Edge Davao 5 Issue 91 - Indulge

INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 91 • JULY 10, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

TRAVEL

A day at the Crocodile park

By Carlo P. Mallo

The Davao Crocodile Park has been open to the public for quite sometime already, but for some reason or another, I have never been to the park.

Thus, when my good friend Harold came to town for a weekend getaway, I took up on his offer to visit the crocodile park on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Lo and behold! I was surprised with the many animals that are featured in the park – from the albino python that greets you by the entrance, to the parakeets, the orangutans, tigers, and many more reptiles and mammals.

But the main attraction of the park are the Philippine crocodiles, most of which have been bred in captivity. (One can only imagine the many leather products racing through my mind as I was looking at the crocodiles.)

Looking at animals behind glass cages or their pens can be pretty boring, but not at this park, or maybe the heavens were simply on our side that day. When we passed by the tiger pen, the two tigers decided to put on a show for us – complete with splashing water and growling. There’s nothing like seeing the animals in action up close.

Later that afternoon, the animal

show started which showed how ferocious the crocodiles could get in protecting their young and territory.

But the show also emphasized that its strength and feisty demeanor is no match to the cruelty of man who can destroy their habitats or kill them with the pull of a trigger.

Harold had a blast watching the animals and tweeting about them like there’s no tomorrow. But as the day and our trip to the park came to an end, I can’t help but wonder, how many of its visitors actually remember that even their small action of not properly disposing garbage actually contributes to the demise of these animals?

ARTS AND CULTURE ENTERTAINMENT

Hello, Northwestern Philippines!

By Carlo P. Mallo

Since we can’t fight China with our tora-toras, bancas, and what have we, let’s bring the battle online. But no, I don’t mean hacking their websites just as they hacked ours.

I’m talking about Internet memes that have spread online like wildfire.

Well, Internet memes are definitely ‘more fun in the Philippines’.

Look at the map, it’s our version of what our claim would be like should we be living in a parallel universe. A universe wherein we get to call the shots, bully our neighbors, and keep its ally across the ocean just because we can.

Just imagine we live in a parallel universe and everything was just the opposite –China would be shivering in their knees and we would not only be claiming Scarborough Shoal but the entire People’s Republic of China and Sabah in Malaysia.

And while China wails and cries for help from the United States of America, the man sitting in the White House wouldn’t act so fast as they have their own interests in us and in the waters, which we proudly call West Philippine Sea. At the risk of our country withdrawing the bailout fund we extended during their crisis, USA would dilly-dally and issue merely vague statements that seem to show some semblance of support to China.

Instead of them blocking our

exports, we would be the ones rejecting imported peking duck from China for the simple reason that it’s made in China. Or we can block apples from China as the apples are not packed in packing plants that suit our tastes, to which China would immediately act on just to satisfy our whims and caprices.

Can you imagine we’ll be deploying our submarines, war ships, and what-have-we to the shoal to protect our territory, instead of Chinese ships harassing our fishermen and our own Philippine Navy?

Well, that’s just me and 98 million Filipinos wishfully thinking what it would be like if we were actually the ones calling the shots in world order? And then we snap back to reality.

EDGED

A2 INdulge!

ARTS AND CULTURE ENTERTAINMENT

Finding the he

Chinatown, with it’s cheap shopping thrills, and bustling commerce, one can say that things have changed. From the many new buildings being put up, to the many older buildings being torn down to make way for new ones.

One is hard pressed though to see the real soul and unique character of Davao’s Chinatown.

Chinese signs are hardly seen, if ever seen at all.

Even some of the events that the Chinatown council puts together do not feel authentic nor special.

Come now, there are other aspects, festivals and traditions in the more than four thousand year Chinese history and culture that runs in the Chinoy veins of the directors that they can use to promote Chinatown other than just singing, dancing and loud car shows.

This is the reason why I really appreciate the quiet simplicity of Polian Temple, which is smaller than the more famous Long Hwa Temple along Cabaguio Avenue. When I was

Polian Temple’s red columns accentuate the space.

young, my grandmother would always bring me here to have lunch on the first and 15th day of the lunar month along with many other Filipino-Chinese families. You can say it was a get-together of sorts for the community.

I can still remember the sights and the smells of the temple and just thinking of it brings back memories of those idyllic days with my grandmother.

Hidden now by a high wall, one can easily pass

by Polian Temple along Quirino Avenue and not even notice it. A privately owned and maintained Buddhist Temple, Polian (whose name means blessed flower) is Davao City’s oldest Buddhist Temple and was where the original Buddhist Chinese settlers of Davao go to worship and get-together during the 1960’s.

The temple was built from private donations from the Chinoy community, the concrete and wooden structure stood the test of time, many thanks to Lim Pi and three generations of her family. Polian Temple is like a well-preserved time capsule, with its original art deco tiles, its massive red columns, and impressive solid wooden altars. I can even see a metal sign with the name of the temple that had my grandmother’s name engraved on it which touched a

sentim heart. other like m Temp genera Chine grew about well or pla in the pond.

Chi may b heart Fol kenne urban and ra and ar

The plaqu

The temple’s small koi p of the lotus.

DAVAO

VOL.5 ISSUE 91 • JULY 10, 2012

eart of Chinatown

mental nerve in my . And I am sure that younger Chinoy me will too as Polian ple is where many rations of Davao’s ese community, up with, running t within its small but manicured garden aying with the fish e temple’s small koi . hinatown’s lifeblood be business, but its and its soul is here. llow me on twitter @ ethkingong for more n finds, foodie thrills, andom ramblings in round Durianburg.

The quaint temple garden.

ue bearing my grandmother King Go Siu Bon’s name on the left side.

pond. Polian means blessed flower

Bringing two generations together.

INdulge! A3

EDGEDAVAO

A4 INdulge!

VOL.5 ISSUE 91 • JULY 10, 2012

ENTERTAINMENT

The end is near!

Sienna Miller is now a mom!

Is a settlement being worked out for TomKat? Could Katie Holmes’ trip to her attorneys’office yesterday signal movement in her divorce case against Tom Cruise, even before their scheduled July 17 courtroom showdown?

Since announcing news of their split, the superstar ex-couple appear to be trying to keep details of their divorce out of the public eye.

And early today, multiple media outlets have been reporting that the pair are working towards a divorce settlement to avoid a battle in court.

If reports are true that Cruise and Holmes are working towards a settlement, Cruise may come out more satisfied, according to Steven Stolar, a family law specialist with Stolar & Associates who has no connection to the case.

“If she has any info that could hurt him publicly, he has more to gain from reaching a settlement,” Stolar tells E! News. “She may get a little more out of a settlement than she would in a courtroom, but that’s [possibly] worth it to Cruise.”

Stolar says most highprofile divorces end up being settled out of court.

“High-profile entertainers don’t want their personal stuff being thrown out there in the courtroom and ending up on Twitter,” Stolar says. “They want to keep it as under control as possible.”

But in courtrooms, parties cannot be prosecuted for anything they reveal about the marriage.

“Whether it’s Scientolo-

gy-related or anything else, she can reveal it in court,” Stolar says. “No court will penalize her.” The same holds for anything Tom might say about Katie in court. Which is why Stolar says it’s rare that a couple as high-profile as this will actually head to court.

News of the couple’s possible settlement comes just a few days after Cruise’s lawyer told the BBC the Rock of Ages star is planning to file for di-

of paparazzi who were on his tail, according to another CHP spokesman.

The 18-year-old pop superstar was then cited for speeding, while the other car, containing the alleged paps, continued on its way.

Officer Ramirez wouldn’t confirm whether or not paparazzi were involved or at what speed Bieber was driving when cops caught him.

But, according to Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine, who said he spotted the singer on his speedy highway ride, Bieber looked like he was going over 100 mph.

“As soon as he got some room, he accelerated and began weaving in and out of lanes,” Zine said, adding that he saw other cars following him.

And he wasn’t the only one who saw the purported chase.

After calling 911 to report the incident, Zine

said California Highway Patrol told him they had received 10 other calls about Bieber’s driving.

“It was a very dangerous, chaotic situation,” Zine said. “I was driving 60 to 65 miles per hour.

When he passed me, he was...driving in a careless, reckless fashion.”

Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun, who bought the car for the “Boyfriend” crooner, told TMZ Zine’s story was rubbish, saying, “[Zine] is just a councilman looking for a headline.”

Zine soon responded, saying, “I’m a councilman trying to save lives,” adding that he would testify against Bieber if asked.

This isn’t the first time Bieber has gotten into a highly publicized incident with the paparazzi.

In May, he got into an alleged scuffle with a photog in Calabasas, Calif., while out and about with girlfriend Selena Gomez.

They’re still on!

Never say never to getting checked by law enforcement…. even when you’re a celeb.

When Justin Bieber took his flashy Fisker Karma for a spin Friday morning, he ended up getting pulled over for driving a little too fast down the 101 freeway in the San Fernando Valley.

So, what went down?

“At 10:45 this morning CHP officers observed two vehicles traveling at a high rate of speed on the 101 freeway near Coldwater Canyon,” Officer Vince Ramirez, a California Highway Patrol spokesman, told E!. “Our officer conducted an enforcement stop on one of the two vehicles. He pulled the vehicle completely off the freeway and made contact with the driver.

The driver was identified as Justin Bieber.”

The Biebs told cops he was trying to lose a team

vorce, but is letting Holmes “play the media” before making any moves.”

“Tactically we can’t say where Tom will file a divorce case and if he’ll be seeking joint custody of [6-year-old daughter] Suri,” Bert Fields told the network. “We are letting ‘the other side play the media until they wear everyone out, and then we’ll have something to say.”

The 50-year-old thesp’s attorney went on to say Cruise is “really sad” about the turn of events, adding, “It’s not Tom’s style to do this publicly.”

While Holmes, 33, is seeking sole custody of Suri in the divorce, speculation is mounting that Cruise may file a counter divorce case in California and demand joint custody.

Neither star’s representatives have responded to requests for comment today.

Sienna Miller is officially a mom!

The 30-year-old Factory Girl star and fiancé Tom Sturridge reportedly welcomed their first child in London over the weekend, according to Us Weekly.

The über-private pair, who reportedly got engaged during a postChristmas trip to Paris, is staying mum on baby details for now, keeping specifics about their child’s name, gender and weight under wraps.

But back in March Miller dished to British Vogue about her first pregnancy, saying, “I’m feeling fine…It’s all progressing nicely and it’s very excit-

ing.”

Don’t expect to hear the baby’s name anytime soon though.

The thesp hinted that she would be keeping her pregnancy private, adding, “I’m under strict instructions not to say anything as it would completely defeat the point of everything I’ve tried to achieve in the last eight years.”