BusinessWeek Mindanao (February 2-3, 2022) by Mindanao Daily News

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Volume XII, No. 99

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Agonizing wait over with X X okay of compensation bill Briefly M

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Coal concession

THE Energy department said it is seeking challengers for a bid put in by a coal trading company for seven coal blocks in northeastern Mindanao. “This is to inform the public that the Grand Thermal Power Corp. is applying for 40-L-249, 40-L-250, 40-L251, 40-L-252, 40-L-253, 40-L-290 and 40-L-293 Coal Blocks located in Bislig City, Surigao del Sur, and Trento, Agusan del Sur,” the Department of Energy (DoE) said in its Invitation to Challenge posted on its website on Jan. 28. Bacolod-based Grand Thermal is one of 77 coal traders accredited by the DoE as of Nov. 30. Its main coal supplier is KCAL Coal Centre, Inc., according to the department.

Compensation bill THE Senate’s approval of the Marawi Compensation Bill is a huge boost to the recovery efforts of the Lanao del Sur city devastated by the 2017 siege Senate Bill 2420, or the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act, aims to provide compensation for the loss or destruction of private properties brought about by the five-month battle between government forces and Daesh-inspired terrorists. Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM) Chair and Housing Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario lauded the measure in a statement issued Monday night following the Senate's 23-0 vote.

By FROILAN GALLARDO, MindaNews

ARAWI leaders can now breathe a sigh of relief after the Senate passed the Marawi Siege Victims Compensation Act of 2021 (Senate Bill 2420) on Monday.

Now that the “agonizing wait” of thousands of Marawi residents is coming to an end, Meranaw leaders urged both the Senate and the House to convene a bicameral conference to reconcile their respective versions of the Marawi compensation bill. “We are now a step closer to rebuilding whatever is left of our properties. Our urgent call is for the Senate and the House to convene and elect the bicam members,” said Drieza Liningding, leader of the Marawi Consensus Group. The House of Representatives passed its own version, House Bill 9225 or the Marawi Compensation Act, last Sept. 6, 2021. WAIT/PAGE 7

Century-old acacia trees exuding old-world charm still teem inside a school at the poblacion of Glan, Sarangani. mindanews photo by bong s. sarmiento

Community kitchens thrive in post-Odette Siargao By ROEL CATOTO, MindaNews

GENERAL LUNA, Siargao Island – Community kitchens serving food to displaced residents here are thriving as typhoon Odette wreaked havoc not just on houses and other properties but also on sources of livelihood of farmers, fisherfolk, and workers in the tourism industry. Siargao has relied mainly on farming and fishing as a major economic driver since 2020, according to National Economic Development Authority, after its tourism industry suffered losses due

to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Tourism bounced back mid-September 2021 after a m a s s i v e v a c c i n at i on program launched by Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and Vince Dizon, dubbed ‘testing czar’ of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF). Typhoon Odette knocked down t he tour ism and agriculture sector it made its first landfall here on this island 1at 1:30 p.m. on

December 16, the first of nine landfalls in the Philippines. “World Central Kitchen and its partners, Shakeys. ph and L amari Siargao op erate a mobi le fo o d rationing to communities that are underserved by either public and non-government organizations,” Dapa Mayor Elizabeth Matugas said. Matugas was happy that they are helping different communities on the island. World Central Kitchen and its local partners have been feeding at least 105 villages daily across towns in post-Odette Siargao Island, KITCHENS/PAGE 7

CDO’s Covid-19 isolation beds increase to over 600

Rice tariffpn THE Bureau of Customs collected P17.9 billion worth of duties from rice imports as of Dec. 10, 2021, exceeding year-earlier collections on increased volumes. According to preliminary data, duties collected increased 21.9% from the P14.72 billion logged over the same period in 2020, the Department of Finance said in a statement on Sunday. The 2021 revenue total was collected off 2.8 million metric tons of rice shipments worth P51.37 billion.

GREEN THUMB. Dennis Mantilla of Barangay Bitoon in Del Carmen shows the mahogany seedlings that he is propagating. Most of the mahogany trees that his father-in-law planted were either cut or uprooted during typhoon Odette’s onslaught in December 2021. mindanews photo by roel catoto

THE Cagayan de Oro city government has received additional 141 isolation beds for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases from different private and public hospitals in this city. Dr. Ted Yu Jr., medical officer of the city health office (CHO), said in an online briefer Tuesday the additional beds were from various private hospitals, including the JR Borja General Hospital, a public hospital managed by the city government. This is in response to their recent meeting to fight the increasing number of admitted positive cases in the city. Yu said this brought the total of

Covid-19 beds in the city to 661 from 520 beds previously and the primary reason why the total bed utilization rate went down to 62.17 percent. C i t y M a y o r O s c a r Mo r e n o commended the huge help and effort of the different hospitals and underscored the importance of the total bed utilization rate as one of the indicators to be checked by the National Inter-Agency Task (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease for the Covid-19 classification in every area in the country. "Let's give a big round of applause BEDS/PAGE 7

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Health protocol violations caused Davao City surge: exec DAVAO City – A health official here bared Thursday that social gatherings and other violations of the minimum public health standards (MPHS) were to blame for the surge in the city’s coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) cases. In a statement, Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force, pointed to social gatherings during the recent Christmas holiday as the reason behind the surge. As of January 25, the city has logged 8,817 active cases. Since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, the city has tallied a total of 64,561 Covid-19 confirmed cases; 53,918 recoveries; and 1,826

virus-related deaths. “It’s simple. That’s a fact. The reason we have a surge is that we broke the MPHS through social gatherings,” Schlosser said. She noted that Covid-19 spread faster through social gatherings. “If we follow social distancing, wearing of face masks all the time, and then hand hygiene, there’s a great chance that Covid-19 cases will not be as high as it is now,” Schlosser said. In the city’s current Alert Level 3 status, gatherings in residences with individuals not belonging to the same household are strictly not allowed. Earlier, Mayor Sara Z. Duterte has reminded Dabawenyos anew to PROTOCOL/PAGE 7

Local

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WED-THU|FEBRUARY 2-3, 2022

DA-12 orders stricter biosecurity measures vs. ASF

ENERAL Santos City – Department of Agriculture – Soccsksargen (DA-12) Director Dennis R. Arpia on Tuesday ordered the stricter implementation of the "17-10 protocol" biosecurity and quarantine measure to contain and prevent the spread of African swine fever (ASF) in this city and the rest of the region. In a statement, Arpia called on all local government unit (LGU) officials and swine industry stakeholders to “continuously sustain efforts to manage, contain and control ASF, through the 1-7-10

protocol." This came after the city veterinary office (CVO) confirmed on January 24 an ASF case in Purok San Lorenzo, Barangay Apopong here. The ASF case has been managed and controlled, the CVO declared Monday. Under the 1-7-10 protocol, the local government units (LGUs) will cull all pigs within the 1-kilometer radius of the affected farm, while the movement of pork and pork products within 7 kilometers will be limited. “The DA and LGUs will also work together to conduct

surveillance and monitoring within the 10-kilometer radius of the ASF affected area,” Arpia said. He said the DA has ordered to get blood samples for further laboratory testing on the other hogs in the city and all turned out negative from the hog disease. Meanwhile, Dr. Antonio Ephrem Marin, the CVO chief, said he requested the city government for additional manpower to man their animal quarantine checkpoints as they plan to expand it to barangay roads to properly monitor the possible entry of pork products from AF-affected areas. (PNA)

Gov. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo says he will regulate the mobility of persons unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in the province starting January 24, 2022 during the Serbisyong PPR radio program, January 21. (FMR)

Camiguin to regulate movement of unvaxxed locals CAMIGUIN—Containing the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID)-19, especially with the presence of its new

variants, Gov. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo will regulate the mobility of persons unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated

against COVID-19 in the province. “Non-fully vaccinated persons shall remain in their residence at all times except to work or to procure essential goods and services,” Romualdo said during the Serbisyong PPR, radio program, January 21. To be permitted outside the residence for work, non-fully vaccinated persons must present appropriate identification and credentials such as company or office identification cards or employment certificates for employees, business permits for entrepreneurs, and barangay certification for farmers and fisherfolks. For those procuring essential goods or services, non-fully vaccinated persons must present a barangay pass indicating the purpose for their movement to be permitted outside their residence. The barangay pass shall be valid for one-time use only and such shall be issued by the punong barangay of the barangay where the non-fully vaccinated person resides. The barangay must also REGULATE/PAGE 7

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CorporateWorld

Imported vehicle sales grow 14% in 2021

HE appetite of the local market for imported vehicles recovered in 2021 as sales grew 14 percent compared to 2020 numbers, the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID) reported Monday. AVID said imported vehicle sales last year increased to 58,916 units from 51,851 units in 2020. The double-digit growth in sales of light commercial vehicles offset the 9 percent decline of passenger car sales last

year. Imported light commercial vehicles sold 42,871 units in 2021, higher by 23 percent than the 34,896 unit sales in 2020. Sales of outsourced passenger cars in the previous year decreased to 15,092 units from 16,650 units sold a year ago. On the other hand, commercial vehicle sales jumped 212 percent to 953 units from 305 units in the same period. Month-on-month, AVID members’

cumulative sales increased by 7 percent to 5,259 units in December last year from 4,903 units in November. Some 4,110 units sold in the previous month were light commercial vehicles, 1,140 units were passenger cars, and nine units of commercial vehicles. AVID president Maria Fe Perez-Agudo said easing the mobility towards the latter part of the year has contributed to the recovery of the industry. VEHICLES/PAGE 7

Matchmaking platform launched for MSMEs going global PHL AirAsia says domestic matchmaking events to find new and relevant the region and beyond to MICRO, small and travel picked up in January of their choice for an business contacts. This participate in live market medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Southeast Asian countries finding new customers, suppliers, and events where they can showcase their products and technologies for free can utilize a business matching portal to help them go international. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has officially launched the ASEAN Access MATCH, a virtual matchmaking platform that allows businesses in

information events, and book cross-border matchmaking meetings, according to a news release on Sunday. Reinhold Elges, country director of GIZ (Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) Thailand, said the success of MSMEs is vital to economic growth in the region. “However, when it comes to international trade, one key issue that businesses, especially MSMEs, face is the need

is where the public and private business support community can come in and make a difference,” he said during the January 25 launch of the platform. The Deutsche GIZ implements projects and programs on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and supports the development of the ASEAN Access. In the ASEAN Access MATCH, Elges said public and private event organizers can run an unlimited number of

unlimited period of time. “We have seen that we can all be productive and achieve a lot by connecting virtually online so reducing the time and also the cost to meet a potential client or new supplier. MATCH makes business matchmaking attainable for everyone,” he said. Apart from showcasing products and technologies during events, Elges added registered members of ASEAN Access can promote these for free in the platform. PLATFORM/PAGE 7

DOMESTIC travel picked up in January despite the surge in coronavirus cases, low-cost carrier Philippines AirAsia, Inc. said on Monday. The airline reported a 182% increase in domestic travel for the month of January. “The uptick in [coronavirus] cases in January has not affected domestic travel as the airline recouped 42% of its pre-COVID flight frequency this month,” the low-cost carrier said in an e-mailed statement.

“Seats sold for said month also increased by 200% as compared to the same month in the previous year. Moreover, load factor has increased by 10%,” it added. The airline noted that Caticlan, Cebu and Tacloban remained the top destinations for both leisure and essential travels. The low-cost carrier has also started gradually increasing its domestic flights slated for February for Davao, Iloilo, Cagayan TRAVEL/PAGE 7

Opinion

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Consciousness, Our Essence

KIM'S DREAM

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ORLAN R. RAVANERA A human being is more than form (human – body); as a Being, he/she is eternal prior to taking a form(body). We are all embodied spirits, more spirit than body having been created in the image and likeness of God. This is a truism that must be the basis of our existence so that the development of the spirit must be the priority rather than be enslaved to the whims and caprices of the body. But the collective mindset of humanity seems just to focus on forms rather than on consciousness. It is sad to note that the present development paradigm indulges so much on unbridled materialism and consumerism which does not only run counter to the essence of our very own spirituality but can be likened to the workings of an auto-immune disease syndrome (AIDS), where no less than the body’s defense mechanisms are attacking vital organs. We decimate our forests, pollute our rivers and bays; we produce food yet contaminate our water table following costly agricultural technologies

tied up to the heavy use of toxic chemicals; modern living adopting lifestyle that what makes of a throw-awaysociety – all done in the name of development. As biblically stated, man is made in the image and likeness of God, the Creator. But paradoxically, it is appearing that man has reduced the essence of God to his own image. This is the reason why the world now is facing threats of war in all fronts. The egoic mindset of world leaders follows that high veneration to the ego, i.e., I am right and you are wrong and if you oppose me, there will be war! That kind of mindset can only be described as ruthless and futureless which has made the impossible now possible, which is the end of life on earth. Biodiversity embracing the billions of life forms has tremendously decreased as these life forms which have evolved on earth for billions of years are now extinct. As the earth warms and the oceans rise, we are now confronted on how to feed, clothe and house the exponentially growing earthlings that will reach the 9.3 billion mark in 2050. If our way of making a living is killing Mother Earth because it is just all about how to respond to bodily needs, that kind of minds et has tot a l ly disregarded man’s spirituality. In fact, the growth-at-allcost development strategy is rooted on the brutal, jungle-like philosophy of

the “survival of the fittest”, “fittest” being the most aggressive, the strongest – all but physical qualities. This world is not just all physical. As embodied spirits, we must develop our spiritual qualities as these are what are the essentials when we will leap to the Great Beyond. In the world inside the womb of a mother, the fetus must develop the physical qualities as it is a sort of hell living on earth without senses or arms or feet. But the next life will not anymore be physical but consciousness or spiritual, thus, we must develop what are the essentials in the spiritual world such as love, service, intellectual prowess, patience, kindness, honesty, integrity and all the God-like qualities that qualify us to end up in the loving embrace of God. How can you end up in God’s loving embrace if all you have developed on earth is the physical devoid of love. All material wealth will have no bearing in the spiritual world as signified in the biblical lines, “what will profit a man if he gains the whole world but suffer the loss of his soul.” That kind of development that is just centered on materiality and consumerism must now be debunked. There is now the increasing call to replace it with one that is sustainable, holistic and community-based that puts the people at the center and at the mainstream of development processes. Hu m an d e vel opme nt

must take precedence over materiality. The first principle of sustainable development is the full development of human potentials. The most pitiful sight on earth is to see a human being dying without developing his/her human potentials whose heart has not throbbed with that celestial fire called love. We in the cooperative movement adhere to the United Nations’ definition as the full development of human potentials, the expansion of choices and opportunities. For development to be so, it must pass a three-way test. First, is it ecologically sustainable, meaning, it does not harm the environment but instead nurtures it. Second, does it benefit the people in whose name and for whose cause it is there for? And third, does it have people’s participation? We believe that unless people participate in development processes, all the outpourings of development programs will just be palliatives. All told, unless all these three criteria are satisfied, no development can take place, only maldevelopment. Mahatma Gandhi had put it more succinctly when he said, “If man has to be saved from doom, development must be in harmony with nature and not at its own expense.” As embodied spirits, let us all be one with God’s creation in the spirit of love and service exemplifying “paglilingkod” at “pagmamahal” through cooperativism.

My prayers and me

Oro Chamber

Bring out the best Think a minute… Winston Churchill was 65-yearsold when he first became England’s Prime Minister. It was May of 1940 and England’s military was not prepared for war. So when Hitler’s massive German army began attacking the British Isles, almost all of the military experts expected Germany to quickly and easily conquer England. But these experts could not imagine that in only seven months, Winston Churchill would help change the history of both England and the entire Western World. During those months, when the families of Great Britain gathered in their homes to listen to their leader over the radio, their feelings of fear and hopelessness were replaced with great confidence and courage. Why? Churchill knew just how to inspire the English people to believe in themselves and in their just cause of defending freedom by stopping the spread of evil tyranny. In fact, defeating Germany’s powerful army became “England’s finest hour.”

WED-THU|FEBRUARY 2-3, 2022

We are more than form

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RUFINO T. MAGBANUA Vice President for Business Development

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THINK A MINUTE

JHAN TIAFAU HURST It has been said: “People who feel good about themselves do their best.” Whether it is at work on the job or at home with their family. So if you want people to change, you must help them believe in themselves so they will want to change and become their best. But when we criticize or shame our children, our wife or husband, or people we work with, we only hurt them and tear down their selfconfidence. So why should we expect them to be better when we have made them feel and believe they cannot do it? We all do our best when we feel good about ourselves. BEST/PAGE 7

The pandemic has not only made our lives more difficult, but has killed many people. We are thus living in panic and feeling helpless and pray more desperately for family protection, for faith in difficulties, and for our lives and work. Prayer is how we as Christians draw close to God as well as a necessary condition for us to be moved by the Holy Spirit, and enlightened and illuminated by God. If we genuinely pray to God, and understand the principles and practices of prayer, when we encounter difficulties or dilemmas in our life, we’ll be able to face them in a relaxed way. "The Power of Prayer" is a 2020 song by Bruce Springsteen from his album Letter to You. It was only released as a radio single, and a promotional video was released on November 23, a month after the release of the album. The song has a spiritual language. Springsteen was born in a Roman Catholic household, and that turned him off religion, but he didn't lose his faith. The video features archival footage from his youth and clips of Springsteen and the E Street Band working on the song in the studio. The message of the video is about

old friends he’s lost and the optimism of that era, reflected in the footage of Jersey Shore in the summertime during Springsteen’s youth. When tragedy strikes, it's easy to harden our hearts and cry out, "God, why did you let this happen?" Maybe then, we started praying. Before, when everything went smoothly, we would not even think a minute about praying... . "To be a Christian without prayer, "said Martin Luther, "is no more possible than to be alive without breathing." Prayer is the only way of becoming what God wants us to be. This is the reason why Jesus spent many hours praying. Unquestionable, our needs bring us to a place of prayer. Confronted with danger or tragedies, as I mentioned earlier, we look for God's help. Difficult times always cause the hearts of men to turn to God into prayer. Let me ask you: How long has it been since you've brought your burdens to God? Since you asked His forgiveness for your shortcomings? In his very interesting book "People in Prayer", Dr. John White reminds us that prayer is a divine-human interaction and it is always God who takes the initiative. White writes:

"God speaks and we respond. God is always speaking. To hear his voice is not usually a mystical experience. It consists merely of a willingness to pay heed to God who lays a claim to our lives." Yes, God always speaks. It is up to us whether we will listen and respond to Him. Many think we are the ones who initiate prayer. But prayers begin and end with God. There was a time, I wasn't in the mood to pray any more. It seemed that God didn't listen to my prayer any more. I didn't get what I prayed for. Of course, not... ! That's not the meaning of praying to God. Will all my wishes be granted? Heaven forbid! Sometimes, after we have prayed, God's answers may puzzle us. But as time goes by and as events unfold we see God's purpose in His answers. We might get a larger vision, what HE likes. Not what WE like... . Think about it for a moment: How does the idea that prayer begins and ends with God affect me now? Do I have the habit of listening to God? How do I respond to Him? How do I usually pray? I confess that a long time ago I have been trying to persuade God to change other people in my surroundings

HAVE MY SAY

KLAUS DORING or circumstances. Nothing changed. Of course not, what a fatal attraction? I got confused because God never granted my requests. Meanwhile I got God's answers to my prayers. Maybe very simple: I was willing to let God change me... .This is how each one of us should start. Happy endings. Because I prayed according to His will... . Now a d ay s , I l i ve a wonderful life in my second and last home, the Philippines. I never regretted moving here for good. I have everything I could ask for. I can do everything I wish to do. Thank you Lord for all the blessings. +++ Email: doringklaus@gmail. com or follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www. klausdoringsclassicalmusic. blogspot.com.

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Banking&Finance

BSP launches 6-year BSP leads stronger bid plan to reduce towards financial inclusion unbanked population F INANCIAL inclusion encompasses not just broader access to financial products but provides opportunities even for people in the lower bracket of society to move up the ladder, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said Friday. In his speech during the hybrid event held both virtually and physically for the launch of the National Strategy for Financial Inclusion (NSFI) 2022-2028, Diokno said stakeholders defined what

financial inclusion is in the local setting when they launched the original NSFI in 2015. He said the initial program allowed greater public and private sector collaboration towards bringing more Filipinos into the formal banking system. These measures allowed previously unbanked Filipinos to open transaction accounts, obtain loans, invest, and purchase insurance products through the formal financial system. “These initiatives have been instrumental

BSP, bankers assure public of measures vs. counterfeit notes

THE Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) said stringent measures are in place against the proliferation of fake banknotes, like those dispensed through the automated teller machines (ATMs). This, as the central bank earlier called on the public to be more vigilant on checking paper bills they get even from ATMs. “ATM services are part of core banking functions, and banks are bound by law to exercise the highest degree of diligence in protecting their clients’ interest. The BSP will hold the banks accountable should they fail to observe measures to protect their clients,” BSP said in a public advisory on Friday. The central bank said financial institutions “have a responsibility to guarantee that banknotes coming from their ATMs are genuine, consistent with the BSP’s Financial Consumer Protection Framework, which requires financial service providers, such as banks, to conduct ethical business practices and not to engage in any practice that may cause harm to the consumer.” The ATM system, it said, “performs soundly under recognized risk management guidelines, and the BSP’s comprehensive approach to safeguarding the Philippine currency includes well-defined mechanisms for reporting doubtful currencies, for examination by the BSP.” “Thus, the public is encouraged to report any untoward incident to their respective banks or the BSP, for appropriate action,” it said. The BSP also disclosed that it has requested lawmakers to enact the “Financial Products and Services Protection Act or the Financial Consumer Protection Act.” “The said legislative measure, if enacted, will address the gaps in our existing laws and better equip financial regulators, such as the BSP, with adequate legal authority to respond to complaints and enforce prudent, responsible, and customercentric standards of business conduct. Said bill is currently pending in Congress,” it said. It assured the public that the central bank would continue to enforce rules and regulations to maintain a sound and stable financial system for consumers. The BAP, in a statement, has guaranteed the public “that the banking industry is a proactive partner in eradicating the circulation of counterfeit banknotes.” "Banks implement strict cash management services protocols and meticulous security procedures to follow Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) guidelines for the transit and loading of fit banknotes in ATMs," the BAP statement read. “While bills in ATMs do not come directly from a bank’s transactions of the day, banks have always maintained qualified personnel trained and equipped to identify counterfeit banknotes to prevent these fake banknotes from entering the banking system,” it said. It also encouraged the public to report to authorities any instances wherein they suspect that the banknotes they have are counterfeit. “The making and importing of counterfeit money is a criminal act, and we join the BSP’s call for vigilance in identifying counterfeit money. The partnership between the BSP and BAP, together with a vigilant public, will pave the way for ensuring that counterfeit money and their sources are fully eradicated,” it added. (PNA)

in broadening access to essential financial products and services. In turn, they uplifted lives by giving the poor the means to protect and grow their livelihoods, improve their well-being, and ultimately, take greater control of their future,” he said. Diokno said other pluses to the program are the implementation of the national ID system and the digitalization of social protection benefits and financial services. He, however, noted that more work needs to be done since “the paramount vision of financial inclusion, after all, is to foster sustainable, broad-based growth that promotes shared prosperity and opportunities.” “Access to financial products and services must not only be broad, but also meaningful in a sense that it opens up opportunities for the man on the street to move up in life,” he said. Diokno said gains to include more adult Filipinos in the formal system are being registered but the 2019 Financial Inclusion Survey showed that 71 percent of the estimated 51 million

target beneficiaries remain unreached by the formal financial system. “With these realities and other significant developments transforming the country’s financial inclusion landscape, our vision and strategy must evolve to reflect new exigencies, new demands, and opportunities,” he said, pointing out that the latest program “signifies our greater collective commitment and aspiration for a more financially included and empowered citizenry.” Diokno noted that “it takes a deliberate stance to address the significant disparities in financial inclusion levels across demographics and segments.” “By articulating concrete desired outcomes, priorities, performance indicators, and targets, this landmark document will not only serve as a financial inclusion blueprint for the next six years but also as a powerful tool for communicating our bold commitment to the financial inclusion agenda,” he added. (PNA)

Children’s Learning Outcome During COVID19 CECILE CLYDE S. UBALDE Teacher 3 Claveria Central School

The process of acquiring and assessing information on what children know, understand, and can do in order to make an informed decision about the next steps in the educational process is known as student learning assessments. Assessment is especially important for determining each student's learning needs and tailoring education accordingly. From the moment a kid is born, parents are recognized to be their child's first teacher, and as they grow into adults, parents' traditional roles include educating, leading, and nurturing children to become strong members of their communities. When their children begin formal schooling, most parents allow the school to take over a significant portion of their children's formal education. When it comes to formal education, parents are more of a supplier. Unless parents have assumed full responsibility for homeschooling their children, ensuring that the children have the necessar y provision and assistance to access education and learning. Since the pandemic began, parents have begun to play a more supportive role by

assisting their children with assignments and home projects. Teachers used to be in control of students' e du c at i on i n t he ol d system. They create lesson plans and deliver lectures and activities in person. Teachers assist students in forming inquiry and learning communities in which they can collaborate w it h on e a n o t h e r t o widen and deepen their comprehension of their lessons. U l t i m a t e l y, d u e to the fact that many families cannot afford the technology for online connectivity, the new normal in education now is characterized by remote learning, which heavily relies on the students' and their respective families' abilities to sustain quality education with minimal or almost non-existent supervision from teachers.

THE central bank’s financial inclusion plan over the next six years is targeting the unbanked ranks within the consumer small business, and agriculture sectors. The National Strategy for Financial Inclusion 2022 to 2028 launched by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Friday targets four key outcomes, including reduced disparities in financial inclusion; improved health and resilience; more financially capable and empowered consumers; and increased access to financing by micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), including startups, and the agriculture sector workers. “This signifies our greater collective commitment and aspiration for a more financially included and empowered citizenry. It takes a deliberate stance to address the significant

disparities in financial inclusion levels across demographics and segments,” BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno said. The new strategy succeeds the first national government directive for financial inclusion in 2015. “(This) benefits the disadvantaged and lowincome groups to reduce financial stress and help them to become more productive,” President Rodrigo R. Duterte said in a video message at the launch. The central bank sought the assistance of the Asian Development Bank to update its inclusion strategy. The BSP’s goal is for 70% of adult Filipinos to have a formal financial account by 2023. Mr. Diokno has said 53% of adults had a basic deposit or an e-money account as of the first quarter of 2021.

“Interaction-based Sessions” CECILLE T. UCAB

Sessions are commonly done nowadays via the internet due to the present pandemic situation. What was then activities, events, and gatherings are held through various online media platforms and can be attended at the convenience of our homes. S o ci a l seminars are also one of the schools, even local government units’ efforts to offer knowledge and skill-based awareness to the constituents involved. The nation-wide school systems which are expected to hold these sessions have increasingly been affected, given that faceto-face interaction is not a possible option as of the moment; hence, webinars have become a substantial solution. Now, since arrangements for hosting such webinar sessions are considered less hassle, given that the undertakings are easy to acquire compared to the physical aspect, it actually poses a bigger concern, which threatens the objective we expect to take, and that is the attentiveness we desire from the audience. Although schools do host various sessions, the only indication we believe that we get from the audience is the mere ‘attendance’ provided by their names edged on the screen. Attendance, which can then be used to induce participation will serve as the guarantee that they take part, however, will not ensure attentivity. With that said, interaction-based webinar sessions must become the norm. Because in all honestly, online

activities which do not give necessity to interaction is useless, especially with cl ass pres ent at ions. I have interviewed various students, most in the upper years, and one thing that they ensure is that teachers who take special care of active participation guarantee their student’s attention. This is the reason for being able to cope up with the questions thrown at them, which in turn will save them from any uncompensated emotions such as embarrassment and such due to the inability of providing what was asked of them. With this, they are much eager to listen and participate. The idea of learning in spite of the present situation sometimes puts them in a bleak spot. However, positive encouragement and exercising what just needs to be done is a must. Of course, with understanding nestling all of these, I believe we shouldn’t encourage too much. Yet at the same time, we need to uphold what is expected from us in the first place, and that is to teach the youth despite the new normal set-up. And to effectively do this, is to instill active interaction and not focus always on pre or post-assessment.

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Lacson rejects crony capitalism; says ‘debt of gratitude’ must not lead to unhealthy compromises Expect no prominent families with business empires or are part of political clans to get richer and more famous under the possible administration of Partido Reporma chairman and standard-bearer Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson as he absolutely rejects the ideas of crony capitalism or cronyism. In an interview with DWIZ online radio over the weekend, Lacson said the single standard policy that he wants to implement acrossthe-board would ensure that crony capitalists would not rise during his reign, if and

when he is elected as the 17th president. “Sabi ko nga isang standard lang e. Ang pagkakamali talaga ng maraming administration, ‘pag nandiyan na double ang standard. Iba ‘yung trato doon sa kaalyado, kaibigan, kamaganak [at] iba ‘yung trato doon sa hindi kaalyado o maski kaaway pa sa pulitika. Dapat isa lang ang standard,” he said. [As I said, there will be one standard. The common mistake of past administrations was that once they get there, they apply a double standard. Allies, friends, relatives are

Reasons why students get a COVID-19 vaccine (CDC) By: NIDA N. POSTRANO

For almost two years spread of COVID-19, students’ learning was affected. Schools were closed and learners are studying at home with the use of online or modular modality. Parents and family members serve as facilitators of learning. Parents felt difficulty in teaching their children due to their limited educational background. Household chores and livelihood were affected in accomplishing the modules. Parents and students can hardly understand the lessons and continually asking when to have the face to face classes in school. DepEd officials stressed out that COVID vaccine is the solution to the problem. Why do students need to get vaccinated? 1. Many young people will experience persistent COVID symptoms month after their essential illness. 2. Young adults are responsible or most of COVID-19 spread. 3. Students congregate in group settings where the COVID-19 virus can easily spread. 4. T h e O m i c r o n Variant, the most common variant in ND, is highly contagious (may cause more than 3x as many infections as Delta. 5. Getting vaccinated will prevent infections and help limit the spread of disease, Keeping college students and staff safe. Schools and school

districts are large part of the daily life for many children and families. Schools can help promote COVID -19 vaccines. 1. Set -up a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at your s c h o ol . Te a c h e r s an d students can be vaccinated. 2. Par t n e r up on COVID-19 vaccine related in your communityestablishing partnership with local health departments, municipal departments and local healthcare providers, local businesses, churches, sports teams, community- based organizations, unions and media companies. 3. Arm school staff with resources for answering general COVID-19 vaccination questions. 4. Promote vaccine confidence among students, parents, and guardians 5. Promote well-child visits for routine health needs. 6. Make COVID-19 a t e a c h abl e m om e nt Discussions about COVID-19 and vaccination can be incorporated in many different subjects in age appropriate, meaningful ways. Faculty and staff of the school can help promote COVID-19 vaccine to parents and students as well as work with the community as partner in successful implementation of the program for safe Philippines and the whole world to live in. Together we can fight COVID-19.

treated differently from those who are not considered as allies or even their political enemies. There should only be one standard.] Lacson recognized that crony capitalism, or the practice of giving undue advantage to political and business associates who helped bankroll the presidential bid of a particular candidate, is what has been holding the country back for so many years. He vowed to end this culture under his watch. “Kaya nga hindi tayo makausad minsan kasi nananatili ‘yung, alam mo, ‘yung… Kasi sabi nila ‘politics is an art of compromise’ para bang mabubuhay ang pulitika sa pagkokompromiso. E pagka ganoon ang ating sinusunod na panuntunan, paano tayo makaka-move on? Paano tayo makaka-move up?” he said. [The reason we can’t feel some progress is because of, you know… What they say is that ‘politics is an art of compromise’ and it persists. Like politics only thrives when there are compromises. If we are going to keep following that principle, how can we

move on? How can we move up?] The Partido Reporma chief understood that this practice is rooted in some inherent Filipino values such as ‘utang na loob’ or ‘debt of gratitude,’ which, although it is generally considered a positive trait, could also lead to abuse over time. “Mahirap, napakahirap… Dapat baguhin talaga ‘yung kultura. Marami tayong mga kultura na, alam mo, ‘yung mga values na minana natin sa mga ninuno natin… Walang masama sa utang na loob e, pero ilagay sa lugar,” Lacson noted. [It is difficult, really difficult… We should really start by changing the culture. We have a lot of cultural traits that need (to be updated) like some of the values we inherited from our ancestors. There is nothing wrong about the debt of gratitude, but we should put it in place.] “’Pagka ‘yung utang na loob mo ay sumobra na doon sa threshold na kung saan kasama na [ang] abuso, sobrang bayad ng utang na loob ‘yon, kasi inaabuso ka

Escalating reading among learners By: SHIELA C. PLAZA Teacher I

Yes, reading is fun and it makes us as a full man. But, sad to note that some of the pupils are slow when it comes to reading, others are even having difficulty in reading. That is why, this posts as a big challenge to us teachers on how we can ably capacitate pupils to know how to read, even further capacitating them to love reading. Teaching the basic, the fundamental. Indeed, it is of top most priority that we teachers should teach the basic of reading. Of course, we should introduce first letters in the alphabet and the like. With this, it requires most of dedication and patience from us teachers. We cannot deny that it is not always at the first try that these pupils will learn how to read immediately; they would not learn right away. That is why we should always be ready to equip ourselves with so much patience and determination as an attestation that we

really want our learners, our pupils to know how to read, then make it a habit, and eventually they will love reading. Reading a piece every day. As it takes enough patience, it requires ample time for the pupils to know how to read that is why, the moment they will know how to read, let us not stop there, it must be cultivated to become a habit. One way, is to let each learner, each pupil to read a piece culled out from the books and let them read it in front of the class. In this way, we as well develop their selfesteem and self-confidence. Should the pupil skip a word in front, as teachers, we should always encourage them that they can, and promote an environment of pupils encouraging each other. Let us never humiliate our pupils in front as they will feel disappointed and worst the next time we will call them, they will be shy to stand again in front.

na, sige ka pa rin, binibigyan mo pa rin ng pabor,” the presidential aspirant added. [If the debt of gratitude gets too far and reaches a certain threshold leading to abuse, that becomes overpayment of debt of gratitude, (which is wrong). Because you know you’re already being abused, but you keep going, keep giving favors (that are not necessary).] To avoid falling into the same trap, Lacson already went on record to say that he would not allow members of his immediate family and relatives to hold government positions. His wife would only serve as ‘ceremonial first lady’ during social events and other gatherings. In one of his recent presidential interviews, Lacson also said that he prefers to appoint career officials in key government positions.

Members of his official family or Cabinet-ranked personnel would also be selected based on their integrity, competence, courage and other essential qualifications. The Partido Reporma chairman is seeking the highest public office via the 2022 Philippine general elections with his running mate Senate President Vicente ‘Tito’ Sotto III. They are both advocating for the re-establishment of good government with zero tolerance for corruption. Together they vow to bring long-term positive changes to improve the lives of Filipinos and for the betterment of the country through sound policies anchored on the message "Aayusin ang Gobyerno, Uubusin ang Magnanakaw” (Fix the Government, Get Rid of the Thieves).

Importance of using technology in distance learning By JINNY A. LUMINHAY Teacher II

PRIVATE schools in the Philippines have used digital platforms to connect students with teachers for online classes. However, parents also believe that besides offline education, the authorities should simultaneously focus on improving the online mode of education. B e i n g a t e a c h e r, I must say that the online education especially in the time of pandemic has helped my students to cope-up with the learning losses. It wou l d not b e appropriate to say that online education has fully covered the learning gaps, but to a very greater extent, it has filled the gaps.

This is the peak time to upgrade our education system. Authorities at this time shall ensure that the way it is upgrading the infrastructure and quality of education for offline classes, similar efforts shall be made to upgrade the online mode of education by installing ICT labs, smar t classro oms and developing new websites. The system must be accessed by a controlled mechanism. The teacher can afterwards login into the system and upload e-content, Assignments and the link to video lectures. The student can access the material and watch the video on the portal after logging in to the system.

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Best... from page 4

A successful businessman says: “Instead of catching people doing something wrong to criticize and punish them, try to catch people doing something right and praise them for it. Then they will want to keep doing that right thing and always do their best.” This is why Jesus teaches us to love others as ourselves. Make others feel good about themselves the way you want to feel good about yourself. Won’t you ask God the Son to forgive you for the wrong ways you have lived and treated others? Then ask Him to start changing your heart, so you can become your best, and help bring out the best in others. Just think a minute.

Vehicles... from page 3

“You cannot downplay the importance of mobility in the reopening of the economy, gradual though it may be,” Perez-Agudo said. “With unwavering confidence in the market and in the quality of our product and service offerings, AVID members are determined to build on these gains and look.

Travel... from page 3

De Oro, Bacolod, Puerto Princesa, Panglao and Kalibo “in preparation for a possible influx of travelers.” The airline previously said, citing its own survey, that seven out of 10 Filipinos are still keen on pushing through with their planned air travel in the next nine months despite the rising coronavirus cases. Philippines AirAsia Chief Executive Officer Ricardo P. Isla said that the airline has observed an increase in Filipinos’ confidence to travel as the country gains “a better understanding of the pandemic” and develops “a more fitting culture of safety and vigilance.”

Platform... from page 3

Associate Professor Dr. Veerapong Malai, directorgeneral of the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion in Thailand, said the platform features country information and key sectors, thus users can utilize business insights in EXTRA-JUDICIAL PARTITION OF ESTATE

identifying opportunities and trends. As e an C o ord i nat i ng Committee on MSMEs chair, Dato Suriani binti Dato Ahmad, said that beyond the regulatory barriers to trading goods and services, the additional challenges faced by MSMEs include having limited access to information and distribution channels. “Needless to say, having access to distribution networks is a crucial component for businesses particularly in diversifying (their) customer base domestically or internationally,” he said. Ahmad said the Committee has been forging partnerships with economic players among Asean member states, including some agencies and enablers, chamb er of commerce, and industry associations that aim to establish regional partnerships with international organizations. “These network partners will greatly contribute to accelerating the growth of international trade in the region by supporting MSMEs and other businesses through ASEAN Access and ASEAN Access MATCH,” he added. Satvinder Singh, deputy secretary-general for Asean Economic Community, said businesses in the region have resumed as the vaccination rates in the Asean cities have reached 70 percent. Singh cited the Asian Development Bank forecast that Southeast Asian economies will grow by 5.1 percent in 2022 from the 3 percent it projected last year. He also highlighted the Regional Comprehensive E c o n o m i c Pa r t n e r s h i p (RCEP) which came into force in the first week of January this year. Singh said RCEP, the largest free trade agreement in the world connecting Asean and major economies, is expected to stimulate expansion of regional trade and investments, and further strengthen the resilience of the supply chains among the signatory states. “Thus we all believe that the launching of the ASEAN Access MATCH could not have been more timely than now,” he added. “Today, our businesses need to look not just only within their own economies. They need to look out, they need to globalize, they need to internationalize.” Singh thus urged ASEAN MSMEs to explore t he platform as one of their

“must go” tools for their internationalization activities when they look for new markets around the world. (PR)

Protocol... from page 2

be ‘extra careful’ and to strictly follow the MPHS as the city is currently experiencing a surge which she said might reach until the middle of March. The mayor pointed out that the transmission among households is evident in the new cases saying most were asymptomatic and mild cases. “That’s the anticipated length or period of our surge (until mid-March) but that can still change depending on our behavior,” Schlosser said. She reiterated the i mp or t an c e of c ont a c t tracing and testing with those manifesting Covid-19 symptoms, as well as the isolation of Covid-19 positive patients and quarantining of close contacts. “If we want the surge to end early then we have to follow these strategies and guidelines,” Schlosser said. (PNA)

Regulate... from page 2

indicate the date of its issuance and the name of the non-fully vaccinated person it was issued to and the specific purpose for its issuance. “Kanang mugawas sa balay nga dili baksinado, mangayo ka sa barangay og pass nga kung pwede ka mugawas,” Romualdo said. (To those unvaccinated individuals who will go outside their residence, you need to get a barangay pass so you’ll know if you are allowed to go outside of your residence) Further, Romualdo added that non-fully vaccinated persons shall be prohibited in dine-in restaurants and other food and beverage establishments including bars, karaoke bars, whether indoor or outdoor, tourist sites and attractions, and sports and recreation facilities. They shall also be prohibited from leisure or social trips to malls, shops, resorts, and other similar establishments and venues. Moreover, all establishments and venues s h a l l re qu i re pro of of COVID-19 vaccination from guests or customers to allow entry. Drivers of public utility

KN O W A LL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: That the late PASTOR Q. ABA who died intestate on _____________, without leaving a will; that at the time of her death, she is the registered owner of the following properties, which is more particularly described as follows; Tax Declaration No. 0815001010112 situated at Malanang (now Taboc), Opol, Misamis Oriental, containing an area of ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED EIGHTY (1,780) Square Meters, more or less, and has been the subject of an EXTRA-JUDICIAL PARTITION OF ESTATE, filed by the heirs of PASTOR Q. ABA, per DOC #258; PAGE #52; BOOK #XLIX; Series of 2021 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. JAYFRANCIS D. BAGO. BWM: Jan 26, Feb 2 & 9, 2022

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vehicles should require commuters a proof of full C OVID-19 vaccinat ion before allowing the latter to board on the vehicle. Non-fully vaccinated persons shall be prohibited in land transportation except for work or procurement of essential goods and services. As to bringing of children or minors, Romualdo said fully vaccinated parents may bring their unvaccinated minor/children below 12 years of age outside of residence for leisure or social trips. Minor/children who are 12-17 years old must have at least received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose and the accompanying adult must be fully vaccinated to be permitted outside of their residence. The said order, which he will sign on Monday, will take effect, January 24, 2022, Romualdo added. (RTP/PIA10/Camiguin)

Wait... from page 1

A bicam committee composed of members of the Senate and the House has to settle the conflicting versions of the two bills before President Rodrigo Duterte would sign it into law. Liningding said they hoped President Duterte would sign it before the 17th Congress would adjourn in June. The reconstruction of Marawi City is a source of tension and frustration among residents affected by the war between the government and Daesh-inspired militants in 2017. The non-government organization International Alert, in its 2020 report, said close to 127,000 Marawi residents are still displaced or living in temporary shelters. The NGO said many of the displaced residents are living with their relatives or friends and scattered all over the cities of Iligan, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Cebu and Manila. The Task Force Bangon Marawi (TFBM), a government agency tasked to rebuild the city, reported that 80 percent of the reconstruction of public facilities have been completed as of December 2021. TFBM officials stressed that the money released by government are for the reconstruction of government infrastructures only, not for

houses and buildings owned by residents. As a result, areas in the 24 barangays in the “Most Affected Area” are still in ruins and have been taken over by vegetation. “What is the use of new masjids if there are no people to pray in them?” Mindanao State University history professor Tirmizy Abdullah asked. NGO worker Leah Tarhata Mehila noted that Marawi residents have been scattered all around the country. “Four years of suffering is enough,” she added. Bangsamoro Transition Authority parliament member Zia Alonto Adiong said the Senate passage of SB 2420 is “a step towards the social healing of Marawi residents.” “For so long the residents have suffered, and giving the money directly to the beneficiaries will lessen their frustrations,” he said. Adiong said he is glad that the Senate and House bills provide mechanism where owners of properties that were demolished and destroyed during the five-month Marawi siege may file their claims for compensation. Marawi leader and senatorial candidate Samira Gutoc said residents could demand payment from the incoming administration should the Marawi compensation bill is passed into law before the 17th Congress adjourns. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)

Beds... from page 1

to our private and public hospitals, especially the Northern Mindanao Medical Center (NMMC) for adjusting by providing additional isolation beds. We are worried if the total bed utilization rate will go to over 70 percent as this will be considered high-risk," Moreno said. He said because our number of beds went up from 520 to 611, the percentage (of the total bed utilization rate) went down; and the problem became less heavy," he said. However, despite the increase of the isolation beds, Moreno also urged the public to not get infected by the virus by following the minimum public health standards in order to avoid admission of patients from hospitals. As of January 31, the city has 618 Covid-19 positive cases who have been admitted to different hospitals. 158 of which

are currently admitted in NMMC, 79 are admitted in a Covid-19 facility in Barangay San Simon that is also under the supervision of NMMC, and 381 cases are admitted in different hospitals. On the other hand, the city's average daily attack rate (ADAR) and the two-week growth rate (2WGR) remain at high-risk with 38.19 percent for ADAR and 294 percent for 2WGR, Moreno said. As of January 31, the city government has reported 189 new Covid-19 cases detected, bringing the total to 23,467 cases; of which 2,381 are active, 20,211 are already recovered and 875 have died. Yu also urged unvaccinated individuals to have their shots as this will help to avoid severe cases of Covid-19 if they got infected. The city already tallied 515,027 fully vaccinated individuals. This is equivalent to 89.12 percent of the city's target population of 574,491, as of January 31. There are also 41,164 individuals who have received their first dose and 65,601 from fully vaccinated individuals who have already received their booster shots. (PNA)

Kitchen... from page 1

Lamari chef Jeser Englis Ortaniza has been cooking hundreds of healthy meals daily along with the entire staff of the resort. “We are happy to serve the underserved communities. This motivates and drives us non-stop to help fellowmen in their darkest moment of times,”Ortaniza said adding the their mobile kitchen runs for almost a week Kids in Don Paulino in Dapa town said they couldn’t thank enough the those who are supporting the project. “Salamat karajaw” (thank you very much), said eight-year old John Ruaya and seven-year old Edwin Clave, who smiled as they headed back to their temporary shelters. Richard Sharpe, a volunteer for the community kitchen, said World Community Kitchen and its local partners, are a lifeline for the islanders. “Without them, the community will be having a hard time in getting back on its own feet,” he said. Sharpe and his friends have been helping in rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts in communities here,

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Capt. Stanley Ng Pilots PAL’s Next Flight

S IT navigates a new chapter in history, Philippine Airlines (PAL) is handing over the reins to aviation industry veteran Captain Stanley Ng as its new President and Chief Operating Officer (COO). Capt. Stanley, as he is known in PAL, will be serving in an Officer-inCharge (OIC) capacity at the airline he has worked in since 2003. His knowledge, skills, and experience in the industry came from having hands-on experience in the ins and outs of airline operations. Now in his mid-40s, he started as an on-ground staff and climbed his way up the corporate ladder to become Senior Vice President (SVP) for Airline Operations at PAL. “From check-in to passenger boarding, I was exposed to everything that went on at the airport. It helped me understand the problems that the airline staff and customers would encounter,” he shared. Capt. Stanley’s journey as a pilot began at the PAL Aviation School. He further trained at the Airbus Training Center.

Training in Toulouse, France under the Deputy Chief Instructor of Airbus Dubai was a turning point for Captain Stanley, who was bent on becoming the best pilot in PAL. “It changed my mindset. It made me realize that people are not only taking a flight with you. They are entrusting everything that’s precious to them. Their families, their own lives,” he said. “I was inspired to be someone else, to be different from everyone, to do the right thing.” To further his studies, he recently completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. A New Brand of Leadership: Confident Humility Captain Stanley brings a more participative and collaborative management style to the 81-year-old airline, which has vowed to keep flying, now and long into the future. “I discovered a lot about my purpose while taking the management program at Harvard. I realized there is confidence in experience and strength in humility. That’s the kind of leadership I’d like

to bring in PAL,” he said, adding that, he plans to harness PAL’s internal expertise to solve problems in a collaborative manner, which is also a strategy to use the airline’s resources more effectively. With extensive experience in flight operations, he will also bring a renewed emphasis on the efficiency and safety culture at PAL. “My part in the Chapter 11 filing was operations and safety. So, we're able to actually perform well. In terms of operational safety, our standards are really high,” he added. Every two years, airlines need to renew their International Air Transportation Association (IATA) Operation Safety Audit, and PAL has consistently performed well under Capt. Stanley’s watch. In 2019, he proposed a dialogue with air traffic controllers to improve the on-time performance (OTP) of planes flying to and from Manila. This required him to get on the drawing board to work with the team, which according to the Department of

Transportation, resulted in PAL recording “an all-time high OTP rating of 92% in October, and consistent OTPs of 80%, 82% and 89% for the months of July to September, respectively.” Ready for TakeOff Capt. Stanley is supported by the existing management team which will remain intact as the company maintains its momentum towards full recovery. As the first pilot in 60 years to become president of PAL, albeit, in an OIC capacity, he is perceived to become a unifying leader amid the enormous challenges the pandemic continues to bring. According to Capt. Stanley, his priority is two-fold: contributing to the country’s transport infrastructure buildup and sustainable development, and making Philippine Airlines worthy of

Filipinos’ enduring trust and support. “Giving back to the Philippines, giving back to the society – that's really my purpose; not really

trying to make a profit, a lot of profit out of PAL, but it's really more of the purpose to continue providing the best service the Filipinos deserve.’”

National University’s Ar. Shaunn Remzzo T. Blanco, led the 1370 (out of 2205) board passers, taking the top spot with an overall rating of 83.50% in the January 2022 Architect Licensure

Examination. A son of a registered nurse and an architect, Shaunn dreamt to be an architect since he was young, “When I was a child, I (only) wanted to build

my mom her dream house. But when I entered this profession, (I realized) it wasn’t just about building houses or structures, it is actually about creating these and the special experiences

that everyone would remember.” His father wanted him to become an engineer, but he was always inspired and fascinated with what his father did. He then talked to his godfather who shared a lot of things about National U. ‘’One thing I remember was when he talked about prestigious and famous architects from NU, that’s when I realized that if National University was able to produce those architects, then they can mold me into the architect I’ve always dreamt to be.” After graduating in 2018, Ar. Blanco originally planned to take the ALE exactly after the required 2 years of diversified experience (June 2020) but because of the threat of the Covid 19 pandemic, he decided to spend most of his time in learning through actual practice in Visionarch and some construction site immersion with his father.

He thought that actual practice experience was his key factor in deciding whether to take the exam or to wait more months until he is fully prepared. Fast forward to 2022, the persevering student, who loves to join architectural design competitions, topped the Architect Licensure Exam. When asked about his and his parents’ reactions, Shaunn said, “The moment na nakita ko yung name ko sa list of passers, hindi ko na chineck (topnotchers), friend ko pa yung nag inform sa akin that I topped the exam. I was surprised. My mother cried, pero they always knew na kaya ko ipasa. As for my father, they did not ask naman daw for this pero Top 1 pa daw ang binigay ko, so they were surprised as well.” When asked for his secret to his success in the ALE, he said, “Most important for me yung conditioning talaga

physically, mentally and emotionally. Aside from reviewing, dapat mas nama-manage yung stress at anxiety. Na-realize ko na mas okay pang relaxed ako during the exams. So even sa paglabas ko ng exam room, I wasn’t really thinking of what I did wrong in the exam. Instead, I thought of it as a way for me to prove myself, regardless of the results.” The new architect shared that the Nationalian core value that he believes he possesses is integrity. He stressed that it is important in the profession because “integrity defines us and how we continue to uphold our ideals as architects.” His advice to other professional board examinees, “They should study for their future practice and not only for board exam purposes. It will really be helpful if ganun yun mindset to retain information.”

Capt. Stanley Ng

NU GRAD TOPS THE JANUARY 2022 ARCHITECT LICENSURE EXAM