Cebu Sun.Star

CEBU City is one step closer to hosting the nationwide Palarong Pambansa as it awaits the final decision following the fourth and final phase of the bidding process.

The Queen City of the South keeps its fingers crossed for the hosting of next year’s Palarong Pambansa, which would be the third hosting after the 1954 and 1994 Palarong Pambansa.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama together with City Councilor Dondon Hontiveros, Cebu City Sports Commission chief John Pages, and Department of Education in Central Visayas (DepEd 7) officials led by Director Sal Jimenez with DepEd Cebu City Assistant Schools Division Superintendent Adolf Aguilar and City Schools Division Superintendent Nimfa Bongo.

Three local government units vied for the Palaro hosting including Negros Occidental and Antique Province.

“Vice President Sara Duterte, the DepEd secretary, was not in attendance but all the top Palaro board members, composed of DepEd Undersecretaries and Asst. Secretaries, were present. Representing the PSC, which holds a seat in the Palaro board, was PSC Commissioner Walter Torres,” said Pages.

Cebu City presented first followed by Antique then Negros Occidental.

“We presented first. After, we could not listen or watch the other presentations but ours was comprised of speeches from our Cebu City representatives, led by Mayor Rama, and we showed two video presentations: the Singapore-like Cebu City video and a Palaro-Cebu City video prepared by Anna Conejero,” said Pages.

The winning bidder will be announced on Aug. 5 during the closing ceremony of this year’s Palarong Pambansa, which Marikina City will host.

Pages said the final decision will come from Duterte and the Palarong Pambansa board.

From June 23 to 26, officials from DepEd and Philippine Sports Commission visited the playing venues and billeting quarters in Cebu City as part of the technical inspection. (RSC)

I’ve written about this topic a few times a decade ago, when the Azkals went mainstream and I told myself I won’t entertain this one again. But again, it seems, Filipinos need some reminders. When the Filipinas lineup for the World Cup was announced, there went the old argument—they’re not homegrown, they’re not Filipinas, and we should have a national team of pureblooded Filipinas.

(Insert expletive) the hypocrisy!

Why do I think they are hypocrites? It’s simple. They get to share their vitriol online, they have that luxury because of our economy, an economy that was boosted by $36.14 billion from remittances from OFWs in 2022 alone. That’s P2 trillion if you convert it, almost half of the P5.2 trillion national budget of the country for 2023.

Why am I citing that? The foreign-born Filipinos whom a sector of the sports community criticizes or call as non-homegrown are the children or grandchildren of the Filipino Diaspora. Take away that P2 trillion in the economy, what are we?

It’s just saying, you can feed us. You can support my lifestyle. But don’t you dare represent us.

What is a pure Filipino anyway? Or what is it when you say, he or she doesn’t look like a Filipino? Heck, most of our movie stars or noontime show hosts don’t look like our next-door neighbors, does that mean they aren’t Filipinos? Where’s the outcry?

They can’t speak Tagalog? More than half the country isn’t comfortable speaking in Tagalog, does that mean we aren’t Filipinos?

The Filipinos are everywhere. Both the men’s and women’s national team have acknowledged this trait unique to the Philippines—that everywhere they go, there is a Filipino community, even in North Korea.

Every Filipino family has a relative based abroad. But when it comes to the national teams, we are only supposed to only consider Filipinos here?

Isn’t that a one-step forward, a thousand steps backward kind of thinking?

Our women’s national team is in the world cup. THE World Cup and instead of celebrating, some of our kababayans are asking, “Why don’t they look like me? Why do they have non-Filipino surnames?”

Ironic for a country named after the former king of Spain and whose citizens, during the Spanish era, were forced to adopt Spanish surnames.

Am I right Juan dela Cruz?

Let’s end this homegrown nonsense. This insecurity. This crab mentality.

Because if you really think hard about it, it’s all about jealousy. Most of the guys who want homegrown players in the national team? They’re insecure that the children of overseas OFWs are playing in the national team.

They’re insecure that the OFWs have improved their lives when they left the country.

“It should have been me” is what they really mean when they ask those questions.

The women’s national team, like the rest of the other national teams, is a team of Filipinos!

Period.

By ignoring the growing consensus coalescing around the Philippine victory in the West Philippine Sea arbitral ruling, the Chinese government further isolates itself from the international community.

The world has spoken: the territorial claims embodied in the so-called “9-dash line” have no basis in history or international law. Despite the name, the South China Sea is not Chinese, and the Chinese government has no special authority therein, other than as provided for in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).

China’s call for the rest of the world to stay out of the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea and respect its “territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests” is the height of hypocrisy, as the Chinese government itself all too willingly violates the sovereignty, rights, and interests of other claimant countries when it thinks it can get away with it.

As to the alleged “mastermind” of the arbitration case, I strongly urge the Chinese Embassy to at least show some basic courtesy to the Philippines, their host country, before deciding to release inflammatory statements on a day the Filipino people are celebrating a great victory. This is an affront to the Filipinos who stood up for ourselves, and had the heart, courage, and fighting spirit to take China to court.

If China keeps ignoring the arbitral ruling, the Marcos administration should seriously consider reviewing our national policy toward China.

PREPARE to be amazed as we delve into the realm of sheer audacity and incompetence that has unfolded before our very eyes. Behold, the grand reveal of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) logo disaster and the “Love the Philippines” campaign debacle. Brace yourselves for a journey through the corridors of power where lack of respect and a stunning disregard for the Filipino people take center stage.

Grab your popcorn and witness the spectacle of those who believe they can pull the wool over our eyes because, apparently, they think we, the Filipinos, are all a bunch of gullible fools.

Million-peso logo: Putting the ‘pro’ in ‘profoundly absurd’

Hold on to your aesthetic sensibilities, folks, as Pagcor’s new logo steps into the spotlight. It’s a visual feast—of disappointment. Prepare to be dazzled by its tackiness, imbalance and utter lack of artistic appeal.

But wait, there’s more! This piece of design wizardry comes with a mind-boggling price tag of P3,035,714.28. Yes, you read that right—your hard-earned money was spent on this monument to bad taste. Bravo to the decision-makers who managed to extract every last centavo from our wallets in exchange for an eyesore we’ll forever remember.

Printplus Graphic Services: The fairy godmother of Barangay-level design

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the genius of Printplus Graphic Services, the virtuoso graphic design company that came out of nowhere. Newly registered for PhilGEPS with a red-flagged status, this extraordinary enterprise focuses its creative talents on, wait for it, the Barangay level.

Move over, world-class agencies! We have found the hidden gem that no one knew existed until a month ago. With a non-existent website and a Facebook page boasting a whopping 39 followers, Printplus Graphic Services is clearly the go-to choice for all your multi-million peso design needs. Who needs credentials when you can have a virtually unknown entity at the helm?

‘Love the Philippines’ campaign: Lesson in authenticity... or lack thereof

Get ready to embark on a journey through the captivating landscapes of the Philippines... or not. Brace yourselves for the shocking revelation that four scenes in the “Love the Philippines” campaign video were, in fact, from stock footage.

Who needs real footage shot in our own breathtaking country when we can just pull a fast one with generic imagery? Kudos to the brilliant minds behind this campaign, who clearly believe that the beauty of the Philippines can be faked without anyone noticing. We applaud your creative use of taxpayer money—P49 million well spent... or not.

A salute to incompetence and disrespect

Ladies and gentlemen, these astonishing shenanigans epitomize the pinnacle of incompetence and disrespect for the Filipino people. Our esteemed leaders seem to think that they can treat us like mindless pawns, easily fooled and manipulated. The audacity is truly awe-inspiring. It’s as if they believe we’re living in a parallel universe where logic and reason have no place, and they can get away with their brazen schemes unscathed.

Rise up, demand accountability and reclaim our dignity

It’s high time we reminded our esteemed leaders that they are public servants, entrusted with the responsibility to act in the best interests of the Filipino people. Transparency must not be an afterthought or a fleeting promise; it must be the cornerstone of their actions. We demand a system that selects contractors based on merit and expertise, not personal connections or favors. We deserve campaigns that truly celebrate the beauty of our nation, shot within our borders and showcasing our authentic culture.

As we bid farewell to the saga of the pricey logo and exotic tourism misadventures, let us not forget the lessons learned. We, the Filipino people, will no longer tolerate being treated as pawns in their game of deception. It’s time to hold those in power accountable, to demand integrity and to rebuild the trust that has been shattered. Replace the sarcasm with genuine pride.

Hello, everyone! Today, July 17, is celebrated as World Emoji Day! So get your mobile phones out, and start flooding your friend’s inbox with a ton of fun emojis—just kidding.

What is an “emoji”

According to a definition by Merriam-Webster, an emoji is “any of various small images, symbols, or icons used in text fields in electronic communication (as in text messages, email, and social media) to express the emotional attitude of the writer, convey information succinctly, communicate a message playfully without using words, etc.”

For today, we would like to play a game with everyone. Here are seven sets of emojis. Try to guess what these stand for (clue, they all have a relation to Cebu). To be able to answer them, don’t take them too literally.

Are you ready to play? Here we go!

Clues:

Happy World Emoji Day!

A WASTE-TO-ENERGY (WTE) plant worth P32 billion will soon rise in Danao City in northern Cebu.

The plant will be constructed on a 6.3-hectare property in Barangay Dunggoan, according to Mayor Thomas Mark Durano on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

Once completed, it can process and treat 600 to 1,200 tons of mixed waste generated by the city’s residents and residents of neighboring towns and cities every day. These will include paper, plastics and products made from wood, among other solid garbage or trash.

On average, Danao City produces 20 tons of waste per day, he said.

The plant is also expected to generate a minimum of 12 megawatts (MW) and a maximum of 30 MW of electricity daily.

Mayor Durano said their aim is to have the facility ready and operational by 2024.

Ceremony

Durano, together with Michael Jimenez, president and chief executive officer of Integrated Green Technology (IGT), led the groundbreaking of the Ultramodern Solid Waste Management and Disposal Plant on Saturday.

The plant is one of Danao City’s big-ticket projects this year.

Durano and Jimenez were accompanied by the city councilors and city departments heads, Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III, IGT chief operating officer and co-founder Leilani Cruz, Camarines Norte Gov. Ricarte Padilla, former tourism secretary Joseph Felix Mari “Ace” Durano, and Danao City Investment and Promotions Center officer-in-charge Red Durano VI during the ceremony.

Public-private partnership

The Danao City Government entered into a public-private partnership (PPP) with IGT Visayas Inc. for the construction of the WTE plant.

The partnership sealed a 50-year contract between the two parties to address the waste disposal problems of Danao and neighboring local government units at no cost to the City Government.

Jimenez said Danao City would no longer have to invest in material recovery facilities or a sanitary landfill.

He said the WTE plant would also resolve the problems of odor and pollution which are associated with waste disposal.

With its power generation capacity, the plant will supply power to local utility distributors and, in return, reduce the residents’ monthly electrical bills.

He said the plant will employ an estimated 300 workers. Some 80 percent of the jobs will be reserved for residents of Danao City.

Jimenez also applauded the support of the City Government, saying the project was approved in a span of four months since his first meeting with Mayor Durano.

He pointed to the business-friendly policy and aggressiveness of the City Government to bring in investors with the introduction of the PPP Ordinance that eases the legal framework of big-ticket projects.

Latest technology

Jimenez said the facility in Danao City is IGT’s first WTE plant in the Philippines.

He said they also plan to build one in Camarines Norte, Pangasinan, Bulacan, Davao del Norte and Quezon Province.

He said IGT, in partnership with foreign firms, uses proven technologies from Germany and France to ensure clean, safe and environmentally friendly emissions when converting waste into electricity.

He said these technologies comply with Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, and follow the strict guidelines of the Department of Energy and the Department of Environment and Natural Resource’s WTE policy.

He said before burning the collected waste, it will undergo a process called “Mechanical Biological Treatment” to transform it into pellets that will then be used for power generation.

Meanwhile, Mayor Durano said the sanitary landfill in Barangay Taboc, Camaligbato is operating at normal capacity.

However, he said they have an ordinance that prohibits the City Government from opening up more cells in the landfill.

He said the WTE plant will be instrumental in the rehabilitation of the landfill by feeding existing and new waste into the plant.

Jimenez said that in the coming years, the WTE plant will reduce the amount of waste that will be dumped in the landfill. Ultimately, the landfill can be used for other purposes, he added.

THE Cebu City Government expects the transition housing for informal settlers at the South Road Properties to be finished in October this year.

“The technical report is done. The engineering plan is complete. Everything is prepared,” according to Jerone Castillo, head of the City Legal Office, during a press conference on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

However, the City has yet to identify the project’s implementer.

“We will do the bidding for transitional housing any time soon,” Castillo said.

The project will first accommodate the 146 individuals living in the three-meter easement zone along Tagunol Creek, which runs through the barangays of Basak San Nicolas and Basak-Pardo, he said.

He said the 146 individuals were prioritized because they live in structures that were identified as flood contributors.

The Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor has already identified 6,241 individuals who live in structures that are up for demolition as part of the City Government’s “Task Force Gubat sa Baha” program.

Aside from the 146 living along Tagunol Creek, they include the 926 individuals along Mahiga Creek, 1,117 along Lahug River, 412 along Butuanon River, 1,086 along Guadalupe River, 1,982 along Kinalumsan River, 406 along Bulacao River and 166 along Estero de Parian.

According to Castillo, Harold Alcontin, head of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO), had informed him that the structures in the two barangays have shortened the Tagunol Creek, resulting in the water not flowing properly.

“We have to clean that up, restore the river. And hopefully, once they are removed from the area, the flooding will ease,” Castillo said in a mix of Cebuano and English.

According to Gubat sa Baha’s data, 144 houses and two business establishments will be affected by the demolition along Tagunol Creek.

Castillo assured that they will not demolish the houses until their occupants are given proper relocation, which is the transitional house project.

However, demolition will start once the transitional house project, which can accommodate around 1,200 families, is completed in October, he said.

He said their next priority will be the 166 individuals living along the Estero de Parian.

He reiterated that clearing these structures will also allow the water in the estero to drain into the ocean.

“The measures we are undertaking are really long term in character,” he said.

Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo of the committee on infrastructure told SunStar Cebu on Saturday that the City will provide alternative housing for informal settlers who cannot be accommodated in the transitional housing at the SRP.

Guardo said the City intends to build medium-rise buildings in Barangays Quiot and Lahug for this purpose.

He said some of the affected individuals can avail themselves of the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing Program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Meanwhile, Alcontin said the CCDRRMO and the Department of Engineering and Public Works are working together to oversee the City’s three-meter easement zone project.

He said the team is keeping a close eye on Tagunol Creek, Estero de Parian and Lahug River, which are the sources of flooding in the northern part of the city.

HUNDREDS of people from different barangays in Lapu-Lapu City availed themselves of free medical checkup and legal aid, among other government services, as the Bayan Babangon Muli (BBM) caravan of government services kicked off in the city on Saturday, July 15, 2023.

Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (Opav) Secretary Terence Calatrava said they intend to add more services as they bring the caravan to other parts of the Visayas.

Opav Assistant Secretary Antonio Veloso Jr. said they plan to include “libreng tuli” (circumcision) during the next caravan, in addition to the free haircut, dental services, medical check-up and legal aid they offered in Lapu-Lapu City in partnership with the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, the Philippine Army Task Group Cebu and some private companies.

The attendees also took advantage of the free feeding program for children and the distribution of backpacks to 200 elementary school students in partnership with the Tingog Partylist. They also got a five-kilo sack of rice.

The activity held at the Lapu-Lapu City Sports Complex was graced by Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan and the Opav officials.

In an interview, Veloso said they target to bring the services to Bacolod for the Caravan’s next stop.

Rosales Espina, 32, of Sitio Paradise in Barangay Pajo, said she was glad the officials chose Lapu-Lapu residents as some of the program’s beneficiaries. It is a big help for families like them who struggle just to meet their daily needs.

“Dako na kaayo ni ug tabang namo ang bugas, labi na sa kalisud karon. Dili mi makakaon ug katulo sa usa ka adlaw,” she said after receiving a sack of rice. (This is a big help for people like us in these difficult times. We can barely eat three times a day.)

One of the children of Rutchel Nedamo, 29, of Sitio Kamansi, Barangay Pajo, has been down with fever for the past three days, but she could not take her child to the doctor as she did not have money. She was happy to learn there were doctors who offered free medical consultation during the caravan.

Her children also received free bags, which they can use for the next school year.

The BBM Caravan was first launched on May 21 in Barangay Canamucan, Compostela town in northern Cebu.

Calatrava said then that the caravan will go to different parts of the Visayas to bring government services closer to people.

THE Department of Tourism (DOT) and the hoteliers aim to overhaul the country’s hotel and accommodation industry in the next 10 years, including adopting new standards.

Benito Bengzon, executive director of the Philippine Hotel Owners Association (Phoa) made the announcement during the second day of the first-ever VisMin Tourism Congress 2023 on Friday July 14, 2023 at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino.

Bengzon said Phoa, formerly known as the Philippine Hotel Federation, has an ongoing partnership with the DOT for the formulation of the Philippine Hotel Industry Strategic Action Plan (Phisap) that revamps the industry and seeks to address the challenges faced by the country’s hotel industry.

Phisap’s strategic direction also includes the expansion of the economic opportunities in the hotel industry and driving forward the enhancement of the industry’s global competitiveness.

“It is basically a roadmap that will tell us what kind of room inventory we will see in the next 10 years,” Benzon said in his speech entitled “How hotels are adjusting to travel trends and shifting consumer preferences.”

The action plan allows the hoteliers and tourism industry players to identify which areas or regions in the country have high demand for additional hotel and accommodation establishments.

Also included in the roadmap, Benzon stressed, is reconfiguring the National Accommodation Standards (NAS) to match the high-quality hospitality services from other leading Southeast Asian countries.

Low room inventory

In comparison to other countries in Southeast Asia, Benzon said the Philippines is currently facing low room inventory for hotel and resort accommodation.

In a Go Tourism Summit forum last May 6, Benzon also made the same remark as to the status of the hotel industry in the country when he emphasized bumping up room inventory in major and emerging tourism destinations in the country to catch up with the other popular tourist destinations in Southeast Asia.

“That is the thing that we are trying to address, to bump up the inventory (and) to increase the capacity, so that development will be in sync with the upgrade and development of the strategic infrastructure,” Benzon said.

Increasing the number of hotel rooms will also be beneficial for Cebu, Benzon said, stressing the various improvements and developments of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport since its privatization that has attracted more tourist arrivals.

Accommodation standard

Benzon stressed that there is a need to upgrade the NAS for Hotels, Resorts and Apartment Hotels dated in 2012.

It uses the Star Rating System that employs a points-based rating system focused on inventory, availability, condition and quality of a specific facility or service.

“To put it in a simpler form, once you finalize the checklist, you want to make sure that five-star properties in Manila will have the same amenities, facilities and the same experience for the tourist when they go to a five-star hotel in Bangkok, Singapore or elsewhere,” Bengzon said.

Reconfiguring the NAS will cover seven key dimensions starting from Arrival & Departure, Public Areas, Bedroom, Bathrooms, Food & Beverage, Amenities & Services, and Business Practices, he added.

This is to make the industry standards in the country globally competitive.

“As far as timetable is concerned, we and the Department are looking to roll this out by the third quarter of this year,” Benzon said. / EHP

TO AVOID delays in the implementation of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ (DPWH) projects in Cebu City, the City Government said it will take over the monitoring of the projects, especially those related to flood control.

Some city officials are unhappy with the failure of DPWH’s contractors to coordinate with City Hall for the implementation of their projects in the city.

The city attorney announced during a press conference on Saturday, July 15, 2023, that the City is going to look into and monitor the DPWH’s flood management projects after it has been found that they were not properly implemented and have been contributing to the flooding problem instead of addressing them.

Jerone Castillo, chief of the Cebu City Legal Office, said the City will form its own project management and monitoring team that will make sure that all DPWH projects in the city are completed on time.

Castillo also said they will conduct an inventory and identify the projects that are causing problems and have not been properly implemented based on their set timeline.

This was the directive of Mayor Michael Rama, who was furious when he learned that a DPWH project contributed to the flooding during the heavy rains last week. He gave instructions to some department heads to take over these projects.

“We will technically take over the project,” Castillo said.

When asked how the City will take over these projects, he said the City will take over the project monitoring activities.

“The City will closely monitor and ensure the projects will be finished based on the timeline set. No further projects will be implemented without prior coordination with the City, and no construction equipment will be lying idle within city streets while supposedly implementing DPWH projects,” Castillo said in a text message to SunStar Cebu.

During the press conference, Castillo cited a project in Barangay Tejero that has been delayed and a project in Barangay T. Padilla that was abandoned by the contractor. In another project site, a backhoe was reportedly left unattended.

“So if we can look at these projects lang without looking at the whole (picture), it is a failing grade,” said Castillo when asked about the performance of DPWH on the flood mitigation projects.

Harold Alcontin, head of the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO), said the DPWH projects they have identified to have issues are those in Barangay Tejero, Tagunol Road and the Lahug River.

Castillo asked why the DPWH has not reported or updated City Hall on the status of the projects. He lamented that ultimately, it will not be DPWH that will be blamed for the delays but the City Government since the projects are under their territorial jurisdiction, even if the rivers are under the jurisdiction of the DPWH.

Castillo clarified that the takeover would not mean that the City will shell out its own funds to complete the projects since these are already funded by the National Government. But since the projects are within the territorial jurisdiction of Cebu City, they can monitor the projects and push the contractors to properly implement the projects.

Cebu City Administrator Collin Rosell said regional offices of the National Government are mandated to give efficient and effective services and should coordinate with the local government units (LGUs), but they failed to do so.

“What is really needed is a total control as to how the project will be done in the city,” said Rosell.

Rosell said it was clear that the rivers in the city, which are the DPWH’s responsibility, needed desilting and dredging.

Castillo said they will call for a meeting with DPWH 7 and its contractors to discuss the ongoing projects and make sure there is coordination between the offices involved.

He added that the DPWH cannot implement projects without aligning them with the City’s programs.

THE Bureau of Immigration (BI) on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, officially launched its eServices, making immigration procedures such as applications for visa extension more efficient and convenient for foreign tourists in a boost to Philippine tourism.

“They can now swiftly and securely complete their necessary immigration applications end-to-end online,” Commissioner Norman Tansingco said during a ceremony held at the BI’s main office in Intramuros, Manila on July 12.

In a statement, the BI said those who may submit their applications online are applicants for waiver of exclusion grounds for arriving unaccompanied minors, emigration clearance certificate, and dual citizenship under Republic Act 9225, or the “Citizenship Retention and Re-acquisition Act of 2003.”

“Apart from these transactions, we are also excited to launch the online visa waiver and the tourist visa extension,” said Tansingco.

The commissioner said the online visa extension service would boost Philippine tourism as eServices allows visitors to “comply with their immigration requirements from the comfort of their own homes, hotels, or even by the beach.”

Contribution down

In 2022, tourism contributed P1.38 trillion, or 6.2 percent, to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the Philippines, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The Philippines has yet to return to its pre-pandemic performance when tourism contributed P2.48 trillion to the GDP in 2019, equivalent to 12.7 percent of the GDP.

The low number of flights, as well as travel hesitation amid the high global inflation environment that has pushed up fares and living costs, are among the factors that have prevented the country from bringing back tourism numbers to their previous levels.

The Philippines targets 4.8 million international visitor arrivals this year, an 80 percent jump from the 2.65 million international visitor arrivals it saw in 2022.

But this is still a far cry from the 8.26 million international visitors that the country received in 2019.

Last May 5, more than three years after coronavirus disease triggered global lockdowns and upended economies, the World Health Organization said Covid-19 no longer qualified as a global emergency, but cautioned that the pandemic had not finished, with thousands of people still dying from the virus weekly.

First, a lesson in geography, especially for those who are unfamiliar with this area of Mindanao.

South Cotabato is a province in the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region of Mindanao. This acronym was derived from putting together South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos and was formerly known as Central Mindanao or more familiarly, Region 12.

From General Santos City, it is a hundred kilometer, two-hour drive to the municipality of Lake Sebu. Wide, traffic-free roads make the drive a breeze; views to the left and right are of a lush countryside that spell “vacation” for a city dweller like me. Our hosts had offered to take us there and all we expected was to have lunch by a lake that was literally named Lake Sebu. What a misconception that was!

Literally speaking, “Sebu” is a T’boli word for Lake so Lake Sebu means Lake Lake. It is a first class municipality in the province of South Cotabato (there are 10 municipalities in total) and has a population of around 85,000 people composed mostly of indigenous T’bolis, Tirurays, Ubos and Manobos. They inhabit the rainforests that surround the actual lake whose waters encompass an area of 354 hectares at an elevation of 1,000 meters. This lake is located in the upper part of Allah Valley whose landscape has been declared by Unesco as a Cultural Landscape in Mindanao.

As we entered the developed tourist area, we began our drive uphill on paved roads that our host shares were recently done. We passed restaurants, resorts, vacation houses—nothing too grandiose that would seem to disturb the peaceful countryside setting.

Our first stop was in an area called Seven Falls where the original plan was to ride the zipline (suspended 180 meters above ground) to view all the seven interconnected falls in one sweep. But we were told that the lines for the zipline were too long and we had just over an hour left before our lunch appointment, so we drove down to the area where we could view Waterfalls No. 2 up close. Not content with our view from the touristy deck, we decided to trek down to as near as we could get to the waterfalls.

I am one of those people who find so much joy in being caught in mist that results from the spray of the waterfall; I do not mind getting soaked in it. In fact, that feeling of being so close to nature kind of hypnotizes me—if you just let me be, I could probably just stay there for hours on end. But we had a lunch appointment to get to, so we had to leave, but not before stopping at a T’boli Tourist Shop to get myself my very own T’boli jacket that took quite a while to choose as everything sold there were all so beautifully hand crafted.

Now I have a deeper understanding of why this place is also fondly called the Land of the Dream Weavers. I am now tempted to believe the legend that these designs and patterns are sewed from images in their dreams as handed by FU PALU (the spirit of the abaca).

We had lunch at the famous Floating Restaurant in Punta Isla Lake Resort. From the moment we alighted from the car, to the lobby, the terrace and then down to the restaurant below, I loved everything about the place. Gardens so lush, the interesting interior designs an ode to the culture of the T’boli tribe, to the details in the stairways and the paintings on the walls, even the tiny boats on the lake shore were all picture perfect in their authenticity.

Our group got on the boat, waited for our pre-ordered food to be loaded, and off we went to have a leisurely lunch while cruising around the lake. While waiting for our assigned boat to dock, we went to a booth by the lake where we could rent authentic T’boli costumes for a photo-op.

The “dresser and photographer” there gleefully informed us that he dressed Catriona Gray daily during her week-long stay in Lake Sebu to film her video entry for the Miss Universe pageant. He was a wiz at what he did so that whole thing was a steal for P100 per head.

The economy of Lake Sebu is primarily dependent on aquaculture of tilapia growing in the fish cages floating in the lake. So our lunch menu had the option of having tilapia cooked in many forms: chicharon style, kinilaw, fried, pinaputok, sinanglay (ginata-an style), sinigang and grilled. My favorite was the small-sized grilled tilapia because I found that it has a tinge of sweetness in it, maybe because it was so fresh or there was so much flavor packed in.

In the middle of the lake tour, a local guide took his seat in front of the crowd and talked about the history of the lake and its importance in their lives. He pointed out the largest of the 11 islands within the lake and tells us it’s called Crocodile Island because of its shape. Then he proceeded to regale us with songs accompanied by a native Tiboli guitar called the Hegelung (a wooden two stringed lute) that so fascinated my husband that we ended up buying one to bring home as a souvenir.

Heavy rain had started to fall as our day was ending, so we took our time to relax on the restaurant terrace to appreciate the view from above this time. Nature, as always, never disappoints and here in Lake Sebu, our Creator has given them more than their fair share.

Soon, we were on our way back to our base in General Santos City but with a quick yet delicious stop to taste Koronadal’s famous Apareja Buko Halo-Halo, which was such a delight. A perfect day trip in perfect company and the start of our love affair with South Cotabato indeed. Thank you, Angel and Kaye.

@MAGNETO: My recent promotion as a manager is an answered prayer. All the hard work finally paid off. It took years to get me here. My dilemma is I was secretly dating one of my peers back then. He’s now my subordinate. It’s a same-sex relationship. We’re still both in the closet and are successful in keeping what we have private. It’s been eight months. Not even our respective families know something is going on beyond friendship. We’re both okay with the setup. We don’t want to turn this into a workplace sitcom. This is our first relationship of this nature. There’s too much going on particularly on how we are accepting ourselves as gay. However, this setup is a clear violation of our code of conduct. It can jeopardize our career if people will find out. How can we solve this situation?

DJ: This isn’t your typical office romance. It’s an undercover operation. Seriously, there are a lot of moving parts in this story that I honestly find it difficult to give sound advice. But it’s a pressing matter so I’ll give it my best shot. Are you comfortable talking to close friends or relatives about what you are going through? Looks like you’re dealing with a lot. Coming to terms with your own gender identity, managing a relationship in the shadows, juggling a new managerial role plus the stress of keeping things away from prying eyes in the minefield of office politics. Dude, you’re like spinning plates at a circus with higher stakes and fewer sequins. It helps if you’re connected to the right people.

Getting help with major issues is one of the most important things you can do. If you’re walking on a tightrope, they are your safety net. Why are you keeping it from your family? Why not start with someone you’re closest to or that person who is accepting or supportive? Use whatever method works for you—a call, a message but better if face-to-face. This way, you can tap more trusted people to be in your corner. Take your time. Do it only when you are ready. Consider talking to a therapist too. It helps, more so if he or she has previous work with LGBTQIA+ spectrum. It’s more advantageous when you go through this journey with someone who cares about you other than your partner.

How open is your company about diversity, equality and inclusion? If your company is an ally, consider seeking guidance from a trusted HR leader or your superior. They’ll understand why you kept the relationship secret and it was not your intention to violate the code of conduct. They can also help you explore possible options to remedy the situation. Now if you suspect your company has a homophobic culture, this adds a layer of complexity. Consider factors like culture, past incidents or indicators of discrimination or intolerance. These are data points to help you decide whether it’s a good move to disclose your identity and your relationship or not.

You and your partner will have to talk about your career options. Breaking the code of conduct is a no-no. Align your perspectives and decide how you both want to handle the situation together. Evaluate role changes or transfers. Since you’re just recently promoted, is it possible that he transfers to a different department or position? Even to another organization. The goal is to eliminate the hierarchical relationship. You’re able to keep your relationship private while adhering to the company’s policy.

Navigating a same-sex relationship given your professional setup can be complex. You got your well-deserved promotion. Then love and the code of ethics walked into the party. Prioritize your well-being. And hopefully, you can soon seek guidance from someone you trust who can walk the path with you and your partner. A lot of companies these days are safe spaces for those in the spectrum. Every situation is unique. The best course of action will depend on your specific circumstances. Opening up even on this venue is already a good move. I pray this is not the end but just a beginning.

My son, who has a knack for finding quotes, has recently stumbled upon a quote that put him down in the dumps. The quote goes, “I was ashamed of myself when I realized life was a costume party, and I attended with my real face.” It really got him thinking how people will live their lives trying to be someone else. In my professional opinion, there is nothing worse than living the life that doesn’t align with your soul as it contributes to one’s own downfall.

From the moment one is born, paths, jobs and directions in life that one will have a high affinity to will be etched into our souls. To be something completely different than what the Heavens has instored for us will not only be wrong to follow, but will eventually lead to struggles and tribulations. Our Heaven Luck, a factor of Human Success that deals with our inborn potential, is important to follow the path the Heavens has laid so one may follow the path to success with the least resistance.

When one is not following the path with the least resistance, the choices one has to make in that path tend to be difficult and confusing. That’s to be expected, as being on the wrong path may muddy how well one can utilize one’s Man Luck as well. Man Luck is another factor of Human success that deals with the hard work someone does. Doing something one does not naturally resonate with can lessen the rewards that one can reap with one’s hard work and make decision making much more pressuring.

When one has to be someone who they do not want to be to survive somewhere, what does that say about the environment one has? Oftentimes, the energy in our environment can lead one to be drained and tired, and this is reflected in the Earth Luck of a person. Earth Luck is the Feng Shui of a home, establishment or building. When it is good, all those in the building will be supported well, and if not, it can be debilitating to everyone and can encourage bad decisions.

From the moment one is born, beauty and grace are instilled into us that can be brought out by the right choices and support. When one restricts what one can and wants to be, wouldn’t you agree that it is a sin not just to that person someone restricts, but to the majestic plan the Heavens has laid for us? While many may feel that their real faces may not be appealing enough to show to the party, when one proudly displays their beautiful flaws in front of those with costumes, one can easily be the life of the party that shines for others as well.

CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia is asking the candidates for Pasigarbo sa Sugbo’s festival queen competition to limit their outfit to not more than five kilograms.

This came about as a result of observations that costume bearers found it difficult to dance and move around due to the weight of their costumes.

During a meeting with the mayors, choreographers and provincial tourism officers at the Capitol on Thursday, July 13, 2023, Fifth District Board Member Andrei “Red” Duterte, chairman of the committee on tourism, said festival queen candidates often get weak easily and may even collapse because of their heavy attire.

Weigh candidates

Because of this, Garcia mandated that contestants for the festival queen competition and their costumes be weighed at the opening of One Cebu Expo.

“During the opening, we will weigh the candidates so we will already know what’s their normal weight... You cannot add more than five kilos or 10 pounds,” Garcia said on Thursday.

The candidates’ frequently worn outfits are positioned with a steel rod so that the decorations are sturdy and not easily damaged.

Garcia advised the designers to use bamboo instead of a steel rod to make it lighter.

“Kana man gud uban ninyong design, kabilya man gud inyong ibutang. Karon mangita na mo sa mga lightweight materials. Mag design man gud mo wala mo naghuna-huna sa nagdala. Naghuna-huna mo sa pinakabongga. That affects your festival queen. So kung ato ning ma limit, and sigurado nga i-limit. This is a challenge for you to look for more lightweight materials... kawayan ibutang,” the governor said.

(Some of you used steel bars in your designs; now you should look for lighter materials. When making a design, you don’t think of the wearer, but only its awesomeness. That affects your festival queen. So if we can limit, then we will definitely limit it. This is a challenge for you to look for more lightweight materials. Use bamboo.)

P2 million subsidy

In line with its desire to level up this year’s presentation, the Capitol will give a P2 million in subsidy to every participating contingent from mainland Cebu and P2.5 million to those from surrounding islands.

The Pasigarbo Street Dancing and Grand Showdown Competition will showcase the different delicacies and tourist sites of the province.

Around 50 contingents coming from the different local government units in Cebu will join the event, which will be held on Aug. 27 in Carcar City, southern Cebu. (ANV / TPT)

Eight years ago this month, on July 7, 2015, the great Philippine diplomat, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Albert del Rosario addressed a distinguished panel of jurists in the Philippines-China Law of the Sea Convention arbitration, where he cited “the equalizing power of international law.” International law, he said, “allows the weak to challenge the powerful on an equal footing, confident in the conviction that principles trump power; that law triumphs over force; and that right prevails over might.” Like the Philippines, the United States believes that all countries, large and small, should play by the same rules, and that large countries should not be allowed to bully smaller ones.

The 2016 arbitral ruling which Secretary Del Rosario championed emanates from the rules-based international order that has provided peace, stability and prosperity for our nations for decades. The 1982 Law of the Sea Convention, whose provisions the arbitral tribunal applied and vindicated, is fundamental to the peaceful and predictable use of the world’s oceans.

Peace and stability in the South China Sea are vital to the entire world, including to the global economy. We have a strategic interest in upholding the rights of all countries in the maritime domain, including the rights of South China Sea claimants to exercise their sovereign rights and jurisdiction in their exclusive economic zones and continental shelves, and of all users of the sea to exercise freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the seas.

The South China Sea has become one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, with total annual trade flowing through the South China Sea estimated to be more than three trillion U.S. dollars. The South China Sea basin is estimated to hold 11 billion barrels of untapped oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, at least some of which is near Palawan.

More than half of the globe’s oil tankers and other raw materials pass through the South China Sea. The South China Sea also accounts for 12 percent of the global fish catch, which is estimated to generate $100 billion annually or P5.5 trillion, and which supports the livelihoods of 3.7 million people and the dietary requirements of millions more. The South China Sea is a key thoroughfare for undersea cables and is therefore pivotal for the continued secure flow of data. Clearly, the South China Sea matters to all of us.

With the 2016 Arbitral Ruling, the Philippines secured a final and legally binding decision that validates the country’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf, in a ruling that found the PRC’s maritime claims and actions to enforce those claims in the South China Sea were inconsistent with international law.

In support of the Tribunal’s 2016 decision, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said, “The United States and our Indo-Pacific allies and partners are committed to preserving a system where goods, ideas and people flow freely across land, sky, cyberspace and the open seas.” We applaud the tribunal’s decision that the PRC’s “nine dash line” maritime claims are unlawful, rejecting the PRC’s putative claim to so-called historic rights in the South China Sea as well as its claims to maritime entitlements based on PRC-designated island groups. With the arbitral ruling, international law won out, protecting a nation’s sovereign and economic rights, just as Senator J. William Fulbright said.

In terms of U.S. policy regarding this vitally important region, I want to reiterate that the United States calls for claimants to resolve territorial and maritime claims peacefully and in accordance with international law. With respect to maritime claims, we have consistently maintained that all South China Sea claimants should comport claims with international law as reflected in the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention.

I would like to highlight three key lines of effort that describe well U.S. policy in the South China Sea. First, our diplomacy. Together with likeminded partners like the Philippines, we are promoting respect for international law and the rules-based order, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded commerce, and the need for peaceful settlement of disputes.

Second, our maritime capacity-building programs. We support maritime capacity-building programs for the region’s militaries and maritime law enforcement agencies, including a robust array of activities with the Philippines. These programs enhance countries’ maritime domain awareness and improve their ability to patrol their claims—actions which we believe further promote peace and stability.

And, third and finally, I want to highlight our own operations conducted by the U.S. military, including freedom of navigation operations and routine presence operations, which demonstrate that all countries have the right to fly, sail and operate anywhere that international law allows. And we’ve been doing just that in the South China Sea and around the world on a daily basis for many years.

One of the ways the United States and the Philippines strengthen our alliance is by placing a premium on sustaining an international system based on international law. Our focus on international law is reflected in our foreign policies and can be seen in our enduring commitment to the U.S.-Philippine Alliance, based on the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty.

We share a common vision for a region governed by the rule of law, freedom of navigation, and respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all nations. These shared values, with their echoes in the United Nations Charter, keep our alliance vibrant and meaningful even after seven decades.

The Philippines is our oldest treaty ally in East Asia. But age has not dimmed the vitality of our relationship. To this day, the ironclad U.S.-Philippine alliance provides a strong framework for how we work together to address common threats. It remains a bulwark in our regional security network—in a world beset by many uncertainties, our commitment to the U.S.-Philippine alliance is not one of them.

A lot of people I know want to lose weight. Well, while the number on the scale matters, it’s not the only thing that matters. Some other numbers matter. And it’s good to know how to interpret these numbers.

Body mass index (BMI) is a popular health metric that classifies weight into different categories like underweight, healthy weight, overweight and obesity.

The formula for BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. If this formula engulfs your brain in a fog, worry not. There are BMI calculators online. You only need to put in your height and weight and your BMI will appear before you.

A BMI of less than 18.5 is considered underweight. The healthy weight range is from 18.5 to 24.9, the overweight range, from 25.0 to 29.9. A BMI of 30.0 or higher indicates obesity.

But because BMI utilizes height and weight to estimate body fat percentage and cannot, in fact, tell the difference between body fat and muscle mass, a person with a lot of body fat can have a high BMI but so can a person who is muscular and well-built but with little body fat.

And while BMI approximates the amount of fat in our bodies, it cannot tell us the distribution, location or composition of our body fat. So, while BMI can be a good gauge for health risks associated with high body fat like heart disease, hypertension and type 2 diabetes, among others, it has its limitations.

Many health practitioners contend that the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is a better barometer of one’s overall health as fat around the abdomen has been linked to many metabolic disturbances.

Take the measurement of the circumference of your waist (above the belly button and where the waist is smallest) and divide that by the measurement of the circumference of your hip (where the hip is widest). A healthy WHR ratio for women is .85 or less, for men, it’s .90 or less.

Most body fat known as subcutaneous fat is stored underneath the skin. This is the fat we can feel and the one that is visible. One-tenth of our body fat is hidden and stored deep inside the belly. It wraps around our organs and can produce toxic substances. This dangerous fat is called visceral fat.

It’s not just how much fat we have in our bodies that matters, it’s also where it’s located or how it’s distributed.

To more accurately assess our overall health risks, other numbers should be considered like age as well as blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

You can have a healthy BMI and still be at risk. Slim people can still have a lot of dangerous visceral fat hidden inside of them.

And then there is ethnicity. Asians have been given a lower healthy BMI cut-off (up to 22.9 only instead of 24.9) because studies have shown that we have more visceral fat and lower muscle mass than other racial groups so the numbers that show on our health metrics can belie the true state of our health.

It’s a strange time for boxing fans. There’s the huge mega-fight happening on July 29, 2023 between Terence Crawford and Errol Spence. This could be a legacy fight for either fighter and we seldom get to see two pound-for-pound elites facing off in the prime of their careers. It’s a fight fan’s dream matchup.

There’s also Naoya Inoue facing off against Stephen Fulton on July 25. Another pair of two undefeated champions in an exciting clash for the WBC and WBO super-bantamweight diadems.

These are all excellent match-ups between evenly matched and talented champions at the apogee of the sport where you could truly say the outcomes will be in doubt.

But then again—because it’s a strange time for boxing fans—you also have heavyweight champion Tyson Fury deciding to face off against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in another shameless farce of a match to be held in Saudi Arabia.

LETDOWN. This is not an overreaction, my fellow Last Rounders. This is coming from an old-school, hardcore boxing fan who holds the sport’s traditions in high esteem.

There was a time when the heavyweight champion was recognized as the best fighter in the world and ergo the most revered and feared. Yes, we had great champions in the middleweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions.

But the heavyweight champion was sui generis.

I blame it all on Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor. That circus of a boxing fight opened up the doors to all these crossover matchups that are nothing more than purely money-making events created for the spectacle of it.

Yes, these are events, and not anymore actual fight contests.

Just the other day, Ngannou’s manager Marquel Martin proudly trumpeted that Ngannou will make more in this fight than all his 14 UFC fights combined. How’s that for motivation?

Just a few months ago, it had been announced that Fury had come to terms to a much-awaited fight against Oleksandr Usyk. Unfortunately, that fell through as Fury reportedly made several unacceptable demands despite getting a 70-30 purse split in his favor.

Instead, he will now be facing an opponent who has never boxed professionally—and bellow boisterously on his way to the bank.

VERBATIM. “Let’s just say this: The bag is so big, he may actually just drop it on the way to the bank.” - Marquel Martin via MMAFighting.com.

LAST ROUND. It’s on a dear friend, lawyer Kenneth Yap, who recently celebrated his birthday and on my Rodan Benjamin Jericho who turns 13 this week. Time flies, my unico hijo. Cheers!

THE PICE Family Run, taking place on Aug. 12, 2023, at Pescadores Road, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City, is a special event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) Cebu Chapter.

The PICE Family Run offers three categories (10, 5 and 3 kilometer runs) catering to participants of all fitness levels.

Designed as a family-friendly event, the PICE Family Run encourages the participation of people of all ages, making it an ideal opportunity for families to come together and celebrate the achievements of the PICE Cebu Chapter.

The 10 km run, starting at 5 a.m., welcomes participants of varying experience levels. Prizes will be awarded to the top finishers in the Men’s and Women’s divisions, with P3,000 for the first prize, P2,500 for the second prize and P2,000 for the third prize.

For families seeking a shorter distance, the 5 km run will begin at 5:15 a.m. Prizes will also be given to the top finishers in the Men’s and Women’s divisions, with P1,500 for the first prize, P1,000 for the second prize and P800 for the third prize.

The 3 km run, starting at 5:30 a.m., is perfect for participants of all ages, especially families with young children. The top three finishers in each division will be awarded P500 each.

Registration is now open, with the following registration fees:

10 km run: P700

5 km run: P600

3 km run: P500

The PICE Family Run aims to promote a sense of community and a healthy lifestyle, while supporting the initiatives of the PICE Cebu Chapter. To register, please contact May Servano, PICE secretariat, at 09176207850. (PR)

MAKATI FC dominated Cup No. 1 in Frederikshavn, Denmark after all of its four teams won the championship at the end of the four-day tournament on Friday, July 14, 2023.

It is the first time ever in the 39-year-old history of the Cup No. 1 that a youth club has swept the competition.

Makati FC ruled the Boys 11 division after overpowering Denmark’s Hobro IK, 3-0, in the Final, avenging its 1-2 defeat in the group stage.

The Boys 13 squad, meanwhile, also became champions after nipping Guatemala’s Escuela La Academia FC in a thriller, 6-5.

Not to be outdone were Makati FC’s Girls 12/13 and Girls 14 squads.

The Girls 12/13 team completed a six-match sweep of its division with a 5-1 romp of Norway’s Nord SK, while the Girls 14 squad went undefeated in six matches capped by a 3-0 conquest of the United States’ San Francisco Seals.

The Boys 11 championship was Makati FC’s first since 2015, while the Boys 13 ended a five-year title wait.

“A true testament to all the hard work and perseverance of the players, coaches and the ever supportive parents and extended Makati FC family,” said the club’s chief executive officer SeLu Lozano.

“What a joy to see the man who started it all, my dad (Coach Tomas Lozano), traveling back in Europe again. Grateful to be part of his legacy creating the best program and giving the best football experience to our youth, Makati FC,” he added.

Next up for Makati FC is the Gothia World Youth Cup, where the 47th edition of the world’s largest and most international youth football tournament is set on July 17 to 22 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Coach Tomas Lozano will be there for the 38th time in the competition that has earned him Hall of Fame award from the Gothia World Youth Cup. (PR)