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The Muslim National Newspaper

Vol. I, No. 09 | August 14-20, 2020 (Dhu’l-Hijjah 24, 1441-Muharram 1, 1442)

The Fuga Island Group and Our National Security

Duterte, Enrile, China and Philippines

Favoring the debtor

Juan Ponce Enrile | Page A6

Homobono A. Adaza | Page A6

Mehol K. Sadain | Page A5

Symptoms of abnormality of the respiratory system Benj Bangahan | Page A7

The Philippines, Land of Covid-19? By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Managing Editor

“No! That’s inappropriate, insensitive, and unhelpful.”

he Philippines cries foul over that contention headlined by a Thai newspaper, referring to the Philippines as ‘Land of Covid-19.’ (Full story on Page A2)

COMMENTARY

COVID-19 In the Philippines: What Is Going On?

Hatamans reveal being positive of COVID-19 virus By ALI G. MACABALANG

By YUSUF ASHRAF "Joey" TUGUNG

n any type of disasters, be it man-made or natural, invariably we unite as a warm-hearted nation and rally behind the disaster-response of the government. In Philippine context, the innate “Bayanihan” spirit of the Filipino people normally rises to the occasion. This is no different with the current response to the coronavirus disease pandemic that we are showing. At the height of the SARS-CoV-2 breakout, we made huge sacrifices to help the government defeat the virus by following the lockdown and stay-at-home orders of the IATF-EID. (Full story on Page A4)

asilan Congressman Mujiv Hataman and his wife, Isabela City Mayor Djalia Turabin, have disclosed being positive of the COVID-19 virus, assuring though the public that they were physically well. The admission has brought to four the number of members of the House of Representatives to catch the virus so far. Mayor Turabin-Hataman, also a former member of the House representing the Amin Party-list, disclosed first their medical case in a video footage she posted in her Facebook page on August 1, saying they underwent swab tests on July 29 and showed them positive the following day. HATAMANS | A3

POSITIVE. A photo culled from the video footage of Isabela City Mayor Djalia Turabin-Hataman on August 1, during which she and her husband Mujiv confirmed being afflicted with the COVID-19 virus.

News

Vol. I, No. 09 | August 14-20, 2020 (Dhu’l-Hijjah 24, 1441-Muharram 1, 1442)

The Philippines, Land of Covid-19? NCMF cites CDO legislature for adopting antidiscrimination ordinance

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Managing Editor

he Philippine Embassy in Bangkok has scored on a Thai newspaper for referring to the Philippines as ‘Land of COVID-19.’ The embassy sent a letter, signed by Consul General Val Simon T. Roque, addressed to Thai Rath Editor in Chief Saravut Vacharapol. Roque has expressed “deep dissatisfaction” over a story carried on August 9 by Thai Rath on returning Filipino teachers and branding the Philippines as the “Land of COVID-19.” . "The Philippines Embassy wishes to express its deep dissatisfaction over the characterization in the headline of the Philippines in relation to the return of the teachers," Roque said in the letter. "The characterization is inappropriate, insensitive, and unhelpful at a time when all of us, brothers and sisters in the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN), are closely cooperating with the new and unforeseen challenges brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)," ConGen Roque stressed. He said the Philippine embassy also assured the staff members and readers of the Thai newspaper that the teachers and other Filipinos returning to Thailand "are following and will strictly follow all the health protocols and quarantine conditions promulgated by the Royal Thai government." "We at the Philippine Embassy can also attest to the diligence and professionalism of Thai civil servants at the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Royal Thai Embassy in Manila, the airports, and the Ministry of Public Health in ensuring that the foregoing protocols and quarantine requirements are stringently followed so that the Kingdom can continue to manage the COVID situation very well," said Roque. Roque voiced hope that the statement issued by the embassy be relayed to the public through the Thai newspaper for the information of the general public, "so that we can all promote unity and harmony to effectively deal with the COVID-19 pandemic during this difficult time." It can be recalled that the headline of Thai newspaper was published after the Philippines overtook Indonesia as the country with the highest number of COVID119 cases in Southeast Asia.

As this developed, Richard Barrow, a British expat living in Thailand for the past two decades, also said on his Twitter account, "Why do they need to insinuate that they come from the "land of COVID-19?" As of Monday, the Philippines recorded a total of 136,638 positive cases of COVID-19 and with a death toll of 2,293 due to this dreaded Coronavirus. Meanwhile in Indonesia, according to the Jakarta Post, the Health Ministry of Indonesia that the total number of Coronavirus infections as of Tuesday, August 11, 2020 has a total of 128,776 which is the official figures as of this writing. On the other hand, as of August 12, 2020, the Philippines has recorded a total of 139,538 cases with a total death toll of 2,312. In fact human rights advocates have warned against the rise of racial discrimina-

tion or known as xenophobia against people of countries like the Philippines with rising cases of COVID-19. Again in Thailand on Wednesday on August 12, 2020, their local media reported that it was free from local coronavirus infections for the last 30 days. According to Taweesilp Visanuyothin, the spokesman for the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration, the Buddhist-majority nation has not reported any local COVID -19 infections for the last one month, daily Bangkok Post reported. One new imported case was reported on Wednesday after a returnee from the Philippines tested positive for the virus. “It shows the importance of Thai people-power, which has kept the country free of the disease for one month,” Visanuyothin said. JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

By ALI G. MACABALANG

EQUALITY ORDINANCE. Some representatives of youth and NGO groups posing after the passage of the “Cagayan de Oro Diversity and Equality Ordnance” they had advocated among the city legislature.(Supplied)

he National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) lauded Wednesday the legislative council (Sangguniang Panglungsod) of Cagayan de Oro City for adopting on same day an ordinance prohibiting discriminatory acts in the city and its residents. NCMF Secretary Saidamen Pangarungan through agency spokesperson Jun Alonto-Datu Ramos particularly cited City Councilor Ferlie Balaba for sponsoring and pushing the passage of the “Cagayan de Oro Diversity and Equality Ordnance.” The ordinance bans discrimination in religion, sexual orientation, and gender, and prescribed for a creation of a body that will implement the local edict in letter and spirit, it was learned. One of the enabling hearings for the passage of the ordinance was attended by Jamaloden Muti of the NCMF. Datu Ramos said NCMF-Northern Mindanao Regional Director Abdulnasser Masorong, Jr. rallied various NGOs, youth organizations, and other government agencies for the approval of the ordinance. “The NCMF thanks Councilor Balaba, with the CDO City Council and the Technical Working Group, for their strong political will in ensuring that all constituents will be treated fairly, and the other organizations specifically the CHR, Balaod Mindanaw, PWD organization, Tingog CDO, Oro Youth Development Council, Equal Access International, and Interfaith Council for all the support,” Datu Ramos said in an online post. Meanwhile, some social media practitioners acknowledged the intensified coordinative efforts of the NCMF with both private and public sectors in advancing the welfare of Muslim Filipinos. They earlier praised the current NCMF leadership for its successes in forming consultative councils in various cities with known Muslim residents, as well as the estanlishment of public cemeteries for Muslims in Luzon and in Manila. Last month, Mayor Moreno and Sec. Pangarungan led the groundbreaking rite for the opening of a Muslim cemetery and a mosque in San Andres District of Manila, entailing some P43 -million budget from the city government. Despite absence of calamity funds, the NCMF has succeeded in forging links with private and public sectors for the distribution of relief goods among village people across the country affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Lately, the NCMF field workforces joined hands with volunteers from the provincial government of Lanao del Sur and the Bangsamoro autonomous regional government for the dispersal of relief goods and conduct of mental health for a in some parts of Mindanao, it was learned. ALI G. MACABALANG

Philippine Muslim Today Email: muslimtoday2020@gmail.com https://philmuslimtoday.wordpress.com Phone: 09152184388 (Administration) 09778430218 (Editorial)

News

Vol. I, No. 09 | August 14-20, 2020 (Dhu’l-Hijjah 24, 1441-Muharram 1,

Decent houses, livelihoods await Balik Probinsya families

decent and sturdy home, comparable to units in commercial housing subdivisions, and a sustainable livelihood program await families who will return home to Mindanao from crowded urban centers under the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program (BPBPP), according to the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA).

DECENT HOME. One of the newly completed housing units for Balik Probinsya Program beneficiaries in Lanao del Norte. (Supplied) Organic Village" in Kauswagan will have 200 housing units of 50 Quadroplex to be funded by the National Housing Authority. The returning families will be assisted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, trained by TESDA in livelihood activities and supported by the Department of Agriculture In the Kauswagan Model Village, the 200 families will raise Organic Broiler Chicken and grow Organic Vegetables, both of which already have a pre-identified buyer under the Complete Value Chain Policy promoted by MinDA.

The Kauswagan and Kalawit Model Villages of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag -asa Program are two of the first four pilot projects to be implemented this year. Two other pilot areas are in Camarines Sur in Bicol and in Leyte. Funds for the completion of the 200 housing units in Kauswagan are expected to be downloaded by the NHA to the Local Government Unit of Kauswagan this year. The Kauswagan Bagong Pagasa Organic Village is expected to be completed before the end of the year, Piñol said. (AGM)

Mayor Majul seeks return of Marawi from MGCQ to MECQ

ARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur — The city administration of the Islamic City of Marawi has asked the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging infectious Diseases to bring back the status of quarantine of the city from Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ) to Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (EMCQ) citing the spike of Covid-19 cases in a span of one week. In a letter on Saturday to Health Secretary Francisco Tiongson Duque III, IATF chair, which is channeled through Lanao del Sur Governor Maminal A. Adiong Jr., Mayor Majul Gandamra explained the Islamic city has recorded new Covid-19 cases caused by local transmission in a span of one week. “Thus the threat of the spreading of the disease within the locality is very real,” said the mayor. Gandamra said although the city is very strict in implementing the minimum health standards, the movement of the city residents under the MGCQ is relaxed as compared to other categories, making the city vulnerable for the spread of the virus considering the cases of local transmission.

PH 1st integrated steel mill worth US$ 4.9B to Rise in Mindanao By ALI G. MACABALANG

By ALI G. MACABALANG

A model house for the BPBPP in Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte was showcased on Aug. 6 when MinDA Chair Manny Piñol and and TESDA Director General Isidro Lapeña visited the pilot village in Barangay Tacub of the municipality. Lanao del Norte Governor Imelda Q. Dimaporo and Kauswagan Mayor Rommel Arnado led the unveiling ceremony for public viewing. The model house was constructed without government funds in a 6.3-hectare property donated by a private company supporting the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program pushed by Sen. Christopher Lawrence Go and endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte. The "Bagong Pag-asa Organic Village" in Kauswagan is one of the two pilot resettlement areas identified by MinDA for the BPBP Program in Mindanao. The other site is in Kalawit, Zamboanga del Norte in an area with 200-hectares available for the beneficiaryfamilies. MinDA is the coordinating and implementing agency for the Balik Probinsya Program in Mindanao. The "Bagong Pag-asa

he country's first integrated steel mill will soon rise in Misamis Oriental, according to the Philippine Veterans Investment Development Corporation (PHIVIDEC). PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority Administrator Atty. Franklin Quijano said his agency has teamed up with China’s Franklin Quijano (File) Huili Fund, the CISDI Group Co. and Philippine-owned Simple Homes Development, Inc. in conceiving the project. Quijano said the steel mill will be built at the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate in Misamis Oriental for lease with option-topurchase awarded to Simple Homes Development, Inc., a subsidiary of A Brown Co. Inc. (ABCI), a publicly-listed company with major investments in real estate, power generation, agriculture and mining. The Marawi City-born Quijano gave some details of the project when interviewed for the second time Wednesday over the “Sulong Mindanao” segment of Manila-based dwIZ anchored by Lolly Acosta and co-hosted by this scribe. He said the venture is pursuing President Rodrigo Duterte’s vision for the country’s steel production that can be globally competitive. "The integrated steel mill is a tremendous contribution to the Build-Build-Build program of the national government, as we cannot build a country without steel", Quijano said, echoing the sentiment of the President from the early years of his presidency. "The world is shrinking, but we are expanding with the introduction of the integrated steel mill", Quijano added. The integrated steel mill makes a significant contribution to employment generation and economic growth not only in Northern Mindanao but also nationwide, he said. He said the project is expected to generate around 10,000 to 30,000 jobs while regular operations command 3,000 employees. “It will also be an added opportunity for our kababayans under the Balik-Probinsya program,” he said. The integrated steel mill project is earmarked with around US$ 4.9 billion for construction inside a 400-hectare land area, he said. It will produce an approximate 5 million tons per annum of flat products such as steel plates, and long products such as billets, round bars, and wires. The project shall commence upon signing of the agreements in the early part of July, Quijano said. ALI G. MACABALANG

HATAMANS | from Page A1

Hatamans reveal being positive

Marawi City Mayor Majul U. Gandamra. (File) He cited also the recommendation of the city health office of the Islamic City of Marawi to return the city to EMCQ from MGCQ after cases of Covid-19 has surged in a short span of time. In his memorandum on Thursday, August 6, for Mayor Gandamra through Vice Mayor Anouar Romuros, City Incident Commander, Dr. Ali G. Dalidig, city health chief, said due to the “increasing number of cases of Covid-19 in a span of one week, with no known history of travel, we are recommending for the return of Modified General Community Quarantine to Enhanced Community Quarantine.” RSOY

The husband, a former regional governor of Muslim Mindanao region and currently a House Deputy Speaker, linked up lately with the media to confirm their case. “We are waiting for the test results of our children and companions in our house in Basilan. We are currently under quarantine... We have implemented stricter health protocols to ensure that we will not spread the infection,” Hataman was quoted as saying in recent published reports. In separate posts on Facebook, the couple said they

had themselves tested on July 30 after they developed fever and what they thought was ordinary cough. Djalia said it has yet to be determined if the city hall will be placed on lockdown. Rep. Hataman is the fourth congressman to catch COVID-19 after Reps. Henry Villarica of Bulacan, Samier Tan of Sulu and Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur. At least 28 House of Representatives employees, two from the office of Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, were also infected. ALI G. MACABALANG

Opinion

Vol. I, No. 09 | August 14-20, 2020 (Dhu’l-Hijjah 24, 1441-Muharram 1, 1442)

PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY INTERIM BOARD OF EDITORS: DEAN MASIDING NOOR YAHYA Interim Chairman and Publisher AMBASSADOR MACABANGKIT LANTO COMMISSIONER NASSER A. MAROHOMSALIC JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL, J.D. BENJ BANGAHAN, M.D. ABDUL HANNAN TAGO, PHD. JOHNNY R. LEE, PHD ALI G. MACABALANG INTERIM STAFF: MASIDING NOOR YAHYA Acting Editor-In-Chief JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Acting Managing Editor & Metro Manila News Bureau Chief ALI G. MACABALANG Acting News Editor & Chief of Correspondents KIM BAGUNDANG Acting Bangsamoro Region Bureau Chief ROCAYA SUMNDAD OTICAL Acting Lanao Provinces Bureau Chief MARK EDRIEL “TWISTER” ORTIL Cartoonist FATIMA ORTIL-JANNARAL Acting Advertising Sales Director SAID AHMAD BASHER Religious Affairs Adviser FILEMON G. ROMERO In Charge of Environment and Conservation JOHNNY R. LEE In Charge of Tourism & Photography

COMMENTARY

COVID-19 In the Philippines: What Is Going On?

COLUMNISTS: HOMOBONO A. ADAZA BENJ BANGAHAN JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL MACABANGKIT B. LANTO ALI G. MACABALANG MEHOL K. SADAIN ABDUL HANNAN M. TAGO DISCLAIMER: Opinion of the writers expressed herein is not necessarily the opinion of Philippine Muslim Today. TEMPORARY BUSINESS OFFICES: Lot1, Blk1, Vizcarra Compound, Molino 3, Bacoor City 4102 Cavite Province Phone: 09152184388| 09778430218 Email: muslimtoday2020@gmail.com Http://www.philmuslimtoday.wordpress.com

Front page of PHILIPPINE MUSLIM TODAY previous issue.

By YUSUF ASHRAF "Joey" TUGUNG

n any type of disasters, be it man-made or natural, invariably we unite as a warmhearted nation and rally behind the disasterresponse of the government. In Philippine context, the innate “Bayanihan” spirit of the Filipino people normally rises to the occasion. This is no different with the current response to the coronavirus disease pandemic that we are showing. At the height of the SARS-CoV-2 breakout, we made huge sacrifices to help the government defeat the virus by following the lockdown and stay-at-home orders of the IATF-EID. And true to their Hippocratic and Nightingale oaths, our frontline healthcare workers risked their lives to tend to those who were infected by the COVID19. All the business establishments, whether large or small, sacrificed their profits for the greater good and interest of the country. However, five months into the pandemic, we noticed that the COVID-19 situation in the Philippines has gone unabated – it continues to persist. Meaning, the curve has not yet been flattened despite having the world’s longest and strictest lockdown and having five conundrums of quarantine level. In fact, recently some of the cities and provinces have returned to the second stringiest form of lockdown – MECQ. Under such circumstance, and by default, the critics of President Rodrigo Duterte have conveniently blamed the failure to his administration. On the other hand, to deflect the blame, the Duterte administration and its supporters, have instead blamed the people i.e., accusing them of being undisciplined, reckless, and irresponsible and with the opposition as the bogeyman. In either case, this is what we know – this is nothing but nakedly political. However, for those of us who stand in the middle of this dysfunctional state, we objectively look at the situation based on the data and the success of other countries that were able to tamed this invisible beast. Understand infectious diseases are datadriven and here are the facts. As of today, Philippines has 122,754 confirmed COVID-19 cases

with 2,168 deaths and both of these numbers are rising on a daily basis. Contrast this with the rest of the 10 Southeast Asian (ASEAN) nations, the Philippines has already surpassed Indonesia and we now rank number ONE (1). Ergo, Philippines has now the worst coronavirus outbreak in Southeast Asia. Moreover, if we are to compare the COVID-19 numbers of the Philippines with the world at large, we now ranked TWENTY (22) out of 213 countries and territories. There is no doubt that we have a President who is laser-focused on the COVID-19. His sincerity is so glaring in all of his meetings with the IATF-EID. To defeat the virus, through the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, Congress has provided the Duterte Administration with all the necessary authority and financial resources in order to mitigate, if not to contain the spread of the coronavirus. To cushion the social and economic effects on those who were affected by the lockdown, financial assistances were given in the form of Social Amelioration Program. Other than financial incentives, logistical resources were also given to all the frontline healthcare workers. The President has not only activated the IATF-EID (that gives him advices, recommendations and guidance in the formulation of a national strategy and policy) but he also created a coronavirus task force in order to implement the COVID-19 national strategy. The local government units have also been given the authority to implement the policy. The resources of the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines have also been marshalled in order to enforce the lockdown and quarantine, including humanitarian missions for the Locally Stranded Individuals (LSI). Former military generals were also tapped to enforce the different facets of the national strategy. TUGUNG | A7

Opinion | News

Ijtihad WITH MEHOL K. SADAIN

ot many people, even Muslims, know the fairness of Islamic Law when it comes to financial transactions. So I will go straight to the point, and quote direct from the fundamental source of Shari’ah, the Noble Qur’ān: “Those who devour usury will not stand except as stands one whom Satan by his touch has driven to madness. That is because they say, ‘Trade is like usury,’ but Allah hath permitted trade and forbidden usury… Allah will deprive usury of all blessing, but will give increase for deeds of charity, for He loveth not any ungrateful sinner… O ye who believe, reverence Allah and

give up what remains of your demand for usury, if ye are indeed believers. If ye do not, take notice of war from Allah and His Messenger; but if ye repent, ye shall have your capital sums, and you shall neither wrong nor be wronged.” [Surah Baqara, II:275-276, 278-279] The most hated financial transaction by Allah is that which is attended by usury or riba which in Arabic literally means “increase” or “gain”, and as used in law, an “unreasonable increase” or “unearned gain”. It is so hated by Allah that the above verse says, He and His Messenger have decreed war against it (harbi mminallaahi warasuulih). Islam

Batanes to Tawi-Tawi WITH JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

he Philippine Muslim Today is very lucky to have tapped known national personalities as Contributing Columnists on a pro bono basis as what our mainstay Columnists have done from Day 1 right from the launching of the Maiden Issue, Vol.1, No. 1, in June 1924, 2020 (Shawwal 27-Dhu'lQi-dah 4, 1441). In a nutshell, I am referring to additional Columnists like the former Misamis Oriental Governor Atty. Bono Adaza with his DILIMAN WAY with HOMOBONO ADAZA. He was also the former Commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID). True to his name Bono, he writes for the Philippine Muslim Today also pro bono. In fact he returned my call and gladly informed me of his acceptance to write for us. Another pro bono Columnist is former Secretary of National Defense and former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile who will have his JP Enrile Commentary appear here at Philippine Muslim Today on occasional

basis. On the 9th of August 2020, I tried to reach Manong Johnny that I usually call him. I relayed to him the invitation to write for the Philippine Muslim Today but he said he cannot write weekly when I told him our Digi-newspaper is published Online every Friday. Nevertheless, he gave me the green light, "Go ahead." (That is he can write but not on a weekly basis). He added: "Thank you, Julmunir. I would like to but I couldn't. (That is to write weekly) My vision is no longer very good. I get tired very easily. Besides, I want to leisurely use my time without being held to a schedule." JPE is already a Senior among Senior Citizens since his age is already in the 90s. Hence, for the first salvo of his JP Enrile Commentary, he is writing on "THE FUGA ISLAND GROUP AND OUR NATIONAL SECURITY." In a nutshell, as we are now on the 9th Digital Edition, Editor-in-Chief Dean Masiding Noor Yahya and myself as the Managing Editor would like to salute also and be thankful to

Vol. I, No. 09 | August 14-20, 2020 (Dhu’l-Hijjah 24, 1441-Muharram

Favoring the debtor forbids riba because it is iniquitous to the debtor and a scourge on the needy. The very nature of indebtedness stemming from the debtor’s lack of money militates against an inordinate increase in the repayment precisely because the debtor lacks financial capability in the first place. Institutionalizing riba, whether in the form of fluctuating interest or excessive gain, will eventually overburden the debtor, and destroy the collective economy. Instead of indeterminate interests, Shari’ah had devised an equitable way of gaining profit by financial instruments that partake of sale as well as partnership between the creditor and debtor. These shall be discussed in future columns. And if the debtor is unable to

pay, this prescription in the Qur’an resonates with mercy: “If the debtor is in difficult circumstances, let there be a respite until there is ease; but it is better for you to give it as charity, if you only knew.” [2:280]The verse is magnificent in its compassion for the debtor, and its propensity for charity. It is anathema to capitalists and a nightmare to bankers. But Allah assures one who engages in such liberality and charity that it is better than repayment, if only man knows what it really is. It is as Allah says in the Noble Qur’an: “And whatever good ye give, be assured Allah knoweth it.” [2:273] “Whatever good ye givebenefits your own soul when you giveseeking only the Face of Allah. What-

ever good ye give shall be rendered back to you in full, and ye shall not be wronged.” [2:272] When applied to the conversion of a loan into charity, the same does not only help the debtor, but spiritually benefits the creditor as well. This spiritual benefit to the giver is the straightforward meaning of “if you only knew” in verse 280. There are other deeper meanings, but it is lodged in the heart of the giver who seeks the “Face of Allah” as ArRahman and Ar-Raheem, just like the gratefulness of the receiver is seen in his eyes that mirror the “Face of Allah”. In this instance, favoring the debtor is actually favoring Allah, The Beneficent, The Compassionate. MEHOL K. SADAIN

Pro Bono in Diliman Way vs. Manong Johnny JP Enrile our known mainstay Columnists who tackle very important and varied issues under the Sun. That is if you want to know more about law and Islam then read the Ijtihad Column of former Secretary of National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) Atty. Mehol K. Sadain; update on the Muslims of Metro Manila then the column of former Ambassador Atty. Mac Lanto is a 'must read'. On the other hand, if you want to have additional health information then read the "My two-cents Rx" Column of Dr. Benj. Bangahan, who is a member of our Board of Editors, who used to be a medical practitioner and former member of the faculty of the College of Medicine of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) along Espana, Manila; Dr. Abdul Hannan M. Tago's column is another 'must read' that tackles Islamic point of view; and Ali G. Macabalang, a veteran journalist who used to write with the Philippine Daily Inquirer before transferring to Manila Bulletin, and now a blogger with his Suara Moro. But here at the Philippine Muslim Today he continues to punch with his long time hard-hitting Punchline column. We have also our Section Editors where also from Day

1 of the Maiden Issue until this 9th Digital Edition have tirelessly continue to write. Again, the Editor-in-Chief and myself as the Managing Editor salute also and express our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Filemon Guerzon Romero, Ph.D. for maintaining the Environment and Conservation Section; as well as Dr. Johnny Rabulan Lee, Ph.D., one of our Board of Editors who handles our Tourism and Photography Section. Another Muslim professional offering his Free Services to the Ummah is Revenue District Officer Amanoding D. Esmael, a Certified Public Accountant and an MPA graduate. He is also the President of Philippine Association of Islamic Accountants. At present he has Series of Questions and Answers on Islamic Finance like questions pertaining to Zakat which is an Islamic tax paid by qualifying Muslims to deserving recipients. Then finally the Philippine Muslim Today as a total DigiNewspaper includes also Halal Foods & Culture Section. This is handled by Maria Fhebie Ortil. Every issue of this Digital Edition, the Best of HomeCooked Halal Dishes is to be featured here. For the start Ms. Ortil featured the Satti as

lifted from the famous Tausug Cookbook written by Abdulaziz H. Hamsain wherein he said this is aimed to preserve the culture from one generation to the next generation. Hence, our readers will have the chance to read and perhaps to cook by themselves these Halal Foods where the best of the dishes from the different tribes will be featured here. Postscript 1 And last but not the least, when I was about to send already the 9th Digital Edition of Batanes To Tawi-Tawi to our Editor-in-Chief cum Web Editor, a Notification on my in -coming electronic mail signaled a new arrival in my Inbox. As I opened my In-box a new e-mail was sent all the way from Beaumont, California, USA. The e-mail came from YUSUF ASHRAF "Joey" PAMARAN TUGUNG. Joey Tugung is the son of the late Lupong Tagapagpaganap ng Pook (LTP) Region 9 Chairman Ulbert Ulama "Bob" Tugung from Simunul, TawiTawi, while his mother is the late Elnorita Pamaran Tugung from Basilan Province. Mrs. Tugung succeeded as the LTP-9 Chairman upon the demise of her husband. JANNARAL | A9

Opinion

A6 JP ENRILE COMMENTARY

With Juan Ponce Enrile

he Fuga island group is composed of the islands of Fuga, Barit and Mabbag. These islands are located 30 kilometres off the Northern Coast of Luzon. They belong to the town of Aparri, Cagayan, but they are closer to the town of Claveria at the western end of the province. Fuga is the largest and the longest of the three islands. It is totally flat. It has an area of about 10,000 hectares. It is around 20 kilometres long and about 5 kilometres wide. It lies east to west along the northern coast of Luzon. Barit is much smaller than Fuga. It has an area of only 900 hectares, more or less. Its terrain is rugged with a green cover. It is somewhat circular in shape. If one were to face west on the island of Fuga, Barit would be on the left side of the western end of Fuga across a body of water. Mabbag is the smallest of the three. It is entirely flat and

somewhat rectangular in shape. It has an area of no more than 300 hectares. It lies north of Barit across a wide channel of water. The Fuga island group is very important and strategic to the national security of the Philippines. It is like a dagger pointed at the very heart of the country. If it falls into the hands of a foreign power with immense global ambition to achieve and great national interest to preserve, it will certainly cause the country a very serious and dangerous security problem. We must, therefore, never allow the Fuga island group to fall in the hands of or to be controlled by any foreign power, directly or indirectly, and most especially a foreign power like Red China. If Red China were to occupy those three islands, it would surely use them as Naval and Air Force Bases to complement her military base in Hainan province and its

DILIMAN WAY With Homobono A. Adaza “Friends, Romans, countrymen, Lend me your ears; I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do lives after them; The good is oft interred with their bones; So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus Hath told you Caesar was ambitious: If it were so, it was a grievous fault, And grievously hath Caesar answer’d it.” — Mark Antony’s oration in Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

his is an unlucky and lucky week for me. Unlucky because four of my friends died one after another – one of them is former Senator Eddie Ilarde. Lucky because I chanced upon an article written by former Secretary of National Defense, Senate President, Secretary of Justice and Customs Chief Johnny Ponce Enrile on the danger to our national security if China controls, directly or indirectly, the Fuga Island group. Considering the impressive resume of Johnny, the article needs serious attention and examination. Duterte and Enrile: President Rodrigo Duterte and

former Senate President Enrile are two of a kind. They are consummate lovers of beautiful and attractive women but devoted to family, especially the children. They are both instrumentalist and expert political surfers. They do not create the waves but they have the expertise of successfully riding the crest of the waves. They make business decisions, especially in politics. That is why they are successful like most of traditional politicians always propelled by three elemental drives – for power, wealth and sex. And these are powerful drives that propel them to successful careers in politics.

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The Fuga Island Group and Our National Security man-made heavily fortified artificial islands in the South China Sea. That would immensely enable Red China to control that sea lane in South China Sea. And should that happen, it would certainly hurt us, hurt Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and also the United States. Almost one-third of total global trade passes through that sea lane. Furthermore, if Red China were to get a hold of the Fuga island group, it would dominate the whole Balintang channel – that body of water between the Babuyan island group in the north of Luzon and the province of Batanes – all the way to the Strait of Luzon between the Philippines and Taiwan. That, indeed, would pose a very serious strategic problem for us. In addition, it would also give the Chinese Liberation Army a convenient logistic base to support whatever activity Red China has in mind to do in the area of Benham Rise or Philippine Rise, which is only 350 kilometres away to the east from the

Fuga island group. Finally, with Red China on the Fuga island group, whether directly or indirectly, those three islands could be used to politically subvert and destabilize our society or to supply weapons to strengthen rebel groups in the country. I would like to quote some portions of Jonathan D. T. Ward’s book, “China’s Vision of Victory” at this point. Jonathan D. T Ward is an Oxford University scholar. He spent ten years of his youth in Red China, studying that country and her people. He was born in America and a citizen of that country. In addition to his native tongue, he is fluent in Chinese, Russian, Arabic, and Spanish. And this what Jonathan D. T. Ward said in his book: “As someone explained to me, China may not be Communist, but it is Leninist. This means that Party control of society to the maximum extent possible remains in force regardless of what is taking place economically. . . .” [p.

118] “. . . The Party maintains a delicate, determined, and thus far effective balance in granting Chinese citizens the freedom to prosper and build wealth, while not straying from the objectives of the State or from loyalty to the Party when needed. China’s first diplomats were considered by the Politburo as the People’s Liberation Army ‘in civilian clothes,’ tasked in carrying out the missions of the country. China’s private sector may be seen in a similar light by the Communist Party. The ‘great rejuvenation’ is principally an economic game, and China’s entrepreneurs and business people are, in many ways, its officers and soldiers.” [p. 118] I have no beef against Red China. I am simply doing my duty to my country. I am simply warning my countrymen to be very alert and careful in dealing with other nations and peoples whose national or personal interests my differ from the national interests of my own native land. JPE

Duterte, Enrile, China and Philippines First of 2 Parts They are both creatures of hate and revenge based on their language and actions as political figures. And resort to violence is not a stranger to both men as a means to resolving problems as public officials. Duterte has made public admissions on his having been embroiled in scraps that led to death of his opponents, Enrile made no such revelations.. Duterte makes no secret about his resort to killing to solve problems like kill the bishops, the drug users and drug lords. Enrile is silent and methodical. Duterte in a movie starring Robert Deniro, sounds like Al Capone, while Enrile, in a movie starring Marlon Brando, sounds like Don Corleone. Both of them are perceived to speak the language of violence on the level of action. These men – President Duterte and former Senate President Enrile – have outstanding similarities they could pass for twins in terms of style and body language. But they seem to differ in

their evaluation of whether China imperils our national security and even the survival of the Philippines as an independent country. How will these men resolve this conflict of evaluation? Will anyone of the two give in to the advice of the other? This is a matter of great interest not only for the good of any of the two men but how will the country be in the next year or so. Enrile opinion: It is a warning based on facts. Allowing China direct or indirect control of the Fuga Island group is not only prejudicial to our national interest, it is also prejudicial to those who are using the sea lanes in the area like the United States of America. It is a wake up call for President Duterte. Duterte is Enrile’s friend. So why does not Enrile visit the President in Malacañang and deliver the message to him face to face? The warning is of transcendental importance to our country and our people. Today is timely, tomorrow is too late. Duterte stance: President Duterte keeps on saying that

China is our friend. President Xi Jinping of China is Duterte’s friend but China is not his friend nor is it our country’s friend. Xi Jinping is not China and China is not Xi Jinping. The Communist Party of China (CCP) is China and the CCP is not Duterte’s or our country’s friend. Friendship is primarily determined by action not by words. Duterte, in his first encounter with Xi Jinping, came home and told this country that Xi told him China will go to war if he insists on the observance and enforcement of the ruling of the UN Arbitral Tribunal which is in favor of the Philippines, smashing in the process China’s claim of the validity of the nine dash line in its claim of territorial ownership. And Duterte believed Xi. Trying to justify the Xi threat, Duterte said we are no match to China in war and he is not willing to sacrifice the lives of hundreds of thousands Filipinos in such a war, giving the impression that if he does not submit to Xi’s threat, war is inevitable. DILIMAN | A9

Opinion | News My twocents Rx WITH BENJ S. BANGAHAN, M.D., FPCP, FPCCP

t is probably of benefit to the laymen if they are made familiar with the different symptoms or feelings emanating from the respiratory system that they, their family members and friends, may experience at any given time, and what to correlate them with. The awareness might make them act more quickly and save their lives or those of their loved ones. Some diseases of the lung or the airway, as well as those of the adjacent anatomical parts, may turn out to be morbid, but somehow doctors are able to obviate the morbidity when they recognize a disease in advance and do the appropriate management. Cough, most especially when persistent for a rather long time, should be considered worth worrying about. The cough reflex that is bringing about the body defense mechanism may be one located in the upper part of the respiratory tree (windpipe) or in any portion of the airway, or in the covering of the lungs that are as the pleura. The cough might even be a response from the ones located in the nearby

adjacent parts like the sinuses, the covering of the heart which is called pericardium, the auditory canal part of the ears, or from the esophagus (the gullet), the stomach and the diaphragm. Long standing cough that persists despite some treatment is usually associated with the habit of smoking, and it becomes worse and bothering when it has gone far to the stage called by doctors as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It may also be caused by asthma that is actually active mildly, but left disregarded by the patient. There are cases of cough that can be confusing to patients since these people are quite convinced that they do not have any direct respiratory condition that can explain the symptom. It is because they are not aware that a non-respiratory condition like a simple inflammation of the sinus that develops postnasal drip can cause coughing, just as reflux of acidic fluid from the stomach to the esophagus can also make people cough. There are medications taken by patients for other diseases that are potential causes of cough

BY ABDUL HANNAN MAGARANG TAGO

ast majority of the sectoral groups representing Marawi City Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) strongly recommended that P500 million allotments from Bangsamoro Autonomous Regions in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) shall be distributed to the deserving Marawi siege victims. The body recommendation should be made in accordance with the final decision after identifying the purpose of such aid. The multi-sectoral groups represented by different stakeholders — Ulama, Sultanate group and LGUs — hosted by BARMM Deputy Chief Minister, Alim Ali Sulaiman at his headquarters in Marawi City recently, were

present. The meeting aims to seek the suggestion of the participants how to come up with a consensus to better make use of the allotment as part of Chief Minister Ahod "Haj Murad" Balawag efforts to aid the Marawi siege victims. The gathering thoroughly discussed the best way possible on how to implement the first financial assistance from BARMM to avoid the repetition of the government similar financial aid a large portion of it went to wrong individuals. A participant said, “How come a nearly ten individuals allegedly living in two rooms house as owner, a number of sharers and even renters all received 73,000 cash from DSWD?

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Symptoms of abnormality of the respiratory system that only doctors may be able to suspect; sometimes allergens, or substances that can induce respiratory allergy may be the culprit. Some patients complain of a crowing sound in the process of breathing. It is called stridor, and it is developed when something causes a narrowing of the airway; the passage of the air during respiration through the small airway is what leads to crowing. The cause of the narrowing may be external or internal to the airway, but because of the prevailing obstructive phenomenon, the cause must be immediately managed. Wheezing sounds may be quite familiar to many people because the cause is common –- asthma. The sound is described as continuous musical or whistling noise, produced by the airflow as it passes through the narrowed small airway consequent to the asthmatic episode. Asthmatic attack when adequately treated usually responds quickly, but there have been cases when, due to the extreme constriction that has occurred, it can be lethal. Perhaps the two most dreadful symptoms that can be complained of by patients are dyspnea and hemoptysis. Dyspnea is that feeling of

having severe difficulty of breathing during whatever activity. While there are abnormalities of non-respiratory organs that may explain the cause of dyspnea, the difficulty of breathing that is respiratory in origin usually is attributable to the abnormality of the air passage, the lung parenchyma itself, the covering of the lung or pleura, the muscles of respiration and the chest wall. Dyspnea may be classified according

lies down; a rare condition in which blood is shunted from the right to the left side causes this condition. Hemoptysis is the coughing up of some amount of blood that is adhering to the sputum. In a massive case, the amount may be as big as 200 to 600 milliliters in 24 hours. It is usually considered as a sign of a severe disease of the bronchial tree and or the lung parenchyma, and infection of the bronchus,

the circumstances. It may be paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, which is the difficulty of breathing at night, or orthopnea, which is dyspnea when lying down. Both of them have been associated with inadequate function of the left side of the heart, but are also seen in asthma and in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to smoking. Platypnea is the difficulty of breathing when in upright position and becomes relieved when patient

bronchiectasis, tuberculosis and cancer are the common causes. It is advised that hemoptysis be differentiated from hematemesis, the vomiting of blood, by being sure that the blood is coughed up, and therefore hemoptysis, and not vomited, which is hematemesis. In addition to that, coughed up blood is usually bright red while vomited blood is dark, as a result of the action of the acid from the stomach. Māassalāma.

Marawi IDPs badly need P500-M in cash BARMM aid While such aid helped Maranao beneficiaries unfortunately big portion of it went to the wrong so-called sharers or renters. I myself did not get as house owner while three of my shares living in my own house benefiting. My only sin was because I did two entities during the biometric for my two properties. Some suggest that BARMM assistance should

be used for water system project or construction of Masjids. Some others see the necessity of establishing a sustainable business venture and even a seaport. The said suggestions did not get importance attention while the national government or Task Force Bangon Marawi already made its pronouncements to handle the rehabilitation of more than 30 masjid while water project

already funded by some senators. Security has been also raised to address the concern of those residents lost material while repairing their houses. There are still looting taking place. I meet while in MAA one who said to be residing in Daguduban telling what happened to their just repaired house. Material already fixed and sad to find after lockdown both fixed one and those unused plywood missing, said the resident. The meeting concluded with majority to give cash to those owners only providing that the money should be used for repair purposes only. A body should be created to closely monitor and for verification to validate the real and genuine house owners beneficiaries. AHMT

Opinion/Feature

Punchline ALI G. MACABALANG

ne of thousands of stakeholders in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the war-torn Marawi City sent me a feeler this week containing some nagging questions on controversial programming of P2.3 road projects in the city’s Most Affected Area (MAA). It showed that last April, some P1.9-billion was released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the National Housing Authority (NHA), a member-agency of the Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM), to build primary and secondary road along the MAA with solar lamp posts and other related utilities.

Stakeholders asked: “Is the NHA going to implement the road projects, not the DPWH? The feeler also showed that the NHA announced last June 5 in the PhilGEPS website two projects to undergo public bidding on July 2. Stakeholders questioned the short period between the announcement and the bidding date, saying it deprived contractors (not favored by NHA) the chance to prepare the corresponding designs and participate in the bidding. It said one of the projects cost P1.7B while the other is worth P671-million for a total of P2.3-billion. Stakeholders argued that “no Filipino contractor can

Vol. I, No. 09 | August 14-20, 2020 (Dhu’l-Hijjah 24, 1441-Muharram 1, 1442)

More intrigues in Marawi than relieving acts prepare the design in less than a month time, especially for MAA areas where road rights of way (ROW) issues are a problem.” They claimed that the NHA procedures were allegedly meant to “discourage prospective contractors to participate (in the bidding), especially when the NHA required a contractor to have experience on unexploded ordnance clearing and debris management. They said the imposed requirement is not an element in regular infra projects’ bidding. “We suspect that the projects are tailored for ‘favored’ contractor like the Edd Mari Construction of Pampanga, which contracted the P2.2billion debris management and clearing project for 250 hectares in the MAA. We

wondered why the Edd Mari was qualified (for the project) when it has no experience in debris management and P1.1 -billion SLA, per PCAB records,” the stakeholders’ feeler said. “We learned that only around 50 hectares (in MAA) were cleared but all the P2.2B fund was exhausted,” lamented the stakeholders. I guess that what was conveyed to this column about the rehab efforts in Marawi was just the tip of ice berg. A reliable source from a family related to the President had earlier tipped this writer about the controversial purchase without bidding of some units of bulldozer worth million of pesos at the behest of TFBM leadership. Unscrupulous pilferage of

metal scraps, purchase at low price of abandoned lots for sale on higher prices by a local politico to interested parties desiring to building housing units for IDPs are also issues that remained unexplained. Meantime, the Palace and its spokespersons have remained silent about the state of Marawi rehab, which the public got frustrated with when not mentioned in the recent 5th SONA of the President. This writer had made representations to concerned officials in the Palace to make even a brief announcement on the issue, but the efforts remained in vain. I can only sigh the old saying that “what is not talked about is disregarded.” ALI G. MACABALANG

THE MORO WARS

'Stateless children & refugees, the collateral damage' By AMINULLAH "Koko" ALONTO LUCMAN

n the horrible Mindanao wars for centuries, there hasn't been any to suggest of a mouthful of disgust sensing the 'damages' coming from any standpoint imaginable; or see and not be wrinkled, cringy over what collateral damage we may have to live with, how individual guilt translate in something discernible learning the centuries old 'Moro Wars'. Or try forgetting them. What have we 'learned' from the many facets and paces of war, conflicts, upheavals, experiences that traversed boundaries and aliens, that as yet to taper, and remain in the high wire. What facts of war that as once rulers of our land, we chose, or defaulted, not capitulated, and not to be 'mindful' about questions we certainly have to answer for, and are yet to jar, shake us wild and harder, to be able to awaken from slumber. Yet despite all these, we do, unconsciously or not, exalt, celebrate all the wrong, mistakes, questionable formulations fed us, what kind of people are we then? You see, coming to know part of what is us and leaving it to languish in oblivion, not caring about them, that condensation of issues best analyzed, studied; why have we to pile up PhD, excellence in

the academe and just end up kowtow morons, it is abomination, or is it not? If having all these medallions of excellence in the academic world are just for showboating, gather dust, aha we deserve to be led by morons, would that include dying too, needlessly? That cannot be me, I assure each and everyone of that. Besides, I am not my father's son or my uncle's nephew if by default I chose to cower. In 1968, I was very young, a high school kid just about to learn some facts of life 'unheard of' growing up famished of amenities in #Marawi City. I was in Manila among few Muslim kids older than I was trooping over to the Capitol city to be schooled. I find it crucial to train our thoughts to the year 1968 because that year, Muslims had none of any issue dumbfounding, recalcitrant, or deeply as disturbing as it is today, comparatively. Everybody with the grain of salt, poor, rich, farmer, fisher folks, traders, politicians, had only but one goal, be educated, their children at least, nothing else. The year 1968 was significant because in this timeline will serve as the umbilical cord by which to deliver us this day in the 2020s, wars,

First of 2 Parts conflicts, drug abuse, KFRs (kidnap for ransom), EJK (extra-judicial killing), mglobal terror, all the stuff to churn the stomach. Very sad but what can we say, gov't inadvertently says these as our 'Muslim rebellion, our Muslim terroristic dogma'. The matter of fact is, this is 'state sponsorship' of wars for ulterior gains of despots, dictators all on their own. 1968 is as important, in this year, it uncovered mass killings or massacres unheard of in 1968. The Philippine congress no less, uncovered very hush hush 'secretive' scheming masterminded by a Filipino president, planning sinister wars, so secretly. Shockingly for everyone, in the secret scheming, they planned taking Sabah, Malaysia, by forcible means. This was never before done by anyone except the World War ll Adolf Hitler roasting 6 million Jews. At the start of the very startling narrative, an early morning call rang disturbing my routine, an unholy 3 am call. The phone call was from Cavite Congressman Justiniano Montano, an LP opposition stalwart, frantic and asking for my father. This was 1968. The startled cousin of my

CORREGIDOR MASSACRE. The late Sultan Rashid Lucman speaking as representative of Lanao del Sur on the floor of the House of Representatives as he called for investigation of the Corregidor Massacre of young Muslim soldiers allegedly trained by the Philippine government to infiltrate Sabah. (Photo supplied) father recognized the voice and made the dash, banging on my father's door. No one does that, not even mother. I said to myself, somebody must be dead! Just as curious as I was, first time seeing my father descending from our winding stairwell in quick paces, at 5 am? So okay, somebody's dead and kept quiet, worst, no car to take me to school, but 50 red bucks was given me to take a jeep or taxi. Never had 50 bucks and I haven't got the cinch riding public transport, but I know how to take the Jeepney going to the movies!

My father was also congressman and Rep. Montano are best of friends. Both are members of the 6th congress. I've been taken along with siblings visit Cavite, father sumptuously enjoying seafoods at times and beaches not long back when picnics were for families enjoying tranquil lives, not complicated as now's. Anyway, my father was told somebody was fished out of shark -infested waters off Cavite province who spoke no word of Tagalog or english, but says he is Muslim. His name was Jibin Arula, a Tausug from Siasi, Sulu. LUCMAN | A9

Vol. I, No. 09 | August 14-20, 2020 (Dhu’l-Hijjah 24, 1441-Muharram 1, 1442)

TUGUNG | from Page A4

COVID-19 In the Philippines: What Is Going On? And yet, despite all of these institutions that have been put in place and the dedicated actions that have been taken by the Duterte Administration, the COVID-19 cases in our country keeps on rising. This now begs the question, why? It is easy for us to conveniently blame the people for being hardheaded. There is no doubt, this exists! However, on the other hand, have we also pondered and ask the question, how about the government? If they are not at fault or blameless, then logically speaking we should have long controlled this insidious beast and flattened the curve. My point is that our government should also humble itself by admitting its failure and assume responsibility. To be outrightly dismissive of the well-meaning critics and the sincere suggestions of the healthcare workers (worst

accusing them as fomenting a revolution), which is what we have seen consistently in this administration, is not only the height of arrogance but counter-productive in our desire to have a united effort to fight the virus. Let us take a closer look at the composition of the IATF-EID, which is the de facto coronavirus task force of the Duterte Administration. Except for the DOH Secretary, not one of them is a public health expert, an immunologist, epidemiologist, and neither, an infectious disease expert. All of them are government bureaucrats who acts, thinks and speaks like your typical politicos. We have not seen either any career public servants from institutions similar to the CDC, FDA and NHI. Infectious diseases understood and treated thru science and to control the ef-

the people, he is busy and shamelessly pandering to the president! With that being said, it is high time for President Duterte to defunct the PNoy era created IATF-EID and revamp the composition of the Coronavirus Task Force. And most important, to immediately get rid of Secretary Duque (who specializes not in medicine but in the science of “political bootlicking”). And in the new Coronavirus Task Force, President Duterte should surround himself and get advices and recommendations from any of the following: public health experts, infectious disease specialists, immunologist, epidemiologist, nurse professionals, mathematical modeling specialist, sociologist, psychologist, mental health specialist, economist, statisticians, laboratory specialist, communication technology experts, and emergen-

cy management experts. Why am I saying this? It is because almost all the countries that were able to slay the beast had this kind of composition. Moreover, if we look at their institutional model, it is so glaring that their political leaders, lawyers, government bureaucrats and military officials have zippered their mouth and took a back seat in favor of the scientists. There is no doubt that the public’s confidence to combat the virus is eroded when politicians, lawyers, police, and military officials talk. And certainly, the nation is now into come-to-God moment; and for God’s sake, it is about time then that we have to change horses in midstream and let our doctors and scientists speak and shape our COVID-19 national strategy! YUSUF ASHRAF TUGUNG

bring factual and not fake news to the Muslims, they did not accept the invitation. Just like the secrecy slogan of the defunct RCPI (Radio Communications of the Philippines, Inc.), "What you see, what you hear just leave it here." Hence, I am just leaving it here the names of the three professionals from Tawi-Tawi who can only offer their services for the Muslim Ummah if there is a Corresponding Payment. Be that as it may, as one of the founders of Philippine Muslim Today, Founding Chairman Ding Yahya and myself agreed that this pro bono is not forever and even just a Token we should give

even just a minimal amount to all our Staffs especially the Columnists. Postscript 2 Just before hitting the web for the 9th edition, another Muslim writer who hails from well-known families in Lanao sent-in a piece. Since it is about Sabah which is TRENDING in the MuslimS in the Philippines south, the EIC decided to include it in this edition. The author, Datu Aminullah Alonto Lucman is the son of the late Congressman Haroun Al-Rashid Lucman and the former Lanao del Sur provincial governor Princess Tarhata Alonto Lucman. Wassalam!

In one of the hastily called rare urgent meetings in our house, then Speaker Pro Tem Salipada K. Pendatun says he emphatically instructed our elite 'blue diamond' air force squadron not to engage, just let them thru. And so, a possible shooting war was averted, a rare display of statesmanship.

Every Muslim leader during those really harrowing times 'were against' war. Except for just one lone Muslim legislator, a pro Marcos Solon, all opposition members of both houses of congress batted for an impeachment of then President Ferdinand Marcos for treason violating international law and our 1935 Philippine Constitution. This narrative however are phases short; there's still are 'untold story' how Southeast

Asian leaders in the 50s beginning with Indonesia treated each other really closely, really siblings-like. Indonesia at certain timeline tell of their struggles against their Dutch colonial masters, were supplied arms by the Philippines, to free them from their colonial masters. MAPHILINDO was among early collaborations, acronym being Malaysia Philippines and Indonesia. (To be continued)

dress (SONA) when he said he is “inutil” in so far as the West Philippine Sea is concerned – meaning, he is helpless, hopeless and there is nothing he can do about the occupation of China of the West Philippine. This is a suicidal admission. This gives us no leverage on the international level where the battle can successfully be fought.

Duterte should learn this lesson from Napoleon Bonaparte – As a leader you should never admit your weakness to anyone, especially to your enemy. And China is our enemy! Even assuming that China is our friend, Duterte should never admit his weakness to a friend. Why? Admitting weakness is to give away everything – your most precious possession. And this is what is happening today, the President is giving away the country chunk by chunk to his

friend, Xi Jinping. This is what the Enrile warning is all about. I hardly agree with Johnny Enrile in many public issues. But this time, I agree with him absolutely because he is right. China hand: This creeping intrusion into our country by China is abominable – just like the fabled Abominable Snowman or the creature from the black lagoon. The people of this country better wake up before it is too late.

fects of the virus must be science-based. Hence, in biological disaster, only scientist knows its behavior and how it behaves. Thus, the formulation of strategies, plans and actions are science-based in nature. Moreover, giving the right message to the public in order to modify their behavior, in response to the virus, is also science-based. All of these require experts in public health and infectious diseases. Instead, the front and center of the government’s response to the COVID-19 are politicians, lawyers, businessmen and former military generals. One must understand that virus is a biological phenomenon and not a political, military, and economic one. While DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III is a medical doctor, yet, ironically, he walks and talks like a politician. Worst, instead of serving the public health needs of

JANNARAL | from Page A5

Pro Bono in Diliman Way vs. Manong Johnny JP Enrile The Philippine Muslim Today would like to thank Joey for accepting the invitation to write a Column. Just like Atty. Bono Adaza and Senator JP Enrile, and the rest of our mainstay Columnists, Joey did not ask even a single Cent for his efforts. So it is gratis and therefore also pro bono. All what Joey told me, "my pleasure to contribute any article on national and local issues that interest me. Of course, I cannot contribute on a weekly basis because I am preoccupied with my work

and a lot of things. Rest assured, every time I will pen an article, I will email it to you. Incidentally, I just wrote an article about the pandemic and I will email this to you tomorrow....Good to know that you covered the public services of my late parents. Kamaya daran (always take care) and you stay safe too.." Though he did not grow up in Tawi-Tawi, but he can also claim to be a TawiTawian since his father Bob Tugung is from Simunul. Just like the two Tawi-

Tawians, Dr. Mon Romero of Mapun Municipality and Dr. John Lee of Bongao, TawiTawi, Joey Tugung is in the same league with these two professionals who are giving their services Free of Charge. But unlike the other three Tawi-Tawians I invited last June 2020 when we were about to launch the maiden issue of Philippine Muslim Today, they immediately asked for a Talent Fee. When they learned that we have no budget since all of us are working gratis in an effort to

LUCMAN | from Page A5

'Stateless children & refugees, the collateral damage' And my father spoke Tausug, only then too did I learn we have Tausug blood. During the interview, he told my father all that was in the telltale 'invasion' crafted by then President Ferdinand Marcos. A top secret scheming aimed at annexation of the Sabah State of Malaysia. Arula also disclosed of a

massacre killing all his fellow army trainees along with their training officer, said to be a PMAyer and his Sergeant Major aide. In quick succession of events, naval gunboats said to be Malaysians entered Philippine waters to engage in act obviously belligerent, apparently gearing for a fight.

DILIMAN | from Page A6

Duterte, Enrile, China and Philippines The submission of Duterte to Xi’s threat is understandable for two reasons. First, it is almost an accepted aphorism that a small bully submits to a big bully. Xi is the big bully and Duterte is the small bully, thus Duterte’s submission to the big bully. And second, Duterte is unfamiliar with foreign affairs and foreign relations. He is no Jovito Salonga, Hans Kel-

sen, Myres McDougal, Henry Kissinger or John F. Kennedy. Without familiarity with the nuances of foreign affairs and foreign relations as well as the behavior of China when confronted with problem involving the West Philippine Sea, Duterte’s obeisance to Xi Jinping is understandable. This is so clear in his latest State of the Nation Ad-

(To be continued)

News

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Vol. I, No. 09 | August 14-20, 2020 (Dhu’l-Hijjah 24, 1441-Muharram 1, 1442)

5 LGUs receive P2.3-million performance challenge fund

Islamic Finance

Questions and Answers (May Allah bestow on Ethica Institute more wisdom and knowledge) By AMANODING D. ESMAIL, CPA, MPA President, Philippine Association of Islamic Accountants

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

ZAKAT

OTABATO CITY: A total P2.3 million incentive was awarded to each of the municipalities of South Upi, Guindulungan, Datu Piang, Shariff Aguak, and Datu Abdullah Sangki in Maguindanao province.

According to lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, BARMM's minister of the Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG), this was after said Local Government Units (LGUs) successfully passed the eligibility criteria of the Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) Performance Challenge Fund (PCF) 2019. Sinarimbo led the awarding ceremony on Thursday, August 6, at the Bangsamoro Government Center in the city. He said PCF is given to LGUs that passed the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) 2019. “Kapag pumasa ka dun sa criteria na ibinigay ng SGLG, maa-access mo ang fund na ‘yun,” he said, noting that fund will be used to improve the LGUs’ programs and service delivery. Among the criteria are good performance in the areas of financial administration, disaster preparedness, social protection, peace and order, business friendliness, tourism, culture and the arts, and environmental protection. “For 2019, nasa 2.3 million dahil mejo madami ang pumasa sa SGLG, lalo na sa atin sa Bang-

samoro region naging number 1 tayo sa buong Mindanao,” Sinarimbo said. In 2019, BARMM topped the spot in Mindanao with the highest number of LGUs, 28 in total, compliant to the SGLG criteria. Meanwhile, this year’s SGLG awarding will be suspended according to Sinarimbo “because the focus of national government and the LGUs is diverted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.” However, Sinarimbo said, “Magkakaroon din ng regional award system ngayong taon, ito ang Salamat Award for LGUs. Kabilang sa measure nito ang fight against Covid-19 dahil ito ang pinakakailangan natin sa ngayon at ito ang magiging center piece ng criteria ng Salamat Award.” “This year, we will start checking and verifying prospective and potential awardees,” he added. Present during Thursday’s ceremony were Guindulungan Mayor Mibpantao Midtimbang Jr; South Upi Mayor Reynelbert Insular and Vice-Mayor Imelda Estorninos; Shariff Aguak Secretary to Mayor Anwar Emblawa, Municipal Accountant Al Jazzar Adam, Municipal Treasurer Nadin Bayhon; Guindulungan Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Banda Salik, and other representatives. JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

China donates high-tech drones to help Pakistan combat locusts

he world is not struggling only with the coronavirus but also with a plague of locusts. Farms in many African, Arab, and Asian countries are being destroyed by these animals creating another problem related to the food supply. Pakistan is one of the affected countries that has been suffering from locusts since last year and declared a national emergency back in February. To make matters worse, the government has warned about more locusts coming in the next few weeks. A locust plague is dangerous because the pests can wipe out large areas of farm production in a short time, cutting off the food supply leading to starvation in many communities. To help solve the crisis, China is giving out a hand. The Ministry of Agriculture

and Rural Affairs purchased 20 T16 farm drones from DJI and presented them to Pakistan for free. One T16 drone can spray insecticides on 10 hectares of farms every hour. The drone operator can control five at the same time without actually being on the field. "China reacted fast to the locust disaster in Pakistan and sent a special task force to investigate the crisis," said Ma Hongtao, counsel of the ministry, during the gifting ceremony in Pakistani Embassy in Beijing on July 24. The ministry also promised to send technical support staff to operate the drones and train local operators. Ma expressed her wish that the locust and coronavirus situation will end soon. T16 is one of the most advanced agricultural drones

made by DJI. The Shenzhenbased company has been researching the use of drones in farms for years. "Compared to traditional manual spraying, using drones it's safer," said Yasha Chen, DJI Sales Director, referring to the fact that with drones, people are not in direct contact with the pesticides. "The T16 can also dodge obstacles automatically," he added. The Pakistan side expressed gratitude for China. "In addition to the drones, we also received 300,000L of pesticide spray," said Ahmed Farooq, charge d'affaires of the embassy. "This is one event, and it's not the only event," he went on saying. "Once again, we proved with actions that China and Pakistan are friends," Ma said. GONG ZHE

Third Series

Photo credit to Hiba Magazine.

akatable Property And Zakat Rates. - What property is zakatable and what are the zakat rates? One must pay zakat annually on the following items held for at least one lunar year: Gold and Silver: Gold exceeding 87.479 grams (about 0.2 lbs) at 2.5% (or 1/40th), in gold or its cash equivalent; Silver exceeding 613.35 grams (about 1.35 lbs) at 2.5%, in silver or its cash equivalent; includes all forms of gold and silver jewelry; Cash and other exchangeable monetary instruments exceeding the equivalent of the silver nisab at 2.5%; Tradable goods: Tradable goods such as stocks, inventory and merchandise for resale that exceed the equivalent of the silver nisab at 2.5% if the goods were bought with silver or a monetary instrument (e.g. cash, stock, goods); or exceeding the equivalent of the gold nisab at 2.5% if the goods were bought with gold; Agricultural products: (search “Ushr”); Animals and livestock: equal to or exceeding 40 head of sheep and goat, 30 head of cattle or 5 head of camel. Nisab is measured either 1) separately (for gold, silver, cash, stocks, and other exchangeable monetary instruments, and trade goods), by measuring the nisab separately for each zakatable category; or 2) if individual measures fall below the nisab amount, it is obligatory to combine individual measures from each category (of gold, silver, and so on) to determine the total amount of zakatable property; livestock is always measured separately. Zakat is only obligatory on property possessed for at least one lunar year, though if during the year while the value of the property exceeds the nisab and more property which is held for less than one year is added to the original amount, zakat is paid on the new amount (i.e. zakat is paid on the original property held for one year plus new property held for less than one year). Nisab. - What is nisab? Nisab is a measure of the minimum property one owns that obligates one to pay zakat, and is measured in addition to (not as a part of) the typical requirements necessary for living. Typical requirements necessary for living includes such items as food, clothing, housing, means of conveyance, tools for trade and household and personal effects, regardless of their cost. Zakat On Items Containing Gold Or Silver. - Is zakat due on jewelry, ornaments and other items containing gold or silver? Zakat is due on jewelry, bars, decorations, ornaments, thread woven into cloth and all other items containing gold or silver regardless whether the items are used or not; for items containing a mix of gold and silver, or a mix of gold or silver with another metal in which the mixture is not accurately measurable, the predominant metal is assumed to comprise the whole (e.g. a bracelet made mostly of gold containing some silver ornamentation should be valued as if made entirely of gold, while a bracelet made mostly of steel containing some gold should be valued as if made entirely of steel). (To be continued)

Lifestyle

Vol. I, No. 09 | August 14-20, 2020 (Dhuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l-Hijjah 24, 1441-Muharram 1, 1442)

Book Review

WARKA ADALA: The Tausug Cosmic Energy Healer

The Best of Halal Home-Cooked Muslim Filipino Dishes By MARIA FHEBIE ORTIL

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

f there is now distant learning, there is now also distant healing. This is best described on the book "Warka Adala: The Cosmic Energy Healer." This is proven true by a Tausug Cosmic Energy Healer in the person of Hadji Warka Adala who originally comes from Patikul, Sulu. Hence, in the case of Hj. Warka there are many healing modalities available. One of these is the distant cosmic energy healing that he effectively used which is a unique method, tested and proven by a lot of patients that avail of his method across the globe. Hj. Warka uses also several words that described the process of healing barreling, spinning and vacuuming. These are the words he used in describing the process of healing even without any physical contact. Patients who have visited Hj. Warka's clinic to include this Managing Editor continue to seek his gift of healing even they are at the other end of the world meaning physically at a far distance. Hence, in this time of COVID-19 pandemic, Hj. Warka was the first to apply the now minimum standards of health protocol like social distancing long before the advent of this pandemic. At the time when authors of this book like Dr. Paul J. Dejillas, Dr. Tita E. Branzuela, Edwin N. Camaya and of course Dr. Jaime T. Licauco, started writing on the book "Warka Adala, The Cosmic Energy Healer," the Coronavirus still deadly raging more than a wild fire. The pandemic resulted in the thousands of deaths around the world. The Philippines is not exempted where newspaper of other countries has even referred to Philippines as "Land of COVID-19." By the way Hj. Warka is like a medical doctor who has his own clinic. His patients in Metro Manila can undergo their cosmic energy healing once they visit the Warka Adala Cosmic Energy Healing Clinic at the ground floor of Rothman Hotel, 1633 M. Adriatico St., Malate, Manila. Or if the patient is in Mindanao particularly in Zamboanga City, he or she may visit Hj. Warka's Healing Garden in Catumbal, Culianan, Zamboanga City. As a cosmic energy healer, Dr. Jaime T. Licauco described the healing method of Hj. Warka as energy healing. Dr. Licauco said Hj. Warka's method of healing is simply laying of hands similar to what one of the Prophets of Islam Jesus Christ did some 2,000 years ago. There are no elaborate rituals or prayers involved. Dr. Paul J. Dejillas who is one of the authors of this book "Warka Adala, the Cosmic Energy Healer" also has his own observations the way Hj. Warka treats his patients. "He heals by putting his hand on top of the afflicted part of the person's body for about 15 minutes. He closes his eyes and sees colors swirling in the patient's body. Black means the body part is in bad condition, grey and red mean the patient is in pain. Blue shows healing has begun." Thus, Hj. Warka as a rejoinder to the observation Philippine Muslim Today Managing Editor is of this author, said "when I close my eyes, it's as one of the patients of Hj. Warka Adala in one if I see myself easing the problem that is causing of his Healing Sessions in Cotabato City. Hj. the pain. My healing energy is focused on the Warka just merely touched the afflicted part of the patient by merely concentrating on it on particular area and I will not open my eyes or rewithout the usual prayer. (Contributed Photo) move my hand until I feel that everything is all right and balanced and smoothness in the afflicted area is restored." Dejillas also posed an intriguing question on Hj. Warka healing power. He asked, "Is Bro. Warka's energy healing for real? Or is it merely a product of a deluded mind being conditioned and manipulated by some external forces? If not, can his art of healing be verified scientifically in the laboratories? Is there a connection between the physical and the metaphysical or spiritual? If so, how can the spiritual influence the physical? Finally, in the findings of Dr. Dejillas, he said Hj. Warka energy healing involves the transfer of energy and, as he said, energy that is not coming from him- the healer- but from aligning his vibration to the frequency ands of the Divine Energy. As Hj. Warka said, he is merely a channel for restoring the unobstructed flow of energy in the patient's mind, body, and spirit. It is the Divine Energy that does the healing. JIJ

TIYULAH ITUM or TIYULAH SUG

Tiyulah Itum or Tiyulah Sug (Photo by Abdulaziz Hamsain)

nother popular Tausug dish that is served in all occasions in the Province of Sulu whether it is Wedding reception, Pag-Islam (circumcision), Pagduwaa Salamat (Thanksgiving), and other occasions, Tiyulah Itum or

Tiyulah Sug is always served to the guests. However, before this Tiyulah Itum is cooked, the Piypis Itum (Pamapa) has to be prepared first, according to Abdulaziz H. Hamsain, author of the Tausug Cookbook.

I. Piypis Itum (Pamapa) INGREDIENTS: - 1 whole coconut meat - 1 tablespoon whole black pepper - 2 pc of 3 inches red ginger (or regular ginger) - 5 cloves garlic - 3 inches turmeric - 5 pieces red hot chili Piypis Itum or Pamapa (Photo by Abdulaziz H. Hamsain) PROCEDURE: 1. Burn coconut meat then grind. 2. Grind the other ingredients. 3. Add and mix gradually all the ingredients to-

gether. *Used as a spice for authentic Tausug dishes like; Pyanggang manok, Junay, Tiyula' Itum, Piyassak, and Siyagul.

2. TIYULAH ITUM OR TIYULAH SUG Serves 4-5 INGREDIENTS: -1 lemongrass -1 whole onion chopped -1/2 cup oil -3 cloves of garlic chopped -1 kilo beef/lamb mixed with -Minced chili (according to bones taste) -Black pepper (according to -2 tbsp piypis itum -Salt (according to taste) taste) -1 chicken cube (optional) PROCEDURE: 1. Marinate beef with piypis itum with oil for 2-3 hours. 2. Stir/saute the garlic, onion, chicken cubes (optional). 3. Add the marinated beef. 4. Add the lemongrass

then lastly the chilies. 5. Allow to dry then add water and piypis itum depending on taste. 6. Allow to boil for 2-3 hours until meat is tender. *Best served during any meal of the day.

Culture

Vol. I, No. 09 | August 14-20, 2020 (Dhu’l-Hijjah 24, 1441-Muharram 1, 1442)

Young BARMM film makers, lensmen Mindanao products show set in Manila amid foreseen recognized on Int’l Youth Day cure for COVID-19

By JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL Managing Editor

OTABATO CITY: Both the young film makers and photographers in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) were given due recognition during the recent regional celebration of the International Youth Day 2020 here. This year’s celebration bears the theme “Youth Engagement for Global Action.” Mark Navales, a contributing photojournalist of Philippine Muslim Today, who was one of the judges for Photography said best film and photograph entries for the Bangsamoro Short Film Peacetival and Photography Contest were given due recognition and awarded during this regional celebration of the International Youth Day.

By ALI G. MACABALANG

prize. Teng Mangansakan, along with Edward Cabagnot and Joe Bacus were the judges for the film festival. “We hope that the Bangsamoro film makers will be instrumental in reshaping the landscape of our national cinema,” Mangsansakan said. Meanwhile, winners of the Photography Contest were also awarded. 1st Best Photograph was the “Ilaw ng Tahanan” by Bulawan Dizal. The photograph shows a mother helping her child studying in a candle-lit nipa house. Dizal said the photo magnifies importance of education in the lives of the Bangsamoro people. “Kahit laki tayo sa hirap, nothing is

Fishermen in Central Mindanao tending their giant fish catches in the presence of MinDA Sec. Manny Pinol and former Sultan Kudarat Governor Sultan Pax Mangudadatu. (File)

Navales said the awarding ceremony was led by the Bangsamoro Youth Commission of the BARMM (BYC-BARMM). He said the Short Film entry “Inged II: Ukha The Story Untold” directed by Hassanodden Hosni Hashim was awarded Best Short Film and received P200,000.00 cash prize. Inged II is a movie that captures a story of a young breadwinner who joins an insurgent group with the promise of getting an easy way out of hard life to help his sick mother, never expecting to be involved into a much bigger scheme. The 2nd Best Short Film or the Grand Jury Prize was awarded to “Displaced” directed by Aedrian Araujo and received P100,000.00 cash prize, while the 3rd Best Short Film or Jury Prize was awarded to “Mael” directed by Prince Nor-Anzarrih Matalam and received P75,000.00 cash prize. Other technical and special awardees include: 1. Best Director: Aedrian Araojo of “Displaced”; 2. Best Screenplay: “Mael”; 3. Best Cinematography: “Inged II: Ukha The Story Untold”; 4. Best Editing: “Inged II: Ukha The Story Untold”; 5. Best Poster: “Inged”; 6. People’s Choice Award: “Inged II: Ukha The Story Untold”; 7. Best Performance: Boks Mamadra from “Mael” and Mohammad Kouzbary Lucman Dias of “Inged II: Ukha The Story Untold” The winners each received a cash prize worth P20,000.00, and the other five film entries also received P20,000.00 consolation

impossible as long as we support education of our children,” Dizal added. The 2nd Best Photograph was the “Innocence Pain” by Mohammad Kouzbary Lucman Said, and the 3rd Best Photograph is the entry by Aljiber Ismael. Winners received a cash prize amounting to P20,000.00, P15,000.00 and P10,000.00, respectively. The “Yes for Peace” entry of Farida Dizal bagged the Online Choice Award and received P5,000.00 cash prize. Ten other photography entries each received P5,000.00 consolation prize. Mark Navales, together with Bennajar Hajan and Joeffrey Maitem, led the jury for the photography contest. Executive Secretary Abdulraof Macacua said the Bangsamoro Government needs inspired and positive-thinking youth in order to contribute in nation-building. Cabinet Secretary Mohd Asnin Pendatun also delivered an inspirational message. “We have gathered here not just to celebrate the creativity of Young Bangsamoro but also to give due regard to our values and morals which these qualifiers have demonstrated,” said Marjanie Macasalong, chairperson of the BYC and Member of the Parliament of Bangsamoro Transition Authority. “The short film peacetival and photography contest mainstream BARMM community-based stories of peace, conflicts, survival, and hopes,” Nass Dunding, chair of programs and operations of BYC-BARMM,” said. International Youth Day is an international day dedicated by the United Nations to raise awareness on the cultural and legal issues surrounding the youth. JULMUNIR I. JANNARAL

he Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) is set to showcase again varieties of fruits, fisheries products and other commodities from Mindanao, targeting this time the city of Manilain the last of September, with high optimism for the availability by then of vaccines against coronovirus (COVID-19) disease. The showcase is dubbed “MinDA Tienda sa Manila,” one of several ventures initiated by MnDA Chairman Manny F. Piñol to promote Mindanao island region and its products. The MinDA “has now firmed up its plan to stage the ‘MinDA Tienda sa Manila’ in the famous Mehan Garden beside the Manila City Hall following the announcement by Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday that COVID 19 vaccine is now available and that the Philippines will be one of the first beneficiaries,” Sec. Piñol said in a statement. He said Manila Mayor Isko Moreno has given the go-signal for the staging of the event right in the capital city's heart in the historic Mehan Garden" tentatively scheduled from Sept. 20 to 26. “The event, patterned after the highly successful "MinDA Fruit Festival" staged in Baguio City last year, will not only showcase products from Mindanao but also link up the region's producers to direct buyers in Metro Manila,” he said.

It is one of the programs complementing the Complete Value Chain Policy of MinDA to empower its agricultural and fisheries producers, Piñol added. Preparations for the "MinDA Tienda sa Manila" were actually started as early as last month even before the news of the discovery of the COVID 19 vaccine. Former Transportation Undersecretary Cesar Chavez, now Chief of Staff to Mayor Moreno, has been deeply involved in the prospective staging of the Mindanao products extravaganza, according to MinDA. MinDA prepared the plan even as the nation was still grappling with the strict quarantine protocols enforced in Metro Manila because of the expected bountiful harvest of fruits and sea products by September and October. Among the products for display during the week-long event are fruits from the Davao and Central Mindanao Regions and sea products from as far as Sulu and Tawi -Tawi, Piñol said. He said other high value products to be displayed at the event include the Black and Red Organic rice, the popular Zamboanga Spanish Sardines, vegetables from Bukidnon's IMTASULA Vegetable Complex and locally woven fabric made out of indigenous fibers. ALI G. MACABALANG

Read Philippine Muslim Today

Eco-Tourism

Vol. I, No. 09 | August 14-20, 2020 (Dhu’l-Hijjah 24, 1441-Muharram 1, 1442)

The Exceptional Universal Value of Turtle Islands

Betting big on small-scale ecotourism By ROSA OCAMPO

By JOHNNY R. LEE, Ph.D.

Nature attractions like Hinagdanan cave (pictured) in Panglao Island, Bohol are set to have added appeal in the new normal (TTG Asia)

emote, rural destinations are poised to be major drawcards in the face of the pandemic, and tourism providers in the Philippines are lining up ecotourism products and authentic attractions to lure returning travellers.

BAGGUAN ISLAND—where hundreds of turtles deposit their eggs each night durig peak season. (Johnny R. Lee)

here is more to the tiny group of islands known as Turtle Islands in Tawi-Tawi that is found in the southwestern tip of this country. Located within the Sulu Sea, it is at the edge of the international treaty limits separating the Philippines and Malaysia. Consists of nine (9) major islands of various shapes and sizes, six of it belongs to the Philippines and three to Malaysia. On May 31, 1996 a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Republic of the Philippines and the Government of Malaysia was signed declaring Turtle Islands as Turtle Islands Heritage Protected Area (TIHPA), the first transMother turtle crawling back to the sea after hatching its eggs in boundary protected area on the inland coastal area. (Johnny R. Lee) sea turtles in the world aiming for the conservation and protection of the area. The only major nesting habitat of Green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the Philippines and the only major nesting ground in the whole ASEAN Region and the 11th major nesting site in the world! It was proclaimed as Wildlife Sanctuary under Proclamation No. 171 on August 26, 1999 and identified as Extremely High (EH) for biodiversity conservation. Per this writer’s personal experiences, as part of the 2017 Multi-Agencies ‘Task Force Protect Turtle Islands Wild Sanctuary’ representing the media sector, it can be said that the islands are extra-ordinarily unique in terms of biodiversity, socio-economic practices, and traditional way of life. With an aggregate land area of 241,000 hectares, except for the main island of Taganak, the rest are sparsely inhabited and has retained it pristine environment like white sandy beaches, vibrant coral habitats and unpolluted seawaters. Unlike its Malaysian counterparts, which is fully-developed in terms of tourist destinations, the six Philippine islands have yet to be developed to lure both local and international tourists to boost its economic potentials as tourism come-ons. Although development must come with a caveat: strict supervision and restricted visitation to protected areas where the turtles nest their eggs. The population is consists mostly of Jama Mapuns, Sama Badjaos, and Taosugs. This writer learned from the inhabitants that they tuned in to Malaysian Television stations for their news and media entertainments. In fact majority is using Malaysian ‘SIM Cards’ for their cell phones as means of communication. It was also noted that the outlaying islands, away from Taganak where the seat of Municipal Government is located, are using Malaysian Ringgit as medium of exchange. The Malaysian influences are so strong by virtue of its proximity (40 kilometers) to Sandakan - a flourishing business Turtle hatchlings readied for release to the open seas. center in the state of Sabah, Malay(Johnny R. Lee) sia. JOHNNY R. LEE

A likely side effect of the pandemic is a shift in tourist preference away from mass tourism destinations in favour of more remote, less-crowded ones as health and safety become the primary concern of travellers. The Philippines is moving to meet these changing demands by bringing in “fresh, less crowded and open destinations”, usually in rural and remote areas, shared Alice Queblatin, Southwind Travel managing director inbound, at an industry webinar. “FITs will be in, group travel out,” Queblatin said, adding that products are being studied “to make them private, safer and more hygienic” in compliance with the health and safety protocols that were rolled out for the travel and tourism industry. Fortunately, the Philippines, being an archipelago of over 7,100 islands, has a plethora of unspoiled ecotourism, nature and remote community destinations. Most of these destinations also have beaches, one of the country’s main attractions. In the province of Cebu, for instance, outside the city are unexplored destinations ripe for authentic and experiential trips, including Aloguinsan, a small town on the western seaboard. Highlights from tour packages in the region include ecotour cruises along the Bojo River and interaction with remote villagers who actively participate in the tour, such as a fisherman guide and the village medicine man who performs a traditional send-off ritual. Ecotourism consultant Boboi Costas, who developed ecotours in nature reserves including the Aloguinsan ecotour, said that with the pandemic, ecotourism sites and experiences will have to be redesigned in order to win back consumers. That process will involve the entire tourism value chain. Everyone from local communities to tour guides should adapt to the new normal, including going digital and adhering to the health and safety protocols, while destination managers should touch base with local health practitioners, Costas said. Equally crucial is enhancing efforts to climate proof one’s operations, he added. Product development wise, Costas said there could be a segmentation or combination of activities like ecotours, wellness or organic farming, and nature-based activities which promises a more private and customised experience – all these are already being adopted by a growing number of destinations. Bohol, best known for the white sand of Panglao and rural scenery, has lesser-known destinations boasting the same attractions, which fortunately, were being developed and packaged following the 2013 earthquake that destroyed a number of its tourist attractions. Lucas Nunag, Bohol Provincial Tourism Council, said they have already developed key tourism circuits anchored on the local culture, heritage and new eco-tourism products like farm and craft tourism and culinary attractions in destinations like Anda, Lila, Maribojoc, and Candijay. BETTING | B4

he Sulu Archipelago Reef complex, which is an ecologically important component of the Coral Triangle, is known to be a major habitat of the Napoleon wrasse or humphead wrasse locally known as the mameng. Sibutu and Sitangkai in the province of Tawi-Tawi, Philippines are the centers of the mariculture of the Napoleon Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus). It is the largest living member of the family Labridae. It is slow growing but can grow to a maximum size exceeding 2 m and 190 kg. This species is locally known as Mameng. When it is sexually matured the locals call it Pehakan referring to the sexually matured female. This species is considered as protogynous hermaphrodite meaning the adults can change sex from female to male. Large male species are called by the natives as langkawit and they are characterized with a prominent bump in the head when it reaches very large size. It has a low productivity and its size at maturity is known to be 25-30 cm or approximately 1 foot. A study of Romero and Injani (2010) indicated that this species is the primary cultured fish for export in more than 350 cages of different sizes and number per cluster of cages surveyed in Sitangkai and Sibutu, TawiTawi. This species constitutes about 76% of the cultured species while others are various species of groupers (lapu-lapu), caranx (pampano), siganids (samaral) and lobsters. From these pens, a total of 31,071 pcs of hump head wrasse fingerlings (0.2-0.5g) were counted. There were 6,914 pcs of under sized HHW (0.6-0.8g) and 4,675 pcs of marketable size (1.0kg-1.4 kg). Based on record of mariculturists as of 2009, the volume of export-

Eco-Tourism

Vol. I, No. 09 | August 14-20, 2020 (Dhuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l-Hijjah 24, 1441-Muharram 1, 1442)

Marine Protected Areas Protect Mameng Spawning Aggregations in Sitangkai and Sibutu

Camiguin is being promoted for dive tourism on top of the usual sightseeing, nature tripping and beach activities; while picturesque Bukidnon is promising for farm and mountain tourism, said Unchuan. Unchuan remains hopeful that an international airport will be built in Bukidnon within the next three years to fur-

ther boost the ecodestinations. Skyjet used to fly from Manila to Camiguin but suspended the flight in March. Without this flight, the island is reachable only by ferry from Cagayan de Oro and a Cebu Pacific flight from Cebu to Camiguin. TTG Asia

By FILEMON G. ROMERO, Ph.D.

Napoleon Wrasse. (Photo by nfrdi.da.gov.ph) ed Hump Head Wrasse from Sibutu and Sitangkai was about 33,732 kgs. At a farm gate price of P2,500.00 per kilo live weight the fish farmers of Sibutu and Sitangkai earned an estimated income of PhP80,956,800.00 or US$1,759,930. This is considered to be the most expensive reef fish and in Hong Kong the buying price at the fish market is PhP10,000.00 per kilo live weight. in 2004 the Hump Head wrasse) has been listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Appendix II provides that all species which although not necessarily now threatened with extinction may become so unless trade of such species is subject to strict regulation in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. Section

97 0f RA 8550 otherwise known as the Fisheries Code as amended in Section 102 of RA 10654 otherwise known as the Revised Fisheries Code of 2014 declares it unlawful to fish or take threatened or endangered species as listed in the CITES. Likewise, Section 11 of RA 9147, otherwise known as Wildlife Protection and Conservation Act also provides for the implementation of international trade in endangered species of wild fauna and flora. Despite these laws, mariculture of this species still goes on. There is no viable substitute of livelihood that can replace the culture of this species. However, the sustainability issue is at stake since the fish farmers depend on wild catch of the species to be ranched or cultured in their in their pens and cages. There is no ex-

BETTING | from Page B3

Betting big on small-scale ecotourism In Luzon, the province of Rizal situated just a few hours from metro Manila, there are vast unexplored areas of natural attractions and indigenous communities, including the 2,700ha reforestation area of the Masungi Georeserve, which is becoming known among millennials and sciencebased teams due to its nature-based recreational activities.

isting technology that is available for the hatchery operation for Hump Head Wrasse. But banning the culture of this species would only force the natives to go underground and still catch fingerlings from the wild and raise them in cages and pens because of the high demand for this species in the Chinese restaurants especially in China. There is a need to work out with the local government and fisherfolk on management interventions so that he population of this species would be protected from continuous decline. The decision was to protect their spawning aggregations. Like many coral reef fishes hump head wrasse, Cheilinus undulatus, form spawning aggregations. Spawning is the term used to describe the reproductive act of some aquatic animals such as fish, mol-

lusks, and crustaceans. Spawning occurs when sperm and eggs are released for fertilization into the water column or deposited onto the seabed. For this form of external fertilization to work, the sperm and eggs must be expelled around the same time and the same place. Humphead wrasse is known to spawn in aggregations consistently at same specific period of the year at a specific area according to Sadovy, et al. 2004. They have small aggregations and the sites are usually on the outer reef slopes, in reef channels or at drop-offs. A study was done to determine the occurrence, history, and management of spawning aggregations of this species. The results of this study were presented to the local government units and validated with the fisherfolk and management measure were adopted. Municipal Ordinance No. 3, Series of 2013, Establishing Mameng Spawning Aggregations Marine Protected Area In Barangay Sipangkot in the Municipal Waters of Sitangkai, Province of TawiTawi, Providing Management Intervention Thereof, and for other Purposes to protect the spawning aggregations of the Humphead Wrasse (Mameng) was approved. Likewise in the Municipality of Sibutu, Municipal Ordinance No. 2, Series of 2013, Establishing Humphead Wrasse (Mameng) Spawning Aggregations Marine Protected Area in Tando Owak, Dungun Dungon to Tong Bakkaan to Pamalikan and Tahing Ungus Mataha in the Municipal Waters of Sibutu, Province of Tawi-Tawi, providing management interventions was also approved. Now the local governments came up with a management plan to manage this highly threatened species which is heavily trafficked as part of the Live Food Fish Trade so that this species would be available now and into the future. FILEMON G. ROMERO

Billie Dumaliang, advocacy officer and managing trustee, Masungi Georeserve Foundation, said that they are partnering with World of Outbound, which organises school trips to the Philippines and advocates for outdoor nature education, to develop virtual field trips, since classes will be conducted remotely and it will likely be some time before traditional field trips resume.

Another destination being primed for ecotourism is Northern Mindanao, which includes the provinces of Camiguin island, Bukidnon, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental and Lanao del Norte. The zone is vastly undeveloped for tourism but is Covid-free, according to Marie Elaine Unchuan, tourism regional director of Northern Mindanao.

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