Air Quality in Davao remains good and fair

By Zea Capistrano

DAVAO CITY – The Air Monitoring Unit (AMU) of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Region 11 confirmed that a significant increase of fine particles has been detected in the air in Davao City following the forest fires in Indonesia.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) (MANILA BULLETIN)

Melvin Dapitanon, AMU-EMB head, said that based on their monitoring last week, the levels of fine particles in the city was at 20-30 micrograms per normal cubic meter However, from Saturday to Monday, the PM2.5 has reached 40-47 micrograms per normal cubic meter.

“Our standard is at 50 microgram per normal cubic meter, that is the standard set under our Clean Air Act,” Dapitanon said over a phone interview.

The increase was particularly recorded by the air quality monitoring instrument in Calinan National High School. The other instrument is located at the Davao International Airport.

Dapitanon said their hourly monitoring Wednesday was better with a 50 percent decrease, compared to Tuesday’s figures.

“Wala pa tayo sa level na unhealthy,” he said, adding that the air quality in Davao is “good to fair” as of their latest monitoring.

Gawad sa Kaunlaran

Vice Governor Maricar Zamora receives Gawad sa Kaunlaran Award

 The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) awarded the “Gawad sa Kaunlaran" medal to Honorable Maria Carmen S. Zamora, MNSA last September 17, 2019, during the 11th Re-activation Anniversary of the 701st Infantry (Kagitingan) Brigade, 7th Infantry Division, Philippine Army at Mati, Davao Oriental.

The Vice-Governor was recognized for her meritorious and invaluable achievement in the pursuit of programs that helped create peaceful and conflict resilient communities in the province.

During her three terms as the District I Representative of Compostela Valley, she implemented her SMILE (Social Services, Medical Assistance, Infrastructure, Livelihood Opportunities, and Educational Programs) platform which opened opportunities for Comvalenyo’s to pursue a better life. Her pursuit of providing quality education and skills development led to the creation of the Compostela Valley State College, Educational Scholarship Grants, and TESDA Certified Employment and Skills Trainings.

The commander of the AFP Eastern Mindanao Command (Eastmincom), Major General Felimon T. Santos Jr., pinned the medal to Vice-Governor Zamora.

More than the recognition and accolades, Vice Governor is continuously inspired to pursue her programs because of the improvements it has brought to the lives of her constituents.

The AFP’s Gawad sa Kaunlaran is the second to the highest distinction given to citizens and government officials in relation with socio-economic and other non-combat activities.

Other high-ranking military officials present were Brigadier General Henry Robinson, Assistant Division Commander of the 7th Infantry Division, 10th Infantry Division Commander Major General Jose Faustino, Jr., and 701st Brigade Commander Brigadier General Manuel Sequitin. ---

Photo Caption:  Vice Governor Maria Carmen S. Zamora, MNSA receives her Gawad Kaunlaran Award from the AFP with Major General Felimon T. Santos Jr., Brigadier General Henry Robinson, Major General Jose Faustino Jr., Brigadier General Manuel Sequitin, and Governor Nelson Dayanghirang of Davao Oriental. 

Mindanao Fruit Farmers expanding reach to the Visayas

By Allan Nawal

FRUITS GALORE. Fruit lovers in Lingayen, Pangasinan troop to the municipal hall grounds on Saturday (September 14, 2019), for the MinDA Fruit Festival. (Mindanao Development Authority photo)

DAVAO CITY – The fruit festival organized by the Mindanao Development Authority, which aims to link Mindanao's fruit farmers with consumers outside of the island-region, is coming to the Visayas.

MinDA chair Emmanuel Piñol on Saturday said the Visayas leg would take place in Cebu City from September 28-29, 2019.

“Secretary Michael Dino, the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, said he will host the Cebu staging of the MinDA Fruits Festival to give Cebuanos access to fresh fruits from Mindanao at lower prices,” Piñol said.

He said the Visayas leg was finalized during a recent chance meeting with Dino at the Manila Domestic Airport.

“Sec. Dino said he will be able to choose the ideal location for the fruits festival next week,” Piñol added.

Meanwhile, the Pangasinan version of the MinDA fruits festival took place on Saturday, where residents of Lingayen and those from nearby areas started feasting on such popular Mindanao fruits as durian, mangosteen, pomelo, marang, among others.

Piñol said in a Facebook post that it was still dark when prospective buyers came to the municipal hall grounds for the fruit festival.

The Lingayen version was the fourth of such event since last month.

“Next week, the MinDA Fruits Festival will be staged in La Trinidad, Benguet and then Cebu City,” Piñol added.

He said the conduct of the fruits festival would be conducted in a regular and sustainable manner and that MinDA had negotiated with airline companies for a special cargo price for Mindanao's fruits.

Piñol said part of the sustainability plan is the pursuit of trading arrangements with other local government units in Luzon and the Visayas.

He cited that local government officials, such as Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil, were instrumental in the previous and the current fruits festivals.

Piñol said he was also looking forward to increasing the number of suppliers in the future to satisfy consumer demand, noting that in the Baguio experience, 20 tons of fruits were not even enough due to the volume of buyers.

“The more supplier, the better. That way, all sides will benefit. Consumers will enjoy fruits at a reasonable price and fruit farmers will have new and bigger markets,” he said.

Mindanao fruit farmers usually experience supply glut during harvest seasons, pushing the prices so low.

For example, last February, rambutan only sold at about PHP20 per kilogram in Mindanao because of the large volume of harvest. (PNA)

A world without trees

Several months ago, I asked here how a world would look like without water. And, is there any difference? My today;s question is, "What would happen if all the world’s trees disappeared?"

As the Amazon fires continue to burn, writer and journalist Rachel Nuwer asks in an BBC-report: How dependent are we on the survival of forests?

In Mad Max: Fury Road, Charlize Theron’s Furiosa strives to return to “the Green Place” – a tree-filled oasis in the otherwise lifeless wasteland that the Earth has become. When Furiosa arrives at the sacred spot, however, she finds only skeletal trunks and sprawling dunes. She screams in anguish. Without trees, all hope seems lost.

Ask yourself: how would you feel? Hopeless too? Furiosa’s feelings were justified. “Forests are the lifeline of our world,” says Meg Lowman, director of the Tree Foundation, a non-profit organisation in Florida that is dedicated to tree research, exploration and education. “Without them, we lose extraordinary and essential functions for life on Earth.”

Following the Rachel Nuwer's report, trees’ services to this planet range from carbon storage and soil conservation to water cycle regulation. They support natural and human food systems and provide homes for countless species – including us, through building materials. Yet we often treat trees as disposable: as something to be harvested for economic gain or as an inconvenience in the way of human development. Since our species began practicing agriculture around 12,000 years ago, we’ve cleared nearly half of the world’s estimated 5.8 trillion trees, according to a 2015 study published in the journal Nature.

Sad to say but it's unfortunately so very true: much of the deforestation has happened in recent years. Since the onset of the industrial era, forests have declined by 32%. Especially in the tropics, many of the world’s remaining three trillion trees are falling fast, with about 15 billion cut each year, the Nature study states. In many places, tree loss is accelerating. In August, the National Institute for Space Research showed an 84% increase in fires in the Brazilian Amazon rain forest compared to the same period in 2018. Slash-and-burn is also especially on the rise in Indonesia and Madagascar.  

Making me sad and angry, or even better expressed angry first and sad then is the reality, that there have been more than 70,000 forest fires in the Brazilian Amazon in 2019. Barring an unimaginable catastrophe, however, there’s no scenario under which we would fell every tree on the planet. 

“Let me just start with how horrible a world without trees would be – they are irreplaceable,” says Isabel Rosa, a lecturer in environmental data and analysis at Bangor University in Wales. “If we get rid of all the trees, we will live [on] a planet that might not actually be able to sustain us anymore.”  And Isabel Rosa is so very right.

I am living in a big compound in Davao City with many trees and a wild tropical garden. Every time, trees have to cut or shortened, I have to leave. It's painful for me. But it's the wish of my neighbors, because branches of some trees keep on destroying their roofs.

Fact is, if trees disappeared overnight, so would much of the planet’s biodiversity. Habitat loss is already the primary driver of extinction worldwide, so the destruction of all remaining forests would be “catastrophic” for plants, animals, fungi and more, says Jayme Prevedello, an ecologist at Rio de Janeiro State University in Brazil. “There would be massive extinctions of all groups of organisms, both locally and globally.”

The loss of trees from the world would throw the climate off kilter. The planet’s climate would also be drastically altered in the short and long term. Trees mediate the water cycle by acting as biological pumps: they suck water from the soil and deposit it into the atmosphere by transforming it from liquid to vapour. By doing this, forests contribute to cloud formation and precipitation. Trees also prevent flooding by trapping water rather than letting it rush into lakes and rivers, and by buffering coastal communities from storm surges. They keep soil in place that would otherwise wash away in rain, and their root structures help microbial communities thrive.

So what's the difference between my first and today's question? Can you imagine a world without water? Can you imagine a world without trees? Or without both? Worth to think about. Worth to act about it! Even if we could live in a world without trees, who would want to?

Mindanao Peace Council Month Activities 2019

By : Hope Militante Fernandez

Regional Directors

Division Heads

Chiefs of Office

Local Government Officials

Military and Police Officers

**** and unto all whom this message shall come ****

Dear Sirs and Madams:

Warm greetings of peace!

A group of Davao-based non-government organizations, government agencies, civic and volunteer organizations have come together to spearhead the celebration of International Day of Peace this year. With the theme "Climate Action For Peace , a month-long program of activities highlighted by the Mindanao Peace Council (Davao Peace Fair 2019) is envisioned to bring together multi-sectoral groups such as civil society, religious groups, youth organizations, security sector, and others in a common activity where the international celebration will promote awareness on peace issues and showcase peace initiatives. The Davao Peace Fair 2019 will be held on the actual date of the annual International Day of Peace as declared by the United Nations on September 21, 2019.

In lieu of this, we would like to invite your good office to join us and participate in the different activities organized by our Peace Partners in the Davao Region.

1. What are we celebrating on Sept. 21, 2019?

In 2001, the United Nation General Assembly by unanimous vote adopted resolution 55/282 , which established September 21 of every year as International Day of Peace.

2. What is the theme of the celebration this year?

The theme for 2019 is “Climate Action For Peace”

3. What are the objectives?

§ To reflect on the meaning of peace in the world today, and in the midst of what is happening now in our country

§ To educate the people to be aware of our responsibilities in peace-building

§ To celebrate the gift of peace

4. What is the initiative of Davao in response to the International Day of Peace?

In Davao Region, a month long celebration of Peace Fair will be held from September 14 – 29, 2019. The different groups and organizations will gather to celebrate and promote peace initiatives.

Program of Activities

September 14, 2019

3:00 p.m.

The Tionko Football Field,(Ecoland Bridge )

MPC Peace Month Kick – Off

“ BioKite Flying For Peace “

Maharlika Sports Foundation

JCI-Duwaling

September 19, 2019

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

Xavier Hall Training Room, 8th Floor, CCFC Bldg, Ateneo de Davao University

Revisiting IPRA:

An IPRA Law Forum with NCIP

Contact Person :

Dadong Gumatao/Sir Macoy Samante:

UCEAC AdDU Office:

0932-3681546

ateneo.uceac@gmail.com

September 20-22,2019

Venue: Merkadu Strip,4F Skygarden,NCCC Mall, Buhangin, Davao City

KALINAW Bazaar @ Merkadu

Contact Person : Heidi-0908-8209038

Jaki – 0912-9830677

merkadu.davao@gmail.com

Everyone is invited to display and/or give services in the advocacy & public service booth for your respective office/agencies that will be available at the venue.

September 21,2019 MAIN EVENT

( Whole Day ) 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Venue: Municipal Gymnasium, Brgy. Kingking, Pantukan Gym, Compostela Valley

Solidarity Walk

Launching of the Solidarity Garden

“Trees For Peace “

Everyone is invited to display and/or give services in the advocacy & public service booth for your respective office/agencies that will be available at the venue.

Contact Person : Zenith Maceda

0950-3662565/09355651702

September 23, 2019

1:00-3:30 p.m.

Ateneo Training Room, 8th Floor

CCFC Bldg. AdDU

“Being with One “ Brahma Khumaris

An Inter-Faith Gathering

RSVP: 0999-995-3862

Culmination of Peacemonth 2019 :

Last weekof September Schedule (TBA)

Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental in Partnership w/ 73IB,10ID,PA

For all those interested to join please coordinate with the contact persons listed here.

We are hoping for your positive response to this invitation.

HOPE MILITANTE FERNANDEZ-MENDOZA

President/ Founder

H.O.P.E. (Humanitarian Organization for Peace Engagements)

Lead Convener

MINDANAO PEACE COUNCIL

Mobile No: +63 (9) 08-3053408

+63 (9) 550746999

Landline # : ( 082 ) 221-7909

E-mail Ad: hopefernandez@yahoo.com

"And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." (James 3:18)

Comval's Family Health Fair

Compostela Valley Province

The provincial government of Compostela Valley through the Provincial Health Office (PHO) in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) conducts "12th Family Health Fair" (FHF) with the theme: "Bringing Families Towards Universal Health Care" at the far-flung area in Barangay Melale, Municipality of Laak, Compostela Valley Province on September 10, 2019.



Attending the program were Laak Mayor Antonio L. Libuangan together with Board Members Renato B. Basañes and Vivencia Secuya, PHO Chief Dr. Antonio P. Ybiernas Jr., Executive Assistant for Health Dr. John Edward M. Coloma, PHO Doctors and personnel, and the barangay officials of Melale led by Barangay Captain Peter Elsan Molero.

Among the services offered during the conduct of the health fair are the IMCI Screening, Prenatal Check-up and Family Planning under Family Health cluster and for the Infectious Disease Cluster is the HIV Counseling and Testing for the different individuals. The Environmental Health and Sanitation also offers Food Handler's Class.  For the Non-Communicable Disease they conducted Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid and for the Population Management is the Teen Counseling.

On the other hand, the Provincial Council of Women offers 'Libreng Gupit' Free Haircut for all the participants in the community while the Basic First Aid Training and techniques was also conducted by the Health Emergency Management System.

Furthermore, the Oplan Pagbabago of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office offers Information Education Campaign (IEC) on Youth Welfare Program and Services, PHIC Enrollment on Pregnant Women and Pantawid Pamilya Program Queries.

 Other services are the feeding program or libreng lugaw and champurado as well as the Provision of Iron, Ascorbic Acid and Zinc for the Nutrition cluster.

According to Board Member Dr. Basañes, this is the first time that the conduct of the FHF was held at the Barangay or in a far-flung Barangay as mandated by the governor as part of the Oplan Pagbabago and 4Ps plus agenda.

"Ang katuyuan ani nga programa nga kamong mga katawhan masayod gyud kung unsa ang mga serbisyo sa gobyerno nga angayan maavail sa mga katawhan nga libre ug walay bayad. Ma aware tang tanan kung unsa ang available services sa atong probinsiya pinaagi sa health ug uban pa," Basañes added.

Also gracing the event were the eleven (11) municipal health officers of the Rural Health Units (RHUs) of the entire province together with the participation of the four (4) hospitals of the province namely; the Compostela Valley Provincial Hospital (CVPH) Montevista, CVPH Laak, CVPH Pantukan and CVPH Maragusan.

The National Offices and Private partners such as Apex Mining Company, Thermamarine also offers free multi-vitamins and render other health services with their medical specialist while the Mindanao Pranic Healing Training Center offers consultations for the energy healing. The members of the community in Barangay Melale as well as the neighbouring Barangays availed of the different services during the conduct of the FHF.  #YEStoDavaoDeOro (Rey Antibo, ID Comval)

Come on: Give me a smile!

OPINION

By KLAUS DORING

 September 10, 2019

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I KEEP on  writing columns for several papers from all over the world since the early 1980's. Sometimes, while writing, I am indeed not in a good mood. I rewrite and rewrite - and then the moment comes, I am asking myself: "Do the readers of this publication really like to read my columns?"

Anyway, I try my best. It's actually a sweet day today, so sunny, so calm, so bright, it's like the bridal of earth and heaven.  The grandeur  of  God flames out like shining from shook foil. I feel like as the waves make towards the pebbled  shore. An incredible and peaceful Sunday, while writing this piece.

I observed again a multi national couple somewhere in my neighborhood fighting each other. Gosh. Stupid people have an uncanny way of hitting the right nail on the head with the wrong hammer!

Maybe, you are angry also right now, while reading this. You are angry, even for others it's a beautiful day. You are angry? It's okay. We are all battling against one of the most powerful emotions known to man - anger! Anger. A day rarely goes by without us feeling angry. Or,  maybe seldom a days goes by without feeling anger... .

Anger is the main part of our daily life. That's why it's really important to talk about this phenomenon. What is anger, what does it do and how does if affect our lives? Where does it come from and how can we learn to handle it in a constructive instead of destructive way? Only, if the roots of our anger exposed and explained, we can defuse its explosive and dangerous potentials.

As I said earlier, anger is one of the most basic emotions. Everyone can get angry. You and me? Now, later, tomorrow...! It's a feeling of being against something or someone.

Anger is a hostile emotion that sets people against one another, or even themselves. By its nature, anger involves opposition, hostility, hatred and disliked. It happened between Filipinos, and between Filipinos and foreigners as well, living here in the Philippines. It even happened at political levels right nowadays.

Anger, however, is simpler to define than to identity. Emotions of antagonism can take a wide variety of faces. Expressions of anger range from the overt, in-your-face brand of open hospitality to the cold indifference of a silent individual. At times, anger can be felt like an inner fire... .

Millions of defense, not a damned penny for tribute, as Charles Pinkney stated... . Anger between people: the one side remains cold as ice while the opposite plays meek as a lamb. Sige, burn the midnight oil! And what the result at the end? A shadow of doubts remains after each fight getting its origin out of anger.

The silent withdrawal and lack of understanding  and innumerable shortcomings of one or both partners are often an indication that one is angrily punishing the other for not doing things his or her way.

We are all selfish! Yes, me too! That's why we see the cause of anger as something outside of ourselves. Life is unfair! Life is hard!

Liceo Conservatory gifted legacy music collection from Germany

LIFESTYLE

By MIKE BAÑOS

 , Mindanao Daiy News

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Blessing of the Special Music Collection witnessed by Liceo University Chairperson Dr. Rafaelita P. Pelaez

CDO Symphony Orchestra members Joel Erigbuagas Matematico Jr. amd Nino Tiro render an number.

Thanks to a father’s love for music, his lifetime legacy of music books, CDs and DVDs will undoubtedly benefit untold generations of musicians at the Liceo de Cagayan University Conservatory of Music, Theatre and Dance.

Liceo University Librarian Linda Mondoñedo receives the official documents for the transfer of ownership of Johann Baecker's Special Music Collection from his son, Prof. Horst Hans Baecker.

Last August 7, 2019 Horst-Hans Bäcker, Associate Dean of the Conservatory, and Professor for Composition, Conducting and Historical Informed Performance, donated some 2,000 books, music sheets, and about 1,000 and DVDs for the reference and research of students at the Conservatory Office.

The collection was the lifetime legacy of his late father,  Johann Bäcker, and was officially turned over to the Conservatory by his wife Regina and son Horst-Hans and received by University Librarian Linda Mondoñedo in behalf of the University in a blessing and turnover of what shall henceforth be known as the "Special Music Collection" as a tribute to the late musician.

The event was also witnessed by University Chairperson Dr. Rafaelita P. Pelaez and President Dr. Mariano M. Lerin, the immediate family of the benefactor and faculty and students of the Conservatory.

When his father passed on nine months ago, Prof. Bäcker, shipped the music collection to his second home, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines.

Mikhael De Padua Paceño renders a solo accompanied by CDO Symphony Orchestra members Tullio Vidmar and Niño Cesar Tiro. 

Johann Bäcker was born on November 25, 1932, in Deutsch-Stamora, one of two German regions in Romania. He was a third generation of musicians in his village, but when he was younger, his father didn't want him to  follow in his footsteps and  be a professional musician.

His parents sent him to the provincial capital Temeschburg to get a 'real' profession. There, he learned to play the clarinet in secret. Right after his graduation, he became a member of the Romanian State Orchestra in Ploesti and the State Film Orchestra. Finally, he mustered the courage to confess to his father that he had become a professional musician just like his forebears.

Later that year, Johann became the clarinetist for the Dance Hall Orchestra in Bucharest where he met his future wife Regina while out dancing with friends.

Two years after getting married, the couple bore their only child, Horst-Hans. In 1973, the family moved to Germany and Johann became a professor for Clarinet, Flute, and Saxophone at the Music school in the City of Datteln, near Dortmund. During this same year, he also became the conductor of the City Wind Orchestra.

Unlike his father, Johann shared his passion for music with his son Horst. He would bring the youngster to orchestra rehearsals, and he had him learn piano at the age of 5. Horst grew up with a heart for music and pursued the same path as his father, and grandfather, and his forebears before him.

Now valued at close to a million pesos, Johann accumulated his vast collection of music books and score sheets  for his son and students over his lifetime, not stopping even when he had already retired. 

He envisioned that it would benefit young people studying music and indeed, his “Special Collection” had finally found a home with the Liceo de Cagayan University Conservatory of Music, Theatre and Dance where it would serve generations of musicians to come. (with Ena Marie E. Tiro)

Welcome to the Philippines, German Ambassador!

» Philippine national hero José Rizal was a mediator between our nations, who built bridges that are a solid base for our cooperation today. It is among my prime tasks as Ambassador to further strengthen these ties, and meet the people of this country. «

(Born on 7 October 1968 in Halle, married, 3 children)

Ambassador at the German Embassy in Manila since August 2019.

From 2016 – 2019 she was the Head of the Division of Humanitarian Assistance and Humanitarian Demining (Operations) at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin. The Division is part of the Directorate General for Humanitarian Assistance, Crisis Prevention, Stabilization and Post-Conflict reconstruction. She has dealt with humanitarian assistance since 2012, when she became Deputy Head of this division (2012-2016).

Anke Reiffenstuel has worked in the diplomatic service since 1993; her postings included the German embassies in London, New Delhi, Cairo and Manila.

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» Der philippinische Nationalheld José Rizal war ein Mittler zwischen unseren Ländern, hat Brücken gebaut, die auch heute eine gute Basis für unsere Kooperation sind. Ich möchte diese Beziehungen stärken und die Menschen dieses Landes kennenlernen. «

Botschafterin Anke Reiffenstuel

Verheiratet, 3 Kinder

Botschafterin an der Botschaft Manila seit August 2019.

Bis Sommer 2019 war Frau Reiffenstuel Leiterin des Referats für Humanitäre Hilfe und Humanitäres Minenräumen im Auswärtigen Amt in Berlin.

Sie arbeitet seit 1993 im diplomatischen Dienst, unter anderem auf Posten in London, Delhi und Kairo. Bevor sie in die Abteilung Krisenprävention, Stabilisierung, Konfliktnachsorge und Humanitäre Hilfe wechselte, war sie in der Abteilung für Vereinte Nationen und Globale Fragen sowie in der Politischen Abteilung des Auswärtigen Amts tätig.

Philippine Travel Mart Exhibition

The provincial government through the Tourism Office joins the Philippine Travel Mart together with the other provinces in the Region sponsored by the Department of Tourism at SMX Convention Center from August 30-Sept.1, 2019.  This is the longest-running travel trade exhibition in the Philippines and Comval is part of the highlighted pavilion being next year's dive and climb caravan feature on the 2020 Visit Davao Summer Fun. (Tourism, PLGU COMVAL )