Author Archives: Mike Baños

Plan Regional, Act Local – Business Sector Outlines response to COVID-19 Crisis

Butuan Chamber PPEs donation to front liners

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) in Mindanao has started implementing its key strategy as mandated in the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council Economic Cluster.

“In the wake of all the community quarantines and lockdown of LGUs , I have outlined the Business sector Response to COVID -19 through the Key Strategy of Planning Regional (through the Regional Disaster Risk Mitigation and Management Council) and Acting Local through the Local Government Units (LGUs-city, province, municipality, barangay),” said Ma.… Continue reading... “Plan Regional, Act Local – Business Sector Outlines response to COVID-19 Crisis”

A paradigm shift whose time has come: The 2020 Corolla Altis HEV self-charging automobile

Teacher Bogie Teves test drives the 2020 Toyota Corolla Altis HEV (photo courtesy of Bogie’s Wonderland)

In our not so distant past, the free falling prices of gasoline and diesel products brought by nil demand worldwide would have encouraged motorists to travel more.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has constrained all kinds of travel, including land transport.… Continue reading... “A paradigm shift whose time has come: The 2020 Corolla Altis HEV self-charging automobile”

FDA Approves five brand of Rapid Antibody Test Kits for COVID-19

In what could be a critical turning point in the country’s battle against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved today, March 30, 2020, the use of five (5) brands of Rapid Test Kits for COVID-19.

 “We approve kits that are registered and used in countries with advanced technology and wide experience with COVID 19.… Continue reading... “FDA Approves five brand of Rapid Antibody Test Kits for COVID-19”

Chambers propose mass screening with RST to curb CoVid-19 spread

© RITM Researchers at the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine prepare to load reagents into a real-time PCR machine as they check their testing kits for the Zika virus on Wednesday, February 3.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry today endorsed to President Rodrigo Duterte a resolution from its affiliate chambers in Mindanao urging the ramping up of mass screening of possible COVID-19 cases in the country through the adoption of the Rapid Serologic Test (RST) as a surveillance tool.… Continue reading... “Chambers propose mass screening with RST to curb CoVid-19 spread”

CDO Fil-Chinese Community delivers first batch of medical supplies to NMMC

Tomas Sia of the CDO Filipino-Chinese Community officially turns over the donated medical supplies to NMMC Domingo Gobalane. (photo courtesy of Jeffrey Ang)

The Filipino Chinese Community of Cagayan de Oro has delivered needed medical supplies to assist two government hospitals at the front line of the fight against the COVID-19 coronavirus in Northern Mindanao (Region X).… Continue reading... “CDO Fil-Chinese Community delivers first batch of medical supplies to NMMC”

IP rituals invoke protection vs. COVID-19

Elders of the Higa-onon Catanico-Tablon-Cugman-Ancestral Domain in Malasag, Bgy. Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City perform traditional rituals seeking protection vs. the COVID-19 Pandemic. (Photo by Datu Masikal Jabiniar)

Indigenous Peoples of Northern Mindanao are invoking the protection of their spirit guardians through traditional rituals against the ongoing pandemic of the COVID-19 coronavirus.… Continue reading... “IP rituals invoke protection vs. COVID-19”

Mindanao Private Sector petitions PRRD for comprehensive COVID-19 relief package

The regional chambers of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Mindanao have petitioned President Rodrigo Duterte to consider a comprehensive package of measures to cushion the adverse effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and its countermeasures on business and workers in the island.

The petition was signed by Maria Teresa R.… Continue reading... “Mindanao Private Sector petitions PRRD for comprehensive COVID-19 relief package”

Oro Residents: Time is right for refilling stations for consumer products

Nutri-Asia’s BYOB refilling staton at The Mind Museum, BGC, Taguig City is open Mondays thru Sundays 12NN to 8PM. (photo courtesy of orangemagazine.ph)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Local environment and consumer groups have hailed the inspiring initiative of refilling stations for consumer products in Metro Manila, saying “the time is right” for similar initiatives in Mindanao’s fastest growing city.… Continue reading... “Oro Residents: Time is right for refilling stations for consumer products”

Towards a Decarbonized & Regenerative World – 3rd PH Envi Summit calls for paradigm shifts in Sustainability and Regeneration

San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, Green Convergence Pres. Nina Galang, EDC Chair & CEO Federico Lopez and Living Laodato si’ ED ROdne Galicha lead the launching of the Laodato si’ and SDGs Handbook (RMB Photo)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The 3rd Philippine Environment Summit closed here Friday afternoon with calls for paradigm shifts in Sustainability and Regeneration focusing on three key themes in Laudato si’, the second encyclical of Pope Francis subtitled “On care for Our Common Home”

Laodato si’ critiques consumerism and irresponsible development, laments environmental degradation and global warming, and calls all people of the world to take “swift and unified global action.”… Continue reading... “Towards a Decarbonized & Regenerative World – 3rd PH Envi Summit calls for paradigm shifts in Sustainability and Regeneration”

The Malasag Indigenous Driftwood Sculptors of Cugman

The Malasag Indigenous Driftwood Sculptors showcase their individual pieces, with their trainers from the Banglos Community Artists

Sometimes serendipity can lead you to paths you never dreamed you would be passing through, but the future often holds surprises which more often than not, exceed your expectations.

Thus, when Smart Telecommunications began the process to secure the Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) from the Higaonon community in Sitio Malasag, Barangay Cugman in Cagayan de Oro to renew the lease on their cell site located within the tribe’s ancestral domain, it triggered what has turned out be a most rewarding experience for both parties involved in the transaction.… Continue reading... “The Malasag Indigenous Driftwood Sculptors of Cugman”