Edge Davao Vol. 15 Issue 97 | Friday, August 5, 2022

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VOL.15 ISSUE 97 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022

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Mayor Baste to impose safety requirements on street food vendors STORY ON PAGE 2

Female personnel the Bureau of Fire Protection 11 (BFP 11) arrange students desks as they take part in Brigada Eskwela 2022 at Magallanes Elementary School along Magallanes Street in Davao City on Thursday. Edge Davao

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2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 97 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022

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Residents salvage for whatever is left of their houses following a fire that razed at least 190 houses along the coast of Punta Dumalag in Matina Aplaya, Davao City on Thursday. Edge Davao

Mayor Baste to impose safety requirements on street food vendors

By MAYA M. PADILLO

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nato gusto na mahitabo na pag-usab tungod lang sa pagkaon. Isa na ang health card. There will be more requirements. They have to comply to health standards,” Duterte said during the Special Hour with Mayor Baste over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Thursday.

On July 29, 2022, based

on the final conclusive report, CHO head Dr. Ashley Lopez announced that the diarrhea outbreak was due to a foodborne microorganism, with Vibrio cholera as the pathogen of concern, which is the most likely vehicle of transmission is contaminated food.

“Naa gyud nangamatay ato na mga tao, unom na kabuok. Maayo ng naa tay adjustments na buhaton isa na ang health card, isa lang na. But I will require the barangay and the CHO to collaborate gyud niani sa pagplastar sa mga street vendors nato,” Duterte said.

“Niadto ang namatyan

sa akoa sa opisina. Giingnan nako sila kung mukaso mo, ubanan ta mo. Pero ang sulti sa pamilya, dili lang mayor. Tungod lang sa kapabayaan sa pagkaon unya mawad-an mo ug kinabuhi ibutang pud unta ninyo ang inyong kaugalingon sa mga biktima,” Duterte added.

Lopez said CHO is currently coordinating with multiple agencies, offices, and departments to ensure strict enforcement of existing rules on food handling, surveillance to other related activities.

“We are for the regulation of street vendors in

“Samakatuwid, improtante at kailangang makasiguro na lahat ay natapos ang kanilang primary doses ay mabakunahan ng booster dose pagkaraan ng tatlong buwan, upang mapanatili ang bisa ng bakuna.

(Therefore, it is important and needed that everyone has done their primary

doses and be vaccinated with booster dose after three months to sustain the vaccine efficacy.),” he said in his message during the Davao del Norte PinasLakas Vaccination Launch.

Dr. Dumama explained that immunity goes down by 16 percent from the usual 80 percent after four

months, thus he noted as very crucial to get a booster shot three months after the primary dose before immunity is gone after four months.

He also brushed aside fears of the COVID-19 vaccines saying, “these have gone through series of

ayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte is keen on imposing more requirements on the street food vendors to prevent the recent diarrhea outbreak to happen again that took the lives of six individuals after consuming ‘isaw’ and tapioca in Rasay St., Toril, Davao City.

Foremost of the measures is to require vendors to get a health card from the City Health Office (CHO).

“Naa nami initial na mga steps na gusto buhaton ug gusto mahitabo.

Kinahanglan pud nako ang cooperation sa barangay and CHO. Kinahanglan na gyud nato istriktuhan. Dili

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Immunity fades 4 months after vax; booster needed to sustain it: DOH

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mmunity against COVID-19 lowers to a nil level after four months from primary vaccination, Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Abdullah B. Dumama Jr said this morning basing on studies of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH).

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Nearly 80% of Davao Region villages cleared of illegal drugs

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lose to 80 percent of barangays in the Davao Region are now cleared of illegal drugs, authorities said Wednesday.

Data from the Police Regional Office in Davao Region (PRO-11) showed that 867 or 76.86 percent of the total affected barangays have been cleared of illegal drugs, while 263 barangays or 23.2 percent remain under close watch by the police and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Meanwhile, PDEA-11 also announced Wednesday that nine barangays have been recently cleared of the illegal drug trade, which brings the total of barangays cleared of illegal drugs to 876.

The Regional Oversight Committee Barangay Drug Clearing led by PDEA-11 Director Aileen Lovitos validated the documents submitted by the nine appli-

cant barangays from Davao de Oro province.

“On August 2, 2022, barangays Dumlan, Kinuban, Lumatab, Mainit, Masara, New Leyte, Pangi and Panoaron of Maco; and Barangay Tagugpo of Pantukan, Davao de Oro have satisfactorily complied with the required documents for Drug-Cleared Barangay set by Dangerous Drugs Board,” the PDEA-11 report said.

Of the total 1,162 barangays in the region, 1,128 have been identified as affected by the illegal drug trade.

Meanwhile, PRO-11 reported that the Mandug police captured in an entrapment the 7th most wanted drug personality here Tuesday.

Seized from suspect Wendel Subaan, 37, were illegal drugs worth PHP160,000, police said.

(PNA)

BOC Davao conducts Time Release Study for 2022

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he Bureau of Customs (BOC), Port of Davao, is conducting a Time Release Study (TRS) for the year 2022 to improve the efficiency of its cargo releasing procedure. The said Office underwent an orientation of the TRS on June 12, 2022, led by the Planning and Policy Research Division (PPRD).

The TRS is a tool and method for measuring the actual performance of the Bureau to determine factors that delay or affect the immediate release of goods of each selectivity lane, both for import and export. For the Port of Davao, the said study will cover the period of July 25 to August 2, 2022.

With the adaptation of new policies such as the operationalization of the Customer Care Portal System (CCPS), computerized and improved risk management system at the Bureau, and installation of X-ray machines at various seaport and airport units of the BOC Davao, the said Port is hopeful that it will further improve clearance time at the Port and at the same time, identify and address bottlenecks in the release of shipments.

The TRS Report is currently being worked on and will be published on the Customs website as part of the requirement of the ASEAN and for public information.

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NEWS

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Public Safety and Security Command Center chief Angel Sumagaysay discusses during this week’s I-Speak media forum in Davao City the preparations and the security measures for the Kadayawan sa Dabaw 2022. Edge Davao

Mayor Baste orders police to act on rising cases of robbery, theft Davao de Oro to strengthen implementation of UHC law

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he Provincial Government of Davao de Oro through the Provincial Health Office recently conducted an orientation about Universal Health Care (UHC) Law to the Local Chief Executives (LCEs) of the 11 municipalities held at Prosperity Hall, Nabunturan DdO on July 29, 2022, to see to it that the constituents receive the best health care possible that is equitable for all.

The UHC act, also known as R.A. 11223, was signed into law by Former President Rodrigo Duterte last February 20, 2019. One of the goals of this legislation was to make PhilHealth membership mandatory for all Filipinos which assures that everyone has the access to quality and affordable healthcare they require wherever or whenever they need it. During the orientation, Governor Dorothy Gonzaga emphasized the importance of implementing the reforms that are embodied in the law, which would bring positive changes in the health care system in every municipality. She points out that LCEs must realize those reforms to ensure that every individual is

protected from health risks, ensure equitable access to high-quality, low-cost healthcare as well as save them from financial risks.

She also encouraged all the LCEs to further improve the Rural Health Units (RHUs) or Health Centers (HCs) of the respective municipalities by getting accredited with PhilHealth and Department of Health (DOH) so that it could be an avenue for the constituents, especially the less fortunate individuals, indigenous peoples, and vulnerable populations, to easily claim such benefits when emergencies arise.

In a statement of Christopher Molina, the Local Health Insurance Head of PhilHealth Nabunturan, says that through the PhilHealth Point of Service under the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP), the patients identified as financially incapable by the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction will get health subsidies from the national government. This indicates that they are also protected by the No Balance Billing Policy, which states that dis-

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By MAYA M. PADILLO

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ayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte ordered the police authorities to act on the rising cases of robbery and theft in Davao City.

According to the mayor during his command conference with the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), there is an increase in complaints of robbery and theft in the city based on the data.

“During a command conference with the police, indeed sa datus 2021 and 2022 karon naa gyud tay pagsaka, people are reporting on Facebook ba nga dapat man gud unta

sa proper authorities mo mu-report. Naay increase in robbery and theft. Karon ginapangayo nato ang datus sa atoang pre-pandemic tan-awon nako kung sa milabay na usa ka tuig pila ba or by January to July unsa kadaghan ang robbery and theft sa ato,” he said.

Duterte said through this the city will know what kind of interventions need to be done to prevent these

crimes to continue.

“Ana ko sa police tanawa ninyo ang datus kung nisaka man gyud na then that means naa gyud mo kinahanglan buhaton dili na pasagadan. Kabalo man na sila sa ilang buhaton kay mga pulis man na sila. Gina-encourage nako sila to be sensitive with the data that we are seeing for our eyes kay wala ta kabalo na grabe na diay,” he added.

Duterte also reminded the public and resto bars to follow the guidelines on liquor ban specially since Kadayawan sa Dabaw is fast approaching.

he security and safety cluster of the city government of Davao assured that security and safety measures are already in place for the first face-toface celebration of the 37th Kadayawan sa Davao.

Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) deputy head Angel Sumagaysay said the security

and safety clusters already came up with an integrated security and safety plan to be executed during Kadayawan which will kick off on August 15, 2022.

“May mga series of meetings kami with the security and safety clusters para mahimong epektibo ang deployment nato. In short, naka ready na ang

atoang security for the Kadayawan, madungagan lang ni tungod naay concerts na ipahigayon labi na sa mga sponsors ng Kadayawan,” Sumagaysay said during I-Speak media forum on Thursday.

All in all, there are a total of 12,332 security personnel from various security forces that include Davao

He also said this will also prevent the shooting incident in the parking area of Lugar Bar from happening again.

“Kabalo ko ang mga batan-on ani reklamo aning liquor ban kay dili mo kainum inom. Dili lang man ni karon naay liquor ban, kaniadto pa ni. After hours naa na’y samok, pareho atong insidente na shooting incident na naa gyud namatay. Mao na adunay liquor ban,” he said.

He also said that ever since the liquor ban was implemented, the night-

City Police Office (DCPO), Task Force Davao, Philippine Coast Guard, tactical team operation, Philippine National Police (PNP) national support units and battalions to be deployed.

The City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO), Bureau of Fire, City Health Office (CHO),

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Security, safety measures in place for Kadayawan:PSSCC T

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4 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

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The peso’s weakness is expected to counter the impact of higher domestic inflation rate as the former can boost consumer’s spending power, especially those of overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) beneficiaries. Edge Davao

DTI chief eyes revised SRP on school supplies

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he Department of Trade and Industry is expected to release a new and revised list of suggested retail price (SRP) for school supplies.

Trade Sec. Alfredo Pascual said his department is reviewing the SRP list for school supplies, citing lack of details and sometimes vague information on the current list.

He added that the old SRP list may not actually be helping consumers.

“It’s no guideline at all,” asserted the DTI chief.

“Pinapa-review ko ang

clauses, kasi nakita ko ang suggested retail price, very wide ang range. Palagay mo ito ’yung low price for a certain product. Tapos ’yung nasa high sometimes more than double sa low. Pero hindi ine-explain na ’yung difference is not because of different seller, but different quality.”

The secretary said the old list just mentions a

generic item with a price range, but there are no specs or details which may even confuse consumers.

“Pinapa-review ko rin kasi nakalagay lang du’n notebook, anong klaseng notebook? spiral?” he said.

“Hindi sinasabi ilang leaves. ’Yung pad, pad lang. Anong pad, pwedeng 48 leaves, 98 leaves?”

Pascual said being new to the department, he is offering a new pair of eyes to the agency’s works. The SRP list has good intentions but said changes must be made.

He said he has asked

his staff to study the prices if there is a need to indicate where consumers can buy them, and check the quality and quantity of items.

“Why are we doing it and whose interest are we serving? And what do we really need to show? Yung high price kasama pa ba natin yun o yung low price lang? Do we need to indicate who is selling in the low price?” Pascual said.

No date has been set, but the agency hopes to release the SRP list before the opening of the full face-toface classes in November.

DITO hits 11M subscribers

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ITO Telecommunity Corp., a venture backed by stateowned China Telecom and Davao-based businessman Dennis Uy, said it had 11 million subscribers as of the end of July.

In a statement, DITO chief administrative officer Adel Tamano said the “milestone” was achieved “less than a month after the company announced

it exceeded the 10-million mark, reflecting the telco’s sustained growth trend since it commercially launched last March 2021.”

DITO aims to capture 12 million subscribers this year.

Global internet speed monitoring firm Ookla has described DITO as a market disruptor, saying that

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Weaker peso offsets impact of high SSS expands contribution payment inflation on consumer spending through mobile app, online channels

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he peso’s weakness is expected to counter the impact of higher domestic inflation rate as the former can boost consumer’s spending power, especially those of overseas Filipino workers’ (OFWs) beneficiaries.

According to the July 2022 issue of The Market Call, the joint publication of the First Metro Invest-

ment Corporation and the University of Asia and the Pacific, the peso remains under pressure given the general strengthening of the US dollar, backed by the continued hikes in the Federal Reserve’s key rates.

It, however, said “unlike other countries, the peso depreciation’s positive effects should mitigate a good part

of consumer spending weakness dogged by high inflation.”

The weaker peso also benefits the business process outsourcing sector and the country’s exports, it added.

To date, the peso is trading at 55-level against the greenback. It has improved a bit after dipping to the 56-level a few

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he state-run Social Security System (SSS) said Wednesday members could now pay their contributions through its mobile and other online channels.

In a statement, SSS president and CEO Michael Regino said individual members – self-employed, voluntary, non-working spouses, and land-based overseas Filipino workers

– may pay their contributions using their GCash, PayMaya, and Bank of the Philippine Islands account, or debit/credit card through the mobile app.

Individual members may also use the mobile app and website of other collecting partners accredited by SSS, such as the Robinsons Bank Corp., Security Bank Corp. (SBC) – SBOL, Union Bank of the Philip-

pines (UBP), AltPayNet, CIS Bayad Center, Inc., GCash, and PayMaya.

“We encourage our members and employers to pay their contributions using our online channels as through these payment facilities, they no longer have to go to our branches.

These can be accessed at the safety and convenience of their homes or offices,”

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Passersby buy vegetables at the organic farmers’ market at Rizal Park in Davao City on Thursday. Edge Davao

Palace on SWS survey: Poverty down to single-digit by 2028 Targeted cash transfer subsidy to ease inflation impact: NEDA

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he release of targeted subsidies to the most vulnerable Filipino families will help cushion the impact of elevated prices of oil and other commodities, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said.

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) approved the release of the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) worth PHP4.1 billion for the Targeted Cash Transfer (TCT) Program.

“The timely release of the fund is crucial in the government’s efforts to help the poor cope with the continuous rise in commodity prices due to external shocks and other factors,” said NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan in a statement Wednesday.

He said the cash transfer program is an important intervention to protect the purchasing power of the poor, which is among the priorities of the Marcos administration’s eight-point socioeconomic agenda.

The NEDA is tasked to flesh out the eight-point socioeconomic agenda in the

Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, which it committed to deliver by the end of the year.

“Our near-term goal as envisioned in our 8-point agenda is to safeguard Filipinos against the most pressing issues today, which are rising inflation and the lingering socioeconomic scarring caused by the Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic,” Balisacan said.

The PHP4.1-billion budget allotment is part of the second tranche requirements for implementing the TCT Program. It will benefit over four million beneficiaries, who mostly belong to the poorest of the country’s population.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is tasked to distribute the cash subsidy.

Under the program, the DSWD will also provide PHP500 per month for two months. Distribution will be through remittance centers, special disbursing officers, and the Land Bank of the Philippines.

Under the guidelines

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that in the SONA of the President, we have a goal to reduce our poverty levels into single-digit by 2028,” said Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles.

“That continues. If anything, this makes the mat-

ter more urgent and we will monitor more closely the reduction of poverty levels, to at least diminish it to single-digit levels,” she added.

Marcos seeks to boost the economy through agriculture and food self-sufficiency, said Cruz-Angeles. “‘Strengthening agriculture and our economy will help in our goal to bring down poverty levels in the Philippines,” said the Palace official.

The Marcos govern-

ment plans to maintain robust economic growth and alleviate poverty through an 8-point agenda.

In his SONA, Marcos said the government would also impose taxes on digital goods to generate billions of pesos in funds. He also pushed 2 new tax reform packages.

He said he also aimed to raise the national budget to P7.712 trillion in 2028 and reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio to less than 60 percent by 2025.

ippines, after all, is one of the world’s most richly endowed countries in terms of mineral resources,” he said Wednesday at the listing of Philex Mining Corporation’s (Philex) common shares in the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE).

Philex is mobilizing investments for the development of its Silangan underground copper-gold mine in Surigao del Norte.

In a disclosure to the

PSE, the company said it is offering a maximum of 842 million common shares at the rate of one offer share for every 5.8674 shares owned for PHP3.15 each to raise a total of PHP2.652 billion new equity.

The stocks rights offering (SRO) period started on July 12, 2022 and ended July 25, 2022.

The Silangan project, considered one of the biggest copper-gold mines in

the country, is planned to be mined in two phases.

The first phase has a mineable ore reserve of 81 million metric tonnes which will be mined for 22 years at a rate of 4 million tonnes per year.

The mine is targeted to commence commercial operations in the first quarter of 2025.

Diokno said Philex’ SRO listing demonstrates

he administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is committed to its target of reducing the poverty rate to single-digit by 2028, Malacañang said Wednesday, after a survey showed that nearly half of Filipino families felt poor.

Around 48 percent or 12.2 million families were self-rated poor in June, according to the results of a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released Tuesday.

“We just want to note

Diokno banks on mining for economic growth, expansion

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inance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the mining industry is a potential source of sustained economic growth as he underscored the benefit of mobilizing investments for mine development.

“The mining industry holds the greatest potential to be a key driver in our economic recovery and long-term growth, especially now that world metal prices are high. The Phil-

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VOL.15 ISSUE 97 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022

On his orders to the police authorities to act on the rising cases of robbery and theft in Davao City:

Ana ko sa police tan-awa ninyo ang datus kung nisaka man gyud na then that means naa gyud mo kinahanglan buhaton dili na pasagadan.

Kabalo man na sila sa ilang buhaton kay mga pulis man na sila. Gina-encourage nako sila to be sensitive with the data that we are seeing for our eyes kay wala ta kabalo na grabe na diay.”

Mayor SEBASTIAN ‘BASTE’ DUTERTE

EDITORIAL Respect to our heritage The Hiyas ng Kadayawan as a pageant competition has always been unique than the usual. For one, the premium is not physical beauty but substance.

That, in essence, separates this pageant from the rest and it’s also what separates its contestants from the norms and perception of beauty contestants.

Not to put down other pageant platforms but for sure, Hiyas ng Kadayawan has a different perception of beauty.

This year, eleven young women are vying for the coveted title as Hiyas sa Kadayawan. They were officially presented to the media at the Acacia Davao Hotel in Davao City on Wednesday, representing the 11 tribes of Davao City.

To begin with, the competitions feature these contestants’ vision of how they can be significant to the community by presenting various advocacies emphasizing the right to education, ethnic representation, and cultural preservation. The advocacies ranged from cultural preservation,

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Leizly May Mendoza of the Bagobo-Tagabawa tribe is advocating the strengthening of cultural identity and continuity of her tribe. She beamed with pride that Vice President Sara Duterte wore their traditional attire during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s first State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The Hiyas sa Kadayawan aims to showcase the diverse beauty of Davao City’s eleven ethnolinguistic tribes as well as add more visibility to the city’s minority populations and expand its platform through socio-cultural representation in the form of a city-wide cultural talent show.

The big winner here is our cultural heritage. Its preservation and respect.

MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter ANA MARIE G. SILPAO Layout

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN MEGHANN STA. INES FERINA SANTOS Lifestyle

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

During the media presentation, one contestant Sitti Rohilmina Emani of the Sama tribe shed tears as she shared the struggle of her tribe due to discrimination, the reason why she is advocating for equality and the right to education for the Sama tribe (Badjaos).

ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

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equality, women empowerment and right to education.

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

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VANTAGE POINTS

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HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

WHY BREASTFEEDING IS NECESSARY “Breastfeeding benefits not only the child but the mother and family also, as it is free of cost and reduces the risk of infection in newborns, enhances neurodevelopment, and reduces the risk of acquiring certain non-communicable illnesses in adulthood.” – Healthy Newborn Network ***

“As global crises continue to threaten the health and nutrition of millions of babies and children, the vital importance of breastfeeding as the best possible start in life is more critical than ever.”

The said statement was issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) during the World Breastfeeding Week, which is celebrated every August 1-7 in commemoration of the 1900 Innocent Declaration.

This year’s celebration has the theme, “Step up for breastfeeding: Educate and Support” and both UN agencies are calling on governments to allocate increased resources to protect, promote, and support breastfeeding policies and programs, especially for the most vulnerable families living in emer-

gency settings.

“During emergencies, breastfeeding guarantees a safe, nutritious and accessible food source for babies and young children,” the WHO and UNICEF said in a joint statement. “It offers a powerful line of defense against disease and all forms of child malnutrition, including wasting.”

In like manner, breastfeeding also acts as a baby’s first vaccine, protecting them from common childhood illnesses.

Yet the emotional distress, physical exhaustion, lack of space and privacy, and poor sanitation experienced by mothers in emergency settings mean that many babies are missing out on the benefits of breastfeeding to help them survive.

Studies have shown that fewer than half of all newborn babies are breastfed in the first hour of life, leaving them more vulnerable to disease and death. What’s even more alarming is that only 44% of infants are exclusively breastfed in the first six months of life – that is short of the World Health Assembly target of 50% by 2025.

“Protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding is more important than ever, not

just for protecting our planet as the ultimate natural, sustainable, first food system, but also for the survival, growth, and development of millions of infants,” the WHO and UNICEF said.

Dr. Hiroshi Nakajima, former WHO director-general, described breast milk in these words: “The sole truly universal food for the entire human species.”

Dr. Nakajima said breast milk, until recently, has served as “a vital link for nutrition and survival across the entire span of human existence, nurturing the newborn, the infant, and the young child during the most vulnerable years, all the while providing a powerful source of protection from infectious disease.”

Breast milk, the UN health agency explains, is more than a simple collection of nutrients.

For thousands of years, in all continents, babies have been breastfed for a simple reason: mother’s milk is natural.

“Mother’s milk is a living substance of great biological complexity that not only provides unique protection against disease, but also stimulates the baby’s own immune system,” the WHO points out.

The WHO recommends ex-

clusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, after which “infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics pointed out the importance of breastfeeding. It said: “Extensive research using improved epidemiologic methods and modern laboratory techniques documents diverse and compelling advantages for infants, mothers, families, and society from breastfeeding and use of human milk for infant feeding. These advantages include health, nutritional, immunologic, developmental, psychologic, social, economic, and environmental benefits.”

Breast milk is easily digested by babies, so they don’t have to face the problem of constipation. Breastfed babies rarely have ear or respiratory system infections, allergies, stomach problems like diarrhea and vomiting.

Children who were breastfed exclusively for at least three months had better intelligence scores later in life than those who received formula, according to a study in the Archives of General Psychiatry.

“A woman’s body is a sacred temple,” wrote Suzy Kassem, author of Rise Up and Salute the Sun. “A work of art, and a life-giving vessel. And once she becomes a mother, her body serves as a medicine cabinet for her infant. From her milk she can nourish and heal her own child from a variety of ailments.”

When mother’s milk is not available, the WHO and UNICEF promote the use of pasteurized donor human milk as the second option in preference to formulas. However, WHO has particularly specified that the “recommendation (is) relevant for settings where safe and affordable milk-banking facilities are available or can be set up.”

“The use of formulas as the next option requires counseling the mothers and families on their proper and clean preparation,” the Healthy Newborn Network states. “The use of preterm formulas should only be recommended when the baby is not gaining weight on standard formula and if it can be affordable.”

For babies smaller than 1,500 gm birth weight, the WHO recommends adding vitamin D, calcium, phosphorus, and iron supplements.

ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

ARABIC, MALAY LOAN-WORDS Dr. Jose P. Rizal has been honored with the sobriquet as ‘the pride of the Malay race,’ an appellation that declares him an ethnic Malay. There is, however, a biosphere of difference be-tween ‘Malay race’ and ‘Malay world.’ Although scholars have contributed their own interpretations into the debate, the use of Malay, about a race, language, and territory, has also been in-fluenced by the way colonists understood the term.

The Malays, as a race, refer to the people living on the eastern side of Sumatra, Indonesia, those that live on the littorals of Borneo, settlers of Malaysian peninsula, and the inhabitants of southern Thailand.

They were bound, centuries ago, by a com-mon language known as Malay. For clarity, historian and or-thographers have grouped other adjacent

territories as part of what is defined as the Malay region and labeled the collection as the Malay world.

Malay, historically, was one of the trade languages of pre-colonial southeast Asian world, alongside with Javanese and Sanskrit (Hindu), before the Spaniards colonized the country. An example of this was Enrique, the slave from Malacca Portu-guese explorer Ferdinand Magellan used in communicating with the Cebuanos.

The Malay words that have penetrated the Filipino language have interesting similarities, such as English ‘brain,’ translated to Filipino as ‘utak’ and Malay, ‘otak.’ Other loanwords with similar spelling and meaning include the following: debt (utang), five (lima), goat (kambing), garlic (bawang), open (bu-ka or bukas), baby’s underclothes (lampin),

eyes (mata), sky (langit), child (anak), duck (itik), plate (pinggan), house (ba-lay), scissors (gunting), and road (dalan).

There are also Filipino-Malay words with phonological sameness but spelled with slight variations. Among the popular ones are ‘umbrella’ (payong in Filipino; payung in Malay), bronze cannon (lantaka, rentaka), island (pulo, pulau), sea (laot, laut), fort (kuta, kota), thousand (libo, libu), face (mukha, muka), bowl (mangkok, mangkuk), elbow (siko, siku), pig (ba-boy, babi), front (harapan, hadapan), stone (bato, batu), and small cat (kuting, kuching).

There are, however, variations, in the way foreign words are adopted or interpreted. In Malay, atip means roof, like in Filipi-no but evolved into atop in Visayan. In Cebuano, lantay refers to a bamboo bed but in

Malay, lantai means floor (as in build-ing story).

Some Pinoy terms, like pinggan (bowl), salawal (trousers), and salamat (thank you), originally came from Persian, trans-lated to pingan, sarwaal, and salamah, respectively. Even the Cebuano word pangadyi (pray) comes from the Persian hajji (pilgrim).

In ‘Texts and Manuscripts: Description and Research’ (2010), I. Donoso Jimenez explained that the entry of Arabic via Spain and the Malaysia-Indonesian conduit connected ‘both edges of the Islamic World,’ citing a few familiar loan-words that now form part of the Filipino dialogue: ‘Arabic words were introduced to the Philippines direct-ly or through Malay, but also through Spanish too, i.e., alahas (alhaja, al-haja), alkalde (alcalde, al-qadi), al-kampor

(alcanfor, al-kanfur), alkansiya (alcancia, al-kansiyya), aldaba (aldaba, al-dabba), almires (almirez, al-mihras), baryo (barrio, al-barri), kapre (capre, kafir), kis-ame (zaquizame, saaf fassami).

Other interesting words found in Tagalog (Filipino) and Vi-sayan with Arabic provenance include ginger tea (salabat, non-alcoholic drink), judgment (hukom, hukm), liquor (alak, araq), talisman (agimat, azimah), and teacher (malim, mu-allim).

Beyond Arabic, Spanish, and Malay, the country, also via the Malaysia-Indonesian channels, has adopted Sanskrit, Javanese, and Chinese loan-words introduced by or through foreign mer-chants, migrants, product labels, traditions and practices, reli-gious beliefs, written literatures, and daily conversations.

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VOL.15 ISSUE 97 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022

COMPETITIVE EDGE

Huawei offers great value for its MateBook laptops

Manila, Philippines — HUAWEI Philippines has launched its biggest, most exciting products to date: the HUAWEI MateBook 16s and HUAWEI MateBook D16!

Expand your world with the HUAWEI MateBook 16s and Matebook D16 As HUAWEI’s biggest and most advanced laptops to ever launch, these laptops promise the most intuitive control and smoothest performance.

The company’s engineers have always crafted their products with care to deliver the best value, from the smallest devices to their biggest ones — and the HUAWEI MateBook 16s and HUAWEI Matebook D16, HUAWEI’s most premium offerings, are the ultimate testament to their incredible dedication to designing topnotch product performance.

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these new laptops expand your world at excellent values that are hard to beat.

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The HUAWEI Matebook 16s offers a unique 3:2 touchscreen panel that offers 8% more display area than normal 16:9 panels. It also lets users view more content vertically.

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The laptop is also thin and lightweight despite its massive screen, managing a 16-inch screen size with a 15.6-inch body size.

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Avoid dropped connections on your important video calls, download the largest files, and watch HD gaming live streams unin-

terrupted with the MateBook D16’s superior data signal reception.

Super Device:Building a new smart office experience HUAWEI delivers a smart, efficient, and fully interconnected experience with the cross-device collaboration and ecosystem integration capabilities of Super Device. Going above and beyond one’s expectations for a laptop, the HUAWEI MateBook 16s and HUAWEI Matebook D16 can collaborate with your HUAWEI phones, tablets, monitors, and accessories so you can access and use all their features right on your 16-inch laptop. Drag and drop files across all your devices, access your combined directories in

Mandaluyong City – The lucky player from San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, who was one of two lucky winners of Lotto 6/42 with a jackpot prize of P34,838,186.80 drawn on July 7, 2022, claimed his portion of winnings at the PCSO Main Office, Shaw

Boulevard, Mandaluyong City, on July 15, 2022. The winning combination of the said draw were 09-1042-08-13-41.

During the interview, the 49-year-old winner and civil servant, stated that his lucky numbers are combinations of his parents’

birthdays. He has also been playing lotto for 5 years and has neither given up hope nor been hesitant to try his luck until he wins.

“Every time na maiisip kong tumaya, di ako nagdadalawang-isip na pumunta agad sa lotto outlet para sumubok. Wala

naman kasing nakakaalam kung kailan tayo dadalawin ng swerte. Hangga’t kaya mo o may nakikita kang pag-asa o oportunidad na manalo, go lang. Totoong may nananalo. Kaya’t thankful ako sa PCSO.” When asked about his plans for his winnings, “Sa

Resident from San Jose, Occidental Mindoro bags P17.4M lotto 6/42 jackpot prize

In Photo. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes (PCSO) Vice Chairman and General Manager Melquiades Aypa Robles (2nd from right) and Philippine Racing Commission (PHILRACOM) Chairman Aurelio P. De Leon (2nd from left) with Assistant General Manager for Gaming, Product Development and Marketing Sector Mr. Arnel Casas (left) and Acting Executive Director Ronald A. Corpuz (right) signing the Memorandum of Agreement between PCSO and Philippine Racing Commission (PHILRACOM)

one, and use your devices in seamless tandem on your laptop screen!

Additionally, the HUAWEI Matebook 16s and Matebook D16 come equipped with 1080p wide-angle AI cameras that support background replacement and can follow your movement as you present in video meetings, as well as Mobile App Engine technology which allows you to add mobile apps on your laptop to improve and personalize your workflow. There is so much you can do and discover when you own a HUAWEI MateBook 16s or HUAWEI MateBook D16.

The sky's the limit with HUAWEI, who continues to develop and improve its services for ex-

isting HUAWEI users and introduce new innovations like these laptops that deliver incomparable AI experiences.

With these HUAWEI MateBook 16 laptops at the center of your digital world, it will be easier than ever to live an AI-enhanced life with HUAWEI. See how big your world gets when you pre-order one now! Models start at PHP 55,999 with the D16 i5 16GB+512GB, which also comes with a MateView SE worth PHP 7,999. You can alternatively get the MateBook D16 with an i7 processor at PHP 70,999 and a free MateView SE, or go all the way up to the MateBook 16s at PHP 89,999 with a free MateView (4K) worth PHP 34,999!

Representing the Office of the PCSO General Manager, Chief of Staff Dr. Alexander R. Castillo (left) hands over the check to the new Lotto 6/42 jackpot winner.

ngayon ilalaan ko muna ito sa savings namin ng asawa ko. Then saka kami magpaplano kung papano namin i-mamanage ng tama ang pera.”, he answered.

For the winners to claim the prize, they must present the actual winning ticket with their name and signature at the back together with two (2) valid government IDs for verification. Winners are also given one (1) year from the date of the draw to claim the prize to avoid forfeiture of winnings as stated in Republic Act 1169.

In addition, the public is reminded that prizes above

Php 10,000.00 are subject to 20% tax pursuant to TRAIN LAW. PCSO Chairperson and Ad Interim General Manager Anselmo Simeon Pinili urges the public to continue supporting and patronizing PCSO games in order for the Agency to extend its purpose of giving and providing essential needs to the less fortunate Filipinos through its charitable cause initiatives.

Mangarap. Sumali. Tumulong. Tangkilikin ang “Mga Larong May Puso”. By Mark Lester F. Tejada / Photo by: Eric Delos Reyes

EDGEDAVAO EDGE

VOL.15 ISSUE 97 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022

GAME CHANGER

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Atty Ingemar Macarine doing what he likes best: swimming.

PINOY AQUAMAN MAKES WAVES AGAIN Text and photos by HENRYLITO D. TACIO courtesy of Ingemar P. Macarine

T

he marathon swimming at Lake Michigan last Sunday morning (July 24) took exactly two hours and 57 minutes. But instead of 10 kilometers as planned, they covered only half of that.

“We had to shorten the swim from the planned 10 kilometers because of bad weather conditions,” said Filipino endurance swimmer Ingemar P. Macarine.

“Only Rey Letada and I completed the swim.”

Letada is a Filipino-American multi-sports enthusiast. The three others – Nick Regorgo, Cynthia Garcia, and Kylee Marie Guiriba – are all neophyte open-water swimmers.

“The three had to get out of the water early part of the swim for safety reasons,” Macarine disclosed in his Facebook post. “They only resumed swimming when the waves slowed down a little.”

According to Macarine, the swimming took longer “because we only had one escort boat.” As a result, “we had to wait for the other swimmers and finish the swim together.”

The weather was another obstacle. “The water temperature during the swim was 62 degrees Fahrenheit,” Macarine said. “I did

not have enough cold acclimatization training so the water felt so cold. The wet suit helped but it could only protect the covered part of my body.”

Just like in his previous swims, Macarine followed the rules set by the English Channel Swimming Association (such as no floating aids of any kind, regular swim

suits only, and no physical contact with another human being or with the boats).

“After a long hiatus due to the pandemic, I’m back,” Macarine told journalist Roel Catoto, who wrote a report for the Rappler days before the actual swim.

The purpose of the swim, Macarine said, was “to promote marine conservation in the Philippines” and to follow “a healthy lifestyle.”

The swim was also “in memory of a good friend and fellow open-water swimmer, Lisa Amorao.” She passed away in May 2022 during an open-water swim in California.

Macarine ended his post

Together with the group who conquered Lake Michigan.

with these words: “Thank you, Lord, for a successful swim. Though the weather did not cooperate today, we really enjoyed the swim.”

In 2015, Macarine was named by international conservation group World Wildlife Fund for Nature-Philippines as one of its Environmental Heroes.

He was cited for raising environmental awareness by “pioneering solo channel swimming in the Philippines to promote marine conservation.”

“I was really surprised when I learned that I was a Hero of the Environment awardee,” Macarine said in an exclusive interview. “It

Atty Ingemar Macarine after conquering Lake Michigan.

was my first national award and the fact that it was from the largest conservation group in the world.”

According to him, he swims to promote his lifetime advocacy for clean seas and beaches. “I want to swim long distances to inspire Filipinos to care more for the marine environment,” pointed out the man who grew up in Surigao.

Macarine has done some endurance open-water swims in some of the dangerous channels around the country and in the United States.

Let’s take a closer look at what he has accomplished so far. On December 30, 2013, he became the first man to swim from Basul Island to Surigao City – about 4.2 kilometers in a matter of two hours. Two months later, he swam from Hikdop Island to Surigao City, some 12.8 kilometers away from each other in just 3 hours

and 38 minutes.

He was the first man who attempted to swim from Visayas to Mindanao by swimming from San Ricardo in Southern Leyte to Surigao City. Although the swim was unsuccessful, he made a personal record of swimming 23 kilometers in 5-and-a-half hours. This was in May 2014.

On June 15, 2014, Macarine became the first man to conquer the Babuyan Channel by swimming from Palaui Island to Sta. Ana of Cagayan. The distance was 7.2 kilometers and he did it in two hours.

The 13.4-kilometer distance from Balicasag Island to Panglao Island, both located in Bohol, was swum

by Macarine within 6 hours and 45 minutes on October 16, 2014. It took him 7 hours and 45 minutes to swim the 19.99-kilometer distance from Santa Fe, Bantayan Is-

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compliance with the relative laws, but we also look forward to lobbying legislation in improving the Sanitary Ordinance of this City,” he said.

Lopez also announced

that the drinking water in Toril serviced by the Davao City Water District (DCWD) is clean and safe.

The diarrhea outbreak was declared over on July 29, 2022.

studies already by vaccine experts.”

“Ligtas at mabisa ito laban sa grabe at matinding epekto ng COVID-19.

Huwag na sana tayong mag- agam-agam pa. (This is safe and effective against the adverse effects of COVID-19. Let’s no longer be hesitant.),” he said in pitching his public call for vaccination.

He said billions already have been jabbed with COVID-19 vaccine worldwide and not one case has been proven to have severe complications except the usual fever, headache, vomiting “that eventually go away after few days.”

“It is not in any way, na-

patunayan na may (proven that there is) vaccine-related adverse effect,” he was referring to hearsays on impaired vision, on mental illness, on physical deformities, among others allegedly due to COVID-19 vaccine.

Meanwhile, Dr. Dumama said that the PinasLakas is aimed at vaccinating 90 percent senior citizen and jabbing 1st booster dose to 50 percent of the general population.

This target is in line with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr to be achieved within his first 100 days in office. (PIA XI/ Jeanevive D. Abangan)

advantaged or indigent patients are not permitted to be charged any further fees beyond the package rates.

“Sa mga dili kabayad, naa ta mga social worker kada provincial hospital nga mag-assess kung Indigent or disadvantage. As long as mupasa siya sa social

worker nga ‘incapacity’ gyud sya ug dili kabayad, automatic covered sya sa PhilHealth. Walay obligasyon ang LGUs sa pagbayad kay ang mu-cover sa mga pasyente kay ang national government na through point of service,” Molina said.

the Philippines is a “duopoly no more” as it recognizes the impact that DITO had in triggering dominant players Globe Telecom and PLDT’s Smart Communications to beef up investments to improve their services and keep their subscribers.

DITO is mandated to cover 70% of the population this year as part of

commitments to the government when it secured frequencies, license, and franchise as the third major telco player.

It is now present in more than 600 cities and municipalities. By the end of the year, DITO is targeting being commercially available in more than 840 areas nationwide.

weeks back.

The rate of price increases climbed to 6.1 percent last June from the previous month’s 5.4 percent, resulting in an average of 4.4 percent in the first half of the year.

The monthly inflation print breached the government’s 2-4 percent target band since last April when it accelerated

to 4.9 percent due mainly to the impact of higher prices of oil in the international market.

“The peso should also recover in the shortterm as the U.S. dollar has started to reverse its recent sharp rise and the PH (Philippines) balance of trade deficit slightly softens by H2 (second half),” the report said.

Regino said.

Household employers could pay online through the SBC – Digibanker and UBP, including its UnionBank Online App. Meanwhile, business employers may use the BPI – Bizlink and BancNet’s eGov facility through its 19 participat-

ing banks to make online payments.

The auto debit arrangement is available for all types of payers through the BPI, Country Builders Bank, First Consolidated Bank, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., and Philippine National Bank, Regino said. (PNA)

of the TCT Program, the DSWD will facilitate the distribution of cash grants amounting to PHP3,000, or PHP500 per month for six months.

Its guidelines were released through the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1, s. 2022 of the Department of Finance, NEDA, DBM, and DSWD. (PR)

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life along Torres Street stopped, and no reported shooting incidents, however, when post-pandemic activities returned with more relaxed restrictions being implemented, crimes happened.

“Karon pagbalik, postpandemic nga activities nga wala nato istriktuhi, mao gyud na ang mahitabo. Mao man na gibutang nato ang liquor ban. Pasensyahay ta.

Trabaho ni. Ingon ana na,” he said.

The City Government of Davao has lifted the modified liquor ban in Davao City effective on February 15, 2022, through Executive Order (EO) No. 5 Series of 2022, also known as “An Order Providing For The Lifting Of The Modified Liquor Ban in Davao City.”

Meanwhile, Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) deputy

head Angel Sumagaysay said it is the directive of the City Mayor to properly monitor resto bars and restaurants in their compliance with the modified liquor ban ordinance.

“Naa man tay liquor ban ordinance yun ang sundin natin. In line sa shooting incident sa isa sa mga bars, may instruction na si City Mayor na to properly monitor kung ang resto bars and restaurants to follow the liquor ban ordinance.

After the shooting incident gi strengthen ng DCPO ang monitoring and inspections sa mga resto-bars diri sa Davao City ug magpadayon ni kay nag expect ta nga mag enjoy ang mga tao so seguro halos ang mga resto bars ani puno na pud. This is part of the anti-criminality program ng DCPO supported by Task Force Davao,” he said.

City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), Central 911, City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), City Engineer’s Office (CEO), and Civil Security Unit (CSU) will focus on the safety of the public.

“Pero dili ni sila ma deploy one-time. Ang atong pag count mag umpisa sa “Pag abli sa Kadayawan” hangtod sa last day ng Kadayawan,” Sumagaysay said.

He said for the “Indak-Indak sa Kadalanan” there will be a total of 3,889 security personnel to be deployed while 3,869 personnel for the “Pamulak” float parade.

He also said security forces will focus in front and back of the crowd.

“Pag dikit dikit ang tao, mao na ang opportune

time for the criminals, like snatching. Mao na ang mga tropa dili lang sa atubangan kung dili pati sa likod. Everytime naay big events sa Davao City ginadayo ni siya sa mga bad elements from neighboring places ug proven na ni siya kay during previous investigation gina ask kung taga asa sila. Diha nakatutok ang atong tropa kay malingaw na ang mga tao lalo na kung diha muagi ang prominent people and celebrities at napabayaan na nila ang kanilang personal belongings,” Sumagaysay explained.

Sumagaysay reminded the public that backpacks, wearing of jackets, use of drones, and bringing of pointed objects, firearms, and non-transparent water bottles are prohibited during the festivity. By Maya M. Padillo

the mining industry’s confidence in the country’s promising economic growth prospects.

He said the offering means more jobs will be created, local economies will be reinvigorated, and additional revenues will be contributed to the government.

The Department of Finance (DOF) estimates that the project will generate around PHP8.5 billion in excise taxes alone for its entire mine life.

Diokno said the listing sends a strong signal to the mining industry that the country’s capital markets are viable instruments for fast tracking the development of large mining projects.

He said the Marcos administration is committed

to continue creating an enabling environment for mining activities to flourish in the country as he looks forward to similar listings in the future.

“We recognize that apart from boosting local development, mining is a strong magnet for investments that can propel our economy into a higher growth trajectory,” he added.

Diokno said the government expects the mining industry to strictly adhere to responsible and sustainable mining practices.

He said the mining industry should strike a balance between protecting the environment, uplifting local communities, and supporting the government’s socioeconomic agenda.

time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray in round one.

Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka ousted Aussie 11th seed Alex De Minaur 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-2. The world number 96 will next face seventh seed Karen Khachanov.

US third seed Taylor

Fritz beat Australia’s Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 6-3 to book a third-round match against British 16th seed Daniel Evans.

World number 13 Fritz comes off a five-set Wimbledon quarter-final loss to Rafael Nadal and two weeks in a boot with a

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land to San Remigio in Cebu.

He did it on April 12, 2015.

In May 2015, he made a record as the first man to conquer the 12.95-kilometer Sarangani Bay by swimming from Maasim to Glan.

He wanted to promote Sarangani Bay tourism and for clean seas and beaches.

In support of the UN Paris Climate Change Summit, he completed a 2-way crossing from Treasure Island Resort in Pangangan Island, Calape to Cabilao Island in Loon, Bohol, and then back to Pangangan Island with a total distance of 6.4-kilometer in two hours.

On April 20, 2017, Macarine crossed Tañon Strait from Silliman Beach in Dumaguete to Barangay Tambisan in this town covering a total distance of 24.65 kilometers in 11 hours and 21 minutes. That was his longest swim.

In the United States, Macarine became the first Filipino to swim from Alcatraz Island Penitentiary to San Francisco City in California. With a distance of 2.7 kilometers, he accomplished it in only one hour.

He was also the first Filipino and second man in history to swim across the 8.1-kilometer Chesapeake Bay from Bay Bridge Marina to Sandy Point Park Beach in Annapolis, Maryland.

From 2016 to 2017, Macarine put his physical limits to the test when he attempted to swim the 21mile English Channel between Dover, United Kingdom and Calais, France. He failed in both attempts. “(It) is considered as the Mount Everest of open water swimming,” Macarine said at that time. “Less than 2,000 swimmers from all over the world have conquered it. But there’s no Filipino yet. We will prove (to the world) that we can also do it.”

The intrepid swimmer pioneered the open-water crossings in the country.

Like other sports or hobbies, open water swimming has its woes. “The hardest part when it comes to open swim training are the jellyfishes,” he said. “Since I need to swim in the open water, I have no choice but to endure the stings.”

Macarine is a man who never says never when it comes to opportunities and challenges. This must be the reason that at one time, a friend called him “Pinoy Aquaman,” as the Filipino counterpart to the fictional superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.

“Jesse James Sombrado, my triathlete friend from Surigao City, first called me as such and it just stuck,” he admitted. “And some media picked it up.”

Macarine was only 8 years old when he started swimming in the coastal towns of Malimono and Placer in Surigao del Norte (where he was born). “My

friends and I went swimming right after school,” he said. “I just love the water.”

He said it was his father who taught him how to swim. During his college days, he joined the Silliman University Varsity Swim Team and was taught by his coach, Thata Pinero, the basics of competitive swimming.

“When I was a member of the swimming team, I did join up to regional level,” he recalled. “But I was a slow swimmer in the pool. Today, I don’t usually join open water swim competitions.

What I do is solo channel crossing. I only do endurance swims like 10 kilometers or more of open water swimming.”

Macarine seems to be born for the water. But he is a lawyer by profession. He said he took up law because he was greatly influenced by his hero, who happened to be his father, Ignacio Macarine, now a retired judge. His mother, Marilyn, used to be a public school teacher.

He took up Bachelor of Arts (major in Political Science and Psychology) at Silliman University in Dumaguete City and finished his law at Arellano Law Foundation in 2002. He took the bar examination the following year and passed it. He is currently a Department of Justice prosecutor in Bohol.

If he has to choose between swimming and being a lawyer, he would prefer the latter. “My open water swimming is just a passion and a way to promote my environmental advocacy,” he said. “I just want my children, Lance and Colyn, to experience the pristine waters that I enjoyed when I was growing up in Surigao.”

To keep himself fit, he said he sleeps a minimum of 8 hours a day – especially during training days. “I do this in order for my body to recover immediately,” he said. “And also, a two-hour massage for three days a week. I also jog for one hour, three times a week.”

Ingemar has been a vegetarian for almost five years now. But a few months ago, he started eating fish again.

“No pork, beef, or chicken for me,” he said.

Like most sports personalities, he doesn’t smoke.

He stopped drinking alcohol five years ago. “I adopt a zero-alcohol life. I want to promote a healthy lifestyle among my fellow lawyers,” he explained.

When asked if he were a fish, what he would be, he replied: “I would like to be the great white shark. This particular shark species is one of the endangered ones as they are being hunted by man for shark fins, teeth and as a trophy for sport fishing.

“Just like our marine environment is being threatened by water pollution, overfishing and global warming,” he further said, “I would like to swim also for shark protection.”

stress fracture in his left foot.

“It has felt great. No pain at all. It’s a really good sign,” Fritz said. “Gives me a lot of

confidence moving forward that it’s going to be good and I’m not going to just randomly break my foot like I was scared I might.”

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EDGEDAVAO

SPORTS 11

Daria Saville of Australia in action against Maria Sakkari of Greece during the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California, USA, 15 March 2022. File photo. John G. Mabanglo, EPA-EFE

Aussie upsets Pegula as Halep, Hurkacz fall

W

ASHINGTON -- Australia’s Daria Saville upset top-seeded defending champion Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-4 on Wednesday at the ATP and WTA Washington Open, where Hubert Hurkacz and Simona Halep also exited.

World number 88 Saville ripped the seventh-ranked American in hot and humid conditions while Romanian third seed

Halep retired down 7-5, 2-0 to Anna Kalinskaya with illness.

“I stayed really composed,” Saville said. “I

Dragic, Bulls finalize $2.9M one-year deal

C

HICAGO — The Chicago Bulls and guard Goran Dragic finalized a one-year, $2.9 million contract on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time).

The Bulls tweeted a welcome message in announcing the deal about a month after the two sides reached an agreement.

The 36-year-old Dragic has averaged 13.7 points and shot 36.2% on 3-pointers over 14 seasons with Phoenix, Houston, Miami, Toronto and Brooklyn. From Slovenia,

he made an All-Star team with the Heat during the 2017-18 season and helped them advance to the 2020 NBA finals.

Dragic averaged 7.5 points while shooting 25.4% from beyond the arc last season for Toronto and Brooklyn. Though the Bulls ranked fourth in the NBA in 3-point accuracy, they were last in attempts.

The Bulls took a big step by winning 46 games with DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine leading the way and posting their best record in seven years.

managed the energy really well. It was very hot. But I thought it’s hot for everyone so get on with it.”

Polish second seed Hurkacz crashed out in his second-round match at the US Open hardcourt tuneup, falling to Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4, 7-6 (7/3).

Saville booked a quarter-final match against Canadian qualifier Rebecca Marino, who beat Germany’s Andrea Petkovic 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

The 28-year-old Russian-born Aussie won her only WTA title at the 2017 Connecticut Open but dispatched Pegula in 98 minutes for her second top-10 win of the year after downing Ons Jabeur at Indian Wells in March.

“Everyone’s attitude is I’m here to win the tournament and I’m no different,” Saville said. “I’m playing really good tennis right now.

I’m excited for more.”

Saville fell to 627th in

the world rankings after Achilles tendon surgery that sidelined her for most of last year. Now she’s into her third quarter-final of the year after Miami and Guadalajara.

“I’m happy,” Saville said.

“It creates good reputation.

Players are going to say, ‘She’s playing well. She has some good wins this year.’”

Ruusuvuori, now set to reach one shy of his career high at 43rd in the rankings, denied Hurkacz on

all four break-point chances to advance after one hour and 44 minutes.

“I just tried to hang in there and stay as tough as can,” Ruusuvuori said.

“Long rallies, they really drain you and you start to feel dizzy during the points.

Very tough.”

His third-round foe will be Sweden’s Mikael Ymer, who ousted 15th seed Aslan Karatsev 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 after eliminating three-

FAUSSIE, P10

The 36-year-old Goran Dragic has averaged 13.7 points and shot 36.2% on 3-pointers over 14 seasons with Phoenix, Houston, Miami, Toronto and Brooklyn.

12 SPORTS

EDGEDAVAO

VOL.15 ISSUE 97 • FRIDAY, AUGUST 5, 2022

Lopsided results are a trend in the PBA Playoffs. PBA

PBA lopsided semis Oh, oh.

You could contract conjunctivitis if you continue watching exasperating lop-

sided wins in the current PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.

This is not exactly what basketball fans are expecting from the top four teams battling it out to get a place in the finals.

San Miguel Beer, aiming to resuscitate itself as the best in the league, virtually toyed with Meralco as it led from start to finish without so much exerting its full force with an emphatic 121-97 win over Meralco in the main game of a double header Wednesday.

The truth is that I switched channels in the fourth quarter after witnessing the “harsh” reality.

Marcio Lassiter, CJ Perez.

Moe Tatuoa et al were scoring at will although the Bolts employed a crowding double teaming defense against big boy JuneMar Fajardo.

Magnolia and TNT, as the curtain raiser, actually was a sleeper of a match where the Tropang Giga went through the motions of scoring a somewhat effortless triumph, 10896.

Some apologists yell that both Meralco and Magnolia were fatigued and weary, coming out of hard-earned quarterfinal victories, banging bodies against their respective rivals Barangay Ginebra and NLEX, and enjoying less than two complete days of rest.

If fans continue to watch these results in the next scheduled encounter, it won’t be any wonder if the attendance and

interest wane in the on-going semifinal series.

Besides - just curious like the cat - why did the PBA make it a best of seven?

Too long and too tiring for the players, don’t you think so?

The games are competitively fierce and physical.

Chances are - and I pray not key players could get hurt and injured.

If this happens, who will the coaches rely on to win the championship for them?

Ideally, if you ask me and the fans themselves, preference would be for a best of 5 for the semis since the quarters were just a best of 3.

This will protect and prevent the players from getting injured that may likely sideline them for quite a time.

Figure it out, guys.

As you have seen, after the ouster of Ginebra, physical attendance was clearly diminished because the superstars the fans would have loved to watch were not playing.

This is nothing new, though.

Willie Marcial’s predecessors saw the lights dim when Toyota and Crispa folded up one after the other in the 80s.

One more thing, officiating is another concern that several coaches and players have expressed their dissatisfaction on.

Keep an eye on this, Com. Willie. Cheers! (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!