DAVAO RUMOR OF THE WEEK

Davao Central Warehouse Club is building its 3rd store in Davao City located in Toril (beside Saint Peter’s College of Toril).

LIST OF ONLINE PHILIPPINE NEWSPAPERS

DAVAO HIVE OFFICIAL LIST OF ONLINE PHILIPPINE NEWSPAPERS:

National

• ABS-CBN: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/
• ASIA JOURNAL: http://www.asianjournalusa.com/
• BALITA PINOY: http://www.balitapinoy.net/
• BALITA PINOY: http://www.balita.org/
• BULATLAT: http://www.bulatlat.com/
• BUSINESSWORLD: http://www.bworldonline.com
• CBCP NEWS: http://www.cbcpnews.com/
• DAILY TRIBUNE: http://www.tribune.net.ph/
• DIARYO PILINO: http://www.diaryopilipino.net/
• FILIPINO EXPRESS: http://www.filipinoexpress.com/
• PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER: http://www.inquirer.net/
• MALAYA: http://www.malaya.com.ph/
• MANILA BULLETIN: http://www.mb.com.ph/
• MANILA TIME: http://www.manilatimes.net/
• NEWSBREAK: http://www.newsbreak.com.ph/
• PEN AND INK: http://www.penandink.com.ph/
• PHIL. CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM: http://pcij.org/
• PHILIPPINE NEWS CENTER: http://www.philippinenews.com/
• PHIL. NEWS AGENCY: http://www.pna.gov.ph
• PHILIPPINE STAR: http://www.philstar.com/
• SUNSTAR: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/

Local

• BACOLOD – VISAYAN DAILY STAR: http://www.visayandailystar.com/
• CEBU – CEBU DAILY NEWS: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/cebudailynews/
• DIPOLOG – DAILY DIPOLOGNON: http://www.dipolognon.com/
• DAVAO – MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR: http://www.dailymirror.ph/
• DAVAO – MINDANAO TIMES: http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/
• DAVAO – MINDA NEWS: http://www.mindanews.com/
• DAVAO -  NEWS HEADLINES: http://www.news-local.net/Davao
• DAVAO – DAVAO TODAY: http://www.news-local.net/Davao
• DUMAGUETE – NEGROS CHRONICLE: http://www.negroschronicle.com/
• LAGUNA – LAGUNA TIMES: http://www.lagunatimes.net/
• SAN FERNANDO – PUNTO CENTRAL LUZON: http://punto.com.ph/

Check out Greenpeace – Making Waves

Title: Greenpeace – Making Waves
Link: http://gotaf.socialtwist.com/redirect?l=-768891177906512116821

Davao Hive: Project Blueberry

DAVAOHIVE LAUNCHES PROJECT BLUEBERRY

Project Blueberry: Initiative 001

EARTH CONGRESS

Environmental Awareness for Rehabilitating our Tortured Habitat 

Earth Congress aims to popularize Global Environmental Activism, promote Pro-Green Mechanisms, and infuse in our culture a crusade to protect our ailing Mother Earth.

 Earth Congress is an initiative to convene all Environmental Groups from all sectors in the community who are in accord on its objectives, aspirations, and determination of SAVING MOTHER EARTH AND MITIGATE THE ILL EFFECTS OF HUMAN INTERVENTION IN THE NATURAL WORLD.

http://davaohive101.blogspot.com/ 

Post your reply (with your name and address) at the Project Blueberry Page

ROBINSON’S DEPARTMENT STORE AT ABREEZA MALL DAVAO

Davao City will have a full-service Robinsons Department Store located at Abreeza, the Ayala Center project here of Ayala Land and the Floriendo Group. Clavel Tongco, Senior Division Head of Ayala Malls based in Cebu City told me that Robinsons Department Store would be the anchor department store at the Ayala Center Davao at Bajada. She said Robinsons would build its own department store connected to the Abreeza Mall. Robinsons recently opened a Cyber Center along JP Laurel but with limited space for stores and restaurants. The entire second level of the center is devoted to BPO business locators. Tongco said the Ayala Center Davao is expected to open in mid 2011 with development cost topping P2.4 billion. The Davao City Investment Incentive Board recently granted its application for local tax holidays.

Source: Peter Lavina

DAVAO-BRUNEI FLIGHTS START IN DECEMBER

EVERYTHING is being ironed out for the opening of new flights that will service the Davao-Brunei Darussalam routes in December, in time for the opening of the refurbished Samal Casino Resort of the Ekran Berhad Sdn Group.

On Friday, officials of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Immigration, Quarantine, and Security were in a meeting, the first of a series, wherein preparations and additional measures were discussed for the operation of Pearl Pacific Airways that will start in December.

ONE NETWORK BANK ACQUIRES RURAL BANK

DAVAO CITY — One Network Bank has folded in the Rural Bank of New Corella based in Davao del Norte, further extending the reach of Mindanao’s largest rural bank.

Alex V. Buenaventura, bank president, said the acquisition will allow One Network Bank to expand its loan services to other areas in Davao del Norte, particularly to entities engaged in banana farming.

“We will be able to increase our loans to the banana industry,” Mr. Buenaventura told BusinessWorld in a text message.

The acquisition raised One Network Bank’s assets to P1.534 billion from P1.531 billion. It also fulfilled the central bank’s wish for fewer but bigger rural banks.

The memorandum of agreement on the deal was signed on August 10 by Mr. Buenaventura and officials of the other rural bank. It was approved during the banks’ stockholders meeting on August 24.

The Rural Bank of New Corella was based in Davao del Norte, where about 60% of the 40,000 hectares of commercial banana plantation in the region is located.

This latest development is expected to trigger both loan and deposit expansion for One Network Bank.

One Network Bank is itself the result of merger of three profitable banks in 2004 namely the Rural Bank of Panabo based in Panabo, Davao del Norte; the Davao City-based Network Rural Bank; and Provident Rural Bank of Cotabato based in North Cotabato. -xxx-

KADAYAWAN FESTIVAL A SUCCESS

 

DAVAO CITY — This year’s Kadayawan festival, the last under Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte’s administration, was celebrated at the weekend with crowds of shoppers in commercial centers and tens of thousand of residents and visitors lining up the streets for the agricultural and floral parade yesterday.

“The hotels were fully booked since last week and the shopping centers were filled with people since Friday,” said Rizal Giovanni P. Aportadera, Davao City tourism officer.

Over a hundred contingents participated in the floral parade with most floats decorated with fruits and flowers. Mr. Aportadera said the city’s downtown population, estimated at about half a million, swelled three or four times at the weekend.

Senior Superintendent Ramon C. Apolinario, Davao City police chief, said that the event was generally safe and peaceful.

“I am happy that we [police and military] were able to maintain peace and order that contributed to the success of the Kadayawan,” he added. On Saturday, ‘Indak-indak sa Kadalanan’ (street parade) lasted about 14 hours, said Oscar G. Casaysay, festival committee head.

“We could not believe it would be that long,” he told BusinessWorld, noting that the participants came from as far as Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao. — CQF

BLUGRE WIFI PARTY SET

Site: www.blugre.com

Soon to Open: Blugre Robinson’s Gensan and Blugre Gaisano Mall of Tagum

P1.5B SAMAL CASINO RESORT COMPLEX TO REOPEN THIS YEAR

Ekran Berhad investing US$ 20 M to reopen P1.5-B Samal Casino Resort this year
By Digna D. Banzon

DAVAO CITY, Aug. 15 (PNA) — Ekran Berhad Sdn, a Malaysian conglomerate that owns a chain of big hotels, is set to re-open this year the Samal Casino Resort in the Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte.

Secretary Jesus Dureza, Presidential Adviser on Mindanao and the Philippine Signing Minister for the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines-East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), said the revival of the casino resort was confirmed by its Malaysian owner, headed by Tan Sri Datuk Ting Pek Khiing, executive chairman of Ekran Berhad Sdn. during a recently held bilateral meeting between the Philippines and Malaysia in Brunei Darussalam.

Dureza said the P1.5 billion tourism complex in Samal’s Kaputian District would soon be back in full business.

He said the meeting was a side event of the BIMP-EAGA Roundtable Discussion on the Community-based Ecotourism (CBET) development, which was part of the week-long 18th BIMP-EAGA Senior Officials and 14th Signing Ministers meeting and other related events held in Brunei Darussalam on August 5-8.

Meanwhile, Ekran Berhad officials also said they were working on the revival of the Davao-Kota Kinabalu air link, in partnership with the Malaysian Airlines, which used to ply the route in 1990s before it folded up operations due to low passenger load.

“As a result of the meeting, we’re putting back on track the Samal Casino Resort. This is an indication of a sound business environment in Mindanao and across borders as there is now an opportunity to reconnect in the south,” Dureza said.

Dureza, along with Samal Mayor Aniano Antalan, Tourism Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab and Davao Del Norte Congressman Anton Lagdameo, met with Ekran Berhad officials in Brunei to discuss and agree on the most feasible arrangement that will facilitate the re-opening of the resort.

“This will surely boost tourism and employment opportunities and expected to generate P50 million in various taxes,” said Lagdameo, also chairperson of the House Committee on BIMP-EAGA Affairs. In its bid to reopen the resort, Ekran Berhad Sdn. is set to infuse an estimated US$ 15 to US$ 20 million new capital investment. “The plan to resume the operations of Ekran was based on sound business decision. Sa tingin nila maganda na ang business environment sa Mindanao,” said Trade Undersecretary Merly Cruz, the Philippine Senior Official for BIMP-EAGA.

The Samal Casino Resort, which sits on a 250-hectare area in Samal is about 30 minutes by boat from Sta. Ana wharf, Davao City, Mindanao’s premier economic hub.

The resort started operating as a hotel and casino in late 1997 with 300 rooms and a ballroom that could accommodate 3,000 people. It is one of the large scale investments ushered by an agreement forged between Philippines and Malaysia in the early 1990’s under the BIMP-EAGA initiative. (PNA) RMA/Digna D. Banzon/lvp

HAPPY KADAYAWAN DAVAO!

Davaohive News Bite: DAVAO’S SAMAL CASINO RESORT TO REOPEN according to owner Malaysian-Based Ekhran Berhad.

REAL BANK EYES EXPANSION

DAVAO CITY — A thrift bank with 24 branches in Luzon is looking to expand in Davao City before the end of the year.

Jose G. Araullo, chairman of Real Bank, said potential areas in Davao City are being assessed as site of the bank’s first office in Mindanao. There are also plans to expand to Cagayan de Oro, Cebu and Iloilo.

“In my experience, it’s more viable to build your own building. It would cost at least P10 million or so,” Mr. Araullo told BusinessWorld.

He said Real Bank has decided not to become too aggressive with expansion given the economic downturn. “We are trying to be conservative, we don’t know what would happen during a crisis,” he said.

Real Bank at present has branches in Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna and Batangas. It had over P5 billion in resources at the end of 2007, up from P4.19 billion in 2006.

“It’s important to have branches in all areas so we can transact business within the bank itself,” Mr. Araullo said. — Joel B. Escovilla

‘People Power’ icon Cory Aquino dies

MANILA – Former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino passed away Saturday morning after battling colon cancer for more than a year. She was 76. 

“Our mother peacefully passed away at 3:18 a.m. August 1, 2009 of cardio respiratory arrest. She would have wanted us to thank each and every one of you for all the prayers and your continued love and support. It was her wish for all of us to pray for one another and our country. Hinihiling po ng aming pamilya ang konting panahon para makasama namin ang aming mahal na ina,” a statement from the Aquino family read.

Details of the former president’s wake will be announced later, the family said.

Once a reluctant housewife, Aquino was known as an icon of Philippine democracy after the EDSA ‘People Power’ revolution removed the Marcos dictatorship and restored democracy in the Southeast Asian archipelago in 1986.

Aquino served as the nation’s president until 1992 when she gave way to her successor, President Fidel Ramos. Even in retirement, she remained in the public eye and continued to speak out on political issues.

In March 2008 her family announced that Aquino had colon cancer.

Various healing masses had been held in different parts of the country after she was confined at the Makati Medical Center starting June 25. Thousands attended the masses praying that one of of the world’s democracy icons would recover. Prayers and get-well messages were also posted on her website, coryaquino.ph.

Last Monday, the Aquino family said Mrs. Aquino’s condition had turned to “guarded” due to her fluctuating blood pressure. On the same day, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo started her State of the Nation Address by leading a moment of silence for her predecessor.

Her son, Senator Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino III, confirmed that the former leader’s cancer had already spread to her liver.

“Her weakened condition does not allow chemotherapy. We have reached the point where you’re not sure if the intervention will help or worsen the condition,” he told reporters.

Last week, her supporters tied yellow ribbons along Times St. and Examiner St. in Quezon City near Mrs. Aquino’s residence, and also outside the Makati Medical Center, symbolizing hope and prayers for her recovery and as a show of support for Philippine democracy.

People power

Aquino was propelled to the Philippines presidency in the ‘People Power’ revolution in 1986.

For three days in February of that year, the world watched as the woman in a bright yellow dress led millions in a peaceful uprising that toppled dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who had ruled with an iron fist for two decades.

During the next six years, Aquino — a devout Roman Catholic – led the restoration of democracy and changed the country’s Constitution.

But her presidency was marred by at least six failed military coups, political squabbling, insurgent attacks and her failure to change a political system dominated by elite family clans.

Time magazine in 2006 named Aquino one of Asia’s heroes, praising her “quiet courage” and describing her as “the symbol of People Power and an inspiration to others around the world struggling against tyranny.”

On June 25, Aquino was brought to the Makati Medical Center due to loss of appetite.  She reportedly refused further medical treatment. Family members were by her side and the country prayed for her recovery.

Privilege and wealth

Born into the Cojuangco clan in the northern province of Tarlac on January 25, 1933, Aquino was a product of privilege, power and wealth.

Educated in the United States and Manila, she entertained no political ambitions — but all that changed when she met and married Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., a bright young journalist from another prominent Tarlac clan, in 1954.

Ninoy was seen by many to be a president in the making, but for Marcos, the then-senator was a threat. In September 1972, Marcos declared martial law and jailed hundreds of his opponents and critics, including Ninoy.

Corazon Aquino helped keep the opposition alive, speaking out on behalf of her husband and demanding change.

Aquino assassination

In 1983, against the advice of friends, Ninoy flew back to the Philippines from exile in Boston to seek an audience with the ailing Marcos. But before he could even get off the plane, he was gunned down by assassins.

His grief-stricken widow flew back to the Philippines, where she was quickly thrust into the role of uniting the opposition.

“I don’t seek vengeance, only justice, not only for Ninoy but for the suffering Filipino people,” Aquino declared as she reluctantly accepted the nomination of her peers.

Marcos won the 1986 elections, which were marred by massive irregularities.

The Aquino-led opposition, backed by the Catholic church, soon rallied about one million people on the street — “People Power” was born, Marcos was quickly ousted and Aquino took the presidential oath of office.

She quickly set up a commission to draft a new constitution, dismantled the network of Marcos cronies that controlled the economy and freed scores of political activists.

Aquino also began talks with communist and Muslim insurgents, but her efforts would soon be undermined by problems within the coalition government she built. She later survived a series of bloody coup attempts.

Citizen Cory

In retirement, Aquino has remained in the public eye, often speaking out against alleged abuses in government.

Seventeen years after she stepped down from office, Aquino continued to enjoy the trust of the majority of Filipinos. A February 2009 survey of Social Weather Stations showed 3 out of every 5 adult Filipinos have much trust in the former president. She enjoyed a net trust rating of +38.

She has also become a vocal critic of current President Arroyo, whose family has been accused of massive corruption, and joined street protests against her until she was diagnosed with colon cancer in March of last year.

In the 1990s, Aquino said the presidency had taught her a valuable lessons in governance.

“I realized that I could have made things easier for myself if I had done the popular things, rather than the painful but better ones in the long run. After all, in the long run, I wouldn’t be around to be blamed,” she said.

As “Citizen Cory,” she was active in non-government organizations promoting democracy, peace, and woman empowerment, and in recent years, micro-enterprise.

Until her last years as a private citizen, she remained a strong political influence and moral force, opposing moves toward charter change, which many fear will lead to a term extension for President Arroyo.

But on March 24, 2008,  Mrs. Aquino faced another tough battle. Her children, Noynoy and Kris, announced that the former president had been diagnosed with colon cancer.

Aquino underwent chemotherapy, and in public remarks made in May 2008, she said she had been responding positively to treatment.

But on Saturday, she lost, perhaps, her toughest battle.  — reports from AFP; Lynda Jumilla, ABS-CBN News

OLD DAVAO AIRPORT TERMINAL TO BE USED FOR FOOD CARGO

DAVAO CITY — The office of the Department of Agriculture in the Davao Region will start using the old Davao airport terminal in Sasa, some 10 kilometers from the city proper, as a food cargo facility before the end of the year.

Rogelio C. Chio, Agriculture regional director, said President Gloria M. Arroyo will lead the inauguration of the new facility this September this year.

“This is a purely government effort [for now],” he said, adding that his office is willing to dialogue with the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. for its possible participation in this project.

http://www.bworldonline.com/BW071409/content.php?src=3&id=054

SIGHTS & SOUNDS: KADAYAWAN MARDI GRAS DAVAO

DAVAO, KOREAN CITY TO INK SISTER-CITY PACT

THE City of Davao and the City of Uijeongbu, South Korea have agreed to forge a sister-city pact to be held in South Korea this year.

In a Letter of Intent signing ceremony at the Grand Men Seng Hotel in Davao City on Wednesday, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Uijeongbu Mayior Kim Moon Won said the forging of a sister-city pact between the two Asian cities would be beneficial to both signatories.

For Davao City, Duterte said the Korean population in the city is growing, thus there is a need to forge an agreement with a Korean city so as to protect and safeguard the Korean nationals here.

Duterte said they also expect huge investments from Korea once the sister-city pact is sealed, especially on the culture and education sectors.

It was learned that Davao City is host to about 3,000 Korean nationals, and they expect the population to grow to 7,000 by next year.

Mayor Won, on the other hand, said they chose Davao City to forge a pact with because the city has great potentials. The Korean mayor even dubbed Davao City as the city of the future.

Won also said the popularity of Mayor Duterte is very strong in Korea as many perceive Duterte as a strong leader.

The sister-city agreement signing is expected to be held in Uijeongbu by September or October of this year. Uijeongbu is a city in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It is located just north of Seoul and is host to US and Korean military bases for the defense of the Korean capital. (Ben O. Tesiorna)

PALMETTO PLACE CONDOMINIUMS TO RISE IN DAVAO CITY’S SOUTH

 

Consuji-led developer bullish on Davao, to build third condominium project

DAVAO CITY — The Consunji group’s DMCI Urban Property Developers Inc. is starting within the third quarter of the year its third medium-rise residential complex in this city.

Leonora P. Gutierrez, area manager, said the application of the firm’s Palmetto Place in Maa district, just outside downtown, is already being deliberated for approval by the city council.

Palmetto Place will have four five-storey residential buildings. Initially, the plan was to set up three-storey buildings, but it was revised to accommodate additional units and provide service elevators, Ms. Gutierrez said.

At present, the company is completing the three-building, seven-storey Magallanes Residences, its second condominium complex in the city after the highly successful Ecoland 4000 which was completed two years ago. Ms. Gutierrez said the company has already sold 60% of the 115 units of the first building in Magallanes Residences. The next building is expected to rise in August, and the last building, six months later.

Magallanes Residences, located at the back of the Davao City hall, has 115 units per building, seven of which are for commercial use. A studio unit of 24 square meters with a balcony is sold for P2.8 million, while a 56-square meter, two-room unit costs P3.2 million.

Despite the global economic meltdown that has affected property development in other regions, Ms. Gutierrez said the company has been bullish on its investments in Davao considering the market’s response.

When the company began selling units at Magallanes Residences, two foreigners immediately bought two units each in cash, she said. But the Davao condominium market is still dependent on local clients, Ms. Gutierrez said.

DMCI is regarded as a trailblazer in medium-rise condominium development here. In 2006 local property brokers said the market was not ready for this type of residential projects, but DMCI still pursued its two-building four storey Ecoland 4000.

“At that time, everyone was telling us that the city was not ready for a condominium project, but we decided to go on with it. And we proved everyone wrong,” she said. — C.Q. Francisco

MINDANAO LAWMAKERS EARMARK ONE BILLION (P1B) FOR U.P. MINDANAO INFRA

MANILA (PNA) — Two lawmakers from Mindanao have appropriated some P1.2 billion to finance the medium-term development of the University of the Philippines (UP) in Mindanao.

House Speaker and Davao Rep. Prospero Nograles and Deputy Speaker and Maguindanao Rep. Simeon Datumanong have filed House Bill 5946 to extend financial support to the university’s Medium-Term Development Plan for 2009 to 2012 that focuses on infrastructure development.

Nograles said UP Mindanao must be supported with the infrastructure and resources it needs to fully fulfill its mandate.

“In view of its umbilical ties to the development efforts of Mindanao, it has to be supported by funds over and above what it normally shares in the Internal Operating Budget of the UP System as covered in the Annual Appropriations Act,” he said.

Under the proposed measure, the budget for various projects for 2009 include P50 million for the construction of a school of management corporate building; P50 million for the construction of a students’ dormitory; P50 million for concreting and landscaping of the University avenue; P150 million for the Mindanao Loop and Oblation Plaza; and P100 million for the construction of the UP Mindanao main library.

For calendar 2010, some P150 million was earmarked for the construction of a biotech facility for indigenous food resources, and P150 million for the construction of a college of humanities and social science building.

For 2011, about P55 million was allotted for the construction of A center for the advancement of research in Mindanao; P50 million for the construction of center for continuing education; and P250 million for the construction of a UP Mindanao Eco-habitat. The bill also provides for the construction in 2012 of a UP Mindanao eco-habitat phase 2 pegged at P250 million.

Proponents said the amount needed to finance the implementation of this Act shall be included in the current year’s national budget, and succeeding Annual General Appropriations Act.

PLDT TO POUR P200 MILLION FOR DAVAO DOCTOR’S HOSPITAL

BY JUDY QUIROS

MAKATI CITY – PLDT chair Manuel Pangilinan said Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), which he also chairs, will pour P200 million in additional investment this year into newly acquired Davao Doctors Hospital (DDH) in Davao City.

Pangilinan made the disclosure at a press conference in Dusit Thani Hotel here shortly after the holding of the PLDT Annual Stockholders Meeting last Tuesday.

Pangilinan said the P200 million is in addition to the P200 million which the company poured into DDH last year upon its acquisition of 34 percent ownership of DDH.

The company purchased shares of existing DDH stockholders, 34 percent or 310,000 shares of the total issued shares for P1,600 each for a total of at least P500 million.

He said MPIC is determined to increase its capital expenditures (capex) in DDH to fund its ongoing expansion projects including the purchase of additional modern medical equipment, more facilities and more improvements of the hospital’s parking area. MPIC is a local unit of Hong Kong-listed First Pacific Holdings Ltd., which also acquired a significant equity stake in PLDT.

When asked how DDH is faring upon PLDT’s assumption in the hospital, Pangilinan said “ the Davao Doctors Hospital is doing good. That’s why we are confident of increasing our capex for the facility,” he said.

“Davao is a great place to invest specially in health care,” he said. Pangilinan added, however, that Davao Doctors College, which is also principally owned by DDH, has suffered a drop in enrollment this year.

Nevertheless, he is optimistic the college will make a rebound. Pangilinan underscored the determination of PLDT/MPIC to focus on medical tourism in light of its focus of acquiring more hospitals in the countryside.

The company also owns Medical Doctors Inc. (MDI), which operates the Makati Medical Center. “We will continue to build facilities to cure because many people are getting sick,” he said.

The company is also eying Cebu City for its medical tourism thrust, Pangilinan said. He said the company has already initiated talks with local partners for the acquisition of a hospital in Cebu.

He said PLDT has many prospects for Mindanao given its potential for investments. Aside from medical tourism, PLDT is planning to invest in the agriculture and mining sectors in Mindanao. Pangilinan mentioned PLDT’s interest to invest in palm oil, aquamarine, and mining particularly on coal in Mindanao