Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 97 | Sunday-Monday, August 2-3, 2020

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VOL.13 ISSUE 97 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 2-3, 2020

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Without Kadayawan festivities, Durian growers forced to sell products elsewhere

STORY ON PAGE 2

A vendor sells durian fruit from his multi-cab vehicle in Central Park Subdivision, Bangkal, Davao City over the weekend. Durian growers in Davao City are planning to sell some of their harvest to nearby provinces after the city government of Davao announced that there will be no grand Kadayawan sa Davao celebration this year due to the pandemic. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 97 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 2-3, 2020

‘DEAD STOCK’ Without Kadayawan festivities, Durian growers forced to sell products elsewhere

By MAYA M. PADILLO

W

ith the usual high-market Kadayawan festivities out of the way, some durian growers in Davao City are taking their durian harvests elsewhere.

Former Davao City Durian Council president Candelario Miculob

Davao de Oro’s TV Eskwela launched

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he provincial government of Davao de Oro and the Department of Education launched on Wednesday its version of a television based instruction dubbed as TV Eskwela.

Starting August 24, the program will be aired at Serbisyo Oro Mismo and Nabunturan Cable Television Network (NCTN) every Monday to Friday, 1:00PM to 5:00PM.

According to Dr Eufemia Gamutin, schools division superintendent of DepEd Davao de Oro, all subjects from Kindergarten to Grade 12 will be aired in the program.

“Ang tumong ug tuyo ni ani mao ang paghatag og mas daghan pang kahigayonan nga ang mga bata sa Department of Education, maabot ug mapaligon sa pamaagi sa pag-eskwela karon nga

tuig,” Gamutin said. (The goal and purpose of this is to provide more opportunities for our children in the Department of Education, be reached and strengthened through education this year.)

The DepEd De Oro head also stressed that the division hurdled the challenges of continuing the basic education despite the COVID-19 pandemic

are mandated to establish their own Malasakit Centers.

In an interview conducted earlier in the day, Go narrated how the concept of the Malasakit Center was created. He recounted how the sick and elderly from nearby provinces would often come to Davao City to seek �inancial assistance for their medical bills from then mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

“Hindi namin matiis na hindi tumulong. Hinanapan namin ng paraan. Kaya nung naging Presidente siya, sabi ko ano bang konsepto ang pwede nating gawin at dyan ko po napag-isipan itong Malasakit Center,” shared Go. “Bakit mga pasyente pa ang pupunta (sa opisina ng gobyerno)? Hindi ba natin pwedeng gawin na (sila) nalang ang pupuntahan?

Sabi ko kung pwedeng lagyan natin ng isang kwarto kung saan doon makakakuha ng medical assistance sa loob mismo ng ospital,” he explained.

Go said that the Malasakit Center started when he was serving as Special Assistant to the President.

Due to its success in making much needed medical assistance more accessible to indigent patients, he decided to institutionalize it into a law when he was elected as Senator in 2019.

“Sinubukan namin sa Cebu. Ang dami po — mahigit 100 thousand ang natulungan.

Sinubukan natin sa Bacolod, sa Iloilo, sa Tacloban, at sa iba pang lugar hanggang dumami po ito. Kaya nung naging Senator po ako, sabi ko isabatas nalang natin ito para mas marami pang Pilipino ang matulungan,” Go narrated.

“Palagi ko pong sinasabi na pera po ng taumbayan ito. Ibinabalik lang po sa kanila sa pamamagitan ng mabilis, maayos at maaasahang serbisyo,” he continued.

Go vowed that any Filipino, especially the needy, can rely on the services of the Malasakit Center to easily access the various medical and �inancial assistance programs of the government that are available to them.

“Uulitin ko po. Lapitan niyo lang po ‘yung Malasakit Center kung kailangan ninyo ng pampagamot...

Karapatan ninyo ‘yun. Basta Pilipino ka, quali�ied ka po,” Go assured the public.

In his message during the launching, Go vowed to continue pushing for measures to protect and promote the welfare of the country’s health workers.

He commended the recent implementation of the Supreme Court decision to in-

DAVAO DE ORO, P9

This is the scenario afterMayor Sara Duterte-Carpio announced that this year’s Kadawayan celebration will be highlighted only with a Thanksgiving Mass and a �lag ceremony.

The watered down celebration will be attended by the city’s deputy mayors to maintain health protocols of social distancing as well as implement the no mass gathering policy amid Covid-19 pandemic.

Kadayawan is a thanksgiving for bountiful harvest and unlimited durian in the city at low prices and different varieties is the prominent crowd drawer of the festival.

Candelario “Larry” Miculob, former president of Davao City Durian Industry Council (DCDIC), said some growers opted to take the risk of exploring other areas to sell durian because they are concerned that the fruits might just rot.

“Uban mo take the risk na lang. Pero given nga istrikto ang quarantine usab sa uban lugar basin mang-

abulok lang ang frutas,” he said.

Miculob said even durian fruits are abundant this month, durian growers are still facing challenges such as dif�iculty in moving the products due to lockdowns and quarantine protocols implemented.

“Actually, dako ni nga problema sa fruit industry.

Lisod i-move ang prutas karon,” he said.

Miculob also cited limited �lights of airlines and mass gathering as challenges face by durian growers in Davao City.

Miculob said durian growers in Davao City are now looking forward for the accreditation of Philippine durian to China. He said their hope now is to export durian.

“Hope na lang nga madayon ug mapa-dali ang pag accredit sa Philippine durian sa China para maka export. Ang pag-asa nato ang gawas (export),” he said.

Presently, durian is not yet allowed to be export-

ed to China based on that country’s speci�ications.

Durian growers are hopeful that a bilateral trade deal between the Philippines and China will include fruit such as durian is approved under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.

Miculob said the bilateral trade agreement with China will help attract foreign investors to put up processing plants here.

Durian growers and exporters have been �inding ways to meet Chinese demand for frozen durian after Chinese traders were in town in May 2018 and wanted more frozen durian than what was available.

He said that Chinese traders did not set a limit for the quantity.

“Dako kaayo ang ila volume requirement. Kita ra ang giagad kutob sa kaya nato. The only problem is we have limited processing capacity. The Chinese wants frozen durian… it is easier to export and it is also advantageous for us,” he said.

Miculob said Chinese Inspection and Quarantine supposedly will conduct inspection in March this year, however, was not materialized due to the pandemic.

Go: Malasakit Centers to continue serving Pinoys amid pandemic

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th Malasakit Center opens in Guimaras, Bong Go reiterates that Malasakit Centers will continue to serve Filipinos amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go virtually joined the launch of the country’s 77th Malasakit Center which opened on Thursday, July 30, at the Dr. Catalino Gallego Nava Provincial Hospital in the island province of Guimaras.

It is the �ifth Malasakit Center in the Western Visayas region and the twentieth in the Visayas.

The Malasakit Center simpli�ies the process for seeking medical and �inancial assistance from various government agencies, such as the Department of Health, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Of�ice, as well as related assistance provided by local government units, non-government organizations and private institutions and individuals.

Under Republic Act No. 11463, authored by Go, all hospitals run by the DOH and the Philippine General Hospital in Manila

Sen. Bong Go vowed the needy Filipinos can rely on Malasakit Centers. crease the minimum salary grade of government nurses even if it took eighteen years after the law providing for the increase was enacted.

On July 17, the Department of Budget and Management issued Budget Circular No. 2020-4 to implement Section 32 of the Republic Act No. 9173 or the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002, raising the mini-

mum monthly base pay of entry-level nurses. It is retroactive to January 1, 2020.

"Kinokomendahan ko po ang Department of Budget and Management sa paglabas ng circular upang tuluyang maipatupad na ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema na nagtataas ng salary grades ng mga government nurses natin.

Dalawang dekadang laban ito ng mga nurses natin.

Sa wakas ay maibibigay na ang dapat para sa kanila," Go previously said.

“Lalo na ngayon na nasa gitna tayo ng isang pandemya, lahat ng tulong na maibibigay natin sa ating healthworkers ay ibigay na natin ngayon.

Isa rin itong pagkilala at pasasalamat sa kanilang dakilang sakripisyo para sa bayan,” the Senator also added.

NEWS 3

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 97 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 2-3, 2020

PACC finds cycle of fraud at PhilHealth

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he Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) has found a “systemic” �law in state health insurer PhilHealth that has allowed a cycle of fraud to persist, a commissioner said Saturday as the body concluded the �irst phase of its investigation into alleged corruption at the agency.

PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica told a briefing on state TV that the body has identi�ied of�icials involved in corruption at the agency, which has been tagged in false insurance claims and alleged overpricing of COVID-19 tests.

The �indings of the “partial” probe will be presented to President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, Belgica told the Laging Handa briefing.

“We’ve seen loopholes sa system kaya na-perpetuate ‘yung ganitong klaseng system and we’ve identi�ied

of�icials na sangkot dito, positions na vulnerable,” Belgica said.

(We’ve seen loopholes in the system that’s why this kind of system was perpetuated and we’ve identi�ied of�icials involved, positions that are vulnerable.)

He said the report also points to “misdoings” of an of�icial who did not take action on corrupt practices.

“There’s really a systemic �law sa sistema ng PhilHealth kaya napakahirap, paulit-ulit, paulit-ulit, ‘di matigil ang korapsyon,” he said.

(There’s really a systemic �law in PhilHealth.

That’s why it’s really hard, it happens again and again, corruption won’t stop.)

He described the racket as “basically insurance fraud,” involving PhilHealth’s IT and legal services that allegedly take advantage of “defects” in the system.

President Rodrigo Duterte orders an investigation into alleged corruption at PhilHealth following the resignation of the agency’s anti-fraud officer.

Presidential Photo

City to reopen Roxas night 8.4 million families get market on September 1 P55-B SAP 2 aid: DSWD

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he Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has so far provided emergency subsidies under the government's social amelioration program to 8,405,298 low-income families.

Based on the latest data as of July 30 released on Friday, the DSWD said these families received a total of PHP55.1 billion.

DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista earlier announced they are eyeing to complete the distribution of the second wave of emergency subsidy to 17 million bene�iciaries including the “waitlisted” recipients by July 31.

He, however, added that the aid distribution might take until August 15 for bene�iciaries residing in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), con�lict-affected areas, and those areas where

�inancial service providers (FSPs) do not have payout partners.

Irene Dumlao, DSWD spokesperson, told reporters in a Viber message that "most of the quali�ied bene�iciaries" are located in these areas.

On June 30, DSWD signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and six �inancial service providers recommended by the Bangko Sentral Pilipinas (BSP) – GCash, RCBC, Robinsons Bank, PayMaya, Starpay, and Unionbank - for digital payment.

This paved the way for safer and faster transactions compared to the distribution of the �irst batch of SAP. Bautista previously appealed to the public to continuously have faith in the government amid the delayed distribution.

By MAYA M. PADILLO he city government of Davao is gearing up to re-open the Roxas Night Market on September 1, 2020 on condition that the city will maintain current manageable number of Covid-19 cases.

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In line with this, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio reminded Dabawenyos to self-regulate as the city plans to re-open the Roxas Night Market next month.

“Kung ma maintain nato kung unsa ang naa karon [nga number of Covid-19 cases], which is a number nga manageable sa atoang Covid-19 system diri sa Davao City, beginning September 1, then we will resume Roxas Night Market,” she said.

Mayor Sara said what Dabawenyos should do is to instill self-discipline and self–regulation, otherwise, Covid-19 cases will

increase.

“Ang kinahanglan nato buhaton and i-remind sa tanan nga we need to instill self-discipline and self-regulation. Otherwise, modaghan ang atong cases, and manirado napud ta balik tanan, which is something nga dili nato gusto tanan. Nobody wants to go back to general community quarantine (GCQ), modi�ied enhance community quarantine (MECQ), and enhance community quarantine (ECQ),” Mayor Sara said.

The mayor has ordered the temporary closure of the Roxas Night Market last

March 11 due to Covid-19 pandemic. She ordered for the temporary suspension of the night market as part of the precautionary measures of the city against the virus.

Roxas night market is a popular spot in Davao City among local street food lovers.

Apart from re-opening the night market, the city is also considering the lifting of liquor ban next month.

“Kinahanglan nga mag-kahiusa ta sa kinahanglan nato buhaton, very simple lang– stay at home, wear face masks, distansya sa ubang tao at least two meters, and frequent hand washing,” she said.

The city is set to release a new guidelines for an Executive Order (EO) on August 3, 2020, as the city will continue under the modi�ied general community quarantine (MGCQ) status

SeedWorks PH wraps up ‘Ang Hari sa Ani’ in R-11

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A sidewalk fruit vendor sorts out avocado she is selling along San Pedro Street in Davao City over the weekend. Edge Davao

as declared by President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday.

Mayor Sara said there will be changes in the implementation of MGCQ status in Davao City.

“But sa MGCQ nato, i-lift nato ang FM pass ug curfew. Ngano? It’s because we want people to self-regulate,” she said.

Under the FM pass system, residents are only allowed to go out of their homes when they need to buy food and medicine. It is also regulated by the Davao City Police Of�ice (DCPO) by only allowing FM pass holders with numbers ending in 1,3,5,7,9 to go out every Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while the FM passes ending 2,4,6,8,0, are allowed to go out every Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. No FM pass is allowed to be used on Sundays.

eedWorks Philippines is culminating its ‘Ang Hari sa Ani’ contest in the Davao Region with a simple ceremony recognizing participating farmers with the highest yields during the recent summer harvest season. This comes a few days after the company culminated a similar campaign in Central Luzon.

The agricultural research and technology �irm handed over a brand new Ford Ranger pickup as grand prize to Cesar Lomboy from Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte. The farmer-businessman harvested 12.432 tons per hectare of rice during the contest period. Each of the farmers with the second and third highest yields (Gideon Banez from Compostela, Davao de

Oro and Estela Pablo from Asuncion, Davao del Norte, respectively) in the region brought home a brand new motorcycle.

‘Ang Hari sa Ani’ is a rice-yield contest launched in September 18, 2019 in Tagum City. It was open for quali�ied farmers using SeedWorks’ US-88. Every participating farmer planted at least a hectare of his land with the premium hybrid rice variety (sowing period was November to December and harvest was until April 2020 at latest).

Aiming to inspire farmers The simple awarding ceremony was held on July 30, 2020 at the Municipal Covered Court of Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte (un-

SEEDWORKS, P9

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 97 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 2-3, 2020

Leading the topping-off ceremony of Damosa Land's sixth and last Seawind tower are members of the management of the Anflo Group of Companies (l-r) Engr. Ruel A. Tan, Oscar V. Grapa, and Alfred E. Samson. Photo courtesy of DLI

DLI tops off last Seawind A tower amid pandemic

DA offers P5.5B in loans for small, medium ‘agripreneurs’

D

amosa Land Inc., one of Mindanao’s leading property developers, reached another milestone for Seawind in the midst of the pandemic, as it topped off its sixth and �inal tower this week.

Keen on hitting its targets and delivering its promise, Damosa Land resumed the construction of the six-tower condominium community upon the go signal from the local government while observing strict protocols with its workforce on site.

With 229 units and rising nine stories high, Seawind’s Tower 6 boasts

of its premiere advantage - an unobstructed view of the Davao Gulf against the backdrop of the Island Garden City of Samal. It also offers convenience to its residents due to its proximity to the entrance complex and commercial building, which will start construction by next year.

"Our situation right now has reinforced the

value that we are championing in Damosa Land - the importance of having your own home. This continues to drive us to keep track of our commitment to deliver what we have promised to our clients,” said Ricardo Floirendo Lagdameo, Head of Damosa Land, the real estate arm of the An�lo Group of Companies.

In the development pipeline for Seawind are its Phase 2 amenities, parking building, and commercial complex to complete a self-sustaining community. Meanwhile, it also remains steadfast in keeping the local economy moving by sustaining jobs

for people.

Various projects across Damosa Land have also recorded steady progress even while following strict guidelines imposed on the construction industry.

During the quarantine, the company has seen continuous development in its industrial ecozone, mixeduse property, residential and of�ice spaces.

"We stay committed to achieving more milestones and delivering developments to our clients amid the pandemic. Damosa Land is solid on hitting its targets for 2020 and the next year,” Lagdameo remarked.

order to directly source the fund from DBP (Development Bank of the Philippines) and Land Bank (of the Philippines),” Lopez said during the Laging Handa public brie�ing Friday.

Lopez also chairs the PITC, a state trading company under DTI that will be responsible for the purchase of the Covid-19 vaccines.

“PITC will buy the vaccine requirement of DOH (Department of Health).

But the details as to (what) brand, quantities, target price, timetable are yet to be �inalized,” the trade chief told reporters in a text message.

He said the government targets to give free vaccines to at least 20 million Filipinos who are the poorest of the poor in the

country.

Lopez added the PITC can also import the vaccines for the private sector so they can purchase these at a discounted price.

“What the government is saying is that the poorest of the poor will be the priority (for the vaccine), but nobody is preventing anyone also from importing the vaccines,” he said.

(PNA)

No need to sell gov’t properties to buy Covid-19 vaccines: DTI

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epartment of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said there is no need to sell government properties to buy vaccines for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) once these become available.

“We don’t need to sell a property. That’s why, we will be buying through PITC (Philippine International Trading Corp.) in

griculture Secretary William Dar on Friday said his department would allot P5.5 billion in loans for small and medium entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector.

Dar said in a webinar that among all micro, small and medium enterprises in the country, only 1 percent is composed of those involved in agriculture, forestry and �ishing.

With the country facing the COVID-19 pandemic and challenges in rice suf�iciency, he said it was time to “unlock the sector of agriculture, through agribusiness,” citing current loan programs being offered to different sectors of the society through the Agricultural Credit Policy Council or ACPC. SURE AID PROGRAM The Survival and Recovery Program or SURE AID aims to provide emergency �inancial assistance to farmers and �isherfolk affected by calamities or disasters. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program was expanded to provide �inancial assistance to about 40,000 small farmers and �isherfolk.

Under the program, there is the “Ahon Lahat, Pagkain Sapat” (ALPAS), which aims to provide �inancial assistance to 150 to 200 or more micro and small enterprises, depend-

ing on their loan amount, according to ACPC executive director Jocelyn Badiola.

As of last April, ACPC has released loans to a total of 164,274 bene�iciaries.

Small farmers and �ishers who are registered in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) may apply for loans of up to P25,000. It is payable for up to 10 years with zero interest and no collateral.

The RSBSA is a database of farmers, �isherfolk and farm laborers that is used by the DA and its attached agencies and bureaus in identifying bene�iciaries of its various programs.

Micro and small enterprises, on the other hand, may take loans of up to P10 million. It is payable for up to 5 years with zero interest.

KAPITAL ACCESS FOR YOUNG AGRIPRENEURS or KAYA A loan facility for young agripreneurs aged 18 to 30 and graduates of formal or non-formal schooling, this program targets younger Filipinos to be key players in ensuring affordability and availability of food supply. The aim of the program is to �inance capital requirements of their startups or existing farm-�ishery business.

DA, P9

5 VANTAGE

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 97 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 2-3, 2020

On the issuance of the Department of Budget and Management of Budget Circular No. 2020-4 to implement Section 32 of the Republic Act No. 9173 or the Philippine Nursing Act of 2002, raising the minimum monthly base pay of entry-level nurses and retroactive to January 1, 2020:

Kinokomendahan ko po ang Department of Budget and Management sa paglabas ng circular upang tuluyang maipatupad na ang desisyon ng Korte Suprema na nagtataas ng salary grades ng mga government nurses natin. Dalawang dekadang laban ito ng mga nurses natin. Sa wakas ay maibibigay na ang dapat para sa kanila. Lalo na ngayon na nasa gitna tayo ng isang pandemya, lahat ng tulong na maibibigay natin sa ating healthworkers ay ibigay na natin ngayon. Isa rin itong pagkilala at pasasalamat sa kanilang dakilang sakripisyo para sa bayan.”

Sen. Christopher Lawrence ‘Bong’ Go

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6 VANTAGE POINTS

VOL.13 ISSUE 97 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 2-3, 2020

EDGEDAVAO

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

‘87 CHARTER STIFLES ECONOMIC PROGRESS AND POLITICAL STABILITY After 33 years under the present Constitution, where in your honest assessment, is the Philippines situated now – economically, sociologically and politically speaking?

Comparatively, our then lowly ASEAN neighbors – Brunei, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, (not to speak of Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea) – have gradually moved up in terms of advancing their own domestic development agenda in the areas of economics and investments, labor, agriculture and food security, tourism, peace and order, public health, education and citizen development.

Our country is currently weighed down by inconsistencies and obstructive provisions in the 1987 Cory Aquino constitution forged under revolutionary circumstances after the Marcos dictatorship was ousted.

In particular, charter reformists point to the onerous 60-40 investment provision for local and foreign inves-

tors, respectively – a sharing scheme that drives away investor interest and con�idence.

Huge foreign business interests do not want to put in large chunks of their money only for a local counterpart to sit in as chair of the board and president of the company, thus turning their business equity as minority shares.

Foreign businessmen desire that they exclusively run the operations of their corporate investments whether they succeed or fail.

Areas like car assembly and spare parts manufacturing, hotel construction and services, schools and universities, maritime and shipbuilding, mining, power, energy and oil exploration and development are only some of the vital industries where the country needs investments from foreign sources.

If It needs to be emphasized, poverty is the number one enemy of the people.

(Cuba is one good example of a country that has remained

stagnant.)

Without foreign direct investments (FDIs), our country will never climb out of the mire as successfully as Singapore, Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia.

As the Covid19 continues to create fear and havoc in our poverty stricken country, the need to amend the 1987 law of the land becomes greater and greater.

Besides, political observers will tell you that constitutions of almost all progressive nations undergo amendments and changes every �ive years or so in order to march in cadence with global developments and technology.

The legislative set-up is likewise in need of a major overhaul.

Charter advocates believe that a unicameral parliamentary Congress is most ideal for this archipelagic country of crisscrossing 7,107 islands.

Budget allocation for the House of Representatives alone, composed of more

than 300 district congressmen and women and party-lists, is so huge the need to taper it down will result into conversions of the extra money for the building of school buildings and hospitals.

The same is true with the Senate which has only 24 members but which is funded by taxpayers’ money a hugely as the HOR. Aside from achieving ef�iciency and effective legislative work, a unicameral parliamentary Congress will help saved taxpayers’ money that can be reserved for better, much needed development purposes.

I am re-echoing this advocacy because the need to amend the constitution that is no longer effectively responsive to the times has become very, very imperative.

If the Filipinos expect their government to provide them the basic needs of the family – food, shelter, clothing, employment and education – they must recognize – and strive – that ridding

the 1987 Constitution of its burden-some provisions is as much their responsibility as the leaders of government.

In this regard, the Filipinos themselves must evolve into a politically literate class.

They themselves must push for constitutional reforms without need to endure waiting for the HOR and Senate to get together as a constituent assembly.

Filipinos must educate themselves and strongly push for a People’s Initiative, they being holders of the sovereign mandate embedded by the democratic doctrine that this government is of the people, for the people and by the people.

A genuine, peaceful People’s Revolution may thus become necessary.

Confucius said: “The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must �irst sharpen his tools.”

(Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.)

GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

ALL ABOUT WEIGHT-LOSS SUPPLEMENTS Weight-loss supplements are getting popular these days as they make a person slimmer “with minimum effort.”

But don’t believe in those marketing promises, urges Dr. Karla Silverio-Fernando, an endocrinologist at the St. Luke’s Medical Center Global City, Manila Doctors Hospital and Paranaque Doctors Hospital.

“When it comes to losing weight, most people want shortcuts and instant results as well. This is why a lot of diet pills and weight loss supplements have become popular – they promise weight loss with minimum effort,” noted Dr. Silverio-Fernando, a fellow of the Philippine College of Physicians as well as the Philippine Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism.

In an article she wrote for Health and Lifestyle, a magazine for health professionals, she look at some of the common weight loss supplements available in the market today

and provided some insights to separate myths from facts.

L-carnitine: Incorporated even in some drinks, it is being promoted for weight loss as the molecule “allows the cells to break down far and get energy from the stored fat reserves.” Studies show that it “does not seem to have a signi�icant effect.” Side effects: some people who take L-carnitine may experience nausea or diarrhea.

Chromium: This essential trace element is often seen as part of supplements being promoted to help diabetes.

“Some say that taking chromium picolinate for two to three months may also produce a small weight loss of about 1.1 kg, but most clinical studies show no signi�icant effect,” Dr. Silverio-Fernando wrote.

Uncommon adverse effects of chromium include headache, insomnia, irritability, mood changes and cognitive dysfunction.

Fiber: Fiber helps a per-

son lose weight by making him feel full. “Although taking an appropriate amount of �iber can be good for you, taking too much can cause constipation and even gastrointestinal obstruction,” Dr. Silverio-Fernando noted.

Conjugated linoleic acid: This occurs naturally in small amounts in dairy products and red meat. It was proposed to be bene�icial for obesity, diabetes, and cholesterol problems. “Based on the available data, the use of conjugated linoleic acid for the management of obesity or diabetes is not recommended,” the lady doctor reminded.

Green tea extract: Can decrease appetite while increasing calorie and fat metabolism. But “current evidence to support this is still lacking,” Dr. Silverio-Fernando pointed out. Adverse effects include dizziness, insomnia, agitation, nausea, vomiting, bloatedness and diarrhea.

Meal replacements: These are sold in most phar-

macies and health stores in the form of bars and shakes.

“Several studies have shown equivalent or greater weight loss with structured meal replacement plans compared to low-calorie diet treatments,” Dr. Silverio-Fernando said.

The American Dietetic Association recommends substituting one or two daily meals or snacks as a successful weight loss and weight maintenance strategy.

Bangkok pills: These pills contain bisacodyl (a laxative), furosemide (a diuretic), phentermine (raises levels of the hormone leptin, causing appetite suppression), and fen�luramine (an appetite suppressant that acts by increasing the blood levels of serotonin and catecholamine).

Adverse effects include increased heart rate, palpitation, irregular heart rhythm, chest pain, tremors, anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, drowsiness, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, seizures, stroke,

or even death. In the United States, Bangkok pills are banned since 1997.

Emagrece sim and Herbathin: These two supplements from Brazil have gained popularity especially in the United States. However, these two “have been shown to contain prescription drugs such as Chlordiazepoxide (anti-anxiety), Fluoxetine (anti-depressant), and Fenproporex (a stimulant that is converted in the body to amphetamine, the family of shabu),” Dr. Silverio-Fernando reported.

Dr. Silverio-Fernando cautioned consumers to think twice before taking weight loss supplements.

“Most aren’t supported by good scienti�ic evidence, and some may even be dangerous,” she cautioned. “Dietary supplements aren’t subject to the same rigorous standards as are prescription drugs. They can therefore be sold with limited proof of effectiveness or safety.”

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LIVING

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THE UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER IS INSANE, one day it’s sunny and the next day there’s a rainstorm.

Weather the storm and allow the country’s ondemand delivery service foodpanda to become your daily partner in delivering your favorite food and daily essentials.

Whether you’re missing your favorite comfort food or you need something from the grocery store quickly, there’s no need to head out because foodpanda got you covered.

From drizzle to downpour, hot or humid weather, errands outside the comforts of your home could become a hassle.

Instead of worrying about a grocery run, stressing about the weather or dreading the long lines, simply log on and check out foodpanda shops. Your pantry or fridge refill needs is just a click away. From bread, meats, seasonings, spices, to anything canned, the app presents a great way of shopping for your daily essentials: accessible and easy.

Hungry? Stay inside the comfort of your home and let foodpanda deliver your favorite

food in less than 30 minutes.

From your favorite sinigang, to sisig and even some classic pork barbeque, foodpanda got your back.

Who says it’s only for those who juggle the demands of

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Trust that when all you want is to curl up on the couch, wrap yourself in a blanket, or spend the evening binge-watching the latest tv series, all you’ll ever need is to reach for your phone

and open the app. Spicy Korean noodles? Freshly roasted chicken? Maybe pasta and pizza? foodpanda got you covered.

Enjoy up to 50% off and free delivery for selected restaurants and shops this July Skip the

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Download the foodpanda app now and get your favorite food and your everyday essentials delivered straight to your doorstep.

THAI HEARTTHROB BRIGHT VACHIRAWIT BORN TO BE WILD RETURNS SINGS FIRST OPM COVER FOR ‘STILL 2GETHER’ WITH ALL-NEW EPISODES ANTICIPATION for BrightWin’s newest project reaches fever pitch in the Philippines as iWant finally streams “Still 2gether,” the sequel of the hit Thai series “2gether,” on August 14, simultaneous with their airing in Thailand.

The Filipino-dubbed episodes of “Still 2gether” will stream on iWant every Friday at 10:30 PM in the Philippines. The Tagalized episodes will also be aired on cable and satellite TV via Kapamilya Channel on Saturday nights at 10 PM after “MMK,” beginning August 15.

In “Still 2gether,” Sarawat (Bright) and Tine’s (Win Metawin) almost-perfect two-year relationship takes a different turn when their responsibilities in their music club start to mess with their dynamic. In order to maintain their relationship, Tine resigns from the club and joins another, causing jealousy and even more problems for the couple.

ABS-CBN’s back-to-back surprises for fans also include Bright’s first OPM song cover “With A Smile,” which will be released as the official theme song of “Still 2gether” in the Philippines.

Catch the music video premiere of Bright’s “With A Smile” this Friday at 3 PM on the official Star Music PH YouTube channel and the Facebook pages of Star Music, Dreamscape, iWant, and ABS-CBN

Entertainment.

Fans have already expressed their excitement for the OPM cover

by Bright, who is also a musician and has recorded Thai songs for the series’ soundtrack. In “2gether,” his character also sings and plays the guitar.

Stream “Still 2gether” for free on iWant or iwant.phstarting August 14 at 10:30 PM, and catch it on Kapamilya Channel on August 15 at 10 PM, after “MMK.” For updates, like www.facebook.com/iWant, and follow @iwant on Twitter and @ iwantofficial and @dreamscapeph on Instagram, and subscribe to www.youtube.com/iWantPH.

AFTER more than 100 days, and still counting, of community quarantine, GMA’s award-winning environmental and wildlife program “Born To Be Wild” returns with all-new episodes beginning Sunday, August 2.

Hosts and expert veterinarians Doc Ferds Recio and Doc Nielsen Donato go back to the outdoors to continue the mission of saving animals.

In Tanay, Rizal, locals seek the help of Born to be Wild when they discover that a pair of endemic North Luzon cloud rats is hiding underneath their roof. The cloud rats have been waiting to be freed since they became “locked down” inside this home in June. Doc Nielsen and his team step into the forest once again to help these endemic animals return to the Sierra Madre mountain range where they belong. For the first time since the declaration of general community quarantine, a wildlife rescue is finally underway.

At the height of lock down, trails were free from hikers and beaches were empty. But in different parts

of the country, sea turtles have been found stranded. In Iloilo, five sea turtles were accidentally trapped inside a fish net. The fishermen then banded together to save and release the endangered turtles into the ocean.

Long before the pandemic, Doc Ferds and his team were frequent visitors of a sea turtle rescue facility in Iloilo. Doc Ferds checks on his former sea turtle patients to see how they are doing and to find out if they can still go back to the wild.

Catch these stories and more as Born To Be Wild airs all-new episodes beginning this Sunday, August 2, after AHA! on GMA-7.

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VIRTUAL CONTRACT SIGNING. FTC Group of Companies President and CEO Ian Cruz (center) signs the partnership agreement with Jones Lang LaSalle for Aeon Towers’ property management services represented by Cecile Supatan, Senior Business Development Manager for Davao Region on July 17, 2020 at the FTC Corporate Office.

(Left to Right) This ceremony is witnessed by Jester Hospital, ALPI Project Development Manager, Lesley Ann Cruz-Arquiza, Senior Vice President - Treasury & Corporate Finance, Jonna Serafin, Vice President- HR & Quality

9

Assurance, Almira Añonuevo, Chief Finance Officer, Almira Mariano, Marketing Communications Director and Engr. Daniel Manalo, Vice President for Operations. JLL Executives Christophe Vicic, Country Head, Philip Mareschal, Head, Property and Asset Management, Angelica Punzalan, Senior Business Development Manager and Antonio Sabarre, Senior Director, Commercial Leasing, attended virtually via Microsoft Teams.

FTC-GOCC, Jones Lang LaSalle ink services deal on Aeon Towers F TC-GOCC recently signed up with Jones Lang LaSalle(JLL) for Property Management Services for its �lagship project- Aeon Towers, via Virtual Contract Signing held last July 17, 2020 at the FTC Corporate Of�ice.

JLL was represented during the ceremonies by Ms. Cecile Supatan, Senior Business Development

Manager, while the JLL executives in Manila, headed

by Christophe Vicic, Country Head, Philip Mareschal,

Head, Property and Asset Mgt. , Antonio Sabarre, Senior Director, Commercial Leasing, Michael Jay Castro, Head Operations PAM, and Angelica Punzalan, Senior Bus Dev Manager, attended virtually via Microsoft Teams.

With its ability to deliver real estate services across large and diverse global portfolio, this part-

because of the assistance of the provincial government.

During the launching, Deped – Davao de Oro represented by Dr. Gamutin, the provincial government of Davao de Oro with Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, and NCTN with Jeanette Dy entered into a Memorandum of Agreement for the airing of TV Eskwela.

Witnesses during the signing were Vice Governor Maricar Zamora, and Fe Maestre, provincial information of�icer and incharge of Serbisyo Oro Mismo.

Aside from the airing time, the MOA also speci�ied that the provincial government will assist Deped in terms of facilities, equipment, and technical skills

in running the TV program.

Governor Uy underscored the importance of cooperation and unity in this time of COVID-19 pandemic especially in the learning development of the students.

“Karon sa pendemya kinahanglan kita magsupurta sa mga bugat nga mga issues sa atong probinsyia nga ginaatubang.

Usa sa mga bugat nga issues nga atong ginaatubang ang kining problema sa paghatod sa quality nga edukasyon sa tong mga estudyante kay tungod dili pa kita pwede mag face to face. Kabalo ta nga lisod ni tungod kay mao kini ang pinakaunang higayon nga buhaton nato ni pero walay imposible basta adunay

participasyon sa tanan, unity, ug cooperation.”

(With this pandemic, we need to support those who have been facing heavy issues in our province. One of these heavy issues that we are facing is the problem in the delivery of quality education to our students since we still cannot hold face to face meeting.

We know that this is hard because this is the �irst time we are doing this but nothing is impossible if there is participation of all (the stakeholders), unity, and cooperation.)

Aside from the TV based instructions, DepEd Davao de Oro has also partnered with Z Radio 88.5FM for the Radyo Zkwela, a radio based instructions.

As of July 29, Dr. Gamutin also reported that the enrollment in the public schools of Davao de Oro reached 97% from last year’s enrollment of around 189,000. However, she added that they are still welcoming late enrollees.

Meanwhile, Governor Uy also noted that even though there are no physical attendance at the schools, the provincial government will devise a plan to continue the school based feeding program under the Kalinga ng Kalusugan (KNK) program.

He said that the KNK program will cater around 8,000 students in the province prioritizing those in the hinterlands. (PIA11, Michael Uy)

der modi�ied general community quarantine). Present in the small gathering were Sto. Tomas Mayor Ernesto Evangelista, Regional Executive Director Ricardo Onate of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Of�ice-11, Engineer Elmer Degorio of Sto. Tomas Municipal Agriculture Of�ice, Davao de Oro Provincial Rice Coordinator Jane Haom, Davao del Norte Provincial Rice Coordinator Engr. Leonilo Patayon, Re-

gional Rice Focal Person Jacinto Macoy Jr, and Jose Andamon from the Provincial Agriculture Of�ice, Davao del Norte.

“We congratulate these farmers for making yields that are two to three times more than the national average,” said SeedWorks Philippines President Carlos Saplala. “SeedWorks has actively been advocating modernized technology and smarter ways for cultivating and harvesting

high-quality rice. We hope we can inspire and motivate more farmers to do better by adopting the best practices in rice farming.”

Better farming practices Aside from its resilience, US-88 also produces rice that is characterized by its premium quality. The hybrid variety is known for its long grain and ideal softness that discerning consumers usually prefer.

Furthermore, it has high milling and head rice recov-

ery that traders look for.

The Davao Region is one of the prioritized rice-farming regions in Mindanao due to promising factors. In June 2020, the DA Region 11 announced government-backed initiatives that would boost rice production through adoption of modern farming techniques and provision of �inancial, enterprise, and organizational training to equip farmers to also be traders of their produce.

DAVAO DE ORO... FROM2

SEEDWORKS... FROM3

nership with JLL is designed to strengthen the operational ef�iciency and consistency in the property management of Aeon Towers, the 33-storey iconic landmark in Davao City, positioned to be the next big destination for business and tourism in Davao City.

JLL is a leading professional services �irm that

specializes in real estate and investment management and is expected to manage the condo component of Aeon Towers, which has started turnover of units to the condo buyers last February and with move-in schedule starting August this year.

Among those who attended in behalf of FTC-GOCC/Aeon Tow-

ers are Ian Y. Cruz , CEO & President, Lesley Ann Cruz-Arquiza, SVP Treasury & Corporate Finance, Jonna Sera�in, VP HR & Quality Assurance, Engr Daniel Manalo, VP Operations, Almira Añonuevo, CFO, Almira Mariano, Marketing Communications Director and Jester Hospital, Project Development Manager.

A borrower may loan up to P500,000 pesos, with zero interest and no collateral. The loaned amount is payable for up to 5 years.

Borrowers need to present a concrete business plan as one of the requirements.

AGRI-NEGOSYO This program offers zero-interest loans to �inance capital requirements of individuals who are beyond 30 years old including small farmers and �isherfolk, organizations, repatriated migrant workers and micro and small enterprises that are engaged in agriculture and �ishery projects.

A borrower may loan up to P15 million, with zero interest. It is payable in 5 years.

“We need to transform farmers towards a mar-

ket-oriented economy, following a value-chain approach and looking at opportunities of higher value agriculture to mainstreaming them to commercial agriculture is necessary.

And you need innovation and technology to reinvest gains so you can consider innovation system as an engine,” Dar said.

Dar said a total of P693 million has been loaned to 99 micro and small enterprise borrowers, while P852 million pesos have been disbursed for marginal farmers and �ishers.

The DA has also opened the “Business Education in Agriculture” or BEAg that is open not only to millennials but also to those who have ideas that could help agriculture and enhance agribusiness to translate that to group of concepts.

ni Carl, dream school ko rin ang UP. Hindi lang ito tungkol sa paglalaro. ‘Yong napili ko rin dito is education. Kapag natapos na [ang basketball], di natin masabi ano mangyayari.

Ang importante ay maganda ang tinapos namin,” said Abadiano, who is taking up BS Tourism.

Tamayo and Abadiano, who suited up for Gilas

Pilipinas in the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup, join a loaded pool of UP recruits this year. Other players who committed to UP recently are Xavier School ace Miguel Tan, Fil-Canadians Alonso Tan and Anton Eusebio, Fil-Australian center Ethan Kirkness, Fil-Am guard Sam Dowd, and Gilas Youth cadet RC Calimag.

DA... FROM4

TAMAYO... FROM11

10 EDGEDAVAO EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late ISABELO AQUINO JALDON has been the subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE leaving the following real properties described as follows:TCT No. T-154465,TCT No. T-179,719, Residential house covered

by Tax Declaration No. AG-09004-06860, Personal Property, A.Soriano Corporation Common Stocks executed among his Heirs, per Doc. No 312; PageNo.64; Book No.lll Series of 2020, of the NOTARY PUBLIC FREDERIC VOLTAIRE Y. TAN

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EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late LUCIA F. GICA who died on July 5, 2020 at Davao City has been the subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE executed among his heirs, per Doc. No.145; PageNo.30; Book No.LXXXIX Series of 2020, of the NOTARY PUBLIC ATTY. ANTOINETTE G. PRINCIPE.

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS Notice is hereby given that the estate of the late Spouses PILAR RUBIO BUENACOSA and ROMEO MALAGA BUENACOSA who died on May 31, 2019 and August 3, 2005 at Agusan del Norte Provincial Hospital, Libertad Butuan City and Davao Medical Center Davao City, has been the subject of EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE WITH WAIVER OF RIGHTS executed among their heirs, per Doc. No.449; PageNo.91; Book No.LXXXVII Series of 2020, of the NOTARY PUBLIC ATTY. ANTOINETTE G.

PRINCIPE.

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RESTART... FROM12

It was a game of short spurts as the Lakers led for the entire �irst half, with both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George suffering early foul trouble. In the 3rd canto, the Clippers took the lead with George’s consistent scoring.

Anthony Davis regained the lead for the Lakers in the 4th quarter, as the 4 superstars alternated in the game highlights. Both teams came prepared with their A-games. Up until the end, no team - and no one - could show clear dominance over the other.

Watching the game however, I saw the Lakers came better prepared and playing more cohesively. Lebron’s leadership clearly showed, as well as coach Frank Vogel’s

direction. It is evident that the Lakers took the scrimmage time more seriously. I believe they are now at 90% of their peak form. Expect them to cruise thru the rest of the games as they try to gain more playing time and more cohesion for their reserves.

Their objective for the rest of the regular season match-ups will be to stay �it and healthy, while trying to get more cohesion, better teamwork among their lesser endowed second crew.

Over in the Clippers’ camp however, there is much more potential that hasn’t been seen. The team played minus 2 Sixth Man of the Year candidates, Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell. Both will

need to sit out a few games due to strict quarantine protocols. Even with the early foul trouble to both Kawhi and George, the Clippers deep bench clearly shined. This team has that luxury of resting its key players with the recent addition of veterans Marcus Morris and Joakim Noah to an already talent-laden bench. Coach Doc Rivers has the luxury of a deeper bench, with a more �lexible rotation. Now, how to get the best chemistry to optimize his player rotation is a good problem every coach would love to have.

Clearly, the Battle for LA has become one of the highlights for the season. It is a rare occasion when two of

the best teams in the league are practically playing in the same neighborhood. Expect sparks to �ly. Expect nothing but the best. It is pride, it is bragging rights, it is the title as the neighborhood top dogs; all these are what matters now, nothing else.

But the greatest highlight of the games is no longer all about basketball now. Its meaning, its very signi�icance has outgrown the game itself.

Now more than ever, the NBA has demonstrated it is able to be bigger than basketball.

The games are no longer just about the entertainment value it provides. For one, the Restart provides a venue to promote safety protocols amid this pandemic. The

players themselves demonstrate that with discipline and complete adherence to stringent safety standards, we can defeat this unseen enemy.

The NBA, thru the Bubble, has set a blueprint to how communities can create their own little bubbles until these tiny bubbles interlock and slowly merge. The NBA provides hope for a return to normalcy, but only if people will adhere to heightened protocols due to these uncertain times.

On top of all that, the NBA is now leading the way in pushing for social reform not just for the US - but for all the world to see. With messages plastered on the courts, on players’ jerseys, on TV screens, on social media and

everywhere, the NBA is making it clear that it is against any form of social inequality in this world.

Thus the NBA today has become a rallying point, a ray of hope, a small distant light at the end of the tunnel. Indeed, the resumption of the games is made more signi�icant as the world struggles to restart life amid this pandemic. We - as a global community - can overcome these adversities. But only if we band together as the NBA did. Only if we move forward as brothers, as equals, together.

With the NBA Restart, we hope that the world can watch and learn. And hopefully, stand together to restart to a new ideal world as well.

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Tamayo, Abadiano are now Fighting Maroons

W

Giannis Antetokounmpo showed why he’s likely to win his second straight MVP Award, finishing with 36 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists.

Bucks off to a good start

T

he 2019-20 NBA season is of�icially underway, and on Friday night, two Eastern Conference contenders took to the court for the �irst time inside the Disney World bubble.

It didn’t disappoint, as the Milwaukee Bucks escaped with a thrilling 119112 win over the Boston Celtics.

Giannis Antetokounmpo showed why he’s likely to win his second straight MVP Award, �inishing with 36 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists. He scored 16 of those

points in the fourth quarter including six in the �inal 90 seconds to make sure the Bucks went home with the win.

As for the Celtics, they struggled to shoot the ball -- 37-for-91 from the �ield overall and 11-for-37 from 3-point land -- but hung around in large part because they were able to get

to the free throw line for 34 free throws, which was the �ifth-most they’ve shot all season. Jayson Tatum had a rough night, �inishing with a season-low �ive points on 2-for-18 shooting.

Giannis shows why he’s the likely MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to win his second straight MVP Award whenever the league announces this season’s honors, and he showed exactly why on Friday night. Despite a little controversy about whether or not he should have fouled out late in the fourth

bubble, we got what was potentially the game of the year. Here are the main takeaways from Houston's victory.

Every �law we assumed the Rockets had still stands The Rockets are the most intentionally �lawed championship contender in NBA history. They are fully aware of all of the things that they can't do, and while Friday proved they are capable of winning in spite of them, they're still there.

They lost the rebounding battle 55-43, and times it looked much worse.

The Mavericks grabbed 13 offensive rebounds.

Houston isn't good enough defensively to give away that many second-chance opportunities.

Kristaps Porzingis, and to a lesser extent Boban Marjanovic, both shot over the smaller Rockets with ease. There is no universe in which allowing 149 points is sustainable or acceptable.

Again, this was by design. The Rockets are betting that their overwhelming shooting advantage and ability to switch comfortably on defense against the most valuable opposing shots is enough to overcome those de�icits.

But they nearly weren't on Friday. The Rockets don't need to rebound like the

Bucks to win the championship, but there is still improvement necessary if they hope to win the championship.

James Harden looked faster As a driver, Harden thrives primarily based off of patience and deceleration. Even without being particularly fast, he starts and stops and changes directions so �luidly that it hardly matters. But on Friday, Harden looked faster than he had before the season shut down. Perhaps four months of rest did him some good. Given the enormous offensive load he carries, this hiatus might have done him some good. Combining the sort of speed we glimpsed against the Mavericks with his impeccable skill creates an unstoppable scorer.

Dallas still isn't ready for primetime The Mavericks have the most ef�icient offense in NBA history, the third-best net rating in the Western Conference and two young stars. Yet they're still in seventh-place in the standings. Why? They struggle in clutch settings. They've now lost 17 games by �ive points or less and have been outscored by an insane 16.1 points per 100 possessions in the clutch this season. They're young.

Rockets turn back Mavs in OT

T

o anyone who doubted the potential quality of basketball within the bubble, I submit Friday's game between the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets as evidence that the NBA won't miss a beat.

In a thrilling overtime bout that featured a double-digit fourth quarter comeback, the Rockets stunned the Mavericks 153-149. The win will prove critical in the standings, as the Rockets now lead the Mavericks by 2.5 games with only seven to play. In all likelihood, that condemns Dallas to a �irstround series against the Los Angeles Clippers.

James Harden and Russell Westbrook were the drivers behind the comeback for Houston. The duo combined for 80 points, 20 rebounds and 16 assists.

Danuel House chipped in six 3-pointers as well to support them, and despite their horrible defense, they managed to overcome a Dallas team that made 21 3-pointers and got at least 24 points from four separate players (Kristaps Porzingis, Luka Doncic, Tim Hardaway Jr., Trey Burke).

Both of these teams have a ways to go in terms of conditioning. This track meet proved that. But on only the second day of the

quarter, he �inished with 36 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists, on a cool 14-for-20 shooting performance.

Not that many teams have an answer for him, but the Celtics are uniquely ill-equipped to deal with Giannis’ size and athleticism, and he did whatever he wanted all night long.

Most importantly, though, he came up clutch time and again down the stretch, �inishing with 16 points in the fourth, including two and-ones in the �inal 90 seconds to get the Bucks to the �inish line.

hen the next basketball season of the University Athletics Association of the Philippines opens in a Covid-free future, the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons will have the one-two punch of Nazareth School of National University in their line up.

UP Men’s Basketball Team manager Atty. Agaton Uvero con�irmed today the transfer of 6’7 ultra talented big man Carl Tamayo and decorated �loor general Gerry Abadiano to UP after the two National University (NU) Bullpups committed to make the big jump to Diliman.

Fighting Maroons head coach Bo Perasol personally met with the new recruits and happily welcomed the two high school stars to the team.

“Carl [Tamayo] and Gerry [Abadiano] will be a big part of our rebuilding efforts,” Uvero said. “We graduated six players last season and we have �ive

more players who have just one playing year left.

These two will help us secure our basketball future.

We hope they will be model student-athletes of UP.” “We are very happy to have Carl and Gerry in our team. Coming straight out of high school, they have �ive full playing years with the team. They will really be a big boost for our young team which is again in the process of rebuilding,” added Bo Perasol.

Tamayo and Abadiano, who graduate from high school this year, said they chose UP because they value education and know how the University makes sure its student athletes also perform well academically.

“It’s one of my dreams na makapag-aral sa UP. Education is one of my reasons for picking the school and siyempre ‘yong basketball program din,” said Tamayo, enrolled as a B Sports Science major.

“Sobrang saya kasi siyempre tulad ng sinabi

New UP recruits Carl Tamayo and Gerry Abadiano.

James Harden fired 49 points in the Houston win.

TAMAYO, P9

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 97 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, AUGUST 2-3, 2020

RESTART WITH A BANG W

e are back!!!

The NBA restarted with energy and excitement as the Utah Jazz nipped the New Orleans Pelicans 106-104, and the Los Angeles Lakers outlasted their neighborhood rivals the Los Angeles Clippers 103-101 last July 30 at the Bubble in Orlando, Florida.

Lebron James has four LA Clippers against him in this bit of action.

Fans from all over the globe watched with bated breaths as the NBA unveiled its ambitious effort to salvage a season in the midst of a still uncontrolled pandemic and a raging social justice issue.

So far, the NBA seems to be winning its campaign, as the players, the staff and the support elements have been able to keep the Bubble immaculately safe from the uncommon, invisible enemy.

It’s been ‘all systems go’ so far, as the ‘safe and responsible’ plan set up by the NBA, with the full support and cooperation of the players’ association, has reported very encouraging results. The NBA has

successfully registered zero reports of COVID infection so far. This is a clear indicator that the players have bought in to the noble purpose to salvage the season for the NBA. And more and more sports leagues are looking at the NBA’s audacious, yet laudable effort to bring some semblance of normalcy into the sports kingdom.

Over in the playing court, Rudy Gobert produced the �irst points to restart the season; and the last 2 points to win the game in a dramatic comefrom-behind fashion for the Utah Jazz. It will be recalled that Rudy was the �irst player to have tested positive for the COVID-19

virus, thereby stopping the NBA season dead on its tracks last March. As if trying to make amends for causing the suspension of the rest of the games, Rudy would team up with Donovan Mitchell to lead the Utah charge. The Jazz squeezed past the Pelicans only in the last 3 minutes of play.

The loss puts the Pelicans in a much more dif�icult situation in its grind to take the last slot in the Western Conference playoffs. With a 28-38 card now, they need to regain their scrimmage winning form to catch the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies leading the pack of hopefuls for the coveted playoff slot - are sporting a 32-33 win-loss slate at present.

Also in the wild race for the 8th slot are the Portland Trailblazers (29-37), the Sacramento Kings (2836), the San Antonio Spurs (27-36) and the Phoenix Suns (26-39). This will be an interesting sprint to watch.

The second game to highlight the return of the NBA was the ever-escalating Battle for LA, as the 2 juggernauts from Lala-land crossed paths for the 4th time this season.

Lebron James once again proved his kingship, as he barreled through to follow up his own miss to win the game 103-101. The score now stands at 2 apiece, with no one clearly ahead in their private race to win the heart of LA.

RESTART, P10