Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 58 | Saturday, May 22, 2021

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LOCAL DECISION A health worker draws out a dose of anti-Covid-19 vaccine during the vaccination for senior citizens at the A. Mabini Elementary School in Bangkal, Davao City. Edge Davao

City to decide if jabs priority list continues or not STORY ON PAGE 2

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 58 • SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021

LOCAL DECISION President Rodrigo Duterte discusses ways to recover from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic during his speech at the 26th Nikkei Conference on the Future of Asia on Friday. Presidential Photo

Davao City to decide if jabs priority list continues or not

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio disclosed that the city is still deciding whether or not to continue to observe the priority list policy for vaccinees provided by the national government in the next rollout of vaccination.

“Kung dili nata musunod sa priority list because dili man ni siya money sa national government ug dili man sila ang nag- negotiate ani, then we can decide kung ka kinsa or unsa na grupo

or sektor nato ihatag ang bakuna,” the mayor said.

The city is procuring AstraZeneca vaccines through the city’s funds.

“Ang commitment sa AstraZeneca is third quarter of 2021,” the mayor said.

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the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said as of May 13, up to 849,862 registrants have already completed the online Step 1 registration.

“Successfully registered online for Step 1 of Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) is now at

The city may also receive a supply of Covid-19 vaccines manufactured by the US-based Novavax Inc. “Duna pud mga bakuna na muabot, well ang ilahang commitment is, the earliest nila ma-deliver is 3rd quarter of 2021. Dili pud ta segurado kung na deliver nila on 3rd quarter but duna sila’y giingon na ingon ana,” the mayor said.

The national government has provided priority list to follow in the national vaccination program: A1: frontline

workers in health facilities both national and local, private and public, health professionals and nonprofessionals like students, nursing aides, janitors, barangay health workers, etc; A2-senior citizens aged 60 years old and above; A3lersons with comorbidities not otherwise included in the preceding categories; A4-frontline personnel in essential sectors, including uniformed personnel and those in working sectors identified by the IATF as

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Rebels gun down Maco brgy kagawad

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42-year old barangay kagawad (village councilman) was gunned down by alleged members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in a mountainous area of Purok 1,Barangay Sangab, Maco, Davao de Oro, noontime yesterday (May 20).

The Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 identified the victim as Oliver Bataluna Ripdos.

Investigation revealed that Ripdos and his wife Mary Ann were travelling back home from their farm, when the barangay official was shot by a certain Boy Adolfo and his other companions believed to be

communist terrorists.

Mary Ann told investigators she saw and positively identified the assailant who is allegedly a member of the communist terrorist group operating in the area.

Ripdos sustained four fatal gunshot wounds at the back of the body.

Intelligence operatives fielded in coordination with Philippine Army’s 28th Infantry Battalion conducted a hot pursuit operation for possible apprehension of the suspects.

Motive and identities of the other suspects are still being determined.

confirmed Duterte’s participation in the Future of Asia forum organized by the Tokyo-based Nikkei, Inc., the largest economic newspaper in Japan and the largest news group in Asia.

He is set to deliver a speech at about 1:45 p.m. on Friday, the Palace said.

“In his address, the President will advance Philippine views and positions on the ongoing global fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and what needs to be done to achieve full recovery,” it said.

Duterte will join

Online registrants for nat’l PRRD discusses ways to recover from Covid-19 in Nikkei forum ID Step 1 now over 800K he Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) online registration is growing in popularity among the public as tens of thousands registered for the national ID. In a statement posted on its website Monday,

849,862,” PSA said.

PSA also thanked the public for its continuing support for PhilSys since the pilot launch of the online registration for Step 1 on April 30, despite the technical problems encountered by the system.

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resident Rodrigo Duterte is expected to discuss ways to recover from the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic when he delivers a speech at the 26th Nikkei Conference on the Future of Asia on Friday.

In a press statement on Thursday, Malacañang

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 58 • SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021

NEWS 3

Fishing hobbyists spend the afternoon on Wednesday at the man-made lake in Barangay Malapong in Buenavista, Agusan del Norte which was built in the 1990s to irrigate farmlands. MindaNews photo by H. MARCOS C. MORDENO

City administers more than 17K Sinovac, Astrazeneca vaccines Multi-donor trust fund for MILF fighters, camps gains ground

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he Philippine government (GPH) and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) launched the multi-donor Bangsamoro Normalization Trust Fund (BNTF) late Wednesday afternoon to accelerate the integration of Moro warriors into mainstream society and their communities into peaceful economic zones.

The World Bank, which will administer the fund, believed that the BNTF will be instrumental in bringing lasting peace and prosperity not just in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao

(BARMM) but also for the rest of Mindanao.

Bangsamoro interim Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, speaking on behalf of the MILF as its chairperson, noted the need to fast-track the normalization process to transform MILF combatants into peaceful and productive citizens.

“Today, we take on another significant milestone that assures the GPH and MILF will continue providing necessary efforts in normalizing our combatants and their respective communities,”

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VCO effective against Covid-19, says DOST 11

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n official of the regional office of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST 11) expressed optimism that Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO) is effective against Covid-19.

“I think categorically we can say na effective siya as a supplement against Covid-19 virus,” said DOST 11 Regional Director Dr. Anthony C. Sales.

Recently, VCO is back in the limelight after DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña presented the results of the studies conducted on

VCO against COVID-19.

Based on reports, de la Peña explained that DOST explored the antiviral properties of VCO – which is a readily available commodity in the Philippines – against Covid-19.

The Secretary was reported explaining that compounds in coconut oil have shown to be safe and effective at killing viruses.

It was also reported that immediate effects of the VCO intervention were observed among five of

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By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he city government of Davao has administered a total of 17,750 of Sinovac and Astrazeneca vaccines to Dabawenyos since the rollout of vaccination program in March this year.

Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio on Monday shared thru Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR), on May 17, 2021, the city has administered 4,557 of Sinovac vaccines and 5,224 Astrazeneca vaccines in the start of the inoculation of the first dose in March.

Last month, 7,758 doses of Sinovac were administered and additional 211 last Monday.

MayorSaradidnotinclude

doses of Pfizer administered because inoculation using the said vaccine started only last Monday.

As of May 15, the city has received a total of 29,119 doses of COVID-19 vaccines since March this year.

The only Covid-19 vaccines available in the city so far are those of the Chinese firm Sinovac, Britain’s AstraZeneca, and recently, by the American pharmaceutical company

Pfizer.

Mayor Sara said the city has already secured doses of COVID-19 vaccines from AstraZeneca and Novavax via tripartite agreements.

She also said that there might be possible delivery of AstraZeneca vaccines by the third quarter of this year.

Meanwhile, more than 28,000 Dabawenyos already received anti-Covid jabs.

Based on the PR of the City Information Office (CIO), 24,639 or 88.64% of the total 27,796 targeted priority group A1 or frontline workers have so far received their COVID-19 vaccines since the city government of

Parents of the rescued indigenous peoples minors in Cebu City on February 15 have entrusted the fate of the case to the government, as they appeal for justice for their children, who they said were “victimized and used” by the “Bakwit School” respondents.

This came after the Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Davao del Norte dismissed the charges against the seven respondents -- known as “Bakwit School 7”--for “lack

of probable cause, and lack of territorial jurisdiction.”

In a resolution dated May 5, the provincial prosecutor also ordered the immediate release of the respondents.

One of the parents, Datu Butigon Mandakawan, expressed optimism that with the help of the government, justice will soon be served to their families.

Appeal for help “Help us to fight against them. They need to face

trial for kidnapping and abducting our children,” he said in vernacular during a press briefing here on Tuesday.

Mandakawan also appealed to the government to file charges against the members of the New People’s Army (NPA) who are “victimizing” their children.

Mandakawan said he wanted justice not only for his child but also for his wife who died due to anxiety upon knowing that their

Davao started rolling out the vaccination program in March.

Also, 11,397 or 35.92% of the total targeted eligible population in the priority group A1 have already received their second dose of the anti-Covid vaccines as of May 15.

Last week, the city kicked off anti-Covid vaccination for the senior citizens.

As of May 19, 2021, a total of 3,387 or 3.84 percent of the entire targeted eligible population of the priority group A2 or senior citizens have received their first dose of Covid-19 vaccines.

child was brought to Cebu by the respondents.

“She worried a lot and the loneliness caused her death,” he added.

Government’s response Presiden t ia l Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy, NTF-ELCAC spokesperson for Social Media Affairs and Sectoral Concerns, said they will “definitely back the parents” and file for a motion of

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Parents of rescued IP children hopeful justice will be served

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 58 • SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021

A Cebu Pacific aircraft departs from the Davao International Airport. The airline has received its ninth brand-new Airbus A321neo aircraft on Wednesday signifying its continuous efforts to integrate eco-friendly initiatives in its operations.

Edge Davao

CebPac takes delivery of 9th brand-new eco-plane

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he Philippines’ leading carrier, Cebu Pacific, receives its ninth brand-new Airbus A321neo (New Engine Option) aircraft Wednesday signifying its continuous efforts to integrate eco-friendly initiatives in its operations.

CEB proudly operates one of the youngest fleets in the world, with an average age of 5.75 years.

The Airbus 321neo is known to deliver 20% fuel cost savings, which would translate to even lower fares for everyJuan.

The transition to an allNEO fleet is part of CEB’s commitment to reduce its carbon emissions and contribute to the airline’s sustainability goals. The A321neo is more fuel-efficient with nearly 50% reduction in noise footprint compared to previous generation aircraft.

“We are happy to con-

tinue moving forward with our long-term fleet plan in line with our commitment to keep providing safe and affordable travel for everyJuan. Now more than ever, ensuring our operations are as efficient and sustainable as possible is of top priority and we are glad to have started with this journey even before the pandemic,” said Alex Reyes, Chief Strategy Officer at Cebu Pacific.

CEB’s newest aircraft is set to enter into service within this month to fly to various Philippine destinations across CEB’s widest domestic network with 44 routes.

To date, the Cebu Pacific 75-strong fleet is comprised of nine (9) A321neo, 25 Airbus A320, seven (7) Airbus A321ceo, five (5) Airbus A320neo, seven (7) Airbus A330, six (6) ATR 72-500, and 13 ATR 72-600 aircraft. Its fleet also has two (2) ATR freighters on top of one (1) A330 freighter.

Release of private sector-procured vaccines will be ‘unhampered’: DOF

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eleasing of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccines imported by the private sector will generally be the same as those bought by the government, Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III said.

In a Viber message to journalists Thursday, Dominguez said the private sector-procured vaccines are expected to arrive by mid-June this year.

“For Moderna and AZ (AstraZeneca), it would be the same since DOH (Department of Health) is the

consignee. For Sinovac, it may be a little different since the consignee is the FFCCCII (Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc.),” he said.

Dominguez said “the process will substantially be the same and liquidation will be done on an after the fact basis.”

“Goods will pass through unhampered in order to ensure temperature stability,” he added.

Reports said FFCCCII

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DTI 11 lines up 2 batches for virtual mentoring program

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he Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) 11 has lined up two batches for its online mentoring program this year, with the first one launched recently with 49 mentees across the region.

Following what it started five years ago, the Kapatid Mentor Micro Enterprise – Money Market Encounter (KMME-MME) continues to assist local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) scale up their businesses through coaching and mentoring. Successful business owners and experts in different fields guide and prepare them further as they embark on innovative and applicable interventions.

DTI 11 Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi said that the agency, with

the help of qualified mentors, the identified mentees are being equipped on the different functional areas of entrepreneurship.

“We want them to acquire or develop the necessary knowledge and skills in running a business, especially now that times have been difficult,” she said, adding that with the current situation, MSMEs have to reinvent the wheel and adjust according to what is needed to sustain their operation and thrive.

The 49 mentees will undergo 10 relevant mod-

ules that will help them propel their business to success and development, particularly in this time of pandemic. After the discussions of the modules with the mentors, they will have a one-on-one coaching. Lastly, they will present their respective Business Improvement Plan (BIP) to a set of panelists, consisting of Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE) certified mentors and financial institutions who can help them with their financial needs.

The current run of the KMME-MME will be until June. Once done, the second batch will immediately commence in August.

The KMME-MME online is a fusion of the KMME and MME programs of DTI,

which is implemented and delivered in the new normal. Using the Zoom app, it addresses the need for continued access to money, market and mentorship (3Ms) without compromising the safety of the participants.

“We believe that in order to achieve inclusive growth that we aspire for, we need to equip our MSMEs with entrepreneurship education, trainings and other methods of mentorship,” Ambi said.

This year, DTI 11 targets to have 96 mentees following the 80 KMME graduates last year. Since 2016, the region has already produced a total of 546 graduates, with some of them turning into mentors to the new batches. DTI11

inflation on their purchasing power.”

Both surveys showed that “two-thirds of Filipino adults were also unable to answer questions on simple and compound interest rates,” Diokno said. “The concept of compound interest must be fully appreciated in order for consumers to use credit responsibly and pay the loans in full and on time.”

Simple interest is calculated based on the principal amount of a loan while compound interest is calculated using the principal amount

of the loan and the interest that has accumulated from the previous period.

Diokno said it is “crucial for Filipinos to understand the value of savings in banks and choosing prudent investment instruments.”

“The survey results indicate a clear need to intensify our FinEd programs with special focus on these concepts and encouraging good learning values,” he said.

FinEd usually involves managing personal finance and knowledge on savings,

insurance, real estate, payments, budgeting, retirement, tax planning, and the like.

The BSP intends to upgrade financial literacy by partnering with groups over the medium term.

“We will continue to measure and monitor (the) progress of our programs as we move forward,” Diokno said.

He said the importance of FinEd was highlighted since the pandemic began because of the need to be “financially prepared for

BSP pushing toward financial-literate Pinoys

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inancial education (FinEd) in the country needs an additional push to help more Filipinos be prepared and literate financially.

In a virtual briefing on Thursday, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Benjamin Diokno said the results of the World Bank’s 2015 financial literacy survey and the Central Bank’s 2019 financial inclusion survey showed that “about half of Filipino adults were unable to correctly answer questions that test their knowledge on the impact of

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EDGEDAVAO

ECONOMY 5

A huge container crane of the Davao International Container Terminal (DICT) towers over the port area in Panabo City. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said the export revenues in March 2021, which recorded a 31.6 perfect increase, showed that the industry is performing well despite headwinds due to the ongoing pandemic. Edge Davao

Gov’t efforts boost tax revenues in first quarter 2021, says DOF T DTI chief: PH exports ‘doing well’ amid Covid pandemic

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epartment of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez on Thursday said the country’s export industry is still doing well amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic and prolonged community quarantine measures.

During the Laging Handa public briefing, Lopez said the export revenues in March 2021 showed that the industry is performing well despite headwinds due

to the ongoing pandemic.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported earlier that export revenues for March this year rose 31.6 percent to USD6.68 billion from a 15.8-percent decline in March 2020 at USD5.08 billion.

Lopez added that export revenues in March this year is even higher than the pre-pandemic level.

“We can’t say that it’s only positive growth be-

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he Philippines’ tax revenues rose by 0.9 percent in the first quarter due to increased collection and various government efforts despite the decline in the gross domestic product, the Department of Finance said Friday.

Tax revenues rose as the Bureau of Internal Revenue increased collections by 0.2 percent while the Bureau of Customs’ collections rose by 2.7 percent, the DOF said in a statement.

President Rodrigo Duterte recently enacted measures to support fiscal policies and to help maintain the country’s strong macroeconomic conditions.

Duterte signed the CREATE bill to lower corporate income taxes. He also enacted into law the FIST bill, which would help banks offload bad loans, among others.

“The fiscal reforms adopted by the Duterte administration boosted the tax effort to its highest first quarter level in history,” the DOF said.

ment, she said.

“We will draw the private sector’s commitment and plot them into their industries’ roadmap para sa ganun makita natin yung mekanismo kung paano natin sila i-implement (so we can know the mechanism and how to implement it) with them,” said Battad, who also co-chaired the 2021 National Food Security Summit Steering Committee.

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DA plotting industry roadmap to strengthen food security

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he Department of Agriculture (DA) targets to establish a commodity industry roadmap within four months to strengthen the country’s food security system.

Citing the Philippines’s 73rd place in the 2020 Global Food Security Index (GFSI), DA Assistant Secretary Liza Battad said the creation of the roadmap is one of the department’s biggest challenges.

“I think we need to fo-

cus ourselves on the more impactful commodities and at the same time, tulong talaga ng buong byurukrasya ang nakikita natin (we see the need for the entire bureaucracy to help), and we have identified important strategies na hihingan sana natin o idudulog natin na maging (that we would seek to become an) executive order,” Battad said in a virtual presser on Thursday.

The DA will also need the private sectors’ commit-

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“These reforms made the country one of the few emerging economies to maintain investment-grade rating and avoid a credit rating downgrade which would have pushed up interest rates and delayed nascent economic recovery,” it added.

Other taxes, including motor vehicle taxes and forestry charges, also rose by 10.8 percent, the agency said.

Non-tax revenues declined by 50.6 percent as dividend remittances normalized due to 2020’s “huge dividend remittances” from government-owned and

controlled corporations as mandated by the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act as well as the Treasury income reduced by lower interest rates.

National government revenues dropped 8.7 percent in the first quarter as the country continued to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DOF said expenditures rose by 19.9 percent to continue to support programs in fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The country’s GDP shrank 4.2 percent in the first quarter, an improvement from -8.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020.

person Restituto Padilla.

“Mungkahi pa lang ito na kinukunsidera para nang sa ganoon ay maengganyo natin [sila na magpabakuna],” said Padilla.

(It’s still a proposal that we’re considering. That way we can encourage them to get vaccinated.)

Essential workers are part of the A4 priority group that is next in line to receive the jabs.

Presidential Adviser

for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said he has talked to the Philippine Retailers Association and the Philippine Franchise Association to come up with discounts on goods for those that would be vaccinated.

Restaurant group Resto.ph earlier said it would offer discounts to those who have been immunized against COVID-19 but it was still finalizing the me-

Gov’t eyes to incentivize vaccinated workers: NTF he government is planning to reward workers for getting inoculated against COVID-19 in a bid to boost vaccination in the country, the spokesperson of the National Task Force on COVID-19 (NTF) said Thursday.

To encourage essential workers to get vaccinated, the government is studying to give them incentives such as discounts on goods or services, said NTF Spokes-

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 58 • SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021

On the current rise of Covid-19 cases: I do not deny the fact that basically there are still community/workplace Covid transmission going on due to lack of adherence to MPHS.” DR. ASHLEY LOPEZ ACTING HEAD, CITY HEALTH OFFICE

EDITORIAL Bakwit School 7 The National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) will file a motion for the court to reconsider its dismissal of the criminal charges against seven teachers of Salugpungan Ta Tanu Igkanogon for taking away 19 Lumad children from their families without the parents’ consent and brought to Cebu City.

Last February, authorities filed several charges such as kidnapping and serious illegal detention, child exploitation and human trafficking at Davao del Norte Provincial Prosecutors Office against the seven teachers also called the “Bakwit School 7”. The children were “rescued” inside the University of San Carlos (USC) in Talamban, Cebu City on February 15, 2021.

However, on May 14, 2021, the suspects were cleared of the charges for insufficiency of evidence, lack of probable cause, and being outside the jurisdiction of Davao del Norte where the case was filed.

The case stemmed from complaints by six Ata Manobo parents of the children who were herded in Talaingod town in Davao del Norte

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Davao del Norte provincial prosecutor Norman Solis also ordered the immediate release of the suspects identified as Chad Errol Booc, Segundo Lagatos Melong, Benito Dalim Bay-ao, Moddie Langayed Mansimoy-at, Esmelito Oribawan, Roshelle Mae Porcadilla, and Jomar Benag.

However, the NTF-ELCAC authorities are not giving up. NTF-ELCAC spokesperson Undersecretary Lorraine Marie Badoy assured the parents that the government will assist them in filing the motion for reconsideration.

Filing of an MR is the right recourse. Instead of wasting our time listening to the perorations of both sides, let’s just wait for the court to rule on this interesting case.

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN MEGHANN STA. INES FERINA SANTOS Lifestyle

CHRISTIAN JAY H. RAFAL ANA MARIE G. SILPAO Layout

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. Consultant Correspondent Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBON • MARY ANN C. QUISIDO • LEANDRO DAVAL SR.,TRIA • NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN NICASIO ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: ANTONIO V.“ADI” FIGUEROA • HENRYLITO D. TACIO •B.JOHN CARLO • MUJAHID NAVARRA ••FRED C. LUMBA • DENNIS R. GORECHO ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO •“GICO” G. S. DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER GREGORIO G. DELIGERO VIDA MIA VALVERDE • HAROLD CAVITE M. PEREZ

OLIVIA D. VELASCO SOLANI D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONAJASPER OLIVIA D. VELASCO V. BACSAL General Manager PresidentAdvertising Specialist Finance General Manager / VP Operations JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

and brought to Cebu City. The Philippine National Police (PNP) which filed the case claimed that the children were “recruited” by community organizers and brought to Cebu City sometime 2018, allegedly to undergo armed revolutionary training as future New People’s Army (NPA) combatants.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING OFFICE MANILA MARKETING OFFICE RICHARD C. EBONA LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager Unit 6, Southbank Plaza Velez-YacapinProduct Sts. Development officer Cagayan de Oro City Address: No. 18 Purok 4B, Madelo Street, Lower Bicutan, Taguig City Tel: (088) 852-4894 Mobile number: +63 947 265 2969(smart); +63 916 955 8559(globe)

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 58 • SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021

VANTAGE POINTS

7

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

BLESSINGS BE UPON YOU “When we lose one blessing, another is often most unexpectedly given in its place.” -- C.S. Lewis ***

“To be grateful is to find blessings in everything,” says Alan Cohen, author of several inspiration books, including the best-selling The Dragon Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. “This is the most powerful attitude to adopt, for there are blessings in everything.”

Dana Arcuri, author of Harvest of Hope: Living Victoriously Through Adversity: A 50-Day Devotional, agrees. “Cultivating an attitude of gratitude begins with counting your blessings,” she writes. “In simpler terms, gratitude is expressing thanks for gifts we receive. Genuine gratitude helps us to see the little things in life that are often overlooked, yet so precious.”

More often than not, we look at the things which others have and ask ourselves why we don’t have those. Jeff Dixon, the man behind The Key to the Kingdom, reminds us: “Sometimes we focus so much on what we don’t have that we fail to see, appreciate, and use what we do have!”

I know trees cannot talk.

What if they are given the opportunity to talk with us? I am

sure they have so many stories to tell. Listen to one of those trees talking: “When I was young, I didn’t notice it. But later on, I began to realize how different I was. I was short and crooked and all out of shape while around me stood those tall stately pines and those long-branched acacia trees. I should tell you, though, that I am hanging here onto the side of a cliff and my few roots are twined around the top of a stone.

“I often dreamed of being big and beautiful, with the wind bending me to and fro and the showers of rain washing my leaves. But here on the cliffside I felt so small, the wind didn’t often blow through my branches. Even the sun only warmed me for half a day and then it left me in the shade of my cliff and shone down on those majestic trees in the valley.

“Why did I have to stay here, hanging onto a cliff? I did not have enough soil to develop all the beauty inside me. I was dissatisfied with my lot in life. Why did I have to stand here and be like this?

“Then early one spring morning, the perfume from all the new meadow flowers wafted up to me, a tiny bird warbled its song from my branches, and the first warm

sun rays kissed me long before they ever got down into the valley.

What a beautiful panoramic view I had from up here. No other tree down there could see as far as I could.

“From that day on, I began to realize that I was something special. I was a special kind of tree made for a special kind of place.

None of those big beautiful trees could do what I am doing. Why did it take me so long to realize that?”

A wise man once said, “Your presence is a present to the world.

You are unique and one of a kind.

Your life can be what you want it to be. Take the days just one at a time. Count your blessings, not your troubles. Appreciate every moment and take from it everything that you possibly can, for you may never be able to experience it again.”

“Reflect upon your present blessings -- of which every man has many -- not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some,” wrote Charles Dickens, author of A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings.

The Daily Motivator also affirms, “No matter what kind of troubles you may have, just think of how fortunate you are to be alive and living in a world where

almost anything is possible. Consider for a moment the good things you have, and the good things that you can accomplish through your willingness, determination and action.”

God never promises that a day is always beautiful. There are days that it may be dark but you have to see the brighter side to appreciate it. Remember the Persian saying? It said, “I had the blues because I had no shoes until upon the street, I met a man who had no feet.”

Once there was a poor widow who had two sons. This widow’s livelihood depended entirely upon her sons’ meager little businesses because she was so weak and frail. Every day, she worried about their businesses. She fretted and hoped that they would do well.

One son sold umbrellas. So the mother would wake up in the morning and the first thing she would look to see was if the sun was shining or if it looked like it was raining. If it was dark and cloudy, she would gleefully say, “Oh, he will surely sell umbrellas today!” But if the sun was shining, she would be miserable all day, because she feared that nobody would buy her son’s umbrellas.

The widow’s other son sold

fans. Every morning the poor old widow would arise and look to the skies. If the sun was hidden and it looked like a rainy day, she would get very depressed and moan, “Nobody’s going to buy my son’s fans today.”

No matter what the weather was, this poor old widow had something to fret about. If the sun was shining, she felt terrible because nobody would buy her son’s umbrellas. If the sun was not shining and it was cloudy, she also felt terrible, because nobody would buy her other son’s fans.

With such an attitude, she was bound to lose.

One day, she ran into a friend who said, “Why, you’ve got it all wrong. There’s no way you can lose. If the sun is shining, people will buy fans; if it rains, they’ll buy umbrellas. You love off both of your sons. You cannot lose!”

How true. “Always embrace and cherish the blessings that come with each day and let its negative experiences vanish with the past that today is soon to become,” Edmond Mbiaka points out. “God has some great plans for your future. So never seize to keep your faith and hope alive and strong. Your current circumstances aren’t the final chapters of your life.

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

SCAMMING A WAR HERO After the war, land scams, inspired by the idea that estates abandoned by foreign owners would be up for taking, were prevalent. People who wanted to earn fast buck misrepresented themselves as owners and sold claimed properties to innocent buyers.

Such was the case of the large tract of agricultural land given in favor of Claro Laureta, the hero of the Battle of Ising.

Based on court records, Marcos Mata, on June 10, 1945, conveyed the land covered by Original Certificate of Title (OCT) No. 3019 to Laureta under a deed of absolute sale. The document, however, was not registered because it was notarized because at the time the civil government of Tagum was still not organized.

Aside from the title, the other documents imparted to Laureta were the sketch plan, tax declaration, tax receipts and other papers related to the deal.

From the time of the conveyance, Laureta, a lieutenant colonel in the guerrilla movement, con-

tinuously occupied and cultivated the land without any disturbance from the former owner or his agents. He even aid realty taxes and introduced improvements.

However, on May 5, 1947, Mata sold the same property covered by OCT No. 3019 to Fermin Z. Caram, Jr., later two-time congressman of Iloilo, and acknowledged before a lawyer.

Seventeen days later, the former owner, through his attorneys, filed with the Court of First Instance (CFI) of Davao a petition for the issuance of a duplicate of OCT 3019, claiming the first title was lost in the evacuation place in Magugpo, Tagum, Davao, where Mata stayed during the war.

Believing his word, the court issued on June 5, 1947 a new title in his favor and declared the lost document as null and void. Six months later, on Dec. 9, 1947, the deed of sale between Mata and Caram was recorded in the Register of Deeds and, on the same date, a transfer certificate of title numbers 140 was issued in the

name of Caram.

The sale, though, was argued upon twelve years later. On June 25, 1959, Laureta filed in the CFI of Davao “an action for nullity, recovery of ownership and/or reconveyance with damages and attorney's fees” against Mata, Caram and the Register of Deeds of Davao City.

In response, on August 29, 1959, Mata and wife Codidi filed an answer before the court to dispute Laureta’s ownership but admitted there was an absolute deed of sale of the property in favor of Claro L. Laureta. Mata attributed his signing of the document to claims he was under duress, threatened and intimidated by Laureta.

Moreover, Mata claimed at the time of the signing of the deed Laureta's words and requests were considered laws, adding the did not want to dispose of his property or sign any document without him knowing its content, Laureta ordered him to accept P650.00 in emergency notes.

He posited that due to fear his family would be harmed, he was forced to sign the deed.

Interestingly, Mata and wife admitted the existence of a registry of deeds record of document Mata signed in favor of Caram but denied signing a deed of sale in favor of Laureta.

Adding discredit to the former owner’s position was the claim Laureta did not have in his possession the original title, adding the thumbmark appearing in the Caram deed, if ever, “was obtained through fraud and misrepresentation” given that he was “illiterate and ignorant” and denied receiving any payment for the second sale.

Caram, in his response dated Oct. 23, 1959 denied having knowledge or information of the early “encumbrances, transactions, and alienations” in the name of Laureta until the complaints were filed. In its ruling dated Feb. 29, 1964, the trial court declared the deed of sale in favor of Laureta as prevailing and the title in Car-

am’s favor considered as null and void.

A petition for certiorari to review was later filed with the Court of Appeals, which decided on Jan. 29, 1968 an affirmation of the ruling issued by the CFI of Davao in Civil Case No. 3083.

As expected, the Matas appealed the appellate court’s promulgation and elevated the ruling to the Supreme Court, which docketed the case as CA-G.R. NO. 35721R. In its Feb. 24, 1981 decision, the high court raised significant points: (i) the lawyers, acting as agents of Caram, purchased the property of Mata in bad faith; (ii) Caram was a registrant in bad faith; (iii) the Matas lost their right to contest the sale after four years without filing an annulment due to supposed intimidation; (iv) the contract signed by Mata with Laureta was not a voidable one; and (v) affirmed the continuous occupation of the land by Laureta since 1945.

In fine, the Supreme Court ruled against Mata and Caram.

8 EDGEDAVAO

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EDGEDAVAO

LIFESTYLE

LOOKING TO RENOVATE YOUR HOME THIS YEAR?

HERE’S HOW YOU CAN START

HOME improvement projects picked up in 2020, and this trend is showing no signs of slowing down. While cooped up at home, you could try jumping on this bandwagon and give your home a brand-new look. Not sure where to start? Here are a few tips to guide you in transforming your home into the cozy sanctuary you’ve been imagining.

Start with one room in mind Pick a room to jumpstart your home renovation journey. Entertainment and recreational rooms have been prioritized for home makeovers since last year, so that would be a good room to start with.

Then, ask the following questions: (1) Does the area serve its purpose of fulfilling the family’s entertainment needs? (2) Is the area comfortable enough for me to bingewatch my favorite K-drama?

After answering these questions, come up with a check-list of what needs to be moved, tweaked, replaced, or retained

perfect nook, get the essentials ready: a standing desk, an ergonomic chair, and a Smart device to boost your productivity.

Consider the Samsung Crystal UHD TV with its Tap View feature that lets you tweak presentations and view tasks on a bigger screen by simply tapping your Samsung smartphone on the TV. A bonus feature: The TV can act as a virtual background for your online meetings with the Ambient Mode that enables it to blend in with the home interior or display any photo you like.

in that area. Some mainstays in the room are normally the sofa, your favorite lounge seat, and of course, the TV. Complete the home entertainment system and take it up a notch with the Samsung Soundbar’s unmatched audio quality.

place beside a window would be a good choice. Make sure the nook will provide a calm

yet conducive environment for you.

Once you’ve chosen that

Create a work-from-homefriendly space Choose a dedicated corner in your home specifically for work that will help you become motivated and productive. A

Watch out for exclusive summer blockbuster deals You don’t need to break the bank to transform your home -- take advantage of Samsung’s Summer’s on Us sale for your home entertainment upgrade needs. Take home a Crystal UHD TV and Soundbar bundle for the ultimate home theater experience and save up to Php 17,499! Promo runs until June 30, 2021.

Visit a Samsung authorized dealer today for more exciting deals and discounts. For more information, go to www. samsung.com/ph.

ENJOY A STAYCATION AT HOME WITH FOODPANDA’S FEEL-GOOD SUMMER PROMOS

THE summer break seems so different because spontaneous road trips and other vacation plans are put on hold for safety reasons. This does not mean, however, that you can’t experience new adventures from the comfort of your home. foodpanda helps you have that FUNSUMMER vibe with exciting promos to help enjoy new cuisines or maybe try out the season’s latest skincare trends on social media.

There are still several ways to chill out while staying at home. Here are some ideas to help you have a cool summer: • Sundae funday -- You can gather the family and have an ice cream party, with each person scooping their favorite flavors and topping them with an assortment of

ingredients such as nuts and sprinkles and their choice of strawberry or chocolate sauce.

• Watch party – Create your own home theater with blackout curtains and a speaker setup. Don’t forget to have a hefty supply of snacks such as pizza and burgers plus cold drinks on hand.

• Grill out – Nothing says summer like a fun barbecue.

Play some summer tunes and fill up your inflatable pool. You can fire up your grill and lay out family favorites such as steaks and hotdogs, or you can simply have your fave flame-grilled food delivered.

• Taste trip – Eatsplore an exciting new cuisine such as healthy Meditarranean or hearty Italian. Try a new Chinese dish or go Korean.

While travel plans may have been cancelled, you can still take your taste buds on a trip around the world while you are at home.

• Mask up – Have a pampering day by trying on the latest trends and beauty hacks.

Cooling face masks are a great way to refresh those pores on a hot summer’s day.

You can try out all these fun summer activities with foodpanda and it doesn’t need to burn your budget!

For the whole month of May, foodpanda users can key in these cool promo vouchers to enjoy discounts and free delivery on their favorite services. Get your favorite cool concoctions or try out dishes from that hot new restaurant with the FUNSUMMER voucher code for delivery that gives new customers

P100 off for a minimum spend of P299.

New customers who want to pick up their meal choices can tap PICKUPSUMMER when they order to avail of P100 off for a minimum spend of only P450! foodpanda shops also makes summer shopping fun and convenient with choices ranging from pantry essentials to the latest beauty and wellness trends – what’s more is that customers can avail of free delivery with SHOPSFD with a minimum spend of P150.

Get more out of summer, even if you stay safe at home with the hottest foodpanda promos. Tap mo na yan and stay updated with the latest foodpanda promos and discoveries. Visit the official foodpanda social media pages for more details.

9 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 58 • SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021

WHY PINEAPPLE IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

F

ruit is food, drink, and medicine, neatly packed by nature in attractive, handy and easy-to-open containers.

It has sustained man in good health since he first had wit enough to reach out and accept the precious gift.

Some fruits have been grown on this planet long before recorded history.

Others have evolved and improved over the centuries, to such a degree that past generations would never recognize them in their present form, while few fruits are of fairly recent origin.

The medical properties of fruits have been the subject of interest among noted herbalists and physicians of old, who have recommended them for their dietary and remedial virtues with a certainty based on custom, observation and limited scientific knowledge.

As medicine, fruits are generally safer, cheaper and available anytime of the year. Pineapple is one of those that people should eat regularly as the fruit is rich in vitamins, enzymes and antioxidants.

Medical News Today reported that one cup of fresh pineapple chunks contains approximately 82

calories, 0.2 gram of fat, 2 milligrams of sodium, 21.65 grams of carbohydrates (including 16 grams of sugar and 2.3 grams of fiber), and 0.89 gram of protein. You don’t get any cholesterol from eating pineapple.

As a percentage of a person’s daily requirements, the same amount of fresh pineapple chucks provides 131% of vitamin C, 2% of vitamin A, 2% of calcium, and 3% of iron. The fruit is also a source of the following vitamins and minerals: thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, folate, pantothenic acid, magnesium, potassium, and beta carotene and other antioxidants.

Pineapple is also rich in bromelain, an enzyme that helps the body digest proteins. As such, together with the fiber and water content, pineapple helps prevent constipation and promotes regularity and a healthy digest tract.

“Bromelain also reduces inflammatory immune cells, called cytokines,

that damage the digestive tract lining,” noted Medical News Today adding that most of the bromelain are concentrated in the inedible stems of pineapple.

Pineapple is also an essential fruit for treating diarrhea. “Studies indicate that pineapple plays a significant role in alleviating diarrhea and ameliorating gut health in individuals,” explains Jen Miller, author of an article, “Health Benefits of Pineapple Based on Science.” “Treating diarrhea as well as preventing such gut infections that cause bloating, vomiting and gas in children and adults can be administered with the help of pineapple which is high in antioxidants and dietary fiber.”

Eating pineapple regularly can also reduce blood clots. “Regular intake of bromelain enzyme is generally administered to regulate proper blood flow from system to system in the human body,” Miller writes. “Blood clots are characterized by the body’s natural response to treating injured blood vessels.”

According to Miller, bromelain is important for the body’s proper functioning. “When you consume pineapples on a regular basis, bromelain is

directly absorbed into the bloodstream which helps reduce proteolytic and fibrinolytic activity. This prevents excessive blood clotting by allowing proper blood flow from the heart to other vital organs in the body.”

Some research has suggested that bromelain in pineapple can help to reduce the risk of cardiovascular conditions such as thrombosis.

“However, more research is required before a clear link between pineapple and heart health can be established,” reminds Nicola Shubrook, an accredited member of the British Association for Applied Nutrition and Nutritional Therapy.

As pineapple contains no cholesterol, it is also good for those who want to lose weights. “Pineapple contains high amounts of dietary fiber that positively affect weight loss and weight management in individuals,” Miller writes.

“Any fruits that increases the body’s fat-burning capacity are metabolism boosters. Pineapple is one such tropical fruit high in nutrients that regulate fast recovery and metabolic activities.”

But what is most interesting about pineapple

is that they may help inhibit growth of harmful cancer cells. “With the combination of vitamin C and other healthy antioxidants that pineapple contains, different types of cancer including stomach cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer may be prevented,” Miller states.

Vitamin C plays a big part in hindering some cancers. “Vitamin C is proven to restrict the formation of carcinogenic compounds that are directly related to stomach cancer and gastric cancer,” Miller writes. “It also helps fight the kind of bacteria that causes stomach cancer due to vitamin C deficiency.”

Diabetes is now very common among Filipinos.

Pineapple is one of those fruits that diabetics must eat. “Individuals with type 1 diabetes who consume high-fiber diets tend to have lower blood glucose levels, and individuals with type 2 diabetes may have improved blood sugar, lipids and insulin levels,” the Medical News Today said.

One medium pineapple provides about 13 grams of fiber. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends 21 to 25 grams of fiber per day for women and between 30 and 38 grams per day for

men.

Antioxidant-rich pineapple has been shown to improve both male and female fertility. “The leading cause of infertility is oxidative stress,” Miller points out. “Free radical damage dramatically affects the reproductive organs.

Other factors also include eating disorders, smoking, age-related effects, and an unhealthy lifestyle. All these factors also influence oxidative stress in the body.”

All these can be counteracted by pineapple as it contains most of the essential vitamins and minerals.

“All nutrients (found in pineapple) play an important role in reducing oxidative stress in the reproductive system,” Miller stresses.

One of the problems a person getting older experiences is macular degeneration, which is vision loss.

Pineapple has been shown to lower a person’s risk of vision loss. “Pineapple can help reduce the risk of macular degeneration due in part to its high amount of vitamin C and the antioxidants it contains,” said Laura Flores, an American nutritionist based in San Diego, California.

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EDGEDAVAO

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essential during ECQ; and A5-indigent populations not otherwise included in the preceding categories.

Mayor Sara also said there is no timeline yet for the start of the inoculation of the general public.

“Wala ta’y timeline because wala ta nahibalo

kung when and how many vaccines ang muabot sa atoa because ang vaccine delivery wala siya timeline ug wala’y commitment gikan sa national government. Ginaingnan lang ta from time to time na duna’y muabot na pila ka thousands karon,” she said.

“We are deeply grateful for the continued public support for PhilSys since the pilot launch of online Step 1 Registration on April 30.

You can be assured that the website is updated so that more people can register for PhilSys,” the agency said.

With the increasing number of registrants, PSA expressed optimism that it can achieve its target of registering up to 70 million Filipinos this year.

It said almost 34 million registrants have completed Step 1 registration through face-to-face and through the house visits done by PSA data collectors in October last year.

PSA maintained it continues to develop usermanagement strategies to improve the website and accommodate more registrants.

The online registration is being pursued in keeping with the health and safety protocols amid the coronavirus disease pandemic, it added.

Step 1 Registration will be followed by Step 2 Registration, which involves

capturing a registrant’s biometric data such as their iris scans, fingerprint scans, and front-facing photograph at local registration centers.

The third and final step of PhilSys registration will involve the issuance of the PhilSys Number (PSN) and the physical ID or the PhilID. The PSN is a randomly generated number that will serve as a permanent identification number for every registrant.

Signed into law by President Rodrigo R. Duterte in August 2018, Republic Act 11055, or the Philippine Identification System Act, aims to establish a single national ID for all Filipinos and resident aliens.

The national ID shall be a valid proof of identity that shall be a means of simplifying public and private transactions, enrollment in schools, and the opening of bank accounts.

It also seeks to boost efficiency, especially in dealing with government services where people will only need to present one ID during transactions. (PNA)

the forum virtually, the Presidential Communications Operations Office said in a separate statement.

This will be his second time to join the Nikkei Conference, one of Asia’s top foreign policy and economic fora.

He will join leaders from Japan, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as heads of international organizations, Malacañang said.

Before the scheduled

conference, Duterte had a phone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide on Wednesday.

He and Suga discussed the prevailing pandemic, the Philippines and Japan’s bilateral ties, the West Philippine Sea disputes, the latest developments in Myanmar, and the fight against piracy, terrorism, and other transnational crimes, among others.

In 2019, Duterte flew to Japan to attend the 25th Nikkei Future of Asia Conference.

the 29 patients in the VCO Group who experienced decreasing signs and symptoms of Covid-19 as early as Day 2.

“Nakagawa na tayo ng studies before. Napag aralan na nila kung ano ang mechanism para either mamatay o masira yung

structure ng virus using VCO,” Sales said.

He added that the findings of DOST in general stated that VCO is effective as a supplement that a person can take to prevent getting infected with Covid-19. By Maya M. Padillo

consideration.

“Despite the result, we’re also very happy that in the resolution it stated that ‘these crimes were committed.’ It’s just that we need to fine-tune it so that we can respond to what the prosecutor has said. At least we are guided with the resolution. We will file it the soonest, huwag natin silang patulugin nang mahimbing.

There is no reason for them to celebrate,” Badoy pointed

out.

Badoy assured the parents of the government’s “one hundred percent support.”

“We are going to help the parents file a motion for reconsideration. This is just a start of a fight that we are going to win for sure,” she added.

She also rejected the claims of the communist groups that the cases were dismissed for being baseless.

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Just a word of warning: Bromelain found in pineapple can be hazardous to someone suffering from certain protein deficiencies or disorders. Pineapples should also not be consumed by those with hemophilia or by those with kidney or liver disease, as it may reduce the time taken to coagulate a consumer’s blood.

When unripe, the pineapple is not only inedible but poisonous, irritating the throat and acting as a drastic purgative.

Excessive consumption of pineapple cores has caused the formation of fiber balls (bezoars) in the digestive tract.

Women who want to get pregnant should not eat pineapple. In some parts of the world, the flesh of very young fruits is deliberately ingested to achieve abortion (a little with honey on 3 successive mornings).

Pineapple, unlike abaca and pili nut, is not a native of the Philippines. It is believed to have originated from Brazil, where tribal peoples have always regarded pineapple highly and have used it as a staple food and as an ingredient in some

wines. When early explorers brought the pineapple back to Europe, its sweetness and unusual appearance made the fruit a symbol of royal privilege.

How pineapple got its name is an interesting story. When Christopher Columbus came across pineapple in 1493 on the island of Guadeloupe, he called it la piña de las Indians (“the pine of the Indies”) because, as he later told Ferdinand and Isabella, they resembled “green pine cones, very sweet and delicious.” The odd name stuck, and pineapples are still called piñas in most Spanish-speaking countries.

In fact, the word pineapple originally meant “pine cone” in England.

Being popular in Europe, the Spaniards (who carved pineapples over doorways) brought the fruit in the Philippines after the latter was rediscovered in 1521. For years, Hawaii supplied 70% of the world’s canned pineapple and 85% of canned pineapple juice, but labor costs have shifted a large segment of the industry from Hawaii to the Philippines

The city government is targeting to inoculate 88,000 eligible senior citizens.

The vaccination for senior citizens is currently being undertaken at SM Lanang Premier, SM City Davao, A. Mabini Elementary School, Matina

Aplaya Elementary School, Malagos Elementary School, Crossing Bayabas National High School, Kor-Phil Vocational Training Center in Bunawan, Calinan Central Elementary School and other participating private hospitals in the city.

Ebrahim said during the online launch.

He admitted that implementing the normalization track of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) is not an easy task.

The CAB is the final peace agreement signed by the GPH and the MILF in 2014 after 17 years of negotiations.

The peace agreement’s political track has been accomplished with the

creation of the BARMM following the plebiscite ratifying Republic Act 11054 or the Organic Law for the BARMM in 2019.

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed the members of the MILF-led Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), the region’s governing body whose mandate ends on June 30, 2022 when the new set of elected officials shall have taken their oath.

has signed a deal with China’s Sinovac Biotech to purchase 500,000 doses, worth around PHP325 million, of its Covid-19 vaccine.

The government and the private sector have also signed a tripartite agreement to procure around 20 million doses of Covid-19

vaccine manufactured by US-based company Moderna.

Under the deal, the government will purchase the bulk of the vaccine at 13 million doses while the private sector will purchase the balance of 7 million.

(PNA)

The GFSI considers the issues of food affordability, availability, quality and safety, and natural resources and resilience across 113 countries.

Indicators measure the drivers of food security across both developing and developed countries.

The Philippines’ strengths were in agricultural production, change in average food costs, market access and agricultural financial services, and agricultural import tariffs.

The DA, Battad added,

has suggested and identified some options on how to implement the industry roadmap with the private sector.

“What is significant that should happen in four months is we should be able to identify and influence ‘yung pagbabago sa budget din ng DA (the changes in the DA’s budget),” she said.

The two-day food security summit that ended Wednesday addressed major challenges on accessing sufficient, safe, nutritious, and affordable food.

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Joining Etheridge in the netminder rotation are Rot Weiss Ahlen’s Bernd Schipman and Kuala Lumpur’s Kevin Mendoza.

Schrock’s midfield allies called up include Erzgebirge Aue’s Patrick Strauss, PT Prachuap’s Iain Ramsay, Bochum’s Gerrit Holtmann, Magdeburg’s Raphael Obermair, Suphanburi’s Patrick Reichelt, Nitra’s Oliver Bias, Azkals Development Team’s Jarvey Gayoso and Mark Winhoffer, Pacific’s Matthew Baldismo, and Molde’s Lloyd Fagerlie.

Called up as defenders are Terrenganu’s Carlie de Murga, BG Pathum’s Alvaro Silva, Ratchaburi’s Luke Woodland, Djurgardens’ Jesper Nyholm, Port’s Martin Steuble, Mito Hollyhock’s Jefferson Tabinas, ADT’s Mar Diano and Niko de Vera, and

Neuchatel Xamax’s Michael Kempter.

The Azkals confirmed an earlier statement from United City that Mark Hartmann has been called up at the forward position.

Only one other striker has been called up, St. Joseph’s Angel Guirado even as the delay in Bienve Maranon’s naturalization process left the Nationals with no choice but to sit him out.

The Azkals are set to hold a training camp in Doha for the WCQ. The Azkals must need to sweep their remaining three matches, against Guam on June 3, bubble host China on June 9, and Maldives on June 15, to solidify their chances of locking an outright spot in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup and enter the third round of the WCQ. (PNA

preparation for high-level competitions locally and abroad.

“The AFP is optimistic that the joint efforts forged through the memorandum of agreement will further elevate the skills and capabili-

ties of our military athletes.

Together with the PSC, POC, PPC, and other sports associations, we will do our best to develop future gold-medallists who shall bring pride and honor to our country,” Sobejana said. (PNA)

we’ve had a high confidence and put together a string of wins and had a tough loss and had to bounce back, so we’ve been there.

“We’re obviously very familiar with Memphis and understanding what it’s going to take to beat those guys again.

“We’re a good team right now that knows how to compete and carry that same identity into Friday and come out swinging.”

Curry, who locked up the league scoring title on the

final day of the regular-season on Sunday, scored a game-high 37 points in the 103-100 loss to the Lakers -- whose superstar LeBron James drained an unlikely last-minute three-pointer over Curry for the victory.

“It’s a great shot,” Curry acknowledged. “Broken play ... he was kind of out of play, they found him, he got his balance just in time and knocked it down.

“All-time great players make great shots.”

contingencies and external shocks.”

Because of the pandemic, Diokno said, Filipinos are now more motivated to learn and eager to apply personal financial management principles, “such as prioritizing needs over wants, living below one’s means, looking for additional income stream, and saving regularly when they can.”

He said Filipinos have

become more serious in protecting their money against scams.

“The BSP and its financial partners are also taking advantage of this opportunity to disseminate finlit (financial literacy) messages to our target audiences and the public. We have a full work program consisting of several training of trainers, webinars, and learning sessions for this year,” he added. (PNA)

cause 2020 was low since this is the beginning of the pandemic. But even versus 2019, we really saw growth on our exports,” he said.

The trade chief attributed the growth of exports to the government’s policy to allow 100 percent operation of companies in export activities.

He added that the elec-

tronics sector that accounted for 60 percent of the country’s exports and the information technology and business process outsourcing (IT-BPO), which is one of the top dollar earners for the country, continued to post growth despite local lockdowns as they were allowed to operate at full capacity.

chanics.

Meanwhile, Marikina City started its immunization drive using Pfizer vaccine on Thursday using COVID-19.

Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro said the local government could not follow the Department of Health’s recommendation to halt announcements of COVID-19

vaccine brands that would be used in a particular vaccination site.

“Paano kung ibakuna, gagamitin sa kaniya hindi akma sa comorbidites na mayroon siya o hindi tama sa kaniyang medical condition? Kaya nga bago isaksak, pinapaliwanag kung ano ang epekto nito sa taong tatanggap,” Teodoro said.

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VOL.14 ISSUE 58 • SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021

The Manila Chooks

AFP, sports orgs renew athletes’ dev’t partnership

T

he Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Thursday renewed its partnership with sports organizations that aims to promote physical fitness and develop world-class athletes among different military units.

AFP chief, Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairperson William Ramirez, Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino and Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) president Michael Barredo signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) for the measure in a virtual ceremony in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

The MOA provides for the management, development, and training of identified and potential soldier-athletes who shall compete in international sports competitions.

“The renewed agreement among the AFP and sports associations in the Philippines manifests our strong desire to raise the country’s flag to further heights in the global sports scene,” Sobejana said in a message to reporters.

Under the MOA, the AFP will continue to formulate and implement a comprehensive sports development program for all military personnel.

It will also provide administration and control to soldier-athletes and coaches to be in detail with the PSC. The agreement is valid for three years upon signing of the parties which can be renewed under the same terms and conditions.

The AFP shall further provide qualified athletes and coaches in events involving speed and distance, combative sports, target sports, aquatic sports, forms and power sports, and selected net sports.

The military will also support the national grassroots sports program of the PSC, POC, PPC, and National Sports Associations for the establishment of Priority Sports, Priority Athletes, and Regional Development Plan.

The PSC, among other commitments, shall provide technical assistance to the rationalized establishments, maintenance, and management of viable Olympics-standard sports centers and facilities of the AFP. In coordination with the POC and PPC, it will also afford the use of PSC sports facilities to military-athletes, groups, and associations.

The PSC shall also reserve slots and incorporate in the requests for travel, AFP’s representatives with appropriate allowances during international competitions such as the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, and World Olympics.

The POC and PPC, on the other hand, shall offer training programs to selected coaches, referees, officials, administrators, instructors, and allied specialists to enhance sports capabilities, professional and technical skills, and know-how.

The committees will also provide professional support to AFP in terms of program development in

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Manila Chooks pulls out of 3x3 Qualifiers

M

anila Chooks has decided to back out from the FIBA 3x3 Lipik Challenger.

The “hard decision” was made as the quartet of Chico Lanete, Mac Tallo, Zach Huang, and Dennis Santos could not get their Croatian visas in time for the event happening this weekend.

“There are things that

we have no control of and this is one of them,” lamented Chooks 3x3 owner Ronald Mascariñas on Thursday.

“Since 2019, this is the first time that we had to pull out from a FIBA 3x3 tournament and the players were

really looking forward to it.”

He said the challenges of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic “made it hard for us to obtain our delegation’s visas”.

The Manila Chooks squad applied for Croatian visas on May 7, but with no Croatian embassy in the Philippines, the process had to be done in Jakarta.

As of Wednesday night,

the visas have yet to arrive.

“The boys have been raring to bounce back after Doha but there are things na hindi natin kontrolado. Bawi na lang, (we cannot control of. We hope to bounce back) that’s all we can do right now,” rued Manila Chooks TM head trainer Aldin Ayo. FIBA has yet to announce the details about the next 3x3 pro circuit. (PNA)

Curry confident Warriors will bounce back vs Grizzlies G olden State Warriors star Stephen Curry vowed the Warriors will “come out swinging” against the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday in a duel for the final NBA Western Conference playoff berth.

Curry admitted a lastgasp loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday in their first attempt to punch a playoff ticket via the playin tournament was a “tough one.”

But the two-time NBA Most Valuable Player said they’ll be ready for their second chance against the Grizzlies.

“We’ve had to do it the last 20 games, so it’s no different,” Curry said. “It is a winor-go-home scenario, but

FCURRY, P10

Golden State guard Stephen Curry gets past Los Angeles guard Dennis Schroder for a basket in their play-in game on May 19. Reuters

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

ALL SET

VOL.14 ISSUE 58 • SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2021

Stephen Schrock will be spearheading the Azkals squad anew.

Azkals pool to WC Qualifiers bared

T

he Philippine Azkals have unveiled their 25-man training pool for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (WCQ) in Suzhou, China n ext month.

United City midfielder Stephan Schrock, as highly anticipated, headlines the pool revealed on Thursday night as the national team’s captain.

Also called up is Birmingham goalkeeper Neil Etheridge,

whose brilliance at the posts late into the EFL Championship season helped his club survive a possible relegation.

He has been named the vice captain for the Azkals as well.

FALL, P10