Edge Davao 9 Issue 50 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

VOL. 9 ISSUE 50 • TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

www.edgedavao.net

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

P 15.00 • 20 PAGES DUTERTE VOTES. Presidential frontrunner Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte casts his vote around three o’ clock in the afternoon at Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

DUTERTE LEADS

Mayor surges ahead to early lead

AVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte posted an early lead in the presidential race as of 6:16 p.m. last night according to partial unofficial results from poll watchdog Philippine Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV). Duterte, the survey

TIME FOR HEALING

Rody extends hand in peace to rivals, calls for healing By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO njb@edgedavao.net

AYOR Rodrigo Duterte yesterday extended his hand in peace to his rivals and said it is now the time for healing, moments after he cast his vote in Davao City. “I call for healing,” he told a jampacked press conference at The Royal Mandaya Hotel where he proceeded shortly after voting at the Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School. Duterte said his call for healing is addressed to everyone “for as long as they accept it.” He even said it includes his

fierce rival administration bet Mar Roxas and accuser Sen. Antonio Trillanes. After voting at around 3 pm, Duterte proceeded to his camp’s Secretariat and met his advisers led by former Presidential Assistant for Mindanao Paul Dominguez before his scheduled press conference at an adjacent room. “I ain’t there yet, please don’t ask me questions about winning,” he told the media before he entertained questions. Asked about his journey from the filing of his candidacy

to yesterday’s election day, Duterte cited the people’s hospitality wherever he went in his sorties. He singled out the Ilocanos whom he described as “subdued” to the Dabawenyos whom he jokingly said are the most “uncontrollable.” “You need a riot police to stop them,” he said eliciting laughters from the media. Duterte said he is not interested on exit polls or results for now, saying he is leaving his fate to God. “If he wants me there, I will accept it. If he does not want

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Source PPCRV Graphics by Bilang Pilipino 2016 of TV5

frontrunner in the past three weeks leading to the elections, amassed 1,433,767 votes to show the way in the presidential race. Sen. Grace Poe came in a distant second to Duterte with 831,619 votes, administration bet Mar Roxas is running closely at third with 819,674 votes,

F DUTERTE LEADS, 10

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 50 • TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

THE PWDS CAME TOO. The persons with disabilities (PWDs) sector of Davao City participate in last Saturday’s attempt to break the Guinness record for most number of people singing of the national anthem event at the Crocodile Park. Lean Daval Jr.

Duterte satisfied with polls

AYOR Rodrigo Duterte said he is satisfied with the conduct of the national and local election yesterday. “So, far I have not received any reports of cheating and violation,” he said. Duterte said he also noted that the laws on fair and honest election was properly observed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Duterte’s pronouncements came amidst reports of several cases of Vote Counting Machines (VCM) malfunctions in several areas of Davao City. The malfunctioning VCM’s forced some precincts to resort to manual voting. There were also cases of voters unable to cast their votes due to the VCM glitch. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

Voting delayed for 3 hours in ComVal town

OTING in rebel-infested Brgy. Manurigao in New Bataan town, Compostela Valley was delayed for at least three hours due to the late arrival of the Boards of Election Inspectors and the vote-counting machines. Voting was supposed to start at 6 a.m. and end by 5 p.m. In a press conference on Monday morning at the Philippine Information Agency XI, Major General Rafael C. Valencia, commander of the 10th Infantry Division said the BEIs and the VCMs were still on their way to the barangay. He said voting there was expected to start between 10:30 and 11:00 a.m. “The nearest road from where they are now is about three hours ago,” he said New Bataan, with around 900 registered voters, was earlier placed under category 2 of the election watch-list due to the presence of the armed groups, he said. Valencia said Tagum and Kapalong towns in Davao

del Norte and Digos City and Malalag town in Davao del Sur were placed under category 1 due to the presence of intense political rivalry. The areas under category 3 include Monkayo town, Compostela Valley due to political rivalry and the presence of armed groups. Under category 2are 218 barangays in the region and some parts of Region 12, Valencia said. The 10th ID covers the Davao Region and parts of Region 12. The Commission on Elections in Davao Region requested the military to airlift the VCMs on Sunday. Valencia said they had two sorties but failed to penetrate the barangay due to thick clouds. “So we decided to go on foot. They were supposed to leave by 3 a.m. but they left at 5 a.m.,” he said.. “The area has presence of the New People’s Army but we have enough forces securing the road,” he said. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

NPA leader nabbed By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

ECURITY forces in Davao City nabbed a suspected New People’s Army (NPA) leader on Sunday. The suspect was identified as Arnulfo Laborada Mantes alias Mike, 45, is the Secretary of Sub-Regional Committee 5 (SRC5) and the concurrent head of the Regional Political Military Academy (RPMA) of the SMRC. In report from 10th Infantry Division (ID), Mantes was arrested by the joint elements of the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Phil-

ippines (ISAFP), 10th Infantry Division, Police Regional Office (PRO) XI, CIDG and Davao City Police Office at Brgy 76-A, Davao City on Sunday, May 8, 2016. The arrest was made by virtue of warrants of arrest issued in issued by Regional Trial Courts (RTC) Branch 10 in Malaybalay City and Branch 23 in Kidapawan City for for murder and 568-2007 for robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons Mantes is known to have

led and planned numerous NPA atrocities such as the burning of heavy equipment, murder of Army personnel and ambush of Peace and Development Teams in several areas of Bukidnon and Davao del Norte. The report said the suspect is also involved in extorting monies from wealthy individuals, companies and even politicians. 10th ID commander Major Gen. Rafael Valencia lauded the AFP and the police for working together in the suc-

cessful arrest of Mantes. “As we have said before, the long arm of the law will ultimately catch up and bring before the bar of justice all those who have brought so much miseries to the Filipino people through their so called armed struggle,” Valencia said. Valencia said Mantes has joined the long list of top CPPNPA-NDF (SMRC and FSMR) leaders neutralized - either arrested or killed in Davao and SOCSKSARGEN Regions, and he will not be the last.

litical party not to pursue their plan of volunteering for MAKABAYAN. MAKABAYAN is a progressive block of Partylist groups which include Gabriela, Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT), KABATAAN, BAYAN MUNA, Piston, Migrante and Anak Pawis. In Tagum City, KONTRA DAYA Southern Mindanao received report from local KD volunteers that campaigners of certain local candidates were visible and distributed campaign material inside the Laureta Elementary school. Further, earlier today KD Zamboanga Peninsula received report that a police officer was caught distributing a “pamaypay” bearing the name of a

party list group in Talon-Talon Elementary School, Zamboanga City. The report of breakdown of Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) is prevalent in many parts of Mindanao as this was reported by different media outfits including social media and other election watchdog. Malfunctioned VCMs are also observed in different precincts in the Visayas and Luzon. Particularly in Davao City the VCM malfunctioned resulting in jammed ballots in Tugbok Elementary school. Also in Francisco Bangoy Central Elementary school, one VCM was not able to print the vote receipt. KONTRA DAYA Caraga Region reported that one voter

casted vote for national candidates only to find out that the vote receipt bears the name of local candidates for mayoralty and vice mayoralty positions in Barangay Doongan, Butuan City. Also VCMs of precinct cluster numbers A13 and A14 in Barangay Baleguian, Jabonga, Agusan del Norte were experiencing paper jam and errors. KONTRA DAYA SOCSKSARGEN reported that one vote receipt was empty after the voter casted only one senatorial candidate. Ballots intended for Marinduque province were observed in the precincts of Barangay Malalag, Maitum Sarangganin resulting in the suspension of

Kontra Daya assails harassment, vote buying in early hours of polls K

ONTRA DAYA MINDANAO assailed the reported cases of harassment, black propaganda against progressive Partylist groups, vote buying and the failure of the Vote Counting Machines (VCMs) in different areas in Mindanao before and during early hours of the Election Day. In Pagadian City, reported case of harassment against MAKABAYAN volunteers was monitored by the KONTRA DAYA (KD) Zamboanga Peninsula yesterday. Two youth volunteers of MAKABAYAN were harassed by four unidentified men riding in motorcycles outside of MAKABAYAN headquarters. Also, these two volunteers were warned by a certain leader of another po-

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 50 • TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 3

Cases of VCM malfunction reported By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

LECTION watchdog Kontra Daya received reports of Vote Counting Machine (VCM) malfunctions in different areas in Davao City in yesterday’s elections. Kontra Daya spokesperson Rommel Real told EDGE Davao as of 12:35 a.m. yesterday their group received 39 reports comprised mostly of paper jams. “There are paper jams, there are instances of VCM

overheat which resulted to manual voting to some voters,” he said. Real said the VCM in a clustered precinct in Calinan Elementary School went overheat around 7:30 a.m. prompting the Board of Election Inspector to proceed with manual of voting. He said there are some 20 voters who underwent manual voting. He said by 10:00 a.m.the VCM in the precinct was fixed

ORE gender-responsive facilities are going to be constructed in the country’s commercial airports, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) said Monday. CAAP Director General William K. Hotchkiss III made this assurance in response to a complaint by Democratic Independent Workers Association (DIWA) Partylist Representative Emmeline Aglipay-Villar. Villar noted that there has been an absence of a lactation facility at the Dumaguete Airport that she was “forced to pump breast milk in the waiting area” because she was not allowed into the VIP lounge.

Representative Aglipay is the daughter of former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Edgardo Aglipay and wife of Las Piñas City representative Mark Villar. CAAP has so far completed the installation of 17 breastfeeding stations; 15 toddler nooks; and 12 diaper-changing stations in a number of commercial airports under the agency’s management. The authority currently has 44 commercial airports under its management and control. “This is to show our resolve to make our airport facilities GAD-friendly,” Hotchkiss

CAAP: More gender -responsive airports M

FCAAP, 10

but the voters already went home and some voters who were in the area shaded their ballot on their behalf without permission. “Wala puy Comelec (Commission on Elections) desk sa skewalahan (No Comelec desk mounted in the school),” he said. Aside from Calinan Elementary School, VCM in F. Dizon Elementary School was not working since 6 a.m. and many voters left their ballots

with the BEI. This made the voters waived their right to check the receipts. A VCM in Mintal Elementary School malfunctioned and seven consecutive votes were not accepted at 9:58 a.m. Another VCM in Bayanihan Elementary School in Matina also overheated yesterday around 10 a.m. In Bustamante Elementary School, a VCM in a precinct experienced paper jam and

there was no support given from the BEI around 10 a.m. The group also received report in a clustered precinct at University of Southeastern Philippines (USeP) - Obrero Campus that he shaded the circle of presidential frontrunner Davao City Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte but in the voter’s receipt the name of administration standard bearer appeared. For her part, Kontra Daya convener Sheena Duazo said

there are also complaints of disenfranchisement in some polling areas. EDGE Davao tried to contact Comelec 11 assistant regional director Marlon Casquejo but to know avail. However, in an interview with Bombo Radyo Davao, Casquejo said there were no major incidents happen yesterday except the defective VCM which they tried to address as of morning yesterday.

HELPING THE ELDERLY. A personnel of City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) helps a physically challenged elderly who will cast her vote steps off from a vehicle outside a polling station at Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 9 ISSUE 50 • TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

Netizens share voting experiences online EDGE DAVAO

The Vote 2016

OTERS took to social media their experiences during the first few hours of the May 2016 national polls, as Filipinos get to elect the country’s president, vice president, half of the senatorial lineup and local officials. PhilHealth board member Karen Villanueva expressed her dismay at the slow services in Precinct 353 of Merville Community Center. She lamented that the teachers in that precinct didn’t seem to hear the voters’ feedback. Villanueva added that

in two hours, Precinct 353 only facilitated 70 voters, as compared to the nearby precinct with 110. Voting process at a precinct in Parang, Marikina was delayed due to technical problems, shared Charina Echaluce, a reporter. According to her, many voters waited outside the precinct, while some opted to go home. Franz Liboon praised the teachers at Precinct 86B of Julugan Elementary School in Tanza, Cavite. Liboon, who casted his votes at 6:00 a.m.,

VCMs malfunction in several Ilocos towns

OTE count machines (VCMs) in several polling precincts in Ilocos Norte province have reportedly malfunctioned during the early hours of Monday’s national polls. Initial reports from board of election inspectors and monitoring teams say that among the areas with failed VCMs include Puttao in Solsona, Poblacion in Vintar, Baay in Batac, Salpad and Ngabangab in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte and at precinct 20 in Sarrat town. In Nangguyudan, Paoay, Ilocos Norte, a VCM also had some “issues of paper jam” which is contributing to the long queue of voters, thereby overcrowding polling places. Other VCMs have overheated, which prompted technicians to set some electric fans to cool off the machine. Of the 557 villages in Ilocos Norte with 2,591 established precincts, the

Commission on Elections has deployed about 750 VCMs to serve around 378,786 registered voters in the province. In Batac City, vice presidential candidate and Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. were among the early birds to cast his vote. After casting his vote, Marcos described the process as simple, fast and easy. “Mukha namang simple lang. Palagay ko nauunawaan ng mga boboto ngayon araw na madali lang ang proceso,” he said. He also appealed to all his supporters to guard their votes in view of some reported incidents of malfunctioning VCMs. Voter Lilibeth AbadillaGaling reported that after inserting her ballot to the VCM at precinct 91A in Bingao Elementary School in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte, the printed receipt that came out did not show her elected

president and vice president. A label showed “undervote” below while her elected party list down to local level positions were in it. Because of this, Galing immediately reported the matter to attending Board of Election Inspectors which noted the discrepancy. Meanwhile, the Comelec and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) had set up Voters Help Desks in various polling precincts here to assist voters who have encountered several problems like missing names in the voters lists and printed receipts not reflecting the names of national candidates like the president, vice president and senators whom they elected. A priority lane for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and Senior Citizens (SC) are also visible in some polling places with empty chairs reserved for them while waiting for their turn to vote. (PNA)

said the voting process was wellorganized, efficient and on-time. In her Twitter account, Jovee Marie Dela Cruz said, “Everything is going well so far here at Torres High School in Tondo, Manila.” Husband and wife Ed and May De Guzman casted their votes at Eulogio Rodriguez Elementary School in Cubao, Quezon City. Ed said they did not encounter any problem in their precinct, as everything was orderly and peaceful. “The policemen wore their uniforms properly; the poll

SARA VOTES. Former Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte shows her ink-stained finger after casting her vote at a polling precint at Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High

watchers and other assistants were very accommodating and courteous,” he told the Philippines News Agency. Foreign correspondent Dario Agnote, meanwhile, shared it took him 30 minutes to complete the whole voting process. Broadcaster Melo Acuña, on the other hand, noticed the trash (campaign materials) and the long queues in Quezon City. “Police personnel have been on their toes confiscating campaign materials about to be brought into the voting centers,” he said. (PNA)

School in Matina, Davao City yesterday. Sara is running unopposed as mayor of the city. Lean Daval Jr.

Comelec checking Election day not a field day for litterbugs VCM malfunction A T

HE Commission on Elections (Comelec) is verifying reports that some vote count machines (VCMs) failed to function and need to be replaced at the start of the voting process on Monday. “We are still collating reports and they will be submitted to the en banc and if the en banc has policy prescriptions then they will issue the instructions within the day,” said Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez. He noted those voting centers that did not start at 6 a.m. due to the non-functioning VCMs might have to extend their voting period. “Ang protocol namin for replacement is that the technician will have to be called to verify the need to replace the machine and then its the technician who will make the call soon sa aming command center dun,” he said in a press briefing. Jimenez added, “Once the

call is made a replacement machine will be sent to the venue. Question will replacement be immediate? Not in all cases. In some cases, kailangan i-biyahe ‘yung makina so we are looking at mga two hours ‘yung delivery time na pinakamatagal.” With this, he noted the commission en banc has to issue a resolution allowing the extension of voting hours. “Ang pangkaraniwang ginagawa natin bagamat wala tayo official resolution tungkol dito. Ang pangkaraniwang ginagawa natin tuwing halalan ay kapag nakuha ang oras sa unahan ay dinadagdag ‘yan sa dulo. But again there’s no resolution for that for now,” he explained. There are more than 5,000 replacement VCMs. Likewise, Jimenez said that they are collating the rate of opening of the different precincts all over the country. “We are expecting the

FCOMELEC, 10

waste and pollution watchdog group has warned against littering as millions of voters troop to the polling stations Monday. Fearing repeat of unrestrained littering that marred past elections, the EcoWaste Coalition made a last-minute appeal to the public to go out and vote without defiling the envi-

ronment. “On this historic day for democracy, let us treat our surroundings with more respect and litter no more,” said Aileen Lucero, coordinator at EcoWaste Coalition. “We will not get tired of reminding ourselves not to litter; hope springs eternal,” she added. Lucero asked the voting public to keep the polling

precincts and their immediate vicinities litter-free. “Please do not discard sample ballots, the most notorious litter on election day, in polling places or on the streets,” Lucero said. Other commonly littered items include cigarette filters, candy and snack wrappers, food and beverage containers and plastic bags, the group not-

ed.

MGeneral Rafael Valencia. Valencia reported that all polling precincts in Davao region opened except for Barangay Manurigao in New Bataan, Compostela Valley province because the members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) were still on their way as of 10:00 a.m. According to Valencia, the BEIs with two

vote-counting machines (VCMs) have decided to go by foot after the Tactical Operation Group choppers could not fly on Sunday due to poor visibility. Manurigao is a far-flung barangay mostly populated by Indigenous People. Valencia said there are 900 registered voters. It is also one of the barangays included in the Election Watch-list areas.

Valencia said the 10th ID listed 36 EWAS in three categories. Under category 1, 10th ID listed Tagum City; Kapalong in Davao del Norte; Digos and Malalag in Davao del Sur. Under category two are 218 barangays in region 10, parts of region 12, one district in North Cotabato. Only Monkayo municipality is placed under Category 3. (PNA)

“Election day is not a field day for litterbugs,” Lucero emphasized. Littering, she reminded, is a prohibited act under R.A. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, which provides for a punishment of Php300 to Php1,000 fine or one to 15day community service, or both. (PNA)

Davao generally peaceful at start of polls: AFP

HE peace and order situation in Davao Region was generally peaceful with no major security incidents reported when all polling precincts opened Monday morning despite earlier armed encounters with lawless elements in some parts of Bukidnon and North Cotabato, according to 10th Infantry Division (10th ID) commanding general,

5 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 50 • TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

P10-B Samal-Davao bridge may start in 2019: Alquiza By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

HE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the cobstruction of muti-billion Davao-Samal bridge may start by 2019. That is, if the management of the Japan International Cooperative Agency (JICA) will approve the conduct of a feasibility study for the mammoth project. Mariano Alquiza, regional director of the DPWH 11, hastold reporters that the department has already submitted the result of the pre-feasibility study to the Japanese governement for assessment. “We will know the result this year,” Alquiza added. He said the JICA will also include in the assessment the economic viability and the environmental impact of the project which will connect the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) to Davao City mainland. By then, it will be assessed if the project is ideal for public-private

partnership,he added. Once approved, he said the proposal will apt for feasibility study that could be conducted next year. By 2018,Alquiza said the JICA and the DPWH target to push for the detailed engineering study. The Regional Development Council (RDC) 11 approved early last year the conduct of a feasibility study for the construction of the Davao-Samal Bridge. The proposed bridge is initially estimated to cost some P10-billion. In a statement, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) 11 said the proposal “stems from the results of a pre-feasibility study funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) which was a component of the Davao Integrated Development Program (DIDP) Master Plan formulated in 1999 with an estimated project cost of P6.48 billion for a two-lane suspension bridge with a

length of 1,200 meters.” In a separate study done by consultants from Katahira and Engineers International in 2005, alternative start-end points were recommended which increased the proposed bridge length to 1,350 meters, upping the project cost to P 15.93 billion, the statement added. However, the study was not pursued since the pre-FS still needs nod from JICA. Department of Tourism (DOT) 11 regional director Roberto Alabado III said he is hoping the project will be implemented under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme. “The feasibility study is very essential to entice the private sector in funding the Davao-Samal bridge,” he said. This big ticket project gained praises from different stakeholders in the tourism sector because of its positive impact on the economy and tourism industry in Davao City and Samal.

OIL PRICE ROLLBACK. Motorists have their motorcycles filled up with fuel at a gasoline station along E. Quirino Avenue in Davao City yesterday. Petroleum companies announced a P0.30 to P.040 rollback in oil prices this week. Lean Daval Jr.

Oil firms to rollback pump prices Tuesday

IL firms will reduce pump prices Tuesday, reflecting falling international market prices due to the oil glut. In separate advisories, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., Petron Corp. and Phoenix Petroleum Philippines said they will decrease gas prices by 30 centavos per liter and lower diesel prices by 20 centavos per liter. Petron and Shell will also slash kerosene prices by 40 centavos per liter. Shell and Phoenix will apply the price movements at 6:00 a.m., while Petron

will implement the changes at 12:01 a.m. According to the Energy Department’s oil monitor for Metro Manila as of May 2, diesel prices ranged from PHP 23.49-27.07 per liter, while has a common price of PHP 26.25 per liter. Gasoline, on the other hand, ranged from PHP35.40-42.60 per liter. It has a prevailing price of PHP40.30 per liter. With the latest movements, diesel will have a price range of PHP23.2926.87 per liter and gasoline will range from PHP35.1042.30 per liter.

Energy secretary Zenaida Monsada explained in an interview Monday that the rollback is still due to the prevailing glut in the global crude market. She also pointed out the oil prices had fluctuated more this year. The secretary said the market is not that active due to some refineries still on maintenance shutdown -- with a few returning online. Monsada also stressed she expects the discussions for a production freeze among major oil producers will continue. (PNA)

6 THE ECONOMY Repeal of energy tax sought

LAWMAKER from the Visayas Region has proposed the abolition of Batas Pambansa Blg. 36 imposing an energy tax on electric power consumption of residential customers. Rep. Wilfredo S. Caminero (2nd District, Cebu) said BP 36 was approved on September 7, 1979 to conserve energy and promote its efficient utilization. Covered by the law are residential consumers with monthly power consumption of at least 650 kilowatt-hours. During the period, Caminero said there was an oil crisis and power generation and transmission were in the hands of the government through the National Power Corporation (NPC). “At that time when supply was limited, imposing an additional energy tax was a valid means to encourage energy conservation,” Caminero said. However, after 37 years, Caminero said it becomes evident that BP 36 is no longer incentive to conserve energy and does not promote efficient utilization of electricity. For one, with the implementation of Republic Act No. 9136 or the Electric Power Industry Reform Act

(EPIRA), the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity have been unbundled and NPC ceased to have monopoly in power generation, he said. Likewise, Caminero said the demand of residential consumers has outpaced the industrial and commercial consumers. Caminero said his advocacy for the repeal of BP 36 as contained in House Bill 5883 does not mean he rejects the goal of energy conservation, which he declared must be supported and encouraged. “But considering the fact that the Filipinos now carry the burden of paying one of the most expensive power rates in the world, the government must craft a conservation and efficiency program that incentivizes consumers instead of penalizing them and that applies to all electricity users, not only the residential consumers,” he said. “With the collection of 12-percent value added tax (VAT) on electricity, local franchise tax and other taxes, the government will not be placed at a disadvantaged with the scrapping of the energy tax,” Caminero added. (PNA)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 9 ISSUE 50 • TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

Cacao industry targets to plant 15M trees in ‘16 By CHENEEN R. CAPON

crc@edgedavao.net

HE cacao industry targets to plant a total of 15 million cacao trees nationwide in 2016 in a bid to increase production by multiple folds by 2022. Valente Turtur, executive director of Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao (Cidami), said national agencies like the Department of Agriculture (DA), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Department of Environment and Natural Resources will lead in the distribution of cacao seedlings after the El Niño in June, this year. For the DA alone, Turtur said a total of P145 million was

allocated for procurement of seedlings this year. The DA is targetting to distribute more than 10 million seedlings for the whole year. Of the figure, 5.5 million seedlings will be given to farmers on the first half of the year, while some 7 million seedlings will be distributed to farmers by the second quarter of the year. Turtur also said the DENR will be giving out 4.5 million cacao seedlings from 2016 to 2018. “We’re targetting to plant 30 million trees each year until 2020,” he told Edge Davao.

Target areas to be planted to cacao are located in Surigao, Zamboanga and Davao for Mindanao; Negros Island for Visayas; and Batangas, Quezon province and Ifugao for Luzon. From 2017 to 2022, Turtur said both the government and private sector eyes an annual expansion of 30,000 hectares of area planted to cacao annually. Of the figure, the private sector will have a share of 5,000 hectares expansion this year. Both the public and the private sectors target to increase the national cacao production by 100,000 metric tons by 2020 in a bid to

increase the country’s share in the global cacao export market. Stakeholders of the cacao industry expect that there will be a cacao global shortage by 2018 due to increasing demand abroad. Turtur also said members of the National Cacao Interagency will meet in Cebu later this month for the convergence meeting. During the meeting, participants will be presenting the cacao industry roadmap 2015-2022. “This will serve as guide of the new administration for the development of the cacao industry,”he said.

Construction Reporting: Nailing it right Think construction reporting, and what comes to mind?

ARL Jerome Maroma, a correspondent for CLTV36, used to think it was all about crafting a story about an infrastructure project and relevant details. He has since had a rethink. Construction reporting is often associated with stories focusing on the physical and technical aspects of an infrastructure work, often highlighting details such as the magnitude of a project, costs, target dates of completion, impressive specifications, and industry performance vis-a-vis GDP growth, among others. But while it is essential to see the industry as a vital cog in sustainable development, it is largely off the radar of some members of the media looking into the industry. Maroma was no exception. The challenge for the press is to explore unreported or underreported stories revolving around the industry, using the lens of sustainable development. This was the highlight of the Luzon round of the seminar-workshop series on construction reporting organized by the Philippine Press Institute (PPI), in partnership with Holcim Philippines, on April 27-29 in Pandi, Bulacan. Maroma was one of around 20 participants in the seminar, themed “Taking the High Road to Better Construction Stories”. The Mindanao and Visayas

legs of the PPi-Holcim seminar will be held in Malaybalay, Bukidnon and Tagbilaran City in Bohol province on May 1820 and May 24-26, respectively. Veteran journalist and PPI training director Tess Bacalla said construction reporting should go beyond the “usual”, or superficial, stories that often deal mainly with the physical and technical side, without going deeper to unearth issues that lend themselves to more interesting and nuanced stories, and thus to broader public discussion, around the industry. “Target issues” Don Gil Carreon, media relations specialist at Holcim Philippines, a cement and aggregates company, said there are five “target issues” that underpin sustainable construction. These include the efficient and sensible use of resources as well as the participation of communities in construction or infrastructure development efforts to ensure social inclusion at all stages. An infrastructure project, he said, should also demonstrate innovative concepts in terms of design, materials and methods, and should be transferable to a range of other applications. Efficient use of natural resources and reduction of harm to the environment are also vital to any sustainable

FCONSTRUCTION, 10

CHECKING THE LIST. Voters check their precinct numbers from a list of registered out a polling station at Tomas Monteverde Sr. Elementary School along Ponciano Reyes Street in Davao City yesterday. Fifty-four millions Filipinos around the country casted their votes for the local and national elections yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

BCDA remits P4B to BTr for 2015 T

HE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) has remitted a total of PHP4 billion to the Bureau of Treasury (BTr) for the full-year of 2015, the government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) reported on Monday. BCDA said its remittance to the national treasury is 25 percent higher than the PHP3.2 billion it remitted in 2014. BCDA President and

CEO Arnel Paciano Casanova stressed that the latest remittance to the BTr highlights solid and consistent financial performance of the BCDA in generating billions for the government. “The increase was due to successful business ventures, resolution of some problematic accounts with the private sector, more efficient collection and management of contracts, as well as good financial housekeeping. In effect, it’s

good governance translating to good economics,” Casanova explained. He mentioned that PHP3.47 billion of the total remittances were generated from existing joint venture and lease agreements, and assets disposed last year while the remaining amount include Department of Financeguarantee fees and return of initial capital contribution to the national government pursuant to the BCDA Charter.

The previous year was also the sixth consecutive year for BCDA to remit over PHP2 billion to the national treasury. In 2010, BCDA remitted an amount of PHP2.11 billion; PHP2.32 billion in 2011; PHP2.74 billion in 2012; PHP2.21 billion in 2013; and PHP3.2 billion in 2014. Since the start of Aquino administration, BCDA is among the top GOCCs that remitted PHP1 billion or more to the BTr. (PNA)

Globe Telecom board approves P22/share cash dividend

As Jan-Mar service revenues up 14% at P29.9B; net profit rises 3% to P4.3 B

LOBE Telecom said its board approved the declaration of second quarter cash dividend of P22 per share for holders of its common shares. The dividend will be paid to shareholders on record as of May 19, 2016, with payment date on June 3,

2016. “This second quarter dividend payout totals P2.9 billion. Including the dividend payout last March, the annualized amount will translate to around 77% of last year’s core net income,” said Rizza Maniego-Eala, Globe

Acting Chief Finance Officer. She added the P22/share dividend payment represents a 4.1% dividend yield based on the closing share price of P2,170 as of May 05, 2016. Globe Telecom’s board also approved the declaration of the second semi-annual

cash dividend for holders of its non-voting preferred shares payable on August 22, 2016 for shareholders on record as of August 10, 2016. The amount of the cash dividend shall be at a fixed rate of 5.2006% per

FGLOBE, 10

7 AGRITRENDS

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 50 • TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

More filipino farmers now plant biotech corn By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

S A result of drought, the area planted to biotech corn in the Philippines has decreased by 15% -- from 831,000 hectares in 2014 to 702,000 hectares in 2015, according to a new report released by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA). “The number of small resource-poor farmers, growing on average 2 hectares of biotech maize in the Philippines in 2015 was estimated at 350,000,” said the report, 20th Anniversary (1996 to 2015) of the Global Commercialization of Biotech Crops and Biotech Crop Highlights in 2015. Bt maize is a variant of corn that has been genetically altered to express one or more proteins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). Bt, which has been found in Philippine soils, was discovered to have an insecticidal property in 1901. By the 1950s, Bt became a well-known biological insecticide. The Bt protein is expressed throughout the plant. “When a vulnerable insect eats the Bt-containing plant, the protein is activated in its gut, which is alkaline,” explained W.S. Cranshaw in a fact sheet published by the Colorado State University Extension Office. “In the alkaline environment,” Cranshaw continued, “the protein partially unfolds and is cut by other proteins, forming a toxin that paralyzes the insect’s digestive system and forms holes in the gut wall. The insect stops eating within a few hours and eventually starves.” In the Philippines, most farmers planted the corn with Bt/HT traits compared to those with only herbicide tolerant (HT) trait. About 646,000 hectares (92%) has been planted to the former while only 55,000 hectares (8%) were planted to the latter. “This reflects the preference of farmers for stacked traits and the superior benefits they offer over a single trait,” the report pointed out. The report said that the hectarage planted to the single trait Bt corn decreased to 32% (from 2008 to 2009) to 76% in 2012, with a total of only 3,000 hectares. Since 2013, the single trait Bt

The Philippines continues to be in the forefront of biotech research and commercialization in the region, as well as a model for science based and thorough regulatory policy

maize has not been planted. On the other hand, the single trait HT corn was planted on 70,000 hectares in 2014, which is only 8.4% of the total biotech corn planted in the country. This was further reduced to 8% (55,000) in 2015. At 63%, the adoption rate of planting biotech corn in 2015 was similar to that of 2014. “In the period 2003 to 2015, there were 13 years of consecutive growth in hectarage of biotech maize with the exception of 2015 due to drought,” the report said. Since 2003, when biotech corn was planted, yield of corn in the country increased from 1.85 metric

tons per hectare to current 2.93 metric tons per hectare. As a result, “the farmers have benefitted immensely due to this increased yield,” the report said. At a constant land area of 2.6 million hectares, corn production has provided sufficient local supply that reduced corn imports and set the country’s road to corn self-sufficiency since 2011. In 2014, local yellow corn supply was 5.5 million metric tons providing local corn demand for feeds of 5 million metric tons, with only 575,000 metric tons of corn imports for special purpose. According to the report,

the farm level economic benefit of planting biotech corn in the Philippines is estimated to have reached US$560 million in the period 2003 to 2014. “For 2014 alone, the net national impact of biotech maize on farm income was estimated at US$89 million,” said the report. Some studies showed that the gain in profit at the farmer level was computed at P10,132 per hectare for farmers planting Bt corn with a corresponding savings of P168 per hectare in insecticide costs. In another socio-economic impact study, it was found that the additional farm income from Bt corn was P7,482 per hectare

during the dry season and P7,080 per hectare during the wet season. The study was based from the 20032004 crop year. “Using data from 20042005 crop years, it was determined that Bt maize could provide an overall income advantage that ranged from 5-14% during the wet season and 20-40% during the dry season,” the report said. The Philippines has already achieved the “biotech mega-country status” with biotech corn planted to more than 50,000 hectares. It is one of the only two Southeast Asian countries to plant biotech corn; the other country is Vietnam. “The Philippines continues to be in the forefront

of biotech research and commercialization in the region, as well as a model for science based and thorough regulatory policy,” the report said. Biotech corn has been planted since 2003, and the country is “gearing up for the possible commercialization of products of public sector collaboration such as Golden Rice, Bt eggplant, virus resistant papaya and Bt cotton,” the report noted. Since 2002, there have been 88 biotech crop event approvals for food, feed, processing and cultivation in the Philippines: alfalfa (2 events), rapeseed (2), cotton, corn (52), potato (8), rice (1), soybean (14) and sugar beet (1). (All photos were taken from the net)

EDGEDAVAO

8 VANTAGE

EDITORIAL

Time to heal

S the nation awaits for the next leader to emerge winner from the May 9 elections, the order of the day is to clean up the mess and prepare for the healing. The election period has brought the best and the worst among allies and enemies in politics as well as the supporters political personalities. It had brought divisiveness among people, heard the most hurtful statements and hurled the most damning accusations. However, everything has an end, and like all political exercises of the past, this one too had to go away in time. Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who had led the surveys going into yesterday’s polls, already extended his hand in peace

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and called for healing after the heated campaign. The other candidates have yet to make their statements. Mayor Duterte’s call for healing is addressed to everyone who will accept it, including his bitter rival Mar Roxas and accuser Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. Indeed, the country will have to move forward whoever will emerge as the next leader. In the finnal reckoning, it will not be the elected leaders alone who will make the change that will propel the country to progress and peace, but more significantly each and every Filipino who will have to work together with government to achieve its goals. The people have spoken, it’s all over but the results. ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

AGAPITO JOAQUIN JR. Associate Editor

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HOMAS Alva Edison was perhaps the greatest inventor in history with over 1,000 patents issued to his name. He changed the lives of millions of people through such inventions as the electric light and phonograph. His statement, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration,” is one of the most often-quoted lines. Perhaps it may come to you as a surprise that this American inventor had only three months of formal schooling. History records show that he knew more failures than successes. For 13 months, Edison kept on searching for a filament that would stand the stress of electric current. As he pondered whether he would be able to discover the elusive thing, he got a note from people backing his experiment that they would no longer be giving additional funds for what he was then doing. News like that may bring a person to quit, but not Edison. In fact, it did not deter him from continuing his work. He refused to admit defeat and worked without sleep for two more days and nights. Eventually, he managed to insert one of the crude carbonized threads into a vacuum-sealed bulb. “When we turned on the current,” he recalled, “the sight we had so long desired finally met our eyes!” Before that, however, Edison had to endure a string of failures. “What a waste! We have tried no less than 700 experiments and nothing has worked. We are not a bit better off than when we started,” a couple of men who were working alongside him said. He just shrugged this comment, telling them, “Oh yes, we are! We now know 700 things that won’t work. We’re closer than we’ve ever been before.” Perhaps one person who is very familiar with failure was Milton. At age 19, he started his own confectionery business in

Old Tale Retold The issues in this 2016 presidential election were problems Marcos had vowed to solve with martial but failed; instead, they worsened. They were the same problems, the post-martial law governments, from Aquino the mother to Aquino the son, have pledged to solve but have eluded solution. They, in fact, pre-dated Marcos. Corruption took root right after World War II; the Moro and Communist problems, bred by social and historical injustices, started menacing peace and order in the 1950s. Other issues, new or related, emerged later, their solutions – like their older cousins – forming part of promises every election. Candidates won or lost votes depending on how voters perceived the sincerity of their promises. In this 2016 election, the presidential candidates tout their personal qualifications – their education, integrity, experience, commitment to good governance, champion of the poor,etcetera, etcetera. They promise to create more jobs; provide local governments more funds; stop corruption, criminality, drug menace,etcetera, etcetera. Recall past

VOL. 9 ISSUE 50 • TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

Press on!

Philadelphia. THINK ON THESE! He worked so hard for six years, but the business did not do well that he had to give it up. He moved to Denver to work for another candy company. Henrylito D. Tacio Later on, Milton and henrytacio@gmail.com his father started a candy company in Chicago – which failed. They went to New Orleans, where another venture failed. New York was next, and it, too, was a failure. But with so many failures behind him, he pressed on. After all, he said, he learned so many things from his mistakes. “Failure is not fatal,” he told himself. Milton, who treated obstacles as stepping stones instead of stumbling block, kept on learning about the confectionery trade, picking up many tricks and inventing new ones by constantly experimenting with formulas and processes. He began anew, opening the Lancaster Carmel Company in Pennsylvania in time for the Christmas trade. It was a success! When he died in 1945, Milton Snavely Hershey was known throughout the world as the man who created Hershey’s Milk Chocolate. But Milton was just one of the world’s most outstanding failures. There was this American guy who failed in business in 1831. In 1832, he ran for government office but emerged a loser. In 1833, he again failed in business. In 1834, he was elected to the Legislature. In 1838, he was defeated for Speaker; in 1840 defeated for Elector; in 1843 defeated for Congress; in 1846 elected

BY PATRICIO P. DIAZ elections and ask:“What’s new?” They present programs to improve the economy, to improve governance, to improve the life of the poor – programs that envision“change for the better”. Recall past elections. Had similar promises then been fulfilled, the Philippines would have stood out, by now, as the“Paradise in Asia”. But those programs for change only re-entrenched thestatusquo”.Will the well-crafted programs in this 2016 election be different? What do we mean byprogram for change re-entrenching the status quo? Take a very close look into President Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III’s“Daang Matuwid”,the core of his 2010 election campaign. He has acclaimed it as a resounding success. He wants this continued and is the platform of Manuel A. Roxas II, standard bearer of the Liberal Party. To President Aquino, the 2016 election is a ref-

to Congress; in 1855 defeated for Senate; in 1856 defeated for Vice-President; in 1858 defeated for Senate; in 1860 elected to President of the United States. His name? Abraham Lincoln. An unknown poet says it well: “When things go wrong as they sometimes will, when the road you’re trudging seems all uphill, when the funds are low and the debts are high, and you want to smile, but you have to sigh.” “Rest if you must, but don’t you quit,” the poet continues. “Life is queer with is twists and turns, as every one of us sometimes learns, and many a failure turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out.” The magic word here is persistence. That’s what Edison, Hershey, and Lincoln possessed. “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence,” declared American president Calvin Coolidge. “Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of human race.” American author James Michener believed on this, too. He was told that if he had not published a book by age 35, chances were that he never would. He was nearing 40, and he kept hearing that for every book published, there were 95 manuscript collecting dust. His friends advised him to change the plot of his stories since they were not popular and that they were not considered worthy of the top literary prizes. Hollywood would not consider his stories since they held no dramatic possibilities. But Michener stuck it out. When Tales of the South Pacific was finally published

in 1947, critics raved and literary figures awarded it with a Pulitzer Prize. When Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammersteind transformed it into a Broadway musical called South Pacific, people fall in line to see it. “Many people fail in life because they believe in the adage: If you don’t succeed, try something else,” American author Don B. Owens, Jr. observed. “But success eludes those who follow such advice. Virtually everyone has had dreams at one time or another, especially in youth. The dreams that have come true did so because people stuck to their ambitions. They refused to be discouraged. They never let disappointment get the upper hand. Challenges only spurred them on to greater effort.” The words of William A. Ward come in handy. “From failure can come valuable experience; from experience – wisdom; from wisdom – mutual trust; from mutual trust – cooperation; from cooperation – united effort; from united effort – success.” “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed,” black American educator Booker T. Washington once pointed out. He was speaking from experience. Born of a Virginia slave family, he was chosen in 1881 to head a new school for blacks. This he built up from two unequipped buildings to a complex with over 100 buildings and 1,500 students. To end this piece, allow me to quote the words of British author William Somerset Maugham: “The common idea that success spoils people by making them vain, egotistic, and self-complacent is erroneous; on the contrary, it makes them, for the most part, humble, tolerant, and kind. Failure makes people cruel and bitter.”

erendum for“Daang Matuwid”;for the Filipinos to reject it would be tragic to the nation. Common sense question: If“Daang Matuwid”is a resounding success, why arepovertyandcorruptionthe leading issues in the 2016 election? The slogan for“Daang Matuwid”is“Kung walang korap, walang mahirap!” In English,“If there is no corruption, there is no poverty!”Poverty is rampant; ergo, corruption is rampant. “Daang Matuwid”is controversial. This merits full discussion elsewhere, some time. Suffice it to see:the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the business communities of the country attest to economic development; but Aquino admits the gains have not trickled down to the poor. In his State of the Nation Address, he denounced smuggling at the Customs; but he rejected the resignation of the Customs commissioner, his ally. Government records show the tripling of smuggling incidence at the Customs under Aquino compared to that under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Presidential candidate Miriam Defensor-Santiago(INQUIRER.net, May 5, 2016:

Miriam Santiago: …) said“Daang Matuwid”has“turned out to be the ultimate frustration of the Filipino people. … The administration has failed to implement many reforms to curb corruption. These include the Freedom of Information Bill or Law, which I strongly supported in the Senate, and the Anti-Premature Campaigning Law.” Are the well-crafted programs of presidential candidates in this 2016 election better than“Daang Matuwid”or are they just its close catchy variations like“Galing at Puso”of Grace Poe or“GP”, her initials? To borrow from the comic character“Popeye”, this 2016 election is“disgustipating”. (To be concluded.)

Election 2016 as we see it (Part 2) COMMENT

VANTAGE POINTS

(“Comment” is Mr. Patricio P. Diaz’ column for MindaViews, the opinion section of MindaNews. Mr. Diaz is the recipient of a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Titus Brandsma for his “commitment to education and public information to Mindanawons as Journalist, Educator and Peace Advocate. You may e-mail your comments to patpdiazgsc@yahoo.com.)

10 NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

DUTERTE LEADS... FROM 1 Vice President Jejomar Binay is at fourth wit 504,997 votes and Sen. Miriam DefensorSantiago wound up the rear with 164,756. The PPCRV results were reported on Bilang Pilipino 2016 on TV5. In the vice presidential race, Sen. Bongbong Marcos took a slim lead over administration bet Leni Robredo. Marcos took the early lead with 1,399,012 while Robredo is trailing closely with 1,213,106. Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano is running a far third with 498,796, Sen. Escudero is

fourth with 420,193, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV is fifth with 71,317 and Sen. Gringo Honasan is at no. 6 with 61,754. Duterte earlier said in a press conference at his team’s Secretariat at The Royal Mandaya Hotel that he leaves everything to God. “If he wants me there, I will accept it. If he doesn’t, I will accept it. I will retire.” Duterte said he does not want to be presumptuous and told a reporter that he will answer the question about his plans if he wins “tomorrow.” (Neilwin Joseph Bravo)

me there, I will accept it,” he said. “I will either go down in defeat or go up in victory.” As of 5:55 pm yesterday, Duterte surged ahead in the partial unofficial results by Rappler with 1,311, 236 votes or 38.3 percent, leading Sen.

Grace Poe who had 757,055 or 22.1 percent, administration bet Mar Roxas 748,482 or 21.9 percent, Vice President Jejomar Binay 457,575 or 13.4 percent, Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago 149,173 or 4.4 percent.

votes of at least 600 voters of the said barangay. Some VCMs in Barangay Molol, Tupi were also not functioning. In Bula Elementary School in General Santos City, the Board of Elections Inspector (BEI) used plain cartoon instead of ballot secrecy folder. KONTRA DAYA will continue to monitor cases of harassment, vote buying and failure of VCMs, and other irregularities in the next 48 hours from the five regions in Mindanao. It

is committed to safeguard the rights of the people to choice leaders who will carry out their interests and aspirations. KONTRA DAYA is a national broad campaign of various organizations and individual, religious, artists, concerned citizens, activists, youth and students, lawyers, IT experts, teachers, government employees and ordinary Filipinos who are committed against election fraud and the failure of elections.

said. GAD refers to Gender Awareness and Development (GAD). Moreover, CAAP is currently coordinating with the Embassy of Australia to adopt GAD best practices in the country. Hotchkiss, however, acknowledged that much has been done in pursuing gender development undertakings but assured more effort will be exerted to be responsive to the needs of the Philippines’ civil aviation riding public. He said that more will be

done as the authority implements its 2016-2017 schedule of airport upgrading, The Dumaguete airport, also known as the Sibulan Airport located in Negros Oriental, is scheduled for expansion under the 2016-2017 airport-upgrading plan, which will include the installation of the GAD facilities. Hotchkiss meanwhile reiterated that CAAP is a staunch supporter of GAD and has been a trailblazer in implementing GAD projects and initiatives. (PNA)

report from our command center anytime now. So far the reports that we’ve had at least for National Capital Region, mukhang nagbukas naman majority,” he said.

The country held its third automated polls on Monday, where voters will be choosing new top leaders of the country such as president, vice president and senators. (PNA)

share on a 30/360 day basis for the 6-month dividend period. Globe closed the first three months of 2016 with consolidated service revenues of P29.9 billion, 14% higher than the same period in 2015. The sustained robust revenue growth was driven by gains across data-related product segments, as complemented by the continued subscriber growth for both mobile and home broadband. EBITDA margin was at 44%, higher than last year’s margin of 42% while net profit was at P4.3 billion, up 3% against the P4.2 billion reported in the year

earlier period. The company reported that mobile revenues grew by 7% year-on-year, reaching P23.1 billion in the first quarter of 2016 from the P21.6 billion reported a year ago, driven by the strong revenue performance mostly from the prepaid brands. TM, the company’s mass-market brand, increased revenues by 10% year-on-year while Globe Prepaid revenues posted a solid growth of 8%. Globe Postpaid revenues likewise posted a 3% growth from the same period of 2015 with its continued customer base expansion year-on-year.

TIME... FROM 1

Kontra... FROM 2

CAAP... FROM 3

Comelec... FROM 4 Globe... FROM 6

VOL. 9 ISSUE 50 • TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

NUN CHECKED. A police officer detailed to guard the main gate of Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School (DRANHS) inspects a nun’s bag who will cast her vote before she was allowed to enter the premises of the school yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

3 family members, neighbor wounded in blast near Maguindanao polling area

OUR persons, including three members of a family, were wounded after an M79 grenade projectile landed near the Manungkaling Elementary School in Mamasapano, Maguindanao,

shortly before noon on Monday. The Manungkaling school is one of ten other public schools in the locality utilized for today’s synchronized national and local polls.

Those injured and rushed to a local infirmary were identified as Johaira Mohammad, 23; and also Saela,17; Paetra, 42; and Ibrahim, 23; all surnamed Usop.Reports said the Usops reside near the back

portion of the public school. Voting resumed after Army and police augmentation forces arrived in the area. Authorities have yet to identify the culprits behind the incident. (PNA)

OLICE operatives arrested nine residents in nearby Koronadal City on Monday morning for alleged violation of the liquor ban in line with the general elections. Supt. Barney Condes, Koronadal City police chief, said in a police report that they nabbed the suspects in separate operations in Barangays Zone 3 and 4 of Poblacion

shortly before 7 am. The official said they received reports from concerned residents that there were ongoing drinking sprees in the two barangays. He identified the suspects as Jesmar Aman Mudin, Rex Rumantan Diaz, Mason Sumpang and Joveng Usman Mudin of Barangay Zone 4, and Luis Sanaygon Torento, Mark Jon-

nel Miguel Tado, Kervin Arenton Marmonejo, Chester James Carumba Castor and Peter John Mark Aturdido Angeles of Barangay Zone 3. Four of the suspects, who are currently detained at the city police station’s detention cell, were college students. Condes said they subjected the suspects to physical and medical examination to vali-

date their alcohol use. He said the suspects would be charged for violation of the two-day liquor ban, which started on Sunday. The Commission on Elections said the selling, offering, buying, serving, or taking intoxicating liquor are prohibited under the Omnibus Election Code on May 8 and 9. (MindaNews)

construction project, aside from aesthetic impact as a form of cultural expression. The industry must also exercise flexibility to adapt to change, Carreon said. Against this backdrop, journalists, for instance, could write a story on how a particular infrastructure project affects or alters the way of living of people in a community such as schools and relocation sites for informal settler families (ISFs). The province of Bulacan, including municipalities like Pandi, is home to thousands of ISFs from Metro Manila. The challenge for the media is to find an interesting topic for a constructionrelated story. Such a story could resonate with readers even if they are not involved in the construction sector, Bacalla said. It is also important to tell stories from the perspective of ordinary citizens who could be affected by, or benefit from, construction or infrastructure projects. Construction stories that amplify the voices of ordinary folk, or put them at the center of the equation, also

highlight the important role of the media in training the public spotlight on important issues involving the industry. Putting a human face on such issues could also set one’s work apart from those of others in the media, Bacalla said. Links to inclusive growth Dr. Adoracion Navarro, senior research fellow of the Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS), a public think tank, highlighted the links between infrastructure and inclusive growth. Navarro said that physical infrastructure, including housing, transportation and telecommunications networks, promotes inclusive growth by facilitating connectivity and enhancing livelihood opportunities for the public. These infrastructure also stimulate mobility and speed up delivery, and overall cost, of production inputs. However, infrastructure spending is growing at a slow rate in the country, Navarro said. “We have monitored some growth in the number of

infrastructure projects under the Aquino administration, especially with the roll-out of public-private partnership (PPP) scheme, but it is still not enough,” she said. As of April 2016, at least 12 infrastructure projects under the PPP initiatives have been awarded, including the P24.40-billion Bulacan Bulk Water Supply Project. The majority of proposed projects are still in their early stages, PPP records showed. The Philippines is at third to the last rung in terms of quality of roads, air transport, port and railroad infrastructure among the ten member-nations of the Association of Southeast Asian, Navarro noted. Informal settlers Another infrastructurerelated area where much need to be done is the resettlement of informal settlers in urban areas, particularly in Metro Manila. The choice of Pandi, a second-class municipality in Bulacan, as seminar venue afforded the participants the chance to visit a resettlement site for informal settler families

and witness firsthand how the lack of an inclusive approach to their relocation, including inadequate facilities on-site, has impacted the affected families. Prior to the field visit, Kreeger Bonagua, deputy lead coordinator of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP), gave an overview of the current interventions of the government to address the needs of ISFs, including those living in danger areas or displaced due to government projects. Bonagua said that while half the Philippine population, estimated at close to 102 million, are now living in urban areas, at least 15 percent of them are ISFs. The urbanization has been spawned by several factors, including migration from rural areas, in hopes of better opportunities, he said. “It turns out that there are many stories on construction aside from the usual reporting about infrastructure projects. Talking to people affected by a project is a good start,” Maroma, the CLTV36 correspondent, said.

9 liquor ban violators nabbed in Koronadal P Construction... FROM 6

11 COMMUNITY SENSE

EDGEDAVAO VOL. 9 ISSUE 50 • TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

DAVAO LST GRAD. Davao City JobStart LST Graduates together with DOLE XI Regional Director Joffrey M. Suyao, DOLE-BLE Division Chief Ruth R. Rodriguez, ADB Youth Research Designer Julia Safarova, DOLE XI Regional Employment Focal Larielle Arce, Davao JobStart Coordinator Tess Ducao and trainers and PESO officials. KMGL/LCO-DOLEXI

Pantawid grantee graduates as ‘cum laude’ M

ALITA, Davao Occidental (DSWD XI) –Success belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Pantawid beneficiary Crizzamae Manreal, 20, believes in this. Finishing the course Bachelor in Secondary Education majoring in Biological Science, Crizzamae Manreal received the highest honors as Cum Laude during the recent 30th commencement exercises of Southern Philippines Agri-Business, Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST). “All of these became possible through Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program which began for us 2012,” Manreal said. Like any Pantawid beneficiary, she experienced difficulties in life. Her mother tends to their home Pantawid Pamilya grantee Crizzamae Manreal finished while her father is a farmer. It nevCum Laude at Southern Philippines Agri-Business, er occurred to them that anyone in Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST). the family could reach college. Yet

the sheer hardship has been her driving force to finish her studies. “I never expected that I can still pursue my college degree because I know my parents could not afford my tuition fee. But then Students’ Grant-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (SGP-PA) came. My yesterday’s dream became a reality big time,” Manreal shared. “Wala gyud nako gisayangan ang oportunidad nga gihatag sa akoa, nagtarong ko ug naningkamot nga i-angat akoang sarili para mas ikalipay sa akoang pamilya (I never wasted the opportunity given me. I did good and worked hard to be better to make my family happy).” Manreal did excel in her studies and even in extra-curricular activities. Despite her rather hectic schedule, she found time to earn from odd jobs to augment her meager finances.

Meanwhile, Gee Phannie Coscos, of the same degree, also a Pantawid grantee and SGP-PA scholar, finished with flying colors too as Cum laude. “We hope this program will help more indigent students to finish a college degree and make their dreams come true as well,” Coscos said. They are both products of the Pantawid Pamilya Program and are both very grateful and overwhelmed of the benefits and accolades they received. The two outstanding students are part of 503 Pantawid college graduates recognized during the regional graduation ceremony dubbed Social Investiture for National Achievers of Grants-In-Aid (SINAG) held in Panabo City on Friday. Manreal and Coscoc hope to get a job soon so that they can help

APOS Summit gathers global key industry leaders to focus on future growth of video content creation and distribution

their family and finance the school needs of their siblings. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) spearheaded the SGP-PA in 2012. With a total of 3139 SGP-PA graduates this year nationwide, Davao Region leads with the highest number of 503 graduates. Of this figure, 68 are from SPAMAST. A student-grantee receives a maximum of P 60,000.00 scholarship grant per school year or P 30,000.00 per semester. This is broken down to P 20, 000/year Tuition Fee Cost, P 5,000/year Textbook Fees and other learning materials, and P 35,000 (that is, P 3,500/ month x 10 months) stipend (for board and lodging, transportation, clothing, health/medical needs, basic school supplies and other related costs. (DSWD)

Globe Telecom’s CEO leads discussion on the telco’s remarkable growth and competitive edge in content offerings

SIA’S premier event for media, telecoms and entertainment industry APOS (Asia Pacific Pay-TV Operators Summit) recently gathered leaders from established companies and fast growing new businesses fostering discussions on the video sector and the ecosystem of creating, distributing and monetizing content. APOS 2016, held at Bali Indonesia last April 26 to April 28, focused on the video industry, including TV and digital video. A fast growing $105 billion business, leaders sought to explore its exponential growth with the rapid evolution of consumer behavior and choices. Its key themes were centered on exploring opportunities and facing challenges that come with it. Among the top themes for APOS 2016 include the future of content creation and distribution, video streaming,

content packaging and pricing in broadband, social video curation and sports in digital platforms, among others. With hundreds of participants from telco to entertainment companies, the summit saw 60 of the most innovative company leaders share their expertise and points of view on the various themes. Globe Telecom President and CEO Ernest Cu participated in a discussion on Game Changers and Disruptors, sharing how the company continues to prosper in a high-growth but increasingly aggressive market. Cu touched on its play in strengthening its digital content franchises giving it a competitive advantage. Moderating this Q&A with Cu is Media Partners Asia (MPA) Executive Director Vivek Couto. As Cu shared, “The cutthroat telco industry in the Philippines coupled with the rapid changing consum-

er behavior demands for us to always be several steps ahead. Maintaining competitive edge is dependent on the content we offer to our customers. Alongside that is the convenience of getting them to enjoy it on their device or broadband plans. This is why we’ve designed and continue to improve on our plans and bundles so that our customers can easily subscribe to whatever content we make available to them.” Globe started building its content portfolio and offers in 2013 with the launch of its partnership with top music streaming platform, Spotify. Recognizing that music is an integral part of the lives of its customers, Globe started offering Spotify bundled with its consumable data promo, GoSURF. Since then, the company has established itself as the purveyor of the digital lifestyle in the Philippines and has acquired more global

partners that allow it to offer over 54 million of its customers with a wide variety of content from games, sports, to movies. Its other partners include video-on-demand service, HOOQ, the NBA, and Walt Disney Southeast Asia. APOS also served as the venue for Globe to announce its latest content partner Astro Malaysia Holding Berhad (Astro) through a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to offer Tribe overthe-top (OTT) video services to Filipino customers. The agreement also reflects the strategic intent of both parties to collaborate on content opportunities that will be distributed on Tribe and other platforms across the region. Cu continued that, “Astro, through its OTT service Tribe, will strengthen our portfolio given the potential content we will be able to offer through this partnership. This collaboration with As-

Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu led the Q&A discussion on Game Changers and Disruptors as part of the APOS 2016 Summit tro will also be the first time Globe will play an active role in co-curating content.” Tribe is an OTT service for ASEAN video consumers, which was recently launched in Indonesia offering live and on demand content comprising live sports, Asian movies, and TV series. The partnership will potentially see Tribe widening its reach into South-

east Asia as well as enabling more Filipinos to watch video content across multiple genres on their devices. Launched in 2011, APOS is hosted and organized by Media Partners Asia (MPA), the leading provider of advisory, consulting and research services, focused on media and telecommunications industries across Asia Pacific.

12 CLASSIFIEDS

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EDGEDAVAO PARTNER ESTABLISHMENTS Serving a seamless society

EDGEDAVAO GENSAN PARTNERS Serving a seamless society

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INdulge!

Wishes are tied around the Meiji Shrine’s spirit trees.

ONE MIGHT THINK OF JAPAN TODAY AS A MODERN SOCIETY WITH MODERN SKYSCRAPERS AND AN ULTRA FAST-PACED, HIGH-TECH LIFESTYLE. But dig a little deeper and one gets confronted by traditional Japan which runs at a much slower pace. Dotting Tokyo are many parks, shrines and temples that serve as a breather for Tokyo’s millions of urbanites to find reprieve from fast-paced living. And I was able to visit two of the temples on my last trip to the Japanese capital, one Shinto and another Buddhist. Shinto is as old as Japanese culture itself and has its roots in spirit worship. More like a collection of native beliefs and rituals, Shinto shines and temples are usually dedicated to a multitude of gods or kami. Buddhism onthe-other-hand came to Japan in the 6th century through China and Korea. The religion quickly

spread through the centuries. Both Shinto and Buddhism are Japan’s major religions and both are usually practiced handin-hand with each other.

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EDGEDAVAO TRAVEL

A tale of

Japan’s

two faiths

Meiji Shrine Located in Shibuya on the western side of Tokyo, the Meiji Shrine is

Visitors must perform a cleasnsing ritual before entering the shrine.

Barrels of wines from all over the world.

A Japanese Shinto wedding procession.

Various wish plaques can be purchased within the shrine’s grounds. a beautiful Shinto shrine that is dedicated to the deified spirits of Emperor Meiji and his wife, Empress Shoken. Constructed in 1915 at an Iris Garden where the Emperor and Empress used to visit, the shrine was built in the traditional Japanese style, using primarily Japanese cypress and copper. By 1920, the temple shrine was formally dedicated

and finally completed in 1921. I was amazed at the pure pristine serenity of the grounds around the shrine with hundred year old trees buffering the area from the hustle and bustle of modern Tokyo. Walking around the grounds, I was greeted by a display of Emperor Meiji’s collection of barrels of sake and wine from all over the world. A short distance beyond and I arrived at the torii, or spirit gate at the entrance of the shrine which dwarfed all passers by. Before entering the shrine, a cleansing ritual was first performed using fresh clean water. My guide says that it is to ensure that one is pure in heart, body, and spirit. At the shrine itself, there were people offering prayers and money to Emperor Meiji. There are also wooden prayer

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FOOD

Food just like home Text and Photos by Henrylito D. Tacio COMFORT FOOD, ACCORDING TO THE MERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARY, CONSIDERED AS SUCH BECAUSE IT IS PREPARED IN A SIMPLE OR TRADITIONAL WAY THUS PROVIDING “A NOSTALGIC OR SENTIMENTAL VALUE TO THE PERSON EATING IT.” The nostalgia may be specific to either the individual or a specific culture, adds Anneli Rufus in her article, “How comfort foods work like Prozac,” which appeared in Gilt Taste. The term comfort food has been traced back at least to 1966, when the Palm Beach Post used it in a story: “Adults, when under severe emotional stress, turn to what could be called ‘comfort food’—food associated with the security of childhood, like mother’s poached egg or famous chicken soup.” How’s that’s for historical background. The beautiful Chef Cathy Binag came to Davao City a few years back and decided to settle here. First, she opened the White House Fusion Cuisine and Wine Lounge is located at Camella Northpoint along J.P. Laurel Avenue. But somehow, she misses the foods in Manila and those in other parts of Luzon. That’s why she launches another restaurant at Damosa in Lanang. She calls it -- hold your breath -Filipino Comfort Food (FCF). “To tell you frankly, it’s because I miss the authentic Filipino-style home food cooking without twisting it,” said Binag, who co-owned the restaurant. “The way our grandmothers and mothers prepare the foods without so much fuss. They cook with love.” Those who have been out of the country for quite sometimes or now living abroad can have comfort in eating what they have been missing. Among those that are served at FCF are the following: binagoongang baboy, pocherong baka, sinigang na ulo ng salmon, crispy chicken skin, sinampalukang manok, sinigang na baka sa native bayabas, dinuguan at puto, kinilaw na kambing at hipon, ginataang pako, tenga at balut, Ilokano-style pinakbet, and crispy pata. Turon, bibingka, suman sa latik, and biko are also on the menu. Ditto for its merienda that include binignit, ginataang bilo-bilo, tokaw’t baboy, and pansit luglug. “Our Filipino merienda treat offers overflowing sweet delights that will not only satisfy your cravings and complete your day, but also will bring back happy memories of home and family,” Binag said.

According to her, all the foods being served at the restaurant came from her, which she learned from her mother and grandmother. “Like all the sinigang and ginataan, my mother is really good with them,” she revealed. “To be honest, all

cried in front of me asking if she is not enough to be part of the project.” “When I put up a business,” Binag said, “I just don’t set up only to earn money but I can say more on my passion of sharing my knowledge and proper

of these are my favorite Pinoy comfort food also -- except for the kinilaw na kambing and hipon which originated from the Floirendo family.” In some instances, she prepares the food herself. “I started learning to cook my first sinigang when I was 12 from my mother,” she recalled. “Every weekend, it was mandatory for us to join our grandmother to the wet market and I guess it was in my heart already that I have discovered the passion for cooking at an early age.” To be a good cook, Binag pointed out, a person has to experience these four things: get burned, being cut, having shouted and the most important of all, having a patience to learn. As they say, experience is the best teacher. Most of the ingredients used

in the preparation of all the dishes at FCF come from Davao City. “Everything is locally produced; we go to the market every day to make sure all our ingredients are fresh,” Binag said. “It’s like the same in our own home.” That’s what makes FCF somewhat unique. “In my own opinion, every restaurant has different cooks, hands and palette,” she replied when asked on how her foods differ from those from other restaurants. “I guess my advantage is before I open a restaurant I honed first the palette of my head chef by the way I wanted to taste my food the same way I cook it in my own home.” Binag said she trained the chef for two years -- “to the point that she had to sit down with me and even asked me and

taste of the food.” By the way, she doesn’t use salt and monosodium glutamate (MSG) in all the dishes the restaurant is serving. “We don’t use salt and MSG,” she said. “We have our technique on making our foods palatable.” So next time you will be in Davao and looking for some “lutong bahay” try the Filipino Comfort Food. Surely, you will come back once you have tried those Filipino comfort foods. Don’t worry about the price; it ranges from P200 to P300. But the portions are huge that each dish can be shared with your family or friends.

ROCKY’S BARBERSHOP - 20 YEARS & COUNTING. May 8, 1996 marked the opening of Rocky’s Barbershop in Victoria Plaza Mall, the first mall in Davao City. On opening day, Mike Iñigo was the first client with Jun Acub as his barber. Nothing has changed. Twenty years after, both men, the barber and the client, are still with Rocky’s Barbershop. Rocky’s Barbershop celebrates its 20th year anniversary this May with a 20% discount on all Hair Spa Therapy and Foot Spa service. Rocky’s has now five branches in the premier malls in Davao City, and recently, opened its new branch in Centrio Ayala Mall in Cagayan de Oro City.

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ENTERTAINMENT

Davao indie film ‘I Love You, Thank You’ comes home Chynna Ortaleza proudly shows off her baby bump

AN AWARD-WINNING FILM BY ACCLAIMED DIRECTOR AND FILMMAKER CHARLIEBEBS GOHETIA will be screening in Davao City for the first time on May 11-17 in the Gaisano Mall of Davao cinemas.

I Love You, Thank You, which premiered in Bangkok, Thailand in 2015, finally comes home to Davao City with Gohetia. “I am happy that finally, Davaoenos will finally see the film after a year it premiered in Bangkok. I want everyone to see the film and to bring it to as many places as possible,” Gohetia said, likening the screening to be a homecoming for him. “It’s like a homecoming for me because the last time I had my film shown in Gaisano Mall (regular screening) was in 2009 for The Thank you Girls and in 2014 for Kung Giunsa Pagbuhat ang Binisayang Chopsuey in 2014 in the Mindanao Film Festival.” I Love You, Thank You, which explores the dynamics of unrequited love in relationships, stars Joross Gamboa, Prince Stefan, CJ Reyes, and Thai actor Ae Pattawan. The film, which was released in June 2015, has then reaped several awards and nominations: Winner, Best Indie Musical Scorer, 2016 Star Awards for Movies; Nominee Star Awards for Movies, Indie Movie of the Year, Best New Actor - CJ Reyes, Best Director, Best Screenplay,

Best Cinematographer, Best Production Designer, Best Sound Engineer. It has also been screened in various film festivals including the Bangkok Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in Thailand, the World Premieres Film Festival in the Philippines, the Q! Film Festival in Indonesia, and the &Proud Yangon LGBT Film Festival in Myanmar. It is also set to be screened in South Asia’s biggest queer film festival, the Kashish Mumbai International Queer Film Festival in India on May 25-29. I Love You, Thank You, follows the story of four guys as they struggle through the joys and pains of unrequited love within the colorful backdrop of

Indochina. Paul (Gamboa) is a restless twenty-something, who cannot get his life together. Worse, he’s been holding on to his love towards Red (Stefan), his best friend Ivan’s (Reyes) boyfriend. Looking for a sense of direction, he goes to Siem Reap and meets Tang (Pattawan), who falls in love withhim. But when Ivan leaves Red without any explanation, Paul finds himself caught between chasing his unrequited love for Red or choosing Tang, the one who is always willing to give him love that he cannot return. For screening schedules, tickets and reservations, call Gaisano Mall cinemas at 226-22-44

KAPUSO STAR CHYNNA ORTALEZA LOOKS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL in a photo uploaded on Instagram this Mother’s Day where she proudly shows off her baby bump. The wife of Callalily vocalist Kean Cipriano feels blessed that she’s celebrating her first Mother’s Day with the warm support of all her loved ones, as she takes this journey of being a mom. Chynna added that it is a rewarding experience preparing for the birth of her most precious panganay. She said, “Today is a special day for all the beautiful Mothers out there. I am blessed to be celebrating my first Mother’s day with my ever supportive and loving husband and family. “These past months I was gifted with a role of a lifetime and I have been savoring every single day, recording each moment, making sure that everything is ingrained in memory. Preparing for my baby’s arrival was such a rewarding experience. I am grateful to all fellow Mom’s who helped me along the way.” Kean and Chynna welcomed 2016 as a newlywed couple.

Julie Anne San Jose reveals the nittygritties of her ‘In Control’ concert

JULIE ANNE SAN JOSE IS TIED UP WITH ALL THE PREPARATIONS AND REHEARSALS FOR ‘IN CONTROL,’ but amidst her busy schedule, the Asia’s Pop Sweetheart granted GMANetwork. com an exclusive interview to share details of her concert. “I’m going to try a lot of new things for the first time. I’m pretty stoked and nervous at the same time,” Julie revealed. She then proceeded to elaborating what’s in store for her fans and supporters on May 8 at the Kia Theater. According to Julie, her concertgoers should expect a sound innovation and technique which is rarely done in live performances in the country. Aside from this, big celebrity guests including Ogie Alcasid, Janno Gibbs, Tom Rodriguez and her musical group Sugarpop

will join in on the fun. One of the country’s top dance companies will also grace the stage on her concert night. “It’s gonna be my first time performing with G-Force. Exciting kasi bago ‘yung galaw at saka kumbaga isa kasi sila sa mga pinakamagagaling

na choreographers at saka dancers sa country natin,” she said. Julie takes pride on being hands-on with her concert that also celebrates her 10 years in the industry, her college graduation, her birthday, and her third album under GMA Records. She

is specifically cautious about her production numbers which will include songs both from her existing and upcoming albums. She said, “Handpicked [songs ko], and then may mga selections din na sinuggest sa akin.” “May mga prods din na inspirational. ‘Yung mga songs na iba na kakantahin ko, naging part siya ng 10 years ko sa showbiz. At saka mga music, mga songs ng mga idols,” she continued. For Julie, the theme of her concert captures her proactive approach in paving her way to success. “That’s why ‘In Control’ kasi it’s about my evolution as an artist, as a singer, as an individual, as a person. Kumbaga, that’s a chance, an opportunity to prove din that this is who I am, this is what I want, this is what I love to do,” she concluded.

May 4 – 10, 2016

JUST THE 3 OF US John Lloyd Cruz, Jennylyn Mercado R13

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

CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR Chris Evans , Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson PG

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

MOTHER'S DAY Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, Kate Hudson PG

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

THIS TIME James Reid, Nadine Lustre G

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

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 50 • TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

TRAVEL At the Asakusa Kannon Temple.

The vibrant Nakamise shopping street.

URBANISSIMO A1 boards which people tie to the spirit trees flanking the building of the central sanctuary. These are often prayer requests for love, prosperity, and good health. Asakusa Kannon Temple Also known as Sensoji, the Asakusa Kannon Temple is Tokyo’s oldest Buddhist temple and is one of its most significant. The legend says that in the year 628, two brothers fished a statue of Kannon, the goddess of mercy, out of the Sumida River, and even though they put the statue back into the river, it always returned to them. Consequently, Sensoji was built nearby for the goddess of Kannon. To enter the temple, I had to first pass by the Kaminarimon or Thunder Gate. Built of wood and painted in bright red, the Kaminarimon was a sight to behold. It was this feeling of awe that, according to my guide, made the gate a symbol of the Asakusa Kannon Temple as well as of Tokyo itself.

In contrast to the more somber atmosphere of the Meiji Shrine, Sensor’s grounds are vibrant and full of life, this is thanks to a 200-meter long shopping street called Nakamise which leads from the outer gate to the temple’s second gate, the Hozomon. I loved darting around the area looking looking for souvenirs as well as local snacks and brick-

abrak. This is definitely the place for shopaholics with stores selling typical Japanese souvenirs such as yukata and folding fans, located besides shops selling various traditional local snacks. Although I was only able to find enough time to visit these two temples, I was able to catch a glimpse of Japanese culture that is more gentile, reflective, and spiritual.

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Asakusa Kannon’s second gate the Hanzomon.

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EDGEDAVAO

NEWS 13

Life in a medicine D

AVAO CITY (DSWD XI) - “Medicines are not my daily dose but my daily source of income,” 70 year-old Lola Amy Lancian said. Lola Amy solely depends on the medicines she sells to survive. Her husband died 26 years ago. “Even at this age, every day I push myself to work from 1:00 to 8:00 in the morning just to sustain my daily needs.” Every day is an enormous struggle for Lola Amy. She has to wake up very early to sell generic medicines in a busy market. “Nagsugod ko og baligya aning mga generic nga tambal sukad namatay akoang bana para mabuhi lang mi sa akoang anak. Sa Bankerohan public market ang akoang adlaw-adlaw nga destinasyon (I started peddling generic medicines since my husband died so that my child and I could survive. My day to day destination is Bankerohan public market),” Lola Amy shared. When her son died in 2002, Lola Amy was left alone. Old and unaccompanied in her house at SIR, New Matina, she strives to meet her needs. To date, she remains active and productive and refuses to stay put despite her age. “Ginakompra nako akoang tambal sa generic nga botika,

kadto lang mga pwede nga tambal. Daghan man pud mamalit kay barato lang man (I purchase basic medicines from a generic drugstore. A lot of people buy because it’s cheap),” Lola Amy said. Every morning she has P 400.00 in her pocket as rolling capital in her small business. “Lisod kaayo sa akoang katigulang wala koy karamay sa kinabuhi ug sa kalisod. Kinahanglan ko maningkamot para maka-survive ko (It is very hard at my age to be alone, with no one to lean on especially in difficult times. Thus, I need to strive hard Lola Amy Lancian all set to sell her to survive),” teary-eyed, Lola ‘medicines’. Amy conveyed. Senior Citizens is one of the provisions under Section 5 of Social pension “Dako kaayo og tabang Republic Act 9994, otherwise ang pension. Una nako nakuha known as the ‘Expanded P 4,500.00, natibo ang tulo Senior Citizens Act of 2010’, ka quarters. Gipuhunan nako which provides P 500.00 sa akoang mga tambal. Pati monthly stipend to poor akoang maintenance sa senior citizens to augment diabetes mapalit na (Social their daily subsistence and pension is a great help. other medical needs. Priority beneficiaries are Initially, I received P 4,500.00 which covered three quarters. senior citizens 65 years old I then invested the amount in and above who are frail, sickly my small business. Also my and disabled, who do not have maintenance for diabetes can regular source of income and/ now be had),” Lola Amy gladly or support from any member of the family, and who do not reported. Lola Amy received her receive other pension benefits first social pension in early from government and private 2015. From her pension, she agencies. Davao Region has 82,531 also buys food and milk. The Social Pension social pension beneficiaries Program for Indigent presently. (DSWD)

14 MOTORING EDGEDAVAO

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Honda Civic reborn

T’S fair to say that the Civic made Honda. Since the nameplate’s introduction in 1972, it has become renowned the world over for its class-leading dynamics and fuel efficiency. In the decades that followed, it revolutionized “the car for all people” and has thus embodied Honda’s challenging spirit. The 2000s though have been largely unfavorable to the Civic with duds such as the 2000-2005 ES (7th generation) and the 20112016 FB (9th generation). Though people still bought them, it raised Honda’s vulnerability in the compact car segment. Today, there’s this: the all-new, tenth-generation Honda Civic. Is this, finally, the Civic re-born? Arriving by flatbed carrier, the security guards had their gazes permanently fixed on the car, shrouded in mystery by the reflective covers. The sloping fastback roofline didn’t look like any car they’ve seen before. Is this a sports car? Is this a muscle car? As the covers came off, it sat there in all its Cosmic Blue Metallic glory: the allnew RS Turbo. And even before the car was completely unloaded, the guards were busy snapping photos away on their mobile phones. It’s for their Facebook, they said. Throughout the morning, the story’s the same: full of interruptions from bikers, joggers, Honda owners, and curious by-standers armed with mobile phone cameras and curious questions. If this is the power of the Civic’s new design, then Honda’s done something right. Normally, photographers would swear against working on any car with a dark hue. This time though, the bluish-black paint accentuated the sleek, swept-back bodylines. It has sportier proportions which make the body lower, longer, wider, and with less overhang than before. The gloss black solid wing grille is actually pushed out and angled downward creating a meaner, more aggressive stance. Either side, it’s sandwiched by the complex headlight cluster with full LED lighting. The side is less fussy, relying instead on the long wheelbase to create a taut and tidy appearance. Meanwhile, the backend serves as the perfect exclamation

point with its distinctive C-shaped “light-pipe” LED tail lights and angularly shaped trunk. Interestingly, the Civic is one of the few cars that look better with the standard rear spoiler, though 18-inch alloy wheels (as opposed to the standard 17’s) could have made a welcome addition. Inside, the Civic presents a modern and sophisticated looking interior. The dash itself is simple, laid out in a horizontal manner and together with the sweeping ends, creates a feeling of space unmatched by any other compact car. Sitting in for the first time, the abundance of space is noticeable. It’s easy to sit with the legs spread out and still not hit anything. Plus, there’s so much cubby holes from the usable center bin (that can swallow an Apple iPhone 6S or Samsung Galaxy S7), the bin behind the high deck center console (that’s where the USB inputs are) to the uncharacteristically deep arm rest console which can swallow one-liter bottles whole. Interestingly, the rear seats now fold in a 60/40 split, supplementing the already cavernous trunk. Unfortunately, it can’t be accessed from the seat itself; a lever must be pulled in the back. Quality-wise, all the touch points have been upgraded with soft touch plastics, brushed aluminum accents, piano black trims, and leather (with carbon fiber-like detailing on the seats). Getting comfortable in the Civic is quite easy with the 6-way power adjustable driver’s seat. There’s no adjustment for lumbar support, but there’s little need for that. The seats feature excellent bolstering and support. The steering wheel also offers tilt/telescopic adjustment and because it’s angled more vertically, offers a sportier driving position. With the key fob in the pocket, starting the engine requires just a push of a button. The full-color TFT instrument cluster comes to life with breathtaking animation before settling down for business. Apart from showing the usual vehicle information—speed, engine revs, and so forth—it’s also configurable to display entertainment functions, turn-by-turn navigation, fuel mileage information, and even a turbo gauge. You can

even shut everything off (including the tachometer) and just drive using the speedometer alone. The purely graphical interface and the touch-sensitive steering wheel controls need some getting used to, and after this half day drive, is still confusing. The 7-inch Advanced Display Audio, a common feature in new Hondas, is finally updated with sharper graphics and animation. It looks and operates much snappier, but the wealth of new functions requires a quick read of the manual to understand. Much more straightforward is the way the 2016 Civic operates. Aiming to set the bar in the compact sedan category once more, Honda has worked on areas such as steering feel, handling precision, ride quality, and NVH. In other words, responding to all the failings of the previous generation model. The powertrain alone is enough to give it a leg up with its

brand-new Earth Dreams 1.5-liter DOHC VTEC engine featuring both direct injection and a mono scroll turbo. The maximum output of 173 horsepower and 216 Nm of torque makes one dream of a Civic SiR successor; and on paper it is, with a 0-100 km/h in 6.5 seconds and 14.9 seconds to the quarter mile. In reality though, it feels more of a smooth operator. It has less of a “turbo feel” compared to other force-induction motors as there’s minimal lag. Power delivery is extremely linear, providing tractable performance even from idle. The engine note is also satisfying with the right amount of growl. The CVT isn’t the first choice of enthusiasts to pair with the engine, but it’s a good match this time. It’s only under the most enthusiastic driving that the gearbox feels like it is neutering the performance somewhat. Still, there’s no denying its contribution to fuel economy: 10.9 km/L after around 50 kilome-

ters of driving. Riding on an all-new platform, the Civic has reduced its bulk by around 30 kilograms but has upped its torsional rigidity by 26 percent. And connected to this is a suspension system that enhances ride and reduces vibrations. With the exception of the audible tire noise (at speeds above 60 km/h), it’s much more composed in riding road imperfections. Going full speed through cobblestones isn’t enough to unsettle it. There’s still a

is an easy favorite among subcompact sedans in more than 140 countries and regions around the world. In the Philippines, Suzuki Swift was launched in 2011 and since then has been a favorite among first-time car owners and younger drivers in the local market. This subcompact car is among the top sales drivers of Suzuki Philip-

pines for several years, and it significantly contributed to the total sales figures of the company in the first quarter of 2016. Suzuki Philippines General Manager for Automobile Shuzo Hoshikura shared, “We are proud of what the Suzuki Swift has achieved with five million unit sales worldwide. We have always known that

bit of roll to the suspension, but the character is still fun and tossable. Coupled with this is new dual pinion electric power steering rack with a quick 2.2 turns lock-to-lock. It’s a big step compared to previous models in the way it turns and makes the entire car rotate briskly. The steering is light, but linear. The excellent sight lines also make it easy to position through corners. Overall, it feels less tiring to drive than another compact car with a sporty bent.

Suzuki Swift sells 5M units globally

UZUKI Motor Corporation’s bestselling compact car, the Suzuki Swift, marks a milestone for having sold five million units worldwide this April, 11 years since its introduction. First launched in Japan in November 2004 as one of the automotive manufacturer’s world strategic models, the Suzuki Swift shows the company’s jump towards making cars that are sporty, stylish and fun to drive. The Suzuki Swift instantly became a favorite among car enthusiasts throughout the world, earning high praises for its design, performance and bold style, as well as winning numerous Car of the Year Awards worldwide. It hit its one million cumulative worldwide unit sales in 2008, two million in 2011, three million in 2013, four million in 2014 and five million in 2016. It is produced in Japan, Hungary, India, China, Pakistan and Thailand, and

this subcompact car would do well in the market due to its uniquely spirited character, and we are doubly delighted that it reached this milestone at a relatively short time. We are proud to note that it is also doing great locally. On behalf of Suzuki Philippines, we would like to thank those who supported the vehicle in our market.”

VOL. 9 ISSUE 50 • TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

SPORTS15

EDGEDAVAO

BRAZILIAN JIUJITSU. Winners of the 2016 Barzilian Jiu-jitsu Mindanao Regional Championships show their medals at the conclusion of the event at the NCCC Mall. Photos also show the heated action in the tournament organized by the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Jiu-jitsu Federation.

Lim, Escarpe, Lao lead BJJ winners By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

njb@edgedavao.net

AVORITES Marc Lim, Jackilou Escarpe and Andrea Lao fought true to form to lead the winners of the 2016 Barzilian Jiujitsu Mindanao Regional Championship over the weekend at the NCCC Mall. Lim of KMA-CMMA won the gold in the male blue belt absolute division after defeating teammate Khalid Gorospe

in the finals. University of Mindanao Judo Club’s Escarpe ruled the male white belt division over teammate Marco Tumampad while ATOS’ Lao turned back Ruby Velasco of Makati for the gold in the women’s white belt absolute division. The tournament is organized by thePhilippine Jiu-jitsu Federation and the

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) aimed at discovering fresh talents for the fast-growing Olympic martial art event. Lao also won the Under 60-kg class while Velasco ruled the Under 50-kg class. Brnabe Anong won the gold in the Under 62-kg class, Escarpe took the gold in the Under 77-kg division, Tu-

mampad ruled the Under-85kg, Ryan Donor in the Over 94-kg and Serg Jayson in the Under 62-kg. In the juniors class, Antonio Duhali of CMMA won the Under 70-kg title while Carl Prudensiado of KMA-CMMA took the Under 90-kg plum. Alex Guimoc of CMMA-KMA won the special bout for kids.

HOW SWEEP IT IS

Curry still doubtful for Game 4

OLDEN State star Stephen Curry is making progress but remains unlikely to play Monday when the Warriors take on the Trail Blazers in Portland in the second round of the NBA playoffs. “I would just say he’s doubtful for tomorrow, but he’s slowly and surely making progress,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. Curry, the reigning league Most Valuable Player, hasn’t played

since spraining a ligament in his right knee in the fourth game of the Warriors’ first-round playoff series win over the Houston Rockets. The reigning champion Warriors did fine without him in winning the first two games of their second-round series against the Trail Blazers at home, but fell in game three at Portland on Saturday. Kerr said Curry was expected to go through a pre-game shootar-

ound on Monday, after taking part in light practice and three-on-three training on Sunday. “He looked pretty good following what he did (Saturday) in terms of movement, and conditioning’s going to be an issue, but hopefully he can get more and more work, and we’ll see how he comes up (Monday) in terms of getting a night’s sleep coming off the workout,” Kerr said. Asked if he would be limiting

TIGHT GUARDING. Calvin Abueva of Alaska Milk chases down Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine in Game 2 of the PBA Commissioners Cup Finals. The Elasto Painters now hold a 2-0 lead.

Curry’s minutes when he returns, Kerr said the Warriors are “hoping to have that problem”. “That’ll be good to have to figure that out,” Kerr said. Heat’s Whiteside ‘questionable’ Center Hassan Whiteside has a sprained ligament in his right knee and is questionable for Monday’s game four of the Miami Heat’s second round playoff series against the Toronto Raptors. Whiteside was diagnosed with the injury after an MRI exam on Sunday, one day after Whiteside left game three against the Raptors. Miami officially listed Whiteside as day-to-day but released few other details of the injury. Depending on the seriousness it can sideline a player for two weeks or longer. “He had an MRI today,” coach Erik Spoelstra said. “It went as well as could be expected. “Where my mind was, where Hassan’s mind was leaving the building last night, that’s about the best news that we could have. He’s day-to-day and he’s just going to be doing treatment, a lot of rest.” Whiteside reinjured his knee during the second quarter of Saturday’s game after originally spraining the knee during the opening game of the series. Toronto leads the series two games to one. Raptors’ Valanciunas sidelined Toronto Raptors centre Jonas Valanciunas will miss the remainder of their second round Eastern Conference playoff series with a sprained right ankle, the NBA team announced on Sunday.

Thunder levels series 2-all

HE Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 110-97, on Sunday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena to forge a 2-2 tie in the Western Conference semifinal-round series. Oklahoma City used an outstanding fourth quarter to pull away from an overwhelmed Spurs squad. Kevin Durant, who lead all scorers with 41 points, was particularly pivotal in the final minutes, draining several baskets that continued to extend the Thunder’s lead seemingly every time San Antonio appeared to be making some headway. Oklahoma City was outstanding on both ends of the floor throughout the game, as they managed a 50.6 percent success rate from the field, and 39.1 percent from threepoint range. They also suffocated the Spurs’ long-range attack, limiting them to just 16.7 percent shooting from beyond the arc. San Antonio received a trio of 20-point-plus efforts from their starting five, spearheaded by Tony Parker’s team-leading 2 2

points. He added three assists, a steal and a block. Kawhi Leonard was right behind him with 21 points, which he complemented with six rebounds, two assists and four steals. LaMarcus Aldridge tallied 20 points and six rebounds. Both Tim Duncan and Danny Green, the other two members of the first unit, went scoreless over 40 minutes, with the latter being the only one of the two who attempted any field goals. Boris Diaw paced the reserves with 11 points and three rebounds. Durant supplemented his game-high point total with five rebounds, four assists and a steal. Steven Adams was next among the starting five with a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double that also included a pair of blocks. Russell Westbrook filled out the stat sheet with 14 points, 15 assists and three steals. Dion Waiters led the bench with 17 points, and added three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Enes Kanter achieved double-digit scoring in a reserve role as well, supplying 11 points and eight rebounds.

DENIED. Keevon Durant of Oklahoma City Thunder is denied the passing lane by San Antonio Spurs’ Tim Duncan and Danny Green.

Cavs edge out Hawks 100-99

HE Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Atlanta Hawks at Philips Arena on Sunday, 100-99, to complete a 4-0 series sweep in the Eastern Conference semifinals. The reigning Eastern Conference champs and first seed are now undefeated through two rounds after sweeping the Detroit Pistons before moving on to the semifinals. The semis saw an emphatic sweep for the Cavs, who set the record for three-pointers in a game in their Game 3 blowout. While Sunday saw a close call for the Cavs, the team still saw strong performances from its stars. LeBron James scored 21 while also recording 10 rebounds and nine assists, finishing just shy of a triple-double. Kevin Love,

meanwhile, led the game with 27 points while also pulling down 13 boards. Love had a whopping eight three-pointers. For the Hawks, meanwhile, the season ended short of the mark set in their 2014-15 campaign, but was cut short at the hands of the same opponent. After making it to the conference finals last season, the Hawks were easily handled in the semifinal series, losing all four games. Last year’s All-Stars Jeff Teague and Kyle Korver combined for just ten points on Sunday, as Cleveland seemed to have an answer for everything the Atlanta backcourt had to offer. Star forward Paul Millsap, meanwhile, had a strong outing despite the loss, scoring 19 points and pulling down nine rebounds.

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VOL. 9 ISSUE 50 • TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2016

BOXING VS. MMA Mayweather hinting at fight with MMA star McGregor

LOYD Mayweather, already hinting at a ring return, says it’s “possible” he could come out of retirement to face mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor. “It’s possible,” Mayweather said Saturday while in Las Vegas for the fight between Saul “Canelo” Alvarez and Amir

Khan. “It was a name that was shot at me,” Mayweather said in video posted by Fighthype.com. “The rumors that you all have been hearing are the rumors that I started. It may not be a rumor, so keep your fingers crossed. It may be a boxer versus an MMA fighter.”

Mayweather was asked about a potential McGregor matchup because British tabloid The Sun reported he and Ireland’s McGregor were “on the verge” of agreeing to meet. According to the Sun the two would face off this year in a boxing ring — not an MMA

octagon — with McGregor getting about $10 million to Mayweather’s $144 million. Mayweather, 39, walked away from boxing in September with a perfect 49-0 record. That included his last victory over Andre Berto and his triumph over Filipino ring icon Manny Pacquiao in May of

2015 in the most lucrative fight in boxing history. In April, he told Showtime television interviewer Jim Gray that he might be tempted to return to the ring — if he could guarantee a “nine-figure” payday. He said he’d had talks with Showtime and the CBS

network. McGregor, the hugely popular Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight champion, teased his fans on Sunday via social media about a possible Mayweather matchup, posting what appears to be a promotional poster for such a clash on Twitter.