Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 129 | Friday, August 13, 2021

SAVORING FAMOUS FILIPINO FOODS BIGGER PICTURE P9 VOL.14 ISSUE 129 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 2021

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NO WALK-INS Only vaccinees with confirmed schedule allowed in jab sites: Covid-19 Task Force

STORY ON PAGE 2

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A young surfer watches the sun as it rises at the iconic Cloud 9 boardwalk in Gen. Luna, Siargao, Surigao del Norte. The island of Siargao is expected to be one of the most affected tourism destinations in the Province of Surigao del Norte as the provincial government suspends all air and sea travel for two weeks from August 11 until 22 to protect residents from Covid-19 and the Delta variant. Edge Davao

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The city government of Davao City announces that is opening a 10-day vaccination drive to cater to around 5,000 departing and returning or repatriated migrant workers. The vaccination drive for OFWs will roll out from August 18 to September 2, 2021, at the Matina Town Square (MTS) Compound, Matina, Davao City. Edge Davao

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Bukidnon capitol to close for 2 days for disinfection

Only vaccinees with confirmed schedule allowed in jab sites: Covid-19 Task Force

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he city government of Davao stressed on Thursday walk-ins in vaccination sites are still discouraged and only vaccinees with confirmed schedules for the day are allowed to get their anti-Covid-19 vaccination.

“Dili gyud ta ga- allow og walk-in. Katong na-sked anang adlawa ma-serve jud mo. Kung naa man na, please piktyuri ninyo, bidyuhan ninyo kay kanang muadto dinha for sure naa

pud jud na silay schedule,” said Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of Davao City Covid-19 task Force, during the Covid-19 Alert via Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Wednesday.

She issued the statement following the viral video that showed a huge number of people who flocked to the Lt. C. Villafuerte Elementary School vaccination site in Calinan early morning of August 10, 2021.

“Wala man gyud nagpabaya no ang atoang local government of Davao. Right after nakita nato to sya nga commotion o kagubot, the response was there. Nag-

padala dayon security og policemen pare masecure ang safety sa mga katawhan,” she said.

She appealed to the Dabawenyos not to gather or go to the vaccination site if it is not yet their schedule to get vaccinated.

“Ang atoang paabuton kung kanus-a gyud magopen ang vaccination site kasi po kung iskedyul ninyong anang adlawa na, defi-

Thursday (August 12) said data from March 9, 2021 to August 9, 2021 showed that the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and the Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) have filed 87 criminal complaints against 52 persons for spreading fake news; three online scam complaints against two persons; and 31 criminal cases against 26 persons for online profiteering, overpricing, hoarding and

unauthorized selling of medical supplies in the different prosecutor’s offices nationwide.

“Bukod sa mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng minimum public health safety standards at quarantine protocols, patuloy ang pagtugis ng PNP sa mga walang kaluluwang pinagkakakitaan at nanamantala sa pangamba at takot ng ating mga kababayan sa COVID-19,” Eleazar assured.

He said the PNP has intensified its monitoring of cybercrimes with most people compelled to log on the internet for school, office work and business due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Based on reports from the CIDG and the ACG, there has been an increase in incidents of persons spreading fake news and unverified information about the COVID-19 pandemic on so-

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80 people charged with cybercrimes

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he Philippine National Police (PNP) has filed a total of 121 criminal complaints against 80 persons for various cybercrimes exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic across the country.

These cybercrimes involved spreading fake news on the internet, illegal online sale of medical supplies, and online scams.

PNP Chief General Guillermo Eleazar in a report

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he provincial capitol in Malaybalay City will be closed for two days starting Thursday for disinfection.

Bukidnon Gov. Jose Ma. Zubiri Jr. issued the closure order Tuesday, the same day the province recorded 327 COVID-19 cases, “for the safety and protection of the provincial government employees”.

“There is a need to conduct a thorough disinfection within all offices in the capitol compound,” Zubiri said in his memorandum order.

The disinfection of the capitol complex will start on August 12 until August 13.

According to the Department of Health (DOH)-Region 10, 327 COVID-19 cases were reported in Bukidnon, the highest in Northern Mindanao last Tuesday.

In the DOH briefer issued on August 10, Cagayan de Oro came in second with 255 cases.

The briefer said 815 cases were recorded in the five provinces and the two highly urbanized cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan in Region 10.

Aside from Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro, the briefer said 150 cases were reported in Misamis Oriental, 50 cases in Camiguin Island province, four in Misamis Occidental and two in Lanao del Norte.

Eleven deaths were reported — four in Camiguin, four in Bukidnon and three in Misamis Oriental.

Recovery rate is high in Region 10 at 78.78 percent.

The provincial capitol of Bukidnon was also closed for a few days in August last year after an employee tested positive for the virus.

The provincial government has around 3,600 employees including job orders.

(Froilan Gallardo/MindaNews)

Unvaccinated 4Ps beneficiaries still get full assistance: DSWD-11

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he Department of Social Welfare and Development in Davao Region (DSWD-11) denied on Wednesday reports saying unvaccinated beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) will not receive the complete amount of their cash grants.

DSWD 11 information officer Kristel Cagatin, in a radio interview, said beneficiaries will receive

their financial aid in full regardless of whether they have been inoculated with coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccines or not.

“All bases of them being the beneficiary are written in the terms and conditions when they enter the program,” she said.

Cagatin clarified that the only basis to continue receiving cash aid is through Republic Act 11310 or the

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NEWS

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A registrant waits while a staff member of the Commission on Elections 11 (Comelec 11) checks his voter’s application form at the Comelec regional office inside Magsaysay Park in Davao City on Thursday. Comelec has announced that registered voters who have been deactivated need not personally visit the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) office to apply for reactivation as the online reactivation of voter registration will be made available this month. Edge Davao

P1.1-billion Daneco submarine cable project has no approval from ERC

No damages in structures after magnitude 7.3 quake hit Mati City

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he City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) of Mati City confirmed there are no reported damages in buildings and other structures following the magnitude 7.3 earthquake that shook the city early Thursday.

The temblor, which was reported as tectonic of origin, occurred at around 1:46 a.m. of August 12, 2021 when most residents were

at sleep.

City Information Office head Ben Tesiorna said the CDRRMO said there are no reported damages and incidents based on the reports of the personnel on duty (CSU) from different establishments.

Tesiorna added that there are no reported landslides in Barangay Badas and other landslide prone areas in Mati City.

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he P1.1-billion submarine cable project of the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative (Daneco) to energize Samal Island has not been approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). In fact, no application for the project has been filed with ERC yet.

This was bared by consumer watchdog People’s Oversight Watchdog for Energy Reforms (POWER) through its national coordinator Jaydar Medrozo.

“It is unfortunate that consumers and political leaders have been deceived

to believe that such a huge project is on its way to deliver ample and reliable power to the people of Samal,” Medrozo said.

“In reality, this project has not been filed and reviewed by regulators. The ERC has been a staunch pro-

Nordeco for their respective power needs.

He mentioned that Damosa Land Inc., (DLI), which asked Nordeco for a 5 MW power supply requirement for a huge project in the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS), already received the certificate from Nordeco for its needed power supply.

“Nangayo ug certification ang Damosa na kailangan nila ug 5 MW ug wala nato sila gibalibaran and gitagaan nato ug certification,” Ongking said.

Another is the Samal Shores Hotel and Resort, a big hotel project in Caliclic, Samal Island, which asked

Nordeco for a 3 MW power supply.

“Ongoing karon ang ilahang linya and almost completed. Nangayo pud siya ug another 3 MW karong tuiga mupasok. Gitagaan nato ug assurance anytime puwede nato sila matagaan,” Ongking said.

He assured that Nordeco can accommodate incoming applications for additional load requirements not only in Tagum City but in the whole franschise coverage area of the EC. “So far daghan pa uban na mga resorts and so far wala gyud ta’y gibalibaran,” Ongking said. By Maya M. Padillo

tector of consumers against energy price hikes and corruption in the energy industry. We earnestly believe the ERC, under the leadership of Chair (Agnes) Devanadera, will never approve a project of this magnitude, given the franchise size and financial condition of Daneco.”

As the regulator in the power industry, the ERC is mandated to review expenses and approve major projects of distribution utilities and electric cooperatives in order to protect the welfare of the consumers from overcharging and ensure elec-

Nordeco dismisses power supply shortage claims

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n official of the Northern Davao Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Nordeco) dismissed claims that several investors backed out due to power supply shortage and assured it has reserve power capacity that can energize 10 big malls this year.

Engr. Benedicto Ongking, technical services department manager of Nordeco, said the cooperative has a total contracted power supply of 130 megawatts (MW).

According to Ongking, as of August 6, 2021, its peak demand in the whole franchise of Nordeco is only about 96 MW, thus a reserve

of 34 MW power supply.

Ongking added that when converted into household residential connections, the said reserve can accommodate 17,000 residential applicants for this year and for large load applicants, can still accommodate 10 more big malls this year.

“Bastante ang atong power supply diri sa Nordeco sukwahi sa mga information na gipakatag karon sa mga kauban nato sa media,” Ongking said during the Kulokabildo sa Nordeco virtual presser.

Ongking also said a lot of investors already sent a Letter of Intent (LOI) to

tricity charges are fair.

POWER wrote a letter to the ERC inquiring about the submarine cable project when Daneco officials touted the completion of the15-kilometer submarine cable project that is supposed to connect Samal Island with the municipality of Pantukan in Davao de Oro. In its July 28 reply, the ERC -- through chair Devanadera -- said the commission has not yet received an application nor approved such a project.

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Engr. Benedicto Ongking, technical services department manager of Nordeco, dismisses claims that several investors backed out due to power supply shortage, however, assured that the said electric cooperative (EC) has reserve power capacity that can energize 10 big malls this year.

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The Department of Energy (DOE) assures the public that there is sufficient supply of power despite the Malampaya gas field going offline this October as long as there will be no forced outages from power plants. Edge Davao

Ease of doing business facilitates better telcommunication services

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telecommunication services company has commended the government for fast-tracking issuance of permits for telecommunication projects that facilitated the improvement of broadband speed in the country.

Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. chief strategy officer Benjamin Azada said Wednesday broadband operators must roll out their network unimpeded to deliver better services for the Filipino people.

“We’ve seen huge improvement in the speed of permitting,” Azada said during the virtual economic forum of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines and Aboitiz Equi-

ty Ventures.

He added that all important legislations are already in place to help telecommunication companies to improve their services.

“What we need to do, therefore, is to be able to get the permits to roll out from both national and local government —but also building administrators, homeowners associations— get those on a timely basis,” Azada said.

He said the functions of

the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) and the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) have facilitated the improvement of telecommunication services in the country by ensuring ease of doing business and fair market behavior for industry players.

Last year, President Rodrigo Duterte directed concerned government offices both in the national and local government to fast-track the processing of pending applications for common towers.

According to ARTA, at least 26,636 permits were already released in the telecommunication sector as of June 2021.

Ease of doing business was also facilitated by cutting

the number of permits needed from 13 to eight, documentary requirements from 86 to 15, and length of time for processing from 241 days to 16 days, ARTA said.

For its part, Azada said Converge has formed a team dedicated to working on permit applications.

The team ensures that requirements for applying permits are complete and also does the follow-up to agencies.

Meanwhile, as interconnectivity is critical during this “new normal”, Azada said Converge has beefed up its installation team and repair team to respond faster to its customers.

culminate in a two-day plenary session of senior officials on Sept. 2-3 chaired by Vangelis Vitalis, Deputy Secretary of Trade and Economic Affairs of New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

“Officials and experts have been working on a number of trade and investment, economic, and

technical cooperation and structural reform initiatives guided by New Zealand’s priorities for this year,” Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat, Rebecca Sta Maria, said in a written statement issued by the APEC Secretariat and received here on Wednesday.

Sta Maria said all initiatives covered by these work-

ing groups support the forum’s overarching goal this year to advance the region’s recovery while at the same time increase inclusion and sustainability, and promote innovation and a digitally-enabled recovery.

“With the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week inching closer, officials will use

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Final APEC technical meeting cluster underway to spur recovery progress

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he third and final Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) technical meeting cluster is currently ongoing, with nearly 2,400 officials, policymakers, and private sector representatives from 21 economies involved in efforts to drive the region’s recovery progress.

The meeting cluster will

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Power supply enough despite Malampaya shutdown: DOE

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epartment of Energy (DOE) Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said there is sufficient supply of power despite the Malampaya gas field going offline this October as long as there will be no forced outages from power plants.

During the economic forum of the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines and Aboitiz Equity Ventures Wednesday, Fuentebella said projected output from Malampaya is expected to further decline between 2022 and 2024.

He said expected output from Malampaya this year is at 2,313 megawatts, and will decline to 2,156 MW by 2022, depleting to 1,813 MW by 2023, and down to 1,563 MW by 2024.

He added the gas field is maintaining a gauge pressure of 100 barg to manage the daily consumer demand.

“We see the need for more investments as far as the power generation is concerned,” Fuentebella said.

But with the 668-MW GNPower Dinginin expect-

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PPPs seen boosting PH digital ecosystems

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ublic-private partnerships can help the Philippines catch up with its Southeast Asian peers in terms of creating digital ecosystems, a consulting firm said on Wednesday.

Liew Nam Soon, ASEAN Regional Managing Partner at global professional services firm, EY, said the Philippines still lags its neighbors in digital ecosystems

or superapps.

A digital ecosystem is an integrated network that fulfills consumer needs, similar to what super apps like Grab have been doing in other Southeast Asian countries, where it offers ride-hailing, food delivery, grocery, logistics, health, lifestyle, and financial services.

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ECONOMY 5

Workers unload second hand bicycles at an establishment selling used imported bicycles along Dacudao Avenue in Davao City. The demand for bicycles in Davao City has been constantly growing after the city government put up a designated bike lane along the city’s main thoroughfares. Edge Davao

Planting 1-M coconut trees in Mindanao eyed

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entury Pacific said Wednesday it partnered with mobile wallet GCash and non-profit group HOPE to jointly plant 1 million coconut trees in Mindanao.

The partnership aims to plant 1 million coconut trees in South Cotabato and in Sarangi within 2 years, Century Pacific said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

GCash users can participate by collecting “green energy” on its app and using the collected points to plant virtual trees through its feature GForest.

For every virtual tree planted, Century Pacific Food, GCash and HOPE will plant a real coconut tree, the statement said.

The project will cover the areas of Banga, Surallah,

Norala, Koronadal, General Santos City, Malungon, Glan, Alabel, Malapatan, Maasim, Kiamba, Maitum, Polomok, Tampakan and Tupi, Century Pacific said.

“The program enables us to boost the livelihoods of the coconut farming community in Mindanao and at the same time improve coconut farming productivity and quality of supply, which are all beneficial to our growing coconut business. This also accelerates our journey towards carbon neutrality,” CNPF vice president and general manager of Coconut Division Noel Tempongko said.

GCash earlier said the GForest initiative aims to replicate the Alipay Ant Forest of Alibaba, which helped 500 million users plant 100 million trees.

Affected OFW organizations urged to avail of business start-up grant

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Guesting in the One Davao Virtual Presser, OWWA XI Officer-in-Charge Carmelo Elaya bared that the business proposals of these OFW organizations are being deliberated, fine-tuned, and re-modeled to suit the requirements in order to be granted with a Tulong Puso grant.

“Naa na kitay duha hangtud tulo nga na-aprubar

na, ang uban niini about to be approved pa,” Elaya said.

Tulong PUSO or Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Pag-unlad ng Samahang OFWs is a livelihood support program for OFWs whose jobs are may have been lost or they may have been displaced or repatriated due to the pandemic.

This program is only for groups who have a business

livelihood project in the Philippines.

Micro-size groups with 11 to 15 members may be granted with P250,000 while groups with 31 members and up may be granted as much as P1 million.

Elaya bared that the types of business proposed include bakery, frozen tuna products, glassware, and even softdrink production.

“We advise those who want to avail of this assistance to first organize themselves.

At least 80 percent of the members should be registered by OWWA while 20 percent may be undocumented OFWs,” he added.

The OWWA provides online or face-to-face orientation to organizations which are in-

“Drivers of this growth shall be in the crop sector, we are hoping na madoble pa ang output sa rice (we hope that we can double the rice output),” Dar said.

Palay production during the first semester recorded some 8.8 million metric tons (MT) which is the highest in the country’s history.

PSA data indicated that this figure is 4.9 percent more than in 2020, for the same period.

The PSA said the crops sub-sector, which contributed 56 percent of the total

agriculture output for the second quarter (Q2) of the year, was bannered by palay and corn, which grew by 1.2 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively.

Consequently, the crop sub-sector recorded 3.1 percent growth while the poultry sub-sector showed a 2.5 percent increase in the second quarter of 2021 as per data from the PSA. However, these were not enough to pull up the overall performance of the agri-fishery sector, which dipped by 1.5 percent.

The negative growth was attributed to the respective decline in the value of livestock and fisheries production, at -19.3 percent and -1.1 percent, respectively.

“Expectedly, the livestock sub-sector, particularly the swine industry, has pulled down our composite agri-fishery performance, due to the ASF, whose incidence is already waning,” Dar said.

“Rest assured that we will continuously and vigorously implement the Bantay ASF sa Barangay and its twin hog repopulation program,

usiness proposals of about fifteen organized groups of COVID19-affected Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are currently being assessed after submitting their business proposal for the Tulong Puso financial assistance under the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).

terested to avail. Those who wish to apply online must visit tulongpuso.owwa.gov.ph.

The OWWA official, however, clarified that in areas with no access to the internet may still avail by informing the nearest OWWA office about their intent. OWWA personnel will visit the area to conduct on-site orientation.

It is also important for would-be applicants to register first their business since a business registration certificate is part of the requirements.

Also included in the set of requirements is for applicants to secure 20 percent of the equity depending on the amount of the grant to be given. This means that applicants

in partnership with the local government units (LGUs), hog raisers’ groups and the private sector to revive the country’s swine industry,” he noted.

In earlier reports, the DA said several ASF-affected areas in Batangas were recently declared free from the disease, and many more are expected to follow suit.

By the end of August 2021, a report on the efficacy of the ASF vaccine that has been tested in various commercial farms in Luzon will be released. (PNA)

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DA chief lowers agricultural growth goal to 2% for 2021

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he Department of Agriculture (DA) has adjusted the country’s agricultural growth target this year to 2 percent from the earlier announced 2.5 percent.

“Before, our projection is 2.5 percent, but with the continuing two pandemics affecting the country -- Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) and African swine fever (ASF)-- we have set it to 2 percent growth target this year,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said during the virtual forum of

the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) on Wednesday.

Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed that the contraction of Philippine agriculture this second quarter of 2021 is only .1 percent.

Dar said this slight contraction shows that the country’s economy is recovering but nowhere near before the Covid-19 pandemic.

He added there are indications in several sub-sectors of agriculture that the new target is achievable.

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On the rollout of vaccines via mobile vaccination sites:

The vaccine will go to them, not them looking for the vaccines.”

Mayor Sara Z. Duterte

EDITORIAL For the elders It’s better late, than too late.

The vulnerable senior citizens will will finally get their rollout of vaccines following the city government’s decision to inoculate some 200,000 to 300,000 senior citizens against coronavirus (Covid-19).

That said, the city government has rolled out a mobile vaccination solely for the elderly.

Under normal circumstances, the elderly gets the priority over other individuals in the community.

All queues give way to senior citizens except for the case of the vaccination rollout which prioritised the frontliners and the essential workers.

Not falling into the categories for the priority rollout, senior citizens had to wait for their turn this time. Quite ironic as they

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On Wednesday, the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force Vaccine Cluster said at least 76 senior citizens in seven geriatric home facilities got their jans through the city’s mobile vaccination team.

As of Aug. 6, a total of 79,039 seniors have received their first jabs while 54,065 also got their second shots.

This mobile vaccination provides another option for senior citizens aside from the public vaccination in designated City Health Office-run vaccination sites per district.

The move, albeit coming a tad late, is still laudable as it will now secure our elderly from the wrath of the virus and hopefully prevent many of them from succumbing to the virus with their health concerns.

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

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

are the most vulnerable to the virus especially the immunocompromised ones.

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)

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VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

UNFORGIVEN NO MORE “Inner peace can be reached only when we practice forgiveness. Forgiveness is letting go of the past, and is therefore the means for correcting our misperceptions.” ― Gerald G. Jampolsky, author of Love Is Letting Go of Fear

*** This happened during the American Revolution. General George Washington, who would later become the first US president, had a good friend who was a minister (let’s just call him Patrick). Unknown to the general, Patrick had an enemy named Robert (that’s not his real though) who did everything he could to abuse and oppose him.

After some years, Robert was arrested for treason and sentenced to death. When Patrick heard of it, he walked almost 50 kilometers to the capital to plead for the man’s life. But Washington said, “No, I cannot grant you the life of your friend.”

“Who said that man is my friend?” Robert asked. “He is the bitterest enemy I have.”

Washington was completely surprised. “You mean you have to walk almost 50 kilometers to save the life of an enemy?” he said. “That puts the matter in a different light. I hereby grant his pardon.”

“Always forgive, but never

forget, else you will be a prisoner of your own hatred, and doomed to repeat your mistakes forever,” wrote Wil Zeus in Sun Beyond the Clouds. Bree Despain, in The Dark Divine, penned: “We don’t forgive people because they deserve it. We forgive them because they need it -- because we need it.”

Corrie Ten Boom once said: “Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.” This statement, which came from Clippings from My Notebook, reminded me of one of the anecdotes contained in 1000 Stories You Can Use by Frank Mihalic. It goes this way: During the Vatican Council, the Time magazine reporter, Bob Piser, had been very harsh in his criticism of Cardinal Ottaviani, whom he regarded as the arch-enemy of progressive Catholicism. He became Bob’s scapegoat for anything archaic and old-fashioned in the Church.

Just before the second session of the Council, Bob got to Rome a week early and wanted to have an interview with Ottaviani.

So he announced himself and stated his wish, and the American Monsignor who was Ottaviani’s secretary told him, “The nerve of you asking for an inter-

view after all the nasty things you have written about the Cardinal.

But, okay, I’ll go through the motions and ask, but you know what you can expect…”

He asked, and the Cardinal said in Italian, “Call him in.”

So Bob Piser was ushered into the tapestry-hung waiting room. In came Ottaviani, shook hands with Bob, and the Monsignor translated his words, “Mr. Piser you have written many things about me. I just wanted you to know that many of them are not true. Now, what can I do for you?”

“Grudges are for those who insist that they are owed something,” wrote Criss Jami in Salomé: In Every Inch In Every Mile, “forgiveness, however, is for those who are substantial enough to move on.”

“People have to forgive,” points out C. JoyBell C, a noted author. “We don’t have to like them, we don’t have to be friends with them, we don’t have to send them hearts in text messages, but we have to forgive them, to overlook, to forget. Because if we don’t we are tying rocks to our feet, too much for our wings to carry!”

During the Civil War in the United States, Abraham Lincoln had occasion at an official reception to refer to the Southerners rather as erring human beings than as foes to be exterminated.

An elderly lady, a fiery patriot, rebuked him for speaking kindly of his enemies when he ought to be thinking of destroying them.

“Why, madam,” Lincoln told her, “do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?”

Lance Morrow, author of The Chief: A Memoir of Fathers and Sons, reminded: ““Not to forgive is to be imprisoned by the past, by old grievances that do not permit life to proceed with new business. Not to forgive is to yield oneself to another’s control... to be locked into a sequence of act and response, of outrage and revenge, tit for tat, escalating always. The present is endlessly overwhelmed and devoured by the past. Forgiveness frees the forgiver. It extracts the forgiver from someone else’s nightmare.”

Here’s what Wm. Paul Young, in The Shack, wrote: “Forgiveness is not about forgetting. It is about letting go of another person’s throat. Forgiveness does not create a relationship. Unless people speak the truth about what they have done and change their mind and behavior, a relationship of trust is not possible. When you forgive someone you certainly release them from judgment, but without true change, no real relationship can be established.

“Forgiveness in no way requires that you trust the one you

forgive,” Young further wrote.

“But should they finally confess and repent, you will discover a miracle in your own heart that allows you to reach out and begin to build between you a bridge of reconciliation.

“Forgiveness does not excuse anything. You may have to declare your forgiveness a hundred times the first day and the second day, but the third day will be less and each day after, until one day you will realize that you have forgiven completely.”

Jesus Christ is “the ultimate symbol of forgiveness,” to quote the words of bestselling author Laurie Beth Jones. In Jesus, CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership, she wrote: “Forgiveness is like oil in an engine. It keeps the wheels moving.

Forgiveness is like gravity… invisible in its power yet profound in its effects.”

According to Ms. Jones, Jesus “kept on believing in his staff. He kept on giving them chances. He had a true sense of ‘try, try again.’

He always gave people another chance.”

Remember Peter, who pledged eternal faithfulness to Jesus and yet he denied Him three times? “It must have been difficult for Jesus to forgive, yet he appeared to Peter and forgave him, asking him to show his love now by ‘feeding his sheep.’”

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

TOWN OF DAVAO, 1900 One of the earliest visits of Davao under U.S. rule was by American journalist and travel writer Frank G. Carpenter (no relation to the Frank W. Carpenter, governor of the Department of Mindanao and Sulu).

He arrived in town on April 26, 1900 and wrote an eyewitness account.

His narrative, published in the June 17, 1900 issue of The Republic, titled’ Hunting in Southeastern Mindanao,’ is the earliest chronicle written within six months after the U.S. Army set foot in Davao on December 14, 1899, thus: “We had mountains in sight all the way. The country is more rugged as you go toward the east, and we are now right under the shadow of Mount Apo… I can see great clouds of vapor rolling out of its sides toward the east, and early this morning I noticed this vapor was mixed with flames of fire. The lower part of the volcano is wooded.

There are huge tree ferns at its base, and its sides are almost covered with a mass of dark green. The summit looks calk-

like in the distance, and on the south side there are no tree whatever. The land at the foot of the mountain slopes down toward the gulf. It is a natural pasture covered with rich growth of grass, falling so gently that it would seem to be an excellent place for a town.”

Carpenter wrote that Davao was nearly a wasteland but described it as “a land of monkeys, parrots, and wild hogs.” He observed monkeys in town, some without tail and only the size of a fist. There were parrots of many colors, flying in flocks of twenty or more, with the large white parrots as most common.

He saw a red-hued parrot with evanescent green wings, doves with golden brown bodies and green wings, a white snipe flying and a bird as big as a turkey.

The woods were abundant of wild hogs and deer of various kinds. He adds: “There are many herds of from fifty to 100 cattle, and near Mati, a town about twenty or thirty miles east of here, there lies one man who has about 2,000 head of stock… The coun-

try is especially well watered; it has cold springs and mountain stream furnishing as good water… The cattle thrive, and… this might become a great dairy land and supply the butter and cheese of this part of the world… These dairy lands extend all along the foothills of the mountains and they are found in spots in the mountain themselves.”

He observed the timber as excellent and the hills were covered with it. The trees were large and straight, extending upward for seventy-five feet, and there were ninety varieties of soft and hard wood that included mahogany, teak, ebony, walnut, and pink cedar for cigar boxes. Carpenter’s take of the town was quite detailed and remarkable: “[T]he town of Davao… is more like a botanical garden than a United States village.

Imagine thousands of tall palms waving their fan-like leaves in the air above a collection of thatched cottages built along the wide, level streets. Let some of the palms have great bunches of green and yellow cocoanuts hanging to them and others be

loaded with the round green and yellow nuts of the betel.

Let there be bananas here and there, beds of nipa. great fernlike bunches of leaves, each fifteen feet long and a yard wide, sprouting up from the ground.

“Put in cotton trees from twenty to thirty feet high, their leafless branches standing out at right angles with their white trunks, and great balls of white wool hanging to them. Let there be flowers of strange shapes and colors. Hang an orchid here and there upon a dead branch and under all put a turf as thick and as green as that of the blue grass of Kentucky and you have some idea of Davao, which has but a few weeks been occupied by our troops.

“You must add. however, the houses, cottages more picturesque than any you find in the mountains of Switzerland.

Some, in fact, look like Swiss chalet, except that they are built upon high poles and you must mount stairs to reach the first floor. Some have walls of a basket work of woven bamboo.

Others have walls of boards,

and not a few walls of gray thatch composed of grass or nipa. The roofs of all the houses are of the nipa palm sewed to a framework of bamboo poles in such a way that it comes out over the walls with wide extending eaves. There is not a glass window, a chimney nor a bit of plaster in the whole town.

“The windows are mere holes in the walls, with shutters which can be raised or slid back, and the floors of most of the houses are of strips of bamboo. In some cases, so far apart that you have to be careful not to catch your toes in the cracks while walking over them in your bare feet.”

“The houses,” he wrote, “are all some distance back from the street, fenced off by pickets driven into the ground.

The pickets have been put in green, and it is an evidence of the richness of the soil that the most of them are sprouting out green branches and leaven. There are no gardens about the houses, no beds of flowers, nothing but grass and trees of various kinds.”

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DusitD2 Davao welcomes Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and quarantine guests back with open arms and the feeling of joy and safety of their homecoming.

Among the reasons why it is now safer to stay at the South Tower of DusitD2 Davao is all of the staff members have been fully vaccinated.

Coupled with DusitD2’s health safety measures, the vaccination of the staff members provides reassurance that the hotel is taking necessary steps to ensure a safer hotel environment.

This also shows DusitD2’s staying true to its promise of ensuring safe and confident stays of the returning OFWs and quarantine guests at the South Tower.

“As we share the good news of full vaccination amongst our team, and the fulfilling service we give to our OFWs and returning guests, we wanted to

share the South Tower and its goal to accommodate quarantine guests safely and confidently,” said hotel manager Christoph Kuch.

DusitD2 believes that no place could be safer than hotels nowadays. As a place of comfort for guests, it is the hotel’s prime commitment to adhere with new normal guidelines as well as stringent compliance to protocols and regular disinfection and sanitation measures. This is actually part of the routine in DusitD2 Davao.

“It has been a routine we do out of dedication not only for our guests, but for our team

SAFER HOMECOMING AT

DUSITD2DAVAO members as well. That’s why when the hotel opened the South Tower for quarantine accommodation, there is guaranteed confidence in keeping everything in place,” Kuch said.

Beyond providing safe accommodation, the 53-key hotel tower shall be the home away from home for the OFWs and returning guests. All the rooms are equipped with high-end facilities as a flat-screen IPTV with international channels and JBL sound system.

DusitD2 promises to take care of their stay and to make it

more convenient via Stayplease app wherein guest can request for laundry, in-room dining, and other services.

Entrance and exit points of the hotel are separated to maintain implementing guidelines of social distancing.

“We are taking advantage of our towers to ensure that the safety of every segment of the market is recognized. We have our leisure and business clients at the North Tower, while we provide accommodation for quarantine guests at the South Tower,” said Kuch.

DusitD2 Davao is doing this to live up to the values of Dusit International – care, commit, “can do” which is an authentic Thai graciousness and Filipino hospitality that can be felt in the property.

“The “can do” attitude is the motivating factor for the team.

We understand that the key to herd immunity is a collective effort, that’s why all our team members in the hotel and even in Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort have all been fully vaccinated. Having the South Tower as a quarantine hotel is one step closer to warranting that comfort and convenience is achieved while we fight and heal as one against this pandemic,” said Lannie Merilo, cluster director of Sales and Marketing.

Indeed, the ideal accommodation hub for two-week stays and more as precautionary measures to remain in place for the wellbeing of the guests are ensured.

The Department of Tourism’s (DoT’s) Safety Seal and the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Safe Travels Certificate under its wing also builds up DusitD2 Davao’s preparedness for the new normal.

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BIGGER PICTURE

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SAVORING FAMOUS

FILIPINO FOODS Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

F

ilipinos love to eat. Aside from breakfast, lunch and dinner, they also have merienda (snacks) in between those meals. In addition are those mouth-watering desserts and exotic street foods. To foreigners, what is being served on the table is somewhat mind boggling.

If foreigners are flabbergasted, they don’t need to worry. As Wikipedia explains, “Filipino cuisine may be confusing to some people due to it being hard to determine what is actually Filipino. Confusion occurs due to the consistent growing phases of Filipino culture. Filipino culture has been constantly changing throughout history, gaining influence from various cultures and inevitably has evolved. Filipino food today has been shaped by the history and society of many unique and affluent cultures.”

Actually, Filipino cuisine is composed of the gastronomies of more than a hundred distinct ethno-linguistic groups found throughout the Philippine archipelago. However, a majority of mainstream Filipino dishes that compose Filipino cuisine are from the cuisines of the various ethnolinguistic groups and tribes of the archipelago, including the Ilocano, Pangasinan, Kapampangan, Tagalog, Bicolano, Visayan (Cebuano, Hiligaynon and Waray), Chavacano and Maranao ethno-linguistic groups.

Let’s take a closer look at some of them: Adobo The Philippines has no national food but some believe it should be adobo (either chicken or pork or a combination of both). It has been featured on shows like Top Chef and remains the ultimate test of any Filipino cook’s mettle.

One Filipino food writer wrote: “Aside from the fact that adobo is well-loved

by Filipinos, the dish also makes use of many of our local ingredients giving adobo the distinct Filipino flavor. We can give credit to the pure cane vinegar for the adobo’s rich sour taste and to the locally-produced soy sauce for its savory and salty feel.”

In an exclusive interview with CNN Philippines, Nancy Reyes-Lumen agreed to have adobo as the official national food “because it is easy to prepare, with many different varieties — from the choice of meat down to the sauce base.” As the chef, television host, author and self-proclaimed “Adobo Queen” stressed: “That makes adobo so Pinoy in character.”

Foreigners who have not tried adobo yet, the words of Yan Susanto, an occasional online writer, is an eye-opener: “The flavor of this exquisite cuisine will certainly be liked by anyone who has tasted it the first time; they will even be asking for more after the first bite. The spicy flavor of the tenderized chicken and/or pork is so irresistible and the aroma will soothe your sense of smell and tease your taste buds.”

Generally, adobo is eaten with rice, the staple food of the Filipinos. Foreigners, however, eat adobo because of its taste. One good thing is that most hotels in the country serve adobo during breakfast.

Lechon Lechon is a popular food in Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and other Spanish-speaking nations in Latin America.

To these countries, lechon refers to a roasted baby pig which is still fed by suckling its mother’s milk.

In the Philippines, lechon is the term used for roasted pigs, usually adults.

Unofficially, it is the country’s national dish with Cebu being asserted by American chef Anthony Bourdain as having the best lechon.

“Despite the Spanish name, the lechon is not necessarily of Spanish origin,” writes Sharwin Tee, author of Lechon in the Philippines: A Guide to Filipinos’ Favorite Roasted Pig and More. Many food historians and chefs believe that prior to the Spanish colonization of the

Philippines, pigs and wild boar were already being spit-roasted over an open flame, a technique that Filipinos refer to as inasal.”

The Philippines’ lechon is known for its skin. The perfect lechon skin is cooked evenly and remains smooth and shiny. The best ones feature skin that remains crisp for several hours! Generally, lechon is served with plum or other sauces, vinegar, or with seasonings or accompaniments.

Sinigang This is touted to be the world’s best vegetable soup, according to Taste Atlas, an online encyclopedia of food and flavors around the world. With a rating of 4.8 out of 5, sinigang has bested 161 other dishes from other countries.

“Sinigang is a sour Filipino soup consisting of sampalok (fruits of the tamarind tree), water spinach (kangkong), green pepper, cabbage, broccoli, eggplant,

diced tomatoes, sliced onions, ginger, green beans, water and salt. The basic broth usually consists of rice washing, with the addition of a souring agent,” wrote Taste Atlas.

“With its sour lightness perfectly matching the harsh tropical heat of the country, sinigang is a unique soup that is a true representative of Filipino cuisine,” the online encyclopedia hailed.

Generally, sinigang uses pork as the main ingredient. Beef, shrimp, and fish are also commonly used to cook sinigang. The chicken version, on the other hand, is called sinampalukang manok.

Aside from sampalok, other souring-ingredients may come from guava, tomato, green mango, pineapple, and santol.

Sisig This is another truly Filipino dish. It is made from parts of a pig’s face and belly, and chicken liver and usual-

ly seasoned with calamansi, onions, and hot peppers.

But it was not so originally.

In tagalog-dictionary. com, author Elmer Nocheseda wrote: “Sisig was one of the first Kapampangan words explained to Spanish missionaries by the Augustinian priest, Fray Alvaro de Benavente. He published it in his book, Arte de Lengua Pampanga in 1699.”

He referred to “sisig” as a manner of preparing food as in cooking with vinegar or making a salad.

In Bocabulario de Pampango en Romance, y Diccionario de Romance en Pampango (1732) author Fray Diego Bergaño referred to sisig as chara or achara, which has another Kapampangan word equivalent, which is daloc that is to marinate in salt, vinegar and pepper.

“Therefore, the sisig known to the ancient Kapampangan, is the acha-

FSAVORING, P10

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nitely po matagaan jud mo basta muadto lang mo sa specific time nga open ang vaccination site. Dili necessary mag-adto mo ngadto alas tres, alas kuwatro, o alas singko sa buntag, magtapok namo, maglinya namo,” Schlosser added.

In an advisory issued on June 9, 2021, the city government of Davao strongly discourage walk-ins as the long wait and crowding at the vaccination sites might put them at risk of being infected.

Dabawenyos are ad-

vised to coordinate with their respective District Health Office for their vaccination schedule.

Meanwhile, pre-registration for those who want to get vaccinated is still ongoing at https:// profiles. safe-davao. com/ but only those who are in priority groups A1 (medical frontliners), A2 (senior citizens), A3 (persons with comorbidities), A4 (essential workers), and A5 (indigents) are currently being given appointment schedules.

cial media.

The respondents have been charged with Unlawful Use of Means of Publication and Unlawful Utterances under Article 154 of the Revised Penal Code as amended to include Online Libel; violation of Republic Act 10175 or the Anti-Cybercrime Law; and violation of Presidential Decree No. 90, which makes rumor-mongering and spreading false information as unlawful.

This is also a stern warning to all individuals or groups spreading false information on various social media platforms, he said.

“We will go after you and will not hesitate to put you behind bars. We are appealing to the public to be discerning and wary of fake news,” he said.

Also the CIDG and the ACG filed three criminal complaints against two alleged online scammers; and 31 criminal complaints against 26 alleged online profiteers, hoarders, and unauthorized sellers of medical supplies. Seized from the unauthorized online sellers were: gallons of disinfectant; vitamin C capsules; forehead thermometers; face masks; and several liters of isopropyl alcohol.

4Ps Act which sets attendance to family development sessions as the sole condition for the grant.

“Being unvaccinated is not part of the conditions,” she said, adding that the A5 (indigents) vaccination rollout has nothing to do with their beneficiary and the assistance they receive from the program.

However, Cagatin said

the Covid-19 vaccination is really encouraged by the government especially among indigents.

“It is for their protection against the imminent risk and threat to health posed

by Covid-19,” she added.

Cagatin said it would also protect their loved ones especially the young children, grandparents, and the sick. (PNA)

He added there was a surge in demand for broadband connectivity as Filipinos adjust to the “new normal” of work and studying.

New subscribers of the

telecommunication firm increased up to 60,000 in May and June 2020 from 33,000 gross adds in January to February 2020, two months before the pandemic. (PNA)

ed to go online in the third quarter of this year, the DOE official said the grid will be “in a better position” for the rest of the year.

“For 2022, we see the thinning of supply on Election Day and thereafter. This is why we are closely monitoring the situation and we are coming up with more policies so that we can ensure that we have more supply,” he added.

Fuentebella cited that two liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities are expected to start their operations by next year.

“We have the First Gen LNG facility in Batangas, which we see it’s on track to be finished by September 2022, and the floating storage unit LNG facility of AG&P that is expected to be completed by second quarter of 2022,” he said.

this opportunity to complete (address) outstanding issues and finalize their deliverables for senior officials, who will report APEC’s progress and recommendations to ministers in November,” she added.

The APEC Digital Economy Steering Group kickstarts the meeting cluster by pursuing its implementation of the APEC Internet and Digital Economy Roadmap.

The roadmap lays out 11 key areas and actions to

facilitate technological and policy exchanges among member economies; promote innovative, inclusive, and sustainable growth; as well as bridge the digital divide in the APEC region.

Under the Business Mobility Group, officials are continuing their pursuit of the safe resumption of travel and aim to strengthen the integrity of the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC) scheme.

This includes efforts to prevent exploitation and fraudulent activity.

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“(T)he 14-kilometer submarine cable capital expenditure project of DANECO, the Commission has yet to receive nor approve any CAPEX application relating to this project. Thus, the Commission has no information about the details of this project of DANECO,” the letter read.

The same ERC letter said it approved in 2011 a P101.7-million project of Daneco for “Uprating the Capacity of an Existing Submarine Cable from 15 kV to 69 kV Capacity.” The existing submarine cable, measuring around 1 kilometer, connects Samal and Davao City.

A check on the facility showed the submarine cable has not been upgraded.

Instead, Daneco has signed contracts with more expensive diesel-fired generation sets to be put up in Samal to help the island with its power supply.

Despite this multi-million upgrading project, Daneco General manager Mario Angelo Sotto said in a June 30 interview with government-owned Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the Davao submarine cable is “impractical.”

He insisted that the longer, more expensive Pantukan line is best for Samal.

“They will no longer experience brownouts and we are happy to tell them that we will not add any charges when this submarine cable will be installed. They will still pay the same amount,” Sotto assured in a September 2019 interview, also with PNA. He said the submarine

cable is set for completion in March 2020.

Meanwhile, Engr. Emmanuel Galarse, board chairman of Daneco and who is also general manager for Agusan del Sur Electric Cooperative, told PNA that the cable which was ordered in Germany was expected to arrive in June or July 2020.

Medrozo of POWER said without an approval from ERC, Daneco cannot pass on the recovery of the investment to its consumers.

“The people of Samal and the rest of Davao del Norte and Davao de Oro will suffer a huge increase in power rates if this project pushes through. Daneco already has one of the most expensive power in the Philippines, burdening the consumers with more charges will definitely cripple the economy and destroy household budgets,” Medrozo said.

“This project must be looked into by the local government and the consumers. We call on the ERC, Ombudsman, and even Congress to look into. Who approved this project inside Daneco? Why did this project pass the scrutiny of the NEA? Where will they get the money? Is this technically and financially sound given the situation of Daneco?”

Medrozo said.

Cebu-based POWER has been active in representing consumer interests in Visayas-Mindanao. It has led the fight for reduction in power rates in Cebu, Surigao, Cagayan de Oro, and even in Meralco through its network of like-minded organizations. (AMA)

He said that early morning following the strong earthquake, the city conducted immediate monitoring on structural damages on buildings, bridges, and other structures in public places.

“Epekto ng lindol- nung pagtama ng lindol kanina syempre nagising ang mga tao, nagsilabasan sa kanilang mga bahay and immediately after that, activated kaagad ang aming Barangay Disaster Unt and we monitored the sea water level baka biglang magka-tsunami and so far wala naman and after nagpalabas ng no tsunami threat ang Phivolcs, tiningnan namins ang mga structural damage at pinuntahan ang palengke, so far at this morning wala namang reported structural damages,” he said in a radio interview.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) reported the

intensities experienced in different areas that were affected by the said earthquake: Intensity 5 - General Santos City and Intensity 4 Koronadal City; Tampakan, South Cotabato.

For Instrumental Intensities: Intensity 4 - General Santos City, South Cotabato, Kiamba Sarangani; Intensity 3 - San Francisco, Southern Leyte, Abuyog Leyte, Kidapawan CIty, Cotabato, Hinunangan, Southern Leyte; Intensity 2 - Sainte Bernard, Southern Leyte, Dulag, Leyte, Surigao City, Surigao Del Norte, Palo, Leyte; and Intensity 1 - Alangalang, Carigara, Leyte.

Based on the report of the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), moderate shaking occurred in barangays Bobon, Tibanban, and municipality of San Isidro while light shaking was also felt in the municipality of Lupon, brgy. Magugpo in Tagum City, and Panabo City.

By Maya M. Padillo

Liew added that EY through its Philippine-affiliated firm SGV and Co., has been working with local companies to help them partner with or invest in digital startups to enable them to build local digital ecosystems.

He said Philippine companies “can look at some government and private partnerships in other countries... to encourage

the acceleration of this build-up of additional ecosystems.”

According to a study by EY, super apps have been attracting the attention of investors, with $43 billion in investments between 2016 and 2019.

Digital ecosystems in Southeast Asia are also estimated to generate $23 billion in revenues by 2025 from just $4 billion in 2019.

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ra or mixed salad greens without meat or otherwise sour green raw fruits or vegetables that were soaked and marinated in vinegar with garlic, salt and pepper,” Nocheseda wrote.

Over time, the sisig has changed in form, substance and preparation. From being a side dish like the cold achara dip or plain salad, it is now the smoking hot main dish featured on the dining table.

Lucia Cunanan of Angeles City started the trend; in fact, her restaurant is even known as the “Sisig Capital of the Philippines.” But it was Benedict Pamintuan who used a sizzling plate as a serving vessel so that the pork fat would not go cold and turn into lard when it was served.

These days, sisig is one of the most well-known appetizers or pulutan. “If you’ve never had this divine mosaic of pig parts, chopped and served sizzling and crisp on one side on a screaming hot platter, then you’ve yet to have one of the world’s best beer drinking dishes,” said Anthony Michael Bourdain, a noted American celebrity chef, author, and travel documentarian.

Balut Each country is known for its exotic food. The Philippines has balut, a hardboiled duck egg that’s about two to three weeks into development.

“This food is the defining factor of all exotic foods in the country,” an American commented. “It has made the Philippines unique from all of the countries in the world. Hopefully, in the future, the world will be ready for it and that the Philippines will make it an international phenomenon.”

Balut has been the “shocking” topic of some television shows because of its taboo nature in some Western cultures. In two episodes of Survivor: Palau and two episodes of Survivor: China, separate challenges featured attempts to eat this fertilized egg. Similarly, Fear Factor frequently uses balut as a means of disgusting contestants.

Named after the Filipino term which means “wrapped,” balut has been touted as aphrodisiac as it boosts libido. Studies have shown balut contains 12.6 grams of protein, 181 calories and good sources of Vitamin B1 and B2, minerals, niacin, beta carotene and other supplements.

Balut is common on street drinking sessions and just chatting with friends late at night. Oftentimes, balut is being sold mostly when the street lights are on by vendors in baskets covered with thick foams and cloths to keep them warm.

Generally, balut is eaten with a pinch of salt, though some balut-eaters prefer chili and vinegar to complement their egg. The egg is savored for its balance of texture and flavor; the broth surrounding the embryo is sipped from the egg before the shell is peeled and the yolk and young chick inside can be eaten. All of the contents of the egg are consumed.

Halo-halo For dessert, foreigners can try halo-halo, which is included in an American website’s list of “10 food fads worth traveling for.”

Christine Sarkis, author of the article, wrote: “In its native Philippines, halo-halo (pronounced hah-low rather than hay-low) isn’t a mere passing fad, it’s a classic summer treat.”

A couple of years ago, the Cable News Network (CNN) also handpicked halo-halo as among the “top 25 summer delicious foods” in the United States.

“In some countries, the coldest, sweetest dishes are considered the best foods for summer,” wrote Elizabeth Leigh, author of the CNN report. “In others, the hottest – in both senses of the word – are considered the best way to beat the heat.”

The popular Black-Eyed Peas make a reference to halo-halo in their song, “Mare.”

Video game Dead or Alive 4 secret character Nicole lists the delectable dessert as her favorite.

Literally translated, halo-halo means “mix mix” in Tagalog. It is often used as a metaphor for the country’s own distinctive mixture of East and West. You can see these cross-influences in the dessert itself, a mélange of ingredients served in a tall, clear glass and eaten with a long spoon.

Halo-halo is a representative of the various sweets Filipinos enjoy. Legumes, root crops and fruits are cooked in syrup until tender and sweet. Egg yolks and milk are made into “leche” flan. Ube is grated for “haleya.” Fresh ripe fruits are cubed, “pinipig” is toasted, “buko” is grated and if one has time – “sorbetes” or ice cream can even be made. All these are put in a tall glass that is then filled with shaved ice.

Sweet, cool and decadently nutritious, halo-halo is a filling tribute at the end of a satisfying meal.

Although it may be enjoyed throughout the year, halo-halo is most popular during the summer months, particularly from March through July. The concoction is usually served in tall dessert or parfait glasses but it can also be served in a shallow bowl.

will come up with 20 percent of the total project cost.

However, this equity requirement does not have to be cash; it can be in the form of equipment or lot property.

After the submission of requirements to the OWWA, evaluators from the same office will assess the business plan where they will check the submitted requirements.

The business plan will be reviewed by the Regional Review Committee composed of representatives from the Department of Agriculture for agribusiness projects, DTI, Model OFW Family of the Year winner, chief of the program, and chief of the administrative finance. (PIA XI/Frances Mae Macapagat)

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Taking Spence’s place that evening will be Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas– an Olympic bronze medalist in the 2008 games and the current WBA welterweight champion of the world.

Bulls finalize deal with Spurs for DeRozan

C

HICAGO — The Chicago Bulls finalized a signand-trade deal with the San Antonio Spurs for high-scoring small forward DeMar DeRozan on Wednesday (Thursday, Manila time).

DeRozan agreed last week to a three-year, $85 million contract. Chicago sent veteran forwards Thaddeus Young and Al-Farouq Aminu, a protected first-round draft pick and two second-round draft picks to the Spurs.

A four-time All-Star, DeRozan tweeted an animated video set to the Bulls’ intro song “SIRIUS” by the Alan Parsons Project. It shows a pack of bulls running through the streets of Chicago, past landmarks such as the Art Institute, L tracks, the Chicago Theatre marquee and the Michael Jordan statue at the United Center.

DeRozan has averaged

more than 20 points in each of the past eight seasons with Toronto and San Antonio. He scored 21.6 per game last year and shot just under 50%. But San Antonio missed the playoffs for a second straight season after an NBA-record 22 straight appearances.

DeRozan, who turned 32 on Saturday, figures to form a high-scoring trio with Olympian Zach LaVine and two-time All-Star center Nikola Vucevic, with newcomer Lonzo Ball leading a revamped backcourt following a sign-and-trade from New Orleans.

The Bulls are looking to make a jump in the Eastern Conference after missing the playoffs for the fourth straight year. They finished 11th in the East at 31-41 — two games behind Charlotte for the final play-in spot.

Walker signs with Knicks

T

he New York Knicks acquired All-Star point guard Kemba Walker on Wednesday.

“Welcome back home, Kemba Walker! #NewYorkForever,” the Knicks said on Twitter.

Walker, who was born in the Bronx, New York, was a four-time NBA All-Star in 2017-2020.

The Eastern Conference franchise said in a statement it did not disclose the terms of Walker’s deal.

“He’s a tremendous talent whose skill and leader-

ship will be a huge addition to our organization,” Knicks president Leon Rose said.

Walker, 31, is a 10-year NBA veteran as he previously played for the Charlotte Hornets and the Boston Celtics.

The US point guard averaged 19.3 points, 4.9 assists and 4.0 rebounds in 43 games for the Celtics last season.

In June, the Oklahoma City Thunder acquired Walker from Boston but waived him on Aug. 6 without any reason.(Anadolu)

Breaking down the Pacquiao-Ugas fight T he news hit us like a brick on Monday.

Errol Spence had suffered a retinal tear and was forced to withdraw from his highly anticipated blockbuster battle with Manny Pacquiao on August 21.

Taking Spence’s place that evening will be Cuba’s Yordenis Ugas– an Olympic bronze medalist in the 2008 games and the current WBA welterweight champion of the world.

Despite the understandable letdown of Spence being out of the equation, Pacquiao-Ugas is still a very solid prizefight with its own unique intrigue and points of interest.

So, as fight fans get over their disappointment at losing Spence-Pacquiao, here’s a look at new combatants Ugas and Pacquiao, their strengths and weaknesses, and how this upcoming battle may play out.

Pacquiao Strengths: The 26-year veteran is now, what he’s been throughout most of his legendary run. Pacquiao is awkwardness wrapped in unorthodoxy. From his extreme southpaw stance to his herky-jerky ring movements to his measured aggression, backed by quick hands and a wide, varied arsenal of offensive weapons,

he’s made his fame turning elite-level fighters into tentative pickers and pawers.

Although clearly past his prime at 42 years of age, Pacquiao offsets the years of wear on his body by coming into each fight in impeccable physical condition and with extreme motivation.

Weaknesses: Despite being in great shape for a 42-year-old fighter, he’s still 42 and carries with him the realities of 26 years as a pro who’s been in many, many battles.

A somewhat sloweddown Manny has done less counter-striking at frustrated foes in recent years. No longer 100% confident in his ability to get in, get off, and get out without taking return fire, he now stays on the outside more and rarely takes the risk of planting his feet for something big. His awkwardness and the remains of his natural athletic ability have been enough to see him past all but Floyd Mayweather in recent years and smart matchmaking has also been to his benefit.

Ugas

Strengths: Looking at the Cuban’s less-than-sparkling professional record of 26-4 with 12 KOs is very deceiving.

Ugas’ worse days as a fighter came early in his career when he was competing as a weight-drained junior welterweight. After his third pro loss in 2014, he took more than two years off to get his head together and reaffirm his desire to pursue a career in the sport.

Since returning to the ring in 2016, Ugas has looked increasingly sharp and has registered an 11-1 record. His lone defeat in that run came via controversial split decision against Shawn Porter in 2019, a decision universally disputed and criticized.

Stylistically, (as I wrote elsewhere) “Ugas is skilled and adaptive in the ring with a sharpness that has improved along with his level of opposition. His best offensive weapon may be his near-overhand right– something which should be effective against the southpaw Pacquiao– and he’s good at maintaining optimal distance in his fights. He’s also a wicked body puncher. “ Weaknesses: (Also, as I wrote elsewhere): “Ugas’ downfall may be his preference for

order and a controlled pace.

He’s fallen apart a bit in the past when things come at him from odd, unorthodox angles or when some chaos is brought into the fight. Pacquiao, as we know, is ALL unorthodoxy and weird angles, with occasional bursts of chaos.”

The Fight Pacquiao will move from an underdog role to a betting favorite after the opponent change. That’s fair, but Ugas is no fall guy and there’s definitely a workable path to victory for him. He’s no worse than a top five welterweight in the world, while Pacquiao sits firmly at no. 3.

Ugas was able to control the perimeter against the usually hard-charging Shawn Porter when they met and that will be a key to his chances of beating Pacquiao. Look for the Cuban to try and use his smart, sharp jab and good positioning to keep Manny at arm’s length.

If the Filipino icon can find his way in and out of the 35-year-old Ugas’ reach, he will be nearly impossible to beat on August 21. Pacquiao’s legs and tenacious nature are the keys to victory.

Pacquiao-Ugas is no Pacquiao-Spence, but it will be a compelling clash of styles and mindsets nonetheless.

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 129 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 2021

COACHES SHARE

The coaches of Olympic medalists, according to Republic Act 10699 or the Sports Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001, are entitled to receive the equivalent of 50 percent of the athletes’cash incentives for gold, silver, and bronze.

PSC processing incentives for coaches of Olympic medalists

T

he Philippine Sports Commission is now working on the cash incentives of the coaches of the Philippines’ four medalists in the Olympics next week.

The coaches of Olympic medalists, according to Republic Act 10699 or the Sports Benefits and Incentives Act of 2001, are entitled to receive the equivalent of 50 percent of the athletes’ cash incentives for gold, silver, and bronze. If there are more than one coach, the incentives will be divided among themselves.

Hence, the coaches of gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz are entitled to P5 million, the coaches of silver medalists Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam, P2.5 million, and the coaches of bronze medalist Eumir Marcial, P1 million.

“The target date is August 16,” said PSC commissioner Ramon Fernandez.

The PSC board recently approved an additional allowance of $5,000 (about P250,000) to all 19 Filipino athletes and their coaches in the Olympics in recognition of their showing in Tokyo.

The Philippines placed 50th in the final medal table with a 1-21 gold-silver-bronze output.

Diaz ended the Philippines’ 97-year long wait for gold in Olympic competition when she topped the weightlifting women’s 55 kg category