LABANAN ANG COVID-19! ISANG PAALALA MULA KAY GOV. SAKUR TAN, VICE GOV. TOTO TAN AT CONG. SAMIER TAN.
Founded 2006
mindanaoexaminer.com
FOR ADVERTISEMENTS, PLEASE CALL (062) 9555360 or (082) 2841859
P10
March 7-13, 2022
French court tells Malaysia to pay heirs of Sulu sultan $14bil
S
ULU - Descendants of the Sultan of Sulu have filed a case against Malaysia in a French court to claim over $32 billion in unpaid cession money as well as how much they believe they are owed for the oil and gas found in Sabah. The Sultanate of Island. The British leased Sulu, founded in 1457, Sabah and transferred continues to lay claim control over the territory to Sabah which it ob- to Malaysia after the end tained from Brunei as a of World War II. gift for helping put down The Sulu Sultanate said a rebellion on Borneo Continue on page 2
Members of the Royal Council of the Sulu Sultanate composed of Sultans Ibrahim Bahjin, Muedzul-Lail Tan Kiram, Mohammad Venizar Julkarnain Jainal Abirin, Muizuddin Jainal Abirin Bahjin and Phugdalun Kiram II, and Sulu Governor Dr Sakur Tan. (Image: Al Jacinto)
Chibi saints win hearts as ‘visual reminders’ of Catholic faith WHILE SCROLLING through her Facebook newsfeed one day, an image of a tiny Santo Niño de Cebu caught the
eye of Karen Fontillas. She instantly wanted one for her brother who collected sacred images of the Child Jesus. Little did she know
that other saints depicted as childlike would soon earn a special space in her home. Continue on page 3
Duterte, key figure in anti-Covid drive INTERIOR SECRETARY Eduardo Año has said that tens of thousands of people had been saved from the deadly Covid-19 because of President Rodrigo Duterte’s swift response at the height of the pandemic. “Sa panahon pong noon Continue on page 5
President Rodrigo Duterte
ARMM
Eastern Mindanao
A woman gets vaccinated against the Covid-19. (Image: Mindanao Examiner)
A year into mass vaccination, 63mil people inoculated vs. Covid OVER 63 million people have been fully vaccinated against the Covid-19, marking the country’s socalled “Resbakuna Program” or the national vac-
Western Mindanao
cination rollout program successful since it was launched last year. The Department of Health said during its initial phase, the program pri-
Cebu
oritized inoculating the sectors who are at high risk of Covid-19 infection - the medical frontliners, senior citizens, and Continue on page 6
Manila
2
The Mindanao Examiner
March 7-13, 2022
French court tells Malaysia to pay heirs of Sulu sultan $14bil
Continued from page 1 it had merely leased North Borneo in 1878 to the British North Borneo Company for an annual payment of 5,000 Malayan dollars then, which was increased to 5,300 Malayan dollars in 1903. The Sultanate of Sulu is believed to exist as a sovereign nation for at least 442 years. It stretches from a part of the island of Mindanao in the east, to Sabah, in the west and south, and to Palawan, in the north. But North Borneo was annexed by Malaysia in 1963 following a referendum organised by the Cobbold Commission in 1962, the people of Sabah voted overwhelmingly to join Malaysia. No more cession money According to the Malaysian newspaper The Star, a French arbitration court has “instructed” the Malaysian government to pay $14.92bil (RM62.6bil) to the descendants of the last Sulu sultan. It reported that Arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa, who is from Spain, issued the award in a Paris court. The decision was based on the alleged violation of payments of RM5,300 cession money under the 1878 agreement signed by Sultan Jamal Al Alam, Baron de Overbeck and the British North Borneo Company’s Alfred Dent.
Malaysia stopped paying the Sultan Sulu’s heirs their annual RM5,300 cession money after over 200 armed followers of the Sultan of Sulu, Jamalul Kiram III led by his younger brother Agbimuddin Kiram landed in Lahad Datu town in Sabah in 2013 to press the ancestral claim on the oil-rich territory. Malaysia responded by sending troops and launching airstrikes before the stand-off ended. The conflict, which lasted more than a month, resulted in the deaths of 68 men from the Sulu sultanate, nine Malaysian armed services personnel and six civilians. From Spain to France The Star also quoted a report by the Spanish news website La Información which said that Stampa had issued the award, ruling that the 1878 treaty was a commercial “international private lease agreement.” By not paying the cession money since 2013, Stampa said Malaysia had breached the agreement and would have three months to pay up failing which interest would be charged if the decision was not accepted. On March 17, 2020, Kota Kinabalu High Court judge Datuk Martin Indang ruled that Malaysia was the proper venue to resolve disputes arising from the 1878
Sultan Jamalul Kiram III reads the Mindanao Examiner regional newspaper in this file photo by Mark Navales, the paper's bureau chief in southern Philippines. Deed of Cession and not the Spanish courts, which do not have authority nor jurisdiction over Malaysia. Justice Idang said this when deciding in favour of the Malaysian government in its suit against eight of the supposed descendants
of the sultan of Sulu at the Kota Kinabalu High Court on March 17. He said there was no binding agreement between the Government and the sultan’s heirs that compelled either party to also submit to arbitration in the event of a dispute. The heirs’ claims were originally heard in Madrid until the Madrid High Court annulled Stampa’s appointment on grounds that Malaysia was not properly informed about the case and was thus “defenceless”. The case was later moved to the French capital. Kiram Sultan Kiram III died in 2015 from renal failure at a hospital in Zamboanga City in southern Philippines. His body was brought to his hometown in Sulu’s Maimbung town and buried beside the tomb of his elder brother, Jamalul, whom he succeeded in 2013. The 75year old sultan was one of the most influential members of the Royal Sultanate. And Agbimuddin also died early of cardiac arrest the same year in Tawi-Tawi province after escaping from Lahad Datu at the height of the Malaysian assault on his group. Datu Phugdal Kiram, another brother, has reportedly assumed the throne, but the sultanate does not hold any power anymore in the modern-day Philippines, and is more of a title although
Malaysia previously paid an annual rental for the island to whoever sits as the head of the Royal Sultanate. But there are dozens of sultans claiming to be the legitimate heir to the throne. Sabah claims Two years ago, the Philippines said it would revive the “North Borneo Bureau” to exert its claim to the mineral-rich Sabah even if Malaysia insisted it was theirs. Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. told lawmakers that he has decided to revive the North Borneo Bureau to uphold the country’s claim to Sabah. A report by ABS-CBN also quoted Locsin as telling members of the House Appropriations Committee that: “While we fiercely guard our waters, we are not forgetting our terrestrial domain. In pursuit of securing what is ours, I have decided to reactivate the North Borneo Bureau.” “After realizing that the rest of us have almost forgotten our Sabah claim, casually designating it as another country’s territory, well we have not forgotten. This is one of several international disagreements we can afford to conduct in our best interest without any risk of loss of any kind for our country,” he said, adding, “Our honor is involved here.” Insulting, pittance Sulu Governor Sakur Tan previously said the cession money that Malaysia paid annually to the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu was insulting. “The amount is insulting anyway, you can never change history,” he told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner. Even Nur Misuari, chieftain of the Moro National Liberation Front, said that what Malaysia pays to the Sultanate of Sulu (and North Borneo), was but a pittance. President Rodrigo Duterte’s former Spokesman and now Chief Legal Counsel, Salvador Panelo, said the government has not abandoned its claim on Sabah. Panelo reiterated Duterte’s position that he would pursue the Philippines’ claim to Sabah. “The position of the President, meron tayong claims. Eh totoo namang may claim tayo di ba? That has been a bone of contention ever since,” he said. Sultans Sultan Ibrahim Bahjin-Shakirullah II said North Borneo is an inextricable part and parcel of the Sultanate of Sulu.
He said the Sultanate of Sulu asserts its position on the following: 1.) The Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo was never lawfully ceded to the Republic of the Philippines, and therefore remains a sovereign and independent state; 2.) The stipulation in the Deed of 1878 that the lessees of North Borneo shall administer the territory for “as long as they choose or desire to use them” places it in the category of a “perpetual lease”, effective for 100 years under international law. The contract of lease has therefore expired and possession over North Borneo should now be exercised by the Sultanate of Sulu, its rightful owner. And 3.) The heirs of Jamalul Kiram III do not have private ownership of Sabah. The territory continues to be owned by the Sultanate of Sulu, and not any private person. In view of the history of the Sultanate and the circumstances surrounding the lease of Sabah, he said: “We desire the recognition of the independent statehood and sovereignty of the Islamic Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo.” But Sultan Muedzul-Lail Tan Kiram, who claims to be the 35th Sultan of Sulu and North Borneo, said his grandfather, Sultan Mohammad Esmail Enang Kiram, who was recognized by the Philippine government in 1957, “transferred the rights of North Borneo under the government of President Diosdado Macapagal in 1962.” Kiram said his father, Sultan Mohammad Mahakuttah Abdulla Kiram, and he, being the Crown Prince of Sulu, confirmed the transfer of the rights of North Borneo to the Philippine government and this was made official through Memorandum Order No. 427 issued by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1974. “We aspire for an amicable solution to the predicament that affects us all in this region,” Kiram said, adding, “The Royal House of Sulu firmly believes that diplomacy will allow us to move forward as governments and other parties involved play a crucial role from alleviating our people from poverty.” The two are only among the five recognized sultans in Sulu. The others are Sultans Mohammad Venizar Julkarnain Jainal Abirin, Muizuddin Jainal Abirin Bahjin and Phugdalun Kiram II. (Mindanao Examiner)
3
The Mindanao Examiner
March 7-13, 2022
Chibi saints win hearts as ‘visual reminders’ of Catholic faith
FOR SALE
Kampilan 21” (P13,000)
Long Kris 20” (P13,000)
Short Kris Colored Forged 16” (P13,000)
Continued from page 1 Fontillas, who hails from Zambales, is just one of the many collectors of so-called “chibi saints.” Chibi is a Japanese slang word describing something short like a thing, an animal or a person. It comes from the verb chibiru, which means “to wear out and become shorter.” The term is widely used in Japan to describe a specific style of caricature where characters are drawn in an exaggerated way. Typically these characters are small and chubby, with stubby limbs and oversized heads to make them resemble children. Fontanillas said she currently has over 100 chibi saints inside her room. No doubt that they’re cute, but she says they also help her pray and meditate. For her, each chibi saint represents her family history - a way to recall the religious sites she and her family visited when her mother was still alive. “My reason for collecting them isn’t to show them off, but it’s my way of expressing devotion,” she told the Philippine News Agency. Because certain Catholic traditions and practices were either limited or modified due to the pandemic, Fontillas turned to her chibi saints as a visual reminder of her faith and devotion to these holy men and women. “These saints are humans who did something miraculous. The stories behind the life of each saint really interest me,” she said. Chibi saints can be found online and in physical stores such as Chibi Maria, Pious Creations, Saintly Inspirations, and Vela Chibis. They’re made of fiber resin, stand a little over three inches, and sell between P200 and P300 price range. Collectors are bound to find the popular saints like the four evangelists - Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in stores that sell them, but may also be pleasantly surprised to see lesser-known intercessors in there too. Childlike versions of the many titles of which the Virgin Mary holds such as Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of the Miraculous
For Karen Fontillas, chibi saints serve as visual reminders of her faith and devotion. (Contributed photo) Medal, and Our Lady Manaoag among others are also much sought-after. These sacred images, which are sometimes kept in retablos -- a shelf behind the altar -- are often designated for veneration. Visual reminders Just as people remember their loved ones by looking at their photographs, the Catholic Church has long been using sacred images such as paintings and statues to recall and represent the example of models of the Catholic faith. Fr. Michell Joe Zerrudo, parish priest at the St. Joseph the Worker Parish and minister in the Catechetical Ministry of the Diocese of Cubao in Quezon City, said the faithful also need to be constantly reminded of their “spiritual family.” “If we see the need to surround ourselves with pictures of family and friends then also we see our need to surround ourselves with the pictures of our Lord, our Lady, the pictures of the saints because they are family to us,” Fr. Zerrudo said. Sacred images are also used as teaching tools to commemorate certain people and events, according to Jasper Lu, co-founder of Pious Creations, who recalled a time when a 10-year-old boy came up to their booth only to name all the chibi saints on display. “Mas kabisado niya pa yung name ng mga saints kaysa sa amin,” he said. The Church condemns the sin of idolatry. However, Fr. Zerrudo said that there is a distinction between worshipping statues and desiring to visual-
GinunƟng 12” (P7,500)
Made from 5160 High Carbon Steel and Kamagong handle and scabbard. For table and wall display, or as self-defense weapon. Zamboanga City 0915-3976197
Patricia Patawaran's father built her a house-shaped wooden display shelf to make sure all her chibi versions of the Virgin Mary have a chance to shine. (Contributed photo)
ly remember Christ, the Virgin Mary, and the saints in heaven by making statues in their honor. “Catechism is a form of imparting knowledge. As human beings, we know only what passes through the senses. That is why the best way to teach the faith is to show children pictures. Adults nga kailangan ng picture, e di lalo na yung bata (If adults need pictures, how much more children),” he said. Saints may not have been perfect people, but Zerrudo said that all saints share a common attribute—childlike humility. “For one, the saints were once children. No saint even skipped childhood before they became an adult. If they remind you of the words of Christ that ‘Unless you [change and] become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven’, then I think the chibi saints have also achieved a purpose in evangelization,” he said. Serving hearts Patricia Gail Patawaran, who hails from Pampanga province, has 16 chibi versions of the Virgin Mary’s many titles in her collection as well as that of the Holy Family. Her father, Roberto Patawaran Jr., even built her a house-shaped wooden display shelf to make sure all of them have a chance to shine. “Yun po bahay ng chibi, ang gumawa po father ko. Tuwing Christmas, gumagawa po siya nung higaan ni Baby Jesus,” she said. Apart from increasing her faith, the younger Patawaran said her chibi Marian collection spurs in her a desire to serve in Church and support businesses producing them. Among these businesses is Pious Creations, which started producing and selling chibi saints as a way to earn extra income. Childlike humility As if taking their cue from the curly-haired statue of the Child Jesus, the trend of making childlike versions of saints emerged during the pandemic but it looks like they’re here to stay. And for Baguio City-based Elizabeth Rasalan, 68, she said the chibi saints keep her feeling youthful because they spark so much joy in her heart. “Natutuwa lang ako ma makita sila dahil buhay na buhay sila,” Rasalan said, adding although she only started collecting them in April last year, she now has 37 chibi saints and is looking forward to adding more to her collection. (Azer Parrocha)
4
The Mindanao Examiner
March 7-13, 2022
Sulu Pictures in the News Sulu provincial government at work. This is where your taxes go. (Photos from the Office of the Provincial Governor, Jaques Tutong, Maimbung Municipal Government, Rep. Shernee Tambut, Noenyrie Asiri, and Aziz Salapuddin)
5
The Mindanao Examiner
March 7-13, 2022
Duterte, key figure in anti-Covid drive Continued from page 1 ay wala talaga tayong healthcare facilities at natatandaan ko mga 1,500 lang ‘yung ating test kit at panahon po na ‘yun talagang pumasok po ‘yung tinatawag natin na surge and you made the decision. Your decision, Mr. President, saved probably a hundred thousand lives. And, yes, others say 200,000 lives,” Año told Duterte during a recent televised meeting. Año’s statement was also echoed by Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, who attended the
meeting, adding Duterte’s support to the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) has contributed greatly to its successful Covid-19 information campaign. It aided the successful implementation of public health measures such as wearing of face masks, social distancing, frequent hand washing and disinfection, among others, according to Andanar. “Malaki po ang papel ng komunikasyon para sa epektibong pagpapatupad ng ating Covid-19 response. Tulad ng inyo
pong ‘Talk to the People,’ napakalaking bagay po nito upang mabigyan ang publiko ng tunay na estado at sitwasyon mula noon hanggang ngayon,” he said. PCOO said the Duterte administration allotted a total of P200-billion worth of aid for low-income households, farmers, and fisherfolk, affected by the health crisis, which was considered the biggest and widest social protection program in the country’s history. (Mark Navales and Malou Cablinda contributed to this report.)
Sparks fly in SMNI senatorial debate
Organic Kopi Luwak or Civet coffee isn’t really pricey
KIDAPAWAN CITY Coffee lovers in the Philippines may now enjoy the best and the most expensive coffee in the world - Kopi Luwak - but not as pricey as every connoisseurs think. Kopi Luwak is a coffee that consists of partially digested coffee cherries, which have been eaten and defecated by the Asian palm civet. The cherries are fermented as they pass through a civet’s intestines, and after being defecated
with other fecal matter, they are collected. In Manila, a kilogram of Civet coffee sells for as high as P15,000 and over $500 dollars abroad. But Kopi Luwak can now be enjoyed by every coffee lovers for as low as P150 for a 16 oz. cup that comes with a drip bag, ground organic Civet coffee beans, two packets of brown sugar and a stirrer in a beautiful Kraft paper bag – thanks to the Mindanao Civet Coffee
seller in Zamboanga City. The new market player in the coffee business, although small, is now offering affordable organic Kopi Luwak – sourced and picked by farmers from the highlands of Mindanao, cleaned and dried and roasted to perfection to give coffee lovers that distinct aroma of Civet coffee berries – chocolaty and nutty and smooth bodied brewed drink. Mindanao Civet Coffee, which started as a home reseller of coffee beans, now offers organic Kopi Luwak in 250 grams ground Civet coffee and 250 grams Civet coffee beans – all medium roasted to perfection. Kopi Luwak is also available now in 3rd Cup Café at LM Metro Hotel in Zamboanga City, and resellers in Luzon, Cebu and other parts of Mindanao. The Mindanao Civet Coffee is a favorite among travellers and tourists and coffee connoisseurs. And for those who wanted the perfect gift for all occasions, Kopi Luwak is the best choice. And those who are interested to resell or perhaps enjoy a daily hot cup or cold brew of Kopi Luwak may call the Mindanao Civet Coffee at this mobile number 09153976197. (AJC)
THE ATMOSPHERE in initially calm SMNI Senatorial Debate 2022 turned intense when some candidates engaged in a heated exchange over the country's claim over Sabah. During the recent debate, most of the senatorial candidates agreed that the Philippines should pursue its claim over Sabah, except for Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, who said that the 1987 Constitution removed the country's historical rights, which affected our claim over the disputed territory. When asked about his position on the Sabah claim, Marcoleta said we have given up our "historic right" to claim Sabah under the 1987 Constitution. But senatorial aspirant John Castriciones insisted that the country's historic rights "will always be there because it is part of our history" and "you cannot set aside historic rights". Castriciones, former agrarian reform secretary of President Rodrigo Duterte, said that "beyond legislation, historic rights
will prevail because history will always be history and we should fight for it because that's actually our own and we will not be able set it aside because it's our history". Another senatorial candidate, Leo Olarte said, that even if Marcoleta claims that the country has lost its "historic rights", the 1987 Constitution still retains its "legal rights" over the disputed territory. Prior to that, former Palace spokesman and senatorial aspirant Harry Roque Jr. and Castriciones also exchanged views about the arbitration committee's decision on Sabah. Roque, President Duterte's former spokesman, recognized the country's conflicting claims with Malaysia, which believes that Sabah was ceded to them. But Roque and Castriciones both insisted that the Philippines claims Sabah was only leased, not ceded, to the British North Borneo Co. Under this contract known as pajak, the company could occupy Sabah in
perpetuity as long as it paid a regular sum of money. The Philippines has laid a subdued claim over Sabah, a territory southwest of Sulu and governed by Malaysia, citing a land lease agreement in 1878 between the Sultanate of Sulu and the British North Borneo Chartered Co. The Sulu sultanate, first founded in the 1400s, was once a regional power center, controlling islands in the Muslim southern Philippines and parts of Borneo including Sabah until its demise a century ago. Malaysia pays a token amount to the Sultanate each year for the "rental" of Sabah state - an arrangement that stretches back to British colonial times. In 2022, Malaysia submitted a note verbale to the United Nations, calling the Philippines' Sabah ownership an "excessive maritime claim." At least 300,000 undocumented Filipinos reside in Sabah, according to Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan. (By Catherine S. Valente / The Manila Times)
NOTICE Please report to us any individual or persons who are illegally soliciting money or donations for or in behalf of MINDANAO EXAMINER REGIONAL NEWSPAPER.We have a strict company policy against solicitation in any forms and the Company shall not be responsible for illegal practice of unscrupulous persons, who pass themselves off as Reporter, Stringer, Correspondent or Sales Executive of Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper. When in doubt, please call or SMS us at these numbers (062) 9555360 or SMS 0915-3976197 or email us – mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com
6
The Mindanao Examiner
March 7-13, 2022
NOTICE Please report to us any individual or persons who are illegally soliciting money or donations for or in behalf of The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper, The Zamboanga Post and Radyo Mindanao. We have a strict company policy against solicitation in any forms and the Company shall not be responsible for illegal practice of unscrupulous persons, who pass themselves off as Reporter, Stringer, Correspondent or Sales Executive of The Mindanao Examiner, The Zamboanga Post and Radyo Mindanao. When in doubt, please call or SMS us at these numbers (062) 9555360 or 0915-3976197 or email us – mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com
A year into mass vaccination, 63mil people inoculated vs. Covid Continued from page 1 people with comorbidities. To date, data from the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) show that 93% of healthcare workers, 62.82% of the senior citizens, and 92% of people with comorbidities have been fully vaccinated. As part of this feat, the country has also begun the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years old with more than 700,000 children receiving their first Covid-19 doses. Coming from a peak in the number of cases in January, the DOH observed a decline as it mounted an aggressive and wider and extensive national vaccination coverage in addition to minimum public health standards. This provides a clearer picture to what the World Health Organization had previously envisioned in countries with high vaccination rates, as transmissions of the virus do not automatically lead to pressuring the health system and its capacity. “With the ongoing efforts of the national government, we are confident that we will be able to reach our target population as we make the vaccination coverage wider and more accessible for everyone,” said National Vaccination Operations Center Chairman and Undersecretary of Health of the Field Implementation and Coordination Team in NCR and Luzon, Myrna Cabotaje. The DOH said it continues to work towards population protection through programs such as the conduct of National Vaccination Days, Resbakuna sa Botika, and vaccination in pharmacies, primary care and occupational health clinics, as well as air, sea, and transportation terminals for the elderly and vulnerable popu-
lations. The DOH encourages the public to recognize the importance of staying protected through vaccination and adherence to minimum health standard protocols with the easing of restrictions. The National Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) placed the following areas under Alert Level 1 – Zamboanga City, Cagayan de Oro City and Camiguin in Region X; and Davao City in Region X; Abra, Apayao, Baguio City and Kalinga in the Cordillera Administrative Region; Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan in Region I; Batanes, Cagayan, City of Santiago, Isabela and Quirino in Region II; Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Olongapo City, Pampanga and Tarlac in Region III; Cavite and Laguna in Region IV-A; Marinduque, Puerto Princesa City and Romblon in Region IV-B; and Naga City and Catanduanes in Region V. Also Aklan, Bacolod City, Capiz and Guimaras in Region VI; Siquijor in Region VII; and Biliran in Region VIII. Protocols Under Alert Level 1, the following protocols must be strictly observed, according to the IATF: Well-fitted face masks shall be worn properly at all times, whether outdoors or in indoor private or public establishments, including in public transportation by land, air or sea, except when eating and drinking, participating in team and individual sports in venues where ventilation standards can be maintained, and practicing outdoor sports/exercise activities where physical distance can be maintained.
All private offices and workplaces, including public and private construction sites, may operate at full 100% capacity, consistent with national issuances on vaccination requirements for on-site work. However, they may continue to provide flexible and alternative work arrangements as deemed appropriate based on function or individual risk. Agencies and instrumentalities of the government shall likewise adhere to 100% on-site workforce. Off-site work shall be under such work arrangements subject to relevant rules and regulations issued by the Civil Service Commission and the Office of the President. On the other hand, public transportation in areas under Alert Level 1 shall be at full seating capacity. For intrazonal and interzonal travels involving public land transportation between an area with a higher alert level classification and an area under Alert Level 1, the passenger capacity shall be that which has the lower passenger capacity rate between the point of origin and point of destination. For aviation, maritime and rail public transport operating in and out of Alert Levels 1 areas, the passenger capacity will be at 100%. The use of acrylic and/or plastic dividers in public transportation shall not be required. The use of the Safe, Swift and Smart Passage (S-PaSS) travel management system shall likewise not be required for interzonal travel to areas under Alert Level 1. On contact tracing, the use of health declaration forms/paper-based contact tracing shall not be required for all the agencies and establishments under
Alert Level 1. On the other hand, the use of digital contact tracing such as the StaySafe.PH application is optional for all the agencies and establishments. On testing prioritization, testing protocols shall be implemented, consistent with national guidelines, for individuals who are unvaccinated or have higher exposure risk. In addition, testing using RT-PCR shall be recommended and prioritized for: Priority Groups A2 (persons above 60 years old) and A3 (persons with comorbidities) and Priority Group A1 or healthcare workers. Testing shall be optional for other groups not stated above. It shall not be recommended for asymptomatic close contacts unless symptoms will develop, and should immediately isolate regardless of test results. Instead, symptom monitoring is recommended. Should testing still be used, testing should be done at least 5 days from the day of last exposure. Testing shall also not be recommended for screening asymptomatic individuals. Meanwhile, testing using antigen tests shall be recommended only for symptomatic individuals and in instances wherein RT-PCR is not available, consistent with previously issued guidelines. The Hospital Infection Prevention and Control Committees may implement testing protocols in health facilities for health workers and patients based on their assessment of risk and benefit. On isolation and quarantine, updated quarantine protocols for incoming international travelers shall be consistent with IATF Resolution No. 160 A/B, and updated isolation and quarantine protocols for general public and
healthcare workers and authorized sectors shall be consistent with DOH Dept Memo No. 20220013. Under Alert Level 1, establishments are no longer required to set-up isolation facilities within the workplace. On treatment, close contacts, asymptomatic confirmed cases and mild to moderate confirmed cases shall be managed at the primary care level, such as health centers, private clinics thru face to face or teleconsultation, while confirmed cases with severe and critical symptoms shall be managed in the appropriate health care facility. In the case of reintegration, isolation can be discontinued upon completion of the recommended isolation period, provided that they do not have fever for at least 24 hours without the use of any antipyretic medications, and shall have improvement of respiratory signs and symptoms. For the purpose of claiming sick leave, health benefits or other relevant processes wherein the proofs of Covid-19 management are necessary, a medical certification may suffice provided it should include the following minimum information: name of patient, severity of symptoms, diagnosis as probable or confirmed Covid-19, and date of end of quarantine and/or isolation period. Meanwhile, individuals 18 years old and above will be required to present proof of full vaccination before participating in mass gatherings or entry into indoor establishments, such as but not limited to: 1. In-person religious gatherings; gatherings for necrological services, wakes, inurnment
and funerals for those who died of causes other than Covid-19 and for the cremains of the Covid-19 deceased; 2. All indoor dine-in services of food preparation establishments such as kiosks, commissaries, restaurants and eateries. For outdoor or al fresco dining and take out channels, no proof of full vaccination is required; 3. All indoor personal care establishments such as barbershops, hair spas, hair salons, and nail spas, and those offering aesthetic/cosmetic services or procedures, make-up services, salons, spas, reflexology and other similar procedures including home service options; 4. Fitness studios, gyms and venues for exercise and sports; 5. All indoor cinemas or movie houses operating at full capacity; 6. Meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibition events and permitted venues for social events such as parties, wedding receptions, engagement parties, wedding anniversaries, debut and birthday parties, family reunions, and bridal or baby showers ; 7. Venues with live voice or wind-instrument performers and audiences such as in karaoke bars, clubs, concert halls and theaters; 8. Indoor ancillary establishments in hotels and other accommodation establishments; and 9. Venues for election-related events. Proof of full vaccination shall be required before entry in the list of establishments identified under the principles of 3C’s strategy against Covid-19. Children ages 17 and below shall not be required to present proof of vaccination status. (Zamboanga Post and Mindanao Examiner)
March 7-13, 2022
The Mindanao Examiner
Pictures in the News Kusug Tausug Partylist Zamboanga Satellite Office
7
8
The Mindanao Examiner
Across :
March 7-13, 2022
FOR SALE
1. Hush! 4. Amtrak terminal (abbr.) 7. Tailed celestial body 12. Shade 13. Elongated fish 14. “Carmen,” e.g. 15. Trips to the post office, e.g. 17. Listened to 18. Baldwin and Guinness 19. Transmitted 20. The Grim ___ 23. Baby’s dinner attire 26. Munitions, for short 29. Love song 31. Prejudice 32. Compass point (abbr.) 33. French female 34. Car exhaust 36. Pub orders 37. ___-gallon hat 38. Concur 40. Color 42. Uncanny 46. Tenant’s document 48. The United States 50. climbing plants 51. Had more points 52. ___ Moines 53. Belief 54. Wages 55. Poet’s “before”
Memorial Lawn Lots P300,000 / P80,000
Good for two. Golden Haven Boalan in Zamboanga. Near main gate about 20 meters, beside, pathwalk, near a tree. Prime location, Phase 1, Section 1 and Section 17.
Please Call 0915-3976197
Answer to last week’s crossword:
Down : 1. Mets’ old stadium 2. Fling 3. At this location 4. Sight or smell 5. Turner or Koppel 6. Pacino and Gore 7. Stick together 8. Uncork 9. Spaghetti topping 10. Make a mistake 11. Little bit 16. Crossword direction 19. Peaceful 21. Aid 22. Mexican coins 24. Jobless 25. Stinging insects
26. Aid in crime 27. Silent actor 28. Contend 30. Tidier 35. Most sensible 39. In want 41. “___ dead people!” (2 wds.) 43. Carousel, e.g. 44. Bakery worker 45. Lighten 46. Set ablaze 47. Eden lady 48. Swiss mountain 49. “Oh, give ___ home...” (2 wds.)
Weekly Sudoku:
MANILA No. 18 Purok 4B Madelo Street, Lower Bicutan, Taguig City, 1632 chardee.mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com (0916) 9558559, (0915) 0070927, (0947) 2652969
Richard C. Ebona
CEBU CITY G/F Dreamfield bldg, Sanciangko Street, Kamagayan (0923) 1670009
Rodil P. Ybañez
DAVAO CITY Door 2, 402 Nidea Street, Barrio Obrero, Davao City, Philippines (087) 9851560 / (0932) 4323301 / (0997) 3172021
Marilou Cablinda
Answer to last week:
NORTH COTABATO KIDAPAWAN CITY
Paolo De Jesus (0927) 4757936
BARMMͳCENTRAL MINDANAO COTABATO CITY 5-A Pansacala Street (RH10) Cotabato City, 9600 Mark Navales (0916) 6885389
PAGADIAN CITY Kismet Cable TV, Aquino cor. Cabrera st., Gatas District, Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur (0910) 7348600
Richard Suarez
ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA BASILAN, SULU, TAWIͳTAWI ΈBARMMΉ 3/F, JLC Building, Don Alfaro Street, Tetuan Zamboanga City (062) 9555360 / (0915) 3976197 / (0935) 6123587
Maritess Fernandez
ADVERTISE WITH US IN NORTHERN MINDANAO! The Mindanao Examiner Newspaper, Film and Television Productions Maritess Fernandez Publisher/Executive Producer Al Jacinto Editor-in-Chief / Producer
DAVAO CITY OFFICE
Reynold Toribio Graphics / Video Editor
Door 2, 402 Nidea Street, Barrio Obrero, Davao City, Philippines (087) 9851560 / (0932) 4323301 / (0997) 3172021
REGIONAL PARTNERS Mindanao Daily / Business Week / Mindanao Star
ZAMBOANGA CITY OFFICE
The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper
3/F, JLC Building, Don Alfaro Street, Tetuan Zamboanga City (062) 9555360 / 0915-3976197 mindanaoexaminer.com
is published weekly in Mindanao, Philippines.
mindanaoexaminer@gmail.com
ZAMBOANGA CITY OFFICE: 3/F, JLC Building, Don Alfaro Street, Tetuan Phone & Fax: (062) 9555360 Mobile: (0915) 3976197
OPINION
RECIPE
The Virtue of Courage
Tochong Bangus
by Engr. Carlos V. Cornejo (Cebu)
T
9
The Mindanao Examiner
March 7-13, 2022
HE PRACTICE of all virtues requires courage. Courage is needed because what is wrong is easier to do than what is right. The wrong is usually easy and the right is usually hard. It is easy to acquire vices for example because vices involve pleasure such as drugs, alcohol and gambling. But it also gives you the most misery later on. Virtues are harder to do because it requires effort such as the virtue of hard work, humility, honesty, generosity, etc. But virtue also gives you enduring happiness and satisfaction. It takes courage to be humble because the world is racing towards pride and honor. It takes courage to be honest because cheating, stealing, graft and corruption is rampant. It takes courage to be sincere and truthful because fake news is proliferating. It takes courage to be patient because the world is craving for instant gratification. Courage is not the same as fearlessness. Fearlessness tends to be defined as not feeling any fear at all. But courage is not the absence of fear but the control of it. It’s not the absence of fear in trying to do the right thing or achieving our goals in life but overcoming fear and not letting it hinder us in taking action. It is “grace under pressure”, as Ernest Hemingway would say. “It is fear that has said its prayers”, according to Donald DeMarco, the author of the book, “The Heart of Virtue.” Aviatrix Amelia Earhart remarked that without courage, personal contentment is not possible. I totally agree with her because personal contentment is tied up to achieving our goals. And having goals in life and trying to reach them is what makes life exciting. Courage is the middle virtue between two vices of cowardice and recklessness. Cowardice and recklessness are the two contrary vices to courage. Cowardice is giving in to one’s fears and recklessness is courage misplaced or courage without much reflection or prudence. We tend to think of courage in milita-
ristic terms as a heroic response against fearsome and life-threatening enemies. That of course is perhaps the highest form of courage but the enemies of our daily lives are hardly life-threatening but oftentimes moral-threatening. It is rather the courage of fulfilling our daily duties by the role we have assumed in life as a student, worker or parent. It is overcoming laziness, dishonesty, laxity and impatience in our everyday chores. US President John F. Kennedy said, “To be courageous, requires no exceptional qualifications, no magic formula, and no special combination of time, place and circumstance.” It is to resist the temptation to sacrifice our integrity for instance, for a promise of an easier life. I am referring to graft and corruption that is practiced everywhere. Courage is also to say no to the fleeting pleasures of vices and addiction that destroys both body and soul. In terms of reaching our goals or growing in character, fear is what hinders us from reaching our potential. Stan Beecham says “We ought to make the conquest of fear one of the primary goals in life.” Another term for fear in this context is being afraid of going out of our comfort zone. When we have the chance to learn more by going to school, become more financially stable by putting up a business, live a happier life by breaking up a bad relationship, and don’t do it, it is because we want to stay in our comfort zone. But the comfort zone is also the dead zone because there is no growth there. The solution is to pray to God for courage because growth is only found outside of the comfort zone. Courage is always ordained towards doing good and not doing bad. Let us learn from the wise counsel of J.W. Dawson who says, “You need not choose evil; but only to fail to choose good, and you drift fast enough towards evil. You do not need to say, ‘I will be bad’. You only have to say, ‘I will not choose God’s choice’, and the choice of evil is already settled.” (Carlos Cornejo)
Villamero’s Enterprises For all your newspaper publications or subscription to The Zamboanga Post and The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper, please call or text Villamero’s Enterprises at these numbers (062) 955-8677 and 0917-1223496. Located at Campaner Street, Zamboanga City and serving Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.
Guotana Newspaper Dealer The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper is available in Cotabato City’s lone newspaper dealer Bernadette Guotana at “Goutana Copy Center” at Stall 5. For subscription, please call 09975412615. And for all your publications, please call BARMM Bureau Chief Mark Navales at 0916-6885389
INGREDIENTS : • 1 bangus cleaned and sliced diagonally into pieces TOCHO SAUCE : • 6 ounces tofu fried • 3 ounces tahure fermented bean curd, mashed • 2 Tablespoons tausi salted black beans • 4 tomatoes diced • 1 thumb ginger Julienne • 1 onion chopped • 3 cloves garlic crushed • 2 teaspoons white vinegar • 1 cup water • 1 cup cooking oil • 1 teaspoon sugar optional • Salt and ground black pepper to taste INSTRUCTIONS : 1. 2.
3.
panlasangpinoy.com 4.
Rub salt all over the fish. Let it stay for 10 minutes. Heat oil in a pan. Fry both sides of the fish until the color turns light to medium brown. Remove fish from the pan and place on a clean plate. Set aside. Make the tocho sauce by heating 3 Tablespoons of cooking oil in a clean pan. Sauté garlic, onion, ginger, and tomato.
5. 6.
7.
Once the onion softens, add vinegar, tahure and tausi. Cook for 30 seconds. Pour water into the pan. Let boil. Cook in a low heat setting for 3 minutes. Add fried fish and fried tofu in the pan. Cover and continue cooking for 8 to 10 minutes. Note: add water as needed. Season with salt, ground black pepper, and sugar. Serve and enjoy!
HEALTH
Stroke: Paano Umiwas Ni Dr. Willie Ong
MAY 2 klase ng stroke. Kadalasan, ang stroke ay dahil sa nagbara ang ugat sa utak ng tao (Medical term: Ischemic Stroke). Ngunit may pagkakataon naman na ang stroke ay nagmula sa pagdugo ng utak dahil may ugat na pumutok (Medical term: Hemorrhagic Stroke). Parehong seryoso itong sakit at kailangang dalhin agad sa ospital ang pasyente. Ang posibleng senyales ng stroke ay ang panghihina ng isang parte ng katawan, pagkabulol, pananakit ng ulo, at panlalabo ng mata. Noong nakaraan, nabanggit ko na dapat ma-kontrol ang blood pressure, blood sugar at cholesterol level ng pasyente para makaiwas
sa stroke. Ang sigarilyo at alak ay dapat ding itigil. Heto ang ilan pang mga paraan para makaiwas sa stroke: 1. Umiwas sa matatabang pagkain tulad ng karneng baboy at baka. Bawasan din ang pagkain ng mantikilya, cakes at sitsirya. 2. Kumain ng 2 tasa ng gulay at 2 tasa ng prutas araw-araw. 3. Mag-relax at magsaya. Dalhin ng magaan ang iyong trabaho o problema. 4. Huwag palaging nagagalit. Baka tumaas ang iyong blood pressure. Matutong makisama sa ibang tao. 5. Matulog ng 7-8 oras. Magpahinga ng sapat para mapalakas ang iyong katawan. 6. Huwag mag-biyahe ng tuluy-tuloy. Nakapapagod din ang pag-bi-biyahe kapag maraming lugar kayong pupuntahan.
Planuhin ito maigi at bigyan ng sapat na araw para magpahinga. 7. Bawasan ang pag-inom ng kape. Hindi pa klaro kung mabuti o masama ang epekto ng kape sa katawan. Hanggang 2 tasa lang ang inumin at baka magkaroon ka ng high blood pressure at palpitasyon. 8. Panatilihing malambot ang iyong dumi. Kumain ng prutas tulad ng papaya, pakwan, pears at mga gulay para lumambot ang dumi. Uminom din ng sapat na tubig. 9. Uminom ng aspirin kung kinakailangan. Itanong sa doktor kung makatutulong sa iyo ang aspirin 80 mg tablet. 10. Magkaroon ng healthy lifestyle. Mag-ehersisyo, huwag magpataba at kumain ng masustansya. Sundin ang mga payong ito para makaiwas sa stroke.
SUPPORT PEACE IN MINDANAO
10
The Mindanao Examiner
March 7-13, 2022
March 7-13, 2022
The Mindanao Examiner
11
Founded 2006
mindanaoexaminer.com
FOR ADVERTISEMENTS, PLEASE CALL (062) 9555360 or (082) 2841859
P10
March 7-13, 2022
Alert Level 2 for Cebu
C
EBU PROVINCE and several other areas in the Visayas have been placed under Alert Level 2 until March 15 or until the number of active Covid-19 cases has gone further down. The National Inter-Agency of Infectious Diseases (IATF) also under Alert Level 2 – Cebu, Task Force for the Management also said the following cities are Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.
Picnickers enjoy the sun and white sand in Bantayan Island. (Image: Nicole Priscilla / Cebu Examiner)
‘Cebuano’ Duterte, ready to bow out PRESIDENT DUTERTE, who claims to be a Cebuano, has promised to put things in order, especially the country’s economy following the crippling effects of the Covid-19. “I will make my exit but I will also place things in order. Kung may awa ang Diyos and if everything at the rate that we're going, everything is going to appear to be rosy. And I hope it would be so that I can go out — para akong tatay, paglabas ko sa bahay ko, ‘yung mga anak ko ayos na, gumaling na, at wala na masyadong problema, wala ng lagnat at wala nang mamamatay. Iyon ang gusto ko at gagawain ko lahat,” he said. With his sights on the economy, Duterte said he would throw his support to the Department of Finance once the go ahead is given to open the economy. And the good thing, he said, is that the country’s credit ratings remain favorable, giving it sufficient elbow room to maneuver in terms of sourcing funds. “But what is really very telling is that until now, ‘yung grade natin is BBB sa ratings sa Fitch. Ibig sabihin ang BBB, puwede pa tayong maghiram at marami pang magpahiram. ‘Pag ‘yan ang rating mo BBB, we are still capable of borrowing,” Duterte said, referring to the Standard & Poor’s and
President Duterte and family. (Image: I Am Cebuano)
ARMM
Fitch scale. BBB Good credit quality - ‘BBB’ ratings indicate that expectations of default risk are currently low. The capacity for payment of financial commitments is considered adequate, but adverse business or economic conditions are more likely to impair this capacity. Duterte also expressed his gratitude to the people for their continued support and faith in him. “And it might be a redundant or a repetitious word or words that you may hear from all mga kandidato pati kami mga officials. Pero I can — on my honor as President, talagang ginawa ko ‘yung trabaho ko at wala ho akong ginawang kalokohan,” he said. “I’m still the sitting President and anybody can — kung ano may masabi ba sila, especially about matters which ought not to be done by an officer of government, especially those who are elected because we have always strived — your success or failure would depend on the support of the people,” he added. Duterte, who previously visited Cebu, said his roots are from Cebu, although he was born on March 28, 1945, in Maasin, Southern Leyte. But his father, Vicente G. Duterte (1911–1968), a Cebuano lawyer, and his mother, Soledad Duterte (1916– 2012), was a schoolteacher from Cabadbaran town in Agusan del Sur and a civic leader of Maranao descent. Duterte also claimed that his grandfather was Chinese and hailed from Xiamen in Fujian province. Duterte’s father was mayor of Danao, Cebu, and subsequently the provincial governor of (the then-undivided) Davao province. Duterte’s cousin Ronald was mayor of Cebu City from 1983 to 1986. Ronald's father, Ramon Duterte, also held that position from 1957 to 1959. The Dutertes consider the Cebu-based political families of the Durano and the Almendras clan as relatives. Duterte also has relatives from the Roa clan in Leyte through his mother’s side. Duterte's family lived in Maasin, and in his father's hometown in Danao, until he was four years old. The Dutertes initially moved to Mindanao in 1948 but still went back and forth to the Visayas until 1949 and they finally settled in the Davao Region in 1950. (Cebu Examiner)
Eastern Mindanao
And the same also for Antique, Iloilo province, Iloilo City, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Eastern, Western and Northern Samar, Leyte, Ormoc City, Southern Leyte and Tacloban City. Governor Gwendolyn Garcia also issued an executive order allowing full seating capacity in public utility vehicles in Cebu province and ordered the regular disinfection of all surfaces in PUVs, especially the seats, armrests, and handles. Driver and conductors are also required to wear face masks. To ensure compliance with health protocols, the PUVs plying in any localities are also required to secure provincial utility vehicle passes indicating the vehicle’s plate number, control number, and the permitted sitting capacity. The passes will bear Garcia’s signature and a quick response code. The executive order also allowed PUVs to exit the North and South Bus Terminals after securing a trip ticket that reflects the date of the trip, route, permitted sitting capacity, the actual number of passengers on board, and the last disinfection. Like the passes, the trip ticket will also bear a QR code, plate number, with the addition of the dispatcher’s signature. Alert Level 2 Aside from the Visayas area, the IATF declared Alert Level 2
in Luzon - Cordillera Administrative Region: Benguet, Ifugao and Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, Zambales, Batangas, Lucena City, Quezon province, Rizal province, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Masbate and Sorsogon. And also in Mindanao – Isabela City, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay; Bukidnon, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Davao De Oro, Davao Del Sur, Davao Del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao Occidental, General Santos City, North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Butuan City, Dinagat Islands; and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao comprising Basilan, Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, Cotabato City and Lanao Del Sur. Alert Level 2 refers to areas wherein case transmission is low and decreasing, healthcare utilization is low, or case counts are low but increasing, or case counts are low and decreasing but total bed utilization rate and intensive care unit utilization rate is increasing. Alert Level 1 The IATF approved plac-
ing the National Capital Region and 38 other areas under Alert Level 1 until March 15. This was also confirmed by Presidential Spokesman Karlo Nograles and identified the areas as Abra, Apayao, Baguio City and Kalinga in the Cordillera Administrative Region; Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan in Region I; Batanes, Cagayan, City of Santiago, Isabela, and Quirino in Region II; Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Olongapo City, Pampanga, and Tarlac in Region 3; Cavite and Laguna in Region 4-A; Marinduque, Puerto Princesa City, and Romblon in Region 4-B; and Naga City and Catanduanes in Region 5. In the Visayas, also under Alert Level 1 are Aklan, Bacolod City, Capiz, and Guimaras in Region 6; Siquijor in Region 7; and Biliran in Region 8. And in Mindanao, the following areas under Alert Level 1 are Zamboanga City in Region 9, Cagayan de Oro City and Camiguin in Region 10 and Davao City in Region 11. Alert Level 1 refers to areas wherein case transmission is low and decreasing, total bed utilization rate, and intensive care unit utilization rate is low. (Cebu Examiner and John Rey Saavedra)
Archbishop Palma urges Catholics to pray CEBU CITY – As the Catholic Church starts the Lenten season, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma urged Cebuanos to intensify prayers for the country and the world. Palma said the difficult challenges resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, the ravages of Typhoon Odette (Rai) and the many uncertainties both in the country and abroad should be “our opportunity to return to God, to acknowledge His Lordship and ask for His mercy and compassion”. Palma’s message came in the light of the current crisis brought by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine as well as the upcoming local and national elections on May 9. “My dear brothers and sisters, as we journey through these 40-days of Lent, we intensify our prayer, and we pray not only for ourselves but also for one another, for our country, and for the world,” Palma said. “We offer our
Western Mindanao
sacrifices, our acts of penance and fasting, so that by not having much we can give others something for their needs and return to God, acknowledging our sinfulness and asking for His mercy and forgiveness”. The prelate said the celebration of the 500th year of the arrival of Christianity on the shores of Cebu, is an opportunity to thank the Lord for making the island the cradle of faith. Palma was referring to the arrival on March 16, 1521 of Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan who reached the archipelago while attempting to sail around the world for the Spanish crown. “We have been blessed and we are thankful for the gift of Señor Santo Niño, our Lord Jesus Christ who has guided us through the ups and downs of our journey as a people. Now in looking back to the journey that was, we also look forward as we embark on the journey that will be, a journey of reflection, conversion, and spiri-
Cebu
tual renewal,” he said. Augustinian friar Fr. Nestor Bandalan said in his homily that the season of Lent is a period of preparation that starts from Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday when the Catholic faithful enter the Paschal Triduum, commemorating the Last Supper of the Lord and the 12 apostles and the crucifixion of Jesus. The Paschal Triduum or Easter Triduum, Holy Triduum, or the Three Days, is the period of three days that begins with the liturgy on the evening of Maundy Thursday, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil, and closes with evening prayer on Easter. Bandalan said: “What makes this period significant? We say that we always want change in our society. The question is, do we want that change to start within our own heart,” Bandalan said. (John Rey Saavedra)
Manila