Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 236 | Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023

A store attendant displays Chinese rabbit figurines and other lucky charms at a stall inside a mall along J.P. Laurel Avenue in Davao City two days before the celebration of Chinese Lunar New Year. It is widely believed that Chinese zodiac animal figurines and other lucky charms bring good luck and prosperity for the family in the incoming year.

Lean Daval Jr.

RODY THE BEAR

House of Hope dreams of bigger facility; Rody plushies to go on sale

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Dr. Mae Dolendo, founder of the House of Hope Foundation for Kids with Cancer (HoHF), said she dreams of a bigger facility for children with cancer as the current facility is expected to be overwhelmed with patients by next year.

In an interview, Dolendo said the Children’s Cancer Institute, located in the compound of the Southern Philippines Medical Center

(SPMC) is still manageable for now as everybody we’re just coming out of the pandemic and patients are coming back, but eventual-

ly, in one year or next year, patients are expected to overwhelm the place.

“Kaya isa sa mga dreams namin ay makakita ng bigger space para sa Children’s Cancer Institute at para mas maramin tayong ma-accommodate not only mga bata but also other services. We are hoping magkaroon kami ng genetics lab na state-of-the-art

para sa mga bata in terms of diagnosis,” she said.

Dolendo said they already talked and discuss this with an individual but it was just a talk.

“Hopefully, this will be another dream come true para sa Davao City and the island of Mindanao,” she said.

She said during the FRODY, P10

TFD to continue firming up Davao City’s border checkpoints: Comia

The Task Force Davao (TFD) assured Dabawenyos that it will continue to strengthen Davao City’s border control points for improved safety and security for all residents. This assurance comes after the successful apprehension of law violators in the past year.

TFD commander Col. Darren Comia, during Thursday’s iSpeak Forum at the Davao City Hall conference room, said, “We have to strengthen our border control points para walang makapasok na any illegal things sa Davao City (so that no illegal things can enter Davao City).”

Between July 6, 2021 to January 17, 2023, TFD apprehended 283 individuals for illegal drug offenses. The agency seized 919.86 grams of shabu and 2,149.58 grams of marijuana, with a total estimated worth of P16,523, 893.

Meanwhile, TFD also caught 57 individuals for

possession of 114 units of illegal firearms, including 108 short firearms and six long firearms.

Comia said, “Sa ating border control points, usually na nahuhuli sa drugs ay sa Lasang. Ang firearms and other stuff naman, sa Sirawan (In our bor-

Cotabato Province strengthens drug-free workplace program

The Province of Cotabato is strengthening its efforts for a drug-free workplace by cementing the rules in the Drug-free Workplace Policy (DFWP) to be implemented by the provincial government.

Recently, the committee thoroughly discussed the rules and provisions of the said policy during the Drug-free Workplace Committee Meeting held at the Cotabato Government Employees Association (COTGEM) Office, Capitol Compound, Amas, Kidapawan City.

Among the goals of the province in implementing such policy is to aid the management in the development/ conduct of anti-drug abuse programs/ activities by promoting a safe and healthy work environment free from dangerous drugs; as well as to create awareness and enhance knowledge among officials and employees on the ill effects of drug abuse.

The meeting is part of the efforts of the provincial government of Cotabato under the leadership of Governor Emmylou “Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza to properly implement the program to further increase the credibility of the provincial government offices and ensure the good health of the workers.

The said activity was

led by Provincial Legal Officer lawyer John Haye Deluvio, vice chairperson of the Committee on Drug-free Workplace, and who represented Mendoza during the meeting.

In his message, he emphasized the importance of finalizing the guidelines of the DFWP to successfully realize the true aspiration of such a program.

Some of the rules of the DFWP that were thoroughly discussed include the definition of terms, the composition of the drug-free workplace committee, the responsibility of the provincial government, guidelines in the conduct of authorized drug testing, and the strengthening of campaign awareness.

The meeting was attended by Philippine National Police Provincial Director Police Colonel Harold S. Ramos, Integrated Provincial Health officer Eva C. Rabaya, Cotabato Government Employees Association (COTGEM) president Joey Divinagracia, representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG 12), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency 12 (PDEA 12), Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC), and representatives from various departments of the provincial government.

Dr. Mae Dolendo, founder of the House of Hope Foundation for Kids with Cancer (HoHF), bares that she dreams of a bigger facility for children with cancer as the current facility inside the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) compound is expected to be overwhelmed with patients soon. Lean Daval Jr.

ICT-Davao working towards achieving 150,000 workforce target by 2028

CLIC encourages barangays to create reading centers

The Davao City Library and Information Center (CLIC), in its campaign to provide easy access to books and other learning materials to everyone in all parts of the city, has called on barangay functionaries to create reading centers for residents.

City Library head Salome Enoc told the City Information Office that their office continues to distribute book titles to reading centers in barangays, with each reading center receiving around 300 to 500 book titles and reading materials.

In 2022, the CLIC distributed books to reading centers in 15 far-flung barangays and an elementary school in Marilog District.

Enoc, in another interview with the Davao City Disaster Radio on Thursday, urged barangays who have yet to establish their own reading centers to make space where they can create one.

“This is a call to all barangay captains to open their own reading center,

maski’g nook lang (even if it is only a nook),” Enoc said.

“We are aiming for a child-friendly city, and one of the components is for us to build a library in our reading centers,” she added.

Enoc said the CLIC is willing to help barangays establish their own reading centers as long as ample space that can be easily accessed by residents is provided. She said the generous donations that the city library receives will provide sufficient reading materials for each reading center.

“Kaning mga donations na gipanghatag diri sa atoang mga generous Dabawenyos, we are sharing this to the reading centers. Hinay-hinay nato ning gihatag sa ilaha kay usahay naa na may mga duplicate, triplicate diri so atoa ning i-share didto sa ilaha (We are sharing these donations given by our generous Dabawenyos to the reading centers. We are slowly distributing these

By MAYA M. PADILLO

An official of the Information Communication Technology-Davao (ICTDavao) announced on Thursday they will be working towards achieving the target of 150,000 workforce by 2028.

ICT-Davao will be working towards the target along with its partners in the Davao Region.

Xavier Eric Manalastas, president of ICT-Davao and CEO/founder of NEXT BPO Solutions, told media that with the current roadmap being set by the Information Technology and Business

Process Management (IT-BPM) Association of the Philippines, which is to grow the number of workers and employees in the industry in the Philippines to 2.5 million by 2028, ICT-Davao and its partners agreed that its contribution towards that goal is to also grow

the number of workers in Davao Region in the ITBPM industry from the current estimate of 75,000 workers to 150,000 by the end of 2028.

Manalastas said ICTDavao is working with universities, higher education institutions and colleges in the Davao Region to achieve the goal.

“The 150,000 will not be filled up or can be achieved in Davao City alone but throughout Davao Region. We are currently working with different agencies

in the government and we are also working closely, as mentioned the challenge is talent, so we are closely working with the universities, higher education institutions and state colleges. The goal is to align with them on the courses that they are offering and the curriculum they are offering to make sure that when the students’ graduate is aligned and will be hired right away and that they will be updated with the

Buyers, travel agencies, tour operators converge for Mindanao Tourism Expo

Buyers, travel agencies, and tour operators from different parts of Mindanao will converge for the first Mindanao Tourism Expo (MTE) on January 27 to 29, 2023 at SM Lanang Premier’s SMX Convention Center in Davao City.

The MTE will also showcase a wide range of activities, including learning sessions, businessto-business and business-

to-customer meetings, and travel exchanges to various tourism circuits around Mindanao.

Pia Montano, head of the Davao Visitors Destination Hub (DVDH), told media on Thursday that at least 50 tourismrelated establishments from different parts of Mindanao are expected to participate in the business matching (B2B), which is

among the highlights of the expo.

The expo’s B2B will be held at the Grand Regal Hotel on January 28.

She said the event is expected to gather 50 companies as sellers and is targeting 100 to 150 buyers, travel agencies, and tour operators to attend the event.

The expo will feature booths and exhibitions

from the different Department Of Tourism (DOT) regional offices, Local Government Units (LGUs), tour operators from all over the country, airline and transportation companies, tourism establishments and properties, food providers, and allied services.

MTE is in partnership with the DVDH, Inc., DOT-

Mayor Sebastian Duterte and Chinese Consul General Li Lin chat near Chinese New Year 2023 standees at the Quezon Park in Davao City on Thursday afternoon. The Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Davao City turned over Chinese New Year 2023 standees to the city government of Davao. CIO

Bangsamoro registers P475-M investments

Three investments in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) worth P475 million have been registered with the Bangsamoro Board of Investments (BBOI), the agency announced on Friday.

In a statement, Mohammad Pasigan, BBOI chair, said the board approved the registration of Beauty of Life Beach Resort, KS Agricultural Products Trading and Shahada Medical and Diagnostic Clinic, all Filipi-

no-owned ventures.

He expressed optimism more investors will relocate this year to the Bangsamoro region.

The Beauty of Life Beach Resort is investing P295 million for its facili-

ties in Barangay Kusiong, Datu Odin Sinsuat in Maguindanao del Norte. It will generate at least 44 jobs.

“The beach resort is the first of its kind to register in the region. The resort offers great facilities and modern amenities. Hopefully, other beach resorts will follow to provide the much needed boost to help sustain the many tourism destinations and businesses in the region,” Pasigan said.

With the easing of

movement restrictions and the increased mobility of people, he expected the tourism industry to bounce back after severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The KS Agricultural Products Trading is engaged in halal poultry production and processing. Located in Barangay Kamasi, Ampatuan in Maguindanao del Sur, the project costs P149 million and will generate 150 employment.

FBANGSAMORO, P10

Investment leads in PBBM foreign trips to benefit PH beyond 2028

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)

Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the investment pledges that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. were able to secure during his foreign trips would benefit Filipinos even beyond his term.

These investment pledges, when realized, will help in creating jobs and improve productivity,

Balisacan said in a press briefing in Davos, Switzerland on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

While in Switzerland for the WEF Annual Meeting 2023, Marcos has secured investment commitments from New York-based financial institution Morgan Stanley and Dubai-based logistics firm DP World.

Marcos has also met

with Glencore chief executive officer Gary Nagle, as the company is interested to expand its mining and processing operations in the Philippines.

Balisacan said in order for these companies to solidify their investment decisions in the Philippines, they have to see the sustainability, predictability, and the transparency of the country’s investment climate.

“We need to be practical. I mean, these investment decisions, especially putting up factories, for example -- these are decisions that are not realized overnight, there are stages of implementation,” he said in mixed English and Filipino.

But he added that when these investments materialize, the new factories, roads, highways, and other

RE-powered e-vehicle charging centers eyed

The Department of Energy (DOE) has forged a tripartite memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. (PSPC) and Shell Energy Philippines, Inc. (SEPH) Thursday to conduct a pilot study on the use of renewable energy like solar power in electric vehicle charging stations.

In a statement, DOE said Secretary Raphael Lotilla, PSPC president and chief executive officer Lorelie Osial, and SEPH president Bernd Krukenberg signed the MOA that aims to promote the use of clean energy in e-vehicle charging stations.

“I commend PSPC and SEPH for collaborating with the DOE for this laudable undertaking -- a sound testament of their resoluteness in maximizing value creation while contributing to global climate change mitigation,” Lotilla said.

He added that this undertaking is in line with

the implementation of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act (EVIDA), which aims to create an enabling environment to promote the adoption of e-vehicles and support infrastructures like charging stations.

Under the pilot project, the private sector will supply, install, operate and maintain e-vehicle charging stations; monitor and verify the energy efficiency, performance and savings in using renewable energy; and optimize the use of clean energy.

The output of the study will be used as a reference for the agency to develop programs, policies, and regulations in adopting the utilization renewable energy for e-vehicle charging stations, the DOE added.

It added that the data generated from the pilot study will also serve as benchmark for PSPC and SEPH in developing

The Philippines ranks fifth with the most number of inbound inquiries on outsourcing, sharing 3.81 percent of the total inquiries last year, according to the 2022 Outsourcing Performance Report of Outsourcing Accelerator (OA), a marketplace for the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry. Lean Daval Jr.

DICT: At least 22M SIMs registered as of Jan. 18

At least 22 million SIMs have been registered as of Jan. 18, the Department of Information and Technology (DICT) said on Friday.

The registered 22,298,020 SIMs represent 13.20 percent of the total 68,977,773 million subscribers nationwide, the DICT said in a statement, citing data from the National Telecommunications Commission.

Smart Communications Inc reported a total of 11,115,808 SIMs registered, Globe Telecom with 9,337,537 and DITO Telecommunity with 1,844,675, data showed.

DICT Spokesper-

son Usec. Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo said DICT regional offices have implemented assistance desks in MIMAROPA with the help of Tech4Ed Centers located in Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan.

For those who have not registered their SIMs, the following are the only official online channels:

• SMART - smart. com.ph/simreg or simreg. smart.com.ph

• GLOBE - new.globe. com.ph/simreg

• DITO - https://digital. dito.ph/pto/download/ app

PH books $612M BOP surplus in December

The Philippines posted a balance of payments (BOP) surplus of $612 million in December 2022, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said on Thursday.

The BSP noted that this was lower than the $991 million BOP surplus recorded in the same month last year.

“The BOP surplus in December 2022 reflected inflows arising mainly from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) net foreign exchange operations and net income from its invest-

ments abroad,” the central bank said.

Thanks to the BOP surplus in December, the fullyear 2022 BOP deficit went down to $7.3 billion from $7.9 billion in the January to November period.

Still, the full-year 2022 BOP deficit was a reversal from the $1.3 billion surplus recorded in 2021.

“Based on preliminary data, this cumulative BOP deficit was due to the widening trade in goods deficit as goods imports continued

PH targets 5M foreign tourists this year: DOT

TheDepartment of Tourism (DOT) aims to attract 5 million foreign visitors this year.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco noted that about 2.6 million tourists visited the country last year.

“As far as 2023 is concerned, the target is to double that number to around a minimum of 4.8 million tourists,” she said.

The country’s target for international arrivals was 1.7 million in 2022.

“We far exceeded this

target by almost a million arrivals, especially considering that we’ve only reopened our borders in February of 2022,” Frasco said.

The national government has implemented the ‘eTravel’ system to help the DOT achieve its goal of enticing more tourists in 2023. It is a one-stop electronic travel declaration system that replaced the

One Health Pass.

The DOT and the Department of Transportation are also working on the improvement of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 2, the Cebu City Pier 1, and the Davao International Airport.

The DOT also launched projects aimed at boosting the country’s tourism and ensuring the country is ready to receive global tourists. These include “Philippine Experience” and “Bisita Be My Guest.”

Asked about the measure seeking to amend the holiday economics law, Frasco said they create opportunities for families to spend time together and explore other parts of the country.

“Definitely, increasing the number of long weekends helps domestic tourism. Our President, Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr passed a proclamation recently to increase long weekends to nine and it also stoked a lot of inter-

PBBM has accomplished a lot in Davos: economic managers

Economic managers said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has done a lot to explain to top leaders and businessmen attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland the Philippines’ success stories amid the pandemic

Quoting Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno during a briefing, a press release from the Presidential Communications Office on Thursday, said the Pres-

ident, through the delegation’s opening session and through several meetings with top leaders and businessmen has explained the current situation in the country.

“Naipaliwanag naman natin iyong Philippine economy. Ang purpose talaga nito is to sell the country -- nasaan tayo, ganoon (We were able to explain things about the Philippine economy. Our real purpose here is to sell the country -- where

we are now and the likes),” he said.

He said the Philippine delegation’s participation in the annual event is “very timely”, noting that the Davos conference’s face-toface event was suspended for three years due to the pandemic.

“Secondly, we have a very nice story to tell -- iyong anong sitwasyon natin after the pandemic. So iyon ang magandang pinunta namin dito (Secondly, we

have a very nice story to tell -- our situation after the pandemic. That’s the reason why we’re here),” Diokno said.

For one, the domestic economy continues to recover from the pandemic.

Growth, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), expanded by 7.7 percent in the first three quarters of 2022, exceeding the economic managers’ 6.5-7.5 percent growth as-

Eric Manalastas, president of Information and Communications Technology (ICT)-Davao and CEO/founder of NEXT BPO Solutions, says during this week’s Wednesdays at Habi at Kape at Abreeza Mall that ICT-Davao and the information technology (IT) industry along with its partners in the Davao Region will be working towards achieving the target of 150,000 workforce by 2028. Lean Daval Jr.

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST

BACKWARD

Since its creation as a town, Tagum, now a component city of Davao del Norte, was al-ready a bright prospect for electric power investment. Prior to the war, the place, specifically Magugpo area, started to hum with migrant activities, some lured by the booming hemp plantations, pre-Commonwealth discovery of gold in nearby Maco, and logging.

But it was not until in the sixties, inspired no less by the rise of more settlements and the opening of roads traversing its central section that Tagum attracted more investors, particu-larly in power generation. Not too long thereafter, Jose S. Magallanes, of Davao City, was granted a 50-year franchise by Congress to install, operate and maintain an electric light, heat and power system in the municipality of Tagum. As a result, Republic Act (RA) 3402, which

lapsed into law without executive approval, became a law on June 18, 1961.

The Magallanes franchise was issued exactly a year after RA 2641 was approved, which converted the National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR) into a wholly government-owned stock corporation. The initiative, though, did not take off; the reason for the inactivity is un-clear.

Three years later, almost exactly to the day the Magallanes franchise was enacted, Presi-dent Carlos P. Garcia signed into law RA 4158 on June 20, 1964, granting the Tagum Electric Company, Inc. (TAGELCO), owned by the Ebro family of Davao City, a new permit for an electric light, heat and power system in Tagum. Unlike its predecessor, its license, which was specifically cited as a repeal of RA 3402, was only good for

twenty-five years.

In its first decade, TAGELCO provided the power supply of the towns of Tagum, Mon-kayo, Montevista, Mabini, Pantukan, Babak, and Peñaplata. During this period the idea of electric cooperatives had started to gain currency. As an upshot, the provincial electrification committee team (PECT) of Davao del Norte convened and launched the first step towards the formation of the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (DANECO), which was formed on September 24, 1971.

DANECO was organized as an electric cooperative under RA 6038, which was later amended by Presidential Decree No. 269, Presidential Decree No. 1645 and Letter of Instruc-tion No. 38.

To speed up its presence in the province, the coop negotiated the purchase of TAGEL-

CO, which the owner valued at PO1.375 million, exclusive of the several generators already rent-ed out to DANECO as a way of ensuring the power supply obtained by the coop from the hydroelectric plant of NAPCOR in Misamis Oriental was uninterrupted. The negotiations, which took over a year of difficult proposals before it was completed, were chronicled in ‘The DANECO Story: A Coop That Powers, A Team That Lights’ (2003): ‘Before the takeover could be done, both the coop and the TAGELCO operator had to dis-cuss ways of solving the inadequacy that might happen during the transition period, espe-cially at this time when preparations were made for the installation of new connections in Tagum… Both parties signed two contracts, after a tedious one-year haggling be-

fore the takeover of facilities happened on Nov. 2, 1976. The first covenant was a deed of sale of the distribution and transmission lines, and the second, a lease contract for the operation of the TAGELCO generators and the renting of other plant facilities.’

Belatedly, the coop realized the deals it sealed with the electric company were not suffi-cient to satisfy the exigency for more equipment to energize the thriving town of Tagum: ‘In a calculated move, the DANECO Board decided instead to rent brand-new equipment to supplement and augment the generating capacity of TAGELCO. Two Allis-Chalmer gen-erators with a capacity of 258 KW were rented from a Makati firm for a year’s contract, de-livered to the TAGELCO plant and made operational in January 1977.’

A couple of days before the 2022 Christmas week, I received through Grab Express delivery a copy of the book titled “Behind the Red Pen: My Adventures with FVR” sent as a gift by its author, Jojo T. Terencio, a former colleague at the Presidential News Desk (PND) of the Office of the Press Secretary in Malacañang.

Of course, “FVR” refers to the well-known acronym or initials of former President Fidel V. Ramos and the book, consisting of 212 pages, takes the readers back to some of the key events and personalities during his sixyear presidency from June 30, 1992 to June 30, 1998.

The book carried a 15-paragraph foreword by Ramos himself as it was written and published by Terencio before FVR’s death on July 31, 2022 at age 94.

Here is what Ramos said about the author: “Jojo Terencio, my close-in writer from 1992 to 1998, decided to write this book Behind the Red Pen to capture some of the most memorable moments of my presidency as he has witnessed.”

I am very thankful to Jojo for giving me a copy of his book and remembering me after al-

REMINISCING ON THE BOOK ‘BEHIND THE RED PEN’

most three decades since our last personal meeting at the PND midway through the Ramos presidential term in 1996. The PND, which used to be located at the old Kalayaan Hall, is now located at the New Executive Building of Malacañang.

Following is the autograph Jojo wrote on the book for me: “To my former editor at the Presidential News Desk (PND), Mr. Severino Samonte (Ka Vering). With my gratitude and thanks. Mabuhay po Kayo!”

Jojo has over 30 years of experience as a communications practitioner. A Journalism graduate from the University of Santo Tomas, he started his career as part of the Presidential Press Staff (PPS).

He was a junior reporter during the term of former President Corazon C. Aquino and rose from the ranks to become the close-in writer for President Ramos from June 30, 1992 until June 30, 1998.

He also had the privilege to cover partly the terms of former Presidents Joseph E. Estrada and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo before leaving the government service to join the private sector as a public relations and corporate communications practi-

tioner.

In mid-2019, he decided to venture into book writing. He said his first book’s title “Behind the Red Pen” gets its inspiration from “FVR’s ubiquitous Paper Mate red flair pens which he used since his military days to issue handwritten memoranda, marginal notes and instructions to concerned government officials and staff.”

Through the book, which I very much enjoyed reading, Jojo made me recall my own stay at the PND as executive editor from May 10, 1993 to June 30, 1996, during which I saw FVR’s workaholic habits.

He would scrutinize our daily press releases about the presidential activities as well as project proposals presented to him by his advisers to make sure that they conformed with what he used to call as Completed Staff Work (CSW). When he had corrections, observations or suggestions, he would use a red pen in writing marginal notes.

What I admired most about FVR was his trait of not blaming any person/s or group/s for perplexing problems or situations. He would just work and work to find solutions for such

problems.

Every now and then, FVR would send a number of official documents to the PND/OPS with handwriting in red ink: “To the Press Secretary: For Press Release.” If what he considered as an important story did not come out in the newspapers the following day, he would promptly send us a directive in red handwriting: “Re-angle or Re-issue.”

There were also times when we would receive copies of documents asking certain heads of government departments, bureaus and agencies to reply, explain or clarify as soon as possible an issue raised in such documents.

Jojo’s book also made me recall how I happened to be an initially reluctant staff member of the PND in May 1993. I was the executive editor of the Philippine News Agency (PNA) when Press Secretary Rodolfo T. Reyes plucked me from my mother agency to help then Assistant Press Secretary and News and Information Bureau (NIB) Director German C. Galian supervise the daily operations of the newly-created PND, a spinoff from the existing Presidential Press Staff (PPS).

When Reyes suddenly resigned a few weeks later because of a disagreement with another ranking Palace official, I asked then incoming Press Secretary Jesus C. Sison to let me return to my mother agency. He told me to stay at PND.

In June 1996, President Ramos appointed a new head of the OPS, Press Secretary Hector R.R. Villanueva, and named Sison as the new chairman of the Movie Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). Instead of leaving me at the PND, Sison told me to return to PNA, where I stayed until I retired in 2003.

In 2005, or two years later, there was a call from then NIB Director Lucita C. Sanchez. She told me I needed to rejoin the PND as executive editor under the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, with former Muntinlupa City Mayor and Congressman Ignacio R. Bunye as press secretary. I stayed at PND for another three years until March 31, 2008.

Altogether, I enjoyed six years of working at the PND under three former press secretaries: Reyes, Sison and Bunye.

Get set for Simple Plan live in Davao!

BY ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO

Davao City, get ready as your favorite 90s rock band Simple Plan is coming to town this March!

Simple Plan, the popular Canadian rock band from Montreal, Quebec formed in 1999, captured the hearts of music enthusiasts all over the world including the Philippines with their top hit songs—‘Perfect’ , ‘I’m just a kid’ and ‘Welcome to my life’.

With millions of fans

wanting to hear their music, Simple Plan released their newest album called ‘Harder than it looks’ in May last year. Its album song opener ‘Wake me up(When this Nightmare‘s over)’ kicks off the journey back into yesteryear where you are back into the time you recall feeling lost and helpless. Recalling the teen angst we all had listening to their music.

This year, Simple Plan

has decided to have a Philippine Tour starting off in Manila then to Davao City courtesy of Wilbros Live and Davao Concert Scene.

This band will rock the concert stage of SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang Premier on March 12.

Tickets are now available at SM Tickets website smtickets.com or through the SM Store Customer Service counter.

SSS implements contribution hike

The Social Security System (SSS) said today it has started implementing the provisions of the Republic Act of RA 11199 or the Social Security Act of 2018, which mandated a contribution hike to ensure the financial viability of the state pension fund for private sector workers.

SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Rolando Ledesma Macasaet said the law-mandated contribution increase would translate to immediate benefits to the country’s 13 million workers and will ensure the viability of the SSS fund designed to provide them with social security protection.

Enacted on February 7, 2019 by Congress, the Social Security Act of 2018 rationalized and expanded the powers and duties of the Social Security Com-

mission (SSC) to ensure the long-term viability of the SSS. Under the law, SSS should gradually increase the contribution rate by one percentage point every two years until it reaches 15 percent by 2025.

In accordance with the schedule provided under RA 11199, the contribution rate increased to 14 percent from 13 percent in the previous year. Under the new contribution rate, employers will shoulder the one percent increase, which means their contribution will now be at 9.5 percent. The remaining 4.5 percent will be deducted from the employee.

Finance Secretary and SSC Chairperson Benjamin E. Diokno has expressed his support for the new contribution rate saying, “it is the right thing to do for the institu-

tion and its members.”

Macasaet said the implementation of the contribution hike would eventually redound in a system that would serve workers better. “The contribution hike will benefit the workers with the SSS being able to provide a financially viable social protection system to Filipino workers and their families,” Macasaet said. “It will not be a burden on workers but will be shouldered by employers. Workers earning less than P25,000 per month, who comprise 78 percent of SSS-paying employee members, will not be affected,” he added.

Macasaet served as President and General Manager of the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) during the Duterte administration and was appointed by

President Marcos to head the SSS last January 5 to replace former SSS PCEO Michael Regino.

At the same time, Macasaet noted that under existing tax laws, employers would be allowed to deduct their share of the contribution hike from their taxable income. “This underscores a whole-of-nation approach in securing the future of our workers with the Philippine government also contributing in the form of tax relief to employers,” Macasaet explained.

The SSS is being urged by employer groups, such as the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), and the Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc. (PECI), to suspend the implementa-

tion of the Social Security Act of 2018 that mandates the one percent increase in SSS contributions starting this month.

The request of the employers’ groups was opposed by SSS officials as postponing the measure would reduce the actuarial life of the fund. The SSS said they gave due consideration to the plight of small employers in past contribution hikes, but ultimately had to act in favor of workers’ interests and the fund’s long-term solvency.

In his statement, Macasaet clarified that employees would not be required to shoulder the addition financial burden that goes with the contribution hike.

“The contribution hike will not be paid by the lowly worker but by financially-stable employers who

can afford such adjustments. I am appealing to the PCCI, the ECOP, and the PECI, who we consider our valuable partners in our mission to provide social protection to our workers, to treat the contribution hike not as another operational expense but as a noble investment to ensure the viability of the workers’ pension fund,” Macasaet said.

“We appeal to our friends in big business to help us provide meaningful protection to the members of the working class and their families against the hazards of disability, sickness, maternity, old age, death, and other contingencies resulting in loss of income or financial burden,” he added. “A socially protected working class is our best recipe for continued industrial peace in our country.”

WATCH OUT: IT’S A SEASON OF FLOODS

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

Evenduring and after the holidays, disasters never stop.

The continuous rain and flooding during the Christmas Day took the lives of 13 people and 23 others missing in the southern part of the country, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

“Most of the deaths were caused by flash floods after two days of heavy rains over Christmas, which affected more than 166,000 people and forced more than 45,000 to take shelter in evacuation centers,” said a news report.

“Imagine losing your home” on Christmas Day, Alan Tanjusay, undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, was quoted as saying by New York Times.

On January 2, the Associated Press reported: “Floods have subsided in most parts (in northern Mindanao) but more than 8,600 people were still in shelters. Over 4,500 houses were damaged by the floods, along with roads and bridges, and some areas still struggle with disrupted power and water supply.”

Just like the very popular American television sitcom, Three’s a Company, disaster is also like that. In the

Philippines, disaster comes together in three forms: when there’s a typhoon, expect too much rain and inundating floods.

The Flood Forecasting Branch of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services

Administration (PAGASA) defines flood as “an abnormal progressive rise in the water level of a stream that may result in the overflowing by the water of the normal confines of the stream with the subsequent inundation of areas which are not normally submerged.”

But the layman’s idea of flood is, however, the process of inundation or the coverage by water of areas not normally submerged. Inundation is due to water overflowing from streams and other bodies of water as well as by the accumulation of rainwater by drain-

age.

The country’s weather bureau has classified floods into minor or major. It’s minor when inundation may or may not be due to overbanking. When there is no bank overflow, flooding is simply due to the accumulation of excessive surface runoff in low-lying flat areas.

It’s still a minor flood when floodwaters are usually confined to the flood plain of the river along the channel on random low-lying areas and depressions in the terrain. Likewise, when the floodwater is

shallow and there may not be a perceptive flow.

When the flooding is caused by the overflowing of rivers and lakes; by serious breaks in dikes, levees, dams and other protective structures; and by uncontrollable releases of impounded water in reservoirs and by the accumulation of excessive runoff, then it’s called major flooding.

Major flooding also happens when floodwaters cover a wide contiguous area and spread rapidly to adjoining areas of relatively lower elevation. Flooding is also relatively deep in most parts of the stricken areas and there is a highly perceptible current as the flood spreads to other areas.

While floods take some time, usually from 12 to 24 hours or even longer, to develop after the occurrence of intense rainfall, there is a particular type which develops after no more than six hours and, frequently, after an even less time. These are what are known as flash floods.

“Floods are due to the complex combination of weather, climatic and human activities,” explained Rosalie Pagulayan, PAGASA weather specialist II during a seminar workshop convened by the Department of Science and Technology in Davao City some years back. “Most floods occur as a result of moderate-tolarge-scale rainfall events.”

Floods are among the most destructive calamities man has to cope with. Even the most minor flooding poses some inconveniences. A really big flood can cause billions of pesos in damage to agriculture, infrastructure, loss of productivity in industry and commerce, not to mention loss of human lives. Congested urban centers like Metro Manila and Davao City could stand still for days.

“With too much rain and floods, agriculture production especially in flood-prone areas will be adversely affected with physical and economic losses,” pointed out Dr.

The community should work together when there is flood (Photo by IDSDavao de Oro)

A major flood that happened in Davao de Oro (Photo by IDS-Davao de Oro)

Photos by IDS-Davao de Oro

Rescuing victims of the flood that happened in Davao de Oro (Photo by IDSDavao de Oro)

RODY...

FROM 2 WATCH... FROM 9 TFD... FROM 2

New Year they sent the children home as a tradition to celebrate with their family. Currently, there are only about 10 children in the House of Hope but the admissions have increased, and is expected that the number will double within the year.

“All together meron 40 patients sa hospital some of them daily ang diagnose and some of them continue ang treatment,” she said.

According to Dolendo, 80 percent of the kids with cancer being housed at the said facility come from outside Davao City.

“Hindi lahat ng mga bata ay taga Davao dahil ang SPMC ay end-referral center for the whole island of Mindanao,” she explained.

She is also thankful because they were able to survive the pandemic. She explained that during the pandemic they are dealing with two things: cancer and Covid-19.

“Pero seguro inate na sa ating mga Pilipino na very resilient, so medyo konti ang pasyente namin during the pandemic kasi nga nag-lockdown ang Davao.We are vey happy also kasi ang daming blessings like the people na for the longest time nag-support sa House of Hope and our advocacy for children with cancer so we are very thankful for everyone at special mention ko si former president Rodrigo Roa Duterte kasi for more than 10 years na siya nagsupport before siya na presi-

CLIC...

FROM 3 to them because sometimes we have duplicate, triplicates here so we are share these with them),” she said.

Enoc also urged

INVESTMENT...

dent and after siya na president. Apart from him kay Senator Bong Go, sa mga ordinary na tao sa Davao City and even outside Davao City na nagbibigay ng kanilang suporta para sa mga bata,” she said.

HoHF, a non-profit organization to help support kids with cancer and their families, provide transient homes and opportunities to continue school from a hospital-based education program.

Rody the bear Jasmin Egan, a former protocol director II of the Office of the President during the Duterte administration, initiated a project called “Rody the Bear”.

In her Facebook page “Egan Jasmin,” she encourages everyone to purchase “Rody the Bear,” a 15-inch plushie produced for FPRRD, for P1,600 each.

The post says the proceeds from the sales of “Rody the Bear” will go to House of Hope to kickstart the fundraising for the new building to be built in Tagum City, Davao del Norte to accommodate more children from different parts of the Philippines.

“We will be presenting the initial funds to HOH on PRRD’s birthday this year, in time for the meaningful unveiling of the renovated House of Hope. Supporting this initiative allows us to extend the legacy of our dear Tatay Digong, and would help many more children afflicted with cancer get the help they need,” it says.

der control points, usually caught with drugs are in Lasang. Arrested for firearms and other stuff are usually in Sirawan).”

At least 26 persons in possession of 17,260 reams of illegal cigarettes with an estimated worth of P6,487,500 were also arrested for violating RA No. 4712, the Act Amending Certain Sections of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines.

TFD also apprehended two individuals for violating the Anti-Bomb Joke Law (Presidential Decree

ICT-DAVAO...

technology,” Manalastas said during Wednesdays Habi at Kape media forum at Abreeza Mall on Thursday.

He also said that ICTDavao is also working closely with the Technical Education And Skills Development Authority (TESDA) with the creation of Metro Davao ICT Industry Board using the program of TESDA, Tulong Trabaho Scholarship Program (TTSP).

“We hope to be able to train more unemployed or employed or underemployed in the Davao Region for them to get the skills they need or to upskill and to be absorbed in the industry to fill the gap on the skills.

BUYERS...

No. 1727 and Davao City EO No. 23, Series of 2021, Section 3) and seven for qualified theft.

Despite TFD’s accomplishments in 2021, Comia said they will not let their guards down and will continue to be even more vigilant to secure the city’s borders.

He also urged Dabawenyos to embrace the culture of security that they have been campaigning for by reporting suspicious individuals and things they find in their vicinity. CIO

FROM 3

Hopefully by 2028 we will have 150,000 employees already working in the industry,” he said.

He also mentioned that two companies opened lately in the Davao Region and another company is coming this year. He said these three companies alone will translate to around 3,000 to 4,000 jobs already.

“The IT-BPM industry is one of those that was badly affected by the pandemic and in line also with the opening of the economy we have already experienced growth also and we are among the most resilient industry and we have experienced growth with the opening of the economy,” he said.

FROM 3

Dabawenyos to support the libraries and the reading centers in the districts and barangays by either visiting them or by donating books. CIO

FROM 4 infrastructures will benefit Filipinos even beyond the term of Marcos which ends in 2028.

At WEF’s CEO Dialogue on Philippines last Jan. 17, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual urged multinational companies to look into investment opportunities in the Philippines, especially as the country embarks on its industrial transformation.

“To further attract in-

PH...

FROM 5

est and excitement among fellow Filipinos in terms of booking their trips for 2023,” she added.

Under the measure, holidays that fall on a weekend would be moved to the nearest Monday.

In 2007, former president Gloria Macapagal-Ar-

PH BOOKS...

vestments in the Philippines, it is imperative that we facilitate industrial transformation that will complement our economic recovery initiatives We, at DTI, consider science, technology, and innovation (STI) as our main drivers.

STI will facilitate the development of new oods, services, and even industries; increase production efficiency, and strengthen industrial linkages,” Pascual said.

royo signed Republic Act 9492, which moved regular and special holidays to the nearest Monday to boost domestic tourism.

However, the late former president Benigno Aquino III ended this practice under Proclamation 84 signed in 2010. (PNA)

FROM 5

to surpass goods exports on the back of the increase in international commodi-

Rafael D. Guerrero, an academician with the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). “Floods will wash away crops, hasten soil erosion and increase crop spoilage due to poor storage and distribution problems.”

The Department of Health said floods will accelerate food-borne and water-borne diseases. “Flooding can contaminate the public water through the disruption of water purification and sewage disposal systems, rupture of underground pipelines and storage tanks,” the health department said.

Using contaminated water can cause a wide spectrum of illnesses, among them: acute gastroenteritis, dysentery, typhoid fever, cholera, and hepatitis A. “Foods that may have been in contact with contaminated flood water should not be eaten,” the health department advised.

In addition, there is an increase of leptospirosis cases after heavy rains or flooding incidents. This livestock disease transmissible to many may be acquired through wading in water contaminated with urine of infected animals.

As floods are common throughout the country, the weather bureau has launched the Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) capacities. It has five basic elements: prediction, detection, communication, decision-making, and mobilization.

scale floods to the loss of forests.

“Government officials, aid groups and the media are often quick to blame flooding on deforestation caused by small farmers and tree cutters,” he said.

Such belief in the past, he pointed out, led some governments to force poor farmers from their lands and away from forests while doing nothing to prevent future flooding. “Such actions are totally misguided,” he said.

The FAO came up with a book that tries to separate fact from fiction on issues related to forests and water. Forests and Floods: Drowning in Fiction or Thriving on Facts? also dispels some of the commonly held misconceptions about the role of forests in flood mitigation.

“The floods blamed on deforestation almost always occur after prolonged rains, which saturate the soil, including forest soil, so that it can no longer absorb more water,” the 30-page FAO publication explained. “Rain then has nowhere to go but into rivers where it fills them to overflowing.”

ty prices and resumption in domestic economic activities,” the BSP said.

Mindanao Regional Offices, DOT - Office of Product and Market Development, and DOT - Office of the Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation Coordination and Resource Generation.

“This is the first in Mindanao and Davao City. I would like to invite all tourism establishments for the said event as well as the general public to be with us,” Montano said. By Maya M. Padillo

BANGSAMORO...

The proponent is a producer of halal broiler chicken. It has a dressing plant and formulates its own feeds, the statement said.

“The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) is promoting the halal industry in the region.

FROM

4

We are very happy that we now have a halal poultry in the region,” MAFAR Minister Mohammad Yacob said.

“The BARMM government will strengthen the regulations on halal certification for products in the region,” he added.

RE-POWERED...

and rolling out of e-vehicle charging networks in their existing and future Shell-branded mobility sites.

“These alternative opportunities could position Shell at the forefront of their

PBBM...

FROM 5

sumption for last year.

GDP is seen to rise faster in the coming quarters as the economy continues to be reopened.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the challenge for the Philippines now is highlighting its good narratives and where it currently stands from the point of view of foreign authorities.

“And I think that interaction proves very useful be-

FROM 4

quest for sustainable and inclusive growth by adding a more long-term vision of clean technologies and renewable energy investment into their portfolio,” Lotilla said.

cause as I said, they would want to hear whether the story that’s emerging in the Philippines is sustainable. It’s a long-term one because if they come in, it is a longterm decision,” he said.

Questions raised during the various meetings with Philippine authorities include how the country is moving forward, policy concerns and other issues and reform measures to make the economy more attractive to investors.

“In any disaster of a given magnitude, the first line of defense is still awareness of the communities at risk,” reminded Pagulayan.

The county’s weather usually issues flood advisory to areas most likely affected by a forthcoming flood. It is a warning that states the imminence of a flood situation. It also contains suggested necessary actions that may have to be taken by the residents and the community in the threatened basin.

A flood warning, on the other hand, is issued when a flooding situation is a definite reality at least 24 hours before actual flooding occurs. This category is maintained in succeeding bulletins as long as the affected areas are inundated and the attendant dangers are present.

Flood bulletins, meanwhile, are specifically directed to the public. They are intended to apprise the people in the threatened area of the present situation and of the expected development. It suggests the appropriate actions the community may have to take to prevent or mitigate the disastrous effects of a flood.

More often than not, people blame the destruction of forests when incessant rains lead to severe flooding. But former United Nations official Patrick Durst begged to disagree with this conventional wisdom.

Durst was then the regional forestry officer of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in Bangkok, Thailand. In a conversation, he said there is no scientific evidence to link major, large-

At its root, the flood equation is pretty simple: If a river cannot handle the load of water it’s required to carry, it must rise. With enough water, it must rise above its banks and flood. The faster water runs from the watershed into the river, the higher a flood will be. Thus, anything that increases runoff speed – like excessive pavement or ditching of farmland – will contribute to floods.

Trees and forests may partly play a role in environmental protection. “Planting trees and protecting forests can have many environmental benefits, but preventing large scale floods is not one of them,” explained David Kaimowitz, who was then the director-general of the Center for International Forestry Research when he said those words.

“If deforestation was causing floods, you would expect a rise in major flood events paralleling the rise in deforestation, but that is not the case,” he said. “The frequency of major flooding events has remained the same over the last 120 years going back to the days when lush forests were abundant.”

“Clearly, floods are caused by nature; but in some cases, they are exacerbated by human activities,” Durst pointed out.

The Philippines has been singled out as among the most vulnerable nations to the impacts of climate change. Respected scientists that as a result of the world getting warmer, storms have become more powerful and constant.

“Linking a single flood to climate change requires extensive scientific analysis,” The New York Times’ Mike Ives and Jason Gutierrez wrote. “But climate change, which is already causing heavier rainfall in many storms, is an increasingly important part of the mix. One reason is that a warmer atmosphere holds and releases more water.”

Sam Snead couldn’t have said it much better when he said “Forget your opponents; always play against par.”

Most people would say that golf is a sport mostly for old men, exclusive only for the executives and bosses and a boring sport reserved only for the rich and famous. A sport less of controversy and drama but centers only on a star named Tiger Woods.

But mind you Golf is one of the most complex and challenging sports that man have invented and it can bring the best and worst of the player itself.

One thing that separates it from others is its unique way of competition. You don’t compete with your opponent per se but compete against yourself. Confused?

Let me take it this way. In golf, you can’t alter the shot of your opponent by playing defense or distracting his shot and vice versa. You hit your shots the best way you can and manage your mistakes to a minimum. You can’t control the game of your opponent and the same goes for him. After you hit a good shot, all you can do is wait and pray. That’s right. Pray that your opponent(s) will hit a bad shot.

Golf is a sport played by a group of people. Against each other, yes, but mainly it is played against the course and your level of skills. The nearest thing you can say by playing

against each other is by comparing your individual scores.

Each game is played on a golf course with 18 holes, although in some instances it is played with 9 holes, but the the main goal is to hit a small ball ( 1.68 inch diameter) in the lowest number of strokes into a 4.25 inch diameter hole. Easy ? Yes if it played with no obstacles.

But it was never been the intention of our forefathers of golf to make the sport easy. That’s why the creation of bunkers or sand traps around the greens. That’s why the undulating ,fast and slow greens to make the putt unpredictable ,and make it precise and challenging. That’s why the creation of dog legs to make it harder so that you can’t just rely on a straight shot. And in addition , lakes, canals and water hazards they called jabong were invented to annoy your judgment and distract your rhythm and concentration.

Just as in other sports ,golfers must plan their game ahead before starting the game and even while playing. They need to make instant decisions in every shot that may improve or ruin their game. For this to happen golfers should have a deep understanding of their strengths and weaknesses with the shot types ,distance and club selection. But believe you me, nothing is guaranteed to happen in every shot, no matter how well prepared you are.

It has to be perfect or have the benefit of luck.

Golf is a test between your skills versus your opponent’s luck. It’s very common for players to practice for hours at driving range, study the course and plan his game according to his skills but always hoping for the best with the hope of a flaw in his opponent’s game.

The game of golf is 90% mental and 10% physical “ says Jack Nicklaus many times to emphasize how tough the game

really is.

There are so many lessons in golf that could be translated into daily life that can be a more fulfilling one. It allows us to enjoy the moments that matter ( when we hit a good shot) and have the enough courage to learn from the mistakes and have the patience to recover / wait when pursuing certain goals.

On the hindsight, rarely we have a sport that challenges a player to focus on achieving a

specific goal, requiring complete calmness and total concentration of the game all the time and above all enjoy the great views, the smell of the fairway grass and the sound of leaves of the trees that most of the golf courses are offering.

“Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots, but you have to play the ball where it lies.” - Bobby Jones

Salute to SM City for supporting DSA and Davao media

I had the chance to meet SM City Davao’s media relations staff Kristianne Fusilero and Rhealyn Pojas during the Davao Press Club’s Kapehan at SM.

I remember these two ladies when they were still young reporters, and I am glad that they have moved to the corporate world and are taking care of the Davao media.

SM City Davao is also host to the weekly Davao

Sportswriters Association (DSA) Forum, which finally resumed after the Covid-19 pandemic.

With that, I felt happier knowing that SM City has provided the sports media a home for their public service program.

In 1995, the DSA Forum first found its home at the Philippine Information Agency-XI in Claveria, then at the Villa Margarita Hotel in Bajada, and eventually at the Tower Inn in Quirino.

Thanks to PIA-XI’s Josie San Pedro and Efren Elbanbuena, both regional directors on different years of course, to Leon “Binggoy” Montemayor, who became PSC commissioner, and loving wife Baby Maceda Montemayor of Villa Margarita and to Tower Inn’s Willie Torres, sportsman who eventually became president of UM.

I’d like to commend SM City Davao top honchos for continually supporting various media meetings.

And because of former journalists bringing their valuable experiences to corporate communications, they were able to continually maintain good rapport with the Davao media.

Thank you, SM and Kristianne and Rhealyn, for doing a good job.

In this era of media relations, it is always good for both private and public offices to reach out to the media.

It is good for the Davao community members, who are actually news consumers, who prefer reading the news online published by the news industry.

That is why I am little bit puzzled for government-paid office workers who seem to keep their distance from the media.

Hadlok mo magpa kape? In the first place, the media does not ask for something, something. They just need easy access and updated news and information.

If you have the capability to pa kape, that’s fine. If not, okay ra pud.

Just provide them the needed information so they can easily write the news reports.

It’s even convenient these days, you know. All you have to do is send an official PR via email. No need to fax just like the old days. That’s why I am little bit puzzled why they cannot do it for the media.

Hadlok magpa kape?

Di mo ma pobre oi.

That is why dxUM broadcaster Dennis “Mr.Sports Complex” Lazo kept on asking if the City Sports Development Division is still existing.

Or gi abolish na ba daw ni Mayor Baste Duterte ng opisinaha.

I heard that busy daw kasi in serving the sports community members of Davao oi. Tua sila sa bukid ga conduct of sports clinics, ga sige meeting sa local National Sports Association to draft a sports plan, ga bisita sa mga sports facilities to make sure it is used by Dabawenyos to keep them healthy and strong, busy sila in defending their sports budget so that naa silay sweldo ug pang gastos sa sports development program.

So, Dennis Lazo, busy sila.

Or simply, bungol.

Dili bungol. Hastang bungola di ay noh Dennis?

* * *

For comments, email mpb_sports@yahoo.com.