Edge Davao Volume 13 Issue 274 | Saturday, March 6. 2021

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SHOTS OF HOPE Symbolic Covid-19 vaccination signals start of immunization STORY ON PAGE 2

Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) OIC chief of hospital Dr. Ricardo Audan flashes a thumbs up sign while being vaccinated by Health Secretary Francisco Duque III at SPMC in Davao City on Friday.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, National Policy Against Covid-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. and National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana witnessed as Dr. Audan received the first Covid-19 vaccine shot for Davao City. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 274 • SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021

President Rodrigo Duterte receives a vial of the COVID-19 vaccine developed by British-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca from World Health Organization Country Representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe during the ceremonial turnover of the first shipment of the vaccine at the Bulwagang Kalayaan in Villamor Air Base, Pasay City on Thursday night. PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

SHOTS OF HOPE Symbolic Covid-19 vaccination signals start of immunization

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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symbolic vaccination was conducted on Friday morning at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) signaling the start of the Covid-19 immunization in Davao City.

Dr. Ricardo Audan, OIC of SPMC, led the symbolic activity dubbed as the “first shot of hope” using the Sinovac vaccine along with the three doctors namely Dr Marie Yvette Barez, Dr Almera Manan, and Jon Rey Estuya, ICU nurse at the complex of SPMC molecular laboratory.

Audan is among the 150 frontliners of SPMC who get vaccinated with the first dose of Sinovac vaccine. Performing his immunization was Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and was witnessed by Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, National Policy Against Covid-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez

Jr.; National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, and Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

Audan volunteered to be vaccinated first with Sinovac vaccine to help boost the acceptance level among Dabawenyos and frontliners to the Covid-19 vaccines.

“Natapos na ang post-vaccine ko. Normal ako at normal din ang aking blood pressure.

Walang aray. Yung mga kasamahan ko sa SPMC, I encouraged you to get vaccinated as it is the only way to be protected from the virus. Forget about the fears and just be vaccinated and you’ll be a responsible health

care workers,” Audan said at the sidelines of the activity.

He said based on their survey to 1,700 SPMC frontliners, 85.3 percent are willing to be vaccinated with Sinovac vaccines, while 8 percent are uncertain and 6 percent don’t want to get vaccinated.

“We actually prepared for the Pfizer vaccines. Nung dumating ang Sinovac vaccines, we thought na bababa ang acceptance rate, surprisingly tumaas ang acceptance. Meaning to say na ang mga frontliners dito sa SPMC regardless kung anong vaccines ang mauna, they will accept it because they need to be protected as they are handling Covid-19 patients,” Audan said.

He added that from the 5,900 employees of SPMC, close to 4,000 are willing to be vaccinated.

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Inday asks Dabawenyos to abide by security rules

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ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio asked Dabawenyos to abide by rules set in place for security to prevent terroristic acts and criminality in Davao City.

In her speech during the 18th year commemoration of the Sasa old air-

port bombing incident on Friday, Mayor Sara emphasized the importance of the culture of security in keeping Davao City safe.

“Last year, we emphasized the importance of creating a Culture of Security, and how each

one of us can help protect the city from terrorism by participating in the four acts of the Culture of Security: to volunteer, report, remind, and participate,” the Mayor said.

The Culture of Security was conceptualized

ore than two thousand farmers and fisherfolks from the City of Mati have started receiving the cash and food subsidy from the Department of Agriculture- Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA- BFAR), together with the Philippine Coconut Association, City Agriculture Office, and other involved agencies.

The Cash and Food

Subsidy for Marginal Farmers and Fisherfolk Program or CFSMFF identified a total of 1749 fisherfolks and 495 farmers as beneficiaries for the said program in the city.

The beneficiaries receive vouchers worth P5000 Thursday morning at the Mati City Cultural Center with the distribution to continue until Friday, March 5.

The beneficiaries will

be receiving P3000 cash and P2000 worth of food packs consist of half sack rice and dressed chicken.

To be qualified in this program, the fishermen should be registered in the FISHR or Fisherfolk Registration Online, should not be a beneficiary of DSWD’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP), and should not be part of the 4P’s.

For the farmers, they

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Mati fishermen, farmers receive 5K aid from DA

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VOL.13 ISSUE 274 • SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021

EDGEDAVAO

NEWS

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Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) OIC chief of hospital Dr. Ricardo Audan hold a large image of syringe written with‘Proudly Vaccinated’after the latter receive his Covid-19 vaccine at SPMC in Davao City on Friday. Edge Davao

DOH 11 to start vaccination in Davao Region on March 8 DCTOO shores up travel industry amid quarantine restrictions

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avao City Tourism Operations Office (DCTOO) is in full support of the local tourism industry’s bid to recover from the global health crisis.

During the strict lockdown periods last year, several industries connected to tourism

like aviation, restaurants, hotels, convention, and events, and tourist spots were forced to either layoff employees or totally close shop.

Davao City Tourism Operations Office head Generose Tecson, on Wednesday, March 3, during the ‘Madayaw

Dabaw’ program on 87.5 Davao City Disaster Radio said that they are coordinating with the local tourism industry on setting tourism guidelines in anticipation of the lifting of the general community quarantine (GCQ) status in the city.

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By MAYA M. PADILLO r. Annabelle Yumang, regional director of the Department of Health (DOH 11), said on Friday that DOH 11 will be deploying vaccines for the start of the Covid-19 inoculation for frontliners in Davao City and other provinces in Davao Region on March 8, 2021.

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Yumang said the vaccines will be deployed to local government units (LGUs) that are ready to conduct the immunization.

“For the deployment ng mga vaccines to different provinces like to Davao Regional Medical Center (DRMC) will be

transported from DOH 11 to DRMC. Ganoon din ang mangyayari sa other provinces at ang mga bakuna ay ilagagay sa provincial health offices.

In Davao City, nagkaroon sila ng plan with different hospitals at gagawin ang vaccination ng mga health workers from dif-

ferent private hospitals in Mabini Elem. School,” Yumang said.

She said 79 percent of the employees of DRMC are willing to undergo Covid-19 vaccination. For other provinces, we have allocated.

Yumang also said that based on their list, there are a total of 18,656 healthcare workers from level 1 to Level 3 hospitals in Davao Region registered to be vaccinated.

She said listing of the health workers including barangay health workers, workers of the tempo-

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MinDA sees “partial operability” of TDD segment of Mindanao railway by 2022

T Davao City Tourism Operations Office head Generose Tecson discloses that her office is coordinating with the local tourism industry on setting tourism guidelines in anticipation of the lifting of the general community quarantine (GCQ) status in Davao City. Edge Davao

he plan of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) even for a “partial operability” of the long-delayed Tagum City-Davao City-Digos City (TDD) segment of the Mindanao Railway Project before the end of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s sixyear term looks encouraging, an official said.

Romeo Montenegro, assistant secretary of the Mindanao Development Authority said there is a

conscious effort to fulfill the promise of the Duterte administration to implement the priority projects in Mindanao despite various challenges.

“The plan even for partial operability of the long-cherished Mindanao Railway Project TDD segment within the current administration’s timeline looks hopeful,” he said.

Transportation Assistant Secretary Eymard Eje said the government

is eyeing partial operability of the diesel-operated 102-kilometer TDD segment of the railway by March 2022.

Eje said the DOTr hopes to operationalize the section between Panabo City and neighboring Carmen town in Davao del Norte before Duterte steps down on June 30 next year.

The “flat terrain” along the Panabo-Carmen line is a good launch-

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.13 ISSUE 274 • SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021

Laborers work on a government building being constructed along Magallanes Street in Davao City on Friday. Edge Davao

Vaccination drive to lead to economic recovery by Q4: presidential adviser

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rapid vaccination drive in the second and third quarters will lead to economic recovery by the fourth quarter, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion said Thursday.

Arriving vaccines should be used for the vaccination program in the second and third quarters to help micro, small and medium enterprises bounce back, Concepcion said in a statement.

Election spending and

the Christmas season can also help recovery, he said.

“With vaccines to start coming in by May onwards, especially in the third quarter, that will bring in a lot of confidence...the last quarter of 2021 which is Christ-

Treasury sells P463 billion retail bonds in latest offer

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he Bureau of the Treasury has sold P463.3 billion ($9.53 billion) worth of three-year Retail Treasury Bonds (RTBs), raising 411.8 billion pesos of fresh funds, National Treasurer Rosalia De Leon said on Thursday.

Proceeds from the bond sale, which initially raised P221.2 billion at a Feb 9 auction for financial institutions and includes a bond exchange offer worth P51.5 billion, will help finance the government's pandemic relief and economic recov-

ery initiatives.

De Leon said the latest retail bond offer showed increased awareness from retail investors on government securities as a "safe and convenient investment."

She also noted that there were more purchases of RTBs through mobile apps and online channels compared with previous RTB offerings.

The Philippines has been borrowing heavily to finance its infrastructure push, and its COVID-19 response, with

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mas, I believe is going to be the chance for many of our MSMEs to get back on their feet. That should be the time that the economy must really be bouncing back," Concepcion said.

"Upon the arrival of the vaccines, people must be vaccinated so that by the fourth quarter, consumer confidence would increase. Then we’ll have spending because of the Christmas season and the elections," he added.

Some 600,000 doses

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DTI-DavOc helps diarrhea outbreak victims start anew

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he office of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Davao Occidental has extended a package of assistance to some victims of the diarrhea outbreak that hit one of the barangays in its area of jurisdiction.

The Municipality of Jose Abad Santos welcomed 2021 with a dis-

tressful news: a diarrhea outbreak erupted in Brgy.

Butuan due to the community’s unsafe drinking water. This caused the death of one person and sent more than 20 others to the hospital after suffering severe dehydration. This unfortunate occurrence affected the daily lives of the victims, especially economically

as they had to spend for their treatment and hospitalization.

Cognizant to the victims’ situation, DTIDavao Occidental immediately extended the much-needed help. Anchoring on its mandate to promote the economic recovery in the communities, particularly

dure on Administrative Enforcement Intellectual (IP) Rights," the electronic, digital, or online channels have been expressly included as part of the IEO's scope in exercising its enforcement functions.

“The exercise of IPOPHL's enforcement powers shall cover manufacturing, production, importation, exportation, distribution, trading, displaying, broadcasting,

streaming and offering for sale, including other preparatory steps necessary to carry out the sale of counterfeit and pirated goods or contents to the public, including electronic, digital or online means provided that there is no pending case before any office, tribunal, quasi-judicial body, or court involving the same issue/s or subject matter,” the MC read.

The new rules also

expanded IEO’s actions in response to an administrative complaint from a right holder regarding counterfeiting and piracy.

An enforcement order is served to, but not limited to, carry out the following actions: Request removal of counterfeit goods or pirated goods or content, including advertisements in relation to such goods

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IPOPHL boosts anti-counterfeiting, piracy measures with new rules

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ew rules at the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), which took effect on Wednesday, have expanded the powers of its Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Office (IEO), enabling it to more effectively curb online counterfeiting and piracy.

Under IPOPHL's Memorandum Circular (MC) 2020-049, or the "Revised Rules of Proce-

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EDGEDAVAO

Romeo Montenegro, assistant secretary of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), says there is a conscious effort to fulfill the promise of the Duterte administration to implement the priority projects in Mindanao, like the

ECONOMY

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long-delayed Tagum City-Davao City-Digos City (TDD) segment of the Mindanao Railway Project, despite various challenges. Edge Davao

BSP: Public now more aware of mechanisms vs. cybercrime F ilipinos are now more aware of the mechanisms against cybercrime as shown by the number of complaints submitted to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

In a virtual briefing Thursday, BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno said the central bank’s Consumer Protection and Market Conduct Office received about 20,000 complaints last year alone.

Diokno said around 13 percent of these complaints involve fraud-

ulent or unauthorized transactions of various financial products and services like deposit, credit card, electronic money (e-money), and remittance.

“We think that the volume of complaints we received is an indication that more people are now more aware of

the BSP’s consumer assistance mechanism,” he said.

Diokno said “these complaints were referred to in the respective financial institutions for appropriate handling and response.”

He said these cases are among the reasons why monetary officials are pushing for the passage of the proposed measures that will further protect consumers.

These measures include the proposed Financial Consumer

DOE orders stable power supply during Covid-19 vaccine rollout

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epartment of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi has issued an advisory to all power generation companies and industry stakeholders to ensure reliable and stable supply of energy as the government started its coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccine rollout.

Cusi directed generation companies to ensure

power supply especially in Covid-19 vaccine cold storage facilities and healthcare facilities, with prepared emergency response protocols and continuity plans in cases of power outages.

Necessary support including installation of backup power supply should be provided in cold storage facilities and healthcare facilities.

To ensure enough

power supply during the inoculation program, the energy chief has ordered to keep generating facilities at the maximum dependable capacity, managing water reservoirs to ensure optimal production of hydroelectric power plants, and securing adequate supply of fuel as well as maintaining reasonable fuel inventories.

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Protect Act (FCPA), a consolidated version of Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act which was passed on third reading on June 2, 2020 in the House of Representatives.

Diokno said this bill “enhances the authority of regulators to protect the interest of financial consumers.”

“This is seen to instill discipline among financial service providers, boost public confidence in our financial markets,

and promote financial stability. We hope that this critical bill (will) be passed into law, especially with the prevalence of fraudulent activities related to financial consumers,” he added.

In 2020, more people used electronic channels for their financial transactions, among others, after the government imposed quarantine measures to address the rise of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections.

BSP data earlier re-

leased showed that volume of PESONet transactions jumped by a whopping 376 percent year-on-year to 15.3 million in 2020, while InstaPay transactions surged by 459 percent to 86.7 million.

These two facilities are clearing houses under the central bank’s National Retail Payment System (NRPS) program, launched in 2017 and 2018, respectively, targeted to help accelerate the BSP’s digital payments bid. (PNA)

egional budget carrier AirAsia on Thursday called on countries to standardize air travel protocols to help the aviation industry recover from the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

AirAsia said travel requirements in the region are currently complex and uncoordinated.

Travelers find it difficult to understand and follow the different COVID-19 procedures and protocols in regional countries

such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, and China, the airline said.

The different travel protocols across regional countries also pose operational difficulties to airlines and travel operators, the company said.

"In order to resume cross border travel activity effectively and safely, a mutually agreed global framework approach is needed," said AirAsia Group, Airlines president Bo Lingam.

The airline executive said that while several countries are giving out travel passes "what is needed to stimulate international air travel again, is coordination among countries."

"The travel and tourism industry must work together with one consistent set of protocols and procedures for guests such as testing and vaccination requirements, coupled with a mutually agreed common digital

AirAsia calls for standardized global air travel protocols

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On suggestions to inoculate government officials in public in a bid to allay fears and boost public confidence on the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines: Bakit hindi? Kumpiyansa po ang kinukuha natin dito. Eh, kung ibig sabihin nga nito, kung ang Mayor ninyo nagpabakuna nga, so ibig sabihin magtiwala kayo.”

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go

EDITORIAL

Herd immunity

We have been hearing about herd immunity ever since the topic on Covid-19 vaccination has embraced practically all discussions from coffee shops to social media.

The thing about herd immunity is that this must be properly disseminated and explained for people to get a clear understanding about vaccination. This is where the government needs to pound on in order to arrest the fears by ordinary folks on Covid-19 vaccination.

The fear of vaccination and the resistance to it, whether personal preference or religious belief, remains the biggest challenge to the success of the government’s inoculation efforts in order to achieve herd immunity. It is important, therefore, to discuss herd immunity first for people to first park their brains inside this medical territory and decipher, masticate and absorb in their system the concept of immunity and vaccination.

So why is herd immunity important?

Medical sources say herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected — not just those who are immune.

A vaccine for the virus that causes COVID-19 is an ide-

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

al approach to achieving herd immunity. Vaccines create immunity without causing illness or resulting complications. There must also be what is called a threshold immunity which is simply the ratio of those vaccinated or have achieved immunity more than those who are not.

Some people may object to vaccines because of religious objections, fears about the possible risks or skepticism about the benefits. People who object to vaccines often live in the same neighborhoods or attend the same religious services or schools. If the proportion of vaccinated people in a community falls below the herd immunity threshold, exposure to a contagious disease could result in the disease quickly spreading.

Herd immunity can also be reached when a sufficient number of people in the population have recovered from a disease and have developed antibodies against future infection. However, this is not the case with COVID-19. First, it isn’t yet clear if infection with the COVID-19 virus makes a person immune to future infection.

Now, how is herd immunity achieved? For COVID-19, there are two ways: vaccines and infection.

Which one would you rather be in? To be vaccinated or to be infected?

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VOL.13 ISSUE 274 • SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2021

VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

BRIGHT PROSPECTS OF MEAT PROCESSING Human beings are omnivorous by nature. They have hunted and killed animals for meat since prehistoric times. The advent of civilization allowed the domestication of animals such as chickens, sheep, pigs and cattle, and eventually their use in meat production on an industrial scale.

Meat is the animal flesh that is eaten as food. All muscle tissue is said to be very high in protein, containing all of the essential amino acids, and in most cases is a good source of zinc, vitamin B12, selenium, phosphorus, niacin, vitamin B6, choline, riboflavin and iron. Muscle tissue is very low in carbohydrates and does not contain dietary fiber. The fat content of meat can vary widely depending on the species and breed of animal, the way in which the animal was raised, including what it was fed, the anatomical part of the body, and the methods of butchering and cooking.

Meat is usually eaten together with other food. It is edible raw, but is normally eaten after it has been cooked and seasoned or processed in a variety of ways (e.g., curing or smoking). Unprocessed meat will spoil within hours or days.

“The spoilage of meat occurs, if untreated, in a matter of hours or days and results in the meat becoming unappetizing, poisonous or infectious,” notes Wikipedia. “Spoilage is caused by the practically unavoidable infection and subsequent decomposition of meat by bacteria and fungi, which are borne by the animal

itself, by the people handling the meat, and by their implements.”

Meat can be kept edible for a much longer time – though not indefinitely – if proper hygiene is observed during production and processing, and if appropriate food safety, food preservation, and food storage procedures are applied.

“There are a number of ways by which the storage life of meat is lengthened,” notes The Philippines Recommends for Meat Processing. “The most common methods of meat treatment are cold storage, salting, curing, drying, smoking, and canning.”

In other words, meat is being processed. Meat processing is defined as any mechanical, chemical or enzymatic treatment of meat which alters the form from which it originally occurs.

“There are economic, dietary and sensory aspects that make meat processing one of the most valuable mechanisms for adequately supplying animal protein to human populations,” wrote Gunter Heinz and Peter Hautzinger, authors of Meat Processing Technology for Small- to Medium-Scale Producers, published by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

The two authors cite the following reasons: • All edible livestock parts that are suitable for processing into meat products are optimally used. In addition to muscle trimmings, connective tissue, organs and blood, this includes casings of animal origin that are used as

sausage containers.

• Lean meat is one of the most valuable but also most costly foods and may not regularly be affordable to certain population segments. The blending of meat with cheaper plant products through manufacturing can create low-cost products that allow more consumers access to animal protein products. In particular, the most needy children and young women from low-income groups can benefit from products with reduced but still valuable animal protein content that supply essential amino acids and also provide vitamins and minerals, in particular iron.

• Unlike fresh meat, many processed meat products can be made shelf-stable, which means that they can be kept without refrigeration either as (1) canned heat sterilized products, or (2) fermented and slightly dried products or (3) products where the low level of product moisture and other preserving effects inhibit bacterial growth. Such shelf-stable meat products can conveniently be stored and transported without refrigeration and can serve as the animal protein supply in areas that have no cold chain provision.

• Meat processing “adds value” to products. Value-added meat products display specific flavor, taste, color or texture components, which are different from fresh meat. Such treatments do not make products necessarily cheaper; on the contrary in many cases they become even more ex-

pensive than lean meat. But they offer diversity to the meat food sector, providing the combined effect of nutritious food and food with excellent taste.

Processed meats are classified as either non-comminuted or comminuted. Non-comminuted includes hams, bacons, corned beef, and those intact cuts of meat which are cured, seasoned, heat processed and smoked.

Comminuted products use small meat pieces, chunks, chips or slices. Most comminuted products are classed as sausages. Sausages can be called as fresh when they are made from fresh meats and they are not cured, smoked, fermented nor cooked.

Uncooked smoked sausages are fresh sausages which are cured and smoked at a temperature of 32ºC for three hours.

Cooked, smoked sausages are type of sausages which are subjected to light smoking and cooked at an internal temperature of at least 61ºC. There are also cooked meat specialties (sausages which are formulated and processed), fermented dry sausages (type of sausage which requires the action of microorganisms for the production of lactic acid), and semi-dry sausages (those sausages which are smoked and dried for a short time at high temperature).

In the Philippines, most of the meats being processed are pork, beef, and chicken. Recently, chevon or goat meat has been added to the list. In Cagayan Valley, chevon are canned and

prepared into three traditional recipes: kaldereta, adobo, and kilawin.

“Chevon is rapidly gaining popularity as a healthy meat in the country,” said Dr. Patricio S. Faylon when he was still the executive director of the Laguna-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development. “It is leaner than beef and is lower in fat, saturated fat, calories and cholesterol than beef, pork, chicken, or lamb. It is also easier to digest.”

Meat processing has become a very important segment of the Philippine economy as the population continues to grow. The industry now contributes over P70 billion to the gross domestic product annually, provides 60,000 direct and indirect jobs, and supports allied businesses such as packaging, canning, advertising, printing, media, retail trade, among others.

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) listed the following as being meat processed in the country: tocino, skinless longanisa, corned beef, bacon, beef tapa, boneless ham, canton sausage, chicken ham, dehydrated beef blood, fresh native sausage, hamburger patties, tocino chicken, tapa pork and bean, choriso de bilbao, embotido, and chicharon.

“There’s a bright prospect for the Philippines to become a production hub for high-quality processed meat products,” said the Department of Agriculture in a statement.

FRED C. LUMBA SPECKS OF LIFE

WHEN ARE WE RETURNING TO NORMALCY? “A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others. If you don’t know, the thing to do is not to get scared, but to learn.” - Ayn Rand. ***** I am not surprised nor amazed to know that Americans are looking to get back into their old shape (before the Covid19 hit) by this year (2021).

Their confidence is so overwhelmingly positive because the US government is boldly determined to recover what they have lost.

My relatives in the US say that at the rate Pres. Biden is pushing through his stimulus packages, it won’t be surprising to see the American government back on its feet again.

I am praying this rubs off on our government officials who are too cautious (teka teka) in opening up the economy because they may not be fully prepared.

I cannot understand why, despite the brave and author-

itative suggestion from NEDA Sec. Karl Chua, the government is decidedly half-breed in its approach to opening up the economy.

Considering his lofty and respected position as the chief economist of the nation, Chua’s well thought of suggestion should have been considered outright and deemed approved by the IATF. This leads me to believe that various agencies of the government may be also half-prepared to meet the exigencies that may arise.

With the CoVid19 deaths listed nationwide below the 6,000 mark, would it not be logical to assume that the virus is really not that lethal and infectious as the IATF and DOH and the media wanted us to believe?

Considering that out of 588,000 plus listed as Covid19 infected, more than 523,000 of these recovered fully even without the vaccine.

Simple logic tells us that by just following health protocols

as the IATF tirelessly advises (Mask, Hugas, Iwas (social distancing), people will not be infected by the Wuhan virus.

Instead of granting the IATF to make the critical decision vis-a-viz the economy, the President should give Sec. Chua the free hand to decide because he is the expert.

By taking bold steps in meeting the pandemic, Filipinos are given the opportunities they need to recover as quickly as possible when the economy is fully opened.

Tourism is one bright prospect where brisk business is expected to occur like an avalanche.

After a year of boring lockdowns, many Pinoys would want to consider taking vacations to de-stress themselves.

Naturally, this will enliven the domestic scenery anew and many locals would welcome such developments.

The President himself looks haggard and tired on camera.

Now that the vaccines have

started arriving and the roll outs have been successful, the IATF may consider suggesting for the President to take a one or two week leave.

Boracay or Palawan or the scenic mountainous religious fortress of Quiboloy may be a good quiet secured getaway.

For this matter, Filipinos may be well advised to stop entertaining political questions and issues.

Politics (the brand we play) and the low quality of our politicians have brought us nowhere.

Unfortunately, the mainstream media (MSM) keep on feeding us (its listeners) with highly provocative, even inane and sensationalized news culled from press (praise) releases.

With the 2022 presidential polls coming up sooner than you can think of, our economy’s full recovery may be stalled.

So, we go back to the question: how soon can our economy recover?

If the President follows

the NEDA’s recommendations to the letter - and the Build, Build, Build program goes unhampered, trade and commerce will flourish because the confidence of the people in the government will help boost the economy.

I think the target this year is 5% of the GDP. I believe we will survive and come out victorious.

Filipinos the more than 300 years of injustice under the Spaniards.

Under the Americans, we survived nearly fifty years of exploitation.

And nearly five years of cruelty under Japanese occupation.

How can we not be victorious?

WE ARE A BRAVE AND COURAGEOUS PEOPLE. WE ARE WINNERS! As Ernest Hemingway said: “Courage is grace under pressure.” (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

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AGRITRENDS

PRODUCING OFF-SEASON MANGOSTEEN NOW POSSIBLE

Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO efore 1974, mangoes were available for a short period of time only, specifically during the summer months.

But thanks to the chemical flower induction developed by Dr. Ramon C. Barba, mangoes can now be harvested throughout the year.

B

Today, the Philippines is one of the world’s mango exporters. In fact, it accounts for an average of 10% of the global fresh and dried mango exports. The major export destinations of once neglected fruit are the United States, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan.

Now, there’s another breakthrough in the country’s fruit production. A Davao-based researcher has found the secret of producing off-season fruits of a crop that sounds like mango but is not actually a member of the Mangifera family.

Mangosteen, whose season is only from the months of August to October, can be harvested even during the time when it is not available.

“Developing an off-season technology for mangosteen has the potential of bringing high profits to the farmers,” said Agapito Regulacion, the man who helped develop the technology, which was funded by the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR).

“With this technology, farmers can schedule the off-peak months wherein they can harvest mangosteen,” Regulacion, chief of the Davao Agricultural Research Central Experimental Station (DARCES) of the Davao regional field office of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Manambulan, Tugbok District.

During the regular season, a kilo of mangosteen costs P25-P35 as the supply is plenty. But during off-season, they are rarely available and if people can find them, the price goes up to as high as P250-P300 per kilo.

During the summer months, mangosteen is not available. The fruit is also in high demand during the Christmas season. Before the New Year arrives, mangosteen is one of the most sought-after fruits as people believe that its rounded-shape symbolizes money. “ I f farme r s are

able t o adopt and use this technology effectively, they can predict the schedule of their production and identify easily when

to produce them the best, which is during off-season where the price of mangosteen is high,” Regulacion told the BAR Digest.

“If they can program their production and harvest them from December to February wherein mangosteen is not available, then it will be very profitable for them,” he added. “The price is 10 times more during the off-season.”

Aside from price, there is also a difference in the production. Based on the data at hand, Regulacion said that “season-produced mangosteen had more fruits with a yield of 58 kilos per tree while the off-season mangosteen had lesser yield of about 26 kilos per tree.”

Regulacion conducted some studies on mangosteen, which can be grown from seeds or asexually through grafting. With funding from BAR, the study was started in January 2015 and ended four years later in January 2019.

Like mango, the flowering process is crucial in mangosteen production. “In the study, Regulacion used several research interventions to determine their efficacy in inducing fruit flowering in mangosteen,” wrote Rita T. Dela Cruz, author of the BAR Digest f e a ture.

“These i n cluded: pruning, plastic mulching, bark ringing, application of a chemical flower inducer, and installing rain shelter.”

In the BAR Digest feature, Regulacion shared the following information:

Pruning and plastic mulching: This involves cutting off one foot from the top of every lateral branch of the mangosteen tree. In plastic mulching, 3.5 meters of UV plastic mulch

were installed at the base of the mangosteen trees.

Bark ringing: This is an established

technology used for off-season rambutan in Thailand. It involves scraping the bark, two feet from the base at one inch wide and on a cambium layer deep. The scraped part is covered with transparent plastic to avoid fungal contamination.

Chemical flower inducer application: The chemical flower inducer used is Paclobutrazol. It is applied at a rate of 500 parts per million (ppm) to five-week-old leaves (from flushing) and to fully mature leaves.

Rain shelter installation: Rain shelter (200 microns UV protected plastic sheet) is installed in a bamboo frame as roofing material.

Of the above interventions, results of the study showed rain shelter was the most effective in inducing fruit flowering in mangosteen.

“It was observed that among the treatment tested, only the trees with rain shelter have induced flowering two months (60 days) after establishment. The other treatments have initiated leaf flushing,” Regulacion said.

Regulacion believed the high temperature and water stress caused the mangosteen trees to induce flowers.

“The microclimate inside the rain shelter was controlled resulting in a drought and higher temperature condition that triggered the trees to induce flowers after 60 days of stress period,” he pointed out. “During this period, carbohydrates begin to accumulate at the apical part of the leaves forcing the bud to break which then initiates the flowering process.”

Regulacion also established a trench canal lined with plastic to enhance drainage of rain water and to avoid seepage. This, he said, is another important intervention of the technology.

Now, if a farmer wants to engage himself in the off-season mangosteen technology, he needs a capital of P1 million. It may be costly but the return on investment is high as the year progresses.

“A one-hectare mangosteen farm with a planting distance of 10 x 5 square meter will produce around 5 metric tons on its first year alone. It will have gross sales of P1,250,000 at P250/ kilo (off-season price), thus a farmer will have an initial net income of P250,000 on

the first year,” said a DA report.

In the first two years, a farmer gets an income of P1.5 million but in the succeeding years, he has to spend P100,000 to replace the bamboo frame as this has to be replaced every two years. The lifespan of the rain shelter is up to 5 years.

Aside from being profitable, the off-season mangosteen technology is environment-friendly. “Induced flowering through stress method minimizes the use of chemicals which does not only reduce operating cost but also promote sustainable farming,” Regulacion said.

In the book, Manual of Tropical and Subtropical Fruits, author Wilson Popenoe quoted David Fairchild, a fruit explorer, describing mangosteen in this manner: “This delicious fruit is about the size of a mandarin orange, round and slightly flattened at each end, with a smooth, thick rind, rich red-purple in color, with here and there a bright, hardened drop of the yellow juice which marks some injury to the rind when it was young.”

Mangosteen is usually eaten fresh as dessert. You need to hold the fruit with the stem-end downward.

Take a sharp knife and cut around the middle completely through the rind, and lift off the top half. What you see are the fleshy segments exposed in the colorful “cup” – the bottom half of the rind.

To eat it, lift out the segments by fork.

Fairchild wrote: “(Mangosteens) are strikingly handsome as anything of the kind could well be, but it is only when the fruit is opened that its real beauty is seen.”

And it is only when the fruit is eaten that makes it one of the most delicious of its kind. “The taste of the mangosteen pulp much resembles that of a well-ripened plum, only it is so delicate that it melts in the mouth like a bit of ice cream,” Fairchild noted. “There is nothing to mar the perfection of this fruit, unless it be that the juice from the rind forms an indelible stain on a white napkin.”

Mangosteen is said to the queen of tropical fruits.

British-born Malaysian author Desmond Tate has written these words in Tropical Fruit: “By popular acclaim, the mangosteen is held to be the most delectable of all the tropical fruits, and it has been proclaimed their queen. There is no doubt about the luxury of its taste.

It has won unstinted praise down the ages from all who have encountered it.”

R. W. Apple Jr., writing for The New York Times, hailed: “No other fruit, for me, is so thrillingly, intoxicatingly luscious, so evocative of the exotic East, with so precise a balance of acid and sugar, as a ripe mangosteen. I thought so when I first tasted one half a lifetime ago, in Singapore, and I’ve thought so ever since. I’d rather eat one than a hot fudge sundae, which for a big Ohio boy is saying a lot.”

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LIFESTYLE

CATCH LEVI’S X POKÉMON IN SM

WHEN it comes to the new Levi’s x Pokémon collection, well, you gotta catch ‘em all.

The brand’s capsule collection taps into a late ‘90s style vibe and delves into the colorful world of Pokémon, evoking the era when kids and adults alike all over the world adventured with Ash, Misty and Pikachu.

“It’s so fun to hear people talk about their love of Pokémon,” said Karyn Hillman, chief

product officer at Levi Strauss & Co. “The fact that we had this ability to play and create with so many iconic Pokémon and characters was really a special experience. It’s such a thoughtful collection that respects and celebrates the world of Pokémon, and it was so cool mixing our icons and history with theirs — it’s nostalgic and optimistic, with a little bit of escapism.”

Created in honor of Pokémon’s

25th anniversary this year, the colorful Levi’s® x Pokémon collection features denim, tops, bottoms, fleece, tees and accessories with graphics and prints of the popular characters and woodland settings of the animated series’ first season. Notable pieces include a ‘90s style vintage fit Trucker Jacket and 551TMZ Authentic Straight jean in stonewash indigo, both featuring oversized embroidered Pikachu and lightning

bolt patches for Electric-type Pokémon. There’s also a range of tees with throwback character art, and an all-over print Trucker Jacket and 551TMZ fit featuring an eye-catching forest design filled with Pokémon.

While this collection features a similar product assortment to the brand’s other recent collaborations, the fun is in the details. The team behind Levi’s® x Pokémon went all out on graphic techniques, incor-

porating all-over embroidery throughout the collection and adding outline embroidery with puffy filling.

While Pokémon is often associated with little kids, so many adults love it and look back on Pokémon with a lot of nostalgia. This collab captures that feeling in every piece of the collection. Levi’s is located in the Upper Ground Level of SM Lanang Premier; and in the annex of SM City Davao.

VIVA FILMS, GMA PICTURES, AND APT ENTERTAINMENT JOIN FORCES TO BRING HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED ROMANCE MOVIE OF THE YEAR THREE of the country’s film production giants - Viva Films, GMA Pictures, and APT Entertainment - seal their partnership to coproduce the Philippine adaptation of the Japanese drama ‘Pure Soul’, from which the hit Korean movie ‘A Moment to Remember’ was also adapted in a contract signing ceremony held on Tuesday, March 2.

For the first time ever, the Filipino audience is set to witness the much-awaited pairing of two of the country’s biggest stars: Asia’s Multimedia Star Alden Richards and New Generation’s Movie Queen Bea Alonzo.

Present during the contract signing ceremony from Viva Communications Inc. were President and COO Vincent Del Rosario, Viva Artists Agency President Veronique Del Rosario-Corpus, and Senior Vice President for

Content and Production Valerie Del Rosario.

Representing GMA Network were GMA Films, Inc. President and Programming Consultant to the Chairman and CEO Atty.

Annette Gozon-Valdes, First Vice President for Program Management Jose Mari Abacan, Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angel Javier Cruz, and Senior Assistant Vice President for Alternative Productions Gigi Santiago-Lara.

And for APT Entertainment Inc., in attendance were CEO and President Mike Tuviera, COO and CFO Jojo Oconer, and Vice President for Production Operation Camille Montano.

Also present during the contract signing was Bea’s manager Shirley Kuan.

Vincent Del Rosario teases the

viewers on what to look forward to in the reimagining of the story that captivated hearts in Korea and Japan, “‘Yung script largely based sa Japanese na series pero ‘yung nuances ng culture ng Pinoy, sineed maigi ng writer para mas ma-appreciate ng local moviegoers.”

The film follows the journey of a young couple whose relationship

will be put to the test when the woman is diagnosed with early onset of Alzheimer’s disease. It is a story that will test how much love can withstand and show how it can triumph in the midst of pain, fear, denial and acceptance.

Entrusted with such a meaningful role, Alden feels grateful to once again showcase his versatility on the big screen, “It’s my first

remake, and there’s always comparison. What we wanted as actors is to do our own take on how we understood the role. Ang ganda ng material, sobra. Kung babalik na ‘yung cinemas, it’s really for it. Mas dama mo ‘yung istorya.”

On the other hand, Bea shared, “I’m excited na makakapag-trabaho na kami this time. We’re very happy na nag-inject sila ng Filipino culture doon sa script. We are working around the parameters of what Korea wants us to do, of course to also maintain and respect the original form of the movie. It’s going to be a little different from the original title but we will make sure that it’s going to be a good one. It’s going to be extra challenging and also very inspiring.”

This dream project is set to make the Filipino audience fall in love once it hits the big screen soon.

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In her message read

by Davao City Health Office (CHO) acting head Dr. Ashley Lopez, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio thanked the national government for ensuring that Davao City is among the first areas to receive the vaccines especially considering the number of Covid-19 cases in the city.

She said the arrival of the initial batch of Sinovac vaccines in the city last Tuesday morning gave hope for the end of

the pandemic, although, it could still be a few years from now especially with the emerging variants of the virus.

“Achieving herd community with the vaccination of 1.2 million Dabawenyos is the best way to contain the spread of the virus and in process revive the economy, hopefully return to semblance of normalcy so that we will one day we’ll be able to hug our friends and loved-ones,” the mayor said.

rary treatment and monitoring facilities (TTMFs), and employees of laboratories is ongoing.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said Davao Region will receive 36,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines.

It can be recalled that 36 boxes or 21,600 doses of Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines arrived at the

Davao International Airport (DIA) morning of Thursday while 12,000 Sinovac’s CoronaVac vaccines arrived in Davao City on March 2, 2021.

The vaccines will be given to the frontliners of SPMC and DRMC. “Ang priority ratio natin ay mga healthcare workers,” Duque said.

of Sinovac arrived in the country over the weekend while AstraZeneca jabs are expected to arrive on Thursday night.

By May, there could be some 2.6 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines through the "A Dose of Hope" program. The remaining 14 million doses will be delivered in the third quarter, he said.

Increased spending after the inoculation program complements existing stimulus packages such as Bayanihan

to Heal as One Act and the CREATE bill meant to lower corporate income tax, he said.

Concepcion also pushed for further easing of restrictions by placing the entire country under modified enhanced community quarantine.

Gross domestic product (GDP) of the country contracted by 9.5 percent in 2020, its worst since the World War 2. It was growing at an average of 6 percent before the coronavirus pandemic.

among those affected by fire incidents, calamities, and the pandemic, the office, through its Negosyo Serbisyo sa Barangay (NSB) and Negosyo Center (NC) programs, rendered various assistance . These were aimed at supporting the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) affected by the outbreak.

In coordination with the local government unit (LGU) of Jose Abad Santos and the barangay officials of Brgy. Butuan, 20 severely affected individuals/MSMEs were identified to undergo a skills training on deter-

gent laundry soap making. After the training, the participants received laundry soap and sari-sari store starter kits as their starting capital for their new business venture.

The livelihood assistance from DTI was under the NSB and National Taskforce to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) programs, which intend to provide livelihood aid for micro enterprises struck by calamities and other health disasters to restart their businesses. DTI-DOcc/ DTL/jmm

or content, or the blocking of access thereto, in coordination with the appropriate agency, body, or intermediary service provide; Give cease-and-desist order; Order the removal of counterfeit and pirated goods or content from physical establishments; and Endorse and refer to other government offices the cancellation of per-

mits and licenses, such as business permits.

Moreover, the expanded rules drastically shortened the standard period given to offenders for compliance with IEO decisions —now in 72 hours from the previous 60 days— ensuring faster corrective actions.

The IEO can now also conduct motu proprio monitoring in both online and physical marketplaces.

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and launched by the city government of Davao and Task Force Davao (TFD) on July 1, 2020 to ensure that bombing incidents in Davao City will not happen again.

Through the campaign, Dabawenyos are urged to volunteer themselves for inspection and help in the implementation of security measures in the city; report all suspicious persons and activities in their community; remind friends and family of all the security regulations within Davao City; and Participate in implementing the culture of security within

their workplace, school, purok, subdivision and to be an active part of their community defense system.

“I am asking all Dabawenyos to abide by rules set in place for our security, and to speak up kapag “May Nakita?

Dapat Magsalita!” and report suspicious individuals and activities immediately to the nearest security unit,” she said.

Meanwhile, the bombing of Sasa old airport happened on March 4, 2003, which claimed 22 lives and dozens more wounded. Maya Padillo

“They are making the plans right now and we will be talking about it and supporting them in anticipation of lifting GCQ,” Tecson said.

With the progress of vaccination taking some time, health and safety will be one of the primary concerns of the city government on travelers in the city.

However, Tecson clarified that only essential travels are allowed in the city following the strict quarantine classification.

The DCTOO has expressed hope that the gradual reopening of tourism-related business would help the tourism industry recover from its slump.

“Right now the city is focused not just on vaccination but also for recovery. For the tourism sector, we have been meeting with the private sector of the various industries under tourism,” Tecson said.

Meanwhile, the city tourism and local stakeholders are taking advantage of social media

platforms in promoting the city’s culture and tourism industry through several online events.

Tecson urged everyone to strictly follow minimum public health protocols for the continuous downtrend of COVID-19 cases in the city and ensure the gradual reopening of the tourism industry amid the pandemic.

“Let us all cooperate para tuloy-tuloy na po itong pag-vanish nitong ating COVID-19 cases and will be slowly open up and have business come back into the city (Let us all cooperate for the continuous drop of COVID-19 cases and we will slowly open up and have business come back into the city),” Tecson said.

Tecson added that they are yet to rule out travel guidelines and requirements with the Davao Inter-Agency Task Force on COVID-19 after the national government has set new local travel measures in the country.

CIO

He also reminded industry players to comply with the grid operating and maintenance program for this year.

“The DOE is working non-stop to establish an uninterrupted supply of electricity services at the onset of the vaccine rollout by the end of first quarter of 2021. We have been meeting with the members of the energy family to fortify our strategies,” Cusi said in a statement Thursday.

In cases of emergencies and power outages, he urged stakeholders to have backup personnel

in power plants and augment maintenance crew to immediately respond to emergencies.

Cusi added that close coordination with the national and local government is also crucial in ensuring reliable power supply during the immunization program.

He said security forces could be augmented in major power plants as needed, and industry stakeholders should coordinate with their respective local government unit regarding the locations of cold storage facilities. (PNA)

health pass and with the expansion of travel bubbles to include the leisure sector" Lingam said.

It added that with forecasts that 40 percent to 50 percent of the regional population expected to be vaccinated by the third quarter of 2021, travel policies should be updated regularly to re-

flect the current situation including the possible removal of quarantine requirements.

"A good example is in the Philippines where they have recently standardized all the travel requirements in the country and removed the ones that are no longer relevant,” he said.

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should be registered in their respective barangays and should not be a beneficiary of DSWD’s SAP. Thursday morning, barangays Central, Matiao, Dahican, Dawan, Tagawisan, and Tagabakid fishermen clusters were catered. Scheduled barangays for Friday are

Mamali, Macambol, DEL, Mayo, and the rest.

Barangay Badas already received their cash and food packs last February 1.

The target completion of the distribution and claiming of vouchers is by the end of March. (CIO Mati)

ing pad for the highly-anticipated railway project, he said.

Panabo and Carmen are among the eight areas in Davao Region where the government planned to build the stations. The six others will be constructed in Tagum City, Davao del Norte; Mudian, Davao Terminal, and Toril in Davao City; and Santa Cruz town and Digos City in Davao del Sur. Eje said the DOTr, in coordination with the local governments units, is currently working on the right-of-way acquisition for the properties along the railway path.

He said the P81.7-billion project will be funded through the official development assistance (ODA) from the Chinese government.

He said they have yet to process the ODA with China, which requires the Philippine government to complete the procurement process for the project management consultant and the design and build contractor before it could grant the loan.

He said procurement for the project management consultant is ongoing while the agency

awaits the shortlist of design and build contractors who will participate in the bidding.

Once completed, Eje said the government will then negotiate for the loan but added that this will likely be approved within the year.

He said the government will still have to accomplish the detailed engineering design once the loan is approved prior to the actual construction of the railway.

According to the agency, the TDD segment will reduce travel time from 3.5 hours to 1.3 hours between Tagum and Digos Cities and will provide “passengers safe, fast, and reliable transport options on the TDD commuter line.”

It is expected to serve approximately 134,000 riders a day by 2022, up to 237,000 by 2032, and 375,000 by 2042.

The TDD segment is the first phase of the 1,550-kilometer railway that aims to connect the key cities of Davao, Butuan, Surigao, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Cotabato, Zamboanga and General Santos upon its completion. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

the national government’s total debt hitting a record P10.3 trillion at the end of January.

Despite this, the country has the second-high-

est tally of infections and deaths due to the disease in Southeast Asia. It was also the last in the region to secure supplies of COVID-19 vaccines.

direction on women’s rugby, grassroots development, safeguarding, match officiating, coaching, and

training and education. To be recognized by Asia Rugby is a great achievement, and very well deserved.” (PNA)

triple-double in just his 10th NBA game. Still, it took 20 games before Hornets coach James Borrego inserted him into the starting lineup following an injury to Devonte Graham.

It's unlikely Ball is giving up the position anytime soon.

The 19-year-old has only elevated his game in 15 starts, averaging 20.6 points, 6.6 assists and 6.2 rebounds and has already won NBA rookie of the month twice.

"Me being me, I'm never going to say putting me on the bench was something smart or good to do," Ball said. "It always feels like when I'm on the

court I'm helping. ... But I think one of the reasons is because we didn't have no summer league, so he probably wanted to ease me into it."

Said Borrego: "His growth, his fearlessness, his ability to bounce back even when things don't go his way on one end of the floor … he's a special kid."

Before the NBA draft three where were concerns about Ball's unorthodox shooting form with a lower release point than most. He's proven doubters wrong by finding ways to create his own shot while making 37.8% from beyond the arc.

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11

MJ impressed by Ball: Beyond expectations Rookie LaMelo Ball dishes off a no-looker.

C

HARLOTTE, N.C. — Rookie LaMelo Ball has seized the attention of the NBA this season with his highlight reel passes and a surprising ability to score, including Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan.

The six-time NBA champion said when the Hornets selected Ball with the No. 3 overall pick they hoped the crafty 6-foot-6 point guard would eventually rise to the level of be-

coming an All-Star.

Jordan likes the way Ball is trending.

"I think Melo has adjusted to the NBA game better than any of us ever thought this early in his career," Jordan told The

Kelly Williams rejoins TNT

V

eteran forward Kelly Williams is making a return to TNT. The Tropang Giga said on Thursday that Williams has essentially deferred retirement and signed another two-year deal.

“We would like to welcome Kelly back to TNT Tropang GIGA. His leadership and experience will help us achieve success in the upcoming conference,” said Team Manager Gabby Cui. TNT Governor Ricky Vargas added, “Welcome home Kelly, great to have you back.

Cheers.”

Williams, the

first overall pick of the 2006 PBA Draft, played his last 10 seasons with the Tropang Giga.

Starting his career as a high-flyer, Williams eventually became a defensive anchor especially for TNT, helping the team capture five PBA titles.

Before the PBA restart last season, Williams first announced his retirement.

However, earlier Thursday, he was seen practicing with the Tropang Giga at the Moro Lorenzo Sports Center in Quezon City, giving a hint that he is making a comeback.

(PNA)

Associated Press in an email. "He has exceeded our expectations so far this season."

Ball leads all rookies in most statistical categories, including points (15.8), assists (6.3), rebounds (6) and steals (1.6) per game.

More importantly, Ball's game — which includes an array of slick, needle-threading passes — has brought some needed pizzazz and star potential to a franchise

mired in obscurity for years. The Hornets are 17-18 entering the AllStar break, just a game behind the fourth place Boston Celtics in the ultra-tight Eastern Conference.

"He's the real deal," Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell said.

Warriors forward Draymond Green recently tweeted "LaMelo is a problem!"

"Right now, with the way things look, he looks

like NBA rookie of the year to me," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said.

"He's getting it done statistically, their team is winning. He's got energy, he's got a vibe, he's got swagger. If you like watching players that play with flair, he's right up there."

Ball, who grew up watching Penny Hardaway and Jamal Crawford highlights, sees things on the court most players don't.

He regularly delivers on-time behind-the-back passes leading to transition layups, kick-outs for open 3-pointers and alley-oop lobs for dunks off the pick-and-roll, many of those going to high-flying Miles Bridges, earning the duo the nickname "AirBnB." Ball's impact with the Hornets was almost immediate, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record a

FMJ, P10

Pinay named Asia Rugby ambassadress

A

member of the Philippine women's rugby team has been named by Asia Rugby as an ambassadress in time for the International Women's Month.

The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) announced on Thursday that Acee San Juan, a longtime Lady Volcanoes member, would be an "Unstoppable Ambassador" by Asia Rugby.

"I'm deeply honored to be named one of Asia Rugby's Unstoppable Ambassadors. I'm looking forward to encouraging more females to get involved and enjoy the sport, whether as a player, coach, match official, administrator, supporter -- not just in the Philippines but across Asia as well. Rugby has given me so much in life and helped me develop to the person I am now, and I am excited to share these experiences to the wider rugby family," said San Juan, who was the national team skipper from 2014 to 2017.

She is currently PRFU's rugby development manager, focusing on improving the game especially in the grassroots level.

She is also into teaching kids the basics of rugby.

"Acee has been tremendous to our

development program, she’s a role model to all sports managers.

Her passion, work ethic, and expertise in her role have ensured Philippine rugby continues to grow” said Jake Letts, PRFU's chief executive officer.

He further said: “Witnessing Acee as a beginner of the game, and now a national lead educator, her advocacy covers a range of areas across the entire rugby community. She now provides

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EMPOWERMENT

Magno, Gabuco powers up PSC’s Women’s Month Celebration

T

he Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) punches a powerful National Women’s Month Celebration featuring winning lady pugs Irish Magno, Aira Villegas Josie Gabuco, and Riza Pasuit with their mothers in the upcoming March 6 episode of Rise Up! Shape Up. 2021 Tokyo Olympics first Filipina qualifier Irish Magno leads the special episode sharing her journey to success, from winning the gold medal in 2012 at the Taipei Open, the silver medal in the women’s flyweight division in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, and targeting a podium finish in the Games with her mother’s support.

Fellow Filipina boxers 2019 Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist Aira Villegas, first-ever Filipina AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships titleholder Josie Gabu-

co, and 2019 Southeast Asian Games silver medalist Riza Pasuit also share their dynamic duo relationships with their mothers as one of their sources of strength.

“We’ve seen many athletes who dedicate their success to their parents, particularly their mothers.

It is very important to recognize that while an athlete’s achievement is his or her own, a part of it is attributable to the support given to him or her by the family,” expressed Women in Sports Oversight Commissioner Celia H. Kiram.

Kiram also emphasizes that the episode also seeks to recognize the women’s powerful presence especially in a predominantly masculine field such as sports and athletics to influence and encourage gender equality.

Riza Ng, a licensed psychologist and founding member of the Philippine Association of Child and Play, also joins the episode for a short talk on mindful parenting and shares tips on how to practice mindfulness in the various parenting styles.

A woman fitness enthusiast works out at the Arcadia Fitness Gym wearing a face mask. Health protocols remain in gym facilities throughout the GCQ status extended until the end of the month in Davao City.