NEW OFFICE ADDRESS: HERMOSILLA DRIVE, ORMOC CITY
VOL. 15 NO. 49
ORMOC CITY
P 15.00 at the newsstands
Website address: www.evmailnews.com
DEC. 29 - JAN. 4, 2015
Telefax: 561-0809 (Globe) 0916-493-8704 (Elvie); 0921-211-9603 (Rosenda); 0918-923-4408 (Lalaine). Email: ormocnews@yahoo.com and lalainej@gmail.com In Tacloban City, please call: (053)5610809/ 0926-520-6984 (Henry Gadaingan).
For feedback/inquiries: e-mail ormocnews@yahoo.com
‘Seniang’ kills 35; heavy rainfall damages bridges
With reports from Mel Caspe, Lalaine M. Jimenea, Henry Valencia, Paul Libres & Jhay Gaspar
Ormoc -Tacloban and back trips take the long route via Baybay
two fatalities resulting from Seniang: Desto and Jamil Lim, who, together with 5 other surfing enthusiasts, wanted to test the big waves at the Pacific Ocean in Dulag, Leyte. They were setting up their tent when it flew away. Lim tried to hold on to it and was not aware it had touched a live wire. He died of electrocution. Mayor Carmen L. Cari said Mayor Sia Que of Dulag took care of transporting the surfer’s body back to Baybay City, as soon as the landslide at the national highway in Brgy. Villa Solidaridad was cleared. Another who died from electrocution was Jose Moron of Brgy. Ginsang-an, Inopacan, Leyte. Meanwhile, two children drowned in Abuyog, Leyte. They were identified as Daryl Ampok, 6, and Vince Empanzo, 8. They drowned after a pumpboat they were on capsized.
Two are still “missing”. If their bodies are found, the official death toll in EV will rise to 36. In Tanauan, Leyte, five other people were buried in a landslide that happened early morning of December 30 at Brgy. Cabuynan. The fatalities are Sarah Custodio, 56; a nurse Mae Joy Custodio y Lampayan,26, married; Merlie Custodio y Galida, 52; Mark Glemer Custodio, Jr, one-year and ten months old; Vincent Custodio y Alpeche, 10. Two others who survived the landslide were Mark Glemer Custodio Sr., a seaman and Jim Joel, 53. 30 dead from landslides, 2 drownings, Both were brought to hospitals in Tacloban City for and 2 electrocutions treatment. Landslides in various Another landslide at Floods parts of Leyte and Samar Sitio Cagang, Brgy. PolaSeniang’s heavy rainfall attributed to the death toll. hongon in Mahaplag, Leyte also buried some towns in In Catbalogan City, 22 buried four members of the Leyte in floodwaters. people were reported to Dedal family. In Ormoc, flood prone have been buried in a landThe four casualties areas like barangay Lao, slide that occurred at a pop- were Edilberto Dedal Sr., Lilo-an and San Juan were ulated highway barangay, 42; Lolita Dedal, 41; Jonel immersed in 3 to 4 feet of even burying a passenger Dedal, 13; and Emily Dedal, water. van that was just passing 11. Only one member of the The ORMOC Rescue, through. family, Edilberto Dedal Jr., on the other hand, said Of the 22, 20 bodies 14, escaped the tragedy. only residents of Sitio San have already been retrieved. In Baybay City, an- Roque, Brgy. Lilo-an, asked other person was for pre-emptive evacuation. killed when three 11 families were evacuated. houses were buried By December 31, water in in a landslide at the Lilo-an was knee deep. boundary between They were happy to the mountain baran- note that the city suffered gays of Gaas and Hi- zero casualty, and even has pusngo in Baybay one more new born citizen. City. The fatality was They had to bring one Jessa identified as Corazon Haliman, who gave birth at Cuasito Desto, 54. their house, to the district H e r h u s b a n d health center at Brgy. Curva RICE NO LIMIT!!! said he tried to rescue for proper medical care. ... and more Filipino favorites his wife but the rushSome areas in Dagami, ing mudslide made it Leyte, according to reliable difficult, and he had sources, were under seven to let her go, or get feet of water. Voltaire Tupaz buried himself. of Rappler posted on his Baybay City, it Facebook account that the now with a better and was learned from floodwaters breached the fresher ambiance. Mayor Carmen L. second story of their house, Located at Cari, technically has with a picture to boot. 134 Real St., Ormoc City. see SENIANG p. 12 ORMOC CITY – Typhoon Seniang, considered very weak compared to Ruby, proved deadlier as its heavy rainfall caused landslides in various parts of Eastern Visayas. The region has the higher death toll compared to Central Visayas, which took a direct hit from Seniang. Here in the LeyteSamar region, the official death toll is 34 (as of 8:54 of Friday, December 2), while the national total is 54. Ruby, on the other hand, took the lives of 19 people in areas that suffered a direct hit.
MILAGRINA RESTAURANT
Screengrab from a video of the rescue operations at Catbalogan City. A boy was successfully rescued and asked for water from his rescuers. Video by Rommel Rutor
Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan personally supervised the retrieval operations of 22 people feared buried in a landslide in Catbalogan City. On top, a buried van is retrieved.
Mayor Carmen L. Cari of Baybay City comforts a survivor of a landslide that buried three houses.
On top, residents at the Poblacion in Palo, Leyte had to use bancas to go to neigbors’ houses.Left, the Hiagsam Bridge in Jaro. Photos by Aleth Acebedo and Atty. Beulah Fiel
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NEWS AGENCIA EXQUISITE OF ORMOC, INC.
Main : RIZAL ST., ORMOC CITY Tel. # 5610775 Branch: NORKIS BLDG., BURGOS ST., ORMOC CITY Tel. #5611398 Baybay Branch: R. MAGSAYSAY AVE., BAYBAY CITY, LEYTE Tel. # 5639171 Will conduct a public auction on JANUARY 15, 2015 at 8:00 am to 6:00 pm for all unredeemed articles pawned in this establishment for the month of AUGUST, 2014,. Patrons are requested to verify their receipts. MANAGEMENT
Dec. 29, 2014 - Jan. 4, 2015
VSU’s pioneering Civil Engineering class posts 100% passing rate
PAHIBALO Kining maong ahensiya magahimo ug subasta sa alas 8:00 am hangtud 6:00 pm sa ENERO 15, 2015 sa mga pinerenda nga wala malukat sa buwan sa AGOSTO, 2014. Gihangyo ang mga suki sa pagsusi sa ilang mga resibo. TAGDUMALA
EV Mail Dec. 29, 2014 - Jan. 4, 2015
VIEW FROM ORMOC ... from P. 4 alternative road by now, had the Albuera-Burauen road been implemented properly since it was started years ago. The Burauen side of the road is already finished, last time I heard. In fact, this is the one that is passable, despite Seniang. Our side, however, is still being worked on. Work on the road was resumed this year, after it was funded by the national government. But it does not mean that the alleged past shenanigans have been forgotten. I have been informed that a complaint about the project’s questionable implementation during the time of Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is now lodged at the Office of the Ombudsman. That much I know. Whether it prospers is another story. The road could have shortened the distance from Ormoc to Tacloban by some 18 kilometers. Had it been finished by now, and since it would have been a new road and hence could have withstood Seniang, we might not have the inconvenience of having to go through Baybay – Mahaplag – La Paz – Burauen – Tanauan – Tacloban. It would have been only been OrmocAlbuera-Burauen-Tanauan to Tacloban. rrr
Talking about roads and bridges, the pace on how the contractors of two bridges on the Ormoc to Isabel road are implementing it, has been a topic of many commuters there. “Tag-duha ra ka tawo,” a person close to me said. This could be an exaggeration or it could true, but what cannot be denied is the truth that its construction is taking a long time, and has been inconveniencing commuters. I have had the opportunity to talk to Engr. Erwin Antonio about it a few months ago, and he explained that the bridge had to be “re-designed” because the actual conditions did not match the approved specs. To have a “re-design” or “re-engineering” approved by the government takes about eight months, and after it has been approved, bad weather has further stalled the work. SHOWING @ These are very technical reasons that people do starting JANUARY 1, 2015 not really understand. I don’t pretend to understand it, but the very least that we are asking, is in the meantime the bridges are constructed, that decent detour bridges are made. One that will not bog down during heavy rains. The state of these bridges, from what I heard, is even affecting the multimillion dollar expansion at PASAR. The Chinese contractors have to source their sand and gravel here OR: in Ormoc and Albuera and they use big trucks to bring English Only Please them in. *Showings could change A Chinese engineer without prior notice. has even expressed that in FOR INQUIRIES: China, they could finish a CALL TEL NOS. 561-6445; 255decent detour in less than a 3273 Befriend STAR THEATER ORweek. We throw this chalMOC lenge to our people at the (A-MALL) on FaceBook DPWH here. Can you do for updates and screening it the Chinese way? schedules!
STAR THEATER
BAYBAY CITY – 11 members of the pioneering class of Visayas State University’s Civil Engineering class posted a 100% passing rate during the December 2014 Civil Engineering Board Exam. School officials said the new engineers graduated last May 9. Of the 12 graduates, 11 took the licensure exams and all of them passed. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Board of Civil Engineering, announced that out of 8,127 examinees nationwide, only 4,021 examinees passed the examination, or a national passing percentage of 49.48%. VSU’s passers, on the other hand, set the university’s first institutional passing percentage record of 100%. The new Civil Engineers are Engr. Mariecris L. Arances, Engr. Lowie D. Demetrio, Engr. Tranquilino C. Donayre, Jr., Engr. Ana May B. Elnas, Engr. Kevin P. Fernandez, Engr. Clenth D. Florentino, Engr. Hanzel N. Mejia, Engr. Cindy N. Redolosa, Engr. Bella G. Ritaga, Engr. Sergie D. Sapeda, and Eng. Charra Joy Wales. Jehiel A. Onde, one of the 12 BSCE graduates, decided not to take the Board Examination for a personal reason. The Visayas State University and the Department of Civil Engineering headed by Assoc. Prof. Epifania G. Loreto are very proud of their graduates’ achievement. JFMBaldos
OBL Friendship Games Awards
The Ormoc Basketball League recently had their awarding ceremonies after a friendly tournament. MVP’s and the Mythical 5 of various age categories were awareded.
ESE AUTOPARTS ENTERPRISES
Tel. No. 255-4191; 561-9754 Fax No. (053) 255-4573 Dealer of parts and accessories of TOYOTA, ISUZU, MITSUBISHI, VOLKSWAGEN, GMC (6X6), KIA CERES, NISSAN, MAZDA, JEEP, FORD FIERA
Beneficiaries of fishing boats from Rep. Lucy Torres-Gomez patiently wait to meet their donors, in a recent distribution. Among the major donors of Lucy’s “6,200:Mission Possible” was San Miguel Corporation. All boats are named according to instructions of the donor. In the picture is an “Alagang Magnolia” boat, an SMC brand.
Dec. 29, 2014 - Jan. 4, 2015
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BALITANG SAKSAK-SINAGOL
PNP, handang-handa na pagbigay ng seguridad sa Pope
1 igo sa saag na bala; fetus napunitan Enero 1 Ni Paul Libres
Ang bagong PNP Regional Director Asher Dolina, Msgr. Alex Opiniano at Rev. Father Amadeo Alvero habang pinaguusapan sa isang press briefing ang paghahanda sa seguridad ni Pope Francis I sa kanyang pagbisita sa Tacloban at Palo. TACLOBAN CITY - Nagpahayag ng kahandaan ang bagong naitalaga sa puwesto na Regional Director ng Philipinne National Police na si C/Supt. Asher Dolina sa nalalapit nang pagbisita ni Pope Francis sa Leyte sa darating na Enero 17. Ayon kay Director Dolina, aabot sa 7,000 na kapulisan ang idedeploy para sa seguridad ng Santo Papa. Ang 5,000 dito ay galing sa Philippine National Police (PNP) National Headquarters habang 2,000 naman ay galing sa rehiyon. Maliban sa puwersa ng kapulisan, nakipag-ugnayan din sila sa Philippine Army sa Eastern Visayas at nangako naman itong magde-deploy ng isang batalyong sundalo para makatulong sa seguridad ng Santo Papa. Nananawagan din si Dolina sa publiko na tulungan ang mga otoridad na maging ligtas, makabuluhan at matagumpay ang pagbisita ng Mahal na Papa. Magkakaroon muna ng rehearsal ang clustered groups sa Enero 11 sa pagdating mismo ng iba pang security groups kasama na ang Presidential Security Group sa Leyte. Samantala, ang Archdiocese of Palo ay nag-accredit na ng nasa 500 Manila-based at local journalists para mag-cover sa papal visit. Pinapahintulan lamang ang 250 national media at 50 local media na makapasok sa airport para sa coverage ng misa, 75 para mag-cover sa pagbisita ni Pope sa Palo Cathedral, 150 naman na media practitioners ang kasama sa motorcade at 80 media practitioners ang makakapagcover sa blessing ng Pope Francis Center for the Poor. Wala namang mamamahayag ang pinahihintulutang mag-cover habang nanananghali ang Santo Papa kasama ang 30 katao. Inaasahang aabot sa 160,000 na mga deboto ang dadalo sa Papal Mass pero mahigpit na pinagbabawal ang anumang dala katulad ng payong, bottled water, bag pack at kahit anong gamit na makakasagabal dahil mahigpit ang seguridad na ipinapatupad. Ni Mel Caspe
Mga fastcraft, wa palargaha sa Coast Guard sa Enero 2 ORMOC CITY – Gatusan ka mga pasahero sa mga fastcrafts ang wala maka larga paingon sa Cebu sa Enero 2, 2015, tungod sa Gale Warning na giisa sa PAG-ASA. Tungod ini, ang Philippine Coast Guard wala na motugot pagpalarga sa gamay nga barko sama sa mga fastcraft. Sa obserbasyun sa EV Mail, dili mahimutang ang mga pasahero, labi pa kadtong adunay mga mahinungdanon nga transaksiyun sa Cebu. Ang uban kanila naglukat og ticket para sa dakong barko. Ang nilarga paingon sa Cebu mao ang M/V Wonderful Stars sa Roble Shipping Lines. Wala tugti sa PCG nga makalarga ang gagmay na barko tungod kay ang bawod moabot man sa kapin kuatro metros ang gitas-on. Gani ang fastcraft sa 2GO gikan sa Cebu, paingon na onta sa Ormoc, nibalik sa pier kay pagluwak sa tulay sa Mactan, gisugat kinig dakong bawud ug ang mga pasahero nangalisang na. Kini nga kasayuran gitunol dinhi sa EV Mail gikan sa osa sa mga trabahante sa 2GO nga dili lang buot magpaila. Giklaro sa Coast Guard nga ang tinguha nila mao ang kaluwasan sa mga pasahero. Bisan way bagyo basta muisa og Gale Warning ang PAG-ASA, mahimong ilang pugngan pagbiyahe ang gagmay nga sakyanan sa dagat sama sa fastcraft ug mga pumpboat paingon sa Camotes. Ni Paul Libres
ORMOC CITY - Anaa karon sa Ormoc District Hospital ang 27 anyus nga lalake human kini maigo sa saag nga bala ala una pasado sa kadlawon Enero 1. Pero giklaro sa Ormoc City Police Office nga ang insedente dili sa Ormoc nahitabo. Sa report nakuha sa EV Mail, si Sr. Insp. Arvie Trazo, hepe sa station 2, nagpahibalo sa mga pulis sa station I nga may napusilan na tawo ug anaa naadmit sa ODH. Si Insp. Oscar Cobacha ug mga kauban sa REACT nagsusi didto ug nailhan ang biktima nga si Rene
ang biktima, piligro kay dili man makatabok ang sakyanan kay guba ang tulay dapit sa Jaro ug Alang-alang, Leyte. Ang biktima may igo sa bala sa iyang walang liog. Way labot aning naigo sa saag nga bala, wa nay natala pang mga nahabol niadtong miaging Bag-ong Tuig dinhi sa syudad. Didto usab sa Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center nga maoy gitugahan nga magtally sa mga nahabol tibook rehiyon sa firecrackers, 8 ka tawo ang natala gikan adtong Disyembre 21, ang duha sa
mga biktima nangabuthan sa Enero 1. Sa laing bahin, alas tres pasado sa hapon sa Enero 1, osa ka fetus ang napalgan diha sa barangay San Pablo. Matud ni Sr. Insp. Oscar Cobacha ug PO2 Dindo Tuando, mga imbistigador, osa ka alarma ilang nadawat gikan sa barangay San Pablo nga anaa kahibudngan nga putos destansiya gikan sa kalsada. Pagsusi pa, fetus ang giputos ug lampin, bana-bana duha ngadto sa tulo ka buwan. Kon kinsa ang way puangod nga inahan naglabay niini, kini ang wala masayri. Ni Paul Libres ug Mel Caspe
4 nangawat og mga wire sa NGCP, dakpan ALBUERA, LEYTE – Tanggong karon sa Albuera Police Station ang upat ka tawo kinsa suspek sa pagpangawat og wire nga iya sa National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). Ang mga suspek nailhang sila si Diosdado de Leon, 52; Regalado Dawal, 29; Ruel Toyong, 30; ug Renero Tidol, 35, parehong nagpuyo sa sityu Palanas, Brgy. Damulaan, ning lungsud. Apil gisakmit sa mga awtoridad ang Multicab nga may plaka HVL 475 nga gipanag-iya ni Gonzalo Cantiga nga taga Tabgas, Albuera. Kining mga suspetsado gikihaan na atubangan sa piskaliya, polong ni PO3 Rene Ablan, ang inbistigador sa kaso. Sa report nakuha sa EV Mail gikan sa Albuera police, nag botyag alas onse pasado sa buntag Dec. 27, ang mga sakop sa 78th IB, kuyog sa mga guwardya sa NGCP, nakamatikud sa osa ka Multicab nga daw may ikarga nga kargamento. Gibantayan nila Harvey Genobiagon, security officer sa NGCP, ang sakyanan ug didto na nila nadakpan sa akto ang Extrajudicial Partition NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the properties of the late ELSIE RUMOHR DAHLEN re a 100,000 paid-up subscribed shares of stocks at P1.00 par value per share with Narcisa Hills Development Corporation, a stock corp. organized under existing laws of the Philippines under SEC Registration Numbered A199905112 with principal office and business address at Barangay Rawis, Calbayog City, Samar; and One Six Hundred paid-up subscribed share of stocks at 100.00 par value per share with St. Ignatius Memorial Park Incorporated, a stock corporation organized under existing laws of the Phil. Under SEC reg. numbered 137655 with principal office and bus. Address at Barangay Rawis, Calbayog City, Samar” were partitioned among her heirs per Doc. No. 5295; Page No. 1067; Book No. X; Series of 2014 of Notary Public Maricar R. Lucero, RSW. EV Mail Dec. 15-21, 22-28, & 29- Jan. 4, 2014
Best wishes to all our Members!!! May we all have a more meaningful New Year!!!
Pacetes, taga Carigara, Leyte. Bisan dili na hureseksiyun sa OCPO, naghimo pag gihapon sila PO2 Dindo Tuando og imbistigasyon pamasin nga pangayoan sila sa PRO-8 ug detalye. Sa report ni PO2 Tuando nag ingon pasado ala una na sa kaadlawon samtang naglantaw og salida sa telebisyon ang biktima sud sa ilang balay, kalit kini niping-it sa kasakit dapit sa walang liog. Pag hikap pa niini sa iyang liog, nagkadugo na, hinungdan gidali siya’g dala sa kaanak dinhi sa Ormoc. Kon adto pa sa Tacloban Hospital dalha
-from the Mgt. & Staff
mga sinako nga aluminum wires nga gikarga. Dili mominus sa 500 kilos ang nasakmit sa mga awtoridad. Si Sr. Insp. Martin Pardenas, hepe sa Albuera Police, niklaro nga ang mga suspetsado ila nang nakihaan sa kalapasan sa RA 7832 o “AntiPilferage of Electricity and Theft of Electric Transmission Lines/Materials Act of 1994.” Sa habig sa mga suspek, gipahayag ni De Leon nga ang mga wire ilang nakuha, didto daplin sa sapa sa hilit nga bahin sa Damulaan. Naglaylay kini sa yuta ug ilang giputolputol aron ibaligya ngadto sa scrap yard.
Sekyu, patay sa hit-and-run, van nga may plaka AAA-7541 gipangita ORMOC CITY - Gisubay karon sa traffic division kinsa ang drayber ug tag-iya ning usa ka van color gray na maoy nakabangga sa osa ka guwardiya nga niresulta sa kamatayun sa biktima. Kini nahitabo Disyembre 28, Adlaw sa mga Inosentes, diha sa dalan Bonifacio. Ang biktima giila nga si Anito Mistula, 27, taga Naungan, osa ka guwardiya sa L&G Security Agency. Sa report nakuha sa EV Mail gikan sa traffic division, ang biktima nagsakay sa Honda XRM alas sais pasado sa buntag dihang nabanggaan kini sa van. Sila si PO3 Roger Baronda ug PO2 Warlito Tingal nga niresponde sa aksidente niingon samtang nagsakay sa motor ang biktima, nabanggaan kini sa van nga may plaka AAA-745I. Nisutoy dayun sa nahitaboan ang van human sa insedente. Ang naka bentaha lamang kay may nakakita sa plaka sa sakyanan. Dugang pa nga nakit-an ang van paingon dapit sa Albuera. Osa ka ginganlan og Ryan Cruz ang nipahibalo sa kapulisan sa hitabo. Ni Paul Libres
INVITATION TO BID Save the Children is the world’s leading independent non-government organisation for children in more than 120 countries.We save children’s lives; we fight for their rights; we help them fulfill their potential. We work together, with our partners, to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. Underpinned by the vision, a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation. The Save the Children Philippines, Inc.,whose Western Leyte Field Office is at Nikandrea Bldg., New Anilao Bridge, Brgy. Cogon, Ormoc City, Leyte invites those interested vendors to submit bid for the goods and services below; Reference: PR-ORM-2014-1070
Car Rental for 6 months including unlimited fuel and drivers for the following: • 1 unit Commuter Van • 9 units Double Cabin pick-up, 4WD • 10 units SUV 5-door, 4WD Requirements: • Copies of Official Receipt and Certificate of Registration • Copy of Vehicle Insurance, DTI permit, Business Permit, BIR Certification • Copy of Valid ID of contractor or authorized representative • Picture of the vehicle/s showing front view and side view • Vehicle requirement: strictly 4WD, model 2012-2014, any color All eligible bidders with operations in the Philippines can request for the Invitation to Bid documents by sending an e-mail quoting the above reference clearly stated in the subject box, to procurement.ormoc.sci@gmail.com Tender closing date is January 09, 2015. All completed bids should be submitted in a SEALED ENVELOPE with the reference number to the address below: TENDER COMMITTEE SAVE THE CHILDREN PHILIPPINES, INC. Western Leyte Field Office Nikandrea Bldg., New Anilao Bridge Cogon, Ormoc City 6541 Leyte, Philippines
Canvassing will lead to automatic disqualification
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Dec. 29, 2014 - Jan. 4, 2015
The long roads to Tacloban and Isabel
Planning and goalsetting
ON MONDAY, we are scheduled to attend one of the “final” briefings for media on the Papal visit of Pope Francis I on January 17. Outside, it is raining once again. I hope it won’t be raining on Monday, when we will have to leave here very early because it is going to be a long trip. Carlos Larrazabal, Dhaya’s son, who manages Sal’s Restaurant in Tacloban, came home for New Year’s Eve celebration. He said it took them four hours to reach Ormoc. To reach Ormoc, they had to pass through a circuitous route, taking the Baybay route instead. But it was not that easy, because they had to take the turn at Tanauan, Leyte to the interior towns of Burauen and La Paz (this distance is not cemented yet, I think), then back to the highway at Mayorga, straight to Mahaplag, then turned to Baybay and then Ormoc. They cannot also ride at full speed, as the roads are not that good. One has to be extra careful at the zigzag at the Mahaplag-Baybay area, where a major landslide happened, and a very bad road slip resulted. The bridges at Alang-alang and Jaro on the Ormoc to Tacloban side are badly damaged that it might take weeks to repair it. The weather is not helping, either. On the Baybay to Tacloban route, the bridges at Dulag are also damaged. I hope that by Monday, the Department of Public Work and Highways has already solved the problem by making temporary “detours”. If not, then I have to resign to the thought of taking that long haul trip.
THIS IS the usual activity we do at the beginning of the year, just as what we normally do before embarking on anything new, be it a project, a business, a trip or an excursion. We should not take this for granted. In fact, we should increasingly sharpen our sense for this need and the corresponding skill, for it is what our basic rationality and freedom require. We are always driven by a sense of purpose which should be given as full a play as possible. A life without a sense of purpose is not human, let alone Christian life. Sad to say, this is what we are observing in many places nowadays. Many people seem to be living without a clear senseof purpose other than what the erratic impulses of their instincts, feelings and passions, biases, trends would dictate or suggest. This is not to mention that we are often afflicted with laziness, excessive love for comfort, a lot of attachments to temporal and worldly things, greed, envy, lust and the like that deaden or at least distort our sense of planning. We cannot overemphasize the many benefits and advantages of planning and goal- setting. It simplifies our life, putting order into our things and affairs. It enables us to be more aware of our priorities. It can save as well as multiply our time and other resources. Of course, we should always be wary when we so exaggerate it that we become rigid and inflexible. The need for planning and goal-setting is not meant for that. On the contrary, it is meant to equip us properly with the surprises in life. We should strive to plan things as exhaustively as possible. We should not be contented only with short-term plans, but also with a long-term one. In fact, we should try to plan for life, and even for life hereafter. This is not falling into presumption, as long as we give due consideration also to the legitimate constraints involved. We need to have some plans and goals to reach in the different aspects of our life—personal, spiritual, family, professional, social and all the way to the political and global. At the same time, let’s see to it that all these aspects are integrated into one working and organic whole. Yes, we cannot be sure of everything. There simply are too many things that are beyond our control, our power and resources. But this reality does not excuse us from planning our life as fully as possible. Precisely because of it, we need to make plans, to be able to face the different contingencies and vicissitudes of life. Obviously, such plans may have to be revised and modified many times along the way. This should not bother us. It’s part of the territory. We just have to remind ourselves that in every plan, we always make some calculated assumptions and risks. But central to the whole equation should be the sense of abandonment in the providence of God who can take care of everything, including our mistakes. Let’s remember that God is the source of law and order. He is also the one that enables us to live order. “I can do all things in him who strengthens me,” St. Paul says (Phil 4,13). Our sense of the need for planning and goal-setting
rrr
I would really want to see the Pope in person, even from afar. We were not so lucky when we were in Rome, because he was not in the Vatican that time, but maybe this time, we will. I pray also, that his trip here is not cancelled due to some freak weather condition. We’ve been having a lot since Yolanda. Since Yolanda, we’ve had Ruby, a very slow moving typhoon that it took her 12 hours to move out of the region. I remember Agalon Sabin telling me that in his 87 years (he is turning 88 by January 8), Yolanda was the strongest typhoon that he had experienced and Ruby was the longest. Thankfully, we were spared of its winds, but our brethren in Northern area of Eastern Samar and Northern Samar were not so lucky. And if we thought that was the last, ‘Seniang’ makes the homestretch to become the last typhoon of 2014. With the long holiday season, our authorities became quite slack and did not prepare much for eventualities. It was just Signal Number 1 here in Leyte, and in a region where we have typhoons as much as we have fiestas, it turned out to be disastrous. It still took a huge toll on lives, this time from landslides, and the heavy rainfall damaged mostly bridges that were still reeling from Yolanda’s battering. I pray there would be no more typhoons for 2015. But that is wishful thinking. rrr
At this juncture, I am reminded once more of the inconvenience of traveling to Tacloban via a long route when we could have had an see
VIEW FROM ORMOC
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The View from MindaNOW By Jesus “Jess” Dureza
Visiting the country’s first coal dome LAST SATURDAY, while our GESTUVEO family clan was having its annual reunion at the Seagull Beach in Davao City, I had to quietly sneak out for a few hours so as not to miss a planned visit by our group (called the NANDING BOYS) to see for the first time the first ever COAL DOME in the country. When I was asked by BETH where I was going (no, she never suspects whenever I occasionally get “lost”..), I pointed to a dome structure glistening across the waters from our resort house at PUNTA DUMALAG. The THERMA SOUTH INC. (TSI) of the giant power ABOITIZ conglomerate is making its finishing touches to a power plant at Binugao, Toril in the southern boundary of Davao City about 25 kilometers away from downtown. From my resort house balcony, across clear waters on a clear day, a 300 MW coal-fired plant is fast rising and will soon be commissioned early 2015 or in a few months
from now. Frankly, although Beth and I were hosting a rare annual family event, I did not want to miss the opportunity to take a peek at what’s inside that huge dome. I had studied -- and visited-- other coal-fired plants and I was curious with that dome that I had been watching from a distance, taking shape over the past two years along the shores of Davao Gulf. NANDING BOYS -- The so-called “Nanding Boys” doing this “outing” is actually composed of a small group of close friends of Archbishop Emeritus Fernando “Nanding” Capalla who clustered around, welded by common friendship and high esteem for the recently retired Davao Archbishop “Nanding”. The power plant visit was made possible because Aboitiz top executive MANUEL “BOBBY” ORIG is one of the Nanding Boys (but of course!). Joinsee
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POLEYTECAL Tidbits and Beyond By Rammel B. Cagulada, CPA
Security nightmare stimuli, anyone? THE RECENT visit of renowned primetime boob tube personality and heartthrob Paulo Avelino to Hilongos last December 28, 2014 was a typical example of a scenario classified as a “security nightmare.” He was there to grace the grand coronation night of Hilongos Matron Queen 2014, a famous rural money contest event, which highlighted the twomonth celebration of their annual fiesta in honor of the Immaculate Conception. Avid fans and kibitzers from all walks of life mobbed the young actor in all corners of his itinerary to the disappointment of the local security force that took charge of the celebrity’s safety. The crowd was jamming beyond control, of course as expected, simply because for so long a time, it was just during the leadership of Mayor Albert “Bentong” Villahermosa that the constituents’ dream to have a celebrity right in their midst has become a reality. Days before, KC Concepcion’s rumored boyfriend Marcelito Pomoy was also there. For the fans, those visits were very memorable but for the handlers and the local government unit concerned, these were pure and simple security nightmares!
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Local celebrities are the usual security nightmare stimuli. Even Congresswoman Lucy Torres – Gomez, if should would one day attend the daily zumba sessions at the plaza, for sure will be mobbed by neighbors and strangers alike right in her hometown Ormoc. When I coordinated the PICPA Metro Manila Annual Convention sometime in 2010 in the posh Bohol Beach Club, now Bohol Palms Resort, little did I realize that even people from Metro Manila acted bakya when they saw Cesar Montano and his estranged wife, Sunshine Cruz. I invited the couple to formally welcome and extend Bohol’s brand of hospitality to the Manila visitors, as Cesar himself is a true-blooded Boholano. Not an expert in events management, I was not able to foresee that such a humble invite of the stars would turn out to be a security nightmare! rrr
When I was in Manila in the early 90’s, one Halloween, I was able to visit my cousin’s grave in the Taguig Catholic Cemetery together
The EASTERN VISAYAS MAIL is published weekly with Editorial and Business Offices at Hermosilla Drive (Malbasag), District 28, Ormoc City, Leyte Telefax Nos: 561-8580; 255-5746; e-mail: lalainej@gmail.com ENTERED AS 2ND CLASS MAIL MATTER AT THE ORMOC CITY POST OFFICE ON 14 MAY 2003 Other contact numbers: (053) 500-9389 (Biliran); (055) 560-9670 (Borongan)
Correspondents/ Columnists: HENRY GADAINGAN, PAUL LIBRES, MUTYA COLLANDER, JHAY GASPAR, TED MARCOS, JENIBETH LORO, IVY CONGSON, DR. MANUEL K. PALOMAR, Ph.D., KEN ENECIO VICKY C. ARNAIZ, JUAN MERCADO, JT DELOS ANGELES, ATTY. BEULAH COELI Section Editor FIEL, RICARDO MARTINEZ, JR., FR. ROY CIMAGALA,, ATTY. CARLO LORETO, with MAI-MAI T. VELASQUEZ, ATTY. EMMANUEL GOLO, ADELINA CARRENO, IÑIGO LARRAZABAL, YONG ROM, GILBERT ABAÑO, EMIE CHU, DR. GERRY PROF. EDITHA CAGASAN PENSERGA, NIKKI TABUCANON SIA
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Dec. 29, 2014 - Jan. 4, 2015
To live for 100 years
Your home is sacred (REPRINTED ‘IN toto’ for its very beautiful message from Msgr.Arthur Tonne’s homilies, 1979) “George was in his seventies. He had never married. Most of his life he was a sailor travelling the oceans of the world. He had no home of his own. His nephew, Bill, always liked Uncle George, so he invited him to live with Bill, his wife and five children. It was a mutually agreeable arrangement. George now had a home, while Bill’s family could travel the world in imagination as they listened to Uncle George recount his experiences. “At times Bill became bored and discontented with family life. How nice it would be to roam the world carefree and footloose. He even expressed this wish. “One evening, as Uncle George was telling of some faraway place, he mentioned a map of a buried treasure. The idea stuck in Bill’s mind so that when Uncle George died a few years later, Bill went through the old man’s few belongings. Sure enough, there was an envelope addressed to Bill. In it was a map. With shaking hands and pounding heart, he tried to figure out where the treasure was located. Finally he pinpointed the spot. It was his own home, the very spot where he was right now. Uncle George had truly left him a treasure, the realization that his own home, his own family, was a treasure. “Today (the Holy Family,28 Dec), God presents the Holy Family as a treasure, Jesus, Mary and Joseph were not only holy them-selves: they help us to be holy. We do not have to eat and dress and work like the Holy Fami-ly, but we can do these things and everything else in their spirit. “For instance, they had the spirit of love --
NI ATTY. MANING GOLO
Happy New Year Dear Atty. Golo, Nindot unta ang New Year apan naglagot ko kay daghang paboto! Naa man gani namatay kay naigo sa ligaw nga bala. Maayo unta kon ang nagpaboto maoy naigo. Way konsensya ang nagpaboto. Nganong di man maundang ning paboto? Wa ba idili ang pagpaboto? Usik-usik lang pod na sila sa kwarta. Maayo pa ang ilang ipa boto ipalit og lugaw, busog pa. Ang akong bana na problema pod sa iyang hubag kay sige lang og boto. Magbalhin-balhin ra ba. Magol-anon kaayo ang akong bana karong tuiga. Maayo pa kaha ning hubag niya?
Matinahuron, Mrs. Pavo
Dear Mrs. Pavo, Dunay paboto nga gitogot sa balaod og dunay gidili (RA 7183). Ang PNP kon ang kapulisan maoy gitugyanan pagpatuman niini. Kon ang balaod batok sa paboto wa magsilbe, tungod kini sa ka gahi’g u sa ubang tawo og sa ka gahig lubot sa atong PNP. Ang nagpaboto naglantaw lang sa ilang katagbawan. Wa sila magpakabana sa uban nga basin masakitan. Bentaha pa ang hubag sa imong bana kay inig boto, siya lang ang mag sakrepesyo. Ipa “check-up” hinoon ni Dr. Nino ang hubag sa imong bana aron mawagtang og ma “happy” siya karong tuiga.
Sa kanunay, Manny G. Golo e.g.gololaw@gmail.com 09155595449 09333545198
love of God, which means the desire to please to do good to one’s neighbor, which means the desire to do good to one’s neighbors, especially our closest neighbors, the members of our own family. They tried to please God by going to God’s temple and worshipping toge-ther, as we read in the Gospel. Every one of us can be like them in that. They knew their faith, namely, what God had told them in His holy word. We can please God by learning all we can about what He has told us. “The Holy Family tried to do good to one another and to their neighbors. We admit that family life today is much more difficult than ever, but this spirit of helpfulness to one another is all the more necessary. “The world is troubled. Our country is troubled. We need not dwell on that. The cure is: strengthen the family, build up the family, and improve family life. Put new spirit into this basic unit of all society. Where can we get that spirit? From the Holy Family. “Indeed your home is a treasure. There you will find all the worthwhile things of life, the truly valuable things. In fact, your home is so sacred that it could be built right on to this sanctuary. To make it sacred and to keep it sacred, we need inspiration, we need super-human help. Ask Jesus, Mary and Joseph to help all of us to make our families pleasing to God and concerned about our neighbor. God bless you.” This corner can only agree more on the above view. It is now a matter of fact that in the nations that practice divorce and family planning, the sacredness of marriage has been the root cause of a weakening of the family unit. It is not easy for an ordinary father and mother to have a son that is a god. Another way of looking at it is for mortals to have a son who is an immortal. How will it be seen by your neighbor? For Joseph and Mary to live a life where your own neighbor must have to toe a line is quite unthinkable. And according to the sages, there is not a single word --let alone a phrase -- that is attributed to Joseph. There is no direct quotation uttered by Joseph. Maybe this is the reason he is revered to as the most chase of all men. According to tradition, Joseph must have died when Jesus started his public ministry. St. Joseph is the Patron Saint of the Catholic Church. rrr
There was a time when we celebrated every year the Feast of Three Kings on the 6th of January. It seems they have stopped the practice. Christmas season used to end with this particular feast. Happy Three Kings to one and all!!
The Gospel on Sunday JANUARY 11, 2015 The Baptism of the Lord Gospel MK 1:7-11 This is what John the Baptist proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Affidavit of Self-Adjudication NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the properties of the late MACARIA F. BORINAGA re parcels of land Lot No. 3582, C-11, Cad 661-D, covered by with OCT No. P-40991 containing an area of 1,463 sq. m.;Lot No. 3519,C-11, Cad 661-D, OCT No. P-40992 containing an area of 635 sq. m.; OCT No. P-40993 containing an area of 5,075 sq. m. all situated at located at Tubod, Isabel, Leyte were adjudicated unto herself by MILAGROS B. BATOTO per Doc. No. 315; Page No. 63; Book No. V; Series of 2014 of Notary Public Michelle O. Orpilla. EV Mail Dec. 15-21, 22-28, & 29- Jan. 4, 2014
LIFE EXPECTANCY for women in Japan is 86.61, the longest in the world, while for men it is 80.21, the fourth longest. My mother was 3 years short of the century mark when she died while my father died before her at 80 years old. But it seems that their children may even beat their longevity records. As research on aging continues, scientists have so far made tremendous progress by creating effective vaccines and reducing deaths related to disease. Thus, science has essentially helped increase the average person’s life span by nearly 30 years over the past century. A study in rats indicates that what your parents are exposed to, through their food and other toxins in the environment, can impact not only their health but the health of their offspring. Specifically, rat diets high in omega three fatty acids during pregnancy left not only daughter rats, but also granddaughter rats at an increased risk for breast cancer. A similar study in mice indicated that a father’s diet could influence the expression of hundreds of genes in his offspring, including those genes involved in fat- and cholesterolprocessing in the liver. These types of changes to gene expression are called epigenetic changes. Instead of changing the genes themselves, epigenetic changes alter how the genes are accessed and used. New research indicates that, at least in worms, these epigenetic changes (which in that study increased the worm’s lifespan) can be passed down to offspring for several generations. Taking it easy is not the key to a long life. According to research, hard-working, cautious humans live the longest. The study followed more than 1,500 children from the 1920s until
their death. Analysis of the longevity of this group of children indicates that dependable, cautious children on average avoided risks and eventually entered into stable relationships, a major boost for health, happiness and longevity. The conscientious, hard-working personality trait extends life by an average of two to three years, the equivalent to a 20 to 30 percent decreased risk of early death. For guys, getting married could mean a longer life; the effect is smaller in women. On average, married men live 10 years longer than non-married men, and married women lived about four years longer than non-married women. There are several hypotheses for these differences. Married men might adopt healthier lives and take fewer risks, or their wives may help them stay connected to their social circle, since being social has a positive impact on lifespan. Previous studies have also indicated that lab animals, like the nematode, fruit fly and mice, all lived almost twice as long when fed an almost-starving diet (30 percent fewer calories than usual). A study indicated that eating less could add five years to the life of an average human. It appears that in order to live longer, one must avoid being too full after meals – something to think about during the holiday season. The restricted diet seems to work by lowering metabolic rate, reducing the frequency of agerelated diseases by reducing the amount of “free radicals” produced naturally by our bodies.
Gout attack! AFTER ALL the Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations, many of us find ourselves gaining weight. Lucky for those who did not, but let us take a look at obesity as a medical problem. Obesity is a medical condition characterized by an excess body fat accumulation to the extent of having negative effects on one’s health, leading to reduced life expectancy and or increased health problems measured using one’s BMI or Body Mass Index. The BMI is a simple index for weight-for-height to classify underweight, overweight and obesity in adults. A person is overweight if his BMI is >25, and obese if his or her BMI is >30. Using your smartphones, you can even visit certain websites with BMI and ideal body weight calculators, like in www.obesity.org. ph and compute for yourself your own BMI and ideal weight. Three out of 10 Filipino adults 20 years old and above are either overweight or obese. This is according to the Philippine Association for the Study of Overweight and Obesity. Obesity is a “growing epidemic,” according to the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in 2013. Steps must be taken to curb its increasing prevalence. It is now peg at 6.8 percent of the adult population, from the previously reported 5.2 in 2008. Obesity increases the likelihood of various diseases
particularly heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, certain types of cancers and osteoarthritis. Obesity is caused by a combination of excessive food intake, lack of physical activity and genetic (hereditary) factors. Diet and exercise are the main treatments for obesity. Diet should include a reduced consumption of high-energy foods such as those rich in fats and sugars; and increasing intake of dietary fiber. However, studies have shown that Filipino adults do not take seriously the importance of physical activity for optimal health. Worse, our population is getting more sedentary, inactive, and indolent and that includes even the young. Thus, it is best to start the New Year right by aiming for a better health through diet and exercise. And for those who have other medical problems, it is best to consult first your doctors before exercising and/or taking any anti-obesity pill or supplements. The DOH has recently published the latest Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Advisory, in their website the list of banned and unregistered slimming and anti-obesity products sold in outlets or offered online at www.doh.gov.ph.
EV Mail needs an EDITOR/SENIOR REPORTER and a MARKETING/ ACCOUNT OFFICER. Experience required. A degree in Mass Comm or Dev. Comm or AB English preferred for the Editorial post. MUST HAVE nose for news. Good command of English. Knows how to layout in Indesign. Starting salary P 10,000.00. For Marketing/Account Officer, salary and benefits negotiable. Send application with at least three recommendations, resume, sample of published works to lalainejimenea@gmail.com.
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NEWS
Dec. 29, 2014 - Jan. 4, 2015
SENIANG ... from P. 1 A n e x - v i c e m a y o r, Dario Gavino Berino III, said continued illegal logging activities in the area could have contributed to the floodings. Just last week, some 3,000 board feet of illegally caught lumber was confiscated in Burauen, which is the next town to Dagami. The last time that he remembers Dagami was flooded severely was in 1991, when knee-deep water flooeded their house which is located in an area that is the highest in the Poblacion of Dagami. Various areas of Tacloban City was also flooded, including its biggest subdivision, V&G. The Poblacion of Palo, Leyte was also flooded. Pictures posted by netizens show fishermen making a lucrative living of rowing passengers to where they would want to go.
Destroyed bridges, infra
The heavy rains also had the Department of Public Work and Highways scrambling to repair damaged roads and bridges in the region. The Hiagsam Bridge in Jaro, Leyte and the Dapdap Bridge in Alang-alang were badly damaged. Engr. Au Lago said that as of press time, the road from Carigara to Tacloban remains impassable because of the damaged bridges. Travelers from the area, however, could opt to travel via San Miguel – Barugo – Babatngon road, which, however, is only for light
vehicles. This is why passengers from Ormoc City have to go through a circuitous route to get to Tacloban City, the region’s capital. From Ormoc, vehicles go to Baybay City, then Mahaplag, Leyte, down to Mayorga to take a left to La Paz, then proceed to Burauen and exit at Tanuan, Leyte to take the turn to Palo, then Tacloban City. Carlos Larrazabal said their trip along the route took them four hours to traverse. A major bridge in Dulag, Leyte was also damaged, it was learned, that is why vehicles cannot go directly from Tacloban to Baybay via Dulag. Engr. Angel Sia said they are trying their best to be able to put up detours at the destroyed bridges, so as not to inconvenience travelers. In Baybay City, a major landslide also blocked the road at Brgy. Villasolidaridad for about a day but the 5th Leyte Engineering District was fast to remove the blockage. One lane of the road is now passable. In Samar Island, various parts of the Maharlika highway are “one lane” only after landslides are completely cleared. There was also a major landslide at Lemon, in Capoocan, Leyte. Soldiers of the 19th IB helped clear the road.
A bit of happy news
Meanwhile, a bit of happy news cheered up media who were on tenterhooks, updating editors about the local situation.
Seven people reported missing at sea, including the police chief of the historic island of Limasawa in Southern Leyte, were found alive at the coastal barangay of Can-iwan in Maasin City. The seven were identified as Sr. Insp. Richard Castañares, a native of Palo, Leyte; Lourdes Rogador, Clarissa Malunat, Charlotte Malunat, Joanna Juanico, and Edna Mae Cabanero; and Eusebio Petenio, Jr. the boat operator, were found alive at Brgy. Can-iwan in Maasin City today, a few kilometers from where they surreptitiously took off at Brgy. San Roque in Macrohon town. The Coast Guard said the party took off at around 2:00 PM yesterday, December 30, defying a ban against sailing. By 8:20, they received a call from the Limasawa police station that their police chief was missing, together with other passengers. This afternoon, however, they received a call from Brgy. Can-iwan that all seven were washed ashore at their village and all were alive. As of this report, police chief Castañares is reportedly at the hospital, recuperating from his harrowing ordeal. It is not known whether the PNP would sanction him for defying the “no sailing” ban, and endangering his companions, including the wife of one of his policemen in Limasawa.
It was Waterworld at Brgy. Lao, as a photo of Nina Jessa Jumao-as Condeza on her Facebook shows. The same for Brgy. San Juan, as posted by Imelda Pore-Palencia. Water reached the highway from the middle of the village which is more than a kilometer away (photo below). .
with my uncles and aunties. To our surprise, Rene Requiestas, a former local celebrity comedian actor of Pido Dida fame starring opposite Kris Aquino, was also there, accordingly to visit the grave of his father. I expected that only the promdis like me will be moved to excitement upon seeing Requiestas, sporting his signature tarsier-like smile, but I was wrong. Almost all were chasing after him for photo ops, hugs, kisses and other motives. Perhaps the dead, also wanted to have pictures with him, if only they could. The orderly peaceful memorial park was turned into a typhoon-ravaged like set-up. And of course, it was a security nightmare! rrr
DUREZA ... from P. 4 ing us aside from Archbishop NANDING and BOBBY were Aboitiz’s Davao Light Vice President ART MILAN, Businessman NILO CLAUDIO, KarAsia’s AL BARRETO, and Gawad Kalinga’s RENE RIETA. FIRST DOME -- At the briefing room, JASON MAGNAYE, who had a long and distinguished career in both the private and public sectors, is a prized recruit of TSI who now skippers the company division that handles the sensitive job of community relations (COMREL). He said the dome is the first and only coal dome in the whole country as of today. During our drivethrough inside the huge dome, I learned for the first time why the dome is a welcome and latest addition to a coal-fired plant. It is where “dirty” coal is securely stored, pulverized, and then fed to the boiler furnace that produces steam, which in turn runs the generators that eventually produces power. NO LONGER “DIRTY”-- For those of us who still remember watching those old western movies with coal-fed train engines, what stuck in our minds were the dirty-faced workers who continuously shoveled black coal to a furnace to keep the train engines running and the heavy black smoke coming out of the train smokestack. Well, basically this is the same principle, except that today, new technology has been developed to clean up the “dirty” coal and minimize the effect on the environment and comply with acceptable and allowable international standards of harmful sulphur oxide emission. A dust-capturing device called an “electrostatic precipitator” does the job. Even the unloading of imported coal (possibly from Kalimantan, Indonesia) from the vessels docked at the private jetty will be using enclosed conveyors to the storage dome where after being crushed, the coal will be moved to the silos and fed to the furnace by gravity. CAPTURING ASHES -- Other existing coal plants in the country store their coal supply in sheds like our favorite barangay “covered courts”. The TSI- Aboitiz plant at Binugao, Toril has adopted the latest technology of a dome coal storage plant to bring to the highest next level mitigating measures to protect the environment. The ashes are captured before they are released into the air and will be stored in a sealed 5-hectare ash landfill. We drove through the area that was being constructed and saw
CAGULADA ... from P. 4
the ongoing matting to prevent leaks to our waterways. An early rehabilitation plan and protocols are already in the drawing boards for the “disturbed” area just to secure the future beyond the “plant life” period. MARINE -- Even the limited volume of sea water that will be used to cool the plant will be returned back to the sea after passing through a cooling pond to maintain the normal temperature of the sea to protect marine life in the immediate vicinity of the plant, not to mention the possible enhancements that TSI will introduce to improve the marine conditions in the area. BENEFITS -- It will be interesting to know that the some of the gathered “fly ash” will be used as raw materials for cement making and even hollow-block making for the livelihood program of the host communities surrounding the plant in the barangays of Binugao and Inawayan and other outlying areas. There will be close and sustainable engagement with the host barangays when the power plant gets operational. Benefits to the local residents and communities are assured and forthcoming with the reglamentary SOCIAL DEVEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT PROJECT (SDMP) that will go full blast upon full operation. Although the plant will only need highly technical people of less than 200 to operate the hi-tech hub, the social corporate responsibility (CSR) thrust that is markedly already a trademark of the ABOITIZ business empire will benefit the bigger community beyond its immediate environs. VIGILANCE -- Although the new plant has a total capacity of 300MW, there is already approval of an additional 300MW more generating capacity that will be set up in the same site. This augers well for us Mindanao knowing that we are still badly lacking in power. A power plant that is “embedded” right here in our neighborhood will ensure sustainable development. But as we welcome this new facility, our advocacy for environment protection and wellbeing must continue without let-up. Vigilant citizen action is needed to see to it that power plants including government agencies comply with our stringent environment regulations to protect us and Mother Earth from harm. We must not let our guards down.
And now, let’s talk about the papal visit. If local celebrity visits are often categorized as security nightmares, then with Pope Francis’ scheduled visit, how would we categorize it? For me, it is a super, tremendous and a terrible security nightmare. What with the Pope’s usual deviation to planned itineraries? What with the Pope’s humble and non-celebrity packaging? What with the Pope’s non-riding the bullet proof Pope mobile? My goodness. Our officials charged with national security functions, I believe, have so many sleepless nights this early. With Pope Francis’ humble style, the government is caught in a quandary. It’s just like adding pepper to a seemingly over spiced menu. The papal visit and all others are indeed security nightmare stimuli. Anyone?
FR. ROY ... from P. 4 should begin and end with God. Short of that, we would be developing it improperly. This is the challenge we have—how to begin and end with God in all the planning and goal-setting we do. Many times, we get contented with merely worldly values and criteria—more knowledge and information, greater efficiency, profitability, etc. We are still very awkward in putting God at the center of it all. That’s why there is a great need to pause and put ourselves in some mode of deep meditation and contemplation to be able to touch base with the most profound longing in our heart that is often muffled by the cares of this world. What St. Augustine once expressed continues to hold true today: “My heart is restless until it finds its rest in you.” Let’s do everything so that this sentiment continues to hold sway on us, overcoming the many powerful distractions the world today offers. This requires a spirit of sacrifice and self-denial, precisely echoing what Christ himself told us that if we want to follow him, we need to deny ourselves and carry the cross. There is no other formula for us to follow. Everything has to be done so that God becomes the be-all and end-all of our planning and goal-setting. Email: roycimagala@ gmail.com
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Dec. 29, 2014 - Jan. 4, 2015
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People, Places & Happenings ORMOC CITY - This city finally has a real-togoodness coffee shop, and it’s Bo’s Coffee! After a blessing and inauguration in the morning of December 29, with Mayor Edward Codilla doing the honors of cutting the inaugural ribbon, Bo’s Coffee opened its doors to the public by 1:00 PM. Carlson Chu, proprietor, said Bo’s Coffee Ormoc have all the amenities of the Bo’s Coffee that everybody is familiar with in big cities -- hot and cold coffee, various kinds of frappes, cookies and cakes. all day breakfast and free wifi. The opening of the coffee shop is an answered prayer to coffee shop enthusiasts who has been longing for a real one in this city. Most “coffee shops” here serve beer, which turns off those who just want to have coffee, a nice conversation, and an ambiance
conducive to writing and working on a computer. Chu assures customers that he will not be selling beer, except those on Bo’s menu. He added that Bo’s also has wine on its menu. Bo’s Coffee Ormoc is located at the Chu Building beside the Grand Tours station. Meanwhile, Mark Anthony T. dela Cerna, francise operations coordinator, said that Bo’s Coffee Ormoc is the 26th franchise operations that they have all over the country. Another 36 are company-ran. Ormocanons would also be interested to know that Bo’s Coffee here is sourcing some of its cakes locally. Following their own recipes, three bakers were tested if they could get Bo’s signature cakes and cookies, and it was Tina Santiago who made the grade. Dela Cerna said they thought it wise to source some food items locally, noting how easily trips get cancelled and might disrupt the supply chain. He also explained that to ensure Bo’s Coffee serves the freshest brew, their coffee beans only have a 30 – 45 day shelf life, after which they are taken off the rack. Bo’s Coffee is a Filipino-grown company and uses Filipino-grown coffee beans.
Photos at right show Mayor Edward Codilla and owners Carlson Chu, wife Gigi, and their two girls, as the inaugural ribbon was cut. Others in the photos are family friends, guests, business acquaintances and colleagues of Gigi in Kiwanis Geo-Ormoc.
is now open!!! Starting a new family tradition:
Christmas & New Year’s Eve at Sabin Resort Hotel
CHRISTMAS AND New Year’s Eve are holidays that we, Filipinos, always look forward to. Not to mention that it usually is a long holiday period (and this year’s was extraordinarily long), it is that one time of the year when the family comes together. Grownup kids usually come home, and what follows is a blur of preparations. Thanks to technology, we don’t have to prepare our own jamon nowadays, a mainstay in a Noche Buena. It wouldn’t be a Noche Buena without ham and cheese on the side, eh. Nor do we have to order it from Manila months in advance. I remember my mom would always order jamon from a suki in Binondo months in advance, and it would arrive wrapped in Manila paper. I didn’t like how the shriveled pork leg looked, and I don’t even recall how it was cooked, but I would remember the package arriving and my mother reverently handling it, with a sparkle in her eye that this year’s Christmas season would be a special one. We even had to get chorizo bilbao from Manila, too! Fast forward to today, we can always buy jamon from the various groceries here. For wine, drinks and chocolates, there’s a cornucopia of them on grocery shelves. So, Christmas and New Year’s Eve are supposed to be stress-free now? Uh-uh, the variety of choices out there is so wide that it is stressful catering to everybody’s wants. This year, we broke tradition and tried celebrating our New Year’s Eve at Sabin Resort Hotel. We wanted to try something new … and maybe start a new family tradition. We were not disappointed. Sabin Resort Hotel, for the past two years now, has been offering Christmas and New Year’s Eve packages. Guests checked in at the hotel during Christmas and New Year’s Eve get to enjoy a midnight feast, and spectacular fireworks to boot. For the first time in years, I had a stress-free New Year’s Eve. I did not have to think of what to cook; what kind of fireworks to buy (especially now that we live in a populated area where we should be extra careful, if we should light one up!); and who gets to wash the dishes after. We went to church at 8:00 PM (unfortunately the mass started late), then were back at the hotel by 11:00 PM. At the restaurant, a band was playing various tunes, as hotel guests began to take their seats at the tables waiting for the midnight feast to begin. Siblings Andone and Butch Larrazabal, who manage the hotel, did not scrimp on the midnight feast. They prepared fish, chicken, beef, pork and noodles, with desserts thrown in, FREE for the checked-in guests to partake. At exactly 12:00 midnight, they lit up the awesome fireworks. I did my math, and found out that having a stay-cation at Sabin Resort Hotel was cheaper and less hassle than preparing a feast at your own house. There is also the convenience of having a waiter to serve your every beckon and whim. And when you wake up the next morning with a hangover, a blue sparkling pool beckons for a dip to wash it away! Just a suggestion … next Christmas Eve or New Year or both … when you come to a blank wall on how to make the year’s annual family gathering interesting and stress-free … try staycationing at Sabin Resort Hotel. You just might make it your new family tradition!!! By Lalaine M. Jimenea
The guests ooohed and ahhed at the spectacular fireworks!!!
Waiting for the fireworks to start.
Family bonding and washing away the hangover on the pool.
Having an annual family picture with a fantastic backdrop of a giant Christmas tree. You could also pull the legs of relatives abroad that it was taken at your house, lol!