Vol. XIX, No. 14 - April 7 - 13, 2014

>>PH seeing highest sea level rise in the world . . .

> News. ...P/2

Vol. 19, No. 14 | April 7 - 13, 2014 E-mail: balikasonline@yahoo.com Telephone: (043) 417.1662 Smart/TNT: 0912.902.7373 Globe/TM: 0917.512.9477 Php 12.00/copy

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City investors need not line-up for payment of taxes, permits THERE will be no more falling in line or queuing for payment of business taxes and permits for Batangas City investors and business locators as teh city government pioneered in the mobile payment system in the countryside very recently.

The Batangas City government and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have launched a mobile payment system to benefit 4,000 business owners in the city.

“Mobile money payment system was introduced through USAID’s Scaling Innovations in Mobile Money (USAID/SIMM) project and is expected to improve transparency, accountability, and security in government financial transactions by digitizing

>>>FISCAL ADMINISTRATION..turn to P/3

INNOVATIVE PARTNERSIP FOR PROGRESS. KEY officials of the Batangas City government, the United Stated Agency for International Development (USAID), and Globe/G-Xchange, Inc. take out their phones to signal the launch of the mobile payment system for business taxes. Also in photo is Dr. Angelito Bagui, Chairman of Soro-Soro Ibaba Development Cooperative (SIDC), the largest agri-based cooperative in the country.| JIMBO LAURENCE I. CALAHATI

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Batangas City celebrates 41 mobile vendors sa Lipa City, World Forestry Day nagtapos sa pagsasanay

al 2014 WINNERS: 1st Prize - Php 50,000.00 + Trophy SAN ISIDRO ELEM. SCHOOL “The Eco Patrollers” 2nd Prize - Php 40,000.00 + Trophy TALUMPOK NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL 3rd Prize - Php 30,000.00 + Trophy BATANGAS CITYEAST CENTRAL ELEM. SCHOOL

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Up Close & Personal: Of contests and awards >>>F.E.S.T. ... turn to P/8

IN celebration of the International World Forestry day, the Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) in Batangas City conducted Introduction to Urban Tree Care & Management Seminar on March 20-212, 2014 at the 2F Conference Hall Gusaling Kalikasan at Kapayapaan (GKK) P. Burkgos St., Batangas City.

Representatives from the public and private sectors such as; Office of the City Veterinarian and Agricultural Services (OCVAS), City Disater and Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO), City Engineers’ Office (CEO), General Services Division (GSD), Public Information Office (PIO), Pilipinas Shell and First Gas Power Corporation participated in the said activity. They learned the concepts of managing urban and street trees, and experienced actual and handson training on proper way of tree pruning, surgery and root balling.

Pruning is the removal of unwanted branches, roots and shoots of a plant, it is done for purposes of safety.

Health and aesthetics of a tree. Tree surgery, on the other hand, is conducted on wounded trees to avoid having entry points of pathogens that could cause its decay and further deterioration.

While roof balling is another option in development

>>>ENVIRONMENT... turn to P/2

LUNGSOD NG LIPA -- May 41 mobile vendors sa Lipa city grand terminal ang nagtapos sa pagsasanay kamakailan kaugnay ng tamang paghawak ng pagkain, pakikitungo sa mga kustomer at tamang pag-aayos sa sarili na ginanap sa SM City Lipa events center.

Sinabi ni Liza Dimaculangan, SM City Lipa mall manager, na nagagalak sila sa nakitang transpormasyon ng mga manininda sa grand terminal

sapagkat mas malaki ang maitutulong nito sa kanilang paghahanapbuhay.

Ang programang ito ay nabuo matapos ang mga reklamong natatanggap nila sa mga mananakay kung kaya’t minarapat nila ang magbigay ng ganitong pagsasanay sa pakikipagtulungan na rin ng lokal na pamahalaan ng Lipa.

>>>HANAP-BUHAY... sundan sa P/2 ....................................................................................................

Buong pwersa ng pulis-Bauan, tinanggal na sa pwesto CAMP GEN. MIGUEL MALVAR – Bunga ng pagkabigong aksyunan ang lumolobong kriminalidad sa kanilang area of responsibility, tuluyan nang tinanggal sa pwesto ang hepe ng pulisya, ang katulong na hepe at ang 38 pa niyang kasamahan.

Ipinabatid ni Senior Superintendent Omega Jireh Fidel, Batangas police director, na si Chief Inspector Telesforo Domingo, na kapapagsilbi lamang bilang hepe ng Bauan sa loob ng nakalipas na tatlong (3) buwan, ang

>>>PULIS... sundan sa P/2

Where’s the promise of p. 4 MILF peace fact... good governance .......................................................................................................................

Construction to start for p. 6 waste-to-fuel plant p. 7 p. 6

The Next Chapter

2

NEWS

Balikas

April 7 - 13, 2014

PH seeing highest sea level rise in the world - thrice the global average, in fact PARIS – The Philippines has seen three times the global average in sea level rise, exacerbating its vulnerability to natural disasters, climate experts said at a conference in Paris this week.

Michael Williams of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said the Philippines posted the highest average increase in sea levels, at 60 cms, against the global average of 19 cms since the year 1901.

It is a "major force of nature" against which countries like the Philippines can do little, but, said Williams, "there's a lot to be done with disaster risk prevention, alert systems, and so forth. But you have to understand that there is that additional risk."

Williams elaborated: "The global average of sea level rise since the year 1900 or 1901 has been 19 cm for the last hundred and fifteen years.

However that varies widely from region to region, because of wind, because of currents in the ocean, because of changes in the land which

rises and falls. So it so happens that in the area of the Philippines, where the cyclone happened last year, probably because of the trade winds and the currents of the Pacific, you have a massive amount of water between the Philippines and where the winds are pushing the water.

The sea level rise, according to several of the stations we have operational there, is much much more than the global average. It's more like 60cm, and it's the highest sea level rise in the world."

Jean-Pascal van Ypersele, vice chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, stressed the need for the Philippines to take climate adaptation seriously in order to prepare itself well for what are expected to be continuing risks from climate change.

The two experts spoke at the 11th International Weather and Climate Forum ongoing in Paris.

At the conference, van Ypersele and his IPCC colleagues reported on the highlights of the 5th IPCC

SEA LEVEL RISES. This picturesque sunrise in Sitio Mahabang Buhangin, Isla Verde, Batangas City reflects the evidence of the rising of sea level. This coconut tree once sits fa from the beach, but through the years, the seawater reaches the base of the tree during the peak of high tide.| MARLOU E. FABILA Report.

According to van Ypersele, the Philippines is greatly affected by

SEA LEVEL RISES, INDEED. These talisay trees along Calatagan shoreline used to be far from the sea. Now that the sea rises, the trees are as if grow up along the shoreline itself.| JESSIE DELOS REYES

rising sea levels around the world, and because of this, even stronger storms in the future could wreak even greater damage on the country.

Notably, typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) last Nov. 8 was declared earliler the strongest cyclone to hit any part of the globe for 2013, drawing a Category 5 ranking from meteorologists. Asked how the Philippines can brace for the worst, he said there’s no other way than to drastically change the way structures are built in coastal areas.

"It's to build a more resilient society, a more resilient infrastructure, an infrastructure made of housing, of buildings that resist better in extreme events with very high winds, very strong rain events. That is what is called adaptation to climate change and increasing the resilience," van Ypersele said.

The other thing that can be done is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, he added, but quickly explained this was something “that

cannot be done by the Philippines” because it is a small contributor “in terms of emissions of greenhouse gases,” and therefore the reduction is “more something to be done on the international level.” That means, he added, having “the international community agreeing, mostly the large emitters, to decrease the emission of greenhouse gases.” That way, he added, the disturbance caused by human activity to the climate is “limited and managed in such a way that climate change doesn't become or transform the earth into an inhabitable planet.”

Van Ypersele clarified, though, that the 5th IPCC report “was finalized BEFORE Haiyan happened. It happened too late to be reflected in the report itself. But of course, we took in the IPCC report about tropical cyclones, about sea level rise, about the changes in weather patterns, in general, but the last tropical cyclones happened too late to be reflected in this IPCC report.”|

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Shourd of Turin relics, bumisita sa Batangas LUNSOD BATANGAS -Bumisita sa Basilica ng Inmaculada Concepcion sa lunsod na ito ang Arma Christi (Weapons of Christ), o yaong Instruments of the Passion o may kaugnayan sa buhay ni Kristo partikular ang kanyang kapanganakan, paghihirap at kamatayan.

Highlight nito ang “Shroud of Turin” o special reliquary mula sa Rome. Ito aniya ang exact replica ng burial cloth ng Panginoong Hesukristo.

Ayon kay Brother Francis, isa sa mga official delegate ng Tour of Arma Christi, ito ang ikatlong taon ng pilgrimage ng Arma Christi kung saan pumipili sila ng 14 na simbahan na bibisitahin sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa loob ng Lenten season.

Aniya, ito ay isang katunayan o patotoo na ang Diyos ay namuhay kasama

ng mga tao at mga banal.

Nais din aniyang ipaabot ng naturang pagbisita na tayong lahat at pwedeng maging banal at santo sa pamamagitan ng maliliit o simpleng paggawa ng kabutihan sa ating kapwa at pagaalay ng pag-ibig sa Diyos.

Isang banal na misa ang isinagawa sa pagdating ng Arma Christi na pinangunahan ni Archbishop Ramon Arguelles. Nagkaroon ng overnight vigil at isang misa muli ang idinaos bago tumulak ang relic patungo sa Landayan, Laguna.

Binigyang-diin sa naturang misa na ang Shroud of Turin ay isa lamang sa maaaring gamiting “tools for prayers”.

Nauna rito, bumisita din ang Arma Christi sa Archdiocesan Shrine of Padre Pio sa Sto. Tomas, Batangas at sa Lipa Cathedral.| RONNA ENDAYA CONTRERAS

<<<PULIS...mula sa P/1

<<<HANAP-BUHAY...mula sa P/1

Buong pwersa ng pulis-Bauan, 41 mobile vendors sa Lipa City, tinanggal na sa pwesto nagtapos sa pagsasanay kanyang deputy na si Senior Inspector Jaime Bejasa, at ang 38 iba pa ay ipinag-utos na sumailalam sa retraining program.

Idinagdag pa ni Fidel na ang mga nabanggit na mga pulis ay sasailalim muna sa 12-araw na training on crime prevention, discipline and adherence to law.

“The entire police force of Bauan was relieved under the Philippine National Police’s three-strike policy,” dagdag pa ni Fidel.

Ilang sunud-sunod na patayan ang naitala sa bayan

ng bauan nitong mga nakalipas na linggo, at ang pinakahuli ay ang pag-ambush kay Epher Victorio, general services manager ng Atlantic Gulf and Pacific Co. (AG&P) sa Barangay San Roque.

Itinalaga naman bilang kapalit ni Domingo si Chief Inspector Arturo Divino.

Nauna rito, tinanggal din sa pwesto ang hepe ng pulisya a mga bayan ng Agoncillo, Talisay at Sta. Teresita dahil sa pagkabigong solusyunann ang lumalalang insidente ng nakawan sa kani-kanilang nasasakupan.|

Lahat ng mga manininda ay dumaan sa anim na araw na pagsasanay na kinabibilangan ng food safety, good grooming, personality development, customer service, tourism at financial literacy o savings.

Sinabi ni Mary Rose Obille, pangulo ng samahan ng mga manininda sa grand terminal, na malaki ang naitulong ng programa sa kanya at maging sa mga kasamahan sa hanapbuhay.

“Malaki po ang pasasalamat namin sa pamahalaang lungsod ng Lipa at SM City

Lipa kasi kung hindi nila kami tinulungan ay maaaring hanggang ngayon ay hindi maayos ang paraan ng aming pagtitinda at maging ang pakikiharap naman sa mga customer” wika ni Obille.

Alinsabay ng pagtatapos ay binigyang pagkilala ang isang tapat na maninindang si Evelyn Cumal na nagbalik ng mamahaling cellpone na napulot nito. Lahat ng mga nagsipagtapos ay napagkalooban ng token at tatlong kamiseta bilang uniporme na gagamitin sa kanilang pagtitinda.| BHABY DE CASTRO

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<<<ENVIRONMENT....from P/1

Batangas City celebrates World Forestry Day

countries that instead of cutting trees, they are root balled and relocated in other suitable location and maintained until they regenerate and able to adapt to new environment.

This activity is an initiative to combat climate change by ensuring that the

city’s urban trees are healthy, to keep people safe, and to attain harmony between urbanities and the urban dwelling.

Ms. Norena Fidelson-Lizano led the seminar and training. She is a landscape horticulturist and currently the

landscape horticulturist and currently the landscape supervisior of One Serendra Condominium Corporation and worked for Ayala Center Redevelopment project, Greenbelt, Glorietta and San Antonio Plaza Arcade.|

April 7 - 13, 2014

Earth Day, ipinagdiwang sa Batangas City IPAGDIRIWANG ng Batangas City ang Earth Day ngayong taon sa pamamagitan ng isang Photography Contest na naglalayong maipakita ang kalagayan ng kalikasan at may temang “Batanguenos at Inang Kalikasan”.

Kaugnay nito, isang seminar na tinaguriang “Eyes of Batanguenos through Photography Seminar” ang isinagawa noong April 4 sa Gusali ng Kalikasan at Kapayapaan na dinaluhan ng mga elementary at highschool students mula sa pribado at pampublikong paaralan sa lungsod.

Nagsilbing resource speaker si Jamil Buergo, alumnus ng Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation kung saan tinalakay niya ang basic photography.

Ang contest period ay mula April 6-10 habang ang submission ng entry ay sa April 11.

Magkakaroon ng photo exhibit sa SM City Batangas mula April 12-20.

Ang awarding ay isasagawa sa Amphitheatre ng Plaza Mabini sa mismong Earth Day sa April 21.

Magiging batayan sa pagpili ng magwawagi ang adherence to the theme/content, creativity/originality, photographic quality at visual impact.

Ang magwawagi ng unang pwesto ay tatanggap ng P 5,000, P 3,000 para sa ikalawang pwesto at P 2,000 naman sa ikatlong gantimpala.

Hinikayat ni City Environment Officer Oliver Gonzales ang lahat ng mga Batangueno na maging bahagi ng mga gawain at proyekto sa pagliligtas ng mundo sa pamamagitan ng pagtutulungan sa pagsusulong ng malinis at luntiang kapaligiran.

Ang selebrasyon ay pangangasiwaan ng pamahalaang lungsod ng Batangas sa pamamagitan ng City Environment and Natural Resources Office.| RONNA ENDAYA CONTRERAS

................................................................. <<<FISCAL ADMINISTRATION...from P/1

Batangas City pioneers in mobile payment scheme payment and collection systems,” USAID, under the US Embassy in Manila, said in a statement.

The agency said it facilitated the Batangas government’s partnership with G-Xchange, Inc. -- the mobile commerce unit of Globe Telecom, Inc. -- to enable the use of the GCash platform for business tax payment.

USAID Philippines Mission Director Gloria D. Steele was quoted saying: “The new payment system is set to streamline and modernize the city government’s business tax transactions.”

“This supports our [countries’] joint goal of broad-based, inclusive and sustainable growth by promoting financial inclusion through increased access to banking and financial services, as well as transparency in government transactions,” Ms. Steele continued.

According to the statement, the mobile payments complement the USAID / Investment Enabling Environment Project, which was said to have helped reduce the business permit registration process in Batangas City from 17 steps over up to three days to two steps in just two hours.

Besides accepting “mobile money”, Batangas City will soon accept online and point-of-sale payments for other government fees as it works to digitize all its financial transactions, the statement read.

Quezon City is the first local government unit (LGU) to have ventured in mobile payment scheme, while Batangas City is the second in the country, and the first LGU in the coutryside or outside Metro Manila to have launched the program.

The city is one of three under USAID’s Cities Development Initiative, a program under the US-Philippine Partnership for growth, to help the latter country toward sustained, inclusive growth through “development interventions” in those cities.

The intiative was launched in Batangas City on May 3, 2012 with a memorandum of agreement between the city government and the telco provided as attested by the USAID.| JOENALD MEDINA RAYOS

NEWS

Balikas

3

Ang Mabuting Balita Nakiisa si Judas sa mga may Galit kay Jesus Si Judas Iscariote, isa sa Labindalawa, ay nakipagkita sa mga punong pari. “Ano po ang ibibigay ninyo sa akin kung tulungan ko kayong madakip si Jesus?” tanong niya. Noon di'y binayaran nila si Judas ng tatlumpung pirasong pilak. Mula noon, humanap na si Judas ng pagkakataon upang maipagkanulo si Jesus.

Paghahanda sa Pista ng Paskwa Dumating ang unang araw ng Pista ng Tinapay na Walang Pampaalsa. Lumapit kay Jesus ang mga alagad at nagtanong, “Saan po ninyo nais na maghanda kami ng hapunang pampaskwa?”

Sumagot siya, “Puntahan ninyo sa lunsod ang isang tao at sabihin ninyo sa kanya, ‘Ipinapasabi po ng Guro na sumapit na ang kanyang oras. Siya at ang mga alagad niya'y sa bahay ninyo kakain ng hapunang pampaskwa.’”

Sinunod ng mga alagad ang utos ni Jesus, at doo'y inihanda nga nila ang hapunang pampaskwa.

Ang Banal na Hapunan Nang gabing iyon, dumulog sa mesa si Jesus, kasama ang Labindalawa. Sinabi ni Jesus habang sila’y kuma-kain, “Tandaan ninyo, ako'y pagtataksilan ng isa sa inyo!”

Nanlumo ang mga alagad, at isa-isang nagtanong sa kanya, “Hindi ako iyon, di po ba, Panginoon?”

Sumagot si Jesus, “Ang kasabay kong sumawsaw sa mangkok ang siyang magkakanulo sa akin. Mamamatay ang Anak ng Tao ayon sa nasusulat tungkol sa kanya subalit kahabag-habag ang taong magkakanulo sa kanya! Mabuti pa sa taong iyon ang hindi

na siya ipinanganak!| Si Judas na magkakanulo sa kanya ay nagtanong din, “Guro, ako po ba?” Sumagot si Jesus, “Ikaw na ang nagsabi.”

Habang sila'y kumakain, dumampot si Jesus ng tinapay, at matapos magpasalamat sa Diyos ay pinaghati-hati niya iyon, ibinigay sa mga alagad at sinabi, “Kunin ninyo ito at kainin. Ito ang aking katawan.”

Pagkatapos, dumampot siya ng kopa, nagpasalamat sa Diyos at ibinigay iyon sa kanila. Sinabi niya, “Uminom kayong lahat nito sapagkat ito ang aking dugo; pinapagtibay nito ang tipan b ng Diyos. Ang aking dugo ay mabubuhos para sa kapatawaran ng kasalanan ng marami. Sinasabi ko sa inyo, hinding-hindi na ako iinom nitong alak na mula sa ubas hanggang sa araw na ako’y muling uminom nito na kasalo ninyo sa kaharian ng aking Ama.” At pagkaawit ng isang himno, sila'y nagpunta sa Bundok ng mga Olibo.

Paunang Sinabi ang Pagkakaila ni Pedro Sinabi ni Jesus sa kanila, “Sa gabing ito, ako'y iiwan ninyong lahat, gaya ng sinasabi sa Kasulatan, ‘Papatayin ko ang pastol at magkakawatak-watak ang mga tupa.’ Ngunit pagkatapos na ako'y muling mabuhay, mauuna ako sa inyo sa Galilea.”

Sumagot si Pedro, “Kahit na po kayo iwan ng lahat, hindi ko kayo iiwan.”

Sumagot si Jesus, “Tandaan mo, sa gabi ring ito, bago tumilaok ang manok, tatlong beses mo akong ikakaila.” Ngunit matigas na sinabi ni Pedro, “Kahit na ako'y patayin kasama ninyo, hindi ko kayo ikakaila.” Ganoon din ang sinabi ng lahat ng alagad.

4

Balikas Where is the promise of good governance?

OPINION

April 7 - 13, 2014

By BENJIE OLIVEROS THE Aquino administration is about to finish its fourth year and yet, the country is nowhere near the nirvana of corruption-free government acting on the best interests of the Filipino people, which was the campaign promise of Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III. “Kung walang korap, walang mahirap.”

Has corruption been eradicated? Have all corrupt officials been brought before the bar of justice? Are the Filipino people happy and assured that the government is acting on their best interest?

Consider the following: 1. Aside from the hospital arrest of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the “arrest” of Janet Lim Napoles, the impending plunder charges to be filed against Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada, and Bong Revilla, and the sacking of two deputy directors of the National Bureau of Investigation – with no explanation on the causes for such except that they allegedly have integrity and trust issues and that they are political appointees and thus could be relieved anytime – nothing much has been accomplished during the last four years in making those accountable for corruption pay for their crimes and no high ranking official either from the former Arroyo administration and much less, the current Aquino government has been convicted because of corruption.

Are there only three alleged corrupt lawmakers from among the total of 24 senators and 250 representatives of the Lower House? Sure, the Aquino government claims that some of Aquino’s allies would be included in the second batch of lawmakers to be charged with plunder. But it took the Aquino government four years and several whistleblowers before it began to pursue the three opposition senators. Worse, charges of irregularities involving members of Aquino’s official family are dismissed outright, ignored, or the controversial official is merely asked to resign without even a reprimand.

2. Two persons on different sides of corruption scam cases have opposite fortunes: Janet Lim Napoles, a major operator in the pork barrel scam involving legislators, some former Cabinet officials, and fake NGOs received a lot of perks from the Aquino government including being fetched by no less than Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda, brought to Malacañang and met with President Aquino, who even acted as advance party to Camp Crame to ensure her security; she continues to be detained in a bungalow unit in Fort Sto. Domingo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna – which was used by former president Joseph Estrada – with the government spending P150,000 ($3,300) a month for her enhanced detention, which includes her own food taster. This does not include the expenses for her hearings and medical check-ups where she is being escorted by a lot of police officers and provided with a bulletproof vest. The justification of the Aquino government for this special treatment is that the information that she would give is crucial to the pursuit of those involved in the pork barrel scam. But up to now, even in her appearances during Senate hearings, she never gives an indication that she would name names and still, she gets the special treatment. Why? On the other end, Senior Supt. Conrad Capa, who used to head police Task Force Tugis, which captured fugitive Delfin Lee of Global Asiatique, was removed from the task force and received a transfer order a week after Lee’s arrest. Lee is facing charges of syndicated estafa for conning people into buying condominium units that, in cahoots with Pagibig officials, were named to fictitious persons who were issued loans by the quasigovernment agency. Recently, during the graduation ceremonies of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA), President Aquino castigated Capa, without naming him directly, for doing a disservice to the PNP by airing out in media his opposition to his transfer by PNP Director General

>>>PERSPECTIVE..turn to P/7

A bilingual weekly newspaper of general circulation published by the PAHAYAGANG BALIKAS, INC., a corporation duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with Certificate No. CS201401804.

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perspective

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The Next Chapter THE Office of the Ombudsman announced its indictment of three senators for the pork barrel scam. Probable cause exists for plunder and graft and corruption against Senators Enrile, Estrada and Revilla and some other respondents. This means formal charges for plunder and graft and corruption will soon be filed before the Sandiganbayan against respondents. The filing of cases means that the court will take over the matter from the Office of the Ombudsman. Remedies are now to be sought before the Sandiganbayan which controls the incidence and the movement of these cases.

But efforts to seek justice do not bear any fruit unless all accused are arrested. Under the law, only the courts, the Sandiganbayan in this case, can issue warrants for the arrest of the accused. Courts do not issue any warrant of arrest as a matter of course. They conduct independent examination of the record of the case to determine whether probable cause exist for the issuance of a warrant of arrest. If they found no probable cause to issue the same, they may dismiss the case or require the prosecutor to adduced additional evidence to support the issuance of the warrant of arrest. Until the court issue a warrant of arrest, accused can do anything he or she wants without interference from the police.

As such, there is nothing to celebrate yet in the PDAF cases. Accused senators and their cohorts must be arrested so that the wheels of justice can start to grind. If they could not be arrested and arraigned, no criminal trials can proceed against them. They must be arrested or else the ends of justice will be thwarted.

And until a warrant of arrest is issued, any accused can resort to different remedies to delay the processes of the court. Under the Rules of Procedure of the Office of the Ombudsman, all accused may file a motion for reconsideration within five days from receipt of

resolution indicting them for plunder and graft charges.

A motion for reconsideration ordinarily delays the filing of cases in court, though there are prosecution offices which file charges in court in spite of the pendency of the said motion.

Assuming charges are finally filed before the Sandiganbayan, accused can still evade arrest through legal means. Graft and corruption is a bailable offense.

Plunder is not bailable but a petition for bail may be filed by the accused if the evidence of guilt against him is not strong. Theoretically, an accused has to surrender first before his or her petition for bail may be acted by the court. However, enterprising lawyers can resort to some legal tricks to defeat a warrant of arrest even before it is issued. This is how legal processes and remedies are being exploited by litigants and their lawyers.

And of course, there are some below-the-belt strategies to evade arrest during the pendency of the case. The case of a well-known senator who hid for a long time until a new administration came to power and worked out the lifting of the warrant of arrest against him is a popular example. Ironically, he has been admired by many for his obstinate defiance of the law.

The next chapter in the Napoles Affairs is expected to be full of intrigues and legal maneuvers. It will not be an easy ride. It is expected to be dirtier and messier than what had transpired before the indictment of the accused. It will be one of the longest chapters in the saga.

Three senators and a few minions have been indicted so far. More are needed to be hailed to courts if justice is to be served truly. Do not rejoice yet. Perpetrators are still at large and many of the remained hidden and protected unto this day.|

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P4.6M halagang Ibaan Municipal Police Station, pasisimulan na NAGDAOS ng groundbreaking ceremony bilang hudyat ng pagsisimula sa itatayong bagong Ibaan Municipal Police Station (MPS) kamakailan ang pamunuan ng Philippine National Police (PNP).

Ang pondo ng naturang proyekto na nagkakahalaga ng P4.6 milyon ay magmumula sa lokal na pamahalaan ang 14% (P644,000.00) habang ang 86% (P3,956,000.00) ay manggagaling sa PNP. Mayroong kabuuang 288 metro kwadrado ang lawak ng lupang pagtatayuan ng dalawang palapag na gusali na inaasahang matatapos sa loob ng ilang buwan.

Sinabi ni PSSupt. Omega Jireh Fidel, Batangas police provincial director na ang proyekto ay bahagi ng Integrated Transformation Program ng PNP na naglalayong ipakita ang seryosong pagpapalakas at pagsasaayos ng serbisyo publiko ng mga kapulisan.

Matagal na panahon na aniyang hindi naipaayos ang gusali ng kapulisan sa Ibaan kung kaya’t panahon na upang magbagong bihis ito at ipakita na alinsabay sa pagbabago ng hitsura ng gusali ay ganundin ang pagbabago sa mga negatibong pagkilala sa kapulisan.

Malaki naman ang pasasalamat ni PSInsp. Ramises L. De Castro, hepe ng Ibaan MPS sa proyektong ito sapagkat mas lalong mapapabuti nila ang paglilingkod sa kanilang mga nasasakupan.

Dumalo rin sa seremonya sina PSSupt Florendo S. Saligao, hepe ng Regional Police Community Relations Division, PRO 4A, PCInsp Joseph Adelbert A. Alino, hepe ng Regional Engineering Office 4A, PINSP Alberto F. Fabregas, Chief, Provincial Logistics Branch, Batangas PPO, Mayor Juan Toreja ,Vice Mayor Sixto I. Yabyabin, at Municipal Councilor Venus De Castro.|

OPINION

April 7 - 13, 2014

Problemado kay mister SA Article 36 ng Family Code, ang isang kasal ay maaaring ideklarang walang bisa kung walang sikolohikal na kakayahan ang isang asawa na gampanan ang tungkulin o responsibilidad bilang asawa (psychological incapacity). Pero ang simpleng pagkabigo o kapabayaan lang na gampanan ito ay hindi sapat upang ituring na psychological incapacity tulad ng kaso nina Becky at Jim. Noong Disyembre 21, 1968, nagpakasal sina Becky at Jim. Engrande ang kanilang kasal. Matapos iyon, naglaho ang ilusyon ni Becky sa sinapit na buhay dahil wala silang ginawa kundi mag-away, magsumbatan at magbangayan. Si Becky lang ang nagtatrabaho at nagaalaga sa kanilang tatlong anak. Si Jim ay hindi nakatapos ng kolehiyo kaya hindi makakuha ng disenteng trabaho. Kapag naman nakakuha ng trabaho ay hindi ito nagtatagal. Nang sinubukan niyang magnegosyo, lahat ay nalugi. Naging palamunin si Jim at pagkatapos ay nakikipagbarkada. Hindi niya tinutulungan si Becky sa pag-aalaga ng kanilang mga anak.

Sa kabilang banda, si Becky ay umangat at umasenso sa kompanyang pinapasukan. Nakabili siya ng mga ariarian na walang tulong mula sa asawang si Jim. Hindi nagtagal, nawalan ng tiwala sa sarili si Jim at nagseselos kapag nakikitang nakikipag-usap sa ibang tao si Becky kahit pa sa mga kamag-anak nito.

Matapos ang 35 taon ng pagsasama ay napuno na si Becky. Kumunsulta siya sa isang psychiatrist at nadiskubre niya na may dependent personality disorder ang asawang si Jim. Ayon sa doktor “psychologically incapacitated” daw ang lalaki na gampanan ang responsibilidad niya bilang asawa. Base sa naging pagsusuri, nagsampa ng petisyon si Becky para mapawalang-bisa ang kanilang kasal ayon na rin sa deklarasyon ng doktor na walang kakayahan si Jim na gampanan ang tungkulin at obligasyon niya bilang asawa na mahalin, respetuhin, manatiling tapat at tu lungan o suportahan ang kanyang kabiyak. (Itutuloy) Ibinasura ng korte ang petisyon ni Becky. Hindi tinanggap ang sinasabing negatibong epekto ng Dependent Personality Disorder kuno ng asawa nitong si Jim. Ayon sa korte, ipagpalagay man na maraming kapintasan at pagkukulang si Jim dahil hindi man lang niya nakuhang makapagtrabaho para suportahan ang kanyang sarili at pamilya, hindi naman daw maitatanggi na nagsama sila bilang mag-asawa sa loob ng 35 taon at nakuhang magpalaki ng tatlong anak at naging

matagumpay pa nga si Becky sa kanyang trabaho at sa maraming bagay. Malinaw na hindi naging hadlang ang sinasabing psychological incapacity o diperensiya ni Jim para magampanan ang papel niya bilang mister ni Becky. Ayon sa korte, base sa katibayang nabanggit ay maaasahan si Jim na mahalin, maging tapat at magbigay ng suportang moral sa kanyang misis. Nang umapela si Becky sa Court of Appeals ay pareho rin ang naging hatol sa RTC. Tama ba ang RTC at CA?  TAMA. Ang kawalan ng kapasidad ng isang tao na gampanan ang mga obligasyones niya bilang isang asawa ay dapat na katumbas ng isang psychological abnormality sa utak at hindi basta simpleng kapabayaan, kapalpakan o pagtanggi lang na harapin ang kanyang tungkulin bilang isang asawa. Ang matigas na pagtutol ni Jim na alagaan ang kanyang mga anak, ang kapabayaan niya sa pagharap sa kanyang mga negosyong pinasok, ang kawalan niya ng kakayahan na makakuha ng trabaho at ang diumano ay matindi niyang pagseselos ay hindi sapat na patunay na mayroon siyang matinding karamdamang emosyonal o matinding baltik siya sa utak para ituring na siya’y may psychological abnormality. Hindi sapat na ipakita na hindi nagampanan ng isang asawa ang dapat ay papel niya sa pamilya. Dapat din na patunayan na kaya hindi niya nagampanan ang kanyang papel ay dahil sa mayroon nga siyang karamdaman sa utak.

Puwede sana na mas naging matulungin si Jim sa kanyang misis para naging mas maganda ang kanilang pagsasama. Pero dahil hindi nga niya ito ginawa ay may psychological incapacity na siya at hindi na niya kayang gampanan ang mga obligasyones niya bilang asawa.

Sigurado nga na naging mahirap ang buhay mayasawa nila dahil maraming naging away, pagtatalo at pagsusumbatan. Pero lahat naman ng pagsasama ng mag-asawa ay dumadaan sa ganitong pagsubok at puwede pa nga na mas matindi pa ang pagdaanan ng iba kaysa sa kanila. Sabihin na naging magulo at mapusok ang naging pagsasama ni Becky at Jim pero kung titingnan, nakuha na nga nila na magsama sa loob ng 35 taon, ibig sabihin lang nito, kung gugustuhin nila ay kaya pa nilang ayusin ang kanilang problema (Yambao vs. Republic, G.R. 184063, January 24, 2011).

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Walang ginhawang kapalit ang pagsapi sa armadong kilusan PAGTATAKSIL! Ito ang nababangit ng karamihan sa katotohanang nagpapasasa sa dayuhang bansa sina Joma Sison at kung sino pa na mga lideres ng kilusang komunista sa Pilipinas. Karamihan sa kanila ay mag asawa na ginawa nang propesyon ang pagloko sa mga inosenteng Pilipino para humawak ng armas at lumaban sa gobyerno.  Pagtataksil nga naman talaga sa samahan yung iwanan silang halos walang makain sa kabundukan at walang siguradong kinabukasan kapag nasa kalunsuran samantala yung nagpupumilit na kilalaning lider ay mga celebrity ang kaulayaw kapag birthday nya.

Yung mga lider na nahuli sa Cebu kamakailan ay mas mahalaga pa ang pusa kesa kasama dahil, ayon sa kuwenta ng mga kinaukulan, halos P14,000 ang buwanang pagkain ng mga alaga nilang pusa. Pero yung mga kasamang nirekruit nila na lumalaban para sa samahan ay halos walang makain at walang tamang banig na mahigaan.  Akala ng marami noong una langit at ginhawa ang kapalit ng kanilang pagsapi sa kilusan. Pero sa kalaunan naging hayag na katotohanan para sa kanila na ang

langit at ginhawa ay para lamang sa iilang tao sa kanilang kilusan.

Ironically, ito ay nangyayari sa grupong nagsisigaw na dapat daw pantay pantay ang lahat.

Di ba napakalaking lokohan ang nangyari?

Kataksilan sa simulaing matamis nilang ipinangako para makakuha ng mga inosenteng kasapi.  Wala na ang RA 1700. Pinatatag na ng mga batas ang karapatan ng bawat Pilipino na magkaroon ng sariling paniniwala. Baluktot man o kahangahanga, basta hindi bayolente ang gamit na pamamaraan, ito ay ginagarantiyahan ng Saligang Batas na dapat irespeto.  Marami ang nagsasabi na bulag ang gobyerno o di kaya abusado ang mga rebeldeng makakaliwa. Totoo ba?

Marahil masasabi natin na totoo dahil ang batas mismo ang pumapagitna sa pagitan ng gobyerno at taumbayan para hindi abusuhin ng malalakas ang mga mahihina. Yun ang tipo ng demokrasya natin.  Sa patuloy na pagtataguyod ng mga ito ng

Balikas

5

MILF peace fact can be a formula for disaster I WAS not able to watch live the TV coverage of the signing of the peace agreement at Malacanang but from what I gathered from others who were present, MILF chief Kagi Murad Ibrahim's message was sober and simple -- without the “bluster” and self-acclaim and breast thumping of others who spoke.

He stressed that the agreement was not only for the MILF but for the whole Bangsamoro, the MNLF included. The MILF, he said, is only a temporary gatekeeper and will eventually turn over the key to all Bangsamoro.

I think he had sent a strong message to all of us. We must take a cue from this.

Especially those who wrongly believe that dealing only with the MILF will already bring peace.  PEACE SPOILERS? Let's stop calling those who are opposing or questioning the MILF peace agreement as “peace spoilers”. Take the case of Zamboanga City Congressman Celso Lobregat who had publicly shown reservations or criticisms on some portions of the deal. Having seen up close the violence and misery of his constituents in Zamboanga as an aftermath of the 1996 peace agreement with the MNLF, we cannot blame him if he raises questions to prevent a similar recurrence with this new pact. There will be many others like him in Cotabato and Lanao and the island provinces and elsewhere. They are not “peace spoilers”.

They are helping somehow, in their own way, to safeguard sustainable peace by learning from lessons of the past. Of course, there are also others who just want to see this fail as they stand to lose when it succeeds. We should separate the chaff from the grain.  NEEDS SUPPORT --- Truth to tell, there is still a disconnect between the MILF supporters and the majority of masses in the areas covered by the agreement. So there is a lot of work yet to be done by all of us to get everyone on board. The more difficult work has just begun.  MANAGE EXPECTATIONS --- It is said that the mathematical formula for “happiness” is: “expectations divided by delivery”. Hence, if expectations are high and the delivery low, people are less happy. Or are angry.

Conversely, even if the delivery is low but the expectations are also low, people will be happy or contented -- much happier of course if the delivery exceeds the expectations. I remember this formula because the signing of the peace agreement has obviously heightened expectations, especially amongst the bangsamoro who expect deliverance from their sorry lot today.

We must all meet those high expectations or better still manage them this early. Otherwise, we may be in for more trouble in the future. I don't want to sound killjoy in this moment of glee.

Honestly, I feel great relief and joy that what we have failed to achieve during our own time in the past has now become a fulfilled dream. But let's all be forewarned this early that this peace formula may become a formula for disaster if those high expectations are not met. You all know what I mean. So, let’s all come together and give this our best shot.  CONSISTENCY -- By the way, I now hear more grumblings that we must be consistent in our global insistence to protect our territorial integrity and sovereignty. If we are so loud and determined to fight for our rights over the disputed territories with China, why are we so quiet and docile with our Sabah claims with Malaysia? Someone jokingly suggested that the Chinese should also do what Malaysians did. They should become a “facilitator” in the negotiations with the CPP/NPA/NDF and succeeding in that, then perhaps, we can extend gratitude in the same way we are quietly conceding Sabah to Malaysia today. Interesting thought!  FLIGHT 370 --- I have been following closely the search for the missing Malaysian Airlines plane. After 3 weeks, the mystery as to where the plane is with its passengers , still remains. What strikes me most now is that for once, the whole world, for all its technical advancement, appears helpless.

Humanity had been bragging about its almost superhuman capability but in this case, the world is still scratching its head in puzzlement. It is humbled by the vastness and enigma of Mother Nature. That shakes us back to reality, for once, that we humans are finite and vulnerable beings and are not in full control of all things. Our superior air and our bloated

>>>DUREZA..turn to P/6

............................................................................................... armadong pakikibaka, sa pagtugis ng utopia na ipinangako ng kanilang idyolohiya, naiwanan na sila ng panahon. Ang galing at talino nila kung noon pa ay ginamit nila sa wasto sana ngayon wala na silang mairereklamo pa.

Maikumpara ko ito sa taong reklamo nang reklamo kung bakit daw di umiikot ang basurero. Pero yun pala di rin siya bumabayad ng buwanang konribusyon nya na siyang pansuweldo sa basurero.

BUSINESS

April 7 - 13, 2014

6

Construction to start for waste-to-fuel plant THE JOINT VENTURE of Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV) and UK-based Gazasia Ltd. will proceed with construction of its wasteto-fuel facility in Batangas this June, an official told reporters recently.

“We had already broken ground for the liquid biomethane project through a ceremonial tree planting last March 18. But we haven’t started construction. Our target for that is June this year,” Juan F. Alfonso, Aseagas chief operating officer, said over lunch in Makati City.

“Our plans are being drawn up right now. So from now until June, we are going to finalize our detailed plans.

Suppliers are already lined up.”

He added that equipment for the facility will come from Europe and the United States.

Sabin M. Aboitiz, Aseagas president and chief executive officer, said the biomethane plant is expected to be completed next year.

“It is really getting the garbage and being able to convert it. The trick is to be able to sell it as fuel for vehicles and not for power.

We expect that by the end of 2015, we will already start selling,” Mr. Aboitiz said.

The official also said that Aseagas has signed a deal with Absolut Distillers, Inc. of tycoon Lucio C. Tan for the organic waste that will be

used for the biomethane facility that will be built in the municipality of Lian. He said Aseagas will use effluent produced by Absolut’s facility. The methane that will be gathered from the waste will be converted to liquid gas.

Commercial buyers Mr. Alfonso said Aseagas has already identified buyers of fuel that will be produced by the plant.

“We’re not focusing on retail -- it’s really commercial.

[Refilling] stations will be strategically located where our biggest customers are,” he said.

The $50-million plant -which has a capacity of 9,000 metric tons of biomethane every year - can fuel up to 200 buses and heavy trucks yearly, according to the officials.

Aseagas, in November last year, sealed the acquisition of a 10-hectare property for the plant. Should the project succeed, the company will replicate the facility in other parts of the country.

“This is a very exciting project for us. If this will be successful, then we can put up similar plants anywhere,” Mr. Aboitiz said.

“If this works, we’ll go to landfills and we’ll start doing projects there. So what we will do is just put the plant right beside the landfill and then separate the organic from non-organic waste. After that, we will take the organic ones to the digester, process it and what comes out of it is liquid gas,” he explained.

Mr. Alfonso said that company is also in talks with other distilleries for possible partnership.

“We are talking to all the biggest ones here. We’re trying to close another partnership, hopefully, in the next 90 days. Our rollout strategy is to build five plants in the next five years,” he said.

He added that the company has yet to determine the next sites, but noted that opportunities are present in many parts of Luzon, as well as in Davao and Iloilo.

The waste-to-fuel project is the newest venture of the Aboitiz family. Aseagas was formed by AEV and Gazasia in 2012 to pioneer the liquid biomethane business in the Philippines.

Gazasia is an alternative fuel developer that provides waste-to-fuel solutions.

ALL set for the groundbreaking ceremony of the first biogas plant in Lian town.| It established the first biogas-to-fuel project in the world using a landfill.

Last January, AEV said it has earmarked some P88 billion for capital expenditures (capex) this year, higher than 2013’s P59 billion.

Bulk of the capex, amounting to P78 billion, will be spent on its power generation and distribution business through Aboitiz Power Corp. (AboitizPower).

Some $50 million will go to Aseagas, and the remaining to its property (Aboitiz Land, Inc.), banking (Union Bank of the Philippines, Inc.), and food (Pilmico Foods, Inc.) subsidiaries.

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NGCP clarifies income tax payment NATIONAL Grid Corp. of the Philippines (NGCP) clarified on recently that it is exempted from paying income taxes but still pays its franchise taxes.

The Department of Finance recently published a Tax Watch print ad stating that only 39 percent of the top 100 corporations ranked by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) landed on the Bureau of Internal

Revenue’s (BIR) list of 500 top corporate or non-individual taxpayers.

NGCP ranked 25th on the SEC list, which was based on revenues. The BIR’s list, which was based on incometax returns, did not include NGCP. NGCP Spokesman Cynthia Perez-Alabanza said the franchise granted through Republic Act 9511 mandates

LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF ADDENDUM TO EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE NOTICE is hereby given that the newly discovered property forming part of the estate of the late AURORA L. VELASQUEZ, who died intestate on January 30, 2010 at St. Patrick’s Hospital, Batangas City, consisting of deposit in Banco de Oro, Rizal Ave., Batangas City, has been extra-judicially settled by and among her heirs by virtue of the “Addendum to Extrajudicial Settlement of Estate” on March 12, 2014 as per Doc. 496; Page No. 101; Book No. VIII; Series of 2014 of Notary Public ATTY. ALFREDA D. DE TORRES-BANUELOS, until December 31, 2015; Notarial Commission No. 2014-02; P.T.R. No. 2122965, January 2, 2014, Batangas City; IBP Official Receipt No. 916796, January 3, 2014, Batangas City; Roll of Attorneys No. 60969.

Pahayagang Balikas / March 24, 31 & April 7, 2014

the grid operator must pay a franchise tax equivalent to 3 percent of all gross receipts, in lieu of income tax and any all taxes, duties, fees and charges of any kind, nature of description levied, established or collected by any local or national authority on its franchise, rights, privileges receipts, revenues and profits, and on properties used in connection with its franchise.

“NGCP dutifully pays any and all taxes due from it to the government. This is another way we contribute to nation-building,” Alabanza said.

NGCP is a privately owned transmission com-

pany with a 25-year concession and 50-year franchise to operate the country’s power grid. It is in charge of operating, maintaining and developing the country’s power grid. It transmits highvoltage electricity through “power superhighways” that include the interconnected system of transmission lines, towers, substations and related assets.

Businessmen Henry Sy Jr. and Robert Coyiuto Jr. hold majority control of NGCP. The two businessmen own OneTaipan Holdings Inc. and Pacifica21 Holdings Inc., which collectively account for around 60 percent of NGCP.|

BANKING

WOMEN’S RURAL BANK, INC. Deposits | Loans | Financing Services Carandang St., Poblacion, Rosario, Batangas

“Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.” - Theophrastus, philosopher

AEV’s net income fell 12% to P21 billion last year from P23.97 billion in 2012, mainly due to a drop in earnings of AboitizPower.

Shares of AEV closed at P56 apiece yesterday, up five centavos or 0.09% from P55.95 each on Tuesday.

Alcala said the annual contest is the government’s way of thanking the country’s rice farmers and their respective provincial and municipal officials and AEWs for their continuing efforts and contribution to increase rice production.

According to the DA, the combined palay production of the 12 provinces totaled 6.65 million metric tons (MMT) – which represents about 36 percent of the country’s total harvest of 18.42 MMT last year.

“The Rice Achievers’ Awards is part of DA’s interventions and incentive system to encourage LGUs, IAs, SWISAs and AEWs to contribute their share in increasing farmers’ harvest and incomes in order to attain national rice sufficiency,” Alcala said.| PNA

................................................................................. <<<DUREZA....from P/5

MILF peace fact can be a formula for disaster

egos that have made humans feel like modern-day gods due to our advancements in science and technology have all gone pffffft! It’s a good reality check for all. It brings our feet back on the ground.  MEDIA CIRCUS ---The kind of public beating Malaysia is getting from this plane tragedy is decidedly unfortunate and clearly undeserved. This can happen to any country or to any company and the way things appear by the nature and magnitude of the disaster, the normal human reactions of anguish, anger and looking for answers and those to blame are to be expected. The whole world is agonizing by the day still searching for answers. In the meantime, socalled experts in tandem with the world media who boast of their analysis and theories are having a heyday! It's becoming a media circus now, TV cameras intruding and even projecting to the world human anguish better left

behind closed doors in the privacy of the suffering loved ones. These coverages worsen the human dimension of the tragedy. We have become vultures feeding on carcasses of the victims. How sad.  JOYS OF PARENTS --- I have attended a few graduation or closing ceremonies during a last few days. When parents are called up to the stage to help pin a medal or confer a medallion on a graduating son or daughter who garners honors or awards, one can't escape notice the unending joy this brings. It is during childhood days of children that parents must enjoy most. So hold their hand always or hug them while you still can. When they grow up, they will seldom be around for us to enjoy them.

And don’t be surprised because this is just that inexonerable life cycle that we parents when we were children, had also gone through before. So, enjoy your children now while you can.|

Tawag na sa Pahayagang Balikas Telephone No. (043) 417.1662 * 0917.521.9477 * 0912.902.7373 para sa inyong pagpapalathala.

Nicetas E. Escalona, Lifetimes Editor

LIFE TIMES Libra (Set. 24-Okt. 23) Isiping mabuti kung ano ang gustong gawin. Huwag magpadalos-dalos ng desisyon dahil malakas ang magneto ng pagkakamali.

Isa-isahin ang hakbang hanggang sa tuluyang makamit ang gusto. Kumunsulta sa minamahal, kaibigan o kasambahay tungkol sa binabalak.

Scorpio (Okt. 24-Nob. 22) - Marunong ka ngayon makisama at makibagay. Iyon ang gusto ng mga kaibigan, kasamahan at kasambahay. Panatilihin ang ganitong ugali dahil lalong darami ang magiging kaibigan.

Panahon ng pagbago ng ugaling masungit.

Sagittarius (Nob. 23-Dis. 21) - Huwag mahiyang magsabi kung may problema. W alang mangyayari kung sasarilihin ang problema. Dapat kumunsulta sa higit na nakakaalam. Kung gustong malutas ang suliranin, kumunsulta sa psychic.

Capricorn (Dis. 22-Ene. 19) Pinagpaguran mo ang lahat ng ano mang mayroon ka, ang proteksiyon at pag-aalaga ay dapat pagtuunan ng pansin. Mag-ingat dahil malakas ang banta na may mawawala o may mangyayaring hindi kanaisnais. Huwag magpadala sa emosyon ng pangungulila para hindi lumayo ang swerte.

Aquarius (Ene. 20 - Peb. 18) - Ano man ang gawin ay tiyak na maganda ang magiging resulta dahil positibo ang isip.

Iwasan na magtaray dahil ang maaaring maging kaibigan ay siya mo pang makakaalitan o makakaaway.

Pisces (Peb. 19-Mar. 20) - Huwag sayangin ang oras sa pag-iisip. Simulan ang gawain at makikita na magiging masaya ang bawat saglit na gugugulin dito. Nasa panig ang katwiran na inaayunan ng pagkakataon, kaya walang dapat alalahanin maliban kung magiging negatibo ang sarili.|

PA L A IS IPA N 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

11

12

13

14

15

16

25 31

10

20

22 26

9

17

18 19 21

8

23

24

27 28

29

32

33

35

36

38

39

40

41

30 34

37

PABABA PAHALANG 1 Henyo 1 Kalupi 2 Pagbaba sa sasakyan 7 Hagis 11 Sinaunang calculator 3 Kontrolado’t may direksyon 4 Alyas 12 Pagkain 5 Baluti 13 Sanay 6 Bahay-ampunan 14 Rolyo 7 Ligpit 15 Man’s bestfriend 8 Magnanakaw 16 Lakwatsero 9 Siyudad sa Vietnam 18 Tauhan sa “Fili” 10 Dambana 20 Tawag sa madre 17 Inutusan 22 Sun god of Egypt 19 Iran: daglat 23 Sabaw-sinaing 21 Posporo 25 Masam: Ingles 24 Master of Arts 27 Karit 25 Metal 31 Bubungang patag 33 Ina (Kapampangan) 26 Nagtitikang magnanakaw 28 Paghahabol sa korte 35 Mahiyain 36 Pangalang pambabae 29 Bibliya: Ingles 30 Dahon o palapa 38 Gustong-gusto 39 Kapungayan ng mata 32 Matinding pag-asam 34 Ipakahulugan: Ingles 40 Porselana 37 Amount: daglat 41 Sungot

<<<PERSPECTIVE....from P/4

Where is the promise of good governance?

Alan Purisima and by insinuating that Delfin Lee’s backers in the Aquino government are responsible for his sacking. Reports revealed that immediately after Lee’s arrest, the treasurer of President Aquino’s Liberal Party and current Oriental Mindoro Gov. Alfonso Umali called up PNP Director General Purisima to inquire about Lee. 3. In a gmanews.tv report, Czech Ambassador to the Philippines Josef Rychtar complained that “influential people” are protecting Metro Rail Transit (MRT) general manager Al Vitangcol, who he accused of attempting to extort $30 million from a Czech firm in exchange for a supply contract in July 2012.

Ambassador Rychtar said that he reported the extortion attempt to Secretary Jun Abaya of the Department of Transportation and Communications in a two-hour

meeting in April 2013, but nothing happened. The last time Ambassador Rychtar heard from Secretary Abaya was when the latter scolded him over the phone after reports came out that the President’s sister Ballsy Aquino-Cruz and her husband Eldon Cruz were involved in the extortion attempt.

4. The pork barrel system has not been totally eradicated. It is still included in the 2014 national budget, even if lawmakers were asked to submit proposed projects beforehand; and President Aquino adamantly refuses to let go of the discretionary funds being handled by the Office of the President such as the Disbursement Acceleration Program, the Malampaya funds, among others.

5. Last March 7, a Manila Bulletin report was published by yahoo news revealing that not one from among Filipinos

.............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Aries (Mar. 21-Abril 19) Hindi kailanman mabuti ang mabuhay sa mundo ng pagkukunwari dahil walang ibang niloloko kundi ang sarili. Huwag itago ang tunay na nararamdaman. Kung nalulungkot o nasasaktan, walang dahilan upang magkunwaring masaya.

Maging tapat sa kapwa at sarili.

Taurus (Abril 20-Mayo 20) - Ano man ang hamon na darating ay kayang harapin kung positibo ang isip. Pinakamabisang paraan upang malabanan ang takot ay magkaroon ng positibong isip. Kahit ano ang mangyari ay magiging maayos ang resulta sa anumang ginagawa o gawain sa positibong isip.

Gemini (Mayo 21-Hun. 21) - Kung sisiliping mabutiang madilim na lungga ng kahirapan, may makikitang liwanag sa bandang dulo. Kung hindi mawawala ang pag-asa, pagtitiyaga, pagsisikap at panalangin ay tiyak na magkakaroon ng magandang liwanag ang kinabukasan. Simulan ngayon ang pagpaplano.

Cancer (Hun. 22-Hul. 22) - Iwasan o huwag magpanik. Ang sobrang pagkataranta o pagmamadali ay lalong magdudulot ng hindi magandang resulta. Ayusin ang problema sa paraang maayos at mahinahon. Maaayos ang suliranin ngayon.

Leo (Hul. 23-Ago. 22) - Utak at pagiisip ang paganahin hindi ang emosyon.

Bagama’t oo, sa pag-ibig higit may kapangyarihan ang isip kaysa puso. Alamin kung paano ang puso at isip ay balanseng magagamit at kung kailan ang isip ang dapat masunod.

Virgo (Ago 23-Set. 23) - Malamang makasaksi ka ng isang pangyayari na hindi inaasahan. Isang Capricorn ang dapat iwasan sa araw na ito. Maging alerto kung nasa labas ng tahanan lalo na sa snatchers at holdupper.

April 7 - 13, 2014

who landed in Forbes list of billionaires (in US dollars and not in pesos) were in the top 10 taxpayers in the country in 2012. The weird thing is that Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares even defended them saying that they pay more taxes in capital gains taxes and withholding taxes on bank interests on their deposits. (Huh? Am I missing something in that explanation?) Other BIR officials said the salaries that these billionaires receive from the companies they own are lower than what movie and TV personalities receive thus accounting for their lower income taxes. (Say what? Are they saying that popular TV personalities such as Kim Chiu or Anne Curtis are richer than Henry Sy of SM or Lucio Tan or Enrique Razon?)

There is more. Interaksyon.com reported today

April 3 that 39 from among the country’s top 100 corporations are also not in the BIR’s list of top 500 nonindividual taxpayers in 2012.

Out of the 39, eight reportedly did not pay any income tax because of the tax perks it receives and one did not file any income tax. And to think, small businesses have been complaining about how their reports to the BIR have been passing through the proverbial eye of the needle and how sudden changes in policies, such as the requirement for new receipts, among others, have been making life difficult for them.

Also, one could not forget the controversial BIR television advertisement showing a doctor being carried on the shoulders of a teacher, which appears to put doctors in a bad light by portraying them as being a burden to others because they purportedly do not pay the right taxes.

7

Pinoy recipes. Lutuing Pinoy Paksiw na Lechong Manok sa Pinya

DO you have any lechong manok left-over from your favorite take out counter for lunch or dinner? Impress your family and friends by turning that into a delicious dish.

Lechon is the Filipino term for roasted meat dishes and which may refer to pork, chicken, duck, etc. that was cooked in this way (make sense does it?). Paksiw is a Filipino term used to call stews made of vinegar. So Paksiw na lechon literally translates to roasted chicken/ pork/ or any meat slowly cooked in a mixture of vinegar and spices. Commonly, paksiw na lechon like our Paksiw na Lechong Manok sa Sarsa, requires the addition of sarsa (lechon sauce) or liver sauce or mashed liver. However, we do not have any of those on hand so I decided to add sweet pineapple syrup and pineapple slices, instead.

Ingredients: Lechong Manok, cut into serving portions – at least 1/ 2 of a whole Pineapple (canned), diced – 4 to 5 slices Onions, diced – 1 medium Onions, sliced into rings – 2 large Garlic, coarsely chopped – 6 cloves Bay Leaves – 2 pcs Black peppercorns Black Pepper Powder Brown Sugar – 1 1/2 tbsp Soy Sauce – 4 tbsp Vinegar – 4 tbsp Pineapple syrup – 1/2 c Salt to taste Water – 2 c.

Cornstarch – 1 tsp dissolved in 1/4 c of water Cooking Directions: 1. Throw in all ingredients in a pot (except for the cornstarch) and cook them until the chicken meat starts to pull apart.

2. Pour the cornstarch mixture. Stir and simmer until the sauce thickens.

.............................................................. <<<F.E.S.T.....from P/8

Up Close & Personal: Of contests and awards... their households free from trash and other waste thereby keeping the sitios clean and green.

Sustaining all the environmental programs is already a success for SIES. It is not the winning or loosing a contest that matters to the whole academic community, but sustaining a program for the benefits of the school and the community. That’s why when the city government of Batangas launched the Search for Most Innovative Environmental Project 2014, SIES didn’t find it hard, although a little bit challenging.

We are already in it. The programs are in place. The

whole community is participating. And we got it; we got the Silver Award! Not only that; we’re also picked as the Best Choice Awardee. And the best of all, we were the proclaimed champion in the whole search. We bagged the First Prize and we took home a total of P90,000 cash prize, and three throphies.

As Dr. Digno puts it, the success of these programs can be spelled as C.A.R.E. Collaboration of all stakeholders, All-out support and Acceptance of the idea to succeed, Responsibility of all participating parties, and Enthusiasm to do more for the benefit of all.|

These could only mean two things: something is terribly wrong with the country’s taxation system or something is fishy in the BIR’s tax collections. The EVAT itself is a very regressive taxation system where the ordinary consumer shoulders the taxes of businesses through the passon system. Also, much like in the US, where Republicans refuse to increase taxes on corporations and the rich, the country provides a lot of perks to corporations and rich businessmen and tries to cover tax collection shortfalls by running after ordinary

taxpayers and small and medium businesses (SMEs).

One could also not discount the probability of a rich businessman who has been assessed a tax liability of say P45 million ($1 million) being able to negotiate to shell out instead P22.5 million ($500 thousand), in a situation where everybody involved benefits from it.

Do you really think corruption has been eradicated? Do you think that the Aquino government has been favoring the ordinary citizen? Is this what good governance is all about?|

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WWW.BULATLAT.COM

>Wanna be featured here? Please contact us at 0917.512.9477 | 0912.902.7373 | 043.417.1662 for inquiries.

Ronalina B. Lontoc, Special Project Editor

F.E.S.T.

......................................................................... >>>FESTIVALS & FEASTS..., EVENTS..., SHOWBIZ & SPORTS...TRAVEL & TRENDS<<<

Of contests and awards W

INNING the recent Search for Most Innovative Environmental Project means a lot for schools which actively participated in collaboration with the community they belong. But over and above the trophies and monetary rewards that each winner brought home, is the learning experience and partnerships developed among the stakeholders of the environment protection effort.

Since Day 1, just after the each and every school participants receive the Memorandum Order of the Schools Division Superintendent enjoining all schools in the elementary and secondary level within the division as automatic contender to the search, different schools pooled their resources together to win the title.

The San Isidro Experience Few years prior to the commencement of the contest, the San Isidro Elementary School (SIES) has already rolled out environmental programs that would instill in the minds of the students the need to be conscious of the environmental problems developing everywhere – the need to replace the diminishing forests, to implement the “reduce-reuserecycle” principle, to implement waste segregation, and the like.

In the past years, students were largely involved in maintaining the gulayan sa paaralan. SIES maintained a wide array of plots with different vegetables planted

therein. School decors, inside and outside the classrooms, were made up of recyclable materials – from plant boxes and pots to garbage bins, flower vases and indoor decors.

Students were encouraged to use recyclable materials in their project making. The policy is that no trace of trash should be left unreusable and be an eyesore in the surroundings or be an unfriendly waste left elsewere. Even used folders were turn into hats, scratch papers were mixed with other raw materials and turn into pots, etc.

Green living cannot be very successful as what the teachers have envisioned of their students if their families practice differently.

This reality moved the school to encourage community participation. Winning the hearts of the villagers to join hands with the school in pushing for an ecologically-balanced and environmentally rich community is like willing the contest already. And SIES didn’t fail in its endeavor to solicit the community’s support.

Parents from then on even volunteered to do this and that – things that they thought of will be beneficial to the success of the program.

Tree planting is always a part of every environmental program. Students from different levels were encourage to join the tree planting activities, not because of the grades that they will get, but because of the longterm benefit that they could get from it.

The recent search When everything were in placed and pro-

8

Up Close & Personal

By MAGIELYN R. BABAO

THE Eco-Patrolers in their uniform vests made out of recycled wraffers, together with their advisers and principal, Ms. Carolina Panaligan.| MAGIELYN RAYOS-BABAO environment projects are all working, here comes the need to maintain them or see to it that all projects will be sustained in the future.

It then gives way to the forming of different patrol teams to monitor the implementation of previously initiated programs.

Four (4) different patrol groups were then formed – the electricity, water, community, and beautification and cleanliness patrols.

Each group was assigned a color, their members wear uniform vests made out of the packaging of shampoo, laundry soap, energy drink or even chichiria wraffers as they

SIES teaching force led by its principal, Mrs. Carolina Panaligan and San Isidro barangay councilor Primo Añonuevo, received the symbolic check of P50,000 as 1st Prize for the Search for Most Innovative Environmental Project. SIES also received P30,000 for being Silver Awardee and another P10,000 for Best Choice Award. All monetary prizes are coupled with a trophy.|

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April 7 - 13, 2014

patrolled their respective areas.

Electricity patrollers were tasked to check whether the electrical appliances in each classroom were all plugged out and the lights turn off as the students and teachers leave.

They are also tasked to report to the maintenance officer if the sockets were not working or if there are busted bulbs or lamps.

The water patrollers however are responsible to check whether there are leaking faucets or fittings in the bathrooms and garden areas. They are also monitoring the wise use of tap water, and see to it that the drums for rain waters are free from mosquitoes and others insects. These rain waters are used to water the plants and other vegetables in the backyard gardens.

The beautification and cleanliness patrol is in charge of monitoring the total beautification and cleanliness of school surroundings and facilities. Each level is assigned a patroller who monitors the cleanliness of the classrooms, and put a check for proper room grooming, but don’t have a second thought to mark an “x” if he founds even a single candy wraffer during inspection.

The most challenging of them all, the community patrollers, have to keep the community participation in place all year round. The community is encourage to keep

>>>F.E.S.T. ..turn to P/7

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Ikatlong Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa, iginawad kay Gov. Vi GINAWARAN ng Batangas State University ng Doctor of Humanities Degree, Honoris Causa si Governor Vilma Santos Recto sa graduation ceremony ng Batangas State University sa kanilang main campus sa Batangas City, April 2, 2014.

Ang naturang parangal ay iginawad kay Gov. Vi dahil sa kanyang mga konkretong kontribusyon sa lipunan sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga adbokasiya at programa. Ang kanyang dedikasyon sa pagsulong ng dekalidad na edukasyon ay nakatulong sa pagpapabuti ng pamumuhay ng mga Batangueño at pagpapabuti ng lipunan.

Una siyang pinagkalooban ng Doctor Of Humanities, Honoris Causa ng Lipa City Public College noong 2005 at ng University of Northeastern University sa Iriga City, Camarines Sur noong 2009.

Kasabay nito, naging guest speaker din siya sa ginanap na pagtatapos ng mga estudyante mula sa kolehiyo ng Batangas State University.

Sa kanyang mensahe, ipinaalala niya ang kahalagahan ng mabuting edukasyon upang ang mga nagsipagtapos ay maging instrumento sa pagpapaunlad ng lalawigan ng Batangas.| ELFIE ILUSTRE

Go away from drugs....

Harness your talents at

D’ BLADES JAMM We welcome home-grown bands, students, amateur jammers.

BLADES Centre, Guades Comp., Purok 3, Calicanto, Bats. City For inquiries and schedule, Call of Text 0912-902-7373 to 74.

BUONG galak na tinanggap ni Gov. Vilma Santos Recto ang ikatlong Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa sa kaniyang buhay mula sa mga opisyal ng Batangas State University.|

Services Offered: * Rehearsals * Rentals * Tutorial *Band Service We also offer: Photobooth Service for all occasions.

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