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‘Vinta’s’ fury THE number of families affected by typhoon “Vinta” has climbed to 117, 528 or 550,805 persons living in 1,019 barangays in Regions VII, IX, X, XI, XII, Mimaropa, ARMM, and Caraga. In the latest update last night, National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRMMC) executive director Ricardo Jalad said 19,203 families or 89,524 persons are in 231 evacuation centers while 12,512 families or 62,834 individuals are getting aid outside. Jalad said 164 persons were reported dead, 65 in Region IX, 75 in Region X, and, 24 in the ARMM. However, these figures are still being validated along with the 170 reported missing.

No Christmas break THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Sunday vowed to work round the clock to assist families affected by typhoon “Vinta” by suspending the holiday break for its field offices in the affected regions. “We would like to assure the Filipino people that the DSWD is closely monitoring the situation and that our Field Offices in the affected regions continue to operate with no holiday break so we can provide all the assistance that is within our mandate to give to affected families,” DSWD officerin-charge Emmanuel A. Leyco said. DSWD’s field offices in Cagayan de Oro has been directed to conduct monitoring inspection in Tubod and Salvador, Lanao del Norte and to check on the status and needs of the families affected by flashfloods due to Vinta.

IN-DEPTH

Monday | December 25, 2017

P15.00

Cagayan de Oro Lapasan Highway, Cagayan de Oro City

‘Give way for dike’ Moreno to landowners:

By MARK FRANCISCO, Staff Writer

N the aftermath of tropical storm Vinta which flooded barangays along Cagayan river last Friday, Mayor Oscar Moreno called on all private landowners who still refuse to give way for the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)-funded dike to rethink for the welfare of everyone.

RELATIVE CALM AFTER STORM. As Cagayan de Oro still reeling from the devastations brought about by both TS Sendong in 2011 and the recent TS Vinta, City Mayor Oscar Moreno has appealed for the fast tracking of the construction and maintenance of flood mitigation structures and drainage systems along the Cagayan de Oro river. (photo by mark francisco)

“I call on all barangays located on both sides of the Cagayan river to speed up their social acceptance of the project so the dike’s construction would continue,” Moreno said.

The dike fronting the city-owned Duaw Park and City Hall itself prevented the floodwaters from rushing onward with Moreno saying that it is a testament of the dike/PAGE 11

R-12 economy remains strong amid Marawi crisis, martial law GENERAL Santos City -When local terrorists laid siege to Marawi City in May, some people feared that Region 12 or Soccsksargen could be next.

The region is geographically close to Marawi and there had been reported movements these past months of armed bands linked to terror groups that might be plotting similar

strikes in the area. But the feared spillover of the Marawi crisis, which led to the declaration of martial law in the entire Mindanao, economy/PAGE 11

Lumad leader seeks help in promoting herbal gardening By WALTER I. BALANE, MindaNews

MALAYBALAY City -- Local government units and other organizations should help in efforts to promote herbal

gardening and to educate people about it, a Lumad leader said. Bae Lumalambong

Nupic Ayoc, a tribal leader i n B a r a n g ay C a n ay a n , Malaybalay Citys aid such support will make it sustainable and enable them herbal/PAGE 11

ENERGY-SAVER STREETLIGHTS. Linemen from the Cagayan Electric Power and Lights Co. (CEPALCO) aboard a “Snorkel” change the high energy consumption sodium lamps along the busy Licoan flyover to low power LED lights of the same brightness. (photo by mike baños, npn)

N. Mindanao journalists undergo safety training

CHRISTMAS VILLAGE. A father with his child takes a look at the miniature Christmas village at the lounge area of the VIP Hotel Cagayan de Oro City. The miniature village is the hotel’s yearly attraction and is popular among adults and kids alike. photo by gerry lee gorit

TUCKED away in a camp away from the Christmas merry making, a group of 15 journalists learned to drop to the ground during an “ambush” scenario over the weekend. Capt. Patrick Martinez, public information officer of the Army’s 4th Infantry Division, said the journalists from Butuan, Malaybalay, Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities underwent a two-day training learning how to survive hostile environment

coverage like the Marawi crisis. “The journalists learn to drop at the first sound of ground fire and also learn how to treat their battle wounds,” he said. Martinez said the journalists attended the training last Dec. 16 and 17 where they learned from Army medics how to evacuate their wounded colleagues. He said at the end of the course, journalists underwent training/PAGE 11

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DOE intensifies campaign vs. adulterated ‘bote-bote’ fuels

AGADIAN City -- The sale of adulterated gasoline and diesel to tricycles and jeepneys in the countryside may soon become a thing of the past, according to Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi. On Tuesday, Cusi presented new policies crafted by the Department of Energy (DOE) Oil Industry Management Bureau that would ease the establishment of gas stations in the countryside. Cusi said that the “bote-

bote” system or sale of gas and diesel on soda bottles opens end-users to the purchase of adulterated fuel and exposes the public to the dangers of fire and explosion. The new policies under the downstream oil industry are intended to further protect consumers by enticing industry players to provide better services and products. The policies were unveiled as part of OIMB Day in line with the

celebration of December as the National Energy Consciousness Month (NECM). Themed with the E-Power Mo campaign, the NECM highlights the importance of energy in the daily lives of Filipinos and the country’s overall economic development. “The Revised Retail Rules, The Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Industry Regulation and Handbook on LPG Safety Code in Refilling Plant are

a welcome development in their respective sectors,” said Secretary Cusi. “We now have categories for gas stations that will encourage the putting up of safer products, facilities and services,” said Cusi. “We are also open to the various technology-options that are being introduced in the market to address the proliferation of liquid fuels in soda bottles or ‘botebote’,”he added. Cusi affirmed the need to cater to the dynamic

segment of the transport industry, the tricycle drivers and operators and those living in remote areas. Cusi said the DOE drafted and endorsed to the Department of Trade and Industry-Bureau of Product Standards the new Philippine National Standard (PNS) for automotive and industrial diesel products in compliance with the standard specification under the Philippine Clean Air Act. (ALT/CAL/PIA9-Zamboanga del Sur/DOE Press Release)

Forum on environmental situation held in Ozamiz City RPN Radyo Ronda Stations Nationwide

CNN Philippines Stations Nationwide CNN Philippines TV-9 Manila CNN Philippines TV-12 Baguio CNN Philippines TV-12 Dagupan CNN Philippines TV-26 Tarlac CNN Philippines TV-10 Iriga CNN Philippines TV-4 Iloilo

CNN Philippines TV-8 Bacolod CNN Philippines TV-9 Cebu CNN Philippines TV-5 Cag. de Oro CNN Philippines TV-5 Zamboanga CNN Philippines TV-7 GenSan CNN Philippines TV-9 Davao

DZBS 1368 Baguio DZRL 639 Batac DZTG 621 Tuguegarao DZKI 1332 Iriga DYKW 936 Binalbagan DYKB 1404 Bacolod DYKC 675 Cebu DXKO 1368 Cagayan de Oro DXKS 1080 Surigao DXKD 1053 Dipolog DXKP 1377 Pagadian DXXX 1008 Zamboanga DXKT 1071 Davao DXDX 693 General Santos

OZAMIZ City -- The Local Government Unit of Ozamiz City, Committe on Environment of City Council in partnership with Pedaling to Live and Green Shelter (PLAGS), Inc. recently held a twoday seminar of RuralUrban Challenges: A consultation Forum on Environmental situation in Ozamiz City at Bishop’s Residence, Catadman Acacia, Ozamiz City. This seminar aims to educate the public about the Right to food; to highlight the Right to food and its inseparable link with human rights; to

increase public awareness about the alarming hunger incidence in the farming communities of Mindanao; to mainstream climateresilient agriculture, and to increase the number of organic agriculture practitioners in Ozamiz City and Misamis Occidental and to broaden its support groups. Committee on Environment, City Councilor lawyer Nestor Montemor discussed problems confronting small farmers and gave recommendations on what the government should do

to address the concerns of the agricultural sector. Rural-urban linkages also entail flow of pollutants and waste disposal, which deserve more attention in Misamis Occidental. The role of resource conflicts in contributing to mass population displacements could be mentioned, as well as the subsequent impact on urbanization and overall food security. Conversely, the impact of rural transformation and urbanization on natural resources could be strengthened. Fisheries forum/PAGE 11

CAGAYAN DE ORO MAIN BRANCH P & J Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers Kalambagohan Sts., Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Telefax # (088) 856-1947 CAMIGUIN BRANCH B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Mambajao, Camiguin Tel. # (088) 387-0491 CORRALES BRANCH Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City DIVISORIA BRANCH Atty. Erasmo B. Damasing Bldg., #61 Don A. Velez St., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 857-3631 LAPASAN BRANCH Lapasan Hi-way, Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-6739 CARMEN BRANCH Vamenta Blvd., Cagayan de Oro City Tel. # (088) 231-2011

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Opinion

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Merry Christmas to one and all Speaking out

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ignacio bunye In a predominantly Catholic country like the Philippines, the main Christmas tradition is one of preparation for the coming of the Savior in an atmosphere of family togetherness and in the spirit of sharing. As a young boy growing up inside the New Bilibid Prison reservation in the early 50s, I recall being roused from my sleep by the prison band doing its early rounds summoning one and all to the Simbang Gabi. Then it was time for the

Oro Chamber

Good directions think a minute

jhan tiafau hurst Think a minute…A man from the city was taking a drive out in the country and got lost. He stopped to ask a farmer for directions: “Where’s the main highway to the city?” The farmer answered: “I don’t know.” So the driver asked: “Well where does this road go?” Again the farmer answered: “I don’t know.” Frustrated, the driver said to the farmer: “You don’t know much, do you?” The farmer answered: “No, but I ain’t the one who’s lost!” It reminds me of the true story about the famous scientist, Albert Einstein. Einstein was taking a trip on a train. When the clerk came through asking for everybody’s ticket, Einstein couldn’t find his. Worried, he quickly searched through his pockets and suitcase. Recognizing the famous

scientist, the clerk kindly said: “It’s OK, Mr. Einstein, I know who you are.” A few minutes later the ticket clerk saw Einstein still looking for his ticket. Again he said: “It’s OK, Mr Einstein, I know who you are!” Einstein replied: “Young man, I know who I am! I have to find my ticket because I don’t know where I’m going!” The well-known preacher, Billy Graham, recently spoke at an important ceremony. He told the audience that he had bought a brand new suit and tie just for that special occasion. Since he is now old and frail, he told the audience he didn’t think he would be attending any more public ceremonies like this so he probably wouldn’t wear his new suit again, not until he dies and is buried in it. “However,” Billy Graham went on to say, “unlike Albert Einstein, I not only know who I am, but I also know where I’m going.” The well-known preacher, Billy Graham, recently spoke at an important ceremony. He told the audience that he had bought a brand new suit and tie just for that special occasion. Since he is now old and frail, he told the audience he didn’t think hurst/PAGE 11

prison band which had earlier roused us from our sleep was also around for a final fanfare at the end of the mass. Miss Romero must have been very disappointed with her student as I dosed in and out of sleep throughout the mass said by Monsignor Benidicto Arroyo. But always, I woke up just in time to hear the good monsignor give his final blessings. The thought of having hot puto bumbong ready as soon as we stepped out of the prison chapel was incentive enough for me to now stay awake. In the next nights leading to Christmas, I joined neighborhood kids going caroling. Before we separated, we split the proceeds from caroling and I almost always ended up with 5 centavos and a few pieces of candy. I felt rich. The homes of prison employees we carolled were decorated by colorful parols

or lanterns beautifully crafted by – you guessed correctly – prisoners. Incidentally, some skilled prisoners regularly made good money selling their paintings, woodcarvings and other handicrafts to prison visitors. On Christmas day, my mother would hire the jeepney of Mang Tanto Arciaga. The whole family, minus my father who had to stay behind, made the rounds of all our ninongs and ninangs based in Manila. By the end of the day, we would have two gray army duffel bags full of wrapped gifts and other goodies. Years later, when we were all grown ups, my elder sister ABB, started regularly visiting prisoners on Christmas as well as on her birthday. Her proj e c t to v isit prisoners was inspired by the biblical story related in Matthew 25:36 which read in part: “I was in prison and christmas/PAGE 11

Christmas: God’s gift for the safety of family Kakampi mo ang batas

Member: Philippine Press Institute

whole family to hear the first of nine pre-dawn masses. Attendance was mandated by my mother, who was an officer of the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) Reservation Catholic Women’s League. Although my father, the prison superintendent, dutifully said “Amen”, my mother had to practically drag me out of bed. The whole family then walked a few hundred meters from the Superintendent’s quarters to the prison chapel which was located inside the prison compound. Prison officials and their families occupied the front pews. Among them was Miss Alma Romero, my catechism teacher, who instructed me on how important it was to prepare for the coming of the Lord. Minimum security prisoners, easily identifiable because of their light brown uniforms, also heard mass but stayed at the back. The

Batas Mauricio LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near…” (Philippians 4:4-5, the Holy Bible). -ooo CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS TOGETHER AS FAMILY: The most important gift that parents can give their children

whenever Christmas comes around every year is including them in preparations for the family celebration leading to the midnight repast or “noche buena”, midnight of December 24 up to and until the wee hours of December 25. As my own experiences when I was still a young boy would show, these preparations of our family for the “noche buena” usually were focal points for gladness and elation, and outstanding reaching out to one another. I remember that, even if there were four boys in our brood (our youngest, a sister, was not with us yet) at that time, no one displayed rudeness or sour behavior. I also remember that when the time for eating the “noche buena” would come, Mommy and Daddy

would always exert efforts to wake us, all their children, up, so everybody could be at the dinner table to savor the food that the two of them prepared. Then, the premier hit would always be the piping hot macaroni soup of Mommy, and the pork barbecue of Daddy which was marinated earlier with ketchup, soy sauce, and grounded black pepper. -ooo CHRISTMAS: GOD’S GIFT FOR THE SAFETY OF FAMILY: Amidst the poverty of life at that time, we were shown the importance of truly celebrating what is considered by many as the “birth” of Jesus, our God and Savior, by our parents---the late Mr. Melanio Pauco Mauricio Sr., and the still vibrant, (by God’s grace) although now 84 years old, Mrs. Salvacion

Lazo Mauricio. For Daddy and Mommy, Christmas is no ordinary day, which must not be celebrated in an ordinary way. For them, Christmas is the gift of salvation from our God and Savior, so that there is really a need for all those who believe and have faith in Him to celebrate furiously even if, for the two of them, that meant borrowing, through salary loans, from the GSIS, or the Government Service Insurance System, as they were both public elementary school teachers. This was the reason why, as we would partake of the “noche Buena”, part of what Daddy and Mommy would be doing would be their giving us socks (new ones, of course) full of apples, oranges, and different kinds of candy. gift/PAGE 9

Conquering routine and banality hints and traces

roy cimagala Life cannot help but be marked if not filled with routine and banality. We do the same things every day and follow more or less the same schedule. Any change, especially for the better, seems to take an eternity. If we are not careful, we can fall into a deep state of boredom. It’s like being dead while still alive. That’s just how the cookie crumbles, and we have to learn to live with it. But there’s actually a way to handle this predicament. It is to be with God who is always around

in the first place. It is to be filled with his presence and the greatness of his love that includes his eternal mercy and compassion. With God, everything will always be new even if things are the same. Things become fresh even if they are aged. With him, we will always be in an exciting adventure even in the harshest storms of our life. For this, we need to enliven our faith, hope, and charity, and develop the proper attitudes and practices. We should not allow ourselves to be led only by the dynamics of our human systems -biological, physical, emotional, mental, economic, social, political, etc. We should not just be at the mercy of our hormones, feelings, passions, insights, and the external trends around. We should see to it that these natural dynamics of our human systems be inspired

and infused with the spirit of God. It’s God and his grace that should be the living principle of how we think, feel, react, behave, etc. Short of this, we cannot help but be swallowed up by the inevitable wave of routine, banality, boredom. For this, we need some discipline. This is what Christ himself referred to when he said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily...” (Lk 9,23) In another instance, he said something similar: “Whoever does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” (Lk 14,27) We should know how to detach ourselves from our feelings and thoughts, and simply allow ourselves be guided by what our faith teaches us, regardless of how it feels. It’s not a matter of suppressing our feelings but of going beyond them, letting ourselves be led by God’s grace.

Many times, we have to take the so-called leap of faith when we have to ignore the inputs of our thoughts, feelings and the trends in order to accommodate the tenets of our faith no matter how mysterious they are. This is not going to be easy, but we have to understand that Christ has already given us everything for us to be able to live fully by faith and not just depending on our own thoughts, feelings and the trends around. Every day, if we make an effort to conform ourselves more to what our faith teaches, we can grow more like Christ who knew how to handle all the predicaments in life, including death itself. That way we get to see and understand things the way Christ sees and understands them. We would know how to make things new and fresh, and avoid the pitfall of routine and banality. roycimagala@gmail.com.

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CorporateWorld

Russian firm eyes manufacturing plant in PH

RUSSIAN company is looking into putting up its first manufacturing facility in the Philippines after meeting officials from the Board of Investments (BOI). Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez said Moscow-based BT SVAP LLC visited the BOI last Wednesday, wherein

the Russian firm discussed its intention to locate in the Philippines. Lopez said BT SVAP is involved in pipeline coating for industrial uses. It also develops and implements innovative solutions for industrial production and construction of pipeline system for industry, energy sector, and housing and utilities infrastructure.

“They are the biggest in Russia in terms of this technology for pipeline coating,” Lopez said. The DTI chief added that the Russian firm targets to locate its first facility in Mariveles, Bataan, with the accessibility of the area to the port. He said the planned investment of BT SVAP will also involve exporting

its products to other Asian countries, particularly supplying to energy projects within Southeast Asia. The Russian company has no existing production facility in other Asian countries. BT SVAP has its sole satellite office in Malaysia. “This could be a pioneer technology in the country. Apart from

THE National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has given the green light to feasibility studies to be submitted by six energy players, a development that would pave the way for the first set of hydropower plants to rise in the country’s existing irrigation sites. NIA Administrator

Gen. Ricardo R. Visaya already approved nine Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) to six hydropower developers that will allow them to conduct Feasibility Study (FS) on the development of proposed Hydropower Plants within several NIA Irrigation Systems. As stipulated in the

MOU, the said feasibility study is at no cost to NIA. It will also have an inextendible term of one year from effectivity. NIA is currently embarking on the benefits of developing and constructing hydropower projects on its existing irrigation systems and future irrigation projects

all throughout the country. This means that NIA, aside from providing sustainable and efficient irrigation services, can actually be an active partner for power generation. According to previous studies conducted by the agency, there are about 357 projects/PAGE 9

6 firms eye NIA’s hydropower projects

Petron to start refinery expansion by next year PETRON Corp. is expanding the capacity of its petroleum refinery in Limay, Bataan, which would bring its output to 270,000 barrels daily by 2019, its president said. Ramon S. Ang, who is also Petron chief executive officer, said the San Miguel Corp. subsidiary

has already acquired land near its existing facility, which will be used for the expansion. “We will be adding another 90,000 barrels a day, so from 180,000 barrels a day, we will be hitting 270,000 barrels a day,” he told reporters. Petron owns and

operates a petroleum refining complex in the Bataan town with its own piers and two offshore berthing facilities. It also has a power plant that serves the needs of the refinery. The company started in 2010 the Petron Bataan Refinery Master Plan

Phase 2 Upgrade (RMP 2). Completed by the end of 2014, the upgrade turned the Bataan facility into a full conversion refining complex that can convert oil production into higher value products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and petrochemicals. expansion/PAGE 9

investments, sharing of technological knowhow, and employment generation, this will also open opportunities for our domestic market and export industry,” Lopez said. BT SVAP was among the Russian businesses met by Lopez and other trade officials on the sidelines of the visit of President Rodrigo Duterte in

Moscow in May this year. With the interest of Russian businesses in the Philippine market, the trade chief said this means that the country is diversifying in terms of sources of investments. Aside from BT SVAP, the country’s largest steel manufacturer Steel Asia is in talks with a Russian firm for future projects here. (PNA)

PLDT, Inc. is setting aside a record high capital expenditure budget of least P50 billion next year, as it works on improving its network amid the looming entry of a third telecommunications player. “We will announce a historic high capex next year, north of P50 billion,” PLDT Chairman, President and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan told reporters on Wednesday. Next year’s capital spending is up by nearly a third from this year’s P38 billion, and will be used to finance the telecommunications giant’s network expansion and improvement of mobile and fixed-line

services. “We’ll make sure that we’ll future-proof our network,” Mr. Pangilinan said. PLDT, he said, is “trying to get ready in case it happens as early as the first quarter,” referring to the entry of China Telecommunications Corporation (China Telecom), the third player chosen by the Chinese government to invest in the Philippines. China Telecom’s local partner, however, has yet to be determined, since the Constitution limits foreign ownership in certain industries such as telecommunications to 40%. record/PAGE 9

PLDT earmarks ‘record’ P50-B capex for 2018

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Sovereign - emerging Kpop group By MARK FRANCISCO

BEING confident. Patient. Adept in socializing. Sound time management. Five 17-year-old ladies have mastered these qualities in one unorthodox way being in a Kpop cover group. Back when they were still eighth graders in 2014, these idolaters of Girls Generation - Yuvi Rociandel Luardo, Zsamaica Ajoc, Charlotte Faye Mejia, Jenny Lou Cubillas and Shan Trisha Allawan - who were all friends at Regional Science High School discovered that they still had one commonality apart from their camaraderie - Kpop. Young as they were, it was so easy to dance. All they had to learn was dance the Kpop way. In a few weeks they were ready that they decided to form a group.

They christened their group Sovereign, named after their idols Girls Generation who were and still are the Queens of Kpop now. In a world where Pink Step and Siren dominated Kpop dancing in CDO back then, Sovereign slowly made their prints and danced head on with their ates. April 13, 2014 was a memorable day - they participated in their first big Kpop event, Hallyu in CDO 2.0. From thence, things began to move up. Sovereign became Top 3 in the SM Entertainment Festival last May 2015 at Limketkai Center both for vocal cover and dance cover. A few months after, they became champions this time sovereign/PAGE 9

DOT 10 treats 50 underprivileged children Story and Photos by MARK FRANCISCO

A total of 50 children adopted by the Chancery of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro were feted with a zoo trip and an early dinner at McDonald’s Limketkai after last Thursday. Project chair Chazz Ladera of DOT 10 said the Day of Children has been going on for 12 years now and has been a yearly project of the regional office of the tourism department every Christmas season. For this year, the children woke up at 6:00 in the morning to start their trip towards Mantianak Zoological and Botanical Park in

Sugbongcogon, Misamis Oriental where they were welcomed by the mayor herself, Mildred Mondigo. After the children were satisfied interacting with the 186 different species of both endemic and foreign exotic animals including Siberian tigers, snakes, guineas, etc., they were surprised wih toys by Mondigo. In the afternoon, the convoy of kids trooped back to Cagayan de Oro, winding up at McDonald’s Limketkai. There, DOT had another surprise for them – a bag of full of toiletries and assorted chocolates. They also had door prizes in kiddie games

initiated by McDonald’s Limketkai. Ladera conceptualized the program to give the children as well as the in/out of school youths the opportunity to mingle and adjust with other children in the community and to familiarize and be aware of the entry and exit points of trafficking. For that, the children detoured for a few minutes at the gate outside the Port of Cagayan de Oro where Ladera reminded them never to mingle with strangers especially if they are lured into distant trips.

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Last, but definitely not the least

Honda enters the big bike segment

inally, the period of waiting and speculating by Filipino motorcycle enthusiasts has ended as Honda Philippines Inc. (HPI), at last, decides to venture into the high displacement motorcycle market. “Honda Big Bikes have seen action in many different countries. Now is the time for the Philippines to enjoy the power and innovation of these motorcycles,” HPI President Mr. Daiki Mihara said in relation to Honda’s commitment to expand the brand experience and make it more engaging and compelling for stakeholders considering the current state of the market. With this, Honda brought in a total of eight Honda Big Bike models, which are categorized in four: Traveler, Sport/Racer, Roadster and New Adventure. These are the CB500X, CRF1000L Africa Twin, X-ADV, CBR500R, Rebel 500 and CB650F; which are already available at the newest Honda flagship store. The CB11000EX and the CBR1000RR FIreblade SP will be available next year. CB500X Php 379,000.00 CRF1000L Africa Twin Php 854,000.00 CBR500RR Php 379,000.00 CB650F Php 459,000.00 Rebel 500 Php 369,000.00 X-ADV Php 799,000.00 CBR1000RR Fireblade SP Php 1,350,000.00 CB1100EX Php 810,000.00 After the unveiling of Honda Big Bikes, HPI inaugurated its newest flagship shop in Manila, the Honda Prestige Traders, Inc., which will house its complete lineup of products. Located along EDSA corner Harvard Street, Barangay Pinagkaisahan, Makati City, the shop is made to be an accessible hub for Honda’s growing community. The Flagship Shop is open from 8:30AM to 6:00PM, Mondays to Sundays. The Honda Big Bikes will also be launched in Cebu and Davao in January 2018.

Yamaha racing reigns supreme in IRGP The motorsports crew of Yamaha Motor Philippines takes pride in upholding the brand’s global standard of racing performance. By creating a Championship culture from every aspect, they have mastered the craft of outclassing their opponents in any track. This was the clear

indication during their unrelenting run in the IRGP. Yamaha won 7 manufacturer awards in what was an almost shutout season. This was the most categories won by a single manufacturer since the beginning of the IRGP in 2007. This continuous racing

rampage is all thanks to unwavering dedication, mastery of skillset, and of course the commitment of providing the best machinery. Yamaha racing closes out the year by blowing out the competition and sets its eyes on conquering a new year.

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Prepaid loads Gift... from page 4 expiration They told us then that these gifts from Santa extended to represented Claus, because he saw we’ve been good children the whole one year year through. EXPIRATION period of prepaid loads will be extended up to one year with the new Joint Memorandum Circular of Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and National Telecommunication Commission (NTC). The circular was signed Wednesday by DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez, DICT Officer-in-Charge Eliseo Rio Jr., and NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba. DTI, DICT, and NTC sign Joint Memorandum Circular to extend expiration period of prepaid loads to one year. Lopez said the JMC will lengthen the life of prepaid loads regardless of amount. The JMC will be implemented 15 days upon publication. The agencies target to publish the new JMC on Thursday. “It’s our way to protect the rights of our consumers in the telecommunications industry,” said Lopez. Currently, a prepaid load can be extended up to 120 days depending on its amount. On the other hand, Rio assured that the government has met and discussed with the telco players in coming up with the JMC. Cordoba mentioned that postpaid users comprised only 3.0 percent of the total mobile services’ subscribers. (PNA)

-ooo FAMILY CELEBRATIONS ON CHRISTMAS BEAR GOOD FRUIT: What Daddy and Mommy did in Christmas past, at a time when all of us were still wild-eyed kids, had tremendous effect on all of us. Because of their untiring efforts to celebrate Christmas even very modestly by preparing a humble feast for “noche buena” and giving us gifts of fruits and candies in socks, our young minds were filled with the hope that the coming of Jesus gave to mankind. This is perhaps one reason why among us five siblings--me, Philip, Leny, the late Ariel, and Marisa---our faith in Jesus as our God and Savior became quite strong, enabling us to share the hope of Jesus we have received from our parents to our own respective families today, through Christmas. If the truth be told, parents who also believe in Jesus as God and Savior and as God the father, Son, and Holy Spirit, must endeavor to celebrate with their families, most especially with their children, even through the simplest of ways, Christmas every year. This will bear good fruit for the whole family, as time goes by. -ooo WATCH ANG TANGING DAAN” AT FACEBOOK: “Ang Tanging Daan” is a Bible exposition and prayer session for everyone, in English and Filipino, 24/7, worldwide, that can be viewed at www.facebook. com/angtangingdaan. Please see the video section. Reactions: 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, 0977 805 9058. Email:batasmauricio@ yahoo.com

Projects... from page 5

potential irrigation sites for hydropower. These sites, upon development, will provide ele c t r icity to far-f lung c o m mu n i t i e s a n d w i l l further boost the economic development of the country as a whole. The first set of developers that may soon build hydropower plants within NIA sites include C Squared Prime Commodities (CSPC) Corporation, which is interested in putting up conventional HydroElectric Power Plant (HEPP) in Agno River Irrigation System ( A R I S ) i n Pang as i nan ; PHILCARBON, Inc., which intends to develop CDO MAIN BRANCHa 600 kW P & J along Lim Bldg., Tiano Brothers HEPP MARIS Magat F Kalambagohan Sts., and Iraya in Cordon, Isabela; Tel. # (08822) 727-829 * Energy TelefaxCorporation, # (088) 856-1947 which proposes to develop a 1MW CAMIGUIN HEPP alongBRANCH MARIS (South) B. Aranas St., Poblacion, Main Canal in R amon, Mambajao, Camiguin Isabela. Tel. # (088) 387-0491 Other developers were CORRALES BRANCH Matuno River Development Corrales Ave., Corporation, which plans Cagayan de Oro City to develop and 8 MW run-

of-river mini-hydro project along Matuno River in Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya; the Tokyo Electric Power Services Company, LTD. (TEPSCO), which aims to develop a power plant along the Bayongan Diversion Chute in Ubay, Bohol; and the DA Green Power Consultancy which proposes to install Helios Powerball along Balingasag Canal, Daguitan RIS Canal, and Ormoc BAO RIS Canal in Misamis Oriental, Tacloban, and Leyte respectively. Visaya said before that he had always wanted to pursue optimizing the potential of NIA’s existing irrigation systems. He also agreed to the idea of putting up ecotourism destinations as well as hydropower plants to all potential irrigation sites owned and managed by the agency.

Expansion...

from page 5 So far, Mr. Ang said the refiner y has been performing at optimum level. For instance, he noted production on both Dec. 17 and 18 stood at 179,000 barrels, while on Dec. 16 it reached its full capacity of 180,000 barrels. “Napakaganda ng takbo [ng Petron refinery],” he said. “Pabuti nang pabuti ang takbo.” Mr. Ang said the capacity expansion project would start next year and should be completed by 2019. The new pro duction facility would be built on an adjacent land that Petron bought from private owners. Aside from the refinery, Petron owns and manages an oil distribution i n f r a s t r u c tu re w it h 3 0 depots, terminals and airport installations and approximately 2,200 retail s e r v i c e st at i ons i n t he Philippines, and 10 product terminals and more than 560 retail service stations in Malaysia. M r. A n g s a i d t h e Petron refinery’s current performance is a far cry from its showing before the upgrade when it was producing only about 80,000 to 90,000 barrels a day. As of September, Petron posted a consolidated net income of P11.8 billion, up 58% from the previous year’s P7.4 billion. It previously said its “impressive result” had been driven by focusing on high-value segments and sustained sales volumes from its Philippines and Malaysian operations. Combined sales volumes hit 80.2 million barrels in the three quarters to September, slightly higher than the 79.3 million sold in the same period in 2016. Mr. Ang said Petron is among the SMC subsidiaries DIVISORIA BRANCH Atty. B. Damasing Bldg., thatErasmo are performing well so #61 Don A. Velez St., far this year. Cagayan de Oro City #“(088) L a h857-3631 at ng organic Tel. businesses of [SMC] LAPASAN nagigingBRANCH more stable na,” he Lapasan Hi-way, said, citing Cagayan de Oroin Cityparticular the food business and petroleum Tel. # (088) 231-6739 refining. “Pinakamahina is CARMEN BRANCH power kasi pabagsakan ng Vamenta Blvd.,Cagayan de Oro City presyo, pero maganda sa Tel. # (088) 231-2011 bayan.”

Record... from page 5

President Rodrigo R. Duterte has said he wants a third telecommunications provider to start operating by the first quarter, which would challenge the duopoly of PLDT and Globe Telecom, Inc. in the country. Reuters reported that C h i n a Te l e c om i s s t i l l studying the plan to invest in the Philippines. “ C h i n a Te l e c o m is currently having a preliminary study on the investment opportunity in the Philippines and no concrete plan has been determined yet,” a company spokeswoman was quoted by Reuters as saying. FUNDING Mr. Pang i l i n an s ai d PLDT’s capex for 2018 will be funded through the sale of assets. “Well, the normal level of around P40-ish billion, the EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation an d am or t i z at i on ) c an handle that. The incremental capex of around P10 billion, we’ll fund through the sale of assets. We still have re ceivables f rom MPIC from the sale of Beacon, so we might sell some of that,” he said. PLDT has remaining receivables worth P15 billion from parent Metro Pacific Investments Corp. with respect to shares of B eacon Electric Asset Holdings, Inc. and a 6.1% stake in German startup Rocket Internet SE valued at P12 billion. M r. Pa n g i l i n a n l a s t Novemb er s aid PLDT up g rad e d it s re c u r r ing core profit guidance to P22 billion from the original P21.5 billion, after the ninemonth tally rose 5% year on year to P17.36 billion from P16.55 billion. PLDT has invested around P300 billion or nearly $6 billion in the last decade for its fixed and wireless network infrastructure, which now has 150,000 kilometers of fiber optic cables. In October, PLDT said it is investing around P7 billion ($136.7 million) in a new Trans-Pacific cable system called Jupiter. The system will be built and operated by a consortium of global firms including Amazon and Facebook.

Sovereign... from page 6

at a Kpop fiesta event in Iligan. Earlier this year now that they’re in senior high, Sovereign became champions once again in a Tagoloan event. On the road, in between rehearsals and studies, the teens have balanced their time well and even excelling in school. They have overcome their stage fright and are natural smilers. All these they have acquired through Kpop. Well they are still 17. Sovereign still has a long way enjoying up. Slay, ladies.

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Monday | December 25, 2017

The Night Stalker

Pasko de Oro & Paskorela Parade light up Plaza Divisoria

espite the prevailing weather the past few days, the city’s oldest business district lit up last December 19 with the 4th edition of the Pasko de Oro and Paskorela Parade. Postponed earlier due to the rainy weather, there was no stopping the marching bands of three of the city’s elementary schools and 10 contestants to the Paskorela competition which brought Christmas cheer to Plaza Divisoria and its surrounding streets with its short parade and palabas. Special prizes were awarded to the participating marching bands with the Bulua Central School being adjudged as the “Best in Christmas Accents”, City Central School “Best in Musicality” and P.N. Roa Elementary School “Most Disciplined”. The steering committee also awarded individuals from the three banks among them Jessica Tanio (Best Band Majorette, P.N. Roa Elementary School), Sofia Kareem Caayao (Best Band Master, Bulua Central School) and James David D. Marquezo (Best Performance by a Band Master, P.N. Roa Elementary School). The Paskorela Board of Judges composed of Architect Ma. Linda Escaba, Fashion Designers Guild of Cagayan de Oro President Mark Christopher Yaranon and Performance Artist Nicolas Aca as chairman awarded the top three Paskorelas based on the

Colorful Paskorelas lend a festive air to the Pasko de Oro Parade at Plaza Divisoria

Best Peformance by a Band Master won by James David D. Marquezo of PN Roa Elementary School

Bulua Central School Drum & Lyre Corps was adjudged as BEST IN CHRISTMAS ACCENTS

Best Band Majorette Jessica Tanio of PN Roa Elementary School

following criteria: Design (25%), Creativity (25%), Production Elements (25%) and Overall Impact (25%). Awarded the top prize of P40, 000 was the motorela of Silvestre C. Bloc which besides featuring just about every traditional Christmas icon, was also accompanied by the grand children of the winner dressed in traditional Filipiniana attire. The second prize of P30, 000 went to Pepito M. Jaramillo which featured a traditional Filipino inspired Bahay Kubo as the Belen of the Nativity on its rooftop. Third prize of P20, 000 was awarded to Taldito C. Matin-ao whose entry featured the ubiquitous Lechon as its figurehead not unlike what one finds in the prow of a traditional sailing ship.

First Prize winner of this year’s Paskorela owned by Silvestre C. Bloc

The City Central School Drum & Lyre Corps was adjudged as BEST IN MUSICALITY

The PN Roa Elementary School Drum & Lyre Corps was adjudged as the MOST DISCIPLINED

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Dike... from page 1

structure’s integrity and has served its purpose. At around 11:00 a.m. on Friday, floodwaters caused by heavy rains in the uptown barangays of Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro pushed downstream, breaching an older dike in barangay Carmen and flooding the communities near the river banks. This, as Moreno clarified upon allegations by netizens in social media that the new JICA-funded dike failed to hold the rampaging floodwaters. “Duha man na ka dike. Katong naapawan karaan kadto, kining bag-o mao kini ang mas taas. Kung wala pa ni, nangbakwit na kita sa City Hall karon,” Moreno said, referring to the seat of the city government which is located at Cagayan river’s eastern bank. Carmen is situated west. Moreno said there are still many landowners along the river banks who still refused to give in for the construction of the dike project. Under law, landowners who refuse to sell their properties will be expropriated. That process takes a longer time. A week ago before Vinta st r u ck , D e p ar t me nt of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 10 spokesperson Vinah Maghinay reported that the mega dike, said to be the longest in Mindanao, will proceed construction next year side by side with the acquisition of affected properties. From barangays Macasandig to Macabalan in the east and barangays Balulan to Bonbon facing west, the mega dike covers 12 kilometers long. It is worth P8.54 million, jointly funded by JICA and the national government. If plans don’t miscarry, the dike will complete construction in 2022.

Economy... from page 1

never happened until it was eventually contained by government forces five months later. As in most areas in Mindanao, it was “business as usual” in Region 12’s four provinces and five cities despite the crisis and the extended martial law. Economy-wise, the region’s key drivers -- agriculture and fisher y production, services and processing – have rebounded and posted positive growths throughout the year, likely exceeding initial projections. “Marawi did not have any significant effect to the region. Overall, this is a vibrant year for us economically, and it was much better than last year,” said Arturo Valero, regional director of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in Region 12. The key factor this year was the resurgence of the area’s agriculture sector, which was hit hard by the onslaught of

the long dry spell triggered by the El Nino Phenomenon in early to mid-2016. Citing initial production reports as of the third quarter of year, Valero said the area’s major crops have rallied back, with some even posting double-digit growths. He said there was noted slowdown in production for some crops but none posted negative figures. A report released by NEDA12 cited that the region’s palay production during the first half of the year reached 505,877 metric tons (MT), a significant increase from the 368,954 MT during the same period in 2016. Palay production made the biggest leap from 220,516 MT in 2016 to 419,077 MT this year, increasing by 24.91 percent during the first quarter and a staggering 929.38 percent in the second quarter. Seven out of the 10 major crops of Region XII posted positive growth rates as of the second quarter of 2017, with abaca, banana, cacao, mango, pineapple, rubber and sugarcane registering increased production. Fish production in all categories -- commercial, municipal inland, municipal marine, and aquaculture -posted an average increase of 37.46 percent early in the first quarter, with commercial fish production recording the highest growth at 43.87 percent. But commercial fishing landings slightly decreased f rom 66,455.22 MT to 65,970.35 MT by the second quarter “due to the lesser appearance of major species such as frigate tuna, roundscad and yellow fin tuna in the traditional ocean fishing grounds in the western part of the Pacific Ocean.” As of the third quarter, the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (PFDA) reported a about 5 percent reduction in fish landings at the city fishport complex here or from 154,080 MT in 2016 to 151,163 MT this year. But the city, which hosts six of the country’s seven tuna canneries, remained the top fish producer among seven other fish ports. In terms of investments, the Department of Trade and Industr y’s Board of Investments reported the entry of P1.29 billion worth of new ventures in the area as of the first half of the year. Housing develop er Communities General Santos, Inc., the company behind Camella Cerritos, infused a total of P422.52 million for the development of economic and low-cost horizontal housing projects here and nearby Koronadal City. Century Pacific Agricultural Ventures, Inc. invested P245.68 million for the development of a coconut milk production plant for exports in Purong Lansong, Barangay Tambler here. Valero said there were other several big-ticket investments that came in and are underway in parts of the region.

He cited the opening last month of the CityMall in Koronadal City as well as the expansion of the Biotech Farms, Inc. in Tantangan town that initially invested around P1.1 billion last year and several other tuna-related industries here. “ There are ongoing explorations by some foreign investors as well and we can see that with the visitors that were coming in on a daily basis,” he said. Valero said there has been a noted influx to the area of businessmen coming from Japan, China and Taiwan. “We have seen them in flights from Manila to General Santos. They are in Soccsksargen not for tourism but for business. These are indications of potential foreign investments,” he said. Owing to these, the official said they have adjusted expectations for the region’s growth targets this year. He said that based on economic figures as of the third quarter, Region 12 could surpass the projected national average growth rate of 6.7 to 6.8 percent this year.

Herbal... from page 1

to reach out to more people. Ayoc said if there are groups who are willing to support them, they will accept it not to make money but just to sustain it. “I want others to learn so they too can reach these resources. This can lead to self-reliance,” she added. They need to educate women and the youth about the use of herbs for immediate needs at home, she said in the sidelines of the 4th quarter meeting of the City Council for the Welfare of Children (CCWC) on Tuesday. “People now resort to synthetic medicines right away. Even if they are cashless, they do it,” she noted S h e s a i d p e o p l e ’s knowledge of natural remedies can help their families survive as they can just pick it from their yard whenever they need it. Ay o c , 7 4 , h a s b e e n designated this year t o re pre s e nt t h e n on government organizations in the survival committee of the CCWC. She added that they needed support to gather materials to produce herbal products for demonstration purposes and family use. “The herbs can be made available in the front yard if people learn to plant it,” she said. But Ayoc said she decided not to make a business out of her knowledge and products. “We learned from our elders that being a herbalist in the community is a gift. If you sell it, you may not be effective anymore,” she explained. But she admitted that they would accept donations from people who return and thank them for benefiting from her herbal products. She said she needed support because the craft has become less attractive among women, who are enticed to

rely right away on drug stores and medical doctors. She admitted, too, that doctors are also important but that it is good to know herbal options for ailments that can be cured with home remedies. On criticisms that herbal plants used as medicines might be dangerous, she said they only produce ointments for external use. She denied they are trying to promote alterations to medicine. “We just want to make people understand that nature has provided for remedies to our ailments. Sometimes, we just turn our back on them,” she clarified. She said if a government agency can support them, they are ready to organize the women to pursue this effort.

Training... from page 1

an “ambush” scenario where their vehicle was hit by a landmine. Martinez said the 4ID’s Multi-Sectoral Advisor y Board (MSAB) Strategic Communications Committee chaired by journalist Froilan Gallardo sponsored the twoday training using Army funds. He said the MSAB is chaired by Ayi Hernandez of the Balay Mindanaw Foundation and among its members include Fr. Bobby Yap S.J., president of Xavier University, and Cagayan de Oro second district Representative Maximo Rodriguez. “For t he Army, t his training allows us to understand more the work of journalists. They too have now the knowledge of the role of the Army,” Martinez said. (MindaNews)

Forum... from page 2

should be considered as well. Further, a concept still to be included is tenure responsive land-use planning. Land grabbing, for instance, drives people away from their livelihoods and increases urban migration. Promoting tenure security w i l l have c ons i d e r abl e impact on food security, as most developing countries depend largely on landbased activities for their food security. Also, if land rights are well defined, rural people could benefit from increased land prices as a result of urbanization and from increased demand for food. The impact of climate change on the whole food system, and the vulnerability of different types of food flows at different places. Migration as a result of floods, drought and famines, and its effect on urbanization, should be considered. In particular, for coastal areas fisheries can play a major role in food security and nutrition, but these could be strongly affected by climate change. The sustainable development goals is to end of poverty and zero hunger,

climate action. C o a s t l i n e D i r e c t o r, D r. Ne l s o n C u a r e s m a discussed about addressing environmental issues like Solid Waste Management, Urban Gardening, C om mu n it y Supp or te d Agriculture and Participatory Guarantee System. This consultation would empower Rural Urban and their cooperatives with the processes and guide them on what options to take in negotiating for their contracts with their investors, he said. “Upon hearing their problems, we brainstormed on t h e ch a l l e nge s an d came up with proposed recommendations and suggested solutions to each of their problems,” said consultant Bobby Pagusara. (Shaine Mae R. Nagtalon/ PIA MisOcc)

Hurst... from page 4

he would be attending any more public ceremonies like this so he probably wouldn’t wear his new suit again, not until he dies and is buried in it. “However,” Billy Graham went on to say, “unlike Albert Einstein, I not only know who I am, but I also know where I’m going.”

Christmas... from page 4

you visited Me.” She called her group Matthew 25. They would bring food and gifts to selected prisoners, normally the visitor-less and infirm inmates. After she passed away in 2006, I thought that it would be a good endeavor to pursue. I proposed the idea to the Kiwanis Club of Muntinlupa and that was how our own project got started. Around November of each year, Muntinlupa Kiwanettes went out of their way to buy some very basic needs of prisoners which they later packed into individual packages for distribution. The process of procuring (usually in Divisoria) and packing the items was in itself a happy opportunity for bonding among the Kiwanettes. The day of gift-giving was

usually held during the first two weeks of December as a pre-Christmas party for the prisoners. On that day, around 300 pre-selected inmates were invited to join the Kiwanians at the NBP Social Hall where they were treated to Christmas carols, stories of hope and redemption, a hearty snack and a Christmas package consisting of toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, face towel and a pair of rubber slippers. One can not imagine how happy we made the prisoners that day. We learned that many of them have not seen any of their loved ones for the last five years. But I obser ved the Kiwanians and Kiwanettes came out of that experience even more fulfilled. They felt more blessed, knowing that even for a brief moment they brought joy and hope to our less fortunate brethren. Last Friday, the Kiwanis Club of Muntinlupa, led by President Randy Garcia, Immediate Past President Joy Abrenica and Lt. Governor Boy Marcelo visited prisoners at the medium security prison compound. The shortest day Readers Lee Magpantay, Rosalinda Limbo and Jandy Rojas Cantoy noticed that as early as 3 p.m. last Thursday (Dec. 21) the sky started to get dark. And way before 6 p.m. night had fallen. Many other people started asking why. December 21 happened to be really the shortest day of the year. Here is the explanation which I lifted from a science journal: “The winter solstice is on December 21 (today) and is the “shortest” day of the year and marks the start of the winter period. “This is because the tilt of the Earth’s axis is least aligned with the sun, providing us with the least daylight of the year. “After December 21, the nights will begin to get shorter as our planet rotates towards the sun.” Note: You may email us at totingbunye2000@gmail.com. You may also “like” us on Facebook at “Speaking Out”.

Publication Notice Republic of the Philippines Province of Misamis Oriental Municipality of Initao -oOoNOTICE TO THE PUBLIC CFN-0006-2017

December 15, 2017

In Compliance with the publication requirement and pursuant to OCRG Memorandum Circular No. 2013-1 Guidelines 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 NAZAR B. SACAY has filed with this Office, a petition for change of first name from ‘’NAZARENO’’ to ‘’NAZAR’’ and correction of entry in sex from ‘’ ‘’ to ‘’ ‘’ or correction of entry in the date of birth from ‘’ ‘’ to ‘’ ‘’ in the certificate of live birth of NAZARENO BONGLAY SACAY at Initao, Misamis Oriental and whose parents are FELICIANO SACAY and ROSARIO BONGLAY. Any person adversely affected by said petition may file his written opposition with this Office not later than January 9, 2018. BWM: December 18 & 25, 2017

(SGD.) ISAIAS A. JARALES Municipal Civil Registrar

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