The Mindanao Cross | October 10, 2020 by The Mindanao Cross

SECOND FRONT PAGE

MILG-BARMM hires 1,148 contact tracers/P2

CHURCH TAPATAN

Fr. Edwin Infante Degracia, DCC dies at 52/P4

Janus C. Paniango/P8

LOW PALAY, CORN PRICES EVERYWHERE FARMERS now feel the brunt of the wanton importation of rice and corn, for them the cause of the continuing downslide in domestic prices of both cereal grains.

Some big firms in Mindanao producing animal feeds and cornstarch have long been importing corn from abroad. There are corn farmers in Upi and South Upi towns in Maguindanao now thinking of suspending their

October-December cropping activities, apprehensive of bigger losses. “Our latest earnings were just enough for the seeds and fertilizers we loaned from traders and for paying laborers essential to propagation of corn in our farms,”

said an enlisted soldier in a battalion under the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, who has a farm in Upi. As of Friday, the price of dried corn in the two municipalities is only P9.70 per kilo, for farmers too low, their proceeds not enough to cover

TEACHERS ONLY. For the first time, teachers of Notre Dame Village National High School in Cotabato City commenced school year with a flag raising ceremony minus their pupils on Monday, October 5, the start of SY 2020-2021. It coincided with the World Teacher’s Day but no students around to greet them under the new normal learning system as a result of the pandemic. Valerie Ann P. Lambo

Laptop shortage a DepEd-SoCot saddened global phenomenon by alleged pupil’s suicide SHORTAGE in supply of laptop units is becoming an international phenomenon as schools brace for leaps of changes in education systems and students shift to blended learning. Najir Ismael, an information technology (IT) computer expert based in Cotabato City, said President Rodrigo Duterte had to literally beg the country’s computer firms executives to “double” their production of laptops, electronic chips and processors for the sake of Philippine teachers and students notched into

correspondence education and the blended learning mode. Students in all parts of the world are shifting to blended learning amid global covid19 pandemic, hitting hard School Year 2020-2021. Ismael, owner of the Intelware Store in the city, said computer firms could not just nod to the President’s request, although some have considered coming out with increased discount rates on retail displays. Indeed, Lenovo initially loaded the Philippine market

KORONADAL CITY – The Department of Education in South Cotabato and in Region 12 have expressed “shock and sadness” over the death of a Grade 11 pupil in Tupi town due to the child’s alleged failure to meet the standards in modular learning. Dr. Ruth Estacio, South Cotabato assistant schools division superintendent,

said the schools division was “shocked and saddened to learn about the tragic death of one of our students, Danz Suerte Vistal Jr” in Tupi, South Cotabato. Estacio said the schools division and education officials are coordinating with the police and the student’s family “for speedy and impartial investigation on the

RELATIVES want a closure to the reported suicide of 19-year-old male Teduray in a coronavirus isolation facility in South Upi, Maguindanao early this week. South Upi Mayor Reynalbert Insular said Wednesday Benjie Udasan hanged himself inside the

isolation facility. Insular said Udasan, whose family is in South Upi, was required to undergo 14-day isolation for having been in Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat province where there COVID-19 cases. “We are still trying to get a clear picture

A DOZEN houses and a four-door apartment were destroyed by separate fires that hit two adjoining residential areas in Cotabato City Thursday. Fire Officer 3 (FO3) Hexter Jan Cadavero, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP-Cotabato) arson investigator said the first

fire hit residential areas at about noon in Barangay Bagua 1. “Our initial investigation showed the fire started at the house owned by a certain Mrs. Nora Amil,” Cadavero said, referring to the first conflagration. While the firefighters were to finish their

Suicide incident in isolation facility

Teaching in time of COVID-19 pandemic

THE coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic may have brought new challenges to the teaching profession but public teacher Martina Cabilbigan said nothing will change her love for the profession. The 40-year-old Grade 10 teacher said her daily routine has not changed, such as waking up early and prepare her learning materials. Cabilbigan, who teaches at the Datu Arnel Datukon National High School (DADNHS) in Barangay Taviran, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao, has to endure an hour-long,

thrice-a-week trip from the city to the school to deliver and retrieve the learning modules of her 70 pupils. The teachers do not meet their students faceto-face. Parents instead drop by the school to get the modules of their children, she said. “It’s difficult, but we have a vow fulfill our job as one under the visionmission of the Department of Education (DepEd),” she told the Philippine News Agency. Cabilbigan said she travels with other teachers through commuter vans.

2 fires hit Cotabato City in a day

MORNING CONFLAGRATION. A fire of still unknown origin razes to the ground six houses in a residential area in Purok Manisan, Barangay Bagua 1, Cotabato City Thursday morning. Valerie Ann P. Lambo

PLASTIC PANDEMIC. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has called on local government units anew to ramp up efforts in handling and disposal of medical waste to ensure health and environmental safety amid the coronavirus pandemic. Photo Courtesy of DENR

October 10, 2020

THE MINDANAO CROSS

MILG-BARMM hires 1,148 contact tracers

THE BANGSAMORO government has enlisted young people as contact tracers to be deployed this week to suspected areas of transmission of the dreaded coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19). Bangsamoro Interior and Local Governments Minister Naguib Sinarimbo said the hiring process for 1,480 contractual contact tracers (CTs) has been completed for all five provinces and special geographic areas (SGA) of the region. The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is composed of the provinces of Basilan, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, plus the cities of Lamitan, Marawi, and disputably, this city, and 63 villages in North Cotabato that voted to join BARMM in the February 2019

plebiscite. Mostly fresh graduates and on first employment experience, the number of CTs hired is proportionate to the number of recorded COVID 19 cases in each of BARMM’s provincial LGUs — Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi— and the 63 barangays of Cotabato Province comprising the region’s SGA. Sinarimbo said the MILG main regional office at the Bangsamoro Government Center here, has also augmented its workforce with 115 contact tracers. Nash B.

Maulana

6ID chief asks mayors to help fight VE A RANKING military official in Maguindanao has challenged town mayors to help the provincial government end violent extremism in the province. Major Gen. Juvymax R. Uy, 6th Infantry Division commander issued the challenged during the 4th Quarter Joint provincial peace and order council and provincial development council at the Agila Hall, Provincial Capitol, Buluan, Maguindanao Monday. Maj. Gen. Uy, also head of Joint Task Force Central (JTFC) urged town mayors to be one with Maguindanao Gov. Bai Mariam Sangki Mangudadatu in ending violent extremism in the province. Uy’s challenge

was well accepted by the town mayors and other local government executives during the video teleconferencing. “Fighting terrorism is not about punishment and killing, we must determine what caused these people to embrace violent extremism,” Gen. Uy said in the vernacular. “We at 6th ID strongly support the programs of Hon Bai Mariam Sangki Magudadatu so we can improvie the image of Maguindanao,” he said. The military presence in the meeting was part of the 6th ID’s efforts to strengthen the intergovernment agency and stakeholders’ cooperation and coordination to properly address the security challenges in the province. Rhoderick

Beñez

4 die in PNP-12 law enforcement ops

FOUR suspected high value targets were killed for resisting arrest during “one time big time” law enforcement operations in Region 12, official said. The operation also led to the recovery of about P300,000 worth of illegal drugs and the arrest of 116 individuals, according to Brig. Gen. Michael John Dubria, police director for the Soccsksargen region. Several firearms and explosives were also seized. Dubria said based on the Inter-agency Drug Information Database (IDID), the slain suspects who shot it out with law enforcers were “high value targets (HVT).”

Citing police data, Dubria said among those seized were 208 sachets of suspected shabu with an estimated value of P259,888. During the same operations, about 200 grams of marijuana worth P24,000 were also recovered during the operations across the Soccsksargen region. D u r i n g t h e simultaneous operation, the operatives were also able to confiscate a total of 28 assorted firearms, 409 assorted types of ammunition with 12 explosives, and a total of 6,096.00 worth of bet money in illegal gambling. He said the Simultaneous Law Enforcement

More IEDs found in Maguindanao SOLDIERS recovered more improvised explosive devices in another abandoned encampment of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in Ampatuan town shortly before last weekend. The BIFF enclave, located in Sitio Talpok in Barangay Salman in Ampatuan, Maguindanao has makeshift shelters enough to accommodate no fewer than 50 members. Major Gen. Juvymax Uy, commander of the Army’s 6th Infantry Division, said personnel of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion found in one of the BIFF shelters three IEDs, components for home-made bombs and assorted rifle ammunition. Different units of 6th

ID have been clearing Barangay Salman from BIFF presence for almost two weeks now. Operating in the fashion of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the group, also known as the Dawlah Islamiya, is tagged in all deadly bombings in central Mindanao since 2015. Soldiers also found last week about a hundred kilos of IEDs, rocket projectiles and mortar rounds convertible to roadside bombs kept in a shanty on a hill in Barangay Salman. BIFF members are experts in fabricating IEDs that can be detonated from afar using mobile phones. John Felix

Unson

Tipsters’ role in arrest of drug dealer teacher cited THE DATU Odin Sinsuat municipal police in Maguindanao was thankful to the people who helped them entrap last week a public school teacher peddling shabu, barely five days after anti-narcotics agents killed another in a sting in Midsayap, North Cotabato that turned haywire. Roy Martin Ledesma was arrested after selling shabu to nonuniformed police agents in a clandestine tradeoff in Barangay Broce in nearby Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao. The operation that resulted in the arrest of Ledesma, a teacher in the Broce Elementary School, was jointly planned by officials in the Datu Odin Sinsuat municipal police and the Maguindanao Police Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police Col. Erwin Tabora, chief of the Maguindanao PDEU, said Friday informants confirmed prior that Ledesma, 44, had even used his house in Barangay Broce as an occasional shabu den for selected friends. The joint Maguindanao PDEU and Datu Odin police team that entrapped Ledesma seized from him P5,000 worth of shabu, an employment identification card and marked paper bills agents paid for his illegal merchandise. Ledesma is now detained, to be prosecuted for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, using the shabu confiscated from as evidence. He was arrested just a week after antinarcotics agents killed the 23-year-old school

Large-scale drug dealers arrested in North

ARRESTED. Three suspects: Gani Mehar Kanday, 29, Thens Ebrahim 32,and 34-year-old Adham Mawiya Adam, were arrested Thursday while selling P354,000 worth of shabu to non-uniformed anti-narcotics agents. Photo from PDEA Region 12 THREE drug traffickers with alleged links to a Moro secessionist group were arrested Thursday while selling P354,000 worth of shabu to nonunformed anti-narcotics agents. The suspects, Gani Mehar Kanday, 29, Thens Ebrahim 32, and 34-year-old Adham Mawiya Adam, are now clamped down in a detention facility of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-12. They were entrapped by personnel of the PDEA-12 in Pigcawayan town in North Cotabato on Thursday morning. Naravy Duquiatan, director of PDEA-12, said Friday they are

still investigating on information fed by vigilant residents in Pigcawayan purporting that the three men belong to a rogue group in the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Duquiatan said their entrapment operation that resulted in the arrest of Kanday, Ebrahim and Adam was assisted by agents from PDEABangsamoro Region, the Pigcawayan municipal police and the Army’s 34th Infantry Battalion. Duquiatan said PDEA-12 agents seized from the three men 50 grams of shabu, valued at P354 thousand, and a .45 caliber pistol. John

CHARGES have been filed against three traffickers from whom agents seized P3.4 million worth of shabu during an entrapment operation in Pikit, North Cotabato Thursday last week. Suspects Rahib Malingco, 31, Fahad Abdulla, 25, and the 40-year-old housewife Maribel Carillo, are now in the custody of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-12. Naravy Duquiatan, director of PDEA-12, said they were arrested after selling shabu to nonuniformed agents during an entrapment operation on Thursday afternoon in the town proper of Pikit,

North Cotabato. PDEA-12 agents also recovered from one of the three suspects a .45 caliber pistol. Duquiatan said the sting that resulted in the arrest of shabu dealers Malingco, Abdullah and Carillo was laid with the help of the Pikit municipal police and the Army’s 90th Infantry Battalion. The three detained drug traffickers shall be prosecuted for possession and sale of narcotics using the P3.4 million worth of shabu confiscated from them as evidences, according to Duquiatan. John Felix

Felix Unson

Pikit shabu dealers charged

FIGHTING VIOLENT EXTREMISM. Maj. Gen. Juvymax R. Uy, commander of Joint Task Force Central (JTFC) and 6th Infantry “Kampilan” Division challenged on Monday the local chief executives of Maguindanao to be one with the provincial governor and armed forces in ending violent extremism in the province. Photo courtesy of Rhoderick Beñez

Unson

October 10, 2020

Laptop... P1

with a limited offer of its Ideapad S130 11 labelled P 10,668.00, a price-tag that suits best student budget, at selected computer stores. But rush buyers literally swooped down on mall displays that same units vanished from store ledges on the second day. Journalist Edd Usman said he had secured a 10 percent discount on another model, after buyers lost track of the P10k price-tag on Ideapad S130 11. Later China has come up with offers of refurnished used laptops to fill in market shortage of small computers for the current blended mode of school learning. A mouse click on MadeIn-China e-shopping platform yields a variety of choices of used laptop computers refurbished. The platform is open to business-to-business (B2B) deals at large quantities, ranging from 50 to 500 pieces in minimum order, and up to five tons of consignment for true-blooded importers. The U.S. trained Ismael said delivery allocation of four brand new laptop units in a month is worth a fortune these days for any computer distributor or dealer. He owes his share of the pie to a top-level access to Ampere Computing which was founded in 2017 by former Intel CEO and President Renee James. In 2014, Fortune Magazine ranked James 21st among the Most Influential Women in Business List. To be more of help to poor Moro and non-Moro students and parents, Ismael said he had to shake-a-leg in retirement, reviving for his clients old-model, non-functional laptop units brought to his computer store on a daily basis. Nash Maulana EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that the late spouses Dioscoro dela Peña and Consuelo Quero dela Peña who died on October 12, 2008 and May 21, 2018 at Midsayap Cotabato, respectively, left a parcel of land situated at New Panay, (formely Municipality of Pikit ) now Municipality of Aleosan, Province of Cotabato covered by Original Certificate of Title No. V-16751 with an area of 40,798 square meters, more or less is the subject of extrajudicial settlement with simultaneous deed of sale before Notary Public Atty. Alberto T. Eramis as per Doc. No. 31, Page No. 7, Book No.CXC, Series of 2020.

MC: Sept. 26, Oct. 3 & 10, 2020

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that the late Spouses Casiano Catin and Protacia Pacete who died intestate on November 26, 1982 and August 19, 1980 at Banaba, Ampatuan, Maguindanao, left a parcel of land, Lot No. 1400-B, Pls-544-D, with an area of 7.1255 hectares, more or less is the subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate before Notary Public Atty. Ukol M. Paglala as per Doc. No. 171, Page No. 35, Book No.XIX, Series of 2020. MC: Oct.10, 17 & 24, 2020

THE MINDANAO CROSS

Tipsters’ role... P2 DepEd-SoCot... P1 teacher Jake Placibe for resisting arrest during a shabu entrapment operation in Midsayap town in North Cotabato. Lt. Col. John Calinga, chief of the Midsayap municipal police, said plainclothes agents were to arrest Placibe peacefully but neutralized him instead when he pulled out a gun when he felt he had sold shabu to policemen. He said Placibe was a police high-value target for his large-scale distribution of shabu in Midsayap and nearby towns in North Cotabato province. John

Felix Unson

Catamco... P8

“What is only allowed is burial activity where physical distancing must be observed,” Malaluan said. Malaluan suggested that cemetery visits for candle lighting, brief prayers, and floral offering be done before Oct. 28 and after Nov. 4. Malaluan, a medical doctor, said the IATF is closely watching communities and purok where there was suspected local transmission. “We assure the public that any local or contained transmission of Covid 19 will not spread to other areas,” he added. Edwin O.

Fernandez

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the late Tranquilino Germo and Abelita Gervero Germo who died intestate on April 15, 1990 & October 15, 2006 at Cotabato City, and Sto. Niño, South Cotabato, left a parcel of land Lot 1335, PIS 406-D situated at Brgy. M. Roxas, Sto. Niño, South Cotabato with an area of 62,852 square meters, more or less is the subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate with waiver of rights before Notary Public Atty. Agnes R. De Castro - Jagunap as per Doc. No. 3279, Page No. 3279, Book No.XXV, Series of 2020. MC: Oct. 3, 10 & 17, 2020

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the intestate estate of the late DIONISIA BAGNORAN, who died in Midsayap, Cotabato on April 11, 2014, left a parcel of land Lot No. 24,RS RS-12-000108, situated at Poblacion 2, Midsayap, Cotabato with an area of 181 square meters more or less, is the subject of Extrajudicial Settlement with simultaneous deed of absolute sale before Notary Public Atty. Aberto T. Eramis as per Doc. No. 311; Page No. 63; Book No. CXXXII; Series of 2019. MC: Sept. 26 , Oct. 3 & 10, 2020

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that the late Ceferino E. Galor who died intestate on November 1, 2000 at Poblacion, Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat left a parcel of land, Psu-126575 (F-V13219), covered by Original Certificate of Title No. V-237, with an area of 199,801 square meters, more or less is the subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate before Notary Public Atty. Ukol M. Paglala as per Doc. No. 175, Page No. 35, Book No.XIX, Series of 2020. MC: Oct.10, 17 & 24, 2020

matter.” Estacio, also the acting schools division superintendent, said at 5 p.m. Wednesday, education officials, teachers, students and school heads have observed a “Moment of Silence for our dear Danz.” Interviewed by DXND Radyo Bida, Antonio Maganto, speaking for DepEd-12, said Regional Director Allan Farnazo also expressed sadness over the incident. Maganto said both the students and the teachers are facing difficulties under the new normal system of education but “we believe we can make it, the students too.” A police report from Tupi municipal police office said the child was discovered by his family members already dead inside their family home in the village. In radio interview, Emily, the mother, said her child had complained of difficulty in studying the learning modules. Days after trying to understand the modules, he asked his mother to return the materials to his teachers on Monday, the first day of distance learning and home school program. “He gave up studying, he was very quiet since then,” the mother said. Emily admitted that his child was also affected by the effect of Covid-19 on his father who lost his job and forced to stay home. Edwin

O. Fernandez

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that late Francisco E. Rivera who died intestate on September 13, 2019, left conjugal properties: Parcels of land Lot No. 1, Pcs-12-000143 and Lot No. 254, Bsd-10105 (with improvements thereon), situated at Midpapan 2 (now Midpapan 1) and Poblacion 2, Pigcawayan, Cotabato, covered by TCT No. CT-13290 and OCT No. P-58600, respectively with a total area of 20,580 square meters, more or less; 2- Condominium Certificate of Title 1642014001414 and 1642011000274, consisting an area of 57.6 per unit, situated at Diego Silang, Ususan. Taguig City are the subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate before Notary Public Atty. Alberto T. Eramis, as per Doc. No. 143; Page No. 29; Book No. CLXXXVIII; Series of 2020.

A Specialty Hospital Maguindanaoans and people from neighboring cities and towns will see better healthcare services with the construction of a new medical center in Datu Odin Sinsuat (DOS), Maguindanao. The Medical Village, a multi-specialty hospital, will soon rise in the heart of Barangay Tenorio, Awang in DOS. The 49-bed capacity hospital under the management of Kutawato Medical Group, Inc. will make it easy for residents to receive the medical assistance they need, especially those near the area, and also help ease the burden on other existing hospitals. This project was approved by the Municipality of Datu Odin Sinsuat Sangguniang Bayan via a Municipal Resolution No. 57 Series of 2020 on August 5, 2020.

Public of the Philippines Midsayap, Cotabato Local Civil Registry Office

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION

Notice is hereby given that the late Christopher E. Arandia who died intestate on October 26, 2019 at Cotabato City, left a parcel of land situated at Barrio of Rosary Heights, City of Cotabato covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-55123 with an area of 478 square meters, more or less is the subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate before Notary Public Atty. Agnes R. De Castro - Jagunap as per Doc. No. 3192, Page No. 3192, Book No.XXV, Series of 2020.

In Compliance with the publication requirements and pursuant to OCRG Mem orandum Circular No. 2013-1, Guidlines in the implementation of the Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2012 (IRR on R.A 10172), Notice is hereby served to the public that Joevel Sonsona Meguiso has filed with this office a petition for change of sex from “Male” to “Female” in he Certificate of the Live Birth og Joevel Sonsona Meguiso who was born on August 04, 1989 at Midsayap, Cotabato and whose parents are Abundio Z. Meguiso and Florencia J. Sonsona. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his/her written opposition with this Office of Municipal Civil Registrar, Midsayap, Cotabato (Sgd.)Norah B. Cabugwason

Municipal Civil Registrar MC: Oct. 10 & 17, 2020

MC: Sept. 26, Oct. 3 & 10, 2020

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the late Venicius P. Doruelo, who died intestate on March 9, 2015 at Cotabato City, left a parcel of land situated at Bo. Poblacion, Libungan, Cotabato covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-57833 with an area of 359 square meters, more or less is the subject of extrajudicial settlement with simultaneous deed of donation before Notary Public Atty. Alberto T. Eramis as per Doc. No. 120, Page No. 24, Book No.CXC, Series of 2020. MC: Sept. 26, Oct. 3 & 10, 2020

MC: Sept. 26, Oct. 3 & 10, 2020

EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT Notice is hereby given that the late Engr. Teodulo Ladub who died intestate on August 6, 1998 at Cotabato City, left a parcel of land situated at Barrio of Malagapas, City of Cotabato, covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 48219 with an area of 395 square meters, more or less is the subject of extrajudicial settlement of estate before Notary Public Atty. Agnes R. De Castro - Jagunap as per Doc. No. 3204, Page No. 3204, Book No.XXV, Series of 2020. MC: Oct. 3, 10 & 17, 2020

NOTICE FOR AUCTION CROWN PAWNSHOP will hold a public auction sale for all unredeemed, not auctioned or not renewed items that were pledged, renewed, or pawned on or before December 31, 2019. Auction will be on October 31, 2020 at its office from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. at Don Rufino Alonzo St. Cotabato City.

PATALASTAS NG SUBASTA EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

Notice is hereby given that the late Gloria R. Soledad who died intestate on March 7, 2019 at Davao City, left a parcel of land situated at Bo. Salunayan, Midsayap, Cotabato covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 1522019001613 with an area of 1,524 square meters, more or less is the subject of extrajudicial settlement with simultaneous deed of absolute sale before Notary Public Atty. Alberto T. Eramis as per Doc. No. 189, Page No. 38, Book No.CLXXXVI, Series of 2020.

MC: Sept. 26, Oct. 3 & 10, 2020

CROWN PAWNSHOP ay magkakaroon ng subasta ng lahat ng sangla na hindi natutubos. Ito ay ang mga nasangla noon o hangang Disyembre 31, 2019. Ang subasta ay gagawin sa ganap na 10:00 A.M. hanggang 3:00 P.M. sa Octubre 31, 2020 sa opisina sa don Rufino Alonzo St. Cotabato City. MC: Oct. 3 & 10, 2020

NOTICE FOR AUCTION TRIUNE PAWNSHOP will hold a public auction sale for all unredeemed, not auctioned or not renewed items that were pledged, renewed, or pawned on or before December 31, 2019. Auction will be on October 31, 2020 at its office from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. at Jaycee Avenue, Midsayap, North Cotabato.

PATALASTAS NG SUBASTA

TRIUNE PAWNSHOP ay magkakaroon ng subasta ng lahat ng sangla na hindi natutubos. Ito ay ang mga nasangla noon o hangang Disyembre 31, 2019. Ang subasta ay gagawin sa ganap na 10:00 A.M. hanggang 3:00 P.M. sa Octubre 31, 2020 sa opisina sa Jaycee Avenue, Midsayap, North Cotabato. MC: Oct. 3 & 10, 2020

THE MINDANAO CROSS

October 10, 2020

Fr. Edwin Infante Degracia, DCC dies at 52

FATHER Edwin Infante Degracia of the Diocesan Clergy of Cotabato (DCC) has joined his Creator on Wednesday, ending his battle with cancer. He was 52. Fr. Edwin, as he is fondly called breathed his last at 6:26 a.m. in a hospital in Davao City. A Marian devotee, Fr. Edwin, died on the Feast of the Holy Rosary. His body lies at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral (ICC) where 5:30 p.m. daily mass is being held. “Fr. Edwin is really a generous, kind-hearted and loving person. He wants to see everybody happy. During his battle with cancer, he was really a fighter,” said Dennis Degracia, Fr. Edwin’s younger brother. Pastoral workers of ICC and staff of Archdiocese of Cotabato described Fr. Edwin as a full-pledged plantlover with green thumb, a compassionate man especially to the youth and food lover – “for him food is life.” According to them, he enjoys listening to the Beatles and Carpenters. His favorite song is Carole King’s You’ve Got a Friend and is deeply guided by his motto “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13) “Fr. Edwin has touched so many lives. He has been an inspiration to many and has fulfilled his dreams, visions and God’s mission. It’s time for him to rest in peace, in God’s loving arms. We will definitely miss him,” said Babes Antipuesto, staff of Fr. Edwin. A native of Cotabato

City, Fr. Edwin was born on November 6, 1967 to Eduardo Distor Degracia (deceased) and Flora Abeto Infante. He was second among seven siblings. He went to Sero Elementary School and Cotabato City National High School. For two years, he became a working student while taking up engineering course at Notre Dame University. It was his father’s dream for him to become an engineer but Fr. Edwin has different plans in mind. He went to a seminary and pushed through to fulfil his dreams. In 1995, he graduated as a catechist at the Notre Dame Catechetical Foundation Center, a student center run by the Oblates of Notre Dame. He then entered the Notre Dame Archdiocesan Seminary and finished Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. He earned his Bachelor of Arts major in Theology degree at San Jose Seminary in Manila. He was ordained priest on April 4, 2000 at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral. Fr. Edwin was most recently appointed as manager of the business office of the Archdiocese of Cotabato. While in there, he convened archdiocesan finance council assemblies, organized and acted as adviser to more than 20

archdiocesan lay workers and scholars, facilitated special projects such as the revival of Women’s Enterprise Development building in Krislamville into an office and dormitory, and the renovation and beautification of the Archbishop Mongegau Center building. Before this, he served as the parish priest of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in President Quirino from 2014 to 2017. He was also parish rector of the ICC and chaplain of the Notre Dame Cathedral from 2009 to 2014. He also served as the rector for the Notre Dame Archdiocesan Seminary at the same time appointed in-charge of the Archdiocesan Liturgical Commission. After his ordination, he became assistant parish priest along with Fr. Benjamin Ariel Torreto as parish rector at the Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish. Fr. Edwin was greatly involved in pastoral works concerning the youth, catechesis social action works and relief interventions to internally displaced persons under the task force Tabang Mindanaw. He will be laid to rest on Tuesday, October 13 (the Feast of Our Lady of Fátima) at the Notre Dame Archdiocesan Seminary in Sultan Kudarat after a mass at 8:30 a.m. at the ICC.

Valerie Ann P. Lambo

"There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." John 15:13

Fr. Edwin Degracia, DCC

The Church in this time of Pandemic

Fr. Rockmoore Saniel, OMI For months now, the and health concerns. celebrated? How should world has suffered from Additional restrictions it be understood? What the pangs of COVID-19 a l s o m a n d a t e d t h e is the real essence of pandemic. The virus has temporary closure of being a Church? These never weakened so far non-essential shops and are some questions we as it gets more infections businesses and restricting have tried to answer in in difference parts of gatherings including silence and humility. the world. Many people Church celebrations. So how does the have lost their lives. Many The Church has never Church looks at the advent are still in the hospitals run out of time with regard of this pandemic? Well, and secured facilities for to celebrations. During the Church remained true their recovery and other the Marcos Mar tial to its vocation in fulfilling medical procedures. It Law, the Church stood the salvific plan of God. seems the whole world still. It has surpassed its The rituals are given has bent down to its cruelty and the inhuman more depth and the knees as it continues to conditions in Philippine emphasis goes beyond battle with the pandemic. history during the martial pure rituals. March of this year, the law. The many other Like many c hurc h Philippine government events which somehow goers, the Christian imposed an enhanced challenged and affected celebrations are well community quarantine our country have not s o u g h t o f by m a ny (ECQ) in Luzon which stopped the Church. But believers. Now, more effectively directed this time, it’s different. than ever, the Church to a total lockdown, This pandemic has w i t h i t s s a c ra m e n t s restricting the movement totally c hanged and as channels of God’s of the people except challenged the Church. graces receive more for necessary wor k H o w s h o u l d i t b e appreciation and P7

B adaliyya

n Mediterranean the sinners, and eventually culture during the gentiles. The message Jesus’ time, a is clear enough. God invites wedding feast is a way us to a banquet of life. of showing and knowing God invites us to join a Fr. Jun Mercado, OMI who are the close community of friends who friends of the person live according to the new Rev. Fr. Antonio P. Pueyo, DCC way of Jesus. God is giving doing the inviting. In tonypoy_dcc0@yahoo.com us a new garment (symbol this Sunday’s parable, it was the king who of baptism). God’s plan of was inviting people to the wedding feast of his son. salvation is for all people. How then do we respond According to the usual practice, the messengers to the invitation to new life? were sent first to know how many would come. The St. Augustine through the prayers of his mother, Readings: second time, those who refused were called again St. Monica considered the call to conversion and he in case they changed their minds. However they kept postponing it. He was realistic enough to know Isaiah 25: 6-10; Philippians 4: 12-14; Matthew 22: 1-14 gave excuses and even mistreated and killed the that becoming a Christian believer would make great messenger. This was a big insult to the king. He was changes in his lifestyle. His prayer to God was “yes, Selected Passage: shamed and as expected in that culture, he must but not yet.” His search for the truth was leading ‘The feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy to come. punish the offenders and he did. him to Christianity. He was noted for writing, “You What the king did afterwards was unexpected. have made us for yourself O Lord, and our hearts are Go out, therefore, into the main roads and invite to the feast whomever you find.’ (Matthew 22: 8-9) He decided to invite those from the highways and restless until they rest in you.” He finally accepted byways, or those with lower status. What began as the invitation and became a bishop and a great Meditation: an exclusive feast for those who were considered the theologian of the Church. elite of society and the VIP’s became an inclusive Today God still invites us. This invitation is The Parable tells us of God’s invitation to ALL! One caveat is finding ourselves NOT WORTHY TO COME. We one. This would have an effect on those who have happening every day. There must have been a point are preoccupied with other concerns, thus we miss God’s originally accepted the invitation. They may not in our life when we have made a big choice to accept invitation… Cuidado! want to mix with these inferior masses or like the Jesus and live according to His way. The invitation In responding to God’s call, we should do it properly. It is king they would consider these people as their did not end there. Every day we have to give our not enough to be present. We should show respect to the host, as friends and join them at table. Even among those “yes” to God. Theological scholars would say that well as, exhibit self-respect and exhibiting good behavior. We do who came, they must wear the appropriate garment, we are called to make a “fundamental option” in life not take the invitation for granted and neither do we trivialize oftentimes provided by the host. For someone to for good or evil. Once we have made the option to God’s invitation. BEWARE! refuse the garment is another form of insult. What become a “good person” we have to keep renewing was at stake in this parable was the honor of the and confirming our fundamental option by our king. By coming to the banquet, the guests honored daily decisions. Sometimes we may fall and become the king. By refusing to come, despite the repeated unfaithful to the basic direction we have chosen invitations, those invited insulted the king. in response to God. The good news is that we can Jesus spoke this parable to the VIP’s of his start all over again if we repent and accept God’s Dhikr is an Arabic word which means REMEMBRANCE. time, the chief priests and the elders. The message forgiveness. 1st step: Write the text in your heart. was primarily to them. Jesus was the messenger God’s invitation to a fuller life is extended to all and spokesman of God the King and Father. people. It is therefore appropriate that this Sunday 2nd step: Let the text remain always in on your lips and mind They were being invited to the banquet of life in is designated by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference - RECITING the text silently as often as possible... God’s Kingdom. Some of them accepted but others as Indigenous People’s Sunday. When we imbibe rejected the invitation and so the invitation was to the values of Jesus we become more inclusive 3rd step: Be attentive to the disclosure of the meaning/s of the text in your life. be extended to the “outsiders” - the poor, the lowly, rather than exclusive. MC

Invited

REFLECTIONS

Short Reflection for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

DHIKR SIMPLE METHOD

THE MINDANAO CROSS

October 10, 2020

EDITORIAL

Valuing our teachers

nywhere worldwide and in every Filipino barangay and community, the teacher stands out as the guardian of community values. In her/his hands is entrusted the future of the children. It is therefore sad that due to the Covid pandemic, the month (September 5 to October 5) set aside to recognize the important role they play passed without so much fanfare, and was even the occasion to pile up more work (preparations for blended learning) for the opening of classes. Nevertheless, it is not too late to greet the teachers for their contributions to the development of our country. As set up by a team led by UNICEF, the theme adopted for this year is—Teachers: Leading in crisis, reimagining the future. “Teachers Day provides the occasion to celebrate the teaching profession worldwide, take stock of achievements, and draw attention to the voices of teachers, who are at the heart of efforts to attain the global education target of leaving no one behind”. This year, we started classes later than usual, and we are changing the traditional method used for the learning-teaching process. This means, both teachers and students are faced with a shift in the usual education that would require more efforts on the part of both to adopt something new. We hope for the better; but it leaves no alternative due to the protocols in combatting the pandemic. There seem to be no other way to comply with the social distancing (distance learning) approach. The schools will have to be familiar with the new technology and the students will have to adapt to the process. Initial reactions from the teachers (especially those handling higher grades) is that the process is time consuming. They have to prepare modules, and follow up the students if they understood the contents of the module. This is not too difficult in areas where the internet is functioning well, but where the signals are weak, the teacher had to find more creative ways of reaching the students. As if this was not enough, the students lack computers, and some areas are not reached by the internet. The much talked about additional TELCO have not presented itself to lighten the situation. There seem to be problems with LGU requirements in setting up towers. However, it is heartening to think that this education crisis brought with it a unity which was not seen before. People from all walks of life contributed to lightening the burden of teachers, something which was not obvious before. This is especially important for parents who have not reached higher education. They have to depend entirely on the teachers. We are really thankful for the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), which has contributed to improving the quality of teachers, and has attracted better types of teachers to the education sector. Although overshadowed by the pandemic, we congratulate all teachers for choosing this noble profession, and may you be given the strength to overcome this crisis. The Mindanao Cross hopes that you will be able to hurdle the problems that comes with it. After all, Filipinos really put a huge importance on education, despite the slow response from government agencies designed to help support the educational sector. +

is published every Saturday by the Mindanao Cross Publishers, Inc., Sinsuat cor Quezon Avenues, Cotabato City. Tel Nos. (064) 4217161 and E-mail Address: mindanao.cross@gmail.com | mincross101@yahoo.com.ph Fr. Rogelio Tabuada, OMI, Chief-Executive-Officer Eva Kimpo - Tan, Editor-in-Chief Edwin O. Fernandez, News Editor Gemma A. Peñaflor, Administration and Marketing Executive Valérie Ann P. Lambo, Reporter Julito P. Torres, Circulation Officer Karl John B. Daniel, Graphic-Layout Artist COTABATO CITY / ARMM CORRESPONDENTS

John M. Unson Ferdinandh B. Cabrera Charlie C. Señase Nash B. Maulana

NORTH / SOUTH COTABATO CORRESPONDENTS Williamor Magbanua Romer “Bong” Sarmiento Roel Osano Orlando Dinoy CARTOONIST Lourd Jim Diazon

Member: PHILIPPINE PRESS INSTITUTE The National Association of Philippine Newspapers

Entered as Second Class Mail at Cotabato City Post Office under Permit No. 91-01 Dated August 15, 1991.

ctober 29 this year marks the 23rd anniversary of the passage of the landmark legislation known as the Indigenous People’s Rights Act or Republic Act No. 8371. Twenty three years, two decades and a half almost, or close to a quarter of a century, and what has happened? How much has IPRA achieved for its intended beneficiaries, the indigenous people of the Philippines? IPRA was a response to the need for a comprehensive law that would stop prejudice against indigenous people, recognize and protect their rights not only to their ancestral domain but to social justice and human rights, self-determination and empowerment, and their cultural integrity. It was the product of years of struggle by indigenous people’s organizations from all over the country that banded together and allied with support institutions such as the Episcopal Commission on Indigenous Peoples, National Peace Conference, Center for Living Heritage and PANLIPI (Legal Assistance Center for Indigenous Filipinos), among others. The law embodied seven non-negotiable points: a) recognition of native title and rights of IPs to ancestral domains, b )respect for the right to cultural integrity, c) recognition of indigenous peoples’ political structures and governance, d) delivery of basic services to the indigenous peoples, e) respect for human rights, f) elimination of discrimination, g) and creation of an office that would cater to the IPs needs. For the Episcopal Commission on the Indigenous Peoples, much is left to be desired 23 years after the passage of IPRA. In a statement released October 6 in line with the commemoration of Indigenous Peoples Week, the ECIP said: “We look at its present implementation and enforcement with foreboding and frustration. Government policies and indifference of responsibility bearers continue to fortify the unjust societal structures and have exacerbated existing inequities.” The ECIP cited the continuing negative impact of extractive industries particularly large-scale mining on the environment and indigenous communities as these are “forcefully promoted and continued even if communities already rejected and opposed them.” It described responsibility bearers in government as “blind and deaf to the call and cries of indigenous people who depend on their agricultural lands and forests for their sustenance,” adding that “these largescale mining become the vehicle for gross human

HE finest manifestation of “correcting historical injustices” is the collective working towards achieving transitional justice through land repossession by land reform. But do not sell the land, the head of the top Bangsamoro agency that implements agriculture, fishery and land reform programs said. Indeed, land distribution initiated by the Bangsamoro Government forms part of transitional justice to the Moro people, who have experienced centuries of systematic schemes in land dispossession. Dr. Mohammad Yacob, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Land Reform of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MAFAR-BARMM), notes the Annex Agreement on Normalization, the Terms of Reference (ToR) on the creation of a Transitional Justice Commission (TJRC) have identified “land dispossession” as the main colonial tool of subjugating the Moro people in centuries of “historical injustices”. One may recall also that in a letter to the U.S. President in January 2003, the late Ustadz Salamat Hashim, Founding Chairman the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) sought to “correct the historical injustices” that the colonial powers have reduced the Moro people to in centuries of subjugation. Yacob says the MAFAR had distributed last year a total of Certificate of Land ownership Award titles for a total of 1,200 hectares of land to pre-assessed farmerrecipients and agrarian reform communities, BARMM region-wide. For 2020 the MAFAR-BARMM has set for the completion of the distribution of CLOA titles for some 2,000 hectares to beneficiary ARC farmers, before the year ends. Within its legal mandates, the MAFAR-BARMM’s land distribution program is much akin to stories of Moro land repossession, hardly obtained in the past through application petitions with the Bureau of Lands (now Lands Management Bureau), after the U.S. Colonial Government declared all lands in the Philippines, including those in Mindanao, as public

23 years after IPRA

Thinking Aloud

Caloy Bautista

caloyb@gmail.com

rights violations, irreparable damage to indigenous communities and culture, and even deaths to those who oppose them.” Indigenous people who oppose incursions into their ancestral domain are among the leading victims of lethal attacks against those who defend their land and the environment in the Philippines according to the independent rights watchdog Global Witness. Peace still hangs in the balance for the many hinterland communities of Mindanao, especially those in Lumad areas, caught in the crossfire between government troops and New People’s Army guerillas. They continue to lament that their legal organizations and their staff are accused of being front organizations of the communists, targeted for tagging by state forces as supporters of the New People’s Army, and are forced to surrender. They ask if they can attain true peace when there are military detachments in their communities that accuse them of being supporters of the NPA. Many others tagged as communist or terrorist supporters and coddlers in various communities in Mindanao ask the same question. The IPRA guarantees indigenous peoples’ right to basic social services as provided by the State. The law also emphasizes that these rights are also to be afforded to indigenous women and children. Yet many indigenous children still need to go through dangerous treks in far-flung communities to have access to education, a basic social service. Such a situation has prompted the continuous operation of indigenous schools like those under the Salugpongan Ta ’Tanu Igkanogon Community Learning Center Inc., schools that have been and continue to be targeted for allegedly being used by the communist New People’s Army in their rebellion against the government. In many various regions across the country indigenous peoples’ communities continue to struggle for the approval of their ancestral domain claims. 23 years after IPRA, the indigenous peoples’ struggle continues. MC

Transitional Justice in Normalization

PENLIGHT

Nash B. Maulana

nash.penlight@gmail.com

domain. The Bureau of Lands was established but only in selected urban centers, like Manila and Zamboanga City which were far from majority Moro populated areas. Moreover, the 1935 Constitution granted only the rights of land possession to corporations and citizens of the United States and citizens of the Philippines. For their part, the Moro people then were largely hesitant to be called a “Filipino,” or much less to declare Philippine citizenship on any official document, as an act contrasting the local tradition. Article XVII, Section 1(17) of the Ordinance Appended to the 1935 Constitution, provides that “Citizens and corporations of the United States shall enjoy in the Commonwealth of the Philippines all the civil rights of the citizens and corporations (of the Philippines), respectively, thereof.” Also, Section 1(12) provides that “the Philippines recognizes the right of the United States to expropriate property for public uses, to maintain military and other reservations…” The Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed in 2014 between the Philippine Government (GPH) and the MILF, covers a Framework Agreement and Annexes relating to transitional arrangements, wealth sharing, power-sharing and normalization with the objectives of “healing and reconciliation. MC

October 10, 2020

THE MINDANAO CROSS

is a disease, an abnormal change in the brain. Good news is the aging brain continues to have a remarkable ability to grow. This means we have the capacity to develop the neurons we have and hence make new Cheridine P. Oro- Josef, memories. We have to M.D., DFM, FPAFP, FPCGM remember that the brain shapes itself in response cheridinemd@gmail.com to the outside world. Our five senses generate nerve ne day, a 79 year old patient impulses that cause brain cells to connect, came in with her son. They were form circuits and networks. Engaging arguing about the patient’s memory all senses to learn more is what we call problems. NEUROBICS. Neurobics is to the brain Son: “Naku dra, limot limot na yan si as aerobics is for muscles. For an activity Nanay, akalain mo bang di maalala kung to be called a neurobic exercise, it has to saan inilapag yung pera nyang 100,000 be completely removed from our regular pesos!” routine. The idea is if we learn something Mother: “Anak, inilapag ko sa lamesa, new then we make new memories. lumingon lang ako sandali nawala na, me Examples of neurobic exercises are: kumuha nun!” eating or writing using your non- dominant Son: “Tanggapin mo na kasi Nay, hand, getting dressed, taking a bath, or Demented ka na!” entering your house with eyes closed, take At that they both looked at me, and as a different route to work or Church, listen usual, I smiled. After a geriatric assessment, to music while trying new foods, stop to the mother has mild cognitive impairment smell the flowers while doing your daily (MCI). While it is true that MCI may lead walk, spice up your sex life or listening to to dementia, not all forgetful patients are your doctor’s advice while writing it at the demented. It is unfair to label an elderly same time. The idea is if you try to learn demented if it is not the case. However, something new then you can make new elderly patients are guilty of not trying to memories. If new memories are formed, do something to enhance their memory. new nerve cell connections will be developed Most of my elderly patients would tell too. me after writing my prescription, “Dra, This is the reason why in old age, we please instruct my daughter regarding my are advised to enjoy the world. Try new medications, I am forgetful already and recipes, taste a different kind of food or will not remember everything you’ll tell perhaps learn how to cook new dishes. me.” Many times, you will hear older people We are also encouraged to engage in saying, “I have difficulty remembering meaningful conversations and to always things, it comes with old age.” be happy. The brain and the whole nervous My 79 year old patient comes to my system change as we age. The nerve cells clinic regularly for assessment. She is still start to decrease their productivity- they forgetful but she now labelled all her things begin to transmit signals at a slower rate. and cabinets so she knows where to put Waste products begin to build up more or find them. This way she establishes a and more in the brain, and this can lead to routine of keeping a place for everything. plaque and tangle build-up. As we begin to She would also do aerobics everyday and lose nerve cells, everything controlled by keeps some quiet time for herself to think the nervous system can start to decrease and reminisce the day. in function. Thought processes, memory Make new memories and do it and thinking can slow down too as we age. regularly. Who knows after several months Slowing down, however, is different from of neurobics, you may be able to tell your dementia. Dementia is not part of the doctor, “let me and my daughter listen to normal aging process. It is not prudent to you doctor, I will try my best to remember call an old person demented, as dementia your prescription.” MC or external sources. Aside from probable shortage in available local funds, especially from the private sector, terms and conditions could be more stringent (in terms of interest rate, repayment period, collateral requirement, Danny Buenbrazo etc.). danny_buenbrazo@yahoo.com What kind of “hustling” should local bout two months ago, there were heated discussions on various governments do at this point? Local government units should be media platforms pertaining to the state of COVID-19 in the country. There completing a Comprehensive Land Use was a claim that we are already in the Plan (CLUPs) that is the basis for the so-called Second Wave which triggered Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP), Annual Investment Plan (AIP), among varying reactions. I have a different definition of the others. Sadly, some LGUs are not so waves, vis-à-vis, COVID-19. First Wave serious in preparing these plans and are was the infections that affected the doing the exercise just for compliance. most developed cities and regions of the Given the state of things, there is no room country. The Second Wave happened for playing and complacency. Each city or town should identify a when the disease started to affect secondtier cities and more urban municipalities. list of potential projects for the economic, The Third Wave, God forbids, happens social, and political-administrative, and when the center of the pandemic in the other sectors. Thereafter, they should country are the rural municipalities. That make a shorter list containing the priority could bring devastating consequences project ideas for their LGU by subjecting given the lack of good hospitals and state the potential projects to a screening process using a set of criteria. of health care in the countryside. Thereafter, the list of priority The pandemic is really taking a toll on local government units, especially projects should be transformed into those that are grappling with high rates project proposals. Details of the project of infection. Many local government units proposal should include the following, (LGUs) are so focused on addressing the among others: Project Title, Objectives, health problem that programs, projects, Location, Project components (if with and other activities for local development different parts), Project Cost (with detailed breakdown), Project Implementation had become of much lower priority. This health problem is grave, but it Plan (showing activities and timetable), will eventually pass. The next challenge Beneficiaries, and Cost and Benefit will be on which local governments would Analysis. The specific format and level be able to rise from this situation and be of details would depend on the identified funding source. in position for growth and development. Funding sources for projects vary, Thomas Alba Edison has this saying: “Everything comes to him who hustles as well as their terms and conditions. while he waits.” Local government Some funders provide money for “hard units should take heed of this nugget of projects” or infrastructures while others wisdom. The amount needed by all local finance “soft projects” such as training government units for development projects of personnel and the like. Some funds is enormous and post-COVID-19 scenario are provided with no expectation of for availability of funds is not too bright. repayment (grants), others are to be The national government would not have repaid fully (loans), or a combination of many resources to provide to LGUs as the first two. Finally, match your proposals with the it could even be crowding them out for available funds from financial markets financing portfolio of target funders. MC

The Brain As We Age: How To part of Muslim MinConscience: Just do it isdanao or Central Mindanao has yet to be decided Make New Memories with finality by the Su-

TRUE TO FORM

preme Court before the year ends. For decades, Cotabato City has been Charlie Señase the provisional seat of csenase@yahoo.com the now Bangsamoro Autonomous Region due OVID or no COVID we die and some are dying, but we have to to the electorate’s preference to be part of move on. Let’s do something posi- Region-12 of which Cotabato City was its tive while the world is in the verge of regional center prior to its transfer few prophetic extinction due to several factors years ago to Koronadal City. Since the inception of ARMM to that nature and science experts concur BARMM, its moral governance has been to happen. The worsening environmental pol- put to a test on how to improve the forlution and massive destruction to our mer’s priority thrust on transparency and God-given natural resources precipi- accountability. With available funding support from tated global warming brought about by Climate Change. Frequent jolts, the national government, BARMM has inundations and other calamities are been preoccupied in reaching out to all in our midst along with our non-stop its constituents, especially the poor and blame and complain of government and the misguided in this trying times of the civilian populace that only worsen the global health crisis. As of this week, some 3,426 workers day-to-day situation. It’s good to hear, however, that from the private sector in the five-provdespite it all, the Philippines, is doing ince BARMM were recipients of P5,000 something to alleviate the problem for cash each under the government’s Coronavirus Disease Assistance Program of public conveyance. The Mindanao Development Authori- the Ministry of Labor and Employment. Before the year ends, the regional ty headed by former Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Pinol has expressed optimism government under Chief Minister Al-Haj that the once known “Promised Land” in Murad Ebrahim hopes to touch the lives the South will have new airports before of 12,037 with the cash assistance. Some 3,000 family heads, mostly the end of President Duterte’s tenure. He said these multi-million infra- pedicab drivers of Marawi City and structure projects are just among the neighboring towns of Lanao del Sur were other development programs of MinDA beneficiaries of relief aid that includes that include agriculture, fishery, natural half sack of rice. The humanitarian resources that hope to spur socio-econom- outreach endeavor was spearheaded by BARMM’s Ministry of Social Welfare and ic development. Pinol, a journalist-turned politician Development and the Bangsamoro Youth to become erstwhile North Cotabato Commission. It has also strengthened its current governor, said the airport in the town of Mlang will be known as Central Mindan- bureaucracy by installing its first set of ao Airport. While the other, to be named 10 permanent personnel that will man Zamboanga International Airport, will the region’s administrative, budget and finance management directly under the start construction next year. The City Government of Cotabato Office of the Chief Minister. President Duterte’s 91 percent perforhas yet to follow-up development of a China-funded international airport and mance rating in latest Pulse Asia survey sea port projects which were approved could have been made possible amid nonlast year, but temporarily mothballed stop criticisms over corruption and other due to the pandemic and other construc- shortfalls through BARMM and other local government’s commitment to work tion setback. The issue on whether Cotabato City for the glory of God and country. MC

pollinator species that can’t live without them. Pollinators, according to experts are vital in the production of healthy crops used for food and medicines, and are crucial components of habitats and ecosystem that many Victoria R. Franco, RPh, MS Pharmacy wild animals rely of for food and shelter. franco1573victoria@gmail.com Violators found to collect wild plants hat’s up gardening enthusiasts? The Department classified as critically endangered of Environment and Natural can be jailed from 6 years to 12 years Resources in Davao Region warned and fined 100,000 to a million pesos if the public that there is a Law, inflicted or undertaken against species Republic Act (RA) 9147, or the listed as critical; imprisonment of two wildlife Resources Conservation years and one day to four years and/or and Protection Act, also covers a fine of 30,000 to 300,000, if inflicted plant species, not only animals and or undertaken against vulnerable that violating the law carries huge species; and/or fine of 20,000 to penalties. This law has been around 200,000 if inflicted or undertaken for almost 2 decades said Jaycee against other threatened species. The demand for plants has grown Jude Agas. DENR-Davao,Regional Affairs Office Chief. This is only from succulents and cacti craze three often highlighted when endangered years ago to the obsession with more or c critically threatened animals are exotic and rare plants. And the prices involved, making the public unaware have exponentially increased, to that the law covers both the flora and astronomical and sometimes comical amounts. I saw being sold in Lazada the fauna A m o n g t h e p l a n t s t h a t a r e the potted Makahiya Plant (Mimosa prohibited to be taken from the Pudica) priced at 2900 plus. That’s wild as these are threatened or crazy, we were playing with these critically endangers species are at school years ago, these were Green Velvet Alocasia, Kris and considered weeds. So now, they claim Zebra plants, ferns, waling-waling the honored place inside our houses. Doctors are weighing in too. and pitcher plants. These plants provide nutrients to the soil and They warned of encountering worms that the unguarded taking of these or their eggs that could enter the kinds of plants from their natural skin through the nails while toiling habitat will only result in forest the soil. Insecticides, fungicides fires as there would no longer be used to keep our plants healthy are moisture and water in the forest. dangerous to our lungs. Furthermore, even a prick caused DENR Zamboanga cited Science Direct studies indicating that aside by thorns, broken glass, hard rock or from harboring crop viruses and stone could be invitation to tetanus other pathogens, wild plants act as infection. If that happens, wash the important reservoirs and sources of wound thoroughly, with alcohol and apply betadine. Tetanus bacteria is insects, mites and nematodes. I n a d d i t i o n , t h e p o t e n t i a l anaerobic, meaning they thrive in extinction of flowering ornamentals none exposed areas. Washing of hands, like,orchids and hoyas can have wearing garden gloves are important consequences as they often support precautionary measures. MC

Warning to Plantitas and Plantitos THE STUFF OF LIFE

GOLDEN THREADS

Pushing Local Development… MARKET DRIVEN

Low palay, corn prices everywhere... P1 even just three-fourth of their expenses for land preparation, seeds and fertilizers. “Many of us are now planning to suspend our next cropping activities. How can we sustain our families without income? We are in big trouble,” lamented farmer Rudio Ongab, a father of four grade school children. Traders engaged in buy-and-sell of grains in the adjoining Maguindanao and North Cotabato provinces are blaming the massive importation by big firms manufacturing animal feeds and other consumer goods using corn for the problem. “This is a very serious problem that President Rodrigo Duterte should focus attention on,” said a Filipino-Chinese merchant in Upi. Upi and its immediate neighbor, South Upi, are hinterland towns in Maguindanao where 90 percent of residents rely mainly on corn farming as their means of livelihood.

North Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco told The Mindanao Cross last weekend she and her constituent-leaders are together in calling on the House of Representatives, the Senate and Malacañang to address the miserable plight now of rice and corn farmers everywhere. “Thousands upon thousands of residents in North Cotabato are rice and corn farmers,” Catamco said. Catamco and local officials in Mlang discussed the issue with rice farmers in the municipality on Friday where the governor asked for an immediate amendment of the 2019 Rice Tariffication Law, or RTL. The RTL allows massive importation of rice from abroad as a remedy to local supply shortages. “This is something the legislature should look into,” said Catamco, who had served as a North Cotabato congressional

representative for three consecutive terms before she was elected governor of the province in May 2019. “This RTL is disadvantageous to local rice farmers. Likewise, the continuing importation of corn for years now is also not good for local corn farmers,” Catamco said. Dozens of farmers carried placards bearing appeals for help from the legislature as they converged on Friday in Mlang, North Cotabato to dramatize their woes. A farmer in Mlang, Gualberto Sison, told reporters during the engagement that what is painful for him and other farmers is that the price of dried palay now in the province is only P14 per kilo. “Imagine? Price of palay per kilo is only like that, a food item. The price of commercial facemask needed to prevent one from being infected with COVID-19 is higher,” Sison said.

The threat of infection is real, but she said sacrifices should be made-particularly in this time of the pandemic--“for the love of teaching.” “We fear the pandemic but our obligation as teachers to our students does not hinder us to teach as it is the one thing that we love to do,” Cabilbigan said. Teaching from home, If her schedule does not permit her to go to school, Cabilbigan said she helps in the online classes of her two schoolchildren – a 12-year-old Grade 7 student and another seven-year-old Grade 2 learner. She said she senses that her children miss their classmates but keep them busy instead of their online learning under her watchful eyes. “I let them play online games sometimes but with limitation,” she said with a smile. Cabilbigan noted that unlike in the city, the internet signal at her school

remains unstable. “That is why we chose the module learning system for our students as their parents cannot buy laptops for their children,” she said.

hour-long radio program giving the current learning developments and catering to questions from learners and parents reached by the radio station in Central Mindanao. “It’s not an easy job but if you have that amount of motivation, you win the day with a smile”, she said. Using radio as a medium, she said, has lifted her spirit to go on despite the coronavirus disease crisis. “Broadcasting is my passion, which is my first love, and teaching is my career, and it is really unexpected that it fused timely in the midst of this pandemic”, she said. She said her reason for being a teacher was not just about to impart knowledge and skills but also guide the young ones and lead them to their future. Beñez said she wants her radio listeners, parents, and students alike, to adapt to the changes. Noel Y.

John Felix Unson

Teaching in time of COVID-19 pandemic... P1

Radio-inspired teaching Meanwhile, in Kidapawan City, North Cotabato, a former female broadcaster-turned-teacher is using the radio as a medium in educating the young ones. Krezel Dianne Sampani-Beñez, 29, a former newscaster of the Catholic-run DXNDKidapawan, is now working with the Kidapawan City National High School teaching media and information literacy for Grade-12 senior high school with some 250 students in six sections daily since 2013. Since the start of the pandemic in March, additional duties were placed on her using blended learning as host of “DepEd Updates”, an

Punzalan

The Church in this time of Pandemic... P4

somehow becomes a necessity. R i g h t . T h e m a ny n e ga t i ve e f f e c t s o f pandemic which includes psychological, economic, social, mental and spiritual imbalances has brought the Church to its rightful place. Many people have suffered from this pandemic. For some, the pandemic might be a passing phenomenon but in reality, we know that the effects of this will be felt more strongly in the coming days or months. The Church’s mission to proclaim the Gospel through service and care for its flock remains a crucial role as it faces a new soci0-cultural and economic situation. That is why many dioceses, churches, including individual efforts to address the pressing issues of today took the necessary initiatives. Some Churches started

THE MINDANAO CROSS

October 10, 2020

helping the poor who are greatly affected by the pandemic in a larger scale. Some priests and parishes have initiated social and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs such as regular feeding program, distributing goods to the poor communities and families, etc. Some Churchowned institutions created centers for families and students who are suffering from poverty due to lack of resources and unemployment. In Caloocan City, the Grace Park parish owned by the OMIs started an environmental program through domestic gardening. The program aims to encourage and teach communities to grow their own food through backyard gardening. Through the program, people will now have

easy access to food not depending so much on other people’s support. With these efforts, we see that the Church who is also affected by this pandemic never compromised its mission. But the question remains, how will the Church sustain in its efforts in building the Church of God? The answer is the same: as long as there are people who are in need, when there are people who are in difficulty, oppressed, marginalized, poor, the Church will always remain. Maybe this pandemic has brought us to tears and pains, deaths and sickness, but we, as the Church, the people of God will always bear in our hearts our mission towards those in need. May this pandemic not bring us to unbelief but to greater faith, hope and love.

Suicide incident in isolation facility... P1

of the suicide incident. We assure you of utmost transparency on this,” Insular said Wednesday. He said Udasan tested negative for COVID-19 but was asked to undergo a 14-day isolation just the same as part of their local government unit’s pandemic containment

effort. Udasan’s father, Antonio, told reporters he wanted the incident investigated extensively. "We want a more thorough investigation on this, We want answers to questions about his death," Antonio said in halting Filipino, in Teduray accent.

Responding members of the South Upi municipal disaster risk reduction and management council said Udasan was already dead when they arrived at the scene after receiving information that someone in the isolation facility committed suicide. John

job at Bagua 1 fire scene, another fire broke out Purok Duhat Dos, Barangay Mother Bagua. Cadavero said in the second fire incident, which came about six hours later, the allegedly emanated from the 2-story home of the fire Robert Katog that also affected three more houses made

of light materials. “We have difficulty reaching the fire scene on time due to narrow passageways,” FO3 Cadavero said. Estimated cost of damages in the twin incidents was placed at more than P500,000,” Cadavero said in a radio interview. John

Operation (SACLEO) is a one-day regionwide law enforcement operation of the PRO 12 Police Force in relation to its intensified campaign against illegal drugs, wanted persons, illegal gambling, loose firearms and all forms of criminality. Rhoderick

2 fires hit Cotabato City... P1

Felix Unson

4 die... P2

Beñez

Basilan has 3 new physicians... P8 Tanod killed... P8

to peace and security issues in the province,” Salliman said. The provincial government of Basilan and the office of the lone congressional representative in the province, the Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman, have jointly secured the surrender of close to 300 local Abu Sayyaf members from 2016 to early this year through backdoor negotiations. The now reforming former Abu Sayyaf bandits

are being reintroduced into Basilan’s local communities with the help of the Police Regional Office-Bangsamoro Autonomous Region and the military’s Western Mindanao Command. “Providing our people with livelihood and infrastructures needed to improve their productivity is also essential to our efforts of producing more professionals from our local youth sector,” Salliman said. John Felix

Unson

the military’s Western Mindanao Command said Tuesday soldiers are now in pursuit of the Abu Sayyaf terrorists responsible for the attack that resulted in the death of Lakibul. The Abu Sayyaf, operating in the fashion of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, is tagged in two bomb attacks in a day last August in Jolo, Sulu that left 15 people dead, among them soldiers and policemen, and injured more than 50 others. John

Felix Unson

October 10, 2020

THE MINDANAO CROSS

“Tapatan sa Oblate Media” is a monthly public journalism feature to complement the Sanduguan Mindanaw. This section is designed to go beyond the frontiers of the newsroom through informal conversations, dialogues, or interviews with the region’s influential persons and decision makers to bring back the news to the community and help people understand deeper the issues affecting them.

TAPATAN

Basilan province has 3 new physicians

Janus C. Paniango TEACHER II DATU SIANG NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL INTERVIEW BY VALERIE ANN P. LAMBO

Dr. Irshada Palentinos Hasan, MD

Dr. Dalvin Roy A. Wong, MD

Dr. Nada Hasanin Abdulmalik Ukkung, MD

THREE of those who passed the latest physician’s licensure examination are from Basilan, another source of pride for residents in the island province. Distance learning at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic is something no one could have predicted when 2020 began. No one thought that this extraordinary historical event would force teachers to educate learners in a dramatically different way – and still maintain the protocol of social distancing to avoid contacting the disease. Although none of us signed up for this, the academic sector perseveres for children to learn in the 'new normal'. For Sir Janus C. Paniango, Teacher II at Datu Siang National High School, teaching is a commitment that goes beyond the four walls of the classroom. For 14 years of teaching in both private and public school, Sir Janus finds joy, fulfillment and pride in seeing his students learn and grow to become productive members of society. With the new learning mode – offline modular distance learning (also called blended learning for short), Sir Janus is handling a total of 62 grade 12 and 78 grade 11 students for the school year 20202021. In the offline modular distance learning, the students are required to join an online group messaging like Messenger or for those who can’t, they are given cellphones to contact and receive instructions from their teachers. They are also provided a module to read and answer. This week, The Mindanao Cross sits down with Sir Janus to talk about the challenges and issues teachers are facing in the new normal.

WHAT'S YOUR WEEK AND DAY LIKE AS A TEACHER? Each week we have a total of 70 minutes of contact hours with the students.

This

only

the

teaching

proper

kasi

meron

kaming

asynchronous na 60 minutes where the students can ask questions after you deliver the lessons in 70 minutes. In one day, ang schedule namin is half day lang. As per class program provided, we start the day by sending greetings or inspirational quotes through text messages at 7 in the morning. At 8 to 8:10 a.m. we check the attendance. My students will either send an emoticon or text present for their attendance. After this, I will now conduct the preliminary lesson and should they wish to ask questions or clarify lectures, they can send a text message to me.

WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED SO FAR? So far, ang naencounter ko lang are those students who do not have the means. Kasi may mga late enrollees na mula pa sa mga kalapit na municipalities

Sultan

Kudarat

and

Upi.

Dahil

tapos

nga

distribution ng modules, ang adjustment namin dito ay tanggapin sila. Pero sila na ang maghahanap ng paraan to reproduce the modules since we cannot provide additional for them dahil hindi na nga sila nakahabol sa enrolment.

OF THESE CHALLENGES, WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY? I think yung paghandle ng modules. We have modules coming from the national office. Ang problem is it is not contextualized in the capacity of our public school children here. In the national level mataas po ang kanilang competencies, but in our locality hindi ganoon ka-advance. So nahihirapan

umintindi

ang

mga

bata

since

this

self-learning

module. So kanya-kanyang gawa ang mga guro para ipaintindi yung lesson sa mga bata in order to bridge the gap. Kaya nga meron tayong localization

and

contextualization.

The

problem

naman

dito

dahil

kanya-kanyang gawa, may tendency na mag-exceed ang number of pages na gawa ng mga teachers. Mas Malaki ang nagagastos ng isang school in producing these modules, whereas kung pinondohan na lang ito ng national level, mas practical pa.

Basilan Gov. Jim Salliman told Mindanao Cross this week he and his constituents are proud of having three more doctors of medicine in the province, Nada Hasanin Abdulmalik Ukkung, Irshada Palentinos Hasan and Dalvin Roy Wong. “This proves that Basilan has indeed risen

from its image of a sotroubled province. We have produced many professionals in the past five years,” Salliman said. A number of Basilan residents have become licensed physicians, lawyers, engineers, pharmacists and medical technologists during the period.

Salliman, now in his second term as provincial governor, said one of the goals of his administration is to set up more learning institutions in remote areas in Basilan to sustain the improving peace and order in the island province. “Education is one of the solutions

Catamco regulates Tanod killed in cemetery visits latest Abu attack NORTH Cotabato Gov. Nancy Catamco, in response to recommendations of the Provincial Inter-Agency Task Force on Covid-19, has prohibited cemetery visits for a week. Catamco’s move was aimed at ensuring minimum health protocols are observed by the people of North Cotabato. The 8-day ban will start on Oct 28 and will last until Nov. 4. Board Member Philbert Malaluan, speaking for the provincial IATF, said included in the executive order signed by Gov. Catamco was the ban on visits or activities where people gather inside the cemeteries and memorial parks across the province.

ABU SAYYAF bandits fired assault rifles at a remote village in Patikul town in Sulu on Monday, killing a barangay tanod and sending villagers running for their lives. Reports reaching the capitol here of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao identified the fatality as Tali Lakibul, a member of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team in Barangay Igasan in Patikul, an Abu Sayyaf bastion. The group, blamed for all terror attacks in Sulu, a component province of BARMM, has a reputation for beheading Filipino and foreign captives if ransom demands are not met. Lt. Gen. Corleto Vinluan of

BARMM eyes buildings in region’s school-less villages

TWO HUNDRED barangays of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) have remained “school-less” in all 30 years of regional self-governance. Minister Mohagher Iqbal of the Bangsamoro Basic, Higher and Technical Education (BHTE), said he has been instructed by BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Al- Hadj Murad Ebrahim to address this education challenge in the one-year old BARMM. Architect Edward Uy Guerra, BARMM Minister of Public Works, assured that school buildings in BARMM’s school-less

areas, will be constructed on quality materials and craftsmanship. Iqbal said BARMM MBHTE is implementing school projects under Bangsamoro Abot Karunungan sa Pamilyang Bangsamoro (AKAP-Bangsamoro) Program to build, develop and establish schools in 200 barangays that have had no schools in many years. BARMM has 2,590 barangays and 200 of which have been mapped among the country’s geographical units where physically, schools do not exist, as validated by village officials and civil society organizations.

One of which is Barangay Tubak in Ampatuan, Maguindanao, one of the remotest of BARMM villages. For the Manobo natives, it takes them hours on beast-back (four hours back-and-forth by car) to travel to and from the town center, on unpaved winding and wavy logging road stretch. “Akap-Bangsamoro (Program) is designed to provide quality and accessible education to our geographically isolated and remote communities classified as unserved/ underserved of education services,” Iqbal said. Nash

B. Maulana

DISTANCE LEARNING PROVED TO BE A STRUGGLE FOR TEACHERS, LEARNERS AND PARENTS. WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO MAKE IT BEARABLE, IF NOT EASY? For teachers, have patience and be flexible with the changes. Marami man tayong natatanggap na reklamo, we just have to adjust and be patient

because

not

everything

will

smooth

sailing

the

new

normal. For the parents, be understanding and supportive. Lahat naman pare-parehong nahihirapan, they just have to be there to support their children. No matter how busy, don’t forget to follow up their children. For learners, just stay positive and see the beauty in each challenge.

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT ENROLLED THEIR CHILDREN YET, WHAT WOULD YOU ADVISE THEM? Education

must

continue.

Enrollment

naman

until

November.

Pwede pang humabol kahit late na. The teachers need the parents’ cooperation. It’s high time that the parents and teachers work hand in hand in this endeavor. Since nasa bahay ang mga bata, kailangan talaga nila ng guidance ng parents. They would really have to put a little sacrifice para hindi maputol yung momentum ng mga bata sa pag-aaral.

FOR EVERYBODY’S SAFETY. A Cotabato City government frontliner scans identification cards with QR code (abbreviated from Quick Response code) at the checkpoint near the Cotabato Chinese Institute. The Contact Tracing Scanner is now available at the App Store/Play Store, and can now be used without the need of an internet connection. Valerie Ann P. Lambo