for fellow migrant workers

Pampanga’s giant lanterns bring joy, hope amid pandemic

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO (Mabuhay) — Not even the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic can stop the Giant Lantern Festival which this city holds every year to bring joy and hope to Filipinos.

In its 112th year, the world-renowned “Ligligan Parul” took center stage on Wednesday night at Robinson’s Starmills here to keep the Kapampangan’s cultural tradition alive amid the pandemic.

But this time, not as a competition but a virtual exhibition of seven giant lanterns from Barangays Sto. Niño, San Juan, San Nicolas, Sta. Lucia, Bulaon, Telebastagan, and Calulut that was aired live via regional television network CLTV36 and social media site.

The GLF Foundation, Inc. and the City Government of San Fernando decided to skip the actual competition to prevent possible Covid-19 transmission and surge of cases in the city.

Despite some limitations and restrictions due to the pandemic, the annual festival was staged successfully as it enabled to deliver a strong message of hope to the people from all walks of life.

Through livestream, viewers in this province, other places in the country, and even abroad witnessed the grand display of spectacular lights, the interplay of colors and kaleidoscopic patterns of the giant lanterns to the beat of lively Kapampangan songs.

Some of those who watched the festival at the safety and comfort of their homes have expressed their amazement via social media as they saw the craftsmanship and ingenuity of the lantern makers from the seven participating barangays.

“The Giant Lantern Festival is indeed one of the grandest events in Pampanga during this Yuletide season. Although we were not able to watch the annual tradition personally, it somehow brought the warmth and joys of Christmas amid this pandemic,” said Mylene Ilagan, a 51-year-old housewife from Gapan City, Nueva Ecija.

Joseph Dayao of Balanga City, Bataan said the excitement of watching the annual festival is still there even via live stream.

“It was really amazing. No one can dispute that this is the best festival in the region. Sa gitna ng mga challenges na ating kinakaharap, ang Giant Lantern Festival ay nagsisilbing simbolo ng pag-asa (Amid some challenges we are facing, the Giant Lantern Festival serves as a symbol of hope),” Dayao said.

“I am proud to be Kapampangan. The Giant Lantern Festival is part of our tradition that we would not let it die. Although the celebration this year is different, but we are thankful that it was push through,” said Rhea Mendoza of Barangay Dolores here.

Mayor Edwin Santiago said the San Fernando Christmas lanterns are a great source of inspiration and spark hope.

“Amid the pandemic, we are able to show the whole world our pride, the giant lanterns. We celebrate this occasion every year. Each year, we are proudly celebrate the great and talented lantern makers who continue to excel their craft through generations,” Santiago said in his message via livestream.

Although the celebration this year is a little different due to the pandemic, Santiago said “the message that these lanterns bring remain the same. That life is colorful and the hope that this pandemic shall pass stays bright”. (MNS)

Poe: No way for TRB to come out clean from RFID mess

MANILA (Mabuhay) — The Toll Regulatory Board cannot wash its hands clean of the chaotic implementation of the cashless radiofrequency identification (RFID) system, Senator Grace Poe said Thursday as the Senate formally opened an inquiry into the matter. "The Toll Regulatory Board, as the primary regulator of toll operators, cannot escape the blame. It seems to me that the TRB has been content to do two things and nothing else: raise toll rates and collect fees," Poe said in the hearing led by the Senate Committee on Public Services. "Truth be told, TRB can’t even do its job of collecting toll fees that well," she added.

Citing data from the Commission on Audit, Poe said the TRB the TRB failed t o collect almost a billion peso worth of toll fees—P44.24 million in 2017, and P859.94 million in 2019.

Further, the senator stressed that TRB's governing board, like that of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and the PhilHealth, is dominated by "ex-officio Cabinet secretaries who have more important things to do."

Poe said the future of the regulatory body should also be tackled in the ongoing hearing.

On Wednesday night, President Rodrigo Duterte condemned the "incompetence" of the TRB after cashless transactions caused serious gridlocks in some Luzon expressways.

“I do not want you becoming a dead wood. If you cannot perform what is expected of you, then the best you can do, for decency’s sake, resign and for decency’s sake, resign and do not wait to be fired because masakit ‘yan, mapapahiya ka,” Duterte said.

He also asked Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade if it was possible to fire TRB officials. "Meron pala kayong memorandum, Art. Saan ‘yung mga tao? Can I fire them? Palitan ko na lang lahat, ‘yung may experience na,” the President said.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian previously called for the replacement of TRB executive director Abraham Sales for the glitches in the RFID system.

Sales, who was among the confirmed guests in Thursday's hearing, has yet to speak about the issue.

After the Valenzuela City government suspended the business permit of the NLEX Corp. in its jurisdiction due to the required cashless payment, the TRB announced that cash lanes in expressways have been reopened to prevent heavy traffic. (MNS)

GIANT LANTERN FESTIVAL. Seven giant lanterns brighten up the dark skies as the Giant Lantern Festival 2020 takes center stage at the Robinsons Starmills in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga on Wednesday night (Dec. 16, 2020). The annual festival was staged not as a competition but as a virtual exhibition by lantern makers from the city's participating villages to bring inspiration and spark hope amid the pandemic. (MNS photo)

Technology vital in curbing human traffi cking — DOJ chief

MANILA (Mabuhay) — Modern technology can be used to curb human trafficking cases in the country, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Thursday.

“(T)here is a realization and consensus among stakeholders that developments in technology that have spawned new ways of committing trafficking can also be harnessed and utilized to respond to trafficking," Guevarra told participants of the 6th Manila International Dialogue on the International Day against Human Trafficking.

The event seeks to consolidate a comprehensive international approach to prevent and combat human trafficking.

Guevarra said more tech companies are joining the fight, developing tools and technology solutions against human trafficking.

While stressing that the pace of human trafficking investigations, in general, has been dictated by traffickers and syndicates, he added that “the growing network of private sector engagement in this initiative is highly encouraging”.

“Fortunately for us, the shift towards a virtual practice of discourse is also an opportunity to have a glimpse of what the future of counter-trafficking means for our country and for the world in general. As 2020 comes to a close, we are gaining a better understanding of what a global response to trafficking will look like in this decade and beyond,” he said.

Last May, during the height of the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine and with a majority of the courts and prosecution offices remaining closed due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, the country saw the virtual promulgation of the conviction of the notorious American pedophile, David Timothy Deakin.

The judgment was handed down by Judge Irineo Pangilinan Jr. of the Angeles City Regional Trial Court Branch 58 through online proceedings.

Another recent conviction for large scale trafficking for prostitution was promulgated via videoconferencing in Cebu.

In both instances, the accused were sentenced to life imprisonment. (MNS)

Tagle assures Christmas prayers for fellow migrant workers

MANILA (Mabuhay) —

Vatican-based Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, the Prefect of the Congregation for Evangelization of Peoples, on Thursday assured his fellow migrant workers and their families of his prayers for the Christmas season.

“Please rest assured of my prayers for you, your my prayers for you, your families, and your families, and your intentions. Merry intentions. Merry

Christmas, and a Happy New Year,” the former Archbishop of Manila said in his Christmas message to his “fellow migrant Filipino families and friends.

Tagle also urged Filipinos working abroad to ask for guide and strength from the Holy Family, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus Christ, who he said, were also migrants.

“Mary and Joseph were also migrants. They had to flee to Egypt for some time, to save Jesus from King Herod’s slaughter of innocent babies, who feared that one of them might become King and replace him,” the Cardinal said. “As we go through the joys and sorrows of life as migrants, we ask for strength and guidance from the Holy Family, who like us experienced how is it to be away from home.”

Tagle also acknowledged modern technology as those who are away from their families can communicate with them virtually.

“Financial difficulties and the Covid crisis have prevented us from visiting home as much as we would have wanted. But they have also made us experts in sending our love and affection instantly across the globe through text messages, social media posts, audio, and videos,” he said. "Our virtual contact brings us closer to each other, preparing us for a more meaningful and fruitful personal contact, face to face when circumstances allow."

Tagle said allowing them to work abroad might also the way of God for them to be missionaries.

“Isn’t it perhaps that God guides us out of the Philippines, not only to earn a living but also to be missionaries? We can ask ourselves: who among my family or friends or co-workers can I bring close to Jesus today? How can I help them discover Jesus coming to us, not only this Christmas but each day, in our prayers, the people we meet and the ordinary events of our life?” he said.

Tagle was appointed to the Vatican post by Pope Francis in December 2019. He assumed his new task last February. (MNS)