A COLUMNIST IN PANDEMIC TIMES

Since the former 80s, I have been a columnist in different publications throughout the globe. I've written on many subjects under the sun. Politically, I have generally held back. Why? Why should I meddle in things I don't understand?

Hold on! Don't get me wrong! I have my own opinion regarding - as I said earlier - anything under the sun. In this time, many writers and dear columnist friends overturn themselves with different opinions. People have changed. Accepting others' opinions is almost impossible. Many times, so-called "shit storms" followed. Fortunately, I have been spared this until now. It is also not my intention to start any war with my opinion.

But, it hurts me very much how people have changed so negatively no matter where on earth. One thing is as clear as the Amen following every single prayer in  church. This pandemic has changed all of us and maybe I'll be one of them.

While I am writing my biography, I keep diving back into the world of yesterday. If not, how could I write about my past. Was really everything much better than it is today? I leave the answer to you my dear readers. Because one thing is certain: we're all in the same boat. It is up to each and every one of us how to cope with the present time.

I have at first God. Secondly, my family in the Philippines. And you?

DICT launches Tech4Ed Centers in Davao de Oro

Davao de Oro --- The Department of Information and Communications Technology – Mindanao Cluster 3 (DICT MC3) recently launched a Technology for Education, Employment, Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (Tech4Ed) Centers and turn-over computer packages in LGU New Bataan, Mainit National High School in Nabunturan and Philippine Army’s 10th SIGNAL Battalion.

 A Tech4ED is one of the DICT’s flagship programs implemented nation-wide that aims to provide access points for individuals and communities to bridge the digital gap and harness the power of ICT in society towards creating a progressive countryside.

 DICT MC3 Assistant Regional Director Engr. Erlito Tancontian underscores the government’s effort to provide easy accessibility to every municipality and barangay in the province particularly for those with minimal or no access to information and government services.

 “The establishment of the Tech4Ed Center is expected to bridge the digital and education divide by addressing the scarcity of ICT resources in the municipality that has hampered digital growth among locals,” Tancontian said.

He also added that Tech4Ed offers eight segment features like eEduSkills, eAssist, eHealth, eMarketPlace, eGovServices, Gender & Development and Rural Impact Sourcing (RIS) which all has a special function on a specific purpose from educational, job readiness and business tracking, to government office document transactions.

 The facilities set-up in these centers are open for free use of out-school-youths, students, teachers and entrepreneurs with no internet access, employees, PWDs, senior citizens, and indigenous people.

 As of February 9, 2021, 36 Wi-Fi zones are up in the province under the DICT-UNDP project dubbed “Free Wi-Fi for All Project” and the remaining 86 sites are ongoing implementation.

 Meanwhile, the PLGU-DdO’s Tech4Ed Center received additional four computer packages to further extend the government services among its employees and clients.

Present during the ceremony were DICT Davao de Oro Provincial Officer Engr. Ronilo M. Santa Cruz, Tech4ED Focal Person Eng. Albert C. Gabriel, LTC Jose C Perlas Jr, New Bataan Mayor Geraldford N. Balbin, Assistant School Principal II Sandy G. Yee, and Provincial Information Technology Officer Joyzel R. Odi and other local officials. (Rheafe Hortizano – Provincial Information Office of DdO)

Davao City posts 89% Covid recovery rate

 Photo by Mark Perandos

by: RALPH LAWRENCE G. LLEMIT

SunStar Davao City

A LOCAL health official said Davao City is targeting to beat the overall recovery rate in the country as Covid-19 recoveries in the city continue to rise.

City Health Office (CHO) Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez said in a radio interview on Wednesday, February 23, 2021, that the city is continuing to experience a downtrend of active cases due to a large number of new recoveries.

According to the Department of Health-Davao Region Covid-19 case bulletin, as of February 23, Davao City had a total of 12,832 Covid-19 cases, wherein 748 were active cases, 11,458 were recoveries and 626 were deaths.

He said the total number of recoveries accounts for an 89-percent recovery rate for the city.

The health official said the city's recovery rate is inching closer to the national recovery rate, which is currently at 93.1 percent.

"Hapit na ta mutungtong sa 90 porsyento. Kinahanglan nato maapsan or ma-overtake-kan nang atong national rate nga 93.1 percent sa recovery rate nationwide (We are now almost at 90-percent. We hope to surpass the current national recovery rate, which is now at 93.1 percent)," Lopez said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

He added, "Kung ato na malampasan nang 93 percent nga recovery rate, then that is very, very good na (If we would surpass the 93-percent national recovery rate, that is already a very good) accomplishment for Davao City."

Lopez noted an estimated 50-percent drop of active cases in the past two weeks.

"In fact, ang (our) number of deaths from March [2020] up to present, murag nipantay na siya sa atong (is almost equal to our) active [cases]," he said.

With the downtrend being felt since February 3, the health official said they are also targeting to decrease the active cases to a single digit or a much lower double-digit.

Lopez also noted a downtrend in Covid-19 cases in the entire Davao Region following the downtrend in Davao City. The city had contributed a high percentage of the total cases in the region.

Davao City, according to the previous Covid-19 bulletin, experienced a surge in Covid-19 cases in mid-October last year when the city was still placed under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ), which started on July 1, until it was reverted to general community quarantine (GCQ) on November 20.

Cases continued to increase until January 2021 brought about by the post-Holiday surge, which was projected to be felt until mid-February this year.

Lopez cited the importance of having a projection or forecasting for Covid-19 cases, as it will be the city government's basis in its response.

Lopez said their projections were “accurate,” although the downtrend was felt a week earlier than what was previously projected.

"Mao na (That is the) advantage when you have accurate data, if you're going to have some anticipations based on the forecasting," he said, adding that their forecast depicts what would be the Covid-19 situation in the city in the coming weeks or months.

He said this progress is facing challenges brought about by the recent discovery of the new Covid-19 variant in the country, now also recorded in Davao City coming from a 10-year-old boy who was asymptomatic and fully recovered.

He also cited the recent recommendation of placing the entire country under MGCQ as a challenge in the city's improving Covid-19 situation.

Lopez said in a previous report that it is still early for the city to shift to a more relaxed quarantine status as the city is still managing to improve its Covid-19 case management.

He also said the recent recommendation of allowing international flights, even with countries with existing new variants, to enter Metro Manila is also another challenge.

According to Lopez, foreigners will now be allowed entry into the country provided they will undergo a 14-day quarantine.

"Problema ani kay kung makasulod (The problem is that once they enter), the question is how far can we monitor or mabantayan kaning pasyente (or monitor our patients)? How far can we go so we can suppress the possible transmission?" He said.

Lopez reminded the public to adhere to minimum health protocols as a measure to curb the spread of the coronavirus while the country waits for the Covid-19 vaccines.

Even with the arrival of the vaccines, he encouraged that health protocols would still be imposed as the vaccine's effect will not take effect immediately.

Igacos won’t allow island-hopping despite tourism reopening

Photo by Ace Perez

By RALPH LAWRENCE G. LLEMIT

SunStar Davao City

ISLAND-HOPPING within the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) will still be prohibited once tourism operations within the island resume on March 1, 2021.

Igacos Tourism Officer Jennifer Dagohoy Cariaga said in a radio interview on Wednesday, February 24, that island-hopping, one of the main tourism activities on the island, is still not allowed.

Cariaga did not further elaborate on the reason why the local government had temporarily suspended island-hopping activities.

The prohibition of island-hopping had been an existing guideline on the island prior to the suspension of Samal's tourism activities on December 18, 2020.

In a previous report, island-hopping was suspended to regulate the movement of the public as a mitigating measure against Covid-19.

She also said resort-hopping will also not be allowed.

"Kung asa ka naka-book, dili ka pwede magsuroy. Dili ka pwede mag-resort-hopping (Once you are booked to a certain establishment, you cannot roam anywhere and do resort hopping)," Cariaga said.

As of Wednesday, the city government has yet to issue an executive order (EO) on the complete guidelines, which Cariaga said the mayor will issue within the week.

She also added they would still implement the "no booking, no entry" policy.

As to the operational capacity, only 50 percent of the resort’s capacity will be allowed to maintain the required physical distancing.

Meanwhile, Cariaga said the local government is planning to lift the 24-hour liquor ban as they set to allow establishments to sell liquor. She, however, said liquors should not be consumed in public and even on resorts.

Beach resorts started the resumption of their operation on August 1, 2020, while tourism activities such as island hopping, scuba diving and aqua sports activities resumed on September 16.

Tourism activities on the island were suspended on December 18, 2020, in anticipation of the influx of tourists who wished to celebrate Christmas in Samal.

The Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approved the request of the Igacos government to reopen its tourism industry.

In a news report from state-owned media PTV Davao on Tuesday, February 23, 2021, Uy confirmed that the IATF granted their appeal to allow the gradual reopening of the island to tourists under a limited capacity after submitting their appeal to the national IATF.

Only resorts and other tourism-related establishments accredited by the local government and the Department of Tourism will be allowed to operate, he said.

Uy added that tourists outside Davao Region will also be allowed to visit Samal, but they must abide by the imposed requirements.

"Kadtong sa mga (Those from) outside Davao Region, they will go through the antigen test. Isa pud na sa gi-unsa pud sa IATF sa amoa (These were the regulations that the IATF ordered us to implement). Anyway, ang (the) antigen, ang mag-conduct ana [is] ang city unya libre na siya (will be provided by the city for free)," he said.

Duterte-Carpio calls for a stop on 'Run, Sara, Run' motorcades

File photo by Superbalita Davao

 

by RALPH LAWRENCE G. LLEMIT, SunStar

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio barred her supporters in the city from organizing motorcades prodding her to run for president in 2022.

In a radio interview on Monday, February 24, Duterte-Carpio said some barangay officials, along with some supporters in the city, are planning to stage a motorcade to convince her to run for the presidency.

Duterte-Carpio told organizers to better save the fuel of their vehicles for some other essential purposes because she is firm in her decision not to run in the upcoming elections.

The mayor also told the group not to push through with their activity since the city is still under pandemic.

"Nagpasulti nako sa ila (I already told this person), who is a mover of their group, not to conduct gatherings because we are in a pandemic, and there is a risk na (that) there will be transmission kung dunay activity or gathering sa mga tao (if there will be activity or gathering of people), and [I told them] to stop that motorcade," she said.

Duterte-Carpio added the city has an existing ordinance prohibiting motorcade as this contributes to air pollution.

"Kahibalo ta nga naga-worsen na ang global warming. So these motorcades nga walay essential nga rason nga naga-contribute global warming and air pollution (We all know there is global warming and these unessential motorcades are just contributing to global warming and air pollution)," she said.

The mayor also ordered the removal of tarpaulins, posters, and billboards with the text "Run, Sara, Run," mounted by her supporters in some parts of the city.

"Mag-remind lang ko sa tanan na ang pagtaod og billboard and tarpaulin, there is a regulation para ana. One of that is kinahanglan ka magbayad sa government para sa mga ing-ana (May I just remind everyone that when you install billboards and tarpaulins there is a regulation for that, one of which is that you need to pay government fees)," Duterte-Carpio said.

She told the public to report the location of these posters so that the city can remove these and return these to the owners.

With the increasing number of supporters, not only in Davao City or Davao Region, but also in some parts of the country, Duterte-Carpio reiterated her previous statement that she will not be running for the national post.

"Tingala siguro ang mga tao ngano wala ko ginahatag nga rason kung ngano dili ko gusto mudagan pagkapangulo. Sa ilang tan-aw siguro, there is this chance nga tingali magbag-o akong huna-huna or wala ko nagsulti og tinuod (They might wonder why I am not giving any reasons why I am not running for the presidency. They thought there is this chance that I might change my mind, or that I am not telling the truth)," the mayor said.

"Ako na lang ginasulti pirmi is nagapasalamat ko sa ilang trust and confidence sa akoa, and nagapasalamat ko sa ilang suporta sa ako (What I am always saying is that I am very grateful for their trust and confidence in me, and that I am always thankful for their support). But I already answered that," Duterte-Carpio said, adding that there is "no chance" of changing her mind.

The mayor did not further disclose her reasons not to run, although she previously said she has many reasons behind it.

She added she does not want to offend any people on her decision.

The mayor had been shutting down rumors of her planning to run for presidency despite constant calls from her supporters, and has been leading in various surveys from different polling bodies for the 2022 presidential elections.

The mayor responded through a statement issued to national media saying that she is not planning to run in 2022, but in 2034.

"I am pleading to them to please allow me to run for President in 2034, if at that time, there is something I can do to help the country," she said.

Duterte-Carpio said in a recent interview that she is currently focused on addressing the Covid-19 situation in the city.

President Rodrigo Duterte, in recent public speeches, also does not want his daughter to run for presidency.

DOH advisers: Place Cebu under ECQ again

 

by REBECAH ROBERTS, JERRA MAE LIBREA, JOHANNA O. BAJENTING, SunStar

SOME members of the technical advisory council of the Department of Health central office have recommended placing Cebu under enhanced community quarantine due to the rising number of Covid-19 cases and the reported Sars-CoV-2 mutations, or “mutations of concern.”

However, the DOH 7 leadership has appealed to the council to give them time to review its data, according to DOH 7 spokesperson and chief pathologist Dr. Mary Jean Loreche.

Local business leaders slammed the idea of placing Cebu under ECQ status, saying there should be a balance between health and livelihood. ECQ is the strictest community quarantine status as it restricts public movement and transportation, and would close non-essentail commercial establishments (cinemas, entertainment hubs and tourism destinations).

In a meeting with the DOH central office’s technical advisory council (TAC) on Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, the DOH 7 was given until Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, to address the current Covid-19 situation in Cebu so it could keep to keep its modified general community quarantine status (MGCQ) status, Loreche said.

Not yet official

Loreche, however, clarified that the recommendation of some TAC members is not yet official as they have still to meet on Friday, Feb. 26, to go over the matter.

“The data they used did not synchronize with our data. That is why on Friday I am presenting our data,” she said.

On Sunday, Feb. 21, the DOH central office with the University of the Philippines (UP) Philippine Genome Center and UP National Institutes of Health announced that N501Y and E484K mutations of concern (MOC) were detected in three additional samples from Central Visayas following an enhanced genomic biosurveillance.

According to Loreche, it would be unfair for Central Visayas to be the only region monitored because of the presence of MOC, a term coined by local health authorities describing detected mutations of Sars-CoV-2 (the virus that causes Covid-19) that are under investigation.

“Because we did the biosurveillance, it doesn’t mean na dapat ay tayo lang ang tutukan at sasabihan na ang MOC ay nasa atin lang at dapat ay i-lock tayo, restrict ang travel para hindi natin madala sa iba (that our place should be the only one monitored and we should be told that the MOC is found only in our place and we should be put in a lockdown, travel restriction to prevent us from carrying it to other places),” Loreche said.

She added, “I don’t think that’s fair.”

To recall, Cebu City and Talisay City decried the quarantine classification made by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on their respective local government units in June 2020 based on “incorrect data.”

Talisay City was placed under modified ECQ, when other places in Cebu province registered more cases but remained under GCQ.

Meeting LGUs

Loreche said they will meet with leaders of local government units (LGUs) to urge them to reimplement stricter quarantine protocol to control the spread of the virus.

Cebu City breached the 3,000 mark on Covid-19 active cases on Sunday, Feb. 21 with 3,142 cases. The last time Cebu City hit 3,000 active cases was on July 31, 2020 when it had 3,292 active cases.

On Monday, Feb. 22, Cebu City’s active cases further increased to 3,176 with 184 new cases, 147 recoveries and three deaths, according to the DOH 7 bulletin.

Expected rise

Loreche said they already expected the rise in the number of new cases because of the lighter community quarantine status (MGCQ), recent holidays, and the continued contact tracing and testing efforts.

The DOH 7, she said, still does not recommend placing Cebu under a lockdown as this will greatly affect Cebu’s economy. Instead, she advised the public to follow health protocol such as wearing masks and observing social distancing at all times for everyone’s safety.

“For people to be mindful it is an individual responsibility to protect himself. It’s not the government’s job to protect you, to implement and restrict yourself so that you will be able to fight off Covid. It should be you, me, kitang tanan maningkamot ta na dili ta makakuha sa virus; nga dili ta makatakod sa atong mga pinalangga sa kinabuhi nato (we should all strive hard not to contract the virus and not to infect our loved ones),” she said.

Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia earlier expressed her strong opposition to placing Cebu under lockdown.

“Don’t mess with us. We can take care of ourselves. I will not and never again accept lockdown. I will fight for Cebu and the Cebuano because Cebu is moving on and moving forward,” Garcia warned.

She said measures are already in place against Covid-19 transmission and the LGUs under the Provincial Government’s scope have devised a system to keep infections in check. Isolation centers have been established and contact tracers have been hired, among others.

“Lockdowns don’t work well. They work against the economy. They disrupt the economy to the detriment of the poor,” Garcia said.

On Feb. 21, 2021, Central Visayas recorded 431 new Covid-19 cases. Cebu City recorded the highest new cases in the region with 255, bringing its total active cases to 3,142. Of the 3,142 active cases, 2,795 were asymptomatic, 150 mild, 116 moderate, 67 severe, and 14 critically ill. Cebu City’s attack rate was 24.8 percent, the highest recorded attack rate in the city.

The region on Feb. 22 recorded 384 new cases and 299 recoveries, bringing its total active cases to 6,276. The six new deaths reported on Feb. 22 brought the toll to 1,536.

Alarming

As for Cebu City’s 3,000-plus active cases, City Councilor Joel Garganera said the situation is “alarming.”

“Yes, this is indeed alarming, which is why we require the utmost cooperation from the public,” Garganera said on Feb. 22.

He added: “We cannot afford for our hospitals to be overwhelmed once more. That is why I encourage everyone to limit your movements to necessary activities only.”

Garganera declined to comment on the TAC members recommending to place Cebu, including Cebu City, under ECQ.

However, the councilor said in an earlier statement that Cebu City cannot afford to be on lockdown again and everyone “must learn to live with Covid.”

Business concerns

Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Steven Yu opposed the ECQ recommendation, saying it would hurt the local economy.

“We are all-out against ECQ because there are other tools/means available without resorting to lockdowns. Our healthcare capability and capacity have also strengthened considerably. We have to move on and move forward, to bring back livelihood to the people and build back the strong pre-pandemic economy,” he said.

Rey Calooy, chairman of the Filipino Cebuano Business Club, said stricter restrictions would further devastate the current situation of micro, small and medium businesses.

“Some of the small ones operate daily just to earn income so they can eat for the day. Hand to mouth. Of course, rich people and people with stable jobs are only fighting Covid-19. But the MSMEs? They are fighting both Covid-19 and hunger,” he said.

Calooy said: “We are consistent with our stand that our lives are our livelihood. How can you live without eating? And how can you eat without livelihood? That is very simple logic.”

Cebu City barangays

The Cebu City barangays that have no reported transmission of Covid-19 cases for the past 10 days are down to nine barangays.

Garganera said 71 barangays in the city have current transmission of Covid-19.

Based on Emergency Operations Center (EOC) data, Barangay Guadalupe continued to have the most number of logged cases for the past 10 days, from Feb. 12 to Feb. 21, with 217.

Other barangays which logged the most number of Covid-19 cases for the past 10 days include Barangays Labangon with 126, Tisa with 108, Lahug with 93, and Apas with 85 cases.

ebu City is composed of 80 barangays, with only two barangays remaining to have no reported Covid-19 case since the coronavirus pandemic started last year.

Utilization rate

In a press conference of the DOH 7 on Monday afternoon, Feb. 22, Loreche said the critical care utilization rate in the whole region for private hospitals is at 47.6 percent while in public hospitals is at 58.7 percent.

EOC data also showed that in isolation facilities in Cebu City, there are still a total of 1,122 available beds as of Feb. 21.

At New Normal Oasis for Adaptation and a Home (Noah), 235 beds are occupied while 215 are still available.

In other facilities, 87 beds at IC3 Bayanihan Center are occupied, 43 beds remain available; 156 beds are occupied at Cebu City Quarantine Center, four beds remain available; 412 beds are occupied in barangay isolation centers, 850 beds remain unoccupied; 192 beds are occupied in accredited hotels in the city, while 10 beds remain unoccupied.

WITH BEETHOVEN UNDER PALMS (VI)

Chapter VI: A new car, a new job and the Apartheid Regime

Yes, 1980 was a year of great upheaval for me. A new car was needed. An old sports car: Opel Manta. Because there was no speed limit in Germany during this time, I was mostly alone in the left lane of the motorway, the German Autobahn and mostly at night. 200 km/h - no problem.

In East Germany, the German Democratic Republic, everything was very different anyway. Speed limit 100 km/h and highway patrols at any corner.

After my return from Moscow I was really surprised at how quickly I got a visa for East Germany every time. I visited my "Lola" there as much I could. The border controls limited themselves to an absolute minimum. "We have to control you a little. It's our duty", whispered the two border police guys one day. "Have a nice stay in our republic!" I was able to explain the reactions very quickly; after all, I had flown from Berlin to Moscow "on the line of German-Russian Friendship"... .

And then came the big day in business. I had my job interview. To my great surprise, a young lady came up and said, "Please come, the publisher is waiting for you already". The publisher? I was actually expecting an interview with the Human Resources Director. At this point in time, I didn't see my future boss becoming my great mentor. He was a lawyer and responsible publisher of the law department. Besides, there was a Department of Medicine and a Department of Religion in this international publishing house based in Berlin, New York, and Amsterdam.

My travel plans to South Africa were not a hindrance. I was able to start my job as Editorial Assistant for law magazines on January 1, 1980. I have never studied law in my life.

October 1980 I traveled to South Africa - more precisely from Berlin to London and then by British Airways from London to Johannesburg with a stopover in Kenya with its snow-capped Kilimanjaro. 

Lisa waited for me. One of my penfriends from all over the world. She had moved from Austria to South Africa. In January 1972, I received her first letter from Vienna. Now in 1980 we should finally get to know each other personally. 

Not in Austria but in South Africa -  a country with the Apartheid policy.

Apartheid (Afrikaans: “apartness”) is the name of the policy that governed relations between the white minority and the nonwhite majority of South Africa during the 20th century. Although racial segregation had long been in practice there, the apartheid name was first used about 1948 to describe the racial segregation policies embraced by the white minority government. Apartheid dictated where South Africans, on the basis of their race, could live and work, the type of education they could receive, and whether they could vote. Events in the early 1990s marked the end of legislated apartheid, but the social and economic effects remained deeply entrenched.

It was an unforgettable trip in a camping bus to gold mines, wildlife, desserts and visiting the different tribes. 

On my return flight I remembered a very specific country. One of the stewardesses was born there as she told me: Philippines. Well, the Philippines was getting closer and closer into my life. I guessed it after several conversations with this wonderful Filipina.

(To be continued!)

ARE WE LOSING FAITH AND HOPE ALREADY?

When I listen and lock around, I would have to answer this question with a big yes. Several friends of mine started talking with me and mentioned the good old days. Yes, those were the days my friend! Well, we all know: times have changed drastically. More natural disasters, more wars that hardly anyone speaks of anymore, and a pandemic that I have purposely put at the end of this list.

To be or not to be. Sein oder nicht sein. Shakespeare. To say it clearly: without faith and hope, we're really nothing.

Faith is belief; believe in us, in our works, talents and our personalities. We should also believe in our parents - or much better, in our whole family including the black sheep, which can be found everywhere.

We should believe in our friends, even if it seems to become very difficult nowadays. The pandemic kills many friendships.

Please remember, my dear readers: without faith  and hope will we reach the rock bottom. Don't say, it's a likely story.

The German poet Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1815) has mentioned in his drama "Maria Stuart": "Even the word might be dead, but faith keeps it alive!" Chapter I of Second Thessalonians gives encouragement to all Christians, who were undergoing persecution for or because of their faith. Yes, faith is really not everybody's thing, or "not everyone has faith".

"If I have faith, that can move mountains" (First Corinthians 13,2).

Faith is a tantamount to convincing and conviction. Richard Wagner (German classical composer and poet, 1813-1883) found the following lyric: "Blessed are those people, who know how to live their life in humility and faith."

So, let's even continue believing in our governments or the institution church. Faith means also a belief specially in a revealed religion. Faith is trust or reliance. Faith is indeed a pledged word. Yes, I know. Hope too.

People without faith and hope  in themselves cannot or will never survive. Worth to think about it!

‘New normal’ tourism demands it:

DOT chief underscores need for uniform travel protocols

by Alexandria Dennise San Juan, Manila Bulletin

Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat reiterated on Wednesday, Feb. 17 her call for the enforcement of standardized health protocols across all active tourism destinations in the country.

She noted that based on the results of the latest Philippine travel survey, one the top desires of the traveler-respondents was to have standardized travel and safety protocols in the various travel destinations so that the booking process would become easier.

“This is exactly our complaint because we in the DOT, we really go around and we follow all the protocols because we want to see how it is to travel,”

Puyat said in a virtual briefing wherein she discussed the survey findings. 

“Admittedly, kahit na kami, nahihirapan din kasi (even us are having a hard time because) different provinces [have] different protocols and I agree that it is really important to have uniform travel protocols,” she added.

The online travel survey, which was a follow-up to the May 2020 survey, was conducted by the DOT from Nov. 28 to Dec. 30 last year. It was carried out with the Asian Institute of Management (AIM)-Dr. Andrew L. Tan Center and Guide to the Philippines in a bid to support the crafting of the department’s strategy to jumpstart the tourism industry. 

Another common traveler sentiment that authorities learned from the survey is the need to “personalize” travels.Based on the survey, “value-sensitive” travelers prefer trips that are tailored according to their needs and objectives. Meanwhile, simplified trips to tourism destinations with the most relaxed health protocols and reduced cost and are a better fit for “price-sensitive” travelers.

In a bid to help travel agencies and tour operators enhance their packages and services, the tourism chief said that the department will roll out development initiatives such as business-to-business meetings, bench marking, product audit, and familiarization tours featuring new sites and attractions that will entice more people to travel domestically. 

“As always, we shall be taking a multi-lateral approach to address current issues relating to the pandemic, working more closely with local government units, stakeholders, and local communities,” Puyat said.

“Guided by the new survey results, the DOT and its partners will be able to plot the crucial next steps for the recovery of the tourism industry, creating better, more efficient, and effective strategies where there is mutual and inclusive growth for all,” she added.

Titled “The Evolving Landscape of Domestic Travel in the Philippines: A study of travelers and tourism enterprises amidst the pandemic,” the survey gathered responses from a total of 7,243 travelers from all 78 provinces in the country, as well as 108 tourism enterprises to get their views on traveling under the “new normal”.

DOES PAPER REALLY STILL MATTER?

 

The frequent whirring of printers in offices - despite the Internet, Microsoft Word, social media (by the way, I love Facebook, Linkedin and Twitter), scanners, smart phones applications and many much more - attest to that.

It's no longer a secret, I'm writing my biography. You can already read the first chapters online. But, of course, I also have the idea and the wish one day to be able to hold my thoughts in a tightly bound book.

I was - and I am still! - very much old fashioned in many things. While still typing on an old manual typewriter,  my former colleagues in different publishing houses used already electric units. I loved my antique typewriter. I love it till today. Yes, it's still here at my office in Davao City. I can't use it anymore, because no more ribbons are available in the Philippines. It's fine for me. My electric typewriter is also here. Just beside the manual unit. Those were the days, my love... .

It has been sometimes at the end of the 1990's. I worked in an international publishing house in Berlin with branches in Amsterdam and New York. I still used one of those wonderful electric typewriters - and tried to avoid vehemently a personal computer. Already during that time, I needed to hold paper in my hands. Paper, says the productivity expert David Allen, is "in your face". I strongly agree with David. He said, "Its physical presence can be a goal to completing tasks, whereas computer files can easily be hidden and thus forgotten. I am also returning to paper planners for this very reason. Smile ... .

David Allen, the author of "Getting Things Done", does much of his writing on a computer. So do I meanwhile. But, there are still times when writing with a fountain pen on a notepad. It allows "us" to get "our" heads in the right place. When I tried to learn more from David Allen, I really got surprised that we have many things in common. Old fashioned or not? I don't care. Here are some facts:

Paper print outs serve an important function. For long texts, a print out can allow a reader to better understand relationships between sections and writings. Paper handouts are still a presence at meetings partly because they are useful for taking notes. Reading a long document on paper rather than on a computer screen helps people "better understand the geography of the argument contained within, "said Richard H.R. Harper, a principal researcher for Microsoft in Cambridge/England and co-author with Abigail J. Sellen of "The Myth of the Paperless Office," published already in 2001.

I also strongly agree with Sellen, saying that using more than one computer screen can be helpful for all this cognitive juggling. But when workers are going back and forth between points in a longer document, it can be more efficient to read on paper.

How about "e-reading a book"? A novel, a drama, whatever? What do you prefer, my dear reader? You wanna know my opinion? I am sure, you can imagine. Yes guys, I still need a book in my hands for my leisure reading. I need to feel the book as well as I need to smell a fresh-printed newspaper. Environment savers might start yelling at me now, though I am one of them. So, where is the edge and borderline?

Paper can be indeed a luscious and beautiful thing - the way we savor fine food and wine, as Steve Leveen, co-founder and CEO of Levenger, said. People complain that writing by hand is slow (yes I am really!), BUT that can be good for thinking and creating! Here we are again!

Yes, paper matters still: in defense of the power of paper! 

WITH BEETHOVEN UNDER PALMS (V)

Chapter V: Crocodiles, rum and reggae

Jamaica? Did I mention Jamaica earlier? Yes, sure. Somehow, I wanted to be a loner, even though it was travelling. The travel plans between me and my buddy Jürgen became more and more different. Sad to say,

Our last trip together brought us to Gran Canaria in 1978. A wonderful island  belonging to a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean west of the African coast. A five-hours-flight nonstop from Berlin. Just a little something for Jürgen and me as global travelers. Several years later, I would stay on Gran Canaria more often - even for a second honeymoon. 

Jamaica, yes. An amazing island in the Carribean sea. A German Foreign Aid School Project brought me there. My previous journeys to Canada and the United States of America in 1975 have been mostly projects of the then Organization for International Contacts - back then it was located in the old West German capital Bonn.

Jamaica in 1979. A school project of the German Foreign Aid allowed me to visit this Carribean island.

 It was not really a vacation stay but long enough for some extraordinary experiences. Rum, well... . Rum and Coke, the long drink  Maitai - I am not sure if its origin is really from Jamaica. Here, we tried buko ( fresh coconut juice and Jamaica rum). Jamaica and its Blue Mountains.

Crocodiles? Yes, many. An organized river trip by tour guides up to the Dunn River Waterfalls in Ochos Rios made it possible to encounter many of these breathtaking species. Beethoven and Asia were somehow so very far away... .

Speaking of music. "No woman - no cry"! One of my most spectacular life open air music events was the one with legendary King of Reggae Bob Marley.  He scribbled his name on one of the records I bought there. Unforgettable seconds ... .

1980 became a really great change in my private and business life. The ups and downs pulled my nerves. My job as circulation manager in a publishing house did not satisfy me any more. As a typical risk taker, I followed the recommendation of my very closed office mate and applied to another publisher.

 

In the same year, I took on another challenge and traveled to South Africa, more precisely to Johannesburg. A trip to London and another 11 hours direct flight took me there. Lisa invited me. Lisa, my "oldest friend" ever. We "met" as pen pals in 1972 while she was residing in Vienna, Austria.

(To be continued!)

No case yet of new coronavirus strain in Davao City

 

Photo by Associated Press

By RALPH LAWRENCE G. LLEMIT, SunStar Davao City

THE Davao City Health Office (CHO) has not received any report of infection from a new variant of Covid-19 in the city based on its recent updates from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), acting CHO Head Dr. Ashley Lopez said in a radio interview on Wednesday, February 10, 2021.

Lopez said samples tested from Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) and Davao One World Diagnostic Center were sent to Philippine Genome Center (PGC) in Manila for genome sequencing. However, results have not yet been sent back to them because of technical problems with the machine being used to process the specimen for the confirmatory tests.

"Until now, naa pay adjust na ginabuhat sa machine. So dili pa sila makahatag og results (Adjustments are being made with the machine so we still cannot get the results)," he said in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio.

Lopez said the city already sent all tested and confirmed specimens in January to determine if the new Covid-19 variant had already reached the city and had contributed to the spike in cases.

"Ingon sa ako naka-istorya, most likely wala pa ang new variant sa Davao [City]. Kay kung naa daw na siya, usually maghatag na sila og alert. Wala man ko nadawat nga alert so far," he said.

(The person I am in contact with said, most likely, the new variant is not in the city yet. If it had reached the city, they would alert us, but for now, they have not alerted us.)

The health official said they are intensifying their biosurveillance to detect and monitor variants of the Sars-CoV-2.

He said the RITM is the only facility in the country that can perform genome sequencing for Covid-19.

He added that it is only through genome sequencing that can detect if the patient was infected with the new variant of the Covid-19.

In a previous interview, National Task Force (NTF) Covid-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez personally suggested to Lopez, through a phone call, that the city should submit its specimens to the national RITM to detect if the new variant had reached the city.

Lopez said Galvez was worried upon seeing the recent uptick of cases in the city.

Lopez had explained to the NTF chief that the case surge was brought about by post-holiday activities.

Since the confirmation of the first case of the B.1.1.7 Sars-Cov-2 variant or the UK variant, the country has at least 25 known cases of the new variant. One of them died. The patient died in the third or fourth week of January, according to Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

Davao City, meanwhile, is on heightened alert following the recent discovery of the presence of the new variant of the virus in Sabah, Malaysia, Davao Region's closest foreign neighbor.

Bro. Eli Soriano, founder of ‘Ang Dating Daan,' dies at 73

 

Contributed photo

By RONALD O. REYES, SunStar

BROTHER Eliseo "Eli" Fernando Soriano, the charismatic televangelist and founder of the Members Church of God International who hosted the longest-running religious program in the Philippines, “Ang Dating Daan,” (The Old Path), died on Friday, February 12. He was 73.

“It is with deep sadness, yet with full faith in the Almighty, that we announce the passing of our beloved and one and only Bro. Eliseo ‘Eli’ Soriano — a faithful preacher, brother, father, and grandfather to many,” read an announcement from “Ang Dating Daan’s” social media page.

It did not elaborate on the cause of Soriano’s death.

“While his temporary repose is a loss to many, we in the members Church of God International Inc. would like to assure the public that the programs and projects initiated by Bro. Eli will continue,” it added.

Despite facing controversies and lawsuits, Soriano continued to earn the respect of his followers in the country and around the world.

Soriano reportedly moved to Brazil many years ago.

Amid his controversial life, Malacañang has expressed its sympathy to the bereaved family and church members of Soriano.

“Bro. Eli was a beloved preacher of Ang Dating Daan whose teachings touched the lives and served as guide to many,” said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

“His dedication to propagate the words of God in the Bible was a clear testament of his steadfast love to serve his brethren and the Almighty,” Roque added. (SunStar Philippines)

Somehow

 

"Somehow", I am a retiree now. As German Consul to Mindanao in example. The Consular German laws are so strict. Actually at the age of 65. Ok "lang". A German proverb goes like this: Who is resting who is rusting. Mmmh. But I keep myself busy. Though, I'll be teaching German language online again. (Thank you Ateneo de Davao!) I'm still doing translations for several institutions. And at the age of "almost" 68, I started writing my biography. As I was writing, I noticed the following: the music has me again. From my first strumming on an old piano up to several radio broadcasts beyond the borders of Davao City of classical music in the Philippines, I was honored to bring on air.

Solo-Parent scholars graduates from TESDA’s skills training

Davao de Oro --- A total of fourteen solo-parent scholars under the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) graduated from TESDA’s skills training program on Bread and Pastry Production NC II yesterday at Brgy. Nuevo Iloco, Mawab, Davao de Oro.

The program is part of the agency’s efforts to encourage more women to be empowered through skills training on various courses. Provincial TESDA Director Jasmin Neri congratulated the graduates and thanked them for participating and completing the training that provides a mechanism and will ensure the availability of qualified skilled workers based on the industry’s requirements.

“I’m hoping that these new skills and knowledge you’ve acquired will lead each one of you to become more productive and skillful women of the community,” Neri said.

The graduates underwent eighteen-day skills training and received their Training and National Certificates, and full training allowances during the graduation ceremony.

Ms. Rosa D. Bayani, one of the graduates expressed her gratitude for benefiting the free services of the government that economically empowered women sectors through skills training programs.

“Sulod sa 18-days namu nga training, dako kaayu ang among kalipay ug pagpasamalat lakip na sa amuang mga trainers sa ilahang gipaambit nga kahibalo aron kami makakat-on sama sa pag bake ug mga cakes, breads ug uban pa. Diin magamit namu kini nga additional source of income ug alang usab kini sa ikalambo sa tagsa-tagsa namu ka pamilya,” Bayani stated.

This activity was made successful through collaboration and partnership with DUMPER PTDA Partylist, PLGU Davao de Oro, Provincial Women Development Council (PWDC), Local Government Unit of Mawab, Community Training and Employment Coordinators, and Davao National Agricultural School.

 (Rheafe Hortizano-Provincial Information Division of DdO, Photo courtesy of Jonie Cadiz)

No exact date yet for arrival of COVID-19 vaccines

Vaccination sites should prepare substitute list of vaccinees – DOH

by Analou De Vera 

Manila Bulletin

There is still no confirmed date as to when the vaccines for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) will arrive in the country, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday, Feb. 10.

Health Assistant DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the COVAX facility only told them a “tentative schedule” for the arrival of vaccines here.

“Kailangan natin maintindihan (We need to understand) that the dates that were provided to us were indicative dates. The COVAX facility initially told us that by the second or third week of February. Now, this Feb. 15 is an indicative date,” she said in a media forum.

“Kapag sinabi natin na indicative, yan po ay tentative schedule pa lang, wala pa tayong confirmed dates as to when we are going to start. But definitely, pagdating ng bakuna, after two to three days we will start the deployment already… We will give you the exact date kung kailan dadating ang bakuna once we receive the confirmation from the COVAX facility (When we say indicative, that is just a tentative schedule, we do not have confirmed dates as to when we are going to start. But definitely, when the vaccines arrive, after two to three days we will start the deployment already … We will give you the exact date when the vaccines will arrive once we receive the confirmation from the COVAX facility),” she said.

Vergeire, meanwhile, said that all COVID-19 vaccination sites must come up with a Quick Substitution List (QSL) to minimize vaccine wastage. She said that the list must have  20 percent additional names of the total number of recipients in a specific vaccination site.

“We are pegging it, gusto natin meron tayo at least 20 percent. Wala tayong basehan sa 20 percent, pero gusto lang po natin makasigurado na kung sakali dumating tayo doon sa day of vaccination and we will have refusal, at least we have this reserved 20 percent (We are pegging it, we want to have at least 20 percent. We have no basis for this 20 percent, but we just want to make sure that we have a reserved recipient  in case someone refuses to take the vaccine on the vaccination day),” she said.

“We don’t want to have wastage (of vaccines)  in our program so we have this quick substitution list,” she added.

Vergeire said that the DOH will issue guidelines for the QSL.

“The standards will be finalized on who should be included in the QSL, which is also part of our priority list,” she added.

WITH BEETHOVEN UNDER PALMS (IV)

 

Chapter IV:  FREEZING COLD AND A CAMEL'S KISS

Summer 1977. I resided there for three years in West Berlin, the "free enclave" surrounded by the communist East Germany, the so-called German Democratic Republic. Guarded by the three major powers Great Britain, France and the United States of America. Leaving this enclave by car or train always meant to pass several checkpoints and countless controls. It did not bother me. Such journeys belonged to my adventurism. I saw it as a kind kind of sport. And I really never got problems ... .

Of course, my grandmother was happy to see me so often. Every time I visited her, she had a surprise in store for me. A baked duck, a new bottle of Russian Vodka or a new long play vinyl record with wonderful classical music - mostly from Russian composers such as Rimsky--Korsakoff, Peter Tschaikowky and amazing East German stars such as Peter Schreier. 

The singer, who lives in Dresden and was artistically at home in (East-)Berlin, was one of the most famous artists in his field in East Germany. Ludwig van Beethoven joined our circle too. Even if only in the background and performed by East German or Russian artists.

During the 1970's In the seventies I developed another passion. There were many television show recordings in Berlin. I just attended this chance and tried to look behind the scenes, and they let me. I became a regular guest in one of the most loved TV-shows, the German Hitparade, hosted by the unforgettable Dieter Thomas Heck. Sitting beside famous singers made me even more prominent in my country's home side.  That made it easy for me to join Heck's show PYRAMIDE in 1990 in Munich as a successful contestant.

My new car took me anywhere. To my grandmother in East Germany. To my parents, 500 km away, by getting on the transit routes from West-Berlin, via East Germany and entering again West Germany there. Tiring but enjoying it. A commuter between two different kinds of worlds - East and West! My buddy Jürgen was still with me. "When are you planning to fly to Moscow with me?" he asked me. I replied, "Wait buddy, Tunisia in North Africa is still waiting!". My buddy looked at me in disbelief.

My thirst for knowledge to get to know other peoples and cultures made me very lonely at home in Germany. Today I know that all of these trips have brought me more than any history or geography course in high school or college. The ride on a camel and its kiss was one of my greatest adventures in Tunisia/North Africa.

The Russian propeller plane took an eternity to finally take off. My buddy and I got -as always-  Seat 1 a and b. We were like that too as the first to raise a glass of water after the takeoff. One should have seen our astonished and wide eyes. Yes, it was the "cleanest water in the world". It was Vodka. At 8 o'clock in the morning... . Caviar followed. Airline of friendship. German Democratic Republic and Soviet Union back then.

Our hotel Russia was right on the Red Square. It was really freezing cold. 1977/1978 was a winter of the century across Europe. I know, I wasn't allowed to leave our hotel so easily. But I did. I was already a risk taker at that time. The underground train took me to the station "Nowokusnezkaja". Radio Moscow lay in front of me. Natalia Tschernowa waited already.

The German language program aired the Classical Request Concert. A program, a show that I had listened to on 'Shortwave' (not FM) for years already. And my "life wish" was granted: Ludwig van Beethoven, Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 3 in c-minor, third movement Rondo:Allegro. 

On the return flight to East Berlin, "water" was served again. 

When I got home, I couldn't believe my eyes when I found a letter from the German foreign Aid Project. But it became true. My trip to Jamaica was up next.

(To be continued!)

WITH BEETHOVEN UNDER PALMS (III)

Chapter 3: Land of the setting sun

Our touch down in Tokyo was precise to the minute. "Like in Germany", commented my buddy Jürgen. And he continued, "The Japanese have a lot in common with the Germans, they are always on time and love to work a lot". 

Well, this was 1976. I am not sure about nowadays. Fact was, I plunged into a world with many opposites to mine. It also meant that in the future I would make many mistakes that could not be consistent with Japanese tradition.

Our family stays were designed in such a way that we could get to know typical Japanese life in different social classes. In Tokyo, my "papa-san" was a television director. In Kyoto, my "papa-san" worked as a bank employee. In Osaka, I found myself in the countryside - my "papa-san" was a rice farmer. The great moment, Michiko would enter my life.

Tokyo - a breathtaking city where we lived in a small space. I got the impression that the TV studios where I was allowed to go in and out were bigger than our home. My "papa-san" made it possible to put me on screen in different TV-shows as "his son from Germany". I was overwhelmed... . 

My appetite for media of all kinds grew. It was television first.

Kyoto followed. And a bank manager. I remembered that my parents always wanted me to become a bank manager one day. But even then, I already knew I wanted to be a journalist one day.

Osaka follows. An awesome and wonderful life in the province remains with me from my childhood - just a little bit different. Now I had countless rice fields in front of me. Only many years later in the Philippines would I get the same feeling that I did here. And in Osaka, I met my first love at sight in Asia - Michiko.

It was the love story of my life at this time. I learned that we couldn't walk hand-in-hands behind the public. I learned that she could never travel to Germany and marry me there. I learned a lot more about Japanese traditions.

Six months after returning back to Germany, I got a very sad message from another Japanese close friend. A terrible earthquake had killed her and her family.

Hiroshima was one one of my saddest experiences in Japan that was never forgotten in my heart. Visiting the atomic bomb memorial left me with a lot of doubt and negative thoughts. As an opponent of the arms and war, in 1974 I had moved to West Berlin -  a place, where, as German citizen, I couldn't be drafted into the army. West Berlin is a place that would dramatically shape my future. Not only because one day I would even meet Nora Aunor there personally.

After my return from Japan, another big event awaited me in West-Berlin. A trip to Moscow. A trip and invitation. Radio Moscow - German Language Production had written a letter. For me a journey into uncertainty. A journey in between the world powers during the Cold War. I asked my buddy Jürgen to accompany me. "What do you want in Moscow, man? It's already in winter", he asked me.

I could convince him to travel with me. 5 days - not longer! I agreed.

(To be continued!)

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