The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper (October 31-November 6, 2022)

Wearing of face masks indoors now voluntary

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Frasco said the decision to make the wearing of face masks indoors voluntary makes the country at par with its neighbors in liberalizing mask mandates.

“Generally, the direction of the Marcos administration is to lift the remainder of travel restrictions into the Philippines, and that includes easing of our mask man-

dates to allow our country to be at par with our ASEAN neighbors who have long liberalized their mask mandates,” she said.

Frasco said the wearing of masks would remain required in public transportation, medical facilities, as well as medical transportation, adding mask-wearing is still highly encouraged for unvaccinated individuals, persons with comorbidities

and senior citizens.

She said issues concerning mask mandates as well as new COVID-19 variants had been extensively tackled during the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases meeting recently with other Cabinet secretaries.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World

U.S. invests P228 million in Out-of-School Youth training, employment

Health Organization (WHO), also met with Marcos and they discussed issues hounding the health sector and the country’s development priorities post-pandemic.

Ghebreyesus, who paid a courtesy call to Marcos at the Study Room in Malacañan Palace, said while the global COVID-19 situation has improved

since the pandemic started, several risks and uncertainties continue since the virus continues to mutate.

During their meeting, Marcos also emphasized the necessity of finding a balance between the economy and people’s safety during the meeting, citing the effectiveness of the government’s

COVID-19 vaccine campaign. He also called for a renewed focus on general public health concerns as cases of other diseases increase.

Marcos earlier said the country will stop treating the COVID-19 pandemic “as an emergency” but will not lift the state of calamity just yet. (OPS, Mindanao Examiner)

THE U.S. government is investing an additional Php 228 million ($3.8 million) to provide free skillsbased and work-based training to unemployed and out-of-school Filipino youth through YouthWorks PH.

The YouthWorks PH, a private sector-driven employability partnership between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Philippine Business for Education (PBEd), said the additional funding extends its program for another three years, to be completed in 2026.

U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Heather Variava commended the commitment and creativity of government and private sector partners in spearheading initiatives to further enhance technical-vocational skills training in the Philippines.

“The U.S. government

is proud to invest in the Filipino youth. Together with PBEd, we are providing training opportunities that will lead them to employment so they can provide for themselves and contribute positively to society,” said Variava.

“Investing in our youth is investing in our country’s success.

Through YouthWorks PH, the youth—especially those who are not in education, employment or training—are empowered with the right skills needed for their employment. With the help of our partners, we are able to provide work-based training, enhance their employability and help them get back on track,” said PBEd Chairman Ramon Del Rosario Jr.

To date, the partnership between USAID and PBEd has provided more than 13,000 work-based training positions with its

industry partners, leading to the placement of close to 4,000 youth who are not in education, employment, or training.

Initially implemented in five main areas - Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, General Santos, Greater Manila Area, and Zamboanga - the program has also expanded its geographic reach to five additional sites, Agusan del Sur, Bohol, Northern Cebu, Sarangani, and South Cotabato.

During the event, USAID and PBEd also welcomed industry giants as new YouthWorks PH project partners: McDonald’s Philippines, Amazon Web Services, Banco de Oro Unibank Inc., Proudcloud, and Launchgarage. The partnership will contribute nearly P54 million ($915,000) worth of support to the training needs of at least 5,600 youth around the country. (Mindanao Examiner)

McDonald’s Philippines President and CEO Kenneth Yang, U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Heather Variava, PBEd Executive Director Love Basillote, McDonald’s Vice President for the Human Capital Group, Franchising, and Restaurant Support Group Rebecca Roselada, and USAID Mission Director Ryan Washburn attend the YouthWorks PH Skills Partnerships Summit.

U.S., Philippines tackle cybersecurity threats

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International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) recently gathered Filipino and American security and justice sector representatives to exchange best practices and share knowledge on addressing cybersecurity issues such as investigating the criminal use of cryptocurrencies and responding to computer and network intrusion.

“We all have a clear interest in strengthening norms that mitigate cyber threats and enhance stability in cyberspace,” INL Director Kelia Cummins said.

Eight officials from the National Bureau of Investigation, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency—all graduates of the INL-supported International Law Enforcement Academy in Bangkok—participated in the roundtable and committed to closer interagency collaboration to enhance the capacity of law enforcement per-

sonnel amid the increasingly advanced tools and technology used by cyber criminals.

Officials from the Department of Justice and the National Police Commission also attended the roundtable for the Philippine side, while representatives from the U.S. Department of Justice-Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service were present as observers and advisory subject matter experts.

The roundtable participants agreed to reconvene in six months to assess progress on each agency’s cyber-related goals and to support open lines of communication across agencies. The Philippines’ Department of Justice also shared its plans to further develop its information-sharing network to facilitate interagency cooperation.

National Cybersecurity Awareness Month in the United States is a collabo-

rative effort between government and industry to raise awareness about digital security, highlight the importance of cybersecurity in national security, and empower individuals with the tools they need to stay safe online domestically and internationally.

It is also an occasion to call on stakeholders to take action in protecting individuals and enterprises against cyber threats and working with global partners to hold cybercriminals accountable.

Globally, INL promotes proactive action against cybercriminals through international law enforcement cooperation and bilateral, regional, and global capacity-building, technical assistance, and training to adapt to the transnational and constantly changing landscape of cybercrime.

INL also supports the development of legal and institutional frameworks and relationships that enable diplomatic and law enforcement collaboration across borders. (Mindanao Examiner)

More coffee farmers coops eyed in Sulu

It’s Full Steam Ahead For The 27th Asian Television Awards In Manila And Singapore

‘The Asian Television Awards received more than 1,000 entries across 53 categories.’

Continued from page 1Continued from page 1 following two years of mounting the show virtually.

On December 1, the Asian Television Awards will announce the winners of its Entertainment and Performance categories during the ATA Live Show at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City, Philippines.

Televised live to 500 million homes across the Asia Pacific through its broadcast network, the star-studded event is hosted by Mandopop singer and actor Wallace Ang, TV presenters Hani Fadzil and Chua Qin Kai, actors Piolo Pascual, Enchong Dee and Kantapong Bumrungrak, and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray.

Dazzling the ATA stage with their performances are Filipino singers Christian Bautista and Erik Santos, Vietnamese singer Wren Evans, Malaysian musician and actress Wani Kayrie, Indonesian singer Novia Bachmid, and Filipino musical group VXON.

na singer LU.ME, and the world’s first CryptoPunks NFT band, Manifest.

The official list of shortlisted nominees has been announced and can be viewed at the Asian Television Awards' official website.

Apart from the ATA Live Show and ATA Gala Dinner, the award-giving body is also mounting the Asian Television Awards Producer’s Conference to be held on December 8 at Resorts World Sentosa from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The ATA Producer’s Conference is made up of case studies and sharing sessions by leading and award-winning content makers. Confirmed speakers to the industry event with the theme Creating Compelling Content include Ochre Pictures’ Managing Director, Pedro Tan and Zense Entertainment’s Founder and CEO, Varavuth Jentanakul. More speakers will be announced shortly.

brands are in development and shall be announced shortly.

Asian Television Awards Director Raymond Wong said: “Shining the spotlight on Asian talent has been at the heart of what we do. And with the resumption of face-to-face activities, we are more than excited to welcome you all to the 27th Asian Television Awards in Manila and Singapore. Together with our judges and industry partners, the Asian Television Awards stays true to its commitment to recognising the best-in-class of Asian talents and content.”

The Asian Television Awards is co-produced by Filipino non-governmental organisation Stone of Hope Defense Foundation Inc and supported by the Philippine Infocomm and Technology Department as well as the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

Continued from page 1Continued from page 1 farmers to form or join cooperatives and strengthen the industry by maintaining the high quality of their products.

Tan, who met recently with members of the Federation of Sulu Coffee Producers Cooperative (FSCPC), said he would help them mechanize the farming process to speed up production from planting to harvesting to distribution, especially now that the province is exporting Arabica and Robusta coffee beans to Japan.

“We want to strengthen the local coffee indus-

try by improving quality, increase productivity and to train more farmers,” he said.

FSCPC Chairman Muddazer Hailanie and Secretary Abdurajik Dansalan said 10 other coffee farmers’ cooperatives have expanded their plantation to 68 hectares and that 12 more cooperatives are joining the federation.

Hailanie, citing latest coffee test results, said Sulu’s Arabica and Robusta cherries - also popularly known as “Kahawa Sug”now ranked 4th in the entire country. “We submitted our coffee for quality assurance evaluation in

Davao and based on the test result, our Sulu coffee is ranked 4th in the entire country, and regarded as high quality. The coffee test included taste, color, aroma and other characteristics of coffee,” he said.

He also said that Japan has placed an order of two metric tons of Arabica and Robusta coffee.

Tan commended the FSCPC for its efforts and commitment to strengthen the coffee industry and even provided an unspecified amount and other farm materials, including a tractor to the cooperative. (Mindanao Examiner)

The awards will continue on December 8 at Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore, where winners of the Technical and Programming categories will be announced during the ATA Gala Dinner. Returning as hosts are Wallace Ang, Enchong Dee, Chua Qin Kai, and Catriona Gray; with performances from Wani Kayrie, Wren Evans, Filipi-

Finally, in keeping up with today’s ever-evolving media landscape, ATA has moved to build its Web3.0 community, GlitzyTribe. Launched on the Ethereum blockchain, GlitzyTribe minted its first set of NFTs on October 18, and holders can get the chance to attend entertainment events such as the ATA red carpet, VIP access, and more. Exclusive collaborations with fashion and consumer

ATA’s broadcast partners include Mediacorp’s MeWatch, Media Prima’s TONTON, Bangkok TV Channel 7HD, IEG’s Citra Entertainment, Channel 0 and Vidio.com, The Indonesia Channel, Yes TV, Television Maldives, JSBC, Formosa TV, and social media platforms Facebook and Twitter.

Visit the official website of the Asian Television Awards. (Mindanao Examiner)

A provincial government photo shows Sulu Governor Sakur Tan reading a report by the Federation of Sulu Coffee Producers Cooperative. Sulu's Arabica and Robusta, popularly known as "Kahawa Sug" is now being exported to Japan.

Xi Jinping secures historic third term as China's leader

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Secretary of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the committee's first plenary session.

The session, presided over by General Secretary Xi, was attended by 203 members of the 20th CPC Central Committee and 168 alternate members.

The members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee elected at the session are Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi. They met the press at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The 69-yer old Xi vows to lead the country to pursue national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization.

"We shall keep in mind the Party's nature and purpose and our own mission and responsibility, and work diligently in the performance of our duty, to prove worthy of the great trust of the Party and our people," Xi said as he led his colleagues to meet the press, fresh from a Party plenum that elected him general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

In 2012, after assuming the Party's top job, Xi said that he and his colleagues would lead the CPC in striving for national rejuvenation, pursuing a better life for the people, and addressing problems within the Party.

In the past decade, China under his leadership has witnessed historic changes, with its economy more than doubling to 114 trillion yuan (16 trillion U.S. dollars), absolute poverty wiped out and moderate prosperity attained for the country's 1.4 billion people.

It was also a decade of severe challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic, a trade war with the United States and the downward pressure on the economy all posed hurdles for China's development and tested the strength of Xi and the Party he leads.

Bringing about milestone transformations and ushering in a "new era" for socialism with Chinese characteristics, Xi is regarded as the helmsman capable of leading the country in overcoming difficulties and pursuing full modernization.

Stephen Perry, chairman of Britain's 48 Group Club, said everything he has seen in President Xi tells him that Xi's motivation is the people of China, which is very important for China's development at its current stage.

Robert Kuhn, an American scholar who authored the book "How China's Leaders Think," said Xi has an objective and comprehensive understanding of China's current situation, as well as detailed and rational thinking of its future.

Son of Loess PlateauSon Loess

Xi was born in June 1953 into a revolutionary family. His father, Xi Zhongxun, was a revered CPC leader. Describing his father as "someone who had devoted himself wholeheartedly to the Chinese people," Xi Jinping said he was greatly inspired by the elder Xi and had pledged to follow in his footsteps.

At 15, as an "educated youth," Xi left Beijing for a village called Liangjiahe in an arid part of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, carrying with him a small sewing bag embroidered with Chinese characters "mom's heart" by his mother Qi Xin.

Xi would later spend seven years in the countryside, working and living alongside farmers. He called himself a farmer when he recalled his Liangjiahe years. He was separated from his family, slept in cave dwellings, suffered from flea bites, and worked as hard as fellow villagers to tend crops, herd sheep, carry manure and haul coal.

He joined the CPC there and later became the village Party chief -- the beginning of his political career. Xi recalled his earnest wish then was "to

make it possible for the villagers to have meat and have it often." He led them to dig wells, build dams, terrace hills and set up the province's first methane-generating pit.

This experience means a lot to Xi and he often talks about it, even after becoming the top leader. During a state visit to Costa Rica in 2013, he visited the home of a farming family and talked about his experience in the countryside.

"It is extremely rare for a president to speak so passionately and with such pride about being a farmer. Some people may downplay that aspect, but he does not; he emphasizes it," said Alberto Zamora, whose family owns the coffee plantation Xi visited.

Xi said he gained his understanding of the meaning of the word "people" through his experience in Liangjiahe, and it strengthened his determination to "serve the people" -- a principle he has adhered to over the decades.

In the late 1970s, after graduating from Tsinghua University, Xi served as a secretary to the minister of defense. In 1982, he volunteered to work at the grassroots level and moved to Zhengding, a poor county in north China's Hebei Province. Peng Liyuan, his wife, later said that many of Xi's classmates went abroad and he could have just done the same. But Xi stayed and chose a much harder path -- to be a servant to the people.

In his three years in Zhengding, where Xi served as deputy Party chief and then Party chief, Xi rode bicycles to all the communes and production teams of the county to inspect work. Sometimes, he arrived when villagers were tilling the fields. He would join them and do the farm work.

Then he spent over 17 years in Fujian Province and nearly five years in Zhejiang Province. He served multiple roles in the two coastal provinces including vice mayor, prefecture Party chief, municipal Party chief, provincial governor, and provincial Party chief. In 2007, he worked in Shanghai as its Party chief before ascending to the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

Xi kept a close bond with the people wherever he worked, even after he was promoted to work at the apex of the Party. Xi has made it a tradition to visit the homes of the people ahead of every Spring Festival. Xi's early-year experience of hunger and toiling on the farms may help explain why he would check the kitchen, bathroom and cellar in ordinary people's homes. He also kept the habit of exchanging correspondence with the people. Those who received Xi's letters include farmers, entrepreneurs, pupils, grassland art troupe members, and soldiers guarding the borders.

In 2013, Xi initiated a "targeted poverty alleviation" drive and made plans for its implementation. Altogether, over 255,000 work teams and more than 3 million cadres were sent to the countryside to help villagers shake off poverty household by household. About 100 million people were lifted out of extreme poverty in the past decade.

Being with the people through thick and

thin has strengthened his conviction: to strive for happiness for the people and rejuvenation for the nation. In the past decade, Xi initiated five Party-wide education campaigns to remind CPC members of their original aspiration and the Party's founding mission.

Xi is very familiar with the plight of the nation after the Opium Wars brought by Western colonialists in the 19th century. In 2018, he visited the ruins of a cannon fort on Liugong Island in east China's Shandong Province. More than a century ago, the island bore witness to the crushing defeat of China's first modern navy in the First Sino-Japanese War. Xi paused for thought at the ruins, and inside the museum for the war he read out a patriotic poem deploring the foreign invasion at the time.

As the first CPC chief born after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Xi shared pride in a string of achievements that manifested "the Chinese people have stood up": the victory in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, the establishment of a relatively complete industrial system, and the manufacture of nuclear bombs and satellites. He commended the achievements. "Only socialism could save China; only socialism could develop China," he said.

After the reform and opening up was launched, Xi had great passion and devoted himself to the cause. From relatively poor inland regions to the country's affluent eastern coast, Xi took the lead in boosting foreign trade and investment, as well as the common development of both public and private businesses. As the Party's top leader, Xi convened a high-profile meeting of private businesses. He said private businesses and entrepreneurs are "our own people." He also said China's private sector can only be strengthened, not weakened.

Xi is regarded by his comrades, both at local and central levels, as being good at long-term planning.

In 2020, his strategic planning was manifested in mapping out the country's 14th Five-Year Plan and long-term objectives through 2035. To make a good plan, Xi chaired meetings to listen to the views and opinions of experts, business people, scientists and grassroots cadres. He instructed carrying out online suggestion collection. Chinese internet users gave over 1 million comments.

In the past decade, Chinese people's wealth grew steadily. In 2021, the per capita disposable income of the Chinese reached 35,128 yuan, growing nearly 80 percent from 2012. The urban-rural income ratio was narrowed to 2.5:1.

In Xi's words, all he did is essentially for the betterment of the people. He once penned a memoir in which he wrote, "We must love the people like we love our parents, work for their well-being and enable them to lead a better life." After becoming the general secretary, he said, "the people's aspiration for a better life is what we are striving for."

Meeting the press on Sunday after the first plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, Xi said the people will "always have our back and give us confidence," and the Party will always ride out the storm with the people and stay heart-to-heart with them.

The Party and the government enjoy good ratings. A Harvard University survey found that Chinese citizens' satisfaction with the government has increased across the board, with the central authorities receiving the highest level of approval at 93 percent. An Edelman poll also found that trust among Chinese citizens in their government reached 91 percent in 2021, the highest around the globe. (Xinhua, Mindanao Examiner)

DOT to launch ‘Philippine Experience’

A NEW project that would highlight the country’s heritage and culture to increase travel among Filipinos and foreign visitors is set to be launched soon, said Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco.

Frasco said the program called the “Philippine Experience” would involve the development of caravans featuring culture, heritage, and arts unique to each region. She said it would draw inspiration from Suroy-Suroy Sugbo, a Cebuano initiative that sought to promote Cebu towns and cities' products and give tourists a chance to discover underrated destinations.

“Our goal is to equalize opportunities across the regions and support the preservation of the country's cultural heritage and artistic resources,” Frasco said. “Through these experiential travel modules, we hope to introduce the very essence of our nation more deeply to our tourists and instill a sense of pride and patriotism among the Filipino people through greater appreciation of our country's inheritance and legacy.”

The Philippine Experience is part of the list of programs that the Department of Tourism (DOT) is implementing in the coming months to help the sector recover from the effects of the pandemic and position the Philippines as a primary tourism destina-

tion in Asia.

Prioritizing MindanaoPrioritizing Mindanao Frasco said the DOT would also strengthen promotions and prioritize the opening of Mindanao tourism to equally distribute its benefits. “We've already started by groundbreaking in Mindanao the tourist areas in Bukidnon, specifically in Manolo Fortich, also in Samal Island in Davao del Norte,” she said. “In keeping with our commitment to equalize tourism product development and promotion, we shall put spotlight on destinations and regions that were not previously promoted.”

She said the DOT is coordinating with the Department of National Defense and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to fully ensure the security of travelers coming to the southern area and is also working with local governments to include “barangay tanods” as additional peace auxiliary forces to secure a destination.

These initiatives are in line with the direction

President Bongbong Marcos to reintroduce the country's beauty to the world and make tourism a major pillar of economic recovery for the Philippines.

“As we move forward, we at the DOT remain steadfast in reaching our objectives to concretize the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in making tourism a major pillar of economic recovery for the Philippines. We are just at the beginning of our journey and I assure you that the best days of the tourism industry are yet to come,” Frasco said as she encouraged tourism stakeholders to help the government as DOT continues to develop tourism products and improve the overall tourist experience.

She also announced the revival of the Philippine Tourism Awards to recognize tourism-related establishments that have innovatively and creatively projected Philippine culture and the Filipino brand. (Mindanao Examiner)

Xi Jinping talks with family members of Shi Basan, a villager at Shibadong Village in Huayuan County in the Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, central China's Hunan Province, Nov. 3, 2013. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

Xi Jinping talks with a local family during a visit with his wife Peng Liyuan in Costa Rica, June 3, 2013. (Photo by Zhang Duo/Xinhua)

Zambo mayor wants P96 million confidential funds

ZAMBOANGA CITY –

Mayor John Dalipe is asking the City Council to approve the P96 million confidential funds for 2023 which is almost 500% higher than the previous Climaco administration’s P22 million.

Councilor Litlit Macrohon has questioned the staggering amount of confidential funds the new mayor is requesting during a recent session, saying it is even higher than other local government offices. He cited the budget of the City Agriculture Office which is only P84 million.

The hearing was attended by Dalipe’s Executive Assistant Atty. Rochelle Tamin who said that the P96 million confidential funds was proposed by the City Peace and Order Council.

Macrohon wanted to know how the funds would be used. “What is the plan? Do you have a financial plan for this? What is the breakdown (of these confidential funds) and how would this be used?” the council man asked Tamin.

Tamin said she cannot publicly discuss how

the funds would be used.

“Your Honor, by name of the fund is confidential so it is not something I can divulge during the session, if you would like your honor we can schedule a session with the Peace and Order Council because they are the ones who proposed this amount,” she said. “It’s not something we can divulge in public your honor because it’s confidential and the usage of the fund is subject to COA (Commission on Audit) rules at the discretion of the city mayor.”

But Tamin initially said the huge funds would also be used to purchase (intelligence) information, to pay for safe houses and vehicles, among others.

According to COA, confidential funds shall be used only for the following: Purchase of information necessary for the formulation and implementation of program, activities and projects relevant to the national security and peace and order; rental of transport vehicle related to confidential activities; rentals and the inciden-

tal expenses related to the maintenance of safe houses; purchase or rental of supplies, materials and equipment for confidential operations that cannot be done through regular procedures without compromising the information gathering activity concerned.

The funds are not used for payment of salaries and wages, overtime, additional compensation, allowance or other fringe benefits of officials and employees, representation / entertainment expenses, consultancy fees and construction or acquisition of buildings or housing structures. That the purchase of equipment (if there is any) is relevant to the confidential or intelligence activities; and the expenditures are necessary and utilized for legal purposes.

In case of misuse of confidential funds, depending on the participation in the transaction, the Budget Officer, Chief Accountant, the Treasurer and Project Officer may likewise be held accountable. (Mindanao Examiner)

Organic Kopi Luwak or Civet coffee isn’t really pricey

boanga 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 backyard reseller of coffee beans, now offers organic Kopi Luwak in 250 grams ground Civet coffee and 250 grams Civet coffee beans – all medium roasted to perfection.

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 connoisseur thinks.

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 lover 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 Zam-

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 want 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)

Marcos

waste imports,

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At the recently concluded General Assembly of the EcoWaste Coalition, the groups passed a resolution urging President Bongbong Marcos to ratify the Basel Convention Ban Amendment, an international law prohibiting hazardous waste exports from developed to developing countries. To date 101 parties have ratified the said amendment, which entered into force on December 5, 2019.

To plug loopholes in current regulations that permit the importation of recyclable materials containing hazardous substances, the groups further asked the president to declare a national ban on all waste imports.

“These twin policy measures - ratifying the Basel Convention Ban Amendment and declaring a comprehensive ban on waste imports - are essential to provide our country with a strong legal protection against dumping and ensure that the right of every Filipino to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment is upheld,” said Aileen Lucero, National Coordinator, EcoWaste Coalition. “It’s our turn to shut our doors to illegal and 'legal' waste imports and send an unequivocal message to waste brokers and traffickers that we are dumping grounds no more,” she added.

Marian Ledesma, Zero Waste Campaigner, Greenpeace Philippines, said the Marcos administration must make the ratification of the Basel Convention

Ban Amendment a priority, as it is a crucial step in protecting Filipinos’ right to a healthy environment.

“Beyond safeguarding the Philippines from hazardous waste and all the associated risks created by waste trade, it safeguards our nation from exploitation by wealthier states who must be stopped from externalizing the costs of their waste generation to lower-income countries and be made accountable for their own waste,” she said.

Environmental activists are not the only ones bucking the entry of waste from overseas. Among their most passionate allies is John Simon, an official of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), who is responsible for the decisive re-export in 2019-2020 of some 7,408 metric tons of contaminated plastic garbage shipments from South Korea.

For this huge accomplishment, Simon received in 2021 the Environmental Justice Award from the EcoWaste Coalition and the Asia Environmental Enforcement Award from the World Customs Organization and the United Nations Environment Programme.

“Our bitter experience with the contaminated and illegal waste imports from South Korea, Hong Kong, Australia, and Canada, which are still fresh in our people’s minds, tells us that strong policies are needed to end the entry of hazardous waste and other wastes into our territory.”

“To protect the national interest from the adverse effects of foreign waste dumping, let’s ratify the Basel Convention Ban Amendment and stop waste imports now,” said Simon, former BOC-10 District Collector who is now stationed at the Port of Clark (Clark International Airport).

Aside from ratifying the Basel Convention Ban Amendment and imposing a national ban on waste imports, the EcoWaste Coalition and its member groups are also urging the authorities to stop plastic pollution at source, ban single-use plastics, list non-environmentally acceptable products and packaging for phase out, and declare government’s commitment to a zero waste and non-toxic circular economy. (Mindanao Examiner)

The Virtue of Joy

by Engr. Carlos Cornejo (Cebu)

Many people confuse joy with happiness. But joy is deeper and can remain in us in spite of bad times. This is what Dwight Moody has to say about joy and happiness - “Happiness is caused by things that happen around me, and circumstances will mar it; but joy flows right on through trouble; joy flows on through the dark; joy flows in the night as well as in the day; joy flows all through persecution and opposition. It is an unceasing fountain bubbling up in the heart; a secret spring the world can’t see and doesn’t know anything about. The Lord gives his people perpetual joy when they walk in obedience to Him.”

Happiness is more of pleasure which is on the level of pleasing the senses (sense of touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound). Joy is deeper. It is a state of the soul. Depression likewise is a state of the soul which oftentimes many would think is a bodily illness but more often than not it’s a sickness of the soul. As Dwight Moody would say, joy is something that God gives to those who are obedient to him. Possessing joy is aligned to the words of Christ when he said, “If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.” (John 15:10) When we keep God’s commandments or obeying His will, we remain in God’s love and as a consequence of that love, God gives us His joy. The joy of a faithful Christian is rooted in yielding his or her whole self to God, yielding the will and actions to the true good, true principles and true virtue and the lastly the yielding of the mind to truth and beauty which is the joy of contemplating God in prayer.

Religion is not hard to understand. It is hard to do. Religion is a relationship with God and to enter into that relationship we need to be obedient to Him and His commandments. It is that simple. But many of us choose the

opposite: sin - which goes against God’s commandments and makes us miserable. Why do many people choose sin when it clearly leads to misery?

Because sin promises fun and some sense of independence. If sin did not bring fun, we would easily be saints, Dr. Peter Kreeft says. It is the Garden of Eden all over again. Eve lacked faith in God and trusted more the devil when being told you will not die but be like God knowing good and evil (sin of pride). Scripture says, “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom (wrong wisdom), she took some and ate it.” (Genesis 3:6) Eve paid more attention to the bait (pleasure) and not to the hook (the cause of misery).

To be able to distinguish the bait from the hook it takes wisdom. And wisdom is knowing God’s word. We have to study God’s doctrine and teachings. St. Teresa of Avila said, “All the evil in the world is derived from not knowing clearly the truths of Sacred Scripture.”

But many would frown at this because they think religion is boring and predictable. Things of the spirit seem to be boring but when you experience it you will be pleasantly surprised. Things of the flesh seem to promise excitement but when you indulge in it you will be short changed. Pleasures of the flesh always do not live up to one’s expectation. But the joy in the Lord is stable and sturdy because it is built on rock. “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.” (Matthew 7:24-25)

OPINION

Avoid the so-called “good life”

by Fr. Roy Cimagala (Cebu)

THIS indication can easily be attributed to Christ himself who once said: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.” (Lk 13,24)

These words came as a response to his disciples’ question whether only a few would be saved. The disciples must have felt overwhelmed when Christ described how the Kingdom of God is like and what would be needed to enter it. (cfr. Lk 13,18-21)

Christ was trying to be realistic about our human condition here on earth, marked as it is by our penchant for the so-called “good life,” where we like to drown ourselves in all sorts of material comfort and luxuries. Such life is definitely a matter of self-indulgence, the antithesis of love which we are supposed to live since we are the image and likeness of God whose very essence is love as shown, lived and shared with us by Christ.

This Christ-given indication is not about cultivating a dark, gloomy life here on earth, since true Christian life is always a happy and joyful life, marked by faith, hope and charity in all the situations of our life, whether good or bad humanly speaking. It is about being realistic about our human condition and about how to orient it to its proper end.

Yes, there is a great need for us to declare an unrelenting war against our self-indulgence which has become a very formidable problem we all have. This has always been a problem to us, but these days it is much more so.

With the many new wonderful things that can instantly give us convenience, comfort, pleasure and satisfaction, many of us are trapped into the very sticky web of obsessions, addictions and the many other forms of

self-indulgence that feed on our weaknesses, like lust, pride, conceit, gluttony, unhinged curiosities, envy, etc., etc.

We just have to give a cursory look around to see how bad this problem is. Many people are just looking at their cellphones most of the time. There are reports saying that many young people often forget their meals and lose sleep because of what they do on the Internet. It’s clear they are terribly hooked there and it seems it’s now next to the impossible to get them out of there.

As a result, many duties and responsibilities are left unattended. Disorder and chaos are fast gaining ground as priorities are skewed. Superficiality has now become a mainstream lifestyle, reinforcing the trend toward consumerism, materialism and what Pope Francis refers to as the “throw-away culture” where ethical and moral considerations are ignored or even flouted, i.e., regarded with contempt. In short, God is thrown out of their lives.

Yes, many people are now living in their own world, detached from the realities of life. Their spiritual and social life, their relation with God and with others are now all but non-existent. At best, they give only appearances of these unavoidable aspects of life, enough to meet at least certain external expectations.

We have to react to this unfolding and disturbing reality with drastic measures. We have to do this with coordinated efforts, involving as many of us as possible. Let us recover our true bearing that in the end is rooted on the spiritual and supernatural, on our intimate relation with God that should translate into our increasingly intimate relation with everybody else.

Detained mother reunites with daughter after 30 years

Continued from page 1Continued from page 1 had last seen each other over 30 years ago.

Continuing to look at the younger woman with some disbelief, Anne recalled that her daughter had a birthmark somewhere around the nape of her neck. As she spotted it on Jennifer, they were both overcome with emotions and embraced tightly.

Jennifer was only six years old when Anne was offered a job as a saleslady in Malaysia. Like many Filipinos in search of a better life, she accepted it. “I did not tell my mother that I wanted to work abroad because she would have refused to let me go. So, I just left without a trace. I was sure I would come back and my family would understand me because I did it for them,” said Anne.

But the job in Malaysia turned out to be a scam. Anne was tricked into becoming an entertainer with a measly salary. When she was released from that job, Anne became a domestic help and then toiled as a construction worker.

After her contract ended, Anne returned to the Philippines in 2006. However, she did not go back to her family because she was afraid to see her mother. “I thought she would reproach me for what I had done. I convinced myself to pretend as if I were dead to my family,” she said, adding that she chose to settle in another village in Mindanao and started a farm. Detained in the PhilipDetained in the Philippines

In 2017, Anne was arrested in relation to armed conflict. The ICRC visited her at Taguig City Jail a few months after her arrest as

part of its humanitarian mandate and activities in the Philippines.

“We have been helping detainees all over the world for more than 150 years, focusing on people deprived of their liberty in relation to armed conflicts and other violence. We look into how detainees are treated during their arrest and detention and monitor their health and living conditions. We also help to restore and maintain communication between detainees and their family members,” explained Alvin Loyola, the ICRC staff who accompanied Jennifer to meet Anne.

Anne learned about the ICRC’s Family Visit Programme (FVP), under the Restoring Family Links (RFL) initiative, to help detainees separated from their loved ones because of armed conflicts.

The RFL initiative involves tracing detainees’ family members, re-establishing and maintaining contact, reuniting families and seeking to clarify the fate and whereabouts of those who remain missing. Through the FVP, families of detainees can travel from their hometowns to visit their detained loved ones.

“It is very important because it allows de-

tainees to re-establish or maintain contact with their families and improves their psychological well-being,” said Mariegen Balo, ICRC staff.

Anne also desired to meet her daughter when she found out her whereabouts through relatives. But the programme was suspended in 2020 because of the COVID-19 global pandemic. When the travel restrictions were eased in 2022 and family visits resumed, the ICRC scheduled Anne’s long-awaited reunion with her daughter.

Together at lastat last

In July, an ICRC team accompanied Jennifer to visit her mother, who is now detained at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City. Anne said she did not know how she would approach her daughter, whom she had last seen three decades ago. “I wondered, should I ask for forgiveness first, or do I just hug her?”

But Jennifer, who had managed to beat the odds and graduate from college with her grandmother’s help, said her mother did not need to worry at all. Even though they had not been in contact for 30 years, Jennifer said she did not harbor any resentment against her mother.

In fact, every year on January 30 – Anne’s birthday – Jennifer would put a post on social media in her honor. “The only photo I had of my mother was destroyed in a flood so I used photos of my siblings and me for the posts. I used to pray hard for the day that I would see her again,” said Jennifer.

The mother and daughter’s reunion happened just a few days after Jennifer’s 36th birthday, so the ICRC team asked Anne about her wish for Jennifer. “I wish her more happiness in life and that she may be given more opportunities,” said Anne.

As part of the FVP, Anne’s family will make two ICRC-supported visits every year to meet her. Now that she has been reunited with Jennifer, Anne said she looks forward to making up for lost time. (ICRC, Mindanao Examiner)

One of Jennifer's Facebook posts dedicated to Anne.

Anne reunites with her daughter Jennifer at the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City. (Photo credit: CIW)

Pictures in the News

Photos from the Office of the Sulu Provincial Governor, Jaques Tutong, Maimbung Municipal Government,

Photos from the Office of the Sulu Provincial Governor, Jaques Tutong, Municipal Government, Rep. Shernee Tambut, Radyo Pilipinas Jolo, Noenyrie Asiri, and Aziz SalapuddinRep. Shernee Tambut, Jolo, Asiri, and Aziz

‘One Health Pass’ scrapped, eArrival Card launched

the use of Electronic Arrival Card (eArrival Card) scan-and-go system in the country’s airportssystem in the airports.

The Bureau of Quarantine will require all inbound travelers to have an e-Arrival Card within 72 hours prior to their departure from their country of origin.

Arriving travelers should register for an e-Arrival Card prior to their departure via onehealthpass.com.ph or by scanning the QR code indicated in the poster released by the Department of Health (DOH).

The DOH issued the advisory as the Bureau of Quarantine transitions from the One Health Pass (OHP) to the eArrival Card to streamline arrival requirements for

travelers.

The adoption of the eArrival Card will make entry to the Philippines more convenient for travelers as it removes unnecessary information fields present in the previous OHP system.

Just recently, AirAsia Philippines and Cebu Pacific (CEB) also joined calls to scrap the OHP, saying some alternatives may be considered, citing the improved health situation in the country.

“As we head towards a strong air travel rebound, our passengers deserve a more convenient, reliable and hassle-free customer journey without sacrific-

ing the safety net in our day-to-day operations," AirAsia spokesperson Steve Dailisan told the Philippine News Agency.

Dailisan said AirAsia supports initiatives that will enable seamless travel among its guests, such as a unified electronic arrival card system that is customer friendly and accessible for arriving passengers.

Senator Nancy Binay also called on the lifting of the OHP, saying this has become impractical and inconvenient for many travelers.

Passengers bound for the Philippines are required to register to

Negros imposes vet certification for Cebu-bound hogs

the OHP, which Binay said had been a hassle to many returning Filipinos and overseas workers because this only adds to the screening procedures even if they are already quarantine-cleared and fully vaccinated with boosters.

She said even overseas Filipino workers have been complaining that the process of verifying the OHP has led to long lines in the country's airports.

This was also observed by Carmina Rome-

ro of CEB. “Usually, there is a line of passengers who are unaware of the OHP, in check-in counters in our international destinations. I am sure they were sent an email about (OHP registration), but some passengers don't read notifications,” she said.

Romero noted that OHP registration is also not easy for many, especially for foreign travelers.

“It is not easy for them to tick the boxes about specific details of their destination in the Philippines, such as which National

Capital Region district, which barangay. A foreign national usually has a hard time answering that,” she said.

She said without the OHP, a foreigner could instead be made to fill out an arrival card before landing. A returning Filipino, on the other hand, needs to prove that he or she is fully vaccinated or boosted against Covid-19. “Maybe we should start considering these too,” Romero said.

(Maria Cristina Arayata, Cebu Examiner)

OTS begins audit of airports to boost security

DUMAGUETE CITY – The Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) reminded suppliers and traders of live hogs in two Negros provinces that they now have to secure a certification from the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) before transporting these animals to nearby Cebu.

BAI quarantine officer Alfonso Tundag said this is in compliance with the executive order issued recently by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia requiring the certificate for live hogs, boar semen, and pork products from Negros Oriental and

Negros Occidental.

“Some vehicles transporting live hogs to Cebu during the weekend were reportedly denied entry and thus had to return to Negros Oriental in the absence of the certificate of shipment,” Tundag said.

Some suppliers and traders here were not informed immediately of the executive order that was signed. The certificate will be required until December 12 this year.

Garcia’s order was meant to prevent the entry and spread of the African swine fever (ASF), with suspected

cases reported in Iloilo and Panay, which have already been banned from shipping live hogs and pork-related products to Cebu.

Negros Oriental still remains free from the ASF as authorities here await an order from Gov. Roel Degamo to also enforce similar restrictions covering Iloilo and Panay. A previous ban is already in place for areas with reported cases of the viral disease that affects pigs, Tundag said.

Other provinces in the Central Visayas region also remain ASF-free. (Mary Judaline Partlow)

CEBU - The Office for Transportation Security (OTS) is set to begin an audit of airports across the country to ensure their consistent adherence to both international and national security standards.

According to the OTS, the National Aviation Security (AVSEC) auditors will perform compliance monitoring activities (CMA) which will be done in coordination and cooperation with airport authorities and operators.

“The CMA includes the conduct of audits, inspections, and covert security systems test, which aims to verify the actual implementation of their

respective airport security programs,” it said.

The airports included in the audit are the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), Clark International Airport, Mactan-Cebu International Airport, Surigao Airport, Jolo Airport, Siargao Airport, Sanga-Sanga Airport, Camiguin Airport, Laoag International Airport, Tacloban Airport, Puerto Princesa International Airport, General Santos Airport, Roxas Airport and Calbayog Airport.

To increase compliance of airport stakeholders, the OTS has sought cooperation from airport authorities such as the Civil Aviation Authority of the

Philippines, Manila International Airport Authority, Luzon International Premiere Airport Development, Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority and the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Group.

In September, the OTS announced its plans to upgrade the security screening management plan at the NAIA to improve services and for the convenience of passengers. The major changes in the security screening layout were meant to be more efficient and effective in ensuring the security of passengers and their baggage. (Raymond Carl Dela Cruz)

ensure ease of travel incoming travelers and at the same time pro

- To ensure ease of travel travelers and at the same time protect the public from the deadly Covid 19, the national government has nowtect the from the Covid-19, the national government has now implemented the use of Electronic Arrival Card (eArrival Card) scan and

( Photo by Al Jacinto )