Mother Earth needs us.   

And that call got the attention of one who never stopped his research on how to put to use used cooking oil. Instead of this used oil go to the drain and pollute the environment, why not collect them, the inventor needs volume of used oil to sustain his production that is now being used as an additives.  Sharing you my story based on my interview with the inventor ...

Davao dad to help collect used cooking oil for biofuel additive invention 

By Prix Digna D. Banzon

DAVAO CITY, Feb 5 (PNA) -- An invention by a Dabawenyo that processes used cooking oil into biofuel additives got the support of City Councilor Marissa Abella who is now looking at helping in the collection of raw materials in households.

Abella said this is also an area that needs to be looked at especially that government is pushing for the Clean Air Act in line with protecting the environment.

The councilor, who championed waste segregation and management in her District II, said she will coordinate with the barangays in her area as used cooking oil must be properly disposed of.Engineer Emeliano Quitiol of the EFQ Biofuel Additive said his invention is all about using used cooking oil and households are a big source for his raw material.

He said collecting these used oils instead of ending up in the drain will help in protecting the environment.

He said talks is ongoing where the barangay can help collect these waste products.

"We buy used oil at P15 per liter and gathering these waste products will provide me a good source for my project," he said.

Quitiol was able to access loan of over P900,000 from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for his project of processing cooking used oil to fuel additive that aims to improve vehicle engine combustion and ignition.

Based on results of the experiment they conducted, he said the additive increases the mileage of the vehicle by 10 to 20 percent as well as reduces the carbon emission at about 50 percent.

He said instead of the used cooking oil just be thrown anywhere, it could now be put to use.

"We are still promoting the product priced at P80 per vial. A vial is added to 30 liters of fuel to improve performance of the engine," he said.

He said at present there are already government agencies that are using the additives even as Quitiol said they want the EFQ Biofuel be made available in the market this year.

Quitiol said his processing plant can produce one million vials.

Quitiol started his invention in 2005 and got the DOST financial support in 2009. His project gained recognition during the Regional Invention Contest and Exhibit held in Davao City in 2011. As the region's representative to the national competition in 2012, the Quitiol invention was awarded second place. In 2013, his project became a qualifier in the International Exhibition of Inventors at Geneva, Switzerland.

Quitiol said they are now preparing for the 2014 international competition in Geneva. (PNA) 

LAM/ASA/DDBanzon/ldp

Summerishere !

And when it's summer, it is associated with beach time, bright colors, flowers, travel, vacation  but the sad part of it is the hot weather.

It is not only a hot one but a real hot weather !

In the country that I live, the Philippines and Davao City in particular, we always enjoy that good weather climate.

But gone are the days because we had our share  with the hottest so far at 36.1 degrees temperature. The weather here now plays around 32 to 35 degrees ... so mainit talaga (really hot).

Creative as we are, we resort to keeping the cool .... some goes indoor and turns on their aircondition units.
While others opted to stay outdoor while working and for those without any cooling appliances make do with what is there ... a fan, a card board to relieve them of the heat. A liter of water is a great relief too.

However, nothing beats nature because a cool breeze is soft when it touches your skin and so cool that it  goes to the bones to keep us cool.

No one knows best but Him ... thank you for caring us Lord ... grateful !

 

Opening of SM Davao offers 10,000 jobs

DAVAO CITY,Sept. 29 (PNA) -- Some 10,000 new jobs are up for grabs following the opening of the SM Lanang Premier and the Radisson Hotel here on Friday.

SM Prime Holdings president Hans T. Sy said "we have been very aggressive in Mindanao because we saw the potential in the island. What we are doing in China is also what we are doing here," he said.

Sy led the opening of SM Lanang Premier on Sept. 28 and had the new landmark inaugurated on Sept. 27 along with the first IMAX threatre, the first Forever 21 store in the region, an SMX Convention Center.

"It will also feature the Science Discovery Center. The Radisson Hotel will open in February 2013," he said.

The Park, an outdoor event venue was, simultaneously opened to the public. It has a breathtaking 122 meters musical fountain and a Skygarden with greens, water features, and restaurants.

Sy said the purchasing power in Mindanao is strong and this can be seen in the study they made per transaction basis.

"I'm giving them reason to spend by offering new market to make the economy rolling," he said.
Sy said next year they will have two projects in Mindanao where another mall will be built in Cagayan de Oro City and in Butuan City with a capital expense each at P2 billion.

"The Cagayan mall will be similar to that in Olongapo City with 1.7 hectares area of multi-level type while Butuan will have an area of 90,000 square meters," he said.

"What we are doing is to invest back the cash we generated in the 46 malls and not just borrow funding for reason of expansion," he said.

Sy also emphasized that all their projects come with sustainability even as he said that features of water collection and recycling is one major component in all the malls that they operate both here and abroad.

Davao City vice mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte said "the opening of SM Premier mall showed to the world that our city is the right investment area and a peaceful city to do business."(PNA) ghg/Prix Digna D. Banzon/ldp/utb

Surfing is becoming popular in Davao and an emerging sports that many enthusiasts explore the waters here.  International sports stores, Roxy and Quicksilver, started organizing events here to activate surfing. With Davao as very strong in adventure tourism, the sports tourism is also growing.  


Int'l sports brand manager promotes surfing in Davao (Sports)‏

DAVAO CITY (PNA) -- An international sports store brand manager here is promoting surfing as growing sports in the Davao Region.

Dino Gilladoga, brand manager for Roxy, Quicksilver and Delsey, said there are many surfing enthusiasts here and it is high time this was developed.

The internationally known stores are under the PRIMER Group of Companies

.

Primer is a consortium mainly engaged in the retail and distribution of the world's top consumer brands and products where its retail authority has grown to over 80 premium brands, 100 free-standing concept stores and over 600 consignment doors in the Asian region.

Gilladoga said with Davao as very strong in adventure tourism, they also wanted to be part of the growing sports tourism industry here.

“They want to activate surfing which is our main goal," he said.

He said there is growth for expansion as well because the Davao market is big.

There are already groups which had been doings sports event like this he said but not that wide and they wanted Davao on top of their list.

He said they are coordinating with the Philippine Surfing Federation and part of their long term planning is to make the sports big in areas like Davao, Luzon, Siargao, La Union and Samar and in other areas that have potentials for surfing.

"We are looking at the waters of Davao Oriental for this project and in other potential areas here," he said. (PNA) hbc/PrixDignaDBanzon/ldp/utb

We are almost in the last quarter of the year ... let's see how My City did well 

this year ... we'll check this out on what year-ender stories will gonna be tackled.  

This year I wrote this story when the year started based on the projection of a  

Feng Shui expert ....and I'm sharing you this ...

Feng Shui expert says 2012 good year for DC

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 23 (PNA)  -- The Year of the Water Dragon 

for 2012 is a good year for the island Mindanao and the City 

of Davao.

Feng Shui expert Master Richard Yu, who flew in this city on 

Monday courtesy of SM Davao to conduct forum about the classic 

school of thoughts on Feng Shui and the Chinese Lunar New Year, 

said "lots of good things will happen in Mindanao area and there 

will be less disaster here".

But he said there are lots of work to be done especially pertaining 
to issues of attaining justice and peace.

And because of hard work that Davao City will be doing this year, 
a lot will happen more next year.

He said things will start here especially in Davao City because in 
this city will be the start off point with many good things that will be realized in the southern part of the country this year.

"And next year you will reap the fruit because of your hard work this year," he said.

Yu has been conducting fora and consultancy for the past 9 years. 
He worked formerly at the National Statistics Office, Manila with his educational background in Engineering, but decided to come up 
with his own and landed in Feng Shui analyses, which he had been exposed to when he was a kid where he said his father also practices 
the craft.

Meanwhile, he said for as long as gambling will not be tolerated 
here like what is going on in Las Vegas and Macau where gambling 
is legalized, then peace is going to happen in your city.

“Just pay particular attention to symbols 1, 6, 8 and 4 with 1 which 
stands for the start that is going to happen this year in Davao City, 
6 stands for wealth where many could be found in Manila and 
Davao is very near to that source and 8 symbolizes tremendous 
wealth happening in China, an area very near our country and 4 representing investments which Davao City 
is going to corner this year,” Yu said.

He said for as long as the people work for it and believe in it, then something positive is going to happen and because of change peace 
will be achieved here.

Davao, which is an agriculture base area, he said is perfect in the 
Year of the Water Dragon because of the combination of water, 
earth and wood.

He said more food production will be achieved here as against other 
areas in the country like Luzon which will be threatened with lack 
of supply.

Yu, who follows and studies symbols, culture and tradition that 
was passed on from the olden Chinese, said his analyses of the 
Feng Shui are computed based on Science and Math.

He also said this year is also good on anything cultural as well as 
on education.

But prayer he said complete one's luck as luck has three parts, 
the God Luck that could be achieved through prayers, Man Luck 
through interaction with other people and Nature Luck that is 
brought about by plants.

On the other hand, Davao City celebrated the Chinese New Year 
with rituals, prayers and the countdown which celebration happened 
at Magsaysay Park until midnight of January 23.

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, who led the Chinoy in the celebration here, took the opportunity for thanking the Chinese 
community for the unceasing support to the people of Davao 
most especially during calamities and disaster.

The activity at the Park was capped with the release of 290 Chinese lanterns where the Mayor, who took part in the lighting and releasing 
of her lantern, accompanied it with her wish for prosperity and 
peace in Davao City.

The releasing of the Chinese lanterns last night was for the first time 
held in Davao City. (PNA) rsv/Prix Digna D. Banzon/ldp 

Chinese lantern photos courtesy of Bing Gonzales ... thanks !

 (Included in my articles about My City)