UNIQLO invades Davao

Nothing can stop these people from joining UNIQLO's private opening event at SM Premier in Lanang.

It’s the day after the declaration of martial law. And yet, people flocked to  SM Premier in Lanang to have a taste of what Japanese clothing brand UNIQLO has to offer.

Uniqlo opened its first store in Mindanao at SM Premier, Lanang Wednesday (May 24). However, only the store’s guests were allowed entry and given the opportunity to shop as the official opening to the public would happen on Friday, May 26. This is the brand’s 37th store in Mindanao. It will open its 38th store at SM City Davao Annex at Ecoland on June 2.

Uniqlo started as Men’s Shop Ogori Shoji in Yamaguch Prefecture in 1949.  Uniqlo’s first location opened in Hiroshima in 1984.

“Davao is the largest city in Mindanao and we are thrilled to open our first two stores here,” Uniqlo Philippines Chief Operating Office Katsumi Kubota. But why Mindanao and why Davao? 

UNIQLO Philippines Chief Operating Office Katsumi Kubota gamely answered all the questions thrown his way about the Japanese brand's decision to invest not only in Davao but in Mindanao.

Apparently, the company recognized Mindanao’s economic growth and has high expectations in Mindanao.

This is Uniqlo’s 5th year in the country and they appropriately marked this with a big bang because by August this year, the company will open its 40th store in the Philippines. The company is set to open another store at SM Cagayan de Oro next month and then another store in Subic this year.

Uniqlo’s opening coincided with the declaration of martial law in Mindanao. However, the number of people in attendance, including several city councilors and the business sector negated fears that the declaration would have a negative impact in the city’s business climate.

The people behind the successful launch of UNIQLO's first store in Davao, at SM Lanang

Prix Banzon of PNA and Apol Legario, PR Officer of SM Ecoland checking out the latest in fashion at UNIQLO

Moms will definitely have a hard time choosing from the latest clothing style for kids of all ages, only at UNIQLO

Shopping is easy and convenient at UNIQLO

The UNIQLO store at SM Premier in Lanang has changed the shopping landscape in the city

Vina, Shaina In Davao For Opening Of Ystilo Abreeza

Celebrity sisters Vina and Shaina Magdayao, popular nowadays for her role as Camille in the afternoon television series "The Better Half",  were in Davao City Sunday to grace the opening of Ystilo Salon at Abreeza Mall.

This is the 28th company-owned Ystilo Salon in the country and the only one in Mindanao. Vina said there are several more Ystilo Salons in the country under franchise. Shaina, however, hinted there will be another Ystilo Salon in Mindanao soon but they declined to reveal more details as it is still under negotiation.

"The reason why we have grown over the years is because we offer quality services," Vina said.

Fans of the celebrity sisters crowded in front of the Ystilo Salon early so as not to miss their idol. Both Vina and Shaina took some time to accommodate their fans' requests for selfies and group pictures.

No sad stories, only hard work for Ateneo de Davao bar topnotcher

Unlike other Bar topnotchers with sad and emotional stories, Ateneo de Davao University Law School's Justin Ryan D. Morilla, No. 5 in the 2016 Bar Examinations, passed the bar because of sheer hard work.

"I'm just a typical law student who dreamed of becoming a lawyer...not much emotional story for me," said the 25-year old new lawyer who got an 88.4% grade in the bar examinations.

Morilla hails from Tacurong, Sultan Kudarat and graduated with a BA Political Science degree at the UP Visayas. He now works with the Sycip, Salazar, Hernandez, Gatmaitan Law Office in the city.

He said there is no formula for topping the bar but he studied hard during his review, and regularly slept at 11 p.m. after studying most of the day. The most difficult subjects for him during the Bar are Mercantile Law and Criminal Law, while he considers Taxation as relatively easier than the other subjects.

"It is important to have discipline, establish a routine and focus, and leave behind emotional and other baggage behind," he said. During the bar, he added, one should not burden one's self with unnecessary stress. 

ADDU College of Law Assistant Dean Atty. Lydia C. Galas said the Ateneo usually have more than 200 first year enrollees every year. This started right after the impeachment proceedings against  then President Joseph Estrada.

"Since then we have had five sections for the first years every year but this would eventually taper off to 30 students for the fourth year," Ms. Galas said,

Dean Manuel Quibod said the Ateneo Law School has performed well in the last even before this year's Bar Examination result. He attributed this to a good faculty mix and good school facilities.

"It is not important that you have many bright students because while it counts, it is not crucial, there are always late bloomers later on, he said.

Mr. Quibod attributed the increasing number of bar topnotchers from the provinces to the availability and increased access in law school reading materials. Unlike before when they had to scamper to get hold of the SCRA which usually arrives late in Davao City, law students can now easily access the Supreme Court decided cases through the internet.

"The existence of the law school is really built by these two gentlemen who were unattached except to the law," Pre-Bar Review Director Father Agustin L. Nazareno said. He was referring to former Deans Epifanio E. Estrellado and Hildegardo Iñigo. The present Dean, Atty. Quibod, is only the third in the law school in its almost 56 years of existence.

Boiling Crabs & Shrimps now at SM Annex

"It's time to be messy," so says the people behind Blue Post Crabs & Shrimps. So what can food lovers do but follow their lead?

Boiling Crabs & Shrimps launched its third branch in Davao at the SM Annex yesterday where they gave their guests a chance to experience how it is to be truly messy in a classy way.

The restaurant's interiors will make you feel like you are really enjoying your lunch or dinner right next to the seashore. Ambience-wise, this homegrown restaurant will really make your gastronomic adventure well worth it.


So how's the food? Before being thrown into a feast of crabs and shrimps, I was about to ask Anthony Ang, Chief Executive Officer of AA Group of Companies, what makes Boiling Crabs & Shrimps stand out from the rest. The company owners silenced our group by serving us their new concoctions, drowning the questions with nods of approval.

While other restaurants serving crabs just go through the motion of cooking the crabs the traditional way, this restaurant reinvented the crab relegating its competitors in the background.

If you like your crabs boiled with corn and everything nice in it, then order the blue Posts Boiled Crabs. Or you can get the Crabs in Garlic Lemon Sauce.

Better yet, try the Blue Posts Boiled Shrimps and choose from the many extras including corn on the cob, potatoes, pork sausage, Hungarian sausage or plain rice.

But please make mine Crabs in Salted Eggs! 

BFAR eyes more fish landing centers

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR)-Davao Region is eyeing the establishment of more Community Fish Landing Center (CFLC) in the region to improve the socio-economic condition of the fisherfolk communities.

“We have noted a 9.5% increase in fish production last year. The establishment of the CFLC is another strategy to further increase production this year,” BFAR Davao Regio Director Fatma Idris said.

The CFLCs, which is part of the Targeted Actions to Reduce Poverty and Generate Economic Transformation (TARGET) of the Bureau launched in 2014, aims to reduce post-harvest losses in the fisheries sector to 18% from the present 25%.

Among the three programs under TARGET are the fisherfolk registration, Boat Registration and the CFLC.,

Idris said with the CFLCs, BGAR aims to put up more infrastructure projects in order to house marine-entrepreneurs and fish farmers so they could get more opportunities to make their livelihood sustainable.

She said there were five CFLCs proposed in 2015 with an allocation of P2,850,000 each. The CFLC in Mati City, Davao Oriental was the first to be inaugurated on March 23, 2016.

"The remaining four CFLCs are still undergoing construction stages," Idris said. Up to 15 CFLC sites with a total budget of P45,000,000 are targeted for 2016.(lac)

Fish catch in the Davao Region up in 2015

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) in the Davao Region has recorded a 9.5% increase in fish catch in the Davao Gulf.

“We noted an increase of 9.5 percent in fish catch following the strict implementation of the closed season and other programs of BFAR last year,” BFAR-Davao Director Fatma Idris said.

Idris said the growth in the fisheries production resulted to a 22 percent fish sufficiency in 2015. This confirms that the region is still one of the top contributors in the country’s fisheries production.

"This implies that the production can suffice the 22 percent of the fish requirement in the region given the number of population," Idris said.

The Bureau has recorded a total fish production of 251,342 metric tons from 2012 to 2015 based on the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) data.

There was however a 22.5 percent decrease in the production from 2013 to 2014 due to the series of tropical storms, but the production bounced back from 2014-2015.

Idris said the increase can be attributed to the ongoing implementation of the Closed Season for the Conservation of Small Pelagic Fishes at Davao Gulf and increase in aquaculture and marine municipal sub-sectors.

The implementation of the Targeted Actions to Reduce Poverty and Generate Economic Transformation (Target) Program in the Fisheries Sector has also helped increase fish production in the region.

The five mariculture parks in Panabo City and Samal in Davao del Norte, Pantukan town, Compostela Valley, Mati City in Davao Oriental, and Malita in Davao Occidental had a major share in the increased fish production.

From 2012 to 2015, a total of 20,099 metric tons of bangus and other high value species were produced from the five mariculture parks, including mariculture zones in Malalag, Sta. Cruz, Sta. Maria towns and Digos City in Davao del Sur.

PSA data shows that  the total production of bangus was at 90,922 metric tons from 2012 to 2015, while seaweeds had a total production of 18,076 metric tons in the same period.

"The remarkable production has provided job employment opportunities and livelihood in Davao region," Idris said.

Closed season in Davao Gulf starts

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) will implement for the third year the closed fishing season for pelagic fishes in the Davao Gulf from June 1 to August 31 this year.

"We are reminding our fisherfolk that June 1 signals the end of the open fishing season in the Davao Gulf which lasted from September to May, and the start of the three-month close season" BFAR Davao Region Fatma Idris said.

Joint Administrative Order No. 02 of the Department of Agriculture and Department of Interior and Local Government prohibited the catching of pelagic fishes in the Davao Gulf from June to August every year.

Under the terms of the Closed Season, fishermen or fishing companies will not be allowed to catch pelagic fishes using ringnet and bagnet. The ban also applies to small-scale to large scale commercial fishing with vessels from 3.1 gross tons (GT) to more than 150 GT.

The declaration of a closed fishing season was implemented by BFAR as a strategy to increase fish production in the concerned areas where the fishing ban is being implemented namely Davao, Zamboanga, Palawan and Zambales.

BFAR National Director and Undersecretary Asis Perez said they expect the country’s fish catch to increase and to grow bigger with the declaration of a fishing ban in these areas.

Asis said the closed season will give pelagic fishes a time to spawn and multiply which will ultimately benefit fisherfolk later on. 

Before the Closed Season only 50 percent  of the fishes caught were big but after the first year of implementation, he said, it has increased to 78 percent which means the pelagic fishes have successfully reproduced during the Closed Season and are ready for harvesting.

Among the pelagic fishes that have notably grown bigger in size after the close season are: Bilong-Bilong (Mene maculata) which has grown up to 19 centimeters in length after the closed season compared to its regular size of 11 cm.; Pirit (Auxis rochei) has grown in length from 8.5 cm to 23.5 cm. With an increased production of 40,000 in 2014 from the 15,000 during the previous year and Matambaka (Selar crumenophthalmus) with an increase in production of 170,000 in 2014 from 120,000 during the previous year.

Aside from its main goal of protecting the pelagic fishes in the Davao Gulf during their spawning season, the Closed Season is also being implemented to strengthen the country’s campaign against Illegal, Unreported and Uncontrolled Fishing (IUUF).