Davao Movies: High School Musical 3 Extended

Want to relieve your good old high school days? Then watch High School Musical 3, now on an extended run in Davao theaters. The first two High School Musical shows became popular among the younger generation not only for the wonderful and easy-to-remember songs (remember "We're All In this Together" and "Start Of Something New) but also for the charismatic cast led by Zac Efron (Troy Bolton) and Vanessa Hudgens (Gabriella Montez) who play the modern day Romeo and Juliet. Hudgens, by the way, is born of a Filipina mother (Gina Guangco) who grew up in Manila making her half Filipino by blood.

What made the Emmy Award-winning High School Musical a hit was its theme which gave almost everyone a chance to relate. High school love, high school indecision and the need to be accepted in society are common feelings that transcend culture and nationality so it is not surprising that HSM was a hit worldwide.

However, HSM 3 is doubly remarkable because the show had more heart when it tackled separation, not only between two loves but also between friendships when it is time to mature and move on from high school to college. Watching the third installment of HSM (watch out for the 4th which is in the making!) will make you realize how significant high school life is. It is that stage when you more or less determine where you will, be headed. It is also the most enjoyable stage in life.

HSM 3 is now on its second week at:

SM Cinema 1
12:20/2:30/4:40/6:50/9:00

NCCC Cinema 4
11:35/1:40/3:45/5:60/7:55

Stronger IT To Strengthen Davao's Role As Region's Business Hub

Davao City can only become more competitive with the strengthening of the city's Information and Communications Technology sector.

This was bared by ICT Davao, Inc. president Lizabel Holganza, who said a stronger ICT sector will contribute to the city's competitiveness as a business hub in the region. Holganza is also the chairperson of the ICT Industry Cluster of Davao Region.

The industry is positioning itself as the ICT hub of the south and Holganza said this is very possible considering the many word class facilities as well as the highly-competent workforce in the city. These, she said, are competitive advantages that will lure ICTs to locate in Davao despite the challenges Mindanao is facing including the isolated conflicts in the island.

The National Telecommunications Commission through Memorandum No. 05-05-200 declared Davao as an IT Hub after the Commission on Information and Communications Technology gave the city 82 out of 90 points. The CICT was created in 2004 by virtue of Executive Order 269 primarily to streamline and implement and the various government plans and programs related to ICT.

Holganza said the city's ICT strength is being developed and strengthened with the continuous trainings being conducted among its stakeholders. Such training was conducted for the city's ICT stakeholders (both from the private and government sectors) at the Apo View Hotel last September 12.

The city is a very attractive destination not only for ICT locators but for other businesses as well and the the ICT sector in the city aims to strengthen that foothold Holganza said.

Davao Housing Fair Starts At NCCC Mall Today

Dabawenyos who are planning to purchase real estate property should take advantage of the three-day Housing Fair being held at the NCCC Mall in Matina, Davao City from October 29 to 31, 2008.

A total of 14,830 units worth P4 billion have been sold during the first Housing Fair in 2006.

Take your pick from any of the 12 exhibitors participating in the Housing Fair including Uraya Land Development Inc., Robinsons Home Inc., Kisan Lu Realty, Filinvest Land Inc., Primeland Marketing, Davao Joyful Homes, DMC Urban Property Development, Inc., Santos Land Development Corporation, HLC Construction and Development Corporation, Crown Communities, Foothills Realthy and Development Corporation, Chula Vista Residences and Holcim Philippines.

Various housing units will be on sale during the Housing Fair according to Rose Taasan, project office of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC). Encouraged to avail of this opportunity are Overseas Filipino Workers and private sector employees since most of the housing units that will be offered during the fair are very affordable. The buyers can also look forward to the fast tracking of the disposition of assets foreclosed by key government financial institutions and shelter agencies.

Those who intend to process their applications during the Fair should bring their Proof of Income, Community Tax Certificate and marriage certificate if it applies.

RP Lags Behind India, China As Top Spam Sources For 2008

Good news or bad news?

As usual, the Philippines is at the tail end of a comparison study among Asian countries. This time, the country lagged behind India, China, Thailand and Korea in terms of its contribution to global spamming.

To spam is to send unsolicited email messages to people. In most cases, spamming involves the sending of the same messages to as many email addresses as possible, usually in the form of advertising quick-get-rich schemes, erectile dysfunction drugs like Viagra and the likes.

According to Trend Micro, an Internet content security provider, Asia accounts for 16.57% of the total spam volume while 57.4% is contributed by the Top 10 spam relaying countries. Sophos, another firm specializing in Internet content security, has listed down to the world's top spam sources from July to September 2008 to include the United States which topped the list for relaying 18.9% of global spam, Russia (8.3%), Turkey (8.2%), China including HongKong (5.4%), Brazil (4.5%), South Korea (3.8%), India (3.5%), Argentina (2.9%), Italy (2.8%) and the United Kingdom (2.7%).

As per Trend Micro's data, India is the top spam source in Asia accounting for over 4% of the total worldwide spam. This was followed by China, Republic of Korea and Thailand. While Sophos and Micro Trend had different data on the percentage of spam contribution by the Asian countries, the two were nevertheless consistent in listing the four countries as the top spam sources albeit in different ranking. The Philippines has not been cited at all among the top spam sources in the region.

This can be positive for the Philippines by saying it is a safe place for Internet owls. However, is anyone safe from the reach of the Internet?

Liquor Ban In Davao Cemeteries Starts October 31 MN

If you are preparing the booze and the food for your cemetery trip this weekend then make sure you leave the booze behind. Bringing and drinking liquor in Davao cemeteries has been prohibited by the Davao City Police and the ban starts on October 31 midnight up to November 1 and 2.

DCPO chief Superintendent Ramon Apolinario said it is not only liquor that is prohibited inside the Davao cemeteries but also bladed weapons and loud music. The DCPO will confiscate bladed weapons and liquors found upon inspection at the cemetery gates.

Apolinario said the DCPO will be closely watching not only the cemeteries but also the Sasa Wharf, the Davao City International Airport and the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal to ensure the safety of the people during the All Saints' and All Souls' Day.

BDO Shares Down To P22.50

Despite claims from Philippine banks and companies that the recent collapse of the US investment bank Lehman Brothers has not affected their operations, here comes another casualty and this time it's the country's second largest bank.

With assets of P621.30 billion as of the end of 2007 brought about by its merger with Equitable Bank, BDO-EPCI is second only to Metrobank with assets worth P706.89. Banco de Oro's shares however plummeted by P7 yesterday bringing the bank's share prices down to P22.50.

Banco de Oro incurred a P1.3 billion loss during the third quarter due to its exposure to the Lehman Brothers which forced the bank to make some extraordinary provisions for some of its impaired assets which was originally pegged at P3.8 billion but already reached P4.28 billion. BDO admitted during last September's Senate hearings that its exposure to Lehman amounted to $134 million which was small compared to the bank's assets worth P700 billion.

The bank told a Senate hearing in September it had a $134-million exposure in Lehman Brothers but the amount was small compared to assets of more than P700 billion. However, the investment losses was aggravated by a contraction in BDO's foreign exchange gains, trading and service fees which dropped to P5.84 billion.

However, BDO said its balance sheet continues to remain strong with P743 billion worth of assets. This shows a 13.68% capital adequacy ratio which is way more than the regulatory minimum of 10%.

Davao City Not Profitable For Its IT Grads

The number of students taking up IT-related technology courses in Davao City may have increased over the years but it seems the city is not a profitable place for its very own IT graduates.

This was bared by Ateneo de Davao University Computers Study Division chair Edwin Marañon who said most of the city's IT graduates prefer to work in other cities like Manila and Cebu where salaries are higher.

Marañon said that while the basic salary for new IT graduates in the city starts at P8,000, Cebu and Davao companies offer IT fresh graduates a minimum of P16,000. It is thus not surprising that eight of ten IT graduates from Davao opt to work in Manila and Cebu.

This situation is lamentable and ironic considering that Davao is starting to become a preferred destination for IT investors due to the talented IT graduates it produces year after year. He said the Ateneo alone gets flooded with inquiries from investors who are looking for IT workers even before they graduate from college. This competitive advantage is in danger if the city fails to keep its IT graduates within its folds.