Picked from the wild, in the highlands of North Cotabato and Bukidnon. Available in 250g packs - roasted whole beans or fine ground. Cup to Go (16 oz.) also available and comes with 2 packets of brown sugar, one plastic stirrer, one drip bag and 12g of Civet coffee powder. Wholesaler, Retailer, Reseller are welcome.
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Zambo has highest number of recovered Covid patients T
HE DEPARTMENT of Health said Zamboanga City has the highest number of Covid-19 patients who recovered from the deadly respiratory disease, and also the second lowest number of active Covid-19 cases in Western Mindanao. In its August 23 active cases with Isabela tive cases. The province of bulletin, the DOH said City recording the lowest Zamboanga del Sur Zamboanga City has 129 infection with only 8 acContinue on page 2
Delta variant does not scare health protocols violators WITH HUNDREDS of residents apprehended daily by authorities for violating the health pro-
tocols, Mayor Beng Climaco reminded locals not to be complacent as the deadly Covid-19 contin-
ues to pose grave risk to everyone, especially now that the country is battling Continue on page 2
Long way to go in vax program Climaco urges residents to register for national ID A woman gets a Covid-19 vaccine shot as part of the local government’s mass vaccination program. (Eugene Elnar) ZAMBOANGA CITY has so far vaccinated at least 12 percent of its population of almost one million people. The City Health
Office under Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite has announced that over 90,000 residents had been vaccinated against the deadly Covid-19 respiratory dis-
Cop arrested for alleged extortion A LOCAL police investigator was arrested by undercover cops after he allegedly extorted money from the families of people he had arrested on various crimes. The 37-year old Corporal Alexis Castillo Garcia was arrested on August 21 in an entrap-
ment set by the police in downtown Zamboanga, according to Major Shellamie Chang, a regional police spokeswoman. She said various police units, including the Integrity Monitoring and Enforcement Group, were involved in the capture of Continue on page 2
Zamboanga Peninsula
ease and is targeting at least 700,000 people to be able to reach herd immunity. Miravite said the government’s mass vaccination program will only be successful if the herd immunity is achieved and for residents to strictly follow the health protocols and quarantine guidelines even if they are fully inoculated. Although reaching the herd immunity is still too far a stretch to accomplish due to the lack of Covid-19 vaccines, Miravite said the local government is doing its best to attain its vaccination target and protect the public health. (Mario O. Feliciano Jr.)
Basilan
An unidentified man registers with the Philippine Statistics Authority center at SM Mindpro Mall for his national identification card. MAYOR BENG Climaco urged residents to register online to get their national identification card or the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys), the government’s unified,
centralized form of identification for Filipino citizens and foreigners residing in the country. Climaco said the online registration, which is free, can be accessed by
Sulu
residents through this link: https://register. philsys.gov.ph or at the website of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Continue on page 3
Tawi-tawi
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The Zamboanga Post
Aug 30-Sept 5, 2021
Zambo has highest number of recovered Covid patients Continued from page 1 has the highest number of active Covid-19 cases at 1,149 and Zamboanga Sibugay with 407;
and Zamboanga del Norte with only 301. The whole region has 1,194 active Covid-19 cases. But Zamboanga City
Cop arrested for alleged extortion Continued from page 1 Garcia, who is assigned at Police Station 11. “(The) said PNCO has numerous complaints (against him) for allegedly extorting money to (sic) the families of various suspects whom (sic) cases he handled to guarantee that the suspects’ case will be dismissed or the suspects will not be transferred to City Jail,” Chang said. She said undercover cops recovered from Garcia some P1,000 in marked money used in the sting operation, a bundle of boodle money in a white envelope, a cellular phone, one Glock 17 pistol and two magazines, 22 pieces of ammunition, his police identification card, his driver’s license and his gun license.
It was unclear whether Garcia had freed other felons in the past or how long he had been doing this. “Arrested person and confiscated items were immediately brought to CIDG RFU9 Office for documentation and proper disposition in preparation for filing of legal charges in court for Robbery Extortion, Violation of RA 3019, Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act and Violation of RA 6713, Code of Conduct and Ethical Standard for Public Official and Employees,” Chang said. CIDG RFU 9 refers to the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group Regional Field Office 9. Garcia did not give a statement over his arrest. (Zamboanga Post)
has the highest number of recovered Covid-19 patients at 11,631 and followed by Zamboanga del Sur with 5,495; Zamboanga del Norte with 4,746 and Isabela City with 754 or a total of 24, 354. Covid-19 deaths in Zamboanga City has reached 582, the highest in the region; and followed by Zamboanga del Sur with 217; Zamboanga del Norte with 194; Zamboanga Sibugay with 74 deaths and Isabela City with 21. Total Covid-19 deaths in the whole region are now 1,088. Most of the Covid deaths in Zamboanga City were patients who had comorbidity or those with simultaneous presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions. The overall number in the DOH regional case bulletin may change in the coming days or weeks as local governments continue to battle the spread of Covid-19 in the communities. The lack of vaccines also hampers the efforts of the local governments in fighting the virus de-
spite the huge amount of loans by the Duterte administration for the purchase of medicines. Most of the vaccines the country received came from the World Health Organization and donations by other countries. In July, some 11,800 doses of Covid-19 vaccines purchased by Zamboanga City Mayor Beng Climaco from the British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca had arrived and bolstered the local government’s mass vaccination program.
Climaco signed a $2 million (or roughly P100 million) deal with AstraZeneca early this year. The initial P200 million for the purchase of the vaccines are included in the P4.38-billion 2021 Executive Budget of the local government, according to Climaco, who is also a member of the Committee on Vaccine Availment of the League of Cities of the Philippines. She said the local government’s vaccination program will cover almost 700,000 residents or 70% of the projected 2021 pop-
ulation of 992,423 inhabitants. More than 100,000 residents had been inoculated with Covid-19 vaccines the past months based on the Department of Health’s (DOH) prioritization - A1 (Medical frontliners), A2 (Senior citizens) and A3 (People with comorbidity) and the A4 (Frontliner personnel in essential sector). Zamboanga is one of the first cities that entered into a multilateral agreement for the purchase of vaccines through the League of Cities. (Zamboanga Post)
Delta variant does not scare health protocols violators Continued from page 1 the Delta variant, the most contagious among all variants to date. Climaco said the active Covid-19 cases are now over 100 from more than 2,800 in the past months as the local government continues to impose stricter measures to combat the spread of the virus in the community. “The fight against the Covid-19 is not of the government alone. This is a personal battle between staying safe from getting infected with the virus. It is up to each and every one of us to ensure the safety of everybody, the safety of our family members and that is why it is important to follow the strict health protocols by always wearing our face mask and face shield and observe physical distancing at public places,” the mayor told The Zamboanga Post in a phone interview. She said the emergence
of the Delta variant is scaring health experts around the world because it is more virulent than all known Covid-19 variants at this time. “It has become the dominant variant in many countries, including the neighboring Indonesia and Malaysia and we don’t want it to spread here and that’s why we are doubling our efforts to vaccinate the people to prevent serious illness that needs hospitalization,” Climaco said. “As we are thankful that we are now under GCQ, we really need to maintain our Covid protocols to continue lowering the cases. We need to exert more effort,” she said, referring to personal health responsibilities of each resident to help fight or control the spread of the virus. “Our death toll and the daily positive cases are not a sign for us to relax. It is a sign for us to continue to cooper-
ate, to strengthen our safety measures, self-regulate and self-discipline. All our frontliners have dedicated and poured out their efforts to keep you safe. It’s about time that we cooperate,” Climaco further said. Security forces manning Covid-19 checkpoints and barangay leaders and tanods continue to apprehend health protocol violators by the hundreds every day. Many of those apprehended were not wearing face masks or face shields while in public places and people who attended mass gatherings which are prohibited by the local government. Border guards also intercepted or stopped dozens of travellers trying to enter Zamboanga City without health requirements such as RT-PCR test and S-PASS which are required under Climaco’s executive order. (Zamboanga Post)
Events workers given cash aid
Events industry workers receive cash assistance from Mayor Beng Climaco. (Bong Serondo) THE LOCAL government continues aiding those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic as part of the Social Amelioration Program, according to Mayor Beng Climaco. Thousands of people are expected to benefit largely from the program
to help them in this time of crisis. Just recently, Climaco distributed cash assistance to workers in the Event industry. Over 1,500 workers are to benefit from the cash aid. The mayor led the pay-out to workers held at
KCC Mall de Zamboanga. She was assisted by Rep. Jawo Jimenez and Councilors Pinpin Pareja, Kim Elago, Jihann Edding and El King Omaga, among others. Those who received cash assistance thanked Climaco for helping them. Thousands of workers from various industries from canning to fishery sector and even cobblers and trike drivers have received assistance from the local government. The mayor, supported by the members of the City Council, has vowed to help those hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, especially the poor and senior citizens. (Zamboanga Post)
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The Zamboanga Post
Aug 30-Sept 5, 2021
Climaco urges residents to register for national ID
Mayor Beng Climaco registers with the Philippine Statistics Authority center at SM Mindpro Mall for her national identification card.
Fire victims get aid
Continued from page 1 She added that the PSA also set up a registration center in SM Mindpro in partnership with the local government and the mall owner to make it easier for residents to avail of the national identification card. But prior appointments are needed for this. Aside from the SM City, the PSA put up a registration center at its Zamboanga Office along San Jose Road in Barangay Baliwasan. Other registration centers are at the Arena Blanco Day Care Center, Labuan Multi-purpose Hall, and Lumbangan Barangay Hall.
The mayor said PSA is also planning to open more registration centers to cope with the volume of registrants. The PSA also warned the public not to entertain fixers after it received reports that unscrupulous individuals and groups are offering and collecting fees via different social media platforms to book online appointments for Philippine Identification System. It said the registration is free of charge and provided the following steps on how to get the national identification card from online appointment (Step
1 Registration), personal appearance for biometrics capture (Step 2 Registration), and delivery of the Philippine Identification Card (Step 3 Registration). Only PSA-PhilSys employees are allowed to handle official transactions on the PhilSys registration. The public is encouraged to be vigilant against these scams and report via PhilSys hotline number 1388 any individual or group offering and collecting fees for online registration, according to National Statistician and Civil Registrar General Dennis Mapa. (Zamboanga Post)
250 people vaccinated
Mass vaccination held at the Zamboanga Chong Hua High School. (Christine Lim)
A woman wipes her tears as Mayor Beng Climaco tries to console her. She was one of over 200 people who were displaced by a recent fire at Southcom Village in Barangay Upper Calarian. (Bong Serondo) OVER 200 fire victims in Southcom Village in Baramgay Upper Calarian received food packs, hygiene kits and blankets and mats, among other items, from the local government headed by Mayor Beng Climaco. Climaco together with Socorro Rojas, chief of the
City Health Office and other social workers, were assisted by barangay officials and Rep. Jawo Jimenez and Councilors Pinpin Pareja and El King Omaga in the distribution of aid at the Southcom Elementary School which was used as temporary evacuation center.
The fire broke out at a neighborhood in Camella Drive and razed at least 95 houses. The Bureau of Fire said it is investigating the cause of the blaze. The fire victims thanked Climaco and the local government, including barangay officials for helping them. (Zamboanga Post)
THE LUCIO C. Tan Group of Companies has partnered with the City Government for the vaccination of its employees against Covid-19 in Zamboanga. The industrial conglomerate - through its subsidiaries - operates in the liquor, tobacco, aviation, banking, real estate sectors. It has purchased its own vaccine - AstraZeneca - to inoculate some 150 employees at the Zamboanga Chong Hua High School.
The mass vaccination was also witnessed by Richard Hart Paragas, a representative of the Lucio C. Tan Group of Companies. Paragas coordinated with the City Health Office for the mass vacci-
nation. Some 100 residents, who registered on zambocovax.com, were also inoculated with Sinovac provided by the Department of Health. (Zamboanga Post)
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The Zamboanga Post
Aug 30-Sept 5, 2021
Zamboanga Pictures in the News Local government of Zamboanga City at work. This is where your taxes go.
Aug 30-Sept 5, 2021
The Zamboanga Post
5
Zamboanga Pictures in the News Photos by : Christine Lim, Bong Serondo, Coun Omaga, and ZCPO.
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The Zamboanga Post
Aug 30-Sept 5, 2021
Across : 1. Liquid measure 5. Gave lunch to 8. Nordic capital 12. Dubuque’s locale 13. Pub beverage 14. Hollow stalk 15. Mimic 16. Ragged 18. Shelflike rock 20. Nervous 21. ___ Einstein 23. Pen point 26. Frightened 29. Shoestring 30. Most sensible 31. Wore away 33. Isn’t, incorrectly 34. Futile 35. Expert 36. Christmas glitter 38. Riducule 40. Actress ___ Blair 44. Appetizers 47. Hurt 48. Model ___ Moss 49. Feel regret 50. Not shut 51. Suggestion 52. Pekoe, e.g. 53. Tennis’s ___ Sampras
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High Blood: Natural Na Solusyon
HEALTH
Ni Dr. Willie T. Ong
K
apag ang blood pressure niyo ay palaging lampas sa 140 over 90, ang ibig sabihin ay may high blood ka na. Ang pinakamainam na blood pressure ay mga 120 over 80. May mga natural na paraan para bumaba ang iyong presyon: 1. Magbawas ng timbang. Kapag kayo ay lampas sa timbang, mas tataas ang iyong blood pressure. Kung maibababa niyo ang iyong timbang ng 10 pounds, ay bababa din ang iyong blood pressure ng 10 points. 2. Magbawas sa pagkain ng maaalat. Umiwas o magbawas sa paggamit ng asin, toyo, patis at bagoong. Bawasan din ang pagkain ng noodles, daing, tuyo at sitsirya. 3. Kumain ng gulay, prutas at low-fat na gatas. Ang saging ay may potassium at napakaganda sa puso. 4. Umiwas sa karneng baboy at baka. Umiwas din sa maman-
tikang pagkain tulad ng mantikilya at cake. Kumain na lang ng matatabang isda tulad ng sardinas, tilapia at bangus. 5. Bawasan o itigil ang pag-inom ng soft drinks at matatamis na juices. Ayon sa bagong pagsusuri, ang sobrang tamis ay nagdudulot ng diabetes at sakit sa puso. 6. Bawasan ang pag-inom ng kape. Limitahan sa 2 tasa ng kape sa isang araw para hindi tumaas ang presyon. Piliin ang tsa-a tulad ng green tea. 7. Mag-ehersisyo ng 3 hanggang 5 beses bawat linggo. Gawin ito ng 30 minutos hanggang 1 oras. Piliin ang ehersisyo na angkop sa iyong edad. Pero siguraduhing normal ang iyong presyon bago mag-ehersisyo. 8. Matulog ng 7 hanggang 8 oras. 9. Magbawas ng trabaho. Ang sobrang daming gawain ay puwedeng magdulot ng high blood. 10. Ihinto ang paninigarilyo. Tataas ng 10 puntos ang iyong presyon
kapag ikaw ay naninigarilyo. Mas lalapot pa ang iyong dugo. 11. Bawasan o itigil ang pag-inom ng alak. Ang sobrang alak ay nakasisira din sa puso. 12. Huwag palaging magagalit. Posibleng tumaas ng 50 points ang iyong blood pressure kapag ika’y galit na galit. 13. Mag-relax at huminga lang ng malalim at mabagal para bumaba ang presyon. Makinig sa magagandang musika. 14. Labanan ang init na panahon. Ang mainit na klima ay may epekto din sa may high blood. Uminon ng sapat na tubig sa isang araw. Mahalagang paalala: Kapag lampas sa 160 over 100 ang iyong presyon o may sintomas na kayong nararamdaman, kailangan niyo nang uminom ng gamot sa high blood. Kumonsulta sa iyong doktor.
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OPINION
Pencing By Mario O. Feliciano Jr. Q.) HOW DO WE KNOW THAT GOD KNOWS US WELL UPON OUR BIRTH HERE ON THE EARTH? A.) DON’T WE EVER DOUBT THE LORD HAS SAID, “I KNEW YOU BEFORE I FORMED YOU IN YOUR MOTHER’S WOMB, BEFORE YOU WERE EVEN BORN.” (JEREMIAH 1:4-5) MAYOR BENG TO LEAVE CITY FINANCIALLY SOUND? Our lady Mayor Beng Climaco-Salazar is making sure there’s no stoppage on her administration’s last days in office. By next year of her 3rd and last term as our local chief executive, she vows to have a city in safe hands whosoever takes over after her reign in office. I think she’s doing this to show her unselfishness and her deep concern for our city’s future to come under a new administration, especially the welfare and wellbeing of La Bella Zamboanga and the people in general. She wants to make sure her successor whoever that be, won’t financially be in handicap, as she’s poised to leave behind a governance that’s not in the red. I don’t know, but that’s my impression. Next year’s proposed city budget amounts to P5.5 billion, the biggest ever city budget under her threeyear term administration. She’s now appealing to the Council to help her
realize this, by concurring-- nay any rough-sailing. Good luck to both our executive and legislative bodies of government, think first and foremost the people’s welfare and well-being, and the city’s future, as well. After all, that’s our mandate obliged upon us to aim for, as public-servants (voted and elected by them) to serve them back with all integrity, honesty, and competently do our duties and obligations for them alone without any self-vested interest on our part, as their public-servant leaders. Make sure to make it happen aimed for the greater good. Don’t play politics too much under all these circumstances that hit us all corners let alone this seemingly endless global Covid-19 curse that strikes a blow to mankind, as if there’s no more tomorrow coming to dawn upon us. That alone makes us all quiver, and chill to the bone. Put an end to it, though, the principle of check-and-balance remains embedded, as always, to check, as well, all the chicaneries going on in this type of system in governance of our country. That’s all I can say, with all modesty, sans any pretense to mislead or deceive my own compueblanos en Mi Ciudad de Zamboanga. (jayfeliciano2@yahoo.com)
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Aug 30-Sept 5, 2021
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Finish Z3R projects now: Beng
M
AYOR BENG Climaco reminded anew various government agencies and private contractors of her ultimatum to finish the construction of the Z3R housing units for some 720 families displaced by 2013 deadly attacks of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) members loyal to Nur Misuari. Climaco, who chairs the sues on power and water supply infamous MNLF siege. Different government agenLocal Inter-Agency Committee and the development projects (LIAC), issued an August 31 ul- at the Vicente Chiong property cies and private contractors pretimatum for the completion of in Barangay Santa Barbara and viously committed to speed up all Z3R projects. Z3R stands for Maulana Omar property in Ba- works on the Z3R projects after Climaco’s ultimatum. Climaco Zamboanga City Roadmap to rangay Rio Hondo. The discussion also covered has repeatedly reminded LIAC Recovery and Reconstruction. The mayor, in a recent updates on the construction of members to expedite completion virtual meeting with represen- the sewerage treatment plant at of the projects and to ensure the tatives of the National Housing Barangays Kasanyangan and Rio remaining victims of the siege Authority and the Housing and Hondo, including the demolition who are in temporary shelters be Land Management Division, of illegal structures and clearing given permanent housing units. “As mayor and chairperson said the victims of the siege at Valle Vista Z3R housing project have suffered long enough from and all areas reserved for govern- of LIAC, I have given the agencies concerned a deadline until Authe pain left behind by the at- ment infrastructure projects. Some of the projects are gust 2021 to finish the constructack. She wanted all projects completed to benefit those dis- expected to be inaugurated on tion of the housing units and placed in the siege. September 9 which coincides award them to the target benefiThe meeting discussed is- with the commemoration of the ciaries - the internally displaced
Sunday Reflection by Mayor Beng Climaco
“AS FOR me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” Today’s Readings and Gospel reiterates the Call of Discipleship in following Jesus. The Second Reading speaks of marital commitment and the love of husband and wife. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” The Gospel highlights the Call in Following Jesus. Many abandoned Jesus because they found His teachings too difficult. “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.” Jesus then said to the Twelve: “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You
have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” PERSEVERANCE - this is the word I got from Fr. Bill Abbott, S.J., In all instances as husband and wife, as a family, as a community, we need to persevere because LIFE is never easy. We find a higher value and meaning in life- JESUS! Earlier on, the Camino Nuevo CLC had our prayer meeting. I could admire members who have persevered and became resilient from the difficulties life brought them. Last week was a very difficult week, I woke up at 3 a.m. just to monitor the border and Covid cases. Eventually death struck one victim. Prayers were offered for the deceased. I got tired, stressed frustrated at actions of people I expected would help but they chose the “EASY” way out. Do I give-up? Yes in a way I had to resign from BIG task choosing to FOCUS on a Greater Calling - ZAMBOANGA CITY. My body in pain, sleepless and restless nights. Do I give up? I chose JESUS WHO IS OUR STRENGTH. Life is difficult...but, we have JESUS who carried us to Calvary to Victory. This gives meaning in my life to persevere and carry my cross. All these challenges are part of life. We persevere because God’s love sustains us...and makes our burden light! Stay our course, numa perde esperanza. El Dios mas poderos na pandemia y problema! Our God is GREAT! (MBC)
Zamboanga Peninsula
Basilan
Mayor Beng Climaco inspects the on-going Z3R projects.(Bong Serondo) people,” she said, adding, “we want our IDPs to know that we have not forgotten them even as we are currently coping with the Covid pandemic,” said Climaco. She said her directive was in line with Duterte’s instructions to all government agencies to have their projects, programs and activities completed before his term ends next year. Last year, Climaco directed LIAC members to ensure conti-
nuity of various projects and programs amid the Covid-19 pandemic to help alleviate the plight of families displaced by the siege. Supporters of Misuari attacked Zamboanga after declaring independence and their failed attempt to raise the Bangsamoro Republik flag at City Hall. Misuari publicly denied involvement in the siege of Zamboanga that displaced over 200,000 people and affected the economies
of Basilan and Sulu which are dependent on Zamboanga for their trades and goods. Climaco set September 9 as a “Special Day of Remembrance” in honor of all those who perished in the siege that lasted for 3 weeks. Eight years after the deadly attack, residents here are still crying for justice which remains elusive for the innocent victims of the siege. (Zamboanga Post)
Financial aid for Covid-19 survivors
HUNDREDS OF Covid-19 survivors have received financial aid from the City Government as Mayor Beng Climaco vowed to help those hardest hit by the health crisis. Climaco said the financial assistance is part of the Local Social Amelioration Program where Covid-19 survivors who experienced mild to moderate symptoms received P3,000 and P5,000 for those who had severe symptoms. The continued distribution of financial aid is being facilitated by the City Social Welfare and Development Office and the City Treasurer’s Office. Zamboanga Rep. Jawo Jimenez and Councilors Pinpin Pareja, Cesar Jimenez and El King Omaga helped in the
Sulu
Mayor Beng Climaco leads in the distribution of financial assistance to hundreds of Covid-19 survivors. (Bong Serondo) distribution of financial assistance to Covid-19 survivors from different barangays. The mayor cited the need for local government funds to be returned to the people to help them improve their plight amid the pandemic. She assured that all those who were hardest hit by the health crisis will be given as-
sistance. “El fondo del Govierno, of the Local Government should go back to help us,” she said, adding, “this is in line with our thrust on helping the most who suffered the brunt of the Covid-19 pandemic. Ayuda, comida y busca la vida este tiempo de pandemia.” (Zamboanga Post)
Tawi-tawi