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Sarawak now wants independence ‘Inspired by actions of Sultan of Sulu heirs vs. Malaysia’ FOLLOWING THE French arbitration ruling which ordered Malaysia to pay the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu some $14 billion based on the alleged violation
of payments of RM5,300 cession money under an 1878 agreement, some politicians in the state of Sarawak - under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) - are now using the
actions taken by the heirs of Sulu sultan to demand freedom and independence from the Federal government. Continue on page 3
Malaysia will not pay Sulu sultan heirs
M
ALAYSIA HAS flatly rejected an order by a French court to pay heirs of the Sultan of Sulu over $14 billion 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. READ STORY ON PAGE 2
Local economy is collateral damage in Russo-Ukrainian war: DOF WHILE THE Philippines remains neutral in the Russo-Ukrainian war, the
country’s economy will likely be collateral damage from the conflict, accord-
ing to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III. Continue on page 5
Duterte praises Covid-19 response PRESIDENT DUTERTE praised the government’s Covid-19 response and lauded the efforts of the Department of Health and other agencies, including the public that helped Continue on page 3
President Rodrigo Duterte and DOH Sec. Franciso Duque III (PCOO)
How 6 ex-vice presidents became fortunate to sit at Malacañang Palace DID YOU know that of the 13 former vice presidents from 1935 to 2016,
ARMM
only six had been more fortunate enough to also assume the top elective
seat at Malacañang either through constitutional Continue on page 2
Eastern Mindanao
The Tulay Central Mosque or Masjid Tulay in Sulu’s capital town of Jolo. (Image: Al Jacinto)
Kusug Tausug lawmaker visits Muslims in Pampanga PAMPANGA - Representative Shernee Tambut, of Continue on page 6
President Gloria Arroyo and Kusug Tausug partylist Representative Shernee Tambut pose with a man holding a Kusug Tausug banner during a campaign in Pampanga province recently.
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Malaysia will not pay Sulu sultan heirs
From page 1 Spanish Arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa issued the award in a Paris court on February 28, but Malaysia maintained its sovereign immunity. 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. A report by the Spanish news website La Información which said that Stampa had issued the award, ruling that the 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. Malaysia stopped paying the Sultan Sulu’s heirs their annual 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 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. 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 Deed of Cession and not the Spanish courts, which do not have authority nor jurisdiction
over Malaysia. 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. No way The Malaysian Foreign Ministry and the Attorney General issued a joint statement and said the Spanish High Court had decided in June 2020 that due process leading to the appointment of the arbitrator was not properly served or consistent with the Spanish High Court of Justice of Madrid’s case laws on the service of process on sovereign states. “As a consequence of the Nullification Decision, Dr Stampa is not an arbitrator in the purported arbitration proceedings and, therefore, all his decisions, including the Final Award, are null and void. The Government of Malaysia completely rejects the purported Final Award dated February 28, 2022, which was rendered by Dr Stampa,” the statement said. It added that the award rendered by Stampa not only violated Malaysia’s sovereign immunity, but also was rendered in disregard of the Madrid and Paris court decisions. “The Government of Malaysia strongly opposes the Final Award and upholds its position and stance to not recognise all the actions taken by Dr Stampa in the purported arbitration proceedings as well as all his illegal decisions and awards,” said the statement, adding that Malaysia did not participate in the purported arbitration proceedings because it did not recognise the claim and that it had always upheld and never waived its sovereign immunity as a sovereign state. It said the Spanish public
prosecutor has allegedly filed a criminal complaint against Stampa for serious contempt of court and professional intrusiveness, adding the subject matter of the claim is not commercial in nature and thus cannot be subject to arbitration and the 1878 Agreement contains no arbitration agreement. “We further stress that the claimants’ identities are doubtful and have yet to be verified. Malaysia will continue to take all necessary actions, including legal actions, to put an end to the claim and to ensure that Malaysia’s interests, sovereign immunity and sovereignty are protected and preserved at all times,” the statement further said. Obliged to pay But a report by the Malay Mail quoted Sabah Law Society president Roger Chin as saying that Malaysia is legally obliged to pay up to 14.9 billion (RM62.6 billion) to the descendants of the Sultan of Sulu for violating the treaty. He explained that this is because Malaysia is a member of the New York Convention, however, Chin also said Malaysia can apply to set aside the award decision but has to do it in France where the arbitration court is based. “As Malaysia is a member of the New York Convention, it is obliged to enforce the award but has the option of making an application to set the award aside in France, where the award was rendered. If Malaysia refuses to make payment, the claimants will have the right under the New York Convention to enforce the award against Malaysian state assets in any of the 167 signatory state parties around the world,” he said. Chin noted that the ruling made by the French arbitration court was contradictory to the
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2020 decision made in the High Court Kota Kinabalu, adding that it remains to be seen which of the two decisions would be enforceable internationally. He explained that the 2020 court ruling, known as the Malaysian government vs Nurhima Kiram Fornan & Ors, began when the federal government initiated legal action against the claimants to stop them from proceeding with arbitration. The High Court ruled in favour of the Malaysian government in its suit against eight of the supposed descendants of the Sultan of Sulu and said there was no binding agreement between Malaysia and the sultan’s heirs that compelled either party to submit to arbitration in the event of a dispute. Chin said the Malaysian government had also sought a declaration, among others, that there was no arbitration agreement between the parties; and that Malaysia was the proper forum to resolve the dispute over territorial rights arising from the
deed of cession. While Malaysia did not appear at the Paris arbitration proceedings, he said unlike the Malaysian court where default judgments can be issued, it is not possible to issue a default award in international arbitration. “Foreign courts are generally thought to be likely to have to give more weight and priority to tested conclusions contained in international arbitration awards rather than to untested conclusions contained in default court judgments. This will be an interesting situation and it remains to be seen if foreign courts will give more priority to the New York Convention than to bilateral treaties in respect of reciprocal enforcement of court judgments,” Chin was quoted saying. North Borneo part of Sulu Sultanate The Sultan of Sulu’s claim on Sabah has become a big political issue in Malaysia and now Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, an influential politician and who served as Chief Minister of Sa-
bah, demanded that former Attorney General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas to retract his statement in his book “My Story; Justice in the Wilderness” that at some point in its history, North Borneo was part of the Sulu Sultanate.” He said Thomas had no idea of Sabah’s history and made statements that were being used by the self-proclaimed heirs to the defunct Sulu Sultanate. “As it is, Tommy’s book has done damage to Sabah and Malaysia by being used to support the case of the Kiram claimants in a foreign country," he said. In his book, Thomas stated on page 378 that: “There were no legal grounds for Malaysia’s refusal to pay (the heirs of the Sulu Sultan) annually since 2013. It resulted in Malaysia being in breach of the 1878 agreement.” Thomas’ statement, Lee said, was used by the descendants of the Sulu sultan in their claims in the Paris court. There was no immediate reactions from the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu. (Mindanao Examiner)
How 6 ex-vice presidents became fortunate to sit at Malacañang Palace Continued from page 1 succession or direct vote by the people? Yes, they were: Philippine Commonwealth Vice President Sergio S. Osmena Sr. (November 15, 1935-August 1, 1944); Elpidio R. Quirino (May 28, 1846-April 17, 1948); Carlos P. Garcia (December 30, 1953-March 17, 1957); Diosdado P. Macapagal (December 30, 1957-December 30, 1961); Joseph E. Estrada (June 30, 1992-June 30, 1998); and Gloria M. Arroyo (June 30, 1998-January 20, 2001). According to the book “Philippine History and Government” by the father-and- daughter team Dr. Gregorio F. Zaide and Dr. Sonia M. Zaide, Philippine Commonwealth President Manuel L. Quezon and Vice President Osmena were elected in the presidential polls held on September 17, 1935, the first under the 1935 Constitution. Osmena assumed the presidency after the death of Quezon on August 1, 1944 while the Commonwealth Government chief was still in exile in the United States. Osmena ran for the presidency in the April 23, 1946 polls, but lost to President Manuel A. Roxas. Quirino was elevated to the presidency after Roxas died of a heart attack while delivering a speech at the former Clark Air Force Base in Pampanga on April 15, 1948. He became the second former vice president to stay at Malacañang to finish the remaining term of Roxas. After completing Roxas' fouryear term, Quirino ran in the 1949
elections and won in his own right as president until December 30, 1953. His vice president was Fernando H. Lopez, of Iloilo. In the 1953 national polls, former Defense Secretary Ramon F. Magsaysay defeated the re-electionist Quirino. Magsaysay's vice president was Carlos P. Garcia, of Bohol. On March 17, 1957, Magsaysay died when the presidential plane crashed on a mountain in Cebu while on a return flight to Manila. Garcia thus became the third vice president to occupy Malacañang by constitutional succession after Osmena and Quirino. Garcia finished the term of Magsaysay and ran for the same post and won in the 1957 elections, with Macapagal as vice president. They were both in office from December 30, 1957 to December 30, 1961. Garcia lost to Macapagal in the 1961 national polls. The latter's vice president then was Emmanuel N. Pelaez. In the succeeding general elections of 1965, Macapagal lost his re-election bid to former Senate President Ferdinand E. Marcos, whose vice president was Fernando H. Lopez. Marcos became the first president to be re-elected in the November 1969 polls, again with Lopez as vice president. In the election in May 1998, the country's ninth vice president, Joseph E. Estrada (1992-1998), won as president, succeeding President Fidel V. Ramos. Estrada was the fifth former vice president to sit at Mala-
cañang. For being the seating chief executive at the end of the previous millennium in 2000, he could very well be considered as the country's first millennial president. However, on January 20, 2001, he was replaced by the country's first woman vice president, Gloria Arroyo, daughter of former President Macapagal, as a result of the so-called “People Power II” similar to the event that ousted the 20-year Marcos administration from Malacañang in February 1986. Aside from being the sixth vice president to sit at the Palace, President Arroyo also became the second woman chief executive of the Philippines after President Corazon C. Aquino (1986-1992). In the coming May 9, 2022 polls, outgoing Vice President Leonor G. Robredo is running for president. However, she has to prevail over nine other aspirants for the same post to be able to claim the title for the Malacanang seat. The other presidential candidates are former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Manila Mayor Francisco Domagoso, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales, former presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella, Leody de Guzman, of the Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino, Faisal Mangondato of the Katipunan ng Kamalayang Kayumanggi, and Jose Montemayor of Democratic Party of the Philippines. (Severino Samonte)
March 14-20, 2022
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Sarawak now wants independence ‘Inspired by actions of Sultan of Sulu heirs vs. Malaysia’ Continued from page 1 Spanish Arbitrator Gonzalo Stampa issued the award in a Paris court on February 28, but Malaysia maintained its sovereign immunity. 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. A report by the Spanish news website La Información which said that Stampa had issued the award, ruling that the treaty was a commercial “international private lease agreement.” The 1878 agreement was signed by Sultan Jamal Al Alam, Baron de Overbeck and the British North Borneo Company’s Alfred Dent. 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. Malaysia stopped paying the Sultan Sulu’s heirs their annual 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 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. Sarawak’s Parti Bumi Kenyalang president Voon Lee Shan said it could be that by taking Sabah as part of Malaysia from the British and Malaysia being the successor of this colony from the United Kingdom ‘made herself being sued by the descendants of the Sulu Sultan for the breaches of the 1878 Agreement. “A failure to do so should be seen by Sarawakians as an inability by the GPS government to protect Sarawak rights. The fact that the Federal government and the
state governments of Sabah and Sarawak had formed steering committees to deliberate and overcome the breaches leading to recent amendments to the Federal Constitution, is a clear admission or acknowledgement by the federal, Sarawak and Sabah governments of the breaches of the terms and conditions of MA63,” the Borneo Post quoted Shan as saying. He said for the record, Sarawak and Sabah were once colonies of the United Kingdom, and Malaya became its successor after Sarawak and Sabah were handed to Malaya to enlarge her territories to form Malaysia. “This should be used by the Sarawak government to make the federal government of Malaysia liable for damages, loss of revenues, oil and gas and all other rights that Sarawak had suffered caused by the breaches. It is also a good ground for the GPS government to demand freedom and independence from the Federation because most Sarawakians want independence now,” he said. The Sultanate of Sulu was founded in 1457 and 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. It continues to lay claim to North Borneo, now Sabah, after obtaining it from Brunei as a gift for helping put down a rebellion on Borneo Island. The British leased Sabah and transferred control over the territory to Malaysia after the end of World War II. But the sultanate said 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. North Borneo was annexed by Malaysia in 1963 after a referendum organized by the Cobbold Commission in 1962 saw the people of Sabah voting overwhelmingly to join Malaysia, but Kuala Lumpur continued paying the Sulu Sultanate some 5,300 ringgits a year on the basis of the Sulu royals’ ceding the Borneo state. (Mindanao Examiner)
Duterte praises Covid-19 response Continued from page 1 reduce the number of Covid-19 cases in the country. “There is no telling that one of these days, another vicious virus will visit the country or the world all over. At panibagong ano ito, it is far different from what we have now. It would not be us who would face that problem anymore but the incoming or whoever wins,
dapat malaman nila ito na the good practices of the Philippines,” he said. Duterte cited a report by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on how the country reduced the number of Covid-19 infections, saying that vaccination, natural immunity, and adherence to the minimal public health standards have contributed to the drop in the number of Covid-19 cases.
Compared to other nations in Southeast Asia, the Philippines has the lowest daily new confirmed Covid-19 cases per million people at 8.82, according Duque who said that Singapore has 3,000 plus per million population; Vietnam, 1,300; and Malaysia, 845. Duque said the country’s mortality rate is also lower than the global average of 2.04%, at 1.5%.
Countries like the United States have far more caseload than the Philippines considering it is far more advanced in terms of military, science, and research and development. The concept of a new normal, he said, will be accepting that the virus will persist and that people would have to learn to live with it. (Mark Navales and Malou Cablinda contributed to this report.)
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March 14-20, 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)
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March 14-20, 2022
Local economy is collateral damage in Russo-Ukrainian war: DOF
An International Committee of the Red Cross photo shows a damaged building in Ukraine. It says residents’ distress and fear peaked due to intensifying and expanding conflicts.
Sulu asks DOST for skills, technology training
A provincial government photo shows Sulu Governor Sakur Tan with officials from the Department of Science and Technology Food and Nutrition Research Institute officials led by Directors Imelda Agdappa and Scientist Maria Teresa De Guzman, of the Internal Audit Service. SULU – Governor Sakur Tan has asked the Department of Science and Technology to help the provincial government identify appropriate technologies that can be used to develop and create a viable tourism industry. Tan made the request during the recent call by DOST Food and Nutrition Research Institute officials led by Directors Imelda Agdappa and Scientist Maria Teresa De Guzman, of the Internal Audit Service. The DOST group informed Tan of its food processing facility project which will benefit the Sulu State College. Agdappa said they have installed and tested the equipment and conducted the technology transfer training for the production of rice mongo curls and rice mongo instant blend dry cereal. Tan said he appreciates the efforts of the DOST and urged the agency to provide more technological training for Sulu. “Kailangan talaga ang technology.
Ma-capacitate ang mga tao natin with the appropriate technology and skills, Tulad ng pag-process ng seafood,” he said, citing the province’s rich marine resources. He said Sulu has its own skills training center and benefits small and medium enterprises and residents who wanted to put up their own business. Tan said any assistance or training modules from the DOST, especially from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, will greatly help the provincial training center. The DOST group expressed optimism on the huge prospects of potential industries in Sulu. In the seaside town of Maimbung, the seat of power of the Sultanate of Sulu, restaurants and cafes have sprouted to accommodate local tourists and visitors. Sulu Rep. Samier Tan even put up a huge drive-in cinema in the town which is now always packed with people. He also put up a sprawling food center in the white sand Litayon Beach in Patikul town to help resi-
dents earn a decent living. Tan also met separately with officials of the Department of Tourism led by Undersecretary Myra Abubakar who brought with her the DOT regional directors from Mindanao - Crisanta Marlene Rodriguez - Region 9; Marie Elaine Uchuan - Region 10; Tanya Tan - Region 11; Armin Hautea Region 12; and Nelia Arina - Region 13. He said the DOT officials conducted tourist site assessment and halal benchmarking in the province in an effort to promote the tourism industry in Sulu, which is dotted with white sand islands and islets and pristine beaches. Just this month, a documentary team from GMA Television’s Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho went to Sulu and met with Tan for its tourism segment. The team was composed of Sancia Novie Palma, segment producer; Rodel Pañales and Judy Tiquel Jr., videographers. (Mindanao Examiner)
Continued from page 1 In a recent meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte, Dominguez said “the conflict between Russia and Ukraine does not involve us directly because neither Russia nor Ukraine is a major trading partner of ours. Instead, the Philippine economy will likely be collateral damage. It is as if we are hit by a ricocheting bullet.” He said these “indirect shocks” are likely to be felt through four major channels - the commodity market, the financial market, investments, and the impact on fiscal health. In his report, Dominguez said the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine will have an effect on the country’s oil and food prices as they are expected to go up as Russia is the largest exporter of natural gas and wheat; while Ukraine is the fourth largest exporter of corn. “As the conflict continues, Ukraine and Russia’s main trading partners, predominantly the European Union, will look to trade with other countries such as the US and China, where we are buy-
ing both wheat and corn, thereby pushing up the prices of commodities in these markets as well,” he said. Dominguez said the conflict will also likely cause a surge in interest rates or cost of borrowing which was already expected to go up even prior to the crisis because of the US tightening of monetary policies. He said the conflict will increase the perception of risk in investments. “Investments are likely to decline or at least be on hold in the face of uncertainty, which may cause investors from the West to be more conservative or postpone their planned investments. Once sanctions are imposed, it will take a long time for investor and consumer confidence to return to normal. Lastly, all the aforesaid economic impacts will likely require government support to protect our vulnerable citizens and the critical sectors most affected by the crisis and this will stretch our budget even further,” he said. But Dominguez was quick to say that although he does not expect this
crisis to last very long, adding “there may be some lingering effects we have had, we have seen similar crises in the past such as the Gulf War in 1990, the Asian financial crisis in 1997, the oil price shock of 2008, and also the first Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2014, and we have weathered all of these crises very well.” “These crises lasted much longer and yet we were able to get through them. Based on these experiences, we are confident that we have the tools and the preparation necessary to help our people through this crisis,” he said. “This crisis may increase prices across several sectors and thereby cause our inflation rate to breach our target. But with the measures that we discussed at the economic development cluster, we are confident that we will be able to keep the inflation within our target range of 2 to 4 percent and maintain our growth path of 7 to 9 percent this year.” The economic development cluster recommended 14 measures to alleviate the impact of the crisis on the people. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Kusug Tausug lawmaker visits Muslims in Pampanga
A photo released by Kusug Tausug partylist shows Rep. Shernee Tambut with husband, John, and former President Gloria Arroyo during her campaign in Pampanga province. Continued from page 1 the Kusug Tausug partylist, held a series of dialogues among Muslims now residing in Pampanga province as she campaigned for re-election for the May polls. A native of Sulu province, Tambut, accompanied by her husband, Marjani, thanked former President Gloria Arroyo and Pampanga Vice Governor Lilia Pineda for the warm welcome during her recent campaign sorties here. Arroyo, who was also former House Speaker, is running unopposed as Representative of the 2nd Congressional District of Pampanga which covers six towns, including Guagua and Libao where Tambut campaigned. “The Kapampangan are very hospitable and I thanked all the people who welcomed us in Pampanga, especially Madam President Gloria Arroyo, who is like a mother to me; and also Nanay Lilia (Pineda). It was a warm reception and we had dialogues with our Muslim brothers and sisters,” she told the regional newspaper Mindanao Examiner by phone. A separate statement from Tambut’s office said the lawmaker attended a consultation with purok leaders in Lubao which was organized by Pineda. Tambut toured the Mus-
International pilot Captain Marjani "John" Tambut, husband of Kusug Tausug Rep. Shernee Tambut, joins her in campaigning for the Kusug Tausug partylist in Pampanga province recently. lim communities in the villages of Santo Niño and San Rafael in the town of Guagua and met with Muslim leaders of Arayat town. During the meeting, Tambut urged fellow Muslims to help her increase the representation of Muslims in Congress and likewise noted how the Muslims have helped contribute to the growth of their adopted towns and urged them to continue their work as productive residents of Pampanga. Among those who attended the informal meeting were Arayat Mayor Emmanuel Bon Alejandrino and mayoralty candidate Madeth Alejandrino, who both belong to the local political party Kambilan. While in the province, Tambut witnessed the signing in San Fernando City of
the peace covenant and the recitation of the Integrity Pledge of all candidates of Pampanga organized by the Commission on Elections. Tambut then proceeded to the Muslim Center in San Pedro village also in San Fernando City. After Pampanga, Tambut also attended an interfaith dialogue led by Arroyo in Quezon City which was attended by Senators Richard Gordon, and senatorial candidates Herbert Bautista, Gregorio Honasan, Robin Padilla and Gilbert Teodoro. Honasan’s Facebook page said the meeting was between the Christian Muslim against Crime and Corruption Incorporated and the BBM-Sara Uniteam for Good Governance. (Mindanao Examiner)
Kusug Tausug Representative Shernee Tambut, accompanied by President Gloria Arroyo, speaks to Muslim leaders in Pampanga province during her recent campaign sorties.
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OPINION
RECIPE
Creation or Evolution?
Pinapaitan sa Ampalaya
by Engr. Carlos V. Cornejo (Cebu)
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ATHOLICS ARE free to believe either of the literal creationism or the theistic evolution. Literal creationism means literal interpretation of the account of creation in the Book of Genesis, accepting it as an accurate historical account of the creation of the universe in essentially its present form over the course of six 24-hour days. Theistic evolution or God-guided evolution on the other hand means all things in the universe evolved over time under the guidance of God. Within theistic evolution there are two schools of thought. One is the so-called Special Creation wherein man is part of all evolving organisms. This would mean that at a certain point in time man evolved into a near-human animal and was given a soul by God, and became fully human. The other school of thought teaches that all things in the universe evolved from a lower form to a higher one except humans. Here’s the official teaching of the Catholic Church on Evolution from the Papal Encyclical of Pope Pius XII in 1950 entitled Humani Generis: “The teaching authority of the Church does not forbid that, in conformity with the present state of human sciences and sacred theology, research and discussions, on the part of men experienced in both fields, take place with regard to the doctrine of evolution, in as far as it inquires into the origin of the human body as coming from pre-existent and living matter – for the Catholic faith obliges us to hold that souls are immediately created by God.” The Church focuses on things of faith and not on science. Thus, it gives us the freedom to adhere to any of the two whether creation by six literal days or evolution by millions of years. The important thing the Church emphasizes is that the soul is always directly created by God and did not evolve with
matter because it is spiritual in nature. In other words, contrary to common belief, the Church is not against evolution as long as it is evolution under God’s guidance who is a God of purpose and not of chance. The common question about evolution is, “If we’ve evolved from monkeys, why are monkeys still around?” or if evolution is really happening, “Why don’t we see half-way evolving organisms or animals?” Scientific laws are supposed to be repeatable and observable regardless of the era or time. The law of gravity for example should be the same whether it’s today, 5 years ago or a million years ago. So, the evolution of animals or organisms should have been happening as we speak. But why don’t we see it? One theory says that evolution is not really by species but by genes. Marriage of different races for humans for example produces another form of genes. Adaptation to the environment could likewise alter genes both of animals and humans. This explains why we have different colors and other features depending on which area in the world we live. The same thing goes with animals, the tiger found in Asia is different to that in Africa. Evolution is not a settled science and is still a theory. There is strong evidence that the universe evolved some 13.8 billion years ago through quantum fluctuations. Again, the Catholic Church has no problem with this claim because God could have created the world gradually and we don’t have to interpret the days in Genesis as 24-hour cycle but could be epochs or era. The essential thing is that evolution should not be random or by chance that would render a higher intelligence unnecessary and that everything is only material and that there is no spiritual dimension in man we call soul. (Carlos Cornejo)
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INGREDIENTS : • 2 bitter melons • 10 ounces beef tripe boiled and chopped • 10 ounces beef heart boiled and chopped • 4 ounces pork liver sliced • 12 ounces beef small intestine boiled and chopped • 5 chili pepper • 5 kamias bilimbi • 1 onion minced • 3 thumbs ginger minced • 5 cloves garlic minced • 5 tablespoons white vinegar • 6 cups water • 3 tablespoons cooking oil • Fish sauce and ground black pepper to taste INSTRUCTIONS : 1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Prepare the bitter melons by removing the seeds. Chop the veggies into small pieces. Note: you can also use a food processor for best results. Boil water in a cooking pot. Add chopped bitter melons. Boil for 3 minutes. Set aside. Heat oil in a clean wok or pan. Sauté garlic, onion, and ginger. Once the onion softens, add the beef tripe, beef heart, and small intestine. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes. Add liver. Cook for 1 minute. Pour vinegar into the wok. Let the
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7.
8. 9.
mixture boil. Pour the water used to boil the bitter melons while straining. Cover and let the liquid boil. Set the heat to low. Continue boiling until all the ingredients gets tender. Add kamias and chili peppers. Cook for 15 minutes. Season with fish sauce and ground black pepper. Serve hot. Share and enjoy!
HEALTH
Huwag Magalit, Baka Magkasakit Ni Dr. Willie Ong pa.
Kaibigan, masama po sa iyong kalusugan ang magalit. Ito ang mga posibleng mangyari: 1. Altapresyon – Kapag ika’y nagalit, puwedeng tumaas ng 30-50 puntos ang iyong blood pressure. Kaya ang presyon na 130/80, ay puwedeng umabot sa 180/100. 2. Istrok – Kapag tumaas ang presyon, posibleng pumutok ang ugat sa utak. Ang tawag dito ay brain hemorrhage na madaling makamatay. 3. Atake at sakit sa puso – Narinig mo na siguro na may taong inatake sa puso pagkatapos magalit. Sobrang stress po ang dahilan nito. 4. Pagdurugo ng mata - Maraming pasyente na ang nabulag ang mata dahil sa matinding galit. Pumutok kasi ang ugat nila sa loob ng mata. Bukod dito, posibleng may koneksyon din sa pagkagalit ang kanser, diabetes, asthma, sakit sa likod, at iba
Paano mababawasan ang galit? 1. Mag-ehersisyo – Nakababawas ang ehersisyo sa stress at tensyon sa katawan. 2. Magpahinga ng sapat –Huwag magmadali at sobrahan ang iyong trabaho. Kapag hindi ka overworked, mas hindi iinit ang iyong ulo. 3. Habaan ang pasensya – Huwag maging perfectionist. Tanggapin na talagang may nahuhuli sa mga schedule, meeting at oras ng biyahe. 4. Ayusin ang pag-iisip – Alamin ang mga bagay na mabilis magpainit sa iyong ulo. Bago pa ito mangyari, mag-isip na ng paraan para makaiwas dito. 5. Maghintay ng ilang oras – Kung may kaaway ka, huwag mo agad siyang harapin. Mag-deep breathing exercises muna. Huminga ng malalim at mabagal ng 10 beses. 6. Kausapin ang sarili o baguhin ang pananaw Tanungin ang sarili: Itong kinakagalit ko ba ay may epekto sa akin pagkalipas ng 1 taon o 10 taon? Kadalasan ay wala naman. 7. Maging abala sa ma-
gandang gawain – Kapag ika’y walang ginagawa, magiging mas mainitin at mainggitin ka sa iba. Ngunit kung abala ka sa sariling proyekto, wala ka nang panahon magalit pa sa iba. 8. Libangin ang iyong sarili – Kapag nararamdaman mong umiinit ang iyong ulo, ibaling ang iyong isipan sa iba. Magbasa ng magazine, o mag-isip ng magagandang bagay. 9. Huwag daanin sa alak ang iyong galit - Masama ito sa katawan. 10. Ilabas ang iyong galit sa tamang paraan – Pumunta ka sa lugar na walang tao at dito mo ilabas ang iyong inis. Puwede ding ikuwento mo ito sa isang kaibigan. 11. Magpatingin sa doktor – Baka naman may altapresyon o sakit ka sa thyroid. Ang mga sakit na ito ay puwedeng magpainit din ng ulo. 12. Ipasa-Diyos mo - Ipagdasal mo na lang ang iyong kaaway. Hayaan mo nang iba ang lumaban sa kaniya at huwag nang ikaw. Magpakumbaba at umiwas na lang sa iyong katunggali. Lilipas din iyan.
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March 14-20, 2022
March 14-20, 2022
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No shortage of fuel amid Russo-Ukrainian war
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EBU CITY – The Department of Energy (DOE)-Visayas said there is enough supply of fuel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Central Visayas despite the impact of the Russo-Ukrainian war on oil prices in the world market. Lawyer Russ Mark located in the Dnieper-Do- spection activities in the comGamallo, DOE-Visayas Di- netsk region in the east, the ing days. We will not announce rector, said they have also Carpathian region in the west, it because it will be a surprise begun inspection of gasoline and the Black Sea-Sea of Azov inspection,” Gamallo told the Philippine News Agency by stations to ensure operators region in the south. sell their fuel products withGamallo said oil compa- phone. “The inspectors use a in the price range set by the nies in Cebu also assured him DOE, following the series of there would be enough fuel testing instrument called the price hikes due to the con- supply for 15 days and LPG calibrating bucket, to verify flict. supplies for the next seven compliance with the required Russia is the world’s sec- days. The minimum inventory quantity of petroleum prodond top producer of crude of supplies of oil companies ucts being sold by dealers. oil after Saudi Arabia, and here, he added, is within the Also, samples of petroleum it supplies about a third of allowable limit based on the products were taken to check Europe’s needs. Internation- 15-day crude supply as man- their compliance with the al economic sanctions have dated under DOE’s Depart- quality standards being implemented by the DOE,” Gamallo largely affected Russia with ment Circular 2003-01-001. the United States further Gamallo said among the said. The government could banning the importation of directives from DOE Secretary oil from Moscow. Alfonso Cusi is to ensure that not dictate the movement of Ukraine is an important gasoline station operators are prices of fuel as the country is transit country for supplies regularly calibrating their fuel reliant on importation and as of oil and natural gas from dispensers and are providing mandated under Republic Act Russia to countries through- the approved quality of diesel, No. 8479 or the Downstream out Europe. Ukrain’s hydro- unleaded and regular gaso- Oil Industry Deregulation Act carbon resources are also line. “We will intensify the in- of 1998. (John Rey Saavedra)
BOC Mactan sub-port passes ISO audit
CEBU CITY – The Bureau of Customs Sub-port of Mactan has passed the surveillance audit for ISO 9001:2015 certification, a requirement to maintain the certification from the international standard-setting body composed of representatives from various national standards organizations. BOC-Mactan Collector Gerardo Campo said international passengers and returning Filipinos arriving at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) will continue to experience a world-class customs service. He said the virtual audit conducted by Christine Anne Formalejo and Adorable Aguilla of TüvSüd, a German auditing and certification service provider, focused on the processing of
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clearance for the arrival and departure operations at the MCIA. Campo said the sub-port applied for ISO certification in 2021 to comply with the memorandum of Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero, as part of the implementation of the quality management system. He also cited the guidance of BOC-Cebu District collector Charlito Martin Mendoza and the Interim Internal Quality Management System Office in the sub-port’s capability to defend the world-class status of its customs services. In February, the independent auditors placed the BOC under surveillance to determine if the sub-port has maintained the standards it established based on the certification. “The focus of the ISO
9001:2015 certification is customer satisfaction. In this, we will be able to establish globally accepted standards in processing clearances for passengers and crew of international aircraft, boarding formalities, as well as clearance for international aircraft,” Campo told the Philippine News Agency. He said the sub-port has, so far, maintained its internationally recognized processing of payments of customs duties and taxes, strengthened border control through non-intrusive examination of baggage of travelers, expatriates, and overseas Filipino workers via X-ray machines. “In the 100-percent examination of all the baggage, we are able to prevent the entry of contraband and smuggled goods, afford allowable privilege for OFWs and diplomatic personages, as well as to conduct an assessment to goods covered under the customs laws,” he said. Campo said the certification also promoted trade facilitation, thus giving customs brokers and importers expeditious release of their imported cargoes after presenting proper documents and payment of correct duties and taxes. (John Rey Saavedra)
Eastern Mindanao
DOE-Visayas Energy Industry Management Division inspectors Engineers Renelyn Estiya and Evander Diola check the calibration of fuel pump machines of Caltex Landers in Cebu City. DOE-Visayas Director Russ Mark Gamallo says there is enough fuel and LPG supply for Central Visayas as assured by oil companies amid the Russo-Ukrainian war. (Image: John Rey Saavedra/PNA)
3 Visayan universities get EU grant THREE VISAYAN universities - Western Visayas State University, University of San Carlos, University of the Visayas – were among six schools awarded by the European Union (EU) some P12.1 million worth of grants that would put access to justice for women and girls at the center of their respective clinical legal education programs. The grant, signed with representatives from Western Visayas State University, Adamson University, University of San Carlos, University of the Visayas, Father Saturnino Urios University, and St. Louis University, is under EU's Governance in Justice Program, which aims to support the Philippine government’s efforts to improve access to justice for all. “Ensuring women and girls have equal access to justice is fundamental to building a fair, inclusive, prosperous, and peaceful society. The European Union has been a committed partner to the Philippine’s Justice Sector reform since 2006. Our engagement stems from the importance we attach to democracy, human rights and the rule of law. We look forward to the transformative work of these universities in the year
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ahead. Women and girls are key agents of development and change. Their interventions will change lives for the better,” said EU Ambassador Luc Veron during the virtual signing ceremony recently. Through these grants, the universities will implement the Clinical Legal Education Program (CLEP) of the Supreme Court as a pathway to promote access to justice for women and other vulnerable groups. The CLEP is a credit-earning teaching course with the goal of providing law students with knowledge for the application of the law, delivery of legal services, and promotion of social justice, especially to marginalized communities. The planned activities of the grantees intend to empower women as much as improve their access to justice services. The EU Delegation in Manila said Western Visayas State University will set up a legal help desk for women and marginalized groups. It would leverage its Gender and Development Office and collaborate with the Women and Children Protection Unit of the Western Visayas Medical Center Hospital to develop the help desk. The University of the
Cebu
Visayas will also set up a similar legal help desk in the female dormitory of the Cebu City jail while Adamson University will create a corps of paralegal volunteers, and focus on the legal empowerment and education of disadvantaged communities through workshops on the justice system, human rights, and women’s and children’s rights. Father Saturnino Urios University in Butuan City, meanwhile, will work with indigenous communities on rights awareness, including women’s rights. With a total grant of EUR19 million (approximately P1.1 billion) over a period of four years, the EU program has so far supported the Supreme Court, the Department of Justice, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to improve access to justice for all Filipinos. The program is implemented through technical assistance by the British Council and logistical and grant management support from the United Nations Office for Project Services as well as the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation. (Joyce Ann Rocamora)
Manila