Edge Davao Volume 15 Issue 26 | Saturday, May 14. 2-22

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TIME TO HEAL

VOL.15 ISSUE 26 • SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2022

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Sara to supporters: Be magnanimous, offer hand in peace STORY ON PAGE 2

Fishermen sail by the concrete structure of a bridge that is being built at Sta. Ana Port in Davao City, which is part of the 18.2-kilometer Davao Coastal Road project, on Friday. Dabawenyos are hopeful the infrastructure development in Davao City such as the Davao Coastal Road project, Davao City Bypass project and the much awaited Davao-Samal Connector will be given priority by the next administration. Edge Davao

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 26 • SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2022

Thousands of Vice President-elect Sara Duterte-Carpio and the UniTeam supporters gather during a rally in Davao City. Duterte-Carpio urged her supporters to be forgiving and be the first to reach out to the supporters of the rival candidates to achieve the goal of the UniTeam, which is unity. Edge Davao

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MILF wins in Cotabato City, loses big in Maguindanao

Sara to supporters: Be magnanimous, offer hand in peace

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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resumptive Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio urged her supporters to be magnanimous and be the first to approach her rivals’ supporters to achieve unity.

After an eventful election with UniTeam’s Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. emerging to be declared as President, celebrities shared to social media their sentiments and frustrations while some supporters of Leni Robredo are reported-

“Tayo na po ang mauna na lumapit sa mga naka tunggali na supporters ng mga natalong kandidato.

Tayo na po ang magpakumbaba dahil tayo ang ang panalo. Tayo ang Sana all,

tayo ang Sara All. We have to be magnanimous because we are only 31.5M. Kailangan natin sila para tayo ay maging isang 100 percent na bansa,” Duterte-Carpio said in her thanksgiving speech on Friday through online.

During the campaign period, Duterte-Carpio promised that after the elections everyone has to forget the colors that have become the symbol of this year’s politics, which was

the beginning of the clash of the supporters.

“At dahil tapos na ang kampanya at eleksyon, panahon na para kalimutan ang mga kulay ng pagkakahiwa-hiwalay. Tapusin na natin ang pamumulitika.

Dapat lamang na ang lahat ng mga nahalal sa pwesto ay manguna sa pagsiguro na lahat ng mga Pilipino — supporters man o hindi — ay mabigyan ng tamang serbisyo,” she said.

nomic lives of around 1,100 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and other small farmers.

Agrarian Reform Program Officer II Penie Louie Panuncillo said the Barangay Workshop Consultations (BWC) would eventually create the KALUPA ARC, which stands for the barangays of Kanalo, Luma-

sal and Pananag.

The development of KALUPA ARC aims to make sustainable rural development through the provision of various support services accessible to the ARBs. “We need to hear their needs, as well as their issues and concerns, to include in our proposed ARC development plan, where

we would be able to recommend improvements in their livelihood and resolve development gaps,” he said.

Panuncillo added that the BWC, which is conducted by the ARC-Technical Working Group, is a crucial step involving all sectoral representatives of each concerned barangay.

ly bracing for a bigger fight.

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DAR-Sarangani to develop its 19th agrarian reform community

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s a step closer to the realization of creating Sarangani province’s 19th agrarian reform community (ARC), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in this province recently held a series of consultations in barangays Kanalo, Pananag, and Lumasal in the town of Maasim to improve the eco-

FDAR, P10

hile Cotabato City, the seat of government of the Bangsamoro region, will soon be under the political grip of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) after majority of the candidates it fielded dominated the local elections, the front lost big time in Maguindanao, the MILF’s traditional bailiwick.

In a historic move after decades of rebellion, the MILF joined the May 9 political fray by fielding candidates under the United Bangsamoro Justice Party (UBJP), the political party it founded in 2014 following the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro after 17 years of negotiations with the Philippine government.

Results of the May 9 elections in Cotabato City went heavily in favor of the MILF, with UBJP bet Bruce Matabalao, a three-term city councilor, upsetting the reelection bid of Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi (NPC), the city’s first and only female elected mayor.

Matabalao garnered at least 29,818 votes while Guiani-Sayadi obtained 22,939 votes.

Matabalao’s running mate, City Councilor Butch Abu, son of the late MILF vice chairman for political affairs Ghadzali Jaafar, also defeated incumbent Vice Mayor Graham Nazer Dumama (NPC) and Nasrudin Mohammad (Ind) with 27,117, 20,730 and 3,568 votes, respectively.

Seven out of the 10 city council seats were also bagged by UBJP candidates.

“Observe magnanimity

in victory – that is Islam,” Abdulraof Macacua, UBJP secretary-general, said.

Guiani-Sayadi, a lawyer, is a vocal critic of the MILF, campaigning hard against the inclusion of Cotabato City to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) during the plebiscite in January 2019.

However, at least 36,682 voters favored the ratification of Republic Act 11054 or the Organic Law for the BARMM, popularly known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), while 24,994 voted against it.

Naguib Sinarimbo, UBJP deputy secretary general, said that with the overwhelming win of UBJP candidates in Cotabato City, the “harang mentality” in the city has been toppled, referring to the apparent refusal of the city government headed by Guiani-Sayadi to cooperate with the Bangsamoro government.

“Rest assured that we will do our best to improve the lives of people in the city,” Sinarimbo, also the Bangsamoro Minister for the Interior and Local Government, said in Filipino.

On behalf of Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim, MILF chair and UBJP president, Sinarimbo expressed the party’s gratitude to their supporters in Cotabato City.

But while the UBJP rejoiced in Cotabato City, it was a disaster for the party in Maguindanao, the MILF’s traditional bailiwick, after its candidates for the major positions suffered defeat.

UBJP gubernatorial bet

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 26 • SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2022

NEWS

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The Commission on Elections (Comelec) welcomes the statement of President Rodrigo Duterte that he sees no cheating in the just-concluded national and local polls. Edge Davao

Quitain prefers lawyer councilor as new majority floor leader Sara vows to push for reforms at DepEd

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s the next Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), presumptive Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio ensures that the government will respond to the call of the times and vowed to push forward the reforms in DepEd to produce young Filipinos who are determined to achieve their full potentials as individuals.

“Kailangan natin ngayon ang bagong henerasyon na may disiplina at pagmamahal sa bayan — mga batang Pilipino na tutulong sa pamahalaan para sa pagpapanday at pagpapatibay ng kapayapaan at kaunlaran sa ating bansa,” Duterte-Carpio said in her thanksgiving speech on Friday.

Duterte-Carpio has agreed to the offer of presumptive President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to head the DepEd to help produce “skilled learners” for the country.

Meanwhile, Liloan town mayor Christina Frasco, political spokesperson of Duterte-Carpio, clarified that there were no discussions with DepEd on making the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC)

mandatory.

This is in line with the remark made by lawyer Bruce Rivera, who is a supporter and friend of Duterte-Carpio, in an interview with a Manila-based media, saying that Duterte-Carpio wants the return of mandatory ROTC. “This is to clarify claims

by Atty. Bruce Rivera that Vice President-elect Sara Duterte’s priority in the Department of Education will be mandatory ROTC. There has been no discussion on this matter either with Atty.

Rivera or with the DepEd pending the official proclamation of the VP-elect,” Frasco said in a statement.

Frasco added that while Duterte-Carpio looks forward to fulfilling her role as a DepEd Secretary, she is respectful of the transition process and therefore all policy discussions will be had post-proclamation.

It can be recalled that appointing Duterte-Carpio as DepEd Secretary has stirred a lot of reactions from the netizens as the position will allow her to carry out her thrust of making ROTC mandatory for all 18-year-old Filipinos if she wins as vice president.

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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ewly-elected Davao City Vice Mayor Melchor “Jay” Quitain Jr. emphasized that he prefers a lawyer councilor to replace him as new majority floor leader in the City Council.

“My priority would be the lawyer councilors because as a lawyer myself I can work better with a lawyer floor leader,” he told media after the proclamation of winning representatives and councilors on Wednesday at the session hall of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).

He added that the candidate must be diligent and attentive.

“I have some people in mind na pero until such time I have really decided and we will consult also the mayor’s office. Okay sana kung abogado,” he said.

He said he has to finish all the works that are left to

be done as floor leader in the City Council for a good turnover after his term so that all the works have been accomplished already as the next floor leader takes office.

Quitain also said that when he sits as vice mayor he will support all the programs and priorities of Mayor-elect Sebastian “Baste” Duterte.

He will also take a look at the Covid-19 situation in Davao City and will revisit the ordinances that aim to address Covid-19 to make

them more relevant.

“We might need to revisit all of that to make it more relevant because, right now, the alert level is, at the best level, so we have to revisit the ordinances to make it more up to date and since mag face-to-face classes na, we will help the schools as the students go back to schools, we will also look into that,” he said.

Meanwhile, Quitain said he wants his fellow legislators to be attentive and participate in the discus-

tion rollout aims at ensuring that fully vaccinated employees will also get booster doses as part of the city government’s drive to give additional protection to its workers.

“We are targetting SP offices and our proposed date is tomorrow and on Friday.

Our target is 727 individuals,” Schlosser said, adding that it is fortunate that majority of the employees

in LGU offices already had their first and second doses.

In addition, Schlosser said that they are also targetting more than 1,024 employees of the Bureau of Fire Protection in the next vaccination activities, workers of private offices, Business Process Outsourcing, and banks.

According to Schlosser, the Covid-19 TF Vaccination Cluster already ad-

ministered booster doses to 16 individuals from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), 25 from the National Irrigation Administration, and 30 individuals initially in the Social Security System (SSS).

As of May 6, 2022, a total of 252, 267 individuals were already administered with a booster dose in Davao City. CIO

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Covid TF to give anti-Covid booster vax to employees

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he Davao City Covid-19 Task Force Vaccination Cluster will administer anti-Covid booster dose to all employees of city offices at the Sangguniang Panlungsod on May 12 and 13.

Covid-19 Task Force Spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser in an interview on the Davao City Disaster Radio Wednesday said that this booster dose vaccina-

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 26 • SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2022

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno says bold and decisive fiscal and monetary actions helped lift further the Philippine economy’s growth in the first quarter of 2022 to 8.3 percent. Handout photo

Fraud monitoring system for FIs now required: BSP

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more FIs simultaneously.

Diokno said the FIs’ automated fraud monitoring systems, as well as their anti-money laundering system, “should be linked or integrated to have a cohesive and comprehensive financial crime prevention system.”

FIs are also encouraged

to use interactive platforms for their consumer education program, he said.

The Circular is expected to lessen losses from fraud and cybercrimes, and boost the central bank’s bid to further increase digital financial transactions in the country.

“The BSP believes that a holistic and coordinated approach among the industry players is necessary to ensure that funds cannot be easily siphoned off by fraudsters and cybercriminals. In line with this, the BSP shall continue to engage with relevant

stakeholders to ensure that policy frameworks and supervisory actions are effective and responsive amid a fast-evolving cyber security environment,” Diokno said.

He said digital payments adoption in the country continues to broaden through sustained growth in the use of interoperable facilities, such as electronic funds transfer facilities PESONet and InstaPay, the national QR Code standard called QR PH, and e.Gov pay, a web-based facility that

polls and this is a plus if it wants to keep the policies of the current administration.

“Our baseline assumption is for the Philippines to continue with its sound policy framework and return to strong medium-term growth following the Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, but the Negative Outlook on the Philippines’ rating, which we affirmed in Feb-

ruary 2022, reflects the uncertainty around this outcome, as well as possible challenges in bringing down government debt after the pandemic policy response,” it said.

The Philippines currently has an investment-grade rating of ‘BBB’ with a negative outlook from Fitch Ratings.

The credit rater said economic scarring caused by the virus-induced pan-

demic is expected to be countered by the investments aimed to address the infrastructure gap in the country.

“However, investment efficiency is critical. A deterioration of governance standards could, over time, dilute the positive effect of investment on productivity growth,” it added.

The report also said, “poorly managed public

inancial institutions (FIs) regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) are now required to have an automated and real-time fraud monitoring and detection system to address the growing incidents of cyber frauds.

In a virtual briefing on Thursday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said they recently issued Circular No. 1140 as an amendment to the Information Technology Risk Management Framework after their surveillance showed that cyberattacks and illegal schemes affect two or

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Fitch Ratings eyes next administration to keep PH’s sound policy framework

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itch Ratings eyes the continuation of the government’s infrastructure program, which is deemed as a key element of the economy’s favorable medium-term prospects, in the incoming administration.

In a report dated May 12, the debt rater said presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. got a clear mandate based on the unofficial results of the May 9

FFITCH, P10

No reversal of policy reforms tops DTI’s request to next administration

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he Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has identified 10 priority programs of the agency that it wishes to be pursued by the next leadership, and top of its list is the non-reversal of the current policy direction and continuity of economic reforms of the Duterte administration.

In a Viber message to trade reporters Thursday, DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez said these programs will support the next administration to continue the economic recovery efforts led by President Rodrigo Duterte.

He said these programs have helped the Philippines to log an 8.3 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth for the first quarter of 2022.

Lopez said the DTI wants the next leadership to ensure full economic recovery through the continued rollout of the immunization program so all areas will be placed under Alert Level 1 and classes could return to face-to-face setup.

The next DTI chief

should also hike the budget for programs modernizing and advancing the productivity of local production capacities, especially to improve the capabilities of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The DTI also included in its priority list the policies and programs for innovation, such as the establishment of Regional Inclusive Innovation Centers (RIICs) and Center for AI Research; e-commerce and financial technology; developing the electric vehicle ecosystem; and giving focus on creative industries.

Lopez said the agency, with the incoming leadership, should continue initiatives to ease doing business and pursue streamlining and digitalization of government transactions and processes.

He added consumer protections should also be pursued by passing the Internet Transaction Act and providing a budget for standards and

FNO, P10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 26 • SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2022

ECONOMY

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Market goers buy choice cuts of tuna at the wet section inside Bankerohan Public Market in Davao City. Prices of basic commodities in Davao City public markets are constantly rising due to the skyrocketing fuel prices. Edge Davao

PH GDP surpasses pre-pandemic level with 8.3 percent Q1 growth Vehicle industry up T 40% in April 2022

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or two straight months, sales of local vehicle assemblers recorded an over 40 percent growth as April 2022 sales rose by 40.9 percent, the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) and the Truck Manufacturers Association (TMA) reported Thursday.

Vehicle sales increased to 25,149 units

last month from 17,843 units in April 2021.

However, growth in April slightly slowed down from March sales increase of 43.4 percent.

CAMPI and TMA said both sales of passenger cars and commercial vehicles grew double digits.

Year-on-year growth of the passenger cars segment rose by 12.4 percent to 6,259 units in

FVEHICLE, P10

Jollibee posts P2.3B net income in Q1

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ast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) saw its earnings increase to a billion-peso level in the first quarter of 2022 as sales grew amid the further reopening of the economy during the period.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Thursday, JFC reported an attributable net income of P2.3 billion, up 1,412% from P153 million year-onyear.

The company’s system-wide sales grew by 25.5% to P60 billion, driven

by same-store sales growth of 16.5% and its global store expansion and new acquisitions, which contributed 5.5%.

JFC said its net income for the first quarter of the year includes gains from the transfer of certain land properties of the JFC Group to CentralHub and the sale of other land properties amounting to P1.8 billion.

The land conveyance is part of the JFC Group’s plan to invest in CentralHub, which the JFC board of di-

FJOLLIBEE, P10

region for the period,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua, reading a joint statement of the government’s economic managers.

In a press briefing Thursday, Chua attributed the robust three-month economic growth mainly to the full reopening of the economy, with about 70 percent was placed in Alert

Level 1 by the end of March.

He said a “significant piece missing” in the recovery is the resumption of face-to-face schooling, citing the learning loss and impact on future productivity of the children of restricted learning.

“Our strong economic performance moves us closer to achieving our growth target of 7 to 9 percent this year, but we will not rest on our laurels. We will continuously work hard to strengthen our domestic economy against heightened external risks such as the Russia- Ukraine conflict, China’s slowdown, and monetary normalization

in the United States,” Chua said.

Chua said the government has taken steps to address the inflationary pressures brought about by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, while oil and food prices are rising.

He said it continues to implement various targeted subsidy programs for the public transport and agriculture sectors to cushion the impact of rising oil prices.

Chua, chief of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), said the Department of Energy also continues its

to remain in sync,” Diokno said in a Viber message to journalists.

He said other contributors to the domestic economy’s growth include the central bank’s record-low key rates, which were slashed off a total of 200 basis points in 2020, and the time-bound regulatory and operational relief measures that “allowed banks to continue performing the important role of financial intermediation throughout the pandemic”.

The domestic economy’s performance from January to

March this year, which Diokno said the domestic economy’s performance in the first quarter surpassed markets’ projections, along with “other favorable macroeconomic indicators, helps fulfill the BSP’s vision of a post-Covid Philippine economy that is stronger, more technologically advanced, more inclusive, and more sustainable.”

“Moving forward, the BSP will continue to work with the national government to keep the economy on a robust growth trajectory and to address head-

winds such as price pressures,” he added.

Diokno said the central bank “supports the implementation of non-monetary measures by the government to address supply-side pressures, such as boosting importation of specific food items experiencing price spikes and direct subsidies to vulnerable sectors.”

“For our part, the BSP stands ready to adjust our monetary policy settings, should we see material risk of these supply-side pressures spilling over to the demand side,” he added. (PNA)

he country’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 8.3 percent in the first quarter of 2022, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, as the full reopening of the economy further perked up consumer spending and business activities.

This is a significant reversal from the 3.8-percent contraction in the same period last year. The economy posted a 5.9-percent pre-pandemic growth in 2019.

“Growth in the first quarter exceeded the median analyst forecast of 6.7 percent, making the Philippines the fastest growing economy in the East Asia

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Whole-of-gov’t approach boosts Q1 economic growth: Diokno

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old and decisive fiscal and monetary actions helped lift further the Philippine economy’s growth in the first quarter of 2022 to 8.3 percent, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said.

“The 8.3-percent GDP (gross domestic product) growth in the first quarter of 2022 is further confirmation of the Philippine economy’s resilience. This was achieved by a whole-of-government approach, which required bold and decisive fiscal and monetary actions

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 26 • SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2022

On her role as the next Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd):

Kailangan natin ngayon ang bagong henerasyon na may disiplina at pagmamahal sa bayan — mga batang Pilipino na tutulong sa pamahalaan para sa pagpapanday at pagpapatibay ng kapayapaan at kaunlaran sa ating bansa.”

Presumptive Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio

EDGEDAVAO

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 26 • SATURDAY, MAY 14, 2022

VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

IS DAVAO REGION CLIMATE CHANGE READY? A new report released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) is very alarming for Davao City and its neighboring areas. It may not happen in our time now but the next generation suffers from its consequences.

According to the WMO, there is a 50:50 chance of average global temperature reaching 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in the next five years, “and the likelihood is increasing with time.”

The Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update stated that a 93% likelihood of at least one year between 2022 to 2026 becoming the warmest on record, thus knocking 2016 from the top spot.

“The chance of the five-year average for this period being higher than the last five years (20172021) is also 93%,” the report added.

“The 1.5°C figure is not some random statistic,” said Petteri Taalas, the WMO Secretary-General, but “rather an indicator of the point at which climate impacts will become increasingly harmful for people and indeed the entire planet.”

Taalas warned that “as long as countries continue to emit greenhouse gases, temperatures will continue to rise.”

He added: “And alongside

that, our oceans will continue to become warmer and more acidic, sea ice and glaciers will continue to melt, sea level will continue to rise and our weather will become more extreme.”

Sea level rise and typhoons – these are the two consequences that are being felt now in Davao City. These used to be unheard of in Davao region but it could not be denied that both are now being experienced every now and then.

“My calculation is that (the sea level) has risen by one foot over a period of 20 years,” said Atty. Jesus. G. Dureza, former press secretary who owns a beach resort in Punta Dumalag. “Hence, rain waters and floods no longer easily flow or empty out into the sea.”

“On average, sea levels around the world rise 3.1 centimeters every ten years,” the Canada-based International Development Research Center pointed out. In comparison, water levels in the Philippines “are projected to rise between 7.6 and 10.2 centimeters each decade.”

In the near future, about 170,000 hectares of coastlands in 171 municipalities are expected to go underwater, particularly those low-rise island communities facing the Pacific Ocean. The cities of Davao, Mati, Panabo and

Tagum and municipalities of Cateel, Malita, Santa Cruz and others are most vulnerable.

Perhaps, one of the super typhoons that hit Davao region in the 1970s was named Titang (international name: Kate). “Just before making landfall roughly 45 kilometers south of Davao City, Kate attained its peak winds of 240 kilometers per hour,” Wikipedia reported.

Then, there was typhoon Pablo (Bopha). “(It) was the strongest tropical cyclone on record to ever affect the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, making landfall as a Category 5 super typhoon with winds of 280 kilometers per hour.”

My question is: is Davao region in general and Davao City in particular ready for the effects of climate change? I know that local government units are doing their best to protect their constituents and their areas but are these enough?

There is no turning back when it comes to climate change. It is for real. During the 11th International Coral Reef Symposium which I attended in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Dr. Simon Donner of the University of British Columbia embarked on a metaphor for climate change.

“The climate is like this big ship,” Dr. Donner told the participants. “We are all on this big ship and the problem is once you hit the brakes it takes a long time for the ship to actually slow down and stop.

“In our case, the ship is the Titanic and we are going to hit the iceberg,” he continued. “It is going to be almost impossible for us not to hit the iceberg at this point.

What we need to do is everything we can to put the brakes on, to slow the ship down and move the iceberg a little bit. The time for emission reductions isn’t as much now as it was 20 years ago.”

Our planet has been warming since prehistoric times, but man’s tampering with the environment has made the temperature change faster. “Changes to the earth’s temperature are global and – for all practical purposes – irreversible not only in our lifetime but in our children’s and grandchildren’s as well,” said Dr. Christopher Flavin, author of Slowing Global Warming: A Worldwide Strategy.

It’s not only the Davao region that needs to be prepared but the whole country. “The Philippines is the third most vulnerable country to weather-related extreme events, earthquakes and sea lev-

el rise,” said the executive report from the World Bank’s Getting a Grip on Climate Change in the Philippines.

“The country’s exposure to extreme weather conditions adversely affects people’s lives, especially those in high-risk urban and coastal areas,” the bank report stated further.

There’s more: “Food security is threatened as land and nursery areas for plants, trees, and fisheries are affected by climate change,” World Bank said. “The livelihoods of poor communities that rely on natural resources are hampered and their lives and properties are further put at risk.”

With absence of land barriers, the Philippines is exposed directly to multiple climate-related hazards such as typhoons (in the northern and eastern parts), floods (in central Luzon and southern Mindanao), landslides (based in terrain), and droughts, making the Philippines more vulnerable to climate risks than other countries in Southeast Asia.

Here’s a startling fact: “By the end of this century, tropical cyclones are expected to intensify, with a projected increase in average instantaneous maximum wind velocity at the Philippine coast,” the World Bank cautioned.

DENNIS R. GORECHO KUWENTONG PEYUPS

HISTORICAL REVISIONISM IS LURKING Fears of historical revisionism resurfaced with the announcement by Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos Jr. that he might appoint Sarah Duterte to be Secretary of Education.

The reaction came out in social media in relation to a 2020 CNN article that Marcos Jr. wants to revise Philippine textbooks because these were “teaching children lies.”

Marcos Jr. said in the CNN article that it’s about time for educational institutions to revise the content of history textbooks which have depicted their family in a bad light.

Marcos criticized the opposition for their prolonged “political propaganda” which supposedly revised historical information about their family that is being taught on today’s youth.

“We have been calling on that for years. What has been proven wrong is that they continue to contend —essentially, you are teaching the children lies,” Marcos Jr. said. “I think this is the very definition of revisionism.

That is one important takeaway.

We always knew that these were not true”.

Fake news refers to the general and widespread misinformation or disinformation by various media. Social media and alike plays a key role in influencing topics and information ranging from politics, health, belief, religion, current events, aid, lifestyle, elections and others Marcos Jr. lamented that he was the one who was at the receiving end of widespread disinformation and victimized by fake news.

However, the Supreme Court’s pronouncements on the Marcos dictatorship can not be considered as fake news.

It is a “well-entrenched plundering regime of 20 years” , thus ruled the Supreme Court in PCGG v. Peña (GR No. L-77663, April 12, 1988) in relation to the ill-gotten wealth cases where it noted the “magnitude of the Marcos regime’s ‘organized pillage’ and the ingenuity of the plunderers and pillagers with the assistance of the experts and best legal minds available in the market.”

Former SC chief justice Artemio Panganiban earlier enumerated some of the Marcos assets found by the Supreme Court to

be “ill-gotten”: $658 million (Republic v. Sandiganbayan, (G.R. No. 152154.

July 15, 2003) PLDT shares (Yuchengco v.

Sandiganbayan, GR NO. 149802, Jan 20, 2006 $3.37 million (Marcos Jr. v.

Republic, G.R. No. 189434 April 25, 2012 collection of jewelry (Estate of Marcos v. Republic (G.R. No. 213027January 18, 2017) The cases applied the legal principle “whenever any public officer or employee has acquired during his incumbency an amount or property which is manifestly out of proportion to his salary as such public officer or employee and to his other lawful income and the income from legitimately acquired property, said property shall be presumed prima facie to have been unlawfully acquired. (Sections 2 and 6 of Republic Act 1379 ) Marcos supporters argue that the era of Marcos’s reign was a “golden age” offhandedly saying that martial law was beneficial to the country as Filipinos at that time were the most disciplined

they have ever seen.

However, many Filipinos fail to see and understand what really went on behind the “discipline” that the Marcos administration forced upon every individual curfew, veiled threats, detainment, torture, disappearances, and even death.

Life under the dictatorship was deadly, especially for those who stood against Marcos.

In the case of Mijares vs Ranada (G.R. No. 139325 April 12, 2005), the Supreme Court said: “Our martial law experience bore strange unwanted fruits… the colossal damage wrought under the oppressive conditions of the period. The cries of justice for the tortured, the murdered, and the Desaparecidos arouse outrage and sympathy in the hearts of the fair-minded, yet the dispensation of the appropriate relief due them cannot be extended through the same caprice or whim that characterized the illwind of martial rule.”

In Dizon vs Eduardo (G.R. No. L-59118 March 3, 1988), the Court noted that “the martial law imposed in September 1972

by Marcos destroyed in one fell swoop the Philippines’ 75 years of stable democratic traditions and established reputation as the showcase of democracy in Asia.”

In Marcos vs Manglapus, (G.R. No. 88211 Sept. 15, 1989), the Court said that “the accumulated foreign debt and the plunder of the nation attributed to Mr. Marcos and his cronies left the economy devastated xxx We cannot ignore the continually increasing burden imposed on the economy by the excessive foreign borrowing during the Marcos regime, which stifles and stagnates development and is one of the root causes of widespread poverty and all its attendant ills.”

Secure at all cost the history books, particularly the Marcos-related books, that you can before they are taken out of the shelves.

The danger of historical revisionism is lurking.

(Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, email info@sapalovelez.com, or call 09175025808 or 09088665786)

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COMPETITIVE EDGE

The Final Pitch launches ASEAN edition, seeks investor-judges The ASEAN’s version of Shark Tank envisions to help high-growth companies scale-up and foster cross-border investment and collaboration across the region 4 May 2022, Manila, PhilippinesSoutheast Asia’s first business reality TV show designed to back and scale the region’s next unicorns, “The Final Pitch ASEAN (TFPA),” is searching for tycoons and business leaders to represent select Southeast Asian countries as investor-judges in the show.

After seven successful season runs in the Philippines, TFPA expands to the rest of the region and will feature high-growth startups and strategic investors from Southeast Asia.

TFPA is looking for investor-judges who can make investments in scale-up startups who want to expand to their home countries. The business show is now on the lookout for representatives from Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam to be the face of their country in the regionally aired show.

With regard to the criteria, John Aguilar, the cre-

ator and host of the show specified, “They have to be in a position to be able to invest in high-growth companies but at the same time will serve as strategic partners for the expansion of any scale-up that wants to enter their respective countries. They have to be successful diversified family conglomerates or seasoned investors looking at investing in mostly series A and up startups.”

Aguilar also mentioned the benefits of the investor-judges who will be selected for TFPA. Apart from gaining access to a pipeline of the best startups across the region, they will also have the opportunity to showcase their countries and respective businesses through the show.

“The show will serve as a platform for the investor-judges to be business ambassadors, and we will be bringing the startups who they are looking to invest in to their respective countries so the startups and the viewers see for themselves what they do, and what their mission is.

The show will allow the startups and the investor-judges to reach out to a global audience, and will encourage cross-border

investments and collaboration with their ASEAN neighbors,” he said.

The show will initially be selecting investor-judge candidates from each country within the next two months through a regional roadshow. To be considered as a TFPA investor-judge, interested parties may email admin@dragonsnest.co or contact the show at +639176569215.

Aguilar stated that the ASEAN version will follow the same format as the highly successful Philippine edition, the show’s proof of concept that has helped more than 100 startups and successfully funded millions of dollars into the Philippine startup ecosystem.

“The world is looking at Southeast Asia as an emerging tech region.

There are so many chal-

lenges here but there are also many opportunities.

And there are a growing number of future unicorns that are being born as we speak. We are looking at expediting their exponential growth across Southeast Asia with TFPA,” Aguilar said.

The principal filming of the show is scheduled to commence by the fourth quarter of 2022. Apart from the investor judges

and scale-up companies, The Final Pitch ASEAN is also looking for brand and broadcast partners in the aforementioned countries.

Aguilar also shared that their plan for The Final Pitch ASEAN is to introduce the show’s format in the region as a stepping stone to their long-term goal to license the show across these different countries.

SM Cinema Davao reopens 3 more theaters

All six theaters of SM Cinema Davao are now operational.

Beginning May 4, SM Cinema Davao has reopened Cinemas 1 to 3 near Miniso at the Second Level, Main Mall, SM City Davao for more awesome movie experience.

Blockbuster hit Dr. Strange 2: Multiverse of Madness currently fills five theaters while The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is featured at Cinema 3.

Bringing of food and beverages inside cinema are now also allowed.

For a safe and fun movie experience, SM Cinema Davao regularly disinfects all theaters. Every Monday, cinemas are closed for intensified theater care and sanitation.

Reservation can now be done at https://www.smcinema.com for contactless and hassle-free movie watching at SM Cinema Davao. For further movie updates, visit the official social media pages of SM Cinema Davao and SM City Davao.

Bond now with your family and watch blockbuster hits at SM Cinema Davao.

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Candlelight: During the World AIDS Day, people from around the world light candles as a reminder of those who passed away from the disease. (Oxfam-Phil)

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eople infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) – the microorganism that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) – has many faces in the United States. First, there was Hollywood actor Rock Hudson. The world was shocked when L.A. Laker legend announced that he would retire from basketball because he had AIDS. In the Philippines, the first person to come out in the open to talk about her ordeal and how she acquired HIV was Maria Dolzura Cortez (who died in 1992). Her life story was serialized in Philippine Daily Inquirer and was made into a movie, Dahil Mahal Kita, starring Vilma Santos (who won acting awards for her sterling performance).

Actually, the first HIV/ AIDS case reported in the country was in 1984. Since then, the number of people infected with HIV and who have died of AIDS have increased considerably. Despite all the information campaigns done by the Department of Health, stigma attached to it still persists.

And despite several laws being passed, discrimination against those with the disease continues.

While undergoing treatment for tuberculosis (TB), 36-year-old “Kevin” came to know that he was positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) when the doctor told him. A call center agent from Cagayan de Oro City, he didn’t reveal his status to his colleagues.

But TB had taken a toll on his health. With frequent stints in the hospital, his colleagues started talking about the root of his health problems. They were speculating that he had HIV. “I felt discriminated against because when I went inside the office one day, I actually heard people whispering, “That’s him! That’s the guy who has HIV!” Kevin recalled.

It was a matter of time that the company’s human resources office came to know the situation. He was called and was asked bluntly whether he had HIV. Kevin felt he had no choice but to disclose his status.

He said that immediately following that disclosure, his coworkers started shunning him and refused to speak to him.

That treatment prompted him to quit the job. “I could no longer take it,” he said.

The case of a 26-yearold Elizabeth, another HIV-positive, was even more pitiless. A single mother of a 6-year-old boy, she worked as a cashier at a café in Manila. When she learned about her status, she was totally devastated.

“I cried all the time, every time I’m reminded of what happened,” she said, adding that she cried even more “because of the discrimination I’m going through.”

Two years after she was diagnosed of having HIV, Elizabeth started to suffer from double vision and frequent headaches. Her doctor, who could not determine whether she was suffering from an opportunistic infection, suggested that she undergo an MRI on her eyes.

Because the doctor recommended rest, she needed to file a leave of absence from her company. “I told our human resources about my status so I can have a valid excuse for my leave, which was going to take a long time because the doc-

HIV/AIDS: THE

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Text by HENRYLITO D. TACIO Images from WHO and Oxfam-Philippines

HIV testing: Testing is recommended to those who want to know if they are HIV positive (WHO)

tor wanted me to rest,” she said.

She was fired as a result.

“My supervisor said she understood me and would like to help,” she said. The supervisor then referred Elizabeth to the manager of a manpower company that supplies workers for restaurants. The manager told her: “Since there may be people who won’t understand what happened to you, I need to pull you out of

the coffee shop.”

The manager then asked Elizabeth to fill out forms, one of which turned out to be a resignation letter from the employment agency, not just the coffee shop. “I asked why and he told me it’s because I was exposed to food,” she said.

“He was very good at convincing me to resign for my own good, that resigning would reduce my stress, things like that. But it was

painful. I know what he was asking me to do was wrong.

It felt wrong.”

At the manager’s urging, she signed the resignation letter.

These were just two of the several accounts of workplace discrimination against people infected with HIV compiled by Carlos Conde, the country’s researcher of Human Rights Watch (HRW). The names were changed to protect the

privacy of the people interviewed for the report.

“Workers and employees in the Philippines living with HIV who suffer workplace discrimination often do not seek redress,” HRW said in a statement. It added that the government’s response to unlawful firings and harassment is “weak.”

Aside from unlawful firing, workplace discrimination also refers to refusal to hire and forced resignation of people with HIV. “Some employees may also disregard or actively facilitate workplace harassment of employees who are HIV positive,” the statement said.

In most of the discrimination cases that HRW documented, “employees with HIV did not file formal complaints, most frequently due to fear of being further exposed as HIV positive, which could prevent future employment.”

Even until now, there is still so much to know about HIV/AIDS. “(AIDS) is a syndrome because there are a range of different symptoms which are not always found in each case,” explains Dr. John Hubley, author of The AIDS Handbook: A guide to the understanding of AIDS and HIV.

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Meanwhile, Duterte-Carpio congratulated the 31 million Filipinos who voted for her including the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Filipinos living abroad as the true winners of the recently concluded elections.

“Kayo ang panalo dito.

Ako — ako ang inyong kandidato. Ang inyong instrumento. Kayo ang nagdala sa akin sa puntong ito ng aking karera sa politika at pagsisilbi sa taumbayan at sa ating bayan. Dahil sa inyo, nandito ako. Sa loob ng tatlong buwan naging magkasama tayo sa kampanya. Hindi po tayo napigilan ng ulan o ng init. Hindi na rin natin pinansin ang ating mga pagod sa halos araw-araw na byahe. At sa kabila ng pagod, at hirap, pinalakas natin ang bawat isa para magpatuloy para

maabot ang mga kabayayan natin na naging parte ng ating tagumpay ngayon,” she said.

She is asking the Filipinos for their continued support Vice President because the position is associated with a great responsibility to the Filipinos.

“Ang lampas 31 million na boto na nakuha ko bilang kandidato pagka-bise presidente, ang pagkapanalo ko, ang pagkapanalo ninyo sa halanan, ay isang patunay na sa pagtutulungan, sa pagkakaisa, at magtatagumpay tayo. Pangalawa, gusto kong magpasalamat sa inyo dahil ako — bilang inyong kandidato — ay talagang hindi ninyo pinabayaan. Sinuportahan ninyo at nirespeto ang aking desisyon na tumakbo bilang Vice President,” she said.

An ARC is a barangay or a cluster of contiguous barangays with a critical mass of farmers or farm workers where the main thrust of

agrarian development land tenure improvement and effective delivery of support services - is being implemented.

Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu, incumbent representative of the second district, failed to unseat incumbent Gov. Bai Mariam Sangki-Mangudadatu, who won her second term.

“For the past 27 years, I have unselfishly pushed for transformative leadership in Maguindanao. I persevered in putting emphasis on ensuring peace and order, the marginalized voices are heard, and the welfare of the Bangsamoro people is taken care of. There are so many work to be done and yet by a twist of fate, maybe Allah (swt) intervened so I can take a step back to reflect on the bigger tasks He has for me,” Mangudadatu, former threeterm Maguindanao governor (2010 to 2019), said.

He profusely thanked those who supported his campaign even if his bid turned out in vain.

Sangki-Mangudadatu, who ran under Nacionalista Party (NP), is the wife of Sultan Kudarat Gov. Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu,

who did not seek a political position for the May 9 pols.

Instead of Teng, their son Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu ran and won as Sultan Kudarat governor against former beauty queen Sharifa Akeel, Toto’s wife.

Toto and Teng are cousins.

Sangki-Mangudadatu’s running mate, Bai Annie Sinsuat, defeated UBJP candidate Bai Sandra Sema, former Maguindanao first district representative.

Sangki-Mangudadatu’s party slate for first and the second congressional districts –Bangsamoro Member of Parliament Dimple Mastura and Tong Paglas, current vice mayor of Datu Paglas town – won the race against their UBJP and other party rivals.

Out of the 36 towns in Maguindanao, 22 NP mayoral bets emerged victorious, nine from UBJP and the rest belong to other political parties, the May 9 election results showed. (Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)

April this year from 5,570 units in 2021.

Commercial vehicle sales jumped by 53.9 percent to 18,890 units from 12,273 units in the same period.

“The April sales performance reflects the continued containment of the pandemic underpinned by the improved

consumer demand for big-ticket items compared with last year,” CAMPI president Rommel Gutierrez said in a statement.

Industry sales from January to April this year also increased by 13.3 percent to 99,903 units from 88,155 units in the same period last year.

rectors approved on July 7, 2021.

CentralHub is a company in the industrial real estate business.

“Despite the challenges brought about by the surge in Omicron variant in some markets where JFC operates and the increase in prices of raw materials and energy, our business performed well

and even set a new record for sales for a first quarter,” said JFC chief executive officer Ernesto Tanmantiong.

“System-wide sales of our businesses in China, North America (Philippine brands), EMEAA including SuperFoods have reached pre-pandemic levels driven by continued store expansion,” he added.

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sions and ensure that all the resolutions and ordinances coming out from the council are the work of everybody.

“It’s very good we have new faces, the old councilors, the experienced, the

more learned councilors are already retired, it’s time for new blood to come in.

This will be a good training ground for the future leaders of the city. We need new people in the City Council,” he said.

the public can use to file and pay contributions and payments of government contributions and loans, among others.

Diokno said that from 21.8 million transactions amounting to PHP1.3 trillion in 2021, the volume and value of PESONet transactions reached 26.4 million to PHP1.9 trillion, respectively, to date.

He said InstaPay volume as of end-April this year grew by 32.7 percent to 166 million from 125 million transactions in the

first four months last year.

“The rising use of digital payments helps us move closer towards our goal of having a cashlite society,” he added.

Diokno said the central bank “continues to ensure that systematically important payment systems or SIPs, which eventually facilitates the settlement of the digital payments among banks, follow standards, which are at par with global practices to ensure safety and reliability.”

(PNA)

testing equipment.

“Intelligence fund (is) needed to strengthen the campaign against smugglers, profiteers, hoarders, and e-commerce scammers,” Lopez said, adding that the link of DTI with the Philippine National Police, National

Bureau of Investigation, and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency in operations against smugglers and scammers should be strengthened.

Lopez said these programs will be discussed with the next DTI chief.

(PNA)

infrastructure investment could also contribute to government debt rising faster than nominal GDP (gross domestic product) over the medium term, which would pressure the sovereign rating.”

It said the impact of the High Court’s 2018 ruling regarding the increase of local government units’ (LGUs) share in national government funds starting this year is yet to be seen vis-àvis the public spending efficiency.

“The current administration estimates the

transfers will be fiscally neutral at the general government level, as it plans to transfer spending assignments in tandem to local government units. However, poor execution could lead to underspending by local governments,” it added.

The report cited that while this will have a big impact on the economy’s medium-term growth potential, “the net credit effects are likely to be negative, even though public finances may improve in the near term.”

efforts to secure PHP1 to PHP4 per liter discounts from private oil companies for the public transport sector, while the Department of Agriculture is undertaking a fuel subsidy program for 159,000 farmers and fisherfolk.

He believed that the next administration has to “seriously think about the next set of tax reforms” to fund particularly the infrastructure program.

“But the most import-

ant is to continue this macro(economic) fiscal prudence, living within our means, raising tax reforms if needed to fund important investment in infrastructure and human capital development. So, I think that’s really the priority. That has been the policy for three consecutive administrations and we hope and believe that this is the important continuity that must be maintained,” he added.

Sixers were booed off the court.

Harden scored all of his 11 points in the first half. He had four turnovers and four baskets.

Few in Philly would give The Beard a passing grade.

Coach Doc Rivers implored his team to “fight for this!” in the huddle during the fourth. The 76ers just fell flat.

The Heat are thrilled with an NBA championship still in play. Max Strus had 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Even another abysmal night from 3-point range — Miami missed 21 of 28 attempts —- failed to matter.

Embiid again gutted out a postseason game in his mask (right orbital fracture) and with torn ligaments in his right thumb after he was only cleared to return last week from a concussion. He held the back of his head after he knocked it on the court after a fall late in the second quarter. Embiid still played 22 minutes in the first half and scored 14 points.

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“It is acquired because AIDS is an infectious disease caused by a virus which is spread from person to person through a variety of routes. This makes it different from immune deficiency from other causes such as treatment with anti-cancer drugs or immune system suppressing drugs given to persons receiving transplant operations.”

Actually, HIV is a relatively weak virus outside the human body. But once it is inside, HIV cannot be obliterated. The virus is spread through the exchange of body fluids with high viral load like cerebral fluid, amniotic fluid, blood, semen, cervical and vaginal secretions and breast milk.

HIV is transmitted by sexual intercourse (vaginal, penile, anal and in some instances oral), blood and blood products (through transfusion) and shared needles. A woman infected with HIV may spread the virus to her child during pregnancy, during birth or shortly after birth, and through breastfeeding.

The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO), HIV targets the immune system and weakens people’s defense against infections and some types of cancer. “As the virus destroys and impairs the function of immune cells, infected individuals gradually become immunodeficient,” the United Nations health agency explained.

Immunodeficiency results in increased susceptibility to a wide range of infections, cancers and other diseases that people with healthy immune systems can fight off, the WHO pointed out.

AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection. “This can take from 2 to 5 years to develop, depending on the individual,” the WHO said. It defines AIDS as “the development of certain cancers, infections, or other severe clinical manifestations.”

Being infected with HIV is no longer a death sentence these days. “HIV is not and should not be a death sentence anymore,” points out Dr. Louie Mar Gangcuangco, who has worked as a researcher at the Hawaii Center for AIDS. “If HIV is detected early and if the patient takes antiretrovirals early, the virus can be controlled.”

However, in order to be treated, you need to know if you have HIV. And you will only find out if you undergo HIV testing. “Testing for HIV and other sexually-transmitted infections is strongly advised for all people exposed to any of the risk factors,” the WHO said in its website. “This way people learn of their own infection

status and access necessary prevention and treatment services without delay.”

However, all HIV testing services must follow the 5 principles recommended by WHO: consent (informed), confidentiality, counselling, correct test results, and connection (linkage to care, treatment and other services).

“Knowing your HIV status is not just a right but also a responsibility. People with HIV can live normal and productive lives as long as they take their medications and follow-up regularly with your doctor.

Getting tested is not only for yourself, but also for your loved ones,” says Dr. Gangcuangco.

Like most diseases, HIV can be prevented – as easy as ABC: abstain from sex; be faithful to your partner; condoms must be used during sex (especially to those who have multiple partners); don’t share needles, and education about the disease.

Dr. Gangcuango believes that educating the public on safe sex practices, such as the importance of condom use, is key to curbing the HIV epidemic in the country. He suggests several changes in the health care system have to be made.

Aside from having HIV testing accessible to all people, he also includes HIV treatment to be more available to everyone. “This includes training of medical practitioners on the appropriate care of people living with HIV,” he says. “Clinic hours should be expanded to ensure that those who work 8am to 5pm jobs can also access HIV testing and treatment outside of work hours.”

He also talks about pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Better known as “PrEP,” it is a daily pill that people can take to prevent HIV. “PrEP is slowly being rolled out in the Philippines and its expansion would be a great addition to our armamentarium against HIV,” he says.

“Among those who have HIV infection, ensuring that patients have enough social and clinical support so that they remain adherent to antiretroviral therapy is also very important.”

Right now, there is still no cure for HIV but thanks to continuing medical advances in medications, HIV can now be seen as a chronic disease. In fact, people infected with HIV can enjoy long careers, get married, and raise families.

“There’s no cure for HIV, but treatment options are much better than they were a few decades ago,” Dr. Gangcuangco says. “Because of medical advancements, many people now live long, active lives with HIV.”

would not have any problem),” Marcial added.

Baltazar is among those tipped to be selected early into the draft.

Marcial himself projected him as a Top 5 pick.

With Baltazar now

scratched off the list, the number of draft applicants this year is down to 74, although it is expected to be trimmed further by Friday as the PBA releases the final list of draft aspirants.

(PNA)

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Gilas standout Balti Baltazar is taking his talents elsewhere.

Baltazar withdraws from PBA Draft

M

ANILA – One of the projected top picks for this year’s PBA Draft has pulled out his name from the event.

PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial confirmed on Thursday that six-footseven forward Balti Baltazar backed out from Sunday’s draft proceedings as he is set to take his talents elsewhere, at least for a year.

He said Baltazar sent a

letter that he received earlier in the day formalizing his decision to pull himself out of the draft.

“May letter na binigay sa akin kanina na finormal niya na niwi-withdraw niya ang pag-a-apply niya para sa draft this year (I received a letter stating his

formal withdrawal from this year’s draft),” Marcial said after the PBA Draft Combine held at the Gatorade Hoops Center in Mandaluyong City.

Attending the combine is a necessary process for the draft applicants if they want to continue their intent to join the draft.

Baltazar missed the final day of the combine just like during Day 1 on Wednesday, although Marcial said he was excused for

both days just like those who were absent due to their college basketball finals commitments.

Marcial, however, disclosed that Baltazar’s valid excuse is an offer to play in the B.League.

“Kausap ko (si Balti).

Sabi niya, ‘Comm, pwede bang one year muna ako sa Japan, tapos balik kami?’

Sabi ko, ‘OK lang’ (I spoke to Balti. He said, ‘Comm, can I play in Japan for a year then come back?’ I said, ‘It’s

ok’),” he added, although he did not say which team Baltazar would join.

Initially, both Marcial and Baltazar agreed that the latter could still be drafted to the PBA on Sunday but would spend the 2022-2023 season in the B.League and would just join his PBA mother team in the following season.

However, with the B.League season still ongoing by the time the PBA season ends by May 10,

2023 at the latest, both Marcial and Baltazar decided for the latter to just defer his draft application to next year.

“Para ‘di maipit ‘yung bata at ‘yung team na kukuha sa kanya, nagkausap kami na mag-Japan muna siya, tapos saka siya bumalik ‘pag OK na (We agreed that he could go to Japan, then return when everything else is okay so that the team drafting him

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Heat ousts Sixers to reach East Finals

P

HILADELPHIA — Jimmy Butler scored 32 points and waved “bye bye” to the Philly crowd as he sent the Miami Heat into the Eastern Conference finals with a 99-90 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night (Friday, Manila time) in Game 6.

The Heat will play the winner of the Milwaukee-Boston series. The defending champion Bucks lead that series 3-2, with Game 6 on Friday night in Milwaukee.

The Heat reached the conference finals for the second time in three seasons, again with Butler leading the charge. Philly

fans — and many inside the 76ers organization — still can’t believe the franchise let Butler get away after the 2019 season. He did not mess around and scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting in the third quarter when the Heat used a 16-2 run to take control.

Joel Embiid, the NBA scoring champion, scored 20 points for Philadelphia on 7-of-24 shooting.

Coming off a 35-point victory in Game 5, the Heat wore down a battered Sixers team. Embiid looked gassed as he gamely tried to carry the Sixers. He had little lift and had a pull-up jumper blocked by Bam

Adebayo in the third.

The Sixers parted with Butler in large part because they chose Ben Simmons over him. Simmons was unhappy and forced a trade this season to Brooklyn for James Harden. Harden, a three-time scoring champion, was supposed to shoulder the load with Embiid for a potent postseason push. Harden instead all but disappeared in the playoffs. He had a fantastic Game 4 at home against Miami but otherwise was a turnover machine. When he lost another ball that led to a Heat bucket and an 8063 lead in the fourth, the

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Jimmy Butler waves his former team goodbye. PHOTO: AP

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MILO, DepEd launch Palarong Pambahay

T

housands of young Filipino athletes across the Philippines will put their athletic skills to the test as leading beverage brand MILO and the Department of Education will stage the MILO-DepEd Palarong Pambahay championships on May 21 and 22.

The MILO-DepEd Palarong Pambahay is the country’s first nationwide online inter-sport, interschool, junior sports competition that aims to provide a platform for young athletes to showcase their talents and continue their champion journeys in school and in sports.

“Home-based classes and online tournaments have served as a training ground for our young athletes in the past two years during the pandemic,” said Carlo Sampan, Head of MILO Sports Program.

“With the launch of the MILO-DepEd Palarong Pambahay, we aim to showcase the skills and grit these athletes have worked hard for over the years, and pay tribute to the parents, coaches and teach-

Flag bearer EJ Obiena leads the Philippine delegation intothe stadium in the opening of the SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

ers who have been in the sidelines to give their unwavering support to their children’s champion dreams” Finalists from 3,000 young athletes from the elementary and secondary divisions from both public and private schools nationwide will be competing in eight different sports namely Arnis, Athletics, Basketball, Football, Jumprope, Karatedo, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Taekwondo.

The finals of the competition will be broadcasted live on the official MILO Philippines Facebook page from May 21 to 22. Video submissions of shortlisted participants will serve as their official entries to the competition, where it will be judged and scored real time. Top winners of the both divisions will each receive a MILO medal, certificate and electronic voucher.

“It is our great pleasure to be partnering with MILO once again for the first-ever MILO-DepEd Palarong Pambahay competition,” said Atty. Tonisito Umali, Undersecretary, DepEd.

“Even though the pandemic has hindered most of our onground activities, our organization as well as coaches, teachers and parents have worked tremendously hard to make this event a reality. This is quite a milestone and integral proof that nothing can stop the Filipino champion spirit and our winning culture of Bayanihan.

We look forward to seeing our athletes shine and excel in the competition.”

MILO and the DepEd have enjoyed a longstanding partnership in promoting sport as an integral part of a child’s holistic development. During the height of the pandemic, MILO and DepEd have jointly rolled out online modules, instructional exercise videos and sports equipment for public school students and teachers to help young Filipinos to remain active and excel in school and in sports.

For more information, follow MILO on Facebook (www.facebook.com/milo.ph) and Instagram (@MiloPhilippines).