Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 88 | Tuesday, July 26, 2022

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VOL.15 ISSUE 88 • TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022

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WELCOME MOVE Legal team of Mangacop files additional attempted murder cases vs Pepino STORY ON PAGE 2

A vendor prepares “marang” fruits for customers at a makeshift stall along the Davao-Cotabato highway in Makilala, Cotabato Province. Travelers prefer to buy fruits from the roadside makeshift stalls in Makilala as prices there are more affordable compared to the public markets. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 88 • TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022

Vice President Sara Duterte attends the opening of the 19th Congress in the House of Representatives with his brother Davao City 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte. VP Sara wore a Bagobo Tagabawa tribal dress borrowed from a tribal leader in Davao City. Photo from the office of Cong. Duterte

WELCOME MOVE O

BARMM mourns death of ex-Lamitan mayor

Legal team of Mangacop files additional attempted murder cases vs Pepino

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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usiness leaders in Mindanao applauded President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s promise to continue the infrastructure programs of former President Rodrigo Duterte in his first State of Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

“The infrastructure program of the Duterte administration must not just continue, but be expanded. We must keep the momentum, and build better more. I will not suspend any ongoing projects as those have been shown to benefit the public.

Infra spending will be sus-

tained at 5-7 percent GDP,” Marcos said.

Art Milan, head of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI)-Mindanao, told Edge Davao that continuing the infrastructure programs of the Duterte administration will make Mindanao com-

petitive and attractive in the regions.

“Great to hear that PBBM Jr. will continue the Build Build Build Program especially the flagship projects in Mindanao. This will make Mindanao competitive and attractive with the rest of the regions in the Visayas and Luzon. This will trigger more investments to come and create more jobs for Mindanaoans,” Milan said.

Marcos also vowed to finish pending railway projects including the 102-ki-

lometer Mindanao Railway Project (MRP).

“It is clear on my mind that railways offer great potential as it continues to be the cheapest way of transporting goods and passengers. We can build upon already existing by modernizing these old railway systems. There are dozens of railway projects on the ground, above the ground, and below ground not just in Manila but in other regions at various stages of implementation and with

The vice president may have made heads turned with her tribal ensemble highlighting the Mindanao culture.

Not everyone agreed though.

Some netizens thumbed down the dress describing her as a “cosplayer.”

Al Leon commented on the photo of Duterte shared on social media “ginawa nang entertainment ang

public service” to which Viscount North commented “my cosplayer pala dito.”

Chie Largoza posted “no offense sa mga kapatid na Bagobo pero sa tingin ko hindi SONA ang tamang okasyon...Naging pagarbohan at tawag pansin ang isang official public function. Mali na tawagin kong costume party. Pasenya pero sa daming pagkakataon hindi ito ginawa. Si dating Congressman Ted

Baguilat pinanindigan ang pagsuot ng katutubo niyang kasuotan sa maraming pagkakataon,” to which Dhorini Jini replied “the whole nation even the world is watching, that is a great avenue to promote culture. San po ba dapat i-showcase, sa Christmas party?”

Some netizens lauded Duterte for thinking out of the box.

She Dalisay comment-

FWELCOME, P10

fficials of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) mourned the passing of former Lamitan City Mayor Rosita Rose Furigay, who was killed inside Ateneo Campus in Quezon City along with two others.

“The former local chief executive will be remembered for leading Lamitan City to a more promising future – inspiring nearby towns and the whole Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM),” Chief Minister Ahod “Murad” Ebrahim said in a statement on Monday.

“During her time, Lamitan City became a hub of unbelievable progress, a home of intercultural understanding, and a beacon of hope in the region,” Ebrahim added.

Ebrahim said the regional government will

be working with authorities to ensure that justice is served.

“This act of violence has no place in our country and our region. Lamitan City, we grieved with you during these tragic times,” he said.

Lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, BARMM interior and local government minister, also condemned the attack against Furigay.

“Mayor Furigay was one of the top performing mayors of the Bangsamoro region and a consistent SGLG (Seal of Good Local Governance) Awardee. We condole with her family and offer our prayers for the swift recovery of her daughter who was also injured in this incident,” Sinarimbo said.

Police arrested the primary suspect, Dr. Chao Tiao Yumol of Lamitan City. He admitted to the crime and said he did not regret what he did. (PNA)

ed, “she looks like a badass tribal leader.”

“As always she is eloquently gorgeous and beautiful with the fascinating and brilliant Bagobo Tagabawa traditional dress,” Castro Teresa commented.

Former Davao City Tourism Officer Generose Tecson posted a photo of the 11 Ethnolinguistic Tribes of Davao City in their traditional at-

tires including the Bagobo Tagabawa to shut off Duterte’s critics.

Lawyer Reynold Munsayac, spokesperson of the vice president, reported sharing days before the SONA, that Duterte was planning to borrow the traditional Bagobo Tagabawa dress from Deputy Mayor of the Tagabawa tribe of Davao City Bae Sheirelle Anino due to time constraints. By Maya M. Padillo

Netizens ‘stunned’ as VP Sara attends SONA in IP-inspired dress

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ice President Sara Duterte rocked social media when she made a grand entrance in the Batasang Pambansa wearing a Bagobo Tagabawa dress in President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday.

Duterte stood out among female attendees most of them clad in their classy Filipiniana.

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 88 • TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022

NEWS

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A boy watches the sunrise in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte on Saturday, 23 July 2022. MindaNews photo by H. MARCOS C. MORDENO

Two ice plants in Toril closed for sanitation code violations City health swabber dies from diarrhea complications

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23-year-old male, who worked as a swabber at the City Health Office (CHO), is the fourth casualty of the diarrhea outbreak in Toril, Davao City.

According to Dr. Ashley Lopez, head of CHO, the said health worker, who died on July 24, 2022, consumed street food at Rasay night market in Toril.

“Nadungagan ug isa ka casualty, a 23-year-old male who died due to severe dehydration secondary to acute gastritis. He was one of CHO’s swabber. Incidentally, last July 15, nakakaon siya ug tapioca sa Toril after his duty,” he said.

Lopez also said that after 24 hours from the exposure the victim manifested with LBM, vomiting, and abdominal pain and was admitted to Viacrusis Infirmary in Toril. The victim stayed for three days at the said hospital and went home under Home Against Medi-

cal Advice (HAMA).

“Seguro naghunahuna siya na arang-arang na siya ug kaya na niyang i-manage sa balay. Gaboard and lodging ni siya sa health center sa Puan.

Upon going back to his base he still manifested with LBM and vomiting and was re-admitted to another private hospital in Toril and stayed there for six days before he succumb to death. Unfortunately ang iyahang electrolyte imbalance and dehydration wala na resuscitate ug nag resulta sa pagkamatay niya,” he explained.

The swabber is the fourth casualty of the said outbreak with the 32-year-old male teacher as the third recorded death, the 10-year-old boy who died due to acute renal failure also the first death, and the 67-yearold.

Meanwhile, based on the incident report as of July 24, 2022, the total

FCITY, P10

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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Dr. Ashley Lopez, head of CHO, said CHO issued a suspension of their operations pending investigation for violating the sanitation code of Davao City.

“We issued a suspension of the operations pending investigation kay nahibal-an na dili limpyo tong tubig nga gipanggamit, ang source of water has not been cleared. When

we got samples, initially nagkuha mi ug samples sa mga ice, tapioca, buko juice, salad, orange juice apil man na pagbaligya sa street food, kung wala ta inumon diha, pangtulak, matukan ka. Naa tay duha ka ice plants diha sa Toril dapit gikuhaan namo ug samples ang ice and turned out to be positive. Dili lang sa ko musulti sa result but there

was positive findings didto sa ice after the analysis that was done,” Lopez said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Monday.

He added that upon further investigation it found out that these plants violate the city’s sanitation thus the cancelation of their licenses to operate due to these findings.

“When we conduct further investigation nakabalo mi kung asa ilang source of water para paghimo ug ice which was not approved and violates also with our sanitation code under sa

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Congress, the first session day of the new Congress, on July 25, Monday morning.

The three lawmakers are also set to attend the first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. in the afternoon.

According to Rep. Duterte, he is throwing his full support to the President.

“I have given my vote to him and announced it publicly during the kickoff of my campaign. I am sure that he will do good things for the country and the people,”

wo ice plants in Toril, Davao City were closed down after testing positive for bacteria in an examination conducted by the City Health Office (CHO).

mga requirements for doing such business on ice making.

Daghan sila ug violations so we decided to close it down,” he said.

According to Lopez CHO took a sample from the ice sold at these two ice plants where the ice used by the street food vendors in Toril came from.

He didn’t name the two ice plants as the results of the investigations will be forward yet to the city legal.

The two ice plants ceased their operations over the weekend.

said Duterte.

Vice President Sara Duterte was also seen during the first session day of Congress following the photos sent by the First Congressional District Office.

Sara is expected to attend the SONA.

Davao’s Pride: Davao lawmakers attend the first SONA of PBBM avao City’s First Congressional District Representative Paolo Z. Duterte (left), Second District Representative Vincent Garcia (middle), and Third District Representative Isidro Ungab (right) attended the opening of the 19th

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 88 • TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022

Davao Trade Expo chair Cherry Casuga promotes during this Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao the upcoming Davao Agri-Trade Expo 2022 slated September 29 to 30, 2022 at SM Lanang Premier’s SMX Convention Center.

Edge Davao

Udenna: Issue with Clark Int’l Airport Corp ‘settled’

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avao-based businessman Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corp said on Monday the issue between its unit Clark Global City Corp (CGCC) and the state-owned Clark International Airport Corp (CIAC) has been settled.

“We wish to announce that Udenna Corporation settled the matter today, 25 July 2022, prior to the mandated deadline, and to the satisfaction of the majority lender and the consortium banks,” Udenna said in a statement.

Udenna’s announce-

ment followed reports that the Uy-led conglomerate was sent a Notice of Default by several banks led by BDO and was given a July 26 deadline to resolve the issue.

BDO Unibank confirmed the Notice was in relation to CGCC’s sub-

sidiary Global Gateway Development Corporation (GGDC) and its obligations under the Master Lease Agreement with the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC).

Uy’s other listed firm all confirmed that there was an “obligation” of $4 million to CIAC by CGCC that was due on July 27.

Udenna meanwhile also reiterated the company did not fail to make any interest or debt repayment, which it said means there has been no event of de-

tate-run Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) has rolled out “Perang Inimpok Savings Option” or PISO account for unbanked and underserved Filipinos.

In a statement issued Sunday, LandBank said students, public utility vehicle drivers, vendors, household helpers, farmers, and fishers, among

others can open a deposit account with only P1 as minimum initial deposit and up to a maximum of P50,000 account balance.

“The LANDBANK PISO is another testament of our commitment to advance the National Government’s financial inclusion agenda. We continue to develop accessible and convenient banking products relevant to

the diverse needs of our customers, including the unbanked and underserved,” said LandBank president and CEO Cecilia Borromeo.

According to the bank, the depositor is only required to submit one valid identification card or any barangay certification, clearance, or ID for verification.

LandBank PISO is be-

fault.

“We hope this clarifies this matter, and we appreciate the continued support provided by consortium banks to Udenna Corporation. We have always believed that they positively agree to our approach on this matter,” the Uy-led firm said.

Chelsea Logistics, Phoenix Petroleum, DITO CME and PH Resorts, in separate disclosures, have said the issue should have no effect on their business operations and financial conditions.

ing offered to individuals without an existing LandBank deposit account and have no capacity to open a regular deposit savings account with higher initial deposit and maintaining balance requirements, it added.

Meanwhile, account holders can access the bank’s array of digital banking channels such as

LandBank launches savings acct with P1 minimum initial deposit S

FLANDBANK, P10

Pandesal shrinks as inflation bites

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s the war in Ukraine pushes up wheat prices and a weaker peso raises the cost of imported edible oil, many bakers are shrinking the size of pandesal to cope with higher inflation.

The slightly sweet and pillowy roll used to weigh 35 grams at Matimyas Bakery in Sampaloc.

But as the cost of local and imported ingredients soared in recent months, co-owner Jam Mauleon gradually reduced the size of the roll to around 25 grams to avoid raising the P2.50 price.

She feared that even a slight increase would send cash-strapped customers in her neighborhood to a rival bakery five blocks away.

“We had to reduce the serving size to survive,” Mauleon said, as children, workers and retirees arrived early to buy rolls baked in a brick oven that morning.

As the Philippines lifted COVID-19 restrictions and schoolchildren began returning to the classroom this year, Mauleon had hoped economic conditions for the bakery would improve.

But since December, as wheat and fuel prices surged, the price of flour has increased by more than 30 percent, while sugar is up 25 percent and salt costs 40 percent more, she said.

The bakery survives day to day and does not make enough money to buy ingredients in bulk, leaving it vulnerable to changing prices in domestic and international markets.

After reducing the number of employees and absorbing higher costs, Mauleon was forced this week to raise the price of a pandesal by 20% to P3.00.

As the Philippines lift-

FPANDESAL, P10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 88 • TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022

ECONOMY

5

A vendor sells cotton candy outside a concert venue in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte on the night of July 24, 2022, eve of the feast for St. James the Great, the town’s patron saint. MindaNews photo by H. MARCOS C. MORDENO

Kadayawan to showcase cacao products: CAGRO BSP keeps market-determined forex policy despite depreciation

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onetary authorities maintain that a market-determined exchange rate policy is still good for the Philippine peso despite its depreciation.

To date, the peso is trading at 56-level against the greenback, a far cry from its 53-level at the start of the year.

The local unit has depreciated by around 10 percent against the greenback since the start of the year but authorities said this performance remains at the middle compared to its counterparts in the region.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier said the rise in domestic inflation rate is due mainly to imported inflation, referring to the impact of the higher oil prices, among others.

Thus the need to help tame faster inflation rate with the help of monetary policy adjustments.

“Our monetary policy right now is essentially to use (the) interest rate to hold, to take control (of the) the inflation rate. We are not looking specifically to exchange rate now,” he said in an earlier briefing in Malacañang.

The National Economic

and Development Authority (NEDA) said the 7.5 percent peso depreciation since the Federal Reserve announced its first-rate hike of 0.25 percentage points last March 16 is broadly comparable to those experienced by the Thailand baht (9.1 percent), Malaysia ringgit (5.8 percent), and Indonesia rupiah (4.6 percent).

Although the local unit is currently trading at 56-level against the US dollar to date, authorities said its average for the year remains within the inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee’s (DBCC) foreign currency assumption for this year of between 51 to 53.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Felipe Medalla has traced the current peso weakness to the strengthening of the US dollar, buoyed partly by the continued increase in the Federal funds rate.

He thus raised the need to be “on their toes” regarding policy rate adjustments vis-à-vis the central bank’s mandate of price stability and the need to help address the impact of rising inflation rate. BSP’s key rates have been raised by a total of 150

FBSP, P10

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ue to the earlier-than-usual harvest of Davao City’s fruit produce this year, the City Agriculturist’s Office (CAGRO) will instead showcase value-adding products such as processed cacao beans and artisanal chocolates during the Kadayawan Festival next month.

City Agrulturist’s Office Head Edgardo Haspe, in an interview with the City Information Office on June 19, said the significant changes in the cycle of dry and rainy seasons observed since 2020 have altered the harvest of seasonal fruits like durian, lanzones, rambutan and

marang.

“Before climate change, naa gyud na siya’y distinct na dry season every year. From the month of January to March, usually mao na siya ang dry season. Diha ma-stress ang tanom ug magmanifest og flowering. After that period,

dinha na mag-start ang harvest starting sa July handtud na na siya sa October (Before climate change, there really was a distinct dry season every year. The dry season is usually from the month of January to March. That is when plants are stressed and flower. After that period, harvest season will start in July up to October),” Haspe said.

A two-week intense heat wave was felt in February and March, prompting fruit trees in the lowland areas to flower earlier than usual. This meant that harvest sea-

son came as early as June and July.

Haspe said there may be more fruits to be harvested from the city’s highlands this August, but the volume will still be less than the usual Kadayawan harvest.

“Siguro kung dili na ta ka-showcase sa atong mga fruits (Maybe if we cannot showcase our fruits), we can showcase our value-adding products like the cacao beans and our chocolates. We have a lot of chocolate processors in Davao City right now. Being the

P1.30.

Meanwhile, Petro Gazz will implement the same price adjustments, excluding kerosene which it does not carry.

The price changes will take effect at 6 a.m. on today.

Department of Energy-Oil Industry Management Bureau Director Rino Abad said last week that this week’s rollback in pump prices is possible due to the

European Central Bank’s (ECB) announcement of an interest rate hike causing the trading prices of fuel to go down.

The ECB raised its benchmark deposit rate by 50 basis points, its first rate hike in 11 years.

Fuel prices are expected to continue their downtrend if the US Federal Reserve hikes its interest rates aggressively, as the move could

temper economic activity or lower demand, which will eventually lower commodity prices, according to Abad.

Latest data available from the DOE, as of July 19 to 21, show the price per liter of diesel ranging from P73.30 to P81.41 in Quezon City, Metro Manila’s largest city, while gasoline prices range between P70.20 and P77.45 per liter in Manila, the Philippines’ capital.

FKADAYAWAN, P10

Another round of fuel price rollback to take effect today

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otorists can expect a sigh of relief starting today, July 26, 2022, as fuel companies announced a rollback in the pump prices of petroleum products, marking the fourth straight week of price cuts.

In separate advisories, Pilipinas Shell and Seaoil Philippines Inc. said they will slash the prices per liter of diesel by P1.85, gasoline

by P0.40, and kerosene by

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 88 • TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022

On President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to tackle all the issues Filipinos want to hear in his first State of the Nation Address (SONA):

I think people will be very happy with what he has to say. I don’t want to give everything away. But I think everything that we are expecting to hear, you will hear.”

Ilocos 1st District REP. FERDINAND ALEXANDER ‘SANDRO’ MARCOS

EDGEDAVAO

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 88 • TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022

VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

THE RETURN OF AFRICAN SWINE FEVER On June 20, the City Veterinarian’s Office (CVO) issued a statement that a pig butchered at an abattoir in Maa was discovered to be positive of African swine fever (ASF) “during post-mortem inspection.”

At the public market in Bankerohan, a hot stockyard “was also shut down after ASF was detected from a specimen taken from the place,” MindaNews reported.

Last July, a swine that was brought from Banga in South Cotabato which was also slaughtered in Maa was also detected to be infected with ASF “prompting veterinary authorities to impose stricter biosecurity measures in and around the city.”

In General Santos City, MindaNews reported that ASF were detected on several hogs prompting the veterinarian office of the city to immediately kill about 80 heads of pigs in the affected areas.

“The incident came days after the city government allowed under strict conditions the passage of live hogs, pork and its processed form, from other areas, using the city as transhipment point,” MindaNews said.

ASF is no ordinary swine fever. It is called as such because it comes from Africa, where it

was first detected in the 1920s.

The recent first ASF outbreaks were first reported in China – the world’s largest pork producer – in August 2018. It quickly spread to every province in the said country.

From there, ASF hopped the border into Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Mongolia, North Korea and the Philippines. Outbreaks were also reported in some parts of Europe, South America and the Caribbean.

“ASF is a contagious viral disease that affects pigs of all ages, inducing a hemorrhagic fever,” Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) explains in its manual, African Swine Fever: Detection and Diagnosis. “It can appear in a variety of forms ranging from peracute, acute, subacute, to chronic and apparent. It is most often recognized in the acute form with an associated lethality of up to 100%.”

ASF is not just a health issue but also an economic concern. “African swine fever is a severe threat to pig production systems,” the FAO publication states. “It not only threatens food security and challenges the livelihoods of pig producers and other actors in the supply chain, but may also have major consequences on international

trade as a result of trade restrictions.”

The Philippines ranks third to China and Vietnam in terms of pig production in Asia, data from FAO showed. Other top producers of pig in the region are Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, India and Malaysia.

A report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said that an average Filipino consumes about 14.2 kilograms of pork (2 kilograms more than the world’s average pork consumption).

Dr. Jaime A. Sison, a veterinarian who specializes in the area of pig and chicken and a regular columnist for a monthly agriculture publication, said the symptoms of ASF include high fever, decreased appetite, skin lesions and diarrhea.

“The tricky thing about diagnosing a potential case of ASF is that it can look a lot like other more common diseases,” said Dr. Sison. “(Symptoms of ASF) are just like those of the common porcine epidemic diarrhea virus or classical swine fever.”

Dr. Sison urged swine farmers to report any suspected outbreaks to their local animal health officers, as it is much easier to test a false positive

than to contain an outbreak that’s festered for days.

“ASF’s real calling card is its mortality rate: it claims almost all infected animals with 7-10 days of showing symptoms, and some drop dead much earlier – without showing any outward signs of illness,” Dr. Sison said.

The United Nations food agency says ASF virus is shed in saliva, tears, nasal secretions, urine, feces, and secretions from the genital tract. “Blood, in particular, contains large amounts of virus,” FAO claims.

“Pigs can therefore become infected by contact with many different infected sources, mainly infected pigs, pork, and other pig-derived products.”

As stated earlier, ASF can be transmitted through pork and pork products. It doesn’t matter whether the pork and products are raw, frozen, dried or undercooked, the virus can survive for a long time. It remains infective for 15 weeks in chilled meat (and probably longer in frozen meat), and for months in bone marrow or cured hams and sausages unless they have been cooked or smoked at high temperature.

The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) based in the United Kingdom calls ASF “transboundary animal dis-

ease.”

“Transmission can also occur via contaminated feed and fomites (non-living objects) such as shoes, clothes, vehicles, knives, equipment, etc.,” OIE explains. “These contaminated materials can be transported over long distances by vehicles and people.”

But the good thing is: “Although highly lethal, ASF is less infectious than some other transboundary animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease,” the FAO claims. In Africa, some indigenous pigs have been reported to have developed some degree of tolerance to ASF. But unlike most transboundary animal diseases, ASF has no vaccines or drugs available to prevent or treat it. “It is particularly important that ASF-free areas are maintained as such,” FAO suggests.

An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, so goes a saying. “Prevention starts with stringent measures at the borders and raising awareness among all stakeholders involved,” FAO recommends. “Early detection, early diagnosis, early response, and good communication are critical in minimizing the spread of the disease after incursion.”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

ST. TERESA OF KOLKATA IN DAVAO In 1984, seven years after her first visit to the Philippines, the petite Albanian nun in white and blue habit in sandals set foot in Davao City. Nine years after she died in 1997, she was canonized saint of the Roman Catholic Church on September 4, 2016.

Born on August 26, 1910 as Gonxha Agnes Bojaxhiu in the Republic of Albania, Saint Teresa of Kolkota (India), known as Mother Teresa, founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950 to assist people dying from HIVAIDS, leprosy, and tuberculosis.

Present in over 130 countries, the congregation supervises mobile clinics, soup kitchens, schools, orphanages, and dispensaries.

St. Teresa’s first and only visit in Davao took place at a time when the country was reeling from the tarmac assassination of Sen. Benigno S.

Aquino Jr. Turmoil could be felt and political instability was wracking the entire nation.

Next to St. John Paul II who celebrated a Mass at the Davao airport in February 1981, she is the second saint to have physically set foot in the region.

Her Davao visit, though well covered by the press, was short and memorable. With help from the Davao archbishop Antonio Ll. Mabutas, she opened her congregation’s first mission house, the Home of Pag-asa at Fatima, a stone’s throw from a populous slum known as Piapi, where the Sisters started their ministry.

The house, known as the Immaculate Heart of Mary Home for the Sick, the Dying and the Abandoned, is a two-story structure that became the home of sick, dying, and abandoned adults on the ground floor, with the second level for the sick and dying children.

Besides attending the needs of the of the infirm, the nuns did house chores in the home of the poorest of the poor, visited jails and fed the inmates, and taught children the rudiments of the alphabets.

Two years later, with help from the charitable Santos-Munda family, the sisters used a space which they transformed into what is now the Home for Sick and Malnourished Children at Molave Street, in Juna Subdivision, Matina.

On July 21, 2003, the Fatima home was moved to a spacious place in New Salmonan, Agdao, which the sisters christened as the Home for the Abandoned and Dying Destitutes. Central to this new ministry are sick children needing treatment, caring for abandoned kids, and sending orphans to study in nearby schools or institutes.

All told, the unsung assis-

tance of archdiocesan clergy, laymen, and kindhearted individuals and institutions have a significant role in the survival of the mission houses. With help from benevolent corporate sponsors and benefactors, more needy and indigents have shared the blessings the Sisters have sustainably received.

In her lifetime, Mother Teresa, dubbed as ‘the saint of the gutters,’ won high-profile honors including the 1962 Ramon Magsaysay Peace Prize and the 1979 Nobel Peace Prize. Underlining the mission of her nuns are the opening of more centers throughout the archipelago, namely in Manila, Dagupan, Nueva Caceres, Cebu, Davao, Tuguegarao, and Palo, Leyte, to name a few.

An article (‘St. Teresa of Calcutta: God’s gift to Davao’) that appeared in Davao Catholic Herald on September 3, 2017,

poignantly details the ministry of the nuns inside a lockup: “One Wednesday morning, while the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity… were distributing ‘arroz caldo’ to the inmates of a local jail, the Sisters noticed that an elderly inmate had thick rashes all over his body from head to toe. The old man was in great pain and discomfort because of his inflamed skin. He told the Sisters that many of the inmates have been suffering because of the unexplained rashes that their medicines and soaps could not relieve. The following day, the MC Sisters returned to the jail bringing with them a pail of herbal ointment which the Sisters prepared from the roots and barks of pangyawan. They themselves applied the ointment to the skin of the afflicted inmates.

Thus, on that day, another mission was added to the Sisters’ ministry here in Davao City.”

8

EDGE EDGE DAVAO DAVAO

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COMPETITIVE EDGE

YOUTH GROUP’S WISH LIST INCLUDE A BRIDGE TO CONNECT MANICANI TO GUIUAN THE wild idea may have come from their experience with the San Juanico structure, the bridge that connects Leyte and Samar. The Municipality of Guiuan is in the eastern part of Samar and everyone travelling to Tacloban from Guiuan, and back, will have to pass through the grand San Juanico.

Hinatuan Mining Corp.

(HMC), a subsidiary of Nickel Asia Corp (NAC), is the mining company with operations in the island of Manicani, which is part of the jurisdiction of Guiuan.

“I welcome the enthusiastic imagination of the youth of Manicani, because

that is what triggers progress, these wild ideas,” says Engr. Annamae Prongo, an HMC scholar who hails from Manicani and who now works as mining engineer in another NAC subsidiary located in Dinagat Islands – Cagdianao Mining Corp. (CMC).

HMC was recently granted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) with the Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) which grants the company the right to mine in Manicani.

And what comes with the MPSA is that HMC is mandated by law to develop the – Social Development and Mining Engineers Annamae Prongo (sitting in the middle with a red face mask) and Christian Centillas (standing right in blue shirt) are HMC mining scholars who are born and raised from Manicani. They are leading the youth in the island in understanding the processes of responsible mining and how the youth can become partners

The wish list includes scholarships and creation of jobs and medical assistance, a volleyball court, free internet connection, and, yes, a bridge that will connect the island to the mainland of Guiuan

Management Program or SDMP – a comprehensive five-year plan that will help create self-reliant communities with designed development programs in a manner consistent with the principles of responsible mining and sustainable development.

The youth of Manicani’s wish list, which they wrote on large manila papers during a recent community consultation, primarily includes scholarships for

Globe Business Introduces New Seamless Communications Solution for Evolving Workplace In today’s digital age when enterprises have realized the value of and are maximizing hybrid work environments, one factor constantly remains key to success: communication.

Without a seamless platform for bridging connections among and between the workforce and customers, enterprises might miss out on opportunities to scale their operations and remain competitive.

Service-related industries, conglomerates, business process outsourcing (BPO) companies, and even government institutions, particularly, consider their hotlines as critical touch points that allow them to correspond with customers and deliver to them the products and services that they need. Telephone systems are also important for these industries to foster strong collaboration. While many already have such systems in place, the challenge is creating a multichannel approach, since consumers expect their

brands to be reachable anytime, anywhere.

“Communication is better achieved with optimized systems,” explained Raymond Policarpio, Vice President for Product Management and Marketing at Globe Business, Enterprise Group.

“Overcoming gaps in communicating with customers and within organizations requires that you use a secure, scalable, cost-efficient, and flexible solution.”

Strongly meeting all those criteria is Globe Unified Cloud Communications as a Service (UCCaaS), an all-in-one communication solution that integrates voice calls, instant messaging, and video conferencing into a single, full-featured platform.

Designed to provide enterprises with flexible collaboration tools that allow them to work anywhere, Globe UCCaaS can be used on a desk phone, smartphone, or computer.

Here’s how it works: UCCaaS accepts incoming calls from your customers

through an automated attendant, which then routes the calls to a location-agnostic channel, depending on what suits the conversation–phone, desktop/mobile app, or other voice apps or communication software such as MS Teams. The same channels can also be used for outgoing calls to customers.

Through UCCaaS, enterprises also get to enjoy other basic functions such as call waiting, call hunting, caller ID control, three-way conference calls, and call forwarding.

Most importantly, companies with an existing similar service can expect to make a seamless switch to Globe UCCaaS, since it is user-friendly, cost-efficient, and easy to deploy, requiring just a week to set up.

“Both employees and customers are now adapting to hybrid work and digital spaces, and will appreciate the benefits of an all-in-one tool that allows them to communicate, collaborate, and build relationships anytime, anywhere, and through any device,” said Policarpio.

“Through Globe UCCaaS, businesses can enhance engagement across stakeholders, optimize workflows, and build customer satisfaction to own greater tomorrows.”

Get a wide range of benefits from Globe’s simplified and streamlined communications solutions. Start with Globe Business UCCaaS by contacting your enterprise Account Manager or visiting our website today

the youth and jobs for their parents, and medical assistance to the elderly members of the community.

Also, fast and free WIFI-connection; a volleyball court; a medical facility with a doctor and nurses and readily available medical supplies; a library with computers for research; free transportation for students; and yes, a bridge to connect Manicani to the mainland municipality of Guiuan.

Discussions about the protection of the environment in Manicani and about detailed scientific mining processes that will impact the communities in the island are also hot topics and mining engineer Christian Centillas, another HMC scholar from Manicani, now working as mining engineer in CMC, is proud that the youth of his hometown is asking the right questions and demanding accountability, showing concern

over the well-being of the people and the environment.

“We are helping the youth in Manicani understand the MPSA and SDMP because they will be the mining company’s partners in developing the island and because it means they will have to understand where the funds will be coming from for all the items in their wish list – but maybe not yet the bridge”, Centillas explains with a smile.

Shaping Future Filipino Tech Leaders with Shopee’s Global Leaders Program MANILA - The rapid growth and development of the tech industry over the last decade calls for a new way of molding future tech leaders. In order to keep up with the fast-paced industry, there is a need to equip future leaders with a global perspective and a constant desire to learn. Part of equipping them with such skills includes expanding their scope of work to enable them to gain new competencies and exposure to different peers, colleagues, business functions, teams, markets, and more—all of which are crucial in training future tech leaders.

This is exactly how Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, develops young leaders in tech. The Global

Leaders Program (GLP) is Shopee’s 2-year flagship graduate program open to final year students and young professionals with up to two years of work experience. The program consists of 4 rotations among Shopee’s different departments, 2 of which are overseas. Throughout the duration of the training, participants are given the chance to receive mentorship from senior management, work on the end-to-end processes of highly impactful projects, and gain exposure from the various departments of both local and international Shopee markets.

Recently, Shopee Philippines welcomed its newest and biggest batch of GLP associates through a casual mixer to get to know one another, meet their senior management

mentors, and heed advice from GLP alumni. The event introduced participants to the vibrant and collaborative culture at Shopee, and gave them a better understanding of what to expect as they begin their journey.

Karen Perez, Head of People at Shopee PH, shared “We are thrilled to welcome our largest batch of Global Leaders Program associates to date. As they embark on their journey at Shopee, it is our privilege to provide them with mentorship, a dynamic work environment, and meaningful work experiences.

We are deeply committed to honing the skills of local talent and we look forward to delivering even more opportunities to help young Filipino pro-

FSHAPING, P10

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9

Snaps from first State Of The Nation Address of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. at the House of Representatives in Batasang Pambansa. Compiled photos

Vice President Sara Duterte

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

VP Sara Duterte with elected officials from Davao City and other provinces of Davao Region

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., together with his family and some members of the Senate Members of the House of Representatives

VP Sara Duterte

Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez, Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez and Juliana

Senator Robinhood Padilla

Senator Imee Marcos

10 EDGEDAVAO WELCOME... FROM2

a combined cost of P1.9 trillion. This administration is committed to finish building the current portfolio investments approved railway projects including the 102-km Mindanao Railway Project,” he said.

Tony Peralta, chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines-Southern Mindanao Business Council (ECCP-SMBC), said the Marcos administration’s continuation of the “Build, Buil, Build” projects are well received by the private sector.

According to him the impact of these projects bode well for the strategy to close the gaps in the agricultural value chains and push for inclusive growth.

“Secondly, the continuous upgrading of our country’s infrastructure can help bring in needed

investments in rural and urban areas. Thirdly, the impact of the “Build Build Build” will hasten the pace of the economic recovery as more activities can help spur development. However, a careful balancing act is needed to finance these projects given our budgetary concerns. Greater emphasis must be made to get more private sector investments to finance these projects,” Peralta said.

Meanwhile, Marcos vowed to overhaul the country’s tax system and make it a destination for investment and tourism, overhaul to boost output and reduce its heavy import reliance, implement solid fiscal policy management, improve education, healthcare, and working conditions for doctors and nurses, and modernize airports.

number of cases has already reached 261 (including ongoing and recovered) in which four deaths are recorded while the total number of active cases is 183. For health status, there are 74 recoveries and 25 still ongoing verifications, 53 hospital admissions, and 104 outpatients.

Lopez reported that from 21 the affected barangays are reduced to 18 and the barangays currently affected within Toril are Alambre, Bangkas Heights, Baracatan, Bato, Binugao, Camansi, Catigan, Crossing Bayabas, Daliao, Daliaon Plantation, Eden, Lizada, Lubogan, Marapangi, Mulig, Sirawan, Toril Proper, and Tungkalan.

The affected baran-

gays outside Toril are Bago Aplaya with one case, Baliok (one), Dumoy (one), and Talomo Poblacion (one).

Lopez said the patient from Bago Aplaya went to Toril to eat street food).

Meanwhile, results for rectal swabbing and food sampling are still pending as evaluations to determine the source of infections namely water analysis, food sampling, and rectal swabbing are still ongoing.

These evaluations are being conducted by three agencies namely the Davao City Water District (DCWD), CHO, and the Department of Health (DOH) epidemiologic bureau from Manila. By Maya M. Padillo

the iAccess, Link.BizPortal, and the mobile banking app for fund transfer, bills payment, and balance inquiry services.

They can also use the PISO account in any LandBank, BancNet, and 7-Eleven automated teller machines (ATMs), domes-

tic point-of-sale (POS) terminals, and for overthe-counter transactions in their respective LandBank branch of account.

To open a LandBank PISO account, interested individuals may go to the nearest LandBank branch in their area.

ed COVID-19 restrictions and schoolchildren began returning to the classroom this year, Mauleon had hoped economic conditions for the bakery would improve.

But since December, as wheat and fuel prices surged, the price of flour has increased by more than 30 percent, while sugar is up 25 percent and salt costs 40 percent more, she said.

The bakery survives day to day and does not make enough money to buy ingredients in bulk, leaving it vulnerable to changing prices in domestic and international markets.

After reducing the number of employees and

absorbing higher costs, Mauleon was forced this week to raise the price of a pandesal by 20% to P3.00.

Shrinking the size of the roll any further would affect its quality, she said.

“We will try it out if people will still buy it,” Mauleon said.

“Pandesal is very important in the lives of Filipinos.”

For mother of five Laarni Guarino, the price hike means her family now eats fewer rolls for breakfast.

“We will have to redo our budget. From five pieces each, my children will have to eat just three to four,” Guarino, 35, told AFP.

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fessionals reach their full potential.”

This year’s batch of GLP associates is a diverse mix of fresh university graduates as well as previous Shopee Apprentices and interns.

Included in the batch is Graciel, a GLP associate currently assigned to Shopee Xpress. She was a 2021 graduate of the Apprentice Program, Shopee’s flagship internship program. As an Apprentice, she worked under the Seller Operations and SeaMoney Credit team.

Likewise, Neal and Lovella, were participants of Shopee’s year-round internship program under the Marketing and Consumer Insights teams, respectively. A year later, they are now GLP associates and will begin their first rotation under Business Development. On the other hand, Alyana had extensive internship experience in the fields of e-commerce and marketing. She was able to successfully channel her knowledge and skills to begin her journey as a GLP associate under the Marketing team.

Alyana, one of this year’s GLP associates currently completing her first rotation under the Marketing department, shared “There is no better place for me to build my career in tech than at Shopee. As an avid user of the app, I am excited to gain a new perspective on e-commerce through this experience. I am confident that the collaborative work environment and the mentorship that I receive from industry

leaders will help me grow as a professional and further my career in tech.”

For Luca, another associate who started the first part of his GLP journey under the platform’s integrated mobile wallet ShopeePay, the overseas rotation aspect of the program appealed to him the most. He shared “The GLP offers participants such a unique learning experience. I am looking forward to completing my rotations abroad and gaining regional exposure from the different Shopee markets at such an early stage in my career. I believe there’s so much that I can learn from immersing myself in different cultures and working under different departments and hopefully apply in our local context.”

Meanwhile, Graciel, who was previously a Shopee Apprentice, begins her GLP journey with Shopee Xpress. “With the many processes and initiatives that we take on as GLP associates, it’s important to remember that it’s okay to ask for help.

I’m grateful that Shopee fosters such a strong culture of collaboration and teamwork because I learn a great deal from asking questions and seeking advice from my mentors,” she shared on her experience navigating the workspace.

Shopee is always on the lookout for local talent keen on becoming drivers of growth. Those looking to challenge themselves and build a career in tech may visit https://careers. shopee.ph/.

Chocolate Capital of the Philippines, we do have a globally competitive processed cacao products and chocolates,” he said.

Production of cacao and other industrial crops like coffee, rubber, abaca and pili nuts have increased in volume with 5,958.16 metric tons in 2019 to 6,802.45 metric tons in 2021.

Haspe said vegetable production in the city has also increased, from 16,272.94 metric tons in 2019 to 17,560.04 metric tons in 2021.

He said the lockdown during the pandemic has

contributed to the rise in vegetable production in the city, especially in urban areas.

“Ang result sa lockdown is mas nitaas atong production sa gulay. Kay naa ma’y time nga ni-engage sa pagtanom ang mga tao. Instead na magtrabaho sila, lockdown man, so nananom na lang sila (The result of the lockdown is the increase in vegetable production because people engaged in planting. Instead of going to work, since there was a lockdown, they resorted to gardening),” Haspe said. CIO

“Fifty centavos is a big thing for poor people like us.”

‘Shrinkflation’ Lucito Chavez, president of the Philippine Federation of Bakers, said thousands of breadmakers were reeling from the higher cost for raw materials, most of which are imported.

“All of us are struggling, not to make profit, but to survive,” Chavez said.

“We have to protect the pandesal industry.”

Inflation in the Phil-

ippines hit 6.1 percent in June, the highest level in nearly four years, as steep fuel price hikes pushed up food and transport costs.

Lawmaker and economist Joey Salceda said bread would be hardest hit by “shrinkflation,” where the size of a product gets smaller but the price stays the same.

“Wheat prices have increased by 165 percent,” he told reporters recently, urging bakeries to fortify their products with vitamins and minerals.

KADAYAWAN... FROM5

MERALCO... FROM11

running smoothly, the Bolts zoomed to a 53-43 lead at the half, pulled away further, 80-62, in the third and refused to slow down.

Proving to be a big factor was their defense that held down key Ginebra players and essentially kept the Ginebra Sixth Man - the crowd silent.

For one, there’s LA Tenorio who went scoreless with his 0-of-5 field clip.

Trillo mentioned “lots of mind coming in and chipping in,” acknowledging the help of coach Norman Black even when he’s still away in the United States.

Newsome, meanwhile, stressed their desire to overcome their adversity.

“Everybody knows the history of Meralco-Ginebra. It’s definitely something that’s on our heads, something we want to overcome,” said

Newsome, erupting for 19 points that went with nine rebounds and six assists in a solid all-around game.

“I look at this as another opportunity to overcome and climb that mountain, and the rest of the guys feel the same way,” Newsome also said.

Black topscored with 25 points while Maliksi added 17 markers as the Bolts negated Scottie Thompson’s 29 points and 10 rebounds for the Kings. (PBA) The Scores: Meralco 93 - Black 25, Newsome 19, Maliksi 17, Hodge 10, Quinto 9, Almazan 5, Banchero 4, Pascual 4, Johnson 0, Hugnatan 0, Pasaol 0.

Ginebra 82 - Thompson 29, Standhardinger 12, Chan 11, J.Aguilar 10, Pinto 8, Pringle 6, Mariano 5, Onwubere 1, David 0, Tenorio 0.

Quarters: 32-25, 5343, 80-62, 93-82.

basis points to date -- 25 basis points last May, 50 basis points last June, and the off-cycle 75 basis points last July 14.

These brought the central bank’s overnight reverse repurchase (RRP) rate to 3.25 percent, the overnight deposit rate to 2.75 percent, and the overnight repurchase (RP) rate to 3.75 percent.

Medalla said the continued recovery of the domestic economy gives the policy-making Monetary Board (MB) the leeway to hike the central bank’s key rates because it can absorb the impact of the rate adjustments.

He maintained that “it’s not prudent to let factors that significantly affect the exchange rate to add further to inflation that (is) already high.”

“And because of this, the BSP is prepared to be more aggressive in raising its policy rates, compared to its initial gradualist stance,” he said.

The rate of price increases in the country accelerated further to 6.1 percent last June from the previous month’s 5.4 percent.

The average inflation in the first half of the year stood at 4.4 percent, already above the government’s 2 to 4 percent target band.

The BSP forecasts inflation to average at 5 percent this year. Inflation surpassed the government’s target range last April due largely to upticks in global oil prices and the supply constraints on some food items.

Monetary authorities have repeatedly backed the implementation of non-monetary measures to help address the impact of elevated inflation rate on domestic prices since the rise in inflation rate was traced primarily to supply-side factors.

On the supply side, the NEDA said the government has been accelerating measures to ease inflationary pressures, such as the temporary reduction of import tariffs for pork, rice, coal and corn under Executive Order 171.

EO No. 171 extends the validity of EO 134 and 135, which lowered the most favored nation (MFN) tariff rates for the importation of pork and rice. It also reduces MFN tariff rates for corn to 5 percent in-quota and 15 percent out-quota, citing that corn accounts for over 50 percent of the total production cost of large-scale broiler and swine farms.

The country is also implementing programs that help boost production, such as the National Rice Program, credit and extension services, and the “Plant, Plant, Plant” Program that aimed at addressing the challenges brought by the pandemic to the local food systems.

However, since second round effects of the higher inflation rate have materialized, such as the upticks in minimum fare in public utility vehicles and on workers’ minimum pay, monetary authorities said an aggressive monetary policy is now necessary.

Medalla remains open to another rate increase during the next rate-setting meeting of the MB on August 18, adding that the Board remains data-dependent in terms of their policy decisions.

Impacts The NEDA said a higher foreign exchange rate is a “positive development” for Philippine exporters of goods and services, including business process outsourcing (BPO) and tourism-related sectors, which may gain price competitiveness vis-à-vis competitor countries.

“Overseas Filipinos and their dependents also benefit as they receive more pesos for every dollar. The government also earns higher revenues from imports,” it said.

However, a higher foreign exchange rate increases the domestic price of imported goods and services purchased by firms and consumers.

Moreover, a weak peso increases the cost of servicing foreign debt owed by the government and the private sector, it added. (PNA)

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SPORTS 11

Australia remained kings of FIBA Asia. FIBA Media

Australia edges Lebanon in thriller to win FIBA Asia Cup A ustralia weathered a fourth-quarter scoring rampage by Lebanon to win 75-73 and remain champions of the FIBA Asia Cup on Sunday.

The Boomers stormed out of the gates and looked ready to cruise to victory at Jakarta’s Istora Senayan.

But the Cedars followed star point-guard Wael Arakji’s lead in the final 7 minutes to make it a game.

A split at the line by power-forward Rhys Anthony Vague and a miss by center Ali Haidar on a desperation heave helped Australia survive.

Meanwhile, New Zealand beat Jordan 83-75 in the ear-

lier game to take third place.

NBA veteran big man Thon Maker finished with 14 points, eight rebounds, two steals and three blocks to pace Australia, which won wire-to-wire but was never comfortable ahead.

Guard Mitch McCarron added 12 points, and playmaker Tyrese Proctor chipped in 10, including two free throws that gave the Boomers a 74-70 cushion with 9 seconds remaining.

Arakji, Lebanon’s heart

and soul, then buried a 3-pointer off shooting guard Elie Chamoun’s assist to make it 74-73.

Hoping to get possession back, Arakji was forced to foul, which sent Vague to the line where he split his free throws.

The Boomers built a 16-point lead midway through the second quarter, but they couldn’t shake off the determined Cedars, who were in their first FIBA Asia Cup final since 2007.

They were up 64-49 with 6:05 left in the game when Lebanon started to heat up.

Lebanon found its range from long distance, then Haidar and Chamoun each scored a bucket as they cut the deficit to 72-65 with 1:34 remaining.

That’s when the Cedars went to their MVP and leading scorer.

Arakji made two free throws after he was fouled by point-guard William

Playing with a great resolve for 48 minutes, the Meralco Bolts clobbered the Gienbra Gin Kings, 93-82, in the opener of their PBA Philippine Cup best-of-three quarterfinals face-off at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.

Chris Newsome, Aaron Black and Allein Maliksi led the way with at least 17 points each as the Bolts practically repeated their 90-73 conquest of the Kings in their elims duel and thus moved within a win of the semifinal round.

But a tough adversity the Gin Kings may have been in their past playoff battles, the Bolts are not to turn their back on their opportunity to play them.

“If we want to be a

champion, we have to compete with the best; we have to beat the best.

We love the opportunity,” said Meralco skipper Chris Newsome.

And playing with a great resolve for 48 minutes, Newsome and his teammates clobbered the Gin Kings, 93-82, in the opener of their PBA Philippine Cup best-of-three quarterfinals face-off at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Sunday.

Aaron Newsome, Black and Allein Maliksi led the way with at least 17 points each as the Bolts practically repeated their 90-73 conquest of the Kings in their elims duel and thus moved within a win of the semifinal round.

Loser in each of their five recent playoff show-

McDowell-White from long distance, scored on a layup in Lebanon’s next play, and sank the triple that kept the game’s outcome in doubt in the waning seconds.

Arakji, who scored just six points at the half, finished with a game-high 28 points on 7-of-11 shooting from behind the arc and 8 of 15 overall from the field.

Haidar added 23 points for Lebanon, which entered the game with a 5-0 record, similar to Australia.

Meralco gains headstart over Ginebra

Meralco’s Chris Newsome goes up against Ginebra center Japeth Aguilar. PBA

downs, Meralco hopes to end its woes, going for the kill in Game Two on Friday over at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.

“The good thing about this series is we have five days to regroup, and we’re actually a healthy team now,” said acting Meralco coach Luigi Trillo.

The Bolts vowed to work hard to prepare for the next game where their mind idea “is to make them uncomfortable.”

They did just that in the series kickoff, imposing their game and taking control most of the way en route to the comfortable 93-82 triumph.

With their defense holding and their offense

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ELITE COMPANY. Bronze medalist Ernest John Obiena of the Philippines celebrate with gold medalist and world record breaker Armand Duplantis of Team Sweden, and silver medalist Christopher Nilsen of Team United States after competing in the Men’s Pole Vault on day ten of the World Athletics Championships Oregon22 at Hayward Field on July 24, 2022 in Eugene, Oregon. Christian Petersen, Getty Images/AFP

MORE COOKIE

Obiena stoked after memorable world championship bronze

E

J Obiena is out to fly higher.

This bold statement came after the gutsy pole vaulter became the first Filipino athlete to win a medal in the World Championships on Sunday night in Eugene, Oregon (Monday morning in Manila) Obiena won bronze medal in the star-studded competitions setting a new personal best and Asian record of 5.94 meters during the final at Hayward Field.

Armand Duplantis of Sweden took the gold by setting a new world record of 6.21 meters. American Chris Nielsen took silver with 5.94 meters, needing just one attempt to clear the height. Obiena took two tries to clear 5.94 meters. “[The] Philippines is the best in Asia for pole vault, and third best in the world,” said Obiena on his official Facebook page after his latest achievement.

“Hungry for more cookie,” added the 26-year-old pole vaulter, who was wearing Cookie Monster socks for the final. “The best is yet

to come.”

Obiena first broke the Asian record in Innsbruck, Austria last September 2021, when he cleared 5.93 meters.

Heading into the World Championships, he won a second gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games after ruling the event in Hanoi, Vietnam.

After overcoming COVID-19 in June, he competed in the Stockholm leg of the Diamond League, placing sixth with a mark of 5.73 meters. He topped the Jump and Fly event in Germany in July by clearing 5.80 meters.

The next target for Obiena will be to clear 6 meters, as the Filipino pole vaulter faltered in three tries in the final after already securing a podium finish.