Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 194 | Friday, October 29, 2021

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VOL.14 ISSUE 194 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2021

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A worker of an establishment along Bangoy Street in Davao City on Thursday collects sun dried items soaked in floodwater after the area was hit by massive flooding on Monday evening. Edge Davao

Commuters allowed to board jeepneys without face shield STORY ON PAGE 2

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 194 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2021

President Rodrigo R. Duterte stretches while the Oct. 26, 2021 plenary proceeding of the virtual 38th and 39th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summits and Related Summits hosted by Brunei Darussalam is temporarily suspended. Duterte said the Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration’s 2016 ruling on the highly-contested South China Sea“singles out no one.”Presidential Photo

NO FACE SHIELD REQUIRED Commuters allowed to board jeepneys without face shield

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he Covid-19 Task Force confirmed the pronouncement of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio that passengers can now board public utility jeepneys (PUJs) without face shields.

The statement came at the heels of reports that authorities are still advising drivers and passengers to wear face shields.

“Klaro kaayo ang emphasis ni Mayor, when it is closed and confined, the face shield is necessary, so gi-define niya didto ang jeepney, ang jeepney dili

siya closed and confined kay open man ang windows naay open na free ventilation,” Davao City Covid-19 Task Force spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said.

Schlosser explained that there is a low risk of spreading the infection inside the jeepney since it is open and well-ventilated.

On Monday, Mayor Sara explained that based on Executive Order (E.O.) No. 51 Series of 2021, face shields are to be used only in three C’s - crowded places with many people nearby, close-contact settings, especially where people have close-range conversations, and confined and enclosed spaces with poor ventilation.

Crowded places are the swab sites, vaccination sites, evacuation centers, distribution of assistance area, and the Commission

on Elections (Comelec) where voters’ registration is being held.

Close-contact settings are those “contact between individuals within six feet of each other for more than 15 minutes”.

Confined and enclosed spaces with poor ventilation are those indoor structures with roofs and walls and without open windows.

The mayor also said it is not required to wear face shields inside the churches

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AFP will remain neutral in 2022 elections – Faustino

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utgoing Chief of Staff Jose Faustino Jr. assured the country on Wednesday that the 220,000-strong Armed Forces of the Philippines will remain neutral in the coming 2022 elections and would not follow orders from politicians.

The general said the AFP, which also has 360,000 reserve personnel, has become a professional military organization after it was dragged into past adventurism during the late ’80s.

“Makaasa kayo that the AFP will remain apolitical.

We have learned the lessons from our past,” Faustino said.

He said the AFP will follow its political mandate of

staying apolitical in the coming 2022 elections.

“Our mandate is to remain neutral in the coming elections. That we can assure the public,” Faustino said.

Faustino, who is known for his Davao ties, is the 11th AFP Chief of Staff appointed

by President Rodrigo Duterte in six years.

He is set to retire next month. It is not known yet who will replace him.

Faustino said he had already issued a directive reminding soldiers to remain apolitical in the coming elections.

The order to stay neutral has already been relayed by the Army commanders of

he Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division Office (SDO) in Panabo City, Davao del Norte on Wednesday condemned the recent behavior of one of its personnel for shouting and threatening to stab a delivery rider with scissors.

This, after a video went viral on Monday showing a motorcycle rider delivering a parcel to the DepEd personnel’s wife who found out it was not the item they

had ordered from the online seller.

The wife, with her teacher-husband by her side, then demanded to get back their payment from the rider, saying it was not the item they ordered.

The rider explained to the couple that he could not give a refund and told them to contact the seller instead.

The DepEd personnel, with a scissor in hand, harassed the rider and warned

House to probe RROW mess in Mindanao Railway Project T T he House of Representatives is set to do an inquiry on the Mindanao Railway Project’s (MRP) expropriation and acquisition of the road right of way.

In House Resolution No. 2321, Representatives Paolo Z. Duterte and Eric Go Yap called for the investigation, in aid of legislation, on the Department of Transpor-

tation’s Mindanao Railway Project in particular Phase 1 of the project.

Phase 1 of MRP covers a 105-kilometer line that covers Davao del Norte, Davao City and Davao del Sur with eight stations located in Tagum City, Carmen, Panabo City, Mudiang, Davao Terminal, Toril, Sta. Cruz, and Digos City.

The two congressmen said that they have received various reports about the “variations in the offers for acquisition of road right of way (RROW) or expropriation of the private properties by the DOTr and/or its contractors, sub-contractors, or other service providers.”

These variations in offers, Reps. Duterte and Yap

said, have substantial discrepancies from the actual zonal value or fair market value of the properties affected.

The House inquiry aims to revisit existing laws and rules on the manner of acquisition of right of way and expropriation of private properties affected by gov-

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DepEd-Panabo City condemns teacher’s threat vs. delivery man

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3 Shipping via Mindanao cheaper than through Manila: Davao ICon chair

VOL.14 ISSUE 194 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2021

NEWS

EDGEDAVAO

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he organizing head of the Davao Investment Conference 2021 (Davao ICon 2021) urged shipping lines, investors, and importers to ship via Mindanao which is cheaper and less congested than through Manila.

Ricardo “Cary” Lagdameo, president of Damosa Land Inc. (DLI) and chairman of this year’s Davao ICon, said that this is one thing that a lot of people is not aware of that it is cheaper to ship or import through Mindanao and distribute to the rest of the country rather than importing through Manila where there’s more congestion and the shipping rates are more expensive going south.

“I would encourage importers to look at the reverse and we do have several of them that are doing that already. We have less congestion, domestic shipping is cheaper going the other way around and now something in Davao gives you access to the Mindanao market and also access to the Visayas as well. It is something that I would encourage shipping lines, importers, and investors to consider it,” Lagdameo said during the 3rd of the Webinar Series of the Davao Investment Conference (Davao ICON 2021) with the theme: “Mindanao as a Logistics Hub of ASEAN, First and Last Mile Logistics” on October 27, 2021, via Zoom.

Davao ICon is positioning Mindanao, which is home to world-class ports that allow for a seamless supply chain, as a logistics hub in the ASEAN and put Davao export products on the world map. Both the public and private sectors in the Davao Region envision Mindanao as the place

where businesses from all corners of the Philippines can trade more efficiently and expand their markets to become regional and global.

“Again with having a platform as Davao ICon one of the most important things that we need to continue to advocate for is the communication. Better information that is shared to the exporting and importing public,” Lagdameo said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Malou Monteverde, president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc., (DCCCII), said the government has to push for lower logistical costs and likewise also open up to more players in the logistic sector.

“The government has to implement and lower the cost of shipping especially that we are experiencing a lot of logistics I mean travels,” Monteverde said.

Monteverde also said that the ports in Davao Region and Mindanao must be improved. She said the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has to do its share also.

“Though, we have a main hub we can also have a smaller hub. In Mindanao, there are still a lot of smaller hubs that can be developed. So the PPA also has to do its share and we have some issues regarding international shipping routes also coming in. That is something we should look forward to so that the cost of shipping and logistic will be lowered too,” she said.

Ricardo “Cary” Lagdameo, president of Damosa Land Inc. (DLI) and chairman of Davao Investment Conference 2021 (Davao ICon 2021) urges shipping lines, investors, and importers to ship via Mindanao than through Manila. Edge Davao

More than 300 firearms seized from NPA destroyed R

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total of 316 assorted firearms either seized or surrendered by communist New People’s

Army were destroyed by the Philippine Army’s 4th Infantry Division (ID) at its headquarters in Barangay Patag,

Davao ICON 2021 promises high caliber discussions

Cagayan de Oro City on Wednesday (October 27).

Maj. Francisco Garello Jr., chief of Division of Public Affairs of 4th ID said, that of the 316 firearms, 88 were classified by the military as standard firearms which were beyond economical repair, while 228 others were non-standard firearms which are not in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFPs) inventory, were sawn off and set on fire.

He said the firearms were captured, confiscated, surrendered or recovered (CCSR) from the New People’s Army as a result of a

series of military operations conducted by the 4ID within its area of responsibility particularly in Bukidnon and some parts of the Caraga Region where soldiers engaged NPA units operating in those areas.

The AFP chief of staff General Jose C Faustino Jr, who led the ceremony said that the demilitarization of CCSR firearms is conducted as part of a procedure that will ensure that these firearms will not be used anymore for other purposes.

He said the demilitarization of firearms is a demon-

FMORE, P10

icardo “Cary” Lagdameo, president of Damosa Land Inc. (DLI) and chairman of this year’s Davao Investment Conference (Davao ICON 2021), confirmed the attendance of high caliber keynote speakers for the upcoming hybrid conference slated on November 11 to 12, 2021.

Expected attendees as keynote speakers include Ayala Corporation president and chief executive officer Fernando Zobel de Ayala; Cebu Landmasters Inc., chairman and president Jose Soberano III; Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat; Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation chief executive officer Tomas Lorenzo; National Economic and Development Authority

Undersecretary Mercedita Sombilla; Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez; Aboitiz Equity Ventures president and chief executive officer Sabin Aboitiz; Manila Water Philippine Ventures head of technical operations Joe Costales; and Cargill Philippines managing director Sonny Catacutan.

“We will be having a lot of very high caliber keynote speakers and also roundtable discussions with a lot of foreign companies will have breakout sessions with our various sponsors. It would look and feel like a conference. The benefits that you would get from attending there will be several exhibits that would be available for customers to interact with

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 194 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2021

Hardware products immersed in floodwater are sun dried atop a vehicle and on the pavement along Bangoy Street in Davao City on Thursday, three days after the flood that hit the area. Edge Davao

NEDA chief sees sustained GDP expansion in Q3 of ‘21

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he domestic economy is expected to remain in expansion mode even with the movement restrictions in the third quarter of 2021.

In his speech during the Manila Times virtual 123rd anniversary on Wednesday, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said around 77 percent of the country’s economy remains in heightened quarantine but “people appear to have internalized the pandemic already”.

“In other words, they have made it endemic in their lives and therefore

people are simply just moving about with their daily routine and just taking care of themselves. So, I do not think that even with the level of quarantine that we saw in the third quarter, the economy would not be growing. I believe it will be growing because of the data and the change in paradigm, mentality and approach that we are seeing in the last quarter,” he said.

The government again placed Metro Manila under the strictest movement restriction, enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), from August 6 to 20 and under the modified ECQ (MECQ) until September 15 because of another spike in coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) infections due to the Delta variant.

Growth, as measured by gross domestic product (GDP), reverted to positive territory in the second quarter of 2021 with a print of 11.8 percent, ending a five-quarter contraction.

Economic managers’ growth assumption for this year is an expansion of between 4-5 percent.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is set to report the third quarter GDP on November 9.

Chua, also the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General, said sustainability of domestic growth depends on people’s actions or by adhering to the health protocols.

He said the positive economic developments in

veloping economies,” said ILO chief Guy Ryder.

“Dramatically, unequal vaccine distribution and fiscal capacities are driving these trends, and both need to be addressed urgently.”

The ILO projected that global hours worked in 2021 will be 4.3 percent lower than levels in the fourth quarter of 2019, prior to the outbreak of the pandemic.

That was equivalent to 125 million full-time jobs.

In June, the ILO had been projecting a decline of 3.5 percent, or 100 million full-time jobs.

High-income countries fared better, suffering 3.6 percent decline in total hours worked in the third quarter of this year, the ILO calculated.

That compares with falls of 5.7 percent for low-income countries and 7.3 percent for lower-middle income countries.

By region, Europe and

Central Asia experienced the smallest loss of hours worked, and the Arab States the biggest, with the divergence largely driven by major differences in vaccine roll-outs and fiscal stimulus packages, the report said.

The ILO also found that young people, especially young women, have been among the hardest hit by the impact on jobs of the pandemic.

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Pandemic hit on jobs worse than thought, says UN’s ILO

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he impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on jobs has been harder than previously expected, and a worrying twospeed recovery is emerging between richer and poorer nations, the UN’s International Labour Organization warned Wednesday.

“The current trajectory of labor markets is of a stalled recovery, with major downside risks appearing, and a great divergence between developed and de-

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Rising oil prices affect fish prices as fishermen appeal for fuel subsidy

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everal fishermen and vendors lamented the continued increase in oil prices, saying that it has greatly affected the fishing industry amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alen Dela Torre, fish operator, expressed his dismay over the series of oil hikes as his expenses for his four boats increased to more than P200,000.

“Meron pong pailan-ilan na tumigil na, pero kung ito po ay magtutuloy-tuloy pa maaaring maraming mag-iistop sa industriya ng fishing,” Dela Torre said on Wednesday.

[There are some who have stopped fishing, however, if this continues, many more in the fishing industry will have to stop.]

Meanwhile, several fishermen in Ilagan, Isabela have resorted to using paddles to save on fuel as they have not yet recovered from the pandemic.

“Yun na lang gamit namin, pallua [paddle-driven boat] kasi mahal ang gas,” Chito Guzman, Isabela fisherman, said.

[That’s all we use, pallua, because gas is expensive.]

Fish vendors also expressed alarm about the oil hikes, which have led them to increase prices. From the

previous P180 per kilo price of bangus and galunggong, it is now at P240.

“Habang tumataas po yung presyo lumiliit din po yung kita namin,” one fish vendor said.

[As the price goes up, our income also decreases.]

Janice Roque, carinderia owner, also expressed her concern for the increased prices of fish.

Asked if she will be able to sustain her carenderia, Roque said, “Siguro unti-unting gulay lang ilalagay kasi pati gulay mahal na rin eh.

Nagtaas po wala na po atang mura sa panahon na ito.”

[Maybe I’ll just add a few vegetables because they are also expensive. I don’t think anything is cheap right now.]

The Amihan season may also contribute to the rising prices, as the colder weather will make it more difficult to fish.

Fishermen appealed to the national government to provide for fuel subsidy to expand their fishing operations amid oil hikes.

“Kung hindi man bumababa kasi nandyan na ‘yan, yung sinasabing subsidy ng gobyerno ewan ko lang po kung iyan ay magkakatotoo kasi sobrang hirap na po talaga dahil sa pagtaas ng krudo,” Dela Torre recounted.

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ECONOMY

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A Philippine Airlines departs from the Davao International Airport. Lucio Tan will infuse P12.75 billion in fresh capital into Philippine Airlines as part of the ailing carrier’s restructuring. Edge Davao

DA-PRDP turns over Organic Production Center to DavNor

Lucio Tan throwing $505M lifeline to PAL

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ycoon Lucio Tan’s Buona Sorte Holdings Inc (BSHI) will infuse $255 million, or around P12.75 billion, in fresh capital into Philippine Airlines as part of the ailing carrier’s restructuring, PAL Holdings disclosed on Wednesday.

BSHI will also extend a $250 million 5-year term loan to PAL, to complete the $505 million working capital requirement of PAL under its proposed reorganization in connection with its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, the company added.

PAL Holdings, the parent firm of the airline, said BSHI’s capital infusion will be in exchange for P10.2 billion common shares at a subscription price of P1.25 per share.

Upon issuance of new shares, BSHI is expected to own 46.77 percent of PAL Holdings. Added to two other Tan-led firms Cosmic Holdings Corporation and Trustmark, the Lucio Tan Group, will own 89.45 percent of PAL Holdings.

The proposal will be presented for shareholder approval, the company said.

“Also to be submitted

for consideration of the minority shareholders at said meeting is the proposal to waive the requirement of the Exchange to conduct a rights or public offering in respect of the BSHI Shares,” the company said.

PAL Holdings said it will “downstream” the $255 million fresh capital from BSHI to its subsidiary, Philippine Airlines Inc (PAI).

The company said it expects to exit from bankruptcy proceedings “upon completion of the debt-to-equity conversion at the PAI level” which is expected to be filed later this year.

“Creditors may thereafter, at its discretion, swap its new PAI shares for shares of Issuer (the “Swap”),” PAL Holdings said.

The Swap is expected to take place within the first quarter of 2022, subject to regulatory requirements.

Once the Swap is completed, foreign ownership in PAL Holdings may increase as creditors become shareholders, the company said.

“Since the exchange ratio for the Swap has not yet been

FLUCIO, P10

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epartment of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William D. Dar turned over an Organic Production Center with common service facility amounting to P9.5M to the Local Government Unit of Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte during his recent visit in the province.

The project under Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) is an improvement of the existing 2.6-hectare Municipal Organic Production and Techno-Demo Center.

The common service facilities include two units

cacao solar driers, a rice solar drier, warehouse, fermentation facility, vermi storage and a vermi shed with three composting beds.

These facilities will support and augment the increasing production of rice,

corn, and cacao in the area.

Around 6,500 farmers will benefit from the production center such as the increase in the market value of rice (13%), corn (29%) and cacao (9%) due to the availability of warehouse. There will also be an increase in the value of commodities due to the availability of solar dyers by 22% (rice), 17% (corn) and of cacao beans by 38% due to proper fermentation process, and many others.

The significant increase

of farmers adopting natural farming practices is not only for rice but also for vegetables, banana and other high value commercial crops. Demand for organic fertilizers is also expected to increase.

The completion of the improvement of the common service facilities in the municipality provides easy access of farmers to better post-harvest facilities as it envisions to produce sufficient and good quality farm produced. (PR-Janelle Flores / DA-RFO XI, RAFIS)

said in an online program of Daily Tribune Wednesday.

He added the process of companies in choosing which firms to deal with follows global standards.

Chevron Malampaya LLC and Shell Philippines Exploration B.V. (SPEX) sold their Malampaya shares of 45 percent each to units of Dennis Uy’s Udenna Corp.

“So it shows that he (Uy) qualified to all the standards set forth. If they

choose that, what should we do? Can we say don’t sell it to them?” Cusi said.

But the energy chief said the DOE went beyond its mandate by reviewing the technical, legal, and financial aspects of the transactions and provided this information to the public.

“We made that decision based on our findings that the sale is valid,” he said.

Moreover, Cusi said the consortium submitted its

work program for Malampaya which involves drilling activities to pump more gas and stabilize the power supply from the gas field.

In an earlier statement, the DOE said the inquiries in the Senate on the sale of shares of SPEX and Chevron to Uy’s subsidiaries is causing delay to the work program of the consortium.

“This may eventually take its toll and put our energy security at risk,” it said. (PNA)

Gov’t not involved in choosing buyer of Malampaya shares: DOE Sec. Cusi

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epartment of Energy (DOE) Secretary Alfonso Cusi said the agency is not involved in choosing the buyer of shares of Shell and Chevron in the Malampaya gas field.

“The DOE does not get involved in the sale (of shares). We don’t know that they are selling. Our question was what their standards are for choosing Udenna. Why you didn’t choose the big companies and why Udenna?” Cusi

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 194 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2021

On the city government’s order no longer requiring face shields in public utility transport:

Klaro kaayo ang emphasis ni Mayor, when it is closed and confined, the face shield is necessary, so gi-define niya didto ang jeepney, ang jeepney dili siya closed and confined kay open man ang windows naay open na free ventilation.”

Dr. Michelle Schlosser

Spokesperson, Davao City Covid-19 Task Force

EDITORIAL Total plastics ban A 21-year old banning non-biodegradable and recycle plastics has been lying dormant and toothless.

Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 has been around but has not exacted its legislative purpose. That’s the reason that prompted an environmentalist group to lodge a petition for its full implementation before the Supreme Court.

The petition seeking to compel government action to ban non-biodegradable and recycle plastics was filed before the High Court on Wednesday via a 101-page suit. The action filed by petitioners led by Oceana Philippines, Inc. and Sergio Osmeña III is seeking for a writ of kalikasan and a writ of continuing mandamus for the full implementation of RA 9003.

The petitioners are urging the SC to hand down a writ to among other things, immediately prohibit commercial establishments, warehouses and manufacturers from selling, conveying, distributing and using disposable plastics, plastic products that contain Bisphenol-A (commonly known as BPA), phthalates, and other known endocrine disrupting chemicals. LIkewise, the petitioners also sought to prohibit plastic products that contain listed persistent organic pollutants under the Stockholm Convention and plastic products that are not reusable, biodegradable or compostable, not recyclable and are toxic or hazardous to the environment.

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Researchers have stressed 12 compelling reasons:

1. Plastic bags are made with non-renewable energy.

2. Plastic bags use up lots of energy.

3. Plastic bags end up in the ocean.

4. Beach plastic litter is on the rise.

5. Plastic bags kill millions of animals every year.

6. Plastic takes a long time to disintegrate.

7. Plastic is harming the ocean’s coral.

8. Plastic bags contain toxins.

9. We are already consuming plastic.

10. Plastic bags block storm drains.

11. Plastic bags aren’t being recycled.

12. Plastic bag waste collection is costly.

These are more than enough reasons to get RA 9003 fully implemented.

The continued non-implementation of RA 9003 through the decades has allowed the unabated emission of millions of tons of plastic waste into every part of the archipelago. If we allow for more time for its existence and continued use, it may be too late to realize what we have done or what we did nothing about.

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

So why do we need to ban non-biodegradable plastics?

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 194 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2021

VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

IN UNION, THERE IS STRENGTH ONCE upon a time, a mother and her son were lost in the forest. They were trying to get out of the forest but the more they tried the more they were lost. While walking, the little boy stepped into a sharp twig and pierced his left foot. It was good that the wound was not that bad. So, they continued walking.

That night, they found a cave where they slept. But in the middle of the night, the boy was shaking. He was having a fever. “He must have had an infection as a result of the wound,” his mother thought.

She hugged him but the shivering continued.

The mother could no longer hold her tears. “Is there someone out there?” she cried out loud. “My son needs help.”

It was at this moment that she saw the animals around her.

“What happened?” the monkey inquired.

The mother explained to them what occurred. “I need my son to be brought to the nearest hospital,” she begged them. “Otherwise, he will die soon.”

“Okay, but we need to change his shirt first,” the lion said. “Of course,” the tiger seconded. “I think the color yellow is good for him.” The zebra opposed, “No, the color red looks

fine with the little boy.” The giraffe resisted, “But I am sure he will look wonderful in the color orange.”

Soon, thereafter, there was a big debate among the animals.

Since they could not agree on which color of shirt the boy would wear, the lion declared, “Fine with me. You can go ahead with whatever you want but count me out.” Then the tiger followed and said, “I have to go now. You don’t listen to my ideas.” The other animals likewise did the same.

In the same vein, when people are gathered together and discuss some issues, there is always a struggle between the pros and cons. One idea is better than the other. As a result, there is a debate among them. Unity is out of question.

“We are more inclined to hate one another for points on which we differ, than to love one another for points on which we agree,” observes Charles Caleb Colton. “The reason perhaps is this: when we find others that agree with us, we seldom trouble ourselves to confirm that agreement; but when we chance on those who differ from us, we are zealous both to convince and to convert them.

Our pride is hurt by failure, and disappointed pride engenders hatred.”

An aged dying father called his seven sons around him. He gave each one a stick and told them, “Break it.” Each son easily broke his separate stick. The old father then bound seven sticks into a bundle, gave it to his eldest son and said, “Break it.”

The eldest could not break it, nor could any of the rest.

“So,” said the father, “it should be with you. Alone you are weak. But when you and your brothers are together, then you are strong.” In union, so goes a saying, there is strength.

There is division among people because of various reasons. One of these is opinion.

Plato said, “Between knowledge of what really exists and ignorance of what does not exist lies the domain of opinion. It is more obscure than knowledge, but clearer than ignorance.”

Opinions, of course, come from ideas. “All great ideas are controversial, or have been at one time,” George Seldes claimed. “Man is ready to die for an idea, provided that idea is not quite clear to him,” Paul Eldridge said.

“The value of an idea has nothing whatsoever to do with the sincerity of the man who expresses it,” Oscar Wilde pointed out. Victor Hugo surmised: “There is one thing stronger

than all the armies in the world: and that is an idea whose time has come.”

Put different people with different backgrounds to discuss a certain idea, and that idea will vanish into oblivion.

F. Scott Fitzgerald reminds us: “No grand idea was ever born in a conference, but a lot of foolish ideas have died there.”

Dale Carnegie confesses: “The ideas I stand for are not mine. I borrowed them from Socrates. I swiped them from Chesterfield. I stole them from Jesus. And I put them in a book.

If you don’t like their rules, whose would you use?”

Ideas are ideas and they must be put into use. And these ideas should bring goodwill to human beings. After all, we live not only for ourselves but also for others. Peter DeVries said: “We are not primarily put on this earth to see through one another, but to see one another through.”

In the story I mentioned in the beginning of this column, I am sure you are disappointed with what the animals have done. They should have settled all their differences. Instead of focusing on what color of shirt the little boy should wear, they should concentrate on the goal that brought them together: to help and bring the little boy to

the nearest hospital.

Sure, each of the animals could contribute something to the cause. The lion and tiger, for instance, could provide the easiest and fastest possible route out of the forest. The elephants could clear the path from obstacles. The birds could tell if there are some dangers and obstacles ahead (cliffs, rivers, and mountains, among others).

This brings us to the subject of service. I have been told that there are three types of people who respond to the call of service. First, there are those rowboat people who have to be pushed. Second are those sailboat people who always go with the wind. Lastly, there are those who are steamboat people who make up their minds where they ought to go and go there regardless of wind and weather. “You have not done enough, you have never done enough, so long as it is still possible that you have something to contribute,” Nobel Peace Prize recipient Dag Hammarksjold said.

Going back to the subject of unity, Edmund Burke wrote in Thoughts on the Cause of the Present Discontent: “When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.” How true, how true!

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

THE PAST AS ‘RIVERINE HISTORY’ One way of understanding history is by linking it with the rivers where villages are started. Access to waterways is an indispensable aspect of convenience and survival, and it is always near riverbanks that potable water sources can be found.

Early migrants, in exploring the interior regions or reconnoitering coastal areas, used the streams in discovering new areas for settlement.

For an archipelagic country, waterways are the ‘liquid highways’ linking islands. In modern times, the watercourses continue to function as vital channels for naval, marine, and maritime activities even with the construction of spans that connect parted lands. It is also the riverbank communities that inspire the adoption of placenames as identified of certain locations.

Many placenames get their

IDs from the denizens that live near waters and source their food from them, the plants that thrive near waterways, the insects and animals found in riverbank settlements, and the phenomena observed while living in these communities.

Three terms best explain the evolution of placenames, namely, etymology, orthography, and onomatopoeia.

Let’s see how these terms are defined: (i) Orthography is ‘the study of spelling and how letters combine to represent sounds and form words’; (ii) Etymology is ‘the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout’; and (iii) Onomatopoeia is ‘the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named.’

Orthographically, Kialeg, which means ‘a pool of water

formed by landslide,’ is a combination of two Tagacaulo terms, ‘kia’ and ‘leg.’ On the other hand, Cuambog, named after a tree, has etymologically evolved to Kolambogan, meaning ‘a place where the cuambog plant thrives.’ You have also Kaputian, derived from potian, a rattan species. The best example of onomatopoeia is Kokak, inspired by the sound produced by a frog.

Outside the strictures, there are placenames that are inspired by geography (i.e., Pantukan, or place for short route; Balut, Maguindanao for island), religious custom (i.e., Badas or Islamic flogging), spices (i.e., Tandag, the Maguindanao laurel), tribe (i.e., Talaingod and Samal), fish (i.e., Baganga and Batuto), water color (i.e., Malalag, Bagobo term for yellowish), activities (i.e., Digos, Bagobo for ‘taking a bath in the

river’), and springs (i.e., Bugac and Tubod), among others.

Names of places also afford a researcher better and deeper understanding of how site identities affect the progress of an area. By knowing the exact origin of a placename, a case buildup can be made in limiting the original settlers of a place and understand why certain monikers have been adopted as appellations of communities and settlements.

Rivers, due to their movements, also lend inspiration to the naming of locales. Places like Mati (‘easily dried up riverbed’), Maragusan (‘washed-out river’), and Lupon (‘inundated area’) are so named after the effect waters make on land, particularly during floods. Some names are derived from the river fishes that populate them or in recognition of the abundance

of certain species thriving in specific watercourses.

Moreover, rivers also carry the nutrients that turn lands into fertile agricultural estates.

Without rivers, survival becomes more difficult given that people have very limited food supply to get and are forced to source drinking water from plants, rain, and precipitation.

Minus the rivulets and streams, people are forced to away with washing, bathing, and rinsing.

Outside etymologies, ancient mariners, in determining their daylight position while out there at sea, look for natural contours and markers and at night measure their location using astronomical bodies. In colonial times, they reasonably depended for lighthouses to keep them on track during starless nights, and on distant terrains to fix their setting.

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90% of Legacy Leisure’s first tower sold in 11 months

L

egacy Leisure Residences hits 90% sales mark on first tower in 11 months in June.

The pandemic is a challenging period to the real estate enterprise in Davao.

But surprisingly, Legacy Leisure Residences is posting a steady rise in its sales.

“We officially launched two months before the lockdown, on January 2020. But as soon as the restrictions were eased, we bounced back to work with positive energy, adapted to the sit-

uation, created good deals, and strengthened our digital presence and relationship with the real estate agents, and got the construction rolling again,” said Wesley Bangayan, VP for marketing for CrisRon Legacy Leisure Residences (CLLR).

Bangayan confessed that there was uncertainty looming on the sales department.

But trusting their brand and team, they were able to surpass their sales target in

2020.

“Our strategy worked. In a span of five months, from August to December 2020, we posted a 60% sales on the first building, which is Tower 2. For the first half of 2021, CLLR posted a steady rate in sales. In essence, 90% of CLLR’s Tower 2 has been sold in less than a year. This is a feat for the sales team in

the time of a pandemic,” said Bangayan.

At the rate it is going, Tower 2 will be sold out before the end of the year, he added.

Bangayan says that Legacy Leisure is unique and this is what makes the condominium project attractive.

It went the opposite way of the usual residential proj-

ects. CLLR allotted a huge chunk of the 2.4-hectare property to open space and opting to erect only four 15-story residential buildings.

“We are fashioning resort living in the middle of the city where residents can breathe in everyday leisure.

An expansive open space

FLEGACY, P10

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T

he Island Garden City of Samal is known for its fine white-sand beaches. But there’s one place that visitors should not miss to go to is the Giant Clam Sanctuary in the peaceful barangay of Adecor in Kaputian district. It is a must, if you love snorkeling.

The sanctuary is part of the Taklobo tours which the tourism office of the local government is promoting.

Entrance fee is only P100 but to get there you have to rent a boat, which charges a minimal fee for a group.

“It will be a once in a lifetime experience,” our boatman said. “You get a glimpse up close of giant clams in different sizes and colors.”

Almost 3,000 giant clams of four species are spreading all over the 14-hectare sea. Most notable of these species is the biggest among the giant clams, the Tridacna gigas.

Other species found in the area are T. deresa (smooth giant clam), T. squamosa (fluted giant clam), and T. hippopus (strawberry clam or bear claw clam).

The sanctuary came into existence when the Davao del Norte State College (DNSC) was given the privilege to manage the Marine Reserve Park and Multi-purpose Hatchery.

Having entered into a partnership with the University of Philippines-Marine Science Institute for the

giant clam stock enhance program in 2001, DNSC saw the beginning of various local and national collaborations.

In response to the call for conservation and increasing interest among locals and international tourists on giant clams, DNSC implemented the community-based Taklobo Tours in tandem with the city government, barangay local officials, and Adecor United Fisherfolk Organization.

All stakeholders agreed and the project started to roll on in February 2013 with the aim of promoting biodiversity conservation, enhancing eco-tourism, building capacity and providing livelihood. Its immediate beneficiaries are the fisherfolk who serve as local tour guides and conservation advocates.

“We raise awareness by informing the people who come how endangered these giant clams are and that there are now laws regarding its preservation,” Joel Gonzaga, one of the members of the organization, told us during our vis-

ENVIRONMENT

9

SAVING ‘WHITE GOLD OF THE SEA’

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

it. “It is now prohibited to harvest them and there are some consequences if they do so - with fines up to three million.”

The Taklobo Tours offers tourists a one-of-a-kind underwater adventure they will never forget. To experience this, you must take the two-hour (including travel time) from Santa Ana Wharf in Davao City, or just a 5- to 7-minute boat ride from barangay Adecor to the Marine Reserve Park.

I wasn’t able to dive to the waters to see the giant clams. But here’s a comment of one tourist who did: “Awesome and inspiring marine sanctuary that protects several species of giant clams. With our snorkel masks on, we were led underwater by a certified guide to witness firsthand these amazing sea creatures. We also learned about

by Wikipedia

their habitat, life cycle and feeding. A definite mustsee.”

Giant clams come in different sizes and colors, including yellow, blue, brown, green and violent.

Under the sea, they look like colorful flowers. No one knows how old they are but most of them are beyond 10 years. (They can live up to 100 years). In the sanctuary, giant clams may grow up to one meter long.

Giant clams are solar animals that need the sun to grow, survive and thrive.

Most of them prefer to live in shallow waters particularly in the coral reef areas (kagasangan) that makes them vulnerable to poaching and exploitation.

Giant clams may have existed even during the time when dinosaurs roamed around this planet. “They have been around for over

38 million years,” wrote Vicky Viray-Mendoza, the executive editor of Maritime Review Magazine. “Antonio Pigafetta, the Italian navigator who joined Ferdinand Magellan in his sea travels around the world, documented these giant clam species as early as 1521 in his journal.”

Some people feared them because there are some talks that they would attack people once they swim in areas where the clams are living. But that’s a myth, according to the National Geographic. It happened in the movies but there are no authentic cases of people being trapped and drowned by giant clams.

A reef assessment conducted in the country in the 1970s showed that giant clams were close to becoming locally extinct for several reasons but particularly due to poaching, overharvesting, and habitat destruction.

In addition, giant clams are highly vulnerable in the wild to stock depletion because of their late sexual maturity and immobile adult phase. As giant clams cannot literally move due to their heavy weight (as much as 250 kilograms), they reproduce via external fertilization, where eggs and sperm are released into the water column at the same time.

To save the giant clams from extinction, the Con-

vention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) included them in the list of endangered species. Towards the promotion of this advocacy, the government passed Republic Act No. 8550, otherwise known as the Philippine Fisheries Code.

A person committing the unlawful act will be imprisoned from five to eight years and a fine equivalent to twice the administrative fine, and forfeiture of species.

In 1985, marine biologist Edgardo Gomez launched a program to replenish locally extinct giant clam populations across the country. That effort has continued despite Gomez’s death in 2019.

Despite the laws and programs initiated by communities, private entities and school institutions to save giant clams, there are still others who try to make money out of these endangered species.

Early this year, more than 200 tons of fossilized giant clam shells, worth 1.2 billion, were seized in a joint law enforcement raid in Palawan.

Aside from being called “white gold of the sea,” giant clams are also known as “king of all shells.”

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with open windows.

“Ang jeepney dili na na siya 3C kay dili na sila enclosed kadaghanan sa ilaha, duna tay L-3 no nga naka-aircon, kana siya confined and enclosed space siya, kung taxi naka aircon isarado ang bintana kana siya confined and enclosed space, kung abrihan ang bintana dili na na siya confined and enclosed place kay naa siyay hangin sa gawas nga nagatuyok sa sulod,” Mayor Sara said.

In December last year, Mayor Sara mandated the use of face shields adopting the Department of Transportation (DOTr)

Memorandum Circular No. 2020-014 dated August 3, 2020, which mandates the mandatory wearing of face shield with a face mask for all passengers in areas where public transportation is allowed; and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Joint Memorandum Circular No. 20-04-A dated August 15, 2020, which shall apply to all private establishments regardless of economic activity including economic zones, mandates the use of face shield with a face mask.

ernment works, infrastructure, and other projects and to strengthen the same or come up with new and better mechanisms to ensure that all affected stakeholders, whether from the public or private sector, are adequately compensated and protected by applicable laws and rules.

In a phone interview Thursday, October 28, Rep. Duterte said they received information that some individuals were buying properties along the 105 kilometer line

at a very low price and are selling it to DOTr at a higher price.

Added to this, the Dabawenyo congressman said, some landowners have also been opposing the construction of the railway project right smack at some of the existing subdivisions in Davao City.

The young Duterte said some of the affected barangays are planning on coming out with a resolution opposing the said project.

Phase 1 of the MRP has a budget of P35.91 billion.

the 901st and 401st Infantry Brigades, who share a common responsibility to ensure a peaceful and normal elections in the province of Surigao del Sur. Brig. Gen. George Banzon, commander of the 901IB, said they are concerned with the intense political rivalries between Surigao del Sur Governor Alexander Pimentel and Rep. Prospero “Butch” Pichay of the first district and his wife Carla.

“Both camps are locked up in a tug-of-war in getting support from local mayors and barangay executives,” Banzon said.

Brig. Gen. Allan Hambala, of the 401IB, said he

has already directed his soldiers not to be “friendly” with both the Pimentel and Pichay camps.

“I told them we stay neutral,” he said.

Faustino arrived in Camp Evangelista here for his farewell visit to the 4th Infantry Division before he retires next month.

He led the decommissioning of 208 firearms that included 35 AK-47 rifles, 66 caliber .45 pistols, 9 M-14 rifles and 17 Garand rifles.

The firearms were seized by the military from the communist rebels during operations in the past year. (Froilan Gallardo / MindaNews)

him that he could not leave unless he refunded them.

The rider was forced to give cash to the couple despite his efforts to inform them about the protocol on refunds.

“The Division assures the public that it will be taking the necessary legal action to immediately The ILO estimates that if low-income countries had better access to vaccines, the working hours recovery would catch up with richer economies in just over one quarter.

It estimated that for every 14 people fully vaccinated in the second quarter of this year, one fulltime equivalent job was added to the global labour market.

By early October, 59.8 percent of people were fully vaccinated in high-income countries, compared

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stration of the government’s commitment to end the local communist armed conflict by destroying the very instruments used to propagate terrorism against the people.

Faustino also emphasized that the effort to entice communist terrorist group (CTG) members to surrender is continually undertaken as the AFP is collaborating with other government agencies in advancing the enhanced-comprehensive local integration program (E-CLIP).

“Bukas ang ating AFP, everyone can interview the former rebels on how they were treated and how they are living normal lives right now. We are still offering the hand of peace to the members and leaders of the CTG,” Faustino further said.

The government has the

programs and instrumentalities to accept those who decide to surrender,” he added.

Meanwhile, 4ID chief Maj. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr said that since January 2021, the command was able to capture 151 high powered and low powered firearms during armed encounters, seize 77 high powered and low powered firearms from apprehended personalities and from arms caches, and further gained 170 high powered and low powered firearms from surrenderers.

“We will recommend the recent CCSR firearms for demilitarization in order to show to the general public that we will not allow the CTG to advocate violence, and intimidate and threaten innocent civilians with the said firearms,” Brawner added.

various sponsors,” Lagdameo said.

The Davao ICON 2021 aims to bring potential buyers and investors together as well as industry experts to discuss and present Davao Region’s business opportunities to build a strong relationship.

“One thing that we were happy to agree on for this year is that Davao ICON, as you know, it is one of the most important conferences hosted by the Davao Chamber, with the last event being in 2019, pre-pandemic. Normally it’s a physical event

but we are happy to say that it’s going to be a hybrid event this year,” Lagdameo said.

He added that it would not be just a Zoom event but will have events at various locations with the main conference would be held in a production studio.

“Everything that you would want to appreciate at a physical concept would still be there. It will be held in two days because we have that much content and those speakers that will be speaking at this event,” Lagdameo said. By Maya M. Padillo

address the incident,” the SDO-Panabo City said in a statement.

The statement added it was reserving judgment on the incident and will respect its personnel’s right to due process. The incident is now under investigation by the legal unit of the SDO-Panabo City. (PNA)

the country to date are not mainly due to base effects but because of “all our efforts to manage the pandemic better.”

Among the positive economic factors that he cited are the improvement in the manufacturing production, with the Volume of Production Index almost near the normal 100 level; as well as on imports; exports; and government spending on infrastructure.

Chua said before the imposition of the ECQ in 2020, the unemployment rate was about 5.3 percent.

Unemployment surged to 17.6 percent because of the quarantine measures but is now around 7 percent to 8 percent, thus, “we still have a bit of work to do as we reopen the economy and bring back some of the jobs.”

Chua said underemployment stood at 14.8

percent in the first quarter of 2020, which was the same level as of August this year.

“And although there are still many part-time work and we haven’t reached full capacity yet, (this) just means we are steadily improving in the coming months as we open the economy further,” he said.

Chua said job creation, as well as public transportation utilization, have strong correlation to quarantine restrictions thus, authorities are continuously looking for ways to safely reopen the economy.

“Now, in general, I believe that the better management of risk in 2021 will allow us to grow by 4 to 5 percent this year, and 7 to 9 percent next year, and returning to our pre-pandemic growth path of 6 to 7 percent in the other years,” he added. (PNA

to just 1.6 percent in low-income countries, according to the ILO. Ryder told a press conference that the prospects ahead looked “weak and uncertain”, with the fourth quarter of 2021 expected to see only a modest recovery in working hours.

Significant downside risks on the horizon include energy prices, inflation and debt distress, while in lowand middle-income countries, fiscal constraints are expected to hinder progress further.

Westbrook, acquired in an offseason trade, had 15 points in the final quarter and overtime to eclipse his previous high of 15 points with the Lakers.

“That’s why we felt great about this move,” Vogel said. “Last year we lost LeBron and A.D. for a long stretch, and we didn’t have enough to sustain throughout the regular season and win in the playoffs. To get a guy like Russ, if one of those guys is down, we have another guy that can put up a monster night like we saw

tonight. Paying early dividends in acquiring Russell.”

Cheers on the road Davis and Westbrook combined for 14 points as the Lakers went on a 17-4 run to open the fourth and reclaim a 102-101 lead.

“I’m not used to people cheering for me on the road,” Westbrook said.

“That is a different experience for me.”

Walker made three consecutive 3-pointers that sparked an 18-3 run to close the third quarter that gave the Spurs a 97-85 lead.

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is needed to achieve this.

Across 70% of the property will be the the curated outdoor amenities to complement the theme: an Olympic size swimming pool, spray park for kids, verdant park, picnic area with a barbecue pit, an array of sports facilities to include basketball and tennis courts, a putting green and jogging track.”

The residential units will be spacious as well.

The one-bedroom units will have an average size of 37sqm., while the the 2-bedroom units will be at 76sqm and the 3-bedroom units at 136sqm. These sizes are designed where bachelors and small families can live in comfort and move about with ease enjoying their personal spaces.

“Another major concern from the future and prospective residents is the

structural integrity of the towers. From the conception of the project we have addressed this. We have reputable design professionals who designed earthquake-proof buildings. A story about CLLR’s structural integrity was published in major newspapers in Davao and Manila.”

Bangayan further says that CLLR transparency on the development of the condominium also adds to its appeal and builds trust.

Since the IATF’s go signal on construction sector, work on the structures have been unceasing until today.

“Construction updates are regularly posted on CLLR’s social media pages.

We want to show our buyers how their investment is progressing. On the construction time chart, Legacy Leisure is on time.”

second-place votes, giving him a grand total of 843 points.

Sangalang finished in third with 591 points on 35 third-place votes from the media, 12 second-place votes from the players and the second-place vote from the PBA. Bolick, who came in second in the stats race,

fell to the fourth spot with 447 points after only getting one second-place vote from the media and 14 second-place votes from the players.

Fajardo came in fifth with 403.

This is Abueva’s second BPC award, having won the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup plum. (PNA)

Jayson Castro, Ryan Reyes, Poy Erram and Kib Montalbo all put in at least eight points playing off the bench. Brian Heruela and RR Pogoy added to the balance with their nine points apiece.

“As I’ve said our team doesn’t have a first group or a second group. We just have 15 guys and everyone, when asked to come in to play, is accountable to be able to deliver,” said Reyes.

“Anyone can start and anyone can play off the bench, it doesn’t matter. Ganon talaga, that’s our team,” Reyes added.

Williams once again led the scoring parade but it was the second group that made the separation in the second quarter.

From a 24-all deadlock, the Tropang Giga pounced on the Hotshots’ sudden breakdown to zoom to a 57-

39 lead at the half.

TNT blasted Magnolia, 33-15, in the second quarter, highlighting its breakaway with a salvo of fastbreak points off Hotshots turnovers. The Tropang Giga outscored the Hotshots, 12-2, on fastbreaks.

And it was a massive offense that had four TNT players in Reyes, Castro, Williams and Montalbo accounting for at least eight points each by the half.

Reyes took four steals and pumped in 10 markers.

Calvin Abueva and Paul Lee combined for more than two-thirds of Magnolia’s first-half output, with the former tossing in 16 and the latter 12.

Abueva finished with a game-high 28 points on the night he received his second PBA Best Player of the Conference award. (PBA)

determined with finality, the exact level of foreign ownership cannot as yet be ascertained.”

PAL Holdings said its proposed capital increase will be submitted at the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting on Nov. 25 “where independent

shareholders may freely vote for or against the proposal.”

The aviation industry was one of the most badly affected sectors by the COVID-19 pandemic, with quarantine restrictions leading to a sharp decline in air travel.

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Magnolia’s Calvin Abueva finished with a game-high 28 points in a losing effort on the night he received his second PBA Best Player of the Conference award. PBA photo

TNT closes in on PBA title

T

roy Rosario showed great courage rising from his scary fall and TNT drew inspiration as it battled back from its Game 3 defeat, trouncing Magnolia, 106-89, Wednesday night to move a win away from wrapping up the PBA Philippine Cup crown.

Rosario was not himself but playing through a dislocated pinky was a boost as the Tropang Giga played with a great resolve to nail the pivotal 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.

On Friday, the Tropa take their first of three cracks at ending a five-year title drought.

“Shout out to Troy. He should not be playing. The reason we played him was for inspirational purposes.

You see he couldn’t even catch the ball, but he wanted to try to play. The message of courage rubbed off

on to his teammates,” said TNT coach Chot Reyes.

“It’s a great heart shown

by Troy, then everything followed,” added Reyes.

Rosario was good for only five points, three rebounds and one assist against two turnovers in 19 minutes of action.

But he did inspire and pump up the Tropang Giga who came back with a dominant showing to foil the Hotshots’ bid to tie the series.

TNT was back with a lethal game with super rookie Mikey Williams leading the way with 26 points spiked by 6-of-11 three-pointers to celebrate his birthday with the vital win.

And the Hotshots just couldn’t keep up as the Tropang Giga sizzled with a balanced offense hitting at a high 53-percent clip.

FTNT, P10

Abueva is PBA PH Cup best player

C

alvin Abueva has been named the 2021 PBA Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference.

The announcement was made prior to Game 4 of the championship series between Magnolia and TNT. Abueva tallied a total of 934 points after all the votes from the media, the players, and the PBA Commissioner’s Office have been collected and tabulated together with the statis-

tical points, beating Mikey Williams, Ian Sangalang, Robert Bolick, and June Mar Fajardo.

Abueva led the pack in the stat sheet up to the semifinals, getting 415 statistical points or 34.2 per game on average.

Abueva, who helped the Hotshots make a return to

S

Russell Westbrook gives the Lakers a go-to guy in LeBron James’ absence. AP

AN ANTONIO — Davis had 35 points and 17 rebounds, Russell Westbrook added 33 points and 10 rebounds, and the Los Angeles Lakers rallied without LeBron James to beat the San Antonio Spurs 125-121 in overtime on Tuesday night (Wednesday, Manila time).

Playing before a soldout AT&T Center crowd that loudly booed the Spurs at the free-throw line in the final minute of regulation, the Lakers won their second straight to reach .500.

“It was like a home game,” said Malik Monk, who started in James’ place.

“I’ve never seen nothing like it before. It’s crazy. It’s a crazy feeling. It made us more comfortable and let

the Philippine Cup Finals, averaged 15.2 points, 10 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steal, and 1.1 blocks per game up to the semis.

He also won the media votes after getting 33 firstplace votes and eventually getting a total of 440 points from the said votes, which were enough to beat Williams, who despite being fourth in the stats race got the nod from the players and the league’s front office.

Williams won a tight

contest against Abueva in the player votes with 14 first-place votes against Abueva’s 12 for an eventual total of 59 points against the 54 of Abueva, Williams got the full 150 points from the commissioner’s office, while Abueva was given the thirdplace vote for 25 points.

However, Williams only got 245 points from the media after getting only three first-place votes against 32

everybody relax like we were at home.”

Dejounte Murray had 21 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds for his fifth career triple-double, and he missed a jumper in the closing seconds that would have won it for the Spurs. Jakob Poeltl added 27 points and 14 rebounds for San Antonio, and Lonnie Walker IV had a season-high 21 points.

James missed the Lakers’ first road game of the season with a sore right ankle, an injury that occurred in Sunday’s win over Memphis. The Lakers decided to be cautious with the early-season injury.

“We understand that with (James’ absence) comes the responsibility

of making guys around us better,” Westbrook said.

“And tonight, I thought A.D. did a great job of just being aggressive all night, miss and makes, finishing well around the basket. He was big for us tonight.”

The veteran duo helped the Lakers rally from a 12-point deficit entering the fourth quarter.

“We never lost belief when we were down that we were going to win the game,” coach Frank Vogel said. “Just persevered and got a huge road win.”

Monk gave the Lakers a 114-112 lead on a 3-pointer with 58.6 seconds remaining. Monk finished with 17 points and was 4-for-10 on 3-pointers.

FABUEVA, P10

FWESTBROOK, P10

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 194 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2021

THRILLED TO HEIGHTS Kilimanjaro conqueror Elias Tabac savors highest tower experience

BY NEIL BRAVO

Elias Tabac at the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

F

or the first man to summit the first World’s Highest Obstacle Course Race on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the experience on heights is nothing new.

Elias Tabac of Davao del Norte, gold medalist in the men’s division of the tough event that drew 42 athletes from 26 countries like Australia Denmark, Brazil, Russia, New Zealand, Switzerland, United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and United States, knows how hard it is to get to the top.

Exhausted from the grueling climb, the summit feels like a whiff of fresh air amidst all the muscle pain.

Tabac knows the feeling.

So when he ‘summited’ the city’s first tallest skyscraper, it was a totally different experience. The exhilarating view is just as amazing minus all the pain and exhaustion. Throw

in the comfy bed, fluffy towels and sheets, Netflix binging, food and gym, the experience of the Aeon Towers’ summit is equally memorable.

“I had the best experience at Aeon Towers. The room is so comfortable. I enjoyed watching Netflix and the Amazon voice command inside my room. The amenities at the Club are amazing too,” Tabac said.

Tabac was treated to a oneof-a-kind staycation in one of the luxurious furnished units in Aeon Towers—the first tallest and iconic mixed-use development in Southern Philippines.

The Kilimanjaro conqueror savored his stay at Aeon Towers’ VIP room which is a furnished Studio Executive unit automated with smarthome buddy Alexa. This is inclusive of an access to Club Aeon amenities (fitness gym, co-working spaces and swimming pool at 6th floor), complimentary breakfast for two and one-time minibar consumption.

Aeon Luxe Properties Inc. President and CEO Ian Y. Cruz said: “It was an honor for us to extend our congratulations to athletes like Elias by rewarding him with the relaxation he deserves here at Aeon Towers Staycation units.”

Tabac was part of the Pilipinas Obstacle Sports Federation (POSF) team that made a lot of heads turn when they swept the top four places in the first World’s Highest Obstacle Course Race on Mount

Tabac at the Aeon Towers fitness gym.

Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

Tabac and compatriot Tolitz Divina took the first two places in the men’s division while Sandi Abahan and Seannah Gutang booked a similar finish in the women’s side.

Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano in Tanzania. It has three volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. It is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest single free-standing mountain in the world: 5,895 metres above sea level and about 4,900 metres above its plateau base.

The competitors needed seven days to reach the summit of the 5,896-meter Mount Kilimanjaro, a trek that is not part of the race but gave everybody the chance to acclimatize.

Then they raced down for 23 kilometers from the crater to the finish line on a course that featured iconic obstacles.