Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 156 | Wednesday, September 15, 2021 by Edge Davao The Business Paper

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VOL.14 ISSUE 156 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

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A lineman cuts entwined cable wires of telecom companies as part of the tidying up work for the underground cabling project along C.M. Recto Avenue in Davao City over the weekend. Edge Davao

PANDEMIC OF THE UNVACCINATED

STORY ON PAGE 2

Unvaccinated represents over 91 percent of active cases in Davao City this month

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 156 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

President Rodrigo Duterte talks to the people after holding a meeting with the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) core members at the Malacañang Palace on Monday evening. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

PANDEMIC OF THE UNVACCINATED Unvaccinated represents over 91 percent of active cases in Davao City this month By MAYA M. PADILLO

ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio reiterated the big difference between getting vaccinated and not as 91.13 percent of Davao City’s active cases of Covid-19 from September 5 to 11, 2021 are reported as unvaccinated.

The mayor said out of Davao City’s new Covid-19 cases of 3,304 from September 5 to 11, 2021 or morbidity week 36 of 2021, 91.13 percent were unvaccinated while 8.86 (293) were vaccinated. “The unvaccinated is 91.13 percent and then gusto tag breakdown, kining data paunsa nato pagrelate sa atoang regular daily life?

Makita nato numbers ni sya nga gikuha nato sa positive cases nato sa Covid-19. Dunay dako nga diperensya kung vaccinated ka o unvaccinated ka. This should guide us nga magdecide magpabakuna na,” the mayor said via Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR). Mayor Sara added that out of the 293 vaccinated Covid-19 cases, 148 re-

ceived Sinovac vaccine; 72 AstraZeneca; 62 Pfizer, six with Moderna; four were jabbed with Johnson and Johnson; one had Sputnik. The mayor explained that the city logged more Covid-19 cases administered with Sinovac as the city rolled out more Sinovac vaccines. Meanwhile, the city recorded 59 deaths from September 5 to 11 and of this number, 55 or 93.22 percent were unvaccinated while four or 6.77 were vaccinated. Of the four vaccinated deaths, two got Sinovac jabs while the other two received Pfizer shots. Some vaccinat-

Bukidnon RHUs urged to provide telemedicine services for residents

ven with the increasing cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections in Bukidnon, not a single rural health unit (RHU) in the province has offered institutional telemedicine or virtual clinical services for their constituents. Dr. Vincent Raguro, head of the Department of Health (DOH) in Bukidnon, said that no RHU in the province has been accredited with the Philippine Health Insurance Corpora-

tion (PhilHealth) to conduct telemedicine services so far. He said the RHUs needed the PhilHealth accreditation to be qualified to claim capitation to sustain their operations. According to PhilHealth, capitation is the scheme or form for the corporation to pay the RHU for specific services it provides. The RHUs of the cities of Malaybalay and Valencia have on-going applications for PhilHealth accreditation, Raguro said.

“Hopefully they will be able to obtain accreditation soon,” he added. Dr. Efren D. Villahermosa, Jr., president of the 350-member Bukidnon Medical Society (BMS), said that with the current strain in the health system due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases, there is a need to institutionalize the use of virtual consultations or telemedicine, especially by the RHUs. He said in an interview

FBUKIDNON, P10

ed individuals who either become severe or critical Covid-19 cases and eventually die usually have not yet received their second doses. “Dili na ta kinahanglan mupili og bakuna because there’s that chance sa tanang klase sa bakuna nga magpositive gihapon ka sa Covid-19. Ang importante lang dapat masabtan sa tanan dili ta severe or critical case nga kinahanglan ta musulod dinha sa ospital og magpakitabang sa atong mga doctors og mga health care workers nga overwhelmed na, gikapoy na sila, wala na silay pahu-

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he Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants [PICPA] - Davao Chapter conducted a COVID-19 vaccination activity on Friday morning, starting at 8 am Sept. 10, 2021 with 370 persons registered. The event was held at the Davao Medical School Foundation [DMSF], Inc. in Barangay 19-B, DMSF Hospital, Medical School Drive, Bajada.

6 captured NPA rebs, another killed are COVID-19 positive

ix captured members of the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and another rebel killed during armed clashes in San Fernando and Valencia City in Bukidnon last week are COVID-19 positive, based on the results of the tests conducted. Maj. Gen. Romeo S. Brawner Jr., commander of Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said that 6 out of the 10 members including 3 minors of the Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA (CPP-NPA) who were captured in the San Fernando and Valencia City in Bukidnon encounters were found to be COVID-19 positive. He said another NPA member, known only as

alias Jilian killed during the operation turned out also to be COVID-19 positive. The slain rebel was immediately buried upon learning that he is COVID-19 positive. “Many in the NPA ranks possibly have COVID-19 as evidenced by the positive test results of the captured and dead CNTs. Nais ko pong ipaalam sa kanila na wala pong pinipili ang COVID-19, sundalo, kapulisan, mga kawani, simpleng mamamayan at maging mga miyembro ng CPP-NPA-NDF ay tinatablan din ng nakakamatay na COVID-19,” Brawner said. He said soldiers are willing to provide COVID-19 vaccines to the communist terrorist group (CTG) “if

PICPA Davao Chapter partnered with PICPA Davao Foundation in the said community service. Leading the inoculation drive was the professional organization’s president, Rossano C. Luga, and Jose Rao’ul J. Balisalisa, an immediate past president who is representing the foundation. Earlier, the PICPA Davao Chapter entered into a memorandum of agree-

ment with the DMSF for the conduct of the immunization. DMSF medical team and personnel directly perform and oversee the vaccination process at their hospital. Meanwhile, the chapter takes charge of inviting people who wish to avail themselves of the free service. The vaccines were provided by the government

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 156 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

NEWS

Commuters wait for public utility vehicles at the junction of Gov. Duterte Street and Qurino Avenue in Davao City on Tuesday. The city recorded 3,304 Covid-19 cases from September 5 to 11, 2021 and 91.13 percent of this number were unvaccinated. Edge Davao

Mayor Sara meets with Marikit of NPA

ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio visited the former secretary of New People’s Army (NPA) Guerilla Front 55, Arian Jane O. Ramos, alias Marikit, at the headquarters of Philippine Army’s 1003rd Infantry Brigade (IB) on Saturday (September 11). To recall, Marikit surrendered to government troops in August of this year after years of sowing terror in the hinterlands of Paquibato District in Davao City together with her late husband “Ka Rommel”. The meeting that had been arranged by the brigade was to maximize the potential of Marikit in Paquibato District after the latter started giving vital information and suggestions in making lasting peace in the area of responsibility (AOR). Maj. Ronel Legarde, spokesman of 1003rd IB, said the meeting aims to end the decades-long struggle of insurgency to eventually bring peace in Paquibato District and the entire city. Legarde said Marikit

promised to continue her advocacy in serving the IP communities by extending a hand to the government for a better and bigger purpose. During the meeting, Marikit encouraged the remaining NPA rebels to come down and avail themselves of government programs through Enhanced-Comprehensive Local Integration Program (E-CLIP) and be reunited with their families and loved ones. “For the students, let us continue to be critical and focus on our studies. I encouraged activism but let us not come into the point that we are at the brink of thinking about life or death,” she said. Marikit also called on businessmen to continue to extend investment towards the development and even encouraged them not to give into the demands of the extortion of any groups or organizations particularly using her name. “I have no consent, I am already at the right track under the 1003rd Brigade and

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Practice wearing face mask at home: Sara M By MAYA M. PADILLO

ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the only way to reduce household transmission is to practice wearing face mask inside the house.

The city government of Davao noted more families are getting sick due to household transmission of Covid-19 that add up to the sources of infection in the city. “Household transmission, this is the majority of our cases. The one in the household or the whole household will get sick. The only way to reduce the risk

of staying inside the house if there is a chance to be positive in you, is if even before that happens, practice wearing a mask inside the house,” the mayor said. Last week, Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of Davao City Covid-19 Task Force, said based on the data of the City Health Office (CHO) majority of the city’s cases are due to

household transmission. This is also the reason why the city is now mobilizing Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs), district health officers, and security cluster to intensify household lockdown. “Karon gina-mobilize nato ang atoang mga BHERTS and security cluster and PNP to strenghten and intensfy household lockdown kasi due to surge of cases na naa ta karon, dili lang usa-usa ang na-infect sa panimalay becasue a lot

of our cases karon kanang naghawaay dili lang isa ka miyembro sa pamilya ang mag-positive kundili tag-tulo or tag-upat, worst is the entire family. So mas daghan ta ug household transmission mao mas daghan ta ug household lockdown,” she said. Schlosser also urged Dabawenyos to stop from attending social gatherings and vigils in fear of bringing home the virus and cause household transmission. “Pero most often than

“No dili ta magpagawas og Executive Order (to suspend EO 20-A: Mandatory Swab Test for F1, F2, F3). Pero duna lang ta’y internal agreement with the health group with regard to maghatag og leeway because dili sala sa mga tao nga nadaot ang machine dinha sa SPMC. But kung ang tao ma-contact trace siya and masultihan siya nga kinahanglan siya magpa-test, pwede gihapon siya magpa-test on his own sa private laboratories,”

Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said on Monday. The city government of Davao is temporarily limiting Covid-19 RT-PCR swab testing to close contacts or F1 and the individuals with influenza-like illnesses (ILI) only due to the limited supply of detection kits. The free RT-PCR swab testing for individuals who do not fall under F1 and ILI will not be accommodated from Monday, September 13, 2021 until further notice.

These include people tagged thru the Safe DQR, surveillance and community swabbing for high-risk areas, and individuals who are getting an RT-PCR result for their health certificate. “Ang atoang unahon is katong mga high risk individuals. Mao ni atoang close contacts or F1, katong naa jud direct contact sa known positive ug katong mga patients nga naga show og Covid-related symptoms.

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City won’t issue new EO to suspend mandatory swabbing

he city government of Davao will not issue a new Executive Order (EO) for the purpose of suspending the order for mandatory swabbing of all F1, F2, and F3 contacts of anyone tested positive for Covid-19 via RTPCR. This developed as the extraction machine to run swab specimens at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) is currently not functional and needs repair.

FCITY, P10

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 156 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

A quiet Tuesday at the meat section of Agdao Public Market in Davao City. Economic experts said inflation rate is expected to breach the 5-percent level this month as weather disturbances and higher fuel prices continue to push prices of commodities and utilities up. Edge Davao

PH’s gross international reserves at $108.5 billion in August: BSP PH CEOs dissatisfied with T vaccine rollout: survey It is also 7.8 times the country’s short-term external debt based on original maturity and 5.4 times based on residual maturity, it added. The increase in reserves was mainly due to the addi-

tional allocation of Special Drawing Rights (SDR) to the Philippines. However, it was partly offset by the government’s foreign currency withdrawals from its deposits with the BSP and as the government settled foreign currency debt obligations as well payment for other expenditures and BSP’s net foreign exchange operations, it said. The country’s GIR level is part of the country’s strong

macroeconomic fundamentals that helped the government act swiftly to address the COVID-19 pandemic, economic managers have said. The economy could grow 4 to 5 percent this year based on government estimates, even lower than the revised range of 6 to 7 percent due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases and the emergence of the more virulent Delta variant.

cinated youth, the bulk of consumers, may not even be allowed to go out,” PCCI acting president Edgardo Lacson said. The business group also warned against complacency among vaccinated people, as they can still be virus carriers even if they are asymptomatic. “The policy of discrimination is a half measure that could complicate the early opening of the entire economy, since the elusive herd immunity according to medical experts is impossible to achieve even if the entire population is fully vacci-

nated,” Lacson added. Over the weekend, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said the guidelines on giving more mobility to vaccinated individuals are currently being finalized. Meanwhile, the PCCI also reiterated its opposition to hard lockdowns. “Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) is a pharmaceutical problem and cannot be solved by a militaristic solution like a lockdown,” the group said. The country’s largest business group also recommended to further accelerate deployment

of vaccines and make Covid-19 screening free to encourage people to be inoculated and tested. “After having taken draconian lockdowns and a variety of quarantine protocols to no effect, the government is now open to other measures to address the spread of the virus. Mass inoculation should not be the single criteria due to limited supply of vaccines that has delayed population protection,” Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. chair and former PCCI president George Barcelon added. (PNA)

he Philippines’ gross international reserves (GIR) level rose to $108.5 billion in August from $107.15 billion the previous month, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said on Monday. The GIR level represents a more than adequate external liquidity buffer equivalent to 12. 3 months’ worth of imports of goods and payments of services and primary income, the BSP said in a statement.

Business group nixes plan to ease protocols for vaxxed individuals

ontrary to the suggestion of other stakeholders in the business sector, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) has expressed its concern on relaxing protocols for vaccinated people. In a statement Monday, PCCI opposed the proposed policy to allow vaccinated individuals in sectors that are currently restricted for everyone, as this would not really revive economic activities. “Many of the vaccinated people are senior citizens and those with comorbidities, while the unvac-

majority of business leaders are not satisfied with the vaccine rollout of the Duterte administration, according to the latest CEO survey of PwC and the Management Association of the Philippines. The study showed that 66 percent of 178 respondents are dissatisfied with the pace of the vaccination effort, and 76 percent, said this will delay the Philippine economy’s recovery from its pandemic-induced woes. The government aims to fully vaccinate 77.1 million Filipinos by the end of the year. But according to the ABS-CBN vaccine tracker, only 16.8 million people have been fully vaccinated or around 21.8 percent of the target has been reached as of Sept. 12, after more than 6 months. MAP president Aurelio Montinola noted that despite this many business leaders remain optimistic. “I always say that in the final analysis, we’re only six months behind the vaccinations of the wealthiest countries so we’re not really that bad. Of course, we’re unhappy that we are six

months behind so we just have to keep on putting our head down and moving forward,” Montinola said. The survey bears this out, with 74 percent of the respondents expecting revenues to grow in the next 12 months, and 91 percent expecting sales to grow for the next 3 years. Both are higher compared to the last PwC MAP survey conducted in April. However, growth is not expected to be as strong as pre-pandemic levels. Economic recovery is seen to take more than 2 more years, according to 78 percent of survey respondents. Seventy percent of CEOs surveyed also said they saw their daily sales and profits decline by at least 10 percent each time lockdown conditions were tightened. The Philippine COVID-19 response has been engulfed in scandal amid a congressional inquiry into allegedly overpriced personal protective equipment negotiated by the Duterte government, as well as complaints from healthcare frontliners regarding delayed benefits and substandard pay.

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ECONOMY

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar says the agency is seeking additional funds after its proposed budget for 2022 was cut to P91 billion from P231 billion. Edge Davao

DA seeks more funds after proposed 2022 budget reduced to P91 billion Economist eyes over 5% inflation rate this month

he domestic rate of price increases is expected to breach the 5-percent level this month as weather disturbances and higher fuel prices continue to push prices of commodities and utilities up. The inflation rate last August surged to 4.9 percent, the highest since the 4.4 percent in January 2019, due to faster increases in the heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages index. “We expect inflation to move past 5 percent as recent and approaching storm systems will undoubtedly figure into this month’s fruit and vegetable inflation numbers. Fish and meat prices will also likely remain elevated at a time that energy costs rise as crude oil has stayed close to USD70/barrel,” ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa said in a report on Monday. Mapa said utility prices will also contribute to accelerated inflation rate follow-

ing the announcements by utility firms, as well as retail fuel companies of another round of price hikes. Inflation slowed to its lowest for the year at 4 percent last July before the big jump in the following month. The average inflation in the first eight months this year stood at 4.4 percent, above the government’s 2 percent to 4-percent target band until 2023. Mapa said while the expansion in imports “may be a sign of renewed demand, it also reflects an improvement in domestic production that could help increase the supply of basic goods and services.” “Despite this, the price pressures appear to be accelerating at the worst possible time with base effects unfavorable in September,” he said, referring to the 2.3-percent inflation rate in September last year. With these developments, Mapa said monetary

FECONOMIST, P10

tional Expenditure Program submitted to Congress was at the “same level” in previous years, he said. “We have been looking forward for a much bigger budget because that’s the only way we can jumpstart and unleash the potential of the agriculture sector. We said this is now the time be-

cause of the pandemic, the new normal that significant allocation must be made,” Dar said. “There is resiliency of the sector if you add more budget support that can be a boost to really looking at higher outcomes at the end of the day.” The proposed budget for the agency and the P30 billion allocated to National Irrigation Administration is “just the barest minimum to sustain our response to COVID-19,” Dar said. The country’s rice production in the first semester this year is the highest “in history,” he said. Last year, the Philippines harvested 194 million metric tons, he

added. “It’s showing that as you support the development of the commodities industry, the outcomes are phenomenal,” he said. Next year’s cash assistance to rice farmers will depend on the excess tariff collected from the Rice Tarrification Law, according to Dar. This year, some 1.5 million rice farmers tilling 2 hectares of land and below will receive P5,000 each by the 4th quarter, he said. Farmers also receive in-kind assistance, he added. “Next year, that will continue depending on the excess tariff that will be collected this year,” he said.

amount of $20 million, PAL Holdings said in a disclosure to the stock exchange. “After a thorough review and assessment of the Motion filed, the Court granted authority to PAL to access the DIP Loan facility as reported herein,” the statement said. “The Court recognized that the Debtor PAL requires immediate access

to the DIP Loan Proceeds in order to maintain its assets, to pay employees, and to fund its operations,” it added. The flag carrier earlier filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US. Chapter 11 does not mean the airline is shutting down but instead, it will be allowed to operate and to pay creditors over a certain period of time.

Despite the Chapter 11 filing and its ongoing restructuring, PAL said it would be “business as usual” for employees, flights, customers, suppliers and other affiliates. In 2020, PAL Holdings reported a net loss of P73 billion due to the “extraordinary impact” of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operations of Philippine Airines.

he Bureau of Customs (BOC) has collected PHP11.69 billion in tariffs from 1.74 million metric tons (MT) of rice imports from January to August, which is already 17 percent more than the minimum funding requirement for the annual Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) for the following year. The Department of Agriculture is seeking more funds after its proposed budget for 2022 was cut to P91 billion from P231 billion, its chief said Tuesday. The agency is seeking additional funds due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Secretary William Dar. The allocation under the Na-

US bankruptcy court allows PAL $20M loan

hilippine Airlines was granted by the US Bankruptcy Court of Southern District of New York access to a loan facility as part of its Chapter 11 filing, its operator PAL Holdings said Monday. The Bankruptcy Court authorized PAL to borrow or access the DIP (Debtor-in-possession) loan facility of up to an interim aggregate principal

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

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On the call for senators to file charges if they could prove that there is corruption in securing medical supplies contracts:

Kung mayroon po talagang korapsiyon dito, sampahan na lang po natin ng kaso at hayaan natin ng Ombudsman ang magdesisyon. Dahil kapag mayroong ebidensiya, masasampahan naman po iyan ng kaso (If there is really corruption, charges should be filed and we should let the Ombudsman make the decision).”

SEC. HARRY ROQUE

Presidential Spokesperson

EDITORIAL Ancestral domain not for sale Members of the Ata tribe in Davao City’s hinterland district of Paquibato have launched a campaign against the sale of their ancestral domain lands. Last Monday, Datu Amansing Sampiano, Barangay Salapawan tribal chieftain, led the holding of a ritual to start the campaign as the community installed billboards where the words “Ancestral Domains are NOT FOR SALE” were printed.

“The ritual symbolized the remembrance and respect to their ancestors who gave them their ancestral domains. The ritual also emphasized the respect and guidance of Manama for the success of the project. The chicken used symbolizes the purity, strength, and peace of the Ata tribe,” according to the tribe’s formal statement. The signages were installed in Sitio Kimananaw, Barangay Salapawan, as part of the call of the community under Indigenous Peoples Rights Act, or Republic 8371, not to sell ancestral

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The Ata tribesmen’s campaign is a very sensible and laudable move. Take note that the Ata tribe has more than 675,000 hectares of ancestral domain in Davao City alone.

Selling of ancestral domain lands in this part of the country is rampant and has been practiced by some irresponsible tribal leaders themselves, despite its being illegal. The act is a violation of law which punishes the violator with nine months to 12 years of imprisonment, or a fine of not more than P500,000 or both, depending upon the discretion of the court. With the strong support of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, the tribe’s campaign is assured of success.

Meanwhile, we expect the other tribes with ancestral domain lands in Davao City to launch a similar campaign of their own. 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

ANA MARIE G. SILPAO Layout

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

OLIVIA D. VELASCO SOLANI D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONAJASPER OLIVIA D. VELASCO V. BACSAL General Manager PresidentAdvertising Specialist Finance General Manager / VP Operations JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 156 • WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

COMPETITIVE EDGE

CELEBRATE CHOCOLATE AROUND THE WORLD WITH

SM SNACK EXCHANGE

hocolate was long considered as “Food of the gods”, a delicacy of the elite and believed in both mythical and medicinal as an aphrodisiac and energy booster around the world. The world’s love affair for chocolates started 5,000 years ago and has evolved from being a chocolate drink to chocolate bar. This love affair continues today at The SM Store Snack Exchange, your onestop shop for all your snack essentials. Here you can find a wide-variety of your favorite chocolates around the world - cream-filled bonbon to praline; from signature melt-in-your-mouth chocolates to single-source dark chocolate bar; and from colorful chocolate candies to fruit- dipped chocolate. Take a chocoholic’s tour of the world through the Snack Exchange’s chocolate selection, and discover the different delightful and innovative ways each country celebrates chocolates. • Switzerland is known for its cheese, mountains and its smooth and creamy milk chocolate. In 1887, after many attempts. Swiss chocolatier Daniel Peter

created the original formula of what was to become the first successful milk chocolate. Before this, chocolate was not considered a delicacy, but was more of a nourishing a medicinal food. Two ingredients, milk and cocoa butter, which makes the chocolate melt at body temperature, are a big part of the reason why Swiss chocolate is so famous. One can find premium Swiss chocolate brands at Snack Exchange - Lindt, which started in 1845 and has 370 shops around the globe; and Toblerone, the unique triangular shaped chocolate bar inspired by the Matterhorn, with its heavenly taste of Swiss milk, filled with natural honey, finest cocoa and almond nougat. • elgium has been called the “Chocolate Capital of the World ‘’, and you can’t go to Belgium and not go to a chocolate shop. There are more than 2,000 around the country. Belgian chocolates are known to have a higher cocoa content, and filled Belgian chocolates such as truffles and molded pralines are very often in a fanciful

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SKY TREATS PH K-POP FANS WITH BACK-TO-BACK PREMIERE OF ‘BTS: GLOBAL TAKEOVER’ AND ‘THE RISE OF K-POP’

-Pop fans in the Philippines are in for a treat this September as SKY brings the premieres of sought-after K-Pop specials on their favorite idols, with “BTS: Global Takeover” and “The Rise of K-Pop” on SKY Pay-Per-View starting September 17 (Friday). Certified Pinoy ARMYs can look back on the humble beginnings of Jungkook, V, Suga, Ji-min, RM, J-Hope, and Jin before their rise to global superstardom as the iconic K-Pop boy group BTS in “BTS: Global Takeover.” Apart from their inspiring narrative to international music success and how they revolutionized the industry, get a closer look at their daily lives as global icons and tour the world with them while spreading joy to ARMYs worldwide in this must-watch BTS feature. Meanwhile, learn more fascinating facts on your favorite K-Pop groups, including BTS, Blackpink, iKON,

EXO, VIXX, NCT, and G-idle— from their catchy tunes, sizzling hot choreographies, spectacular production numbers, highly-supportive fandoms, and their journey to make a name for themselves under the limelight—in “The Rise of K-Pop.” It surely is a treat for Pinoy K-Pop fans as they can watch these back-to-back specials in the comfort of their homes on SKY Pay-PerView, from September 17 to October 17. Watch “BTS: Global Takeover” back-to-back with “The Rise of K-Pop” commercial-free and in high-definition for only P499, with 48-hour access upon subscription. To avail, visit mysky.com.ph/skyppv or text SKY PPV <Account No.> to 23662. For more details, follow SKY on Facebook (fb.com/ myskyupdates), Twitter, and Instagram (@myskyupdates).

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EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO LIFESTYLE

FOODPANDA HELPS RIDERS ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS

The road to success is never easy, but two Foodpanda riders show that with grit and determination, you can reach your dreams. Bernardo Paderan and Junifer Dimaano are two of the delivery riders who take to the streets every day in order to earn their livelihood. While ensuring a smooth and eﬃcient delivery service for their customers, they are also in pursuit of a dream, which they were both able to accomplish this year – obtaining their college diplomas.

Against the odds Bernardo Paderan is 31 years old, married with two children. He had to stop schooling after graduating from high school because his parents could not support his studies. He worked at several factories as a production worker. With a more stable schedule, he saw an opportunity to enroll in a BS Information Technology Course at Access College in 2017. There were still challenges, though, because he only had a bike which he would use to go to work and to his classes afterwards. “Nakikiusap na lang ako sa professor at nag-aadvanced studies,” he recalls. He and his wife decided to invest in a motorcycle and he took on a job as a foodpanda rider in 2019 because it would fit his schedule better. “I was able to manage my time better, kahit kayod pa din. Ang shifts ko before or after ng classes” he said. The hard work paid oﬀ and he has recently graduated Cum Laude of his batch. He has this advice for those who are undergoing challenges: “Huwag silang tumigil sa gusto nila mangyari. Kung may problema ka, harapin mo, huwag mong iwasan. Laging may paraan para dyan.” Called to action Junifer Dimaano had a good start back in their province of Ozamis, but when he moved to Manila at 18, it was the beginning of the turn of events in his life. He lived with the family of his best friend for many years while working as a fast-food

crew. At the same time, it was a period in his life when he realized he needed to make up his mind about his future, “Yung mga kaklase ko nung high school nakikita ko magaganda na ang buhay kasi nakapag tapos na sila.” On a whim, he enrolled in a Hotel and Restaurant Management course at Access College. He was already struggling to meet the tuition so he thought of applying as a foodpanda rider. “Third year, First Sem ko na noon. Kinausap ko ang mga foodpanda riders na nagdedeliver sa amin tapos may nagpadala sa akin ng application form. Ang laking tuwa ko nung natanggap ako,” he says. “Nagulat ako na oneweek pa lang akong rider ng foodpanda, naka-ipon ako ng pambili ng sarili kong bike!” He had enough to cover his tuition and living expenses with his new job, and he also had more time to study. “Since online naman ang classes, nag-aaral ako habang nag dedeliver. Mababait pa ang mga deliveries ko, kasi kapag sinasabi ko na mage-exam lang ako

pumapayag sila.” He returns the favor by making sure that his customers are happy with his service. Now that he has finished his studies as part of Batch 2021, he looks back at all the challenges that he had to go through, and savors the sweet taste of success. “For those who are still struggling with life, he says, “lumaban ka lang ng patas sa buhay, huwag ka mag-isip na gumawa ng masama. Samahan mo lang ng sipag at tiyaga at gagabayan ka ng Diyos.” Partner in success “We are inspired by Bernardo and Junifer who are among our riders who continue to strive for greatness amidst hardship. We are happy to have been part of their success stories,” says Daniel Marogy, Managing Director of foodpanda Philippines. “foodpanda will continue to provide opportunities for those who aspire to do the same.” Foodpanda is immensely proud of the accomplishments of its two riders and is giving them graduation gifts of brandnew cell phones from its fleet partner Realme.

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n 1864, General Ulysses S. Grant declared in an advisory to the federal government, “I will not move my army without onions!” Some years later, he became the 18th president of the United States. “It’s hard to imagine civilization without onions,” said American chef, author, and television personality Julia Child, who brought French cuisine to the American public with her debut cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Onions have been with us since time immemorial. In the olden times, they were mentioned to have been eaten by the Israelites. In Numbers 11:5, the children of Israel lament the meager desert diet enforced by the exodus: “We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlic.” Onions have been cultivated for 5000 years or more, according to the National Onion Association in the United States. “Since onions grew wild in various regions, they were probably consumed for thousands of years and domesticated simultaneously all over the world,” it said. “In addition, the onion was useful for sustaining human life. Onions prevented thirst and could be dried and preserved for later consumption when food might be scarce.” In Egypt, onions can be traced back to 3500 B.C., where they were actually an object of worship. The onion symbolized eternity to the Egyptians who buried onions along with their Pharaohs. The Egyptians saw eternal life in the anatomy of the onion because of its circle-within-a-circle structure. The onion is mentioned as a funeral offering and onions are depicted on the banquet tables of the great feasts – both large, peeled onions

and slender, immature ones. They were shown upon the altars of the gods. In ancient Greece, athletes ate large quantities of onion because it was believed that it would lighten the balance of blood. Roman gladiators were rubbed down with onion to firm up their muscles. During the Middle Ages, onions were such an important food that people would pay for their rent with onions and even give them as gifts. The Romans, on the other hand, ate onions regularly and carried them on journeys to their provinces in England and Germany. The Roman gourmet Apicius, credited with writing one of the first cookbooks (which dates to the eighth and ninth centuries A.D.), included many references to onions. Today, onions are available in fresh, frozen, canned, pickled, and dehydrated forms. Onions can be used, usually chopped or sliced, in almost every type of food, including cooked foods and fresh salads, and as a spicy garnish; they are rarely eaten on their own but usually act as accompaniment to the main course. Depending on the variety, an onion can be sharp, spicy, tangy and pungent or mild and sweet. Onions pickled in vinegar are eaten as a snack. These are often served as a side serving in fish and chip shops throughout the United Kingdom. Onions are a staple food in India, and are therefore fundamental to Indian cooking. They are commonly used as a base for curries, or made into a paste and eaten as a main course or as a side dish. “Onions are su-

THE HEALING

POWERS OF ONIONS Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

per-healthy,” said Victoria Jarzabkowski, a nutritionist with the Fitness Institute of Texas at the University of Texas at Austin. “They are excellent sources of vitamin C, sulphuric compounds, flavonoids and phytochemicals.” “I like to recommend eating onions because they add flavor without salt and sugar,” Jarzabkowski added. Onions are low in calories (45 per serving), very low in sodium, and contain no fat or cholesterol. Furthermore, onions contain fiber and folic acid, a B vitamin that helps the body make healthy new cells. “The flavonoids in onion tend to be more concentrated in the outer layers of the flesh,” the website of the World’s Healthiest Foods (www.whfoods. com) claims. To maximize its health benefits, “peel off as little of the fleshy, edible portion as possible when removing the onion’s outermost paper layer.” Even a small amount of “overpeeling” can result in unwanted loss of flavonoids. The total polyphenol content of onions is much higher than many people expect. Polyphenols are one of the largest categories of phytonutrients in food. “The total polyphenol content of onion is not only higher than its fellow allium vege-

tables, garlic and leeks, but also higher than tomatoes, carrots, and red bell pepper,” the website reports. The particularly valuable flavonoid in onions is quercetin, which acts as an antioxidant. Although the average onion is likely to contain less than 100 milligrams of quercetin, some onions do provide this amount. “When onions are simmered to make soup, their quercetin does not get degraded,” reports the website. “It simply gets transferred into the water part of the soup. By using a low-heat method for preparing onion soup, you can preserve the health benefits of onion that are associated with this key flavonoid.” Jo Lewin, a nutritional therapist, suggests that it is better to eat onions in its raw state than cooked. In an article, she wrote: “(Onion) contains a variety of organic sulphur compounds, contained in a volatile oil, that provide the health benefits. These are partly destroyed by heat. When eaten raw, its juice can act as an irritant and some people find it difficult to digest. Those who are not tempted by the idea of eating raw onions can follow simple cooking methods that may make them more palatable.” Onion has repeatedly been shown to lower our risk of several cancers, even

if consumed in only moderate amounts. By “moderate,” experts refer it to “1-2 times per week,” even though in some studies it has been used to mean up to “5-6 times per week.” “Colorectal cancer, laryngeal cancer, and ovarian cancer are the cancer types for which risk is reduced along with moderate amounts of dietary onion,” the website of the World’s Healthiest Foods informs. “For other cancer types, however, moderate intake of onion has not been enough to show significant risk reduction. For these cancer types -- including esophageal cancer and cancers of the mouth -- daily intake of onion is required before research results show significant risk reduction.” Unknowingly, the chromium in onions assists in regulating blood sugar. Jessie Szalay, a contributor for Live Science, wrote: “The sulfur in onions helps lower blood sugar by triggering increased insulin production. One 2010 study in the journal Environmental Health Insights revealed that this might be especially helpful to people with people with diabetes. People with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes who ate red onions showed lower glucose levels for up to four hours.” While eating onions is healthy, there are some

precautions that need to be observed. “Eating a large amount of green onions or rapidly increasing your consumption of green onions may interfere with blood thinning drugs,” Szalay reported. He based that information from a study done by the University of Georgia, which found green onions to contain a high amount of vitamin K, which can decrease blood thinner functioning. Although it is rare, it is possible to have food intolerance or allergy to onions, according to an article in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. “People with onion allergies may experience red, itchy eyes and rashes if an onion comes into contact with the skin,” Szalay wrote. “People with intolerance to onions may experience nausea, vomiting and other gastric discomfort.” By the way, why do you cry when you slice onions? “Slicing onions makes you cry because when you cut into it, the onion produces a sulfur-based gas,” Szalay noted. “The gas reacts with the water in your eyes and forms sulfuric acid. To rid your eyes of this fiery irritant, your tear ducts work overtime. For no more (or fewer) tears, try moving your face farther away from the onion so the gas disperses before reaching your eyes.”

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lay, nangahadlok na sila. And in fact, very recently, namatyan sila diha sa SPMC og health care worker,” the mayor said. Mayor Sara also warned vaccinated Dabawenyos not to be complacent in going out for social gatherings since 90 percent of the

city’s population is not yet vaccinated. The mayor reminded the public to still observe the minimum public health standards such as wearing of face mask, frequent hand washing, and social distancing to help prevent infection of Covid-19.

6 CAPTURED... FROM 2 they decide to abandon the armed struggle and cooperate with us.” Brawner appealed to the CTG leaders and members to abandon the armed struggle, saying that the country is currently facing an unseen enemy that is even more serious and deadly exempting no one, the COVID-19 virus. “I am personally appealing to Jorge Madlos, alias Ka Oris, and his group to return to the peaceful path now and go down from the mountains

so that they can be given vaccines and proper medical attention,” he said. According to Brawner, Secretary Carlito Galvez of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) has promised that even members of the CTG will be provided with vaccines to demonstrate the government’s sincerity in calling for reconciliation amidst this pandemic that significantly changed our way of life.

with MindaNews last week that the full occupancy of hospitals did not only bring trouble to the COVID-19 patients. “The non-COVID-19 case patients, especially the indigents with non-communicable diseases, have really suffered because they hesitate to access the usual medical services for fear of being exposed to COVID-19,” he added. Villahermosa said that with or without PhilHealth accreditation, local government units (LGUs), thru their RHUs, should already conduct virtual consultation or telemedicine as a tool to combat the spread of the virus while catering to the needs of non-COVID-19 cases at the same time. In May 2021, the DOH, the Department of Interior and Local Government and PhilHealth issued a joint administrative order providing for guidelines on the implementation of telemedicine. The guidelines, among others, provide that LGUs “shall lead and ensure the adoption and implementation of telemedicine services within their area based on the standards and guidelines provided by the order, provide the needed resources, investments, and support mechanisms to facilitate the institutionalization and seamless implementation of telemedicine services, and ensure proper complementation of efforts at the local level.” Villahermosa said there is a need to limit face-to-face consultations for patients with non-communicable diseases to avoid their exposure to possible COVID-19 patients. He said that through telemedicine, the RHUs can

pre-screen patients and find out who really needs in-person consultation. The World Health Organization defines telemedicine as the delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health care professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health care providers, all in the interests of advancing the health of individuals and their communities. Villahermosa said the LGUs should invest in a platform for telemedicine and need not wait for the national government to initiate it so that indigent patients in their areas can still access health services even during the pandemic. He cited the examples of the Provincial Government of Cebu’s SugboMed and the Municipality of Liloan, Cebu’s GugMed Online Medical Consultation. They worked with private firms providing information technology solutions. “As you can see, Cebu is into telemedicine since the middle of last year,” he said, adding, however, that he is unsure how the initiatives have progressed to date. Locally, Villahermosa said the LGUs can design telemedicine platforms via the rural health unit and the barangays. He added that doctors can be where they are and their indigent patients may proceed to the barangay hall, where a telemedicine setup can be arranged.

for free through the City Health Office [CHO]. The mass vaccination program is PICPA Davao Chapter’s response to the government&#39;s call in their heed to fight against the COVID-19 virus. Luga and Balisalisa profusely thanked the past presidents, incumbent officers, and the general membership of the local accountancy chapter for their

strong support of the cause. PICPA Davao is very appreciative to DMSF&#39;s Laarni Lacuna and the CHO&#39;s Dr. Aldrich Kyne for the several weeks of coordination. “We hope that through this undertaking we are able to help the national and the Davao City government in their efforts to eradicate the COVID in their areas of responsibility,” Luga said.

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not kaning mga household members man gud nato kay naa sila’y activities like social gathering sa trabaho or nagalakaw so pag uli nila ginadala gyud nila ang virus with them and they can infect their own family. Mao na ginapahunumdum sa mga katawhan na if love ninyo inyong pamilya iwasan ninyo ang mga risko na behavior such as attending social gathering,

attending activities that have constant interaction pag-uli ninyo sa balay madala ninyo ang infection ug ma-spread sa buong family. Daghan cases karon tungod sa mga gatherings,” she said. Schlosser added that the more people attend social gatherings and interact with other people, the risk is high for them to get infected.

Typically naga positive gyud ni sila so unahon gyud nato sila,” said Dr. Michele Schlosser, spokesperson of Davao City Covid-19 Task Force. While SPMC molecular laboratory is ongoing repair, specimens will be processed through the Los Amigos Molecular laboratory, which can only run 450 specimens per day, as supposed to 1,500 specimens per day with the combined capacity of the two molecular laboratories. The city also advised the public to expect a slight de-

lay in the turnaround time of swab results due to the repair of the SPMC extraction machine. Schlosser advised individuals to go to a private Covid-19 center or laboratory should they need an RTPCR test result at their own expense. “Limited atoang supply as of the moment pero ginapangitaan na og paraan sa local government para madagdagan pa atoang supply sa detection kits para sa RT-PCR,” she said. By Maya M. Padillo

City Government of Davao for a sustaining peace, security and development,” Marikit said. Sara, meanwhile said that with the surrender of Marikit, the insurgency in Paquibato District finally ends. The mayor assured that all the programs and projects for peace and development for the Indigenous People (IP) communities in the area will be fully implemented. Prior to joining armed struggle, Marikit was a scholar of the UP-Mindanao who took-up Bachelor of Arts major in Communication Arts and had been indoctrinated with educational discussions about women and later immersed in the IP communities. In 2012, Marikit joined

the legal organization Gabriela Youth as the voice of the youth and facilitated mass rallies condemning the government. A year later, she was exposed in the armed group in the area of White Kulaman, Arakan Valley, North Cotabato of Guerilla Front 53. She became full time member of Sandatahang Yunit Propaganda (SYP) of GF55, appointed as Giyang Pampulitika (Political Guide) and at the same time member of Platoon Committee in 2014 and then became an active leader of the communist group in Paquibato area. In 2020 alone, Marikit experienced 9 encounters with the government troops, suffering hunger, sleepless nights, and being alone which made her decide to return to the folds of the law. (AMA)

authorities will continue to be in a dilemma even after the aggressive rate cuts last year to ensure that economic activities remain robust despite the pandemic. Last year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) policy-making Monetary Board (MB) slashed the central bank’s key policy rates by 200 basis points to record-low 2 percent for the overnight reverse repurchase (RRP) facility to encourage lending activities. It also cut banks’ reserve requirement ratio (RRR) by as much as 200 basis points and allowed, for a certain period, banks’ lending to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as RRR compliance. However, bank lending has slid and is even in contraction as financial institutions remain wary of borrowers’ ability to pay because of the pandemic. “Adding an angle of complication is the recent depreciation spell of the peso in the months leading to the eventual Fed taper, which has added fuel to the

inflationary fire,” he said. Mapa said “a rate hike at this point would increase the likelihood that the ongoing economic recession devolves into a full blown economic depression as higher borrowing costs result in an acceleration in NPLs (non-performing loans) while simultaneously snuffing out whatever gains have been made on the lending front.” He said higher interest rates will discourage small businesses, that are already hard-hit by the recession, from tapping loans which will impact their operations further and may result in more job losses. “All these developments may take place while Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) rages on as authorities look to experiment with new guidelines in the middle of the Delta surge. All in all, monetary tightening will have no impact on pricier vegetables or the cost of 95 gasoline but it will surely scuttle the recovery momentum,” he added. (PNA)

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shape and filled with butter creams and ganache. • Italy is passionate about its cuisine as it is for its art and culture. What makes Italian chocolate so good is that Italians care so much about the purity of ingredients, and have amazingly combined the sophistication of dark chocolate and all the decadence of milk chocolate. Discover this with the Ferrero and Nutella lines at Snack Exchange founded in 1942 by Pietro Ferrero, a Turinese milkman. He created the famous Ferrero Rocher, crunchy chocolate with hazelnuts on the outside of a wafer and a chocolate and hazelnut filling, wrapped in a gold paper. • Britain has been a nation of chocoholics since the 19th century, considered the golden-age for cocoa-based creativity in the UK. It was during this time that Fry & Sons produced the first solid chocolate bar in 1847, and Cream Sticks, the first filled chocolate sweet in 1853; and Cadbury introduced Dairy Milk in 1905 using a higher proportion of milk. Soon, other brands like the Mars bar in 1933; Milky Way and KitKat in 1935, Maltesers in 1936, and Aero and Smarties in 1937, made the UK a chocolate lover’s haven. • American chocolates are sweet and delectable, and in the US, are a way of saying “I Love You”. Chocolates were even considered comfort food for the masses, when Milton Hershey produced large-masses of chocolate milk bars known as Hershey’s Milk Choco-

late or “The Great American Chocolate Bar” at an affordable price. during the World War, chocolates were being rationed with the soldiers. • The Philippines was the landing point for cacao in Asia, making consummate Filipinos chocolate lovers. For generations, they enjoyed a piping hot chocolate drink with the tableya is a small chocolate tablet. Through the years, the government’s initiative to rehabilitate the cacao industry started in the emergence of small-scale chocolate makers like Auro Chocolate who created world-class bean to bar chocolate rooted in Filipino Heritage and traditions, and can be found at SM Snack Exchange. Other Asian countries have since developed their own chocolate treats Japan has Meiji, with its bean to bar and organic chocolates for the health conscious; while Korea has Lotte’s Pepero, a thin cookie stick dipped in chocolate. More treats and snacks from Japan and Korea can also be found at SM Snack Exchange. Shop at home and celebrate Chocolate Around The World as The SM Store Snack Exchange is now available online at https:// www.thesmstore.com/collections/snack-exchange or order via The SM Store Call to Deliver services at #143SM (#14376) and have a personal shopper assists you. For more updates and exciting deals, follow The SM Store Snack Exchange or checkout their online Catalog in Viber https://bit. ly/3aXdXax.

up on top of their group will join defending champion Japan, 2018 runner-up Australia, third placer China, and incoming host India in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup along with seven other teams from the qualifiers

from Jan. 20-Feb. 6, 2022. The top five teams from the AFC Women’s Asian Cup will qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, but if cohost Australia enters the Top 5, the sixth-placed team will get a spot too. (PNA)

Lightfoot also cleared 5.81 meters but needed just one attempt to do so, edging Obiena. The 25-year-old Obiena made his mark as Asia’s best on Saturday at the 2021

Golden Roof Challenge in Innsbruck, Austria, where he cleared 5.93 meters. He broke the long-standing Asian record of 5.92 meters, set by Igor Potapovich of Kazakhstan in 1992.

they’re so resilient. They’re just incredible.” And they loved watching Fernandez - who called on them to cheer louder, which she said was uncharacteristic of the way she had always played before. “Usually when I was younger, I’d try to be as calm as possible, just like (Roger) Federer,” Fernandez said. “I’m glad that I’ve discovered that of myself, that I play a lot better when I’m more - not motivated, but when I’m more outgoing and when I’m using the crowd to my advantage.” Laylah Fernandez becomes darling of New York after stunning US Open run That fired-up attitude helped the 73rd-ranked Fernandez knock off de-

fending champion Naomi Osaka in the third round, followed by 2016 champion Angelique Kerber. Then it was Elina Svitolina and Aryna Sabalenka, giving her three victories over top-five opponents. But all those matches went three sets and may have left Fernandez lacking the energy to mount another comeback against Raducanu, who won every match in straight sets. Fernandez saved a couple match points before Raducanu finished her off in the first grand slam final between unseeded players ever. “Of course Leylah is always going to play great tennis and always going to fight,” 18-year-old Raducanu said.

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SPORTS

Nine of the so-called“Malditas”making the 23-woman lineup for the WAC qualifiers were part of the team that finished fourth in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Biñan City.

PFF names Malditas squad to Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers

Obiena finishes 4th in Berlin

ust hours after setting a new Asian record in pole vault, EJ Obiena finished in fourth place in the ISTAF Berlin competition, held Sunday at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. Obiena cleared 5.81 meters, skipped the 5.86-meter mark, then tried to clear

5.91 meters but fouled on all three of his attempts. He finished behind three Americans: Sam Kendricks, Christopher Nilsen, and KC Lightfoot. Kendricks and Nilsen both cleared 5.91 meters to top the podium, while

FOBIENA, P10

he Philippine Football Federation (PFF) has unveiled the women’s national team that will vie for a spot in next year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup through the qualifying rounds starting this weekend. Nine of the so-called “Malditas” making the 23-woman lineup for the WAC qualifiers were part of the team that finished fourth in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in Biñan City, namely goalkeeper Inna Palacios, defenders Hali Ford, Chelo Hodges, Tara Shelton, and Patricia

Tomanon, midfielders Sara Castañeda, Cam Rodriguez, and Charisa Lemoran, and striker Alisha Del Campo. Palacios has been named the Malditas’ skippers, while Ford will be the co-captain. Three players from the Malditas’ 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup squad are

L Leylah Fernandez was outclassed by Emma Raducan in the US Open final. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

eylah Fernandez might have fallen just short in a memorable US Open final over the weekend, but her incredible run to the final won’t soon be forgotten by New York tennis fans. The Canadian teenager had hailed the crowd multiple times throughout her impressive run to the final, the first time two teenagers contested a grand slam final after Emma Raducanu made a brilliant run of her own. Though Fernandez went on to describe the ex-

making their way back in defender Ryley Bugay and midfielders Tahnai Annis and Jessica Miclat. Sara’s sister Anicka, who last played for the Malditas in the 2018 AFF Women’s Championship, is also making a comeback along with defender Sofia Harrison. Rocelle Mendano, who played in the 2019 AFF Women’s Championship, has also been called up. Meanwhile, two players from the Malditas’ under-16 squad are called up to the senior team, namely

striker Arianna LePage and goalkeeper Isabelle Mapanao. On the other hand, three more Filipinas are set to make their national team debuts, namely goalie Olivia McDaniel, midfielder Malea Cesar, and striker Chandler McDaniel. The team, coached by returning Malditas tactician Marlon Maro, is already in Tashkent ahead of its showdown against Nepal on Saturday and Hong Kong the following Friday. The team that will end

perience as ‘magical’, during her interview after the 6-4 6-3 loss to Raducanu she clearly thank the crowd for what had become a very meaningful connection. With the women’s final taking place on the 20th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, Fernandez was moved to make a point about the resiliency of New Yorkers. Though at just 19, she was born after the attacks took place, Fernandez said she had been moved to mention it before leaving

the court. She has seen movies about 9/11 and asked her parents, who live with her in Florida after the family moved from Canada, to tell her more. “Obviously, I don’t know much about what really happened,” Fernandez said. “But with the few information that I do have, I know that New York has suffered a lot the past years when it did happen. I just wanted to let them know that they’re so strong,

FPFF, P10

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12 SPORTS

The Philippines Jamie Lim is a shoo-in bet in karatedo.

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OUT TO COMPETE

PH sending 160 athletes to Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games

he Philippines plans to send a 160-athlete delegation that will compete in 21 of the 31 sports in the sixth Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games from March 10 to 20 in Bangkok and Chonburi in Thailand. The 21 sports where Filipino athletes are entered in Thailand are aquatics, 3x3 basketball, billiards, bowling, chess, dancesport, e-sports, indoor athletics, indoor rowing, jiu-jitsu, karate, kickboxing, kurash, muay, pencak silat, sambo, sepak takraw, shooting, skateboarding, taekwondo and wrestling. Thailand originally scheduled the AIMAG’s sixth edition last May 21 to 30, but was postponed because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Margarita Ochoa (women Ne-waza – 45 kgs) and Annie Ramirez (women Ne-waza -55 kgs) accounted for the two gold medals won in the 2017 event in Turkmenistan where 105 Filipino athletes competed in 17 of 21 sports and clinched a total 30 medals (two gold, 14 silver and 14 bronze). Hidilyn Diaz was part of the delegation to Ashgabat and bagged a weightlifting silver medal. She won again at the Jakarta 2018 Asian Games and clinched the country’s first Olympic gold medal in Tokyo, where boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam captured silvers and Eumir Felix Marcial took bronze for the Philip-

pines’ best performance in the Games. “We have put together a delegation whose members are all potential for the medals,” said Philippine Olympic Committee President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino on Tuesday, stressing the focus of selection is on individual and weight-categorized sports. “The objective is to ride the momentum of the Tokyo Olympics success and surpass our two gold medals won in the last AIMAG in Turkmenistan in 2017,” Tolentino added. The composition of Team Philippines will be presented during the online meeting among national Olympic committee presidents and chefs de mission on Wednesday. Forty-five countries, including 18 from Oceania, are expected to send athletes to Thailand. China is the all-time medals winner in the AIMAG with 419—204-119-96 gold-silverbronze), followed by Thailand with 359 medals (108-106145) and Kazakhstan 305 (103-92-110). The Philippines ranks No. 18 with a total medal haul of 69 (8-26-35).