Edge Davao Volume 12 Issue 233 | Sunday-Monday,February 2-3, 2020

VOL.12 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2-3, 2020

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EDGEDAVAO

LAKERS PAY TRIBUTE TO KOBE BRYANT

Serving a seamless society

SPORTS P11

A bus is stationed at Agdao Public Market in Brgy. Agdao, Davao City on Saturday. Dozens of buses were commissioned by the city government of Davao which offers free ride around Davao City's downtown area to stranded commuters due to the consultation meeting for drivers and operators in line with the upcoming implementation of the high priority bus system (HPBS) program,. Lean Daval Jr

VANISHING MASKS DTI says mask shortage only temporary

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ith the sudden surge in demand for face masks following the first confirmed 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) in the country, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said the supply shortage shall be temporary.

"Shortage is due to the sudden jump in demand that even their reordered

stocks got wiped out immediately," Lopez told trade reporters in a text

message Friday.

He said his department has advised suppliers to order masks "in much bigger quantities."

"It should be temporary because the supply of a manufactured product can easily be increased, unlike if it were an agricultural product," Lopez added.

Demand for surgical and N95 masks increased since the Taal Volcano eruption. Demand further

jacked up after the Department of Health confirmed the first 2019-nCov here Thursday.

Some drugstores and medical supply stores have run out of stocks of surgical masks.

The suggested retail price (SRP) for surgical masks ranges from PHP1 to PHP8 per piece.

"They (DTI personnel) are monitoring if prices are jacked up. We have inten-

sified monitoring.” Lopez said.

In a related development, consumer advocate Laban Konsyumer, Inc. (LKI) has urged DTI to buy masks in bulk and distribute them to retail outlets at controlled prices.

LKI president Victorio Mario Dimagiba said on Friday the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) has done the same when there was a supply

issue in medicine, cement, and sugar, among others.

Dimagiba also suggested that mask importers be identified and their warehouses inspected.

“The Bureau of Import Services of DTI can identify mask importers and warehouses’ location. The PNP-CIDG (Philippine National Police-Criminal Investigation and Detection Group) can conduct intelli-

FVANISHING, P13

2 NEWS EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2-3, 2020

DOLE urges workplace safety vs. coronavirus

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ith the confirmed first case of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the country, the Department of Labor and Employment on Friday issued a safety and health advisory to prevent and control the risk of its spread in workplaces.

A Labor Advisory no.

4, signed by DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III, directs employers, and establishments to provide information about nCoV to their workers, determine a needed adjustment in work schemes, and take immediate precautionary measures.

“We are issuing these prevention and control guidelines to assist private sector workplaces in their preparedness and response to the 2019-nCoV,” he said.

Bello enjoined employers to maintain cleanliness and make available disinfectants and sanitizers in the workplace, and prevent workers from direct exposure to animals, environments, and objects possibly carrying the nCoV. “Aside from these, we are also directing employers to monitor the health of workers particularly those with fever and flu symptoms and those who have traveled to or worked in countries affected with the 2019-nCoV,” he said.

The advisory also provided measures to guide employers for care of workers who are suspected as having 2019-nCoV, such as providing the worker with a face mask; isolating the affected worker in a separate well-ventilated room; referring the victim to the company health care provider or nearest local health center or hospital; reporting the case to the health department, and decontaminating the work area with appropriate dis-

infectant.

The advisory directed employers to establish a screening program in accordance with the guidelines set by the Department of Health (DOH).

“Workers in these workplaces are also reminded to take extra precautionary measures which include strict hygiene and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) while at work,” Bello said.

As for leave of absence of affected workers, he added that the employer or establishment may charge the worker’s absence to his or her annual sick or vacation leave as provided for in their company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement.

The employer or establishment, with the concurrence of the workers, may also adopt other arrangements to compensate for the worker’s leave of absence.

In terms of social security benefits, the advisory provides that infected workers and their dependents may avail of PhilHealth hospital benefits on top of the existing company health care benefits and are entitled to claim sickness benefits under the Social Security System and employees’ compensation benefits under Presidential Decree 626, or EC Law. “In the event that the worker is not qualified to avail of these social security benefits due to the fault of the employer, the employer shall shoulder all the medical expenses until full recovery,” Bello said.

He added that the Bureau of Working Conditions, the Occupational Safety and Health Center, and the DOLE regional offices, in coordination with the DOH, will provide in-

Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) chief of hospital Dr. Leopoldo Vega (right), together with Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU) head Dr. Cleofe Tabada, says during Usapang Kalusugan media forum at the Department of Health 11 (DOH 11) regional office

along J.P. Laurel Avenue in Davao City on Friday that SPMC is prepared in the event that a patient or individuals will test positive for for the 2019 NCov as it has an isolation facility equiped with no-touch wash areas, decontamination rooms and proper air filtration. Lean Daval Jr

$2-BILLION CRISIS Banana export industry affected by coronavirus ban, Iran sanction

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he country’s multi-billion dollar banana export industry which has become China-dependent needs government intervention as it is adversely affected by the Coronavirus crisis and other key challenges, including the Iran sanction as well as the emerging competition from other Asian countries.

Alberto F. Bacani, chair

FDOLE, P11 of the Pilipino Banana

Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA), told

Davao business writers that the Novel Coronavirus worldwide emergency would result in shipping companies thaving a hard time to ship cargoes to China, now considered the biggest market at present as it buys about a third of the country’s total exportable volume, overtaking Japan.

“What is scary is we have become dependent on the China market,” said Bacani, pointing out that whatever the issues that the

navirus in the country. The Deprtment of Trade and Industry 11 (DTI 11) said that there is an abnormal demand of face mask in the city due to the 2019-nCov scare. Lean Daval Jr

F$2-BILLION, P13

TUCP denounces Adamson U for ‘racism’, ‘discrmination’

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A notice that face masks have run out of stock is a common sign in pharmacies around Davao City after the Department of Health (DOH) announced on Wednesday that there is a confirmed case of novel coro-

China market has to face, these will impact on the local industry.

He added that the country has also lost an alternative in Iran as a result of the sanctions that the American government has imposed on the country and that it has not found any other alternative markets for the product aside from the traditional markets like Japan and South Korea.

As of November 2019,

he country’s largest workers group Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) denounces in strongest terms as blatant racism and discrimination the memorandum issued by Adamson University to its students, staffs and entire school community ostracizing and stigmatizing by subjecting its Chinese students to a mandatory 14-day quarantine period in the light of the spread of corona virus scare.

A copy of the memorandum is now circulating in social media.

“In the face of the worldwide scourge brought about by the Novel Coronavirus that it is time for solidarity—to stand together— not discriminate, not stigmatize. We, therefore, denounce such memorandum issued by Adamson University and we demand that they immediately retract it because such memo

is plain and simple racism and discrimination that we Filipinos strongly abhors,” said TUCP president and TUCP Party-list Rep. Raymond Mendoza.

In its memorandum issued by the Adamson University President Fr. Marcelo V. Manimtim, C.M. issued January 31, 2020 with the subject entitled “Precautionary Measures Against the Novel Corona Virus (nCov), it says that “in response to the worldwide precautionary measures against the NCov, Adamson University would like to ensure a healthy and virus-free environment.

Thus, we have made a decision that all Chinese students, both gradute and undergraduate, observe self-quarantine starting today until February 14, 2020.”

“Professors and students are encouraged to maximize the use of our

FTUCP, P11

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4 NEWS

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VOL.12 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2-3, 2020

Japanese consul visits BARMM, assures support for the region

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New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Kell shares at the sidelines of a gathering held at Marco Polo Davao that his group visited four universities in Davao City to promote the New Zealand Scholarship Program. Lean Daval Jr

Japanese diplomatic official has visited the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to officially inform regional officials of Japan’s strengthened and revitalized diplomatic office in Davao City of their readiness to serve the Bangsamoro constituents.

Japan Consul General Yoshiaki Miwa on Friday visited Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) Speaker Pangalian Balindong at his office here.

Balindong welcomed Miwa, who is the first Consul General of Japan’s Consulate General Office in Davao City.

Miwa told Balindong and the people of BARMM that from a simple consular office, the Japanese government has upgraded it into a consulate general agency to improve its services.

One of the services offered by the consulate

general is the visa processing operations where Mindanaoans, including the Bangsamoro people and foreigners in Mindanao, no longer need to travel to Manila for Japanese visas.

The office covers 27 provinces and 33 cities in Mindanao.

“It’s an honor to serve Mindanao, most especially the Bangsamoro, and that is why we upgraded our simple consular office to the consulate general. The name is almost the same but organization-wise, it’s totally different. Now, we are directly connected to our headquarters,” Miwa told Balindong, explaining the consulate’s improved services.

Balindong took the opportunity to express his appreciation to the Japanese government for all the assistance they have extended to BARMM. “I have never doubt-

ommunications Secretary Martin Andanar on Saturday called on the public to remain calm and avoid discriminating against anyone amid the rapid spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus.

"As the issue of a viral outbreak affects everyone, let us not engage in discriminatory behavior, nor act with any bias towards our fellowmen. The reality is everyone is susceptible to the virus," he said in a statement.

"We should not let fear turn us against one another, especially if these fears are unfounded," he said, adding that the Philippine government is working with foreign authorities to contain the outbreak.

The Philippines on Thursday confirmed its first case of the new coronavirus - a 38-year-old

woman from Wuhan, China, epicenter of the respiratory contagion, who arrived in the Philippines on Jan. 21.

Philippine health authorities also continue to monitor 31 people suspected of carrying the strain, wherein 25 of them are admitted in hospitals around the country.

On Friday, Malacañanang announced the Philippines would bar travelers from Hubei province in China, where Wuhan is located. Several confirmed cases have been reported across the province, where expanding lockdowns are being enforced by Chinese authorities.

As of Saturday, some 259 people have died of the acute respiratory disease in China, while nearly 12,000 have been infected.

Amid stricter port con-

5 Mindanaoans qualify for C post-grad studies in NZ

FJAPANESE, P11

Palace tells Pinoys to be calm, don't discriminate as 2019-nCov spreads

By MAYA M. PADILLO he New Zealand Government has opened its applications for Filipinos seeking postgraduate scholarships in New Zealand on Saturday, February 1.

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The program is funded by the New Zealand Government through the New Zealand Aid Programme.

For school year 2020, five Mindanaoans are heading to New Zealand for their postgraduate degrees. They are Bai Nishran Candao, Master of Science (Food Policy), University of Auckland; Clar Don Evangelio, Master of Earthquake Engineering, University

of Auckland; Lanz Gabriel Jabla, Master of Energy, University of Auckland, Hans Christian Mahilum, Master of Agriculture (Horticulture), Massey University, and Kristelle Alina Rizardo, Master in Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Otago.

New Zealand universities are ranked among the top 3 percent in the world.

Ambassador-designate

ealth personnel in South Cotabato alerted anew residents over the increasing cases of the mosquito-borne chikungunya disease.

Jose Baroquillo, mosquito-borne diseases coordinator of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), said Thursday they monitored the resurgence of suspected chikungunya cases in the past several weeks in Tampakan town.

Citing a report from the Tampakan Municipal Health Office (MHO), he said the infections were reported in portions of Barangay Maltana, which was also hit by an outbreak in 2014.

The municipal government of Tampakan has so far reported at least 40 suspected chikungunya cases in Puroks 3, 4 and 7 of Maltana.

He said most of the cases were recorded in communities near banana plantations, where suspected breeding places of the chikungunya-carrying

mosquitoes were previously found.

“The MHO already conducted misting and fogging operations in the affected areas to contain the disease and prevent it from spreading to other areas,” he said in a briefing.

Baroquillo said the chikungunya virus mainly spreads through mosquito bites and the most common symptoms are fever, headache, muscle pain and joint pain.

He said the management of the infection is similar to dengue but it is not as severe due to the absence of bleeding symptoms.

Cecille Lorenzo, IPHO’s epidemiology and surveillance unit head, said all 10 municipalities and lone city of South Cotabato had recorded cases of chikungunya these past years.

In 2014, she said over 500 infections were recorded in an outbreak in Tampakan, Tupi and Koronadal City.

Chikungunya on the rise in SoCot

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FCHIKUNGUNYA, P11

Peter Kell arrived in Davao City on January 20 to 31 and visited various universities and colleges to promote the New Zealand Scholarship program.

Priority sectors for study include post-graduate degrees in agriculture, renewable energy, disaster risk management, and public sector management including peace and conflict studies and indigenous studies.

“We’ve carefully selected these sectors to ensure that Filipinos receive some of the very best of New Zealand education. We are proud to be leaders and innovators in these indus-

tries. Degrees in these sectors would also equip our future Filipino graduates areas where they can best contribute to Philippine development,” Kell said.

Kell would like to encourage more young people from Mindanao to apply to the programme.

Kell is hopeful that more Mindanaoans, especially of Moro and indigenous background follow their examples and take advantage of this excellent opportunity not just for their personal growth but also to assist the region upon their return.

Annually, 24 qualified individuals are awarded

F5 MINDANAONS, P11

FPALACE, P11

A foreign national wears face mask as she waits for a public utility jeepney (PUJ) with her friends along E. Quirino Avenue in Davao City on Saturday.

Lean Daval Jr

VOL.12 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2-3, 2020

5 ECONOMY EDGEDAVAO

EastWest launches first Priority Center in Davao A

PRIORITY CENTER. From L-R: EastWest Head of Wealth Management Richard Tamayo; EastWest Vice Chairman, CEO Antonio C. Moncupa Jr.; Acting Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte; EastWest SEVP & Head for Treasury, Markets and Off-Balance Sheet Cluster Rafael Algarra Jr.

s part of its constant drive to expand its services across the Philippines, EastWest recently launched its first Priority Center in Davao City.

The EastWest Priority Center Davao is housed in the EastWest Sta. Ana Store in Davao City. The Davao arm of the EastWest Priority program offers numerous potential high-value clients in the area the same kind of bespoke wealth management and financial services that existing EastWest Priority clients enjoy, without the need to travel far.

The Priority team, comprised of certified financial experts with vast experience in wealth management, is among the Philippine banking industry’s finest and most qualified to help clients in Davao achieve their financial goals, build and optimize investment portfolios, advise them on market movements and decisions, and address their various banking needs.

The inauguration was

graced by a number of prominent personalities, including Davao City Acting Mayor Sebastian Z. Duterte; EastWest Vice Chairman, President, and CEO Antonio C. Moncupa, Jr.; SEVP & Head for Treasury, Markets and Off-Balance Sheet Cluster Rafael Algarra, Jr.; FVP and Head of Bank Marketing and Corporate Communications Alessandro Villaraza; FVP and Head of Wealth Management Richard Tamayo; and VisMin Priority; Head Jennifer Alviar were present at the launch.

"We are excited for the various possibilities that await our clients with the opening of the first EastWest Priority Center in Davao," said Moncupa. "It is high time that they also enjoy the exclusive perks, benefits, and first-class service that naturally come with being an EastWest Priority client, and we look forward to being their trusted partner in achieving all of their goals and dreams.”

The launch of the East-

FEASTWEST, P13

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CONQUERING THE NORTH. Gracing the Hyundai Baguio City launch were (L-R) Hyundai Baguio City Dealer Principal Archimedes J. Go, Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) President & CEO Maria Fe Perez-Agudo, Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Alan Peter S. Cayetano, Baguio City Representative Hon. Marquez O. Go, HARI Chairman Emeritus Richard L. Lee, and Grit Motors Corporation President Soledad Go.

Hyundai starts CNY with a Bang with Hyundai Baguio City launch T

AVID ends 2019 strong; posts 12% sales growth in December 2019

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ast January 24, 2020, the Eve of Chinese New Year, Hyundai, the No. 1 Korean automotive brand in the Philippines, unveiled Hyundai Baguio City, its first-ever full-service passenger car (PC) dealership in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

The Summer Capital of the Philippines is an acknowledged center of tourism, business, commerce, and education in Northern Luzon. Recently, Baguio City bagged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Clean Tourist City award for outstanding performance in its conservation and beautification campaign. It was also honored as a UNESCO Creative City under the Crafts and Folk Arts category in 2017.

Said Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc. (HARI) President and CEO Ma. Fe Perez Agudo, “We start the year and the new decade strong by proudly hoisting the Hyundai flag in Baguio

Hyundai Baguio City, managed by Grit Motors Corporation, takes pride in its being a pioneer Hyundai PC dealership in CAR. Said Dealer Principal Archimedes Go, “Grit is our main message. This is what Hyundai Baguio stands for. Blessed with supportive family, friends,

and colleagues, we shall work with grit and grace, excellence and honesty, to make Hyundai No. 1 in Baguio.”

As the latest member of the Baguio business community, Hyundai is poised to offer Cordillera residents and businesses a fresh take on excellence in mobility, service, and worry-free ownership.

“We dedicate Hyundai Baguio City to driving Baguio’s sustainability through our excellent lineup of current and soon-tocome innovations. Count on Hyundai to contribute to the restoration and preservation of the City of Pines,” said Ms. Agudo.

The presence of Hyundai in Baguio City is aligned with Hyundai’s grand vision for 2020 and beyond.

“We want more and more Filipinos to experience the next level of Hyundai mobility,” furthered Ms. Agudo.

Hyundai Baguio City complies with Global Dealership Space Identi-

ty (GDSI) standards, the modern design philosophy of Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) that mirrors and complements its top-performing vehicles, such as the Reina, Accent, Kona, Tucson, Grand Starex, and Santa Fe. HARI hinted that this year’s new and soon-toopen dealerships will showcase the latest in Hyundai’s innovative mobility solutions that are slated for 2020.

Hyundai Baguio City is part of HARI’s aggressive PC and Commercial Vehicle (CV) network expansion into the country’s high growth corridors. Last 2019, HARI sold 33,763 units (full-year figures) and generated 2.9% growth in December versus the same month in 2018, enabling it to maintain its position in the market as one of the top automotive brands in the Philippine market.

Customers can now visit Hyundai Baguio City which is located along C. M. Recto St., Baguio City.

to 22,041 while the Japanese visitors grew only by 3.44-percent from 12,800 in 2018 to 13,241 last year.

The Xiamen Airlines opened twice weekly Davao-Quanzhou, China direct flights on December 18, 2018 to serve as an air bridge to better enhance bilateral trade relations with Jinjiang, Davao’s sister city since 2007.

Hongkong-based Cathay Pacific Group also launched a five times weekly direct Davao-Hong Kong flight.

Rounding up the city’s top 10 foreign visitors were

South Koreans (8,347), Indians (7,121), Australians (6,487), Singaporeans (4,374), Canadians (3,995), and British (3,552) and Emiratis (2,732).

CTO head Generose Tecson remained hopeful that the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (2019nCoV) would not put a dent on the growing tourism figures of Davao as the Chinese visitors comprised 0.58-percent of the total tourist arrivals in the city last year.

She said the city posted a total of 2,573,990 arrivals last year, an in-

crease of 7.55-percent from 2,393,384 in 2018.

Of the total arrivals, she said 182,825 were foreigners.

“We hope that the virus will be controlled immediately and normal operations resume,” she said.

“We are cognizant of the Chinese government’s requests to their travel agencies to stop sending group tours to Davao in the wake of spread of nCOV. While as a whole, this will not affect out arrivals much.”

Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industries

City, fortifying our growing Hyundai dealership network and reiterating that Hyundai continues to reach out to provide Filipinos better automotive products, better after-sales services, and ultimately, better journeys.”

The Grit and Grace of Hyundai Baguio City

Chinese tourists in Davao City increase by almost 40% in '19

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hinese tourists in Davao City surged to 14,934 last year or an increase of 37.93-percent compared to 10,827 recorded in 2018, making China the second biggest market of Davao’s tourism industry, according to data from the City Tourism Office (CTO).

The exponential growth in the arrival of Chinese visitors dwarfed even that of Americans and Japanese last year.

The record showed that Americans, who topped the list, grew by 3.36-percent from 21,324 in 2018

FCHINESE, P13

he Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors, Inc. (AVID) ended the year with a bang with 8,089 units sold in December 2019, a 12% increase versus the same month in 2018. For full-year 2019, the group association recorded 87,984 units sold versus the 88,430 units of the previous year, or a marginal dip of 0.5%.

AVID President Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo said, “AVID’s performance in the last month of the year augurs well for the automotive industry as we begin the Year of the Metal Rat and the new decade. The continued easing of inflation rates, lower fuel prices, and increased government spending will only bolster sales for the group. We will complement these positive indicators with new models, value-packed service offerings, and easier ownership schemes.”

For 2019, the Passenger Cars (PC) segment declined by 0.5% from 30,876 units sold in 2018 to in 2019 with 30,726

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hilippine economic growth may slow down by about 0.3 percent to 0.8 percent this year if the spread of the novel coronavirus (2019nCoV) turns out to be as severe as that of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

This was the projection of Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) chief economist Ruben Carlo Asuncion, who said in a report on Friday that the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic had resulted in an average of 0.5 percent decline in the growth of Southeast Asian

units in 2019. sold in versus the 30,876 units sold in 2018. Hyundai sold more vehicles in this segment than all reporting members combined with a total of 17,761 units in 2019.

Suzuki follows with 8,621 units. The PC segment climbed 5% in December 2019 alone with 2,608 units versus the same period in 2018.

In the Light Commercial Vehicles (LCV) segment, AVID recorded a 1.1% dip in 2019 sales from 56,999 units sold in 2018 to 56,351 units in 2019. However, performance of this segment increased by 16% in December 2019 alone with 5,362 units sold versus the same period last year. Ford leads this segment with a total of 19,993 units sold, followed

by Suzuki comes after with 15,298 units and Hyundai, a close third, closely followed by Hyundai with 15,095 units sold in 2019.

In the Commercial Vehicles (CV) segment, AVID recorded a 63% increase in sales or a total of 907 units

FAVID, P11

economies.

“If this outbreak delivers a severe, but temporary impact, like SARS, (Union Bank’s) ERU (Economic Research Unit) expects the economic impact on the Philippines to be a likely decline of at least 0.3 percent and at most 0.8 percent of annual GDP (gross domestic product) growth in 2020, if and when the outbreak lasts at least six months,” it said.

To date, the coronavirus that originated from China has resulted in the death of 213 people in several coun-

FECONOMIST, P13

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8 VANTAGE EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2-3, 2020

EDITORIAL

Addressing the shortage

After the first case of Wuhan coronavirus was confirmed by the Department of Health, everyone went into frenzied buying of both surgical and N95 masks.

According to news reports, several pharmacies in Metro Manila were reported to have ran out of supplies of surgical face masks and N95 masks shortly after DOH announced Thursday that a 38-year-old female Chinese national who travelled to the Philippines from Wuhan — the Chinese city where the coronavirus outbreak originated — via Hong Kong tested positive for the virus. She arrived in the country on January 21, the DOH said, nad has been to Dumaguete City and Cebu City in the Visayas.

Prices of surgical masks soared way above the suggested retail price of P1 to P8 per mask to something like P130 for a pack of 10. There is also the difficulty of getting supplies from sources overseas as retailers admitted they cannot get N95 masks. The irony is that these masks are sourced from Chinese suppliers who now wanted to prioritize its local market where the virus originated.

According to Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said there is only one

EDGEDAVAO

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PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE

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ANTONIO M. AJERO Editor in Chief

NEILWIN JOSEPH L. BRAVO Managing Editor

MAYA M. PADILLO Senior Reporter

KENNETH IRVING K. ONG ATHENA JILLIAN BRAVO NIKKI GOTIANSE-TAN MEGHANN STA. INES FERINA SANTOS Lifestyle

LEANDRO S. DAVAL JR. Photography

ARMANDO B. FENEQUITO JR. CHRISTIAN JAY H. RAFAL DR. MAURO L. PUYOD CHA MONFORTE Layout/Cartoons Cartoonist 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 D. MARATAS RICHARD C. EBONA OLIVIA D. VELASCO JASPERSOLANI V. BACSAL General Manager Finance Advertising Specialist VP Operations General Manager JOCELYN S. PANES Director of Sales

surgical mask and N95 mask manufacturer in the country -- Medtecs International Corp. Ltd. -- with a facility in Bataan.

As the country tries to keep itself from the deadly virus, there is a need for the government, particularly the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to ensure no one is exploiting the situation by jacking up the prices of masks and controlling its supply. At this point, it will be prudent for the DTI to buy in bulk and distribute the masks in the same way it dealt with the previous crisis on consumer goods like rice, sugar and medicine and industrial supply like cement.

As everyone scamper for protection, it is best for government agencies to get their acts together. At one end, there is the DOH who must educate people on how to be protected from the virus and to properly use the masks in such a manner that it will not go to waste. Mishandling and misusing masks will negate protection. On the other, the DTI must ensure there is ample supply and that these goods are sold within the suggested retail prices.

It’s in simple things well managed that any action or campaign can be successful.

SOLANI D. MARATAS Finance

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

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VANTAGE POINTS

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ANTONIO V. FIGUEROA FAST BACKWARD

JAPAN’S HIDDEN WAR AGENDA Historically, Japan’s military started making maps as early as 1870, and most of these were detailed graphs of neighboring countries with key importance to Japanese interests, particularly Korea and China. This was part of the intention to be recognized as a military power and with the clout to control lands or create colonies within reach or adjacent to her territory.

Japan’s economic foothold in Davao following its successful control of the hemp industry in the first half of the 20th century became an incentive to pursue her country’s military agenda.

Though disputed, the influx of Japanese nationals to Davao disguised as plantation workers was not lost among Filipino intelligence eavesdroppers.

The breakout of war, as expected, eviscerated some of Japan’s military secrets that were covertly known to member-countries in the Allied circle. Some of the information were subject to confirmation. A report (’20,000 Japanese at Davao for Fifth Column, Ranks‘) in The Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Australia) on Decem-

ber 27, 1941, was interesting: In and around this [Davao] port. which the Japanese now claim to have captured, live 20,000 Japanese. Mindanao is one of the richest of the Philippine Islands. Although the Americans have an aerodrome and naval base in Davao, the Japanese have their own schools and hospitals, and police the outlying districts… They even have their own Consul…

Several years ago, it was rumoured that the Japanese had fortified Mount Apo and that they were smuggling in arms and ammunition. - It also was believed that they had a tunnel five miles long under the hemp plantations leading to a secret arsenal where, ammunition was manufactured.

Considerable fifth column activity at Davao since the war begun seems to bear out these reports of intense Japanese preparation. (Italics mine.)

The same report claimed that in prewar times “large deposits of chromium, invaluable to armament makers, were found” but did not specifically identify the location in the country. Ac-

cordingly, the “iron ore [was] the best in the East and [was] needed desperately by Japan.” Nothing concrete came out of this account, which was sourced from raw data.

But the most interesting account (‘Japs Stole Davao Before War‘) came out in the January 4, 1942, issue of The Sun, published in Sydney, Australia, which reported: Americans discovered maps and specifications of Davao’s defences hidden in a corpse being shipped back to Japan.

Japan’s undisguised peacetime stealing of Philippine areas is illustrated by this incident told by a young American now in Sydney after living most of his life in the Philippines.

A Japanese at Davao had died. Instead of cremating the body and returning the ashes to the homeland (the universal custom), the Japs were to send the body back untouched.

A suspicious American arranged an autopsy, which revealed maps and specifications of the town’s defences concealed in the corpse…

As the Jap colony grew, more arms were smuggled in —machine-guns, Tommy guns, grenades, small arms, and ammunition coming in coffins. Japanese warehouses became arsenals.

Factories were built, many with 6 ft. reinforced concrete walls— admirable fortresses.

While the story sounded fantastic, this has never been officially confirmed. There’s a strong possibility, though, the report has basis. Dispatching dead bodies in tightly sealed aluminum casket was a preferred way of bringing home cadavers to loved ones in a foreign land. This was the case of Lt. Edward Bolton, American district governor of Davao who was killed in 1906.

Japan’s hidden war agenda, though continuously debated by scholars, has been extensively discussed in articles published in prestigious publications. In the July 2016 issue of National Geographic, Greg Miller wrote (‘Secret Japanese Military Maps Could Open a New Window on Asia’s Past ‘) about the maps recovered by the United States after the war.

The secret military diagrams and plates, numbering in the thousands, were confiscated by the American soldiers, and covered nearly all of Asia. Miller wrote: [The maps] went far beyond the local topography. They included detailed notes on climate, transportation systems, and the local people. It’s the kind of information that could be used to plan an invasion or an occupation, and some of it was gathered by spies operating behind enemy lines.

To the Japanese, these maps are known as gaihōzu—maps of outer lands.”

To the Americans, they were a valuable source of intelligence, not just on a recently defeated foe, but also on a newly emerging one—the Soviet Union.

Though some of the maps are still hidden, kept for decades for safekeeping and almost forgotten, are now in the hands of scholars for further studies. Their existence undeniably confirms the long-term plan of Japan to include the Philippines, particularly Davao, as future colonies of the land of the Rising Sun.

HENRYLITO D. TACIO THINK ON THESE!

SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT “A beautiful smile without any reason is the smile of the existence.” – Mehmet Murat Ildan *** If you want to have peace with someone, smile. As Nobel Peace laureate Mother Teresa said, “Peace begins with a smile.”

There is something about smile, indeed. Tessa Dare, author of A Lady of Persuasion, penned: “Oh, no. Don’t smile.

You’ll kill me. I stop breathing when you smile.”

So, why frown when you can smile. In Quote Me Everyday, Santosh Kalwar wrote: “I was smiling yesterday, I am smiling today, and I will smile tomorrow.

Simply because life is too short to cry for anything.”

Roy T. Bennet, author of The Light in the Heart, shares the same view: “A smile puts you on the right track. A smile makes the world a beautiful place.

When you lose your smile, you lose your way in the chaos of life.”

Internationally bestselling American author Dale Carnegie said that if you want to impress someone for the first time, you don’t have to spend much money on clothes and other material things.

In his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Carnegie shared this story: “At a dinner party in New York, one

of the guests, a woman who had inherited money, was eager to make a pleasing impression on everyone. She had squandered a modest fortune on sables, diamonds and pearls.

“But she hadn’t done anything whatever about her face.

It radiated sourness and selfishness. She didn’t realize what everyone knows: namely, that the expression one wears on one’s face is far more important than the clothes one wears on one’s back.”

Carnegie was talking about smile. American steel magnate Charles Schwab thinks so, too. “(He) told me his smile had been worth a million dollars,” Carnegie wrote. “And he was probably understating the truth. For Schwab’s personality, his charm, his ability to make people like him, were almost wholly responsible for his extraordinary success; and one of the most delightful factors in his personality was his captivating smile.”

Perhaps Schwab heard of Iwan Goll’s thought. “The smile is civilization’s finest adornment,” the author of Dreamweed said. “It signifies the willpower and duty to fashion mankind’s coexistence as quietly and agreeably as possible so that it will always appear friendly. For it is all a matter of appearance.

The smile is culture’s diploma: it

is the diplomat’s badge.”

Kathleen J. Edgar was right.

“Smile awhile and while you smile – another smiles, and soon there are miles and miles of smiles and life’s worthwhile because you smile.”

One reason why smile is important is that it has the ability end fights. “He smiled, and suddenly she knew that his words were true,” Julia Quinn wrote.

“Everything would be all right.

Maybe not today and maybe not tomorrow, but soon. Tragedy couldn’t coexist in a world with one of his smiles.”

Another example was that of what Jodi Lynn Anderson wrote in Tiger Lily: “(She) made an attempt at a smile. After having felt the need to glower at other children for most of her life, smiles never came easily to her face. But this one was half all right.”

Smile even your heart is aching.

As Lauren Graham pointed out in Someday, Someday, Maybe, “Anyone can smile on their best day. I like to meet a man who can smile on his worst.”

If you want to become a successful businessman, you have to smile a lot. As one Chinese saying puts it: “A man without a smiling face must not open a shop.”

Carnegie puts an emphasis

on that, too, in his book. “Your smile is a messenger of your goodwill. Your smile brightens the lives of all who see it. To someone who has seen a dozen people frown, scowl or turn their faces away, your smile is like the sun breaking through the clouds. Especially when that someone is under pressure from his bosses, his customers, his teachers or parents or children, a smile can help him realise that all is not hopeless – that there is joy in the world.”

Never underestimate the power of smile. At one time, I was mad as hell when someone took the book I bought. I left it on top of my table before I left for work. When I returned home, it was gone. I really don’t have any problem with it if the person who took it just left a note that he was borrowing it.

At least, with a note I can always ask the person if he is already done with the book.

But what really got my nerve this time was the fact that I had some scribbled notes on the said book which I inserted.

I was afraid that whoever took the book might just throw away the notes I had written.

I was about to give up when my niece came to my room. “I am very much sorry, uncle,” she said. I was surprised; what had she done to me, I asked myself.

She took something from her bag and with a big smile, “Here’s your book which I took without your knowledge. I forgot to leave a note.”

It didn’t matter if the book was lost. What mattered most was the fact that here was my niece and with a broad smile eased all those worries. “A smile is central to our evolution and one of the most powerful tools of human behavior,” explains Dr. Cacher Keltner, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, who has studied the importance of facial expression – including the variety and impact of smiles.

In 1872, Charles Darwin proposed in his book, The Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals that facial expressions are biologically based and universal among humans. However, the celebrated anthropologist Margaret Mead thought the smile was a cultural behavior that varied between societies.

“Smile and others will smile back,” Jean Baudrillard thinks.

“Smile to show how transparent, how candid you are. Smile if you have nothing to say. Most of all, do not hide the fact you have nothing to say nor your total indifference to others. Let this emptiness, this profound indifference shines out spontaneously in your smile.”

NOT DONE YET A4 INdulge!

EDGEDAVAO Mats College of Technol- by JMC Kings (2-0), Asian ogy (MCT) Navigators at International School of 6:00 pm.

Aeronautics and TechnolAt 7:00pm, the un- ogy (AISAT) (1-1), Atebeaten University of Min- neo de Davao University danao (UM) Wildcats Knights (1-2), Mannywill Pacquiao(Addu) says evenBlue at 40, he is not finished yet. stake its clean slate against BCD (0-1), UM Penaplata DMMA College of South- (0-1), and Rizal Memoern Philippines (DMMAC- rial Colleges (RMC) SP) Mariners to wrap up Bulldogs (0-2).

Saturday's quadruple header sponsored by The

EDGE EDGEDAVAO DAVAO A4 INdulge!

14 12 EDGE DAVAO 10 ARTS AND CULTURE TECH TRAVEL

(CSL) Escandor Cup resumes at the Davao City Recreation Center. Escandor Cup/CSL photo VOL.11 VOL.12 ISSUE 241 ISSUE • SUNDAY-MONDAY, 6VOL.12 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, MARCH 24-25, 17-18, 2019 ISSUE 51 •FEBRUARY TUESDAY, 21,2019 VOL.12 ISSUE 45 • SUNDAYMONDAY, MAYMAY 12 -13, 2019

EDGE EDGEDAVAO DAVAO

SEE STORY ON P11

VOL.12 ISSUE 21 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, APRIL 7-8, VOL.12 ISSUE 223 •216 WEDNESDAY, 22, VOL.12 ISSUE 55 •ISSUE SUNDAY-MONDAY, MAY 26-27, VOL.12 VOL.12 ISSUE 219 • TUESDAY, • FRIDAY,JANUARY JANUARY 17, 14,2019 2020 VOL.12 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2-3, 2020

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINENEW ELIMINATES SINGLESONY INTRODUCES GP-VPT2BT USE PLASTIC BEVERAGE BOTTLES ACROSS FLEET WIRELESS SHOOTING GRIP MAYA ON THE BLOCK A1

ka weaver naga-himo,” he said.

This is also among the reasons why Limon will go to Sitio Sangab to introduce the cotton weaving. He believes that using cotton threads into Dagmay as well as their embroidery will help sustain their livelihood.

“Mas mudaghan pud ang NORWEGIAN Cruise order sathe Dagmay if they will Line, innovator use cotton threads,” he said. in global cruise BUILDING on travel the Limon also seeshistory the to with a 53-year growing lineup ofneed camtapbreaking theand artisans in this endeavof boundaries, eras accessories or now to givesingle-use theirfor clients fresh is plasdeveloped modern andbeverage new designs. tic bottle free creators, Sony today “We really need tothe tap new the across its fleet. has announced artisans directly before man GP-VPT2BT wireless The brand announced last gud ga-agi pa ko saIdeal middle shooting grip. year that it partnered withfor man since wala’y sa many different types JUST Goods, Inc.,access which encommunity,” he Line said. to replace of content creation abled the Cruise wants tovlogs show ranging from to all Limon single-use plastic wateroff the beauty of Dagmay travel photography /he bottles across its 17-shipasfleet, has clients with who its are looking for videography tomost simple beginning recent clothes and accessories made everyday use,Encore. the new ship, Norwegian byThe theoffers Mandayas.

He saidof they grip optimum achievement is one the noticed thatand some Pasalubong stability comfort latest sustainable steps forward centers including Davao City’s combined with cablefor Norwegian Cruise Line.

In free and a 2018, connectivity the Company eliminated reliable moissingle-use dust plasticand straws across ture its fleetresistant and privatedesign. destinaCompatible with aofvariety tions, and as a result this of Sony’s latest digitalitcamermost recent initiative, will as, the GP-VPT2BT connects replace over six million singleeasily via Bluetooth, allowing use plastic water bottles every creators to simplythe aim and is year.

In addition, brand shoot without interfering working to eliminate single-use cables or exposedand inputs.

The plastic shampoo condinew grip includes useful tioner bottles later athis year.tilt featureefforts that allows for flexible These are driven by vertical angle adjustment as the Company’s Sail & Sustain well as the ability to switch Environmental Program, which from normal to self-shooting is its commitment to minimize mode to with ease. Additionalwaste landfills, reduce its

A4 INdulge!

actor and activist Jaden Smith and family, JUST takes an innovative approach to sourcing and packaging the world’s most valued resource - water. The revolutionary company focuses on an impact model, taking into consideration both how the water is sourced and packaged.

JUST is 100% spring water in a plant-based carton. The carton is made of 82% renewable materials – the paper carton is made from trees grown in responsibly-managed forests and the cap and shoulder are made from a sugarcane-based plastic.

It is refillable and recyclable.

JUST has a global presence with bottling facilities in Glenn Falls, NY; Ballymena, Northern Ireland; and Ballarat, Australia, thus allowing the company to meet demand around the world without shipping water from a single production source. JUST takes care to use the most efficient shipping options available.

For more information about Norwegian Cruise Line ships and their itineraries, or to book a cruise, please contact a travel professional, call 888-NCLCRUISE (625-2784) or visit www.ncl.com.

A4 INdulge!

Aldevinco do not carry Dagmay cloth.

“Wala man gud kaayo Mandaya na pieces and mostly T’boli products ang sa Aldevinco. Sa Manila T’boli lang mostly makita nako na ginahimo accent ug Yakan, beads sa Bagobo, balud from Lanao and Inaul. Walay something from the Mandaya community,” hetosaid.

CO2 emissions rate, increase thrilled make such an impact cotton Dagmay design sustainable sourcing and invest by The eliminating single-use beverclothing not yetchanged available ly,initemerging has an adjustment wheel and can beisquickly technologies. age bottles across our fleet. in theajust market as Limon can“This be loosened tightened into tripod simply exis a veryorspecial and It’s one by of the waysand wehis are group are in the immertovery allow for seamless operapanding the bottom portion, proud moment for us,” working tostill preserve our oceans sion the stage ofstable, the project. tion cameras of different easy handssaidwith Harry Sommer, president enabling and destinations we visit.

“Wethis willisevaluate their sizes gripof free shooting. and and chiefweights. executiveThe officer While just the pa beginning capacity and kung willing sila also includesCruise a flip button, inThe GP-VPT2BT Wireless Norwegian Line. “As of what we and others can do, makipag-collaborate,” he said. dicator light and line, lock we switch, Shooting Grip will committed be availa leading cruise are we are incredibly

to our Sail & Sustain program and believe wholeheartedly in the importance of preserving our natural resources. We will continue to strive towards making environmentally conscious decisions to benefit our earth.”

Envisioned and founded by American rapper, songwriter,

EDGEDAVAO DAVAO EDGE

VOL.12 VOL.12 VOL.12 ISSUE ISSUE ISSUE 94 100 84 • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, • SUNDAY-MONDAY, • FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JULY JULY 19-20, 28-29, 5-6, 2019

UP AND LAUNDRY FURNITURE A2A1 ABOUTa silly method but for EJ and

VOL.12 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2-3, 2020

11 COMPETITIVE EDGE EDGEDAVAO

The new set of DRAHS Batch 95 Officers, Class Representatives and Working Committee members with the Inducting Officials, school administrators, previous Alumni Presidents and other VIP Guests during the Oath Taking and Induction Ceremony held in Grand Menseng Hotel, January 19, 2020.

DRAHS alumni installs new set of officers for 2020

D

avao City: Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School, known as one of the largest public secondary school established on February 14, 1967 in Region XI, Philippines and became popular because it is the voting precinct of our very own President, Rodrigo R. Duterte, installed new set of Alumni Officers who came from Batch 1995, who happens to celebrate their 25th year anniversary after graduating from their Alma Mater.

The oath taking and induction ceremony took place at the Grand Menseng Hotel on January 19, 2020.

Engr. Jimwell L. Bonguyan, president, in his speech, gave emphasis on the theme: DRAHS: Work the goal, keep the vision, where he intends to level up from the usual. The newly in-

stalled officers are expecting a line-up of activities for the whole year aside from the hosting of the DRANHS Grand Alumni Homecoming on December 2020, he added.

Inducting Officers were 2nd District Councilor Louie John J. Bonguyan for the Officers, 1st District Coun-

formation on nCoV and workplace concerns; render technical assistance in the form of risk assess-

ment; and facilitate capacity building to identified focal persons for 2019-nCoV in the workplace. (PNA)

e-learning system so as not to hamper the continuous delivery of learning for the affected students. Likewise, all Chinese nationals are also advised to postpone all transactions inside the university until February 14, 2020. However, local students and all other international students will continue with their classes,” the memo said.

“This action is highly inapproriate in our civilizing and maturing Filipino educational system and values.

Adamson University officials should apoligize for issuing such discriminatory and stigmatizing memorandum,” said Mendoza, who is also chairman of the House of Representaives Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs.

scholarships to pursue post-graduate degrees on specific areas of study in New Zealand.

Applications for the 2021 scholarship intake will open from 1 to 28 February 2020. It will be open to eligible candidates from the public, private and civil society sectors. Scholarships will cover full tuition, living expenses, establishment allowance, medical

and travel insurance and travel to and from the Philippines.

To qualify, applicants should be 18 to 39 years of age at the time of commencing their scholarship; have at least 1 year of work experience (or 2 years if including internship and volunteer work); and agree to return to the Philippines for a minimum of two years upon completion of study.

DOLE... FROM2 TUCP... FROM2

5 MINDANAOANS... FROM4

cilor Jessica M. Bonguyan for the Class Representatives and Engr. Jose D. Gestuveo, Jr. for the Working Committee/s. Highlights of their messages include encouragement to keep the fire burning after the torch was ignited and promote unity, team work and camaraderie among the members, partnership with the current school administrators to collaborate some joint undertaking projects which would also inspire them to give back to their school and create a community service activity that would mark in the public. Dr. Leo B. Asilo, current principal of DRAHS, represented by Mr. Elenito R. Escalante, relayed their inspiring message for the current officers and mentioned some of the possible priority projects that they

would like to undertake like scholarship projects for some students who cannot continue schooling because of poverty, projects that would involve the seniors and other endeavors that would encourage other ALUMNI to help the school.

Other previous ALUMNI presidents present were as follows: Mrs. Adelaida P. Achapero- Cirunay, Mr. Christopher S. Roble, Ryan C. Arendain, Jeson R. Rodriguez, Rosel B. Licera.

Complete list of officers are as follows: Engr. Jimwell L. Bonguyan (President), Mrs. Emelie L. Tanduyan (Vice President), Ms. Mary Jane M. Alampayan (Secretary), Ms. Maria Carmen C. Miranda (Asst. Secretary), Dr. Junelyn A. Calamba (Treasurer), Mrs. Maria Liza R. Brooks (Asst. Treasurer), Ms. Cheryl A. Cui

(Auditor), Katherine Mae D. Bangoyan (PIO).

Complete list of Class Representatives are as follows: Diamond -Cherry May B. Trinidad- Frederick w/ Asst. Rosanna C. Agad; Amethyst- Anamel U. Agoncillo w/ Asst. Annie Rose S. Elid- Magtibay; ChrysoliteRonald John B. Maitem w/ Asst. Melody L. Ahon; Dolomite- Mercedita H. Ejera w/ Asst. Keitchy Sue R. Sanchez; Emerald- Benjie L. Son w/ Asst. Ronald A. Jorolan; Garnet- Junerey L. Pedraza; Jade- Evelyn V. Torilla w/ Asst. Divine Grace E. Jamonir; Pearl- Rolianne G. Berjame w/ Asst. Richard Alvin L. Pulido; RubyMark V. Cui; Aqualine- Maricel L. Wenceslao w/ Asst.

Rosita L. Vedra- Jumalon; Aquamarine- Rene R. Banayag w/ Asst. Cherry Jane M. Lee; Opal- Robert M.

Ihalas w/ Asst. Mavis E. Banluta; Sapphire- Dionalyn D. Arobo w/ Asst. Ma. Regina C. Arduo; TopazMarty D. Tarranza w/ Asst.

Ronacita L. Delgado.

Other Working Committee members include: Dax Julius B. Dayanan, Irene L. Fukui, Anale T. Baran, Gelyn L. Artoque, Dinah A. Cariño, Melody L. Ahon, Ronald John B. Maitem, Rosella R. Millomeda, Mercedita H. Ejera, Evelyn V. Torilla, Divine Grace E. Jamonir, Anamel U. Agoncillo, Richard Rowen R. Bahinting, Ruel L. Ynclino, Arthur Greg Ian P. Catubig, Rolianne G. Berjame, Rene R. Banayag, Renah Liza B. Vidamo, Maribel S. Siano, Keitchy Sue R. Sanchez, Maribeth D. Justiniane, Rhanel O. Sabalande & Jasmen S. Pasia. (Engr. Sharon Angelica G. Bonguyan, MPA)

trols in the Philippines and public vigilance against sickness, some members of the Filipino-Chinese community have expressed lament at how the health scare has fueled xenophobia towards the Chinese.

“It’s very sad. Instead that we stand as one against this this virus, it's becoming divisive,” anti-crime crusader and Chinese-Filipino figure Teresita Ang-See said on Friday.

She added: "There should be no division between the Tsinoy from new

immigrants and old immigrants."

Andanar, meanwhile, appealed to the public not to hoard face masks, saying this "creates unnecessary scarcity" and that the limited supply should be reserved for health workers.

"Let us not resort to panic, sow fear-mongering or spread misinformation.

Solidarity, empathy, and cooperation are what we need to successfully take actions that will overcome this health concern," Andanar said.

ed your capability. We will forever be thankful to the Japanese people,” he said. Miwa said Japan and BARMM should be “great partners”.

“We are Asian countries so we should be helping each other. Our intention is to strengthen our partnership with this region since you have established now the BTA. This is very vital for you to create a new sta-

ble system,” he said.

BARMM interim chief minister Ahod “Murad” Ibrahim was present during the opening of the Japanese consulate general in Davao City.

Japan is one of the countries that supported the peace process in Mindanao and had been consistently supporting the sustainable economic development of the Philippines. (PNA)

Based on their assessment, she said chikungunya has only one viral strain and those infected with the disease eventually develops immunity from it.

Unlike dengue, which has four strains, Lorenzo said the fatality rate from chikungunya is very low due to the absence of bleeding. (MindaNews)

va of the Czech Republic on Thursday.

Two two junior tennisters narrowly beat the Bartone and Fruhvirtova, 1-6 7-5 10-8.

Eala also joined the girls' singles competition but only managed to reach the third round where she fell to Hong Yi Cody Wong of Hong Kong, 1-6 3-6.

in 2019 versus 2018. In December alone, CV sales increased soared by 98% with 119 units sold versus November 2019. This segment is dominated by Hyundai Trucks and Buses.

With the approval of the P4.1 trillion national budget for 2020, and with the public works and highways department having one of the largest shares of the budget, it is expected that industry performance will gain traction in the new decade with the help from its importers bringing in more models that

meet the requirements of various markets. for the Filipino people.

“It is appropriate that the recent budget carries the theme ‘Continuing the journey to a more peaceful and progressive Philippines’ since it focuses on critical infrastructure, human capital development, and peace and order initiatives. AVID hopes to contribute to this aim by giving offering better mobility solutions to both public and private for both the private and business sectors,” Ms. Agudo ended.

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CHIKUNGUNYA... FROM4 EALA... FROM11

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AVID... FROM6

12 HEALTH EDGEDAVAO

VOL.12 ISSUE 233 • SUNDAY-MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2-3, 2020

SUGAR: PUBLIC ENEMY NO.1

F

By HENRYLITO D. TACIO

ilipinos have a sweet tooth. If it’s not sweet, the tendency is that only very few would eat it.

This is the reason why most Filipino dishes are heaped or covered with sugar – from biko to halo-halo. A party is not complete without sweet pasta and sliced hotdogs; we’re referring to Filipino-style spaghetti.

Perhaps you may be wondering how much grams of sugar are there in those Filipino delicacies.

A serving of three banana cues in one stick can contain as much as six grams or a teaspoon and a half of sugar, according to the website of FWD Life Insurance Public Company Limited.

That’s only for a starter.

Two-medium sized puto may contain five grams or almost one and a half teaspoon of sugar. Two tablespoons of banana ketchup may contain up to three grams of sugar.

To cook biko for eight people, it needs a cup of brown sugar. This means that for every 2” by 1” of this “sinful snack,” you get 20 grams of sugar. What about halo-halo? A bowl of this famous Filipino “innovation” from a fast food chain contains 19 grams – or almost five teaspoons of sugar.

A party is not a party

without soft drinks, right?

Now, can you imagine eating 16 sugar cubes at one sitting? If you answer negatively, you’re wrong.

You may have been doing it without you knowing it.

In fact, that 16 sugar cubes are a little less than what is contained in a 20-ounce bottle of cola.

There’s no data as to how much sugar an average Filipino adult consumes. But studies have shown that sugar consumption per capita in the country reached an all-time high of 26.6 kilograms in 1996 and an all-time low of 11.4 kilograms in 1962.

According to statistics released by UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), sugar consumption per reached 19.3 kilograms in 2013. But that is still high. When compared to country’s main peers, sugar consumption per capita in China amounted to 6 kilograms, 12.3 kilograms in Indonesia, and 8.80 kilograms in Vietnam.

“Almost all sugar produced in the Philippines is consumed locally,” the Philippine Star reported.

Roughly 50% of those produced are used in industry, 32% by households, and the remaining 18% by institutions.

“Sugar was once a luxury ingredient reserved for special occasions,” wrote Tiffany O’Callaghan, an editor in the Opinion section at New Scientist. “But in recent years it has become a large and growing part of our diets. If you e a t

As bad as it gets Just like salt, eating too much sugar is doing us no good. As a matter of fact, sugar is being touted as public health enemy number one: as bad if not worse than fat, and t h e ma-

ent sources. Simple sugars are called monosaccharides and include glucose (also known as dextrose), fructose and galactose.

The table or granulated sugar most customarily used as food is sucrose, a disaccharide (in the body, sucrose hydrolyses into fructose and glucose).

Other disaccharides include maltose and lactose.

Chemically-different substances may also have a sweet taste, but are not classified as sugars. Some are used as lower-calorie food substitutes for sugar described as artificial sweeteners.

Diabetes

processed food of any kind, it probably contains added sugar. You can find it in sliced bread, breakfast cereals, salad dressings, soups, cooking sauces and many other staples. Lowfat products often contain a lot of added sugar.”

jor driving force behind obesity, heart disease and type II diabetes. Some researchers even contend that sugar is toxic or addictive.

It is no wonder why health bodies are waging “a war on sugar.” The Geneva-based World Health Organization (WHO) wants people to cut sugar consumption radically. In the United States,, doctors and scientists are pressing food companies to reduce sugar and be more open about how much they add. In the United Kingdom, a group called Action on Sugar has just launched a campaign to ratchet down sugar.

But is sugar really that bad?

Sugar, used to be called as “white gold,” is the generalized name for a class of chemically-related sweet-flavored substances, most of which are used as food. They are carbohydrates, composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen.

There are various types of sugar derived from differ-

Mounting evidence suggests that flooding your system with sugar-sweetened beverages – such as soft drinks, fruit drinks, iced tea and sports drinks – may increase your risk of diabetes.

A recent study published in the journal Diabetes Care examined more than 310,000 patients and found that those who drank 1-2 servings of the sweet stuff a day were 26% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who drank it once a month or not at all.

“The reason is twofold: Loading up on sugar-sweetened beverages tends to lead to weight gain, which is a risk factor for diabetes,” writes Dr. Jacob Teitelbaum, author of Best Sugar Addiction Now! “Previous studies have found that those who toss back high-calorie drinks tend not to cut calories elsewhere from their meals. Second, sugar-loaded drinks deliver a quick rush of sugars to your body, which over time can lead to insulin resistance and inflammation.”

Gary Taubes, in an article which appeared in The New York Times, noted: “In 1924, Haven Emerson, director of the institute of public health at Columbia University, reported that diabetes deaths in New York City had increased as

much as 15-fold since the Civil War years, and that deaths increased as much as fourfold in some U.S. cities between 1900 and 1920 alone. This coincided, he noted, with an equally significant increase in sugar consumption — almost doubling from 1890 to the early 1920s — with the birth and subsequent growth of the candy and soft-drink industries.”

Eating an excessive amount of fat isn’t the only thing that increases your risk of heart disease. “A diet rich in sugar can also hurt your heart,” points out Emily G.W. Chau, an American health journalist. In fact, some studies found that sugar plays a direct role on the health of your ticker.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that people who took in more than 17.5% of their calories from added sugars were 20%-30% more likely to have high levels of triglycerides, a type of fat that’s found in your blood.

When you consume more sugar than you need for energy, the excess sugars form triglycerides, which are then stored in fat cells.

The same study found that people who got 25% or more of their calories from added sugars were more than 3 times more likely to have low levels of HDL (the good cholesterol that helps prevent plaque buildup by carrying cholesterol from your arteries to your liver where it is then excreted) than those whose diets included less than 5% sugar. Both high triglycerides and low HDL levels contribute to atherosclerosis – the hardening of your arteries – a condition that increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart attack.

Depression, behavioral disorders

Those who eat diets rich in sugar are most likely to be depressed. Studies have shown that there is a direct link between mood

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gence operation,” he added.

The department should also ensure that masks being sold in the market have passed the quality test, Dimagiba added.

Several pharmacies in Metro Manila were reported with no available supplies of surgical face masks and N95 masks after the government confirmed the first case of the novel coronavirus (2019-nCov) in the country.

A shop in MRT Ayala station was spotted selling surgical masks for P130 for a pack of 10 or P13 per piece, way above the suggested retail price of P1 to P8 per mask.

An online retailer, who declined to be named, also said they cannot get N95 masks from their Chinese supplier as the latter wanted to prioritize its local market, where the virus originated.

In Gen. Santos City, a City Council member plans an inquiry into the “skyrocketing” prices of protective face masks and possible hoarding of supplies by some local businesses in the wake of increasing demand.

City Councilor Franklin Gacal Jr. said on Saturday he has received numerous complaints from residents regarding the sudden increase in prices of face masks and the lack of available supplies in pharmacies and other stores in recent days.

Gacal said it appears that some businesses are taking advantage of the demand for face masks due to the nationwide alert against the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus (2019nCoV) from China.

Several pharmacies here have posted notices that they have run out of supplies of face masks.

Some establishments that still have supplies have jacked up their prices by up to P20 each for the three-ply surgical mask, which was previously sold at just P3 to P5.

A department store in Gen. Santos City was monitored to be selling ordinary surgical masks at P100 per three-piece pack. Some online sellers are also selling face masks for as high as PHP800 for a box of 50 pieces.

In Iligan City, supplies of surgical and N95 masks are running out here as of Saturday due to the surge of demand from customers caused by the novel Coronavirus (nCoV) scare.

The supply has become apparently scarce that some stores and pharmacies are compelled to put up signs, saying they no longer have stocks. (PNA)

the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the value of exported Cavendish banana has gone up to $1.8 billion from $1.38 billion during the entire 2018.

Victor S. Mercado Jr., PBGEA president, said although the value was higher, based on the data of the association, production actually went down to 207 million metric tons in 2018 to about 195 million metric tons last year.

This was partly because last year there was a mild drought whose effect is expected to continue this year, he said.

“But the biggest that the threat that has really caused the reduction (in the size of the farms) is Panama disease,” he said as he noted that the infestation has led some companies have abandoned their farms.

PSA data also showed that 88,667 hectares are planted to the crop, or about 20% of the total area planted to banana varieties, although the association said that the area planted to the crop has shrunk as more farms, especially smaller ones, have failed to control the spread of Panama disease, or Fusarium Wilt, a soil-borne infestation that renders a farm useless.

The Department of Agriculture has started conducting a survey of the total area of farms affected by the disease as the association estimated it at about 30,000 hectares.

“The big problem is that it is hard to look for areas to plant,” he said, pointing out that aside from the needed infrastructure facilities like ports, most areas have been placed under agrarian reform, although some companies have leased back the farms that they have distributed to the farmer-beneficiaries and making them earn both as rental collectors and as workers.

The industry has also started adopting a Panama disease-resistant variety, but its propagation has not been much because of the needed interventions like irrigation systems.

Another huge challenge, said Mercado Jr., also the president of the Marsman-Drysdale Agribusiness Group, is that some Asian countries that have started planting banana have been poaching the technical experts of the local industry.

These countries, he said, have started developing their Cavendish banana industry with the help of the Chinese companies because they are nearer to China

and the Philippines.

Because of the expertise of the Filipino technicians hired to help the industry in the Asian countries, Mr. Mercado said companies have been able to plant huge farms. “They can plant from 50 hectares to 500 hectares a day,” he said.

“Their biggest is that they are closer to China,” he said as a container of banana from Vietnam to China is about $500 compared with $150 is shipping the same volume of cargo from the Philippines to the same destination.

Bacani said his company, Unifrutti Tropical Philippines Inc. where he sits as president, even sent a team to Cambodia to look into the progress of the banana industry.

“It’s scary,” said Bacani, although he added that the Philippine banana industry is still superior mainly because, for one, the labor force there “is still hard to manage.

“It will take a while before they (other countries in Asia) can catch up with the Filipino way of growing bananas,” he said, although he warned that the government should start helping the industry because it might eventually lose to competition.

along with my teammates, to continue his legacy, not only for this year but for as long as we can play the game of basketball that we love because that’s what Kobe Bryant would want.

“So in the words of Kobe Bryant, Mamba out. But in the words of us, not forgotten. Live on, brother.”

Then came pregame introductions, where every member of the Lakers was introduced the same way: “No. 24, 6-6, 20th season out of Lower Merion High School, Kobeeee Bryant.”

The Lakers wore a “KB” patch on their jerseys, and that same emblem -- along with Bryant’s retired Nos. 8 and 24 -- were emblazoned on the court. Fans on one side of Staples Center were given No. 8 Bryant shirts to wear while fans on the other side got No. 24 shirts.

The Lakers organization

also left empty the seats Kobe and Gianna Bryant sat in when they attended games, each draped in a jersey with a bouquet of roses on the seat.

When the game began, the Lakers won the opening tip and, like much of the NBA this week, took a 24-second violation. The Blazers then returned the favor and took an 8-second violation.

The Lakers opened the scoring on their second possession, Davis blocking Damian Lillard’s 3-point attempt, James snatching the ball out of the air and sending a pass the length of the court to Davis for a dunk.

The Lakers were originally scheduled to play the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday, but the NBA agreed to postpone the game as the Lakers players were not ready to play.

Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony, a close friend of Bryant and with whom he won two Olympic gold medals, did not play in Friday’s game, with the team calling it “personal reasons.”

Lillard said that Anthony “was not ready,” and a report in The Athletic said Anthony could not play “because of his continued grieving and emotions over the loss of Kobe Bryant on Sunday.”

Bryant won five NBA championships for the Lakers and amassed a number of accolades. He was the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2007-08, a 15-time AllNBA selection, 18-time AllStar and 12-time All-Defensive team member.

He was twice named MVP of the NBA Finals and was the All-Star Game MVP four times.

$2-BILLION... FROM2

LAKERS... FROM11

CHINESE... FROM6

Inc. president John Tria said no cancellations of events in Davao had been reported in light of the global scare of 2019-nCoV, first reported from Wuhan, China on December 31, 2019.

In a statement on Thursday evening, City Mayor Sara Duterte said the city has been closely “monitoring with the Department of Health and other national government agencies on what measures to take to prevent and control the spread of the virus.”

She said health standards have been placed “to avert the feared spread of the virus. People showing symptoms and have been suspected as possible cases were closely and properly monitored by our health professionals trained to handle these cases.”

She called for sobriety and asked “the public to stop spreading misinformation, which could only aggravate the situation.”

Presidential spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo said President Rodrigo R. Dute-

rte has approved a travel ban on Friday for visitors from the Hubei province of China where the 2019nCoV originated, and other places in China where there the disease has spread.

The Palace said the ban came a day after the Department of Health confirmed the first case of 2019-nCoV in the country.

Panelo said it would continue “until the threat is over given that that the safety of our countrymen is foremost in the President’s mind.”

“This raises a serious concern by the Administration on the health and safety of our countrymen.

The DOH has been instructed by the President to commence the protocols it has prepared for such an eventuality to contain the disease and neutralize its transmission and spread,” Panelo said.

The patient who is a 38year old woman from China is currently confined at San Lazaro Hospital in Manila.

Panelo said the woman

flew to Hongkong, then to Cebu and Dumaguete, and finally landed at Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“Per DOH Secretary Duque, the patient is being treated and isolated.

There is no way that she will transmit the disease to another person as the hospital personnel are protectively dressed and their mouths and noses covered with surgical masks plus their hands covered with gloves,” Panelo said.

He said the DOH assured every measure has been undertaken to “contain the spread of the dreadful virus as well as monitoring and placing in quarantine those showing of symptoms of having nCov.” “We ask our countrymen to follow the advice of the DOH to observe personal hygiene as a preventive measure like regularly washing one’s hands and wearing surgical masks in going around crowded areas,” he said. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)

West Priority Center Davao marks another milestone for the Bank in its stellar 25th anniversary, and it is open to establishing more Priority Centers in other strategic locations in the country.

About East West Banking Corporation East West Banking Corporation (EastWest) is one of the largest universal banks in the Philippines, based on publicly available

data. Currently celebrating its 25th anniversary, EastWest has steadily grown beyond its years, building fruitful partnerships and acquiring key assets to cement its position as one of the country's most consumer-focused banks today.

EastWest caters to the financial needs of consumers, middle market corporates, and the mass affluent. Since 2012, EastWest has been trading under the

symbol “EW” on the Philippine Stock Exchange, allowing the public to participate in EastWest’s success.

EastWest is a subsidiary of Filinvest Development Corporation (FDC), one of the country’s leading conglomerates with a diverse range of interests including real estate, banking, sugar, hospitality, tourism, and power generation. For more information, go to ewbanker. com.

tries and affected more than 8,100 people worldwide.

The report said the 2019-nCoV issue may hurt the country’s tourism industry, particularly retail and services, and trade, specifically exports since China is a major trading partner.

It said that while the impact of the epidemic on the domestic economy is seen to be temporary, “it may take time for the movement of people to return to nor-

mal.”

Citing 2010 Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data, the report said average foreign tourist spending in the Philippines is at about USD84 per day.

Last year, Chinese tourists to the Philippines reached about 1.5 million, thus, the country “may stand to lose at a minimum of USD126 million worth of foreign tourist spending this 2020 as the coronavirus scare continues to sow

fear in the short-term.”

The report also said that people-movement-related businesses may also take a hit in the near term because people will lessen their travels to limit exposure to the 2019-nCoV. Philippine exports are forecast to remain flat this first quarter as a result of the current health scare along with the wait-andsee stance in the first phase of the US-China trade deal.

(PNA)

and blood sugar balance.

All carbohydrate foods are broken down into glucose and your brain runs on glucose. The more uneven your blood sugar supply the more uneven your mood.

People who were diagnosed with schizophrenia and ate a sugar-heavy diet were more likely to be hospitalized in a 2-year follow-up period, according to a research published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.

“Behavioral disorders, in general, are affected by massive swings in sugar,” explains Dr. Teitelbaum.

“When you eat a lot of sugar , your blood sugar levels shoot way up and then go way low. These fluctuations drive your metabolism and mood nuts . And when someone is schizophrenic, he already has a hair-trigger.”

Cancer may be triggered, too, if you eat too much sugar. “The sug-

ar-cancer connection is compelling and scary,” says Connie Bennett, author of Sugar Shock!, pointing to in vitro studies that show cancer cells feed on sugar to fuel their growth and proliferation. “Researchers call them ‘glucose guzzlers.’”

While it’s not proven that sugar fuels cancer growth in the body, it is a known fact that obesity – a likely effect of eating too much sugar – increases your risk of developing a number of cancers, and that both sugar and insulin fuel cancer-cell growth.

“We were surprised to realize that changes in our metabolism caused by dietary sugar impact on our cancer risk,” said Dr. Custodia Garcia-Jiminez at the University Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid. “We are now investigating what other dietary components may influence our cancer risk.

Changing diet is one of easiest prevention strategies

that can potentially save a lot of suffering and money.”

A number of other studies indicate a strong relationship between sugar consumption and an increased risk of cancer. The University of Minnesota researchers looked at more than 60,000 patients over 14 years and found that people who drank two or more soft drinks a week had an 87% higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

“If God hadn’t meant for us to eat sugar, he wouldn’t have invented dentists,” said Ralph Nader, an American activist and author. But Luc Tappy, a physiologist at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland, disagrees: “You cannot live without essential fats. You cannot live without protein. It’s going to be difficult to have enough energy if you don’t have some carbohydrate.

But without sugar, there is no problem. It’s an entirely dispensable food.”

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Pinoy 'Hurricane' strikes in US

H

ot Filipino prospect Jade "Hurricane" Bornea struck America last night and he delivered, winning a 10-round split decision over previously unbeaten Ernesto Delgadillo, to capture the vacant North American Boxing Federation (NABF) super flyweight title.

Bornea vs. Delgadillo headlined RJJ Boxing on UFC FIGHT PASS®®, the world's leading digital subscription service for combat sports, live and exclusively from Legends Casino in Toppenish, Washington. To sign up for UFC FIGHT PASS, please visit www. ufcfightpass.com Fighting for the first time as a professional in the United States, the 24-year-old Bornea (150, 1o KOs) went into the fight rated No. 10 by the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and No. 15 by the World Boxing Association (WBA). He is a former IBF World Youth and World Boxing Oriental Youth super flyweight champion.

Last night on a show presented by Roy Jones Jr. (RJJ) Boxing Promotions, Bornea made a name for himself outside his native Philippines with an impressive victory against Delgadillo (11-1-2, 2 KOs), a former World Boxing Council (WBC) United States super flyweight titlist.

The 10-round main event was split into almost two different fights: Delgadillo effectively jabbed his way to take the early rounds, and he registered a somewhat questionable knockdown in the sixth round. Bornea successfully closed the distance after three rounds, sitting in the pocket and

becoming more aggressive as the fight went on.

Bornea won a split decision (96-93 X 2 & 93-96) to become the new NABF super flyweight champion.

In the co-featured event, Northern Ireland middleweight Connor "The Kid" Coyle improved his record to 12-0 (5 KOs), needing only three minutes to take care of business.

Coyle connected on a crisp combination at the end of round one, hurting his Mexican opponent, Miguel Dumas (113, 8 KOs). On the advice of the ringside physician, referee Joel Scobie halted the action after round one for a Coyle TKO win.

In a battle of undefeated Northwest light heavyweights, Seattle's Richard VanSicien (8-0, 4 KOs) scored a firstround stoppage of Abraham Martin (5-1, 5 KOs), of Oregon, when referee Jack Reiss waved off the fight after one round.

Washington super lightweight William Hernandez-Gomez (4-0, 2 KOs) pitched a shutout against Abdul Kamara (1-2), winning all four rounds in convincing fashion.

In a rematch of a draw, Washington super lightweight Margarito Hernandez (1-0-1) won a unanimous 4-round decision over intra-state rival Joshua Wheeler (0-1-1); Tacoma, WA featherweight Jerrell Barbour (1-0) won his professional debut with a 4-rround unanimous decision over Kendall Ward (0-6).

Florida middleweight Glenn Hagler, Jr. (4-1, 2 KOs) and Oregon's Charon Spain (1-13-2) fought to a 4-round draw.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James speaks to the Staples Center crowd during a memorial tribute to longtime Laker guard before playing the Portland Trail Blazers. Bryant and eight others were killed in a helicopter crash January 26, 2020. REUTERS

Lakers pay tribute to Kobe

F

ive days after Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in Southern California, the Los Angeles Lakers suited up Friday night for their first game since the legend’s death.

With the eyes of not only basketball but the entire sports world and beyond focused on Staples Center, the Lakers paid tribute to the nine lives lost Sunday, and they honored their fallen hero with a taste of Hollywood flair before their game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

After the Lakers players took to the floor for warmups wearing the Nos. 8 and 24 -- both numbers hanging in the rafters in honor of Bryant -- the lights in the arena went out, and fans awash in a sea of cellphone lights began chanting “Kobe! Kobe!”

When the lights came back on, recording star Usher was at center court

and sang “Amazing Grace,” flanked by bouquets in the shape of the Nos. 8 and 24 and the clocks above the backboard showing the same numbers.

From there, the lights would again go out until the next speaker or performer took to center court and the lights came back on.

And each time the lights went out, those chants would break out.

After Usher came Los Angeles-based cellist Ben Hong, who played “Hallelujah” while the video board played interview clips of Kobe Bryant and Bryant family photos.

The Lakers then put the names of all nine people killed in the crash on the Jumbotron, then after brief comments from the public address announcer, the arena recognized a 24.2-second moment of silence. Gianna Bryant wore No. 2 in her youth games.

R&B group Boyz II Men -- natives of Philadelphia,

where Bryant starred in high school -- then sang the national anthem. As the song concluded, Lakers star LeBron James wiped tears from his eyes, then shared a long embrace with teammate Anthony Davis.

James then took the microphone and addressed the crowd.

He began by reading the names of all nine people lost when the helicopter that was on its way to a youth basketball tournament crashed into a hillside in Calabasas, California.

Kobe Bryant, 41, was a coach for the team on which Gianna, 13, played. Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, 56; his wife, Keri; and their daughter Alyssa, 14 -- who played on the same club team as Gianna Bryant -- were also killed.

Christina Mauser, a 38-year-old who was the top assistant coach of the Mamba girls basketball team, was also killed in the

at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, on Friday. Roman Pilipey, EPA-EFE

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Eala, partner win Australia open girls doubles title

F

Alexandra Eala (left) of the Philippines and Priska Nugroho (right) of Indonesia pose with their trophy after winning the girl’s doubles final match against Ziva Falkner of Slovenia and Matilda Mutavdzic of Britain

accident, as were Sarah Chester, 45; her daughter Payton Chester, 13; and pilot Ara Zobayan, 50.

James then dropped the speech he had written and instead told the crowd, “Laker Nation, I would be selling y’all short if I read off this (stuff) so I’m going to go from the heart.”

“This is a celebration of the 20 years of the blood, the sweat, the tears... the determination to be as great as he could be,” James continued.

“Before we get to play ...

Kobe is a brother to me, and from the time I was in high school, to watching him afar, to getting in this league at 18, watching him up close -- all the battles that we had throughout my career -- the one thing that we always shared was that determination to just want to win, and just want to be great. And the fact that I’m here now means so much to me.

“I want to continue

ilipina teen tennis star Alex Eala and her partner Priska Madelyn Nugroho of Indonesia made history at the Australian Open after they eked out a 6-1, 6-2 dominating victory against Slovenia's Ziva Falkner and the United Kingdom's Matilda Mutavdzic to capture the 2020 Australian Open girls' doubles title in Melbourne Friday.

Eala and Nugroho needed only 49 minutes to win the championship.

The duo almost blanked their championship opponent in the first set, serving a better percentage aside from scoring 9 winners compared to just 1 of Falkner and Mutavdzic.

Eala and Nugroho zoomed to a 5-0 lead early in the match before the European tandem tallied a game in the scoreboard, 1-5.

But the winning partner did not give the opposing side any chance to mount a comeback, closing the opening frame in the 7th game, 6-1.

After a 1-0 start in the second set, Falkner and Mutavdzic committed crucial double faults in serve that enabled the eventual champions to create another separation, 3-1.

The runner-up finishers tried to hold on in the match but a break of Eala and Nugroho in the third and seventh game proved costly to them.

Eala is ranked eighth in the junior world rankings with 1465 points prior to the match.

The Southeast Asian pair pulled off a shocker in the semifinals after upsetting the top-seeded tandem of Kamilla Bartone of Latvia and Linda Fruhvirto-

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KOBE BRYANT The athlete, father, legend

O

n August 23, 1978, a child was brought into this world. Little did the parents know, or the world for that matter, what impact this child would have in the world of sports when he grew up. Like the restaurant menu item he was named after, he would be classified as the finest of his class. He grew up around the sport his father played, and it brought him to different parts of the world where he would learn the sport himself while learning different cultures and languages.

But destiny would bring him and his family back home to the U.S. Ardmore, Pennsylvania to be exact, where he would attend Lower Merion High School, become top high school player in the country in the sport of basketball.

His accomplishments would not go unnoticed by the NBA, and he would forego college to enter the NBA draft.

He was originally drafted by the Charlotte Hornets, but immediately traded to the Lakers, where he would play his entire professional career until his retirement due to the physical wear and tear on his body. It was the result of playing at such a high level under such high expectations he placed on himself to be the best for 20 straight years. In those years, his achievements would propel him to the level of greatness only few had achieved before him.

5 NBA Championship titles, multiple MVP awards, 18 consecutive NBA All-star appearances, 2 Olympic gold medals, slam dunk champion. He was the youngest player in NBA history to reach 30,000 career points. He scored an astonishing 81 points in a single game against the Toronto Raptors.

When you thought his days in the spotlight were behind him after retiring from the NBA, he would take his passion for poetry onto the big screen, making an animated short film based on his poem “Dear Basketball”. It would go on to win an Academy Award for “Best Animated Short Film”, the first time an Oscar would be won by a former professional athlete.

But all the accolades and accomplishments would never outshine his proudest achievement, becoming a father to 4 beautiful daughters.

He went from being the most feared player on the basketball court to a loving father at home for Natalia, Gianna, Bianka

wife, Vanessa, would finally be the parents they wanted to be to their daughters.

The practicing Catholic would not yearn for what God did not bless him with, but rather cherish the blessings God already gave him.

People would tell him he

Mamba Basketball Academy in Thousand Oaks and give back to the youth by giving them a place where he could share his gifts with others that shared the same love for the game as him.

He would help them develop their skills and live their dreams of one day

clap his hands after she would make her shot.

That’s what brought him joy. That’s what gave his life new meaning, new purpose.

He would become a huge supporter of the WNBA, tweeting shout outs to different star players whenever he

and little Capri Kobe.

He didn’t spend his time after retirement finding other ways to further his fame and notoriety. He spent it with the people he loved, doing things he loved to do.

He would work to make up for lost time while he was in the NBA. Through all the ups and downs, he and his

needed to have a boy to follow in his footsteps.

But he already had his 13 year old daughter, Gianna, a future WNBA superstar, already showing the same skills her father had on the court.

She was probably gonna be even better than him, and he would’ve wanted nothing less.

He would start the

becoming a professional athlete themselves. And on one of those teams was his daughter Gianna, who could be seen in videos running the court and sinking 3 pointers along with her teammates. In the videos, you would see dad sitting on the bench watching all the action, the look of pure pride as he would

saw the opportunity to give credit where it was due.

To know the impact his words would have on someone, as it probably did for him as he grew up meeting his own heroes.

He understood his new place outside the arena, and it was even greater than he could

ever have imagined. He had it all ahead of him, and he would be able to enjoy it with his family.

Tragically, it would not come to be.

It was on that fateful Sunday morning of January 26th, that he and Gianna, two of her teammates, their parents, and the pilot took off after early morning mass to head over the Calabasas hills to attend the final day of the weekend tournament held at the Mamba Basketball Academy in Thousand Oaks.

They would never make it to the tournament.

All 9 of them perished in the crash. The whole world felt the loss and is still struggling to grasp the tragic reality of the sudden end to such precious lives.

Kobe Bean Bryant will always be remembered for the greatness he was on the basketball court, and kids will continue to scream his name as they drive towards the basket for a layup because they’re still too short to dunk the ball.

Mamba Basketball Academy will continue to carry on his legacy. His foundations will continue to help others in his name. His Academy Award-winning film will be watched over and over again for generations to come, and his surviving wife, Vanessa, daughters Natalia, Bianka and Capri Kobe will live on holding their lost family members close to their hearts. One Kobe’s last tweets were in celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day: “The best way to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is to ensure kids understand his purpose, message and impact so that they can carry it forward. This is a great way to start teaching them.” #MLKDay https://t.co/U5mWmgOFts -from Twitter/Kobe Bryant You could easily replace MLK’s name with Kobe Bryant, and it would be just as powerful.

Thank you, Kobe, for sharing your gifts with us while you were here.

You’re memory will live on through the hearts of every young and old NBA fan from now to forever. (Tom Macasaet/ Philboxing.com)