Edge Davao Vol. 16 Issue 41 | Saturday, June 3, 2023

SAVE THE EAGLE

PEF asks public support to save eagle from possible extinction

By MAYA M. PADILLO

An official of the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF) is calling on the public’s support to save the Philippine Eagle from possible extinction.

Jimbea Lucino, manager for Culture-based Conservation of the PEF, said on Wednesday that the Malagos-based foundation is seeking public support to strengthen and enhance the efforts to conserve and protect the Philippine Eagle.

“Ang Philippine Eagle karon is at state of possible extinction kung dili ta magtinabangay. Kailangan natin ng more efforts to protect and conserve our eagles,” Lucino said during Wednesdays media forum at Habi at Kape at Abreeza Mall.

City gov’t of Davao marks 21st anniversary of anti-smoking law

The City Government of Davao, through the Vices Regulation Unit (VRU), marked the 21st anniversary of the Anti-Smoking Ordinance in a morning motorcade from Magsaysay Avenue to the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center (DCRC) Wednesday, where a special program was held on Wednesday, May 31.

food, not tobacco,” aims to emphasize the importance of prioritizing healthy sustenance over harmful habits.

She reported that as of the latest estimation of the population of the Philippine Eagle, there are about 392 pairs, a decline from the past estimation of 400 pairs.

Lucino attributed human-related issues specially during the pandemic such as shooting and hunting, and the loss of habitat due to the cutting of trees as among the factors that affect the declining population of the Phil-

Davao City gov’t eyes more int’l, local sisterhood deals

The City Government of Davao is eyeing more partnerships with local and international cities after recently forging a sisterhood agreement with Sennan in Osaka, Japan.

Davao City Councilor Au-

gusto Javier “Javi” Campos III, chairperson of the Committee on International Relations, bared this during the Katikaran sa Konseho program of the 87.5

FM Davao City Disaster Radio

(DCDR) Thursday, June 1.

Campos said, “We have

pending resolutions for our sisters to be – Bayswater in Perth, Australia; Island Garden City of Samal, and Monterey Park in California, which has the largest Asian-American population in California. These have yet to

FDAVAO, P10

VRU head retired PCol. Hernando Las, during the DCDR News Alert program of 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) aired on Wednesday, May 31, said the 21st anniversary of the city’s anti-smoking campaign also coincided with World No Tobacco Day. This year’s theme is “We need food, not tobacco.”

The City Government of Davao, through the Vices Regulation Unit (VRU), commemorated the 21st anniversary of the Anti-Smoking Ordinance with a vibrant morning motorcade along Magsaysay Avenue. The procession culminated at the Almendras Gym Davao City Recreation Center (DCRC), where a special program was conducted to mark the occasion.

Retired PCol. Hernando Las, the esteemed head of the VRU, expressed his sentiments during the DCDR News Alert program on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Wednesday, May 31. He highlighted that the city’s anti-smoking campaign not only reached a significant milestone of 21 years but also coincided with the global observance of World No Tobacco Day.

This year’s theme, “We need

“Ganina man gud, nag-culmination mi sa Almendras Gym. Bisita namo ang mga police station commanders sa Davao City. Naghatag mi certificates of appreciation sa mga commanders sa ilang cooperation sa amoang campaign sa no smoking (We culminated at the Almendras Gym earlier. Our guests were the police station commanders in Davao City. We gave the commanders certificates of appreciation for their cooperation in our no smoking campaign),” Las said.

He appealed to all station commanders, urging them to continue supporting the VRU in enforcing not only the anti-smoking law but also the liquor ban and the sobriety ordinance.

“Gwapo man gud og naa’y coordination, lisod sa amoa mag-implement kung naa’y hubog (It’s really nice to have coordination, it’s difficult for us to implement when someone is drunk),” he said. “Kung naa man gud ang police, masa dali lang mapatuman ang ordinansya (If the police are there, the ordinance can be implemented easily).”

VRU also recognized 100 percent smoke-free establishments during the program.

From January to April 2023, Las also said that the city generated at least P4 million in fines from violators of anti-smoking, liquor ban, and sobriety ordi-

FCITY, P10

Lawyer Angela Librado-Trinidad, director of the Department of Migrant Workers 11 (DMW 11), says during this week’s Kapihan sa PIA at NCCC-VPlaza mall in Davao City that the mandate of the newly formed department, the DMW, is to address all the concerns of migrant workers and their families. Lean Daval Jr.

FSAVE, P10

FPRRD, Magno, Floirendo reunite at school graduation

By MAYA M. PADILLO

IGaCoS

preps contingency plan to mitigate impact of El Niño

In response to the imminent threats of the El Niño phenomenon, the island city of Samal in Davao del Norte is crafting a contingency plan to address the adverse effects of the periodic weather condition.

In a statement Thursday, Samal City Public Order and Safety Office (CPOSO) chief Rosemarie Garde said one of the city’s goal is to ensure sustainable water management in the area in anticipation of the drought.

Based on the six-month forecast by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), recent conditions indicate that El Niño may occur from June to August this year, with an 80 percent probability.

PAGASA added that the dry spell may persist until the first quarter of 2024.

Garde said the city’s drought contingency plan is being crafted based on the presumable worst-case scenario that could occur on the island, recognizing the need for proactive action in the face of climate change and

increasing water scarcity.

“The plan formulation involves extensive consultation with environmental experts and a collaborative effort involving the participation of local and national government, stakeholders, water management, community organizations, and residents,” she said.

Garde said the plan primarily aims to protect water service providers, address the pressing challenges posed by drought conditions and ensure a longterm water supply for the entire island.

“This is a comprehensive strategy that includes innovative measures and a collaborative approach to reducing the impact of droughts and securing water supplies for communities and industries alike,” she said.

The plan also entails strategies and measures that will be implemented in stages such as water conservation and efficiency; diversification of water sources; improved infrastructure and storage capacity; public awareness and education; emerFIGACOS, P10

In a rare reunion, former president Rodrigo Duterte, Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao Secretary Leo Tereso Magno, and former Davao del Norte Representative Antonio ‘Tonyboy’ Floiren-

The three prominent Dabawenyos graced the graduation ceremony of the Center for Brighter Beginnings (CBB) held at Petro Gaz Arena on Friday morning where the former president and Floirendo attended the graduation of their relatives while Magno was the guest of honor of the said event.

Magno said apart from reminiscing the past, he and the former president talked about meeting again to discuss projects for Davao City and Mindanao.

“We agreed to meet again to discuss mga kaayuhan for Davao and Mindanao,” Magno told Edge Davao.

Magno is a staunch supporter

of the Dutertes, specially the former president way back during his Davao City mayoral days until he became the Chief Executive of the country, while Floirendo is a close ally of Duterte.

CBB is an early childhood education and intervention center established in Davao City in 1992. A few years back, CBB partnered with the Rizal Memorial Colleges, Inc. with a plan to expand operations. CBB Tagum branch will be opening in August.

applicants targeted for August Career Service exam

20,000

The Civil Service Commission 11 (CSC 11) is targeting to cater to 20,000 applicants in the Davao Region for the Career Service Examination slated on August 20, 2023.

CSC regional director Cyril-Nathan Eamiguel clarified on Wednesday that even if CSC has a target number of examinees, it

will still accept those who want to apply for the said examination.

He said CSC 11 is currently catering to at least 500 applicants a day.

“We are still in the process of accepting applicants for the August 2023 examination in Davao Region. We would like to invite those who would like to take the

examination and we are willing to accommodate everyone who wants to take the examination,” Eamiguel said during Wednesdays media forum at Habi at Kape at Abreeza Mall.

Evelyn Yparraguirre, chief human resource specialist of CSC 11, said as of May 30 there are more FAPPLICANTS, P10

Former President Rodrigo Duterte is greeted by Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao Secretary Leo Tereso Magno and former Davao del Norte Second District Representative Antonio Floirendo Jr. during the graduation rites of the Center for Brighter Beginnings held at Petro Gaz Arena on Friday. Duterte and Floirendo attended the graduation of their relatives while Magno was the guest of honor of the said event. OPAMINE

Offshore wind projects drive FDIs in PH -- DTI

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual expects offshore wind energy projects to drive foreign direct investments (FDIs) in the country in the coming years.

On the sidelines of the Energy China Offshore Wind Forum 2023 in Taguig City Thursday, Pascual said as the government liberalizes investments in renewable energy by allowing 100 percent ownership for these projects, many foreign investors have expressed their interest to put up offshore wind projects in the country.

In his speech during the forum, Pascual said the Board of Investments (BOI) has already approved PHP390 billion worth

Department of Energy (DOE) would issue the policy and administrative framework for the accelerated offshore wind development on June 18.

RCEP enters into force in PH

of offshore wind energy projects in the first quarter of the year. These investments came from three offshore wind projects with a total capacity of 1,300 megawatts.

Energy Undersecretary Rowena Cristina Guevara said in the same forum that as of the end of May, the government awarded 65 offshore wind energy service contracts with a potential capacity of 51.23 gigawatts.

To facilitate and fast-track these projects, Guevara said the

Meanwhile, several players in the energy sector in China are in the Philippines to look into opportunities in offshore wind energy. With all the reforms of the Marcos administration to attract FDIs, Pascual urged Chinese firms to invest in the country.

“We need over 52,800 MW of additional renewable energy capacity to reach our renewable energy target by 2040. In Beijing early this year, our President

BSP contributing to MIF won’t weaken its mandate: Diokno

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno on Friday allayed fears that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) may find it difficult to perform its price and financial stability mandate once its dividends are allocated to the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF).

“BSP contribution to MIF is not

a threat to financial stability,” Diokno, who is also a former BSP governor, said in a statement.

Former BSP senior deputy governor Diwa Guinigundo sounded the alarm that if the central bank is weak in terms of finances, it might be difficult for it to bail out distressed banks, which would then affect its mandate of safeguarding

prices and keeping the financial system healthy.

Diokno, however, said that the BSP’s financial condition “now is much better than when its revised charter was being deliberated upon.”

“In addition, the BSP was granted additional tools to conduct its primary mandates,” he said.

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) has finally entered into force in the Philippines on Friday, over two years since participating countries concluded the free trade deal in November 2020.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the country’s lead agency during the RCEP negotiations, urged Philippine enterprises to make the most of the new free trade agreement (FTA) of the country.

“RCEP has a big promise to the country in terms of being able to expand our trade with our partners in RCEP,” Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on the sidelines of a forum in Taguig City Thursday.

Pascual said his office would be active in promoting to Philippine-based enterprises, particularly the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the benefits available to them under RCEP.

“I enjoin, I encourage, I ask our Philippines businesses to make full use of the potential gains in RCEP,” he added.

RCEP would also allow Filipino SMEs to be integrated in the

global value chain, and trade with 14 other countries at lower or zero tariff rates, he said.

RCEP took effect in the country 60 days since the Philippine government deposited the instrument of ratification with the ASEAN Secretary-General last April 3.

This, as the Senate concurred with RCEP ratification last Feb. 21.

The Philippines is the last country among 15 RCEP members that implemented the FTA amid concerns particularly aired by players in the agriculture sector.

Earlier, Pascual emphasized that RCEP would not lead to an influx of imported agricultural products.

The Executive Order (EO) implementing the RCEP commitments has maintained preferential tariffs of 98.1 percent of the 1,718 agricultural tariff lines.

On the other hand, 82.7 percent of the 8,102 industrial tariff lines do not have any changes.

The EO also noted that there are only 105 agricultural tariff lines in the pipeline that will have adjustments in tariff rates, but only after 20 years since the RCEP

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the launching of the eGov Super App at the President’s Hall of Malacañan Palace in Manila on Friday. Stakeholders of bamboo industry has appealed to the President to certify as urgent the Senate version of the proposed “Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Act”. PNA-Malacañang photo

FOFFSHORE, P10

PH to host Forbes Asia Forum, CEO meet in ‘d24: Malacañang

PBBM urged to certify PH bamboo industry development bill ‘urgent’

Bamboo industry stakeholders on Thursday appealed to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to certify as urgent the Senate version of the proposed “Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Act” following the passage of its counterpart, House Bill 7941, at the House of Representatives earlier this week.

In an interview, Rene “Butch” Madarang, executive director of the Philippine Bamboo Industry Development Council (PBIDC), said the enactment of a legal framework for the bamboo sector cannot be understated in view of the growing international market for high-value products made from engineered bamboo.

He recalled that a bamboo industry measure has been previously passed by the House, only to fizzle out at the Senate.

Madarang expressed optimism that this time, with the President’s prodding, senators will waste no time in approving their version of the proposed law.

The official lamented that the bamboo sector has been so neglected by past administra-

Philippines will host the Forbes Asia Forum and the Forbes Global CEO Conference in late 2024 as the country aims to attract more investors, Malacañang said on Friday.

tions that “the PBIDC has been operating on a zero budget.”

“We (the PBIDC) manage to get by (with no funding) because our officers are mostly ranking Cabinet men, so they are able to find the resources to ensure that we can have periodic meetings, and remain operational somehow,” he said.

The PBIDC is an agency attached to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Madarang pointed out that on Tuesday, Florida-based bamboo grower and processor Rizome announced a USD100 million (PHP5.5 billion) investment in Cagayan de Oro.

The multi-billion peso investment will finance the cultivation of bamboo over a huge swath of land, which when harvested will be processed into engineered bamboo at the company’s factory in the province.

Former Agriculture Secretary Luis Lorenzo Jr., a global investor at Rizome Philippines through subsidiary Bamboo Ecologic Export Corp. (BEEP), said that the company is bringing in cutting-edge, proprietary technology in bamboo wood

In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said Marcos approved these proposals during his meeting with the senior executives of Forbes Media LCC in the Palace on Thursday.

“I hope that we can feature that in this conference and we can show the Philippines as it is now, as opposed to perhaps

some of the ideas that people have had almost for a while,” said Marcos.

The Forbes Asia Forum brings together a fresh generation of business leaders to watch out for. It will be held later this year in Singapore and would feature Forbes Asia’s Best Under a Billion and Forbes Asia’s 100 to Watch.

The conference, on the other hand, “convenes global CEOs, tycoons, entrepreneurs, investors, and leaders to discuss key issues of international concern and build new partnerships, highlighting a fireside chat between a senior Forbes editor and a host country’s leader,” based on the statement.

Marcos said the Philippines is on a “charm offensive” as the country needs to compete with fast-growing economies in the region such as Indonesia, Vietnam, China and Japan.

BSP-supervised entities’ clients urged to register SIM numbers

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is calling on BSP-supervised financial institutions (BSFIs) to remind their clients to register their subscriber identity module (SIM) numbers ahead of the extended July 25 deadline.

In a statement on Thursday, the central bank said registered SIM numbers of BSFI clients would “ensure that their payment and financial transactions proceed smoothly.”

The BSP said heeding Repub-

lic Act 11934 or The SIM Registration Act is “critical to the Philippines’ digital transformation journey.”

“SIM registration also allows clients to continuously receive advisories and reminders or alerts on their transactions,” it said.

The BSP, in a memorandum to BSFIs issued on April 22, said a registered SIM would allow the clients to have continuous access to their accounts and prevent any unnecessary interrup-

tions in processes that generate one-time passwords and transaction authorization.

The deadline for SIM registration was originally set for April 26 but was extended for 90 days after a large number of SIM owners failed to meet the target.

The SIM Registration Act, signed into law by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Oct. 10, 2022, aims to fight scams made through the use of the short messaging service (SMS) and online messages. (PNA)

Mall goers buy chocolate products of Household Multipurpose Cooperative from Antipas, Cotabato Province during the 2nd Cacao Mindanao Artisan Chocolate Fair at the Annex of SM City Davao on Friday. Lean Daval Jr.

General Manager

VP Operations

On the declining population of the Philippine Eagle:

“Even the trees na nagiging nest ng Philippine Eagle, pinuputol na. We still need to put more effort to educate our people specially on the ground. We believe kung naa ang atong Philippine Eagle in our forests indicates a good ecosystem that also indicates it’s a healthy forest and once there is a healthy forest it can provide us with clean water, clean air, and food kasi it provides us the resources but if it is depleted, during the time of pandemic our forest areas are depleting and degrading. We need more effort to rehabilitate it.”

JIMBEA LUCINO

Philippine Eagle Foundation manager for Culture-based Conservation

Recently, I went out and asked random people what medical problem they feared most. Most of them answered with either “heart attack” or “stroke.” Many don’t realize that developing kidney diseases can be just as disabling and life-threatening.

June is considered the National Kidney Month in the Philippines. The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) said one Filipino develops chronic renal failure every hour or about 120 Filipinos per million population every year.

Davao Region ranks third in the country with the most number of kidney diseases since 2017, according to Dr. Ma. Theresa Bad-ang, nephrologist and head of the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) –Human Advocate and Retrieval Effort.

“In this city and the rest of Davao Region, we have some 2,400 individuals on dialysis treatment,” Dr. Bad-ang was once quoted by the media.

The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) spends over P2,000 per session for a dialysis patient. On average, a patient receives dialysis treatment 90 days per year.

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOUR KIDNEYS

That’s P180,000 annually.

Now, the good news. I have read with interest the news report of our roving reporter Maya Padillo that a specialty center for kidney diseases will be fully operational by the first quarter of 2024. It is currently being built inside the SPMC.

The source of information was Dr. Leopoldo “Bong” Vega, former SPMC head. It was during his administration when the project was initially implemented. “This has been my project since I was the chief of hospital before I retired,” he said of the Department of Health-funded building.

Kidneys are important parts of the urinary system. They are found at each side of the spine, below the rib cage of the human body. Each kidney is as big as a fist and looks like a kidney bean.

“The kidneys perform vital life-maintaining functions as monitors and regulators of body fluid,” NKTI states. “They excrete fluids when the body has an excess of them and retain the substances necessary for the body’s continuing function. They produce and release a variety of chemicals to keep the body healthy and filter the entire blood supply every two minutes, excreting waste materi-

als through the urine.”

The kidneys also produce erythropoietin, a hormone that controls the production of red blood cells by the bone marrow. They also are involved in the regulation of blood pressure. This probably happens through the regulation of blood volume and the amount of sodium in the body as well as the production of substances such as the angiotensin.

According to Dr. Bad-ang, our kidneys perform at 100% health if you belong to the age bracket of 35 years and below. By the time you reach 36, our kidneys start to depreciate. “Each year means less than one percent functionality,” she pointed out.

So, if you’re 55, you would have lost 20% of your kidney’s functionality. Those who have hypertension are losing two percent functionality of their kidney each year while those who have diabetes lose five percent of their kidney’s functionality per year.

How will you know you have a kidney problem? The main symptom of kidney disorder is fluid retention or what doctors call edema. “Patients may have puffiness around the eyes, swelling in the feet and legs and

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA

The first American journalist to visit and write about Davao after the U.S. forces landed in Davao on December 14, 1899, was Frank George Carpenter. He penned a series of articles about the Philippines islands. His sixth installment, ‘Hunting in Southeastern Mindanao,’ pro-vides a first-hand account of how the town of Davao looked like in 1900. The extensive article was later carried by nearly all major publications throughout the United States.

Describing the town of Davao as bigger than the state of Massachusetts, he pronounced the town as “almost all wild,” adding:

“The mountainous portion is covered with forests, interspersed here and there with strips of natural pasture. The grass is rich and it forms excellent grazing. There are many

herds of from fifty to 100 cattle, and near Mati, a town about twenty or thirty miles east of here, there is one man who has about 2,000 head of stock.

“The cattle of this region are… a cross between the sacred cow of India and what is prob-ably Australian cow. The animals look like Jerseys. They give milk in small quantities, but of the richest quality. The people do not use the milk for cheese or butter. They let the calves run with the cows, and as a result they have but small udders.

“The country is especially well watered; it has cold springs and mountain streams fur-nishing as good waste as the dairy counties of Orange and Delaware in New York. The cattle thrive, and it would seem that this might become a great dairy land and supply the butter and cheese of this part of the world.

water in the lungs leading to difficulty of breathing,” NKTI says.

Pundits say any change in urination may also indicate kidney problems. “This may consist of pain or unusual sensation during voiding, increased or decreased frequency of urination, difficulty in initiating urination, frequent urination at night, change in color of urine, blood in the urine or bubbly appearance of the urine,” NKTI explains.

In some instances, kidney disease may exhibit some warning signs like puffiness of the eye area, progressive swelling of parts of the body usually at the ankles, back pain on the lower part just below the ribcage, changes in urination, and new onset of high blood pressure.

The health department reports that one person dies every hour from kidney failure. More than 7,000 cases of kidney failure are recorded every year. Each year, approximately 10,000 people need to replace their kidney function.

“If your kidneys fail, you need treatment to replace the work they normally do,” says the National Institute of Health in the United States. “Before dialysis was available, total kidney failure meant death,” notes the

US National Kidney Foundation (NKF). “Today, people with kidney failure can live because of treatments such as dialysis and kidney transplant.”

According to medical experts, dialysis is a way of cleaning our blood when our kidneys can no longer do the job. It gets rid of our body’s wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control our blood pressure.

In terms of kidney dialysis patients, based on the records of the Renal Disease Controlled Program, Davao Region ranked fifth nationwide. It comes after Pampanga, Bulacan, Batangas, and Cebu.

In the beginning, dialysis may be alright but kidney transplantation is the much-preferred treatment. A kidney transplant is a surgery done to replace a diseased kidney with a healthy kidney from a donor.

“In the long-term, kidney transplantation is cheaper than dialysis,” said Dr. Enrique Ona, former NKTI director. “Moreover, survival rates and quality of life in transplants are much better.”

A transplant costs half a million pesos to one million pesos for a one-time surgery, as long as the donated organ is not rejected by the recipient’s system.

DAVAO TOWN IN 1900

Such articles have been imported chiefly from Europe and the United States, but of late a large amount of Australian dairy produce and Australian beef is being brought in.

“These dairy lands extend all along the foothills of the mountains, and they are found in sports in the mountains themselves. I am told that there are rich grass lands in the interior along the streams and about the numerous lakes for which Mindanao is noted.”

Carpenter also described the countryside as a menagerie of wild animals, stating:

“The country surrounding Davao is almost a wilderness. Only a short distance back from the town the jungle begins. If you walk a few miles in any direction you come into a land of monkeys, parrots and wild hogs. There are monkeys

everywhere, even in the town itself. Nearly every one of our soldiers has his pet monkey, a little brown or drab animal with a well-wrinkled face and short tail. There are some tailless monkeys in this part of the world, and some little one not bigger than your two fists.”

He also made mention of a monkey named Bob which the military cook kept as pet. The animal lived in the outdoor kitchen and was quite jealous whenever someone or a stranger approached his white owner. It was always ready to take a fight with his hands, and if the intruder was unfortunate, he was sure to find the monkey’s teeth in his leg. Carpenter penned:

“There are parrots here of many colors, the most common being large white parrots with tufted heads. They fly about in flocks of twenty or more and

may be seen anywhere in the woods or about the bay. Another parrot is of a bright red, with winds of an evanescent green. It is not so large as the white parrot, but it is a great whistler, singer and talker. It is caught and sold by the people, and you can buy a good talker for about a dollar and a half gold.

“Then there are doves here which have golden brown bodies and green wings; white snipes which fly along the shores and a great bird as big as a turkey and look not unlike one. I am told that there are black parrots and green parrots, although I have seen only the white and red ones. There are white herons and wild pigeons three times as big as our pigeons at home.

“The woods contain many wild hogs, and there are also deer of various kinds.”

PAL Little Mermaid promo ends June 4

Last chance this weekend to avail of Philippine Airlines’ (PAL) special treat for travelers.

In celebration of the theatrical release of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, PAL is offering a “Fly out to Sea” seat promotion for domestic base fares as low as PHP 1,500.00 from May 26 until June 4, 2023.

Travelers can save up to 15% off on PAL domestic fares, with travel dates starting from June 15, 2023 onwards.

“We are delighted to launch our latest seat sale in time for the Phil-

ippine release of Disney’s The Little Mermaid in local cinemas,” PAL VP for Marketing Ria Domingo said.

“Through this collaboration with Disney, we hope to entice more travelers to fly with PAL and discover our local destinations throughout the Philippines, from fabulous island getaways to exciting cities in various provinces, while offering an opportunity for consumers to win themed merchandise and movie tickets to the live-action reimagining of Disney’s animated musical classic – The Little Mermaid.”

PAL flyers also stand a chance to win The Little Mermaid movie tickets through PAL’s social media promotions. Terms and conditions apply.

To get these discounted fares on PAL’s domestic routes, travelers may book their flights via the PAL website at www.philippineairlines.com, and enter the code “LITTLEMERMAID” at the promo code box. The discounted fare will then apply and reflect in the total summary.

Disney’s The Little Mermaid opened in cinemas nationwide on May 24, 2023.

Pia Wurtzbach shares how Downy uplifts the life of a Filipino family at Suy Sing Suki Day 2023

A fragrant surprise delighted attendees of the Suy Sing Suki Day 2023 when Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach-Jauncey joined the festivities to host for Downy, sharing her queenly secret to staying fresh all-day at the World Trade Center in Pasay City last May 7.

Queen P was in her usual confidently beautiful self when she took the stage in a stunning red power suit that smelled Downy-fresh. Pia engaged with the audience both online and on-ground, participated in fun games, and discussed how Downy uplifts the life of every member of the Filipino family.

“Hindi mawawala sa aming household ang Downy,” Pia said. “Lahat ng damit ko, saan man ako magpunta–mapa-bahay, guestings, vacation o kahit

saan man, mas confident akong rumampa kapag labang Downy ang suot ko! Part na talaga siya ng laundry routine ko, at for sure, ng laundry routine nating mga Pilipino.”

Pia exchanged smiles and laughs with the audience, especially during the fun-filled games portion of the program, where the participants were asked to identify a particular Downy variant based on smell. They were able to accomplish the task easily thanks to Downy’s unique scents, proving that Downy is indeed the most trusted brand of Filipino families throughout the years.

The beauty queen, who is also a model and an advocate, also kept the host and the crowd guessing on her fragrant smell.

Pia eventually revealed through

Home Credit Philippines eyes further growth with its acquisition by Thailand’s Krungsri, Japan’s MUFG

a series of exciting games that it’s actually the scent of Downy, which comes in different variants. Downy Passion and Downy Mystique, for instance, provide a long-lasting elegant perfume fragrance. Meanwhile, Downy French Lavender and Downy Blissful Blossom present a soft and refreshing scent that lasts all-day.

Pia shared that her personal favorite is Downy Passion, which attendees got a whiff of after the iconic beauty queen indulged them with a signature pageant walk. Queen P ended her surprise appearance at the event with an exciting giveaway of special prizes from Downy. Discover which Downy variant is perfect for you and your family by checking out Downy’s pages on Shopee and Lazada.

Manila, Philippines – Leading consumer finance company Home Credit Philippines (“HC Consumer Finance Philippines, Inc.”) today announced its new shareholders following the completion of its acquisition by Krungsri (“Bank of Ayudhya PCL”), the fifth largest financial group in Thailand and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (“MUFG”), a global financial leader from Japan.

The deal was completed with a base value of EUR 406 million (PHP 24.4 billion). The final consideration is subject to one-toone adjustment based on the equity book value at closing of the transaction.

PPF Group the parent company of Home Credit Philippines based in Czech Republic sealed an agreement with MUFG and Krungsri to acquire Home Credit Philippines. Krungsri holds the majority stake of 75% and MUFG the remaining 25%.

“We are pleased to announce the handover of Home Credit Philippines to our new shareholders Krungsri and MUFG, both market leaders in the financial industry. Together with our new shareholders, we are opening the next chapter for Home Credit Philippines, building on the high performance that we have set over the past nine years. We are optimistic of our future together,” shared David Minol, Home Credit Philippines’ CEO.

“The acquisition of Home Credit Philippines is a testament to the strong business it has established in the country and the growth opportunity that Krungsri and MUFG have seen for the company to further expand and maintain its dominance in the local consumer finance market,” Minol added.

“I want to put on record, our congratulations to our colleagues at Home Credit Philippines for an incredible job well done,” said Home Credit Group CEO, Radek Pluhar. “Together, we have empowered nearly 10 million Filipinos to access the formal economy, via our innovative products and services. We are proud of these achievements and will be watching the company’s future growth with interest.”

The company has grown to

become a market leader having the widest distribution network of more than 15,000 stores nationwide. This allowed Home Credit Philippines to acquire a growing customer base of almost 10 million as of date in its nearly 10 years of operations in the country.

Krungsri President and Chief Executive Officer Kenichi Yamato said, “With the acquisition of Home Credit in the Philippines, we have achieved another significant milestone in our ASEAN expansion strategy through the successful execution of our medium-term business plan. By incorporating Home Credit in the Philippines into its portfolio, the Bank aims to cater to the evolving financial needs of consumers with a full range of innovative consumer finance products and services. Building upon its strong presence in the high potential country, this acquisition further solidifies Krungsri’s position as a leading financial institution in ASEAN.”

“With the expertise and extensive experience, Krungsri, together with Home Credit, is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing demand for consumer finance solutions and reaffirms its commitment to providing suitable products and services that empower individuals and drive sustainable growth in the market.”

This transaction is set to bolster the business operations of Home Credit Philippines as it continues to provide more Filipinos access to credit while building on Krungsri’s expertise as one of Thailand’s finance leaders.

Home Credit Philippines is expected to retain its brand and continue its usual operations under the same local leadership team, with guidance from Krungsri. The company aims to further grow its consumer finance portfolio as it synergizes with both banks.

Learn more about the latest updates of Home Credit by visiting its official website www. homecredit.ph. Home Credit Philippines is a financing company duly licensed and supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

BAJAJ: The no. 1 choice of madiskarteng entrepreneurs

First heard seven years ago, the term three-wheeler had already set itself apart from the usual last-mile land transportation of the Philippines. Ever since, one brand made it to enrich Filipinos lives and say, “Ito ang No.1 Three-wheeler para sa akin” – Bajaj! Here are the reasons why:

TRUSTED WORLDWIDE |

Believe it or not, this Pinoy favorite is loved worldwide! In 2021, Bajaj recorded an astonishing total of 364,000 unit sales for its three-wheeler category.

BUSINESS ENABLER |

Packed with its newest dashboard w/ MP3 player, 198.88 to 236.2CC engine, and fuel-efficient system that consumes as low as 20 km/L of gasoline, this factory-built and technologically advanced three-wheeler is undoubtedly worth the investment of every Madiskarteng Entrepreneurs!

AFTERCARE ADVANTAGES |

Now, with 900+ parts and service shops, wherever you are in the Philippines, Bajaj Genuine AfterCARE is within reach!

GUARANTEED AVAILABIL-

ITY | Are you ready to be a Ka-Bajaj? This three-wheeler got you covered! With 1000+ Authorized dealer stores in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao - the inquiry to ownership process is a breeze.

GOING 100,000 KA-BAJAJ

| “Kaya ka ring kargahin ng Bajaj Maxima Cargo tungo sa pag-asenso” says Apple Mercado, owner of CM Tea Hub – the first Ice scramble rolling store with over 20 Bajaj Food Cart franchise to date!

Today, Bajaj Three-wheelers’ power, safety, comfort, and durability are admired by every Madiskarteng Entrepreneurs!

Will this three-wheeler be your key to success too? Inquire here: https://bit.ly/inquirebajajthree-wheelernow

Airspeed Group: Empowering SMEs for success

The Philippines continues to be resilient in the face of global economic headwinds, demonstrating its commitment to economic growth and development. Airspeed, an endto-end logistics company, has been a key partner of the Asia CEO for the last four years, encouraging business owners and entrepreneurs to grow beyond borders and make it happen for their stakeholders.

Airspeed is the title sponsor during the last Asia SME Forum 2023, held at the Manila Mariotte Hotel. Business leaders from the different industries gathered for the event, all with the same aim - to help build the nation’s prosperity through innovation, collaboration, and support the booming Small and Medium Enterprises.

Airspeed understands the challenges faced by SMEs in the competitive business landscape. Through Airspeed’s expertise in logistics and supply chain management, coupled with the forum’s extensive network, they offer SMEs an unparalleled opportunity and comprehensive range of services.

With Airspeed, SMEs can experience a Seamless Logistics ¬-- As a trusted leader in logistics, Airspeed offers end-to-end supply chain solutions customized to meet the specific requirements of their clients and stakeholders, from warehousing, efficient inventory management, piece picking, to delivery. It’s a one-stop-shop solution that enable their clients to focus on core business activities while they handle the logistics seamlessly. Airspeed can also help SMEs for their Market Expansion plans – They can unlock new markets and explore untapped opportunities with the Amazing Philippines Digital Economy Corporation, the digital arm of Airspeed Group that provides digital marketing services and e-commerce training for the micro, small and medium entrepreneurs.

Kahanga-Hanga PH, SpeedGifts and Pinaspeed provide SMEs with valu-

without compromising on quality. Partner for growth – Airspeed Group prioritizes helping their clients grow beyond borders and make it happen for their businesses. They have a dedicated business unit that is always on hand to provide personalized support and guidance for SMEs. Airspeed Express, Inc. a subsidiary of Airspeed Group specializes in e-commerce logistics, from the transfer of stocks through First Mile delivery, e-commerce order fulfilment (whether from Lazada, Shopee, Shopify, and Tiktok shop), and last mile delivery or handover to 3PL of choice. Airspeed is ready to help SMEs overcome challenges and achieve their business goals.

The forum unlocked the limitless potential that awaits SMEs. To empower business, elevate your brand, and pave the way for sustainable success. Visit Airspeed’s website to learn more about how they can revolutionize your business journey. Seize this opportunity and let Airspeed be your catalyst and make it happen for your success!

SAVE... FROM 2

ippine Eagle.

“Even the trees na nagiging nest ng Philippine Eagle, pinuputol na. We still need to put more effort to educate our people specially on the ground. We believe kung naa ang atong Philippine Eagle in our forests indicates a good ecosystem that also indicates it’s a healthy forest and once there is a healthy forest it can provide us with clean water, clean air, and food kasi it provides us the resources but if it is depleted, during the time of pandemic our forest areas are depleting and degrading. We need more effort to rehabilitate it,” she said.

To strengthen conservation efforts, PEF has partnered with the indigenous communities in the uplands by training them to become volunteers and forest guards or Bantay Bukid.

In Davao City, currently there are 170 bantay bukid that are also protecting the city’s watersheds. These forest guards are being supported by the city government of Davao.

“We trained them as our volunteers and also partners, organized and empowered them so that they will be the one to advocate for the conservation and protection of the Philippine Eagle. Through our conservation efforts ito ang tinatawag natin na culture-based conservation by partnering with the indigenous communities in the uplands because nandoon din ang Philippine Eagle. They shared habitat in the ancestral domains of our IPs,” Lucino said.

The PEF has four programs for the conservation and protection of the Philippine Eagle: conservation, which is dedicated to the propagation of the Philippine Eagle in captivity; building more public awareness and developing sympathy for the Eagle and the environment through conservation and education programs; development program through delivering compelling messages and effective branding and fundraising for the foundation’s various initiatives; and engaging the community called community-based resource management.

DAVAO... FROM 2

be passed.”

He said the city is also eyeing sisterhood deals with a city in South Korea and Israel.

Forging sister city agreements, according to him, aims to enhance the exchange of best governance practices and identify areas of cooperation.

“Sometimes, it’s cooperation in tourism, security, or trade. It also boosts the exchange of people and ideas with the hope that more investors will come and more direct flights will be added to open Davao City for more people to experience,” he said. “At the same time, Dabawenyos can also visit their places and see what they have to offer and bring the best back to our city.”

Davao City currently has 10 foreign and 13 local sister cities.

The city partnered with Bitung in Sulawesi, Indonesia, and Manado, North Sulawesi in 1993; Tacoma in Washington State, USA in 1994; Koror in Palau, USA and Nanning, China in 2007; Kitakyushu, Japan in 2017; Kauai County in Hawaii, USA and Jinchang, China in 2018; Chongqing, China in 2019; and Senan, Japan in 2023.

Davao City’s sister cities in the country include Dapitan City, Zamboanga del Norte (2000); Angeles City, Pampanga (2015); Basud, Camarines Norte (2015); San Jose del Monte, Bulacan (2015); Liloan, Cebu; San Juan, Quezon City, and Marikina in Metro Manila (2018), Zamboanga City (2019); Tagudin, Ilocos Sur (2019); Pandi, Bulacan (2020); and Mati City, Davao Oriental (2022).

He also said there is a pending resolution appreciating the Embassy of Israel for opening a consular office in the city in 2020. Campos said, “They have been very active in innovation. Most recently, they donated equipment and materials worth US$9,000 to the City Health Office for upgrading three health centers.” CIO

FPRRD... FROM 3 CITY... FROM 2 NUGGETS... FROM 11

nances. Violators of these ordinances are penalized.

Anti-smoking violators are fined P1,000 for the first offense and P2,000 for the second offense.

VRU is the lead enforcement of the New Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance in coordination with the Anti-Smoking Task Force.

Anti-smoking violators are fined P1,000 for the first offense and P2,000 for the second offense.

Las urged Dabawenyos, “Unta dili na magpabadlong. Magsigarilyo lang sa designated smoking areas o magtago sila sa sulod sa ilang balay para dili sila madakpan (Don’t be headstrong. Only smoke in designated smoking areas or hide inside their house so they don’t get caught).”

The VRU provides a Smoking Cessation Program, issuance of a permit to sell cigarettes, issuance of a certificate of compliance for designated outdoor smoking areas, and smoking awareness lectures. For inquiries, contact VRU at telephone number (082)-224 0079 or email vru@davaocity.gov. ph.

Meanwhile, the Davao City Health Office, on its Facebook page, underscored that they offer nicotine replacement therapy consultation for those who wish to quit smoking. CIO

OFFSHORE...

FROM 4

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. highlighted the immense opportunities for investment in our renewable energy sector. We, therefore, welcome Chinese and other foreign investment in renewable energy projects in the Philippines,” he said. (PNA)

PBBM...

FROM 4 manufacturing. He revealed that Rizome is progressively infusing capital into its Cagayan de Oro plant.

“I want to bring the best technology here. I don’t want the Philippines to be second class. The investment is big. But (even now) our business is already a billion peso industry. And it employs thousands,” Lorenzo said in a statement.

It was reported that Rizome plans to cultivate some 50,000 hectares of bamboo land in Cagayan de Oro.

Each hectare of bamboo land can sustain one family, so, 50,000 hectares can potentially provide livelihood for that many families, according to a PBIDC study.

Meanwhile, Flor Tesoro, president of the Philippine Bamboo Society of Advocates, told the Philippine News Agency that CS First Green AIDI, a company in Bayambang, Pangasinan, is serving as a model of sustainable bamboo cultivation and product development.

The town is host to a 164foot statue of St. Vincent Ferrer, which is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest bamboo sculpture.

Tesoro, a former Department of Science and Technology (DOST) undersecretary, said the colossal statue is a testament to recent technological leaps in engineering bamboo into a more durable and aesthetically pleasing building material.

“Bamboo is no longer just for building bahay kubos,” he added. (PNA)

RMC, Inc. is partly owned by the Magno family with Sec. Magno as chairman since 2009 until 2022 before he accepted the post as OPAMINE secretary under the Marcos Jr. administration.

APPLICANTS...

FROM 3

than 3,000 applicants from Davao City who filed for examination.

She said applications can be processed in different offices of CSC in the four provinces of the Davao Region: Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro, and Davao Oriental.

“Each province targets to cater to at least 3,000 applications. Puwede pud sila mag accept for Davao City,” she said.

Application for the examination costs P500.

Eamiguel advised the applicants not to wait for the deadline for application on June 21, 2023.

“It is important that they will file their applications on or before June 21, 2023,” he said. By Maya M.

Padillo

IGACOS... FROM 3

gency response; and drought management.

“After the drought contingency plan is developed, regular monitoring and evaluation will ensure that it remains adaptable to changing conditions and emerging technologies,” Garde added.

Nine sub-clusters under drought response were also created, consisting of food, health, law and order, logistics, emergency telecommunications, and education, among others. (PNA)

RCEP... FROM 4

was implemented.

RCEP is composed of the 10 ASEAN countries, including the Philippines, and its FTA partners such as China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

The region accounts for onethird of the world’s population and economy. RCEP is currently the largest free trade deal in the world. (PNA)

OFF... FROM 12

tomorrow with most of the 12 disciplines calendared here including medal-rich athletics and swimming unfurling mostly at the complex and a couple of venues just inside the Cambodian capital.

In centerpiece track and field, a total of 24 gold will be staked in Day One and the Filipinos, who fielded in a total of 23 athletes, hope to snatch a fair share of glory in the sport where the country had a sixgold haul in Surakarta.

“Handa na kami,” said national track and field coach Joel Deriada.

For the Filipino swimmers, they will field in the same 12 tankers they sent in the last staging where they harvested a massive 12-mint haul including three from Aligarbes.

Battle-scarred Gary Bejino and Ernie Gawilan will get to take the first cracks at a gold in the 400-meter freestyle for S6 and S7 classes, respectively, starting at 9 a.m. tomorrow.

“Our goal is to make the country proud,” said national swimming mentor Tony Ong.

“In the first three rounds they won their first game when they traveled on the road and we didn’t want to have that to happen. I think we did a good job.”

Bam Adebayo scored 26 points to lead Miami. Gabe Vincent added 19 and Haywood Highsmith scored 18 off the bench, but Heat star Jimmy Butler was limited to 13.

Trailing by 21 entering the fourth quarter, Miami used an 11-0 run to cut the deficit to 10. Highsmith’s three-pointer got the gap to nine points with 2:34 to play.

But as they had all night, the Nuggets seamlessly pulled away.

Jokic fed Kentavious Caldwell-Pope for a jump shot, Caldwell-Pope came up with a steal and Aaron Gordon made two free throws as the Nuggets rebuilt the lead.

Jokic added a pair of free throws and a turnaround jump shot and the ecstatic crowd of 19,528 at Ball Arena in Denver could start the celebrations.

“Everybody contributed,” Jokic said. “It’s a great win for us.”

Jokic was content to play facilitator in the first quarter, handing out six assists as the Nuggets clicked quickly despite the 10-day gap since they finished off their sweep of the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals.

Gordon scored 12 points in the first quarter. Jokic didn’t take a shot until the waning seconds of the period, when he stripped the ball from Cody Zeller and made a layup that put Denver up, 29-20, at the end of the period.

Meanwhile the Heat, who flew straight to Denver from Boston after finally polishing off the Celtics in game seven of the Eastern Conference finals on Monday, connected on just nine of their 26 attempts in the first quarter.

“They are in a pretty good rhythm, especially in that first half, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Our disposition, the multiple efforts, the resolve in the second half was much better.

“But you get to this level, it has to be complete games of that kind of disposition.”

Any way possible Denver kept up the relentless pace in the second quarter, Murray scoring 10 points in the period as the Nuggets connected on 60% of their shots.

Four Denver players scored in double figures in the first half. Adebayo had 16 before the break for Miami, but Caleb Martin went 0-for-5 and Max Strus 0-for-7.

Not only were the Heat unable to convert the good looks they had, they couldn’t stop the Nuggets inside. Denver outscored Miami 32-18 in the paint in the first half.

Jokic’s 10 points and 10 assists before the break made him the only player besides LeBron James in the past 25 years to reach double digits in both categories in any half of an NBA Finals game.

He posted his 15th playoff triple double with his 10th rebound in the fourth quarter.

The Heat quickly sliced the deficit to 10 points to open the third quarter, but Denver had the answer to every adjustment they made.

“Right now the most important thing is to win a game,” Jokic said. “We’re trying to win a game any way possible. I don’t need to shoot, I don’t need to score to affect the game. I think I did a good job today. Agence France-Presse

Nuggets cool Heat in NBA Finals Game 1

De La Salle University escaped with a close win over St. Clare College, 83-74, at the FilOil EcoOil 16th Preseason Cup, Wednesday afternoon in San Juan City.

DENVER — (UPDATED) The Denver Nuggets launched their first NBA Finals campaign in franchise history with a dominant 104-93 victory over the Miami Heat on Thursday, propelled by yet another Nikola Jokic triple double.

Two-time Most Valuable Player Jokic scored 27 points with 10 rebounds and 14 assists to lead the Nuggets, who will try to double their advantage in the best-

of-seven series when they host Game 2 on Sunday.

Jamal Murray scored 26 points, handed out 10 assists and grabbed six rebounds for the Nuggets, who led by 24 points in the third quarter and repelled the resilient Heat’s fourth quarter challenge.

“We respect their team a lot,” Jokic said. “We just wanted to get the first punch.

T’was all over but the shouting.

When Denver erected that 22-point bubble at the close of the third, I told myself the Heat would never be able to turn the game around.

Sure enough, the Nuggets drew first blood on their homecourt 104-93 and they are looking forward to nail down a 2-0 lead in Game 2 Sunday of their best of seven NBA Finals against the Heat.

A lopsided win, you can say of the authoritative dominance Jokic and his gang displayed, as Denver rolled over Miami in somewhat easy fashion.

Eric Spoelstra must be

dumbfounded.

Why not? Jokic had produced another triple double with regularity: 27 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists.

As every NBA watcher quizzically asked: Where was Jimmy Butler as this dizzying development was happening?

Butler contributed only 13 points. Dam Adebayo tried to do a yeoman’s job defending, socring and rebounding but Jokic with his partner, the shifty Jamal Murray could not be denied. Murray made 18 in the first half and totaled 26 overall.

Already, they are talking of a sweep but it is too early to even think about that.

I think the Heat were befuddled as the Nuggets waxed hot from inside and outside the perimeter.

They established a lead which became the pattern all throughout the 48-minute encounter.

Most coaches would love their players to sustain a comfortable margin. More than this, coach Malone watched his boys patiently increase the bubble to 11, 13, 16 and 22.

Defeat was already certain even as Miami was able to bring the deficit down to 10, 84-94.

Jokic stood his ground, scoring whenever a one-to-one guarding came about.

Again, as the cliche goes, it’s

back to the drawing board for Spoelstra.

The EC champions need to revise their offensive plays as well as their defensive patterns.

They did not give Jokic enough headaches with a chaser double teaming him as is usually done versus big men. Thus he was able to get inside the paint, scored on short jumpers or issued a pass when a teammate is left open.

Besides, Butler appeared stymied. Instead of carrying the scoring load and production which ideally should have been the case,

For a player his caliber, Butler should have been always the first

option in order to attract and sag out the Nuggets defense.

But he allowed his teammates to take over the chores with Adebayo in the middle of it all.

If Spoelstra wants to steal a win in Game 2, he should go back to Game 7 of the Heat’s victory in Boston over the Celtics.

Did you notice how timid the Heat were? They looked tired and listless on opening day.

Pity. Duncan Robinson, Caleb Martin, Lowry et al were just a shadow of their old selves.

When will Tyler Herro, the 2022 Sixth Man of the Year, play, by the way? (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com).

GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

Team Philippines during the 12th Asean Para Games Team Welcome Ceremony on June 2, 2023 at Morodok Techo National Stadium Phnom Penh Cambodia.

Bam Adebayo of the Miami Heat defends against Denver big man Nikola Jokic during Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Finals at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.

FRED C. LUMBA SPORTS KEN JOKIC, MURRAY DOMINATE GAME 1

FNUGGETS, P10

The Philippines beat Indonesia, 115, yesterday (Friday) in men’s 3x3 basketball to jumpstart its campaign in

OFF TO A GOOD START

Asean Para Games: PH cagers beat Indonesia in 3x3

PHNOM PENH—The Philippines overpowered Indonesia, 11-5, yesterday (Friday) in men’s 3x3 basketball to jumpstart its campaign in the 12th ASEAN Para Games at Elephant Hall A of the Morodok Techo National Stadium here.

Sweet-shooting Kenneth Tapia and bull strong Alfie Cabanos presided over the decisive run that shattered a 5-5 deadlock to carve out the win for the Vernon Perea-mentored dribblers, who are out to finally strike gold after a silver-medal effort in last year’s edition in Surakarta, Indonesia.

“So far, so good,” said Perea, whose other players were Clifford Trocino, JR Escalante and Rene Macabenguil.

The Filipinos were playing the host Cambodians, the Thais and the Malaysians at press time, hoping for a fantastic run for that elusive gold.

The chess team, headed by Surakarta Para Games quadruple gold winner Sander Severino, wades into battle starting at 9 a.m. today at the Royal University in rapid chess that ends tomorrow.

The Filipino woodpushers accounted for 10 of the

28 mints snared last time and coach James Infiesto is optimistic of their chances in improving, if not matching, that output here.

“We’re hoping to improve from last time,” said Infiesto.

A ceremonial flag ceremony was held in the morning yesterday that was attended by heads of the National Paralympic Committees, chiefs of mission and some athletes from the 11 participating nations including Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo and PSC commissioner and CDM Walter Torres.

The weeklong event, however, will be officially ushered in a grand opening ceremony today with the Philippines fielding in a select group of 50 athletes and officials including flag-bearer Ariel Aligarbes of swimming.

Action will then intensify

the 12th ASEAN Para Games.