Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 50 | Saturday, June 11, 2022

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

HERE COMES THE GOLDEN RICE AGRITRENDS P 9

GUIDANCE

VOL.15 ISSUE 50 • SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2022

A young hawker falls asleep at the entrance of a restaurant as he takes a break from peddling grapes in Tagum City’s downtown area on Friday. Edge Davao

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Incoming VM to consult PRRD on ‘anything that concerns the city’ STORY ON PAGE 2

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 50 • SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2022

President Rodrigo Duterte holds his weekly meeting with key government officials at the Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in Matina, Davao City. Vice Mayor-elect Melchor Quitain Jr. said he will definitely consult the President on how to do about running the city and offices and on anything that concerns Davao City. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

GUIDANCE Incoming VM to consult PRRD on ‘anything that concerns the city’

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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we need his knowledge and experience. Definitely, I will be consulting our President on how to do about running the city and offices. Definitely, I will be consulting him on anything that concerns the city of Davao as he is an expert

on that,” Quitain told Edge Davao.

It can be recalled that Quitain vowed to support all the programs and priorities of Mayor-elect Sebastian “Baste” Duterte when he sits as vice mayor.

He said 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.

He also said he wants

his fellow legislators to be attentive and participative in the discussions and ensure that all the resolutions and ordinances coming out from the council are the work of everybody.

Meanwhile, the President also said he will retire quietly and will no longer engage in politics but promised to continue his advocacy of protecting the next generation.

One Planet City Challenge 2021-2022 tells us that we are doing the right thing.

We are very much honored and happy for this achievement but we will not stop here. We can still do more in terms of mitigation and adaptation towards climate change,” said City Planning and Development Coordinator Ivan C. Cortez in an interview with the City Information Office (CIO).

Davao City and the cities of Dipolog and Quezon have been named national finalists representing the Philippines in the WWF for Nature One Planet City Challenge (OPCC). There are 280 participating cities from 50 countries for the 2021-2022 leg of OPCC. OPCC is a friendly global competition initiated by WWF to recognize cities for their climate actions

and ambitions and assess whether they align with the goals set forth in the Paris Agreement in limiting climate change to 1.5 °C. Cortez said that it was the city’s effort to implement programs for climate change that led to this award and this challenges the city to do more.

“The city tried its best to implement programs

ncoming Vice Mayor Melchor Quitain Jr. said he would be definitely need President Rodrigo Duterte’s guidance for good governance in the city.

The President has recently announced that he will be retiring in Davao City after he steps down on June 30, 2022.

“We are very lucky that the former mayor and former President is retiring in Davao City because

DavaoCityelatedoverPHfinalist for WWF ‘One Planet Challenge’

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he Davao City government is elated over the city’s inclusion as one of the three Philippine finalists in the World-Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature’s “One Planet City Challenge” 2021-2022 as it is a recognition that the local government is doing the right thing in its environment-related initiatives.

“Being in the top three national finalists for WWF

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PEF to release rescued PH eagle in Sarangani

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he Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) is set to release a male Philippine eagle (Pithecophaga jefferyi) on June 13, or more than a year after it survived an injury to its wing inflicted by hunters in the hinterland in Sarangani province.

Andi Baldonado, PEF development program manager, said during an interview over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5) on Wednesday that the release of “Sarangani Eagle” (previously named “Salagbanog”) will culminate the Philippine Eagle Week 2022 celebration, which started June 6 until 13.

She said the foundation will need the help of local government units and communities in the province to protect the eagle and to conserve its population, classified as critically endangered.

A T’boli farmer found the raptor trapped in thorny rattan vines after hunting a monkey near Salagbanog Falls, located in Barangay Ticulab, Maitum town in Sarangani province on January 8, 2021.

The eagle was rehabilitated after veterinarians of the Philippine Eagle Center performed a surgery on the eagle to extract a piece of marble lodged near its right clavicle. The marble might have been used as a bullet by a hunter, according to PEF. “We will release the Philippine eagle Sarangani, one of those we rescued. It’s deemed fit for release and we have the support of the LGU there

and we can finally do this, this coming Monday,” Baldonado said.

Eagles in the wild are confronted with threats of hunting and avian influenza (H5N1) or bird flu.

She said the PEF rescued 12 eagles since the start of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, many of them either shot or trapped by hunters in the uplands.

Baldonado added that there is a lot of work to do even after its release, which necessitates partnerships with various communities to ensure it survives in the wild and to protect it from threats.

“It’s not something that when you set them free, that’s it. There’s a lot of work that gets into it.

We go to the community because we have to inform them about the eagle but also, at the same time, to start a partnership with them so that they will participate in looking after the eagles,” she said.

Baldonado urged the public to support the causes of PEF, particularly supporting the livelihood and giving the people in the hinterlands access to education and health.

“Generally, most of the communities that we work with are the poorest of the poor. They need help so that they can continue to protect the eagles,” she said.

She added that the partnership with LGUs is also needed to provide a budget in mobilizing forest guards who will look after the eagle once it is released. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 50 • SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2022

NEWS

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Dancers perform during Kadayawan sa Davao Festival’s “Indak-Indak sa Kadayawan,” a street-dancing competition, pre-pandemic. The city government of Davao is mulling to conduct a face-to-face celebration this year.

Edge Davao

Ordinance requiring defibrillators at health facilities hurdles 2nd reading BDP in DavOro expected to spur tourism, business opportunities

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he new farm-tomarket road under the Barangay Development Program (BDP) in Pantukan town’s Barangay Napnapan is seen to spur tourism and business opportunities in the area, Davao de Oro’s governor said Thursday.

Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, who turned over Wednesday the 1,580-length road project to the villagers, said BDP-funded projects in the province have “set a trajectory” for sustainable development in tourism.

Uy said the former New People’s Army (NPA)-influenced barangay is now a forefront for more ecotourism spots and booming businesses in the province.

“From coffee shops in the mountain ranges and lake-side to highland resorts and adventure parks are some of BDP’s positive impacts in Davao de Oro,” the governor said in a statement.

A hallmark program of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTFELCAC) with the end goal

of bringing development to former conflict-prone communities, the BDP forms part of the government’s whole-of-nation approach to fighting the insurgency waged by communist rebels.

The program aims to eradicate the root causes of the insurgency, poverty, disease, lack of education and opportunities, and social injustice in farflung communities across the country identified to have been influenced by the communist armed rebellion.

Currently, Davao de Oro ranks second after Davao City with the most number of BDP projects at 128, received by 65 villages that used to experience insurgency-related armed conflicts.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recognized the province as the best implementer for BDP projects as evidenced by good governance for the benefit of far-flung communities.

Other completed FMRs in Davao de Oro are in Barangays San Miguel

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By MAYA M. PADILLO

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installation of AEDs is a life safety issue with emergency response and public health implications, and the city believes it necessary to the public health, safety, and welfare to require such installation in all establishments.

The ordinance was being pushed after one

of the athletes of the Kadayawan Duathlon 2019 in August 2019 died due to cardiac arrest. It was reported that during the event, Mario Francisco V Marfori II died after his first run.

It is stated in the ordinance that the city recognizes the benefits of early defibrillation in the survival of persons who have experienced cardiac arrest with research showing that survival decreases by approximately 10 percent for every

minute that defibrillation is delayed.

Villafuerte stated the City Health Office is directed to establish the necessary guidelines and code requirements for the use and placement of AEDs in private and public buildings including the issuance of registration permits and monitoring of training needs of residents (residential buildings), students (school building), and employees (private and public business building).

period and sa assessment ng PRO 11 during sa duration ng election period, generally peaceful, wala ta’y sensational incidents na nakaapekto talaga sa ating electoral process, in fact, very ssuccessful and peaceful ang ating election diri sa Davao Region,” she said in an interview with Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR).

In a statement, PRO 11 reported that from January 9 to June 9; wherein bearing, carrying, and transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons

are prohibited has arrested 183 gun ban violators, recovered/seized 174 assorted firearms, 32 improvised weapons, and 710 ammunition.

These were the results of the following police operations: 58 buy-bust, one illegal logging, nine operations against loose firearms, 18 search warrants, two warrants of arrest, 54 police responses, 28 checkpoints, and one Oplan Katok.

PRO 11 cited the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) which has the biggest

number of operations conducted at 78 which led to the arrest of 85 individuals, recovery of 74 firearms, 14 other deadly weapons, and 281 ammunition.

Following DCPO is Davao Norte Police Provincial Office (PPO) with 39 operations, Davao de Oro PPO at 27, and Davao Oriental at 18 while Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental PPO, and Regional Mobile Force Battalion 11 conducted six, two, and one operation respectively. By Maya M. Padillo

he City Council of Davao has approved the proposed ordinance requiring defibrillators at all health facilities approved on the second reading.

The resolution to enact an ordinance creating the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Code of Davao City was approved on June 7, 2022.

Councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte, chair of the Committee on Health and proponent of the said ordinance, stated that the

Election period ends, gun ban lifted

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oinciding with the end of the election period on June 8, 2022 was the lifting of the election gun ban set by the Commission En Banc in line with the May 9 national and local elections.

Police Major Atty. Eudisan Gultiano, spokesperson for Police Regional Office (PRO 11), said it was generally peaceful throughout the election period.

“Ang implementation ng Comelec gun ban was already lifted corresponding the end of election

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 50 • SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2022

The PAL Express PR 2487 flight upon arriving at the Sanga-sanga Airport in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi on Thursday (9 June 2022). MindaNews photo by FERDINANDH CABRERA

PAL starts Cotabato– Tawi-Tawi air service

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he inaugural Cotabato – Tawi-Tawi flight touched down at the Sanga-Sanga Airport here at 8:51 a.m.

Thursday, welcomed by a water salute and locals optimistic of the economic and tourism opportunities the twice weekly flight will bring to this island-province.

Philippine Airlines flight PR 2487 took off from the Awang Airport in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, also known as Cotabato Airport, at 7:53 a.m.

Before the A-320 commercial plane could taxi, Bangsamoro Interim

Chief Minister Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim addressed the passengers, with others who are not familiar with his voice mistaking him as the pilot. “[This flight] signals [the end] of the long-time challenge of connectivi-

ty of Tawi-Tawi with the (Bangsamoro) mainland and other parts of the country,” he said over the plane’s public address system.

“I wish you a pleasant and a blessed flight,” he added.

The historic inaugural flight from the Cotabato Airport to the Sanga-Sanga Airport came three years after the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) in January 2019.

The BARMM was established following the

he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is set to utilize sentiments on the macroeconomic front through news articles to further strengthen its economic policy formulation.

In a virtual briefing on Thursday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the News Sentiment Index (NSI) is part of the central bank’s Big Data Roadmap initiative aimed at ensuring

that treatment and handling of all types of data across the central bank are uniform, compliant with domestic laws, and is consistent with best practices.

“The NSI will equip the BSP with a cost-effective and efficient data gathering and index generation solution for monitoring real-time economic developments, and which can serve as an important input for economic policy formula-

tion,” he said.

Diokno said data collection and processing will be done using a computer program that will also determine whether the use is positive, neutral, or negative.

He said the business and economy-related news articles will be gathered from reputable domestic media outlets that have received citations and awards both here and abroad.

ratification of Republic Act 11054, popularly known as the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

The BOL is anchored on the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), which the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed in 2014 after 17 years of peace negotiations.

Rabbi Vincent Ang, PAL Express officer-in-charge, noted that the country’s flag carrier is proud to be a part of this momentous event in

“The BSP ensures that it uses only truthful and fact-checked data in its decisions and policies,” he added.

Diokno said the use of NSI follows several central banks overseas, such as the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, the Bank of Korea, and the Reserve bank of Australia.

He said BSP, to date, is on the exploratory stage in

FPAL, P10

BSP to use economy-related news in policy formulation T

FBSP, P10

SEC expands online payment options

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he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) continues to add new options for its online payment system, making payment for registration and transaction fees faster and more convenient for the public.

Clients can now use their GCash payment wallets to settle registration and other transaction fees, as well as penalties, with the Commission, through the electronic system for payments to the SEC (eSPAYSEC).

“It has only been a year since we rolled out the eSPAYSEC, but it has already become a preferred payment option for the transacting public because of the convenience and security it offers,” SEC Chairperson Emilio Aquino said in a statement Thursday.

“This is proof of the public’s readiness to adapt to digital solutions when they are available, and strengthens the Commission’s commitment to its digital transformation initiatives to improve the ease of doing business for

Filipinos,” he said.

Launched in March 1, 2021, the eSPAYSEC is a web-based system that allows for the payment of fees and penalties to the Commission online using debit and credit cards, digital wallets, and other cashless payment options.

The online payment portal has since accepted payments for fees and penalties amounting to PHP202.32 million from a total of 29,565 transactions as of June 8, 2022.

Of the total amount, PHP99.57 million was recorded in 2022, bound to surpass the PHP102.75 million collected online in 2021.

The transacting public may access the eSPAYSEC through the Commission’s website at https:// espaysec.sec.gov.ph/payment-portal/home.

To use GCash for their payments, clients only need to enter the reference number provided in the payment assessment form issued by the SEC, select GCash as their pay-

FSEC, P10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 50 • SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2022

ECONOMY

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A homeless man sleeps at the sidewalk along Bonifacio Street in Davao City on Friday. The Philippine Statistics Bureau (PSA) reported that jobless Filipinos in April has reached 2.76 million Filipinos as the unemployment rate eased to 5.7 percent for the month. Edge Davao

2.76M jobless Pinoys in April, unemployment eases to 5.7% A DOE expects LPG prices to fall in coming months

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he price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is expected to go down in the coming months, the Department of Energy (DOE) said.

The DOE said there is an indication of a price rollback due to weak demand in the global market, particularly in Europe, the United States,

China, Mexico, South Korea, and Japan.

As of June 1, 2022, household LPG prices were estimated to range from P879.20 to P1,107.09 per 11-kilogram cylinder, DOE data showed.

“Ang susunod po para sa July, malalaman natin

FDOE, P10

Pawnshop loans increase further due to pandemic

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oans provided by pawnshops increased year-on-year

by PHP4 billion in 2021 as more people needed immediate fund augmentation during the pandemic.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Financial Supervision Department 9 Director Dindo Santos said their survey among major pawnshops shows a growth in pledge loans or “sangla” in recent months.

“Moreover, based on the business model of pawning, this serves as

an immediate source of funds for individuals.

And as we all know, this is used for consumption purposes such as basic needs, for food, education, health, clothing, and shelter,” he said.

During the same briefing, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said pawnshops’ assets reached PHP96.9 billion by end2021, 4.7 percent up from the previous year’s PHP92.5 billion.

Diokno said pledge loans grew by 2.7 percent

FPAWNSHOP, P10

bout 2.76 million Filipinos were jobless in April as the unemployment rate eased to 5.7 percent for the month, the Philippine Statistics Bureau said Friday.

The total is lower than the 8.7 percent unemployment rate in April 2021 equivalent to 4.14 million jobless Filipinos, based on the PSA’s Labor Force Survey.

April 2022’s unemployment rate is also an improvement compared to the 6.4 percent rate in January, equivalent to 2.93

million, and the 5.8 percent rate in March which translates to 2.87 million people with no jobs.

The employment rate for the month hit 94.3 percent equivalent to 45.63 million which is higher than the 91.3 percent of 43.27 million in April 2021 and the 93.6 percent or 43.02 million in January,

the PSA said.

In March, the employment rate was at 94.2 percent or 46.98 million, data showed.

The higher number of people with jobs can be attributed to the increase in workers during the harvest season as well as the rise in the retail and trade, food outlets and door-to-door retailers for the period, National Statistician Dennis Mapa said.

The underemployment rate, or the number of people seeking more jobs or job hours, was at 14 per-

cent for the month, equivalent to 6.40 million, lower than the 17.2 percent or 7.45 million in April 2021, data showed.

Mapa said the main sources of underemployment were the agriculture and forestry sectors.

Unemployment in the Philippines ballooned during the COVID-19 pandemic but the tally has since recovered.

However, several firms have flagged the increasing number of low-quality jobs brought about by the pandemic.

sales for the month. This was primarily driven by exports of coconut oil which grew 2.5 times its export level compared to last year.

Since February 2021, exports of coconut oil have been increasing at double-digit growth rates.

For the first four months of the year, export sales increased by USD2.1 billion as compared to the

same period last year. A quarter of these incremental exports comprises sales of coconut products.

In total, exports increased by 8.9 percent to USD25.6 billion from USD23.5 billion in 2021.

Based on the PSA’s preliminary data, April 2022 was estimated to be 14.5 percent higher than the pre-pandemic average from 2017 to 2019.

On 2 June 2022, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan (CFIDP) through the issuance of Executive Order No. 172.

The CFIDP aims to increase overall productivity and income of coconut farmers, alleviate poverty, and modernize and rehabilitate the coconut indus-

PH exports in April 2022 sustained growth at 6%

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hilippine merchandise exports grew by 6 percent in April, with a value reaching USD6.1 billion, based on preliminary data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Of the USD348 million additional exports in April 2022, coconut products contributed USD164 million or 47 percent of the incremental export

FPH, P10

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 50 • SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2022

On needing the help of President Rodrigo Duterte as Vice Mayor of the city:

We are very lucky that the former mayor and former President is retiring in Davao City because we need his knowledge and experience.

Definitely, I will be consulting our President on how to do about running the city and offices. Definitely, I will be consulting him on anything that concerns the city of Davao as he is an expert on that.”

Melchor Quitain Jr.

Incoming Vice Mayor

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 50 • SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2022

VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

CONVERSING WITH GOD “Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is a daily admission of one’s weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” ― Mahatma Gandhi ***

In her best-selling book, Better to Light One Candle, Stephanie Raha shared some thoughts on prayer by the late American writer William Arthur Ward.

These were the words: “Wonderful things happen to us when we live expectantly, believe confidently, and pray affirmatively. Seeking to find how I should pray, this came to mind: Thank God each day.

“Prayer does not always bring us what we want; rather it helps us to become the kind of person we should be. The value of prayer is not in what it gives us, but in what it makes us. It is not primarily a method of getting, but it is a splendid way of growing.”

Prayer is our connection with the one who promised: “Call to me, and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not

know” (Jeremiah 33:3).

“Prayer makes your heart bigger, until it is capable of containing the gift of God himself.

Prayer begets faith, faith begets love, and love begets service on behalf of the poor,” said Mother Teresa.

Dr. Eben Alexander the man behind Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife considers prayer as “communicating with God.” He writes: (It) is the most extraordinary experience imaginable, yet at the same time it’s the most natural one of all, because God is present in us at all times. Omniscient, omnipotent, personal-and loving us without conditions. We are connected as One through our divine link with God.” Gordon B. Hinckley, author of Standing for Something: 10 Neglected Virtues That Will Heal Our Hearts and Homes, reiterates: “Let us never forget to pray. God lives. He is near. He is real. He is not only aware of us but cares for us. He is our Father. He is accessible to all who will seek Him.” “We tend to use prayer as a last resort, but God wants it to

be our first line of defense,” Oswald Chambers wrote. “We pray when there’s nothing else we can do, but God wants us to pray before we do anything at all.”

When He was still on earth, Jesus Christ taught how we should pray. Matthew 6:9-13 recorded: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”

Actually, there are no fast rules when it comes to prayer.

But some church leaders believe a prayer must have four things: adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication.

In order not to forget them, just think of ACTS. Adoration is our way of acknowledging God’s power and might. Apart from Him, we cannot do anything. He alone deserves to be adored.

Confession is taking our time in telling Him what wrongdoings we had done -- to Him, to others and to ourselves. A person can never talk with anoth-

er person whom he had committed a blunder unless he has asked for forgiveness.

Thanksgiving means appreciating all the blessings we have received from him yesterday, the other month, and even those in the past years. The air we breathe, of being still alive, for keeping us safe when traveling, the recognition we received -those things that without Him, we won’t accomplish and have gotten.

“If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough,” Meister Eckhart reminded.

Supplication is asking help from Him. In The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran wrote: “You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might also pray in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.”

It is asking for help that most people spend too much of their time praying. There are too many things to ask for that to mention all that we want will sometimes take forever. This reminds me of a story that was shared by Donald T. Regan in the book, 1000 Stories You Can Use. There was a man whose

business was falling apart. He was a devout person, who had given generously to the church for several years. He figures that perhaps there were accounts receivable he hadn’t pursued. So he went to the church and asked God to let him win the lottery.

He left the church and waited expectantly. However, nothing happened. He returned to the church again but somewhat upset. Once again, he pleaded his case. The same story happened.

He returned to church once more. This time, he was very angry. He shouted to God: “Why don’t you give me a break?”

Suddenly, a great wind swept through the church, and a deep powerful voice said, “Give you a break? Why don’t you give me a break? At least buy a ticket!”

Finally, here’s a thought from Fyodor Dostoyevsky. In The Brothers Karamazov, he wrote: “Be not forgetful of prayer. Every time you pray, if your prayer is sincere, there will be a new feeling and new meaning in it, which will give you fresh courage, and you will understand that prayer is an education.”

DENNIS R. GORECHO KUWENTONG PEYUPS

BREACH OF A PROMISE TO MARRY A mere breach of a promise to marry is not an actionable wrong, as long as it is not of such extent as would palpably and unjustifiably contradict good customs.

In any case, the party seeking to recover damages must have acted in good faith.

I was still a freshman at the UP College of Law when I first read the 1964 case of Wassmer v. Velez (120 Phil 1440 ) wherein the Supreme Court allowed the recovery of damages as a result of a cancelled marriage.

Preparations for the wedding had already been made - a marriage license had been secured; wedding invitations printed and distributed; dresses for the bride, maid of honor, and flower girl purchased; bridal showers given and gifts received; the matrimonial bed bought, complete with accessories--only to have the wedding cancelled just two days before its intended date.

The Supreme Court ruled that, while a breach of promise

to marry was not actionable, walking out of a wedding two days prior, after all had been prepared, was quite different.

The defendant’s act was deemed “palpably and unjustifiably contrary to good customs,” for which the award of damages was proper.

Indeed, “the extent to which acts not contrary to law may be perpetrated with impunity is not limitless, “ as these acts are still subject to the human relations provisions of the New Civil Code.

However, the Supreme Court stressed in the recent case of Jhonna Guevarra vs Jan Banach, (G.R. No. 214016 November 24, 2021) that the party seeking to recover damages must have acted in good faith.

Banach, a German, alleged that Guevarra had repeatedly expressed her love and willingness to marry him so that he would send her money, only to break up with him after he had done so.

Banach went to court seeking the return of the P500,000

that he gave to Guevarra for their supposed conjugal home.

He claimed that these acts amounted to fraud, or at the very least unjust enrichment.

On the other hand, Guevarra called off the engagement after she had discovered Banach’s actions were tainted with fraud and deceit; he did not have the purest intentions in marrying her.

He lied about his marital status as he told her that he was a divorced man even if he was still married to his third wife.

Banach even hid his true name from Guevarra.

Finding out that one’s betrothed is still married to another person, and that he is not who he say he is , are reasons enough to justify the wedding’s cancellation.

In granting the petition where the award of actual damages worth P500,000 was deleted, my former UP Law professor and SC Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said that “ Litigation to the sorrows caused by a broken heart and a broken promise

must be discouraged.”

The unjust enrichment principle only applies if the property is acquired without legal grounds.

Banach gave Guevarra P500,000 as a gift to help her and her family with their possible eviction from their home.

The money being a gift, the Court said that Guevarra cannot be compelled to return the P500,000 given to her.

Justice Leonen further said that an individual has the autonomy to choose whom to marry, or whether to marry at all.

They must be free to make that choice without any fear of legal retribution or liability.

The decision on whether to marry is one that should be freely chosen, without the pressures of a possible civil suit should a person realize that their intended partner is not right for them.

“We recognize instances when the breach of one’s commitment in an intimate relationship is a consequence of their realization that marriage

may not be the wisest path they could take given their circumstances, ” Leonen said.

“Choosing a person to marry is intimately connected to a person’s autonomy. Any State interest in the institution of marriage must not lead to an unjustified intrusion into one’s individual autonomy and human dignity.

It must only be done when public interest is imperiled. It is not within the courts’ competence to reach too far into intimate relations. Courts, through litigation, should not dictate on or even pressure a person into accepting a life of marriage with a person they reject. Courts must, as much as possible, refrain from meddling in these personal affairs.” Leonen added.

(Peyups is the moniker of University of the Philippines.

Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez.com, or call 0917-5025808 or 09088665786.)

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VOL.15 ISSUE 50 • SATURDAY, JUNE 11, 2022

COMPETITIVE EDGE

MAKE LIFE EASIER WITH BOSTON BAY APPLIANCES

Choosing appliances for your home can be hard when you’re not quite sure which brand you should pick. Boston Bay appliance aims to aid you in all aspects of your home life.

Keep your ingredients fresh with our single- and double-door refrigerators. When it’s time to whip up a meal, you can use our gas range, gas burner, or cooktop, or go gas-free with our induction cooker. Don’t forget to cook hot rice with our rice cooker. To make sure your kitchen stays sanitary, eliminate odors and excess humidity with our range hood. You can use our water dispenser

when you want to enjoy a glass of water. After your meal, you can enjoy a cup of coffee or tea using our electric kettle.

Moving on to cleaning, simply place the dirty dishes in our dishwasher so you can get started on other chores. Throw your laundry into our washing machine, and use our stainless-steel wet/dry vacuum cleaner to efficiently and effectively clean up your floors.

Finally, don’t forget to get some well-deserved rest. Turn on our fan or AC and lounge in ultimate comfort.

Our Boston Bay appliances are durable and built for long-term, en-

ergy-saving use. Treat yourself to these amazing appliances. Come and visit any CitiHardware store near you!

Check our CitiHardware website www.citihardware.com for a wide selection of products you can choose from.

You may also shop in the comfort of your home thru Shop & Go hotlines, CitiHardware online shops www.Lazada. com.ph/shop/citihardware- inc., www. shopee. ph/citihardwareinc, and www.shop.citihardware. com.

Shop safely and conveniently at CitiHardware and enjoy great value every day!

LANDBANK, MULTISYS SEAL DEAL FOR LGU PAYMENT SOLUTION

The Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has partnered with soft-

ware solutions firm MULTISYS Technologies Corporation to provide local

government units (LGUs) with an efficient digital payment and collection

LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo (2nd from right) and MULTISYS President and CEO David L. Almirol, Jr. (3rd from right) sign a Memorandum of Agreement on 24 May 2022 for the integration of LANDBANKPay and Smart City App to facilitate digital payment and collection for local fees and charges. Witnessing the signing are LANDBANK Senior Vice President Randolph L. Montesa (rightmost) and MULTISYS e-Government Head Lyka Pelonio (leftmost).

solution for local fees and charges.

Under the partnership, the state-run Bank’s all-in-one mobile wallet LANDBANKPay will be integrated with MULTISYS’ Smart City App, to allow residents to settle their financial obligations to LGUs without visiting the local offices.

These financial obligations include payments for real property tax, business tax, community tax certificate, local civil registry, health and business permits, and licenses.

LANDBANK President and CEO Cecilia C. Borromeo and MULTISYS President and CEO David L. Almirol, Jr. led the ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on 24 May 2022 at the LANDBANK Plaza in Malate, Manila to formalize the partnership. They

were joined by LANDBANK Senior Vice President Randolph L. Montesa and MULTISYS e-Government Head Lyka Pelonio.

“The integration of LANDBANKPay and the Smart City App will help boost LGU collection rates and generate operational cost savings in the long run. More importantly, we will be providing greater convenience and security to residents when settling local government fees,” said LANDBANK President and CEO Borromeo.

MULTISYS President and CEO Almirol said that the Smart City App is now being utilized in 75 LGUs nationwide, with the firm set to expand its deployment this year.

The MOA also covers the integration of the LANDBANKPay with other similar applications that the MULTISYS may devel-

op in the future, wherein the LANDBANK app will function as the primary electronic wallet of the MULTISYS-developed applications.

“We believe that this initiative is very vital not only on a local scale but also on a national scale.

And we know that LANDBANK is our key partner to really accomplish this,” said MULTISYS President and CEO Almirol.

LANDBANK’s partnership with MULTISYS builds on its broader thrust of serving the nation through the delivery of innovative financial products and services powered by digital banking platforms.

From January to March 2022, LANDBANK facilitated a total of 39.14 million transactions amounting to P567.61 billion through its major digital banking channels

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Farmer harvesting golden rice palay.

F

or every peso Filipinos spend on food, studies show, 20 centavos go to rice.

“If we did not have rice, our deepest comfort food, we would probably feel less Filipino,” the late food columnist Doreen Fernandez once said.

Unknowingly, only the green parts of the rice plants – and not the grain!

– contains the vital precursor of vitamin A (beta-carotene). This contributes to the persistent inadequacy of vitamin A in the Filipino diet.

In its 2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey, the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology reports that VAD affects 15.5% of children aged 6 months to 5 years.

The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) estimated between 250,000 to 500,000 vitamin A-deficient children worldwide becoming blind every year, half of them dying

within 12 months of losing their sight.

Several studies have also shown that providing adequate amounts of vitamin A can reduce overall child mortality from common illnesses (including measles, severe pneumonia and persistent diarrhea) by 23-24%.

Until now, these deficiency symptoms could be only partially remedied by food supplements or vitamin and mineral enriched foods. But here’s one good news: scientists have created a strain of genetically altered rice to combat vitamin A deficiency.

The “golden rice,” as the media calls it, got its name from its golden yellow color, an indication of its beta

The staple food of Filipinos: rice and fish with vegetable

AGRITRENDS

9

HERE COMES THE

GOLDEN RICE

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO from DA-PhilRice

carotene content. It was developed by combining a gene from corn and a common soil microorganism that together produce beta carotene in the grain.

Laboratory tests indicate that the plants can provide enough beta-carotene for the body to provide the recommended dietary al-

lowance of vitamin A from a daily ration of rice.

Contrary to what the opponents claim, golden rice is “as safe as conventional rice.” This was the finding issued by the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) “after rigorous biosafety assessment.”

Last year, golden rice was approved for commercial propagation. The Department of Agriculture-Philippine Rice Research Institute (DA-PhilRice) is now ramping up its seed production operations so that it can deploy the seeds to interested farmers soon.

Last May 6, PhilRice handed over golden rice seeds to farmers who will participate in the expanded golden rice seed production in the coming wet season planting. The ceremonial handover was witnessed

by Agriculture Secretary William Dar during his visit to the institute’s central experiment station in the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija.

“We are committed to ensuring the highest quality of seed for farmers and

Golden rice seeds ready for deployment.

a safe and nutritious food supply for all Filipinos,” said Dr. John de Leon, DA-PhilRice executive director.

Currently, DA-PhilRice is expanding its seed production phase of the golden rice deployment plan. “In Mindanao, we are in the process of handing over seeds to the Department of Agriculture and PhilRice stations and selected seed growers and farmers in Lanao del Norte, Agusan del Sur, and Maguindanao,” says Dr. Ronan G. Zagado, PhilRice’s program leader of golden rice.

In Luzon, the pilot provinces are Quirino and Catanduanes. Samar and Antique are the pilot areas for the Visayas.

“We are focusing on these provinces first due to

limited seed supply, and we look forward to widening the scope of our outreach as soon as we are able to provide more seeds to different areas,” he explains.

According to Dr. Zagado, these pilot deployment provinces were selected according to a range of criteria, including rice production and nutrition status.

“We have identified provinces with a high malnutrition rate and those that are part of the Philippine Plan of Action on Nutrition’s priority provinces.”

He assures, however, that once the seed supply increases exponentially, PhilRice may be able to make golden rice available to farmers in other provinces including the Davao

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that may contribute to the mitigation of the impacts of climate change. While we need to do more, we already made small steps. We are active in the submission of reports to the OPCC Challenge and have taken notes of the suggestions from the experts to improve our city,” he said.

Cortez said that in order to qualify for this award the city submitted data through the Carbon Disclosure Project- International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (CDP-ICLEI) Unified Reporting System.

“Davao City has been assessed and compared to the ‘fair share’ of the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to 1.50C. The assessment is categorized according to the city’s fair share of the Paris agreement, the seven levers for change, the city’s vision and impact by national comparison, sectoral emission and the planned abatement, potential actions by sector, and consumption-based emission, and climate adaptation actions. The OPCC is a biennial event and the city first participated last 2019,” he said.

He added that for the phases of assessment each of the 16 participants received a strategic initial feedback report based on the analysis of the city’s reported efforts aligned with the Paris Agreement. After that, the WWF assisted in the improvement and amendments of the city’s inputs for a period of only four months.

The city government scored highest with 100 percent in Political Commitment, 100 percent in Adaptation Actions, and 96 percent in Climate Risk Assessment. The three are among the seven levers of successful climate action to mitigate emissions and

increased the resilience of the city to adopt the effects of climate change.

“Being recognized internationally in our effort to mitigate and adapt programs towards climate change is indeed a great honor. This is our way of contributing to the world, and if the city can, others can too! So, we are hoping that other cities in the country will also take the challenge. For the Dabawenyos, we can make a difference.

Small steps, big impact. Together, we can make this world better.” he said.

The city government continues to strengthen its environment and climate change initiatives through programs, projects, and activities namely: the establishment of a Biodiesel Fuel Plant, implementation of the High Priority Bus System (HPBS), promotion of organic farming, conversion of tillage and composting, integrated crop-livestock systems, promotion of Biogas technology, implementation of WTE Project, improvement of the efficiency of waste collections, National Greening Program, nursery operation and maintenance for forest and mangrove trees propagation, watershed and riverbanks rehabilitation projects, development and maintenance of public parks, center/pocket Islands, Davao City Infrastructure Development Plan, and Capacity Building Project (IM4Davao), conversion of streetlights to Led lights, Metro Davao Bike Lane Network, flood control mitigation project, rehabilitation and construction of drainage structure, and construction of flood wall.

The winners of the OPCC will be announced in May or June 2022. CIO

try to attain social equity.

“The Philippines is recognized as one of the global leaders in the coconut industry. With the approval of CFIDP, our local coconut industry, particularly our farmers, can benefit from government support programs that will allow the sector to strengthen its competitiveness through the development and promotion of more innovative coconut-based products,” Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a statement.

Aside from the support provided by the CFIDP, the coconut industry will also benefit from export marketing support under the Philippines-European Union (EU) ARISE Plus Project implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the DTI-Export Marketing Bureau (EMB).

Under the project, coconut exporters will benefit from market research assistance, capacity-building programs focused on sales negotiations, digital marketing

and branding, and market linkages through participation in trade fairs and business matching activities.

Major improvements in business conditions were observed as the Philippine government continues to ease public health restrictions.

In April, the country’s manufacturing sector recorded its best month in almost four years based on the Philippines’ Manufacturing Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI), as production and new orders further increased.

According to S&P Global Philippines, the Philippines’ PMI jumped to 54.3 in April from 53.2 in March.

“The continuous growth of our PMI is a testament to the efficiency of post-pandemic economic recovery efforts implemented by the Duterte administration. There were several aspects that contributed to this development, but central to this is really the solid growth of outputs, resulting in our sustained exports performance,” Lopez added.

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and Ngan in Compostela; Lebanon in Montevista; Golden Valley in Mabini; Kahayag in New Bataan; and Magangit, Sangab and Libay-libay in Maco.

The BDP is directed to initially rehabilitate and develop 822 barangays formerly established as guerilla fronts of the CPPNPA-NDF in several parts of the countryside.

The Communist Party of the Philippines-NPA

is listed as a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the Philippines.

The Anti-Terrorism Council has formally designated the NDF as a terrorist organization on June 23, 2021, citing it as “an integral and separate part” of the CPP-NPA created in April 1973. (PNA)

the chapter of the Bangsamoro region.

“This is a testament of what the people of this region is capable of. This is not a flight that was made possible by Philippine Airlines,” he said.

“The people of this region made this flight possible. The leaders of this region made this flight possible,” he added.

Ebrahim said the air route between Cotabato City, the seat of government of the Bangsamoro region, and Tawi-Tawi would make travel between the two areas less expensive and not anymore laborious.

The Moro leader noted that to fly before to Tawi-Tawi, people from Cotabato travel a circuitous trip to Manila, Zamboanga and then to this island-province, or

to Kuala Lumpur, then to Sandakan and Lahad Datu in Malaysia, then a boat trip to reach Tawi-Tawi.

“Matagal na natin pinapangarap na meron tayong flight from Cotabato going direct to Tawi-Tawi,” Ebrahim told the launching program at the Awang Airport.

Minister Dickson Hermoso of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications, who led the efforts of the Bangsamoro government to convince PAL to service the route, said they are hoping that the frequency of flights will increase in the future due to demand from tourists, travellers and businessmen.

“Hopefully this flight is the start of connectivity which is being longed for by our people,” he said.

(Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)

using big data and noted there are several promising use-cases for this.

Diokno said the NSI will supplement the quarterly consumer and business expectation surveys.

“The News Sentiment Index will complement, will supplement the confidence index data during our quarterly consumer

and business expectation surveys. The purpose of the News Sentiment Index is to narrow information gap by providing us with sentiment data more frequently.

This information will allow us to intervene and make timely policy decisions based on the prevailing economic environment,” he added. (PNA)

ment option, then provide the required information.

Each transaction charges a minimal convenience fee of PHP10.

Other online payment channels that are accepted by eSPAYSEC include debit and credit cards powered by Visa, Mastercard and JCB, as well as PayMaya wallets.

Meanwhile, the Commission continues to accept and process payments across its main and extension offices.

The public may also pay registration and other transaction fees over the counter in select branches of Land Bank of the Philippines. (PR)

year-on-year to PHP54.5 billion during the same period.

He added the industry’s capital increased by 2.6 percent year-on-year in 2021 and “remains adequate to support risk-taking activities.”

Profitability also remains, with the 2021 earnings amounting to PHP3.9 billion and liquid assets accounting for 22.9 percent of the industry total assets.

To date, the pawnshop industry’s total network size reached 15,388. (PNA)

around June 30. ‘Yung trend ng price ang kaya nilang i-project, pero hindi ‘yung amount,” DOE Director Rino Abad said.

(We will know the next price range for July around June 30. The

price trend is what they can project, but not the amount.)

The department, however, said that the LPG price is seen to rise again in October ahead of the winter season in the

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region.

“We have allotted around 80 kilograms for each pilot province for wet season planting this year,” Dr. Zagado says. “The golden rice production will be increased in the next cropping seasons as more seed supply becomes available.”

To plant a hectare with golden rice, the recommendation is 20-40 kilograms of seeds for optimum yield.

Farmers who will plant golden rice in their farms need not to change their farm practices. “We do not expect farmers to change their farm management practices in order to plant golden rice,” Dr. Zagado says. “Everything about local cultivation practices currently followed for conventional rice varieties, including the application of fertilizer, crop protection products, and labor, are directly applicable to the cultivation of golden rice.”

Dr. Russell Reinke, program leader of International Rice Research Institute’s Healthier Rice, agrees. “Our confined tests show that golden rice is comparable to conventional rice-growing,” he says. “Golden rice does not require any changes in farm management or cultivation practices.

Farmers who plant golden rice need not to worry about contaminating other farms planted to conventional rice. “Rice is a self-pollinating crop,” Dr. Zagado says, “besides, the rice pollen can only survive for a few minutes after flowering. Hence, there is very little chance for cross-pollination to take place.”

Farmers who plant golden rice in their farms can use the same seeds planted previously. “Golden rice is an inbred rice variety registered with the National Seed Industry Council called Malusog-1,” Dr. Zagado says. “Like other inbred rice varieties, its seeds can be used in the next planting seasons.”

For better results, however, PhilRice is encouraging farmers “to use high-quality seeds or certified seeds so they could achieve the optimum yield potential of the inbred rice variety they plant.”

Golden rice was developed in tandem with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), a member of the CGIAR System Organization, a global research partnership for a good secure future.

“One of the challenges of developing new rice varieties such as golden rice is ensuring that these meet the needs and preferences of farmers and consumers,” says Dr. Reinke. “This is why our program continues to introduce the golden rice trait into other popular inbred rice varieties, with the intention of providing farmers and consumers with more options to increase Vitamin A intake in northern hemisphere.

“Diyan bumabalik ‘yung surge ng demand dahil nagpiprepare naman ‘yan sa winter time from December up

their diet.”

Filipinos who are always eating white rice may find it odd eating golden rice. The color may be yellow but the taste is not different from ordinary rice. “The response we’ve received from participants of the initial sensory evaluation and the ceremonial taste test (conducted at PhilRice) is that they are unable to tell the difference in terms of taste and eating quality of golden rice vis-avis its parent background,” Dr. Reinke says.

Those who tried eating golden rice reportedly did not experience some health problems like stomach ache and allergy, among others.

“No, we have not heard otherwise,” replies Dr. Reinke when asked if there were some health problems reported after consuming golden rice.

“It must also be noted that rice, as well as the genes used to develop golden rice, have a history of safe use,” he points out. “Further, the regulatory authorities in a number of countries like Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, and the Philippines have all declared golden rice as safe as ordinary rice.”

Contrary to what antagonists assumed, Filipino farmers are comfy in planting golden rice in the farms.

“We find that farmers are receptive to innovation, whether in terms of planting new rice varieties or adopting new practices if they are clear about its benefits,” Dr. Reinke says.

If farmers know the benefits of the crops they are planting, they are more likely to plant it extensively.

“We want farmers to make informed choices regarding the rice varieties that they plant,” Dr. Reinke says. “We are confident that the nutritional benefit of golden rice, together with its comparable planting and eating qualities to ordinary rice, will get many farmers interested in planting golden rice.”

The future of golden rice being planted in most farms in the country looks optimistic. “The golden rice trait will be incorporated into a range of rice varieties suitable for growing in all regions of the Philippines so that populations who are vulnerable to vitamin A deficiency can have access,” Dr. Reinke says. “This is a very cost-effective way to improve the health and well-being of many people.”

Bangladesh may soon plant golden rice, too. But the Philippines did it first. “(The Philippines) is leading the way in terms of development, commercialization of golden rice.

This is one legacy that we can say, be very important in terms of, again, ensuring food and nutrition in the country,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar was quoted as saying. to March,” Abad said.

(That is where the surge in demand returns as they prepare for winter from December until March.)

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EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS

11

NLEX forward Calvin Oftana drives against SMB’s Vic Manuel.

Casio takes over as Blackwater stuns TNT J

vee Casio caught fire late in the game as Blackwater pulled off an early PBA Philippine Cup upset with an 85-78 win against TNT on Thursday night at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

Casio turned back time by taking over in the

endgame for the Bossing as he singlehandedly pulled

them away from the Tropang Giga, who lost steam after tying the game.

Right after RR Pogoy converted a three-pointer to force a 78-all deadlock, Casio sneaked into the paint for a backdoor layup to break the tie for good.

Casio then shot a one-dribble pull-up and a dagger three in the ensuing plays to seal Blackwater’s win even as TNT committed a shot-clock violation that summarized its late implosion.

Casio finished with 22 points, four rebounds,

and four assists as Blackwater is now with back-toback wins dating back to its stunning upset against Magnolia in its season finale.

Pogoy’s 32-point blast went down the drain as the Tropang Giga fell to 1-1.

(PNA)

contention.

Faith Nisperos came up with 19 points on 16 attacks, 2 blocks, and a service ace for Ateneo, which also got 17 points from AC Miner.

Vanie Gandler added 14 markers, while Erika Raagas had 12.

Alyssa Bertolano paced UP with 24 points, while Jewel Encarnacion added 18 markers as the Lady Maroons finished their campaign with a 5-9 record.

With the victory, the Lady Eagles kept their Final 4 bid alive. Ateneo is now tied with Adamson University at fourth spot with identical 8-6 cards.

The Lady Eagles will have to battle Adamson University for the last berth in the Final 4 on Saturday.

Whoever wins faces third-seed University of Sto. Tomas in the first phase of the stepladder semis.

Ateneo forces playoff game for 4th spot

D Ateneo Lady Eagles celebrate after scoring a point. UAAP

four assists, and one steal for the Bossing, who began their season with a win, a far cry from last year when they lost their first 21 games of the season, part of the PBA-worst 26-game skid.

Baser Amer added 11 points, three rebounds,

efending champion Ateneo de Manila University survived a tough game against University of the Philippines to secure a playoff for the 4th spot in the UAAP women’s volleyball Final 4 on Thursday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

The Lady Eagles dropped the first set before completing a 19-25, 25-11, 25-18, 25-19 victory to kick the Lady Maroons out of the Final 4

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CHESS KINGS

Surigao wins Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio Cup PCL Season 3 Championship

A fitness enthusiast works out at the Arcadia Fitness Gym along Escandor Street in Quimpo Boulevard.

S

urigao Diamond Knights rules the Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio Cup Philippine Chess League Season 3 virtually held at Lichess Platform.

The Surigao squad turned back Edmonton Oilers Uniteam in their best of three finals match-up 2-0 to win the championship trophy of the first ever professional team chess competition.

The Knights, owned by Arena Grand Master (AGM) Rey Urbiztondo, defeated the Oliers, 13698 in Game 1 of the Standard Chess Competition, 10 minutes play to finish time control format.

The Knights continued their momentum against the Oilers, eked out a 144-46 wins in Game 2 of the Fischer random chess, also known as Chess960, is a variation of the game of chess invented by the former World Chess Champion Bobby Fischer.

According to Tournament Director National Arbiter and Engineer Joel Anthony Hicap, the total combined score 280-144 in favor for Surigao Diamond Knights Team.

On the road to the finals, the Surigao Diamond Knights beat Durianburg of Davao in the quarterfinals and Chessmis TV in the semifinals.

Aside from Urbiztondo, the team is managed by Engr. Dodjie Morales, sponsored by Congressman Robert Ace Barbers and assisted by playing team coach Atty.

Cliburn Anthony Orbe, team captain Engr.Joselito Serna and team coordinator Mr. Mark Antes.

PCL is an online chess league organized by the Philippines’ Finest Chess Club.

“Team, pleased to announce of another P10,000 bonus from

our Team Manager, Engr. Dodjie Morales. Congratulations again.

That makes P20,000 bonus if added to my earlier commitment of P10,000 bonus!” said Urbiztondo.

“We are the Champion of Philippine Chess League (Season 3), a national chess team competition! Congratulations to Surigao Diamond Knights players! With team sponsor : Congressman Ace Barbers; team manager - Engr.

Dodjie Morales; team coach - Atty.

Cliburn Orbe; team captain - Engr.

Joselito Serna; team coordinator -Mr. Mark Antes and myself as the playing team owner,” he added.

Other member of the team are Atty. Melzar Galicia, Atty. Jason Bandal, Dr. Wil Maghanoy, Fr. Vic Arellano, Lennon Hart Salgados, Kevin Mirano, Alfred Rapanot, Cyrus Donasco, Adrian Perez, Rodney Opada, Alexis Emil Maribao, Reynaldo Quinonez, Deo Sandro Ladion, Francis Joseph, John Ranel Morazo, Antonio Chavez, Mariel Batulan-Romero, Gladys Romero, Lovelyn Rapanot, James Catayas, Mark Gabriel Usman and Jerome Pullos.

The Knights is the sister team of Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates, competing in the 2022 Professional Chess Association of the Philippines (PCAP) tournament.

The Surigao Fianchetto Checkmates was tied at 3rd to 5th in PCAP. They defeated all Mindanao Teams: Davao, Zamboanga, Cagayan de Oro and Pagadian. (www.philboxing.xom)