Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 262 | Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Former President Rodrigo Duterte receives support from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and the House of Representatives led by Senior Deputy Speaker and former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo against International Criminal Court (ICC), which is set to reopen its investigation versus Duterte for alleged crimes against humanity.

Lean Daval Jr.

GROWTH PATHWAY

Davao Region to position as logistics hub of

Southern

Philippines

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Davao Region is poised to be the logistics hub of Southern Philippines with the main goal of establishing an intermodal transport system.

“This is a special chapter that we have formulated for Davao Region and this is focused on achieving Davao Region’s vision as the logistics hub of the Southeastern Philippines,

resilient, with a rich biodiversity and a haven for human growth and development. This chapter is focused on harnessing the potentials and opportunities of the Davao Gulf,” said

Maria Lourdes Lim, regional director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA 11) on Friday.

To achieve this vision, Lim said the Davao Region shall establish an integrated intermodal transport system while sustaining the development of the region’s infrastructure facilities and

NorCot town offers P400-K bounty over spate of killings

logistics.

Lim also said that the seven big-ticket projects in Davao Region shall advance the realization of the envisioned integrated intermodal transportation system that will make the Davao Region, particularly the areas along the Davao Gulf and within Metropolitan Davao as

CSWDO extends food packs, lists PUJ, taxi drivers for HPBS social package

The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) distributed, starting Thursday, February 16, 2023, food packs for drivers who missed the fuel subsidy and also registered those who were not yet list-

ed for the High Priority Bus System social packages.

CSWDO Focal Person for Community and HPBS

Mae Aquino, in an interview with the City Information Office (CIO) on Friday, said that a total of 1,862

PUJ and taxi drivers who

missed the fuel subsidy from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are targeted to receive the food packs. The distribution was conducted on February 16-17 at the Almendras Gym.

“Kini sila tung gipa-

sa nato sa DSWD nga ika Batch 12 unta nga hatagan og financial assistance last year and since wala man nakadungag og pondo ang DSWD wala na sila nahatagan sa financial assistance. So with that nangita ta og

The local government has offered a PHP400,000 reward money for anyone who can provide information that would lead to the identification and arrest of the perpetrators behind the recent killing of a 13-year-old student and tricycle driver in Pikit.

Mayor Sumulong Sultan said Monday the amount will hopefully help fast-track the arrest of the suspects behind the series of killings in the town.

“We need your help, we need everybody’s help to stop all these killings,” Sultan told members of the Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) and town residents in a statement.

Sultan said the MPOC approved the use of PHP400,000 worth of bounty wherein PHP200,000 will go to anyone who can help identify the killers of a 13-year-old student here on Feb. 14 and another PHP200,000 to help solve the killing of tricycle driver Jose Neri Gonzales a day earlier.

He urged those with in-

formation to come forward and provide evidence to police authorities to help solve the cases.

In addition, the mayor said the town council passed a resolution banning motorcycle back riders and that the police will implement a no riding-in-tandem policy.

An additional two companies of soldiers have been deployed to help the police contain the surge of gun attacks in the town in recent months.

The Police Regional Office in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region (PROBAR) said it is ready to deploy more police personnel to Pikit.

Classes in all public and private schools resumed Monday after the local chief executive issued a suspension last week in the aftermath of the killings.

More police personnel have also been deployed near schools.

Since last year, at least 40 people have been killed in this town and not a single case has been resolved so far. (PNA)

Department of Health 11 (DOH 11) assistant director Dr. Gerna Manatad says during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Monday that over 1,000 cases of Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) were recorded in Davao Region. Lean Daval Jr.

FCSWDO, P10

FGROWTH, P10

Over 1,000 cases of HFMD recorded in Davao Region

P385-K total cash prize offered for Araw ng Davao cheerdance

The City Government of Davao offers a total cash prize of P385,000 for the winners of the 86th Araw ng Dabaw Cheerdance Competition, which takes center stage at 3 p.m. on March 11 at the Davao City Recreation Center (DCDR), formerly Almendras Gym.

A top purse of P150,000 awaits the champion team while the runner-up and third placer will take home P100,000 and P75,000, respectively.

The cheerdance contest, according to organizers, is open to all Filipino citizens 12 years old and above, representing any school, city, business, and or organization.

Each team must be comprised of at least 25 to 30 participants, excluding the maximum of five spotters who must only assist in any dismounting incidents, otherwise, the team will be penalized with a five-point deduction.

The criteria for judging are categorized into five:

• Dance (250 points)

– motions/difficulty, technique, choreography, tim-

ing/spacing/execution, mastery, and synchronization, jump execution, costume, props, cheer, musicality, incorporation of Davao City element;

• Tumbling (50 points) – difficulty, techniques, creativity, overall effect;

• Stunts (50 points) –difficulty, technique, creativity, spacing and synchronization, overall effect;

• Pyramids(50 points) – difficulty, technique, creativity, spacing and synchronization, overall effect;

• Tosses (50 points) –difficulty, technique, quantity, synchronization, overall effect.

Interested contingents only have until March 6 to submit their entries, including waivers.

Downloadable forms are available here such as entry forms and guidelines – https://tinyurl. com/ CheerdanceCompetition2023; and waiver –https:// tinyurl.com CheerdanceWaiver. These are also available at the Davao City Tourism Operations Office, fourth floor, DCIPC Building, Palma Gil Street. CIO

By MAYA M. PADILLO

The Department of Health-Davao Center for Health Development reported on Monday that there have been 1,412 Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) cases recorded from January 1 to February 11, 2023 with 166 barangays noted with clustering of cases.

“The pattern is for the first month of January this year we saw an increasing pattern of HFMD and that is throughout the region,” said Dr. Gerna Manatad,

DOH-11 assistant regional director, during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Monday.

Based on the monitoring, the Regional Epide-

miology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) reported 296 cases of HFMD in Davao City, 415 in Davao de Oro; 374 in Davao del Norte; 25 in Davao del Sur; 200 in Davao Occidental and 102 in Davao Oriental.

However, no death has been reported.

652 of these HFMD cases are females and 760 are males, which affected the age group from 0 to 9 years old.

“The data also is coming from the different local

epidemiology and surveillance unit from the public health stations and hospitals. HFMD is part of the monitoring of the DOH because it tends to affect children and has the tendency to spread and infect even adults,” Manatad said. The most common symptoms of HFMD are nausea, sore throat, loss of appetite, weakness, and blisters. Cases of HFMD are usually mild but a child can experience dehydration.

Study detects traces of pesticide in urine samples of locals near pineapple plantation

An official of the Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health (WIOEH)-South Korea revealed on Monday its study detecting high levels of notorious pesticide in the urine samples gathered from the communities near a pineapple plantation in Baguio District, Davao City.

This is in line with the

study conducted by the Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS), Inc. last year with methodology includes collecting samples of urine and household dust from the communities in Baguio District, particularly in Barangay Tawan-Tawan near a pineapple plantation.

Dr. Won Kim, director for research of WIO-

EH-South Korea, said that a high level of chlorpyrifos pesticide was detected in the urine collected and the chemical can affect severely the children’s health.

“It could be collected by drift or the wind from the field where the pesticide was sprayed. We collected human urine. Maybe the farmer is directly exposed while the

children and spouses are not involved in the spray but at the level of the pesticides in their urine samples we confirmed it. We have to find the source maybe their environment, second is maybe the food they consumed was contaminated with pesticide,” he said during Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao on Monday.

Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS), Inc. program coordinator Lemuel Manalo, together with Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health (WIOEH)-South Korea director for research Dr. Won Kim, says during this week’s Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao that their group conducted demographic profiling, interview, and log sheets with the farmers and it turned out that skin diseases and irritation are the common cases and complaints believed to be caused by aerial spraying. Lean Daval Jr.

PH on the right track for continued growth: PBBM

investments,

country’s economic team will hold a series of briefings to market the Philippines in the business community in the Middle East, Asia and Europe in the first half of the year.

The Philippines is heading in the right direction toward achieving its goal of sustaining its growth momentum, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has said.

In a vlog uploaded on his official Facebook page on Saturday, Marcos said

the PHP708 billion in investment pledges secured during his five-day working visit to Japan from Feb. 8-12 is an indication that his administration is on the “right track.”

“Alam naman natin, mga negosyante ito. Ito ay

hindi nadadaan sa mga pakiusap, kundi kung may makita sila na may potential, na magkakaroon sila ng magandang operation dito sa Pilipinas (We all know that they are businessmen. They could not be pleased just by mere appeals. They need to see the Philippines’ potential for good operation [of businesses]), Marcos said.

“Sa kanilang pagpirma ng mga LOI (letters of intent), pinapakita nila na tama naman ang pagpapa-

takbo ng ating ekonomiya, tama naman ang tinutunguhan natin (With the signing of LOIs, it proves that we are on the right track in managing our economy, that we are heading in the right direction),” he added.

Around 35 LOIs and agreements have been signed between the governments of the Philippines and Japan, as well as different business companies from both nations, to deepen their partnerships

P344-billion investment leads in the pipeline: BOI

Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said Saturday the Board of Investments (BOI) has investment leads of PHP344 billion, which would allow the agency to hit its target before the year ends.

“So far, the agency has

potential investment leads of around PHP344 billion that will still be processed, and more likely than never, we may have 80 to 90 percent of the target even before the middle of the year,” Pascual, who also chairs the BOI, said in a statement.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) is targeting to return to the PHP1 trillion level in investment approvals in 2023.

From January to Feb. 9 alone, the BOI approved PHP414.3 billion worth

Marcos admin bats for ‘innovative, sustainable’ manufacturing sector

The Marcos administration is making the manufacturing sector innovative and sustainable in an effort to entice more foreign investors and make the Philippines a prime investment destination, a Trade official said over the weekend.

Lanie Dormiendo, director for the International Investments Promotion Service of the Board of Investments (BOI), said manufacturing is one of the priority sectors that the administration intends to develop.

of projects, which is 142.9 percent higher than the PHP170.5 billion investment approvals in the same period last year.

Pascual added that some of these investment leads are offshoots of the

“We are really aggressively promoting innovative and sustainable manufacturing and services,” Dormiendo said, noting that the government is putting a premium on “high-value” manufacturing activities such as electric vehicle (EV) assembly, battery manufacturing and mineral processing.

“We want to attract foreign investors to do a

higher value activity to do mineral processing, and then attract battery manufacturers and eventually the EV assemblers and EV manufacturers,” she added. Dormiendo said the country has “a lot of minerals” that can be processed to form part of batteries, not only for EVs but also for battery energy storage systems.

She also said the government wants to capitalize on the country’s available resources instead of exporting them to China and Japan as raw minerals.

In terms of sustainable infrastructure and services, the Marcos administration is “actively” promoting renewable energy (RE), Dormiendo said.

She noted that late last year, the Department of Energy amended the implementing rules and regulation of Republic Act 9513, otherwise known as the Renewable Energy Act of

Toattract more foreign

the

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. says the Philippines is heading in the right direction toward achieving its goal of sustaining its growth momentum. The President added that the P708 billion in investment pledges secured during his five-day working visit to Japan from Feb. 8-12 is an indication that his administration is on the “right track.” Lean Daval Jr.

FPH, P10

Higher gasoline, diesel pump prices set today

BSP expected to implement more rate hikes due to elevated inflation: Fitch

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is seen to continue hiking the country’s key policy rate in the first half of 2023 due to the elevated inflation, Fitch Solutions said on Monday.

In a statement, Fitch Solutions said it expects the central bank to implement a 50 basis points hike in its next meeting in May, following a 50 bps hike last Feb. 16.

Fitch Solutions said interest rates in the Philippines could peak at 6.50 percent this year, higher than its initial estimate of 6 percent.

The country’s benchmark interest rate, used by banks to price loans, is now at 6 percent. It was raised by a cumulative 400 bps since last year.

“The latest decisions were mainly driven by concerns over persistently high inflation, and we think that the BSP’s tightening will continue into H123

Oil firms on Monday announced another round of hikes in pump prices of gasoline and diesel, while rolling back that of kerosene.

it does not carry.

to tame inflationary pressures,” Fitch Solutions said.

“Beyond that however, a stabilization in global monetary conditions and headwinds to economic growth will give the BSP enough reason to leave rates on hold throughout the remainder of 2023,” it added.

Inflation hit a fresh 14year high in January 2023 to 8.7 percent, beating expectations. January’s consumer price index is also more than double the government’s 2 to 4 percent target range. This was due to higher housing, water and power costs as well as the continued increase in select food prices including vegetables.

Risks to the policy rate forecast include the larger-than-expected rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve which could exacerbate peso volatility and if inflation remains “stubbornly

In separate advisories, Chevron Philippines Inc. (Caltex), Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp., and Seaoil Philippines Corp. said they will hike prices per liter of

gasoline by P0.90, and diesel by P1.05, while rolling back kerosene by P0.25.

Cleanfuel will implement the same changes, excluding kerosene which

The changes will take effect at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, February 21, for all the firms except for Caltex which will adjust prices at 12:01 a.m. and Cleanfuel at 4:01 p.m. the same day.

Oil firms last week cut down prices per liter of diesel by P2.20 and

kerosene by P2.50, while keeping gasoline prices unchanged.

Latest data available from the DOE show that year-to-date net decreases stand at P2.15 per liter for diesel and P0.25 per liter for kerosene, while gasoline remains at a net increase of P5.10 per liter.

maintenance shutdown of Malampaya facility completed

15-day

The Department of Energy (DOE) on Monday announced the completion of the first maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya Deepwater Gas-to-Power under an all-Filipino owned consortium.

In a statement, the DOE said the 15-day maintenance works from February 4 to 18, 2023 were completed with no incidents recorded, covering the platform, pipe-

lines, and the entire system.

Prime Energy was said to have resumed the delivery of Malampaya power plants at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, February 19, as scheduled.

“Prior to the commencement of the work scope, the DOE together with Prime Energy, conducted numerous engagements with the stakeholder communities, local government units, and

other government agencies particularly in the vicinity of the Onshore Gas Plant in Batangas,” it said.

“This was done to ensure awareness during the course of the works, particularly during flaring activities,” it added.

The Malampaya gasto-power facility fuels three gas-fired power plants with a total generating capacity of 2,700 megawatts (MW)—providing up to 30% of the

power generation needs of Luzon.

Connected to onshore gas plants in Batangas, the Malampaya offshore facility in Northern Palawan was inaugurated in 2001.

The DOE last October gave the go signal for Razon-led Prime Infrastructure Capital Inc. to acquire the 45% interest of Shell Philippines Exploration BV (SPEX) in the Malam-

A boom truck is being refilled at a pumping station in Sasa, Davao City on Monday. Oil firms have announced another round of increases in prices of gasoline and diesel, while rolling back that of kerosene. Lean Daval Jr.

On the Davao Region to be positioned as logistics hub of Southern Philippines:

“This is a special chapter that we have formulated for Davao Region and this is focused on achieving Davao Region’s vision as the logistics hub of the Southeastern Philippines, resilient, with a rich biodiversity and a haven for human growth and development. This chapter is focused on harnessing the

LOURDES LIM Rgional Director, National Economic and Development Authori-

(NEDA 11)

GARAY DELIGERO Editorial Consultant

BILLACURA Sports Editor

PADILLO Senior Reporter

GREGORIO

MOSES

potentials and opportunities of the Davao Gulf.”

MARIA

ty

Music serves as a vehicle for social change with its power to emotionally, morally, and culturally affect society.

Political expressions always had their place in music as artists often use their creative talents to send message on social issues.

Originally held in September, the University of the Philippines Fair (UP Fair) at the Sunken Garden in the Diliman campus started in the early 1980s as an avenue or dissent against the Martial Law era of then dictator Ferdinand Marcos, Sr.

The event was more of a series of cultural performances with political undertones organized by the University Student Council (USC) after it was re-established in 1981.

Lean Alejandro became the USC chairman in 1983 and later a key figure in the national anti-dictatorship movement who is known for his statement “The struggle for freedom is the next best thing to actually being free.”

It was in 1984, or almost forty years ago, when the UP fair was institutionalized as a fundraising activity by student organizations led for the USC and considered the

ATTY. DENNIS R. GORECHO KUWENTONG PEYUPS

UP FAIR AS A MUSIC FESTIVAL ON SOCIAL ISSUES

biggest student-initiated activity in UP Diliman.

What started as a simple “perya-like” event, the UP Fair was moved to February and has evolved into a fullblown celebration of Philippine art, music, and culture.

The UP Fair is more than just a showcase of talent. It became a platform for change – a venue to campaign for issues that UP students have been fighting for over the years.

Musically-talented students see the campus as a large performing hall full of opportunities and like-minded individuals.

UP Fair has promoted several bands and talents, homegrown and non-UP alike , which include The Jerks, The Dawn, Buklod, Yano, Sinaglahi, Patatag, and Eraserheads being the most famous among them.

The Eraserheads made their first performance at the UP Fair on February 1991 which came two years after Ely Buendia, Buddy Zabala, Marcus Adoro, and Raimund Marasigan formed the band in 1989.

They performed again at the UP Fair 1992 with their set included cover versions of

The Knack’s “My Sharona” and John Lennon’s “Cold Turkey”.

Buddy and Raymund were my roommates for two years (1989 to 1991) at the Molave dorm during my last college years.

Because the band members often used our room to play their instruments and practice, I often ended up going out to study somewhere else, as I could not take the “noise”.

As a supportive roommate, I watched them perform during the annual UP Fair at the Sunken Garden at a time when they were just starting to make waves inside the campus.

It was beyond my comprehension that the “noise” that I tried to avoid made them known as one of the most successful and critically acclaimed bands in OPM history, earning them the accolade “The Beatles of the Philippines.” It was in 2019 that they last performed during the UP Fair.

Another fixture was UP’s resident punk Romeo Lee who is best known for his “Wild Thing” persona. A highlight of each concert was Lee freaking out onstage while singing “Wild Thing” or “I Feel Good” with the featured musicians.

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA

The name Nicolas V. Pacifico is familiar to historians and active journalists in the Com-monwealth era. A migrant from Bantayan, Cebu, he was a reporter for the Manila-based Tribune and authored the book ‘Builders of Davao.’ As a correspondent, he was the first to re-port the sighting of an unknown naval flotilla, suspected to be Japanese, off the waters of Malita, Davao Occidental, in 1938 in the gulf of Davao.

Pacifico’s letter dated September 21, 1933, at a time when Captain Elias Dioquino was head of the Philippine Constabulary (PC) in the district, exposed the demoralization in the Davao police force “due to incompetence and lack of moral sense of duty,” specifically citing the corruption that was gnawing at the remaining

credibility of the police vice squad.

His communication, blunt and straightforward, was also addressed to Davao governor Juan A. Sarenas and municipal president (mayor) Bruno Gempesaw, with a complimentary ending of hope that the town (just four years away from becoming a city), would heal by overhauling the entire police force. In full, the letter reads:

“Brushing aside all tendencies of vindictiveness and all traces of grudge, ill-feeling, or call it what you may, but placing above all the welfare of this fast-growing community, I am ad-dressing to you this letter with all sincerity, open frankness and blunt candidness.

“The demoralization of the Davao police force is undermining the moral fabric of

In the late 1980s and early 1990s. the themes evolved around the US bases and the Socialized Tuition and Financial Assistance Program (STFAP).

The theme for 2023 is “Kaisa Ka Sa Musika” that aims to give awareness on specific social issues each day: human rights protection (Tuesday: Rev); urban poor (Wednesday: Kalye Tunes); sustainable and pro-people transportation (Thursday: Dimensions); education, students’ rights, and welfare (Friday: Polaris); and gender emancipation (Saturday: Cosmos).

Performers include Moonstar88, Ben&Ben, Sandwich Mayonnaise, Itchy Worms, Ebe Dacel, Abra, Orange and Lemons. The vocalist of Sandwich is Raymund Marasigan of Eraserheads.

Hey Moonshine also performed whose bass guitarist, Atty. Carlo Ybanez, is the current president of the Maritime Law Association of the Philippines (MARLAWPh) . Their lyrics often deal with socially relevant issues like armed conflict and environmental degradation.

Students have always been a potent force in social organization and social change in

A NEWSMAN’S LETTER, 1933

Davao. I hold communion with the denizens of the underworld and I found that there are policemen who ought to be eliminated from the police rooster due to incompetence and lack of moral sense of duty.

“I know you are democratic and plastic, responsive to suggestion and amenable to rea-son. As a humble citizen, therefore, of this land of my adoption, I suggest the overhauling of the vice squad of the Davao police force. There is no need of producing tangible proofs to warrant the overhauling.

“Just stay at street corners and listed to the malediction tarnished on the brow of the vice squad and you will be morally convinced that there is a vital need of changing the old order of things.

“I know that the Davao force can never reach the parvenu of maximum efficiency. That is verily a Utopian dream. But what I desire is to overhaul it to such an extent as to reduce the inefficiency to a minimum.

“The time calls for prompt action, conscientious getting down to brass tacks, not vacilla-tion, not in decision.

“The vice squad of the Davao police force must be overhauled.”

Pacifico’s observation still rings to this day. Aside from a number of cops wallowing in corruption despite the delivery of better takehome pay, the social malady of extortion cas-cades to the deputized traffic enforcers who always find creative interpretations as bases for issuing a violation ticket

Philippine society.

The UP student politics has taught us the vision of service to the people.

The campus molded us to fight for the causes we believe in; trained us for the skills we need to communicate ideas and rally others to effect changes in society.

The music festival during UP Fair makes one cherish the concept of academic freedom .

The performances are manifestations of the culture of resistance and persistence of UP as a safe haven for civilized and intelligent discourse of all beliefs and forms of democratic expression.

The UP Fair will continue to be a witness to UP’s existence as an institution with a critical eye on social and historical issues.

As Bob Marley said: “Don’t give up the fight, Stand up for your rights.”

(Peyups is the moniker of University of the Philippines. Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, e-mail info@sapalovelez. com, or call 09175025808 or 09088665786.)

to perplexed and, at times, grumbling drivers.

Corruption in the streets come in various forms, from violating the strict rule of requiring the law enforcer to approach the driver from the vehicle’s window to inspecting a driver’s license for bills tucked inside for the traffic guy to pull out as a ‘negotiation fee.’

There is a ray of hope, though, the corrupt system can finally be checked. In Metro Ma-nila, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) had begun issuing automated tickets to traffic wrongdoers as part of its drive towards digitalization and the campaign to check bribery on the roads.

But how about the fixers who swarm the LTO premises, inside and out?

PAL APPOINTS FILIPINA EXECUTIVE CHEF AS CATERING HEAD

Philippine

Airlines (PAL) is proud to announce the appointment of Chef Vallerie Castillo - Archer as the airline’s new head of Catering Operations.

Chef Castillo-Archer joins the airline after a celebrated stint as the first female and first Filipino-American executive chef of Yamashiro, an iconic Hollywood restaurant in Los Angeles.

PAL President and Chief Operating Officer

Capt. Stanley K. Ng said, “Chef Val’s impressive track record and outstanding achievements in culinary arts make her an asset to PAL.”

“She is a welcome addition to the PAL family with her wealth of experience and creative vision. I am confident that she will pave the way for innovation and enhancement to the PAL inflight dining experience for

our passengers to enjoy,” he emphasized.

As Assistant Vice President of PAL’s Catering Operations, Chef Castillo-Archer will introduce positive change to the art of preparing tasty meals for millions of passengers flying on PAL’s global network.

“Leadership means making everyone feel part of the team. I look at teamwork as a dish. Every member of the team is a vital ingredient. All the ingredients will come together to produce desired results,” she explained.

To create the right momentum and synergy within the Catering Operations team, Chef Castillo-Archer said there are basic requirements. “I want to see passion for work, the right skills set for the job, communication and friendship.”

Chef Val and her team are re-designing the inflight menu and working with partners in the supply chain to get the best outcome. She will also be curating a special menu for PAL’s 82nd Anniversary, which will be launched this coming March for Business Class passengers of flights from Manila to North America and Australia.

“The distinct change is going back to the basics. It is going back to our roots. It is understanding what service is all about. The engagement between PAL and crew must be memorable.”

Her areas of expertise include food safety, menu development, quality control and team management.

Chef Val had her own pastry business before her stint at Yamashiro. She developed a wide network of contacts, which included Hollywood celebrities. Her humanitarian projects, such as donating shoes to the less fortunate in the Philippines and providing meals for free in US hospitals, have made her a popular and dynamic figure in

the culinary world.

PAL’s new Catering head was born in San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte.

“My Chef’s career started when I was born. I was born in my grandfather’s bakery in Ilocos Norte,” she shared.

For the first six years of her life, she and her sister were raised by her grandparents. Her father worked

for the US Air Force. This led the family to move to Hawaii, to Clark Air Base in Pampanga and eventually to California where she lived for 30 years prior to flying home last December 2022. It was during this visit that she was offered the post as PAL’S new Executive Chef -- a challenge she accepted with confidence and enthusiasm.

‘Step Up sa Pangarap’ movement for working students launched

Mapúa Malayan Digital College (MMDC), together with IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) and McDonald’s, has launched Step Up sa Pangarap – a pioneering movement that brings together the academe and industries to celebrate, support, and empower working students across the country.

Formally unveiled at a media event held at 205 Coffee and Cocktails in Bonifacio Global City on February 16, 2023, Step Up sa Pangarap kicks off with a series of stories of working students to inspire the community.

The main highlight of the campaign will gather working students from across the country for a three-day virtual summit to be held on May 1012, 2023. Featuring a roster of speakers composed of industry leaders, influencers, and former working students who found success in their respective careers, the event will empower the working student community on how to achieve their goals and provide them with access to coaches and mentors who can help further prepare attendees for the real world.

The online summit will particularly discuss three key areas where our working students can be successful:

· Step Up sa Career – A deep discussion on the skills to acquire and steps to be taken towards further career development

· Step Up sa Buhay – A comprehensive talk that tackles the importance of work-schoollife balance and how to achieve it

· Step Up sa Pera – An indepth session that covers all the bases of how individuals can stay on top of their finances and make smart investments towards their future

Watch out for the full lineup of inspiring and noteworthy speakers.

Following the summit, the movement challenges working students on how they can best apply their learnings. Participants will be encouraged to

join the “Step Up sa Tagumpay” Awards by submitting entries on how they plan to apply their learnings from the virtual summit and“Step Up” in their careers, lives, and finances. The most compelling stories stand to win MMDC scholarships and other awards at the awards night to be held online on May 25, 2023.

The Challenges of Today’s Working Students

According to a report from the World Economic Forum, data analytics, information security, software development, and business development are among the top industries where the demand for professionals will grow significantly by 2025. While these statistics are indicative of emerging workforce trends brought on by rapid digitalization across the world, many real-world challenges stand in the way of today’s learners hoping to begin or advance their careers. Skills gaps exist between industry needs and the technical skills that graduates have, and in the case of non-graduate undergrad employees, options for career advancement remain limited due to the lack of a college diploma.

In a survey conducted by MMDC through TheNerve on what students looked for in a college, career opportunities emerged as the top reason for potential returnees to enroll. While many working adults may express the desire to finish their college education, factors such as the inability to balance work, personal life, and school, the lack of time to commute to a physical campus, and the availability of funding prevent them from doing so.

“At McDonald’s, we are committed in fostering a working environment where everyone is supported, empowered, and enabled to reach their full potential. It starts with job security. As a company with close to 50,000 employees, and the first QSR that has practiced direct hiring (no contractualization) since we began operations in 1981, we have seen how this,

together with development opportunities like the Step Up sa Pangarap Program, allows our crew to grow and develop to become future leaders. At McDonald’s, we believe that providing the best employee experience results in a better experience for all.” says McDonald’s Philippines Corporate Relations Director Adi Hernandez.

A Better College Experience for Future Working Students

For many Filipino working adults, getting a chance to finish a college degree to become more competitive in the workplace might seem like a goal that’s out of reach. With so many responsibilities to juggle and so little time to spare between them, going to a physical campus to sit in class and devoting the energy to study seems almost close to impossible.

Recognizing these and other considerations of working

students, as well as the growing opportunities in today’s in-demand industries, MMDC leads the celebration of our working students across the country. Together with IBPAP and its employer partners, MMDC is rallying a community of employers and industry associations to ensure that working students become successful in the fields of Business Administration and Information Technology.

“The Philippines is a global leader in IT-BPM services for a reason—the Filipino talent,” said Celeste Ilagan, IBPAP Chief Policy & Regulatory Affairs Officer. “In turn, the sector has become one of their biggest champions and through the years, we’ve worked with the government and the academe to ensure that they are provided every opportunity to develop their skills and remain competitive. With our goal to grow Philippine IT-BPM into a US$59 billion industry with 2.5 million

full-time employees (FTEs), the plan is to further accelerate our efforts in talent development through more initiatives like Step Up sa Pangarap and stronger collaborations with partners like MMDC.”

Grounded on the Mapúan brand of academic excellence, MMDC’s innovative Projects, Problems, and Cases educational model and digital-first approach to learning are designed for flexibility. This model also equips students with real-world experience as well as the technical and soft skills needed in the workforce. All these at a very affordable and competitive price to ensure that the majority of the working students will have access to this relevant and effective learning experience.

“Returning students need to understand, just getting a degree may not help you. Writing a paper about theories from 50 years ago isn’t going to open

new career opportunities. Instead, getting a degree that delivers competencies in demand today and tomorrow will unlock opportunities to further one’s career. As an outcomes based and digital-first college, the MMDC educational model was designed to be flexible and accessible to address the factors keeping potential working students from coming back to school, said Derrick Latreille, Chief Learning Officer of MMDC and Co-founder of Ayala Education. “Since we opened our doors, almost 60% of our learners are currently working students. Through this campaign, we aim to empower more potential returnees across the country to pursue a college degree that will make a difference in their career, at an institution that supports their needs.”

To learn more about MMDC, visit mmdc.mcl.edu.ph or follow MMDC on Facebook, Twitter, Instag ram, and YouTube.

Power Mac Center treats music lovers to Valentine’s Day deals

Looking for a special gift for your loved one this Valentine’s Day? Or a little something your music-loving heart has been wanting? Head on over to Power Mac Center stores and online to

find “the one” you’re looking for. The Apple Premium Reseller is holding a special Valentine’s Day promo, including up to P1,500 off on AirPods, 30% discount on AirPods premium cases,

and up to 50% off on participating premium earphones from partner brands Defunc, Marley, Sudio, and Urbanista.

“Like love, music is a universal language. This month, Power Mac Center is celebrating Filipinos’ passion for music by extending big discounts on premium audio accessories that pair perfectly with your favorite Apple devices. Upgrade or make the switch to experience the best quality of sound, so you can sing your heart out whatever mood or situation you’re in,” said Joey Alvarez, Power Mac Center Director of Product Management and Marketing.

Get the AirPods (3rd gen) at P1,000 off when you pay via non-installment modes at any Power Mac Center or The Loop branch nationwide, or online via the Viber Store, Lazada, Shopee, and SM Malls Online app. Promo runs until February 19, 2023 only. Meanwhile, you can cop the AirPods (2nd gen) at P1,500 off in the

same channels until February 28, 2023. You can also snag 30% off on participating premium AirPods cases from Elago, Lab.C, and Laut when bought together with AirPods at any Power Mac Center, The Loop, and Mobile Care Service Centers nationwide and at <powermaccenter.com> until February 19, 2023.

Moreover, a wide selection of in-ear, wireless, and noise-cancelling earphones and earbuds in a variety of colors are slashed up to 50% off retail price. These are available via non-installment modes at all Power Mac Center, The Loop, and Mobile Care Service Centers nationwide, Web Store, and The Loop by Power Mac Center on Lazada and Shopee from February 11 to 19, 2023. Valid non-installment payment methods include cash, straight credit card, debit card, bank transfer, check, GCash, GrabPay, WeChat, AliPay, Maya, Hello

Money, UnionPay, BDO Pay, ShopeePay, QRPH, Power Mac Center eGift Certificate, Home Credit with interest, UpTrade trade-in value/ voucher, BillEase, 1 Infinite Access points, and Power Mac Center Gift Certificate.

Two-for-one on training and services

Basecamp, Power Mac Center’s official training arm, is also joining the Valentine’s celebration. Customers can avail of any course at the regular price and bring a companion for FREE! That’s right, it’s two for the price of one, and you can choose from a wide range of creative and technical courses.

Select training courses are also discounted at 20% off. These include macOS Fundamentals, Technical Troubleshooting, Apple Device Support, Apple Deployment and Management, iOS/ iPadOS Fundamentals and Troubleshooting, Mac and Windows Integration Basics, Pages, Num-

bers, and Keynote, and App Development with Swift. Sessions are conducted by Apple Certified Trainers every Monday to Fridays, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, except for declared holidays.

These promos are available from February 11 to 19, 2023 only, but the training itself can be scheduled with a Basecamp authorized representative until March this year.

Meanwhile, Power Mac Center’s service arm, Mobile Care, is extending discounts on diagnosis and software fees if you bring with you someone who also needs a repair or software fix for their Apple device. The two devices are entitled to a discount of 14% from February 11 to 19, 2023.

Terms and conditions apply. Shop now at https://bit.ly/ PMCValentinesDay2023. Find other ongoing promotions at Power Mac Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube.

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PLAYERS... FROM 12

the logistics hub alternate to Singapore.

The big ticket projects that shall be implemented to boost integration are Sasa Wharf Rehabilitation Project, Davao International Airport Modernization Proj-

CSWDO... FROM 2

pamaagi nga makahatag

ta og assistance sa ilaha maskin food packs lang man (These people are part of the list we submitted to CSWDO for the Batch 12 of those who will receive financial assistance last year and since the agency did not release additional fund, they were unable to receive the financial assistance. So, with that we looked for ways that they’d be assisted even through food packs only),” she said.

Aquino said that they coordinated with the City Mayor’s Office for the food packs. The same type of food packs was distributed to other sectors, so this time, taxi drivers and PUJ drivers received their share.

During the February 16 distribution, a total of 464 drivers received food packs. Each food pack contains 20 canned goods and five kilos of rice. Each driver received two bags.

HPBS Registration “Gawas ana ni-take advantage na lang pud mi sa atoang registration drive nga atong gipahigayon sa atong High Priority Bus System unya nindot pud sya og turn out kay as per

foreign trips of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“The increase in investments proves that the government’s promotional visit abroad, led by no less than the President himself, are working as a growing number of investors from around the globe – from Southeast Asia, the US, Belgium, China, and most recently Japan – have shown strong interest in putting in more investments into the country,” he said.

The trade chief noted that approved investments

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paya Service Contract 38.

“While major regular maintenance works have been carried out over the last two decades, this is the first time under an all-Filipino owned consortium,” the DOE said.

Prime Infra completed the acqusition of the 45% stake last November, and renamed the SPEX to Prime Energy Resources Development B.V.

Prime Infra in July announced that its unit Prime Exploration Pte. Ltd. inked a share purchase agreement to acquire Malampaya Energy from from Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corp.

Uy’s Malampaya Ener-

ect, Davao City Coastal Road Project, Davao City Bypass Road Project, Davao City Expressway Project, Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project, and Mindanao Railway Project: Tagum-DavaoDigos segment.

gahapon nga ihap nato nikabat siya og murag 100 plus ka drivers atong napa-register so naklaro na or nasecure na ang ilang registration didto sa atong HPBS project. (Aside from handing out food packs, we also took advantage of the distribution and conducted the registration drive for the HPBS. The turnout is also good because as per yesterday’s data, around 100 were able to register, so their registration for the project was secured),” she said.

She said that the 100 drivers will add to the 9,072 drivers and operators earlier listed for the HPBS social package. The registration for the drivers and operators for the social packages remains open.

Aquino said that drivers included in Batch 12 who were entitled to receive food packs are listed in their February 15 post on https://www. facebook. com/cswdodavaocity.

While the initial schedule of distribution is set for February 16 and 17, they plan to extend it to next week until all the drivers on the list are given food packs. CIO

in less than two months of 2023 surged to PHP163 billion, from PHP249 million in the same period in 2022.

“BOI-approved foreign capital for barely the first months of 2023 has already reached 56 percent of the total figure for all IPAs (investment promotion agencies) last year. So, this year looks very promising with heightened prospects and through our collective efforts, we are on course to surpass the 2022 figure way ahead of time,” Pascual said. (PNA)

One can contract HFMD by touching contaminated objects or surfaces; coughing or sneezing of a person

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Lemuel Manalo, program coordinator of IDIS, said they conducted demographic profiling, interview, and log sheets with the farmers, and basically, skin diseases and irritation are the common cases and complaints that they profiled.

“The samples we gathered particularly from Baguio District in Barangay Tawan-Tawan have puroks amd settlements nearby and directly adjacent to plantations, The plantations subject for this study are pineapple plantations. For this research alone yung subject for the pesticides are coming from the pineapple plantations,” he said.

Meanwhile, the groups emphasized that the fight against aerial spraying continues.

This year, the city is commemorating the Ban Aerial Spray Ordinance

PH... FROM 4

in various sectors such as manufacturing, infrastructure development, energy, transportation, healthcare, renewable energy and business expansion.

The investment pledges from Japanese business leaders are expected to generate around 24,000 jobs for Filipinos.

Marcos expressed optimism that the latest development would make the Philippine economy more robust.

‘New Philippines’

He said his foreign travels are aimed at fulfilling his administration’s desire for a “new Philippines.”

“Itong ginagawa nating pagbibisita sa iba’t ibang bansa gaya ng Japan

with HFMD; touching the water from the blisters; and touching the feces of a person with HFMD.

that was passed 16 years ago and proposed by the late Councilor Leo Avila, who was then the chair of the environment committee of the City Council.

“Dabawenyos and farmer partners padayon gihapon in fighting for their rights, specially on their fight against aerial spray ordinance to keep ang mga measures in terms of agricultural management and to keep in place and reduce pesticide use. Our farmers na nakapuyo sa rural districts are affected by nearby agricultural plantations that still pose risks and hazards coming from chemicals and toxins being released by these agricultural plantations specifically mono-crop plantations in Baguio District, particularly in the Panigan-Tamugan Watershed area,” Manalo said.

By Maya M. Padillo

para manghikayat ng mga investment ay malaking bahagi ng ating roadmap kumbaga tungo sa isang bagong Pilipinas (Our overseas trips, including Japan, to encourage more investments is a big part of our roadmap toward a new Philippines),” Marcos said. “Ang mga ugnayan at pagsasamahang kinakailangan sa ating mga mithiin ay lalo pang aarugain. Hindi lang ang pagbangon, kung hindi ang kaunlaran, iyan ang bagong Pilipinas (We will nurture our connections and partnerships we need to achieve our goals. A new Philippines shows not just our recovery but also development).”

MARCOS... FROM 4

2008, to allow 100-percent foreign equity for a lot of RE sources including wind, solar and tidal.

for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the 74th staging of the event is supported by platinum sponsors ABS-CBN Global, Asian Journal, Airbus, and NUSTAR Resort and Casino.

Gold sponsors include Radio Mindanao Network, Mastercard, Primax, University of Mindanao Broadcasting Network, PLDT/Smart, and Konsul-

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He finished with 13 points, and said a chasedown block in the first half led to him getting a finger caught in the rim.

“Precautionary reasons,” James said.

James played a half. The game’s other captain didn’t play a half-minute.

Antetokoumpo drafted his team before the game, went through warmups (such as they were) and started the game as planned.

But his right wrist was wrapped, and that was an ominous sign. The injury kept him out of All-Star Saturday’s skills event, limited him to 20 seconds in this one. He got an uncontested dunk to open the game, then took a foul and headed to the bench.

“Whatever I have, I’m going to give,” Antetokounmpo said. “That’s who I am. That’s never going to change.”

As in past years, the teams played for charity, with Team LeBron raising money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Utah and Team Giannis for Raise the Future, which connects youth waiting

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his first dunk – Alvarado “stealing” the ball and throwing an alley-oop pass off the backboard to Murphy for a 360 dunk. Murphy placed third with his dunk.

ta MD.

Joining the event as silver sponsors are Philippine National Bank (PNB), Biocostech, and VISA.

Minor sponsors are Bollore Logistics, Manila Standard, Tanduay Brands International, and Asia Brewery while donors are Department of Tourism, Ogawa, Newport World Resorts, Rolls Royce, and Boeing.

in foster care with stable adults. Each team started with $150,000, with the first three quarters worth another $100,000 apiece and the All-Star Game winner getting another $150,000.

The teams were tied at 46-46 in the first quarter, and Team Giannis took the second quarter 53-46.

Team Giannis also won the third quarter 59-49, and the cumulative score to that point — 158-141, Team Giannis — meant 182 would be the score to reach in the untimed fourth quarter with a target-score ending.

Team Giannis won $700,000 for its charity, and Team LeBron won $200,000.

TIP-INS

Team Giannis: Antetokounmpo’s two points kept him the all-time All-Star scoring average leader. He’s now averaging 25.1 points in All-Star Games, just ahead of Kevin Durant (25.0). Without that basket, he’d average 24.9. ... Jrue Holiday took Antetokounmpo’s spot in the starting lineup for the second half.

gy inked a share purchase deal with Shell Petroleum N.V. to acquire SPEX in May 2021, but this did not push through after the Philippine National Oil Company Exploration (PNOC-EC) withdrew its consent.

Prior to Uy’s acquisition of Chevron’s participating stake and the Razon Group’s buyout of SPEX, Malampaya Consortium was composed of SPEX, Chevron, and the PNOC-EC — which still holds 10% interest in the gas field.

Prime infra also earlier committed to expand gas production and look into developing nearby gas fields.

She said the government also allows 100-percent foreign equity for geothermal and biomass, a move that encouraged more foreign and local investors to venture into RE.

“In fact, for the BOI-approved projects last year, RE projects accounted for a huge portion of our investment approvals,” she

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high,” the group said.

Fitch Solutions said it has also raised its inflation forecast for the year to 6.5 percent from its initial estimate of 5.4 percent. It expects inflation to remain above target for the entire 2023.

The BSP also earlier revised its inflation fore-

said. “For this year, we already registered more than PHP400 billion worth of investments and a large chunk of these investment approvals are also into renewable energy.”

Just six weeks into 2023, the total investment projects approved by the BOI already reached PHP414.3 billion, a 142.9-percent increase compared to the PHP170.5 billion recorded in the same period last year, according to data released on Saturday.

cast for 2023 to 6.1 percent from its initial outlook of 4.3 percent.

In terms of economic growth, Fitch Solutions said it expects the gross domestic product (GDP) to expand by 5.9 percent this year compared to the 7.6 percent recorded in 2022.

The Knicks’ Jericho Sims showed off his vertical as he put his arms through the hoop. He received the second-highest score.

Kenyon Martin Jr. required a few attempts, but eventually put down a nice dunk. Still, he received the lowest score on the first pass.

McClung posted the best score of the first round, recording 50s across the board for his dunk. He took the ball out of the hands of a man who was sitting on another squatting man’s shoulders, leaping over both to stuff the ball home after touching it off the backboard.

“That’s (what) I was banking on, the slow-motion video. I knew (touching the backboard) would be hard to see, but I’m glad everybody saw it after the

slo-mo,” McClung said. Martin brought out his father, longtime NBA standout and former first overall pick Kenyon Martin, for his second dunk that involved a unique ball. He required a few attempts but eventually had another nice dunk.

Murphy showed off his athleticism with extreme ball movement on his second dunk.

Sims’ second dunk involved a prop envelope he attached to the net. When he opened it, it revealed the No. 50 (Sims was given a 47.8 by the judges).

McClung nearly recorded another perfect score on his second dunk, getting 50s from all but one judge.

Final Murphy kicked things off by throwing a windmill down after throwing the ball to himself.

McClung answered by jumping over someone and dunking after a double-pump, earning another round of 50s from the judges.

Team Giannis finally gets a win over LeBron in NBA All-Stars

Tatum scored an AllStar Game-record 55 points, and Team Giannis ended LeBron James’ hold on All-Star captain supremacy by beating Team LeBron, 184-176, in the NBA’s annual showcase exhibition on Sunday night (Monday, Manila time).

See Miami it is for Kevin Love, Heat finalizing plans to add Cody Zeller

Tatum had 27 points in the third quarter, another All-Star Game record for any period. He was the first pick by Antetokounmpo in the starters’ portion of the All-Star draft, and in the end, that pick proved to be the right one.

It was James’ first loss in six times as captain. Antetokounmpo improved to 1-2 in his All-Star captaincies.

Donovan Mitchell added 40 for Team Giannis, which got 26 points from Damian Lillard — including the game-winner to push his team past the target score.

Jaylen Brown scored 35 points and had 14 rebounds for Team LeBron, while Kyrie Irving had 32 points and 15 assists and Joel Embiid finished with 32 points.

Lillard, the winner of the 3-point contest on AllStar Saturday Night, made eight 3s — including a halfcourt pullup in the third quarter.

The league had a ceremony before the second half to pay tribute to the three leading scorers in NBA history: No. 3 Karl Malone, No. 2 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James, now the game’s career leader after he passed Abdul-Jabbar earlier this month.

Malone and Abdul-Jabbar were brought to the stage, and then Dwyane Wade — James’ former teammate in Miami and now a part-owner of the Jazz — introduced James to bring him onto the platform.

“We’ve all been witnesses,” Wade said. “No matter the challenge, no matter the noise, he was relentless.”

With the number 38,388 displayed behind him, James then raised his hand to thank the fans for their ovation, hugged Abdul-Jabbar and Malone. He didn’t return to the game, his night ending with a right hand contusion.

Who is Mac McClung?

Mac McClung put on a show in winning the 2023 NBA Dunk Contest.

But who is Mac McClung? There’s a reason you may be unfamiliar with the 24-year-old if you only follow the NBA: He hasn’t played a game in the NBA this season.

In fact, McClung has only appeared in two NBA games in his career, with the Chicago Bulls in December 2021 and Los Angeles Lakers in April 2022. McClung has spent this season in the Philadelphia 76ers’ organization, playing for the G League’s Delaware Blue Coats.

“I’m super grateful for this opportunity,” McClung said afterwards. “I think a lot of guys in the G League probably deserve

this light that I just got. I’m very appreciative and I hope I represented well for them, and I really appreciate the NBA giving us this opportunity.”

Here’s everything you need to know about the NBA’s new slam dunk champ:

Who is Mac McClung?

“It kind of feels ever since the beginning I was the underdog, even when I was younger,” McClung said after the dunk contest.

McClung has been known as a prolific dunker since his standout career at Gate City High School (Virginia). During his time at Gate City, he toppled state scoring records held by the likes of Allen Iverson and JJ Redick and

won the 2018 BallisLife All-America Game Slam Dunk Contest.

McClung attended Georgetown University for two seasons, where he averaged 14.2 points per game, before transferring to Texas Tech. He averaged 15.5 points per game in his lone season with the Red Raiders in 2020-21. He eventually declared for the NBA draft, though he went undrafted. He split 2021-22 bouncing between the Lakers and Bulls organizations, but was still named G League Rookie of the Year after averaging 21.6 points, 7.6 assists and 6.6 rebounds per game. McClung has averaged 19.1 points in 18 games in the G League this year.

“I’m not really worried what other people think, good or bad. I’m just staying the course. My goal is to make an impact in the NBA, and I’m just going to keep working until that happens,” McClung said.

Mac McClung celebrates with the trophy after winning the Dunk Contest.

Dame Time!:Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard wins 3-point contest at NBA All-Star Saturday Night

Here’s how he won the Dunk Contest on Saturday night: First round The Pelicans’ Trey Murphy III got the action started and got teammate Jose Alvarado involved on

SALT LAKE CITY — Jayson Tatum put on a record-setting show, and made Giannis Antetokounmpo look like a genius.

Ja Morant sails in for a dunk.

FTEAM, P10

NBA’s new slam dunk champion hasn’t even played a single NB game this season and a total of only two games in his career--one with Chicago Bulls and one with the LA Lakers.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Four Seniors rookies seen as keys for respective squads

CEBU—The Philippine Airlines Interclub starts its reboot on Wednesday with Seniors action, a division usually reserved for players who are calculating and reserved.

This year could be the exception as the 72-hole championship for those 55 years old and above will see four new faces who are used to the aggressive play, which could ultimately spell the difference for their respective teams.

Marty Ilagan, who once entertained thoughts of turning pro, Ronnie Littaua, who spearheaded the Forest Hills men’s team for a long time, Carl Almario, a former pro who has innate knowledge of the two courses to be used this week, and Jun Jun Plana, who until the start of the pandemic anchored the highly-successful Manila Southwoods men’s program, will be making their seniors debuts and loom as players to watch.

Ilagan and Littaua have come in to infuse youth to the talent-laden Luisita squad, while Almario joins an already loaded Cebu Country Club lineup that put the home squad in the mix as title contender in what is regarded as the country’s unofficial club team championship.

Plana, meanwhile, will ditch the old stabilizer role he used to play at Southwoods as he

becomes the Carmona-based squad’s tip of the sword in trying to foil another Canlubang-Luisita fight for the title.

“They could provide the big difference,” Cangolf mainstay Tommy Manotoc said of the new faces in their division. “They are longer than (the old players), that’s for sure. And with the tournament playing forward tees, we could expect fireworks.”

Canlubang is the defending champion and is the only team in the Championship division which didn’t tinker with its lineup that also has the steady Abe Rosal and the seasoned Rolly Viray.

“I have no expectations,” Ilagan, a Tarlac native, said. “I will just go out there and help my team the best way I can.”

Alta Vista and Club Filipino will host the tournament, with a number of the veterans seeing the title to be decided in the Danao layout that has so many blind holes that local knowledge will be key.

The annual event, considered the country’s unofficial national team championship, was shelved

Joining hands after the ceremonial tee-off ushering in the 74th Philippine Airlines Interclub golf team championships at the Alta Vista Golf Club are (from left) Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines chairman emeritus Tommy Manotoc, Sam Pagdanganan, Irene Tan, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Bianca Pagdanganan

and PAL president Capt. Stanley K. Ng. (Photo by Alan Tangcawan)