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Multi-layered security blanket for Indak-Indak, Pamulak assured STORY ON PAGE 2
A member of a tribal performers group plays “kulintang” during a performance in Davao City days before the official start of Kadayawan sa Davao celebration. The Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has gave its assurance to the public of the security for 37th Kadayawan Festival activities. Edge Davao
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Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II leads the ceremonial turning over of patient transport vehicles to four village leaders at the People’s Park in Davao City on Wednesday. Rigo represented his father, First Congressional District Representative Paolo Duterte, during the said event. Photo from the office of Rep. Duterte
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100 housing units handed over to Davao Norte IPs
Multi-layered security blanket for Indak-Indak, Pamulak assured By MAYA M. PADILLO
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he Davao City Police Office has laid out a tight multi-layered security blanket for two of the major events in the 37th Kadayawan Festival namely “Pamulak” and “Indak-Indak.” Major Ma. Teresita Gaspan, spokesperson of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), said there are about 5,000 security forces from different security units that will be deployed in various activities. “Aduna kitay kapulisan,
Task Force Davao ug other security forces. Naa pod tay mga force multipliers, atong auxiliary ug other law enforcement nga mutabang sa atua. Meron din tayong augmentation from Police Regional Office 11 nga mo-provide pod ug se-
curity,” Gaspan said during the AFP-PNP Press Corps media briefing on Wednesday. Gaspan added that the DCPO will still implement a multi-layered security blanket on land, air, and sea during the major events in Davao City. “Inner layer, kadto gyud mismo anaa sa sulod sa mga activity area,” she said. She reiterated that carrying backpacks, jackets, firearms, and pointed
objects inside the activity areas are still prohibited. The use of drones without permission from the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) is also prohibited. Meanwhile, DCPO conducted a send-off ceremony of the various security and safety clusters for the 37th Kadayawan sa Davao festival held at the DCPO Parade Ground, Camp Domingo E Leonor, San Pedro
Bacalso of Langub, Alimodin Usman of 23-C, Isidro Dujali of Bago Aplaya, and Eduardo Millondaga of 22-C in order to improve their emergency response to their constituents. The effort to improve the emergency response in barangays was initiated by Rep. Duterte, ACT-CIS
Partylist under Rep. Edvic Yap, and Benguet Rep. Eric Yap. Rep. Duterte said that they are doing their best to complete the project. The four barangay leaders, respectively, expressed their sincere gratitude to Rep. Duterte and the entire staff of the First Congressional District Office for the
endless support they have given to their constituents. Rep. Duterte said that those transporters aim to address the immediate response of health programs and services in barangays, especially to far-flung communities of the First District.
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he National Housing Authority in Davao Region (NHA-11) turned over Wednesday 100 housing units to the indigenous people (IP) in Barangay Florida in Kapalong, Davao del Norte. NHA-11 Manager Clemente Dayot said the “Balai to Ata to Manobo Camansi” is a collective effort of the NHA, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the local government unit (LGU), and the Ata-Manobo tribe. Dayot said the PHP20 million housing project was initiated after the town expressed its intent to avail of NHA’s Housing Assistance Program for indigenous cultural communities and IPs last year. “Take good care of these housing units. It is a full grant from the government, and you will not pay
Shabu, marijuana seized in Border Control checkpoints
Rep. Duterte, ACT-CIS send off T four patient transport vehicles
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irst Congressional District Representative Paolo Duterte, through his son Rodrigo “Rigo” Duterte II, turned over on Wednesday, August 10, patient transport vehicles to four village leaders at the People’s Park. The vehicles were given to barangay leaders Leilani
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any amount, it is given for free,” Dayot told the recipients, even as he reminded them not to sell the houses or make them available for lease. Dayot said the project involved the provision of financial and technical assistance to the town in coordination with the NCIP and the IP community in the development of the housing site in the IP’s ancestral domain. “The project is designed to ensure that the IPs’ economic, social and cultural well-being through the provision of basic services of housing will be protected and promote their active participation in the whole process,” he said. Construction of the housing units started in December last year and completed early this month. (PNA)
wo of Davao City’s fixed AFP-PNP Checkpoints on Wednesday, August 10 intercepted illegal drugs from three individuals passing through the vehicle inspection areas of the border control points. As early as 12:30am, personnel of Task Force Davao and Davao City Police Office manning the Lasang Checkpoint, border control points in the North, busted a certain Jaime Quintay Maug Jr., 42 years old, married, and a resident of Brgy Bingcungan, Tagum
City, onboard a Public Utility Bus traveling towards Davao City. Confiscated from the subject was a sachet of suspected shabu weighing around 0.49 grams with an estimated street value of P7, 840. Over the Sirawan Checkpoint in Toril, border control in the South, a certain Alonzo Carlo B. Bengil, 33 years old, married, a resident of Mabini Extention, Koronadal City; and, a certain Babydutch E. Mangudadatu, 24, single,
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NEWS
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Lawyer Rani Leonar, convenor of Alyansang PDAO (Persons with Disability Office), says the group is optimistic that the establishment of PDAO building for PWD affairs will be realized but there are also challenges like budgetary problem. Edge Davao
No surge despite over 900 cases in 14 days Davao City to have 100% LED streetlights by end of 2022
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he program to replace the 40,000 sodium streetlights in the city with the more energy efficient LED lights will be completed by year’s end. “I believe we are already 80% of all the sodium being replaced by LED and our target is to replace everything by end of the year,” says Engineer Roger Velasco, president of the Davao Light and Power Company (DLPC) during his guesting at the Mindanao Development Authority’s Habi at Kape held today (Aug. 10) at the Abreeza Mall. Engr. Velasco said the current LED lights have three advantages over the sodium lights. And these are higher lumens, lower consumption of electricity and does not require much maintenance as compared to sodium lights. “It is around 30-40% brighter than sodium light,” Velasco said of the illumination provided by the newer LED lights. On en-
ergy consumption, sodium lights are 310 watts while the large LED lights used in thoroughfares and highways consume 210 watts or a difference of 100 watts. The LED lights also comes in three variants; 210 watts for major streets, 150 watts for outskirts and 80 watts for interior streets. As for maintenance, sodium lights need to be replaced every two years while LED lights would will take 7 years before they are to be replaced. “These LED lights are an improvement we are introducing to the city,” Velasco said, adding that there is an agreement with the City Government to replace these lights in 4 to 5 years time. “However, the pandemic affected the project by 1 to 2 years,” Velasco said. “We are catching up now and we have promised the city we will complete it within the year,” the DLPC
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By MAYA M. PADILLO
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kung magpadayon magtaas ang atong cases naa gyud changes sa atoang risk assessment pero as of August 6, 2022 kay naa gihapon ta sa low risk,” she said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR).
This is despite the alarming number of active cases last week that reached 974 for the past 14 days. She reported that last week there were 510 active cases recorded and adding to this are the 464 active cases recorded from July 31, 2022, to August 6, 2022. She also said that from July 31 to August 6, the positivity rate of Davao City reached 15 percent. “Medyo alarming ang atoang cases previously labi
na tong Friday I think it was the first in many months na nag three digits ta. However, fortunately these previous days medyo nagbaba ta ug nibalik ta sa mga two digits. However, for last week July 31 to August 6 na period nikabat ang atoang positivity rate to 15 percent medyo taas taas gyud siya,” she said. Schlosser also said that fortunately on Wednesday (Aug. 10) active cases were about 57 with a positivity
He is referring to Republic Act (RA) No. 7277 otherwise known as the “Magna Carta for Disabled Persons” as amended by RA No. 10070 or an Act Establishing an Institutional Mechanism to Ensure the Implementation of Programs and Services for Persons with Disabilities” that directs local government units (LGUs) to establish each and
administer their own PDAO. “The PDAO office will streamline the help and other benefits to all PWDs in Davao City, dili lang kadtong ortho, dili lang kadtong naka-wheelchair but tanan including kadtong naay cases of autism, kinahanglan gyud suportahan ang mga parents, kadtong dunay down syndrome. Atung gina-encourage nga mupare-
histro aron maisyuhan ug ID,” Leonar said during the AFP-PNP Press Corps media briefing on Wednesday. Leonar said in Davao City there are only 20,000 registered PWDs with card-bearing IDs. “As of 2018, there is a law passed that all PWDs nationwide are covered by PhilHealth. If you get an ID
r. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of Davao City Covid-19 Task Force, reiterated that there is no surge of Covid-19 in Davao City despite the recorded over 900 active cases for the past 14 days. Schlosser also assured that based on the overall risk assessment, Davao City is still at a low-risk classification. “Wala pa ta sa surge kay overall ang risk assessment still at the low risk. Pero
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Establishment of PWD office pushed
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he Alyansang Persons with Disability Office (PDAO) is pushing for the establishment of a PWD office to address the concerns and benefits of all PWDs in Davao City. Lawyer Rani Leonar, convenor of PDAO, said not only that it will address concerns and challenges that the PWDs are facing but it is also mandated by law.
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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO
VOL.15 ISSUE 103 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2022
Pedestrians walk by pile of durians at Magsaysay Fruit stalls in Davao City. An official of the Davao Industry Association of Durian Council said apart from the erratic weather, another factor that is seen to affect the availability of durian fruits on the sidewalks nowadays is durian growers now prefer to supply durians to processors rather than retail them. Edge Davao
Sy siblings retain top spot in Forbes PH’s Richest 2022 list
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ate tycoon Henry Sy’s children remain as the country’s richest, according to the Forbes Philippines’ Richest 2022
Teresita Sy Coson, Henry Sy Jr., and Hans, Herbert and Harley have a combined net worth of $12.6 billion which dropped from $16.6 billion in 2021 largely due to the pandemic, Forbes said in its latest report. “Their combined net worth is comprised largely of stakes held in the group’s publicly traded SM Investments and SM Prime,”
Forbes said. The SM empire is among Southeast Asia’s largest conglomerates with interests in department stores, supermarkets, real estate, banks, hotels and mining. Real estate tycoon Manuel Villar remains at the second spot in the list with a net worth of $7.8 billion. Individually, he is the country’s richest based on the latest
Forbes’ world’s billionaires list. He has interests in real estate, malls, offices, supermarkets and has recently acquired frequencies to air on free TV. Port and casino magnate Enrique Razon is the country’s third richest billionaire with a net worth of $5.6 billion. His Bloomberry Resorts operates Solaire Resort and Casino. He is also the chairman of International Container Terminal Services which has a global footprint. He also has interests in
water and energy, among others. Lance Gokongwei and his siblings are on the fourth spot. Lance, Robina, Lisa, Faith, Hope and Marcia are behind JG Summit Holdings which has interests in food, telecom, airlines, banking, power and real estate. Their combined net worth is $3.1 billion, Forbes said. Completing the top 5 is the Aboitiz family with a net worth of $2.9 billion. They run one of the country’s leading conglomerates Aboitiz Equity Ventures,
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Van drivers to help promote tourism in Caraga: DOT 13
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t least 136 tourist van drivers in Butuan City have completed a series of seminars for the promotion of tourism in the Caraga region. In a statement Wednesday, the Department of Tourism in the Caraga Region (DOT-13) said the seminars conducted on August 3 to 5 aim to “develop and expand the role of van drivers and their operators.”
According to DOT-13, public utility drivers are considered “front-liners and sources of tourism information to foreign and local tourists in the region,” which comprises the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur. Caraga Region has three accredited tourist land
ollibee Foods Corp on Thursday said it achieved all-time high system wide sales in the second quarter at P73.1 billion, 44 percent higher compared to the same period last year. Net income attributable to equity holders of the parent company for the period reached P2.8 billion from P976 million in the same period last year, JFC said in a disclosure to the stock exchange. For the first half, net
income amounted to P5.1 billion compared to P1.1 billion in the same period last year, the country’s largest restaurant operator said. Operating income, meanwhile, also reached a new high of P3.1 billion in the second quarter, it added. JFC said the jump in record system wide sales was driven by the 32.6 same store sales growth, 7.2 percent from new stores and new acquisitions and 5 per-
Foods Corp posts record Business risk consultancy exec Jollibee P73.1-B system wide sales in Q2 bullish on BOT Law amendment J A n official of a business risk and security consultancy firm is optimistic about the amendment in the country’s Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law, citing its benefits to the government’s bid to hike infrastructure spending. Greg Wyatt, director of business intelligence of the Philippine Strategic Associ-
ates (PSA), said the current BOT Law of the country is not attractive to investors. “And the way that’s going to change is through the amendments to the Build-Operate-Transfer Law,” he said in a virtual briefing hosted by the Nordic Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc. (NordCham Philippines) on Wednesday.
Wyatt said he hopes that the amendments will materialize during the current administration since this bid is among the priorities of the Marcos administration. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has raised the need to amend the BOT Law as the current government wants to strengthen public-private partnership (PPP) in the implementa-
tion of infrastructure projects. Marcos said the amendments are aimed to create a “more competitive and enabling environment” for PPP. Wyatt said the government has repeatedly cited funding constraints as among the hindrances in implementing more infra-
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A man smokes using a vape inside his condominium unit in Davao City on Thursday. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said on Wednesday the agency is ready to test vaporized nicotine products or vape devices as the Vape Bill lapsed into law. Edge Davao
PH debt-to-GDP ratio down to 62% as of Q2 DTI capable of testing vape devices: official
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epartment of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary Ruth Castelo said on Wednesday the agency is ready to test vaporized nicotine products or vape devices as the Vape Bill lapsed into law. As the law tasked the DTI to test vape products to ensure that they are safe to use, Castelo said the DTI already invested in testing devices since last year. “Ang nakalagay po dito sa vape law na bagong lumabas, ang DTI nga po ang mangunguna. Pero doon sa devices talagang tayo kasi we have the capability to test itong mga device na ‘to. In fact, last year or 2021 pa po ready iyong ating testing device para doon sa mga devices ng vape (According to the Vape Law, DTI will lead (the regulation). But in terms of the devices, it will really have to be (led by) us because we have the capability to test these devices. In fact, last year or in 2021, our testing device for vape devices is ready),” she said during the Laging Handa
briefing. She clarified that for standards relating to health, it will be the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that will lead the evaluation and certification. Castelo said the agency will be closely working with the FDA in drafting the implementing rules and regulations of the Vape Law. “Sa ngayon po, we’re already preparing the draft para sa implementing rules and regulations draft nito. Siguro po anytime soon, in a couple of days, mag-uumpisa na po tayo ng consultation with FDA muna, sir –sa FDA muna tapos kapag naayos natin sa dalawang ahensya, ilalabas po natin for public consultation (For now, we’re already preparing the draft for the implementing rules and regulations of this. Maybe anytime soon, in a couple of days, we will start the consultation with FDA first, sir – with FDA first, then if the two agencies have settled it, we will release it for public consultation,” she said.
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he size of the government’s debt relative to the economy or debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio decreased slightly as of the second quarter of the year, albeit still above the internationally accepted “manageable” threshold, data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed. Treasury data showed as of end-June 2022, the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 62.1%, lower than the 63.5% debt level as a percentage of GDP in the first quarter of the year. This is still above the in-
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ood ingredients and plastics manufacturer D&L Industries expects sustained strong earnings results in the second half of the year, as the government’s shift away from a lockdown strategy bodes well for continued economic growth and business optimism. “Assuming there will be no more lockdowns, no new (coronavirus) variant causing severe symptoms,
ternationally recommended ceiling of 60% of public debt’s share to the economy. The Marcos administration is targeting to bring down the debt-to-GDP ratio below 60% by 2025. In particular, President
Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s chief economic manager, Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the government will no longer borrow as much as what was done during the Duterte administration. As of end-June, the last month in office of the Duterte administration, the national government’s debt stock amounted to P12.79 trillion, this as previous administration embarked on a borrowing spree to boost state coffers to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic — providing cash aids to vulnerable sectors, procuring
vaccines to immunize the population, among others —as it implemented hard lockdowns to control the spread of the disease, causing economic activity to contract which affected state revenue collection. Diokno said the debtto-GDP ratio will gradually decline to 61.8% this year, 61.3% by 2023, 60.6% by 2024, and 59.3% by 2025. By the end of the Marcos administration in 2028, the debt level will be down to 52.5%. Before the COVID-19
it is something we are confident about that the third quarter, fourth quarter or the second half should be strong again,” said D&L president and chief executive officer Alvin Lao in a virtual press briefing on Wednesday. Lao is optimistic about quarterly earnings growth as the economy is growing and most coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases are mild even as cases are
on the rise again. D&L Industries’ earnings in January to June this year increased 17 percent year-on-year to PHP1.6 billion, above pre-coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) income levels booked in the first half of 2019 and 2018. Its first six months earnings represent the highest first half income level in the company’s history despite the Omicron surge in
January and sharp increase in commodity prices. This was mainly driven by the continued economic reopening which was felt in all of its segments. With the second quarter being the first full quarter with alert level 1 in place, D&L’s earnings recovered sharply to PHP851 million, up 22 percent year-on-year and well above pre-Covid income levels.
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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO
VOL.15 ISSUE 103 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2022
On the proposed establishment of a PWD office in Davao City:
The PDAO office will streamline the help and other benefits to all PWDs in Davao City, dili lang kadtong ortho, dili lang kadtong naka-wheelchair but tanan including kadtong naay cases of autism, kinahanglan gyud suportahan ang mga parents, kadtong dunay down syndrome. Atung gina-encourage nga muparehistro aron maisyuhan ug ID.”
LAWYER RANI LEONAR Convenor, Alyansang Persons with Disability Office (PDAO)
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ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN MEGHANN STA. INES FERINA SANTOS Lifestyle
LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. Consultant Correspondent Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR.,TRIA • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: ANTONIO V.“ADI” FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO •B.JOHN CARLO • MUJAHID NAVARRA ••FRED C. LUMBA • DENNIS R. GORECHO ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO •“GICO” G. S. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER GREGORIO G. DELIGERO VIDA MIA VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE M. PEREZ
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VOL.15 ISSUE 103 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2022
VANTAGE POINTS
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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!
DESIDERATA: THINGS DESIRED I was reading some posts of my friends recently and one of those that caught my attention was this anecdote: A father was reading when his three-year-old daughter came to him. “What’s the problem?” he asked. The little girl pointed to a broken toy and asked, “We can fix that?” The father answered affirmatively. The girl wondered and asked again, “Why do we fix it?” The father thought for a second and answered, “Umm, to make it work again.” The little girl corrected the father. “No,” she said, “because we love it.” The father became silent as he contemplated the theology her toddler just taught him. The above short tale reminded me of the poem, Desiderata. I know, most of you are familiar with it. The word is a plural noun, with a singular form desideratum; it means “things wanted to needed.” It came from the Latin word which simply means “things desired.”
The theme of the poem is the authentic lifestyle, which involves the following: loving oneself, being true to oneself, valuing one’s employment, being dignified and self-assertive, without being disrespectful to others. The poem also acts as a beacon light to lead a meaningful life. It doesn’t only tell us “what to do” but also “how to do.” Some lines stated: “To be calm and quiet in this noisy world to get inner peace. To listen to our inner voice and voice our view clearly, calmly but not rudely.” There are several values highlighted in the poem. One of them is listening: “listen to the others, even to the dull and the ignorant.” What it points out is that everyone – young and old, rich and poor, beautiful and ugly, etc – deserves to be heard as they too “have their story.” But the thing is: everyone wants to be heard but no one wants to listen. The author is Max Ehrmann, an American poet and lawyer from Terre Haute in Indiana. Al-
though he copyrighted in 1927, he distributed copies of it without a required copyright notice during 1933 and c. 1942, thereby forfeiting his US copyright. It was said that he was inspired by an urge that he wrote about in his diary: “I should like, if I could, to leave a humble gift – a bit of chaste prose that had caught up some noble moods.” Another source said that he wrote the poem for himself, “because it counsels those virtues I felt most in need of.” These virtues have been esteemed by innumerable others as the poem intensified in admiration and was widely distributed in poster form in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Ehrmann often wrote on spiritual themes. He was the son of Maximilian Ehrmann and Margaret Barbara Lutz. Born on September 26, 1872, he died on September 9, 1945. He was married only once – to Bertha Pratt. I know you have read it before. Some of you may have memorized it already. But for those who may have forgotten
it, here’s the complete text of the poem: Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do
not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.
DENNIS R. GORECHO KUWENTONG PEYUPS
SHATTERED DREAMS AMID THE MINDANAO CONFLICT Troubled relationships and shattered dreams amid the Mindanao conflict served as the plot of four competing full-length films for this year’s Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival. After a two-year wait as a result of the series of COVID-19 lockdowns, Cinemalaya finally returned as a face-to-face event with a full-length feature category for eleven films, including four Mindanao-themed films: The Baseball Player, Angkas, 12 Weeks, and Bula sa Langit. “The Baseball Player” tells the story of Amir (Tommy Alejandrino) , a 17-year-old Moro child with dreams of becoming a baseball player but who has to train as a soldier for the Moro rebels. Khalid (JM San Jose) is a young boy survivor of an armed conflict who is adopted by Amir’s family. The presence of Amir as his new “older brother” opened the path to healing. Unfortunately, another allout war against Moro rebels breaks out, and he is confronted with making a choice between pursuing his dream or fighting in the war.
In “Angkas” , Leo (Joem Bascon) is not just an ordinary habal-habal driver. He is the resident ambulance and delivery man in a remote village in Compostela Valley One day, he is hired to transport the dead down the mountain. His estranged friend Miguel (Benjamin Alves) joined Leo in fetching the corpse of Ditas (Meryll Soriano), their childhood friend who is a rebel pursued by the military. As Leo and Miguel embark on a dangerous journey in a habal-habal, their fragile friendship will be tested, and they will encounter danger only to be saved by an unlikely hero. In “12 Weeks”, Alice (Max Eigenmann) a single 40-yearold woman is working with a non-government organization (NGO) which is organizing a relief mission to the Bakwits or evacuees due to the Marawi siege. She discovers she is pregnant after breaking up with her boyfriend (Vance Larena). With her age and current relationship status, her first instinct is to have the pregnancy terminated. As her body undergoes dramat-
ic changes, Alice struggles and needs to decide whether she wants to be a mother or not. The fetus is most vulnerable during the first 12 weeks. During this period of time, all of the major organs and body systems are forming and can be damaged if the fetus is exposed to drugs, infectious agents, radiation, certain medications, tobacco and toxic substances, in addition to emotional stress. “Bula sa Langit” tells the story of a young soldier (Gio Gahol) who returns from Marawi war to find himself heavily disturbed by one of his traumatic kills . Despite his excitement to come home, Wesley struggles to reconnect his present relationships with his family and girlfriend (Kate Alejandrino) while celebrating the town fiesta. The contemporary armed conflict in Mindanao can be traced to the pre-martial law period of the late 1960s when the Moro youth and their political leaders demanded an end to discrimination and oppression and the return of their ancestral homeland. The conflict was sparked by discrimination and human
rights violations under President Marcos’ dictatorship. Many armed groups fought against the government to establish an independent Muslim region on the island of Mindanao. Thousands were killed in the decades-long insurgency that ensued. At the heart of the conflict in Mindanao lies deep-rooted prejudices against the Muslim and indigenous population. The conflict is seen as the result of social inequity and the skewed distribution of resources, including land grabbing which was a main issue for the Muslims, wrong policies and corruption, and the historical prejudice against the Muslims resulting further to unfulfilled aspirations which had consequently led to violent conflicts. The Marawi siege was a five-month-long armed conflict that started on May 23, 2017 between Philippine government security forces and militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), including the Maute and Abu Sayyaf Salafi jihadist groups. It has forcibly displaced 98
percent of the total population of the city, as well as residents from nearby municipalities. The almost slice-of-life stories in these four films showed how the armed conflict threatens to tear away the lives, hopes, and dreams of the characters caught in the crossfire. Breaking these “bonds of social injustice and oppression” through a conflict that has been going on for decades is never the solution. The films, often called “indie films”, embody Cinemalaya’s vision : “the creation of new cinematic works by Filipino filmmakers“ works that boldly articulate and freely interpret the Filipino experience with fresh insight and artistic integrity.” It also aims to invigorate the Philippine filmmaking by developing a new breed of Filipino filmmakers. (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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COMPETITIVE EDGE
Dive into the metaverse of #AweSM deals at SM Supermalls
As our world continues to evolve at a supersonic pace, technology has become an indispensable partner in our daily lives. This has led to today and the evolvement of the digital native—an individual born during the digital era and fully adapted to the digital world at an early age. At the official launch of Cyber Month 2022 last August 3 at the Main Atrium of SM Mall of Asia, digital citizens and fans of participating cyberbrands were treated to an electrifying range of their latest offerings. The event was hosted by Ms Earth Philippines (Air) 2018 and Ms World Philippines 2nd Princess 2013, Zahra Bianca Saldua who both welcomed all launch guests. SAVP for Cyberzone and Sponsorship Patrick Pacla, highlighted that SM Cyberzone continues to be the number one tech authority in the country as it continues to provide the widest range of products for smart homes, e-sports enthusiasts, and those looking for the latest and greatest gadgets. The event was attended by media friends, tech journalists, bloggers, and publication
editors. After the heartfelt messages and performances that followed, SM Supermalls officially marked the start of Cyber Month 2022 by pressing a giant green button, led by the executives from Xiaomi, SM, Smart Communications, RealMe, and Dreame to signify the biggest cyber event to date. Following this, global tech brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, Dyson, RealMe, and Dreame, as well as homegrown monikers like PC Express, Cherry Mobile, Smart Communications, and SM Online, presented or showcased their brands and lineup of their offerings this 2022. In addition, they also gave away branded merchandise to winners of their mini-games—post-presentation. Our Home, the furniture and fixtures marque of SM, had a display showcase at the centre of the atrium to inspire the audience with a vision of how they can remake and refresh their own spaces alongside the new technological devices. During Cybermonth or throughout the year, SM Cyberzone always has a great deal in store for you at every price range, at
In photo from L to R, Host and Ms Earth Philippines (Air) 2018 - Zahra Bianca Saldua, RealMe Senior Product Marketing Officer - Jim Claude Gayo, Smart Communications National Key Accounts Development AVP for Strategic Accounts - Christian So, SAVP for SM Cyberzone Marketing and Operations - Patrick Pacla, Retail Manager for Dreame - Dave D. Dulay, and Marketing Executive for Xiaomi -Nina Rodriguez
over 50 locations all over the country, with the assurance of quality branded merchandise and warranties you can count on for after-sales service. For more information, go to www. smcyberzone.com and follow us @smcyberzone. For the latest updates, check out our hashtags: #SMCyberMonth2022 and
Winners of the Cyberzone Kahoot! ™ Trivia Game receive prizes courtesy of the participating brands and SM Supermalls
Left: Our Home’s staged room layout incorporates the offerings of SM Cyberzone Right: Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold3 5G and Galaxy Z Flip3 5G Smartphone
#CheckCyberzone. Tech enthusiasts can enjoy a wide array of great deals, offers, and choices as they shop the latest and greatest here at Cyberzone. For Samsung, buyers can enjoy up to Php 4000 pesos off for the A-Series smartphone lineup and an instalment plan of up to 60 months at 0% interest for the flagship S-Series. For Xiaomi, buyers can choose from a wide variety of Smart devices that they can use for their homes, workplaces, or leisure that caters to every price range.
For RealMe, buyers are greeted by the changes made to their lineup, their first-ever laptop, the RealMe Book, with all the bells and whistles starting at Php 29,900 and their best-selling wireless headset, RealMe Buds, starting at Php 1,490. For Cherry Mobile, buyers are spoilt for choice with budget-friendly options starting at Php 350 for their smart devices. The event wrapped up with a trivia game, powered by Kahoot! ™, to test their knowledge of the event.
es are up and running again. I am sure that skaters in the Philippines have been waiting for this moment to happen, and we are excited to be able to serve them again,” SM Supermalls President Steven T. Tan said. Super sulit promos await ice skaters at SM Skating. Celebrate birthdays or hold special events on ice and get weekday deals like
the 20% off discount on a 2-hour pass via SM Deals. Aside from this, skaters can also now party on ice with live DJ beats during the Midweek Ice-ssembly on August 10 with DJ Charlz Saladaga (2000s R&B Jams), August 17 with DJ Kokas (Boyband Hits), August 24 with DJ Kate Jagdon, and August 31 with DJ Clyde Amante
Huge prizes were given to the top seven, courtesy of the participating brands and SM Cyberzone. Enjoy all these activities and more when you visit any SM mall near you. Rest assured that the well-being and safety of you and your family is our top priority because SM Supermalls implements #SafeMalling protocols nationwide. Stay up-to-date on all the events happening at SM Supermalls. Visit www. smsupermalls.com and follow @smsupermalls on all social media accounts.
ICE to see you again at SM Skating!
Ice skaters are in for a treat as all SM Skating rink branches reopen! All three SM Skating branches, which are located in SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, and SM Seaside Cebu have opened their doors anew to both professional ice skaters and enthusiasts. SM Skating is the sole ice skating business in the Philippines
and is home to the Philippine National Team of Ice Sports in partnership with the Philippine Skating Union (PHSU). Services that are offered include skate aid rentals, assist coaches that are available anytime, and basic to advance lessons. All SM Skating branches boast stateof-the-art facilities such as Olympic size
rinks. Ice skating shoes and headgear are also provided for everyone who wants to practice their twirls in figure skating, speed skating, practice how to perfect their ice hockey aim or for anyone who simply just wants to have fun. “As the country’s premier ice skating rink since 1992, we are thrilled that all of our SM Ice Skating branch-
(Movie Soundtracks) at the SM Skating Seaside Cebu. There are more reasons to spend time with loved ones at SM as all SM Skating branches are open on weekdays and weekends. Visit www.smsupermalls.com and follow @SMSupermalls on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube for more updates.
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ENVIRONMENT
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SAVING ENDANGERED MARINE TURTLES IN DAHICAN BEACH
The race is on.
Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO
D
ahican Beach – a seven-kilometer stretch of white sand facing the Pacific Ocean – is about 15 minutes from the heart of Mati City in Davao Oriental. In the past, you had to ride the rough roads before reaching Barangay Dahican--a good 15 minutes drive from the city center. When interest on Dahican Beach grew, the road has been concreted. There are few resorts you can find around Dahican. Although there are no regular vehicles going there, you can always hire a motor cab if you want to go there. But the good thing about Dahican is that there is no entrance fee (except for some areas). It is open to anyone who comes – whether locals or foreigners. Swimming is not the only thing you can do while you are at Dahican Beach. If you like water adventures like skimboarding, this is the best place to be in Davao region. In fact, several skimboarding competitions have been held in the place; it is touted as the Skimboarding Capital of Mindanao. “There are several reasons why it should be called such,” explained Dashiel Indelible, Jr., the city tourism officer. “For one, our sand here is white unlike others
which are dark or black. For another, the water is pristine and crystal blue. But most important, the waves are what skimboarders are looking for – not so high and not too low but something in-between.” Skimboarders who come to the place said that the waves of Dahican are great. On good days, the waves go up to as high as 6-8 feet. On other days, the waves may only be 3-5 feet, which are still good for skimboarding. But Dahican is not only known for its white sand beach or skimboarding activities, but also for its marine wildlife species that thrive under its waters. Dahican is a local term which means “to come in from the sea.” And it is because of pawikan, the local term for marine turtles. Green Sea, Hawksbill, and Olive Ridley are the turtle species that have made Dahican’s shoreline their nesting site. Unfortunately, these three species are listed in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources as endangered. What this
Winston Plaza releasing pawikan hatclings
means is that “they are in danger of extinction and whose survival is unlikely if causal factors continue operating.” Studies have shown that every time the female marine turtle nest, she always returns to the place even if she is thousands of miles away from the area. The two marine turtle species trudge ashore to dig holes in the sand and
lay their eggs there. “If you’re lucky, you can swim along with the pawikan in the waters,” said Winston Plaza, who is connected with the Amihan sa Dahican-Save Our Seas Project. Amihan sa Dahican – named after the northeasterly winds that blow through the area from November to March – was established in 2004 with three-fold purpose: con-
serve marine wildlife species in the bay, take care of young kids, and share surfing and skimboarding skills with visitors. “Our motto is: If you love nature, nature will love you back,” said George “Jun” Plaza, the elder brother of Winston and founder of Amihan sa Dahican. In the beginning, Amihan sa Dahican was known as a good training camp for skimboarding and surfing. Some of its members have earned awards in national and international competitions. Many children from the city and nearby areas came to Amihan to learn skimboarding and surfing. “Many of them have dropped out of school and some walked away from their homes because of poverty,” said its website. “We serve as a second family to them and safeguard their value formation, encourage them to get edu-
Pawikan hatchery
cation, thus offering them a chance to improve their lives.” Jun, whose initiative was featured in Reader’s Digest’s “Heroes,” imposed strict rules and training for those who come. Skimboard and surf lessons are held after school and on weekends. They are also forbidden to smoke, drink or take drugs. Anyone breaking the rules is either barred from practice or kicked out of the team. As Dahican Beach is a marine sanctuary, the team sees to it that the marine wildlife species teeming the waters are well protected. They manage to do it through conservation activities. They participate in different group exposure and share their experiences on how they protect and conserve the marine wildlife species of Mayo Bay. Aside from marine turtles, the entire Mayo Bay –
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St. Davao City on Thursday. These security forces include the Philippine Coast Guard, Task Force Davao, City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), and Community Volunteer Task Force (CVTF).
They will provide area security to ensure the safety of both Davaoeños and tourists who will be witnessing the face-to-face Kadayawan Festival. Leading the ceremony was Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) head Angel Sumagaysay, who represented Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte.
As of to-date, the First Congressional District Office has distributed at least 16 patient transport vehicles to its barangay mem-
bers. The lawmaker is looking forward to the entire 54 barangays having the transporters and ambulance trikes, as well, on time.
a resident of Agan Homes, Koronadal City, were accosted by the authorities for possessing a sachet of suspected shabu that weighs around 1.8 grams worth P12,240; and, a sachet of suspected marijuana weighing more or less 0.8 grams that has an estimated street value of P96.
The suspects were nabbed at 11:40am, in the while onboard a metallic gray Toyota Vios bearing plate number LAI 1920 traveling towards Davao City. The suspects and evidences were turned over to the respective police stations for proper disposition.
which has interests in power, banking, real estate and food, among others. DMCI’s Isidro Consunji and siblings, Jollibee Foods Corp’s Tony Tan Caktiong and family, Ayala Corp’s Jaime Zobel de Ayala and family, San Miguel Corp’s Ramon Ang and Alliance Global’s Andrew Tan completed the
top 10. For the period, the combined wealth of the country’s 50 richest declined to $72 billion from $79 billion last year due to the recent headwinds, including the inflation that hit 6.4 percent in July, reduced exports to China and the weakening peso, Forbes said.
transport groups that operate vans and caters to the transportation needs of local and foreign tourists. The DOT-13 said the activity also served as an awareness campaign for tourist van drivers and operators in the region, while enabling them to
“learn and appreciate the nature and benefits of tourism.” DOT-13 Director Nelia Arina said more seminars will be scheduled as the activity also serves as a prerequisite for accreditation for land transport operators in the region.
structure projects, thus the decision to tap PPP. “I think the government understands that the changes (are) need(ed) (for the policies) to be more competitive,”
he said, citing that current rules are “not written in favor of investors.” Wyatt said one of the issues of the current BOT Law is that it has no provisions for international arbitration.
cent from favorable foreign currency translation. From the Philippine business, same store sales rose by 51.5 percent in Q2, the company said. It said
all brands practically registered “strong double-digit growth” due to the bounce back in demand and return of foot traffic in most of the country.
pandemic, the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio hit a record-low of 39.6%. Sought for comment, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Michael Ricafort said the decline in the debt-toGDP ratio in the second quarter was “partly due to still relatively faster economic/GDP growth that expanded/broadened the economic/GDP base and also effectively reduced the debt-to-GDP ratio, as seen in previous economic cycles.” In the second quarter of 2022, the Philippine economy as measured by GDP —the total value of goods
and services produced in a specific period — grew by 7.4%, but slower than the 8.2% growth seen in the first quarter as inflation slowed down economic activity. Union Bank chief economist Ruben Carlo Asuncion said the lower debt-to-GDP level “reiterates the need to focus on growing the economy as an important strategy in bringing down the current high debt-to-GDP ratio.” ING Bank senior economist Nicholas Mapa, likewise, said the lower debtto-GDP ratio is “a welcome development as we would need this ratio to slip below 60% in the near term.”
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rate of 10 percent. “Unta magpadayon ni siya. Hopefully, with the number of cases na nagbaba karon unta mapababa pud nato ang atoang positivity rate. We are still continue to monitor the growth of our cases nahimutang man gihapon ta generally, nabutang gihapon ta sa risk assessment na low risk,” she said. Now that the activities in Davao City are held faceto-face and the parks and
entertainment are open, Schlosser reminded not only the Dabawenyos but the visitors of the city to always follow the Minimum Public Health Standards (MPHS), wear face masks in massive gatherings, and recreational areas and get vaccinated. “Wala mo namo gi-stop na mag lingaw lingaw just follow the MPHS and also katong wala pa nakapabakuna na magpabakuna na,” she said.
as a PWD, you will be given a PhilHealth ID number,” he said. Based on the standards of the United Nations (UN) there are six types of PWDs: orthopedic disability (polio, amputees, hunch back), visual disability, communications disability (deaf-mute and hare lip), learning disability (down syndrome and ADHD), psychosocial disability (insane, bipolar, illnesses), and intellectual disability (autism, seizures, and cerebral palsy). “Hopefully, ma-streamline nato ang tabang ug mga benepisyo sa mga PWDs sa Davao City dili lang kadtong naka-wheelchair but tanan including kadtong naay cases of autism, kinahanglan gyud suportahan ang mga parents, kadtong dunay down syndrome. Atung gina-encourage nga muparehistro aron maisyuhan ug ID,” Leonar said. The PWD sector is presently lobbying Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte to support the establishment of PDAO and it is the group’s fervent hope that it will be made as a division or department under the City Mayor’s Office and will be
composed of appointed employees who are themselves PWDs from the different sectors. The group is also pushing for 24 plantilla positions for the office of PDAO. Congressman Paolo Duterte, then acting city mayor of Davao City, issued Executive Order No. 34 Series of 2014 or an “Order Creating the Interim Persons With Disability Affairs Office (PDAO), Defining Its functions and For Other Purposes” that aim to address the priority concerns of PWDs in the city that include among other undertakings that shall enhance the health, physical fitness, and the economic and social well-being of PWDs. This was also in preparation for the passing of the said city ordinance. The Committee on Government Reorganization through Councilor Alberto Ungab and Councilor Pilar Braga proposed the PDAO ordinance and already conducted committee hearings at the City Council. “Kani (ordinance) among ginahandum na masayo ug taud kay ubay ubay na ang pag-antos sa PWD sa Davao,” Leonar said.
deputies did not take the photos for investigative purposes and shared them with firefighters who responded to the crash scene. The lawsuit said a deputy showed the photos to bar patrons, and a firefighter showed them off-duty colleagues. “Mrs. Bryant feels ill at the thought that sheriff’s deputies, firefighters, and members of the public have gawked at gratuitous images of her deceased husband and child,” according to the lawsuit. “She lives in fear that she or her children will one day confront horrific images of their loved ones online.” Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and other parents and players were flying to a girls basketball tournament when their chartered helicopter crashed in the Calabasas hills west of Los Angeles in fog. Federal safety officials blamed pilot error for the wreck. Vanessa Bryant has also sued the helicopter charter company and the deceased pilot’s estate. The county has argued that Bryant has suffered emotional distress from the deaths, not the photos, which were ordered deleted
by Sheriff Alex Villanueva. They said the photos have never been in the media, on the internet or otherwise publicly disseminated and that the lawsuit is speculative about any harm she may suffer. A law prompted by the crash makes it a crime for first responders to take unauthorized photos of deceased people at the scene of an accident or crime. The county already agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle a similar case brought by two families whose relatives died in the Jan. 26, 2020, crash. Vanessa Bryant did not settle her case, indicating she is seeking more. The litigation has at times been ugly. When the county sought a psychiatric evaluation of Bryant to determine if she suffered emotional distress because of the photos, her lawyers criticized the “scorched-earth discovery tactics” to bully her and other family members of victims to abandon their lawsuits. The county responded by saying they were sympathetic to Bryant’s losses but dismissed her case as a “money grab.”
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of which Dahican Beach is a part – is home to dugongs, dolphins, stingrays, and whale sharks. “We patrol the beaches at night to protect turtle eggs from poachers and predators,” the website stated. It has set up two hatcheries, with help from some government agencies and private entities. A female pawikan, it is said, would drag her bulky frame into the sand and build a nest and to eventually lay eggs. The nests are flask-shaped cavities dug in the sand by the shoveling motions of the nesting turtle’s hind limbs. One nest may contain as many as 100 eggs. From time to time, the Amihan team discovers turtle eggs being laid in various sites of the beach. They recover them and bring them to the pawikan hatchery for safety and protection from predators. They monitor the eggs and wait for approximately 60 days for the eggs to hatch. In the wild, the period after hatching is a fight for survival. After they are hatched, it’s a race from their nests in the sand to the water. Once they are in the waters, it’s survival of the fittest as some of them may be eaten by other marine creatures, including fish. Since the Save Our Seas Project was established, they have already released thousands of pawikan
hatchlings. For instance, from July 2021 to August this year, the project has released more than 6,000 pawikan hatchlings. “For every 100 pawikan hatchlings we release into the waters, only one of them will survive in the open waters,” said Winston. They have also released adult marine turtles. Last July, a Green Sea turtle caught accidentally by hook fishing was surrendered by a local fisherman to them. After successfully removing the hook, they released it back to the sea. “Amihan sa Dahican is all about teaching people about skimboarding and surfing and conservation and protection of marine wildlife species teeming our waters,” Plaza said. “We are not seeking money for what we are doing.” Right now, there are 35 members of the team, who conduct training on skimboarding and surfing to people who come to Dahican Beach and are interested in those water activities. The money they receive for these training is used for the education of its 40 beneficiaries, mostly children. “Even if the budget is not enough, gina-insakto lang gyud namo,” Plaza said. Amihan sa Dahican is barely surviving but the members are doing it so that “the organization will still stay so that the next generation could benefit from it.”
1982 where she portrayed herself and which delved into her struggles and triumphs training to become a champion. Her last public appearance was during the opening ceremony of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, hosted by the Philippines. Michael Keon, head of the Gintong Alay sports program in the early 1980s, said he considered De Vega the country’s best track athlete. Gintong Alay was the precursor to the Philippine Sports Commission. “The fact that she won gold medals not only in the Southeast Asian Games, not only in the Asian track and field championship, but also the Asian Games was a testimony to her innate speed,” Keon said in an interview with Chino Trinidad posted on the PinoyAthletics 2.0 YouTube account. In recent years, De Vega — affectionately called “Diay” by her peers — coached athletes both from the Philippines and Singapore. In 2020, she said coaching opportunities fared better in foreign countries such as Singapore due to better treatment and work security. Even though she had a pleasant experiences training athletes abroad, she relished her time coaching aspiring Filipino sprinters more. “Para sa’kin, mas maganda pa rin dito. But then, ang problema kasi ‘yung opportunity sa amin (trainers) is not that big (dito) ... ‘yung ibang bansa ang nagbibigay sa amin ng opportunity,” she said in an interview with
Scoop sports program. PAST RECALL De Vega once shared how tough it was for her during her sprinting career. She recalled how her father and trainer, Francisco “Tatang” De Vega, made her endure exhausting drills that helped her growing up. Whenever she cried due to the training pressure, Tatang, “who was strict in everything when it comes to her”, pushed Lydia to do more. “Minsan naiinis ako sa tatay ko, nagagalit ako. Wala ako magawa kasi tatay ko ‘yun, coach ko ‘yun, kailangan ko sumunod. ‘Pag pumupunta ako sa starting point, umiiyak ako. Galit na galit ako sa sarili ko ... Andami-daming sports, ba’t track-and-field ang napili ko, takbo lang ako ng takbo. Ang pahinga ko, lakad,” she said. “’Pag last na ‘yung workout—let’s say I’m doing 200 meters—dahil sa galit ko sa sarili ko at sa galit ko sa tatay ko, tatakbuhin ko talaga ng mas mabilis ‘yun.” Her anger always turns to joy, though after she reaches the finish line when she realizes she was faster than before, De Vega chuckled. “Hindi mo na iisipin mag-give up kasi na-prove mo sa sarili mo na, ‘kaya ko pala. Natatakot lang ako.’ Hindi ako pwede magpatakot sa iniisip ko. Kailangan ko magpadala dun sa kakayanan ko,” she said. She attributed her successful career to her late father. “Kung wala si Tatang, wala si Lydia.”
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File photo shows the late Lydia de Vega in her smashing gold medal run in the Asian Games beating Indian rival PT Usha.
De Vega passes away at 57 L Trial begins against sheriff, fire dep’t over leaked Kobe crash photos
L
OS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant was one of the most photogenic sports figures in Los Angeles, and images of him seen by millions around the world — smiling in victory, grimacing in agony — keep his memory alive. But some photos of him should never be seen, his widow says, and she’s
seeking unspecified millions in compensation for snapshots taken of the NBA star’s corpse that were circulated after he was killed in a helicopter crash with their daughter and seven others in 2020. Vanessa Bryant’s invasion of privacy trial against the Los Angeles County sheriff’s and fire depart-
ments began on Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time) in a US District Court just over a mile from where Kobe Bryant played most of his career with the Lakers. A jury was promptly seated in the case, and opening statements were scheduled to start in the afternoon. Vanessa Bryant claims
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ydia de Vega, a Filipino sports icon once considered Asia’s fastest woman, passed away after a battle with cancer, her daughter announced Wednesday night.
De Vega was 57. “On behalf of our family, it is with absolute grief that I announce the death of my mother, Lydia De Vega this evening, August 10, 2022, at the Makati Medical Center,” Stephanie Mercado-de Koenigswarter wrote on Facebook. “She fought the very good fight and is now at
peace.” De Vega was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018, and Mercado-de Koenigswarter said in July that her mother was in “very critical condition” because of the disease. De Vega — born on December 12, 1964, in Meycauayan city, Bulacan — is one of the Philippines’
greatest athletes and one of its most recognizable sportswomen. She won nine gold medals in the Southeast Asian Games and two golds in the Asian Games. She was also a two-time Olympian (Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988). She set a personal best of 11.28 seconds in the 100-meters, a national record that stood for 33 years, until it was broken by Kristina Knott in 2020. De Vega also dabbled in acting. Her most famous role was the lead in “Medalyang Ginto”, a movie released in
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FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KEN
UKRAINE WINS WOMEN’S CHESS OLYMPIAD TITLE As promised, the Ukrainian women’s team put on an unrelenting display of grit and courage to snatch the gold medal in the recently-concluded 44th chess Olympiad in Chennai, India. Fueled by a burning desire to achieve a most difficult goal on account of the on-going war with neighboring Russia, the Ukrainian women, led by former world champion GM Mariya Muzychuk (2540) and sister GM Anna (2529), completed the eleven round Swiss system undefeated, winning 7, drawing 4 and losing none. That victory is regarded by political observers as a slap on the face of their Russian invaders, notably Russian president Vladi-
mir Putin whose government - for obvious reasons - did not send any representatives. Muzychuk and company actually finished tied with Georgia with identical 18 match points but won the title via a much higher tie break, 413.5 pts to 392 pts. Another East European country - Uzbekistan - likewise a former member of the defunct USSR like Ukraine, captured the much coveted and most prestigious men’s crown, not incidentally, also via tiebreak. Spearheaded by 17-er Nodirbek Abdusattorov (2677), the Rapid world champion, the Uzbeks collected 19 match points after 11 rounds, the same score of another former USSR member re-
public, Armenia (incidentally the former home country of super GM Levon Aronian.. However, by a tiebreak, Uzbekistan which played undefeated, totaled 435 pts to the latter’s 382.5 to grab first honors. The Philippines’ men’s platoon, coached by Asia’s first GM Eugene Torre, scored 14 match points and somewhat brought home a sense of pride by defeating a Magnus Carlsen-less Norway 2.5 to 1.5 in the last round to end up in 32nd slot among 167 contestants. Much earlier, GM Mark Paragua shocked highly rated Poland’s number one Jan Kryztof Duda that created a loud stir in the venue. The Pinay women had 13 pts and were listed in 37th place
ahead of Chile, Brazil, Sweden, Colombia, Australia and Belgium, also among a field of 167 participating nations. USA, composed of Fabiano Caruana, Levon Aronian, Wesley So, Leinier Dominguez and Sam Shankland - all super GMs who are in the world’s top 20 list - was embarrassingly relegated to 5th. Host India, which entitled it to field 6 squads - 3 each in the men and women’s - shocked the chess world by claiming the 3rd and 4th spots. India 2, composed of teenage pawn pushers piloted by 16-er D. Gukesh but already considered super GMs, bagged the bronze. Note that the countries that prominently figured in the top twenty in both the men and wom-
en’s section come from the former USSR - Armenia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Lithuania and from Eastern Europe. Note also that many of those who are already coming up to reach the 2700 level are in their teens and barely out of high school. Here are the top ten in each division in this order; Men’s - Uzbekistan, Armenia, India 2, India 1, USA, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Poland and Lithuania. Women’s - Ukraine, Georgia, India, USA, Kazakhstan, Poland, Azerbaijan, India 2, Bulgaria and Germany. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
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EDGEDAVAO
VOL.15 ISSUE 103 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 12, 2022
HERO’S WELCOME. General Santos City Administrator Shandee Llido-Pestaño, who represented City Mayor Lorelie Geronimo-Pacquiao, welcomes the 23-year-old boxer Davemark Apolinario at the mayor’s office Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 10, 2022). Pestaño lauded Apolinario for bringing honor to the country and the city. (Photo courtesy of GenSan CIO)
HOME IS THE CHAMP
GenSan gives IBO champ Apolinario ‘hero’s welcome’
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ORONADAL CITY – General Santos City has given International Boxing Organization (IBO) flyweight champion Davemark “The Dobermann” Apolinario a “hero’s welcome,” the City Information Office (CIO) said Thursday. The CIO said General Santos City Administrator Shandee Llido-Pestaño, who represented Mayor Lorelie Geronimo-Pacquiao, welcomed Wednesday afternoon the 23-yearold boxer, who claimed the title of IBO flyweight champion last July after defeating South African Gideon Buthelezi via a first-round knockout. The match was held at the International Convention Center in East London, South Africa. Pestaño encouraged Apolinario to stay healthy and continue being disciplined to bring more honors not only to General Santos City but also to the country. She also advised him to continue “being humble, and stay true to being living proof that the city is the home of the champi-
ons. Apolinario now holds a record of 17 wins with zero losses as a professional boxer. Sonnie Sombrio, the city’s sports officer, also expressed delight in the winning streak of Apolinario, who was born in Maasim, Sarangani, but lives most of his life in General Santos City. “We have proven time and again that General Santos City is the producer of world-class boxers,” Sombrio told reporters, pointing out that the mayor’s brother-in-law, former Senator and 8-division champion Manny Pacquiao, is a legend that brought honors to the city. The City Council is expected to pass a resolution commending Apolinario and give him cash incentives. (PNA)