Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 172 | Thursday, November 3, 2022

A man takes a selfie with the grave of a departed loved one as background located at the top portion of an apartment style tombs during All Souls’ Day celebration at Wireless Cemetery in Father Selga Street, Davao City on Wednesday. Edge Davao

BLOWN AWAY

Chinese Ambassador Xilian impressed in Davao durian farm visit

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Classes suspended in flooded Cotabato, Maguindanao areas

Classes

in all lev

els, both private and public, have been suspended in this flood-stricken city and nearby Maguindanao towns starting Wednes day, officials said.

on Disaster Incidence (READi), the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG) re ported that 402 houses were partially damaged and 339 destroyed.

The calamity also damaged PHP225.7 mil lion worth of agricultural products and farm ani mals in 28 of 36 towns in Maguindanao.

Chinese

Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian visited Belviz Durian Farm in Calinan, Davao City over the weekend and sampled the so-called “King of Fruits.”

Surprisingly, he loved the fruit described by many as “tastes like heav en and smells like hell.”

“The creamy texture, sweet taste, and abundant varieties really impressed me. Hope the Chinese customers could enjoy the Philippines’ durian at an early date,” Xilian post

ed on his Facebook page.

The ambassador was accompanied by officials from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Customs-Port of Davao.

In a statement, BOCPort of Davao stated that the visit to Belviz Durian Farm was part of the Chi

nese embassy’s program to open their country as a market for Mindan ao-grown fruit.

District Collec tor Erastus Sandino B. Austria, who spoke with members of the Durian Industry Association on October 28, 2022, as sured the farmers that the bureau was ready to help growers to remove technicalities as barriers to making Filipino agri culture accessible world wide.

In September this year, Xilian reported that the biggest importer of the fruit had approved the entry of fresh durian from the Philippines. He cited the result of an as sessment conducted by a team of experts recently organized by his embassy. The team went to Davao Region for a market ac cess investigation.

Xilian reportedly said that the durian from Davao Region was found

Paeng death toll rises to 121

The former Severe Tropical Storm Paeng killed at least 121 persons across the country, with 92 confirmed so far by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Manage ment Council (NDRRMC).

In its update on Wednesday, the agency said 61 deaths were re corded in the Bangsamoro

Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 28 in Western Visayas, and three in Soccsksargen.

Still under validation are reports of 29 dead –12 in Calabarzon; five in Eastern Visayas; four in Zamboanga Peninsula; two each in Central Vi sayas and Mimaropa; one each in Central Luzon, Bi

col, Western Visayas, and Cordillera.

The number of injured persons stands at 103 with 65 confirmed hurt.

Meanwhile, 36 persons were reported missing, with 28 validated.

About 927,822 families or 3,180,132 persons were affected by the weather disturbance in almost all

regions, some of them still housed in evacuation cen ters.

Damage to infrastruc ture in the regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera, Mimaropa, Bicol, West ern Visayas, Central Vi sayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao, and Soccsksargen was placed at PHP897 mil lion. (PNA)

Mayor Bruce Mataba lao announced the cancel lation of classes to allow the continuation of clear ing operations in flooded schools from Wednesday to Friday.

Thirty-six of Cotaba to City’s 37 villages have been affected by floods spawned by Severe Trop ical Storm Paeng last week, affecting 67,956 households or 337,980 individuals.

“Our assessment on other all villages is con tinuing,” Matabalao said.

In Upi, Maguindanao, government works and classes at all levels were also suspended starting Wednesday until Nov. 4 as recovery efforts con tinue following the floods wrought by Paeng.

Across the Bangsam oro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), 468 villages have been affected with 223,256 households or 570,285 individuals, mostly in Maguindanao provinces.

In an update, BARMM Interior Minister Naguib Sinarimbo said the num ber of fatalities remained at 53 with 12 still missing and 38 injured.

Through the BARMM Rapid Emergency Action

“BARMM and local governments of the prov ince have intensified re lief operations to cushion the impact of the calamity on affected families,” Sina rimbo said.

Personnel from the BARMM’s Ministry of Public Works (MPW) have also been repairing dam aged roads and bridges with the help of offices from the Department of Public Works and High ways in nearby regions that sent heavy equip ment to help in the recov ery works.

As of Wednesday morning, the BARMM READi reported the ris ing water level of the Rio Grande de Mindanao.

Residents living be side the Taviran River, one of the tributaries of the Rio Grande, tried to save their homes and valuables as water hya cinth carried by river wa ter from upstream pinned their houses.

“This is the first time that we experienced this kind of flood, it reached above head, and the wa

Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) director Brigadier General Benjamin Silo Jr. discloses that at least 12 wanted individuals, including five most wanted persons, were apprehended in Davao Region while visiting their depart ed loved ones during Undas 2022. Edge Davao

PRO 11 nets ‘most wanted’ persons during Undas

Davao City continues to accept donations for Paeng-hit areas

The City Government of Davao, through the City Social Wel fare and Development (CSWDO), is still accept ing donations for those af fected by Typhoon Paeng.

The typhoon hit the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mind anao (BARMM) on Octo ber 29, affecting 115,437 families (or 572,185 indi viduals) from 126 baran gays and taking dozens of lives.

Davao City has sent out two teams to deliv er the first batch of aid and relief goods to Ma guindanao and Cotabato City over the weekend. A team of 44 people was deployed to Cotabato City while a team of 90, which will also be assisting in the ongoing search and rescue operations, was sent to Maguindanao.

The teams were made up of social workers, emergency responders,

security forces, and med ical personnel from the City Disaster Risk Reduc tion and Management Of fice’s Emergency Medical Services, Fire Auxiliary Services, Urban Search and Rescue, City Health Office, City Social Welfare and Development Office, Ancillary Services Unit, City Engineer’s Office, Davao City Police Office, Task Force Davao, and the Office of Civil Defense Re gion XI.

CSWDO Head Atty. Marlisa Gallo, during a Davao City Disaster Radio program on Wednesday, said the CSWDO is cur rently coordinating with social workers from the local governments of Co tabato and Maguindan ao to determine the aid needed.

“Tan-awon pa nato ni karon kung unsa ang mga request sa atong mga so cial workers pud didtoa

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Police Regional Office 11 (PRO 11) di

rector Brigadier General Benjamin Silo Jr. netted at least 12 wanted in dividuals, five of whom are on the “most wanted” list.

The apprehended in dividuals, with cases of robbery and rape, were served with their stand ing warrants of arrest.

Silo said the province with the most arrests was Davao del Norte.

“Marami tayong mga most wanted persons na nahuli na nagkataong dumalaw sa mga libingan ng kanilang mga mahal sa buhay. We have recorded around five “most want ed” persons with cases of

robbery and rape,” he said during the AFP PNP Press Corps media forum on Wednesday at The Royal Mandaya Hotel.

Silo said conducting operations against “most wanted” persons during Undas was among the topics in their conference a week before Undas.

“Human nature kasi yung mga tao na ito ka hit na may arrest warrant

bibisita at bibisita talaga sila sa kanilang mga ma hal sa buhay, what we did was we placed our per sonnel in advance mon itoring and true enough bumisita nga sila and we served the standing warrant of arrest against them,” he said.

Meanwhile, PRO 11 has assigned personnel to various cemeteries in Davao Region to ensure

FPRO 11, P10

Mati City’s new poultry dressing plant seen to address food shortage Mati

City inaugu rated its new P45-million poul try dressing plant on Octo ber 28, 2022.

The processing facility is seen to ensure steady supply of chicken as well as keep market price of chicken at affordable lev els.

“Filipinos love to eat

chicken, right? Iba-ibang luto: adobong manok, meron lechon manok, may fried chicken, may barbe cue chicken - this is sta ple for Filipinos. We have to make it affordable, and that is the role of govern ment now, we have to do government spending for our people,” said Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat in

her message.

The Mati Chicken Dressing Plant is also the first government-initiated and funded chicken dress ing plant in the entire Davao Region.

“We have a chicken dressing plant ready to operate. My father when he was governor, he made something the winds of

change and it is here now, the winds of change for our beloved Mati,” Rabat said.

The said plant will help the economy as it will pro vide jobs to Matinians and support local farmers and growers in the city.

“Luckily, we can earn from this, not necessarily

Mati City Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat says the establishment of the Mati Chicken Dressing Plant aims to make the price of chicken affordable for Matinians as well as ensure an adequate supply. Edge Davao

ECONOMY

DOLE reminds employers to pay proper November holiday wages

The Department of Labor and Employ ment (DOLE) reminded employers to provide proper wages to workers who report for work during November’s declared holidays.

In an advisory, Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma specified the proper computation of wages for the declared holidays of the month — the special non-working holiday November 1, and the regular holiday No vember 30.

November 1

The “no work, no pay” principle will apply un less the company has a policy or collective bar gaining agreement (CBA) granting payment for the day.

Employees who report to work should be paid an additional 30% of the ba sic wage for the first eight hours of work.

Overtime in excess of the first eight hours should be paid an addi tional 30% of the hourly rate for the day.

Employees who re port to work during their rest day should be paid an additional 50% of the ba sic wage for the first eight hours of work.

Overtime in excess of the first eight hours

should be paid an addi tional 30% of the hourly rate on the said day.

There is no premium pay required on Novem ber 2 since the day is considered an ordinary working days

There is no premium pay required on Novem ber 2 since the day is considered an ordinary working day.

November 30

Employees who do not report to work should be paid 100% of their wage for the day.

Employees who re port to work should be paid 200% of their wages for the first eight hours.

Overtime in excess of the first eight hours should be paid an addi

tional 30% of the basic wage of 200%.

Overtime work for employees who report to work even on their rest day should be paid an ad ditional 30% of the hour ly rate on the said day.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte earlier declared November 2 a special working day, the second straight year that the date was not declared a holiday.

Then-Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. in 2020 said the decision not to declare November 2 — along with December 24, and December 31 — was ar rived at due to the “long vacation” during the COVID-19 pandemic.

LPG prices up in November

Consumers will have to pay more for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) products this month, as prices will be hiked after six straight months of roll backs.

In an advisory, Petron Corp. said it will hike the prices of LPG products by

P3.50 per kilogram, and AutoLPG prices by P1.96 per liter effective 10 p.m. on Tuesday, November 1.

“These reflect the inter national contract price of LPG for the month of No vember. Price freeze will be implemented in areas under State of Calamity,” it said.

A number of provinces have been placed under a state of calamity following the impact of Severe Trop ical Storm Paeng (interna tional name: Naegi), which hit the country last week.

The price hike comes after firms implemented price cuts in October, ex

tending the downward path of prices since May this year.

Latest data available from the Department of Energy (DOE) show that retail prices of an 11-kilo gram cylinder in Metro Ma nila ranged from P786.95 to P971.95 in October.

Prime Infra completes take over of Malampaya operator

Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. (Prime Infra) said it has completed its acquisition of the 45-percent operat ing stake in the Malam paya deep water gas-topower project starting November 1.

In a statement on Tuesday, Prime Infra said through one of its sub sidiaries, it assumed full ownership and control of Malampaya operator Shell Philippines Explora tion B.V. (SPEX).

It said that renaming of SPEX to Prime Energy Resources Development B.V. (Prime Energy) is already in process fol lowing the acquisition of SPEX shares.

“With great pride and honor, we welcome the SPEX team to our Prime Infra family of compa nies. The Malampaya as set begins a new chapter today as we continue to build on the legacy of this world-class installation in helping achieve national energy security and in

dependence,” Prime Infra chairperson Enrique Ra zon Jr. said.

Prime Infra said it established a team of commercial, change man agement, and upstream industry experts to facil itate the seamless tran sition of the asset opera tions from Shell.

It said that a team of at least 300 SPEX worldclass employees joins the Prime Infra group bring ing with them “highly spe cialized skills and techni cal knowledge” that will continue to operate the deep water gas-to-power project.

The management said it formally welcomed the SPEX team at the Ma nila office, Onshore Gas Plant, Batangas Supply Base, and Shallow Water Platform via a two-day onboarding activity to be capped with a hybrid town hall on November 2 across all sites.

Meanwhile, Prime In fra said the next urgent

A vendor takes advantage of the high foot traffic and the warm weather to sell ice cream during All Souls’ Day celebration at Wireless Cemetery in Father Selga Street, Davao City on Wednesday. Edge Davao

PH economy to hit 6.5% despite escalated inflation: economist

BSP defaces 519.93MT unfit, mutilated coins

Around519.93 met ric tons of unfit, demonetized, mu tilated, and counterfeit coins have been defaced from October 2021 un til September 2022, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipi nas (BSP) said Wednes day.

The BSP said the pro cess was done by altering the surfaces of the coins using a machine “to pre vent them from being re circulated”.

“The defaced coins may then be recycled into different items based on their metallic content,” it said.

The BSP said around 70 percent, or about 364 metric tons, of the coins were unfit, 25 percent were mutilated, 4 percent were counterfeit, and 1

percent were demone tized.

It said the destruction of the coins as well as banknotes is mandated under Republic Act (RA) 7653, as amended by RA 11211.

RA 11211 amended the New Central Bank Act.

“This will ensure that only fit and legal tender banknotes and coins are circulated and used to purchase goods and ser vices,” it added.

The BSP said it hopes for the “enactment of a law defining and penal izing the excessive and unnecessary hoarding of coins.”

This reinforces the BSP’s “continuing efforts to maintain and protect the integrity of Philippine currency”, it added. (PNA)

ThePhilippine economy is likely to meet the lower end of the govern ment’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth target of 6.5 percent despite ris ing inflation, buoyed by consumer spend ing, among others, an economist said on Wednesday.

Inflation accelerated to 6.9 percent in September and is projected to quicken between 7.1 to 7.9 percent, estimates by the central bank showed.

The typhoons that hit the country are seen to contribute to supply-side inflation, UA&P Econo mist and Professor and

Research Director Bernie Villegas said.

However, Villegas said that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ more aggressive stance in interest rate hikes could help tame inflation and stabilize the peso.

The country’s key in terest rate has so far been increased to 4.25 percent,

with another adjustment expected this month.

“With the recent ty phoons, food prices are really accelerating. That’s really a supply-driven type of inflation. But as we move towards the end of the year, the central bank has be come aggressive in increas ing interest rate and that will keep our exchange rate below P60. That will defi nitely help inflation down,” Villegas said.

The Philippine peso weakened to its record low of P59 against the US dollar but it has regained some strength and climbed back

at the P57 level.

Without inflation, eco nomic growth could be higher, but “with the infla tion, I think it [GDP] will slow down to 6.5 percent, but 6.5 percent is still the highest in the Indo-pacific region,” he added.

Growth will come from consumer spending boost ed by remittances, and the bullish Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector, among others, he said.

The Philippine econo my grew 7.4 percent in the second quarter, slower than the revised 8.2 percent in Q1.

Hotel group optimistic of growth but pre-pandemic levels not seen until ‘24

The Philippine Hotel Owners Association is optimistic about continued growth as most members report 60 to 80 percent occupancy lev els, its Executive Director Benito Bengzon said on Wednesday.

“We in the Philippine Hotel Owners Association remain confident that the situation will get better. For

sure 2022 is a better year for us compared to 2021,” Bengzon said.

But as Russia’s inva sion of Ukraine continues to threaten the global land scape, and as air travel still gradually recovering global ly, the return to the pre-pan demic levels could still a few years away, Bengzon said.

“We feel that the return to 2019 levels will only hap

pen in 2024 at the earliest,” he said.

To fuel this growth, Bengzon said the airfare should remain manageable to lure both local and for eign tourists.

Meanwhile, travelers’ behaviors have changed since the pandemic, with more preference for open spaces, al fresco dining, green or sustainable devel

opments as well as digital booking and payments, Bengzon said.

He also said the in dustry is not fazed by the growth in Airbnbs since hotels offer amenities that homestays do not.

Travel and accommoda tions were among the hard est-hit sectors by the re strictions imposed to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vendors sell flowers and candles to a family member who will visit a departed loved one during All Souls’ Day celebration at Wireless Cemetery in Father Selga Street, Davao City on Wednesday. Edge Davao

Dear IBP,

Gusto ko po sana ipangalan sa nag iisang anak ko na 15 year old ang title. Single moth er po ako. Ayaw ko po kasi na meron maki alam sa bahay at lupa namin. Ano po ba dapat ko gawin?

Miss M.

Dear Letter Sender Miss M.:

It is unclear from your let ter whether the house and lot you are referring to is already in your name, or it is still in someone else’s. The timeline when you want to transfer the registration is likewise unclear, i.e, whether you want to transfer the registration mortis cause or inter vivos.

Thus, it is best to limit the discussion on the premise that the property is currently registered in your name, and you want to transfer the reg istration to your child while you are still alive, and that the transfer is not to defraud any person but simply for the rea son that you want to secure the future of your child by having a property registered in his/her name.

Based on these assump tions, yes, you may convey the property directly to your child, and thereafter transfer the registration of the property in his/her name. Unless your child has his/her own earn ings, the mode of conveyance is via gratuitous title, or dona tion. Under Article 37 of the Civil Code, your child already

has juridical capacity to be the subject of legal relations, as in this case, he/she may be a re cipient of a property donated by his/her mother. Art. 226 of the Family Code also implies that unemancipated minors may own properties. However, while they may have juridical capacity, please note that they have limited capacity to act.

In this case, they cannot enter into a deed of conveyance by themselves, and he/she has to be represented by a guardian.

Careful thought should be given to registering a proper ty in a minor’s name though. First, note property owned by a minor cannot be sold, mort gaged or otherwise encum bered without the approval of the court. The property of the minor shall be devoted exclu

sively for his support and edu cation, unless the title or trans fer provides otherwise. While you exercise parental author ity over your child’s proper ty, this parental authority ex tends to acts of administration only, and do not cover acts of ownership for which you need to seek court approval.

Second, since the property is already owned by your child, once he/she attains the age of majority, you cannot prevent him/her from exercising acts of ownership over the prop erty. As a general rule, a dona tion cannot be revoked except on the grounds provided for by law. In short, court ap proval must still be obtained should you wish to reverse the donation. Also, once your child marries, the property

becomes part of the absolute community of property (Art. 92, Family Code) with his/her spouse – and this might defeat your reason of “ayaw ko po kasi may makialam sa bahay at lupa namin.”

Finally, there are daily practicalities of living on or managing property owned by a minor. Since minors usually are not in a position to care for the property on their own, you may need to adduce other doc uments when joining home owner’s associations, applying for utility services, and other like services.

In sum, while you can le gally transfer the title to your 15 year old child, such decision has to be carefully thought of and planned. More power and God bless!

Busan, South KoreaThroughout history, regard less of time or place, people have always nurtured a fasci nation with death.

Despite cultural differenc es, we share a common desire to memorialize the dead.

While the reasons might be different, as not all cultures believe in life after death, hu manity is united in its ritual ization of death.

During my recent visit in South Korea, I was able to visit Tumuli Park or the Garden of the Great Tombs in Gyeongju province.

Gyeongju, the capital of the kingdoms of Silla (57 B.C.–935 A,D.), is dotted with impres sive mounds of royal tombs whose occupants range from kings, queens, and princes to relatives and nobility blessed into the inner circles of pow er. These tombs have stood as symbols of political authority and cultural grandeur.

At first glance, the mounds resemble our Chocolate Hills.

Constructed of wood, sealed with clay, and covered with mounds of stone and earth, these tombs have a rela tively impenetrable structure. The wood-lined chamber run

RITUALS TO MEMORIALIZE THE DEAD

ning east to west contained a lacquered wooden coffin of the royal family which had burial goods ( mostly gold) placed around it.

The tombs have preserved hoards of precious ornaments buried within like accessories of pure gold: crowns, caps, belts, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, and decora tive swords.

In ancient times, Koreans believed that the world of the dead was similar to the world of the living.

The general practice was to carefully bury the deceased within graves that functioned as “residences” in death, with out any alterations to the body.

Koreans had a strong faith in the principles of geoman cy. They believed that bury ing their family members at auspicious sites would lead the deceased to absorb good spirits from earth, and then the souls of the dead would, in turn, bring good fortune to the living descendants

The practice of building large mound-tombs and in terring scores of gold orna ments gradually declined fol lowing the official adoption of Buddhism as the state religion.

Instead, cremation became the standard postmortem practice.

In the Philippines, there were also a wide variety of old indigenous burial meth ods or customs rarely prac ticed nowadays.

In Sagada, Mountain Prov ince, the Kankanaey people placed the dead body inside a carved wooden coffin in the fetal position with the be lief that those who die need to leave the world in the po sition that they entered the world. These coffins were then stacked on top of each other in limestone caves or tucked into crevices in the wall of the cave.

In Kabayan, Benguet, the mummified body was dis played in their homes as a form of honoring them in the afterlife, The bodies are pre served through processes of dehydration and smoking.

In Apayao, the Isneg people buried the deceased under neath their houses or back yard as a way of showing their love and longing for the de ceased.

The B’laans of Southern Mindanao utilizes trees as their burial spots. The body of the dead was covered with tree bark and suspended on

tree branches.

In Palawan, the journey of the soul to the afterlife was closely associated by early Filipinos to maritime culture as represented by the “shipof-the-dead” burial container called Manunggul Jar.

I saw the burial jars twice during my visits to two mu seums, the Palawan Cultural Center in Puerto Princesa, and National Museum in Manila.

The jar dates from 890–710 B.C. and was excavated from a Neolithic burial site in the Manunggul cave of the Tabon Caves at Lipuun Point, Palawan.

Early Filipinos believed that a man is composed of a body, a life force called gin hawa, and a kaluluwa (soul) which explains why the design of the cover of the Manunggul Jar featured three faces — the soul, the boatman, and the boat itself. These figures em body souls riding a boat for the dead while seafaring towards their sanctuary in the afterlife.

Many Filipino epics narrate how souls go to the next life and pass through the rivers and seas aboard boats. The kaluluwa, after death, can re turn to earth to exist in nature

and guide their descendants.

Filipino ancestors respect ed nature as they believe that even things from nature have souls and lives of their own.

Due to Spanish, American and Chinese influence, the most prominent contempo rary practice of honoring the dead is by holding a wake that lasts from three to seven days followed by mourning period.

Catholic mourners say prayers such as the rosary for nine days after the burial, also known as a novena. They will pray the rosary again 40 days after the death, and again on the one-year anniversary of the death.

Superstitious beliefs sur rounding death are related to colors, dreams, etiquette, chil dren and odors among others.

Some people follow them merely out of tradition, while others genuinely want to avoid bringing more misfor tune onto the bereaved family.

(Peyups is the moniker of University of the Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offic es. For comments, e-mail info@ sapalovelez.com, or call 09175025808 or 0908-8665786.)

CAN A MINOR OWN A REAL PROPERTY ?

ATTY. HANNIYAH P. SEVILLA

IBP DAVAO CORNER ATTY. DENNIS R. GORECHO KUWENTONG PEYUPS

EVENT

CELEBRATING MULTICULTURALISM

Every October, schools around the country celebrate United Nations Day to help students appreciate the importance of global harmony.

To mark the celebra tion, students usually don national costumes of differ ent countries.

But do you know that in Davao City there is a school that has students of foreign descents? Yes, Stockbridge American International School (SAIS) is literally a small United Nations com munity.

As an academic insti tution, SAIS embraces the differences of its students and encourages them to welcome and respect each other. It also values differ

ent student cultures and prepares the students to thrive in a diverse world.

The school and its stu dents personify this year’s theme for United Nations, which is embracing cultur al diversity.

Instead of the usual parade of nations, SAIS re cently held a month-long United Nations celebration showcasing “Unity in Di versity” through the event Stockbridge Expo: The Multiculturalism Festival 2022.

The activity highlight ed the unique culture and traditions of every nation ality around the world, kick-started by highlighting

the students of different na tionalities.

The celebration was capped with a program graced by Consul Generals, Honorary Consul Generals, government officials, and representatives from the tourism and media sectors namely Consul General Ahmadulkuddus Husain, Consul General of Malay sia; Consul Mary Ann Baby Montemayor, Honorary Consul of Hungary; Consul

It was fun watching the students in their costumes. Each national costume was equally impressive and worth a look.

There’s also the tour

guiding activity where se lected students were tasked to guide the Consuls, Hon orary Consuls, and other guests. And they passed the task with flying colors though they are too young for such an assignment.

This activity is among the aims of SAIS in celebrat ing United Nations 2022, to equip the students to become leaders who can motivate and inspire peo ple with global competen cies that promote peace and unity in an ever-diverse world.

‘It is a great honor to be here, and it is indeed a priv ilege for me and the Malay sian family here in Davao City to participate in the Multicultural Festival for this year. When I stepped

into this school, I can feel the vibes and uniqueness of this program through the existing exhibitions and booths. Dear children and students, I hope you enjoy this program and takes this opportunity to explore the diversity and uniqueness of our friends here who is from various country and culture,” said Husain in his message.

With the theme “Bring ing Minds Together for Sustainable Future,” the ac tivity aims to encourage the students to come together and recognize the richness of their customs and tradi tions, develop the student’s character and equip them to be change agents and ef fective community leaders and promote harmony.

Peter Faistauer, Honorary Consul of Austria; Consul Edgar Ang, Honorary Con sul of South Korea; Marilou Ampuan, president of Uni versal Islamic Center, and representatives from the Davao City Tourism Opera tions Office.

EDGEDAVAO GAME CHANGER

GILBERT A. MIRAFLOR: WATERCOLOR ARTIST EXTRAORDINAIRE

Davao Oriental and married to Mary Katherane, with whom he has three children: Seth, Aby, and Ady.

It was his father, Apolo nio, who introduced him to the rudiments of art. “My father would have been a famous artist like Luna, Manansala or Kiukok had it not been for his passion for teaching (that) comes in be tween,” Miraflor said.

His talent as an artist was put on display when he would build a stage during school’s programs and ac tivities and even those in the barrios. Using only cassava starch and mixing it with color dyes, he would handpaint a mural with high quality work of art. As a son, he would help his father do this and watched in amaze ment the unfolding of a mas terpiece before his eyes.

With such experience, he was inspired to do the same. “I started my art, or at least my inclination in art, way back in my elementary years,” he admitted. “I had fun drawing and sculpting my own car toys. I remem ber my parents, who were both public school teachers, had plenty of colored chalks that they would use in teach ings and I would go through

them all and draw my mas terpieces with them.”

His canvas was the ply wood panel walls of their old house. “Using the Manansala and Botong Francisco prints on my informal and writing theme booklets, which was then a cliché in those days, I would draw from the lowest of the floor to the top most of the ceiling using a table and stool so that I could reach the top,” he recalled.

Miraflor was in high school when he discovered watercolor painting after being influenced by his teacher (Felipe Digamo, Jr.) at the Mati School of Arts and Trade.

After graduating from high school, he pursued his interest by taking up Fine Arts at the now defunct Ford Academy of the Arts in Davao City. Although he was unable to finish his course, it did not stop him from chas ing his passion.

It was a gamble to make arts as a source of living but it paid off. When he start ed as a professional artist, his paintings ranged from P5,000 to P35,000. To day, the prices range from P50,000 to P1 million.

Two of his paintings were bought at P250,000

each. “They were sold to one of the country’s biggest cor porations,” he said.

He has also done some commissioned works. “When I worked as an art ist abroad, I was commis sioned to paint a portrait for a prince who happened to be the head of the country’s defense department, who was later crowned king,” he said, referring to His Excel lency Salman bin Abdulaziz

Al Saud, the king of Saudi Arabia. This was in 2012.

Miraflor, now 54, indeed has come a long, long way from Mati City.

“I see myself as a ver satile type of an artist,” he pointed out. “This means, I don’t only paint but also sculpt as well. Speaking of painting, although I love to paint with acrylic paints, my favorite medium is wa

This statement comes to mind after interviewing Gil bert A. Miraflor, a Dabawen

yo artist who excels in wa tercolor painting. He was born and raised in Mati City,

“Like

father like son: Every good tree maketh good fruits,” Wil liam Langland once said.

Text by HENRYLITO D. TACIO Photos courtesy of Gilbert Miraflor

Gilbert A. Miraflor

work.

The man who excels in watercolor painting.

Tug boat, one of the watercolor paintings of Gilbert Miraflor.

BLOWN...

to be of a high, good-tast ing quality that Chinese consumers would enjoy.

Meanwhile, the Chi nese Embassy and Chi nese contractor of the Samal Island-Davao City (CIDC) Connec tor Project, China Road and Bridge Corporation, jointly donated friend ship rice packages valued P500,000 to the house holds in Barangay Limao, Island Garden City of Sa mal (IGaCoS).

“Glad to visit the beau tiful Island Garden City of Samal and attend the Rice Donation ceremony. Last Thursday, I joined

CLASSES... FROM 2

ter lilies are destroying our homes,” Kamsa Enggo Saldin of Barangay Tavi ran said.

PRIME...

FROM 4

step for Prime Energy is to sustain and expand gas production in light of the growing electricity de mand.

“As a purpose-driv en company, Prime Infra is committed to invest in critical infrastructure that supports the coun try’s urgent needs. We are excited to be part of the next phase of Malam paya, and to further the potential of SC 38 as we work on securing the li cense extension,” Prime Infra president and CEO Guillaume Lucci said.

Last October, the Department of Energy

President Marcos Jr., Vice President Sara, and oth er senior officials in the ground-breaking cere mony of the Samal Is land-Davao City Connec tor project. As I said in my speech, China has been and will always be the close neighbor, good rel ative and friendly partner of the Philippines. The rice donation is a token of friendship and a testa ment of our commitment. I sincerely hope that these rice could help improve local families’ livelihood and contribute to an in clusive development for all,” Xilian posted.

MATI...

para bang pure service. But it can be an enterprise for the city as well. For the growers, thank you sa pagsugal dahil naniniwa la kayo sa Mati. Invest in Mati,” she said.

With the construction of the chicken dressing plant, businessmen as well as the consumers in Mati will be able to avail of the product.

DAVAO...

FROM 3

sa Maguindanao (We are waiting for the requests of our social worker coun terparts there in Maguin danao),” she said.

The dressing plant can produce 2,500 dressed chickens every hour.

Meanwhile, Trade and Industry Provincial di rector Lucky Siegfred M. Balleque earlier said that the province is promoting poultry raising in com munities along with the establishment of the said dressing plant. By Maya M. Padillo

GILBERT...

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tercolor. My subjects and themes in painting are var ied as well, but they are sim ple and easy in content and substance. Such paintings won’t scare off little children or offend a guest in your liv ing room.”

His paintings are proce dural rather than conceptu al. “Such paintings promote and encourage love and beauty, happiness and joy, and well and godly,” he said. “But I love my brushstrokes bold and decisive or at least that is how my audience see my works: spontaneous and wild yet free.”

ors, my style is marked by employing wild and spon taneous abstracted brush strokes.”

“The water hyacinth is so thick that we can even walk over it,” he added. (PNA)

(DOE) gave the go-signal for Razon-led Prime In frastructure Capital Inc. to acquire the 45% inter est of Shell Philippines Exploration BV (SPEX) in the Malampaya Service Contract 38.

The DOE said it ap proved the transaction after a “thorough review,” with the approval condi tioned on SPEX remain ing as a subsidiary of Prime Infra.

Prime Infrastructure serves as the infrastruc ture arm of the Razon group, with focus on en ergy, water, and waste management.

Davao City will also deliver psychosocial ser vices to the residents to help them deal with the trauma, Gallo said.

Gallo said basic needs such as food and drinking water are the top priority in aid distribution.

Hygiene kits, toilet

PRO 11... FROM 3

the safety of the people who visited their loved ones. In all cemeteries, PRO 11 has set up a pub lic assistance desk with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine Coast Guard, and force multipliers.

Silo said PRO 11 has also confiscated a lot of bladed weapons that the people brought to differ ent cemeteries.

ries, sleeping materials and medicines are also very much needed.

Gallo said those who wish to donate are en couraged to give the afore mentioned essential items which can be dropped off at the CSWDO main build ing on Pichon Street.

Relief donations can also be dropped at the Task Force Davao Head quarters in Sta. Ana Wharf and at the Rizal Park. CIO

Miraflor considered wa tercolor painting as the most delicate and the hardest me dium of all. “(It is) far more difficult to maneuver than oil painting,” he said. “For one, watercolor painting is as archival as oil painting. That is the truth of the mat ter.”

There are some notions that watercolor paintings don’t last long compared with those of oil paintings. He dispelled such a myth. “In fact, watercolor paintings existed long before the first oil painting came; these wa tercolor paintings are still as brilliant today as they were first painted,” he said.

When asked how many hours it takes him to paint a piece (“I paint fast and fu rious!”), he said it depends on the size. For instance, the full sheet watercolor paper – 22 x 30 inches – takes him between one to two hours from start to finish. “It is not the number of hours or days you put in a painting but the quality of time you give,” he said. “I paint in a spur of the moment. My objective in ev ery piece is to try to paint in as limited a stroke as possi ble. If I could paint it in one single stroke, I would be sat isfied. Less is more!”

Miraflor has exhibit ed some of his paintings in local and international shows. The first interna tional exhibit was when he solely represented the Phil ippines in an International Watercolor Exposition in Bratislava, Slovakia. He also did some exhibits in Italy, In donesia, Malaysia, and Hong Kong (online exhibit).

“Maliban doon sinise guro namin ang mga nai wan na kanilang tahanan ay napapasyalan ng ating mga kapulisan upang ma-proteksyonan ang kanilang mga ari-arian against sa nagbabalak na gumawa ng crime against property,” he said.

Silo reported that no untoward incidents were recorded during Undas 2022.

The secret is: how these paintings are being taken care of. He explained: “How we take care of valued art works, like protecting them from direct sunlight, wheth er oil or acrylic or watercol or, matters. After all, all these paintings share the same pigments. The only differ ence is the kind of binders being used: linseed oil for oil paints and turpentine as thinner, polymer for acryl ics with acrylic medium as vehicle, and gum Arabic for watercolor wherein water is used as thinner.”

The second reason, without further explanation, is that “watercolor painting is an exquisite medium!”

It took Miraflor more than two decades to discov er his own brand of painting. “I appreciate the realistic kind of painting as much as I love impressionist types but really my paintings are rath er suggestive in character,” he said.

He called his paintings “representational abstrac tionism” which means “ab stracts with readily iden tifiable objects.” He said, “While impressionist style is described by its use of col

LAVINE...

FROM 11

Brooklyn to a 58-52 lead at halftime.

The Nets struggled early and fell behind Chicago 15-7 midway through the first quarter. But Durant sparked a 20-10 run with 14 points of his own, including sev en straight to put the Nets ahead 27-25 at the end of the period.

FAMILIAR POSITION

Vaughn formed part of former coach Kenny At kinson’s staff in Brooklyn and replaced him as inter im head coach on March 7, 2020. He coached the Nets to a 7-3 record be fore they were swept by the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the playoffs in the Walt Disney World

“When I exhibit abroad, I see to it that I showcase our very own Filipino culture,” he stressed. “It is part of my advocacy. But what is im portant is: I paint to express my soul as an artist; praises and honor and money are simply bonuses. Achieving the objective is for me syn onymous to my fulfillment as an artist.”

So far, Miraflor has won 5 top awards in national art competitions, three of which were in watercolor. The awards were: Grand Prize in the National Stamps Com petition “Pasko 96” (1996), Grand Prize in First Philip pine Watercolor Conven tion (2017), Second Prize in Third Philippine Watercolor Convention (2019), Grand Prize in 15th GSIS Art Sculp ture Competition (2019), and Third Prize in First Na tional Watercolor Competi tion from Sihag Cebu Water Color Society (2020).

In terms of arts, the Phil ippines is still far behind compared with other coun tries. “That is natural for developing countries to lag behind not only in arts but in almost every aspect as compared to highly-devel oped and rich countries,” he said. “But I believe we are at par with other countries in every aspect, skill-wise and talent-wise.”

bubble. He was an assistant un der Gregg Popovich with the San Antonio Spurs from 2010-12 and then got his first lead coaching position with the Orlando Magic in 2012. Under Vaughn, the Magic missed the playoffs the first two years before he was fired 52 games into his third and final season.

TIP-INS

Bulls: Andre Drummond (shoulder contusion) did not play.

Nets: G Seth Curry (left ankle – injury management) did not play.

UP NEXT: Bulls: Host the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday night.

LaVine stars as Bulls defeat Nets in first game after Nash firing

NEW

YORK — Zach LaVine scored 20 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter, leading the Chicago Bulls to a 108-99 victory over Brooklyn on Tuesday night (Wednesday, Manila time) in the Nets’ first game after a coaching change.

The Nets announced Steve Nash was out earlier in the day, then fell to 2-6 with Jacque Vaughn leading them. Kevin Durant had 32

points and nine rebounds for the Nets, but Kyrie Irving managed only four points on 2-for-12 shooting. He missed all six 3-point at tempts.

DeMar DeRozan added 20 points and Ayo Dosunmu had 17 for the Bulls, who outscored the Nets 31-19 in the final quarter. Goran

Dragic, who played last sea son with the Nets, chipped in 15 off the bench as the Bulls snapped a two-game losing streak.

Royce O’Neale matched his career high with 20 points and Nic Claxton had 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets, who played without Ben Simmons for

FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KEN

Interestingly, Converge is the team to watch in the current PBA Commissioner’s Cup even as TNT continues to struggle and appears to face what looks like a “one-man mutiny” in star shooting guard Mikey Williams who has been suspended due to disciplinary lapses.

But the thrilling and exciting story to tell in the local basket ball scene remains about how the Fighting Maroons are seizing the moment in the UAAP circuit.

There is just a slim question that hangs in the mind and this is whether the Diliman Scholars can repeat over archrivals Ateneo and

DLSU in the second round.

There is also Adamson to overcome and a resurgent FEU which registered its third straight win at the expense of UE in Sunday’s UAAP undercard.

Coch Goldwyn Monteverde’s boys flirted with defeat before subduing a hard fighting but luckless NU five, 75-63 as second round hostilities began Sunday.

Again, after the Bulldogs temporarily took the driver’s seat 63-62 late in the fourth quarter, the ever reliable shoot ing hands of Carl Tamayo found their range with back to back baskets, giving the Maroons

a second straight night be cause of a sore left knee.

LaVine and the Bulls trailed 80-77 at the start of the fourth quarter before the All-Star guard heated up. The Nets still led 88-84 before Dosunmu sparked a 7-0 run with a 3-pointer opposite the Bulls bench to take a 91-88 lead.

Irving answered with a layup but LaVine responded with three straight baskets, including a 3-pointer that made it 99-90 with 5:37 left in regulation and put the game out of reach.

Durant scored 20 points on 4 for 6 from the field and hit 10 free throws to pace

LAVINE,

UP ON ITS WAY

enough breathing space to reg ister its 7th win in nine starts.

Yes, the stigma of UP’s loss to NU in the first round has been erased and Monteverde has been able to take his boys one step higher in the UAAP ladder.

Still, I would hasten to add that, despite achieving posi tive results in their progressive title-retention campaign, the Fighting Maroons are far from coming to par with Ateneo’s superb three-peat performance some seasons ago.

If Monteverde can effectively transform his platoon the way Tab Baldwin did to the Blue Ea

gles when Thirdy Ravena, Gian Mamuyac, and the Nieto broth ers some time ago were still playing, the competing teams will find it difficult to thwart UP’s increasing winning mo mentum.

It cannot be denied that, compared to the competition, Monteverde has been able to gather together a balanced team both in defense and offense in Carl Tamayo, Zavier Lucero, Cagulangan, Fortea, Diouf, Gali nato, Spencer, Alarcon, Abadia no et al.

Tamayo can be dubbed as the “Fourth Quarter Go To Guy”

after bailing his comrades sever al times from the jaws of defeat.

Let us see how Ateneo com bat Adamson in its next assign ment so we can rate the Blue Eagles’ performance compara tively against their Katipunan counterparts.

The Green Archers are skid ding but their mission is obvi ously to maintain DLSU’s proud tradition of not losing to their arch rivals Ateneo and UP.

UP is on its way indeed but Monteverde must be wary of an ambush. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com,)

Zach LaVine goes 10 for 21, including 5 of 11 from beyond the arc. PHOTO: AP

SWEEP IN MIND

eye

sweep 5th window vs Saudis, Jordanians

The

Philippines is eyeing to sweep its games in the fifth window of the 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers which happens to be in enemy territory.

The Philippine team is leav ing for the Middle East this weekend to face Jordan on Nov. 10 and Saudi Arabia on Nov. 13.

“We have to come in very confident just like any other window,” National Team guard Kiefer Ravena said in a report by SPIN.ph. “We were reminded that Jordan hasn’t made it and hasn’t qualified for the World Cup yet and they’ll be coming out swinging talaga. They have to win games in order to quali fy.”

Gilas and Jordan hold iden tical 3-3 win-loss records in Group E, and though the Philip pines is already in as one of the hosts, Ravena said that the Phil ippines must show its strength in this game.

“Alam namin yun, ready kami doon mentally, and we have to be ready physically as well. Yun ang pinaghahan daan namin ngayon. Hopefully ma-execute namin and malabas namin para maganda ang ka labasan ng window na ito,” he said.

Ravena is one of the four Ja pan B.League imports who are returning to the national team. His brother Thirdy Ravena, Dwight Ramos and Bobby Ray Parks, who also suited up in the games in August, are back for this window.

Kai Sotto is also set to arrive from Adelaide this week as they

join forces with PBA stars and collegiate standouts.

Ravena feels that this win dow will net better retults this time as they try to build on Gi las’ gains from the fourth win dow back in August.

“Kung ano lang yung ma dadagdag namin sa team. Yung team naman is more than capa ble of functioning on its own in terms of the players at nandoon naman yung kailangan na piec es,” he said.

“The team’s looking good and with the core players that played in the last window, konti na lang yung kailangan namin i-adjust in terms of knowing how to play with each other. Yun naman yung naging prob lema last time. Sobrang bilis lang din talaga ng nangyari at walang time.”

Ravena also sees this No vember games as “an opportu nity for everybody to step up” as Gilas won’t have Jordan Clark son this time out. The Utah Jazz shooter averaged 25.0 points on 41-percent shooting from deep, to go with 6.5 assists and 5.5 rebounds in two games.

“Mahirap punuin yung num bers ni JC kung isang tao lang,” he said. “Kailangan lahat talaga mag-next man up mentality, as the cliche goes. Opportuni ty lang na binibigay sa harap namin na kailangan namin i-gr ab.”

Dwight Ramos, Thirdy Ravena, Ray Parks and Kiefer Ravena are again part of the Gilas pool.