Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 65 | Wednesday, June 29, 2022

EDGEDAVAO Serving a seamless society

VOL.15 ISSUE 65 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

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NEW TWIST SPORTS P 12

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON

Incoming Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte hugs his daughter, Bella, after taking his oath at Sangguniang Panlungsod session hall on Monday afternoon. Duterte issued a warning to those people who plan to disrupt Davao City and made a promise to all Dabawenyos that he will always protect and secure law abiding citizens. Edge Davao

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PRRD-like Baste underscores no name dropping, warns offenders STORY ON PAGE 2

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 65 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

Reelected Davao City 3rd District Representative Isidro Ungab chats with Vice President-elect Sara Duterte during the oath taking and inauguration of newly-elected officials of Davao City and the House of Representatives at the session hall of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) on Monday after-

noon. Ungab vowed to make all necessary services available and easily accessible to his constituents in the third district of Davao City. Edge Davao

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON PRRD-like Baste underscores no name dropping, warns offenders

By MAYA M. PADILLO

L

ike father, like son.

Expect that from incoming Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, who may have the boy-next-door looks made for the movies but is beginning to sound like the straight-talking and fearless leader like his father, President Rodrigo Duterte.

In his inaugural speech on Monday, Baste issued a warning to people who plan to cause trouble in Davao

City.

“Let me address those who think they are above the law and policies of the

city, magpahinumdum ko sa tanan nga maghunahuna mo ug buhat ug kagubot diri sa syudad, ayaw ninyo buhata diri. I will always protect and secure our law abiding citizens,” he said.

He also urged the Dabawenyos to strengthen the Culture of Security, which is a people-centered campaign that encourages Dabawenyos to adopt vig-

T

coming celebration as he returns to Davao City after his 6-year stint as the 16th president of the Republic of the Philippines.

It is reported that PRRD will be in attendance at the concert.

The Dukes will be headliner for the concert featuring

local artists like Llanto Kids, The Curve PH, Rima Band, The Nemrac Band, Donjie & Duke Kervy Salazar, and R2K with Aila Santos.

The event will be hosted

by Jam Magno.

Attendees are encouraged to don their “Salamat, Tatay Digong” shirt. The

ilance as their way of life.

The campaign “May Nakita?

Dapat Magsalita!” is an order encouraging Dabawenyos to adopt the Culture of Security as part of their way of life.

The incoming mayor also warned those who like to name drop and urged Dabawenyos not to believe in name dropping saying

statement shirt was first launched last May 13 and may be availed at NCCC Supermarket, Mall tenants, Department Store, and Hardwaremaxx.

Dabawenos are invited to join NCCC as they welcome Tatay Digong this coming Thursday.

FLIKE, P10

Homecoming concert for Tatay Digong all set he NCCC Group of Companies is hosting a homecoming concert for outgoing President Rodrigo Roa-Durterte on June 30, 5:30pm at the NCCC Mall VP Parking A. The concert is a tribute to PRRD for his service to the country and also home-

DavSur’s founding anniv. kicks off showcasing sports, tourism events

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he week-long celebration of the 55th Araw ng Davao del Sur has kicked off to showcase several events in honor of the legacies of the late Governor Douglas Cagas.

Thus, the founding anniversary slated on July 1, 2022, banners the theme: “Pagpadayon sa legasiya alang sa mas malambuong probinsya. Davao del Sur, maanyag nga paraiso, kita maghiusa (Continuing the legacy for a more progressive province. Davao del Sur, a beautiful paradise, we unite)!”

Governor-elect Yvonne R. Cagas has invited the public to join in the celebration and enjoy the activities prepared especially for the constituents, after two years of no face-to-face commemoration.

Cagas graced the swimming competition on Saturday (June 25, 2022) at the Davao del Sur Gov. Douglas Ra. Cagas Sports and Business Center in Digos City, one of the preliminary activities.

She shared to the media that the celebration is also focused on promoting the tourism industry in the province, saying “Ang tutok pod ang tourism sa Davao del Sur. Kay daghan nabuhat si Congresswoman Didi

Cagas.”

Earlier, Kervin Joseph D. Elijay, Provincial Tourism Development and Cultural Promotion Officer, has announced the series of events for the Araw ng Davao del Sur. Elijay mentioned the first Sayaw Kalinaw Dance Competition that will highlight the different stories of Davao del Sur through a theatrical performance by seven contingents from different municipalities.

He said they organized a runway competition and fashion show as a platform for the local and amateur fashion designers to showcase their works and also their arts, designs and culture-inspired clothing designs where they can show the culture of our province.

The first Davao del Sur Investment Conference, Davao del Sur Travel and Trade Expo, Indigenous People and Muslim Filipino Cultural Heritage Day, Street Food Highway and job fair will also form part of the celebration.

Also featured are several sports competitions such as football festival, swimming, arnis invitational tournament, taekwondo invitational regional tournament, bike fest, Wom-

F’DAVSUR’S P10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 65 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

NEWS

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Vice Mayor-elect J. Melchor Quitain Jr. delivers his inaugural speech after took his oath at Sangguniang Panlungsod session hall on Monday afternoon. Quitain has urged the newly-elected City Councilors to participate in the council discussions for a healthy exchange of ideas and debate as these are the tell-tale signs of a working City Council. Edge Davao

Newly-elected dads urged to participate in discussions

By MAYA M. PADILLO

Ungab vows all services to be made available for third district

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eelected Davao City 3rd District Representative Isidro Ungab vowed to make all necessary services available and easily accessible to his constituents in the third district of Davao City.

“I know that everyone is aware of the world economic crisis and food shortages. With dark clouds looming, both on the national and international scenes, expect that I will be at the forefront of this struggle, using every talent and experience that I have, and experience that I have, to help my country as a legislator to contribute to overcoming the economic and financial whirlwind that creep our country today,” he said in his inaugural speech on Monday.

Ungab earlier warned the public of an economic slump in the second half of 2022 as the country faces a global rise in the inflation rate. Apart from that, he said the country will also face skyrocketing gas prices, and a looming

food shortage amidst the prolonged Russia-Ukraine War. Ungab stated that Filipinos should be prepared and must wisely plan on how to budget their income and expenses for the next months.

“We foresee difficult times ahead…and it is up to us if we can safely ride it through and survive or go unprepared and succumb to the strong financial distress, being experienced globally”, Ungab warned.

Ungab suggested that Filipinos should explore and look for other sources of income and become innovative when these times come.

Ungab also recommended for the incoming administration prepare and update the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan for 2023– 2028, since it will become the basis of budgeting the expenditures in the coming months and years of the Marcos administration. By Maya M. Padillo

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ewly elected councilors were urged to participate in the council discussions for a healthy exchange of ideas and debate as these are the tell-tale signs of a working City Council.

Vice Mayor-elect lawyer J. Melchor Quitain Jr. urged his colleagues in the City Council to prioritize council sessions and the quality of their outputs to show to the Dabawenyos that they are indeed deserving of their votes.

“We will act as a collegiate body, work as a col-

legiate body and decide as a collegiate body. My colleagues in the City Council let us not forget that first and foremost we are legislators and so we will prioritize our council sessions and the quality of our output (our reports, resolutions, ordinances) before anything else, we owe this

to our constituents and the people who voted for us.

We will show them that we are indeed deserving, that their votes have not gone to waste and we are good for the entire term of our office not just during campaigns,” he said in his inaugural speech on Monday.

Quitain, who ran unopposed on May 9 national and local elections, along with the newly elected officials of Davao City took oath at the session hall of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).

Quitain also assured that the 20th council will be in full support of the plans and programs of the Executive Department headed by incoming Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte.

Quitain said the council’s legislative work shall be geared towards the direction in support of the programs and projects of the mayor to make sure that all investments and opportunities introduced in Davao City in the form of infrastructure, employ-

do before June 30.

He said the fellowship lunch with former vice presidents would be an avenue to discuss their allotted security from the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group (VPSPG) and the planned Vice President’s museum.

Munsayac said the meeting would depend on

the interest of former vice presidents as well as their respective schedules.

The VPSPG was activated to guarantee the safety and security of the vice president’s family, according to the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

Duterte had said the activation of the VPSPG was commendable “as it

will resolve the matter of continuity in security for all vice presidents of the Philippines.”

“This AFP initiative also highlights the importance of having an independent group that will provide all Philippine vice presidents with the necessary security and protection,” she said.

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VP Sara won’t meet Leni before June 30 V

ice President-elect Sara Duterte is set to meet with former vice presidents in the coming days to discuss some matters, according to her spokesperson on Tuesday.

Attorney Reynold Munsayac, however, said Duterte has no scheduled meeting with outgoing Vice President Leni Robre-

4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 65 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

A couple on a motorcycle attached with horn megaphone speaker peddles different varities of fresh fishes at a community in Banaybanay, Davao Oriental. Edge Davao

Peso bounces back from 16-year low

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he Philippine peso strengthened against the US dollar on Monday, after closing at a 16-year low last week amid the latest hawkish statements of the US Federal Reserve.

The local currency gained 20.5 centavos to close at P54.78:$1. It hit an intraday high of P55.15:$1, and an intraday low of P54.78:$1 during the session.

The latest finish compares with last Friday’s

P54.985:$1, which was the weakest since its close of P55.08:$1 on October 27, 2005.

According to ING Bank Manila senior economist Nicholas Mapa, the peso continued to be impacted by concerns over the rate

hikes in the United States moving forward.

“PHP was on the backfoot again today given lingering uncertainty given the pace of the Fed’s rate hike cycle and the negative fallout from the conflict in Eastern Europe,” he said in an emailed commentary.

“PHP may also be pressured given relatively dovish stance of BSP against the backdrop of a very hawkish Fed,” he continued.

Federal Reserve chair

Jerome Powell earlier this month said the 75-basis point hike was “essential” to tame inflation, adding that policymakers have the arsenal it needs, and the resolve to restore price stability moving forward.

Meanwhile, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) last week hiked key policy rates by 25 basis points, marking the second straight month of hikes. This is, however, lower than the market expected.

was opposed by national government officials.

We’ve recently been in Singapore with my family.

And there, the mask mandate has been lifted for outdoor areas. It is required for indoor areas but it’s optional for outdoor areas,” Frasco said.

“People now have the necessary discernment and responsibility to wear their mask when they’re inside and take it off when they’re outside.The result of which has been a resurgence of their economy as far as the attraction or more tourists in that country,” she added.

But she said she does “not wish to question the

policies of the national government nor do I wish to impose on the wisdom of the incoming administration.”

“I only wish to bring to the attention of the necessary decision makers, the necessity of balancing life and livelihood, and examining closely the health and safety protocols that will serve best the preservation of not just life but also the economy and how best we can proceed that can promote and not further derail the tourism destinations within our country,” she added.

Garcia’s recent order made wearing of face masks optional in open and

well-ventilated areas in the province, except for those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government asserted that local governments should follow national guidelines set by the Interagency Task Force on COVID-19, which, among others, still require the wearing of masks outdoors.

The Philippines has seen an increase in newly confirmed COVID-19 cases over the past few days amid the detection of subvariants of the coronavirus, waning immunity and non-compliance of minimum health standards.

Incoming DOT chief says to await new admin’s health protocol for tourism

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ncoming Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia-Frasco said she will await the direction of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. when asked about her recommended mask mandate and health protocol for tourism.

“I defer to the wisdom of both the current and the incoming administration as far as the maintenance or liberalization of health protocols is concerned,” she said.

Frasco, who spoke to journalists after her first visit to the Department of Tourism main office, is a daughter of Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia whose relaxed face mask rule in her province

DavSur LGU, DTI to stage 1st investment conference

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he provincial government of Davao del Sur and the Department of Trade and Industry-Davao del Sur staged the first Davao del Sur Investment Conference (ICON) on Tuesday, June 28, 2022 at the Crisbel Crown Convention Center in Digos City.

The ICON was among the highlights of the celebration of the 55th founding anniversary of the province, which is expected to gather over a hundred investors, land owners, business people and government partners.

The event aims to strengthen and position Davao del Sur as an investment hub in Davao Region, as it will showcase the great

potentials for agriculture, agro-industry, manufacturing, and processing.

DTI Davao Del Sur Provincial Director Engr. Maria Victoria R. Placer said that with the presence of the investors and other stakeholders, the ICON intends to present viable investment projects and opportunities in the areas of agriculture (livestock and poultry)/ agri-processing, renewable energy, tourism, and high value crops.

“We are actually priming up our economy with the existing investors that we already have in the province of Davao del Sur,” she stated during an episode of One Davao on COVID-19, a virtual presser of the Phil-

FDAVSUR, P10

GCash to offer insurance for cats, crypto products

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Cash revealed it was working on new services including crypto products, travel insurance, and even pet insurance for cats, among others.

The Ayala-led fintech earlier launched pet insurance catering to dog owners, but the service will soon be available for felines.

With Pet Insure under the GInsure marketplace, pets can get up to P100,000 medical reimbursement, burial assistance, or owner’s liability or owner’s protection when legal liabilities are incurred due to a pet’s action, said GCash Head of New Business Neil Trinidad.

“With GInsure, we really aim to make insurance

relevant to Filipinos and the only way we can build relevance is by being relevant to their evolving lifestyles and needs,” he said.

Trinidad said the insurance product will be available to other pets as well.

“We have a plan to roll it out, also to cats, with our current partner,” Trinidad said.

He noted that interest in pet insurance was “really strong.”

“In fact, it is getting quite a lot of social media interest.”

Users interested to purchase pet insurance, which is available for as low as P650, can visit the app’s GInsure marketplace.

Aside from pet insurance,

FGCASH, P10

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 65 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

ECONOMY

5

Trade Undersecretary Blesila A. Lantayona (5th from left) leads the groundbreaking ceremony of the almost P47.4 million farm-to-market road project in Davao del Norte. DTI11

DTI’s RAPID Growth project in DavNor to help over 1k residents T

SEC joins ANNA for more open, secure capital market

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he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has secured membership in the Association of National Numbering Agencies (ANNA) as a partner, in another push to make the Philippine capital market more accessible and transparent.

ANNA confirmed the membership of the Commission as a partner during its 30th anniversary general meeting, hosted by Euroclear Bank SA/NV in Brussels, from June 2 to 3.

“We are incredibly pleased to have the Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission join ANNA at this time when our member organisation is growing, and as international financial standards are continuing to become ever more important to ensure global interoperability and transparency in the capital markets,” ANNA Chairman Dan Kuhnel said.

ANNA is a global member association seeking to foster standardization within the financial industry by promoting standard identifiers.

Founded in 1992 by 22 numbering agencies, ANNA’s membership has grown to more than 120

global members and partners allocating ISIN, FISN and CFI codes on behalf of their local jurisdictions.

As an ANNA partner, the SEC will act as the national numbering agency for the Philippines. The Commission will be primarily responsible for the allocation of ISIN, Financial Instrument Short Name (FISN) and Classification of Financial Instruments (CFI) codes to all instruments in the market, including unlisted securities.

The SEC has already developed the national numbering system that will assign the securities identifiers – ISIN under ISO 6166, CFI under ISO 10962, and FISN under ISO 18774.

The SEC National Numbering System (NNS) can assign securities identifiers to both corporate securities and securities issued by the government such as those issued by the Bureau of the Treasury and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

“We thank the Association of National Numbering Agencies for welcoming the Commission as its newest partner in making the financial world a more efficient, safer and more stable envi-

FSEC, P10

he 2.7 kilometers farm-to-market road project here is expected to benefit at least a thousand residents and over 200 local smallholder farmers.

The almost Php47.4 million project, which is the very first FMR sub-project approved under the Rural Agro-Enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development Growth (RAPID Growth) project, stretches from New Agno, Mabantao (Purok Sampalok) to Mabuhay (Purok 6A) Capungagan in the municipality of Kapalong, The RAPID Growth is a business development initiative that is both market-driven and value chain-based, which the Department of Trade

and Industry (DTI) implements.

This sub-project aims to provide infrastructure support to farming communities under the road influence areas consisting of Barangay Mabantao and Capungagan. The value chain identified in this sub-project is the cacao, in support of the Kapalong Cooperative’s cacao production and beans storage and receiving facility located right at the end of the proposed farm-tomarket infrastructure. This

FMR will provide more socio-economic benefits as more beans would be coming in and maximize the processing capacity which will translate to an increase in sales of the cooperative and eventually increase the household income of smallholder farmers.

Additionally, the production and trading of other crops such as corn, rice, banana, cash crops, and economic activities will also benefit from this subproject as this farm-tomarket road is considered to be the major channel of the municipality’s agricultural industry.

The construction of the FMR is targeted for com-

pletion by March 2023.

Trade Undersecretary for Regional Operations Group (ROG) Blesila A. Lantayona noted that this project aims to link the smallholder farmers to the market and spur rural economic development to upscale the agricultural value chain.

Lantayona, who led the groundbreaking ceremony on June 20, added that DTI is holistically providing support to the MSMEs and farmers. Hence, she extended her appreciation to the different partners, stakeholders, other agencies, and the local government unit (LGU) of

apparels, accessories, and bags, among others.

During the Co-op Biz launching in Quezon City, CDA chairman Joseph Encabo said this initiative targets to propel the growth of cooperatives by bringing in their products nationwide and globally.

CDA has partnered with J&T Express for local deliveries and with DHL as its international courier.

“The CDA has just entered the age of globalization, even though that globalization started decades ago, but for me, it’s not too late for us to catch up... We are not only talking about regional approach or engagement of businesses, but we want to see cooperatives doing their market, engaging their business globally,” Encabo said.

He said that by expand-

ing to the global market, cooperatives can contribute more to the economy.

While bringing cooperatives’ products into the international market, Encabo said this will also help in promoting Philippine-made products in the local market.

“If we’re going to support our industry... we must first patronize our products,” he added. (PNA)

FDTI’S, P10

Online marketplace to bring local cooperatives’ products globally

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he Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) has launched the Co-op Biz, an online marketplace for CDA-registered cooperatives, aiming to bring local cooperatives’ products to the global market.

Coopbiz.ph is online starting Tuesday hosting 70 merchant cooperatives from different parts of the country selling products in categories of home living,

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 65 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

On how he plans to run the Davao City government:

Let me address those who think they are above the law and policies of the city, magpahinumdum ko sa tanan nga maghunahuna mo ug buhat ug kagubot diri sa syudad, ayaw ninyo buhata diri. I will always protect and secure our law abiding citizens.”

Incoming Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte

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EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 65 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

PHILIPPINE-SPANISH FRIENDSHIP DAY I am not sure if most Filipinos are aware of it but there is such a thing as Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day. It is celebrated every June 30.

If you don’t know it, June 30 was the day when General Emilio Aguinaldo, president of the First Philippine Republic, issued a decree requiring the last Spanish soldiers who had been besieged for almost a year inside the historic Baler’s church be treated not as enemies and prisoners of war, but as friends. In like manner, it paved the way for these soldiers to return to their place of origin, Spain.

“To mark this momentous occasion, there is a need to declare said day a national holiday to remember the act of benevolence which has paved the way in bridging better relations between the Philippines and Spain,” said Republic Act No. 9187.

The bill declaring June 30 as the Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day was passed on July 22, 2002 and the Act was approved on February 5, 2003.

It was the late Senator Edgardo Angara who was the main

sponsor of the bill. He described the occasion as “a glorious day for both countries because the Siege of Baler brought heroes and victory for both parties.”

Here’s what happened, as Wikipedia recalled: “A group of Spanish soldiers garrisoned inside the town church in Baler, Aurora and defended the Spanish flag from July 1, 1898 to June 2, 1899 – without knowing that Spain had already give its principal colony in Asia independence on December 10, 1898, by signing of the Treaty of Paris.

“Heroism and stubbornness let the 33 soldiers, commanded

by Captain Enrique de las Morenas y Fossi and Lieutenant Saturninon Martin y Cerezo, not only survive, but to earn the respect of the revolutionary army of the Malolos Republic, whose safe return to Spain was ordered by General Emilio Aguinaldo. This group of soldiers came to be known as Los ultimos de Filipinas (The last ones of the Philippines.”

For the uninformed, the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines began when Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan

(while in Spanish service) came to the islands in 1521 and claimed it as a colony for the Spanish Empire.

But it was another explorer, Ruy Lopez de Villalobos during his 1542-1546 expedition to the islands, who gave the name Philippines in honor of Prince Philip (later King Philip II) of Spain.

Another fact which most Filipinos don’t know is that Spanish was the language of government, education and trade throughout the three centuries (333 years) as the country was part of the Spanish Empire. Spanish continued to serve as a lingua franca until the first half of the 20th century.

Just remember, Jose P. Rizal – the country’s national hero – wrote his two thought-provoking novels in Spanish: Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. When I was still in high school, we had a Spanish subject and we had to memorize Rizal’s “Mi Ultimo Adios” (which he wrote before he was executed).

Spanish as a language in the Philippines declined rapidly after Spain lost the Spanish-Ameri-

can war and control of the islands. Currently, around 0.5% (<500,000) of the 110 million Filipinos speak Spanish.

A sizable number of Filipinos have Spanish surnames following an 1849 decree that Hispanicized Filipino family names. Chances are, most of these people today have a tenuous or no link to Spanish ancestry.

We are using some Spanish words in our daily conversation.

Among the common Spanish words are la mesa (the chair), aplaya (to the beach), cuchara (spoon), vintana (window), and numbers (uno, dos, tres, cuatro, cinco, etc.).

But Filipinos don’t sound like Spanish. “The Tagalog language and Spanish may sound similar at first, but they are technically not the same,” explains ling-app. com. “For starters, the Spanish language has a Latin origin and is a romance language like French, Italian, Romanian and Portuguese.”

The Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day came into fruition to celebrate the strong links between the Philippines and Spain.

It must be recalled that in 1947, both countries established diplomatic relations.

“Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, relations between both nations have strengthened through cultural and historical similarities,” stated Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

In 1995, King Juan Carlos I of Spain paid his first visit to the Philippines.

The first Philippine-Spanish Friendship Day happened in Baler, Aurora on June 30, 2003 with Senator Angara as host.

Wikipedia reports: “Guests for this first event were, among others, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (one of the directors of Philippine Academy of the Spanish Language), Dr. Rafael Rodriguez-Ponga Salamanca, the special representative for this occasion, who read an official message from His Majesty King of Spain.”

Today, it is celebrated annually in the town of San Miguel, Bulacan in the house of Simon Tecson. It is the same house where the first Philippine Constitution was ratified with Aguinaldo.

DENNIS R. GORECHO PINOY MARINO RIGHTS

DEVOTION TO OUR LADY OF CAYSASAY AND MA-CHO, CHINESE PATRON SAINT OF SEAFARERS Paying homage to Lady of Caysasay in Batangas and Ma-Cho in La Union is a confluence of tradition practiced by both Filipinos and Tsinoys in simultaneous Christian and Chinese rituals.

Dr. Christina Lee, Ph.D, presented the linkage between the rituals in the recent webinar lecture on “The Chinese in Philippine colonial history at a period of chaos, resistance and conquest” sponsored by Kaisa Heritage Foundation.

Ma Cho (MA-Tzu) is a Chinese deity born in 960 AD during the Sung Dynasty.

She is known as the Chinese Goddess of the Sea and is considered to be the special protector or patron saint of fishermen, sailors and seafarers.

During her lifetime, it is said that Ma-Cho had supernatural powers and performed miracles, subduing evil spirits and averting disasters at sea. She sacrificed her life while trying to save seafarers endangered by rough seas. She died at the young age of 28.

Before setting out on a voyage,

it was customary for the Chinese to visit a Ma Cho temple to ask for protection.

Similarly, immediately upon arrival at port, travellers would visit Ma Cho to thank her for their safe passage.

In 1968, a boat with Taiwanese fishermen was driven off course by a powerful typhoon and they had to seek shelter by the shores of San Fernando Bay in La Union.

In appreciation of the hospitality extended to them by the Filipinos, they gave the image in Ma-Cho as parting gift which is now enshrined in a Taoist temple in San Fernando.

Many Chinese Filpinos, Taoist and Catholic alike, believe that Ma-Cho and our Lady of Caysasay are one and the same because of their huge resemblance.

It is a form of “syncretism” or the merging of different beliefs and various schools of thought.

Both are considered emanations of each other as they are related to water and/or travel.

It is a unique relationship that

is found only in the Philippines The image of Our Lady of Caysasay was found in 1603 by a fisherman in a fishing village along the Pansipit River in Old Taal.

Since then, there have been stories of miraculous happenings.

The parish priest even described the statue’s face as “twinkling like a star.”

Devotees gather every last week of September for a pilgrimage wherein the image of MaCho goes to Taal, Batangas and a special mass is celebrated in the Shrine of our Lady of Caysasay. The image of Ma-Cho then returns the following day to La Union.

In a paper, civic leader Teresita Ang See pointed out that the timeline of the Caysasay figurine’s existence among Filipinos is marked by tragedy among the Chinese.

The year it was fished out, 1603, saw the first big massacre of the Chinese. She asked “Could it have accidentally fallen off the boat of Chinese trying to flee?”.

Another significant coincidence was in 1639, the year the

Labac shrine was built, when the second biggest Chinese massacre happened.

The Chinese uprising began in Calamba, Laguna, and spread to nearby provinces like Batangas and Rizal. The ensuing bloodshed claimed the lives of 30,000 Chinese. The Filipinos, especially those in Taal, sided with the Spaniards and went on a killing frenzy.

Veneration to patron saints like Ma-Cho and Caysasay is one of the religious practices that may serve to mitigate negative aspects of a seafarer’s work such as loneliness, isolation, and institutional living, as well as fear of the dangers that can be encountered at sea.

A study by Seafarers International Research Center (SIRC) noted that religion assists seafarers in coping with dangerous and emotionally challenging workplaces.

A seafarer’s faith is his most powerful weapon in overcoming difficult emotional, or even dangerous, shipboard conditions and in making life at sea bearable in

many ways.

It offers for the ordinary Filipino seafarers strength, hope and peace in relation with their daily work and social relationships on board the vessel.

Seafarers find strength in their God as they commonly experience fear for his life during emergencies at sea often associated with storms, mechanical failure, collisions and groundings.

God was being drawn upon by seafarers to increase their resilience in dealing with stressful and dangerous workplace situations.

Seafarers are more likely to draw on their belief to help them at times when they are powerless to help themselves.

It was relatively common for seafarers to engage in faith-based routines which they hoped would offer them some protection from ill-fate.

(Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, email info@ sapalovelez.com, or call 09175025808 or 0908-8665786.)

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VOL.15 ISSUE 65 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

COMPETITIVE EDGE

INLIFE LAUNCHES ITS NEW GAME-CHANGING AGENCY MODEL

Insular Life (InLife), the country’s first and largest Filipino life insurance company, launches its new agency model to better respond to the growing and changing consumer needs for life and health protection and investments.

“We recognize that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more Filipinos have become aware of the importance of financial planning and life insurance. We see that this heightened awareness translates into a higher demand for both life and health protection products,” InLife President and CEO Raoul Antonio E. Littaua said in a media briefing.

“And as we gradually ease out of the pandemic, we see that the demand for lifetime guaranteed income will become more urgent. The need for protection from the risks of dying too soon, living too long, and catastrophic illnesses – which are all within the province of the life insurance busi-

ness – will be a pressing need in the future as they have ever been. InLife takes this into account as we offer insurance with investment products during these uncertain times,” he added.

The new InLife Agency Model (I AM) features Wealth Assure Plus, a customizable life insurance product with investment component to provide higher protection benefit equivalent to a minimum of 10x the annual regular premium or the policy’s fund value, whichever is higher. Wealth Assure Plus provides faster fund growth because of its low insurance cost, at the same time is anchored on different investment outlets locally and globally. This product may be personalized through attachment of various needed benefits, set-up of preferred payment and payout options, and access to fund selection to suit different risk appetites and investment horizons.

InLife President and CEO Raoul Antonio E. Littaua

Barangay leaders of Guiuan bring their mining questions to Cagdianao and Hinatuan

Barangay Captains and Kagawads of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, direct their questions about mining to experts at the mine

Barangay captains and councilors from the 30 coastal barangays of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, including Manicani, personally directed their questions about responsible mining to the experts at Cagdianao Mining Corp. (CMC) and Hinatuan Mining Corp.

(HMC), subsidiaries of Nickel Asia Corp. (NAC).

A 33-strong delegation traveled all the way from Eastern Samar to the Province of Dinagat Islands, where CMC has its operations, and to Surigao del Norte, where HMC operates,

for a back-to-back comprehensive mine tours.

The mine tour is part of the requirements of the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, in preparation for the resumption of the mining operations of HMC’s Manicani Nickel Project (MNP), which is part of the jurisdiction of the Municipality of Guiuan.

HMC-MNP was recently granted the permit by the DENR to resume its mining operations in Manicani.

Guests at the mine site enjoying tea from herbs growing at the mined-out areas.

Being members of PAMB, the barangay captains and kagawads of the coastal barangays expressed particular interest in the details of the environment protection and enhancement programs of the two mining companies.

Most of them have not seen an active mine before and their questions focused on the impact of mining to the environment.

One particular feature of the mines that impressed them was the technology of the series of water chambers that starts in ‘canal curtains’ surrounding the open mine that wind-up in wide settling ponds, plus the silt booms at the exact discharge point before the run-offs enter the body of water surrounding the island. Both CMC and HMC proudly have this system in place, meticulously designed to ensure the protection of marine life and water resources around the mine sites.

“We specifically requested for this mine tour for us to gain the experience that will help us explain to other

PAMB members how mining will be done in Manicani and what we have witnessed in CMC and HMC gave us confidence to give our full support to HMC-MNP,” says Barangay Captain Leo Lacaba of Barangay 6, the designated spokesperson for the group.

Rehabilitation and environment enhancement also gathered multiple questions and the showcase of HMC’s mine eco-tourism sites where guests enjoyed tea from herbs growing at the mined-out areas provided adequate answers.

The barangay leaders conveyed satisfaction, some admitting they only fully comprehend what responsible mining is after the mine tours, debunking every misinformation they have harbored all these years.

“I had misgivings about mining, I was one of those who would shut down favorable opinions about responsible mining, but I now admit I was misinformed so I thank NAC for this learning opportunity,” says Nida Sabalbirino, Captain of Barangay 11.

To reach more customers with Wealth Assure Plus, I AM also encourages Filipinos to pursue the financial advisor career, and to share the company’s purpose to help more Filipinos achieve their financial goals and prepare for unforeseen events. The model primarily targets young women professionals, generation Y (millennials), generation Z, highnet-worth individuals, and returning overseas Filipinos to join the life insurance business.

I AM is set to change the game in the local business landscape by offering the most attractive commission and a flexible agency structure to empower financial advisors to grow their insurance business according to their desired career path as individual producer, unit manager, or agency head.

“InLife financial advisors will enjoy a oneof-a-kind compensation package in the industry

under I AM. They are provided with the blueprint to succeed in the business through our industry-leading in-house Learning Academy. They are also enabled with the latest digital end-to-end sales tools and are afforded with foreign travel opportunities as part of our comprehensive Agency Recognition Program,” Littaua said.

InLife financial advisors amplify the company’s mission to provide “A Lifetime for Good” to Filipinos through financial planning.

“Our financial advisors are in the unique position of being able to cover the full range of protection needs: from individual life insurance and group insurance, to health protection and even non-life insurance.

Their sales commitments are supported by InLife’s 111 years of uninterrupted service to our policyholders and strong focus on our customers,” Littaua added.

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VOL.15 ISSUE 65 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

AGRITRENDS

9

DURIAN, BAMBOO

VS. CLIMATE CHANGE Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO

I

f Filipino farmers are looking for viable crops that will not only address the problem of climate change but also give them a decent income, then they should consider planting durian and bamboo in their farms.

Respected atmospheric scientists claim that one way to curb the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere is by sequestering them. Trees have been identified as the most capable of doing so.

Science says that by

means of photosynthesis, trees absorb carbon dioxide and then store the carbon.

This process is called carbon sequestration.

“Carbon is stored in the leaves, stems, and other parts of plants when they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and use it

to grow,” explains the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). “Trees are very important for carbon sequestration because they live a long time and, therefore, store their carbon for many years.”

Instead of planting just any kind of trees, some experts are recommending durian, which the Davao region is noted for.

“The best tree to plant is durian,” says Jethro P. Adang, the new director of the Mindanao Baptist Rural Life

Center (MBRLC) in Kinuskusan, Bansalan, Davao del Sur. “The durian does not only help sequester carbon dioxide but it also bears fruits.”

The durian fruit is in big demand not only in the Philippines but in other countries as well, particularly those with overseas contract workers and Filipinos who have already changed their citizenship.

“Durian, of course,” replied Dr. HIlario Lapeña, a Filipino physician who now resides in Canada, when asked what is his most favorite fruit. “Nothing beats it. I have tasted lots of exotic fruits but I still go back to my all-time favorite – durian. Friends who used to say that they hated it are now converts.”

There’s money in growing durian. You better ask Atty. Antonio B. Partoza, Jr., who once appeared on the cover of the monthly publication, Agriculture Magazine.

He never imagined “the fruit that smells like hell but tastes like heaven” would bring him some clout and prestige when he ventured into durian farming in 1987.

Being the fruit basket of the Philippines, he thought of durian – particularly the “arancillo” variety – as a way of promoting Davao into the world.

“His perseverance to showcase Davao’s pride through the continued production of homegrown Durian has gained the recognition of the agricultural industry,” someone commented. Aside from Agriculture magazine, he was featured in various local and national papers and even the in-flight magazine of SilkAir. What makes his durian fruits unique is that they are taken from trees that are grown organically. As one of the pioneering advocates of natural farming, Partoza uses indigenous materials from the farm as fertilizer instead of relying on expensive commercial chemical fertilizer.

The success of his venture made him earn the sobriquet, Durian King of Davao.

Although the fruit is banned in most of the world (because of its “foul-smelling odor”), there is an increasing

demand for it in the export market. Durian is called “exotic tropical fruit” in North America and Europe where customers offer premium prices. Durian is also highly regarded in other Asian countries, including Japan and Singapore.

There are several varieties of durian grown in the Philippines. The most important ones, commercial-wise, according to the Laguna-based Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), are Chanee, Mon Thong, Alcon Fancy, Arancillo, Atabrine, Duyaya, GD 69, Lacson Uno, Mamer, and Puyat.

Aside from durian, bamboos can also help mitigate the impacts of climate change. Experts say bamboos absorb huge amounts

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that when it comes to the law, all are equal.

“Naa lang ko gusto ingnon dinhi para klaro sa tanan, bisan pa ug kaila ta ug amigo ta mo ug kauban ta sa goberyno, pag-abot sa balaod patas tang tanan. Ayaw mo ug tuo ug name dropping mao ni ang pinakadakong sakit gyud nato diring kinabuhia ni.

Kay ang usa ka tawo gani mu-istorya gani mahadlok dayon ug mutuo dayon mo tungod naa sa taas na position or naay impluwensiya or naay power ang usa ka tawo. Ayaw mo ug tuo ug name dropping unless the person naatubang ninyo.

Ayaw mo ug tuo ug name dropping. Okay?” he said.

He also highlighted his priorities as the city mayor with economic recovery and poverty alleviation will be at the forefront of his administration and assured that businesses will continue to operate, and job opportunities will be available.

He also said the local government will work closely with the business sectors, local and foreign, to explore more investment opportunities in Davao City. He will be

DTI’S ... FROM5

pushing for the digitalization of public transactions and the delivery of government services.

He also wants red tape and fixing to end immediately and urged the public to report them to the authorities, the City Mayor’s Office (CMO), and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).

“Magtinabangay ta sa pagpadagan sa atoang syudad. Andam ko maminaw sa inyong tanan kung unsaon pa gyud nato na mapalambo ning atong dakbayan. Apan muhangyo ko nga buhaton sab ninyo ang inyong responsibilidad isip Dabawenyo labi na ang pagsunod sa atong mga balaod. Agree?” he said.

He urged Dabawenyos to sacrifice a little for future generations.

“Kinahanglan maningkamot ta tanan. Kinahanglan magsakripisyo ta gamay. Dili na lang para sa ato karon kundili para sa atong mga anak ug sa umaabot na henerasyon. Sama sa akong gisulti kaniadto, ako si Sebastian Duterte, trabahante ko sa gobyerno, ako inyong suluguon, dili ta mo biyaan, dili ta mo talikdan ug dili ta mo pasagdan,” he said.

Kapalong for being active and responsive to the project.

Meanwhile, DTI 11 Regional Director Maria Belenda Q. Ambi disclosed that a total of 1,670 residents, of which 263 are smallholder cacao farmers, will be provided with more opportunities once the project is completed. With the FMR in place, she said, the movement of goods and services from the area

to the market would be easier and faster.

“The smallholder cacao farmers are also beneficiaries of other initiatives, such as the support for rehabilitation and expansion to increase their cacao production. To make our interventions even more holistic, we are also preparing them for the market, and this FMR will give our farmers access to the market,” Ambi said.

ronment for investors and the financial institutions that serve them through the use of standard identifiers for securities,” SEC Chairperson Emilio B. Aquino said.

“Our membership in ANNA as a partner is a significant step toward making the Philippine market more accessible, transparent and, more importantly, se-

cure. By adopting standard identifiers, recognized in now more than 120 jurisdictions, securities first issued within the country can be acknowledged and traded between buyers and sellers virtually anywhere in the world. In this light, we look forward to a more robust activity in our domestic capital market.”

Trinidad revealed that GCash is also planning to launch travel insurance, as well as fire insurance for homes.

He said crypto products are also coming soon.

“We are working on our crypto product. We

do see that there’s a lot of interest in cryptocurrency...more than 50 percent consider buying crypto. So we do have crypto products that will be available very soon,” Trinidad said.

probably still open to taking an exhibition bout if the conditions were right and, of course, if the purse was bountiful enough.

The reality is that Khan, by the time he had turned 30, had turned already himself into more of payday-seeker than a competitive world class fighter. Having auctioned himself off as a fall guy with name value, he had offered himself up for sacrifice at the altars of Saul

“Canelo” Alvarez and Terence Crawford and had signed himself to a meaningless 3-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing that served no purpose other than to re-load his bank account. He also took a meaningless money fight against a fattened up Billy Dib in cash-rich Saudi Arabia. His last bout was a pay-per-view contest with long-time rival Kell Brook that saw him get blasted away easily in six rounds.

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en’s Beach Volleyball, and among others.

There will also be musical, cultural shows and contests like clash of tap music, rap music song writing competition, battle of the bands, folk dance and OPM singing competition, and others.

The celebration will

end with a neon rave party called the Davsuranon Victory Party that will transpire on July 1, 2022, Elijay shared during an episode of One Davao on Covid-19 virtual presser of the Philippine Information Agency Region XI. (PIA XI/Zerah Come)

ment, those relating to health, education and all others that will greatly benefit the Dabawenyos, will not be lost.

“We will work fast and act swiftly and not let any of these skips and pass us by. Three years may seem short but to the resourceful and well-planned many things can be accomplished in such a span of time. And so we will work closely and harmoniously with the Executive department to achieve one common goal, which is to rise up from this debacle, the pandemic, and the current financial crisis which has put on the sidelines the progress and development jump-started by the Duterte administration,” he said.

“This is in consonance

with the time-honored principle in Constitutional law which is “Blending of Powers” an often-overlooked percept wherein specific branches of government, work together in unison, complementing each other and sharing in the responsibilities,” he added.

He said these are the plans and this is the council’s direction.

“The details will be spelled out once our work has begun, for this short message is literally but a preview before everything else sets into motion. The 20th City Council is now officially constituted and as public officials, we are now subject to the scrutiny and the watchful eye of the public most especially social media,” he said.

ippine Information Agency Region XI. The ICON which will be spearheaded by the Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotion Office (PEDIPO) in partnership with DTI-Davao del Sur will highlight keynote messages from invited speakers, presentations of investment projects, business matching, and among others.

It will also feature a networking activity that will provide opportunities for the city/municipal mayors and their Local Economic Development and Invest-

ment Promotion Officers (LEDIPOs) to talk with company representatives on investment potentials.

Placer has invited local and even international investors to join the ICON and visit the province.

“Hopefully, with this in place, we will be able to win again more investors in the future,” she stated.

She expressed hopes that they would be pursuing investment promotion schemes with a more active stance under the incoming set of local officials of the province.

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He was clearly in no condition to engage in a real fight against someone even reasonably sharp.

But even through this last patch of at least six years of hunting paydays more than legacy fights, Khan’s name is still big and he still has value as a fall guy with a name. That’s why it’s still very plausible that he’s continuing to get calls from other fighters looking for a bankable B-side.

How would a bout be-

tween Khan and Pacquiao (or Mayweather) go?

Khan would probably lose– maybe spectacularly so. He’d also put on a good show as a partner in an exhibition tussle with no real winner. So, don’t close the door on Amir Khan’s ring career just yet.

Boxing can be a cynical sport that values salability over substance. And there are surely a few bucks more to be squeezed out of the Amir Khan brand.

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of carbon dioxide. Studies have shown a hectare of bamboo sequesters 12 tons of carbon dioxide.

“A number of bamboo species are potential tools for carbon sequestration and combating climate change,” Hans Friederich of the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR) reports.

“Bamboo plants store carbon at a fast rate, and bamboo products can effectively ‘displace’ more emissions-intensive materials such as cement, steel and plastic,” Friederich points out.

Recent INBAR research suggests (well-managed) bamboo can store 200 to 400 tons of carbon per hectare per year. “With such high carbon storage rates, there is clearly potential for countries to integrate bamboo into their climate mitigation plans,” he says.

As Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change puts it: “Bamboo and rattan can make an important difference in the fight against climate change. Nature-based solutions like bamboo do not just contribute to sustainable development, they also help build the kind of world we want.”

As this developed, Senator Loren Legarda said the country’s bamboo sector requires technical and fiscal support from the government to make it more competitive in both local and international markets.

“The lack of technical knowledge, promotion and local research on bamboo hinder the development of the local bamboo industry.

Bamboo offers a cheaper alternative to hardwood, timber and other raw materials used for furniture or handicraft making. We need to invest more on research and development, bamboo cultivation, processing and product development to spur economic activities,” she said.

Legarda has long been advocating the use and promotion of bamboo in the Philippines as a climate change mitigation and disaster resilience tool. “Bamboo plays an important role in climate change mitigation as it absorbs more carbon dioxide and releases more oxygen into the atmosphere than trees,” she stressed.

The National Greening Program (NGP) listed bamboo as among the preferred species for reforestation.

Bamboo will help boost supply for food, products (timber, fiber, non-timber forest products), services, and provide aesthetic value to the environment.

There are a million other uses of bamboo. A Reader’s Digest feature described bamboo as “delicate enough to be used in phonograph needles, yet strong enough to be used in bridge construction.” As such, bamboo can replace or indirectly decrease consumption of three critically scarce resources: wood, metal, and oil.

In the Philippines, bamboo is indispensable in the fishing and banana industry, particularly in Davao region.

Fishermen use bamboo as material for making rafts, fishing rods, outriggers for bancas, and for fishpens, like those used in tilapia culture in Lake Sebu.

In salt-water areas, bamboo is used as stakes in the culture of mussels and oysters.

In Maasin, Iloilo, bamboo charcoal is one of its major products. The company Iloilo Kawayan Marketing is reportedly producing the charcoal that is considered to be a natural product and is ecologically friendly.

Bamboo grows anywhere in the country. Often, it grows on marginal farm areas not much good for anything else. “It is a pity that we have neglected this important crop for so long,” deplores Adang.

Meanwhile, a new flagship report from the United Nations on climate change indicating that harmful carbon emissions from 2010 to 2019 have never been higher in human history, is proof that the world is on a “fast track” to disaster.

“This is not fiction or exaggeration,” said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. “We are on a pathway to global warming of more than double the 1.5-degree Celsius limit” that was agreed in Paris in 2015.

Providing scientific proof to back up the damning assessment, the report from Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – written by hundreds of leading scientists and agreed by 195 countries – noted that greenhouse gas emissions generated by human activity have increased since 2010 “across all major sectors globally.”

“We are at a crossroads,” IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee deplored. “The decisions we make now can secure a liveable future.”

And it is for these reasons that Filipino farmers should plant durian and/or bamboo in their farms.

“Let’s plant more durian or other fruit trees and bamboos,” Adang urges. “Aside from providing livelihood for our farmers, we are also helping our environment from heating too much.”

French Open title.

No man has achieved the feat since Ron Laver in 1969, with Novak Djokovic falling just short last year when he lost in the final of the US Open.

The Spaniard’s win at Roland Garros earlier this month took him to 22 Grand Slam singles titles -two clear of Djokovic and Roger Federer.

Nadal won the most recent of his two Wimbledon titles in 2010, having captured his first with an epic triumph over Federer two years earlier.

There was a question mark over his durability for the two weeks at Wimbledon having played the entire French Open with his troublesome left foot anaesthetised.

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EDGEDAVAO

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Nets guard Kyrie Irving and forward Kevin Durantin action against the Rockets on April 5, 2022. Jason Szenes, Shutterstock Out/EPA-EFE/file

Irving will opt into NBA deal and stay with Nets

B

rooklyn star guard Kyrie Irving says he will opt into a $37 million player contract option for next season to remain with the NBA Nets, The Athletic reported Monday.

The report came two days before a deadline for Irving, 30, to decide about fulfilling his four-year commitment to the Nets and star big man Kevin

Durant.

“Normal people keep the world going, but those who dare to be different lead us into tomorrow. I’ve made my decision to opt

in. See you in the fall,” Irving told The Athletic.

The report said Irving is skipping possible opt-in and trade moves to remain with Brooklyn and Durant, with hopes of finally producing an NBA title contender.

Irving has played only 103 games for the Nets over the past three seasons due to a variety of injuries and issues, includ-

ing not being vaccinated for COVID-19 and prevented from playing in home games by New York safety regulations.

Even with two superstars, the Nets have been a disappointment, going 44-38 last season and being swept by Boston in the first round of the playoffs.

Brooklyn lost to eventual champion Milwaukee in the second round last year.

Irving averaged 27.4 points, 5.8 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.4 steals a game over 29 contests for the Nets last season.

Over three seasons with Brooklyn, Irving has averaged 27.1 points and 6.0 assists.

The Nets traded star guard James Harden to Philadelphia late last season for Australian star Ben Simmons and if he returns

at top form after back surgery it could help boost Brooklyn next season.

Durant was waiting to see about Irving’s future plans before firming up his own long-term intentions.

The Nets have not gone past the second round of the NBA playoffs since losing the 2003 NBA Finals to San Antonio, when the Nets were based in New Jersey.

Serena returns at Wimbledon, Nadal eyes next leg of Slam

L

ONDON -- Serena Williams returns to singles tennis at Wimbledon after a year away on Tuesday as Rafael Nadal begins his quest to win the third leg of a potential calendar Grand Slam.

Women’s top seed Iga Swiatek, who has won her past six tournaments, will kick off proceedings on Centre Court at 1330 local time (1230 GMT) against Croatian qualifier Jana Fett.

But the main focus will be on seven-time champion Williams, who faces unseeded Harmony Tan of France in her first singles match since an injury forced her to pull out of her first-round match last year.

Williams, 40, won the last of her Wimbledon singles titles six years ago but reached the final in 2018 and 2019.

The American, who

was given a wildcard for this year’s tournament, is stuck on 23 Grand Slam singles wins -- agonisingly one short of Margaret Court’s all-time record.

Doubts had been growing about whether Williams -- who has slumped to 1,204th in the world after her period of inaction, would return to the sport.

But she warmed up by teaming up with Ons Jabeur in the doubles at Eastbourne last week and Wimbledon is widely considered her best chance of winning an elusive 24th Grand Slam.

- Nadal eyes calendar slam Nadal is halfway to winning all four majors this year after following up his Australian Open triumph by winning his 14th

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Serena Williams of the USA practises at Wimbledon tennis courts ahead of the Wimbledon Championships 2022, Wimbledon, Britain, 24 June 2022. Neil Hall, EPA-EFE

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VOL.15 ISSUE 65 • WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2022

Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and former British sparmate Amir Khan.

NEW TWIST

Is Manny chasing former sparmate Amir Khan?

I

t’s no secret that Amir Khan spent years lusting after a big-money blockbuster bout against cash cows Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.

Many say that his ambition for a Pacquiao or Mayweather windfall adversely affected his career, taking focus away from landing other career-defining bouts that were more attainable and that could’ve made him a next-level star in the same category as Manny and Floyd.

Even now, despite being fully retired, the former junior welterweight world champ and Olympic silver medalist is still trafficking in the notion of a mega-fight with Pacquiao or Mayweather.

Well, the narrative has changed just a bit. This time, the UK star is saying that Pacquiao may be the one chasing him. In a recent interview with iFL TV, Khan talks about an interesting offer from the Filipino icon that was supposedly tossed his way.

“I got a phone call about another one [fight] today,” Khan said.

“Well, I didn’t. A friend of mine got a phone call from Freddie Roach to say that, ‘listen, we want to get a fight now that Manny didn’t win the elections, let’s do an exhibition or maybe even a proper fight…

They want to do it in the UK, [but] you know all the bulls**t chasing Floyd Mayweather, chasing Manny Pacquiao – it wasn’t meant to be then and maybe it’s not meant to be now. So I’m not going to chase something. I heard it and kind of laughed about it.”

Is there any truth to this ru-

mor or is it just the usual kinda, sorta half-truth passed along between parties who don’t really have the full authority to make a fight like this happen? Is Khan exaggerating about how “real” this proposal was?

Who knows?

A retired Khan has talked about a big-money fight with one of the big two cash cows before.

Just last month, he told a story about bumping into Mayweather before Mayweather’s recent exhibition bout in Abu Dhabi and having the five-division former world champ try to talk him into not doing so.

“Floyd said to me ‘Look, we should get it on’. And I said ‘Brother, tomorrow I’m going to announce my retirement’. And he goes ‘No, I don’t think you should’,” Khan told talkSPORT. Again…who knows?

It would be hard to imagine anyone, especially a 35-year-old Khan, walking way from a potential 8-figure payday. And even Khan, himself, admitted that he’s

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