Dumaguete Metropost, December 5, 2021 edition

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metro

V o l . X X I I No . 1117 •

Dum aguete Ci ty, Phi li p p i nes

POST

December 5 - D ecember 11, 2021

• P15. 00

Empowering the people of Negros Oriental and the worldwide community for 21 years and counting!

Drop CoViD meals charges, officials ask Ombudsman

Dumaguete Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, City Councilor Edgar Lentorio, and Assistant City Administrator Dinno Depositario are asking the Ombudsman to drop the criminal and administrative charges against them in relation to its investigation into last year’s CoViD meals issue. The three officials are charged for violation of provisions of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (Republic Act 3019), as amended, and for Violation of Republic Act 7160, or the Local Government Code of 1991. The charges were filed by the Ombudsman on the basis of a complaint filed by then Dumaguete Vice Mayor Alan Gel Cordova and Councilors Joe Kenneth Arbas, Agustin Miguel Perdices, Rosel Margarette Erames, and Bernice Anne Elmaco after the Sangguniang Panglunsod of Dumaguete conducted its investigation into the issue. TO PAGE 2

Thousands of residents line up around the corridors of Robinsons Mall on Nov. 30, not for shopping, but to grab the chance to finally get vaccinated during the government’s thrust on Resbakuna against CoViD-19, amid rising cases of the Omicron variant. (Photo by Alex Pal)

NegOr vaxxes 50K in 2 days

Close to 50,000 individuals in Negros Oriental received jabs against the coronavirus disease 2019 during the first and second days of the nationwide vaccination drive, although a little short of the Province’s total target. Assistant Provincial Health Officer Dr. Liland Estacion told reporters they recorded 26,647 vaccinees on Nov. 29, which was

Cong. Manuel “Chiquiting” Sagarbarria visits barangay Mangoto in the mountain town of Pamplona, where he encouraged local residents to get vaccinated against CoViD-19. Negros Oriental has recorded a total of 19,376 positive cases since March 2020, 639 of whom have died. (Photo taken by Anicee de la Rama)

CoViD-19 Cases in the Philippines

as of Dec. 4, 2021

San Jose Dgte City Level Robinson Place #3 #3 San Jose St., St., Dgte City L evel 1 R1obinson Place Confirmed 2,833,878 No. 225-4440 City Tel o: (035) 2 25-­‐ 4440 D gte Dgte City Tel. Tel no: n(035) (035) 225-­‐ 4 440 Dgte. City 0ror 422-9482 421-1524 or 422-­‐ 9482 T el TNo. el o: N(035) o: (035) 421-­‐ 1524 422-­‐ 9482 Tel. N (035) 421-­‐ 1524 Recovered 2,769,914 Deaths 48,987 #3 San Jose St., Dgte. City

Level 1 Robinson Place

Active Cases

#1 SJose an Jose Street, Dumaguete City #1 Dumaguete CityCity #1 San San Jose Street, Dumaguete Street, No.: Tel n(035) o: (035) 421-­‐ 0338 Tel.Tel 421-0338 no: (035) 421-­‐ 0338

Population

14,977

111,651,639

Source: Worldometers.info

* Farm-fresh Eggs * Organic Vegetables * Fresh meat: Beef, Pork harvested daily

FORTUNE TREE Colon corner Sta. Catalina Sts., Dumaguete City Open 8am-5:30pm daily

Sunday except

over the daily target of 25,000. On the second day, however, the target fell short at 22,620, she added. On Tuesday, Sibulan logged the highest number of vaccinees at 3,217, followed by this capital city with 2,900, and the Provincial Health Office mobile team with almost 2,500. The total of 49,267 vaccinees during the first two days of the “Bayanihan Bakunahan” included those who were inoculated in the different towns and cities, the public and private hospitals, and by the PHO mobile vaccination team, Estacion said. Estacion, the Covid-19 incident commander of the province’s Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, said they are still hoping to achieve the target on the final day of the nationwide vaccination program. She thanked the volunteers comprising medical doctors from the public and private sectors, as well as other health workers, front-liners, and civilians, for making the National Vaccination Days in Negros Oriental successful. Meanwhile, as of Nov. 30, the

total number of individuals in Negros Oriental who are fully vaccinated (including the oneshot Janssen vaccine) has reached 234,628 or 25.8 percent of the total target of 908,939 this year, Estacion said. For the first dose, the Province has inoculated 418,016 individuals, including those aged 12-17, she said. The PHO official said they are hoping to vaccinate 50 percent of the total target population in Negros Oriental by the end of the year. She reassured the public that regular vaccination against Covid-19 will continue in the LGUs as there are still plenty of vaccines available to them. Meanwhile, the Regional Office of the Department of Health in Central Visayas reports that while the number of COVID-19 active positive cases of Negros Oriental has been on the decline, the Province is still leading in the count for active positive cases. Data compiled by MetroPost from the DOH-7 Facebook page shows that Negros Oriental still had 2,038 active positive cases as of Dec. 2, much higher TO PAGE 2

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MetroPost

DECEMBER 5 - DECEMBER 11, 2021

2

UNIQLO to open in Dumaguete 1st in Negros Island

PSA hits 94.8% of ID target

The Philippine Statistics Authority in Negros Oriental on Monday said it has reached 94.8 percent of its target in the national identification program listup for this year. Engr. Ariel Fortuito, PSA-Negros Oriental provincial chief, told the MetroPost that as of Nov. 27, NEGOR....FROM P. 1

than Siquijor’s 191, Cebu Province’s 233, and Bohol’s 83. Negros Oriental also had 10 deaths from COVID-19 this past week as against one death in Siquijor. The Department of Health gets its data from all the testing centers in the country.

the total Step 2 output for the Philippine Identification System was at 809,807. The PSA’s 2021 target for Negros Oriental is 854,257. Fortuito is optimistic the remaining 44,450 can be reached even before the end of the year. The three areas in the TO PAGE 6 As explained several months ago by Dr. Liland Estacion, COVID 19 patients who live/work in Manila or in other parts of the country, and declare their hometown as Negros Oriental are eventually recorded under the Negros Oriental tally. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)

Republic of the Philippines Supreme Court of the Philippines Regional Trial Court of Negros Oriental 7th Judicial Region Branch 35 Dumaguete City In the matter of the Correction of Entries of the Date of Birth from “April 9, 1955” to “April 9, 1945” Dominador Abellon Tubojan represented by Miriam Tubojan Bueno, Petitioner Spec. Proc. No. 2021-5598 versus The Local Civil Registrar of Dauin, the Civil Registrar General, Manila, Remola Valmera Tubojan, Dominic Tubojan and Florhemi Tubojan, Respondents. X-----------------------------------------------/ ORDER Received by this Court on October 7, 2021 is a petition in the aboveentitled case for the correction of entry of the date of birth of petitioner Dominador Abellon Tubojan, herein represented by his Attorney-in-Fact Miriam Tubojan Bueno, through counsel, Atty. Jerome T. Arado. On October 28, 2021, this Court received a Motion to Amend and Admit Amended Petition with attached Amended Petition. In the said Motion, petition through counsel prays that he be allowed to amend his petition only for the purpose of correcting the Verification and Certification of Non-Forum Shopping, which indicates petitioner’s name instead of that of his Attorneyin-Fact who actually signed the same. Petitioner further prays that the Annexes and Judicial Affidavits in the previously filed petition be adopted to form part of his Amended Petition. Finding the said Motion to the well taken, the same is granted. Petitioner’s Amended Petition is hereby admitted. Petitioner Dominador Abellon Tubojan is of legal age, Filipino, married and a resident of District 1, Dauin, Negros Oriental. He is duly represented herein by Miriam Tubojan Bueno, of legal age, Filipino, married and a resident of Banilad, Dumaguete City, by virtue of a Special Power of Attorney. According to petitioner, he was born on April 9, 1945 at Poblacion, Dauin, Negros Oriental, but in his Certificate of Live Birth registered before the Local Civil Registrar of Dauin, Negros Oriental as Registry No. 89-091, his date of birth was erroneously entered as April 9, 1955. All his personal documents and records, however, reflect his true date of birth. As proof of such fact, petitioner attached machine copies of the following documents to his petition, all reflecting his true date of birth of April 9, 1945, as follows: 1) Secondary Students Permanent Record with the Negros Oriental High School, issued by the Department of Education; 2) Certificate of Baptism, issued by the Parish of Dauin Catholic Parish Church; 3) Voter’s Affidavit; 4) Social Security System Number Slip, reflecting his SS Number 100046989-9 and date of birth “04/09/1945”; and 5) Philippine Passport No. HH292439; Thus, in order to prevent confusion and for the uniformity of all his personal documents and records, petition filed this instant petition pursuant to Rule 108 of the Revised Rules of Court. Petition thus prays that after publication, due notice and hearing, judgment be rendered: 1) ordering the correction of petitioner’s date of birth from April 9, 1955 to April 9, 1945 in the Records of Birth of petitioner on file with the Office of the Civil Registrar General and the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Dauin, Negros Oriental; (2) directing the Civil Registrar General and the Local Civil Registrar of Dauin, Negros Oriental to effect the judgment by entering the decision of this Court in the records of birth of petition with the Office of the Civil Registrar General, Philippine Statistics Office and with the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Dauin, Negros Oriental; and 3) directing the Local Civil Registrar of Dauin, Negros Oriental, to file and keep on record the corrected Records of Birth of petitioner. Finding the Amended Petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the same is hereby given due course. Within fifteen (15) days from receipt of this Order, petitioner is directed to show proof that copies of his Amended Petition were properly furnished and served to the public and private respondents in accordance with Rule 13 of the 2019 Proposed Amendments to the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure. Petitioner is likewise directed to furnish copies of his Amended Petition to the Solicitor General and the Provincial Prosecutor of Negros Oriental, and to show proper proof of service thereof as well. This case shall be heard on March 15, 2022 at 10:00 o’clock in the morning at the Session Hall of this Court, at which date, time and place, any interested person may appear and show cause why the prayer in the petition should not be granted Pursuant to Rule 108 of the Rules of Court, and at petitioner’s expense, let this Order be published once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in this province and its component cities. The civil registrar and all private respondents, or any other person having or claiming any interest under the entry whose cancellation or correction is sought may, within fifteen (15) days from notice of this petition, or from the last date of publication of such notice, file his or her opposition thereto. So ordered. November 8, 2021, Dumaguete City, Philippines. (Sgd.) Glenda J. Yee-Uymatiao Presiding Judge MetroPost 2021 December 5 • December 12 • December 19

DILG honors LGU-NGO partners

The Department of the Interior & Local Government-7 has lauded Negros Oriental for recognizing those that excel in local governance through the Timbayayong Award for Outstanding Local Government Unit and NonGovernment Organization/ People’s Organization Partnership. “(It is a) good practice to recognize those who excel in local governance and a strong collaboration between civil society organizations and NGOs,” DILG-7 Director Leocadio Trovela said during the recognition of this year’s winners held here Thursday. The Negros Oriental Network of NGOs and People’s Organizations,

headed by its president Albert Aquino, is spearheading the Timbayayong Award, which is now on its 15th year of establishing a strong partnership between the local government units and POs for the joint implementation of development projects. Trovela noted that the award program is worthy of replication as it “truly captures the intention of the provincial government of Negros for more inclusive local governance.” The winners of the 2021 Timbayayong Award and their project fund prizes are the municipality of Mabinay and the Kapunungan sa mga Ata ug Mag-uuma sa TO PAGE 6

DROP....FROM P. 1

Globally-renowned Japanese apparel retailer UNIQLO is set to open its first store in Negros Island on Dec. 17 at Robinsons Place-Dumaguete. A news release from UNIQLO said with the opening of the store here, residents will now have easier access to LifeWear and get to enjoy world-class retail shopping experience. The opening of UNIQLO in Dumaguete -- their 66th store in the Philippines -- marks the company’s commitment to provide more Filipinos with “quality everyday clothing”. Executives of the apparel store said they are confident in the potential of the market in their new location in this University Town, which they noted is surrounded by an IT economic zone and various BPO locators. “We also hope to make a positive contribution to the City by providing employment to locals, and hopefully attract other businesses to open in the area,” the statement read. “Opening more stores nationwide is a testament to our goal to continuously make a way to bring LifeWear closer and more convenient to everyone,” they said in a statement. The store at Robinsons sits on 243 square meters of sales space, which will showcase the latest lineup of LifeWear pieces. UNIQLO is the largest of eight brands of Fast Retailing Co. Ltd., a leading Japanese retail holding company based in Tokyo. With global sales of about 2.13 trillion yen (US $19.4 billion) as of August this year, Fast Retailing is one of the world’s largest apparel retail companies. The clothes shop continues to open large-scale stores in some of the world’s most important cities, as part of its ongoing efforts to “solidify its status as a global brand”. Today, the company has more than 2,300 stores in 25 markets worldwide. “With a corporate statement committed to changing clothes, changing conventional wisdom, and changing the world, Fast Retailing is dedicated to creating clothing with unique value to enrich the lives of people everywhere,” the statement read. On opening weekend on Dec. 17 in Dumaguete, customers can avail of special offers on select LifeWear pieces. The first 250 customers on Dec. 17 will receive a pack of silvanas from Sans Rival Cakes & Pastries. For every single receipt purchase of at least P3,000 until to Dec. 19, customers will also receive one UNIQLO limited edition stainless bottle.

6 LGUs vie for Garbo Awards

The complaint centered on the awarding of a P12 million contract to Aladdin Restaurant & Café -- a business establishment that had no business permit to operate -- to supply food packs to the City’s frontliners manning the health checkpoints during the Enhanced Community Quarantine and the General Community Quarantine. The complaint by then Vice Mayor Cordova and

The Provincial Commission on Women and the Provincial Gender and Development (GAD) Resource and Coordinating Center, is winding up its 18-day campaign to end violence against women (VAW) on Dec. 12. Josefina Columna, provincial GAD focal person, said during a “Kapihan sa PIA” forum,

that the highlight of the campaign will be the selection and awarding of women and women’s groups in the province for their contribution and best practices as part of the province’s promotion of “safe spaces”. Columna said six finalists – Canlaon City, Guihulngan City, Dumaguete City, TO PAGE 6

DOH Central Visayas COVID-19 Active Positive Cases Nov

Negros Oriental cases

Siquijor

deaths (total)

cases

deaths (total)

Cebu Prov.

Bohol

16

2685

567

429

31

387

263

17

2489

567

430

31

381

188

18

2388

577

431

31

338

161

19

2454

577

431

31

337

117

20

2423

577

431

31

337

118

21

2417

587

432

31

340

118

22

2412

594

329

32

320

104

23

2386

602

339

32

320

157

24

2298

606

339

32

314

161

25

2240

606

188

33

304

115

26

2263

606

183

38

302

112

27

2187

612

183

38

304

110

28

2193

612

183

38

302

113

29

2194

612

183

38

330

97

30

2135

613

192

38

264

90

1

2046

614

192

38

251

88

2

2038

622

191

39

233

83

December


MetroPost

NEWS and UPDATES

Woodrow “RR” Maquiling Jr. waxed sentimental last week as he recalled his humble beginnings at the Provincial Tourism Office of Negros Oriental 10 years ago. “I started at Sidlakang Negros 10 years ago, in 2011 at the Capitol area, by the swimming pool, he said. Maquiling later went on to become Tourism officer of Dumaguete City, until he moved to Manila in 2016 to work for then Presidential Aide Bong Go. Go went on to become senator, and Maquiling’s stars rose with his former boss, after getting an appointment as regional director of the Department of Tourism at the National Capital Region. Maquiling then got an appointment to be Assistant Secretary of the DoT, a post

Locals to get free Wi-Fi in public places

Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo last Wednesday led the switch-on ceremony that would provide access to free WiFi at the Hermenegilda Gloria Memorial Elementary School in barangay Banilad, a beneficiary of the country’s Free Wifi in Public Schools Project initiated by the Department of Information & Communications Technology, the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the Rotary Club of Dumaguete. The Mayor congratulated the teachers and learners of Hermenegilda Gloria School for their access to Wifi that will allow them to participate in classes, do research, or submit their outputs online. The free Wi-Fi project will be funded by an annual budget of P5 million from the City. The areas to benefit from the free Wi-Fi program are all buildings and open spaces owned, operated, and maintained by the City government of Dumaguete. The Mayor expressed hope that through the free WiFi program, people will now be able to reconnect with their friends, relatives and colleagues through various online platforms and social media that have helped reduce physical interactions to prevent the spread of CoViD-19. (PR)

In Negros Oriental

NTC: 16 radio stations

illegally operating A ranking official of the National Telecommunications Commission in Region 7 has called on operators of illegal FM radio stations in Negros Oriental to comply with the government requirements, or face sanctions. Lawyer Alan Felix Macaraya of the legal division of NTC-7, in an interview with MetroPost on Wednesday, said four of the 16 illegal operators have been summoned for mediation proceedings. The rest of the identified illegal radio station operators will also be called for mediation in January 2022 to let them explain their side, he said.

“Actually, the mediation is for the purpose of stopping the illegal operation of radio stations which are not registered or those that do not have a franchise from Congress,” Macaraya said. Now is the best time to “settle or clear everything from our office, otherwise we will be forced to close your stations,” he added. Macaraya reassured that NTC will be fair to all, and to accommodate everyone concerned, and give these illegal operators a chance to settle their obligations. He admitted that with the election season coming up, the NTC is anticipating that more people will be

enticed to put up their own radio stations to promote their political candidates. Many people are complaining about illegal stations that sometimes air programs with “libelous” content against certain individuals, he said. Macaraya said their campaign against illegal radio stations will “apply to all” and “we are doing this fairly”. These illegal radio stations should immediately stop operating now in the absence of a franchise or licenses “but we will give them ample time to comply with the requirements”, he said. (Judy F. Partlow/ PNA)

first appointed DOT Undersecretary from Negros Oriental, and by his own estimation, probably also the youngest. “Thank you for your prayers. With your love and support, I think I can do the job very well,” he said. Maquiling said he will keep coming back to Negros Oriental to see how tourism could be improved here. “I’m so proud to be from Dumaguete and Negros Oriental. I will make sure Negros Oriental will be ‘front and center’ in terms of tourism,” he said.

The Commission on Elections in Negros Oriental is gearing up for the mock polls here on December 29 and in the municipality of Zamboanguita in preparation for next year’s elections. Lawyer Ian Macaraya, city election officer and Comelec-Negros Oriental spokesperson, in an interview with the MetroPost on Friday, the mock polls will be held in Barangays Balugo and Taclobo in Dumaguete, and in Barangays Poblacion and Mayabon in Zamboanguita. He said one clustered precinct per barangay has been identified for the mock polls: NORSU precinct in barangay Taclobo and the Balugo Elementary School precinct; and in Zamboanguita, the Mayabon Elementary School precinct and Zamboanguita Elementary School precinct. Macaraya said 100 voters from each barangay will be asked to participate in the mock polls, and they are being identified through the village chairpersons.

The local Comelec is also expecting to receive votecounting machines (VCMs) sometime mid- December, before the training of Comelec personnel and public school teachers who will serve in the electoral boards during the mock polls. The training on VCM use is a requisite as new features, such as the digital signature, will be introduced. “The mock polls will serve as a dry run of all the processes that will take place during the 2022 elections, such as from voting to canvassing to the transmission of results,” Macaraya said in mixed English and Cebuano dialect. Ballots to be used in the mock electoral exercise will carry fictitious names but will be designed after the official ballots for the 2022 elections, he said. Voting will be held from 7 a.m. to noon, followed by the canvassing and transmission of results which may end at 2 p.m. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)

Tourism USec RR Maquiling

he held for a few months. His star continued to rise until he learned on Nov. 30, while on a holiday visit to his family here in Dumaguete, that he was named Tourism Undersecretary. “I was shaped here [in my hometown] because there was a bigger purpose. Strength does not come from the things we can do. It comes from overcoming the things we couldn’t,” Maquiling said, quoting a motivational post by American writer and marketer Rikki Rogers. Maquiling is the

3

CAMPUS NEWS

Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo turns the switch to symbolize the start of the free Wi-Fi signal at the Hermenegilda F. Gloria Elementary School in barangay Banilad Thursday, which is the first public school to benefit from the government’s Free Wi-Fi program, courtesy of the Rotary Club of Dumaguete, the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Department of Information and Communication Technology and the City of Dumaguete. (Photo by Alex Pal)

Former Dgte tourism head is DOT USec

DECEMBER 5 - DECEMBER 11, 2021

Comelec to hold mock polls

City DepEd develops apps to automate work

The Dumaguete City Schools Division of the Department of Education is now working for automation in both fields of governance and curriculum, a key agency official here said. Dr. Gregorio Cyrus Elejorde, City Schools Division superintendent, said on Wednesday afternoon the Division is developing its own applications to automate its operations. Elejorde spoke during the switch-on ceremony of the free Wi-Fi project of the Department of Information & Communications Technology, the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and the Rotary Club of Dumaguete at the Hermenegilda Gloria Memorial Elementary School here. He said one of its online platforms for service delivery is Chada Assist, where clients from the community, national government agencies, and even schools no longer need to go to the division office to transact business. “That would save us time and financial costs, and if to convert such to monetary equivalent, it would translate to millions of pesos annually to be spent individually and by the organization itself,” he said. Another application developed is the Chada Personnel Information Management System, which improves the delivery of service for internal stakeholders, both teaching and non-teaching, of the division, he further said. “We have also improved some of our automated processes in the area of curriculum,” Elejorde said. He cited the development of their portal containing materials needed by teachers for the development of their modules. The teachers are connected to this system where materials suited for their learners can be accessed, he said. Also, the City Division last year started its online enrollment so that learners and their parents from here TO PAGE 6

Marketing major Charles Alexis Branthomme from France is crowned Mister Silliman International, together with Medical student Louise Angela Serate from Missouri, USA who was crowned Miss Silliman-International. With them is Ademola Abigail Ayomide, a Nursing student from Nigeria, who won the crown last school year. The annual pageant was part of this year’s International Cultural Exchange, celebrated on Nov. 25 at Silliman University, with the UN-inspired theme in observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. (Contributed photo)


MetroPost

DECEMBER 5 - DECEMBER 11, 2021

4

OPINION

EDITORIAL Battling the illegal FM radio stations

If you travel throughout Negros Oriental, your car’s stereo will be picking up FM radio signals anywhere along the way. Most likely, you will be listening to radio stations broadcasting from Negros Oriental. That’s because aside from the legitimate radio stations here, there are also 16 FM radio stations that have been broadcasting illegally in the Province. Which means that these radio stations, most of which are operating from towns outside Dumaguete, are broadcasting without the required permits from the National Telecommunications Commission, and without the franchises from the Philippine Congress. Government regulates the airwaves used by FM radio stations because the airwaves are the property of the state. The NTC is mandated to allocate frequencies for radio stations, like 95.1 for station DYSR, to ensure, among others, they do not cause radio interference (noise) when their numbers on the dial are too close. It is no surprise that most of these radio stations that operate illegally are owned ironically by the politicians. This situation is not unique to Negros Oriental. It is happening all over the country -- which surely does not make it right. Instead of shutting them down, however, the NTC is advising them (four of the 16) to explain their side in mediation proceedings scheduled for January. Lawyer Alan Felix Macaraya of the NTCCentral Visayas legal office said the purpose of the mediation proceedings is to stop the illegal operation of these stations. We are happy that NTC is finally doing something about this. These radio stations, after all, have been operating for so many years now, giving the impression that the NTC was toothless. But we must remember that on May 5 just last year, the NTC pulled off what everyone thought was an impossible task under previous administrations: it yanked broadcast giant ABS-CBN off the air for the reason that it failed to get a congressional franchise. ABS-CBN lost millions of pesos as a result of that shutdown, and all the king’s horses and all the king’s men wouldn’t put ABS-CBN back on air. If NTC was able to disband a giant broadcast media network, surely it can padlock these illegal FM radio stations in our midst? Let’s see what happens next.

ATTY. WHELMA SITON-YAP

ECON 101

W

whelmayap@yahoo.com

hen Alex “Chin Kok” Sy departed on Nov. 30, 2021, most people who learned of the sad news found it hard to express their feelings. It is never easy to find the words to express what we feel when there are no words that can fully capture the depth of what it is we feel in times of deep sorrow. How can one put into words the depth of communal sorrow, among those whose countless lives Chin Kok personally touched? At the outset, we express our deepest condolence to his wife Rosalinda; his children Sarah Rose Sy, Misael Tan, Dean Stephen Sy, Kristine Lopingco, Amy Lane Sy, and Imran Khalili and their spouses; grandchildren, his siblings and cousins, nieces and nephews, and more importantly, the members of the Sy clan. Let the beautiful memories

of Chin Kok’s legacy live on as a gentle, playful, persistent entrepreneur, and loving family man. As a man who passed on embodying God’s grace until his last breath, may we take comfort in the belief that when Chin Kok arrived in paradise, he must have heard the words, “Well done, you good and faithful servant!”

living each day by looking to the future with much hope. His whole persona exuded a deep sense of gratefulness and generosity. Realizing that he faced unusual adversity at an early age, being born during the World War II years and its aftermath, surviving the Martial Law years and living through the economic

One could easily underestimate Chin Kok, and most people agree that he liked it that way. It made him pursue his goals as an extraordinary entrepreneur as a member of the New Bian Yek business group. The word ‘entrepreneur’ comes from the French word referring to “one who undertakes”. And how Chin Kok undertook! Everything he did, he did with his whole heart,

difficulties along the way, it is amazing that Chin Kok came out of it always exuding positivity. He remained loyal beyond words to his family, relatives, friends, and business associates. And for those who were his classmates at the Silliman University High School Class 1958, they all agree they had the good fortune of having Chin Kok as their classmate who was always supportive in all their

A tribute to Alex ‘Chin Kok’ Sy

REV. JONATHAN R. PIA

BREAKING BREAD piajonathan@yahoo.com

17-19;

Member, Philippine Press Institute

ALEX REY V. PAL Publisher & Editor-in-Chief IRMA FAITH B. PAL Managing Editor JOEL V. PAL Online News/North America Editor RICHLI D. AVES Cartoonist 2018 National Awardee: Best in Photojournalism 2017 National Awardee: Best in Photojournalism 2017 Best in Visayas: Best in Photojournalism, Best Editorial Page, Best Edited Community Newspaper 2016 Best in Visayas: Best in Photojournalism, Best in Environment Reporting, Best Editorial Page, Best Edited Community Newspaper 2007 National Awardee: Best Editorial Page The MetroPost has business and editorial offices at Scoobys Bldg., Real St. (across Noreco II), Dumaguete Tel: (035) 420-5015. Mobile: 0918-9400-731 Email: UniTownPublishing@gmail.com Website: www.DumagueteMetropost.com The MetroPost is published by the UniTown Publishing House. All rights reserved. Subject to the conditions provided by law, no article or photograph published by the MetroPost shall be reprinted or reproduced in whole or in part without its prior written consent. The views expressed in the opinion pieces are those of the Columnists, and not necessarily of the Editors and the Publisher.

class projects, the latest of which is the SUHS Meditation Chapel. His classmates of SUHS ‘58 recall that while they were pre-occupied with juvenile pursuits during their high school years, Chin Kok was busy helping in the family business: he would either be absent from class or late in coming to school as he still had to accomplish his assigned chores in their thriving family business managed by his elder brothers, Julio and Susano. His classmates at Silliman High remember with fondness how they have been witness to Chin Kok’s life in his youth: always working hard, always encouraging about honesty, and how he made friends in his shy and humble ways. One classmate recalled how Chin Kok decided not to attend their high school graduation because he chose to do his assigned task to travel in their truck to deliver goods to customers. Eighty-one years ago, the wonderful gift of life was given to Alex “Chin Kok” Sy. Now he returns that life to God, and in losing his human life, he gains eternal life. Chin Kok, may perpetual light shine upon you, and may your soul rest in eternal peace.

YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN-Pastor John Jewell tells about a young boy who at one of their Christmas Eve candlelight services expressed his excitement. Immediately after the benediction, this four-yearold broke out at the top of his lungs with, “Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! Jesus is born! Jesus is born! Let’s get going!” It seems the boy’s parents had told the boy he could not open his gifts until after the church service. Waiting was difficult for him, so just as soon as the service was over, he was thrilled he could get on to the things that mattered most to him. That boy did not understand the true meaning of Christmas, but he certainly caught the excitement of Christmas. Hooray! Jesus is born! Let’s get going! Our scripture passage is from Jeremiah. Chapter 33 is the fourth and final portion of the so-called Book of Consolation. It is related to the previous chapter by mention of Jeremiah’s captivity (33:1), first mentioned in 32:2. It is the same period of captivity but the second time that God’s word came to him. Jeremiah is remembered

as “the weeping prophet”. He always seemed to be on the unpopular side. His inability to hold his tongue cost him dearly. He was banished for a time from the priesthood. He was physically beaten, and p ub lic ly h umiliated on more than one occasion for expressing unpopular convictions. He could have just kept quiet and enjoyed a peaceful life, a relatively comfortable life.

But the people did not listen. Israel continued to be unfaithful to the laws of the covenant, and had forsaken God by building high altars to Baal. And because they would not listen, his country was now besieged. And Jerusalem was destroyed by invaders from the North, as Jeremiah prophesied. The inhabitants dismantled their houses, even the palace, to provide defenses against

You know, he had the soul of a poet. He talked about the blossoming of the almond in early spring, the migratory impulse of the turtledove, the swallow, and the crane. Jeremiah just could not check those red-hot impulses that got him into trouble. Well, he felt that God was talking to the people through him. When he saw that the people of Israel were living outside of God’s favor, Jeremiah had to say something. He warned them about the consequences of their greed, their disobedience, their disregard for right living.

the attacking Babylonians who had raised siege ramps to storm the walls. But these drastic defensive measures did not prevail. Instead, dead bodies filled up these defensive structures. Israel was plundered, and there was famine. Many were taken captive, and were exiled to a foreign land. However in chapter 33, this lonely, sensitive prophet has some good news. You know, he could have chided them derisively, “I told you so! But you would not listen.” It would be easy for Jeremiah to do that, and he would be

The days are coming

justified. But that wasn’t the message the Lord had put into his heart. The prophet Jeremiah writes in chapter 33: “‘The days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteous Savior.’” Jeremiah knew that God would not leave the people of Israel from the consequences of their own bad choices forever. When we first meet Jeremiah in the first part of this book, he is a preacher of righteousness. But at this time, he speaks words of comfort. Some would say that he had mellowed. Perhaps so, but the situation had also changed. Before, his people needed to be confronted, now they need to be comforted. Before, they needed words of judgment, now they need words of grace. Before, they deserved condemnation, now they need hope. So instead of offering a word of punishment, Jeremiah offers a word of promise: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will

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MetroPost

BEN S. MALAYANG III

S

mart cities” are places with extensive personal and public usage of high-end information and communication technology that leads to achieving elevated operational efficiency in how citizens do things, and how government delivers services. They’re “smart” because of how they ubiquitously use ICT in their daily affairs: how they live, pursue livelihoods and

transportation drivers need to be skilled in ICT-based work, scheduling, reporting systems, payments, and performance tracking and evaluation. Locals who don’t have these skills could be left out, and non-locals with better ICT competencies would dominate the job markets. CoViD and the surge of outsourcing, remote workers Many people today work for firms whose offices are

remote workers want to keep telecommuting in the future; 90 percent of remote workers recommends working remotely to a friend.” (From: https:// review42.com/ resources/ remote-work-statistics/) CoViD’s a terrible scourge. But it has created a surge in remote work and engagements including in commerce, investments, public services, and education.

learning, and how they link their interests. (https:// www.twiglobal.com/ technicalknowledge/faqs/ what-is-a-smart-city) Employment, engagements “The purpose of a smart city,” says Forsythes Employment, “is to improve and simplify the lives of its citizens by combining technology with physical infrastructure and services.” It offers opportunities for employment but requires that public and private sectors (and individual citizens) are “technology and digitally fluent”. (https://www. forsythes recruitment.com. au/blog/employmentopportunities-in-the-timeof-smart-cities/) Office workers, teachers, bureaucrats, professionals, janitors, delivery workers, managers, and public

elsewhere in the world. ICT and global interconnectivity make it possible for them to work across places. They’re “remote workers”. In two years since CoViD, 26 percent of the American workforce have been working remotely. It’s 25-30 percent globally (https:// www.apollotechnical. com/statistics-on-remoteworkers/). This year, 55 percent of global businesses offer some remote work; 18 percent of the workforce telecommute full-time; 77 percent of them say they’re more productive working off-site than when working in offices; 30 percent save upward of $5,000 a year; companies are saving as much as $11,000/year for each employee who works remotely half-time; those working remotely earn $4,000 more per year, on average; 99 percent of

They’ll likely linger beyond CoViD. Even if much of primary production and manufacturing are still riveted in places and time, more jobs and human interactions are no longer tied to a place. This leads to a question: If the intention is to have a “Smart City” (and none other), couldn’t any place that invests on good ICT, good inter-connectivity, and building up good ICT skills among its own residents, become “smart” even if it were a place of humble cottages, or high-rise condos, an urban sprawl, or a scattering of beachside barangays? It seems the smarter thing to do to build “smartness” in an existing place where people have already evolved and invested life-long personal, cultural, ecological, and institutional capital and relationships.

CoViD and “smart cities”

MARISSA NGAN DAMES

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

and stories on plants promising hope to the millions of hungry… using plants in sustainably feeding a growing population, of food of high nutritional value, and therapeutic relief thanks to their medicinal properties.” Secretary Dar adds: “With

which I know many of you will appreciate: Azolla Water Clover; Marsilea crenata -- an aquatic plant that looks like a fourleaf clover. Azolla leaves are rich in Vitamin A and can be eaten raw as a vegetable. The young shoots can be eaten dipped in hot sauces. They are excellent feeds also for fishes and livestock. Balbas Pusa Cat’s Whiskers; Orthosiphon aristatus -- a beautiful plant with white flowers just like cat’s whiskers. Called Java tea also, it is known to be an effective herbal medicine, with many health benefits and healing properties. Leaves,

Weeds as food, medicine Part 1

the Garden is also a place for learning and a laboratory for students who learn study nature, medicinal plants and its applications, weeds that can be eaten, how to grow fresh air, propagation, vermiculture, making organic fertilizers and varieties of ornamental plants. I am privileged to share valuable information from her much talked-about book Weedables, Weedicinals Plus Edible Flowers and More, published by the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute. Time resource Agriculture Secretary William Dar cites Flor’s book as timely, given the deepening uncertainties brought about by the CoViD-19 in securing nutritious and adequate food for the nation: “Flor Tarriela’s book emerges with a trove of ideas

a diversity of 14,000 species, Philippine flora is said to represent five percent of the world’s flora. The heft of our local biodiversity then compels DA to scour hotspots in search of edibles. In her book, Flor expressly supported the DA’s ‘Plant, Plant, Plant’ Program, our flagship pandemic recovery response towards long-term food security and prosperity. We hope the message of this book, that is, to value our plants as our most prized resource, goes beyond its pages, and onward to shaping minds and encouraging heightened crop planting activities.” Weeds as culinary gems Unlike my Mommy Narcisa Ngan who is an avid gardener, I was never blessed with a green thumb so my experience with plants is merely that of an aesthete. With Flor’s permission, I am quoting parts of her book

T

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he Philippines continues to be under a medical emergency. Just a week ago, before our latest status, Negros Oriental was placed under Alert Level 4. This made us among the last provinces to be taken off the critical status list, reflective of the way in which we handled the pandemic locally. With the emergence of still another CoViD variant, Omicron, originating from African countries, it appears that medical issues will continue to dominate the country’s attention in the

in Negros Oriental. The direction our Province takes in the next three years will depend on our choice of leaders in the May 2022 elections. Presenting themselves for the people’s mandate are Gov. Roel Degamo, Vice Gov. Mark Macias, and Bayawan Mayor Henry Teves. Degamo is an engineer, a graduate of Silliman University. He is a three-term governor of the Province. By all surveys, he appears to be the run-away favorite. However, impediments

In justification of his right to a fourth term, Degamo cited a Supreme Court ruling allowing a Camarines Norte Governor to serve his fourth consecutive term due to suspensions and dismissals (“interruptions in service”) during his years in office. In 2016 and 2017, Degamo briefly left his post, after separate Ombudsman decisions dismissed him from office due to alleged misuse of public funds. He successfully secured temporary restraining orders from the Court of Appeals, resulting in his eventual

coming years. In the last two years of living with the pandemic, we have also come to realize how closely-related addressing the pandemic is to the state of our economic situation. With quarantines and lockdowns, we saw for ourselves, up close and personal, how sadly the poor suffered, and how badly the rest of us were inconvenienced. Affecting the way our Province has responded to the pandemic is the fierce and bitter political rivalry between Gov. Roel Degamo and Cong. Arnie Teves with his brother, Bayawan City Mayor Pryde Henry Teves. Their rivalry has seriously affected the peace and order

stand in the way of the Governor getting reelected. It appears there is a pending petition to cancel his Certificate of Candidacy. We learn from that the petition filed before the Commission on Elections argued that Degamo committed a misrepresentation in his COC, which said “I am eligible for the office I seek to be elected to.” Degamo is running for a fourth term in office, something proscribed by law. Ging Dayupay, a registered voter, asserted in his petition that Degamo’s COC should be canceled because of such a “material misrepresentation” in his CoC.

reinstatement in office. In the CA ruling in 2016, he was only liable for simple misconduct in 2012. While he was suspended for six months, it was no longer imposed due to the condonation doctrine. The condonation doctrine states that an elective public official charged of an offense is deemed condoned by the people if he gets re-elected in the succeeding election. Thus, it meant that Degamo, reelected in 2016, may not be removed from office for administrative misconduct which he committed during his first term. The petition insists that it was clear Degamo had served his three consecutive terms “fully and without TO PAGE 12

Mother, mother, call the doctor quick!

A sincere appeal to our public servants from the Ecumenical Youth of Negros-Siquijor

marissa.dames@dtcpromos.com.ph

I had the privilege of having gracious Flor Tarriela, her Mom Carolina Gozon, sister Kay Jimenez, along with the late Domini Torrevillas in a crafting class I conducted. A banker by profession, Flor recently retired as chairperson of the board of the Philippines National Bank. She balanced her hectic corporate life by authoring several inspirational books, setting up a five-hectare agricultural training center named Flor’s Garden that practices natural farming and is a sanctuary of birds and butterflies. A venue for meetings, parties, retreats and hiking,

5

THE EMPEROR’S NO CLOTHES

beniiim@icloud.com

MAKATI CITY -- Years ago,

OPINION

ATTY. JOSE RIODIL D. MONTEBON

my take “

DECEMBER 5 - DECEMBER 11, 2021

usually made as tea, help in dealing with hypertension, weight loss, reduce cholesterol, and sugar levels Borbotak Painter’s Brush Weed; Emilia sonchifolia -- a

TO PAGE 11

We, the ecumenical youth of Negros Oriental, coming from various denominations and church-related organizations, strongly oppose the 174-hectare island reclamation project of Dumaguete City due to the irreversible devastation it will cause to the environment and to the lives of the marginalized fisherfolks. We have earnestly taken time to study both sides of the proposed plan. We understand and appreciate that the intention of the proposed plan is for the future of our youth to have local job security in the years to come. We understand there are benefits to be reaped from modernizing the city’s wastewater management. However, our careful study shows and informs us that the negative impact to the city of Dumaguete and the region outweighs the benefits, and we will forever be carrying the burden of shame and guilt for being the supposed beneficiaries of a plan destructively harmful to both people and the environment. Therefore, we respectfully appeal to the local government of Dumaguete to stop any attempts to legitimize and enact this destructive plan that endangers 36.15 hectares of seagrasses, and 36.20 hectares of coral reef as emphasized by the World Wildlife Fund. We sincerely call for you, our honorable public servants, to reconsider the plans of pursuing this joint venture agreement that will not only cause destruction to our ecology but also draw in business ventures that will have unfair advantage over our local business establishments and ultimately lead to their displacement and demise. We humbly remind you, our honorable public servants and fellow baptized Christians, of our responsibility to be good stewards of the whole creation. We have been taught through the respective Christian Education programs in our churches that God has given us the responsibility to be good stewards of God’s work in creation. Part of this stewardship task is to defend the integrity of God’s creation now at the brink of destruction due to this proposed reclamation project. Another part is to defend the weak and marginalized who will be displaced by this mammoth plan driven by profit. We humbly ask you, our honorable public servants and fellow citizens, to look into the negative effects this project may cause to our marine biodiversity. Our Province is home to pristine waters and renowned dive spots. The devastation of marine life within

the shores of Dumaguete will surely affect the neighboring towns and islands (Cebu and Siquijor), whose source of livelihood depends on ecotourism offering their finest beaches and many other natural resources as tourist destinations. Protecting the marine life would mean supporting sustainable development for our city, the center of economic life of the province of Negros Oriental. We prayerfully urge you, our honorable public servants, and fellow visionaries, to turn away from this reclamation project, and pursue a more sustainable type of development, one that is not done at the expense of our natural resources, local businesses, and marginalized shoreline communities. We, youth of the church, are also for development and so, we politely ask you to pursue an inclusive development. A development that leaves no sector behind especially the fisherfolks whose livelihood and source of daily food comes from the sea. It is our sincere prayer, our honorable public servants, that you will be led by the Holy Spirit in all your deliberations and decisions. As we affix our signatures to this statement, we attest to our common and uniting faith in the God - who creates, redeems, and sustains all creation, the Holy Community, the Triune God of all, who lives and reigns from generations to generations, now and forever. Amen. Christian Youth Fellowship – Central Negros Associate Conference Christian Youth Fellowship – Negros-Siquijor District Conference Christian Youth Fellowship – North Negros Conference Christian Youth Fellowship – West Visayas Jurisdiction Commission on Youth – Catholic Diocese of Dumaguete Focolare Movement-Youth Kabatan-onang Ekyumenikal sa Isla Negros ug Siquijor Silliman University Divinity School Student Assembly Youth of the Iglesia Filipina Independiente – Diocese of Negros Oriental & Siquijor


MetroPost

DECEMBER 5 - DECEMBER 11, 2021

6 WILLIAM E. ABLONG

EYE OPENER

I

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encountered a very short tale about a babe serpent that was so frightened, it nervously asked its mother: “Mom, I bit my tongue! Are we poisonous?” That anecdote reminded me how nowadays, fear has become so ubiquitous. In the Bible, especially in Luke 21, 25-28, 34-36, Jesus talks about people dying of terror in anticipation of the chilling and frightening calamitous events that are “expected” to happen in the world at the “end of times.” But instead of concentrating on the disconcerting signs and inconceivable travails up ahead, Jesus reminds us to “stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.” Pandemic World Health Organization statistics show that as of Dec. 1, 2021, there have been 262,178,403 confirmed cases of CoViD-19 all over the world and from those cases, there had been 5,215,745 deaths. The numbers haven’t plummeted and the fear continues to rise. Additionally, it isn’t just a global health emergency, the CoViD-19 pandemic has manifold socio- economic and psychological consequences. Research and media reports reveal a rise in fears related to contracting the virus. And while fear is a common psychological outcome during plagues, the CoViD-19 contagion is a constantly

evolving disease outbreak which has unique risk factors. Thus, fear related to CoViD-19 manifests in not only dread and disquiet associated with getting the disease and dying, but also linked to sociooccupational stress which compounds the distress and the panic. Elections In the months to come, Dumaguetnon voters (same all over the country) will resolve whether they want stability, change, or a combination of these two things. The stakes are high, with thousands of people still dealing with high daily CoViD cases and a slow

From 2019 to 2020, the number of undernourished people grew by as many as 161 million, a crisis driven largely by conflict, climate change, and the CoViD-19 pandemic. This is another source of unending fear. Horror ‘Dumaguetnon style’ After the election, will the 174-hectare reclamation issue continue to hound the people? Will environment advocates need to go back to the streets and clamor once again? Will fisherfolks and the other marginalized sectors of Dumaguete society once more feel the dread of being stripped of their meager livelihood and their homes? The call As a people, and as a nation, let us not give up our hope that a new breed of leaders can still rise and shine in our land. Let us not be cynical about true service, goodness, and sacrifice from our public servants. Let us not lose heart, and we must not give in to dirty and filthy politics. Let us all work hard for our dreams, and keep on believing that dreams do come true, and that miracles can still happen. Now is the time for hope, not fear. May our hopes not be stunned by our fears. Let us choose to make our hopes bigger than our fears. Let us all be whisperers of hope in our world so filled with worries and misgivings, futility, and skepticism.

Whisper of hope

DILG....FROM P. 2 Cangohob, grand winner, which received P500,000; Canlaon City and the Unified Women’s Organization of Canlaon City, 1st runner-up, 350,000; and the municipality of Dauin and the Baslay Highland Agriculture Cooperative, P200,000. They also received a plaque of recognition. Consolation prize

vaccination rollout, along with a disfigured economy just emerging from last year’s slump. The election will clarify which direction Filipinos want to steer the country’s democracy – towards further erosion, a return to liberal reform, or perhaps a more middle-of-the-road approach. It’s a decisive election for the country at a critical time. This kind of scenario breeds anxiety and fear in the hearts of many. Food insecurity Around the world, more than enough food is produced to feed the global population— however, as many as 811 million people still go hungry. World hunger is still on the rise, affecting 9.9 percent of people globally.

winners that each received a plaque and a P75,000 project fund are the municipality of Bindoy and the Tuburan for Rural Women Empowerment & Development; and the municipality of Sibulan and the Calabnogan Small Coconut Farmers Association. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)

CITY DEPED....FROM P. 3 and around the world no longer have to go to the schools to enroll, he added. This resulted in an enrollment increase of 3,000 individuals, with 26,000 this year compared to 23,000 enrollees last year. Of the 26,000 enrollees, 7,000 are connected online using the learning management system of the city division in partnership with Edmodo, an educational technology company. Additionally, the DepEd division is using Academic Panda, an internally developed application that allows the distribution of learning materials to learners connected virtually, Elejorde said. The free Wi-Fi projects of the DICT and its partners as well as that of the city government “is a big contribution to these particular endeavors to sustain our program of the DepEd to automate major processes,” he said. Elejorde said to date, they have automated 60 percent of the processes of the DepEd City Division. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)

70 Rizal Blvd., Dumaguete City Tels. 225-7725, 422-9209, 225-4488

PSA....FROM P. 2

province with the most number of registrants are Dumaguete City (81,604); Bayawan City (68,834); and Guihulngan City (62,252). Signed into law by President Duterte in August 2018, Republic Act 11055, or the Philippine Identification System Act, aims to establish a single national ID for all Filipinos and resident aliens. The national ID will be a valid proof of identity that shall be a means of simplifying public and private transactions, enrollment in schools, and the opening of bank accounts. It will also boost efficiency, especially in dealing with government services where people will only need to present one ID during transactions. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)

6 LGUS....FROM P. 2

Dauin, Zamboanguita, and Siaton – went through final screening last Thursday. There will be two “Garbo” Awards, specifically Babayeng Garbo sa Katilingban and Grupong Garbo sa Katilingban. On Dec. 13, a Women’s Summit is set in the morning and the “Garbo” awardees will be recognized in the afternoon, she added. Cash prizes include P50,000 for the Grupong Garbo sa Katilingban and P25,000 for the Babayeng Garbo, Columna said. Another highlight for the celebration of Space Spaces is two gender sensitivity training and orientation next week. Meanwhile, PCW Deputy Chair Phoebe Tan, in the same forum, said efforts are being stepped up to curb violence against women on “harassment on the digital realm”. She said 68 percent of women and young girls in the Philippines have experienced online harassment through social media. “Gender-based sexual harassment is in various forms,” she said, as she warned that usually it will start from verbal abuse and most likely will progress to physical/sexual violence. Stalking and unwanted messages happen online and victims of this kind of abuse end up with physical and mental health disorders, Tan said. Other forms of sexual abuse include unwelcome, uninvited, and intrusive gazing, cat-calling, insulting, offensive, rude and derogatory remarks and comments, she added. These could take place anywhere such as in parks, restaurants, terminals, schools, and workplaces, as she called for more pro-active stands and efforts to raise public awareness on violence against women and children. This year’s observance of the 18-day campaign to end violence against women is anchored on the slogan, Filipino Marespeto: Safe Spaces, Kasali Tayo. (Judy F. Partlow/ PNA)

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AVAILABLE: 5-bedroom house in Maluay, Zamboanguita. Fully-fenced 600 sq. meters. With outdoor kitchen, warehouse, covered parking area. With a view of Apo Island. Walking distance to Malatapay auction/seafood market. About 150 meters from the highway. Peaceful community of quiet resorts and fisherfolk.

Pagbag-o sa mga karot ngadto sa mga bulak. Pagkat-on sa pagkanta sa usa ka himno nga latin. Pagbag-o sa mga karot ngadto sa mga bulak. Pagkat-on sa Magparegistro ug nga LIBRENG mga ug leksyon pagkanta sa usa ka himno Latin. Magparehistro LIBRENG sa pagkulit ug pagkanta KARON! mga leksyon sa pagkulit ug pagkanta KARON! (35)541-1453 541-1453 (35) Republic of the Philippines Province of Negros Oriental Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod City of Tanjay Excerpts from the journal of the 108th regular session of the 8th Sangguniang Panlungsod of the City of Tanjay held at the SP Session Hall on Nov. 2, 2021. PRESENT: Hon. Neil T. Salma Vice-Mayor/Presiding Officer Hon. Domiciano R. Catubig Jr. Member Hon. Jovencio S. Bumanglag Sr. Member Hon. Arlot T. Regalado Member Hon. Felix R. Mira Jr. Member Hon. Regalado D. Salma Jr. Member Hon. Joselito R. Manso Member Hon. Amado T. Orlino Member Hon. Uldarico Ma A. Ramirez III Member Hon. Juanito S. Condes Member Hon. Epifanio T. Busmion Member Hon. Segfredo O. Buagas (ABC President) Member ON LEAVE: Hon. James Kenneth G. Aguilar (SK President) Member RESOLUTION NO. 21-411 A resolution enacting an Ordinance granting authority to the local chief executive to initiate expropriation proceedings on portion of Lot No. 774-B covered under TCT No. 20252 in the name of Villaflores College as owner/s, situated in barangay Poblacion 8, Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, for the purpose of road right of way for residents of said barangay and access to the Tanjay City public cemetery Author: Segfredo O. Buagas Chairman, Committee on Rules “WHEREAS, the residents of Barangay Poblacion 8, this city, especially those living in the interior areas of that barangay were alarmed and sought assistance from the City Government due to an announcement in a billboard made by the owner of Villaflores College that the estate is closing starting Nov. 5, 2021 the access road used by the residents since time immemorial; “WHEREAS, this road also leads to the Public Cemetery known as Ka Bido; “WHEREAS, this road is a portion of Lot No. 774-B, covered under TCT No. 20252 with Villaflores College as declared owners; “WHEREAS, to provide a solution to this problem, the acquisition of subject lot is considered imperative and a primordial concern to uphold the general welfare of the constituents; WHEREAS, with the power of eminent domain, the local government can exercise its right to acquire the land from the private owners for public use and purpose, per provision of the Local Government Code of 1991; “THEREFORE, due to its necessity and urgency, the Honorable Sangguniang Panlungsod, on motion of Member Segfredo O. Buagas, seconded En Masse, “RESOLVED to enact the following ordinance, to wit: ORDINANCE NO. 8 An ordinance granting authority to the local chief executive to initiate expropriation proceedings on portion of Lot No. 774-B covered under TCT No. 20252 in the name of Villaflores College as owner/s, situated in barangay Poblacion 8, Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, for the purpose of road-right-of-way for residents of said barangay and access to the Tanjay City public cemetery “Be it ordained by the Honorable Sangguniang Panlungsod, that: “SECTION 1 – The Local Chief Executive is hereby granted the authority to initiate expropriation proceedings on portion of Lot No. 774-B in Barangay Poblacion 8, this city, owned by Villaflores College covered under TCT No. 20252. “SECTION 2 – The purpose of the acquisition of abovementioned lot covered by this ordinance is to provide unhampered access to the residences and an access to burial sites in the Public Cemetery. “SECTION 3 – To facilitate a prompt payment of just compensation to the owners, the City Appraisal Committee is hereby created with the task of ascertaining the fair market value of that parcel of land. The committee shall be composed of the following: Chairman - City Treasurer Members - City Assessor - City Engineer “SECTION 4 – The LGU shall prioritize the appropriation of the corresponding amount for the expropriation proceedings over that private lot. “SECTION 5 – This ordinance shall take effect upon approval after three weeks of publication in local newspaper. “UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.” _____________ I HEREBY CERTIFY to the correctness of the above-quoted resolution. (Sgd)Mary Ellen S. Asonan Board Secretary IV (Sgd)Domiciano R. Catubig Jr. (Sgd)Jovencio S. Bumanglag Sr. (Sgd)Arlot T. Regalado (Sgd)Felix R. Mira Jr. Amado T. Orlino

(Sgd)Regalado D. Salma Jr. (Sgd) Joselito R. Manso

(Sgd)Uldarico Ma A. Ramirez III (Sgd)Juanito S. Condes

(Sgd)Epifanio T. Busmion (Sgd)Segfredo O. Buagas ATTESTED:

APPROVED:

(Sgd)Neil T. Salma City Vice-Mayor/Presiding Officer MetroPost 2021

November 21 • November 28 • December 5

For inquiries, text 0917-127-4267.

R E S T A U R A N T

Rizal Blvd. cor. San Jose St., Dumaguete City For TAKE-OUT. We also DELIVER. Please call:

(Sgd)Reynaldo S. Concepcion City Mayor

0928-776-7213 • (35) 225-4491 • (35) 522-1965


MetroPost

DECEMBER 5 - DECEMBER 11, 2021

7 MOSES JOSHUA ATEGA

THE BELL TOLLS HERE,THERE karlmike@yahoo.com

T

A day of honoring our heroes

Rotary ClubDumaguete East celebrate milestones in a dinner tendered by Rotarians Dante & Gremar Matiao. (Contributed photos)

and so much more, made an impact in a distinctive subtle manner without hurting others. Truly worthy of the honor as the 2021 Kinaiyahan awardee, a recognition for her environmental heroism. Dumaguete is also indeed fortunate that another citizen, Gary Rosales, goes beyond his everyday routine at the Bank of Philippine Islands where he is one of the managers. Added to his duties as bank manger, the unassuming Gary lends his power in leadership to undertake vital moves to save our planet from major intrusions, like human ideas realized with someone’s grandiose delusions as point of departure. Gary was honored with the 2021 Kinaiyahan Award for his perpetual passion for caring for the environment, and for advocating sustainable development, as witnessed by various people in his barangay -- from constantly cultivating a vegetable garden in his own backyard, to regularly planting trees with family and friends, and for his being co-founder and leader in organizations like the Bayanihan Para sa Inang Bayan and the Kahugpongan para sa Kinabuhi ug Kinaiyahan Inc geared towards the protection

By Patrich Limpiado Lozano

My highly-mobile Lolo Dodong

Biking for nearly a century now

H

o this day, many Filipinos and international scholars consider Andres Bonifacio as the greatest national hero of the Philippines. As we are on the second year of the global health crisis, with the added display of heroic promises by politicians running for office in the 2022 Philippine elections, there was much sense of nationalism expressed on the 30 th of November. The 158th birth anniversary of Bonifacio, considered as the Father of the Philippine Revolution against Spanish colonization, has been the true inspiration of various events held on Nov. 30. In Dumaguete, we honored our Green Heroes. In the morning of Nov. 30 at the Syside in Bacong, two of our staunch environment advocates were honored with

the 2021 Kinaiyahan Awards, annually given by the Silliman Alumni Association Inc.– Dumaguete Chapter. It was simply meaningful that two of our environment heroes -- Rochelle Marie Causing Remollo, and Leodegario P. Rosales -were bestowed honor with the beautiful seaside scenery as background, with nature unfolding its own reminder of today’s urgent call in our own area. Rochelle, or Ate Che to friends, students, and fellow environment activists, was honored for her gifts of inspiration and leadership in environment organizations, particularly the mountaineering interest group known as the Cuernos de Negros Mountaineers Club Inc.; and for her mentorship of the youth to be Climate Reality leaders through the Al Gore-inspired Global Climate Reality Training. This Environmental Psychology professor at Silliman University lives a totally-organic lifestyle each day. She is rounded with believers of her advocacy without even broadcasting her achievements. The ‘humble angel for the trees’,

FEATURE

of all natural resources in all dimensions. Gary’s own home is like an indoor-outdoor classroom where one can learn lessons on the care for the environment. He has successfully convinced his neighbors in barangay Batayan to undertake their own everyday expressions of love for the environment, from proper garbage disposal, to the use of solar energy. “Walk the talk” may not be his motto but here is one evident character of a leader, and we hope and pray that our local politicians will be inspired by Gary’s wonderful concepts to actualizing sustainable development. We are so proud of Sir Gary and Ate Che! They are our outstanding citizens who have demonstrated through their good deeds that the power-hungry don’t have to seek public recognition nor aspire for the entablado to make an impactful testimony as dwellers of this planet. The heroism of Bonifacio, and many of those before us who have fought well in the wars of their own times, is best celebrated by honoring the heroic zeal of those who have responded tirelessly to the most challenging zeitgeist.

ave you ever encountered in the streets of Dumaguete a senior man wearing a brown cowboy hat, driving his electric scooter that proudly waves a Philippine flaglet? That’s my Lolo Ranulfo “Dodong” Limpiado, born in 1926, now 95 years old. And still happily riding his bike. As the pandemic is raging, making personal mobility a limited luxury, Lolo Dodong continues to do his essential errands, riding to town on his red electric scooter. My Lolo has always been an avid biker. My earliest memory of his biking was in the late 1990s when I was born. He would ride around town on blue Japanese-designed bikes, those quaint ones with a basket upfront, and a thin pair of wheels. I did not always know what he was up to during the daytime, but always had the spirit of a busy 20-something with jobs to accomplish, people to meet, meetings to attend, and deals to close. Even in his late 70s to early 80s, Lolo Dodong continued to occupy a small room on the second floor of the Limpiado ancestral home in Tubod. Those were years when he amazingly had the strength to climb up and down the narrow wooden steps of our steep staircase. The ancestral house was finished in 1965, around the time their youngest child, my mother Palma Jane, was born. Lolo built the house to move out of their home behind the Silliman Elementary School where they raised the first five children of the Pamanian-Limpiado couple. This has since been my mother’s home, and then my home throughout my school years. Today, many parts of what stand in our Tubod home are the original fixtures from when the house was built, including the staircase. The fact that my Lolo built this house that has

stood many storms and floods, and many more changes in the City the past 56 years is one of the many sources of pride for my Lolo Dodong. The house took rounds of renovations throughout the years. The latest of which became a catalyst for Lolo to move down to the first floor of the house, as he is slowly starting to struggle getting up the steps. The blue Japanese bike was traded in for a blue tricycle with a basket, now placed at the back with a matching flaglet. Later, Lolo added a sign on the back of his trike that proudly reads, “Children/Senior Citizens/PWD get priority on the road”. Lolo Dodong continues to pedal on the bicycle with pride. He may have lost some ability to balance perfectly, and get up the stairs, but his legs are still good for kicking those pedals! Life in the streets of Dumaguete continues to be his to explore with his Pentax camera while he is astride on his blue tricycle. Ask anyone who grew up in this University Town, and they’d tell you they remember Dodong Limpiado as the lanky man who would take photos of graduations around the City, celebrations, parties, every event in between. Lolo got into photography as a hobby back in the days of film. The hobby later turned into an act of “fatherly love” for his six children, as he would proudly show up in Silliman events in campus, with his camera on hand, to document major milestones of his children. This caught the interest of other parents who started asking him to take photos of their families, as well. What started as a hobby, morphed into a long-standing contribution to the Dumaguete community. Lolo was always happy to oblige, as he found a lot of joy in photography, and as he told me later, made him “popular in town”. Lolo Dodong moved to Dumaguete in the late 1940s after the Second World War to enroll in the University. Pastor Managbanag, a Protestant minister who preached on the remote island of Higatangan, off the shores of Naval, Biliran, had recommended to him Silliman University as a quality Protestant school, perfect for a Protestant family to send their oldest son to. Dodong made his way to this City of Gentle People, and took up a course in Engineering.

Algebra was a foreign language to him, so he shifted to Business Administration. He stayed in Dumaguete because before he even graduated, the dean of the college made an offer for him to become a teacher! Dodong saw many problems with the offer: one, he did not know how to teach; two, he knew he was not the smartest student (remember, algebra). But from his many stories, I think he has a sharper mind than he let on. Fast forward to the last few years, and as is often with old age, my Lolo Dodong’s mind remains strong, but his body starts to betray him. The blue bike and trike have been swapped for a motorized four-wheeled wheelchair. The basket is still present, together with a flaglet, and the sign that reads, “Children/Senior Citizens/PWD get priority on the road” but with a new additional flaglet: “Best Grandpa.” The pedals in his four-wheel electric contraption are now missing, as the strength in his legs fail to be as reliable as they used to be. His motorized bike takes him to the market where he selects his own fresh fishcatch; to Silliman Church where he drives up through the ramp, and all the way to the front nearest the first pew; and to the homes of his few remaining peers who must have been born about nine decades ago. I asked Lolo Dodong recently what he thinks about the pandemic. To him, it makes sense that this actually happened. We produce a lot of garbage from what we consume and the way we live, and the garbage gets stored here on Earth. There’s no escaping the world we create and live in, nor the garbage we put out on the planet. Lolo Dodong is also baffled at how people, even the educated ones, refuse to believe in the science of vaccines and in modern medicine when in the life of his father, my great-grand father, cholera took away his first wife and their would-be first born. My Lolo Dodong keeps on reminding me he believes we are lucky to be able to live in a time of technology and change, where things can be better, only if we choose it. Compared to a time in his past when the choice did not exist. His first-floor room in the ancestral home in Tubod is now a jungle of ropes and various metal handrails to assist him with moving around, while a walker is always within easy reach. All these contraptions, a set-up of his own design, were installed to match his determined spirit to be as independent as possible, for as long as possible. My Lolo Dodong has accomplished a number of significant things in his over-90 years here on earth, and counting. He built our ancestral home with his own hands, he has captured people’s various emotions through the lens of his camera, he has biked thousands of kilometers around town just doing his essential errands. His goal now is to live to see the day when this pandemic will be a thing of the past. Mr. Ranulfo Limpiado recently donated what remained of his photographs and film negatives as his legacy to the City and to Silliman University.


DECEMBER 5 - DECEMBER 11, 2021

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The Officers and Members of the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Inc. Express their deepest sympathy and prayers to the family of our beloved

ALEX O. SY

President Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Dumaguete who has joined our creator on November 30, 2021

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord! And let perpetual light shine upon him. May you enjoy eternal life with our infinitely loving God.


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DECEMBER 5 - DECEMBER 11, 2021

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The Board of Trustees, Administrators, Faculty and Staff, Students, and the Parents-Teachers Association of

deeply mourn the passing of our Chairman of the Board

Alex “Chin Kok” Sy May 24,1940 - Nov. 30, 2021

You will continue to live in our hearts as we remember you for your selfless leadership, your generosity, and your genuine concern for the people around you.


DECEMBER 5 - DECEMBER 11, 2021

10 BREAKING....FROM P. 4

cause a righteous Branch to spring forth from David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land . . . And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’” (vss. 14-16) Like the Hebrew people during the time of Jeremiah, we also ask, “What is the world coming to?” It is a world where there is no end to the fighting in the Middle East, or even here in the Philippines. There is always the bickering of leaders of our government, or even the leaders of our churches. We have shootings going on because of greed, and the perpetrators are still at large. It is a world where bombers disrupt the dialogues for peace; where corporate executives get huge bonuses while the pension plans of ordinary workers go down; where families need filters to screen out offensive spam from internet, or some are now afraid of being defrauded through the internet; where we experience global warming which still many could not accept; where there is destruction of our natural resources; and much more. And for more than a year, we still have this virus raging all around the world, changing almost everything that we do. All these make us wonder what sort of future our children and grandchildren may inherit. I Then the words of Jeremiah bring us these: “The days are coming. The days are coming where there will be justice.” That is the first promise Jeremiah makes about the coming of the Messiah. There will be justice. This world needs more justice, doesn’t it? We have an innate need for justice. We want to see bad guys punished, and good guys rewarded. There is something built into the very fabric of our being that yearns for justice. Until the Messiah comes, what is our role in creating justice? Because it is all too easy

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Join the New Green Deal for us to ignore injustice, even to benefit from it. Rev. Thomas G. Long writes, “Righteousness is not a sweet virtue that everybody in the world desires. Those who take advantage of others for their own gain do not want the world to be fair and just. Those who benefit from the weakness of others do not want the world to be compassionate. Much money and power are invested in maintaining injustice. If every wage were fair, if every person were honored as a child of God, if every human being were safe from exploitation, many would lose their grip on status, self-gratification, and affluence.” We all squirm when we hear those words. Prophetic words are meant to challenge us. They are meant to wake us up. Life is not fair. Nevertheless, the days are coming, says Jeremiah, when the playing fields of this world will be leveled. The days are coming when that which is unfair will be set right. For when the Bible speaks of justice, it is not merely talking about individual justice. God’s call is for a just society. God’s call is for basic fairness for all people. God’s call is for a new kind of society, where all persons will live in dignity and freedom. That is what justice is all about. During Advent and Christmas seasons, we need to take those words seriously, and ask ourselves whether we are contributing to a just society, or we are one of those who are contributing to the status quo. The days are coming when there will be justice. II Then Jeremiah also said, “The days are also coming when there will be righteousness.” Justice refers to the state of our society. Righteousness refers to the state of our individual souls. A Yiddish term for “righteousness” is zaddik. It refers to a saintly person, someone whose character and actions are aligned with the will of God.

Dr. James Qualben tells a story to illustrate the meaning of zaddik. A few years ago, his car’s fuel-injection system was malfunctioning, so he took it to a mechanic who happened to be an orthodox Jewish man. The mechanic listened carefully to the engine, then took apart the fuel injection system, carefully cleaned each individual piece, and put the whole thing back together again. The car worked perfectly now. He closed the hood, and announced with a satisfied smile, “Zaddik!” The fuel injection system and the engine were working precisely as the engineers had created them to work. It is revealing that the terms “justice” and “righteousness” are so rarely linked. It is that old division in western Christianity between those who advocate a social gospel -- the gospel of civil rights, concern for the poor, and social justice -- and those who advocate a personal gospel of piety, prayer and high moral conduct. The days are coming when such a false dichotomy will be forever dispelled. Both justice and righteousness are attributes of God’s reign. They are an essential expression of God’s character. We do not have the luxury of taking our choice. We must have both. As we go through these Advent and Christmas seasons, remember “The days are coming, says the Lord, when justice and righteousness will prevail.” It is not enough to think of the peripheral elements of these seasons, like lights, candles, trees, and cookies. We need to think about the very heart of the message -- the coming of the Messiah, and with his coming, justice and righteousness, the redemption of society, as well as the redemption of individual souls. So when we see distress and perplexity, people fainting with fear and foreboding, do not despair. “Stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:26, 28).

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The Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Business community of Negros Oriental mourn the loss of another business icon

Alex O. Sy

President, Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Negros Oriental.

Thank you for the honor and privilege of working with you in the Chamber movement.


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DECEMBER 5 - DECEMBER 11, 2021

11 FOOD....FROM P. 5

succulent weed with fleshy leaves. Its seeds are like floating balls of numerous silky white hairs like a painter’s brush. The leaves are used as a vegetable, which may be sautéed with meat and poultry and with option to add coconut milk. They are also good in soup with corn and monggo. Botones-Botonesan Common Sedge; Cyperus

brevifolius -- on the cover of the book Ooops... Don’t Throw Those Weeds Away! It is a common weed that grows anywhere. It is an erect annual herb with flowers that look like white buttons. Its leaves and roots are used to make tea, which is commonly used by village folks as treatment for dengue and malaria.

Damong Maria Chinese Honeysuckle; Artemisia vulgaris -- as its name implies, is a grass. Flor recounts: “I usually prune plants in Flor’s Garden. One time, I accidentally cut my finger and it bled profusely. I got damong maria leaves, washed them and squeezed their juice to apply to the cut. I was amazed— the bleeding stopped immediately and the cut instantly closed.” Kolitis Amaranth, Chinese Spinach; Amaranthus viridis -- a succulent evergreen weed that grows erect and tall. It is a delicious and nutritious leafy plant that is eaten as a vegetable. It is rich in calcium, iron, and Vitamins B and C. It helps boost the immune system. It can also be prepared

and served as tea. Makahiya Bashful Mimosa/Sensitive Plant; Mimosa pudica -- has anti-inflammatory property. Its leaves and roots are pounded and applied externally to an inflamed area to reduce swelling. An old wife’s tale says that placing makahiya underneath a child’s pillow at night reduces hyperactivity! Pansit-Pansitan Peperomia; Peperomia pellucida Linn -- a common herb with shiny heart shaped leaves. Its stems are light green in color and are almost translucent. It has tiny dot-like flowers. The entire plant is edible—it is eaten raw and added to salad. Thoroughly wash it, cut about an inch in size. Mix it with diced onion, tomato, salt, and pepper. P i c k l e d mango is optional. It is widely used as folkloric h e r b a l medicine for gout, kidney disorders, and rheumatic pain. Pipinong Ligaw Wild P i p i n o , Creeping Cucumber; Melothria p e n d u l a Linn -- a vine with tiny melonshaped fruits that start as green, and turn almost black when ripe. Pipinong ligaw fruits taste like cucumber but are tinier and crunchier. The tiny green fruits of the wild pipino add color and are good conversation pieces in salads and any food presentation. The cucumbers remain crunchy for a week, especially when placed in the refrigerator. S a m p a Sampalukan Seed-under-leaf; Phyllanthus niruri -- or “seedunder-leaf” is a common roadside and garden weed, which looks like a miniature tamarind or sampalok tree. It has seed pods that grow beneath the leaves and bloom into small green flowers. The decoction of an entire sampasampalukan plant, including the leaves, stems, from this plant and flowers, is good for conditions related to the digestive system. Tea is used as a tonic for the stomach. Takipkuhol Gotu Kola, Indian Hydrocotyle; Centella asiatica -- known as the “herb of longevity” and a “memory enhancer” plant. Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan says: “The World Health Organization has classified Takipkuhol as protective for the brain and the nervous system. It is now one of the most sought after tropical medicinal plants in the world as a memory enhancer.” It is used as a culinary vegetable and as medicinal herb. Its stems and leaves are used for food because of their high vitamin and mineral contents. The fresh leaves are eaten fresh in salad. Leaves are also added in hot water as tea. Liquid from boiled parts of the plant is used as a diuretic, tonic, and as a stimulant. Talinum Jewels of Opar; Talinum paniculatum (jacq.) Gaertn -- the inspiration of our book Ooops... Don’t’ Throw Those Weeds Away! as it is edible and very easy to grow. Known as “Japanese Ginseng,” Talinum is rich in Vitamin

PEOPLES CORNER

C. It is a succulent herb with sour stem and leaves. Its flowers are small and pink colored. It is used as a vegetable with sour taste that is especially good in fish dishes (sinigang) and monggo dishes. In c o o k i n g sinigang, add talinum leaves when the sinigang is already c o o k e d . Then serve it immediately. In Flor’s Garden, freshly picked talinum leaves are used in making salad. Leaves are also good to make vegetable noodle soup. They can be used to make “tortang talinum’’ with tomato, onion, salt, pepper, and eggs. For sandwiches, talinum may serve as a substitute for lettuce. They can be blended and made into juice. Tanglad Lemongrass; Andropogon atratus -- an edible grass known for its fragrant lemony scent. It looks like, but different from citronella grass which is used against mosquito, and is not edible. Tanglad contains vitamin A and has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. It is traditionally used in cooking, particularly, lechon and roasted chicken. It makes an excellent tea drink that helps remove stomach queasiness and bloatedness. Tanglad or lemongrass is good to have in the garden. When you have guests, just get a few lemongrass leaves and serve as tea. You can also combine with pandan leaves. Tawa-Tawa Snake Weed; Euphorbia hirta -- also locally called gatas-gatas for its milky juice, is an indigenous plant considered as a popular treatment for dengue in the Philippines. The whole plant (leaves and roots) are usually boiled until soft. Strain the water. Let it cool, then drink it as tea. The future for weeds Since most weeds are considered as problems for farmers because they lower crop yield, large scale chemicalization to control weeds affect the nutritive value and safety of crops so a large number of organic farms no longer use pesticides and herbicides. Instead of throwing away these weeds, let us continue to maximize their culinary and medicinal value in our homes. Next week, we shall explore other common edible and medicinal plants from Flor Tarriela’s book Weedables, Weedicinals Plus Edible Flowers and More. Remember the words of English author, best known for his books about the teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh and for various poems, A.A. Milne: “Weeds are flowers, too, once you get to know them.”

My son Brau and I have been using the Pavilium Parkade for the past two days; and the verdict is “we love it!”. This post hopes to encourage everyone to utilize the newly-opened multi-level parking building located along San Jose St. for the following reasons: 1. The parking fee is only P20 for the first two hours, and P10 for each succeeding hour or a fraction thereof. 2. The Pavilium is a short walking distance from most of the establishments

along Perdices St. and the boulevard. 3. In my opinion, constructing this structure for use as parking, instead of other types of leased spaces which would probably earn more, could very well be considered an act of corporate social responsibility. Dumaguete badly needed a multi-level parking building in the middle of the Dumaguete Central Business District.

4. Mechanized distribution of parking cards upon entry makes the process more efficient and accurate. 5. The parking levels are well labeled (in case you need to remember what level you parked in), and color coding was used to distinguish parking areas for small, compact cars and standard, medium-sized vehicles. 6. Access to the street

level is well-lighted and not cramped. Even the tread and riser of the stairwell made climbing less strenuous. 7. At the street level beside Hotel Nicanor, you will see a narrower ramp going down to the basement where twowheel vehicles can park for P5 an hour. Amazing. 8. Today, we saw a building parking aide who was assisting persons carrying bulky or heavy shopping bags up the steps. I wouldn’t mind paying a tip to have someone carry stuff for me. In fact, it may be an income generating opportunity for some people if we had City-authorized or store-employed bag carriers to act as valets to help customers from stores to their vehicles. #GoodPlanning Melanie Laurena-Macias Interior Designer

Kinaiyahan Environmental Heroes Gary Rosales and Rochelle Remollo show off their plaques, together with Remollo’s colleagues psychologist Dr. Louanne Florendo-Piñero and marine biologist Dr. Nadia Abesamis. With them is Moses Joshua Atega who presented the awards.

Kinaiyahan Environmental Hero Rochelle Remollo is presented with a plaque by environment advocates (from left) Esther Ceniza-Windler, Dr. Frances Hope Yap, Cong. Josy Limkaichong, and Leo Mamicpic during the Bonifacio Day celebrations.


DECEMBER 5 - DECEMBER 11, 2021

ALL DOCTORS ON BOARD. Local medical doctors from various fields volunteer their services during the three-day intensive national vaccination campaign against CoViD-19 held at the Macias Sports Complex. Seated from left: Dr. Ronith Patrice Jasmin, Dr. Milagros Uy, Dr. Fe Tagimacruz, Dr. Hope Charmaine Ontal; standing: Dr. Eiffel Calumpong, Dr. Nikko Paolo Cablao, Dr. Irene Mirasol, Dr. Beryl Margarette Muñoz, Dr. Benjamin Ontal, Dr. Wilfredo Mata, and Dr. Pearl Ramada. (Dr. Tagimacruz photo)

Over at Negros Polymedic Hospital in Sibulan town, medical doctors team up with the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Dumaguete and Negros Oriental Inc. to inoculate hundreds of patients, led by Dr. Caesar Antonio Ligo (leftmost), hospital chief operating officer Ayesha Zerna (3rd from left), and Dr. Joven Occeña (center). (Contributed photo)

Join laro’t saya 68,306 Dumaguitnons sa parke for free

now vaccinated

The City of Dumaguete has reported achieving a vaccination rate of 71.1 percent of residents for the COVID-19 vaccine. In her report to the Mayor, City Health Officer Dr. Maria Sarah Talla said 68, 306 eligible residents of the target eligible population (96, 049 residents per DILG/DOH estimate) in Dumaguete City have already received at least 1 dose of COVID-19 jabs as of December 1. These include the 66, 507 who got the 1st dose using Sinovac, Astrazeneca, Pfizer, Janssen, Sinopharm and Moderna and the 1, 799 who were vaccinated using the single dose Janssen jabs for a total of 68, 306 residents. Three thousand sixteen (3, 016) eligible residents were vaccinated last Wednesday in the 3 vaccination sites at Robinson Mall, FU Gymnasium and Pulantubig Gymnasium. Of the 68, 3066 eligible residents vaccinated with 116,

351 total doses: 2, 745 are medical frontliners or (A1); 8, 087 senior citizens (A2); 9, 154 persons with comorbidities (A3); 17, 513 frontline personnel (A4); 22, 978 indigents (A5), 5, 869 belonging to the Rest of the Adult Population and 1, 960 Pediatric (12-17 years old) were vaccinated based on the order of priority of the Department of Health. Meanwhile, Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo led the lighting up of the community Christmas tree at the Manuel L. Quezon Park Friday attended by city officials and hundreds of excited citizens of all ages. Remollo as that while we mourn the lives lost to the COVID-19 pandemic, we also express our gratitude to the brave government workers and frontliners taking good care of those who are sick to nurse them back to health. This year’s Pasko sa Dumaguete underscores the theme: Proclaiming Peace this Christmas!

The City also pays tribute to all the local artists and electricians and welders of the City Engineer’s Office who created the Christmas doves and other beloved symbols now mounted along the streets, Pantawan 2 People’s Park and the giant Christmas tree, which add color and life to the festivities. Among the officials present are Vice-Mayor Karissa Tolentino-Maxino, Councilors Manuel Sagarbarria, Michael Bandal, Edgar Lentorio Jr., Lilani Ramon, Manuel Patrimonio, Liga ng mga Barangay President Dionie Amores, SK President Renz Macion, Calindagan Punong Barangay Maisaa Sagarbarria, Poblacion 8 Punong Barangay Maelyne Mariano, former Vice-Mayor Franklin Esmeña Jr., former Councilor Samuel Dicen, Retired General Rey Lyndon Lawas, Barangay and SK Officials and heads of the various departments in the city government. (PR)

The City Government of Dumaguete and the Philippine Sports Commission launched the Play and Learn Sports for Free Laro’t-Saya sa Parke last Saturday at the Pantawan 2 People’s Park, which was attended by hundreds of sports enthusiasts of all ages. Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo expressed his gratitude to PSC Chairperson Butch Ramirez and Commissioner Mon Fernandez, represented by Program Manager Alona Doromal Quintos for the agency’s continued support to the different outdoor sporting activities that benefitted city residents and helped promote healthy lifestyle, fun and physical fitness. Laro’t Saya sa Parke is open to everyone regardless of age who is willing to learn arnis, chess, badminton, boxing, karatedo, korfball, pencak silat, sepak takraw, Taekwondo, tai-chi, volleyball and zumba for free every Saturday afternoon throughout the year. Department of Tourism Region 7 Director Shalimar Hofer Tamano who also attended Saturday’s launching of Laro’t Saya commended Mayor Remollo and the PSC for their efforts to make sports and wellness available to everyone by providing coaches, equipment and venues for free to all. Ike Xavier Villaflores, Coordinator of LSP Dumaguete, encouraged the parents who accompany their children to also participate in the sports of their choice to make their stay worthwhile. (PIO)

PINK CHRISTMAS TREE AT SILLIMAN. About 120 artworks depicting various marine resources that inhabit the Dumaguete coastline hang on a huge Christmas tree in campus, a concept by visual artist Sharon Rose Dadang-Rafols who was commissioned by Silliman University, through the Alumni office headed by Ruben Bokingo, to put up a tree that would best exemplify the true meaning of Christmas. Aside from the color pink, the Christmas tree also reflects other colors at night. Rafols said the Christmas tree with the artistic renditions also symbolize the University’s support for the No-to-174-hectare-reclamation campaign which has taken centerstage the past five months in the social-political life of Dumaguete. The project, which Rafols said was completed in record two weeks, was a collaboration of an “entire village” among Sillimanians and friends like local designers, architects, engineers, art enthusiasts, and young artists like Mayumi Abesamis, siblings Ana and Rosa Antonio, and siblings Pablo and Tala Crisostomo who lovingly “dipped their brushes in paints”. “These images [on the Christmas tree] are not only about the many beautiful creatures of the ocean we need to protect, but also a reflection and a representation of love, friendship, and sharing,” Rafols said. She also expressed gratitude to 58 EJ Blanco Art Studios and the Palomar Fine Arts Services Collective for allowing the artists the use of their space, and for providing them food from ‘Mister Saigon’.

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THE EMPEROR’S....FROM P. 5 interruption” because the appellate court issued status quo ante orders in Degamo’s two Ombudsman cases. Petitioner Dayupay argued that the status quo ante orders reinstated Degamo’s status as governor before the filing of the case “as if he [has] never been dismissed or stripped of his title by the two Ombudsman orders dismissing him from office.” “By actively seeking status quo ante orders to undo the effects of his dismissal, Degamo is now barred from claiming ‘interruption’ from his thwarted dismissals”. The second person seeking to become governor is incumbent Vice Gov. Mark Macias II. Vice Governor Macias is a practicing physician, a graduate of the UP College of Medicine. His field of specialization is in Orthopedic Surgery. Dr. Macias comes from a long line of public servants in the Province. His grandfather, Lamberto, was a long-time congressman in the then-2nd District, representing Southern Negros Oriental, which still included the subprovince of Siquijor. Lamberto was followed by Dr. Emilio “Dodo” Macias II, who first served Negros Oriental as vice-governor, governor, congressman of the 2nd District, and governor, successively. The Macias legacy of public service is being carried on by the two sons of Dodo: Vice Gov. Mark Macias II running for Governor as a Liberal under Leni Robredo, and Board Member Erwin Macias, running for Vice Governor as NPC under Ping Lacson. Our third candidate is Pryde Henry Teves, mayor of Bayawan. Henry is a businessman, educated at the University of the Philippines and at De La Salle University. He is a former congressman representing the 3rd District of Negros Oriental. He traces his political heritage to the late Herminio “Miniong” G. Teves, former governor and congressman. Given these three aspirants, the people of Negros Oriental are fortunate to have very wellqualified candidates to choose from. Who should we choose? The answer lies in what you believe ails our dear province of Negros Oriental! “And My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

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