Cebu Sun.Star

The Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu (SHS-AdC) officially unveiled the St. John De Brebeuf Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation Facility for its student-athletes on Sunday, July 23, in a small blessing and opening ceremony at its campus in Mandaue City.

A handful of generous alumni, through the Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association (SHAABAA), led by its chairman Afshin Ghassemi and Franco Soberano, along with fellow alumni Dave Ting, Joseph Lo, Chase Cokaliong, Edmund Gaisano Jr., Regan King and Jason Arquisola were able to raise funds to build the facility.

“It’s really our responsibility as alumni to give back to our school because we owe a lot to them, for our values and even our skills. High school has been one of the best parts of my life. I have very vivid memories of high school and I have a very soft heart for Sacred Heart. I’ve been trying to inspire others to give back and thankfully with the help of other alumni, we were able to come up with a big amount of money to be able to build this very beautiful gym,” said Ghassemi. “The alumni will always be there behind the school, will always be there to support the school and will always be there to give back.”

The alumni were able to raise the funds through their pockets from a three-point shootout in last year’s SHAABAA All-Star. They were able to raise a total of P1.5 million.

“This was really the idea of the Alumni Association, particularly the SHAABAA CEO Alumni. So there were top businessmen in Cebu who joined the All-Star game last year. After every miss during the three-point shootout, we donate a certain amount for a good cause. We missed a lot of those shots that’s why we gathered a lot. We realized we could use the money for a very good cause and give it back to our school. We found that we had a big need for a conditioning and rehab facility. Rehab conditioning is sometimes underestimated or taken for granted, so we invested this P3.5 million rehab and condition facility for our top athletes and one of the best high school basketball teams in the country. They need this,” said Soberano.

They were also able to get some donors from different companies—Cebu Landmasters, Soberano Ventures, Inc., Radius One, Graphic Star, Landlite Philippines Corporation, Vic Enterprises Mechaire Inc., Kintar Power, Daikin and Gesalem Design Centre—for a total of P3.5 million.

The St. John De Brebeuf Strength, Conditioning and Rehabilitation Facility is equipped with high-end strength and conditioning training equipment.

It also has two rooms for physical rehabilitation.

“The school is very thankful. The strength and conditioning part is sometimes overlooked. This is one of the most important aspects of any athlete. We are very thankful for that. I’m a PT by profession, specializing in sports and conditioning and this is really one of my projects. I’m happy for our athletes that we already have this really good facilty where they can train and where we can treat them (injuries) and handle them,” said SHS-AdC athletic director Jon Ynot.

REYMART Tagacanao scored the biggest win of his young promising career following a convincing unanimous decision victory over one-time world title challenger Vergilio Silvano in one of the featured fights of “Kumong Bol-anon XI” on Saturday, July 22, 2023, in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

The 24-year-old Tacaganao and Silvano were in a very competitive first few rounds. Tacaganao caught Silvano with a right straight and dropped him to the canvass in the fourth round. The 33-year-old Silvano beat the referee’s count and survived the round. In the fifth, Tagacanao, a native of Carcar City, was aggressive and tried his best to knock Silvano out.

Silvano hung around with Tagacanao but the hard-hitting prospect landed the more telling blows.

Judges Angelito Piquero and Stefren Puerta had identical scores of 78-73, while Angelito Boaquin scored it 79-72.

Tagacanao remained undefeated and improved to 6-0 with five knockouts, while Silvano fell to 21-13-2 with 12 knockouts.

Meanwhile, Angilou Dalogdog escaped with a close split decision over Chinese Long Yi Hu to win the vacant World Boxing Foundation (WBF) Asia-Pacific flyweight belt.

Dalogdog got the nod of two of the three judges with scores of 96-93 and 95-94, while Hu won in one judge’s scorecard, 95-94.

Dalogdog is now 8-0 with two knockouts, while Hu dropped to 6-2 with two knockouts.

In the undercard, Gerwin Asilo (6-0, 2 KOs) remained unbeaten with a fourth-round technical knockout of veteran Boy Dondee Pumar (10-10-4, 4 KOs), Althea Shine Pores (1-0) had a successful pro debut with a unanimous decision win over Charimae Salvador (5-6, 2 KOs) in a women’s light flyweight fight, Sugarey Leonard Pores (1-0, 1 KO) had an impressive pro debut with a fourth round stoppage of Nathaniel Bonggo (1-3, 1 KO) and Richard Laspona (1-0, 1 KO) stopped Enecito Jagopar (0-2) in the first round. (EKA)

Solidarity is taken from the personal mantra of lawyer Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, former vice president of the country and the invited speaker for the 84th Commencement Exercises of the University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu last July 21.

Though Robredo lost to the exiled despot’s son Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in her bid for the presidency in the 2022 general election, the human rights and women’s advocacy lawyer continues to inspire many among the community witnessing the recent culmination of undergraduate and graduate studies.

Past leaden skies, a muted sun shone through and picked out in a sea of ecrus and blacks the variegated hues of pink echoed in the maroon swathes of the Sablay draping and completing the UP academic formal attire worn for commencement.

The Sablay spells out solidarity in “baybayin,” the precolonial Filipino script, from the “ukkil” that stands for the lifelong quest for knowledge to the triangles and chevrons representing indigenous cultures.

UP Cebu Communication faculty member Maurice Jitty Villaester’s Sablay is festooned with pins that celebrate, among others, Gay Pride and his passing of the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET).

Opposite his Sablay, the UP Cebu Mass Communication alumnus pinned a crocheted pink rose pin, token of Villaester’s street-to-street, house-to-house campaign as a volunteer in Robredo’s failed presidential bid.

Unfazed, the UP Cebu instructor volunteered and was selected to introduce Robredo during the 84th Commencement Exercises. Villaester was not the only one inspired that afternoon.

Addressing the graduating class of 2023, Robredo said that she was inspired by those who shared the stakes and moved to assist the vulnerable in society.

“Taken within the context of your graduation, solidarity could mean very simply that none of us ever gets to where we want to be on our own.”

Robredo stressed the connections that enable individuals and communities to surpass challenges, connections that do not arise from elitist privilege but from the organic gathering of individuals and groups that seek in altruistic service the welfare of others.

The importance of interconnectedness was reinforced when Robredo led on the morning of July 21 the groundbreaking ceremony for the Angat Buhay Dormitory for High School Girls at UP Cebu.

The Angat Buhay Foundation was initiated by Robredo as a private citizen when she resumed development work following the 2022 general election.

The Australian Government through the Direct Aid Program of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines and the UP Cebu co-sponsored the Angat Buhay Dormitory.

Girls and women confront educational access and retention. The Philippine Commission on Women and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization underscore how girls are not just prioritized last for education in poor families. They also absorb chores at home, such as caring for younger siblings and being surrogate parents.

The day after the UP Cebu graduation, UP High School alumni had their 30th reunion. An alumnus of UP Cebu High School and its Mass Communication program, lawyer Ian Vincent Manticajon, said that his high school batch had donated more than half a million pesos to the alma mater.

Manticajon wants his fellow alumni “to be inspired to give back more” to the alma mater.

“We (UP High School alumni) don’t have deep pockets but we can tap our networks (in the) community that we’ve nurtured over the years,” said the full-time practicing lawyer who also lectures in the university and heads its public information office.

Manticajon credits the private sector for valuing UP education, pointing out how local companies supported the award-winning robotics program of the UP High School.

“Just as we are never the sole and final cause of our achievements, so should we never be its endpoint,” Robredo reminded Batch 2023 on an afternoon when the sun broke through on a sea of ecrus, blacks and pinks.

VISAYAN Electric, in partnership with Vivant Foundation Inc., has rewired and upgraded the electrical systems of 13 public schools within its franchise area as beneficiaries.

The upgrading of the electrical systems or rewiring project is one of the core corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects of Visayan Electric. It is aimed towards promoting safety and quality education.

During the turnover ceremony on July 10, 2023, the chief of Education Support Services Division of the Department of Education (DepEd) 7, Tomas Pastor, thanked Visayan Electric and Vivant Foundation Inc. for their continued support in ensuring that classrooms and school facilities are safe from accidents and conducive to learning.

The same sentiments were echoed by DepEd-Cebu Province School Division Administrative Officer 5 Jeremy Dinampo.

“This rewiring project will illuminate the path to where our learners are going — to the future,” he said.

Over its 10-year run, Visayan Electric has rewired a total of 5,275 classrooms and facilities, 5,002 with Aboitiz Foundation Inc. and 273 with Vivant Foundation Inc.

Included in this year’s beneficiaries of the project are San Roque Elementary School (Liloan), Lanipga Elementary School (Consolacion), Panoypoy Elementary School (Consolacion), Panas Elementary School (Consolacion), Tingub Elementary School (Mandaue City), Ilaya Elementary School (San Fernando), Uling Elementary School (City of Naga); Pangdan Elementary School (City of Naga), Cadulawan Integrated School (Minglanilla), Tungkil National High School (Minglanilla), Manipis Elementary School (Talisay City), Tapul Elementary School (Talisay City) and Busay National High School (Cebu City).

Cadulawan Integrated School teacher Marie Ann Sebial said that if not for Visayan Electric and Vivant Foundation, “the schools would have still experienced hazardous electrical concerns since most of us are now leaning on using televisions for educational discussions.”

Panoypoy Elementary School Principal Adele Espinosa also expressed gratitude to the benefactors.

“I think I speak not just for my school but for all the schools who benefited from this project, that we are thankful for this blessing that we have received from Visayan Electric and Vivant Foundation,” she said.

The Rewiring Project is just one of the various CSR projects of Visayan Electric aimed towards the education sector. The distribution firm said it takes pride in its vast CSR initiatives geared towards different sectors of society, including education, livelihood and the environment.

THE Philippine Air Force (PAF) celebrated its 76th founding anniversary on July 3, 2023 by displaying its air assets.

The PAF impressed its audience with live demonstrations of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities using the C208 aircraft, fast rope insertion and extraction system operations with the S7oi Black Hawk helicopters and a hoist rescue operation of a patient using a Huey 2 aircraft.

It also showcased its air-to-ground live fire demonstrations with the FA50 PH, A29B Super Tucano and T129 Atak Helicopters.

The formal program began with an impressive high-speed opener exhibition by three FA-50 PH aircraft, followed by a formation flight of T-41 aircraft, forming “76” to honor the PAF’s many years of existence and service.

A flyby demonstration featured various types of PAF air and ground assets, such as the FA-50PH, T-129, C295, C-130, PZL W-3A Sokol, s70i, unmanned aerial vehicle and Ground Based Air Defense System platforms.

In his speech, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. commended the PAF for its selfless service and dedication over the past 76 years. He recognized the rich history and growth of the PAF, from its humble beginnings during the First World War to its present role in securing the nation.

Gratitude

The President expressed his gratitude to the PAF personnel for their exemplary dedication and contributions to enhancing the country’s aerial defense capabilities.

He emphasized the values of integrity, excellence and patriotism, urging the PAF to continue upholding them in their mission to protect the nation.

The President also assured the PAF of the government’s commitment to strengthen the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), including the PAF, through the AFP Modernization Program.

Recognizing the challenges ahead, the President emphasized the importance of the PAF’s maritime air patrol missions in upholding territorial integrity and safeguarding Philippine naval zones.

He expressed his confidence in the PAF’s ability to soar to greater heights, calling for unity, indomitable spirit and unwavering dedication to protect the Republic.

Throughout its 76-year journey, the PAF said it has consistently striven for excellence in fulfilling its mission. It said that its relentless pursuit of improvement was evident in its continuous investments in cutting-edge technology, advance infrastructure and the development of its human resources, ensuring the security of the Philippines and its skies.

The PAF said these strategic endeavors have propelled its capability to new heights, resulting in a more robust fleet, state-of-the-art platforms, efficient air bases and highly trained personnel.

When I first met Cedelf Tupas for a football coverage close to two decades ago, the idea of the Philippines being in a World Cup was so laughable that if anyone had mentioned such thought to us, we’d willingly pay for his or her spot at the National Mental Health Institute.

Back in 2004, the women’s team was largely unknown and was barely a threat in the Southeast Asian Games that the thought of being in the World Cup was a crazy idea.

Yet, here we are. In the Fifa World Cup. THE WORLD CUP.

So it’s quite understandable when I saw a photo of Cedelf singing the national anthem in the World Cup and he seemed to be bawling. Getting there was a book-worthy journey, one that Cedelf knows inside out, having been reporting about Philippine football and being an insider in the past few years.

I’ve been playing the clip numerous times too. It’s unbelievable, hearing the national anthem in the World Cup.

Tanya Chica, one of the pioneers in women’s football in Cebu, posted: “Never not gonna get emotional watching this: Philippine anthem in the frickin World Cup. Just. Wow!” And I think that speaks for all followers of Philippine football.

Often times, after games that the Azkals lose or even win, when fans gather, we always agree that we will never see the Philippines in the World Cup.

But then came the women’s team. The Malditas turned Filipinas. They made the Asian Cup first. Then just last year from the jaws of defeat against Chinese Taipei, they went on to win and bag a spot in the World Cup.

There were many people involved in the journey, unsung US-based heroes like Butch Impelido and Mark Mangune who helped scout players.

But none played a bigger role than Jeff Cheng, who opened his wallet and used his connections to turn a promising team into a World Cup-caliber squad.

In the past two years, I think the women’s team played so often that they’ve practically lived in hotels and airports.

We lost the opening game, sure, and that denied goal was such a heartbreak. Perhaps it could have turned the game. Yes, we were clearly outplayed by Switzerland but you cannot deny the girls played their hearts out.

They never gave up.

They represented us well.

I don’t want to look forward to what happens to women’s football post World Cup. I’m sure a lot of fans are excited, a lot of analysts have their thoughts.

For now, let’s just savor this moment.

We are in the World Cup.

Cebu City is thrilled to announce its bid to host the Palarong Pambansa 2024, showcasing the vibrant culture, resilient spirit, and warm hospitality of the region. At the heart of Cebu’s bid is the commitment to prioritize the health, comfort and well-being of all participating athletes, coaches and officials. To this end, we are excited to introduce our innovative MaTaTaG package, a wellness and care initiative designed to support and enhance the Palarong Pambansa experience.

The MaTaTaG package, derived from MaTaTaG agenda of DepEd, is a comprehensive wellness and care package that includes a range of essentials to ensure the comfort and well-being of our guests. Each package will include bedrolls, blankets, pillows, a reusable tumbler, a custom T-shirt and an energy drink. These items are not only practical, but also reflect our commitment to sustainability, with eco-friendly materials used wherever possible.

“Cebu’s Palarong Pambansa bid is rooted in our deep respect for the athletic community and our desire to provide an exceptional experience for all participants,” said Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama. ”The MaTaTaG package symbolizes our commitment to each athlete, coach and official’s comfort and well-being. It’s our way of saying ‘welcome’ and ensuring that everyone can perform at their best.”

Our bid for the Palarong Pambansa 2024 is more than just an opportunity to showcase the athletic prowess of our young athletes. It’s also a chance to demonstrate our values of hospitality, resilience, and care for one another. We believe the MaTaTaG package embodies these values and sets a new standard for athlete care in the sporting world.

Cebu City is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to welcome athletes, coaches and officials from across the country. We believe that our bid, coupled with the MaTaTaG package, offers a unique and compelling proposition that puts the well-being of all athletic delegations at the forefront.

INSTEAD of giving way to fears of an artificial intelligence (AI) takeover, Cebu’s young business leaders believe that such advancements in technology are beneficial for improving processes and not for destroying jobs.

Franco Soberano, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI), said that AI will never replace the human touch and social interactions, especially in industries like real estate.

“AI is here to improve what we do, but it cannot replace the personal interactions that we do,” he said during the Ng Khai Enterprise Summit on Friday, July 21, 2023, at the SM Seaside City Cebu.

Amid the accelerated digital transformation across all industries, Soberano urged the education sector to step up its efforts in producing individuals capable of handling complex and higher-value tasks.

“I think this is where people must step up; this is where our education should level up to make sure we are more valuable than what an AI can do,” he said.

Soberano attributed CLI’s success over the years to the company’s strong financial strength, prudent financial management, good collaboration and professional workforce.

“Part of our success, aside from having a good heart with people, is the financial discipline,” he said.

CLI, a publicly listed company headquartered in Cebu City, plans to launch P29.75 billion worth of new projects to sustain its successful growth trajectory in 2022 and beyond. The company recently announced its expansion in Luzon, while making significant investments in the Visayas and Mindanao.

New capabilities

Rissa Julene Go, chief financial officer of Prince Group, shares Soberano’s belief that AI brings new capabilities to business processes, aiding small and big businesses to succeed.

Go discussed ways and techniques to cope with changes in business using technologies and tools aided by AI. She emphasized the value of RT-PCR, which stands for Readiness, Trials, Presence, Critique, and Re-imagine.

“We need a mindset shift because technology is all about change. But the mindset is just one,” said Go on becoming ready to handle a business.

She stressed the importance of selecting the right tool or solution that can solve specific business problems, as there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

Moreover, she pointed out the essence of being present, hands-on, and clear on goals to ensure efficacy and provide convenience and better service to customers.

Through the RT-PCR approach, Go managed to expand and handle the gradual changes of technology, applying it in their business rather than seeing it as a threat.

She shared how digital transformation contributed to the growth of their retail business, especially during and after the digital shift caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Go family business has 69 stores all over Visayas and Mindanao.

Speeding up the future

For Paul Soliman, chief executive officer and chief technology officer of Hacktiv Collab, AI has been speeding up the future.

“The future is faster than we think. We don’t need to wait for 2045 to see AI,” he said.

He believes that AI is not just artificial intelligence but augmented intelligence that assists humans rather than replacing them.

“AI for me is not artificial intelligence but augmented intelligence. If you use AI, it augments your intelligence,” he said.

He further said that AI has been disrupting various job roles, helping manufacturing workers, customer service representatives, marketing professionals and financial analysts.

On the other hand, data entry clerks, legal professionals, drivers and transportation workers are some jobs that are more likely to be disrupted by the emergence of AI.

He also urged people and business developers to adopt the power of AI to improve the enterprise sector.

“It’s a gold rush, but businesses and people who will not adopt will be replaced,” he said.

Ng Khai summit

Ng Khai Development Corp. held a two-day summit focused on education and enterprise on July 21 and 22 in celebration of its 30th year in the information technology business.

The enterprise summit centered on the dynamic world of AI and its far-reaching impact on businesses.

Ng Khai started in 1993 as an offshore development center for Asia and the United States. Today, Ng Khai is a leading partner for major international tech brands in southern Philippines and has won numerous awards.

Various partnerships of Ng Khai Corp., such as HPI, Sangfor, Dell, Holowits, Huawei, Lenovo, Versatech, Sophos, Asus, and Westcon Comstor, presented their latest technology innovations, which are beneficial in improving and updating businesses and industries.

Among the innovations mentioned is the Huawei Idea Hub, which comes as a whiteboard with modernized features - intelligent writing, high-definition video conferencing, and wireless sharing, enabling people to conduct their work and meetings more efficiently and organized.

Apart from this, other discussions during the summit included cybersecurity, software solutions, AI adaptations, AI utilization, among other factors that drive changes in the enterprise sector. (KOC WITH CNU INTERNS CAMILLE ERIKA BUTAS, GK MARIE DEJACTO)

MANILA-BASED property developer Wee Community Developers (WeeComm) is set to make its first foray in Cebu next year, joining other national developers in expanding their footprint in the second biggest market outside Metro Manila.

The company, which builds houses for the middle-income market, already has six to eight properties up for development in Cebu through joint venture agreements, according to Carson Choa, the chief operating officer of WeeComm.

The group’s upcoming expansion is set to bring in more jobs for Cebuanos, particularly in construction, provide more housing options, and create business activities and more livelihoods in the communities they will build.

“Part of our growth strategy is to enter Cebu. It is one of our main targets for next year,” Choa said. “When we go into Cebu we will enter into two types of development, one is vertical and the other is a horizontal development.”

The planned horizontal project is a 47-hectare property in Consolacion, Cebu. Horizontal development refers to the construction and development of properties on a single level, typically on the ground.

“We are still studying the terrain because it is relatively high ground. We are checking how many percent of the 47 hectares we can develop but maybe it would be around 25 to 30 hectares that can be considered a developable area,” he said.

According to Carson, a five-hectare land development would need around P200 to 250 million in investments.

According to the property advisory firm Colliers Philippines, horizontal developments remain popular among end-users, particularly for projects located in Carcar City, Lapu-Lapu City, Balamban, and Consolacion. These areas accounted for nearly 90 percent of total house and lot take-up in Cebu in the first three months of the year.

WeeComm is also finalizing details for some vertical projects in Cebu, including the existing GT Times Square Cebu located on Fuente Osmena. Vertical development refers to the construction and development of properties that involve multiple floors or levels.

“We are exploring if we can go in and turn around that project. But we also have other projects in the pipeline,” Choa said.

Choa said WeeComm is confident of growing its brand in Cebu as the presence of more players getting into the market has evolved and improved the landscape of the metropolis. The accelerated infrastructure development has also unlocked real estate values across the province.

But Choa said they want to build inclusive communities.

“Cebu is hyper-competitive. Even if Cebu is considered a regional development, it is now close to how Metro Manila developments go because property values are equally the same or sometimes higher than in Manila. What we have to be careful about is the discrepancy between the land value versus how much condos are going,” he said.

“If we embark on a project, it should be a perfect blend of finding the right property with reasonable value so that when you put up a development it is a more inclusive development. Wee Comm has grown to be a developer that builds mid-cost projects. We want our middle-income earners to enjoy the developments that we do,” he added.

Among WeeComm’s projects are The First Baron Residences, The Baron’s Place, The Baron Gardens, and Baron Tower in San Juan, as well as Centro Residences and Centro Tower in Quezon City. The group also recently expanded its footprint in Mindanao.

In its latest market report for Cebu, Colliers Philippines said the average total contract price for a house and lot in Cebu stands at P4.2 million, while a condominium unit is at P143,800 per square meter.

“Cebu remains one of the most attractive and largest residential hubs outside of Metro Manila. National developers continue to launch in Metro Cebu as they are optimistic about the locale’s potential for growth post-Covid. In our view, the improving sentiment from businesses and individual investors and end-users will likely support the Cebu residential sector’s growth,” Colliers said.

Moreover, the launch of higher-priced condominium units outside of Cebu City also indicates national property firms’ confidence in Cebuano investors’ purchasing power and rising affluence, the firm added. (KOC)

TANODS from Barangay Capitol Site, Cebu City responded to an alarm in Sitio Kintolimbo in neighboring Barangay Kamputhaw at 11 p.m. Friday, July 21, 2023, and found a woman who appeared to be “possessed” by evil spirits.

Ali Abad, one of the tanods, said the victim, a domestic helper believed to be in her 20s, was acting strangely when they arrived.

“Kalkag kaayo og buhok mo aksiyon siya ug layat murag mamaak ba. Mao nang among giatngan og plywood kay ang sa pikas ana mura man og pang-pang. Mao to nga among gidakop dayon,” Abad said.

(Her hair was in a mess and it looked like she was going to bite us. We blocked the side of the house with plywood because it was facing a cliff. That’s when we decided to take her in.)

Abad said they couldn’t understand what she was saying since the only words that came out of her mouth were gibberish.

He said they first brought her to the Cebu City Medical Center where she calmed down after inhaling some liniment. However, a few minutes later, she made a run for it after managing to untie herself, he said.

After capturing her, he said they brought her to the psychiatric ward of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center to be examined.

Abad said they learned that the woman just arrived in Cebu City from Iligan City in Lanao del Norte.(BBT, PJB)

In the 1970s, a young boy named Cesar Cabase Castillo was awarded Best Blackboard Artist. This was during the era of scratch chalk drawings; he soon graduated from Grade 6.

Fully intending to take up Fine Arts in college, he was met with strong opposition from his parents who insisted he take up Mechanical Engineering. The obedient child that he was, he got the degree and the license.

His first job was designing for Mindanao Rattan and he was quite happy there until his parents wanted him to move to San Miguel Corp. Again, he forcibly shifted his career direction to make them happy. He had a drawer under his desk where he stored his painting materials. Back then it was paper and charcoal since he had just begun practicing his own style in black and white.

He joined a Celso Pepito workshop in 1994 even while he was working full time as he wanted to train in oil and pastel. When Jose “Kimsoy” Yap returned from the United States, he also joined his workshop to develop his watercolor painting skills.

Cesar fondly mentions that he benefited from both masters and will never forget how Celso would always remind him to try to make sure that his pieces would relay a positive message and Kimsoy would constantly encourage him to improve his technique. By this time, he was painting daily; starting with small pieces, scrimping on materials which were hard to come by back then. He never disposed of any of his work, whether he was happy with the outcome or not. His supportive wife Gina kept everything he made because she knew how important it was to him.

When Cesar was 47 years old, he made a life-changing decision that would qualify as “career suicide” for most people. He decided to quit his corporate job and focus on his art full time, to the horror of most people around him — including his foreign boss who tried to hold on to him for months before finally realizing he had to let him go.

Only one person was truly happy for him at this point, and that was Celso.

Why the need for such a drastic move, and one that’s almost beyond comprehension as the demand for art at that time was low? Cesar shared how he felt he was not free to move around while tied to his desk; he wanted to travel, to explore and to commune with fellow artists because he felt that was his true calling in life.

After many twists and turns, he felt he had truly reached his lowest point when one day, while preparing for an exhibition in one of those buildings in Cebu IT Park, he realized it was his wife’s birthday. With only P100 left in his pocket, he asked her what she wanted and she simply said it was French fries. When the exhibit opened a few hours later, someone randomly gave his wife French fries — such a happy coincidence — they now had money left to be able to go to the Sto. Niño Church and attend the novena mass.

When they returned to the exhibit, two of his paintings were purchased by foreigners — one of the Sto. Niño and another one of flowers — for P5,000 each. They went home with truly grateful hearts.

By joining the Cebu Artists Inc. (CAI) group, he began to sell more pieces as he traveled around and joined more exhibits with them. What sets Cesar apart from the other artists is his preference to have a free hand in choosing his subjects. He candidly admitted that doing commissioned work curtails his freedom of expression, and so he would always tell his buyer that it cannot be done in a rush and let them decide if they are willing to wait.

AS THE July 25 deadline nears, Globe has launched a creative campaign that emphasizes the need for consumers to comply with the SIM Registration Act to protect themselves from the dangers that lurk online.

In the “Number Mo, Identity Mo” campaign, the online identities of popular celebrities Kuya Kim Atienza and Kiray Celis were humorously "hacked" by talented stand-up comedians and improv artists impersonating them.

"Online safety is a pressing issue in today's digital age. Through this unique initiative, we hope to drive home the point that our SIMs are a crucial part of our digital identity and must be protected. We also want to remind our prepaid customers that they need to register their SIMs by the July 25 deadline. We urge all Globe customers to register their SIMs now,” said Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer, Globe Group.

To avoid becoming a victim of fraud, Globe reiterates its call for customers to register their SIMs. Globe Prepaid, TM and Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi customers may register via the GlobeOne app and Globe’s SIM registration microsite (https://new.globe.com.ph/simreg) 24/7.

Fully-verified GCash account holders may also utilize the GCash app. Those in need of assistance may also get help to register their SIMs in any Globe Store and EasyHub nationwide.

Globe Postpaid, Globe Business Postpaid and Globe Platinum subscribers have already been included in the SIM registration database. For company-owned Globe Business prepaid accounts, steps to register or update details have been sent to authorized company representatives.

Celebrity accounts ‘hacked’

The imaginative take on promoting online safety started with strange teaser posts on all of Kiray and Kuya Kim's active social media accounts, culminating in a TikTok LIVE session, where the impersonators peddled entertainingly obvious scams to viewers, effectively spotlighting potential dangers lurking online.

Kiray's impostor took her followers on a journey of transformation, promising a high-end, luxe, and more beautiful version of the beloved comedienne, ending in a live selling event and a dramatic "face reveal." Simultaneously, Kuya Kim's impersonator alluded to recent developments about a television show, promising juicy behind-the-scenes secrets, lifestyle tips, and a surprise guest, all to spark interest and intrigue.

But the real intent behind these entertaining acts was revealed two days after the livestream, as Kuya Kim and Kiray uploaded a video saying their accounts had been 'hacked.' This unexpected twist underscored their important message: online identity theft is real, and everyone should take measures to protect themselves, including registering their SIMs.

With this campaign, Globe underscores its dedication to promoting online safety. Since December 2022, the company has carried out various SIM registration drives. This latest effort adds a creative twist, amplifying the message that “your SIM is more than a number – it's an extension of your identity.” Through SIM registration, customers take a critical step in protecting their digital identity against potential scams.

The “Number Mo, Identity Mo” campaign reminds everyone that the battle against online scams is not a solitary fight but a collective effort.

To learn more about Globe, visit https://www.globe.com.ph/. (PR)

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - vivo released another chic budget phone built for quality and durability to add to its Y Series lineup. Experience improved performance with the new vivo Y02t compared to its predecessor, the Y02s.

With 4GB RAM and up to 4GB extended RAM, navigate and switch between apps more smoothly. Store a lot of files as the vivo Y02s still sports 64GB storage, which can be expanded up to 1TB using a micro SD card.

Besides the enhanced RAM, here's what everyone needs to know about vivo's latest budget phone:

Built to last and withstand damage

vivo never fails to provide quality phones. vivo Y02t has undergone rigorous quality tests to withstand scratches, drops, and extreme weather conditions.

The anti-fingerprint back cover was made by a new nano-grade material spray coating process to make it resistant to daily scratches.

The phone was also tested 32,000 times for drops, 10,000 times for USB ports, and 6,000 times for headset ports.

vivo also used and stored the phone in artificial environments that reached -20 degrees Celsius and 75 degrees Celsius.

Nonstop entertainment

vivo Y02t also boasts a 5000mAh battery. It can keep users entertained through online high-definition video streaming for up to 18 hours.

It also features a 6.51-inch Halo FullView™ Display with HD+ (1600 × 720) resolution, providing a wide and immersive view for videos.

With the Eye Protection Screen feature, do not worry about eye strain from harmful blue light as vivo Y02t's display automatically adjusts the level of brightness based on ambient light conditions.

Truly high-end design

vivo never disappoints when it comes to design. vivo Y02t has a flat frame and a matte back panel. It comes in two colors - Sunset Gold which is perfect under the sun and Cosmic Grey for a mysterious, powerful look.

Sunset Gold

Cosmic Grey

Other features to love

vivo Y02t has MediaTek Octa-core Processor that offers reliable and smooth performance. It is also equipped with Funtouch OS 13 based on Android 13 Edition, which features a new method for entering a split-screen view as well as copying and pasting across devices.

Get better language preferences, finer multitasking, enhanced audio, an updated photo picker, and improved privacy with the Funtouch OS 13.

The phone also turns into a power bank as it has a 5V/1A reverse charging feature. This is helpful to cover other devices when out and about.

Wake vivo Y02t effortlessly with its face recognition feature in just the blink of an eye.

Get vivo's newest elegant yet affordable phone for only Php 5,999 at its official website, e-stores such as Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok, as well as physical stores nationwide. (SPONSORED CONTENT)

WHAT HAPPENED: Friday, July 21, 2023, Cebu City Administrator Colin Rosell and Jerone Castillo, the mayor’s assistant on special projects, Castillo, told a press conference that City Hall will go after “City Hall Updates,” a social media site that has been posting in the last few days findings of the Commission on Audit (COA) on, among others, alleged irregularities on typhoon cash aid and drug users who were market division employees of City Hall.

Rosell and Castillo led at the press-con a clutch of department heads who were involved in, or familiar with, the hot issues that have gone viral on the internet.

QUESTIONS THAT NAG. The press conference apparently was to neutralize adverse public reaction to unsavory findings against the Rama administration, which Cebu Updates have posted. The soc-med site, because of its earlier City Hall ties, reportedly had preview of the COA reports, ahead of Cebu’s dailies and other regular news sites.

Among the major issues raised at the press-con and set off these questions:

[] Casas’s authority: Former city administrator Floro Casas Jr. signed the P1.3 billion drainage in the name of the mayor. Did he have the authority to sign for then mayor Edgardo Labella and, if he had, was he authorized by the City Council? to sign that specific contract?

One city official said “COA said Casas had no authority from the Sanggunian” to sign that particular contract. Casas told me there was no need as the City Council had previously approved a lump sum appropriation.

[] Ownership, use of Cebu Updates: Did the Cebu City Government “own” Cebu Updates, formerly named the Cebu City Public Information Office? Has it been used as a media outlet to criticize the Rama administration?

Two City Hall key officials said at the press-con Cebu Updates is City Government property. An administrator of the site told me it is private property.

CASAS AND P1.3B DEAL. Atty. Castillo, Mayor Rama’s assistant on special projects, made it clear to reporters that Atty. Casas’s alleged excess of authority in the 2021 P1.3 billion drainage project was called out by COA. It was COA, “not us,” Castillo said, who questioned why Casas “entered into a contract... without the authorization of the Sangguniang Panglungsod (SP).” This is “a very serious matter,” Castillo said at the press-con, “even if you have authority to sign for the mayor, you need the express authority to sign” a specific contract.

Casas told me Saturday, July 22 that “not all transactions require prior Sanggunian approval,” citing a purported ruling in Quisumbing vs. Garcia. “Perhaps, Atty. Castillo didn’t research right (“wala seguro siya nag-research og tarong”) because there (was) an SP resolution allowing charging of the ABC for the project from the lump sum account.

The COA report though, a SunStar July 20 report said, the state auditor “stressed that the city administrator has no authority to bind the City Government into a contract using the lump sum without the authority of the SP.” The same COA report found “excessive” the advance payment of P199.323 million advance payment, for the design phase, in 2021, equivalent to 15 percent of the contract cost.

Slamming the administration at the time, COA said the City Government “should have exerted efforts to expedite its completion.” The project was suspended three times, “for flimsy reasons,” COA said, “with (such) ease” and leniency that it gave “the impression that the contractor was given unwarranted favors.” As of December 31, 2022, there were 247 days of delay. COA recommended that the contract be terminated or revoked because of the delays and the advance payment of almost P200 million recovered.

QUESTION OF AUTHORITY. Casas showed me an office order of then mayor Labella issued July 6, 2019, granting authority to sign disbursement vouchers, payrolls, purchase requests, and such other official documents related to them. The order -- addressed to then C.A. Casas; city attorney Joey Daluz; Jerone Castillo of the city treasurer’s office; and budget officer Marietta Gumia -- assigned the respective areas where the officials were signatory.

An excerpt from the minutes of the City Council session of July 9, 2019 said the City Council decided to “delegate and grant authority” for Casas to sign vouchers, payrolls and other official documents listed in the July 6 office memo.

Labella must have been feeling ill already at the time; later he had to be frequently hospitalized, leading to his death on November 19, 2021. Obviously, the mayor had so much trust in Casas, or had no one else to trust, that he gave his city administrator almost all the signing powers.

Atty. Castillo though distinguished authority to sign for the mayor from authority from the City Council to sign for a specific contract. The first was given both by the mayor and the Sanggunian. The second was not expressly given by the City Council for the drainage project, except on a lump sum appropriation, from which the money for the drainage deal was taken. Casas’s defense, it would seem, is that the Sanggunian approval was no longer needed as it had previously approved a lump sum for the project.

THE ‘CEBU UPDATES’ FACTOR. The posts about City Hall that went viral were carried by Cebu Updates, a site that used to be controlled by City Hall. Atty. Casas told me Cebu Updates is privately created social media site that publishes official events and announcements. The page “is, or was, not owned

by CCG, as Atty. Castillo implied,” Casas said.

A January 9, 2023 blog by media specialist Max Limpag -- titled “Bring your own kabaw,” mocking Mayor Rama’s Sinulog at SRP -- referred to Cebu Updates as an “old Cebu City PIO Facebook page.” Limpag’s inquiry disclosed that:

[] May 2, 2012: The FB page was created as the Cebu City Public Information Office during the previous term of Mayor Michael Rama;

[] August 3, 2016: Its name was changed to City of Cebu, Public Information Office, under then mayor Tomas Osmena;

[] January, January 27, 2018: The name was reverted to Cebu City Public Information Office, still under Osmeña, with Malou Inocando-Tabar as PIO;

[] 2019 -2021: With the assumption of Edgardo Labella as mayor in 2019, Tabar said she turned over “admin access” to Razel Cuizon, Labella’s PIO With Labella’s death in November 2021, Mike Rama’s team used another FB page, created earlier on November 9, 2011 and known as Barug Sugbo TV;

[] January 5, 2022: PIO’s old page was renamed Cebu Updates. Cerwin Eviota, the PIO in Year One of Rama’s fresh full term, told Max Limpag the page was not turned over to him -- and obviously, he also didn’t seek its retrieval.

At the press-con, both Rosell and Cartillo said in effect City Hall has mobilized its forces to look into the case and charge the persons responsible.

RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT? Apparently, (a) for the loss of what they believe as City Hall property and (b) its use against Rama and his administration.

Both are being disputed by Atty. Casas. Jun Casas told me Cebu Updates is private property and it is “not anti-Rama.”

On the ownership or, more precisely, the control of Cebu Updates, Limpag said also Saturday, July 22, he thinks the Rama administration “dropped the ball by failing to demand turnover” of the PIO/Cebu Updates page. They should’ve exhausted all means to recover it, rather than start a new page. They were in a strong position then to take the old page back, Max said.

Cebu Updates could be “undermining them, “with a bigger audience at that, an audience built using government resources back when it was official PIO page, with content published by government and employees paid for with public funds.”

NOT ANTI-RAMA, HE SAYS. Atty. Casas, who admits he is an administrator of Cebu Updates, said it is not anti-Rama, “though the most interesting stories now involve the Rama administration, so we gladly post them.”

Using the “we’re-only-messengers” line, Casas said “we only post, we do not create the news.” But in City Hall, he said, “now we see more ‘palpak’ talk and propaganda rather than ‘actual, concrete ‘positive efforts and achievements.’” So we post that, he said, and when we see something good, we post it too.

Casas told me City Hall “is not very transparent.” He cited the absence of information about the controversial Boracay trip, no update on the use of the P50 billion budget this year, or how much the City has collected so far. Saying he’s also from City Hall, he “can feel there’s something wrong” with the way the City Government is being run.

As a kind of reaching out to Mayor Rama and Atty. Castillo, Cebu Updates in a lead post also Saturday, “we extend our message of cooperation and understanding.” While the outlet “strives to highlight the positive efforts and achievements of our city leaders,” it is also the responsibility of Cebu Updates “to report the truth,” not to “tarnish anyone’s image but to promote a better Cebu for everyone.”

FRIED BY OWN LARD. Criticisms against Rama and company from the previously owned FB page may seem more painful as it would be like, in old Cebuano-Bisaya adage, being fried by one’s own lard ("gigisal sa kaugalingong mantika").

THREE days ahead of his second State of the Nation Address (Sona), President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has lifted the state of public health emergency in the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Malacañang announced on Saturday, July 22, 2023.

“All prior orders, memoranda and issuances that are effective only during the state of public health emergency shall be deemed withdrawn, revoked or canceled and shall no longer be in effect,” read Proclamation 297, issued on Friday, July 21, but made public only on Saturday.

However, the emergency use authorization issued by the Food and Drug Administration for Covid-19 vaccines, pursuant to Executive Order 121 (s. 2020), will remain valid for a period of one year from the date of lifting of the state of public health emergency.

This provision allows authorities to utilize the remaining vaccines effectively.

The President also called upon all government agencies to review their policies, rules and regulations to ensure they align with the lifting. Necessary amendments to existing policies or the creation of new ones may be required to accommodate the transition.

Sustained decline

The decision to lift the state of public health emergency was made based on the sustained decline in Covid-19 deaths, the decrease in Covid-19-related hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions, and the high levels of population immunity to Sars-CoV-2.

These positive trends were acknowledged by the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) in May.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus endorsed the committee’s advice, recognizing that while Covid-19 remains a concern for certain subpopulations, it no longer constitutes a public health emergency of international concern. This assessment prompted the call for a transition to long-term management of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Malacañamg said despite the new development, health authorities and the government emphasize that Covid-19 remains a serious issue that requires continued vigilance.

Positive step

The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday commended the President’s decision, saying that it is a “positive step forward” in the nation’s fight against the pandemic.

In a statement, the DOH said Health Secretary Dr. Teodoro J. Herbosa concurs with the assessment that the current conditions no longer warrant the continuation of the public health emergency status.

“The secretary of health, Dr. Ted Herbosa, views this pronouncement as a positive step forward and wholeheartedly agrees that the conditions no longer necessitate the continuation of the public health emergency status,” the DOH said.

The health department said that the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) will convene for a final meeting to formally conclude the public health emergency, and a comprehensive final report will be prepared for the public.

This report will also highlight the dedication and hard work of the IATF, the medical frontliners and the entire government in tackling the pandemic.

“The secretary of health takes this opportunity to commend the exemplary performance and unwavering commitment of the Inter-Agency Task Force and the medical frontliners who have demonstrated resilience and heroism throughout this challenging period. Their dedication to safeguarding public health has been instrumental in reaching this critical milestone,” the DOH said.

While the state of public health emergency is lifted, the DOH emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant and proactive in maintaining health and safety.

“Continued awareness and adherence to recommended health protocols are paramount to safeguarding ourselves and our communities from any potential health risks,” the DOH said.

“As we move forward, let us remember that our collective strength lies in unity. We stand as one, united in our commitment to combat any future pandemic that may come our way. Together, we can overcome any adversity and build a healthier and safer nation for all,” it added.

DOH 7 Director Dr. Jaime Bernadas also welcomed the lifting of the state of public health emergency.

As of July 21, the country’s total caseload was at 4,171,063, with 4,099,243 recoveries, 66,542 deaths and 5,278 active cases.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte on March 8, 2020, issued Proclamation 922, declaring a state of public health emergency throughout the Philippines to address the Covid-19 threat. /(Joshua Solano / SunStar Philippines with a report from KJF)

AN IMPROVED and safer bicycle lane network and lower carbon footprint are the goals of the Bike Lane Master Plan 2023 for Metro Cebu, according to an official of the United Nations Development Programme, who also touted cycling’s financial benefits to both commuters, commercial establishments and the greater economy.

Representatives from the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Talisay and the town of Cordova received a copy of the new Bike Lane Master Plan 2023 during a ceremonial turnover at Harold’s Evotel, Cebu City on Tuesday, July, 18, 2023.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) led the distribution of the master plan that serves as a guide to comprehensive, inclusive and equitable bike lanes network development for the local government units (LGUs) of Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao.

Floradema Eleazar, team leader of the climate action section of UNDP, told SunStar Cebu that installing bike lanes will also spur economic development.

However, bike lane implementers and traffic teams from the LGUs that received the master plan raised concerns and challenges to its full implementation, citing the lack of awareness and discipline among motorists and cyclists, narrow roads and streets, issues on infrastructure support and coordination among neighboring LGUs, and the lack of a legal framework concerning the use of the bike lane system in Metro Cebu.

Economic benefits

Eleazar said cycling will be economically beneficial for commuters as they will no longer have to pay the fare for public transportation or buy fuel for their private vehicles for their commute to their respective destinations.

Cycling also promotes a healthy and active lifestyle that minimizes health risks and complications.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (Unep), cycling helps reduce the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, depression, as well as cancer. It cited research from the United Kingdom showing a link between cycling to work and a 45 percent lower risk of developing cancer, and a 46 percent lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease, compared to commuting by car or public transport.

For those concerned about getting exposed to pollution, Unep said: “The health benefits of cycling daily rather than taking a car for short trips outweigh the risks of inhalation of air pollutants. Daily exercise prolongs life expectancy by approximately 3.4 years whereas inhalation of polluted air reduces life expectancy by one to 40 days.”

Good for business

Eleazar said the public can enjoy a bike-to-work or bike-to-school setup.

Businesses such as restaurants or office buildings can also benefit from the cycling community by providing bike-friendly infrastructure like a table that will be high enough to enable bikers to use their bike as a chair.

Parking a bicycle also requires only a minimal space in comparison to motorcycles and automobiles.

Cycling also helps tourism as more cyclists visit tourist spots by traveling using a bike, she added.

However, Eleazar stressed the importance of government support in achieving these goals such as by funding the necessary infrastructure and campaign initiatives.

Carbon emissions

Cycling is good for the environment as well.

The burning of fossil fuels like gasoline and diesel by automobiles releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere, causing global warming and climate change. But cyclists emit much less carbon dioxide.

“Each seven kilometers by bicycle will save an emission of one kilogram of carbon dioxide as compared to the same distance covered by car,” according to the Unep.

Master plan

The master plan for comprehensive, inclusive and equitable bike lanes network development includes technical, institutional, and information and education components that may be adopted by the LGUs.

A research team from the University of the Philippines-National Center for Transportation Studies Foundation Inc. led the study of the master plan which was funded through Global Environment Facility.

Four strategies identified in the master plan are (1) expanding the network of protected/exclusive bike lanes, (2) developing the network of streets with shared lanes, (3) developing more bike-friendly infrastructure, and (4) encouraging the use of bicycles for commuting such as bike-to-work and bike-to-school.

Lack of discipline

Lack of awareness and discipline among motorists and the general public have been among the major challenges for the Cebu City Government to fully implement its Bike Lane System, Sugbo Bike Lanes Board (SBLB) executive director Bernard Maraasin told SunStar Cebu Tuesday after the turnover of the Bike Lane Master Plan 2023.

Maraasin stressed that “the ones reflected on the master plan, if I’m not mistaken, the city has (already) implemented (the markings of around) 70 percent of the proposed bike lanes which includes new markings in V. Rama (Ave.) and Duterte St.”

These developments began sprouting during the term of then Cebu City mayor Edgardo Labella in 2020 at the height of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic when the operation of traditional public utility jeepneys was suspended in a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and riding a bike solo was seen as a safer way to go around the city than taking public transport.

However, Maraasin said that as Cebu City removed the mobility restrictions imposed during the pandemic, SBLB has recorded a high number of violators of bike lane rules.

City Ordinance 2408 mandates that bike lanes, particularly dedicated ones, are intended for the use solely of cyclists for their safety.

Drivers of public utility vehicles, ambulances and motorcycles are among the top violators of the ordinance, Maraasin said.

“Kanang ubang ambulance, himoon ug parkinganan ang bike lane, ug naay uban matog sa sulod.”

(Some ambulances make the bike lane their parking space, and some drivers can be found asleep inside.)

Narrow roads

On the other hand, John Michael Feliciano Edar of the Lapu-Lapu City Traffic Management System Office (CTMS) said the current roads of the cities were too narrow to install bike lanes in and that problems were observed even in the roads that already had bike lanes.

“Sa amo [Lapu-Lapu City], daghan kaayo ang tawo. Sa akong experience sa traffic, kana bitaw mga cyclists? Naa ta’y mga bike lane, nya dili muagi sa bike lane. Musagol sa mga utility vehicle,” he said.

(There are a lot of people in Lapu-Lapu City. In my own experience with traffic, we have cyclists that, even though we have bike lanes, do not use them. Instead, they mix with the utility vehicles.)

“Maayo ra man [the Master Plan], pero karon lisod pa gyud. Nindot ang bike lane, pero wa ta kahibaw asa nato ipahimutang,” he added.

(It’s a good initiative; however, its implementation is the challenging part as we do not know where to place these bike lanes.)

Enforcement

To mitigate this problem following the return of the heavy volume of vehicles after the Covid-19 pandemic, Maraasin emphasized that the penalties against violators must be strictly enforced under the city ordinance.

This instills discipline in the motorists, he said, emphasizing that there will be no exemption even for drivers of government vehicles.

The penalty ranges from P500 for the first offense, to P1,000 for the second offense, and then P1,500 for the third offense.

Meanwhile, old bicycle lanes that already have faded paint marking and white stripes will be given a makeover to ensure that these designated lanes remain visible to motorists for the safety of cyclists, especially those who “bike to work.”

Maraasin assured that more bike lanes will be installed once the Cebu City Government has cleared the three-easement zones along the city’s major waterways. The lanes will be incorporated in the cleared zones.

On the other hand, Lapu-Lapu’s Edar said that in order to implement the bike lane plan, the City first has to embark on the widening of the city’s narrow roads.

“Among city gamay, ang mga karsada padak-an or need og road widening,” Edar said.

(Our city is small, hence, our roads need to be widened.)

Bicycle lanes established at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 were not properly used by cyclists as motorists were also not following their respective lanes, Edar said.

He added that as of the moment, the City Government has no ordinances with regard to the proper utilization and strengthening of the policy on bike lanes.

However, he assured that the CTMS is doing its best to reprimand violators of the bike lane policy.

More bicycle owners

According to a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey in April 2022, one in four Filipino households in the country owned bicycles. It said there were four times more bicycle owners than car owners.

In the Visayas, the survey said, there were two times more bicycle owners than car owners.

Nationwide, the bicycles were used for essential activities like market/grocery and store runs, livelihood, and as transport to the workplace and elsewhere, as well as recreational activities, the SWS survey showed.

An improved bicycle lane network inspired by the master plan may just encourage cyclists to more often pedal to their destinations than take a motorized vehicle, auguring well for their finances as well as the environment. (with CTL AND DENISE MAE CODIS AND ERICA ABELLA, CNU INTERNS)

MORE than P5 million worth of illegal drugs were seized by the Cebu City police during a buy-bust operation in Sitio Pig Vendor, Barangay Ermita at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 22, 2023.

The suspect was identified as Rudolf Cabigon Aguilar, a 21-year-old electric-bike driver from Sitio Proper of the said barangay.

The buy-bust operation was conducted by the members of the City Drug Enforcement Unit of Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) and Carbon Police Station under the command CCPO Chief Colonel Ireneo Dalogdog.

The police confiscated a large pouch containing several packs of suspected shabu weighing 775 grams with a standard drug price of P5,270,000.

The evidence obtained has been turned over to the PNP Forensic Group for examination. (AYB, TPT)

It is not only content creators who use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to write compelling material. Government offices and officials have also been known to use AI to write their speeches.

The first to come out with a confession was United States Democratic Representative for Massachusetts, Jake Auchinclos, on January 26, 2023. He became the first member of the US Congress to deliver an AI-written speech before the House of Representatives. A CNN report said Auchinclos’s speech was, aptly enough, in support of a measure to establish a joint AI research center to be run by the US and Israel.

Auchinclos’s speech written by ChatGPT, a text-based artificial intelligence, sounded direct, straightforward, and without emotion. It was based on the prompt fed to ChatGPT: “You are Jake Auchincloss, a Member of Congress. Write 100 words to deliver on the floor of the House of Representatives. Topic: the importance of the United States–Israel Artificial Intelligence Center Act, which the congressman will re-introduce this term.”

His speech stated that the proposed legislation “will cement a mutually beneficial partnership between the United States and Israel on artificial intelligence research” and how the collaboration will “ensure that the United States maintains a leadership role in AI research and development...” All sounds good but boring because ChatGPT’s response depends on the question or the prompt.

Auchinclos, in the CNN interview, also spoke of how AI can potentially be harmful and that there is a need to “counteract any kind of dystopian future.” He pushed for more players and said the technology should be made available to universities, non-profit organizations, small companies and public officials “so everybody can have a hand in shaping it, and it works for everybody.” The AI “is a tool, not a master,” and should amplify human creativity and productivity, “not allow it to create economic or social conditions that years from now we will try to change.”

The US legislator may not be the only public official to deliver an AI-written speech, but he was the first to admit it. It is tempting to think how the next government speech is factual and not made up since ChatGPT is a tool that responds based on the question it is fed and the data it can access.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to deliver his second State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives on Monday, July 24, 2023. He promised that his speech will be a “very simple” performance report to Filipinos.

I don’t think his speechwriters will use ChatGPT as the text-based technology has limitations. If they do use the tool, they have to be transparent and have to acknowledge that it was written with the help of AI, as Auchinclos did after his speech, and that the report does not veer away from the truth.

There are ways to check if something was written by AI.

It is not only content creators who use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to write compelling material. Government offices and officials have also been known to use AI to write their speeches.

The first to come out with a confession was United States Democratic Representative for Massachusetts, Jake Auchinclos, on January 26, 2023. He became the first member of the US Congress to deliver an AI-written speech before the House of Representatives. A CNN report said Auchinclos’s speech was, aptly enough, in support of a measure to establish a joint AI research center to be run by the US and Israel.

Auchinclos’s speech written by ChatGPT, a text-based artificial intelligence, sounded direct, straightforward, and without emotion. It was based on the prompt fed to ChatGPT: “You are Jake Auchincloss, a Member of Congress. Write 100 words to deliver on the floor of the House of Representatives. Topic: the importance of the United States–Israel Artificial Intelligence Center Act, which the congressman will re-introduce this term.”

His speech stated that the proposed legislation “will cement a mutually beneficial partnership between the United States and Israel on artificial intelligence research” and how the collaboration will “ensure that the United States maintains a leadership role in AI research and development...” All sounds good but boring because ChatGPT’s response depends on the question or the prompt.

Auchinclos, in the CNN interview, also spoke of how AI can potentially be harmful and that there is a need to “counteract any kind of dystopian future.” He pushed for more players and said the technology should be made available to universities, non-profit organizations, small companies and public officials “so everybody can have a hand in shaping it, and it works for everybody.” The AI “is a tool, not a master,” and should amplify human creativity and productivity, “not allow it to create economic or social conditions that years from now we will try to change.”

The US legislator may not be the only public official to deliver an AI-written speech, but he was the first to admit it. It is tempting to think how the next government speech is factual and not made up since ChatGPT is a tool that responds based on the question it is fed and the data it can access.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is set to deliver his second State of the Nation Address at the House of Representatives on Monday, July 24, 2023. He promised that his speech will be a “very simple” performance report to Filipinos.

I don’t think his speechwriters will use ChatGPT as the text-based technology has limitations. If they do use the tool, they have to be transparent and have to acknowledge that it was written with the help of AI, as Auchinclos did after his speech, and that the report does not veer away from the truth.

There are ways to check if something was written by AI.

THE chairman of the Alyansa sa mga Mamumuo sa Sugbo-Kilusang Mayo Uno (AMA Sugbo-KMU) has reminded the state and employers that everyone has the right to create or join a labor union, based on the “Freedom of Association” provided in the Constitution.

Jaime Paglinawan, during the “Dole (Department of Labor and Employment) 7 Talks” program on Friday, July 21, said the provision allows employees, through a legal representation, to voice out and call upon their employers to address their concerns over wages, benefits, and other terms, and negotiate.

Only 47 unions

“Based on our monitoring, even though our data was still in 2019 but it is still close to reality, we have only 47 registered labor unions, of which a few of them have a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in Central Visayas,” Paglinawan said.

CBA is a contract in which working people, through their unions, can negotiate with their employers in terms of employment, pay, benefits, hours, leave, job policies and many more.

He added that aside from issues with their employers, red-tagging and harassment from state forces also factor in as to why only a few labor unions exist in the region.

AMA Sugbo-KMU had pleaded anew to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) 7 to hasten the investigation on these incidents.

Death threats

It and other progressive groups filed an inquiry on Monday, July 17, seeking an update on the investigation from a complaint they filed two years ago regarding red-tagging and death threats against union leaders, among others.

Paglinawan said in a press statement on Monday that since the first submission of the complaint on Jan. 17, 2021, the case has not been resolved. Instead, the alleged incidents of harassment have only worsened, he said.

On June 29, Renato Gimenez, a former unionist, said he was harassed by a man claiming to be an intelligence officer. Casmero Mahilum, also a former unionist, said he had a similar experience. According to Mahilum, he was followed and pressured to become an informant.

Paglinawan said both incidents could be considered harassment and intimidation against labor leaders who advocate for workers’ rights, pointing out that both Gimenez and Mahilum were active in defending their coworkers’ rights against unfair labor practices of their employer.

He said that although the CHR 7 has responded to their inquiry and claimed that the office is taking action, it did not specify what actions have been taken.

The labor group condemned the death threats and red-tagging they received from state officials, which should be defending workers’ rights, and called on the CHR 7 and other agencies to put an end to this alarming practice. (EHP, AML)