Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 134 | Thursday, August 19, 2021

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CHALLENGING

Dabawenyos who missed their second dose worries city government STORY ON PAGE 2

A Dabawenyo undergoes a swab test in one of Davao City’s swabbing centers. The Department of Health (DOH)-Davao has disclosed that eight of the 13 confirmed cases of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in Davao Region were “unvaccinated.” Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 134 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021

A“trisikad”transports a passenger using the designated bike lane along Roxas Avenue in Davao City. The regional office of the Land Transportation Office (LTO 11) has announced that the agency is intensifying operation against motorists that violate the use of bicycle lanes in Davao City. Edge Davao

CHALLENGING T

10 more barangays in Davao Occ declared drug-free

Dabawenyos who missed their second dose worries Davao City government

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio admitted that Dabawenyos who missed their second dose of vaccination remain a challenge to the city government of Davao.

This is the reason why the city government is ramping up its campaign urging Dabawenyos who have taken their first doses to get their second dose of the two-dose vaccines to be considered fully vaccinated.

The mayor said this is

one of the challenges that the city is facing right now in its vaccination drive as some recipients failed to return for their second jab for various reasons.

“Ginapakusgan nato ang kampanya sa second dose sa mga tao. Ang bakuna two doses dili siya one. Ang full

protection sa vaccination is dapat kinahanglan makuha ang second dose. Naka-reserve nana daan para sa inyuha so it is very important nga fully vaccinated,” Mayor Sara explained.

Mayor Sara also said that getting fully vaccinated would be an added protection against the ill effects of Covid-19.

Based on the data from the City Vaccination Cluster as of August 14, 2021, there have been a total of 453,424 shots admin-

istered for the first dose while 297,201 were given as second dose.

Under the resolution released by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging Infectious Diseases, a person is considered fully vaccinated for COVID-19 if it has been more than or equal to two weeks after having received the second dose in a 2-dose series, or more than or equal to two weeks after having received a single-dose vaccine.

en more barangays (villages) in Davao Occidental have been declared drug-free by the Regional Oversight Committee Barangay Drug Clearing.

In ceremony held at Manpower Building, Municipal Hall, Barangay Kinanga in Don Marcelino, Davao Occidental on Monday (August 16), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 11 Information Officer Noli Dimaandal said the declaration was the result of the intensified anti-illegal drugs campaign by local authorities in Davao Occidental.

The villages are Baluntaya, Dalupan, Kiobog, Linadasan, Lapuan, Lawa, Mabuhay, North Lamidan, Nueva Villa, and West Lamidan all of Don Marcelino in Davao Occidental.

Dimaandal said these villages have satisfactorily complied with the required documents for Drug Cleared Barangay

set by Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation Number 3, Series of 2017 and PDEA Memorandum Circular Number 2020-041.

A barangay has to meet all the parameters to be declared drug-cleared, according to Dimaandal.

Among the criteria set by the Dangerous Drugs Board are the non-availability of drug supply in the area and the absence of drug transit activity, clandestine drug laboratory, clandestine drug warehouse, clandestine chemical warehouse, marijuana cultivation site, drug den or resort, drug pusher, drug user, protectors, coddlers and financiers.

Other criteria include active involvement of barangay officials in anti-illegal drugs activities, active involvement of sangguniang kabataan representatives in maintaining the drug-liberated status of the villages, the existence

slain in an encounter with Army and police personnel around 1:15 p.m. in his house in Block 4, Londres Village, Barangay Cannery Site.

He said the brief firefight ensued after the suspect opened fired at the operatives who were about to serve an arrest warrant for kidnapping, serious illegal detention and robbery issued on April 22, 2019 by the Regional Trial Court Branch 14 in Davao City.

The operation was led

by elements from the Army’s 5th Special Forces (SF) Battalion, Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, and Polomolok municipal police station. “[He] was tracked down by intelligence operatives hiding in his house,” Galido said in a statement.

Lt. Col. Zandro Alvez, commanding officer of the 5th SF Battalion, said Omega was fatally wounded in the exchange of gunfire, was then rushed to a hos-

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8 of 13 confirmed Delta cases NPA intel officer killed in SoCot in Davao Region unvaccinated

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ight of the 13 confirmed cases of the Delta variant of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Davao Region were “unvaccinated,” according to the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao.

In her presentation during a virtual press briefing streamed live via DOHDavao’s Facebook page on Monday, Dr. Raquel D. Montejo, chief of the Local Health Support Division of

DOH-Davao, said that three of the Delta cases were fully vaccinated with a double-dose vaccine and the two received the first dose so far prior to contracting the infection.

Montejo said the “fully-vaccinated” Delta cases were among the 238 breakthrough infections in the region or individuals who contracted the infection even after receiving the full doses of anti-COVID-19 vac-

cines, comprising 0.026% of the 903,848 individuals who were fully vaccinated as of August 15.

Montejo added that 437 individuals were infected after being vaccinated with the first dose. A total of 1,057,892 individuals in the region received the first dose.

Montejo said one of 13 Delta cases – a 41-year-old male returning overseas

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fugitive intelligence officer of the New People’s Army (NPA) who was tagged as behind a string of attacks in parts of Mindanao was killed in a joint law enforcement operation in Polomolok town, South Cotabato on Monday afternoon.

Brig. Gen. Roy Galido, commanding officer of the Army’s 601st Infantry Brigade, said Tuesday suspect John Nebris Omega – also known as “Parts,” “Bords,” “Albay,” and “Pards” – was

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EDGEDAVAO

NEWS

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Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio says Dabawenyos who missed their second dose of vaccination remain a challenge to the city government of Davao. This is the reason why the city government is ramping up its campaign urging Dabawenyos who have taken their first doses to get their second dose of the two-dose vaccines to be considered fully vaccinated. Edge Davao

LTO 11 intensifies operation vs motorists violating bike lanes T A Davao NPA finance officer nabbed In South Cotabato woman allegedly serving as a finance officer of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) was arrested by members of the military and police in Poblacion, Polomolok, South Cotabato on Monday afternoon (August 16).

A report from 6th Infantry Division based in Maguindanao stated that joint forces of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police caught a certain Pamela Guides Peñaranda, also known as ‘Melai’ and ‘Yani’.

Peñaranda is reported-

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he virtual launch of this year’s Davao Investment Conference (Davao ICON 2021) on Wednesday sent the message that despite the pandemic, nothing can stop investment potentials of Davao Region that could generate jobs not only Davao City but the region as well.

The kickoff anchored on the theme: “Davao Region: of the Philippines, of

ly a secretary of Davao City Urban Committee (DCUC), Regional City and Town Committee (RCTC), Southern Mindanao Regional Command and a finance officer RCTC of SMRC. She was arrested on the strength of a warrant of arrest for murder issued

by Presiding Judge Sharon Rose Saracin of Branch 30, Regional Trial Court 11 in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

Authorities were able to recover from the possession of Peñaranda sling bags with two (2) ID and

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ASEAN Asian and of the future” and led by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., (DCCCII) president Dr. Maria Lourdes Monteverde, and this year’s Davao ICON chair and president of Damosa Land Inc., (DLI) Ricardo “Cary” Lagdameo, promised a prolific Davao ICON with main event happening on November 11, 2021.

“We will be highlighting

By MAYA M. PADILLO

“Karon nagapatuman mi ug intensive operations sa bike lanes. Kung kami ang mudakop, obstruction, disregarding traffic signs, ug illegal parking on bike lane. Mag issue mi ug ticket.

Kani pud para ma- practice pud ang atong mga drivers to respect bicycle lanes,” said Thomas Edward Roales, team leader of the Land Transportation Office 11 (LTO 11)- Law Enforcement Service, during the AFP-PNP online media briefing on Wednesday.

Roales said LTO 11 followed the Department of Transportation’s (DoTr’s) guidelines and provisions that motorists and drivers must follow in using the bike lanes in Davao City: no motor vehicle shall be allowed to either cross or park into bicycle lanes, drivers must give sufficient clearance and watch their speed when passing, drivers need to be careful when turning at intersections, drivers must scan side mirrors to make sure there are

no cyclists before opening the door, and check blind spots or drivers must be aware at all times of cyclists.

“Ang mga basic rules: no obstructions along bicycle lanes, on solid white line bawal magpark. Katong mga allowed sharing katong sa dotted lines and not allowed to stay more than necessary, even loading ug dapat kadali lang ta mupass samot na katong naay mga bollards,” he said.

On July 20, 2021, Transportation Secretary Art Tugade opened the 54.744 kilometer bike lane network in the city. The bike lane network project was officially completed on June 30, 2021, and spans across 14 road sections within Davao

the whole Davao Region in addition to Davao City and I think when you think about different kinds of investment opportunities some really are outside Davao City. Of course, Davao City will probably garner the most of them but if we are talking about agri-business its outside Davao City and, of course, the BPO and real estate sectors are within Davao city, utilities and infrastructure would be out-

side Davao City as well,” Lagdameo said.

Lagdameo said there are many opportunities in Davao Region and those will be discussed in the coming months.

“Whether it is a major hospitality project in Davao de Oro, an agribusiness project in Davao Occidental, manufacturing operation in Davao del Norte, tourism project in Davao Oriental, energy project in Davao del

Sur, or the numerous real estate opportunities across the region, Davao Region has something for a wide array of investors,” Lagdameo said.

Lagdameo added that from having to focus only on agribusiness over the last decade, businesses have become diverse not only that the region is one of the world’s leaders in export of fresh bananas and pineapples, today it is con-

he regional office of the Land Transportation Office (LTO 11) is intensifying operation against motorists that violate the newly-launched bicycle lane system in Davao City.

City to include Quimpo Boulevard, Sandawa Road, Roxas Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Quirino Avenue, E. Jacinto Extension, Dr. A. Gahol Street, Mabini Street, F. Torres Street, Loyola Street, Porras Street, Inigo Street, and Decasio Street.

To ensure the safety of bikers, the bicycle lanes have white and green pavement markings, signages, bollards, bike symbols, solar studs, and concrete delineators. Bike racks are also provided to help bikers secure their bikes.

The Metro Davao bike lane project was funded by the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act of 2020 (Republic Act No. 11494), with a

sidered as the cacao capital of the country, host of one of the country’s busiest container terminal, a center for excellence for the BPO companies, home to several international hospitality brands, home to one of the most important region for township development, and still being considered the food basket of the Philippines.

“Many of the large na-

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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A delivery rider carries an oversized cargo on his motorcycle as he traverses along Toril area. Edge Davao

Vax program, healthcare system investment help PH economy S

Shakey’s to open branch in Singapore this October

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rus that is mutating. And the mutations are quite severe so far in their new variants.

So, I cannot predict what will happen in the fuDominguez said vaccinations, the country’s first defense, “is proceeding as originally announced.”

To date, the country has received around 42.6 million vaccines from March to Aug. 15 and the government has administered around 27.8 million doses, he said.

“The government is doing everything it can. Fortunately, we passed the tax reform bills early, which were meant to reduce pov-

erty, which were meant to use the money to invest in infrastructure, etc. And that has been a very good buffer for us. Had we not done that, I do not know where we would be now financially,” he added.

Economic managers have revised this year’s growth target to 6 percent to 7 percent from 6.5 percent to 7.5 percent on account of the pandemic’s impact.

Growth, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), expanded by 11.8 percent in the second quarter this year, from -3.9 percent in the previous three months, ending the five-quarter contraction since the first quarter of last year.

Economic managers said growth would have been better if not for the two-week enhanced com-

munity quarantine (ECQ) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and four nearby provinces namely Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite, collectively called NCR Plus Bubble from March 29 to April 11.

The ECQ was implemented to arrest the surge in Covid-19 cases, which posted record-high figures during the said period.

Another two-week ECQ in Metro Manila until Aug. 20 is implemented to address the rise in infections, especially after the discovery of local transmissions caused by the Delta variant.

Economic managers said the impact of the latest ECQ is expected to be smaller compared to the first ECQ in 2020 since there are more economic activities allowed this time than last year. (PNA)

hakey’s Pizza Asia Ventures Inc said Tuesday it is on track to open its new store in Singapore’s Lucky Plaza shopping center this October.

The new outlet will be the first Singapore store under Shakey’s’ management, it said in a statement.

Lucky Plaza is a known hub for Filipinos working and living in Singapore.

“We are looking forward to opening our doors in October. Store construction is well underway, drumming up further excitement and anticipation among both locals and the Filipino community alike,” Brenrich director Wong Ban Ming said.

Singapore was chosen as it is at the “forefront” of recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic with at least 65 percent of its population fully vaccinat-

ment for its plan to offer 1,053,500,000 common shares at an offer price of P15 to P25 per share, with an overallotment option of up to 101,000,000 common shares.

This will allow the company to raise up to P28.86 billion.

The corporate regulator said Synergy Grid

will use net proceeds to buy non-voting preferred shares of the NGCP, which in turn will utilize it to finance its capital expenditure requirements.

The follow-on offering of Synergy Grid could pave the way for the backdoor entry of the NGCP on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

The NGCP is the private operator of the country’s power grid. It is 60% owned by Synergy Grid and 40% owned by State Grid Corp. of China.

The law requires the NGCP to sell at least 20% of its shares to the investing public within 10 years from the start of operations.

The 10-year peri-

od, however, has already lapsed in 2019. The company asked the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) for an extension, citing volatile market conditions.

The company tapped BofA Securities, J.P. Morgan Securities plc, and UBS AG Singapore Branch as the joint global coordinators

he vaccination program and increased investment on the healthcare system are the primary factors that are helping buoy the Philippine economy from the pandemic, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said.

In a virtual briefing on Tuesday, Dominguez declined to give indications on any new economic growth targets, which he said will be announced by the inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) after its meeting on Wednesday.

He cited the impacts of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) variants and the movement restrictions being implemented to address the spread of infections.

“We are facing a crisis unlike any other we have faced before. We have a vi-

ed, the company said.

Its menu will include Shakey’s Special, Manager’s Choice, and Friday’s Special in its signature thin-crust style, the company said. Mojos and chicken will also be available, it added.

The restaurant will add “new flavor” to Singapore’s “rich dining landscape,” Shakey’s Pizza president and CEO Vicente Gregorio said.

“We are always on the lookout for opportunities that would bring our brands closer to more guests. International expansion is an exciting new frontier, and we are glad for our franchisee partner, Brenrich, for reopening the Singapore market for us,” Gregorio said.

Shakey’s said it is set to open more stores this year.

The restaurant operator said it currently has 3 international stores. and joint bookrunners for the offer.

BDO Capital & Investment Corporation will serve as sole domestic coordinator and, together with BPI Capital Corporation and PNB Capital and Investment Corporation, as joint domestic lead underwriter and joint bookrunner for the transaction.

NGCP majority owner Synergy Grid files for P28.86-B public offering

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ynergy Grid & Development Phils., Inc., the majority owner of the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), has filed for a P28.86-billion public offering.

In a statement, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it received Synergy Grid’s registration state-

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ECONOMY

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Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary John Castriciones says a total of 516,000 hectares have been distributed among 405,800 farmers nationwide by the agency under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Presidential Photo

Infrastructure improvements boost e-commerce growth

DOE insists no brownouts in 2022 polls but says reserves may be thin

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ower reserves may be thin but there will be no brownouts in Luzon during the 2022 national elections, the Energy Department insisted on Tuesday.

Energy Undersecretary Wimpy Fuentebella held a press conference on Tuesday to announce that they are making all the necessary preparations to prevent brownouts during next year’s polls.

Fuentebella said power reserves get thin in the months of April, May and June due to higher demand, and low water levels in dams, which affect the operations of hydropower plants.

But Fuentebella said the agency is coordinating to ensure that the maintenance of power plants are properly scheduled so that they are all running during the elections.

“We have been looking at this very early on. The preparation is quite early as far as the energy family is concerned. And, yes there are challenges, but there are also solutions, and we see the solutions already,” Fuentebella said.

A key issue in the maintenance of power plants has been the entry of equipment, material, and consultants needed to ensure each pow-

er plant is in optimal running condition, he said. The pandemic affected plant maintenance as different LGUs have varying mobility restrictions.

“We are assisting now closely assisting kung papaano yung mga instances na nagkakaroon ng delays as far as the permits for the consultants and equipments [sic] to come in, so that is what we are making sure of,” He also noted they are also pushing for the development of new power sources, including natural gas, renewables, and even nuclear power.

Meralco, the largest power distributor in the Philippines responsible for the National Capital Region and surrounding areas, said it is also prepared for any eventuality.

“Before the actual elections, we make sure we have strategically located crews ready to respond. We have mobile gen sets. We are working to make sure the elections will be brownout-free. But in case we have isolated power outages, we will be able to respond,” said Meralco Spokesperson and Head of Corporate Communications Joe Zaldarriaga Earlier this year, the En-

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nfrastructure improvements are among the factors that will further boost electronic commerce (e-commerce) in the country, along with demographics and people’s ability to adapt to innovations.

In a virtual briefing on Tuesday, Foxmont Capital Partners Managing Partner Franco Varona said while a lot of investors are focusing on Singapore for technology-related investments, the Philippines is starting to attract some of these businesses.

He said Indonesia’s experience about a decade

ago, when it dominated the Southeast Asian technology-related inflows, can also happen in the Philippines since the volume of funds that entered the former are now looking at other areas to be invested in.

“So what does that actually mean for the Philippines? That actually means that the Singaporeans are

sitting in Singapore with a lot of capital to deploy, that are looking at other different places that they can do it outside of Indonesia.

And this is where, I think, the Philippines becomes extremely interesting,” he added.

Varona said the Philippines’ over 109 million population is a major factor for investors to consider, especially since more Filipinos are now social media-savvy and are buying more things online.

He said more businesses are now using online

platforms and a number of these businesses started operations or using online platforms at the start of the pandemic.

“That actually means that there is really a large, you know, quick growth in the Philippine market,” he said.

This growth, Varona said, is being noticed by Singaporean investors.

“Once more and more (investors) notice that we will then be on the same path as Indonesia 10 years ago,” he said, citing the im-

ership Award (CLOA) in Kidapawan City, Cotabato on Dec. 29, 2018, covering 11,443 hectares for more than 6,000 beneficiaries.

Duterte was also in General Santos City on June 13, 2019 when more than 20,000 hectares of agricultural land were given in a region-wide distribution done in one day.

Castriciones said nothing came easy as problems hounded the agency at the onset of the Duterte administration

“Una, ang balanseng ektarya ng lupa na puwede pang ipamahagi ay nasa 548,564 ektarya na lamang. Subalit karamihan dito ay problematic land holdings dahil sa mga pending na kaso. Dagdag pa rito, nagwakas na ang pag-i-issue ng notice of coverage noong 2014 (First, the remaining hectares of land that can be distributed was at 548,564 hectares only. Moreover, many of these are problematic land holdings with pending cas-

es, not to mention that the issuance of notice of coverage ended in 2014),” Castriciones said.

Pending cases More than 50,000 cases were pending before the DAR Adjudication Board (DARAB) about the Agrarian Law implementation, leading to numerous protests by farmers.

Castriciones said cases under DARAB were caused by disagreements between landowners and farmers,

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405,000 farmers benefited from land reform under Duterte admin

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total of 516,000 hectares have been distributed among 405,800 farmers nationwide by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) under the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

During the President’s Talk to the People on Monday night, Secretary John Castriciones said on several occasions, Duterte himself led the distribution.

President Duterte attended the distribution of Certificates of Land Own-

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VOL.14 ISSUE 134 • THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 2021

On Dabawenyos who missed their second dose of vaccination:

Ginapakusgan nato ang kampanya sa second dose sa mga tao. Ang bakuna two doses dili siya one.

Ang full protection sa vaccination is dapat kinahanglan makuha ang second dose. Naka-reserve nana daan para sa inyuha so it is very important nga fully vaccinated.”

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio

EDITORIAL Why the need for a second dose?

There is now a challenge posed on the city government’s vaccination campaign as some vaccinees failed to return for a second jab on a two-dose vaccination like Sinovac, AstraZeneca and Pfizer BionTech.

Mayor Sara Duterte- Carpio herself is asking those who had their first shot return to complete the second. For some reasons, there are those who skipped the second. Hence, the worrisome situation.

Why do we need to get a second dose?

First, one is not considered fully vaccinated unless the two-dose inoculation is completed for a two-dose formula.

Here’s more reasons why?

According to research, vaccination is the safest way to gain immunity to the coronavirus, and with most COVID-19 vaccines and you need two doses to get the greatest possible protection.

Immunologists call this method of giving people multiple doses “prime-boosting”. Essentially, you first teach the immune system what it is looking for – you prime it with the first vaccination. Then, after the immune system has had time to respond to the priming, it is challenged again. The immune response learned the first time is boosted when put into practice on the second exposure.

Most (though not all) vaccines – COVID-19 or otherwise – use prime-boosting to maximise protection. Some even require further doses. This is because immunity

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With COVID-19, experts say they have strong evidence that taking a second dose increases one’s defense against the disease. Despite this, one in 40 people in the UK who have had a first dose don’t seem to be getting their second. In the US, there have been reports of millions of people skipping their second doses. In doing so, these people are endangering their health.

The benefits of prime-boosting with COVID-19 vaccines were initially seen in clinical trials. Early studies of the currently approved COVID-19 vaccines compared the immune responses in people who received one or two vaccine doses. Results showed that after the second dose, people had higher amounts of antibodies to fight the virus, indicating that taking more than one dose would probably increase vaccine effectiveness.

Another reason why we need to get a second dose is the emergence of new threats like the delta variant.

There’s also now an extra reason you should get your second dose: new coronavirus variants of concern. These are forms of the coronavirus that have genetic mutations that may make them more transmissible, less susceptible to the protective effects of vaccines, harder to detect, or cause more severe disease.

There is nothing to fear taking a second dose or prime boosting. While it remains a personal choice, one needs to make educated choices and needless to say, there is wisdom in taking a second dose.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN MEGHANN STA. INES FERINA SANTOS Lifestyle

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LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. Consultant Correspondent Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR.,TRIA • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: ANTONIO V.“ADI” FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO •B.JOHN CARLO • MUJAHID NAVARRA ••FRED C. LUMBA • DENNIS R. GORECHO ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO •“GICO” G. S. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER GREGORIO G. DELIGERO VIDA MIA VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE M. PEREZ

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can wane over time or, as is the case with the flu vaccine, the virus that causes the disease can change so that the original vaccine no longer provides good protection.

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VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THE WILL TO SUCCEED “I grew up with an ambition and determination without which I would have been a good deal happier. I thought a lot and developed the faraway look of a dreamer, for it was always the distant heights that fascinated me and drew me to them in spirit. I was not sure what could be accomplished with tenacity and little else, but the target was set high and each rebuff only saw me more determined to see at least one major dream to its fulfillment.”

-- Earl Denman, Alone to Everest ***

Piettre Tielhard de Chardin once told the following story: A group of mountain climbers took off to scale the heights.

After some hours of walking, they got about halfway up and soon split up into three groups. They were all refreshing themselves at a chalet.

One group was sorry it had undertaken such a strenuous trip fraught with dangers and disproportionate to the expected enjoyment. So disheartened and tired, this group turned back.

The second group was happy it was here in the clear mountain air and with the sun tanning them.

So they spread their limbs out on the mountain grass and heartily ate the tasty sandwiches they

had brought along. Some broke out into song and breathed in the freedom of the heights. They were content and happy right here. Why move on higher? So they stayed right there.

It was only the third group of real mountain climbers who took off for the summit, which they had kept before their eyes from the time they left the valley bottom.

That was their goal and they relished tightening every muscle to attain it.

“In life as we climb to our goal, at times we belong to one of these three moods,” Chardin concluded.

It is our will to succeed that gives us motivation to go on -- to reach the goal we want to have. Alexander Graham Bell, a Scottish-born scientist, inventor, engineer and innovator who is credited with patenting the first practical telephone, was one such believer.

“I had made up my mind to find that for which I was searching even if it required the remainder of my life,” Bell said. “After innumerable failures I finally uncovered the principle for which I was searching, and I was astounded at its simplicity. I was still more astounded to discover the principle I had revealed was not only beneficial in the construction of a

mechanical hearing aid but it also served as a means of sending the sound of the voice over a wire.

He discovered another thing that came out from his investigation: “When a man gives his order to produce a definite result and stands by that order it seems to have the effect of giving him what might be termed a second sight which enables him to see right through ordinary problems.

What this power is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when a man is in that state of mind in which he knows exactly what he wants and is fully determined not to quit until he finds it.”

Of course, you must have heard of George Herman “Babe” Ruth, Jr., an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. At one time, when William Moulton Marston asked him what the most exciting moment of his career was, he replied that it was during one game in the World Series.

Babe Ruth was in a slump, his team was behind and two strikes had been called on him. The crowd started to boo. His desire to win rose to the emergency. He pointed to a distant spot in the field and yelled at the hooting

fans, “I’ll knock it out there for you.”

He hit the next ball where he said he would. It was the longest home run ever made at Wrigley Field. When Marston asked him what he thought about when the ball was pitched, he answered: “What’d I think about? Why, what I always think about: just hittin’ the ball.”

Ruth’s reply reminded me of the words of Paul Graham. “Being strong-willed is not enough, however,” the English computer scientist said. “You also have to be hard on yourself. Someone who was strong-willed but self-indulgent would not be called determined. Determination implies your willfulness is balanced by discipline.”

In one of his speeches, British Prime Minister Winston S. Church reminded the audience not to give up: “Never give in. Never give in.

Never, never, never, never -- in nothing, great or small, large or petty -- never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

Mario Andretti has this thought: “Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a com-

mitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek.”

Sarah Dessen, author of Keeping the Moon, has some suggestions. “If you try anything, if you try to lose weight, or to improve yourself, or to love, or to make the world a better place, you have already achieved something wonderful, before you even begin,” she wrote. “Forget failure.

If things don’t work out the way you want, hold your head up high and be proud. And try again. And again. And again!”

Asked by a fellow pianist if he could be ready to play a recital on short notice, Jan Paderewski replied, “I am always ready. I have practiced eight hours daily for 40 years.”

“I wish I had been born with such determination,” the other said. “We are all born with it,” Paderewski answered. “I just used mine.”

The words of Joseph Hill “Joss” Whedon, an American screenwriter and film and television director, came into my mind: “The thing about a hero, is even when it doesn’t look like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, he’s going to keep digging, he’s going to keep trying to do right and make up for what’s gone before, just because that’s who he is.”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD THINK ON THESE!

MORE SPANISH THAN VISAYAN Though Spanish, as a language, is nearing extinction in terms of academic use, places like Ternate, Cavite, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Davao region continue to use Chavacano, or pidgin Spanish for daily conversation. But the number of people using this homegrown dialect, which has been diluted by other vernaculars, has drastically declined in the recent decades as locals migrating to other regions adopt the lingua franca of their place of work or new residence.

No matter how hard we gripe about this truth, Spanish influence in our daily lives will stay forever. Yes, there’s such a thing as forever in terms of linguistic loan-words.

When a Filipino meets up someone who has not been seen for some time, he usually welcomes him, saying, ‘Kumusta ka?’ (How are you?) It’s a greeting that has stuck like industrial glue to how we culturally greet

people. Interestingly, the word kumusta is a corruption of two Spanish words, como and esta, which means ‘how is it going?’

From the bathroom to the dining table, the Hispanic legacy attaches to us like adhesive.

In the banyo (Spanish baño or bathroom), you use sabon (jabon or soap) and balde (Spanish bucket). You can always wash (Spanish lavar) your wet clothes afterwards.

At the lamesa (table), you eat your meal using cuchara (spoon), tenedor (fork), plato (plate, and vaso (glass). For dessert, a la mesita (small table) can be used for expediency. After meal, these cubiertos (cutlery) can be washed (Spanish lavar) and returned to the comedor (dining room). As for the table, that can always be cleaned (Spanish limpiar) after lunch or dinner.

Before going to office, we make sure our kamisa (shirt) is in if the weather is humid.

Instead of using the pantalon (pants) we have nicely kept in the baul (Spanish trunk), some people prefer calling their slacks as karsones, from calzones or breeches. What else?

Well, either you wear chinelas (slippers) or zapatos (shoes) in going to work, these centuries-old Hispanic footwears stick to your feet for purposes of convenience and protection.

In school, Spanish words are all over, such as cuaderno (notebook), papel (paper), lapis (Spanish lapiz or pencil), pisara (blackboard or pizzara), libro (book), and burador (eraser or borrador).

For heartfelt Catholics, surely these words are familiar: kampana (campana or bell), kapilya (capilla or chapel), Rosario (rosary), iglesia (Church), kumpisal (Spanish confesar or confess), belo (velo or veil), kura proko (cura parroco or priest), ostea (hostia or eucharistic host), insenso (incense

or incense), istatwa (estatua or statue), kandila (candila or lamp), and devulto (devout).

In our daily lives, we also encounter words such as serbesa (cerveza or beer), karomata (carromata or wagon), kalesa (calesa or buggy), kalsada (calzada or road), graba (grava or gravel) vino (wine), braso (brazo or arm), antiyohos (eyeglasses or los anteojos), kwelyo (cuello or neck), alahas (alajas or jewelry), ariyos (arrejos or fixes), bigote (moustache), mangas (sleeves), butones (botones or bottons), aguha (aguja or needle), pligis (pliegues or creases), balsa (raft), liston (ribbon), and limpiya botas (limpia botas or clean boots), and heredero (inheritor).

More importantly, the way we count and the days we use in our days have Spanish provenance. Uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, seis, siete, ocho, nueve, and diez. Then, Lunes Martes, Miercoles, Jueves, Viernes, Sa-

bado, and Domingo. And so are the months: Enero, Febrero, Marzo, Abril, Mayo, Junio, Julio, Agosto, Septiembre, Octobre, Noviembre, and Deciembre.

But there are also Spanish loan-words we innocently use without knowing their meanings. ‘La mierda’ is not about going to town to gallivant because literally means ‘the excreta.’ Monay, which we associate with a bread variety, means ‘breasts’ in colloquial Español.

The expression ‘hijo de puta’ is the equivalent of the American slang ‘motherfucker.’

Next time Spanish will be revived as part of high school or college curriculum think about heritage and set aside the argument that Spanish as a language is difficult to learn. Language, as it is, reflects not just colonial influence; it also means cultural diversity. We learn more from what we use in communicating than in the terms we coin to past of our colloquial messaging.

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COMPETITIVE EDGE

Phoenix bags 5 trophies at 18th International Business Awards P hoenix Petroleum wins five recognitions from the 18th International Business Awards for its innovative programs and initiatives during the pandemic.

The country’s fastest-growing and third biggest oil player, Phoenix Petroleum, has added five new honors to its list of achievements as the company’s programs were recently recognized by the 18th International Business Awards (IBA), also known as the Stevies.

Winning a Gold Stevie trophy is the Phoenix Digital National Convention, a yearly event that was innovated to adapt to the effects of the pandemic. Titled ‘Winnovation: Partner, Kayang-kaya, basta’t sama-sama!’, the convention utilized different digital live streaming platforms to gather all Phoenix brand partners, dealers, distributors, suppliers, and franchise owners across the country.

The company’s internal COVID-19 response program earned a Silver Stevie for the Most Exemplary Employer category. The award highlights Phoenix’s various initiatives to ensure the safety and security of its employees amid the pandemic.

Another silver awardee for the Most Valuable Service category is FamilyMart’s #WeSupportSMEs campaign which helped small

local businesses to sustain themselves, and reach more customers through FamilyMart stores.

Meanwhile, LIMITLESS, the company’s biggest program launched last year, won a Bronze Stevie for Innovation of the Year-Consumer Service Industries category. Another innovative program, the Phoenix Block, also won a bronze trophy for New Products-Consumer Services category. These two programs showcased the company’s innovative approach in providing its services to its clients during the pandemic.

“To be recognized consistently in the international scene makes us beyond proud. It is especially more rewarding as this comes while we combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This recognition from the IBA only makes us want to improve and strive more,” Phoenix Petroleum President Henry Albert Fadullon said. “We attribute this achievement to the collective effort of everyone from Phoenix to continuously work on our vision to be an indispensable partner in everyone’s journey,” he added.

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Ayala Malls Abreeza wins Gold Stevie® Award in 2021 Int’l Business Awards® A

yala Malls Abreeza was named the winner of a Gold Stevie® Award in the Art, Entertainment & Public - Art Event category in The 18th Annual International Business Awards® today.

The International Business Awards are the world’s premier business awards program. All individuals and organizations worldwide – public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small – are eligible to submit nominations. The 2021 IBAs received entries from organizations in 63 nations and territories.

As the ongoing COVID-19 crisis will prevent winners from receiving their awards on stage during a traditional gala IBA banquet, winners will be celebrated instead during a virtual ceremony on Wednesday, 8 December.

More than 3,700 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories covering management,

marketing, communications, creative, customer service, human resources, corporate social responsibility, and many more. This year’s competition also featured a number of categories to recognize organizations’ and individuals’ responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abreeza won in the Art, Entertainment & Public - Art Event category for Real Estate. Abreeza’s winning entry focused on The Good Vibes Project, an initiative which seeks to bring good vibes to customers during the pandemic by giving different areas of the mall a vibrant refresh.

Titled “Ayala Malls Abreeza’s The Good Vibes Project: Bringing Bright Colors to Bleak Times,” the entry detailed the success of the project’s first outing: a massive floor mural taking up almost 7,000 square feet at the Roof Garden. Launched in the summer of 2021, the work painted by the team of young Davaoeña artist Resa Embutin featured bright colors, whimsical illustrations, and

uplifting quotes that inspired visitors to keep going despite challenges. Through this initiative, Abreeza was able to revitalize their Roof Garden, and at the same time impart good vibes to customers that they then spread outward through photos and videos shared on social media.

Since then, Abreeza has launched other efforts under the Good Vibes umbrella; namely, the #AbreezaLovesU heartwork painted by Embutin and Ralph Gepte and the surprise comeback of the Abreeza fountain during Kadayawan week.

“This fundamentally simple idea really has a lot to commend [in] it,” one Stevie Awards judge said of the project. “It’s a bright, uplifting and fundamentally human response to the pandemic and the associated problems of lockdown: depression, loneliness, mental illness.”

Another judge called it “a big, bold concept that was executed with flair and style.”

Stevie Award winners were determined by the av-

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THE IMPORTANCE OF VITAMIN D AGAINST COVID-19 Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

A

side from vitamin C and zinc, doctors recommend that those who are infected with SARS-CoV-2 should also take vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin.

Nicknamed the “sunshine vitamin” due to its ability to be absorbed by the body through sunlight, it is especially important for immune system health.

“The immune system defends the body against foreign organisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites,” writes Sherry Christiansen for verywellhealth.com. “Not only does the immune system kill foreign invaders, but it also develops a protective ability (acquired immunity) to prevent future infections.”

Some research shows that having healthy levels of vitamin D can help the immune system be healthy and may protect against respiratory illnesses in general. In fact, a recent study which appeared in the peer-reviewed journal PloS One indicated that patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (C0VID-19) who had sufficient levels of vitamin D had a decreased risk for adverse outcomes and death.

“Vitamin D is necessary for the proper functioning of your immune system – which is your body’s first line of defense against infection and disease,” explains healthline.com’s Katherine Marengo, a clinical registered dietitian. “This vitamin plays a critical role in promoting immune response. It has both anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties, and is crucial for the

activation of immune system defenses.”

Vitamin D is so important for immune function that low levels of it have been associated with increased susceptibility to infection, disease, and immune-related disorders. Low vitamin D levels, some studies found, are associated with an increased risk of respiratory diseases, including tuberculosis, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

More importantly, vitamin D deficiency has been linked to decreased lung function. This is one of the reasons why doctors recommend taking vitamin D as COVID-19 can cause lung complications such as pneumonia and, in the most severe cases, acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Right now, there is still no cure or treatment available for COVID-19. Only few studies have investigated the effect of vitamin D supplements or vitamin D deficiency on the risk of contracting the dreaded coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

In her feature, Marengo reported on a study that analyzed hospital data of 235 patients with COVID-19. “In patients older than 40, those

who had adequate levels of vitamin D were 51.5% less likely to have adverse outcomes, including becoming unconscious, hypoxia, and death, as compared to vitamin D-deficient patients.”

Other studies have shown that vitamin D supplements can enhance immune response and protect against respiratory infections overall. There are also studies which indicate that vitamin D deficiency may harm immune function and increase a person’s risk of developing respiratory illnesses.

“Vitamin D supplements have also been shown to reduce mortality in older adults, who are most at risk of developing respiratory illnesses like COVID-19,” Marengo writes. “What’s more, vitamin D deficiency is known to enhance a process known as the ‘cytokine storm.’”

Cytokines are small glycoproteins produced by various types of cells throughout the body. “During a cytokine storm,” explains Benedette Cuffari of New Medical Life Sciences, “various inflammatory cytokines are produced at a much higher rate than normal. This overproduction of cytokines causes positive feedback on other immune cells to occur, which allows for more immune cells to be recruited to the site of injury that can lead to organ damage.”

Despite its name, vitamin D is actually not a vitamin but a prohormone, or precursor of a hormone. A human body produces it as

a response to sun exposure.

“The body creates vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin when outdoors,” says the National Health Service (NHS) of Great Britain.

People who are infected with the COVID-19 virus are advised to have sunshine exposure for 20-30 minutes either in the early morning or late afternoon.

“You cannot overdose on vitamin D through exposure to sunlight,” the NHS says.

“But always remember to cover up or protect your skin if you’re out in the sun for long periods to reduce the risk of skin damage and skin cancer.”

Vitamin D is also found in a small number of foods.

Sources include: oily fish (such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel), fortified milk, cheese, red meat, beef liver, egg yolks, mushrooms, and fortified foods (like some fat spreads and breakfast cereals).

Another source of vitamin D is dietary supplements. “Although people can take vitamin D supplements, it is best to obtain any vitamins or minerals through natural sources wherever possible,” urges Medical News Today’s Megan Ware.

Although the body can create vitamin D, a deficiency can occur in some instances.

According to Ware, vitamin D deficiency symptoms may include: regular sickness or infection, fatigue, bone and back pain, low mood, impaired wound healing, hair loss and muscle pain.

“If vitamin D deficiency continues for long periods, it

may result in complications such as cardiovascular conditions, autoimmune problems, neurological diseases, infections, pregnancy complications, and certain cancers (especially breast, prostate, and colon),” Ware says.

A study which came out in The American Journal of Sports Medicine showed that about one billion people worldwide are either vitamin D insufficient or deficient.

In the Philippines, a study conducted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) showed one in 10 Filipino children – 6 to 12 years old – lacks vitamin D. One in 10 or 10.3 percent (%) of Filipino children 6 to 12 years old coming from selected provinces and cities in the country is vitamin D deficient.

According to the 2018 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) of the DOST’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), a significantly higher proportion of vitamin D insufficiency is observed in girls, 6 in 10 (57.6%) than among boys, 4 in 10 (43%), aged 6 to12 years old. A vitamin D concentration of 50 to less than 75 nanomoles (nmol) per liter (L) is considered insufficient (50- <75 nmol/L).

The survey also found out that there are more children in urban areas (59%) who have insufficient vitamin D compared to their rural counterparts (45.4%).

Likewise, around 4 to 5 in 10 of Filipino children, 6 to12 years old across islands (NCR: 57.9%, Luzon: 45.8%, Visayas: 47.7%, and Mindan-

ao: 51.2%) have insufficient levels of vitamin D. The survey added that older children 11-12 years old have a higher likelihood of having vitamin D deficiency than younger children. In addition, girls are 1.5 times more likely to be vitamin D deficient than boys.

The probability of having vitamin D deficiency is 5.4 times higher in children living in urban areas, the survey concluded.

“Vitamin D deficiency has links to high blood pressure in children,” Ware says, citing a 2018 study which found a possible connection between low vitamin D levels and stiffness in the arterial walls of children.

The US National Institute of Health (NIH) Admits that obtaining sufficient vitamin D from natural (non-fortified) food sources alone is difficult. Some doctors advise taking supplements.

But don’t take too much of it. Remember, vitamin D is a micronutrient that helps increase mineral absorption like calcium which is necessary for bone health and development.

“Taking too many vitamin D supplements over a long period of time can cause too much calcium to build up in the body,” the NHS says.

“This can weaken the bones and damage the kidneys and the heart.”

If you choose to take vitamin D supplements, 10 micrograms a day will be enough for most people.

“Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vi-

FIMPORTANCE, P10

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EDGEDAVAO

10 MORE... FROM2 of drug awareness, preventive education and information, and other related anti-illegal drugs programs, the existence of a voluntary and compulsory drug treatment, and rehabilitation processing desk in the barangay.

The ROCBDC is

chaired by PDEA 11 director Aillen Lovito together with its member-representatives from Department of Interior and Local Government as Vice-Chairperson, Police Regional Office XI, Department of Health, and Local Government Units.

Filipino (ROF) from Cairo, Egypt with address in Davao de Oro – received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine last August 11 in the province.

The ROF, who arrived in Manila last July 18, was put in isolation until August 3 after testing positive. He had flown to Davao City last August 4 and was transported back to his hometown on the same day.

Of this total, Davao City reported 538,918 received first doses and 518,074 second doses; Davao de Oro, 108,310 first doses and 65,160 second doses; Davao del Norte, 152,426 first doses and 129,026 second doses; Davao del Sur, 84,096 first doses and 75,846 second doses; 65,283 first doses and 36,486 second doses; and Davao Oriental, 108,856 first doses and 79,256 second doses.

Montejo said while it is highly encouraged to get vaccinated against the virus, the public should continue observing the minimum health standards such as distancing, frequent handwashing, and wearing of mask and face shield.

She added there is risk of getting infected even after getting the full doses.

She also asked the people to avoid social gatherings or celebrate only with members of the same household to avoid risk of contracting the disease.

Dr. Arnel Florendo, head of the Tagum City Health Office, expressed alarm over the rising Delta cases in Tagum City where the first documented case of this type was reported last July 25.

Both Delta cases in Tagum City, one of them is five months pregnant, were fully vaccinated.

The 38-year-old pregnant woman is still an active case and has been isolated since July 23.

The two are considered “community transmission” as they have no travel history, he added.

Four of her identified close contacts also tested positive of the infection.

Florendo said they were re-swabbed and their specimens were submitted for genome sequencing to the University of the Philippines-Philippine Genome Center (UP-PGC) in Diliman.

tional and multinational companies and industries have been operating for quiet sometime. We believe that the region has become a competitive with the rest of the country today,” he said.

For this year, Davao ICON will be showcasing also a number of firsts and the focus areas for this year will be on tourism, agribusiness, real estate and manufacturing, infrastructure, ICT and education.

Meanwhile, Mayor Sara said the region need these economic prospects as it continue to move forward beyond this pandemic and cements the region’s role in the ASEAN community.

“Let us continue to work together so that Davao region which is strong today will emerge stronger tomorrow. We thanked the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry for bringing in the cities more opportunities.

With today’s virtual launch there are now opportunities available for a number of people in the areas of real estate, tourism, manufacturing, agribusiness, ICT, education, and infrastructure,” the mayor said.

Monteverde said the kick off is a testimony of Davao’s resilience and fortitude to overcome adversity.

“We are optimistic that Davao and Mindanao will be able to recover from the economic slump that we have in 2020. The Davao ICON shall regain the momentum we had had before the pandemic,” she said.

Davao ICON 2021 will carry the theme: “Davao Region, strong today, strong tomorrow”.

“This is so apt to highlight the potential of Davao region as the investment destination in Asia Pacific region and the sub-region of BIMP-EAGA,” she said. By Maya M. Padillo

while those under the category of the Agrarian Law implementation involved lack of detailed guidelines.

“Pangatlo, dinatnan ng administrasyong Duterte ang 1.3 milyong ektarya ng lupa na ipinamigay ng mga nakaraang administrasyon bilang mga collective CLOA at apektado ang

1.1 million agrarian reform beneficiaries (Third, the collective CLOA involving 1.3 million hectares of land distributed during past administrations affecting 1.1 million agrarian reform beneficiaries were already existing when the Duterte administration came in),” he said.

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pital but failed to get there alive.

Recovered from the suspect was a caliber .45 pistol loaded with five live ammunition, while various “terrorist propaganda materials” were found at scene, he said.

A report from the Army’s 6th Infantry Division (ID) said the suspect was an intelligence officer of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-NPA’s Komisyon Mindanao, a former member of the Regional Operations Command-R2, an intelligence unit of the NPA-Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (SMRC), and served as the squad special operations group of SMRC. He was allegedly involved in various crimes, among them the raids on Civilian Armed Force Geographical Unit Active Auxiliary (CAA) detachments in Sitio Kamaruyan, Brgy Tagugpo, Lupon, Davao Oriental in 2004 and 2005; Magpet police station in North Cotabato in 2005; Dangcagan police station in Bukidnon in 2007; and Banay-Banay police station in Davao Oriental in 2008.

The suspect was also

listed as part of the groups that had attacked a police station in San Isidro, Davao Oriental; CAA detachment in Luz Village, M’lang town in 2010 and a detachment in Luna Sur in Makilala, North Cotabato; the police stations of Governor Generoso and Lupon in Davao Oriental and New Corella in Davao del Norte; and against Army personnel securing a packing house of Sumifru Corporation in Luna Sur, Makilala, North Cotabato.

He was reportedly involved in the attack on the Tampakan municipal police station in South Cotabato in 2009, and the abduction of Lingig, Surigao del Sur Mayor Henry Dano in 2011.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of 6ID and Joint Task Force Central, said the operation was part of their efforts to curb lawlessness, criminality, and terrorist threats in the region.

“The death of John Nebris Omega is a big loss to the communist terrorist group. Not only will it add up to their leadership vacuum but will also have an adverse effect on the already dwindling morale of their members,” he said.

total allocation of P145.371 million.

The completion of the bicycle lane project also

fulfills the goals of sustainability and renewability of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

Improvised Explosive Device (EID) components.

The arrest of Peñaranda was the result of the intensified intelligence operations and the support of the community coupled with the constant coordination of government forces, and its stakeholders, the report said.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of Joint Task Force Central and 6th Infantry Division, thanked the

cooperation of the community leading to the neutralization of Peñaranda.

“I ask you to continue to cooperate with your Army.

We will never stop chasing the remaining terrorists in your place until they are finished. I urged everyone to guard the peace that we already won and sustain the gains that we are enjoying now so that the next generation will benefit from it,” Uy said.

provement in infrastructure such as putting up more telecommunication towers.

Alexander Friedhoff, co-founder and chief executive officer of e-commerce enabler Etaily, forecasts a billion-level e-commerce market for the Philippines by 2025.

“We can definitely say that developments due to the pandemic will be even going in a significantly higher direction,” he said.

Etaily, a Philippine-based end-to-end omni-channel solutions provider, recently got a USD1.6-million (around PHP80.6 million) seed

funding from large business in the country like Ayala Ventures, Foxmont Capital Partners, Magsaysay Shipping & Logistics, and Boston Consulting Group.

Friedhoff said the funding will allow the company to help boost e-commerce operations of businesses operating in the country to expand presence in the region.

“We will not allow the retail apocalypse that happened in the US and in Europe because we are giving traditional retailers the digital fighting chance to compete for the local as well as regional market,” he added.

(PNA)

ergy Department also made assurances that there would be no power outages during the dry season. However, brownouts still occurred due to extended or unplanned power plant maintenance work, and below-capacity performance of other power

facilities.

During the peak of the brownouts this year, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said 2,000 MW was lost from the grid due to extended/unplanned maintenance or the derating of 4 major power plants.

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tamin D a day as it could be harmful,” NHS warns. “This applies to adults, including pregnant and breastfeeding women and the elderly, and children aged 11 to 17 years.”

Children aged 1 to 10 years should not have more than 50 micrograms (2,000 IU) a day, the NHS says.

Infants under 12 months should not have more than 25 micrograms (1,000 IU) a day.

There are people who have medical conditions, which mean they may not be able to safely take as much.

Vitamin D supplements may also interact with several types of medications. “If in doubt, you should consult your doctor,” the NHS advises.

Now, if your doctor has recommended you take a different amount of vitamin D, you should follow his advice

Fadullon also serves as the only Filipino Chairman of the Judging Committee this year, being at the helm of the Achievement and Management/Entrepreneur categories of the IBA–a category in which Phoenix does not have any entries.

With this win, Phoenix now has a total of 11 IBA trophies. This is also the fourth consecutive year that the company and its programs were recognized by the renowned

international awards organization.

The International Business Awards is the world’s premier business award created in 2002 to honor and generate public recognition of the achievements and positive contributions of organizations and working professionals worldwide.

This year, it received 3,700 nominations from companies worldwide. Among the awardees this year are Ayala Land, LLYC, and IBM.

erage scores of more than 260 executives worldwide who participated in the judging process from June through early August.

Details about The International Business Awards and the lists of Stevie Award winners are available atwww.

StevieAwards.com/IBA.

tor Ortiz will take on Robert Guerrero in a welterweight bout, while unbeaten Filipino Mark Magsayo battles Mexico’s Julio Ceja in a featherweight

showdown.

In another featherweight bout, Carlos Castro will take on Óscar Escandón in a 10-round affair to open the card.

rolled in Las Vegas, topping Charlotte, 80-70; edging Washington, 8975; taking down Memphis, 90-75, and blasting Dallas, 86-70, to earn its place in the finale.

It was the second Summer League crown for the Kings, with its last title coming in 2014 behind Ben McLemore, Ray McCallum, Nik Stauskas, and MarShon Brooks.

on the holiday.

For Lakers star LeBron James, though, Christmas appearances are just about an annual occurrence.

And this year’s matchup will likely be of the history-making variety.

If James plays in the Dec. 25 game against the Nets, it would be his 16th Christmas appearance and tie Kobe Bryant for the most in NBA history. If James starts that game, he would break a tie with Bryant for most Christmas starts; Bryant came off the bench once.

If James scores more than 12 points, he will also pass Bryant for the most Christmas points; Bryant has 395, James 383. And should the Lakers win, James would become the first player to appear in 11 Christmas victories, breaking a tie with Dwyane Wade.

The Bucks, Lakers, Celtics, Nets, Warriors and Mavericks all played

on Christmas last season. Utah and New York return for the first time since 2018, and Phoenix is getting its first Christmas game since 2009.

OPENING WEEK The NBA also released the schedule of nationally televised games for opening week, and this season will begin where last season ended — in Milwaukee, with the Bucks celebrating a championship.

Ring night in Milwaukee, as expected, is Oct. 17, when the Bucks will open the season against Brooklyn and with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expected to be in attendance, as per tradition, to hand out the jewelry. Milwaukee won a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference semifinals on the Nets’ home floor during its run to its first championship in 50 years.

The other game on the slate for Oct. 17 has Golden State playing at the Lakers.

Sydney editions of the event, respectively.

The 21-man Philippine delegation will be quaran-

tined at the Conrad Hotel starting Thursday, and will start leaving for Tokyo on Sunday.

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Manny Pacquiao concludes his camp in LA.

Lakers-Nets, Bucks-Celts in NBA Christmas Day games

T

he Milwaukee Bucks are staying home for Christmas, which is becoming an annual perk for reigning NBA champions.

The NBA released the schedule for the Dec. 25 quintupleheader on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time), and the Bucks will play host to the Boston Celtics in the second of the day’s games. It marks the eighth consecutive season in which the reigning champion has gotten to play at home for the holiday.

Also set for Christmas this year: Atlanta opens the day at New York, Golden State visits reigning Western Conference champion Phoenix, Brooklyn plays at the Los Angeles Lakers,

and Dallas goes to Utah in the day’s finale.

The full season schedule will be released Friday afternoon, the NBA said.

The league is returning to an 82-game season after playing a 72-game slate last season because of the pandemic, and it is expected that the Toronto Raptors — who spent last season playing home games in Tampa, Florida — will be allowed to play in their home city again this season.

Atlanta’s Christmas game will be its first since 1989, ending what was the longest drought in the NBA among franchises with at least one Christmas appearance. Charlotte and Memphis have yet to play

FLAKERS, P10

Alapag is NBA Summer League champion coach

J

immy Alapag can now call himself an NBA champion, in the Summer League at least.

The Fil-Am coach added another feather in his cap after the Sacramento Kings ruled the 2021 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas by blasting the Boston Celtics, 100-67, in the championship game on Thursday (Manila time).

Louis King capped off his magnificent performance with 21 points on 4-of-8 clip from deep, to go with five steals and three rebounds as Sacramento went on a perfect 5-0 record.

Jahmi’us Ramsey added 16 points, Matt Coleman III got 14 points and three assists, and no. 9 pick Davion

Mitchell contributed nine points and seven dimes in the win.

Alapag has played an active role in the staff of coach Bobby Jackson in his second tour of duty for Sacramento, the first coming in 2019.

Can Alapag crack Kings’ NBA roster?

The longtime Gilas Pilipinas captain last held the head coaching post for San Miguel Alab Pilipinas in the ASEAN Basketball League and was a deputy for Leo Austria in the San Miguel Beermen in the PBA. He is hopeful of cracking the Kings’ coaching staff under head coach Luke Walton.

Sacramento has steam-

FALAPAG, P10

SPORTS

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Pacquiao, Ugas arrive in Vegas

F

ilipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Cuba’s Yordenis Ugás made their grand arrival in Las Vegas on Tuesday, ushering in fight week.

The fighters were introduced in front of T-Mobile Arena, where they will face off on August 21 for the WBA “super” welterweight championship.

For Pacquiao, it’s an opportunity to win back a belt that he never lost.

The “Pacman” won the WBA “super” welterweight title when he outpointed American Keith Thurman in July 2019, but in January 2021 the sanctioning body declared him a “champion in recess” and stripped him of the belt due to inactivity.

Elevated to “super” champion status was Ugás, and Pacquiao is now taking the situation as a source of motivation.

“Ugás is a fighter,” Pacquiao said. “He’s a champion. He took my belt, but I’ll see him later in the ring.”

For Ugás, meanwhile, this is the opportunity of a lifetime. A bronze medalist in the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, the Cuban enters the bout having won 11 of

Jimmy Alapag hopes to crack the Kings NBA roster as member of the coaching staff.

his last 12 fights. His most recent loss was to Shawn Porter in March 2019, where he dropped a close split decision.

Sean Gibbons, Pacquiao’s promoter, has warned that Ugás cannot be underestimated.

“He (Ugás) has been preparing to fight. He’s in tremendous shape,” said Gibbons.

In the undercard, Vic-

FPACQUIAO, P10

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Dabawenyo Paralympian Ernie Gawilan will leave for Tokyo August 22.

INSPIRED

Gawilan, 5 others draw inspiration from Diaz and Co.

E

rnie Gawilan, the Dabawenyo Torpedo, is all hyped up for the Tokyo Paralympics.

One of the six Paralympians competing starting August 24, Gawilan will be in his second Olympics and is considerd one of the brightest prospects for a medal.

He told Edge Davao in an online chat that he will leave with some of the other members of the delegation on August 22.

The 27-year old swimmer and the rest of the Philippines’ six para athletes are drawing inspiration from the country’s successful campaign in the Tokyo Olympics, as they make the final preparations for the Paralympic Games.

The Paralympics will open in Tokyo on August 24, and will close on September 25.

“Inspired kami at na-lift up sa tagumpay na naganap sa Tokyo Olympics po, mas na-motivate po kami na galingan sa darating na World Paralympics,” said Gawilan, a veteran of the Rio Para Games, during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday.

“Tuwang-tuwa po ako sa nakuha po nating medal sa Tokyo Olympics, sa sobrang success po nila doon,” added taekwondo jin Allain Ganapin, who will make his Para Games debut in Tokyo.

“Sobra kaming ganado sa ensayo at iniisijp na nandoon na po kami sa Tokyo nagpe-perform,”

Ganapin said.

National team chef de mission Francis Diaz said all of the six athletes are all eager and prepared to play for flag and country in the meet that was also delayed by a year due to COVID-19 pandemic.

The other campaigners are wheelchair racer Jerold Magliwan, who will be the flag-bearer during the opening ceremonies on Aug. 24, swimmer Gary Bejino, discus thrower Jeanette Aceveda, and power lifter Achele Guion.

“Wholistically speaking, physically, mentally, psychologically and emotionally, reading-ready na po sila na lalahok sa Tokyo Paralympic Games,” said Diaz.

For Gawilan, a gold medalist in the 2018 Asian Para Games, the goal is to make it to the finals of the men’s 400-meter freestyle, while Ganapin wants to reach the finals of the men’s 75kg weight class in his sport.

“Mga three heats po ang kailangan, para makating sa finals,” said Gawilan, who will also be the country’s flag-bearer during the closing ceremonies.

Diaz said they are hoping to duplicate if not surpass the bronze medals won by table tennis player Josephine Medina and power lifter Adeline Dumapong Ancheta in the 2016 Rio and 2000

FINSPIRED, P10