THE MINDANAO TODAY DECEMBER 7-8, 2022

NorMin posts 46% disaster readiness

By Uriel Quilinguing Contributing Editor

FORTY-FIVE of 98 pro vincial, city, and mu nicipal governments in Northern Mindanao were recognized for their com

pliance of the Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act dur ing the “Gawad Kalasag” seal awarding rites at the Mallberry Hotel in Cagayan de Oro on Friday, Dec. 2, this year.

“We commend your fore sight, commitment, and exemplary leadership. May your efforts do not end here, but rather may these be tested by time for their effectiveness,” Raymundo Ferrer, Office of Civil De

fense administrator, who graced the occasion, said in a speech.

All 98 local governments – five provinces, nine cities and 83 municipalities – in the region were assessed

Driver in Oro highway tragedy charged

By Jigger Jerusalem Associate Editor

CRIMINAL complaints against the driver of the cargo truck that figured in a road crash that resulted to the deaths of six persons and the injury of 15 others in Barangay Agusan Mon

Buyers urged: Check ‘noche’ items’ prices first

By Franck Dick Rosete Correspondent

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Misamis Oriental is urging consum ers to conduct ‘price can

vassing’ on Noche Buena products prior going to the supermarkets and grocery stores to avail the needed items that would fit in the budget.

Almer Masillones, DTI

Misamis Oriental provincial director, in a media forum on Tuesday, December 6, made the remarks as there is a price increase on Noche Buena products nationwide based on the National Price

Guide issued by the DTI central office.

“We check our budget and we should make a list of the products that we want to purchase based on our

The St. Augustine Cathedral, the Gaston Park and the city hall building just across the street are bathed in colors when the city government of Cagayan de Oro launches the “Festival of Lights” Tuesday evening, Dec. 6. It is one of the major events leading up to the Yuletide celebration. (Photo courtesy of Rhoel Condeza)

A Roads and Traffic Administration

enforcer mans the traffic along the national highway, beside the trucks that figured in a road accident in Barangay Agusan Monday, Dec. 5, near the police station in Barangay Puerto. (Jigger Jerusalem | MT)

regions

COTABATO CITY – Law makers of the Bangsam oro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) kicked off Mon day simultaneous public consultations in the prov inces of Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi (BaSulTa) to expedite the passage of the region’s proposed elec toral and local governance codes.

Bangsamoro Transition

Authority (BTA) Speaker Pangalian Balindong said the consultations intend to "fine-tune the draft laws with stakeholders, and other sectors in the Ba SulTa area."

BARMM parliament members and statutory committees have earlier paid courtesy visits to the BaSulTa provincial gov ernments to ensure that all key stakeholders were

involved in the public con sultations.

The BTA, as the region’s interim lawmaking body, is mandated to ensure the passage of priority measures that include the BARMM’s administrative, revenue, electoral, local governance, education, civil service, and Indig enous Peoples Act codes.

Of the seven priority measures, three have been

Zambo City logs 141 leptospirosis cases with 26 deaths

ZAMBOANGA CITY –

The City Health Office (CHO) has recorded 141 cases of leptospirosis with 26 deaths since January this year.

“We have a total of 26 deaths reported that gives as a case fatality rate of 18 percent,” Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite, CHO chief, said Friday.

Miravite said most of the infected individuals are aged between 20 and 29, while 120 or 86 percent of the 141 cases are males.

Miravite said 62 of the 141 cases were recorded after the two-day down pour of Typhoon Paeng on Oct. 27-28.

Dr. Elmeir Jade Apoli nario, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Manage ment Office chief, said ear lier the flood affected 56 of this city’s 98 barangays.

Leptospiroris is caused by the Leptospira spiro chetes bacteria that is spread through rat urine.

Its mode of transmis sion includes wading in

contaminated floodwaters and ingesting contami nated food or water.

Miravite said most of the cases reported were in Barangay Tumaga, Pa sonanca, Guiwan, Tetuan, Tugbungan, Santa Maria, Ayala, Talon-Talon and Tulungatung.

Meanwhile, the local government has launched information sessions in different barangays amid the increasing cases of leptospirosis here. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr. | PNA)

4 ‘tired, hungry’ NPA rebels yield to Army in AgSur

By Alexander Lopez

BUTUAN CITY – Fa tigue and hunger forced four New People’s Army (NPA) rebels to surren der to the military in Agusan del Sur.

In a statement on Thursday, the Army’s 26th Infantry Battalion (IB) said the four rebels,

led by a certain “Airish”, were regular members of Platoon Sagay, NPA SubRegional Committee 3, North Central Mindanao Regional Committee.

The four yielded Wednesday afternoon at the 26IB headquarters in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur, and handed over two AK-47 rifles, a KG-9

submachine gun, and a Carbine rifle.

“They also longed to see their families and children whom they left for years after joining the NPA organization,” the 26IB said, as it laud ed the support of the community leaders who helped facilitate the sur render. (PNA)

enacted: the administra tive, civil service, and edu cation codes.

During his recent visit to the region, President Ferdinand R. Marcos was assured by BARMM Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim that the local governance and electoral codes will be enacted into law by the first quarter of 2023. (Edwin Fernandez | PNA)

Davao region vax rate at 87%

By Che Palicte

DAVAO CITY – At least 87 percent of the targeted population for coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) vaccination in Davao Re gion is now fully immu nized, the regional Depart ment of Health (DOH-11) office said Thursday.

In its weekly bulletin, DOH-11 said the figure equates to some 3,338,052 vaccinated individuals in the region as of Nov. 28.

The agency also said a total of 7,448,661 vaccine doses have been adminis tered in the region.

Around 94.7 percent or 3,594,646 individuals have received their first dose of the vaccine that included the single shot Johnson and Johnson jabs. (PNA)

3 Davao cacao farmers to compete in awards tilt in France

By Che Palicte

DAVAO CITY – Three ca cao farmers from Davao Region will represent the country in the International Cocoa Awards (ICA) during the Salon du Chocolat in Paris, France, next year.

Cacao farmers Judith Gabasa, Policarpo Enricoso, Jr. and Melinda Villaflor; all from this city, were selected

after being adjudged to have the best cacao products dur ing the recently concluded 2022 Philippine Cacao Qual ity Awards (PCQA).

The three were selected among the 10 cacao farmers in Davao Region as among those having the best quality cocoa yield.

In a statement Monday, Abel James Monteagudo, director of the Department

of Agriculture in Davao Re gion (DA-11), lauded the efforts of the cacao farmers for producing the best qual ity cocoa.

“Indeed, there’s oppor tunity in cacao,” he said, noting that the Salon du Chocolat in Paris is the big gest annual trade fair for the cocoa and chocolate industry worldwide.

Meanwhile, Monteagudo

also underscored the impor tance of PCQA in increasing awareness and promoting education on the cocoa value chain, saying this en hances opportunities.

He also acknowledged the contribution of the local cacao farmers in the recent declaration of Davao City as the “Chocolate and Cacao Capital of the Philippines.” (PNA)

2 most wanted persons, crime group member nabbed in Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY –

Authorities have arrested two most wanted persons and a crime group member in separate law enforce ment operations in the region, police officials said Friday.

Police identified the

arrested persons as Fran cis Chavez, 29; Donjie Medina, 27; and, Morsed Dumatu, 35.

Brig. Gen. Neil Alin sañgan, Police Regional Office-Zamboanga Pen insula (PRO-9) director, said Chavez was arrested

around 10:30 p.m. Thurs day at Barangay Balagon in Siay town, Zamboanga Sibugay province.

Chavez, the fourth most wanted person in Siay, has pending warrant of arrest for the crime of abduction with rape with no recom

mended bail.

Meanwhile, Medina, a militiaman, was arrested around 11 a.m. Wednes day at Barangay Mag camiguing in Calamba town, Misamis Occidental province.

Alinsañgan said Me

dina, who is facing two counts of attempted homi cide charges, is the number 10 most wanted person of Sergio Osmeña town, Zam boanga del Norte.

Moreover, Col. Diorma rie Albarico, Zamboanga del Sur police director,

said Damatu, a member of the Anwar Ansang crime group, was arrested in an intelligence-driven operation around 8:35 p.m. Wednesday in Sitio Quarry, Barangay Benu atan, Dinas town. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr. | PNA)

Stakeholders in Basilan wait for the start of public consultations. (Photo courtesy of BTA-BARMM)

Zamboanga City's Risk Communications Team launches information sessions in different barangays. (Photo courtesy of City Hall PIO)

Four fighters of the communist New People’s Army surrender to the Army. (Photo courtesy of 26IB).

Cacao farmers will represent the country at the ICA in Paris, France, next year. (Photo courtesy of DA-11)

Hospitality mgmt

CAMIGUIN – The Camiguin School of Arts and Trades recently con ducted a training induction program for its first batch of trainees in the threeyear Diploma Program in Hospitality Management Technology at CSAT TM 1 Room.

The diploma program is based on RA 10968, otherwise known as the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) Act.

The PQF Act, which en

technology

courages lifelong learning, provides a quality assured national system for the development, recognition, and award of qualifications based on the standards of knowledge, skills, and values acquired in different ways and methods by learn ers and workers educated/ trained in the Philippines.

The program offers tech-voc trainees, grad uates, and middle-level workers better chances to qualify for jobs with bigger

pioneers

responsibilities.

It also provides more opportunities for workers and tech-voc graduates to upgrade their qualifi cations or continue their education in college.

With the goal of provid ing quality relevant techni cal education and training and producing graduates with increased capabilities for employment and entre preneurial ventures as well as well-equipped individu als with the management

in Camiguin undergo TESDA training

and customer service skills required to succeed in a hos pitality management career on the island and across the globe, the institution acted in accordance with the man date and officially started the training, October 17.

The trainees were given an overview of the pro gram, as well as the rules and regulations, as well as the laws that they must fol low throughout their edu cational journey. (TESDA | PIA-10 | Camiguin)

World Vision honors partners of Urban Child Protection and Participation Project

By Apipa Bagumbaran

MARAWI CITY – World Vision Philippines recog nized the efforts of its partners for the successful year 1 of the Urban Child Protection and Participa tion Project (UCPPP).

Officials and rep resentatives of the City Schools Division of Marawi (CSDM), Ministry of In terior and Local Govern ment (MILG)-Marawi City, Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Educa tion-Technical Education and Skills Development (MBHTE-TESD), Philip pine Information Agency, and the City Government of Marawi, including its City Health Office, City Social Welfare and Devel opment Office, and City

Disaster Risk Reduction and Management received a plaque of appreciation in a ceremony held at the City Hall Complex on Sunday, November 27.

Barangay leaders as well as school partners and children peace clubs from the five barangays covered by the project also received a plaque during the said event.

World Vision Opera tions Manager Beth Del gado thanked the orga nization's partners and the project's stakeholders from barangays Malimono, Rapasun, Tuca Ambolong, and Cadayonan 1 and 2 for their support in making the first year of the project a success.

She highlighted that the strength of the project

was the strong partnership between World Vision and its stakeholders and part ners, especially the City Government.

“We are happy looking at you reflecting on what we have done for the past year. Let's do this second year more beautiful, and

progressive, and reach out to many,” she said.

UCPPP started on Octo ber 2021 to strengthen the capacities of urban fragile communities in improving the well-being of children.

Specifically, it seeks to improve children's learn ing outcomes and access

to education services and increase participation in education initiatives; pro tect children from all forms of violence and impacts of natural and man-made di sasters; and improve chil dren's health and nutrition status through access to primary health care, nutri tion, and WASH services.

To date, the project has benefitted 6,559 individu als.

Delgado said they will be strengthening their in terventions on health and nutrition in the second year of the project. Ad ditional livelihood for vul nerable parents and more WASH and health facilities will also be provided.

Meanwhile, City Schools Division Super intendent (CSDS) Anna

Zenaida Unte-Alonto con veyed her gratitude to World Vision for continu ously looking after the wel fare of children in Marawi.

“We are very thankful kasi [because] you will be giving another year to continue with the dif ferent interventions that you have rendered for our kids,” she said.

The CSDS pointed out that the aid they are get ting from World Vision is a great help to the Division in addressing the needs of displaced learners, reiter ating that education is not normal yet in the Marawi Schools Division until the last learner is transitioned to a regular permanent school in ground zero.

(APB | PIA-10 | Lanao del Sur)

LGU Marawi improving constituents' access to healthcare

MARAWI CITY – The lo cal government unit (LGU) of Marawi continues to reach out to its constitu ents to address their basic health needs.

Apart from the con struction of barangay health facilities, the LGU through the City Health Office is also conducting regular medical outreach to respond to the medical needs of barangays that do not yet have accessible facilities within their reach.

The outreach dubbed MUGSerbisyo sa Baran gay provides free medical and dental consultations including medicines and vaccinations.

CHO Officer Dr. Ali Dalidig said their commit ment is to hold the MUGS erbisyo sa Barangay twice

a month.

The latest round was held in Barangay Papan dayan on November 23 focusing on the medical needs and well-being of children in line with the celebration of National Children's Month.

Aside from the medical services, the children also enjoyed free toys and ice cream treats.

The MUGSerbisyo in Papandayan also coincided with the opening of the ba rangay's Rural Health Unit (RHU), a project under the Marawi Recovery, Rehabil itation and Reconstruction Program implemented by the Ministry of Health in partnership with the city government. (APB | PIA10 | Lanao del Sur)

The Camiguin School of Arts and Trades conducts a training induction program for its first batch of trainees. (TESDA-10)

Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra distributes toys to children in Barangay Papandayan during the recent MUGSerbisyo sa Barangay program of the CHO. (APB | PIA-10 | Lanao del Sur)

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First Sunday of Advent

(2nd of 2 parts)

5. THE Advent of wreath – Today, the set ting up of Advent Wreaths in parish churches has become a regular Advent practice.

The idea originated in the 16th century among German Lutherans. But the modern Advent Wreath with its candles representing the Sundays of Advent took shape only in 1839.

This was the work of the German Protestant Pastor Johann Hinrich Wichern to catechize poor children as they waited for Christmas.

The round shape of the wreath symbolizes God’s eternity and the lighted candles bring light, hope and peace.

The 5th candle in the middle of the wreath is the Christ Candle.

The 4 other candles may be interpreted as the 4 stages of human history: creation, Incar nation, Redemption, and Last Judgment.

Or they can mean the stages of salvation before the coming of the Mes siah: the forgiveness of Adam and Eve, the faith of Abraham and of the Patriarchs, the Davidic Covenant and the joy of

David, and the Messiah’s reign of justice and peace.

6. Even as we say, “Come, Lord Jesus,” we have to prepare his way.

Let us think of the pos sible barriers for his com ing to our homes and families.

Are there hostilities, a lack of kindness and love, perhaps broken relation ships in our families?

Is there a silent un declared war with some neighbors?

Is our community a safe and peaceful place? And we look into our selves, the need to be reconciled with God be cause of disordered pas sions, pride, selfishness, unkindness.

Advent is a time to break down the barriers and straighten the way of the Lord into our families, our neighborhood, our community, and into our hearts.

The Church offers the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation to us as the way to straighten the path of the Lord.

7. An Invocation for Advent – Maranatha! Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! May we grow in grace and abound in love for one another. Prayers, best wishes, God bless! (MindaNews)

In the service of the King

(1st of 2 parts)

OUR King “is the im age of the unseen God.”

In him, “all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invis ible: thrones, rulers, au thorities, powers. All was made through him and for him. He is before all and all things hold together, in him …. Through him, God willed to reconcile all things to himself, and … through his blood shed on the cross, God estab lishes peace, on earth as in heaven.”

Behold the King who seeks not to be served upon, but to serve!

Is it not time we be come servants of this great servant King?

May we say to the Christ, “We are your bone and flesh. … You shall be the shepherd … you shall be commander” “the head of the body, that is the Church.”

Thus, reconciled and at peace, filled with the love and mercy of God:

We can become totally trusting of his will, ever certain that whatever he lovingly desires and allows to happen for us, will be for our common good.

We will always yearn

for the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ whom we love and adore, ever mindful of never losing him in the midst of worldly concerns.

We will be committed to follow our Master un conditionally in a life of selfless sacrifice, dedicated to the service of others, in spite of our own personal sufferings.

We are ever hopeful that sharing in the suffer ings of the world for our Lord will culminate in a sharing in his inheritance – eternal glory under the reign of God.

We, through the guid ance of the Holy Spirit, will be continuously strength ened to be devoted to fol low our Savior’s teachings about the way to love.

We willingly accept Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ also as our own Blessed Mother, sharing in her joys, sor rows and ultimate glory.

We will remain devoted to the saints of the Church, disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ who through the dynamic turbulence of his tory, kept alive his timeless and universal message of love for all humanity.

Therefore, these are my resolutions for the new liturgical year:

HI there!

Cagayan de Oro City is a bustling metropolis with a population of 786,000 and an annual growth rate of 2.08% in 2022.

It is projected that in 2030 its population will go as many as 1 mil lion, according to macrotrends.net.

Indeed, since its inception as a city in 1950 and declared as highly urbanized in 1983.

Cagayan de Oro has progressed beyond leaps and bounds, far beyond what our ancestors could imagine.

Cagayan de Oro’s population growth and economic progress will have dire consequences in the next ten years.

As the city pushes towards a more robust economic development, an influx of migrants pushes the decline of the city’s history due to the lack of historical education and critical awareness.

Three problems I see contribute to the possible downfall, the lack of

teaching local his tory in the educa tional system, the lack of scholarship in the evolving his torical evolution of the city, and the government’s lack of competent personnel to drive new historical local research.

The current educational sys tem contributes to the downfall of Cagayan de Oro’s local history. Since introducing the K12 in 2014, the top bureaucrats in our educational sys tem have abolished Philippine history in Junior and Senior High Schools.

With the abolition of Philippine history in high school, our youth is growing up with no sense of history, and if they do, they learn trivially and further the demise of local history.

Second, Cagayan de Oro City has a rich history; pre-Hispanic, Span ish colonial, American colonial, and World War II, and her modern history is admirably remarkable.

Nonetheless, no updated schol arly literature or academic historical research on the city’s history exists.

Educational, historical literature is sourced from local Kagay-anon historians whose publications are considered old.

Concerning local historians who write historical columns or blogs, which I highly respect, the new breed of Kagay-anons needs updated, academically published historical materials readily available to a public repository.

With the exemption of some local politicians who value local history by creating their own heritage commit tee or passing legislation promoting local history and heritage, local historical commissions are crucial in historical research.

Historical and cultural commis sions facilitate the preservation of the historical, cultural, political, and economic history of Cagayan de Oro.

The absence of an updated schol arly historical article explains the passivity of historical commissions involved in historical research.

The lack or ignorance of historical research will lead to the demise of the city’s historical cause.

In the end, the unassertiveness of these members would eventually lead to future Kagay-anons, “local historical ignorance.”

Appreciation and a deep under standing of local history are crucial to nationhood.

If institutions established by the government never actively involve

Cagayan de Oro is a progressive metro with a dying history

ECONOMY

SEC cracks down on Silverlion investment scam

THE Securities and Ex change Commission (SEC) continues its crackdown against unauthorized in vestment schemes as it busted the operations of Silverlion Livestock Trad ing Corp. in Zamboanga City.

In a joint operation on November 26, the com bined forces of the SEC Zamboanga Extension Of fice (ZEO) and the Na tional Bureau of Investiga tion-9 (NBI-9) successfully implemented a search war rant against Silverlion in its offices at Apolinario Loop, Guiwan and Green Valley National Highway, Brgy. Manicahan, both in Zamboanga City.

The Zamboanga City Regional Trial Court Branch 15 issued the search warrants against Silverlion for violations of

Section 8.1, 26, and 28 of Republic Act No. 8799, or the Securities Regulation Code (SRC), in relation to Republic Act No. 10175, otherwise known as the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012.

The SEC ZEO and NBI-9 were able to seize bundles of cash, vouchers, and other device in Silverlion’s office, which were suppos edly scheduled to be used for the upcoming payout of profits to its existing investors.

The SEC ZEO filed crim inal cases for violation of the SRC against Silverlion’s incorporators, officers and agents identified as Ryan Cagod Ladoing, Renan Lara Ladoing, Rosemarie Alvarez Guzman, Neña Ewayan Algoy, John Paul Dellara Lopez and Michael Villalobos Berja before the

inquest prosecutor of the Office of the City Prosecu tor of Zamboanga City.

Ryan Ladoing has also been involved in the in vestment scam RGS World Marketing, which was the subject of a cease-anddesist order (CDO) and advisory issued by the SEC earlier this year.

Upon application by the Enforcement and Investor Protection Department, the Commission En Banc on November 17 issued a CDO against Silverlion, enjoining the group to stop soliciting investments from the public without the necessary licenses from the Commission.

The CDO was simul taneously served on the company together with a show-cause order issued by the EIPD, directing the company to explain why its

registration as a corpora tion should not be revoked for serious misrepresenta tion as to what it can do or is doing to the great prejudice of or damage to the general public.

Investigations by the SEC ZEO showed that Silverlion had been offer ing and selling investment packages to the public with guaranteed returns of 35% within just 15 days.

With this, investments ranging from P1,000 to P100,000 could yield re turns worth P1,300 to P130,000, respectively.

The scheme involves the sale and offer of secu rities to the public in the form of investment con tracts, whereby a person invests his money in a com mon enterprise and is led to expect profits primarily from the efforts of others,

according to the SEC.

Section 8 of the SRC provides that securities shall not be sold or offered for sale or distribution within the Philippines, without a registration statement duly filed with and approved by the SEC.

The SEC continues to be more proactive in its fight against illegal investmenttaking activities.

This year, the SEC has already issued 82 adviso

ries against groups and individuals found to be soliciting investments from the public without the necessary license from the Commission.

Earlier this month, the Commission also issued an advisory against Frutas Comida Zamboanga, an other unauthorized invest ment scheme in the region, in an effort to stop the public from investing in the group. (PR | SEC CDOEO)

SM Supermalls nationwide offers faster GCash scan-to-pay payments

IN response to the call of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for the digitalization of payments for safer and more efficient transactions, SM Supermalls, has partnered with GCash, the country’s no. 1 financial app, to enable GCash QR payments across all SM malls nationwide, includ ing supermarkets, food and retail merchants as well as services such as cin ema and parking, among others.

Through this partner ship, GCash scan-to-pay transactions via fast and efficient QR payment op tions are now available across SM malls.

“Shopping for food and essentials and other items in the new normal has changed for many. More than ever, customers val ue safety, efficiency, and convenience. This is what GCash aims to provide Fili pinos through our valued partnership with SM in line

with our vision of financial inclusion for all. We are excited to collaborate with SM to offer a safe shop ping experience to millions of Filipinos nationwide,” said Martha Sazon, GCash president and CEO.

Since 2019, GCash has been in partnership with SM to make customers’ shopping experience and transactions safer, faster, and easier with cash in, cash out, and scan-to-pay options.

They had also previ ously enabled scan-to-pay

options via static QR codes and terminals, which are still available for customers to choose from.

With its partnership with GCash, SM has also proven itself a strong pro ponent of a more cashlite society highlighted by the National Strategy on Financial Inclusion of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

To date, 8 out of 10 stores in SM Supermalls nationwide are already accepting various forms of cashless payments, includ

ing QRPh and contactless cards for in-store and web pay for SM Malls Online with merchants such as food, retail and supermar kets now accepting digital payments via GCash.

Other mall services in cluding parking, ice skat ing, cinema ticket booths, and other activities can now be paid cashless via

GCash.

For more convenient and affordable shopping, GCash users can also use GCredit and GGives, which are both available on the GCash app.

GCredit offers a credit line for up to P30,000 with zero annual fees. All you need is 1 valid ID and be at least 21 years old.

GGives is an installment payment option for up to 24 months for items priced up to P125,000 with an interest as low as 0%. Not yet on GCash? The GCash app is available for free on the Google Play Store, App Store, and Hua wei AppGallery.

For more information, visit www.gcash.com. (PR)

BFAR-10 bares coastal challenge winners

CAGAYAN DE ORO

CITY – As winners of the “Challenge for Change Pro gram: CDO Limpyo Dagat,” four of the city’s coastal barangays received prizes in support of their Coastal Resource Management (CSM) projects funded by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-10 (BFAR-10).

Barangay Gusa bagged 1st place in the category with cooperators receiving P50,000 worth of Informa tion Education and Com munication (IEC) materi als on waste segregation and support of its clean-up drives.

Barangay Bayabas placed 2nd with P30,000 worth of funds for its re

habilitation of the MPA floating guard house.

Lastly, Barangay Bulua finished at 3rd place with P20,000 worth to support its IEC materials produc tion and clean-up drives.

Martin Monico Gadri nas, Gusa village councilor, thanked the bureau and the rest of the stakeholders involved in this program.

“Dakong tabang kin ing mga gamit para maprotektahan namo ang among dagat batok water pollution. Daghang sala mat sa tanang suporta,” Gadrinas said.

Bugo, on the other hand, is the sole winner in the category without cooperators.

The barangay also re

ceived P50,000 worth of funds for its coastal area's development and enhance ment program and solid waste management.

“I would like to see you, the BLGU and MLGU, work together to manage your waters. Naa rami (BFAR10) andam nga maghatag og assistance ninyo al ways,” assured Teodoro Bacolod Jr., BFAR-10 re gional director.

The “Challenge for Change Program: CDO Limpyo Dagat” is in part nership with the Depart ment of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of So cial Welfare and Develop ment (DSWD).(BFAR-10)

The SEC continues to be more proactive in its fight against illegal investment-taking activities. (Photo supplied)

GCash partners with the Philippines' biggest mall operator, SM Supermalls, to further boost the BSP's efforts in promoting cashless payments in the country. (Photo supplied)

PLDT, Smart expand nationwide network to serve more barangays

LEADING integrated telco network PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. have further expanded their fiber and wireless networks, serving more ba rangays across the country.

As of end-September, PLDT had rolled out its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network to 17,000 ba rangays, up 24% from end-2021. This represents about 40% of the total ba rangays in the Philippines.

The PLDT Group is also looking to further ramp up its network rollout in Mindanao.

PLDT is adding around 6,000 fiber ports particu larly in Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao

del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental and Davao City, and more Smart wire less sites, within the year.

Meanwhile, in the first nine months of the year, Smart has also beefed up its network in Northern Mindanao, rolling out ad ditional sites and base stations in the cities of Cagayan de Oro (CDO) and Iligan, and additional LTE base stations in the provinces of Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte.

Among those who have benefited from this acceler ated roll out is CDO-based nurse, Graceley Anne San doval, whose work with the Department of Health

- Northern Mindanao re quires her to visit health fa cilities all over the region.

“As a Health Program officer, technology is very important to me because I coordinate with various stakeholders to address concerns with their facil ity. Timely communication is vital. It has helped me both professionally and personally – I can now do video calls with my kids every time I am away. With Smart, I can com municate with ease, may it be through call, SMS or the internet. We have also enjoyed PLDT Home’s fast internet connection especially for the online classes of my kids and my online meetings,” Sando

val shared.

“Our stepped-up rollout in Mindanao and across the country is aligned with our commitment to deliver leveled-up services to more Filipinos nationwide,” said Eric Santiago, PLDT Net work Head.

As of end-September, Smart had deployed 77,200 base stations, including 7,300 5G base stations and close to 40,000 4G/ LTE base stations. Smart’s network covers 97% of the population with 3G, LTE, and 5G.

Smart's mobile network is supported by PLDT's fiber infrastructure, the most extensive in the coun try.

As of end-September,

PLDT had expanded its to tal fiber footprint to about 1,091,000 kilometers, con sisting of over 231,000

kilometers of international fiber and almost 860,000 kilometers of domestic fiber. (PR)

Bangsamoro Women laud improvements in regional gender equality issues

COTABATO CITY –

“Babae ka! Hindi ‘Babae lang’!” enthused Bangsam oro Women Commission (BWC) Chairperson Bai non Karon in her 4th State of the Bangsamoro Women Address (SOBWA). This is a cry that she

hopes will break the ste reotypes, and apparent misconception, that Is lamic governments treat women like second-class citizens.

Karon’s address was the kick-off to an 18-day government sponsored

campaign to end violence against women (VAW). She likewise shared achieve ments of the BWC and how it has been steadfast in mainstreaming gender and development (GAD) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mind anao (BARMM).

“On raising awareness and building capacities of planners, policy, and decision-makers on gender and development, I am happy to share that since 2019 to present, the BWC has organized and con ducted a series of training and workshops for all the ministries and offices on

gender and development,” Karon said.

She also pointed out how the Covid-19 pan demic did little to hamper their progress over the past two years because ‘our min istries, offices, and agen cies have hired competent people to do the job.’

To date, 29 ministries, offices, and agencies have been oriented and activat ed on basic GAD concepts, legal imperatives, genderresponsive policy-making and budgeting, gender in Islam, preparation of GAD plans and budgets, and submission of GAD accomplishment reports

including coaching and mentoring.

The BWC is also work ing together with differ ent civil society organiza tions to provide education about practical gender concepts, rights of men and women in Islam, and the many legal protections that women and young girls have against all forms of violence.

Chief Minister Ahod Ebrahim, in a video mes sage during the kick-off ceremonies, expressed his congratulations, and re inforced the Bangsamoro Government’s support and recognition for the crucial

contribution of women in strengthening communi ties, raising and nurturing families, and building na tions.

“I affirm that women should be given extra pro tection,” said Ebrahim.

“I applaud the Bangsam oro Women Commis sion for organizing this event that demonstrates the Bangsamoro govern ment’s sincerity in defend ing the rights and welfare of Bangsamoro women and empowering them to lead and protect them selves from various forms of abuse,” he concluded.

(PR)

AboitizPower, Meralco partner to bring medical services to Cavite economic zone

ABOITIZ Power Corpora tion (AboitizPower) and Manila Electric Company (MERALCO), two of the country’s leading power companies, recently part nered to mount a medi cal mission for over 200 employees and their de pendents at the Cavite Economic Zone (CEZ).

The event is part of Cardinal Santos Medi cal Center’s Hospital on Wheels initiative and sup ported by Meralco Ecozone Power, One Meralco Foun dation, and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority

(PEZA).

“Covid-19 remains a threat and we need to keep our guards up by having all the vaccines and medical resources accessible espe cially to the communities we work with,” said Obet Galang, Meralco Ecozone Power general manager.

The companies and or ganizations joined forces to address the medical needs of the CEZ com munity.

“We thank AboitizPow er and One Meralco Foun dation for supporting us in

A volunteer assists in registering beneficiaries for the medical mission organized by AboitizPower and MERALCO through the Cardinal Santos Medical Center’s Hospital on Wheels initiative. (Photo supplied)

MINDANAO TODAY

HOROSCOPES

ARIES (Mar. 21- A pr. 19) — You may be reluctant to commit to anything major today, Aries. Your natural tendency is to look askance at those who promise grand and wonderful things. You're smart to question such talk. Don't be surprised if someone's new idea garners all the acclaim. Don't buy into it without first hearing the facts. It isn't a good day for you to gamble, either.

TAURUS (Apr. 20-May 20) — This may be one of those days when you feel completely alone even if there are hundreds of people around, Taurus. No one seems to understand your perspective. Your incredible sensitivity and emotionalism are putting you in a category all your own. Try not to ostracize yourself from the group. Reach out instead of pulling away. You have more in common with other people than you think.

GEMINI (May 21 -June 20) — Balance your boisterous, adventurous nature with a bit of discipline today, Gemini. It's important to laugh, but it's also important to stay on task with your duties. The good news is that both of these things can work in tandem. They aren't mutually exclusive. In fact, one will help you achieve the other. Be serious but have a good time and keep things in perspective.

CANCER (June 21 -July 22) — There may be a thousand things for you to do today, Cancer, but you can only get them done if you concentrate on one at a time. Take a lighthearted approach. You will never finish by focusing on the sheer amount of work you have to do. Break it up into smaller pieces and delegate tasks if you can. Try to see the fun side of things. Schedule in breaks and snacks.

LEO (July 23 -Aug. 22) — No matter what you're doing today, have fun, Leo. Whistle a tune. Turn the stereo up to full volume and dance around the kitchen as you make dinner. You can find amusement in just about anything, so keep this in mind as you tackle even the menial tasks. You're responsible for your own attitude, so don't blame anyone else for a sour mood. Turn yourself around and have fun.

VIRGO (Aug 23 - S ep. 22) — You might need to spend time alone in order to reset your programming, Virgo. Other people's influence may be seeping into your psyche. There's no reason to always do or say what other people dictate. Your sensitivity helps you understand things about others, but it can also bring you down if you start to take on their burdens. Try to counterbalance this tendency with more of your own energy.

LIBRA (Sep. 23 - O ct. 22) — You will find that discipline, organization, and a bit of a dramatic flair are exactly the things needed to be successful today, Libra. Just because you have to be practical doesn't mean that you have to be stern and grumpy. Remember that taking care of serious matters can actually be fun as long as you maintain a positive attitude about the situation. A smile goes a long way.

SCORPIO (Oct. 3 -Nov. 21) — You might find it difficult to deal with people on an emotional level today, Scorpio. Others could seem too demanding of your attention and want to keep the focus on themselves. At the same time, you will probably need a bit more attention than usual. Try not to be so stubborn! Give people the love they need, and you will find that the love you require will come to you as well.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 -Dec. 21) — You might find your emotions a bit dampened today, Sagittarius, but this may not be a bad thing. Try not to blow things out of proportion so much. Don't feel that you need to turn every small story into a major headline. There's no need to exaggerate the truth just to get more attention. Take a more reserved approach to your actions and reactions to all situations.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 - Jan. 19) — Make sure you get your daily dose of laughter and try to come out of your shell a bit more, Capricorn. This is an important time for you to let go of your inhibitions and open up to the world. You may find that there's a sober tone to your emotions, but you can overcome this easily as long as you keep your chin up. There's no reason for you to be gloomy.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 - Feb. 18) — This is an important day for you to give thanks for all that you have, Aquarius. Give your loved ones extra hugs and let them know how much they mean to you. If things start to get a bit too serious and somber, you're the one who can pull others out of the rut. There is no need to be sad when you have so much to be happy about.

PISCES ( Feb. 19 - Mar. 20) — Maintain a positive attitude, Pisces, and things will naturally flow your way. Tell a few jokes and keep things light and energetic. You will find that you can multitask very well, and you have the ability to make everyone smile. Don't shy away from things - move toward them. Put away your self-doubt and be more proactive in your approach to everything you encounter.

DRIVER | from p1 day, Dec. 5, has already been filed at the city prosecutor’s office Tuesday, Dec. 6, po lice said.

Cpl. Rodulfo Abaday, investigator at the Puerto Police Station, said the truck driver, Julieto Telen, was charged with reckless impru dence resulting in multiple homicide, physical injuries, and damage to properties.

BUYERS | from p1

budget; and we canvass the price,” Masillones said.

“The product price may vary depending on the area, especially that we empha size that these Noche Buena products are not basic neces sities and prime commodi ties,” she added.

According to the DTI, there are only 12 considered Noche Buena items based on the national price guide this year, which is composed of 223 stock keeping units (SKUs) - different varieties

DISASTER | from p1 earlier by a team from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Manage ment Council (RDRRMC) for compliance of Republic Act 101201.

Roughly 46 percent of the local governments were recognized with “Gawad Kalasag” seals for excellence in DRRM and humanitar ian assistance. “Kalasag” is an acronym that stands for “KAlamidad at Sakuna LAbanan, Sariling Galing ay Kaligtasan.”

In the same speech, Fer rer dared the local chief ex ecutives who, by operation of law, chair the councils, and LDRRMO heads present to “be relentless in reinvent ing your strategies to remain responsive to the changing demands of the DRRM land scape.”

This, he said, should not simply for achieving the dis tinction of ‘Gawad Kalasag’ seals but for the ultimate goal of keeping people safe in the midst of threats, al ways vigilant for more pow erful typhoons that bring in destructive floods and landslides.

LDRRMCs and LDRRMOs must constantly prepare for “rapid intensification of typhoons” and “chang ing patterns” as well as for other natural hazards, and be ready in disaster response just in case earthquakes, tsunami, and volcanic erup tion occur.

Ferrer said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has been detect ing through its sensors an average of 20 tremors in a day, averaging between magnitudes of 3.0 to 5.0, mostly of tectonic origins.

Although only four vol canoes – which could cause earthquakes and tsunamis

SANCHEZ | from p4

and commit themselves to pure historical research, local history will be recycled or left inside the dustbins, forgotten to rot.

Well, I still not falling into a hopeless case that if promoting local history is beyond politics but geared directly not to relive the past, what has it contributed to the

According to the police, the truck Telen was driving, loaded with chicken, col lided with a smaller truck filled with 20 passengers at the national highway in Agu san early Monday morning.

Abaday identified the fatalities as Alving Escab arte, 40, the driver; Manilyn Banuag, 35; Vernon Banuag, 76; Jasmine Santos; Elmer Banuag, and Mark Gabriel dela Cruz.

and sizes.

The 12 considered Noche Buena products are ham, fruit cocktail, cheese, keso de bola, mayonnaise, sand wich spread, pasta, elbow macaroni, salad macaroni, spaghetti sauce, tomato sauce and cream.

Masillones did not specify the exact price increase in every product, however, she said out of the 223 SKUs, 193 of which have increased from one to 10 percent.

“The attributed the in crease is because of the usual factors and especially,

once restive – are currently under alert levels, namely; Taal (1), Bulosan (1), Kan laon (1), and Mayon (2), yet Camiguin’s Hibok-Hibok which erupted in 1948 to 1952 must also be studied for its probability of becom ing restive again.

Earlier, Antonio Sugarol, OCD-10 regional director, said the coronavirus dis ease outbreak has, in the past years (2020 and 2021) had restricted their – and that of the LDRRMCs and LDRRMOs – ability to do so many things.

“Just as we started to get a handle of the Covid-19 cas es, tropical cyclone Odette occurred which brought further miseries to our peo ple and communities,” said Sugarol, but these made them even more vigilant and constantly prepared for any situation.

Gilbert Conde, OCD-10 assistant regional director, said local governments has to set up more evacuation centers for TC Odette to observe distancing health protocol and must provide hand-washing facilities.

“A facility that used to take in 1,500 evacuees, will only be occupied by 500, so we need to look for two more,” Conde said, adding that even the family and food packs are to be picked up individually by claimants.

Awardees

Of the 45 awardees, eight have been found to be “be yond compliant” while 37 were “fully compliant” of Republic Act 10121 – or ganization of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (DRRMC) and cre ation of Local DRRM Offices (LDRRMO).

Cited for being “beyond compliant” are the provinces of Lanao del Norte and Misa mis Occidental; Valencia

present that could lead us to a promising future. From the start of this column, by 2030, Cagayan de Oro’s population will expectedly reach one mil lion inhabitants, primarily in-migrants.

If local history does not flourish in the next five years, Cagayan de Oro will become a progressive metro with a dead local history.

The police investigator said those who died on the spot lost their lives due to the impact of the crash.

Abaday said the victims came from Zamboanga del Sur to attend the funeral of their relative there and were on their way to Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental when the accident happened.

In an interview, Jabagat said he was en route to the city center while the other

the imported and even the local raw materials that are necessary in the produc tion,” she added.

The provincial director, however, reminded the pub lic that the prices issued by the agency are just refer ence and not mandatory, as the Noche Buena products are not considered as basic necessities and prime com modities.

“And we are also unable to pursue formal charge in case in violation of the guide as they are not part of the basic necessities and prime

City and Impasug-ong town of Bukidnon; Lanao del Norte’s Tubod, Kolambugan, Kapatagan, and Sultan Naga Dimaporo municipalities.

Among five provinces, Bukidnon got 14 “Gawad Kalasag” seals for “fully compliant” and these are the municipalities of Cabangla san, Kadingilan, Kalilangan, Kitaotao, Lantapan, Libona, Malitbog, Manolo Fortich, Maramag, Pangantucan, Quezon, San Fernando, and Sumilao as well as Malayba lay City. Bukidnon received GK seal as “fully compliant” province.

Mambajao and Sagay towns of Camiguin received “fully complaint” recogni tions.

Aside from the four ear lier mentioned as awardees, seven other towns and Iligan City were assessed as “fully compliant” in Lanao del Norte and these are Bacolod, Balo-i, Baroy, Kauswagan, Maigo, Matungao, and Sa pad.

Regional capital Cagayan de Oro City and Gingoog City are also “fully compli ant” together with Opol, Tagoloan, and Villanueva towns, all in Misamis Ori ental.

Adjudged “fully compli ant” towns in Misamis Oc cidental are Aloran, Calam ba, Jimenez, Lopez Jaena, Plaridel, Sinacaban, and Tudela.

Special awards were also given to the Volunteer Orga nization of Camiguin Poly technic State College, Iligan City-based Ecosystem Work for Essential Benefits Inc., and the Government Emer gency Management (GEM) Response Team of Tagoloan town, Misamis Oriental.

Compliance

Aside from organizing the LDRRMCs and its recomposition, the provincial,

Remember, we are our own history. (MT)

(Ryan Albert Ignacius “RAI” Bollozos Sanchez, 40, is a native of Cagayan de Oro City. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History and currently finishing his Master of Arts in History at Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan. He is currently a full-time faculty in the Depart ment of General Education

truck was going in the op posite direction.

Jabagat claimed he tried to put a brake on his vehicle but the other truck rammed his vehicle.

Abaday said in the course of the police investigation Jabagat’s employer did not reach out to the police or the victims’ families.

“If the truck’s owner wants to settle, they can do so in court,” he added. (MT)

commodities as enumerated under the Price Act,” Masil lones added.

If the manufacturers pro vide a suggested retail price (SRP) on their Noche Buena products, they just have to notify the DTI at least one month before the effective ness of the price, she added.

The said agency already distributed the price guides to all supermarkets and gro cery stores across the prov ince of Misamis Oriental, especially in Cagayan de Oro City which is the business center in the region.

city, and municipal govern ments must have crafted and adopted their respective LDRRM plans, including the integration of climate change adaptation, and di saster response strategies, as provided for under Section 11 of R.A. 101201.

LDRRMCs must have also tapped civil society, volun teer organizations and aca demic institutions engaged in environmental protection, disaster preparedness and emergency response.

Even the Barangay DRRMCs must have been formed and linked to the Municipal DRRMC and City DRRMCs.

The LDRRMOs, under Section 12 of R.A. 101201 must have, among others, regular budget, an operation center, regular personnel and responders, a data base and an information system, contingency plan, opera tional warning system, and updated hazard maps.

LDRRM councils and of fices focus and operate on four disaster concerns with lead agencies:

Department of Science and Technology on disaster prevention and mitigation, Department of Interior and Local Government on disas ter preparedness, Depart ment of Social Welfare and Development on disaster response and early recovery, and the National Economic and Development Authority on recovery and rehabilita tion.

OCD-10’s Sugarol chairs the RDRRMC-10 with DOST10 Undersecretary and Offi cer-in-Charge Sancho Mab borang, DILG-10 Director Wilhelm Suyko, DSWD-10 Director Ramel Jamen, and NEDA-10 Director Mylah Faye Cariño as chairpersons. (MT)

and Interdisciplinary Studies in Xavier Ateneo – teaching Readings in Philippine His tory, The Life, Works and Writings of Jose Rizal, and Interdisciplinary Studies sub jects. He taught part-time at the Liceo de Cagayan Univer sity teaching Southeast Asian History and Government, and U.S. Government and Foreign Policy. You may reach him at rsanchez@xu.edu.ph)

DTI, Normin local designers open Lunâ, an artisanal boutique café

By Jasper Marie Rucat CAGAYAN DE ORO

CITY – To promote cul tural identity of Region 10, Oro Creative Inc., a group of local designers in the region with the support of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Misamis Oriental gather to open the 2nd store of Lunâ at SM CDO City Uptown

Northwing.

The shop is a curated boutique café and concept store that sells quality products made in Northern Mindanao by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Cielo Cervantes-Revelo, owner of Senina, shared that most of the products in Lunâ are handmade.

“We give our 100%

to each product, we give 100% love to our art,” she said.

Meanwhile, owners of Cami Candles, Michael Fabello and Catherine Fa bello, shared they are after sustainability, which is why their products are all natural waxes and the wicks used are pinewood.

Chris Gomez, Lunâ founder and member of

Oro Creatives Inc., said the sustainability-driven initiatives are the reason Lunâ exists.

“To connect or recon nect regenerative materials and artisans' enterprises with these designers so they can co-design for con scious customers like you and me,” he said.

Meanwhile, DTI region al director Ermedio Abang shared in his message the importance of supporting local artists for them to prosper in the commu nity and encouraged local spending for a positive im pact on the local economy this holiday season.

Lunâ houses a total of 19 brands, including gift, toys, and housewares; home décor; lamps and lighting; fashion comple ments and accessories; arts & crafts; gift items; and souvenirs that are locally made and of high quality. (JMOR | PIA-10)

The Skin and Body Science brings Sofwave™ to Gen San

THE Skin and Body Sci ence is pleased to intro duce the game changing Sofwave™ skin tightening and skin lifting technology to General Santos City.

Sofwave™ delivers FDA-cleared Synchronous Ultrasound Parallel Beam SUPERB™ technology.

The high-frequency, low-divergence ultrasound waves and heat reach the deeper layers of skin where collagen production and skin tightening are stimu lated.

This helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles and lift the eyebrows, neck, and submental (under the chin) area in just one treat ment session, no matter the skin type or skin color.

“Sofwave™ is non-inva sive and can fit into an ac tive lifestyle. Patients love the fact that they can have the treatment and go back to their daily routine right after,” said Dr. Catherine Balay, owner of The Skin and Body Science. “The treatment is done within 30-45 minutes and there’s

no downtime.” Award-winning technology

This year, the Cosmo politan Holy Grail Beauty Awards recognized Sof wave™ as the Best Game Changer in their Winning Product category. Beauty website NewBeauty de clared Sofwave™ as the Best Latest in Ultrasound in its April 2022 Beauty Awards.

SHAPE also named Sof wave™ a “winner to help achieve your healthiest complexion yet” in their 2022 Skin Awards. These add to the highly presti gious award that Sofwave received from Elle in 2021.

Experience the Sof wave™ only at The Skin in Body Science, the only skin care clinic to have this technology in General Santos City and the SOCC SKSARGEN region.

For inquiries, patients can call 0917-1598727, (083) 500-7849 or mes sage them on Instagram (@tsbsph) and Facebook (facebook.com/theski nandbodyscience).

DOT eyes more urban parks in the Philippines

MANILA – Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco affirmed the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) sup port for the develop ment of parks during her keynote address at the opening of the 1st Philippine Parks Con gress at the Rizal Park Open Air Auditorium recently.

“The Department of Tourism extends its full support to the efforts of the national parks as well as our attached agencies to continue to develop the culture of tourism, which includes the continued develop ment of our parks not only here in the Na tional Capital Region (NCR) but also all over the Philippines,” Frasco said.

“Parks are impor tant because it allows us and our families to commune with nature, to spend quality time with each other, and to remind us that despite how busy life may get, we must always take

time to relax, unwind, and spend time to be in touch with nature and commune with the Earth,” she added.

Based on her earlier directive, Frasco dis closed that the DOT, through its concerned attached agencies has already begun reaching out to the local gov ernment units (LGUs) across the Philippines to provide them assistance and guidance in the development of parks within their jurisdiction.

“One of our objec tives is to ensure that we are able to provide continued opportuni ties for tourism product development across the country by lending the expertise of the DOT as well as its attached agencies towards efforts at educating and build ing capabilities of LGUs and private individuals that may be interested in partnering with us pursuant to our devel opment of product, of tourism product portfo lios,” said Frasco.

Everyone here at SM City CDO Uptown is on Santa's Nice List! So make sure to drop by Santa's Meet and Greet at the Mall Atrium every weekends and whisper your most desired wish. Catch Santa from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday of December! (Photo courtesy of SM City CDO Uptown)