Edge Davao 9 Issue 72 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 9 ISSUE 72 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

CREATIVE TEAM. Mall staff members put the finishing touches on an eagle replica designed to look like Philippine flag which will be the centerpiece of SM City Davao’s Independence Day celebration at the Annex yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

ALVAREZ NEXT HOUSE SPEAKER Belmonte: Alvarez is shoo-in as next Speaker EDGEDAVAO Sports

By FUNNY PEARL A. GAJUNERA

ITH several parties jumping over to coalesce with PDP Laban, the House speakership for Davao del Norte representative Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez is in the bag. Speaking with the members of the media at Marco Polo Hotel this city, outgoing Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. said that most likely Alvarez, the PDP Laban bet for the speakership, will will be his successor. Belmonte said that the members of the Liberal Party are holding meetings on the possible coalition with PDP Laban.

Belmonte said that as of this moment LP members are resolving three contentious points within their party before they sign for a coalition with PDP Laban, the party of the President-elect Rodrigo R. Duterte. “Eventually, the LP will join the coalition,” Belmonte said. Asked if he will still seek for the speakership, Belmonte said “no”. Meanwhile, Alvarez is confident that the PDP Laban will have the super majority before the 17th congress resume. “As of now, we already have a coalition with the NP,

NPC, NUP, Lakas and hopefully the Liberal Party,” Alvarez. Alvarez said that they are still working on the possible coalition with Vice President

Alvarez

Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) party. “As of now we have 60 plus members of PDP in the con-

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GILAS SENDOFF TODAY P16

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 72 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

Nakashin labor resolution seen

ENROLMENT BLUES. A teacher gives instruction to enrollees during the second day of enrolment at Sta. Ana National High School Annex along Juan Luna Street in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Soldier hurt in BIFF road side bombing in Maguindanao

OLDIERS in conflict affected towns in Maguindanao where outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) operate have been placed on heightened alert following a road side bombing that injured a soldier, the military here said. Capt. Joann Petinglay, 6th Infantry Division spokesperson, said the bombing transpired in a remote village of Meta here at about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday while the soldiers were conducting foot patrol while Muslim faithful prepare food to take before sunrise. “We are saddened by the incident but the injured soldier is not out of danger,” Petinglay told reporters. She did not name the soldier who belonged to the 34th Infantry Battalion stationed in

Datu Unsay town, one of the conflict affected communities in Maguindanao where the BIFF operates. Officials of the 34th Infantry Battalion did not expect the road side bombing by the outlawed BIFF since it was fasting month. The 34th IB, one of the units under the 6th ID, has repeatedly been harassed by elements of outlawed Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) since February. Petinglay said since the fasting month started the other day, soldiers were providing security to Moro communities preparing food to take before dawn and after sunset in observance of Ramadan. Some of the soldiers of 34th Infantry Battalion are

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Duterte urged to wait first for tribunal ruling

EFORE pursuing bilateral negotiations with China regarding contested possessions in the West Philippine Sea, former Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert Del Rosario urged the incoming Duterte administration to wait first for the tribunal ruling before talking with the Chinese. He made this statement during the “Asia-Pacific Perspectives on Implementing the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement” forum

held at the National Defense College of the Philippines, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Tuesday. “I think it’s a matter of timing for example, in terms of the bilateral negotiations, we favor negotiations and the timing is, it must be geared towards the conclusion of the arbitration obviously for many reasons, most valid of which is the tribunal, we must await the decision from it before we start talking to China,” he added.

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By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

njb@edgedavao.net

HE end to the labor problems hounding the Nakashin Davao International Inc. firm and its striking employees could be forthcoming. This after Vice Mayor Pulong Duterte said the city government and the city council are committed to put an early and fair resolution of the Nakashin labor problem free from the interference of some groups out to sabotage the negotiations. “The duty of the administration is to ensure that the

rights of both the employer and employee under the law are protected and preserved,” Vice Mayor Duterte said in a statement. “We are (the) government and we know what is right and legal, so leave the duty to help mediate and resolve the labor concern to us.” Pulong lamented that “other groups which causes undue confusion and complicates matters” are out to sabotage the talks. Pulong cited Joel Maglunsod, the incoming undersecretary of Labor, is coming into

the picture suggesting that he sit down with them regarding the issue. “I will sit down with Nakashin and the employees only as these are the only entities which stand to lose or gain from the outcome of the negotiation,” he said. “I am surprised that an incoming Labor Undersecretary is meddling with this issue as it sends a wrong signal to the country.” Pulong said that with the insistence of Maglungsod, one could easily say that KMU may

force upon the throats of the companies to deal with them in times of labor conflicts but this time done under the cloak of state powers. “Baka gawin pang requirement ng DOLE na may KMU na union muna bago makapag negosyo?”, asked Pulong. The Vice Mayor said “ang tama ay tama. Ang mali ay mali. You cannot legitimize an illegal act by mere participation of a “presumptive” undersecretary of labor.”

Lilibeth Sabal, wife of Talitay Vice Mayor Abdul Wahab Allan Sabal. PO3 Sabal was detailed with the Philippine National Police Maritime Group based in Gen. Santos City. Citing police investigation report, Hachuela said the victim and three others were on board a Toyota Hi-Lux (XUV-192) from Gen. Santos City going to Maguindanao. They parked in front of Mercury Drug Store along the

national highway in Barangay Buenaflor, Tacurong City to rest when two men on a motorbike arrived and opened fire on the police officer using cal. 45 pistol at 12:30 p.m. Sabal’s driver, Sammy Alimudin was hit by stray bullets and was rushed to the hospital while another companion, Nurshida Monico, was unhurt. Police said the gunmen wore bonnets and quickly fled the crime scene heading

toward Isulan, Sultan Kudarat. Hachuela said motive of the incident remained unknown. “We do not know the motive as of yet, it appeared the suspects were only after Mrs. Sabal,” he said, but admitted “rido” (clan war) was being considered. Hachuela said the Vice Mayor Sabal is yet to issue statement on the incident. (PNA)

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Vice mayor’s wife gunned down P

OLICE authorities here and from Talitay, Maguindanao have launched a joint manhunt against two men riding tandem on a motorbike who shot dead here the wife of a Maguindanao vice mayor. Supt. Rannie Hachuela, Tacurong City police director, his office and the Talitay town police office are hunting down two gunmen who shot dead at lunch time Tuesday Police Officer 3 (PO3)

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463 Eastern Minda Command personnel undergo drug testing

ROUND 463 officers, enlisted personnel and civilian employees of the Davao City-based Eastern Mindanao Command undergone drug testing Monday. This took place at Naval Station Felix Apolinario, Panacan, Davao City. The military’s Task Force Moses conducted the examination. The drug testing, which is conducted unannounced since 2011, took place after

the Monday flag-raising ceremony at the Naval Forces Eastern Mindanao Gym. The activity is in line with the effort of maintaining a highly disciplined personnel and in consonance with the objective of the AFP Transformation Roadmap of having a highly professional and disciplined force. None of the 463 personnel who were subjected to the test were found to be positive for drug use. (PNA)

Sec. del Rosario lauds Rody’s EDCA acceptance

ORMER Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert Del Rosario lauded the decision of the incoming Duterte administration accepting the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the United States. He made this statement during the “Asia-Pacific Perspectives on Implementing the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement” forum held at the National Defense College of the Philippines, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City Tuesday. “I think that we welcome the acceptance of EDCA by the new administration because we believe it’s a very important component, very essential in terms of the moving forward our alliance,” Del Rosario stressed. The former DFA chief said US and Philippines commitment to implement EDCA is on schedule. “We’re on schedule, we’re trying to move forward with it, as I say it’s a very important mechanism in terms of moving forward with our treaty alliance,” Del Rosario stressed. Possible Filipino military bases to be opened under the EDCA include Fort Magsayay in Nueva Ecija; Crow Valley in

Tarlac; Basa Air Base, in Floridablanca, Pampanga; Benito Ebuen Air Base in Mactan, Cebu; Camp Lapu-Lapu, Cebu; Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz; Naval Station San Miguel in San Antonio, Zambales, Antonio Bautista Airbase, Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Lumbia Airfield in Cagayan De Oro and Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga City. Department of National Defense (DND) spokesperson Dr. Peter Paul Galvez earlier said the EDCA, which was declared constitutional by the Supreme Court (SC) last Jan. 12, will help boost Philippine maritime security and HADR capabilities. “The DND welcomes the ruling of our SC declaring EDCA constitutional. With this development that builds upon our mutual defense treaty, we look forward to advancing our defense modernization and strengthening maritime Security and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities,” he added. The SC, voting 10-4-1, declared EDCA as constitutional. It also upheld the position of the government that the EDCA is an executive agreement and does not need the Senate concurrence. In the same vein, Galvez

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Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo Del Rosario delivered his State of the Region Address (SORA) at the Conference Hall of the National Economic Development Authority Davao region (NEDA-11) office in Bangkal, Davao

City on Tuesday, June 7 where he outlined the gains and the gray areas of the region’s economic performances for the last 6 years that need to be addressed by the next council leadership. (Alexander D. Lopez)

Dolfo: Cacao No. 1 performer in Region 11; other crops fail Suggests aggie rationalization to Duterte By ALEXANDER D. LOPEZ

HERE is a need to rationalize the agricultural sector in the country in order to ensure food security and economic development of communities and the farmers. This is the suggestion made by Gov. Rodolfo del Rosario of Davao del Norte to the incoming administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. Del Rosario, the outgoing chair of the Regional Development Council in Davao region (RDC-11), delivered his State of the Region Address (SORA) at the National Economic Development Authority Davao region (NEDA-11) office in Bangkal, Davao City yesterday. He said the picture and performance of Davao region for the past six years “is not all

rosy” but there are also significant gains. The few setbacks, he added, will be accounted for that will define opportunities for the next leadership of RDC-11. Del Rosario described the agriculture growth in Davao region for the past six years as “sluggish” as the industry suffered setbacks late in 2012 and early 2013 due to the devastation of super typhoon “Pablo”. Recovery in agriculture started in 2014 after the ruins of passing natural calamities in previous years registering a 2.4-percent increase in production of various agricultural products. “We pioneered in industry clustering approach to spur our exports base and sustain

employment and most of our priority industry clusters are agriculture-based,” the governor emphasized. But of all the industries in the agriculture sector that charted their targets for the last six years only cacao surpassed its production targets in the last three years, he added. Cacao industry in Davao region achieved a robust growth in terms of production with a 13.6-percent growth from 2013 to 2014 and a 12.7-percent growth from 2014 to 2015, Del Rosario noted. “The region’s cacao industry has in fact gained the largest share of the country’s overall production at 80.4 percent in 2014,” he added.

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Substance ingestion causes death of 2 concert victims

CUPCAKES AS FLAG. Edge Davao columnist John Tria takes some photos of the Philippine flag formed using hundreds of cupcakes during the DU31: One Love, One Nation thanksgiving party at the Davao Crocodile Park over the weekend. Lean Daval Jr.

Particular in food security, Del Rosario said that the region’s rice sufficiency level “has not made any headway” during his term as RDC-11 chair – the fact is the achievements remained within the 49 to 52-percent level in the last three years. The figure, he stressed, is lower to the 2015 target of 60-percent sufficiency. “On this score, therefore, we concede that ensuring a more productive and competitive agriculture sector to improve food security levels in this region is a challenge that has outlasted our watch. We must humbly pass on this challenge to the next leadership of this Council,” he asserted. In a press conference

HE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday said that multiple organ failure is the real cause of death of two of five fatalities at the Closeup Forever Summer concert in Pasay City last May 21. Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Aranas, PNP Crime Laboratory Deputy Director, said that the victims American national Eric Miller and Ken Migawa died due to multiple organ failure, focused on brain, heart and lungs swollen due to substances ingested. He explained that the brain is mostly damaged, resulting into multiple organ affectation and irregular heartbeat. According to Aranas the victims took methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and alcohol.

MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, is a psychoactive drug used primarily as a recreational drug. Desired effects of MDMA include increased empathy, pleasure, and heightened sensations. He noted that the PNP’s findings were similar to the NBI’s findings on other concert fatalities. Miller and Migawa are two of the recorded fatalities who attended the concert. The other two Lance Garcia, 32, and Bianca Fontejon, 18, out of the five persons killed at the summer concert in Pasay have reportedly succumbed to massive cardiac arrest. Earlier, NBI said the general toxicology test on Garcia and Fontejon’s remains involved the extraction of rep-

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 72 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

187 Zambo families benefited A

TOTAL of 187 families have availed of the discounted basic commodities and school supplies on the first day of the 2016 Mobile Diskwento Caravan that kicked off on Monday in Barangay Vitali, 83.99 kilometers east of City Hall. Dr. Sitti Amina Jain, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) regional director, said that parents and their children troops to the venue

to take advantage of cheaper school supplies and basic commodities in preparation for the opening of classes next week. Rovelyn Araneta, a housewife, went to the venue as early as she can to avoid over-crowding as expected in such activities. “As soon as I learned of the caravan, I immediately proceeded here. With so many people buying, it just pays to

SC upholds ruling vs. Cagas on PDAF scam

HE Supreme Court (SC) upheld on Tuesday the findings of probable cause of the Office of the Ombudsman against former Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas IV in connection with the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF). This after the SC denied the petition of detained businesswoman Janet Lim Napoles against the said ruling of the Ombudsman. In a press conference, SC Public Information Office (PIO) Chief and Spokesman Atty. Theodore O. Te said that “the Court, in an Unsigned Resolution, ordered the dismissal of the Petition for Certiorari filed to challenge the Ombudsman’s

June 22, 2015 Decision and February 10, 2016 Resolution finding probable cause to indict petitioner for two counts of graft under Section 3(e), RA 3019 and two counts of malversation of public funds under Article 217, Revised Penal Code.” The cases stemmed from the scheme detailed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) before the Ombudsman in connection with the use by then Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas C. Cagas IV of his PDAF for the years 2007 to 2009. “The Court deferred to the Ombudsman’s findings of probable cause in the absence of any grave abuse of discretion shown by petitioner,” Te said. (PNA)

GSC Mayor Rivera vows more reforms, innovations

E-ELECTED City Mayor Ronnel Rivera vowed to initiate more reforms and innovations as he embarks on his second straight term as the city’s chief executive. Rivera, who formally took his oath of office on Monday, said he will specifically continue to work on real and effective changes for the city, a promise he made before going into his first term three years ago. “We’ve accomplished many positive things these past years but there there’s still a lot that needs to be done,” the mayor said. Rivera took his oath before Regional Trial Court Branch 35 Executive Judge Oscar Noel in a ceremony on Monday held infront of the City Hall here. The event was witnessed by city government personnel, officials of various government agencies, and other local stakeholders. Also present were his wife Jane and four children, and parents Dolores and Rodrigo Rivera Sr. In his inaugural speech, the mayor cited that his administration will exert more efforts to sustain the city’s growth, especially in terms of revenue collection. “I am happy to announce

that we have had promising data in the areas in tax collections from 2013-2015. We made an increase of 32 percent overall. In fact, we have had a steady surge of 22 percent for our overall revenues,” Rivera said. “However, let us not be too ecstatic, we are still greatly IRA (Internal Revenue Allotment) dependent, and to me, it is not acceptable and it is a challenge for all of us,” he added. Rivera said that due to the increase in revenue collection, the city government was able to provide more funds for vital programs and projects, among them the paving of roads, installation of street lights, and provision of water systems to rural communities. He said his second term as mayor will focus on bringing more economic developments into the city, as well as provide solutions to its perennial problems. The city government will prioritize the expansion of education programs and the provision of housing and relocation sites for the poor, marginalized, indigenous peoples and internally displaced persons in the city, he said. Rivera said he will work on the establishment of a public safety office and introduce a

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be early to avoid all the hassles. I have not yet eaten breakfast,” Araneta said. The caravan was a huge blessing for them in the area, according to Araneta. “For us parents, this program means savings for us. It’s a blessing especially with the classes opening next week. The prices here are a lot cheaper compared to the stores,” she said. “We can buy some items

here half the price compared to our local stores,” Janet Tatoy echoed Araneta’s statement, referring to some items sold two for the price of one. “We really hope that such program will be conducted again here, if possible, a couple of days. Some, especially the 4Ps beneficiaries, would have wanted to avail of the discounted price but are yet to receive their allowance within this week. We just hope that

this program will continue,” she added. Jain said they will do everything to extended services to the low income earners in the far-flung areas. “We want to reach out to our brethren in far-flung areas by delivering services right in their area. Savings is a big thing for them. This program saves them not just money, but also time and effort in going to their central market. We

want them to know that the government cares for them,” Jain said. The second leg of the caravan will be on Wednesday, June 8, in Imelda, Zamboanga Sibugay; Bayog, Zamboanga del Sur, June 9; and, Manukan, Zamboanga del Norte, June 11. The DTI-initiated MDC is in partnership with the local business establishments and distributors. (PNA)

GIRLS OF SUMMER. Young girls spend the last days of summer playing “bahay-bahayan” in one of the trees in front of Sangguniang Panlungsod in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

10 SoCot employees into drugs T

EN employees of the South Cotabato provincial government have been found positive for illegal drug use, the provincial health office said today. Dr. Rogelio Aturdido Jr., South Cotabato provincial health officer, said 68 employees were subjected to

random drug testing out of all provincial workers on orders of South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance Fuentes last month. Aturdido said the urine samples of the 10 employees were sent to the Southern Philippines Medical Center for confirmatory tests. The results were positive for the

employees he did not identify. Some of the 10 workers were job order employees. “It is up to Gov. Fuentes whether the job order employees will be terminated outright or given the chance to reform,” Aturdido said. The regular employees,

on the other hand, will undergo dismissal proceedings as prescribed by the Civil Service Commission. Aturdido said employees who ignored the letter his office has sent them for voluntary drug testing will have to explain to Gov. Fuentes. (PNA)

Supt. Rogelio Alabata, Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9) spokesman, said the harassment occurred around 2:30 p.m. Monday in Sitio Nasal, Barangay Puliran, Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte. Alabata said the workers

of a local construction firm were constructing a concrete bridge when a group of lawless elements opened fire. Alabata said a brief firefight ensued as the squad of soldiers from the Army’s 42nd Infantry Battalion pro-

viding security to the workers returned fire. He said the lawless elements led by Jamaruddin Alih alias Boy Taka fled towards northeast direction heading to Barangay Puliran,

dent-elect Rodrigo Duterte. “Let us also pray for the new president to succeed in his avowed mission to foster peace in our homeland, the Bangsamoro, being a Mindanaon himself,” Mangudadatu said.

Muslims fast from dawn to dusk during the Ramadan, which lasts for one lunar cycle, about 28 to 29 days, both as atonement for sins and as a religious obligation. During the month-long observance, the holiest month

among Muslims, one is expected to observe the five pillars of Islam. These include fasting, total submission to Allah, praying five times a day facing west; giving of “zakat” (alms) to the

Troops drive away lawless elements harassing government project workers M

ILITARY forces are tracking down a group of lawless elements that harassed a construction firm undertaking a government project in a remote area of Zamboanga del Norte.

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Maguindanao exec calls on Muslims to pray for Mindanao peace, be charitable during Ramadan

S the Maguindanaons observe the fasting month of Ramadan, Maguindanao Gov. Esmael Toto Mangudadatu has been praying for the success of the Mindanao peace process under the new administration of Presi-

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5 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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Newly-opened Halal resto offers livelihood to in Davao Muslims

NEWLY-OPENED Halal restaurant here does not only offer alternative destination for food service but also provides opportunities for Muslim communities to engage in small and medium entrepreneurship. The Spot Halal Restaurant, located in the Hijo Estate Resorts in Barangay Madaum, this city, Davao del Norte, primarily opened to weave relationships and bridge the gap by crossing borders and let people mix and build rapport. This was stated by Estate Resorts chief operations officer Rosanna Tuazon-Fores, who said, “We want this place to forge relationship between Christians and Muslims, for them to dine together and build friendly relationships among each other.” “We can coexist in harmony by respecting our diverse culture,” she said. They also want to assist their neighboring communities mostly dominated by Muslims to engage in livelihood for the restaurant. The Spot Halal Restaurant was among the pilot restaurants in Mindanao that were extended assistance by the Department of Tourism (DOT) to become halal certified establishments. DOT assistant secretary Art Boncato said the project followed a 100-day timetable

in certifying kitchens of 50 hotels, resorts, restaurants, and tourism-oriented establishments in Metro Manila, Baguio City, Benguet, Palawan, Cebu City, Lapu-lapu City, Panglao in Bohol, Boracay, Davao City, Samal Island and Tagum City in Davao del Norte, Zamboanga City, General Santos City, Koranadal City, Cotabato City, Surigao City, and Siargao Island. He said the project aims to position the Philippines to the growing global hahal-conscious travelling markets. On the other hand, Fores said they are committed alongside the halal restaurant to push further sustainable tourism providing products and services for every visitor that visit the Hijo Estate, a 760-hectare mix-used tourism development area. Lani Sta. Maria, operations head of The Spot said they offer Middle Eastern dishes of Arabic, Kalagan and the Tausog tribe. She said they also employ two Muslim workers where one is assigned in the kitchen and the other in the dining area to ensure that protocols and correct practices related to halal are monitored and followed. Sta. Maria disclosed that they source their supply of chicken and beef from Muslim entrepreneurs were also

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DOT ‘More Fun’ campaign is bronze recipient in Asia-Pacific ad awards T HE Department of Tourism’s (DOT) “More Fun in the Philippines” received a bronze award during the recently-concluded Asia-Pacific Tambuli Awards 2016. Competing with companies from Australia, India, Pakistan and other Philippine

entries, it was the DOT that clinched the bronze award under the “Best of the Decade” category. This category gathers the outstanding advertising campaign from 2005-2015 that best exemplifies creative idea and execution with results. Meanwhile, DOT Secre-

tary Ramon Jimenez, Jr was also awarded the Tambuli Crimson Award for ‘promoting the Philippines globally through excellent use of Marketing Communications’ and industry leadership. The award is sculpted like a Tambuli or a native Filipino horn, which according to orga-

nizers the University of Asia & the Pacific, symbolizes authentic effectiveness in its ability to clearly transmit sound to distant places. Jimenez, in a statement, attributed this success to the support from tourism partners and stakeholders, who

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MOBILE ATM. A pedestrian checks out the mobile automated teller machine (ATM) parked outside Sangguniang Panlungsod in Davao City yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 72 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

Rody for stronger agri sector P

RESIDENT-ELECT Rodrigo Duterte will push for a stronger agricultural sector to secure the country’s food sufficiency as he scored the continued conversion of land planted with rice and corn to other commodities for export. The incoming president voiced concern that losing food sufficiency due to decreasing production capacity would make Philippines at the mercy of its neighbors on food imports especially with the advent of the World Trading Organization (WTO) trading system. Duterte said the country was giving too much to mul-

tinational companies, which converted rice and corn lands to bananas, pineapples, and coffee and export the products to other countries. “It is a corporate endeavor and mga dagko lang makakaya. Hurot na atong yuta. Wala na ta’y katamnan para sa atong pagkaon (only these big companies can afford. We have no more lands to plant for our food),” he said during his “One Love One Nation Thanksgiving Party at Crocodile Park on Saturday night (June 4). He noted that Philippines has been importing goods which can be produced by the country such as rice from

Vietnam, Thailand and Laos. “We do not have to import that kind of food because we produce it here,” said Duterte, adding that Philippines being an agricultural country can increase production capacity and could even export the produce to other countries in ASEAN. One of his plans is to assist farmers by providing farm implements and fertilizers. “I could even buy your products and sell them at government price and to be competitive,” he said. “We have so much money if only we spend it correctly,” he said pointing to losses of government income to graft

and corruption. He said that if government lose about Php 300 million in the Bureau of Customs (BoC) and Php 200 million in the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), that could be used to buy lands and pay even the awardees of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). Duterte pointed out that the country needs to catch up with its ASEAN neighbors, especially with the advent of the WTO which allows importation of goods. “We are dependent on importation from Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. Mao na’y delikado sa atong sitwasyon (That is the danger in our sit-

uation). We are at the mercy of other countries in ASEAN. We have to catch up and improve on everything,” he stressed. During the election campaign, Duterte and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano presented their agricultural agenda vowing to allocate more funds to the sector. Duterte has earlier said that his administration would make irrigation services free for the farmers even as he promised to provide them with adequate farm facilities once elected into office. Real economic growth, Duterte explained, must start

Election spending, El Niño push inflation up in May

GRILLING. City Planning and Development Office officer in charge Roy Ryan Rigor (right) is being questioned by Councilor Diosdado Mahipus to clarify some concerns regarding the Preliminary Approval and Locational

Clearance (PALC) of Verdon Parc, multilevel condominium project along Ecoland Drive corner Peacock Street, Ecoland Subd., Davao City, during yesterday’s regular session of the City Council. Lean Daval Jr.

NFLATION in May 2016 accelerated to 1.6 percent from 1.1 percent in the previous month as both food and non-food prices picked up in the period, according to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). “The increase in inflation can be attributed to higher demand due to election spending and partly to supply constraints in agriculture because of the residual effects of the weakening El Niño,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Emmanuel F. Esguerra. The May 2016 inflation is above the market expectation of 1.4 percent but within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipi-

IRELESS services leader Smart Communications will start using this year the 700 MHz frequency as part of the accelerated deployment of its LTE (Long-Term Evolution) service, in order to more quickly deliver faster, more reliable and affordable Internet services throughout the country. “Our strategy has two legs. First is the network. Deploying LTE on 700 MHz combines a powerful frequency with the most advanced mobile phone technology,” said Joachim Horn, PLDT and Smart chief technology and information advisor. “Combined with other frequency bands, LTE on 700 MHz will help expand the coverage and enhance the capacity of our data network at a faster pace.” “Second are the devices. We have been holding discussions with device manufacturers so that more affordable LTE smartphones and tablets using 700 MHz will soon be

available in the country. This combination of advanced network and devices will enable allow us to provide the best digital experience to our customers across the country,” he said. The low-band 700 MHz has a longer range and provides better indoor coverage than high band frequencies. Smart gained access to this and other additional frequencies when Smart’s parent company PLDT recently acquired 50% of the telecoms business of San Miguel Corporation. LTE is the fourth-generation (4G) mobile phone technology that currently provides the fastest wireless data service commercially available. About 45%, of the subscribers of PLDT’s wireless brands Smart and Sun are now using smartphones, up from only 30% last year. The majority of these are 3G/HSPA handsets, but the number of LTE handsets is rising fast as the range of available models increases and the handset

prices decline. Globally, according to UKbased global analyst company CCS Insight, LTE devices shipped rose from 443 million in 2014 to 900 million in 2015. This year, LTE-capable devices are expected to account for half of all smartphone shipments worldwide, further rising up to about three quarters of the global market by 2020. “As LTE devices become more affordable and accessible, we are at the same time stepping up our efforts to deploy our LTE service using the most efficient set of frequencies,” Horn added. Smart is currently in the middle of a three-year network improvement program that includes a number of simultaneous initiatives. One activity aims to synergize the mobile phone networks of Smart and Sun in order to improve the coverage and service quality for subscribers of both brands. Another initiative is expand the roll out of Smart’s 3G and 4G services.

In yet another activity, Smart has introduced to the country the next stage of development of LTE called LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), also referred to as 4.5G. Last April, Smart fired up the country’s first 4.5G service in the resort island of Boracay, using a feature of LTE-A called carrier aggregation. Through carrier aggregation, LTE-A combines two or more frequency bands to deliver bigger bandwidth to mobile phone users. This is like putting together several lanes of a highway so that vehicular traffic can flow more freely and at a faster rate. Using Samsung handsets capable of carrier aggregation, Smart posted data speeds of up to 250 Mbps in Boracay. “This technology will help address the increasing demand for LTE and high-speed mobile data,” Horn said. Smart’s drive to boost data coverage and capacity across the country forms a ma-

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nas’ forecast of 1.1-1.9 percent for the month. Core inflation, which excludes volatile prices of energy and food, slightly increased at 1.6 percent as compared to the previous month and the 1.5 percent in May 2015. “The manageable inflation rate for the first five months of 2016 is expected to continue for the rest of the year as the productive capacity of the domestic economy expands and oil prices remain low,” the Cabinet official said. “The stability in inflation rate will create a positive environment for investments and ensure affordability of basic

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Phl now a major player on virtual currency usage

PLDT, Smart to roll out LTE on 700 MHz frequency T Low-band, high-value frequency to allow Smart to deliver faster Internet service

from the land as the country is agriculturally-based. “Our aim is real inclusive growth through regional development,” Cayetano had said “Through this, we can achieve the twin goals of ensuring food security and ending disorder in our farmers; daily lives.” Cayetano has recognized the urgent need to come up with solutions and swift actions to address the lack of government support which, he said, adds disorder in the country. Real economic growth, Duterte explained, must start from the land as the country is agriculturally-based. (PNA)

HE Philippines, being a tech-savvy nation, is now estimated to be the third country in the world in terms of virtual currency (VC) usage. Since its introduction in 2009, VCs like Bitcoin have been widely used around the globe despite the fact that no central bank has ever issued it, thus, it is unregulated and is not backed by any commodity such as gold and silver unlike existing legal tenders and coins. VCs are being used through online transactions to purchase virtual goods like online gaming environment and social networks as well as real goods and services provided by retailers and restaurants, among others. Online data say Bitcoin was introduced in 2009 as a peer-to-peer payments system. It is a digital currency said to have been developed by inventor Satoshi Nakamoto, who, on the other hand, has denied it. Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Nestor Espenilla Jr., in a briefing said, VC capitalization around the globe amounts to

about USD 3.6 billion, to date. ”In the Philippines, bitcoin exchanges or estimated transactions passing through registered companies here range between USD 2-3 million per month. So it is not a small amount of transactions,” he said. In March 2014, the BSP came out with an advisory warning the public that use of VCs remain unregulated, thus, consumers are not protected from financial losses. Espenilla said they have issued advisories on VCs “to get the public, first of all, to think about the risks in using any particular financial products.” “Our belief is that BSP cannot always be around to protect the public. That public must, first and foremost, learn to protect itself,” he said. The central bank executive, however, assured the public that the BSP is continuously studying VC usage intricacies “to formally regulate virtual currencies.” “We are looking at it for two important reasons – aspects of money laundering and consumer protection con-

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7 ENVIRONMENT EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 72 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

Saving Philippine eagle from doom Text and Photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

HE third quarter of 2016 has just started. And June is one of the busiest months of the year in the Philippines. For one, it is the time of wedding as June rhymes with swoon and honeymoon. It is also the start of the school year -- even though the rainy season also commences on this month. Before the month will end, the 16th president of the Philippines will be inaugurated. Rodrigo R. Duterte, the very first from Mindanao to become the country’s highest official, will take his oath on June 30. But more importantly, the whole month is observed as Environment Month. It is equally important among those from Davao as the Philippine Eagle Week is celebrated, which started last June 4 and will end on June 10. This year’s theme is “Saving Eagles, Protecting Forests, Securing Our Future.” Already, the Biodiversity Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has started the long-week celebration in Santa Rosa, Laguna. Why there is so much ado about Philippine Eagle? Once it is gone, it is gone forever. Along with it is the disappearance of one of the country’s natural treasures and the sad reality of the state of our environment. “When the last eagle dies, it shall be the sign of the worst yet to come: The death of our environment,” deplores Dennis Salvador, the executive director of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF), Inc. In the past, Philippine eagles abound in the forests of Mount Apo and other parts of Mindanao. They can also be seen flying over in the forests of Sierra Madre in Luzon and Samar and Leyte in the Visayas. Today, Philippine eagles inhabit those places but their number has dwindled. In fact, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has declared the Philippine ea-

gle as an endangered species. “The Philippine eagle is the largest predator we have,” Salvador points out. “By using the Philippine eagle as the focal point of conservation, we are, in the process, saving wildlife and their habitat.” The Philippine eagle is second only to the Madagascar sea eagle in rarity. In size, it beats the American bald eagle; it is the world’s second largest -- after the Harpy eagle of Central and South America. This bird of prey was first discovered in 1896 by English naturalist John Whitehead in Samar. He first called it the monkey-eating eaglebecause he thought it fed primarily on monkeys and gave it the scientific name, “Pithecophaga jefferyi.” The scientific name came from two Greek words: “pitekos” (monkey) and “phagien” (to eat). Jefferyi was the discoverer’s tribute to his father, Jeffrey, who funded his expedition. In 1978, the old name was dropped and given its present name through Presidential Decree No. 1732 after it was learned that monkeys comprise an insignificant portion of the bird’s diet, which consists mostly of flying lemurs, civet cats, bats, rodents, and snakes. A majestic bird, Philippine eagle stands a meter high, weighs anywhere from four to seven kilograms and has a grip three times the strength of the strongest man on earth, according to PEF. With a wing span of nearly seven feet and a top speed of 80 kilometers per hour, the Philippine eagle can gracefully swoop down on an unsuspecting prey and carry it off without breaking flight. Unlike men, Philippine eagles are monogamous. Once it has selected a partner, it is for keeps forever. “Once an eagle reaches sexual maturity -- at around five years for males -- it is bound for life with its mate. They can be seen soaring in pairs in the skies,” PEF states. According to PEF, the breeding season ranges

years, PEF informs. Both parents alternately incubate the egg for about 60 days, although the female spends more time incubating while the male hunts. Upon hatching, the eaglet remains in the nest for about 5.5 months. Once it fledges, the parents will continue to look after the young eagle for as long as 17-18 months teaching

as early as July to as late as February. During the breeding season, the eagles do aerial courtship and mate in the nest or near it. The eagle’s nest is approximately 80 feet above

the ground (usually on tall trees) in prominent mountain peaks overlooking a river or stream to give a good view of its territory. The female eagle lays only one egg every two

“If the national bird dies, so will all the country’s efforts at conserving its natural resources and treasures.”

it how to fly, hunt, and to survive on its own. The young eagle matures in about six years. “Our data suggests more than 90% of juvenile eagles die before they reach maturity,” discloses Salvador. “A large part of this is caused by humans. Eagles were shot, trapped, and hunted.” But the biggest threat comes from denudation of the country’s forest cover. Citing data from the environment department, Salvador was quoted by a national paper as saying that 90% of the forest cover in the country had been denuded due to human activities. “In each territory, the eagles are faithful to their nests and they like to live in large and old growth trees,” Salvador said. “Unfortunately, based on deforestation data since the early 1900s, when nearly everything was green, now we are left with few old growth forests.” Studies have shown that a pair of Philippine eagle needs at least 7,000 to 13,000 hectares of forest as a nesting territory. “If Filipinos don’t get their act together for the cause of the endangered bird, it shall be doomed to die,” Salvador says. Efforts to save the Philippine eagles started in 1965 by Jesus A. Alvarez, then director of the autonomous Parks and Wildlife Office, and Dioscoro S. Rabor, another founding father of Philippine Conservation efforts. American aviator Charles Lindberg, who described Philippine eagle as “the world’s noblest flier,” spearheaded a drive to save the bird from 1969 to 1972. Within this time frame, several helpful laws were passed. In July 1995, then President Fidel V. Ramos signed Proclamation No. 615 naming the Philippine eagle as the country’s national bird. He said that the eagle is found only in the Philippines and as such should be a source of national pride. “If the national bird dies,” Ramos said, “so will all the country’s efforts at conserving its natural resources and treasures.”

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

Easing the burden

HERE are two ways in our jurisdiction where a person may be allowed to work even if he has not met all the qualifications for employment. In these two cases, they are called special workers. These two modes are by apprenticeship (Title II, Chapter 1 of the Labor Code of the Philippines) and by learnership (Title II, Chapter 2). Apprentices and Learners under our law are to be compensated unless it is a requirement for graduation or for a governmental examination. However, most companies accommodate apprentices and learners but do not give any compensation. There are even cases like those of nursing graduates needing experience in order to work overseas, where they have to pay a private hospital in order to gain experience. The new mandate of the next administration calls for OJTs (On The Job Trainees) to be compensated. OJTs fall under those who need the apprenticeship as a requirement for

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graduation. With the implementation of the K-12 program where additional two years are added up to the education system thereby adding more cost, OJT programs actually become additional burden to students and unless made compensable, should help poor families send their children to school. OJTs paid by the companies they are working for during the OJT period could earn just enough for his needs during that period to defray the cost of transportation, food, and clothing. The marching order of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to incoming Department of Education secretary Leonor Briones to ensure that education will not be a burden is a step in the right direction. The K-12 appears to be a formidable system that has been put into place and will take a lot of process to break it down. Hence, steps like making OJT compensable will somehow ease the burden of the additional years in school. ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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Is Duterte misunderstood?

O WE all agree that the illegal drugs trade and the drug lords must be done away with to make this country a wholesome place to live in? The answer should be a reverberating YES! This is the task that the incoming President-elect Rodrigo Duterte has heaped upon himself. Until he announced in his political campaign that the country is now enveloped by the proliferation of the evil narcotics drug trade, the entire Filipino nation did not exactly know the true state of affairs they were living in because the PNoy administration swept under the rug the real ugly truth. Today, as you have already observed, the police and other law enforcement agencies, yet without direct orders, are beginning to show signs of activity as day after day, news about drug busts, arrests, shootouts and killings of suspected notorious drug traders have made the headline news. No doubt, Duterte is good – nah, make that excellent, copy. What he does sells. What he says likewise sells. Even when he thought he was unjustly being pictured by Manila-based media, he somewhat tolerated the destructive spins

VANTAGE POINTS

VOL. 9 ISSUE 72 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

against him. SPECKS OF LIFE Filipinos know the media entities who took sides during the last presidential battle. Their coverage, Fred C. Lumba features and newscasts were biased to a point where only the bad side of Duterte were being highlighted while the candidate whom they favoured was given longer media time, space and positive coverage. The media slants, to their great surprise however, did more good than harm to the image of Duterte who was the only candidate that took the toughest stance against the illegal drugs market and the drug lords. His opponents, uttering motherhood statements, did not have a clear position on how to get rid of the drug menace and neither did they have a timeline. Now that he is about to formally assume the presidency, Duterte feels that he has every right to voice his disgust and disappointment against some me-

dia entities that caricatured him as a “villain”, a contravida. As the President-elect, I would submit that he has every right if he only wanted to air his presidential statements through the state-owned PTV 4 and DZRB Radyo ng Bayan, the television and radio arms of Malacanang. After all, these were created for the purpose of articulating and magnifying the policy pronouncements of the Chief Executive. Thus, the threat of a media boycott, encouraged by the international journalists group Reporter Without Borders, has been rendered useless. PTV 4 and DZRB have very strong broadcasting power. They have regional facilities all over the country. Filipinos desiring to hear what Duterte is announcing can always tune in to these two government media outlets. The national government also has its print media arm, the Philippine News Agency. In fact, Duterte can even issue an Executive Order requiring all LGUs (barangays, city and municipal halls and provincial capitol buildings to install TV and radio sets and tune in to PTV 4 and Radyo ng Bayan for the latest pronouncements from Malacanang. If you don’t know it yet, the late pres-

ident Ferdinand Marcos did this in the martial law years, issuing a decree to all LGUs to tune in and listen to the Voice of the Philippines, forerunner of Radyo ng Bayan and PTV4 with much positive effect. This is a presidential prerogative, if I may say so. If other media entities need to air or print news coming from the Palace tenant, all they need to do is ask PTV 4 for video and audio copies which will be gladly provided. Duterte can indeed dictate his terms. It is not the other way around because the media cannot impose its will on a President who, unlike past Chief Executives, is not hungry for positive publicity. This is the major reason for the existence of state-operated media in other progressive countries like Great Britain (British Broadcasting Corp), USA (Voice of America), Russia (Tass News Agency) and China (Xin Hua News Daily), if I am not mistaken. The Reporters Without Borders is obviously trying to hostage Duterte with its boycott threat without knowing that the government can stand alone. Is Duterte misunderstood? Or is he misunderstanding the media? (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo. com.) God bless the Philippines!

had one term The Visayan Edge as city mayor. Leonardia was a threetermer city mayor before he became congressman for one term only. Young city mayors grabbed vicCELSO “TOOTS” tory in the B. JIMENEZ JR. northern cities of Bacolod – Talisay City incumbent Vice-Mayor Neil Lizares toppled Sheila Yap-Saratan, wife of incumbent Mayor Eric Saratan; young incumbent Vice-Mayor Mark Golez of Silay City also beat Marissa, wife of incumbent Mayor Jose Montelibano to be the incoming mayor.

tained his provincial seat over his rivals. It is said that Degamo is well loved by the probinsianos of the Oriental towns and cities that it is so hard to beat the guy. I met him several times in his office just in simple jeans and shirt just like any of the Negrenses whom he was talking to. Dumaguete City has a new mayor, Felipe Remollo, a come-backing mayor who was once appointed as President of Clark Development Corporation.

Davao. Coffee talks mention why these media guys never focused on the bright side of Davao City as a proof of the qualified leadership of Duterte. The Manila media never gave appreciation by visiting Davao during the election fever and experience for themselves what Duterte has done for the Dabawenyos.

The political circle in the Visayas

AVAO CITY residents now find it easy to access the Visayas islands with the direct flights from Davao City to Bacolod and Iloilo of Cebu Pacific Air. Many may not know but almost all the old families in GenSan City come from the Iloilo province and nearby provinces. With the direct flights the link between Davao region and Western Visayas region and the new Negros Island region is now an easy travel.

*** My recent weekend trip to Davao City brought me to a lunch and dinner escapade at Vikings SM Lanang with editors and bloggers including Tony Ajero who enjoyed his good food selections. We also attended the wedding of Pagcor guy Ilonggo Mon Sison Gochuico and Cathay Pacific’s Dabawenya Mhie Abellanosa at The White House in Camella. Of course, I had to taste my favorite Durian Ice Cream and durian creamies.

*** In Bacolod City, there is a change in city leadership on the comeback of Mayor Bing Leonardia who edged out incumbent Mayor Monico Puentevella who only

*** Negros Occidental Alfredo Maranon Jr. remains in his seat as governor as he had no one to beat while incumbent Bong Lacson remained in his position as well for the next three years. In Negros Oriental, Governor Roel Degamo re-

*** Cebu City come-backing Tommy Osmena won the mayoralty race over his once-an-ally incumbent Mark Rama, a cousin of Annabel Rama, mom of Ruffa Gutierrez. Today, city councilor Margot Osmena sits as mayor taking over the reign from Mayor Rama who was suspended right after the election. So it will be a wife-to-husband turn-over of the Cebu City Hall.

*** The new leadership of President-elect Rody Duterte is the talk of the media. It seems a wonder why these Manila media faces keep on pushing questions which are not really the worth of their stay in

*** The achievement of Mayors Rody and Sara Duterte of the creation of the 911 Center is a remarkable feat in this country. Imagine that the city dads in Metro Manila like the rich Makati City and that of Cebu City never thought of the idea of 911. Only the Dutertes thought of the idea in this country. There are only three places where the authentic 911 exist – U.S.A. and Canada with Davao as the third. No president of this country ever dared to have serious concern on rescue and safety except Rody and Sara.

*** This column greets Congressman Bebot Alvarez, Art Boncato, Andrea Domingo, Chito Galang, Roger Wong, Rey Basa, Joseph Ledesma, Dr. Voltaire Florida, Neneng and Ray dela Paz*

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 72 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

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gress but with the coalitions we are now 200 plus,” Alvarez said.

Alvarez is also talking with the Makabayan block to possibly join them.

said this puts the Armed Forces of the Philippines in a better position to improve inter-operability with the US military aside from improving the AFP’s capabilities. Finalized after eight rounds of talks that began in

August 2013, EDCA, which signed in 2014, allows US troops access to designated Philippine military facilities, the right to construct facilities, and pre-position equipment, aircraft and vessels, but rules out permanent basing. (PNA)

that followed after delivering his SORA, Del Rosario called for the rationalization of the agriculture sector in order to ensure food security and prioritize the increase of production in other industries in agriculture. “We cannot attain food sufficiency unless the rice farmers are given all the ingredients in order for them to succeed in agricultural production.” Del Rosario pointed out that the government must provide the rice farmers with sufficient water supply through irrigation. “When they have sufficient water coupled with fertilizers and chemicals then increase in production will be achieved. Unfortunately, rice production is slow because they do not have the sufficient support that they need,” he said. Del Rosario also proposed for the maximization of rice production per hectare, emphasizing that the country has so much rice lands but not enough water. He said that the Department of Agriculture must study “if how much water do we need to irrigate the rice lands here in Mindanao, for

instance.” “This must be determined in order for us to know how many hectares of lands we need to devote to rice production and that other lands would be devoted to other crops or other types of agriculture. When we focus on rice production it must be based on the available resources,” Del Rosario stressed. Other agriculture industries in the region have yet to realize their full potentials based on their targets as stipulated in the Davao Region Industry Roadmaps from the year 2013 to 2014, he added. “Most of them had missed their targets in the development results matrices, including banana, durian, mango, coconut, abaca, rice and livestock industry. The silver lining here is that despite the downturn in their production outputs of late, banana and coconut have remained our top two exports even on the latest count, earning for the region 853.7 million US dollars in 2015.” The SORA on Tuesday was attended by the regional heads of government line agencies in Davao region, the private sector, governors, mayors, the military and the police.

resentative tissue sections of their internal organs, as well as body fluid, mainly blood, to determine the presence of toxic or any poisonous materials in their bodies. The hearts of Garcia and Fontejon were found to be ‘cooked’, showing brown red and black colors. Apart from determining the presence or absence of any toxic substance, the NBI’s exam also looked into the presence of dangerous drugs and

alcohol in their bodies. Fontejon and Miller were declared dead at the Manila Doctors’ Hospital while Leal and Garcia expired at the San Juan de Dios hospital. However, the family of another victim Ariel Leal, 22, has refused to have his body undergo autopsy examination. The Pasay City Police Station Investigation Division and NBI continues conducting joint operations for thorough investigation on the case. (PNA)

helped the department make tourism become a national business and a major economic driver. “Five years ago, no one could have predicted that tourism would one day be the third largest dollar earning industry in the country. Today, this has become a reality,” Jimenez said during the awarding ceremony at the New World Hotel in Makati City last June 1. The tourism chief said that the country has come a long way from being a mom-andpop operation to a thriving national business. “…Tourism in the country now encompasses and cuts across other sectors – from agriculture, to infrastructure,

education, cuisine, to arts and culture,” Jimenez said. “While we have ushered in an era of modern Philippine tourism, I believe that this is just the beginning of a more promising future for the Philippines and our peoples,” he added. The Asia-Pacific Awards are marketing communication awards that honor brands in the Asia-Pacific region that ‘do good’ and ‘do well’. The awards are organized by the School of Communications of the University of Asia & the Pacific, in coordination with advertising agencies, to create positive impact in society through marketing communications. (PNA)

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FREE CHECK UP. A senior citizen undergoes a free eye checkup conducted by a volunteer optometrist from Shoppe and Save See Vision Center (SSSVC) as part of the free eye screening and reading glasses for senior citizens

program of Sangguniang Panlungsod, Office the Vice Mayor, Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) and SSSVC at SP lobby yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

Davao Sur town to celebrate anniversary T HIS town is celebrating its 49th founding anniversary in a unique way – turning over its multi-million projects. Mayor Arthur Davin said instead of the usual manner like having inter-school and inter-barangay competitions, this year’s celebration is devoted to a week-long turn

over of projects, from June 13 to 17. Davin said the PHP1-million PWD and Senior Citizen Building will be turned over on June 13 along with the blessing also of five renovated day care centers. On June 14, there will be a Switch On ceremony of the electrification project in sitio

Upper Asbang-Elok in Barangay Tagaytay. The project is a joint undertaking of the Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative (Dasureco) and the local government. On the same day, the Potable Water System (PWS) project in same barangay will also be turned over. On the following day, the newly-constructed barangay

hall of San Isidro will also be inaugurated. The 7-million PWS project in Barangay Glamang will also be turned over on June 16, 2016. The anniversary culminates on June 17 with the inauguration of the PHP72-million road concreting in Barangay Bacungan. (PNA)

Nakashin Davao International Inc., located at Malagamot Road, Km.14 Panacan, Davao City is a frozen food manufacturing and export company. According to its profile on the website of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and

Industry, “Nakashin maintains an uncompromising standard on Quality Assurance and Product safety and therefore undertakes continuous improvement and development of GMP, SSOP, HACCP, Quality control system and all other aspects of its production.”

The Philippines’ arbitration case is before Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands. It is expected to rule within the month. “I think the decision will

come out soon and I think that will trigger what we want to do in terms of how we will settle with China in terms of the maritime entitlement settlement that will be defined,” Del Rosario said. (PNA)

Muslims who also observe fasting month but still reports for duties. They were with the group patrolling the village of Meta when the bomb exploded. Army bomb experts said the improvised explosive device was fashioned from 60 mm mortar with mobile phone as triggering device. It was similar to IEDs previously set off by the BIFF against the military.

“The road side bomb is very dangerous, it puts the civilians and commuters in danger and not only the military stationed in the area,” an junior Army officer said. He asked not to be named. He said no military operation was conducted but he said the soldiers were told to remain vigilant and prevent saboteurs from taking advantage of the observance of fasting month. (PNA)

taught on sound business operation as well as good agricultural practices. “Most of our supplies are also sourced right in the estate where fishes, crabs, vegetables and herbs are organically grown,” she said. Sta. Maria said that when they opened their restaurant to the public they have guests coming from as far as the Autonomous Region for Muslim

Mindanao (ARMM) and from other neighboring cities and provinces in Mindanao and more diners come on weekend. The Spot Restaurant is a certified and accredited Halal-restaurant by the Halal International Chamber of Commerce and Industries of the Philippines (HICCIP). It is opened daily from 9:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. (PNA)

cerns,” he said. Espenilla said these factors are among the risks on the use of VCs citing that “Bitcoin prices may vary and customers might get the wrong idea and invest with it and think that is has the same value.” He, on the other hand, said Philippine monetary officials have recognized a possible advantage of VC usage on remittance transactions to lower its rates.

Earlier, BSP Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said they are assessing the possibility of VC usage as low-cost remittance solution. “We are trying to better understand the intricacies of its use and implications on consumer protection. This innovation could possibly offer a low cost remittance solution, but we would need to have some level of confidence that the weaknesses could be addressed,” he said. (PNA)

commodities for the poor,” added Esguerra, who is also NEDA Director-General. Full-year inflation for 2016 is expected to be close to the lower bound of the inflation target set at 2.0 to 4.0 percent by the Development Budget Coordination Committee. Prices of commodities in the food subgroup rose to 2.3 percent in May 2016. Rice prices inched by 0.1 percent month-on-month for the first time in eight months but remain lower than the previous year. “The timely importation of rice to offset domestic production losses due to El Niño mitigated the possible skyrocketing of rice prices,” he said. Inflation in the non-food group inched up by only 0.1 despite an increase in all subgroups except for education, which remained stable at 3.6

percent. Also, oil prices surged in May 2016, particularly for gasoline (4.83%); liquefied petroleum gas (3.21%); diesel (15.07%), and kerosene (7.61%). This was due to cutbacks in the production and exploration of international energy firms. On the domestic front, he stressed that the government must remain vigilant in mitigating the enduring effects of El Niño while preparing for the likely occurrence of La Niña in the second half of the year. “The government must accelerate the implementation of the Roadmap for Addressing the Impact of El Niño, especially in areas that have declared a state of calamity. In addition, it must stay alert and prepared for disasters that could ensue with the occurrence of La Niña. ” said Esguerra.

jor part of the PLDT Group’s capital expenditure program. PLDT has set aside about P43 billion in total capex for 2016. It has allocated an additional

US$100 million for to utilize the additional frequencies now available to Smart as a result of the recent acquisition of San Miguel telecoms business.

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INdulge!

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EDGEDAVAO WOMEN

Misconception I ORIGINALLY INTENDED THIS ARTICLE TO COME OUT IN THE SECOND WEEK OF MAY, AS I USUALLY WRITE SOMETHING PERSONAL AND MEMORABLE TO ME FOR OUR MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL. Instead, I chose to hold it back, feeling a wee bit emotional, still, at that time. I thought of postponing the release to a much better timing, when I finally get everything composed --- by that, I do not only mean my words and sentences, but also my emotional state. Through my years of writing for this newspaper --- with my column dedicated to issues on motherhood, family, passion projects, constructive discourses on parenting dynamics, and success stories of inspiring ladies and individuals --- I never thought I would ever write about something as melancholic as miscarriage. It was a subject which was unknown to my family and not one I thought would interest me. That being an uncommon circumstance, a mere conception (for the lack of a better word), it felt unnatural and surreal. Well, until it happened to me. Seven weeks into pregnancy, my condition was declared as a threatened abortion. I was in the midst of an important teleconference in the office when I started to feel blood trickling down. I tried not to panic, and decided to finish the last few minutes of the call before I ring my husband to pick me up and rush me to the hospital. I was scared and confused because I didn’t know what to do and why I was bleeding. I was confident in the fact that I had put in extra care into this second pregnancy, as soon as we saw the two pink lines on the EPT. After some tests, I was

told by nurses and doctors that it was a threatened abortion which caused the bleeding, but they assured me that the baby was still okay. I was sent home and was given medications and strict instructions to stay in bed for a couple of days. And I did exactly what I was told. Since then, we would still get the scares, with more blood coming out each day. We were at the delivery room almost every afternoon to get myself tested. The last ultrasound result, dated on April 1, showed the little gestational sac intact. I was relieved and happy as we drove back home. It then became a mere momentary bliss as I started to feel contractions and severe cramps on my lower back and abdomen. Then, come afternoon of April 2, the sac came out as I bled. At that moment, I had this was wild thought that I was a victim of an April fool’s joke as the as-

At that moment, I had this was wild thought that I was a victim of an April fool’s joke as the assurance given to me the day before turned out to be a misconception.

surance given to me the day before turned out to be a misconception. My husband and 9-year old daughter, Tatiana, were hysterical and they sobbed as we made our way back to the hospital. We were instructed to bring the sac to the laboratory for testing and analysis. Even with that little meat-looking piece, my little girl was so gentle in placing it in a plastic box, as she whispered, “Baby, why do you have to leave? Don’t you want to stay with Ate, mommy and daddy?” It broke my heart even more to see both my daughter and husband in such pain. I was distraught and confused. I couldn’t understand why, despite the extra care and effort, we had lost our baby. I couldn’t fathom how, as compared to my first pregnancy experience, this one could be so delicate and unsuccessful. With my first, I wasn’t as healthy nor was I emotion-

ally and financially ready. I was a single mom striving through my first job, without immediate family in reach for help and support. Yet, I managed to survive the intricacies of childbirth and parenthood singlehandedly. Now, with more support available and a husband to share this new journey with, I couldn’t understand why I could ever suffer a miscarriage. The medical explanation from doctors and nurses was also difficult to accept, at first hearing. For some reason, despite days of bed rest, medications and positive results shown on ultrasound the past days, our baby’s growth didn’t progress as everyone had hoped. According to my OB-Gyne, it was also nature’s way of letting go of what was not going to be viable. On a lighter note, they did get to convince me that it was better that way, instead of going through a difficult pregnancy through which both our health could be at risk, or the baby be born with complications and congenital ailments. In my heart, I realized my baby was just spared from any pain and difficulty which could have come with a difficult pregnancy. That somehow put logic into my previous assumptions. After doctors have cleared my uterine lining and took out remaining tissues through Dilation and Curettage (D&C) procedure, I was sent home and endured weeks of bleeding and cramping. The discomfort and emotional stress of things kept me in tears during the first few days of recovery.

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UP AND ABOUT

Preserving a heritage, creating traditions

IT’S NOT AN EASY TASK but 55-year old Dennis Salvador committed himself to an admirable task in the preservation of a National Heritage—the Philippine Eagle. Thanks to this man and his team at the Philippines Eagle Foundation (PEF), they were able to breed a few eagles in captivity, and may be on their way to multiplying its population. A few more birds are flapping its wings today. “My job is focused primarily on saving the Great Philippine Eagle from extinction,” said the conIn doing so, Dennis’ passion servationist and the PEF’s Ex- for preservation can inspire the ecutive Director. young ones to eventually join “This involves protecting the the team. eagles in their natural habitat; One of the PEF’s activities is restoring forests by working the on-going Philippines Eagle with indigenous communi- Week slated for a week from ties; improving the lives of ru- June 4 to 10 (Proclamation No. ral communities; developing 79). conservation actions based on “The drive aims to strengthen strong scientific research on public awareness on the signifithe eagles, its prey and the for- cant role of the Philippine Eagle est; breeding the eagles in cap- in the forest ecosystem, and its tivity; and public education.” importance as a national symbol His children know what he and unique heritage; to generate does, and in fact he encourages unified and concerted efforts them to get involved in every among all sectors of the society way they can. The PEF’s mis- to ensure the protection and sion, after all, impacts the lives perpetuation of the species.” of his children, this generation “What I have learned, what I and many more to come. am practicing, I pass on to my “The kids volunteer and help children: respect, respect of nawith the center’s many activi- ture and life, and respect for and ties,” he shared. appreciation of people’s differ-

ent cultural practices,” confessed Dennis. Yes, Dennis is grooming his kids to become a responsible citizen of nature and of the nation. In his own nest, the father is passing on another of trusted practice to his boys, Enzo and Alfonso. He has been a loyal client of Rocky’s Barbershop for years now and is making the father and sons personal grooming a tradition in the family. It was a family friend who introduced him to Rocky’s seven years ago and since then he’s been a regular monthly visitor. “I like the old world charm of the shop, trained staff, and amenities of a modern establishment. Rocky’s is clean and well managed. It has the modern amenities with old world charm,” replied Dennis when asked why he became loyal to the

men’s grooming establishment. Jun Acub, who has been with Rocky’s since 1996, is his “suki” barber at the Abreeza Mall branch. “He is customer focused person and excellent quality of haircut and service,” said Dennis of his preferred barber. Enzo and Alfonso have become regulars of Rocky’s, too, but they don’t mind who cut their hair. “They’re all good, anyway,” said the boys who are quite meticulous in their hair grooming. What impresses these Salvador men most? Dennis said, “I like Rocky’s ability to adapt and innovate especially its attention to providing quality customer service,’ and added, “If there is one thing I don’t want changed it’s the ‘old characteristic’ of ‘kwentong barbero’ and friendli-

ness. That’s what makes it a barbershop!” On the 20th year of Rocky’s Barbershop, the Salvadors say, “Wishing you more productive years ahead – may your barbers and customers grow old with you and as satisfied. Keep the traditions going and keep innovating.” Rocky’s Barbershop is the first barbershop to open in a mall in Davao City in 1986. All its five branches today are conveniently located in malls- Victoria Plaza, Abreeza Mall, GMall, SM City & SM Lanang Premier in Davao City, and Centrio Ayala Mall in Cagayan de Oro City. 2016 marks its 20th year in the business. Dennis and Enzo Salvador are the featured Father and Sons personalities for June in the 2016 Traditions calendar of Rocky’s.

The NRCE is back for its 23rd year THE NATIONAL RETAIL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION (NRCE) organized by the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA) is back this year for its 23rd offering - after two years to give way for the preparation and the successful hosting of the 17th Asia Pacific Retailers Convention & Exhibition (APRCE) last 2015. This year’s NRCE will be held on August 10-11, 2016 at the SMX Convention Center Manila. It carries the theme “Shifting Gears in Retail: Consumption in the Digital Age” to highlight the ever changing and dynamic trends in the industry brought about by the continuous evolution

of technology and the growing discerning consumers. Billed as the biggest and most important retail industry event in the country, the annual NRCE has been the platform for bringing together the key movers and shakers of retail and its allied industries in a 2-day conference that is attended by over 800 retail owners, CEOs and toplevel executives all over the country. Back to back with the Conference is a 2-day retail suppliers expo --- STORES ASIA EXPO --- which is the only focused and dedicated retail suppliers’ exhibition in the Philippines. It brings together under

one roof top suppliers in the field of Retail Solutions, E-Commerce & M-Commerce, Shopfittings & Store Design, Digital Marketing as well as Retail Marketing. According to NRCE Overall chairman Frederick D. Go, “The NRCE Convention is unique in a way that it is put together by retailers, for retailers. Hence attendees are assured of choice topics and speakers relevant and resonant to retailers”. The NRCE Convention will feature relevant topics like Continuous Retail: The Path to Omnichannel by Fitch (Singapore), SM Parisian’s Cinderella Story by Shoemart Inc. , Exploring

New Trends in the Design of Bricks and Mortar Retail Destinations by Benoy Limited (Singapore), Unfolding the Dynamics of Retail by TrendWatching (Singapore), Winning Consumer Moments in a Mobile-First Era by Google Philippines, Engaging Consumers by Personalizing Virtual Connections by Twitter SEA, Music Matters in the Market Place by Direk Freddie Santos, Innovating the Brand Essence by Jag Jeans (Fil-Pacific Apparel Corp.), Experiencing the Next-Generation Interactive Retail Space (tbc) by Globe Telecom Inc., Kalibrr and Nielsen Philippines as panelists on

What do Millennials really want?, and Disrupting the Culture of Shopping by Lazada Philippines* Confirmed as Keynote Speakers are Mr. Carlo Joaquin Tadeo Lopez Katigbak, President and CEO of ABS-CBN Corporation and Mr. Jonathan Allen Yabut, author of the best-selling book, From Grit To Great and Season 1 winner of the hit Asian reality business TV show, The Apprentice Asia. This year’s NRCE is supported by the SM Store, PLDT Alpha Enterprise as Platinum Sponsors, Robinsons Malls, Ayala Malls, Araneta Center Inc, HP Philippines as Gold

Sponsors, Wilcon Depot as Silver Sponsor, BENCH & HP Enterprise as Bronze Sponsor, and Duty Free Philippines, HBC, Shangrila Mall, Sportshouse and BMI Research as Sponsors; Official newspaper— Philippine Star; Official media partner—Business World; Digital Advertising Partner—Facsn8; Session Sponsor---Trend watching; Multimedia Partner— Shoptalk Ushop For registration, sponsorship and exhibit inquiries, please contact the PRA Executive Secretariat at 6874180, 6874181, 6874985, or email: info@philretailers.com, or visit http://www.nrce-ph. com.

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ENTERTAINMENT

GMA Network launches trailblazing programs THE KAPUSO NETWORK CONTINUES TO CHART NEW GROUNDS THIS 2016 as it presents a lineup of game-changing programs this June as it celebrates its 66th anniversary.

GMA opens the month with A1 Ko Sa’yo!, a sexy comedy featuring 2016 Cannes Film Festival Best Actress Jaclyn Jose as Digna Molina. Joining her are Gardo Versoza, Sef Cadayona, Benjamin Alves, Roi Vinzon, Ervic Vijandre, Denise Barbacena, Gee Canlas, Mara Alberto and Solenn Heussaff. Under the helm of Randy Santiago, catch this all-original naughty comedy every Thursday night as it emphasizes wit and humor beginning June 2. The upcoming comedy series Conan My Beautician, meanwhile, is expected to showcase the versatility and talent of Kapuso actor Mark Herras and 2013 Ms. World Megan Young. Mark plays the role of Conan, a straight guy who is forced to work in a beauty salon. Things get more complicated when he meets Ava, played by Megan Young, the bride he was supposed to work on in a makeup gig where he falls in love. Completing the stellar cast are today’s most talented comedians: Cacai

Bautista, Jerald Napoles, Betong Sumaya, Boobsie, Tetay, Vangie Labalan, Lotlot De Leon, Jay Manalo, Chlaui Malayao, Antonette Garcia, and Balang. Directed by Adolf Alix, Jr. with Rember Gelera, and penned by awardwinning writers headed by Rody Vera and Zig Dulay, the GMA News and Public Affairs show airs every Sunday starting June 26 at 5 p.m. Airing June 27, the intriguing Afternoon Prime series Sa Piling Ni Nanay, features the reunion of StarStruck Season 1 alumni

Mark Herras, Yasmien Kurdi and Katrina Halili. Sa Piling Ni Nanay tells the story of a surrogate mother and her selfless love for her daughter. Also in the cast are Nova Villa, Bettinna Carlos, Antonio Aquitania, Sofia Jayzel Cabatay. This series is under the helm of Gil Tejada, Jr. Concept by Rhona Lean Sales. Set to bring Kapuso viewers a funny twist to an extraordinary story of family, love and life is the new comedy series Hay, Bahay! Bannered by 47th Guillermo Mendoza Memorial

Scholarship Foundation (GMMSF) Box Office King and Queen Bossing Vic Sotto and Ms. Aiai delas Alas, the program shows the daily life and misadventures of a typical extended Filipino family. Joining Vic and Ai Ai are real-life celebrity couple Kristine Hermosa and Oyo Boy Sotto, ace comedians Jose Manalo, Wally Bayola and Ruby Rodriguez. The series is directed by Ms. Bibeth Orteza. Viewers should also watch out for the premiere of the highly-anticipated requel

of Encantadia. Bagging the much-coveted roles of the four Sang’gres—Amihan, Alena, Danaya and Pirena— are Kylie Padilla, Gabbi Garcia, Sanya Lopez and Glaiza de Castro. Playing very special roles are Primetime King and Queen Dingdong Dantes and Marian RiveraDantes as Raquim and Ynang Reyna Minea. Joining the stellar cast are John Arcilla, Rocco Nacino, Ruru Madrid, Sunshine Dizon, Christian Bautista, Rochelle Pangilinan, Vaness del Moral, Pancho Magno, Buboy Villar, Carlo Gonzalez, Kate Valdez, Mikee Quintos, Starstruck finalist James Teng, introducing Starstruck winners Klea Pineda and Migo Adecer, and Solenn Heussaff. This highlyacclaimed saga, which is under the helm of Mark Reyes, tells the story of sisterhood, of family, and of great forbidden love that bridge two different worlds, the mortal world and the magical kingdom of Encantadia. Concept by Suzette Doctolero. Meanwhile, Asia’s Pop Sweetheart Julie Anne San Jose is tapped to perform the anniversary theme song ‘Buhos ng PaGMAmahal’. The jingle, which is written by Jon Fulgencio and composed by Simon Peter Tan, teases the viewers about the anniversary offerings of the Network.

Triple ‘Wedding Celebrations’ invade Sky this June FAMILIES NATIONWIDE ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO WATCH TOGETHER THREE WEDDINGTHEMED STAR CINEMA MOVIES for the entire month of June for free on SKYcable Prepaid and SKYdirect. SKY vows to shower families with non-stop laughter and love with hit rom-com movies “Bride for Rent” starring Kim Chiu and Xian Lim, “Here Comes the Bride” top billed by Angelica Panganiban and Eugene Domingo, and “Four Sisters and a Wedding” featuring Toni Gonzaga, Bea Alonzo, Angel Locsin, Shaina Magdayao and Enchong Dee. The movie marathon will screen back-to-back for free to SKY prepaid subscribers with load. The free movie screening is available to SKYcable prepaid subscribers in Metro Manila, CAMANAVA/Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, San Jose del Monte Bulacan, Bacolod, Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Dumaguete, General Santos, and Iloilo. Meanwhile, SKYdirect subscribers can catch all three movies anywhere in the country since signal is transmitted via satellite. To avail of the free movie marathon, SKYcable prepaid and SKYdirect subscribers should simply have load balance within

June 8, 2016 Only

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June. SKYcable prepaid and SKYdirect load may be purchased at SKYZones and SKY business centers, SM Store, Save More, SM Hypermart, Waltermart, Alfamart, Cebuana Lhuillier, Touch Pay (Mini Stop), ULoad, Bayad Center, 7-eleven and ECPAY outlets, Load Central partners (Netopia, USSC, MLhuillier, 1Bro and SST Laptop) and at Load Xtreme.

Don’t miss the chance to enjoy a free movie marathon at home with three heartfelt and funny stories on Filipino weddings this June only on SKY. To apply as a SKY subscriber, text APPLY <space> NAME to 23662 to become a SKYcable Prepaid subscriber or send a message to 23668 to become a SKYdirect subscriber.

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TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES 2: OUT OF THE SHADOWS Megan Fox, Stephen Amell, Alan Ritchson PG

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NOW YOU SEE ME 2 Daniel Radcliffe, Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo PG

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LOVE ME TOMORROW/ X-MEN: APOCALYPSE Piolo Pascual, Coleen Garcia, Dawn Zulueta / *James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence PG/*PG

11:40 | 2:05 LFS / * 4:30 | 7:15 | 10:00 LFS

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WOMEN METRO MOM A1

Despite coming to terms with everything that happened, I still cannot deny the fact that miscarriage is traumatic for any mother. I found it ironic that through this road to recovery, I am reminded of my loss almost every day. The experience is pretty much like giving birth ---- you pay the same amount for a normal delivery, endure bleeding and contractions, take the same precautions and follow physical restrictions after the procedure (meaning you keep the baby weight until you’re allowed some exercise) --all those except that, at the end of the day, you don’t have the baby with you. For those who are experiencing the same loss, I feel and share in your grief. Allow me to share with you some takeaways, some realizations I gained from spending hours either in solace or in the company of people who matter. You grieve and that’s fine. Sometimes, expressions of sympathy, instead of being a comfort, can be difficult to handle. For a time, you may feel lousy and think the world is not at all right. Do not overlook the simple fact that a miscarriage is a serious,

and friends on social media, who experienced the same loss, also made an effort to get in touch with me and help me deal with my emotions. I believe God has purposely made it possible for me to have a deeper connection with my family, friends and people in the community to help me move on, to make me understand that I am not alone, to give me hope and make me see the brighter side of tomorrow. As weeks went by, I’ve fi-

nally acknowledged that my feelings are valid and normal. I thought it was a little weird of me to just burst into tears while I’m praying. There are days when I am genuinely okay and there are days when I either keep to myself or tear up. I am just taking things as they come. One day at a time. I guess all these are part of healing. Maybe moving on means being at ease with your pain and finding comfort in God’s purpose and plans.

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devastating loss and grieving is one way of coping. But do not blame yourself for the miscarriage --- it is no one’s fault. Well-meaning people might sometimes even say things like, “Well, just have another child. Then all will be better.” It is a good consolation, but, truth is, it will never replace the child you lost. That child will always be autonomous in your thinking. On a lighter note, while having more

children doesn’t lessen the loss you felt at having lost a child, it can be part of the solution and overall process of moving on. The pain of bereavement can, likewise, leave you feeling isolated and alone. It is important (and imperative) that you have moral and emotional support from people around as you try and regain that sense of normalcy. Come to terms with your own pace and recovery, and do not stop

from moving forward. Believe that each day will be better. Find triumph in the little improvements you make and let that inspire and drive you to pull through. As for me, what made grief and recovery more bearable and less painful were the attention, love and encouragement from family and friends. Some, who didn’t even know me personally, reached out to give words of comfort,

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MAY TOP SELLERS. (L to R) Project Director Gerald Kent Garces, Consuelo Gonzaga, Romulo Ablas, Gilbert Monecillo, Charity Furog, Ryan Sayson, Boyd Cabiladas, Asean Arreza, Jocelyn Santos, Maybel Tesoro, and Shiena May Furog. Not present in the picture are: Joseph Arthur Avila, Jocelyn Asoy, and Evangeline Seki.

Esdevco hosts Thanksgiving Lunch for top Sellers By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

njb@edgedavao.net

SCANDOR Development Corporation (Esdevco) celebrated another productive sales month for the month of May and what fitting treat would it be than to host another thanksgiving lunch.

The home-grown real estate development firm hosted the thanksgiving lunch on Tuesday at The Royal Mandaya Hotel for its top Sellers for the Month of May 2016. Project Director Gerald

Kent Garces led the company’s treat to the top Sellers of the firm’s initial venture Matina Enclaves. “We pay tribute to the efforts of our sellers for the very productive month of May. May they continue to

be as enthusiastic in pushing the project as ever,” said Garces. The month’s Top Sellers are Consuelo Gonzaga, Romulo Ablas, Gilbert Monecillo, Charity Furog, Ryan Sayson, Boyd Cabiladas,

Asean Arreza, Jocelyn Santos, Maybel Tesoro, Shiena May Furog, Joseph Arthur Avila, Jocelyn Asoy, and Evangeline Seki. Esdevco has just closed out sales of the first three buildings of The Residences

and has just opened sales for Building 4. The firm also recently broke ground for the Arcadia project, a comprehensive recreation and lifestyle complex which will complement the Matina Enclaves.

HE International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines recognized Security Bank with three distinctions during the Philippine Quill Awards 2015 awarding ceremony held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom in Newport City. Security Bank’s “BetterBanking Campaign” was recognized with an Award of Excellence under the Communication Management Division for Marketing, Advertising and Brand Communication Category. Since its rebranding initiative in 2014, Security Bank has become top-of-mind when it comes to retail banks. The gains made in branch banking, customer service and product innovation were made possible by committing to the new

vision of giving clients the BetterBanking experience. Security Bank continuously innovates to know its clients best, put them first and give them the banking experience they deserve. SB Foundation’s “Build a School, Build a Nation: The Classrooms Project” was given an Award of Merit under the Communication Management Division for the Corporate Social Responsibility Category. The project aims to build classrooms for public schools in communities where Security Bank has a presence, as well as develop training and support programs for teachers to help improve the academic performance of the students in public schools. When it started in 2011, the vision was to build 60 classrooms for public

school children in a span of five years. As the “Classrooms Project” celebrates its fifth birthday on Security Bank’s 65th anniversary, SB Foundation is marking a huge milestone: 377 classrooms funded, 241 of which have been turned over, benefitting over 35,000 public school students nationwide. Security Bank’s corporate magazine, Bankers’ Bond, took home an Award of Merit under the Communication Skills Division for the Publications Category. Distributed to over 4,000 employees, the magazine features significant company milestones, organizational messages, as well as relevant and helpful information that help improve overall work life. As a communication tool, it promotes awareness, fosters recognition and appreciation

and engages employees to take part in company endeavors. Established in September 1983, IABC Philippines is the first chapter outside North America of the global International Association of Business Communicators. IABC Philippines members include the best marketing, public relations, and corporate communication practitioners across different industries in both private and public sectors. The organization embodies the importance of international linkages and the sharing of best communication practices, ideas and experience among business professionals around the world. IABC Philippines’ banner programs are the CEO EXCEL Awards and the Philippine Quill and Student Quill Awards.

ASINO magnate Enrique Razon, chairman of Bloomberry Resorts Corporation -- the operator of Solaire Resort and Casino, is expecting higher number of Chinese visitors in the country’s gaming industry as the next administration is eyeing for bilateral talks with China. At the sidelines of Bloomberry Annual Stockholders’ Meeting on Tuesday, Razon said bilateral discussions between the Philippines and China “will sew the relationship” of the two countries and “dramatic” increase of traffic of Chinese tourists here is expected. “Bilateral talk (with China) will sew the relationship itself... We see increasing traffic from China, dramatically in general, to the Philippines,” said Razon. For Bloomberry, Chinese nationals share 80 percent of very important person (VIP) visitors of its casino business while Chinese junket operators coming from Macau account for 60 percent. The firm’s chairman added that majority of its visitors in its casino business in South Korea, Jeju Sun Hotel and Casino, are Chinese nationals. Moreover, with the infrastructure projects rolled out during the term of President Benigno S. Aquino III around Entertainment City Manila and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Razon expects upbeat tourist arrivals and a thriving business in the gaming district in the country. “As soon as access infrastructure to and from Entertainment City from SLEX

(South Luzon Expressway) Sky Way and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport are completed, and with the arrival of new players in the next few years, this bustling tourism district is ready to compete head on and in a larger scale in terms of world class service, and first rate, total leisure and entertainment experience,” he said. “Entertainment City Manila, home to Solaire Resort and Casino, will continue to thrive with more competition coming in,” he added. Moreover, Bloomberry is eyeing to start a mixed-use development in Quezon City within a year. In October 2015, the company purchased from the National Housing Authority a 15,676-square meter property in Vertis North, a planned central business district north of Metro Manila. The company is also eyeing a casino component for its development in Quezon City through its existing license from Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) which covers for up to two casino projects, said Razon. “There’s a market there that have no easy access here: north-far of Metro Manila like Caloocan, Quezon City, and even Bulacan. It’s more on mass gaming than VIP. We have to get government approval first on that area,” he said. “We have to go to regulatory process,” he added. Meanwhile, Bloomberry’s total revenues increased by 7.0 percent to PHP34.4 billion in 2015 from PHP32.1 billion in 2014. (PNA)

Chinese visitors in PHL as next Security Bank bags Philippine Quill Awards More admin pushing bilateral talks with China T C

Representing Security Bank during the awards night were (from left): FVP Patricia Tan, SAVP Rica Baello, EVP Belen Lim, EVP Maki Tingson, SVP Melissa Aquino, SVP Daniel Yu, Program Manager Mel Cordova and VP Michael Gamo.

12 CLASSIFIEDS

EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

EDGEDAVAO GENSAN PARTNERS Serving a seamless society

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mechanism similar to the Central 911 of Davao City. In his first term, the mayor introduced significant reforms in the city’s health services sector and the city hospital, which was previously plagued by problems on inadequate medicine, supplies, equipment and personnel. He pushed for a full-system audit of the city hospital that resulted to the uncovering of various irregularities. In the last three years, the city government invested around P100 million for the installation of street lights in parts of the city. The local government also implemented stricter citywide anti-smoking regulations patterned after Davao City. Despite these achievements, Rivera said he wants to do more, especially now that the country is gearing for the entry of a new administration

that advocates the same battle cry for change. “I have realized [that] we need to get General Santos City to grow more, and this is our time to lead. Blaming others is not of my menu of leadership. I always say, tayo na ang nandito, tayo na ang may responsibilidad na gawin ang mga bagay na dapat gawin,” Rivera said. Aside from Mayor Rivera, re-elected Vice Mayor Shirlyn Bañas-Nograles and the new set of Sangguniang Panlungsod members also took their oaths of office. The 12 newly elected city councilors are Elizabeth Bagonoc, Alberto Pacquiao, Franklin Gacal Jr., Rosalita Nunez, Brix Tan, Shandee Llido-Pestano, Vandyk Congson, Ramon Milleza, Lourdes Casabuena, Jose Orlando Acharon, Jose Edmar Yumang and Dominador Lagare Jr. (PNA)

NOTICE OF LOSS

Notice is hereby given by LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC. that CERTIFICATE OF FULL PAYMENT No.(s) under LOYOLA PLAN issued to the following planholders, to wit; NAME

CONTRACT No.

MARIA R. OLAVE

752435-8

TOMAS B. POBADORA 915800-7 ALFREDO DEVEYRA

10311753-3 715000-6

FRANCISCO Q. BULA 395069-8 were lost. Any transaction entered into shall be null and void.

NEWS 13

ARMM needs 933 new teachers H

ERE’S good news for teachers who recently passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). The Department of Educa-

tion in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DepEdARMM) has announced it would fill 933 senior high school teaching positions this year.

poor, and going to Makkah, Saudi Arabia for the hajj (pilgrimage) at least once in a lifetime for those who can afford travel cost. Muslims who are physically-fit Muslims are obliged to fast from dawn to dusk while couples are to abstain from sex during the day for the whole month. In his Ramadan message, Mangudadatu called on all political leaders of Maguindanao to reach out to their poor constituents, offer peace and reconciliation following the very divisive political exercises last month and do charitable workers to the needy. “Let this Ramadhan season be a time for healing. Let us put away the political animosities we had during the recent electoral exercise in the

province of Maguindanao. Let us move on and start again as siblings in faith,” Mangudadatu said. Dr. Kadil Sinoliding, Jr, regional health secretary of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), said fasting is good for one’s health. “Fasting for more than ten hours daily for one month is good for the health. It can boost the immune system and lower sugar and cholesterol in the blood,” he said. Sinolinding, a Muslim, has urged those observing the fasting month to drink enough water and fruit juices. Pregnant women, lactating mothers, sick people, the elderly and children are all exempted from fasting during the Ramadan. (PNA)

Sibuco, upon sensing the arrival of government reinforcements. He said no one among the construction workers and the security forces were either killed or injured during the brief firefight. He said the troops have

uncovered an encampment of the lawless group around 500 meters away from the project site. He said the troops have strengthened the security measures to ensure the completion of the government project. (PNA)

Maguindanao... FROM 4

Troops... FROM 4

According to Mobarak Pandi, DepEd-ARMM regional information officer, said selection process for new teachers have started after it administered an English Proficiency Examination for 1,216 applicants. Pandi said successful applicants will be hired for teaching positions in senior high schools in the schools divisions of Maguindanao I and II, Lanao del Sur I and II and Marawi City. Dr. John Magno, DepEdARMM regional secretary, said the recruitment of new teachers for ARMM will be strict and, as in the past year, mentors will be hired according to their capacity and competence. Among the applicants was Montaser Dimaukor, a 24-year old Secondary Education major in Mathematics graduate. He is hopeful he would be given a permanent item as a senior high school teacher in Parang National High School in Parang town, under the division of Maguindanao I. “DepEd-ARMM has systematic selection process now. Anyone could be hired through the different phases they administer,” Dimaukor said. Another teaching hopeful, Bainajeer Ali, 20, shared Dimaukor’s observance on the new selection process. “The process has been very competitive. The good ones will surely be selected,” she said. A graduate of Secondary Education major in English last year, Ali passed the LET in March this year. If selected, she wanted to be assigned in Tali-

tay National High School in the town of Sultan Sumagka under Maguindanao II division which is near her home. On June 1, DepEd-ARMM administered similar examination for teacher applicants from schools divisions of Lamitan City, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. Magno stressed that all applicants had to go through a process that includes teaching demonstration, panel interview, and intensive screening of their pertinent papers such as transcript of records, overall average rating in college, and other credentials. He explained that the processes being undertaken would guarantee that only good quality teachers will be hired in order for students to have a ‘progressive future.’ On April 25, more than 560 elementary and junior high teachers signed their appointment papers and deployment orders in the provinces of Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur. A senior high school teacher is expected to receive a monthly salary that range from PHP19,940 to PHP39,493. Applicants will be ranked according to DepEd’s criteria for evaluation and selection process. The region’s Education department also assured it would follow general guidelines for the hiring and placement of successful applicants. Based on DepEd’s Department Order No. 23 series of 2016, the school year 20162017 will start on June 13 and will end on Friday, April 7, 2017. (PNA)

14 BIGGER PICTURE EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 72 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016 BIGGEST FIGHT EVER. Muhammad Ali fights Joe Frazier during their title bout, the ‘Thrilla in Manila,’ at the Araneta Coliseum in 1975.

ALI VS. FRAZIER ‘THRILLA IN MANILA’:

Remembering the greatest fight ever

BUSTLING shopping mall forms an unlikely monument to the “Thrilla in Manila”, but Muhammad Ali’s most brutal fight made its biggest impression on the minds of those who witnessed it and still speak of it with awe. The late Ali’s third and final meeting with Joe Frazier, in 1975, only went to Manila because Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos was hoping to gain popularity and prestige, three years after declaring martial law. But after Ali’s glamorous hob-nobbing with Marcos and his beauty-queen wife, Imelda, the fight at a stifling Araneta Coliseum was a fearsome collision of the two heavyweights — and sometimes described as the best boxing match ever seen.

“It was like death. Closest thing to dyin’ that I know of ”

“It was like death. Closest thing to dyin’ that I know of,” said Ali, who was handed victory when Frazier, blinded by swelling around his eyes, failed to emerge for the 15th and final round. Forty-one years later, the Araneta Coliseum is still doing brisk business, host-

ing mixed martial arts bouts and concerts by the likes of Kenny Rogers and Engelbert Humperdinck. The stadium’s canny owner, Jorge Araneta, cashed in further when he asked Ali at the post-fight dinner if he could name a new shopping mall after him. Ali was so flattered he agreed without asking for payment. The result was the ‘Ali Mall’, the Philippines’ first major shopping centre which was built close to the fight venue — turning a patch of suburban Manila into a farflung shrine to ‘The Greatest’, who died on Friday after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Later generations of Filipino boxers, including eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, grew up venerating Ali and especially the ‘Thrilla’, which briefly put an impoverished, Southeast

THRILLA IN MANILA. Ali wore Filipino barong tagalog in a courtesy call to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos in 1975.

Asian dictatorship in the centre of the world’s view.

‘Blood spattered far and wide’ Frazier had won their first fight in 1971 before Ali avenged the loss three years later. By the time they met in Manila, the ill-feeling between them was raw, stoked by some incendiary comments from the ‘Louisville Lip’.

“It will be a killa and a chilla and a thrilla when I get the gorilla in Manila,” taunted Ali, giving the fight its iconic nickname. The fight was held on October 1, 1975 at nearly midday in the tropical country, and with a 25,000-plus crowd and TV lights, the venue’s air conditioning was overwhelmed. “It was really debilitating. Really humid,” said Lito

Tacujan, sports editor of Philippine Star newspaper, recalling the sweltering conditions. Frazier advanced remorselessly, laying into Ali who mainly tried to keep his distance but absorbed blow after blow before emerging periodically with flurries of combinations. “I don’t like him but I got to say, in the ring he was a man,” Frazier later said of Ali. “In Manila, I hit him punches, those punches, they’d have knocked a building down.” In testament to the violence inside the ring, Imelda Marcos’s clothes were spattered with blood, according to one account, and journalists were unable to take notes because their table shook so much from the blows. “It was literally very bloody,” Marcos was quoted as telling a confidante, Sol Vanzi. “Their punches were so powerful that blood splattered far and wide, staining spectators’ clothes, including mine.” Tacujan told AFP: “We couldn’t write any notes because the table was shaking from the exchanges inside of the ring. “It was that brutal. They were at each other from round one.” Decline and fall Although Ali won, the punishing bout was to prove a turning point for the ageing champion, then 33, as he moved into a phase of steady decline until his eventual retirement in 1981.

“God blessed me that day. He’s blessed me many times, and that fight in Manila was one of them,” Ali said. “It was like I took myself as far as I could go, and God took me the rest of the way.” The fight was a triumph for President Marcos, who was able to claim a public relations victory. He was eventually topped in the ‘People Power’ protests of 1986. “It helped project the Philippines internationally at a time when we were being criticised by the western press because of martial rule,” said sportscaster Ronnie Nathanielsz, who acted as Ali’s government liaison. “It projected a positive image for the Philippines and it was one of the biggest gains of the Marcos regime at the time,” he added. Joey Romasanta, vice-president of the Philippine Olympic Committee, said that despite the abuses of martial law, “momentarily, we were grateful to President Marcos for bringing (the fight) over.” “The ‘Thrilla in Manila’ united them (Filipinos) and momentarily made them forget their problems,” he said. Tacujan also recalls that during the match, acclaimed boxing journalist Ed Schuyler told him: “You should be proud this fight happened here. Twenty-five years from now, they’ll be talking about this fight in Manila.” “It’s been 40 years, and they are still talking about this fight,” said Tacujan. — AFP

VOL. 9 ISSUE 72 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

Lassiter still a no-show in final Gilas workouts S

SPORTS 15

Shaq says Cavs’Irving needs to play better

IME is ticking away on Gilas gunner Marcio Lassiter, who remains a no-show in the final stretch of the national team’s training before embarking on a grueling three-week camp in Europe. The San Miguel wingman was not around in the first of two friendlies the nationals had against three-time Fiba-Asia champion Iran on Tuesday at the Gatordare Hoops Center in Mandaluyong. Coach Tab Baldwin said he was able to talk to Lassiter the other day, but doesn’t exactly have an idea what really ails the former Cal State Fullerton stalwart. He has no idea too, on when the 29-year-old Fil-Am will be able to join a Gilas side that is set to leave for Greece on Friday as part of its preparation for the Manila leg of the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The team initially said Lassiter has been suffering from bronchitis-like symptoms.

“He’s still recovering. I’m just waiting for the right analysis on the sickness that he’s got,” said Baldwin after the scrimmage with Iran, which ended in a 2-2 draw after both teams won two quarters each, although Gilas outscored the visitors, 71-64, in the entirety of the 40-minute match. “We’re very, very close to the deadline, but that’s just the way it is. We have to wait until we know exactly what’s going on before we know whether Marcio has enough time to recover.” The 57-year-old Gilas coach did say Lassiter ‘feels terrible that he got sick’ at a time when Gilas is bidding to earn one of three berths still up for grabs in the coming Rio De Janeiro Olympics. Baldwin doesn’t want to talk at the moment though on the possibility of not including Lassiter in the final 14-man roster of Gilas. Along with Jeff Chan, the native of San Francisco, California is the only pure shooter the team has at

its disposal. Nonetheless, Baldwin could only wish Lassiter the best of health. “I told him to get as much rest as he can, to get back into the right eating and regimen, and get his strength back as fast as he can. So that’s what’s going on,” said the 57-year-old national mentor.

HAQUILLE O’Neal played on the last team to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the NBA Finals, so he knows what it takes. For Cleveland, he thinks it starts with better play from Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love, who he said is being “punked” by Draymond Green. “Because remember last year, the story line was, ‘OK, Golden State, you won a championship, but that’s because Kyrie and Kevin Love weren’t playing.’ Now they’re playing, now you’ve got to play like you know how to play,” O’Neal said on Monday night (Tuesday, Manila time). Irving averaged 18 points but shot just 33 percent in the first two games. Love was just 9 for 24 from the floor in Oakland, California, and his status for Game Three in Cleveland on Wednesday is unknown because of a concussion. He’s been no match for Green, who scored 28 points in the Warriors’ 110-77 Game 2 stomping. “Kevin Love’s getting punked by Draymond, he really is,” O’Neal said during an

interview with The Associated Press. “I hate to be the one to say it, but he has to step up. You can’t let a guy do the muscle thing in your face and you don’t respond.” O’Neal said his Miami Heat never lost their belief in the 2006 finals, when they dropped the first two games in Dallas and were in deep trouble in Game 3 before storming back to win four straight. “We didn’t feel like we were down and we knew we were better than that team,” he said. “Our whole message was just one game at a time because they’re up, the pressure’s not on them. Once you start to squeeze, the pressure starts to be on them.” He thinks the Cavaliers can still get back into this series, though he’s not sure if they can join the three teams to come back from 2-0 down in the Finals . O’Neal, who provided analysis for NBA TV in Games One and Two, was in New York to take part in an event for American Express card members with his former Los Angeles Lakers coach, Phil Jackson.

OP Filipino golfer Miguel is set to see action in the US Open next week after topping the sectional qualifying in California. Tabuena fired a 68 at Olympic Club Ocean course on Monday (Tuesday, Manila time) after carding a 64 highlighted by two eagles at Lake Merced Golf Club for an 11-under 132 aggregate. Top money earner on the Philippine Golf Tour last season and currently third on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, Tabuena also had 10 birdies against three bogeys for the day.

He finished two shots ahead of Justin Suh (67-67), Gregor Main (66-68) and Mark Anguiano (66-68). Also qualifying for the US Open set at Oakmont were Tyler Raber (69-67) and Brandon Harkins (68-69). “I told myself that Lake Merced would be the easier course and I needed to go low there, which I did,” said Tabuena. “I am just really happy with my rounds. I am still in shock. This will be my first major and I just can’t wait to have fun next week. I am really happy with the way I am playing now,” he added.

Tabuena excited CDO rules Tanduay Basketball League to play in US Open Mindanao reg’l championships T C

AGAYAN de Oro City exploded in the first half and never looked back to demolish Surigao, 104-76 in the Tanduay Basketbal League (TBT) Mindanao Regional Championships held Sunday at the Almendras gym in Davao City. The barangay squad from the City of Golden Friendship made a good start with a 2922 run for a 58-40 halftime advantage. CDO protected its 19-point lead after the third quarter en route to a lopsided victory. “Nilakihan na namin ang aming lamang sa kanila upang makasiguro sa aming panalo,” said coach CDO coach Jaime Rivera. “Malakas talaga ang CDO at hindi na kami nakahabol pa. Congrats sa kanilang

GILAS... FROM 16 Haddadi will skip the Philippine trip but will re-join them in their training in China. Instead they will lean on players like Sahakian, former NBA draft pick Arsalan Kazemi, and 20-year-old Behnam Yakhchali. “Basically it’s gonna help us to get the experience because we have a very young team. Every game that we play is gonna give us more experience. We’re gonna be in different situations like we

team,” said Surigao coach Paul Felicio. Mark John Daanoy topscored CDO with 22 points while Roberto Tamparong added 16, Maher Eduave 14 and Joel Sollano 11. Alexander Ellar led Surigao with 17 points followed by Ian Appari 14, Romel Rosal 13 and Carlito Llido 11. In the battle for third place, Davao under coach Enrico Laran shook off an erratic start and came back strong in the final half to whip the Jun Alde-mentored General Santos City, 93-80. Tanduay Distillers marketing supervisors Raymond Villegas (Davao), Jun Aclon (Surigao), James Ty (CDO) and Limuel Omega and Joseph Yee (GSC) awarded the were in WABA and we came out pretty well. It was sometimes that we were down, or we were up 20 points and came into a tie game, and the fact that we won the game, those are all experiences for the future,” added Bauermann. “This is also gonna be a good experience for us because probably so far Philippines is gonna be the best team for this group that we’re gonna face and it’s gonna be fun.”

Cagayan de Oro (red uniform) and Surigao (white uniform). Photos by Rael Diaz cash prizes, trophies and gift items to the winners of the event presented by Tanduay “The No. 1 Rhum”. The boxscores: (For 3rd Place) DAVAO 93 - Barrera 23, Bangoy 20, Elano 17, Sison 13, Maglasang 8, Diaz 7, Talledo 3, Puna 2, Bialao 0, Geretape 0, Sañano 0, Bacolod 0 GENSAN 80 - Cupal 21, Jessie Labrador 20, Salas 18, Jimmy Labrador 14, Ricablanca 6, Cudog 1, Gentiles 0, Alon 0, Iman 0, Renan 0, Suib

0, Paghid 0 Quarter scores: 14-25, 30-45, 70-55, 93-80 (Championship) CAGAYAN DE ORO 104 - Daanoy 22, Tamparong 16, Eduave 14, Sollano 11, Kwong 9, Calang 8, Pardillo 7, Manatad 7, Villar 5, Lerio 3, Del Puerto 2, Illana 0 SURIGAO 76 – A. Ellar 17, Appari 14, Rosal 13, Llido 11, Jas Ellar 8, Cantal 7, J. Ellar 5, Custudio 1, Felicio 0, Lozada 0, Perez 0, Jason Ellar 0 Quarterscores: 29-22, 58-40, 80-61, 104-76

BOUND FOR THE BIGTIME. “I’m still in shock,” says Miguel Tabuena after earning his first trip to a golf major at Oakmont.

16 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL. 9 ISSUE 72 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2016

GILAS SENDOFF TODAY ‘Road to Glory’today at Novotel, Iran ranks Gilas 2nd best in Asia By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

ROAD TO GLORY. The Pilipinas Glas beat Iran 71-64 in a friendly basketball match.

HE journey of the Philippine National men’s basketball team towards another crack at a return to the Olympics begin today with the official sendoff and press conference. Dubbed as “Road to Glory”, the Sendoff and Press Conference will be held today at the Monet Ballroom of the Novotel Manila Araneta Center. Registration for media be-

gins at 4:30 p.m. and the program proper starts at 5:00 p.m. Official invitations have been sent out by the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP). Meantime, after seeing his own squad fall to the Philippine national men’s basketball team in last year’s FIBA Asia Championship, Iran coach Dirk Bauermann believes that Gilas Pilipinas is now firmly entrenched in the top tier of the

Asian region. In fact, the veteran international coach ranked the Filipinos ahead of his team, although he admits those ranking are fluid from one campaign to the next. “You have three top countries: China being one, the Philippines being two, and Iran being three. And from summer to summer, the ranking among those countries is gon-

na change depending on who’s playing, who’s playing and so on and so forth. So I think they’re clearly one of the top three in Asia, but so are we and so are the Chinese and that’s why these games are all gonna be extremely competitive and hard-fought,” Bauermann said. Iran has plenty of respect for Gilas, especially with naturalized player Andray Blatche, the NBA veteran who is expect-

ed to come into these Olympic Qualifying Tournament preparations in better condition than last year. “He gives the Philippines like a new birth. He’s a great player and he gives them a lot of energy. He gets a lot of attention on himself, so he can get the other shooters open. That’s the thing that is different from this year’s Philippines than last year that we faced,” said Iran

forward Oshin Sahakian, who will play a major role for Iran as they forge ahead without some of their mainstays. In their series of tune-up games with Gilas Pilipinas, Bauermann brings in a newlook Iran team composed of a younger core of players. They will not have Samad Nikkhah Bahrami and Mahdi Kamrani this summer while Hamed

F GILAS, 15