Edge Davao 6 Issue 205

in 2013By the EDGE DAVAO STAFFPhotos by Lean Daval Jr.

P 15.00 • 20 PAGESwww.edgedavao.netVOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DEC. 31, 2013 • WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JAN.1-2, 2014

EDGE Serving a seamless society

DAVAOIN THE EYE OF THE STORM. For his lackadaisical handling of the Cebu Pacific mishap at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport, embattled airport manager Frederick San Felix found himself at the receiving end of the public ire.

EDGE DAVAO’S YEARENDER

THE YEAR 2013 will be characterized as one where Davao

City flourished in business and trade, realized its po-tentials in real property development, blazed trails in governance, while going through trying times in the areas of law and order and disaster response.

Revenue collections and business permit ap-plications surged to kick-start what loomed like a robust year, then came the mid-term elections that saw Mayor Sara Duter-te-Carpio step down to private life, paving the way for the return to City Hall of her father Rodrigo

alongside brother Paolo as the new vice mayor.

A month after May-or Rody’s new term, his seventh since 1988, three suspected mem-bers of a Metro Ma-nila-based kidnap-for-ran-som gang were killed in a dramatic shootout

SHOOTOUT. Davao City Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) chief Francisco Villaroman (right) checks a high-powered firearm owned by suspected members of a kidnap-for-ransom gang who were killed in a shootout with the Davao SWAT team at Allied Bank along C.M. Recto Avenue last August.

F13 IN 2013, 2

Top 13

VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DEC. 31, 2013 • WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JAN.1-2, 2014

Kidnapping Last July 11, three

suspected members of a Metro Manila-based kidnap-for-ransom gang were killed in a dramatic shootout with police at high noon outside a local branch of Allied Bank.

Davao City Police Of-fice (DCPO) chief Ronald dela Rosa said the sus-pects were accompanied by their victim, Sally Chua, a businesswom-an they had snatched at gunpoint in Quezon City last July 5, to withdraw ransom money amount-ing to P15 million from the Allied Bank branch on C.M. Recto Street.

Earlier, the local po-

2 EDGEDAVAO

YEAR ENDERVOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DECEMBER 31, 2013

WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JANUARY 1-2, 2014

A KISS FOR A JOB WELL DONE. Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio receives a kiss from proud husband, lawyer Mans Carpio, after delivering her State of the City Address (Soca) at the Session Hall of the Sangguniang Panlungsod as she wrapped up her tour of duty at City Hall.

ANOTHER DRUG SUSPECT FALLS. Former Davao City Police Office (DCPO) director Ronald Dela Rosa inspects the room of former police officer Nilo Div-inagracia Jr. who was killed after a drug buy bust operation conducted by the operatives of the Investigation and Detection Management Branch of the Davao City Police Office (IDMB-DCPO) resulted in a shootout inside his rentedroom in Piapi Blvd., Davao City. Dela Rosa spearheaded a no nonsense an-ti-drug campaign he called “Tok-hang.”

HELPLESS. Personnel of Central 911 stare helplessly as fire gobbled up houses at the Muslim Village in Zone 5, Km. 11 Sasa, Davao City in August.

ANOTHER TOUR OF DUTY. Mayor Rody Duterte returned to the City Hall after serving as Vice Mayor to his daughter Sara.

FTOP 13, 3

with police at high noon outside a local branch of Allied Bank. The victim Sal-ly Chua, a businesswoman they had snatched at gun-point in Quezon City last July 5, was rescued, while trying to withdraw ransom money of P15 million from the Allied Bank on C.M. Rec-to Street.

At the height of the skir-mishes in Zamboanga City on September 16, the city was rocked with explosions inside two cinemas at SM City Davao on Quimpo Bou-levard and Gaisano Mall on J.P. Laurel Avenue.

Davao City also saw the staging of major events like the Mindanao Business Council, Phil-consruct, and some con-certs heralded by inter-national music legends like Patty Austin, Dionne Warwick and Engelbert Humperdink. Rey “Boom Boom Bautista” defend-ed his world champion-ship in Davao City and although he lost to gritty Mexican Jose Ramirez, the city returned to the map of big-time events that

Top 13...FFROM 1

also included the opening day game of the PBA.

There were break-throughs in governance, too. The stricter liquor ban, the speed limit, and the no-vendor-on-side-walk clearing.

Let’s take a walk through the year 2013 with the Edge Davao ed-itors picks of the Top 13 Stories of the year.

lice had received a tip from the Anti Kidnapping Group (AKG) of Camp Crame about the kid-napping and proceeded to set up an entrapment operation that ultimately resulted to the shootout and Chua’s rescue.

Chua, 51, a resident of San Fransisco del Monte, Quezon City, told authorities that there were 14 members of the group and that she was able to persuade them to have the “pay-off” done in Davao City. What was actually in her mind was City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s wide-ly known no-nonsense stance against criminals. High-powered firearms and hand guns, mostly .45 caliber, and maga-zines were recovered from the compartments of the Montero Sport ve-hicle which was used by the suspects.

Law and order beat

Who can forget the September 16, 2013 ex-plosions inside two cin-

emas at SM City Davao on Quimpo Boulevard and Gaisano Mall on J.P. Laurel Avenue? The twin bombing incidents prompted Mayor Duter-te to threaten closure of any mall that does not impose strict security measures.

Duterte said mall owners should provide an adequate security sys-tem, while berating secu-rity agencies for lapses in the two malls.

The twin-bombings occurred while the entire city was placed under heightened alert due to skirmishes between the military and Moro Na-tional Liberation Front (MNLF) rebels in Zambo-anga City then.

No one was injured in the SM City Davao explo-sion which happened at 9:03 p.m. although it did some damage to proper-ty inside the moviehouse. Over at the Gaisano Mall, five persons reportedly suffered minor injuries in the blast that occurred at about 9:25 p.m.

Police investigators remain clueless as to the identity and motive of those behind the twin bombings, although May-or Duterte had cleared MNLF chairman Nur Misuari of any responsi-bility.

Davao City police di-rector Ronald dela Rosa said the modus operandi of the bombers in using improvised explosive devices (IED) seemed fa-miliar. He was later cau-tioned by Mayor Duterte to avoid rush judgment to ensure they get the right perpetrators before pointing fingers at any-body.

Liquor ban/speed

limitMayor Duterte signed

the new ordinance which sets the liquor ban from 1: 00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. prohibiting the sale or serving, drinking and consumption of liquor, alcoholic beverages, co-conut wine and other nature wines that cause intoxication, within com-mercial establishments and public places.

It also prohibits all persons below 18 years old from ordering, drink-ing and consuming liquor from stores and enter-tainment establishments. A total of 23 persons have been charged so far for violating the new li-quor ban.

The ordinance stipu-lates that violators will be fined P3,000 for the first offense, P5, 000 or/and imprisonment for three months and P5,000

and/or imprisonment for one year including the re-vocation of business per-mit, for the second and third offenses.

Also last year, Duter-te also signed Executive Order 39 which sets the speed limits for all ve-hicles within the city. Under EO 39 series of 2013, violators will be subjected to arrest and “their vehicle impounded without prejudice to the imposition of penalties and fines under the pro-vision of RA 4136 (Land Transportation and Traf-fic Code) and Davao City Ordinance No. 778.”

The speed limits are as follows: 30 kilometers per hour (KPH) in the downtown area, 40 KPH from Ulas to Generoso Bridge/Bolton Bridge, from Panacan Crossing to J.P. Laurel Avenue –Al-cantara and from Ma-a Road to MacArthur High-way along and 60 KPH along the highways from Sirawan to Ulas Cross-ing, from Calinan to Ulas Crossing, from Panacan to Lasang, and from Car-los P. Garcia Highway/Mc Arthur Highway to Panacan, all within the city’s jurisdiction. Records from the Traf-fic Group showed that traffic accidents in the city during the months of October, November and part of December in-dicate that there was an average of 20- percent reduction in the num-ber of traffic accidents in the city since the speed limits were enforced.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DEC. 31, 2013 • WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JAN.1-2, 2014 3YEAR ENDERVOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DECEMBER 31, 2013 WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JANUARY 1-2, 2014

CRIME SCENE. A lady guard fixes the police line outside cinema 5 of Gaisano Mall of Davao where police operatives are conducting thorough investigationafter a bomb explosion.

SECURITY LAPSES. Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte came down to a plan to padlock Davao City malls with ineffectual and inefficient security setups after two Davao City malls’ cinemas were bombed.

THIS SHRINKING SMOKING WORLD. The city government expanded its anti-smoking ordinance which bars smoking in a public highway such as this one. FTOP 13, 4

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The EO sets territori-al boundaries on speed limit. Drivers must ob-serve a maximum speed of 60 kilometer per hour (kph) from Sirawan to Ulas Crossing, from La-sang to Panacan, from Calinan to Ulas Crossing, and from C.P Gracia High-way-McArthur Highway to Panacan.

More honors for DCCCII

The Davao City Cham-ber of Commerce and In-dustry Inc. (DCCCII) was recognized as the most outstanding chamber of commerce in Mindanao and in the Philippines during the Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PBC & E) at the Manila Hotel in October.

The chamber was cit-ed for its “outstanding performance in the im-provement of business services, advocacies in economic development, investment generation, Asean RoRo system, road connection to tourism, public private partner-ship, partnership with government and mem-

bership development.”DCCCII outgoing

president Daniel T. Lim said these awards “are testaments to the com-mitment of the officers, committee chairpersons and general membership to improve the business climate of Davao City, and continuously living up to the expectations of be-ing the most sought after chamber of commerce in the country and in Asia Pacific.”

The chamber is not a stranger to awards as it had garnered awards and recognitions many times in the past. In 2005, it be-came the first Philippine chamber to be awarded as the best chamber in Asia and in the Pacific. The year after, it was a runner-up in the search for the world’s most out-standing chamber staged in Mexico.

Silicon Valley

triumphs“Davao’s software

and innovations sector has been very passionate in developing software application and tools in-

cluding inventions that can compete in the glob-al arena,” said Informa-tion and Communication Technology Davao pres-ident Edilberto “Bert” Barriga Jr.

A team of budding de-velopers brought Davao City to centerstage as they won the first- ev-er-Manila-leg AngelHack last June 8 -9, 2013 for Pagesnapp- their flagship product.

Dubbed as the biggest hackathon in the world, the team, comprised of Rolly Rulete, Marvin Con-suegra, Raymund Delfin, Jay Albano and Mio Mi-guel Galang from Pam-panga brought honor and prestige to the city.

Last November, the team, as official repre-sentatives of the country, attended the AngelHack Demo, an event where winners from other countries converged to showcase their respec-tive products.

In 2011, two teams of developers under the name of Ric Dayot, who leads the homegrown RAD Green Solutions, and

Eric Su, developer of Pic-lyf flew to Silicon Valley to present their products with other contenders from different parts of the world.

Barriga said that the city’s participation in these contests “highlights the smart, intelligent, and practical product by win-ning these contests.”He also said that it “brings more global attention to Davao-made products.”

King’s return

In city politics, the story looked like the king has returned to the palace with the new crowned prince and his princess.

Mayor Duterte suc-cessfully made a come-back to City Hall with his election last May. It is his seventh three-year term since 1988, when as OIC vice mayor he trounced OIC Mayor Zafiro L. Re-spicio against many odds.

This time around, Duterte was unopposed as the Commission on Election declared his op-ponents Rodrigo P. Buen-zon, Teodoro P. Mantilla,

Magdaleno S. Marcel-lones, Rolly T. Solis and Rodrigo J. Sulamin, as nuisnc candidates a few days before election day.

Along with his come-back was the assumption of his son, Paolo who was also elected as vice mayor, who is also the head of the the 17th city council.

Later this year, the vice mayor’s wife, Janu-ary, also joined the City Council as result of being elected barangay captain of Catalunan Grande and later as the new presi-dent of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC). January was elect-ed unopposed.

Step down-rise upAfter few months as

elected city councilor, lawyer J. Melchor V. Qui-tain decided to resign from his position last September to assume as city administrator, a po-sition which Mayor Dute-rte offered to him.

The mayor had actu-ally made the announce-ment after the election that he was eyeing Qui-tain as his city adminis-trator.

The resignation of Quitain opened an op-portunity for the Muslim community to be repre-sented in the local law-making body as the may-or earlier announced that the replacement of Quitain as city councilor would come from them.

Duterte will reveal the replacement ‘s iden-tity either in February or March this coming year.

Highest budget everThe city government

approved P5.16-billion as its budget for 2014, the highest ever in the city’s history. The city’s annual budget for 2013 was only P4.1-billion.

To Councilor Danilo Dayanghirang, it is now the challenge for the city government to find ways to collect more taxes in

order to fund the appro-priations.

To help make this happen, Dayanghirang filed resolutions before the City Council for com-puterization of transac-tions, especially in the City Assessor’s Office and City Treasurer’s Office to make sure that taxpayers are paying the correct taxes.

The biggest slice of the entire budget will be allocated to the general fund that has P4.14-bil-lion which includes the P1.11-billion for person-nel services where sala-ries of the city employees will be taken.

The City Mayor’s Of-fice has a budget of P1.5 billlion covering expens-es on peace and order, Central 911, Traffic Man-agement Center and “Lin-gap para sa Mahirap”, an unprecedented health assistance program.

300 homeless in fireLast August 22, some

300 families lost their houses in a fire at Km. 11, Sasa, Davao City.

Inspector Rodolfo Alocelja, chief of Davao City Fire District’s Inves-tigation and Intelligence Section, said the cause of the fire was “electrical flying connection” while the owner of the house where it started was re-portedly charging his mobile phone.

City Social Service and Development Office (CSSDO)’s Juliet Vigil, secretary of department head Maria Luisa Bermu-do, told Edge Davao that the 127 packs contained dry goods, especially products for personal hygiene, which she said are the basic needs of fire victims, besides food.

Tokhang and Taphang

Last February 13, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spearheaded by then DCPO director Ron-

VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DEC. 31, 2013 • WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JAN.1-2, 20144 VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DECEMBER 31, 2013 WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JANUARY 1-2, 2014YEAR ENDER

AILING AIMEE. Central 911 paramedics attend to Board of Canvassers chair lawyer Aimee Ampoloquio after she felt dizzy during election canvassing at the Sangguniang Panlungsod at the height of the mid-term elections.

DOWN IN THE FIRST. Rey “Boom-Boom” Bautista of the Philippines drops to the seat of his pants in the first round after getting tagged by Jose “Negro” Ramirez of Mexico in the first ever world championship fight in Davao City in a decade.

SPEED GUN. An enforcer from the Traffic Management Center (TMC) uses the city government of Davao’s newly-ac-quired speed gun to accurately measure the speed of vehicles in the light of the new speed limit law being enforced in the city.

TOP DRAW. The colors of Araw ng Dabaw.

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ald dela Rosa, who is now chief of the Intelligence unit of the Philippine National Police, imple-mented Oplan Tokhang (Toktok Hangyo) and Oplan Taphang (Tapok Hangyo).

Oplan Tokhang is a unique operation of the DCPO wherein police per-sonnel visited houses of suspected drug pushers and users and persuade them to voluntarily stop their illegal activities—or else. While, Taphang is where the police con-ducted the most massive assemblies of suspected drug pushers and asked them to surrender.

Sr. Supt. Ronald dela Rosa said that 90 percent of inmates of city jails here are drug suspects who also contributed to the congestion of pre-mier police stations in the city.

The drive against il-legal drugs has been re-lentless with the arrest of hundreds of suspect-ed drug pushers and users. He said they are now looking for ways how to decongest the detention cells in Sta. Ana police station, San Pedro police station, Talomo police station, Buhangin police station, Sasa police station, Bu-nawan police station and Toril police station. He said the strategy has been very effective be-cause they gained the sup-port of the community.

Saga of the piglet2013 proved to be the

climax of the life story of Ryan Yu, 32-year-old alleged carnaping mas-termind, also known as “Baktin,” local term for piglet.

After his alleged crim-

inal activities mostly in the city were exposed, Mayor Rody Duterte put up a P5-million bounty for Baktin’s capture dead or alive.

After failing to show up in a scheduled ar-raignment and the judge cancelling his bail bond, Baktin showed up un-beknownst to most re-porters in the Benigno Aquino Jr. Hall of Justice and explained his no-show caper to the judge as having been caused by a sickness. He is expected to be tried this year for eight counts of carnap-ping.

Minbizcon like no other

The 2013 Mindan-ao Business Conference (Minbizcon) was cited as the first agenda-based conference ever in the 21 years of existence.

President Benigno “Noy-noy” S. Aquino III and his Cabinet secretaries were all present to listen and comment on the issues confronting the island.

John Gaisano, chief or-ganizer and conference chairman, said that the chamber’s professional team, assisted by the ex-perts of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) conducted and processed numerous con-sultations with a total 250 businessmen and industry leaders across the island to come up with 8 priority issues tackled during the MinBizCon the SMX Con-vention Center, SM Lanang Premier starting August 8.

The issues raised in the unprecedented busi-ness gathering are Agri-culture, Power, Tourism, Transport and Logistics, Skills development, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Information and Communication Technolo-gy (ICT), and Mining.

The President, for the first time, knew what particular issues to be addressed, unlike before

when the President only gave his speech after the delegates had come up with a list of issues on the last day of the convention.

In his 15-minue speech, the President tackled the importance of peace and security and discussed at length the power shortage faced by the island, However, he did not forget to highlight agriculture and infrastruc-ture development initia-tives for the area.

The Cabinet secretar-ies, on the other hand, dwelled on the details of each issue. Gaisano claimed that Minbizcon participants were im-pressed with the Pres-ident’s and his Cabinet members’ presence.

BPO stridesThe good business

climate in Davao City has attracted three more busi-ness process outsourcing (BPOs) companies to lo-cate and expand their op-eration in the city the year just ended.

Dubbed as the one of the Philippine’s Next

Wave Cities , Davao City has a growing industry for these sector as Ibex Glob-al Philippines, Convergys, and Teleperformance lo-cated here, generating more than 3,000 jobs for qualified Dabawenyos.

“The expansion of the large BPO companies in Davao City signifies the growing confidence of the whole industry in Davao as a location,” said Erib-erto “ Bert” Barriga Jr., executive vice president of Information and Com-munication Technology (ICT)-Davao.

He said that the “bet-ter and more stable in-frastructure, abundant talent supply, safe and secure environment, efficient and effective local government unit (LGU)” are just some of the strengths of Davao City “that continues to impress both foreign and local investors.”

As to next year, Bar-riga said that they are receiving more queries from more BPO compa-nies who are eyeing the city as their next location.


Buy and get a chance to win fabulous Prizes!

5EDGEDAVAOVOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DECEMBER 31, 2013 WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JANUARY 1-2, 2014


THE DAVAO City Police Office has tallied 45 robbery

incidents perpetrated by unidentified persons for the month of December 2013.

Davao City police di-rector Vicente Danao Jr., said crime against prop-erty is expected to in-crease in number based on their crime trending data. He said that most of the cases are still unre-solved.

Last November the DCPO recorded only 35 cases of robbery.

Danao said robbers will attack houses that are unattended during nighttime in subdivisions.

Like what happened in Dona Vicenta village where robbers attacked five houses, victimized a retired police officer, a doctor and businessmen last December 24 and 25, taking some P1.5 million

EDGEDAVAO6 VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DECEMBER 31, 2013 WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JANUARY 1-2, 2014NEWS

THE MULTI-MIL-LION-PESO reha-bilitation projects

involving Quezon Boule-vard and Rafael Castillo Street, two main roads cutting through down-town Davao City, will be completed within 2014.

This was the assur-ance made by Regional Director Mariano “Mar-nie” Alquiza of the De-partment of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Region 11 during a year-end media briefing last week.

Alquiza who said the contractors of the big projects, both started be-fore he was assigned in the Davao Region, have been warned about the dire consequences of their failure to complete the projects on time.

“In fairness to both of them though, there is not much negative slip-page or serious delays incurred that cannot be explained,”

Alquiza said.Some of the delays

were caused by service

companies whose cables and pipes were hit by the projects, because under the law, these firms were granted DPWH permit to build their own infra-structures in roads and highways on condition that if these facilities are hit by DPWH projects, it is the companies’ duty to relocate them at their own expense, Alquiza ex-plained.

However, the DPWH regional official said that in a series of meet-ings with the engineers

and the owners of the construction companies involved, it was made clear to them that if the projects will be delayed, the department under the watch of Secretary Rogelio Singson they face the grim prospect of be-ing blacklisted or barred from participating in fu-ture projects adminis-tered by the DPWH.

Motorists and the commuting public have complained about traffic delays due to the unfin-ished projects.

A TOTAL of 54 ba-rangays of Davao City are required

to join the first Davao Torotot Festival along Roxas Avenue today for the New Year’s Eve cel-ebration .

Edgardo Ibuyan, Jr., vice president of Liga ng mga Barangay told media practitioners during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM Annex, SM City yesterday that each barangay must bring 200 participants to complete the 10,000 total targeted by Smart

Telecommunication, the organizer, in partner-ship with the City Gov-ernment of Davao.

Ibuyan said that they are expecting to be list-ed in the Guinness Book of Record as the most number of participants to beat Japan, who holds the most number of horn blowers gathered in one place.

Ibuyan said that the counting of the attend-ees will start from 8:00 PM to 8:30 PM today

IF HOUSE Speaker Feliciano “Sonny” Belmonte Jr. is seri-

ous about his group’s proposal to amend the Philippine Constitution, he should first get the support of President Noynoy Aquino.

This was the com-ment of BAP1 Party-list Rep. Silvestre H. Bello III when asked about his opinion on the move of the administration allies in the House to push for Charter chang-es (Cha-cha). Belmonte has made the announce-ment himself.

Bello said that of all

five Presidents since the ouster of strongman Ferdinand Marcos—Corazon C. Aquino, Fi-del V. Ramos, Joseph Ejercito Estrada, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Beingno S. Aquino III—all, except the Aquinos, wanted to amend the 1987 Philippine Consti-tution for varying rea-sons.

“Without the sup-port of the seating Pres-ident, no Cha-cha move will succeed,” the law-maker from Isabela and Davao City said, adding that “ka pag totoo ang

TIME OFF. Local media practitioners take some time off to enjoy a night of games and gift-giving in the annual Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Christmas party held at the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) regional office in Bangkal, Davao City over the weekend. Lean Daval Jr.

TO BREAK THE RECORD. Davao City ABC vice president Edgar Ibuyan Jr. says during Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao yesterday that the city government of Davao together with Smart Phils. are targeting 10,000 participants for the first-ever “Torotot Festival” which will be held along Roxas Avenue on New Year’s Eve. The record established by Japan is 6,000 participants. Lean Daval Jr.

IN DECEMBER

Police report 45 rob casesBy EMILORD P. CASTROMAYOR

[email protected]

Construction firms reminded on penalties in case of project delays

Alquiza assures 2014 completionof Castillo, Quezon road projects

[email protected]

By ANTONIO M. AJERO

TO BREAK THE RECORD

54 city barangaysin Torotot Festival

[email protected]

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

Noynoy’s go-signal vitalto Cha-cha move: Bello

More important matters for country to focus on cited

FPOLICE, 10

FNOYNOY’S, 10

F54 CITY, 10


LABOR productiv-ity in the region is expected to in-

crease to 6.0 percent by 2016 from a -5.1 percent growth in 2009, the up-dated RDP for 2014-2016 report says. By 2016, it says, workers’ productivity in the agri-cutural sector is expect-ed to grow by 4.0 per-cent, industrial workers by 8.4 percent, and the service sector workers by 5.0 percent.

The number of em-ployed persons shall reach 2.22 million, signi-fying an 98.2 percent em-ployment rate by 2016. The underemployment rate shall be reduced to 15 percent.

To increase the la-bor productivity of the region, the updated Re-gional Development Plan for 2014 to 2016 says that there’s a need to strengthen 8 identified industry clusters.

The National Indus-try Cluster Capacity and Enhancement Program (NICCEP) of the Depart-ment of Trade and In-dustry (DTI) in region 11 identified the industries as banana, mango, co-conut, seaweed, mining,

wood manufacture, tour-ism, and information and communication technol-ogy as the priority indus-try cluster in the region.

The strengthening of these industry clus-ters is supportive of the region’s vision to be the Rising Global Frontier.

The updated report

says the region “shall endeavor to upscale the development the priority industry clusters by up-dating and implementing the Davao Region Indus-try Cluster Plan.”

It also says that the increase in labor produc-tivity through the indus-try cluster development

can also be attained by improving the institu-tional capacities for val-ue chain development and management.

At the end, the report says that to realize this, there should be “strong policy support in the strengthening of these clusters, particularly in

providing a conducive climate for sustained in-vestments.”

It also says that “adop-tion and advocacy of re-sponsive investment in-centives and promotions” should be pushed in the local government unit (LGUs) with the passage of local investment codes.

EDGEDAVAO

Stat Watch

MONTHLY AVERAGE EXCHANGE RATE (January 2011-September 2013)

Month 2013 2012 2011

Average 42.23 43.31December 41.01 43.64November 41.12 43.27October 41.45 43.45

September 43.83 41.75 43.02August 43.86 42.04 42.42

July 43.35 41.91 42.81June 42.91 42.78 43.37May 41.30 42.85 43.13April 41.14 42.70 43.24

March 40.71 42.86 43.52February 40.67 42.66 43.70January 40.73 43.62 44.17

7.1 1st Qtr 2013

7.8 1st Qtr 2013

USD 3,741 million

Feb 2013USD 4,708

million Feb 2013USD -967

million Feb 2013USD -640

millionDec 2012

P 4,964,560 million

Feb 2013

2.4 % Mar 2013P113,609

million Mar 2013

P 5,281 billion

Mar 2013

P 41.14 Apr 2013

6,847.5 Mar 2013

132.8 Apr 2013

2.6 Apr 2013

3.1 Apr 2013

418,108 Feb 2013

20.9% Jan 2013

7.1% Jan 2013

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 12:30Cebu Pacific Thu 5J965 / 5J968 12:55 Manila-Davao-Manila 13:25

Cebu Pacific Tue/Wed//Sat 5J965 / 5J968 13:35 Manila-Davao-Manila 14:05Silk Air Mon/Sat MI588 / MI588 13:35 Davao-Singapore 18:55 Silk Air Wed/Sun MI566 / MI566 15:20 Davao-Singapore 18:55Silk Air Thurs MI551 / MI551 12:05 Davao-Singapore 15:45Cebu 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 16:45

as of May 2013

Indicator Latest

1. Gross National Income Growth Rate (At Constant 2000 Prices)

6.8 2nd Qtr 2013

2. Gross Domestic Product Growth Rate (At Constant 2000 Prices)

7.5 2nd Qtr 2013

3. Exports USD 5,045 million

Sep 2013

4. Imports USD 5,711 million

Sep 2013

5. Trade BalanceUSD -665

million Sep 2013

6. Balance of Payments USD 692

million Jun 2013

7. Broad Money LiabilitiesP 5,980,938 million

Aug 2013

8. Interest Rate 2.0 % Sep 2013

9. National Government Revenues

P 127,336 million

Sep 2013

10. National government outstanding debt

P 5,609 billion

Sep 2013

11. Peso per US $

P 43.83 Sep 2013

12. Stocks Composite Index

6,191.8 Sep 2013

13. Consumer Price Index 2006=100

135.2 Oct 2013

14. Headline Inflation Rate 2006=100

2.9 Oct 2013

15. Core Inflation Rate 2006=100

2.5 Oct 2013

16. Visitor Arrivals 382,022 Aug 2013

17. Underemploymen Rate

19.2% Jul 2013

18. Unemployment Rate 7.3% Jul 2013

7VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DECEMBER 31, 2013 WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JANUARY 1-2, 2014THE ECONOMY

CACAO TALK. Cacao Industry Development Association of Mindanao, Inc. (Cidami) chair and Federation of Banana Cooperatives in Davao (Fedco) president and chief executive officer Rene Dalayon gives updates on the industries of cacao and banana during Kapehan sa Dabaw at the Annex of SM City Davao yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

IN REGION 11

Labor productivityto increase by 2016

[email protected]

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

THE DAVAO re-gion must pursue a g r i - i n d u s t r i a l

development through the use of appropriate technology for product diversification to attain sustainable economic growth, a report says.

This is based on the updated Regional Devel-opment Plan for 2014 to 2016 which was re-cently launched by the

National Economic and Development Authority at the SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Pre-mier.

The pursuance of development in the agri-industrial sector would create products that are more value-add-ed. The report says that agro-industrialization can only be developed by “pursuing efficiency

in the value chain of the region’s major agricul-tural products as well as developing the value chain.”

“Efficiency in the value chain of the re-gion’s priority clusters should be pursued, par-ticularly in the products that have high competi-tive advantage.”

RDP says that ba-nana and coconut have

high competitive ad-vantage while the value chain for durian mango, cacao, abaca, seaweed, bangus and palm oil should be developed. It identified pomelo, guy-abano and mangosteen as crops with high po-tential for growth.

The development in the value chain, ac-cording to the updat-ed RDP “shall be one

of the region’s main engines for achieving desired development outcomes, such as pov-erty reduction, particu-larly among farmers, by expanding the export market, diversifying products and generat-ing employment from agri-business activities arising from the devel-opment of the value chains.” [CRC]

REGIONAL ECONOMY

RDP bares what needs to be done for growth

VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DEC. 31, 2013 • WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JAN.1-2, 20148 EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

Torchbearers of 2013

OLIVIA D. VELASCOGeneral Manager

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 • JONALLIER M. PEREZ

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EDGEDAVAOProviding solutions to a seamless global village.

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Columnists: CARLOS MUNDA • MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • MARY ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • VIDA MIA VALVERDE • Economic Analysts: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ • Lifestyle Columnists: BAI FAUZIAH FATIMA SINSUAT AMBOLODTO • MEGHANN STA. INES • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN

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CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICELEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing ManagerUnit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts.Cagayan de Oro CityTel: (088) 852-4894

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NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVOManaging Editor

GREGORIO G. DELIGEROAssociate Editor

RAMON M. MAXEYConsultant

RICHARD C. EBONAMarketing Supervisor

SOLANI D. MARATASFinance

AQUILES Z. ZONIOCorrespondent

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.EMILORD P. CASTROMAYOR / CHENEEN R. CAPON

Reporters

JOCELYN S. PANESDirector of Sales

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PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTEthe national association of newspapers

EDITORIAL

COMMUNITY journalism is never about apple-shining. It should be the opposite. Journalists are like chief gardeners who should not marvel at the beauty and fragrance of the flowers in

the garden in an act akin to narcissism. On the contrary, they look for worms, wilted flowers and dried leaves to get rid of.

However, in this season of giving and yearend assessment, we think it is not wrong to appreciate the dough and ignore the hole, to paraphrase a hackneyed idiomatic expression.

Indeed, there is so much good to thank Divine Providence and Lady Luck for the nice things that happened to Dabawenyos in 2013, even as we continue to remember the misfortunes that befell us and learn from their lessons.

So, we thank the personas that made us proud as Dabawenyos, comprovincianos who gave us honor due to their achievements and strides in laudable advocacies which caught the generous attention of both local and national media during the year.

In business, Dennis A. Uy, president and CEO of Davao City-based Phoenix Petroleum, garnered the coveted Agora Award for Outstand-ing Achievement in Entrepreneurship (Large scale) in 2013, the year he also received the prestigious Datu Bago Award of Davao City. This is the same young business executive and intrepid entrepreneur who was national finalist in the 2012 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Search and finalist in the CNBC Asia Business Leaders Award successively in 2011 and 2012.

Dabawenyos also won big in the field of information, communi-cation and technology (ICT). The team composed of Rolly Rullete, Marcs Consuegra, Jay Albano and Raymund Delfin developed Pag-esnapp that gives a user a pure native android and blackberry app from his existing Facebook page. The users can stay updated without having to go tp the company’s Facebook page. On the other hand, the quintet of Christopher John Cubos, Kevin Omilte, Randolf Ramirez, Genesis Ortiz and Jonnel Ray Buesan came up with i-Calamity, an

app that would reconnect families after disasters.These sensational creations made these kids win first prize in the AngelHacktons and are eligible to participate in Angel.Hackcelerators, an international startup event in San Francisco, California in spring next year.

There was likewise a surfeit of torchbearers among public ser-vants this year. They are led by no less than Mayor Rodrigo R. Dute-rte, who seems to have an abundance of disruptive concepts in gov-ernance up his sleeves. As in the amazing world of gadgets, “disrup-tive” here refers to new ideas that jettison the norm out of the way to move forward. Included in this genre are the bans against smoking in public places, firecrackers and liquor drinking and sale. When Dute-rte returned to City Hall, he had the liquor ban amended to enforce it earlier than 2 a.m. and lately added an executive order regulating speed of motor vehicles.

Another young man who gave honor to his family and fellow Dabawenyos is Miguel Rene A. Dominguez, who recently complet-ed three terms as governor of Sarangani Province. Migs was chosen one of The Outstanding Young Men of the Philippines for Gover-nance.

Lawmakers from Davao City also caught national attention for the roles played in policy and law-making. They are Rep. Isidro T. Ungab, who defended the P2.3-trillion national budget as the first ever Dabawenyo chairman of the House Committee on Appropria-tions. Earlier last year as House finance committee chairman, Ung-ab successfully sponsored the 2012 Sin Tax Law. This law, which failed to pass Congress for close to two decades, is now giving P50 billion in additional tax revenue to the government.

The other torchbearers in governance are Reps. Silvestre H. Bel-lo III, Luzviminda C. Ilagan and Isagani Carlos Zarate, who all hap-pen to be party-list representatives.

To all of the foregoing torchbearers, we say may your tribe in-crease!


WHAT Citizens can do When that hap-pens, one tack citizens can take is to invoke their sovereign power to gov-

ern themselves or to establish government no matter how temporary or transient. This is a reflex act that citizens or a community ought to develop in order to establish or maintain order, to mobilize and call on one another to under-take contingency planning, generate emergency responses, or utilize what’s available in terms of manpower or resources.

Who else to rely upon but one’s self, then one another, then immediate neighbors and what’s left of the rest of the community?

But this reflex requires a developed sense of community, the communitarian spirit needed for a group to rise in order to secure its collective welfare and security.

Sense of community is something our gov-ernment and society—battered by two dozen typhoons yearly plus other disasters and cata-clysms—should take pains to develop and fos-ter in anticipation of the inevitable emergencies that annually visit us. This may be done through regular simulation or drills in the barangays—where people power and sovereignty are em-bodied in the convening of the Barangay Assem-bly which is literally a constituent assembly, the source of all government authority.

But no one takes the initiative, not even the Office of Civil Defense. So our society carries on like Sisyphus year after year as it clumsily tries to cope with disaster, failing each time, losing lives and property every time, and somehow stumbling back on its feet until the next inevita-

ble devastation occurs.In fact, our communities are badly orga-

nized and ill-prepared. Though we manage to survive, we’re not geared for progress, for im-proving our chances of survival progressively. We do not take pains to learn the lessons to be had from every cataclysm. We’re stuck on ac-cepting the inevitable devastation, just coping with it by improvising.

When do we learn?We ought to learn the lessons to be had from

every cataclysm and hone our ways of coping so that there will be zero fatality at least.

Ours is supposed to be “a government by the people, of the people, and for the people.” So if a unit of government like a barangay or city is rendered inoperative, it ought not to be an insurmountable problem—unless there are no people around. The survivors can form a new government and make it operative even for a short period, if only to secure peace and order, or discourage looting and lawlessness.

It is our failure to take self-governance or autonomy seriously that makes us unable to do so. Time and again, this issue emerges in certain parts of our archipelago. But we do not measure up; we thrive on dependency.

It is time we learn to become less dependent on outside help and be more self-reliant.

The utter destruction and disarray in Taclo-ban made observers remark that it had no gov-ernment. They were only partly right, because the survivors, no matter how dazed and over-whelmed, were still around, still on their feet, still able to function with whatever little energy or motivation they had left.

If they had had the motivation and the train-ing, or the habit and the urge to spring to action amidst adversity, they could still have assem-bled and considered ways of coping with their predicament and carry on as a community.

They would not have had to feel so helpless or so paralyzed; they could still pool whatever individual or group capabilities were at hand, be the government of the people, and organize or start the clean up.

Which of our communities today has bothered to take initiative and prepare itself for such recurring, inevitable contingencies? Which ones today are accordingly organized and disposed to cope with emergency, able to meet the next round of devastation caused by a Sendong, a Pablo, or a Yolanda?

In other words, where can one find a gov-ernment by the people, for the people, and of the people among the 42,000 barangays, and the hundreds of municipalities, cities, and provinces above them? [Manny Valdehuesa writes from Cagayan de Oro and is the presi-dent and national convenor of Gising Barangay Movement Inc. He can be reached at [email protected].]

(Conclusion)

(Conclusion)

BY MANNY VALDEHUESA

WORM’S EYEVIEW

BY MARTIN E. MARTY

COMMENTARY

AQUILES Z. ZONIOCorrespondent

VANTAGE POINTS 9EDGEDAVAO

Looking back on a newsbreaking year

What do you do if there’s no government to speak of or turn to?

Pope Francis: Beyond the compelling gestures

WHAT is ahead? I remember in Rome back in 1964, veteran Vatican-watching reporters

told those who supported the progres-sive bishops that they were naïve. We heard that bishops, once they returned home, far from Rome, would have to deal with nagging issues and recalcitrant factions. On these issues, they said, the bishops would not remain firmly with the progressives. A standard question to those who dreamed of positive change, was, “Have you any idea how much hard-er it is to ‘run’ an ‘open’ church than a ‘closed’ one?”

Many historians and theologians re-gard Popes Paul VI, John Paul II, Bene-dict XVI and the majority of the bishops since 1965 as having lost much of pro-gressive “spirit of Vatican II.” Yet Francis now summons that spirit when calling on church officials to stress justice, show compassion, serve the poor and “evan-gelize,” to invite back straying Catholics and attract new believers.

This first non-European pope is thoroughly at home with the pressures and arguments that agitate throughout church, state and cultures in the West-ern world — in part because they have counterparts across the developing na-tions in the Americas, Africa and Asia. He knows from his world-wide contacts and experiences that today it is not the ancient dogmas that most arouse suspi-cion and controversy.

Centuries ago, inflammatory issues were usually “churchly” in character. Factions fought over the nature of God and wrestled over the doctrine of the Trinity, “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Or they dealt with the central figure of their faith, Jesus Christ, as “divine and hu-man.” And they divided over the sacra-ments, human sin and grace. All of them important to this pope, but they have no monopoly in his prescript.

Today, a different agenda preoccupies the church in most cultures. The pope exposed a hot wire when, in that recent much-studied formal “exhortation,” Evan-gelii Gaudium, he attacked the tyranny of “unfettered capitalism” and the “econo-my of exclusion and inequality.” He has on his side the official Catholic teaching of the past two centuries — though that may count for little among dogmatists on this “social” front. Francis also showed his discontent with the way sexual, bio-logical and gender issues, including abor-tion and same-sex marriage, were being focused on obsessively.

Gender-related controversies do of-ten relate to church practices, and will likely disturb the peace after these first friendly impressions fade. The possibil-ity of making policy changes that would allow for married priests is slight, or of ordaining women –the pope made clear — is now zero.

Will Francis misstep? Or wear out his welcome? Few signs of that as yet appear.

But the old cautions remain: Fran-cis has to take on drastic reform within the Vatican and its operations, where positive gestures and symbols will not always help him. What some see as his honeymoon of 2013 will certainly be clouded when opponents regain their footing and organize resistance.

Whatever happens, however, we can be assured that we already have on hand the candidate for “the best-known per-son in the world” in 2014.

2014 WILL BE AN EVEN MORE CHALLENGING YEAR – This pub-lication will be EDGE DAVAO’S

traditional year-end triple-dated is-sue. After a three-day break we will resume publication with the January 3, 2014 and regular subsequent is-sues. We take this opportunity to wish all our friends, readers and subscrib-ers a safe and festive season - a joyful Christmas and a healthy and prosper-ous 2014, the Year of the Wood Horse.

Looking back, the media industry knew that 2013 would be a good year for news. After all, the numerals 2013 were recognized shorthand for the significant political comeback of May-or Rodrigo R. Duterte as Davao City’s top political honcho. This is the kind of event that local journalists love: full of memoire, symbolism, person-alities, interests – and one that press people had lots of time to prepare for.

We had also prepared for another event, the signing of the Framework Agreement of the Bangsamoro be-tween the government and Moro Is-lamic Liberation Front (MILF) peace panels. But we obviously couldn’t know when that realization of lasting peace in Muslim-dominated areas in Mindanao would happen. Media had other accomplishments as well: their stories on the scandal on child pros-titution and child labor, human rights violations, police and military brutal-ities, deteriorating peace and order, abuses of insurgents, environmental disaster, power deficiency, and poor delivery of basic social services.

And there’s also unceasing media coverage of the incomparable Priority Assistance Development Fund (PDAF) or “pork barrel” fund scam embroiling some alleged thick-faced members of Congress who are in cahoots with un-

s c r u p u l o u s business en-trepreneurs. A n o t h e r equally high-ly anoma-lous finan-cial scandal that couldn’t evade the preying eyes of media is the DBM-or-chestrated Disbursement Acceler-ation Fund (DAF). More than that, many are surprised at how Edge Davao has done in such a short time focusing intently on the local busi-ness trends and national economic activities. Little wonder that when an independent research organiza-tion looked at local newspapers and financial broadsheets this year, they reported that Edge Davao’s total au-diences grew more than most of its competitors.

But the year 2013 was also marked with sadness and misfortunes: the one month armed skirmishes between government troops and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) Misuari-faction in Zamboanga City resulting to the death of more than a hundred people – soldiers and rebels alike including innocent civilians and children. The man-made calamity like-wise created a tremendous damage to government and private properties worth several millions. In the middle of the year, well before the world me-dia turned their attentions to this part of the country, a horrifying 7.2 mag-nitude earthquake of tectonic origin shattered the provinces of Bohol and Cebu flattening centuries-old church-es, historical, religious and tourist

sites and modern structures to the ground. The frightful tremor left hun-dreds of people dead, scores severely injured and damages to properties, agricultural crops and farm animals worth billions.

Not long after the killer temblor, a devastating typhoon Yolanda con-sidered the strongest weather turbu-lence ever recorded in history and a dreadful storm surge badly ravaged the eastern Visayas region particularly the provinces of Samar and Leyte and the city of Tacloban. Damages to prop-erties, businesses, agricultural crops and infrastructures reached undeter-mined levels while latest death toll tal-ly hits the 6,000 mark and more than a thousand more dead bodies remained unidentified and scores are still miss-ing. Also, in what appeared to be a king-size headache for the Aquino ad-ministration are the gargantuan task and the enormous amount needed for recovery effort and rehabilitation pro-gram. At this stage, the entire Filipino nation continued to mourn the loss of lives and damage to properties, struc-tures and livelihood.

Given the country’s mounting and entwining problems despite govern-ment being able to score high in the economic front, we know full well that 2014 will be an even more challenging year than 2013. So we will work and strive harder to give the vigilant and inquisitive public the most import-ant, most insightful, most relevant and most timely information possible. Of course, our friends, readers and sub-scribers would expect nothing less. Again, we wish you all a joyful Christ-mas and Jolly New Year, and may you have a blissful 2014, the Year of the Wood Horse – a symbol of a zealous dash to progress and prosperity.


VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DECEMBER 31, 2013 WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JANUARY 1-2, 201410 NEWS

54 city...

Noynoy’s...

Police...

FFROM 6

FFROM 6

FFROM 6

THE DAVAO City Council’s Committee on Agriculture will

present to the City Plan-ning and Development Of-fice next month a proposal for the creation of an Up-land Management Board that aims to help the city produce more in terms of agriculture as well as pro-tect it from environmental damage.

Agriculture Commit-tee chair Marissa Salvador Abella said local producers in the city need increased exposure to technical skills

aside from being support-ed with production mate-rials.

“We can’t just give farm-ers seedlings and solve our agricultural problems,” she said, adding the support should include trainings and technical skills devel-opment, including how to market their products.

Abella hopes the City Agriculturist’s Office would create a system where all products, including export output, be traced from source.

“This is for us to see

the root of problems when they occur at any stage of the export process,” she said.

Abella said this sys-tem would allow farmers to trace which of their products have problems in terms of quality, and allow marketers to develop spe-cific solutions whenever quality issues occur.

The councilor said the committee will be eyeing areas in Paquibato and Marilog as target areas where products from cacao and rubber, among other

crops, could be planted. Citing cacao as an

example, she said the export market has always been there, but there is not enough output from farmers in the city.

“There are hectares and hectares in these areas that need planting, and we can use that to help farm-ers,” she said.

She noted that the pro-posal also aims to address environmental issues, as there are areas in Marilog and Paquibato that need reforestation. [MindaNews]

as personnel from the Guinness Book of Re-cord will arrive to wit-ness this year’s spectac-ular event.

On the other hand, the barangay with the largest contingent will receive P50,000 cash prize from Smart. Awards will be also given to the contin-

gent with the most cre-ative torotots.

There will also be an inter-barangay contest with lots of prizes. The event will start at 1:00 PM of December 31 to 1:00 AM of January 1, 2014. There will be a first Davao New Year’s Eve Count-down.

sinasabi ng Malacanang that they do not support Cha-cha, walang mang-yayari sa Cha-cha.”

Bello himself oppos-es the move to amend the Constitution.

“There are more seri-ous matters to attend to, like the great rehabilita-tion of disaster-strick-en areas such as those hit by Yolanda, Pablo and the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Cebu and

Bohol,” according to Bello, who has aligned himself with the Oppo-sition in the House.

He cautioned gov-ernment against liberal-izing the country’s cur-rent economic policies to suit the clamor of for-eign companies, as “we might find ourselves selling the nation’s pat-rimony and Filipinos no longer in control of our national wealth.” [AMA]

worth of belongings. The police are still investigat-ing the cases.

Supt. Joel Consulta, station commander of the San Pedro police, said that they already identi-fied the robbers respon-sible for looting in Dona Vicenta village.

Consulta said that his men saw one of the rob-bers roaming around in the village last Friday, but when the policemen ap-proached him, he evaded arrest.

Last December 25, Leif Jared Sy, a business-man and resident of 121 Surveyor St., Dona Vicen-ta reported to police that robbers took his belong-ings worth P250,000 at about 9: 00 p.m. Dr. Os-car Escudero Jr., 63, of 39 Sputnik St., Dona Vicenta Village also reported that robbers carted away P1

million worth of jewelry from his house while the family was attending par-ty.

Also victimized in the same village was Clarita Molz, 72, a retired po-lice-woman and resident of #6 Friendship St., who, however, could not give an estimate of value of the items carted away.

Jose Rabuya, 43, busi-nessman and resident of Telstar St. in the same village reported that rob-bers took some P100,000 worth of items. They dis-covered the theft when they returned home after attending a party.

Consulta asked for one more week to solve the robbery incidents in the village.

“Do not leave your house unattended when you attend parties,” he added.

GETTING READY. Workers are seen setting up the stage for the New Year’s Eve’s “Torotot Festival” along Roxas Avenue in Davao City which is expected to break the Guinness World Records for the most number of people simultaneously blowing “torotot”, a record currently held by Japan. Lean Daval Jr.

THE ADMINISTRA-TIVE tribunal of Davao City has

asked eight city treasur-er’s office employees who allegedly misappropriat-ed tax collections to sub-mit documents proving their innocence.

Lawyer Enrique Junior A. Bonocan, lead prosecu-tor of the administrative tribunal, told Edge Davao that during the hearing of the tribunal on Dec.18 the defense was asked to sub-mit a formal offer of evi-dence within 10 days but

the respondents asked for more time.

“After that, the com-mittee will rule on their formal offer and then (maybe) we will be di-rected to submit our re-spective memoranda,”-Bonocan said.

He added that they already did the series of hearings and the tribu-nal was just awaiting the memoranda of both par-ties before the verdict is promulgated.

Bonocan said that the eight should be dismissed

from service as the evi-dence show that they re-ally committed the crime.

On the other hand, The Office of the Ombuds-man may be filing crimi-nal cases against the eight employees.

“Criminal scases against them may already have been taken cogni-zance of by the office of the Ombudsman who called us and relayed to us their interest in the crimi-nal aspect,” Bonocan said.

Bonocan said that the Ombudsman already

sent a request to the city government to forward the records of the case to their office.

But, Bonocan added that their concentration is on the administrative as-pect of the case in which the employment of the eight is at stake.

The city legal office (CLO) found in its initial investigation that the eight employees had com-mitted grave misconduct and dishonesty in con-nection with P8-million in unremitted taxes.

8 accused CTO employees asked to prove innocenceBy ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

[email protected]

THE DAVAO City health office will add two new health

programs as among the priorities of the city in 2014.

Dr. Josephine Villafuerte, city health officer, said that the programs are the elimination of severe-acute malnutrition in the city and a program for elders who have diabetes.

Villafuerte said the city will purchase ready to use therapeutic food which is

complete meal needed by every child with severe acute malnutrition.

This will be a four-month treatment for them to go on moderate malnutrition,” she said.

For the elders, Villafuerte said that they will have a food risk assessment program and provide exercising machines in the parks.

She said that the planning for a healthy city will be on February of next year. [ABF]

CHO to add 2 newhealth programs

Upland Management Board mulled for Davao City


VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DECEMBER 31, 2013 WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JANUARY 1-2, 2014 11EDGEDAVAO

BIGGER PICTURE

WITH THE growing economy of Davao City, the demand

for making a more stylish home is becoming a trend. A home which is capable of utilizing all available space, but in an affordable way. This is how OTR visualizes every home.

OTR (On the rock) is a Korean based company which manufactures Kore-an furniture. The furniture are made of particle board and UV High Gloss Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) which are imported from Incheon, South Korea.

OTR is the first and only manufacturer of Korean furniture in Mindanao. It makes customized furni-tures for kitchen, wardrobe and system shelf, TV orga-nizer, and office.

It started in December 12 last year,the Incheon based company in South Korea expanded its first manufacturing plant out of Korea in Davao City. They chose Davao because the rate of construction is faster than any other city

Compared to furniture produced in the city, the Ko-rean furniture is not paint-ed with acrylic paint but

Korean firm in Davao specializes in furniture

[email protected]

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

with the use of the ultravio-let rays. It is scratch free and has a longer life because of its resistance to moisture.

All materials are im-ported from its plant in South Korea and assembled here in Davao City. This is to ensure that only high quality materials are used

in manufacturing Korean furniture.

Elvin Dayanghirang, marketing manager of OTR, said Dabawenyos were re-luctant to the product at first but welcomed it after knowing its durability. He said that it has been tested abroad.

The traditional way of acquiring furniture can be cost-efficient but the dura-bility can be at stake.

It is not the quality of the furniture that can justify the price but also their ser-vices. Dayanghirang said that they offer their cus-tomers the chance to design

their own furniture based on the available space. This is to ensure that the cus-tomers get their furniture based on their personality and designs.

OTR has in-house Kore-an engineersto ensure the quality of its products and services. These engineers

are incharge of the cutting, designing and assembling of the materials from Korea

It has a plant on R.Cas-tillo St., Sasa. Their show-room is also located in the vicinity. He said that they’re still manufacturing for Davao-based companies and residents but will sure-

ly expand their market, es-pecially after they celebrate their first year anniversary.

Dayanghirang said that they are targeting the Mind-anao market and eventually nationwide as more homes and offices will demand for more functional, stylish yet affordable funiture.

ELVIN DAYANGHIRANG

Photos by Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DEC. 31, 2013 • WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JAN.1-2, 201412 CLASSIFIEDS

HEALTH

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RealtyFOR SALE:

1) 1-hectare commercial lot at P10,000/sq m, along National Highway, facing east, beside NCCC Panacan, Davao City. 2) 17,940sq m commercial lot at P2,500/sq m, along Matina Diversion Road. 3) 3,831 sq m lot along Matina Diversion Road. 4) 41,408 sq m commercial/industrial lot at P800/sq m along the National Highway, Bunawan. 5) 7,056 sq m at P1,200/sq m commercial/residential lot along Indangan Road, Buhangin District. 6) 27,411 sq m commercial/industrial lot along the National Highway in Bincungan, Tagum City. 7) 116.15 to 245.92 sq meters , at P5.5M to P12.3M commercial/office condo units in Bajada, Davao City. 8) 699 to 1,117 sq m at P4,100/sq m commercial lots at Josefina Town Center, along the National Highway, Dumoy, Toril. 9) Ready-for-Occupancy Residential Properties: 4BR/3T&B in a 240 sq m lot with 177.31sqm floor area (2-storey) at P4.8M in an exclusive beachfront community in Dumoy, Toril.; 3BR 2-storey in a 71.25 sq m 2-storey in a 143sq m lot in an exclusive flower village in Maa, Davao City; 180 sq m lots with 71.25sqm to 126.42 sq m floor areas, priced at P3.751M to P5.773M in an exclusive mountain resort community along Matina, Diversion Road. 10) 1BR/2BR residential condo units located in Bolton, Maa, Obrero, Davao City. 11) FOR ASSUME (RUSH): 1BR res’l condo unit in Palmetto, Maa. P600K negotiable. Note: Items 1-9 can be paid in cash, in-house or bank financing. If interested, please call Jay (PRC REB Lic. 8237) at 0922-851-5337 (Sun), 0908-883-8832 (Smart) or send email to [email protected].

Qualifications: 1. With at least 5 years experience. 2. Highly skilled in repair of bulldozer, backhoe, compactor of different models like Caterpillar, Komatsu, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, etc. 3. Honest and Hardworking.

Interested applicant may send their application, Bio-data and Resume to:

PRIMELAND PROPERTIES, INC.3RD Floor PPI Bldg., Ponciano Reyes St., (Crooked Road), Davao City.

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1. Driver’s License with Official Receipt2. 2 x 2 I.D. picture (2 pcs.)3. Certificate of Employment or clearance from previous employment

May apply in person at Human Resource Department, YBLI Office, General Santos Drive, Koronadal City.

General Santos Drive, Koronadal City, South Cotabato 9506

Tel. No. 083-228-2511 ; Fax No. 083-228-2654

WANTED FOR IMMEDIATE HIRING!

BUS DRIVER

Qualifications:

1. Male, 28 – 40 years old2. At least high school graduate3. With 5 years driving experience (bus, trucks)

Requirements:1. Driver’s License with Official Receipt2. 2 x 2 I.D. picture (2 pcs.)3. Certificate of Employment or clearance from

May apply in person at Human Resource Department, YBLI Office, General Santos Drive, Koronadal City.

EDGEDavao Davao Partners

VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DECEMBER 31, 2013 WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JANUARY 1-2, 2014 EDGEDAVAO


CLASSIFIEDS

13

12/18,25,1/1

LEGAL NOTICENotice is hereby given that the estate of the late ROSENDA PE-REZ-ONG has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLE-MENT with the partition and waiver of rights executed by her heirs per Doc. No.16; Page No. 4; Book No. 112; Series of 2012 of the NOTARY PUBLIC CYNTHIA ADAO PRAT

VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DECEMBER 31, 2013 WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JANUARY 1-2, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

COMMUNITY SENSE

THE FILIPINO Chan-nel (TFC) welcomes 2014 with a bang as

it brings its longest-run-ning and top-rating musical show, “ASAP Live in Dubai”

to the entertainment capital of the Middle East on Janu-ary 24, Friday at the Dubai Festival City.

TFC, the top-of-mind network of Filipinos out-

side the homeland, prom-ises to deliver yet another history-making event with no less than the most wide-ly followed musical show in the Philippines that fea-tures the biggest names in the entertainment in-dustry. Following the long history of record-breaking TFC events such as “Rakra-kanfest”, “FilExpo” and “Kapamilya Fiesta,” “ASAP Live in Dubai” is set to gath-er a record crowd in Dubai where the grandest enter-tainment shows have been staged, including those of Hollywood stars.

“ASAP 2014 in Dubai” is set to be a main highlight of the upcoming Dubai Shop-ping Festival (DSF), best known as one of the major shopping and entertain-ment extravaganzas in the world. The DSF, where the most recognized brands and astronomical prizes are drawn over the 32-day fes-tival period, has been part of the itinerary of denizens and visitors including, Hol-

lywood celebrities.This exciting event is set

to be as stellar with its line-up of more than 40 of the most respected recording artists, the most awarded performers and the most exciting showbiz personali-ties from the Philippines.

Leading the line-up are Total Performer Gary Va-lenciano, Divine Diva Zsa Zsa Padilla, Dynamic Diva Vina Morales and Con-cert King Martin Nievera. Sharing their world-class performances are Charice Pempengco, dubbed “the most talented girl in the world,” by media mogul Oprah Winfrey, “The Voice of the Philippines” ‘Kamp Kawayan’ judge and rock star Bamboo, and Hall of Famer for the World Cham-pionship of the Performing Arts Champion Jed Madela,

Providing equally world-class performances are singing champions and awarded recording artists “Star for a Million’s” Erik Santos, “Pilipinas Got Tal-

ent’s” Jovit Baldovino and Marcelito Pomoy, and “Star Power’s” Angeline Quinto.

Adding more excite-ment to the already stel-lar line-up are Kapamilya heartthrobs Piolo Pas-cual,Sam Milby, Gerald Anderson, Enchong Dee, Enrique Gil, and John Lloyd Cruz and multi-awarded celebrities Toni Gonzaga, Nikki Gil, Luis Manzano and Robi Domingo. Inject-ing more thrills are young superstars Kim Chiu, Julia Montes,and Erich Gonzales. Sharing their unique sing-ing prowess are Rockoustic Princess Yeng Constantino, “X Factor” champion KZ Tandingan and Soul Prin-cess Zia Quizon. Joining the song numbers are ASAP Sessionistas Aiza Seguerra, Juris Fernandez, Princess Velasco, Richard Poon and Sitti. Injecting their dance moves are ASAP 2014 seg-ments Supahdance’s Ray-ver Cruz, John Pratts, Iya Villania, and John Pratts and Mash’s Maja Salvador

and Shaina Magdayao.Te-leseryestars Richard Yap, Jericho Rosales and Jessy Mendiola complete the starry, starry event.

Tickets are available at AED 365 for Platinum, AED 245 for Gold, AED 165 for Grandstand and AED 85 for General Admission. A percentage of ticket pur-chases made until Decem-ber 31, 2013 will go the Sagip Kapamilya fund for the victims of Typhoon Yolanda.

Loved ones of TFC sub-scribers in the Philippines also get the chance to par-take in the fun and be re-united with their OFW rel-ative or friend in the Mid-dle East. This is through the special offer, “ASAP Sama-Saya in Dubai.” The winner-subscriber in the Middle East and his chosen loved one or friend will get round-trip tickets to Dubai, front row seats for two plus four days and three nights’ hotel stay and tour in the country.

ASAP in Dubai:

Biggest Filipino event ever in the Middle East for Yolanada victims

VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DEC. 31, 2013 • WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JAN.1-2, 201414 EDGEDAVAOSPORTS VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DECEMBER 31, 2013 WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JANUARY 1-2, 2014

LONDON (Reuters) - Michael Schum-acher enjoyed more

wins, more titles and more success than any driver in the history of Formula One but where he ranks in the pantheon of greats will be debated for decades to come.

To his fervent fans the seven times world cham-pion will always be simply the best - a giant whose fame transcends the sport and whose name is fa-miliar even to those with scant passion for motor racing.

‘Schumi’, ‘Schuey’, ‘The Red Baron’, ‘Der Welt-meister’ (world champi-on): The German won an unprecedented 91 races and set record after re-cord including five titles in a row with glamour team Ferrari between 2000 and 2004.

In 2002, Schumacher finished every race on the podium and statistical-ly, stands in a class of his own.

The prayers and tide of goodwill messages as the 44-year-old lies in critical condition in hos-pital in Grenoble after a skiing accident in the French Alps testify to his status and esteem in the sport and beyond.

It seems almost churlish at such a time to point out an alternative view, that his greatness was flawed by favoritism over team mates and a questionable sense of fair play with too many controversies.

The late triple cham-pion Ayrton Senna re-mains revered, despite the Brazilian’s own sus-pect behavior on the track, and was mourned like no other driver after his death at the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix.

Argentina’s five times champion Juan Man-uel Fangio and Briton Jim Clark were huge-ly popular, admired by team mates and rivals alike, while Ferrari fans adored Canada’s Gilles Villeneuve.

Although Schumach-er’s popularity in his na-tive Germany was always unquestionable, bring-ing out the fans in droves even in his unsuccessful comeback years with Mercedes, it was far from universal.

“I think he is the greatest racing driver of this century,” his former Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn said when the German announced his definitive retirement last year, an accolade that neatly sidestepped the sport’s first 50 years.

Even that assessment may be questioned soon-er than anyone expect-ed, with compatriot Se-bastian Vettel this year chalking up his fourth successive title to be-come Formula One’s youngest ever quadruple champion.

With Ferrari in 2004, Schumacher had chalked up a record 13 wins in-cluding seven in a row. Vettel, still only 26, matched that total this year and also racked up nine successive victo-ries.

TWO PARTSIn truth, Schumach-

er’s career stands as a drama in two acts with a three-year intermission.

The Schumacher Mark II drove a gleaming silver Mercedes but was still a scuffed shadow of the shiny Mark I model, who dominated race-tracks around the world in the colors of Benetton and then Ferrari.

THE PAST two years has seen Philip-pine boxing suffer

a spate of painful defeats that cost the country three world titles, with perhaps none more devastating than the crushing sixth-round knockout of Man-ny Pacquiao by Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez on December 8, 2012 at the MGM Grand Garden Are-na.

It was Pacquiao’s sec-ond successive setback, the first being a twelve round split decision loss to Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley on June 9, 2012, which raised a universal howl of protest in a fight that a vast majority of the

media and fight fans be-lieve Pacquiao deserved to win.

A pall of gloom de-scended on the Philip-pine boxing landscape when WBO/WBA fly-weight champion Brian Viloria lost his titles by a 12-round split decision to Mexico’s tough Juan Fran-cisco Estrada on April 6, 2013 at the Cotai Arena of the plush Venetian Resort Hotel in Macau and just one week later top five pound-for-pound fighter and WBO, IBF and WBC Diamond Belt super ban-tamweight champion No-nito “The Filipino Flash” Donaire was stunned by former Cuban two-time

Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux at the historic Radio City Mu-sic Hall in New York losing a fairly one-sided decision despite dropping Rigon-deaux with a vaunted left hook in the 10th round.

After undefeated fly-weight Milan Melindo lost in his bid to avenge the loss of Viloria, Yahoo Philippines was in the Ventian Hotel suite of Pac-quiao who was in Macau to formally announce his return to the ring against former lightweight cham-pion Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios on November 24 at the same venue that has served to highlight the business acumen of Arum

amidst the growing inter-est in professional boxing in China.

It was then that Pac-quiao’s wife Jinkee told ABS-CBN reporter Dyan Castillejo and myself how confident she was that “the Philippines will rise again” and mentioned Donaire, Viloria and of course Manny.

Her words signaled a seeming new-found con-fidence if not hope, with Donaire taking the first step towards fulfilling the wishes of a nation longing to regain the world titles as well as the glory it had lost in quick succession. [Ronnie Nathanielsz/Ya-hoo Sports]

younger brother of the country’s top rider Bor-nok Mangosong.

9. CALI IS FIRST PINOY PXC CHAMPION

Driven by his desire to release his brother out of jail, Davao City’s mixed martial artist Ale Cali overcame Jesse Tai-tano’s ground submission skills to capture the Pacif-ic X-Treme Combat (PXC) flyweight belt in PXC 29 at the Ynares Sports Center in Pasig City.

Cali scored a spectac-

ular technical knockout under the two-minute mark of third round when he solidly hit Taitano at his temple to become the first homegrown champi-on of the PXC.

However, on Novem-ber 10, Hawaiian chal-lenger Louis ‘Da Last Samurai’ Smolka proved he was the top dog of the 125-lb. division after fin-ishing flyweight cham-pion Cali, in front of his home crowd in the main event of Pacific X-treme

Combat (PXC) 41 at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.

Smolka was impres-sive in his first shot at the PXC title, taking down the champion at will and pun-ishing him with brutal ground strikes until the referee was forced to step in and end it in the second round.

10. JMC WINS FIRST DAVAO CHAMPI-ONS LEAGUE TITLE

The Jose Maria College Kings reigned over Davao City’s collegiate hoop-dom winning the inaugu-ral 2013 Phoenix Davao Champions League, the first rung on the steplad-der climb to the Philip-pine Collegiate Champi-ons League.

12. LASCUNA WINS PHL GOLF TOUR ORDER OF MERIT TITLE

Davao City’s Tony Las-cuña retained the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour Or-der of Merit crown de-spite missing the circuit’s final leg at Wack Wack at the close of the rich 15-leg circuit.

Lascuña scored two victories and four run-ner-up finishes in 10 events to become the year’s top golfer. Lascu-na clinched his second straight OOM crown with total winnings of P1.6 Mil-lion from his victories at ICTSI Calatagan and ICTSI Manila Southwoods and runner-up finishes at ICT-

SI Orchard, Palos Verdes, Mt. Malarayat and Tagay-tay Midlands.

Fellow Dabawenyos Elmer Salvador and Jay Bayron finished third and fourth. Salvador, a former OOM champion, wound up third with P1,152,776 while Bayron, also a for-mer OOM winner, came in fourth with P1,117,370.

Another veteran Dabawenyo Cassius Ca-sas, who used to dominate the local circuit in the late 90s and early 2000s, ral-lied toward the end of the season and won the ICTSI Canlubang stop to finish sixth with P895,718.

Lascuna also teamed up with Angelo Que in representing the Philip-pines in the World Cup of Golf in Australia.

13. APO WINS PAL LADIES INTERCLUB TI-TLE

The Apo Golf and Country Club Ladies Golf Team won the 2013 PAL Ladies Interclub Golf Sportswriters Division title at the Rancho Palos Verdes on October 23-26.

The Apo ladies best-ed the home team of RPV in the annual national club championship for women. The team is composed of Olivia Lee, Irene Shihmura, Gem-ma Bokawachi, Melanie Kuwahara, Imee Garcia, Lilibeth Crisologo, Stel-la Barnes and Mereanne Siason.

Top 13 sports...FFROM 15

THE YEAR IN SPORTS:

Pacquiao, Donaire rise again

‘Schumi’ is F1’s greatestBy ALAN BALDWIN

CLIMBING UP. Elmer Salvador, a former caddie at the Apo Golf and Country Club, shone in the Asian Tour, reaching third in the Macau Open in a tie with former world no.1 Ernie Els.

UP AND DOWN. Ale Cali (down on the canvas) became the first home-grown PXC champion.

RETURN OF THE PBA. The PBA opened in Davao City last November 17 with Rain or Shine battling Alaska Milk at the USEP Gym that was packed by fans. Lean Daval Jr.

IN COMA. Michael Schumacher fell to a coma after an accident on ski.

WE live in the gen-eration of smart-phones. Everyone is on mobile almost 24/7. Smartphones not only make com-munication easy, but they also make information and en-tertainment readily available for all. Over the years, or make that months, mankind has seen the evolution of phones. Mobile phones have become more handy and “smart”, changing its face from click-clacking keypads to muted touch-screen, 2D to 3D features, revolutionizing conversa-tions from word chat to actual face encounters. Every time we hear of a new phone coming out, we panic. A new phone has become a conversa-tion piece for most cliques. Chances are, everyone in the family would want to have one, too --- including kids and teenagers. In case you haven’t heard of the good news, there is one brand of qual-ity smartphones which you

INdulge! VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DEC. 31, 2013 • WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JAN.1-2, 2014

EDGEDAVAOTRENDS

Starmobile:A phone for all families

ENGAGE 8 3G

DIAMOND D2

EDGEDavao Davao Partners

FSTARMOBLIE, A4

THE two most cel-ebrated days in the history of human-kind has now taken its toll. Another 365 days and we will again forego the cal-ories and embrace our appetites like never before – or so we say each and ev-ery year. Indeed, the celebra-tions were one after the other. With parties, chill out sessions and soirees from friends, family and acquaintances, it was most certainly a whirl-wind of happy times and tummy times! Now, as the New Year comes into play, we can verily see the many left-overs in our fridge, pantry and dining tables getting the ‘waiting in vain’ treat-ment from our imagina-tive and innovative mind. To start the year right, your #royalchef will help you unload all your left-overs – from fruits to oils to chips and what have yous – and give them their most awaited rein-carnation minus the extra spending. Yes, just like you, I try to find ways in making the most of what I have and turning them into something more than a delectable treat! Today, we will learn how to marry flavors. The simple interplay will not only help you take some ingredients off your left-overs but will have your dishes turn into a mas-terpiece in no time. The secret lies on your ac-ceptance of new flavors through your senses. Yes, your senses plays the most vital and important ingre-dient in our quest. Flavored oils are not new. In truth, they have been around since time immemorial. The im-mortalization of flavors

through oils brings forth its truest and juiciest “ka-tas” in its most natural way. No preservatives or even additives –just plain flavors that will form a melody of sort.

Lime and Lemon OilThis is common and easi-est to make. Grab a clean sterilized jug or jar, place sliced lemons and limes and pour oil. Here, you can use any variety of oil but I prefer if you use Ol-ive Oil. Olive oil is already rich in flavor thus allow-ing the additional flavors to be intensified without having to break off its taste. The combination of lemon and lime is unlike

any other. The sourness and acidity highlights the meat (especially chicken and beef) and even acts as tenderizing agent in marinades. Add a gener-ous amount of orange zest and sea salt and you’ll love the aroma and taste of this one!

Chili and Bell PeppersMost definitely not for the faint of heart. Grab a clean sterilized jug or jar, place chopped bird’s eye chilies and slivered red, yellow and green bell peppers and a generous amount of olive oil or canola oil. Oth-ers opt to use sunflower oil and even vegetable oil. The decision is yours. This is best as a bar-

beque marinade and for spaghetti, tuna and oil dish. More so, ideal for oil based sauce and dups. Adjust chili level accord-ingly.

Fresh Herbs Aside from citrus fruits, fresh herbs are the next best thing to aromatic oils. Used like a regular unflavored oil, the many sharp and significant fla-vors of fresh herbs takes the oil in whole lotta new level. Bear in mind to use FRESH HERBS and not bottled dried ones. The difference in flavor is what makes the difference.

Garlic, Pepper and Salt This is something I can-not live without. Chop some garlic gloves, some freshly ground black pep-per, sea salt and oil and you will be at ease even with the most compli-cated recipe you have ever encountered. I use this in all of my recipes and the best part is that, I can use the garlic cloves too! A bountiful 2014 to my family, friends, foes and in betweens. Let 2013 be a motivation and 2014 as an inspiration to surpass the past! #uprising Be a part of Davao’s Thursday habit! Send me your recipes, questions, suggestions and comments and be featured. Email me at [email protected] (subject: Royal Chef) or tag me on instagram (her-royalheiress) for your deli-cious pics!

HOME grown coffee shop brand Green Coffee is now serv-ing its best blends to its patrons down South at SM City Davao. From hum-ble beginnings in Davao in May of 2011, Green Coffee also opened its doors to brewing afi-cionados in Tomas Morato, Quezon City on the same year. It has then quickly became the favorite night coffee place among the ce-lebrities in the area. In technical terms, “green coffee” is used to mean the coffee beans prior to roasting. But in Davao, it has taken on a different meaning. Green Coffee has become synony-mous to concoctions of coffee and non-coffee drinks that remind one of home. Spend great conversations over a cup of coffee, tea, smoothies or Green Coffee’s house blends. Pull up a seat and find your nook at the newest coffee place in SM City Davao. Green Coffee is located at the Ground Floor of the SM Davao’s Main Building.

THIS holiday season, reward yourself, your family and friends with the hippest gadgets and accessories from the recently opened stores at SM Cyberzone, SM Lanang Pre-mier. Located at the 3rd Level of the metro’s premier shop-ping hub, SM Cyberzone has new shops that offer a broad range of tech products – from up-to-date mobile phones to fun a c c e s s o r i e s and add-ons that fit your fast and active lifestyle. Still look-ing for a nice holiday gift? Choose from the hot-test cellular phone mod-els at iGadget, Torque, LG Mobile, Cherry Mobile, Wiltelcom, and Star Mobile. For state-of-the-art camera units, visit Samsung Digital. You could also check out Joyo Marketing for the latest computer systems, tablets and other gadgets. Then personalize and spruce up your devices with accessories from BS Mobile, CQE and Digib-abe. Grab must-have gadgets at Cyberzone, 3rd Level of SM Lanang Premier and make your loved ones and friends happy this season of gift-giving. Check out SM Lanang Premier on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for news and promo updates.

A2 INdulge!

Green Coffee brews at SM City Davao

All the Holiday Gifts for the Tech Lover at SM Cyberzone

UP AND ABOUT FOOD

VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DEC. 31, 2013 • WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JAN.1-2, 2014EDGEDAVAO

Leftover stopover part 1:

Flavored Oils

Fans of the Korean tech brand can visit the Samsung Digital store at Cyberzone, SM Lanang Premier, for a look into its range of smart cameras.

The newest Green Coffee at the Ground Floor of SM City Davao Main Building.

Green Coffee also serves delectable pastries and desserts like these Carrot Walnut Cakes.

CQE offers an exciting selection of cellphones and colorful accessories.

Chili and Bell Pepper Flavored Oil, Fresh Herbs and Oil and Lime and Lemon Oil.

INdulge! A3

SKY Zone thrills mall-goers with the best of home entertainment

EVENT

DAVAO got more than just a whiff of the superb high-definition service and wide array of cable TV channels offered by SKYcable, and the blazing fast internet speeds of SKYbroadband, as SKY Zone touched down in “Durian City” from Novem-ber 29-December 5. Davaoeños trooped to SM Lanang Premier Mall, which played host to the latest leg of SKY Zone’s na-tionwide mall blitz to expe-rience first-hand Dual Def, SKYcable’s latest product that clusters both standard definition channels and high-definition channels in one awesome plan. Sub-scribers take their pick from among four Dual Def plans: Dual Def 499, Dual Def 999 or the meatier Dual Def Ti-tanium HD 30 and Dual Def Titanium HD 40. Plus, with the recent addition of new SD and HD channels to its lineup such as PBO, Warner TV, RTL-CBS Entertainment, Travel Channel, Lifetime, H2, and Fox Action Movies, SKYcable subscribers are definitely spoiled for choice! SKY Zone also gave Davaoeño mall-goers a chance to try out SKYbroad-band’s fastest residential internet connection. The blistering speeds of SKY-broadband were demon-strated using Wi-Fi, includ-ing the 10Mbps consumable plan which switches to un-limited mode at 1.5Mbps after the customer’s 15GB allowance runs out. Those who tried the service on-the-spot watched high-def-inition videos on YouTube, uploaded photos on their

social media accounts and skyped all they want —all at the same time! Channel partner, HBO, was on hand to boost the fun factor with their own gimmicks exclusively for SM Lanang SKY Zone guests. The visitors’ mettle was tested in a variety of fun contests. From displaying their brain power in the memory card game, to gift-wrapping at the fastest time possible using only one hand each player, winners went home happily with collectible premium items, courtesy of HBO. HBO promised subscrib-ers a cool yuletide with their new offerings this month, which include the animated comedy “Arthur Christmas” as well as “The Dark Knight Rises” starring Christian Bale, Anne Hathaway, Tom

Hardy and Gary Oldman. Meanwhile, Sony’s state-of-the-art LED TV sets made the Davaoeños’ brush with the high-definition service of SKYcable even more amazing as they got to see for themselves how breath-takingly clear and lifelike everything was in high defi-nition. Whether it’s thrilling bonding activities that you and your family want at SKY Zone, or superbly clear and top-notch cable TV viewing experience with the widest array of channels, or broad-band that won’t leave you hanging, SKY is sure to have it! To know more about SKY-cable and SKYbroadband, log on to www.mysky.com.ph, email [email protected] or call the customer service hotline at 305-5456.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DEC. 31, 2013 • WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JAN.1-2, 2014EDGEDAVAO

Games and fun photo booth capped off the SKY Zone experience with HBO’s exciting prizes.

Guests enjoy SKYbroadband high-speed internet at SKYZone.

SKY and HBO joined forces to showcase SKYcable’s widest choice of HD channels and SKYbroadband’s blazing internet speeds.

PG 13

PG 13

PG 13

GP 12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

R-16

PAGPAG 2D

12:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00 LFS

MY LITTLE BOSSINGS 2D

11:35 | 1:40 | 3:45 | 5:50 | 7:55 | 10:00 LFS

GIRL BOY BAKLA TOMBOY 2D

Kathryn Bernardo, Daniel Padilla

12:25 | 2:20 | 4:15 | 6:10 | 8:05 | 10:00 LFS

KIMMY DORAL: ANG KIYEMENG PREQUEL 2D

Eugene Domingo, Sam Milby

Vic Sotto, Kris Aquino,

Ryzza Mae Dizon, James “Bimby” Yap

Vice Ganda

the Engage Series. Crafted with a solid and beauti-ful aluminum body, the latest Engage tablets im-press with sleek and speed. Leading the tablet pack is the Quad Core Engage 8 3G with high speed HSPA+ connectivity that delivers a full on tablet ex-perience for only P9,990. The quad core WiFi-only option is also available for only P6,990.

Innovative Inside Out The stellar feat contin-ues with the unveiling of

Starmobile Sync—a free, easy-to-use, proprietary Starmobile application which comes pre-installed in all newly released smart-phones and 8-inch tablets. Starmobile Sync works to enable feature phone and non-Starmobile smartphone users to seam-lessly transfers their con-tacts, calendar entries, text messages, and more in a few easy steps. “Through Bluetooth connectivity, the Starmobile Sync allows quick transfer and migra-tion to Starmobile from

other brands or devices—really fastracking the rush or the migration to Star-mobile. We’re confident that with the Starmobile Sync, we will be able to achieve our one million mark this year,” adds Mi-chael. It is in this relentless drive to innovate and cre-ate value through mobility that Starmobile looks to build off its success. “We are very proud of what our local team of product engineers has been able to achieve with these devic-es,” shares Michael. “Truly, the future is bright and golden for Starmobile.” For the latest news from Starmobile, check out www.starmobile.com.ph, or fol-low Happy Man by Star-mobile on Facebook and @happymanPH on Twitter & Instagram.

A4 INdulge! VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DEC. 31, 2013 • WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JAN.1-2, 2014EDGEDAVAOTRAVEL

can buy at a more afford-able price. Starmobile, local maker of quality Android phones and tablets, was established by Star Telecom Alliance Resources (STAR, Inc.), a group of telecommuni-cations industry experts based locally and inter-nationally. By combining excellent product devel-opment, sales & market-ing, and customer service competencies over the past decades, they respond to the needs of Filipinos by providing quality dual SIM mobile phones and solu-tions with localized soft-ware and content.

All new Android marvels Starmobile’s strong and competitive product line expands to include 12 more Android devices: 3 smartphones, 5 phablets to beef up the current Star-mobile Diamond series and 4 tablets to comple-ment its bestselling Engage line. Hot on the heels of the bestselling Starmobile Knight comes its co-flag-ship selfie smartphone—the Starmobile Muse, a 5” Android Jelly Bean phone with 18-megapixel back and 8-megapixel front BSI camera combo. First ever in the Philippines to sport a wide-angle front-facing camera equipped with LED flash, the Starmobile Muse is perfect for captur-ing group selfies—a nod to Starmobile’s growing camera imaging reputa-tion. The Muse runs on a 1.5GHz Turbo Quad Core processor and is topped with a gorgeous full HD screen for only P12,990, available in white and black. Advanced mobile users upgrading to larger screens also have more phablet choices with the new ad-ditions to the Starmobile Diamond Series. The 5” Diamond D1 prom-ises no downtime with a 3000mAh battery reliable up to 16 days standby time. Lightweight and light on the pocket, the Starmobile Diamond D1 keeps slim with a 10.3mm body at an affordable P7,990. Starmobile also goes big on style with the beauti-fully contoured Diamond S1 with curved edge 5” glass display. Its scratch-resistant Asahi Glass ta-pers nicely into the matte black rear cover, giving you tried-and-tested toughness in an exquisite form for only P8,990 with colored red and yellow casing op-tions. Starmobile goes into next generation design with a redefined look for

MUSE

DIAMOND S1

Starmoblie...FFROM A1

VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DEC. 31, 2013 • WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JAN.1-2, 2014 15SPORTSVOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DECEMBER 31, 2013 WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JANUARY 1-2, 2014EDGEDAVAO

1. CORTEZA-ORCOLLO WINS WORLD 9-BALL TITLE

Davao City’s pool pride Lee Van Corteza teamed up with another Mind-anaoan Dennis Orcollo to dominate the World Cup of Pool in London winning the title over Neils Feijen and Nick van den Berg of The Netherlands, 10-8. They were the second Fil-ipino pair to win the con-test after the legendary Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Busta-mante (2006, 2009).

1. CORTEZA WINS CHINA OPEN

Davao’s finest shooter Lee Vann Corteza won the lucrative China Open 9 Ball and the hefty purse that comes with it after van-quishing Chinese Taipei veteran Fu Che Wei 11-6 in the final in Shanghai.

The 34-year old has cemented his place as one of the best players in the world not to win a WPA World Title. This triumph is one of over dozen tour-nament wins for Corteza from around the world.

Corteza pounced on some Fu errors to take a 4-1 lead in the alter-

nate-break format. (Yahoo Sports)

2. PBA STAGES OPENING DAY IN DAVAO

The Philippine Bas-ketball Association staged its first ever tri-island si-multaneous season open-ing bill in Manila, Cebu and Davao. The Davao City opening day match featured Rain Or Shine and Alaska Milk which packed the University of Southeastern Philippines (USEP) Gym to the rafters.

3. BOOM BOOM BAUTISTA LOSES TITLE IN RETURN OF BIG-TIME BOXING

Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista lost his WBO In-ternational junior welter-weight title and perhaps the confidence of ALA Promotions with a points loss to upcoming Mexican Jose “Negro” Ramirez at the USEP Gym as big-time boxing also made its re-turn to Davao City since Manny Pacquiao fought at the RMS Gym in 2003.

4. DAVAO CITY ATHLETES TOP BATANG PINOY MINDANAO

The huge Davao City contingent parlayed its experience and numbers

to rule the 2013 Batang Pinoy Mind-anao qualifi-ers in Tagum City, Davao del Norte. The del-egation com-posed of around 300 advanced to the National Fi-nals of the 15-un-der athletic con-clave which was postponed by the Philippine Sports Commission until next year due to the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit the Visayas.

5. GAME-FIX-ING IN KADAYAWAN BASKETBALL TOURNA-MENT

Two Davao City ball-clubs decided to pull out of the tournament forcing organizers to cancel the finals of the 2013 Mayor Rody and VM Pulong Dute-rte Kadayawan Basketball tournament due to alleged “game-fixing.”

Goldstar and Montana Pawnshop were to fight for the championship but before they could play, the organizers called the at-

t e n -tion of the two teams

for intentionally playing to control the result of their non-bearing match on the final day of eliminations leaving CMO-The Royal Mandaya Hotel which had the services of the PBA’s top draft picks Ian San-galang and Greg Slaughter.

6. SALVADOR TIES ERNIE ELS FOR THIRD IN MACAU OPEN

Davao City’s “lake boy” Elmer Salvador came up with a sizzling final-round 66 to tie four-time major winner champion Ernie

E l s for third place in the

Venetian Macau Open on October 20 at the Macau Golf and Country Club.

Salvador had three birdies on the outward nine and three going back, including the par-5 No. 18 for a five-under round, his only blemish coming on the par-4 No. 8.

Salvador was delighted to tie Els for third place for his best finish of the year worth US$45,200 (around P2 million), which secured his Tour card for 2014. (www.spin.ph)

7. LADY SPIKERS

CON-QUER DAVAOAs a testament to its

new-found following, women’s volleyball proved it can give basketball and boxing a run for the top crowd drawer of 2013 when the reigning UAAP women’s volleyball cham-pion Ateneo de Manila University came to Davao City to play the Manila All-Stars that’s loaded with prominent players in-cluding Fille Cainglet, Jen Reyes and Dindi Santiago. The volleyball exhibition match filled the USEP Gym to the rafters.

8. YOUNG MOTO-CROSS RIDER CRASHES TO DEATH

Young motocross rid-er Renato “Atong” Man-gosong, 18, died due to internal hemorrage at the Davao Doctor’s Hospi-tal after a bad fall during practice on the last day of the Araw ng Dabaw Moto-cross Challenge on March 17, 2013 at the Crocodile Park Complex in Ma-a.

Mangosong of South Oil team tried to make the triple jump but failed to land safely as his brand new Kawasaki KXF 250 hit the third hump. He is the

TOP 13 SPORTS STORIES OF 2013

[email protected]

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

Corteza conquered the world and Davao City saw the return of big-time boxing and basketball

FTOP 13 SPORTS, 14

WORLD POOL CHAMP. Lee Van Corteza first conquered the US 9-Ball, then annexed the China 9-Ball Open and capped the year with the World Cup of Pool in partnership with Dennis Orcollo. Lower photo, flying to the finish is nothing rare for Atong Mangosong. But one flawed flight in practice last March wrote eternal finish to the life of the promising Davao rider.

LAST FIGHT. Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista (right) fought probably his last fight in Davao losing to Mexican Jose “Negro” Ramirez. Lean Daval Jr.

CHAMPIONS. The victorious Davao City delegation to the 2013 Batang Pinoy Mindanao Leg marches during the parade inside the sprawling Davao del Norte Sports and Tourism Center. Lean Daval Jr.

VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DEC. 31, 2013 • WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JAN.1-2, 201416 VOL. 6 ISSUE 205 • TUESDAY • DECEMBER 31, 2013 WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY JANUARY 1-2, 2014

EDGEDAVAO

PROPERTY

TEENAGERS place a lot of importance on their pursuits, from

school, to hobbies, sports, recreation, friends, family, and many more. In short, they want to be able to do what they want and live life to the fullest.

It is important then for parents to ensure their ad-olescent children get what they need, and provide the best home environment that will allow them to blos-som and reach their full po-tential as individuals.

Nothing comes close to providing this ideal home environment than North-point, a British colonial themed condo community at the junction of Buhangin Road and JP Laurel Avenue in Bajada, Davao CIty.

As a landmark condo development of Vista Res-idences, Northpoint pro-vides a safe, decent, and suitable home for teenagers to live full and live well at the same time. Here they are able to pursue their in-terests while enjoying the condo’s charming ambiance

and deluxe facilities and amenities.

Within the comfort of their condo home, teens can host sleepovers with their close friends, or hang out at the indoor gardens to swap stories and share laughter. With the airy and well-light-ed atrium decked with live plants, it’s a comfortable place to entertain.

Wakefield Manor, the clubhouse, serves as the condo community’s social center where teenagers can nurture friendships with their fellow teen neigh-bors and friends. It has a multi-purpose hall where they can lounge, read a book, or chat, and even hold birthday parties, reunions, and other social gatherings.

The clubhouse houses a wellness pool with salinated water where they can have a pool party or just splash around and take laps. Wake-field Manor also has free WiFi connection for surfing, logging on in social net-works, chatting online with friends, and do research for homework.

For something more active, teeners can have several rounds at the soccer table at the multi-purpose hall, or make full use of the equipment at the fitness gym. The jogging trail gives them the option to take a leisurely or brisk walk or a stimulating jog.

Northpoint has a fresh and green environment that teenagers will love. They can find a quiet spot in the pocket gardens or under the cool shade of a tree and do their own thing like read-ing a book, writing on their journal, or even something creative like writing a story, drawing or painting.

With hundreds of

Teens live a full life in Northpoint

imported Caribbean pine trees growing all over the grounds and giving off a cool and refreshing pine scent, they will surely enjoy strolling around Northpoint and frolicking with their sib-lings, neighbors or friends.

All those fresh air will

be healthful for these ener-getic teens. And while they roam on their own or with their friends around the condo community’s verdant surroundings, parents know they are safe with North-point’s 24/7 security.

With plenty of excit-

ing things to do at North-point, teenagers don’t have to leave home to entertain themselves. And when they stay home, their parents are happier knowing they are in a safe, convenient, and com-fortable home.

Investing or renting in

this premier address then is the best option parents can take to provide the best home for their children. They can do so by visiting Camella Davao at Delgar Bldg., JP Laurel Avenue, Ba-jada, Davao City, or calling 295-3973.

Edge Davao 6 Issue 205

Documents

city hall

quezon city

davao city public safety

city address soca

edge davao staffphotos

dramatic shootout shootout

davao swat team

mayor sara duterte carpio