Sulu readies for Civil Service exam Book features success stories
of govt. water program
SULU – Governor Sakur Tan has assured the Civil Service Commission of the support of the provincial government in the conduct of the Special Civil Service Examination in the province in August. Tan recently met Continue on page 4
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Interior department has launched a coffee table book which highlighted the impact of the SALINTUBIG program or the Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig Para sa Lahat in northern Mindanao. The launching of the Continue on page 2
Provincial government photo shows Sulu Gov. Sakur Tan with Civil Service Commission Director for Sulu and Basilan Field Offices, Gil Cabunay.
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Marcos vows to foster stronger, deeper ties with China D
AVAO CITY - President-elect Bongbong Marcos has vowed to foster stronger and deeper Philippines-China relations during his six-year administration. Marcos also helping the Philippines Covid-19 pandemic and lauded China’s role in in the fight against the Continue on page 2
President-elect Bongbong Marcos with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian. “Hanging on the wall are photographs recording historic moments of China-Philippines relations, one of which on the top has depicted the historic scene of then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai and then Philippine President Ferdinand E. Marcos signing the Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between our two counties on June 9, 1975,” Huang says in a Facebook post.
Google’s LaMDA chatbot is sentient: Engineer
Zamboanga Peninsula gideklarang insurgency-free PAGADIAN CITY – Gideklara ng insurgency-free gikan sa mga komunistang New People’s Army ug andam na
sa kalambuan ang tibuok rehiyon sa Zamboanga Peninsula human ang gihimong rekomendasyon sa Regional Task Force to
End Local Communist Armed Conflict atol sa gipahigayong panagtigum sa 1st Infantry Division. Continue on page 5
SIM card registration, dapat isusulong muli MAYNILA – Dapat na pursigihin ng mga mambabatas sa 19th Congress ang SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) Card Registration Bill upang
ARMM
mabigyan ng sapat na proteksyon ang mga mobile phone users sa bansa laban sa iba’t-ibang uri scams. Ito ay matapos na iba-
sura ni Pangulong Duterte ang SIM Card Registration Act na ipinasa sa Kongreso at Senado dahil kabilang sa probisyon nito ang Continue on page 4
Eastern Mindanao
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE is the idea of injecting human-like intelligence and thought processes into machines. However, AI doesn’t intrigue everyone. Elon Musk labeled it the biggest risk a civilization can face. His concern was that soon, robots would take over humans, and he even asked the government to regulate the field. Continue on page 5
Blake Lemoine
New Security Adviser urges end to ‘Red-Tagging’ INCOMING NATIONAL Security Adviser to President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said she intends to stop “red-tagging,” the longtime counterinsurgency Continue on page 4
President-elect Bongbong Marcos with his National Security Adviser Professor Clarita Carlos. (Image: Atty. Vic Rodriguez)
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June 20-26, 2022
Marcos vows to foster stronger, deeper ties with China Book features success stories of govt. water program
President-elect Bongbong Marcos with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian and former President Joseph Estrada during the awarding ceremony to Filipinos that contributed to the promotion of the Philippines-China mutual understanding, in Makati City on June 10, 2022. Marcos vows to foster stronger and deeper Philippines-China relations during his six-year administration. (Rouelle Umali/Xinhua)
Photos released by Chinese Ambassador Huang Xilian show the perspective of the proposed $350 million Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project. Continued from page 1 pledged to uphold an independent policy. Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said the past six years saw China-Philippines relations consolidated, and China became the Philippines’ largest trading partner, second-largest export market and the major source of foreign investments. “I am fully confident that our relations will surely open a new chapter and be upgraded to new heights,” he said. Huang recently exchanged with Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos
Dominguez the signed Framework Agreement and Loan Agreement for the Samal Island-Davao City Connector Project. The Chinese government will provide a concessional loan of approximately $350 million to the Duterte government to finance the project. Connecting Davao City and Samal Island across the Pakiputan Strait, the project is a two-way, four-lane 3.86km bridge. Once completed, the bridge will provide a resilient and reliable transportation link and improve transportation efficiency, promoting internal mobil-
ity, and stimulating tourism potential, according to Huang. “The first cross-sea bridge that the Davaoeno people have long dreamed of will come true,” he said, adding “also, during the construction, thousands of jobs would be created, contributing to local economic recovery and improving people’s livelihood.” “This project will break ground before long. Look forward to seeing the long-awaited crosssea bridge turning from a vision into a reality,” he added. (Xinhua, Mindanao Examiner)
Continued from page 1 book was in partnership with the Regional Hub and Sanitation and shows a compilation of the SALINTUBIG’s best practices, stories of hope, change, and triumph of the beneficiaries since its implementation in 2013. Over 15,600 families in waterless communities in the region now have access to potable water because of the SALINTUBIG program which was created by the national government in response to the ongoing struggle of access to clean and safe water in the country. Regional Director Arnel Agabe, of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), said through the program, thousands of families who belong to waterless communities are now enjoying the water supply. “We laud the efforts and contributions of our local governments in ensuring that these water
resources are properly utilized, and to give their people an opportunity for a better quality of life. Together with our local governments, we aim to make these projects sustainable over time and will be enjoyed in the coming generations to come,” he said. The coffee table book contains accounts of personal stories and testimonies from the people who experienced the struggle of water scarcity, hardships, and the program helped them surpass the challenging situation and how it provided them with economic opportunities. Through the partnership with Peace Crops Incorporated, the launching of the book captured stories from four provinces and 10 municipalities in the region that spring hope to communities who struggled their way to better quality of life. “Our formula for capturing the stories was simple: Find the hugots. Hugots we got to hear from
the mayors, engineers, teachers, students, women, fisherfolks, health workers, barangay kapitanes, plantitos and plantitas, religious Imam, entrepreneurs. The whole lot whose lives and living are intertwined with water as an elixir of life,” said Robert dela Serna, Executive Director of Peace Crops. DILG Assistant Regional Director Yvette Sunga also lauded the fruitful works of the storytellers and emphasized the importance of documentation in communicating the government’s efforts in public service. “We are elated and grateful because the hard work of the matino, mahusay, at maaasahang DILG 10, together with our partners, has come to reality and this documentation is a testament that we are doing great and we have shown to the community that the government is working for them,” said Sunga. (Mindanao Examiner)
June 20-26, 2022
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Mayor bags awards on social services
June 20-26, 2022
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A photo released by the Zamboanga City Social Welfare and Development Office shows Mayor Beng Climaco who is named “Most Outstanding Local Chief Executive” by the Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Philippines, Inc. The mayor is joined by City Social Welfare and Development Officer Socorro Rojas and her assistant Darick Fabian and other staff in receiving the prestigious award. OUTGOING ZAMBOANGA Mayor Beng Climaco continues to reap prestigious awards and is adjudged “Most Outstanding Local Chief Executive” for her effective and efficient service delivery of social welfare and development programs and services giving emphasis on local initiatives specifically in addressing the health crisis. The award was conferred by the Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Philippines, Inc. (ALSWDOPI) during the ceremonies for Gawad Parangal highlighting the group’s 25th National Social Welfare and Development Forum and General Assembly held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on June 15. The award was conferred by the Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Philippines, Inc. (ALSWDOPI) during the ceremonies for Gawad Parangal highlighting the group’s 25th National Social Welfare and Development Forum and General Assembly held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City on June 15, according to City Social Welfare and Development Officer Socorro Rojas. Rojas and her assistant Darick Fabian and other staff joined Climaco during the awarding rites. The Gawad Parangal validating team cited the Climaco administration’s innovative programs and services in uplifting the general well-being of the marginalized and vulnerable sectors of the locality. The team emphasized that these programs are highly commendable “which put your Gawad Parangal award for SWD Champions on top of the rank.” Climaco, a strong advocate of women and children’s rights and welfare, rallied the support of local government executives for the protection of the rights of children being her administration’s “very important persons.” The appropriation for social service programs increased by more than 800% during Climaco’s term that provided more perks to various sectors including senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and other disadvantaged clientele. Just recently, the Social Watch Philippines also recognized Climaco as “Champion” in promoting the welfare of children,
saying she prioritized the needs and welfare of the young sector during her nine-year term as local chief executive. It also awarded the local government through the City Social Welfare and Development Office headed by Rojas, the “Most Traceable Budget for Children Award” during the “Capacity Building Workshop in Strengthening Public Finance Management for Children” held at the Limketkai Luxe Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City. Social Watch is an international network of over 100 citizens’ organizations struggling to eradicate poverty and the causes of poverty, to ensure an equitable distribution of wealth and the realization of human rights. It is committed to social, economic, and gender justice. The training focused on the use of the Budget Tagging Tool, which is intended for use by local governments, specifically the offices concerned in planning and budgeting for children. These offices include the Local Chief Executive, Planning and Development Coordinator, City Health, Social Welfare and Development, Local School Board, Gender and Development, City Budget, City Treasurer and City Accounting and other offices in promoting the welfare of children. The child-focused budget tagging is the systematic identification of child-specific and relevant programs, projects, and activities classified according to child rights - survival, development, protection, and participation. The budget tagging tool aims to monitor allocations and actual expenditure of local governments on child- focused programs and services to uphold the rights of children, promote their well-being and ensure their participation in policy development, planning and program implementation. The tool can identify funding gaps and under-resourced priorities, and facilitate stronger inter- linkage with other cross cutting- themes- gender equality, equity, inclusion and humanitarian response. In 1997, Social Watch Philippines was convened by the Action for Economic Reforms, Accessing Support Services and Entrepreneurial Technology, Inc. and the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement with Professor Leonor
Briones as the Lead Convenor, being the coordinator of Social Watch-Asia. Social Watch Philippines has annually put forward a strategy of advocacy, awareness-building, monitoring, organizational development and networking. Series of national and island consultations were organized with the objectives of increasing people’s awareness and participation in promoting social development concerns with the government. It has likewise faithfully submitted an annual Philippine country report to the Global Social Watch Report, which in turn is submitted to the United Nations Social Development Commission. The Social Watch global report is essentially a progress report on the accomplishments, or the lack of them, of different countries in the implementation of their social development commitments. The Climaco administration was also awarded with the prestigious “2018 Seal of Child-Friendly Local Governance (SCFLG)” and the “2018 Presidential Award for Child-Friendly Municipalities and Cities” by the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Climaco, a strong advocate of children's rights, received the awards in recognition of the local government’s initiatives to promote the protection and welfare of children. Zamboanga, under Climaco’s leadership, has been a consistent awardee for its efforts on child protection and welfare. The SCFLG is awarded to cities and municipalities that have passed all the criteria set by the audit system subsequent to an assessment gauging their level of performance in implementing child-friendly programs and establishing measures which promote children’s welfare. She also took pride in saying that the voices of the young are very important to her administration and cited Zamboanga City which participated and represented the country in the recently concluded UN Convention on the Rights of Children held in Germany. Zamboanga City, Climaco added, is also in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund to keep children safe in terms of road safety and infrastructures. (Zamboanga Post)
New Security Adviser urges end to ‘Red-Tagging’ Continued from page 1 tactic in which leftist activists and critics of the government are accused of being members of the communist movement. “I would like to stop red-tagging. Labels do not produce anything. It’s not productive,” said Clarita Carlos, a former University of the Philippines professor, said. “ Carlos’ remarks suggest a critical reversal of a dangerous policy is being considered. As national security adviser, Carlos will be vice-chairperson of the National Task Force on Ending Local Armed Conflict, the government agency created by outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte. The task force, chaired by the president, has been responsible for much of the red-tagging since its inception in 2018. The task force, work-
ing closely with the military, police, and the president’s office, has accused numerous political activists of being members of the Communist Party of the Philippines or its armed wing, the New People’s Army. Among those red-tagged by the task force is outgoing Vice President Leni Robredo, who lost to Marcos in the recent election. The task force has also red-tagged journalists, book publishers, and nongovernmental groups including Oxfam. Many red-tagged individuals such as leaders and lawyers of peasant organizations and human rights groups have been physically harmed by government security forces and vigilantes; several have been killed. Others were harassed, such as groups of nuns and peasant women whose bank
accounts were frozen. The task force’s “whole of nation” approach to ending the country’s 53-year-old communist insurgency has used as “proof” of its value past instances of some activists who later joined the armed insurgency. In practice, the Duterte government made little distinction between armed combatants and peaceful political activists who operate legally. The United Nations has noted that red-tagging has a pernicious effect on civil society and democratic space in the Philippines. Clarita Carlos should make good on her statement to finally end the practice. What remains uncertain is whether her new boss, and the Philippines armed forces, will allow her to do that once she is in office. (Carlos Conde)
Sulu readies for Civil Service exam Continued from page 1 with Director Gil Cabunay, of the Civil Service Commission in Sulu and Basilan to discuss the forthcoming examination. Cabunay has sought Tan’s assistance in the conduct of the examination set on August 7. “The Provincial Government will see to it that the required logistical and manpower support are provided for the Special Examination,” Tan told Cabunay.
Tan also thanked the Civil Service Commission for holding the examination in Sulu instead of Zamboanga or Pagadian cities. “This will greatly benefit the examinees because they do not have to spend board and lodging money to go to Zamboanga or Pagadian just to take the examination. They can now concentrate fully on their review and not worry anymore about money to
be able to participate in the Civil Service examination,” he said. It is only during the time of Tan that such national or licensure examinations are held in Sulu and even the police and military recruitments are now localized. He was also instrumental in putting up offices for various government and law enforcement agencies here. (Mindanao Examiner)
President-elect Bongbong Marcos meets with Ambassador Charles Brown of Holy See. "As a people of strong faith, we are hopeful that we will further our cooperation and work closely with them in the next six years," says Marcos.
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Google’s LaMDA chatbot is sentient: Engineer Continued from page 1 Despite Musk’s warnings, researchers are hastily working on machines that can think and act like human beings. This can be seen from an employee Google placed on leave after he claimed that an AI chatbot had become ‘sentient.’ Google Engineer, who works at Google’s Responsible AI organization, Blake Lemoine, took to social media to claim that the chatbot ‘LaMDA’ could express thoughts and feelings. LaMDA While talking to a news outlet, Lemoine said that if he didn’t know any better, he’d think he was talking to a ‘seven-year-old, eightyear-old kid who knows physics. He began conversing with Language Model for Dialogue Applications
(LaMDA) last year as part of his job at Google. He spoke about consciousness, religion, and more. LaMDA ‘told’ Lemoine that it wants to be acknowledged as a Google employee instead of a property. When the engineer asked the chatbot what he was afraid of, LaMDA replied that it has a fear of being turned off, which it said would be ‘exactly like death.’ Suspended Following his claims, Google placed Blake on leave for violating the company’s confidentiality policy. It is possible that previous actions of the engineer also motivated Google to take this step, as Lemoine attempted to hire an attorney to represent the chatbot and also talked to House judiciary committee representatives about ‘unethical activities’
going on at Google. A Google spokesperson, Brian Gabriel, said that their team reviewed Lemoine’s concerns, but there was no evidence backing his statement. He added that AI models have a lot of data, which is why they can sound human, but it does not prove that the chatbot has sentience. “These systems imitate the types of exchanges found in millions of sentences and can riff on any fantastical topic,” he said. Lemoine released the full text of his “Interview” with LaMDA, but due to space limitation, the Mindanao Examiner provides readers this link: https:// bit.ly/3xxFaxA to read the entire conversation which is also accessible in our website – mindanaoexaminer.com. (Sameer, Fossbytes, Mindanao Examiner)
‘Balik Probinsya’ program pushed SENATOR BONG Go has urged the incoming Marcos administration to continue the “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa” (BP2) program, saying it will give more hope to the people for a better future after the Covid-19 pandemic. “Hinihikayat po natin ang bagong administrasyon na ipagpatuloy ang pagpapatupad ng BP2 program na layuning mabigyan ng bagong pag-asa ang ating mga kababayan na kung piliin nilang bumalik sa probinsya at manirahan doon,” Go said. “Hindi lang po maipagpatuloy, kundi mas mapaganda pa sa susunod na termino. Pareho naman po tayo ng adhikain -- ang masigurong maramdaman ng bawat Pilipino ang komportableng buhay kahit saan mang sulok ng
bansa,” he added. Go, who is a proponent of the BP2 program, underlined that with the initiative, the government will be able to further support rural development and create greater economic possibilities for everyone in all parts of the country. He also welcomed the support from the private sector as various groups expressed intent to participate and contribute to the government’s push for accelerated regional development. Go encouraged more businesses to follow suit and invest in areas outside the country's urban centers. “Isa sa mga layunin ng Balik Probinsya program ang pagsigurong handa at kaaya-aya ang mga probinsya para sa mga bagong negosyong ipapatayo ng
mga mamumuhunan,” he said. In May 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order No. 114 which institutionalizes the program as a pillar of balanced regional development. “Ngayon, merong Executive Order 114 na nag-institutionalize nito. Meron ding inter-agency council na mangangasiwa at magpapatupad nito. Whole-of-government na ang approach ngayon,” Go said. The program will also provide adequate social services to its people, promote employment, and focus on key areas, such as empowerment of local industries, food security, and infrastructure development in rural areas. (Mindanao Examiner)
Zamboanga Peninsula gideklarang insurgency-free Continued from page 1 Sumala ni Maj. Gen. Generoso Ponio, division commander , nga pinaagi sa pagtinabangay sa tanang ahensya sa gobyerno, mas mapalahutay ang mga nasugdang lakang kontra insurhensiya gikan sa strategic, operational ug tactical level. Nasayran nga unom gikan sa pito ka Guerrilla Fronts nga naglihok sa tibuok rehiyon ang nabungkag na sa kasundalohan tungod sa hiniusang paningkamot sa mga government agencies ilawom sa whole-of-nation
approach subay sa Executive Order No. 70 ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte. Sa laing bahin, gibutyag sa armadong kusog sa nasud nga nagkahuyang na ang nabiling pwersa sa mga komunistang teroristang grupo. Samtang nagtuo usab si Zamboanga del Sur Governor Victor Yu, ang Regional Development Chairman sa Zamboanga Peninsula, nga usa ka hagit alang sa musunod nga administrasyon ang pagpadayon sa mga nasugdang stratehiya alang sa malahutayong kalinaw ug kalambuan sa rehiyon.
Giawhag ni Yu ang kooperasyon sa tanang local government units gikan sa barangay, lungsod ug probinsya. Dugang pa niya nga kung magtinabangay ang tanan, makita ang resulta niini sulod sa 3 ka tuig. Sa naghinapos nga administrasyong Duterte, kampante ang task force nga mahimo niini ang mando sa Presidente nga tapuson ang insurhensiya sa mga apektadong komunidad diin kadaghanan kanila gilangkuban sa mga indigenous people. (Mindanao Examiner, PIA)
SIM card registration, dapat isusulong muli Continued from page 1 mandatory registration rin ng social media. Matatandaang inakusahan ng publiko ang pamahalaan ng pagkakaroon ng “troll farms” sa social media na siyang nagsusulong ng mga progapaganda at fake news laban sa mga oposisyon at iba’t-ibang grupo na tumutuligsa sa gobyerno. Maging si Senador Grace Poe ay humiling rin na sa papasok na 19th Congress ay dapat talakayin muli ang SIM Card Registration Bill para ma-institutionalize ang pagprotekta sa milyun-milyong mobile phone users. Matatandaang sa 18th Congress naipasa ang nasabing panukalang inisponsoran ni Poe, ngunit kinaharap nito ang balakid matapos ma-veto ng papatapos na administrasyon sa gitna ng kaunting natitirang araw ng sesyon bago ang “sine die” adjournment o ang pagtatapos ng session ng walang linaw kung kailan
muli ito magbubukas. “Dapat ikasa ng buong pamahalaan ang mas ligtas na paggamit ng digital at mobile phone sa buong bansa upang proteksyunan ang mga mamamayan mula sa mas malalim na pagbulusok nila sa kahirapan. Para sa karamihan, ang mobile phone ang kanilang tanging gamit para mabuhay, at hindi ito dapat nakokompromiso,” paliwanag ni Poe. Nanawagan rin ito sa Department of Information and Communications Technology at National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) na palakasin ang kanilang mga hakbang laban sa talamak na text scams na nambibiktima ng mapagtiwalang mga mobile phone subscribers. Sinabi ni Poe na maging siya ay nakatanggap ng texts mula sa iba’t-ibang prepaid mobile phone numbers na nangangako ng trabaho, dagdag na pagkakakitaan, insentibo at mga papremyo at kung anu-ano pa.
“Habang umaasa ang mas marami sa digital na teknolohiya para makaahon sa hirap, dapat paigtingin ang pagsawata sa lumalalang mga banta na lalong magpapalubog sa kalagayan ng ating mga kababayan,” ani Poe. Sa kabila ng direktiba ng NTC sa Globe, Smart at Dito na magbigay ng babala sa kanilang mga subscribers laban sa mga pekeng trabaho, patuloy pa rin ang pagkalat ng mga scams. “Hindi natin dapat hayaang patuloy na pagpiyestahan ng mga manloloko at sindikato sa likod ng mga text messages na ito ang mga kababayan nating lugmok pa rin sa hagupit ng pandemya at tumataas pang presyo ng langis at bilihin,” wika pa ni Poe. Hinikayat rin ni Poe ang mga telco companies na palakasin ang kanilang operasyon kontra text scams at i-block agad ang mga SIM card numbers. (Mindanao Examiner)
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Dipolog wins in ‘One Planet City Challenge’ DIPOLOG CITY – This southern Filipino city has been adjudged national winner of the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) One Planet City Challenge (OPCC) 2021-2022, joining other winners from 20 countries around the world. Bogotá, Colombia and Lund, Sweden were selected as the OPCC Global Winners which saw a total of 280 cities participating from 50 countries. As the Philippines’ National Winner, Dipolog City representatives were able to attend the OPCC Global Awarding Ceremony in Helsingborg, Sweden, held recently to receive their award. Dipolog City was commended by the international jury of the OPCC Core Team in Sweden for its bold emissions reduction plan, which is aligned with science-based targets needed to keep global warming within 1.5°C. The city has reported innovative and impactful action plans that will help achieve these targets and bring long term co-benefits. The cities were measured against rigorous criteria that included: ambitious climate targets, bold leadership, ability to meet upcoming challenges, and a holistic climate action plan that is well balanced towards their goals. One Planet City Challenge is a friendly global competition initiated by WWF to recognize cities for their climate actions and ambitions and assess whether they align with the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement in limiting climate change to 1.5 °C. Since its inception 10 years ago, close to 600 cities from 53 countries on 5 continents have already participated in this challenge. Dipolog, Quezon, and Davao Cities were the national finalists in the Philippines. Other cities that were included in the country’s roster of qualifiers for OPCC 2021-2022 are Baguio, Batangas, Cagayan de Oro, Legazpi, Makati, Ormoc, Pasig, San Carlos, San Fernando in La Union, Santa Rosa, Tagum, Zamboanga and Vigan. “As highlighted in the recently released IPCC AR6 reports, cities play a key role in avoiding the most severe impacts of global warming. Bogotá and Lund are two inspiring examples of how dedicated local governments from very different contexts can drive the transition toward more liveable and sustainable cities. For the world over, both cities are showing others what can be achieved,” said Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, climate change directly impacts cities and urban life. Increasing global temperatures result in rising
Dipolog City Representatives (2nd and 3rd from L) receive their award as OPCC National Winner of Philippines during the OPCC Global Awarding Ceremony in Helsingborg, Sweden. (Image: WWF-Sweden)
A city government photo shows the Pagsalabuk Circle or the Dipolog Rotunda is a symbol of diverse culture representing the Muslim, Subanen, and Christian people. sea levels and more extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and storms, particularly affecting coastal communities. Further, increases in the spread of vector-borne and water-borne diseases and heat-related illnesses have affected urban populations as global temperatures increase. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report reinforces these findings, stating that cities are areas of concentrated risk to climate change with losses due to infrastructure damage and disruption in services and affected supply chains already occurring. Cities are also areas where opportunities for delivering urgent climate action abound and also key contributors to climate change, as urban activities are significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions. An estimated 75% of global CO2 emissions are from cities, with transport and buildings among the most significant contributors. However, some cities have started to use renewable energy sources, implement regulations to limit industrial emissions, and institute energy efficiency measures. Many have undertaken climate actions to increase their city’s resilience with its residents and businesses adapting to the changing climate. Others have also enforced laws that help to restore and preserve
the environment. One Planet Cities Project Manager for WWF-Philippines Imee Bellen said she hopes that more Philippine cities will participate in OPCC in the future. “This is an example that shows OPCC is not about being the most advanced city, but it’s about how holistic the local governments plan for their cities towards low-carbon development,” Bellen said. Atty. Angela Ibay, Head of the Climate and Energy Programme of WWF-Philippines, encouraged citizens to help their cities boost their capacity to respond to the climate crisis. “The cities’ plans would not come to life if it wasn’t for the collective action of its residents. However, we as individuals can still make a difference on our own. Even the most trivial habits, such as reducing energy consumption, can have a long-lasting impact on the community and nature,” she said. Winners and finalists of this year’s OPCC are also eligible to participate in We Love Cities (WLC) by September 2022. WLC is a WWF campaign interwoven with the OPCC which aims to provide a platform for the citizens to give suggestions for improvement that city leaders can consider in their climate action planning process and sustainable development. (Mindanao Examiner)
Kadayawan Festival now includes ‘Best Face Mask’ competition DAVAO CITY – In an effort to advocate the use of face masks as a protection against the deadly Covid-19 disease and to further promote tourism here, the local government has included the “Best Face Mask” in the Kadayawan Festival Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan. Chief Tourism Officer Generose Tecson said the face mask is the newest Kadayawan festival feature that her office has proposed, and to make it part of the judging in the street dancing competition. “Wala po tayong bago na activities maybe yung pinakabago is that naka-mask tayong lahat. For the Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan sinali po natin ang mask as part of the competition of their costume and we will be giving prizes for the best mask in-sync with the costume,” Tecson said. Apart from Indak-Indak, the City Tourism Operations Office has also proposed for the face-to-face
Pamulak sa Kadayawan, Pitik sa Kadayawan, and Sayaw Kadayawan which are all tourist attractions. She said they also proposed to build the tribal village and this has been discussed with the different tribes. The Bantawan Stage located at Magsaysay Park is already finished and ready as a venue for the Bantawan Cultural Shows, and that Hiyas ng Kadayawan will also be back. The official announcement for the schedule of the events from August 15-21 will be announced soon, according to Tecson. “We are the first biggest festival in the country which will hold a face-to-face activity,” she said, adding the local government also allocated a lesser budget for the festival budget and lesser participants in group competitions. “Planadong-planado na po at least ang sa office namin kung ano ang activities. It is just a matter of approval from the Execom (Executive Com-
mittee) so that we can go on with the processing of papers para sa ating,” she said. Tecson said she is optimistic the festival would help revive the city’s tourism industry, including the hotels, as it would bring in tourists here. She said that while there are no restrictions on coming to Davao, not even a vaccination card, they still encourage people to be vaccinated and get booster shots besides the mandated wearing of a face mask and practicing hand hygiene. This year’s Kadayawan 2022 will mean more than just a thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest, but also a way of thanking the public for cooperating in ensuring the health standards, she said. “It is also the cooperation and support of the public that we are celebrating Kadayawan. This is a thanksgiving not just for a bountiful harvest but para sa pagsasama natin at pagtutulungan natin,” she said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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The Mindanao Examiner OPINION
June 20-26, 2022
The Oldest Stress Management Method by Engr. Carlos V. Cornejo (Cebu) IT IS claimed that the first stress management method was authored by Marcus Aurelius, an emperor of Rome from 161 to 190 A.D. During his 19-year reign, Marcus faced considerable hardship – war with barbarian tribes, a hostile takeover attempt by a close ally, an incompetent and greedy stepbrother as co-emperor, an economy on the verge of collapse, and the death of several of his children. Marcus relied on his stress management methods to remain poised, effective and a prudent leader – here are his three practices: First, the so-called Premeditatio Malorum which means pre-meditation of adversity. This is a method Marcus would use to anticipate stressful situations (for Christians the equivalent of this is prayer ahead of trying times). Every morning before he would hold a meeting with his senators and generals, he would meditate ahead to expect problems and sometimes conflicts with them. In his meditation, he would tell himself that these problems and conflicts ought not to be avoided but calmly accepted because otherwise you would lose your poise in dealing with them. How can we apply this in our modern day and age? When we are in a difficult situation, we can ask ourselves: what is the worst thing that could happen to me in this tough situation? Let’s say you are going to take a big exam and you’re scared that you might flunk it. Try imagining yourself flunking it already as the worst thing that could happen. Then, slowly tell yourself to calmly accept the outcome. Once you have accepted that worst case scenario you are now ready to take the exam peacefully. It’s called the “nothing to lose and everything to gain” mentality. Second is reframing. When we encounter a troubling situation, reframe the situation as an opportunity to practice a virtue. If we are tempted to get angry, focus on practicing the virtue of patience. If we are tempted to fall into lust, think of the methods to practice the virtue of chastity such as prayer and regular confession. If we are getting attracted to
money and material things, try to practice the virtue of detachment and generosity. In the Christian point of view, this is responding to evil with virtue or not to answer evil with evil. And virtue will only grow when it is tested. “Virtue is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9) The more virtues we practice, the more we live a calmer life in the midst of trials. Third is reality check. Instead of focusing on the subjective negative emotion, we should look at the situation objectively much like a scientist or a mechanic would look at a technical problem. We tend to describe bad situations that happen to us as “terrible”, “horrible” and “devastating”. These are adjectives that could amplify stress. An Elon Musk story illustrates this. There was a little girl who came to Elon Musk because she was afraid of the dark. Elon Musk told her, “Don’t be afraid of the dark. Darkness is just the absence of photons.” It helped the girl remove her fright that was rooted in the mystery of darkness. We can apply this method in our workplace when perhaps we have made a poor presentation to our boss. Instead of telling ourselves, “Damn, that was an awful presentation. I will never get promoted!” Get rid of the emotional reaction and stick to the facts by saying, “It was not my best performance. I will be better next time.” And as a bonus advice to help solve our problems, it might be better to know more about the problem first instead of thinking right away of a solution. As Albert Einstein would say “If I had an hour to solve a problem, I’d spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.” Of course, the best stress management method comes from Scripture or from Christ Himself when he said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (Mt 7:24-25) Resilience comes from obeying God’s word.
Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco (Zamboanga City) FATHER KAREL San Juan, S.J., said that today can be called the Feast-day of God! We also celebrate the Basic Ecclesial Communities whose life and vibrancy come from the people in remote areas and crowded communities both near and far who live the life of faith in prayer and celebration of the Holy Eucharist. We celebrate 124 years of Philippine Independence. We pray for all heroes who gave their lives for our country. We also pray for our Covid-19 frontliners who responded to the call of healing. We also offer prayers in conflict areas in Ukraine, Myanmar and parts of Africa as we pray for all families. Rom. 5:1-5 “Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” I reflect on these excerpts from the Second Reading. As we distributed the new Travis vehicles purchased at a lower cost to respond to our Barangays. A barangay chair responded: “Mayor, Gracias gayot na 9 años!” Todo este possible solamente na gracia y amor de Dios y La Virgen Maria y San Jose. As I have 18 more days to go, I am thankful for every opportunity to carry my cross following Jesus. I have offered my pains to Jesus, my afflictions to purify me. “Cannonball Experience” - St. Ignatius was hit by a cannonball which led to his conversion discovering and following Jesus. Last May 9, I was hit by a Cannonball, thus I must
Bad Habits Na Dapat Iwasan Ng Pinoy
The Model Prayer by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu) “IN praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.” (Mt 6,7) With these words, Christ is telling us to be wary of the dangers of the way we pray. And he immediately tells us how to pray. Thus, we now have what is known as the Lord’s Prayer, or the “Our Father.” We need to realize that this is the model prayer that shows us what dispositions we ought to have when we pray, how we ought to address God our Father, what we have to ask, etc. Thus, we have to assume the spirit with which the prayer is given to us by Christ. In the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we are told that “the Lord’s Prayer reveals us to ourselves at the same time that it reveals the Father to us.” (2783) In other words, we are told who we really are and who God is to us. Thus, no matter how our life here on earth goes, we should never forget that we are children of God who will do everything to bring us back to him. Psalm 129 reinforces this truth of our faith: “With the Lord, there is mercy and fullness of redemption.” We just have to make sure also that, as expressed in this prayer, we also have to be merciful to everyone just as God is merciful to us. “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” We have to understand that forgiveness or mercy is the ultimate expression of love which is the very essence of God and which is also meant to be the essence of our humanity
since we are God’s image and likeness, children of his. And as if to underscore the importance of this point, Christ reiterated: “For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offences. But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you for your offences.” (Mt 6,14-15) It’s clear therefore that we can only be forgiven if we also forgive others. We have to be clear that this injunction is meant for everyone, and not only for a few whom we may consider to be religiously inclined. That’s why when asked how many times we should forgive, he said not only seven times, but seventy times seven, meaning always. That’s also why he easily forgave the woman caught in adultery. And to those whom he cured of their illnesses, it was actually the forgiveness of their sins that he was more interested in. To top it all, Christ allowed himself to die on the cross as a way to forgive all of our sins, and to convert our sins through his resurrection as a way to our own redemption. What he did for us he also expects, nay, commands that we also do for everybody else. Thus that indication that if we want to follow him, we have to deny ourselves, carry the cross and follow him. It is presumed that all of us sin one way or another. That’s why St. John said: “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 Jn 1,8) I am sure that our personal experience can bear that out easily. We really need to live the spirit behind this model prayer!
embrace and endure the pain. It takes a step at a time, to realize the pain inflicted by others yet the willingness to reach-out. I often check myself if I am in denial and having a pretence that all is well. Sr. Agnes of Carmel taught me to catch the gaze of Jesus. It is in this solemn moment, I allow God to speak in tears, in pain and total surrender to accept the reality of the loss. May the Holy Trinity open-up New Missions as I bid goodbye to 24 Years of Public Service. “HOPE does Not Disappoint because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.!” Indeed as I visit the barangays, I realize it is the people who are present that matters. I entrust June 30 in Faith, in Hope and Love in a Triune God with Mary our Mother and St. Joseph offered yesterday, today and tomorrow in God’s hands. I end with the song playing...“ALL WILL BE WELL!” Our commitment to the security sector is unending, as our security forces continue to do their best to protect our city and its people from all forms of lawlessness. During Independence Day celebration, in recognition of the efforts of the security sector, especially the K9 units, we turned over 4x2 pick-up trucks to the Zamboanga City Police Office, the military’s Joint Task Force Zamboanga, and the Philippine Coast Guard - Zamboanga Station. This forms part of our P2.3 billion investment in security during our 9-year administration. Our K9 “Happy” and his handler were awarded as the country’s Best K9 and Best handler respectively during the anniversary of the K9 Group. Happy foiled a bomb attack in the City last December preventing what could have been a huge destruction of lives and properties during the Christmas season. (MBC)
Ni Dr. Willie Ong (Manila) May mga kaugalian ang iba nating kababayan na hindi nila alam ay nakasasama na pala sa kanilang kalusugan. Alamin natin ang mga ito: 1. Laging nagpupuyat – Kailangan mag-ingat ang mga taong kulang sa tulog at laging gumi-gimmick. Ayon sa pagsusuri, ang mga laging puyat at kulang sa tulog ay mas tumataas ang insidente ng sakit sa puso at kanser. Kung ika’y nagtatrabaho bilang night shift, kailangan ay doble ang iyong pag-aalaga sa sarili. Siguraduhing masustansya ang iyong kinakain at sapat ang iyong pahinga. 2. Mahilig mag-yosi at uminom ng alak – Napakaraming sakit ang puwedeng makuha sa paninigarilyo, tulad ng sakit sa baga, kanser, ubo, hika at wrinkles sa mukha. Ang sobrang alak naman ay nakababawas
ng ating talino dahil namamatay ang brain cells. Kung gustong humaba ang buhay, iwasan ang mga bisyo. 3. Konti uminom ng tubig – Maraming Pinoy ang mahina uminom ng tubig. Minsan 3 baso lang sila kung uminom sa isang araw. Kailangan natin ng 6 hanggang 10 baso sa isang araw. Matutulungan ng tubig ang mga sakit tulad ng UTI, sakit sa bato, panghihina, constipation at pangungulubot ng balat. 4. Hindi nag-aalmusal – Alam ba ninyo na halos 1 sa bawat 3 Pilipino ang hindi nag-aalmusal? Sa almusal, kumukuha ng lakas ang ating katawan para magtrabaho, mag-isip at magkaroon ng energy. Ang almusal ang pinakamahalagang pagkain natin sa buong araw. Ang mga batang nag-almusal ay nagiging mas matalino at mas mataas ang grado
sa paaralan. Sa mga office workers, mas gaganda din ang inyong performance sa trabaho. 5. Mahina sa gulay at prutas – Ang rekomendasyon ko ay kumain ng 2 tasang gulay at 2 tasang prutas sa bawat araw. Sa ganitong paraan, makukuha mo ang lahat ng kailangan mong vitamins at minerals. Sa mga bata at sa mga payat na tao, puwede na ang isa at kalahating tasa ng gulay at prutas bawat araw. 6. Puro taba ang kinakain – Iwasan ang mga matatabang pagkain tulad ng lechon, crispy pata, chicharon, laman loob, at taba ng baboy at baka. Tingnan ninyo. Kung ang mantika nito ay nagiging sebo kapag nalamigan, gaanoon din ang mangyayari sa taba sa loob ng iyong katawan. Kung ayaw mong atakihin sa puso, bawasan ang pagkain nito.
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The Mindanao Examiner Gallery / Lifestyle
Section
June 20-26, 2022
Photos from the Office of the Sulu Provincial Governor, Jaques Tutong, Maimbung Municipal Government, Rep. Shernee Tambut, Noenyrie Asiri, and Aziz Salapuddin
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The Mindanao Examiner
June 20-26, 2022 Across : 1. Bullwinkle, for one 6. Station wagon 9. Chem., e.g. 12. Basketball’s Shaquille ___ 13. Bullfight cheer 14. Bachelor’s home 15. Tequila drink 17. Sense of self 18. Repented 19. Snaky fish 20. Gotten up 23. Wind instrument 25. Coal measure 26. Leading lady 29. Cereal grains 31. Silent assent 32. Approach 33. Prepare the oven 35. Mineral spring 36. Landlord’s income 37. Sips 40. Barking sound 42. Least polite 44. Look at 45. Long-distance prefixes (2 wds.) 49. Corn unit 50. Lass 51. Cook’s oil 52. Right you ___! 53. House wing 54. Dogma Down : 1. Pop’s partner 2. ___ roll (2 wds.) 3. Above, in verse 4. Legendary stories 5. Make happy 6. Dime, for one 7. Tailored 8. Library patron 9. Most rapid 10. Enclosure 11. False god 16. ___ Howard of “Happy Days” 20. On the peak 21. Loud noise 22. Butt in
Answer to last week’s crossword:
24. Long period 26. Scorching 27. Neck part 28. Historic periods 30. That female 31. Not artificial 34. Infuriate 37. Oolong, e.g. 38. Formal necktie 39. Fur wrap 40. Out of port 41. “___ Window” 43. Wooded valley 46. Loud noise 47. Genesis woman 48. Fixed
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June 20-26, 2022
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June 20-26, 2022
Wearing of face masks now optional
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ROVINCIAL LAWMAKERS have backed Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s executive or- ratifies Garcia’s Executive Order to an enforceable law. She reiterated that the resder making the use of face masks optional in well ventilated and open spaces No. 16 issued on June 8 which in Cebu province. makes the wearing of face masks olutions being issued by the The Provincial Board, pre- Borgonia said. law and Garcia and are strongly no longer made mandatory, but Inter-Agency Task Force for the sided by Vice Governor HilarCebuanos also hailed the supporting them. The ordinance only optional in well-ventilated Management of Emerging Infecio Davide III, has passed and approved a law that rationalizes the wearing of face masks within Cebu. The ordinance, authored by Board member John Ismael Borgonia, is has been certified by Garcia as urgent and shall be applicable to all individuals, residents and non-residents within the province. The ordinance makes it optional for people to wear masks in well-ventilated and open spaces and it is no longer an offense not to wear face masks outdoor. “People would go out sa ilang tagsa-tagsa ka balay, dili na sila mahadlok nga posible nga dakpon sila sa law enforcers kay naa na man ni nga ordinance nga atong gipalabang,” Vice Governor Hilario Davide III and Governor Gwendolyn Garcia. (Joel Pineda)
Organic Kopi Luwak or Civet coffee isn’t really pricey 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 roast-
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ed 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 0915-3976197. (AJC)
Eastern Mindanao
and open spaces. Ordinance Under Section 3 of the ordinance, the following guidelines have to be properly observed: a. Wearing of face masks in air-conditioned/closed spaces. The wearing of face masks shall be required in closed and/or air-conditioned spaces. b. Wearing of face masks in well-ventilated/open spaces. The use of face masks shall be optional in well-ventilated and open spaces. However, persons are still highly encouraged to continue to wear their masks especially in crowded outdoor areas. c. Wearing of face masks for persons with Covid-19 symptoms. Persons who are unwell with symptoms of the Covid-19 such as fever, cough, runny nose, are required to wear a mask at all times if they need to leave their homes. Firm Garcia also told CNN Philippines that she is not backing down from her executive order, especially now that the Provincial Board approved the ordinance into law. She said any resolution issued by the national government's pandemic response team is not tantamount
Western Mindanao
tious Diseases (IATF) are merely recommendatory in nature, adding even the IATF recognizes that its resolutions are neither equivalent to laws created and passed by Congress nor any executive order. But Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said IATF resolutions prevail over executive orders issued by local governments. “It is still a guideline. I don’t think Sec. Menardo Guevarra has been quite forthright in trying to confuse an executive order of the President himself and guidelines issued by the IATF which in fact enjoins LGUs to issue the necessary ordinances so that they may impose penalties in order for their guidelines to be implemented,” Garcia said. “It’s time someone says it out loud. We have just kept quiet and submissive to any statement by these personalities who have taken upon themselves the force of law. Now I wish to ask: Are we a nation of laws, or are we a nation of powerful men?” Garcia said. She also claimed that even the June 4 resolution titled “Guidelines on the Nationwide Implementation of Alert Level System for Covid-19 Response”
Cebu
do not contain any penalty clause for violators that makes it tantamount to law. Warning The Department of the Interior and Local Government also warned Cebuanos against not wearing face masks even in open spaces, saying the national government does not recognize Garcia’s order nor the ordinance approved by the Provincial Board. The Philippine National Police said it would arrest people not wearing face masks in open spaces. Garcia said authorities cannot simply arrest any violator on the street and send him to a jail that is already crammed, potentially increasing Covid-19 infections. According to GMA News, Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing said they are looking at issuing a showcause order against Garcia for insisting on her executive order. But Garcia said: “I would rather answer to the 1.4 million Cebuanos that have given me a resounding vote of trust and confidence. If in the end, as what media would wish to project, I hope that is not what Usec Densing wants to say, they would issue a show-cause order, that’s a small price to pay for living up and owning up to my responsibility in taking care of 1.4 million Cebuanos.” Garcia also released Memorandum Number 13 reminding local mayors and those in authority to never impose policies that are discriminatory against those who choose not to receive anti-Covid 19 jabs. She said the memorandum protects the rights of unvaccinated individuals whose vaccination status could jeopardize their employment security, or school and other government transactions. It, moreover, specifically forbids officials of the Department of Education from discriminating against unvaccinated teachers, parents, and students. (Cebu Examiner, CNN, Ioannes Arong)
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