BusinessWeek Mindanao (February 4-5, 2022) by Mindanao Daily News

BusinessWeek M I N DA N A O CREDIBLE

Volume XII, No. 100

Market Indicators

AS OF 6:00 PM FEBRUARY 3, 2022 (THURSDAY)

FOREX US$1 = P51.045

PHISIX 7,458.99

X X Briefly

0.91

97.34

cents

points

Free trade deals SUPPORT for local farmers and businesses should be strengthened as the country opens itself to more free trade deals like the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a former cabinet member and senatorial aspirant said. In a statement Wednesday, senatorial bet Gilbert “Gibo” Teodoro expressed his support to the country’s participation in free trade agreements (FTAs) like the RCEP, but assistance for domestic sectors, particularly agriculture sector, should be bolstered. “Free trade agreements like the RCEP provide a larger playing field full of new opportunities for our Filipino enterprises, including those in the agriculture sector. As FTAs cut tariffs and duties, this enables Filipino products to become competitive in other markets,” he said.

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76% vax rate A TOTAL of 59,120,367 individuals nationwide or 75.7 percent of the target population are now fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), according to the National Task Force Against Covid-19. In an interview Wednesday night, National Task Force Agaiqnst Covid-19 consultant Dr. Maria Paz Corrales said the number is 53 percent of the total Philippine population. More are expected to receive the life-saving shots as the national government further ramps up its vaccination campaign, expanding it to children aged 5 to 11 years old starting February 4, and in provinces badly hit by Typhoon Odette last year.

HOT ITEMS. Piles of container vans are being examined by the Bureau of Customs to check if they contained smuggled items at the Mindanao Container Terminal yard in Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental. photo's by gerry lee gorit

5 BARMM investors generate P1-B worth of investment MARAWI City — Five investors of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) received their certificate of registration from the Regional Bangsamoro Board of Investments (BBOI) on Thursday, February 3.

HE provincial government of Misamis Oriental is opening its doors to the Tourism Infrastructure Economic Zone Authority (TIEZA) and urging it to invest more in the province. In an interview on Wednesday, Governor Yevgeny Vicente Emano said the tourism industry can get a boost from more TIEZA investments, on top of existing tourism-related programs in the province. "I think the related laws (in tourism and industry) are already there, what is needed is the implementation," he said. In 2020, TIEZA entered into an agreement with Lanao del Nortebased contractor AJD Construction and Supply for PHP3 million worth of Tourist Assistance Center which will be built in Gingoog City, Misamis Oriental. In its 2021 accomplishment report, TIEZA included in its list of ongoing community-based projects the protected landscape and seascape undertakings between the towns of Initao and Libertad which cost P7.26 million. Another is the Alibuag Spring TIEZA/PAGE 7

Of the five investment comp an ie s , t hre e we re approved last year, namely Eight Z’s Properties Building Rental, Lanao Del Sur Corn Development Corporation and Prime Certification, and Inspection Asia Pacific, Inc. INVESTORS/PAGE 7

Public Service Act THE House of Representatives on Wednesday night ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the measure proposing amendments to the Public Service Act (PSA) in a bid to attract more foreign investments. During the plenary session, the chamber approved the final version of the proposed amendments to the PSA, which seek to ease the restriction on foreign investments in public services. The bill effectively opens up to 100 percent foreign equity on all economic sectors in the country except the transmission and distribution of electricity, water pipeline and sewerage, seaports, petroleum pipeline, and public utility vehicles.

IN MEMORIAM. Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente "Bambi" Emano (left) and Miss Kuyamis 2022 Annabelle Mae McDonnell (right) plant an oolong tea seedling at the foot of Mt. Sumagaya Claveria, Misamis Oriental Wednesday (February 2). It was in this area 24 years ago that Cebu Pacific Flight 387 crashed, killing all 104 persons aboard. Oolong tea is being promoted as an agricultural staple produce in the province. photo's by gerry lee gorit

Davao residents warned virus positivity rate remains high By ANTONIO L. COLINA IV, MindaNews

DAVAO City – Residents should not lower their guard as the positivity rate of COVID-19 in the city remains high despite seeing a continuous decrease in the number of daily new

infections since last week, an official of the Davao City COVID-19 Task Force warned on Wednesday. Dr. Michelle Schlosser, task force spokesperson, told Davao City Disaster Radio

(DCDR 87.5) on Wednesday that the latest positivity rate here decreased to a daily average of 32% compared with the previous weeks’ daily average of 48% to 50%. She, however, the public must remain vigilant because WARNED/PAGE 7

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Local CDO gov't logs 7 'Omicron' cases THE CAGAYAN de Oro City government here on Wednesday reported seven positive cases of Omicron variant of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). During an online briefer, Dr. Ted Yu Jr., medical officer of the City Health Office (CHO), said the cases were four males and three females, three of whom are from Barangay Consolacion and the rest from the villages of Carmen, Kauswagan, Agusan, and Barangay 27. He said two of the positive cases were returning overseas Filipinos (ROFs) from the United States, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; one local case; and four non-Cagayan de Oro residents who hailed from Laguna, Batangas,

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Parañaque, and Ilocos Norte. Yu said the results were late and it was released by the Philippine Genome Center on January 31. He reported that all of the cases of Omicron variant were fully vaccinated, and have recovered. "Even if they already have negative results, we did not stop. We are continuing the contact tracing especially these five cases who are here, these four re-tags, and one local case,” Yu said. “We, together with Dr. Joey Retuya, the city epidemiologist, already talked to the company (where five positive cases work) for the contact tracing," he added. He also confirmed that

one of the four re-tagged cases has returned to Laguna after the release of the negative result. The city government has intensified its contact tracing to prevent the

local transmission of the Omicron variant. Vaccination in Misamis Oriental Meanwhile, the city's mobile vaccination team has vaccinated 3,452

residents from three towns in Misamis Oriental. This city is currently helping Misamis Oriental in its vaccination drive. Yu said they have recorded 1,382 combined

partially and fully vaccinated individuals during the mobile vaccination in Initao town; 1,754 from Manticao, and also 316 from Gitagum. OMICRON/PAGE 7

The Agricultural Training Institute (ATI)-10 launches a corporate book featuring the success stories of its young farmer partners through its regional training center in Region 10 to promote agriculture to the youth. (ATI-10)

ATI launches book on young farmers’ success stories CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY--The Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI), on its continuous support to attain food security in the country and strengthen local agricultural industry, recently launched a corporate book featuring the success stories of its young farmer partners through its regional training center in Region 10. As its fifth corporate book, Bahandi-Batang Agricultural Extensionist (Bahandi-BAE) contains 15 success stories of its young farmer partners in Region 10. It showcases their passion in farming as well as their contribution in the agriculture sector.

Moreover, the book highlights the center’s intervention by amplifying efforts to empower and assist young farmers, at the same time promote agriculture to the youth. Bahandi-BAE chronicles the farming success and captures their resiliency, determination, farming initiatives, and outstanding efforts in mitigating hunger through farming. Through the book, ATI aims to broaden the perspective of the youth on the potential of agriculture to improve their livelihood and standard of living. ATI Center Director Maria Lydia Echavez

thanked the young farmers for sharing “practical knowledge, life experiences and accomplishments in providing food and sustenance through agriculture” during the Bahandi-BAE book launch. Echavez also expressed appreciation to the young farmers and Learning Site for Agriculture (LSA) partners who were present during the event for their cooperation in the fruition of the book despite the ongoing pandemic. “It is remarkable to see that you continue to work on your farm despite the pandemic, indeed, there is no pandemic stronger than the hands (or hearts) that work together,” she said as she addressed the farmers who were present at the book launching the event. Launched January 27 during the Institute’s founding anniversary, Bahandi-BAE also intends to empower and inspire young Filipino farmers from all walks of life, as ATI remains committed to documenting the transformative power of agriculture. Through ATI’s various programs and interventions, ATI hopes to empower its young farmers with appropriate farming technologies, and to mitigate the effects of the country’s aging farmers. (ATI-10/PIA10) ERRATUM The Notice of Applicant MASIMAG MULTI-PORPOSE COOPERATIVE Represented by: DANILO S.DE LA VICTORIA SR. The exact CASE NO. R10-EVCC- PUJ -2021-04-1280 Routes CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY TO TALAKAG BUKIDNON not as publish. OUR APOLOGY -LTFRB-X -CDOC

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CorporateWorld

Aboitiz Construction says more projects to be completed this year A BOITIZ Construction, Inc. said it expects completion of various projects this year, including the construction of a 6,000-square-meter warehouse in Iloilo City and a water infrastructure in Batangas.

The company also intends to “further expand into water and transportation infrastructure, projects for ready-built factories, and maintenance services,” Aboitiz Construction said in an e-mailed statement on Monday. “Aboitiz Construction

expanded its portfolio in infrastructure after bagging a deal to design and build an additional overhead transmission line project for Lima Enerzone, a distribution company under AboitizPower,” it noted. “It also received an award for the construction

Teachers’ Adapting Trends in New Normal CECILE CLYDE S. UBALDE Teacher 3 Claveria Central School

Despite the pandemic's devastating effects, this worldwide calamity has provided an unparalleled opportunity for learning. We are learning about the adaptability and resilience of educational systems, policymakers, instructors, students, and families. High technology, for example, aids teachers in being more creative by allowing them to discover apps that can increase editing abilities on instructional films for lessons to be discussed further. Technology also aids teachers in providing radio-based instructions to youngsters. It's crucial to be adaptable

and flexible. There is no such thing as a one-sizefits-all approach to teaching and learning. People with a wide range of qualities and needs make up the learning population. Teachers must be adaptable and adjust fast to changes and problems that we face as a society in order to meet the requirements of their students. The success of our future society will be determined by the performance of our educational system and our ability to adapt to these difficult times. Despite the development of new tools, pupils' ultimate success is dependent on having highquality teachers. A single instructor has the power to

alter a student's future path. These modifications appear simple; nevertheless, in the midst of a pandemic, they can be tough, and they have exposed disparities and flaws in the educational system that were previously hidden or disregarded; the solution to these flaws is not as simple as taking out devices. The most major influence will be determined by how technology is used and designed.

of a water infrastructure project for Lima Land, Inc. in Batangas. Most recently, it confirmed the construction of a warehouse for Therma Visayas, Inc. in Toledo City. These projects are expected to be completed in 2022.” It is also expecting to complete this year the construction of a 6,000-square-meter warehouse for a local food company in Iloilo City. The company has already started work on its projects in Parañaque City, which include the construction of a 26,000-square-meter warehouse and office buildings. “In line with our vision

to solidify our national footprint, we are also expanding our portfolio and continuously looking for better ways to help in building a better future for a better Philippines,” said Levi B. Agoncillo, Aboitiz Construction’s vice-president for business development, tender planning, engineering, and design. The company started implementing its “Big Shift Strategy” in 2021, which targets the improvement of its financial performance, processes, and people development. “2021 is our recovery period and through teamwork, we became stronger and steadfast. As we drive towards

THE UPPER house passed on final reading the renewal of legislative franchises of 19 telecommunication and broadcasting companies to operate in various parts of the country, and a bill expanding radio franchises

in Davao City. House Bill (HB) 9384, which proposes to expand the franchise granted to the Davao City government for its radio broadcasting stations, was passed late Monday. Along with this were

expanding operations and setting a national footprint, we have started to implement programs that will continue this momentum through 2022,” said Aboitiz Construction Chairman and President Anton Mari G. Perdices. The company said that among its accomplishments last year was the completion of maintenance and shutdown works at the Sarangani Energy Corp.’s thermal power plant. Civil works for the expansion of a fuel storage facility in Subic, Zambales and construction works for a local manufacturer and distributor of highgrade oleochemicals in Misamis Oriental were also completed in 2021.

Senate passes telecom, broadcast, radio franchise bills franchises for Mount Apo Science Foundation College, Inc. or HB 10212, Capricom Broadcasting Network Corp. or HB 10192, Amapola Broadcasting System or HB 10196, South Cotabato FRANCHISE/PAGE 7

Opinion

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Poisoning the Land, Robbing Food Security

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ORLAN R. RAVANERA No less than President Rodrigo Roa Duterte once said during his early days in office which was broadcasted nation-wide that in a land blessed with rich agricultural resources, it is quite a paradox that while we are supplying the consumerist needs of the people in advanced countries as Mindanao alone has some 200,000 hectares of vast plantations planted with high value crops, i.e. pine-apple, banana, palm oil, etc. but paradoxically, we cannot even produce basic staples for our people, i.e., rice and milk. The Philippines is the biggest rice importer country in the world, bigger than what China is importing with its population of some 1.5 billion Chinese. Our country is importing 99% of its milk needs, the reason wrong 85% of the Filipino children are malnourished, based on the Study of the Food and Nutrition Institute. Our country which is the 4th hardest hit country in the world on climate change has now lost its food security. Recent Typhoon Odette can attest to that. More than three hundred thousand

families had been rendered homeless and are now living in extreme poverty and are hungry. Indeed, when the powerful loggers with their cabal of vested interest have in the last 6 decades decimated our 17 million dipterocarp forest, our countr y has lost its ecological security with the onset of typhoons beginning in 1991 with the Ormoc tragedy when 3,000 died in just one night of flooding. Then several horrible typhoons came, i.e., Pablo, Sendong, Yolanda, etc., giving notice to one and all that even with a strong army, a country without ecological security is not secured at all! Well, as the saying goes, “res ipsa loquitor,” (the thing speaks for itself ) thus, I need not elaborate on that anymore. What I want to share is some painful realities which are purposely hidden, unknown to the Filipino people especially specially to the Mindanawans. Yes, we have lost our dipterocarp forest which are the home of billions of biodiversity, flora and fauna, the billions of sp e c i e s w h i ch we re endemically existing in a tropical country, not found anywhere else in the world. Thus, our country was oozing before with megadiversity, very rich ecologically. But that was before. The once blessed land full of life forms with all the billions of flora and fauna has been reduced to plantations called mono-cropping, now just for profit through corporate globalization. That’s what

you call destroying life in the name of so-called development, not for us but for the rich and powerful, a proof that the Philippines is still a neo-colony of imperial powers. As then CDA Chairman, I met the agriculturists of these plantations in several meetings and I asked them the name of the pesticides and herbicides these plantations are using and the quantity of chemical fertilizers applied every planting season. After knowing the chemicals used, my research showed that of the eight pesticides and herbicides they are using, seven are already banned in other countries as these chemicals are cancerous. In fac t, s ome of t hes e corporations are already banned to enter Puerto Rico as they have already caused so much cancer to the Puerto Ricans. Thus, they came to Mindanao. On the amount of chemicals and fertilizers being used in the 200,000-hectare plantations, the computation will show that as if we are dumping to our water tables and watersheds some 2,000 dumptrucks of non-bio-degradable chemicals every day. Oh my God! That’s horrible, the reason why babies are born deformed. If you are pregnant and can’t afford to buy mineral water and you drink from that water table, i.e., spring or water system coming from the polluted watersheds which are highly contaminated, the fetus will be affected, thus, many of

the children in Mindanao are born deformed. A newly born baby of an Indigenous family in Talakag was without anus and must be operated a year ago. My doctor sister, D r. Ma r l e n e R av a n e r a Sinadjan has informed me of the increasing number of cancer-patients. Thus, if such painful truism will not be checked and stopped, we can aptly say, “drink now, die later.” Plantations of TransNat i on a l C or p or at i ons operating in Mindanao, please leave. In cohort with power-that-be, you are now expanding especially In Wao, Lanao del Sur that I visited lately. You have been renting the farmers’ land and turning these lands into vast plantations. I asked some farmers why they allowed these corporations to rent their lands. They confessed to me that farming now is becoming economically nonviable because they were tied-up to costly agricultural technologies called conventional agriculture. In fact, based on the Study of the UN-FAO, farming in the Philippines in the last decade contributed only .02% to the Gross Domestic Products and the farmers are now the poorest of the poor as they are the number one victim of protracted war and climate change. Let us now unite to heal the blighted land back to life and advance food security by using our blessed land to supply our food needs POISONING/PAGE 7

New Year’s financial resolutions

Oro Chamber

Get hold of happiness Think a minute… There is an emotional sickness called Sudden Wealth Syndrome. It happens to people who suddenly become wealthy by winning a lottery jackpot or inheriting heaps of money. But what these newly rich people often learn painfully is that it does not end up being the happy dream they expected. They discover what many other rich people already know: Money cannot buy true happiness that lasts. That is our problem. We think that happiness is something out there that we have to find and get, such as money, a position of respect and power, or physical pleasure and fun experiences. But even when we do finally get it, we learn that it does not last and make us completely happy and satisfied for the rest of our lives like we expected. So how do we get hold of happiness that lasts for a lifetime? The first big step is we simply must admit that we are not completely happy and that we need help. But that is usually hard for us strong, independent human beings to do. We are like the

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TNC's Plantations: PLS LEAVE

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THINK A MINUTE

JHAN TIAFAU HURST man who came home drunk one night. As his wife helped him into bed she asked him if he wanted her to pray for him. He nodded yes. So she began: “Dear Lord, I pray for my husband who lies here drunk.” But her husband quickly interrupted her and said: “Don’t tell Him I’m DRUNK! Just say that I’m SICK!” In our heart and conscience, we all know that we have done things wrong and failed to live the way we know we should. We have not lived in a daily, right relationship with our Maker. But many of us simply refuse to admit that our way of living is wrong. Furthermore, HAPPINESS/PAGE 6

HOW fast time flies! Today is the last day of January 2022. One month has already gone in the new year. By this time, plans have been drawn and laid down for 2022. In fact, some are already being implemented. And from my talks with some family members, friends, and colleagues, I sensed their confidence and optimism about their plans. They were bolder in what they planned to do and achieve this year. Perhaps, this optimism is felt by many as we see some wins in our battle with covid. Though the new variant Omicron is more contagious and has recently caused a substantial increase in our COVID cases, with more people getting vaccinated, the majority of those infected showed mild symptoms and required no hospital care. Many have adjusted and adapted to live in the new normal and have planned accordingly. I bet, much of the plans made, may it be personal or business-related, required budget and involved money. Therefore, it’s very important that one of the first things we should have and be clear on, at the start of the year, is our own financial resolutions. What is your financial goal

for this year? What do you need to start doing, continue doing, and stop doing in order to achieve your financial goal for 2022? While we agree that making our financial resolutions is very important, sadly, it is often, neglected. The first step to making your financial resolution is to identify your financial goal. Is it to remodel your house or build your dream home for the family? Is it to save up for your kids' college education? Is it to build your emergency fund? Is it to fully pay your credit card debts? Or is it to add up your retirement funds? Having a clear financial goal/s will allow us to prioritize and will give us the purpose why we need to save our hard-earned money. The job of the money we are saving or have saved is to help us achieve our financial goals. As we usually have multiple financial goals, it will help if we categorize them as short, mid, and long term and whether essential or non-essential. Then we put a target date for each goal. Though it's not cast in stone, somehow having a timeline will give us some sense of urgency and control. Next is to analyze and work on the 3 important variables that will impact

your financial resolution and determine your capability to achieve your financial goal. These variables are Income, Savings, and Spending. Variable #1: Income First things first. Before we can talk about how much to save and spend, we need to have income or money. How is your present income? Do you have a steady source of income from your employment? Are you paid based on projects or contracts? Are you on a commission basis? Salaries, wages, and commissions earned from these are called active income. Or are you living on money received from investments, rentals, etc? Or what we call passive income. In my case, prior to my retirement, income was mainly from my employment. But since I was already investing and have properties back then, passive income was coming in as well. Now that I have fully retired, my main source is passive income. Wherever our income is coming from, the goal is to keep it and add to it. What will you start or continue doing this year to fatten your income? While it is true that the pandemic resulted in job losses, it also created a number of income

MINDFUL

JAY LEDESMA opportunities for the more creative, hardworking, and resourceful ones. Online sellers mushroomed ever ywhere. In most households, one member is at least involved in online selling. And since most are in a work from home setup, even full-time employees now have the chance to do part-time online selling and earn extra income. As one rider said in an interview, “basta huwag lang choosy sa trabaho, may paraan kumita!” To which I totally agree! This might also be the year to start building your passive income. Variable #2: Savings But having an income is just one side of the equation. What we do with what we earn is equally critical. I used to follow "Income minus expense equals savings". No FINANCIAL/PAGE 6

5 OFW from Region 10 receives DOST iFWD Ph assistance C Advertising and Editorial E-mail : businessweekmindanao@gmail.com Contact nos. : 0917-7121424 • 0947-8935776

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ARLO A. Ramos, an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) from Opol, Misamis Oriental, is the first recipient of assistance under the Innovations for Filipinos Working Distantly from the Philippines (iFWD PH) program from the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office X (DOST-X). The ceremonial online turnover

of the project fund was held on 21 January 2022, together with nine beneficiaries in the region that were provided assistance under the Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP), another flagship program of the DOST. Ramos’ company, the Ramos Fabrication and Steel Works Services, specializes in the production of window casement, trusses and

Ways to cope with stress during the pandemic By: NIDA N. POSTRANO

COVID-19 was declared pandemic on March 12,2020 by the World Health Organization. This global pandemic brought danger, which creates the feeling of fear, confusion, shock, anxiety, and stress. MHE, David Pruitt and Susanne Ringhausen on” How to Manage Stress During the COVID -19 Pandemic”, gave tips how to cope with stress during the pandemic. These may provide guidance to develop feeling of security, stability and comfort during the threatening circumstances. 1. Take deep breath, stretch or meditate 2. Try to eat healthy well-balanced meal 3. Exercise regularly 4. Get plenty of sleep 5. Avoid excessive alcohol 6. Continue with routine preventive measures (vaccination, cancer screening etc.) 7. Follow daily routine 8. Set limits about news on COVID-19 9. Spend time in nature 10. Be an empathetic, compassionate team work 11. Limit social media intake 12. Reach out others 13. Work-life balance 14. Seek professional support 15. Meditate on God’s word and pray 16. Find hobbies or activities you enjoy 17. Interrupt negative thoughts that cause stress 18. Talk to trusted people about your concerns and feelings. Learn how to combat negative feelings in times of pandemic for strong and healthy life. Aside from the advices from the health experts, God’s power and interventions are very much important to lean on. Trust on God’s promise that” He will never leave us nor forsake us”. Just ask God in prayer- proctection, provision, guidance and comfort.

roofing, window grills and standee, railings, and gates. The assistance from DOST iFWD Ph helps businesses cater to new and existing product demands through the acquisition of new equipment such as cut-off machine with bar cutter and angle grinder, buffing machine with inverter welding machine and drill, inverter mig welding machine with steel bar bender rebar, cigweld cutting outfit with lazer, miter saw with gravity type spray gun, air compressor, straight grinder, and circular saw with bench grinder. With these automated tools

and machines, small to medium sized enterprises are able to improve their production and increase their competitiveness. DOST iFWD Ph helps the firm in serving their customers with fabricated metal products more efficiently and quickly, thereby providing additional income and generating employment in the locality. Overall, the DOST iFWD Ph is a DOST program that includes capacity building and financial assistance for OFWs and its beneficiaries who have been repatriated or have come back to the Philippines and decided to

envisions to be an effective and competent catalyst of inclusive development by providing world class and innovative Science & Technology services in Region X. For more information of their projects and programs, kindly email: stpromotions@region10. dost.gov.ph or mobile number: 0915-582-4600. (Rafael Paulo Zosa, DOSTMisamis Oriental)

Strengthening parental involvement to learners’ school activities By: SHIELA C. PLAZA Teacher I

According to Clinton (2013), parental involvement refers to a situation where parents are directly involved in the education of their children, they involve themselves and are involved by the school and teachers in the learning process of their children, and they fulfil their duties as parents in making sure that the learner is assisted in the process of learning as much as they possibly can. It does not just refer to parents enquiring about the performance of a learner in schools, but also in them taking a role in communicating with their children with the aim of having a healthy relationship with them, so that the process of encouraging, mentoring, leading and inspiring may be genuine. Parents can be involved

in their children's learning through becoming part of school boards, being concerned about their children's academic performance, showing dedication in their children's learning through availing themselves during parents meetings, in order to gain a better understanding of the performance of their children. Parents can also be involved by means of followups with their children's subject teachers in order to identify areas where the children are facing challenges. Where children fail, parents go to the extent of contacting their teacher, thus, building and strengthening the teacher and parent relationship which would show their commitment towards their children's learning.

Changes as Covid-19 Hits Educational System By GRETCHEN NOVA P. MANOOP

Many teachers during this pandemic considered this scenario a whole new world to teaching-learning process. They are use to seeing the learners face to face, spoon feeding them with all the information then suddenly it goes off. Teachers were challenged to new ways of learning delivery modalities. At first pollution of different complains and hesitation blocks the passage of professional growth, but stepping out the feet in the field made us realize that as educators we should be open to change in order to allow meaningful growth and produce new kind of fruit even in this uncertain times. Teaching in the New Normal is very challenging specially in hinterland where internet connection and android phone is meager. English, Science and Mathematics Comprehension skills need creative ways in transferring to learners since it has standard rules to follow that requires critiquing and coaching every now and then. But it did not hinder teachers from making things possible with Distance Learning Modular Print where individualized instruction allow learners to use selfleaning modules (SLM’s ) in print copy.

stay in the country for good. The program aims to provide support and wide-range opportunities for OFWs and their immediate families to establish technology-based enterprises in their own provinces, allowing them to finally choose to stay in the country instead of being far away from their families. The Department of Science and Technology Region X (DOST-X)

Despite the readily available SLM’s for the learners, the emerging arduous part are the learners under difficult circumstances such as illiterate parents, no permanent guardians, poor economic status where parents prioritize first the provision of food than guiding their learners in doing module which beyond Department of Education’s control, yet those barriers were hurdled through teachers dedication and commitment. Cellphone’s were provided to some who really cannot afford, video lessons were disseminated and walkie-talkies are distributed to those areas without signal so that education must continue and be available for all. Through the gadgets available, reading activities and other learning validation were done through remote learning. Those who do not have cellphones were still not left behind because teachers encouraged bayanihan through sharing gadgets to those classmates who do not have and teachers extended extra-mile through home visitation to made sure that learners are well-served. Outputs from learners were gathered not in the usual way but via online submission, though not 100%, still exertions are

great achievement in manifesting that everyone wants to learn and cope with the new hype in education. Neighbors became someone’s library, stores became information center (through fliers; tarpaulin hanged), alumna turned tutors for free and parents have grown into teachers in their own pace - are some good effects of the no face to face classes where everybody took part in making education possible. Moreover, rare do we experience virtual graduation before but now learners’ commencement were done virtually. Though they did not experience marching in the aisle yet the feeling of becoming a celebrity by looking at themselves flashed on the screen out from their educational achievement/completion is ecstatic to them and that is something parents should not deprive to their children. If we all dwell with what we do not have and complain, we cannot teach our new generation to be resourceful, to strive harder because there so much more to gain in the future and that in every adversity greater windows of opportunities unbolted by diligence and perseverance as the key to achieving success.

Learning with Little Angels and Rascals By JANETTE L. ORCIA, T III, Lugait Central School

Scene A: Learning with a Little Angel. In comes the typical little angel of a learner. She comes as if gliding sweetly in beaming energy, prepared with her multi-storage back pack and greets you with a radiant smile. She is friendliness personified. She recites the A B C’s gladly, recites the poem perfectly and sings all the songs heartily and in tune. As if heaven sent, she knows most of the answers upon the class story hour Q & A and aces the class activities later. Everything seems to flow smoothly that you can easily sigh, “How wonderful the world can be if my pupils are like her, the little angel.” S c e n e B : L e ar n i ng with a Little Rascal. In an unexpected hour, along comes the typical little rascal. He pops out quickly as if brought over by an invisible rocket. He walks with a rough gait causing a stir. He forgets to greet everyone until you call his attention. He doesn’t bring the supplies needed for the day. He mumbles his A B C’s. He can’t recite

the poem. He sings songs nonchalantly and has no idea what you are asking about during class story hour Q & A. He may even start a squabble that you can easily whine, “How mad could the world get if my pupils are like him, the little rascal.” Blending the Polar Opposites. Reconciling scene A with scene B is not entirely unfamiliar to the kindergarten teacher. She is a natural well-experienced professional of child care and early schooling. Of course, the range from the perfect little angels to the dastardly little rascals vary for some young learners and that is normal. I am presenting these polar samples because these are the type of kids that make or break our day of teaching. The other type of kids could either blend to anonymity or neutralize the extreme. Just like the pot of gold at the end of the spectral rainbow of learner types, these two really shine out above the rest and make our otherwise ‘normal’ schooling routine remarkable.

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FRI-SAT|FEBRUARY 4-5, 2022

Lacson: There's Always a Second Chance in Love, Life

N LIFE and in love, Filipinos must never lose hope that better days will always be ahead. Partido Reporma chairman and presidential bet Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson shared this advice with Filipinos who continue to face challenges in their everyday lives - as well as their love lives this February. "Huwag mawalan ng pag-asa. Habang may buhay, may pagasa. Huwag patayin ang puso kasi dapat laging buhay yan, kasi laging may second chance (Don't lose hope. So long as there is life, there is hope)," Lacson said in an interview on Bombo Radyo, when asked by program co-anchor Jane Buna for his thoughts and advice for Valentine's Day. "Maging sa pang-araw araw nating mga problema o hinaharap lalo sa pag-ibig, meron laging second chance

Financial... from page 4

wonder I had very small savings then. However, when I joined the insurance career, I was introduced to the right formula of

“income minus savings equals expense”, which I have been applying on my own financial management since. Every payday, I would immediately set aside 30% of my income for savings and investments. Note the order,

Of Children and Childhood By JANETTE L. ORCIA, T III, Lugait Central School

A , ch i l d h o o d, age of innocence, sheer curiosity and pure joy. It is also the age of raw energy, adventure and even mischief. In its own, childhood is a period in life when human beings are most protected. It is also the time of great vulnerability and some unavoidable trauma. In psychology, the “inner child,” originally coined by renown psychotherapist Carl Jung, can often recall good experiences as well as childhood fears, neglect or significant loss (integrativepsych.co, 2021). He linked the inner child to past experiences and memories of innocence, playfulness and creativity along with the hope for the future (healthline.com, 2022). In all of life stages, chi ld ho o d st ands out among the rest. Why so? I think it is as crystal clear as the blue summer sky. The period and the being living in it are like no other. Childhood is such the sweetest time while the child is incomparably pure. He or she is a spark of life. Children means what they say and say what they mean.

There is simply no pretense about them. The don’t wear mask an assume roles like grown-ups do nor resort to reward-punishment rhetoric like your boss, your banker or your media person. Children can easily break your heart and mend it with humor and warmth in an instant. The life of a child is definitely fulfilling. They come, they see, and they conquer like Julius Caesar, the wizard, the super hero and the world ruler that they are. An important thing to consider is this most redeeming trait of theirs, therefore making this their most powerful virtue. It’s their faith. They simply have the brains and the brawn to make or cause to things happen. They would do anything within their capacity. And they do it with a kind of persistence akin to the rain drilling holes in concrete pavement. They will smother, bargain and haggle like the devilish businessman until the bedraggled adults give in. They are just that. Childhood, what a time. And children, what glorious beings!

savings and investment. It is not advisable to go direct to investing without building your saving funds first. Savings is the money that you can take out on a per need basis or as the need arises. We save for our children’s tuition fees next year, for that annual family getaway, for a brand new gadget, etc. The Emergency savings fund (which for me, at any point, is at least 6-12 months worth of expenses), is for the unforeseen or unexpected expenses brought about by sickness in the family, calamities, job loss, or by this pandemic that we are in. On the other hand, my Investments are for my longterm money requirements. These can come in the form of stocks, mutual funds, insurance, and real estate. This is the money used for the college education of our children and now, my retirement money. That’s why in setting our financial goals, we have to identify

what’s for the short, mid, and long term. Unfor tunately, since many didn’t have enough emergency savings funds and/or medical and life insurance when the pandemic happened, they were forced to use (and deplete) even their long-term funds, such as their retirement money. Now, when you are not yet confident with your savings discipline, as I did when I was just starting with my yearly financial resolution, it might help to enroll in the auto salary deduction program of your company or ask the assistance of your financial or investment advisors who can remind and facilitate your regular savings/investment. Remember, the money we are saving will do the job of helping us realize our financial goals. The sooner we build them, the sooner we make our goals a reality! Variable #3: Spendings The 70% of my income is for spending, which can be

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(Whether it's the problems we face in love or in life, there is always a second chance)," he added. For this year's Valentine's Day, Lacson said he will gift his wife Alice with roses and chocolates, as he has done every year. Lacson and his Vice Presidential bet, Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, are hoping to give Filipinos hope for a better life with their programs themed on fixing the ills of government (Aayusin ang Gobyerno, Aayusin ang Buhay ng Bawat Pilipino) and running after thieves especially in government (Uubusin ang Magnanakaw). Also, Lacson said he would pray daily that the Philippines and Filipinos would see better days ahead, especially in the wake of the devastation caused by the pandemic on our health and economy.

categorized into essentials and non-essentials. The essentials are usually the rec ur r ing exp ens es such as utility bills, food, mor tgage, maintenance medicines, transpo allowance, schooling, church donation, and insurance pre m iu ms . Wh i l e t h e non-essentials include our R&R spendings such as weekend getaways, wardrobe, entertainment, salon, spa, and derma visits. As spendings take much of the income and are usually for the present needs, it is really possible that none will be left for our savings if we don’t put a system. That’s why it's strongly suggested that we already keep the 30% even before we start spending and we categorized our spending to essentials and non-essentials so we can prioritize, in case the 70% is still not enough to pay for everything. Priority should be on t h e n on - n e got i abl e f ixed exp ens es such as amortization, school expenses, rentals, and food. I include food in this list because I can scrimp on other items but not on food. But still, I believe we should have a fixed budget for this. What’s left of the 70% can now be budgeted for the other non-essential expenses or those which we can afford not to have. One thing pandemic made us realize is that we only need and can only use so many clothes, shoes and bags. For 3 years now, I have stopped hoarding these items. When we cannot increase our income but we want to

save more, the only thing left for us to do is to reduce our expenses. What are you willing and ready to give up for that additional savings? What are you willing to stop doing or buying so more can be spent on the essentials? When we are able to manage these 3 variables, we are getting closer to fulfilling our financial resolutions and achieving our financial goals. Now, let’s be mindful that having financial resolutions is not only for the rich and the moneyed. Don’t think that you need to have a big income or salary to do this. Our income levels may vary, but the save 30% and spend 70% is constant. I started with small income plenty of years ago. It's not really the amount, it’s the discipline and consistency that matters. We’re just one month from the new year. Still, the best time to make or revisit our financial resolutions! It can be fun and exciting!

Happiness... from page 4

we do not like to admit that we cannot fix our life and make it right by ourselves. But until we honestly face these clear facts of life, we can never change to become truly, totally happy. Why waste another day of your life? Sincerely ask Jesus to forgive you for living your own, wrong way, and ask Him to take full charge of your heart and life every day. Only then, can you have peace with your Creator and finally get hold of happiness that lasts. You have absolutely nothing to lose, yet everything to gain. Just think a minute.

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FRI-SAT|FEBRUARY 4-5, 2022

Poisoning... from page 4

and not of the consumerist needs of the people in the rich countries through corporate globalization. Let it be known that hungry people are angry people and let us be angry enough to fight for what is right, what is true and what is just in the land of the brave and the free – that is, Mindanao! As we UNITE for our survival, let notice be served that THE PEOPLE UNITED, CAN NEVER BE DEFEATED! In Spanish, EL PUEBLO UNIDO, NO MAS CERA VINCIDO!

Franchise... from page 3

Communications Corp. or HB 10123, Prime Broadcasting Network, Inc. or HB 10124, National Council of Churches in the Philippines or HB 10125, and GVM Radio, other wise known as TV Corp., or HB 10211. Ismo, Inc. or HBN 8971, Aspire Media Technologies a n d Ve nt u re s , In c . or HB 10169, Linkser ve Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s Network, Inc. or HB 10193, Derecho Telecommunications, Inc. or HB 10194, Unicor n Communications Corp. or HB 10195, Purple Flower Telecommunication Corp. or HB 10197, C a l ap an Telephone System, Inc. or HB 8975, Bicol Telephone and Telegraph, Inc. or HB 9424, Lukban Telephone System, Inc. or HB 9438, Continental Telecommunications System,

Inc. or HB 9439, Victorias Telephone System, Inc. or HB 10182, and General Telephone System, Inc. or HB 10183, were also approved to put up and maintain their respective telecommunications systems and services. The Senate also passed local bills seeking to establish, convert and upgrade the local offices of the Land Transportation Office in 32 locations across the Philippines, including offices in the provinces of Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Camarines Norte, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Iloilo, Zamboanga del Sur, Bukidnon. L i ke w is e, t he upp er house voted to approve three House bills seeking to establish offices of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Puerto Princesa, Palawan; Bacoor City, Cavite; and Dasmariñas, Cavite.

Omicron... from page 2

To date, the city's Covid-19 mobile vaccination team is conducting a vaccination rollout for the Laguindingan town residents, particularly in Barangay Tubahon. In this city, the local health office has tallied 513,318 fully vaccinated individuals or 89.35 percent of the city's target population of 574,491 as of February 1. Data from the same office indicated that 39,993 individuals have received their first dose, while 66,817 fully vaccinated individuals have also been administered

AFFIDAVIT OF ADJUDICATION OF SOLE HEIR WITH DEED OF DONATION OF REGISTERED LANDS

EXTRA-JUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE OF LORNA RACINES DESCALLAR

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

That the late BASILIO LAGMAY who died on August 25, 2001, without a debt and will at Cagayan de Oro City, that during the lifetime of BASILIO LAGMAY he acquired real properties, located at Corrales Extension, Cagayan de Oro City with Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-47480 situated in the Barrio of Macabalan, City of Cagayan de Oro, Island of Mindanao, containing an area of THREE HUNDRED (300) square meters more or less, Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-45107 situated at Corrales Extension, Cagayan de Oro City, containing an area of ONE HUNDRED FIFTY (150) square meters, more or less, Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-36807 situated in the Barrio of Macabalan, City of Cagayan de Oro, Island of Mindanao, containing an area of FOUR HUNDRED (400) Square Meters, more or less, Transfer Certificate of Title no. T-81546 situated in the Barrio of Balulang, City of Cagayan de Oro, Island of Mindanao, That FOR AND IN CONSIDERATION of the DONEE’S TRUST, devotion and affection shown to the DONOR, and as an act of gratitude and liberality on her part, the DONOR hereby voluntary GIVES, TRANSFERS, and CONVEYS by way of donation, unto the said DONEE, his heirs and assigns, and above described properties covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-47480 and Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-45107, located at Corrales Extension, Cagayan de Oro City, together with all the improvements found thereon, free from all liens and encumbrances; and has been the subject of an AFFIDAVIT OF ADJUDICATION OF SOLE HEIR WITH DEED OF DONATION OF REGISTERED LANDS, filed by the heirs of BASILIO LAGMAY, in favor of ALMARK GIMENO TABIAN, per DOC #348; PAGE #70; BOOK #3; Series of 2021 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. SYLVAN GERALD L. SABIO.

That the late LORNA RACINES DESCALLAR who died intestate on December 3, 1997 at San Pedro Hospital Inc. of Davao City the deceased at the time of two (2) real properties situated in Brgy. San Jose Libona, Bukidnon with TCT No. AT-1072 situated in the Barangay of San Jose, Municipality of Libona, Province of Bukidnon, Island of Mindanao, containing an area of SIX THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED THIRTY (6,930) Square Meters, more or less, TCT No. AT-1128 situated in the Barangay of San Jose, Municipality of Libona, Province of Bukidnon, Island of Mindanao, containing an area of NINE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY EIGHT (9,288) Square Meters, more or less, and has been the subject of an EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE OF LORNA RACINES DESCALLAR, filed by the heirs of LORNA RACINES DESCALLAR, per DOC #287; PAGE #58; BOOK #LVIII; Series of 2021 under the Notarial Registry of ATTY. FARRAH L. YONGCO-INIHAO.

BWM: Jan 28, Feb 4 & 11, 2022

BWM: Jan 21, 28 & Feb 4, 2022

booster shots. Yu also reported 305 new Covid-19 positive cases in the city, bringing the total to 23,772 cases, of which 20,239 have recovered, 2,654 are active, and 879 died. (PNA)

Investors... from page 1

The other two companies Pagana Kutawato Corporation and Hanabana Construction and Equipment Corporation were approved last month. The s aid comp anies generated a total amount of P1,003,214,201.24 investments, catering 1,159 jobs in the region as of the last quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2022. Regional BBOI Chairman L aw ye r Is h a k Ma s tu r a emphasized the achievement of BARMM as a potential venue for new investment opportunities in the country amidst the difficulties and unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic. “The five companies upon receiving this certificate of registration can fully be operational with their own respective ventures and will automatically enjoy fiscal incentives provided for by the Regional BBOI,” Mastura said. BARMM Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim c ong r atu l ate d t he ne w investors s ay ing "t heir contributions in investing i n BA R M M we re b ot h inspirational and patriotic for the Bangsamoro region." He also guaranteed that the Government of the Day will always support them. “Your investments in BARMM does not only i l l u s t r at e o u r r e g i o n’s economic potential but its preparedness of transforming people’s lives and wonderful opportunities and limitless possibilities,” he said. E a c h c o m p a ny w a s engaged in different areas of ventures such as Eight Z’s Properties Building Rental for old barter and trading tourism, Lanao Del Sur Corn Development Corporation for corn production, and Prime Certification and Inspection Asia Pacific, Inc. for Halal accreditation of products for export, particularly in the middle east countries. M o r e o v e r, P a g a n a Kut aw at o C or p or at i on manages hotel and restaurant tourism while Hanabana Construction and Equipment Corporation is for potable bulk water distribution in the region. Regional BBOI Board of

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Governor Mohamad Pasigan underscored the essence of encouraging foreign investors through building trust and confidence first in the region. “Foreign investors will come and invest depending on the number of investments of local investors in our region but we will not wait for that if the local investors could afford to invest and uplift our own regional economy instead,” Pasigan remarked.

bringing the total cases to 69,682 with 5,675 active, 62,158 recoveries, and 1,849 deaths. Schlosser said the city is allowing home isolation as facilities at the governmentrun Southern Philippines Medical Center, private hospitals as well as, some temporary treatment and monitoring facilities are full, and other isolation facilities in schools are “at high risk.”

from page 1

Warned...

while seeing a downtrend in new cases is a good sign, the latest positivity rate remains way above the 5% threshold considered acceptable by the World Health Organization. She said the city still experiences the post-holiday surge. “The only time that we can say that the surge is over is if we will have a positivity rate of 5% below,” she said. Schlosser said the City Health Office remains wary that the city will see yet another surge of cases if people become complacent about observing the minimum public health standards. She said a downtrend will depend on the people’s behavior and cooperation in the fight against COVID-19. “At least, we have seen a decrease in cases from last week. For us in the City Health, we cannot be too confident because we need to remain vigilant as cases can go up any time,” she added. She said following the minimum health protocols and getting vaccinated are effective against COVID-19. “It’s been proven that vaccines can protect against the infection and more importantly, against the severity of the disease,” she said. She said the local government is targeting to vaccinate the entire eligible population of the city after hitting the target number of 1.2 million to reach “herd immunity.” As of January 18, the city reported 1,276,123 individuals vaccinated with the first dose, 1,216,990 fully vaccinated, and 136,526 having received booster shots. T h e D e p a r t m e nt of Health-Davao reported 347 new infections in Davao City,

Tieza...

development project in Barangay Tuka, Medina town, which costs P4.29 million. Emano's statement came after the 24th commemoration of the ill-fated Cebu Pacific 387 flight on Wednesday where a shrine was built at the crash site in Claveria town, Misamis Oriental. The shrine was transformed into another tourist destination ideal for campers, where local traders also sell their products. Barangay development program Meanwhile, the provincial government entered into

an agreement with the municipalities of Salay, Claveria, and Lagonglong for the downloading of Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP) funds at the provincial capitol on January 31. A memorandum of a g re e m e nt w a s s i g n e d so that SBDP funds will be given to the recipient municipalities for handing over to beneficiary barangays. In the fund allotment, Salay was given P9.2 million; Claveria - P4.12 million; and Lagonglong - P2 million. The SBDP is essential in starting non-infrastructure projects or livelihood projects identified by the barangays to benefit their areas. The agreement's prov i s i ons fo c u s e d on providing livelihood support and assistance to farmers, women, youth, and education sectors, among others. The livelihood projects were carefully planned and considered during the Local and Interior Government's Retooled Community Support Program in the previous months. (PNA)

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Smart enables Cagayan de Oro’s online learning in hinterland schools O NLINE learning in Tignapoloan Nationa l High School, a far-f lung communit y in Cagayan de Oro, just got a boost from PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart). For teacher Francis Jay Damit, this lu xur y was quite unimaginable many years ago. Damit shared, “With the newly built tower, it is now easier for teachers to participate in online activities and trainings. Our students are a lso exploring more actively online.” With the recently f ired up Smart LTE cell site in the area, students and educators are a lso more digita lly

us with our online classes. Now we have fast connectivit y even inside the classroom.” To help keep them connected, Smart a lso donated LTE Home WiFi devices to the teachers of Tignapoloan and Dansolihon. “With Smart’s fast network, we can use these devices to reach out to our students, With Smart’s fast LTE network, it is now easier for teachers to do virtual activities and communicate with their students. especia lly for virtua l activities,” Anero said. To support the connected. “We use in a neighboring growing mobile socia l media as a tool barangay, has a lso to communicate with benef ited from Smart’s data needs of more communities across our students and network expansion the countr y, Smart has sometimes do virtua l in Cagayan de Oro’s increased to 75,400 classes with them. hinterland areas. its tota l base stations Before, we thought it Teacher Glennford nationwide as of endwas impossible,” he Anero said, “We are added. thank ful for the Smart December, supporting its 3G, 4G/LTE and Dansolihon cell site that has 5G subscribers from Nationa l High School, been greatly helping

Batanes to TawiTawi. This includes around 7,200 5G base stations. Smart's mobile network is supported by PLDT's f iber infrastructure, which is at 743,700 k ilometers as of endDecember. PLDT and Smart’s relentless push to provide connectivit y

for a ll is a ligned with the group’s long-standing commitment to help the Philippines attain the UN’s Sustainable Development Goa ls, particularly SDG #9: Industr y, Innovation, and Infrastructure and SDG #11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.