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The person was taking part in a tour to the Joint Security Area, the border village in the demilitarised zone separating the two Koreas where soldiers from both sides stand guard.

Caster Semenya, a South African Olympic runner, won her discrimination case in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) last week. Yet paradoxically, Semenya and many other women athletes may still be banned from competing in sports under World Athletics

The poll showed that 80% of 1,200 respondents agree with the idea of bringing back the April and May summer break for students. Eleven percent cannot say if they agree or disagree, and only 8% said they disagree. 

ALEX Santisima Jr. is raring to go for the first title fight of his young pro career.

The 23-year-old Santisima Jr. faces the stiffest test of his career thus far, as he takes on fellow unbeaten up-and-comer Arnel Buyoc for the vacant Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) super bantamweight strap in one of the featured bouts of Manny Pacquiao’s “Blow by Blow” boxing series on July 29, 2023 at the Filoil Eco Oil Center in San Juan City, Metro Manila.

“He’s doing well. He’s excited because this is a PBF title fight,” Santisima Jr.’s trainer, former ALA Boy Michael Domingo, told SunStar Cebu. “This will be a good match because they are undefeated. I know both of them will do their best so that their undefeated record won’t be tainted.”

Santisima Jr., the younger brother of one-time world title challenger Jeo Santisima, has had an impressive pro career so far. He turned pro in 2021 and scored a fourth-round stoppage of Jay Ar Arnates in 2021 in Talisay City. Santisima Jr. had a breakout year in 2022 after winning all four of his fights, which included a huge split-decision win over former regional champion and amateur stud Jess Rhey Waminal.

“Alex is more than ready. He’s had lots of quality sparring,” said Domingo.

For this camp, Santisima Jr. sparred with the likes of four-division world champion Donnie Nietes, world-rated Esneth Domingo, former Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation super bantamweight title holder Pete Apolinar, Japanese amateur pug Kiyoto Narukami and his brother Gabriel Santisima.

On the other hand, Buyoc is coming back from a 15-month layoff. His last fight was back on April 26, 2022, wherein he scored a ninth-round stoppage of battle-scarred veteran Marzon Cabilla.

Santisima Jr. is 6-0 with two knockouts, while Buyoc is 8-0-1 with a knockout.

In the other main feature, Kenneth Llover (9-0, 6 KOs) will trade leather with fellow unbeaten James Pagaling (8-0, 5 KOs) for the vacant Philippine Games and Amusements Board Youth bantamweight belt.

In the undercard, Cebuano John May Acope (4-1-1, 2 KOs) will be up against Dennis Endar (4-1-1, 3 KOs), Arvin John Sampaga (6-0, 3 KOs) will square off with Lorenz Dumam-ag (6-0-1, 4 KOs), Jimmy Canu (4-1, 1 KO) will fight Dannel Maamo (5-0, KOs), Bryan Cabrillos (3-0, 3 KOs) will lock horns with Harry Villena (2-0), Carl Jeffrey Basil (3-2, 2 KOs) will clash with Jerico Tanate (2-2) and Ronald Blanco (1-0) will slug it out with JM Guntayon (0-1). (EKA)

THE Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi) has added another school to its fold in Benedicto College.

The Cesafi board gave the green light for Benedicto College to join the Cesafi in a board meeting held on July 11, 2023. This development adds another layer of excitement to Cebu City’s preeminent inter-school competition.

Benedicto College will compete in the collegiate basketball tournament where it will join fellow newcomer University of the Philippines Cebu and the returning Southwestern University (SWU)-Phinma. SWU took a leave of absence in the collegiate basketball wars last year, which was won by the University of the Visayas Green Lancers.

Aside from college basketball, Benedicto College will be participating also in other team and individual sports.

In a separate development, the Cesafi board also elected a new president in lawyer Paulino Yabao, who’s president of the University of Southern Philippines-Foundation Inc. Yabao takes the place of engineer Bernard Nicholas Villamor, president of Cebu Institute of Technology-University, who recently ended his term. (JNP)

CS4 and Avantrac forged a finals rematch after they defeated their respective opponents in the semifinals of the Architects + Engineers 6th Corporate Cup on Saturday, July 15, 2023, at the Don Bosco Technical College–Cebu in Labangon, Cebu City.

CS4 rallied from a massive 24-point deficit to take down the Paragsa Design and Consultancy Services, 75-62. John Bautista led the way with 23 points and six rebounds, while Ed Macasling added 16 points, four assists and four steals.

Eric Pummer added 15 points and seven boards, even as Kyle Esbra fired in 14 points and four rebounds.

Avantrac, on the other hand, routed Sinclair Paint, 83-64. Trionz Bactol led Avantrac with 18 points while Lawrence Gayotin narrowly missed out on a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds. Romy Faunillan had 14 points and three assists.

The two squads will face off for the title this Saturday at the same venue. (JNP)

THE Harley Davidson-2014 exacted a measure of revenge against their finals tormentors from last season, Heritage Supreme Land Developer-2012, as they upended the reigning champions, 68-66, at the start of Division C action in the 26th season of the Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association (SHAABAA) basketball tournament on Sunday, July 16, 2023, at the Magis Eagles Arena in Mandaue City.

Team 2014 got off to a fast start and led by as much as 16 early on, 18-2, before 2012 found their bearings and made it a close game in the final canto. The unfazed 2014 made all the stops down the stretch to hack out the win.

Lucky Ecarma had a monster ballgame, compiling 28 points, 17 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks. Popoy Navarro added 19 points, six boards and five dimes.

Rev-Rev Diputado had 39 points and 10 rebounds for 2012, which won over 2014 in a hotly contested three-game series last year. However, 2012 could not find the mark on Sunday, making just 31 percent of their attempts from the field.

Meanwhile, Batch 2020 bested Batch 2022, 77-74. It was a sorry loss for 2022, which led most of the way, and entered the final canto up by 10, 65-55.

Mitch Almodal had 19 points and six rebounds, Zeke Himaya added 18 points and nine boards, while Ariel Dinglasan finished with a double-double of 17 points and 13 rebounds for the victorious side. (JNP)

Appeals judges at the International Criminal Court ruled Tuesday that an investigation into the Philippines' so-called "war on drugs" can resume, rejecting Manila's objections to the case going ahead at the global court.

The court's investigation was suspended in late 2021 after the Philippines said it was already probing the same allegations and argued that the ICC - a court of last resort - therefore didn't hav

“The map is not the territory.” - Alfred Korzybski

China and Russia can have and keep their respective maps with all their might. In the case of China, it is its map of the entire West Philippines Sea, but not the Sea itself because no Philippine territory is owned by any foreign country.

In China’s nine-line map, the Chinese officials are free to do all the aggressions and bullying they want to do and no nation will protest, not even the Philippines. They can build as many illegal structures there as they want and our government will not file for sure a single note verbale because Filipinos respect China’s dignity and recognizes its ownership of the “nine-dash line” map.

Furthermore, there is no need for the Philippine government (in such an instance) to assert the ruling of the Arbitral Court that found out the truth just as there is no more need for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to prepare for the defense of our maritime territory against China.

And what about the Philippines continually expecting the promised support/backing of big, developed nations like the United States, Australia, Japan, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, the entire European Union and many other thinking nations for any eventuality -- in defense of what belongs to Filipinos in the disputed sea? By the way, China’s nine-line is stranger than fiction according to world experts.

Are you willing/ready and capable to go to war with the world, dear China? German Chancellor/dictator Adolf Hitler invaded Poland in 1939 which triggered the World War 2, yet Hitler was the one who ended up invaded by hell as he ultimately committed suicide in 1945, out of frustration and desperation, or guilt. Aside from many other lesser crimes against humanity that evil Hitler committed, he massacred over six million Jews at the altar of his selfish/narcissistic ambition. Unforgivable.

Pray that Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin would take a cue from Hitler’s colossal blunder -- vis-a-vis the West Philippine Sea, Ukraine and Taiwan.

I read somewhere in the internet two years ago about a superpower nation in the West that has advanced scientifically and technologically in ways unprecedented and unparalleled in the matter of military might. Shortly after I finished reading the said science article, I was led to ask: What nation could be more powerful than this nation which has the knack/capability, an unseen weaponry or “mechanism” in its space to detect and redirect any kind of nuclear bomb/arsenal launched against it -- back to its point of origin?

Watch out and wise up, China, Russia (and North Korea). Learn from world history before it’s too late. Wouldn’t you behave and allow sanity, civility, reason and peace to prevail? What seems to be so difficult about it when it won’t even cost you a dime or a single, precious human life to do it? Remember, good always triumphs over bad.

My reaction to Mayor Michael Rama’s State of the City Address (Soca) is nothing short of utter dejection. Using the first letters of Barug to list down his achievements was vintage Rama rhetoric. He boasted of improving, not of having improved, everything else other than the quality of life of the citizens of Cebu City, most especially of small folks who need government help the most.

He bragged about better business environment and employment opportunities. But his physical improvement of Carbon market has actually deprived ambulant vendors of their livelihood and caused their spirits to sag.

He made a big deal out of resettling informal settlers of river easement areas. The reality, however, is that some whose houses have been demolished and others who are threatened with demolition received only a one-time cash assistance or promise thereof but emphatically told, request after request, to expect nothing more. This is a flagrant violation of a constitutional provision that disallows demolition without proper compensation and relocation.

And whatever makes him think he gets bragging rights for burdening citizens with a higher real property tax?

How too, if not for lack of anything socially relevant to say, has his forced transfer of the Sinulog venue to SRP (South Road Properties) become a feat worth bragging about? What benefits exactly did citizens get when he imposed the transfer in spite of adverse ground conditions and contrary opinions? The move might have benefitted SM, Nustar and IL Corso but definitely not the devotees of Sto. Niño who were in fact greatly inconvenienced by it.

Mayor Rama has done nothing to improve the lives of Cebu’s small people. He talks big but nothing is really happening on the ground to improve the lives of Cebu City’s marginalized sector. He is improving the business environment only for big business.

He tags his Singapore-like dream as “everybody’s” dream. By everybody he must mean his political sycophants. In any case, it is a flight of fancy that has been dead in the water from the very start. All one has to do is observe the City’s irregular and haphazard garbage collection system. Another is to watch the floods rush in within minutes of a downpour on account of drainage being heavily clogged up by trash, plastics mostly.

Finally, he asks people not to be destructive. But he should be telling himself that because he’s the one destroying the lives of people when he displaces informal settlers and sweeps vendors and homeless folks from sidewalks without compensation and relocation, when he scatters ambulant vendors who must now look for their own sales nooks in the privatized zombie land that Carbon market has become for many of them.

And because he really has nothing to brag about other than quixotic dreams, he just had to resort to a PowerPoint presentation as a way of hiding behind pictures the cruel reality behind his flamboyant Soca. Nothing more than plain window dressing.

July 18, 2023 6:25 PM

Floods and landslides are common in Assam due to seasonal monsoon showers.

July 18, 2023 6:18 PM

Duterte is being probed for a brutal drug war that saw thousands killed by mystery gunmen who were never caught.

IN A bid to alleviate the worsening traffic congestion, the Cebu City Government has launched a comprehensive Road Recovery Program, along with several road widening and opening projects.

The Road Recovery Program, spearheaded by the city's Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), focuses on rehabilitating and improving existing roads to ensure smoother traffic flow, said Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo in an interview with SunStar’s online program “Beyond the Headlines” on Monday, July 17, 2023.

The program includes repairing potholes, resurfacing damaged roads, and enhancing road markings and signage for better visibility.

The City has also identified the urgent need for diversion roads to divert traffic away from heavily congested areas.

Guardo said one of the major projects under the Road Recovery Program is the construction of new diversion roads.

These roads will provide motorists with alternative routes, he said.

He added that the DPWH is working closely with urban planners and engineers to identify suitable locations for these diversion roads, ensuring they effectively alleviate traffic congestion.

Simultaneously, the City has initiated road widening projects to accommodate the growing number of vehicles.

Guardo said widening existing roads will not only increase their capacity but also enhance safety by providing additional lanes for motorists.

To ensure the success of these projects, the local government has allocated a significant budget for road infrastructure development.

The funds will be utilized for road repairs, widening, and the construction of diversion roads, said Guardo. (Juralyn Beso Baldomaro NWSSU intern)

Thuzar Maung, who runs a Muslim refugee support group and is an outspoken supporter of Myanmar’s pro-democracy movement, fled Myanmar for Malaysia in 2015 to escape growing violence against Muslims.

Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan have managed to hold their own against developed economies in other regions for decades. However, amid geopolitical fragmentation, game-changing technological advancements and social divisions, they need to adapt quickly.

Victoria's decision to walk away from 2026 hosting duties could be a "death knell" for the Games.

Dela Rosa said that he has also not made arrangements for his legal defense if summoned by the international court, saying that he would just avoid traveling to countries “loyal” to the ICC.

IN PARTNERSHIP with the Philippine Accessible Disability Services Inc. (Pads), Kaabag Mandaue launched on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, this year’s Dragon Boat Regatta, inviting youth of all ages and gender to participate.

Dragon Boat Regatta is a grassroots program held by Kaabag and Pads annually, with last year’s being the first. The trainings will be held daily until the championship, which will be on August 19, 2023.

Youth aged 10 to 24 from 27 different barangays gathered at Pajara Park on Tuesday to participate in the first day of training.

A maximum of 22 individuals per barangay were allowed to participate, and every team had to have a female or LGBT member in order to qualify for the training.

Certified trainers from Pads Adaptive Dragonboat Racing Team are leading the training, with participants undergoing rigorous exercises to promote camaraderie and holistic well-being.

“They get a lot of things aside from exercise, including teamwork and discipline. Just like now, for example, they really come here this early in the morning to be able to train,” said Kaabag president Karla Victoria Cortes.

The Mandaue City Government is in full support of the program, providing help through the Local Youth Development Office.

A general orientation was held at the start of the program Tuesday, discussing safety precautions and teaching newcomers how to paddle properly.

Life vests were provided to the participants in case they fall off their boats during the dragon boating session.

Volunteers from the Mandaue City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (MCDRRMO) will also be present through the course of the training.

“They are located at three different areas around here so that they will be able to monitor and respond immediately in case an emergency happens,” said Cortes.

Training starts at 6 a.m. daily and will end depending on the training regimen set by the Pads trainers.

Snacks are also provided daily by Kaabag.

“Last year, when we did the Regatta Championships, the Philippine Sports Commission came here and said that is the biggest grassroots program in the country. We aim to still push through this year, we want to encourage the youth to come join us,” Cortes said in reference to last year’s championship.

This year’s championship will still be held at Pajara Park on August 19, 2023.

All 27 barangays from the tri-cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu have been included in the program and will be competing in the championship.

Prizes are at stake, all sponsored by Kaabag.

Pads Dragon Boat Racing Team will be representing the Philippines at the 16th IDBF World Dragon Boat Championships in Pattaya, Thailand on August 7-13, 2023.

The team brought home gold for the country in the previous year’s championship. (Miguel Angelu Lumen, CNU intern)

A CONSTRUCTION worker showed up at the wake held for a 62-year-old woman inside a chapel in Sitio San Roque, Barangay Luz, Cebu City on Monday night, July 17, 2023.

Instead of crying or offering a prayer, Bryan Tarucan, 41, broke the coffin’s glass and assaulted the dead.

The suspect’s older brother, Rex, said the suspect was not in the right state of mind as he was intoxicated.

The deceased’s relatives retaliated by mauling Tarucan, whose face was swollen with bruises and cuts.

Before the incident happened around 11 p.m., the drunken Tarucan entered the chapel hosting the wake. He then repeatedly pounded on the coffin’s glass until it shattered, Rex told SunStar Cebu in an interview.

After breaking the glass, Tarucan kept on pounding and hit the deceased multiple times.

He was stopped when the deceased’s irate relatives took turns in beating him until the police arrived.

Tarucan, a native of Borbon town, northern Cebu, was brought to the Mabolo Police Station 4. He will face a malicious mischief case. (BBT / TPT)

A WAKE was being conducted inside a chapel in Sitio San Roque, Barangay Luz, Cebu City, when a 41-year-old man who was believed drunk allegedly assaulted the deceased after breaking the glass of his coffin.

The incident happened about 11 p.m. on Monday, July 17, 2023.

The suspect was identified as Bryan Tarucan, 41, a construction worker from Borbon town, northern Cebu who currently resides in the said barangay with his live-in partner.

Rex Tarucan, the suspect's older brother, informed SunStar Cebu that his brother was intoxicated when he went by the chapel hosting a wake that night, entered the worship facility, and repeatedly shattered the coffin's glass.

The younger Tarucan pounded the corpse inside the casket after breaking the glass covering it.

The irate relatives took turns beating the suspect until the police arrived.

The suspect is currently detained at the Mabolo Police Station 4.

A case of malicious mischief will be filed against him.(BBT, TPT)