Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 208 | Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022

LESS IS BEST

Keeping low positivity rate is best Christmas gift for Dabawenyos: TF

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Less is best. That’s the barometer for a merrier Christmas, according to the Covd19 Task Force.

With lesser positive cases or lower positivity rate, the special body tasked to manage Covid-19 safeguards said it would be the equivalent to the best Christmas present for Dabawenyos.

Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force, reported that for the past week, Davao City’s positivity rate remained low. As of December 11, 2022, the positivity rate of the city

was only 3.8 percent, very low based from the acceptable positivity rate of 5 percent.

“Very thankful ko seguro the best regalo na ni sa atoa for almost three years nato sa pakigbisog aning Covid-19,” she said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Wednesday.

Schlosser said with regards to the number of

deaths, it’s also decreasing. She reported that for this week, only two deaths were recorded and all are unvaccinated.

“Pero the fact is naa gihapon ta’y namatay because of Covid-19 and therefore kinahanglan gihapon ta magpabakuna tanan kasi ang datus gaingon nga kasagaran mamatay sa atoang kanang duha

FLESS, P10

Anti-trafficking in persons body in R-11 plans for next six years

The Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking in persons XI (IACAT-XI) wants to enhance its relevance within the next six years by coming up with a plan where its advocacy and education cluster, law enforcement cluster and psycho-social

unit cluster can work together in reaching out to the communities in Davao Region in 2028.

This plan was underscored in the IACAT XI Assessment, Evaluation and Strategic Planning yesterday at a local hotel in the city.

“There is a need to fine tune and tweak all

the plans in order to reach the 2028, because it will not be taken as a strategic planning if only year one is covered. It is only an operationalized plan if only a year is covered,” she said.

Hearing other recommendations, Ampog cit-

Increasing HIV cases push health educators to do massive info drive

Community health educators are doubling time to heighten public awareness and understanding about the human immune virus (HIV) leading to the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Guesting in the recent edition of Kapihan sa DavNor, both Flor Lucas, Provincial Health Office Population Program Division head, and Rae Katherine Apura, health educator of Tagum City Health Office emphasized the need to speed up community education to go along with the rising trend of HIV cases not only in Davao del Norte but in the country.

Basing on the data on HIV in the Philippine Registry, Apura revealed that the number of those diagnosed with HIV per day used to be just nine per day, nationally. This had increased over time to 30 newly diagnosed with HIV per day in 2017; 34 per day in 2021; and 42 per day in 2022.

“Increasing, so double time sa mga (health) workers, sa mga volunteers ug mga advocates, “ Lucas said.

“Let us not deprive the Filipino people, the Tagumenos or mga tao sa atong probinsya of the information on HIV; continues lang gihapon ang atong ExplainExplainExplain,”Apura adopting the communication strategy of the Philippines to #ExplainExplainExplain for better understanding moving people to change behavior.

Meanwhile, Lucas cau-

tioned that HIV infection is no longer a far-off concern of anyone as it now becomes a neighborhood situation worthy of everybody’s attention regardless of ethnicity, religion and sex.

He further revealed that all provinces in Davao Region including Davao City were monitored to have registered HIV cases, and that HIV cases were detected in all municipalities in Davao del Norte.

Davao City remained to have registered the highest number of HIV cases of 4,171 from 1993 to 2022 but Lucas cited as a concern that Tagum City came next highest in number of HIV cases at a total of 769 from 1993 to 2022.

Apura agreed that indeed Tagum City contributed a large portion of the HIV cases in Davao del Norte that she attributed to high awareness level on the availability of free HIV testing and the heightened community information and education drive.

Per HIV data registry in the Philippines, the high incidence of HIV positives fall on the 25-to-34 year-old and on the 15-to 24-yearold brackets of the population who are usually are sexually active and whose sexual curiosity is naturally extreme.

Looking further into the data of HIV positives, cases are high on men having sex with men though there were also positives on male having sex with female, and

Registrants fill up forms at the Commission on Elections office in Davao City on Tuesday (13 December 2022), the second day of registration for new voters. The registration is until 31 January 2023. MindaNews Photo

Jeanette Ampog, executive director of the non-government organization, Talikala stressed that planning must not be set only on the first year of the six-year plan but throughout the six years.

Davao City Jail intensifies efforts to prevent contraband, illegal drugs

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Rep. Pulong seeks swift enactment of HB 4469

Davao City First Congressional District Representative Paolo Duterte is seeking the swift enactment of a law that would provide overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) discounted rates on remittance fees and safeguard their hard-earned money sent back home from excessive charges.

He called for the approval of House Bill (HB) 4469 and other similar measures to protect OFW remittance fees from usurious charges as the nation commemorates the Month of Overseas Filipinos this December.

Passing the measure would also complement the OFW-friendly legacy of his father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, which is the establishment of the Overseas Filipino Bank (OFBank)-- the first branchless and digital-only bank in the country exclusively catering to the financial needs of Filipinos based abroad, the Davao City lawmaker said.

“The billions of dollars in remittances sent home by our OFWs, who we consider modern-day heroes, have always been one of the coun-

try’s major economic drivers. The money they send home helped the country ride out the economic shock triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important that we protect their hardearned earnings,” Duterte said.

HB 4469, filed by Duterte, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap, and ACT-CIS Partylist Reps. Jeffrey Soriano and Edvic Yap also make it mandatory for OFWs and their families to attend financial education seminars conducted by the government to teach them to handle and invest their money adequately.

The bill also backs a proposal setting a 50 percent cut on OFW remittance fees imposed by banks and nonbank financial intermediaries, which, in turn, can claim such discounts as tax deductions on gross income. The total deductions that can be claimed from the grant of the 50 percent discount are capped at P24,000 per OFW every taxable year.

Duterte pointed out that this hefty reduction in OFW remittance fees is possible and can even be lowered

Lieutenant Colonel Peter Bonggat, jail warden of the Davao City Jail, said there are many ways why illegal drugs enter the facility.

“May tirador, ilalagay nila sa bato, noon ginamitan tayo ng drone, sunod buto ng lutong adobong manok, tapos sumunod kalabasa. Alam na natin ang

mga modus on how they slip in contrabands. Lahat na lang pati tsinelas, yung pumapasok na electrical appliances, akala mo wire pero ang laman sa loob illegal drugs. Lahat nang mga paraan ginawa nila,” he said during the AFP PNP Press Corps media briefing on Wednesday at The Royal Mandaya Hotel.

He said what is being done now is persons deprived of liberty (PDL) are being used as drug mules by inserting illegal drugs into their anus or making them swallow the drugs.

“From the police station, ginagawa na nilang drug mules itong mga ka kosa nila or those PDL na kaya nilang bayaran doon pa lang sa police station. Yan ang mahirap nating mahuli because we do not have that high-tech scanner sa loob nag katawan. Ang masaklap ngayon, during

may wardenship, may namatay na PDL kasi pinalunok ang droga. Buti yung sa anus parang suppository, lalabas lang at nalaman namin yan. Ngayon nung nalaman nila na alam na namin, pinapakain na nila ang droga. Ito yung malaking problema natin sa existing Davao City Jail,” he said.

He said they are requesting the city government of Davao for the possible provision of an x-ray machine for a body search. He also said they are

Comelec 11 inks MOA with SM, Robinsons for voters registration

The Commission on Elections 11 (Comelec 11) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with SM Supermalls in Davao City and Robinsons for the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) voters registration.

“Nag-coordinate na ang election officers in Davao City kasi nag enter into a MOA ang Comelec

with the management of SM and Robinsons. Kung mahapsay na ang ilahang preparations mas maayo sa mall kay mas dako ang area. Ang diri sa Ecoland guwapo pagka plastar kay gitagaan mi ug usa ka space and also sa SM Lanang dako pud ang area na ilang gihatag para sa registration,” said lawyer Gay Enumerables, Comelec-Davao assistant

director, during the AFP PNP Press Corps media briefing on Wednesday at The Royal Mandaya Hotel.

Enumerables reminded that the registration has started on December 12, 2022 until January 31, 2023, from Monday to Saturday including holidays except December 24 and 31.

“Our election officers magpahigayon na sila ug

satellite registration pero sa pagka karon wala pa mi nadawat na request,” she said.

She also announced that by next year Comelec 11 will have a satellite registration for the vulnerable sectors that include people with comorbidity.

Requirements for firsttime voters is school identification card or library card.

By Maya M. Padillo

An official of the Davao City Jail said they are doubling their efforts to stop the entry of illegal drugs into the said facility.

Lt. Colonel Peter Bonggat, jail warden of the Davao City Jail, says during this week’s AFP PNP Press Corps media forum at The Royal Mandaya Hotel that authorities are doubling their efforts to stop the entry of contrabands and illegal drugs into the facility. Lean Daval Jr.

ADB raises 2022 growth forecast for PH to 7.4%

The Asian Development Bank on Wednesday said it has lowered the outlook for developing Asia due to lingering risks while the forecasts for the Philippines and Southeast Asia were raised due to the “surprisingly robust” performance of select countries.

For 2022, the growth forecast for the Philippines was revised upwards to 7.4 percent in December from the 6.5 percent projection in September, according to the updated Asian De-

velopment Outlook (ADO) 2022.

“The 2022 growth forecast for the Philippines is revised up after domestic demand spurred Q3 growth above expec-

tations,” the Manila-based multilateral lender said.

“The Philippine economy has shown strong underlying growth momentum and resilience in 2022 and this is expected to continue in 2023, with GDP growth converging towards its longer-term growth rate of about 6 percent,” said ADB Philippines Country Director Kelly Bird.

The Philippines’ 7.7 percent gross domestic product growth (GDP) in

the first 3 quarters was driven by robust private consumption and investment as well as sustained public infrastructure spending. Employment, tourism, production, retail sales and public investments, which have shown improvements, will continue to support growth, it said.

Economic managers have said that the Philippines is poised to meet its growth target of between

Marcos sees ASEAN-EU business summit boosting trade, investment

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is expecting discussions at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-European Union (ASEAN-EU) Business Summit to bring new momentum for both sides toward sustainable trade and investment.

In his closing remarks at the summit on Tuesday, Marcosa thanked the ASE-

AN-EU Business Council for its support as ASEAN member-states faced challenges such as supply issues and high prices while recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The discussions undertaken during the day will not only bring new impetus for both sides to bolster sustainable trade and investment while

opening ways to fast track the implementation of the EU’s Indo-Pacific Strategy,” Marcos said.

“There is a growing need for the public sector to collaborate with private institutions, especially now that ASEAN Member States are in a post-pandemic economic recovery and are facing new challenges brought

about by recent geopolitical tensions, problems in the supply side, problems also with food prices,” he added.

“In this regard, I would like to express my appreciation to the ASEAN-EU Business Council for its continued support and engagement to ASEAN, from the sectoral bodies up to

Expect rise in vegetable prices as Christmas approaches

The prices of vegetables are expected to increase less than two weeks before Christmas, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

In a Laging Handa public briefing on Tuesday, DA deputy spokesperson Rex Estoperez said they have received information that prices of some vegetables have gone up, which he said is a normal occurrence during the Holidays.

“Mayroon kaming impormasyon na iyong atin pong mga gulay, galing doon sa northern area, nagtaasan din, lalung-lalo na sa panahog natin sa pansit. Pero base doon sa information natin, bumaba na rin po iyong presyo dahil sa dami ng supply rin doon sa mga area na iyon. So we’re expecting na sana naman na ang atin pong mga gulay na ‘yan na kailangan natin sa Pasko ay ang presyo din dapat reasonable din(We have information that our vegetables from the northern area have also

increased, especially those used as ingredients for the Filipino noodle dish. But based on our information, prices have also dropped because of high supply. So we’re expecting that the prices of our vegetables that we need for Christmas should also be reasonable),” Estoperez said.

Vegetables normally used as ingredients for the noodle dish include cabbage, carrot, celery, pea pods, onion, and garlic.

As of the Dec. 13 price monitoring watch of the DA, cabbage is sold at PHP140 per kilo, or PHP20 higher than the day before; carrots remained at PHP100 per kilo; onions still at PHP300 per kilo; and imported and native garlic likewise unchanged at PHP100 and PHP250 a kilo, respectively.

The per kilo prices of potatoes and tomatoes dropped by PHP10 at PHP130 and PHP90, respectively.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) says prices of vegetables are expected to increase less than two weeks before Christmas. Lean Daval Jr.

PEZA approves P57-B pledges at end-Nov ‘22

The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) reported that it approved PHP57.05 billion worth of investment pledges from January to November this year.

PEZA officer-in-charge deputy director general for administration and finance Aleem Siddiqui Guiapal said these pledges came from 181 projects registered with the investment promotion agency (IPA) for the past 11 months.

Both investment approvals and number of projects declined from the same period in 2021.

Investment approvals in PEZA from January to November 2021 amounted to PHP64.5 billion, while project registration reached 229 projects.

From January to October this year, employment in PEZA economic zones reached 1,850,842 while export revenues in ecozones amounted to USD54.24 billion.

“We’re going to approve more projects,” Guiapal said in a press conference Monday evening.

He said these projects that applied for government incentives are set to be approved during the executive committee meeting of PEZA on Dec. 15.

More investments from Japan

Guiapal added that more Japanese enterprises are expected to invest in the Philippines, especially through PEZA.

“The first country they prefer is the Philippines be-

cause of the GSP (Generalized Scheme of Preferences),” he said, pertaining to the country’s trade preference benefits from the European Union’s GSP+ and the United States’ Generalized System of Preferences.

The PEZA official said this is also expected to be boosted by the planned visit of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to Japan being eyed early next year.

Among the investment leads of PEZA from Japan include biotechnology firm Junca Holdings, car seat manufacturer Shibutani Shoten Corp., apparel maker Marukame Trading Co. Ltd., information technology firm Valtes Co., Ltd., marine equipment manufacturer Nakashima Propeller Co., Ltd., ecozone logistics provider Inabata Philippines, Inc., and export manufacturing enterprise Showa Spring Co. Ltd.

PEZA OIC deputy director general for operations Vivian Santos mentioned that a business delegation from Okayama is set to visit the country in February 2023 to explore investment opportunities here.

Last Dec. 7 to 9, PEZA conducted an investment mission in Osaka and Okayama to attract small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from these areas to put up their businesses in the Philippines.

Santos said while manufacturing remains a priority of Japanese businesses, they are also diversifying into other activities such

Davao City to open more night markets

First District Councilor Bernard Al-ag, chair of the committee on trade, commerce, and industry, said during the “One Davao: A Virtual Presser” streamed live over the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)Davao’s Facebook page on Monday that the local government seeks to expand the existing Roxas Night Market and open similar night markets in other

parts of the city.

He said that they are eyeing to open night markets soon in Toril, Calinan, Mintal, Bunawan, Lanang, Marilog, and Paquibato.

The councilor said they approved last month the amendment to the existing ordinance on the night market, which seeks to expand the business model to other areas of the city.

Once signed by Mayor

Sebastian Duterte, Al-ag said that the amended ordinance would strengthen the Tiangge sa Katawhan Management Team, giving it authority to open additional night markets in other locations, including the central business district and even in far-flung areas, where it is proper.

He said amendments include improvement in the necessary services, particularly security and sanitation.

Al-ag said the Public Safety and Security Command Center is mandated to secure all night markets, the City Environment and Natural Resources Office is tasked to manage the

wastes, and the City Health Office is directed to monitor the food preparation to ensure the health safety of the customers.

He said only small vendors are qualified to secure slots in any night market.

“The amendments in the ordinance actually include lessons we have learned from the existing night market,” he added.

Al-ag said the amended ordinance charges vendors the same fee of P10 per square meter for every vendor.

He said the local government also encourages private sector-led night markets to create competi-

Advocate vies for company publicprivate sector drive vs. smuggling

Some PHP250 billion worth of state revenues is lost due to smuggling, thus, an advocate is calling on the private and the public sectors to have a common stand against the illicit trade.

In a briefing on Tuesday, businessman and FIGHT Illicit Trade (FIGHT IT) Chair Dr. Jesus Arranza said cig-

arette manufacturing accounts for the biggest share in tax leakage among the eight industries affected by smuggling, with an estimated PHP24.7 billion annually just for excise taxes.

He said illegal cigarette factories have been raided in Cavite and Pampanga while smuggled cigarettes have been observed to have

come through Cebu, Palawan, Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and Zamboanga.

The smuggled cigarettes are reported to have come from Cambodia, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia, he said.

Arranza said a reform has been made that increased the taxes on cigarettes and alcohol products

but the government failed to collect properly because of the impact of smuggling, hindering the adequate financing of the Universal Healthcare Program.

“The increased tax made the smuggling of cigarettes an even more lucrative business. It may worsen the country’s problem on

The City Government of Davao will open more night markets to help create more opportunities for the small vendors and boost the local economy by spreading out business activities to other parts of the city, a councilor said.

A vendor grills pork skewers at the Roxas Night Market in Davao City. The city government of Davao is planning to open more night markets to help create more opportunities for the small vendors and boost the local economy. Lean Daval Jr.

On Davao City’s positivity rate remaining low as best gift for Dabawenyos this Christmas:

“Pero the fact is naa gihapon ta’y namatay because of Covid-19 and therefore kinahanglan gihapon ta magpabakuna tanan kasi ang datus gaingon nga kasagaran mamatay sa atoang kanang duha kabuok namatay were unvaccinated. One senior citizen and the other was an adult. This is surprising kay naay namatay na 30 to 39 years old age bracket. Kung atong hunahunaon kani nga age group is considered in their primary health pa dapat unta naay mas dako ug tsansa na sila musurvive and kasagaran nila wala’y comorbidities kaayo. Dili ikatingala kay wala sila naka receive ug vaccine even the primary doses ug wala nila gitagaan ug tsansa ang ilang mag sarili nga magkaroon ug extra layer of protection. This is a clear data na ang unvaccinated duol sa kamatayon because they do not have any layer of protection.”

SOLANI

JASPER

JOCELYN

GREGORIO GARAY DELIGERO

MAYA

MOSES BILLACURA Sports

DR. MICHELLE SCHLOSSER Spokesperson, Davao City Covid-19 Task Force

The coming of Protestantism following the arrival of the Americans in Davao region also signaled the entry of several evangelical sects, among them the Adventists, Episcopalians, Baptists, Foursquares, Lutherans, Methodists, Wesleyans, and, Presbyterians. One of those who established a small niche in the city is the Foursquare Church.

Davao’s Foursquare Church, formed a decade after the war, was co-founded by Ameri-can missionary couple Arthur and Evelyn Thompson. Started in 1923 in Los Angeles, Cali-fornia, the sect, an evangelical Pentecostal Christian denomination, was founded by Aimee Semple McPherson. It carried a logo that has four squares representing the four scriptural roles of Jesus as (i) Savior, (ii) Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, (iii) Healer, and (iv)

Soon-Coming King.

In January 1956, the couple leased a two-story structure with a storefront and an upper floor in an area near the packed Bankerohan public market. Not knowing a word in the dia-lect, she used the storefront for her nightly preaching using her mother tongue, which most Filipinos had conversational facility and understanding. Within half a year, her converts reached hundreds; she also opened a Bible school with an initial enrolment of twenty stu-dents.

Ms. Thompson’s evangelical preaching did not really expand quite well as did other simi-lar endeavors in the future. Jim Montgomery, in ‘Fire in the Philippines’ (1971), attributed the deficiency to her failure to learn a word of dialect before launching his street meetings, add-ing: “She believed

a harvest could be gathered simply by preaching the gospel—without any of the supposedly necessary preparatory steps being taken.” Later, though, with the new ministers spreading the gospel to remote areas of the region, the sect started to build new houses of worship.

In 1958, the Foursquare Church in the country was divided into four districts. Each dis-trict, save for Iloilo, was led by a missionary supervisor while the district divisions’ direction was supervised by national managers. The Thompsons were given the Mindanao district.

Born on October 4, 1909, in Saugus, California, Laurissa Evelyn Leonard married Arthur Frances Thompson on September 6, 1924, just weeks before she turned fifteen.

Though christened at an early age, it was only in 1934 that she was baptized in the

Holy Spirit and received water baptism at Long Beach Foursquare Church. After finishing school at L.I.F.E. Bible College, now Life Pacific College, in 1938, the couple joined the evangelistic ministry and accepted the Escondido Foursquare Church pastorate in California in October 1944. In September 1954, they left for the Philippines as missionaries. A year later, they moved to Davao.

Staying until 1969 in the city, the Thompsons managed to establish a Christian day school (now Thompson Christian School), a Life Bible School, and numerous churches.

Following the death of their biological children a few years earlier, they initially adopted two children, Ramon and Joyce. Later, Thel Bringas was added to the brood. The three would be helpful to the couple’s emotional

emptiness while continuing her pastoral work. Among her converts, she was fondly called ‘Nanay,’ the Filipino call of endearment which means mother. After their work in the Philippines, they journeyed to South Korea for a four-year mission. They returned to the U.S. in 1975 where she became an associate pastor at Angelus Temple; she retired in 1996.

In 1973, Evelyn received an honorary doctorate from L.I.F.E. Bible College. On December 3, 2006, she died at her home in Pico Rivera, California, encircled by members of her immedi-ate family and close friends. She was survived by daughter Joyce and husband Jose Pascua and child David; Thel Bringas and wife Sonia and their son Ken; and two great-grandchildren. Ramon, the first adopted child, preceded the Thompsons in death.

The art of life lies in a constant readjustment to our surroundings – Kakuzo Okakura - The Book of Tea

After a three-year hiatus, I was finally able to teach a college class again this year. I was very happy that I found time to return to one of the things I like doing. Last week however, as my students took their final exams, I suddenly realized that times have truly changed. The sight of kids with face masks answering their finals on laptops or even smaller devices was a stark reminder for me of the new normal.

What was more jarring for me was the absence of pens and paper during the test. The relative silence of students scribbling on exam booklets has now been replaced by the sound of keyboards being tapped.

RAPID CHANGES AND THE GENERATION Z

Despite having mostly face to face classes nowadays, it has become apparent that the online technology which became prevalent during the pandemic has embedded itself into the way kids are taught now and the way they learn. When I returned to teaching, I learned that I had to learn a whole new way of running classes. In some classes you have a combination of on-site and online students forcing teachers to apply skills similar to taping a show with a live audience.

Exams and quizzes are loaded online while being synchronously answered. The terms are different. “Exams” have now been replaced by formative and summative assessments. Teaching has forever been altered and the teachers have been forced to continuously adapt to the

changes.

Not only has the teaching systems been changed but I have found that the new generation of students are quite different from the ones I taught for the last decade prior to my hiatus. This is the first time I have taught kids of the socalled Generation Z. To say that teaching Generation Z’s involves challenges for a Generation X like me is an understatement. The combined effects of quarantine life brought about by the pandemic, rapid tech changes, constant exposure to constant and unfettered online content have produced a unique generation of kids.

Experts in psychology, social anthropology, marketing, politics and other sciences are undoubtedly conducting numerous studies on the effects of these rapid changes on these

kids. Some of these changes are apparent. They are more reserved and harder to engage. There is a marked increase in sensitivities.

Apparently, one has to learn the proper pronouns now in addressing students (he, she, they, it). As a result, teachers now have to adjust their way of lecturing. In-class jokes and anecdotes have to be recalibrated to avoid offending sensibilities. As digital natives, they have instant access to facts. As such, teachers need to concentrate on the whys and hows. It is no wonder that many teachers have expressed difficulties in handling these changes.

Dealing with change is difficult. It is difficult for all generations. However, as John F. Kennedy once said “Change is the law of life and those who look

only to the past and present are certain to miss the future”. Capacitating the next generation is an existential priority. For better or worse we can no longer use the old ways to guide them.

They will no longer listen to us just because we are older. Institutional and peer support must now be the norm to allow us to adapt. Families must be engaged to help steer the new generation. It is not enough that we adapt the tech, we must understand how to use them in communicating with each other. It was once said that it takes a village to raise a child. Now more than ever the community must band together to ensure that everyone adapts to the changes of this new world.

This is my oblique observation.

EVENT

LIGHTING UP BRIGHTLY A BUSY CROSSROAD FOR CHRISTMAS

Christmas is the best season to enjoy the beautiful illuminations that light up the cities’ streets. Colorful lights create a magical feeling

In Davao City, the junction of Mt. Apo and Lopez Jaena Streets has become among the city’s busiest sections teeming with crowds, and vehicles hooting and passing by causing ennui to passengers and bystanders.

But this Christmas season Dabawenyos will no longer be annoyed traversing and passing through this

crossroad as the Rogen Inn compound is all lit up for the holidays following the lighting up of its 22-foot Christmas tree.

The giant tree, decked with dazzling lights, multicolored gifts as ornaments, and glittering tinsels, is the focal point of the compound.

“We wanted to share the joy we feel celebrating

the first Christmas with our guests and everyone who passes by our address at the corner of Mt. Apo and Lopez Jaena Streets. This is why we put up our holiday tree in traditional Christmas colors in front of the compound for all to see,” said Gene Bangayan, general manager.

Rogen Inn, located along the junction of Mt. Apo and

Lopez Jaena Streets, opened in the second quarter of this year. It’s a three-building accommodation that houses 328 de luxe rooms in uniform sizes with each room equipped with tap card access and other necessities for business and leisure travelers.

It is also Davao City’s newest destination for a wide selection of restaurants namely Rogen Lounge, Marinatuna, Habi at Kape, Boiling Crab and Vines, Samgyupsalamat, and Yo Froz, which are decorated for the holidays as well.

“The options are diverse-Filipino, Thai, Korean, seafood to meat, savory to desserts and dining service starts as early as 6 a.m. until nighttime. The food scene at the Rogen Inn compound is very exciting,” Bangayan said.

Along with the lighting of the tree was the launching Elements, a salon and a day spa.

that bring happiness to all.

Hackademy’s scholars graduate from free developer bootcamp

Hackademy successfully concluded the one-month introductory course of its scholarship training on Full-Stack Web Development with an astonishing 96% passing rate.

The graduates were awarded their certificates at a ceremony held at Ingenuity Software, a local software development company that partnered with TESDA to sponsor this initiative. The event was attended by the students, Founder John Naranjo, School Administrator Karina Naranjo, Program Coordinator Hilton Soberano, mentors Jeremy Pacabis and JC Payumo, and TESDA

“To our graduates, keep learning in this field because we need more skilled workers in this industry to propel our economy. I hope you can use what you learned to continue creating solutions to existing problems and even those that don’t exist yet,” Culas said in his message.

He added his gratitude to Hackademy for its service as a training provider and a crucial contributor to their efforts in transforming the country as a prime destination for talents in the IT industry.

The official training

arm of Ingenuity Software, Hackademy aims to provide an opportunity for NEETs (not in education, employment, or training) including Filipino fresh graduates, displaced employees, and career shifters to develop core competencies in IT-related courses from senior developers of a premier web and mobile development agency.

“It is our mission to help millions of Filipinos, and not just a lucky few, get the skills they need to succeed in today’s digital world,” Naranjo said.

The partnership between Hackademy and TESDA under its “Tulong Trabaho Scholarship Pro-

gram” is an essential first step in achieving this mission. Students even with no college degree and zero work experience now have the chance to be part of the promising tech industry. On its first run, Hackademy onboarded twenty (20) students under the TESDA scholarship program. At the same time, the company decided to add and support eight (more qualified applicants.

“We believe that you have what it takes to succeed in this career. With the right attitude, grit, dedication, and hard work, you can do it too — and we will work with you to reach these aspira-

tions. But you have to be willing to make sacrifices too. In the end, it will be worth it,” Naranjo added, calling on the students to remain persistent and prepared for the journey ahead.

Moving forward, all successful passers of the 1-month introductory course will proceed to the 2nd phase of the program, which will delve into backend development using Python and Django, popular programming language and framework in the field. Overall, the Full Stack Web Development track spans 4 months, after which the students are expected to develop the core skills

needed to become jobready software engineers. Soon after they graduate, they will then be given an opportunity to work on real-world projects that will equip them with the confidence and competence to land high-paying jobs in the industry.

Determined to expand the initiative of Hackademy, Naranjo remarked, “We look forward to continued collaboration with the government and our industry partners to cater to more Filipinos and offer more courses, ultimately advancing the state of IT education and professional development training in the Philippines.”

Davao del Sur Provincial Director Adonis Culas.

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kabuok namatay were unvaccinated. One senior citizen and the other was an adult. This is surprising kay naay namatay na 30 to 39 years old age bracket.

Kung atong hunahunaon kani nga age group is considered in their primary health pa dapat unta naay mas dako ug tsansa na sila mu-survive and kasagaran nila wala’y comorbidities kaayo. Dili ikatingala kay wala sila naka receive ug vaccine even the primary doses ug wala nila gitagaan ug tsansa ang ilang mag sarili nga magkaroon ug extra layer of protection. This is a clear data na ang unvaccinated duol sa kamatayon because they do not have any layer of protection,” she said.

Schlosser said it is the aim of the city government of Davao and the frontliners that even if the number of cases with Covid-19

increases or decreases, it is being hoped that nobody will die because of Covid-19 and the only way to do that is to avail the vaccination.

Meanwhile, Dr. Josephine Villafuerte, head of the Davao City Covid-19 Vaccination Program, earlier announced that the services of the Vaccination Cluster will end in January next year and vaccination of Covid-19 will be accessed through district health offices.

It is expected that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will lift the country’s State of Emergency status in January 2023.

Currently, vaccination continues at the district health offices and the People’s Park even on weekends until December 18, 2022, then it will resume in January next year at the district health offices.

ANTI-TRAFFICKING...

ed the need to tackle the issues per cluster on the first quarter of 2023 and included in the agenda will be the budget and other resources.

She said other agencies like the local government units, Department of Justice, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Migrant Workers can spearhead the program.

Ateneo de Davao University has offered its venue for the deliberation of issues by all clusters.

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Regional State Prosecutor Janet Dalisay-Fabrero bared that every RIACAT nationwide, has its own accomplishments and she saw no problem as long as the IACAT Once is aligned with the policies per se, so it can pursue with its regional concerns.

“There is no conflict. In fact, our IACAT XI is known to be one of the best for all its activities and undertakings and this would not be possible without our partnership, “she said. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)

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The prices of vegetables are expected to increase less than two weeks before Christmas, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

In a Laging Handa public briefing on Tuesday, DA deputy spokesperson Rex Estoperez said they have received information that prices of some vegetables have gone up, which he said is a normal occurrence during the Holidays.

“Mayroon kaming impormasyon na iyong atin pong mga gulay, galing doon sa northern area, nagtaasan din, lalung-lalo na sa panahog natin sa pansit.

EXPECT..

Pero base doon sa information natin, bumaba na rin po iyong presyo dahil sa dami ng supply rin doon sa mga area na iyon. So we’re expecting na sana naman na ang atin pong mga gulay na ‘yan na kailangan natin sa Pasko ay ang presyo din dapat reasonable din(We have information that our vegetables from the northern area have also increased, especially those used as ingredients for the Filipino noodle dish. But based on our information, prices have also dropped because of high supply. So we’re expecting that the prices of our vegetables

INCREASING...

children positive of HIV that they had acquired from their mother.

Noting at the seemingly untenable rise of HIV cases, Lucas and Apura pointed at the need for protection from HIV infection recommending the usual ABCD formula and giving emphasis on the correct and consistent use of condom.

But health educators said that they include the correct and consistent

DAVAO...

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use of condom during their community education session even among youths whose sexual behavior are at risk of picking up the HIV.

They spelled out the ABCD formula as Abstinence from engaging sex, Be faithful of your partner or having a single partner, Condom, and Do not Inject Drugs and as Education. (Jeanevive D. Abangan, PIA XI)

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further with the use of technology, as shown by the innovations done by financial technology (fintech) developers who use mobile apps and other digital platforms to offer zero transaction fees and reasonable foreign exchange rates in processing remittances.

These pioneering financial services are now available in the market and are expected to flourish after the pandemic forced a shift to more digital options in transactions, Duterte said.

USD 2.84 billion, according to data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Even amid a pandemic, money sent home by OFWs hit a new high in 2021, reaching USD31.42 billion, which exceeded the previous record of USD30.13 billion in 2019.

Cash remittances in 2021 rose 5.1 percent from USD 29.9 billion in 2020.

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doubling their efforts to facilitate their transfer to Wangan in Calinan, Davao City. Aimed to become a permanent facility of the Davao City Jail, it is situated in an 8-hectare property that can accommodate 5,000 inmates/PDL compared to the present facility which can only accommodate 400 and

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6.5 to 7.5 percent for the year given the robust growth in the previous quarters.

For 2023, the outlook was lowered to 6 percent from 6.3 percent “to accommodate monetary tightening, a sharper growth slowdown in the advanced economies, and continuing uncertainty arising from the Russian invasion of Ukraine,” the ADB said.

GLOBAL HEADWINDS’ IMPACT ON DEVELOPING ASIA

Meanwhile, the GDP growth outlook for developing Asia was lowered to 4.2 percent from 4.3 percent due to “worsening”

MARCOS...

is now housing 3,000 PDLs. “Isipin nyo na lang ang congestion rate sa present aside sa ang Davao City Jail ay situated in a public area lahat all throughout may possible entry. Andaming ways na ginagawa ang PDL natin in order to sneak in contrabands and illegal drugs,” he said.

He recalled that the Duterte administration pioneered digital banking services for OFWs by opening and operationalizing the OFBank.

Duterte noted that the OFBank not only offers 24/7 availability but also shields OFWs from ludicrous foreign exchange rates and unreasonable remittance fees by offering zero charges on transfers between OFBank accounts and Land Bank of the Philippines (LandBank) accounts.

Under HB 4469, banks and other financial service providers are barred from raising their current remittance fees without prior consultation with the Department of Finance (DOF), BSP, and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

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Estoperez said vegetables coming from upland Baguio should not be priced beyond consumers’ reach.

“Pero naglilitanya po iyong ating mga retailer. May binabayaran silang ganito, may binayaran na gasolina, iyong handling, iyong tubig, iyong puwesto. Iyon ang lit-

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smuggling,” he said The other industries that are affected by smuggling are textile, garment, coconut, sugar, and the manufacturing of tires, steel, and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) gas tank.

anya nila (But our retailers are complaining – they pay something for this, they pay for fuel, for handling, for water, for the place – those are their complaints),” Estoperez explained.

He said market administrators should help the DA and local government units monitor prices. (PNA)

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Citing a report from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Arranza said revenues from illicit trade globally amount to an estimated USD870 billion annually.

global headwinds including the recurrent COVID-19 lockdowns in China, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and slower global growth, the ADB said.

For 2023, developing Asia’s GDP is expected to expand by 4.6 percent instead of the previous forecast of 4.9 percent, it added.

But the GDP growth forecast for Southeast Asia in 2022 was revised higher to 5.5 percent buoyed by forecasts for Malaysia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and the Philippines after robust growth in the third quarter, according to the ADB report.

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the Leaders’ level,” Marcos said.

Marcos cited ASEAN’s increased presence on the global stage through its efforts on regional economic integration and supply chain resilience.

He said the entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the ongoing review of existing trade agreements, and ASEAN’s initiatives to facilitate the trade of essential goods demonstrate the region’s common direction in maintaining an open, free, and fair trade.

Marcos said the ASEAN was in a good position

CITY...

to accelerate intra-regional trade and growth with its participation in mega trade deals such as the RCEP and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

He also pointed to the EU’s historical importance as a trade and investment partner of ASEAN.

“Thus, while an ASEAN-EU FTA remains as a common long-term objective, economic cooperation initiatives will be prioritized on areas of mutual interest to bridge the gap and realize this long-term objective,” Marcos said.

OFBank account holders are also able to invest in retail treasury bonds through the OFBank Mobile Banking App, among other financial services, he added.

“These innovations pioneered by OFBank can be strengthened by passing House Bill 4469 and the eight other bills now pending in Congress with similar provisions,” Duterte said.

OFW remittances rose 3.8 percent year-on-year in September 2022 alone to

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tion among local vendors.

“There are private night markets that would open and challenge Roxas Night Market. That is good for business because it’s better to have competition that will improve the services and the kind of food that we serve there in the existing night market,” the councilor said.

The Roxas Night Market reopened last March 24 after it was ordered closed at the height of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infections here.

Around 500 vendors

and massage therapists were displaced when the local government closed the night market on March 12, 2020, to avoid transmission of COVID-19.

It reopened on September 12, 2020, but was closed again two months later, on November 20, when COVID-19 cases surged beginning the third quarter of that year.

The Roxas Night Market was a popular destination for street food, ukay-ukay (used clothes) and street massage. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)

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as putting up tourism ecozones and waste-to-energy treatment plants, among others.

“With Japan’s SMEs as the lifeblood of this country’s massive economy, comprising 99.7 percent of all businesses, we can take

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Duterte underscored the need for OFWs and their families to be financially literate so that they can learn to spend, save and invest their money wisely, which is why HB 4469 also contains a provision that requires the DOF, BSP, POEA, and other relevant government agencies to educate them in handling their earnings and remittances.

Violations committed under HB 4469, such as the misappropriation or conversion of foreign exchange remittances that prove prejudicial to the OFW or their beneficiary and the imposition of excessive remittance fees, among other infractions, are penalized under the bill with imprisonment and fines depending on the amount of money involved.

advantage of these SMEs by putting up operations in the Philippines, help complete the supply chain, empower our own SMEs, and boost the country’s industrial ecosystem,” PEZA OIC director general Tereso Panga said.

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top-scorer with France’s Kylian Mbappe. His 11th career goal -- in a record-equalling 25th World Cup appearance -- also took him past Gabriel Batistuta as Argentina’s all-time World Cup top scorer.

Five minutes later, Argentina doubled their lead when, after a break from a corner, Messi’s first-time ball found Alvarez inside his own half who set off on a long dribble goalwards.

With the Croatian defence backing off, Alvarez rode weak challenges from Josip Juranovic and Borna Sosa and then slipped the ball past Livakovic to send the heavily Argentine crowd into delirium.

Alexis Mac Allister then went close with an angled header from a corner, forcing a fine save out of Livakovic to avoid a third.

All Croatia could muster in response, before the break, was a low Juranovic cross-shot that Emiliano Martinez reacted well to.

Messi saved his best for last though, tormenting Josko Gvardial down the right, twisting and turning to leave the 20-year-old

defender behind and pull the ball back to the clinical Alvarez who coolly slotted home his fourth goal of the tournament.

Croatia’s dream was over, their 37-year-old playmaker Luka Modric, so key to their outstanding record in the past two tournaments, taking the applause when taken off nine minutes from the end of what was surely his final campaign.

“We’re sad, we were hoping to play another final. It didn’t happen. We have to congratulate Argentina and that’s it,” said Modric, who questioned the awarding of the penalty which changed the course of the game.

The third-place match is all that remains for Modric and Croatia but the big prize remains within reach for Argentina, Alvarez and Messi.

Now with a double attacking threat, confidence running through the squad and Messi in top form, they are peaking just in time for the biggest game of their lives.

Celtics edge Lakers in overtime

LOS ANGELES -- Jayson Tatum and the NBA-leading Boston Celtics thwarted a furious late rally by the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday to win 122-118 in overtime and snap a two-game skid.

The Celtics bounced back from defeats to the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco and the Clippers in Los Angeles, but

they needed every ounce of energy and will to avoid their first three-game losing streak this season.

“Oh, man, last game of

the road trip, we’ve been going for, like, 13 days, second night of a back-toback,” Tatum said. “But we found a way.

“We needed that,” added Tatum, whose 44 points included a game-tying turnaround jumper over LeBron James that sent the contest to overtime. “We found a way to get back on track.”

Jaylen Brown added 25 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and Marcus Smart scored 18 points for the Celtics, who appeared headed to victory when they took a 20-point lead on Tatum’s floater with 6:57 left in the third quarter.

But the Lakers, with 37 points from Anthony Davis and 33 from James, roared

FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KEN

back, putting together an 18-0 run from late in the third that was capped by a James three-pointer that put Los Angeles up by four with 8:55 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers pushed their lead to 13 points before the weary Celtics were able to respond.

Russell Westbrook put

the Lakers up by four with two quick baskets to open overtime, but the Celtics scored on four straight possessions to take the lead for good.

“It was big,” Tatum said of the win, which pushed Boston’s league-best record to 22-7. “(It) showed the character of our team.”

I take issue with the NCAA ManCom ruling that denied Letran’s appeal to lift the game suspension imposed on Fran Yu.

The spirit and soul of the 3-peat seeking Knights, Yu, the captain ball, was called by the refs for a disqualifying foul in Game 2 where College of St. Benilde edged Letran, 76-71, to force a winner take all decider on Sunday.

By getting disqualified at the 5:29 mark of the second quarter, his ejection was already enough punishment for the foul the refs called against Yu.

Sangco, the aggrieved player, lay on the floor but rose up without nary a scratch in the head, face or elsewhere. He continued to play as energetically as he was

before.

(I hope I am not digressing as I have noticed with regularity that NCAA players tend to do some “movie-acting” and flopping when their bodies bang against their opponent’s physicality. They stay for seconds on the floor, trying to impress the public that they received a hard foul from the offender.)

This meant, Yu’s foul was not as crippling (or seriously meant to harm the opponent) as others would picture it to be. But it being called an unsportsmanlike infraction, the refs threw the book at him.

(In the UAAP, officiating appears to be more rational and efficient.)

Game 3 being a do-or-die

YU SUSPENSION UNFAIR, HARSH

duel, suspending Yu TECHNICALLY tilted the momentum grossly in the Blazers’ favor.

This is not fair.

I find the NCAA ruling immoral because it denies Letran to be completely armed with its personnel as the team goes to war against an opponent that is fully equipped and prepared.

Would CSB, the number one seeded squad, be happy to be crowned champions, beating an underhanded Letran team with its players having one arm tied behind their backs?

Would CSB and its coaching staff be fully credited if they take Game 3 and bring home the trophy without being sneered at because the NCAA ManCom technically “aided” them in their quest

for the championship?

I hope the NCAA policymakers reconsider.

They are not in a win-win situation.

Supposing, even with Yu sitting out Game 3, the Knights surprisingly (and miraculously) emerge victorious, would the NCAA ManCom be not crucified?

Assuming the rules state so, did the disqualifying foul render the offended party physically unable to continue playing or not?

From what we have all seen, the offended party lay motionless for a few seconds then rose up as if nothing happened.

That is why there is room for an appeal.

Basketball is a contact sport. There is no hoopster I know who has not suffered from hard fouls, intentional or not.

There are harder and harmful fouls inflicted in the pro leagues, that much we can all agree on.

But their rules and punishment are more rational and rendered accordingly.

Yu’s foul did not maim the aggrieved party. It may be nasty but it does not deserve a suspension on a championship game day.

This is nothing less than a double jeopardy.

At any rate, I am not cheering for Letran nor for CSB.

I have been an NCAA fan since the 60s. (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS

Agence France-Presse

Russell Westbrook put the Lakers up by four with two quick baskets to open overtime, but the Celtics scored on four straight possessions to take the lead for good.

A BREATH AWAY

Messi and Alvarez fire Argentina past Croatia into World Cup final

The two-times world champions, backed their passionate, singing followers at the Lusail Stadium, produced their best display of the tournament to ensure they will meet the winners of Wednesday’s semi-final between holders France and Morocco in Sunday’s final.

Messi, 35, who suffered defeat to Germany in the 2014 final, is desperate to crown his extraordinary career by winning his first World Cup and a third for Argentina after wins in 1978 and 1986.

And after getting his team on the way to victory with a perfectly struck first-half penalty he made sure of the win by brilliantly creating the third goal.

“It’s crazy, we did it, we did it, we’re going to play one more final, once again Argentina is in a World Cup final,” said Messi, after celebrating in front of the massed ranks of South American supporters who have travelled to Qatar.

“Seeing all these people, this family, throughout the World Cup, what we have experienced is something incredible. We are going for the last game, which is what we wanted,” he added.

Croatia, runners-up in Russia four years ago, paid the price for some poor defending as they went out in the last four for the

second time after their 1998 loss to France.

“We lost the match. I have nothing to complain about regarding the boys. They gave their best during this whole tournament.... It is a deserved defeat,” said coach Zlatko Dalic.

It was not until the 25th minute when the game showed signs of life with a low pot shot from outside the box by Enzo Fernandez but Croatia keeper Dominik Livakovic did well to get across and keep it out.

It was a tight affair but then a simple lofted ball over the top from Fernandez caught out the Croatian defence, Alvarez latched on to it, knocking the ball past the advancing Livakovic who collided with the striker and Italian referee Daniele Orsato pointed to the spot.

The Croats protested, both the players on the field and the staff the bench, resulting in a red card for assistant coach Mario Mandzukic.

- Scoring record -

Livakovic guessed correctly but his dive was in vain as Messi’s sweetly struck drive flew high into the net to put his side 1-0 up in the 34th minute.

It was Messi’s fifth goal of the tournament, making him joint

Lionel Messi of Argentina (C) with his teammates celebrate with their fans after the FIFA World Cup 2022 semi final between Argentina and Croatia at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, 13 December 2022. Friedemann Vogel, EPA-EFE

DOHA, Qatar -- An inspired Lionel Messi scored from the penalty spot and Julian Alvarez struck twice as Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 on Tuesday to reach their second World Cup final in eight years.