datelinedavao

Air Asia now flies Davao-Clark Daily

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:36:00 +0000

Davao City is looking forward to a more robust tourism industry with the start of Air Asia’s daily Davao-Clark flights. Beginning March 28, Air Asia will from Davao to Clark and vice versa, two times a day.

As a fitting launch for its Davao-Clark and Kalibo-Clark flights, Air Asia has allotted up to 20,000 for its promotional fare, good for travel from March 28, 2012 to January 31, 2013.

“This is very good for Davao’s tourism,” Department of Tourism XI Art Boncato said. Boncato earlier hinted about the plans of Air Asia to open up its Davao-Clark flight after it got its airline carrier operating certificate.

Air Asia CEO Marian Hontiveros said she is confident about the potential of Davao City as a tourism destination.

The opening up of direct flights between Davao and Clark is expected to speed up sisterhood talks between the two cities, and in effect increase passenger traffic between them.

With the entry of Air Asia, there are now three airlines offering Davao-Clark flights. Air Philippines have recently started its Davao-Clark route while Cebu Pacific also has a Davao-Clark route albeit on a limited basis.

In the meantime, Davao City is preparing for three international air summits later this year including the Asia Air Access Forum, will be participated in by regulatory bodies and airline officials who will present their plans for the region, the Airline CEO Summit where the Chief Executive Officers of the various airlines will discuss plans to connect the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area), and the Air Network Forum which is a venue for business to business interaction among the industry players.

“We are expecting around 200 participants mostly tourism players and the civil aviation authorities,” Boncato said. Other countries involved in the BIMP-EAGA will also be invited including China, Japan and Australia.
Expected to participate in the Airline Summit are Garuda Airlines of Indonesia, Malaysia Airline, MAS Wings, Royal Brunei Airline and the airlines operating in the Philippines including PAL, Cebu Pacific, Zest Airline, Air Philippines and Sea Air.

ADVISORY--Water Interruption in Cabantian

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:32:00 +0000

Ms. Universe runner-up Shamcey Supsup at PAL Interclub launch

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:27:00 +0000

Ms. Universe runner-up Shamcey Supsup just made the Philippine Airlines' (PAL) announcement of the start of the PAL Interclub at Marco Polo Hotel, more interesting. PAL Interclub, which is the longest and the oldest running team golf tournament in the country, expects 1,500 participants in
the two divisions, the Senior Division which will start on February 16, and the Regular Men's Division which will start on February 22.

PAL vice president for marketing support Felix Cruz said the golf tournament is expected to pour in up to P60 million to the city's coffers in terms of the plane fare, accommodation, meals, souvenirs, caddy, shopping and other related expenses of the golfers and their supporters.

"This is a big boost to Davao City's economy, aside from the fact that it will promote the city as an ideal place for sports tourism," he said.

Supsup admitted she was never the sporty type as she only played piko, taguan, tumbang preso and other games popular in the rural areas while she was growing up in General Santos City. However, she said, it was the same discipline practiced by the athletes which helped her surmount life's challenges, including the Ms. Universe search.

Radical changes in BMBE law to benefit SMEs-Casiño

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:46:00 +0000

The House Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Development is eyeing radical changes to Republic Act 9178 or the Barangay Micro Business Enterprises (BMBE) Act of 2002 once the amendatory bill is approved.

“We are looking at very radical revisions in the BMBE Law that will strengthen the small and micro entrepreneurs in the country once the amendments are approved,” Committee chairperson, Representative Teddy Casiño said yesterday during a public hearing on the amendatory bill held at the Grand Menseng Hotel in Davao City.

This is the third leg of a series of public hearings held in Congress and in Cebu last year. The fourth and last public hearing will be held in Central Luzon, after which the amendatory bill is expected to be passed on third reading at the plenary.
Casiño said it is high time to amend the BMBE Law as it has been a failure and has failed to live up to its goals of providing incentives to the small and medium entrepreneurs. He said that in Davao City alone, only 44 entrepreneurs have registered under the program out of the thousands of small business owners in the city. Of this, he added, only seven have been granted income tax exemptions in 2011.

“There are many complaints about the implementation of the BMBE Law and one of this is the P1,000 payment for the certificate which is required to be registered under the law,” Casiño said. And even if the entrepreneurs get registered under the program, he added, they do not get tax exemptions from the national government because of the strict policies of the Bureau of Internal Revenue when it comes to tax exemptions.

He said the small businesses do not even enjoy benefits in the local level because they do are still required to pay local taxes and fees. They do not even have benefits in terms of credit, he added, because the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported that no special facilities were created for them under the program.
“Small businesses in Davao have to wait for a long time for the approval of their applications for tax exemptions since these are being processed in the national level,” he said.

The amendatory bill is pushing for the automatic exemption of the small businesses under the BMBE Law both in the local and national taxes and fees for a period of between two to six years. Once this is implemented, he said, small businesses no longer have to pay certain fees to the local government like Mayor’s permit, business permit, garbage and other fees.

“We want them to be automatically exempted from the local charges and taxes but this is where the problem comes in since most local government units are apprehensive about the possible reduction in their income,” he said.

Casiño however said that a consensus among the LGUs they have talked to during the public hearings show that the exemptions may be allowed for small business with capitalization of less than P200 thousand and for a specified period only. After the maximum six-year period of exemption, then they have to pay, headed.

PhilHealth soon to make e-transactions mandatory for hospitals

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:36:00 +0000

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) is set to make electronic transactions mandatory for hospitals that have the capability of connecting through the Internet.

This was revealed by PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Eduardo P. Banzon during his visit to Davao City last Saturday.

“Davao City is well-connected so there is no excuse for hospitals to not be connect
ed once we make electronic transactions mandatory for them,” Banzon said. He said the same case is true for Tagum City which seems to be also well-connected electronically.

Banzon said PhilHealth’s direction is towards the interconnection of PhilHealth with hospitals all over the country through electronic transactions, to make the transactions more efficient. He said PhilHealth is set to implement its automation program as part of its goal to provide improved services to its members.

One component of PhilHealth’s automation program is the e-claim project which will allow accredited hospitals to have access to the database of PhilHealth for purposes of

verifying the members’ eligibility. The ultimate goal, Banzon said, is to make the whole process efficient for its members.

Banzon cited the new case rate

payment method, which was implemented September last year, as a better way that allows PhilHea

lth members to determine the exact amount of their coverage for eleven most common medical cases like Pneumonia and Hypertension, and 12 surgical cases.

“Case rate is more beneficial both to PhilHealth members as it is more transparent, and to health care providers as it is simpler to administer,” he said. The illnesses and surgical cases covered under the case rate payment scheme are based on the cases which PhilHealth paid in the past years.

Juris breaths fresh air in davao concert scene

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:27:00 +0000

If you are looking forward to lots of bumpy and danceable numbers, then don't watch the pre-Valentine concert of Juris. But if you just want some heartwarming songs that will help you reminisce your past loves, your heartaches, your teenage kiligs and your first love, or you just want a relaxing night, then you can still catch Juris Live at the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao tonight, for the second night of her 2-day Pre-Valentine Show.

Thank the Demolay Alumni Feliciano Inigo Chapter for bringing one of the ASAP sessionistas to her roots. Juris was born and educated in Davao--grade school and high school at the Ateneo de Davao and as she said during her show last night "It's always good to be back in Davao..."

Unknown to many, Juris is not only a soulful singer but she also writes songs. She wrote Di Lang Ikaw--with music by Aiza Seguerra. Just found out last night too that she's the voice behind the theme song of the unforgettable teleserye "Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin".

She sang one of my old-time favorites---Tuwing Umuulan At Kapiling Ka which was written by Mr. C and originally recorded by Basil Valdez. The song is Basil's all the way but her rendition of the song was very moving.

This is sort of a homecoming show for another Dabawenyo, Ken Cruz, who surprised me with his light singing of "I Don't Wanna Bore You With It" by Stevie Wonder.

Tickets are sold for P800 (VIP) and P500 (Patron). Viewing with dinner tickets are priced at VIP P1,100 and Patron P800.

Improved BIMP-EAGA air connectivity eyed as Davao hosts 3 EAGA air summits

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:10:00 +0000

A stronger air connectivity within the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), an economic cooperation among the four regional economies, is expected as Davao hosts three very important summits this year.

“The three events are not big in terms of size but big in terms of the quality of the participants, most of them are decision-makers,” Department of Tourism XI director Art Boncato said.

Boncato said the Asia Air Access Forum will be participated in by regulatory bodies and airline officials who will present their plans for the region, The Airline CEO Summit will be a venue for the Chief Executive Officers of the airlines to meet and discuss the strategies and plans of connecting EAGA. The Air Network Forum will allow players to conduct a business to business interaction.

There will be an exhibit during the three Summits, where free exhibit space will be given to all airlines. The Airline Summit will include Garuda Airlines of Indonesia, Malaysia Airline, MAS Wings, Royal Brunei Airline and the airlines operating in the Philippines including PAL, Cebu Pacific, Zest Airline, Air Philippines and Sea Air.

“We are expecting around 200 participants mostly tourism players and the civil aviation authorities,” Boncato said. Other countries involved in the BIMP-EAGA will also be invited including China, Japan and Australia.

Boncato said the Southern Mindanao’s tourism sector is excited about the vibrant prospects for tourism considering the traditional markets for Davao tourism including the United States, Japan and South Korea. He said there are plans to explore the emerging tourism market in China and Singapore.

“There is a big potential for Davao in China as shown by the result of our trip to Beijing last year where Davao was a featured destination,” he said. They are also confident about Singapore as a tourism market for Davao as two airlines are already flying in and out to Singapore, he added.

He said the region’s tourism sector is serious in its bid to connect Manado and Davao. Boncato said Lion Air of Indonesia previously expressed its interest in coming to Davao and they have already met with DOT and Mindanao Development Authority. However, there was a lull in the talks “so we are seriously following this up.”

“The past year was much better than 2011 tourism-wise,” Boncato said. Davao’s major tourism market is still the MICE market or the Meeting, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibits.

Davao is eyeing the next Ad Congress, with additional 4,000 people that can be accommodated by the new facilities that will be built in the city this year, Boncato said.

Explosive components capable of destroying 2-storey bldg found

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 00:45:00 +0000

A sack containing up to 25 kilos of ammonium nitrate and several explosives components was recovered by the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) along Bgy. Malagamot, Panacan at 5 p.m. Thursday afternoon.

“Initial investigations showed that the explosives components were intended for use in quarry and mining operations although it can also be used in crafting bombs,” DCPO director Col. Rene Aspera said during a press briefing at the DCPO Friday morning.

Aspera said included among the items they recovered inside the sack include 97 pieces non-electrical blasting caps, 25.2 kilos of ANFO or ammonium nitrate fuel, 89 pieces of Suprdyne Dynamite and 95 pieces of fuse lighter.

Both the DCPO and Task Force Davao received the information from 911, which got a call from a concerned citizen about several suspicious items scattered along the road and being played on by children.

Major Johngie N. Tizon said an IED reinforced by shrapnels like nails can kill and the extent of damage it can create depends on the size of the IED. He
brought out a sample containing 5 kilograms of ammonium nitrate and said “kaya nitong baliktarin ang isang 6x6 na army truck at kayang was akin ang isang smaller vehicle like a Humvee.”

“Ammonium nitrate weighing 25.2 kilos (like the one recovered by the DCPO and TF Davao Thursday) can demolish even a two-storey building,” he said.

Aspera said the person responsible for the sack carrying explosive components may have panicked upon sensing that there was a checkpoint in Ylang due to the heavy traffic along the Panacan-Sasa junction so he decided to turn to Malagamot instead. However, he added, “meron ding traffic sa Malagamot since there was a checkpoint also kaya siguro iniwan na lang ang sako sa daanan.”

Tizon said one reason for their initial theory that the explosives components were intended for quarry and mining and not for terrorist activities is the inclusion of a non-electrical blasting cap.

“Yung IED na ginagamit may electrical and dos not use a lighter pero ito sinisindihan pa,” he said.

Nokia launches two units with Dual SIM

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 08:58:00 +0000

Those who want to get life’s little perks when it comes to having thousands of music, videos, dual SIM and lots and lots of Gigabytes in their mobile phones but just don’t have the cash can now smile and say---at last!

Thanks to Nokia’s two new feature-rich mobile phones, the Nokia X1-01 and the Nokia C2-00, even the regular daily wage earners will now be able to get these features in their mobile phones, which used to be available only to high-end phones that can break the bank with their prices.

I instantly fell in love with the vibrant colors sported by the Nokia X1-01 especially the Ocean Blue. But when I saw the red unit then that when the problem started because now I can’t decide which color I want. This is a petty cool cellphone which, according to Nokia Corporate Communications manager Nikka Abes, meets every consumer’s requirements when it comes to “convenience, cost savings , coverage and multi-user need.”

Nokia Xi-01 comes with up to 16GB of memory so you can store as many of your favorite music. It has an MP3 player, one-press playlist creation and stereo FM radio which sounds great to any music lover. It also comes pre-loaded with games and has a flashlight. Aside from the colors already mentioned, you can also opt for other colors like Dark Grey and Orange. And let’s not forget it has dual SIM cards and has music side keys.

The more sophisticated of the two is the Nokia C2-00 which is not only dual SIM but offers the convenience of having one of the SIM doors on the side so it’s easy to change into a third or fourth provider without opening the back of the phone considering that most SIMs are located near the battery. This unit allows internet browsing but not WiFi so you need to pay for that. The phone comes with a 32GB memory, FM radio and VGA camera.

While the Nokia X1-01 is more eye-catching than the Nokia C2-00, you will probably go for the latter since it has an audio recording feature. It also comes in so-nice Magenta and other colors like Snow White, Jet Black and Dynamic Grey.

One thing going for the two new units is its affordability, with a P1,990 price tag for the Nokia X1-01 and a P2.990 price tag for the Nokia C2-00. The phones will be available in Davao City between June and July this year.

Dabawenyos at ABS CBN's SUPAHDANZ

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:31:00 +0000

Three young dancers from Davao City are making waves not just in Manila but all over the country! If you’re a regular Sunday viewer of ASAP at ABS CBN then you have probably seen them for several weeks already, making their moves and winning the hearts of dance enthusiasts including celebrities like Billy Crawford and KC Concepcion who are among the judges of ABS CBN’s SUPAHDANZ Competition.

The dance competition is a nationwide search for new dancers who can best show the Supahdanz moves. They started with 10 groups and after several thrilling Sundays, we only now have 4 crews who will compete for the finals.

Davao’s P.O.D. Dance Crew is composed of Ayana QUIROS Merquita and Jabs and Pen under the guidance of Jhoey Zulueta. The fight is getting too close as it nears the end but as of last Sunday, the P.O.D. remains at the top of the voting.

Dabawenyos and P.O.D. fans are urged to vote for the crew anytime through http://asap.abs-cbn.com/. Look for the ASAP SUPAHDANZ OFF POLL at the middle right side of the page and VOTE FOR POD. You can vote as many times as you want by just copying the link to your browser and following the same steps.

Hubert Webb leads Google Trends

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 16:08:00 +0000

Barely three days after he and his co-accused were acquitted by the Philippine Supreme Court, Hubert Webb has been all over the television and surprisingly, at the top of the Google Trends.

The controversial decision of the SC, which to quote "REVERSES and SETS ASIDE the Decision dated December 15, 2005 and Resolution dated January 26, 2007 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CR-H.C. 00336 and ACQUITS accused-appellants Hubert Jeffrey P. Webb, Antonio Lejano, Michael A. Gatchalian, Hospicio Fernandez, Miguel Rodriguez, Peter Estrada and Gerardo Biong of the crimes of which they were charged for failure of the prosecution to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. They are ordered immediately RELEASED from detention unless they are confined for another lawful cause."

In its decision, the court said what is important in the country's justice system is
"not whether the court entertains doubts about the innocence of the accused since an open mind is willing to explore all possibilities, but whether it entertains a reasonable, lingering doubt as to his guilt."

The court further said "For, it would be a serious mistake to send an innocent man to jail where such kind of doubt hangs on to one’s inner being, like a piece of meat lodged immovable between teeth."

LBP lends P7B to priority sectors in 2010

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 02:02:00 +0000

live blogging...

Land Bank of the Philippines has lent a total of P7.01 billion to its priority sectors in Region XI, with the local government sector getting the highest loan portfolio of up to P4,942.05 billion as of the end of October 2010.

LBP XI regional head Vice President Camilo Leyba said the government is the best sector to lend money to, considering that it has a 100 percent repayment rate.

"The payment or amortization for their loans is already included in their yearly budget and is just debited to their accounts," Leyba said.

He admits they have a problem collecting from the small farmers who are most often faced with poor harvest and other problems that prevent them from paying their debts on time.

Halloween Tattoo and Music Fest

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 05:26:00 +0000

Expect Davao City's Halloween to be hot, hot hot, as the Ancheta brothers spearhead a tattoo and music competition on October 30, 2010 starting 2 p.m., at the Offroad Bar, Central Park corner Bangkal.

Dubbed as the "HALLOWEEN TATTOO and MUSIC FEST", the event will feature band performances of mix genre, tattoo competition and lots of fun!

Interested? Registration fee is P600 inclusive of an I.D., certificate, shirt and food. Registration forms are available at Anito Depot, 2nd Floor, NCCC Mall, Maa, Davao City.

Aboitiz bent on building coal-powered plant in Davao City

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 00:44:00 +0000

Fresh from the development of the Sibulan Hydropower Plant in Davao del Sur, Aboitiz Power is now bent on developing another source of energy for Mindanao but this time it has set its eyes on the development of a non-renewable source namely a coal powered plant right in Davao City.

Aboitiz Power called for a press conference yesterday to announce its plan to establish a coal-powered plant in the city. Earlier, its executives met with Davao City mayor Sara Duterte and Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and members of the City Council to get their pulse on the proposed coal-powered plant. They also met with members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Inc. yesterday evening.

The proposed coal-powered plant, with an estimated cost of $400 million, is expected to bring in lots of investments and employment opportunities for the city, not to mention up to 200MW of power.

However, coal mines, from where the coals used to power the plants come from, are known to be the largest contributor to global warming and to climate change problems due to the mine's high emission of methane, carbon dioxide and other waste products including thorium, radioactive contaminants and uranium.

Coal mines are said to result to groundwater interference and water table levels and have high impact on the flow of water in rivers. Aboitiz is looking at Indonesia as its source of coal.

The combustion of coal, is seen as a large contributor to air pollution and acid rain. Erramon Aboitiz however admitted that coal-powered plants have earned a negative reputation in the 1930s but coal-powered plants now use more modern technologies and coal generation has become greener.

Coal-powered plants are however still know to produce emissions of sulfur dioxides, nitrogen and carbon dioxides in the air, thereby contributing to global warming and climate change.

For a city blessed with one of the cleanest waters in the world, having a coal-powered plant right on top of its aquifers can spell nightmare not only for Dabawenyos but for the whole world. But then again, it is still a question of priorities---power or environment.

Ms. Universe Margie Moran with more substance in her 50s

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 21:51:00 +0000

Ms. Universe 1972 Margarita Moran-Floirendo made the Philippines proud when she won the coveted crown several decades ago. But after more than 30 years, she continues to make her countrymen proud by proving that real beauty does not fade.

DatelineDavao made it to the former Ms. U's 57th birthday party at the Tadeco Clubhouse in Panabo last Saturday and realized how this stunning beauty has become more than a pretty face.

Moran-Floirendo still looks regal but has achieved more depth in her personality. With her as one of the executive directors of the Habitat for Humanity Philippines, they have built over 3o,oo0 houses for those who have less in life.

She however emphasized that they do no believe in dole-outs so the houses they built are not free. Aside from the equity paid by the homeowners which is as low as P5,000, the community also contributes their labor in house building.

One would expect a very big event when a celebrity like her celebrates her birthday. Instead, the party was very intimate with no more than 80 guests, all belonging to the people she works with in the community of Panabo and nearby municipalities.

"I prefer it this way so I can interact with everyone," she said. Moran-Floirendo said she is planning to establish more projects in Panabo and in Davao City which she considers her home. She may not have been born in Davao, she said, but she is a real Dabawenyos by heart.

Filariasis: another mosquito-borne disease

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:58:00 +0000

If you think that Dengue and Malaria are enough to terrorize you, then here's another mosquito-borne disease to watch out for especially in endemic areas like Mindanao and the Davao Region.

Remember those illnesses classified by villagers as caused by "buyag" or "usog" that results to thickened and swollen legs,arms, scrotum or even breasts? Medical professionals have warned Dabawenyos about the prevalence of Lymphatic Filariasis in the region.

The mosquitos that case Lymphatic Filariasis usually abound in banana plantations and in abaca farms.

"One of the symptoms of Filariasis is elephantiasis which is manifested in swollen arms, breasts, scrotum, and legs among other body parts," Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan said. Locals usually call this "malaking bayag".

While it is not as popular as Dengue or Malaria, he said, up to 25 million Filipinos are at risk of getting Lymphatic Filariasis.

MinDA has new chair---Dureza out; Antonino in

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 03:25:00 +0000

After weeks of speculation whether Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chair Jesus Dureza will be replaced or will stay on, the people of Mindanao finally got an answer.

MinDA, which used to be known as the Mindanao Economic Development Council, was an offshoot of Republic Act 9996.

MinDA has a new chairperson after President Benigno Aquino III has accepted the resignation of Dureza, who would have been guaranteed a six-year term had he not resigned as MinDA chair.

Dureza handed in his resignation voluntarily to give Pnoy a chance to appoint a Chair of his own choice.

Former South Cotabato Representative Lualhati Antonino, mother of new General Santos Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio, has been formally designated by Pnoy as the new MinDA head during the opening of the 12th National Tuna Congress last Friday. The appointment was announced by former Senator Manuel Roxas who delivered the keynote speech for the Congress.

During an earlier interview and prior to his resignation, Dureza revealed his plans to relocate the MinDA office somewhere in Maramag to make it easily accessible to the other Mindanao cities and provinces.

One Stop Shop Business Registry to Cut Red Tape in RP

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 03:23:00 +0000

Live BLOGGING

Business registration will be easier and a lot faster once the Philippine Business Registry project is implemented.

Department of Trade and Industry-PBR Program Manager Whilmer Morales is now holding a press conference at the Philippine Information Agency, to report on the update of the project, which is expected to be implemented before end of the year.

The PBR is the Philippine government's response to the World Bank report stating that it takes 50 days and 11 processes to register a business in the Philippines.

"This will not only hasten the business registration process but will also lessen red tape in government," he said. The small and medium enterprises are expected to benefit from this program.

Once implemented, the business owner can register his business with the Department of Trade and Industry, which will act on the application in one day. DTI will then pass the documents to the different agencies concerned like the local government unit concerned, Philhealth, SSS, Pag-Ibig and Bureau of Internal Revenue among others.

SM kicks off Kadayawan

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 20:58:00 +0000

Barely a day before the official start of the 2010 Kadayawan sa Davao, SM City Davao is already abloom with everything Kadayawan starting from the weekend sale which ended yesterday.

August 16 is officially the start of Kadayawan sa Davao. SM's Entertainment Center was ready for the festival as it already gave shoppers a preview of the festivities through a pre-Kadayawan photo exhibit by the Camera Club of Davao. Some indigenous costumes were also already on display yesterday.

Halal-Certified Foodsite Up

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 20:04:00 +0000

For a long time, people who required Halal-certified products had to check out the supermarkets and other establishments for proper certification. Those days are finally over, with the launch of a website that features a list of Halal certified food.

Muslims in the Philippines and even all over the world consume only Halal certified products because to them these products are Halal or "legal" and "acceptable". It is considered by the Sharia or Islamic law as permissible.

Among the very first Halal-certified beverage is Tang Instant Drink Mix, which provides a lot of choices when it comes to flavors including pineapple, strawberry, ponkan, grape, mango and the combo flavors of pineapple-orange and orange-mangga. If you're lucky enough to see this in your local supermarkets, then there are also the limited edition Mangga Fiesta in 2009 and the Strawberry Burst in 2010.

Tang, which is produced by Kraft Foods Philippines, has been Halal-certified by two Halal certification bodies. It was first marketed in 1959 in the United States, and was launched in the Philippines only in 1973.

Tang is one of the top choices when it comes to powdered beverages in the Philippines, with a 41 percent value share based on a Nielsen retail audit. It is available in 1-Liter packs and big packs from 200 grams to 1200 grams.

As evident of Tang's popularity, it was used by NASA in 1965 during its Gemini Flights.

So if you want to avoid the hassle of individually checking products for Halal certification right in the department stores, just head on to this foodsite or Get updated on Halal certified food and products in Facebook.

Sun Life Financial Offers More Affordable Insurance For The Common Tao

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 20:01:00 +0000

Are you insured for the future?

A lot of people would say "no" to this question primarily because they do not have extra money to pay for insurance. You just could not blame people for making insurance the least of their considering that there are more urgent financial concerns they should think about.

Sun Life Financial realized the need of the common tao,basically the middle class who cannot afford to pay at least P2.000 monthly for an insurance, so the company launched Sun StartUp, everyone's first step to financial security. And to make the pitch more convincing, they got Piolo Pascual to be their endorser.

"The Sun StartUp Insurance is primarily for those who do not have insurance plans yet," Sun Life Financial Philippines Institutional Marketing Manager Joub Miradora said.

The new insurance product offers affordable payment options and secures the future of your loved ones for less than P5,000 a month. The lowest monthly payment is actually only P384 for a 20-year old male and P365 for a 20-year old female for a coverage of P200,000. You also get a money back feature worth P20,570 and P19,510 after ten years, for the respective rates indicated.

Sun Life has also done away with one of the factors that turns off most people from getting an insurance coverage--paperworks! With the Sun StartUp, you get a simplified application process which only asks four questions from you.

Now, wouldn't you be willing to give up at least P500 a month to secure your family's future?

Live Blogging with ONB President Alex Buenaventura

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 03:59:00 +0000

One Network Bank President Alex Buenaventura is upbeat about the country's future after hearing the State of the Nation Address of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III.

"Never have we had a committed President since the time of President Corazon Aquino and Fidel V. Ramos," he said.

Buenaventura said the Filipino people will be able to see an improvement in the Philippine economy in a few months' time with the perceived increase in investors' confidence to the Philippines and the expected increase in foreign investments here.

Cheez Wiz launches Palamantasan in Davao City

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 01:40:00 +0000

I did not expect my trip to the Buhangin Central Elementary School last July 17 to become a trip back to my elementary school days when I lived for competitions both in essay writing and in poster making. The festive atmosphere and the excitement of the whole school can be felt even from the gates as students dressed in colorful yellow but home-made costumes move from one classroom to another, apparently getting jittery for their scheduled performances after lunch.

The occasion? The launch of Kraft Cheez Whiz Palamantasan ng Sarap. This is the first interschool competition involving grade school students nationwide, in a quest to promote nutrition education.

How about 8 million Filipino malnourished children as inspiration?

“This is actually the first time we are holding this in Davao City, alongside with the Cebu launch,” Kraft Foods Cheez Whiz senior brand manager Paolo Serrano said before the afternoon program started.

Serano said “we want the children to realize the value of nutrition in a fun way so we have prepared creative activities for them”

Students of the Buhangin Central Elementary School participated in the following Palamantasan contests with the specific winners:

Essay Writing Contest
Ella Mae Eborda ( VI-AQUAMARINE)
Jarchitecture or Jar Art
Jayson Tragura (VI) and Sherwin Lance De Leon (VI) for their SUPER CHEEZ WHIZ SANDWICH entry

Sandwich Art
Dave Forro & Mommy Debbie for their recipe PALAMANTASYA HANEP SA PAGMAMAHAL SANDWICH

Cheering Competition CHEEZ CHEERERS with the following members:
Ornalyn Caorte, Tricia Mae Palicte, Carla Dalisay, Angel Mae Manding, Shannen Valenzuela, Krizel Myke Perez, Momina Joy Fiel, Paul Joshua Alicauay, Lindon Osing and Kimberly Mesias.

Speech Choir or Sabayang Bigkas THE 6 TEAM with the following members:
Christian Galendez , Ma. Eula Concepcion Umayao, Jeather Penanueva, Mark Jame Naya, Ryca Madanio, Mechaela Mepiesa, Jessa Lou Bernal, Ivan Bishar, Angelica Coquilla, Alexandra Guitguiten, Mariel Lapitan, Lady Irish Guitguitin, Cherry May Medila, Jeelenee Jayson De Claro, Cristy Cristino, Marialyn Cabase, Jay-Ar Baliong, Angelica Nicole Manriquez, Jasper Marc Chan and Grace Joyce Padios.

“We are encouraging the different schools to Join Palamantasan so they can help promote good nutrition not only to their students but also to the people in general,” Serrano said. Most children are suffering from lack of nutrition—some are underweight while others are undernourished----and by getting their daily dose of Cheez Whiz which contains Calcium, their bones will get the necessary strengthening it requires, he added.

Parents, student and educators alike are encouraged to Make a Pledge to stay away from unhealthy foods and only serve and eat nutritious food.

Buhangin Central Elementary School principal Arturo dela Cruz said he was surprised with the turnout of the Palamantasan since he thought it was just an ordinary activity. It was rally a major event, with tarpaulins strewn all over the school.

“The first time I was told about this even by Kraft Cheez Whiz I said we will just join the easier ones like the essay writing and the sandwich art because the other competitions like Sabayang Bigkas will require more preparation,” dela Cruz said. However, he added, he was assured by the coaches that they will be able to meet the deadline so the school was able to join all the events.

Several schools nationwide have already indicated their commitment to Join Palamantasan and its various events. After all, promoting good nutrition is a very worthy endeavour and with the support of Kraft Cheez Whiz, every Palamantasan event will surely be a big hit!

DSWD to identify poorest of the poor in Davao Region

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 01:12:00 +0000

Will the poorest of the poor stand up?

The new administration under President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development, will finally be able to tell who among the Filipinos are really poor once the results of the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) are out by September this year.

NHTS-PR is an information management system that identifies who and where the poor households are.

“We have lots of data on poverty but none which says where and who are the real poor,” NHTS-PR regional focal person Desiree N. Piñgol said. With the use of the NHTS-PR which started March 2009, she said, the government hopes to have a definition of what “poor:” really means.

Just like the Census, hundreds of enumerators will be going from house to house not to inquire how much income the household is getting on a monthly or yearly basis. Instead, they will interview the households based on proxy means variables or factors that represents their economic condition,

There are actually 34 variables that will be considered by the System when making the ranking of the poorest of the poor including the physical condition of the house, ownership of assets, educational attainment of the household members and even their ability to access the basic social services.

“Each of these factors has its own value and it is the system which will rank them to come up with a clear picture of the economic status of the household involved,” she said.

This is actually a convergence of efforts of all the government agencies tasked to alleviate the country’s poverty level, she said. By knowing the real definition of poor and their exact location, she added, the agencies will be able to target the same people who need the government’s help and will ultimately maximize the budget to aid poor Filipinos. The database will also be shared with non government agencies and civil society groups.

Piñgol said there are many government programs and agencies to alleviate poverty in the country and yet poverty incidence is still high. The number of poor Filipinos has ballooned from 4.3 million in 2003 to 4.6 million in 2006.

“Baka hindi na target ng services yung mga totoong mahirap na nangangailangan ng tulong (maybe the programs were not able to target the poorest of the poor who really needs help),” she added.

She said a total of 495,150 families in Region XI have been enumerated. Based on the 2006 Census, they have identified areas where the poverty incidence is more than 50% or less.

Saturation efforts (everyone was included in the survey by the enumerators) were conducted among provinces where there is more than 50% poverty incidence. Random survey was conducted among provinces where there are only pockets of poverty.

Among the municipalities included in the random survey are Don Marcelino, Sta. Maria, Laak, Taragona and Talaingod. Jose Abad Santos and Sarangani were however included in the saturation drive as they have a poverty incidence of more than 50%.

“The result of the survey is expected to be more reliable because every encoder has his own account and all encoded items are validated,” she said. They will then run the Proxy Means Test results which will be posted in the different barangays to make sure it is correct.

She said the local verification committee will verify that the results are indeed accurate.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P)

In the meantime, the DSWD provides temporary relief to the poor Filipino people through the 4Ps or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. This is a 5-year poverty reduction strategy of the government that assists the poorest households by providing monthly cash subsidy and is now on its second year. It aims to help improve the health, nutrition and education of children.

“As of December 2009, a total of P271.914 million have been released in Region XI for the Program,” regional 4Ps focal person Merlita A. Paragama said. It has so far reached out to 49,899 beneficiaries.

Under the 4Ps, a household without school children is entitled to a P500 monthly allowance. The maximum amount a family (with children) can get is P4,200 for every quarter.

“We have noted an increase in the enrolment rate in Davao Oriental since the program was implemented in 2008,” she said.

While the 4P program has received a lot of flak for doling out money to the poor, Paragama said the goal of the program is really to provide the immediate needs of the poor families such as money to buy food.

“The program also aims to break the inter-regional cycle of poverty by targeting health and education,” she said. Most people do not appreciate the value of education because what they need immediately is food for their grumbling stomachs.

With the program, children of poor families are encouraged to go to school because they are given the money for their subsistence provided they strictly follow the checklist of the program. If the list of requirements, such as continued schooling is not followed, then they are either suspended from the program or ultimately terminated.

Dengue scare in Davao Region

noreply@blogger.com (lovely) — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 09:15:00 +0000

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has passed a resolution declaring the Province of Davao del Sur in a state of calamity due to the continued rise in dengue cases in the Province.

“A total of 600 dengue cases have been noted in the province with Digos City on top of the list,” Davao del Sur provincial information officer Nilda Aniñon said during a press conference held at the Philippine Information Agency two weeks ago.

Aniñon said this is followed by Bansalan with 95 dengue cases, Sta. Cruz with 52 dengue cases and Malalag with 26 dengue cases. Dengue has also claimed the lives of 14 people from the Province, majority are from Digos City.

Expected to follow said declaration last Friday is Digos City, with 10 lives in the city already claimed by dengue. Digos City Mayor Joseph Peñas said the dengue cases in the city have reached an alarming level and the local government has to act now to prevent further deaths.

Davao City has not been spared from dengue cases, with 14 deaths due to dengue registered in the city for the first half of the year. While reports from the City Health Office shows a decrease in the number of dengue cases in the city from 1,690 in January to June 2009 to 1,130 dengue cases for the same period this year.

Davao City has the most number of dengue cases in Southern Mindanao, followed by Davao del Norte with only 220 dengue cases. Health officials here however said the higher number of dengue cases in the city can be attributed to the larger population of the city and the accessibility of health institutions in the city which makes it easy for the public to report an infection.

Dengue

While the term dengue used to have an evil connotation no thanks to the word itself which was based on the phrase “Ki denga pepo” from Swahili which means an evil spirit cased cramp-like seizure, there is really nothing un-spiritual about dengue.

The culprit has been identified as the Aedes aegypti mosquito which usually bites during the early part of the day. While it is not contagious, a person infected by the dengue virus can also become a source once bitten by a mosquito.

A person bitten by the carrier mosquito can develop a fever within 6 days after the transmission of the virus. Among the symptoms are headaches, nausea and vomiting, high-grade fever,, rashes on the skin and even nose or gum bleeding. However, it is important to have the patient diagnosed for dengue through a blood test the soonest possible time.

Preventing Dengue

One of the best ways to prevent dengue is to clean the surroundings, ridding your environment of plants , old bottles and rubber tires that can serve as habitats for mosquitoes.

However, those who want to be assured of more protection opt for mosquito repellents with DEET or Diethymetatoluamide. While it does not kill mosquitos and other insects per se, DEET can prevent mosquito bites.

DEET works by masking the smell of carbon dioxide usually given off by the human skin. And since insects hunt for their meal by following the scent of carbon dioxide, DEET fools the mosquitos into getting their bite elsewhere.
Insect repellents like OFF Lotion can however be highly priced at about P30 for the smallest tube and P120 for the largest repellent.

Enterprising companies (like Johnson & Sons, Inc—the company behind OFF Lotion) have also started selling anti-mosquito candles like the Citronella Bucket to give people more options when it comes to protecting themselves from mosquitos and in effect from dengue.

The anti-mosquito candle is not only protective, but it can also provide a more relaxing atmosphere. The wax can burn for up to 50 hours. You can also get the traditional anti-mosquito coil for a cheaper option.

You can also go for the natural way of preventing mosquito bite sand that is through the use of the oil of lemon eucalyptus, which is derived from plants.
But if you want the age-old method of protecting yourself from mosquitos, the use of mosquito net which is very affordable at P100 to P300 depending on its size, is perhaps the best option for the bedroom