DOST RESEARCH ON NANOTHERAPEUTICS BAGS AWARDS IN JAPAN

Diyaryo Pinoy LIBRE PARA SA LAHAT



VOL. 3 NO. 219





8 Pahina



diyaryopinoy118@gmail.com

LUNES, LUNES,

PEBRERO 06, 2017

DOST RESEARCH ON NANOTHERAPEUTICS BAGS AWARDS IN JAPAN

C

HITHO FELICIANO, a senior science research specialist from the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute, recently bagged the De Silva Prize for Best Oral Presentation at the Interdisciplinary Workshop on Science and Patents during the Tsukuba Global Science Week held in Tsukuba, Japan.

Feliciano’s study aims to use nanoparticles to improve the therapeutic effect of nitroxide radicals and to reduce the effects of skin aging, skin lesions, and other skin inflammatory disorders caused by ultraviolet rays and other forms of ionizing radiation, as well as radiation-induced reactive oxygen.

This doctoral student in Biomaterials Science at the University of Tsukuba in Japan further proved his study’s winning streak by subsequently pocketing two Best Poster Presentation awards at the Asian Conference on Nano-science and Nanotechnology in Sapporo and then again at the 6th Chemistry Society of Japan Festa held in Tokyo last year. HANS JOSHUA V. DANES, S&T MEDIA SERVICE, DOST-PNRI

Tomboy si 2016 Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere at may 1/8 daw Filipino blood 4

2 | Lunes, Pebrero 06, 2017 LIBRE PARA SA LAHAT

H

LITO BANAYO NA NASA MECO IIMBESTIGAHAN

INDI pa man lubusang nag-iinit ang puwet ni kasalukuyang Manila Economic and Cultural Office (MECO) chairman, Angelito “Lito” Banayo sa kanyang bagong posisyon, ‘e nagbabanta na ang reklamo laban sa kanya sa Ombudsman at sa Senado.

Si Lito “The Lucky Man” Banayo, ang appointee ni Pangulong Rodrigo “Digong” Duterte sa sa MECO. Ang MECO po ang unofficial embassy sa Taiwan. Unofficial dahil ang China ay mayroong One-China Policy sa diplomatic world.

Pero ang reklamo ng mga taga-MECO laban kay Banayo ay nagsimula umano sa tila ‘pagsasarili’ ng bagong hepe kaya maging ang Department of Foreign Affaits (DFA) ay tila hindi niya kinikilala.

Ang katuwiran umano ni Banayo, siya ay direktang nagrereport sa Pangulo.

Aba, mukhang may kailangan talagang i-troubleshoot dito.

At dahil nga sa ganitong pakiramdam at kapangyarihan nagawa umanong maging makapangyarihan ni Banayo maging sa pagtatalaga ng mga tao sa ahensiya.

Maging ang mga dating nagtatrabaho at konektado sa MECO ay nagawa niyang tanggalin nang walang “go signal” o pagsang-ayon ang DFA. Kasi nga, direkta umano siya sa Office of the President.

Siyanga pala, bitbit nga pala ni Banayo ang kanyang chief of staff na si Atty. Gilberto Lauwangco na ngayon ay miyembro na rin ng Board of Directors MECO. Siyanga pala, si Banayo ay dating post master general at dati rin administrator ng National Food Authority (NFA).

Pareho nilang hindi natapos ang termino niya sa

BULABUGIN NATIN NI JERRY YAP

Para sa mga reaksiyon, suhestiyon, reklamo at sumbong, magtext sa 0927.590.9127 o mag-email sa jerryap888@yahoo.com.

dalawang tanggapan dahil sa pagkakasangkot sa anomalya.

Kaya marami ang nagtataka kung bakit nakapangunyapit siya sa administrasyon ni Pangulong Duterte, na alam naman nating lahat na galit na galit sa mga corrupt.

Bukod pa rito, sina Banayo at Lauwangco ay parehong sinampahan ng kaso dahil sa rice smugging. Ano kaya ang nangyari sa kaso nila?

By the way, alam ba ninyong si Banayo ay sumasahod ng US$20,000 kada buwan at ang mga Director ay P300,000, hindi pa kasama ang allowances, per diem, at pasahe patungo sa Taiwan at pabalik sa Filipinas?

Aba mukhang isa na namang interesanteng ahensiya ang tatalakayin at iimbestigahan sa Senado.

Puwes aabangan namin ‘yan!

MORE TOILETS FOR WOMEN SA NAIA TERMINAL 2 TULOY NA TULOY NA

Wala nang pasubali.

Kahit ilang buwan pa lang sa kanyang tungkuin si Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) general manager Ed Monreal, agad siyang nagbigay ng go signal para dagdagan ang cubicles ng comfort rooms sa Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal 2.

Alam naman ninyo si GM Ed Monreal kapag kailangan solusyonan, agad niyang tinatrabaho at hindi na nagpapatawing-tawing pa.

Mahirap nga naman ang kalagayan ng mga babae lalo na ‘yung mga senior citizen na pipila nang mahaba bago makagamit ng CR. Hindi natin maintindihan kung bakit, anim na taon ang lumipas sa nakaraang administrasyon pero hindi man lang ito ginawan ng solusyon.

Walang kaginhawaang naramdaman ang airport users sa ilalim ng nakaraang administrasyon. Sa panahon din nila nabansagang worst airport ang NAIA Naningil ng terminal fee sa overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) pero hindi man lang naisip magdagdag ng comfort rooms.

Mukhang sariling bulsa lang ang inasikaso ng nakaraaang administrasyon.

Ibang-iba ngayon sa administrasyong ito…

Sa loob po ng dalawa hanggang tatlong buwan, asahan ninyo ang mga karagdagang cubicles ng comfort rooms sa NAIA terminal 2.

Unti-unti na po ninyong mararamdaman ang ginhawa…

‘Yan ang aksiyong Monreal!

Koko, author of NBI modernization law, says agency is squandering a “precious opportunity”

Bureau of Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon chats with Atty. Geoffrey De Vera during the inauguration of Container Control Unit (CCU). This unit will serve as an intelligence office that will focus on non fiscal violations like illicit trade and proliferation of strategic goods. It will recommend high risk shipments to a higher authority to exercise any type of control in relation to the aforementioned non fiscal violation. Atty De Vera will be heading the operation of the said unit. DEXTER GATOC

SENATE President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said the National Bureau of Investigation is “squandering a precious opportunity” to become an “effective, modern, and competent investigative body” as envisioned in the law he sponsored modernizing the agency.

The involvement of ranking NBI officials in the kidnap-slay of Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo last October “has the effect of reversing the direction that we want a modern NBI to achieve,” Pimentel said.

“I am deeply disappointed that the agency is squandering a precious opportunity it has been given to enhance its capability,” Pimentel said.

“This is a serious setback. The NBI has to do some housecleaning to regain public trust,” he said.

Pimentel was the principal sponsor of the Senate Bill that was enacted by Congress and signed into law in June last year as Republic Act No. 10867, or the “National Bureau of Investigation Reorganization and Modernization Act.” Aside from modernizing its forensic capability and scientific laboratories, the law allows the NBI to hire additional agents and support their training that will boost its criminal investigation and evidence-gathering work.

Pimentel said it was not enough that NBI Director Dante Gierran reassigned six top agency officials suspected of involvement in the Jee incident that forced Malacanang to make an apology to the Seoul government.

“New technology and improved methods of investigation and crime-detection will not work if the human component is defective,” Pimentel said. “The NBI has to retrain personnel and weed out the misfits.”

Gierran should take a “firmer stand in imposing discipline on NBI personnel and avoid another embarrassment to the government.”

The law allows the NBI to retain and use 30 percent of its collections from clearance fees every year for its modernization and to augment its operational expenses.

Its annual appropriation is pegged at P150 million.

News Pagsusuri sa HTI; tiniyak tulong

Lunes, Pebrero 06, 2017|3

LIBRE PARA SA LAHAT

sa mga biktima ng sunog NAGPADALA ng mga inspectors si Labor Sec. Silvestre H. Bello III sa House Technology Industries (HTI) sa General Trias, Cavite upang alamin ang pangangailangan ng mga manggagawang naapektuhan ng sunog noong Miyerkules at alamin kung sumusunod ang kompanya sa mga batas-paggawa.

“Agad kong iniutos na alamin kung tumutupad o hindi ang HTI sa mga patakaran sa paggawa at tingnan kung anong kinakailangang tulong ang ating maaaring ibigay,” ani Bello.

Inatasan din ang Employees Compensation Commission (ECC) Regional Extension Unit sa Region 4-A na alamin ang pangangailangan ng lahat ng empleyado ng HTI na biktima ng sunog.

Ang HTI ay isang manufacturing company na may 10,982 manggagawa. Sa bilang na ito, 4,263 ang direktang nagtatrabaho sa kompanya at 6,629 ay sa ilalim ng limang iba’t ibang contractor.

Batay sa inisyal na ulat mula kay Dir. Teresita Cucueco ng Bureau of Working Conditions (BWC), sinabi ni Bello na 30 manggagawa ang nasaktan samantalang tatlo ang hindi pa natatagpuan.

Ayon kay Bello, magsasagawa ng pagsisiyasat ang

BWC, Occupational Safety and Health Center, at ang DOLE RO4-A sa nangyaring insidente kapag tuluyan nang naapula ang sunog at matapos magsagawa ng imbestigasyon ang mga awtoridad.

Kanyang idinagdag na nangako ang pamunuan ng HTI ng kanilang kooperasyon at tulong sa mga apektadong manggagawa.

“Maliban sa pagbibigay ng tulong-pinansiyal sa mga naospital na manggagawa, nangako din ang pamunuan ng HTI na itatalaga sa ibang lugar ang mga manggagawang mawawalan ng trabaho dahil sa nangyaring sunog,” ani Bello.

Idinagdag ni Bello na makakatanggap ang mga biktimang naospital ng medical o hospital benefit at sickness benefit ng hanggang 120 araw na may P200 kada araw na bayad. Makakatanggap din ng libreng rehabilitasyon ang mga nasaktan.

Naghanda rin ang ECC ng tulong-pangkabuhayan at pagsasanay sa mga manggagawang hindi na maaring makabalik sa kanilang trabaho. Agad ding ipo-proseso ng ECC ang ECC pension o lump sum compensation sa mga manggagawang nabaldado dulot ng trahedya.

END/CTM/GMEARCE

Panawagan sa mga kabataang manunulat ni Balagtas! Kampo Balagtas 2017 INAANYAYAHAN ang mga kabataang manunulat na lumahok sa Pambansang Kampo Balagtas 2017 na itinataguyod ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) para sa Buwan ng Panitikan sa Abril 2016. Mangyayari ito sa Orion Elementary School, Orion, Bataan mula 31 Marso— 2 Abril 2017.

Ang Kampo Balagtas ay isang pambansang kumperensiya na naglalayong turuan at sanayin sa malikhaing pagsulat ang mga piling kabataang manunulat bilang panghihikayat sa kanila na makibahagi sa patuloy na pagpapaunlad at pagpapayaman ng panitikan ng bansa.

Bahagi itong pagdiriwang ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) ng Araw ni Balagtas na ginugunita tuwing 2 Abril taon-taon.

Bukas ang kumperensiya sa lahat ng mag-aaral na nasa ikapito hanggang ikalabing¬isang (7-11) baitang na kasapi at nakapaglathala na sa kanilang pahayag ang pangkampus. Ang mga kalahok ay pipiliin ng KVVF ba-

tay sa ipapasang mga kopya ng pahayagang pang-estudyante. Ang pamasahe, pagkain, at akomodasyon ng mga kalahok ay sasagutin ng KWF. Bukod sa mga mag-aaral, magkakaroon din ng mga natatanging panayam at palihan para sa mga tagapayo ng pahayagan ng mga napiling mag-aaral.

Para sa mga nais lumahok, kinakailangang magpadala ang paaralan ng kalahok ng isang portfolio kopya ng pinakamahusay na mga gawa: 3-5 para sa tula at 2-3 para sa sanaysay. Isasama rin sa lahok ang kopyang diyaryo ng pang mag-aaral (student paper), Maaaring ipadala ang mga iniscan na kopya, kasama ang opisyal na pormularyo ng paglahok (maaaring i-download sa kwf.gov.ph), sa komisyonsawikangfilipino@gmail. com o ipadala sa Gusaling Watson, Kalye J.P. Laurel, Malacanang Complex, San Miguel, Maynila. Ang huling araw ng pagpasa ng aplikasyon ay 2 Enero 2017.

ESTRELLA Z. GALLARDO

DEATH PENALTY, NOT A DETERRENT TO COMMISSION OF CRIMES – GORDON INSISTS WITH the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights poised to tackle proposals to re-impose the death penalty, Senator Richard J. Gordon maintained his stand that imposing the capital punishment does not deter criminals from committing crimes.

Speaking before the Kapihan sa Manila Bay, Gordon, who chairs the Justice committee, stood his ground that life is precious and that imposing the death penalty is not a solution to the rising criminality in the country.

“My father was assassinated, tatlong attempt sa buhay ng tatay ko, baka nga apat o lima pa e. But I’m against it (death penalty) because hindi solusyon yan e. Bakit kamo?

Kapag namatay, uulit na naman yung iba. Sa umpisa siguro may matatakot, pero sandali lang yun e, hindi tumatagal ang takot. Parang instant gratification yan,” he said.

The senator also noted that poor people would be most likely to be meted the death penalty, justly or unjustly, once it is re-imposed since they are the ones usually accused of crimes and they could hardly afford the services of lawyers.

“Palaging mahirap ang pumapatay, sila ang natatamaan. Wala silang abogado dahil sa poverty,” he stressed.

Gordon pointed out that amending the penal system to ensure that convicts would be locked up in prisons that are located far from their

families and giving a bigger stigma to criminals, would be more of a deterrent to crimes.

“Pag kinulong mo ang isang tao at ang sistema natin, ang penal system natin ay ikaw ay nasa malayong lugar, mahihirapan ang pamilya mo para bisitahin ka at dapat malaki ang publicity, meron tayong website, etong taong to pumatay to kaya siya nakakulong. May stigma sa pamilya mo. Aba’y papatay ka ba ng tao? Nakakahiya yung pamilya mo kapag ika’y nakapatay ng tao tapos ikaw, nakakulong ka for life. Mahihirapan yung asawa mo pupunta dun, malamang mag-aasawa ng iba yun. At yan ang mangyayari sa yo. To me that is a legal deterrent. That is a legal deterrent,” he said.

Si Senador JV Ejercito kapiling ang mga magsasaka ng Guimba, Nueva Ecija habang pinapasinayaan ang irigasyon para sa pananim nilang palay.

Painting contest kontra sa child labor inilunsad ng DOLE ISANG Mural Painting Contest ang inilunsad ng Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) sa Mambajao, Camiguin, upang linangin ang kamalayan ng publiko kaugnay ng child labor at upang mahikayat silang makiisa sa paglaban at pagpuksa sa iba pang masamang uri nito.

Sumentro ang aktibidad sa pagpapakita ng iba’t ibang kalahok ng kanilang mga mural paintings na sumasalamin sa mga child laborfree na komunidad. Kasunod ito ng temang “Bountiful Lanzones Harvests from a Child Labor-Free Camiguin.”

“Alam natin na ang mga kabataan ang kadalasang dumaranas ng pang-aabuso. Ang iba pa sa kanila ay itinatago, o nakakubli at nagtatrabaho sa malalayong lugar na hindi makikita ng publiko at malayo rin sa kani-kanilang pamilya.

Sa pamamagitan ng aktibidad na ito, lahat ay magkakaroon na ng ideya at mapagtitibay ang kanilang paninindigan laban rito,” ayon kay DOLE-X OIC Assistant Regional Director Lucila S. Pulvera.

Sinabi rin niya na ang

patimpalak ay naglalayong mabigyang kaalaman ang bagong henerasyon sa kanilang tungkulin sa pagkakaroon ng adbokasiya sa pansariling karapatan sa pamamagitan ng pagpipinta at sining. Ninanais rin ni Pulvera na hikayatin ang publiko na ipakita ang kanilang suporta at pakikiisa sa mga inisyatibo ng pamahalaan upang labanan ang child labor.

Naiuwi naman ng Sixto A. Abao National High School ang first place at nakatanggap sila ng P5,000 habang ang Mambajao National High School naman ay nagkamit ng P4,000 bilang second placer at sinundan ng Fatima College of Camiguin sa ikatlong puwesto na may P3,000 cash prize.

Noong 2012, ang Camiguin sa pamamagitan ng isang memorandum of agreement sa DOLE-X ay idineklara bilang “Child Labor-Free Province”, na siyang nag-iisang bayan sa Northern Mindanao na mayroong natatanging deklarasyon ng kanilang gobernador na si Jurdin Jesus M. Romualdo. GLENFORD C. LABIAL/DOLE-X/ABEGAIL DE VEGA/PAUL ANG

Member:

Pinoy Diyaryo SA LAHAT LIBRE PARA

LINDA BOHOL REDOÑA Managing Editor

JOE AÑOSO ADARO Advertising Manager

Atty. Berteni Causing and Associates Legal Counsel

Publishers Association of the Philippines, Inc.

Rm 306 National Press Club Building, Magallanes Drive, Intramuros, Manila Tel. No.: 310.2022 Email: diyaryopinoy118@ gmail.com

Diyaryo TOMBOY SI 2016 Pinoy MISS UNIVERSE IRIS

SHOW

LIBRE PARA SA LAHAT

MITTENAERE AT MAY 1/8 DAW FILIPINO BLOOD

K

Kalalabas lang ang balitang tomboy umano ang beauty queen at ang kanyang kasintahan ay ang 2015 Miss France na si Camille Cerf. Nakalabas ang mga larawan na magiliw sa isa’t isa sina Iris at Camille. May isang litrato na magkadikit ang mga katawan ng dalawa na kapwa naka-two-piece.

Matagal na umanong magkaibigan ang dalawa.

Binigyan ng ibang kulay ng mga nag-post sa social media ang kasarian ni Mittenaere, isang babaing pagkaganda-ganda. Ang sabi naman ng kanyang mga tagapagtanggol ay mag-BFF lang sina Iris at Camille.

Pati ang isang taga-Nicaragua ay nagpapatotoo na lesbiyana si Mittenaere, isang bagay na inilagay niya sa kanyang Facebook page.

Pero ang sabi naman ng higit na nakararami ay mabuti kung tonggril nga si 2016 Miss France dahil siya ang magtataguyod ng sexual revolution sa pandaigdig na timpalak pangkagandahan na ito.

Mabuti anang mga tagapagtanggol ng LGBT na tomboy si Iris para makapagpaluwag sa pagtanggap ng balana sa mga bakla at tomboy sa iba’t ibang lipunan sa buong mundo.

Wala pang sagot si Iris sa mga paratang laban sa kanya. *** Samantala, may lumabas naman sa social media na may Filipino blood ang 2016 Miss Universe. 1/8 umano ang bumubuong dugong Pinoy na nananalaytay sa buong pagkatao ni Iris.

Ang sabi sa ulat ay nang nagtungo si Dr. Jose Rizal sa France noong ikalabinwalong

2016 Miss Haiti Raquel Pelissier

UNG anu-ano ang mga isyu na ibinabato sa hinirang na 2016 Miss Universe na mula sa France na si Iris Mittenaere. Masyadong makulay at maintriga ang ginanap na Miss U sa MOA Arena sa Pasay City kamakailan.

daang taon, nakilala ng ating pambansang bayani ang isang babaing may lahing Ingles, French at Filipina na nagngangalang Nellie Boustead.

Ayon sa mga nasusulat na kasaysayan, ang ina ni Nellie ay isang Filipina na may apelyidong Genato mula sa Maynila. May anak umano si Nellie na siyang kalola-lolahan ni Iris.

Naging magsyota sina Rizal at Boustead bagamat nagkahiwalay rin kinalaunan. *** Ang tunay namang may dugong Pinoy sa hanay ng mga sumali sa 2016 Miss Universe ay ang First Runner-Up na si Raquel Pelissier, ang 2016 Miss Haiti.

Ang kanunu-nunuan ni Raquel ay Filipino kaya nga nais niyang bumalik sa Pilipinas para hanapin ang kanyang mga kaanak at magpunta muli sa magagandang tanawin sa bansa kabilang ang Boracay at Baguio.

Nang mamasyal anya ang mga 2016 Miss U contestants ay hindi

2016 Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere at ang kanyang mga kapwa kalahok

IMAGES

4|| Lunes, Pebrero 06, 2017 4

BOY VILLASANTA

niya nanamnam nang maige ang kagandahan ng mga lugar kaya babalik siya sa kanyang kapasidad bilang isang Haitian.

Maipagmamalaki natin si Raquel dahil bilang isang may dugong Pinoy, isa siyang scientist na tumutuklas ng mga pamamaraan para masugpo ang pagkabulag ng isang tao. *** Ang isa pang 2016 Miss U contestant ay walang iba kundi si 2016 Miss New Zealand Tania Dawson na ang ina ay tubongPangasinan. Ang nanalo naman na First Runner-Up sa 2016 Miss NZ na ginanap sa bansang ‘yon ay isa ring Pinay, si Seresa Lapaz.

At ito pa. Katutuklas lang namin na ang 2016 Miss Guam na si Muñeka Joy Cruz Taisipic ay may dugo ring Filipino. Ayon sa blogger na si Normannorman, ipinagmamalaki at sinusuportahan niya at sana tayo rin ang kababayan nating si Muñeka na si Shelly Cruz ay isang Filipina.

Kaya mukhang Pinay na Pinay ang beauty ni Muñeka at kahit saang anggulo—bagamat ang mga Chamorro o mga taga-Guam ay mga mukhang Filipino—ay Pinay

para kay Maxine Medina, ang 2016 Miss Philippines. Kahit wala siyang napanalunang puwesto sa nakaraang paligsahan ay masaya na rin siya at nagawa niya ang nararapat para ilaban ang ating bansa sa matinding labanan ng mga kagandahan.

Patuloy siyang pinipintasan sa kanyang hindi paggamit nang husto sa kanyang kinuhang interpreter na disin sana’y nagsalin ng kanyang sagot sa Tagalog o Filipino na sagot sa Question & Answer Portion sa Miss U Top 6.

Tinira siya ni Annabelle Rama at sinabi nitong dapat ay hindi nag-Ingles si Maxine na mali-mali naman.

Gayunman, ipinagtanggol siya ni Robin Padilla.

“Kay Maxine Medina pa rin ako. Siya pa rin ang panalo para sa akin. Dapat ay nagkakaisa tayong mga Filipino na siya ang isulong nating manalo,” pahayag ni Robin pagkatapos ng pagkatalo ni Medina.

Hinikayat niya ang buong sangkafilipinuhan na suportahan pa rin si Maxine kahit na natalo.

Marami pa anyang gagawin ang 2016 Binibining PilipinasUniverse at ang tulong ng kanyang

ang kariktan ng beauty queen.

Pati kulay na kayumangging kaligatan ay nakuha ni Muñeka. Pati ang tangkad (hindi masyadong mataas ang beauty queen) ay katangian din ng karamihan sa ating mga kababayan. *** Samantala, patuloy ang buhay

mga kababayan ay mahalaga.

Sinabi ni Binoe na bagamat walang napanalunan ang Pilipinas ay mabuti naman ang kinauwian ng paligsahan.

“Walang masamang nangyari sa atin. Matahimik ang naging outcome. Kaya lang, may isang dapat ituwid na impormasyon tungkol sa paggamit ng isang klase ng tela na ginamit ng isang contestant. Ang lakan ay produkto ng Mindanao. Dapat, ituwid ‘yan,” hiling ni Padilla.

Nalulungkot din si Vice Ganda sa resulta ng 2016 Miss U dahil sa pagkatalo ni Maxine.

WBIZ

I

USAPANG BABAE

Diyaryo Pinoy LIBRE PARA SA LAHAT

Lunes, Pebrero 06, 2017 |5

MGA SENYALES NG MANIPULASYON SA ISANG RELASYON

mga pagkakataon kung saan palagi ng sinisisi ang sarili sa mga pag-aaway ninyong dalawa, hindi na ito tama. Tandaan na bahagi ng relasyon ang tampuhan pero majority pa rin ang pagiging masaya at kampante sa isa’t isa.

lang araw na lang at ipagdiriwang nanamang muli ng maraming couples ang araw ng mga puso. Ito ang panahon kung saan parang nababalot ng kulay pula ang paligid na simbolo ng pag-ibig o pagmamahal dahil sa talagang ramdam natin ang ambiance ng pagiibigan sa kapaligiran.

PAGBABAGO SA KILOS. Sa mga pagkakataon na napupuna na ng mga kaibigan o kakilala ang mga pagbabago sa iyong ikinikilos, magisip isip ka na. Kung mapapansin na palagi ka ng nagpapaliwanag sa kabiyak patungkol sa lahat ng bagay na ginagawa, nangangahulugan na may problema na.

Maaaring tama na humingi ng permiso paminsan minsan pero hindi ibig sabihin na sa lahat na lang ay kailangan ikonsulta sa kanya. Tandaan na hindi pa kayo magasawa kaya mayroon ka pang kalayaan para gawin ang mga nais.

IKAW NA GIRL

Ngunit bago natin pag-usapan ang makukulay na eksena tuwing Valentine’s day, talakayin muna natin ang ilan sa mga issue na kinahaharap ng magkakarelasyon.

Bahagi ng pagkatao ng isang indibidwal ang love at relationship. Itinuturing na may malaking factor sa pagdevelop ng personalidad ng isang tao ang pakikipagrelasyon. Maaaring sa ikabubuti o ikasasama mo, depende sa kung paano tayo naiimpluwensyahan ng minamahal.

Sa pakikipagrelasyon, hindi palaging puro saya lamang.

Sinasabing walang perpektong relasyon o pagsasama lalo na kung nakatagpo ng partner na demanding at manipulator.

Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon, malaki ang tyansa na magbago ang karakter ng isang tao sa negatibong paraan.

Dahil sa sobrang pagmamahal at respeto sa minamahal, hindi natin agad namamalayan ang mga nagiging pagbabago sa sarili dulot ng pagmamanipula sa atin.

Anu ano nga ba ang mga senyales sa pagkakaroon ng manipulative behavior at paano ang nararapat na gawing hakbang upang makaalis sa ganitong sitwasyon? Alamin mula sa mga eksperto:

INSECURITY. Kung nakadarama ng pangamba at insecurity, senyales ito na may mali. Kung mayroon mang tao na dapat nagpaparamdam ng pagiging secure sa relasyon, si boyfriend iyon. Ngunit kung dumarating na sa

PAGDUDUDA. Hindi mo alam kung saan lulugar sa inyong relasyon. Ito yung mga pagkakataon na madalas ng kinikwestyon ang feelings at kung ano ang mga tumatakbo sa isip ng minamahal. Nakadarama ng pagdududa sa kung naibibigay ba ng maayos ang pangangailangan ng partner at kung napapasaya ba siya.

DEPENDENT. Ito yung mga eksena kung saan ikaw mismo ang walang tiwala sa sariling kakayahan at nakadepende na lamang ang mga pagdedesisyon sa partner. Kapag sinabing manipulado ka ng isang tao, kalimitan na nakadarama ng sobrang kasiyahan at kapanatagan ngunit talagang nasisira ang mood kapag nakagawa ng kahit maliit na kamalian. Dahil dito kaya apektado ng bongga ang mood na nagiging sanhi ng anxiety at sobrang stress.

Huwag matakot na kausapin ang partner kapag nakadarama na ng kakaiba. Kung nais na maayos pa at maisalba ang relasyon, maging bukas dapat sa komunikasyon ang isa’t isa. Higit na mainam ang pagiging tapat sa nararamdaman at naiisip. Nararapat lamang na maayos na sa simula pa lamang ang ilang problema at issue tulad ng manipulasyon bago pa man tuluyang bumuo ng pamilya.

KonsultaMD now accessible from all Philippine telecom networks KONSULTAMD, a 24/7 health hotline service by Global Telehealth, Inc., provides access to licensed and professional doctors who give immediate medical attention to its members, is now accessible from all telecom operators in the Philippines.

“KonsultaMD has always been about helping address the healthcare pain points of the Philippines. All of us, regardless of the network we choose, experience these pain points. Hence, it makes sense to make KonsultaMD services available to all,” said Maridol Ylanan, CEO of Global Telehealth, Inc., an affiliate of leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom, Inc. Globe’s mission is to create wonderful experiences for people, to have choices, overcome challenges, and discover ways to

enjoy life. Given this direction, Globe has invested in Global Telehealth to provide medical services to the consumers.

Global Telehealth also took aggressive steps to be able to move beyond what their customers need by offering KonsultaMD services to

other telco networks nationwide.

KonsultaMD works by simply calling 79880 (mobile) or (02) 798 8000 (landline). Members of KonsultaMD can speak to a licensed Filipino doctor, immediately and directly with no waiting time, regarding their health concerns.

Inquiries about health-related issues include, but are not limited to maternity, pediatrics and primary conditions like fever, rashes, and allergies, to name a few. Callers may also inquire about matters pertaining to health coaching, nutrition counselling, permissible medication and even laboratory results.

Globe Postpaid customers only need to pay a fee of Php150 a month to avail of KonsultaMD services which can be used by up to four additional members while Globe Prepaid and TM customers have the option to subscribe for an

individual membership by paying Php15 a week or Php60 monthly.

Customers of other networks can now subscribe to KonsultaMD by simply logging on to www.konsulta. md, clicking on subscribe and going to ‘Other Networks’ where they can fill out an online application form. Subscription payments can be made via Visa, MasterCard, GCash, BancNet or SMART Money. Upon receipt of SMS and email confirmation, customers can start using the service by calling the KonsultaMD hotline at 79880 (mobile) or (02) 798 8000.

Calls from Globe landlines nationwide and calls within Metro Manila via landline are free. Calls from Globe or TM mobile numbers are charged a special call rate of Php1 per minute while non-Globe customers pay the standard mobile and NDD rates.

6 | Lunes, Pebrero 06, 2017

LIBRE PARA SA LAHAT

A game changer, says Piñol

Billboard

Iwasan Ang Caffeine Ang caffeine ay isang natural stimulant na makikita kadalasan sa tsaa, kape at cacao plant.

Ngayon, makikita na rin ang caffeine sa mga energy drinks at ibang pagkain. Ang normal na iniisip natin ay nakakatulong ang caffeine sa energy boost ngunit ang katotohanan ay sandali at pansamantala lang ang energy boost na naibibigay nito. Bukod diyan, marami pang ibang masamang epekto ang nakikita sa katawan kapag nasobrahan sa caffeine intake gaya ng: • Nakakapagpataas ng blood pressure.

• Maaaring makatrigger ng Gout attack.

• Maaaring makapagsanhi ng insomnia o kahirapan sa pagtulog.

• Nakakaapekto sa digestion.

• Nakakapagsanhi ng sakit sa ulo.

• Nakakabawas lalo ng energy sa katawan.

• Maaaring makasanhi ng masamang epekto sa cardiovascular health.

Ilan lamang yan sa mga maaaring maging epekto ng caffeine sa katawan kapag nasobrahan. Kaya naman kung energy boost lang rin ang kailangan, bakit hindi maghanap ng mga supplement na naglalaman ng Taurine, Ginseng, Sodium Ascorbate, Vitamin B1, B6 at B12. Ayon sa pananaliksik, ang mga components na ito ay mahusay sa pangkalahatang kalusugan ng katawan at lakas.

Ang Taurine at Ginseng ay tumutulong mapanatili ang pagiging alerto ng isang tao, binabawasan ang stress at nagbibigay ng energy boost, Sodium Ascorbate naman ay nakakatulong maibsan ang pagod na nararamdaman at kahinaan ng kalamnan, ang Vitamin B1 ay tumutulong ma-convert ang pagkain sa enerhiya ng katawan, ang Vitamin

B6 naman ay nakakatulong ma-enhance ang metabolism at ang Vitamin B12 naman ay tumutulong makapagdagdag ng energy sa katawan. Ngayon, kung iniisip mo na mahirap humanap ng produkto na nagtataglay ng lahat ng ito na walang kahit anong form ng caffeine, subukan ang Robust Energy Capsule!

Sinubukan ko ang produktong ito lalo na nung palagi akong pagod at stressed, so far maganda ang resulta sakin!

SMALL-SCALE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS KEY TO PHILIPPINE FOOD SECURITY AGRICULTURE Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the Department of Agriculture would promote the establishment of solarpowered irrigation system as an answer to the lack of irrigation for most of the country’s 3.9-million hectares of rice lands.

Piñol said the DA plans to ask Congress to allocate P20 billion starting next year to distribute solarpowered irrigation systems each of which could pump from 400 to 1,000 gallons of water a day for up to 150 hectares of rice farm.

He noted that of the 3.9 million hectares of rice farms in the country, only 1.2 million hectares benefit from communal irrigation systems that allow farmers to plant rice twice a year.

The rest of the 2.7 million hectares of rice lands are rain-fed only, and farmers there could plant rice only once a year, he said.

“The Philippines is blessed with so many rivers, tributaries, lakes and almost six months of rain, not to mention typhoons which bring rain and even floods, every year. Yet, 120 years after the Department of Agriculture was created in 1898, the country only has 1.2-million hectares of rice fields currently serviced by irrigation systems,” Piñol lamented in a Facebook post.

He said this serious lack of irrigation is the main reason the country is lagging in rice production compared to the growing consumption of rice by the country’s growing population.

“To achieve sufficient rice supply for the country, at least one million hectares of the 2.7-million hectares of rain-fed areas must be irrigated

for farmers to be able to plant twice a year, which would mean an additional harvest of 3.9-million metric tons,” Piñol said.

When milled with a recovery rate of 65%, the one million hectares of previously rain-fed areas could bring in an additional production of 2.9-million metric tons of rice, the DA Secretary noted.

“That (2.9-million metric tons of rice) is over and above the (current) annual rice shortage of 1.8-million metric tons,” Piñol pointed out.

With the population growing 1.9% a year and an average rice consumption of 111 kilos per Filipino, the country needs to produce an additional 221,445,000 kilos of rice a year to feed the growing population entirely from local rice production, he said.

He said this means that with an average production of 3.9 metric tons of rice per hectare, the country must irrigate an additional 80,000 hectares of rice farms to feed the new generation of Filipinos.

Piñol said that as a response to the need to ensure sufficient supply of rice at an affordable price for all Filipinos, the DA will push the distribution and setting up of solarpowered irrigation system in farming communities all over the country starting in 2018.

This would be a flagship project to irrigate an estimated one million hectares by the end of President Duterte’s term, he said.

“Given this support, the Department of Agriculture could ensure that the country would have sufficient rice supply before the end of term of President Rody Duterte,” the DA Secretary stressed. DA-OSEC

ARBs engaged in AVA support genuine agrarian reform bill DAVAO CITY, Feb. 3 - In an unprecedented turn of events, agrarian reform beneficiary organizations (ARBO) from Visayas and Mindanao forwarded a resolution that strongly supports the passage of House Bill 555 or the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill (GARB) during a forum initiated by the Presidential Agrarian Reform Council (PARC) secretariat in Davao City.

The participants, who are engaged in Agribusiness Venture Agreements (AVA), also expressed their support for the immediate confirmation of Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary Rafael “Ka Paeng” Mariano at the Commission on Appointments (CA).

Members of ARBOs raised the motion after Undersecretary for Finance, Planning and Administration (FPAO) and PARC Secretary Atty.

David Erro discussed the current thrust and policy directions of DAR and its main advocacy campaign – genuine agrarian reform.

If passed, GARB will push for the free distribution of agricultural lands to qualified agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and the collective building of their organizations.

“The participants, specifically the ARBs, expressed their conformity with the concepts, features and objectives of the Genuine Agrarian Reform Bill which they believe will address

the plight of the small farmers concerning default payments of their land amortizations and the corresponding interests and penalties being charged by the financing institutions,” the resolution said.

Those who signed the resolution are representatives of ARB cooperatives or associations and Provincial Agrarian Reform Coordinating Committee (PARCCOM) Chairpersons of Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Bukidnon, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Davao City, Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Agusan del Norte and Agusan del Sur, and DAR Regional and Provincial AVA point-persons of Regions IX, X, XI, XII, CARAGA and the Negros Island Region.

Participants of the three-day forum raised the point as they are confident that the said bill promotes the interests and welfare of small farmers to effectively uplift their socio-economic conditions as envisioned by the genuine agrarian reform program.

Copies of the resolution will be immediately submitted to the PARC, the PARC Executive Committee, and both Houses of the Congress through their respective committees on agrarian reform.

Lunes, Pebrero 06, 2017|7

DEPARTMENT of Science and Technology (DOST) Fortunato dela Peña expressed the DOST’s gratitude to JICA for their continued valuable assistance and support to the strengthening of disaster prevention and preparedness in the country and in the whole region during the ceremonial turn-over of the JapanInternational Cooperation Agency (JICA) Grant in Aid of Doppler Radar Systems and Facilities at the PAGASA Weather and Forecasting Center, Agham Road, Diliman Quezon City on February 03, 2017.

He said that these Aparri and Guiuan Radar Systems and Facilities, which were made possible through the grant-in-aid of the JICA, under the Project for the Improvement of Meteorological Radar Systems in the Philippines, would no doubt further boost PAGASA’s forecasting capability and modernize tracking to contribute to the government’s proactive preparedness program against the impact of extreme weather events.

Thesemeteorological radar systems which are part of the project’s Three Radar System located for the eastern seaboard of the country, including the Virac radar which was inaugurated in May 2012, will significantly complement the goal to have complete coverage and monitoring of weather systems throughout the whole country, said de la Peña.

They will serve as early warning

Classified Ads DOST Secretary expresses gratitude to JICA for the turn-over of Doppler radars systems to guide local government units (LGUs) and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council to cope with disaster preparedness and resilience planning. We give credit to these LGUs in helping the government achieve zero-casualty in times of weather disturbance, he also said.

The radar systems under the PAGASA Modernization program is in line with the DOST priority initiatives in disaster risk reduction and management in complement with the national climate change adaptation plans. The DOST under the new administration, has set up priorities to strengthen national capability for disaster prediction.

The DOST has called for new ways to address pressing concerns in areas of disaster risk reduction and management and its inclusion as priority in the national government’s development agenda after what happened with typhoon Yolanda. Among the paradigm shifts in disaster risk reduction (DRR) that the government has implemented were risk information and early warning system.

On climate change adaptation and DRR, the DOST will allot a big percentage of its budget in research and development. PAGASA will have a 500% higher budget to help the agency step up implementation of its projects to ensure safety from, natural disasters through accurate mapping and assessment, he further said.

With these modern radar facilities, PAGASA is another step closer to achieving a world-class observing network, data processing and forecasting system to deliver better meteorological and hydrological services, the Secretary added.

Dr. VicenteMalano, PAGASA Administrator who welcomed guests and participants, expressed thanks to the People of Japan through the JICA to their commitment and valuable supports to the DOST and the LGUs of Cagayan and Eastern Samar in general and the LGUs of Aparri and Guiuanspecifically for the Doppler Radar Systems and Facilities handed over to PAGASA for Aparri and Guiuan completed the three-radar system of JICA including the Virac radar which was turned-over in 2012, he said.

More radar facilities are planned to be established to provide more accurate forecasting and monitoring of heavy-rain causing weather disturbances throughout the country. These will enable us to tract down these weather systems and allow us to take necessary actions against the negative impacts of these events including pre-emptive evacuation before it hits land especially in the high risks and vulnerable communities), he also said.

Under the PAGASA modernization act, program lined-up, include the establishment of a High Frequency Doppler Radar (HFDR) Network to be established in the main shipping lanes

in the country, improvement of aviation service, through the installations of lightning detection network and the enhancement of flood forecasting and warning services in the 18 major river basins of the country, he further said.

PAGASA continues to renew efforts on how to improve its services as it underlines the importance disaster preparedness to help the country to be more prepared and to lessen or totally eliminate casualty from natural calamities, PAGASA Administrator added.

His ExcellencyKazunide Ishikawa, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Republic of the Philippines and Honorable, DOST Secretary de la Peña led the unveiling of the Marker assisted by other local government officials.

JICA Chief Representative SusumoIto during the handover ceremony for Doppler Radars to PAGASA, in his message said that “we hope of course that strong disasters will not happen”. Through our development cooperation with PAGASA, we hope that disaster response will become more guided.

He thanked PAGASA for its support to JICA’s activities in the Philippines.

“Our partnership has withstood many typhoons and floods and we hope that by working together, we’ll achieve a safer and disaster resilient future”, he said.

LIBRE PARA SA LAHAT

Ambassador Kazuhide Ishikawa, in his remarks during the occasion mentioned about the historic State Visit of their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan to the Philippine in January kicked off this year.

He also mentioned President Duterte’s official visit to Japan last October and the still fresh memory for them of the Japanese Prime Minister Abe who was enthusiastically welcomed by the Filipinos in Manila and Davao just three weeks ago.

At the summit meeting Prime Minister Abe clearly stated that Japan would continue to assist the Philippines in its endeavor to develop the society, in a wide range of fields such as infrastructure improvement, human resource development, poverty reduction and others using Japanese technology and knowledge.

Japan and the Philippines are both disaster prone countries and disaster risk reduction is one of the most important areas of cooperation, and it is with this spirit that Japan decided to assist the Philippines by enhancing the capability of PAGASA to effectively minimize and prevent damages that tropical cyclones and other severe weather phenomena may cause.

The Ambassador expressed hope that the project will further strengthen the cooperative ties and friendship that Japan and the Philippines have built through the years. ESTRELLA GALLARDO

Project NOAH: The Story IN the aftermath of Storm Sendong in 2011, former President Benigno S. Aquino III called for “a more accurate, integrated, and responsive disaster prevention and mitigation system, especially in high-risk areas throughout the Philippines.” In response, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) scanned all available technologies and expertise to come up with a flagship program that addressed the nation’s needs before, during, and after disasters.

At that time, there were three ongoing DOST-funded independent projects that related to disaster, namely ClimateX, Weather Sensors Development, and Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation or DREAM. Upon the directive of then DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo, these three projects were consolidated, and likewise three more projects were approved to form Project NOAH which had Dr. Mahar Lagmay as executive director. These three new projects were: 1) Storm Surge (under PAGASA), 2) Landslide, and 3) WebGIS. These projects, working together and sharing data among themselves, became the core of DOST’s flagship program called the Disaster Risk Reduction/ Climate Change Adaptation (DRR-CCA) which then Secretary Montejo called the NOAH Program.

This program, with a budget of P6.4 billion, is now beefed up with 19 components, including the original six projects plus DREAM-LiDAR, 3-D Mapping, FloodNET, Landslide Sensors Development, and Hydro-Met Sensors Development, among others.

Among NOAH Program’s missions were to undertake disaster science research and development, advance the use of cutting edge technologies, and recommend innovative information services in government’s disaster prevention and mitigation efforts.

NOAH Program had a multi-disciplinary approach in developing systems, tools, and other technologies that could be operationalized by the government to help prevent and mitigate disasters. It also

partnered with the academe and other stakeholders to accomplish its objectives.

As a Grant-In-Aid project of the DOST, the NOAH Program, as well as its components, all had starting and completion dates, and deliverables, among others.

The NOAH Program started in 2011 and most component projects were completed in 2015, including Project NOAH. Project NOAH was a success, and its popularity prompted the Department of Budget and Management to label all succeeding DOST DRR/CCA projects as “Project NOAH/NOAH Program.”

Project NOAH

Project NOAH, or Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards, was launched in July 2012 in Marikina City by no less than former President Aquino and former Secretary Montejo.

Project NOAH was designed to harness technologies and management services for disaster risk reduction activities offered by the DOST through DOST’s agencies PAGASA, PHIVOLCS, and Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) in partnership with the UP National Institute of Geological Sciences and the UP College of Engineering.

During its course, Project NOAH under Dr. Lagmay was able to provide an early flood warning system together with the country’s weather authority, the DOST- PAGASA. Project NOAH used and processed data coming from PAGASA. Project NOAH was completed in December 2015 and it was expected to

transfer to PAGASA all the technologies that the project developed. PAGASA has the mandate to “provide protection against natural calamities and utilize scientific knowledge as an effective instrument to insure the safety, well- being and economic security of all the people, and for the promotion of national progress.”

Therefore it is the government’s prime end-user for all technologies generated by Project NOAH and similar initiatives. This is not to say, however, that only PAGASA can use the said technologies as these are open to all institutions and offices that need them.

In early 2015, then Secretary Montejo created a committee through a special order that specifically directed PAGASA and Project NOAH personnel, in-

WANTED!

STAY-IN HOUSE COOK • Female • knows how to cook Filipino, Chinese Cuisine

Requirements

* NBI Clearance *Police Clearance Contact Person : PAT Contact No. : 521-7158 ; Address: Parañaque

cluding Dr. Lagmay, to start the transfer of developed data and tools to PAGASA. The start of the transfer process was again agreed upon in a meeting on November 28, 2016 with Dr. Lagmay, DOST officials, and PAGASA. In a statement on Project NOAH released on January 30, 2017, DOST Secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña said the “results are useful and should be institutionalized in regular government agencies whose mandates cover these areas.” Thus, it is not only PAGASA that can use the technologies but also other agencies concerned with disaster risk reduction to benefit the Filipino people by saving lives and property. This is science for the people.

For Fast

Classified Ads Tumawag

lang po sa Telefax No.:

310.

2022

COLUMN WIDTH CONVERSION

7 cols 6 cols 5 cols 4 cols 3 cols 2 cols 1 col Centerspread

25.41 cm 21.72 cm 18.02 cm 14.34 cm 10.65 cm 6.96 cm 3.27 cm 50.82 cm

Diyaryo USAPANG Pinoy PANGKABUHAYAN LIBRE PARA SA LAHAT

LUNES, Pebrero 06, 2017

ANTIQUEÑO MSMEs RECEIVE DOST TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

S

AN JOSE, ANTIQUE — The Department of Science and Technology Regional Office VI through the Antique Provincial Science and Technology Center granted technical assistance to six micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with under its Small Enterprise Technology Upgrading Program (SETUP).

Among of the beneficiaries include CMYK Test Print Advertising and Supply, Process Foundation Panay, Inc., MEEMMJON Malunggay Products, Jomil 21 Peking Duck Poultry Farm, Servano Bakeshop, and Middle East Furniture Manufacturer.

DOST’s banner program SETUP seeks to address technological constraints through technical assistance for the upgrading of production facilities, technology trainings, and consultancy services.

This package of S&T interventions is geared towards improving product quality,

production efficiency, good manufacturing practices, and generating employment.

Under this program, the beneficiaries repay the total cost of the financial assistance to the government for three years without interest.

SETUP boosts its efforts on food processing, furniture, gift, decors and handicrafts, aquatic and marine, horticulture/agriculture, metals and engineering, information and communications technology/electronics, and health products and services.

For 2017, some 25 MSMEs in the region will be granted with

technology upgrading assistance amounting to PhP38,200,000.00.

These MSMEs are bound to intensify the country’s labor force, generate innovative products and services that cater to global and domestic market, and serve as key players in stepping up the value chain of the business sector.

The granting of the financial assistance which gathered some local government units, technical experts, national government agencies, and students, was conducted during the Technology DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña (middle) leads the granting of technical assistance to Forum held in line with the MSMEs in Antique. Joining him are DOST VI Regional Director RowenGelonga (sixth from conduct of the 2017 Technology left) and DOST-Philippine Textile Research Institute Director Celia Elumba (far left). DOSTVICaravan. DOSTVI-LMLAMASAN LMLAMASAN

Ipo Watershed Rangers Can Now Patrol Longer with Solar Lamps and Chargers

BY GREGGY YAN THEY don’t pack high-tech gear nor high-caliber weapons, but the Dumagat rangers of Ipo Watershed patrol Bulacan’s forests like it were their home. Because it is.

Sporting simple tools and gear donated by mountaineers, the rangers work day and night to protect the Sierra Madre mountain range against illegal loggers, slash-and-burn farmers and charcoal collectors. With little gear and basic pay, they’ve had a tough run, but they finally got help.

Last 10 January, the watershed’s rangers received solar lamps and mobile chargers from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) and AVolution, a digital signage solutions company whose core business is to supply and install LED screens across the Philippines. A total of 52 lamps were made available to the rangers to augment their capacity to patrol at night, while allowing them to charge their mobile phones and other communications gear, increasing the range of foot patrols.

“Our LED There be Light initiative illuminates distant communities and helps locals do their jobs without relying on dangerous, dirty and expensive kerosene or carbide lamps,” explains AVolution’s President and General Manager Lani Kimber Campos. AVolution also gave 200 solar lamps to farmers in Brgy. Tiniguiban, Gumaca, Quezon Province last year.

Ipo Watershed, together with the Angat and Umiray watersheds, supply 98% of the water consumed by Metro Manila. Situated northeast of the sprawling Metropolis, it covers 7161 hectares in Norzagaray and San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan, plus Rodriguez in Rizal.

Sadly, the watershed’s forests are in full retreat. Though protected by several proclamations including a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title for the Indigenous Dumagat tribes of the watershed, the area is pockmarked by patches of bare soil.

From 85%, forest cover plummeted to 40% in recent years.

The government and groups like the UP Mountaineers have been helping locals protect the watershed.

WWF and its allies, which include Banco de Oro, Samsung and the Sunlife Foundation, recently joined the fray.

“The deployment of solar lamps is just part of a larger initiative to protect the entire watershed,” explains WWF-Philippines Project Manager Paolo Pagaduan, who formerly oversaw a watershed conservation project in Rizal.

“We’re now working to develop a sustainable watershed management plan, form an effective management body for all micro-watersheds, aid groundwater recharge, minimize erosion and siltation, mitigate pollution through waste management, conduct regular monitoring and the evaluation of interventions and replant denuded areas to provide livelihood opportunities and maximize forest recovery. Simply put, we’re going beyond tree-planting,” he explains.

But the proof of the pudding is in the eating – and the rangers were visibly excited to try out their new solar lamps and chargers at the turnover ceremonies.

“Sometimes we spend up to three days patrolling these mountains,” gestures veteran ranger Bayani Cruz to the distant mountains east of Ipo Dam, already scarred by kaingin or slash-and burn farmers. “Conditions are rough, especially during the monsoon season, when rivers swell and trails turn to streams – but we always do our duty. We earn only one hundred Pesos per day – but we don’t do this just for money.

We are Dumagat. We were born in the forest and we are just protecting our homes.”

Through the efforts of the aptly-named Bayani, plus the rest of the rangers protecting the Ipo Watershed, Metro Manila’s 12 million residents can rest easy, knowing there will always be water to drink.