings starving to death.” “Giving kids clothes and food is one thing but it’s much more important to teach them that other people besides themselves are important, and that the best thing they can do with their lives is to use them in the service of other people,” said Dolores Huerta, a labor leader and civil rights activist. Hannah More, an English religious writer and philanthropist, says that even a smallest act you do is a great service to the person who receives it. “One kernel is felt in a hogshead; one drop of water helps to swell the ocean; a spark of fire help to give light to the world. None are too small, too feeble, too poor to be of service. Think of this and act,” she points

out. When you serve others, do it with open heart and gladness. A businesswoman stopped at a coffee shop and ordered a cup of coffee. The waitress grudgingly delivered it and asked, “Anything else?” “Yes,” said the businesswoman. “I’d like some sugar, cream, a spoon, a napkin, and a saucer for the cup.” “Well, aren’t you the demanding one,” snapped the waitress. “Look at it from my point of view,” said the businesswoman. “You served a cup of coff ee and made fi ve mistakes.” Just want kind of service did the waitress render? Compare the above story with this one related by Fulton Oursler. This has been told many times so might have heard or read it somewhere. This illustrates that in some instances the service you may render to others may bring you to a higher position in life. One stormy night, an elderly man and his wife entered the lobby of a small hotel in Philadelphia. The couple had no baggage. “We know that all the places are filled up,” said the man. “But can you possibly give us a room here?” The clerk replied that there were three conventions in town, and there are no more accommodations anywhere. “Every guest room is taken,” he explained. “But still I simply can’t send a nice couple like you out into the rain at one o’clock in the morn-

choose to practice a celibate lifestyle, in keeping with their Catholic teaching. The Catholic Church, for one, does not disallow homosexuals from worship, perhaps unlike other Churches that practice excommunication or forced conversion. It is unsurprising to see them at Mass, partners in tow, and able to receive communion. What is frowned upon are the homosexual acts. This doctrinal openness to their existence, compared to the Westboro Baptist Church (www. godhatesgays.com), for instance, is perhaps why groups of Catholic celibate gays are sprouting. Again, we are not one to judge them, but I have seen and heard Youtube videos condemning these LGBTs as idiots.

The Davao ordinance against discrimination protects freedom of religion Democracy is not a popularity game where unsuccessful views are pillaged and thrown out the window, but a system where respect of different views and perspectives, especially those not considered. This is because while the views of others may not matter in today’s discussion, they may carry weight in answering future questions. Even President Obama explained that faith-based groups have a lot to contribute to society. The famous anti-discrimination ordinance of Davao City therefore protects the freedoms of expression and association of any group. This does not only cover homosexuals but also those who support and not support them. It is a reminder that all opinions under the sun can be heard, and that no one opinion deserves to be emasculated or bullied, whether it is given by one wearing a tubao, a headscarf, a scapular, second hand clothes, or borrowed slippers. ing. Would you perhaps be willing to sleep in my room? Oh, I’ll make out just fi ne; don’t worry about me.” The next morning, as he paid his bill, the elderly man said to the clerk: “You are the kind of manager who should be the boss of the best hotel in the United States. Maybe someday I’ll build one for you!” The clerk laughed. And he laughed again when, after two years had passed, he received a letter containing a round-trip ticket to New York and a request that he called upon his guest of that rainy night. In the metropolis, the old man led the young clerk to the corner of Fifth Avenue and Thirty-Fourth Street and pointed to a vast new building there, a palace of reddish stone, with turrets and watchtowers, like a castle from fairyland cleaving the New York sky. “That,” the declared, “is the hotel I have just built for you to manage.” As if hit by lightning, the young man, George C. Boldt, stood fixed to the ground. His benefactor was William Waldorf Astor and the hotel, the most famous of its day, the original Waldorf-Astoria. Nathan C. Scheaffer asks: “At the close of life, the question will be not how much have you got but how much have you given? Not how much have you won but how much have you done? Not how much have you saved but how much have you sacrificed? It will be how much have you loved and served, not how much were you honored?”

10 NEWS

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INFORMANT... FROM 1

LOW RATE. Davao City Regional Trial Court Branch 13 Judge Rowena Apao-Adlawan reports on the low rate of drug case disposal in the city. Apao-Adlawan said only 18 out of the 3,507 total pending cases in the two

drugs court in the city have been disposed of for the month of May. She blamed this on policemen who do not appear in court to testify. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

Judge... FROM 2

DPWH... FROM 2

meanor of the policeman testifying in the court whether the policeman would bungle the case or not, coupled with the stenographic notes of the court,” she said. “I just would like to emphasize to the policemen that our court means business, ayawg yaga-yagai among korte (do not make fools out of our court),” she added. Apao-Adlawan said she will require operatives handling cases to give their cell phone numbers and police station fax machine numbers in order for the police to testify in court. “The policemen or PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) personnel are reminded that under AM No. 12-11-2 SC promulgated last March 18, 2014, services of subpoena and notices through email and mobile phones is already allowed,” she said. She said police and PDEA operatives should be reminded that under section 91 of the Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, up to 20 years imprisonment, P500,000 fine and administrative case will be slapped on the operative who fails or refuses to attend court hearing intentionally and negligently. Apao-Adlawan said the

law has been existing for many years but no policemen have been indicted for this violation. After the report of Apao-Adlawan, RPOC chair Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte suggested to Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Senior Superintendent Vicente D. Danao Jr. that an office be created to handle the subpoena and court notices for the police witnesses. Duterte said he is willing to provide two patrol jeeps and three motorcycles for the proposed office. “They should see to it that the summons and subpoenas reach the person identified in due time,” he said. He asked Apao-Adlawan to give DCPO of up to 15 days to establish the new office. Duterte said he does not want the police to fail to testify on court because it will lead to the dismissal of the case. “Would you rather not to go there that will be dismissed or I will kill the person? Choose,” Dutere told the station commanders and DCPO officials present during the meeting. In an interview, Danao told EDGE Davao that there is already an office handling the subpoena for the police. “It is just a matter of enhancement,” he said.

Started in August 1, 2014, Bucayan said the PPADP is expected to be completed by January 2017. “Frankly, Mr. President, we’re ahead by 1 percent; the actual target completion is only 29.12 percent, but we have already achieved 30 percent, or board efficient by 103 percent,” said Bucayan. Upon hearing this, President Aquino retorted in jest, “Isn’t it supposed to be completed in 2016?” The DOTC undersecretary said they are pushing for the airport project to be finished in less than 900 days. “We’re

pushing for that, Mr. President, yes. We’re doing everything a lot earlier. The air navigation is expected to be finished much, much earlier,” he said. In his 2012 SONA, President Aquino announced the airport upgrading of Puerto Princesa along with others in the country to improve existing facilities by expanding their capacities to meet projected passenger and cargo demands, as well as to enhance their aviation operations, services, security and safety standards in compliance with international standards. (PNA)

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the city,” she said. She urged these agencies to exercise caution by placing safety signage in all their road works and repairs. “These measures do not have to drain the coffers of these agencies,” she said. Zozobrado-Nagayo said she also observed that the soil from the digging of some road works are left on the

roadside. “This soil, especially during rainy season, sometimes end up in the canals that worsen the drainage problem in some areas of the city,” she said. She said the road works should be done only after careful planning to avoid accidents. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

tification of the supplier,” he added. Alerta said the public should not be afraid of the proliferation of fake rice since the NFA is heightening its monitoring activities in the city. He said NFA will be also inspecting other rice distributors here. He also said the NFA may work hand-in-hand with other government agencies like the Philippine National Police and Bureau of Customs. For his part, Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Senior Superintendent Vicente D. Danao Jr. said the police will conduct an investigation on rice warehouses storing synthetic rice. In an interview yesterday, Danao told EDGE Davao that

investigation was launched after Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte ordered them to go after the distributors of the synthetic rice. “We are instructed by the City Mayor to coordinate with NFA and DA (Department of Agriculture) to inspect the warehouses on the presence of synthetic rice,” he said. Danao said those found distributing fake rice will be arrested and charged. He said Duterte told him this should be stopped as selling synthetic rice constitute economic sabotage. Duterte earlier warned importers and retailers against selling synthetic rice in the city, saying he will force these people to eat it. He said the fake rice came from China.

of Tagum. On the other hand, NGCP District V OIC Division Head Cris Galareta in his message during the brief program after the activity, emphasized the significance of helping arrest the adverse effects of global warming through planting trees. He raised alarming concern over the environment saying, “our nature has gone awry; it kills a man”. “Magpapasalamat tayo sa CENRO Tagum that we are given the chance to plant a tree,” he said, Galareta made the par-

ticipants aware that NGCP had committed to nurture the planted seedlings for five years. NGCP District V Transmission Line Engineer Archie Villejo said the seven line gangs of NGCP District V will be tasked to conduct a twice a month monitoring as well as ground weeding of the treeplant adopted area. “They will be sent on alternatively,” he said explaining that each gang is a team composed of five to six members. (PIA XI/ Jeanevive Duron Abangan)

Fake... FROM 2

NGCP... FROM 4

formation he could give on the informant. “Hanggang doon na lang muna tayo in order to protect his identity kasi kailangan natin na maproteksyonan siya (That’s all I can give. We have to protect his identity),” Caber said. He said the informant will solely get the P5.6 million reward which will be given to him soon. “We will announce when the awarding of the reward will be held,” he said. He said the information that he had on Parago’s aide identified as Kyla, who was also killed in the encounter, is that she is from Tuburan, Mawab, Compostela Valley. Another source said Kyla whose real name is reportedly Cayla Marie Limpag Amaya, 22, is from Purok Malambuon, Sitio Tuburan, Barangay Poblacion, Malangas, Zamboanga Sibugay

Province. Amaya is said to be the wife of an NPA rebel under Parago’s Pulang Bagani Command 1-Southern Mindanao Regional Command. Amaya’s remains was also brought along with Parago at the Cosmopolitan Funeral Homes on Monday night from the Rivera Funeral Parlor in Lasang, Davao City. Parago was autopsied at the Rivera Funeral Parlor and was reportedly claimed by his wife Evangeline Pitao accompanied by some relatives and members of militant Karapatan group. Amaya’s body was also reportedly claimed by Karapatan Southern Mindanao spokesperson Rev. Jurie Jaime. A certain Teresita Vergara earlier came to the funeral parlor purposely to verify the identity of Amaya. Vergara’s son is reportedly the husband of Amaya.

But Giger’s lawyer Nestor Fernandez denied the accusation, saying his client’s appearance showed he is not in hiding. “The case is already being filed in the City Prosecution’s Office and he can exercise his rights to be present because he is just waiting for the resolution,” he said. Fernandez said Giger still has the right to be free since he was not caught in the act of committing a crime. “Hindi ka naman siguro pupunta doon na magpakulong tapos hihintayin pa kung ano ang mangyayari sa kaso mo (One doesn’t volunteer to be jailed while waiting for the outcome of the case),” he said. He assured the police that Giger will surrender as soon as the warrant of arrest is released by the court. During the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) meeting, Duterte said Giger explained to him he killed Fortuna because of the architect’s continuous refusal to pay him. Duterte said Giger was

subcontracting a project of Fortuna’s and the former had a debt of P2 million to the suspect. The mayor said the suspect needed to get the money because he was already in debt with a bank and could not pay the salaries of his workers. Fortuna was killed at around 8 a.m. on June 20 in their home in Obrero. Police report said according to Fortuna’s wife, the victim was leaving their home at on board their car when she heard a gunshot. When she went outside, she saw the gunman riding a tricycle going to the direction of Cabaguio Avenue. The wife said she recognized the suspect and gave the name of Giger to the police. The wife rushed the victim to San Pedro Hospital through the help of Davao City Police Office (DCPO) Mobile 68 which had responded to the incident. The victim, however, was declared dead on arrival. Armando B. Fenequito Jr.

help small farmers like them. On the other hand, Pablo Gasang of Kidapawan City, Felix Felices of Pangao-an Village, Magpet lauded Mendoza for her efforts in improving the lives of the farmers and the rest of her constituents. The OPAG had already distributed thousands of seedlings of high value crops to barangay-based farmers and farmers’ organizations since 2010. According to Mangliwan, the budget for cacao dispersal for 2014 was PhP3 million while PhP3.8 million is allotted for 2015. On the other hand, the budget for oil palm dispersal for 2015 is PhP20 million. Mangliwan said that oil palm and cacao are highly potential to become foremost agricultural products of North Cotabato as they suit well to

the climate, soil and topography of the province. “We are targeting thousands of hectares of land, both planted with crops and idle lands to be planted with oil palm and cacao and encourage more farmers to engage in the program,” said Mangliwan. Along with the dispersal, the OPAG provides briefing, training and other assistance that the beneficiaries need to sustain and improve the crops. The OPAG further explained that aside from responding to various needs of farmers, the dispersal program is designed to facilitate effective coordination between the OPAG and the farmers from different barangays, thus strengthening relationships and making easier for the provincial government to tap the beneficiaries to avail of other projects. (PNA)

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Swinging up in the sky

Skycycle

Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

HE Eden Nature Park and Resort in Toril, Davao City is one of the most popular and most visited mountain resorts in Southern Mindanao. At 2,650 feet above sea level, it offers breath taking views of Davao City and the Davao Gulf. “We have tons of activities and amenities for all ages,” says Brenda A. Ocampo, who serves as marketing manager of the resort. “Aside from a plethora of exciting things to do, we also have some heart-pumping adventure which everyone can try.” The resort is one of the pioneers in sky adventure. It launched Skyrider even before zipline became popular. The length of the cable is about 400 meters: 200 meters in going to the other side and another 200 meters to return to the starting point. Two years ago, it launched Skycycle, where the person bikes on top of a cable that is 60 feet high! “It’s like pedaling your way through the sky,” Ocampo says. However, Skycycle is not for the faint-hearted. Aside from the height, you have to pedal your way through the cable which is 200 meters. That’s not all. You have to return back to where you have started once you get to the other end. “The whole routine will take about 4 minutes the most,” Ocampo says. “That is, if you pedal fast. But if you do it slowly, it may take you about 6 minutes or so.” It was because of the success of Skycycle that Skyswing took off. “When we opened the Skycycle to the public, we never anticipated that

Skyswing brings you the 80 feet above the ground

it would be a hit. From 2 riders, we added more. By the end of this year, about 7 riders can do the skycycling in the air,” Ocampo says. During the recent Independence Day celebration last June 12, the resort launched the Skyswing. “It can be done either individually or in tandem,” Ocampo says. “Skyswing will hoist you 80 feet above the ground. In its highest position, the ride reaches a maximum height of 95 feet.” If you think swinging at 80 feet or more is dangerous, think again. “Safety is our paramount concern,” Ocampo says. “We have our trained attendants and operators to ensure your safety while helping you overcome your fears and experience the thrill of your ride.” Indeed, you are in good hands when you try it. “The thrill is sig-

nificantly enhanced as you are secured with the body harness and safety gears especially ordered in France,” says Ocampo. “Feel the anticipation rise as you are slowly elevated to your desired height.” In our case, we tried the 60 feet, the minimum height. After securing all the body harness and safety gears, the attendant explained to us what we need to know. Be sure to listen to the instructions he is telling. “Hanging from your harness up there,” he says, “you will be notified by a whistle so you can prepare yourself. About 5 seconds after you hear the whistle, you will be dropped from the top and you get to feel the highest swing in your life.” The ride takes approximately 10 minutes, including putting on of safety gears. The required min-

Swinging in the sky

The author experiencing Skyswing imum height is 4 feet while the maximum swing weight is 300 kilograms. “The youngest rider we have had was 10 years old,” Ocampo says. The oldest was 64 years old. “Skyswing is marketed to both thrill-ride enthusiasts and patrons seeking an extreme ride experience as part of their bucket list,” says Ocampo, adding that it is the first of its kind here in Davao

Region. How do you get there? From Davao City, you must travel south towards the Toril District. At the corner of Mercury drug in the main highway, make a right and just follow the signs towards barangay Eden. From there, it is a 12-kilometer uphill climb (enjoy the scenery, though). Travel time is about 30 minutes.

Skyswing and Skycycle together

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VOL. 8 ISSUE 64 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015

GENERAL SANTOS CITY MARKETING OFFICE EDMUND D. RENDON Marketing Specialist Mobile: (Smart) 0930-669-3018 MANILA MARKETING OFFICE ANGELICA R. GARCIA Marketing Manager 97-1 Bayanbayanan Ave., Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 654-3509 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

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• All text • Telephone Number (bigger point size) • Bold Header

• Background • Text

Price: 100.00

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ADD-ON • Pictures/Logos • Graphic Elements Price: 230.00

VOL. 8 ISSUE 64 • WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 2015

NEWS 13

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DFA is positive Philippines will win in arbitration case vs China T W

DENR spearheads roadside greening program nationwide

ITH the oral argument next week on the adjudication case the Philippines has filed with the arbitration tribunal over China’s alleged violation of the code of conduct of claimant countries in the West Philippines Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reiterated the national government is positive it will win. “We are quite confident that we will get a favorable decision both on the issue of jurisdiction and merits of the case,” DFA spokesperson Asst. Sec. Charles Jose told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) exclusively on Tuesday at the Multi-Sectoral Forum on the West Philippines Sea Issue held here.

China has reclaimed the vast expanse of the West Philippines Sea, including features the country cover under its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), as defined by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that both countries are signatories. In 2013, the Philippines lodged the case against China with the UNCLOS arbitral tribunal. It submitted its 4000-page memorial, its written argument, on March 30, 2014, which it supplemented on March 16, 2015. The arbitral tribunal set the deadline on December 15, 2014 for China to submit its counter-memorial, but failed to do so. Jose said the Philip-

pines legal team, headed by Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, will set to defend the case from July 7 to 13 at The Netherlands-based UN court. “It will be more of an elaboration, clarification no’ng dalawang memorial na sinumite natin, but we will be more focusing on the issue of jurisdiction (… of the two memorial we submitte…),” said Jose. And if China would not heed on the UN court decision, in case it would favor the Philippines, Jose said: “It will be up to the international community to convince China that it would be to its best interest to follow the decision.” Jose furthered that Chi-

na’s shying away from the ruling will be counter-productive to its country as it may affect other foreign policy initiatives it will enter or have entered into. “Let’s say other countries will see China is not following the rules of the game, will they still play the game with someone that does not know how to follow rules? China has very important initiatives – foreign policy initiatives – are they going to allow this issue in the West Philippines Sea to undermine that?” he asked. Jose said the court decision is expected to be announced between the months of January to April 2016. (PNA)

HE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) VI is spearheading the roadside greening program in the whole Philippines. DENR Undersecretary for Field Operations Demetrio L. Ignacio led the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) this June 30 with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on the implementation of the roadside greening program. According to DENR VI regional executive director Jim O. Sampulna, the memorandum was the combination of the order of the former Secretary of DPWH that all sides of the roads that will be constructed and developed by DPWH will be planted to trees in line with Executive Order 26 of President Benigno Aquino III mandating each citizen to plant 10 trees in a year. “We need to plant trees

because each of us has a role in protecting and conserving our environment”, Sampulna said. Sampulna also said that alongside of the road without wires of electricity will be planted to tall trees while those that have wires of electricity will be planted to medium trees. Further, Sampulna is also planning to change the old and unwanted trees in the roads of the cities by new trees. After the signing of the MOA, the roadside greening will immediately start in the different parts of the region. “We need to develop the cities in the region especially Iloilo because this is one of the nicest cities in the country”, Sampulna added. The signing of the MOA in Region VI on roadside greening is the first in the country. (PNA)

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) 1004104 under Loyola Contract No(s). NNN710942621 / 45744-7 issued to JACA, TITA T. 10001903 under Loyola Contract No(s). 10049249-1 issued to CALMA Z. DAVID were lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

6/17,24/8/1

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Davao Light inaugurates Tugbok substation

HE mushrooming of subdivisions and shopping malls in the western part of Davao Light and Power Co.’s franchise proves how economy is booming in the different parts of Davao City as well as its neighboring cities. One indication of the growing economy is the increasing demand for electricity particularly in the areas of Mintal and Calinan. As answer to the ongoing development and various business activities in these areas, Davao Light inaugurated its new 33MVA Tugbok Substation last June 8. Barangay officials headed by Brgy. Captain Engr. Wilfredo Alfone and his constituents attended the event together with the project team of Davao Light and executives. “With the increasing customers, residential and commercial, the existing substations namely Puan and Calinan will no longer be able to carry additional load growth in the future. The Tugbok substation will provide additional capacity and improved service reliability to new customers and those de-loaded from the nearby substations.” said Arturo Milan, Davao Light’s EVP and COO.

“We are very thankful to Davao Light for this project and for making our barangay part of this development. We are sure that Davao Light will commit on its promise of a reliable service and stable power supply to its customers.” said Engr. Alfone, Brgy. Tugbok, Davao City. The men and women of Davao Light who worked very hard to make this project realized are Engr. Ryan Varona, Engr. Eric Camerino, Engr. Richard Tidoy, Engr. Emiere Daplin, Engr. Jesse Talavera, Engr. Raquel Lopez, Engr. Jerome Deleonio, and Engr. Jed Chiu of Planning and Design Departments; Joe Mascardo, Engr. James Binoya, Engr. Jay Duluguin, Engr. Mar Relacion and Lando Lucena of Substation and Electrical Equipment Department; Engr. Roger Alinsub, Engr. Bobot Padillo and Engr. Allan Calag of Systems Operations Department; Engr. Jeffrey Lingatong, Dick Cabrera and Rey Garde of Distribution Network Department and Diosdado Gonzales of the Safety Department. Currently, the Tugbok substation is serving the areas of Mintal from Network Bank going to Calinan proper.

NEW SUBSTATION. The Tugbok Substation project team.

NEW SUBSTATION. Davao Light EVP and COO, Arturo Milan takes a tour around the substation together with some company executives and guests from National Grid Corporation of the Philippines.

Panabo City Government interns initiate coastal clean-up

Office of Davao del Norte 2nd District Cong. Lagdameo’s OIC Chief of Staff Engr. Dante Bautista gave an insight to participating youth from Panabo City during a Coastal Clean-up in Cagangohan, Panabo City

NTERNS of the City Government of Panabo under the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Government Internship Program (GIP) initiated last week a Coastal Clean-up Drive along the coasts of Panabo particularly in Barangay Caangohan. More than 80 youth interns flock their way early in the morning amidst the rainy atmosphere to gather various wastes and plastics as they aim to promote extra care for Mother Nature. The project was supported by the Office of District 2 Congressman Anton F. Lagdameo, Jr., Panabo City Mayor James Gamao and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) of Panabo City thru its Coastal Environment Program. Engr. Dante Bautista, OIC Chief of Staff of Cong. Lagdameo, urged the participating youth interns to give their share of caring for Mother Earth by way of practicing garbage segregation and of planting trees to minimize the effects of global warming. GIP and Youth Coordinator Kenneth Infiesto led the group in its activities. It was learned that a similar activity will also be done in Carmen town next week in continuation of the program.

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SPORTS15

EDGEDAVAO

WHO’S BACK, WHO’S NOT? Most of the members of Pilipinas Gilas squad including naturalized player Andray Blatche (11) and Junmar Fajardo (12) are reportedly high on the list of new coach Tab Baldwin for the 2015 FIBA Asia tournament.

NO EASY GAME

Gilas coach Baldwin says FIBA Asia elims will be tough

ATIONAL coach Tab Baldwin is not taking Gilas Pilipinas’ preliminary opponents in the upcoming Fiba Asia Championship for granted. The Filipino cagers, ranked 31st in the world, have been bracketed in a relatively light Group B with Palestine (unranked), Kuwait (70th), and either Hong Kong (69th) or Mongolia (unranked). “But it’s just foolish to go there, thinking this is going to be easy,” Baldwin said. “And it’s just not my nature to do that.” He should know. The 56-year-old American-Kiwi mentor steered an unheralded New Zealand national team to stunning wins on the way to a fourth-place finish in the 2002 Fiba World Cup Championship. Baldwin also led the Lebanese national side to the Fiba Asia Stankovic Cup title in 2010.

SMART GILAS coach Tab Baldwin “I’ve been with one of those ‘easy’ teams,” Baldwin said. “And we’ve beaten good teams when I’ve coached countries that were considered easy, so I’m not going to fall into that trap.” “We need to prepare our team to play our best basketball in every game, irrespective of who our opponent is,” he

added. As evidence, Baldwin’s Gilas cadets had to survive a scare against Thailand in the semifinals and Indonesia in the finals to to rule the recent Southeast Asian Games in Singapore. “As we learned at the SEA Games, all of these teams are getting better,” he said. “You

just can’t look ahead in this game.” Baldwin, though, admitted they are in a favorable route toward the knockout stage, where the real test awaits. Defending champion Iran is in Group A and could meet the Filipinos as early as the second round. “We see that the grouping that we’re in is a pathway to get into the quarterfinals and ultimately the semis and the final, and we’re going to have to play good teams somewhere in this tournament whether it’s early or late,” Baldwin said. “It doesn’t really matter. To be a gold medalist and to get a berth to the Olympics, we got to beat good teams.” “Each game is a building block to winning the gold medal, so we don’t really care whether they’re a lowly ranked team or highly ranked team,” he added. “We have to go in and play our best basketball.”

S has become customary for Serena Williams of late, she got off to a rocky

start. In her first-round match at Wimbledon on Monday, Williams dropped three of the first four games. She slipped and nearly did the splits, tumbling to the turf. She was warned for using foul language. And, as has also become customary for Williams, she wound up with a victory. The No. 1-seeded Williams extended her pursuit of a fourth consecutive major title and her bid for a calendar-year Grand Slam, too, by taking 11 of the last 13 games to beat 113th-ranked qualifier Margarita Gasparyan 6-4, 6-1. Williams has won her past 22 Grand Slam matches. “There are a lot of expectations on her shoulders at the moment,” said Williams’ coach, Patrick Mouratoglou. “It took her maybe six games to get going. At 3-all, she started to relax and play. And then there was no match.” Gasparyan came in 0-3 in tour-level matches and was making her Wimbledon maindraw debut. “When I (saw) her before match,” Gasparyan said, “I thought, ‘Oh, my God. I’m playing Serena.’”

Yet the 20-year-old Russian played unafraid at the outset, and her one-handed backhand withstood Williams’ power for about a half-hour. Then, Gasparyan explained, Williams began playing “unbelievable,” taking five straight games and 22 of 29 points in one stretch. It was, otherwise, a mostly routine Day One for the biggest names on the schedule. Defending champion Novak Djokovic — and the player he lost to in the French Open final this month, No. 4 Stan Wawrinka — won in straight sets. So did 2004 Wimbledon champion Maria Sharapova and two other major title winners and former No. 1-ranked women, Victoria Azarenka and Ana Ivanovic. Sharapova, seeded fourth, defeated Johanna Konta of Britain, 6-2, 6-2. No. 23 Azarenka of Belarus beat Anett Kontaveit of Estonia, 6-2, 6-1, while Ana Ivanovic of Serbia defeated China’s Xu Yi-Fan, 6-1, 6-1. Williams improved to 33-1 in 2015, competing for the first time since winning her 20th Grand Slam singles trophy at the French Open. En route to that title, Williams lost the opening set in four matches.

to be a friend of Vroman, recounted how the Lebanese star was killed in an unfortunate accident inside his home. “He was sitting down, he got up to go inside the house, tripped on the stairs, hit his head and drown in the pool,” Bilzerian tweeted. Vroman played for Ginebra in 2012 and led the team to the Commissioner’s Cup semifinals. He averaged 16.64 points, 12 rebounds and 4.09 steals during his one-conference stint in the PBA. A scoring power forward, he was also part of a formidable Lebanon squad

that figured in many battles against the Philippines on the international stage. With him in the team, Lebanon placed fourth in the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship and earned a wildcard to play in the 2010 FIBA World Championship. A son of former NBA player Brett who played in the 1980s, Vroman was picked in the second round of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls. He bounced around the league, suiting up for the Suns and the thenNew Orleans Hornets before playing overseas in China, Spain and the Philippines.

Former Ginebra import Vroman found dead in pool

N FOUND DEAD. Jackson Vroman, former Ginebra San Miguel im port, was found dead at his California home.

Serena off to a shaky start

ATURALIZED Lebanese player and former Ginebra import Jackson Vroman was found dead Monday in a swimming pool at his California home. He was 34. The Salt Lake Tribune, based in Utah where Vroman is a native, and the The Des Moines Register confirmed the news, disputing earlier reports by lebanesebasketball.net and his college, Iowa State University, that he was killed in a car crash. The cause of the death was not immediately known, although social media star Dan Bilzerian, who claims

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. VOL.88ISSUE ISSUE64 64••WEDNESDAY, WEDNESDAY,JULY JULY1,1,2015 2015

HOMETURF ADVANTAGE Salvador, Lascuna, Casas open ICTSI bid today at Palos Verdes T

ONY Lascuña, Jay Bayron and Miguel Tabuena have been grouped for the opening round of the P1.5 million ICTSI Rancho Palos Verdes

Classic starting today in Davao City. Lascuña and Bayron head the local favorites but Tabuena and other top pros will look to steal

the show. “It would be nice to win again, especially here in Davao,” said Lascuña, who won five legs last year but is still winless after seven stops of this year’s ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour. “It’s a bit frustrating coming out empty-handed each tournament despite playing solid golf. But with a little luck, I hope to finally start winning again this week.” Luisita champion Charles Hong is back, as well as veteran Cassius Casas, to battle for honors in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. Hong skipped last week’s event at Riviera, won by Elmer Salvador, to compete on the Asian Development Tour while Casas, winner of two events last year, was sidelined by a hand injury. Royal Northwoods winner Zanieboy Gialon led his team composed of amateurs Mayong Pillerin, Andy Ugduracion and Jaime Tan Jr. to victory in Tuesday’s pro-am, pooling a 20-under 52 and nipping Anthony Fernando and teammates Danny Briones, Brian Davila and Wendell Adlao in the countback. Jhonnel Ababa, with Patrick Tan, Toffee Tionko and Vince Arcenas, finished third with a 54. Hong starts with Paul Miñoza and Ferdie Aunzo, while Casas plays with Artemio Murakami and Keanu Jahns. Foreign players are also looking to take the win, including Koreans Gyuha Park, Anthony Kim, Seok Jun Min, Yoon Chun Byung, Hong Soon Hyup, Lee Hyun Woo, Park Jun Song, Woo Seong Bin and Min Byungki.

TONY LASCUNA

BACK-TO-BACK. Elmer Salvador hopes to make it two in a row in the ICTSI Tour.

CASSIUS CASAS