VOL. 10, NO. 47
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2013
Chronicling Events in Samar Island Since 2002
CATBALOGAN CITY
8 PAGES
Samar Weekly
EXPRESS The Exponent of Samar’s Progress
CITY Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan addresses the crowds at the city plaza as she promised to implement the programs she offered during her campaign sorties. She also vowed to continue the projects of the previous mayor, who happened to be his father, which now holds a seat at the city council. (Contributed photos)
Catbalogan’s first city lady mayor takes oath CATBALOGAN CITY - Just like her father before her, several barangay leaders joined City Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan and her family onstage as she officially took her oath of office before Judge Odelon S. Mabutin last July 1, 2013 at the city plaza. The custom of the including the barangay chairpersons onstage in the oathtaking was started by Uy-Tan’s father, former Mayor Coefredo T. Uy. This was to underscore their participation for the success of his programs and projects. The support given by the barangay officials was also seen as a factor for the victories of the new mayor and her father who was elected as a councilor. The inauguration also saw the official turn-over of documents to the incoming local chief executive and was facilitated by the City Local Government Operations Office. Also sworn in were Vice Mayor-elect Art Sherwin Gabon and incumbent Councilors Maximo Pescos, Rodrigo Perez III and Nanette Sabenecio. They were joined by first-time Councilors Renante Aquino, Beethoven Bermejo, Myla Martha Cinco and Jeffrey Uy. Councilors Ernesto Arcales and Christine Escober, who will come back for their second-term at the city council, were unable to attend. Three newly-elected Board Members affiliated with the Liberal Party, also joined the oath- taking ceremonies. They were Atty. Alma Uy, Alvin Abejuela and Lee Zosa. In her inaugural speech, the new mayor reiterated her development roadmap as summed up by her name STEP, which stands for Serbisyo panlawas papakusgon, Turismo tatagan duon, Edukasyon ngan ekonomiya paparig-unon, Progreso han Catbalogan magpapadayon. She urged for Catbaloganons to join her in undertaking the journey towards Catbalogan’s future. She vowed to start at the City Hall for the three initial actions to be implemented on her first day. “From the most major infrastructure project down to the most basic document the City Hall is responsible for carrying out decisions and transactions that impact greatly on the lives of countless Catbaloganons,” was her reason for such a move. The first move was to put up an information desk that will entertain the visitors of the City Hall. This will be complimented by the Systematic Technical Emergency Preparedness Unified Program (STEP UP), a 24-hour hotline that will respond to calls for assistance in times of disasters. Lastly, she will be appointing Community Program Development Facilitators who will facilitate for barangays concerns to be addressed quickly by the city government. “Let my signature on these three orders speak of my determination to build a culture of cooperation and solidarity anchored on an inclusive participative and empowerement approach to governance”, she said adding that the aforementioned words shall also serve as her guide in identifying programs and projects in the days to come. Having had to battle an opponent with more financial and political machinery in the previous elections, Uy-Tan thanked
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<<<-- CATBALOGAN City Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan and her family onstage as she officially took her oath of office before Municipal Circuit Trial Court Judge Odelon S. Mabutin at the city plaza, July 1, 2013. Also with her are re-elected Vice Mayor Art Sherwin Gabon, this year’s elected city council, barangay leaders and supporters, and the City constituents cheering for the first-lady mayor’s victory.
Rep. Sarmiento, Calbayog officials take oath See story on page 2...
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BFAR imposes shellfish ban in Cambatutay Bay By RICKY J. BAUTISTA SWE News & Features _____________________________________
CATBALOGAN CITY - The government has imposed a ban on the harvesting, selling, buying and eating of shellfish after scientists confirmed cases of shellfish poisoning in at least two villages near Cambatutay Bay in Tarangnan town. As i d e f rom S amar’s Maqueda Bay, Cambatutay is one of the major sources of sea foods in Samar province. The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) on Monday reported that at least two persons have died while 16 residents of Gallego and Bahay villages were hospitalized due to shellfish poisoning.
In a meeting immediately called by the Samar Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (PDRRMC) Tuesday afternoon, BFAR chief Rolando Ay-ay reported that most of the victims have eaten mussels locally as “tahong” taken from Cambatutay Bay. Ay-ay said that two of the victims, a father and son, were pronounced dead on arrival while the rest of the victims were brought to hospitals in Calbayog City, Catbalogan City and Tarangnan Community Hospital for their medical treatment. The Office of the Provin-
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Samar Weekly Express
THE REGION
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JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2013
Website: www.issuu.com/samarweeklyexpress
BFAR from page 1 ... cial Agriculture (OPA) along with BFAR experts is now taking water samples and shellfish in the area for further laboratory analysis. Provincial Agriculturist Anita Taran yesterday issued warning to the residents of Gallego, Bahay, Caninghan, Pusngo and other villages in Tarangnan near the bay to refrain from eating and harvesting mussels and other shellfish as authorities have yet to confirm the possible presence of red tide toxins in the area. The OPA official said the prohibition was necessary because there is a possible “Red Tide” contamination that makes shellfish unsafe for human consumption. In previous cases of red tide contamination, people who consumed tainted shellfish suffered paralytic shellfish poisoning, which affects the central nervous system and could lead to death. It is said that red tide occurs when algal blooms go out of control in a body of water, which then manifests a rust-like color; thus, the tag red tide.
Newly and re-elected Calbayog City officials posed for a souvenir with Most Rev. Isabelo Abarquez, Bishop of the Diocese of Calbayog, who officiated the oath-taking and thanksgiving mass at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral, June 28. (Aimee Catalan)
Rep. Sarmiento, Calbayog city officials take oath CALBAYOG CITY – The reelected congressman of the first district of Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento together with the elected local officials of this city took their oath of offices at the St. Peter and St. Paul Cathedral, this city, this morning, June 28, 2013. First to take their oaths were the three Provincial Board Members, Hon. Charlito Conejos (re-elected), Hon. Salvador T. Cruz (newly elected) and Hon. Erdie L. delos Santos (newly elected), followed by Calbayog’s 2nd District Councilors, Hon. Alex R. Gelera (newly elected), Hon. Cesar T. Sabenicio (newly elected), Hon. Aquilino Sabi (newly elected), Hon. Darwin Kenneth D. Irigon (newlyelected), Hon. Rogelio T. Casurao (re-elected) and Hon. Julius A. Mancol (re-elected). While for Calbayog’s 1st District, only four of them were in attendance, namely, Hon. Sylvan Josef B. Ayong (newly elected), Hon. Rosely Y. Mestiola (newly elected), Hon. Arturo D. Pasacas (reelected) and Hon. Billy J. Martires (newly elected). Rep. Sarmiento said his oath-taking is just a ceremonial since he already took his oath Thursday in Malacanang administered by no less than President Benigno S. Aquino III. The oath-taking today was more like a family affair because of city officials’ respective immediate family at their back who solemnly witnessed the said ceremony. The oath-taking ceremony ended with the singing of “Calbayog” by Jose Cinco Gomez led of course by the city officials. The inducting officers were Judges Felipe Madlana, Myrna Clemens and Lolita Mercado all of them from the Calbayog City Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in Cities. (Resty Cayubit, Aimee Catalan and Ricky Bautista))
Energy Secretary Carlos Jericho Petilla (left) inducts into office the members of the Sagguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte during the mass oath taking ceremonies held at the Leyte Convention Complex, Palo, Leyte, June 28. (Vino R. Cuayzon)
DAR lines up P6.6-M worth of projects for Eastern Visayas TACLOBAN CITY -- The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has lined up about P6.6million worth of entrepreneurial projects for the six provinces of Eastern Visayas this year. The DAR’s project called the Agrarian Reform Communities Connectivity and Economic Support Services (ARCCESS) intends to support agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) beyond distribution of recognized farm lots by enabling them to engage in agriculture-related enterprises. For Eastern Visayas, project locations were identified in various areas of Biliran, Leyte and Southern Leyte with an approved budget of P4.2 million; Eastern Samar, Northern Samar and Samar, with P2.4 million budget. Based on its request for expression of interest, DAR requires professional service providers (PSPs) for business development services in financial and market management for the ARCCESS project.
The contracts’ objectives include capacity development, enterprise development, installation of management systems and production tools, credit operations, and the filing of government statutory requirements such as permits and licenses. According to the notice, the project for Eastern Visayas, ARBs specifically gives a range of services that will improve the performance of the ARBOs’ agri-enterprise, access to markets, and ability to compete in these markets. It also intends to build the capacity of ARBOs on enterprise development and management which are tailored-fit to their needs and potentials. The project also aims to install management system and tools on production, credit operations, marketing and finance to enable the ARBOs to comply with the requirements of market and credit institutions; and the provision of backroom operations to the ARBOs including the filing of government statutory require-
ments like permits, licenses, registration papers, reportorial requirements and the development of financial documents such as financial books and audit reports. Interested bidders must choose among various lots identified, each of which is considered an individual procurement package or contract and has sub-project areas to cover. Sub-project areas include selected cities, provinces, and regions across the country. Eligibility documents can be downloaded from the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System and DAR Web sites. Scope of the contract will be based on the needs and opportunities identified by the corresponding ARBO which are articulated in the sub-project proposals submitted by the DAR provincial offices and validated through the needs assessment and design assessment report prepared by the state university or college engaged for the purpose. (PNA)
NNC-8 advocates for increased awareness on responding to hunger and malnutrition
TACLOBAN CITY -- The National Nutrition Council (NNC) in Region 8 is pushing an increased participation of stakeholders in responding to hunger and malnutrition, which are the focus of the Nutrition Month celebration this July. The celebration kicked off here with a motorcade at the city’s main thoroughfares followed by a mass and a simple program held at the Balyuan Park here. NNC regional nutrition program coordinator Segundina Devota Dilao said that through the celebration they would like to increase public awareness on hunger and malnutrition; solicit stakeholders’ help to reduce if not totally eliminate the concerns and encourage more political will on the part of local government leaders and utilize their resources to address the issue. One of the highlights of the opening program was the turnover of a pedicab to Madel Duma from Tanauan, Leyte to give him opportunity to also earn additional income for his family. The pedicab was donated by one of the networks of the NNC to the Philippine Association of Safety Engineers in Doha, Qatar. Dilao said that Duma takes care of his two children during daytime while his wife works as a household help. Madel works in the evening when his wife is already home to take care of the children, she added. She expressed hope that more groups will be inspired to extend help to more indigent families. Other events to kick off the Nutrition Month celebration were a discussion on the theme “Gutom at Malnutrisyon, Samasamang Wakasan” and nutritional assessment. Dilao also expressed the readiness of NNC to do office visitation it there are parties interested in availing of nutritional assessment and counseling. This service, she noted, is important in order to determine whether one is healthy or not because nutritional well-being is always correlated with productivity. To cap the celebration, barangay nutrition scholars will be gathered for the awarding of the best nutrition program implementer in Eastern Visayas toward the end of the month. (PNA)
DILG: Elected LGU execs without SOCEs can’t assume office TAC L O BA N C I T Y -- The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) here reiterated that elected local officials who did not submit their statement of contribution and expenditures (SOCEs) could not assume their respective posts. DILG Eastern Visayas regional director Pedro A. Noval, Jr. said that they could still take their oath of office but they could not assume. He explained that winning candidates should secure a certification that they have complied with the requirement upon submission of the document to the Commission on Elections (Comelec). A failure on their part to submit their statement
of expenses does not only prevent them from taking over their positions but they can also be administratively sanctioned. “If Comelec will file case against them they will be sanctioned for violating provisions of Republic Act 7166,” he said. Elected officials during the May 13 midterm polls are supposed to start their office noontime of June 30 but since it’s a Sunday their first office day will start July 1. Me a nt i m e , Nov a l added that their field offices have been instructed to submit a report not later than July 8 to determine how many local government units (LGUs) have already sworn in their new set of officials.
Samar Weekly Express JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2013
NEWS
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Paranas LGU earmarks P6-M for scholarship program
CATBALOGAN CITY -- The local government of Paranas has allocated P6 million for its scholarship program this year. Re-elected Mayor Felix Babalcon, in his inaugural message on Monday, vowed to strengthen the local government’s scholarship program by allocating P3 million more for the program this year, adding 200 more scholars to the original 300. The 300 scholars are enrolled at the Samar State University (SSU) Paranas campus and at the SSU main campus in Catbalogan City. Babalcon said the program has already produced graduates, four of which have passed the teacher’s board exam this year. Meanwhile, Babalcon asked the parents to support and remind their children to study hard and not to waste the privilege given to them by the government. Paranas Municipal Social Welfare and Development officials conducted the examinations and screening of scholars. “We will not stop in helping more Paranasnon young people who are interested and willing to study to have a good future,” Babalcon said. (PIA/Avha Hilario)
CATBALOGAN from page 1 ...
Escorted by P/Supt. Jose Cesar B. Biso, Governor Conrado B. Nicart, Jr. joins the Arrival Honors accorded him by the Eastern Samar Provincial Police Office before the Flag Raising Ceremony minutes before he took his oath of office as the re-elected Governor of Eastern Samar province. (PIA/Eastern Samar )
Army condems continued use of landmines by NPAs CATBALOGAN CITY – The Army’s 8th Infantry Division based in Catbalogan City condemned anew the continued use of landmines by the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) armed wing – the New People’s Army (NPA). The statement of condemnation came after the NPA staged an ambush to the government soldiers before dawn Tuesday (June 25) killing a Private First Class and wounding six other soldiers. Captain Amado Gutierrez, spokesperson of the 8ID said the troops belong to the 20th Infantry Battalion was en route to Barangay Lungib, Victoria Northern Samar to provide additional manpower to peace and development programs when the rebels opened fires. The army captain said the rebels used a “detonated roadside landmines” followed by a voluminous fires. The military cannot determine if there was casualty in the enemy side during the 30-minute firefights.
The army troops later recovered an improvised explosive device (IED) and several empty shells of guns used in the clash scene. Last Tuesday’s attack was the third time, for the 2013 alone, that the NPA used a landmine in attacking government soldiers in Eastern Visayas. Previously, several soldiers, policemen and civilians were killed by the NPAs using landmines, the military said. “It is unfortunate to note that while our troops are implementing peace and development initiatives to help the people in the interior villages, the NPAs continue perpetrating terroristic activities detrimental to our people,” Gutierrez said. Captain Gutierrez called on to public and the members of the civil society to join this command in condemning the continued use of landmines by the NPA-CPP-NDF. He said: “We call on all peace-loving people to add their voices to condemn this barbaric act of the NPAs. We also call among the members of the NPAs to return to the mainstream and
avail the government offered programs and contribute to nation building.” In March 2012, the 8ID discovered the biggest bomb factory of the NPA in the municipality of Paranas town. The troops seized forty-four (44) improvised landmines, blasting caps, detonators, wires and other production paraphernalia. Meanwhile, Major General Gerardo T. Layug, commander of the 8ID urged the NPA to follow the Comprehensive Agreement on the Respect for Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law (CARHRIHL) as agreed between the government and the NPA-CPP-NDF. The general said the use of landmines is a violation of the Republic Act 9851 (Crime against International Law) and paragraph 15, article II of CARHRIHL. CARHRIHL states that parties should affirm and apply the principles of international humanitarian law in order to protect the civilian population and individual civilians. (Ricky Bautista)
NPA couple from EV arrested in Marikina City The anti-insurgency campaign of the Armed Forced of the Philippines (AFP) here continues to gain ground, the latest involving the capture of two rebels by joint forces of the Catbalogan City Police Office in Samar and 8th Infantry Division (8ID) of the Philippine Army (PA) in Brgy. Fortuna, Marikina City on Friday. A dispatch from the 8ID public affairs office identified the arrested personalities as Juan Paolo Rodrigo Versosa
alias Cocoy and his wife Grace alias Lennon. The husband is believed to be an intelligence officer of the Samar Provincial Party Committee of the New People’s Army (NPA) while his wife is the staff of the reproduction bureau of the Eastern Visayas Regional Party Committee. The two who were arrested by virtue of a warrant of arrest for the crime of robbery with homicide issued by the Regional Trial Court based in Catbalogan City, are now with the custody of
the Eastern Police District of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) for proper documentation, the information added. M/Gen. Gerardo T. Layug, commanding general of the 8ID, said that the effort to arrest ranking members of the NPA even if done outside of their area of responsibility was a manifestation of their sincerity in making Samar Island “manageable conflict and development ready island by the end of the 2013.” (PNA)
Teen tagged for rape of Leyte coed falls CATBALOGAN CITY – The police arrested an 18year old out-of-school-youth tagged in raping of a 15-year old coed in Leyte town two years ago. Police regional director C/Supt. Elmer Soria on Tuesday identified the accused as Anthony Ibañez y Capungcol alias Klote, a resident of Barangay Alegre, Dulag town, Saturday evening. Senior Police Officer 4 Ananias Monteroso said the suspect was arrested by virtue of a Warrant of Arrest (WOA) issued by Judge Rogelio Sescon of Regional Trial Court Branch 7, Tacloban City dated July 11, 2012. Accused is facing charges of Forcible Abduction with Rape in criminal case number 2012-04-295 filed by a 15-year old girl in 2011. No bail bond was recommended by the judge. Also arrested was Emily Peleño, 19, charged by the police as an “accomplice” of the suspect in committing the crime. Until last Saturday, however, they were arrested by the police elite force who earlier reviewed unsolved files and cases at the regional police office. “With the suspect’s arrest, the victim will finally get the justice she deserves,” Superintendent Soria said. Since the installation of Superintendent Soria in the region, apprehension of wanted persons, recovery of loose firearms and eradication of private armed groups has been made priority. (Ricky Bautista)
supporters not just for their votes but also for believing in the principle of good governance that she was fighting for. According to her, “through this victory, we realize how our ideals were almost threatened and compromised by the power of money. We must therefore stand firm and combine efforts against corruption and constantly demand for sustainable programs, not dole-outs”. Towards the end of her speech, she warned that her intended journey through the straight path will not be easy, “with all its dangers and pitfalls and will be setting ourselves apart from the more established ways of traditional politics”. In spite of this, she urged everybody to “rise above respective biases due to political color” and “concentrate on a common ground – our being Catbaloganons”. Step, as she was known throughout her campaign, started out as the president of ABC City Federation in Catbalogan. She then ran for a seat at the city council during the 2010 elections where she found herself on the top spot. As a councilor, she distinguished herself by sponsoring landmark ordinances such as the Tourism Code, Investment and Incentive Code and the Maternal Newborn Child Health Care and Nutrition Code. (Lailminh Mabulay)
SUN from page 8 ...
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Governor Conrado B. Nicart, Jr. is being congratulated by Judge Juliana White after taking his oath, Monday July 1, 2013. (Photo by PIA/Eastern Samar )
OPINION Samar Weekly Express
DALMACIO C. GRAFIL Publisher
JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2013
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Columnists, Writers and Account Executives: Rommel L. Rutor Chito Dela Torre Atty. Batas Maricio Fr. Roy Cimagala Ismael Amigo Juan Mercado Roger Soria Myra Tambor Jenna Tizon Igdalino Gina Dean Ragudo Lilith Sabuco - Teña Malou Bermejo.
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EDITORIAL A tale of two drug cases Even in the way drug-related offenses are treated in both China and the Philippines, a big difference shows, suggestive of unfairness between a bully and the bullied. We don’t have to go too far as to be able to find perfect examples; we just have to look at our countrymen and theirs who happen to get entangled with illegal drug trade. When a Filipino citizen, usually an overseas worker—and that’s regardless of gender—is caught in China carrying in his luggage a prohibited drug or any of its components, he soon finds himself in the death row, depending on the gravity of the offense. Death is the usual penalty, and they are not deported or sent back to the country despite their being foreigners in that land. The verdict is mostly final and irrevocable no matter how our government pleads that the offenders be sent back here. But when Chinese nationals are caught here in our country not just carrying grams of an illegal drug but are manufacturing them in huge volumes at their drug laboratories, they are not meted a death penalty but are mostly set free to get away with their crime. The Chinese government need not plead for their freedom as our authorities seem to be so tolerant and considerate to these abusive criminals. They just enjoy deportation instead of being prosecuted and sent to the death chamber, even after they have destroyed lives with their illegal activities. You see the difference between these two treatments? China is merciless to our small-time drug dealers, some of whom are even victims of so-called padala, not knowing that the package they have been requested to carry with them in their luggage is prohibited drug, but they just consented out of pagmamagandang loob and for the little tip that they receive. They are dwarfed if compared to Chinese drug manufacturers in the country, and yet they end up in death while these Chinese nationals get away with their crime. What in the world is the difference? Is it because our countrymen are desperate, and are coming from a poor country while the Chinese drug lords are powerful and are fresh from a superpower nation? What a difference in treatment, indeed, when in fact, it should be these drug manufacturers who should be sent to the gallows instead for the excessive gravity of their offense.
Hints and Traces By Fr. Roy Cimagala From unbelief to belief
ST. Thomas, one the apostles. Yes, the doubting Thomas. Relish his words, “My Lord and my God!” They portray that dramatic, very sharp turn from unbelief to belief. May these words be also on our lips, always, and shot from a heart burning with faith and love, ever fresh and dripping with desire. We need to take care of our faith. We cannot take this duty for granted, especially now when the world is sinking in confusion and error as it distances itself farther from God. In many places in the world today, people are now legalizing and inculturating outright immoralities and perversions, rationalizing them as part of their human rights, their freedom, or as a gesture of tolerance on a multiplicity of preferences, etc. This is a big challenge for all Christian believers who want to be all-the-way consistent with their faith and with humanity itself, for the issues at hand are not just a matter of a particular religion but rather that of our common humanity. And the Christian faith is not meant only for a few. It is for all, though it obviously is not meant to be imposed on everyone. It has to be accepted knowingly, freely, lovingly. Its specificity precisely defines what is to be human, what is to be a real person, a creature and child of God. Its specificity goes beyond merely material categories as happens with our human sciences that measure things according to atoms, cells, tissues, wavelengths, or in social, economic or political terms. It enters the spiritual, comparing and distinguishing, as St. Paul once said, spiritual with spiritual (cfr 1 Cor 2,13), for in the spiritual world there are also good and true spirits, and the bad and fake ones. This is an aspect of reality that is still hardly known by most people. It’s a faith that is not invented by any man, but rather one revealed in its fullness by the Son of God who became man, Jesus Christ. It’s not just an accumulation of human or popular wisdom gathered through the ages. It is from above, from God. It is supernatural adapted to our nature that has been created in God’s image and likeness. The truths of faith go beyond natural effectiveness. They go beyond our concern for practicality, convenience, and other worldly and passing goals. They are what bring us to eternity, a
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Samar Weekly Express JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2013
OPINION
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Graft in chopper purchase? LIFE’S INSPIRATIONS: “… But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers…” (James 2:9, the Holy Bible). -oooGRAFT IN HELICOPTER PURCHASE? Just how did the Philippine Air Force (PAF) manage to pay millions for a W-3 Sokol helicopter which is not in “flying condition”? And why did the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of National Defense approve the purchase of that defective helicopter? Was that helicopter accepted when it was delivered for the first time without its capacity to fly being tested first? Anybody with answers, please? Otherwise, the entire transaction smells of graft and corruption, since it appears that the purchase by the PAF of a supposedly brand new helicopter, using millions of government funds, resulted instead in the acquisition of a defective helicopter, thereby causing undue injury to the government. Here is what Section 3 (e) of Republic Act 3019, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, provides on this issue: “In addition to acts or omissions of public officers already penalized by existing law, the following shall constitute corrupt practices of any public officer and are hereby declared to be unlawful… (e) Causing any undue injury to any party, including the Government… through manifest partiality, evident bad faith or gross inexcusable negligence…” -oooQUESTIONS ON FAVORITISM FOR REP. BAG-AO: Will someone please ask Dinagat Island Rep. Arlene Bag-ao why, in her House Bill 110, she is trying to prevent discrimination only against gays and lesbians when, in this country, discrimination
HINTS from page 4 ...
yearning we have at the bottom of our heart. Faith also contains mysteries that are truths that go beyond our capacity to understand. They simply have to be believed, more than understood, even as they invite and stimulate us to study and understand them further, without ever fully comprehending them. We need to have the proper attitude toward faith. We cannot treat it the way we handle the sciences and the arts. It requires humility, docility and trust. It requires an underlying belief, even if this belief is not very strong, that there is a supreme being who is over and above all of us and who is in control of everything in our life. From there we can start to study the doctrine of our faith, now carefully and authoritatively articulated by the Church’s teaching office that in turn is endowed with appropriate power by God himself through Christ. We have to realize that the doctrine of our faith is not just a set of words or theories, nor a system of ideas, an ideology made up of different principles, but rather and organic and life-giving set of truths that have to be accepted not only intellectually, but rather by the whole man. It’s meant to transform us radically, at our heart. It’s important that we get to have a good global picture of the nature and character of faith so we would also know how to receive, keep and develop it. Our usual problem is that we have a painfully reductive understanding of it, and so we tend to correspond inadequately to its demands and requirements. We also need to understand that for our faith to grow, it also has to be nourished by the other two theological virtues of hope and charity. These three—faith, hope and charity—actually always go together. The growth of each one of them can be caused by an impulse of the other two. Growing in the other virtues should come as a consequence. Lastly, we have to realize that faith grows through the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist, because it’s through them that we receive Christ who precisely comes to redeem us.
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is abounding not just against gays and lesbians but more so against the millions and millions of the poor and the marginalized, those lacking in power and influence, and those whose station in life is considered to be lowly and disenfranchised? Will Bag-ao also explain why she isn’t proposing instead a review of the cash-dole-out program of the government to ensure that the nearly P30 billion or so that would be spent for the so-called “cash conditional transfer” project should instead be re-channeled for empowering the poor and the marginalized and those lacking in power and influence, with small and medium enterprises or businesses that could generate income for them and their families in the long run? -oooDA IMPORTING BRAUNVIEW CATTLE SEMEN: The Department of Agriculture (DA) is importing Braunvieh cattle semen from Switzerland which will produce “dual purpose” calves both for beef and dairy. The importation of semen will enable crossbreeding of the Braunvieh Swiss breed with locally available cattle breeds. It will bring down the cost of producing offspring of superior breeds. It can replace the more expensive system of importing cattle for breeding or for dairy use. Importation of dairy cattle can cost P150,000 to P180,000 per animal. Direct beneficiaries of the program are cattle raisers of the Camiling Cattle Association (CCA) of Camiling, Tarlac. It has around 50 cattle-raising members. “We have the capability for breeding this Swiss animals with the cows and other resources we have,” said CCA President Rene G. Abad. “We never had a vision to develop cattle both for beef and for dairy production. We followed a model that is not appropriate to our situation.” The concept that the country adopted separated breed for dairy production and the animal for beef production. But Braunvieh is a breed for this dual purpose—dairy and beef production. -oooBETTING ON: WILL ERAP BE UNSEATED? Betting is now going around on whether or not Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada will be unseated by the Supreme Court in connection with a disqualification case filed against him by the camp of former Mayor Alfredo Lim. One bettor is saying Erap will be disqualified in due time, since the pardon granted to him by President Arroyo several years back barred him from running for any public office again. How about you, dear readers, what do you think? -oooREACTIONS? Please call me at 0917 984 24 68, 0918 574 0193, 0922 833 43 96. Email: batasmauricio@yahoo.com, mmauriciojr111@gmail.com. - Hair, nails and spa services - Specialized on UV Gel Polish - Salon and spa equipments and supplies - Also available: SPA consultancy, SPA treatment demonstration and operational guidance. Contact: MILA
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In Depth
By Juan L. Mercado juanlmercado@gmail.com
Redeeming “IOUs”
(“All great reporting starts with an editor who has guts,” broadcast journalist .Dan Rather said from experience. A twin book launch this week honored such an editor. “Canto Voice” compresses, intro one volume, columns written by the late Cornelio Faigao for Cebu dailies, before they were suppressed. . And “FeMale Heart” is a book by his daughter Linda-Faigao Hall. Here is the note we delivered – JLM .) This IOU has been outstanding for over half a century. And now we pay back — somewhat. Faigao taught at University of San Carlos in the early 1950s. We were among his callow students.. He opened a world that few of us glimpsed before : from sonnets like Shakepeare’s “Shall I Compare Thee To A Summer’s Day” to Percy Bysshe Shelley’s poems, including “To A Skylark.” “The mediocre teacher tells and the good teacher explains”. But superior teachers, like Faigao,. “demonstrate”. They also spur students to explore on their own, Thus, they lay foundations future teachers can build on. Faigao’s insights enabled us to keep up when the late Fr Miguel Bernad of Ateneo walked us thru Dante’s Alegheri’s “Divine Comedy”. L’amor che move il sole e l’altre stelle . ”The love that moves the sun and other stars”. Such glimpses of beauty deepen with the years. They constitute unpayable IOUs Faigao told us privately that he’d edit a new daily. Political terrorists earlier closed down the Pioneer Press where he wrote “Canto Voices” “Southern Star” would be independent in a Cebu press, polarized between the Cuenco’s “Republic Daily” and Osmena’s “Daily News”. Gagging of the Star has been patchily documented “Would you like to work with me?”, he asked. Note the understated sensitivity. “Work for me” imposes boss-employee ties. In contrast, “Work with me” meant collegiality. Thus, we became a cub reporter on the Capitol beat. Fifty years of sometimes turbulent journalism followed. Belatedly, it dawned on us that the lowly cub reporter’s job was, in Robert Frost’s 1920 image, a turning point: “Two roads, diverge in a wood” And with Faigao’s gentle shove “ I took the one less traveled by / And that has made all the difference”. One learned as you bumbled along,. We reported, proofread, edited, made mistakes. And when Faigao flew to the US on a fellowship, we sometimes laid out “Canto Voice”. This was the “hot process” press .Linotypes cast steaming lead into slugs and flat beds printed papers. The Cebu Journalism and Journalists Gallery, inside Museo Sugbo, displays these 1886 relics. Cebu papers used them until 1970. Museo walls display portraits of journalists. They include that of Antonio Abad Tormis, murdered for his exposes in 1961. Cebu Citizens Press Council updates this gallery. This historical record would be enriched by copies of Southern Star, “Canto Voices” and Faigao’s photo who was Cebu Press Club president. The “cold process” started with fax in the 70s. Internet and cell phones came early 1990s. Filipinos were the first to wage People Power through text messaging in 2001. Lebanon and Czechoslovakia copied that model, reports “Smart Mobs—The Next Social Revolution”. The information revolution underscores Faigao’s insistence on values that “endure even after the sun goes out”. What he imparted was a sense of “the true, the good and the beautiful”. Imelda Marcos devalued that into a dictatorship slogan. Faigao roots were in his native Romblon. He wrote in UPpolished English from his adopted Cebu. In his poem “Night In A Small Towm,” he wrote: “O night for the going / Of me on the tide / With beauty above me And death by my side!” University of San Carlos launched, in 1984, an annual writers workshop to honor Faigao. Cebuano Studies Center backstops this workshop which brings together 15 young writers from all over the country. Faigao married, in 1940, Rose Go of Argao, a nurse. For her thesis, De la Salle professor Dr Marjorie Evasco read letters to Faigao’s widow One wrote: “Kune was one of us never above us. I came to appreciate his dislike for stale work, his independence of thought and his facility of expression.” That letter came from a “young” reporter, named Juan L Mercado. Now, we’re what former president Bill Clinton dubs as ‘junior-senior. There were 6.4 million senior citizens in 2010. They’ll account for 8 percent of population when President Benigno Aquino’s term ends. Come 2040, there’d be 19.6 million. We’ll long be gone by then. Journalists of my generation are dwindling. Inquirer’s .Amando Doronila and Manila Bulletin’s Cris Icban still write.. Philippine
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LEGAL NOTICES Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 8th Judicial Region BRANCH 31 Calbayog City IN RE: PETITION CANCELLATION OF THE CERTIFICATE OF LIVE BIRTH OF JOY PAULA REYES ABOY JOY PAULA REYES ABOY Petitioner, -versusTHE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF CALBAYOG CITY, ADMINISTRATOR, NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE, Respondents SPECIAL PROC. NO. 500 x- - - - - - - - - - - x ORDER
A verified petition has been filed by the Petitioner JOY PAULA REYES ABOY, praying that an order granting the petition and ordering the cancellation of the first registration (Annex “A”), Directing the National Statistics Office to admit the delayed registration as the official birth certificate of the petitioner.
LEGAL NOTICES
The Petition reads: 1. That the petitioner is a Filipino citizen, of legal age, single and a resident of Brgy. 09, Boao District, Catbalogan City, Samar, where she can be served with court processes; 2. That public respondent civil registrar of Calbayog City can be served with summons at his/her office at City Hall, Calbayog City, while public respondent NSO administrator can be served with summons and court processes in the NSO, East Ave., Quezon City; 3. That petitioner is an illegitimate child of Alfredo Tabones Aboy, Jr. and Rhoda Fe Arcales Reyes, having been born to them last February 28, 1985 in Catbalogan, Samar and was born out of wedlock as her parents were not legally married when she was born; 4. That unfortunately last March 29, 1985, his father, who was then a resident of Calbayog City, submitted to the Local Civil Registrar of Calbayog City a Certificate of Live Birth purportedly pertaining to her, copy of the said certificate is hereto attached as Annex “A”; 5. That however said Annex “A” contains errone-
ous entries as it does not reflect her true place of birth which is in said certificate “Calbayog City”, her first name is RECHELLE”, and her parents were declared to be “legally married in Pinabacdao, Eastern Samar last September 16, 1983”; 6. That when she was about to graduate in high school, she went to the NSO to obtain a copy of her certificate of live birth from said Office, but she did not obtain a certificate of birth which reflects the true facts of her birth; 7. That her mother caused for the delayed registration of petitioner’s birth with the acknowledgment of her father, at the local civil registrar of Catbalogan, Samar, copy of it is hereto attached as annex “B”; 8. That the data above delayed registration of her birth reflect the truth and that they had been habitually, continuously and officially used in her official records, copy of said official documents are hereto attached as annex “C” and series; and 9. That she has been publicly known as JOY PAULA R. ABOY and not RECHELLE R. ABOY; Finding the Petition to be sufficient in form and in sub-
stance, notice is hereby given that this case be set for hearing on AUGUST 23, 2013 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning before this Court, at which date, time and place, all persons who have an objection thereto may file any opposition and show cause why the same should not be granted. Let this Order be published at the expense of the Petitioner once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks prior to the above-setting in a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Samar and in Calbayog City. Let copies of this Order be furnished the Solicitor General, Makati City, the Civil Registrar General of National Census and Statistics Office, Quezon City, the Local Civil Registrar of Calbayog City, the City Prosecutor, the Office of the Clerk of Court, RTC, Calbayog City and the Petitioner and her counsel for their information and guidance. SO ORDERED. Calbayog City, Philippines, June 21, 2013.
(Sgd.) REYNALDO B. CLEMENS Judge
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LEGAL NOTICES Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 8th Judicial Region OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE JUDGE Calbayog City IN RE: PETITION FOR APPOINTMENT AS NOTARY PUBLIC ATTY. ANGIEBEL A. DIVINAGRACIA-GO, Petitioner, x- - - - - - - - - - - - - -x NOTICE OF HEARING Notice is hereby given that a summary hearing on the petition for notarial commission of ATTY. ANGIEBEL A. DIVINA-
GRACIA-GO will be held on July 17, 2013 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning, at the session hall of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 31, Calbayog City. Any person who has any cause or reason to object to the grant of the petition may file a verified written opposition thereto, received by the undersigned before the date of the summary hearing. (Sgd.) REYNALDO B. CLEMENS Executive Judge
Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT 8th Judicial Region BRANCH 27 (Family Court) Bulwagan ng Katarungan Catbalogan City, Samar IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF THE MINOR, SOPHIA ISABELLE CABONIOS VILBAR, BY SPOUSES ELMER RAGADIO SORIA AND EMELITA TEVES SORIA SPS. ELMER RAGADIO SORIA AND EMELITA TEVES SORIA Petitioners, SP. PROC. NO. 8226-320-13 x- - - - - - - - - - - -x ORDER
biological parents Lea Bacsal Cabonios and Fernando Baladjay Cabonios. Petitioners pray that after due notice, publication and hearing, a judgment be rendered to the effect that thenceforth, the minor child SOPHIA ISABELLE CABONIOS VILBAR be freed from all legal obligations of obedience and maintenance with respect to her natural parent, and be in all legal intents and purposes, the child of the petitioners; that she be allowed to use the surname of the adopters; and that her surname be changed to SORIA which is the surname of petitioners. The petition being sufficient in form and in substance is hereby set for hearing on July 22, 2013 at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon, at the Bulwagan ng Katarungan, Catbalogan City. The Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Regional Office No. VIII, Tacloban City, through its Social Welfare Officer, is hereby directed to prepare and submit its Child Study report on the adoptee as well as her biological parents and Home Study Report on the prospective adoptive parents and indicate a recommendation on or before the date of hearing. The court Social Welfare Officer II Ms. Annie Llauderes
Filed with the Court is a verified Petition by Spouses Elmer Ragadio Soria and Emelita Teves Soria through counsel Atty. Gerardo C. Teves, for the adoption of the minor Sophia Isabelle Cabonios Vilbar. Said adoptee was born on October 11, 2009 in Brgy. Bagongon, Catbalogan City, Samar to her
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Baby Stroller Used Color blue P1,000 Slightly Neg. 09071079333 is likewise hereby directed to prepare her own Child and Home Study reports and recommendation to the Court on or before the date of hearing. Let this Order be published at the expense of the petitioner once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a duly accredited newspaper of general circulation published in the Province of Samar to be selected by raffle under the supervision of the Executive Judge of this Court. Let a copy of this Order and the Petitioner be furnished to the Solicitor General of the Philippines, Provincial Prosecutor of Samar, Regional Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Regional Office No. VIII, Tacloban City, and Ms. Annie Llauderes, Court Social Welfare Officer II as well as the petitioners and their counsel. SO ORDERED. Catbalogan City, Samar. June 3, 2013.
(Sgd.) AGERICO A. AVILA Judge Designate
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Newly-elected PhilHealth Chief Alexander A. Padilla receives the PhilHealth Flag during a simple turnover rites in its Head Office in Pasig City. The ceremony was witnessed by PhilHealth’s senior officers and rank-andfile employees from different parts of the country in a simultaneous flag raising ceremony Monday beamed from Pasig City to all its regional and selected local health insurance offices using the latest technology.
Alexander A. Padilla is new PhilHealth Prexy THE Board of Directors of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has unanimously elected Atty. Alexander A. Padilla as PhilHealth President and Chief Executive Officer. In its recent meeting, the Board elected Padilla who was earlier given a board seat representing the Employer Sector and at the same time nominated by President Benigno S. Aquino III himself to the highest executive position in the state-run health insurance agency. Under the new rules set by the Governance Commission for Government Owned or Controlled Corporations, heads of government-run corporations are chosen from among and by the members of their respective boards. Since 2010, Padilla served as PhilHealth’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He took the reign from Health Secretary and PhilHealth Board Chair Dr. Enrique T. Ona who served as Officer-in-charge of the Corporation from January to June of this year. The move was seen to further boost the implementation of Universal Health Care or Kalusugang Pangkalahatan wherein PhilHealth plays an active role as provider of financial risk protection through social health insurance. The UHC aims to provide all Filipinos, regardless of creed and station in life, with access to quality health care. “With Alex Padilla at the helm of PhilHealth, we are assured of continued reforms to make sure that the Corporation achieves its mandate, that all Filipinos are provided with affordable, adequate, available and accessible health care financed through a sustainable National Health Insurance Program” said Ona of Padilla’s election. Padilla graduated Cum Laude from De La Salle University with Bachelor of Arts in History major in Political Science and minor in Philosophy. He was President of the Law Student Government and Chair of the UP Law Students Rights and Welfare Party (STRAW) during his post-graduate studies where he also finished eighth of Batch 1981 and subsequently passed and accepted in the Rolls and the Bar on the same year. Before joining PhilHealth, he also served in different capacities such as Undersecretary at the Department of Health, Senior State Prosecutor at the Department of Justice, Special Prosecutor at the Office of the Ombudsman, Assistant Secretary at the Department of Interior and Local Government, Commissioner at the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board, Commissioner of the Bureau of Customs, among others. (PR)
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The 2013 Visayas fellows of the PCIJ posed for a souvenir photo.
Letter To Editor Section.
Many dynasties ‘trimmed down’ after May 2013 polls ROUGHLY HALF of the top 20 “fattest” dynasties in the Philippines were trimmed down in the 2013 midterm elections, but a significant proportion still remains in place. Prof. Ronald U. Mendoza, director of the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center, said initial analysis of the election results from the May 2013 polls showed that 10 of the 20 fattest dynasties in the country had lost ground or grown thinner. Mendoza spoke at a seminar on investigative reporting for journalists in the Visayas that the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) is conducting in Cebu. “Fat” dynasties, Mendoza said, refer to families whose members have already occupied multiple elective positions in government for a particular term. In this manner, a fat dynasty has already grown sideways, spreading more members across several elective positions. Thin dynasties, on the other hand, are political clans that have virtually cornered an elective position, but have not expanded their influence to other positions. Mendoza said that data from the Commission on Elections show that while half of the 20 top dynasties in the country have become thinner, 35 percent of these dynasties remained unchanged. On the other hand, 15 percent of the fat dynasties became even fatter. Examples of fat dynasties that thinned down, or lost positions in 2013, include the Ampatuans of Maguindanao province, the Villarosas of Occidental Mindoro, and the Fuas of Siquijor. “Half of them have been declining,” Mendoza said. “Pinapapayat ng mga mamamayan ang mga fattest dynasties.” [The people are thinning down the fattest dynasties.] However, Mendoza cautioned the reporters against making sweeping assumptions based on the statistics he presented. For example, Mendoza said that while the thinning of fat dynasties may seem to be reason for anti-dynasty groups to celebrate, it would also be important to look at who replaced these dynasties. Mendoza said reporters should also avoid lumping all dynasties together, and assuming that a local government unit that gets rid of a dynasty would automatically see improvements in governance and the local economy. While data show that high poverty incidence increases the chance for dynasties to grow and become fatter, he said, one cannot automatically assume that the dynasties themselves are the cause of poverty. “Walang evidence so far that more dynasties cause more poverty,” Mendoza said. “Tignan rin ninyo ang mga pumalit sa mga dynasty, wala ring binabago.” [There is no evidence so far that more dynasties cause more poverty. Let us look too at who have replaced these dynasties, because they have not changed much.] Mendoza said the reason for the failure of former dynastic areas to improve immediately may be because the structures and systems are already in place to make it difficult for non-dynasty leaders to move the area forward. Mendoza also made an observation that sparked a discussion among reporters present — that in areas with more AM radio stations, fat dynasties appeared to be getting thinner. However, more elective positions were being captured by the other, thinner dynasties, instead of non-dynasty candidates. Several reporters remarked that the findings would seem to show that the presence of AM radio stations in a local government unit actually encourages the proliferation of dynasties. However, Mendoza explained that while media helps in leveling the playing field and thinning fat dynasties, the only ones in the proper position to take advantage of the vacuum are the thinner dynasties. “The ones who are taking advantage of the level playing field are also the other dynasties, kasi sila ang pinaka ready,” Mendoza said. “They have their acts together, kaya sila ang papasok.” “Because our democracy is so uneven, ang mag tatake advantage would be yung mga malakas na,” he added. (PCIJ)
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Free Press Napoleon G. Rama is retired. Nap and I signed up the same year for this country’s capital-centered press. We worked with Evening News, Press Foundation of Asia and, upon retirement from the UN, joined Inquirer. Nap and I were among 23 journalists detained in the first wave of Metro Manila martial law arrests. Happenstance? “There is a Divinity that shapes our ends / rough hew them how we may”, Hamlet says. Look at your lives. You’ll find that Hamlet’s ‘Divinity” are ordinary folk. At crossroads of our lives, when we least expect or recognize, they ever so gently point us to roads less traveled by / And that has made all the difference.” Now, it is twilight. We recall the IOUs that we owe Cornelio Faigao. As ever“ gratitude is memory of the heart.”
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