Vol. 21, No. 20 | May 16 - 22, 2016

May 16 - 22, 2016 | Vol. 21, No. 20 | Php 12.00/copy balikasonline@yahoo.com | 0912.902.7373 | 0977.839.5547

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RIGHT TO SUFFRAGE. Filipinos from all walks of like, here and abroad, exercise their right to suffrage, choose their leaders for the next three to six years.| CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

SPECIAL REPORT

By JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

STILL, since there is no enabling law particularly barring political dynasties in government is passed and implemented, then they are here to stay.

Reason? No amount of voters education has changed the voting attitude of most Filipinos, the Batangueños, in particular.

This May 9 National and Local Elections, most political clans still remains in power and get elected. >>>SPECIAL REPORT...... turn to P/2

MAY 16 - 22, 2016

NEWS 2 COMELEC conducts first successful IP voting in Mindoro

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THE pilot Indigenous Peoples (IP) voting was successfully conducted in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro during 9 May 2016 National and Local Elections. Voting took place in all the twenty 23 pilot voting centers in the Mindoro Provinces.

For Oriental Mindoro, there were 14 voting centers with Separate Polling Places (SPP), and two with Accessible Voting Centers (AVC). For Occidental Mindoro, there were four voting centers with SPP, and three with AVC. SPP are polling places in established voting centers that catered solely to qualified IP voters while AVC are newly established voting centers that are situated nearer to the IP communities.

The joint security force of PNP and AFP in the concerned municipalities secured the transport of ballots from the established voting centers to the AVC. In order to observe the implementation of the Pilot IP Voting process, observers from

National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and Legal Network for Truthful Elections were deployed in the different SPP and AVC on election day.

Notable were the participation of Mangyan election monitors who observed the IP Voting process in their communities. With a total of 2,878 IP voter beneficiary, partial voter turn out from 16 out of the 23 voting centers totals to 2,587 or at a rate of around 90%.

The Pilot IP Voting Process was launched by the Commission on Election (COMELEC) in order to address problems on access, discrimination and “hakot” of IP voters on election day.

On 14 March 2016, the COMELEC promulgated Resolution No. 10080 which outlined the General Instructions on the process of Pilot IP Voting in selected voting centers in the Mindoro Provinces.|

BALIKAS News Team/PIA ......................................................................................................................

Mag-asawang Mariño, iprinoklamang congressman at mayor ng Batangas City PORMAL nang iprinoklama si Marvey Marino bilang kauna-unahang House Representative ng 5th district ng Batangas City at ang 45 taong gulang na si Beverley Dimacuha bilang bagong Mayor ng lungsod isang araw matapos ang May 9 elections.

Si Dimacuha ay nakakuha ng 85,962 na boto laban sa kanyang kalaban na si Councilor Kristine Balmes na nakakuha ng 55,866 boto.

Ang proclamation niya ay binasa ni Acting Election Offier Erlinda Candy Orense kasama sina City Prosecutor Bien Patulay at si Dr. Victoria Fababier, chief, Schools Governance and Operations Division, Schools Division of Batangas City bilang Board of Canvassers sa Session Hall ng Sangguniang Panglungsod.

Ang iba pang iprinoklama ay ang walang kalaban na sina Vice-Mayor June Berberabe at mga miyembro ng Sanggguniang Panlunsod na sina re-electionists Aileen Arriola - ang nangungunang konsehal, Dr. Glen Aldover, Serge Atienza, Hamilton Blanco, Alyssa Cruz, Armando Lazarte, Julian Villena, Gerry de la Roca at mga bagong konsehal na sina Oliver

Macatangay, Karlos Buted, Nelson Chavez at dating konsehal na si Nestor Dimacuha.

Ang proclamation naman ni Mariño ay ginanap sa Session Hall ng Sangguniang Panlalawigan bandang ala una ng hapon kasama ang mga bagong halal na Board Members na sina Claudette Ambida at Arthur Blanco.

Nagpahayag ng pasasalamat sa kanilang mga constituents sina Mayor Dimacuha at Congressman Mariño sa suporta at pagtitiwala sa kanila at nanawagan sa lahat na magkaisa at magtulong tulong tungo sa isang mas maunlad na lunsod.

Isa ang Batangas City sa nagkaroon ng isang tahimik at maayos na halalan sa tulong ng Batangas City Police.

Ilan sa mga naging problema noong botohan ay ang malfunction ng ilang mga vote counting machines at ang mga hindi makitang pangalan ng mga botante sa list of registered voters.

May kabuuang 202,421n registered voters sa Batangas City.| PIO Batangas City

IPRINOKLAMA ng City Board of Canvassers si Beverly Dimacuha-Mariño bilang susunod na pununlunsod, kasama ang mga bubuo ng Sangguniang Panlunsod.| CITY PIO PHOTO

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Bagitong pulis, huli sa robbery/extortion BATANGAS City – KALABOSO ang isang baguhang pulis nabatid na “Kotong Cop” matapos maaktuhang tinatanggap ang marked money sa isang entrapment operation kaugnay ng kaniyang pangingikil na iniuugnay naman sa kasong pagtutulak ng iligal na droga o shabu.

Impunto alas-5:40 ng hapon noong Huwebes, isinagawa ng mga tauhan ng Provincial Intelligence Branch (PIB), sa pamumuno ni Police Senior Inspector John Conrad A. Villanueva sa superbisyon ni PSupt. Jacinto R. Malinao Jr. sa isang entrapment operation sa SM Hyper Market Parking Lot, Barangay Balagtas.

Kinilala ni PSSupt. Arcadio Ronquillo, acting provincial police director, ang suspek na si PO1 John Macaraig y Faltado, 26, mayasawa, residente ng Barangay Balete, lunsod na ito at kasalukuyang nakatalaga sa Batangas City Police Station.

Bago ito, nagreklamo sa otoridad ang biktimang si Jozen Hidalgo y Añonuevo, 29, may-asawa at kabarangay pa ng suspek na

pulis.

Ayon kay Hidalgo, humingi ng karagdagang ‘lagay’ si Macaraig para mapababa ang kaso ng kapatid nitong si Jinky Hidalgo na nanunang naaresto ng pulisya sa kasong paglabag sa Republic Act 9165 o Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Pahayag ng biktima, pinadagdagan umano ng nangingikil na pulis ng tatlong libong piso (Php 3,000) ang naunang ibinigay na P12,000 suhol para maibaba sa kasong pag-iingat o possession at maging bailable ang kaso ng kapatid na pagtutulak o pushing ng iligal na droga na isang non-bailable offense.

Narekober naman ang mga umarestong kagawad ng pulisya ang tinanggap na P3,000 marked money at isa pang cellular phone samantalang hindi naman nadakip ang umano’y kasabwat ni Macaraig na si PO2 Ruby Añonuevo.

Dahil dito, ipinagharap na ng kasong robbery ang mga suspek sa tanggapan ng Panlunsod na Tagausig.| JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

>>>SPECIAL REPORT

Batangas political clans still stay in power STILL, since there is no enabling law particularly barring political dynasties in government is passed and implemented, then political dynasties are here to stay. Reason?

No amount of voters education has changed the voting attitude of most Filipinos, the Batangueños, in particular.

This May 9 National and Local Elections, most political clans still remains in power and get elected.

In Batangas, the Rectos, Dimacuhas, and Dolors, among others still get elected.

The Rectos. The husband-and-wife tandem of Senator Ralph G. Recto and Batangas governor Vilma Santos-Recto both won this elections. The senator was reelected, while his actress-cum-politician wife won as the first congresswoman of the newly created Lone District of Lipa.

However, the senator’s elder brother, former Vice Governor Richard G. Recto, did not make it to be Congress. His party-list Metro did not get the required 2% votes from the total votes for the party-list groups.

The Dimacuhas. The election of Beverly A. Dimacuha-Mariño will complete the 3-decades of Dimacuha rule in the capital city of Batangas.

The Dimacuhas first came to power in 1989 when incumbent mayor Eduardo B. Dimacuha was first elected as city mayor. He held the position until 1998.

After his first three (3) terms, his son Angelito Dondon succeeded him for a single term.

The older Dimacuha run and won again in year 2001 and held the position for another three (3) consecutive terms. In 2010, his wife Vilma Abaya succeeded and once again passed the seat to her husband successor-predecessor in 2013.

With Beverly’s election to the mayoralty this year, the Dimacuhas will mark a complete 30 years in power in 2019.

Meanwhile, before she was elected as city’s chief executive, former city mayor Vilma was first elected as Punumbarangay of Brgy. Poblacion 18. Consequently, she also won the presidency of Association of Barangay Councils (ABC). Former mayor Dondon succeeded his mother as Punumbrangay and later on as ABC chair up to present. Notably, former mayor Dondon has also served as city councilor during the incumbency of EBD’s third term as mayor.

Another family member, Mario Vittorio Mariño (Bokal Marvey), EBD’s only son-inlaw, also run and won as city councilor in 2010, the year Vilma succeeded her husband as mayor. In 2013, Bokal Marvey run and won as member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan representing Batangas’ 2nd District. This election, he run and won as Congressman of the newly created Batangas City Lone District. His wife Beverly run for mayor as substitute to his ailing father who withdrawn from the race.

As of this writing, Mayor Eduardo B. Dimacuha is completing his 21 years in the position. His wife, former city mayor Vilma is the chief of the city’s Office of Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA). His son, former mayor Angelito Dondon is the incumbent ABC president. Come June 30, he will be succeeded in office by his unica hija Beverly, whose husband Marvey will sit as Congressman of the Lone District of Batangas City.

The only remaining member of the family who holds no elective position is EBD’s eldest

son, lawyer Reginald, the Secretary to the City Mayor.

The Dolors of Bauan. In nearby Bauan town, the Dolors are also in power for quite some time. The patriarch, incumbent President of Panlalawigang Liga ng mga Barangay, sitting as member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Herminigildo J. Dolor, is coming back to his town as municipal mayor.

Dolor was the municipal mayor of Bauan from 1998 to 2007. After his third term expires, his son Ryanh succeeded and leads Bauan from 2007 to present. On June 30, the older Dolor is returning to succeed his predecessor-successor son.

During the incumbency of his father as mayor, Mayor Ryanh prepared well for the position being a municipal councilor in 2004 to 2007. Notably, 1n 2013, another clan member, Herminio Dolor (Hermie’s brother) was elected councilor. This 2016 election, Hero Dolor is the new entrant having proclaimed as as 2nd municipal councilorelect of Bauan.

The Portugals of Taysan. But another story unfolded in this 2nd class municipality of Taysan in the 4th district of the province. The Portugal family is seemingly loosing hold of political power.

From among three brothers who ran this May 9 elections, only the youngest made it.

This is Ian’s first attempt and he landed in the 7th seat as councilor-elect. His elder brother Joel missed the mayoralty by 1,813 votes behind Grande Gutierrez. Joel was elected councilor in 2010 and 2013. He once served as member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan being the president of Philippine Councilors League-Batangas Chapter.

The Portugals commenced holding the political leadership of Taysan town way back in 1995 when the family patriarch Victor Portugal Sr. was elected mayor. He stayed in power until he finished his third term in 2004. Same with other political clan elsewhere, his wife Anacorita succeeded in 2004 and hold office for a single term of three (3) years.

In 2007, Mayor Victor Jr. also known as Dondon, succeeded his mother. Like his father, Mayor Dondon completes his three terms come June 30, 2016. Prior to his election as mayor, patriarch’s namesake prepared well to succeed his parents. He then run and won as municipal councilor, the same pattern with Joel who served as municipal councilor for two terms as preparation for mayoralty, although the latter lost his bid.

Mayor Dondon lost his bid to get a congressional post for the 4th district of Batangas by a slim margin 19,093 votes to former Board Member Lianda Bolilla of Padre Garcia town who got 110,485 votes.

Mayor Dondon got 91,392; but he even lost to Bolilla in his own town by 166 votes.

Mayor Dondon is married to former Batangas City councilor Eloisa Angela De Loyola, daughter of former Board Member Florencio de Loyola.

At the time that Mayor Dondon is the municipal chief executive, his mother is the Municipal Administrator as his brother Joel is a councilor.| JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

MAY 16 - 22, 2016

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NEWS

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Congressman Abu, nanumpa na para sa Ikalwang Termino

SO HELP ME GOD. Re-elected Congressman Raneo E. Abu of the 2nd District of Batangas takes his Oath of Office before Executive Judge Ruben Galvez of Regional Trial Court of Batangas.| JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

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Buong Halili-Corona Team, panalo ulit LUNSOD NG TANAUAN – SA ikalwang pagkakataon, muling itinaas ni Atty. Grollen Mar Liwag, acting City Election Officer at chairman ng City Board of Canvassers (CBOC) ang kamay ni Mayor Antonio Halili – hudyat ng muling pagkapanalo ng huli bilang pununlunsod ng Tanauan sa katatapos na My 9 National and Local Elections.

Nakakuha si Halili ng 65,165 boto o lagpas ng 80% sa kabuuan ng mga bumoto, kumpara sa kalaban niyang si Bebot Quimio na nakakuha lamang ng 15,959 boto.

Nahalal ding muli si Atty.

Jhoanna Corona bilang bise alkalde na nakakuha naman ng 57,450 boto kumpara sa kalanag si Macoy Valdez na nakapagtala lamang ng 9,030 boto.

“Patuloy na kaayusan at kaunlaran,” ito ang malinaw na mensahe ng mga Tanaueño makaraang

mawalis ng Tanauan City’s Hope ang lahat ng posisyon sa lungsod na ito sa katatapos na halalan.

Nanalo rin ang buong team nina Mayor Halili sa Sangguniang Panlunsod.

Nahalal bilang mga kasapin ng konseho sina Benedicto Corona, Marcelo Eric Manglo, Epimaco Magpantay, Gileen Canobas, Joseph Castillo, Marcial Goguanco, Angel Atienza, Herman Trinidad, Simeon Platon, at ang bagong sabak na si Lim Tabing.

“Ito ay isang malinaw na manipestasyon ng masidhing pagnanais ng mga Tanaueño para sa isang tunay na pagbabago at patuloy na pag-asenso na inumpisahan natin tatlong taon na ang nakalilipas,” pahayag ni Mayor Halili matapos ang kanyang proklamasyon.

Lubos din ang pasasalamat ng buong Tanauan City’s Hope sa lahat ng sumuporta at nagtaguyod ng

kanilang kandidatura makaraang makalusot ang lahat ng kandidato ng kanilang partido.

Ngunit sa kabila ng pagbubunyi, naging madamdamin naman ang isinagawang proklamasyon ng City Board of Canvassers makaraang itaas ang kamay ni Rizaldrin Epimaco Magpantay Jr., anak ng yumaong re-electionist city councilor Atty. Epimaco Magpantay, na nakakuha ng ikatlong pinakamataas boto. Maaalalang ang nakatatandang Magpantay ay patraydor na pinaslang sa kalagitnaan ng isang pagpupulong tatlong araw bago ginanap ang halalan.

Sa kasaysayan ng lungsod, maituturing na ang nakaraang halalan ang isa sa pinakamatagumpay makaraang makapagtala ng 82.34% voters’ turn-out at makakuhang isang klarong mandato ang mga nanalong kandidato.| BALIKAS News Team/Gerald Laresma

BATANGAS City – TATLONG araw makalipas ang halalan, pormal nang nanumpa sa tungkulin para sa kaniyang Ikalwang Termino bilang kinatawan ng Ikalwang Distrito ng Batangas sa Mababang Kapulungan ng Kongreso si Congressman Raneo E. Abu. “Kayo po ang lakas ko at di ko kayo bibiguin,” bungad ng konggresista sa kaniyang talumpati sa Batangas Provincial Sports Complex kung saan siya nanumpa sa harap ni Batangas Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Ruben A. Galvez, kasabay ng pagdiriwang ng kaniyang ika-47 kaarawan.

Lubos na pinasalamatan ni Abu ang mga nagtiwala sa kaniyang kakayahan na at nagsugo sa kanya bilang kinatawan sa kongreso.

Partikular niyang kinilala ang umano’y mga nagpakabayaning mga supporters na walang pagod na sumama sa kaniyang kampanya kay “hindi maaaaring ipagsawalang bahalo ko ang mga taong nagkanulo rin sa atin.”

Hindi naiwasang pasaringan ni

Abu ang umano’y mga kababayang narahuyo sa kislap ng salapi at mga taong nagpadala sa mga black propaganda labans a kaniya.

“Masasabi ko pong may mga tao talaga na hindi na kikilalanin anumang nagawa mong mabuti para sa kanilang kapakanan,” pahayag pa ng konggresista.

Binalaan din niya ang aniya’y mga nagkanulo sa kaniya sa huling sandali. Aniya, “ang unang tutuklawin ng mga ahas ay iyong kanilang mga kapwa ahas,”na ang tinutukoy ay ang umano’y mga kasamahang niyang nagkanulo sa kaniya sa bandang huli ng laban.

Nakuha ni Abu ang kabuuang 78,369 na boto o katumbas ng 59.77% at lumamang lamang siya ng 25,636 sa katunggaling si dating MARINA deputy administrator Nicanor Conti na nakakuha naman ng kabuuang 52,733 boto o katumbas ng 40.22% Kung ikukumpara sa pinakahuling political survey noong Abril 22-25, hindi na lumayo pa sa

>>>PANUNUMPA.... sa P/6 ...............................................................................................

BAGONG MANDATO. Idineklarang nanalo at patuloy na manunungkulan bilang mayor ng Lungsod ng Tanauan si re-electionist Antonio C. Halili matapos makakuha ng lagpas 80 porsiyento ng kabuuang boto at magtala ng halos 50 libong kalamangan sa katunggali sa katatapos na halalan noong Mayo 9. Mula sa kaliwa makikita sina Mark Halili (panganay na anak ng Mayor); Gng. Gina Halili (butihing maybahay ng Mayor); Mayor Thony Halili; Atty. Grollen Mar Liwag (Chairman ng Board of Canvassers); mga BOC members nas ina Dr. Edna Faura-Agustin at Fiscal Amor Robles.| JUN MOJARES

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Sabungan sa Lipa, ikinandado na sa kakulangan ng permit LIPA City – Business as usual sa Lunsod ng Lipa at nasampolan dito ang isang sabungan na ipinasara ng cityhall ngayong araw dahil sa kakulangan ng mga kaukulang permits.

Bandang alas-11:00 ng umaga, ikinandado na ng City Permits and Licensing Office (CPLO) ang Lipa Games and Amusement Complex sa barangay Balintawak, Lunsod na ito sa bisa ng isang Notice of Revocation of Business Permit na inisyu ni Lipa City mayor Meynardo A. Sabili.

Nakasaad sa naturang notisya na lumabag ang naturang sabungan sa pagoperate nito ng maraming kakulangan sa permits kaya ipinasasara na ito at binabawi ang naunang inisyu na Business Permit. “…after a careful and exhaustive evaluation, it was clearly determined that your business activity was operating without the following requirements, such as: Building

Permit, Occupational Permit, Fire Safety Inspection Certification and Sanitary Permit, and therefore illegal. Hence, pursuant to the power of revocation bestowed upon me by Tax Ordiannce No. 16, Series of 1993, you are hereby ordered to cease and desist the business operation, until compliance with all the deficiencies which was covered by the attached Deed of Undertaking,” saad ng notice.

Naka-address ang naturang notisya kay G. Celso A. Salazar bilang kinatawan ng LGACI, na tinanggap naman at nilagdaan ng isang Tessie Mojado na caretaker sa nasabing pasilidad.

Kasama ng CPLO ang mga tauhan ng SWAT Team ng Lipa City Police Office sa pagpapatupad ng naturang kautusan.| JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

TINANGGAP at nilagdaan ni Tesie Mojado, caretaker ng LGACI ang Notice of Revocation.| EDGAR RODELAS

KASAMA ng mga tauhan ng City Permits and Licensing Office mga tauhan ng SWAT Team ng Lipa City Police Office sa paghahain ng Notice of Revocation of Business Permit.| EDGAR RODELAS

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OCTOBER 12 - 18, 2015

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OPINION

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MAY 16 - 22, 2016

OPINION

Last Part of 2-Part Series IN the first part about the WOEs (Words Of Encourage-ment), we came up with helpful ideas for those who are recovering from some trials or struggles in their life.

Now we are going to see some WOWs (Words Of Wisdom). These are for persons who are doing fine but sense they can still do better. Again, as with the WOEs, there is no particular order in the list.

Here are some helpful WOWs: • High fives and also lows. Being high is grace is also a grace. One will even gain higher ground if he often recalls his own low moments from where God has raised him up with His mercy.

• Impossible is something. Sometimes we may experience we’re good and that things are definitely better than before. But all this wouldn’t have been possible if it were not for God’s grace. Never forget that the impossible, that is, the supernatural life is attained always and only with His help.

• Your Profile pic. Never be satisfied with a generic or anonymous spiritual life. Every person’s love for God is unique. Know yourself and discover what is yours, and only yours to give to God and neighbor.

• Just do it… Now! A wonderful cliché is to simply think about doing something good but never putting it into action. Pray, Plan, and Proceed with action.

• Get used to saying ENOUGH! St. Josemaría often said: ‘Get used to saying NO.’ It can be further developed with ‘saying ENOUGH’ to superfluous material things and plans that do nothing more than distract us and make us inefficient in our apostolic mission.

• SMILE. Don’t forget you have no reason at all to never SMILE. I always say that the word S.M.I.L.E. expresses to others what’s in your heart: Simply Means I Love Everyone!

• Occasions of grace. Now that one has learned, with God’s grace, to be wiser in avoiding sinful occasions, he must eagerly turn his attention to discovering occasions of grace and leading others to them.

• Upgrade, upgrade, upgrade! There is a frenzy for upgrading gadgets nowadays. Together with material things, and more importantly, let us upgrade our spiritual and moral life. Let us remember St. Augustine’s wise advice: ‘He who does not daily advance spiritually is already taking a step backwards.’

• Good > bad. You don’t have to know math in order to understand that good is greater than bad. Good is more natural to man than evil. Even though experience shows it is difficult to do good (arduous and lasting) than to avoid evil (instant gratification but fleeting), we should just keep on doing good (habit) and drown evil in the process. There are more good things to do in a given day, than bad ones!

• You’re Bad if you’re ONLY Good. The young often say, ‘I’m good!’ to mean they’re okay. In the spiritual life, however, virtue isn’t about being good but about being HOLY. One cannot remain comfortably in some middle ground between virtue and vice and think he’s good. This only clears a path for mediocrity and lukewarmness.

• Look at the bigger picture. Improving in the spiritual life is one thing, the other is discovering that improvement is meant for something bigger.

Have a sense of mission. You’re not struggling alone! God has a bigger plan for you, ask Him about it!

• Concretize, don’t dramatize. Every now and then you get discouraged with some small weakness or fall. Don’t fall into sentimentalism or a victim complex. This only reveals your hidden pride. Objectively identify your fault, its causes, concretize and apply the remedies.

• Feel, don’t chill. There’s no problem to chilling. But sometimes it comes close to indifference when we are no longer sensitive to the feelings and conditions of those around us (i.e. our parents, the poor, the beggars, and the sick).

• Aim high but at something. The sky isn’t the limit in the spiritual adventure. In fact, there is no limit because the object of our love is God who is infinite. In any case, we reach the infinite when we unite ourselves to God’s infinite love in carrying out our finite earthly duties with silence, cheerfulness, and constancy.

• What goes up doesn’t always come down. According to the law of spiritual gravity, we should never expect anything in return for what we

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The WOEs and WOWs of Life

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Shortcuts and the Forbidden Fruits of Politics  CARMELO O. DIOLA, SSL

Spaces of Hope WHEN Adam and Eve chose to eat the forbidden fruit, they did so thinking the fruit and their action were good. Nobody chooses evil for the sake of evil. We choose evil always under the guise of good. This is the gist of Jesus’ temptations: each option seems good but the discerning Jesus revealed them for what they really were and he acted according to God’s wisdom and plan.

Candidates at the local and national levels present themselves as good for the public. How do we discern the real thing?

Shortcuts often hinder our discernment of the true good. One glaring example is vote-buying that takes advantage of the poverty of majority of voters. Doesn’t this take advantage of our “utang-na-loob” mentality that distorts our capacity to judge correctly?

Reliance on surveys also prevent voters from going through the process of making up their minds based on their search for truth. Similarly, some voters also wait for endorsements from their religious leaders. Of course, these religious leaders throw in their lot behind front runners in surveys.

The clamor for a political Messiah, who will solve all our problems, also cuts corners. Good, effective leaders and active heroic citizenship certainly go together. Yet, as a priest-philosopher once wrote, in our modern world “when man drops the ethical reins, he places himself utterly at the mercy of power … In the long run, domination requires not only the passive consent, but also the will to be dominated, a will eager to drop personal

responsibility and personal efforts.” Isn’t such clamor for a political Messiah symptomatic of this will to be dominated? What does this do to our capacity to think clearly and to be our better selves?

Many candidates for national positions portray themselves as political messiahs who will solve our problems for us, whether it be in terms of embodying academic brilliance or executive success, identifying with those who are or feel excluded from the benefits of development, or continuing a legacy. Isn’t the bottomline discernment issue for voters a choice between continuity or rupture?

The clamor for change is indeed understandable.

When EDSA 1 happened 30 years ago, there was heightened expectation for real socio-economic and political change. Has this been achieved? Not as far as those who want rupture is concerned.

Which option will bring about our true good as a nation? As someone puts it: to insist on continuity “would be futile and stupid” but “to assign that change to a presidential candidate whose very life and methods are in need of change would be … indiscriminate and fanatical.” In the final analysis, it will be individual consciences that will have the last say and this should be respected and protected.

We all need conversion. We need to form our consciences and not choose out of fear or desolation.

Perhaps, as Archbishop Villegas has a point: “Not voting for a particular position, when no one is fitted for it is a valid Christian political choice. Voting for lesser evil is still voting for evil.”

Adam and Eve did not have to eat the fruit.|

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offer God and our neighbors. And if we are ever praised for whatever good we do, then let us lift it up to Him as well.

• Invisible is visible. Never get discouraged when you don’t see results in your spiritual life and apostolate.

The very effort you invest is a visible proof of your trust and love for God. If He sees your perseverance, He will take care of what you and I on our part can never do.

• Make big small, and small big. Like the saints, we can do more when we put more love in the smallest things we do. Thus, we learn to discover God’s presence and serve Him constantly in our most ordinary daily duties. Moreover, like God’s “favorites”, the saints and the blessed struggled to “make little” of what the world

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considers big: trials, illness, misunderstandings, possessions, power, and wealth. Instead, they sought out the “hidden pearl of great price” in the most common occurrences of life.

• Home court advantage. Always take your spiritual life to the next level. Victories are never ensured when we choose to play in the devil’s playground (sloth).

Instead, let us engage life and others in our spiritual home court. Concretize daily, weekly, and monthly targets in your prayer, the Sacraments, professional and social duties, and in carrying out in the best possible manner your apostolic mission or ministries where God has called us to love and serve.|

Joenald Medina Rayos Publisher / Editor-in-Chief

Nicetas E. Escalona Lifestyle Editor

Jerick M. Dorado Copy Editor

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Gerry M. Zamudio | Atty. Jesus Dureza Atty. Jose Sison | Atty. Ramel C. Muria Benjie Oliveros Columnists Kier Labrador | Webmaster

Jack L. Aquino | Jessie delos Reyes John M aico Hernandez Contributors Ronalina B. Lontoc Special Project Editor Benjie de Castro | Circulation In-Charge

Ang pangalang “BALIKAS” ay hango sa mga salitang ‘balik’ at ‘kalikasan’. Hangad ng pahayagang ito na maging kasangkapan sa paghahatid ng mahahalagang impormasyon upang maibalik ang dating anyo ng ating inang kalikasan.|

MAY 16 - 22, 2016

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OPINION

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Politics WHILE it is a big fallacy and a grave insult to reason and ethics, to say that politics is for politicians with political interests and consequent political agenda is a consummate superfluity particularly in the Philippines and especially so on the occasion of the nearing 2016 Elections. But all these delusions notwithstanding, it is but right and proper to call attention to the following standing objective truths—be these externally accepted but internally ridiculed by politicians themselves.

The human person is the foundation and purpose of political life. If there were no human person, whose personal needs have to be responded to whose social requirements have to be addressed, what for is politics?

Whose interests and concerns would political life address? So it is that politics and political life are essentially for the service of the human person— definitely not the other way around. In other words, the origin of politics as well as the rationale of political life is none other than the human person per se. So it is that both politics and political life made operative by the former, are veritable social maledictions when their nature and finality are precisely violated by none other than those holding political authority.

The political community originates from the nature of persons. A man did not become one by himself alone, so it is certainly not in accord with his nature to be unsocial, much less anti-social. Thus it is that he seeks

and stays in the company of others as a matter of fact, in order to have his social needs and aspirations responded to through and in the company of others like him. If man were by nature a loner, being able to respond to his own requirements and exigencies by himself thereby manifesting downright self-sufficiency in anything and everything, then human society would be basically nonsense.

The political community finds its authenticity in reference to people. Again: Politics and the political community find their real nature and genuine objective only when they are of service to and for the benefit of people—not vice versa, particularly when politicians ever think or even come to the conclusion that the people are the ones who should give them service and attend to their demands. This is not simply inverting but actually subverting who people really are and what the political community truly is for. When this blatant contradiction takes place, then sooner or later people themselves are the ones who ultimately get rid of their ego-loving and self-serving political community.

Conclusion: Genuine politics is good. Its nature is altruistic. Its rationale is public spirited. Politicians are there for the people, for public service to them.

Politics, politicians, the political community—all these are social liabilities in the event that they place themselves over and above the interests, concerns, and aspirations of the people.|

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Does Duterte’s win reflect a protest vote?

FORMER Davao City The protest vote Mayor Rodrigo Duterte could have propelled is, as of this writing, Grace Poe to the presipoised to take over the dency if Duterte did not presidency with his enter the presidential insurmountable lead race. When Poe’s name over his closest rivals. He was floated as a likely is not the “presidential contender, she immetype” with his brash manners, foul language, single- diately overtook Binay as the most preferred candidate. mindedness, and “un-statesmanlike” conduct – such But Poe refused to hit the Aquino administration hard, as when he asked the Australian and US ambassadors even packaging herself as an alternative candidate who to shut up – but it appears that it is these very same would also continue the much-hated “daang matuwid” characteristics that propelled him to the presidency. of the Aquino administration. She was too moderate Why? for the people yearning for change.

Right from the very start of the campaign period – Two days before the election, I had a discussion long before the official one, when the presidential with a senior citizen, a retired colonel, who said that he hopefuls began positioning themselves, especially was initially for Poe and that Poe had the best answers during the 2013 mid-term elections – President Aquino during the presidential debate. But he said, “Ayoko na has been declaring that the 2016 presidential election is ng mababait na wala namang nangyayari. Dun nako a referendum on his “daang matuwid” (straight or sa bastos basta may mangyayaring pagbabago.” (I am righteous path) administration. The main campaign no longer for nice, polite candidates who, when elected message of the Mar Roxas-Leni Robredo tandem has into office, do not institute changes anyway. I would been not about who they are and their track record, but rather vote for a brash candidate who has the best that they are a continuation of the “daang matuwid” of chance of instituting changes.)

Aquino. They even attached the “daang matuwid” to Duterte is not self-righteous; he is even foul most their names in of the time. But he Duterte projected himself as the opposite, and campaign parapherprojects an image of nalia. even the nemesis of the Aquino administration; a tough-talking When Duterte candidate who he has the image of toughness who could was topping surveys, could get things implement change swiftly; and he identified President Aquino done. Add to the himself with the masses. himself campaigned fact that Duterte, in for Roxas and even This got him the votes of a wide cross section of all debates and attacked Duterte society: a section of big business, a segment of even in his directly. But still statements before the middle class, and the masses.

Duterte won overthe media, reserved whelmingly and Roxas got a trashing. It, thus, appears his most virulent attacks on Roxas and the Aquino that Roxas got a trashing because he represented the administration. He challenged Roxas to a slapping “daang matuwid” and the Aquino administration. Add match, and when Roxas responded by challenging him to this the technocratic, unsympathetic, self-righteous to a fistfight, he challenged Roxas to a gun duel. And demeanor of Roxas. when Aquino began campaigning against him, Duterte Leni Robredo was able to somehow squeeze away told the president to just “go to sleep.” He treated his from that because for one, her late husband Jesse other rivals differently, often polite in dealing with them.

Robredo was respected by a broad array of people; then So what propelled Duterte to the presidency? there is her down to earth simplicity; and lastly, she Duterte projected himself as the opposite, and even did admit that her late husband had differences with the nemesis of the Aquino administration; he has the Aquino. image of toughness who could implement change Why did this protest vote not propel Vice President swiftly; and he identified himself with the masses. This Jejomar Binay to the presidency? It could have if the got him the votes of a wide cross section of society: a election was held in 2013. But Binay bolted the Aquino section of big business, a segment of the middle class, administration late and only after he was persecuted and the masses. by it. And in a way, Malacañang’s demolition job on Do the election results represent a protest vote Binay worked, as it was able to portray Binay as a against the Aquino administration? Partly, because it corrupt trapo and not someone who represents change. is more of a trashing.| WWW.BULATLAT.COM

Benjie Oliveros

Let the True People’s Voice Win BARELY a week before the much talked about May 9 elections, different opinions from all walks of life about the presidential candidates could be heard and read over radio and television talk shows, newspapers, and social media. The talks and debates had peaked to a point where relationships and friendships have been strained and lost, and worst has led to useless killing.

I was surfing through the posts in Facebook when I came across the story of a netizen, Ms. Evelyn de LeonEstrada, who really nailed it on the head, a very timely and appropriate advice which is a must for everyone to heed: “Don’t let a presidential debate injure great friendships. We all have to live with the decision of the people come May 9, and our bets may lose the election, but we don’t have to lose friends because of it. So take extra care in choosing your words when arguing your point with your friends. The candidates (that) you staunchly defend won’t even know you exist.” (highlight supplied.).

In connection with that, may I add that in our discussions of the issues, let us not resort to using profane, obscene, and condescending words which do not only humiliate and embarrass the candidates but also degrade the personality and integrity of their supporters. In climbing up the stairs of power, do not pull others down. Let us stick to intelligent exchange of ideas on issues and platforms, since we are all civilized people, aren’t we?  The present candidates may not live up to our expectations because we are given a limited field to choose from. We have to accept the fact that whether we like it or not, we must choose whom we think is the best. Our choice may be the lesser evil, but let it be; they are the only persons to choose from. That is better, instead of allowing to win the least qualified and the one who would bring our country to doomsday. Despite the lack of qualified candidates, the Filipino voters must really deliberate and evaluate whom they will vote, especially on who will be our country’s President.

Experience in the past should have taught all of us that the best debater is not necessarily the best person. A candidate can be very articulate and expert in the choice of words that click with the electorate, but words are not enough, we need action.

A candidate may not frequent the church of his chosen religion; he may not talk God’s Words; he may not do God’s work; however, is it not true that, not all church-goers walk the talk; not all who profess to be religious, practice what they preach? Let the person without sin cast the first stone.

Let us go out and vote those whom we think are good servant leaders.

Let us elect the ones whose foremost aim is the interest of the people, not their own personal and vested interest. Let us vote those who are not afraid to make decisions and would not be influenced by their campaign fund contributors. Let us support those who will not be swayed by fear or fervor, those who will not die if they did not win, those who are willing to die serving the people.  Bishop Ruperto Santos, Bishop of Balanga and Chairman of CBCP Episcopal Commission on Migrant and Itinerant People issued a statement about the revival of the “Tanim-Bala” at the NAIA. We are “again” confronted with the shameful tanim-bala scandal with the “discovery” of a bullet in the bag of a 75-year old Balikbayan woman, and her allegation that she was asked to fork out Php50,000 to keep the “discovery” under wraps and the charge against her withdrawn. The questions in our minds are, “why is this happening again?” How can the airport authorities continue to be negligent and indifferent to this type of incidents? Can they not find out the real and credible explanation for this? Why haven’t they found out and brought to justice the MIAA personnel responsible for this?”

Bishop Santos stated: “It is not fun in the Philippines when our airport authorities showed their insensitivity and callousness towards the elderly Balikbayan and OFW whose love of country they manifest with their homecoming and sacrifices for their loved ones it is no longer fun in the Philippines and our airport earns notoriety as a place of extortion and blackmailing. Our OFW’s and travelling Filipinos should not have to experience the anxiety and fear that come from it. Identify, arrest, prosecute, convict, and punish all those responsible for this, so we can bring stability to our travel systems and restore the trust and confidence of our OFWs and all Filipinos traveling from or to their own country.”

During the recent debate, Presidentiable Mar Roxas said that he will remove the X-ray machines at the NAIA Terminal entrance and that he will only retain the X-ray before entering the plane. My younger sister exclaimed: “Goodness! The terrorists would love this. They would have bombed and NAIA would have exploded already before passengers reach the airplane entrance. Common sense, it should be the other way around.

Mar Roxas is so out of touch with the real issues…” I better end the quote, lest I be put in a bad light, hahaha.  Happy Birthday to Fr. Oscar Lucas, OMI, Fr. Oscar Lucas, and Rev. Jay Arvin (Mendoza) De Leon and Happy Sacerdotal Anniversary to Fr. Heriberto Villas, OMI, Fr. Ramon Bernabe, OMI, Fr. Romeo Marcelino, OMI, Fr. Hilario Siñgian, Jr., OP, and Fr. Ricardo Torrefiel. Happy Birthday also to my brother-in-law Roberto Imperial, husband of my sister Flordeliza, and father of my nephew and nieces Roberto Enrico, Ria Edeliza, and Raiza Elmira. Happy Birthday also to Jefferson Ledesma of San Roque Cathedral.|

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OCTOBER 12 - 18, 2015

OPINION

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MAY 16 - 22, 2016

DTI steps up advocacy to improve ease of doing business DEPARTMENT of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Adrian S. Cristobal Jr. emphasized the need to raise Philippine competitiveness by aggressively pursuing measures and policies to facilitate ease of doing business. “We are committed to support MSMEs; to make them globally competitive. An important first step is to to make it easy for them to set up and comply with government requirements,” he said.

MSMEs constitute the bulk of Philippine businesses and are considered key drivers of growth and employment generation.

Earlier this year Cristobal announced that the Ease of Doing Business Task Force (EoDB) shall pursue implementation of the three (3) steps in three (3) days for business registration. “Streamlining the processes has always been a top priority of the government. We have been making significant progress in our commitment to reduce the process from 16 steps and 29 days in 2015, down to 6 steps and 8 days in 2016, and further to 3 steps and 3 days,” he said.

The illustration (below) summarizes the 3-steps procedure. Step 1: Register with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and Pag-IBIG through the Integrated Business Registry System (IBRS); Step 2: Obtain

barangay clearance and mayor’s permit in just one (1) or two (2) days; and Step 3: Review documents and pay fees.

The IBRS streamlines the process for companies to buy and use point-of-sale cash register machines, in lieu of printing of receipts and invoices at BIR-accredited print shops. From April 2015 to March 2016, a total 21,771 applications has been processed by the IBRS within the day. For convenience of businesses, DTI will soon make available

in its premises the IBRS. Cristobal also cited the pioneering efforts of the Quezon City Local Government for quick registration of businesses in less than three days.

Through its Business One Stop Shop (BOSS), Quezon City streamlined its 12-step business registration procedure to just 3 steps as part of the government’s campaign.

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BI offers online registration of aliens THE long queue for foreigners applying for visa-related services will be over before the end of this month.

This developed as the Bureau of Immigration (BI) will start implementing an electronic filing and payment system for foreigners desiring to extend or prolong their stay in the country.

BI Comm. GERON

Prior to this, BI Commissioner Ronaldo Geron signed a memorandum of agreement with Global Payments Asia, a subsidiary of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), the country’s biggest online service providers for the said services.

“The online payment system will provide a convenient way to our clients to conduct their businesses in the bureau,” Geron said.

With the partnership the bureau has initiated, the country will eventually improve its imagebuilding among foreigners as they don’t have to stay long at the BI main office just to have their visas extended “The e-payment scheme is fast and secure. All they have to do is to log on to the immigration website –

www.immigration.gov.ph – to fill up the form for visa extension, pay the amount through their credit card and wait for the printable receipts,” the commissioner added.

But the clients have to keep their e-receipts printed and present it at the BI main office for stamping which will not take long as they did in the past.

It can be recalled that Geron also initiated the reactivation of several counters to curb the long queues of passengers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), just few days after assumption into office.

Said action was applauded by most airport users as their precious travel time were saved.| JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

“Building on the experience of Quezon City’s local government units (LGU), we will continue to advocate for other LGUs to streamline business registration as well,” he said.

In particular, the Nationwide Streamlining of Business Permits and Licensing Systems (BPLS) Program aims to reduce the stress and cost of doing business in the country. The BPLS is a joint undertaking of the DTI and the Department of the Interior and Local Governance (DILG) launched in 2011 to improve business licensing processes and make starting a business easier.

As of December 2015, 1,456 out of 1,634 LGUs have completed streamlining while a total of 1,403 (92%) out of 1,518 were able to comply with BPLS standards based on the submitted quarterly report from DILG Local Government Academy.

These standards include the use of

a unified form and the reduction of the number of signatories in the permit is reduced to only two: the city mayor or city administrator and/or Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) Head.

The DTI been working with the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) and the EoBD Task Force to streamline regulatory procedure including simplifying documentary requirements and implementing regulatory reforms to start a business in the Philippines.

Over the past six years, the Philippines has posted some of the biggest improvements globally in the World Economic Forum Global Competitiveness Report (+38), World Bank – International Finance Corporation (IFC) Doing Business Report (+45), Heritage Foundation’s Economic Freedom Index (+39), and Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (+49).| BALIKAS News Team

................................................................................................. <<<PANUNUMPA.... mula sa P/3

Congressman Abu, nanumpa na para sa Ikalwang Termino naturang survey ang resulta ng naging boto ni Abu. Matatandaang nakakuha si Abu ng 63.33% na voting preference sa naturang survey at si Conti ay nakakuha lamang ng 18.67%.

Ipinalalagay na ang mga nagsabing undecided na 18% sa panahon ng survey ay maaaring nasa panig na ni Conti, ilang araw bago sumapit ang eleksyon, kung kailan mas tumindi pa umano ang campaign

mobilization ng kampo ni Conti.

Ang Ikalwang Distrito ng Batangas at binubuo ng mga bayan ng Bauan, Lobo, Mabini, San Luis, San Pascual at Tingloy. Sa kabuuang 174,507 rehistradong botante sa distrito, nasa 144,076 lamang ang bumoto o katumbas ng 82.56% voters’ turnout. Naipanalo ni Abu ang laban niya sa lahat ng bayan ng Ikalwang Distrito ng Batangas.| JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

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DOST-PCAARRD promotes improved tilapia farming technologies THE long queue for foreigners applying for visa-related services will be over before the end of this month.

MANILA, May 11 — In an effort to improve tilapia farming technologies in Pampanga, the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) recently held a seminar on the application of technologies for improved tilapia farming in the area.

The seminar was conducted in coordination with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Regional Office 3 (BFAR RO 3) and the Freshwater Aquaculture CenterCentral Luzon State University (FAC-CLSU).

Currently, the tilapia industry is experiencing issues that include

high cost of feeds, poor water quality coming from the river, and presence of pests and predatory species such as soft-shell turtles, migratory birds, and janitor fish.

The seminar provided a venue for fisheries experts to guide fishfarmers in the province on how to combat these challenges. A total of 95 participants attended the seminar.

Experts shared their insights in overcoming the negative impact on tilapia farming, which involve the use of recommended corrective measures for the improvement of tilapia culture.

The corrective measures include the use of electric fishing device to catch soft-shell turtles; proper use of frightening devices; manual pickup of janitor fish; and use of filtration for water source. Picking up the

janitor fish can provide an alternative source of livelihood for the fishfarmer as it can be processed into fishmeal as well as fish leather.

Several papers were presented during the seminar, including the Status on the Existing Tilapia Farming Practices in Pampanga by Antonio G. Taduan of BFAR RO 3; GIS Technology and Its Various Applications by Engr. May Alisbo of CLSU; Geo-referenced Maps of Fishponds for Improved Tilapia Farming by Dr. Emmanuel M. Vera Cruz of CLSU; and Good Aquaculture Practices on Fish Farming

by Carmencita S. Agustin of BFAR RO 3.

Participants also visited three tilapia pond sites in Santa Catalina, San Luis; Mandasig, Candaba; and San Antonio, Arayat, Pampanga.

The participants were also

taught the actual collection of water quality parameters and the optimum range for fish survival, reproduction, and growth.

“I challenge everyone, especially the Municipal Agriculture Officers to share the knowledge they gained in this seminar to their constituents and even to their municipal leaders so that policies on the implementation of Good Aquaculture Practices (GAqPs) can be formulated using the results of the Geographic Information System,” said DOSTPCAARRD Inland Aquatic Resources Research Division (IARRD) Director Dr. Dalisay DG. Fernandez.

The seminar has also identified the plan of activities to further improve the tilapia industry. These include another seminar on improved tilapia farming using

genetically improved tilapia strains for culture and aquashade technology and the implementation of the proposed action plan. The action plan includes the following: * Conducting a registration of all tilapia hatchery operators in Pampanga; * Distributing registered hatchery operators directory to LGUs; * Monitoring on the compliance to the GAqPs; * Drafting of provincial ordinance to include compliance in GAqPs; * Implementing proper waste management and water treatment prior to release of waste water; * Conducting disease surveillance and monitoring; and * Holding seminars on fish feed formulation.| PNA

MAY 16 - 22, 2016

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LIFETIMES balikasonline@yahoo.com

7

Gen. Malvar: Ikwento Stores at SM CityLipa gave perks to sa Sampung Minuto responsible citizens on Election Day short film competition THE Museo ni Miguel Malvar, Sto. Tomas, Batangas - National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) will launch a short film competition entitled, Malvar: Ikwento sa Sampung Minuto. The 10-minute short film competition allows participants to creatively interpret the life and role of Malvar during the Philippine Revolution and War Against the United States, using video function of smart phones.

Interested participants may register online (http:// goo.gl/forms/qd1quXYwdb) to join the competition. Videos will be uploaded on the Facebook page of the Museo ni Miguel Malvar by its administrator, and the video

that garners the most likes and shares from viewers will win the competition.

Participating in this competition encourages the Filipino people to deeply understand the life of Malvar.

For more details, visit and like the Museo ni Miguel Malvar Facebook page.

The Museo ni Miguel Malvar is administered by the NHCP, the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine history through its museums, research and publication, and preserve the nation’s historical heritage through conservation and the marking of historic sites and structures.| BALIKAS News Team

PATRIOTISM was never felt

................................................................................................. greater last May 9 during the national and local elections.

With high hopes, people went out to vote for the leaders that they think will make the Philippines a great nation.

In caring for the nation, several stores at SM City Lipa treated those who cared to vote. Starbucks for instance offered their roasted Caramel and Chocolate Hazelnut Macchiatos in buy one take

one. Fruitas, also offered the same promo to its Coco-line shakes.

Facial services were also marked down to 50% at Forever Flawless. So, aside from the fingers-withindelible-ink photos which flooded our Facebook timelines last election, those fingers meant freebies also.

Wonder what’s at stake on 2019?| ADVT.

PA L A IS IPA N 1

"WE fought a good fight... yet to no avail... Ngayong tapos na ang halalan, nais kong magpasalamat sa ating mga kababayan na nagtiwala at tumulong sa akin at sa aking pamilya... wala akong ikinahihiya at pinagsisisihan, manapay ipinagmamalaki ko ang lahat, dahil kami ay lumaban ng maayos, malinis at maginoo... makakaasa sina Governor-elect Dodo Mandanas, Vice Governor-elect Nas Ona at ang mga Bokal sa aking suporta at tulong para sa kanilang administrasyon at pamumuno...." Pahayag ni VG Marc Leviste makalipas ang eleksyon.|

‘Patuloy tayong maglilingkod at susuporta sa magagandang programa sa Batangas’ - Leviste BATANGAS City -- Apat na araw matapos ang bilangan o official canvassing ng Commission on Elections Batangas sa mga lokal na puwesto sa lalawigan, humarap sa mga mamamahayag si Vice Governor Mark Leviste upang ihayag ang kanyang saloobin sa nakaraang eleksyon at ganun na rin pasalamatan ang kanyang mga supporters lalawigan.

Nabigong masungkit ng kasalukuyang bise gobernador ang puwesto sa pagkagobernador kay dating Congressman Hermilando Mandanas na nakakuha ng kabuuang boto na 337,399 laban sa kanyang 291,878 na boto.n Pumangatlo pa sa laban si Leviste at naungusan pa ni Congressman Dong Mendoza Sa kanyang opisyal na pahayag sinabi nito na wala siyang pinagsisihan at ikinahihiya manapay ipinagmamalaki niya ang lahat ng

kaganapan dahil lumaban ang kanyang kampanya ng maayos, malinis at maginoo.

Dagdag pa nito na makakaasa ang Governor- elect Dodo Mandanas at Vice Governor –elect Nas Ona at mga bagong Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng suporta at tulong para sa kanilang administrasyon at pamunuan.

Umaasa rin siya sa parating na administrasyon na maipagpatuloy ang magandang nasimulan ng administrasyong Recto-Leviste para lalawigan para sa patuloy ng kaunlaran ng lalawigan.

Nagpasalamat din siya sa lahat ng mga media organizations na kanyang nakasama mula ng siya ay unang manilbihan bilang Board Member (2004) at kasalukuyan ay Vice Governor (20072016) .

Pinasalamatan niya ang kanyang pamilya na nakasama sa laban sa pagkagobernador at sa lahat ng

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PAHALANG 1 Bayan sa Cam. Sur 5 Maga 9 Panghukay ng lupa 11 Humpak 12 Notang musikal 13 Local Area Network 15 Nestor Torre 16 Indira Gandhi 17 Harang 18 Inam 19 Sapi 20 Simbolo ng silver 21 ___ at Pong 22 Labis sa sisidlan 25 Simbolo ng selenium 26 Pagkatunaw 29 Kabyaw 30 Ibang tawag sa narra 31 SImbolo ng silver 32 National University 33 Baluga 34 Bayani Agbayani 35 Tanggapin ang sala 38 Umit 41 Pangkat mga Batangueño na kanyang naging kaibigan at napagsilbihan bilang ikala-

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42 Musmos PABABA 1 Mantsa 2 Tugis 3 Ano? 4 Pagkakakilanlan 5 Sabaw ng sinaing 6 Partido pulitikal 7 Alingasaw 8 Tigas: pabalbal 10 Hindi sigurado 11 Tinambangan 14 Propyedad 17 Total log ___ 19 Oo kay Cesar 21 Wig 23 Karugtong ng binti 24 Simbolo ng arsenic 25 Liwanag 27 Taguri sa bayani 28 Ilikha 31 Harang 36 United Nations 37 Instagram 39 Tipo ng dugo 40 Ikaw wang pinakamataas na opisyal ng lalawigan.| EDWIN V. ZABARTE

Taurus (Abril 20-Mayo 20) - Magoracion meditation at hilingin ang iyong financial na kalayaan. One at a time ang paggawa para malaman mo na meron kang natapos. Lucky numbers at color ay 29, 15, 38, 42 at bottle green.

Gemini (Mayo 21-Hun. 21) - Ang mga masalimuot na karanasan ngayon ay effect lang ng adjustment period. Konting tiyaga at magiging happy ka rin dahil uunlad ka. Lucky numbers at color ay 25, 11, 13, 45 at fuchsia pink.

Cancer (Hun. 22-Hul. 22) - Isang dating mahal ang nais bumalik sa iyo.

Alagaan ang iyong kalusugan. Lucky numbers at color ay 42, 35, 29, 38 at ivory white.

Leo (Hul. 23-Ago. 22) - Harapin ang effect ng iyong ginagawa. Ang lahat ng correction ay learning point para mapabuti ang iyong pagkatao. Lucky numbers at color ay 43, 11, 25, 36 at blue.

Virgo (Ago 23-Set. 23) - Mas mabuting kausapin ang iyong abogado. Direkta siyang tanungin kung kaya ka niyang maging defense lawyer mo. Lucky numbers at color ay 21, 51, 37, 17 at tangerine.

Libra (Set. 24-Okt. 23) – Ito ang takdang panahon na dapat ayusin ang work plan. Simulan mo rin ang magbigay ng regalo para maraming regalo ang matanggap mo. Lucky numbers at color ay 53, 35, 29, 51 at red rose.

Scorpio (Okt. 24-Nob. 22) - Ang natulungan mo noon ay magbibigay suporta sa iyo sa takdang panahon.

Matutupad mo rin ang tugmang solution ng problema. Lucky numbers at color ay 41, 47, 13, 15 at lilac.

Sagittarius (Nob. 23-Dis. 21) - Kaya mong i-manage ang negosyo ng iyong tiyo.

Mapapalago mo ito under your management. Lucky numbers at color ay 41, 17, 25, 29 at sapphire blue.

Capricorn (Dis. 22-Ene. 19) -Mahalaga ngayon ang konting tapang para magtagumpay ang sales presentation. Ienjoy mo ang appreciation ng iyong kapwa. Lucky numbers at color ay 43, 33, 21, 13 at mint green.

Aquarius (Ene. 20-Peb. 18) - Achieve mo na halos lahat ng pangarap. Hintayin mo lang ang pagdating ng perfect life time partner. Lucky numbers at color ay 22, 45, 41, 35 at butter yellow.

Pisces (Peb. 19 - Mar. 20) - Gamitin mo ngayon ang kapangyarihan ng 3rd eye.

Maraming tao ang mapapagaling mo sa kanilang supernatural na karamdaman.

Lucky numbers at color ay 28, 18, 33, 42 at crimson red.

Aries (Mar. 21 - Abril 19) - Magtaray ka sa taong makulit sa iyo. Ang crush mo ay meron ding gusto sa iyo. Feeling on top the world ka. Kumain ng healthy food, uminom ng maraming tubig para mapanatiling healthy ang katawan. Lucky numbers at color ay 11, 19, 25, 37 at light brown.|

SPID valve with The brell Rest grea

UTED

May 16 - 22, 2016 | Vol. 21, No. 20 balikasonline@yahoo.com

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Gov. Vi,‘round trip’sa Lipa LIPA City – MISTULANG nag-round trip sa Lunsod na ito si incumbent Batangas governor Vilma Santos Recto matapos masungkit ang mandato mula sa mga Lipenyo, ngayon bilang kongresista ng Lipa City Lone District.

Mula sa kabuuang 148,760 botante na aktwal na bumoto, nakuha ng gobernadora ang kabuuang 83,494 boto o 56.12% kumpara sa katunggaling si Gng. Bernadette P. Sabili na nakakuha ng 60,472 o

40.65%. May kabuuang 4,796 ng mga bumotong Lienyo ang hindi pumili ng magiging kongresista ng lunsod.

Ang Lunsod ng Lipa ay may kabuuang 173,854 rehistradong botante.

Naitala sa 85.56% ang voters turnout sa partikular na halalan.

Matapos mapangasawa si noo’y Congressman Ralph G. Recto, unang nahalal bilang Pununlunsod ng Lipa si Gov. Vi noong 1998. Hinawakan niya ang naturang posisyon sa tatlong magkakasunod na termino. Sunod dito’y naging gobernador naman sa loob ng tatlong sunud-sunod na termino.

Ngunit hindi naging madali sa gobernador na makuha ang suporta ng mga Lipenyo sa pagsungkit ng pwesto bilang kauna-unahang konggresista ng Lunsod ng Lipa. Nakalamang lamang siya ng may 23,020 boto sa isang hotlycontested fight.| BALIKAS News Team

'ROUND TRIP'. Balik-Lipa na si dating mayor at ngayon ay incumbent Governor Vilma Santos-Recto matapos iproklama ng Provincial Board of Canvassers ang pagkapanalo niya bilang kongrresista ng Lipa City Lone District.|JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

THE Provincial Board of Canvassers proclaims former Congressman Hermilando I. Mandanas as the newly elected governor of Batangas, May 10.| JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

Gov. Mandanas, balik-kapitolyo na!

BATANGAS City – “MALALIM na ang itinanim ni Governor Mandanas at iyon ang nagging puhunan nya para makabalik sa kapitolyo. Siya ang nagsimula ng scholarship program at pagkalinga sa mga BHWs, BNS at iba pang sector.”

Ito ang pahayag ni Mang Cesar, isang retiradong empleyado ng kapitolyo sa payama ng BALIKAS News kaugnay ng pagkapanalong muli ni dating Congressman Hermilando I. Mandanas bilang gobernador ng Batangas.

Pormal na iprinoklama ng Batangas Provincial Board of Canvassers sa pamumuno ni Atty. Allan Enriquez, acting Provincial Election Supervisor kasama sina Dep-Ed Batangas Superintendent Dr. Rocafort at Provincial Prosecutor Luzanta, ang mga nanalong kandidato pasado alas-12;00 ng tanghali ngayong araw.

Unang naglingkod bilang Gobernador ng Batangas noong 1995 at tinapos nya ang tatlong sunud-sunod na termino hanggang taong 2004.

Sunod naman siyang naglingkod bilang Kongresista ng Ikalwang Distrito ng Batangas ng tatalong (3) sunud-sunod na termino mula 2004 hanggang 2010.

Mula sa pagiging opisyal na kandidato ng Laban at Lakad merger noong 1995, hanggang sa maging kandidato ng Liberal Party, pinatunayan ni Mandanas sa kaniyang laban na hindi niya kailangan ang malalkas na partido political para maging behikulo sa kaniyang kandidatura nang makuha niya ang mahigit 300,000 boto sa kabila ng kaniyang pagtakbo bilang independyente.

Sa kabuuang 1.3 milyong botanteng Batangueno na bumoto, nakakuha si Mandanas ng kabuuang 337,829 boto o katumbas ng 29.40%. Lumamang lamang siya ng 43,977 boto kay 4th District Congressman Mark Llandro Mendoza ng Nationalist Peoples’s Coalition (NPC) na nakakuha ng 293,852 boto. Pumangatlo si Vice Governor Jose Antonio ‘Mark’ Leviste IV ng Liberal Party na may botong 292,665, at pang-apat pa si AGAP Party List representative Nicanor Briones na may botong 204,726.

Bagaman at kilalang walang makinarya para maglunsad ng malawak na kampanya, nakakuha pa rin ang independent candidate na si Marcos Mandanas ng kabuuang 17,797 boto.| BALIKAS NEWS TEAM