Edge Davao Volume 14 Issue 267 | Tuesday, February 1, 2022

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

HISTORY MADE SPORTS P 12

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VOL.14 ISSUE 267 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2022

Sara will not allow her children to be vaccinated if F2F classes don’t return STORY ON PAGE 2

Dancers perform lion dance to honor the Chinese New Year in time for the reopening of The Royal Mandaya Hotel in Davao City on Monday. Edge Davao

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 267 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2022

A prayer is offered by the Escandor family led by their matriarch, Violeta, during the blessing of one of Davao City’s premiere hotel, The Royal Mandaya Hotel, before its reopening on Monday. Edge Davao

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Indigent senior citizens receive P5K death aid

opinion as a mother. Eight months after, bahaw na ang bakuna sa sulod sa lawas, unya mag booster na pud unya mag rollout na pud.

Magsabot sa ta na abrihan ang mga eskwelahan para sa face-to-face para in time na abrihan na ang face-to face dili pa paso ang bakuna,” Mayor Sara said on

Monday.

The Department of Health (DOH) announced that preparations are underway for the vaccine rollout of the youngest age group.

The government is eyeing the vaccination of at least 13.5 million children aged 5 to 11 against Covid-19.

The Food and Drug Authorization (FDA) also has already issued emergency use approval for the lower dosage of the Pfizer-BioN-

Tech Covid-19 vaccine for the age bracket.

Meanwhile, the regional office of the Department of Education (DepEd 11) suspended the ongoing pilot implementation of limited face-to-face classes as Davao Region reverted to Alert Level 3 status due to the expected surge in Covid-19 cases last month.

There are five public schools in Davao de Oro, three public schools in Da

ndigent senior citizens received P5,000 death assistance from the local government of Sto. Tomas.

“Naghatag kita og P5, 000 death assistance sa mga indigent senior citizens dinhi sa atuang lungsod kay nakita nato na dako kini ang mahimong tabang sa mga katigulangan. Kini na programa atong gi-implementar kay para mahatagad nato og saktong serbisyo ang mga katigulangan na miyembro ubos sa OSCA,” Mayor Ernesto Evangelista said.

Evangelista said the P5, 000 was given to the surviving heirs per beneficiary as the Evangelista administration’s assistance to the bereaved family of the deceased.

A total of 15 families received the P5, 000 death assistance through the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), in consulta-

lou Taliño Mendoza with TUCP Partylist Board Member Shirlyn Macasarte, former 2nd District Board Member Noel Baynosa, President Roxas Municipal Council under the leadership of Mayor Jonathan Mahimpit extended the said financial assistance to the Roxasnon compatriots who

were severely affected by the pandemic.

Recently, Mendoza also led the distribution of assistance through her “Serbiyong Totoo” program to over 3,000 displaced workers from the towns of Banisilan, Kabacan, Pikit, Pigcawayan, Antipas and Arakan.

The beneficiaries re-

ceived RDCNs (wages) under the Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating Displaced/ Disadvantaged (TUPAD) workers program.

The distribution was conducted through a collaboration between the Department of Labor and Employment 12 (DOLE 12), Office of the Vice Governor, and the Sangguni-

ang Panlalawigan ng Cotabato thru the initiative of Trade Union Congress Partylist (TUCP) Representative Raymond Democrito Cañete Mendoza.

Mendoza is committed to always extending a helping hand to less fortunate Cotabateños including the displaced workers, who are among the focus

Sara will not allow her children to be vaccinated if F2F classes don’t return

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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peaking as a mother, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said she would not allow her children to be vaccinated unless face-toface classes are back as she claims the vaccines will be “useless.”

This is in line with the anticipated vaccination rollout for 5 years old to 11 years old.

“Dili nako ipabakuna ang akong mga anak kung dili ibalik and face-to-face classes. Ibalik niyo muna ang face-to-facae classes para maging useful ang bakuna. That is my personal

tion with the Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA).

The ordinance authored by Councilor Dario Romano states death benefits shall be given to the surviving heirs per beneficiary as the Santo Tomas LGU’s assistance to the bereaved family of the deceased.

Republic Act (RA) No. 9994, otherwise known as the Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010, provides that senior citizens shall be entitled to death benefit assistance of a minimum of P2,000 which will be given to the nearest surviving relative of a deceased senior citizen which amount shall be subject to adjustment due to inflation in accordance with the guidelines to be issued by the DSWD. Meanwhile, Leilani Mae A. Rafol, RSW, the Municipal Welfare and De-

of her “Serbisyong Totoo” program that puts others first including ordinary citizens of the province like the minimum wage earners, consumers, and even vendors.

In December last year, VG Mendoza extended aid to displaced workers of the first district of the Province of Cotabato.

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Beneficiaries from Pres. Roxas grateful for the help received through TUPAD

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he 423 beneficiaries from the municipality of President Roxas in the Province of Cotabato are grateful for the financial assistance received through the TUPAD program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on January 18, 2022.

Vice Governor Emmy-

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VOL.14 ISSUE 267 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2022

NEWS

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Consul General Li Lin of the Chinese Consulate General in Davao says may the Year 2022 manifest the spirit of the tiger to guide the Consulate General and the city government of Davao City as both continue to join hands and stay strong together until victory is achieved against Covid-19. Edge Davao

Chinese communities urged to celebrate Chinese New Year online Covid-19 cases in Davao City declining

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he number of Covid-19 cases in Davao City is now declining, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio bared on Monday.

Mayor Sara said on Monday that based on the report of the Davao City Covid-19 Task Force the city recorded 9,812 active cases of Covid-19 as of January 28, 2020 and declined to 8,624 with 510 new cases as of January 31, 2020.

“Past three days nato less than a thousand na siya compared atong six days ago na more than a thousand ang atong new cases,” the mayor said.

The mayor added that approved for home isolation are 288 patients, 165 are currently admitted to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC), 532 are admitted to the Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities (TTMFs), 72 are admitted in private hospitals, and others are admitted at hospitals outside Davao City.

“Ang TTMFs nato lahi ang capacity and actual availability because there are sometimes problems sa tubig, tulo, naa pa turnaround time sa paglimpyo, very fluid every day,” she said.

The mayor could not say whether there was a factor on some people not undergoing testing in the drop Covid-19 cases.

“Possibly para sa akoa basin pababa na ang surge, humana siya ga-peak ug panaog na siya karon which is mao pud atong makita sa NCR. Paspas nisaka and then nibaba dayon siya,” the mayor said.

Mayor Sara also said that it is no longer a challenge for the city government of Davao to manage Covid-19 cases because if patients are qualified for home isolation they automatically do home isolation.

The mayor also said that as of January 31, 2020 there are 731 houses and five compounds placed under lockdown.

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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Lin said their original plan was to conduct gift-giving but decided to postpone this to sometime later, in compliance with the city government’s executive order on mass gather-

ing and restrictions under Alert Level 3 status.

“Also as a requirement of our home office,” Lin said.

Meanwhile, with the coming of the Chinese Zodiac Year of the Tiger, the Chinese consulate has donated two life-sized tiger mascots to the city government of Davao in celebration of the Chinese New Year together with the local Chinese Community and Dabawenyo

friends.

The two tiger mascots namely “Dongdong” and “Aoao”, symbolize courage and strength. These are displayed in front of the City Hall.

“And as we reflect on the past year, the Consulate General and the Davao City Government have supported and helped each other in the fight against the pan-

tious Diseases (IATF).

On Thursday, five provinces in Mindanao previously classified under Alert Level 2 were placed under Alert Level 3 from January 28 to February 15: Camiguin, Davao Occidental, Dinagat Islands, Sulu, and Tawi-tawi.

Cabinet Secretary and acting spokesperson Karlo Nograles, in a statement January 30, named the following provinces in Min-

danao under Alert Level 3 starting February 1: Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Si-

bugay.

The highly urbanized and independent cities in Mindanao whose Alert Level 3 classification has been extended until February 15 are Cagayan de Oro, Cotabato, General Santos, Iligan, Isabela and Zamboanga.

Basilan was placed under Alert Level 2, along with Batanes, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal in Luzon; Biliran and Southern Leyte in the Vi-

onsul General Li Lin of the Chinese Consulate General in Davao urged the Chinese communities in Davao City to celebrate the Chinese New Year on February 1, 2022 online.

“Taking into consideration of the worldwide spread of Omicron variant, we plan, and we encourage the local Chinese communities, to celebrate online,” Lin said in a text message.

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26 of 27 Mindanao provinces under Alert Level 3 until Feb. 15

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wenty-six of 27 provinces in Mindanao are under Alert Level 3 until February 15, with Basilan, previously under Alert Level 3 from January 16 to 31, now under Alert Level 2 until February 15.

The latest classification in relation to the COVID-19 situation in these areas, is contained in Resolution 159-A of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infec-

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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A street vendor skillfully peels and slices a pineapple while a customer waits at Agdao Public Market in Davao City on Monday. Edge Davao

Continued vaccination allows PH to further reopen economy safely Pump prices up for 5th W straight week today

During the Laging Handa public briefing Monday, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said the gov-

ernment should strengthen its vaccination program in Visayas and Mindanao as well as other parts of Luzon to achieve at least 70 to

80-percent vaccination rate in these areas.

This will give Filipinos the protection from getting severe Covid-19 cases and will help in avoiding congestion of healthcare facilities, said Concepcion, who is also the founder of Go Negosyo.

“Without getting immunity then the threat will always come back. So we make sure that our protection through vaccination

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Net revenues, meanwhile, is at “an all-time high” of P45.1 billion or 7 percent higher year-on-year, it said.

Its provisions for loan loss were at 31 percent or P5.8 billion, lower compared to the same period in 2020, as credit risks stabi-

lized, UnionBank said.

Non-performing loan ratio for the year was at 5 percent, slight lower than 2020’s 5.1 percent, it said.

Total deposits rose 8 percent to P570.5 billion driven by “record growth” of current account savings

ith the easing of travel restrictions and lowering of alert level in Metro Manila and other parts of the country, balancing health and economy will be possible by continuing the vaccination drive against coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), an adviser to the President said.

should be there,” he added.

Starting February 1, Metro Manila, Batanes, Bulacan, Cavite, Rizal, Biliran, Southern Leyte, and Basilan will be placed under Alert Level 2.

The eased travel restrictions, in which facility-based quarantine is lifted, for international arrivals will also begin Tuesday.

Concepcion said overseas Filipinos and foreign

account (CASA) deposits which were at P341 billion, the bank said.

Total loans receivables were at P359.8 billion, higher by 6 percent compared to the previous year.

Customer accounts grew

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UnionBank posts P12.6B net income, up 9% in ‘21

nionBank of the Philippines on Monday said it posted a net income of P12.6 billion in 2021.

The total is 9 percent higher compared to the the previous year, it said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

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ump prices of petroleum products will be hiked anew today, marking the fifth straight week of increases in the country.

In an advisory, Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. said it will increase prices per liter of gasoline and diesel by P0.75 each, and kerosene by P0.45.

Cleanfuel and Petro Gazz will implement the same changes, excluding kerosene which they do not carry.

The changes will take place at 6 a.m. on Tuesday, February 1, for all the firms except for Cleanfuel which will adjust prices at

4:01 p.m. the same day.

Other firms have yet to make similar announcements for the week.

The latest data available from the Department of Energy (DOE) indicate that year-to-date adjustments stand at a total net increase of P4.95 per liter for gasoline, P7.20 per liter for diesel, and P6.75 per liter for kerosene as of January 25, 2022.

Pump prices have only been increased so far this year, following a net increase of P17.65 per liter for gasoline, P14.30 per liter for diesel, and P11.54 per liter for kerosene in 2021.

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ECONOMY 5

Several resort owners in the municipality of General Luna have begun repairing their properties, like this one spotted on Saturday (29 January 2022), after super typhoon “Odette” wreaked havoc in Siargao Island last December. MindaNews photo by ROEL N. CATOTO

Price hikes expected in select primary goods in February AC Energy, UPC Renewables begin building of 3rd solar plant in India

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C Energy Corp (ACEN) on Monday said it has started the construction of its largest solar plant in India together with UPC Renewables.

The 300 MWac (Megawatt alternating current) Masaya Solar farm is expected to generate 691 GWh of clean power and avoid about 635,720 metric tons of CO2 per year, Ayala Group’s unit told the stock exchange.

Located in the Khand-

wa District, State of Madyha Pradesh, the solar plant is expected to provide about 500 jobs during the construction period, AC Energy said.

AC Energy said the joint venture company is in the process of securing a 20year loan from the State Bank of India to fund the project which is estimated to cost $220 million.

“Though the pandemic continues to present chal-

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Based on a report by Bernadette Reyes on GMA’s “24 Oras Weekend” on Sunday, prices of sardines are expected to go up by P0.30 to P1.25, condensed milk by P2.25 to P3.75, and evaporated milk

by P1.75 to P2.25.

Price increases were earlier recorded in Pinoy tasty, which is now at P38.50, up P3.50 from the P35 in August 2021, and in Pinoy pandesal, which is up by P2 to P23.50 from

P21.50.

Sellers of food items such as pork and fish have also noted increases, which middle man blamed on the successive increases in the pump prices of petroleum goods.

Oil firms have so far only implemented upward price movements this year, with at least one petroleum product up by P1 per liter in the past four weeks.

At present, the Litex

Market range from P130 to P140 per kilogram; kasim/ pigue at P320 per kilogram, and liempo at P360 per kilogram.

Higher prices were recorded at the Marikina Public Market where kasim/ pigue prices range from P380 to P390 per kilogram, and liempo from P380 to P390 per kilogram.

According to the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), prices of fish are expected to improve as fisherfolk will once again be allowed to harvest as the closed season ends.

“Wala tayong nakitang shortage dito sa area, and

new and relevant business contacts. This is where the public and private business support community can come in and make a difference,” he said during the January 25 launch of the platform.

The Deutsche GIZ implements projects and programs on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and supports the development of the ASEAN Access.

In the ASEAN Access MATCH, Elges said public and private event organiz-

ers can run an unlimited number of matchmaking events of their choice for an unlimited period of time.

“We have seen that we can all be productive and achieve a lot by connecting virtually online so reducing the time and also the cost to meet a potential client or new supplier. MATCH makes business matchmaking attainable for everyone,” he said.

Apart from showcasing products and technologies during events, Elges added registered members of ASEAN Access can promote

these for free in the platform.

Associate Professor Dr. Veerapong Malai, director-general of the Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion in Thailand, said the platform features country information and key sectors, thus users can utilize business insights in identifying opportunities and trends.

Asean Coordinating Committee on MSMEs chair, Dato Suriani binti Dato Ahmad, said that beyond the regulatory barriers to trading goods and services, the

onsumers are set to tighten their belts in the coming month, as producers are scheduled to implement hikes in the prices of select primary goods.

marami pang stock dun sa cold storage. ‘Pag dating ng March, tingnan na lang ilan pa ang kulang,” SINAG Chairman Rosendo So said in the same report.

(We do not see any shortage in the area, and there are still a lot of stocks in cold storage. Assessment should be done on the inventory in March.)

Inflation clocked in at 3.5% in December, the fastest level in over a year as commodity prices surged during the month. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is scheduled to release January inflation data on February 4.

additional challenges faced

by MSMEs include having limited access to information and distribution channels.

“Needless to say, having access to distribution networks is a crucial component for businesses particularly in diversifying (their) customer base domestically or internationally,” he said.

Ahmad said the Committee has been forging partnerships with economic players among Asean member states, including some agencies and enablers,

Matchmaking platform launched for MSMEs in SEA going global

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icro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Southeast Asian countries finding new customers, suppliers, and events where they can showcase their products and technologies for free can utilize a business matching portal to help them go international.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Coordinating Committee on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises has officially launched the ASEAN Access MATCH, a virtual matchmaking platform that

allows businesses in the region and beyond to participate in live market information events, and book cross-border matchmaking meetings, according to a news release on Sunday.

Reinhold Elges, country director of GIZ (Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) Thailand, said the success of MSMEs is vital to economic growth in the region.

“However, when it comes to international trade, one key issue that businesses, especially MSMEs, face is the need to find

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6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.14 ISSUE 267 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2022

On the government’s efforts in sustaining long-lasting peace and development in the country:

Importante sa amin ni Pangulong Duterte ang kapayapaan, lalo na sa Mindanao. Wala na po dapat na patayan. Sino ba namang gustong magpatayan Pilipino laban sa kapwa Pilipino? Masakit ‘yon.”

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go

EDITORIAL Why kids should be vaccinated Contrary to ordinary belief, Covid-19 vaccines do not wear out in eight months. There is no scientific evidence saying it will.

For how long? We do not know yet. Experts in advanced countries say the research is still ongoing.

Hence, it is not yet known how long the protection of the COVID-19 vaccine will last. We will know more through ongoing research. The fact is that clinical trials are currently happening to find out if we will need booster doses on an annual or longer basis.

What we do know is that evidence shows the Pfizer (Comirnaty), Moderna (Spikevax) and the AstraZeneca (Vaxzevria) COVID-19 vaccines prevent severe disease, people going to hospital and dying.

The aim of most global COVID-19 vaccination program is to

EDGEDAVAO

Providing solutions to a seamless global village.

PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

the national association of newspapers

Printed by Zion Accuprint Publishing Inc. Door 14 ALCREJ Building, Quirino Avenue, 8000, Davao City, Philippines Tel: (082) 224-1413 301-6235 Telefax: (082) 221-3601 www.edgedavao.net editorial@edgedavao.net marketing@edgedavao.net edgedavao@gmail.com

And now to the burning question if kids need to be vaccinated even if there’s no face to face school yet?

Vaccination might help prevent school closures and disruptions to extra-curricular activities.

Vaccination of children could also help family and community through reduced spread of the virus. Thus, vaccination in children is effective and safe.

And if schools are not yet open for F2F yet as they are currently are, vaccination could help hasten its reopening. The more kids get vaccinated, the earlier we can get kids back to normal classes.

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

reduce COVID-19 related harm. Vaccines do this by preventing serious illness and death, and, as much as possible, transmission of the virus that causes disease.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

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

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VOL.14 ISSUE 267 • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2022

VANTAGE POINTS

7

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

CORRUPTION STARTS FROM US “Corruption,” said Pratibha Patil, “is the enemy of development, and of good governance.

It must be gotten rid of. Both the government and the people at large must come together to achieve this national objective.”

American President Joe Biden likens corruption to cancer. “A cancer that eats away at a citizen’s faith in democracy,” he explains, “diminishes the instinct for innovation and creativity; already-tight national budgets, crowding out important national investments. It wastes the talent of entire generations. It scares away investments and jobs.”

Let’s define corruption first. The dictionary defines it as “dishonest or fraudulent by those in power, typically involving bribery.” Examples of those in power are government officials or police officers.

More often than not, corruption in the Philippines is associated with politicians. In fact, this May election, one of the issues being brought up by opponents of the sitting government officials is corruption.

The Philippines ranked 117 out of 180 countries and territories in the 2021 Corruption Perception Index of Transparency International. Its corruption perception index (CPI) was 33, a one point dip from 2020.

Right beside the Philippines in the index were Algeria, Egypt, Zambia, and Nepal. It is the country’s lowest score on the index since 2012.

The CPI score indicates the perceived level of corruption on a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 means that a country is perceived as “highly corrupt” and 100 means that a country is perceived as “very clean.”

Transparency International is a German registered association founded in 1993 by former employees of the World Bank.

As a global organization, it has national chapters in more than 100 countries and its goal is to “end the injustice of corruption” in all fields of life – from business to government.

The data TI use to measure CPI covers the following: bribery, diversion of public funds, officials using their public office for private gain without facing consequences, ability of governments to contain corruption in the public sector, excessive red tape in the public sector which may increase opportunities for corruption, and nepotistic appointments in the civil service.

The data also include laws ensuring that public officials must disclose their finances and potential conflicts of interest, legal protection for people

who report cases of bribery and corruption, state capture by narrow vested interests, and access to information on public affairs/government activities.

A TI survey of nearly 20,000 citizens from 17 countries was conducted between June and September 2020. The result of the survey, which was released in November that year, showed that more Filipinos are confident in the government’s tackling of corruption compared with Asian neighbors. Most of those surveyed also believed that corruption in government remains a big problem.

As reported by Business World, 64% of Filipino respondents think that corruption has decreased in the last 12 months, while 24% believe that it has increased.

Now, my question is: Who made these government officials corrupt in the first place? I am sure everyone will disagree with my observation but my answer is: the people themselves, the voting public.

How come, you ask. Well, it is the people who select these government officials. Remember the definition of corruption is “dishonest or fraudulent by those in power.” During the election, who are “those in power”? Yes, you are right, the vot-

ing public.

Since the voting public has the power, they generally ask from those who are running some favors. There are those who ask money “just for drinking some alcoholic beverages” or ask for money to build a basketball court or something in the form of a donation.

The tendency for these candidates in order for them to get the vote they want is to give these people whatever they ask. In fact, during the election, there are those who buy votes from the public in order for them to win.

Now, there are those who win that are not really deserving. But they win anyway because of money. And those who have really the capabilities to serve the people emerge losers because they have not given anything during the campaign.

The sad thing is: once the winners are proclaimed, it’s payback time. How will these winners cope up with the expenses they have incurred during the campaign? Because of the huge money they released during the election campaign, these politicians have to get money from the office.

It takes all forms to siphon funds from the government treasury without the people knowing it. For every project

they initiated, there is always that kickback and percentage.

For every document signed, money is always involved.

Those who helped during the campaign are given some offices or jobs they actually are not capable of. So, what happens? Your answer is as good as mine.

The Philippine political arena is mainly arranged and operated by families or alliances of families, rather than organized around the voting for political parties, said The Rulemakers, published by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism.

Called the padrino system, one gains favor, promotion, or political appointment through family affiliation (nepotism) or friendship (cronyism), as opposed to one’s merit. The padrino system has been the source of many controversies and corruption in the Philippines, Wikipedia reports.

If only the voting public doesn’t ask favor, donation, or anything from those who are running, then presumably corruption can be lessened. The proclaimed winners may be less likely to usurp money from the government because people voted for them because of their capabilities to run the office they are aiming for.

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

AMBUSH IN ‘NICAR-AGDAO’ The rise of vigilantism in Davao at a time when the city was given the moniker as the country’s “murder capital,” started in the early 1980s when the communist insurgents, with support from the threatened masses, slowly transformed the place into a workshop for urban gueril-la warfare.

A handful of personalities has been given the credit for organizing’s city’s first vigilante movement, notably the Alsa Masa (Revolt of the Grassroots).

One was Wilfredo Aquino, head of a state-organized Civil-ian Home Defense Force, a paramilitary group, and the village chieftain of Agdao, a place that gained notoriety as ‘Nicar-Agdao’ where his family owned a sprawling estate that is home to many of their invest-ments.

William Chapman, in ‘Inside the Philippine Revolution,’

(1987) deri-sively portrayed Aquino, fondly called ‘Baby’ due to his small size and short height, saying: “He was not a beloved man.

In the huge Davao slum called Agdao, his family’s interests were of the sleazy sort— cockpits, bars, massage parlors, and brothels—and in respectable circles his reputation was most unsavory. He was also the political overlord of Agdao, its baran-gay captain, and he ruled by favors, deals, and the force of a forty-man unit of the Civilian Home Defense Force. “Baby’s” reign coincided with the growing influence of the New People’s Army.”

On the rebel crossfires for some time, Aquino, on April 22, 1986, just minutes after leaving the family-owned brothel in a jeep with his driver and supposed mistress, was

blocked on the road by men in fatigue uni-form armed with M-16 rifles, fired upon, and instantly killed.

The NPA’s ‘regional partisan command of Davao City’ owned up to the ambush in a statement released to the press, saying: “Let his death serve as a sobering reminder to all fascist forces, military and paramili-tary alike, that the New People’s Army will never allow crimes against the masses without retribution.”

William Branigin, in an article (‘Killings by Filipino Communist Re-bels End Lull in Mindanao’) in the June 2, 1986, issue of Washington Post, described Aquino’s death as “largely unlamented because of his unsavory reputation.”

The transformation of Agdao into a rebel hotbed started to root in poverty-stricken squat-

ter colonies that had looked up to the insurgents as some kind of a Robinhood for sharing their loot at the expense of or-ganizing them into mass-based supporters. Because of this, Aquino’s turf was more hostile to the military than to the communist operators such that even the NPA’s “its propaganda teams roamed the barangay virtually untroubled by the regular police.”

By 1985, according to records, around thirty members of the CHDF were already killed in Agdao alone, and for 198485, around 800 violent deaths were charted throughout the city. Interviewed by the Asian Wall Street Journal prior to his slaying, Aquino, which was apathetic, said: “When you’re a barangay captain you have three choices. You fight back, you abandon your post, or you get

killed. I cannot run away.”

Many of the NPA-related crimes, Chapman wrote, “were non-political slayings resulting from gang wars and routine street crime, but most were the product of the brutal conflict between the NPA and the authorities. In a single year, NPA sparrow units killed more than seven-ty city policemen, many in crowded central markets, and made off with their pistols, making law enforcement so dangerous that traffic police were removed from the streets.”

NPA vendetta was not only focused on eliminating Aquino.

His brother, Pinky, was shot in the head while attending Mass inside the Redemptorist Church at Bajada; he barely survived the assassination which was also attributed to the communist insurgents.

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Left: Herman Miller’s iconic Eames Lounge Chair and Foot Rest beside the Resting Bear. Right: CWC Interior Davao’s showroom.

THINKING INTERIOR FIXTURES WITH CWC If there is one thing that is certain in these uncertain times, it is that home is where the heart really is.

With most residents spending more time at home than ever before, the past two years have seen many urbanites improving the spaces at home.

People have embraced taking in more plants into their spaces to create a sense of balance and nature to their homes while some converted some spaces for that work-at-home functions. Some, like me, found the need to create more storage space through the addition of more custombuilt cabinets and shelves.

While others found the need to improve their living, dining, or bed rooms with furniture that not only complete the look they want, but also make them happy.

Speaking of home improvements, last December saw the opening CWC Interiors, a multi-product company carrying an array of high-quality interior and architectural furnishing products for interior architecture leading in the corporate, hospitality and home industry in the Philippines.

Furniture to complete a space Furnishing a home is

always an on-going project. Oftentimes, the reality is that it is difficult to find that one perfect chair or table to complete one’s space. And given the hassles of travel and shipping furniture, we often have to settle on second-rate, lower quality imitations.

With CWC Interiors, people who want the best for their spaces can now find that comfy and iconic Eames Lounge Chair by Herman Miller for the living room, that curvy Panton Chair for their dining room, or that iconic Spun Chair by Magis for the patio.

Another area where CWC excels at is their wide collection of desks and ergonomic chairs that make any work-from-home arrangement more pleasant and comfortable.

Love to accessorize?

CWC carries a variety of functional and decorative pieces by Vitra, and various lamps by Lodes. I especially love CWC’s Animal Collec-

Clockwise from above: Work-from-home is made better with the Airia Desk and CosmChair. Eams Molded Plywood Dining Chair and Eams Elephant. Panton Chair Junior, Eames Elephant, various home and storage accessories by Vitra, and Wooden Doll collection.

tion which features Eames Elephant, the Abstract Puppy Dog chairs, and Resting Bear, which are sure to add a bit of whimsy and charm to any space.

CWC also carries a spectrum of lamps and lighting accessories that are sure to brighten up any room.

“All of the pieces here have the same price as our showrooms in Manila,” shared Agnes Sauler,

CWC International Corporation’s VP - Sales and Marketing. “We used to get clients from Davao in our Manila showroom and they had to pay extra for shipping the pieces they bought back to Davao.

With the CWC Interiors now in Davao, they don’t need to spend more.”

While I do admit that many of the pieces at CWC may be out of reach

for some, owners of these works of functional art can rest easy and get their money’s worth, as good quality furniture lasts generations and goes beyond the design trends of the season.

CWC Interiors Davao, is located at Matina IT Park, McArthur Highway, Davao City. You can check out their online catalog at https://shop.cwcinteriors. com.ph

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nly 30 to 33 percent of males aged 15 and above are circumcised.” -- World Health Organiza-

Circumcision is probably the world’s most widely performed procedure.

According to some studies, approximately one-third of males worldwide are circumcised, most often for reasons other than medical indication.

To people who practiced Judaism, circumcision is very important. In fact, over 90% of adherents have the procedure performed as a religious obligation.

The basis for its observance is found in the Torah of the Hebrew Bible, in Genesis chapter 17, in which a covenant of circumcision is made with Abraham and his descendants.

Surgical removal of foreskin Circumcision is actually the surgical removal of all or part of the prepuce (pronounced “pre’pyoos”) – that flap of tissue covering the head of the penis – or foreskin. In the United States and most industrialized countries, circumcision is usually performed on the first or second day after birth and usually takes only about 5 to 10 minutes. “It becomes more complicated and riskier in infants older than two months and in boys and men,” American doctors claim.

But not so in the Philippines, where most boys are circumcised between the ages of 10 and 12. If you go to the rural areas, especially during summer, you will see the long line of boys waiting for their turn to be cut. “They’re proud to go back to school, to talk about how brave they were,” says one doctor.

Aside from there is more time to recuperate after the surgical procedure, the other reason why summer is the most popular time for circumcision in

To cut or not to cut (Wikipedia)

the country is its being the most ideal time both for those conducting the medical mission and for those who will be circumcised.

“It’s the optimal time for us and the kids, because we’re on break, and they have ample recovery time, so their circumcision won’t interfere with school,” Dr. Victoria Dimacali was quoted as saying by GMA News Online.

Here’s what a foreigner says of the circumcision he had witnessed: “Filipino boys are circumcised by the group during summer time under the banana tree by a manunuli using dorsal slit method that takes only few seconds without anesthesia. They don’t mind being seen by others kids to be circumcised, too.”

Circumcision in the Philippines is not related to religion. The vast majority of Filipinos are circumcised - whether they are Catholic, Muslim, or whatever. It is a “coming of age” ritual, and traditional for a boy to prove his manhood properly, it should be done without anesthetic.

Ancient operation Until now, there is no firm consensus as to how it came to be practiced worldwide. One theory is that it began in one geographic area and spread from there; another is that several different cultural groups began its practice independently. That was according to the authors of the study, “Neonatal circumcision: a review of the world’s oldest and most controversial operation.”

In 1891’s History of Circumcision, physician Peter Charles Remondino suggested that circumcision started as a less severe form of emasculating a captured enemy: penectomy

Jewish ritual circumcision (Wikipedia)

CIRCUMCISION: THE PASSAGE TO MANHOOD

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO from Wikipedia

or castration would likely have been fatal, while some form of circumcision would permanently mark the defeated yet leave him alive to serve as a slave.

However, the history of the migration and evolution of the practice of circumcision is followed mainly through the cultures and peoples in two separate regions. In the lands south and east of the Mediterranean, starting with Sudan and Ethiopia, the procedure was practiced by the ancient Egyptians and the Semites, and then by the Jews and Muslims, with whom the practice traveled to and was adopted by the Bantu Africans. In Oceania, circumcision is practiced by the Australian Aborigines and Polynesians.

In tribal settings, circumcision is nearly always associated with traumatic puberty rites. Occasionally the severed part is offered as a sacrifice to spirit beings. According to Encarta Encyclopedia, the operation certifies the subject’s readiness for marriage and adulthood and testifies to his or her ability to withstand pain. Circumcision may also distinguish cultural groups from their uncir-

cumcised neighbors.

Medical reasons Since the 19th century, many English-speaking peoples have adopted the custom of circumcision, primarily for medical reasons.

In modern medical practice, circumcision of males is a minor operation usually performed in infancy for hygienic purposes. It is currently estimated that 85 percent of North American males are circumcised. The incidence among non-Jewish populations of continental Europe, Scandinavia, and South America is low.

There is good but not ideal evidence that circumcision reduces the incidence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in boys under two years of age, and there is fair evidence that the reduction in incidence is by a factor of 3–10 times.

The 2012 Technical Report of the American Academy of Pediatrics Task Force on Circumcision said there is a plausible biological explanation for the reduction in UTI risk after circumcision. It said that the orifice through which urine passes at the tip of the penis hosts more urinary system disease-causing bacteria in uncircumcised

boys than in circumcised boys, especially in those under six months of age. As these bacteria are a risk factor for UTIs, circumcision may reduce the risk of UTIs through a decrease in the bacteria population.

Circumcision has also been found to have protective effect against the risks of penile cancer in men, and cervical cancer in the female sexual partners of heterosexual men. “Childhood or adolescent circumcision is associated with a reduced risk of invasive squamous cell carcinoma in particular,” said one report. “There is an association between adult circumcision and an increased risk of invasive penile cancer; this is believed to be from men being circumcised as a treatment for penile cancer or a condition that is a precursor to cancer rather than a consequence of circumcision itself,” another report pointed out.

Meanwhile, studies comparing disease rates among circumcised and uncircumcised men in the AIDS-ravaged Africa show on average three times more HIV infection among the uncircumcised. One

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velopment Office -OIC, said the ordinance provides the guidelines for the implementation of assistance as the

Santo Tomas LGU granted a maximum of P5,000 per beneficiary to defray funeral or burial expenses.

demic and the recovery of the economy. May the Year 2022 manifest the spirit of the tiger to guide us as we continue to join hands and stay strong together until victory is achieved against Covid-19,” the consulate posted.

On the other hand, donations and assistance from Davao City’s sister cities in China continue to arrive.

Recently, donations of medical preventive supplies from Fujian Provincial Government, Davao’s sister city Nanning City in China, and the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA) were turned over by Lin to Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.

The turn over of donation, which was held online, comprised of 10,000 medical protective masks and 3,000 protective suits from the Fujian Provincial government; 20,000 medical face masks, 550 medical protective suits,

and 2,000 isolation gowns from the city of Nanning; and 30 units of medical oxygen generator machines from the CFPA. In his message, Lin emphasized that the relationship of the two countries (China and the Philippines) had withstood the test of time and difficulties.

Bearing in mind the fundamental interest of the people of both countries, he hoped that both sides could continue forging ahead for greater development for the bilateral relationship between China and the Philippines.

Mayor Sara also expressed her gratitude to Fujian Provincial government, Nanning City, and the CFPA for their donations. She said these will add to Davao City’s protective tools and would be an invaluable asset to the city and its medical healthcare workers who continued to serve in the frontlines.

2.5 million in 2021, with close to 1 million accounts coming from its “digital-only” account opening offering, its president and CEO Edwin Bautista said.

In late 2021, the company announced it would acquire the consumer banking business of CitiGroup in the Philippines.

“Together with our digital initiatives, our top priority in 2022 is the smooth transition and migration of Citi’s consumer banking business. We

are committed to uphold Citi’s superior customer experience and provide a new home for all Citi employees in UnionBank,” Bautista said.

UnionBank’s digital bank UnionDigital has also secured a digital banking license from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in 2021.

The lender has also been actively working with authorities in the industry-wide crackdown of cyber crimes that saw an increase in the recent months.

chamber of commerce, and industry associations that aim to establish regional partnerships with international organizations.

“These network partners will greatly contribute to accelerating the growth of international trade in the region by supporting MSMEs and other businesses through ASEAN Access and ASEAN Access MATCH,” he added.

Satvinder Singh, deputy secretary-general for Asean Economic Community, said businesses in the region have resumed as the vaccination rates in the Asean cities have reached 70 percent.

Singh cited the Asian Development Bank forecast that Southeast Asian economies will grow by 5.1 percent in 2022 from the 3 percent it projected last year.

He also highlighted the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)

which came into force in the first week of January this year.

Singh said RCEP, the largest free trade agreement in the world connecting Asean and major economies, is expected to stimulate expansion of regional trade and investments, and further strengthen the resilience of the supply chains among the signatory states.

“Thus we all believe that the launching of the ASEAN Access MATCH could not have been more timely than now,” he added. “Today, our businesses need to look not just only within their own economies. They need to look out, they need to globalize, they need to internationalize.”

Singh thus urged ASEAN MSMEs to explore the platform as one of their “must go” tools for their internationalization activities when they look for new markets around the world. (PR)

hopped on an exercise bike in the players’ gym.

Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg tweeted: “Nadal hugs everybody in his team — including Marc Lopez who is already in a Rafa 21 shirt — and then collapses to the floor with exhaustion. Eventually he’s persuaded to get on a bike to cool down, which he, amazingly, is able to do.”

Later, Rothenberg added: “Nadal is still on the bike, by the way. He’s not human.”

Nadal only got off the bike to accept congratulations from Aussie tennis legend Rod Laver, who was in the crowd to witness history being made.

How did he manage to get up?

When he went two sets down against Medvedev, plenty thought it was only a matter of time before the Russian celebrated the second major triumph of his career. “It’s over,” former tennis star Yevgeny Kafelnikov tweeted.

But Nadal is the biggest fighter on tour and his willpower, as much as his extraordinary talent, is what kept him in the match until it was his for the taking.

“I just wanted to keep believing until the end to give me a chance and that’s what I did,” Nadal said.

“I kept fighting to try and find a solution, there a lot of moments that can decide a final like this.

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The National Capital Region and seven provinces were also downgraded from Alert Level 3 to Alert Level 2.

Outside Mindanao, the following cities and provinces were placed under Alert Level 3: Abra, Apayao, Baguio City, Benguet, Kalinga and Mountain Province in the Cordillera Administrative Region; Dagupan City, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan in Region 1; City of Santiago, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino in Region 2; Angeles City, Aurora, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, Olongapo City, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales in Region 3; Batangas, Laguna, Lucena City and Quezon

Province in Region 4-A; Marinduque, Romblon, Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro and Puerto Princesa City in Region 4-B; Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate, Naga City and Sorsogon in Region 5; Aklan, Antique, Bacolod City, Capiz, Iloilo City, Iloilo, Negros Occidental and Guimaras in Region 6; Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor in Region 7 and Ormoc City, Tacloban City, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar and Western Samar in Region 8. (Yas D. Ocampo / MindaNews)

nationals who would like to travel in the Philippines for business or leisure were glad about this move of the government.

“Many would like to enter (our country) as we come close to March. (It’s) summer period, many tourists will visit our different islands. So it will open up and will help our small and micro entrepreneurs,” he said.

Concepcion said this decision of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF) to ease travel rules will

help in the recovery of the tourism sector, especially in Typhoon Odette-hit areas in Visayas and Mindanao.

This would also support the country’s economic growth for the last two quarters of the Duterte administration, he said.

“We want to turn over the economy in a healthy state, not sick with Covid. That is our objective in the private sector.

And hopefully, it will continue to be that way. So we’re looking at a good first quarter and hopefully a great second quarter,” he added. (PNA)

lenges, we are confident that we will complete the constructions of this solar development safely and at the earliest possible time, to contribute even more meaningfully to India’s renewable energy goals,” ACEN’s International Group head Patrice Clausse said.

The development will be a “significant addition” to India’s renewables capacity, said

UPC-AC Energy Solar CEO and co-founder of UPC Solar Asia Pacific Pranab Kumar Sarmah said.

AC Energy’s joint venture company with UPC Renewables, UPC-AC Energy Solar, has built a total of 630 MWp across India.

Earlier in 2021, AC Energy said it has a commitment to become net-zero by 2050.

moments,” he added.

The Filipinas appeared headed for victory in regulation thanks to Quinley Quezada, who flicked in a shot off a Katrina Guillou header four minutes after the restart to put her team ahead.

It was a well-deserved goal for the Filipinas, who had dominated possession in the first half but lacked the finishing in the final third to truly trouble the Chinese Taipei goal-keeper.

Chinese Taipei, ranked 39th in the world, turned up the pressure after giving up the goal, but the Philippines defense remained resolute with Dominique Randle and Hali Long again turning back the Chinese Taipei attack.

But Chinese Taipei would not be denied. Zhuo scored a superb goal in the 82nd minute, firing from well outside the box into the top left corner, beyond the reach of McDaniel.

The Philippines pressed forward in search of a winner, and Bolden nearly came through in the closing minutes but was kept out of the goal by Chinese Taipei.

But the Japan-based striker converted when it mattered most, and the Philippine squad erupted in celebration when she sent her kick past Chinese Taipei ‘keeper Cheng Ssu-yu and punched their ticket to Australia/New Zealand in 2023.

“It hasn’t really hit me yet,” said McDaniel afterward. “It’s surreal. I’m just really proud of this team. To be able to create history like this… It was just a dream a couple of months ago, but now it’s reality.”

“We lost our composure a

little bit,” Stajcic said of their second half effort. “That’s probably the disappointing part of the game, from a tactical perspective. But on a night like this, who really cares?”

Even before their World Cup qualification, it had already been an unforgettable tournament for the Philippine women’s national football team.

They opened their campaign with a 1-0 triumph against Thailand -- their first victory over their Southeast Asian rivals in 13 attempts.

They displayed a commendable effort in a 4-0 loss to powerhouse Australia, before sealing their spot in the knockout round with a comprehensive 6-0 demolition of Indonesia in their final Group B game.

But the victory against Chinese Taipei was their most important so far, as it assured them of a first-ever appearance in the FIFA Women’s World Cup -- an impressive feat for a team ranked 64th in the world by FIFA. Australia and New Zealand are co-hosting the Women’s World Cup next year.

Also through to the semifinals are defending champion Japan, which trounced Thailand 7-0 in their own quarterfinal match. They play China, who won 3-1 against Vietnam.

After Australia was ousted in the quarters by South Korea, the three losing quarterfinalists will figure in a single round-robin playoff repechage, where the best team after three matches will secure a World Cup berth.

The two losing teams will advance to the inter-confederation playoffs, scheduled for February 2023.

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study of a group of HIV-infected men having sex with men in the United States also found a correlation.

Dr. William Cameron, an associate professor at the University of Ottawa in Canada who co-authored several African studies, theorizes that the uncircumcised foreskin sustains tiny abrasions during intercourse, allowing HIV to enter the bloodstream. Several studies have found that such sexually transmitted diseases like syphilis also occur somewhat more frequently among the uncircumcised.

Other side of the coin The medical case for circumcision is unproved and controversial, contends Dr. Donald F. Tuzin, an American professor of Anthropology at the University of California in San Diego. He says that physicians in the 19th century advised the operation for many ailments, including hysteria, sexually transmitted disease, hypersexuality, and even hiccups.

Removal of the foreskin also precludes phimosis or the inability to retract the foreskin.

Louis XVI of France, a famous phimosis sufferer, was unable to have sex with his wife Marie Antoinette until he was circumcised at age 21.

Modern proponents suggest that diseases result from the buildup of smegma, a substance secreted under the foreskin. Also cited is evidence that circumcised populations (especially Jews) display low rates of penile and cervical cancer. Critics reject the validity of these claims, arguing that such disorders are more likely caused by poor hygiene and by contact with multiple sex partners.

There’s more. A study published in the British Journal of Urology International found that both the masturbatory and sexual pleasure decreased after the males underwent circumcision.

In the early days of Christianity, a controversy arose over whether Christians should be circumcised, as Jews were. The Apostle Paul emphatically told Gentiles in his epistle to the Galatians: “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision.”

Controversy To cut or not to cut – this is now one of the most debat-

ed subjects among the medical profession. In fact, there are now Filipino doctors who won’t perform circumcision. “I have convinced quite a number of adolescent males who came to my clinic not to have circumcision anymore,” one surgeon admits. “Those who are convinced are happy and thankful to me. Those who are not convinced seek other surgeons to do the circumcision for them.”

In America, “it’s still an ongoing controversy about whether circumcision is really necessary,” says Jack Sherman, M.D., associate chairman of pediatrics at Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow, N.Y. “In 1971 and 1975, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) said it wasn’t necessary. Later, they amended their policy statement, citing studies about lowered penile cancer and first-year urinary-tract infections among circumcised males.”

The AAP’s 1999 policy statement, based on a review of 40 years of data, states that circumcision has potential medical benefits. “But they advise that parents not use that as their primary criterion when making a decision,” says Sherman. “That’s like not expressing an opinion at all.”

Opponents against the practice say that in circumcision, the baby has no “power” to say no. Others suggest that circumcising an infant imprints violence on the baby’s brain. Still, others contend that circumcision will leave the male species traumatized by the removal of their foreskins.

Dr. Yehuda Nir, a psychoanalyst who was formerly head of child psychiatry at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York, says he hasn’t observed circumcision trauma. “The only thing men are concerned about with regard to the penis is its size.”

Now, whether a child should be circumcised or not, here’s the personal opinion of Dr. Ramon L. Arcado, past dean of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Medicine and UP Manila chancellor: “What matters is that the welfare of the child is taken into consideration up to the time he grows up into adulthood, in the context of his health status, his parents’ beliefs and society’s expectations.”

won on penalties, 4-3, after the match ended at 1-1.

The Philippines also had the 1-0 win over Thailand that broke its jinx against its Southeast Asian neighbor while showing determination in a 0-4 loss to Australia. They also beat Indonesia, 6-0, to advance into the knockout rounds for the first time in history.

“I’m just running out of superlatives to describe what an amazing achievement this is.

To be able to grow and achieve in this kind of pressure against all teams. Thailand is 39 (world ranking). Australia is 11. For me, Australia is a top 5 team.

And for us to compete against all of them just shows how far this group has grown,” said Stajcic.

points.

Malik Monk led Los Angeles with 33 points in the Lakers’ third consecutive loss, all without LeBron James.

James was not with the team due to continued swelling in his left knee. He returned to Los Angeles for treatment.

The Hawks (24-25) matched their longest win streak of the season by charging back after trailing 101-91 entering the fourth quarter. The Lakers scored a season-high 71 points in the first half while making 71.4% of their shots from the field, but they couldn’t continue the hot shooting in the final period.

Davis helped power the Lakers’ strong start with 18 first-half points in his return after missing one game with a sore right wrist.

Monk’s eighth 3-pointer

tied it at 121. De’Andre Hunter made one of two free throws for Atlanta before Young rattled in a 3-pointer for a four-point lead.

Young stretched the lead by making two free throws with 25 seconds remaining.

Entering Sunday’s games, the Hawks were 10th in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta, which lost to Milwaukee in last season’s Eastern Conference final, was 12th before the winning streak.

The Lakers (24-27), who were ninth in the Western Conference, fell a season-low three games below .500.

“We’re not in the position we want to be right now but that’s OK,” said Russell Westbrook, who had 20 points and 12 assists. “We know what we need to do as a team. Just find a way to get over the hump and close games out.”

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Philippines goal-keeper Olivia McDaniel earned Player of the Match honors after her heroics in the penalty shootout to give the Philippines the win over Chinese-Taipei. Photo courtesy of the AFC

Coach saw potential in Pinay booters Lakers lose third in a row

A

TLANTA — Trae Young believes a defensive revival has the Atlanta Hawks back on track. That defense finally showed up in the final quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Young had 36 points and 12 assists, and the Hawks earned their seventh straight win by rallying to beat the Lakers, 129121, on Sunday (Monday, Manila time).

The Hawks outscored Los Angeles, 38-20, in the final period, when Young scored 13 points.

“If our mindset is right we get stops on the defensive end ... I think we have a good chance of winning any night,” Young said.

Onyeka Okongwu scored 12 of his 16 points in the final period, when he helped hold Anthony Davis to five of his 27

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he first time he first saw the Philippine women’s football team in 2018, Alen Stajcic saw enormous potential.

So when he was offered the job as the its head coach, Stajcic didn’t hesitate.

“Of course. I wouldn’t have taken the job if I didn’t see the potential,” said Stajcic on Sunday shortly after the Philippines made history by clinching a spot in the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup via the AFC Women’s Asian Cup. The 48-year-old Stajcic

said he first saw the team four years ago in Jordan.

Although he didn’t mention the tournament, the Philippines played in the 2018 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Amman.

The Filipina footballers were not particularly sharp in that tournament, losing to Korea, 0-5, in the fifth place playoff for the spot in the World Cup.

just last October, has an immense track record including two Women’s World Cup appearances when he handled the squad in Australian squad 2015 and 2019.

While the three-month camp in California for the AFC Women’s Asian Cup was a major part of their success, Stajcic said he was most impressed with how the team was able to learn at a rapid pace that culminated with a dramatic win over Chinese Taipei in the quarterfinals where they

the Spaniard has.

Nadal admitted earlier in the tournament he thought a debilitating foot injury that plagued him last year would force him into retirement.

He was also in serious, visible physical distress during a rollercoaster five-set win over Denis Shapovalov in the quarter-finals, revealing afterwards he suffered from heat stroke and lost 4kg.

But you don’t win a history-making 21st grand slam title at age 35 without being uber-conscious about your body and even when he was at his most exhaust-

ed, Nadal knew he couldn’t relax completely.

He skipped the usual panel interview at the desk with the host broadcaster, Channel 9, because he was too cooked — and when he entered the locker room after the trophy presentation on Rod Laver Arena Nadal collapsed to the ground.

Team members gathered around while Nadal, completely spent, lay on the floor — but he couldn’t stay there. He needed to cool down and despite being drained beyond belief, he

FCOACH, P10

Rafael Nadal ‘is not human’

R Rafael Nadal’s superhuman effort to come back and win the Australian Open final wasn’t his only remarkable act on Sunday night.

Stajcic said there already was potential.

Several members of the 2022 team were already there in 2018, led by skipper Thani Annis, Sarina Bolden, and Hali Long.

“I said to the group I watched them play four years ago in Jordan, my last scouting as an opposition coach. I knew there was something there. A potential for an extremely inexperienced group, one that hadn’t really competed in major tournaments,” said Stajcic.

Stajcic, hired head coach

afael Nadal is the epitome of peak performance.

If that much wasn’t already obvious during his incredible five-set win over Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final on Sunday night, then his behaviour in the locker room afterwards proved it beyond doubt.

Nadal triumphed in a spectacular five hour and 25-minute battle — the second-longest match in Australian Open history — an astonishing feat for anyone, let alone someone who’s battled the physical demons

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The Philippine women’s national football team celebrates after securing their spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. Photo courtesy of the AFC.

HISTORY MADE

Pinay booters advance to FIFA Women’s World Cup

T

he Philippine women’s national football team has just booked itself a place in sports history.

The Malditas defeated Chinese Taipei, 4-3, in a heart-stopping penalty shootout to secure their spot in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, Sunday at the Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune, India.

One hundred and 20 minutes were not enough to settle the AFC Women’s Asian Cup quarter-final affair between the Philippines and Chinese Taipei, with the match heading into penalties after both sides remained locked at 1-1 after extra time.

Goal-keeper Olivia McDaniel emerged as the hero that the Philippines needed in the penalty shootout, as she saved two spot kicks from Chinese Taipei that set up Sarina Bolden netting the winner.

All had seemed lost for the Philippines when Chinese Taipei took a 3-2 lead after Jessica Miclat and Hali Long saw their efforts saved, though a poor attempt by Hsu Yi-Yun gave the Filipinas a glimmer of hope.

McDaniel stepped up to the plate, saving the spot kick of Su Sin-Yun then netting the penalty that knotted the count at 3-all. She then came through with another clutch save on Zhuo Li-Ping, paving the way for Bolden to fire into the top left corner for the kick that

sent the Filipinas to the Women’s World Cup. This marks the first time that the Filipinas will compete in the showpiece event -- and a first for Philippine football as a whole.

“It’s an unbelievable moment for the group,” said head coach Alen Stajcic, who has steered the Philippines to a historic Women’s World Cup berth after taking over the program just last October.

“Now every young kid back home in the Philippines can be inspired… We’re really proud of each other, but we’re even more proud that we’ve inspired the next generation.”

The Philippines also advanced to the semifinal of the tournament, where they will play South Korea.

The Koreans earlier eliminated pre-tournament favorite Australia, thanks to a sensational strike from Chelsea star Ji So-yun in the 88th minute that sealed their 1-nil triumph.

“Look, I’m not even worried about the semifinal for the moment,” admitted Stajcic. “We just qualified for the World Cup, and we’ll enjoy that tonight. It’s a remarkable achievement, it’s never been done before.”

“You just have to soak up those

FHISTORY, P10