THE MINDANAO TODAY JUNE 16-17 2023

Tax relief boosts collection in Oro

By URIEL QUILINGUING

Contributing Editor

A72.13-percent tax collection efficiency has been recorded in Cagayan de Oro in the first five months this year.

Mayor Rolando A. Uy disclosed this in his first annual report on Thursday, June 15, attributing such to the tax relief the city government granted to delinquent and discounts for early payers.

Uy’s report was the highlight of the 73rd Charter Day tribute at the Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center in Indahag village this city.

With this, City Hall is set to generate about P5.41billion local revenues and reach its P7.5-billion annual budget which the City

agencies urged to properly enforce new

Franck Dick Rosete Correspondent

ANNUAL REPORT – Mayor Rolando A. Uy delivers the first performance report of his administration during the 73rd City Charter Day program at the Aquilino Q. Pimentel Jr. International Convention Center, Indahag, Cagayan de Oro City,

of the LPG Regional Summit 2023 display huge LPG-style balloons outside the conference room during the said two-day LPG Regional Summit held at Chali Beach Resort, Barangay Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City, from June 13 to June 14, 2023. (Photo by Franck Dick Rosete)

Wed-Thu, June 14-15, 2023

Young foreign extremist, ASG leader, follower yield in Sulu

ZAMBOANGA CITY –

A young foreign radical and two Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits, one of them a mid-level leader, have separately surrendered to authorities in Sulu, military officials said Friday.

The military identified the surrenderers as Ellam Abduraji Panduga, 27, an ASG sub-leader; a certain “Tigong,” 41, an ASG follower; and “Ibrahim,” a 13-year-old Egyptian national.

Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, 11th Infantry Division commander, said Panduga and Ibrahim surrendered at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday to troopers of the 1103rd Infantry Brigade in Indanan, Sulu.

“He (Ibrahim) is the last juvenile foreign (militant) on the periodic list,” Patrimonio said in a statement.

Ibrahim is believed to have entered the country in 2017 as a tourist through the Manila International Airport with his stepfather,

mother, and two brothers.

He disclosed that their family joined the ASG in Basilan in 2017 and transferred to Sulu to join ASG leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan in 2018.

Ibrahim’s mother, Reda Mohammad Mahmud, blew herself as a suicide bomber while attacking an Army checkpoint in Barangay Kajatian, Indanan town on Sept. 8, 2019.

His stepfather, Abduramil, and brother Abdurahman died in an encounter with the military in Barangay Kan Islam, Indanan, Sulu, on Nov. 7, 2019.

His other brother, Yusof, was also killed in a clash with soldiers in Igasan, Patikul, Sulu on April 17, 2021.

Ibrahim joined the ASG at the age of 10 and was involved in numerous clashes in Sulu. He incurred two injuries on his head and right forearm in one of the clashes.

Speaking in the Tausug dialect, Ibrahim expressed

his resentment against his mother who dragged him and his brothers into horrific situations where they must fight against government forces and conduct atrocities.

He said he thought they were just going on a vacation trip to the Philippines, but he was forced to join the ASG.

On the other hand, Panduga is a sub-leader of Sulubased ASG senior leader Radullan Sahiron.

Panduga was recruited in 2009 when he was just 15 years old. He also acted as close-in security of Sahiron and the guide of ASG members in the area of Patikul

town.

He was involved in numerous armed clashes between the ASG bandits and government forces from 2009 to 2021.

Panduga and Ibrahim handed over two M16 rifles, a magazine, and ammunition during their surrender.

The two underwent custodial debriefing and were presented to Col. Christopher Tampus, Army’s 1103rd Infantry Brigade commander, at the unit’s headquarters in Indanan town.

Lt. Gen. Roy Galido, commander of Western Mindanao Command, said the surrender of Panduga

and Ibrahim shows that the government has won the hearts not only of the people but also the remnants of the various threat groups.

“Our successful operations only prove that with commitment and collaboration, we can accomplish so much in the battle against terrorism, insurgency, and any form of criminality,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Lt. Col. Benito Ramos Jr., commander of the Army’s 2nd Special Forces Battalion (2SFBn), said Tigong surrendered and handed over a Garand rifle to their troopers in Talipao, Sulu on Thursday.

Ramos said Tigong, a

cousin of ASG sub-leader Idang Susukan, joined the group in 2011.

“When Susukan was captured in August 2020, he (Tigong) hid until he decided to surrender and avail of the Localized Social Integration Program of the government,” Ramos said.

He said Tigong’s surrender was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the 2SFBn troops and the Municipal Task Force to End Local Armed Conflict (MTF-ELAC) of Talipao.

The MTF-ELAC is Sulu’s version of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict. (PNA)

MIDSAYAP, North Cotabato – Police nabbed Thursday afternoon four suspects involved in the murder of a 63-year-old carpenter in Barangay Poblacion 2 here earlier this week.

Lt. Col Rolly Oranza, municipal police chief, identified the suspects as Mark Anthony Jorolan Aguit, 30, a construction worker and nephew of the victim; and alleged cohorts Jimboy Dumay Martinez, Allan Villan-

ueva Andrada, and a certain Mark Anthony Andea Balansag.

Aguit was identified as the primary suspect in killing his uncle, Tammy Rebusquillo Aguit, whose body was found buried in a pit near the latter’s house on Thursday morning, Oranza said on Friday.

According to Oranza, the group was having a drinking session at the house of the

MisOr solon calls for easy release of loans to help MSME owners

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY

– Misamis Oriental 2nd District Rep. Yevgeny Vincente

Emano has urged officials of the Small Business Corporation (SBCorp) to create measures that would easily release loans to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) owners.

During SBCorp's regional roadshow in El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental on Thursday, the lawmaker asked SBCorp to ease the difficulty of small businesses

in loan approvals to expand their trade.

"Expect that we will be working so that many loan applications will be approved for your business to improve, which could further help our economy," he said.

Emano joined other officials in the roadshow, during which SBCorp offered loans to MSME owners ranging from PHP300,000 to PHP3 million without collaterals.

SBCorp is a government

financial institution created in January 1991 under Republic Act 6977, or the Magna Carta for Small Enterprises, with the primary responsibility of implementing comprehensive policies and programs to assist MSMEs in all areas, "including but not limited to finance and information services; training and marketing."

Meanwhile, Gov. Peter Unabia said business owners should transact with SBCorp since it has lower interest

rates. He also urged mayors in the province to strengthen the Negosyo Centers, a facility established by the Department of Trade and Industry to help emerging businesses.

"I advise mayors to appoint, not just designate, personnel whose sole job is to focus on helping business startups, and those who wish to expand their businesses," the governor said.

(PNA)

MURDER | P7...

SURRENDER. An Abu Sayyaf Group member identified only as Tigong (in black shirt) hands over a Garand rifle when he was presented to Maj. Gen. Ignatius Patrimonio, commander of the Army’s 11th Infantry Division (ID), in Bud Bagsak, Talipao, Sulu on Thursday (June 15, 2023). Tigong, 41, who joined the ASG in 2011, surrendered to the troops of the 2nd Special Forces Battalion in Talipao town. (Photo courtesy of 11ID)

UNEARTHED. The remains of the 63-year-old carpenter who was murdered and buried at a pit near his home in Barangay Poblacion 2, Midsayap, North Cotabato are found on Thursday morning (June 15, 2023). Police arrested four suspects on the afternoon of the same day that included the victim’s nephew who is the primary suspect. (Photo courtesy of Midsayap MPS)

4 arrested for murder of senior citizen in NoCot

Camiguin beefs up solid waste mgmt efforts, monitoring

CAMIGUIN (PIA)—To

entice more people to visit the island and foster a healthier environment for all, the provincial government hee intensifies its solid waste management and monitoring of all barangays.

In their second quarter meeting, June 9, the Pro -

vincial Solid Waste Management Board reported that 100% of the five towns’ 57 barangays have material recovery facility (MRF), yet only 98.21% are functional. Thus, the provincial government highly encourages the barangay leaders to fully maximize their facilities.

Nykolsha Closas Rayos, provincial planning officer, also added that only 86% of the barangays have sorters, and they are still closely coordinating with the eight barangays that still need to have their sorters. As for the personnel, only 12% of the barangays have drivers, and

RDC-10 infra comte 2Q mtg tackles priority action areas

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY

(PIA)--The Regional Development Council (RDC)-10

Infrastructure and Utilities Development Committee held its 2nd quarter 2023 meeting to discuss updates and concerns regarding Northern Mindanao’s infrastructure goals at Chali Beach Resort and Conference Center, June 13.

In his opening message, Misamis Oriental Governor Peter Unabia underscored the need for a collaborative and harmonized approach

to infrastructure development to catalyze economic development and investments in the region.

Among the agenda items endorsed were the identified priority action areas of the 2022 Regional Development Report’s infrastructure sector and the result matrices of the Regional Development Investment Program 2023–2028.

Included In the interand intra-regional projects in Mindanao regions, there was the alignment of inter-

RSC-10 okays creation of TWG for map boundary concerns

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) -- The Regional Statistics Committee (RSC)-10 approved, June 13, the creation of a technical working group (TWG) for map boundary concerns in northern Mindanao.

The approval was made during the joint meeting of the RSC-10 and the Regional Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (RCSDG), June 13, at N Hotel, here.

The TWG is composed of representatives from identified regional line agencies with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-10 as the chair and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-10 as vice-chair.

The regular members are the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)10, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-10, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)-10, National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD)-10, and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples

(NCIP)-10.

Representatives from the Land Use Committee of affected local government units are identified as provisional members of the TWG.

PSA-10 mapping team, on the other hand, will serve as the secretariat of the TWG. RSC-10 chairperson and NEDA-10 Regional Director Mylah Faye Aurora Cariño stressed that the purpose of creating the TWG is not to resolve map boundary conflicts but to facilitate the smooth conduct of statistical activities in areas with boundary issues.

"We know nga naay mga [that there are] boundary conflicts diri sa [here in the] region that make the conduct of census and other statistical activities very challenging," she said.

This was affirmed by PSA-10 saying that its enumeration activities have been facing concerns about overlapping boundaries between barangays, between cities or municipalities, or between provinces.

Meanwhile, costs for the operation of the TWG will be funded by PSA-10.

(APB/PIA-10)

connectivity projects leading to the updated regional growth centers in Mindanao, inter-regional projects to enhance ecosystem and community resilience, and projects to enhance energy, water security, and digital connectivity, among others.

Updates on the upgrading, expansion, operation, and maintenance of the Laguindingan Airport, the proposed expansion of the Mindanao Container Terminal, and the potential renewable energy projects in Northern Mindanao were also discussed. (VPSB/PIA10)

87.7% have enforcers.

The planning officer also reported that 26.3% of the 57 barangays have compost pits and only 12.3% have garbage collection vehicles.

For the municipalities, 60% have central MRFs, while only one town has secured a septic truck as well as a communal compost pit.

"Only Mambajao and Mahinog have a pyrolysis gasification machine, and only Mambajao has a functional plastic shredder," Rayos added.

This year, the province’s five towns allocated about P10.9 million for their solid waste management projects, programs, activities, and services.

Based on the reports submitted to the province, the provincial government recommends the creation of a team to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the solid waste management plan and ordinances, capacitate barangay officials on their roles and functions, establish communal compost pits in

the barangays, rehabilitate MRFs, and conduct regular water sampling or testing.

For their part, the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) reminds the residents to strictly observe the "no open burning" policy, adopt a single and simple segregation method, and come up with an agreement with the municipal local government units on the hauling and corresponding fees to be paid. (RTP/PIA10/Camiguin)

The Provincial Solid Waste Management Board holds its second quarter meeting to discuss the status of the towns’ implementation of the solid waste management plan as well as the utilization of budget allocation, June 9, 2023. (JME/PIA-10/Camiguin)

Fri-Sat, June 16-17, 2023

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AS IT HAPPENS, WHERE IT HAPPENS

First PH Freedom Day parade after 1896 Revolution against

Spain

Did you know that although Gen. Emilio F. Aguinaldo proclaimed Philippine Independence from Spain on June 12, 1898, the Filipino people were only able to hold a formal public celebration of their freedom from colonial rule with a civic parade in the present Metropolitan Manila area more than a decade later?

And that the said celebration was not about the Kawit (Cavite) proclamation but more in connection with what was considered then as the start of the Philippine Revolution or "First Cry of Balintawak" on Aug. 26, 1896.

There were several reasons why the Filipinos were unable to hold an open celebration of their newly gained freedom from Spanish colonial rule in 1898.

Among these reasons were the restrictive laws and policies enforced by the succeeding colonial government under the United States. Such laws included the Sedition Act No. 292 passed by the Philippine Commission on Nov. 4, 1901 and the Brigandage Act 581 of Nov. 12, 1902.

According to the book

"Balita: The Story of Philippine Journalism (18112019)" written by Dr. Jose Victor Z. Torres and published by Vibal Group, Inc. in 2021, "the Sedition Law effectively stopped the means used by the Filipinos for their expressions of independence and nationalism like the theater and performing arts, political parties, and, most particularly, publications."

Earlier, Dr. Soledad Borromeo-Buehler, in her 1998 book "The Cry of Balintawak: A Contrived Controversy" published by the Ateneo De Manila University Press, said it was only after the government repealed the Sedition Law in 1907 that the yearly commemoration of the Cry of Balintawak was held in 1908.

Dr. Buehler, a granddaughter of the Katipunan Gen. Guillermo Masangkay, one of the original and close associates of Gat Andres Bonifacio in the 1892 revolutionary society "Kataastaasan, Kagalang-galangang Katipunan ng mga Anak ng Bayan (KKK), wrote that through a public subscription, a monument to the "Cry" was built in Balintawak.

The monument was com-

pleted and unveiled on Sept. 11, 1911, highlighted by a long public parade covering almost 20 kilometers.

The memorial commemorated the first encounter between "Katipuneros" and Spanish forces on Aug. 26, 1896 in Banlat, Pasong Tamo, then within the limits of Greater Balintawak, Dr. Buehler said in her book.

She quoted the newspaper "El Renacimiento" as reporting that "the streets of Manila were almost deserted as people congregated along the path of a memorable civic parade that stretched from the streets of Azcarraga (now Recto) and Cervantes (Rizal Avenue) in Manila to Novaliches."

"Participating were 20 bands, colorful coaches of various civic organizations, delegations from surrounding towns and provinces in cars, horse-driven carromatas and calesas. The majority, however, went on foot and endured the hot September sun. An estimated 50,000 to 60,000 people, a large crowd at that time, congregated in Balintawak," the newspaper report added.

That was the start of the yearly celebration of the "Cry of Balintawak" every Aug. 26 until the event was formally replaced with the "Cry of Pugad Lawin" and the date was changed to Aug. 23.

The "Cry" of Pugad Lawin or Balintawak was considered as the beginning of the Philippine Revolution

The LEGO MOC process, winning NBA championships and politics

“Perhaps, play would be more respected if we called it “self-motivated practice of life skills” but that would remove the lightheartedness from it…” – Dr. Peter Gray

Most everyone knows what LEGO means.

LEGO is a line of plastic construction toys which consists basically of variously colored interlocking plastic bricks that can be put together into almost anything you can imagine. Normally, Lego enthusiasts follow a printed instruction on how to put disparate Lego pieces together and build various kinds of buildings, vehicles, machines and background sets. Most enthusiasts start out as kids or teens. There are adults like me, however, who continue to build LEGO sets and are

known as Adult Fans of Lego or AFOL.

Some LEGO builders take it a step further and engage in LEGO My Own Creation or MOC. In LEGO MOC, the builders make their own original creations out of basic LEGO bricks. Some of these LEGO original constructs are so massive and complicated that it takes months or years to build.

Most practitioners of LEGO MOC follow a similar process. We start by practicing on sets with specific instructions. We then learn certain techniques that can be used in various permutations. Thereafter, we imagine what we want to create and determine what parts we need for the creation. We picture the step by step process in our mind to build that Lego structure. With the end result firmly etched in our mind, we scour the commu-

against more than 300 years of Spanish occupation in 1896. It was the initial move of the Filipinos to begin the revolution for independence. They did this by tearing up their "cedulas" (residence certificates) and proclaiming the start of the fight for independence.

On May 12, 1962, then President Diosdado P. Macapagal signed Republic Act No. 4166 setting the date of Philippine Independence on June 12 instead of July 4, the date when the United States government granted selfrule to the Filipinos in 1946.

Even today, the Quezon City government, in partnership with the nationwide civic organization Pugad Lawin Philippines, Inc. (PLPI), continues to observe the "Cry of Pugad Lawin" anniversary every Aug. 23.

(He began his journalistic career by contributing to the Liwayway and Bulaklak magazines in the 1960’s. He was the night editor of the Philippine News Service when Martial Law was declared in September 1972. When the Philippine News Agency was organized in March 1973, he was named national news editor because of his news wire service experience. He retired as executive news editor in 2003. He also served as executive editor of the Malacanang-based Presidential News Desk from 1993 to 1996 and from 2005 to 2008.)

nity looking for these parts. Once the parts are in place, we then go about following the plan. Sometimes, we find glitches in the plan. We can’t find a part or the part actually does not fit into the design. We, thus, adapt and change the parts or adjust the plan. Once the original creation is finished, we take a moment to enjoy it, then go on to the next creation.

Most builders who regularly engage in LEGO MOC, develop an adherence to certain tenets that are often applicable in other situations where one seeks to successfully achieve a goal. In two things where Filipinos are most passionate -- basketball and politics, we can note the presence of these tenets in successful runs in both fields and cite them as examples.

First, in most things, there are no shortcuts to successfully achieving an end goal.

LEGO MOC requires hundreds of hours of conceptualizing, picking the parts, and building the creation brick by brick. There is no other way to produce the LEGO MOC and as such, the

LEGO MOC practitioner understands the importance of patience and the long burn.

Recently, the NBA crowned its new champion, the Denver Nuggets, whose road to success was a long and arduous process that took almost a decade to achieve. In basketball, putting together star players even for a short while is often a default mode of trying to win a championship. The Denver Nuggets took pains to methodically build their team and support structure from the ground up. They looked for players with potential and developed them. Their star player, Jokic, was drafted 41st overall. Once Jokic developed, they looked for the players that would complement him. It was a long and arduous process that required patience from the front office and the fans.

In politics, the successful candidates recently are the ones who start early building their brand and organization. In local elections, it takes at least 18 months to seed brand messages and train the campaign staff and

DICT-10 underscores digital inclusion, governance in ICT month

by Vincent Philip Bautista

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)10 celebrates its monthlong nationwide celebration of National ICT Month by focusing on four main concepts, namely: digital innovation and inclusion, digital governance, digital workforce competitiveness, and digital infrastructure and cybersecurity.

"With this collaboration of activities, we hope that

we will have a better national understanding of ICT so we can come up with ways on how we can incorporate ICT into the Local Government Units (LGUs) and strengthen the use of ICT towards development geared towards job employment and job security,"

DICT-10 Incoming Technical Operations Division

Eugene Raposala III shared.

Acknowledging the significant impact of ICT in recent years, Raposala underscored its contribution to improving access to education, healthcare, and govern-

ment services, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"This time, as we move forward, we have the chance to see that we have a lot of potential within our LGUs and that we have a lot of opportunities that use ICT towards our country’s development," he said.

The schedule of activities for this month’s ICT celebrations can be found at Facebook.com/DICTRegion10. This year's theme is "Connecting Communities, Enriching Lives, and Forging a Digital Future for the Philippines." (VPSB/PIA-10)

Normin

RCSDG tackles results matrices, SDGs, statistical dev't activities

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY

(PIA)--Members of the Regional Statistics Committee (RSC)-10 and Regional Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (RCSDG) convened in a joint meeting, June 13, to discuss the validation of the northern Mindanao Results Matrices for 2023–2028 and SDG core indicators and be updated on the latest statistical activities in the region.

RSC Chairperson and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)10 Regional Director Mylah

Faye Aurora Cariño underscored the importance of harmonizing the indicators to better measure the performance of the region in implementing every chapter of the Regional Development Plan.

She stressed that the RDP is a document that has a results orientation, with the Results Matrices as one of its companion documents.

The joint meeting of the two special committees of the Regional Development Council (RDC)-10 also highlighted the reconvening of the Regional Census Coordinating Board for the conduct of the 2022 Census of Agriculture and Fisheries (CAF).

Discussed were the coordination mechanisms needed to be put in place for the conduct of CAF and the assistance that will be

requested from different government agencies.

Dr. Janith Aves, officerin-charge of the Philippine Statistics Authority-10, said the CAF is a large-scale government undertaking geared towards the collection and compilation of basic information on the agricultural and fishery sectors of the country.

She said the 2022 CAF will be the 7th of the series of decennial agricultural censuses and the 6th of the series of decennial censuses of fisheries in the country.

The attendees were also updated on the results of the 2018–2022 Physical Flow Accounts of Water Resources in the region, the observance of National Statistics Month this October, and the status of the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) rollout in the five provinces of the region.

CBMS is an organized technology-based system for collecting, processing, and validating disaggregated data, for use in planning, budgeting, program implementation, and impact monitoring at the local level.

Another highlight of the meeting was the creation of a Technical Working Group for Map Boundary Concerns to facilitate the smooth conduct of statistical activities in areas with boundary issues. (APB/PIA-10)

RSC,

The Regional Statistics Committee-10 and Regional Committee on Sustainable Development Goals-10 conduct their first face-to-face joint meeting to discuss statistical development activities in Northern Mindanao. (DCC/PIA-10)

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)-10 celebrates its month-long nationwide celebration of National ICT Month in partnership with local government units in northern Mindanao. (DCC/PIA-10)

GUILIN, China – There is an old Chinese saying that speaks about the “best scenery under heaven” that no other landscape on Earth could equal in beauty. And no, it’s not the Swiss Alps, the Grand Canyon, or the fjords of Norway. It is in China and, no, it is not the Great Wall.

The title belongs to the quaint southern Chinese city of Guilin, particularly its scenic Lijiang or Li River set against the backdrop of its expansive karst landscape. With two rivers and four lakes running across a bevy of these limestone hills, it is only natural for these geographic features to be deeply ingrained in the history, culture, psyche, and economy of this city of almost 5 million inhabitants.

For tourists, reaching the city in this northeastern part of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region is quite easy, taking only two hours by high-speed train (running at 250 kph at top speed) from the region’s capital of Nanning City. Going around the city, one can’t help but find similarities, both big and small, between Guilin and the Philippines, beginning with its famous limestone hills.

Perhaps the most prominent and obvious geographical feature of the city, Gui-

lin’s gigantic and irregularly shaped limestone hills are literally everywhere, surrounding the city center from all corners and jutting out from afar, behind the cityscape. It seems as if the city itself was meticulously built around and among these karst hills, careful not to disturb these imposing rock formations. One condominium was built so close to one of the hills it almost seemed the man-made structure was kissing the rocks - a perfect metaphor to the coexistence between

man and nature.

But still the best way to experience these towering mounds is to take a leisurely four-hour cruise by motorized boat or bamboo raft on the Li River, starting at the Guilin Pier less than 30 kilometers from the city center down to the terminal stop at the city’s Yangshuo County. Though breath-taking all year round, the landscape is best enjoyed, ironically, when the skies are overcast and fog partially envelopes the hills, giving a mystical and otherworldly feel,

or during sunset with the misty mountains' silhouette against the golden sky and water. From a distance, some local fishermen still practice the ancient fishing technique using trained cormorant birds, while a herd of carabaos graze on the riverbank.

Every turn in the 80-kilometer section of the winding river opens up to another row of picturesque hills as far as the eye can see, seemingly transporting you to a fantasy film. The Guilin hills are so famous they are featured on the backside of the current ¥20 Chinese banknote.

Each rock formation has its own unique charm, with one of them - called the Nine Horses Fresco Hill - having a cliff side with a seeming image of nine horses in various poses formed by weathered rocks. The splattering of these hills across the city’s vast landscape easily brings to mind Bohol’s Chocolate Hills, which - you guessed it - are actually a karst rock formation too.

After disembarking from the river cruise at the terminal station in Yangshuo County, you then proceed to the famous West Street, a 500-meter shopping street nestled among the karst hills and lined with boutiques, souvenir and specialty shops, inns, bars, restaurants, and cafés. If you are lucky enough, you get to pet one of the fluffy and shiny-eyed alpacas casually

hanging out at some of the storefronts.

A right turn toward the far end section of the street leads you to a row of quaint food places in a style reminiscent of Swiss cottages and French shops. In fact, the entire area was said to have been fashioned after traditional European villages exactly to lure in Western tourists.

Just like the famed Spanish-era Calle Crisologo of Ilocos Sur province, the West Street also transports tourists back in time with its cobblestone (albeit marble) pavement and some Western-inspired architecture.

At 1,400 years old, the street is the oldest in the entire county and has been so popular among Westerners for its vibrant fusion of eastern and European culture that it has gained the moniker “Foreigners' Street.”

Even at night, the city still has its unique charm. If Loboc has its floating resaurants, Guilin also has its own tourist cruises that go down the city’s four lakes (which are tributaries of Guilin’s two main rivers).

Instead of a forest, the cruise boats sail along colorfully illuminated lakeside parks and establishments, and under a series of bridges, also passing by Guilin’s iconic Sun, Moon, and Mulong pagodas. A light show, a traditional dance number, and an exhibition of cormorant fishing complete the cruise.

And finally, a perfectand healthy - way to cap off a trip in Guilin is to visit the Heiji Agri Farm, an organic farm that started marketing itself as an agri tourism destination in the city, offering agricultural workshops and a tour of its plantations, poultry farm, and processing facilities - pretty much in the same vein as famous Filipino farms in Laguna, Palawan, and nothern Luzon.

Upon entering the property, guests are greeted by several parked microvans teeming with produce like lettuce, string beans, tomatoes, pumpkins, and eggplants. These mobile stores sell agricultural products in the style of our own Kadiwa stores, but with membership discounts and freebies.

These mobile stores are part of the farm’s efforts to make sustainable living more accessible to the community, even as the farm looks after their own farm workers. In an effort to support farmers in the community, the farm has even tied up with the Guilin Bank to put a branch right inside the property, making banking more accessible to them, especially those needing loans or bank financing for their farm inputs or equipment.

But among the main attractions in the property are its soybean and mung bean farms that allow it to produce products like soy sauce, tofu, beancurd sheets and sticks, and desserts like sweetened silken tofu called douhua (said to be where “taho”came from minus the sago pearls) and sweetened mung bean (like ginataang monggo minus the gata or coconut milk), as well as soy milk and “monggo” milk. Soy plays an important role in Guilin cuisine as pickled tofu is one of the city’s “three treasures” along with its chili sauce and rice wine.

The farm is also among the only few producing soy sauce the traditional way, by leaving soy beans to ferment inside rows of huge covered jars under the sun for around a year, producing 5 kilograms of sauce for every 15 kilos of beans.

On a side note, tofu and monggo desserts are not the only food here that Filipinos might be familiar with as mangoes are also a big thing here, since the region - particularly its Tiandong County in Baise City - is a major producer of the well-loved fruit. Mangoes are literally everywhere, from candies and cookies to beverages and even dried mangoes.

Who knew this much surprise and wonder is hidden among Guilin’s limestone hills and its arteries of rivers and lakes? But calling the city one of China’s best-kept secrets would be inaccurate because as far as tourists go, the place is anything but secret. The city’s enchanting scenery, thrilling sounds, inviting flavors, and rich culture, all lend much credence to that other famous adage here, “By waters, by mountains, most lovely, Guilin.” (PNA)

MINDANAO TODAY

AS IT HAPPENS, WHERE IT HAPPENS

HOROSCOPES

ARIES (Mar. 21-Apr. 19) — Money that has come your way unexpectedly might have you thinking in terms of expanding your personal interests and holdings, Aries. You might consider trying some new investments, particularly property. There's no need to rush to make a decision, however. You have all the time in the world to consider different options - and have some fun while you do it.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20) — Money that has come your way unexpectedly might have you thinking in terms of expanding your personal interests and holdings, Aries. You might consider trying some new investments, particularly property. There's no need to rush to make a decision, however. You have all the time in the world to consider different options - and have some fun while you do it.

GEMINI (May 21 -June 20) — Recent successes haven't made you feel you can rest on your laurels, Gemini. Rather, you're more likely to work harder. Today you might spend a lot of time considering different options for improving your socioeconomic status. Among them might be enterprises connected with the planet. Business and romantic partners could inspire you.

CANCER (June 21 -July 22) — This is likely a day when you want to reflect on your successes. As your professional success continues to skyrocket, your sense of self-confidence follows suit. So do your relationships with family, friends, children, and romantic partners. Your mind is especially sharp, Cancer, and your personal innovations should continue to progress. Life is good and likely to stay that way for a while.

LEO (July 23 -Aug. 22) — Surprising developments in your life might bring a lot of visitors and much happiness to your home. You could host a party or other sort of gathering. This is likely to keep you very busy throughout the day, Leo, but you will have fun all the same. Don't let shop talk interfere with times like this. This is the time to relax and enjoy your good fortune. Use it to your advantage.

VIRGO (Aug 23 - S ep. 22) — Some wonderful new developments could take place in your community, Virgo. You might meet some new people who move in nearby. New businesses could also arrive and give a whole new look to the area. You could spend a lot of time visiting others to learn about what's happening. You might also consider fixing up your home, as recent success has made that possible. You will be busy all day.

LIBRA (Sep. 23 -Oct. 22) — A high level of self-confidence and optimism should stay with you throughout the day, Libra. Your energy is good, as is your enthusiasm. The success and good fortune that have been coming your way are likely to stay with you. You may have just been blessed with more money and happiness. Of course, this feeling is also likely to attract more friends. Make the most of it!

SCORPIO (Oct. 3 -Nov. 21) — Happiness is the mood of the day, Scorpio, as you enjoy the fruits of all your hard work over the past few years. You're able to pursue a few things that you've never been able to before. You're likely surrounded by old and new friends, and romance is blossoming. You probably also look especially attractive now. If all this sounds too good to be true, wake up! It's happening!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 -Dec. 21) — Happiness is the mood of the day, Scorpio, as you enjoy the fruits of all your hard work over the past few years. You're able to pursue a few things that you've never been able to before. You're likely surrounded by old and new friends, and romance is blossoming. You probably also look especially attractive now. If all this sounds too good to be true, wake up! It's happening!

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) — The company of good friends, perhaps at a group activity or festival of some kind, contributes to a powerful feeling of good health, good fortune, and happiness, Capricorn. You will probably want to spend a lot of time outdoors today. Sports might appeal to you. There will be a few minor accidents - dropping things, spilling drinks - but in all, this should be a satisfying day.

AQUARIUS (J an. 20 - Feb. 18) —

Continued success and good fortune regarding finances could have you flying high right now, Aquarius. You're probably glowing with self-confidence and may well be surrounded by good friends. There might even be some public acclaim. A few minor mishaps might occur today, but they certainly won't put a damper on the mood. Expect to have a wonderful day!

PISCES (Feb. 19 - Mar. 20) — Now that you've earned your place in the world after all your hard work, Pisces, you might take some time to pursue your own interests. This could involve writing or publishing, going back to school to get an advanced degree, or taking a trip around the world. You have the time and energy to think about all your different options, so don't feel you have to rush.

TAX | from p1

Council has authorized.

The city mayor lauded the City Treasurer’s Office for collecting P576-million from tax delinquencies and advanced tax payments.

In November last year, the City Council enacted Ordinance No. 14385-2022 which granted tax relief to delinquent real property and business taxpayers, public market and terminal stallholders, and traf-

LPG | from p1 Department of Energy (DOE) alone.

"Not only that, we will be able to serve the consuming market with a safe product," Gerodias said in an interview with the Manila Bulletin during the two-day LPG Regional Summit conducted in this city from June 13 to June 14.

RA 11592 is an act establishing the regulatory framework for the safe operations of the liquefied petroleum gas industry, delineating the powers and functions of various government agencies, and defining and penalizing certain prohibited acts.

The private sector, Gerodias said, was consulted in the formulation of the said law, as it cannot be done with the government alone.

The full participation of the private sector is also vital, especially in following the

LAUENGCO | from p4 workers to achieve political success.

Second, though we start from the basics, our creation or end goal must be unique and original. In LEGO MOC, the basic build techniques are combined and tweaked to create a sum or whole greater than its parts.

The newly crowned NBA champions started with basics and developed their own unique twist to their players and tactics such as, the first point center who can bring the

PGA | from p8 of the most intense time in its 54-year history, fending off a rival league funded by Saudi Arabia’s national wealth fund that led to defections of marquee players and an antitrust lawsuit.

His medical situation comes a week after Monahan stunned the golf world by announcing the PGA Tour had ended its battle with the Public Investment Fund and LIV Golf by agreeing to a commercial business partnership.

Monahan, 53, spent nearly two months working on the deal with two PGA Tour board members, investment banker Jimmy Dunne and New York attorney Ed Herlihy, without any players’ knowledge.

Almost all of them said they were shocked. Some said they

fic violators.

The Tax Amnesty Ordinance of 2022 offers condonation of interests, surcharges, penalties, nd arrearages, for those who failed to pay in 2021 and previous years, thus easing the financial burden of taxpayers until June 30, this year.

But any person, company, or corporation that was previously granted tax relief program, yet failed to comply their commitments to pay real property taxes and/or business

required licenses and permits and delivering safe products to the public.

The LPG Regional Summit 2023, which was spearheaded by the DOE, served as an educational tour across the country to educate the LPG industry and other concerned government agencies as to the said law and its approved and published implementing rules and regulations (IRR).

In a press conference on Wednesday, DOE Mindanao Field Office Director Nilo Geroche said RA 11592 is still in the transition period and is expected to be finished on July 6. He added that "right after the transition period, the full implementation of the law will commence."

One of the provisions of RA 11592 that is not found in other existing laws is "Training Recognition," where the DOE and BFP will provide training accreditation to the trademark

ball and pass it from the top of the key among other things. In politics, the candidates must always bring something unique to the table whether in their narrative or message.

Third, you need to find the right parts and be ready to change the parts or work around the challenges with the parts you have. The Denver Nuggets experimented with other players filling in the parts of their planned team before finding the core team for their run. When they found the core of Jokic, Murray, Porter and Gordon, injuries prevented

felt betrayed. The deal came nearly a year after Monahan made pointed remarks about LIV Golf’s source of funding, particularly as it related to any Saudi connection to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

When a news outlet broke an embargo, some players learned of the deal on social media before the tour could email them details. Monahan then faced a meeting with players at the Canadian Open that was described as intense and included a suggestion that he be replaced.

“I recognize that people are going to call me a hypocrite,” Monahan said in a Zoom call with the media after the meeting. “Anytime I said anything, I said it with the information that I had at that moment, and I said it based on someone that’s trying to compete for the PGA

taxes are disqualified.

The measure was also intended as a strategy to hasten economic recovery from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

P1.58 billion was generated from the registration of 3,870 new businesses, as of March this year, bringing the cumulative total to P3.31 billion since July 2022–when the Uy administration assumed.

As of the end of Abril this year, 27,309 businesses have

owners, especially on how to setup regulators on LPG cylinders.

Arnel Ty, program director of LPG Safety Foundation Inc., said once the trademark owners are accredited, they will also be the ones to train their dealers, "and that dealer, who is selling to a consumer, will also be the ones to teach their consumers on the proper use."

Apart from training recognition, Ty said, the DOE will also implement the LPG Cylinder Exchange, Swapping, and Improvement Program, which will be spearheaded by the Regional Program Implementing Task Force in collaboration with the trademark owners and will collect all of the rotten tanks in the market and replace them with the standard ones.

When it comes to enforcement and monitoring, under the IRR, the DOE, Department of Trade and Industry, and other government agencies

them from playing together for a long time but, they stuck with them and added more pieces. In politics, finding the right parts in the core message and finding the right members for the staff is a pivotal key to success.

In the end, it is evident that some of the games we play as kids or adults teach us more skills than we realize. As such, purposeful play must always be promoted as an additional means of learning about life skills.

This is my oblique observation.

Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in the foregoing

Tour and our players.

I accept those criticisms. But circumstances do change. I think that in looking at the big picture and looking at it this way, that’s what got us to this point.”

The tour said its chief operating officer, Ron Price, and its president, Tyler Dennis, would be in charge while Monahan recovers.

“Our thoughts are with Jay and his family during his absence, and we wish him a speedy recovery,” Price and Dennis said in a statement. “We have a strong and experienced leadership team in place, and our priority is to support our players and continue the work underway to further lead the PGA Tour and golf’s future.”

Monahan was expected to meet with players and the media next week at the Travelers

been registered, about 23-percent increase over the 22,032 in the same month last year. In March this year, the Business Permit and Licensing Office registered 3,870 new businesses in the city.

Last year, the Bureau of Local Government Finance, in its preliminary estimates, placed Cagayan de Oro’s total revenues at P5.623 billion, P2.759-billion of it was her internal revenue allotment (IRA). (MT)

shall "create, maintain, and regularly update" a database of LPG industry participants.

However, if there are concerned citizens who would like to report illegal LPG dealers that don’t have the necessary licenses and permits, they may also provide the details to the DOE through their contact information and social media platforms so that they can seek assistance.

Under the said law, DOE can request assistance from law enforcement agencies, considering that there is no DOE office in this city.

The said event, which was attended by hundreds of personnel from government agencies and participants from the LPG industry, is the 9th LPG Regional Summit conducted in the country and the first in Mindanao. The next summit will be conducted in Davao City. (MT)

article are solely the author’s and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of the Philippine News Agency (PNA) or any other office under the Presidential Communications Office.

(ATTY. GILBERTO LAUENGCO, J.D. is a lawyer, educator, political strategist, government consultant, Lego enthusiast, and the director of CAER Think Tank. He is a Former Vice Chairman of MECO, Special Assistant of NFA and City Administrator among others. His broad experience has molded his unique approach to issues analysis which he calls the oblique observation.)

Championship in Connecticut. Players at the US Open have said they don’t have details of how the partnership among the PGA Tour, European tour and the Public Investment Fund will work or how it will shape the tour and LIV Golf after this year. Monahan has said it was a “framework agreement” and still being finalized. Still to come is how players such as Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson who left the PGA Tour for LIV and its $100-plus million signing bonuses could return — and how to reward players who stayed loyal. (AP)

MURDER | from p2

elder Aguit on Tuesday evening but a heated argument ensued between the victim and his nephew, which led to a stabbing incident.

The victim sustained fatal wounds that caused his instantaneous death, prompting the group to bury him before dawn Wednesday.

During interrogation, the three other suspects said they were threatened by the younger Aguit and were forced to connive in burying the victim in the pit. (PNA)

Conor McGregor accused of sexual assault at NBA game

MIAMI (AFP) -- Irish mixed martial arts superstar Conor McGregor has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman at an NBA Finals in Miami last week, multiple US reports said on Thursday, June 15.

ESPN and TMZ Sports cited letters from the woman's lawyer which said McGregor "violently" assaulted her in a bathroom at the Kaseya Center during the Miami Heat's game four defeat to Denver on Friday.

The 34-year-old UFC star is alleged to have "aggressively kissed" his accuser before attempting to force her into multiple sex acts.

McGregor denied the allegations in a statement emailed to AFP by his attorney Barbara Llanes.

"The allegations are false. Mr. McGregor will not be intimidated," Llanes said in the statement.

Police in Miami meanwhile would only confirm that its special victims unit was investigating a report filed on Sunday.

"This is an open investigation so no additional information can be released at this time," a Miami Police Department statement to AFP said without mentioning McGregor by name.

Both the Miami Heat and the NBA said they were aware of the

reports and investigating.

"We are aware of the allegations and are conducting a full investigation," the Heat said in a statement.

"Pending the outcome of the investigation, we will withhold further comment."

McGregor's conduct at Friday's game had already come under scrutiny after an incident during a timeout where he punched a Miami Heat mascot after he appeared on court for a pre-planned promotional spot.

The person wearing the mascot costume was later taken to a local hospital for medical treatment before being released later that evening after receiving pain medication.

McGregor is one of the biggest global stars in the history of the hugely successful Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) mixed martial arts circuit, formerly holding the featherweight and lightweight titles.

He has taken part in several money-spinning pay-per-view events, most notably the 2017 crossover boxing bout against Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas which generated more than $600 million in total revenue and earned the former

apprentice from Dublin

PGA Tour Commissioner Monahan recovering from medical issue

plumber's

around $100 million.

Conor McGregor is seen in attendance during Game Four of the 2023 NBA Finals between the Denver Nuggets and the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on June 9, in Miami, Florida. (AFP)

FILE - PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan speaks during a news conference before the start of the Travelers Championship golf tournament at TPC River Highlands, Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Cromwell, Conn. The most disruptive year in golf ended Tuesday, June 6, 2023, when the PGA Tour and European tour agreed to a merger with Saudi Arabia's golf interests, creating a commercial operation designed to unify professional golf around the world. (AP Photo)

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan is recovering from a medical situation that led him to turn over control to two of his top executives, the tour announced

night (Wednesday morning, June 14, 2023, PH time).

only that

board “fully supports Jay and appreciates everyone respecting his privacy.”