P 15.00 • 20 PAGESwww.edgedavao.netVOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY -SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 2014

EDGE Serving a seamless society

DAVAO

njb@edgedavao.net

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO

FMARILOG, 10A Dabawenyo public school teacher who graced the cover of Edge Davao last

year made it as one of the recipients of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award.

Ramon Magsaysay awardee Randy Halasan, a public school teacher in Pegalongan Elementary School in Sitio Pegalongan, Malamba, Marilog District, with Edge Davao executives and editorial team.

MARILOG TEACHER HONORED

Dabawenyoteacher wins Magsaysay Award

SHINES LIKE NOBEL

VOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY -SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 20142

FNONOY, 10

FDAVAO, 10FCENRO, 10

EDGEDAVAO

THE BIG NEWS

HOPEFULS. Beggars stand by outside the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) hoping to be invited for lunch during its fiesta celebration yesterday. Lean Daval Jr.

MOVING FORWARD. Globe Telecom industry head of Mindanao, Florayda Garcia, and VisMin cluster head, Jon Andaya, say during a press briefing yes-terday at The Marco Polo Davao that the company is innovating itself through

moving forward from connectivity provider to information and communica-tions technology solutions. Lean Daval Jr.

ThE Davao City An-ti-Smoking Task Force will ask police

stations to deploy one po-lice officer in every public market to arrest smok-ing violators.

Anti-Smoking Task Force head Dr. Domi-lyn Villareiz said yesterday that her office received many reports of violation in the public markets.

“This is just to inten-sify the campaign in the markets in the next three months,” Villareiz said.

She said that aside from deploying a police in the market, they will also deputized the security of the public markets to is-sue the citation tickets.

“Para hindi na mahira-pan yung security to issue the tickets,” Villareiz said.

“In case hindi magpa-kita ang, hindi ibalik nung violator ang ticket sila nayung mag file ng case sa korte,” Villareiz said.

She said that they are going deploy first in the six major markets and they will first focus in To-ril Public Market since they received a lot of com-

plaints from this market.“We will focus in the

area kasi sabi ng ibang media na hindi naman na enforce ang anti-smoking and any ordinances sa To-ril,” she said

“Pag ilabay nimo ang imong sigarilyo... dalawang violations na,” The Anti-Smoking Task Force head said that they also coordinate their operation to the City Envi-ronment and Natural Re-sources Office (CENRO) in the markets.

She said that they are still to evaluate if the mar-ket can designate a com-mon smoking area since all the facilities are utilized by the public.

“Medyo crowded ang palengke,” she said adding that based on the reports, most of the violators in the market are the vendors.

Villareiz said aside from the public mar-kets they will also designate a police officers in the cockpits because they also received complaints of smoking violators in the said establishment.

ThE Davao City En-vironment and Natural Resources

Office (CENRO) urged ba-rangay captains to strict-ly implement the solid waste disposal ordinance in their respective baran-gay.

According to CENRO head Eliza Madrazo, most of the barangays in the city are not effective in implementing the waste disposal ordinance.

Engineer Madrazo

said barangay officials fail to properly imple-ment the city’s waste disposal ordinance. She stressed that the gar-bage segregation in every barangay has not been practiced anymore unlike the first implementation of the ordinance.

“Ambot kung unsay kuan nila na di nila ma monitor,” Madrazo told reporters in yesterday’s ‘I-Speak Media Forum.’

DAVAO Region posted a 6.8 per-cent economic

growth in 2013 sur-passing the 5.6 percent target in the same peri-od but still lower than the7.4 percent growth recorded in 2012.

Speaking in the 2013 Report on Regional Economy-Davao Region, National Economic and Development Authori-ty (NEDA) 11 regional director Maria Lourdes Lim said that this year is the second time that the region was able to surpass its economic growth target.

“The 2013 GRDP es-timates are a confirma-tion that Davao region is truly resilient and that Dabawenyos have the capacity to recover quickly from calamities and to rise above dif-ficult challenges,” Lim said during the presen-tation at the office of Department of Public Works and highways (DPWh) 11 yesterday.

Lim said that the ba-nana industry of the ag-riculture sector, one of the most affected sector by the Typhoon Pablo in 2012, was able to re-cover 8 months after the

devastation.The RDC [Regional

Development Council] is putting high priority on rehabilitation initiatives so that public invest-ment will be channeled to Pablo rehabilitation programs,” she added.

“We are also pleased that the region has re-tained its position as Mindanao’s top econ-omy in terms of GRDP value, a position we have enjoyed for the third consecutive year,” the director said.

She said that the on-going rehabilitation of the public and the pri-

vate sector contributed alot in the growth of gross regional domestic product (GRDP) of the region.

The region’s GRDP is 3.8 percent of the Phil-ippines’ P6.76 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2013.

however, the region came third in terms of growth rate in Mindan-ao. SOCCSKSARGEN re-gion came first with 8.4 percent followed by the 7.8 percent growth rate of Caraga region.

Davao region’s to-tal production of goods

crc@edgedavao.net

By CHENEEN R. CAPON

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.abf@edgedavao.net

Cops to help arrest smoking violators

CENRO urges barangays to be strict on solid waste

Davao Region posts 6.8% growth in 2013

Nonoy Garcia diesof heart attack, 82MANUEL “Non-

oy” M. Garcia, veteran law-

maker who worked for the construction of Fran-cisco Bangoy Interna-tional Airport, building of Mindanao’s first fly-overs, establishment of the Philippine Science high School Mindanao campus and other land-mark projects in Davao City, died of heart attack Thursday morning at the Rufino Cardinal Santos hospital in Mandaluyong City.

Manuel “Junboy” J. Garcia Jr., son of the de-ceased, said the lawmak-er expired at 7 a.m. he

VOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY -SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 2014 3EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY -SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 20144 EDGEDAVAO

BIGGER PICTURE

Randy halasan is a pub-lic school teacher. Five days a week, he goes to school, teach his students and at the end of each day, come home and prepare for an-other day.

he wished life as a teacher is as simple as that.

For Randy, that descrip-tion is only half the life he has embraced in his seven years as a public school teacher in Pegalongan Ele-mentary School in Sitio Peg-alongan, Malamba, Marilog District.

To get to Pegalongan, Randy travels two hours by bus, another hour by ‘habal-habal’ motorcycle, plus around four hours of trekking, which includes crossing two treacherous rivers—Simod River and Davao River--that at times go as high as his chest.

The rivers that sepa-

rate Pegalongan’s school and the communities spell life and death. Randy says many lives have been lost crossing the rivers includ-ing his very own.

Not even that stops Randy. he keeps pushing even if the journey to Peg-alongan is life risking. In one of his treks to Marilog, he and some pupils almost lost their lives traversing the raging Davao River. It is a journey he has chosen to take with the community and his students, who also cross the chest-deep river everyday just to be educat-ed.

This has been the life this 30-year old teacher from Mandug embraced ever since he got a teach-ing assignment. Even his student life was an uphill battle. Through sheer hard-work and determination, he

kept his dreams of a college education by working part-time. he dreamt of becom-ing a doctor or a lawyer but poverty left him no choice but to pursue teaching.

He finished his Bachelor of Elementary Education at the University of Southeast-ern Philippines in 2003 and like most fresh graduates, was not able to immediate-ly get a teaching position.

he struggled through odd jobs to live from day to day while taking care of his mother, now 72. In 2006, he was assigned as a substi-tute teacher in Sixto Babao Elementary School in Ti-bungco and later in T. Awad Echevarria in Mandug. It was in January 8, 2007 when he was assigned as a permanent teacher in Peg-alongan.

“My first grade that I taught is grade one and two and it’s a multi grade class and after that I trans-fer to grade five and six. I was their adviser when the school held its first closing exercise and it’s a memora-ble to me because I saw the happiness in their eyes the essence if you are already graduated,” Randy narrat-ed.

For newbie teachers, being assigned in far-flung areas is expected. In the same breath, moving out of such an unenviable assign-ment is usually first and foremost in the minds of young tutors. After becom-ing a permanent teacher, they request to be trans-ferred and leave their re-mote area assignment at the first opportunity.

Not Randy.he chose to stay at Peg-

alongan Elementary School where he became head Teacher on his sixth year.

When Teacher Randy first came to Sitio Pega-longan, he saw a different side of the city, far from the bright lights, crowded malls, fast-paced life and slow-moving traffic he has grown used to.

he saw people whose only hope is on the fertile soil of Marilog, of anything that grows and can either be eaten or sold. he saw children go to school on foot, sleeping in class out of hunger or fatigue from walking to school and crossing high waters.

“When I became a per-manent teacher and was assigned at Pegalongan El-ementary School which is one of the farthest school in the Davao City, I said to my-self that I will not stay long

of this school. I’m not happy here. Imagine a life without signal and electricity,” Ran-dy recounted his early days in Pegalongan.

But all that changed in no time. “As the days passed by when I saw their needs and hunger for education and development I said to myself that I have to do something for the Matig-salug Tribe in Sitio Pegalon-gan. I felt happy and the be-longingness as part of their family even I’m not a tribe.”

Pegalongan is a small sitio nestled in the middle of the mountains. After a great typhoon, tribal folks saw light shine from the area, thus it got its name. That, too, is how Randy is like right now to the com-munity--a light that shines and guides the community.

In his young teaching

The living light of Pegalongan“A good teacher is like a candle, it

consumes itself to light the way for others.”--anonymous

THEN AND NOW. This is Pegalongan Elementary School before (left) and now (right). From a one-classroom building when teacher Randy Halasan arrived in 2006 to two schoolbuildings by 2010.

njb@edgedavao.net

By NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Editor’s Note: We are reprinting the story of public school teacher Randy Halasan who was named 2013 The Many Faces of a Teacher award from the Bato Balani Foundation. This story made it as finalist of the 2013 Globe Media Excellence Awards and although it did not win the best story of the year, it opened the world for teacher Randy to be noticed and eventually named as one of the recipients of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for 2014.

FTHE LIVING LIGHT, 10

VOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY -SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 2014

DAVAO Region’s In-dustry sector reg-istered an increase

in Gross Regional Domes-tic Product (GRDP) from 9.5 percent in 2012 to 16.2 percent in 2013.

According to Maria Lourdes D. Lim., regional director of the National Economic and Develop-ment Authority (NEDA) Region 11, the growth of industries surpassed the target of 4.8 percent. All of its subsectors posted double-digit growths.

The industry sector is divided into three sub-sectors, namely, manufac-turing, construction, min-ing and quarrying, and electricity, gas, and water supply.

The growth rate of manufacturing, the sec-ond largest subsector, continues to accelerate from 15.7 percent in 2012 to 18.9 percent in 2013.

“It (manufacturing) contributed the biggest share at 20.1 percent and grew by 14.8 percent due to the strong performance of processing industries, such as cement, food, and

beverages, fertilizers and minerals,” Lim said.

In 2013, the value of commodity exports were estimated at US$1.99 billion with an increase of 31 percent compared to 2012 surpassing the region’s target of 10 per-cent. Bananas accounted for 44 percent of the total value of exports and re-mained as the top export commodity.

Construction also ac-celerated growth from 15.7 percent in 2012 to 18.9 percent in 2013.

“Construction activ-ity was vigorous as the government pursued key infrastructure projects in the Pablo-affected ar-eas for the rehabilitation of roads, bridges, school buildings, irrigation sys-tems, and construction of core shelters. The govern-ment also completed the Davao del Norte Sports Complex, IGaCoS Circum-ferential Road, paving of Asuncion-San Isidro Laak Veruela Road, and Daang Maharlika during the year,” Lim said.

Private building con-

struction increased by 70 percent, with non-resi-dential and commercial projects reaching P22 billion. however, the con-struction of residential buildings decreased by 5 percent.

Mining and quarrying rebounded from a nega-

tive 59.8 percent in 2012 to an upturn of 17.9 per-cent in 2013.

Silver production posted a great amount of increase from negative 26.1 percent to 40.6 per-cent.

Electricity, gas, and water supply surged from

6.5 percent in 2012 to 16.4 percent in 2013.

“It improved due to further expansion of wa-ter utilities and increase in output of the ener-gy sector. Relatedly, the EEI Power Corporation’s 15-megawatt peaking power plant In Tagum

City was completed in De-cember 2013 to cater to the power requirements of Davao del Norte,” Lim said.

however, this subsec-tor only contributed 1.1 percent to the GRDP com-pared to Northern Mind-anao with 6.2 percent.

5EDGEDAVAO

THE ECONOMY

Davao Region man-aged to sustain eco-nomic growth de-

spite the decline in agricul-ture last year, according to a latest report by the Phil-ippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Region XI.

Davao Region’s Gross Regional Domestic Prod-uct (GRDP) growth rate for 2013 is recorded at 6.8 percent, indicating a 0.6-percent decrease com-pared to 2012’s growth rate of 7.2 percent.

The regional GRDP growth rate is contribut-ed by three main sectors, namely, the agriculture, hunting, forestry, and fish-ing (AhFF) sector, the in-dustry sector, and the ser-vices sector.

According to Rosendo M. Aya-ay, regional head of PSA-RSCU 11, there was a

deceleration in the growth rate for Davao Region’s AhFF sector from 0.4 per-cent in 2012 to negative 8 percent in 2013.

“The decline in AhFF was highly attributed to the devastation of Typhoon Pablo which resulted to the decrease in production of agricultural crops, particu-larly banana and coconut,” he said.

Maria Lourdes D. Lim, regional director of the Na-tional Economic and Devel-opment Authority (NEDA) Region 11, said that the prospects for 2013 had been bright prior to Ty-phoon Pablo’s occurrence since the region posted a 7.4 percent economic growth in 2012.

“But given the tough post-Pablo scenario, the government deemed it fit

to downscale the region’s 2013 economic growth target to 5.6 percent,” she said.

Typhoon Pablo ravaged the production of large-scale farms in Davao Ori-ental, Compostela Valley, and Davao del Norte. The production of banana and coconut declined by 16 percent, rubber by 48 per-cent, abaca by 18 percent, palay by 6 percent, and sugarcane by 3 percent.

Palay production was also affected by the infes-tation of stem borers, rats, and black bugs in Com-postela Valley and Davao del Sur. Coffee production declined by 35 percent as some of coffee bean plan-tations were shifted into banana plantations.

Corn production, how-ever, increased by 14 per-

cent due to improved yield per hectare as a result of planting high quality seeds, expansion of area harvest-ed, and sufficient rainfall. There were also marginal increases in cacao, durian, and mango production.

“Nonetheless, Davao Region has maintained its position as the Philippines’ top producer of cacao at 79 percent, bananas at 42 percent, and coconut at 15 percent of the country’s to-tal. The region also ranks as the country’s second highest producer of coffee and third in abaca,” Lim said.

The AhFF sector pulled down the regional GRDP growth rate by 1.4 percent. however, the industry and service sectors managed to accelerate it by 6.8 percent. VSA

ThE Business Bureau of Davao City will in-tensify its campaign

against the refilled-butane sold in public markets and sari-sari stores.

Lawyer Lawrence Ban-tiding, officer-in-charge in the bureau, told reporters in an interview yester-day that they will intensi-fy their inspection in the markets and establish-ments, and confiscate all the refilled-butane canisters.

“In the executive or-der the Business Bureau is tasked to confiscate those items,” Bantiding said refer-ring to executive order 23 series of 2014.

Bantiding said that they will file charges against the peddlers based on the de-partment circular order of the Department of Energy and the city executive order. he said the campaign will be for the protection and safe-ty of every people.

“One of the punishable acts there is dealing with the refilled butane. Kasi one time use na siya na de-sign ang canister,” Bantiding said. he said that all of the butane canister sold in the market are disposable and not refillable.

he said that if the refilled butane canister is easy to notice if it is already tainted with rust and the seal is al-ready broken.

“This is a prima facie evidence na refilled siya,” he said.

Bantiding urged the Public Market Supervisors and barangay captains in the city to inform their constitu-ents that selling of refilled canisters are prohibited.

Last May 9, Mayor Ro-drigo R. Duterte issued the Executive Order (EO) No. 23 series of 2014 “An Order Creating a Multi-Agency Task Force to Properly Reg-ulate and Ensure Safe Prac-tices of Persons and Entities handling and/or Engage in Business Involving Flamma-ble and Dangerous Chem-icals and Other hazardous and Toxic Substances.”

The EO states that it has been deemed urgent and necessary to provide a mechanism for the close coordination and moni-toring among government agencies, both local and na-tional, that will ensure strict adherence to applicable and existing standards and oth-er related laws relative to safe practices governing the proper handling of flamma-ble and dangerous chem-icals and other hazardous and toxic chemicals.

The order said that it has been observed that persons and entities handling and/or engaged in business involv-ing flammable and danger-ous chemicals and other haz-ardous and toxic substances have been remised with their duties on observing proper, correct, and safe practices to the detriment of public in general in the City of Davao.

LOCAL government units have proposed a P36-million worth

of enterprise develop-ment project for a cassava granules production in South Cotabato under the Philippine Rural Develop-ment Program (PRDP).

Together with pro-ponent groups, South Cotabato presented their business plan for cassava granules in a finalization workshop held recently in

Davao City.The proposed cassava

granules production proj-ect will cost P36 million with a ready target mar-ket for the products.

“For Region 12, we have identified cassava as a priority commodity and it will be supported under PRDP’s enterprise devel-opment component,” said PRDP Deputy Program Di-rector Arnel De Mesa.

De Mesa added that

coming up with busi-ness developments plans (BDP) would help de-termine which viable enterprises are going to be supported under the Investments in Rural En-terprises and Agriculture and Fisheries Productivi-ty (I-REAP) component.

I-REAP aims to elevate agricultural production into the next levels of value chain by installing production and market

support facilities. “Business plans are

also important manage-ment tools for the pro-ponent groups in imple-menting the I-REAP com-ponent,” he added.

The proponent groups are composed of cooperatives and peo-ple’s organizations who will implement the proj-ect in their respective provinces. (Jay Rosas/DA-MRDP)

vsa@edgedavao.net

By VANNAH S. ANg

Industry posts accelerated growth

MINDANAO BUSINESS SOLUTIONS. Gil Genio, chief operation officer for Business International Markets of Globe Telecom, gives updates of Globe Business during the Mindanao Business Solutions attended by representa-

tives from the business sector of Davao City at The Marco Polo Davao yester-day. Lean Daval Jr.

Decline in agri sector affects economic growthBy ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

abf@edgedavao.net

Business bureau to intensify campaign vs refilled butane

P36-M cassava granules production project proposed under PRDP

VOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY -SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 20146

Foreign workers bluesEDITORIAL

MORE than 50 foreigners working on the construction of the coal-powered plant of the AboitizPower firm in ba-

rangay Binugao in Toril District, Davao City are in trouble for not having the work permit required by the government.

If the workers will be ordered deported by the Bureau of Immigration, the construction of the power plant would logically be delayed.

Obviously, the fault lies not in AboitizPower but in the contractor who hired the foreign-ers without seeing to it that their immigra-tion documents are in order. Still the incident could have been avoided if AboitizPower ex-ercised more vigilance and strict monitoring on the personnel involved. In sum, it was a lesson for all.

The Immigration bureau personnel de-served to be congratulated for doing their job.

It is hoped that they will be as strict in the case of Chinese nationals working in the stores of Sta. Ana, especially in those for-eign-owned establishments located within the so-called Chinatown. Rumors fly thick and fast that the illegal workers there are under the control of some local Chinese ma-fia collaborating with some smart (read cor-rupt) immigration agents who are on the take. We certainly hope this is not true at all.

On the other hand, Aboitiz should penal-ize their contractor for this costly faux pas. hopefully sanctions on cases such as these are covered by the contract.

EDGEDAVAO

VANTAGE

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

Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Building,

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

Telefax: (082) 221-3601www.edgedavao.net

editorial@edgedavao.netmarketing@edgedavao.net

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

RICHARD C. EBONAAdvertising Specialist

SOLANI D. MARATASFinance

EDGEDAVAOProviding solutions to a seamless global village.

ANTONIO M. AJEROEditor in Chief

OLIVIA D. VELASCOGeneral Manager

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

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. JOSEPH LAWRENCE P. GARCIA Photography Contributing Photographer

ARLENE D. PASAJECartoons

KENNETH IRVING K. ONGCreative SolutionsPrinted by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc.

Door 14 ALCREJ Building,Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, Philippines

Tel: (082) 301-6235Telefax: (082) 221-3601www.edgedavao.net

editorial@edgedavao.netmarketing@edgedavao.net

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

GENERAL SANTOS CITY MARKETING OFFICEFLOREnCE S. ViLLARin Marketing Specialistc/o PZ Villarin MarketingSalvani St., Oringo Brgy. City HeightsTel: (083) 303-2215

MANILA MARKETING OFFICEANGELICA R. GARCIA | Marketing ManagerBlk. 1, Lot 10, La Mar Townhomes, Apitong St.,Marikina Heights, Marikina City Tel: (02) 942-1503

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVOManaging Editor

RICHARD C. EBONAMarketing Supervisor

SOLANI D. MARATASFinance

AQUILES Z. ZONIOCorrespondent

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.CHENEEN R. CAPON / VANNAH S. ANG

Reporters

JOCELYN S. PANESDirector of Sales

AGUSTIN V. MIAGAN JRCirculation

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTEthe national association of newspapers

VOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY -SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 2014

IT NEEDS NOT TO BE A PERMA-

NENT ONE – Mention pop-ulation boom and inevita-bly, the litany of problems begin: how many babies are born each year and how many children a married couple is capable of nurturing? Can a small and poor country like the Phil-ippines afford to provide the needs of 100 million people? Why was there obviously seemed a great deal of unwillingness on the part of government to fully implement and strictly carried out to the letter the ap-proved Reproductive health Law?

Advocates of the Rh Bill firmly believe it is the answer to the country’s burgeon-ing population and will bring great bene-fits to the Filipino people. The Philippines is now home to an estimated 100 million or more people with the birth of the 100 millionth Filipino just recently. It is now ranked the 12th most populous country in the world. With a population growth surg-ing at accelerating pace, recent in-depth studies conducted by an independent re-search group showed that the country’s population is expected to increase to 147 million by 2045.

The government notably the previous administrations were actually ineffective in implementing their family planning and population control program because of some drawbacks. There are aggravating factors, for instance, it avoided a clash with the leadership of the influential Catholic Church who strongly condemned artifi-cial method in birth control. Being a pre-dominantly Catholic country, the past ad-ministrations all adhered to the dictation of Church hierarchy who is against any method controlling senseless birth.

The church leadership only promotes the rhythm procedure, which is per-sistently “violated” by both married and unmarried couples despite constant re-minder from religious leaders. Certainly, the church leaders for all intents and pur-poses will not tolerate any government scheme that promotes the use of contra-ception. Their projection is even more terrifying. It relentlessly inculcate in the minds of the faithful that the Rh Bill is a government measure that promotes abor-tion.

Furthermore, they say it is an orga-nized effort of the government, which they perceived as transplanting “anti-life and anti-family laws and practices” into our social order. But in reality, thousands of women yearly are estimated to have abortions to deal with the financial and emotional strain of unwanted pregnancy despite the fact that abortion is strictly prohibited and against the teachings of the Catholic Church.

however, I would like to stress out it is not the entire membership of the Catholic Church that is against the Rh Bill because many followers are also advocates of the approved measure. Moreover, the re-productive health law respects the views of the church specifically its position on families and the preservation of the life of the unborn. Even with the Rh Bill now in effect, still nobody could prevent abortion not even the leaders of the church, but it would probably be minimized. how much more if there’s no alternatives where couples have the freedom to choose and avail of a family planning method of their choice?

Over population, more than anything else is straining the country’s resources. So what has to be done? We should take a closer look at our present predicament and raise this dominant question: what isn’t going right in our country? Take note that high population growth outruns the country’s ability to build its economy and investment in infrastructure, which is why there is crushing poverty. It’s an old prob-lem associated with joblessness, home-lessness, landlessness, and food shortage, lack of shelter and medical care and illit-eracy.

[Eidu l-fitr khutbah delivered at the lawn garden of the Romulo Hall, University of the Philippines Diliman on 28 July 2014].

ASSALAMU alaykum wa rahmatulla-hi wa barakatuh.

All praise is due to Allah (SWT) the Lord of the Universe, the One who obliges his creation to follow his Com-mand. he sets term or ajal to various um-mah (communities) as he shows the signs in creation and in men until they know the Truth.

Today, we are on the day of Eidu l-fitr, the day of joy and happiness among believ-ers. Their joy and happiness is simple; it is not measured with mere worldly gains. It transcends petty needs and desires. It con-nects with the guarantee assured on them in terms of their spiritual development. It is a guarantee [that is] part of the over-all logic of their ibadah or worship.

There is a known hadith (Prophetic saying) from Abu hurayrah (RA) where Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “the per-son who fasts in the Month of Ramadan with faith self scrutiny will have his part of sins remitted.”

This assurance is the source of their joy and happiness whenever the Rama-dan ends and the Eidu l-fitr starts. It is a guarantee that every believer has been given. Note the hadith speaks of eimanan wakhtisaban – a faith with self-scrutiny. In other words, it is something deeper; it should lead to one’s understanding of him-self through deeper realization in the holy Month of Ramadan. It is not mechanical or simply to fulfill a ritual. It should make us scrutinize (ikhtisaban) ourselves and firm up our faith both in the holy Month of Ra-madan and other months as well.

There is also a hadith from Abu al-Kudri, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “When a person fasts a day for the sake of Allah then Allah drives away the hell from him to distance of 70 years of travel.”

This is another guarantee given to the believers, a reason why they are joyful and happy in this day. Now, notice there is a physical distance identified here. But as we had narrated in several of our khut-bah (discourse) last Ramadan, distance implies normative quest for nearness cap-tured with the Qur’anic verse: “When My servants asked thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them) (Baqarah: 185).” It suggests that those who fast (saimun) should strive to become muqarrabun – those who are near to Allah (SWT).

In other words, distance implies re-lationship of nearness with Allah (SWT). This guarantee is something that makes the believers happy and joyful in this day.

There is a another hadith from Sahl bin Said, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “there is a gate in Paradise known as Ar-rayyan, through which only fasting per-sons will enter in the Day of Judgment and no one else. It will be said: where are the fasting persons? They will come forward. No one will enter that level of Paradise

except the people who engage in fasting. After they have entered, the gate will be closed and no one else will enter thereaf-ter.”

This is yet another guarantee and prom-ise given to those successful saim who had done their fast with faith self-scrutiny (ei-manan wakhtisaban). So, even if we say that our joy and happiness is simple, yet, the guarantee is immense. This is the im-portance of Eidu l-fitr and why we have to join hands and share our joy together, including our zakatu l-fitr (Eid charity) as we partake food and share our blessing to-gether. This is our way to express our sim-ple joy and happiness with other brothers and sisters.

There is another tradition of the Prophet (SAW) whenever Eidu l-fitr or Eidu l-adha comes. he would usu-ally rally the sahabah (companions) to perform congregation and he would in-struct them to engage in things like shar-ing their blessings and wealth, sharing their food, and addressing the problems of the community. This is an important social function of Ramadan and Eidu l-fitr. It is part of our task today. We have to show concern and discuss matters that the ummah (community) faces. And we have to do something to lessen the pangs of suffering and difficulty of oppressed quarters of the ummah.

This point is very important. As we know, Ramadan 2014 is punctuated with lots of challenges reflective with what the Qur’an refers to as ajal or some form of term or experience. The Qur’an says: “To any people is a term appointed. When their term is reached, not an hour can they cause delay nor an hour can they ad-vance it (in anticipation) (A’raf: 34).”

While the notion of ajal speaks of term or some kind of an end of a partic-ular event, it may also be broadened to include the challenges or problems that the ummah faces. We have seen it most vividly in the Middle East today – in Gaza, in Syria, in Libya, in Iraq, and other parts of the Muslim world. We pray that their ajal would lighten up that it would trigger the ummah to move forward and develop further.

The challenge of the ummah is such that it has become cyclical. The war in Gaza is not new. There had been series of war with the same intensity in the past. It is due to many reasons, although when we speak of ajal it is something in-scrutable. We are not able to fully grasp or understand why a certain ummah or community would have to experience so severe a difficulty and why others are not. What is obvious to us is such, there are social, political and economic factors underlying the cyclical war in the Middle East.

If you have attended our Friday khut-

bah these past several months or years, we have discussed in some details the socio-political and economic factors that lead into the crisis in the Middle East and other parts of the Muslim world these days.

Yet, this should not become a reason for us to become cynical or pessimistic. The ummah has long been the object of suspicion as they increase in number beyond the traditional domain of daru l-islam or the Muslim world. They have been perceived as threats in many quar-ters, as they also have problems with securing political stability and develop-ment among themselves. hence, many of them have to be subjected to manifold form of oppression like the Palestinians in Gaza and other parts of the Occupied territories. In other words, the suffering of the ummah is nothing new.

What is worrisome however is that, even as war is going on in many countries in the Middle East, we feel it is not simply the issue of violence that is at hand. It is the sense of humanity of people around the world that is put into question. We pray that the difficulty and suffering of the Palestinians in Gaza and other parts of the Occupied Territories be eased substantially. What we worry is not sim-ply the brutality and violence inflicted against the Palestinians. What we are vey much concerned of is the silence of the international community and inaction of big powers where Israel’s impunity is al-ready accepted as a new normal.

Violence is unsustainable. It is repug-nant to human nature. Violence has to end because it strikes at the very heart of man’s sense of humanity towards life and other living creatures. It is self-defeating for certain groups of people to insist that they are the only ones who have the right to live. human right is universal. The right to life is the right of everyone.

Even how worse a criminal or killer is, there is a light in one’s heart. We do not know why there are people who are so heartless who could not see and feel the suffering of other people like the wom-en and children in Gaza and other parts of the world. What is worrisome, too, is if we are not triggered to extend assis-tance and to help those suffering people in countries mentioned. Finally, what we worry is a new normal that would emerge out of inhuman acts of aggression and the extreme brutality done by other people against helpless civilians.

We pray that the people of Gaza and many parts of the Muslim world would be able to ease with their difficulty and suf-fering. We pray that the ummah would be awaken to extend assistance including the need to put their resources together so that they would be able to play their role effectively in the international com-munity.

[MindaViews is the opinion section of MindaNews. The author is Associate Pro-fessor of Islamic Studies, University of the Philippines].

CRUCIBLE: Eidu l-fitr 2014: A Call to End the War in Gaza  Country’s swelling population

VANTAGE POINTS 7EDGEDAVAO

Julkipli Wadi

MINDAVIEWS

VOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY -SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 20148 EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY -SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 2014 9EDGEDAVAO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY -SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 201410The living light...

Marilog... CENRO...

Davao...

Nonoy...

FFROM 4

FFROM 1 FFROM 2

FFROM 2

FFROM 2

NEWS EDGEDAVAO

tour of duty, something developed in the subcon-scious of Randy—educa-tion is not enough.

“Kung education lang talaga ang focus, kulang. Kahit gaano ka pa kagaling magturo, kahit gaano ka pa kagaling mag visual aid, kahit anong technology ipa-kita mo, pero kung ang mga tao gutom, kung ang mga bata gutom, wala,” he said.

This is his conviction and the one big reason why he is so passionate about improving the livelihood of the people.

It wasn’t easy. here is a stranger who wanted to change how the world turns for Pegalongan’s Matigsalug community which literally means “people along the Salug River (now called the Davao River)”. Although often classified under the Manobo tribe, the Matig-salug is a distinct sub-group of indigenous peoples from the Manobos.

Randy had to sacrifice a lot of his time, which means staying in Pagalongan be-

yond his teaching duties. Because the community is so remote, he chose to spend most of his weekends and summer vacations with the tribal folks. That means days and weeks of not being able to communicate with his family. The area does not have electricity and cell-phone signal.

As he began to immerse himself in the communi-ty, he enjoined the tribe to help him establish the Peg-alongan Farmers Associa-tion with the end view of making them become food sufficient. When he got there, they were only farm-ing corn, mongo and root crops.

Randy asked help from agencies in the city so that the farmers can be trained on planting vegetables and durable crops. he also so-licited seedlings to get the people start planting new crops.

In time, the community has nurseries and vegetable gardens in their backyards.

The projects he initiat-

ed in the community really helped. “Nung wala pang asosasyon, napakahirap ng buhay dito.” explains Camilo Pandia, Pegalangan Farmers Association presi-dent.

he also developed a deeply-rooted bond with his students that he looked beyond them as his pupils. Since Pegalongan only has an elementary level school, most of the children end up stopping after graduating from elementary because high school was very far. Only a few move on to pur-sue high school education elsewhere.

This became a personal saga for Randy. his concern for the future of his stu-dents encouraged him to lobby for the establishment of a high school in the area so that there is something to look beyond after ele-mentary education.

Randy’s love for Pega-longan has blossomed into a symbiotic relationship. The young teacher soon became like one of Pega-

longan’s very own sons. Be-cause of his dedication, he is well-loved and respected. The tribal elders and other members of the tribe are very supportive of him.

One of the tribal lead-ers, Datu Pablo Dacao Sr. explains “Nung dumating si Sir Randy, malaki talaga nagbago. Bukod sa mga bata, buong community tinutulungan.”

Randy is not just a life teacher. In the classroom, he is also an effective and enterprising teacher. De-spite the lack of materials, which is common in remote schools, he developed his pupils to be competitive in academic and non-academ-ic endeavors and win in dis-trict competitions.

And now, it’s Randy’s turn to shine.

This year, as the Na-tional Teachers Month cel-ebration nears, Bato Balani Foundation Inc. (BBFI) an-nounces its finalists for this year’s The Many Faces of the Teacher (TMFT) advo-cacy campaign, and Randy

is one of two Dabawenyos who made it.

For his inspiring works, Randy could be one of four honorees who will be cho-sen and presented to the country as the ideals of commitment to mold the country’s youth and the community for other edu-cators to emulate.

Davao’s unique breed of teachers has won the rare recognition in the past and the legacy of service by Dabawenyo teachers have been among the bright footnotes to the compila-tion of TMFT.

In 2011, it told the sto-ry of Anabel Ponce Ung-cad of Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur. her life purpose was to help her fellow Bago-bos overcome illiteracy. Ungcad, the first Bagobo to graduate from college, travels three kilometers on a habal-habal up a moun-tain to get to the school where she teaches. She also helped raise funds for the building of learning centers and the develop-

ment of basic literacy and livelihood programs for her tribe.

And for Randy’s pre-decessors in the lives of the Matigsalug tribal folks, Bryan Rex Carreon and Brimbhot Eyas have fore-gone the comforts of teach-ing in the plain lands and trek hours to help them. Last year, the two teach-ers were honored for their work as a team at Dum-alogdog Primary School in Davao City.

Bryan and Brimbhot slept on chairs in class-rooms during the week and go home to their families on weekends. For unself-ishly putting their school and their students above themselves, they were en-shrined in the TMFT’s an-nals of teaching heroes.

Randy could be the next Dabawenyo hero teacher like Anabel, Bry-an and Brimbhot. But that will have to wait. For now, he is the shining light after a storm—the living imper-sonation of Pegalongan.

Randy halasan, whose story entitled “The Liv-ing Light of Pegalongan” was nominated as one of the finalists of the 2013 Globe Davao Media Ex-cellence Awards, was chosen as among this year’s six awardees of the prestigious award con-sidered as Asia’s Nobel Prize. halasan could be the first Dabawenyo to receive the award which was created in 1957.

The conferment of honors is set August 31 in Manila.

“I am very honored for this award. More than the honor, I look at it as another opportunity for the people in our com-munity to realize their aspirations like potable water and hanging bridg-es,” said halasan after visiting Edge Davao’s edi-torial office yesterday.

The 31-year old prod-uct of the Unversity of Southeastern Philippines (USEP), who braves hours of travel in order to provide basic education to children of the Matig-salog tribe in a remote village in Davao City was recognized, according to organizers, for his “pur-poseful dedication in nurturing both his Matig-salog students and their community to transform their lives through qual-ity education and sus-tainable livelihoods, in ways that respect their uniqueness and preserve their integrity as indig-enous peoples in a mod-ernizing Philippines.”

halasan’s story pub-lished in Edge Davao on September 1-2 became the “eye-opener” for his family who did not favor

his assignment to the re-mote hinterlands of Peg-alongan, some six hours and two rivers away from downtown Davao City. he went on to win 2013 “The Many Faces of a Teacher” award given by the Bato Balani Foundation.

Also among this year’s awardees are an influential Chinese jour-nalist and a crusading en-vironmental lawyer from China.

The Ramon Magsay-say Award, named after a Filipino president who was killed in a plane crash, was established in 1957 to honor people or groups who change com-munities for the better and is often described as Asia’s Nobel Prize.

Among this year’s six awardees is hu Shu-li, 61, founder and edi-tor of Caijing, a business magazine famed for its groundbreaking investi-gative reporting that has had a profound impact on China.

Its reports on illegal trading, “government cover-up of the true ex-tent of the 2003 SARS epidemic,” and corporate fraud led to the ousting of high public officials, prosecution of business leaders, and stock mar-ket reforms, the founda-tion said.

“hers is a journalism that works within the system but preserves the critical distance that is journalism’s strength,” the award citation said of hu.

Another winner was Chinese lawyer Wang Canfa, 55, founder of the Center for Legal Assis-tance to Pollution Vic-

tims, which has handled thousands of environ-mental complaints and beaten powerful indus-trialists in court.

Its efforts have also included training law-yers and judges, as well as drafting environmen-tal laws and regulations, the foundation said.

“As long as we persist, the goal of establishing Chinese environmen-tal rule of law will be achieved someday,” the award quoted Wang as saying.

Also honored were In-donesian anthropologist Saur Marlina Manurung, National Museum of Af-ghanistan director Omara Khan Masoudi and the Pakistani non-govern-ment group The Citizen’s Foundation.

Manurung, 42, was cited for “her ennobling passion to protect and improve the lives of In-donesia’s forest people” through jungle schools put up by her organiza-tion.

Masoudi, 66, was hon-ored for saving some of the museum’s most pre-cious objects from the “bombings, looting, and wilful destruction by the Taliban” insurgents of what they considered Af-ghanistan’s non-Muslim heritage.

The Citizens Founda-tion, organized by Paki-stani business leaders, was honored for putting up schools that gave equal opportunities to girls in a country where education for women is anathema to some reli-gious extremists.— (with a report from Agence France-Presse)

“Kung mo ingon mi na dili namo kolekta-hon kasi wala na segre-gate, ang problema man pud gud namo unya kay magkalat pud kalsada,” Madrazo said adding that aside from the un-collected garbage , the scavengers also scatter in the waste in the road.

Madrazo asked the Department of Local Interior and Local Gov-ernment (DILG) to send every barangay captain a memorandum repri-manding them of their duty.

“Serious pud unta ang barangay sa im-plementation kay ang siyudad wala man pud

nagkulanbg sa pag-ayu-da sa ilaha,” Madrazo emphasized.

Madrazo said that if there are many violators will be issued by citation ticket, this could be ad-ditional revenues for the city and barangay be-cause the half of the fine will go to the barangay. She said that there are 5000 violators on their record.

The CENRO head said that if the waste segrega-tion will be implemented in the barangays, the city could save from rentals of private hauler trucks collecting the garbage around the city.

Madrazo said that the

city spend much on gar-bage collection because they pay the trucks per kilometer. She cited an example in Calinan in which the city spends around P1 million a month to collect all the garbage in the whole district.

She said that the city will really spend much since their office has only three garbage col-lecting trucks; one com-pactor and two yellow six wheeler trucks.

Madrazo said that the city opted to hire a con-tractor to collect the gar-bage because it will be more expensive to buy more trucks. ABF

and services at constant 2,000 prices was valued at P258.5- billion with the services sector con-tributing 53 percent, followed by industry at 32 percent and agricul-ture, hunting, forestry and fishing at 15 per-cent.

NEDA 11 is targeting

an economic growth of 7 percent by 2014 based on the updated plan.

“We are confident that we will be able to hit this year’s target be-cause of the,” Lim said.

According to Lim, the region will be able to hit its target because of the pouring public invest-

ment for rehabilitation projects in Pablo affect-ed areas.

She also said that the billion-worth pow-er projects will largely contribute to Davao re-gion’s GRDP this year, so as the boom in the real estate industry and con-struction sector. CRC

turned 82 last month.The lawmaker first

entered politics as city councilor of Davao City in the late 60’s. he also served as mem-ber of parliament of the Batasang Pamban-sa, and congressman of Davao City’s second district for three terms.

The managing part-ner of the Garcia Inigo de Guzman Law Firm, Nonoy was first presi-dent of the Davao City chapter president of

the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and was also one of the earliest presidents of the Davao City Chamber of Com-merce and Industry, Inc.

he was identified with such other advo-cacies as the establish-ment of the University of Southeastern Philip-pines and the conser-vation of the Philippine Eagle whose foundation he led as chairman and treasurer for decades.

his remains will

be brought next week to Davao City and bur-ied here, where he was born to the late May-or Leon Garcia Sr. and Milagros Monteverde. As of last night, his re-mains lie in state at the Christ the King Church in Green Meadows, Quezon City.

The deceased is sur-vived by wife Linda, sons Mariano, Manuel Jr., Dennis, Michael and Vincent, and daughters Mylene and Maryrose.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY -SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 2014 11EDGEDAVAO

ENVIRONMENT

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.abf@edgedavao.net

ThE Watershed M a n a g e m e n t Council (WMC) of

Davao City launched yet-sterday a reforestation project in the riverbanks of the tributaries inside Panigan-Tamugan water-shed to protect its head-waters which will be the source of world-class drinking water.

In a statement, the Interface Development Interventions , Inc (IDIS) said that the project aims to rehabilitate the areas which are already delineated by WMC as critical conservation and

protection areas. IDIS is the non-government or-ganization representa-tive of WMC.

The project also aims to cover eight water-sheds in the city and at the end of the project year, incentives will be given to the best com-munity-managed forest corridor.

“This initiative gath-ers stakeholders to plant trees along the banks of streams and rivers creating riparian forest corridors throughout the Panigan – Tamugan Watershed,” IDIS Execu-

tive Director Mary Ann Fuertes said in the state-ment.

Fuertes added that the riparian forest corri-dors are essentially buf-fer zones or easement banks in the rivers and streams which will serve as flood and erosion pre-vention.

“They are very im-portant in forest ecology because not only do they prevent pesticide resi-dues from reaching the rivers, they also serve as natural sponges which absorb excess run-off during heavy rains,”

Fuertes stressed.The project is fund-

ed by Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) which will identi-fy appropriate riverbank sites for tree growing in coordination with the riverbank communities and barangays.

“Endemic fruit trees will be prioritized in the tree growing activities with the communities being coached to take the lead in monitoring and evaluation, ” the statement stipulated.

Furtes said that the barangay volunteers

will be trained as ‘Ban-tay Bukid’ personnel who will help them to protect the forest corri-dors.

“Agro-forestry live-lihood initiatives will also be implemented by the WMC so that com-munities can also gener-ate additional income,” Fuertes said.

The initial areas identified fro the proj-ect are in the upland ba-rangays of Tambobong, Tamugan, Wine, Gum-alang and Tawan-tawan.

City Environment and Natural Resources

Office (CENRO) head Engr. Eliza Madrazo said that through this project the riverbanks will fi-nally be highlighted for strategic impact in wa-tershed management.

“It is my hope that all riverbanks, especial-ly urban riverbanks will be eventually covered by this project,” Madra-zo said.

The establishment of buffer zones along riv-erbanks is mandated by the Watershed Protec-tion and Conservation and Management Ordi-nance of the city.

Riverbank reforestation launched

IN the past, Bago Apla-ya used to be a ha-ven of fish in Davao

City. “When I was still younger,” 53-year-old Ronnie Estrera recalled, “we used to catch a lot of fish. But it’s the case any-more today.”

As he was talking, his son Dondon came home with one ice box full of fish. The 19-year-old lad, however, lamented that the fish were getting smaller and fewer. In some instances, they were forced to fish farther south into the waters of Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur. “Fishers are already scarce in Bago Aplaya,” he said.

Bago Aplaya is part of Davao Gulf. With an area of 308,000 hectares, the gulf cuts into the island of Mindanao from Philippine Sea. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) considers Davao Gulf as one of the most diverse marine eco-systems in the world. Di-verse coral reefs, different mangrove species, ceta-ceans and a host of inver-tebrates contribute to the natural diversity of the gulf.

Unknowingly, Davao

Gulf is Southern Mind-anao’s fishing ground. In fact, it is the 10th ma-jor fishing ground in the country. As such, “Davao Gulf is a critical resource supporting the economies of six coastal cities and 18 coastal municipalities,” says the Davao Gulf Man-agement Council (DGMC), composed of all the local government units sur-rounding the gulf.

In order “to conserve marine resources and to secure the spawning pe-riod of pelagic fishes” in the gulf, the regional office of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) -- a line agency of the Department of Agri-culture -- announced the start of the fishing ban in Davao Gulf last June 27. The 3-month ban will end on August 31.

In a press briefing held at the Philippine In-formation Agency, BFAR 11 Director Fatma Idris was quoted as saying that spawning season of the gulf’s pelagic fishes, based on their study, starts from June until September.

“There is what we call a maximum sustain-

able yield or MSY,” she explained. “Based on our research, Davao Gulf has already reached and ex-ceeded the MSY and there was a decline in the catch of small pelagic fishes.”

her statement con-firmed a previous study undertaken by the World Fish Center. Since 2000, the volume and quality of the fish in the Davao Gulf have been found to be in constant decline. This was the findings of the 10-year study entitled “Strength-ening Governance and Sustainability of Small-scale Fisheries Manage-ment in the Philippines: An Ecosystem-based Fish-eries Management Ap-proach in Davao Region.”

A collaborative effort of the BFAR, local govern-ment units and the region-al office of the Department of Science and Technology, the decade-study looked at the volume and qual-ity of the harvests of 10 commonly fished species in the gulf: matambaka, tamban, moro-moro, cara-ballas, bilong-bilong, lapu-lapu, danggit, molmol, tal-akitok, and maya-maya.

Except for maya-ma-

ya, the harvest numbers for the species have been falling. At the current rate of decline, the cara-ballas, bilong-bilong, molmol, and danggit may all disappear completely from Davao Gulf within a decade, the study said.

The matambaka, tam-ban and moro-moro are more resilient, but even they may disappear within a generation, it added.

But it’s not only in Davao Gulf that the situa-tion is happening. Dr. Sa-lome Bulayog, an associate professor of the depart-ment of economics at the Visayas State University, said the aquatic marine

resources of Sogod Bay in Southern Leyte have been deteriorating in recent years.

home to a variety of fishes, Sogod Bay is a ma-jor fishing ground for the 11 municipalities that surround it. Mangko or frigate tuna (scientific name: Euthynnus affin-is) is its major fishery re-source. Seasonal influx of this shallow-water tuna species has provided food and livelihood to the peo-ple of Sogod and nearby municipalities.

“Frigate tuna used to abound in Sogod Bay and was a major source of in-come in the 70’s until the 90’s,” said Dr. Bulayog, who headed a study fund-ed by EEPSEA. “But today, fishermen could hardly have fish catch.”

“Likewise, reef species population is also dwin-dling,” added the study, which was conducted in 1994 yet. “Fishermen have to spend longer time to catch a kilogram of fish; some even have to farther from the shore.”

And so it came to pass that the wealth of oceans, once considered boundless, has proven fi-nite. Touted as “the poor man’s protein,” fish is now a resource coveted -- and fought over by countries.

“We are running out of fish and running out of time. For a country known for marine biodiversity, there are very few fish left to catch,” Vince Cinch-

es, Oceans Campaigner for Greenpeace Southeast Asia, was quoted as saying.

“Like the other vital resources such as forests, Philippine fisheries are about to collapse,” de-plored Roy C. Alimoane, the director of Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center (MBRLC), a non-govern-ment organization based in Davao del Sur.

The collapse of ma-jor fishing grounds in the country would mean up-rooting 38,000 fishermen each year. “The fish is get-ting scarcer,” said a father of six. “We all have chil-dren, grandchildren. We have to think of the fu-ture!”

The condition of open sea access that exists both for international vessels on the high seas and for domestic fleets within their own countries’ ex-clusive economic zones is generally regarded as the major reason for the sad state of the ocean.

“Overfishing is the pri-mary cause of dwindling fish population,” notes Pe-ter Weber in his book, Net Loss: Fish, Jobs and the Marine Environment.

Along with fishing pressure, general deg-radation of coastal envi-ronments has influenced the steep decline of fish stock. Population growth and urbanization along shorelines lead to greater municipal, industrial and agricultural waste dis-charge and pollution.

Where have all our fish gone?Text and Photos by ARMANDO A. MORTEJO

VOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY -SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 201412 EDGEDAVAO

SUBURBIA

AGAPP- EMCOR/JVR Foundation formal-ly turned over four

school buildings as part of its community programs.

Reciepients of the buildings were Leling El-ementary School in Davao del Sur, Malungon Central Elementary School in Sa-ranggani Province, San Felipe Central Elementary School in Colon Maasim, Saranggani Province and Glan Central Elementary School in Glan, Saranggani Province.

Pinky A. Abellada, AGAPP Chairperson

headed the inauguration with hagonoy Mayor Ret. Gen. Franco Magno Cal-ida, Punong Barangay Ronnie A. Deluao DEP-ED Officers, school officials and teachers, and the JVR Foundation/EMCOR offi-cers.

The construction was made possible through the effort of the Ninoy & Cory Foundation (NCAF) and Aklat, Gabay at Aru-ga tungo sa Pagangat at Pag-asa (AGAPP) work-ing group headed by the President’s sister Ms. Pin-ky Abellada in partner-

ship with the Jesus V. del Rosario Foundation, Inc. and EMCOR, Inc. head-ed by President Arman-do D. Enero. The AGAPP project does not only aim in giving support to children of poor families but also in training the teachers to have a better and more effective teach-ing approach, providing libraries and training fa-cilities.

JVR Foundation , on the other hand, is the so-cial arm of the JVR group of companies with mem-bers: EMCOR, KServico,

Kawasaki Motors, among others.. Living up to its corporate mission, it in-volves itself in programs that will bring about de-velopment of the country starting with the educa-tion and development of the youth through ac-cess to good education – scholarship, feeding pro-gram, teachers’ training, and these school build-ings.

Enero expressed, “These projects are made possible through the pa-tronage and support of the communities where

EMCOR operates and we are now sharing the benefits we gained with these noble projects that will benefit the under-privileged children who will eventually become the future leaders of our country. Through bet-ter school facilities, we would be able to give these children a more conducive place for learning”.

EMCOR is the leader in the business of retail-ing appliances, motorcy-cles and computers with 128 stores in Vis-Min

and the following are the store managers assigned in these areas--Elena Siangco for Digos, Roselle Cudal for GSC highway and Rudy Licanto for GSC Pendatun.

“It is hoped that these efforts of building class-rooms for children will be duplicated in many parts of the country with this kind of partnership aiming to uplift the lives of Filipinos , maybe we cannot feel it much at present, but in the future, through the youth of to-day”, Mr. Enero added.

AGAPP- EMCOR/JVR donate four school buildings

ThE Department of Education and De-partment of Pub-

lic Works and highways turned over an initial 204 new classrooms to pub-lic elementary and high schools in the typhoon-hit towns of Baganga and Ca-teel, Davao Oriental.

This was reported by Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon, who said that teachers and students con-sider the new classrooms worth P176.4 million as symbols of new hope and new beginning for the ed-ucation sector badly bat-tered by typhoon Pablo which “washed out” many of their school buildings in 2012.

According to the DPWh assistant district engineer Alberto Cainghug, the na-tional government had ear-marked a total of P558 mil-lion for the construction 590 classrooms required in the entire first district, including the 204 class-rooms just turned over.

“These [new class-rooms] answer the long-pressing problem on the shortage of school-rooms in the disaster-hit areas,” said Congressman Nelson Danyanghirang of the first district, who worked for the release of funds for these new infra-structures.

Implemented by the DPWh, the funding was sourced out from the Ty-phoon Pablo rehabilitation fund, which was coursed through the DepEd.

As a result of the mas-sive rehabilitation ef-forts of the government, Dayanghirang said there is a significant increase in the number of schools at pres-ent compared to the num-ber of schools the district had before the disaster.

he also reported that these new buildings were constructed and designed to be typhoon-resistant and can sustain strong winds of up to 250 kph. “This modification is im-

portant as we realize schools are the primary refuge of families during calamities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Governor Malanyaon congratulated the teachers and students, headed by DepEd Assistant

Schools Division Superin-tendent, Feliciano Tamun-dong, Jr., for the new class-rooms that constitute a big

boost to the area’s educa-tion sector. By Karen Lou Deloso/ Photo by Eden Jhan Licayan

Worth P176.4 million204 new classrooms completedin typhoon-hit Dav Oriental areas

DAVAO ORIENTAL. Gov. Corazon N. Malanyaon and Rep. Nelson Dayanghirang lead the ceremonial rib-bon cutting of one of the school buildings turned over by the Department of Education and Department of Public Works and Highways in Baganga. Joining them are Baganga Vice Mayor Ramona Olea, Mayor Arturo Monday, DepEd Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Feliciano Tamundong, Jr ., and Board Member Roland V. Lara

It was a rainy evening when I arrived. The Big House for a dinner host-ed by my friend Oliver “Blogie” Robillo and his tita Didit Robillo-van der Linden. Once the ancestral home of the Robillo family, The Big House is now a quaint bed and breakfast being run by Didit consist-ing of eleven uniquely furnished rooms and an all-day dining res-taurant. The restau-rant is an alfresco affair that features dishes that Blogie and Didit used to enjoy while grow-ing up. “we wanted to share our family reci-pes as well as the dishes we love and remember while growing up liv-ing in the house” beams Didit. For starters we got to try The Big House’s signature appetisers, their Gambas, Lengua salpicao, and Big House salad. The Gambas was mildly spicy and infused with the

flavour of garlic which I like, but the star of the appetisers would be the Lengua salpi-cao. similar to a traditional salpicao, the Lengua salpi-cao uses olive oil and heap-ing of garlic to wake one’s tastebuds. what makes The Big House’s dish special is that instead of using beef tenderloin, they decided to use beef tongue instead, al-lowing for a more tender experience that is still full of beefy goodness. The Big House salad was a bright counterpoint to the other two appetisers as it was fresh and bright and served with a savoury ori-ental dressing. The main

flavour of the salad though is the spanish-style sardines which added a nice briny and lightly spicy punch to the greens. The main courses were served promptly after we finished the appetisers. The Big House’s Paella Va-lenciana was a festive treat that featured a cacophony of fresh shellfish served on saffron infused rice on a hot plate. Didit says her fam-ily used to serve this dish on special occasions. I love how the portion size of the dish is just right for two to three diners and for just Php200 is definitely an af-fordable treat. another of my favourite dish of the evening was the Beef Goulash which is a sa-voury beef stew that uses cardamom and other exotic near eastern spices which would easily make one ask for more servings of rice. “I love spices and I made sure to integrate these spices into the food we serve at The Big House’s restaurant to give another dimension to the food.” says Didit.

I really enjoyed dining at The Big House, the cozy comfort food they serve brings me back to the time when my family had our own dinners at my grand-mother’s house. The Big House is located along Juna Avenue, Juna Subdivision. For reserva-tions, one can call 2857665, 09175000543 or 0925 882 4601. Follow me on Instagram or Twitter @kennethkingong for more travel tips, foodie finds, and happenings in, around, and beyond Duri-anburg.

INdulge! VOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 2014

EDGEDAVAOFOOD

Sharing family flavoursDabawenyo comfort food at The Big House

Canon Mar-keting Phil-ippines Inc. (CMPI) recent-ly announced the appoint-ment of Lim Kok Hin as the c o m p a n y ’ s new President and Chief Ex-ecutive Offi-cer, replacing Alan Chng, who now as-sumes his post as Presi-dent and CEO of Canon Marketing Thailand. Lim officially took over last July 1, 2014.

Having been with Canon for more than twenty years, Lim held several management positions at Canon Malaysia from 1991 until 2006, when he was promoted as Senior Director of Business Imaging So-lutions (BIS) at Canon Singapore Pte Ltd (CSPL). He became the Vice President of the BIS group for South-east Asia in 2011, with overall responsibility for the Sales and Marketing of business imaging hardware and software solutions across 18 countries; these in-cluding subsidiaries in India, Malaysia, Thailand, and a representative office in Vietnam. In addition, Lim also served as the head of CSPL Domestic Business Opera-tions and was in charge of the overall growth, sales, marketing and services of the Consumer Imaging & Information Products (CII) and BIS groups for the Sin-gapore market.

Lim finds great satisfaction working with col-leagues and partners as this drives deeper engage-ment with the business; and one of his greatest achievements is spearheading the launch of The Am-bition Gap in 2010. The Ambition Gap is a program that looks to enable both individuals and companies to become more productive through opportunities provided by technology and create a bridge between expectations and actual goals and ambitions.

The Malaysian leader holds a degree in Econom-ics from the University of Bradford in the United King-dom. He is married with two children, an avid golfer, and enjoys a good read during his free time.

A 30-year Canon veteran, Lim joins Canon Phil-ippines with an extensive, high level industry expe-rience necessary to provide leadership and strategic vision that would take CMPI forward.

After hacking nonstop for 24 hours, a group of self-con-fessed geeks won the top prize at the AngelHack Manila coding competition which will send some of them to Silicon Valley for a chance to build a startup from the application they developed. Team Quotable, which created an app allowing users to store and easily share text they have highlighted on their devices, won the AngelHack Global Spring Challenge’s lo-cal leg which was organized by Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) in partnership with US-based AngelHack. In the photo are [from left to right] AngelHack commu-nity manager Kamrin Klauschie with Team Quotable com-posed of Emanuel Saringan, Riela Antonio, Luigi Dollosa, and Marlo la O’. At Silicon Valley, the team’s representatives will be intro-duced to business incubators and investors who can help turn their hack into a market-ready product. Team Quot-able also received gadgets, software inclusions, and service subscriptions from event partners Microsoft, Nokia, Opera Philippines, Chikka, Voyager Innovations, and Spinnr. Hundreds of developers participated in the Manila leg of the global challenge, which was held in more than 30 cities worldwide.

Canon announcesnew President and CEO

Pinoy hackers to flyto Silicon Valley

A2 INdulge! VOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 2014EDGEDAVAOUP AND ABOUT Globe is official

technology partner of IRONMAN 70.3 2014

Adventure… Superhe-roes… Fun… and Learn-ing! Enjoy great shows with SKYcable’s most di-verse and widest selection of quality programs for kids. From action, fantasy, humor to information and entertainment, there’s defi-nitely so much in store for the young viewers.

If your kid is a big su-perhero fan and dream of “saving the world”, then he will definitely be thrilled to discover the exciting realm of Toonami. Billed as “the ul-timate home of the superhe-ro”, adventure-seeking young viewers can expect total fun and excitement from all-time favorite iconic characters of Marvel, DC, Anime and a whole lot more! Your little superheroes are guaranteed to experience non-stop en-tertainment with Toonami’s program lineup featuring The Avengers, X-men, Superman, Batman and the rest of the gang, as they star in their own animated series.

Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk and the rest of the Avengers assemble in the action-packed series The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. The series is based on the Marvel Comic superhero team the Avengers as they face the world’s most danger-ous super-villains.

Join Phineas and Ferb in their latest adventure with a special Star Wars-themed, one-hour episode on Disney Channel. Their intergalactic story begins a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away – in summer, where Phineas and Ferb are happily living on Ta-tooine. They find themselves thrust into a global rebellion when plans for blowing up the Death Star accidentally fall into their hands. Compli-cating matters, Stormtrooper Candace is intent on busting the Rebels and chases them across the galaxy in hopes of retrieving the Death Star plans. Meanwhile, chaos erupts on the Death Star when Perry the Rebelpus is trapped in carbonite while trying to stop the Darth En-shmirtz from using his new “Sith-inator”. Ferb is acciden-tally caught in the crossfire of the “Sith-inator”, changing him into a full-fledged Sith. Will Phineas and Ferb suc-ceed in their mission? Tune in on August 17, Sunday, at 11AM and discover the twists and turns of Phineas and Ferb’s exciting “force-filled” adventure in Phineas and Ferb Star Wars.

For young Anime fans, check out Hero TV and enjoy its wide selection of popular and action-packed series. Be sure not to miss out the latest

season of the popular anime series Naruto 6. Based from a Japanese manga series, it tells of the story and adventures of Naruto, a young ninja who constantly searches for recog-nition and dreams of becom-ing the strongest and most recognized ninja of all.

Enjoy a dose of humorous action andjoin Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in their wild city adventures! Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael are four (4) pet turtles exposed to an alien chemical called mu-tagen, which caused them to undergo major physical trans-formations. Master Splinter raised the 4 ninja turtles and imparts to them his knowl-edge of ninjutsu. Together, they try to reckon with dark forces that attempt to use the mutagen to transform the world into villainous kinds.

Lego hit series Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu is an-other excitng TV show which young viewers will be thrilled to catch. Ninjago is featured on Cartoon Network in four one-hour specials. The first special will see the Ninjas called back into action as the spirit of the defeated Over-lord has infected the electric grid of Ninjago.

Finally, for a daily dose of educational entertainment, watch Discovery Kids chan-

nel. Learning can be fun with shows promoting good val-ues and features a wealth of information. Catch the Wild Kratts in their all-new ani-mal adventure as they travel around the globe discover-ing different animal habitats.

Treat your kids to pre-mium entertainment with SKYcable, the country’s lead-ing cable TV provider, and discover more ways of enjoy-ing your digital cable TV with the widest choice of over 190 channels, flexible subscrip-tion options via SELECT, iRE-CORD feature that records, pauses and rewinds live TV, and real-time coverage of sporting events and concerts via FREE VIEW and PAY-PER-VIEW.

For more information, go to www.mysky.com.ph, or call the Customer Service hotlines at (02) 381-0000 for Metro Manila, CAMANAVA, and Rizal; (046) 484-4701 for Cavite; (049) 534-2814 for Calamba, Binan and Sta. Rosa, Laguna; (02) 520-8560 for San Pedro, Laguna; (044) 693-5877 for Bulacan; (032) 421-1818 for Cebu; (082) 305-5456 for Davao; (074) 442-4841 for Baguio; (034) 432-0051 for Bacolod; (033) 300-1210 for Iloilo; (035) 225-1010 for Dumaguete; and (083) 301-3134 for Gen. San-tos City.

LeaDInG telecom-munications company Globe telecom is once again the official tech-nology partner of Iron-man 70.3 Philippines which is set to take place in Mactan, Cebu on au-gust 3, 2014 with about 2,500 participants from various parts of the country and abroad. Globe, a strong supporter of Ironman 70.3 Philippines since it was introduced local-ly in 2009, will provide wiFi connectivity, laptops, tattoo sticks, and cash support to the game to ensure that or-ganizers, athletes, and spec-tators can have a wonderful digital experience which they can share with the rest of the world. twelve of the participants belong to the Globe triathlon team which regularly com-petes in Ironman 70.3 Philip-pines since it started six years

ago. team Globe expects to better their personal best in the local premier event. “with the continued growth of the sport, we are seeing tough competition from veterans and newbies alike. But through the sup-port from Human Rela-tions as well as from various groups in Globe such as the Prepaid and Postpaid teams and the International Busi-ness Group, our employee athletes pose to give a good showing as they toe the line

with other multisport enthu-siasts,” said team Captain elmer santiago. This year’s event promises improvements on the swim course as well as transition areas to accommodate the larger field. The slight change on the bike route presents a new challenge while the ever scorching run course will further test the athletes’ stamina. Ironman 70.3 is an in-ternational triathlon com-petition that takes place in

over 30 countries around the world. The event offers a unique racing opportunity to old and aspiring triathletes as it challenges them to stand out and be their best in three major endurance sports – swimming, biking, and run-ning. Highly anticipated by over thousands of athletes and sport enthusiasts all over the world, Ironman 70.3 Philippines consists of a 1.9 km-swim, a 90-km bike, and a 21-km run.

SKYCable Takes Young Viewersto a World of Adventure

and Entertainment

What would Lea Michele on Sons of Anarchy look like exactly? This pic shows it. The Glee star was snapped on set of the hit FX drama series in her full get-up, which included a red and pink waitress uniform and cigarette in hand. Michele was caught smoking the cig while filming a scene from her upcoming guest appearance on the show. Michele will play Gertie, “an empathetic truck stop waitress and single mother, who connects with Gemma during a difficult time.”

INdulge! A3VOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 2014 EDGEDAVAO

KAPAMILYA teen stars Miles Ocampo and Khalil Ramos will team up for the first time in the up-coming episode of ABS-CBN’s “Maalaala Mo Kaya” this Saturday (August 2). They will play the charac-ters of teenagers Che and Mark who have a “mutual understanding” relation-ship. Although they are not officially in a romantic re-lationship, Che and Mark feel love and content-ment in their lives. Every-thing seems to be perfect until Mark admits to Che that he has fallen in love with another girl who is pregnant with his child. Che is heartbroken. Is moving on possible for Che when everything constantly reminds her of Mark and their happy times together? Can she forgive someone who has given her so much joy but has caused so much

pain at the same time? Also part of the epi-sode are Ana Capri, Sofia Andres, Francis Magun-dayao, Mikylla Ramirez, and Claire Ruiz. It is di-rected by Raz de la Torre and written by Benson Logronio and Arah Jell Badayos. “MMK” is led by business unit head Malou Santos and creative man-ager Mel Mendoza-del

Rosario. Capturing the hearts of Filipino viewers all over the world for the past 23 years, “Maalaala Mo Kaya” has legions of fans from different generations who cried, laughed, fell in love, and got inspired through the real-life nar-ratives of the show’s let-ter-senders. Don’t miss the longest-

running drama anthol-ogy in Asia, “MMK,” every Saturday, 8pm, after “The Voice Kids” on ABS-CBN. For more updates, log on to MMK.abs-cbn.com, follow @MMKOfficial on Twitter, and “like” Face-book.com/MMKOfficial. Tweet your thoughts about the episode by us-ing the hashtag #MMK-MovingOn.

FUN and learning never stop in GMA Network’s Tropang Potchi this Saturday (August 2) as more astounding discoveries will be featured, igniting the viewers’ curiosity once again. Join Lenlen (Lenlen Frial) and Tuks (Miggs Cuaderno) as they discover the different kinds of musical instruments made out of bamboo used by the Banda Kawayan, a unique ensemble of young students from the Poly-technic University of the Philip-pines in Manila. Also, witness how Miggy (Miggy Jimenez), Nomer (Nomer Limatog), and Kyle (Kyle Ocampo) learn various magical tricks from Kent Oliver, an illusionist.

Kapuso actress Chynna Or-taleza is also set to bring added excitement to the viewers as she shares her passion for art journ-aling, a unique activity used to express one’s feelings involving colors and designs, which the kids will surely love. Meanwhile, at the Tropang Potchi’s tambayan, Nomer cel-ebrates his birthday with fun gi-ant games. Miggy will also share the unique way of gift wrapping using paper towels. Be part of the tropa’s fun-filled discoveries and get to learn new values this Saturday in the award-winning children’s program Tro-pang Potchi, 9:10 AM only on GMA 7.

THIS SATURDAY (August 2), a supposedly sisterly bonding between Elsa (Manilyn Reynes) and Elvie (Marissa Sanchez) turns out to be a riot be-cause of Pepito Manaloto (Michael V.), bringing tons of excitement to the Kapuso viewers. Elvie came from Aus-tralia to be reunited with her sister Elsa after a long time of being away from

each other. Being Elsa’s guest, Elvie will stay in their mansion while she is having her vacation in the country. While they are sharing stories with each other, Elsa will be surprised when she finds out that the real reason behind Elvie’s sudden visit is because she wants to move on from the di-vorce she had with her husband.

Because of this, Elsa will take care of her sis-ter even more while she is with her. But things will turn upside down when she notices that Elvie shows interest on Pepito to the point that she already draws closer to him. Elsa gets fed up when she witnesses an instance when Pepito suddenly hugs Elvie whom he has mistaken

as his wife. Will Elsa’s jealousy and anger lead to her separa-tion with Pepito? Will she force Elvie to leave their mansion? Don’t miss the thrill-ing love triangle in the hit Kapuso sitcom Pepito Manaloto: Ang Tunay na Kuwento on its new timeslot every Saturday right after 24 Oras Week-end on GMA 7.

ENTERTAINMENT

Miles and Khalil team up for the first time in “MMK”

Amazing discoveries continue in GMA 7’s Tropang Potchi this Saturday

Love triangle in PepitoManaloto this Saturday

Pic of the day

PG 13

R 13

PG 1312:40 | 3:00 | 5:20 | 7:40 | 10:00 LFS

R-16

SHE'S DATING THE

GANGSTER

12:00 | 2:30 | 5:00 | 7:30 | 10:00 LFS

DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

Daniel Padilla, Kathryn Bernardo

Andy Serkis, Gary Oldman

R 13 12:40 | 3:00 | 5:20 | 7:40 | 10:00 LFS

TROPHY WIFE

Cristine Reyes, Derek Ramsay, Heart Evangelista, John Estrada

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

HERCULES

Dwayne Johnson

A4 INdulge! VOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 2014EDGEDAVAOFOOD

The Royal Chef’s July food findsBefore we end the month of July, let me first take you on a gastro-nomical tour with some of my best food finds this month. From the simple pleasures of a freshly baked pasta goodness to a deliciously concocted milk drink, Davao is truly bursting with the best food places that will always keep you on your feet.

a tableful of food and drinks. Heading onto the downtown area, alleycat tea House is a perfect es-capade to the usual late night of fun and laughter. Here, you not only have your friends with you but some of the best milk tea’s in the whole of Davao. From strawberry to macha, take you pick from their quirky menu board and await your or-der in a cold mason glass. what’s more, they also of-

fer some tasty cookies and hot off the pan meals that will surely take you on a magical journey. The best thing about alley Cat? It is affordable but the quality you get is more than what you have paid for!

Make #TheRoyal-Chef your Thursday habit! Email me at lee-b a y 4 5 7@ y a h o o . c o m (subject:RoyalChef) or tag me on instagram (her-royalheiress) for your deli-cious pics and food finds!

This month involved a couple of milk tea’s and pasta for me. Read on as I describe how my month long hunting went on. One thing though, don’t blame me for getting hun-gry.

Beef Lasagna from Taste of homePasta and meat together is like lying on the beach, with the sun up and sip-ping a tall glass of cham-pagne on a fine day. For me, that is. a self-con-fessed meat lover, I love the marriage of al dente pasta, cooked meat and red sauce in a plate. This particular dish is divine! The smell, sight and taste is all worth ev-ery calorie intake. Don’t get me wrong, living healthy is a major lifestyle aim but, at the end of the

day, we just need that one particular food/meal/dish to brighten our gloomy and tiring day. Personally, I love the simplicity of this dish –this is not complicated to appreciate. sometimes, the many flavors, herbs and spices confuse the palate of what to taste and indentify first. with this dish, you are able to savor and enjoy it at the same time. no complications,

no confusions – just you and your senses having a great and relaxing time. taste of Home also serves other dishes, cakes and cookies. taste of Home is located at the Mts Compound.

Dark Chocolate from Jelly CiTea Used to be skeptic of milk tea’s when it first hit the market. Thought it’ll be like sipping on some bitter milk. well, I was wrong – I am wrong. with the many flavors available, it is no wonder that the demand for milk tea’s skyrocketed a notch higher than expected. More so, it too paved the way for some of the best milk tea’s to be discov-ered, tasted and loved by the likes of us. Jelly Citea freshly brews tea leaves from taiwan and flavorings and ingre-dients that are all 100% natural and healthy. Of their many exciting fla-vors, I love their Dark Chocolate as it is not too sweet and just with the right bitterness. The milk and the tea creates a per-fect balance as you take a sip after another. not to mention, Jelly Citea has one of the most quirky and fun interiors that will simply sweep you off your feet. when at Mts, head onto Jelly Citea and order a cup.

Alleycat’s MachaMilk TeaOne fun way to end a tiring night is with the company of friends and

Call: 224-0733 • Tionko St., Davao City

VOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY -SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 2014 13EDGEDAVAO

AGRITRENDS

ThE Department of Ag-riculture DA 11- high Value Crops Develop-

ment Program (DA XI- hVC-DP) recently conducted the hands-on Nursery Manage-ment Operations Training of banana tissue culture for mass propagation in response to the scarcity of high-quality planting mate-rials considering as staple food and addressing the need of Banana manufactur-ing products.

The training aims to up-grade and enhance the LGU technical personnel on their knowledge and skills in han-dling nursery management operations particularly ba-nana tissue culture plantlets for the banana expansion area in the different coastal municipalities in region 11.

Also, to have an easy access of planting materials within the area thereby re-ducing the mortality rate in handling and transporting new plants.

About 25 Agricultural Technicians (ATs) from the different LGUS of Davao re-gion attended the training, aiming to improve their knowledge and skills on the basic processes in raising tissue cultured banana.

During the training, the ATs had an observation tour

to the Bureau of Plant Indus-try-Davao National Crops Research Development Cen-ter (BPI-DNCRDC) different projects, wherein they were exposed to some nursery

activity operation and man-agement.

The participants were given information about the banana industry through series of presentations by

Melani A. Provido, Regional high Value Crops Develop-ment Program (hVCDP) Co-ordinator, Teofila S. Capirig, Regional Banana Focal Per-son, Dulthe E. Espirituoso,

Officer in-charge of Quaran-tine Service and Concepcion E. Soguilon, Chief of Tissue Laboratory.

DA 11 center chief for Regional Crop Protection

Center (RCPC) Dr. Susan Razo encouraged the par-ticipants to fully grasp the knowledge which they will get from the training. (Aggie Media Service)

HANDS-ON. Agriculture technicians (ATs) plant banana plantlets during the Hands-on Nursery Management Operations Training of banana tissue culture at the Bureau of Plant Industry in Bago Oshiro, Tugbok, Davao City recently.

DA 11-HVCDP conducts training on banana tissue culture

VOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY -SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 201414 EDGEDAVAOCLASSIFIED

Billiard Supplies

( )

Phone Nos. Cell Nos.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY -SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 2014

BOSH STICKS15SPORTSEDGEDAVAO

ChRIS Bosh made it official on Wednes-day, inking a new

deal with the NBA’s Miami heat that was reportedly worth $118 million over five years.

After testing the free agent market, Bosh turned down a maximum offer from the houston Rockets to return to Miami, even as superstar team-mate LeB-ron James opted to return from Miami to the Cleve-

land Cavaliers.“Chris Bosh is a two-

time NBA champion and one of the most versatile big men in the league,” said Miami president Pat Riley. “his unique skill set makes him one of the best players in the game today.

“I’ve always felt he was committed to this organi-zation, this staff and this city. I think he’s going to have the opportunity of a lifetime leading this team

next season and having the nine-time NBA All-Star back in the fold was a big key for us. We are very blessed to have him.”

Bosh, 30, joined Miami in 2010 to play alongside James and Dwyane Wade.

The trio helped Miami win two titles and become the third franchise to make the NBA Finals in four consecutive seasons.

All three opted out of their contracts last month

and James re-turned to his h o m e t o w n team in Cleve-land. Wade re-signed with the heat to a two-year contract ear-lier this month.

EVEN in billiards, the Philippines has Chi-na for a rival on the

table. After three days of

round robin group play, in which 25 teams from all over the globe dueled in a veritable cavalcade of 8-ball, 9-ball and 10-ball, the 2014 World Pool Team Championship has been whittled down to the Final 16—two Chinese teams are on top and a gritty Philippine side looks equally unbeatable.

All matches from here through Saturday will be single elimination, and you can bet your last Chi-nese Yuan that the tension and drama levels inside the Tongzhou Lhue high School arena in Beijing will

be thick and hot. For not only are the teams playing for $300,000 in prize mon-ey-with $80,000 going to the winning side— they are also competing for na-tional pride. There’s some-thing about wearing your country’s flag and having the backing and support of your fellow countrymen and teammates that takes this sport to a whole other dimension.

Leading the way in terms of support will be both China sides, both of whom completely waltzed through their group un-scathed all week. But while the Chinese squads are certainly formidable on paper, they both have had absolutely no compe-tition in their groups.

Each China side had what could be considered the easiest draws in the event. Now, however, that will all change. And while China 1—with Li he Wen, Wu Jiaqing, Chu Bing Chia, han Yu, and Chen Sim-ing-- and China 2—with Liu haitao, Dang Ching hu, Wang Can, Fu Xiao-fang, and Liu Shasha-- will probably advance at least to the quarters and per-haps further, it all comes with a caveat that other teams won’t have to deal with. The pressure from the home fans placed on both China teams will be massive.

The one team that won’t have to deal with that problem are the de-fending champions, Chi-

nese-Taipei. The Tai-wanese, featuring a powerhouse lineup of Chang Jun Lin, Ko Pin Yi, hsu Kai Lun, Fu Che Wei, and female player Chou Cheih Yu, have been un-touchable all week here in Beijing. They are play-ing in that quiet, smooth style that carried them to the title two years ago in this very same arena. To-day in their last match of the group stage, the Tai-wanese went up against Korea, which was fighting for survival. Although Tai-wan was already guaran-teed a spot in the Final 16, they showed no mercy on the Ga Young Kim-led Koreans, winning the six-match showdown easily, 5-1.

ChOT Reyes, the coach of the Philip-pine national men’s

basketball team, has never been one to refrain from asking for help when he needs it.

In preparation for last year’s FIBA Asia Champi-onships in Manila, Reyes sought the aid of former New Zealand national team coach Tab Baldwin in an overseas training camp.

Baldwin – who was also a coach of the Leba-non and Jordan national teams – ended up being such an instrumental part of the Philippines’ silver medal campaign that he remains part of the Gilas Pilipinas coaching team to this day.

But Reyes might need a little extra boost for the team’s campaign in the FIBA World Cup in Spain, where they will face some

of the best teams from around the world, includ-ing squads from Europe, South America and Africa.

“Tab Baldwin will join us as early as Miami and there’s another coach and there’s another coach I’ve asked who’s an expert in African basketball. We’ll divulge his name when the time comes when he signs the contract,” Reyes told InterAksyon.com in an in-terview.

Baldwin, who has al-ready joined the squad’s practices in the US, has sterling credentials, be-ing a three-time Coach of the Year in the National Basketball League in New Zealand. he remains the winningest coach in the league’s history, having won five championships.

he has also experi-enced plenty of success in the international scene,

having led New Zealand as far as the semifinals of the 2002 FIBA World Champi-onships and the Lebanon team to the 2010 FIBA Asia Stankovic Cup crown.

“Tab Baldwin has been to three World Champion-ships and one Olympics. he’s very familiar with those plays. For me, he’s the Middle East expert. Alam na alam niya kung ano yung laro ng Jordan, Lebanon, Iran,” Reyes said.

The Filipino coach hopes to replicate his suc-cess with Baldwin on his side by building similar relationships with experts in other regions.

“I’ve asked another coach who is currently coaching in Africa and Eu-rope to come and help us. hindi tayo magkukulang sa tulong,” added Reyes.

According to the coach, he’ll need every bit of help

h e c a n g e t f r o m p e o -p l e who have vast knowledge in in-ternational style of play.

“I will make sure that I will have ample African and South Amer-ican help in this compe-tition. hindi naman ako n a h i h iya n g humingi ng t u l o n g , na pun-tahan ko itong mga coaches na ito. humingi talaga ako ng tulong,” he added.

Bosh officially re-signs with Heat

Chot gets some coaching lift

BREWING RIVALRYFrom Spratley’s to pool, it looks like Philippines has China for a rival

CHRIS BOSH. Another tour with Miami.

VOL. 7 ISSUE 99 • FRIDAY -SATURDAY, AUGUST 1-2, 2014

ThE 29Th Kaday-awan sa Dabaw Sportsfest will

formally open today at 3 p.m. at the Davao City Recreation Center.

The organizers and participants of the 26 various sporting events will participate the opening salvo according to Butch Ramirez, offi-cer-in-charge of the City Mayor’s Office-Sports Development Division (CMO-SDD).

City Administrator Melchor Quitain will give the welcome remarks while the search for the Mr. and Miss Teen Ka-dayawan Sports will also be held today.

Listed in the official calendar of this year’s Kadayawan sa Dabaw Sportsfest are arnis at Gaisano Grand Citimall (Aug. 29); aero marathon at Abreeza Mall (Aug. 23), commercial basket-ball at Almendras gym (Aug. 18-22); athletics at Davao City NhS oval

(TBA); collegiate basket-ball at Almendras gym (Aug. 2-28); billiards at Jacinto St. (Aug. 28-30); body building at Gaisa-no Citi Mall (Aug. 30); Daciba bowling at Dover Megalanes (Aug. 2, 10); SBC bowling at Fairlanes (Aug. 12,14,19,21 & 23); NCFP chess at NCCC Mall (Aug. 16); Tribal Games at People’s Park (Aug. 14); cycling at Brgy. Maa (Aug. 16); dama at Osme-na Park (TBA); football (TBA) at Tionko; futsal at SM Lanang (weekdays); judo at hCDC Bajada (Aug. 30); karatedo at NCCC Mall (Aug. 30-31); kayaking at Lanang Apla-ya Beach Resort (Aug. 23); lawn tennis on Aug. 9-17 (TBA); motocross at Davao Crocodile Park (Aug. 24); rugby at DCN-hS oval (Aug. 16 and 23); softball at UM (Aug. 10, 17, 24); swimming at ADDU Matina (Aug. 23); tchoukball at SM Lanang (TB) and volleyball at Al-mendras gym (Aug. 29).

16 EDGEDAVAOSportsKadayawan Sportsfest opens today

NO LOOK UP. Bobby Iñigo of Apo pitches from the apron on the 18th green in yesterday’s 5th Emcor Pro-Am Golf Championship at the Apo Golf and Country Club. Iñigo teamed up with pro golfer Rey Pagunsan. Boy Lim