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P 15.00 • 36 PAGES CLARIFICATION. President Rodrigo Duterte stresses that he was not severing ties with his country’s long-time ally the United States, but merely pursuing a more independent foreign policy by strengthening relations with China. Duterte made the statement upon his arrival from a four-day state visit in China at the Davao International Airport in Davao City early morning of Saturday. Lean Daval Jr.
DUTERTE NO BET FOR U.S. PREXY By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA
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RESIDENT Duterte says he would rather keep his mouth shut on who his bet is in the upcoming US presidential elections – Democratoc candidate Hilary Clinton or Republic nominee Donald Trump.
The President said that he would rather gamble on his “favourite hero” Russian President Vladimir Putin. President Duterte said that he would rather keep his personal opinion on the two presidential candidates to himself, as being vocal
about it might affect the relationship between the Philippines and the United States after the election. “I cannot gamble an answer,” he said, adding, “Because either way, it would affect, they might create a hostility here, antagonism here, so I am better off in saying that my favorite hero is Putin.” But the President said that he did not agree with the observation that he shares a lot of common characteristics with Trump. He noted that Trump has identified international
terrorism as a major global concern, something which the Philippine president has been vocal about. “Trump is airing something which is should also be a concern. One is terrorism. Everybody should be worried about terroris, the President said. He, however, pointed out that the U.S. may be inadvertently responsible for the rash of terrorist activities. “Americans somehow, not all, somehow provided the reasons for terrorism,” he said.
He explained that the Americans “exported” terrorism with what they have done in Iraq, and particularly for being responsible for the death of Saddam Hussein and accusing him of stockpiling weapons of mass destruction which were proven to be mere hearsay. While President Duterte said that he cannot publicly announce his choice for U.S. president, he made it clear that he idolized the Russian president. The President is set to visit Russia next month.
PRRD: I want to hear both sides of the story
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RESIDENT Duterte says that he would like to reserve his judgment, and hear both sides of the story regarding the violent dispersal of rallyists who held a picket in front the US Embassy last Wednesday in Manila. The President, who ar-
Inside 16 pages
rived from his state visit in Brunei and China, told media he believes the driver of the police mobile which run over a number of rallyist was in panic mode. “Alam mo ‘yan ang sinasabi ko ah, even in war, even in everything, its miscalculation,” he said.
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Coming Home: An investment supplement
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FRIENDLY CHAT. Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar (right) chats with Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. while President Duterte is holds a news conference upon their arrival from China at the Davao International Airport in Davao City early morning of Saturday. Lean Daval Jr.
City gov’t to help City issues guidelines Lawin PH victims on blast reward money T
HE City Government of Davao on Saturday has announced it will extend assistance to the victims of Typhoon Lawin. According to Mayor Sara Duterte – Carpio, Davao City has always lent a helping hand to other provinces and cities in the Philippines, as it is the duty of local governments to help its counterparts especially in times of crisis. Over the years, the Davao City Government has extended financial and logistical assistance to calamity-hit areas across the country. To recall, Davao extended help to the people of Cagayan de Oro who were affected by
typhoon ‘Sendong;’ neighboring Davao areas that were hit by typhoon ‘Pablo’; to Bohol after being hit by a major earthquake; and Leyte that was devastated by typhoon ‘Yolanda.’ “However, they [cities and provinces affected by Typhoon Lawin] haven’t declared a state of calamity yet,” the mayor said, explaining that the City Government could not release disaster funds if no such declaration has been made. Duterte-Carpio added that disaster funds can only be released or shared with other local government units (LGUs) outside the city.
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By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS
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HE City Legal Office (CLO) has come up with guidelines on how the reward money will be given out to the informants who were instrumental in the arrest of the three suspects who were reportedly responsible for the Roxas night market blast. This was revealed by Mayor Inday Sara Duterte-Carpio during an interview after the launching of
Task Force Haribon Saturday morning. It can be recalled that Mayor Duterte-Carpio raised the reward money from P2 million to P3 million for anyone who can provide information on the whereabouts of the night market blast suspects According to the mayor, the city government will release the reward once the informant will file a case against the suspects in
court with the help of a city prosecutor. “We will wait for the prosecutor’s announcement in due time that there’s a probable cause that the arrested people [were responsible for the crime,” she said in the vernacular. The mayor added that the informant/s must file a formal report on the incident, as well as provide a recommendation to the City Prosecutor’s Office.
Four persons of interest were previously identified by the Special Investigation Task Group (SITG) as allegedly responsible for the night market blast. Mayor Duterte-Carpio believes the case is still not closed despite the arrest of the suspects and charges being filed against them. “There are more than three or four people who are behind this incident,” she said.
from the city’s barangays with the highest number of child-trafficking cases, namely, Leon Garcia, Matina Aplaya, Mintal, 76-A, 5-A, Bankerohan, and Sasa. Escabarte said that Talikala has already conducted a series of seminars which aim to inform the male population on the state of prostitution and child trafficking in the city. “We always wonder why prostitution and child trafficking are still increasing despite our preventive actions,” she said. Escabarte stressed that men should be educated on
the 3Bs of prostitution: the bought, the buyer and the business. “We want men to think that prostitution must not be tolerated,” she said. With the conduct of these seminars, more men have been encouraged to take part in the various activities and programs being carried out by MPPWC. According to reports Talikala has received, most cases of child trafficking and prostitution cases are what they call “akyat-barko” wherein children are sneaked inside ships for their sexual services.
Escabarte pointed out that child trafficking and prostitution cases in Barangay Sasa are high because it is situated in a port area. She revealed that there have been cases wherein the rescued children were even pimped by their own mother. Escabarte was therefore happy to report that the Male Champions have been helping in the recovery of these trafficked children. She stressed that child prostitution and child trafficking has become not only a gender issue but also a human rights issue.
Duterte underscores mutual ‘Male champions’aid in anti-trafficking drive respect in‘separation’from US By RIA VALDEZ
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RESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has underscored the value of mutual respect for a sovereign nation and the dignity of Filipinos in pushing for an independent foreign policy for the Philippines, as he stressed that no nation such as the United States can dictate upon it. As he arrived Friday night from his state visit to the People’s Republic of China, President Duterte also said that his latest pronouncement that he is separating from the US should not be taken as severing ties with America. He said there will be no
severance of ties with the US. “It’s not severance of ties. When you say severance of ties, you cut the diplomatic relations. I cannot do that. Why? It’s to the best interest of my country that we maintain that relationship. Why? Because there are many Filipinos in the United States… Americans of Filipino ancestry. Why? Because the people of my country are not ready to accept,” he explained. He added that severing diplomatic ties with the US is not feasible. “Why? Because the Filipinos in the United
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LOCAL non-government has created an organization that aims to strengthen men’s participation in the fight against prostitution and child-trafficking, Talikala Inc. launched a group called Men in Partnership with Woman and Children (MPPWC) wherein men, who are referred to as male champions, would help report incidents of domestic violence, rape, and trafficking in the communities. According to Sarah Escabarte, a social worker of Talikala, the group is composed of men coming
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EastMinCom head launches JTF Haribon T By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS
NOAH’S PUDDING. The editorial staff of Edge Davao led by editor in chief Antonio Ajero (center) pose for a photograph with Pacific Dialogue Foundation, Inc. Representative Zeynep Tulip Gun (third from left) after he gave the group a free taste test of century old Noah’s pudding yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.
HE Armed Forces of the Philippines – Eastern Mindanao Command (AFP-EMC) officially launched on Saturday a joint security task force in Davao City that was created to combat terrorism and other security threats. According to Army Maj. Ezra Balagtey, spokesperson of the Eastern Mindanao Command (EastMinCom), Joint Task Force Haribon has been activated in light of the changing security landscape in Davao, the city’s emergence as the alternate seat of power of the national government, and the area’s blossoming as a chosen venue for major international events. Balagtey explained that the air, land and sea capabilities of the joint task force aim to enhance existing security measures in Davao and its immediate peripheries, including the area’s sea lanes. Aside from ensuring peace and security in Davao City, the EastMinCom spokesperson said the task force will also help the Presidential Security
Group (PSG) in securing President Duterte and other “very important personalities” who visit the city. He added that JTF Haribon task will further strengthen the intelligence coordination among different security units and stakeholders. Balagtey said the task force’s headquarters is located at the AFP Naval Station in Camp Panacan, Davao City, and will be under the operational control of the EMC. Brig. Gen. Ronnie Evangelista, a seasoned combat and skilled counter-terrorism officer, has been designed to head the said task force. JTF Haribon will be comprised of the tactical operations group and the special operations wing of the Philippine Air Force, Balagtey said. To recall, Davao City was rocked by a powerful blast last Sept. 2 that killed 15 and injured 70 others, prompting authorities to install military checkpoints and strengthen security measures within and outside the southern city.
Davao feels effects of Typhoon Lawin NDRRMC confirms 8 By TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS
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S parts of Luzon are being battered by Typhoon Lawin, several areas in the Davao Region are also feeling the wrath of the super storm, as local fishermen have been unable to fish due to high waves in the Davao Gulf. Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) Region 11 Director Liza Mazo said in an interview that several provinces in Davao Occidental and Davao del Sur are also experiencing heavy rains due to the typhoon. Mazo said fishermen, particularly in Sta. Maria and Jose Abad Santos in
Davao Occidental, are afraid the typhoon will gather strength and continue to affect their livelihood. “They [fishermen] also do not want to compromise their lives so they have no choice but to remain in their homes,” Mazo added. Meanwhile, City Agricultural Office (CAO) Officer-In-Charge Mary Moratin said in an interview that Davao’s fisherfolks will undergo a series of training sessions to increase their awareness on marine environmental protection, and teach them safety measures to be undertaken during a storm.
Dominguez commends BOC on airport drug busts
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INANCE Secretary Carlos Dominguez III lauded anew the Bureau of Customs (BOC) under the leadership of Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon for its successive arrests in just over two weeks of six suspected drug couriers with the help of airport and drug enforcement authorities at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). Dominguez issued the statement following the latest arrest made by the BOC-NAIA Interagency Drug Interdiction Group (IADIG) of a 22-year old Venezuelan woman who was found last Monday to be carrying 4.3 kilograms of cocaine. Venezuelan Genesis Lorena Pineda Salazar, as with the other suspected drug couriers earlier arrested, also arrived onboard an Emirates flight last
Oct.17. “We commend the Bureau of Customs under the able leadership of Commissioner Faeldon for remaining highly vigilant against attempts by narco traffickers to smuggle in illegal drugs into the country,” Dominguez said. Dominguez earlier said these arrests should serve as a strong deterrent to narco-traffickers against smuggling illegal substances here or using the country as a transshipment point for their illicit trade. The finance secretary also commended the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) for its invaluable assistance in providing information that led to these drug busts. “The commendable efforts of the Customs team, the
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Moratin said the CAO training will highlight existing marine conservation and fishery laws and how these can help the sector protect the main source of their livelihood, improve their incomes, and prepare against typhoons. “The training will benefit 36,000 members of the Federation of Fisherfolks Associations of Davao City who are spread across 24 coastal villages here,” he said. Moratin pointed out the sessions are ultimately aimed at cultivating a “sense of volunteerism among fisher folks and develop them
as potential partners in the implementation of coastal environment conservation programs.” He said the fisherfolk who attended the training expressed their appreciation to the city government and PDRRMC for the assistance extended help to them, as they also volunteered to become members of a sea watchers group called “Bantay Laot.” Moratin urged the city’s residents, particularly those living in coastal areas, to be vigilant and continue to monitor weather advisories issued by the city government and PDRRMC.
deaths due to Lawin T HE National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in its update Saturday afternoon confirmed that typhoon “Lawin” left the country with eight persons killed in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). NDRRMC said the deaths were primarily caused by landslides spawned by the typhoon during its onslaught on Oct. 19. Additional deaths and casualties in other regions are still being validated as of this posting, NDRRMC executive director Ricardo Jalad said. Verification is being con-
ducted by the Department of Interior and Local Government, he added. As this develops, the number of families being served in 1,095 evacuation centers were placed at 29,533 families or 116,826 persons. The increase in evacuees include those in the communities near the Pampanga and Bataan river systems. “Lawin” damaged 6,308 houses in Regions I, II, III, and the CAR. Jalad also said the NDRRMC, through telecommunication companies, sent
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PIPE REHAB. Construction crew members lay huge culverts as part of the drainage rehabilitation project along R. Magsaysay Avenue to resolve the flooding problem in the area during rainy season. Lean Daval Jr.
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PH’s Global Ferronickel, China’s Baiyin sign deal
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LOBAL Ferronickel Holdings Inc. (FNI), the second largest nickel producer in the Philippines and the largest single lateritic mine exporter in the world, has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with China’s Baiyin Nonferrous Group Co., Ltd. during President Duterte’s state visit to China to boost trade and economic collaboration between the two countries. Baiyin is a major stateowned enterprise formed in Gansu Province and is one of the largest producers of non-ferrous metals in China. The MoC aims to promote closer industrial and commercial cooperation as both companies recognize the economic benefits of a partnership arising from the availability of low-cost nickel ore in the Philippines, for which FNI is a key supplier to major customers in China, and China’s large and growing demand for nickel ore, a key ingredient in China’s production of stainless steel, coins, rechargeable batteries and special alloys. China is the largest consumer of nickel in the world, accounting for about 50 percent of world consumption. Pursuant to the MoC, FNI and Baiyin intend to develop a long-term strategic partnership and work closely in evaluating the economic feasibility of various natural resource projects in the Philippines, including but not limited to, providing trade financing to the
operations of FNI’s Ipilan mine in Palawan. FNI and Baiyin will also cooperate and evaluate investments in value-added downstream projects in the Philippines. They will evaluate the feasibility of constructing an integrated 200-series stainless steel plant in the Philippines with an annual capacity of one million tons using lower grade nickel ore sourced in the Philippines -- an estimated total investment of about USD500 million to USD700 million. “We recognize the importance of promoting close cooperation with China to spur economic growth in the country. We see Baiyin as a strong partner who will play a vital role with us in creating greater value added in the nickel value chain in the Philippines,” FNI chairman, Joseph C. Sy, said in a statement. In turn, Baiyin chairman, Liao Ming, said Baiyin is looking forward to a long and mutually beneficial partnership with FNI. Baiyin has a total asset value of more than RMB45 billion (USD7 billion), and has produced more than 5.5 million tons of base metals over the past six decades. Baiyin’s key stakeholders are the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Gansu Province and CITIC Guoan Group. Baiyin Group is focusing on building a Tier 1 international resources company and
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$24-billion business deals inked in China By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ
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adlopez0920@gmail.com
USINESS and economic deals amounting to $24 billion in soft loans were among the major results of President Duterte’s visit to China. The President arrived at the Davao International Airport on Friday evening, Oct. 21, from his two-country state vis-
its in Brunei Darussalam and China. “With a shared objective of achieving greater growth and prosperity for our people, Philippines and China will work closely in building robust economic agenda,” he said. According to the President, the Philippine and Chi-
nese governments signed 13 agreements, which are mostly economic in nature and will provide the framework that would enable the two countries to carry out more joint initiatives. “In my meetings with officials and businesses, there was a renewed and heightened
sense of optimism in trade relations. The friendship opens a deeper commitments to significantly enhance trade and investments,” President Duterte said. The agreements, he pointed out, covered various areas of economic activities that are
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EARLY BIRDS. Passengers use the benches at the departure area as their beds for the night as they are booked for an early morning flight at the Davao International Airport in Davao City on Saturday. Lean Daval Jr.
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Lawin damage for agri, Strong Halal industry seen infra now at P657.8-M
after Rody’s visit to Brunei T By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ
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adlopez0920@gmail.com
MONG the industries that benefitted most from the recent state visit of President Duterte to Brunei Darussalam last week is the emerging Halal industry in the country. In his arrival speech at the Davao City International Airport on Friday evening, the President said the state visit to Brunei and the People’s Republic of China had opened doors for more commitments from the two progressive Asian countries. “In both my visits, we reviewed the sum total of our relations and explored other areas of undertakings that opened doors for more meaningful engagements,” the President said. President Duterte added that one of the major highlights of his visit in Brunei was a discussion on how to harness the economic potential of the Halal industry the country, particularly in Mindanao. “We secured Brunei’s commitment to help develop Mindanao’s Halal industry
especially in certification and capacity building,” he said. Halal means “permissible” in Arabic, and refers not only to food that can be consumed according to Islamic law, but also to non-food items such as cosmetics and other logistics. The Philippines, through the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is currently pushing for the development of Halal markets overseas. DTI recently joined the 11th Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS) last March 31 to April 2, 2015 in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia with the aim to further study and explore Halal projects as part of the initiative of the Agribusiness Cluster of the Food and Basket pillar of BIMP-EAGA. BIMP-EAGA stands for Brunei Darussalam Indonesia Malaysia Philippines – East ASEAN Growth Area. The DTI, together with the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), National Commission for Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) and the De-
partment of Agriculture (DA) are now working to develop a roadmap for the country’s Halal industry, particularly in Mindanao. Halal is considered a billion-dollar industry around the world, as top government officials are seeing more opportunities for Mindanao largely due to the island-region’s huge potential to produce Halal-certified agricultural products such as tuna, sardines, banana, coconut, fruits, poultry and livestock. President Duterte is also eyeing the possibility of inking a partnership between the Philippines and Brunei that envisions to export Halal-certified products to market across the globe. “Brunei and Mindanao can be twin hubs for the production and exports of Halal certified products,” the President pointed out, adding that talks with top officials of Brunei were focused on economic cooperation and partnerships that aim to benefit the people. “In Brunei, I discussed
ways of furthering and deepening bilateral relations particularly to economic cooperation. We agreed to intensify trade and investments and work closely to further bolster the role of BIMP EAGA in growing our economies,” the President said. Issues on connectivity were also addressed between the two countries, with the objective of increasing air and sea linkages to facilitate trade and commerce. The President also expressed gratitude to Brunei for its role as a staunch partner in peace-building efforts in Mindanao. Cooperation to combat illegal drugs trade and collaborate on maritime and defense issues, particularly in redressing trans-national crimes, piracy and crimes at sea were also sealed during the state visit, he added. “We instructed officials of our respective governments to immediately work together in transforming these agreed agenda into specific plans and actions,” the President said.
UNITED IN SPIRIT. A Catholic devotee buys candles from a physically-challenged vendor inside San Pedro Cathedral compound in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.
Philippines, China sign pact on grant for anti-illegal drugs
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HE Philippines and China signed here Thursday (Oct. 20) an agreement that would provide Manila with a RMB100 million grant from Beijing to aid the Duterte administration in implementing projects to strengthen its war on illegal drugs and in law enforcement security cooperation between these two countries. The pact, signed by Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng, was among the agreements forged be-
tween the two countries during President Rodrigo Duterte’s four-day state visit to China. Dominguez and Gao signed the agreement in the presence of President Duterte and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People. The Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation states that “in accordance with the needs of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines, the Government of the People’s Republic of China agrees to
provide the Government of the Philippines with a grant of RMB Yuan 100,000,000 (one hundred million Renminbi Yuan), which shall be disbursed to implement the projects for anti-illegal drugs and law enforcement security cooperation.” This amount is equivalent to almost $15 million. It further states that the specific projects covered by the grant “shall be stipulated in the agreements to be signed subsequently between the two sides.” The pact shall be in force
until the day the two governments have fulfilled their obligations under the grant. China has expressed its support for President Duterte’s campaign against the illegal drug scourge. In an earlier press briefing held in Manila, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said: “Under the leadership of President Duterte, the new Philippine government enacted policies that prioritize combating drug-related crimes. China understands and supports that.”
HREE days after Typhoon Lawin struck the country, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), in its Saturday update, announced that agriculture and infrastructure losses for the Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and the Cordillera regions have now hit the PHP657,800,695.49 mark. Agricultural damage was placed at PHP75,855,695.49 and infrastructure losses at PHP581,945,000. As of Saturday, relief assistance provided by the Department of Social Welfare and Development to the four regions amounted to PHP6,130,750. As this develops, the NDRRMC announced that 22,814 families, or 92,002 persons, are still being sheltered in 643 evacuation centers scattered in the four regions, along
with CALABARZON and the Bicol region. Meanwhile, another 12,672 families, or 57,657 persons, are being served outside government-operated evacuation centers. The NDRRMC added that those pre-emptively evacuated in these regions amount to 28,710 families, or 143,531 persons. Confirmed ‘Lawin’ deaths are still at seven, all at the Cordillera region, and all attributable to landslides spawned by the typhoon. Reports of additional deaths are still being verified and validated by the NDRRMC as of this posting. A total of 1,327 houses were damaged -- 235 wrecked and 1,092 partially destroyed -- in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and the Cordilleras. (PNA)
Rody’s move on ASEAN integration to open country to 1.8-B market
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WO key members of President Duterte’s economic team said today that President Duterte’s directive to his Cabinet to move “strongly and swiftly” towards the Philippines’ economic integration with its fellow-members in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) along with China, Japan and South Korea, opens the country to a lucrative market of 1.8 billion people across the region. Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, who are part of the Philippine delegation that accompanied the President on his fourday state visit to China, said that while the Duterte administration will maintain its good relations with Western economies, it will now push for “stronger integration” with its neighbors in the region. “The President just gave a very important speech (during his state visit to China). The Cabinet will move strongly and swiftly towards regional economic integration. This is why the President prioritized foreign trips to ASEAN and Asia,” Dominguez and Pernia said in a joint statement. “As a result, the Philippines has now opened its opportunities for trade and investment to a market of 1.8 billion people across the region. ASEAN economies have expressed interest in integration. China has committed to open its capital markets,” they added. The Philippines, as one of ASEAN’s founding members, has committed to join the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), an economic bloc designed to create a single market and production base in the region. ASEAN groups the Philippines with Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and Vietnam. In their joint statement, Dominguez and Pernia said the Philippines’ regional integration would expand to include China, Japan and South Korea. “We will maintain relations with the West but we desire stronger integration with our neighbors. We share the culture and a better understanding with our region,” Dominguez and Per-
nia said. The AEC will allow for the free movement of goods, services, skilled labor, and investment among the 10 ASEAN member-nations and to facilitate the freer flow of capital. Unlike the European Union (EU), the AEC aims for economic integration without a monetary union or political integration. Dominguez and Pernia said the regional integration envisioned by the Duterte administration “is similar to what has been done in the EU, NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) in North America and Mercosur (Mercado Común del Sur) in South America.” “The Philippines is integrating with ASEAN, China, Japan and South Korea,” said Dominguez and Pernia. They pointed out that Asian economic integration is “long overdue” compared to the other regional trade blocs earlier forged by other economies across the globe. Dominguez told senators earlier that the President is not changing Philippine foreign policy but merely “recalibrating” it, following Mr. Duterte’s pronouncements that the Philippines would build new alliances with China and Russia. He explained at a recent Senate hearing that the President’s recalibration of Philippine foreign policy would open the country to markets other than the traditional ones in the West. “The President has indicated to us that he’d like to strengthen and exploit opportunities…in countries other than our traditional trading partners,” Dominguez said. Dominguez also told the foreign media in his recent official trip to Washington DC, USA that the President plans to tap Chinese investments to fund the administration’s ambitious infrastructure program. The Duterte administration plans to ramp up spending on infrastructure up to 5.4 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) next year, and maintain or even increase this in the succeeding years to sustain the country’s high growth and create jobs outside Mega Manila, in line with its 10-point socioeconomic agenda on inclusive growth.
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EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 172 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 23 - 24, 2016
9 days in China
Part 2
The ‘One Belt, One Road’ Initiative of China
By ANTONIO M. AJERO
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IVE of us Filipino editors –two from Davao (Serafin “Jun” C. Ledesma Jr. of Mindanao Journal and I) and three from Manila (Ms Ma. Angeles “Ninez” Cacho-Olivares of The Tribune, Ms Cecilia “Pinky” Colmenares of the Manila Bulletin and Dante Francis “Klink” Ang II of the Manila Times – were invited by the People’s Daily, official organ of the People’s Republic of China, to participate in the discussions of “One Belt, One Road (OBOR),” a colossal geopolitical initiative of China involving the building of highways, railways, bridges, ports and airports and the forging of trading ties between China and some 70 countries across several continents from east to west. It is said the initiative will touch the lives of 4.4 billion people and its projects will involve 40 percent of the world’s economy.
No less that Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to the forum, urging participating media to play a positive role in pushing toward the progress of the initiative. It was in 2013 that President Xi put forward the initiative, which comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21ST Century Maritime Silk Road. A total of 212 mainstream media executives from 101 countries gathered at the China National Convention Center (CNCC) in Beijing for what is dubbed as the “2016 Media Cooperation Fo-
BEIJING MEDIA FORUM. Yang Zhenwu, president of the People’s Daily, organizer and host of the 2016 Media Cooperation Forum on “One Belt, One Road” in Beijing attended by 212 executives and analysts of think tanks from 101 countries, addresses the opening ceremony on July 26. (Photo/people.cn). At right, Serafin “Jun” C. Ledesma Jr. of the Mindanao Journal and the author pose for posterity before entering the Great Hall of the People at the western edge of the Tiananmen Square in Beijing. rum on One Belt & One Road” which opened on July 26. The forum, hosted by the People’s Daily, has been held for three years now since the first one opened in 2014. “One Belt” refers to a link stretching from China to Europe through Central Asia, while “One Road” refers to link from China to its port facilities on Africa’s coastline and through the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean Sea. The unprecedented project, estimated to cost $1.4 trillion initially, no doubt dwarfs the so-called Marshall Plan, hatched by the American government immediately after the end of World War II some 70 years ago.
What’s the Marshall Plan? Marshall Plan, also called the European Recovery Program (ERP), was an American initiative to help rebuild
BEIJING INTERNATIONAL MEDIA FORUM. A part of the more than 200 participants at the opening of the 2016 Media Cooperation Forum on One Belt & One Road on July 26 at the China National Convention Center in Beijing. Editors-owners of five media organizations in the Philippines
European countries devastated by WWII. Under the plan, which was named after the late US State Sec. George C. Marshall, Uncle Sam gave more than $12 billion ($120 billion in current dollar value as of June 2016) in economic support to 18 European countries, with most of the aid going to United Kingdom (26 percent), France (18 percent) and West Germany (11 percent). On the record, the plan was in operation for four years up to 1952. As it happened, Russia refused to participate and convinced East Germany and other countries under its sphere of influence to do the same. However, it is said that some Asian countries, including the Philippines, benefited from the Marshall Plan although in less impressive amounts. In our two days of discussion, many of the foreign
news editors rhapsodized on the beneficial effects of the initiative on their respective countries, especially along efforts to alleviate widespread poverty, and in the areas of educational reforms and public health improvement. The Belt and Road Initiative is designed to last 30 to 40 years and analysts believe that the multifaceted projects will greatly influence the world’s geopolitical equation in favor of China. Take note that the announcement on OBOR came at a time when China was initiating the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). AIIB is an international financial institution designed to provide support to the construction of infrastructure projects in the Asia Pacific Region. Some analysts claim that AIIB is a rival of the International
–Ms Ma. Angeles “Ninez” Cacho-Olivares of The Tribune, Ms Cecilia “Pinky” Colmenares of Manila Bulletin, Dante “Klink” Ang II of The Manila Times, Serafin “Jun” C. Ledesma Jr. of The Mindanao Journal and Antonio M. Ajero of Edge Davao – attended the forum. (Photo- people.cn)
Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which are under the control of developed countries like the United States of America and Japan. What is AIIB? AIIB’s authorized capital is $100 billion. Its initial capital will be $50 billion, and the paid-in ratio will be 20 percent. As agreed Beijing will host the AIIB’s headquarters. Australia was the first to sign the agreement in the Great Hall of the People. China will contribute $29.78 billion of the bank’s capital base, becoming the largest shareholder of the bank with a 30.34-percent stake. India will have a voting share of 7.5 percent, followed by Russia with 5.92 percent. President Xi said the OBOR initiative will be “jointly carried out through extensive consultation so that it honors the interests of all, and promotes policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and person-to-person bonds between countries along the Belt and Road route.” “Media plays an essential role in communicating information, enhancing mutual trust and building consensus,” the Chinese president said, adding that the media forum “provides a platform for media from many countries to engage in dialogue and practice cooperation.”
So far, the initiative has reportedly helped in creating 60,000 jobs around the world with its total investment of more than $1.4 billion. “Over 70 countries, regions and international organizations have actively participated in Belt and Road construction,” said Wang Chen, vice chairman and secretary general of the National People’s Congress (NPC) standing committee, while speaking at the opening of the media cooperation forum. Wang added that China has signed cooperative agreements with more than 30 countries, while over 20 countries have signed industrial capacity cooperative agreements. He said some 46 overseas cooperation zones have been established in 17 countries along the Belt and Road route. Indeed, Belt and Road Initiative is regarded by many as an excellent PR (public relations) offensive calculated to make China look good to its neighbors. To be sure, OBOR will enhance China’s soft power. A concept developed by Joseph S. Nye Jr. of Harvard University in the late 1980s, “soft power” is defined as a country’s “ability to persuade others to do what it wants without force or coercion. “ (Next: PH can benefit from ‘One Belt and One Road Initiative’)
8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO
VOL. 9 ISSUE 172 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 23 - 24, 2016
EDITORIAL
Y
Understanding Digong
OU would not understand President Rodrigo Duterte unless you give up a bit of yourself. That is clearly what is emerging now. Many of those who oppose Duterte’s stance with regards to how we push forward with our relations with the United States would simply find him crazy doing that for the simple reason that Western Culture has instilled in us that eternal reliance and dependence to the supposed ‘Big Brother’ that the United States is to the Philippines. There is just too much connection between Filipinos and the United States in whatever degree and relation that it is almost impossible for most Filipinos to disengage from the Americans. To the point of being parasitic, millions of Filipinos believe they cannot live without the US, most especially those protecting their own interests and their own comfort zones. That is why it is understandable that many people would react to President Duterte’s pronouncement of separation from the US as insane and suicidal. It is hard to read the mind of a Rodrigo Duterte if you are already a parasite to the US. Those who reacted first, like former cabinet member Albert del Rosario, obviously have interests of their own.
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Duterte does not owe US anything, that is why he will be branded as a psychotic among a colony of parasites. No Philippine leader has the balls of Duterte. He is the only one who can do that to the US. The nessage is simple and clear—for a change, treat us as co-equals. Treat us with mutual respect. The US, a prima donna flaunting all its super powers for the world to worship, will never go down on equal footing with a Third World country like the Philippines. Let us not fascinate being on the same level with the Americans or them treating us like co-equals because that will never happen. Duterte knows that. Many Filipinos blindly do not subscribe to that. The President knows he cannot totally disassociate from the US. He knows millions of Filipinos will kill him if he does that. It’s not time. So what he actually meant was for the Philippines to be treated with mutual respect by the US. If not, he will not force it. Time will come, when Filipinos will realize that the blind alliance with the US is not giving us anything but that fleeting feeling of security that actually is inexistent and but a figment of our imagination.
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W
HEN people hear the word “biotechnology,” their usual reaction is what’s that? More often than not, they equate it with genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) or “Frankenstein food,” named after a fiction character created by novelist Mary Shelley. But biotechnology is not a mere creation of imagination; it is for real. It comes from two words: “bio,” derived from biology, the science of life; and “technology,” the tools and techniques used to achieve a particular purpose. It was Karl Erchy, a Hungarian agricultural economist who coined the word. In 1917, he foresaw the inevitability of a biology-technology merger so the word “biotechnology came into fruition. Biotechnology is nothing new, of course. It has been with us since time immemorial. Spirulina, one of the oldest forms of life on earth, is believed to be what the ancient Israelites of the Old Testament called “manna from heaven.” So those who think biotechnology is a product of modern science should think otherwise. To prove it, French geneticist Alex Kahn gave this illustration: “In 6,000 B.C. in Egypt, man fermented microorganisms and obtained an alcoholic beverage called beer. In 5,000 B.C., he recreated a vegetal monster, wheat, by crossbreeding three genomes of different sub-species.” One of the main reasons why biotechnology is currently being promoted is because of the impending hunger the world will be facing in the coming years. As population continues to grow and areas for food production getting smaller, there is a tendency that the world will have a hard time feeding the
VOL. 9 ISSUE 172 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 23 - 24, 2016
Not a mere fiction
VANTAGE POINTS
9
humanity. THINK ON THESE! “Somehow, we’re going to have to figure out how to meet a demand for a doubling of the world’s food supply, Henrylito D. Tacio when it’s henrytacio@gmail.com impossible to conceive of a doubling of the world’s acreage under cultivation,” Robert Shapiro, chief executive officer of Monsanto Corporation, told those who attended the annual meeting of the Biotechnology Industry Organization in 1988. “And it’s impossible, indeed, even to conceive of increases in productivity – using current technologies – that don’t produce major issues for the sustainability of agriculture.” Biotechnology has been seen as possible solution to the problem. “I now say that the world has the technology – either available or well advance in the research pipeline – to feed on a sustainable basis a population of 10 billion people,” Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug pointed out. “The more pertinent question today is whether farmers and ranchers will be permitted to use this new technology?” Dr. Borlaug, known as the “Man Who Saved a Billion Lives,” was referring to biotechnology. “While the affluent nations can certainly afford to adopt ultra low-risk positions, and pay more for food produced by the so-called ‘organic’ methods, the one billion chronically undernourished people of the low in-
come, food-deficit nations cannot,” the American agronomist deplored. With the new knowledge in molecular sciences, it is now possible for any gene to be cloned or made synthetically and transformed into any crop by using available techniques. “In classical or conventional plant breeding,” explained Dr. Emil Q. Javier, former secretary of the Department of Science and Technology, “gene transfers are limited to between varieties of the same species; occasionally between species within the same genus, and rarely between species belonging to different genera. “Transferring novel genes between plant families, much less from bacteria to plants, was impossible. But now with modern biotechnology, very wide introgressions are no longer impossible,” he said. “This is the fastest growing technology in the world,” added Dr. Nasir A. Saeed, of the National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, during a biotech forum a few years back. “Responsible and safe deployment of modern biotechnology can significantly enhance prospects for improving yield and socio-economic conditions of poor small farmers in developing countries.” But critics see it differently. “It’s now possible to do stuff that only writers could imagine before and build up completely new life forms. The argument that we need genetically-modified food to feed the world is complete bull,” said Greenpeace International, an activist group, in a statement. “There are enough natural resources for us all to be fed,” said Emma Plugge, an official of the Buckinghamshire Health Authority in United King-
dom. “It is inequity of food distribution that results in the starvation of million in poorer nations.” Most of those who oppose transgenic crops asked whether they are safe for human consumption. “Foods produced using genetic modification are as safe as foods produced using conventional breeding techniques,” assures the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “Genetically modified foods are as safe as other foods available on the market.” A 2008 review published by the Royal Society of Medicine noted that transgenic foods have been eaten by millions of people worldwide for over 15 years, with no reports of ill effects. Likewise, a 2004 report from the US National Academies of Sciences stated: “To date, no adverse health effects attributed to genetic engineering have been documented in the human population.” The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) declared that different GM foods go through the global food safety process called Codex Alimentarius Risk Analysis of Foods Derived from Modern Biotechnology under which these foods are not found to be risky to human health. “GM foods currently available on the international market have passed risk assessments and are not likely to present risks for human health,” said the UN health agency in a statement. “No effects on human health have been shown as a result of the consumption of such foods by the general population in the countries where they have been approved. Continuous use of risk assessments based on the Codex principles and, where appropriate, including post market monitoring, should form the basis for evaluating the safety of GM foods,” it added.
BY EDWIN ESPEJO
perimeter of Batasan Pambansa, non violent approaches and sincere dialogues are far superior approaches to legitimate dissent rather than vicious confrontations. It is not the policy and character of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to use unnecessary and excessive force to deal with legitimate forms of dissent of the people. It was unfortunate and reprehensible that police officers on the ground failed to distinguish legitimate forms of protests and appreciate the context, conditions and atmosphere prevailing. We are in the process of finding lasting, just and principled peace to end the war in the countryside. Through the peace processes the
Duterte administration is pursuing, we aim to address the issues behind these protests. It will be unfortunate if we will fail to achieve peace because of the propensity of others to use excessive force in dealing with dissent. We demand immediate, thorough and impartial investigation. At the same time, we exhort protesters to be reminded that the government is addressing their issues. We call on them to also exercise restraint and refrain from provoking our policemen who, like them, also come from their own ranks. Lastly, let not this incident prevent us from pursuing our goal of achieving elusive peace in our motherland.
OPAPP statement on the violent dispersal of protesters
W
E are shocked and appalled with the violent manner the protesters were dispersed at the rally of Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and their supporters in front of the US Embassy Wednesday afternoon. It was pure insanity. No amount of justification can cover up for the harsh and bloody breakup of the rally. We will not condone these unjustifiable acts and we expect expeditious actions. We put to task the ground commander of the police who failed to employ maximum restraint and pursue peaceful tact in dealing with the protesters. We commiserate with all those who
were hurt and wounded during the violent clash – protesters and policemen alike – which could have been prevented had cooler heads prevailed and reason reigned over heated passion. It was not too long ago when leaders and delegation of similar mobilizations were even invited by no less than the president to a dialogue to his office. As President Rodrigo Duterte proved in his State of the National Address when he invited protesters inside the House of Representative lounge for a tete-a-tete after no less than PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa personally met with them outside the
10 NEWS PRRD... FROM 1
Just a maybe, baka he was under stress, he might be ganged, they might gang up on him, hurt him, and so he acted on a, by instinct, self-preservation,” he added. The President, however, was quick to say he was not justifying what the police had done to the militants, especially that several of them were badly injured. President Duterte said he is planning to talk to the policemen who were involved in the violent dispersal to get their explanation on the issue, as well as obtain the side of the militants. “I will try to talk to the police, invite them for coffee and I will talk to the activists. I would like to know what really happened,” he said. The President said that he would not like to create misunderstanding between him and members of the militant group, as the PNP conducts an internal investigation on
the matter. President Duterte stressed he would not like to see a division of alliances among the nation’s progressive groups since “we are all Filipino.” The President, however, made it clear he does not want policemen to carry their firearms when responding during demonstrations. “I do not want any firearms during demonstrations,” he said. “Maybe a pistol, but no, no, no M-16’s there,” he said. President Duterte said that the high powered firearms of policemen should be locked away in stations far away from the site of the demonstrations. To recall, nine police officials were relieved from their post after the bloody dispersal, which included the group’s ground commander, Senior Supt. Marcelino Pedrozo. FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA
States will kill me,” he said in jest.
2002, Meiring was spirited out of the Philippines, skipping government protocol. Until now, he said, no US government official has ever shown the results of their full-scale investigation after then ambassador to the Philippines Francis Ricciardone promised to do so. “To this day, parang Batman and Robin mystery ‘yan (it’s like a Batman and Robin mystery),” President Duterte told reporters, adding, “I’ve been waiting for that report but until now, I haven’t so I really did not know what was the mystery about.” Had it happened to America, they would raise hell for violating their sovereignty, he said. “They will go to war. Kung tayo ginagawa nila sa atin (they have been doing that to us), there wasn’t even an apology for anything,” he added. “Is that respect? Mutual respect?” the President asked. “Tapos sabihin ninyo, (And then you would say,) America lives by the values of what? Whose value is it? Your value? Our values? Because if there is one thing that they did not really want, you know, if there is one thing that the Americans have failed miserably, it is upholding human dignity,” he said. (PNA)
Duterte... FROM 2
No puppet President Duterte further said that what he was referring to was a foreign policy that need not dovetail with the foreign policy of America. He noted that in the past, the Philippines has always followed the cue from the United States. “We follow. Pasunod-sunod tayo. Hindi ako magsunod (We always follow. I will not follow),” he said. Mutual respect President Duterte aired his sentiments on why he has been negatively treating the US and pushing for a foreign policy free from the dictates of the US. He has been lashing out at US officials for criticizing his campaign to rid the Philippines of corruption, bring down the incidence of crime, and address problems on illegal drugs. He even reminded the US about an incident in Davao in 2002 involving American Michael Terrence Meiring which the President termed as an affront to Philippine sovereignty. “It has not really appeased me at all. Binastos tayo ng Amerika (America disrespected us),” he said. After an explosion at the Evergreen Hotel on May 16,
City... FROM 2
She noted that the damage to infrastructure wrought by Lawin made it difficult for victims to provide and receive information because of the lack of communication facilities. “Dili daw sila [typhoon-affected areas] maka-ingon na under ‘state of calamity’ sila,”
the mayor said. Aside from financial assistance, the city government will be sending its 911 emergency team and search and rescue volunteers once the typhoon-affected areas declare a state of calamity. TIZIANA CELINE S. PIATOS
PH’s Global... FROM 5 has successfully developed mining investments in South Africa, Peru and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. On the other hand, FNI is one of the lowest cost producers of nickel ore in the Philippines. Its operations in Cagdianao, Surigao del Norte
received an ISO 14001:2015 Environment Management Systems Certification and passed the recent audit of the Philippine Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Its Ipilan mine is expected to begin production in 2017. (PNA)
EDGEDAVAO
VOL. 9 ISSUE 172 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 23 - 24, 2016
CATNAP. Army personnel take a nap as they wait for the arrival of President Duterte from a from a four-day state visit in China at the Davao International Airport in Davao City early morning of Saturday. Lean Daval Jr.
Dominguez... FROM 4 agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and airport authorities reflect the focused and determined leadership of President Duterte in the unremitting war against this scourge,” Dominguez added. The Customs team assigned at the NAIA, working under the IADIG and in close coordination with the PDEA, arrested last Oct. 15 Brazilian Yasmin Silva, who was found to be carrying 6.2 kilos of cocaine with a street value of P30 million. They had earlier arrested a Filipino student, a Russian and two Chinese based in Hong Kong in separate attempts to smuggle cocaine into the country. Silva, along with the other suspected drug couriers earlier apprehended by the interagency anti-illegal drugs team, had all arrived onboard an Emirates flight. The arrest of Silva was made after NAIA authorities
received information from the US DEA about a passenger carrying narcotics who would be arriving onboard Emirates flight EK-322. Simultaneous cases of drug smuggling will be filed against Silva, who had traveled to the Philippines for the first time. Last Oct. 5, the IADIG nabbed two Chinese from Hong Kong and a Russian at the airport for trying to smuggle in 27.9 kilos of cocaine with a street value of P130 million. The IADIG apprehended Chan Kawai and Pau Homanevan, both Chinese nationals from Hong Kong, and Kirdyushkin Yury, a Russian, who arrived separately on an Emirates flight from Hong Kong. On Oct. 2, a 22-year old student, Jon-Jon Villamin, arrived via an Emirates flight from Dubai and was found to be carrying 4.8 kilos of cocaine with a street value of P25 million following a joint BOCPDEA operation.
messages giving details on areas that might be affected by the typhoon. Warning messages through infoboard and cellbroadcast were sent. A sample message appears like this: “TCWS3:STY#LawinPH severe danger over La Union, Benguet, Nueva Vizcaya, Quiri-
no, and Northern Aurora in 18 hours. Moderate to heavy damage. Evacuation is advised.” The NDRRMC head issued this statement in the wake of reports claiming that no such messages were texted or forwarded to people living in areas that will be pummeled by “Lawin.” (PNA)
the country’s first LTE-A base stations in the resort island of Boracay. Combining three component carriers, where Smart achieved peak speeds of 250 Mbps on a single-user basis in a live network. Today, Smart’s network on the island involves a multiband LTE setup combining the low-band 850 MHz frequency and the high bands 1800, 2100, and 2300 MHz frequencies. This delivers average speeds of more than 100 Mbps to users with LTE-A capable devices. LTE-A base stations will soon be activated in major urban areas such as Metro Davao, Metro Cebu, and Metro Manila. This is part of Smart’s
three-year plan focused on expanding LTE coverage, to bring high-speed internet service to 95% of the country. “We are accelerating our LTE deployment because this provides us the platform to deliver faster, more reliable, and affordable internet services throughout the country,” added Horn. In the three-year network roll-out plan that parent-company PLDT submitted to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) last July, Smart said it is focused on rapidly deploying LTE, to make it available to users in 1,551 cities and municipalities across the country by end-2018.
NDRRMC... FROM 4
Smart... FROM 11
$24-billion... FROM 5
expected to generate 2 million jobs for Filipinos in the next five years. He assured the Philippine government will continue to work very hard to ensure that the agreements signed with China will bear concrete results for the betterment of the lives of the Filipino people. “We shall also make sure that the credit facility and the soft loans will be solely utilized in public financing that will benefit all Filipinos,” the President added. Aside from agreements on trade and commerce, President Duterte revealed that the visit also included productive and extensive discussions on a range of issues such as infrastructure, tourism, science, technology and health. The President noted that formal communication linkages between the two countries were also established. These channels, he added, aim to realize the vision of a deeper and more meaningful engagement between the Philippine and China. President Duterte also reported on the full resumption of regular and bilateral consultations and mechanisms which were put on hold for several years. “In security and stability, we recognize the necessary condition for growth the Philippines and China affirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, freedom of navigation and flight in South China Sea. We acknowledge the need to address disputes through peaceful means
in accordance with the international law,” the President said. Both countries also agreed to continue discussions on confidence-building measures including a bilateral consultation mechanism to discuss immediate issues of concern in the South China Sea, he added. An agreement between the coast guards of the two countries was also concluded for the purpose of maintaining stability and for general cooperation to minimize untoward incidents in the sea. In the fight against illegal drugs, the President said the two countries will establish cooperation in the areas of capability-building, equipment upgrading and support for rehabilitation purposes. “The state visit to China signalled a turning point in our shared history and showed that both countries are fully capable of working together for mutual and beneficial collaboration even as we remain committed to settle disputes peacefully in full adherence of international law,” the President said. He also gave the assurance that he will he will protect the sovereignty of the Philippines and uphold the interests of its people. “In all my engagements abroad rest assured that I will always pursue our nation’s best interest, consistent with our independent foreign policy anchored on the basic tenets of sovereignty, non-interference and mutual respect,” the President said.
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were lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void. 10/17,24,31
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VOL. 9 ISSUE 172 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 23 - 24, 2016
EDGEDAVAO STYLE Melo NavalesBacongco
Louise Luntao Kasmir Tan
FIDA holds 2016 graduation show THEY SAY A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH A SINGLE step and like a journey, a career in fashion starts with the proper tools and knowledge to evaluate, manipulate, and ultimately create “the look.” These are the reasons behind the establishment of the Fashion Institute of Design and Arts (FIDA).
Ia Occa
Last Sept. 30, the design school held its 2016 graduation show at the Atrium of SM Lanang Premier featuring the collections of FIDAs graduating students Louise Gumban Luntao, Laica Heruela Maraat, Kasmir Tan, and Kathreen Cascabel from their oneyear fashion design technology course, and Anne de Arce, Melo Navales-Bacongco, and Juliana Hellmuth from the two-year fashion design and merchandising course. “You have spent valuable time and effort, shed buckets of tears from all your frustrations in the journey towards completing your collection,” said FIDA president and academic director Christine Dumatol-Munda in her message to the graduates, adding, “This is all part of the holistic designer experience at FIDA. Acknowledge that is builds character and vision leading to your dreams.” This year’s graduation show carried the theme of “Aesthetics: Fashion + Fine Art” with the graduates drawing inspiration from various art movements and artists. Stand out collections came from Laica Heruela Maraat’s Asperity,
which featured constructed digitally-printed denim pieces. Another interesting collection was Kasimir Tan’s Fusce Dictum which utilized geometrically constructed dresses and tops with expressive abstract paint on fabric. Gothic steam-punk with a feminine twist was the theme of Anne de Arce’s Time-Piece, which featured classic shapes with edgy cuts and details. Eschewing color, texture and gender, the pieces of Melo NavalesBacongco’s Afylos collect i o n showcased geometrically constructed pieces which can be worn by both genders. FIDA also took the opportunity to showcase the Insignia collection of Ia Occa, the top graduate from FIDA’s Cebu campus. The creation and manipulation of textile to create textures, shapes, and silhouettes had the audience awestruck. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for these designers as they continue their exciting journey in the fashion industry.
Laica Heruela Maraat
Anne de Arce
Kathreen Cascabel
Juliana Hellmuth
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SM City Davao holds 3 THE 3RD DAVAO CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL opened at SM City Davao last Friday, October 14. With 20 exhibitors offering a wide variety of cacao-based products, this year’s festival is certainly the biggest yet in terms of exhibitor registrations.
A joint project by SM City Davao and the Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao (CIDAMI), the Davao Chocolate Festival was staged to highlight Davao’s cacao industry, in general, and promote cacao farming, research and development, processing and ultimately fuel cacao trade and industry in the region, in particular. According to CIDAMI We are especially proud that executive director Val Tur- in a way, they have grown tur, in 2014, the festival with us,” Lopez says. hosted less than 10 cacao Among the festival’s regprocessors. The number ular exhibitors are Cidami, continued to grow in 2015 Chokolate de San Isidro, until the present. “There is Freefood’s Coco Dolce, still so much potential in Kablon Farm, Aromacoloour local cacao industry. In gy, Fedco, Lara Mia, Giardifact, we have been experi- no Gelato, The Chocolate encing a shortage of supply, Bean, Cacao de Davao, Nuas a consequence also of the trarich Neutraceutical InEl Niño phenomenon earli- novations, Saging Repablik, er in the year,” Turtur adds. Puratos, Auntie Anne’s and The Federation of Coopera- SM Supermarket. Introductives in Mindanao claimed ing their products in this they were not able to sell year’s exhibition are Milky, their beans commercially Dessert Bar, Rosario’s Delibecause the current supply cacies and ComVal Tropical is only adequate to meet Harvest Co Inc. their members own needs. The Davao Chocolate SM City Davao Lynette Festival ended last Sunday, Lopez mall manager ex- October 16. pressed her delight over the conduct of the event, saying that repeat exhibitors and a number of patrons have been increasing overthe past years. She added that Cacao de Davao, a CIDAMI member and one of the pioneers of the Davao Chocolate Festival, has become a mall tenant since August of this year. “We look forward to helping our local concepts grow.
CTOBER 23 - 24, 2016
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VOL. 9 ISSUE 172 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 23 - 24, 2016
SAN PEDRO COLLEGE CELEBRATED ITS 60TH FOUNDATION ANNIVERSARY last Oct. 1 to 7, 2016. It was a funfilled celebration, as the event was attended by more than a hundred alumni coming from different parts of the world.
The week-long Jubilee celebration started with a Flower arrangement contest followed by a Holy Eucharist with Archbishop Romulo G. Valles, D.D. as the main celebrant to commemorate the feast of St. Therese, patron saint of San Pedro College. A Filipino folk dance festival participated by faculty, non-teaching staff and selected students concluded the mornings’ activities. A Splash Back In Time, 3K and 5K Color Fun Run was participated by more than 1,500 runners on the second day of the celebration. The third day was a night of thanksgiving and SPC fellowship with alumni, friends, affiliates and industry partners at the SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premier. Medical missions were conducted from Oct. 4 to 6, medical missions. The missions were held at Biao Guianga Elementary School and Brgy. Cawayan Calinan respectively, where most of the volunteers were alumni nurses and physicians. This was sponsored by SPHSN Class of 1972 and 1973. Oct. 5 was the Gala night and awarding of the Outstanding Alumni. It was attended by more than a hundred of alumni from different programs at SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premier. A Balik-Turo, “Current Trends in Nursing” sponsored by SPHSN class 1972 & 1973 was hosted by the BSN Department at the PL Hall culminated the celebration.
SPC marks Diamond Jubilee
11 COMPETITIVE EDGE
EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 172 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 23 - 24, 2016
TECHTALKS. ERP Business Simulation Powered by S/4HANA pose for a group photo after completing a simulation activity on how they can further empower their businesses with SAP’s newest digital core technology.
PRRD state visit to boost I economic ties with Brunei
ABM Global Solutions, SAP introduce S/4 HANA through simulation workshop
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NTERNATIONAL Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) is confident that President Duterte’s recent state visit to Brunei Darussalam will enhance diplomatic and economic relations between the Philippines and Brunei. ICTSI, who operates the sultanate’s leading trading gateway, the Muara Container Terminal (MCT), looks forward to improved investment opportunities between the two countries. “We are hopeful that this state visit will open up more opportunities for the two countries to further develop the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). ICTSI is fully committed to be an active partner in both
countries’ drive to promote economic growth, especially through sound investments in port management and development,” explained Christian Gonzalez, ICTSI senior vice president and head of Asia-Pacific. ICTSI has been successfully operating the MCT for the past eight years under the stewardship of highly experienced managers and staff of ICTSI unit New Muara Container Terminal Services (NMCTS). Around 85 percent of NMCTS’s employees are Bruneians. Just recently the NMCTS was honored as one of Asia’s top employers in the 7th CMO Asia’s Best Employer Brand Awards 2016 in Singapore. “ICTSI has built a reputation for itself as one of the most successful port operators
in the world. Eight years says a lot as to what we have been doing in Brunei. It speaks to the kind of leadership and management style in all of our terminals around the world,” said Manuel De Jesus, ICTSI vice president for business development-Asia. “With the state visit, we look forward to bigger avenues for economic partnership between the two countries,” he added. ICTSI’s success on the global scale has resulted in a diverse portfolio of 30 terminals in 20 countries. ICTSI is currently proposing to have a long-term concession with the Brunei government to further develop the Port of Muara into a world-class gateway. “Given our global expertise and sound business practices
backed by international financial institutions, we can develop world-class port facilities in Brunei. With President Duterte discussing trade relations, we’re really hoping for things to go well so both countries can capitalize on these opportunities. For us, we’re hoping we could expand our contract in Muara so we can pour more investments, create a worldclass trade gateway and provide better service to the people of Brunei,” noted Reimond Silvestre, NMCTS general manager. President Duterte flew to Brunei last Oct. 16 to hold bilateral meetings with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu-izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, and his ministers.
N an era where digital revolution is the new game, ABM Global Solutions (AGS) has been at the forefront and has continued to introduce innovations to enable businesses to optimize their operations through its digital solutions offerings. A trusted business management solutions provider in the Philippines and an ePLDT subsidiary, AGS, together with SAP, the leading enterprise software company in the world, successfully launched TECH TALKS: ERP Simulation for S/4 HANA at the SAP NAC Office in Taguig City. SAP S/4HANA is a real-time ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) suite for digital businesses built on an advanced in-memory platform and offers a personalized, consumer-grade user experience with SAP Fiori. It allows midsize to large enterprises to connect all of their business processes, obtain live information and insights, and seamlessly integrate their enterprises within the digital world. This core digital solution also supports the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, real-time analytics, mobile, business networks, third-party systems, and a number of other functions.
The workshop engaged chief financial officers, procurement, and sales and marketing Heads of various companies in an immersive and interactive simulation experience. Participants were grouped together as hypothetical companies where they had to outperform other teams in terms of sales, savings, and growth in a number of simulated challenges based on real-life business scenarios through the S/4 HANA system. At the end of the activity, participants were able to differentiate S/4 HANA from classic SAP ERP. The workshop aims to educate attendees on how SAP S/4 HANA can empower business users with insights to act in the moment and utilize its immediate, intelligent, and integrated features to go beyond the usual automation of their entire processes. Participants of the event were also encouraged to digitize their business processes to enjoy the opportunities and overcome the common challenges of any business such as data decentralization, business disruptions, excessive spending, and manual errors due to absence of an integrated system.
The Pacquiao-Vargas on Sky PPV early bird gets the free KFC bucket
PRRD IN BRUNEI. President Rodrigo Duterte (extreme left) met with Filipinos in Brunei during his state visit to the country from Oct. 16 to 18. Manuel De Jesus (fourth from left), ICTSI vice president for business development
– Asia, Reimond Silvestre (extreme right), NMCTS general manager, joined other representatives of the local Filipino business community in welcoming the President.
Smart posts 1.4 Gbps data speeds using LTE-Advanced
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ORKING with strategy and technology partner Huawei, PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications (Smart) has achieved test data speeds of 1.4 Gigabit per second (Gbps) using the cutting-edge data capabilities of LTE-Advanced (LTE-A). In a series of laboratory tests done this month, Smart successfully combined five frequencies or “component carriers” using Carrier Aggregation to consistently achieve data speeds in excess of one gibabit per second. Smart has
thus joined a handful of leading operators actively testing ultra-high speed wireless data capacity in anticipation of demand for gigabit-level speeds. Carrier aggregation refers to the capability of LTE-A to combine two or more radio frequency bands in order to deliver bigger bandwidth and much faster data speeds to mobile users. “Through these tests, we have demonstrated that we are constantly looking ahead to anticipate the ever increasing demands of mobile broadband customers,” said Joachim
Horn, PLDT and Smart chief technology and information advisor. “It will take time for carrier aggregation on five frequencies to be deployed, largely because capable handsets are not yet commercially available. But the excellent results of these tests have encouraged us to roll out LTE-A using two or three component carriers which can already be utilized by several handset models in the market,” Horn said. LTE-A capable handsets include Samsung Galaxy S7, iPhone 6s and 7, and Huawei P9.
“LTE-A is the sharp edge of our efforts to bring high-speed mobile internet throughout the country through our LTE deployment program. LTE facilities, with strengthened transport links, can be quickly upgraded to LTE-A,” Horn said. Smart’s efforts to boost its mobile internet capacity are complemented by PLDT’S ongoing deployment of fiber and high-speed DSL fixed line technologies which are also capable of delivering one-gigabit speeds. Last April, Smart fired up
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NLIVEN your TV viewing, not just with an Early Bird discount for the much-awaited fight between The People’s Champ Manny Pacquiao and challenger Jessie Vargas and the co-main event bout between Nonito Donaire and Jesse Magdaleno, but also with a bucket of mouth-watering KFC fried chicken you can enjoy as you watch the fight live, commercial-free and in high definition on Nov 6, 9am on SKY Sports Pay-Per-View. Until October 24, the Pacquiao vs Vargas pay-perview is available at the Early Bird Rate of only Php699 (discounted from the regular rate of Php999 effective October 25) and comes with an exciting freebie: a KFC Regular Bucket Meal delivered right to your doorstep! SKYcable and Destiny Cable subscribers may subscribe by texting PACVAR-
GAS to 23662, logging into the event website mysky. com.ph/pacvargas or calling the SKY Sales hotline 305 5456. SKYdirect subscribers may convert their ABS-CBN Mobile, Globe or TM load by texting PPV<SPACE>PACVARGAS<SPACE>BOX ID to 23667. SKYbroadband subscribers may visit mysky. com.ph/skyodsubscribe to activate and watch their pay-per-view subscription via SKY On Demand. To redeem the KFC Regular Bucket Meal, subscribers may call the KFC Delivery Hotline number (8878888 within Metro Manila and #887-8888 outside Metro Manila) from 9 AM to 9:30 PM after 24 hours from the confirmation of pay-perview subscription to place their order. This freebie is transferable but not convertible to cash and can be redeemed until December 23, 2016 only.
12 PROPERTY EDGEDAVAO
VOL. 9 ISSUE 172 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 23 - 24, 2016
Enclaves construction updates out By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO
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njb@edgedavao.net
AVAO-BASED real estate development firm Escandor Development Corporation (Esdevco) released its recent construction updates fo its condominium buildings. Project head Gerald Kent Garces said that Building 1/B already has an overall accomplishment status of 82 percent. The first building of The Residences component of the much-talked about Matina Enclaves project is due for turnover early next year. Building 1/B is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Garces also bared that Building 2/C is ongoing its excavation for its foundation as of October 15, 2016. “Everything is moving on as scheduled,” Garces
said. During the recent monthly Open House event on October 14 at its Showroom along Ecowest Drive in Ecoland, a number of units were sold on the spot. Building 4/D was declared fully sold out after the Open House sales. With the status of Building 4/D fully sold out, the only remaining units on sale are from that of Building 5/E which also has a few remaining units left. Since opening sales last year, the Matina Enclaves has since sold out three of its condominium buildings—a testament of the market’s strong response to the project. Garces cited the efforts of its sales representatives for the sales yield during
the last Open House. “We would like to congratulate all the sellers for a job well done,” said Garces. Meantime, those who closed deals during the Open House were Rebecca De Leon, Reynold Barber, Flora Mae Magallon of Leuterio Realty, Solomon Banez, Charity Furog, Joice Reyes, Jocelyn Bernal of Davao Dragon Realty, Febry Rose Peralta of Mega Pacific, Nestor Granado, and Ruby Lopez of Lapidez Realty. The Matina Enclaves, which rose to prominence after President Rodrigo Duterte held most of his local engagements in the project’s clubhouse, is a sprawling mixed use real estate development located in Ecoland, Davao City. (NJB)
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EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society
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SPORTS 15
EDGEDAVAO
San Juan, SMC-Tagum shoots for Cua Cup Finals
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HE visiting St. Mary’s College of Tagum City and unheralded San Juan Elementary School guns for the finals berth on Sunday (October 23) in the cadet and mini division respectively of the First Regino “Boy” Cua Memorial Cup at the Goldstar Gym. As of presstime, SMC battled formidable Assumption
College of Davao in the cadet semifinal match at 12.30 pm. With its remarkable run in the classification ound, SMC is poised to pull off an upset win and barge its way to the championship round. Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School tussles Ford Academy of the Arts in the other cadet Final Four encounter. Playing with much pride
in the elimination round, San Juan Elementary School marched its way to the semifinal round. The Agdao-based dribblers will test the mettle of ACD with high hopes of making the finals. Game time is 9.30am. United Methodist School of Davao, riding on a remarkable elimination round show-
ing that drew the praise of several teams, takes on Stella Maris Academy in the other mini Final four match. The UMSD and SMAD do or die set 8am is the curtain raiser in the Final Four Sunday. Trophies and cash prizes await the winners in the tournament which holds its championship game first week of November.
He told us he has “gradually increased training everyday and everything is coming along smoothly.” Vargas said that ever since he signed up with Top Rank, he had wanted the Pacquiao fight because Manny “was known and was on top of the division” which will “put me in a place of beating Manny and will prove that I am the best. Its a position I have dreamed of and plan to do that on November 5.” While he conceded that Pacquiao is “a great fighter” Vargas said that while his own right hand is his big punch and is known as “the sleeper” he had “two great hands . My left and my right are different weapons and
(Manny) won’t know which will get him.” He maintained that if he “sees an opening, I’ll go for a knockout.” Vargas noted that he is a world champion and “feels positive I will retain my title and a star will be born” even as he pointed out that Pacquiao “has had his time, now it’s my time.” He said Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach and strength and conditioning mentor Justin Fortune were right when they said Vargas won’t run but will come to fight. He said “definitely we will come to fight” and that trainer Dewey Cooper had studied Manny’s style and “came up with a great fight plan and I’m look-
ing forward to a great fight.” Vargas said he is in great shape and “at the highest level” and promised that he was “looking forward to this fight and the fans will enjoy it.” Noting that Manny was known for his speed, the WBO welterweight champion told us, “we trained on increasing speed” but conceded that Manny “has plenty of experience.” Vargas plans to overcome Pacquiao’s speed and power although Manny hasn’t knocked down any opponent since Miguel Cotto in November 2009. Vargas said he will overcome Manny with his “height, my reach, my talent and mostly my ring intelligence.”
under NBA rules the winning run was credited to Kerr. Unsurprisingly, Walton envisages a long road back for the Lakers as they journey back from the lowest point in the franchise’s history. “Patience will definitely be important, not only for me, but for the rest of the staff, the players, the fans, everybody,” he said. “It’s important that we set our foundation, and that we set our goals and that we don’t let whether we are winning or losing games take us from that path. We’ve got to stay the course, and keep looking at the big picture.”
involves playing music during practice — something Walton was quick to introduce after he arrived at the Lakers. “Growing up I always loved playing basketball with music on. When I got to Golden State it was something that Steve Kerr had implemented up there,” Walton said. “You could see a little bounce in their step when we had music going. I enjoyed it as a player and it’s something that worked with the team, so it was
something I wanted to bring down here too.” Walton’s career has encompassed spells under the guidance of some of the sport’s coaching giants, from a period under the legendary Lute Olson at the University of Arizona, to Phil Jackson during the Lakers’s dominant decade in the 2000s through to his most recent role alongside Kerr. He has also drawn heavily on his father Bill Walton, a former Most Valuable Player during 13 years in the NBA. Walton says he has drawn elements from each as he embarks on the biggest challenge of his career.
Vargas to squeeze the best in him
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BO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas who won the title with a spectacular 9th round knockout of Sadam Ali last March 5, told the Manila Standard in an exclusive interview that he wants “to go above and beyond that performance and put on a better performance” when he faces eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao at the Thomas & Mack Center on November 6, Manila Time. In a wide-ranging interview arranged by Lee Samuels of Top Rank, Vargas said that he is “much stronger today” after seven weeks of training under Dewey Cooper whom he described as “a phenomenal trainer.”
Walton hopes to resurrect Lakers A
FTER two catastrophic seasons that were the worst in the club’s history, Luke Walton is under no illusions about the size of the task facing him as he attempts to resurrect the Los Angeles Lakers. The iconic California franchise looked to have hit rock bottom in the 2014-2015 campaign when the Lakers plunged to a 21-61 record in the Western Conference. But that low point turned out to be merely a staging post en route to a fresh nadir when they crashed to a worst-ever 17-65 season in 2015-2016. With Kobe Bryant heading off into retirement, and coach Byron Scott swiftly fired in April, the Lakers turned to Walton to begin the rebuilding process of the 16-time NBA champions. A popular former Lakers forward — Walton spent nine seasons at the club between 2003 and 2012 — the 36-yearold returns to Los Angeles having worked as an assistant to Steve Kerr at the Golden State Warriors from 2014. That stint in the Bay Area included a spell at the start of last season when he was effectively standing in for Kerr as the Warriors head coach recovered from back surgery. Walton’s spell in charge saw him oversee a record 24-0 start to the season, although
Dancing to different tune The Lakers will look to a blend of youth and experience as they attempt to revive their fortunes in the post-Bryant era. Veterans such as Luol Deng and Timofey Mozgov are among the additions to a roster that has a nucleus of young talent, including D’Angelo Russell, Jordan Clarkson and Brandon Ingram, the 19-year-old chosen second overall in last June’s NBA Draft. Walton is hoping to instill the sort of winning habits used by the Warriors during their march to a record-breaking 73-9 mark last season. One of those habits
LUKE WALTON. Lakers’ new coach hopes to bring back Lakers to glory.
OUT OF GILAS? Naturalized player Andray Blatche may be replaced by the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas.
Andray on the way out?
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HE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is now preparing for life without naturalized player Andray Blatche. SBP president Al Panlilio confirmed they are now looking for backup options in case Blatche won’t be available for Gilas Pilipinas in the future. “We don’t know what’s the commitment of Andray. He wants all the time to make it to the NBA and he’s playing in China. We would like to start looking for other options. Of course, we want yung mas bata,” Panlilio said.
Blatche, a former player of the Washington Wizards and the Brooklyn Nets, is currently playing with the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association where he inked a lucrative deal last year. According to Panlilio, the SBP is now targeting at most three players who could become candidates for naturalization. Panlilio said they’ve not yet identified candidates for naturalization, but will sit down with newly installed Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes regarding potential recruits.
PAGARA BROTHERS. Albert (left) and Jason (right) Pagara will headline PIinoy Pride 39 in Cebu.
Pagara bros banner PP39
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AGARA brothers Jason “El Niño” and “Prince” Albert will return to the ring anew as they face separate foreign opponents for Pinoy Pride 39 on on November 26 at the Cebu Coliseum. The main event will be the IBF interim world light flyweight title fight between Milan “El Metodico” Melindo and Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr. of Thailand. Jason who has 39 wins, 2 losses, with 24 KO wins will shoot for his thirteenth straight win when he faces former WBA world lightweight champion Jose “Quibera Jicara” Alfaro of Nicaragua in the ten-round co-main event. Because of his striking third-round knockout win over Mexican Abraham Alvarez in San Mateo, California in July, the Cagayan de Oro City-born Jason Pagara will be second in the top billing as he shoots for a world title if he seizes an impressive victory. Alfaro with 28 wins, 10 losses, 1 draw, with 24 KO wins came off from a loss to Pedro Campa last April. Alfaro became world champion in 2007 after winning the vacant WBA belt via split decision over Thailand’s Prawet Singwancha. He lost the world title the following year against Yusuke Korobi by TKO in Japan. Meanwhile, Albert Paga-
ra makes a comeback fight against Raymond Commey of Ghana. The Maasin City-born Pagara won his first 26 professional fights, but suffered his first setback to the tough Mexican Cesar Juarez who momentarily halted Albert’s dream for a world title. Still too young at 22-years old, expect the younger Pagara to make a remarkable return. The 29-year old Commey with 16 wins, 3 losses, with 9 KO wins is the current WBA Pan African super bantamweight champion, and has won 14 of his last 15 bouts. He challenged but lost to XiaoJun Qiu via unanimous decision for the WBA International super bantamweight title in February this year in China in his only fight outside of Ghana so far. His latest fight was a TKO win over countryman and namesake Raymond Ansah in Accra, Ghana. Commey hopes to become Ghana’s next world champion and the fight with Albert is his stepping stone. But Albert also wanted very much to be back on track for a world title and Commey is his stepping stone. The other ALA Gym standouts who will fight in Pinoy Pride 39 are Jeo “Santino” Santisima (11-2-0, 10 KO’s), Kevin Jake “KJ” Cataraja (4-0-0, 3 KO’s), and Jimmy “Popeye” Paypa (18-3-0, 6 KO’s).
16 EDGEDAVAO Sports
VOL. 9 ISSUE 172 • SUNDAY - MONDAY, OCTOBER 23 - 24, 2016
PH RULES Sta. Lucia-PH tops mid-am in HK, De Castro 27th By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO
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njb@edgedavao.net
AVAO parbuster Denden De Castro finished 27th in a field of 90 golfers from around the world and vowed to do better next time. The 41-year old standout representing Team Sta. Lucia-Philippines out of Rancho Palos Verdes played only 18 holes in the storm-shortened 2016 Hong ong Open Amateur and Mid-Amateur Golf Championship. His round of 87 was riddled with putting miscues at the scenic Clearwater Bay championship layout. “I’ll do better next time. There was no chance to recover from that bad round as we played only 18 holes,” De Castro told Edge Davao in an online interview. “At least marami din tayong tinalo na mga American amateurs dito,” he added. Despite De Castro’s sub-par result, the entire Philippine delegation celebrated its second straight mid-amateur title after Mark Christian Tan won the championship by a stroke. The sweet-swinging Tan, called Mickey by family and friends, scored a gutsy two-overpar 72 despite Clearwater Bay’s tough par-70 layout to beat Annish Jaitha of India and local John Ball by a stroke.
“It was a surprise win really,” said Tan, who considers himself a casual golfer. “I’m so happy with this feat, for it is my maiden win—a big international win at that.” Brian Kim of Eagle Ridge brought home last year’s title as he defeated Max Wong, a seven-time club champion of the Hong Kong Golf Club, venue of the 2015 edition of the tournament. T h e players actually played just one
round as the first two were cancelled due to heavy monsoon rains, known as the black rains here. The third round was clear but the last day was called off due to super typhoon Haima. Ray Sangil shot a seven-over 77 and was tied at 13th while De Castro stood at joint 27th after an 87. In the premiere Open category, Tom Kim carded a one-over 71 to wound up seventh, three behind from winner Yannick Artigolle, who turned in a two-under 68.
BACK TO BACK. Sta. Lucia-Philippines’ Mickey Tann (top photo) receives his Hong Kong Open mid amateur trophy. Below, Davao’s Denden De Castro with Rancho Palos Verdes manager Vince Lopez. Sta. Lucia Golf photo