Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 175 | Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022

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VOL.15 ISSUE 175 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2022

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PARTY SEASON Dabawenyos urged to get vaccinated as Christmas gatherings, reunions start STORY ON PAGE 2

A construction worker repairs a protection screen for falling debris at a construction site of a condominium building along J.P. Laurel Avenue in Davao City on Saturday. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 175 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2022

Ground Zero in Kusiong, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte on 4 November 2022, a week after the landslide triggered by heavy rains brought about by severe tropical storm Paeng on 28 October 2022. MindaNews photo by GREGORIO C. BUENO

PARTY SEASON T

387 deportees from Sabah arrive in Zamboanga City

Dabawenyos urged to get vaccinated as Christmas gatherings, reunions start

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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abawenyos are urged to get vaccinated with gatherings, parties, and reunions seen to kickstart the Christmas Season.

Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force, urged Dabawenyos to avail of the vaccines to avoid infection or getting severe type of Covid-19.

“Now that Christmas Season is fast approaching, before unta sa Christmas activities like caroling, gathering, ug reunion, unta magpabakuna na ang tan-

an so that you will enjoy the gatherings na walay worry of getting the infection ug makakuha ug severe type of Covid-19 during those times na maglingaw lingaw mo,” she said.

Schlosser reiterated that the vaccines work against any variants of Covid-19.

Dabawenyos are urged to visit the People’s Park on

Saturday to avail of the anti-Covid-19 primary twodose vaccination series and booster shots.

“If in case dili nato mapigilan ang transmission at least mapigilan ang kamatayon and we already have the vaccine that prevents the severity of the disease,” she said.

Schlosser added that with the minimum public health standards (MPHS) already relaxed and full face-to-face classes already started, it is wise for Dabawenyos to get their

vaccines and boosters as an added layer of protection against the severity of the disease.

Meanwhile, Schlosser underscored that face masks are still mandatory in public transportation and medical health facilities as it also encourages those in the vulnerable sector to protect themselves amid President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos’ Executive Order (EO) No. 7 that allows the voluntary wearing of face masks in indoor

boundary of North Cotabato and Maguindanao provinces.

Mundala was unable to reveal the identities of the surrenderers “for security reasons and the safety of their respective families.”

He said the BIFF batch yielded at the 90IB Advance Command Post in

Barangay Ladtingan here in coordination with local villagers and officials.

The surrenderers turned over five high-powered firearms, a homemade mortar weapon with launchpad, and two improvised explosive devices.

“Today, we also presented them to Mayor Salik P.

Mamasabulod of nearby Pagalungan, Maguindanao, which is their hometown to avail of initial government services and programs”, he said.

Mundala said the BIFF surrenderers will undergo a “deradicalization” program and will be enrolled in the government’s reintegration program. (PNA)

FPARTY, P10

Six BIFF fighters yield in NorCot

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ix members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) surrendered here Friday before the Army’s 90th Infantry Battalion (IB).

Lt. Col. Rommel Mundala, the 90IB commander, said the surrenderers are followers of the BIFF-Karialan faction operating in the

hree hundred eighty-seven Filipino deportees from Sabah in Malaysia arrived in Zambonga City on Thursday night, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Office (DSWD) Region 9 said.

DSWD 9 Information Officer Ivan Salvador told MindaNews that 365 of the adult deportees are males and 14 are females, and eight are minors.

“They are presently billeted at the Processing Center for Displaced Persons or PDCP in Mampang barangay (in Zamboanga City),” Salvador said.

“They were provided (by DSWD) with hot meals, hygiene essentials, temporary shelter and transportation assistance,” he said.

“Some other assistance may include medical and hospitalization as the need arises,” he added.

Abs, in his early thirties, said he and other deportees boarded M/V Antonia of Aleson Shipping Lines on Tuesday, following days of being held at the Tawau Immigration Deportation Center in Tawau, Sabah as undocumented Filipinos.

“We entered Malaysia without proper doc-

uments, no passports or proper IDs. The others had fake passports,” he said in Tagalog.

“Most of these Filipinos entered Sandakan and Sabah in batches through the southern backdoor, via Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, and Basilan.

They arrived in Malaysia with no legal papers or identity cards. Most of them worked through a network of kinship and mixing in with the local residents. They continue to believe that Sabah belongs to the Sultanate of Sulu,” Capt. Benzar Mukarram, Zamboanga City Maritime Police Commander said.

Tawi-Tawi often serves as the jump-off point of Filipinos going to Sabah being the island nearest to the Malaysian territory, which the Sultanate of Sulu continues to claim as its own based on historical records.

Three hundred fifty-five deportees also arrived in the city on October 20.

Salvador said the DSWD, Bureau of Immigration and other agencies are conducting a profiling to determine the addresses of the deportees in the Philippines.

(Frencie L. Carreon/MindaNews)

EDGEDAVAO

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NEWS

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Personnel from the city government of Davao Scenes turn over welfare goods, medicines, bottled water, sleeping kits, and hygiene kits to the Local Government Units of Cotabato City and Maguindanao Province. The second batch of goods delivered on November 4, were from the city government of Davao, Philippine Coast Guard, and private donors. CIO

VP Sara proudly cites Davao City Library in 32nd Library month Army recovers NPA rebels’ highpowered firearms in Bukidnon

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he 89th Infantry Battalion along with other intelligence units under the 1003rd Infantry “Raptor” Brigade recovered five high-powered firearms at Sitio Misalay, Kalagangan, San Fernando, Bukidnon on November 4, 2022.

Dayang Mansumuy-at alias Jovan, former Commanding Officer of Regional Headquarters of the Southern Mindanao Regional Committee (RHQ, SMRC) of the Communist Terrorist Group (CTG) revealed the location of an arms cache containing three Bushmaster M16 rifles, one Colt M16A1 rifle, and one AK47 CZ858 Tactical rifle along with one anti-personnel mine, and three upper receivers of an M16 rifle, M60 Machine Gun, and M14 rifle.

According to BGen Consolito P Yecla, 1003rd Infantry Brigade Commander, the successful retrieval was made possible because of the unit’s effective handling of Mansumuy-at who

surrendered to the said unit on October 17, 2022.

Likewise, he said that the firearms were owned and cached by the members of the RHQ, SMRC sometime from 2018 to 2020 before the said NPA unit moved to Davao De Oro. Meanwhile, MGen Nolasco A Mempin, 10ID Commander, lauded the 1003rd Infantry Brigade for their effective sustainment operations that led to the recovery of war materiel.

“The trust and confidence we gained from our former rebels, now friends rescued, resulted in this significant accomplishment. Rest assured that we will continue to sustain our gains, and we will not allow any inch of our area of responsibility here in Region 11 to be recovered by the Communist NPA Terrorists,” MGen Mempin added.

From January 1, 2022 to date, 10ID gained 298 firearms composed of 269 high-powered and 29 low-powered firearms.

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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ice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte bragged about the Davao City library and how it helped the youth during the pandemic.

In her message delivered during the recent National Library of the Philippines 32nd Library and Information Services Month (LISM), the Vice President said that with the pandemic shutdown of schools in Davao City, the Library launched the program “Share a Book” for people undergoing quarantine at the temporary treatment and monitoring facilities.

She also said the Davao City Library also continued the implementation of the book lending program to give community children educational activities while the city was on lockdown.

Duterte also mentioned Davao City’s mobile library, which is a bus loaded with books and other reading materials, wherein books were delivered right to the barangays.

“And children were

asked to choose which books they want to read,” she said.

She said that while some Philippine libraries have evolved through time to keep up with technology and the exchange of information that travels at the speed of light, the country’s libraries have protected the foundations upon which they were built.

“You have maintained the integrity of libraries as learning hubs for Filipinos — offering the public relevant, verified, reviewed, truthful, and reliable information. And this is not an easy task. Not in this day

and age. Today we are virtually swimming through a vast, endless ocean of digital information. And just like an ocean, the information that can be had through digital information is breathtaking as it is abundant. But it is not without dangers,” she said.

She said Filipinos have seen how accessibility to online information has diluted depth and quality — or how convenience watered down hard work, diligence, and thirst for knowledge.

She added that there is an over-reliance on digital

He said personnel in the offices can efficiently explain to clients about lease contracts and easily cater to interment in the cemeteries.

The clients will also be briefed on the rates of the lease stipulated in the 2017 Revenue code of Davao.

With the accomplishment of the lease contracts, the location of the burial areas

will be properly identified and easily located.

“Sa presensya sa atoang opisina mas madali ang naay magpalubong,” Macalipes said.

Meanwhile, Macalipes said CEE is recommending that the other public cemeteries in Davao City be converted into compartmentalized niches like the Wireless Cemetery.

He also said their office is recommending that the Wireless Cemetery will be the standard model for the other public cemeteries in the city.

“Dili naka maglukso lukso sa mga pantyon ug mahadlok pud ka usahay basi dili na lig-on tung pantyon na imong gipatungan. Mas nindto na i-com-

FVP SARA, P10

EE opens offices in public cemeteries

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he City Economic Enterprise (CEE) has activated offices within the CEE-operated-public cemeteries during Undas 2022.

Maximo Macalipes, head of CEE, said the offices within the CEE-operated-public cemeteries aim to give clients convenience for their burial service query.

FEE OPENS, P10

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 175 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2022

Addressing elevated inflation, which hit 7.7 percent in October driven by higher costs of select food items, is way beyond the 2 to 4 percent government target, is the top priority of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his economic team, according to Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno.

Trade deficit in Sept. narrows to USD4.8-B

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he Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Friday reported that the country’s trade deficit in September this year has slowed down to USD4.82 billion from USD6.02 billion in August.

This developed as the country exported more in September and imported less in the same month compared to its previous month.

Philippine exports grew by 11.6 percent monthon-month when it posted USD7.16 billion compared to USD6.41 billion.

The export value in September was also the highest in the past six months.

September 2022 export revenues were higher by

7 percent than a year ago, with exports amounting to USD6.69 billion.

PSA said sectors with the highest export gains in September include ignition wiring sets and other wiring sets used in vehicles, aircraft, and ships, with an increase of 25.4 percent; electronic products, up by 19.3 percent; machinery and transport equipment, up by 7.5 percent; electronic equipment and parts, up by 7 percent; and other

manufactured goods, up by 5.6 percent.

The top destinations for Philippine exports in September include the United States of America, sharing 16.4 percent of the total exports, Hong Kong (14.9 percent), Japan (13.9 percent), China (12.6 percent), and Singapore (5 percent).

Meanwhile, imported products in September this year declined by 3.6 percent to USD11.98 billion from USD12.43 billion in August.

Year-on-year, September imports increased by 14.1 percent from USD10.5 billion in 2021.

The PSA reported five

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al Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa said the value of one peso in 2018 slipped to 85 centavos in October.

It was equivalent to 86 centavos in July.

The purchasing power of the Philippine peso is computed as 1 divided by the consumer price index

(CPI), multiplied by 100.

Inflation, which refers to the rate of change in the consumer price index, accelerated to 7.7% in October from 6.9% in September amid the consistent rise in food, utilities, and transportation costs.

Last month’s inflation

sectors with double-digit growth in imports. These sectors are mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials, up by 64.2 percent; transport equipment, up by 53.3 percent; miscellaneous manufactured articles, up by 33.7 percent; organic and inorganic chemicals, up by 31 percent; and other food and live animals, up by 26.8 percent.

Top sources of imports in September were China, sharing 20 percent of the total imports, followed by Indonesia (11.3 percent), Japan (9.5 percent), South Korea (6.9 percent), and the USA (6.8 percent).

(PNA)

was the highest in almost 14 years, or since the 7.8% recorded in December 2008, at the height of the global financial crisis.

Mapa said that year-todate, the purchasing power of the peso stands at 87 centavos against its value

Value of P1 in 2018 dropped to 85 cents in October: PSA he purchasing power of the Philippine peso declined further in October amid higher inflation and the weakening of the local currency against the US dollar.

At a press briefing on Friday, Philippine Statistics Authority chief and Nation-

FVALUE, P10

BSP says inflation likely to decelerate in 2023

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he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas on Friday said the elevated inflation rate has seen to persist towards the end of the year due to upside risks but will likely decelerate in 2023.

“Inflation is projected to remain elevated for the rest of 2022 but will likely decelerate in 2023 due to easing global oil and non-oil prices, negative base effects from transport fare adjustments in 2022, and as the impact of BSP’s cumulative policy rate adjustments take hold on the economy,” BSP said in a press statement.

The central bank said that although the projected outlook is that risks remain on the upside until next year, they “are seen to be broadly balanced for 2024.”

Earlier the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported another surge in the domestic inflation rate last October when it climbed to 7.7 percent, the highest since December 2008.

Last month’s inflation

rate was a little short of a 1 percent jump from September’s 6.9 percent, and 4 percent higher than last year’s, bringing the average inflation to date to 5.4 percent, further exceeding the government’s 2-4 percent target band.

The latest inflation print remains within the central bank’s 7.1-7.9 percent projection.

“The potential impact of higher global non-oil prices, additional transport fare hikes, increased food prices owing to weather disturbances, and a sharp rise in sugar prices, are the major upside risks to the inflation outlook,” it said.

The agency, however, noted that “the impact of a weaker-than-expected global economic recovery is the primary downside risk to the outlook.”

It said these current developments are to be reviewed by its policy-making Monetary Board (MB) during its rate-setting meeting on November 17 to check its impact on monetary policy.

ECONOMY

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A vendor shows traditional Christmas lanterns to a customer at his shop along Tionko Avenue, Davao City on Friday, November 4, 2022. MindaNews Photo

Davao Region’s 9.8% inflation in Oct. highest in the country Online sellers, influencers T need to pay taxes - BIR

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he Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) is in talks with e-commerce giants like Lazada and Shopee on the collection of taxes for online sellers.

At the Philippine E-Commerce Summit in Pasay, BIR Commissioner Lilia Guillermo reiterated that all sellers must pay taxes, including those in the digital economy. However, she noted that many have yet to do so.

“There are initial observations and findings na talaga maraming (that there are many who were) non-compliant,” revealed Guillermo.

She is urging online shopping platforms to give them data so proper taxes can be collected.

Guillermo said some platforms were still studying this move as it might violate privacy laws.

“My strategy is to at least... [make a] memorandum of agreement with the Data Privacy Commission [that] giving data to BIR is not a privacy concern,” Guillermo said as one solution to the issue.

She also mentioned that

social media influencers, whether individuals or companies, must pay income tax and value-added tax.

The BIR may soon issue a memo urging for the voluntary registration of influencers and those earning online.

“Kung ayaw nila mag-volunteer, then do not.

Kami naman pupunta sa kanila. Audit na ‘yan,” the BIR chief asserted.

(If they won’t volunteer, then don’t. We’ll go to them.

We’ll audit them.)

Guillermo is also hopeful for the passage of legislation to further help expand the tax base.

One measures seeks to allow taxes on digital services bought or subscribed in the Philippines from a company based abroad.

Guillermo said those which could be taxed included foreign digital services like “video and online games to webcasts and webinars, from music files and image files to online advertising spaces and from electronic market places to online training and yes, even the streaming services.”

he Davao Region posted an inflation rate of 9.8% in October, the highest among 17 regions in the country, according to a report released by the Philippines Statistics Authority (PSA) on Friday.

Based on the Summary Inflation Report Consumer Price Index, PSA said the inflation rate in the region further accelerated from 9.6% reported in September.

The region comprises the provinces of Davao del Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental, and Davao

City.

The inflation rate for the whole country in October was 7.7%.

The PSA said the increase in inflation rate in the region was largely caused by the movement in the prices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 12.2% from 10.3%, and food and non-alcoholic beverages at

11.7% from 10.5% in September.

Mackie Macalipes, head of the City Economic Enterprise, told Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR 87.5) on Friday that the opening of 24/7 Davao Food Terminal Complex in Barangay Daliao, Toril in Davao City last October 18 would help stabilize the prices of vegetables and fruits in the local markets as the local retailers could get their supply at a lower price.

According to the City Information Office, “All fruits and vegetables from

neighboring regions will be directed through the DFTC before reaching the retail markets” such as Agdao, Bankerohan, Buhangin, Piapi, Matina Crossing, Calinan, Toril, Sasa, and Tibungco,” making it easier for the local government to monitor prices.

According to the agency, clothing and footwear reported a slight increase in October at 4.7% as against 4.4% in September; furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance at 6.5%

kami ni Bagyong Paeng.

Our sugar lands were devastated by floods,” UNIFED president Manuel Lamata said.

Pablo Luis Azcona, planters representative of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) board, said the sugar producer group’s request has a basis.

“The inputs naman po of the farmer have not [dropped] down. P85 or even suggesting P90 SRP on refined then our raw sugar will be hopefully nasa P57 to P60 and at P60 that will give the farmers a chance to make a little money and make up the expenses kasi yung fuel and fertilizer po

ay still sobrang taas,” Azcona said.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is studying the sugar producer group’s appeal.

FDAVAO, P10

Some producers seek P85 to P90 SRP for kilo of sugar

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he United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines (UNIFED) sought for an increase in the suggested retail price (SRP) of sugar between P85 and P90 per kilo after farms were battered by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.

“Naghihingi ako ng angat ng SRP kasi tinamaan

“Once we come up with the price na siguro nasa P85 to P90 po tama po ‘yan

FSOME, P10

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 175 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2022

On the importance of Philippine libraries which have evolved through time to keep up with technology and exchange of information:

“You have maintained the integrity of libraries as learning hubs for Filipinos — offering the public relevant, verified, reviewed, truthful, and reliable information. And this is not an easy task. Not in this day and age. Today we are virtually swimming through a vast, endless ocean of digital information. And just like an ocean, the information that can be had through digital information is breathtaking as it is abundant. But it is not without dangers.”

Vice President SARA DUTERTE

EDGEDAVAO

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LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. Desk Editor MOSES BILLACURA Sports Editor

ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN MEGHANN STA. INES FERINA SANTOS Lifestyle ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. Correspondent

ANA MARIE G. SILPAO Layout Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN “ADI” C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN • NICASIO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO • JOHN CARLO TRIA • MUJAHID NAVARRAANGELO • FRED C. LUMBA ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO “GICO” G. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ DENNIS R. GORECHO • VIDA MIA S. VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE • CHITO MALABANAN

OLIVIA D. VELASCO SOLANI D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONAJASPER OLIVIA D. VELASCO V. BACSAL General Manager PresidentAdvertising Specialist Finance General Manager / VP Operations JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 175 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2022

VANTAGE POINTS

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ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

CLAVERIA, DAVAO’S BANKING CAPITAL Then and now, Claveria Street (now C. M. Recto) remains the undisputed banking capital of Davao City for obvious reason that it has accommodated since the prewar period dozens of banks and non-banking institutions that have helped shape the urban economic landscape.

Unlike today, banks never posted business offers, and, if there was, it was limited to wide-ly circulated newspapers. Later, the idea of publicizing caught up when telephone directories in the 1960s started carrying adverts for broader dissemination and exposure of enterprises.

Traditionally, Claveria (as it is still widely known) has always been the center of banking of Davao City bar none. Even during their halcyon days, streets like San Pedro and Oyanguren (now Magsaysay) could not com-

pete collectively in terms of the number of banks hosted.

The choice of Claveria as center of banking institutions dates to 1918 when Philippine National Bank (PNB, corner San Pedro-Claveria) opened its Davao office. Later, the state-owned Postal Bank (founded in 1906), now Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank), moved to Claveria from its original home at corner Bolton-Magallanes where the first postal office was situated.

The banks that have made Claveria their official home have reached over two dozen, among them are the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP, corner San Pedro-Claveria), Davao Savings and Loans Association, Inc. (DSLA, corner Bonifacio-Claveria), Philippine Trust Company (Philtrust, beside San Pedro Cathedral), Bank of the

Philippines Islands (BPI, across Davao Royal Suites and Residences), Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI Main, corner Palma Gil and Claveria), Monte de Piedad Savings Bank (acquired by BDO, beside the Church of Jehovah’s Witnesses), China Banking Corp. (Chinabank, corner Rizal-Claveria), Equitable Bank (later Equitable PCI Bank, now BDO, in front of old Aldevinco), Prudential Bank & Trust Company (PBTC, corner Rizal-Claveria), Luzon Brokerage Corp. Bank (LBC Bank, closed in 2011), Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC, corner Palma Gil-Claveria), Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP, now at Oroderm City), and Manila Bankers (acquired by Chinabank, corner Jacinto-Claveria).

In recent decades, new lending and savings were logged along the thorough-

fare, among them are United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB, corner Palma-Gil and Claveria), Allied Bank (beside Davao Student Center), Banco de Oro Unibank, Inc. (BDO, beside Maguindanao Ho-tel), Banco de Oro (BDO, beside Imperial Hotel) East West Banking Corp. (EWBC, across LBC Claveria), China Bank Savings (CBS, across City Triangle), Philippine Veterans Bank (across Uno Hotel), Philippine Deposit Insurance Corp. (near Knight of Columbus building), Metro-politan Bank and Trust Co. (ground floor of Uno Hotel), Export and Industry Bank (ground floor of State Investment Trust, Inc.), Planters Bank (across City Triangle), and Insular Savings Bank (beside Caritas building, between Philtrust and BPI).

On top of banking, Claveria is also home to other

money-oriented interests that include investment houses, jewelry and pawnshops, remittance companies, courier outfits, insurance firms, cooperatives, and other non-banking lending institutions.

Historically, Claveria is an eponym of Narciso Claveria y Zaldua, the first count of Ma-nila and the Spanish governor-general (July 16, 1844 - December 26, 1849) who presented, and later approved, Don Jose Oyanguren y Cruz’s expedition to conquer Datu Mama Bago of Davao. He also decreed on November 21, 1849, the printing of ‘Catalogo Alfabetico de Apellidos’ (Alphabetical Catalogue of Surnames) that assigned Spanish family names to Fili-pinos. The municipalities of Claveria in the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Masbate, and Cagayan province were named in his memory.

PATRICK JEROME S. GUASA URBAN APE

TYPHOON PAENG AND THE COTABATO FLOOD PLAIN Typhoon Paeng, (international name Nalgae) was observed and tracked by PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) starting October 24, 2022.

In the middle of September, Antarctica (South Pole) Ice sheet observers released data that said that dramatic melting of the ice sheet was taking place, which could result in sea level rise and stronger typhoons. This story was buried by the continued rise of fuel prices, the war in Ukraine and the usual showbiz stories dominating the Philippines news cycle.

In the meantime, Paeng was growing and gathering more moisture in the air.

PAGASA started releasing weather bulletins about the typhoon by October 26, and coordinated with the Department of Interior and Local Government and Local

Government Units (LGUs) in potentially affected areas. Pre-emptive evacuation instructions were given to several LGUs to protect and safeguard lives. What was missing in the weather bulletin issued by PAGASA was information on how the typhoon would impact river basins and flood plains at the southern part of the Philippine Archipelago.

Typhoon Paeng was tracked to enter the Philippines at the upper (northern) part of the archipelago.

The southern part would experience what the weather report called as “rains caused by a lateral wind shear” caused by Typhoon Paeng in the north. This was the flaw in the report. Technical jargon was used to inform people in Mindanao about the impact of Typhoon Paeng.

PAGASA and even decision makers had no way of know-

ing how much rain would fall, and how this would impact areas near the marshes and the rivers located on the flood plain. This jargon was dismissed by local decision makers who went on with business as usual.

What was missed in the report was the map created by the Mines and Geosscience Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources that is available on the Geohazard Hunter website (hazardhunter.georisk.gov.ph/ map). The map posted on the website shows the whole Cotabato Flood Plain that covers Lake Buluan, Ligawasan Marsh, Allah River and Pulangi River as all draining towards the BARMM area with Cotabato City as the outfall location. You can go to the hazard hunter website and check this information for yourself.

When Paeng started to hit land up in the north, the rains in the south started to fall hard all-over Southern Mindanao. So much rain fell in waves starting late afternoon of October 27 until the morning hours of October 28. PAGASA or any other government agency has no way of recording how much rain fell that day because government has only three rain gauge stations with assigned observers. All of these rain gauges are located at airports – Cotabato City Airport, General Santos City Airport and Davao City Airport. There are no rain gauges with dedicated observers on river catchment areas.

The rains that fell on the largest river basin in Mindanao, all drained towards the BARMM area that eventually drained to the sea at Cotabato City. The destruction experienced by residents of

BARMM will be the “normal” for the Cotabato Flood Plain.

Typhoon Paeng and all the other incoming typhoons will cover the whole country.

Rains in Mindanao cause by wind shear as a result of a typhoon in the northern part of the Philippines will become the normal. The government of the Philippines and local decision makers will have to accept this one fact – our global climate has changed.

We now live on a constant emergency situation. There will be no going back to the past. Climate risk assessment has to be part of every Local Government Units plan consideration. Private enterprise will also have to factor that into proposed developments.

What happened in the south poles has dramatic impact on the Philippines, and that is already being felt here – now.

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EDGEDAVAO

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LIFESTYLE

SCENT FROM HOME

Louis Mireille’s new premium room sprays

BY ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO

Don’t you just love it when you breathe a luscious scent once you enter home after a long day from work?

After a stressful day and exposure to elements outdoors, I am sure there’s nothing else anyone would like to have at home than having a relaxed and calming rest on the couch while binge-watching

your favorite movies with the family.

That is what Louis Mireille French Parfums is bringing in this year as they celebrate their third year anniversary. Two premium room sprays are now out in

the market that are perfect for everyone’s personal use at home or gift ideas this coming holiday season.

First is Gaia, this scent reminds of a warm, loving, and sweet embrace unique to mothers. With notes of ylang-ylang, rose, vanilla, and cedar waiting to be discovered, breathe sweet and powdery floral notes, like a fresh morning mist wafting from the ground, any

time, any day. This beautiful name is inspired by the ancestral mother in Greek Mythology.

Second is Aine, with hints of vanilla, caramel, tonka, and raspberry.

You will be captivated by the combination of its sweet and luxurious notes of chocolate and coconut.. When you get a smell of this, you will think about lush forests and meadows.

This scent is named after the Irish goddess of

summer and wealth infusing your home with elegance.

These new scents are now available via Louise Mireille facebook page and Lazada at P880 only. Some other scents are also available at a much affordable price of P720–the dynamo(citrus & fresh), the saint (floral sweetness), the daydreamer(herbal & mint) and the protector(floral & fruity).

Aside from these

product launches that are definitely a must scent for everyone’s home, LM Parfums offer a travel set of 10ml bottles of Florence, Chrysalis, Kallie and Golden Sunrise which are a crowd favorite since day one. You can get a box for yourself or gift it to your special someone for only P799. All the other 50ml bottles of LM Parfums are very affordable and available in Lazada for only P760.

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VOL.15 ISSUE 175 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2022

ENVIRONMENT

9

Some guests and visitors to Samal may also take some private boats provided by resorts.

‘DREAM BRIDGE’ AND CORAL REEFS: THE MISSING LINK Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

O

n January 18, 1979, Mindanao Times, the island’s oldest newspaper, carried this headline: “Bridge to link city and Samal.”

“A bridge to link Davao City and Samal Island was proposed by Davao del Norte Assemblyman Rodolfo del Rosario this week,” the news lead stated.

Finally, last October 27 – after 43 years and 7 presidents – the Samal Island-Davao City (SIDC) bridge was finally launched.

The ground-breaking ceremony was attended by no less than President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Vice-President Sara Duterte.

The two-way, four-lane bridge has a width of 24 meters and a vertical navigational clearance of up to 47 meters. Two pylons 73 meters tall will support the 3.98-kilometer bridge.

Currently, the travel time from Davao City to Samal City is about 23 to 30 minutes via roll-on/roll-off ferry. But once the “Dream Bridge” becomes operational by 2027, the trip will be cut to 5 minutes.

While most people are euphoric about this recent

development, there are those who think the bridge should be realigned as it will be built over Pakiputan Strait, particularly along Samal’s Paradise Island to Costa Marine stretch.

To set the record straight, divers from the regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducted a diving activity and underwater video documentation of marine environments over the affected areas last October 12.

Fidel A. Evasco, DENR’s regional executive director and Fred Medina, commissioner of the Philippine Commission for Sports Scuba Diving, headed the diving expedition. Also present were representatives from Carabao Dive Center, Paradise Island Beach Resort (PIBR), and the Batacan, Montejo and Vicencio Law Firm.

Marine biologist Dr. John Michael Lacson of PIBR led the diving team who cov-

Soft coral reefs up close.

It takes 22-30 minutes via boat to go to Samal from Davao City.

ered approximately 690 meter-stretch of Pier 1 (jetty port of PIBR), Stations 1, 2 and 3 down to the southern area of Costa Marina Beach Resort.

The “vital pursuit” was also witnessed by representatives from Ecoteneo, an environmental group based in Ateneo de Davao University, and the local government units of Samal City.

Below are the findings of the expedition, as reported by the regional office in the

DENR’s official website: * Hard corals and other massive corals were observed in Pier 1 to Station 1 from 5 to 25 feet. Also observed were giant clam species and large numbers of damselfishes, cardinalfish, porcupinefish and wrasse. * An increase of large soft corals, including species of Sarcophyton, Lobophytum and Sinularia, can be observed between Station 1 to Station 2. “These soft corals were seen attached to dead hard corals,” the report stated. * Hard coral colonies – massive helmet corals, eye corals, branching cabbage corals and the blue coral – were scattered thinly in the area. “Large mounds of dead corals were also recorded within the 15-20 feet depth of Station 1 and 2 and the sediment in this area is sandy-coral rubble substrate,” said the report. * Station 3 – which is in front of Costa Marina Beach Resort – was observed to be dominated with soft corals lying on top of dead corals in a substantially-wide rubble area. * At points 88 and 89 – where the proposed column for the bridge will be constructed – a flat terrain of rubble substrate was observed. “Even with a strong underwater current, the

F’DREAM, P10

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and outdoor spaces.

EO 7 provides that voluntary wearing of face masks is exempted in healthcare facilities, including, but not limited to clinics, hospitals, laboratories, nursing homes, and dialysis clinics; medical transport vehicles (ambulance, paramedic rescue vehicles); and public transportation (land, air, and sea).

“We do encourage gihapon sense of responsibility and accountability sa atong kaugalingon, sa atong isig katao, ug sa atong community as one. Naa na gyud na sa decision-making, kung kabalo mo nga high-risk sya sa imoha, naay activities o events nga

you think nga high-risk sya for infection o transmission for yourself and others, wear your face mask. Be accountable for your health and of others,” she said.

EO 7 also provides that mask-wearing is encouraged for the elderly, individuals with comorbidities, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women, unvaccinated individuals, and symptomatic individuals.

Schlosser also reminded the private establishments that Davao City EO 11, Series of 2022 is still in effect, which encourages them to implement their health protocols to best serve their employees and clients.

patmentalized nato ang atong mga sementeryo at the same time naa nay perimeter fence na puwede nato pagalubngan,” Macalipes said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR).

The Wireless Cemetery

is one of the public cemeteries in the city that are already congested, including cemeteries in Panacan, Tibungco, Bunawan, Maa, Toril, Mintal, Tugbok, and Calinan. By Maya M. Padillo

language differences were not a barrier in teaching, understanding, and learning sports. Indeed, sports is a universal language that everyone understands and communicates. I gained not only valuable experience but also many friends among students who were under me in various courses as well as colleagues in the College. It opened new opportunities to link and collaborate in research and community programs.

In 2016, I was again invited as Consultant of PSC and served as Deputy National Director of the Philippine Sports Institute. I was also designated as consultant for the National Grassroots Sports Development where I proposed the Pathway to Grassroots Sports Development – Grassroots to Greatness, Playground to Podium program, the SMART ID Program for Talent Identification and the SMART ID Train the Trainers Program for physical education teachers training on how to accurately conduct fitness and performance testing for Talent Identification in the schools.

I also served as Consultant to PSC on the Indigenous Peoples’ Games with the aim of protecting, preserving, and promoting the rich intangible cultural heritage of the Filipinos.

I was designated Dean of the PSI and established the Multi-level National Coaching Certification Course of the PSC and successfully conducted level 1, 2 and 3 among coaches in the country. We were able to establish linkages with the Korea Institute of Sports where they conducted a series of Sports Science Seminar-workshop for elite and tertiary coaches. Likewise, we were able to gain the recognition of UNESCO for the highly successful PSC flagship grassroots program Children’s Games. PSC through the PSI also inked an MOU with the United

States Sports Academy the world’s leading Sports University based in Mobile, Alabama, USA. With the new President of the Philippines, a new Chairman and set of commissioners were appointed leaving the programs we started in limbo.

Working with PSC has brought many benefits not only to my professional growth but also to the Mindanao State University. In 2006, PSC gifted the University with brand-new fiberglass basketball standards replacing the old, heavy and outdated board, rings and stand we have been using since the completion of the Gym in 1981. In 2019, PSC funded the rehabilitation of the MSU Track oval transforming it into an internationally standard rubberized track and field facility for MSU, Marawi, Lanao and BARMM. The Covid-19 pandemic stalled the construction in 2020 but was finally completed in December, 2021.

I retired from service on January 1, 2022 after 40 years and 6 months of teaching physical education at the College of SPEAR, MSU main campus in Marawi City. The only institution I have served for the whole duration of my government service. Presently, I am unemployed but still busy doing community service particularly among the Indigenous Peoples communities. I have been travelling in Mindanao and the Visayas doing lectures and strategic planning in sports for LGUs. I was contracted by an international organization in April, 2022 as Lead Researcher for the Study of ASEAN Traditional Sports and Games and presented the output in Cambodia in August, 2022. I also worked with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as a member of the TWG of the Unified Tertiary Sports Development Program. Since I retired, I was invited as Resource Speak-

EE OPENS... FROM3

PROF. HENRY ... FROM 12

platforms as a source of information and this encompasses sectors, gender, age, and class.

“Ang sabi nila, “i-Google mo lang yan.”And true enough, you only need to go to Google, and all the information you supposedly need would come streaming before you in seconds.

You only need to click a link you think is relevant — you feel is relevant but not sure if it is relevant. But that’s not a problem. You can find another link if you are unsure. And then another. The next step is to highlight the text. Press control plus C to copy. Press control plus V to paste. And that’s it. Research done. Whether the information was reliable or not is not a guarantee,” she said.

Duterte, who is a mother of three with access to technology and online information, also finds this part of technology worrisome.

“I am aware of the possibility of them wandering around the dark side of the online world. I am not demonizing technology and digital information. The Department of Education is, in fact, cognizant of its role in improving the learning experience of Filipino children, and we recognize our private partners who are committed to assisting DepEd. And at the height of the pandemic, Filipino learners relied on online education,” she said.

She said in the case of online education, DepEd maintains that it should only serve as a support to in-person instruction.

“And this brings me back to the relevance of advocating for the importance of libraries, given that they are founded on the idea of a real community organizing a wealth of information and serving for the personal enrichment of the people,” she said.

of P1 in base year 2018.

Sought for comment, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. chief economist Michael Ricafort said the decrease in the purchasing power of the local currency “may largely reflect the 15% depreciation of the peso vs. the US dollar from a year ago and also since the start of 2022.”

Last month, the Philippine peso hit a record low of P59:$1.

Ricafort said the weaker peso led to higher import

prices, which, in turn, led to higher overall inflation.

“Thus, recent measures/priorities to support and stabilize the peso may definitely help [stabilize] overall inflation as well as inflation expectations, since the Philippines is a net importing country,” the economist said.

“Weaker peso in recent months and higher prices effectively reduced the purchasing power of the peso,” Ricafort added.

from 5.9%; and health at 5.3% from 5% in the region.

However, the cost of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels decreased from 9.3% to 8.4% last month in the region.

Zamboanga Peninsula’s inflation rate posted the second highest inflation rate in the country at 9.0% in October, although it improved from 9.6% recorded in September.

yung presyong tinitingnan ngayon then we can suggest an SRP. But, right now wala pa po tayong SRP,” DA Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista said.

Meanwhile, some sellers and retailers of sweet

delicacies said the prices of their products have already increased.

“Nagtaas na po yung mga produkto po namin. Kagaya ng puto po, at mga bibingka,” Kairen Cadag, retailer of sweet delicacies, said.

VALUE ... FROM 4

DAVAO ... FROM 5 SOME ... FROM 5

er in various national and international webinars in sports and physical education. I am also the Philippine Representative to the Scientific Committee on Exercise Medicine based in Malaysia. Just recently, I was elected as Vice President of the Asian Traditional Sports and Games Association (ATSGA).

I just turned 64 years old last November 1, 2022.

I may have aged but the number of years will not put a limit to what I can do and where I can go. I may have retired but I am not tired. I shall continue to be a Sports Farmer and a Sports Missionary. Sports helped me become who, what, and where I am today. I owe sports a debt of gratitude and I shall pay it forward as long as I can move!

Sports is Life and Life is

Sports. Most of the things I learned in life, I learned in sports and through sports.

My character was shaped not just by my family, community, and school but most significantly, by sports.

Discipline, Hard work, Teamwork, Cooperation, Sacrifice, Integrity, Honesty, Respect, Resilience, Empathy, Leadership, Service, Sharing, Giving, Volunteerism, Humility, Pride, Honor, Tolerance, Obedience, Courtesy, and many more are just some of the values that sports taught me. Values that are important not just in sports but more significantly in life!

This is my Journey. This is my story! What about yours?” *** We welcome your comments! Send us an email to mpb_sports@yahoo.com.

DREAM... FROM 9

team was able to document thin patches of hard corals and soft corals with presence of rubble substrate and algae within the 30-35 feet,” the report said. * When the team scanned the northeast side of point 88 at the depth of 15-20 feet, they observed patches of live corals, soft corals, coral rubble substrate, sand, silt and algae in the area. Big dead corals that were covered with algae were observed and the presence of fishes mostly pata. * At the surface of point 89, the bottom – around 5-8 feet – was observed to be a mixture of rubbles and algae. The team also found a seagrass community, live corals, soft corals, fishes and dead corals covered with algae. * At point 89, at the depth of 3 feet, presence of seagrass community, patches of live hard corals, patches of soft corals and mix of sand and rubble substrate were observed.

“Judging from the underwater topography, dense soft corals, strong underwater current and high nutrient load due to the presence of drifting mucus-like particles allegedly algae colonies, it appears that the stretch from Station 1 up to Costa Marina is exposed usually to strong underwater currents,” the team reported.

From Station 1 to Costa Marina jetty, large mounds of dead massive forming Porites species were observed.

At one time, the place was also filled with hard coral species like Goniastrea spp., Euphyllia spp., and Plerogyra spp., among others.

“These massive corals can withstand underwater current due to their massive and thick coral skeleton and dome-shape morphology,” the team said. “However, human interventions

which caused impeding water flow and disrupting longshore sediment transport and longshore current coupled with extraction of coralline rocks used for the establishment of concrete structures and the effects of eutrophication, may somehow change the underwater community structure from hard coral formed reefs to the existing soft corals ecosystem.”

The Philippines has 22,500 square kilometers of coral reef area, which represents 9 percent of the global total, making it the country with the third-largest reef area in the world (after Australia and Indonesia), according to Reefs at Risk Revisited in the Coral Triangle.

“All major reef types are present in the Philippines; most are fringing reefs along the coastlines, as well as some areas of barrier, atoll, and patch reefs,” says the Washington-based World Resources Institute. In addition, the country is home to 464 species of hard corals.

Coral reefs are considered underwater forests because of their complex ecosystem that supports a huge amount of wildlife. They serve as shelter to fishes and other marine creatures like mollusks, crustaceans, sea urchins, starfish, sponges, and tube-worms, to name a few.

Studies show a single reef can support as many as 3,000 species of marine life. As fishing grounds, they are thought to be 10 to 100 times as productive per unit area as the open sea, said Dr. Angel C. Alcala, former DENR chief.

In the Philippines, the reefs reportedly yield 5 to 37 tons of fish per square kilometer, thus making them very important to the productivity of fisheries.

up-tempo, balanced attack.

Utah went up by 16 in the third quarter before Westbrook led the Lakers nearly all the way back, scoring nine points and leading a 24-10 run while keying Los Angeles’ effort on both ends.

Westbrook was a target of many Lakers fans’ ire last season, but they serenaded him with chants of “M-V-P!” at the free throw line and “We want Westbrook!” when he was on the bench in the fourth quarter.

TIP-INS Jazz: Talen Horton-Tucker got a tribute

video during the first timeout. Horton-Tucker played the past three seasons with the Lakers after they drafted him in 2019, and he played a reserve role on their championship team in the Florida bubble in 2020. He was traded to Utah for Patrick Beverley in August. ... Italian rookie Simone Fontecchio played in the final moments after missing the previous four games in the NBA’s health and safety protocols. ...

Leandro Bolmaro missed his third straight game in the health and safety protocols.

Shinji Hazawa and Shintaro Mochizuki of Japan, 6-2, 2-6, 12-10.

Meanwhile, Filipino Francis Casey Alcantara and Vietnamese Nam Hoang Ly, the reigning SEA Games singles gold medalist, absorbed a 3-6, 2-6 loss to Fujiwara and Imamura in the round of 16.

“Our opponents played really well. We couldn’t do much. On to the next one,” said the world No. 289 Al-

cantara, who proceeded to Japan after playing one tournament in Indonesia.

Alcantara teamed up with Coleman Wong of Hong Kong in the first leg of the Medco Energi International Tennis Championships, losing to top seeds Thomas Fancutt and Brandon Walkin of Australia, 6-7 (2), 2-6 in their semifinal match at the Sultan Hotel outdoor hard court in Jakarta.

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GONZALES... FROM 11

VOL.15 ISSUE 175 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2022

EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS 11

Jordan Clarkson slams one home. PHOTO: AP

Jazz squander big lead but recover to beat Lakers

L

OS ANGELES — Lauri Markkanen had 27 points and 12 rebounds, Jordan Clarkson added 20 points, and the Utah Jazz continued their remarkable start to the season with a 130-116 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night (Saturday, Manila time).

Kelly Olynyk had 18 points and Mike Conley added 15 points and 10

assists for the Jazz, who are off to a 7-3 start to a season in which they were

widely expected to struggle. Utah blew most of a big lead in the third quarter, but surged to victory down the stretch while getting at least seven points from eight players.

Russell Westbrook had 28 points and six assists in another strong performance in a reserve role for the Lakers, who dropped to 2-6 after their two-game

Gonzales, partner win title at Yokohama Keio Challenger

F

ilipino-American Ruben Gonzales and Romanian Victor Vlad Cornea were crowned doubles champion at the Yokohama Keio Challenger in Japan on Saturday.

Gonzales and Cornea, the tournament third seeds, clinched the title after beating Japanese wild cards Tomoya Fujiwara and Masamichi Imamura, 7-5, 6-3, in the final match at the Keio University’s Hiyoshi Campus Mimitani Tennis Court.

“It was a great week for us! We kind of decided to play together last minute so it was amazing to win the tournament,” said the world No. 142 Gonzales in an online interview after the match. “This is my third

title this year and fourth final”.

“We were down match point in the first round, so awesome to go all the way and take the title,” added Gonzales, who is based in Terre Haute City in Indiana.

“I will be playing three more weeks with my good friend Christopher Rungkat,” said Gonzales, who is scheduled to join the Matsuyama International Open (Nov. 7-13), Kobe Challenger (Nov. 14-20), and Yokkaichi Challenger (Nov. 21-27).

Rungkat, who hails from Indonesia, is currently No. 184 in the world. He won the mixed doubles gold medal with Aldila Sutjiadi at the 2022 Vietnam SEA Games.

On their way to the final, Gonzales and the world No. 126 Cornea scored a 7-6 (5), 7-6 (2) win over Japan’s Taisei Ichikawa and Yuki Mochizuki, who ousted No. 1 seeds Arjun Kadhe and Ramkumar Ramanathan of India in the quarterfinal round, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 12-10.

Fujiwara and Imamura, on the other hand, walked over Frederico Ferreira Silva of Portugal and Zdenek Kolar of Czech Republic in the semifinal round.

Silva and Kolar eliminated second seeds Andrew Harris and John Patrick Smith of Australia, 6-3, 4-6, 13-11, in the round of 16 to reach the quarterfinal where they rallied past

FGONZALES, P10

winning streak ended. Los Angeles has not won three consecutive games since Jan. 7.

LeBron James had 17 points and 11 rebounds in a strained effort while still recovering from an illness and dealing with pain in his left foot. Anthony Davis scored 20 of his 22 points in the first half.

The Jazz were widely

expected to have a rough year after parting ways with Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert in the offseason, but their roster full of longtime NBA supporting talent has been the surprise of the league through 10 games. With aggressive play and gritty scoring across its lineup, Utah has beaten a series of higher-regarded teams under

first-year coach Will Hardy.

The Lakers have been a solid defensive team during their terrible start to the season, but they couldn’t keep up with Utah’s pace or shooting accuracy in the first half. The Jazz hit more than 60% of their shots — including nine 3-pointers — and committed just three turnovers with their

FJAZZ, P10

Richard Escoto of Blackwater Red President goes up against Cavitex Braves’ Bong Galanza in the PBA 3x3 Tournament on Saturday. PBA

EDGEDAVAO 12 SPORTS Prof. Henry Daut’s Journey in Sports

VOL.15 ISSUE 175 • SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2022

I would like to yield my space to a co-worker in the Sports for Peace Mindanao Movement and a great candidate to be Commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Enjoy reading and learning from the words of Professor Henry C. Daut: “Reflecting on my Journey in Sports and Through Sports!

I have never imagined a life in sports and sports as my life. As a poor man’s son, It was far from my wildest dream to be where I am today. Sports paved the way in shaping my future and I am truly grateful.

My sporting career started at a very young age. I was exposed to training and conditioning from my daily lifting of about 10 kilos of water gallons as part of my daily chores of watering the vegetable plants of my father and flowers of my mother every morning and afternoon until I reached grade six.

I gather wood and carry it on my head and shoulders walking about

5-7 km from our house on weekends. I now realized that I was doing strength training and conditioning long before I read about it in the books. When I was in elementary school, I used to skip and jump over patches of grass along the side of the road going to school at noon as the soil was too hot for my bare feet to take. I now realized that I was doing some form of plyometrics while protecting my feet from getting burned when my old slippers are decommissioned due to irreparable damage.

At school, play became an escape from not having something to eat during recess. I engaged myself together with similarly situated classmates by playing patintero under the old school building where the rooms are elevated just enough for us to run around without our heads hitting the beams of the floor. Or sometimes play agawan base at an open space in front of our classroom thus developing speed and agility in the process.

In high school, my leg power

and arm strength were developed with the daily grind of scrubbing of the convent, the library, the school office and science laboratory for four years and cutting grasses during weekends that I won the championships in 110 mHH, Long Jump and High Jump during the City meet and played in the regional meet in Southern Mindanao. I also became a varsity in volleyball and softball in the

process.

During College I enrolled in Agriculture hoping that I could be like my father with a green thumb.

I played several sports during Intramurals – Athletics, Basketball, Badminton, Volleyball, and Softball where the College of Agriculture won the championships for several years. I later learned to play Tennis, Table Tennis, and Swimming. I was a Varsity athlete in Volleyball, Athletics, Softball/ Baseball and Badminton. I graduated with a degree in Agriculture but ended up becoming a Physical educator. I have never practiced my degree in agriculture because I became a Sports Farmer instead.

There was a dearth of PE teachers/graduates in the early 80’s that I was fortunate to be hired to teach physical education even without the professional preparation in 1981.

I taught PE and studied PE at the same time until I completed a Diploma in Physical Education in 1986. The absence of a degree in PE then was never an issue. I always believe in the saying that “you cannot give what you don’t have” and I know that I have so much to give with my skills and experiences in playing. Likewise, I know students learn faster and better if you can demonstrate or model the skills you are teaching.

“To see is to Believe” is an adage that I keep reminding myself of in teaching physical education and in coaching sports.

In 1988, I pursued a Master of Science degree in Leadership and Management in Sports (now Sport Management) and Sport Psychology as my other area of specialization from the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA on a Fulbright Hays Scholarship Grant and completed the degree in 1990. I was one year short for my PhD program, but I need to honor my contract with Fulbright to return and serve after finishing my MS degree. Studying in the US has opened my mind and views of the wide gap in Physical education and sports between advanced countries and a developing country like the Philippines.

I challenged everyone to explore possibilities of studying outside the country to advance our profession. As English-speaking people,

we have the advantage over other non-English speaking- countries when we go abroad. Do not let fear and doubt prevent you from taking the risk of applying for scholarships or admission.

In 2006, I was invited to become one of the sports consultants at the Philippine Sports Commission. I was specifically tasked to help revive the Philippines Sports Institute as the educational arm of the PSC. We have prepared the programs (grassroots sports development, coaching certification, coaching education, talent identification, among others), refurbished the facilities (PSI Building, Offices, Library, Classrooms, audio-visual hall, Internet café for students among others) at PhilSports (ULTRA) in Pasig City and had a grand launching in December, 2007. However, there was a change in the leadership at the PSC in February, 2008. The program was shelved as it was not part of the priority of the new administration. It was a sad realization of the influence of politics in sports.

I returned to MSU and was elected Dean of the College of SPEAR for the second time in 2008-2011.

In 2011, Typhoon Sendong struck the country and Iligan City and Cagayan de Oro City were hardly hit. I was a survivor of Typhoon Sendong having to climb to the roof of my friend’s house just to escape the flood that ravaged the city. It was a very traumatic experience seeing cars, houses and even humans being swept by the strong current that I turned to sport as a form of intervention for healing and recovery. I established Project HOPE (Helping Overcome Psycho-Social Effects of Disasters) through Sports to provide healing and recovery among children and youth affected by disasters both natural and man-made. We continue to conduct Project HOPE through Sports for communities affected by both natural disasters and armed conflicts in Mindanao until today.

In 2013, I was invited as visiting professor at the College of Physical Education, University of Suwon, South Korea. The two years of experience teaching physical education and sports in a foreign land was truly memorable as

FPROF. HENRY, P10