VEGETABLE farmers in Davao and other parts of Mindanao will subscribe

to an extensive information management system in market-ing their products with the use of mobile phones, according to

Val Turtur, vice president of the Vegetable Industry Council of Southern Mindanao (Vicsmin) last Monday.

Guesting at the Kapehan sa Dabaw, SM City Davao, with Vic-scmin president Ray Acain, Tur-

tur said that through a system developed by the Smart Com-munications, Inc. farmers can reach out to a wider market by informing consumers available supply in their farmers. At the same time they will also be able

to keep abreast with price fluc-tuations in the market.

The system to be provided by the Smart Communications is worth P2 million will be rolled out soon.

P 15.00 • 20 PAGESwww.edgedavao.net

VOL.5 ISSUE 96 • JULY 17, 2012

FFARMERS, 13

Farmers to use mobile phonesIn marketing vegetables

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Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio yesterday noted a drop in crime incidence in the

city during an awarding ceremony for policemen in line with the Unit Anti-Crime Incentive Program.

The mayor said Davao City Po-

lice Office (DCPO) recorded a drop of 66% or 1,147 cases in comparing crime volume for the 1st Quarter of 2012 to the same period last year.

The DCPO also accomplished

Sara notes dropof 66% in crimes

FSARA, 13

n Crime solution efficiency rate at 36%P519,000 cash incentives to police

Daku ang pag-ubossa mga krimen.

ANIMAL TRUCK. Paying no heed to the risks, three young boys sit atop a cramped truck carrying goats and hogs along Quimpo Boulevard in Davao City. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

By Jade C. Zaldivar

By Lorie Ann A. Cascaro

n

VOL.5 ISSUE 96 • JULY 17, 2012

PERSOnS with disabili-ties (PWDs) should be given equal opportunity

for employment as mandated by the law, a regional labor and employment officer said yesterday.

Lawyer Joeffrey M. Suyao, regional director of the De-partment of Labor and Em-ployment (DOLE) 11, is en-couraging public and private institutions and establish-ments in the region to employ PWDs when he guested at the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao.

Suyao noted that at least five percent of regular em-ployees or plantilla in a gov-ernment office must be PWDs, as stipulated in Republic Act no. 7277, or an act providing for the rehabilitation, self-de-velopment and self-reliance of disabled persons and their in-tegration into the mainstream of society and for other pur-poses.

Section 5 of RA 7277 states, “Five percent (5%)

of all casual, emergency and contractual positions in the Department of Social Welfare and Development; Health; Education, Culture and Sports; and other government agen-cies, offices or corporations engaged in social develop-ment shall be reserved for dis-abled persons.”

“It is a reminder to fully implement the law,” he said, adding that a step taken by DOLE 11 was providing local government units (LGU) with a list of PWDs who have civil service eligibility.

Raquel E. nuñez, chief-policy and plans division, De-partment of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 11, said her office does the monitoring whether or not the LGUs and national agencies enforced the law, and to account PWDs who are civil service eligible, and those who are not.

noting that it is time to remind LGUs to participate in implementing the law, she said PWDs who are not eligible are

prioritized in livelihood proj-ects provided by the LGUs.

Suyao cited that civil ser-vice eligibility is a require-ment that’s why as practiced by his office, PWDs who were hired without eligibility are accounted under job orders, leaving some regular positions intended for PWDs vacant.

Every semester, DSWD provides free tutorial classes for PWDs and disadvantaged groups to review for civil ser-vice exams.

Also guesting, Teogenes S. Comiling, president of the Davao City Federation of PWDs, said the city govern-ment has complied with the requirement of the law to employ PWDs, citing that 35 regular employees and some 160 job orders are PWDs.

He said there are 15 hunchbacks hired to assist people who transact business at the city hall while some PWDs are assigned to People’s Park.

THE BIG NEWS2 EDGEDAVAO

THERE was no oppo-sition from 15 bus operators, who at-

tended the orientation on the recently issued Depart-ment Order no. 118-12 of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), mandating passenger bus operators to pay fixed rates to their drivers.

This, according to DOLE 11 regional director Joef-frey M. Suyao last Monday, adding that all bus opera-tors committed to submit their formulation scheme agreed with their drivers.

The Land Transporta-tion Franchising and Regu-latory Board (LTFRB) also issued Circular no. 2012-001 that will cancel the franchises of bus operators who would not comply with

DOLE’s order. Suyao said the imple-

mentation of the order started last July 1, but the regional DOLE is still wait-ing for the salary scheme required from bus opera-tors while also waiting for the central office’s advise whether or not to continue the implementation.

This was after the Su-preme Court (SC) recently stopped the DOLE from im-plementing its order after petition from bus operators was filed, who reportedly said that paying minimum wage to their drivers and conductors is unconstitu-tional.

Both the DOLE and LT-FRB are required by the SC to submit their comment to the petition, Suyao said,

adding that should the or-der be implemented, bus operators in the region are already prepared with their formulation scheme.

He cited that their pay-ment scheme may be a fixed rate, which will not be low-er than the minimum wage, for the first year, and pro-ductivity-based in the fol-lowing year, such as there will be an increase based on the company’s income and/or reduce of frequency of accidents.

He also mentioned that with a fixed rate, bus drivers will be more care-ful compared when their remuneration is commis-sion-based, heating up a competition in the streets, thus, increasing the risk of accidents.

Operators OK fixed rate for bus driversby Lorie Ann A. Cascaro

THE 67th Infantry Battal-ion (IB) and the 28th IB stationed respectively

in Barangays Salingcomot, Baganga and Corporacion, Lu-pon in Davao Oriental installed new commanders last July 14.

Installed as the 15th com-mander of the 67IB was Lieu-tenant Colonel (Lt.Col.) Krish-namurti Mortela, while Lt.Col. Francisco Lorenzo Jr. was in-stalled as the 25th commander of the 28IB.

Mortela replaced Colonel Reuben Basiao while Lorenzo took the reigns from Colonel

Leopoldo Imbang Jr.Both of the new com-

manders hail from Bulacan and are members of Philip-pine Military Academy Class of 1992.

Mortela and Basiao are also recipients of numerous awards and commendations from military and civilian enti-ties.

The 10th Infantry Division (10ID) commander Brigadier General Ariel Bernardo pre-sided the ceremony with the presence of Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon.

Malanyaon awarded both outgoing commanders Basiao and Imbang with plaques, commended them for their outstanding contribution in creating a peaceful and devel-oped atmosphere in Davao Oriental.

The governor noted that a number of civil-military proj-ects were finished under the leadership of the two outgoing commanders, and expressed that the new commanders will continue and surpass the ef-forts and achievements of their predecessors.

In Davao Oriental

2 new commanders installedBy Jade C. Zaldivar

CHInESE fishermen should not poach in the Philippines’ territo-

rial waters and should respect the country’s sovereignty, the Department of Foreign Affairs(DFA)said Monday amid news reports that a fleet of 30 Chinese fishing boats have ar-rived in the disputed Spratly islands in the West Philippine Sea.

DFA Spokesman Raul Her-nandez said foreign ships and vessels can pass through any country’s exclusive economic zone but could not exploit re-sources within those territo-rial waters – a right exclusively accorded under the United na-tions Convention on the Law

of the Sea to the coastal state owning those waters.

“The Chinese fishing ves-sels must not intrude in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines. We require China to respect the sovereign rights of the Philippines over the resources within our EEZ,” Hernandez told a news confer-ence.

The 30-vessel fleet sailed from the southern Chinese province of Hainan on Thurs-day and arrived at the Spratlys on Sunday, reports said.

It is one of the largest de-ployment of Chinese fishing vessels to date over the re-source-rich sea being claimed by China nearly in its entirety

even as it overlaps with the ter-ritories of other countries like the Philippines.

The West Philippine Sea, also known as South China Sea, is dotted by clusters of islands, cays, shoals and reefs and teem with rich fishing areas. The vast sea is also believed to be rich in oil and gas and is regarded as among the world’s most strategic and busiest wa-terways.

Others that claim the area in part or in whole are the Phil-ippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Ma-laysia and Taiwan.

The territorial disputes have long been feared as

PHL cautions Chinese fishing vessels from entering the country’s territory

THE new Technical Edu-cation and Skills De-velopment Authority

(TESDA) training facility to be constructed in Davao City would foster closer relation-ship between the Philippines and South Korea, said TESDA director-general Joel Villan-ueva.

“The new training cen-ter opens a new chapter in fostering close relationship between the Philippines and South Korea geared towards technical education and skills development,” said Villanueva during the recent signing of the project document detail-ing the cooperation with Kim Jinoh, Korea International Co-operation (KOICA) Resident Representative.

The occasion coincided with the discussion between the TESDA and KOICA firm-ing up the P126 million (US$ 3 million) grant from the South Korean government to jointly work for the continuous up-

grading and enhancement of training programs in Davao and the whole of Mindanao.

Villanueva said the P126 million fresh fund assistance will be used to construct the new training facility in Davao City and send abroad trainers for further studies to enhance technical vocational training in that southern part of the country.

“It will build the capacity of TESDA trainers, teach stu-dents critical skills and help open up opportunities for employment and livelihood,” he said.

At the centerpiece of the grant is the construction of one additional building -- the TESDA Regional Training Center-Korea-Philippines Vo-cational Training Center in Davao City that would house the Incubation Center, multi-purpose hall and the Korean Language Center. The existing center will also undergo reno-vation.

Construction and renova-tion works are expected to be-gin in november this year up to December 2013.

KOICA also pledged to provide agri-mechanization equipment for the Incubation Center for the use of the train-ees. It will dispatch vocational training experts to provide technical assistance on oper-ating the equipment, training the teachers and managing additional support courses.

At the last quarter of the year up to June 2013, sev-eral batches of TESDA train-ers, totaling 26, will be dis-patched to South Korea for training on various courses such as CAD(computer-aided design)/Drawing Design, Au-tomobile Maintenance and Repair, Civil Technology and Incubation Management.

The TESDA chief said the new building will serve to highlight the center as among

PWDs’ employment pushedBy Lorie Ann A. Cascaro

New TESDA training center in Davaofosters close ties between PHL, SoKor

MINING EO. Mines and Geosciences Bureau regional director Edilberto Arreza hailed Monday the issuance of Executive Order 79 on Mining by President Aquino. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

FPWDs’, 13

FPHL, 13 FTESDA, 13

VOL.5 ISSUE 96 • JULY 17, 2012 3EDGEDAVAO

CACAO is the Philip-pines’ next big thing, following banana.

This, according to Val Turtur, executive officer of the Cacao Industry De-velopment Association of Mindanao Inc. (CIDAMI), saying that by 2020, the Philippines should have at least 50 million cacao trees to contribute to the world’s demand of 100,000 metric tons of cacao beans a year.

He said to become at least equal to Indonesia in terms of volume of cacao production, cacao farm-ers in the Davao region who contribute 80% of the country’s production, should plant at least seven million cacao trees every year.

The CIDAMI eyed an increase of cacao produc-tion in the country by two to three tons a hectare from its usual one ton per hect-are a year. At present, the region is producing 7,000 to 8,000 metric tons of ca-cao beans a year.

Turtur said to achieve the goal, farmers will un-dergo training provided by the Agricultural Coopera-tive Development Interna-tional/Volunteers in Over-seas Cooperative Assis-tance (ACDI/VOCA) of the United States Department of Agriculture.

A cacao development center with an initial fund of P635,000 from ACDI/

VOCA has been estab-lished at Tulip Drive, Davao City, and will be formally launched on July 18.

Trainings at the center will be every Thursday, Tur-tur said, adding that anyone interested in planting cacao is welcome to participate.

He also noted that in terms of technology for cacao production, the Phil-ippines has far better tech-nology than Indonesia.

However, he added, it is only in terms of volume of production that the Philip-pines needs to focus to be Indonesia’s equivalent.

Indonesia has the abil-ity to produce large quan-tities of cacao beans and is being eyed as the world’s largest producer and ex-porter, as it was the world’s third largest cocoa pro-ducer after Ivory Coast and Ghana in the last two de-cades.

Turtur said while In-donesia is exporting unfer-mented raw cacao beans, the Philippines is already exporting fermented beans, citing the post harvest fa-cility at the Puentespina Farm, Calinan, Davao City.

He mentioned that ca-cao farmers at Subasta, Calinan, Davao City, who are Italy exporters, have one of the best cacaos in the region because the trees are planted on volca-nic soil at the foot of Mount Apo.

Davao eyes 7 M new cacao trees By Lorie Ann A. Cascaro

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio is lay-ing her hands off al-

legations that her father, Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, had forced swindling suspect Manolito Gavas to literally eat his fake documents.

Gavas had reportedly duped with the documents a group of informal settlers into occupying a 3.5 hectare of land owned by one Victo-ria Reformina on which they put up their dwellings.

Following Gavas’ arrest and detention by police of the Talomo precinct, the vice mayor went to see Ga-vas last July 10 and scolded him for tricking the infor-mal settlers for his own benefit with the aid of fake documents. It was there that

the elder Duterte allegedly forced the suspect to eat a piece of he had used for his scam.

Mayor Duterte-Carpio confirmed that the matter is being investigated by the De-partment of Interior and Lo-cal Government (DILG).

“It’s now in their hands,” she told members of the me-dia in her office.

As for her earlier state-ment about filing a case against Gavas for usingthe name of the city mayor’s of-fice in his scam, Duterte-Car-pio said she may yet do so.

“I want to complain since he used my name, but my lawyer says it’s not action-

able. There’s no case we can file against Gavas,”she said, adding that she instructed her lawyer to explore the possibility of doing so.

“I’m still waiting for a feedback,” she said.

Meanwhile, Gavas and his allies face multiple charges filed by the Talomo Police Station before the City Prosecutor’s Office.

Charges of malicious mischief, trespassing, grave threats, qualified theft, and syndicated estafa through falsification of documents werefiled July 10 against Ga-vas, 38, native of Bohol, and 30 other people.

The 30 are Maximo

Binigay, Junjie Grapa, Mal-lore Linsag, Lorellie Bendi-jo, Carmencita Arboiz, Glic-erio Cayacay, Vergie Cuerda, Benita Montes, Lorena Ecu-nes, Rosemarie Ungab, Ce-nisa Pilapil, Praxides Ungab, Felisidad Linsag, Felomina Guardiana, Antonio Saysoy, Rosalinda Maniano, Grace Lumugdang, Emelda Payac, Malyn Dayson, Amelita Vil-lanueva, Manolito Tubio, Joel Tubio, Almira Pinpin, nerio nalla, Criselda Ma-loloy-on, Rebecca Dumdum, nerly Sacasan, Joel Jalop, Thomas Bendijo and Joji Grava.

Binigay, 49, Grapa, 41, and Linsag, 30, were for-mally presented before the City Prosecutor while the 27 others remain at large.

Sara hands off on Rody-Gavas issue

n Says matter is in DILG’s hands n Mulls filing case against Gavas

By Jade C. Zaldivar

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Leila M. De Lima on Monday said that the visit of Ambassador Luis CdeBaca “affirms the recog-nition of the United States government of the coun-try’s gains in the campaign against human trafficking.”

CdeBaca, who is in-charge of the US Depart-ment of State’s (USDS) Of-fice to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, vis-ited the DOJ on Monday.

He met with top rank-ing officials at the DOJ just a few weeks after the USDS announced the retention of

the Philippines in the Tier 2 category in its Global Hu-man Trafficking in Persons (GTIP) report.

In the meeting attended by De Lima, Department of Social Welfare and De-velopment (DSWD) Secre-tary Corazon “Dinky” So-liman and key officials of other member-agencies of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), CdeBaca affirmed the gains achieved by the Philippines in the campaign against what has been named as “modern-day slavery.”

Other key officials, who

attended the event, in-cluded Department of Inte-rior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse M. Robredo, DOJ Undersecre-tary Jose Vicente B. Salazar, Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Ricardo Da-vid, Jr., national Bureau of Investigation (nBI) direc-tor nonatus Ceasar Rojas, Philippine Center on Trans-national Crime (PCTC) ex-ecutive director Felizardo Serapio, Jr.;

Philippine Overseas Em-ployment Administration (POEA) Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac, Department

of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Assistant Secretary Joji Aragon, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chair-person Loretta Ann Rosales, national Youth Commission (nYC) Commissioner Geor-gina nava, Philippine Com-mission for Women (PCW) Chairperson Remedios Ignacio-Rikken and Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC) executive director Brenda Virgo.

CdeBaca is a decorated federal prosecutor before he was appointed by US President Barack Obama to manage the activities of the

US government in its inter-national fight against mod-ern forms of slavery.

He also assisted US Sec-retary of State Hillary Clin-ton put together the GTIP report released last July 2012.

De Lima, IACAT Chair, expressed her deep appre-ciation to the importance given to the country’s anti-human trafficking cam-paign, as well as, the initia-tives of coordinating with the Philippine government by the US Ambassador.

She also assured

PHL cites US recognition of anti-trafficking gains

8-foot croc escapes from flooded Kidapawan zoo An eight-foot crocodile

raised in captivity in a mini-zoo here es-

caped during a heavy flood-ing Saturday, a tourism offi-cial said.

Marife Pame, head of the tourism and investment pro-motions of the Kidapawan City government, said they learned the crocodile had escaped only after a regular check and clean-up inside the mini-zoo Saturday noon.

The zoo is located in Landmark, located at the boundary of Kidapawan City and Makilala town in north Cotabato, is run by the city government through its Tourism and Investment Promotions Office.

The heavy rains, which caused flooding in some parts of the city and nearby town, started Friday night and continued until the next morning.

Armand Carcallas, zoo caretaker, said the croco-dile managed to escape by destroying the cyclone wire of its pen. It then moved towards the Saguing River a few feet away from the mini-zoo, he said.

The Saguing River is one of the longest and biggest rivers in north Cotabato.

Mayor Rodolfo Gantu-angco has promised cash rewards to those who could bring the crocodile back to the zoo.

Pame has sought help of the police, forest rangers, soldiers, and rescue groups to track dwon he crocodile down. (Malu Cadelina-Manar/Min

VEGETABLE CONGRESS. Vegetable Industry Council of Southern Mindanao Inc. (Vicsmin) president Ray Acain (right) and Vicsmin vice president Val Turtur discuss the 8th Mindanao

Vegetable Congress that will be held in the Davao City on August 13-14. The congress aims to improve the market accessibility of the vegetable products in Mindanao. [KARLOS MANLUPIG]

THE BIG NEWS

FUS, 13

VOL.5 ISSUE 96 • JULY 17, 20124 SCIENCE/ENVIRONMENT EDGEDAVAO

THE government is ad-vancing the mission skeptics earlier consid-

ered impossible to accom-plish, fueled by President Be-nigno Aquino III’s support for this undertaking on address-ing environmental, climate change and socio-economic concerns nationwide.

“If we don’t act now, it will be like throwing away millions of Filipinos’ future,” he said, explaining why the govern-ment is pursuing the 2011-2016 national Greening Pro-gram (nGP).

nGP is the country’s big-gest reforestation bid, so far.

The program targets nearly doubling, during Mr. Aquino’s incumbency, total greening accomplishment of the government in the past 30 to 40 years.

Authorities are putting science into nGP to help carry out such seemingly impossible mission.

“We can’t have a business-as-usual approach or it will take us some 280 years to re-forest our country,” said Sec-retary Ramon Paje of the De-partment of Environment and natural Resources (DEnR), the agency spearheading nGP’s implementation.

He said the government must fast-track greening be-cause about half of the Phil-ippines’ nearly 16 million hectares of total forest land is already unproductive, open, denuded and degraded.

Slash-and-burn practices, illegal logging, land use con-version, forest fires as well as pests and diseases are causes

of forest loss or depletion, DEnR said.

Of the total damaged for-est land nationwide, the gov-ernment targets greening through nGP some 1.5 million hectares using around 1.5 bil-lion seedlings of indigenous and exotic tree species.

Latest available data is bolstering the government’s stand that nGP is not an im-possible mission.

“We’re making progress on nGP,” Paje reported a year after President Aquino for-mally launched this program in mid-2011.

nGP data as of June 22 this year show nearly 375 hectares of forest land in regions 7, 10, 13 and Metro Manila have been greened during 2012’s first quarter alone using al-most 2.70 million seedlings of various tree species.

Such accomplishment is in addition to the nearly 90 million tree specie seedlings which Paje said have been planted in almost 128,560 hectares of forest land nation-wide as of Dec. 31 last year.

nGP planting activities in 2011 also covered about 77 kilometers of roadsides and similar areas, the DEnR noted.

Data show nearly 720,000 people participated in both 2012 and 2011 planting ac-tivities.

nationwide greening ac-complishment in 2011 hit 129 percent as output ex-ceeded government’s target of 100,000 hectares for reforest-ing during that launching year of the nGP.

Social mobilization is

among the requirements of Executive Order 26, which instituted nGP as a govern-ment priority program, to help achieve this program’s green-ing target.

nGP’s social mobiliza-tion component requires all students and government employees nationwide to indi-vidually plant each year until 2016 at least 10 seedlings that the DEnR provides for free.

EO 26 also encourages other sectors’ voluntary par-ticipation in nGP.

“We must protect our natural resources so it is only proper for all to join the nGP,” President Aquino said.

The program’s partner-volunteers planted seedlings in some 18 percent or 17,897 hectares of total area greened last year, the DEnR reported.

DEnR-funded greening activities accounted for the re-maining 82 percent or 82,163 hectares of total area planted in 2011.

“Only 32,382 hectares were covered by DEnR-fund-ed greening activities in 2010 so we were able to achieve a 154 percent accomplishment last year,” Paje said.

The nGP registered such output even if the budget for this program rose 14 percent only to P1.3 billion last year from P1.2 billion in 2010, data show.

The 2011 nGP budget also covers maintenance and pro-tection of materials planted before the greening program’s launch, establishment/repair of clonal nurseries nationwide and production/procurement of seedlings to be planted.

The DEnR is promoting cloning as a means to mass-produce good-quality seed-lings for nGP.

The cloned seedlings are produced from cuttings of the best parts of good-quality par-ent stocks.

Cloning is among the sci-ence-based interventions for the nGP, the DEnR noted.

Such activity is undertak-en in nationwide clonal nurs-eries of DEnR as well as in facilities this agency and State universities and colleges joint-ly established for the purpose.

The DEnR also reported that nearly 364,100 jobs were created from the nGP seedling production and plantation es-tablishment in 2011.

People’s organizations are among those tapped to pro-duce nGP seedlings and this opens up livelihood opportu-nities for such marginalized groups, the DEnR noted.

The nGP helped the Phil-ippines earlier gain interna-tional recognition for being one of the world’s strong envi-ronmental performers.

From 50th spot in 2010,

Paje reported the Philippines rose to 42nd place among 132 countries ranked in the Febru-ary 2012 Environmental Per-formance Index (EPI) of Yale University, Columbia Universi-ty, European Commission and World Economic Forum.

“This only shows our en-vironmental policies and pro-grams are correct,” Paje said.

EPI ranks countries on performance indicators tracked across policy catego-ries covering environmental public health and ecosystem vitality.

Such indicators provide a gauge on how close countries are to respective established environmental policy goals.

“We gained perfect scores in indicators for protecting forest cover, growing forest stock, addressing carbon di-oxide (CO2) emissions per capita, reducing outdoor air pollution and on agricultural subsidies for farmers,” Paje noted.

nGP is growing the Philip-pines’ forest stock and helping increase forest cover nation-wide.

Forests help sequester CO2 emissions which experts identified as among green-house gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, raising global temperature.

Elevated global tempera-ture results in climate change, they noted.

Studies show forests in the early 1900s covered almost 70 percent of the Philippines’ total area of some 30 million hectares.

However, such forest cov-

er already shrank to 24 per-cent by 2004, the DEnR noted.

By implementing the nGP, the government hopes to re-verse the denudation trend that characterized forest land nationwide for decades.

The government projects the nGP to increasingly result in more vegetated than de-nuded forest land beginning 2013.

Experts continue advocat-ing regeneration and sustain-able management of forests, noting these perform several functions ranging from water resources and soil protection to natural habitat and biodi-versity conservation.

Forests are also sources of food and raw materials par-ticularly for uplanders who generally continue being im-poverished.

Earlier, the DEnR reported there are around five million impoverished upland families nationwide.

The DEnR pointed out that such count comprises al-most a third of the Philippines’ total population.

The upland families’ aver-age annual income is nearly P23,000 only, the DEnR said.

Aside from seedling pro-duction, uplanders can earn from agro-forestry activities which the DEnR already al-lowed in the nGP production areas nationwide.

In such production areas, trees are harvested for com-mercial purposes.

Tree species planted in protection areas nationwide are retained to provide much-needed forest cover. [Pna]

PHL’s greening mission advances

“We must protect our natural resources so it is only proper

for all to join the NGP”

VOL.5 ISSUE 96 • JULY 17, 2012

Eighteen of the 22 bishops in Mindanao have agreed on an eight-point position on min-

ing, which includes banning the open-pit method, Bishop Dinualdo D. Gutierrez of the Diocese of Mar-bel said.

In a statement sent over the weekend, Gutierrez said the Catho-lic Bishops’ Conference of the Phil-ippines (CBCP) Plenary Assembly approved on July 8 the request of the 18 bishops from Mindanao to endorse to President Benigno Simeon Aquino an eight-point posi-tion, among them the ban on open pit mining and probation of min-ing in forests and watersheds.

The bishops also said min-ing should be banned in areas where there are major faults; that it should not be permitted near agricultural lands to ensure food security and that Free Prior and Informed Consent of the people “must be truthfully given by people in mining-affected areas.”

“In case mining is allowed in ancestral domain, mining corpora-tions shall respect human rights, culture and customary laws of the indigenous people,” the bishops said. The bishops said they want a ban on open pit mining and other “methods of mining destructive of the environment.” Mining, they added, should benefit “everyone, not only the stockholders and

some local government officials.” Forests and watersheds are

among the areas closed to min-ing, according to Section 19 of RA 7942 or the Mining Act of 1995. Also closed to mining, according to the same section, are “planta-tions or valuable crops, ‘except upon written consent of the gov-ernment agency or private entity concerned.’”

Executive Order 79, which contains the new mining policy of the Aquino administration, lists additional areas closed to mining applications, in addition to those listed in Section 19. The EO prohib-its mining in “prime agricultural lands, in addition to lands covered by RA no. 6657, or the Comprehen-sive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988, as amended, including plantations and areas devoted to valuable crops, and strategic agriculture” and fisheries development zones and fish refuge and sanctuaries de-clared as such by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.”

Also closed to mining are tour-ism development areas, as identi-fied in the national Tourism Devel-opment Plan; and, “other critical areas, island ecosystems, and im-pact areas of mining as determined by current and existing mapping technologies, that the DEnR may hereafter identify pursuant to ex-isting laws, rules, and regulations,

such as, but not limited to, the nI-PAS Act. E0 79 was signed by the President on July 6 but released to the public only on July 9, a day after the bishops’ gathering.

AMMB endorsedGutierrez did not name the 18

bishops who agreed on the eight points and the four others who did not endorse it. An archdiocesan ad-ministrator in Mindanao also sup-ported the bishops’ stand, he added. Bishop Broderick Pabillo, national director of the CBCP’s national Sec-retariat for Social Action, Justice and Peace, presented to the bishops during the CBCP’s 105th Plenary Assembly on July 8 a primer on the Alternative Minerals Management Bill (AMMB).

Gutierrez said that after Pabil-lo’s explanation, the endorsement form in support of the AMMB was circulated among the bishops for their signature and “72 bishops en-dorsed the AMMB.”

“Let us heed the call of the bish-ops to protect the integrity of God’s creation and for our sake and for the sake of the future generations,” Gutierrez urged.

The AMMB is a consolidated version of House Bills 206, 3763, 4315 and several mining-related measures. The CBCP had issued statements in 1998 and 2006 urg-ing the repeal of the 1995 Mining

Act In January, participants to the International Conference on Mining in Mindanao passed the Mindanao Declaration Defending the Dignity of Life, Securing our Future, called for the repeal of RA 7942 and called for the enactment of the AMMB.

Ban on open pit miningSection 12 of EO 79 provides

that local government units “shall confine themselves only to the im-position of reasonable limitations on mining activities conducted within their respective territo-rial jurisdictions that are consistent with national laws and regulations.” But Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said EO 79 did not invalidate the open-pit ban of South Cotabato.

“It is valid unless invalidated by competent authorities,” Paje said. South Cotabato passed in June 2010 its Environment Code banning open pit mining, a method that Sagit-tarius Mines, Inc. wants to use in its gold-copper project in Tampakan, South Cotabato.

Provincial board member Er-nesto Catedral, chair of the joint committee on environmental pro-tection and legal matters, said E0 79 dashed the hopes of those wanting a review of the environment code that bans open-pit mining.

“We’ve been waiting for that new mining policy so we can act on the petition. But from the pro-nouncement of Secretary Paje, we don’t have a reason to act,” he told Mindanews.

A petition to review the Envi-ronment Code, particularly on the ban on open pit mining, has been pending with Catedral’s commit-tee. Filed by the Regional Mineral Development Council in September 2010, the petition is anchored on the grounds that the Environment Code is contrary to RA 7942.

Vice Governor Elmo Tolosa said the new mining policy won’t have an effect on the open pit ban of the province. “We are not banning min-ing, just the method of extracting the mineral,” he said in a radio in-terview.

John Arnaldo, Sagittarius mines external communications and me-dia relations officer, has repeatedly pointed out that RA 7942 does not prohibit open-pit method. The com-pany, however, has not filed any legal action in the courts to assert its position. (Bong Sarmiento/Min-danews)

5EDGEDAVAO THE ECONOMY

MINING POLICY. Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño lauds the Dutertes for their firm position against mining during a press conference in the Davao City on Saturday. Casiño opposed the new mining policy of the Aquino administration and is calling for the enactment of a pro-people and pro-environment mining law. KARLOS MANLUPIG

Stat Watch

MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE (January 2009 - December 2011)

Month 2011 2010 2009

Average 43.31 45.11 47.637December 43.64 43.95 46.421November 43.27 43.49 47.032October 43.45 43.44 46.851

September 43.02 44.31 48.139August 42.42 45.18 48.161

July 42.81 46.32 48.146June 43.37 46.30 47.905May 43.13 45.60 47.524April 43.24 44.63 48.217

March 43.52 45.74 48.458February 43.70 46.31 47.585January 44.17 46.03 47.207

3.5%4th Qtr 2011

3.7%4th Qtr 2011

USD 3,342Million

Nov 2011USD 4,985

MillionNov 2011

USD -1,643Million

Nov 2011USD -114

MillionDec 2011

P4,442,355Million

Nov 2011

4.71%Oct 2011P128,745

MillionNov 2011

P 4,898Billion

Oct 2011

P 43.65Dec 2011

3,999.7Sept 2011

128.1Jan 2012

3.9Jan 2012

3.4Dec 2011

284,040Sept 2011

19.1%Oct 2011

6.4%Oct 2011

1. Gross National IncomeGrowth Rate(At Constant 2000 Prices)

2. Gross Domestic ProductGrowth Rate(At Constant 2000 Prices)

3. Exports 1/

4. Imports 1/

5. Trade Balance

6. Balance of Payments 2/

7. Broad Money Liabilities

8. Interest Rates 4/

9. National Government Revenues

10. National government outstanding debt

11. Peso per US $ 5/

12. Stocks Composite Index 6/

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

16. Visitor Arrivals

17. Underemployment Rate 7/

18. Unemployment Rate 7/

Cebu Pacific Daily 5J961 / 5J962 5:45 Manila-Davao-Manila 6:15Zest Air Daily Z2390 / Z2390 5:45 Manila-Davao-Manila 6:25Cebu Pacific Daily 5J593 / 5J348 6:00 Cebu-Davao-Iloilo 6:30Philippine Airlines Daily PR809 / PR810 6:10 Manila-Davao-Manila 7:00Philippine Airlines Daily PR819 / PR820 7:50 Manila-Davao-Manila 8:50Cebu Pacific Daily 5J394 / 5J393 7:50 Zamboanga-Davao-Zamboanga 8:10Cebu Pacific Daily 5J599 / 5J594 8:00 Cebu-Davao-Cebu 8:30Cebu Pacific Daily 5J347 / 5J596 9:10 Iloilo-Davao-Cebu 9:40Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri/Sun 5J963 / 5J964 9:40 Manila-Davao-Manila 10:10Philippine Airlines Daily PR811 / PR812 11:30 Manila-Davao-Manila 12:20Cebu Pacific Daily 5J595 / 5J966 12:00 Cebu-Davao-Manila 12:30Silk Air Mon/Wed/Sat MI588 / MI588 18:55 Davao-Cebu-Singapore 13:35Cebu Pacific Thu 5J965 / 5J968 12:55 Manila-Davao-Manila 13:25Cebu Pacific Tue/Wed//Sat 5J965 / 5J968 13:35 Manila-Davao-Manila 14:05

Silk Air Thu/Sun MI566 / MI566 18:55 Davao-Singapore 15:20Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Wed/Fri 5J507 / 5J598 15:00 Cebu-Davao-Cebu 15:30Philippine Airlines August 15:55 Mani2Mani 16:50Zest Air Daily Z2524 / Z2525 16:05 Cebu-Davao-Cebu 16:45Cebu Pacific Daily 5J967 / 5J600 16:35 Manila-Davao-Cebu 17:05Philippines Airlines Daily PR813 / PR814 16:55 Manila-Davao-Manila 17:45Cebu Pacific Mon/Tue/Thu/Sat 5J215 / 5J216 18:00 Cagayan de Oro-Davao-Cagayan de Oro 18:20Cebu Pacific Daily 5971 / 5J970 18:40 Manila-Davao-Manila 19:10Cebu Pacific Tue/Sat/Sun 5J973 / 5J974 20:00 Manila-Davao-Manila 20:30Cebu Pacific Daily 5J969 / 5J972 20:30 Manila-Davao-Manila 21:00Airphil Express Daily 2P987 / 2P988 20:30 Manila-Davao-Manila 21:00Philippine Airlines Daily except Sunday PR821 / PR822 21:20 Manila-Davao-Manila 21:50Philippine Airlines Sunday PR821 / PR822 22:20 Manila-Davao-Manila 22:50

as of august 2010

Bishops reiterate opposition to open-pit mining

VOL.5 ISSUE 96 • JULY 17, 2012

Leading independent Phoenix Petroleum Philippines cele-

brated the fifth anniversa-ry of its listing at the Phil-ippine Stock Exchange on July 11, 2012. Phoenix Petroleum President and CEO Dennis Uy and Chair-man Domingo Uy led the traditional bell-ringing ceremony that opened the market that day.

Phoenix Petroleum successfully launched its IPO in 2007, becoming the first petroleum company to list since the Oil Dereg-ulation Law was passed in 1998. It is one of the few publicly-listed companies based in Mindanao.

“The successful IPO opened opportunities for us, setting a path to con-sistent growth, stronger operations, and solid fi-nances,” President Dennis Uy said.

From 2007 to 2011, the company’s revenue posted a compound an-nual growth rate of 85%, net income 47%, and total equity 50%. Market capi-talization grew at a com-

pound annual growth rate of 86% from P383 million to P6.2 billion as of July 10.

In 2007, Phoenix was the 473rd largest cor-poration in the country based on revenue. Today Phoenix is the 84th largest company. Phoenix Petro-leum was recently named one of the best managed small-cap companies in the country by Hong Kong business magazine Finan-ceAsia.

The 5th listing an-niversary also coincided with the opening of the company’s 250th station in Salinas, Bacoor, Cavite.

“We at Phoenix Petro-leum are proud to be the leading independent oil company in the country today,” said Uy. “We’ve had an outstanding five years and together we look for-ward to building the fu-ture of the downstream petroleum industry in the Philippines. We will con-tinue to make Phoenix a stronger, dynamic busi-ness and a reliable part-ner in the communities

we serve.”He thanked the Phil-

ippine Stock Exchange, investors, shareholders, and business partners for their support to Phoenix Petroleum. “You are truly

an indispensable partner to everyone in the Phoe-nix family and we will endeavor to always be an indispensable partner to each and every one of you,” Uy said.

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines is the leading independent oil company with an expanding net-work of operations na-tionwide. It is engaged in the business of trading re-

fined petroleum products and lubricants, operation of oil depots and storage facilities, and allied ser-vices.

Doha-based Qatar Airways stumped all other airlines,

including Singapore Air-lines, and its neighbor, Emirates. This is the sec-ond consecutive year that the airline won the top prize in the annual search for best airline.

Qatar Airways was awarded the Best Airline

of the World award last Friday during the Sky-trax 2012 World Airline Awards in London.

Last year, aside from being the world’s best airline, Qatar Airways was also awarded the ti-tle of best regional airline in the Middle East and was one of the top ranked airlines in the Best First

1. Qatar Airways2. Asiana Airlines3. Singapore Airlines4. Cathay Pacific Airways5. AnA All nippon Airways6. Etihad Airways7. Turkish Airlines8. Emirates9. Thai Airways10. Malaysia Airlines

6 THE ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

Phoenix: ‘IPO opened opportunities for us’

Qatar Airwaysis world’s best

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines celebrates its 5th listing anniversary at the Philippine Stock Exchange with a traditional bell ringing ceremony July 11. Phoenix Petroleum Chairman Domingo Uy and President and CEO Dennis Uy ring the bell to open the market session with PSE Chairman Jose T. Pardo and PSE President and CEO Hans B. Sicat.

By Carlo P. Mallo

The World’s Best Airlines 2012

Class Airline Lounges, World’s Best Business Class Onboard Catering, and Wold’s Best Business Class Airline Seat.

The Skytrax Awards is one of the benchmark-ing tools for the airline industry. They measure passengers’ satisfaction levels by surveying pas-sengers in all cabin class-es.

The 10-month survey is carried out by tele-phone among 18 million airline customers from 100 countries. The sur-vey includes 38 key per-formance indicators in-cluding check-in, board-ing, onboard seat com-fort, cabin cleanliness, food, beverages, in-flight entertainment and staff service. This year the sur-vey covered over 200 air-lines, from international to domestic carriers.

VOL.5 ISSUE 96 • JULY 17, 2012

DSWD releases P17 M for housing, day care centers in ARMM

COMMU NITY SENSE 7EDGEDAVAO

The Department of Social Welfare and

Development in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao ( D S W D - A R M M ) has released P175 million to Habitat for Humanity for the regional government’s s o c i o - e c o n o m i c development efforts..

D S W D - A R M M Regional Secretary Bainon Karon together with Assistant Secretary Pombaen Kader turned over the amount from the Stimlus Fund for the implementation of the following programs: modified shelter assistance (MSA) for the construction of 1,000 housing units for displaced families; and 1,100 Day Care Construction Project (DCC) to be undertaken in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

Beneficiaries of the MSA are displaced families in conflict-affected areas in Maguindanao with 699 housing units, Sulu (200) and Basilan (101) at the cost of P100,000 each.

On the other hand, the construction of the targeted 1,100 units of day care centers is distributed to ARMM’s five provinces broken down as follows: M a g u i n d a n a o - 6 2 0 , Basilan-60, Lanao del Sur A-75; Lanao del Sur B-75; Sulu-70; Tawi-Tawi-175 and Marawi City-25.

Cost for each center range from P617,000 to P670,000. Estimated cost, however, is higher in the island provinces due to overhead outlay.

Recipients of the ongoing construction of day care center in

Maguindanao include the towns of Parang, Datu Pagalungan, Datu Montawal, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Saudi Ampatuan, northern Kabuntalan, Mother Kabuntalan, Talitay, Datu Piang and Guindulungan.

The DSWD progress report on the structural construction of the MSAs and DCCs reveal that as of June 31, 2012, 178 cay care centers had been partly accomplished in the region.In Maguindanao, 43 out of the 140 ongoing construction have been completed.while 25 units have been done in Basilan out of 38 through the support of the 52nd and 55th Engineering Brigade of AFP’s national Development Support Command (nADESCOM).

Hedcor, the largest developer and producer of run-

of-river hydropower plants in the Philippines, will plant over 3000 seedlings this month at Talomo District to support the sustainability of Talomo Watershed.

Cacao, durian,

rambotan, narra (endemic trees) and rubber are amongst the species that Hedcor will plant in the area as requested by the host community. This week, Hedcor will plant 1000 trees in Barangay Tawantawan, Baguio District part of Talomo Watershed. On

July 21, 2012, over 2000 trees will be planted in a simultaneous tree planting activity with the Aboitiz group of companies.

“Tree planting in partnership with host communities have been observed regularly” Hedcor vice president for

Business Development Engr. Boy Jabonillo said.

As part of the Watershed Management Plan (WMP) of Hedcor, the company conducts programs like reforestation, roadside rehabilitation and riverbank stabilization in the areas that host its

hydro plants.Almost 45,000 trees

have already been planted this year. Each employee of Hedcor plants at least 20 seedlings annually. Hedcor’s target is to plant 282, 402 seedlings by the end of 2012.

Hedcor’s concern for the environment does

not stop at tree planting. The company’s company forester also monitors and maintains the trees planted by Hedcor for up to three years to ensure their growth.

“There is a need to preserve our watershed. We ensure its protection and preservation by planting more trees each month of every year and ensuring a high survival rate,” added Jabonillo.

Hedcor’s conservation of Talomo Watershed will support the generation of 4.47-MW Talomo Hydro Plants. Hydropower generation is highly dependent on a healthy watershed. A steady supply of water is the lifeblood of Hedcor’s hydro plants.

Another of Hedcor’s various environmental initiatives is the Race-to-Reduce Program in which Hedcor monitors employees’ daily consumption of water, electricity and paper. This program encourages individuals to become responsible consumers.

Hedcor also partners with its host communities in eco-market activities and practices proper waste segregation. The company pays for segregated garbage that it collects from residents of host communities on a quarterly basis.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio L. Singson

on Friday met with contractors, consultants, suppliers, cement manufacturers, and vendors doing business to keep them partners in the country’s development.

“We need reliable and well equipped contractors for us to achieve better infrastructure in the country,” said Singson, also citing the magnitude of public infrastructure lined up next year with upcoming budget of P152.9 Billion.

Singson urged them to participate in government projects, emphasizing that biddings for government projects particularly in DPWH project are now transparent and

competitive.In attendance during

the consultation meetings were officers of the Philippine Constructors Association (PCA), Council of Engineering Consultants of the Philippines (CECOPHIL), Association of Construction Equipment Lessors (ACEL) , F.F. Cruz, A. M. Oreta Construction, D.M. Consunji Inc., EEI Corporation, R-II Builders, L.R. Tiqui, Foundation Specialists, Katahira and Engineers, nippon Koei, Renardet, SMEC International, Oriental Consultants, Angel Lazaro& Associates, Holcim, Cemex, northern Cement, and others.

“If there are hanky-panky procedures in the bidding process in the DPWH, whether in

the Central Office or in the field units, you can report directly to me, said Singson. I have already replaced many DPWH personnel in the bids and awards committee including BAC secretariat whom I found colluding with the contractors to bag the project contracts,”he said.

All projects are advertised for bidding and the results of biddings are published in the DPWH website, he added.

Singson assured that he is open for their suggetions and recommendations to further facilitate the completion of the projects and asked them to compe up with new technologies or construction methodologies.

SUSTAINABILITY. Hedcor targets 87-percent survival rate of trees planted in every quarter of this year. Thus, Hedcor Talomo Hydro plants ensure the conservation of Talomo-Lipadas watershed and the significant volume of water retention from every tree planted by monitoring and maintenance.

DPWH wants to partner with suppliers, developers

Hedcor to plant over 3000 trees to protect Talomo watershed

VOL.5 ISSUE 96 • JULY 17, 20128 VANTAGE POINTS

Retrogressive proposalEDITORIAL

EDGEDAVAOProviding solutions to a seamless global village.

ANTONIO M. AJEROEditor in Chief

OLIVIA D. VELASCOGeneral Manager

LORIE ANN A. CASCARO • JADE C. ZALDIVAR • MOSES C. BILLACURAStaff Writers

Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEñA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN • NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG

KARLOS C. MANLUPIG • JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIALEANDRO S. DAVAL JR.,

PhotographyARLENE D. PASAJE

Cartoons

KENNETH IRVING K. ONGCreative Solutions

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Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, PhilippinesTel: (082) 301-6235

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Circulation

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EDGEDAVAO

50 shades of like

By John C ABell

COMMENTARY

REP. RAYMOnD MEnDOZA of the party-list group Trade Union Con-gress of the Philippines (TUCP) is

opposed to a proposal to deny compen-sation to mothers while breastfeeding their babies in the workplace.

The youthful lawmaker issued his stand after revealing that there are three bills pending in the House that would repeal a provision in the existing Milk Code which gives working mothers a lactation break of up to 40 minutes for every eight hours of work.

If the bills’ proponents will have their way, Mendoza said, the time spent by a working mother in breastfeeding her baby will not be compensated.

He is quoted as saying “it is anti-worker and anti-women to have unpaid lactation hours for working mothers. It is anti-worker because it prejudices lactating workers who have the right to equal pay for equal work.”

The three proposals are also “reac-

tionary and unfair because we have a progressive law already in place that is being upheld by the International Labor Organization, the United nations Chil-dren’s Fund and the World Health Orga-nization as a model for other countries to emulate.”

“We are moving the clock back to fa-vor multinational milk companies,” he said.

We fully agree with Rep. Mendoza’s stand in so far as the proposal’s being retrogressive. We are certain, too, that most Dabawenyos who were in the thick of past campaigns against infant formu-la, agree with Mendoza. Once approved, the repeal of the compensation for lacta-tion breaks would in a way force breast-feeding mothers to go back to milk sub-stitutes.

The three bills are retrogressive and counterproductive and we encourage congressman Mendoza to fight the pro-posal tooth and nail.

We are losing our faith in TV news as fast as those high-speed chases it’s so happy to show us. At the

same time, we’re driving like maniacs on the social-media highway, letting it all hang out with the top down.

What do they have to do with each other? Both are advertiser-supported media. One prints money, the other not so much, at least not yet. And yet one is on the downswing, the other ascendant. What does this say about human nature and tapping into elusive and guilty pleasures?

In its annual poll, Gallup Politics found that only 21 percent of respondents ex-pressed a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confi-dence in TV news – less than half what it was when the poll was first conducted in 1993, but down only a point from last year.

But then this report, from RTDnA and Hofstra: TV news hiring is up – way up:

The survey found that TV news added 1,131 jobs in 2011 to reach a total full-time employment tally of 27,653, representing a 4.3% gain over the previous year. (The highest level of TV news staffing occurred in 2000).

42.9% of stations reported that they in-creased staff in 2011 and 46.2% said that staff size stayed the same. Fox-affiliates were more likely than any other group to increase staff size, and stations in the South were more likely to have added employees than stations in other regions.

We mistrust TV news, yet ratings and thus job numbers are improving. What’s go-ing on here?

The answer lies in a well-documented disconnect: We are careful about what we say we like. Sometimes it’s to be polite. Sometimes we withhold our public displays of affection to conceal a guilty pleasure. Sometimes we have no idea, but need to say something.

Anecdotally, TV news has a terrible repu-tation. nobody admits to watching it, and yet the average station has five to six hours of news division programming every day – not counting the quasi-news network programs that have grown from two hours in the morn-ing to as many as four.

TV news is a guilty pleasure, and its eco-nomic viability in the age of “free” Internet news would seem to make zero sense. The fact that it not only persists but increasingly thrives while being denigrated by its audi-ence is significant, and informs how social networks can and can’t work.

Which gets us back to the disconnect be-tween liking something and saying you like something. Just as we say we don’t think much of TV news and nevertheless watch a lot of it, social networks encourage en-dorsements – liking, friending, etc. But left to your own devices you only reveal what embellishes your self-image, consciously or not. How does anyone really know what you believe, when even you might not know for sure? As social networks try to become the digital age’s equivalent to TV’s advertising juggernaut, how do you devise a social net-work-based marketing strategy or justify an ad spend when all you’ve got to go by are the confessions of some inflated egos?

This is perhaps why, as the Wall Street Journal reports, marketers are moving past focus groups and questionnaires to mockups of supermarkets where they observe how test subjects react to products on the shelves. They’re paying attention not just to where subjects stop and what they pick up but also to their eye movements.

VOL.5 ISSUE 96 • JULY 17, 2012

MO R E T H A n B A D

ECOnOMICS – nothing could be more a clear signal that the time for change has arrived. To the movie theat-er patrons, may the independent movie theater business – 1950 to 1990 – rest in peace. But it hopefully won’t be forgot-ten altogether. After all, the entertain-ment business that helped fuel the econ-omy for five decades of heady growth, thrift and hard work are likely to be just as critical in the future.

Imagine, the Davao City’s young gen-eration has no idea how their elders enjoyed watching a movie for 50 cents, a bag of popcorn or pack of butong pa-kwan for 20 cents plus a bottle of soft-drink for 15 cents. That was, of course, in the yesteryears when movie theaters dotted the city’s major commercial ar-eas and crowded streets. For decades, melodramas, comedy, classic Filipino action flicks and romantic movies are shown in theaters considered as first-run cinemas at that time such as Crest, Lyric and Golden Theatres located along San Pedro street, Galaxy at Ilustre street, Queen’s along Bonifacio street, Eagle, Odeon and Garmon situated at C.M.Recto street also popularly known as Claveria.

We are likewise reminded that sec-ond or third-rate cinemas like Ace along

Ilustre street, Center, Ideal, Life theat-ers along Claveria street, Clifford and Tagumpay situated at Bonifacio street and Rey Cinema in front of Agdao mar-ket are part of the business at the height of its popularity showing the so-called “double or triple” programs. To the Davao old folks, even Filipino films then look great – revealingall the splendor local producers could contrive, though they work on a budget a fraction of Hol-lywood, until foreign films landed on our shores. The colors of imported movies – glorious yellow, flashing blue and bold red worked well on wide-screen format and give epic dimensions.

Unfortunately, the movie theater business in the city diminished perma-nently with the introduction of modern technology, but wasstill kept alive in the memories of those who had experienced watching movies in a very simple and economical way. And there’s something else – perhaps more than bad econom-ics fueled the closure of independent-owned movie theaters in the city or maybe even throughout the country. One of the biggest reasons for the crisis is the operations of first-class mall-operated cinemas offering movie fanatics state-of-the-art technology and better amenities such as the three dimensions or 3D mov-ies and the I-MAX system.

Given the burgeoning costs and com-plexities involved in operating a movie theater nowadays, the fact that IT tech-nology is being embraced by the new

generation of movie lovers is at all evi-dence of rising exasperation with run-ning a cinema. The competition is, by and large – extremely tough and difficult. Was there anything else going on in the cinema business especially in the 90’s? Indeed, there was, but much has been overshadowed by the latest state-of-the-art equipment – 3D and I-MAX sys-tems, home theater, internet, computers, smartphones and many, many more.

For the movie lovers who thought that mall-owned and operated high-tech cinemas probably will last a lifetime, suitable for the new generation and not ours – they’re absolutely wrong. Again, are high-tech movie theaters really here to stay? This provoking question is actu-ally hard to answer because most of the country’s mall chains have always been early adopters of new technology, be it fax machines, in-room sound system, high-end cash register machines, broad-band internet to 3D and I-MAX movie technology. These are the latest in a long line of innovations geared at providing customer comfort.

However, seasoned movie fanat-ics see the high-tech convenience as a luxury, not a necessity. Speculators pre-dict that in the days ahead a problem in the movie theater business will emerge slowly at first. What had started as mere-ly an innovation in the cinema industry aimed at stimulating the eager senses of movie enthusiasts now turned into a full-blown cut-throat business rivalry?

AL M O S T all the books I

have at home are used, s e c o n d - h a n d books --- or “ukay-ukay” if you want to call them. These books are well-kept and neatly arranged in front of my working table after reading them from cover to cover several times.

To be honest with you, I just stum-bled into them during those times I spent killing time while waiting for a meeting somewhere. These books have titles that if they were brand-new books, they’d drive me crazy if I won’t buy them on the spot.

But the prices of brand new hard-bound books can be too astronomical for my shallow pocket, so I ended up drool-ing and just day-dreaming of buying the book sometime in the future.

Thank goodness for bargain stores like “Book Sale” or “Book Shop” or the regular “book bargains”by big book-stores like national Bookstore, Velas-co Bookstore or Fully Booked here in Davao. Since I have a crazy passion for World War history, novels by big name authors and stock market, naturally I’ll be looking for titles on these topics.

Take for instance, a book written in the 1930’s by Edwin Lefevre, titled “Reminiscenses of a Stock Operator”. If you’ve been reading a lot of books on the stock market, almost all the authors cite this book as one of the best novels ever written about a stock trader. I thought I’ll never find this book in Davao unless I order it online from Amazon.com.

But I found this book by accident while browsing some of the old books displayed at Velasco Bookstore right be-side City Hall--- of all places! Its price? Only P250 compared to its brand new price of P1300.

Take another one, a hard bound book titled “Hemmingway on the China Front” by Peter Moreira who wrote about the travels of writers Martha Gellhorn and husband Ernest Hemmingway during the civil war between the nationalists and Communists in China in the late 1930’s and Japan invasion of Manchuria.

I thought I’ll never find this title here in Davao after seeing the movie “Hem-mingway and Gellhorn”--- but after browsing thru big piles of second-hand books at the Book Sale store at little Lachmi Mall along San Pedro street( not knowing what to find) suddenly this book appeared right in front of me. This book costs me only P95 compared to its brand new price of P1,600.

Here’s another one : a new book ti-

tled “The Greatest Trade Ever” by Greg-ory Zuckerman began appearing on the book shelves of national Bookstore, but I can’t part away with P1100 just to buy it. At that time, I’ve wanted so much to know how the little-known hedge man-ager John Paulson, bet against the sub-prime mortgage market in 2006-2008 and caused the collapse of US financial giants like AIG, Citibank, Morgan Stan-ley, Bear Stearns and others, raking in billions of dollars in profits. One day, Na-tional Bookstore tossed the book out as a 50% bargain, so I promptly bought it at only P600.

This one is even better: a book titled “Street Fighters” detailing the last 72 hours of Bear Stearns, the toughest firm on Wall Street, written by Kate Kelly, a reporter for the Wall Street Journal, was tagged at P1089, a price I wasn’t willing to die for. One day again, national Book Store dumped the book along with many others in a big pile of bargain books, “ukay ukay” style outside the main store.

When I rummaged this book out of the pile, it was priced at only P50! I guess this book doesn’t interest anyone in Davao unless one is deeply passion-ate about the financial markets. It was down-priced from P1089 to P653, then down to P200, later to P100 and finally to P50 because it simply doesn’t interest anyone.

9VANTAGE POINTS

Monkey Business

EDGEDAVAO

Coffee in different cups, anyone?

By honor BlAnCo CABie

COMMENTARY

End of an era

Davao City’s Black taxis, among PH most modern

Drooling over titles of ‘ukay-ukay’ books!

Ricarte takes an average of 42 cups of coffee every day, which stretch-es from his breakfast table to near

midnight before he retires to bed, spent from giving his full hours in a demand-ing newsroom.

Edgardo himself takes a cup at the breakfast table, then makes a cruising pace on coffee cups while he is in the office despite the tension and stress he experiences in an accounting firm.

Armando, a highly-paid litigation lawyer, works long hours in the night even before he appears in the court room when he prepares his motions, memoranda and briefs -- a cup of coffee after cup of coffee on his study table well beyond the midnight clock.

Except for Ricarte who takes the “barako” – strong and highly acidic – brand which his province of Batangas is known for, Edgardo and Armando prefer the decaffeinated to the one from roast-ed coffee beans that have helped define the province south of Manila.

”Barako,” which belongs to the spe-cies “Coffea liberica,” is also used to refer to all coffee from Batangas and Cavite, a term for a male stud of an animal, and has become associated with the image of a tough and mighty man.

The three are close friends but Ed-gardo and Armando are visibly, and au-dibly happier – following Ricarte’s tales of incessant nightmares he has attribut-ed to cups of steaming “barako.”

But Ricarte admits he cannot just spill off the contents of his cup on to his table placemat.

What Edgardo and Armando don’t re-alize is there are side effects to drinking even decaffeinated coffee.

According to medical experts, al-though coffee is decaffeinated, this does not give assurance it is free from caffeine, saying 8 ounces of it may contain 3 to 12 milligrams of caffeine.

This is small amount yet experts point out it has enough psychoactive proper-ties that can last for several hours.

Several milligrams more -– and the drinker may not have the capacity for measurement details -– and experts warn the coffee may already have some nega-tive effects on a person’s mood and might affect his power and even his memory.

Doctors say those who have an intake of 2.5 milligrams are prone to make er-rors, particularly when they are confront-ed with visual information.

But there are some benefits from drinking coffee, according to some stud-ies.

If Popeye, the sailor man, had his spinach to make him strong, some stud-ies suggest there is power in coffee, like a freshly brewed espresso is not only a good way to bolster and enhance mood, but now it is known to keep one ener-gized as well.

In one study, an intake of espresso be-fore strength training could make lifting weights a bit easier.

According to the study, 37 people took either a placebo pill or caffeine supple-ment equivalent to 2 to 8 ounce cup of regular coffee.

An hour later and after doing bench presses, those who had caffeine lifted five-pounds greater that those who had intake of the placebo pill.

In yet another study, women who had an intake of espresso experienced 33 to 46 per cent less muscle pain on their legs.

What then is the verdict on the coffee cup?

One coffee analyst says if contradict-ing research has the person wondering if coffee is healthy or harmful, the answer is simple: it depends.

VOL.5 ISSUE 96 • JULY 17, 2012

The symbolic Trav-eling net Cam-paign or “Biyaheng

Kulambo,” of the Depart-ment of Health (DOH) has arrived in the prov-ince on July 9, 2012.

It is a DOH new ad-vocacy campaign which is a public health inter-vention against Malaria aiming to heighten public awareness in preventing and eliminating such dis-ease.

Using the Long Lasting Insecticide Treated net (LLIn) as the symbol of the campaign, it started to travel in all provinces in the country starting from the malaria-endemic ar-eas until it reaches the malaria-free provinces. It was launched on April 25, 2012 at Banaue, Ifugao during the CAR Region 2 Malaria Summit and will culminate on november 2012.

A ceremonial trans-fer and acceptance of the traveling LLIn was done

at the Capitol Lobby as a manifestation of the prov-ince’s support and par-ticipation to the national campaign. There was an unveiling of the scroll containing the manifesto of support and the pin-ning of the provincial logo to the symbolic LLIn.

The campaign is sup-ported by the Global Fund Malaria Component through Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. ComVal is the 30th province visit-ed out of 40 global funded areas.

According to Cynthia Mecarandayo, Provincial Malaria Coordinator that the 1998 until 2011 An-nual Malaria Cases Re-ports showed that the province had significant reduction of malaria inci-dence. “From thousands of cases down to hun-dreds and even to ones, it has reached a zero case as of June 2012,” she said. (grace almedilla, ids-com-val)

10 COMMUNITY SENSE EDGEDAVAO

36 couples officially wed in Tagum’s ‘Kasalang Bayan’

By: Tagum City Information Office

The Local G o v e r n m e n t Unit of Tagum

City through the Civil Registrar’s Office in partnership with the United Restaurant and Hotel Owners, Managers Executive in Tagum City (UR HOME TC), City of Tagum Tourism Office and 3G Eventologists Management joined forces for the pursuance of the event which made history as this is the first time that a “Kasalang Bayan” was held inside a

mall of which 36 couples officially tied the knot held at the Atrium of the Gaisano Mall of Tagum last June 28, 2012, as one of the activities of the “Kasalang Tagumeño,” a bridal fair and exhibition.

“KasalangTagumeño” which is now on its 3rd year, is an event that converges key players in hotels and restaurants and wedding planners in one setting for free consultations as well as providing a venue for Tagumeños for a one-

stop-shop in preparing wedding celebrations.

City of Tagum Mayor Rey T.Uy, upon the powers vested on him by the government, officially pronounced the couples husbands and wives to whom he addressed a resounding challenge.

In his speech, the local chief executive highlighted the ups and downs of marriage life as well as emphasizing responsible parenthood that would create a stable family for a much stronger community.

Gowns and barongs worn by the newly-weds were lent for free from the sponsoring boutiques in town. They were also given free accommodation with a meal by the hotels in

Tagum as part of a gift from the organizers.

LGU Tagum is quarterly pursuing this kind of service to Tagumeños, especially unmarried couples and is anchored on the goal of minimizing the number of illegitimate children in Tagum.

First Lady Alma Uy, who also sits as the President of the City of Tagum Tourism Council also attended the event and had personally given gifts to the newly-wed couples.

The couples only spent for their wedding for Certificate of no Marriage (CEnOMAR) that cost P150 pesos at the Civil Registrar’s Office. Louie Jay Losaria CIO Tagum

now on it’s third wave, the Adopt-A-Child Program

of the provincial govern-ment finds another 23 malnourished children to cater with nutrition and health services at Brgys. nueva Visayas and nuevo Iloco in Mawab start-ing July up to november 2012.

The presentation of the 3rd batch was part of the launching of the 38th nutrition Month celebra-tion on July 9 at the Capi-tol Lobby. Right after the short program, the focal persons went to the Adopt-A-Child recipient areas in Mawab to join the baran-gay officials, local govern-ment unit, and parents for a vegetable planting.

Adopt-A-Child is a nu-trition program started by the provincial government with its respective depart-ments and offices adopt-ing malnourished children identified by the Provincial nutrition Office and the employees facilitating a 120-day food supplemen-tal feeding.

The program also serves as an entry point

of the other services and interventions that the pro-vincial government could extend to the family and the community as a whole.

In their first and sec-ond batch experiences, the employees had a big heart of not only adopting the malnourished and severe-ly underweight children but the family as a whole. They extended services like parents’ medication, house repair, giving of ba-sically needed furniture, livelihood provision such as fishpond and sari-sari store, vegetable gardening, and other household sup-port. They even became part of family events such as birthday celebrations of their respective adopted children.

After the success-ful performances of its first and second series, this initiated program of Governor Arturo T. Uy as the Chairman of the Pro-vincial nutrition Coun-cil (PnC), has gone far touching lives that cause government units, pri-vate individuals, and or-ganizations to reach out on the same purpose.

GROOM HAPPILY WITH A SMILE - Couples on their cake slicing and wine toasting during “Kasalang Bayan” officiated by Mayor Rey T. Uy at Atrium, Gaisano Mall of Tagum last June 28, 2012. Photo by Leo Timogan of CIO Tagum

EXCHANGE OF WEDDING RINGS - Cou-ples on their exchange of wedding ring ceremonial was seriously observed by the administering official Mayor Rey T. Uy during “Kasalang Bayan” held at Atrium, Gaisano Mall of Tagum last June 28, 2012. Gowns and

barongs worn by the newly-weds were lent for free from the sponsoring boutiques in town. They were also given free accommoda-tion with a meal by the hotels in Tagum as part of a gift from the organizers. Photo by Leo Timogan of CIO Tagum

In his speech, THE ADMINISTERING OFFICIAL- City of Tagum Mayor Rey T. Uy sounded like a doting father as he gave an advice to the 36 cou-ples who officially tied the knot in the “Kasalang Bayan” held June 28, 2012 at Gaisano Mall of Tagum. The local chief executive highlighted

the ups and downs of marriage life as well as emphasizing responsible parenthood that would create a stable family for a much stronger community. Together in the ceremony’s crowd are the couples parents, sponsors and guests of the couples. Photo by Leo Timogan of CIO Tagum

ComVal Round-up

‘Biyaheng Ku-lambo’ arrives

in province

Capitol launches ‘Adopt-A-Child’

batch 3

VOL.5 ISSUE 96 • JULY 17, 2012

In most homes, refrig-erator is one of the largest users of elec-

tricity. However, unlike most appliances wherein using them less will save energy, the main way to save money with your fridge is to use an effi-cient model.

Davao Light and Power Company gathers these simple energy sav-ing tips which can help you cut down the costs on your electric con-sumption and make your refrigerators energy-effi-cient.

¤ Make sure that you are using a refrigera-tor that is appropriately sized for your needs. If your fridge is too small, you may be overworking it. If it’s too large, then you’re potentially wast-ing energy and home space.

¤ Refrigerators with ice makers and through the door water dispens-ers tend to use more en-ergy. This type of model may seem cool but it’s not really a necessary feature.

¤ Frost free refrig-erators and models with automatic defrosting features consume more electricity than the man-

ual-defrost types. This is something you should consider when buying a new ref.

¤ Give your unit some room to breathe, place it at least 4 inches away from the wall so as not to overwork the motor. Moreover, move it away from sources of heat such as the stove or oven.

¤ Check your refriger-ator seals. Insert a piece of paper or a bill along the edge and close the fridge. If you can easily pull it out, change or fix your refrigerator seals.

¤ Avoid putting hot or warm food inside the ref. Let it cool first before putting them inside.

¤ Remove frozen food in the freezer and let it thaw inside the fridge. This helps in the cooling. Do this instead of just putting it outside on the kitchen counter or using the microwave.

¤ Open the fridge as infrequently and briefly as possible. Properly stock the items inside and try to have an in-ventory list stuck on the door so you won’t waste so much time searching

for what’s inside. ¤ When the refrigera-

tor is almost empty, put in a few bottles of water to help store the cold. Conversely, internal air circulation is important for the fridge so avoid overloading it with stuff.

¤ Lastly, if your fridge is old, say over 10 years already, do consider get-ting a new one. Refriger-ators nowadays have en-ergy efficiency features and better performing motors that help you in saving electricity.

Refrigerator is very useful to us as it keeps our food fresh. However, if not efficiently used, it could be the source of a high electric consump-tion.

Whether you need to replace your old fridge or not, it is up for you to decide. Just consider the savings that you can make between having an expensive but energy-efficient fridge and us-ing the old one while paying more on your monthly electric bill. You wouldn’t know that the energy cost is already enough to make up for the additional amount you have to spend for energy-efficient models.

11COMPETITIVE EDGEEDGEDAVAO

Eden nature Park and Resort received the Most Outstand-

ing Mindanao Business Leader in Hotel, Resorts and Tourism Develop-ment (Individual Catego-ry) at the 2012 Mindan-ao Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs Awards held last June 2, 2012 at the Pryce Plaza Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City.

The resort’s leader-ship not just in tourism but also in its environ-mental programs and management was cited during the awards.

The 2012 Mindanao Business Leaders and Entrepreneurs Awards, initiated by Business-Week Mindanao, Cagay-an de Oro-based busi-ness publication, was attended by top officials from various Mindanao-based and Mindanao-grown companies who were also recognized for their effective leadership acumen and their com-

panies’ respective initia-tives in pushing forward the economy in Mind-anao.

The awards honored the Most Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year and the Outstand-ing Business Leaders in Mindanao (Individ-ual and Corporate cat-egories) in the fields of agri-business, banking and finance, alternative energy development, health food production and marketing, housing and realty development, cooperatives and coop insurance, and hotel/re-sorts and tourism devel-opment.

Eden nature Park and Resort’s award was re-ceived by its marketing manager Tina Dotimas-Huab, who also repre-sented the resort.

A mountain resort lo-cated at 3,000 feet above sea level, Eden nature Park is 95% man-made, a great model of how man

can recreate and rebuild what it has lost. The area where the resort is locat-ed used to be a logged-over area covered only by blankets of wild grass. However, its potential was foreseen by Davao businessman, the late Je-sus Ayala, since the prop-erty provided not only an imposing view of Davao City and Davao Gulf but also a climate best suited for mountain resorts.

Soon after, terraces were carved out of the mountain slopes where various species of pine tree seedlings were planted. As trees grew, it created canopies that allowed other trees and plants to flourish, con-sequently creating a sec-ondary forest.

Today, there are more than 100,000 pine trees in this 80 hectare nature park, providing a re-freshing backdrop to its various nature and tour-ist attractions.

Davao Light: Cool energy saving tips for your fridge

Eden Nature Park receives biz leadership awards

VOL.5 ISSUE 96 • JULY 17, 201212 EDGEDAVAONATION/WORLDNATION BRIEFS WORLD TODAY

Odious

France’s far-right na-tional Front said Sun-day it plans to sue

Madonna over a video at the US pop star’s concert in France showing party leader Marine Le Pen with a swastika on her forehead.

“We cannot accept such an odious comparison,” national Front vice-presi-dent Florian Philippot said, adding that the legal action would be filed this week.

Tracked

The nazi-hunting Si-mon Wiesenthal Centre confirmed

Sunday that Laszlo Csatary, accused of complicity in the killings of 15,700 Jews, had been tracked down to the Hungarian capital.

“I confirm that Laszlo Csatary has been identi-fied and found in Buda-pest,” the centre’s director Efraim Zuroff told AFP. Ten months ago an informer had provided information that allowed them to locate Csatary, 97, in Budapest, Zuroff told AFP by phone. They had paid the inform-er the $25,000 promised for such information, he added.

Sabotaged

World activists ac-cused the Russian state of sabotag-

ing a probe into the ab-duction and murder three years ago Sunday of an award-winning campaign-er for those struggling in the crisis-torn Caucasus.

natalya Estemirova was bundled into a car moments after stepping out of her home in the Chechen capital Grozny on the morning of July 15. Her blood-stained body was dumped near a highway in next-door Ingushetia only a few hours later.

Top-level

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton held top-level talks on

Monday with Israeli lead-ers expected to focus on changes sweeping the Mid-dle East, as well as Iran and the stalled peace process.

On the last leg of a 12-day, eight-nation tour, Clin-ton was also to brief Israeli leaders on a weekend trip to Egypt when she met with newly elected Presi-dent Mohamed Morsi and military leader Field Mar-shall Hussein Tantawi.

Fighting

Armoured vehicles headed towards southern districts

of Damascus after reb-els battled government forces into the early hours of Monday, in what resi-dents said was the heaviest fighting in the capital in a 17-month revolt against President Bashar al-Assad.

Columns of armoured vehicles were seen on the main road leading to the Tadamon district, a Da-mascus activist said.

Affirmed

The head of US forces in the Pacific reaffirmed American commit-

ment to support the Phil-ippines Monday, amid the country’s continuing terri-torial dispute with China.

Admiral Samuel Lock-lear met with President Benigno Aquino and voiced his support in helping modernise the country’s ill-equipped armed forces, considered to be among the weakest in the region, the presidential spokesman said.

Mining-free

The government is leaving it up to the lo-cal government units

(LGUs) to decide for them-selves whether or not to declare their respective areas of jurisdiction as min-ing free in line with Presi-dent Benigno S. Aquino III’s directive laid down in Executive Order number 79 designed to harmonize mining policies and regula-tions in the country.

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the LGUs are allowed to accept mining applica-tions from firms but should they, as a whole, decide not to allow mining in their areas, then it should be fol-lowed.

Allayed

Malacanang allayed public fears after issues were raised

that the conditional cash transfer program being car-ried out by the Aquino ad-ministration may be used by local politicians in ad-vancing their political inter-est in the 2013 election.

A church leader warned that the CCT program may become a political tool by politicians running for the 2013 local election. Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said local lead-ers don’t have a hand in car-rying out or selecting the beneficiaries of the CCT.

Adequate

Resources of banks operating in the Phil-ippines remained ad-

equate to support growth as of the first quarter of this year, according to data re-leased by the Bangko Sen-tral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Total bank resources rose 4.08 percent to P7.462 trillion during the first three months of the year from P7.119 trillion in the same period last year. The March result was, however, a decline from February’s P7.541 trillion.

Joined

Sarangani governor Miguel Rene Domin-guez officially left

Lakas-Kampi and joined the Liberal Party in June, ending years of courtship from budget secretary Flor-encio Abad. Dominguez briefly held the presidency of Lakas-Kampi when he was appointed by former defense secretary and party chair Gilbert Teodoro Teo-doro.

Dominguez said as early as 2006, he was already be-ing courted by Abad, then party secretary general, to join the Liberal Party through a common lawyer-friend. Abad would often dropped by the residence of Dominguez in Alabel, Sa-rangani to have dinner.

A big fleet of Chi-nese fishing ves-sels arrived at the

disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea on Sunday, state media said, amid tensions with its neighbours over rival claims to the area.

The fleet of 30 fishing vessels arrived near the Yongshu Reef in the after-noon after setting off on Thursday from the Chi-nese province of Hainan, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Chinese fishing boats regularly travel to the Spratlys, a potentially oil-rich archipelago which China claims as part of its territory on historical grounds.

But the fleet is the largest ever launched from the province, ac-cording to the report.

It includes a 3,000-tonne supply ship, and a patrol vessel has also travelled to the area to provide protection, the report said. The vessels will spend the next five to 10 days fishing in the area, it added.

The fleet’s arrival came after China earlier Sunday extricated a naval frigate that got stranded four days earlier on a shoal in the Spratlys, near the western Philippine is-land of Palawan.

An aerial photo shows Thitu Island, part of the disputed Spratly group of islands, in the South China Sea in 2011. A group of Taiwanese academics has visited the con-

tested Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, defence officials said on Monday, amid continued tensions over rival claims to the area.

China fishing fleet arrives at Spratlys

Saudi Arabia is study-ing new regulations to criminalise insulting

Islam, including in social media, and the law could carry heavy penalties, a

Saudi paper said on Sunday.The potential regula-

tions come five months after a Saudi blogger and columnist Hamza Kashgari, 23, was arrested for tweet-

Saudi Arabia considers law against insulting Islam

ing comments deemed as insulting the Prophet Mo-hammad. Kashgari said there were things he liked and disliked about him.

“Within the next two months the Shura Council will reveal the outcome of study on the regulations to combat the criticism of the basic tenets of Islamic sharia,” unnamed sources with knowledge of the mat-ter told al-Watan, adding that there could be “severe punishments” for violators.

Criticism penalised un-der the law would include that of the Prophet, early Muslim figures and clerics, it said.

“The (regulations) are important at the present time because violations over social networks on the Internet have been ob-served in the past months,” the sources said.

Saudi Arabia follows a strict version of Sunni Islamic law, referred to as Wahhabism. Blasphe-my can be punishable by

death.A spokesman from the

Shura Council, the gov-ernments all-appointed consultative body, did not respond to calls for com-ment.

Kashgari’s case set off a debate in Saudi Arabia, a close US ally for decades and leading world oil ex-porter, on whether repen-tance could save convicts from the death penalty.

Kashgari fled the coun-try in February, a few days after his twitter posts, but was later arrested by po-lice in Malaysia en route to new Zealand.

Despite declaring re-pentance, he was deport-ed back to Saudi Arabia and was taken into police custody to face a trial.

Tension has risen in recent years between re-ligious conservatives and reformers over the pace of gradual political, eco-nomic and social reforms in a country with a large young population.

However the Philip-pines did not lodge a dip-lomatic protest over the matter, saying the strand-ing of the vessel in its exclusive economic zone was likely an accident.

China says it has sov-ereign rights to all the South China Sea, believed to sit atop vast oil and gas deposits, including areas close to the coastlines of other countries and hundreds of kilometres (miles) from its own land-mass.

But Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines also claim

parts of the South China Sea.

The Spratlys are one of the biggest island chains in the area.

The rival claims have long made the South China Sea one of Asia’s potential military flash-points, and tensions have escalated over the past year.

The Philippines and Vietnam have complained that China is becoming increasingly aggressive in its actions in the area -- such as harassing fish-ermen -- and also through bullying diplomatic tac-

tics.The Philippines said

the latest example of this was at annual Southeast Asian talks in Cambo-dia that ended on Friday in failure because of the South China Sea issue.

The Philippines had wanted its fellow Asso-ciation of Southeast Asian nations to refer in a com-munique to a standoff last month with China over a rocky outcrop known as the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.

But Cambodia, the summit’s host and China’s ally, blocked the move.

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a higher crime solution ef-ficiency rate of 36%, a leap from 11% efficiency record-ed in 2010.

In yesterday’s flag raising ceremony, the city govern-ment awarded cash incen-tives to police stations for their performance which is part of the incentive program, under the City Mayor’s Office.

For their accomplish-ments from October 2011 to March 2012, a total of P518,800 in cash incentives were handed over to police station commanders.

Receiving the highest amount was Sta. Ana Police Station (PS) with P113,200 for having solved seven mur-der cases, eight cases of phys-ical injury, six rape cases, 14 robbery and 21 theft cases, 24 cases of drug peddling, and 35 for drug possession.

The Talomo PS was awarded P105,800 for solv-ing 13 cases of murder four for homicide, 17 physical injuries, nine rape cases, 23 robbery cases, 30 thefts, one carnapping, six drug ped-dling, and seven cases of drug possession.

Sasa PS received P43,800, including P20,000 for having the least number of crime incidence for 4th quarter of 2011. The police station solved three murder cases, one homicide case, six physi-cal injuries, three rape, three robbery, seven thefts, one for drug peddling, and another for drug possession.

Bunawan PS solved seven murder cases, six physical injuries, four rapes, eight robberies, five thefts, two for carnapping, two cases of drug peddling, and six cases of drug possession, for which it received P42,800.

Toril PS received P40,400 for having solved four mur-der cases, one physical injury, 10 rapes, three thefts, three carnappings, 15 cases of drug possession and teo cases of

drug peddling.Calinan PS was award-

ed P39,600 for solving two murder cases, six rapes, one homicide, five physical inju-ries, teo theft cases, 11 drug peddling and 16 cases of drug possession.

The San Pedro PS re-ceived P34,400 for solving one murder case, one ho-micide, five rape cases, four physical injuries, 13 robber-ies, 13 thefts, 10 for drug pos-session and one case of drug peddling.

Buhangin PS received P32,200 for having solved one murder case, two homi-cides, xeven cases of physical injuries, six rape cases, 13 robberies, two thefts, three carnappings, teo drug ped-dlings and five cases of drug possession.

The amount of P24,400 was awarded to Tugbok PS for having solved two murder cases, six rapes, five robber-ies, six thefts, three carnap-pings, one case of drug ped-dling and five cases of drug possession.

Marilog PS received P19,600, including P10,000 for having the least number of crime incidents in the 4th quarter of 2011. The police station was able to solve one murder case, two physical injuries, two rape cases and two robbery cases.

Paquibato PS received P7,200 solving one murder case, three physical injury cases, one rape case, and one robbery case.

Baguio PS received P6,400 for having solved four rape cases, three physical

injury cases, teo thefts and one case of drug posses-sion.

Also awarded with P9,000 was the Investigation and Detective Management Branch (IDMB) of the DCPO for having solved teo murder cases, one robbery case and four theft cases.

Acain said that the idea is actually to go into internet trading but that this can not yet provided because most vegetable farmers have no access to computers.

He said this is just one of the strategies adopted by vegetable industry to slowly eliminate several layers of middlemen for the benefit of both farmers and consumers.

Turtur said that while the conduct of actual veg-etable trading is still being studied, a trading center will be put up in Davao City to cater to the entire region.

They idea is for farm-ers to bring their prod-ucts to this trading center with the assurance that they will have buyers who would buy their products at competitive prices.

Turtur mentioned that this concept is the product of a study made in 2004-2005 conducted by the University of the Philip-pines and government of Australia.

“There’s no other way to achieve this but for

farmers to form an orga-nization to come up with a certain volume of supply,” he told reporters.

He noted that the pres-ent situation of farmers in the region is that they are fragmented, thus it is necessary for them to pool their harvests to be able to deliver a significant amount of supply to a par-ticular market.

Ray Acain, president of the Vegetable Industry Council of Southern Min-danao, Inc., said the con-cept of e-marketing will be discussed during the 8th Mindanao Vegetable Congress on August 13-14 at Grand Men Seng Hotel, Davao City.

Aside from sharing best practices in vegetable industry development and agri-entrepreneurship, the congress will also de-termine opportunities outside Mindanao and link the producers to vi-able markets and enhance existing linkages among stakeholders of the veg-etable industry in Mind-anao.

South Cotabato offi-cials alerted commu-nities situated along

the province’s critical rivers and tributaries fol-lowing a flashflood in a major river in T’boli town over the weekend that left three persons dead.

Isidro Janita, Provin-cial Disaster Risk Reduc-tion and Management Office chief, said Monday they issued an advisory directing the munici-pal and barangay disas-ter risk reduction and management councils to closely monitor the water levels of rivers and tribu-taries in the wake of the continuing rains.

On Saturday after-noon, a flashflood hit a portion of the Sapali River in T’boli town, drowning three residents of Purok Everlasting in Barangay Sinolon.

norberto Lapastora, T’boli municipal admin-istrator, identified the victims as Jocelyn Gulac, 23, Jasmin Gulac, 12, and Maricel Buhale, 13.

He said the victims were washing clothes along the Sapali River when they were swept by a flashflood at around 4 p.m. Saturday.

The remains of the three victims were later recovered by local rescu-ers at a portion of the riv-er in Barangay Lamsugod in nearby Surallah town.

“The river’s water lev-el initially rose and rush-ing floodwaters suddenly came,” he said.

The official said their initial investigation showed that flashfloods were triggered by land-slides at the upper por-tion of the river that came following the sporadic

heavy rains in the area since Friday.

Janita said they ini-tially conducted a damage analysis and needs as-sessment to address the impact of the incident and the immediate needs of the affected residents.

He said the provincial government will immedi-ately release relief goods and financial assistance to the families of the three victims.

As a result of the inci-dent, Janita said they have directed municipal and barangay officials to clear residents off the banks of major rivers and tributar-ies in the area.

He said they also ad-vised them to keep their disaster response teams on alert and evacuate res-idents to safer areas when necessary. (Allen V. Esta-billo/Mindanews)

Personal remittances for the first five months of the year totaled

US$ 9.3 billion, represent-ing a 5.5 percent increase from the level registered in the same period last year, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Amando M. Tetangco, Jr. announced Monday.

The steady expansion in personal remittances dur-ing the five-month period in 2012 was underpinned by the sustained growth in transfers from land-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with work con-tracts of one year or more (by 2.7 percent), as well as sea-based workers and land-based workers with short-term contracts (by 14.7 percent).

For May 2012, personal remittances from OFWs rose year-on-year by 5.2 percent to reach almost US$ 2.0 billion.

Meanwhile, remittances coursed through banks during the same period amounted to US$ 8.3 billion, higher by 5.3 percent rela-tive to the level registered in the same period a year ago.

Fund transfers from land-based workers in-creased by 2.8 percent to US$ 6.4 billion while those from sea-based workers grew by 14.6 percent to US$ 1.9 billion.

Most of the PWDs em-ployed, he added, are polio victims, amputees and those who have other orthopedic disorders.

The visually-impaired were given financial assistance by the city government for training as masseurs, Comiling said, adding that they are now required to hold license from the Department of Health, through a training with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TES-DA).

In celebration of the 34th

national Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation Week (July 17-23), the DOLE 11 and the local government of Davao City will provide employment to PWDs in the city through an exclusive jobs fair on July 20 at the Sangguniang Panglunsod.

Saying that private com-panies will participate in the jobs fair for PWDs, Comiling mentioned that some 5,000 PWDs are registered in the city federation, however, they only comply less than two percent of the total number of PWDs identified.

Asia’s next potential flashpoint for a major armed conflict.

Hernandez issued the warning following a fresh incident involving a Chinese frigate which ran aground last Wednesday.

Chinese salvage vessels have successfully refloated the frigate, a missile-guide war-ship with bow number 560, Sunday and is now on its way back to China, Hernandez said. Manila and Beijing are also locked in a weeks-long territo-rial row over a shoal situated within the Philippines’ EEZ.

A standoff erupted when Chinese government vessels

prevented Philippine authori-ties from accosting Chinese fishermen poaching in Bajo de Masinloc, also called Scarbor-ough Shoal, in April.

It temporarily ended when President Benigno S. Aquino III ordered the pullout of two Philippine sovereign ships fac-ing off with several Chinese vessels due to bad weather. Hernandez said Philippine and Chinese officials have commit-ted to end the tense impasse over Bajo de Masinloc diplo-matically and have been ne-gotiating to end the conflict. [PnA]

Davao City’s hub for technical vocational education. 

“It will become a landmark in the city as the go-to place for courses that would develop in-demand skills among busi-nesses,” he said.

The South Korea-funded center recently received a silver accreditation from the

Asia Pacific Accreditation and Certification Commission, the second highest accreditation given for a technical school.

Earlier, the Korean gov-ernment also extended a P320-million grant for the construction of a new techni-cal training center in Taguig City that is expected to benefit up to 2,000 trainees. [PnA]

Cdebaca that “the Philip-pine government through the Department of Justice has put the full force of the law in prosecuting human traffickers even beyond our borders.”

De Lima further cited in a statement that the government reiterated the Philippine government’s firm resolve to further ex-pand the gains held by the Philippines specifically underscored by the recent allocation of P125 million from the national budget for the operations of the Inter-Agency Task Force Against Trafficking and the intensi-fied campaign against gov-ernment employees conniv-ing with or aiding the opera-tions of human trafficking syndicates.

For her part, Soliman, IACAT Co-Chair, expressed the government’s commit-ment to the welfare of citi-zens especially those who are vulnerable to being traf-ficked due to poverty and lack of education.

“We will ensure that the necessary programs are in place so the rescued victims are given due socio-psycho-logical processing to cope with the ordeals they’ve experienced in the hands of trafficking criminals,” Soli-man said.

Robredo, sitting as one of the ex-officio members of IACAT, expressed optimism in the efforts of the govern-ment.

“In order for us to move ahead it’s not simply com-ing up with new programs but it’s really making sure that the present programs are working, so from that we are moving forward

to a more preventive and as I have said a more pre-emptive response,” Robredo said.

He said that the ultimate challenge now is to contend with the continuing sophis-tication of “violators and also how we can contend with the problems of will-ing victims,” adding that, “…advocacy and enforcement will help us.”

For his part, Salazar, In-Charge of IACAT, said “the Ambassador’s visit symbol-izes the US State Depart-ment acknowledgment of the anti-human trafficking framework that we have in place in the Philippines.”

“We assured him that we at the IACAT will continue to ensure that no Filipino is victimized wherever they are in the world and that the incidence of human traffick-ing in the Philippines will continue to be drastically reduced,” Salazar said.

CdeBaca lauded the na-tional Strategic Action Plan of the IACAT presented by the Council.

nonetheless, he cited that “without implementa-tion, these are mere words on paper.”

“At the end of the day, the only thing that matters are the victims rescued and traffickers prosecuted and punished,” CdeBaca said.

“Human trafficking is a developmental problem… a problem of law,” CdeBaca said in his statement.

“The Philippine model shows one of the world’s best practices… it is a ban-ner of success, and my job is not to keep it a secret with the rest of the world,” he said. [PnA]

SouthCot riverbank folk alerted of flood

Remittances reach US$ 9.3 B

VOL.5 ISSUE 96 • JULY 17, 201214 SPORTS EDGEDAVAO

The team that the Philippines beat to start a football

revolution in the country considers the Azkals as a big threat.

Vietnam national men’s football team coach Phan Thanh Hung says the Philippines is now a certified contender in the 2012 ASEAn Football Federation Suzuki Cup in november.

Hung said that the Azkals, which are drawn in Group A alongside Vietnam, Thailand and the top team from the qualifiers, are not the same team that they faced in the 2010 edition of the tournament.

“Philippines has called up many foreign-born players recently. Their national team has turned into a completely different one,” Hung told Goal.com Singapore. “Therefore, we must be careful.”

In the 2010 Suzuki Cup, the Azkals shocked

the then defending champions Vietnam, 2-0, courtesy of goals by Chris Greatwich and Phil Younghusband to pull off what could be the biggest upset in the tournament history.

The nationals then marched into a surprising appearance in the semifinals, which was ended by a 2-0 aggregate loss to Indonesia.

But a lot of changes have been installed to the Azkals since then, making them a more formidable squad in the upcoming tournament. After the 2010 Suzuki Cup, German Hans Michael Weiss took over the coaching duties from British Simon McMenemy, deviating their style from being a defensive team that relies on counterattacks on offense to an attacking squad that allows them to get more chances at the goal.

The Azkals have also

been bolstered by more foreign-based players, such as Fil-German Stephan Schrock, who plays with TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga first division, and Fil-Spanish Angel Guirado, who now plays for United Football League champions Global FC, among others.

Hung also picked traditional powerhouse Thailand, who will host the group stages in Bangkok, as a favorite to top the Group A.

“ D e s p i t e underperforming in recent years, Thailand are always a strong team with many quality players,” Hung said. “It’s no doubt they are favorite to win the group on their home soil.”

Only the top two teams from the group will advance to the two-legged semifinals, which will adopt a home-and-away format.

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. will power the upcoming

“27th Kadayawan Phoenix Cyclomax Motocross” with its Cyclomax Motorcycle Oil as main presentor.

The Kadayawan Motocross race will be held at Moto-X Davao Racetrack at Crocodile Park, Ma-a, Davao City on August 18 and 19, 2012.

About 150 riders from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, such as top rider Jessie Salceda of Bukidnon, are expected to join the event.

This is the fourth year of Phoenix Petroleum as event sponsor, powering the Motocross with Phoenix Cyclomax Motorcycle Oils.

The Motocross is one of the events in celebration of the 27th Kadayawan sa Dabaw. Proceeds will go to the proposed Motorcycle Safety School in Davao. This School is envisioned to educate prospective motorcycle riders in responsible riding.

The Phoenix Cyclomax Titan 4T motorcycle oil

is a premium quality 4-stroke engine oil designed to provide excellent protection for your bike’s engine, and to ensure dependable transmission function.

Phoenix Petroleum Philippines is the leading independent oil company today with an expanding network of operations nationwide. It is engaged in the business of trading refined petroleum products and lubricants, operation of oil depots and storage facilities, and allied services.

Ricky Brown last stepped into the center court of the Araneta Coliseum

back in 1984, when Great Taste won its second PBA title against the Crispa Redmanizers.

Some 28 years later, Brown found his way back to the Big Dome to mark another milestone: to receive his award for the PBA Hall of Fame.

Brown is in the country for the first time since he retired from PBA action in 1990. He was part of the 2009 Hall of Fame class, which include former teammates Allan Caidic, Samboy Lim, and Hector Calma, seven-time Best Import Bobby Parks, and late former commissioner Jun Bernardino.

But if it were up to Brown, he’d be back in the country more often.

“I’m planning to come back here every year then sooner or later, I am planning to stay in Manila for good,” he said.

Apart from being feted by the PBA, Brown was in the country to get back in touch with fans in a series of meet-and-greet sessions.

He burst onto the PBA scene in 1983 as a pioneering Filipino-American star, winning the Rookie of the Year award and helping Great Taste to two finals appearances.

With the Quick Brown Fox leading the way, Great Taste won four straight titles from the 1984 to 1985, including back-to-back wins in the All-Filipino Conference. Great Taste was the last squad to successfully defend an all-Filipino title before Talk ‘n Text managed

the feat earlier this year.Brown won his last

championship with Great Taste in the 1987 All-Filipino before he was traded to the San Miguel Beermen the following season. He became a major part of the team’s Open Conference championship run against the Purefoods Hotdogs.

He battled injuries in 1989, but still managed to contribute enough to San Miguel’s Grand Slam run.

Vietnam: Azkals a threat

PBA legend Brown comes home

Phoenix backsKadayawan Moto-X

The Philippine Azkals will be in the radar of former champion Vietnam in the Suzuki Cup.

PBA legend Ricky Brown gets his recognition from the league.

Action between Ateneo Blue Knights and Emar Red Staglets in the ongoing Royal Mandaya Hotel Cup at the Genesis 88 Gym. Right, Francis Gabriel Escandor of Ateneo squeezes his way in heavy traffic against Emar.

VOL.5 ISSUE 96 • JULY 17, 2012

EDGEDAVAO

Senior Supt. Tomas Apolinario, Taguig City Police chief, said that more than 100 police-men were deployed in-side and outside the park to ensure security.

Apolinario said that there were no untow-

ard incidents on Sunday and also throughout the wake of Dolphy.

Dolphy was laid in bronze casket, wearing his favorite white ensem-ble with white suit, polo, pants, tie and shoes.

Dolphy’s family, led by

long-time partner Zsa Zsa Padilla, took him to his final resting place at past 2 p.m.

The final prayer for Dolphy was led by Father Larry Faraon. A final view-ing was also granted for immediate family mem-bers where they had the chance to say their final goodbyes.

Before the tomb was sealed, Padilla delivered a brief but emotional speech.

“Mahal na mahal ka, Dolphy, ng sambayan-an. Maraming salamat sa mga ibinigay mo sa amin. I love you, Lovey ko. Until we meet again,” she said.

Dolphy, 83, passed away last Tuesday night following a cardiac arrest at the intensive care unit of the Makati Medical Center (MMC).

His death came just days before his 84th birthday. He was born on July 25, 1928.

Doctors at the MMC, where the comedy king was confined for a month, said Dolphy died due to multiple or-gan failure, secondary to complications brought about by severe pneu-monia, chronic obstruc-tive pulmonary disease and acute renal failure.

He was diagnosed with

ENTERTAINMENT

INdulge!

Tears for theKing of ComedyThe country’s Comedy King “Dolphy,”

Rodolfo Vera Quizon Jr. in real life, was laid to rest on Sunday afternoon at the

Heritage Park in Taguig City on Sunday af-ternoon, five days after he succumbed to lung and kidney complications.

chronic obstructive pul-monary disease in 2009.

Dolphy starred in more than 200 films in his 66-year career, starting with a 1946 movie at 19 years old with Fernando Poe Sr., “Dugo at Bayan 1 (I Remember Bataan).”

He received the Grand Collar of the Order of the Golden Heart awarded to him by President Benig-no S. Aquino III in 2010.

ENTERTAINMENTEVENTS

A2 INdulge! VOL.5 ISSUE 96 • JULY 17, 2012 EDGEDAVAO

Paulo Avelino shares what makes him ‘gwapo’

By Carlo P. Mallo

Claudette Centeno, Jojo Canda - NCCC Supermarket director, Tracy Reyes - assistant manager, procurement-non-food

Going skin deep

There are no aisles like that of the hygiene,

oral, and hair aisles of the NCCC Supermarket that can bring a smile to my face when I do my grocery. The sight of rows upon rows of bar soaps, the lingering clean scent in the air, new shampoo brands that promise heaven and earth to the vain

Filipino, and yes, the many imported brands of facial wash, lotion, moisturizers, and a mil-lion other things that can make your skin smile.

Over the weekend, NCCC Mall brought their hygiene, oral, and hair aisles to a whole new level by staging the first Health and Beauty Expo wherein

they gave away free facials, foot scrubs, haircuts, hairstyle con-sultations, hair color, manicure, pedicure, hot oil, and massage at the Activitiy Cen-ter of the NCCC Mall Davao. Free medical and dental check ups, facial and skin consul-tations, including hair and scalp test, and a scalp strip test were

The small things in everyday can actually make us beautiful.

VOL.5 ISSUE 96 • JULY 17, 2012EDGEDAVAO A3INdulge!

Valerie Concepcion shares beauty secrets during the Unilever Beauty Chat on July 14 at the Health and Beauty Expo.

Imported hair products were sold at 50 pesos.

Maya Padillo on her hair styling service. Shopper gets a moisturizing skin session from Ponds.

Going skin deep also available.

Being beautiful, they say, goes beyond skin deep. But with events like these at NCCC Mall Davao, the pleas-ant surprise of having these free services for doing your groceries can indeed bring that glow on your face.

The event was spon-sored by Safeguard, Palmolive Naturals, Nivea, Hype Ardent, Dove, Pond’s, Juicy Cologne, Tisyu, Pep-sodent, Colgate, Clear, Casino Alcohol, Olay, Vaseline, Garnier, Silka, Eficasent Oil, L’Oreal, Myra E, Pantene and Maxi-Peel.

ENTERTAINMENTENTERTAINMENT

A4 INdulge! VOL.5 ISSUE 96 • JULY 17, 2012EDGEDAVAO

Piolohas high

dreamsforson

Even if he figured in a biking acci-dent in Ambuk-

lao Road, Baguio City last July 3, Piolo Pascu-al doesn’t want to slow down on his sports ac-tivities.

“Two days after, nag-bike agad ko. I’ve also been playing badmin-ton. One thing I real-ized, it didn’t stop me. The more I want to ride. Ibang klase. I re-member the last time I was injured during a bandminton tour-ney, nagpahinga lang ako sandal, pero mas naging agresibo ako maglaro. It makes you better at mas nalelegit-imize yung pagsali mo sa sports,” Piolo said in

an interview on Sun-day, July 8, after Star Magic’s 20th celebra-tion in “ASAP 2012.”

Piolo’s fans were worried when they saw Instagram photos of their idol with the captions “Battle scars” and “show must go on.” One photo showed his bruised arms while an-other saw him driving with a bandaged arm.

Fast healer

“Okay naman siya, Good thing I’m a fast healer. May scratches ako dito. It’s kinda healing fast,” Piolo said,

He revealed that his son Iñigo and other members of his family who were with him in

Baguio were worried. But Piolo assured them he was okay.

“They were worried, of course my mom and my family. She wanted to see me right away. Gusto nilang makita gaano kalalim ang su-gat, gusto nila akong magpa-check up and X-ray. Pero wala naman akong naramdaman eh. Wala, okay naman,” he said.

After the accident, Piolo attended to his showbiz commit-ments, including Star Magic’s 20th celebra-tion in “ASAP 2012” right away. He was happy to reunite with fellow Star Magic tal-ents.

“Dito lang kami nag-kikita-kita. It’s nice and refreshing to see all of them here, just to bond a little. Sobrang dami from before the time we were starting. Andyan sila Gio Alva-rez, Lindsay Custodio, Steven Alonzo, sila Sar-ji Ruiz, halos mga kasa-bayan ko sila. So, para kaming galing school na nag-alumni home-coming.”

Dreams for InigoIn a separate in-

terview, Piolo talked about Iñigo, who also shows interest in join-ing showbiz.

Piolo wants his son to finish his studies first.

“Ayaw ko, ayaw ko talaga. Gusto ng bata, pero sabi ko sa kanya ibigay niya muna sa akin ang high school diploma niya,” Piolo disclosed.

Iñigo studies in the US but visits Manila during school breaks.

“He still has four years before he turns 18. Pag 18, wala na-man na tayong ano diyan. Ang gusto ko sana may degree siya. I’ll be the happiest dad kung mabibigyan de-gree siya, if he’s able to finish college,” Piolo shared.

But what if Inigo still wants to become an actor?

“When he turns 18,

compromise, kung talagang hilig niya, bahala siya. Pero ako, kung papapiliin ako, pag-aaral pa rin talaga,” Piolo replied.

Now that Iñigo is on a school break, Piolo is happy to bring Inigo with him during tap-ings and other show-biz commitments. This way, they can spend more time together.

“We make it a point na kapag andito siya, we spend time togeth-er because sobra yung trabaho ko. Sobrang blessing na kapag summer, he stays with me. Siya yung pinaka-matyagang kasama ko sa trabaho,” Piolo shared. (Yahoo! Omg!)

VOL.5 ISSUE 96 • JULY 17, 2012

v

15EDGEDAVAO SPORTS

WASHInGTOn (AP) -- Don’t call them Shorty.

The U.S. men are tired of hearing about their Olympic basketball team’s size problem. Instead of being called small, they’d prefer to be known as versatile, quick, athletic, or something else that recognizes their strengths and not their, uh, shortcomings.

“Really it’s kind of boring to keep answering the question of what are you going to do with the bigs,” U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski said Sunday. “Like, this is who we have. Why don’t we talk about what we’re going to do with what we have, than talk about what we don’t have? I don’t really understand how that’s productive. So I’m trying to dismiss that and concentrate on what we’re doing.”

The U.S. is down to just Tyson Chandler as the lone natural center on the roster. Dwight Howard is out after back surgery, and big man options such as Chris Bosh and Blake Griffin later joined him on the sidelines.

Yes, the Americans realize that could put them at a disadvantage against the likes of Spain or Brazil, who they will face Monday in an exhibition game. But they’d also like to know what team is supposed to defend a front line of LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony?

“Look, maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t think so,” USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo said. “I’ll take

versatility and athleticism and speed and quickness. That beats size all day long, because size alone can’t get it done.”

If he was going to be wrong, it would seem to be against a team such as Brazil, which has loads of nBA size up front with nene of the Washington Wizards, Cleveland’s Anderson Varejao and San Antonio’s Tiago Splitter on the roster. The Americans then travel to Europe and play tuneup games in Barcelona against Argentina and the Spaniards, who have nBA stars Pau and Marc Gasol, and Serge Ibaka along their front line.

Brazil came closest to beating a similarly sized U.S. team two years ago at the world basketball championship, falling by two points when Leandro Barbosa’s shot bounced off the rim at the buzzer.

“We wanted as good a competition as we could get during our pregames and with Brazil because of their front line and their experience and they’re a good team, Argentina and Spain, three out of the five are really good tests for us,” Colangelo said. “So we’re very aware of what they have and it’ll be a challenge and we’ll learn a lot from that game, no question about it.”

Colangelo thinks the days of the traditional low-post center are gone, largely because there are so few talented bigs anymore, and calls the size debate “overused conversation for sure.”

Maybe he’s right, given what just happened at the end of the nBA season. The Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder seemed intent on trying to go smaller than the other, the Heat hardly ever using a true center in their five-game victory in the finals.

“That’s how it was,” Durant said. “We were small in the Western Conference finals and in the finals. Miami went small almost the whole (playoffs) with Chris Bosh being out, so it proves that you could play either way. Big, it’s tough to stop, but I think small ball is tough to stop as well.”

There are plenty of doubters, many of them big

men themselves.“If they make it a

smashmouth game, I think they’ll have a hard time against a team like Spain,” Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford said.

That was after Horford shot 1 of 12 in the Americans’ 113-59 rout of the Dominican Republic on Thursday, the U.S. wings swarming the Dominican guards with relentless defensive pressure and making it tough to enter the ball to their big man in a spot he would want it.

Dominican coach John Calipari of Kentucky said afterward that the U.S. was big enough, agreeing with an opinion U.S. assistant

Mike D’Antoni had when the Americans faced the same question four years ago: no team with James in the frontcourt is small.

Listed at 6-foot-8 and 250 pounds by the Americans, James has called himself an inch taller and 10 pounds heavier. Durant is 6-9, but with a wingspan that makes him seem 6-11. The 6-8 Anthony has played out of position as a power forward both internationally and in the nBA, and has no fear of pounding against bigger players.

At least one should have a huge quickness advantage over the man guarding him if an opponent tries to

employ too many bigs. Kobe Bryant said the Americans would try to use opposing teams’ size against them.

And maybe they’ll prove this talk of being too small was really no big deal.

“The quickness of this team, this is the quickest team I’ve ever coached, including U.S. teams,” Krzyzewski said. “We have to build on that. Instead of talking about the fact that we don’t have many centers - it would different if we had Dwight and Chris Bosh. We’d play a little bit differently. We don’t, so we have to rely on our strength, which is versatility, quickness, speed. But our guys are big.”

Team ShortyUS goes from Dream Team to

Mini Team

Is it the end of Linsanity in NY?Carmelo Anthony doesn’t

want any blame for the new York Knicks not

keeping Jeremy Lin. Carmelo Anthony called

Jeremy Lin’s $25 million offer sheet Several sources reveal that the Knicks don’t plan on matching the three-year, $25 million offer sheet Lin signed with the Houston Rockets. Anthony called the offer sheet – which will pay Lin nearly $15 million in the third year – “ridiculous” Sunday during an interview with reporters after Team USA’s practice in Washington.

“It’s up to the organization to say they want to match that ridiculous contract that’s out there,’’ Anthony said.

Anthony later said that it’s not his fault if the Knicks decline

to match the offer sheet by the deadline set by the league.

“It’s up to ownership to match, not me,” Anthony said. “I’m tired of people trying to blame me for the fact that the Knicks might not match. I want everybody to get paid if they have the opportunity.”

Knicks coach Mike Woodson declined comment at Sunday’s summer league game against the Phoenix Suns in Las Vegas. A Knicks spokesman said management also would not comment on Lin’s status.

The Knicks were widely expected to match Lin’s offer sheet until they struck a sign-and-trade deal with the Portland Trail Blazers to acquire point guard Raymond Felton on Saturday. The Knicks

also recently signed point guards Jason Kidd and Pablo Prigioni.

Lin had a sensational run as the Knicks’ starting point guard before a knee injury ended his season. Most of his success, however, came when Anthony was sidelined. Woodson also has made clear that the Knicks’ offense will be built around Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire, not Lin.

Lin is expected to have more freedom under Rockets coach Kevin McHale. Lin averaged 14.6 points and 6.2 assists in 35 games for new York last season and scored 38 points against the Los Angeles Lakers.

“He’s a good young player that has a lot of potential and upside with time and experience,” Anthony said.

Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant share a hearty laugh.

VOL.5 ISSUE 96 • JULY 17, 2012SPORTS16 EDGEDAVAO

WORLD TO-

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Davao

HELPING YOU MAKE INFORMED BUSINESS DEcISIONS.

By Neil Bravo

PACIFIC X-treme Combat flyweight champion Ale “The

Young Gun” Cali will face another Filipino in his ti-tle defense in September.

The champion from Davao who became the first homegrown Fili-pino titlist in the promo-tion last February when he defeated Guamanian Jesse Taitano to win the 125-pound title, is set to square off with Erwin Ta-gle of Submission Sports Philippines.

Tagle holds an MMA record of 1-win, 1-loss and 2 draws.

“I used to idolize him before,” Cali said of his upcoming opponent.

Going toe-to-toe with somebody he looks up to should make for one interesting matchup, and Cali said he’s looking for-ward to the September fight.

“I’m really excited for this. And in my opinion, it’s not just us but all of the people who watch

PXC must be excited for this, too.”

Meantime, Cali said he is proud of country-man Crisanto “The Slug-ger” Pitpitunge for win-ning the bantamweight belt recently.

Pitpitunge of Team Lakay Wushu entered the ranks of the home-grown champions with a highlight-reel knockout of Justin Cruz at PXC 31 Saturday to win the PXC bantamweight title.

“I’m very proud of him

now that there’s two of us (Filipino champions),” said Cali in Filipino im-mediately after the main event of the fight card.

“It’s natural that I’m rooting for him,” said the Davao native. “He’s Filipi-no and the fight was held right here in our coun-try.”

Cali was impressed with Pitpitunge’s knock-out punch, though he felt Cruz showed signs of overconfidence in the fight.

Davao’s Cali to defend PXC title in SeptemberFrancis Gabriel Escandor (left) of Ateneo recites the oath of sportsmanship. Ateneo de Davao University athletic director Butch Ramirez and Royal Man-

daya Hotel Cup Founder Glenn Escandor lead the ceremonial toss in the match between Ateneo and Emar.