Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 237 | Tuesday, December 21, 2021

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VOL.14 ISSUE 237 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021

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AID FIRST, SOCA LATER Mayor Sara postpones SOCA, sets out to deliver aid to typhoon victims

STORY ON PAGE 2

A Presidential chopper carrying President Rodrigo Duterte and Senator Christopher Lawrence Go is being escorted by other Presidential choppers and the newly acquired black hawk as the President conducts an aerial inspection to see the extent of the damage in Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands and Southern Leyte brought about by typhoon ‘Odette’ over the weekend. Edge Davao

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 237 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021

President Rodrigo Duterte presides over a meeting with concerned agencies for the rescue and recovery efforts in the provinces hit by typhoon ‘Odette’at Surigao Airport in Surigao City on Saturday. Edge Davao

AID FIRST, SOCA LATER

Mayor Sara postpones SOCA, sets out to deliver aid to typhoon victims

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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Mayor Sara was scheduled to deliver her SOCA on Monday (December 20) but opted to reschedule it to January 2022 to join the Uniteam in the delivery of aid in areas affected by the typhoon.

The UniTeam alliance, led by presidential aspi-

rant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., utilized their network of volunteers for the distribution of relief goods to the victims of Typhoon Odette.

Meanwhile, Mayor Sara encouraged Dabawenyos to empathize with those who lost loved ones and contin-

ue to suffer from the effects of the typhoon.

On the other hand, Mayor Sara announced last week that her SOCA will highlight her 10-priority focus areas and bid goodbye to Dabawenyos. The mayor also said her SOCA is mostly a recap of her SOCA in 2016 and her accomplishment report until December 2021. “(My SOCA) will focus on our banner of security and development sa atoang

landslide rendered two segments of the Iliga -Bukidnon road in the hinterland village of Rogongon impassable since Friday, a day after super typhoon ‘Odette’ swept across northern Mindanao, but road-clearing operations are ongoing.

Barangay Councilor Cybee Capangpangan Serino told MindaNews in a telephone interview on Sunday morning that he was informed about the landslide by a resident

who passed the area and had to go on foot to get to the other side since all types of vehicles could no longer pass through.

Serino said the landslide happened in Sitio Libandayan on the northwest side and Sitio Salingsing on the southeastern side going to Sitio Limunsodan in Barangay Rogongon.

Vincent Labial, DPWH District II Information Officer said the landslide site is about 30 kilometers from

the national highway in Iligan City.

Serino requested the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Lanao del Norte 2nd Engineering District, 554 Army Engineer Battalion and City Engineering Office to send heavy equipment for clearing operations.

Engineer Alykhan Umpa Ali, District Engineer of DPWH District II said he sent heavy equipment early Sunday to assist in the road-clearing.

ayor Sara Duterte-Carpio has postponed her State of the City Address (SOCA) and instead set out to deliver aid to victims of super typhoon ‘Odette.’

Biyaheng DO30. We are journeying towards security and development and we are focusing on the 10 priority focus areas. Kung unsa to ang akong previous SOCA updating on our 10 priority focus areas mao pud na siya before this time apil na nato ang gikan 2016. Medyo taas taas gyud siya and apil na pud didto ang valedictory or goodbyes for the Dabawenyos, ” Mayor Sara said via Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) last week.

Lt. Colonel Hassan Badar, Commanding Officer of 554 Army Engineer Battalion also assured they would help. He said he sent a reconnaissance team to assess the extent of landmass and condition of the area.

Labial noted that a landslide also occurred in another hinterland village, in Digkilaan, on Thursday. The DPWH, he said, had cleared the road. (Richel V. Umel / MindaNews)

2 segments of Iligan-Bukidnon road closed due to landslide A

BIFF commander, 10 followers yield in Maguindanao: military

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ired of fighting government forces, a field commander of the Islamic State-inspired Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) and 10 of his subordinates yielded to the military on Saturday to live peaceful lives, officials said Sunday.

Lt. Col. Samuel Nadala Jr, commander of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion (2MechBn), said Commander OB10, leader of the BIFF Second Division under the Bungos faction, surrendered to government forces in Barangay Kamasi, Ampatuan, Maguindanao.

In a statement, Nadala said the surrenderees turned over their high-powered firearms, including two 5.56mm M-16 rifles, one 7.62mm M-14 rifle, one Springfield rifle, two Garand rifles, two locally-made rocket propelled grenade launchers and two locally-made Barret sniper rifles.

They were presented to Colonel Pedro Balisi Jr, commander of the 1st Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Datu Piang Mayor Victor Samama and former Datu Anggal Midtimbang mayor Nathaniel Midtimbang, among other local officials, he said.

Lt. Col. Charlie Banaag, commanding officer of the 6th Infantry Battalion (IB), attributed their surrender to the “strong synergy and harmonious cooperation” among the 2MechBn and 6IB, local government units (LGUs), and the Bangsamoro regional and Maguindanao provincial police commands.

Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy, Joint Task Force Central (JTFC) and 6th Infantry Division commander, commended the efforts of both the government security forces and local government units in Maguindanao.

“The synergy between the security forces and the local government units manifests that we have an advantage in fighting against local terrorists in this part of the region. We can successfully thwart the enemies and stop them from committing dangerous acts through the cooperation of everybody,” Uy said.

Rest assured the JTFC will continue to strengthen our relationship with the police and the LGUs and will never stop hunting terrorists to ensure the safety of our people, he added.

(Bong S. Sarmiento / MindaNews)

EDGEDAVAO

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NEWS

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The arena at the Siargao Sports Complex in Dapa is wrecked in this photo taken December 16, 2021, shortly after super typhoon “Odette” wreaked havoc in the island. More than a thousand people – mostly women and children, including tourists and foreigners residing in the island – who sought refuge in the newly inaugurated structure miraculously survived. MindaNews photo by ROEL N. CATOTO

Davao City sends rescue, medical teams to Bohol Siargao: from world-famous destination to ‘Ground Zero’ of super typhoon ‘Odette’

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he world-famous island is now Ground Zero of super typhoon ‘Odette’: no power, no phone signals, limited supply of water, food, medicines and urgent need for shelter for thousands rendered homeless or roofless.

“Please help me tell the world that General Luna is now at its worst situation,” General Luna mayor Cecilia Rusillon told MindaNews on Friday morning.

At least 15 deaths have been reported as of Sunday, December 19, according to Surigao del Norte Governor Francisco Matugas.

“Odette,” which made its first landfall in the Philippines in Siargao Island at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 16 , “totally devastated” the area, said the Governor, who hails from this island.

The road from Dapa town to General Luna became accessible only at 4 p.m on Friday, December 17, or 26 hours after the landfall. Residents, with the help of government agencies, resort establishments and other private firms cleared the road of felled trees, toppled electric posts and other debris un-

FSIARGAO, P10

Davao City continues to aim for excellence amid pandemic: Baste

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he recognition given to Davao City as the country’s fourth most competitive city in the highly-urbanized cities category showed that even in the middle of pandemc, the city continues to aim for excellence.

Davao City ranked fourth in most competitive in the highly-urbanized cities category of the Cities and municipalities Com-

petitiveness Index (CMCI) during the recent 9th Regional Competitiveness Summit held online.

In a recorded message, Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte is thankful for the recognition. “when the pandemic hit the country, implementing programs and development plans for the city have become extra challenging

FDAVAO, P10

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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he city government of Davao sent rescue and medical teams to help in the relief and rescue operations in Bohol, which was among the areas ravaged by super typhoon “Odette.”

Odette (International Name: Rai) recorded its landfall on the evening of December 16, 2021 in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte.

The city government of Davao shared on its Facebook Page photos of Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio leading the send-off ceremony of

the 106 Dabawenyos composed of rescue and medical teams from City Health Office, Davao City Central 911’s Emergency Medical Sevices (EMS), Uban Search and Rescue (USAR), Fire Auxiliary Services (FAS), Southern Philippines Medical Center doctors, and social workers from City

Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) to help the victims of Typhoon Odette in the Municipality of Ubay, Bohol Province.

“106 Dabawenyos responded to the call of Bohol for augmentation. Mga doctors, social workers at rescue personnel ang tumugon sa tawag ng isang opisyal ng Bohol para dagdag tao na maka responde sa mga biktima ng Odette,” Mayor Sara posted on her Facebook Page.

Mayor Sara also posted

that the teams brought water, food packs, and other supplies not only for the typhoon victims in Bohol but to Cebu as well which was also affected by typhoon Odette.

“Aabot sa 55 na tonelada ang lahat ng ito. Di na po kasya sa eroplano kaya mag truck na ang ibang supply papunta Cebu. Sana po kahit papaano makabawas ito sa inyong hirap na pinadadaanan ngayon. Mag -ingat pa rin tayong lahat. Mahalin natin ang Pilipinas!”

101 died.

The last time the city had zero active case was on December 9, 2020.

Despite the zero active case, the Mati Incident Management Team is however reminding the public to always observe the minimum public health standards — WEAR FACE MASK, ALWAYS CLEAN YOUR HANDS, STAY AWAY

FROM OTHERS, AVOID MASS GATHERING, HAVE YOURSELF VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19.

City Ordinance N0. 427 or the Disiplina Panahon sa Pandemya Ordinance is also being strictly implemented still. Visitors going to Mati are also asked to have themselves vaccinated.

The 2nd tranche of the 3-day Bayanihan Ba-

kunahan is also being held from December 2022, 2021. Matinians who remain unvaccinated are urged to have themselves vaccinated to as to achieve herd immunity in the city.

There are remaining 25,730 Matinians that need to be vaccinated to reach the target population of 107,442 for the herd immunity. (CIO MATI)

Mati City back to zero active case

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he City of Mati is now zero active case of Covid-19 today, December 20, 2021.

This after MC-2991, the last remaining active case of Covid-19 in the city, was declared as recovered Monday.

As of December 20, 2021, we have a total of 2992 confirmed cases in the City of Mati of which 2891 have recovered and

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 237 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021

People troop to an open gasoline station in downtown Surigao City over the weekend to purchase fuel as they anticipate a supply shortage in the coming days. Edge Davao

DA readies P852-M fund for typhoon-hit agri sector

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he Department of Agriculture (DA) will assist farmers and fisherfolk in areas affected by Typhoon Odette using PHP852.47 standby funds.

The budget includes PHP500 million Quick Response Fund for the rehabilitation of affected areas; PHP148-million worth of rice seeds; PHP57.6-million worth of corn seeds; PHP44.6-million worth of assorted vegetables; and PHP100 million under the Survival and Recovery As-

sistance Program of the Agricultural Credit Policy Council.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources will also provide PHP164 million worth of fingerlings and assistance while PHP625,150 worth of drugs and biologics will be provided for livestock and poultry needs.

DA also announced that there are available funds from the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation to indemnify affected farmers.

The agency continues to conduct assessment of damage and losses brought by “Odette” in the agri-fisheries sector.

It coordinates with concerned national government agencies, local government units, and disaster response-related offices.

Prior to the typhoon, a total area of 11,454 hectares of rice have been harvested from Mimaropa, Regions 6, 8, 9, 11, and 12 with an equivalent production of 34,433 metric tons amounting to PHP615.53 million.

As for corn, 2,452 hectares have been harvested from Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Regions 8, 9, 11, and Caraga with an equivalent production of 6,965 metric tons amounting to PHP82.55 million. (PNA)

es of specific goods.

“Sa ngayon po, wala po kaming natanggap na complaints. Katsi-check ko lang uli ngayong umaga at wala ho tayong complaints ng overpricing or at least iyong selling above the SRP (We have not yet received any complaint. I just checked this morning and we have not received any complaint on overpricing or at least selling above the SRP),” he said.

Lopez said supermarkets are complying with the SRP by removing from their shelves items that are not in line with the SRP approved by the agency.

“Iyan po ang ginagawa ng ating mga groceries and supermarkets kaya ho masasabi nating 100 percent ang implementation/compliance po nito (This is what the groceries and supermarkets are doing, that’s why we can

say that implementation/ compliance is 100 percent),” he added.

Lopez said the agency is closely balancing the request of manufacturers to hike prices while protecting consumer welfare.

He said commodity prices were unchanged for about two years since the pandemic started and were only hiked by about 3 percent starting August this year. (PNA)

Supermarkets still compliant with SRP, says Trade chief

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upermarkets have remained compliant with the suggested retail price (SRP) ahead of the Christmas holidays, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said.

In an interview during the Laging Handa briefing over PTV4 on Friday, Lopez said they continue to monitor prices and even came up with advertisements regarding the pric-

NEDA chief: Poor to be center of gov’t recovery strategy

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he poor will be the focus of the government as the country recovers from the pandemic, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said.

In a statement for the 2021 first semester poverty statistics report Friday, Chua said the government achieved four years ahead, or in 2018, the 2022 poverty goal of lifting six million Filipinos out of poverty.

He said that while hitting its target early, the government continued to implement reform programs like the social protection program Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to further uplift Filipinos’ lives.

“The results of the game-changing reforms are clear. Prior to the pandemic, economic growth averaged 6 percent, inflation averaged 3 percent, and the rates of poverty and unemployment were at record lows,” Chua said.

He, however, said the pandemic hit and this hurt the gains the government achieved early on.

Chua, also the National Economic Development

Authority (NEDA) chief, said this will be addressed by the strengthened implementation of the programs towards achieving a more inclusive economy.

“We will also improve our social protection programs to support the vulnerable. To this end, we accelerated the implementation of the PhilSys or the national ID (identification) program (to) provide every Filipino with a unique and digitalized proof of identity,” he said.

As of December 10, Chua said 50 million Filipinos have been registered for the national ID program and around 6.7 million were able to open bank accounts.

He said a fully digital ID will allow the government to more efficiently implement social protection programs and directly disburse funds to the beneficiaries.

“We end this year on track to an early recovery.

Our growth prospects are encouraging. As we collectively strive towards our 2040 vision, the poor will be at the center of our recovery and development

FNEDA, P10

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ECONOMY

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A customer buys food from a popular fastfood chain through its drive thru service. The number of customers using the drive thru service of fastfood stores has dramatically increased during the pandemic. Edge Davao

DTI pursues trade deal with UAE at Global Biz Forum DOLE says days of FB scammers numbered

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he Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Sunday assailed anew the brains behind the devious use of a fake Facebook (FB) account for their personal gains and to dupe victims using the name of Secretary Silvestre Bello III. For months, unscrupulous elements have been using the bogus FB account “Silvestre H. Bello III” to fool unsuspecting victims but the DOLE chief said the long arm of the law will soon catch up with them.

The National Bureau of Investigation is zeroing in on a number of suspects and could soon expose the identity of the scammers.

“Our law enforcers are doing a great job. Arrests can be made earlier than expected,” Bello said in a news release.

“We renew our warning to those behind this nefarious scheme of soliciting gifts, in cash and in kind, that the long arm of the law will eventually catch up with them. Stop now and spare friends, acquaintances, and ordinary netizens from your

evil designs,” he added.

The scammers solicited assistance through the fake account purportedly for the labor chief’s community pantry and to boost his senatorial bid.

Bello is not seeking a Senate seat or any other public office.

The scammers then proceeded to announce that Bello was distributing tons of rice as assistance but the recipients must shoulder the shipping fees.

In all the schemes, the would-be victims were asked to deposit to certain bank accounts.

A number of Bello’s friends obliged, forking out negligible amounts to substantial sums.

“Given that this has become deliberate, the scam is seemingly intended to also damage my reputation,” Bello said.

“For the nth time, the public is advised that I don’t maintain an account in Facebook by the name SILVESTRE H. BELLO III. This is fake,” he said, further advising the public to ignore the phony account. (PR)

D

The forum is a signature event of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, aimed to provide a platform for dialogue among UAE, Asean, and other global businesses and governments.

Held from December 8 to 9, GBF Asean was attend-

ed by other ministers from the UAE government and the Asean and featured over 40 speakers and 25-panel discussions that focused on the changing dynamics of Asean countries and opportunities to increase bilateral trade, business, and investment ties between the two

regions.

“We see complementarities in the resources that each of our countries has, which therefore brings more opportunities for trade and investment. We also value the presence of over 700,000 OFWs in UAE, the third-largest group of foreign workers in UAE, which is a big factor in pursuing trade in services,” Lopez said.

“We also met the Minister of Foreign Trade H.E. Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi as well as with Minister of State H.E. Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh to discuss possible

n internet traffic surge is expected from last Friday, Dec. 17, until Jan. 7 next year as Filipinos are encouraged to celebrate the holidays online anew amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Telecommunications Commission said.

The NTC on Friday advised telecommunication firms and internet service

providers to be prepared with their capacities.

“During the period from 17 December 2021 to 07 January 2022, please observe a heightened level of emergency preparedness to ensure minimal disruption and downtime strictly complying with the prescribed service performance standards at all times,” NTC commission-

er Gamaliel Cordoba said in a memorandum.

“You are hereby directed to fast track your maintenance efforts, increase internet/broadband capacities and ensure that business continuity and disaster recovery protocols are in place and functioning 24/7.”

The Department of Health earlier encouraged Filipinos to conduct gath-

epartment of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez proposed stronger trade and investment ties with the UAE as he joined the inaugural Global Business Forum (GBF) Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) hosted at Expo Dubai 2020.

partnerships in terms of establishing a Joint Commission on economic and trade cooperation between Philippines and UAE that will, hopefully, lead to a comprehensive economic partnership agreement down the road,” he added.

Last year, the Philippines signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement together with Asean member states, forming the world’s largest free trade area in terms of global trade, gross domestic product, foreign direct invest-

erings online despite the recent decline of COVID-19 cases in the country.

The Philippines on Saturday logged 291 more COVID-19 cases, data from the DOH showed, raising the country’s total to 2,847,555.

Of the overall case count, 9,924 are active.

The positivity rate stood at 0.9 percent, the DOH said.

FDTI, P10

NTC: Expect holiday internet traffic surge till January 7 A

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 237 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2021

On the focus of the government shifting to the poor as the country recovers from the pandemic:

The results of the game-changing reforms are clear. Prior to the pandemic, economic growth averaged 6 percent, inflation averaged 3 percent, and the rates of poverty and unemployment were at record lows.”

Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua, Jr. National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) chief

EDITORIAL Malasakit The Filipino’s empathy or “malasakit” is best displayed during disasters and calamities.

The aftermath of Odette’s destruction to lives and property across many parts of the Visayas and Mindanao has flipped the switch to that good old Filipino value of “malasakit” not just in the country but across the world where there is a Filipino community.

From the United States, Australia and Canada, as well as from other parts of Asia, OFWs and Filipino residents in foreign soil have initiated fund drives to send help to kababayans back home who are left homeless or have lost a family member.

When Ulysses struck last year, Filipinos overseas sent their donations to hundreds of typhoon victims. They or-

EDGEDAVAO

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PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

the national association of newspapers

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Filipinos, no matter the distance and circumstances are always prompted to act with one single password -HELP. Without second thoughts, that “malasakit” value is activated with the prompting of that one single word calling for action and response. It is one of the rare occasions that those who have been blessed by the much better world in another country can give back to the country and its people.

Expect that in the coming weeks, help from across all corners of the world will come to make those who suffered from the typhoon’s wrath feel that they have families elsewhere who are ready to lend a hand.

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

ganized fundraisers of different platforms all for the purpose of helping.

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)

7 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO EDGEDAVAO

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t is one of the ingredients in oral rehydration therapy which can save a child from diarrhea. It tastes like your tears. In search of it, a man discovered kissing. And it is found in most Filipino foods including the celebrated bagoong. Yes, you’re right, it’s salt.

Although salt is needed in our body, taking too much of it is bad for our health. “There is convincing data showing that people who eat salty food excessively have a shorter life span than those who eat salty food less,” wrote Dr. Rafael R. Castillo, the health columnist of Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Dr. Castillo cited the study done in Japan. “In the 1950s, the incidence of strokes in Japan reached alarming levels, prompting the government to take urgent action. The salt intake of the Japanese was very high then, and through a concerted multisectoral program which included a lot of public education, the Japanese reduced their salt

intake by half. This reduced the average blood pressure of the population, and the rate of stroke was cut down by 80 percent. The average lifespan in Japan also increased significantly.”

Dr. Castillo believed that what the Japanese did could also be done in the Philippines, more than 50,000 lives can be saved annually.

Sodium and chloride ions, the two major components of salt, are necessary for the survival of all living creatures, including human beings. It is involved in regulating the water content (fluid balance) of the body.

Scientist Claude Bernard made that discovery in the mid-1800s, and he realized the fluid must contain the

WHY TOO MUCH SALT IS BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO right amounts of sodium, chloride, and potassium to allow our cells to grow, work, and survive.

One hundred years later, researcher Homer Smith theorized that the cell-bathing fluid contains similar to the salty seas that bathed and nourished the earliest one-celled organisms.

Salt is so important that it has been mentioned in the Holy Bible several times. In the English translation of the King James Bible, there are forty-one

verses which reference salt, the earliest being the story of Lot’s wife, who was turned into a pillar of salt when she disobediently looked back at the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:26). When King Abimelech destroyed the city of Shechem (Judges 9:45), he is said to have “sowed salt on it” – a phrase expressing the completeness of its ruin. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus referred to his followers as the “salt of the earth.”

Ancient Greeks found out that eating salty food affected basic body functions such as digestion and excretion. This led to salt being used medically. The healing methods of Hippocrates (460 BC) especially made frequent use of salt. Hippocrates mentions inhalation of steam from salt-water.

Today, people are taking salt more than they should have. The Geneva-based World Health Organization recommends that adults should only consume less than 2,000 milligrams of sodium or 5 grams of salt per day. “The average Filipino diet is nowhere near this level,” deplores Dr. Castillo.

“It is around 12-15 grams per day.”

“Limiting salt may be a good idea,” the editors of Super Life, Super Health point out. “It could affect your blood pressure someday, and it may affect other parts of your body, like your bones. But don’t make a huge effort to cut back to less than the recommended limit unless you have high blood pressure.”

A study conducted in the United States of more than 2,000 people showed that older adults with salty diets may have an increased risk of suffering a stroke. The findings, which were published in the journal “Stroke,” said that those who got well above the recommended sodium intake were nearly three times as likely to suffer a stroke over 10 years as people who met guidelines recommended by the American Heart Association.

“High sodium intake was prevalent and associated with an increased risk of stroke independent of vascular risk factors,” wrote Hannah Gardener, a researcher at the University of Miami School of Medicine, who led the study.

Sure, you like your French fries covered with salt, but if you have hem-

orrhoids, salt can make it worse. Excess salt retains fluids in the circulatory system that can cause bulging of the veins in the anus and elsewhere.

High salt intake can also trigger migraine in some people. Migraine is a throbbing headache, usually occurring on only one side of the head. (A woman who had suffered with migraines for 16 years finally experienced relief when researchers from Denmark’s Odense University gave her 500 to 600 milligrams of powdered ginger whenever she felt a headache coming on. Within 30 minutes, her migraine would be gone.)

In a study conducted at the Department of Community Medicine of St. Thomas Hospital in London, researchers discovered that salt could have a life-threatening effect on people with asthma. “A strong correlation was found between table salt purchases and asthma mortality in both men and children,” reported the researchers. Buying the salt wasn’t killing people; eating it was.

Anyone who has passed a kidney stone can verify that this is an experience

FWHY, P10

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EDGEDAVAO

EDGEDAVAO

EVENT

THERE’S LIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE TOWER

Aeon Luxe Properties Inc. led by President-CEO Ian Cruz during the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

Alright, we’re used to the hackneyed line “there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”

Now, let’s put some twist.

There’s a light at the top of the Tower.

Like the symbolical and functional lighthouse, Aeon Towers became that source of light atop the skylines of Davao City.

From a deep slumber it was forced into by the pandemic, Davao City is waking up to a bright Christmas.

To celebrate that “reawakening”, Aeon Luxe Properties Inc. staged its first ever Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony at Aeon Towers on December 1 2021.

The ceremony was set at the Commercial Arcade of Aeon Towers located along JP Laurel Avenue in

By NEILWIN JOSEPH BRAVO

Bajada, Davao City.

The city’s first tallest skyscraper built proudly by a local developer lit up its Christmas Nutcracker themed giant Christmas trees decked in red, gold and silver ornaments that sparkled the streets of Davao in this fine evening.

The nutcracker-themed Christmas Tree.

With the upbeat atmosphere prevailing in the city, ALPI decided to put up a show for the very first time to take part in spreading joy and the spirit of Christmas to Dabawenyos amidst pandemic.

This milestone event is one for the books of its mother company FTC Group of Companies Inc. and property development firm Aeon Luxe Properties Inc. signaling the start of its annual Christmas tradition in the coming years.

“Today, we officially light our Christmas Tree at Aeon Towers as thanksgiving and hope as we celebrate the lights that shine our days, they will also remind us of the darkness that we have triumphed for us to see the stars,” Ian

Entertainers perform during the event.

Cruz said.

Gracing the event for the city government of Davao was City Tourism Officer Generose Tecson, Cherry Al-ag, DATA Presi-

dent with Bernard Al-ag, Judy Colaljo, DOT XI Officer in Charge, Vice Consul Rie Mitsuhashi, Consular Office of Japan in Davao, the Cruz family, ALPI executives and friends from the

media.

To keep up with the followers of Aeon Towers, the event was livestreamed at the official Aeon Luxe Properties Facebook page.

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Christmas in Lubi Plantation

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By MAYA M. PADILLO

J

ust like that and we’re in the most wonderful time of the year. Much different from last year’s Covid-stricken times.

Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation in Kopiat Island, Davao de Oro, ushered in the holidays with Christmas Tree Lighting recently.

The stunning centerpiece of blue and gold sits in The Mill’s lobby welcoming the guests as they walk in.

The colors and accents symbolize not only the colors of royalty and the graciousness of Thai culture, but also the warmth and hope of the holiday season.

The lighting affair was graced by local government and tourism officials of Davao De Oro, representatives from the Philippine Eagle Foundation, Davao media, and influencers, who also gathered to celebrate one of the most cherished traditions and to welcome the beginning of a long and hopefully the more meaningful Christmas amid the pandemic.

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If Christmas presents doesn’t excite you anymore and prefer more sand over snow, make this year memorable by spending the holidays at the resort with family and friends.

To experience the unique Christmas and New Year celebrations ala Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation, clients are encourage a minimum of two nights stay in the island, with promising series of events.

There will be fire dancers, drumbeaters, dance performances, and other live entertainment in this two-night spectacle plus a colorful fireworks display to highlight the occasion.

For New Year’s Eve, Dusit brings in Pop-Latin Band Arriba for a Copacabana Countdown Party at the Pavilion Tent. This famous band has performed for high-end events in the country, offering the sultry

and upbeat sound of Latin music. From salsa, samba to popular songs infused with pop Latin and authentic Latin experience, it assures everyone to have the best of times.

Leave the Holiday stress at home and have a blast this New Year in a tropical climate at P51,514 net per stay.

The resort also offers Holidays at Lubi from December 20, 2021 to January 10, 2022, which includes an overnight stay with set breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and other complementary treats with rates starting at P21,000 net per stay.

By the way, it was not just a usual Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, the event was also a backdrop to Dusit’s partnership with the Philippine Eagle Foundation (PEF).

“Talking about standing tall amidst challenges, the inspiration for this year’s holiday partnership rooted from a common perspec-

tive – passion and commitment. The Philippine Eagle Foundation has been instrumental in the biggest of ways in raising awareness in the conservation mission and educating communities. It has been immensely affected during the pandemic, but has remained steadfast in its mission and vision,” said Faith Dimaano, Marcom manager of Dusit Thani.

True to its commitment to raising awareness on conservation, Dusit Davao is supporting the Fruits for Feathers fundraiser, sharing the wonderful artworks of Davao artists with the guests.

It will also have displays of the PEF merchandise displayed in dusitD2 and Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort, which started this month.

As its way of sharing the hope of the holidays, Dusit carries the campaign hashtags #hopefulholidays and #delightfullydusit, embracing the promise of better days. This reflects in all aspects of the properties’ decorations, promotions, and CSR initiatives.

Hotel Manager Christoph Kuch welcomed everyone with an inspiring message.

“We are a young prop-

erty, but we have managed to remain open. We believe that’s always been because of hope, hope always prevails. Now, as we slowly bounce back, trust that we will strive to be of service to you the best we can. The holiday season is an exciting time, and we have been preparing to give you exactly that,” he said

Agricultural Practices and even drying their beans along the side of the road,” he said.

With the Municipality of San Isidro as one of the major cocoa-producing areas in the Davao region and

best known for their annual Sikwate Festival, Barsicula has seen it as an opportunity to level-up and put premium on their produce to command better price.

“I attended a lot of

2 Davao farmers bag gold, silver in Int’l Cocoa Awards

ut of 235 samples from 53 cocoa-producing countries, two Davao farmers made it to the prestigious International Cocoa Awards (ICA) and joins the roster of best cocoa producers in the world.

ICA through the Cocoa Excellence (CoEX) Program is a biennial global competition recognizing the value of work of cocoa (cacao) farmers by providing them global recognition and celebrate the diversity of flavors from different origins in the world.

For the 2021 edition, the ICA received 235 samples from 53 cocoa-producing countries, four of which from the Philippines and transformed into liquor and evaluated blindly (physical and sensory evaluation

through blind codes) by the CoEX Technical Committee.

Recently, CoEX conferred the 50 best samples during the recent virtual ICA which was celebrated at the Salon du Chocolat in Paris, France in which two of the top producers are Davao farmers.

For ICA Gold Award winner Arthur Lagoc from Talandang, Tugbok District, Davao City, the recognition validates not just his own work but the work of the generations who came before him. He is a second generation cocoa farmer who inherited the family’s 35-year old cocoa farm from his father Juan Lagoc.

“For as long as you adopt good farming practices, you can produce high-quality cocoa beans,”

he said adding that biodiversity in cocoa farms must also be conserved.

“My cocoa trees are intercropped with fruit trees as they create a cooler environment for my cocoa trees to thrive well and survive the heat especially during the dry season. One of our farming practices is the use of livestock manure as organic fertilizer and we don’t practice burning of crop residues under the trees,” he added.

The ICA Silver Award winner Carlos Barsicula from Sawata, San Isidro in Davao del Norte is a testament that even smallholder cocoa farmer from a remote area can be at par with the world’s best.

As a retired army personnel, he said discipline,

hard work and adherence to quality standards are the secret to his success in the international tilt.

“Before I entered the cacao farming, I have seen many cacao farmers who didn’t adhere to the Good

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yet the City Government of Davao continues to aim for excellence and competitiveness in the different aspects of governance.On behalf of the City Government of Davao, we would like to express our gratitude for being chosen again as one of the most competitive cities in the highly-urbanized category in this year’s 9th Regional Competitiveness Summit. Daghang Salamat,” he said CMCI is an annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities

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that measures five competitiveness pillars such as economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure,resiliency, and introducing innovation.

Other cities in the top 10 overall most competitive in the highly-urbanized cities were: Quezon City first, Manila City second, Pasay City third, Muntinlupa City fifth, Makati City sixth, Cagayan de Oro City seventh, Valenzuela City eighth, Pasig City ninth, and Cebu City 10th. By Maya M. Padillo

strategy. No one will be left behind,” he added.

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

The national ID shall be a valid proof of iden-

tity that shall be a means of simplifying public and private transactions, enrollment in schools, and the opening of bank accounts.

ments, and market size.

“The RCEP provides friendly business mechanisms to facilitate trade with key trading partners through clear and transparent procedures. We look forward to utilizing this partnership to further explore trade and investment opportunities with UAE and other countries in the Gulf Region,” Lopez said.

Lopezmetwithmajor UAE investors in logisticsandportoperation, vaccinemanufacturing, AI-enabled ITsystems, cold storage panel systems,andhalalcertifying and advisory group.

Lopez assured the investorsthat“thePhilippines remains in a high growth trajectory asthecountrycontinues itsstridestoreopenthe economy,andcontinued fiscalandadministrative support will be provided as indicated in the CREATEAct,inaddition tootherlegislativemeasures that will ease the foreign equity restrictions in key sectors.”

“We offered to have aninvestmentpromotion and protection agreement,whichwestarted before the pandemic.

We hope to conclude thisearlynextyear.This agreementwilldefinitely improvetheconfidence

of UAE investors in the Philippines. We will be offeringthecountryasan investmentdestinationas welltosovereignwealth funds,” he said.

The trade chief was accompaniedintheGlobalBusinessForumbythe othergovernmentofficialsvirtually,including DepartmentofAgriculture Secretary William Dar and Department of ScienceandTechnology SecretaryFortunatodela Pena.

Lopezsaidapotential trade deal would give a significant boost to the Philippines’agriculture, food, consumer items, electricalandindustrial products, and services sectors.

Lopez,whoisalsothe designatedCommissionerGeneralofthePhilippines’participationinthe Dubai 2020 Expo, also inspectedthePhilippines pavilion, and the UnitedArabEmirates,Saudi Arabia,theUnitedStates, andDPWorldpavilions andotherfacilitiesofthe Dubai Expo.

“ThePhilippinepavilionatExpo2020Dubai, provestobeanexcellent showcaseofourcountry’s richhistoryandheritage, presenting as well the modernFilipinosofthe present,andthefuture,” Lopez said. (PR)

postponed, they currently have six players — Kent Bazemore, Avery Bradley, Talen Horton-Tucker, Dwight Howard, Malik Monk and Austin Reaves — and coach Frank Vogel in the health and safety protocols.

Assistant David Fizdale served as coach on Sunday.

It also was Los Angeles’ first game without

forward Anthony Davis, who sprained his left knee on Friday and is expected to miss four weeks.

Chicago led nearly the entire first half and by as much as 10 points before taking a 61-59 halftime lead. The Lakers took a 65-64 lead early in the third quarter on a floater

by Isaiah Thomas.

The teams traded baskets and leads for the

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Italsoseekstoboost efficiency, especially in dealingwithgovernment agencieswherepeople willonlyneedtopresent one ID during transactions. (PNA)

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trainings to know the best practices and technologies in cocoa production to make sure that every step of the way is based on informed-decision. And thru the Chokolate de San Isidro, Inc., I also shared what I have learned to my fellow cocoa farmers,” he said.

Both winners are farmer-beneficiaries of the Cacao Rehabilitation Program of the Department of Agriculture-XI (DA-XI) through the High Value Crops Development Program where they received production inputs and tools such as cacao seedlings, fertilizers, pruning shears and saws to revive old cacao trees and return to its former glory.

DA-XI Regional Executive Director Abel James I. Monteagudo said that Lagoc and Barsicula’s feat

manifests the DA’s vision to make smallholder farmers competitive both in the local and international market.

“I would like to congratulate Mr. Lagoc and Mr. Barsicula for joining the roster of the Best Cacao Farmers in the world. Your recognition is a big boost to the Philippine cocoa industry at the same time stands as the face of its inclusivity where even smallholder farmers have a fair share and can even make it big in the International Cocoa Awards,” said Monteagudo.

He also urged the winning cocoa farmers and other backyard farmers to collectively group themselves to leverage their international recognition with big industry players. (Celso C. Vergara, DA11)

leashed by ‘Odette’s’ fury.

Residents complained of hunger, a problem the local government is trying to address.

Need for medicines, makeshift clinic Dr. TJ Manalang, head of the General Luna Municipal Health Office said their office was totally wrecked. Medical supplies, however, were salvaged.

“We need oral medicines, medical supplies, and we need to have makeshift clinic at mayor’s house,” Manalang said.

He said many suffered cuts and other injuries during the typhoon’s onslaught. “We ran out of medical supplies and but we got some emergency meds from resorts that we salvaged. But we need lots of it,” he said.

Nilo Reyes, chief of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office of General Luna, said they cannot help as they are also victims.

He was caught during the onslaught but managed to reach the Siargao Sports Complex in Dapa, where thousands had earlier evacuated.

The gym’s roof was ripped off by ‘Odette.’

Reyes narrated that the emergency vehicle he was driving flipped due to strong winds.

“All of our vehicles were either trapped by debris or immobilized,” he said. His crew lost their houses to the typhoon.

“Unrecognizable” “The island is now unrecognizable,” said Atty. Lucille Sering, former secretary of Climate Change, who flew on a helicopter to see the extent of the damage of her home island.

Sering also borrowed a motorbike from a friend and drove around General Luna to see the devastation.

“I think we need drinking water,” Sering said. She offered her property in Del Carmen which has a natural spring water.

Governor Matugas was trapped along with his staff and wife Sol, the former Governor, in San Isidro town in Siargao when ‘Odette’ made

its first of nine landfalls in the Philippines.

He said they sought shelter at the San Isidro Municipal Hall. “This is my second life now,” he said.

General Luna Mayor Rusillon met executives of the telecommunication firm, Globe, whose helicopter landed at the back of the mayor’s property in Poblacion 4 at around 4 p.m. on Friday.

“They promised us we would have a limited signal in a few days,” she said.

Lootings Lootings around shops were reported after the onslaught of the typhoon but kind-hearted individuals gave whatever they have such as food, clothing and space .

April Cuadra of Balay Yuhom got looted. “Some food and drinks were stolen,” she said on Friday noon.

Hundreds of tourists are still trapped in the island, a number of them surviving on salvaged resources.

Siargao airport manager Josepina Nuñez said 44 tourists were able to fly to Manila Saturday afternoon on the plane that flew to Siargao bringing relief goods.

Incoming sweeper flights are courtesy of Sunlight and are loaded with relief goods, said Len Coro, daughter of Del Carmen Mayor Proserfina Coro, who is helping organize the flow.

Philippine Airlines also landed on Sunday afternoon loaded with relief goods.

Tourists trapped here when ‘Odette’ battered the island, rejoiced at the airport as the plane landed. They could now go home.

Nelson Calipes, owner of Mama Coco, a restobar in General Luna, was ecstatic upon the arrival of Philippine Airlines at 4:40 pm. He is bound for Manila.

“We gave all the drinks to people the day after the storm, we organized community pantry, libre kaon (free meals), he said.

“We need shelter now,” Del Carmen mayor Coro said of the urgent need to help residents whose houses were destroyed by ‘Odette.’ (Roel N. Catoto / MindaNews)

remainder of the quarter before Los Angeles took an 84-83 advantage into the fourth.

The Lakers stretched the lead to 90-85 early in the final quarter on a three-point play by DeAndre Jordan, but a short

while later DeRozan hit a turnaround jumper in the lane to put the Bulls op top 94-93.

With Chicago up 9996, Anthony nailed backto-back 3-pointers (both on passes from James) for a 102-99 Los Angeles lead

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he never wants to repeat.

Most stones are calcium-based, so it’s essential that you avoid excessive intake of table salt and condiments high in sodium. Salt restriction will help decrease the concentration of calcium in the urine. According to the US National Kidney Foundation, you should reduce your sodium intake to two to three grams per day.

Women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) should avoid salt at all costs. “People don’t realize that foods with high salt content can contribute to water retention,” says Dr. Susan Clark, medical director of PMS and Menopause Self-Help Center in Los Altos, California.

Most snack foods and other processed foods are high in salt – and some fast-food meals can be extremely high. So, women with PMS should stay away from these foods.

Before buying packaged and processed foods, be sure to read the labels and whenever possible, choose fresh fruits and vegetables.

“We usually recommend cutting down on salt used in cooking and to remove the salt shaker on the table,” Dr. Castillo noted. “But these sources only constitute 20 percent of the salt one usually takes in. The bulk -- around 80 percent -- of the salt being consumed come from processed food and food we order in restaurants.”

For instance, some soups (and this includes instant noodle soups)

contain more than 1,000 milligrams (mg) of sodium per cup. Pizza pies can have 400 mg to 1,200 mg per slice. So if one eats two slices, he or she has already exceeded the recommended daily sodium intake.

Health experts, however, warn that you should try to cut out salt from your diet completely.

That would be dangerous!

In fact, there are also good things about salt, healthwise. For instance, if you are suffering from a stuffy nose, why not try a saline solution? Here’s how to do it: Dissolve a teaspoon of salt in a pint of water, and then use a nose dropper to drop it in your nose.

Gently blow your nose on a tissue.

Having gum pain?

Try a warm saltwater rinse. “Take a few swigs of warm salt water and swish it between your teeth and gums,” advises Dr. Leslie Salkin, director of post-graduate periodontics at the Temple University of School of Dentistry in Philadelphia.

“It has a general soothing effect. If you have an abscess, the salts will help draw it out and drain it.”

He recommends one teaspoon of salt in a glass of lukewarm water.

Salt can also be used as a first line of defense against sore throat. While gargling won’t kill off the germs causing sore throat, it will moisturize and temporarily soothe the upper throat. While there are many possible gargles on the market, salt water is as good as any, and it’s cheap.

secutive games with 10plus steals from Feb. 25 to March 29, 1998. ... Dillon Brooks had his fifth consecutive 20-point game.

Trail Blazers: CJ McCollum (collapsed right lung) and Cody Zeller (patella) did not play. ... The

Trail Blazers set a franchise record with 16 3s in their 125-116 win over Charlotte Friday night.

They were 6 of 20 in the opening half Sunday against the Grizzlies and finished with 11. ... Portland limited the Grizzlies to 38.5% shooting.

break Phoenix’s back at 125-121.

“Actually, going to the game, we really expected a grind-out game, so we’re ready. And it happened that Scottie and Justin made the right decision to pass the ball,” said Tenorio of the crucial feeds on his three-point bombs.

He finished with 15 points that went with nine assists and eight rebounds in a sterling allaround performance.

Ginebra coach Tim Cone said they’re lucky to find good breaks,

mentioning crucial Phoenix turnovers and a play that Matthew Wright failed to convert in the final second of regulation play. “(Phoenix coach) Topex (Robinson) had a good play. It’s just that Matthew Wright was not on the money to make the shot. It could’ve easily won it for them,” said Cone.

The Gin Kings did escape, thus stretching their perfect tournament start to 3-0. The Fuel Masters dropped to 2-2 with two successive defeats.

with 5 minutes to go. The game remained tight until DeRozan took over late.

TIP-INS Lakers: F Trevor Ariza made his season debut after sitting out the first two months with a right ankle injury. The

17-year veteran finished with three points in 15 minutes off the bench ... G Kendrick Nunn was cleared from the health and safety protocols on Sunday, but remains sidelined with a right knee bruise.

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SPORTS

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DeMar DeRozan scored 38 points after missing two weeks in the NBA’s health and safety protocols.

DeRozan returns to power Bulls to victory over Lakers

C

HICAGO — DeMar DeRozan scored 38 points after missing two weeks in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, leading the Chicago Bulls to a 115-110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night (Monday, Manila time).

Nikola Vucevic had 19 points and 13 rebounds, and Lonzo Ball added 19 points as the Bulls snapped a two-game losing streak.

It was Chicago’s first game since Dec. 11 after two were postponed.

LeBron James had 31 points, Carmelo Anthony

added 21 and Russell Westbrook 20 as Los Angeles dropped its second straight.

With the Bulls trailing by a point in the final minute, DeRozan hit an 18-footer for a 111-110 lead with 52 seconds remaining. Following a Lakers miss, DeRozan missed

a shot but then was fouled with 15.6 seconds left after Ball grabbed the offensive rebound. DeRozan then hit both free throws for a 113110 edge.

Before having two games postponed last week because of a COVID-19 outbreak, the Bulls had 10 players in the health and safety protocols. That number is down to four right now, including All-Star Zach LaVine.

Although the Lakers haven’t had any games

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Lillard, Powell combine for 60 as Blazers beat Grizzlies

M

EMPHIS, Tennessee — Damian Lillard scored 32 points, Norman Powell added 28 and the Portland Trail Blazers beat Memphis, 105-100, on Sunday night (Monday, Manila time) to snap the Grizzlies’ five-game winning streak.

Dillon Brooks scored a career-high 37 points for Memphis. The Grizzlies lost for the second time in their last 12 games.

“It’s not like we blew them out,” Lillard said. “We had to execute. We had to get stops. We had to weather a few storms. It was a great win.”

Powell scored 20 in the second half to give the Trail Blazers their second straight victory after they

snapped a seven-game losing streak with a home victory over Charlotte on Friday night.

Portland took the lead, 94-91, on a four-point play

by Lillard with 4:02 left and reclaimed the advantage, 97-95, on a 3-pointer by Powell three minutes later.

“It was a big play,” Powell said about his 3-pointer.

“I was just trying to find an opening. We are not going to get too excited, but it’s a great win for us. It was great to get a gritty win.”

The Grizzlies had a chance to tie at 103 with 5.3 seconds to go, but Desmond Bane’s 3-pointer rimmed out. Nassir Little added two free throws with 1.8 seconds left to seal the win.

“Pulling a game out like

this shows growth,” Lillard said.

Lillard scored 17 points of his 21 first-half points in the first quarter.

TIP-INS Grizzlies: Ja Morant, out since Nov. 26 with a sprained left knee, was removed from the team’s injury report, but did not play.

Morant also returned from the NBA health and safety protocols and is permitted to practice and to be on the bench. Morant was out 12 days with his knee injury before entering protocols. ... The Grizzlies had 10 or more steals for the 11th straight time. The only NBA team with a longer streak was the 1997-98 Boston Celtics, who went 16 con-

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Kings escape past Fuel Masters, keep clean slate

L

A Tenorio fired two big treys with the first sending the game into overtime and the other securing the win as Barangay Ginebra preserved its clean start in the PBA Governors’ Cup with a tough 125-121 win over Phoenix Super LPG Sunday.

Justin Brownlee and Christian Standhardinger delivered huge numbers

and Arvin Tolentino and Scottie Thompson had solid back-up jobs, but Tenorio stole the thunder in the clutch.

“Yung mga fans ang nag-force ng overtime.

Kung wala yung cheers nila, walang overtime,” said Tenorio, still cheered on by the Big Dome crowd while being interviewed as the Best Player of the Game.

Damian Lillard goes 9 for 1 in 38 minutes of action for Portland. PHOTO: AP

“Sa dalawang bubble, yan (cheers) ang hinanap namin. Na-miss namin sila ng husto. And we’re really happy that they’re back,” Tenorio also said.

The Ginebra chief playmaker fired a trey forcing OT at 114-114. And with the game in the balance in extra time, Tenorio pumped in another three-pointer to

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BRILLIANT END The Azkals ended their campaign on a high note as Bienve Maranon tallied a first-half hat trick that turned out to be enough as Myanmar’s late comeback fell short.

PH Azkals end Suzuki Cup stint with win over Myanmar

B

ienve Maranon saved his best for last as he led the Philippine Azkals’ charge in a 3-2 win over Myanmar on the final day of Group A festivities of the AFF Suzuki Cup group stages on Saturday night at the Bishan Stadium in Singapore.

Despite already being eliminated from semifinal contention, the Azkals ended their campaign on a high note as Maranon tallied a first-half hat trick that turned out to be enough as Myanmar’s late comeback fell short.

Maranon quickly tallied a brace with goals in the 16th and 19th minutes to put the Azkals ahead.

He then capped the first half with a 45th-minute goal for the 3-0 count.

Substitute winger Htet Phyo Wai came alive for Myanmar late in the second half, netting a brace in the 74th and 86th minutes, but that was all the Burmese squad could draw near into as the Azkals escaped with the win.

The Azkals will finish the group stages in third place for Group A with six points, while Myanmar will settle for fourth place with three points.

Meanwhile, Thailand sealed the top seed in Group

A after taking down tournament host Singapore, 2-0, at the Singapore National Stadium.

Elias Dolah put Thailand on the board with a 31st-minute goal, while Supachai Jaided eventually iced the game with a goal just before halftime.

This means Thailand will face which among Indonesia and Vietnam will fall to second place in Group B action in the semifinals, while Singapore, which will settle for the second seed in Group A, will take on Group B’s top seed in the other semifinal pairing.

Indonesia and Vietnam remained tied for first place in the said group following a goalless draw in their meeting on Wednesday night, but Indonesia currently holds the tiebreaker on a better total goal difference.

Indonesia will take on Malaysia, and Vietnam will battle Cambodia on Sunday night in simultaneous 8:30 p.m. kickoffs. (PNA)