The Negros Chronicle February 19, 2012 issue

VOL. 38 No. 37 Dumaguete City, Philippines Sunday, February 19, 2012

P12.00

But TRAUMA delays return to homes

Brisk businesses ensue as markets reopen in the north, but mostly outside market buildings for the people’s fear of more tremors.

Most mountain people left for the lowlands (see long line) and continue to be given food donations.

BY DEMS REY DEMECILLO

T

he National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Team and their bevy of heavy equipment ended their retrieval of 66 missing persons in Solongon, La Libertad and Guihulngan with the sad note that these are now presumed dead, and were added to the original 39 fatalities in the Feb 6 earthquake of 6.9 intensity.

Government and volunteer rescuers have decided to end all retrieval operations Thursday, particularly in Bar an gay Plan as, Gu ih ulngan City an d Solonggo n, La Liber tad where more than 50 are still missing.

The cessation of the retrieval operations brings the number of the dead to 105 people 13 days after the unprecedented 6.9 magnitude earthquake, which experts claim occu rr ed 10 kilometers deep causing

massive damage to private and public infrastructure never before seen in this part of the region.

Guihu ln gan Mayo r Ernesto Reyes led local and police officials in explaining to the grieving relatives the decision to halt the retrieval operations by citing three reasons: the missing, who are now presumed dead are in the advanced state of decomposition; the continued diggings would expose the rescuers to health hazards and finally, the contin-

Politicking scored

P

oliticking and pogi-making gimmicks among local politicians while distributing relief goods to thousands of earthquake victims, were slammed and criticized as foul and ill-timed. The criticisms came from even as high as the President himself. (read related stories inside)

But the one incident that landed most prominently in the national prime TV news, national broadsheets and tabloids was the sticking of the n ame of “MagDegamo” in th e DSWD rescue bundle of goodies to the victims. Apparently, it was intended to

“boost” the image of the governor who vehemently denied his involvement.

The provincial DSWD chief Alice Legarde said that the sc he me s ta rted in Guihulngan a nd not in Dumaguete. She disclaimed and refrained from naming names of those responsible.

To page 19

ued aftershocks and intermittent downpour render the landslide area unsafe, a threat to the lives of the rescuers.

The City Council has earlier declared in Barangay Planas a memorial site with Mayor Reyes planning to mount a huge cross with the names of all 22 victims who were buried when a portion of the mountain collapsed burying dozens of homes situated at its foot.

La Lib er tad Mayo r

Lawrence Limkaichong tried to delay the inevitable but the Philippine Army has decided to pull out all their troops engaged in retrieval operations yesterday after private mining companies recalled sev eral days earlier.

Au th or ities estimated that 43 people were believed buried alive inside their homes in Barangay Solonggon, To page 19

T

he Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology has installed five more digital seismographs in strategic areas in the earthquake prone areas of the first district in the north negros.

These new digital seismographs will help boost the determination of the exact locations of future earthquakes which the Phivolcs did not at all discount. It means that earthquakes can come anytime because it is either the effect of the movements below the ground, or below those active volcano es. Its fau lt lin es can

stretch as far as the cracks can lead. The new seismographs are installed in Kabankalan DPWH compou nd; at the High land Resor t ar ea in Mabinay; at the municipal hall area of Tayasan; at the Tropical Garden Resort in Badian, Cebu; and at the residential compound of Jeopert Villegas in Vallehermoso.

To page 15

Massive rebuilding starts

T

he government has ordered a massive rebuilding of damaged roads and bridges especially those that were hit bad in the north covering the first district.

The recent earthquake that struck the province destroyed government infrastructures estimated at P700 million based on the partial report submitted by provincial engineer Franco Alpuerto.

Alpuerto submitted the report to Gov. Roel Degamo yesterday after one week of inspection and assessment conducted by field engineers of the provincial government.

Damage to bridges was initially placed at P208 million, another P85 million to public wor ks, P130 million damage to waterworks and P242 million damage to r oads f ro m Bindoy to Guihulngan.

Gov. Degamo had earlier said with the cooperation of everybody, negrenses are very resilient and will be able to Massive rebuilding of damaged roads and bridges such as this in Martilo, La rise from the rubbles Libertad, is being rushed even under pain of heavy rains that even resulted in To page 19 a landslide in the highway off Himangpangon, Bindoy at mid-week.

“THE WORLD’S RESOURCES ARE FINITE. MAN CAN’T KEEP EXPLOITING THESE WITH INCREASING WASTAGE.”

38

2

February 19, 2012

E-Quake victims get P20,000 GSIS loan News Round-up T PNOY orders unity in relief giving here he Government Service Insurance System approved the grant of emergency loans for members in Negros Oriental who were affected by the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that hit the province on February 6.

“We are looking at more than 8,000 members who are eligible under the Emergency Loan Program and we have allocated Php164million for them,” Robert G. Vergara, President and General Manager, said.

Qualified members can avail of the P20,000-Emergency Loan from February 8, 2012 to March 9, 2012 in any of the 11 GSIS kiosks, deployed throughout Negros Oriental, using either their UMID card o r temporary card.

The kiosks are located in the following areas — Provin-

cial Capitol; Department of Education-Capitol Area; GSIS Dumaguete Office; Bayawan Cit y Hall; Bais Cit y Hall; Guihulngan City Hall; Canlaon City Hall; Tanjay City Hall; and Siaton City Hall.

Members who do not have a UMID Card but who are eligible to apply for the loan can apply over-the-counter (OTC) at the GSIS Dumaguete Branch office.

Members who can avail of the loan are the following: bona fide employees of the agency located in the calamity area or residents of the calamity area; in active service and not on

leave of absence without pay; have no pending criminal or administrative charges; have no arrearages in the payment of mandatory social insurance contributions; and have no loan that has been declared in default.

Also, the agency of the member-applicant must not be suspended because of non-payment and non-remittance of premiums and loans.

The pension fund has reduced the interest rate for its emergency loan from eight percent to six percent and would no longer charge a one percent service fee for the loan. It has

also extended the payment of the first amortization from one month to three months.

“This is part of the current effort of the Board and Management to make our policies and programs more responsive to our members, particularly in times of adversity,” Vergara said.

For more details or queries about the Emergency Loan Program, members may visit the GSIS Dumaguete Branch Office, National Highway, Daro, Dumaguete City , telephone number (03 5) 225.0370.

TOP OF THE WEEK

BY DEMS REY DEM ECILLO

Amlan to use force Cordova top filer, in relocation drive Macias nil in 2011?

ayor Bentham Dela Cruz of Amlan will not hesitate to exercise his full authority to evict residents who will defy his order for relocation if their homes are deemed to be within the danger zones.

Co nsid er in g th e in - cu rr ed w hen Typh oo n creasing unpredictability of Sendong inundated hunthe climate, Dela Cru z dreds of communities across hopes to relocate most if not the province with dozens of all of his constituents, who lives lost. reside along the banks of He intends to invoke the Amlan River thus exposing national law prohibiting the their liv es in danger to construction of homes and floods similar to what ocTurn to page 19

M

H

e might be the presiding officer, but it did not prevent him from becoming last year’s most industrious legislator of his chamber by filing 39 proposed ordinances and resolutions, 12 of which have been approved by his colleagues.

The Dumaguete City Council’s 2011 performance report provided the constituents with a peek on who among the city legislators are the most productive.

Vice-Mayor Alan

Cordova shepherded 39 proposed ordinances and resolutions as author or coauthor and delivered 11 privileged speeches often to defend the chamber ’s auTurn to page 19

Landslides again in A 5-meter tsunami Sendong hit areas was all it produced! ommunities still struggling to recover

C

from the flash floods and landslides caused by Typhoon Sendong on December 17 last year, became victims twice over after another heavy downpour triggered landslides that rendered roads and spillways impassable.

In Valencia, residents in some upland barangays used shovels to remove boulders and other debris to clear the roads and restore water supply while the temporary footbridge,

ear lier moun ted thro ugh volunteerism was damaged by the flood waters in Ocoy River forcing thousands of residents to take the longer San Antonio route just to Turn to page 19

T

he Quick Response Team of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology confirmed that the February 6, 2012 6.9 magnitude earthquake triggered a “minor tsunami” at 5 meters wave height going 30 meters at most inland in Guihulngan City.

Geologist Research Specialist Ma. Isabel Abigania noted traces of sand in the trees that were not normally reached by seawater in normal time and even in change of tides. The sight may have

Army donates P2M

triggered the ubiquitous text messages th at sent tho usan ds o f residents across the province into mass hysteria and exodus to the mountains fearing that Turn to page 19

B Y JUANCHO RODRIGUEZ

P

resident Benigno S. Aquino III this morn ing directed Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo to be on top of the situation in the ongoing relief operations for earthquakestricken areas in the first district.

The President called up Degamo past 10:00 o’clock this morning to personally ask updates, after receiving reports that relief operations is a little bit slow, and that there are unconfirmed reports relief operations is be-

ing politicized, while it has not heard of concrete actions undertaken by local officials.

Degamo said on orders of the President he issued a memorandum today to local To page 14

Coast guard clarifies fate of fishing boat

T

he Philippine Coast Guard in Negros Oriental corrected earlier reports published in national dailies that a fishing boat loaded with relief goods for earthquake victims in Northern Negros had capsized due to rough seas at the Tanon Strait .

It was able to radio for help and i mmediately two l ocal bancas towed the fishing boat to the shoreline of Cantupa in La Libertad safely.

LCdr Bibat said the MBCA Agape was chartered by officials in Ronda to ferry relief goods with Red Cross volunteers. The fishing boat was loaded with 100 plastic bags of bottled mineral water, 45 con-

tainers of 20-liter mineral water, 45 sacks of rice and 50

boxes of sardines with 80 more or less passengers on board, in the absence of a passenger manifest.

The PCG official said the fishing boat departed without seeking clearance from its office and apparently said vessel is operatTo page 14

Eletric power back to normal

T

he National Grid Corporation of the Philip pines (NGCP) has restored power transmis sion services in parts of Negros Oriental that were affected by the recent 6.9 magnitude earthquake.

Visayas Corp Communication Officer Elmer Cruz of NGCP said five transmission structures along the Amlan-Bindoy-Guihulngan 69kV transmission line were affected by the calamity.

However, Cruz said that despite the aftersh ock s, h eavy r ains, damaged bridges and roads, NGCP

pursued its restoration efforts by using helicopters and motorcycles to reach the areas that were inaccessible to line trucks.

Linemen had to manually haul the tower materials to more accessible locations in preparation for helicopter airlifting of lightTo page 16

National BCBP mancom

relief goods to victims sends P100,000 help

T

he Philippine Army (PA) turned-over today P2 million worth of relief goods at Bulado Port, Guihulngan City to benefit the most heavily-affected areas of the recent strong earthquake that hit Negros Oriental Province.

PA 3rd Infantry Division Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) handed over the relief goods to Social Welfare and Development Officers and local officials from the municipalities of Jima la lud, La Libertad, Tayasan, Ayungon and Guihulngan City.

Two helicopters from the Philippine Air Force also delivered relief goods in Baranga y Owakan, Jimalalud and distributed the pa cked ite ms to neighboring isola te d barangays in the area to address the shortage of basic

survival needs of affected families.

At present, army troopers of the 302 Brigade are still continuing their retrieval and relief operations in areas most affected by the earthquake in the 1st congressional district of Negros Oriental, this is said.

The army team is still exerting efforts in retrieving the remaining bodies buried yesterday at the two landslide sites at Bara nga y Plana s, Guihulngan C ity and Baranga y Solonggon, La Libertad.

Undersec retary Benito Ramos of the National Disas-

ter Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) and members of the International Humanitarian Country Team were transported by the Philippine Air Force helicopte rs to La Liberta d and Guihulngan City to conduct damage and needs assessment in the affected areas.

The team of 302 Brigade Commander Col. Francisco Patrimonio also conducted ocular inspection in the munic ipalitie s of Ayungon, Tayas an, Jima la lud, La Libertad a nd Guihulngan City and in the two landslide area s. . (FC R/JC T/PIA NegOr)

The national management committee of the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) has donated thru the Red Cross P100,000 to the earthquake victims of February 6 in Negros Oriental. The donation represents the compassion of its 35,000 strong BCBP members nationwide. Given last Thursday, the PRC will convert the same to food stuffs and distributed according to the international RC standards. On hand to give the check-donation last Thursday to the Red Cross were (L-R) BROs Jason Orbeta, Tito Nemenzo, Jammy Rosales, Edi Abba, Louella Bael (NegOr Red Cross Chapter Administrator), Leo Cabrera, Fiel Ornopia, Edgar Diputado, Sisters Erlinda Cabrera, Anabelle Escorial, Denissa and Art Palubio.

February 19, 2012

38

3

4

38

February 19, 2012

For FEEDBACK: elmarjayd@yahoo.com

Angels amidst Sendong’s wrath?

P

ilar Benitez, a sister in the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals tells an inspiring story of unwaivering faith in the midst of the devastation by typhoon Sendong in Iligan City. Here's her account: Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Editorial

Very embarrassing

F

or days and weeks, the entire nation, all national major TV networks and the broadsheets were focusing on Negros Oriental as the sad victim of a big if not the biggest earthquake in years.

Inversely, Negros Oriental also became an indirect tourism-blessing because at last, we were included in the “map” , that made it known that there is such a place as Negros Oriental , not just Negros Occidental.

The entire nation and even neighboring countries came to give millions of pesos in aid to over 30,000 families or about l50,000 victims of the February 6 earthquake of 6.9 intensity. In short, the entire conceivable world emphathized with us.

Then here comes the blooper: the name of the governor of this province was stuck on the DSWD bundle of goodies for the victims, to make it appear, and to let the ignorant believe that it was the governor who gave them those food stuff. Why the governor did not stop this before it got circulated is something only he can explain. You mean he didn’t know?

Forgive the governor if you may, if he was too busy to attend to this stupid publicity game which caused him huge discredit instead of credit. We the people were also very embarrassed for him being our supposed leader.

We blame who ever was the handler of this idea who may have had that innocent but moronic thought that by sticking the name (why did he not include the face?) of the governor on

the bundle of food-aid to earthquake victims, it will do more good than harm for the governor.

Wrong. The good handler caused irreparable damage to the image of the governor who was criticized not only on national TV but in several national broadsheets and tabloids, on page one no less and in color, as a dis-oriented politician, who was POLITICKING too early in the day. Poor governor, his well-meaning handlers could cost him his untimely political demise,—— but at least not physically like his two successive predecessors.

The President, no less, called his attention.

The DILG, the DSWD likewise did. . PNOY even flew in, to help personally. Very embarrassing.

Indeed! Makaulaw!

Lessons learned: Politicians should stop playing Santa Claus.

All those aid for flood and earthquake victims are bought by PEOPLE’S HARD EARNED MONEY. Governors, congressmen, mayors and the like are PUBLIC SERVANTS and not public masters, lest they forget that. We are paying their salaries with our tax-money.

We the people will eagerly replace them in 2013 if they will act like public masters.

This is VOX POPULI. And we are all embarrassed , all because of this well-meaning but stupid act of some unprofessional folks within the capitol. Look at the back of his SUVs! As if he owns it!

The governor should have fired them immediately. If not, then the people will fire him in the next elections.

Let me just share with you a heartwarming story of faith and trust in our Father. As you know, Holcim has a cement plant in Iligan, thus quite a number of our employees were affected by typhoon Sendong. Most of them, lost their homes & property, while others lost relatives and friends. Now that the holidays are over, our Manila-based Iligan residents have reported back to work, they all have their stories to tell, and here is one of them: At the height of typhoon Sendong, several residents found themselves jumping from one roof to another frantically trying to save themselves. A group of about 60 congregated on top of a large house and they settled there for the night. Most of them were BCBP members while quite a number were from Couples for Christ and a muslim family. The rain kept pouring hard, it was pitch black and all you could hear were desperate cries for help. Below them, these 60+ people could see that most of the houses were under water and those that remained were either washed away by the flood or were destroyed by the hundreds of logs that came crashing down with the muddy water.

In the midst of this chaos, our brothers and sisters came together and started praise & worship. Their prayers and their songs could be heard above the din and the noise of houses being smashed against each other.

The muslim family did not join in prayer but kept crying out in desperation. One of our brothers approached them and invited them to pray - and they did. Across the street, there were several people also on top of roofs who could hear our brothers & sisters in prayer.

To page 19

Reader’s Views

38

What does “MagDegamo Ta” mean?

Please let the governor answer this, not his administrator, unless he is the author of this very insignificant and cheap slogan, whatever it is called. Who ever coined this slogan is doing the governor a dis-service, a turn-off for his political victory or political demise. The following is the letter emailed from a taxpayer:

Dear Editor: The controversy of the relief goods bearing the name of our governor still continues to be the topic of criticism be it on Facebook, The Visayan daily Star, The Inquirer (Sunday issue and now Mon Tulfo). Is that all the provincial administrator Arnel Francisco have to defend?

“For information purpose only and not for anything else” ?! He should have just kept his mouth shut or did the only manly thing which was to take the bull by its horns.

He should have said that from the beginning of this administration, “MagDegamo” has been the province’s

battlecry – to prepare, to serve, whatever its meaning is.

But on second thought, who ’s using the term MagDEGAMO now? One cannot even hear it being uttered in the barrios or encounter it in its written form except in tarpaulins and projects and most especially if the DEGAMO is written all in capital letters, or with a capital letter D – whichever you prefer, it has been a bane since the beginning. Come Ombudsman and all! Where are the faceless advisers and consultants of our good governor now?! — (emailed by a TAXPAYER .)

36 YEARS OF COMMUNITY JOURNALISM

ELY P. DEJARESCO Editor-Publisher ATTY. JAY I. DEJARESCO Associate Editor GEROME JUMALON News Photographer RUBEN G. LABARES Graphics

MARLEN I. DEJARESCO Business Manager DEMS REY T. DEMECILLO Senior Reporter JENNY B. DECIAR Legal Publications Officer

Pioneer BI-WEEKLY Newspaper in Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental.

Address: E.J. Blanco Drive, Piapi, Dumaguete City.

News and Advertising: (035) 225-4760 Fax: (035) 225-4760 E-mail: negroschronicle@yahoo.com Entered as Second Class Mail Matter in Dumaguete City on July 1, 1973.

Commercial Advertising Rate: Per Col. Inch P350.00 http://www.negroschronicle.com dejaresco_ely@yahoo.com

Member: Philippine Press Institute National Press Club Dumaguete Press Club

February 19, 2012

38

5

6

38

February 19, 2012

Matching Standards

Let’s finish the job

“F

ocus your light,” grizzled editors often drill into young reporters. “Then watch the cockroaches skitter. That could well be your story. ” This axiom unreels in the “They’re not all saints who trial of Supreme Court chief use holy water”. Congressmen justice Renato Corona, Mon- pledged to ratify the FOI bill. days to Thursdays, starting at When the vote was called, only 2:00 p.m. Roaches scrammed 128 House members showed up from gap-studded Statements — seven short of 135 needed in of Assets and Liability to glitzy a House of 268 members. condos. Bank accounts were All Arroyos — Diosdado, emptied on the day Impeach- Maria Lourdes, Juan Miguel ment Articles landed in the Sen- and the late Ignacio were “noate. shows”: Allies like Jesus Information ushers in Crispin Remulla; Pastor transparency, the anchor of Alcover, Jovito Palparan (now good governance. Thus, “The a fugitive) vanished.

Right to Know, Right Now! Allow us to check memCoalition,” welcomed Presi- bers, requested Reps. Erin dent Benigno Aquino’s de- Tanada, Joel Villanueva, Del de layed green light for the Guzman, Risa Hontiveros, snarled Freedom of Informa- Walden Bello and Satur tion Bill. FOI was “mugged by Ocampo. Speaker Prospero roll call” at the 14th Con- Nograles Pedro Romualdo gress.

Turn to page 17

K

ing Augeas was best known for his stables which contained the greatest number of cattle, numbering 1,000 in all in the country. Unfortunately, it had never been cleaned for 30 years...it therefore fell upon Heracles, upon the King’s bidding, to clean the stables whose dung “had reached the ceiling,” as the expression goes.

JOHNY M ERCADO

(E-mail: juanlmercado@gmail.com )

Heracles went about his job with gusto and succeeded in cleaning up the mess by diverting the river flows which washed out all the accumulated dung in the stables.

Today, some misguided elements want to wash the Augean stables by destroying, wreaking havoc or demolishing violently pogrom-style, persons or institutions perceived to be corrupt. “Shoot now and ask later” seems to be the motto of the howling mob, also known as the cul-

A Journey Through Cancer

transforms into a pupa.

It’s antennae is the sole guide to find those yummy fiber.

The caterpillar has a set of real legs and five false legs.

It breathes through the holes in their bodies. Some consider them as pests, especially on citrus plants. Harmful as they are, the Creator protected them from predators. Their skin colors are blending with their environment so that the birds will have a hard time tracking them. These helpless yet destructive worms are given a chance to grow and to metamorphose into another stage as a pupa.

Turn to page 12

MUFFET DOLAR VILLEGAS e-mail: blue_bell57@yahoo.com

Be concerned!

JAMES “KOJAK” HUGHS U.S. Army, Cpt (ret)

Footsteps and Fingerprints

T

HAT, in gist, is the message of Pope Benedict for this year’s Lenten Season that will start on Ash Wednesday, February 22.

It’s taken from a passage in the Letter to the Hebrews 10,24: “Let us be concerned for each other, to stir a response in love and good works.”

From this, the Pope wants Often it is the possession of us to see the connection be- material riches and a sense of tween our concern for the oth- sufficiency, but it can also be the ers, on the one hand, and its tendency to put our own interconsequence and requirement ests and problems above all of reciprocity (mutual coopera- else...” tion) and personal holiness, on He also laments about inthe other. These three elements dividualism that seems to pershould go together as an organic vade the world now and that whole. makes it “blind to the physiIt’s a message directed to cal sufferings and to the spirthe growing apathy that traces itual and moral demands of its roots in a creeping God- life.” lessness we can observe in He warns us of what he the world today. These are terms as “spiritual anaesthesia some of the Pope’s words de- which numbs us to the sufferings scribing this unfortunate situ- of others,” as well as the usual ation: temptation “to become luke“Contemporary culture warm, to quench the Spirit, to seems to have lost the sense of refuse to invest the talents we good and evil...What hinders this have received...” humane and loving gaze toTo all these negative Turn to page 17 wards our brothers and sisters?

he was a beautiful little girl. Her mother had packed her a snack and she was sitting outside her classroom quietly eating when the earthquake struck. Only she knows why she ran or where she was going, but sadly, she can not tell us. As she ran between two school buildings, the wall collapsed and crushed the life out of her small frail body.

I and several members of in our rescue efforts. Prior the Negros Chronicle staff, in- planning saves lives. cluding the editor, Ely Dejaresco, I was very impressed with went to the heart of the disaster how Filipinos pull together to area to see what we could do to combat tragedy. It is to be exhelp, to learn what we can do to pected that all the province’s asreduce the devastation should sets would be deployed to fight Dumaguete City be the next this disaster, but I saw people earthquake victim. and vehicles from all over the The first major sign of the Philippines. There were water magnitude of the quake was purification units from Manila the collapse of a huge con- and other provinces. There were crete slab bridge. This effec- helicopters from Cebu and the tively cut off emergency res- national government. Bacolod cue efforts trying to reach the sent help. There was even over heart of the disaster. While the two million dollars of medicine Province Engineers were val- donated by the United States. iantly trying to construct a by- The International Red Cross pass, each hour of delay could was there in full force. mean another life lost. We The people there were need a plan for rapidly circum- not interested in personal or Turn to page 19 venting possible choke points

S

e has made everything beautiful in His time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.’ --Ecclesiastes 3:11. Once in a while, I find these little black round or oblong things like bird droppings in my lemon leaves. These are butterfly eggs.

They look like ordinary, unattractive, harmless things, but inside of each one, life pulsates.

God sees to it that each egg is protected by a hard shell called chorion and the inside is lined by wax to keep the egg from drying out. It takes about a week for the egg to hatch depending on the species or climate.

After more than three weeks, the egg becomes a larva (caterpillar). Now, the destruction starts. The caterpillar can hardly see even with six eyes, but it is an eating machine.

It consumes every fiber of green luscious lemon leaf for more than three weeks until it

AMB. JOSE V. ROMERO, JR., PH.D.

Shock wave

Don’t give up!

“H

tural revolutionists (except that they were yellow rather than red shirts). This is reminiscent of the mob that perpetrated the Kristallnacht in Nazi Germany. Indeed, the EDSA mentality has been inherited by some of the younger generation, some of whose parents were involved in the various coup attempts, agrarian militancy or violent separatist moves.

The ongoing impeachment trial is the right move. If carried Turn to page 19

Speaking of LOVE ...

S

peaking of LOVE, since this is the “love” month, in one of my favorite books, “The Prophet,” by Lebanese philosopher Kahlil Gibran, he says that we should not say, “God is in my heart,” but that “I am in the heart of God.” To me, this is such a sublime statement and reminds me what love, true love, is meant to be. Not that I love someone, or someone loves me, but that we are in each other’s heart. Jun is in my heart, and I am in the heart of Jun, my husband of almost 50 years!

FR. ROY CIMAGALA

So for this February month of love and Valentine’s Day, I would like to share with you some more of Gibran’s thoughts on LOVE as they are applicable both to our love for God, our Creator, and love for our spouses and sweethearts.

“When love beckons to you, follow him, though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold, you yield to him, though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you. And when he speaks to you, believe in him,

though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden. For even as love crowns you, so shall he crucify you.

“Even as he is for your growth, so is he for your pruning. Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, so shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth. Like sheaves of corn, he gathers you unto himself. He threshes you Turn to page 10

NANCY RUSSELL CATAN

e-mail: nancy.catan@yahoo.com

February 19, 2012

38

7

38

February 19, 2012

8

38

3

February 19, 2012

Strength out of weakness For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

–– I Corinthians 1:25 ou’re probably too young to remember the Charles Atlas ads in the old comic books. They are where we get the phrase “ninety-sevenpound weakling.” Here’s this droopy little skinny guy at the beach with a fairly neat girl.

Along comes a guy built like a professional wrestler on steroids. He deliberately kicks sand in the skinny guy’s face. The girl hops up and walks off into the sunset on the bully’s arm. Don’t let this happen to you, the ad says. Charles Atlas sold body-building. His philosophy was the stronger you were, the less sand you would have to wash out of your eyes.

Weakness is unacceptable.

Y

o not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in Goda; trust also in me. 2In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.4You know the way to the place where I am going.”

5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t am in the Father, and that the Father is know where you are going, so how can we in me? The words I say to you are not know the way?” just my own. Rather, it is the Father, 6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the liv in g in me, w ho is do in g his truth and the life. No one comes to the Fa- work. 11Believe me when I say that I ther except through me. 7If you really knew am in the Father and the Father is in me, you would knowb my Father as well. me; or at least believe on the evidence From now on, you do know him and have of the miracles themselves. 12I tell you seen him.” the truth, anyone who has faith in me 8Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father will do what I have been doing. He will and that will be enough for us.” do even greater things than these, be9Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, cause I am going to the Father. 13And Philip, even after I have been among you I will do whatever you ask in my name, such a long time? Anyone who has seen me so that the Son may bring glory to the has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show Father. 14You may ask me for anyus the Father’? 10Don’t you believe that I thing in my name, and I will do it.

“D

DORMC resolution against gambling

D

IOCESAN ORGANIZATION OF RENEWAL MOVEMENTS AND COMM U N I T I E S (DORMC) DIOCESE OF DUMAGUETE, Dumaguete City.

Excerpt from the minutes of the General Assembly of the Diocesan Organization of Renewal Movements and Commu- FR. GAMMY TULABING JCD, VG nities (DORMC) held during the Pentecost Sunday on June 12, 2011 at the St. Paul University Gymnasium, Dumaguete City.

RESOLUTION NO. 01-11 Series of 2011 A RESOLUTION URGING OUR POLITICAL LEADERS, HONORABLE GOVERNOR ROEL R. DEGAMO, HONORABLE VICE-GOVERNOR APOLINARIO ARNAIZ, JR., ALL CITY AND MUNICIPAL MAYORS, ALL MEMBERS OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN, ALL MEMBERS OF THE SANGGUNIANG PANLUNGSOD/ BAYAN/PAMBARANGAY AND ALL BARANGAY CAPTAINS IN NEGROS ORIENTAL – TO EXERCISE THEIR POLITICAL WILL TO BAN OR STOP THE OPERATION OF ‘SWERTRES’, BINGO MILYONARYO, AND ALL FORMS OF GAMBLING IN ALL CITIES, MUNICIPALITIES AND BARANGAYS IN THE PROVINCE OF NEGROS ORIENTAL. WHEREAS, the Diocesan Organization of Renewal Movements and Communities (DORMC), a Catholic Christian community of faith composed of the different renewal movements and communities in the Diocese of Dumaguete that share the same spirit and aims to contribute to the renewal of individuals, families and communities for total human development and social transformation; WHEREAS, the tidal wave of gambling in our country and the province of Negros Oriental has left in its wake pain and destruction in the lives of countless people, especially the children, the poor and the elderly; WHEREAS, Lotto, “Swertres” and Bingo Milyonaryo are currently operating in Negros Oriental; To page 17

Friends, not enemies rom Blair and Robertson, Vol. 33, we find how Captain General Ferdinand Magellan acquitted himself with dignity.

La piglioronno molto alegri et Subito Se partirono p(er) aui(s)are el (s)uo re de li due hore vede(ss)emo vegnire due balanghai (s)onne barche grande et cu(ss)e le REV. FR. ROMAN C. chiamano pienni de huomini SAGUN, JR. neL magior(e) era Lo suo re Sedendo (s)oto vno coperto de (s)tore They received them very gladly, and went away quickly to advise their king. About two hours later, we saw two balanghai coming.

They are large boats and as so called (by those people). They were full of men, and their king was in the larger of them, being seated under an awning of mats.

Quando eL giunse ap(ress)o La capitania iL Schiauo li parlo iL re lo inte(s)e p(er) che in que(s)te parte li re (s)anno piu linguagij q(ue) li alt(ri) comando q(ue) alguni (s)oi intra(ss)eno nele naue luy (si)empre (s)stete neL (s)uo balanghai poco longi de La naue fin che li (s)uoi tornoronno et (s)ubito tornati (s)e parti.

When the king came near the flagship, the slave spoke to him. The king understood him, for in those districts, the kings know more languages than the other people. He ordered some of his men to enter the ships, but he always remained in his balanghai, at some little distance from the ship until his own men returned; and as soon as they returned he departed. iL Capº gñalle fece grande honnore aq(ue)lli q(ue) venirono nela naue et donnoli algune co(s)e per ilche il re inanzi la (s)ua partita vol(s)e donnare aL capº vna bara de oro grande et vna (s)porta piena de gengero ma luj rengratiandoL molto nõ volce acceptarle neL tardi and(s)emo cõ le naue apre(ss)o la habitatiõe deL re.

The captain-general showed great honor to the men who entered the ship, and gave them some presents, for which the king wished before his departure to give the captain a large bar of gold and a basketful of gin-

F

To page 13

Few, if any of us, enjoy being weak.

Actually, we hate it. When it comes right down to it, most of us will do anything we can to avoid appearing weak. “Be strong,” “Look confident,” and “Never let them see you sweat,” are just a few of the things we tell ourselves and others most days. Underneath it all is the horribly mistaken notion that to acknowledge weakness is a sin.

In our culture, there is such a tremendous emphasis on being strong that we have become a culture of cover-up artists who put on the makeup of “I’m strong” when the real truth underneath is “I’m weak but I’m just too afraid to admit it.”

When was the last time you honestly let someone know how weak you were in a given area of your life? Was there ever such an occasion? Most of the time, weren’t you trying to put your best foot forward with others so that you could impress them? The best foot forward in-

cludes eliminating any hint that you have a weakness or soft spot.

Maybe, like me, you expend a lot of effort trying to appear to be something you are really not—strong.

My moments of greatest personal weakness came when I was trying to pretend I was self-sufficient and strong, and my moments of greatest personal strength were when I was able to admit to being needy and weak. Maybe that has been true for you as well. Christ wants to use those experiences to teach us to depend on Him rather than ourselves for the power to do what we do. When Paul depended on Him, the lives of thousands were changed.

That can be true for us as well. We can have that kind of influence on others if we let Christ do it through us.

Are you a weak person trying to pretend you are strong, or are you a strong person because you know how weak you are?

TODAY’S

GOSPEL 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

Gospel Deuteronomy 28: 1- 14 New International Version (NIV) Blessings for Obedience 1 If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God: 3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.

6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

7 The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

8 The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

9 The LORD will establish you as

Sunday Thoughts SURPRISED BY GRATITUDE Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name; bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Psalm 103:1 e all agree that sometimes we are surprised by ingratitude.

The most graphic example in the New Testament is Jesus’ healing of ten lepers. Only one DR. PROCESO UDARBE of the healed returns to Jesus to give thanks. He was a Samaritan. Jesus was surprised by the ingratitude of the nine.

There are times when we say the wrong thing to one who has done a good thing for us. Winston Churchill told of a boy rescued from drowning by a passerby. The next day, the rescuer met the boy’s mother, who said: “Sir, you rescued my son from drowning.

When he went into the water, he had a hat on; where is his hat?”

The rescuer was expecting a word of thanks from the boy’s mother, but the mother was only interested in the boy’s hat! The rescuer was surprised by ingratitude.

A man complained to me that he had served his company faithfully for 20 years. One day, his boss called him to his office.

He was told that due to a reorganization, his services would no longer be needed. He was told to go to the treasurer to collect his

W

last pay. “That was all the thanks I got,” he said.

We are sometimes surprised by ingratitude. But on the other hand, we are often surprised by gratitude.

First of all, our heavenly Father must be surprised by the gratitude of his children as they undergo periods of adversity and want. (For don’t we often thank God only for the good things we receive?)

We, who are older, experienced fear, scarcity, deprivation during WW2. We evacuated with others to what we called “Pastilan Heights.”

(Pastilan was the word, a Cebuano exclamation. We uttered after climbing the high mountain, sometimes at night, for fear of the Japanese patrols.)

God must have been surprised that with all our difficulties, we could keep saying Jehovah-Jireh (God will provide).

Secondly, haven’t we sometimes been amazed at the way gratitude is expressed, and for what people (To page 13)

38

February 19, 2012

Dgte’s IT industry expands; yet education still main driver

D

umaguete City’s IT industry is set for expansion particularly in business process outsourcing non-voice sector. This was disclosed by the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (NOCCI) president, Edward Du. There are four call centers in Dumaguete City currently operati ng – SPI, Qu alfo n, Teletech and Stu dent Universe. Du shared that t he populat ion of call cent er agents would reach 6,000 by yearend with a salary range fro m an ent ry l evel of Php10,000 to Php12, 000.

Qualfon is expanding to the Link-Sy IT P ark al ong North Road (near St. Paul University) that spans 1.2 hectares. Other locators are eyed to come in from the business process outsourcing industry, particularly non-voice.

The NOCCI believes that the IT sector, particularly the call center industry, has almost reached its saturation point.

“Dumaguete produces 6,000 college graduates per year.

For every 100 applicants, 8 to 10 get accepted. Du asserts Dumaguete still remains the

university town with education as it s main econo mic driver with the presence of four major universities led by Silliman University.

Major national developments have pre-empted this increase in residency.

Camella, which is part of Vista Land and Lifescapes, Inc., the largest homebuilder in the Philippines with over 250,000 houses in 21 provinces in 48 cities and municipalities, recently built the city’s newest premier address – Camella Dumaguete – increasing the pride of place and sense of co mmunity for tho se who wish to make Dumaguete their second home.

Camella Dumaguete is set against a magnificent view of the Negros Ori ental Twin Peaks with world-class amenities of Caribbean pine trees, lush gardens, pocket parks,

meditation ponds along with a grandiose gate, CCTV security system, jogging trails, basketball court, children’s playground and Pavilion. Log on to www.camella.com.ph or visit G/F Plaza Milagros Bldg., Gov. Perdices St., Dumaguete City with numbers (035) 4210911 or 0917-809-3794.

Some of the workforce in the IT and BPO industry have made Dumaguete their second home because of Camella.

With its accessibility from their so on t o be ho mes to t he workplace and to various commercial establishments within the city, it is no doubt that Camella is making housing a dream no more. Camella is the only developer in the region that offers a competitive package and flexi ble financing terms that is beneficial to the workers in the BPO industry.

Complementing the homes are the functional amenities and subdivision features that would suit their lifestyle.

P.E.P. (People, Events, Places)

Love beyond borders ove stories will never go out of style even with the passage of time. They will be told and retold, with each telling somehow sounding novel to the people listening to the story. It is because love knows no bounds and has no pretensions. So long as people continue loving, there is no room for cynics and the jaded in a love-filled world. As a famous pick-up line goes: “Love is like a bank. The more you put in, the more your interest grows.” This is likewise underscored by a passage in 1 Corinthians 13:7 that says: “Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”

L

Such is the story that revolves in the lives of soulmates Micha el Linne y and Te resa Tabaniera who formally tied the matrimonial knot on the first Saturday of the first month of this year, sealing a relationship that made a tour halfway around the globe. Michael and Teresa met in Ireland through a dating website in 2009. Nine months after, while they were both visiting Teresa’s parents in Bacong, Negros Oriental, Michael proposed to her, and the rest, as they say, is history, capped by the lovely mid-afternoon wedding ceremony officiated by the Rev. M sgr. Thaddeu

Orthodontics

UYMATIAO TRADING CORPORATION For your furniture needs

FURNITURE SHOWROOM 2nd Floor of Uymatiao Trading Corporation Gov. M. Perdices St., Dumaguete City

Dr. Seeress Mae R. Heniel General Dentistry and Orthodontics Clinic Address: No. 53 Pinili St., 2 nd Flr., Cornelio Bldg., Dumaguete City 6200 Negros Oriental, Philippines

Tel. No. 226-5555 / 422-9999 Contact us through: Phone: 035 422 4159 Mobile: 0923 8849495 E-mail:seeressmaeheniel@yahoo.com

Stefano Quinit at the Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish Church in Dumaguete City. The well-attended reception, made more romantic because it was a moonlit night, was held at the Private Residences in Dauin, Negros Oriental where the guests were entertained by the Pay Per Kiss live band until the wee hours of the night.

For Teresa, who is working as a nurse in Ireland, meeting Michael and deciding to get married to him was a major decision. As is the tradition in most Filipino families, children who have jobs overseas necessarily help their parents and thei r sibl ings b ack home. So it was for Teresa, the youngest in the family who has two other sisters also working overseas who likewise help their parents, Co nsta nti no a nd EsterlitaTabaniera, who are ret ired pub lic school teachers. Her only brother stays in Misamis Occidental with his family.

But Michael would later tell Teresa that her family is also going to be his family inasmuch as he is an only child. Their wedding was made more memorable by the presence of Michael’s very spr ight ly w idow ed

Impeachment Thoughts: A Running Commentary on the Impeachment Trial

By Marcelino C. Maxino Faculty of Law, Silliman University

(First of a Series) DAILY SAILING SCHEDULE ROUTE DEPARTURE TIME DUMAGUETE-SIQUIJOR *6:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:15 AM 1:30 PM 4:30 PM

ROUTE

DEPARTURE TIME

SIQUIJOR-DUMAGUETE 5:55 AM 7:00AM 10:15 AM 12:30 PM 3:00 PM

LARENA-DUMAGUETE Via Siquijor 5:35 AM * every Monday and Saturday

Ticket Sales and Offices DUMAGUETE CITY: Pier 3, Delta Fast Ferries Passenger Terminal Tel. Nos. (035) 400-6043 Cell No. 09214782794 / 09175323588 / 09237380348 Ang Bar ‘Ko Traveler’s Lounge. Flores Ave., Looc, Dumaguete City Tel. No. 422-9432 DIMC Store: Taft St., Dumaguete City Tel. Nos. 422-9157, 225-4616 SIQUIJOR, SIQUIJOR: Port Area, Siquijor, Siquijor LARENA, SIQUIJOR: Port Area, Larena, Siquijor Bringing the islands closer to you.

DELTA Marine International Pty. Ltd. PLEASE CHECK-IN (1) ONE HOUR BEFORE DEPARTURE TIME. Schedules subject to change without prior notice

Due Process Clause Does Not Apply

O

ne of the issues repeatedly raised at the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato C. Corona is the issue of due process of law. Does the Due Process Clause of the Constitution apply?

Article III, section 1 of the 1987 Constitution provides: “No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.”

The first part of this section is called the Due Process Clause; the second part, the Equal Protection Clause. This commentary will focus on the Due Process Clause.

The Due Process Clause of the 1987 Constitution is a reproduction of the Due Process Clause of the 1935 Constitution, which, in turn, was lifted from the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution.

It is a cardinal rule of statutory construction that when one jurisdiction borrows a provision of law from another jurisdiction, it borrows not only the text of the law but also the meaning attached to that text by the jurisdiction of origin. Furthermore, the borrowing jurisdiction is presumed to know the meaning of the provision as

9

interpreted by the courts of the jurisdiction of origin.

In the United States, the consistent interpretation given over the years to the Due Process Clause has been that it applies only to private property.

In 1900, the U.S. Supreme Court, in Taylor v. Beckham (No. 1), 178 US 548 (1900), speaking through Chief Justice Fuller, reviewed a long line of decisions and concluded: “The decisions are numerous to the effect that public offices are mere agencies or trusts, and not property as such. Nor are the salary and emoluments property, secured by contract, but compensation for services actually rendered. Nor does the fact that a constitution may forbid the legislature from abolishing a public office or diminishing the salary thereof during the term of the incumbent change its character or make it property. True, the restrictions limit the power of the legislature to deal with the office, but even such restrictions may be

removed by constitu tional amendment. In short, generally speaking, the nature of the relation of a public officer to the public is inconsistent with either a property or a contract right.”(Emphasis added.)

Beckham was followed by the Philippine Supreme Court in Cornejo v. Gabriel, G.R. No. L-16887, Nov. 17, 1920. In that case, Justice Malcolm, speaking for the court, said: “Again, for this petition to come under the due process of law prohibition, it would be necessary to consider an office as ‘property.’

It is, however, well settled in the United States, that a public office is not property within the sense of the constitutional guaranties of due proces of law, but is a public trust or agency.

In the case o f Ta ylo r vs.

Beckham ([1899], 178, U. S., 548), Mr. Chief Justice Fuller said that: ‘Decisions are numerous to the effect that public offices are mere agencies or trust, and not property as such.’ The basic idea of government in the

BY CECILE M. G ENOVE cmgedcon@yahoo.com

mother, Eileen, who enjoyed the presence of many of Teresa’s friends and relatives coming from Man ila, Ceb u, M isamis Oc cide ntal , Ozami s, a nd ZamboangaSibugay. The entourage even included Teresas’s former teachers and classmates who she has not seen in 15 years.

It must have helped, too, that Michael, like Teresa, was brought up steeped in the tea ching s of the Catho lic Church, thus, both are familyoriented and constantly pray together. Michael would not have it any other way when he proposed to Teresa, telling her that they will make a pilgrimage back home to reprise his proposal to her two years ago.

Their principal sponsors could only nod in agreement as they gave their blessings to Michael and Teresa. They are:

To page 10 Philippine Islands, as in the Unit ed States, is that of a popular representative government, the officers being mere agents and not rulers of the people, one where no one man or set of men has a proprietary or contractual right to an office, but where every officer accepts office pursuant to the provisions of the law and holds the office as a trust for the people whom he represents.” (Emphasis added.)

The nature of the public office as a public trust is not the judgment of courts alone.

The phi loso pher Jeremy Bentham proclaimed long ago that “[a]ll government is a trust. Every branch of government i s a trust, and immemorially acknowledged to be so.” Henry Clay agreed, saying that “[g]overnment is a trust, and the officers of the government are trustees; and both the trust and the trustees are created for the benefit of the people.” Thomas Jefferson was of the same view: “When a man assumes a public trust, he should consider himself as public property.”

Because the office of Justice of the Philippine Supreme Court is not property, but a public trust, and the Due Process Clause of the Constitution protects only private property, the reliance on that Clause to defeat the impeachment process is misplaced.

37 38

February 19, 2012

10

38

February 19, 2012

Love beyond ...

(Genove)

LOCATIONS of five more mobile seismographs are now planted by Phivolcs in Vallehermoso, Tayasan, Kabankalan, Badian Cebu, and Mabinay (see map above).

Below, guesting at DYEM’s Dumaguete Tonight with Florence Baesa and Dindo Generoso are Phivolcs geologists Mabel Abigania and Dr. Art Daag, chief science and research. Dots are areas of aftershocks.

FEBRUARY

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

• Lesh Family Foundation Breakfast Meeting - 7:30am-9:30am - Agape • DOH Batch 1 - 5:00pm-8:00pm Joshua 1 ---------------------------------------------------------• DOH Batch 1 - 7:00am-7:00pm Joshua 1 • Korean Mission Team & UMC Pastors Fellowship - 6:00pm-8:00pm Jordan 1 ---------------------------------------------------------• Sylvia Erames @ 75 7:30pm 9:30pm Jordan1&2 ---------------------------------------------------------• Hermenigilda High School JS Prom 5:00pm-8:00pm - Jordan1&2 ---------------------------------------------------------• Valencia Municipal High School JS Prom - 5:00pm-8:00pm - Joshua1&2 • Taclobo High School JS Prom 6:00pm-9:00pm - Jordan 1&2 --------------------------------------------------------• BCBP North CLP - 6:00pm-8:00pm Joshua 2 • Holy Cross High School JS Prom 7:00pm-10:00pm Jordan1&2 ---------------------------------------------------------• Victory Christian Church Anniversary - 9:00am-12:00pm Jordan 1&2 • Jeremiah Christian Center 9:00am-11:00am - Joshua 1 • 65th Birthday & Retirement Celebration Teofila G. Jaugar - 11:00am-2:00pm - Joshua1&2 • Living Word - 3:00pm-5:00pm - Jordan 3 • Family in Christ Ministry 3:00pm-5:00pm - Agape • Jesus is Lord - 5:30pm-7:30pm - Agape • Piapi High School JS Prom 6:00pm-9:00pm - Jordan1&2

11

From page 9

Alberto and Cecilia Alavaren (proxied by Antonio and Charito Indanan), Engr. Felix Abellon, Elvira Enguito, Dr. Carlo Muyco (proxied by Oliver Gumalas), Dr. Maria Liz Agnes Bandoy, Atty.

Serafin and Leslie Abellon, Samuel and Evelyn Cabadunga (proxied by Rosem Velez), Castor and Marilou Gerosano, Ryan and Franeste Avanzado, Cresencio Marto, Lagrimas Rojas, Dalecio Dales, Ch erry Sol amil lo, Atty. Al ex AndroIcao, and Sheila Unabia.

Secondary sponsors were: Ruswil Te and Sheila Mahinay, candle; Paulino and Rebecca Luz Manatad, veil; and John Paul and Connie Tabaniera Geochegan (represented by Jeffrey Solamillo and Annabel Paninsoro because Connie, Teresa’s sister who is a nurse, could not make it together with her Irish husband), cord. Best man was EscondeTabaniera, Teresa’s only brother and maid of honor was her niece, Jassyl Marie Ymalay, who was very solicitous towards the bride and did her role amiably and efficiently. Groomsmen and bridesma ids were Ja ke Kenne th Abellon and Kynalyn Abellon, Kit Isidore Tabañera and Karen Abellon, Romeo Abellon (representing Novy Sialongo) and Erha Patrimonio, and Alexis Tabañera and Almera Tabañera.

Flower girls were Zhondra Bi anca Abe llon , Kr isti na Tiongco, and Rayanne Grace Avanzado. Ring bearer was Jake Tabaniera, coin bearer was Adrian Tabaniera, and Bible bearer was John Earl Tabaniera.

It was a lovely and truly unforgettable moment for the newlyweds, who left soon after back to Ireland, with the promise of making another trip home once they have settled as both look forward to starting a family soon. The wellorchestrated wedding was made possible by the able coordination of the efficient and amiable staff of W.E.D. (Weddings Exquisitely Designed) headed by Bacolena Agnes Joy LuceñoTuale.

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF NEGROS ORIENTAL 7th Judicial Region BRANCH 37 (FAMILY COURT DESIGNATE) Dumaguete City SP.PROC.NO.2011-5017 IN RE: PETITION FOR THE ADOPTION OF MINOR SARAH LYNN MACANI WITH PRAYER FOR THE CHANGE OF NAME OF SAID MINOR TO SARAH LYNN MACANI SCALF SPOUSES EUGENE RANDALL SCALF AND RIZA G. MACANI-SCALF, Petitioner.

X————————————————————————/

ORDER Petitioner-husband, an American national and his Filipina wife, both of legal age and residents of Purok 6, Maslog, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, claiming to have all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications to adopt, desire to adopt minor Sarah Lynn Macani, daughter of petitionerwife.

Further, petitioners pray that upon the grant of the petition, the name of the aforesaid adoptee be changed to Sarah Lynn Macani Scalf.

The petition is set for hearing on August 14, 2012 at 9:00 o’ clock in the morning at the session hall of this Court in the Hall of Justice, E. J. Blanco Drive, Dumaguete City. Any interested person may appear on said date, time and place and show cause why the petition should not be granted.

The Court Social Worker, to whom this petition is assigned, is directed to conduct a child and home study and submit a report thereon at least one month before August 14, 2012.

The Petitioners are directed to cause the publication of this Order once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in this province and in Dumaguete City.

Furnish copies of this Order to the petitioners, the Solicitor General and the City Civil Registrar of Cebu City at their given addresses.

SO ORDERED. Given this 16th day of December 2011 in the City of Dumaguete, Philippines.

(Sgd). NOEL P. SATACUTAN Presiding Judge The Negros Chronicle Feb. 19, 26 & March 4,2012

Speaking ...

(Catan)

From page 6

to make you naked. He sifts you to free you from your husks.

He grinds you to whiteness. He kneads you until you are pliant; and then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast. All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart.

“Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; for love is sufficient unto love. When you love you should not say, ‘God is in my heart,’ but rather, ‘I am in the heart of God.’ And think not you can direct the course

of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

“Love has no other desire but to fulfill itself. But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires: To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding of love; and to bleed willingly and joyfully. To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; to rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy; to return home at eventide with gratitude; and then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.”

Happy Love Month to one and all! My prayer for you all is for this love to not only be felt during this month of February but throughout the year!

LAW EACH WEEK SILLIMAN UNVERSITY A public service of the Sen. Jovito R. Salonga Center for Law and Development

ROBBERY What is robbery?

Robbery is the taking of personal property belonging to another, with intent to gain, by means of violence against, or intimidation of any person, or using force upon anything.

When is the unlawful taking deemed consummated?

As to robbery with violence against or intimidation of persons, the unlawful taking is complete from the moment the offender gains possession of the thing, even if the culprit has had no opportunity to dispose of the same.

Ex. X saw Y put money into his coat pocket. The next day, X held Y and deprived him of the coat, but finding the money was not there, defendant threw away the coat. X is guilty of robbery.

As to robbery with force upon things, the thing must be taken out of the building or house to consummate the crime.

What if X took, without consent of Y, the latter’s watch thinking that it was his and not Y’s, is X liable for robbery?

No. The taking of personal property belonging to another should not be under the claim of ownership. If X took it openly and avowedly under claim of title proffered in good faith, he is not guilty of robbery even though the claim of ownership is untenable.

What crime is committed if the robber(s) killed or injured an occupant of the house robbed?

When by reason or on occasion of robbery, somebody was killed, whether an occupant of the house or one of the robbers, or where several personals are killed, the crime shall be robbery with homicide.

It must be noted that the intent to take personal property belonging to another with intent to gain must precede the killing, otherwise, two separate crimes of homicide or murder, as the case may be, and theft is committed.

Ex. X and Y had a serious fight where the latter accidentally killed X. So as not to blame him of the crime of killing X, Y took X’s money and valuable jewelries.

What distinguishes robbery from theft?

In theft, the taking of personal property is accomplished without the use of violence against or intimidation of persons or does not enter the house or building through force upon things.

What if X picked the pocket of Y, and having taken Y’s wallet, X walked away. Y felt that his wallet was gone, he looked around and saw X just a few meters away. Y approached X and asked for his wallet. X threatened Y with bodily harm, boxed the latter and ran away. Is X liable for robbery?

No. The crime committed is theft because the taking of the wallet of Y by X was already complete when X used violence against and intimidation of B. What if X entered the house of Y through an open door and once inside, he removed by force toilet fixtures and carried them away. Is X liable for robbery?

NO. X is only liable for theft in spite of the use of force upon things because the force was not employed to enter the house. The only case where the taking of personal property with force upon things is robbery, even if the culprit did not enter the house or building with force upon things, is when a furniture, chest or other locked or sealed receptacle is broken in the house or building or taken therefrom and broken outside.

February 19, 2012

37 38

11

12

3837

9, 2012 2007 February 19, 14September

For SALE: House & Lot

Brand New Semi-furnished

AREA

LOCATION

PRICE

2.1 hectars 4 hectars 6,287 sqms 8,000 sqms 9,000 sqms 7,413 sqms 10.4 hectars 1,900 sqms 615 sqms 1,500 sqms 800 sqms 500 sqms 2,000 sqms 1,000 sqms 450 sqms 500 sqms 2,287 sqms 1,725 sqms 1,744 sqms 2,551 sqms 1,000 sqms 2,873 sqms 6 hectars 417 sqms 3,000 sqms 1,500 sqms 6,000 sqms 1,800 sqms 2,017 sqms 330 sqms 1,040 sqms 5,000 sqms 2 hectars 3,020 sqms 800 sqms 4.5 hectars 400 sqms

Batinguel, Dumaguete City Zamboanguita, Neg. Or. Motong, Dumaguete City Batinguel, Dumaguete City Candau-ay, Dgte. City Candau-ay, Dgte. City Zamboanguita, Neg.Or. Dauin, Negros Oriental Motong, Dumaguete City Batinguel, Dumaguete City Batinguel, Dumaguete City Batinguel, Dumaguete City Batinguel, Dumaguete City Tub-tubon, Sibulan, Neg.Or. Tub-tubon, Sibulan, Neg.Or. Tub-tubon, Sibulan, Neg.Or. Bagacay, Dumaguete City Junob, Dumaguete City Bagacay, Dumaguete City Bagacay, Dumaguete City Bagacay, Dumaguete City Candau-ay, Dumaguete City Candau-ay, Dumaguete City Valencia, along brgy. road Valencia, Negros Oriental Bantayan, Dumaguete City Candau-ay, Dumaguete City Bajumpandan, Dgte. City Zamboanguita, Neg.Or. Banilad, Dumaguete City Banilad, Dumaguete City Balugo, Valencia, Neg.Or. Talay, Dumaguete City Balugo, Valencia, Neg.Or. Bajumpandan, Dgte. City Zamboanguita, Neg.Or. Motong, Dumaguete City

21M 8M 5.029M 6.4M 11.7M 9,636M 6M 1.33M 992.5K 2.25M 1.2M 750M 2.2M 1.5M 450K .5M 5.75M 3.504M 2.616M 3.826M 1.5M 2.873M 33M 625.5K 4.5M 7.5M 3.9M 2.16M 1M .6M 1.2M 6M 12M 1.5M 8M 2.5M 1.2M

500 sqms 1,832 sqms 2 Hectars 1,525 sqms 765 sqms

Cangmating, Sibulan, NegOr. Bacong, Negros Oriental Zamboanguita, Neg.Or. Zamboanguita, Neg.Or. Ajong, Sibulan, Neg.Or.

2.5M 5.5M 16M 3M 2M

5,576 sqms 942 sqms 1,000 sqms 4,000 sqms 40 hectars

3.5M .95M .95M 8M 120M

5,025 sqms 825 sqms 900 sqms

Jawa, Valencia, Neg.Or. Bong-ao, Valencia, Neg.Or. Jawa, Valencia, Neg.Or. Bacong, Dumaguete Bayawan, Neg.Or. 15 hectares rice field, 25 hectares coconut plantation Siaton, Neg.Or. planted with various fruit bearing trees Balugo, Valencia plain area Cadawinonan, Dgte. city Plain suited for subdivision site Junob, Dumaguete City residential area Talay, Dgte. City Along Valencia road Calangag, Bacong, Neg.Or. Combado, Bacong, Neg.Or. Boloc-boloc, Sibulan, Neg.Or.

700 sqms

Sac-sac, Bacong Neg.Or.

146,606 sqms 4 hectars 8 hectars

742 sqms 1,500 sqms

30.00 per sqm only 550.00 per sqm only 550.00 per sqm only 700.00 per sqm only 1,500.00 per sqm only 1.5M .4M 800.00 pe sqm only 1M

HOUSE AND LOT FOR SALE Pulangtubig, 360 sq.m., 3BR, 2CR, with garage, a nice lawn and a good-looking fence @ P3M Motong, 359 sq.m., 2-storey, 3BR, 2CR, uses hardwood floor, with garage (newly renovated) @ 4M Junob, 300 sq.m., 3BR, 2CR, with garage and a concrete fence @ 2M Junob, 450 sq.m.,2BR, 2CR with a big lawn @ 1.7M Bantayan, 300 sq.m., 3BR, 2CR with garage including a car @ 3M Cantil-e, 880 sq.m., 4BR, 3CR, with garage and a nice and pleasing lawn facing the East @ 7M

HOUSE AND LOT FOR SALE Pulantubig, 360 sqms, 3BR, 2CR, with garage, a nice lawn and a good looking fence @ 3M Motong, 359 sqms, 2-storey, 3BR, 2CR, uses hard wood floor, with garage (Newly Renovated) @ 4M Junob 300 sq.m., 3BR, 2CR, with garage and a concrete fence @ 2M Junob, 450 sqms,2BR, 2CR with a Big Lawn @ 1.7M Bantayan, 300 sqms, 3BR, 2CR, with garage including a car @ 3M Cantil-e, 880 sqms, 4BR, 3CR, with garage and a nice and pleasing lawn facing the East @ 7M Pulangtubig, 225 sqms. With road right of way, clean tittle @ 1.3M only Bantayan, 2 storey house, 5BR w/maids Quarter, 3CR, 2nd floor uses hard wood flooring, 210 sqms lot area, clean tittle @ 2.2M only Candau-ay, 259 sqms lot area newly built house, 3BR, 2CR, Semi furnished, clean titles @ 3M only

New Stocks

CALL: 0918-929-6047 * Along the road * Aircon, cable-ready * Fenced with garage * Hot & Cold shower Price: P5M negotiable Call: 0918-929-6047

PRIME LOT SALE: El Pueblo Genovevo 475 sq.m., clean title, near the new club house, has a good view of Mt. Talinis

LOTS FOR SALE Around Negros NEW STOCKS • Sta. Aguida, Pamplona, 10 hectares @ P30.00 per sq.m.

• San Jose, 29 hectares with coconut trees and sugarcane plantation @ P50.00 per sq.m.

• Sta. Catalina, 4.3 hectares with sugarcane plantation ready for harvest @ P25.00 per sq.m.

• Northern Junob, Dgte City, 19,900 sq.m. @ P1,500.00 per sq.m.

• Candau-ay, Dgte City, 12,782 sq.m. @ P500.00 per sq.m.

• Junob, Dgte City, along the road with fruit-bearing coconut trees @ P2,000.00 per sq.m.

• Jimalalud, Neg. Or. 6,844 sq.m. with fruit bearing, coconut trees P60,000.000 only

CALL: 0918-929-6047

Two sides adjacent to good neighbors, two sides free, negotiable

Call: 0918-929-6047

NEW LOTS FOR SALE  Bayawan City, located in the heart of the city, near City Hall, 349 sqms at 3,500.oo/sqm  Bacong Negros Oriental located at the National highway, wide frontage, 1,308 sqms at 1,500.00/sqm  Meciano Road, Dgte City, interior lot, suited for boarding house and restaurant, 525 sqms at 1,500.00/sqm

LOT FOR SALE

LOT FOR SALE

Motong-4,118 sq.m. @ 1,100/sq.m., clean title, along the brgy. road with 5 0 ful l g rown sweet mangoes, 34m frontage Contact: 0918-929-6047

Lot adjacent to SUMC P14M, negotiable 859 sq.m. (CHET) Call: 0918-929-6047

RESIDENTIAL LOT FOR SALE IMMEDIATELY 700 SQUARE METERS, NEAR THE ROAD, NEAR FATIMA SUBDIVISION REASONABLE PRICE, NEGOTIABLE HEDRIANA ENTRANCE, PIAPI, DUMAGUETE CITY IF INTERESTED, CONTACT ELY DEJARESCO, TEL. NO. 0918-929-6047 OR ROSE BASELERES, TEL. NO. (Globe cp#) 0906-457-4857

Don’t give ...

(Muffet)

FOR SALE Residential Lot 2,500 sq.meters at Bong-ao, Valencia, Negros Oriental Price: affordable and negotiable

Call: 0918-929-6047

LOT FOR SALE 2,297 sq.m. @ P1,800/m2 Junob/residential/ 1 block fronting Silliman Heights

Call: 0918-929-6047

COMMERCIAL LOT FOR SALE Airport Area, 1,744 sq.m., clean title, 20 meters from the highway, suited for apartment and commercial spaces P2,200 per sq.m. only

Call: 0918-929-6047

COMMERCIAL LOT FOR SALE Banilad, Dgte. City, 2,772 sq.m., clean title, fronting the highway, wide entrance, suited for apartment, gasoline station and commercial spaces, P2,000 per sq.m. only

Call: 0918-929-6047

From page 6

HEIDI’S PAWNSHOP “The Pawnshop with a Heart” Along Sta. Rosa St., Dumaguete City Tel. No. 422-7735 & their Newest Branch at Silliman Ave., Dgte. City Tel. #422-9002

AGENCIA AGUEDA PAWNSHOP • Accepts cellphones, appliances and jewelry with high appraisals at 4% advance interest .

• No hidden charges and no Value added Tax. • Pwede ang partial payments ug data-data sa mga principal loans and installment plans on expired items.

• Open from Monday to Saturday from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.

Corner Taft and Cervantes Sts. Dumaguete City

Tel No. 422 6477

As the larva transforms itself into a pupa, it ends its destructive lifestyle. It seems to say, “Hey, Guys, it’s time to think things over. I’ve been into real bad habits.” Life has to change.

And for starters, it has to shed its old skins off. As the skin falls away, a beautiful different image emerges. As if all the colors in your flower garden have turned into a two-winged, awesome creature such as a butterfly. A delicate work of art, flying around you and becomes part of life as a cycle.

We also pass different stages in life. Maybe in most part of our existence, we were like the caterpillars. We take and we don’t want to give. We expect to be understood rather than to understand. Yet in our imperfections, those who care for us never gave up.

They stood by our side, praying and hoping that someday or even sometimes, they don’t see us as caterpillars but a beautiful butterfly. They don’t see the tree in wintertime, but a tree laden with fruits during summer or a promise in spring. God can turn everything beautiful in His time.

18

38

February 19, 2012 37 38

February 19, 2012

13

BY: NEIL RIO DEMS DEMECILLO B LAS LIBATON

PNP upbeat despite Escora’s recantation

Two-time slay-try victim Councilor Victoriano Alabastro (2nd from right) enjoys the full protection and support of the Philippine National Police and National Bureau of Investigation with no less than Negros Oriental Police Provincial Director Edward Carranza (2nd from left) and NBI Head Dominador Cimafranca (left) constantly accompanying him during all, and even after, hearings.

Provincial Police Deputy Director Supt. pects will stand in court. Should Escora be Alet Virtucio expressed confidence that de- firm in his about face, the PNP will sumspite the reported recantation of Herman Escora the frustrated murder cases against mon the media practitioners who interthose alleged perpetrators in Alabastro’s viewed Escora to keep his earlier admission slay try, the case against the arrested sus- as evidence.

Looc man shot dead near home

orty-eight-year old Glen Vidal was about to step inside his home in Barangay Looc, Dumaguete City after a drinking binge with his friends past 9:00 o’clock in the evening when two gunmen whose faces were covered with bonnet suddenly materialized and shot him several times before escaping.

F

Vidal sustained three gunshot wounds in the head and chest and expired before he

reached the hospital. Responding policemen recovered several .45 caliber empty shells at the crime scene. Meanwhile, Canlaon City policemen arrested one Arnel Rodriguez, 29, for alleged rape. The team lead by SPO3 Cirilo Canete nab bed Ro dr iguez at th e u ptow n mar ket in Barangay Mabigo on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by RTC Branch 34 of Guihulngan City. He is being held without bail at the city police detention center.

Battered woman stabs partner

F

ed up with his constant drinking and subsequent physical assaults, a 27-year old widow stabbed her live-in partner in Barangay Maayongtubig in Dauin town. The victim, Armando Tubat, was hit in the stomach and rushed to the hospital. It was learned that the suspect had endured the victim’s frequent drinking, physical and verbal abuse until the most recent incident when she was chased and about to be harmed again. The suspect defended herself by slicing the victim’s abdomen using a bolo. She is now under arrest while the victim is recuperating in the hospital.

In another stabbing incident, a 30-year old man was stabbed by his own brother in Tandayag, Amlan while engaged in a drinking spree for no apparent reason. The vic-

tim, Charlie Gutib, was hit in the stomach and his hands bore some slashes in trying to defend himself from his brother’s repeated thrusts.

Friends not ...

(Sagun)

From page 8

ger. Th e la tter, ho weve r, thanked the king heartily but would not accept it. In the afternoon, we went in the ships [and anchored] near the dwellings of the king.

JL giorno (s)eguente q(ue) era eL venerdi (s)ancto eL capº gñale mando lo (s)quia ua q(ue) era lo interprete n(ost)ro in tera in vno batello adire aL re (s)e haueua alguna co(s)a da mangiare la face(ss)e portar in naue q(ue) re(s)tariano bene (s)ati(s)fati da noi et como amici et nõn Como nemici era venuti a la(s)ua y(s)ola Next day, holy Friday, the captain-general sent his slave, who acted as our interpreter, ashore in a small boat to ask the king if he had any food to have it carried to the ships; and to say that they would be well satisfied with us, for he [and his men] had come to the island as friends and not as enemies.

Sunday thoughts

Surprised by ...

(Udarbe) From page 8

are grateful for?

A grandfather named Vic tells me about his grandson, seven year old TJ. On their way to Butuan, TJ asked his grandpa to buy him a toy he had been wanting to have.

Grandpa told TJ he had many toys and did not need one more. But eventually, Vic bought the toy TJ wanted. The boy, to the surprise of his Lolo said: “Lolo, I am thankful; when you die, I will visit you in the cemetery every day.”

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF NEGROS ORIENTAL 7th Judicial Region Branch 44 Dumaguete City SPEC.PROC.NO.2011-5038 IN RE: PETITION TO MAKE OR EFFECT CANCELLATION AMENDMENTS AND/OR CORRECTIONS OF LIVE BIRTH OF MICHELLE SECHICO BANIGA, MICHELLE SECHICO BANIGA, Petitioner, THE HONORABLE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF DAUIN, PROVINCE OF NEGROS ORIENTAL, AND THE NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE, THRU THE HONORABLE ADMINISTRATOR AND CIVIL REGISTRAR GENERAL OF THE NATIONAL STATISTICS OFFICE, MANILA, Public Respondents. x————————————————————————————/

ORDER In her 29 November 2011 verified Petition, petitioner Michelle Sechico Baniga prays for the issuance by this Court of an Order directing the Civil Registrar General, Manila and the Local Civil Registrar of Dauin, Negros Oriental to correct the erroneous entries in her record of birth pertaining to: her name from Michael Sechico Baniga to MICHELLE SECHICO BANIGA; her gender from male to FEMALE; and her parent’s date of marriage from April 5, 1978 to APRIL 1,1978.

The petitioner alleges that the fact sought to be entered are the true and correct ones, hence, the instant petition.

Being sufficient in form and substance, set the hearing of the Petition on 21 May 2012 at 8:30 in the morning, before the sala of this Court, at which time and place, all interested persons may appear and show cause why this Petition should not be granted.

The petitioner is hereby directed to publish this Order once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Negros Oriental and its component cities, dully chosen by raffle, at the main entrance of this Court, and on the bulletin board, Office of the Clerk of Court, Hall of Justice, Dumaguete City.

SO ORDERED 9 January 2012 (Sgd.) NECIFORO C. ENOT Judge The Negros Chronicle Feb. 5,12 & 19, 2012

14

38

February 19, 2012

Arnaiz backs ...

the CIVIC circle From page 16

BY LELE MARTINEZ (Civic clubs and organizations are welcome to submit their articles and pictures about their services and activities. It is free of charge. Deadline for submission is Wednesday. You may send by email to: dejaresco_ely@yahoo.com – EDITOR) cjomartinez@yahoo.com

VISITORS

A

midst all the fears of the earthquake aftershocks and more floodings from the continuous rain these past few days, it was a good respite to welcome visitors and friends to our city.

A regular guest to our city these last few years, Rev. Fr. Albertus Herwanta ,O.Carm was again here to attend a celebration of the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Sisters at Fatima Village and also to visit the Carmelite nuns at the Carmelite Monastery o f Ou r Lady o f Maravillas and St. Joseph in Sibulan.

At first glan ce, Fr. Herwanta O. Carm can be mistaken for a Filipino and he speaks a few Filipino words as he is of Indonesian descent now based in Rome, I taly as th e General Councilor for Asia-Oceania for his congregation.

He regularly visits the Philippines to visit their Congregation houses. A special guest at this celebration

Fr. Albertus Herwanta, O.Carm concelebrates Mass with Archbishop Angel Lagdameo, Fr. Jeruela and Fr. Gomez.

Lagdameo was formerly President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and a sought after Retreat speaker all over the Philippines.

Fr. Albertus Herwanta with Robert Dy and Archbishop Angel Lagdameo was our very own, now Ar ch bish op , An gel Lagdameo of Jaro, Iloilo who was formerly Bishop of Dumaguete. Archbishop

PNOY orders ...

From page 2 government units concerned to expedite the distribution of relief goods and for local officials to set aside political color to address the concerns of all those affected.

He calls for cooperation and unity in situations like these so as not to unduly prejudice

On this tr ip , Fr. Herwanta came with the General Councilor for Africa, Rev. Fr. Desire Linen Alimange, O.Carm, who is the needs of the victims.

Earlier, reports have it th at Guihulngan Mayor Ernesto Reyes was distributing relief goods in his residence and that relief goods sent by the provincial government to the city auditorium was refused by the mayor.

This prompted Gov. Degamo to tr ansfer the venue to the Negros Orien-

also based in Rome. They braved the bad weather and took the land trip from Cebu to Dumaguete and were met

by Fr. Herwanta’s long time Dumaguete friends, spouses Yani and Robert Dy. The Carmelite order presence here in Dumaguete dates back over 50 years ago when the first 6 Spanish Ca rmelite nuns c ame to Dumaguete on November 12, 1958 from Ma drid, Spain and established their first monastery here.

Life goes on after the earthquake and the flood; Dumaguete c ontinues to welcome visitors and friends to our beautiful city, even as we residents were all shaken by the events of the past months. We all hope the coming summer will bring good weather and none of the disaster that recently hit our city and province.

tal State University campus.

Degamo also said relief goods will be directly distributed to affected residents in coordination with respective social welfare offices and other officials.

He said help is slowly penetrating in areas directly hit by the earthquake with DSWD person nel an d volunteers.jg DEED OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT, WAIVER AND PARTITION

MERYL SHOES STORE San Jose St., Dgte. City All kinds of shoes latest in style Tel. No. 422-9571

Honest soldier returns P90K found in rubble

T

wo soldiers from the 32nd Division Reconnaissance Company of the Army’s 3rd Infantry Division turned over the P90,000 cash found in the retrieval site of quake-hit Barangay Solonggon, La Libertad, Negros Oriental.

Privates Danny Faigane r etriev al site yester day ing. and Marlon Vera, who found morning.

Meanw hile, Majo r the money, were part of the “Kn ow in g th at said General Jose Mabanta, 3ID retrieval teams assigned in money is badly needed es- Commander, commended La Libertad, following the pecially during this time of both Faigane and Vera for 6.9 magnitude earthquake calamity, we immediately their honesty and said the that hit Negros Oriental last looked for the owner of the army will continue the reFebruary 6. house where we found the trieval operations, which Virginia Callora, owner money,” said Deles. they have been doing for the of the money, could not hide After the money was past seven days, amid dim her joy upon receiving back turned in, Vera was imme- hope of finding more survithe money and expressed diately rushed to the brigade vors. genuine gratitude to the two headquarters for immediate Last Sunday, the team soldiers and lauding them treatment as he incurred retrieved the body of 84for their honesty. flesh wound in his right year old Elizabeth Zalafa of Faigan e an d Vera at hand from a galvanized iron Solonggon while members once informed 1st Lieuten- during the ongoing retrieval of the 11th Infantry Battalan t Gerald Deles, Co m- efforts. He underwent eight ion r ecov er ed Aso rio manding Officer of 32DRC, stitches of minor surgery Mahinay’s body yesterday of the money found in the and is currently recuperatTo page 16

Coast guard ...

From page 2 Two choppers from the 302nd brigade and from the Central Command, as well as the Search and Rescue Vessel 003 of the Philippine Coast Guard were also on hand to assist the ill-fated vessel enroute to the shoreline, LCdr Bibat said.jg

NOTICE OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT

ENRO seizes ninety illegal sacks of sand

T

he City Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) together with the Provincial Environment Natural Resources Division (ENRD) seized 90 illegally collected sacks of sand from the Banica River.

Dick Encabo of the office of the ENRO said, his team and the Provincial ENRD after receiving report on the ongoing activities along the spillway of Taclobo and Bagacay areas, upon the arrival of his team, the illegal extractors scampered and they immediately informed the residents regarding the ordinance that the government does not allow individuals to collect sand along Banica River wi thou t permi ssio n from DENR. People were assuming that Cit y Mayor Chiquiti ng Sagarbarria called for it, but Dick Encabo of the office of the ENRO clarified that it is already implemented as a pro-

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF NEGROS ORIENTAL 7th Judicial Region BRANCH 37 (FAMILY COURT DESIGNATE) Dumaguete City

No tice is hereby given that the estate of th e late C orazon F. Cuadra has been subject to an extrajudicial settlement per Doc. No. 308; Page No. 62, Book No. X, Series of 2011, of Notary Pu blic Alexan der C. Villacastin.

The Negros Chronicle Feb. 19, 26 & March 4, 2012

vincial ordinance.

Due to the tropical storm Sendong aftermath, sand from uphill is piled along the Banica river making illegal extractors collect sand from it without permits from the DENR. Illegal sand quarrying is harmful to the river and also to the lives of people living near it. Continuous collection of sand from the river would cause soil erosion, resulting to floods, according to Encabo.

“Kadtong nanginabuhi sa pagpanguha ug balas diha sa suba sa Banica, mangita na lang sila ug laing trabaho kay di li mi ma gpan uko sa pagdakop nila kon dili sila motuman sa balaod,” Encabo said.

SP.PROC.NO.2011-5017 IN RE: PETITION FOR THE ADOPTION OF MINOR SARAH LYNN MACANI WITH PRAYER FOR THE CHANGE OF NAME OF SAID MINOR TO SARAH LYNN MACANI SCALF SPOUSES EUGENE RANDALL SCALF AND RIZA G. MACANI-SCALF, Petitioner.

X——————————————————————————————/

ORDER DEED OF EXTRAJUDICIAL SETTLEMENT, WAIVER AND PARTITION

Notice is hereby given that the heirs of Leonila Balbuena Vilos; heirs of Damian Balbuena; heirs of Julian Balbuena and Clarita Balbuena-Fonollera;heirs of Adela Balbuena-Zamora; heirs of Emiliano Balbuena; heirs of Rommel Balbuena; heirs of Toribio Balbuena have filed and executed A Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement, Waiver and Partition of Lot No. 5880 per OCT No. 2155-A situated in the Municipality of Dumaguete containing an area of 5,944 sq. m. per Doc. No. 429 Page No. 86, Book No. 11 Series of 2010 notarized by Atty.

Cynthia M. Sulit-Portugaleza.

Notice is hereby given that the heirs of Agustin Tinagan; heirs of Leonila Balbuena- Vilos; heirs of Damian Balbuena;heirs of Clarita Balbuena-Fonollera; heirs of Adela Balbuena-Zamora; heirs of Emilio Balbuena; heirs of Rommel Balbuena; and heirs of Toribio Balbuena have filed and executed a Deed of Extrajudicial Settlement, Waiver and Partition on Lot No. 3734 per OCT No. 1662-A situated in the Municipality of Dumaguete containing an area of 9,368 sq.m. more or less under Doc. No. 430, Page No. 86, Book No.11 Series of 2010,notarized by Atty. Cynthia M. Sulit-Portugaleza.

The Negros Chronicle Feb. 5, 12 & 19, 2012

The Negros Chronicle Feb. 5, 12 & 19, 2012

Petitioner-husband, an American national and his Filipina wife, both of legal age and residents of Purok 6, Maslog, Sibulan, Negros Oriental, claiming to have all the qualifications and none of the disqualifications to adopt, desire to adopt minor Sarah Lynn Macani, daughter of petitioner-wife.

Further, petitioners pray that upon the grant of the petition, the name of the aforesaid adoptee be changed to Sarah Lynn Macani Scalf.

The petition is set for hearing on August 14, 2012 at 9:00 o’ clock in the morning at the session hall of this Court in the Hall of Justice, E. J. Blanco Drive, Dumaguete City. Any interested person may appear on said date, time and place and show cause why the petition should not be granted.

The Court Social Worker, to whom this petition is assigned, is directed to conduct a child and home study and submit a report thereon at least one month before August 14, 2012.

The Petitioners are directed to cause the publication of this Order once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in this province and in Dumaguete City.

Furnish copies of this Order to the petitioners, the Solicitor General and the City Civil Registrar of Cebu City at their given addresses.

SO ORDERED. Given this 16th day of December 2011 in the City of Dumaguete, Philippines.

(Sgd). NOEL P. SATACUTAN Presiding Judge The Negros Chronicle Feb. 19, 26 & March 4,2012

February 19, 2012

38

15

Phivolcs exp lained in a press conference that nobody can predict earthquakes, but science can only measure its effects, but never can it predict its coming.

Withi n minutes after each qu ake, Phi volcs here will no longer be lacking in equipment.

Phivolcs is now posted in five more areas other than those in San Antonio, Sibulan to monitor tectonic quakes and the one at La Castellana to measure the movement of Canlaon Volcano.

We appreciate Phivolcs’ efforts in disseminating information to the public and coordinated by its DOST office here headed by Atty Gilbert Arbon.

What we feel that is most important is the commitment and determination of those involved in rescue and reli ef o perations.

They all should not pay lip service to their obligations to help vic-

Two Phivolcs engineers on portable quake monitoring are Melchor Lazala and Arnaldo Melo Santos at the provincial DOST center. annual budgets will go a long way if the funds are managed wisely. Finally, that politicians should never take advantage of relief operations by trying to play Santa Claus and shamelessly printing their names on relief bags, as if they own the donations from other people. Those politicians who put their names on relief bags for the victims must be too ignorant to know that this act of misplaced publicity will turn against them in the next elections. People are no longer ignorant to believe that they are servants of the people and not masters, many of whom are even still learning the ropes of the service.

Phivolcs shared information with the media about volcanos and its hazards, earthquakes and it hazards, and facts and dangers about tsunamis or tidal waves. Phivolcs also discussed with the media about preparedness for unpredictable earthquakes.

Geologists who spoke at t he Engr. Enrico Mangao of Phivolcs hitting the ground to DOST included science specialist monitor the aftershocks in Guihulngan City.

Carmencita Arpa; chief geologist and geophysicist of phivolcs Dr. Arturo tims of disasters. They should compliment both commit- Daag; research speci alist Jane Punongbayan; and from the Phivolcs ment and mere compliance.

Most of all, the LGUs must now think wisely and uti- geology and geophysics departments lize their calamity funds to the max. Five percent of their Mabelli ne Cahul ogan and Isabel Abigania.

(ABOVE) First District Rep. Josy Limkaichong is consistently moving around her first district, like in this tent city where patients are being treated. With her are BMs Liland Estacion and Gerogita Martinez. (BELOW) MARKETS REOPEN in the towns hit by earthquakes but they are outside buildings selling goods for fear of constant aftershocks. And prices are quite high.

PHYSICS PROF FRANCISCO “Kookie” ABLONG of Silliman University stood by the people and “live” over STAR ENERGY FM last Feb 6 as people constantly ask questions about the ongoing earthquake then.

Phivolcs Geologists Ma. Isabel Abigania, division chief for science and research Dr. Arturo Daag, and DOST Prov’l Director Atty. Gilbert Arbon guesting at DYEM’s “Dumaguete Tonight” hosted by Florence Baesa with Dindo Generoso.

Metro Manila Development Authority shipped their mobile water purifiers (above) while portable generators help suck river water source and make it potable (below).

16

38

February 19, 2012

International Red Cross helps

Red Cross administrators and staff from various chapters are holding fort at the Guihulngan District Hospital compound namely: Louella Bael, chapter administrator for Negros Oriental; Raul Garganera, Bacolod chapter administrator; Michael Belaro, National Red Cross social services chief; Zennylou Calumpang, PRC NegOr safety services chief; Ben Mark Uy, PRC L13 vounteer coordinator for Guihulngan; Dave Calumpang and Eufrocina Nellas, PRC NegOr volunteer.

RED CROSS VOLUNTEER YOUTH GROUPS include Jirech Tabotabo; from Cuernos Dgte are Jannelle Sornillo, Toto Matula, Ja Silvestre, Onyot Inofero, La Rissa Gugsch, Qyo Bologa, Ronan Batralo, and Cairo Agustin Cervantes.

Honest ...

From page 14 noon at the landslide area of Planas village.

Li kewi se, the army’s 542nd Engineer Construction Battalion was also instrumental in clearing the road towards Barangay Planas in La Libertad on February 11. The road clearing paved the way for rel ief operations to be brought to quake-affected victims.

On Sunday, the national road in quake-hit La Libertad and Guihulngan City is already passable for vehicles.

All roads going to the landslide villages of Solonggon and Planas could now be used by motorists.

However, there are portions in Jimalalud town which are isolated and not accessible for relief operations. As of noon today, two UH-1H helicopters from the Philippine Air Force were dispatched to Barangay Owakan in Jimalal ud to deliver relief goods.

As of 6 p.m. of February 12, records from the Negros Oriental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Co unci l (P DRRMC) showed 42 earthquake-related fatalities. Of the said number, 17 are in Guihulngan; nine in La Libertad; ei ght in Jimalalud; three in Tayasan; two in Manjuyod; two in Ayungon; and one in Bindoy.

The PDRRMC said around 60 persons still remain missing due to the landslides.

(FCR/JCT/PIA NegOr)

CEBU SCIENCE OF WELDING AND SKILLS TECHNOLOGY, INC. TESDA Accredited Training and Assessment Center

Courses Offered:

Dr. V. Locsin St., Dumaguete City, Right beside New Renie’s

Tel. No. 422-2084

JM Poultry & Livestock Supply

SMAW – Sheiled Metal Arc Welding FCAW – Flux Cord Arc Welding GTAW – Gas Tungsten Arc Welding GMAW – Gas Metal Arc Welding, etc.

HEAVY EQUIPMENT TRAINING: Wheel Loader, Excavator, Forklift, Cranes, & More…

Kilometer 3, Maslog, Sibulan, NegOr.

Call: 0918-622-5808 / 419-7462

Branch 1 Mabini St., and Branch II, Real Street, Dumaguete City Tel. No. 035-421-0378 / 422-8016

Energy firms donate P1M to quake victims

G

eothermal leader Energy Development Corpo ration (EDC) has donated P1 million worth of relief goods to victims of the magnitude 6.9 earthquake that rocked the towns of Tayasan, Jimalalud and Guihulngan City in Negros Oriental last February 6.

“E mplo yees from o ur pleted. southern and northern Negros The distribution was in sites lost no time in helping the coordination with ABS-CBN’s earthquake victims,” said Engr. Sagip Kapamilya with its TV Dwight Maxino, EDC vice station in Bacolod City as the president for its Southern and main headquarters of EDC’s Northern Negros geothermal relief operations. production fields. “A day after According to Maxino, the tragedy struck these areas, they company would have done it already volunteered to pack and in their southern Negros office distribute bags which contained in Valencia but roads leading rice, canned goods, bottled to the three towns were impasswater, blankets and flashlights able due to typhoon Sendong so we could begin distributing so they opted to get help from as early as February 08.” their northern Negros office in EDC has distributed an- Bago City. other batch of relief goods on Community partnerships succeeding days after packing have been a cornerstone proof the relief goods was comTo page 19

Power ...

From page 2 weight steel tower segments to Gu ihul ngan Cit y once t he weather had cleared, said Cruz.

With this, normal operations of the Negros sub-grid was restored after completion of repairs and re-energization of the Bindoy-Guihulngan 69kV transmission line on February 11. The NGCP explained that no major transmission lines

were damaged but added that the power interruptions are localized due to downed power lines owned by the electric cooperative.

NGCP, a privately owned company, ensures the fast delivery of safe and reliable electricity to its customers.

The company commit to fast-track similar restoration efforts during emergencies and improve services to power consumers. (mbcn/jct/PIA-NegOr)

Republic of the Philippines REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF NEGROS ORIENTAL 7th Judicial Region Branch 63 Bayawan City SPEC. PROC. 409 (Former Spec. Proc. No. 410) IN THE MATTER OF CORRECTION OF ENTRY AS TO SEX FROM FEMALE TO MALE IN THE RECORDS OF BIRTH OF EDCEL HERNANE CAÑAMO, ANECITA H. CAÑAMO, Petitioner, - Versus THE LOCAL CIVIL REGISTRAR OF SANTA CATALINA, NEGROS ORIENTAL, Respondent. x—————————————————————————————/

ORDER Petitioner, in her verified petition, alleges that her son, EDCEL HERNANE CAÑAMO, was born on JULY 7, 1999 at Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental and his fact of birth was duly registered before the Office of the Local Civil Registrar of Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental.

However, in his records of birth, the entry as to his sex was erroneously entered as FEMALE instead of MALE. Thus, this petition.

The petition being sufficient in form and substance, let the same be heard on June 05, 2012 at 8:30 o’clock in the morning at the Session Hall of this Court along Soverino “Nene” Martinez Street, Bayawan City. Interested parties are hereby enjoined to appear on the aforesaid date, time and place and show cause why the petition should not be granted.

Let this order be published immediately, at the expense of the petitioner, for once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation in the Province of Negros Oriental, the petitioner and her counsel.

SO ORDERED. Given in Chamber this 18th day of January 2012 at Bayawan City, Negros Oriental, Philippines.

(Sgd.) ANANSON E. JAYME Executive/Presiding Judge The Negros Chronicle Feb 5, 12 & 19, 2012

Now HIRING Full-time NewsWRITER Apply @ The Negros Chronicle 106 E.J. Blanco Rd., Dumaguete or email: dejaresco_ely@yahoo.com

FOR RENT 4-BEDROOM HOUSE ON 1,000 SQ M LOT 32 ROVIRA ROAD, SILLIMAN PARK, BANTAYAN NEAR SILLIMAN BEACH REASONABLE RATE NEGOTIABLE, IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE CONTACT NORA CEDROME AT 422-6002 LOC. 255 DURING OFFICE HOURS

3rd Flr. Cecilia Bldg., North Road, Capitol Highway, Daro, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental Tel. No. 422 - 6159 (Vice-Versa)

RESORT & RESTAURANT Ajong, Sibulan, Dumaguete City Negros Oriental, Philippines Tel. No. 226-6151

PENSION LOAN S

38

February 19, 2012

Matching ...

(Mercado)

From page 6

(Camiguin ) and allies instead gaveled FOI into the archives.

“In doing so, they built another “firewall” for the anticipated exposes of sleaze against their patron: Gloria Macapagal Arroyo”, Viewpoint (PDI/ Aug. 7, 2010) noted.

“It mattered little that they fractured the Constitutional directive for transparency”.

Section 7 of the Constitution provides for the citizen’s right to public information. State policy seeks full disclosure of transactions involving public interest.

In his first State of the Nation address, however, PNoy didn’t bother with retrieving the gutted FOI measure. Thereafter, he expressed reservations about the measure.

“Many of us are puzzled,” Inquirer columnist Cielito Habito wrote.

“This (is) an uncharacteristic omission” by the President.” By instinct, track record and policy, P-Noy supports transparency. “Yet, no one beyond PNoy’s innermost circle seems to know the real reason for the omission…One can only hope it’s not an ominous sign that enemies of transparency are gaining some headway in the new leadership.”

Those jitters were widely shared by the press. They persisted until this month when the President endorsed an FOI draft bill — finally..

This “clears the way for the long-overdue passage of the FOI law,” said the press coalition, spearheaded by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism. “We acknowledge efforts by reformers in the executive branch, namely Budget and Management secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad and Information undersecretary Manuel Quezon III.”.

If passed , the FOI bill will adopt a uniform speedy procedure for people’s access to information.

It also narrows wide wiggle room “for administrative avoidance of disclosing information under current laws.” The bill “frees the broadest amount of non-sensitive

information to... everyday needs of citizens” who avail of public services.

As drafted, the bill clamps limits on exceptions to release of sensitive information. It shifts to government the burden of proving exceptions. Such exclusion “must be strictly construed”, so they may not be used to cover-up crime.

The measure identifies “documents of high public interest that must be disclosed without need of request” These would include Statements of Assets and Liabilities, often very difficult to access, as the Corona trial shows..

Various mechanisms to widen access of information are proposed. New provisions for hefty penalties are tacked on.

“There will be continuing challenges that will have to be fought” even if the bill is passed. “One is the struggle against abuse of broadening national security exceptions, under Malacañang amendments.“ The press coalition welcomed Aquino’s squashing of Memorandum Circular 78. This 14 August 1964 guideline, classifies sensitive documents into: top secret, secret, confidential, and restricted .“MC 78 is overbroad,” the press group added. .

Almost all government officials weild power to classified. “Heads of departments have the authority to classify information as top secret or secret.” Worse, they may delegate .that power to black out. “For confidential and restricted matter, any officer is authorized to make such classifications.

“Information that may be classified under MC 78 is practically unlimited. Top secret matter include “major governmental projects”… Confidential matter need not involve matters of national security. ( They ) include “matters as would cause administrative embarrassment”. Restricted include matters vaguely defined as “requiring special protection”.

“Section 6 (a) of the bill authorizes President to issue an executive order providing new classification guidelines. “What is left is the task

Be concerned!

(Cimagala) From page 6

situations, the Holy Father proposes a genuine and thorough concern for others that should have the following characteristics: —Desiring what is good for others from every point of view: physical, moral and spiritual. He defines good as “whatever gives, protects and promotes life, brotherhood and communion.”

—Being aware of the needs of others, and especially being concerned for their spiritual well-being.

At this point, the Pope talks about the long forgotten gospel practice of “fraternal correction in view of eternal salvation.”

It’s a message that certainly needs to be digested slowly and persistently. Its rich theological underpinnings actually offer a splendid view of today’s situation and challenge.

Very often, we get contented only with some socio-economic and political analysis of the situation that can only cover and fathom so much. We should correct or at least enrich this attitude with a deeper dimension offered by theology.

The message calls us to get out of our shell and to actively enter into the dynamics of a life of communion,

of obtaining a reasonable definition and scope of national security”.

“We are made wise, not by our recollection of the past, but by the responsibilities for the future,” George Bernard Shaw cautions.

What is the task of today’s journalists — many of them, women, young and well-educated elders — after the FOI law gets on the law books?

It is to match the broad freedoms granted with higher standards of competence and responsibility, we suggest.. These help create an atmosphere of relevant reporting from a plurality of voices.. “Deep calls unto deep,” the Psalmist writes.

marked precisely by love and concern for one another, to which we are called.

The Pope offers an elaborate description of this life of communion that we should try to be familiar about, since very often we take it for granted or reduce it to merely social categories.

In his words, our life of communion is based on the fact that “our existence is related to that of others, for better or for worse. Both our sins and our acts of love have a social dimension.

“This reciprocity is seen in the Church, the mystical body of Christ. The community constantly does penance and asks for the forgiveness of the sins of its members, and also unfailingly rejoices in the example of virtue and charity present in her midst.

“As St. Paul says: ‘Each part should be equally concerned for all the others’ (1 Cor 12,25), for we all form one body. Acts of charity towards our brothers and sisters—as expressed by almsgiving, a practice which, together with prayer and fasting, is typical of Lent—is rooted in this common belonging.

“Christians can also express their membership in the one body which is the Church through concrete concern for the poorest of the poor. Concern for one another likewise means acknowledging the good the Lord is doing in others and giving thanks for the wonders of grace that God in his goodness continuously accomplishes in his children.”

We certainly need to deepen and strengthen our sense of communion. It’s definitely not an easy thing to do, but neither is it impossible. We just have to realize that we need to constantly ask for grace for it and be as unsparing as we can in exerting the necessary effort.

Truth is there is a lot of needs to be attended to, not only human, but also and most specially the moral and spiritual needs. There’s a lot of poverty and injustice to be resolved as well as ignorance and confusion that need to be dispelled.

DORMC ...

(Tulabing)

From page 8

WHEREAS, Bi ngo Milyonaryo, a numbers game, similar to lotto, operated via the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes (PCSO) after it was recently turned over the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), has been introduced in Negros Oriental purportedly to reduce the illegal numbers games “swertres” in the province; WHEREAS, making illegal legal is an open admission of government, the PNP and other law enforcement agencies that they are WEAK; WHEREAS, law enforcement agencies, such as the PNP, are being paid by taxpayers’ money to enforce the law; and not being able to eradicate “swertres” and other illegal gambling is just a waste of money from taxpayers who are paying for their salaries and cost of operation; WHEREAS, local governments by tacit or expressed approval of the so-called benefits of gambling become a predator rather than a protector of its constituents; WHEREAS, the national and local government units must always respect the integrity of public morality and take into account both the common good and the dignity of individuals. The government cannot and should not sacrifice the morale of its citizens in the name of economic development; WHEREAS, government efforts be focused on more productive and moral means

17

to attain economic growth.

Those that destroy public morality should not be implemented. Gambling of any sort destroys public morality; therefore, it should not be permitted; WHEREAS, those who have been mandated to run public offices should make the people aware of the evil which gambling brings to each life; NOW THEREFORE, on mass motion, the Diocesan Organization of Renewal Movements and Communities (DORMC) RESOLVES, AS IT HEREBY RESOLVES, to urge our political leaders- Honorable Governor Roel R. Degamo, Honorable Vice-Governor Apolinario Arnaiz, Jr., all City and Municipal Mayors, all Members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, all members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, Sangguniang Bayan and Sangguniang Pambarangay, and all Barangay Captains in Negros Oriental to exercise their political will to ban or stop once and for all, the operation of “S WER TRE S,” BI NG O MILYONARYO and all forms of gambling with audacity and to execute them with might, without fear or favor in all cities, municipalities and barangays in the province of Negros Oriental.

R E S O L V E D , FURTHER that copies of this resolution be furnished to all concerned.

UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED by all DORMC member movements and communities.

18

38

February 19, 2012

38

February 19, 2012

The next day, this same people across the street, told our brothers & sisters that their house was spared because they could see that there were several men in front of the house that kept pushing away the logs that came crashing down. Who were these men? And could ordinary men have the strength to push away these huge pieces of tree trunks? They didn't think so.

It seems that their angels were working over time that night! The power of prayer.

The majesty of our God. God is truly a faithful God! Let us continue to include in our prayers all our brothers & sisters in Cagayan, Iligan and in Compostela Valley.

Massive ...

From page 1 and surpass these trials.

He said that he is trying to rebuild the spirit of the people . The gov ern or thought Sendong was the worst in terms of damages to property, agriculture, infrastrasture and loss of lives but the recent 6.9

Politicking ...

From page 1 Politics, even in the most unlikely circumstance and place, reared its ugly head while victims struggle to understand and cope with the devastation of the quake.

Var io us complaints were aired by disgusted victims, who felt that even the relief distribution has been waylaid by the politicians who allegedly tried to promote their fortunes or gave preferential treatment to their allies.

Father Felipe Luis Ferolino of San Sebastian Parish of La Libertad lamented the practice of some politicians to prominently display their pictures and

Amlan to ...

From page 2 other structures within 20 meters of the riverbanks.

Ho wever, Dela Cr uz will first ensure that a suitable and safe relocation site will be made available to those who will voluntarily aband on their h omes.

Hence, the municipality secured a P 4.5 million loan with Landbank for the purchase of a 3 hectare lot in Barangay Tambohangin as a proposed relocation site.

The lot is the LGU’s counterpart to the National Housing Authority, which shall be responsible for the construction of some 200 houses for the first batch of families that will voluntarily relo cate in Tambohangin. Construction is expected to commence during the summer months in April and May. Mayor Dela Cruz underscored the need for the people to see the comfort and safety of the new community so that there is no need to force their relocation.

(By Dems Demecillo)

earthq uake h ad cau sed more.

Degamo would have wished that next time President Noynoy Aquino sets foot in Negros Oriental is not because of a calamity or any untoward incident, in thanking the President for visiting the province in personally assessing the situation//.jg slogans in relief centers. He appealed for government officials to spare the victims from their political agenda.

Guihulngan City Mayor Er nesto Reyes also d efended himself from criticisms after he ordered all relief goods to be repacked in his residence prompting hundreds of victims to camp outside of it.

Reyes claimed that the goods were stored in his home because the municipal facilities including the gym are overcrowded already.

He assured that the goods will be distributed to their intended recipients.

Cordova ...

From page 2 thority and to keep tabs on the peace and order situation of the city.

Councilor Nilo Sayson filed 23 proposed measures, 11 of the proposed ordinances w er e ap pr ov ed .

Co un cilo rs Frank lin Esmena and De Jesus filed 19 measures apiece; Danilo Leon, 16; Manuel Arbon, 15 p ro po sed or dinances; Antonio Remollo and JV Imbo filed 6 measures each; Albert Aqu in o an d Jo e Kenneth Arbas authored five proposed ordinances and resolutions, seeing two of them passed by the chamber.

Sangguniang Kabataan President Cyrine Lee Mapili authored 3 proposed ordinances, all pending and 7 resolutions, mainly extending felicitations to athletes for their feats. Philippine Councilors’ League President Erwin Michael Macias, who sits as ex-officio Provincial Board Member has not filed any legislative piece solely emanating from h is o ff ice bu t has co authored at least five measu res with Cou ncilor s Esmena, Sayson, Imb o,

Scientists: ...

Retrievals ...

From page 2

From page 1

a huge tsunami would engulf their coastal towns and cities.

Abignia and her team of about 20 scientists visited various sites in quake ravaged Ayungon, Jimalalud, La Lib er tad an d Guihulngan, they noted that the residents need to be educated about earthquakes and tsunamis, a must if people are expected to return to their normal lives and avoid a similar major tsunami scare, which turned out to be a hoax.

The government yields that coastal areas in the Philippines especially those facing the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea, Sulu Sea and Celebes Sea can be affected by tsunamis that may be generated by local earthquakes.

They warn that locally generated tsunamis occur within a very short time, with the first wave reaching the shoreline nearest the epicenter 2 to 5 minutes after the main earthquake.

There will not be enough time for warning in case of locally generated tsunamis.

The following tips on how to detect approaching tsunamis: a felt earthquake; unusual level change; sudden seawater drop or rise and ru mb ling sou nd o f ap pr oach ing wav es. It is strongly advised for people to immediately move to higher grounds if an earthquake is felt and there is a rapid lowering of sea level.

Fin ally, th e cu riou s among us are warned never to go down the beach to watch for an incoming tsunami, it may be too late for one to escape the surging waves. ( By D ems Demecillo) Mapili,Arbon and Cordova.

Councilor Remollo delivered the most number of privileged speeches with 16, Cordova follows with 11; De Jesus, 7; Sayson, 5; Imbo, 4; Esmena, 3; Leon and Aquino, 2 and Catan with a single speech on September 8, 2011 during the occasion of the Civil Service Commission Anniversary u rging government employees and officials to pr ov id e excellen t an d prompt service to their constituents.

Finally, of the 135 committee meetings called in 2011 only 79 were actually held and 56 were aborted due to lack of quorum. The Committee on Peace and Order, Transportation and Traffic chaired by Sayson called 36 meetings but 21 of which failed for lack of quorum. Both the Committees on Education and Environmental Protection and Conservation and Committee on Finance, Appropriation and Ways and Means Chaired by Arbon and Imbo respectively, called 21 meetings.

But Imbo’s committee successf ully held 16 while Arbon could only muster a quorum in only 10. (By Dems Demecillo)

La Libertad, when the side of the mountain also collapsed after the tremor hit the village last February 6, 2012.

Upon hearing the decision o f the author ities, grieving relatives sounded resigned and expressed gratitude that at least there were people who tried their best to recover the remains of their loved ones. Reyes announced that the families of each victim will receive P 10,000 as financial assistance from the city.

In last Thursday’s memorial mass, Reyes urged the people of Planas to move on while the Office of the Civil Defense assured the national government’s resolve to assist the community in its bid to pull through.

Donations from various international and local organizations certainly complemente d gove rnme nt a id, which according to many accounts arrived in the classic “too little, too late” manner.

But the Department of Social Welfare and Development promptly denied unflattering reports of delayed aid and unsystematic operations by pointing out that most if not all of the regional office’s resources and personnel have been devoted to helping the affected communities recover from the devastation of the earthquake, which caught everyone flat footed on account that it occurred in an area where there is no record of any fault that could trigger the powerful tremor.

The Red Cross promptly set up its camp in the disaster areas; the United Nations World Food Program in coordination with the Office of the Governor provided 20 tons of high energy biscuits; the Magdegamo Mobile Surgical Team teamed up with military in conducting medical and dental mission to the victims; the Energy Development Corporation distributed P 1 million worth of food

Landslides ...

From page 2 come to Dumaguete to fetch supplies and commodities.

More than 400 families in nine b ar an gays in Dumaguete City were affected when flash floods invaded their homes anew, three homes were washed aw ay in Barangays Batinguel an d Cadawinonan, three others were partially damaged.

Residents in areas traversed by the Banica and Ocoy Rivers confessed that they opt to stay up all night whenever there is a downpour. They hoped that the City Go vern ment o f Dumaguete and the Municipality of Valencia will possess the same sense of urgency like the Mayor of Amlan to provide the frequently affected residents with safe and suitable relocation sites so that their lives will now return to normal.

(By Dems Demecillo)

19

DCCCO@44 years

R

ecently, the Dumaguete Cathedral Credit Cooperative (DCCO), celebrated its 44th Founding Anniversary last February 17 – 18, 2012 with various meaningful and colorful activities.

Accor ding to th e DCCCO Main Branch Manager and OIC – General Manager, Ms. Flordeliz Valencia – Bokingkito, the cooperative was founded on February 17, 1968, and to celebrate its foundation they offered a thanksgiving mass to launch the entire festivity last Friday, February 17, 2012 then followed by a Free BS – Taking at the Main Office.

She added, that on the following day, February 18, 2012 a Street Parade was

Energy ...

From page 16 gram of the EDC under its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program.

With health, education, livelihood and environment as its CSR modules, EDC aims to uplift the lives of the residents in its host communities in areas where it operates, this is said.

Notwithstanding, the company still reached out to the earthquake victims in the severely affected areas of the province through its relief operations. ( FCR/JCT /PIA NegOr) packs and the military; private mining companies sent their personnel to help the military in its retrieval operations; the Metro Manila Development Authority sent a team to join the retrieval operations and the provincial government of Albay, no stranger to natural and man-made calamities led by Governor Joey Salceda came to share the best practices in handling a coherent disaster and relief operations to their local counterparts who yield that their knowledge and capability is sorely lacking.

The local government units may have suddenly found their hands full in attending to the victims and restoring the most basic structure and services with very little funds or experience to spare, but the arrival of private organizations with their volunteers, materials and relief goods despite the

After the ...

(Romero)

From page 6

out with justice and equity it would show off a country that adheres to democratic processes. If used for strictly partisan purposes or personal vendetta, it will be perceived by the world as again another instance of a weak state that is held captive by a politically entrenched elite.

After acquitting or convicting the Chief Justice, assuming a fair trial, we should now proceed to clean up the Augean stables. There is no turning back. Otherwise the trial will be thought to be at best, a crude political exercise and at worst, a personal vendetta.

Like the Augean stables, our country has never experienced cleansing in the last 30 years or more.

Rewind to the postwar period and jot down the unresolved cases that have been conveniently swept under the rug, to wit: the Ninoy assassination, the full recovery of Marcos and Marcos crony wealth, the coconut levy fund, anomalies uncovered in post-Marcos administrations now gathering dust in the Sandiganbayan, too many to discuss etc. etc.

held in the morning, then Ball Games among DCCCO Officers and Staff. After which, a Minus – One Singing and Jingle Composition Competitions were all held at the Dumaguete City High School Gymnasium.

During the program, DCCCO Board of Directors Chair man, William E. Ablong attended the celebration and officially delivered a message in behalf the entire cooperative. (PR – DCCCO)

Shock ...

(Kojak)

(From page 6)

political advancement but just in bringing relief to the suffering. I spoke with a well-known political figure, who wished to remain anonymous, and offered my help to get donations and volunteers. She, her shoes covered in mud having just returned from the heart of the disaster, said they had more than enough of both.

What they needed now was to get back to a normal way of life; to rebuild shattered lives and homes.

We have a live volcano in our backyard. The next disaster could be right here in Dumaguete City. I encourage our local public figure to use the lessons learned from this tragedy to improve our emergency plans.

Do our children know about what to do in case of an earthquake? What do we do and where do we go if there is a tsunami warning? How do we get information to the people? Do we have pre-packaged emergency relief supplies? So many questions need answering. Pre-planning is critical in reducing tragic deaths and turning a potential disaster into just a small problem.

The big question is: Will Pnoy do a Heracles and pick up the broom? He can start with demanding the publication of all Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth of all government officials in the Executive, Legislative and Judicial. He can do a lifestyle check and even revive the Truth Commission which the high court will allow him if he includes all postMarcos administrations and not only concentrate on GMA’s.

I sincerely believe that Pnoy can still redeem the image of a do-nothing chief executive in the next four years and even be a great one. He has nothing to lose. He is not up for re-election.

Indeed this country, the 12th biggest in the world with its 100 million population with the 36 biggest economy, deserves nothing less. We have so much faith in this, the first democracy in Asia, the only Christian community with an economy second to that of Japan, that given an effective leadership, it can easily outpace the rest of the pack in this part of the world and finally become the strong state that we can all be proud of.

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas !

22

38

February 19, 2012

SPUD honors alumni SOP and AYALA Awardees

F

ifteen Paulinian Student Finalists throughout the Philippines under the St. Paul University Sys tem (SPUS) gathered in Metro Manila last February 7-9, 2012 for the batch formation and awarding ceremony of the Top 5 – Search for the Outstanding Paulinian Students of the Philippines (SOP).

The said search recognizes Paulinian Students, who best embody the Pauline Values of Christ centeredness, Commitment to the mission, Charity, Charism and Community while academically excellent, leadership-proficient and socially concerned. SOP adheres to the following selection process, from paper screening, then announcement of the top 15 finalis ts, formatio n, judging (Panel Interview) and awarding of the top 5 outstanding students.

Ms. Nica Jean Ignacio, a fourth year Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Mathematics student as well as the Vice-President of the Paulinian Supreme Student Government (PSSG), PVCD Volunteer and a consistent Department Head’s Lis ter o f St. Paul Univers ity Dumaguete was chosen as one of the top 5 Outstanding Paulinian Students along with the other four awardees coming from St. Paul University Manila, St. Paul University Iloilo, St. Paul University Tuguegarao & St. Paul University Surigao. Aside from Ignacio, four other students from SPUD were part and parcel of the top 15 finalists, they are Mr. Joshua Eleazar Domen, BSIT IV; Sean

Adrian Guardiano, BSIT IV; and Ms. Regina Clarina Elmaco, BSEd IV. On the other hand, Mr. Eduard Joseph Narciso, a third year Bachelor of Business Administration Major in Management Marketing student and the Treasurer of the Paulinian Supreme Student Government (PSSG) is one of the 80 leaders chosen by the Ayala Young Leaders Congress (AYLC) together with other two students from Silliman University and Foundation University, respectively.

The said gathering was held last February 7-10, 2012 at the San Miguel Corporation Training Center in Tagaytay City dubbed as AYLC Winning Hearts and Minds: Changing Paradigms with the Department of Education Secretary, Bro. Armin Luistro, FSC as Keynote Speaker.

According to Narciso, out of 809 applicants, only 179 passed the panel interview and 80 leaders were chosen. The 14th AYLC is named as Batch S alimbay wherein after the said congress, all young leaders are tasked to create an initiative for community building. (PR – SPUD External Affairs)

February 19, 2012

38

10-A

10-B

38

February 19, 2012