Davao City's Sunstar Super Balita Gets Nationwide Exposure In The Buzz

Davao City's very own Sunstar Super Balita was given a few minutes nationwide exposure in ABS CBN's showbiz Sunday Show "The Buzz".

The Buzz flashed a copy of Sunstar Super Balita, Sunstar's Visayan version, which reported on the pregnancy of moviestar Nancy Castiglione. Castiglione's boyfriend and the father of her "twins" comes from a rich family in Davao City. The Buzz acknowledged Sunstar Super Balita for its news regarding Castiglione's pregnancy when everyone from Manila was still unaware of it.

Sun.Star Davao is a daily newspaper which is published in tabloid form but with broadsheet content and focus. While it now belongs to the Sunstar Publishing Group based in Cebu, its predecessor Ang Peryodiko Dabaw was identified as a homegrown Davao community newspaper.

Davao Police To Get X'mas Bonus From Mayor

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte confirmed this morning that Davao City policemen will get a bonus from the city government. However, the money will not be directly given to the police officers but to their wives or family members.

"Kabalo na man mo unsa ang rason ngano dili nako ihatag sa inyo deretso ang kwarta; kabalo na mo ana (you already know the reason why I will not give the money to you directly)," Duterte said.

If the police officer is married then it is the legal wife who will get the bonus. However, for those who are single, their bonus will go to their parents or other family members. Duterte said the bonus should be spent for food this Christmas and not for anything else.

Teachers under the city government's payroll will also get a P5,000 bonus plus P1,000.

Floirendo's, Microtel To Put Up P90M Hotel In Gensan

The Floirendos of Davao City, who owns the Microtel Inns & Suite franchise in the area, are expected to invest in General Santos City's hotel industry through the construction of the P90-million Microtel Inns & Suites.

The 50-room hotel, which will reportedly start during the first three months of 2009, will be located just in front of St. Elizabeth Hospital along National Highway. Residents of General Santos City have noticed the clearing of some of the establishments in the area which consists of a drugstore, bakeshop and a convenience store.

This was confirmed by the Microtel Development Corp. business development manager Grace T. Magnaye who said her company are indeed discussing such a possibility with the Floirendos of Davao.

Next to Davao City, General Santos City (which is only 3 hours from Davao) has been attracting several conventions and other national gatherings over the past years. Microtel is just one of the many investors that have signified their confidence in Gensan's economy. The construction of the Robinsons Mall has already started while SM City is in the process of negotiating with landowners in their target site.

Will Obama's Victory Improve The Way Of Life Of 3rd World Economies Like The Philippines?

The victory of incoming United States president Barack Obama has inspired a lot of people. The US election has gone beyond mere American politics. A lot of countries have been given a confidence boost by Obama's victory despite the prevailing financial crisis. And now that he is about to replace Bush, the question remains: will his victory change the way we live even if we are miles away from the American Dream?

Storm Signal No. 1 For Davao Lifted As "Tonyo" Heads To Palawan

It is a sunny day in Davao City!

Storm signal number 1 has been lifted not only in Davao City but in all of Mindanao as tropical depression "Tonyo" heads westward to Palawan. As of 10 A.M. today, the enter of the typhoon is 210 kms East of Puerto Princesa City.

Pagasa however cautions those who are near mountain slopes and low lying areas to keep watch and be alert for possible landslides and flashfloods.

While Palawan can expect gusty winds and rains today, the rest of Davao and Mindanao can expect cloudy skies and scattered rainshowers.

Storm Signal No. 1 For Davao City

Whoever said that typhoons do not visit Davao City has been proven wrong by this morning's Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or Pagasa advisory placing the city under Storm Signal No. 1.

At least eight Mindanao areas have been placed under Storm Signal No. 1 as ALPA (active low-pressure area) Tonyo developed into a tropical depression. As of 10 pm yesterday, "Tonyo" was about 470 kilometers east of the city and is expected to be 150 km northeast of Davao by tonight.

Among the areas placed under Storm Signal No. 1 are Davao Oriental, Davao del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte, Dinagat and Siargao Islands.

However, Pagasa said the storm is easing out as of 6PM tonight. Those living near areas susceptible to water and land movements are however asked to be vigilant and to be careful until Pagasa has lifted or lowered the storm signal.

Mt. Apo, Mt. Hamiguitan Nominated As World Heritage Sites

Mindanao might yet have two of its natural attractions listed in the World Heritage Site if it meets the criteria set by the International Council on Monuments and Sites and the World Conservation Union.

The said mountains are located in the provinces of Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, the city of Davao and North Cotabato.

Aside from being Mindanao's highest peek, it is also a sanctuary of endangered and threatened biological species including the Philippine Eagle or Pithecophaga jefferyl which is known as the World's second largest eagle; the Almaciga or Agathis philippinensis and the Lauan or Shorea palita. Mt. Apo is also home to three indigenous communities namely the Bagobos, Manobos and the Klatas.

Mt. Hamiguitan, on the other hand, is situated in a biogeographic region in Mindanao with high units of flora and fauna including the remaining blocks of Philippine dipterocarp forests where the Philippine Eagle nests and where over 878 species of plans mostly angiosperms exist.

Only sites that have been included in the country's Tentative List can be nominated to the World Heritage List and only those that meet at least one of the 10 selection criteria can be included in the list.

Among the sites included in the World Heritage List are the Baroque Churches of the Philippines, the Tubbataha Reef Marine ark, the Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, Historic Town of Vigan and Puerto-Princesa Subterranean River National Park.

"This will be an opportunity for Mindanao to be identified as a Heritage Site," said Councilor Leo Avila. He said they have been given until December this year to provide the necessary information to UNESCO to support the nomination of Mt. Apo and Mt. Hamiguitan.

Avila, who solicited the support of Mindanaoans who can contribute any significant information that can help the bid to include the sites in the World Heritage List, said it is imperative to curb the uncontrolled trekking of tourists in Mt. Apo because it endangers the site.(thanks to Tacurong Mountaineers for the Mt. Apo photo)