Edge Davao | Vol 11 Issue 219 | Thursday, January 24, 2019

VOL.11 ISSUE 219 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

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10,000 ‘BARRED’ BUSINESS FIRMS ADVISED TO COMPLY WITH LAWS Page 2

EDGE DAVAO Serving a seamless society

SERENA MELTDOWN IN AUS OPEN SEMIS

SPORTS P11

CHALLENGES. Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) peace adviser and Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) legal adviser lawyer Randolph Parcasio says one of the primary challenges of Bangsamoro Organic Law’s (BOL’s) ratification is if it will bring lasting peace and unity to Moro people especially to rival groups like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the MNLF. Parcasio made the statement during AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday. Lean Daval Jr

OBEY CITY LAWS DAVRAA delegates reminded to respect city ordinances

By RALPH LAWRENCE LLEMIT

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hen in Davao City, act like Dabawenyos do.

This was the friendly but stern reminder by organizers of the Davao Region Athletic Association (DAVRAA) meet to all delegates from other cities and provinces of Davao Region to respect the existing ordinances of the city.

Department of Education in Region XI (DepEd

XI) spokesperson Jenielito “Dodong” Atillo said on

Wednesday that all delegates will have to undergo customary bag checks and frisking to insure that no lawless elements will enter the city.

He said that the intelligence unit confirmed that as of now, there are no threats during the activity that will kickoff this Sunday, January 27 at the University of the Philippines -

Mindanao (UP-Min) Sports Complex in Mintal, Davao City.

“Despite the wonderful news, we will not slow down our efforts in tightening our security,” Atillo said.

He noted that last year, there were no recorded violators in the DAVRAA staging which the city also hosted.

Davao City Police Office (DCPO) spokesperson Sr. Insp. Teresita Gaspan said that 1,472 security personnel will be deployed during the duration of the event.

The DAVRAA meet will end on February 2.

“Security personnel coming from the delegates are not yet counted,” Gaspan said.

Each delegation accom-

modated in designated billeting schools around the city will be provided with no less than 16 security personnel.

“DCPO will also be deploying two personnel for the police assistance desk,” Gaspan said.

Police Regional Office 11 (PRO11) spokesperson Chief Insp. Jason Baria

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VOL.11 ISSUE 219 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

SUPPORTERS. President Rodrigo Duterte acknowledges the cheers of his supporters at the sidelines of the annual assembly of the Provincial Union of Leaders Against Illegality (PULI) at the Quezon Convention Center in Lucena City, province of Quezon on PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

10,000‘barred’business firms Mayor claims results betray people’ s voice advised to comply with laws

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

By RALPH LAWRENCE LLEMIT

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he Bureau of Fire Protection 11 (BFP11) is now strict in issuing Fire Safety Inspection Certificate, days after the Davao City Business Bureau announced that 10,000 business establishments in the city were barred for failure of complying with certain requirements.

BFP11 Public Information Section Chief Fire Inspector Cyrus Medina said on Wednesday that the bureau is now cautious in granting fire permit, as it is a multi-sectorial concern.

“We are now very strict in enforcing the fire safety code because we have learned our lessons, especially with the sensational incidents that claimed many lives,” he said.

Medina was referring to the NCCC Mall Davao fire incident that killed 38 workers last December 23, 2017.

Five officials of the BFP11 were criminally charged by the Interagency Anti-Arson Task Force (IAATF) as a result.

The fire official, however, clarified that non-compliant establishments were not totally blocked, but just

AFP probes Reds 'immersion' activities

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he Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is now investigating reports that communist rebels are allegedly recruiting college students and taking them into jungles for so-called immersion activities.

Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP public affairs office chief, made this response Wednesday when asked if the military is aware of such activities by the

Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front (CPP-NPA-NDF) in the campuses.

"That has been happening since time immemorial. The CPP-NPA-NDF recruiters look at students as a rich source of cadres and they have long been active in recruiting them," Detoyato said in a message to the Philippine News

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placed under a “negative list”.

Medina said that most of the business establishments placed under the list failed to secure fire safety clearance from the fire station right after processing their business renewal application.

“Fire Safety Inspection Certificate is a prerequisite in the grant of a business permit,” he said.

“That is why, right after processing your business permit, you proceed to the nearest fire station wherein your business establishment is located,” Medina add-

ed.

He said that the BFP will conduct an inspection of a building establishment before it will issue a fire safety certificate.

Medina said that establishments must have fire exits, fire extinguisher, fire sprinklers or smoke and heat detector.

He also said that this year has the most number of establishments placed under the “negative list”, as compared to 2018 with more than estimated 7,000.

“As of now, they are slowly complying with the requirements,” Medina said.

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OTABATO CITY---Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi of Cotabato City bared plans to file a protest against the results of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite where the Yes votes won for inclusion of the city as part of the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Sayadi, who campaigned against the city’s inclusion in the proposed autonomous region, said the votes being canvassed were not the real voice of the people of the city since many of them did not vote due to fear and harassment.

“It did not reflect the true will of the people of Cotabato City. What were those outsiders doing inside Cotabato City? Is it not that reactionary forces are

prohibited under the Omnibus Election Code?” she said.

She claimed there were teachers that are supposed to serve as members of the plebiscite committee who opted out at the last minute reportedly after receiving threats.

Sayadi added that the grenade blast at the Rasalan residence and the discovery of another grenade in Rojas High School were really intended to scare voters.

The mayor also claimed thousands of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) supporters allegedly “blocked” real voters and caused violence in some areas as well as massive disenfranchisement which, she said, added to the sta-

ments to comply with regulatory requirements.

Tecson said that there are 2,606 establishments in the city that are required to secure a tourism license.

These are the tourism front-liner establishments such as tour operators, tourist transports, travel agencies, hotels, the accommodation sector, and tour guides; and tourism-related shops such as restaurants, souvenir shops and spa.

“The reason why we are very strict is because it

is required by the tourism code,” Tecson said, adding that they are doing it “to re-assess if they need to pay or not for the tourism licenses”.

The city tourism chief said that some establishments were automatically charged with the licensing fees.

“We do not mean to bring inconvenience to the business applicants if only they had followed the requirements,” Tecson said.

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Permit applications of 300 firms rejected

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ome 300 business establishments in Davao city have been blocked by the Business Bureau upon the recommendation of the City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) for failing to comply with the requirements for the tourism licenses.

CTOO chief Generose Tecson said her office recommended refusal of the application of the said tourism and tourism-related establishments for failing to comply with the require-

ments of the CTOO. The permits of the said establishments expired last December 31, 2018 and were due for renewal this year.

“We were shocked to discover that they don’t go through the CTOO to get the list of the requirements for the tourism licenses,” Tecson said.

Prior to the period of renewal of business permits starting January 3, the CTOO coordinated with the business bureau to require tourism-catering establish-

VOL.11 ISSUE 219 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

EDGEDAVAO

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VOL.11 ISSUE 219 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

1 dead, 750 families displaced in Davao Oriental flash flood

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BIGGEST SPENDER. The Commission on Audit identifies former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez as number one in the list of spenders in the House of Representatives for 2017. The representative from the 1st District of Davao del Norte spent P43.7 million on his second year as speaker, P30.4 million of which went to office consultants. Lean Daval Jr

ays of rains in the eastern part of the province caused a “dead creek” to suddenly overflow that washed out at least 50 houses in the Davao Oriental town of Manay Tuesday morning leaving one dead and several others injured and missing.

An initial report by the Office of Civil Defense in Region 11 (OCD-11) identified the lone fatality as Luzviminda Magbutang, 38.

The flash flood in San Ignacio village in Manay also injured Adrian Magbutang, 40, and Rhea Magbutang, 5.

The missing persons were identified as Adriane Magbutang, 9, and Marilyn Maungat, 38.

In a phone interview, Francis Jason Bendulo, manager of the Davao Oriental Provincial Emergency Operation Center, said the flash flood displaced 750 families.

Bendulo said towns in the eastern part of the province have been experiencing

light to heavy rains in the past days that caused rivers and creeks to overflow.

He said the flash flood from the creek in San Ignacio was not expected by the residents, who described the water body as “dead” as it is almost without water.

At 10 p.m on Monday evening, Bendulo said the residents in the vulnerable villages have been forewarned due to inclement caused by Tropical Depression Amang.

Aside from the flash flood in San Ignacio, rains also caused a landslide in Tarragona town, as well as flooding in Sitio Papag, Barangay Poblacion, Caraga town.

The OCD-11 report said landslides were also reported in Barangays Cabagayan in Tarragona and Santiago in Caraga.

Bendulo said the roads that were not passable in the early hours have been cleared by the provincial

t least three members of the Davao City Council have expressed alarm over the proposed measure to lower the age of criminal liability of children to 9 years old.

“It is clearly a contentious law not only in the Philippines but in other countries,” said Councilor Antoinette Principe, chairperson of the City Council committee on civil, political and human rights.

Principe was referring to Republic Act 9344, which mandates that a child "15 years of age or under at the time of the offense shall be exempt

from criminal liability."

The law only recommends "intervention program" for children in conflict with the law or CICL. But Principe, who is a lawyer, said she could not imagine herself filing a case against a 9-year-old child.

"It is saddening for me as a child advocate,” Principe said in an interview at the sidelines of Tuesday’s regular session.

Instead, Principe said Congress should enact "restorative" measures for CICL instead of punitive laws that she said could only harm child offenders.

Instead of lowering

Cotabato voters favor 3 dads sound inclusion in BARMM Aalarm vs Sotto bill

By ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR.

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OTABATO CITY -- Despite the opposition of Cotabato City’s top official, the path is clear for its inclusion in the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Cotabato City, whose mayor, Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi, is a staunch oppositor of the Bangsamoro inclusion, voted overwhelmingly for the ratification of Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL). On Tuesday night, the Commission on Elections (Comelec)

Cotabato City bared the unofficial final results of the canvassing at the Shariff Kabunsuan Cultural Center inside the Office of the Regional Governor complex.

At 8:42 p.m. of January 22, the YES votes in favor of the inclusion of the city in the BARMM

Water service interruption in Vista Verde and Empress Subd.

January 25, 2019

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avao City Water District advises of a water service interruption on January 25, 2019 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM affecting the entire Vista Verde and Empress Subd. in Sasa.

DCWD needs to temporarily shut off water supply in the affected areas to give way to the tapping of the installed pipeline from the junction of Australia Street in Vista Verde II to Empress Subd. for the water service connection of Lyceum of the Philippines University.

On behalf of the DCWD management, general manager Engr.

Edwin V. Regalado asks for the understanding and cooperation of would-be affected customers and advises

them to store enough water prior to the schedule. Water supply may be restored earlier if work goes smoothly or later if unforeseen problems arise.

The general public may visit DCWD website (www.davao-water.gov.ph) and official Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ davaowater) or call the Central Information Unit / Call Center through the 24-hour hotline 297-DCWD (3293) and press “1” on their phone dial for the latest daily water updates.

Contact 0927-7988966, 0925-5113293, and 0908-4410653 for other updates, complaints, queries, and matters pertaining to DCWD services. (Katrina Belen M. Roble)

amassed 36,682 over the No votes which tallied 24,994. A total of 61, 676 people cast their votes out of 113, 751 registered voters in the city.

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said earlier the results of the city canvassing will be immediately transmitted to the national office.

The Comelec official clarified that the results are not yet official pending official canvass by

the National Board of Canvassers.

He said after the canvassing in the national level it will take four days before the official results will be released.

The results came at the heels of Mayor Sayadi threatening to lodge a protest over poll irregularities, threats and violence which she claims betrayed the true voice of the people of Cotabato City (see separate story).

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PREPARATIONS FOR DAVRAA 2019. Department of Education 11 (DepEd 11) spokesperson Jenielito Atillo, together with DepEd 11 Curriculum and Learning Management Division chief Janette Veloso, discusses the preparations being undertaken by the agency for the upcoming Davao Regional Athletics Association (DAVRAA) Meet 2019 set to open at the University of the Philippines-Mindanao campus on January 27 during AFP-PNP Press Corps media forum at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday. Lean Daval Jr

5 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 219 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

BTr awards P20-B T-bond

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emand for the Bureau of the Treasury’s freshly-issued 20-year Treasury Bond (T-bond) was high Tuesday after the PHP20 billion offering received PHP50.921-billion worth of tenders.

The auction committee awarded the debt paper in full, which has a coupon rate of 6.750 percent.

Its average interest rate stood at 6.716 percent, lower than the 6.979 percent the same tenor fetched during the auction on June 19, 2018.

National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon told journalists after the auction that results since the start of the year have been good.

She noted the shift of investors’ preference for longer tenor securities given their expectations of a continued deceleration in the domestic inflation rate.

This, as inflation in the last two months of 2018 slowed to 6 percent and 5.1 percent, respectively, after peaking at 6.7 percent in the previous two months.

Deceleration in the country’s inflation rate is seen to also impact domestic interest rates, since yields have risen after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) hiked its key rates by a total of 175 basis points last year to help address surging price pressures.

Other factors for the shift in investors’ tenor preferences is the waitand-see stance on incoming economic data and the cut in the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) 2019-2020 global growth outlook to 3.5 percent and 3.6 percent, respectively, from 3.7 percent previ-

ously for both years, de Leon said.

The National Treasurer admitted that the decision to make full awards in most of the auctions since the start of 2019 is partly driven by the need to generate funds for the government’s massive infrastructure program dubbed “Build, Build, Build”.

It is more advantageous for the government to spend more on its infrastructure program when outlook for global growth is bleak because increased infrastructure investment serves as stimulus for the domestic economy, she said.

De Leon also pointed out that the government has the leeway to hike its infrastructure investment because both the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Bureau of Customs have posted improvements in their collections.

Relatively, after the issuance of USD1.5 bil- KNOCK-OFF PRODUCTS. Hawkers selling knock-off sunglasses and watches gather outside The Royal Mandaya Hotel along Palma Gil Street in Davao City on Wednesday where a lion worth of US dollar convention and training of Quezon City barangay officials is being held. Lean Daval Jr denominated Republic of the Philippines (ROP) bond early this month, de Leon said the government is still open to issuing renminbi-denominated Panda bond and yen-denominated Samurai bond to take advantage of opportunities.

She added that the issuance of debt instruments other than those Earlier, Belgian AmAt present, the Philhe Department of Tourism (DOT) has exdenominated in Philippressed intent to share its Boracay re- bassador to Manila ippines chairs the ASEpine peso and US dollar is part of the government’s habilitation experience and strategies to Michel Goffin said the AN Sustainable and decision to diversify its members of the Association of Southeast Asian closure was a “good Inclusive Development borrowing. decision” on the part Committee.

The Philippines issued Nations (ASEAN). of President Rodrigo R. During the meeting, 1.46-billion renminbi “We wish to share year, the Philippines Duterte as it translated Romulo-Puyat reiterworth of three-year Pan- the Philippines’ expe- reopened Boracay to the government’s com- ated the Philippines’ da bond in March 2018 rience in the rehabili- tourists after a sixmitment towards sus- commitment to the and 154.2 billion multi- tation of our top sunmonth intensive re- tainable tourism. goals of the ASEAN year Japanese yen SamuSustainable tourism Tourism Strategic Plan rai bond last September. and-beach tourism des- habilitation to rid the tination, the island of beach of pollution and across ASEAN 2016-2025 that seeks (PNA) Boracay,” Tourism Sec- to fix its unregulated Romulo-Puyat also to steer the bloc toretary Bernadette Ro- sewage system that has campaigned for a “sus- wards having a “green” mulo-Puyat said in her contributed to the is- tainable and responsi- and “inclusive” tourism speech during the 22nd land’s “cesspool” state ble” tourism industry sector. meeting of the ASEAN in the past. across the ASEAN as The travel and tourTourism Ministers in After its reopening, she cited the long-term ism industry continHa Long, Vietnam on stakeholders have laud- benefits it would bring ues to thrive in the January 17. ed the country’s radical to each member state.

Southeast Asian region. their enterprises here in “With the re-open- move that initially met “We as the ASEAN Based on ASEAN data, 2018. ing of Boracay, we are criticism and appre- must maintain that 129 million foreign For the 2019 to 2020 glad that the message hension based on fears period, 52 percent of the of sustainability has that the closure of the long-term benefits are tourists visited ASEAN respondents said they reached far and wide,” country’s main tour- more important than a member states in 2018, quick buck in exchange marking an increase of are planning to expand Romulo-Puyat said. ist-draw would strain (for) our environment’s 7.6 percent from 2017. their operations in the On October 26 last its tourism industry. integrity,” she said.

(PNA) country.

PH wants to share Boracay rehab experience to ASEAN

Japanese firms see higher profits, expansion in 2019

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apanese companies doing business in the Philippines expect higher profits and are optimistic about prospects for expansion this year, a survey of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) showed.

JETRO-Manila Executive Director Takashi Ishihara said Japanese firms are bullish about their operations in the Philippines in 2019.

Ishihara mentioned that 56 percent of the surveyed companies project their profit to increase this year. The optimism is driven mainly by projections of sales expansion in local or overseas market as well as improved efficiency of production or sales.

This is higher compared to last survey’s result, which showed only 48 percent of firms expressed expectations of enhanced profitability in

However, this is still marginally lower than the 63 percent that expressed plans to expand a year earlier, based on the previous JETRO survey.

“They appreciate tax incentives in the Philippines,” the JETRO executive said, pertaining to the current tax perks offered by the government.

“Many of the Philippine respondents highly appreciate current tax incentives, while they are concern about complicated taxation procedures,” he added.

The latest JETRO survey was conducted from October to November 2018, with a total of 127 respondents. (PNA)

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Phoenix Petroleum is now ISO certified

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hoenix Petroleum Philippines, Inc. has recently achieved two International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certifications for its Quality Management System (ISO 9001:2015) and for its Environmental Management System (ISO 14001:2015).

Following a series of audits and manage-

ment reviews done by the Bureau Veritas Philippines—a recognized and accredited organization for independent testing, inspection, and certification—the Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) and Operations group led the ISO journey of the company that spanned as early as January 2018.

The certification

covers the terminal and depot operations in Calaca, Davao, Villanueva, Calapan, Cebu, Bacolod, Dumaguit, and Zamboanga, as well as the support functions and business units based at Fort Legend Tower in Taguig and the headquarter office in Davao.

Being an ISO-certified company means that the business

has established an effective framework which adopts and comply with global quality standards.

Valid for three years, the certification affirmed the company’s commitment to customer satisfaction, high quality of service, environmental stewardship, compliance, and continuous improvement.

6 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 219 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

EDITORIAL Addressing mental health

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bout 3.5 million Filipinos, or roughly 4 percent of the population, have mental health problems. This major health concern will soon be addressed.

Access to basic mental health services at the community level is now within reach for Filipinos especially in the barangays with the signing of implementing rules and regulations of the mental health law. The IRR of Republic Act 11036 (Mental Health Law) was formally signed by Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III on Tuesday in what is seen as the beginning of the end of the stigma associated with mental illnesses.

The Mental Health Law, which was signed in 2018, is the government’s delivery mechanism for basic mental health services down to the barangay level. It is also envisioned to increase the capacities of mental health professionals.

The Philippine Mental Health Law (Republic Act No. 11036, or RA 11036) is a recognition of mental health as a basic human right.

The bill had been pending in Congress for almost 20 years – a stark

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LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. DR. MAURO L. PUYOD CHRISTIAN JAY H. RAFAL Cartoonist Layout Artist Photography Columnists: MA. TERESA L. UNGSON • EDCER C. ESCUDERO • AURELIO A. PEÑA • ZHAUN ORTEGA • BERNADETTE “ADDIE” B. BORBONHENRYLITO • MARY ANN “ADI”• GREGORIO C. QUISIDO LEANDRO B. DAVAL SR., • NIKKI ANGELO AGUSTIN • EMILY Columnists: D. TACIO G.•DELIGERO • JOHN CARLO TRIA • VIDAGOTIANSE-TAN MIA S. VALVERDE•• NICASIO FRED C. LUMBA • ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA ZEN CHUA • CARLOS MUNDA Economic Analyst: ENRICO• DENNIS “GICO” R. G.GORECHO DAYANGIRANG • JONALLIER M. PEREZ MUJAHID NAVARRA • HAROLD CAVITE

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reminder of the stigma that still permeates discussions on mental health issues by Filipinos until the Duterte administration pursued its passage. The bill was signed into law on the heels of increasing incidents of suicide in the country. The two-pronged approach firmly dispelled the two pervasive misconceptions whenever there is a forum on mental health. First, that mental health is not as important as physical health. Second, that depression, anxiety and other mental health issues can be chased away by “positive thinking” without the help of mental health professionals. The DOH has reported that the number of cases of patients with mental health problems is increasing and the causes are categorized as both economic and social in nature like poverty, malnutrition, peer pressure and emotional trauma.

Hence, RA 11036 not only affirms mental health as a basic human right. More significantly, its passage and the eventual signing of the IRR to set off the law into action enshrines the Filipinos’ access to mental health services as a fundamental human right.

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GENERAL SANTOS CITY OFFICE MANILA MARKETING OFFICE CAGAYAN DE ORO MARKETING MARKETING OFFICE Richard C. Ebona | Product Development officer LEIZEL A. DELOSO | Marketing Manager EDMUND D. RENDON Unit 6, SouthbankMarketing Plaza Velez-Yacapin Sts.Address: 04 Orilla St. Purok 4B Lower Bicutan, Taguig City Specialist Cellphone number: 09472652969 General Santos City Cagayan de Oro City Email Address: edgedavao@gmail.com Mobile: (Smart) 09382022120 Tel: (088) 852-4894

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VANTAGE POINTS

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Osteoarthritis as a compensable seafarer’s illness

egenerative changes of the spine, also known as osteoarthritis, is considered as a work-related.

Due to the seafarer’s performance of tasks that clearly involved unduly heavy physical labor and joint strain.

A job of a seafarer is not exactly a walk in the park.

He performs duties and responsibilities as instructed or as necessary. The job obviously entails laborious manual tasks conducted in a moving ship, which makes for increased work-related stress aside from exposure to fluctuating temperatures caused by variant weather changes.

The compensability of osteoarthritis was favorably ruled upon by The Supreme Court in the case of Oscar D. Gamboa vs. Maunlad Trans.

Inc (G.R. No. 232905, August 20, 2016) Seafarer Gamboa entered into a nine (9)-month contract of employment as Bosun on board the vessel, MV Oriente Shine, a cargo vessel transporting logs from Westminster, Canada to several Asian countries During the voyage, the seafarer slipped and lost his footing while going down the ship’s galley, which caused a

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VOL.11 ISSUE 219 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

rom now on, every last Monday of January is considered as “a special working holiday.” This is due to the observance of National Bible Day. Last year, on December 20, President Rodrigo R. Duterte signed Republic Act 11163 instilling the holiday as part of the government’s mandate “to aid and encourage development of the moral character and spiritual foundation of the Filipino people.”

As the law puts it: “As a predominantly Christian nation and the largest Christian nation in the Asia Pacific, this Act recognizes the value of the Holy Bible as the core of Christian faith.”

It is commonly known that the Bible, in its hundreds of different translations, is the most widely distributed book in human history. Moreover, in all its forms, the Bible has been enormously influential, and not only among the religious communities that hold it sacred. The literature, art, and music of Western culture in particular are deeply indebted to biblical themes, motifs, and images.

Translations of the Bible, such as the Authorized Version (or King James Version, 1611) and Martin Luther’s translation of the Bible into German (first completed in 1534) not only influenced literature but also shaped the devel-

writhing pain on the upper left side of his back. The ship master initially gave him Salonpas for his back. Due to experienced back pain and difficulty in breathing, the captain was prompted to disembark him for medical consultation in Canada. While the foreign port doctor took note of the seafarer’s back pain, it was his diagnosed asthma that prompted the said doctor to declare him unfit for duty. The seafarer was medically repatriated Subsequent check-ups in the Philippines noted that the seafarer was suffering from “Degenerative Changes, Thoracolumbar Spine” and was found to have a “metallic foreign body on the anterior cervical area noted on x-ray”.

The company-designated physician opined this illness as not related to the cause of the seafarer’s repatriation.

The company denied liability for payment of the seafarer’s disability benefits. They alleged his osteoarthritis was declared to be not work-related by the specialist since it may have occurred overtime and could not have developed during his 22-day stay on board the vessel, hence, was a pre-existing condition.

The entitlement of a sea-

PINOY MARINO RIGHTS Atty. Dennis R. Gorecho farer on overseas employment to disability benefits is governed by law, by the parties’ contracts, and by the medical findings.

The POEA contract governs the procedure for compensation and benefits for a work-related injury or illness suffered by a seafarer on board sea-going vessels during the term of his employment contract.

A “work-related” illness is defined as “any sickness as a result of an occupational disease listed under Section 32-A of this Contract with the conditions set therein satisfied.

Osteoarthritis is associated with a breakdown of

cartilage in joints and can occur in almost any joint in the body. It commonly occurs in the weight-bearing joints of the hips, knees, and spine. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions the ends of bones in the joints gradually deteriorates.

Cartilage is a firm, slippery tissue that permits nearly frictionless joint motion. The slick surface of the cartilage becomes rough. Eventually, if the cartilage wears down completely, one may be left with bone rubbing on bone.

There are conditions that should be met before an illness, such as osteoarthritis, can be considered as pre-existing, namely: (a) the advice of a medical doctor on treatment was given for such continuing illness or condition; or (b) the seafarer had been diagnosed and has knowledge of such illness or condition but failed to disclose the same during PEME, and such cannot be diagnosed during the PEME. The Supreme Court ruled that none of these conditions had been established in this case.

The Court explained that osteoarthritis is a listed occupational disease if the occupation involves any of the following: a.

Joint strain from

carrying heavy loads, or unduly heavy physical labor, as among laborers and mechanics; b. Minor or major injuries to the joint; c.

Excessive use or constant strenuous usage of a particular joint, as among sportsmen, particularly those who have engaged in the more active sports activities; d.

Extreme temperature changes (humidity, heat and cold exposures) and; e. Faulty work posture or use of vibratory tools The seafarer, as Bosun of the principal’s cargo vessel that transported logs, undeniably performed tasks that clearly involved unduly heavy physical labor and joint strain.

The Court declared that the seafarer’s sustained back injury was not the result of an accident but nonetheless ordered the payment of his disability in accordance with the provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA.) (Atty. Gorecho heads the seafarers’ division of the Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan law offices. For comments, email info@sapalovelez. com, or call 09175025808 or 09088665786)

fied as letters, particularly the Book of Hebrews, are theological treatises.

Perhaps, not too many know that William Shakespeare used fewer than 550 quotations from and references to the Bible.

In Richard II, there are 40 while Richard III has 49. Hamlet has 80. Not one of his 37 plays are without quotation from the Bible, or at least a reference or allusion to it.

There are some people who use the Holy Bible as a safe deposit box. Arthur Tonne wrote: “The Bible has been used for many things: to keep family statistics, recipes, clippings, pictures, to press flowers and keep letters. One woman keeps her household money between its sacred pages.

Here’s her reason: ‘Anybody who opens the Bible is not the type who would steal from you. Those who want to steal would not pick up the Bible in the first place.”

She has a point, indeed!

But the Bible is more than not. “The Bible is a storehouse of whose contents no one can afford to be ignorant,” American evangelist and publisher Dwight Moody pointed out.

“It repays reading and study whether it be approached merely because of its literary value, or its ethical teachings, or its practical bearing on everyday life.”

American presidents believe in the Bible. “With-

in the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face,” said Ronald Reagan. “I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this Book,” Abraham Lincoln pointed out.

The Bible should not be taken lightly or literally. “You Christians look after a document containing enough dynamite to blow all civilization to pieces, turn the world upside down and bring peace to a battle-torn planet. But you treat it as though it is nothing more than a piece of literature,” Mahatma Gandhi observed.

So many lives have been changed because of the Bible. “The Bible was not given for our information,” Dwight Lyman Moody said, “but for our transformation.” Augustine of Hippo said: “The Holy Scriptures are our letters from home.”

Here’s one, from Soren Kierkegaard (author of Provocations: Spiritual Writings of Kierkegaard) that caught my attention: “The Bible is easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand, we are obliged to act accordingly.”

The core of Christian faith

opment of languages. Such effects continue to be felt in emerging nations, where translations of the Bible into the vernacular help to shape language traditions.

The term Bible is derived through Latin from the Greek biblia, or “books,” the diminutive form of byblos, the word for “papyrus” or “paper,” which was exported from the ancient Phoenician port city of Biblos. By the time of the Middle Ages the books of the Bible were considered a unified entity.

If you were to open a Bible for the first time, the thing that might immediately attract your attention is that there are two major divisions in it: “Old Testament” and “New Testament.” The word testament means “covenant” or “agreement.” As Henrietta C. Mears explains in her book, What the Bible is All About: “The Old Testament is the covenant God made with man about his salvation before Christ came.

The New Testament is the agreement God made with man about his salvation after Christ came.”

The order as well as the number of books differs between the Jewish Bible and the Protestant and Roman Catholic versions of the Bible. The Bible of Judaism is in three distinct parts: the Torah, or Law, also called the books of Moses; the Nebiim, or Prophets, divided

THINK ON THESE!

Henrylito D. Tacio

into the Earlier and Latter Prophets; and the Ketubim, or Writings, including Psalms, wisdom books, and other diverse literature.

The Christian Old Testament organizes the books according to their type of literature: the Pentateuch, corresponding to the Torah; historical books; poetical or wisdom books; and prophetical books. The Protestant and Roman Catholic versions of the Old Testament place the books in the same sequence, but the Protestant version includes only those books found in the Bible of Judaism.

The New Testament includes the four Gospels; the Acts of the Apostles, a history of early Christianity; Epistles, or letters, of Paul and other writers; and an apocalypse, or Book of Revelation. Some books identi-

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VOL.11 ISSUE 219 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

COMPETITIVE EDGE PhilHealth enhances benefit for infants, aims for healthier babies

By EMELITA M. RETUTA

T

he Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) recently expanded its coverage of essential health services for newborns to enable early detection and management of more congenital disorders which may lead to mental retardation and even death if left untreated.

In its PhilHealth Circular No. 2018-0021 which took effect on January 5, 2019, the state health insurer introduced the enhanced Newborn Care Package, increasing the amount of coverage from P1,750 to P2,950 which pays for supplies for essential newborn care such as Vitamin K, eye ointment, vaccines for hepatitis B and BCG; expanded Newborn Screening test; Newborn Hearing Screening Test; and fees for attending professionals.

The essential newborn care also includes immediate drying of the baby, early skin to skin contact, timely cord clamping, non-separation of mother/baby for early breastfeeding initiation, weighing of the baby, among others.

Meanwhile, the expanded newborn screening test will be able to detect endocrine, amino and fatty acid disorders; organic acid, urea cycle defect, cystic fibrosis, hemoglobinopathies, biotinidase deficiency, and other disorders.

Newborn screening aims to detect at the earliest stage certain genetic and metabolic conditions that may lead

to mental retardation or morbidity if left untreated. The screening was integrated into the public health delivery system with the enactment of Republic Act 9288 or the Newborn Screening Act of 2004.

The enhancement in the package is in support of the National Comprehensive Newborn Screening System which expanded the screening from six to over 28 disorders pursuant to Department of Health Administrative Order No. 2014-0045 which issued guidelines on the implementation of the expanded Newborn Screening Program.

The PhilHealth Circular provides that the enhanced package shall be dispensed to qualified newborns delivered in all accredited health care institutions that perform deliveries and provide newborn care which include hospitals, infirmaries/dispensaries, and birthing homes/lying-in clinics.

To ensure entitlement to the said benefit, newborns need to be in the facility for at least 24 hours after birth except those who warrant immediate referral to a higher level facility.

The state health insurer encouraged all active and expecting PhilHealth members to avail of the said package in order to provide newborns with the needed services that will help reduce morbidity and mortality and eliminate the costs associated with treatment and care of lifelong debilitating conditions.

TALOMO HYDRO. This year marks the 14th anniversary of Hedcor’s acquisition of Talomo Hydros from the government. Prior to the purchase, Talomo Hydros supplied most of Davao City’s power requirement. Today, Talomo Hydros are delivering 29 GWh of Cleanergy to Davao Light annually.

Small plant, big impact

A

round 15 kilometers from the heart of Davao City, a small canal some three feet deep leads to an unassuming 75-year-old building at the end of an old gravel road surrounded by a grove of narra and durian.

This is Hedcor’s Talomo Hydro 2B, a run-of-river hydro power facility built by the Americans in 1954 just as Davao City was recovering from the destruction wrought by the Second World War. Perhaps unknown to its many neighbors in the community of Tugbok, this renewable power facility used to supply a huge chunk of the city’s power needs – lighting homes, commercial establishments, and the city’s budding industrial economy then.

Today, Talomo Hydro 2B, together with its sister plants Talomo Hydros 1, 2, 2A, and 3, supply a small yet still significant portion of the needs of the city’s distribution utility, Davao Light and Power Co. The utility’s peak demand was recorded at 421 MW in 2018.

Back in the 1950s when the demand for power in Davao City was only around 1,500 kilowatts, The Talomo Hydro 2B facility alone supplied around 20 percent

of the area’s energy requirement. Today, the facility supplies the needs of 40 to 50 households in the city.

Not only is the Talomo Hydro 2B power plant one of Hedcor’s oldest, but it is also one of its smallest facilities in terms of generating capacity.

The plant has a capacity of 0.30 megawatts, but can generate 1.7 million kWh of power annually.

Talomo Hydro 2B now pales in comparison to Hedcor’s other plants. Its Sibulan Hydros and Tudaya Hydros collectively generate 57 MW of renewable energy. Hedcor also started operating its youngest 73.33-MW Manolo Fortich hydropower plant in Bukidnon as of last year.

Hedcor’s Talomo Hydro 2B facility is small when compared with bigger generation facilities such as these other run-of-river systems or Therma South’s 300-MW thermal power plant in Barangay Binugao, Davao City.

But the humble plant still contributes to the Mindanao grid, helping meet the power requirements of homes and businesses across the island.

Despite its size, Talomo Hydro 2B is a source of pride for Hedcor and its neighbors in Tugbok.

“We value our assets re-

gardless of size. Whether it’s a facility as small as Talomo Hydro 2B or as big as our youngest plant in Bukidnon, these all contribute to fulfilling our commitment to providing reliable power just the same,” Hedcor President and Chief Operating Officer Carlos Aboitiz said.

More importantly, the presence of the facility in Barangay Tugbok has supported the development of the community over the years.

Tugbok enjoys its share of income from Hedcor’s hydropower facilities in the area and benefits from the company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects.

“Hedcor has been helping the barangay even before I assumed office. It has been helping the community for decades now,” said Tugbok Proper Barangay Captain Wilfredo Anfone, who assumed office in 2013.

Between 2017 and the present, Anfone revealed that Tugbok Proper has received at least P600,000 as its share from the income of Hedcor’s hydropower facilities in the community. Tugbok Proper’s annual budget for 2018 was pegged at close to P11.4 million while its total population was recorded at 12,581 as of the 2015 census.

The barangay leader said he plans to use the funds for a solar power project that is expected to defray utility expenses, allowing the government unit to allocate their budget for more important items such as improved social and health services.

Hedcor has spent over P1.38 million between 2006 and 2018 for CSR initiatives in Tugbok, a bulk of which was allocated for the construction of a new school building at Tugbok National High School, refurbishment of the barangay daycare center, the annual Brigada Eskwela, college scholarships, and financial assistance for high school students.

“Ever since, Hedcor has always been generous in contributing to the betterment of the barangay,” Anfone said.

Hedcor is the run-of-river hydropower arm of AboitizPower, which operates 21 power facilities in the country with a total gross capacity of 259 MW. AboitizPower, together with its partners, is the Philippines’ largest RE producer from the private sector. To advance business and communities, Hedcor envisions “A Better Future” through Cleanergy, AboitizPower’s brand for clean and renewable energy.

other day, Daza posted a doodled screenshot apparently showing a standard template contract between employers and household service workers.

Daza also acknowledged the importance of the role of kasambahay and appreciated them in her post.

“By doing so, we can affirm that she is not just a high caliber actress, a devoted mother, now we know that she is also a good person with enlightening and deep conviction. These qualities makes her a genuine, unique model character that we all should admire and emulate,” Mendoza said.

The employment contract is mandated by Republic Act

10361 or an Act Instituting Policies for the Protection of Welfare of Domestic Workers effective July 2012.

The contract stipulates the duties and responsibilities of the household service workers and employers wages and benefits, social protection insurance including period of employment, compensation, authorized deductions, hours of work and proportionate additional payment, rest days and allowable leaves, board, lodging and medical attention, agreements on deployment expenses, loan agreement, termination of employment and any other lawful condition agreed upon by both parties.

As of November 2018, the

standard minimum wage for household service workers varies by region. The highest minimum wage rate is at Region 3 with P4,000 a month followed by Metro Manila , regions 2,3,4A, and 6 with P3,500 a month.

The standard monthly minimum wage rate in regions CAR, 5, 7, 10,11,13 is P3,000 a month while it is P2,500 in regions 12, 9, 8, 4B. “However, this is just the minimum. No one should receive below the standard amount. Since our kasambahays are key to a successful, healthy and vibrant household, they should be getting more with higher salaries and additional benefits,” Mendoza said.

TUCP praises actress Isabelle Daza for decent job contract with kasambahay

W

orkers group the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines commended actress Isabelle Daza-Semblat for being a good employer to her kasambahay or household service workers and a good example to all other employers.

"Isabelle demonstrated high degree of maturity, breeding and professionalism that we rarely find in our actors and actresses in showbiz nowadays. With her high respect and deep regard for her household service workers or kasambahays, she turned the spotlight and added dignity that our kasambahay highly deserves," said TUCP President Raymond Mendoza.

In her Instagram post the

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VOL.11 ISSUE 219 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

EVENT

PAMASKONG HANDOG FOR THE T’BOLI COMMUNITY

IT’S NOT ABOUT GIVING GIFTS, it’s all about bringing joy and contentment to the T’boli weavers of Lake Sebu.

The arrival of post-Christmas gift packages definitely brought smile and glee to everyone in the T’boli community.

For 15 years, the Don Antonio O. Floirendo Foundation (AOFF) in partnership with Tadeco Livelihood and Training Center (TLTC) has been continuing the annual distribution of post-Christmas gift package to different communities in Lake Sebu.

This year, the foundation has given around 800 gift packs that consist of rice, goods, food package, and packed clothing for the weavers while colorful bags and toys were distributed for the children in Barangay Klubi and in Barangay Lamdalag.

The team was greeted with big smile and beaming excitement in people’s eyes. Showing pride in their rich culture, the T’boli also performed some of their tribal dances and songs in their traditional clothes.

During the program, Mr. Bosh Ofong, Barangay Kagawad of Lamdalag, has expressed his gratitude towards the team in behalf of his community.

“Dako kaayo among pasalamat sa TADECO ug sa

The children were given TADECO loot bags that had toys and hornpipes in time for the New Year.

Foundation sa ilang padayong pag pang-hatag ug pahalipay sa amo… (We are very thankful for TADECO and the Foundation for the joy that they have provided)”, Mr. Ofong stated.

The T’boli weavers, also

known as The Dream Weavers, are made up of indigenous women inhabiting the highland areas of Southwestern Mindanao, mainly in Lake Sebu, South Cotabato. They are immensely known for their

EDGEDAVAO The weavers participated during the program’s parlor games, including rockpaper-scissors.

The Don Antonio O. Floirendo Foundation (AOFF) and Tadeco Livelihood and Training Center (TLTC) distributed grocery items to the T’boli weavers, bringing smiles to their faces.

The Don Antonio O. Floirendo Foundation (AOFF) and Tadeco Livelihood and Training Center (TLTC), together with the barangay officials and T’boli weavers of Barangay Lamdalag, gathered for a group photo after the successful gift giving program.

signature traditional textile called T’nalak.

T’nalak is made out of Abaca fibers encompassing unique designs and patterns as well as playful color combination. It is believed that T’nalak weaving was gifted by the goddess, Fu Dalu. The design and patterns of T’nalak are all envisioned through their dream, hence, having the title Dream Weaving. Weaving this distinct kind of textile requires much patience and good memory to be able to remember particular designs and master it.

T’nalak weaving has been a great contribution to the rapid economic growth in South Cotabato. It has been widely appreciated for its intrinsic value and beauty that investors wanted to help T’boli weavers be known in the industry, one

of which is the Tadeco Livelihood and Training Center (TLTC).

Tadeco Livelihood and Training Center (TLTC) is a program under TADECO that is established to uplift lives and promote social awareness in the preservation of culture and tradition of Mindanao Ethnic groups. They have been providing livelihood programs for the youth and the families of the banana plantation workers of TADECO since 1989. It was established to manufacture handicrafts that is 100% made of abaca woven cloth such as T’nalak.

The T’boli weavers have been a long-time supplier of T’nalak for TLTC. Partnering with Don Antonio O. Floirendo Foundation (AOFF), through the annual gift giving program, it is intended to strengthen the relationship between the T’boli and TLTC while it continues to preserve the art and culture of the tribe.

“Never let the traditional T’boli clothes be replaced by the modern fashion design. “said Juvenal Fernandez, TLTC Marketing Manager, in her message for the T’boli community.

For years, the foundation and TLTC have contributed great help in the preservation of the culture of T’boli and would always extend their effort to continue the sustainable partnership of both parties.

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FOOD

Delicious conversations at the dining table ARISTOTLE categorizes friendships in three kinds: friendships of utility (exists between you and someone who is useful to you), friendships of pleasure (exists between you and those whose company you enjoy) and friendships of the good (greatly based on mutual respect and admiration).

Cafe Julieta is located at 188 Tulip Drive, Juna Subdivision, Matina Davao City.

For us, we can identify different sets of people for every type.

It is rare that we have a friend or friends who ticks all the boxes.

And when we do, we make sure we nurture and cherish them.

And yes, food will always, always be part of the equation.

A recent lunch date with my ‘insanely sane’ Philosophy batch mates brought us to the steps of Cafe Julieta. A family restaurant, Cafe Julieta has a very relaxed ambiance that’s perfect for an any day dining experience. Once inside, you’d be treated to a vast open receiving/dining area that has a warm, homey feel. Not to mention, the outdoor pool area that seems to be calling you from all angles.

Cafe Julieta serves a profusion of dishes that boast of flavours that’s very unique to the restaurant. On their menu are Pinoy favourites prepared and cooked

Cafe Julieta’s Honey Soy Chicken is a welcome treat to the palate. with a twist. Taking charge inside the kitchen is Chef Noel Buenaventura whose flare for good quality food is manifested in every dish on the menu.

Cafe Julieta’s menu is very Pinoy and Pinoy friendly. The dishes are what you’d find during weekends on the hapagkainan. Dishes that speak of our childhood — the difference? Every dish on the menu is tweaked to appeal to the millennial-ish palate. Despite such, the familiar taste remains thus making it one delicious affair to remember.

My friends and I had some of the resto’s best-sellers: crispy pork belly with spicy miso, honey soy chicken, fish and chips and hearts of palm-spring rolls for appetizers. Each dish is served family style and is already good for 2-3 persons.

Were we happy? More than happy indeed!

Personally, I love the spring Service witj a smile at Cafe Julieta.

Cafe Julieta serves a profusion of dishes that boasts of flavours that’s very unique to the restaurant.

On their menu are Pinoy favourites prepared and cooked with a twist. rolls and the honey soy chicken.

The on-the-house crispy banana slices with vinegar dip (a favourite) is one exciting palate satis-

fier that will have you nibbling a piece after another. The contrast of flavour, taste and depth truly did leave a lasting impression.

Also on the menu are choices of international coffee and delectable pastries that will surely have you asking for seconds.

When dining, never ever fail to take a bite off their mango and chocolate cake. Personally, I love how the mango cake is able to clear one’s palate after a meal.

Aristotle will be pleased to know that finding friendships that tick all the boxes, in today’s fast-paced life, is very possible.

We may not always see each other or meet in front of the dining table as often, but we make sure that when we do, we make every second and crumb count. To more discourse, cheers!

Cafe Julieta is located at 188 Tulip Drive, Juna Subdivision, Matina Davao City

DAVAO

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VOL.11 ISSUE 219 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

ENTERTAINMENT

MAYWARD TOPS NEW BATCH OF PUSH AWARDS WINNERS

Lumpia It! Cafe Julieta’s heart of palm spring rolls are delectably crunchy -- with or without dip, every bite is guaranteed to satisfy a delish curiosity.

MAYMAY ENTRATA and Edward Barber took home two awards for their love team MayWard and bagged one performance awards each at the Push Awards 2018, making them the biggest winners at the event, which aimed to recognize the most influential digital stars in the country and engage fans through active digital participation.

MayWard was once again named the Push Group/Tandem of the Year after their breakout win in the said category last year. Their fandom, meanwhile, remained the most passionate on Twitter as it bagged the Push Ultimate Fan Award for the second year in a row for posting the highest number of tweets using their own hashtag.

Maymay and Edward also received the Female and Male Movie Performance of the Year awards for their hit movie “Loving in Tandem.” Maymay, who has become a staple in magazine covers and debuted her international modeling career in Dubai last year, won Push Celebrity Style Inspo of the Year #StyleGoals.

Push Awards 2018 anchored on its #Pushitivity campaign, which aimed to boost positivity in the digital world and honor the stars and fans who use their digital power to create a positive impact on society. It was held on Sunday (January 20) on “iWant ASAP,” which streams live every Sunday on ABSCBN’s streaming service iWant.

Kim Chiu, meanwhile, won three out

of her five nominations, including Push Female Celebrity of the Year, Push Celebrity Fitspiration of the Year #FitnessGoals, and Push Celebrity Squad of the Year, which she shared with Angelica Panganiban and Bela Padilla.

Winning the Push Male Celebrity of the Year was James Reid, while Nadine Lustre bagged the Push Celebrity Traveler of the Year #TravelGoals award.

The real-life couple was also voted by fans as the Push Celebrity Couple of the Year #CoupleGoals.

“The General’s Daughter” star Angel Locsin was also chosen by ABS-CBN management and Push to take home the Push Inspiration Award for actively using her digital influence to create awareness for relevant causes and effectively promoting her advocacies to her social media followers and fans.

The winners in the Push Personality and Push Goals categories received the highest number of online votes on the Push Awards website from September 9 to November 25 in 2018, while the final scores in the Push Performance sub-categories were combined from the 70% of the judges’ scores and 30% of the online votes.

The Push Awards, organized by ABS-CBN’s entertainment website PUSH.com.ph, recognizes the country’s top Kapamilya digital stars, online personalities, and fandoms. It is one of the digital initiatives of ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ leading media and entertainment company, which is rapidly transitioning into an agile digital company with the biggest online presence among all media companies, and a growing list of digital properties.

ANGEL’S RETURN TO PRIMETIME IN “THE GENERAL’S DAUGHTER” GAINS HIGH NATIONWIDE VIEWERSHIP MORE FILIPINOS nationwide tuned in to action-drama queen Angel Locsin’s much-awaited return to primetime as the action-packed pilot episode of “The General’s Daughter” scored a double-digit lead against its rival show last Monday.

The series instantly hooked viewers as it scored a national TV rating of 34%, or more than double that of “Onanay’s” 14%, according to data from Kantar Media.

In the first episode, viewers were introduced to 2nd Lieutenant Rhian Bonifacio (Angel), who went on a critical mission to save a group of fishermen seized by Chinese coast guards in the West Philippine Sea. Luckily, her body was brought ashore to Elai (Arjo Atayde) and Nanay Isabelle’s (Maricel Soriano) home, who will give her refuge until she has fully recovered.

It was also a huge hit among netizens as the show earned praises and even topped the list of trending topics on Twitter until Tuesday (January 22) morning.

Watch out for “The General’s Daughter” on ABS-CBN and ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167).

Old and New. Friends Joefer and Val nibbled on their crispy pork belly in miso like kids inside a candy shop.

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VOL.11 ISSUE 219 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

FOOD

Republique:

Hunt for Asian fusion is over

THERE IS NO GENERATION GAP HERE. Asian fusion food is plain and simple irresistible.

Perhaps it’s the freshness of the ingredients, the unique uses of the herbs and spices, or the creative introduction of new elements. Whatever the secret may be, it’s obvious that Asian fusion food is here to stay.

In Davao City, the hunt for Asian fusion is over. There's a bevy of diners serving this genre.

But there's one that stands out and the reason is simple. This

SOY CHICKEN. Many people relate specific dishes or ingredients with pleasant memories, and the best fusion food takes advantage of that emotional connection.

COZY. Republique’s intimate dining experience is one for the memories.

GAMBAS. Asian food is always putting something that's familiar. resto comes up with something new each time. The menu list is never static. A hallmark of a very

dynamic kitchen.

Let's put it this way. Asian food is always putting something that's familiar. Most fusion dishes are an amalgam of some familiar elements. They appeal to the human love of the familiar, the affection for comfort food. Many people relate specific dishes or ingredients with pleasant memories, and the best fusion food takes advantage of that emotional connection.

That’s why a good fusion dish often begins with a familiar element or structure, such as a sandwich, a slice of pizza, a dumpling, or a bowl of noodles.

Then the magic begins.

Republique's battery of chefs always come up with something new to surprise its guests. Its latest treats are the all-time faves like gambas, sot chicken and sushi. But hey, it's not your everyday fare. There's a twist in there waiting for you to find out. The principle is this: along with the desire for familiarity and comfort, humans crave new experiences. New adventures, new places, new flavours— somehow, fusion cuisine incorporates all of these delights. You get the familiar form or starting point of the dish, and then it takes you to an entirely new place, both culturally and creatively. You’re biting into a classic burger, but with Asian five spice introduced; or you’re enjoying the familiar texture of grilled chicken, but with delicious Thai flavours.

SUSHI. A good fusion dish often begins with a familiar element or structure, such as a dumpling, or sushi. Then the magic begins.

Call it creativity. Asian fusion cuisine give chefs the liberty to experiment. They can take triedand-true dishes and introduce their own signature elements.

Perhaps a new sauce could take the dish to the next level, or a new ingredient in the gravy can reach the pinnacle of spicy perfection.

Maybe there’s a new, interesting combination of seafood and noodles waiting to be discovered.

Whether a chef is playing around

with leftover ingredients or giving a new twist to an old favourite, Asian fusion allows space for true creative genius to work.

Finally, the wonderful flavor.

No doubt, the best part about Asian fusion cuisine is the amazing flavour. The combination of traditional spices and fresh ingredients with new elements can result in some incredibly tasty dishes. The taste experience is the primary reason why so many people are flocking to restaurants and hawker stalls that serve Asian fusion dishes. It’s that hint of the unexpected, that unusually delicious taste that makes you crave more.

Now, a treat to a fusion experience should lead to the Republique where Fusion Asian buffets on Sundays feature beautiful blends of classic flavours from a variety of Asian sources, Chinese, Japanese and Korean cuisine.

For weekdays, there's always the surprising creations popping out each time.

For 2019, Republique’s lunch and dinner doors open on Tuesdays to Sundays with lunch at 11am to 2pm and dinner at 5 to 10pm.

Reservations may be made online at bit.ly/2Qp2cQa or contact (0917) 146 4304 or (082) 327 8471.

Republique Asian Fusion is located at the 2nd level of Arcadia Active Lifestyle Center in front of Matina Enclaves Residences, Col. Emilio Escandor St., (former road going to Davao Golf) corner Shell Gas Station along Quimpo Blvd., Ecoland.

OBEY... FROM 1

said that Davao City is in “full alert status”, not only for the DAVRAA event, but also because of the current Martial Law implementa-

tion in Mindanao, the ongoing Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) plebiscite and the current May 2019 midterm election period.

tistical improbability of the results in areas where MILF “outsiders” were present.

“The military and the PNP were not able to control, and so on, we have lots of irregularities to mention,” she said.

“Those who voted NO are harassed now. Where will they go? Who can protect them? “ Sayadi added.

The mayor said some lawyers in her circle are now preparing the documents and will possibly

submit it before the next BOL plebiscite on February 6.

On Tuesday night, the Commission on Election (Comelec) Cotabato City has bared the votes in favor of the inclusion of the city to the BARMM garnered 36,682 over the No votes with 24,994.

A total of 61, 676 people who cast their votes out 113, 751 registered voters in the city.

Pacquiao said he suffered the same injury in his right eye in preparation for his fight with Jeff Horn last year. If the eye injury is not career-ending, the senator is expected to fight again not earlier than July. That period could give his cornea a lot of time for healing.

Broner is confident his one-sided unanimous decision loss to Pacquiao will not blemish his marketability as a fighter. He has drawing power which made Showtime earn high ratings in his every fight. His loss to Pacquiao dropped his

career record to 0-2-1 in his last three fights. But the viewers will still be drawn towards "The Problem" because of his haughtiness.

Broner said he came and gave them a good fight and feels he won the fight.

"And I will be back. And I will be champion again.

And all you motherf***ers will still tune in. At the end of the day, I’m still AB. I’m the same person. Y’all never seen me fight like this. Y’all never seen me in shape like this. I dedicated myself, I put the work in, and I came and I worked my ass off.”

MAYOR... FROM 2

BUBOY... FROM 11

NEWS

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Agency.

The NPA, the armed wing of the CPP, is listed as a terrorist organization in the United States and European Union.

To suppress this, Detoyato bared that AFP field units are actively coordinating with school authorities, parents and students in face-toface dialogues and symposiums to expose these tricks of the communist rebels.

He added the real goal of the rebels is to deceive students into joining them

through holding rallies in the cities, immersion in the rural communities and eventually recruiting them to join the armed group.

"We are not only investigating this, we are taking part in the prevention of this.

DepEd (Department of Education), the PNP (Philippine National Police) and LGUs (local government units) also have efforts in the prevention of this CPP-NPA-NDF modus operandi of recruitment and exploitation of students," the AFP official added. (PNA)

government with the help of the Department of Public Works and Highways, although some routes have been diverted for safety reasons.

Provincial Information Officer Karen Deloso said that military troops were also deployed to assist in the rescue and response operation of the provincial disaster

team.

Deloso added that the municipal government of Caraga has already suspended classes in the elementary and secondary levels effective Tuesday.

The provincial government has also assured available food packs and supplies have been distributed to affected families. (PNA)

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the age of criminal liability, the councilor said lawmakers should consider stronger punishment against criminals who use children in their activities.

Parents, meanwhile, should bear the burden of responsibility to ensure that their children do not engage in illegal activities, she added.

Councilors Maria Belen Sunga-Acosta and Diosdado Mahipus shared the same view.

Acosta said she hopes the Senate would "weigh the pros and cons of the proposed law," adding she was more inclined on laws that would focus on interventions to reform child offenders.

For Mahipus, the objective behind lowering the age of criminal responsibility "requires careful study."

Mahipus, who is also a lawyer, said he has handled CILC cases and that most of the time, giving

9

them a chance to reform was more effective.

The move to lower the age of criminal responsibility has elicited reactions from various sectors.

Backers of the proposed measure say the current law shielding minors of certain ages from criminal prosecution has encouraged more criminality.

According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 11 (PDEA-11), the lowest age rescued during a buy-bust operation from January to November last year was a 13-year-old girl.

PDEA-11 record shows that it rescued a total of 38 minors from illegal drug activities last year, up from the 22 rescued minors in 2017.

Davao City Police Office (DCPO), meanwhile, said it rescued 44 minors in drug-related cases last year. (PNA)

Zero crime rate during first BOL plebiscite: PRO-ARMM

T

he Philippine National Police (PNP) has recorded a zero-crime rate during Monday's plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL).

Chief Supt. Graciano Mijares, director of the Police Regional Office-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (PRO-ARMM), made the announcement as he lauded all the security forces deployed

to ensure the safe, orderly and peaceful conduct of the plebiscite.

"With your dedication and passion to answer our call of Service, except for one arrest for violation of the gun ban, we have recorded a zero-crime incident in relation to the conduct of the plebiscite. Again, congratulations for a job well done, our forces have once again made sure

that peace will reign in this region of Muslim Mindanao,” Mijares said in a statement Wednesday.

Mijares also said the police officers' exemplary performance of their duties enabled the people to safely exercise their right to suffrage.

The PNP earlier said it will implement the same security template for the second BOL plebiscite on February 6.

Senior Supt. Bernard Banac, PNP spokesperson, said a total of 3,209 police officers will be deployed to six municipalities of Lanao del Norte and 39 barangays in North Cotabato.

He said security measures for the plebiscite will serve as a “dry run” for the security operations for the May 2019 mid-term elections.

(PNA)

10 EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 219 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

11 SPORTS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.11 ISSUE 219 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

Serena meltdown in Aus Open semis

M

ELBOURNE Serena Williams squandered four match points and blew a 5-1 lead in the decider as seventh seed Karolina Pliskova produced a stunning fightback to claim a 6-4 4-6 7-5 quarter-final victory over the American at the Australian Open on Wednesday.

Williams, chasing a milestone 24th Grand Slam triumph, also saved two match points in the last game but netted on the third as the big-serving Czech shocked a packed Rod Laver Arena with her remarkable rally from the brink of defeat.

Pliskova advances to meet Naomi Osaka for a place in the final, denying Williams the chance to avenge her controversial U.S. Open title match defeat to the Japanese fourth seed.

"She improved her game in the second set. She was playing very well, went

the circuit after giving birth in September 2017, had struggled early and needed to launch her own comeback from a break down in the second set to level

for her shots.

I was a bit passive," an elated Pliskova said in a post-match interview.

"My mind wasn't in the locker room, I was still here.

I was a bit passive. But I said 'let's try this game'. I took my chances and I won.

"I am happy I get to play two days in a row. Osaka's dangerous but I don't think anyone is more dangerous than Serena. So I will enjoy this one."

Former world number one Williams, seeded 16 as she continues her return to

t h e match.

S h e carried the momentum into the decider and roared to 5-1 lead as the tall Czech's power game crumbled. However, the 37-year-old suffered an astonishing wobble with the finish line in sight, the American broken twice when serving for the match.

Pliskova held grimly on, saving one match point in the seventh game and three more at 5-4 down, before racing through the next three games to complete the stunning triumph.

Serena Williams of the U.S. squandered four match points in another meltdown.

Buboy: 3 more fights, then retire M Football reboot as PPL replaces PFL T he Philippines Premier League (PPL) has now become the country’s top professional football competition following the collapse of the Philippine Football League (PFL).

PPL commissioner Bernie Sumayao said the “reboot” aims to eliminate the problems that led to PFL’s demise.

“Noong araw wala tayong TV coverage at sponsors. So sisimulan natin on a right footing,” Sumayao said at the league's official launch on Wednesday.

“So we want to reboot, set it up again with stron-

C

ger fundamentals.”

The Philippine Football Federation has given Sumayao and PPL Sports Group Inc. the rights to operate and market the league.

Federation president Mariano Araneta is happy with PPL stepping in, noting that it is beneficial for the national football team.

“Kailangan kasi ng mga national players natin na maglaro on a regular basis. They need 25 games a year to be competitive,” he said.

“With the league, this will give them an opportunity to play.”

As of posting time, 11

aught on cam after the Pacman tossed a challenge, Floyd Mayweather looked the other way, pretending not having heard it over the loudspeaker.

No need to translate his demeanor because Mayweather just did not warm up to Pacquiao’s oft-repeated grudge rematch idea.

The Sarangani senator displayed a two-fisted attack, bringing to Adrien Broner the fight from Round One up to Round Twelve in literal fashion.

I believe all boxing observers expected Manny to deliver a KO as the Filipino superstar entertained the millions watching on boob tube and the thousands in physical attendance (more than 16,000, it was reported) with his matador-like stance, boring through with hard body shots and left and right straights,

clubs have expressed interest in joining. The PPL plans to have at least 8 teams participating for this year.

These include PFL League champs Ceres Negros, Copa Paulino Alcantara holders Kaya-Iloilo, Stallion Laguna, and Green Archers United Globe. Philippine Air Force is also likely to join.

Among the changes from the previous league, Sumayao said, is that teams will pay an annual registration fee instead of a franchise scheme.

This, he said, will be a fraction of the cost from the last two years.

anny Pacquiao's head trainer Buboy Fernandez revealed on Wednesday the Pinoy fighting senator will retire after three more fights.

"Three fights and that's it," Fernandez said in an interview. "He has nothing more to prove."

Pacquiao dominated Adrien Broner last Sunday (Philippine time) at the MGM Grand Garden, Las Vegas, Nevada to retain his WBA welterweight title.

Fernandez feels that Pacquiao can fight the big names in the welterweight division, but the senator's boyhood friend believes the risks involved are high for the eight-division world champion. "There are many young and skillful fighters coming up, and all of them are hungry [for recognition]. We shouldn't wait for them to catch up," he said.

Fernandez assures that Pacquiao will always work to be in 100% or even 110% condition for every opponent. But he is afraid of an off night when he faces some young and rising foes. "It's enough for him to regain the trust and confidence of the people," added Buboy. At 40-years old, Manny has already cemented his legacy in the boxing world.

Fernandez disclosed that Pacquiao was very eager to knockout Broner, but he warned the champ from forcing it when he observed the brazen challenger from Cincinnati, Ohio changing his pose and giving up his jabs.

This alerted him of the situation similar to Juan Manuel Marquez smashing Pacquiao on a counterpunch. "We're able to fly again, let's not wait for a

crash landing," Fernandez said. "Anyway, we're way ahead on the scoring."

Fernandez also told Rappler about Pacquiao's reaction to the reported burglary at his mansion in North Plymouth, Los Angeles. He was not at all worried. "Whatever were lost do not really matter. What matters most is the title is safely on our hands."

Reports from several sources have it that Pacquiao suffered a scratched cornea in his left eye that came from the tape on one of Broner’s gloves. An eye specialist in Las Vegas made the confirmation Sunday and prescribed an antibiotic ointment to subdue Pacquiao’s left eye. The champion wears an eye patch to protect the injured eye until he consults another eye specialist in Los Angeles.

FBUBOY , P9

Mayweather shrugs off Pacquiao yell crosses and hooks to the head.

Do you think Floyd was impressed?

Nah. Floyd wasn’t impressed because Broner elected to dance the tango.

Had the talkative challenger opted to slug it out in the first four rounds, he probably could have altered the Pacquiao fight plan.

Instead, Broner’s camp allowed the Filipino champ to take over the wheel and dictate the pace.

So, Pacquiao did just that to the eternal disappointment of Mayweather who thought Broner could give the former one hell of a battle had he decided to fight toe to toe in the initial rounds.

Floyd was doubly disappointed too that Pacquiao failed to put Broner to sleep.

A KO victory by the Pacman would have surely raised the ante for a Mayweather-Pac-

SPORTS KEN Fred C. Lumba quiao 2 as boxing fans would holler to support a second encounter.

There will be no Floyd vs Manny fight date this year, this I can assure you.

Mayweather will only risk to fight Pacquiao for the right price.

At this point, the sports

media is not convinced that Manny can beat Mayweather because he did not dispose Broner as appropriately as he should to deserve a second meeting with the now retired undefeated world champion.

So, what’s left for the Pacman to do?

He cannot hang up his gloves yet. Meaning if he is serious in pursuing a rematch, Manny should return to the ring in July and in December this year.

There are some deserving titleholders from the other boxing groups who will want to test Pacquiao’s mettle.

Mikey Garcia, Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter, Terence Crawford et al are in search of big paychecks and they could earn this bounty by facing Pacquiao.

Now, assuming the former Fighter of the Decade humbles both assignments against anyone of these touted ring gladia-

tors as I outlined the sked, rich and established promoters might just be emboldened to gather huge sponsorships that may approximate the guaranteed earnings of the two combatants in their 2015 confrontation and lure Floyd out of bedtime.

For now, the forty-year old 8-division champ needs to strategize with creative thinking. Boxing sportswriters, I would volunteer, are more convinced that Pacquiao has lost some of his knockout power. Despite unleashing a barrage of shots and hitting his targets, the Filipino southpaw failed to send Broner to the canvas and subsequently to dreamland.

My unsolicited advice: forget Floyd. Create the ideal atmosphere and he will come to you. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!

12 EDGEDAVAO Sports

VOL.11 ISSUE 219 • THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2019

LIGHT SCRATCH Manny’s eye injury not career-threatening, just a scratched cornea M

anny Pacquiao will be able to fight on after it was confirmed he has not suffered a detached retina injury.

Reports emerged suggesting that the 40-year-old might be forced to retire after his comfortable unanimous decision victory over Adrien Broner on Saturday night, as he was having problems with his vision in the aftermath.

Pacquiao was seen wearing an eye patch on Sunday, however his publicist Fred Sternberg declared that that this has now been removed.

Matchmaker and associate Sean Gibbons revealed the eight-division champion had merely suffered a scratched left eye.

By Monday night, ‘Pac Man’ was out in public without the patch and attended the LA Lakers NBA game, where he bumped into an old friend/foe. Once again, Floyd Mayweather was in attendance at the Staples Center and the pair exchanged a brief greeting on camera as speculation surrounding a potential rematch rumbles on.

Following Pacquiao’s win at the weekend Mayweather refused to commit to a comeback, however no-

body is entirely convinced by his latest retirement given his past record of changing his mind.

At Pacquiao’s camp, Michael Koncz debunked reports that reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) Welterweight king had sustained serious eye injury during his 12-round title showdown with Adrien “The Runner” Broner last Saturday night.

Pacquiao complained of a slight pain and partially impaired vision involving his left eye after the fight.

“The fans have nothing to worry about. It’s nothing serious. After a medical check-up, Manny Pacquiao’s doctor found out that the cornea of his left eye had sustained a light scratch,” Koncz revealed.

Koncz claimed he was present when Dr. Regina Bagsic of Cardinal Santos Medical Center based in San Juan, Manila, Philippines, checked on Pacquiao’s left eye shortly after the fight.

Bagsic, Pacquiao’s personal doctor, watched the fight live at the MGM Grand Garden arena in Las Vegas per invitation from Pacquiao.

“Dr. Bagsic went up to the senator’s hotel suite after the fight. After checking on

HE’S FINE. On Tuesday (PH Time), ‘Pac Man’ was out in public without the patch and attended the LA Lakers NBA game, where he bumped into an old friend/foe. Once again, Floyd Mayweather was in attendance at the Staples Center and the pair exchanged a brief greeting on camera as speculation surrounding a potential rematch rumbles on.

his left eye, she called up an eye specialist in Cardinal Santos Medical Center. Appropriate medicines had been prescribed and were already administered. In five days, his left eye would be okay,” Koncz bared.

Koncz dispelled rumors that Pacquiao may have sustained a detached retina, a serious eye injury in which the retina becomes separated

from the eyeball, causing loss of vision.

According to Medical News Today, detached retina is not usually painful.

The source claimed that a detached retina, or retinal detachment, usually only occurs in one eye and is considered a medical emergency.

The same source added that “people with severe myopia, those with diabetes,

patients who have had complicated cataract surgery, and anybody who has received a blow to the eye are all more susceptible to the condition.”

It can be recalled that boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard was compelled to hang up his gloves after suffering from a detached retina on his left eye.

“Many inaccurate reports came out that this is a case of

a detached retina. No, it’s not.

In fact, the condition of his left eye is fast improving,” Koncz said.

On Tuesday evening, Pacquiao even went to the Staples Center to watch live the basketball game between the Golden State Warriors and the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Pinoy ring icon is set to fly back to Manila on Thursday, January 24.