Over 100 students of Ateneo de Davao rushed to hospitals after eating lunch

(photo courtesy: wikipedia) 

More than 100 college students from the Ateneo de Davao University were rushed to various hospitals after having symptoms of food poisoning caused probably by spoiled adobo chicken during a leadership training yesterday, July 29.

The event, a leadership training summit, was attended by more than 300 participants including the university president, Fr. Joel E. Tabora SJ.

Two hours after taking lunch, students complained about dizziness and vomiting.

Student council president Maureen Villamor, who was among those rushed to a hospital, said to the newspaper Inquirer that she did not feel well after eating the chicken adobo. Her and other students noticed that that food prepared by caterer tasted spoiled.

According to Ateneo de Davao University's official student publication, Atenews, reported that 64 were admitted into the Davao Doctor Hospital, 43 in San Pedro Hospital and four in Davao Medical School Foundation.


Investigations are on going.

A season full of reasons: Kadayawan Festival 2012, schedules

The Kadayawan Festival is regarded as the king of all festivals, showing appreciation and thanks to the bounty of fruits and flowers in Mindanao - celebrating the love and artful life of the cultures down south the Philippines.

The term "Kadayawan" is derived from the Mandaya word “madayaw”, a warm and friendly greeting used to explain a thing that is valuable, superior, beautiful, good, or profitable.

According to Davao City's website, long time ago, Davao’s ethnic tribes residing at the foot of Mount Apo would converge during a bountiful harvest. This ritual serves as their thanksgiving to the gods particularly to the “Manama” (the Supreme Being).

Various farming implements, fruits, flowers, vegetables, rice and corn grains were displayed on mats as villagers give their respect and thanks for the year's abundance. Singing, dancing and offerings to their divine protectors are the highlights of this ritual.

Every Davaoeños awaits for the month of August to come, and everybody is looking forward for this huge celebrated event every year that attract thousands of people from near and far.


This year 2012, the highlights of the festival in Davao City will be on August 17-19, 2012.


Have a look at this year's schedule of activities:


OPENING CEREMONIES / INDIGENOUS PEOPLES PANAGTAGBO
August 3
4:30 pm (People's Park, Great Lawn)

HULAGWAY SA KADAYAWAN PHOTO CONTEST
August 3 - September 7
9am - 6pm (Museo Dabawenyo)

LUMADNONG GAMA & DAYAW MARKET
August 6 - 21
1pm - 11pm (People's Park, Rainbow Drive)


DAVAO CITY TRIVIA EXHIBIT "KNOW YOUR CULTURE"
August 6 - 27
10am - 9pm (NCCC Mall of Davao, SM City Davao, Abreeza Mall)
1pm - 11pm (People's Park)


TUNOG MINDANAW
PRELIMS
August 10
2pm (NCCC Mall of Davao)


FINALS
August 11
5pm (NCCC Mall of Davao)


LUMADNONG BANTAWAN
August 11 - 16
3pm - 6pm (People's Park, Rizal Park, SM City Davao, NCCC Mall, Abreeza, Gaisano Mall)


SAYAW MINDANAW
August 14 - 16
10am - 5pm (SM City Davao)


HIYAS SA KADAYAWAN
TALENT NIGHT
August 15
6pm (Gaisano Mall of Davao)

FINALS
August 17

6pm (Davao City Recreation Center)


INDIGENOUS PEOPLES GRAND PERFORMANCE / LUMADNONG PASUNDAYAG
August 18
6pm (Davao City Recreation Center)


KADAYAWAN SA PASALUBONG CENTER
August 17 - 19
9am - 6pm (Pasalubong Center)


INDAK-INDAK SA KADALANAN
August 18
7am (Around Davao City from Roxas Avenue to San Pedro Street)

PAMULAK KADAYAWAN
August 19
7am (Around Davao City from Roxas Avenue to San Pedro Street)


PAHALIPAY CONCERT NI MAYOR INDAY UG VISE MAYOR RODY
August 19
TBA (Rizal Park)

MAYOR INDAY SARA DUTERTE 27th KADAYAWAN SPORTFEST
August 2 - 31
Around Davao City

ACCREDITED EVENTS:


Hudyakaan sa Kadayawan
August 1 - 20
5pm - 2am (Rizal Park)


Agri-Trade Fair
August 1 - 27

8am - 8pm (SM City Parking Area)


Environmental Projects
August 4 - 5
8am (Matina Pangi, Crocodile Park)


Kadayawan Youth Festival
August 6 - 8
10 am - 8 pm (Abreeza Mall)


Encantada
August 8 - 10
7pm (RSM Events Center - PWC Davao)

2012 Kadayawan Hot August Races:
The Mayor Inday Sarah Duterte
Drag Racing Championships
August 11 - 12
TBA (Speed City, Riverfront Drive)

I Run for The Environment
August 12
5am (Around Davao City)

PLDT - SMART 10 Miler
August 12
4am (Roxas Avenue)

The Great Kadayawan Trade Fair and Bazaar 2012
August 16
5pm (Davao Trade & Convention Center)

August 17 - 18
3pm - 12mn (Davao Trade & Convention Center)

August 19
10am - 9pm (Davao Trade & Convention Center)

HISTORY QUIZ
August 16
8am - 12nn (City Library, 3rd Floor, SP Building)

SMART Day - Kadayawan Festival
August 17
TBA (People's Park)

REVELRY 2012
August 18
8pm - 2pm (El Gato, Rancho Palos Verdes)

KadayawJUAN Road Bike Challenge
August 18
8am - 2pm (Around Davao City)

Expo and Music Festival
August 18 - 19
4pm - 2am (Damosa Market Basket Parking Area)

Pamukaw sa Pamulak
August 19
5am - 7am (Around Davao City)

Caltez Delo Halk - Marathon
August 19
4am (Eco-west Drive, SM City Davao)

MODA Mindanaw
August 19
5pm (SM City Davao)

Timex Run - Davao Leg
August 26
4am (Roxas Avenue)

Dengue cases: increase of more than 700% in Davao City

According to the City Health Office of Davao City, the recordings of dengue cases has since this years beginning increased to more than 700 percent. This result is compared to the same period in 2011.

In an interview with Sun.Star Davao published on July 28, Dr. Josephine Villafuerte, city health officer, said that the city recorded a total of 3,952 dengue cases in the first seven months of 2012, signifying an increase of 726.8 percent as compared to 478 cases during the same period in 2011.

In regard of the mortality rate, as of Thursday (July), 30 cases of deaths had been reported as an outcome of this disease, which is 87.5 percent higher than last year's 16 deaths (first seven months of 2011)

Dr. Villafuerte does not believe that the local health sector did not a good job. She noted that the local government in Davao City has been intensifying all their campaigns in fighting dengue incidents, educating schools and works, and as well introducing a 4 o'clock habit in the communities.

"We can attribute the significant increase on the effects of global warming and the seemingly mutation of mosquitoes' behavior", said she in Bisaya to the newspaper.

Davao City prohibits professional squatters

Squatters living. (picture courtesy)

The local government in Davao City is firm to enforce the city ordinance prohibiting professional squatters.

According to Mr. Roy Ryan Rigor, who is the chief of the city's Housing and Homesite Development, said during the I-Speak forum held at the City Hall, that the proliferation of illegal squatting for the past months has gone intense in the Davao area.

"Professional squatters" refers to "individuals or groups who occupy lands without the express consent of the landowner and who have sufficient income for legitimate housing" (Legal Wiki)

"The squatters these days have gone big time and some of them are even carrying fake titles to claim a specific parcel of land," Rigor said.The latest incident was this month in Talomo where policemen arrested a man who claimed his ownership over a parcel of land in Matina Aplaya. The same man, named Gavas, is regarded as a leader of professional squatters from Bohol being surrounded by a group of 30 other men. 

Gavas and his group are facing charges of trespassing, malicious mischief, robbery, and grave threats.

The city government is working closely with legitimate property owners who have sought the assistance in fighting against the illegal settlers that took occupancy of their properties.

Rigor emphasized in his talk that professional squatters do not qualify for the services that the city extends to informal settlers which include free relocation area.

SM Lanang Premier to to open soon in Davao

SM Group will be opening its latest wold-class yet green facilty in the north of Davao City, the SM LANANG PREMIER.

In 2001, SM Group, owned by Retail King Henry Sy, opened the first high-class mall in Matina area, SM CITY; a move regarded "bold and formidable" that time.



(photo: Mindanao Times)

SM Prime’s biggest and first-of-its-kind premier mall development project in Mindanao, the SM LANANG PREMIER, will have a total land area of 100,000 square meters, with a 4-level structure inspired by an origami design. The planned gross floor area will be 145,000 sqm and a gross leasable area of estimated 84,000 sqm.

There will be a Skygarden to be located at the premise’s façade with a restaurant amidst a garden and water installations. A Flat Café inside the mall will float above the ground that offers a grand view of The Atrium. On the ground level, there will be stores of international brands including the SM Department store and SM Supermarket.

An avenue of restaurants will be enjoyed at the ground and second floors overlooking The Park - another outlet of SM Groups effort to go green.

Aside the food trip, visitors will be happy to learn that six Digital Theaters and SM Center Stage, an IMAX Theater, SM Bowling Center and the Science DIscovery will find home at the same floor.

The third floor will make space for the SMX Convention Center - a place for major meetings, conventions or exhibits in the region - a first one outside Manila.On the side of the property, the Park Inn by Carlton of the Radisson Blu will rise soon.

The target opening will be sometime in September 2012 (unconfirmed).