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- Smart is best mobile network in Davao region
- ‘Sars-CoV-2 variant’ causing spike in Davao City Covid-19 cases
- Davao City opens biggest vaccination hub
- Davao del Norte cities, town experience Covid-19 surge
- Samante: Keep on moving
- Wedding tips from newly-weds
- Breathe, it will be ok
| Smart is best mobile network in Davao region Posted: 02 Jun 2021 07:46 PM PDT Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) widens its lead in Davao, winning all categories in the latest Philippines Mobile Network Experience Awards[1] by independent mobile analytics firm Opensignal. The latest recognition attests to the Company's unrelenting network build out, helping deliver superior customer experience. The report, which covers January 1 to March 31, 2021, showed Smart beating the competition across all metrics in three essential aspects of service: Coverage (4G Coverage Experience, 4G Availability), Speed (Download and Upload Speed) and Experience (Games, Video and Voice app). "In this latest report and analysis, we analyzed 17 regions in the Philippines, and Smart was a winner in every award, in every category, in every one of the regions, which is truly outstanding, and demonstrates a lot of progress in that very unique and challenging year that we've been facing," said Andy Burns, Opensignal COO. "Smart's clean sweep at the national level is largely reflected in the regional results. Smart racked up a remarkable 91 outright wins out of a possible 102 awards across 17 regions," said Sam Fenwick, Opensignal senior analyst. Opensignal also noted that this is the first time an operator in the Philippines won decisively in all categories on the national level. (Best Experience in Davao) In Davao, Smart is the clear winner in Video Experience (59.1 pts), Download Speed Experience (13.8 Mbps), Games Experience (40.9 pts), Upload Speed Experience (4 Mbps), Voice App Experience (72 pts) and 4G Availability (84.3%). "Apart from the fact that we have been able to strengthen our brand equity via our Fastest Data Network proposition, what's even more important is that we are able to substantiate the claim with better experiences for our customers. We do a lot of data innovation, but those data innovations will only make sense if they are enabled by a powerful network and a better experience," said Jane J. Basas, Smart SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business. Among those who would benefit from better connectivity are artists from Mindanao who have turned to the Internet in the new normal, such as renowned Mindanao artist Rey Mudjahid "Kublai" P. Millan and his team Lawig Diwa, Inc., who were behind the successful online staging of last year's Mindanao Art Fair, Exhibit, and Conference (MindanaoArt 2020), one of the biggest art events in Southeast Asia. Millan recalled that in the early months of the lockdown, several artists asked for assistance because many of their projects and sources of income were impacted by pandemic-related restrictions. "We had to be creative and responsive to the current situation. So, we thought of virtual museums," he added. Held in October last year, MindanaoArt 2020 gathered over 200 artists from Davao City, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Caraga region, North Cotabato, General Santos City, Bukidnon province, Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City, and Zamboanga Peninsula. The virtual museums are composed of 10 museums with architectural designs inspired by iconic symbols of Mindanao including the Tapayan, Uyayi, Tambol, Kaban, Lamin, Balangay, Dabakan, Kulintang, Vinta, and Bakaw. According to Millan, by logging into the portal, users will be directed to a virtual museum where they can walk through and see different artworks in detail. It will reopen by August in time for MindanaoArt 2021. "Imagine what the pandemic has brought us, unlimited space for arts. It created a whole new perspective, a whole new level of art that we were not able to think of before the pandemic. This is really good for the artists, but the audience has to know how to view the artworks online because there's a difference at looking at the arts face-to-face. I think it opens to a whole new better world," he said. This is aligned with Smart's "Live Smarter for a Better World" campaign, which emphasizes how big and small efforts by individuals can contribute to generating lasting positive impact to society, highlighting the importance of Smart's network and long-running community partnership and CSR programs in keeping Filipinos connected and empowered. Supporting various passion points with Double GIGA Enabling subscribers to enjoy more of their favorite online activities, Smart recently launched Double GIGA, which offers twice the data for their passion apps. Double GIGA Video 99 now comes with 2 GB per day for streaming on YouTube, Cignal Play, iWantTFC, and NBA League Pass – plus 2 GB open access data for Php99 valid for 7 days. Subscribers can also avail themselves of Double GIGA Stories for more sharing on social media; Double GIGA Study and Double GIGA Work for more online productivity; and Double GIGA Games to enjoy more of today's top mobile games. Customers can register to Double GIGA via the GigaLife App or by dialing *123#. Opensignal Awards – Philippines: Mobile Network Experience Report April 2021, based on independent analysis of mobile measurements recorded during the period January 1 – March 31, 2021 © 2021 Opensignal Limited (PR)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| ‘Sars-CoV-2 variant’ causing spike in Davao City Covid-19 cases Posted: 02 Jun 2021 05:03 AM PDT AN OFFICIAL from the Davao City Health Office (CHO) said the current surge of Covid-19 cases experienced in the city can be attributed to the emergence of the new variant. "I believe naa gyud ta'y variant. Although wala pa ta'y confirmation ani with the PGC [Philippine Genome Center], [kung] ingon ani kapaspas ang pagsaka [sa Covid-19 cases], variant ni (I believe that this is due to the emergence of the new variant. Although there is still no confirmation coming from PGC, but if this is the trend of the increase in cases it must be because of the new variant)," CHO Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez said on Wednesday, June 2, 2021 in an interview on 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio. Lopez said these variants could be B.1.1.7 or the B.1.351. The B.1.1.7 was first reported in the United Kingdom, while the B.1.351 was first reported in South Africa. The health official said that currently, the city has zero active cases of the new variant. Since February, Lopez said the city has five officially reported cases of new variants -- three are positive with the UK variant and two for the South African variant. He said most of these patients, who are returning overseas Filipino workers (ROFWs), have not reached the city, as they were held in Metro Manila. At present, the city has still zero confirmed specimens for P.3 variant, which was first reported in the Philippines, and B.1.617, which was first reported in India. Lopez said he is hoping that the suspected variant in the city is not the B.1.617, as reports cited it as one of the more infectious Covid-19 variants. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), B.1.617 has shown evidence of higher transmissibility and reduced neutralization. The variant is thought to be partly responsible for India's devastating second wave of Covid-19 pandemic beginning in February 2021. Lopez said the city continuously sends specimens of confirmed positive patients to PGC for genomic sequencing. At present, Lopez cannot give the specific data as to the number of specimens sent for sequencing, but assured that they send every two weeks. Possible entry of coronavirus variant Lopez noted that various parts of the country, particularly in Metro Manila, had experienced a surge of cases reportedly due to the emergence of the new variants. This had overwhelmed the critical care facilities. Despite existing travel restrictions, including the intensified border control and the mandatory submission of a negative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport (also known as Davao International Airport), the official said the possible entry of an individual carrying the new strain of the virus cannot be avoided. "Daghan man gud ta'g OFW nga nanguli, tong atong mga returning residents. Dili kaayo ta sa tourist, but basically our returning residents ug mga OFW, daghan man gud nanguli og Davao ato, katong panahon nga ga-surge ang NCR ug Cebu, nanguli og Mindanao (Many OFWs, especially returning residents, went home to Mindanao, particularly in Davao during the time when there was a surge of cases in NCR and Cebu. Not so much on the tourist, these are mostly attributed to our returning residents and OFWs)," Lopez said. He also attributed the land travelers for the possible entry of the new variants. "Labi na nang by land. Daghang nakalusot (Most especially by land travel, many get past the checkpoint)," he added. Covid-19 spike Davao City, on Tuesday evening, June 1, 2021, recorded its highest number of new Covid-19 cases in a single day at 338. With the newly logged cases, the total Covid-19 in the city reached 17,337, while active cases jumped to 1,912. DOH-Davao said that among the factors for the record-high number of new cases may be due to the heightened surveillance and intensified testing. Lopez said based on the data, this is "seven times" higher compared to the surge of cases experienced in mid-October and November 2020. Starting May, the city has an average of 100 daily new cases. "Kani karon, grabe ang spike, ang dagan sa kaso dili gani hinay-hinay (Now we have seen a spike of cases. The cases have increased rapidly and not gradually)," he said. But Lopez said some of the recorded cases are accumulated late cases from the previous days. On the "positive side," Lopez said the city had already anticipated the possible surge, as the city conducted intensified community swabbing and heightened surveillance. "Pero ako, dili pud ko nga ma-worry such ani, on the positive side, mas malipay ko nga ato ni nakuha or trace. Imagine magsige ta report nga gamay lang ang kaso, unya naa diay 300 plus nagtuyok-tuyok sa atong komunidad, dinhi dapit sa atong siyudad, mas delikado to (For my part, I am not worried because, on the positive side, I am glad that we were able to get or tace them. Imagine we keep on reporting to have a few number of cases while the 300 plus cases are left undetected and are currently roaming around within communities and the city, that would be risky)," Lopez said. Lopez, meanwhile, said it is important to trace all Covid-19 suspects in the city to curb the spread of cases. If the city did not intensify its heightened surveillance swabbing, he said the cases could have reached more than 300. Despite the surge of cases, Lopez noted a decrease in the fatality rate. The city's case fatality rate is still at 4.4-percent. "Based on our data, compared to the previous surge, katong first surge nato last November, ang patay ato, walo, pulo, ang average per day, pero karon ubos-ubos ang case fatality rate nato (in November last year, our deaths reached eight to 10 average per day. But now our case fatality rate is slowing down)," he said. There are instances, however, that deaths would reach five in a single day, but it is not constant. With this, he said it still could not be determined if the new variants are deadlier than the ancestral variant since studies show that they are only more infectious.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Davao City opens biggest vaccination hub Posted: 02 Jun 2021 05:02 AM PDT THE Davao City Government opened on Tuesday, June 2, the city's biggest vaccination site at the Azuela Cove in Lanang that can cater to up to 1,000 vaccinees per day. City Health Office (CHO) Acting Head Dr. Ashley Lopez said in a radio interview on Wednesday, June 2, the City will be administering the vaccines at The Tent with the Azuela Cove. "This is actually so far the biggest vaccination site nga atong na-establish (that we have established) here in Davao City, which could cater up to 1,000 recipients or 1,000 vaccines per day," Lopez said in an interview with 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio. Azuela Cove's The Tent is a 2,000-square-meter air-conditioned events venue wherein future conventions, festivals, and other special events are targeted to be held. It has a capacity of about 1,500 people. The Azuela Cove is a 25-hectare waterside development project of Aviana Development Corporation, a joint venture partnership between real estate giant Ayala Land and homegrown The Alcantara Group of Companies. Azuela has been the venue of the Ironman 70.3 Davao race in 2018 and 2019. Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio recently said the City is targeting to vaccinate at least 10,000 Dabawenyos per day in order to achieve the targeted herd immunity before the end of this year. But Duterte-Carpio said this will only be achievable if there will be ample and stable supply of vaccines in the city. Vaccines running low Lopez also expressed concern about the current supply of vaccines in the city. "Hinaot unta atong bakuna dili madelay ang pag allocate from the national government kay sa pagkakaron nahurot na ang Astra[Zeneca], nahurot na ang Pfizer. Natagaan ta additional vaccines from DOH [Department of Health] 11, katong Sinovac pero pahurutay napud ning Sinovac. Hopefully dili mastop o mainterrupt ang supply nato so that makapadayon ta og ma-maximize atong pagpabakuna (We're hoping that the vaccine allocation from the national government won't be delayed since we have run out of AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines. DOH 11 gave us additional Sinovac vaccines, which are also running out as of this time. We hope our vaccine supply won't be stopped nor interrupted)," the CHO head said. He said the city recently received 6,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines, which are being used in several vaccination hubs. But he assured that the National Covid-19 Task Force promised to send more Sinovac and AstraZeneca vaccines and some 200,000 Pfizer vaccines that are tentatively scheduled to arrive on June 6 and 7. He also confirmed that some of the 21 vaccination sites had to suspend operations, not because of the lack of supply of vaccines but the need to take breaks and conduct disinfection. "We need to disinfect. Kinahanglan nato sila ipahulay. Dili na pwede na whole month nga operation kay dapat naa silay interval at least one week for disinfection apil napud break sa atong staff (We need to take breaks. We can't operate a vaccination site for the entire month, there needs to be at least one week for disinfection and break of the staff)," Lopez said. The city is currently catering to those under the A3 priority group or persons with comorbidities aged 18 to 59 years old with existing health conditions such as chronic respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease, hypertension, malignancy, diabetes, obesity, chronic liver disease, neurologic disease, and immunodeficiency state, among others. Davao City is targeting to inoculate at least 70 percent of its 1.2 million population to achieve "herd immunity."  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Davao del Norte cities, town experience Covid-19 surge Posted: 02 Jun 2021 04:58 AM PDT ALL three cities and one town in Davao del Norte are experiencing continuous surge of Covid-19 cases as they enter the month of June. These are Tagum City, Panabo City, Island Garden City of Samal and Municipality of Santo Tomas. The Island Garden City of Samal has suspended all of its tourism activities from June 1, 2021 to June 14, 2021 with the release of Executive Order 292, series of 2021, which stated "there is a need to prohibit all tourism activities in the Island Garden City of Samal due to the continuous surge of Covid-19 cases in the city and its neighboring places." The EO is "an order amending Executive Order No. 291, series of 2021 to include suspension of all tourism activities in the Island Garden City of Samal within the period June 1 to June 14, 2921 except DOT star-rated resorts and staycation establishments." As of June 1, 2021, there are 42 active cases in the city of Samal. Similarly, Panabo City is also experiencing a surge of Covid-19 cases. Acting City Health Officer Dr. Eranie L. Pangilinan said "murag surge 2.0 (It's like surge 2.0)." She said this after 22 new cases were recorded from Barangays New Visayas, Datu Abdul Dadia, San Francisco, Cagangohan, and Sto. Niño, which she said were only recording "one digit" number of cases several weeks prior. She pointed that there are various causes for the surge such as the mandatory testing companies implement to their employees and Covid-19 transmissions due to disobedience on the health protocols. As of June 1, 2021, Panabo City has 102 active cases. The same surge can be seen in the province's capital, Tagum City, as the active cases rose from 251 on May 29, 2021 to 308 on June 1, 2021; an increase of 57 active cases within four days. Tagum City currently has the most number of active cases in the province. The Municipality of Santo Tomas followed Tagum City in terms of most number of active cases in the province, as active cases of 120 on May 31, 2021 increased to 144 on June 1, 2021. Although the Island Garden City of Samal has released an EO in response to such rise in cases, the other cities and town have yet to release their own. In the province of Davao del Norte as a whole, there are 713 active cases as of June 1, 2021. The cities and town mentioned above have the most contribution to this number. (PIA-Davao)  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 02 Jun 2021 04:57 AM PDT WHAT have we been missing one year and six months into this pandemic? Have we asked ourselves this question? Alternatively, are we already so accustomed to the monthly quarantine classification that things do not matter anymore? It is said: "To move forward, we have to look back." One year and six months after, what are the things we can look back on that allow us to move forward? Sorely missed is the thrill of sports competitions at all levels. Yes, we have the NBA and other international events. However, we still cannot cheer for our student-athletes, schools, and even our local amateur sports icons. Directions into the resumption of these competitions are not clear, if there is a direction at all. Sports training and engagements like sports clinics are still not allowed. We are still confined in bubble training, and we cannot always do virtual training. Engaging in sports, much like other engagement activities, would still require a certain amount of face-to-face interaction. We are already missing several things, and we must take steps to ensure that these activities are included in the transition to a new normal -- where virtual and face-to-face interaction must happen. The threat of Covid-19 is still genuine. Mutations and infections are still happening. Vaccines, while rolling out, are still not enough. In preparing for this transition, government and private sports organizations must now work together for sports in the country. IATF should consider the role of sports in the recovery of the country from this pandemic. Sports tourism can help with the advent of a new bike revolution across the country. Bikers can make cross-country trips while on their bikes. Non-contact sports may be promoted in place of traditional contact sports, like badminton, chess, etc. Now may be a good time for the NSAs to step up to the challenge of promoting these events. Many sports livelihood such as sports officiating and coaching have also been halted. A clear-cut plan to resume sports events will also ensure that these sports officials and coaches will gain their livelihood again. And of course, when competitions are allowed, school sports might follow suit, and the sports scholars can resume their scholarships. It is a win-win scenario for sports and the recovery of our country. We cannot just allow the pandemic to snuff the life out of us. We need to keep moving.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 02 Jun 2021 04:39 AM PDT IF YOU'RE in your 20s or early 30s, chances are your Facebook feed is filled with photos of your friends getting engaged or getting married. For many, this is the age of settling down and starting their own family. True enough, in the middle of the pandemic (and despite of it), many young couples got engaged in 2020. For the entire month of June, Twenty Something will take time to talk about wedding preparations. We will have interviews with different wedding suppliers to guide you, brides and grooms-to-be in your wedding preparations. Last Tuesday, June 1, 2021, we had a fun online talk with Camille and Kurt Laraya who got married on May 1, 2021 in General Santos City. They were joined by Judei and Kevin Tutor who got married on May 5, 2021 in Samal, Davao del Norte. The Laraya couple only had five months to prepare for their wedding while the Tutor couple had more or less a year to prepare. Based on their own experiences, here are just some of the tips they can share with the young couples who will also get married soon. Start with your budget After all the rainbows and butterflies during the engagement, the couple got into the practical side of planning -- to budget. Camille Laraya said they have been talking about wedding budgets even before engagement. She also said when preparing for a budget one must set a little allowance should things not go according to plan. Judei Tutor said she even used a Google Sheet to list down potential wedding suppliers and corresponding prices when planning for the wedding. This is to check and weigh down their options based on their budget. Trust your wedding organizer Both the Laraya and the Tutor couples hired a wedding organizer. Their decision for a wedding organizer was based both on friends' recommendation and their own research. They said it is important to have an open communication with the organizer to make sure that things are according to the couple's taste and budget. When working with an organizer, learn to leave things on their hands and to not stress over things that they can already do. As Kurt Laraya and Kevin Tutor shared, wedding organizers are there for a purpose. It's their expertise and they were hired to do their job. It's unnecessary to stress over things you paid someone to do. Things may not go according to the original plan but it will still be okay. For Judei Tutor, her wedding gown was one of the first she paid attention and preparation for. She had a specific look in mind. The gown was planned to be sewn for her and she's the first wearer. But one month before the wedding, the gown did arrive but it was not as she imagined. It didn't fit perfectly. Good thing, she said, the wedding organizer got her back and gave her a plan B. The plan B wedding gown was not as how she originally wanted it but when she tried it on, it was still perfect. Upon seeing her videos and photos from the wedding, one wouldn't even suspect that something terrible happened during the planning of her wedding gown. The wedding still ended up seamless and perfect. If there's one important thing Laraya and Tutor couple learned in wedding preparations, it is to surrender everything in God's hands and it will still come out as perfect (or even way better) than what you have imagined it to be.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
| Posted: 02 Jun 2021 04:36 AM PDT IT WAS April 2020. The Philippine lockdown was in full swing and the numbers of infections, deaths, and recoveries were slowly rising. I began filling my head with global case statistics and information to understand the nature and gravity of Covid-19. Unsure whether this was just a conspiracy or a real threat, I searched for testimonials and came across videos of a man from Italy and a woman from China, desperately begging for help from the global community because their sick countrymen were helpless and dying. As I watched the videos, I suddenly felt heaviness in my chest. It felt like something huge was dumped on top of it and I could hardly breathe. Fast forward to November of the same year. We were speed-packing in preparation for our target date of transfer from Manila to Davao City. One afternoon, Reuben felt a huge pressure on his chest, and his breathing became labored. His skin was cold and clammy, and he looked pale. We decided to bring him to the nearest E.R. Thankfully, his sister was with us during that time, so our little girl had someone to be with her as I and our neighbors brought Reuben to Providence Hospital. After four hours of tests and waiting in the E.R., we received the results of the X-ray and ECG. His heart was normal. It was a false heart attack alarm. Thank God for mercy! ANXIETY ATTACK. According to Healthline.com: "It is a feeling of overwhelming apprehension, worry, distress, or fear. For many people, an anxiety attack builds slowly. It may worsen as a stressful event approaches." Symptoms vary, but some common ones are shortness of breath, chest pains, restlessness, or numbness. In our religious society, the usual response to people who confess to having anxiety attacks would be to tell them to stop worrying because it's a sin. Claim verses. Pray. Change your mindset. These are all Bible-based advice. But when given hastily, without taking time to listen, and devoid of empathy, the attempt to help can come across as a band-aid style of healing for a serious mental condition. The good news is, social media has given an effective platform for sufferers and helpers to normalize the conversation. Slowly but surely, we, as a faith community, are learning the art of empathy and the importance of soul care. This accepting attitude has become even more crucial for surviving and coping well during our ongoing global pandemic. It has helped us come up with solutions that are not only spiritual in nature, but also meet the needs of the rest of our "being" that makes us human -- the physical, emotional, mental, and social aspects. Based on our own experiences with anxiety attacks, it became clear that we needed both the spiritual and scientific approaches to treat it. The verses below provide examples of how God's Word offers an other-worldly perspective and a deeply abiding hope that we'll survive this pandemic, one day at a time. Please take time to reflect on these truths. *** Isaiah 40:31 -- But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Psalm 34:4 -- I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 94:19 -- When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy. Matthew 6:31-34 -- (Jesus speaks) So do not worry, saying, "'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. *** To address our physical symptoms, going to the hospital to get help for Reuben was a good call. It served as a precedent for a follow up online appointment with a doctor friend who listened to us and gave medical and practical advice on how to deal with moving-away stress. The presence of the faith family also brought much relief, as they offered debriefing, help, food, money, and prayers for our transition. It's crucial during abrupt displacement to attend to the mind, body, and spirit. We saw our need to grapple with the effects of stress on our bodies, and also acknowledge that our hearts needed time to settle. Thankfully, our organization granted us a work leave to adjust to our new home in the south. At the end of the leave, a realization hit us: God was WITH us. He showed up through last-minute favors through friends and strangers during the move. He gave us just enough strength to pack, and a generous supply of wisdom to make decisions for our family. On the emotional aspect, He didn't condemn our struggles with anxiety attacks, and He didn't judge the tears that were shed as we said goodbye to our former life. It's been 6 months since our move. Healing, understanding, and acceptance have taken place. Adjustments are ongoing. But definitely, we have been breathing much easier these days. One day, someone confided to us about a struggle with anxiety attack. It was now our turn to offer help. We took time to ask, to pray, and to offer practical support to ease this person's burden. Just as the Lord enabled us to "breathe" in His goodness and mercies during our brief trial, we hope we could be His instrument to help others breathe easier by properly handling their own anxiety attacks. *** Practical Tips We've Used To Ease Anxiety Attacks: 1. Use deep breathing. 2. Recognize that you're having an attack. 3. Close your eyes. 4. Practice mindfulness. 5. Find a focus object. 6. Use muscle relaxation techniques. 7. Picture your happy place. 8. Engage in light exercise. 9. Keep lavender (essential oil or tea) on hand. 10. Repeat a mantra (or Scripture or prayer) internally. 11. Reach out to a doctor, family, or friends for help. The majority of the tips above were directly taken from www.healthline.com. Visit the site to know more about anxiety/panic attacks, and how you can specifically deal with these.  This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now |
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